June 12, 2025 • 40 mins
Thursday on 2 Pros and a Cup of Joe, the Pacers take a 2-1 lead over the Thunder in the Finals. Steelers acknowledge a new gameplan with Rodgers in house. Plus, a special edition of In Case You Missed It.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Two Pros and a Cup of Joe. Fox Sports Radio,
LaVar Arrington, Jonas Knox with you here. Coming up on
this Thursday edition, we look back on Game three of
the NBA Finals. Are the OKC thunder in trouble? History
would say yes, Their mood says differently, and we've got
Tyrese Halliburton discussing the talking heads and how much they
know about the National Basketball Association. We're also going to
(00:22):
get the very latest on what the Steelers offense could
look like. Good news for people who like a particular
energy drink. I guess We've got the very latest as
far as the Saquon Barkley victory tour goes, and how
bad it's going to look for Joe Shane when it
comes to the history of Saquan's departure from the New
York Giants. We've also got the very latest on the
(00:44):
Cleveland Browns busy quarterback room, the Great Albert Breer stops by,
and how about coops leftovers?
Speaker 2 (00:51):
It's all yours.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Coming up next here, Two Pros and a Cup of
Joe on a Thursday, Fox Sports Radio. You're listening to
Fox Sports Radio. If only people knew how appropriate this
(01:15):
theme song is today show Like Today? Oh man? It
is two pros and a cup of Joe. Here on
Fox Sports Radio, He's LeVar Arrington, I'm Jonas Knox. You
can hang out with us as always on the iHeartRadio app,
and you can find us on hundreds of affiliates all
across the country and wherever you are making us a
(01:37):
part of your Thursday morning, we appreciate you doing so.
We'll be taking you all the way up until nine
am Eastern time, six o'clock Pacific. And hey, you know what,
which will be a theme for this show that we
will point out. Look who decided to show up? And
this time we're talking about the NBA Finals. They were
back last night? Are you sure they were back last night?
(01:59):
And little bit of a surprising result, I think for
some people going into the game. Indiana was a five
and a half point underdog. But they get it done.
And as we've seen the stat thrown up before, anytime
there's a series in the NBA Finals, it's tied at
one apiece, the team that wins Game three wins the
NBA Finals eighty percent of the time. So the Indiana
(02:22):
Pacers in a good spot following that.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Win last night. They play well.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
I think they played like a team that does not
believe whatever other people believe. They're not buying into the hype,
so to speak, of what they've filed these other guys
are bringing to the table and not you know, you
got to give them a lot of credit because okay
(02:48):
See is what people think they are. I just think
that Indiana is better than what people give them, you know,
credit for. So they've made it more than just a series.
It's it's a competitive deal.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Uh. If if OKAC is to as you just.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Mentioned the stat if ok c UH is to to
really have a a real chance, they gotta get one
in Indiana. They gotta grab one in Indiana if they
go back to Oka c with a to two tie,
and you know, I'll say this, who wins the series?
Speaker 2 (03:28):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
I'm I'm I went with OKAC to win the series,
but I did go with Indiana to win the game
last night. But going into a game four situation where
it's it's uh, game five, excuse wait?
Speaker 2 (03:45):
No? No? Two to one right? Two? One?
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Yeah, game four, it's just I think it's very critical
for for okay See, but it's also very critical for
the NBA as well. Right, there's a lot riding on
this and to terms of relevance, maybe interest maybe, I mean,
there are a lot of things out are at stakecare
if Indiana were to win the next game, how many
(04:11):
people do you think are going to watch the next one?
So this could potentially be maybe the last game that
you get real interest in. If OKC decides to lay
an egg in the next.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Game, it would be whove the NBA to have a
back and forth series.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
It certainly would because it provides a much better storyline
to everything that's going on in a series. Again, where
we've discussed it heading into the series, we discussed it
as a potential series where you don't have the type
of brand power to really drive the viewership of the series,
(04:50):
the most important series of the season.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
For the NBA.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
So but again, give Halliburton props. I'm always to give
props elsewhere when it's not haller Burton. So I'm gonna
give him his his props.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Today. He showed up in a major, major way.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Uh, And he was the MVP of that game, and
and so they needed that and they'll need that moving
forward if they're if they're going to have a chance
to pull pull through in the series.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
I mean some would say he's the captain now made
him from being honest.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
I mean, you know, he had a much he had
a much louder, a much bigger game than what he
usually has. But make no mistake about it, the captain
of the ship is still on the ship. You know,
Pascal is still He's still a part of of what's
going on. I mean he he didn't have his regular
(05:49):
like you know, obviously big, big, big game, but he
didn't have a bad game. I mean, you know, he's
right there. I mean he was only one point off
of off of haller Burton. You know, Halliburton had twenty two,
Pascal had twenty one. You know, he had four assists
Pascal had I mean has got past.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Halliburton had eleven assists.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Where to me, that's where the separation took place was
it's just his ability to be able to make great
decisions and put other guys in positions to have an.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Impact on the game.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
I mean there were some some really you know, there
were some fine moments for them. Benedict, you know, Mathern.
He had a really good game. And if he can
continue to play that way, maybe he's the unsung hero
of the series. You know, Topping didn't have a lot
of points, but you know, he had some explosive moments
(06:47):
that you could say set the tone for the Pacers
and at moments in time like really, you know, showed
that maybe he was a little bit more athletically inclined
than guys on on OKC team. But I think you
had a lot of unsung heroes and India and a
show that they not only can play with Oka see,
(07:10):
but they can beat them.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
They can win this series.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
You mentioned Tyres Haliburt. There's been some discussion about maybe
he's not being as aggressive as he needs to be
and maybe he's got to do a little bit more.
He talked about the discussion surrounding his performance early in
the finals Laft last night after the win.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
The commentary is always going to be what it is.
You know, most of the time, the talking heads on
the major platforms, I couldn't care less, honestly, Like what
do they really know about basketball? The commentary is what
it is. At this point, you know, it doesn't matter.
You know, we're here in the NBA Finals, two wins
away from an NBA championship.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
So you just got to stay with it, put my head.
Speaker 4 (07:46):
Down and keep working, and as a group, we just
got to keep learning from our mistakes, seeing where we
can get better and take.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
It a day of time.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
How about that?
Speaker 1 (07:54):
People all these platforms healthy hell you're talking about huh?
Speaker 2 (07:57):
How about that?
Speaker 3 (07:58):
I meant clearly l Burton isn't the only one that
feels that way. Sometimes your own colleagues feel that way.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Yes, uh so the yeah, Like I was, I was
thinking about the situation involving just sort of the overall
look of this series and it and I made mention
of this before that it's kind of nice that you
don't have drama surrounding the finals. There's not all this
(08:31):
discussion afterwards. We're just really Actually, I think a lot
of people are getting to know these teams who are
maybe casuals or just tuning in. But also I think
they're starting to see that, well, this is just really
good basketball. Like the closing stretch the fourth quarter last night,
that was really good basketball. You said, like Miles Turner
did not have a good game offensively, but he died
(08:51):
up the wind puppet multiple times and ended up making
plays down the stretch. And so you look at it,
you go, these are really good individual performances and good
team performances from the Indiana standpoint.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
But I look at it and.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
I go, it's almost as if this Finals people don't
really have a rooting interest. And that's not a bad thing,
because I don't know anybody that looks at this and
is pounding the table. Gotta have an Okac win or
pounding the table, gotta have an Indiana win. Like Lebron
(09:23):
James butters the bread for everybody. If Lebron's in the finals,
you're gonna get a polarizing reaction one way or the other.
If the Celtics are in, you're gonna get a polarizing reaction.
The Lakers, the Knicks. Well, I said the Knicks, they'll
never be in the finals. But the point is, there's
generally somebody that you can surround your hot take around,
(09:45):
and this Finals doesn't have that. It like, okay, see
more than likely comes out and wins Game four, and
the series gets stretched and we go to six, we
go to seven games, and I think it's just gonna
be about the basketball. It's not going to be about
which talking head that Tyrese Haliburton is referring to that says,
you know, well, we've got to have this because it's
(10:06):
better for the league. I think the league looks at
it and goes either one that wins. It's like, we're
not going to be dependent on that for storylines that
are going to carry us through. We're just seeing really
good basketball, really underrated teams that are getting a platform
and a stage that they've never had before, maybe ever
in the history of their organizations other than a couple
(10:28):
of times, and that was years and years ago. So
I think there's a lot of people discussing the finals
that aren't used to the fact that we don't have
a singular player or a singular storyline to focus on. Instead,
we just got a look of good basketball.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
I mean, that's an interesting way of looking at it,
and that that could very well be what the situation
in the scenario is. I would I would tend to
offer the the the approach that Haliburton is taking is
the right one. You know, whether talking heads know enough
about basketball or know what they're talking about or not,
(11:07):
it's of no consequence. He's got to keep his head down,
he's got to stay focused because I do know for
one hundred percent. None of those people he's referring to
are going to dictate a win or a loss for
Indiana or for ok See. I do know that for
one hundred percent certain like I won't debate that one
with anyone. But with that being said, the talking heads
(11:32):
that he's he's referring to, a lot of them do
know about sports, you know, and a lot of them
know about games, and they may not know it to
the depth of a guy that's playing the game or
a coach or a GM They may not know it
to that degree, but they don't have to. That's not
their burden to carry to to know it. More from
(11:55):
the standpoint of what the athlete knows it, it's what
they say see and what their opinions are on what
they see. And then now it's a fans opportunity to
do the same exact thing, because you could say the
same exact thing about fans. You know, some of them
(12:16):
know it because they play it. They're they're enthusiasts of it.
Some people are more passive and just aren't you know,
into it as deep in as far as some some
real fanatical type of people that not only watch it,
but but play it, or you know, play it for leisure,
(12:36):
still are playing actively, you know, could be in college,
whatever it may be. I just think what it ultimately
comes down to more so than you know, talking about
a team per se, like oh this team can't do this,
or oh ha, leer.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Burton is overrated.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
I think what's more important here, Jonas, is what you're
talking about is the opportunity to take in the sport.
Are you enjoying the show? Are you enjoying watching the
production of what takes place and the quality of play
that takes place? Are you doing that because you can?
(13:19):
There has not been a flooding of storylines in terms
of big names. They have been pushing haller Burton. Now
that he's he's placed himself in that scenario, showed dad
there's that he had his little you know, his little
banner with with his his son's you know, on his
his likeness on there. Okay, that's the storyline Halliburton and
(13:41):
his dad. Great SGA is a storyline. But again, as
you mentioned, none of these guys are are truly established
megastars in terms of mainstream America, mainstream fantasy.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
It's like Middle America mom and pop basketball, like the
like there's no big time, big market feel and splash
all that stuff. To your point, there's just you just
got to enjoy it.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
Like you can't.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
You can't really sink your teeth into well, what does
this mean for so and so's future after the series
is over? And who's so? Is somebody getting looked at
for another?
Speaker 2 (14:16):
Get?
Speaker 1 (14:16):
No, there's none of that. You just get to enjoy
really good basketball and the two best teams in the playoffs,
and I for the NBA's sake, for everybody's for our sake,
based on what we've seen, aren't you hoping it goes
seven games? Look, I'd love to see a seven game
series with these two the way they match up.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Well, it's been fundled watch on the NBA.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
Aren't you trying to take full advantage of what you're
talking about? Like we talk about the comparisons between the
NBA and the NFL a lot, and this is something
leading up to and maybe this is why the advantage
in my estimation goes towards football, because it's only one
game and you're able to get the build up of it.
(14:59):
You're able to really get get to develop storylines, and
so you can create what you wanted to look and
feel like in a lot of ways, if you're the NFL,
you can maneuver and plan it. It has just as
much to do with the city where the game is
being played.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
I mean, there's a lot that goes into it.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
If I'm the NBA, how do I find a way
to galvanize what it is we have going on? Especially
when we have a matchup where it doesn't have you know,
it doesn't boast a Lebron James.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
It doesn't, you know.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
Give you a New York Knicks team or Tatum, you
know in Boston or Brown. How do you find a
way to make the storyline so strong and so real
that your viewing audience wants.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
To consume it.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
I had to do radio tonight, and there I was
watching a show I think it's called The Animal Kingdom,
The Animal Kingdom or whatever's on Netflix.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
I drink a Celsius.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
To watch the entire basketball game without falling asleep because
I was getting tired and I had to burst the energy.
But I've been watching that series Animal Kingdom, and the
storyline is so wild, it's almost like a spin off
of Point Break. That's I feel like, you know, that's
(16:28):
that's what took place. Uh, I want to say Regina King,
Is that that's her name? I believe she's she's a producer,
she's I know she's an actress.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
I just don't. I feel like I'm messing up her name.
But I'm gonna get it right.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
But anyways, it's the storyline was so good. It is
Regina King. Uh, the storyline is so good?
Speaker 2 (16:51):
What's up? Yeah, she's pretty good. She's talented.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
She's not the only a talented actress actress, but she
certainly is a talented producer too. Director, excuse me. You
have to be able to do this if you're the NBA.
Make it so that people don't want to leave. Like
I was, like, I gotta go to sleep. I gotta
go to sleep, Gotta do the show. Da da da,
this that and the other. And it's like, man, that's crazy.
(17:14):
What just happened. Dude almost burnt his whole house down.
He put the weed button down, he put the roach down,
and he got caught up and now the house is
on fire. Dang, what's gonna happen next? And I found
myself just continuing and continuing to watch the show. And
that's what the in the NBA has to do. The
NFL is masterful. They're surgical with creating a storyline, storylines plural.
(17:40):
Look at what they did with shador in the in
the draft. They are surgical with finding something that is
going to be compelling enough for not only your hardcore
fans that know exactly what's going on, but it also
serves that fan that may not have that hardcore approach.
And that's what to me, if you're asking me, what
(18:02):
is one of my major takeaways from seeing an Indiana
Oklahoma City Final is? Where where is the Where is
the I guess angles in which it's going to keep
the attention of the average sports fans.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
Just it's just good basketball. And I don't think and
I don't think that is that good enough. I don't know,
and probably not. It's for a lot of people most
likely it's but I don't think people are used to
this version of an NBA series matchup because normally it's easy,
(18:42):
Well it's Lebron involved, that somebody else involved, that you
can find a storyline. It's a big market, this one.
So we just watch the games and enjoy really good
high level basketball. Yeah, pretty much, Okay, I just I
don't think this series is meant for hot take culture.
It's just not meant for hot take culture. And I
(19:03):
don't and I don't think that people really know how
to react to it other than just to admire good basketball.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
Which again, brand brand. If you're making the brand more
attractive through other ways of hitting your your your viewing
audience and extending expanding beyond that, you got to find
those storylines and you got to really, really really drive
them home. If you're wanting the NBA brand to be
(19:32):
as strong as it is the NBA superstars that you have,
you know, it's a superstar driven league, but when you
have markets that have stars, but they're not the type
of superstars notably known established, which these are the moments
in time where they do get established and you create
(19:54):
a following and more attention to it. There should still
be a lot more depth to what's taking place in
terms of how you're building your storyline, because that ultimately
builds the storyline of how you're looking at the NBA
season next year and seasons beyond, how you're looking at
the draft, how you're looking at the new prospects. It's
(20:17):
so much that goes into what the NFL has been
able to create and build, and a lot of that
has to do with the media coverage and the media attention. So,
for what it's worth, while Halliburton has the right approach
to saying, I don't care what people that don't know
basketball are saying, the NBA had better be figuring out
(20:37):
storylines that make it relevant to those very people, because
those are the one Those are the people that are
going to touch their followings and the people who would
listen to them are going to actually, you know, pay
attention to what's being presented to them, and that could
be the difference maker and wanting to watch the series,
wanting to watch a game, want to watch a player
(20:58):
versus the other not wanting to.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
Not my problem. We got football right around the corner.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Thank you. Figure that out, well, you guys.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
Got work to do that. Wark It is two pros
and a cup of Joe. Here on Fox Sports Radio,
LeVar Arrington, Jonas Knox with you. So we are gonna
have the usuals coming up later on the Great Albert
Brear is gonna stop by. I'm assuming we're going to
have in case you missed it. As far as Lee's leftovers,
who the hell knows, but all that'll be yours here
on this three hour extravaganza. Up next, though, we are
(21:27):
going to get a little bit of a sneak peek,
all right, a little bit of a preview as to
what things could look like for one team in the
NFL next year.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
And that's yours right here on FSR.
Speaker 5 (21:36):
Be sure to catch live editions of Two Pros and
a Cup of Joe with Brady Quinn, LeVar Arrington, and
Jonas Knox weekdays at six am Eastern, three am Pacific
on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (21:50):
Two Pros and a Cup of Joe, Fox Sports Radio,
LeVar Arrington, Jonas Knox with you here. Coming up a
little over fifteen minutes from now. There's a story. I'm
not sure how LaVar is gonna.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Feel about it.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
I don't think it'll affect him directly, but it is
something that you've made mention of on this show already today.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
Okay, all right, so we've got that for.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
You coming up here a little over fifteen minutes from now.
So I don't know if you heard the news. Aaron
Rodgers is the new quarterback in Pittsburgh for the Steelers.
He's the guy there, the offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. He
spoke to the media, he said, amongst other things, look,
we didn't bring Aaron Rodgers in here and signed Dk
(22:32):
Metcalf for all that money to go run the wishbone.
But he did talk about evolving as an offense from
one year to the next. Here was Arthur Smith.
Speaker 6 (22:40):
We've evolved every year, and you know, you have to
so a lot of times out of necessity. Really. You know,
I've had a lot of different quarterbacks with a lot
of different skill sets. And in our job, especially as
a coach, is you know, to play to the strengths
of your players. I mean, we have our foundation things
that don't change. But whether you lean into certain schemes
you have to hear you adapt again to the personnel
(23:00):
you've got. That's what we try to do and the
ultimately win games and set guys up for success there.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
And so one of the things that's been pointed out
is that Rogers last year was with the Jets team
that didn't run the ball all that much. They relied
on the pass. A lot of that may have been
dictated by score. They could have been down in games
because they weren't good. Conversely, you had the Steelers who
I ran the ball. I think it was fourth most
in the entire NFL. They weren't all that efficient, you know,
(23:28):
as far as yards per carry and whatnot. But now
you've got Arthur Smith, who's got Aaron Rodgers there. Clearly
he's probably maybe going to trust the passing offense a
little bit more than he did last year. But when
I hear Arthur Smith talk, I don't know if you
get the same read I do. I just think he's
probably relieved not to have Russell Wilson there anymore. To
(23:49):
be honest with you, I think that's for him. He's like, look,
I wanted to put Justin Fields back in. I was
overruled by Mike Tomlin. As long as it's not Russ,
I'll take chances with Aaron Rodgers and DK metcalf as
opposed to last year.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
I'm gonna I'm gonna admit that this isn't my my
take because I don't know it this way, but yeah,
I feel like it's relevant. And I'll give credit to
Plexico on this because he's played for them, He's been there.
He understands that he's played for Tomlins regime, even though
(24:25):
it's not the same offensive coordinator.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
He said, they're going to run.
Speaker 3 (24:29):
The biggest, the biggest determining factor of what's gonna happen
with the Steelers is are they going to play good
enough defense and are they going to establish the run
enough and have enough success with the run in order
to be able to dictate and control the tempo of
(24:51):
the game and win the game.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
It's a battle of attrition approach.
Speaker 3 (24:58):
I will venture to add to that as a fan
that I believe that was Bill Coward's approach. That's why
he had the backs that he had then. I believe
that was Chuck Knowles approach. That's why he had the
running backs that he had back then, and I believe
that has continued to be the calling card of the
Pittsburgh Steelers. I don't see that changing. I really don't.
(25:21):
And you know, Arthur can say, you know all he
wants about you don't bring in Aaron Rodgers and DK
Metcalf to do that. But there have been plenty of
duos that you can say that you can use that
where you would say that that could be your your logic.
Speaker 2 (25:38):
I mean, so.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
You know, I don't buy that, I really don't. I
don't buy the idea that they're just going to go
past happy with having Aaron Rodgers there. But what will
be interesting to see is what can they establish, what
can they develop with having the type of skills set,
the type of wisdom and understanding that Aaron Rodgers brings
(26:02):
to the position as well as brings to the understanding
of what an offensive scheme can a successful one can
look like, what defenses are trying to do. How will
that help the other players on the field and on
the unit. I think that there are a lot of
asset value connected to bringing in Aaron Rodgers, but it's
(26:25):
still a wait and see approach if you ask me.
And the biggest wait and see is one, it can
Aaron Rodgers actually be the quarterback that he wants was
or a variation that leads to success for the Steelers?
And two, are the Pittsburgh Steelers actually willing to go
(26:49):
away from an identity that has dominated what the Pittsburgh
Steelers have been since basically the beginning of time, which
is they're a run first team. They were a run
heavy team and that's what they work to do. They
batter round, they grind it out, and they worked to
(27:10):
open up their offense through their run. Can that change?
I think that's a question that if your band attention
to Pittsburgh and paying attention to what Aaron Rodgers is
able to do, we're going to see if there's going
to be some flexibility in terms of the approach of
the way they they're playing offense.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
I mean, you'd think at this stage of his career
they'd want to try and have give as much opportunity
to run the football as possible to keep him up
right so where he's not having good Look, he got
banged up last year with the Jets because he was
throwing it so often. He got roughed up in the
game over and I think it was London where they
played early in the year. It's not like he got
(27:52):
through last year and he was just dealing with the
Achilles or whatnot. Remember there was the story about, you know,
he didn't want to miss any time. He was dead
set on wanting to play and start every game, and
so he was working through injuries and net injuries pop up.
That was one of the other storylines that was trickling
out of New York at the time. So last year
he dealt with other stuff outside of just coming back
(28:13):
from the Achilles. If you're Arthur Smith and your Mike
Tom Like, let's take I mean, yeah, we've got DK Metcalf.
I mean, that's a nice option to have for him.
But if you can establish the run as you mentioned,
like we've whenever they've had success historically, it's always been
through that. Like, why would you drop him back and
have him throw fifty times a game? If you can
(28:34):
be more well balanced and you can rely on that
defense that you talked about, which is still capable of
playing at a high level. And also in that division,
you really want to get in a shootout with Joe Burrow,
like you really want to get in a shootout with
Lamar Jackson, like you really want to go back and
forth with you know, whatever team in the AFC you
have to deal with throughout the course of the year.
It makes all the sense in the world. You'd want
(28:55):
to run games that you keep your forty plus year
old quarterback healthy and you're not having to go running
gun with other teams in the conference that ever that
are more well equipped to do. That makes makes sense.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
You know, you have a running backs, back committee, backfield,
and it's not your starter was an undrafted football player.
Your second string player was a third round draft pick.
I mean it's you know, to me when you look
(29:28):
at what they have in the backfield, And I don't
want this to come across as any shade to you know,
the guys that they have and Warren, Jalen Warren and
Caleb Johnson. Uh but I mean I look at it. Uh,
I just look at it. And Trey Sermon is there
as well. I just I just look at it, like
(29:51):
I get it. Like na Naji Harris could have been
a better back for them. You would have anticipated him
being a better back the Steelers. It just didn't materialize
that way. But for the most part, you've always had
a guy that can get it done, whether it be
Le'Veon Bell, whether it was Jerome Bettis, you know, you
(30:14):
know Parker, Willie Parker, which he was an obscure guy,
I mean and had some good, good moments, But you've
always had a guy that could fit what the Pittsburgh
Steelers have needed. It'll be interesting to see if these
guys can carry that type of load because they're not
marquee named guys.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
They're not known guys at that position, and.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
You've usually had an obscure guy that goes along with
a high profile guy that's been in the back the
backfield for the Steelers, and that doesn't seem, at least
today to be the case for them now. So maybe
that's an indication that they are going to go to
the air more than what they have and be more
(30:56):
past dominant, more pass haavy than what they've ever been.
But you still got to have running backs. And if
I'm the Pittsburgh Steelers and that's been their DNA as
to how they approach what they're doing, I think you
still got to have backs that can can do what
you see take like you have a mirror image of
a team in the Pennsylvania teams. So when you look
(31:22):
at where the Eagles are right now, that's generally what
you have when you're looking out of Pittsburgh Steelers team.
You have a Saquon Barkley type of back in the backfield.
You have a good, strong offensive front. You have a
quarterback that can manage the games, at the least manage
(31:44):
the game. Then you have a defense that can play defense,
strong up front, linebackers that can run, big, safeties that
can bring big hits, and play like light linebackers and
corners that are fairly good. That's generally the recipe you
see you see it play out in Baltimore. They are
mirror images of in likeness of what they want to do.
(32:06):
While Lamar Jackson is a prolific passer, they still want
to establish that run and you have King Henry to
do that. You have receivers, you have your tight end.
That's what Pittsburgh does. They use their tight ends historically,
you know, from Brunner to to Heath to now you
know Friarmouth.
Speaker 2 (32:26):
You use your tight ends.
Speaker 3 (32:28):
So there is a to me, there's a formula that
has been developed in the in the AFC North and
even even Cincinnati, even Cleveland follow that model. I mean,
you think about Nick Chubb, you think about Mixing's, you know,
those type of running backs, and then you see there
are skilled receivers and if you are able to get
(32:52):
an elite quarterback of Joe Burrow, of Lamar Jackson, they
were hopping a Deshaun Watson in Cleveland. They were hoping
for a Kenny Pickett in Pittsburgh, or even at the
time maybe a Mason Rudolph.
Speaker 2 (33:07):
You don't you know those.
Speaker 3 (33:08):
Didn't turn out to be elites, but two of those
those teams have elite quarterbacks and yet and still running
the football was a major part of the success. And
the formula of what it is that they.
Speaker 2 (33:23):
Do makes all the sense to me.
Speaker 1 (33:26):
I mean, why send them out there to take some battering,
take some hits when you can roll out a running
attack and bring back the old Pittsburgh Steelers Little Bam Morris,
little Barry Foster.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
Back in the day.
Speaker 3 (33:38):
Tim Worley, damn right, yeah, Meryl Hodge, Merril Hodge, yeah.
Speaker 2 (33:43):
Man.
Speaker 1 (33:44):
By the way, it is time now though, for the
tire rack play of the day.
Speaker 3 (33:49):
Now drives forward with a left hand floating to the glass. No,
but why hess top and pulled it off the front
of the rim.
Speaker 1 (33:58):
And flushed it with the Pacers Radio network on the
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up next here very interesting story out that may or
(34:22):
may not have something to do with something mentioned on
this show just a short time ago. Find out what
it is right here on FSR.
Speaker 5 (34:31):
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 1 (34:41):
Two Pros and a Cup of Joe, Fox Sports Radio,
LeVar Arrington, Jonas Knox with you here coming up top
of next hour a little over ten minutes from now,
maybe the best ever, maybe the best ever as far
as one transaction, one move in the NFL will explain
what that was.
Speaker 2 (34:57):
Comeing up here a little over.
Speaker 1 (34:58):
Ten minutes from now before we get to another edition
of In case you missed it, you can stream this
show and all of our Fox Sports Radio shows live
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Just search Fox Sports Radio in the appter stream is Live.
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(35:18):
sure to preset Fox Sports Radio in the iHeartRadio app
and it will always pop up at the top of
your screen.
Speaker 5 (35:25):
Sometimes you can't get to everything in the world of
sports or entertainment. Good thing, the guys are here to
bring you in case you.
Speaker 1 (35:34):
Missed it, and for that we turn it over to
our executive producer, Malfunction.
Speaker 2 (35:43):
Malfunction. Hey, it's just a gooper a Goop malfun.
Speaker 1 (35:47):
Hey, what's up, guys?
Speaker 3 (35:49):
Hey Coop, let's see how good you're just in case
you missed.
Speaker 1 (35:53):
It, Dad, Hey, Coop, you got nothing going on? Just
you know, well turn a double, you know, nothing going on?
Speaker 6 (36:00):
All right?
Speaker 2 (36:01):
Yeah? Sure.
Speaker 7 (36:02):
So apparently there was a rumor so you guys, you
guys know the energy drink Celsius.
Speaker 2 (36:10):
Levars go to I'm all on right now?
Speaker 7 (36:13):
Oh all right, Well, apparently there was a rumor that started,
I guess in a with a minor league baseball team
that got so out of hand that Celsius had to
come out and uh kind of address the rumor. Apparently,
the West Michigan white Caps, which is the high A affiliate
(36:34):
for the Detroit Tigers. We're talking about MLB approved energy drinks,
and they were sticking to C four and Red Bull
because they thought that Celsius has an ingredient known to
flag as cocaine in MLB drug testing.
Speaker 2 (36:51):
Less.
Speaker 3 (36:51):
I knew it had to be something, and I'll be
so keyed up when I had been getting my best shows.
I'm telling ever since I started drinking, get Celsius is again,
I've been getting my best shows. We were like, how
much energy are you going to have as much as
Celsius is going to give me?
Speaker 2 (37:07):
Damn, that's right, Okay.
Speaker 7 (37:09):
Apparently the white Caps players just believed that, although it
was not officially banned, that it's strongly discouraged by MLB.
Speaker 2 (37:17):
Uh So, Celsius.
Speaker 7 (37:18):
The folks at Celsius had to come out and release
a statement that said Celsius is completely safe and enjoyed
by professional athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and college students as part
of their fit lifestyles. Claims that Celsius could cause one
to fail a drug tests have been proven false and.
Speaker 2 (37:33):
There is no merit to these claims.
Speaker 1 (37:35):
You imagine your product.
Speaker 2 (37:36):
I'm going with Celsius.
Speaker 1 (37:37):
Hey, you imagine your products so good? People like, hey,
it'cott blowing it.
Speaker 2 (37:42):
Hey, br ain't look. I drank one last night to
stay up? Did I stay out? I said?
Speaker 3 (37:48):
I mentioned that you said I mentioned it earlier in
the show. How convenient is that?
Speaker 2 (37:52):
Right?
Speaker 3 (37:53):
I definitely did, and I was like, I was getting tired.
I was like, dang, I gotta watch this game. I
got what I need. Hey, grant me a celsia.
Speaker 2 (37:59):
I was like, whoa, let's go.
Speaker 3 (38:01):
Okay, see Indiana, Let's let's do it. Let's do it.
Speaker 2 (38:05):
And I've been feeling that same way since I drank it.
Speaker 1 (38:09):
Cooper, you an energy drink guy?
Speaker 2 (38:11):
No? I hate them? Okay? Are you a coffee guy? No?
I hate coffee?
Speaker 1 (38:16):
All right, so you don't like coffee or energy drinks?
Speaker 2 (38:18):
What do you? Did you work at this hour? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (38:21):
Well not always? She doesn't always work at this sound?
Speaker 2 (38:23):
Well you know what I mean? If you know what
I mean?
Speaker 7 (38:28):
No, I mean I guess I get my caffeine fixed
through soda.
Speaker 2 (38:32):
Okay, yeah, all right?
Speaker 1 (38:33):
So what soda has got the one that gives you, uh,
that lights you up the most?
Speaker 7 (38:38):
Well, I'm pretty much like I'm eighty percent diet doctor pepper.
Oh that my body is eighty percent pepper. Yeah, that's
that's that's like my mains. How many diet doctor peppers
do you go through in a week?
Speaker 2 (38:51):
What you say, in a week.
Speaker 7 (38:52):
Yeah, oh geez, in a week, I don't know, like
least fourteen fourteen you blow fourteen Diet Doctor Pepper's in
a week.
Speaker 2 (39:05):
I drink a couple of day, A couple of day,
A couple of days. That's not bad. That's not bad
at all. If you're a drinker of soda.
Speaker 3 (39:12):
I haven't had a soda. I mean, how many bottles
of water? How many waters do you drink in a week?
Speaker 7 (39:20):
Probably it's like a couple of bottles of water a
day as well, So.
Speaker 1 (39:23):
You're going water like two for two ratio water to
Diet Doctor Pepper each day.
Speaker 2 (39:28):
There's nothing on with that if you ask me.
Speaker 3 (39:30):
I mean, I'm not a soda drinker, but I'm not either,
you know, there's nothing wrong.
Speaker 2 (39:34):
I mean, I.
Speaker 7 (39:35):
Feel like Jonas is stalling because he doesn't want me
to get to my other story.
Speaker 2 (39:39):
No, but I really.
Speaker 1 (39:41):
I I was going to point this to the story.
I think the last soda I had was a our
last pop I had was an RC.
Speaker 2 (39:48):
Royal crop bro you all know about nope for.
Speaker 7 (39:52):
Yeah, all right, all right, all right, So there's there's
new testimony from the from the Shan Didy Combs trial.
Oh yes, uh and one of his one of his
ex girlfriends, who is going by I believe it's a
pseudo pseudonym Jane. She says that her and Ditty would
sometimes hire a male escort named Paul, and that Diddy
(40:16):
would assign them uh NBA personas. They would call themselves
the trip. They would call themselves the Trifecta, and she
was Kobe Bryant, Diddy was Michael Jordan, and Paul the
escort was Shaquille O'Neill.
Speaker 1 (40:40):
Oh Man, So who was who is Mark Madson?
Speaker 3 (40:47):
I don't think he was invited, thought, I'm not going
to convict him.
Speaker 2 (40:55):
That's ridiculous.
Two Pros and a Cup of Joe. Fox Sports Radio,
LaVar Arrington, Jonas Knox with you here. Coming up on
this Thursday edition, we look back on Game three of
the NBA Finals. Are the OKC thunder in trouble? History
would say yes, Their mood says differently, and we've got
Tyrese Halliburton discussing the talking heads and how much they
know about the National Basketball Association. We're also going to
(00:22):
get the very latest on what the Steelers offense could
look like. Good news for people who like a particular
energy drink. I guess We've got the very latest as
far as the Saquon Barkley victory tour goes, and how
bad it's going to look for Joe Shane when it
comes to the history of Saquan's departure from the New
York Giants. We've also got the very latest on the
(00:44):
Cleveland Browns busy quarterback room, the Great Albert Breer stops by,
and how about coops leftovers?
Speaker 2 (00:51):
It's all yours.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Coming up next here, Two Pros and a Cup of
Joe on a Thursday, Fox Sports Radio. You're listening to
Fox Sports Radio. If only people knew how appropriate this
(01:15):
theme song is today show Like Today? Oh man? It
is two pros and a cup of Joe. Here on
Fox Sports Radio, He's LeVar Arrington, I'm Jonas Knox. You
can hang out with us as always on the iHeartRadio app,
and you can find us on hundreds of affiliates all
across the country and wherever you are making us a
(01:37):
part of your Thursday morning, we appreciate you doing so.
We'll be taking you all the way up until nine
am Eastern time, six o'clock Pacific. And hey, you know what,
which will be a theme for this show that we
will point out. Look who decided to show up? And
this time we're talking about the NBA Finals. They were
back last night? Are you sure they were back last night?
(01:59):
And little bit of a surprising result, I think for
some people going into the game. Indiana was a five
and a half point underdog. But they get it done.
And as we've seen the stat thrown up before, anytime
there's a series in the NBA Finals, it's tied at
one apiece, the team that wins Game three wins the
NBA Finals eighty percent of the time. So the Indiana
(02:22):
Pacers in a good spot following that.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Win last night. They play well.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
I think they played like a team that does not
believe whatever other people believe. They're not buying into the hype,
so to speak, of what they've filed these other guys
are bringing to the table and not you know, you
got to give them a lot of credit because okay
(02:48):
See is what people think they are. I just think
that Indiana is better than what people give them, you know,
credit for. So they've made it more than just a series.
It's it's a competitive deal.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Uh. If if OKAC is to as you just.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Mentioned the stat if ok c UH is to to
really have a a real chance, they gotta get one
in Indiana. They gotta grab one in Indiana if they
go back to Oka c with a to two tie,
and you know, I'll say this, who wins the series?
Speaker 2 (03:28):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
I'm I'm I went with OKAC to win the series,
but I did go with Indiana to win the game
last night. But going into a game four situation where
it's it's uh, game five, excuse wait?
Speaker 2 (03:45):
No? No? Two to one right? Two? One?
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Yeah, game four, it's just I think it's very critical
for for okay See, but it's also very critical for
the NBA as well. Right, there's a lot riding on
this and to terms of relevance, maybe interest maybe, I mean,
there are a lot of things out are at stakecare
if Indiana were to win the next game, how many
(04:11):
people do you think are going to watch the next one?
So this could potentially be maybe the last game that
you get real interest in. If OKC decides to lay
an egg in the next.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Game, it would be whove the NBA to have a
back and forth series.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
It certainly would because it provides a much better storyline
to everything that's going on in a series. Again, where
we've discussed it heading into the series, we discussed it
as a potential series where you don't have the type
of brand power to really drive the viewership of the series,
(04:50):
the most important series of the season.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
For the NBA.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
So but again, give Halliburton props. I'm always to give
props elsewhere when it's not haller Burton. So I'm gonna
give him his his props.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Today. He showed up in a major, major way.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Uh, And he was the MVP of that game, and
and so they needed that and they'll need that moving
forward if they're if they're going to have a chance
to pull pull through in the series.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
I mean some would say he's the captain now made
him from being honest.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
I mean, you know, he had a much he had
a much louder, a much bigger game than what he
usually has. But make no mistake about it, the captain
of the ship is still on the ship. You know,
Pascal is still He's still a part of of what's
going on. I mean he he didn't have his regular
(05:49):
like you know, obviously big, big, big game, but he
didn't have a bad game. I mean, you know, he's
right there. I mean he was only one point off
of off of haller Burton. You know, Halliburton had twenty two,
Pascal had twenty one. You know, he had four assists
Pascal had I mean has got past.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Halliburton had eleven assists.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Where to me, that's where the separation took place was
it's just his ability to be able to make great
decisions and put other guys in positions to have an.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Impact on the game.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
I mean there were some some really you know, there
were some fine moments for them. Benedict, you know, Mathern.
He had a really good game. And if he can
continue to play that way, maybe he's the unsung hero
of the series. You know, Topping didn't have a lot
of points, but you know, he had some explosive moments
(06:47):
that you could say set the tone for the Pacers
and at moments in time like really, you know, showed
that maybe he was a little bit more athletically inclined
than guys on on OKC team. But I think you
had a lot of unsung heroes and India and a
show that they not only can play with Oka see,
(07:10):
but they can beat them.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
They can win this series.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
You mentioned Tyres Haliburt. There's been some discussion about maybe
he's not being as aggressive as he needs to be
and maybe he's got to do a little bit more.
He talked about the discussion surrounding his performance early in
the finals Laft last night after the win.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
The commentary is always going to be what it is.
You know, most of the time, the talking heads on
the major platforms, I couldn't care less, honestly, Like what
do they really know about basketball? The commentary is what
it is. At this point, you know, it doesn't matter.
You know, we're here in the NBA Finals, two wins
away from an NBA championship.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
So you just got to stay with it, put my head.
Speaker 4 (07:46):
Down and keep working, and as a group, we just
got to keep learning from our mistakes, seeing where we
can get better and take.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
It a day of time.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
How about that?
Speaker 1 (07:54):
People all these platforms healthy hell you're talking about huh?
Speaker 2 (07:57):
How about that?
Speaker 3 (07:58):
I meant clearly l Burton isn't the only one that
feels that way. Sometimes your own colleagues feel that way.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Yes, uh so the yeah, Like I was, I was
thinking about the situation involving just sort of the overall
look of this series and it and I made mention
of this before that it's kind of nice that you
don't have drama surrounding the finals. There's not all this
(08:31):
discussion afterwards. We're just really Actually, I think a lot
of people are getting to know these teams who are
maybe casuals or just tuning in. But also I think
they're starting to see that, well, this is just really
good basketball. Like the closing stretch the fourth quarter last night,
that was really good basketball. You said, like Miles Turner
did not have a good game offensively, but he died
(08:51):
up the wind puppet multiple times and ended up making
plays down the stretch. And so you look at it,
you go, these are really good individual performances and good
team performances from the Indiana standpoint.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
But I look at it and.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
I go, it's almost as if this Finals people don't
really have a rooting interest. And that's not a bad thing,
because I don't know anybody that looks at this and
is pounding the table. Gotta have an Okac win or
pounding the table, gotta have an Indiana win. Like Lebron
(09:23):
James butters the bread for everybody. If Lebron's in the finals,
you're gonna get a polarizing reaction one way or the other.
If the Celtics are in, you're gonna get a polarizing reaction.
The Lakers, the Knicks. Well, I said the Knicks, they'll
never be in the finals. But the point is, there's
generally somebody that you can surround your hot take around,
(09:45):
and this Finals doesn't have that. It like, okay, see
more than likely comes out and wins Game four, and
the series gets stretched and we go to six, we
go to seven games, and I think it's just gonna
be about the basketball. It's not going to be about
which talking head that Tyrese Haliburton is referring to that says,
you know, well, we've got to have this because it's
(10:06):
better for the league. I think the league looks at
it and goes either one that wins. It's like, we're
not going to be dependent on that for storylines that
are going to carry us through. We're just seeing really
good basketball, really underrated teams that are getting a platform
and a stage that they've never had before, maybe ever
in the history of their organizations other than a couple
(10:28):
of times, and that was years and years ago. So
I think there's a lot of people discussing the finals
that aren't used to the fact that we don't have
a singular player or a singular storyline to focus on. Instead,
we just got a look of good basketball.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
I mean, that's an interesting way of looking at it,
and that that could very well be what the situation
in the scenario is. I would I would tend to
offer the the the approach that Haliburton is taking is
the right one. You know, whether talking heads know enough
about basketball or know what they're talking about or not,
(11:07):
it's of no consequence. He's got to keep his head down,
he's got to stay focused because I do know for
one hundred percent. None of those people he's referring to
are going to dictate a win or a loss for
Indiana or for ok See. I do know that for
one hundred percent certain like I won't debate that one
with anyone. But with that being said, the talking heads
(11:32):
that he's he's referring to, a lot of them do
know about sports, you know, and a lot of them
know about games, and they may not know it to
the depth of a guy that's playing the game or
a coach or a GM They may not know it
to that degree, but they don't have to. That's not
their burden to carry to to know it. More from
(11:55):
the standpoint of what the athlete knows it, it's what
they say see and what their opinions are on what
they see. And then now it's a fans opportunity to
do the same exact thing, because you could say the
same exact thing about fans. You know, some of them
(12:16):
know it because they play it. They're they're enthusiasts of it.
Some people are more passive and just aren't you know,
into it as deep in as far as some some
real fanatical type of people that not only watch it,
but but play it, or you know, play it for leisure,
(12:36):
still are playing actively, you know, could be in college,
whatever it may be. I just think what it ultimately
comes down to more so than you know, talking about
a team per se, like oh this team can't do this,
or oh ha, leer.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Burton is overrated.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
I think what's more important here, Jonas, is what you're
talking about is the opportunity to take in the sport.
Are you enjoying the show? Are you enjoying watching the
production of what takes place and the quality of play
that takes place? Are you doing that because you can?
(13:19):
There has not been a flooding of storylines in terms
of big names. They have been pushing haller Burton. Now
that he's he's placed himself in that scenario, showed dad
there's that he had his little you know, his little
banner with with his his son's you know, on his
his likeness on there. Okay, that's the storyline Halliburton and
(13:41):
his dad. Great SGA is a storyline. But again, as
you mentioned, none of these guys are are truly established
megastars in terms of mainstream America, mainstream fantasy.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
It's like Middle America mom and pop basketball, like the
like there's no big time, big market feel and splash
all that stuff. To your point, there's just you just
got to enjoy it.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
Like you can't.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
You can't really sink your teeth into well, what does
this mean for so and so's future after the series
is over? And who's so? Is somebody getting looked at
for another?
Speaker 2 (14:16):
Get?
Speaker 1 (14:16):
No, there's none of that. You just get to enjoy
really good basketball and the two best teams in the playoffs,
and I for the NBA's sake, for everybody's for our sake,
based on what we've seen, aren't you hoping it goes
seven games? Look, I'd love to see a seven game
series with these two the way they match up.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Well, it's been fundled watch on the NBA.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
Aren't you trying to take full advantage of what you're
talking about? Like we talk about the comparisons between the
NBA and the NFL a lot, and this is something
leading up to and maybe this is why the advantage
in my estimation goes towards football, because it's only one
game and you're able to get the build up of it.
(14:59):
You're able to really get get to develop storylines, and
so you can create what you wanted to look and
feel like in a lot of ways, if you're the NFL,
you can maneuver and plan it. It has just as
much to do with the city where the game is
being played.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
I mean, there's a lot that goes into it.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
If I'm the NBA, how do I find a way
to galvanize what it is we have going on? Especially
when we have a matchup where it doesn't have you know,
it doesn't boast a Lebron James.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
It doesn't, you know.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
Give you a New York Knicks team or Tatum, you
know in Boston or Brown. How do you find a
way to make the storyline so strong and so real
that your viewing audience wants.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
To consume it.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
I had to do radio tonight, and there I was
watching a show I think it's called The Animal Kingdom,
The Animal Kingdom or whatever's on Netflix.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
I drink a Celsius.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
To watch the entire basketball game without falling asleep because
I was getting tired and I had to burst the energy.
But I've been watching that series Animal Kingdom, and the
storyline is so wild, it's almost like a spin off
of Point Break. That's I feel like, you know, that's
(16:28):
that's what took place. Uh, I want to say Regina King,
Is that that's her name? I believe she's she's a producer,
she's I know she's an actress.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
I just don't. I feel like I'm messing up her name.
But I'm gonna get it right.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
But anyways, it's the storyline was so good. It is
Regina King. Uh, the storyline is so good?
Speaker 2 (16:51):
What's up? Yeah, she's pretty good. She's talented.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
She's not the only a talented actress actress, but she
certainly is a talented producer too. Director, excuse me. You
have to be able to do this if you're the NBA.
Make it so that people don't want to leave. Like
I was, like, I gotta go to sleep. I gotta
go to sleep, Gotta do the show. Da da da,
this that and the other. And it's like, man, that's crazy.
(17:14):
What just happened. Dude almost burnt his whole house down.
He put the weed button down, he put the roach down,
and he got caught up and now the house is
on fire. Dang, what's gonna happen next? And I found
myself just continuing and continuing to watch the show. And
that's what the in the NBA has to do. The
NFL is masterful. They're surgical with creating a storyline, storylines plural.
(17:40):
Look at what they did with shador in the in
the draft. They are surgical with finding something that is
going to be compelling enough for not only your hardcore
fans that know exactly what's going on, but it also
serves that fan that may not have that hardcore approach.
And that's what to me, if you're asking me, what
(18:02):
is one of my major takeaways from seeing an Indiana
Oklahoma City Final is? Where where is the Where is
the I guess angles in which it's going to keep
the attention of the average sports fans.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
Just it's just good basketball. And I don't think and
I don't think that is that good enough. I don't know,
and probably not. It's for a lot of people most
likely it's but I don't think people are used to
this version of an NBA series matchup because normally it's easy,
(18:42):
Well it's Lebron involved, that somebody else involved, that you
can find a storyline. It's a big market, this one.
So we just watch the games and enjoy really good
high level basketball. Yeah, pretty much, Okay, I just I
don't think this series is meant for hot take culture.
It's just not meant for hot take culture. And I
(19:03):
don't and I don't think that people really know how
to react to it other than just to admire good basketball.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
Which again, brand brand. If you're making the brand more
attractive through other ways of hitting your your your viewing
audience and extending expanding beyond that, you got to find
those storylines and you got to really, really really drive
them home. If you're wanting the NBA brand to be
(19:32):
as strong as it is the NBA superstars that you have,
you know, it's a superstar driven league, but when you
have markets that have stars, but they're not the type
of superstars notably known established, which these are the moments
in time where they do get established and you create
(19:54):
a following and more attention to it. There should still
be a lot more depth to what's taking place in
terms of how you're building your storyline, because that ultimately
builds the storyline of how you're looking at the NBA
season next year and seasons beyond, how you're looking at
the draft, how you're looking at the new prospects. It's
(20:17):
so much that goes into what the NFL has been
able to create and build, and a lot of that
has to do with the media coverage and the media attention. So,
for what it's worth, while Halliburton has the right approach
to saying, I don't care what people that don't know
basketball are saying, the NBA had better be figuring out
(20:37):
storylines that make it relevant to those very people, because
those are the one Those are the people that are
going to touch their followings and the people who would
listen to them are going to actually, you know, pay
attention to what's being presented to them, and that could
be the difference maker and wanting to watch the series,
wanting to watch a game, want to watch a player
(20:58):
versus the other not wanting to.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
Not my problem. We got football right around the corner.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Thank you. Figure that out, well, you guys.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
Got work to do that. Wark It is two pros
and a cup of Joe. Here on Fox Sports Radio,
LeVar Arrington, Jonas Knox with you. So we are gonna
have the usuals coming up later on the Great Albert
Brear is gonna stop by. I'm assuming we're going to
have in case you missed it. As far as Lee's leftovers,
who the hell knows, but all that'll be yours here
on this three hour extravaganza. Up next, though, we are
(21:27):
going to get a little bit of a sneak peek,
all right, a little bit of a preview as to
what things could look like for one team in the
NFL next year.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
And that's yours right here on FSR.
Speaker 5 (21:36):
Be sure to catch live editions of Two Pros and
a Cup of Joe with Brady Quinn, LeVar Arrington, and
Jonas Knox weekdays at six am Eastern, three am Pacific
on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (21:50):
Two Pros and a Cup of Joe, Fox Sports Radio,
LeVar Arrington, Jonas Knox with you here. Coming up a
little over fifteen minutes from now. There's a story. I'm
not sure how LaVar is gonna.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Feel about it.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
I don't think it'll affect him directly, but it is
something that you've made mention of on this show already today.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
Okay, all right, so we've got that for.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
You coming up here a little over fifteen minutes from now.
So I don't know if you heard the news. Aaron
Rodgers is the new quarterback in Pittsburgh for the Steelers.
He's the guy there, the offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. He
spoke to the media, he said, amongst other things, look,
we didn't bring Aaron Rodgers in here and signed Dk
(22:32):
Metcalf for all that money to go run the wishbone.
But he did talk about evolving as an offense from
one year to the next. Here was Arthur Smith.
Speaker 6 (22:40):
We've evolved every year, and you know, you have to
so a lot of times out of necessity. Really. You know,
I've had a lot of different quarterbacks with a lot
of different skill sets. And in our job, especially as
a coach, is you know, to play to the strengths
of your players. I mean, we have our foundation things
that don't change. But whether you lean into certain schemes
you have to hear you adapt again to the personnel
(23:00):
you've got. That's what we try to do and the
ultimately win games and set guys up for success there.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
And so one of the things that's been pointed out
is that Rogers last year was with the Jets team
that didn't run the ball all that much. They relied
on the pass. A lot of that may have been
dictated by score. They could have been down in games
because they weren't good. Conversely, you had the Steelers who
I ran the ball. I think it was fourth most
in the entire NFL. They weren't all that efficient, you know,
(23:28):
as far as yards per carry and whatnot. But now
you've got Arthur Smith, who's got Aaron Rodgers there. Clearly
he's probably maybe going to trust the passing offense a
little bit more than he did last year. But when
I hear Arthur Smith talk, I don't know if you
get the same read I do. I just think he's
probably relieved not to have Russell Wilson there anymore. To
(23:49):
be honest with you, I think that's for him. He's like, look,
I wanted to put Justin Fields back in. I was
overruled by Mike Tomlin. As long as it's not Russ,
I'll take chances with Aaron Rodgers and DK metcalf as
opposed to last year.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
I'm gonna I'm gonna admit that this isn't my my
take because I don't know it this way, but yeah,
I feel like it's relevant. And I'll give credit to
Plexico on this because he's played for them, He's been there.
He understands that he's played for Tomlins regime, even though
(24:25):
it's not the same offensive coordinator.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
He said, they're going to run.
Speaker 3 (24:29):
The biggest, the biggest determining factor of what's gonna happen
with the Steelers is are they going to play good
enough defense and are they going to establish the run
enough and have enough success with the run in order
to be able to dictate and control the tempo of
(24:51):
the game and win the game.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
It's a battle of attrition approach.
Speaker 3 (24:58):
I will venture to add to that as a fan
that I believe that was Bill Coward's approach. That's why
he had the backs that he had then. I believe
that was Chuck Knowles approach. That's why he had the
running backs that he had back then, and I believe
that has continued to be the calling card of the
Pittsburgh Steelers. I don't see that changing. I really don't.
(25:21):
And you know, Arthur can say, you know all he
wants about you don't bring in Aaron Rodgers and DK
Metcalf to do that. But there have been plenty of
duos that you can say that you can use that
where you would say that that could be your your logic.
Speaker 2 (25:38):
I mean, so.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
You know, I don't buy that, I really don't. I
don't buy the idea that they're just going to go
past happy with having Aaron Rodgers there. But what will
be interesting to see is what can they establish, what
can they develop with having the type of skills set,
the type of wisdom and understanding that Aaron Rodgers brings
(26:02):
to the position as well as brings to the understanding
of what an offensive scheme can a successful one can
look like, what defenses are trying to do. How will
that help the other players on the field and on
the unit. I think that there are a lot of
asset value connected to bringing in Aaron Rodgers, but it's
(26:25):
still a wait and see approach if you ask me.
And the biggest wait and see is one, it can
Aaron Rodgers actually be the quarterback that he wants was
or a variation that leads to success for the Steelers?
And two, are the Pittsburgh Steelers actually willing to go
(26:49):
away from an identity that has dominated what the Pittsburgh
Steelers have been since basically the beginning of time, which
is they're a run first team. They were a run
heavy team and that's what they work to do. They
batter round, they grind it out, and they worked to
(27:10):
open up their offense through their run. Can that change?
I think that's a question that if your band attention
to Pittsburgh and paying attention to what Aaron Rodgers is
able to do, we're going to see if there's going
to be some flexibility in terms of the approach of
the way they they're playing offense.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
I mean, you'd think at this stage of his career
they'd want to try and have give as much opportunity
to run the football as possible to keep him up
right so where he's not having good Look, he got
banged up last year with the Jets because he was
throwing it so often. He got roughed up in the
game over and I think it was London where they
played early in the year. It's not like he got
(27:52):
through last year and he was just dealing with the
Achilles or whatnot. Remember there was the story about, you know,
he didn't want to miss any time. He was dead
set on wanting to play and start every game, and
so he was working through injuries and net injuries pop up.
That was one of the other storylines that was trickling
out of New York at the time. So last year
he dealt with other stuff outside of just coming back
(28:13):
from the Achilles. If you're Arthur Smith and your Mike
Tom Like, let's take I mean, yeah, we've got DK Metcalf.
I mean, that's a nice option to have for him.
But if you can establish the run as you mentioned,
like we've whenever they've had success historically, it's always been
through that. Like, why would you drop him back and
have him throw fifty times a game? If you can
(28:34):
be more well balanced and you can rely on that
defense that you talked about, which is still capable of
playing at a high level. And also in that division,
you really want to get in a shootout with Joe Burrow,
like you really want to get in a shootout with
Lamar Jackson, like you really want to go back and
forth with you know, whatever team in the AFC you
have to deal with throughout the course of the year.
It makes all the sense in the world. You'd want
(28:55):
to run games that you keep your forty plus year
old quarterback healthy and you're not having to go running
gun with other teams in the conference that ever that
are more well equipped to do. That makes makes sense.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
You know, you have a running backs, back committee, backfield,
and it's not your starter was an undrafted football player.
Your second string player was a third round draft pick.
I mean it's you know, to me when you look
(29:28):
at what they have in the backfield, And I don't
want this to come across as any shade to you know,
the guys that they have and Warren, Jalen Warren and
Caleb Johnson. Uh but I mean I look at it. Uh,
I just look at it. And Trey Sermon is there
as well. I just I just look at it, like
(29:51):
I get it. Like na Naji Harris could have been
a better back for them. You would have anticipated him
being a better back the Steelers. It just didn't materialize
that way. But for the most part, you've always had
a guy that can get it done, whether it be
Le'Veon Bell, whether it was Jerome Bettis, you know, you
(30:14):
know Parker, Willie Parker, which he was an obscure guy,
I mean and had some good, good moments, But you've
always had a guy that could fit what the Pittsburgh
Steelers have needed. It'll be interesting to see if these
guys can carry that type of load because they're not
marquee named guys.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
They're not known guys at that position, and.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
You've usually had an obscure guy that goes along with
a high profile guy that's been in the back the
backfield for the Steelers, and that doesn't seem, at least
today to be the case for them now. So maybe
that's an indication that they are going to go to
the air more than what they have and be more
(30:56):
past dominant, more pass haavy than what they've ever been.
But you still got to have running backs. And if
I'm the Pittsburgh Steelers and that's been their DNA as
to how they approach what they're doing, I think you
still got to have backs that can can do what
you see take like you have a mirror image of
a team in the Pennsylvania teams. So when you look
(31:22):
at where the Eagles are right now, that's generally what
you have when you're looking out of Pittsburgh Steelers team.
You have a Saquon Barkley type of back in the backfield.
You have a good, strong offensive front. You have a
quarterback that can manage the games, at the least manage
(31:44):
the game. Then you have a defense that can play defense,
strong up front, linebackers that can run, big, safeties that
can bring big hits, and play like light linebackers and
corners that are fairly good. That's generally the recipe you
see you see it play out in Baltimore. They are
mirror images of in likeness of what they want to do.
(32:06):
While Lamar Jackson is a prolific passer, they still want
to establish that run and you have King Henry to
do that. You have receivers, you have your tight end.
That's what Pittsburgh does. They use their tight ends historically,
you know, from Brunner to to Heath to now you
know Friarmouth.
Speaker 2 (32:26):
You use your tight ends.
Speaker 3 (32:28):
So there is a to me, there's a formula that
has been developed in the in the AFC North and
even even Cincinnati, even Cleveland follow that model. I mean,
you think about Nick Chubb, you think about Mixing's, you know,
those type of running backs, and then you see there
are skilled receivers and if you are able to get
(32:52):
an elite quarterback of Joe Burrow, of Lamar Jackson, they
were hopping a Deshaun Watson in Cleveland. They were hoping
for a Kenny Pickett in Pittsburgh, or even at the
time maybe a Mason Rudolph.
Speaker 2 (33:07):
You don't you know those.
Speaker 3 (33:08):
Didn't turn out to be elites, but two of those
those teams have elite quarterbacks and yet and still running
the football was a major part of the success. And
the formula of what it is that they.
Speaker 2 (33:23):
Do makes all the sense to me.
Speaker 1 (33:26):
I mean, why send them out there to take some battering,
take some hits when you can roll out a running
attack and bring back the old Pittsburgh Steelers Little Bam Morris,
little Barry Foster.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
Back in the day.
Speaker 3 (33:38):
Tim Worley, damn right, yeah, Meryl Hodge, Merril Hodge, yeah.
Speaker 2 (33:43):
Man.
Speaker 1 (33:44):
By the way, it is time now though, for the
tire rack play of the day.
Speaker 3 (33:49):
Now drives forward with a left hand floating to the glass. No,
but why hess top and pulled it off the front
of the rim.
Speaker 1 (33:58):
And flushed it with the Pacers Radio network on the
call that's your tireract play the day. For over forty years,
Tiraq has been helping customers find the right tires for how,
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way tire buying should be. All right, it's come it
up next here very interesting story out that may or
(34:22):
may not have something to do with something mentioned on
this show just a short time ago. Find out what
it is right here on FSR.
Speaker 5 (34:31):
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 1 (34:41):
Two Pros and a Cup of Joe, Fox Sports Radio,
LeVar Arrington, Jonas Knox with you here coming up top
of next hour a little over ten minutes from now,
maybe the best ever, maybe the best ever as far
as one transaction, one move in the NFL will explain
what that was.
Speaker 2 (34:57):
Comeing up here a little over.
Speaker 1 (34:58):
Ten minutes from now before we get to another edition
of In case you missed it, you can stream this
show and all of our Fox Sports Radio shows live
twenty four to seven and the new and improved iHeartRadio app.
Just search Fox Sports Radio in the appter stream is Live.
One of the newest features in the app is that
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just like the presets on a radio dial. So be
(35:18):
sure to preset Fox Sports Radio in the iHeartRadio app
and it will always pop up at the top of
your screen.
Speaker 5 (35:25):
Sometimes you can't get to everything in the world of
sports or entertainment. Good thing, the guys are here to
bring you in case you.
Speaker 1 (35:34):
Missed it, and for that we turn it over to
our executive producer, Malfunction.
Speaker 2 (35:43):
Malfunction. Hey, it's just a gooper a Goop malfun.
Speaker 1 (35:47):
Hey, what's up, guys?
Speaker 3 (35:49):
Hey Coop, let's see how good you're just in case
you missed.
Speaker 1 (35:53):
It, Dad, Hey, Coop, you got nothing going on? Just
you know, well turn a double, you know, nothing going on?
Speaker 6 (36:00):
All right?
Speaker 2 (36:01):
Yeah? Sure.
Speaker 7 (36:02):
So apparently there was a rumor so you guys, you
guys know the energy drink Celsius.
Speaker 2 (36:10):
Levars go to I'm all on right now?
Speaker 7 (36:13):
Oh all right, Well, apparently there was a rumor that started,
I guess in a with a minor league baseball team
that got so out of hand that Celsius had to
come out and uh kind of address the rumor. Apparently,
the West Michigan white Caps, which is the high A affiliate
(36:34):
for the Detroit Tigers. We're talking about MLB approved energy drinks,
and they were sticking to C four and Red Bull
because they thought that Celsius has an ingredient known to
flag as cocaine in MLB drug testing.
Speaker 2 (36:51):
Less.
Speaker 3 (36:51):
I knew it had to be something, and I'll be
so keyed up when I had been getting my best shows.
I'm telling ever since I started drinking, get Celsius is again,
I've been getting my best shows. We were like, how
much energy are you going to have as much as
Celsius is going to give me?
Speaker 2 (37:07):
Damn, that's right, Okay.
Speaker 7 (37:09):
Apparently the white Caps players just believed that, although it
was not officially banned, that it's strongly discouraged by MLB.
Speaker 2 (37:17):
Uh So, Celsius.
Speaker 7 (37:18):
The folks at Celsius had to come out and release
a statement that said Celsius is completely safe and enjoyed
by professional athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and college students as part
of their fit lifestyles. Claims that Celsius could cause one
to fail a drug tests have been proven false and.
Speaker 2 (37:33):
There is no merit to these claims.
Speaker 1 (37:35):
You imagine your product.
Speaker 2 (37:36):
I'm going with Celsius.
Speaker 1 (37:37):
Hey, you imagine your products so good? People like, hey,
it'cott blowing it.
Speaker 2 (37:42):
Hey, br ain't look. I drank one last night to
stay up? Did I stay out? I said?
Speaker 3 (37:48):
I mentioned that you said I mentioned it earlier in
the show. How convenient is that?
Speaker 2 (37:52):
Right?
Speaker 3 (37:53):
I definitely did, and I was like, I was getting tired.
I was like, dang, I gotta watch this game. I
got what I need. Hey, grant me a celsia.
Speaker 2 (37:59):
I was like, whoa, let's go.
Speaker 3 (38:01):
Okay, see Indiana, Let's let's do it. Let's do it.
Speaker 2 (38:05):
And I've been feeling that same way since I drank it.
Speaker 1 (38:09):
Cooper, you an energy drink guy?
Speaker 2 (38:11):
No? I hate them? Okay? Are you a coffee guy? No?
I hate coffee?
Speaker 1 (38:16):
All right, so you don't like coffee or energy drinks?
Speaker 2 (38:18):
What do you? Did you work at this hour? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (38:21):
Well not always? She doesn't always work at this sound?
Speaker 2 (38:23):
Well you know what I mean? If you know what
I mean?
Speaker 7 (38:28):
No, I mean I guess I get my caffeine fixed
through soda.
Speaker 2 (38:32):
Okay, yeah, all right?
Speaker 1 (38:33):
So what soda has got the one that gives you, uh,
that lights you up the most?
Speaker 7 (38:38):
Well, I'm pretty much like I'm eighty percent diet doctor pepper.
Oh that my body is eighty percent pepper. Yeah, that's
that's that's like my mains. How many diet doctor peppers
do you go through in a week?
Speaker 2 (38:51):
What you say, in a week.
Speaker 7 (38:52):
Yeah, oh geez, in a week, I don't know, like
least fourteen fourteen you blow fourteen Diet Doctor Pepper's in
a week.
Speaker 2 (39:05):
I drink a couple of day, A couple of day,
A couple of days. That's not bad. That's not bad
at all. If you're a drinker of soda.
Speaker 3 (39:12):
I haven't had a soda. I mean, how many bottles
of water? How many waters do you drink in a week?
Speaker 7 (39:20):
Probably it's like a couple of bottles of water a
day as well, So.
Speaker 1 (39:23):
You're going water like two for two ratio water to
Diet Doctor Pepper each day.
Speaker 2 (39:28):
There's nothing on with that if you ask me.
Speaker 3 (39:30):
I mean, I'm not a soda drinker, but I'm not either,
you know, there's nothing wrong.
Speaker 2 (39:34):
I mean, I.
Speaker 7 (39:35):
Feel like Jonas is stalling because he doesn't want me
to get to my other story.
Speaker 2 (39:39):
No, but I really.
Speaker 1 (39:41):
I I was going to point this to the story.
I think the last soda I had was a our
last pop I had was an RC.
Speaker 2 (39:48):
Royal crop bro you all know about nope for.
Speaker 7 (39:52):
Yeah, all right, all right, all right, So there's there's
new testimony from the from the Shan Didy Combs trial.
Oh yes, uh and one of his one of his
ex girlfriends, who is going by I believe it's a
pseudo pseudonym Jane. She says that her and Ditty would
sometimes hire a male escort named Paul, and that Diddy
(40:16):
would assign them uh NBA personas. They would call themselves
the trip. They would call themselves the Trifecta, and she
was Kobe Bryant, Diddy was Michael Jordan, and Paul the
escort was Shaquille O'Neill.
Speaker 1 (40:40):
Oh Man, So who was who is Mark Madson?
Speaker 3 (40:47):
I don't think he was invited, thought, I'm not going
to convict him.
Speaker 2 (40:55):
That's ridiculous.
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Brady Quinn
LaVar Arrington
Jonas Knox
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On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Ridiculous History
History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.