Andy Furman & Bucky Brooks Talk Aaron Rodgers Controversial Comments, Bijan Robinson vs. Jahmyr Gibbs, Royce White and Enes Kanter Freedom’s WNBA Draft Declaration and Much More!

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio Radio.

Speaker 2 (00:04):
Oh how did he get in? We'll get to that
in just about a minute. But right now, good morning everybody.
This is Fox Sports Sunday on Fox Sports Radio. He's
Bucky Brooks and Andy Ferman and we're broadcasting live from
the Fox Sports Radio studios. And by the way, by
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(00:25):
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right now, mister football himself, my partner, the main men,
the man who carries me on his back every single Sunday,

(00:47):
Bucky Brooks, how are you bucking hell?

Speaker 1 (00:50):
What's going on?

Speaker 2 (00:52):
Everything is good. Football is here. It's unbelievable, it really is.
And I have I have an update for you on
the Bill Belichick situation. I did I tacked him. I'm sure,
he's involved in a pretty good mess right now. His
son is somewhat in trouble. I guess the defensive coordinator
in North Carolina. He lost his general manager. So I
think right now the last thing he wants to do

(01:12):
is talk to us on the radio. But at least
we know he's alive, and well, well we'll get him.
I think we will. I think we'll get him. And
speaking Bill Belichick, I wasn't too pleased with the adaveditary
comments he made at the Hall of Fame yesterday about
our guy BB. Just I don't think it was the
time and place. What do you think about that?

Speaker 3 (01:33):
Look, he had prepared this speech for a long time,
and so he was trying to I guess, be lighthearted,
poke some fun as some of the people that are
close to him, because Bill Belichick wasn't the only one
who was a subject to some of his jokes.

Speaker 1 (01:47):
But I don't know. I can't say that that's how
I would approach it.

Speaker 3 (01:51):
But look, the only handful of Hall of Famer he's won,
he elected to use his moment to take a couple
of shots at his old coach.

Speaker 2 (01:58):
I get it, though, I mean, he had a good
stage to do it as well, you know, And again
I go back. I look at these candidates yesterday I
got in. I don't think you could argue about any
single one of them. Drew Brees, Roger cre should have
been in there a long time ago, tremendous player playing
for the forty nine ers, Vikings and Raiders. But I
look at that a vegetarian, and I say, what are
the qualifications honestly for a kicker? All right? He played

(02:18):
for like ninety six to twenty nineteen. He's only the
third ticker ever. Go to Canton, Ohio, Morten Anderson and
Jon Stanner. Rude. I mean, I think one of the first,
maybe the first soccer style kicker, was Pete Gogolak for
the New York Football Giants. I would have thought that
maybe he should have been in the Hall of Famers
because he was the first that changed the entire style
of kicking in the National Football League, kicking soccer style.

(02:41):
But I don't get it. I mean transparency. I could
see Larry Fitzgerald. You look at the stats, Roger Craig,
look at the stats. The quarterback, look at the stats,
whatever it may be. But a kicker, how does a
kicker get in. Can you help me out with the
voting process in the Hall of Fame.

Speaker 3 (02:58):
Yeah, I think with the kickers, particularly Ada venturiy I
think it's just a history of knocking down game winners.
And because he had some legendary game winners. I think
what two of his game winning field goals and Super
Bowls one against the La Rams to kick off the dynasty.
Another I was a part of the Carolina Panthers when
he knocked that one down in Super Bowl twenty eight.

(03:20):
I think there's something to being clutch. And because he
had a handful of clutch moments with the New England
Patriots that resulted him them being able to hoist the trophy,
I think that certainly mattered. And then he had a
solid career with the Indianapolis Colts where he continued to
cement that legacy. But I am sure it's because of

(03:40):
what he was able to do to kind of help
the Colts get I mean, not to help the Patriots
get that dynasty up and going.

Speaker 2 (03:46):
You know, it's funny because I think a lot of
people will look at to see if Eli Manning would
get into the class, and he had two Super Bowl
wins and is said I'm happy he didn't get in,
and then not because I disliked the guy. I mean,
I just don't think Super Bowl championships are thequalifications and
key that should open the door to can't Ohio. I
know he got two of them, and that's great, But
you talk about the old time quarterbacks, I don't think

(04:07):
he's in the same league as at Drew Brees. That's
all I'm saying.

Speaker 3 (04:10):
No, I mean, look, I don't I don't think he
qualifies in terms of that. But ultimately I do believe
he's going to get in, whether I believe he was
one of the best quarterbacks in his time or not.
When you play in New York and you win two
Super Bowls, the notoriety that normally comes along with doing it.
For a look, we talked about one of the premier

(04:31):
franchises in the league in a stage like New York City,
which sets you up for a success marketing eyes or whatever.
I just think his success on that stage makes it
where they have to put him into the Hall.

Speaker 2 (04:44):
No doubt about that. Now, I will say this, this
this problems in old sports, There's no doubt about that.
In Major League Baseball, I think has some big time
problems that they're gonna be facing even bigger ones because
it may not even be a season next year with
a lockout. However, you know, as far as the Hall
of Famous could, it's pretty transparent as to who's doing
the voting, and even at times they say who voted

(05:05):
for whom? All right, In the National Football League, I
don't think it's really that transparent. I'm not even too
sure about the voting process. Isn't like it's a third
the writers and a third you know, whatever it may be.
I mean, coaches. I don't even know how it works,
but it's certainly not really that transparent. So the public
knows what's happening with voting in the National Football League

(05:26):
for the for the Hall of Fame in Canton, Yeah, I.

Speaker 1 (05:30):
Mean, look your life for it.

Speaker 3 (05:32):
There's always been lots of conversation around who should be voting,
how they voting, we should know who, et cetera, et cetera,
And ultimately the voters are the gatekeepers. In the National
Football League, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, I think
there's a person on that side that presents you to
the rest of the group, and it could be a
local beat writer, it could be someone, but as a

(05:54):
medium member that does their presentation on and on and on,
and look, I sit there and say, and I'm looking
at the class that when it and I felt like
it was a great class. But you still can't tell
me that Bill Belichick shouldn't have been a Hall of
Famer regardless of all the stuff around. And that is
the thing that I will take from this class. All

(06:18):
those grays are deserving. I love their stories, but the
missing piece is Belichick. Because Belichick is the greatest coach
that we've known at that level. He certainly should be
included in it.

Speaker 2 (06:28):
And I'll tell you what. To give some props out
of Venetaria, he did give some credit to Bill Belichick,
saying he made demand that he is not only on
the field but off the field, and he said he's
the greatest coach of all time. So I give out
of Venetaria a plus for that he did he made
I mean, how could you not? And I would have
liked to have seen him say that he should be
up here on the stage with us, but I think
eventually he will get there. But I just didn't like

(06:50):
the way they kind of blocked him out, the way
they kind of pushed him out. They closed the door,
and I'm sure there's a closed door meeting. Say no,
he'll get in, but he's not getting it nder the
first shot, all right, So you know again, I'll go
back to what Pete Rose has said many many times
years ago. May he Rest in peace said if you
don't get in the first time, you shouldn't get in

(07:11):
it all because you don't get any better as time
goes on. Bingal, that's it. And he said that per
the Baseball Hall of Fame. If you get voted, if
you're on the ballot and you don't get in on
the first try forget it because you're not going to
get any better as time goes on.

Speaker 1 (07:24):
It makes sense, I mean it does.

Speaker 3 (07:29):
It does make sense when you make the presentation. The
only thing about that is some use in a class
where the guys that are going in with you may
have superior credentials than you have on that year, and
once those guys get in, and then it makes it
easier for the.

Speaker 1 (07:46):
Next person to get in.

Speaker 3 (07:48):
So the only thing that I would say is depending
on because the rules are look five years from your
last game, your last retirement. Sometimes you can just have
an unlucky lucky class next year, for instance, and too
Brown and lev Bell and.

Speaker 1 (08:02):
Some notable names come up.

Speaker 3 (08:03):
Cam Newton comes up, those guys, and so I'm curious
as they lump them in with the rest of them,
how do they determine which guys get in. And the
guy that I'm really thinking about is Antonio Brown. Antonio
Brown's numbers are worthy of getting in. There's a five
year stretching ball. Well, he's the most dominant receiver.

Speaker 1 (08:22):
In the game.

Speaker 3 (08:23):
Can we look past the off field transgressions to be like, Oh,
he's a Hall of Famer. He deserves to be in.
Let's put him in on the first ballot. That is
the one that I'm worried about, right.

Speaker 2 (08:34):
I think he will get in. I mean, if voters
are true to themselves and look at the stats, I
forget about ovof season shenanigans. I know, if the field
for shanigans, I think that he will get in. But
there's a lot of writers out there that are holier
than now, and they got to look at themselves in
the mirror and see what they have done in the past.
But they won't vote for him just because of what
he has done, you know, And we'll see what happens,

(08:56):
but we move on for there because I want to
go back to Thursday Night. I want to go to the
Thursday night football the season started to us. You know,
football is here right now, and I hope about Carson Beck.
Carson Beck, I think was the story was center stage
Thursday night. He looked good. But when you look at
the quarterback situation with the Arizona Cardinals, he's He's behind
Jacoby Prissett and Gardner Minshew. Carson Beck right now, when

(09:18):
fifteen for nineteen in that ball game, no turnovers, had
a touchdown through four hundred eighty eight yards. Now the
story is being said, well, he should be the quarterback.
One preseason game obviously doesn't tell a story, There's no
doubt about that. But how surprised were you the out
with the play of Carson Beck. I was shocked, I
really was.

Speaker 3 (09:40):
That's where I was going altary back to the draft.
He was one of my favorite quarterbacks. I felt like
his experience was going to help him be a solid pro.
Now we have to keep the nature of the game
in context. The Hall of Fame game, the first game
is about as vanilla as it comes when it comes
in pro ball, meaning not a lot of not a

(10:00):
lot of disguising, meaning moving parts before the snap. Some
will say not even game planning directly to impact theirs
on the car. And it was just kind of rolling
the ball out, playing their stuff. So that's the backdrop
of how the other team approached him. But give him credit.
I mean, he was solid. He was exactly what we
thought he could be from the pocket. The ball came

(10:21):
out of his hands, he took care of it to
made good decisions, all those things. What Carson Beck has done,
he has bought himself another opportunity to maybe inconsideration.

Speaker 1 (10:32):
For the starting job.

Speaker 3 (10:34):
Not saying that they still are looking at him versus
Jakobe Brissett, but they're beginning to have the conversation internally,
hey man, how good is he?

Speaker 2 (10:42):
Is?

Speaker 3 (10:42):
He good enough where if we want to play him
this year, maybe let's give him a little more, maybe
against the opponent's number one, Let's see how he handles
that stuff. So what he did he earned a greater
opportunity to see if he can be the starter down
the line. And so that's good to see when you're young,
what comes out there and play as well.

Speaker 2 (11:01):
Well. The callers just took care of Jacoby Bris said
they took care of contract wise. But I think that
at times, and maybe I'm mistaken, but I think at
times money makes a difference. I think sometimes when a
quarterback and or a player is getting a bigger salary
than someone else, they'll go and give that guy with
the bigger salary the shot. For example, in Cleveland, I'm

(11:22):
thinking Shador Sanders may beat out Deshaun Watson a quarterback,
but Deshaun Watson's getting the bigger chunk of change. I
think you're gonna give him every opportunity to play because
they're paying a big time money.

Speaker 3 (11:37):
Yeah, this is interesting in Cleveland because there's a lot
of conversation about it. I believe it's still the true competition.
We haven't even got to the game yet. Some of
this are these things where they're changing the rotation. Some
of it could be done just to see how people
react to the change. How do you respond if you're
told you're gonna be the starters, but now you were

(11:57):
ready to backups?

Speaker 1 (11:58):
Do you pal? Do you suck?

Speaker 3 (12:00):
Can you quickly transition and be like, doesn't matter what
team I'm on, I'm a play and play to.

Speaker 1 (12:03):
My own standard.

Speaker 3 (12:04):
Others are, hey, let's get a look, let's see how
they handle this personnel grouping. Let's put them against this
defense today. Let's make sure this defense are running certain things.
All of that stuff is kind of a part of it.
I just think that you have to just continue to watch, monitor,
and observe. But I will say the one thing that
is annoying to me is the stat tracking at practice.

(12:29):
And the reason that part is annoying is because what
we don't know are the intentions that the coaching staff
are entering each stay with when it comes to their
quarterback or not. We haven't been told if they're instructing
their quarterback to be ultra aggressive to see if they
can fit balls in the tight windows. We haven't been
told what the thought process is. So sometimes making judgments

(12:52):
off of practice can be erroneous because we just don't
know how the team has told each of these quarterbacks
to these respective team periods.

Speaker 2 (13:02):
Well, you look at Minnesota JJ McCarthy right now. They
didn't bring in a quarterback like Kyler Murray to sit.
I mean, you're bringing a guy because you want that
guy to play right. And I'm reading reports from various
newspapers across the country, especially in Minnesota right now, and
these reporters have got to practice. They'll just say that
such and such was seven to nine when no in interception.

(13:22):
I think that's okay, But I think that coaches go
a little deeper than that, and maybe leadership qualities. You're
in the huddle, what will players perceive which is a
better situation where do they have more confidence? But I'll
tell you right now, there's no way JJ McCarthy, in
my heart, my mind is going to start for the
Minnesota Vikings because they Brughn in a quarterback basically they
replace him.

Speaker 1 (13:44):
They did.

Speaker 3 (13:45):
Now I do think there that he can impact it
depending on the way he played. And what you would
tell every player in a competition, be so good they
can't ignore you. So if you're good enough where you
play so well you execute the fundamentals and the plays
that they want you to execute at a high level, well,
then they may have to make a decision. You're playing

(14:07):
so well that they don't want to change up what's
going on. But you can control that, and in these
competitions you can only do your part of it, control
which you can control, and don't worry about the other step.

Speaker 2 (14:19):
You know, you go back to the preseason right now,
there was a chart, I think it was a CBS
Sports hat it just the other day that five rookie
quarterbacks who made their debut left more questions than answers.
And I'm looking at this and I was somewhat shocked.
Jared Goff with the Rams back in twenty sixteen. The
number one overall pick preseason week number one is stats

(14:39):
four nine thirty eight yards in a touchdown. So you
get a number one pick and you see that, you
say to yourself, you scratch your head. Is this the guy?
Because they said, and the comments were that he looked
uncomfortable in his preseason debut, and he eventually opened up
the regular season on the bench before developing into one
of the best quarterbacks obviously in the league. After he
was traded for the Rams to the Lions. It's kind

(15:02):
of crazy when you see this. So it doesn't make
any sense to make any decision or opinion after a
first preseason game. It really doesn't.

Speaker 3 (15:12):
Oh no, you just got to continue to look at it.
And people have changed the way that they approach preseason.
Some people don't play their starters at all. Other people
use them kind of within joint practices because the intensity
is where you would like to see it. That's where
everyone is going in a controlled environment. But you just

(15:34):
got to continue to track and monitor into one thing
for the players that are in the competition, consistency and improvement.
Are you consistent in how you're playing, but are you
also gradually getting better? Those are the two things that
the coaches are looking for.

Speaker 2 (15:52):
Twenty twenty three, the number two overall pick Houston, Texas CJ.
Stroud preseason week number one, two or four teen yards
and an interception, and they say his first outing was
quote rough rough. I mean, I'm sure personnel people are dying.
Let's say I push for this guy in the war room.

(16:15):
I wanted us to draft this guy, and look what happened.
But I will say this first weeks in the preseason
should be looked at as if a quarterback is decent
like it was Carson Beck. Encouraging, but certainly when you
go to school and you got a great ABCD and
I I is incomplete, so encouraging, but certainly it's incomplete.
There's no doubt about that.

Speaker 1 (16:36):
It is incomplete. You can't take any of these things
too literal.

Speaker 3 (16:41):
You just got to continue to mark the progress that
someone in the exhibits from the beginning of training camp
all the way through. In these games, there're gonna be
some things where, look, they are weighted differently than practices
because it's more on the line as a competition.

Speaker 1 (16:55):
But you want to see, all, is this guy doing all.

Speaker 3 (16:59):
The things leading up to the game and then when
we get to the game he executes it just like
we said, or does he change? All those things matter
because it's a trust issue. Who do you trust when
it comes to picking your team.

Speaker 2 (17:12):
And you know what, maybe a guy who's drafted maybe
a little lower and comes on strong in the preseason
raises eyebrows a little more. Look at Dak Prescott twenty
sixteen fourth round pick, preseason, first game in the preseason
stats ten to twelve, one hundred and thirty nine yards,
two touchdowns, no interceptions, and they said he looked very

(17:32):
comfortable in the offense in his preseason debut. All right,
so you just don't know, I mean, you really know.
And Baker Mayfield number one overall pick of twenty eighteen.
First week stats in preseason eleven or twenty two hunder
twelve yards, no INT's and two touchdowns. Crazy.

Speaker 1 (17:50):
I mean, so yeah, you just don't know. I don't know.

Speaker 2 (17:53):
I mean, you know. And it's funny because when guys
make the decision, I guess the personnel guy makes it.
The coach really has nothing to do it. I don't
think maybe a little bit of input. You know, you're
part of a team right now. But in that war
room when they make decisions about who's going to be
drafted and how they draft or whatever it may be
and the needs of the ball club, who has the
funnel say is that the GM is the personnel guy?

(18:16):
Is it even the owner? What happens? I mean, who
makes that pick? And basically who's responsible because the public
really has no idea or clue if a guy is
drafted to say, well, what person made this pick? How
foolish could he be?

Speaker 3 (18:32):
It's a team normally it's the team decision, but when
it comes down to who plays, if all's on the
head coach, regardless of veto power, the head coach has
to do it because the general manager the job, look,
pick the players, all that other stuff, but who plays
that has to be a coaching staff thing because the
coaches are putting together the x's and o's. The coaches

(18:53):
know exactly what they expect from the player, and the
player has to develop under the watchful eye of the
coaches so they trust him and to put him in
So in these competitions that we're hearing about is the
head coaching coaching staff to has to make the tough
call on who plays and who doesn't play.

Speaker 2 (19:09):
Which makes it so difficult when there's a coaching change,
right because a player may feel real comfortable with coach
a all of a sudden that guy gets to boot. I mean,
I'm looking at Buffalo right now. You know, I was
really upset when the coach got the heave ho you
go deep in the playoffs and you get fired, I
don't get it. And right now I'm not really a
big Buffalo Bills fan because what they did to the
coaching staff last year. I think it's wrong. And honestly,

(19:30):
I don't know if they're going to be any better
than they were last year.

Speaker 1 (19:33):
What do you think now?

Speaker 3 (19:35):
Looking man, I think this is one of the more
intriguing situations to watch.

Speaker 1 (19:39):
Joe Brady steps into a tough situation.

Speaker 3 (19:42):
Because Sean McDermott was a great, great coach, playoffs eight
out of nine seasons, some near misses with some epic
playoff failures, but they wanted it better. So the only
thing that Joe Brady can do to tell his bosses
and the fans that he's a better coach, then Shawner's.

Speaker 2 (20:01):
Going for the super Bowl.

Speaker 1 (20:02):
He has to win the Super Bowl.

Speaker 3 (20:03):
I mean that is lofty, lofty expectations for a first
time coach, but that's where we're at.

Speaker 1 (20:09):
That's where we're at.

Speaker 2 (20:10):
No doubt about that. All right, He's Bucky Brooks. Get
him at Bucket Brooks on X at Andy Fromann FSR
or Betty had eight seven seven ninety nine on Fox.
That's eight seven seven nine nine six sixty three sixty nine.
And of course we have asked Bucky in this hour
you give us on that, uh yeah, and a our
number two the blank game and our number three and
we're broadcasting live from the Fox Sports Radio studios. But

(20:31):
this Quarterbacks battle is off the field. Tell you all
about it next.

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Speaker 1 (20:59):
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Speaker 2 (21:18):
All right, how could one player be a coward and
also the player of the week. Well, that's coming right up,
all right, stay with us. He's Bucket Brooks and Andy Fermana.
We are Fox Sports Sunday and Fox Sports Radio A
live from the Fox Sports Radio studios. And by the way,
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(21:41):
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Now tune into Countdown, presented by BETMGM every Saturday and
Sunday morning, right here on Fox Sports Radio and of
course there the forl iHeartRadio app. Now, obviously this is
gonna be Aaron Rodgers' last season in the National Football
League playing for the Pittsburgh Steels. A boy buck, he

(22:01):
is going out with a bang. He really is, you know.
And I don't know if he's one of those guys like,
you know, you know, get off my long type of guy.
You know, he's a he's an older guy right now,
been there, done that. But that's just kind of his personality.
I would think you know him better than me, there's
no doubt about that. Is that his way to like
get even with people, to go crazy, to point fingers,
to just be in the middle of like a hurricane storm.

(22:24):
That's that's basically right I see Aaron Rodgers is I
mean stirring it up. That's what he likes to do.

Speaker 3 (22:30):
Uh maybe, But then I'm gonna give him the benefit
of doubt because some of the things that I've heard
of Lady, particularly coming out of still this campus that look,
he's been a great teammate to his people, and Mike
McCarthy has reunited with him, talks about the leadership ability
that he's just played He talks about how he shares
not only with the young guys, but he will go
they call a thing called across the hall, where the

(22:52):
offense shares with the defense, et cetera. And that as
a guy in the twilight of his career, he is
trying to pass it on and leave the game better.

Speaker 1 (23:01):
And you can respect that. As a player. Now, I
will say this, like his personality is different. He is unique.

Speaker 3 (23:11):
But I know people that swear by him that have
been his teammates. I mean a ton of wide receivers
that are a ton of guys that have played with
him at Green Bay.

Speaker 1 (23:20):
They swear by him as a dude.

Speaker 3 (23:22):
And so look, I'm not in the locker room with
him on the daily, but if they feel so convicted
to stand up for him, he must be a much
better teammate than we on the outside may think.

Speaker 2 (23:32):
Maybe it's an act. I don't know. I never met
Aaron Rodgers, but I tell you what I've seen him,
have heard him, or read about it. But you know,
he had a shot the other day on the Full
Letter Network with Pat McAfee, and he was talking about
the former top USA USA Health official, doctor Anthony Faucu
take a list to what he had to say.

Speaker 6 (23:49):
And how much time does the network spend that?

Speaker 7 (23:51):
How much time did they spend on my responses every
week on my vaccination status Mount Taylor at Travis's wedding?
Did they do even a minute? Did they do even
a minute on Tony Fauci. I don't think I've heard it.

Speaker 1 (24:06):
I bet they didn't.

Speaker 2 (24:07):
But on that note, then there was another skin amazing.
I mean, look, I get it. I mean he was
a non vaxer. That's okay, and I get and what
he did I think is put the Pittsburgh Steeler organization
in a tough situation. And Mike McCarthy had to respond
to questions about his comments saying that, hey, my job

(24:28):
is to keep it all about football. He said, these
two guys, Fauci and Rogers have grown men. They have
different opinions, no question about that. This is what McCarthy
is telling the reporters that it's rough because he has
to answer for that. And he said, by the end
of the day, my job is to keep it about football,
keep it the focus on winning. That's why we're here.
And we have a good locker role. Okay. But and
then the pr guy for the Steelers had to come

(24:48):
out with a statement and he said, discussions around culture
and politics can bring differing perspectives, and our players are
entitled to their own personal views with respect to that.
I'm certain there are a variety of opinion. Is how
many topics within on locker room. So he put everybody
on edge with those comments. But you know, I get it.
I mean, everybody was down on him. He wasn't a vaxxer.

(25:10):
That's okay, it's over. You gotta move on, don't you think.

Speaker 3 (25:15):
Yeah, I mean, I think the big thing for everybody
as it relates to Aaron Rodgers is he's a guy
that kind of lives in the Great Area, right, Like
he kind of likes and enjoys some of these things,
some of these controversies, some of these theories that are
out there. Like he's into these things, and we have

(25:38):
to be okay with him expressing it. But he also
has to be okay when people challenge him back with
some of the things they debunk, you know, some of
these controversies that he's stood behind, like people aren't going
to be in line. And so he could take his
victory lap today because it was appropriate for him to
kind of weigh in and do some of those things.

(25:59):
He also talked about Mike Rable, Diana Russini and this
stuff like it's cool because he has been the guy
that has been subject to a lot of controversy. He's
been subject to a lot of media headlines regarding his
personal life and stuff.

Speaker 1 (26:13):
I get it. So today the rabbit got the.

Speaker 3 (26:16):
Gun, and so the rabbit was firing off and also
at every angle.

Speaker 2 (26:20):
Well, i'd play. You mentioned that Diana Rossini thing because
he covered that as well. Let's take a list Aaron
Rodgers on that we.

Speaker 7 (26:27):
Have literally an individual that maybe used to work at
ESPN that covers our league at the highest level, and
there's a major scandal and it's just like nobody talk
about it.

Speaker 2 (26:38):
What do we even personal lives like you of all
people should know that.

Speaker 7 (26:43):
I understand, But if it's affecting certain things, if there's
leaks going on, if there's tampering going on, if that
person is also an MVP voter and a Coach of
the Year voter, remember when I want to BEP in
twenty twenty one, Yeah, that bomb in the in Chicago,
Uh huh yeah, yeah, that that's a real life, Like
how are we allowing these.

Speaker 6 (27:04):
Porn Hobart Couch. I remember that a name.

Speaker 1 (27:08):
Okay, so on that note, good for you, man, Hey, Actually.

Speaker 2 (27:14):
You know you got to remember one thing. That was
Aaron Rodgers on the Pat McAfee show. And Pat McAfee
paid Aaron Rodgers to be a guest on his show.
So you talk about lack of creativity, lack of I guess, uh,
you know, really journalistic credence. I mean he's paying the guy.
I mean, you know, so I don't understand why he's
even worried about this stuff in the pad? Why does

(27:35):
he keep out Diana Rassinia? And I got to ask
you this question. You've been there, done that playing in
the National Football League. If a guy is involved in
a stance, okay, and he was involved with the non
vaccination with the COVID, you know that to me, can
honestly split a locker room in half. I'm sure there
were guys in his locker room that agreed with him,
and there was a segment of guys that did not.

(27:58):
And I think that back during Towrenty, when the National
Football League was playing games like a Wednesday nights and
Tuesday nights because of COVID and you had to wear
a mask. Didn't you have to take a COVID test
if you were not vaccinated to go to practice. I
mean it was a mess, It really was. And I'm
sure there were people say, hey, keep your mouth shut
and get vaccinated, and some did, some didn't. I'm sure

(28:21):
it created a major problem in locker room. So he's
worried about Fauci. I'd like to get inside the locker
room and see teammates of Aaron Rodgers what happened in
that locker room for those who were vaccinated and played
with him.

Speaker 3 (28:36):
Look, I think the thing about all of these things,
like being in locker rooms or whatever, like locker rooms
are a place where you can have different opinions and
all those things, and everybody can respectfully disagree and continue
to play for one another in a way like it's
supposed to be a microcosm of what the world should be,
where you believe what you believe in. I believe what

(28:58):
I believe in, but together on a team, we can
come together and move forward without hostility or animosity. Most
locker rooms that I've been in, that's how they operate.
That's kind of the code of the locker room look
as team before everything else. And even though he may
have some theories about why things are a certain way

(29:19):
and what he believes in in those things, like people
can look at and be like, yeah, that's just Aaron.
We just need him to come up and show up
and make plays on third and ten. That's how the
locker room typically feels about all these things most of
the time. If you can keep the main thing the
main thing, don't allow your private life to become a
public spectacle in this locker room.

Speaker 1 (29:40):
We're fine.

Speaker 3 (29:41):
And for him, he brings it in there. But I
think he's earned the right in terms of like people
respecting him within that locker room because he's played so long,
he's had so much success in a league that really
rewards people that earn their way up to the top,
and he certainly has earned it by his performance on the.

Speaker 2 (30:01):
Yeah, you know, I just have a problem with someone
who is so full of these thoughts and like he's
busting at the seams. Diana Rassini Anthony Fauci, I mean,
really let it go. I mean he's just like throwing
bombs at everybody, and it's just it doesn't to me,
you know, And he says he doesn't care. Well, he

(30:22):
does care. If he didn't care, he wouldn't talk about it.
You know, I've read in and above beyond everything I
could see about Aaron Rodgers this week, and he kept
on saying, repeating, I don't care. It doesn't bother me.
I got to say what I say. I don't care
what people think about me. You know what you do,
because if he didn't care, you would you wouldn't talk
about it. You know. I don't care about Aaron Rodgers.

(30:44):
I don't talk about him.

Speaker 6 (30:45):
You know.

Speaker 2 (30:45):
I'm talking about him now because I'm wondering why he
says he doesn't care, because he does care. If he
didn't care, he wouldn't talk about Diana Rassini. And he
went to doctor Anthony Fauci. Let it go. I don't
understand it.

Speaker 6 (30:58):
I don't.

Speaker 1 (30:59):
Yeah, he does.

Speaker 3 (31:00):
He does care about it, but he also has the
right to kind of say whatever he wants to say.
Oh yeah, I just think the team's job is to
make it like the cluos did.

Speaker 1 (31:08):
Hey, these are his opinions.

Speaker 3 (31:09):
They don't necessarily reflect the opinions of the organization or
the locker room. And then if something goes Wayward. Aaron
Rodgers has to be able to stand on business say
not just what I felt, just what I believe in.

Speaker 2 (31:20):
I hear what you saying. You know, let's squeeze out
a couple of calls right now to change the topic.

Speaker 6 (31:24):
Just a pit.

Speaker 2 (31:24):
Kyle from Maine wants to talk to Bucky Brooks. How
Fox put Son?

Speaker 1 (31:28):
Hell, Kyle, how are you boring guys? How are you good? Good? Good?

Speaker 8 (31:33):
Hey Bucky? I'm a big fan, man. Hey, So the Patriots,
you know, they didn't play great in the Super Bowl,
every kind of bagging on this year. Yes, they got
tough schedule, but like, one of the things I want
to talk about is like we always talk about strength
of schedule, and like, yeah, the Patriots had a pretty
easy schedule last year. But I mean, we don't go
around the league and look at every team that's ever

(31:55):
won a Super Bowl lost the Super Bowl and be like,
oh man, their schedule was so easy. The schedule was
so hard. So what do you think this year? Like,
I think they're gonna win ten eleven games. Still, I
still think they're gonna take that division. But you know,
looking at their strength of schedule, this year looks a
little bit harder. But I still think that Patscott, like,
they brought in a lot of key pieces that I
think they're gonna they're gonna be a better team. They

(32:15):
buffed up their offensive line, they brought in some defensive help,
So you know, what do you guys think? And and
then on that too, like my second question on this is, uh,
you know in the league, do you think that guys
ever really like fake injuries when they know they're on
a bad team so that they can get into like
coming into the next season, they know they get they

(32:35):
get an opportunity to go in to free agency, they
can kind of get on a better team. And and
I'll hang up a listen from there.

Speaker 1 (32:42):
Thanks for the question. No, I don't think God's fake injuries.

Speaker 3 (32:46):
I think at the end of the day, people understand, look,
my availability is everything, and I need to make sure
that I show to perspective UH, coaches and team builders
that I'm available. I show up every week. I know
that I'm going to produce at a high level. So
this is why you should take me as a good
teammate in those things. So I don't think injuries are

(33:08):
part of it as it relates to the Patriots. I
do believe the Patriots are solid, and one of the
things that has been interesting has been how they handled
the situation we talked about Vrabel and Diana Rossini coming
out the draft. If you notice, has been very very
quiet around New England of late. Mike Rabel has kind
of continued to be able to weather the storm and
do his thing and build the team the way that

(33:30):
he sees fitted. Hasn't been the circus that I worried
it would become after this situation. They can have a
slightly worse record, but be a better team, and that's
what I expect from them. Last year, look that everything
kind of worked out. People talk about strength to schedule
or whatever. I thought they were a really good team
that played well. Quarterback got hot, and they kind of

(33:52):
ran through the AFC like a hot knife through butter.
Coming back that Super Bowl experience will be tough because
they're still going to get everyone's best game. But have
they been able to shake off the hangover. If they
can do that, I think you see him go right
back to the tournament, have an opportunity to make a run.

Speaker 2 (34:07):
Sounds great, all right, He's Bucky Brooks and Andy Fermer
we have Fox Sports Sunday on Fox Sports Radio, and
Bucky has all the answers he really does, and you'll
get him all too. Why of course here's Bucky is next.

Speaker 4 (34:17):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio
dot com and within the iHeartRadio app search FSR to
listen live.

Speaker 2 (34:28):
All right, as Bucky coming right up. It's about twelve
minutes before the top of the hour. This is Fox
Sports Sunday on Fox Buts Radio. Hey is Bucky Brooks
and Andy Firm and we're live from the Foxbus Radio
studios and our guy, our guy JB. Are you ready
JP for as Bucky?

Speaker 6 (34:43):
I am always ready, Andy.

Speaker 2 (34:45):
I know you will. I should never ask that question.
I should know better. Go right ahead.

Speaker 9 (34:50):
A promotion was announced by the Akron Zips football program
earlier this week that will provide one Lucky winner a
chance to be the offensive coordinator of the game. According
to the release, the winner we'll get to plan Akrons
opening drive and the Zips home opener against Robert Morris
on September twelfth. Bucky, what are your thoughts on them

(35:10):
doing this? And what is the first play you would
run if you were the lucky season ticket holder who
was chosen.

Speaker 1 (35:17):
I mean, look, I like this.

Speaker 3 (35:18):
I like the promotion. That'll get a lot of interest it. Look,
you have all the armchair quarterbacks who think they know everything. Anyway,
give them a shot. First play that I would run,
we think in some quick pass, something to get the
ball on the perimeter, something to put the ball in
the hands of some playmakers without knowing Akrons personnel. I'm
just gonna say, hey, let's fling the ball out. Let's
go all hitches, Let's do something to get this crowd juiced.

Speaker 1 (35:40):
Uff. Let's see if we can have a completion to
get to second and short.

Speaker 6 (35:45):
Would do you have them score? Do you think you
could lead them to a scoring drive?

Speaker 1 (35:49):
Oh? I do.

Speaker 3 (35:50):
Yeah, you give me a call, they would take it over.
They may not get it back. So yeah, if I
won the promotion, I'm going in there dressed in all
my accring coaching, and my attention is to never to
get a call sheet up.

Speaker 9 (36:04):
Bucky Brooks offensive coordinator Akron Zips coming soon the next one.
Former Georgia Tech star in current Panthers rookie quarterback Haines
King ran in a five yard touchdown on the final
play of Thursday Night's Hall of Fame Game to defeat
the Cardinals thirty three to thirty two. Questions for you, Bucky,
was this the best Hall of Fame game ever? And

(36:25):
was this the best quarterbacking display we've seen in a
Hall of Fame game ever?

Speaker 1 (36:30):
I can't say, like all time.

Speaker 3 (36:31):
It was great, though, and I was excited for Haines
King having played in those moments man, where the preseason
is everything and for him, he's fighting for his NFL
playing life, right, so he has to go in there
show and prove Kenny Picken and Bryce Young is certainly
ahead of him, and you love what you saw, and
for him to have a game winner to cap it off, he'll.

Speaker 1 (36:52):
Always remember that.

Speaker 3 (36:53):
No matter whether it works for him or not, he
will always remember I had a chance to play with
the pros and I showed him that I'm pretty good.
I am really really good on that. So yeah, no,
it wasn't the greatest, but it was nice. It was
a nice performance for him.

Speaker 9 (37:05):
King awesome And I just thought of another question off
the top on this. Has there ever been a Hall
of Fame game or a preseason game where you watched
a certain player and you just knew that they were
a guy.

Speaker 1 (37:20):
Sometimes you can tell.

Speaker 3 (37:21):
I will say this, when I was in Kansas City
ninety eight, we played against the Minnesota Vikings doing Randy
Moss's year. We not only played against him, but we
practiced against him, and he was the real deal from
the jump.

Speaker 1 (37:35):
So yeah, sometimes you just know.

Speaker 9 (37:38):
Great answer. The next question the Andy, I'm not sure
how to pronounce this. The Preakness pracnice.

Speaker 2 (37:47):
Yeahs Steaks.

Speaker 9 (37:48):
All right, the Preakness Steaks horse race is moving dates
and we'll be held on a Sunday for the first
time in its history. In twenty twenty seven, the Kentucky
Derby and Belmont Stakes revealed that they had not included
pregnant sent a sixth race series to determine the nation's
top three year old race horse. Bucky, what are your
thoughts on this?

Speaker 3 (38:07):
Well, I mean, give the Preakness created for moving to day,
so obviously they're trying to do anything and everything to
give their event enough shine. Sundays are typically not meant
for racing, that's a Saturday thing, but a give them
created for thinking outside of the box.

Speaker 2 (38:23):
Yeah, And if I may, what they're going to do
right now. May one of next year's gonna be the
Kentucky Derby, obviously a Churchill Downs June fifth with at
Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park and the skipping the Preakness
all together for the Triple Crown. And they're gonna have
a Championship series and it's gonna be in September. The
championship race will be at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

(38:44):
So bye bye Preakness Steaks, and I guess the Preakness
really has not been drawing that well over the years,
So it's going to be Churchill Downs and then Churchill
Downs for the final crazy.

Speaker 9 (38:57):
The next one. A Florida restaurant is inviting to disrobe
on the first Monday of every month for a new
dining experience. Mauraud Ali, chef and owner of the class
Fire Steakhouse in Hollywood, Florida, came up with the idea
of the monthly event as a means of attracting attention
to the eatery in an unusual way.

Speaker 6 (39:16):
Bucky, do you think this will work?

Speaker 1 (39:19):
No?

Speaker 3 (39:20):
I mean, it's a nice promotion, but I don't think
it'd work. I don't think you have a lasting effector.

Speaker 2 (39:23):
In the big quote, would you do it? Would Bucky
do it?

Speaker 1 (39:26):
No? I would not do it. I think it's you know.

Speaker 2 (39:28):
Why I would do it. I would be ashamed or
embarrassed to be naked there. But I just can't eat
looking at somebody naked. I'd lose my appetite. Really, I just,
I mean, I just it's you know, nakedness and food
are not two things that got together, right, I mean,
have you it would feel great? It would. And then
here's the thing. But if you have hot soup and

(39:50):
you dripple on yourself, I mean, really, you could burden
yourself if you're naked. It's not a good thing. It's
not good. Do you wear a napkin around your neck?
A bib? What if you have ribs? Sometimes you have ribs,
You have to wear a bib?

Speaker 1 (40:02):
Right?

Speaker 2 (40:02):
Are you gonna wear a bib when you're naked? And
I just don't understand it.

Speaker 6 (40:07):
I don't know.

Speaker 9 (40:07):
I don't know enough about this to tell you that.
But real quick, Bucky, I want to speak. You're embarrassed.
You're embarrassed.

Speaker 6 (40:13):
Maybe I am, Maybe I'm not.

Speaker 9 (40:15):
I can't say it here, But Bucky, this last one,
real quick. I feel like all the attention has been
on the running back market in the NFL, but the
guard market has also exploded with Peter Scaronsky of the Titans,
Matthew Bergern of the Falcons. Do you see a movement
towards guards being valued closer to tackles as all these
guards are getting paid huge money deals even if they

(40:37):
may not be that caliber player.

Speaker 1 (40:40):
Yeah, I look, I think the market is going up
for everybody.

Speaker 3 (40:43):
I think we're seeing people pay people differently because the
sailor caps. So yes, I do see it getting close,
not quite an over where they overtake it, but close.

Speaker 2 (40:51):
All right, he's top to this position. We'll tell you who
he is next a Fox all right? Dare the best
won two punches in the league. That's coming right up,
God going to buy. This is Fox Sports Sunday on
Fox Sports Radio. He's Bucky Brooks and Many Furman and
we're broadcasting live from the Fox Sports Radio studios. And
by the way, be sure to subscribe to the Fox
Sports Radio YouTube channel. Just search Fox Sports Radio on

(41:14):
YouTube and you'll see our best videos from all of
our shows. And don't even stop there. Hit that thumbs
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takes you like and even who takes you don't like.
Just search Fox Sports Radio on YouTube and subscribe it here.
He is for the main man on this show, They're mad.
Who carries the shoulders of everybody, Mister football himself, Bucky Brooks. Hello, Bucky?

(41:35):
How are you?

Speaker 1 (41:37):
How are you doing?

Speaker 2 (41:38):
Everything's good, Everything's good. Football is here, There's no doubt
about that. And speaking of football, a couple of questions.
I've been watching Hard Knocks. It just started, I think
last Tuesday. Did you see Hard Knocks? Did you watch it?

Speaker 1 (41:50):
Yeah?

Speaker 2 (41:51):
Yes, Dad, Seattle Seahawks on and it was interesting. And
the thing that I took away from that show, and
maybe I'm crazy, I mean people through I am their
coach Mike McDonald. He seemed like such a gentleman, you know,
and some of these coaches are gruff, rough, every other words,
the F bomb. He seemed like a total gentleman. He
really did. I didn't hear one cuss word out of

(42:13):
his mouth. Now, you play for various coaches college and
pro and various pro teams. Does it make a difference
if a guy is gruff and cursing and cussing or
like a Mike McDonald because you play for that gentleman
in Buffalo and basically I don't think he have a cussed.

Speaker 3 (42:29):
Right Look, I would say that some coaches would talk
to you about emotional control, and when they talk about
emotional control is can you regulate your emotions in game?

Speaker 1 (42:39):
And so some would say cursing is a part of that.

Speaker 3 (42:42):
Can you control yourself when you get mad to use
better words than curse words. There's others who would say, like, hey,
I get that, but sometimes you need to convey the
intensity within the moment. As a player, you adapt you
ads depending on if you developed a solid release and
ship with the coach doesn't matter. If the relationship is solid,

(43:03):
then you can get through the spicy language that some
may use. But really it comes down to that relationship,
that communication, that connectivity that you have with the coach
before you can accept however they come at you.

Speaker 1 (43:15):
Right.

Speaker 2 (43:16):
Look, you're not going to play any differently if a
guy's yelling, screaming, spitting every other word, or f bombs
every other word, or the guy's just total gentleman like
Tony Dungee, I don't think he have a cuss. I
mean Tony junge. You seemed to me like a gentleman.

Speaker 3 (43:30):
Yeah, Tony Dungee ultimately is kind of like the gold
standard for being a gentleman. The way that he comes
at you would probably be like playing for your granddad
in terms of you disappointed him more so than him.

Speaker 1 (43:41):
Cussing you out to get you going.

Speaker 3 (43:42):
I think you can hold yourself to the standard like
Tony hild himself for a long time and get the
results that you want. I think the main thing with
all of it, you have to be who you really are,
So you can't be a guy that like typically cursed
like the sailor in your personal life, but now you're
trying to straighten up and do all these things in
front of the team. I think you have to be
authentically who you are, and if you're that, you probably

(44:05):
get the best results from the people that are around you.

Speaker 2 (44:07):
All right, now, let's talk money. Okay, everybody likes to
talk money, and the big news out of Detroit the
other day the Detroit Lions named Jamier gives now is
the highest paid running back based on average annual value
of his extension extension three years, sixty seven and a
half million dollars by John Robinson was a twenty two
point two million, and now all of a sudden, believe

(44:31):
it or not, I mean, the running back position is
big time. Jonathan Taylor twenty two mil. See Kwon Barkley
see Kuon Barky twenty point six mil. It's amazing right
now what has happened with these running backs and getting money?

Speaker 10 (44:45):
Now?

Speaker 2 (44:46):
Look, I get it, the NFL is like busting at
the seams making money. But all of a sudden, now
the running back position has become a little more valuable.
And several years ago the full back position became extinct.
So tell me why as the running back position become
more valuable and they're paying these guys more money.

Speaker 3 (45:05):
The reason why it's more valuable is because the guys
that are getting paid are guys that can impact the game,
not only as runners but as receivers. Years ago, Levy
and Bell and he won't get credit for this, he
talked about I deserve to get paid like an RB
one slash wide receiver two, meaning I am good enough
to do all the heavy workload stuff and the run game,

(45:25):
but I'm also effective enough in the passing game that
you used me as the second option. Well, the running
backs that we talk about just getting paid b John
Robinson and Jamiir Giz respectively. They impact the game not
only as runners but as receivers. And if you go
and you look at that top ten list, Derrick Henry
and Jonathan Taylor are the outliers because they're kind of
run only dudes. They can take the check down on

(45:47):
those things. But when you think about each of those guys,
they come down here, they're gonna run the ball. They're
at their best story running twenty five plus times. These
other guys are putting up two thousand Scrimmagar seasons where
maybe they're rushing for twelve hundred, receiving for eight hundred
and putting constant pressure on the defense. To me, the
thought is, find a running back that's an offensive specialist

(46:10):
that can run it, that can catch it, that can
make plays down the field. You're looking for that kind
of running back as opposed to the old hammerhead that
used to dominate the position.

Speaker 2 (46:20):
Yeah, and I've always thought that the running back position
becomes more viable, not only because he could score and
gain yardage, but eat up the clock. If you're winning,
I mean, you know you've got a guy in a
quarterback position. He could throw four or five bombs and
you're scoring. The next thing you know, your defense is
back on the field. You got a guy that could
grind it out. Forget about how many touchdowns he could score.

(46:42):
Just grind it out, eat up that clock. If you
have a lead, it's the most viable thing you could have.

Speaker 3 (46:49):
I mean, look, it is very valuable to have that
kind of stuff because it is part of playing what
we call complimentary ball, right, complimentary football.

Speaker 1 (46:59):
Where you are.

Speaker 3 (47:01):
Doing what you need to do in terms of, hey,
let's run the football, let's manage the clock, let's shorten
the game, those things. And the better the running back,
the lighter to load on the quarterback. How can we
light the load by running the football effectively, by being
able to find various ways to have high completion percentage

(47:22):
passes that have big play potential. Well, the running back
can be a part of all of that in the discussion. So, yeah,
good running back makes everybody better, including the quarterback and
the defense.

Speaker 2 (47:33):
Yeah, I had no idea. Jamier Gibbs has forty nine
career touchdowns, the most in NFL history for a player
through his first three seasons, and at top the previous
mark held by another Detroit Lion, Barry Sanders, who had
forty seven I mean and eighty rushing yards are the
twenty second most for any player in years one through three.
And the amazing stat for that is not the numbers

(47:56):
that he put up, but he split time with David
Montgomery with the Texans. So now all of a sudden,
I gotta believe his numbers will go up even higher.
He's going to carry a bigger load now in Detroit.

Speaker 1 (48:08):
Yeah. Look, I'm gonna say this.

Speaker 3 (48:11):
This is really hard and I wrote about it on
NFL dot com this week, this comparison between b Jon
Rominson and Jamier Gibbs, who's the real number one runner?
And I'm gonna tell you it's like six on one hand,
half a dozen on the other in terms of which
one deserves it. But when I think about both of
these guys, they both are worthy of being twenty million
dollar backs. When you think about what Saquon Barkley has

(48:32):
been able to do, their games compare favorably to Saquon
Barkley and the way that he's been able to impact
the game as a perennial pro bowler, A guy who
has done it as a running back and a receiver.
These guys have similar traits. The differences between the two.
Jamiir Gibbs is explosive, Like I understand now why he
and David Montgomery were called Sonic and Knuckles. Because he

(48:53):
is sonic, he is a blur on the perimeter. Bijon
is crafty. He's created if he's dynamic with the ball
in his hands. But he's consistent beyond fourteen hundred rushing years,
back to back years. You talked about the forty nine
touchdowns for Jamior years, but he consistently puts it into paint.
It's one of the more electrifying runners in the game.

(49:14):
You can't go wrong with either one of these. It's
just what do you want? Do you want the steady
eddie production? Are you looking for the splash place in
the sizzle? Depending upon how you answer, that will determine
which running back is probably more your speed.

Speaker 2 (49:28):
JP. He's crazy in his hand. He has he has
to go to the bathroom or ask you a question.
I don't know, Go ahead, JP, Yeah, no.

Speaker 9 (49:36):
I just wanted your from a team building perspective, because
they are probably one and two in the NFL right now.
Gibbs is obviously the maybe the most explosive player in
the NFL. If you're building your ideal Bucky Brooks offense
from scratch, which one what do you want to build around?

Speaker 1 (49:55):
I don't really think you can go wrong.

Speaker 3 (49:57):
In my piece, I picked John Robinson, but it was
as close as all get out.

Speaker 1 (50:01):
I'll just say this.

Speaker 3 (50:02):
Jon is dynamic in terms of what he does in
the tackle box, but Jamiir Gibbs has.

Speaker 1 (50:08):
The pozass And I looked.

Speaker 3 (50:10):
The deciding factor came on who's doing more with less?
And Jamie Gibbs has Amamra Saint Brown, Jameson Williams, Samuel Port.
He has a quarterback that's a four time, five time
Pro Bowler. Bjeon doesn't have that. He hasn't played with
a Pro Bowl quarterback like a guy that's a legitimate
high end option, and so he's having to do a
little more. And it's the resistance piece kind of gives

(50:32):
him the favor because I'm seeing him do it at
his worst. But now, these are two talented backs that
both are worthy of being celebrated.

Speaker 2 (50:40):
You know, I don't want to look like I'm dissing you,
but you did a one heck of a piece at
NFL dot Com. And I want to zoom in on
that in the next segment. But right now, I think
the dog is still waiting. Is he dog still there
on the phone?

Speaker 1 (50:51):
Yes? Yet?

Speaker 2 (50:52):
How you doing, dog? Sorry to make you wait like that.
Bucket Brooks is here for you. Always go aheady dog.

Speaker 11 (50:58):
Because I am the greatest anyway.

Speaker 2 (51:01):
I don't know about that, No would take it. You know,
we don't need eagle maniacs on this show. We really
don't know your motion.

Speaker 11 (51:06):
I'm sorry, that's okay, go ahead, okay. I want to
talk with the Browns. I like Sanders. I hope he
gets the stunning job to be the Patriots and the Bills,
but you know, uh, seeing who's gonna win the division.
I think the Patriots are gonna win, but it's an
easy division so that everything can happen. And I think

(51:29):
Aaron Rodgers is done. I don't think he's gonna do
no more do anything good for the Steelers. And you know,
I'm just a great caller again you guys later.

Speaker 2 (51:41):
Yeah, it's amazing to me. The guy waited on the
phone for like five hours. I mean, really, tu he
was on you know, back on the show prior to ours.
All right, he really was, and that's real. He said
he's a great caller. So if he's a great caller,
he's a great caller. It's good, Happy, happy for right,
great predictions. Now get back to the running back if
I can. We're we're gonna take care of the comparison

(52:03):
next segment. Obviously. Right now, I think it's pretty good
to have a one to two punch. I mean, you
have a running back, but I think what's better to
having one running back is having two great running backs.
And they have a list over here of the best
one two combos in the league, which is amazing, And
I go back, this is amazing. I'm gonna show you

(52:24):
what kind of a fan I was as a kid
with the New York Football Giants, they had two running
backs and they call them the baby Bulls. You probably
don't remember this, Do you remember the baby Bulls Ernie
Koy and Tucker Fredericson.

Speaker 1 (52:37):
No, I definitely don't.

Speaker 2 (52:39):
I know I was a young tike, but I love
the Giants. Back then, I really did baby Bulls, Ernie Koy,
Tucker Frederickson. And after that there were many teams that
had two great running backs? Aren't that correct on that?
I mean that one guy a Bell Cow and that
was it. But now they have a listing over here
of the teams with the best one two punch from

(53:00):
one to ten. I'm gonna start with ten, and they
got Hampton and Mitchell with the San Diego LA Chargers.
I call the San Diego LA because they were there first,
and they got a new offensive coordinator, Mike McDaniel. What
do you think of that combo of Mitchell and Hampton.
I mean, we're gonna go through these teams the best
won two punches in the league at the running back position.

Speaker 3 (53:22):
I mean, I think it's solid, but I mean a
mari and Hampton has to proved that he can stay
healthy and handle the workload and continue to produce at
a high level. Mitchell is someone as fast as a
nice compliment. But both of those guys are I would say,
far more improving than some other than other tandems that
we have in the league.

Speaker 2 (53:39):
All Right, we're going down the list right now, and
Buffalo they list at number nine, and Buffalo doesn't really
have a problem offensively. I think if they have any
problems whatsoever, it's on the defensive side of the ball.
And we all know about James Cookie at his best
career season last year, league letting sixteen hundred plus yards
and twelve touchdowns. But they have Ray Davis with him.
I'm not so certain Ray Davis is a great running

(54:00):
We'll see. Maybe James Cooks makes him better. I don't know.

Speaker 1 (54:05):
Yeah, I mean he makes him better, But I would
say this more Cooke than Ray Davis. Ray Davis is solid,
He's a bill cow.

Speaker 3 (54:13):
But look, it's a nice overall group to think about it.
This is more James cook getting it done. Whatever he
does as a runner, catch them ball out the backfield.
He has some of those New Schools traits that we've
talked about. It's just about them fully leaning into all
the things that he brings to the table.

Speaker 2 (54:31):
I'm not also certain that San Francisco forty nine should
even be listed on this list, but they put him
in eighth place. They got Christian McCaffrey with a question mark,
and the question mark obviously has to be the Jordan James.
I guess a Patrick Taylor. I mean, I don't know
who else is gonna run there at. Christian McCaffrey, to me,
is somewhat injury prone, and he's getting up there in years.

Speaker 3 (54:52):
Yeah, but I mean like, look, he's terrific and everyone
that the Niners have plugged in have been able to produce.
I know there are a lot of people that have
said about them taking running back early, but young rookie
coming in being able to spell Christian McCaffrey is only
going to make the offense more dynamic, more explosive as
a diversified the load. Add Deebo Samuel into that. Look,

(55:12):
I like the running back obviously you could see them.
C is there and so anybody that you're pair with
him is going to have a chance to be a
part of a great tandem.

Speaker 2 (55:20):
Yeah, I'm moving along. Now let's go to the Chicago bench.
DeAndre Swift. Yeah, I didn't even know who was running
mate would be in fifth place over there this year.

Speaker 1 (55:30):
They had a young guy. They had a young guy
last year I think might have been a fifth round pick.
But you can a good job of sharing the load.

Speaker 3 (55:37):
Yeah, And what they were able to do is they
can run inside and outside. They still have some of
the pizazz that Ben Johnson prefers, and they lean on
the running game. To think about them is They're one
of these teams that people always think about them throwing
all over the yarp, But it's the running game that
is one that kind of wears you down. They are

(55:58):
a physical team, even though they played with what appears
to be a bit of a finesse premise. They get
after it and that running game is a big part
of it.

Speaker 2 (56:06):
You know, would I be wrong when I say this?
I think the best running back combination was in Detroit
with Jamar Gibson David Montgomery. I thought that was a
great one two punch. I don't think there were many
better ones in the league last year.

Speaker 3 (56:19):
I mean, yeah, I think you're certainly you hitting the
nail on the head because of the numbers that they
put up in the way that they complimented one another.
This was not a situation where a one guy's won
the other guys too. This was more of a one
A one B.

Speaker 1 (56:33):
Deal.

Speaker 3 (56:34):
And if you have that, if you're lucky enough to
have that kind of control, you can't stack the deck
and give your team an opportunity to do it.

Speaker 1 (56:41):
But no, I love the way that they were constructed.

Speaker 2 (56:44):
What about the Patriots combination Romandre Stevenson and Treveon Henderson.

Speaker 3 (56:50):
That's a lot of uncertainty, a lot of unknown I
like the talent individually and collectively, but we need to
see him stay together. Last year, things were abruptly in
it and you didn't get a chance to see that
the entire way, or you didn't see them have the impact,
meaning they didn't get enough touches or carries to impact
the game. The way that you envision that changes this year.

(57:11):
They should have a better front line, They should be
able to diversify a little more of their offensive approach.
And I think these guys that they have on team,
they respond.

Speaker 2 (57:19):
You know, maybe I'm wrong, And you played on many
teams obviously, and you've seen it. A running back combination
usually is one big brute guy who could get you
a third and one and a guy who could maybe
go out and catch the ball as well as be
a good runner, you know, and we're not seeing that
right now. I mean Jamar Gibbs David Montgomery was not

(57:40):
that kind of running back combo. They both really could
split the tackles and run and catch the ball in
the backfield. I mean, it's not the way it used
to be. One brute that you give the buddy come
in on third down, get you that first down when
it's third and one, third and two. We don't see
that much anymore. Like Derek Henry. Derek Henry with the
Ravens right now and they list him Derek Henry is

(58:01):
the third best combo. I guess with Justice Hill. Now
with the Ravens, he'll be the running back.

Speaker 1 (58:07):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (58:08):
I mean, like you just talk about it, like how
unique it is and how it is hard to find
multiples that can do it. I think it'd be interesting
to watch the Cardinals Jeremy I Love and Tyler air
Jeer and your left Atlanta being second filled to b
John Robinson only to get to Arizona to be second
filled to another different scored approvement. But that's what some
of these things are. It's about balancing it out. And

(58:29):
when you think about tandems, do you have a superstar
in an unproven or do you have a couple of
high end dues that aren't quite elite, but when they
play together within the conference of the city, they deliver
Italy performance.

Speaker 2 (58:43):
Well, the Ravens are unusual in the sense that, yeah,
they got a bull and Derrick Henry, but they also
have Lamar Jackson will get you some of you odds
too running the football.

Speaker 3 (58:52):
Yeah, and this is Lamar Jackson. He's coming off his
worst campaign as a runner. We're so used to him
putting up big numbers at a runner. He didn't have
that last year. So are we seeing a bit of
the end of the era or is he a guy
that can reinvent himself and find different ways to contribute
and make things happen.

Speaker 2 (59:09):
All right, and I'm going to go back to the
Detroit Lions. I can't believe they listed Detroit Lions and
the other two best combos running in the backfield. Yeah,
I got Jamrkis, but Isaiah Pacheco really, I mean he's
had a leg injury and he really hasn't been good
in the last two seasons.

Speaker 1 (59:26):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (59:28):
Look, I think this is the major bet that they're
making on, like, this is what they want to do.
But I just don't know how you can make this
so like with so many presumptions on what this is
going to be.

Speaker 1 (59:44):
I love the A one.

Speaker 3 (59:45):
I think he's phenomenal and I think by himself he
will give everyone a run. But now you're paying him
with someone who is likely regarded you wonder you think
it's more speculation than proven stuff. I don't like to
be speculative when it comes to making predictions.

Speaker 2 (01:00:00):
All right now, number one, before we get to JB.
Number one, Bijon Robinson and Brian Robinson Junior from the Falcons,
I say, watch out for the Falcons. All they need
is that quarterbacks set up, and I think Tour could
be the guy. Tour is going to be the starting quarterback.
Why again, they brought him in. That's why he's going
to be the starting quarterback. Right, Tour quarterback. He'll turn
it around, and they got Bjon Robinson, they'll be pretty good.

(01:00:22):
Watch out for the Falcons, right, I.

Speaker 3 (01:00:24):
Think you just need to be leary as a quarterback situation.
We all assume that people are gonna come right back
and have no issues.

Speaker 1 (01:00:30):
We just don't know. Hopeful, but we don't know.

Speaker 3 (01:00:34):
We'll see how comfortable he is getting and feeling what
he feels like to make it happen. But yeah, right now,
you're talking about the diligences of being able to go
through this list pick teams that have enough potential individually
and collectively to get it done. These are the exercises
that you have to do in the front office.

Speaker 2 (01:00:50):
So I do like this, JB, go right ahead, it's
all yours.

Speaker 6 (01:00:54):
Yeah.

Speaker 9 (01:00:55):
So, as you guys were going through this list, I
kind of started to think of it, which is, I
don't know that I see a point to this list, because,
as you were saying, I'm curious if you guys agree
with me, it kind of just seems like, here's the
best running backs in the NFL, and then they're backups,
and it's not really we don't really have that many

(01:01:15):
one to two punches.

Speaker 6 (01:01:16):
So do you think that it's even necessary to do
this list?

Speaker 1 (01:01:21):
Uh?

Speaker 3 (01:01:21):
Oh, yeah, yeah, I think it's I think it's I
think it's harder because you're right, we're not seeing as
many teams operate with the backpay committee situation, and because
we are conditioned to the media side, because we kind
of beat down all the decision makers like hey, you
need multiple bags, you can't do it off one. We're
can the condition and be like, all right, I guess
we have to have the one and the two, the

(01:01:43):
first guy and the confliment off the bench, and some
teams don't operating like that. I would say this, the
challenge in having a workout horse is can you get
them to eighteen weeks? Can you get them to the
postseason ready to go? Because naturally you do the things
that you've done in terms of like getting ready going
through the season for an entire year. That's hard and

(01:02:04):
it's hard to turn it up when you've been the
focal point. Like it takes tremendous stamina in strength to
be able to do it. I don't know if everyone
is built for.

Speaker 2 (01:02:12):
It, JP, I'm going to come back. I think I
can answer you a question. I think Bucket will agree.
I agreed that there really is not a strong one
two punch, and it could be a backup. And I'll
tell you why there is no strong one two combo.
Maybe in running backs anymore. I think it's the development
of the tight end, which at times back in the

(01:02:32):
day was only used for blocking. Now the tight end
is coming out of the backfield catching the football, which
takes the place of maybe a top notch second running back.
Am I correct? The tight end has taken that place?

Speaker 3 (01:02:44):
Perhaps well, the tight end is taking that place because
more teams are using thirteen. I mean, I love in
personnel on one running back, three wide receivers, one tight end.
So whether that third wide receiver is the running back
or that tight end is used as what the running
would do. Yeah, I certainly had an input. You're just
not seeing his many on the fuel because people want

(01:03:04):
to spread it out and throw.

Speaker 1 (01:03:05):
It right you read.

Speaker 2 (01:03:08):
I mean, it's a passing game. It's a passing league.
That's what people do. It's a quarterback league, and obviously
the MVP is always going to be the quarterback. It's
a quarterback right there. But there are some outstanding running
backs right now, and I enjoy watching the running backs
in Saquon Barkley to me, is a tremendous running back
and I want to see him come back, and I'd
love to see him get two thousand yards again this year.
I really would. I think he'd like to see it

(01:03:29):
as well. All right, can he do it? Can he
do it?

Speaker 1 (01:03:31):
Buck?

Speaker 3 (01:03:33):
I mean he can do it, But I mean, now,
remember we're nearing the end for Sakwon where the drop
off is coming. Yes, he can do it, but it's going.

Speaker 1 (01:03:41):
To require the team to maybe script out some more
winners for him and for the quarterback to target, and
whenever he gets in trouble, he gets to dump it
down and let Saquon Barkley. Do Saquon Barkley stuff?

Speaker 2 (01:03:52):
There we go. Okay, he's Bucket Brooks. Get him on
x at Bucket Brooks and Andy Furman FSR eight seven
seven ninety nine, Ol Fox, you could be like the
greatest call in the world e Dog eight seven seven
nine nine six sixty three sixty nine Ana in this
hour of the Blame Game, an hour number three, and
we're live from the Fox Sports Radio studios. And of
course you heard the names, So who's the best? That's next?

(01:04:13):
We'll count you down to all of the biggest games
of the weekend. Tune of the Countdown, presented by bet
MGM every Saturday and Sunday morning right here of Fox
Sports Radio and of course the wonderful iHeartRadio app. Now,
quick question for Bucky Brooks, the coach you coach high
school football? Am I correct?

Speaker 1 (01:04:29):
Yes?

Speaker 2 (01:04:29):
Okay? Do you see a movement where these kids who
come out for tryouts I want to play on the
team are kind of moving towards wanted to play running back, quarterback,
a wide receiver cer because of the fame and money
connected with those positions.

Speaker 3 (01:04:48):
Look, wide receiver has become increasingly popular because the game
is shifted and there's always a trickle down effect. What
happens at the highest level impacts what goes on at
the lower level and where running backs use be the
marquee position on offense because everyone was running the football.
Now is about you know the receivers and follow the money.
The receivers are making thirty five million dollars, the running

(01:05:10):
backs are just getting over twenty, so you're having more
people chasing those dreams. And as the league has evolved
into a passing league, you're going to continue to see
more of the best athletes play wide receiver compared to
running back. But running backs are still valuable. Is just
that if you are going to be a running back,
you need to be equipped with the skills that allow

(01:05:32):
you to impact the game as a playmaker out of
the backfield.

Speaker 2 (01:05:36):
Okay, and this is why you shine. Okay, NFL dot Com,
I'm going to put the spotlight on you, Bucket Brooks
right now because this week you wrote about basically who
is the best running back in the National Football League
and who is better Jamier Gibbs or Jon Robinson. Okay,
and you kind of broke it down and you made
a great point over him because just one year if
the SA kwon, Barkley became the first twenty million dollar

(01:05:57):
running back when he agreed to two years of forty
one point two mil. What happened now within days? B
John Robinson three years sixty six point seventy five million,
fifty one million guaranteed, Jonathan Taylor two years forty four mil,
thirty nine million guaranteed, and Jamier Gibbs three years sixty
seven point five million, which is almost fifty one and
a half million guaranteed. So all of a sudden, now

(01:06:19):
the running back is getting some money. And who is
the best running back in football today? Gibbs the Robinson?
You took a look. Now you're talking about inside running.
Explain to the uninformed like myself, what's inside running and
who's better at that position? H.

Speaker 3 (01:06:34):
Look, we were just talking about running the ball, like
can you do the dirty work on downhill runs coming
in between the tackles? And uh, when I look at it,
I think about like people to say inside zone or
downhill power. Well, to me, you talk about the thicker
back and B John Robinson being able to do it
and both are cable, Like we're talking about one A
and one B, Like you're splitting hairs on these guys.

(01:06:56):
But I went for B John Robinson in that because
when you watch the tape, you're team see him come
down here, jump, cut, slide, it's skinny, get to the
next level and make things happen. You love that, But
there are just as many clips of Jamier Gibbs coming
down here and making things happen as well.

Speaker 2 (01:07:12):
Okay, so you got Robinson in that category? Inside running? Now,
can running backs be made? Running backs born? For example,
if you're like, you know, six six three forty, you're
probably not going to be a running back or a
wide receiver, right, But if you're like six two and
way maybe two ten, there's a pretty good chance you

(01:07:33):
maybe have a better chance at a wide receiver or
running back.

Speaker 6 (01:07:35):
Right.

Speaker 5 (01:07:37):
Uh.

Speaker 3 (01:07:37):
I mean, look, I think you can develop everybody to
a point, but at some point your guy giving talent
kicks in and running back is an extinctive position.

Speaker 1 (01:07:48):
You have to be.

Speaker 3 (01:07:49):
Able to see it and what you're processing and seeing
with your eyes.

Speaker 1 (01:07:52):
Your body has to be able to make.

Speaker 3 (01:07:54):
Instant remove movements based off of that, and the best
running backs have this combination of patients. But they have
a burst and urgency and balance and body control and
they can put.

Speaker 1 (01:08:05):
It all together to make it work.

Speaker 3 (01:08:07):
It's hard to find someone that can check off all
the boxes as an elite running back in this league.

Speaker 2 (01:08:12):
And you can't coach that. I've seen running backs really
stay there maybe a second or two in the backfield,
just looking for that space, that little open space to
sneak through. And some of these guys don't do that.
The good ones do. They'll wait. I see Barry Sanders
with way back in the backfield when he has the
ball in his belly.

Speaker 3 (01:08:29):
Uh yeah, I mean like yeah, you talk about the
best ones being able to do it, and that's what's
so fascinating about watching both of these guys do it,
the oohs and odds that I uttered and watching both
of their tastes because as much as I fell in
love with John Robinson Man, you talk about the breathtaking
places as you see Jamiir Gibbs do getting or putting
together when he gets on the outside, and because both

(01:08:51):
of these guys are terrific running outside zone, getting to
the sweep and making it happen. It's a very very
difficult decision, but look they gave Jamie Gibbs than not
in that category, and it's just a big part of
what we're seeing from the game. These running backs are
special because they are capable of getting it done as
runners and receivers.

Speaker 2 (01:09:09):
Okay, I'm getting hug up over here. We've got Robinson
winning won nothing so far with the inside running game.
He went to outside running on NFL dot Com, Who's
better and why Gibbs is?

Speaker 3 (01:09:20):
Gibbs is a guy that I gave the choice just
because of the number of big plays. No one in
this league has to have more big runs than Jamier
Gibbs since he entered. Look at eleven plays or forty
yards or more. He just finds a way to get
to the next level. If he gets to the next level,
he's difficult to bring down. Jon Robinson is an explosive
but no one in this league is more explosive than

(01:09:41):
Jamier Gibbs.

Speaker 2 (01:09:42):
Okay, so we're tied now one to one in categories
who the best running back is that if you want
to see, there's this NFL dot Com NFL riters Bucky Brooks. Okay,
how important did you take in consideration of the offensive line.

Speaker 1 (01:09:53):
On both I mean all that's a factor right.

Speaker 3 (01:09:56):
I feel like in talking about this, like the te
has a better overall team, like you talk about the
receivers that they have available to them. They do have
one of the best offensive lines and ball particularly when
Ben Johnson was there. And then they have a quarterback
that commands attention where if you don't do two high
safety looks or special looks, he'll pick your part and

(01:10:18):
carve you up. All those things lighten the box for
the playmaker. And sometimes when you lighten the load, like
you have teams that still won't take it, but they're
taking it. Because you talk about some of these running
backs being able to punish you.

Speaker 1 (01:10:31):
Both of these running backs can punish.

Speaker 2 (01:10:33):
You, okay, And you got the explosive, this big play potential,
you got Gibbs. So Gibbs is leading now according to
my statistics here two to one in categories right now
because receiving receiving skills. Who do you gotten why.

Speaker 3 (01:10:45):
B John Robinson catches the ball like a wide receiver.
B John Robinson almost And it's funny like on Saturday,
they inducted Roger Craig into the Hall of Fame. He's
the first running back they have a thousand and a thousand,
one thousand yard rushing, another thousand receiving.

Speaker 1 (01:11:01):
B Jhon Robinson has that potential.

Speaker 3 (01:11:02):
Last year he's like eight nine hundred receiving yards to
go with fourteen hundred yards as a runner.

Speaker 1 (01:11:08):
I look for him to be able to do.

Speaker 3 (01:11:09):
That because aving him is the easy matchup nightmare. Working
against linebackers in space, he's crushing him. He's a terrific
route runner, playmaker.

Speaker 1 (01:11:19):
But so his Gibbs.

Speaker 3 (01:11:20):
I just had b Jon Robinson because the Falcons used
him more, and you can see the numbers. Because they
used him, his efficiency, his output was certainly up.

Speaker 2 (01:11:27):
Okay, the neck and neck right now, it's two to two.
We're going to the clutch factor, whatever that is. What's
the clutch factor?

Speaker 1 (01:11:33):
Clutches?

Speaker 3 (01:11:34):
Who can you depend on most in big games, who
you can depend on to carry the team when you
need him to carry them the most.

Speaker 1 (01:11:39):
I want to be Jehn Robinson in.

Speaker 3 (01:11:40):
That category just because, look, he's doing I won't say
the most with the least, but he doesn't have a
decorated team around him, whether it's their offensive line, whether
it's you know, we can talk about the two pass catchers,
Drake London and Cal Pitts, But I don't know how
much attention they're commanding to take the pressure off of Bijon.
When I look at them, Bjon is the strata stirs

(01:12:00):
to drink on that offense in Detroit, I think there
are a few different guys that can kind of stabilize
the offense.

Speaker 1 (01:12:05):
And carry it.

Speaker 3 (01:12:06):
So just because of his overall consistency while playing for
an inferior team, that's why he got the nine.

Speaker 2 (01:12:12):
Okay, so you got Robinson three to two in your categories,
and again, as you mentioned coming in, they're pretty neck
and neck. I mean, you could close your eyes and
take either one on your team and be somewhat successful. Right,
But you like b John Robinson because maybe he's a
little thicker and a little stronger.

Speaker 3 (01:12:28):
Perhaps, No, I mean, like all those things are certainly
in play. But obviously I've seen him at his worst
pick up a squad and put fourteen hundred. So if
we surround him with the right stuff offensive line, supporting
cast scheme, who's to say that he can't be a.

Speaker 1 (01:12:46):
Two thousand yard gust.

Speaker 3 (01:12:47):
So it's more a projection on a if he had
all the things right around him, what level could he
get to?

Speaker 2 (01:12:53):
All right, Now, one last thing because this guy is
like my favorite from Mount Healthy High School in Cincinnati,
David Montgomery. He rake up because I think he's one
heck of a running back as well.

Speaker 3 (01:13:03):
He's a really good running back. But I think there's
a difference between good and great. I put him in
the good category, and he's good because he's solid, he's dependable.
He's gonna be a big time player for the Houston
Texans because he does the rugged stuff.

Speaker 5 (01:13:15):
Right.

Speaker 3 (01:13:15):
We talk about being a bit of a roughneck in
terms of running in between the tackles and kind of
fending off defenders and doing those things. He's going to
stabilize their running game, which should help C. J. Strock
get back to being effective because now play action bootlegs,
other things are available. Because if you don't respect the
run game, they have someone that can punch you in
a ring game.

Speaker 1 (01:13:35):
Right.

Speaker 2 (01:13:35):
JT helped me out. You got a question I probably don't.

Speaker 6 (01:13:38):
Have, JB. But it's all good.

Speaker 2 (01:13:42):
I call you JT.

Speaker 6 (01:13:43):
Sometimes I feel like you switch it up, you go
in and out.

Speaker 2 (01:13:45):
I do you know why I do that? To see
if you're.

Speaker 6 (01:13:48):
Listening, you know the answer to that question. You know
you know the answer. Yeah.

Speaker 9 (01:13:53):
Every time I hear David Montgomery's name, I think of
that graphic from when he was at Iowa stayed in
college where he was the running back Frankenstein, the feet
of Saquon Barkley, the vision of Le'Veon Bell, the strength
of Ezekiel Elliott, and the athleticism of Sony Michelle.

Speaker 6 (01:14:14):
What do you think about that?

Speaker 1 (01:14:17):
Yeah, Like, you know, he's funny.

Speaker 3 (01:14:18):
Right, So when you put him in the same backfield
with Jamir Gibbs, the obvious difference is one is super explosive,
like when they have the ball in the hands. That's
why the sonic knuckles. Comparison with that duo certainly applied.
Montgomery is steady Eddie man. I don't want to say
he's slow and steady like the turtle, but in a way, yes,

(01:14:40):
he's a grinder type. He finds a way to get
skinny in the hole. He consistently puts up positive yards.
He's different. I think when you're looking for splash and pozzazz,
it has speed the other guy, Gibbs, just because that's
what he does.

Speaker 1 (01:14:52):
That's what he puts up routinely.

Speaker 2 (01:14:55):
All right, let's move on right now, He's Bucky Brooks
and Andy Furman. This is Fox Sports Sunday of Fox Sports.
You only have two chances here, yay or nay? And
you know what the.

Speaker 4 (01:15:03):
Next Okay, let's back those brains, gentlemen.

Speaker 2 (01:15:08):
These stories need.

Speaker 8 (01:15:09):
An ass I think we need a ruling on this.

Speaker 2 (01:15:11):
It's yay or nay.

Speaker 9 (01:15:14):
Welcome back to the Running Back Show with Andy Furman
and Bucky Brooks. The running back market in the NFL
exploded over the past week or so, with superstars Jonathan Taylor,
John Robinson, and Jamiir Gibbs all getting huge market resetting deals,
all of them upwards of twenty million per year. Is
the NFL finally valuing running backs again? And yay or

(01:15:36):
nay on paying running back or non premium positions in general?

Speaker 3 (01:15:40):
Bucky, Uh, Yeah, the position is being valued again because
people are seeing the impact.

Speaker 1 (01:15:47):
Also the way defenses.

Speaker 3 (01:15:49):
Are playing to making it where you have to have
a running game and a special running back to be
able to survive. So yes, the value is going up
now that they're over the twenty million dollar mark. It
still pills in comparison to what wide receivers are taken
in the thirties, but yeah, it's certainly going up as
an essential piece of the puzzle, and even though it
won't be like yester year, they are critical pieces to
a championship puzzle.

Speaker 2 (01:16:10):
It's gotta be a ya because the NFL has so
much money. I think we just have to take a guess, like,
what's the next position going to get exploded? With salaries?

Speaker 6 (01:16:18):
Really?

Speaker 2 (01:16:19):
Defensive backs of any money right now? Lineman a Anny money?
And why shouldn't they there the show. People pay to
see them, and the money is out there. Pay them, pay,
don't stop them, stop it.

Speaker 6 (01:16:31):
I guess off ball linebackers next. That's my prediction.

Speaker 2 (01:16:34):
I think you may be right. You may be right
on that, all.

Speaker 9 (01:16:37):
Right, So next up, Andy to you and my favorite
quote of the week. New Purdue ad Tommy McClelland fired
shots at his in state rival Indiana Hoosiers, saying, we
are here to win championships. If you don't want to
win championships, go to Indiana. Purdue has a record of
three and twenty one over the last two seasons. Your

(01:17:00):
nay on dissing the reigning champs as one of the
worst programs in the sport, You.

Speaker 2 (01:17:05):
Know I'm gonna say yay because I think it's so comical.
I love it. This guy's got to be the biggest
fool in the world. And he came back on Pat
McAfee to apologize. You know what he did, He read it.
He read it from a script to paper. How stupid
is this guy, Tommy mcclennan. I mean, really, I sometimes
wonder how people rise up to positions in life. I really,

(01:17:26):
do you come up there and you fire a shot
A at an in state rival and b at the
instate rival that's a reigning champion in football, You're a fool.
And let me tell you something. This provides a lot
of fodder for the Hoosias right now. They'll roll over
Purdue this year.

Speaker 1 (01:17:44):
Look, they're certainly gonna make them pay.

Speaker 3 (01:17:46):
Like, I don't know why it was inadvisable to do it,
because you got a coach, particularly at Indiana, who is
looking for anything to get him going. He just put
a target on his back like in those things like man,
he just talks off thing carry big stick, and right
now Purdue does not have a big stick, so he
should be quiet.

Speaker 9 (01:18:06):
Well, yeah, I don't see the vision on that one
or anything good to come out of doing that. As
if Indiana needs more fuel, like, what are we doing there?

Speaker 6 (01:18:16):
All right?

Speaker 2 (01:18:17):
So I had a general manager when I used to
get in trouble at locally at WLW Cincinnati, he called
me in his office and say, what's the upside? That's
a great line. What's the upside of doing certain things?
And I'd say stupid things which I still do on
the radio or attack people, And what's the What was
the upside Tommy mcclen do, what was the upside of
saying that I don't know? I don't know.

Speaker 9 (01:18:37):
How are you gonna say it? And then walk it
back the next day? At least own it?

Speaker 1 (01:18:42):
Right?

Speaker 9 (01:18:44):
Okay, Bucky, back to you. An engineering prodigy who started
college at the age of ten became the youngest college
professor of all time at the age of eighteen. Nathan Thomas,
who is now twenty one, was eighteen years and three
hundred and forty six days old when he started to
Florida's Miami Dade College in August of twenty twenty three.

Speaker 1 (01:19:04):
Yeah your name, Yeah, that's interesting. That's young to be there.

Speaker 3 (01:19:09):
But credit him for his work, ethic, his intellect, and
for taking on a difficult position because it's hard to
be eighteen years old teaching people that are far superior
age wise and life experience wise, but give them credit
for being able to do it.

Speaker 2 (01:19:23):
You know, this is funny because I gotta say yay,
big goes. Back in the day, everybody was worried about
teachers asking students out on dates. Right, this is the opposite.
Now students are gonna be asking this teacher out. I mean,
it's unbelievable, it really is. I don't have a hard
time if I'm like a twenty year old, twenty one
year old taking like advice from a kid who's eighteen.
It just he could be a genius. It really just

(01:19:44):
it doesn't look good. Not a good picture, I.

Speaker 1 (01:19:46):
Don't think, all right, very not a good one.

Speaker 9 (01:19:50):
Very quickly, Andy, the Cincinnati Bengals with their defensive overhaul
have missed the playoffs the last few years. Yeah, your
nay on the bang getting back to the playoffs and
going on a runt.

Speaker 2 (01:20:02):
I would hope so. And I don't know if the
defense has been overhauled yet. You know, marvel Lewis always
said I see better than I hear. That's it. We
go on, Willie Fizzle, That's next and more on Fox
Day with us. All right, the good, the band and
the ugly all coming up, and they're all here right
now on Fox Sports Sunday. He's Bucky Brooks. I'm ay firma.

(01:20:23):
We're broadcasting live from the Fox Sports Radio studios. And
of course, if you're missed any of today's show, I
say shame on you. Really. If you missed the show,
you want to catch the podcast, just search Fox Sports
Radio wherever you get your pods, and right after the show,
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provide a review. Again. Just search Fox Sports Radio wherever

(01:20:43):
you get your podcasts, follow the feed and you'll find
today's full show post a right after we get up
the year. Here he is the one and only Bucky Brooks. Hello,
how are you?

Speaker 1 (01:20:54):
What's going on? How's everything?

Speaker 2 (01:20:55):
I'm good, everything's great, life's good, everything's pulpy said it
right here, but rolling along football is here. Couldn't get
any better. The weather's good and you know, really and
truly it's just to me. And they're starting high school
football around where I live. I think it's too hot.
Maybe I'm crazy. I think they should wait just a
little bit longer. I mean, you talk about ninety plus
degree heat to practice and play football with equipment. Maybe

(01:21:18):
I'm nuts. I just think it's for high school kids.
It's just a little too early.

Speaker 3 (01:21:24):
Maybe so, But look, I grew up in the South
where this was kind of the norm. It was hot,
it was humid, it was muggy. Figure it out, and
I just think it's going to continue to be like that.
And so even though some people like to push you back,
I think high schools are leary of letting too many
games go into December because in other areas of the

(01:21:45):
country you talk about inclement conditions in the snow and
all that being a part of it. I think there's
some that would rather swap out the challenges of dealing
with the heat than having to deal with the tough
stuff that comes along with playing when it's really really cool.

Speaker 2 (01:21:59):
Yeah, I don't think people realize that football really goes
from hot to cold, where other sports, really like baseball,
is pretty well controlled most of the time. It gets
a little cold if you're in the World Series and
they're playing in late October, maybe even early November, it
could get a little chilly, But basically baseball is pretty good,
you know, and again there's a lot of indoor stadia.

(01:22:22):
Same with football. I mean really and truly in the
NFL that is. But in high school, you know, you
got to deal with the climate and the rain and
the mud and the cold and the heat and the
ice and the snow. Is just it's rough. I mean,
that just puts another damper on the game.

Speaker 3 (01:22:37):
Yeah, it certainly puts another damper on the game. But
some would say that's part of the challenge. That's part
of why you love it, right, Like all the challenges,
being able to get out there, being able to see
how you perform when it's not perfect, when it's not
pristine and ideal.

Speaker 1 (01:22:51):
That's what great competitors do. So yeah, the heat.

Speaker 3 (01:22:56):
And all that, Like somebody talking about fatigue makes cowards
of us, all how do you handle those conditions? How
do you handle those environments? Can you thrive and not
survive in those environments that you that's what you're looking
for from great teams. So some of this will be
a chance to reveal some of the character on each
of the squads.

Speaker 2 (01:23:17):
Yeah, I want to say sunny to the fans. I mean, obviously,
if you're listening to the show. You're a sports fan,
a football fan. I honestly believe that these new stadia
that have been built with domes, they weren't built to
protect the players. They were built for fan comfort. Or
don't you agree to I think ownership and people that
built stadia across the country for various teams, they don't

(01:23:38):
care really about fans as long as they're paying their money,
and they know they're going to pay their money rain
or shine. Those stadiums that are covered and dome stadium
were built for fan comfort, for fan comfort, not for
player comfort.

Speaker 1 (01:23:51):
Well yet not on that. It goes beyond that.

Speaker 3 (01:23:53):
It's not only fan comfort for the day to day
regular season games, but really it is for the super
Bowl like it is for this You have to have
these new fangled arena stadiums to be able to qualify
for a Super Bowl, because the last thing you want
to do is a We're gonna have a Super Bowl
in Buffalo, New York. Oh my god, who's gonna go
to watch a game up there.

Speaker 1 (01:24:13):
So they're trying to.

Speaker 3 (01:24:16):
Evert and head off some of the controversies that have
come down to pipe when you do begin to auction
these super Bowls off, and you do have a big
time partner like a Netflix that wants to jump in
like some of the other streaming services, Like yeah, this
is all about a money grab and they have a
chance to do it, so they're gonna do it.

Speaker 2 (01:24:34):
You know, when people players look at free agency and
they're looking at various teams, obviously as money is the key,
I guess a B probably would be do they have
a chance to win a Super Bowl? Ring? But I
got to believe right up there on that list is
like the climate they're going to play. I mean, Miami
really is like death Row with the humidity is rough
down there. In football, you're trained, I would think that

(01:24:56):
you'd want to play in a dome situation. I always
go back to the paid many situations. He had his
greatest years when he played in Indianapolis in a dome.
I mean it makes a difference. Is a tremendous advantage
playing at a dome?

Speaker 3 (01:25:10):
Yeah, there's tremenits advantage, but for Miami, the year's tremendous advantage.
And playing outside because the heat, because you practice in.

Speaker 1 (01:25:18):
It every day, it doesn't impact you.

Speaker 3 (01:25:20):
But when you think about those teams coming down from
let's just throw out there like, oh, say they're on
tap with the NFC North so Green Bay, Minnesota, Chicago, Detroit,
they got to make their way down to South Florida.
They play early in the year where it's hot, it's
over one hundred degrees, the humidity is faltering. No one
wants to deal with that. It's easier to play those
teams at the end of the year because maybe they're

(01:25:42):
not as good, they're banged up, beat up, but you
have a greater sense of who.

Speaker 1 (01:25:46):
They are and you're not wilting under what.

Speaker 3 (01:25:49):
I call that hot lamp of pressure because he is
so warm and human and muggy out there.

Speaker 2 (01:25:54):
Okay, tell me I'm way off based on this, and
I'll respect you. I respect you anyway. But you know,
I look at the game of baseball and I'm a
statistic nut because I just I'm a records guy. I
love doing that stuff, and I think that that's what
keeps sports alive. It has always been arguing who's better,
and you take out the staff book, you say who
had a better batting average? Ever it may be, And
I think that in order to say who's better, I

(01:26:17):
think it makes a big deal as to where they
played their games. I remember back in the day when
Roger Matters was playing for the Yankees. I was a
kid back in sixty one, and they said it was
an advantage front to play in the Yankee Stadium because
the right field Petted Porch was only two hundred and
ninety six feet away. I think that if you want
to have really truly great statistics, that means something. They

(01:26:37):
should have stadia in baseball that all have the same dimensions.
In football, every football fields one hundred yards and thirty
three and the third yards wide. You know, in baseball
you play with the Green Monster and Fenway Park Yankee
Stadium two ninety six down the line. I mean, it's
not fair, and that's maybe the way it should be.

(01:26:58):
Maybe in baseball every stadium should be maybe three point
fifty down the line, four ten and Deatch Center, and
that's the way it is. It's not that way. Every
stadium had just quirks, if you may, and I think
statistics are thrown out of line because of that. Football
is a little better because every fields one hundred yards.

Speaker 1 (01:27:16):
Yeah, every fields one hundred yards.

Speaker 3 (01:27:17):
But the difference is when it comes to football, outside
conditions impacted and I would say inside conditions also impacted.

Speaker 1 (01:27:25):
So one of the things people.

Speaker 3 (01:27:26):
Don't realize when you play in a dome, it's a
different backdrop to look.

Speaker 1 (01:27:31):
At when you are a playmaker.

Speaker 3 (01:27:33):
So for instance, catching punts outside is so much different
than catching punts inside. When I catch punts outside, I
got the open air I can see I mean like
the sun, hopefully the sun's not overhead, but I see
the blue backdrop, So it's easy to find the ball
in a dome. I don't see that. The ball can
get lost in the lights. The ball can get lost
in the backdrop depending on what they have at the

(01:27:55):
top of the awning.

Speaker 1 (01:27:56):
Is it brown, is this is a color, is it clear?

Speaker 3 (01:27:59):
All those other So there are different challenges that come
along to those stadiums. But yes, the field dimensions are
the same, but the stadium, the backdrop it does have it.
Think about Cowboys Stadium at and T Stadium, and they
talk about.

Speaker 1 (01:28:12):
The light coming in.

Speaker 3 (01:28:14):
The sunshine comes in on one part of the field
and so depending on if you're going to that end
or coming away from it, you can't see the ball.
So when these quarterbacks are throwing the ball up on
these bombs, whild receivers are guessing where the ball is
going to go.

Speaker 1 (01:28:28):
They can't see it. So all those things have.

Speaker 3 (01:28:31):
Inherent advantages and disadvantages. You just hope that your team
knows the stadium, knows the environment so well that it
becomes a favorable thing for them, not something that puts
them behind the eight ball.

Speaker 9 (01:28:45):
JB helped me out here, will you, Yeah, Bucky, you're
talking about different conditions, and I'm assuming you played in
a ton of different environments throughout your career. Was there
one game that you point to as the most difficult
in terms of those conditions?

Speaker 1 (01:29:02):
Man, this up.

Speaker 3 (01:29:03):
I will say this from a personal standpoint. The AFC
Championship Game ninety six, Jacksonville versus New England. I'm playing
for the Jacks, playing up there. It was cold in
their stadium because I can't remem it was fox where
I can't remember for it.

Speaker 1 (01:29:19):
Was just let Stadium or not, but it was cold.

Speaker 3 (01:29:23):
We decided to come from Jacksonville that we weren't going
to wear sleeves like idiots, so we're bare armed.

Speaker 1 (01:29:30):
It's freezing, the wind is swirling.

Speaker 3 (01:29:33):
And all I can think about is, Oh, I can't
wait to get to the bench to get on the
hot seat, the heated bench warmers, and such a distraction,
such a distraction. Despite playing in Green Bay and knowing
the conditions, it is such a distraction. That's why I
don't understand why Minnesota didn't have an outdoor stadium, because
it would be miserable for opponents to go up there

(01:29:55):
and play. Yes, the fan experience would be terrible, but
in terms of winning, there's a reason why the Minnesota
Vikings went to four Super Bowls in the seventies and
they haven't been since they had an outdoor stadium.

Speaker 1 (01:30:06):
It played to their advantage. Those things impacted impacted in
a lot.

Speaker 2 (01:30:11):
You know what, It's great that you mentioned that because
I'm going to go back. The date was January tenth,
nineteen eighty two. I was in Cincinnati Riverfront Stadium. I
didn't go to the game. They called it the Freezer Bowl.
The Bengals against the Chargers for the nineteen eighty one
AFC Championship game, and the Bengals came out in shurch sleeves. Okay,
they won twenty seven to seven for their first ever

(01:30:32):
Super Bowl. Berth kickoff temperature was minus nine degrees fahrenheit
minus twenty three celsius, brutal wind chill reaching as low
as minus fifty nine degrees. And honestly, this is a
true story. You know, Cincinnati is based right near northern
Kentucky and they separated by the Ohio River. The Ohio
River was frozen and people were walking across the Ohio

(01:30:54):
River and San Diego came in here. I guess they
had no clue as to what the weather was going
to be like. And the Bengals came out in shirt sleeves.
They beat them.

Speaker 1 (01:31:05):
I mean, that's the thing.

Speaker 3 (01:31:07):
So you think about those teams, they do have the
ability to take advantage of it. Green Bay when I
was with the Green Bay Packers, Look, Brett Favre won
three straight MVPs. But at the time, you can think
about the Lombardi years, the Green Bay Packers ran the ball,
You think about the ice Bowl, you think about all
of that stuff. So imagine how they flipped the script

(01:31:28):
Mike Honger and they're throwing the ball in inclement conditions.

Speaker 1 (01:31:31):
Why would you do that? Why would you throw the
ball and do that well?

Speaker 3 (01:31:34):
Because that grass is thick and muddy insidey who knows
who's where they're going? And where they're making cuts wide receivers,
who's at the disadvantage the defense. So in becoming a
passing team in those conditions, they created advantages for Brett
Faving Company because the defense couldn't be as aggressive because

(01:31:56):
like you man, I mean, the grass is thick. If not,
it's a slosh bowl. But the wide receivers have practiced
in those conditions they know, so there are different ways
where you should use your home stadium to your advantage.
It reminds me of the Boston Celtics for all those
years in the Old Garden. The dead spots that he
talked about on the floor, like the ball would just
go dead when you're dribbling. Well, if you're a visiting team,

(01:32:19):
you don't know where those dead spots are. So all
of those things should be baked into it. When you're
a team like you want to have some home home
field advantages from home cook, can they help you?

Speaker 2 (01:32:28):
Yeah, you talk about the bus and Celtics back in
the day. I've read a couple of books by read
our back and they said that he really gave them
an advantage of the old Boston Gardens. He would even
turn the hot water off in the shower room. I mean,
it was amazing what he did to cut that advantage.
He did and he got the advantage, but they had
better teams. There's no doubt about that. Great true All
right now, if I may, can I close this book here,

(01:32:50):
this chapter on running backs today, because I honestly we've
seck the running back show yet today. But you wrote
about it and you deserve that, and you deserve the
credit NFL dot Com and you ended up with the
Jeremiah Love story. So Jeremiah Love is up next? Will
he fizzle? And you're comparing it to what happened to
Ashton Genty coming into the league? Was he struggled in
year one? But again that team he played on, the

(01:33:12):
Raiders was terrible, really was. He did produce over thirteen
hundred yards, which is pretty darn good. But now, all
of a sudden, is it fair to say Jeremiah Love,
who had a tremendous career at Not Your Dame, is
going to have the same problems coming into the NFL.
I mean, it's a lot of pressure you put on there. Buck.

Speaker 1 (01:33:30):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:33:30):
I think he's great. I think he's a different dynamic prospect.
One of the things that people are talking about Ashton
Genty and compared comparison, Jeremiah Love will be level of
competition in college, no disrespect, but Aston Genty played in
the Mountain West. He didn't necessarily play against the opponents
that Jeremiah Love played. So some of the roebust production

(01:33:53):
that we saw, You do wonder was he a man
amunkst boys against the guys that he played. That's just
a fair thing to say. Like when you look at
Jeremiah Love and you think about his big game, you
think about how he's able to do it, the way
that he's able to do it.

Speaker 1 (01:34:07):
Yeah, those.

Speaker 3 (01:34:09):
Those high expectations, those lofty expectations and high standards.

Speaker 1 (01:34:14):
I can see that.

Speaker 3 (01:34:15):
Just because his game is so dynamic, so explosive, so electric.
I just think he's different. And I am saying that
fully acknowledging, Like asking Genty went well over like twelve
thirteen hundred scrimmage yards.

Speaker 1 (01:34:28):
He did not have a bad season.

Speaker 3 (01:34:30):
But I just think Jeremi Love is going to hit
the ground running in a different way than Genty did
last year for the Raiders.

Speaker 2 (01:34:36):
You know, I often wonder if you have two running
backs that are basically one in two two and one
very close. Like we talked about Jamiir gibbson B John Robinson, Okay,
And if one played for School A, one played for
School B, and like I'm looking at genty and gently
did play for Boise State, which really is not a
powerhouse in football. Do they go with the school with

(01:34:57):
the player that played for the strongest school because that
the competition he played against?

Speaker 1 (01:35:04):
Repeat it? So what you say about competition?

Speaker 2 (01:35:06):
Yes, you two running backs head to head, I mean
really hard to separate them. And you're going to draft.
Do you go with the one that played at a
bigger school because you played against better competition.

Speaker 3 (01:35:19):
Oh, here's what I'll say. And this goes back to
Ron Wolf. Ron Wolf, Hall of fame, general manager from
the Green Bay Packers, was always a proponent of drafting
and taking guys from big schools.

Speaker 1 (01:35:32):
He said, I want to see the best of the best.

Speaker 3 (01:35:34):
So when you play at a big school, whether it's
P four versus Group of five or whatever that is,
I want guys that are comfortable walking into stadiums with
one hundred thousand people screaming their name.

Speaker 1 (01:35:44):
I want guys that are comfortable playing in big game environments.

Speaker 3 (01:35:47):
I want someone who has been at Michigan, has to
play at Ohio State and understands what it's like to
play best on best. There's a little more projection when
you take guys that are not playing at a big
school because you want to can they level up? That
doesn't mean that it's always right, but there are some
people that are like, look, I would rather take my
chances on someone who has always played against the best

(01:36:10):
competition because it shouldn't be as big of a transition. Now,
that'll leave some people out. That will leave some outlives
out there that will make it the other way, and
you may get.

Speaker 1 (01:36:21):
Backlash forward down the road.

Speaker 3 (01:36:22):
But if we're talking about mitigating risk and playing the odds,
the odds say that the players that are playing are
the ones that have come from the big schools.

Speaker 2 (01:36:29):
Now, I hate to put you on the spot. I
don't normally do this, but I'm not gonna ask for
any names. But you played the game. You were in
the NFL five years and you played with various teams.
Have you seen a player that came into the league
from a so cooled, smaller school and kind of crushed
under the pressure under the bright lights, like going all

(01:36:49):
the way back to Green Bay Days.

Speaker 3 (01:36:53):
There's a cornerback named Roosevelt. I think it was Roosevelt
Blackman nickname was tad Pole. Came from a small HBCU
who was drafted highly and.

Speaker 1 (01:37:04):
It was just overwhelming.

Speaker 3 (01:37:05):
And he's not the only one that has happened to,
but he's someone that I vividly remember.

Speaker 1 (01:37:10):
It just happens. The game is such a different game.

Speaker 3 (01:37:13):
It's so much faster, a physical, violent, And then there's
dischematic exposure. What are you exposed to? How many things
and different concepts that you've been exposed to? So now
can you learn it quick enough where you can play
fast and be ready? All those things should be a
part of the evaluation and the discussion before you take
a player. But yeah, sometimes and look, I've seen big

(01:37:35):
school guys overwhelmed by it all too, Like I don't
want to make it where only small school guys are.
Sometimes it's too big for big school players, guys that
have come from the best of the best, it can
still be overwhelming. So as you're doing the evaluation, it's
a part and a piece of the evaluation that you
must complete because that impacts whether someone will.

Speaker 1 (01:37:55):
Ever be able to get on the field.

Speaker 3 (01:37:56):
Their ability to handle the pressure, but more importantly, their
ability to learn the playbook while dealing with all the
other factors.

Speaker 2 (01:38:03):
Yeah, and that brings up the question will that hurt
players that go to HBCU institutions. They'll stay away from
those players. They've had very successful players out of those schools.
But again then don't get the crowds at the Michigan's
and Ohio State kids.

Speaker 3 (01:38:19):
No, they don't, and look of late, Like I'll say this,
it has hurt you know, players like we haven't seen
HBCU players drafted of late, even though some it bounced
to other programs and they've finished up at PWI schools
like this is. It's just a different time and it

(01:38:41):
does impact it. But here's what I will say, and
I'm not a huge transfer portal fan, but what I
will say is now you have an opportunity to see
people kind of move their way up and so if
you are at a D two school or D one school,
you move up to another level. So now I get
a chance to see you play against better competition. If
you hold your own there, I feel better about the
overall trajectory and what you could bring to a team

(01:39:04):
at the next level.

Speaker 2 (01:39:05):
Well, your guy at Jacksonville Travis Hunter went started at
HBCU school.

Speaker 3 (01:39:11):
Yeah, started at Jackson State, proved that he could dominate there.
When to Colorado dominated, became a Hosband Trophy winner. So yeah,
if anything, sometimes they can go on the writer of passes,
check the boxes, and you can be like na, this
guy's built for it because he's done it every step
of the way. He earned his way into the league,
which is something that most team builders love.

Speaker 2 (01:39:31):
And I wonder if he didn't transfer Jackson State to
go to Colorado, if he would have been overlooked in
the draft.

Speaker 3 (01:39:39):
Maybe, but I think most people who are most evaluators
are doing anything.

Speaker 1 (01:39:45):
Doesn't matter. If you're a good player, we'll find you.

Speaker 3 (01:39:47):
And I think I still believe that it just can
be more challenging and difficult to navigate in this landscape.

Speaker 1 (01:39:54):
JB.

Speaker 2 (01:39:54):
What's up.

Speaker 9 (01:39:55):
I got a long list of HBCU NFL legends, starting
with Jerry Rice Mississippi Valley State, Walter Payton, Sweetness Jackson State,
Deacon Jones, Mississippi Valley State, Michael Strahan, Texas Southern, Mel
Blunt Southern University, Shannon Sharp, Savannah State, Steve McNair Alcorn State,

(01:40:16):
Doug Williams, Grambling State. There's a lot of legends to
come from HBCU. Now I just want to just there that.

Speaker 1 (01:40:23):
Yeah, now here's the trick though.

Speaker 3 (01:40:25):
So a lot of those legends that you're reading off
is at a time shortly after segregation where black players
could only play at black schools, and so the pipeline
in the league was going to HBCUs and doing that.
Kan City Chiefs when they went to the Super Bowl,
they had a pipeline. Willy d Near and all those

(01:40:45):
guys were coming from apcu's Buck Buchannan and that you
talk about Doug Williams going to Gramley, Like I remember,
that's seventy nine with the Buccaneers.

Speaker 1 (01:40:54):
But of late we haven't seen many.

Speaker 3 (01:40:57):
The last guy that you rattled off that was a
recent phenomen I mean we're talking about Shannon Sharp in
the nineties, you know, like that is a long time
to go without significance.

Speaker 1 (01:41:08):
Robert Mathis has been a guy.

Speaker 3 (01:41:10):
Shaq Leonard, Darius Leonard has been a guy that has
played played at South Carolina State and made it. But
the difference in the Glory days was they weren't allowed
to play at the Alabama's in usc So they had
to play at HBCU's and the league found them where
they played. As I said, wherever the talent is, the

(01:41:31):
league will find it. And at the time the talent
was really heavily populated at HBCU's.

Speaker 2 (01:41:36):
At bug I would say this, if you're a high
school football player of color, there's a good chance if
you have a top ten list of colleges you want
to go to, maybe maybe one HBCU schools on that list, maybe,
am I correct?

Speaker 3 (01:41:50):
Yeah, I mean it's just a different time, right, Like
it is a different time, and that's why what Dion
Sanders and others are doing. But that's why when Dion
brought a lot of attention to Jackson State to get
Travis Hunter, who was no more recruit in the country
at the time, his own son, Shadur Sanders.

Speaker 1 (01:42:05):
They were top recruits.

Speaker 3 (01:42:07):
Those players normally aren't making their way to Jackson State.
And that's not being disrespectful to Jackson State, but at
the time, it's just the dynamics, that's not what it was.
I mean, he decommitted from Florida State to go to
Jackson State. Travis Hunter did.

Speaker 1 (01:42:20):
But.

Speaker 2 (01:42:23):
The school, because if Di I was coaching any other
HBCUs school, they would have gone there too.

Speaker 3 (01:42:27):
Yeah, and that's that's unfortunate because you do want people
to appreciate the greatness and some of the positive benefits
that come from playing at HPCUES. But yes, like most things,
players chase coaches. They don't chase the university. And even
though you tell them, hey, man, make sure you pick
the school because you love the school and you can

(01:42:47):
see yourself being at the school beyond whatever happens on
the field, most guys go with the connection the coach
that they like, the the the guy that builds the
relationship with them and their family. They tend to follow
that as opposed to make a decision. And it's based
on what the school can provide, not monetarily but down
the line in terms of getting your degree in those
other things.

Speaker 2 (01:43:08):
And JB, you could give me the list from day
to tomorrow, the list all you want. There's only one
HBCU athlete that I'm in love with. I loved him
to death and he is past now, I mean he
rest in peace, and he's basketball. Willis Reed, who played
for Grambling on the New York Knicks Willis three was
the greatest gentleman on Guard's Green Earth and I love Willis?
How do you like that? And he went to Grambling.

(01:43:28):
That was a coup for the Knicks, a big time coup.
I don't know who drafted Hi. They probably read Holtzman
drafted him. That's why they got him. But that's good,
all right. He's Bucky Brooks, I'm Andy Furman. We on
Fox Sports Sunday on Fox Sports Radio. We're broadcasting live
from the Fox Sports Radio studio. And by the way,
you can get Bucky at Bucket Brooks on X not
Andy Fermant FSR or eight seven seven ninety nine on

(01:43:51):
Fox is our number operators are standing by eight seven
seven nine nine six sixty three sixty nine. And we've
got the blame game at the end of this hour.
But here's the yes of the day. How come we
don't see this in other leagues? That's next, all right.
It's like a circus, it really is. We'll get to
that in just about a minute. Good morning, everybody. This
is Fox Sports Sunday on Fox Sports Radio. He's Bucky

(01:44:13):
Brooks and Andy from and we're live from the Fox
Sports Radio studios and Buckie. What would it be to
have a show together on a Sunday and not talk
about the WNBA. Caitlin Clark and company. What's going on?
It's a mess. It is like the circus, and there's
so many things that have happened this week. The Fox
News columnist Matt Walsh called Caitlin Clark the biggest coward

(01:44:35):
in the history of sports because she refuses to say
anything about the anti white racism she's been subjected to.
First of all, I'm not even certain you could even
go public with that. I don't think that's a true statement.
I don't think it's anti white. I mean, maybe there's
some jealousy there, but for him to say that, I
think that's ugly, disgusting, and I call for and wrong.
I just think it's wrong. And Tuesday she was named

(01:44:56):
the Eastern Conference Player of the Week. But this league
is in shambles. Great players, but every day there's an
incident going on there. Jealousy, maybe racism, I don't know.
And all of a sudden, now Caitlyn Clark picked up
her eighth technical foul. She's supposed to miss a game.
They revoked that decision. The league is a mess. It
really is that gold comes from the top. Bad leadership.

Speaker 3 (01:45:19):
Now, look, so here's what I'm saying. This is what's frustrating.
Been a long time devoted WNBA fan. I think the
biggest thing has been the casuals that have jumped in,
who haven't followed the league, but have all the heavy.

Speaker 1 (01:45:31):
Opinions on the league.

Speaker 3 (01:45:33):
This league has existed for thirty years and been really
really fine, and I know there are more eyeballs on
the league now than ever, but every week is someone
weighing in. This league has had the same thing. It's contentious.
There's bitterness because you have rivalries the same things that
we love in other sports, whether it's hockey, baseball, football,
it's the.

Speaker 1 (01:45:51):
Same thing that exists.

Speaker 3 (01:45:52):
There are people that don't like each other, so you're
gonna have things that go to it. And then with
Kaitlyn Clark jumping in, everyone has an opinion on her
because everybody wants her.

Speaker 1 (01:46:01):
To be the best player in the league. But she's
not the best player in the league.

Speaker 3 (01:46:04):
She may be the most popular player, but she's not
the best player, and she's not even the best player
on her team. Kelsey Mintion is the best player on
her team. And so it's just all of this stuff
around it where people just like kicking up dust around it.
It's even like just all of the conversation is annoying
because it's a lot done by people that don't really

(01:46:26):
even care about the game. So to me as a fan,
it's just annoying that I'm having to hear and deal
with these conversations because a lot of it is not real.

Speaker 1 (01:46:33):
They're not real conversations.

Speaker 2 (01:46:36):
Right, but it hurts the lead. Okay, but she got
someone like Megan Kelly called Caitlyn Cluck a coward after
Kaitlyn clock avoided questions about the gender debate. Okay, and
that was spoke by her teammate Sophie Cunningham. First of all,
why should Kaitlyn Clark have to defend herself a talk
about the transgender debate. She's a basketball player. She may

(01:46:56):
have an opinion, and it's her opinion. If she wants
to talk about it's fine. Now she's a coward. I
don't get it. It's like you say, these people that
don't know anything about the league are coming into are
attacking the league. It's amazing, it really is.

Speaker 3 (01:47:08):
Well, it's the same thing because those same people don't
want people to engage in sports and politics. So what
do you want. Do you just want sports to exist
without politics, or do you want the sports people the
athletes to talk about politics. Because when the WNBA engages
in politics, it's shut.

Speaker 1 (01:47:23):
Up and dribble.

Speaker 3 (01:47:23):
But now we want everyone in the WNBA to be
actively involved. You can't have it both ways. And so
my frustration, as I outlined, is these people don't really
care about the league. They like the political pawns that
they can latch onto to create conversation and fodder in hysteria.
That's all this stuff is. These are not real conversations.

(01:47:45):
And so when people can see through Megan Kelly and
some of the other people that have latched onto the
league will be better for it. I just feel bad
for all the WNBA people that really are about it.
They're subject to a bunch of Nazis because what we
around the league is a much of nonsense.

Speaker 2 (01:48:02):
And look, this doesn't happen in other leagues, but you're
talking about the transgender issue. Two men were escorted from
their courtside seats in Indianapolis the other day during the
third quarter of the Aces game against the Fever because
of the situation, and I guess the transgender outburst if
you will, protesting about it. They were rejected. It doesn't

(01:48:24):
happen in baseball, doesn't happen in the NBA. And speaking
of that, they got an enis cancer freedom. He came
out and said that he wants to play in the
WNBA right now. Amn, he wants to play there. I mean,
it's amazing. And Royce White, let's hear what he had
to say. We haven't what he has is this Royce White,
Let's hear Royce White.

Speaker 10 (01:48:43):
Oh, earlier this week, I made the announcement I'm transgender.
I'm a woman. I'm identify as sometimes identifying as a
woman for purposes of basketball professional basketball. So I'll be
declaring for the WNBA draft in twenty twenty seven as well. Wow,
gotta be unstoppable, really, you know. But I'm a team

(01:49:03):
first guy. You know, I'm a past first kind of player.
I do the little things, you know. I led my
team in all five major stack categories at at Iowa
State University, So I do a.

Speaker 6 (01:49:14):
Little bit of every I'll do whatever the coach needs
me to do.

Speaker 2 (01:49:17):
Oh wait a minute, let me just back up here.
But Buck You know, Royce White played at Iowa State,
drafted in the NBA. He never played in the NBA.
You know why he was afraid of fly. So now
how is he gonna get the game? The game in
the WNBA And now he says he's a transgender. He's
a woman as far as basketball is concerned, but then
he's a man every other time. How is a guy
who's six a two twenty two forty gonna play against women?

(01:49:38):
And why would a woman want to play against them?
I don't get how did the league get to this
state to let this thing happen?

Speaker 3 (01:49:46):
Well, it got to it because like most things to
people hijacked it. Royce Wright, Royce White, and all these
people that are talking and weighing in on this man,
they're just doing it because to their fan base it
is chum in the war, right, Like the transgender thing
is something that look, man, it's don Quixote fighting windmills.

(01:50:07):
When we really talk about the actual number of transgender
people participating.

Speaker 1 (01:50:12):
In sport, we're talking about a very meniscual level.

Speaker 3 (01:50:15):
But it's been kicked up like it's a major issue,
like there are a bunch of guys waiting to dominate
and take over the WNBA inis cancer Royce White. They
know what they're doing because of the dog Wilson. That
will signal up to all the fan base to get
loud and excited and continue to take down the WNBA
like it's all stupid, and the people that are engaging

(01:50:37):
in it, they're like they're all deing dogs. And so
it just drives me crazy when it comes to it,
Like him who has had an issue, You brought up
the issue. He's had mental health issues before, but now
this is can being for him in his cancer, who
has had various political things that he's been involved in.
He brings this up. Is just to piggyback on something

(01:50:58):
that will bring them notoriety in at ten. It is
not well intentioned. Is mean spirited, that's all it is.

Speaker 2 (01:51:05):
Yeah, it's certainly that Royce White believe it. He's a
Republican candidate in Minnesota's Tuesday Senate primary. He told Fox
News he's a transgender. We heard that and it deentifies
as a woman. Quote sometimes for the purpose of basketball.
So otherwise he's a man, like twenty three hours a day,
but he wants to play basketball. He's a woman. I
don't know how about you identify as a woman sometimes,

(01:51:26):
what does that mean? Help me?

Speaker 3 (01:51:29):
I mean, he's just trying to play the game, Like
it's just all attention seeking, Like none of this stuff
should be taken seriously. It's just in a look, it's
an intention gp it's something that he is hoping will do.

Speaker 1 (01:51:40):
What we're doing.

Speaker 3 (01:51:41):
We spend in five to ten minutes talking about him
and this thing as if it's a real deal.

Speaker 1 (01:51:47):
Like if someone really wants to see him do it,
there's a challenge them.

Speaker 3 (01:51:50):
Get on the court where your stuff, you know, put
on your sports bra and you payings and go play. Like,
if that's what you feel, go do it. But like
all of this is just a conversation. So it's annoying
for me to hear him and Enis and some of
the other guys way in because none of this is real.
It is just a conversation that they want to latch
onto so they can look clicks, likes, subscribers.

Speaker 1 (01:52:13):
That's all this is.

Speaker 2 (01:52:15):
I'm glad you said that. Now here's the deal. I
would think that the majority of the women in the
WNBA are not transgender. Would you agree on that the majority?

Speaker 3 (01:52:23):
There may be something there's not there there aren't any
in the league. It's a made up thing. There's no
transgenders in the league.

Speaker 2 (01:52:31):
Okay, that's fine. So if they in fact have a
transgender come in the league and maybe he goes to
court to fight this whatever it may be, could the
players in the league say we refuse to play, we're
going on strike if there's a transgender coming into our league.

Speaker 3 (01:52:48):
Look, I think everyone is free to do lawsuits if
you feel like you're being wronged or whatever. So all
of that stuff can happen. But once again and two
we see someone.

Speaker 1 (01:52:58):
Actively try to get into the league. Why are we
having this conversation? Like it doesn't make sense.

Speaker 3 (01:53:03):
So what they've done, it's an unnecessary distraction for people
making things up. What if I said, you know what,
there's an alien that I heard is going to try
and go into the twenty twenty seven draft to be
a quarterback in the league.

Speaker 1 (01:53:17):
What alien, Bucky? What?

Speaker 2 (01:53:19):
Like?

Speaker 3 (01:53:19):
There's not one. But we're talking about something that hasn't happened.
All these hypotheticals until someone does it, until we actually
have to have that conversation about something real and full
of substance.

Speaker 1 (01:53:31):
What are we doing? It's just a distraction. It's all
a ployee just to talk.

Speaker 2 (01:53:34):
It's not it hurts the league, but it hurts the LEA.

Speaker 1 (01:53:37):
But the league doesn't control it.

Speaker 3 (01:53:39):
So like everyone is at the league like, oh, it's
hurting the league. The league doesn't control this stuff that
these idiots are spewing out there.

Speaker 1 (01:53:46):
You can't control everything. The only thing the league can
control is there things that are going on within it now.
Are there things that need to be correct that people
talk about, the officiating people are talking about, maybe the
increased physicality some of those things.

Speaker 3 (01:54:00):
What the WNBA should be doing is tending to their
own knitting focus on the things that they can control,
which is what's going on in the league right now.
All that outside noise is outside noise, and you can't
placate to that fan base that is bringing in these
outside conversations and issues. Focus on making the league the
best that it can be by working inside out, and

(01:54:22):
then all the other stuff will take care of itself.

Speaker 2 (01:54:24):
Well said, Well said Bucky Brooks. There you go. Okay,
We are broadcasting life for the Fox Sports radio studios.
He is Bucky Brooks and Andy Furman. This is Fox
Sports Sunday, and his time is time. Why chrise? The
blame game is freaking next. All right, we're rolling along
the blame game right around the corner. This is Fox
Sports Sunday on Fox Sports Radio. He's Bucky Brooks and
Andy Ferman Aware live from the Fox Sports Radio studios.

(01:54:47):
About eleven minutes before the top of the hour, that
will be nine o'clock on the East Coast, and top
of the hour, we'll have countdown with no Krokerberger and
Schwartz the law firm, No Krockerberger Schwartz countdown top of
the al nine Amy sent time. But right now it's
time for the play game. You ruin me? It's all
your fault. No, it's your fault. What is all your fault?

(01:55:14):
Maybe it's everyone's fault.

Speaker 1 (01:55:16):
Who knows?

Speaker 2 (01:55:16):
He's a liar. That's why there's the blame game, the game.
Let's figure out who to blame. He's a liar. Oh
there he is, Okay, JT two with JB.

Speaker 6 (01:55:26):
There you go, j T, JB, JC.

Speaker 2 (01:55:29):
There's two of you.

Speaker 9 (01:55:31):
Whatever you want to call me is cool. All right,
let's get started. Andy, I'm gonna start with you. On
June thirtieth, the Raptors and Clippers agreed to a blockbuster
deal to send Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto seven years after
his one year championship run with the team. Because of
the ongoing investigations into both the Clippers and Leonard for
circumventing the salary cap, the trade is still in limbo

(01:55:53):
and there's no timeline as to when punishment could be
handed out. Who do you blame for how the situation
is being handled and the lack of an answers for
all the fans.

Speaker 2 (01:56:02):
Oh, this is easy. All you gotta do is blame
management because they cheated. You know, I'm not saying this
hasn't been done before, but they got caught this time.
So don't do it. I mean, don't cheat on the
salary cat that's all, and the punishment, but wait for
the league. Lee's got to do something about it. It
doesn't look good. It stinks. It really does cheats, you know,

(01:56:22):
people cheating every business. I used to cheat on my
spelling test in fifth grade. All right, I don't cheat anymore.
It doesn't pay because the teacher caught me. Miss Murdoch
caught me cheating.

Speaker 3 (01:56:34):
Yeah, it certainly sounds like Kawhi Lennon and his people
were trying to do some shady stuff and they got
caught up in it, and it's unfortunate. It's unfortunate because now, like,
think about all the players that are involved in this trade.
Right you've already told Brandon Ingraman and all these other
guys that A, we're sending you out. How could they
possibly come back because they know that you don't really
believe in them or want them. That's a difficult situation.

(01:56:57):
So they need to figure out how to make this
trade go through with all the other stuff separate and
apart from it, because this has been an absolute mess
from the start.

Speaker 6 (01:57:07):
Yes, it definitely has.

Speaker 9 (01:57:09):
And now moving on back in your direction, Bucky, which
means a football question is coming your way. As shocker,
the San Francisco forty nine ers have twenty of their
ninety man roster dealing with some kind of injury. Many
point to the electrical substation that is next to their
practice facility.

Speaker 6 (01:57:25):
Who do you blame for their seemingly yearly injury bug?

Speaker 3 (01:57:29):
Yeah, there's something going on. So normally what you do
is you do a quality control to see what's going
on if you have an odd year with injuries or
multiple years. But the fact that they've always been banged
up and beat up, like they have to check their protocol.
So we can talk about the electric substation. We can
also talk about strength and conditioning, the training staff.

Speaker 1 (01:57:48):
Any of those things.

Speaker 3 (01:57:49):
Everyone who has a part in touching the players and
impacting the players. You got to figure out what is happening.
You got to hold those people accountable, because if you're
the Niners, how can you also be the team that
you want to be if twenty of your guys are down, Like,
that's ridiculous.

Speaker 1 (01:58:05):
Can't wait?

Speaker 2 (01:58:07):
You know, you could talk about all the substations if
you want. And I thought a substation was a place
when the self subs I don't know, but you could
talk about all the substations in the world if you
want to. I point my figure. The medical staff, you know,
and all the games that have been played in all
the sports baseball, basketball, football, sock, you name it. When
injuries occur, the medical staff, the team physicians, they never

(01:58:28):
held accountable. Coaches get fired all the time, but whatever,
but players got hurt all the time. Look at the
medical staff. Maybe it's time to change the medical staff.
Look at them, training staff, the medical staff, I mean, yeah,
all that.

Speaker 3 (01:58:42):
Yeah, all there has to be in play, like why
are we having so many issues? When it comes to it,
that has to be something that someone that is held
accountable for.

Speaker 9 (01:58:52):
Yes, I would try and reset everything. We're moving and
the whole staff is going. Something's got change for that
organization because it really does seem like every year, especially
with their big name players, they dropped like flies. And
then all right, this is probably the last one. And
it's an andy question that deserves an andy answer.

Speaker 1 (01:59:15):
Oh.

Speaker 9 (01:59:15):
A circus performer was accidentally shot at the neck by
an arrow during a performance at a county fair in
upstate New York that beened Friday at the Orange County
Fair in Middletown, northwest of New York City. Anna and Edwin,
a married couple from Wisconsin, had been performing their crossbow
sharpshooting act when she accidentally struck him in the neck
with an arrow as he held up a foam target.

Speaker 6 (01:59:38):
Andy, my friend, who do you blame?

Speaker 2 (01:59:40):
Oh, it's easy because it wasn't an accident. She hated
a husband and instead of getting a divorce, he shot
her in the neck. He shot him in the neck.
It really was I mean, come on here, they done
this act for years, and all of a sudden, now
she's gonna shoot him in the neck. Come on, it
was a divorce wedding to happen.

Speaker 1 (01:59:58):
Yes, I agree, I agree.

Speaker 2 (02:00:01):
I would have loved to see that. You know that
I really would. All right, that will wrap it up
for today. JB. Wonderful show, Bucky. Have a great week.
Countdowns next right here on Fox Sports Radio. See you
next week.

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