Andy Furman & Bucky Brooks Recap Seahawks Beating 49ers, Bucs Beating Panthers, Which NFL Head Coaches Are Getting Pink Slips, The Blame Game, And More!!

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio Radio.

Speaker 2 (00:04):
Oh so much for a team game. We'll get it
to that. It's just about a minute. Happy New Year
to everybody. This is Fox Football Sunday. He is Bucky Brooks.
I'm Andy Furman, and we're broadcasting live from the Fox
Sports Radio studios. And of course when you talk about football,
you have to put this man's name right there. His
name is Bucky Brooks. I'm proud to say he's my
friend and partner. Happy New Year to you and your family. Fucky,

(00:27):
how are you?

Speaker 3 (00:28):
I am great? Andy? What's going on? How you doing?

Speaker 2 (00:31):
Everything is rocking and rolling right now. And guess why.
Guess who's back? Patrick Sweek is back at least for
a day as our executive producer. He couldn't keep away.
The Little Dumper is back.

Speaker 1 (00:42):
We back for a day.

Speaker 3 (00:43):
Let's go, little dump.

Speaker 1 (00:46):
Nice, little Dumper is back.

Speaker 2 (00:48):
Good to have you. By the way, we have to
ask Bucky at the end of this hour. So if
you have any good questions for Bucke Brooks that includes you,
little Dumper, you could tweet at Bucky Brooks at Andy
Furman FSR, or even give us a call.

Speaker 1 (00:59):
Eighty seven seven ninety nine one Fox.

Speaker 2 (01:01):
Now, before we get into anything at all, before we
get into these games yesterday, because you're gonna listen to
talk shows all over the country. You're gonna listen to
local shows TV. They're gonna give you the games to
break down. There's a bigger story behind the curtain. I'm
gonna tell you right that. Let's discuss this. It said
well about football. We say football is a team game.
You played the game. There's no one better on God's

(01:22):
green Earth to talk about it than you because you
won the uniform. And we talk about teammates all the
time in a team game. But thanks to the portal
in college football, I'm watching the Liberty Bowl on Friday,
University of CINCINNTI quarterback Brendan Sorosby wasn't even there. It
wasn't in the lineup. He's opt out in that portal
and it looks like he's gonna go to Texas Tech.
That's the rumor right now. And as far as the

(01:43):
New York Football Giants are concerned, Theo Johnson, he was
at the Nick game on Friday night in Madison Square Garden.
He didn't practice all week long for the Knicks and
guess what. He's not playing against the Dallas Cowboys today
and last night. I'm watching the forty nine ers wide
receiver Ricky Piersol on the sidelines and tackle Trent Williams.
Please take off the sunglasses. He's on the sidelines. And
I'm saying, if you're good enough for the sidelines, you're

(02:05):
good enough to play. And I'm saying, teammates, what kind
of teammates team game? I don't think so you played
the game. I don't get it. You're going out there
to battle, You're going out there to war. I look
at the offensive and defensive lines on a football team
like a chain link fence. Now, if one guy is
not there, defense is broken. You know what kind of loyalty?

Speaker 4 (02:24):
You know?

Speaker 2 (02:25):
You talk about quarterbacks getting the offensive linemen like Christmas gifts,
and all of a sudden they're not going to play
and they're opting out.

Speaker 1 (02:32):
Help me out here.

Speaker 2 (02:34):
I mean, I am so disgusted with players where they
don't want to play and they just turn their back
on their teammates, especially this Brendan Sooresby guy. You know,
he's out there all year long busting his rear. End
they're blocking for this guy the big game of the year,
the Liberty Bowl. He bolts tell me about this, How
does this happen?

Speaker 5 (02:55):
Well, I think you had a lot of things wrapped
up into one. I think we have to separated for
Soarts be the quarterback for Cincinnati. The Porter opens up
on open up on January tewod the bowl game that
they're playing in is not one of major consequence. And
even though it is a selfish move, because he is

(03:16):
making a decision that is solely for him and not
for the team, I do understand when it comes to
the Porter and white guys are jumping in and opting
out or whatever. When it comes to the pros, and
I'm saying I'm adamantly opposed to those guys doing it
at the collegiate level or whatever, like you should rock
with your teammates at the pro level. I think it's
different because what you're dealing with when it comes to

(03:37):
Trent Williams or Ricky pearsall.

Speaker 3 (03:39):
We don't know how injured they were.

Speaker 5 (03:42):
Trim Williams had a hamstring that prevented him from playing
the last game, and so the carryover to this game
makes sense that you set him out because you have
to potentially play in a playoff game. Ricky Piarsol, I
don't know what the nature of the injury, but typically
because everything was riding on that game, those guys would
have played for the number one seed if they were

(04:03):
healthy and available to go.

Speaker 3 (04:04):
THEO Johnson the.

Speaker 5 (04:06):
New York Giants tied end that was called courtside at
the Nick game. It appeared that this wasn't his call
in terms of sitting out for the Giants, because he
talked about, look, I'm not sick or whatever that is,
but he's at the game, so that that appears to
be something that the team is going to have to answer.

Speaker 3 (04:23):
Not a good look. Not a good look. No, not
a great look.

Speaker 5 (04:27):
But it's not a great look if he's healthy and
wanting to play and they say no. I mean, I
can understand him wanting to live his life and go
to the game. I'm not preventing myself, but it does
make the organization look bad. If he's sick and can't practice,
but he somehow finds his way to the Nick game.

Speaker 2 (04:45):
That's definitely I would say this, and maybe I'm mistaken,
but today the Cincinnati Bengals are playing, no mean, a
meaningless game against the Cleveland Browns, a meeting list for
the Browns, meaningless for the Bengals. However, Miles Garrett has
a reason to play. Good break the the sack record
and Joe Burrow. You know, really and truly, this guy's
injury prone. He wants to play, you know. I give

(05:07):
him kudos for that. I credit him. He wants to
play football, he loves the game. He has every reason
in the world to say, you know what, I'm shutting
it down. I'm shutting it down for safety purposes. But
he's not doing that. So when I hear these other
guys playing for something, it's a big game. The forty
nine ers number one seed. They can fall right now
to the fifth or sixth seed, depending upon what the

(05:28):
Rams do.

Speaker 1 (05:28):
Really, so, if you're a teammate.

Speaker 2 (05:32):
And you played the game, you're in that locker room, Okay,
you see guys that kind of like dogging it a
little bit that they could have played.

Speaker 1 (05:39):
How does that work? I mean, I'm sure you've seen that.

Speaker 5 (05:43):
Yeah, I mean, like you see it, But I don't.
I can't say definitively that Trent Williams and Ricky Pearson
were dogging it. Like to me, that might have been
a mutual decision between them and the team to say, yeah,
you could play today, but if you play today, are
you me a vail for the playoff game? Most teams
would opt to have their best players available for the

(06:05):
playoffs as opposed to the game, even though it's for
the number one seed at the end of the regular season.
That's just kind of how you think about it. So
I wouldn't be upset with them if that's what this case.
Most of the time, guys won't get upset because the
injury is really on you, and most people say you
got to take care of you to do it. And
if it's something that is a hang nail, you know

(06:27):
that you physically can play through, well, then you look
at someone sideways if they don't play through it. But
those other things, hamstrings, needs, whatever it is that you're
dealing with, that's to your level of tolerance, and only
you know how much you can tolerate and contribute if
you're not fully healthy.

Speaker 1 (06:46):
All right, we'll leave it at that.

Speaker 2 (06:47):
I mean, it's one that I get that off my
chest because you know, I'm looking at it as a fan.
I watch these games and I just say to these
guys Canda, go out there and play.

Speaker 1 (06:54):
I understand injury as part of the game.

Speaker 2 (06:56):
But if you're like eighty percent, you still better well
playing and helping your teammates, and it's all about, you know,
all for one, one for all deal.

Speaker 5 (07:05):
Right, Well, the only thing about that is when you
are hurt and you play, everyone still judges you like
you were one hundred percent. So when you put yourself
out there, fans don't say, oh, he's heard, that's okay.

Speaker 3 (07:20):
He didn't play well.

Speaker 5 (07:21):
The year that Jameis Winston had thirty touchdowns and thirty interceptions,
he played through a broken thumb that he's probably shouldn't
have played through. No one remembers that he was playing
through an injury when he had to thirty interceptions. They
only talk about, well, he through thirty interceptions.

Speaker 3 (07:37):
So when you play, you have to know that you're
going to be judged on the standard that you set
when you're healthy.

Speaker 5 (07:43):
No one is going to grade you on a curve
because you're healthy. Players have to take that in consideration
because people tend to forget, oh.

Speaker 3 (07:51):
He was working through an injury when he ran out there.

Speaker 5 (07:54):
When you run on the field, they expect you to
play to the standard that you've already established.

Speaker 1 (07:58):
And thinker Mayfield's play through injury as well.

Speaker 2 (08:01):
And that's why the winner of the NFC South is
gonna have a losing record because Tampa Bay yesterday they
have what an elimination with that sixteen to fourteen win
over Carolina.

Speaker 1 (08:09):
So here's the deal. The Buccaneers are eight to nine.

Speaker 2 (08:12):
They need the New Orleans Saints to beat or tie
Atlanta today to clinch a believe it or not, fifth
straight NBC title. Now, if the Falcons win today, the
Panthers eight to nine, will secure their first division championship
since gets this when Ron Rivera and Cam Newton led
them to a fifteen to one record and the Super

(08:32):
Bowl ten years ago.

Speaker 1 (08:33):
Amazing, it's amazing.

Speaker 2 (08:35):
At eight and nine, I mean, they're gonna have to
change the playoff format because it's not another words, it's
not a good look. Losing record going to the playoffs
winning the division doesn't look good.

Speaker 5 (08:46):
They may not look good, but it's an anomaly. You
don't overhaul the playoffs for that. Just like people want
to receive the playoffs based on well, this person their record,
this team's record is X, Y and Z, and they're
better than the division winner. Yeah, but they didn't win
the division. Division winners have to be recognized for something.
You have to give them a home game. There has

(09:06):
to be something that makes it. Otherwise, why have divisions.
What's the point of being in division if it brings
about nothing when you win the title. So they have
to have people. People have to quit whining about it.
If you don't win your division, then you got to
take your tail on the road and find a way
to win games the hardware.

Speaker 2 (09:22):
I will say this, watching that game, I was really
impressed with Bryce youngcus I think he's coming into his
own Honestly, if you get to say a comparison here,
I think he outplayed Baker Mayfield. Bryce Young threw for
two sixty six Baker two oh three. And I'm watching
these games right now. Was you come down the stretch
the last several weeks? You know what the key is?

Speaker 1 (09:40):
I think? Anyway?

Speaker 2 (09:41):
I know you could tell me if I'm wrong. I
think it's the running game. You're controlling the clock. You
have the ground game that can't pass in bad weather
or last night it was soaking rain, it was terrible.
You know, Bucky Irving where he ran for like one
hundred and four hundred and eighty five yards they outrushed.
Was it Tampa Bay out rushed Carolina one seventy nineteen
That that's ridiculous. But you know Young threw for two

(10:03):
to sixty six. So if you have the run game
and a good defense, you're gonna win. And that's basically
what it's all about.

Speaker 5 (10:10):
I mean, that's what it's always been about. People don't
like to hear it, like we are fascinated with people
throwing the ball in those things, But if you're looking
at the way teams are winning, it is about running
the ball. So you can control the clock, you can
dictate the terms, you can protect your defense. It's part
of a complimentary football play where the offense, defense, special
teams work together to win games.

Speaker 3 (10:30):
That's how you win at the highest level.

Speaker 5 (10:33):
The stats and stuff are fun, but really it's about
winning the games and doing what you need to do
to win the games. And a lot of times death
centers around the running game, defense, and then efficient quarterback
play in key moments.

Speaker 2 (10:48):
Well, you know, if the Carolina Panthers won that game
a day, that Panthers would have clinched the division title.
But because the Tampa Bay Bucks won the Saints Falcons
game today will now decide who wins the division. It's unbelievable,
it really is. And the Falcons are hot right now.
They beat the Rams Monday night was at twenty seven
to twenty four. So the Atlanta right now is seven

(11:08):
and nine. And it gets pretty it gets pretty screwed up. Really,
it really does. Real tight bad records, but close records.
That's the deal right there.

Speaker 5 (11:17):
It's crazy, I mean, is definitely kind of nutty when
you think about bad records being able to go in.
Who is I mean, like, who's going to be allowed in?
How they are sneaking in the back door. But I
will say this, and coaches used to talk about it,
no one cares how you got into the postseason.

Speaker 3 (11:36):
When you get into the postseason, all bets.

Speaker 5 (11:38):
Are off and your record is just like the team
that has the top seed. Everyone has an opportunity to
go the way, to go the distance, and you just
have to be hot for three games, you know, walk
out round, division, round, championship round. If you do those things,
you have a chance of going okay.

Speaker 2 (11:56):
So the Panthers will clinch a the Vision title if
the Falcons beat the Saints. All right, So Baker Mayfield,
who now has to cheer for the Saints because a
couple of weeks ago he said he didn't like the Saints,
he's gonna have the root for them today, right, And
the Buccaneers will be cheering for the Saints because Tampa
Bay will win the division if New Orleans wins or

(12:17):
ties in that game. It gets pretty complicated there, so
we'll see what happens. But Atlanta's tight, I mean, they're tough,
they really are, So we'll see what happens over there.
I just, you know, I just don't understand how that
stuff could happen. But I'm gonna move to the second
game last night, and that was allegedly the big game.
And I'll ask you right now because you say that

(12:38):
Kyle Shanahan should be the coach of the year. I
read that wasn't in the Fox Sports dot Com. And
you know, I know that he's done a good job
because it's been decimated with injuries. But still in all,
what happened last night was ridiculous. I mean, I get it.
I watched that Seattle defense was smothering. I mean, really
and truly it was tremendous. This Seattle team, which a

(13:00):
lot of people don't know about because I think the
time zone factor and when they play. But this team
is super Bowl bounding. I really believe they are.

Speaker 5 (13:10):
I mean, look, it's a really good team. They can
do it in a bunch of different ways. They've been
able to do it with Sam Donald playing a key
role as a point guard on offense, and that is
really kind of helped him. That's oversheted because there's a
point in the year when Sam Donald and Jackson Smith
and Jigbug were just dominating people, throwing the ball all
over the yard. But when it comes down to it,

(13:32):
the way they were able to win, particularly the last
couple of weeks, has been about the running game, Zach
Sharburname being able to make big plays on the ground,
Ken Watch Junior, their dominance on defense, Nick and many
worry their front line, with Leonard Williams and company being
able to really crush it at the point of attack.

(13:54):
They're just a well constructed team and to have two
home games potentially where the two are a major impact.
I mean you almost can pistol them into the super
Bowl because it's really hard to beat them in that environment.
I think they've won ten straight home games in the playoffs.
They're just a very difficult team to beat at home,

(14:14):
and so we'll have an opportunity to see them at
their best because all roads lead through the Pacific Northwest.

Speaker 2 (14:20):
And the funny thing is we mentioned the run game
in that first game with Carolina and Tampa Bay.

Speaker 1 (14:27):
Look at the stats on this game.

Speaker 2 (14:28):
Seattle rushed for a total of one hundred eighty yards
as opposed to the forty nine is fifty three yards
on the ground and Christian McCaffrey eight carries for twenty
three yards. I mean, I know the field may be
not great conditions, but still at all I just think
that the defense of Seattle had a lot to do

(14:49):
with that.

Speaker 1 (14:49):
Brock perty nineteen.

Speaker 2 (14:50):
For twenty seven for one to twenty seven and an interception,
and all Sam Donald had to do is not turn
the ball over, which he had been I guess at
times during the season a turnover machine. He almost fumbled
at one time I saw and I think what was it,
charponnet or Walker fell on the ball. It was a
great say that could have been devastating over there. But

(15:11):
Donald was twenty for twenty six for one ninety eight,
but again they rushed for one point eighty as opposed
to the forty nine.

Speaker 1 (15:17):
Ers rushing for a team fifty three. That was it
right there.

Speaker 5 (15:22):
Yeah, I mean there's a big part of their thing
their ability to be able to run the football, to
control it, to dominate it, to play great defense against
the Niners team that had been terrific all the way through.
I mean, they just they've been terrific offensively where you
just couldn't stop them, and Seattle Seahawks were able to

(15:45):
find a way to kind of get it done and
it worked to their favor. Now, the interesting thing would
be for the Niners is how did they bounce back?

Speaker 3 (15:55):
How did they bounce back.

Speaker 5 (15:56):
From a very disappointing performance at home? They give it away,
they had some injuries that prevented them from kind of
being at the best. What would they do to recover?
But I'm pretty confident that the Niners come back. They're
gonna be a tough team for whoever they have to play.
And if it's the Niners versus the fourth seed, which
would be the NFC South champs, the Buccaneers or the

(16:19):
Carolina Panthers, man give me the Niners on that like,
so we will have an opportunity to see the Niners
and maybe the Sea Yawks do get out again as
we get down in the tournament.

Speaker 1 (16:29):
I wouldn't mind seeing that again.

Speaker 2 (16:31):
I tell you what, that thirteen to three score, which
is Seattle won last night, is really not really the
true story of that game, because I really think Seattle
dominated that game. It was like ten to three at
the half, and there were a couple of opportunities, and
I kind of questioned on the game's opening possession a
Seattle kept the offense on the field. It was fourth
and goal from the four yard line. I'm saying he

(16:51):
and even the announcers didn't they say, it's a give
me three points right there.

Speaker 1 (16:55):
And they came away.

Speaker 2 (16:55):
With nothing because they had a field goal and the
field goal at ten failed and that was the end
of And then it was ridiculous.

Speaker 1 (17:03):
Really, it could have been three nothing right there, and
they missed another field goal opportunity.

Speaker 2 (17:07):
It should have been more. I really believe they should
have scored more points. But I don't understand that deal.
What was the logic behind that, you know, staying on
the field for that going for they had the three
points there, and they went for what they for the
deal they failed.

Speaker 1 (17:21):
Why would you do that? You get the points, always
go for your points, right?

Speaker 5 (17:26):
Uh No, I mean like it's a new era where
these guys like to go for it. They like to
be aggressive, trying to hunt points, put games away and
those things, and they're willing to live with the consequences.
And you talk about a game in where Seattle certainly
could have dominated beyond when the school board reflected they

(17:46):
just made some decisions where they went for it. They
had some poor execution at time in those moments. They
missed the field goal, they doint the close range shot.
So you very well could come away from their game
if you were to see saying, man, we could have
dominated this team by so much more if we just
play a little better, then have a ton of confidence

(18:07):
going into the postseason. The way they've handled and had
the bounce back and come back against the Rams, the
way they were able to knock off the Niners and
those things. This is a team that's playing their best
ball heading to the postseason. We'll see, though, if the
Rest versus russ debate comes back to get them, because
they're going to have that week off how are they
going to be able to kind of pick up where

(18:29):
they left off when they get into the tournament.

Speaker 2 (18:32):
The only thing I could think of that was going
through Mike McDonald, the coach of Seattle. On that play
in the first position, when they were on the four
yard line and instead of taking the field goal, they
went for it and they failed. He had so much
confidence in his defense that he didn't worry about that
because the forty nine ers took over on their.

Speaker 1 (18:48):
Position and they went three and out.

Speaker 2 (18:50):
Right after that, they went three and out because of
Seattle's defense, So I can see maybe, But then again
Seattle came back and Jason Myers missed a field goal again,
so it was it was kind of back and forth.
But thirteen to three is not indicative of really the
way Seattle really beat up on the forty nine ers yesterday.

Speaker 1 (19:07):
And again.

Speaker 2 (19:07):
You know, I'll give you the opportunity to defend your
Kyle Shanahan's Coach of the Year deal, and I guess
the coach of the Year deal that has already voted
on not it doesn't count on these games or they do.

Speaker 1 (19:18):
I mean, how does that work? Coach of the Year.

Speaker 5 (19:21):
I mean, look, when you right ahead of it. I
don't know if they're gonna win or lose. They lost,
I mean I'm anticipating that if they win, he beat
the numb one seed, then you have to give him
the thing right now. It'll rifley go to one of
the first year coaches that orchestrated a turnaround, whether it's
Liam Khyn, Ben Johnson, Mike Rabel, one of those guys
would probably be the recipient.

Speaker 2 (19:40):
No, I hear what you saying. The job he's done
is amazing, done a tremendous job. Because you know the
majority of his starters are on the bench. They just
don't play the hurt why.

Speaker 1 (19:50):
I don't know.

Speaker 2 (19:51):
It just the luck of the draw. Maybe it happens.
But he's done a great job keeping them together. What
they had a six game winning streak going to the
game last night, But coach of the Year, I gave
you credit for doing that. He's a great coach, he
really is. He's a heck of a coach. But I
don't know if he's gonna get that deal. I don't
think he's here to get it.

Speaker 3 (20:07):
No, he's not gonna get it.

Speaker 5 (20:08):
Like when when they fall toed and the way they
fall to the national stage. Yeah, like his candidacy like
took a major hit because they didn't win and because
they were dominated by the Seahawks.

Speaker 3 (20:19):
And that's okay.

Speaker 5 (20:20):
I think he's done a terrific job of what he's
had to overcome to get this team to the point
where where they won twelve games. You talk about the
number of blue chip players that are sitting in the sideline.
We saw Nick Bose and Fred Warner up in the box.
They didn't have Trent Williams and Ricky Piersol last night.
Brock Praidy missed eight games. They're playing with a backup
quarterback in mac Jones.

Speaker 3 (20:41):
They've overcome a.

Speaker 5 (20:42):
Lot to be there and they still will be one
of the tougher outs in the postseason. So we'll see
what it looks.

Speaker 2 (20:47):
Like when a job with Matt Jones. Matt Jones did
well when he was in there, He really did.

Speaker 5 (20:53):
Yeah, So I mean he deserves a lot of credit.
We'll see there'd be a I mean, look, this year
has been phenomenal in terms of the which is that
are worthy of receiving the award. We'll see how shakes
out here we go.

Speaker 2 (21:04):
He's Bucky Brooks get him on X at Bucket Brooks
at Andy Furman FSL. We'll take your calls at eight
seven seven ninety nine on Fox Patrick will answer the
phones for you the Little Dumper eight seven seven nine
nine six sixty three sixty nine. We got as Bucky
in this hour the playing game of nour number two.
But was this the best way to spend thirty five
million bucks?

Speaker 1 (21:23):
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Speaker 4 (21:25):
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Speaker 1 (21:37):
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Speaker 6 (21:39):
Join me every weekday morning on my podcast, Straight Fire
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(21:59):
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Speaker 1 (22:05):
Or wherever you get your podcasts.

Speaker 2 (22:10):
A second time for four losses. That's right around the corner.
Good morning, this is Fox Football Sunday a Fox Sports Radio.
These Bucky Brooks and Andy Fermha. We're live from the
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Speaker 1 (22:40):
Pop up at the top of your screen.

Speaker 2 (22:42):
We got asked Bucky in about twelve minutes from now,
but getting into the college football playoffs, tenth seed Miami
knocks off Ohio State. How big of a surprise was that,
not only for you, Bucky Brooks, foot for the whole
world to see.

Speaker 5 (23:00):
I think it's a bit surprised because a lot of
people that talked about Ohio State being the most talented team,
the best team that money could buy. However, when you
watch the game, Miami dominated the game in the trenches
from the beginning to the end. In terms of the
way Ruben Dame my sore playered the way they were
able to play upfront, like the best way to talk

(23:21):
about number three, number four. They just dominated at the
line of scrimmage, and the physicality, the toughness to violence
with which the Miami Hurricanes played was overwhelming at first.
The Buckeyes eventually matched that, but then it came down
to making plays, and Miami just made more plays down
the stretch.

Speaker 3 (23:39):
I think they wore them down.

Speaker 5 (23:41):
So yeah, I'm surprised, but I think I am encouraged
in terms of the way that we saw the games
play out in the playoffs are exactly how it should be.
The most physical team, the team that really executes at
a high level, those were the teams that won. So
there weren't any flukes. That was not a fluke win
by the miaim Hurricanes.

Speaker 2 (24:00):
Now a big question is they had the Fox Sports
Radio Football Pool, so to speak, the contest.

Speaker 1 (24:07):
Did you have Miami winning that game?

Speaker 5 (24:09):
Unfortunately I forgot to participate in the pool going in,
but like going back, I probably would have been a
coin flip. I probably would have favored Ohio State going
into it, but Miami's good. And when I watched Miami
play against Texas A and M. The previous week they dominated,
their defense, dominated and throttled Texas A and M. So

(24:32):
I'm not surprised that they did the same thing for
Ohio State, especially considering how Indiana had boughted them up
pretty good in the Big Ten championship game.

Speaker 2 (24:40):
All Right, so they're gonna play I guess they're gonna
play Ole Miss on Thursday, that is Miami.

Speaker 1 (24:45):
But here's the background.

Speaker 2 (24:46):
Here is the background picture of the Ohio State Buckeyes
with a thirty five million dollar payroll, which is unbelievable. Really,
they had the nation's most accurate quarterback, and Julian saying
their defense was ranked among the best, if not the best,
in the country. Thirty five million dollars worth of talent. Okay,
so that's going to be something that's going to bite
them in the rear end. They have a higher winning

(25:07):
percentage of any other program since the start of the
BOWLD Championship Series back in nineteen ninety eight, and in
the eleven year playoff era, no program, none, has won
a higher share of games than the buck Geys, not
even Alabama. Okay, the Hurricanes. They sacked, Julian saying five
times they went twenty four to fourteen. They're going to

(25:29):
play Old Miss on Thursday night. I think they're going
to beat Old Miss. So now the problem is this.
You spend thirty five million dollars. People want to return
in their dollar. People want to return on their investment. Okay,
I don't care what you do. I don't care what
business you're in, a car salesman or anybody else. These
are the people that put up their money needs. Crazy
alums at Ohio State. They're not happy. They're not happy

(25:51):
that their buck. Guys, the people that they shelled out
the money for that they didn't get the return of
their dollar. What happens now? Thirty five million dollars is
a lot of money. Know what Indiana's payroll is, But
I don't think it's that. I don't think it's thirty
five million. I really don't.

Speaker 5 (26:06):
Look at the costs of doing business, and you just
have to tell you people that it's the cost of
doing business.

Speaker 3 (26:10):
It guarantees us nothing.

Speaker 5 (26:12):
But if you don't pony up the money, it guarantees
that we won't be in the conversation. So you either
want us in the conversation or not. Uh, you got
to pay to play. You have to pay to get
really good players, and if you're not willing to pay,
you want to kind of be at that on a
different layer, a different level, a different tier than some
of the top teams. Doesn't guarantee that you're gonna win it,

(26:32):
but in terms of competing for the four and five stars,
you better have cash in hand because that's what they demand.

Speaker 2 (26:39):
And you know what the common thread be it the
NFL games we talked about previously, or this game right here,
the running game rushing Miami outrushed the Ohio State Buckeyes
one fifty three to forty five. That that's an amazing number,
and that's glaring. I mean, you could look at box scores.
Are the three games or two games yesterday in this
game right now now, just by looking at the bop

(27:01):
square on the out rushing games, you could tell who
won the game.

Speaker 5 (27:06):
I mean, there's always been the case. It's always been
the blueprint, the formula. Some people will say causation and
correlation doesn't match up. Just because they have those rushing
numbers doesn't mean that that was the.

Speaker 3 (27:19):
Cause of the win. Is a byproduct of it? I
don't know.

Speaker 5 (27:23):
I will say this when you're able to run the
football successfully. There's a few different things that it does.

Speaker 3 (27:29):
It allows you to.

Speaker 5 (27:29):
Control the game, like we talked about, managing the clock
and those things. It allows you to beat up your opponent,
which leads to more success in later quarters. And it
protects your defense because the fewer snaps your defense plays,
the better they're going to play. Because every defense has
a limit. If you play past a certain number of plays,
you're going to see some mistakes and fatigue and that

(27:53):
come into play. The running game prevents all of that,
and it sets up the quarterback for success off play action, no.

Speaker 1 (27:58):
Doubt about that.

Speaker 2 (28:00):
Now, I'm going to move the calendar back to October
eleventh of.

Speaker 1 (28:03):
This twenty twenty five.

Speaker 2 (28:05):
Last year, Okay, Indiana University played Oregon in Eugene and
beat them thirty to twenty. There's going to be a
rematch in the semi finals, right now. That's going to
be this Friday night. Indiana will meet Oregon Friday night
in the semi finals of the College football players and
they're coming in on They're rolling. Indiana is rolling right now.
They beat up on Alabama thirty eight to three, and

(28:25):
that game was Alabama's worst loss since the turn of
the century, which includes Alabama's loss at the hands of
Clemson in the National Championship Game after twenty eighteen thirty
eight to three. How does that happen? I mean, the
team just laid down. I watched the game. I couldn't
believe what I saw. It was the most lopsided loss

(28:47):
in a bowl game thirty five points at the lowest
point total in the postseason matchup since bab Bryant's Alabama
team ended the nineteen sixty Blue Bonnet Bowl.

Speaker 1 (28:57):
I looked this up in a three to three tie
with ten. It is unbelievable.

Speaker 2 (29:02):
And Kellen de Boor, I mean, when he took the
job at Alabama, I said to myself, you never ever
want to follow a legend. You want to follow the
legends guy. The guy follows the legend after he goes
that's what you want to do. You just don't do that.
I don't care what business you're in. You don't want
to follow a legend. And that's what he did. And
he's getting some heat, getting some big time heat in Alabama.

Speaker 5 (29:25):
Well they should get some heat in Alabama because anyone
who's watched the program closely knows that man. They haven't
played to the standard in awhile, and when I mean
playing to the standard, I am talking about playing the
way that we've expected Alabama to play after watching Nick
Saban dominated on the sidelines for almost two decades down there.

(29:45):
They have a physicality, they have a tough list, They
have a discipline and an attention to detail that stood out.
They were the heavyweight fighter that was knocking out all
the middle waste because of their imposing size, physicality and
strength toughness. This Alabama team and the Alabama teams that
we've seen since Kaitlyn the Boor took over, are nothing

(30:06):
like those saving teams. Some of the I would say,
the discipline and structure that we're used to seeing with
the Nick Saban coach team has gone out the window.
And that doesn't mean that Kailn the Boar isn't a
great coach. I would liken it to maybe Nick Saban
and Pete Carroll. They go about their business differently and
you can get the same results, but it's going to
look different in terms of like I would say, some

(30:28):
of the loosey goosey nature of Alabama. But what I
saw in the Rose Bowl, I saw an Indiana team
physically beat Alabama up. They beat them up from beginning
to end, pillar to post as some people would say
built to booty as people like to refer to it now.
They beat them up. And at no point did it

(30:51):
ever feel like Alabama was gonna come back and make
that was a competitive contest and it's a testament of
the Kirk signetti they've done. But one thing that I
think people need to understand about Indiana and one of
the advantages that Indiana has now over some of these
other teams, very much like the NCAA Tournament is proving

(31:12):
in basketball, the older team wins, and when you have
a team full of fifth and six year players, they're
going to beat up the younger five stars. And Indiana
has an old, experienced team and they play like men
compared to the little boys that we saw at Alabama.
That was the biggest deciding factor in it. The older

(31:34):
teams are beginning to dominate, and the teams that are
able to find those fifth and six year players that
are good players may not be four and five stars,
but three stars that have continued to develop, they have
a significant advantage in the postseason.

Speaker 2 (31:47):
I got to ask you though a house surprised? Are
you with the success right now? Of course Signetti not
just on this game, but over the last two years
in Indiana. Mean, did you follow his teams at James Madison?
Did you know he would do this and turn the
program around like that?

Speaker 5 (32:00):
No? I don't think anybody could. Right, Like when he
grabbed a mic and he was talking bold and loud
and all that, I was like, who's this guy? And
then he ended talking about he's gonna win Google me
and those things. But when you dig back and the
more you listen to him, and the more he shares
his story in terms of what he learned along the way,
how he wanted to have an opportunity to be a
head coach and he learned structure and those things from

(32:24):
coach Saban. He followed the blueprint when he went to
Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Then he took that to Elone
and from Elon to James Madison and from JMU to Indiana.
The blueprint works, and he has a lot of success,
and that success gives him a lot of confidence to
be able to stand in front of the room and
tell you guys, if y'all follow me, we're gonna win.

(32:44):
And when you bring a handful of your own players
who can also preach that gospel, it helps. And he's
a really good coach. And when you look at their teams,
they're well coached. I watched that game early when Indiana
knocked off Oregon. Look, man, they beat him down, They
out coached him, they outplayed them, they out executed them,

(33:06):
all of those things. And so if people are expecting
Oregon to just flip the switch and turn it on
and beat them, this is going to be a great
game to watch because these are two world coach teams
with really good personnel.

Speaker 1 (33:18):
Well, I will say this.

Speaker 2 (33:19):
You always say that the players take the personality of
their coach when he When Signetty came in there, that
program was on its back. It was I mean, it
was a basketball school, no doubt about that. Football was
a secondary situation and they were on their back. But
he came in there and like said things, and they
you know, woke up a lot of people. And certainly
then they says are out the yeah, yeah he'll really

(33:40):
do this. Yeah they didn't believe them. But I think
that inside the locker room, these players needed that. They
needed that from someone that believed in them, even though
he may never even see them yet, even on tape,
but they believed in him, and I think they're taking
that confidence level. Yeah, certainly it's a lot of skill,
of course, but they take the confidence that he instilled
upon them by just talk and saying those things publicly,

(34:02):
and I think you could see it on the field.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I think a lot of it
has to do with his attitude and what he has
said to make them believers.

Speaker 5 (34:10):
Uh. Yeah, Look, the attitude certainly plays a part in it,
but it's the work, and anyone around the program will
tell you that it's about the work, the detailed, the discipline,
and the way that they prepare. It's not just oh,
I feel like we're gonna be great, so we're gonna
be great now. There's a lot of work that goes
to it. That's why they win it.

Speaker 2 (34:27):
Okay, Last, but not least, Kellen Depour first Alabama coach
to lose four or more games in consecutive seasons since
Mike Schuler and three and o four, And last but
not least, Fernando Mendoz, a quarterback for Indiana. In that game,
he finished with more touchdown passes three than in completions two.
He went fourteen for sixteen for one to ninety two,

(34:48):
one of the best pass the ratings of the season.
I'm going for Indiana. I think that you know what
you're talking about, Cinderella. I mean the NCAA basketball tournament
has it. I honestly think that this is the Cinderella
team of the year. I think the nation he's pulling
for Indiana. I think they like the underdog. Although they
may not be the underdog at number one, but there's
somewhat of an underdumpers when it comes to football. You
don't really think of Indiana as a powerhouse. So we'll

(35:10):
see what happens there. By the way, he's Bucky Brooks.
I'm Andy Furman. Were live for the Fox Sports Radio
studios and it's that time to get just a little
bit smarter. Why ask Bucky? It's next? 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. All right, yes, Bucky,

(35:33):
right around the bend. That's Bucky Brooks. I'm Andy Fermerway
of Fox Football Sunday of Fox Sports Radio Live from
the Fox Sports Radio Studios and Bucky joining us today.
Patrick Sweek, a celebrity move, a one time shot, a
former executive producer, a little dumper.

Speaker 1 (35:49):
How are you doing everything good? You have a good
New Year's?

Speaker 4 (35:51):
Oh?

Speaker 1 (35:51):
I had a great New Year's it's it? Are you ready?

Speaker 3 (35:54):
Oh?

Speaker 1 (35:55):
Ready for as Bucky? Are you got a question for him?

Speaker 5 (35:58):
Oh?

Speaker 7 (35:58):
I do?

Speaker 5 (35:59):
I do?

Speaker 1 (36:00):
Let it?

Speaker 7 (36:00):
Let's do it all right, Buck, I got a question
for you. So there has been a reported rumors or
surrounding the Minnesota Vikings that they may or may not
be looking to go get a veteran quarterback to you know,
kind of push and compete with mister JJ McCarthy, you
know nine for this coming off season. All I wanted

(36:21):
to ask you, Buck, is do you think didn't there's
truth to that? Maybe what quarterback they may be looking at.

Speaker 5 (36:29):
Well, it's not a great quarterback class free agency or
the draft. I think JJ McCarthy certainly will have someone
brought in to compete with him, but in their mind,
he should be the dude. So look for a mid level,
low level veteran quarterback to come in. But I'm gonna
tell you it's not great. Mac Jones is on the contract,
Daniel Jones is coming off an injury. Then you're talking

(36:49):
about Tyrod Taylor and the usual suspect. So there's no
one out there. I think they'll try and add some competition.
But look, JJ McCarthy is gonna be the starting quarterback
for Minnesota next year.

Speaker 1 (37:01):
All right, Magic Mark, you got something for Bucky. So Bucky.

Speaker 8 (37:05):
I had a chance to see the Ole Miss Georgia game.
And just like every week we can complain about referee calls.
Is there anything that you could do, like you just
if you could waiver wand to have referees not go
blind at certain seconds so that they see all their calls.

Speaker 5 (37:26):
I think the game is I think the game is
so fast that they're gonna miss some calls. I think
with replay assist in those things, maybe you can clean some.

Speaker 3 (37:33):
Of that up. But you have to got to charge
some of that up to the human element of the game.

Speaker 5 (37:38):
They are going to make mistakes, and you have to
be willing and able to play through some of the
mistakes that they make.

Speaker 2 (37:44):
I'm switching. I'm gonna switch the spot. I'm gonna go
to hockey. Can I do that? I got a hockey question.
But even with the NHL. The NHL about twenty years ago,
they really hit gold when they had that New Year's
Day with the Classic. It was a celebration of the
arches of hockey played on frozen with the ponds. Now,
the first outdoor game was played at the Buffalo bill
Stadium in a snowstorm. It was must C TV. It

(38:07):
was it was great. So what does the NHL do?
They moved the game this year to January two. They
moved it to Miami in a retractable roof stadium.

Speaker 1 (38:15):
Why in the hell do they do that? How stupid
is that?

Speaker 5 (38:20):
I have no idea why they would try and do
a Winter Classic in Miami. That doesn't make any sense
that it goes it goes against everything, Like you can't
even replicate the conditions that you would want in terms
of like you're like a blustery background to be the backdrop.

Speaker 8 (38:35):
Right.

Speaker 3 (38:36):
Yeah, not a great move. Not a great move.

Speaker 5 (38:38):
I don't know who gets dead in their office, but
not one of the brightest ideas from NHL.

Speaker 1 (38:44):
I'm with you right there, thank you.

Speaker 2 (38:45):
Okay, now we talk about the college football transfer portal
to me and how many people have said this as
a free for all.

Speaker 1 (38:51):
You got to change it. But how could it be changed.

Speaker 5 (38:55):
I think you can push the day's back, but I
think the calendar needs to be changed. In general. One,
the college football Playoff is too long. They should be
able to end this, like Dan Lanning suggests January first,
because if January first ends the season of twenty twenty five, well,
if the porter opens on January tecod twenty twenty six.

Speaker 3 (39:15):
Well that great, the new season, new year, knew me
all those other things.

Speaker 5 (39:19):
It's just about the college football Playoff making sure one
regular season ends before the thoughts in the planning of
the next season begins.

Speaker 2 (39:28):
Okay, Tomorrow is what they call black Monday. That's when
coaches may get the pink slip. I'm gonna give you
some names, and you could expand to see if in
fact they will be gone after tomorrow morning. Pete Carroll,
the Raiders head coach. Audios I need that was like
a no brainer right there.

Speaker 1 (39:48):
Okay.

Speaker 2 (39:49):
Zach Taylor Bengals, Hey, it was bad everything. Zach Taylor,
Bengals head coach.

Speaker 3 (39:55):
Nah, he'll stay because the offense of people love him.

Speaker 5 (39:58):
He'll stay, all right.

Speaker 2 (40:00):
Kevin Stefanski head coach of the Cleveland Browns.

Speaker 3 (40:03):
Should be gone.

Speaker 5 (40:05):
And then the fact that someone is talking about him
being a high retrade candidate is crazy to me.

Speaker 3 (40:09):
But yeah, he should be out. John Harbaugh, No, he
stays right.

Speaker 2 (40:16):
Really okay, anybody else in your mind that.

Speaker 1 (40:19):
May be gone?

Speaker 3 (40:21):
I think the conversation.

Speaker 5 (40:23):
Look, I think the loser, John Harbor, Mike Tomlin, there's
gonna be a lot of conversation. I don't think either
of those guys leaves, but the seat will be hot
on both of them.

Speaker 2 (40:34):
Really, what about the Cowboys defensive corterbat defensive coordinator Mac Eeberfloss.

Speaker 5 (40:40):
Like, hopefully he's already ended his lease and got his
boxes and stuff matched up.

Speaker 3 (40:45):
He's out.

Speaker 2 (40:46):
All right, We're gonna take a look at the NFL
playoff picture and the NFL rookies, that and so much more.
Where Fox Football Sunday coming up right here next? All right,
is anyone watching?

Speaker 1 (40:57):
I tell you what.

Speaker 2 (40:58):
We'll ask that question and we'll get the answer just
about a minute.

Speaker 1 (41:01):
Good morning, everybody.

Speaker 2 (41:02):
This is Fox Football Sunday and Fox Sports Radio. He's
Bucky Brooks, I mean he Firman went broadcasting live from
the Fox Sports Radio studios and of course be sure
to subscribe to the Fox Sports Radio YouTube channel. Just
search Fox Sports Radio on YouTube and you'll see our
best videos from all of our shows.

Speaker 1 (41:17):
And don't stop there. Hit that thumbs up.

Speaker 2 (41:20):
I kind of comment the way, let us know whose
takes that you like and even those that you don't like.
Just search Fox Sports Radio on YouTube and subscribe. Now
I asked the question, mister Bucket Brooks, how are you?
Is anybody watching? And when I say that, I mean
I'll talk about college basketball. You know, I heard Steve
the Sega top of the hour, given the college basketball
scores Kansas lost.

Speaker 1 (41:38):
At this point in time.

Speaker 2 (41:40):
You know, we talk about the NFL rolling over the NBA,
especially on Christmas Day. I think college football right now
is pushing college basketball to the sidelines a little bit
as well, don't you agree?

Speaker 5 (41:51):
Yeah hundred percent, Like no one is fully immersed themself
in college basketball. Yeah, because college football is still going on.
But yeah, football is king and it can ten used
to show whether it's the NFL or college football. That
is what America loves. They love consuming football at all times.

Speaker 2 (42:06):
Right, And I will say this, I don't think we
gave Indiana University football.

Speaker 1 (42:12):
It's just due.

Speaker 2 (42:13):
I think what this program in kurtz Signetti has done,
although he has not answered me yet after I sent
them a cigar the other day after a big win, but.

Speaker 1 (42:20):
He probably will.

Speaker 2 (42:22):
I would just want to mention a couple of things
that they have accomplished Alabama. In that game they lost.
Alabama lost thirty eight three the other day. Alabama now
has three straight losses in bowl games for the first
time since Bear Bryant lost four straight for seventy one
to seventy four. All right, Indiana had more rushing yards
two fifteen than Alabama managed total yards one ninety three,

(42:46):
much of the damage coming between the tackles, of course. Now,
Alabama came into the College Football Playoff quarterfinal game with
the SCC's best secondary, giving up just one hundred and
sixty eight yards a game and six point two yards
per attempt. They were torched by the Indiana They really were.
Now you played the game, you look at the team

(43:07):
on film, and Indiana's looking at Alabama and they're saying, Wow,
this secondary is pretty good.

Speaker 1 (43:13):
What do they do?

Speaker 2 (43:14):
You've seen the alignment. What did Kurt Signetty do? What
did Indiana do to crush Alabama, and they did. They
crushed them.

Speaker 5 (43:24):
I would say the main thing they did they all
physical them from beginning to end. The physicality, toughness, their effort,
they overwhelmed them. They were more violent than Alabama at
the line of scrimmage and all over the field, So
that's one. Secondly, their execution was at a high level,
attention to detail.

Speaker 3 (43:41):
They didn't give up anything cheap.

Speaker 5 (43:43):
They kept the ball in front, they ran to the ball,
they took great angles. They played fundamentally sound ball, particularly
on defense, and then offensively they were efficient. Fernando menzou'sa
One of the best qualities that he has is his
ability to manage the game. He was efficient when it
came to passing. The ball didn't hit the ground much.

(44:03):
He is not the guy that is necessarily the driving
force of the offense, but he manages the game, situation
circumstance well, where they're always in a good play. They
always appear to be on schedule, but they never appear
to be out of source. So to me, this was
just a look a phenomenal game by Indiana. Not them
playing I would say above their talent, but them playing

(44:26):
their best game when their best game was expected to
be played in the postseason.

Speaker 2 (44:31):
I would love to attend the Kurt Signify practice. I
think he's like a drow sergeant. I think there's no
fooling around, there's no smiling. It's just all yelling, screaming,
and he's got to be tough. I mean, it just
doesn't happen. It's not magic. He's working these guys hard,
and there's a fear factor.

Speaker 1 (44:47):
Don't you think he's old schools?

Speaker 5 (44:50):
Yeah, I don't think there's a fear factor. I don't
think fear factor stuff works in today's game. I think
what he is is very competent in his job. He
knows exactly what he wants. He is willing to hold
his players accountable for meeting the standard, but he's not
excessive in terms of his demands and what he wants
to do. Like he'll tell you they practice an hour
and a half three days a week. They have a

(45:12):
bunch of walk throughs. He wants to keep the players healthy.
But he is very detailed in terms of what he wants,
and some of being detailed requires you to be simplistic
in what you're doing, so you really can focus on
the execution of it. And explain the wise behind your methods.
He does that that's why his players execute at such

(45:33):
a high level. But also remember, his players execute at
a high level because they're mature and they buy in
older team experienced team buying into what the coach says
has produced.

Speaker 3 (45:45):
A lot of winning results for Indiana.

Speaker 1 (45:48):
Okay, so help me out on this.

Speaker 2 (45:49):
Now, if you're a coach on the college level college
football NCAA Division One, you kind of forget about going
after the five star high school kids more interested in
the portal and transfers.

Speaker 1 (46:01):
Is that it? That's how you survive.

Speaker 5 (46:03):
Now, Look, I think that's a part of it, but
I don't think it can be that.

Speaker 3 (46:09):
I think the main thing.

Speaker 5 (46:10):
That you have to be able to do is you
have to be able to build a program and you
have to be able to hold people accountable to what
the expectations are. And that requires you to have tough,
hard conversations with players at times, and it has to
be the players have to fit into what you're doing.
You don't acquiesce to the players, and that means that

(46:31):
you can miss out on some really good players that
don't fit in. And you have to be okay with
that because it's about the team first, not the individual,
and they have done that and they've had a lot
of success because it works for them.

Speaker 1 (46:43):
Okay, so we talk about the portal. It goes both ways.

Speaker 2 (46:45):
I mean, I'm sure coaches look at that portal and
how does that work? Actually, we hear the term portal
all the time, you know, January second? Is the portal
opens up? Is there like a master list? Could coaches
get this on a computer and they print it out?
Is that how it works? There's like a clearing house
for that.

Speaker 8 (47:01):
Uh?

Speaker 5 (47:02):
Yeah, I mean you go in and everyone kind of
knows who's in the portal. You see the names, and
then once you're officially declared in uh, people can contact you.
And when they start the contacting they you know, then
you have to make decisions. But the overwhelming majority of
players who jump in the portal don't find a happy ending.

(47:22):
A lot of them just kind of language in the
portal and they never are picked up again or those things.
So you have to be careful. You have to make
sure when you get in you have a really good
sense that someone is going to come and get you,
and that doesn't always happen.

Speaker 2 (47:36):
So it's it's not released. But how come the total
portal is not released to the media. How come we
don't see that. We hear drips and DRAMs that a
player has entered the portal. But why is the entire
portal list listed like in USA today or something.

Speaker 5 (47:49):
Like that that. I don't know, like that would be
an Cuba question. I don't know why it's not listed.
But I think every player pretty much tells you when
they're going into portal. So if you follow along on
social media, kind of know who's in there who's not
because they players have no look, they have no quabbles
or about telling people, Ay, I'm about to jump into

(48:10):
portal all this other stuff, so is there. You just
have to look forward, kind of figure out who you're
looking for, what you're looking for, and what you want.

Speaker 2 (48:18):
Okay, And now now that Indiana has become a quote
power in football, it goes both ways. I mean, coaches
could handpick players that they want through the portal, but
aren't a lot of players right now contacting Indiana directly,
like I want to play for you.

Speaker 1 (48:32):
People want to play for a winner, no doubt.

Speaker 5 (48:35):
Yeah, But I think the school has to contact the
player more so than the player being able to contact
the school. I'm not certain on all of that, but
I think there is something to that part of it. Look,
any end is certainly a desirable place, and so they
can pick and choose who they want to come on
board now because they've had success. But I think when

(48:56):
you're sitting where they are, they have to make sure
they get the right fits. Fit is everything in all
of this. And when we talk about fits is not
just playing style. It's more so attitude. Does the attitude
fit what you want to have in your program because
of the attitude doesn't fit as pointless, they have to
be right fits culturally or it's not gonna work right.

Speaker 2 (49:17):
You know what, You made a great point about the portal,
and I mentioned it at the other day and I
credited you.

Speaker 1 (49:23):
I really do, because it was ingenius. It really was.

Speaker 2 (49:25):
I never thought about this. You know, obviously kids who
are in the portal. There's a good percentage of those
kids that are in the portal that are disgruntled. They're
disgruntled you I mean you mentioned this. I mean and
a general manager perhaps in the NFL, or a personnel
guy or even a college coaches say, you know, the
guy didn't play on Team X kind of could be

(49:46):
a troublemaker. Maybe he's a moody kid, he doesn't get along,
that's why he's in the portal. Really, I mean think
about that. I mean, obviously, kids could be in the
portal for several reasons. Number one, they want more money,
they're gonna get money beat, they want a bigger program.
But more often than not, those are in the portal,
the ones that probably are not happy and not playing.
They're disgruntled, right, you don't want them on your roster.

Speaker 5 (50:09):
Yeah, I mean there's a lot too that there's a
reason why they're in the portal. So the first thing
that you have to do is you got to figure
out why they're in the portal, Why you're in the portal,
Why are you upset? What made you leave all of
those things? Because all of that matters when it comes
down to it, Like you want to be able to
have a conversation with them about the way that they

(50:31):
fit and are they an excuse maker or are they
willing to take some accountability for whatever may have led
to their desire to leave in those things, because if
someone is going to leave at the first sign of
trouble in those things, look they're gonna do it at
your spot too, So you just got to make sure
you understand who you're getting, what they're bringing to the table,

(50:54):
and does that really fit does their work Well.

Speaker 2 (50:58):
I'm going to leave you with this. I really feel
bare for killing the Boor. I think he's a heck
of a coach. His track record proves that Alabama now
has eight total losses over the last two years.

Speaker 1 (51:10):
It's amazing.

Speaker 2 (51:10):
Really that number is the same number of losses over
the five previous years combined.

Speaker 1 (51:15):
It's amazing. The dynasty was beginning to kind of shake
a little bit under Nick Saban, but not like this.
I mean, they've really almost hate to say rock bottom,
but the latest loss for the Boer was the most
embarrassing of his career. He entered twenty twenty five with
a fifteen to three career record against nationally rank competition
as a head coach and an eighty three winning percentage

(51:38):
against Power four teams. Great coach, there's no doubt about that.
But to go to a program that fans are.

Speaker 2 (51:44):
Just ridiculous, they really are, and the pressure there's gotta
be unreal. I could imagine the hate mail that he
is getting and what he's seen on social media. It's
not right, it's not fair, but it goes with the territory,
no doubt.

Speaker 3 (51:59):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (51:59):
I mean like he stepped in for a legend and
they are high standards for what they want from their
program in Alabama, and right now, certainly it's not meeting
those expectations. But it doesn't mean that he can't turn
it around. It's Look, it's a hard program, competition is deep,
and it's a new landscape. Nick Saban got out at

(52:20):
the right time because, yeah, everything is different with the portal,
the money and all those things. It just changes. It
changes how you go about doing business, no.

Speaker 2 (52:30):
Doubt about that. I'm moving to the NFL. Now, Okay,
enough of college. We gave Indiana that just do when
they deserve right now, NFC number one was determined last night.
Seattle beat up on San Francisco to forty nine is
thirteen to three. And if look now that the forty
nine is lost, they're going to be the number.

Speaker 1 (52:46):
Five seed.

Speaker 2 (52:48):
Or number six, depending on whether the Rams win or
lose today. All right, but let's take a quick look
at some of the teams that what's happening right now.
The Denver Broncos are thirteen and three. They play the
Charges today. They beat up on Kansas City on Christmas
Night and with that win, the Broncos remained number one
in the conference and now at the AFC West Division
winners after Detections beat the Chargers Denver. Give me a

(53:10):
little background, Denver, how far do you think they're going
to go? Surprising team? And how come their coaching staff
and the coach head coach right there is not looked
on as coach of the year because he's done a
heck of a job I think in Denver.

Speaker 3 (53:23):
Yeah, Champagon's done a great job in Denver.

Speaker 5 (53:25):
I think the reason why cham Payton is viewed as
a Coach of the Year candidate is because last year
they had a top rated defense and that has continued
to be one of the driving forces behind their success.
So that's probably why. But they're really good, really good
on defense. They're sticky in the back end, they get
after the quarterback, lead the league in sacks, and then
on offense, Boat Knicks does a terrific job of managing

(53:46):
the game, but he also has some playmaking ability, very athletic,
does a great job of running Sean Payton's offense, and
he's shown in the fourth quarter he has some magic
about him where he can get it done. Really good team,
I mean is a really good team and when they
play at home, they have all the advantages. Thinking are
tough out in the postseason, no.

Speaker 1 (54:05):
Doubt about that.

Speaker 2 (54:05):
I think the New England Patriots may be a tough
out as well. They're thirteen and three. They got the
Dolphins today. Last week they blew out the Jets, and
you know the play of Jets and Dolphins back to back.

Speaker 1 (54:15):
There's two wins.

Speaker 2 (54:15):
So they could basically take a little bit of a
rest right now because they've already clinched a playoff berth
in Week sixteen? Are they now the AFC East Champs
thanks to the events of Week seventeen because the Eagles
beat up on the Bills and they locked up the division.
So New England's still alive for a number one seed.
Tell me a little bit about New England. How far
do you think they could go? And obviously their coach,

(54:37):
I have a feeling he may be getting the Coach
of the Year rab.

Speaker 5 (54:41):
Maybe maybe so, because it may be a combos thing.
It may be Drake Mayf MVP and Mike Rabel for
Coach of the Year. This is a team that has
quickly bounced back and become a heavyweight contender. One of
the things that Mike Rabel did very early is he
connected with his players. The chemistry is outstanding between players
and coaches. The talent that they brought in on defense

(55:04):
not necessarily a lot of blue chippers, but they brought
in a lot of veterans with experience that are great
in their respective roles. That has helped. But the biggest
thing has been Josh McDaniels coming over as the offensive coordinator,
helping Drake may play at an MVP level. They are efficient,
they are able to win in a variety of ways.
When it comes to the passing game, he gets them

(55:24):
in and out of the right play, but he's also
willing to take whatever is available. His maturity as a
franchise quarterback is beyond his years and experience, which is
why it works. When you got a great head coach
and a great quarterback, you have a chance. And the
Patriots have both.

Speaker 1 (55:39):
All right, I didn't forget you, and you have a
great coach.

Speaker 2 (55:42):
You're home today, your Jags twelve and four hosting today
the Titans Titans three and thirteen. You beat up on
the coach last week, and you could clinch AFC South
with that win today over the Titans.

Speaker 1 (55:55):
Right, Well, they must be going nuts in Jacksonville.

Speaker 3 (56:00):
Yeah, going that's to a point.

Speaker 5 (56:01):
I mean, there's a lot of excitement and a lot
of buzz about this, But I would say that the
team has taken on the personality of the coach, still
locked in on the next game, and this is the
most important game in franchise history because it's the next
one and if they win it, they have an opportunity
to have a home game. You don't know what's going
to happen ahead of you in terms of the Broncos
and the Patriots. If both of those teams fault, they
can win the number one seed. So they just have

(56:23):
to play.

Speaker 3 (56:23):
They have to do where they've continued to do.

Speaker 5 (56:25):
Stacker plays on top of each other and see what
it looks like at the end. But yeah, the arrow
is pointing up on the Jaguars because their coach is
the real deal and this team is playing well behind
the resurgence of Trevor Lawrence.

Speaker 2 (56:38):
All Right, we got to use this is an amazing
story because the Cincinnati Bengals, So at one time I
think we're oning three, but so with the Houston Texans.
But the Texans are going to the playoffs and they're
eleven to five. They've won eight straight games and they're
going to the playoffs. And they extended that winning street.
They beat up on the Chargers on the road, which
is a big win. And they're alive in the AFC South.

(56:58):
So we'll see what happens.

Speaker 1 (56:59):
Right now.

Speaker 2 (57:00):
You talk about great defensive Seattle's right up there, Denver's
up there, and I think the Texans are right there
as well.

Speaker 5 (57:07):
Look, the Texans are up there. The Texans are one
of the best team in football. And when you look
at the Texans, I believe they're the scariest team in
the AFC because their defense is what we call they
shut them down defense. They can win upfront with the
Neil Hunter and Will Anderson dominating, they can lock you
down in the back end with They're Stingley in Company
blanketing coverage, and then they're physical with their linebackers setting

(57:29):
the tone. Offensively, they're a little more scattershot in terms
of how they go about it, but because their defense
can hold any team under twenty points, They're always in
the game and they make you play on their turns.
When you play the Texans, it's gonna be an ugly game.
There's not gonna be any rhythm to it. It's gonna

(57:50):
be hard for you to do anything offensively, and that
gives their offense enough cracks, enough bite set the apple
until they kind of figure it out been able to
do that. So regards to who they play is rather
they blow a team out, but everyone is gonna stoop
down to their level and have to play in the
muck in the mud as they like to play.

Speaker 1 (58:10):
This gets a little crazy.

Speaker 2 (58:11):
But if you're Jacksonville Jacks lose to the Titans today,
Detections are the AFC South champs.

Speaker 1 (58:16):
And they'll get their number three playoff seed.

Speaker 2 (58:19):
All right, So you see about thereby, I don't think
you're Jacksonville Jags are losing today.

Speaker 3 (58:24):
I'm just saying, all right, well, I'll be sad. I
don't want to be sad at.

Speaker 2 (58:28):
I don't want you to be sad. No, I'll be
pulling for you, no doubt about that, all right. The
Los Angeles Chargers eleven and five. I can't figure this
team out. They had their four game winning streak snapped.
They lost against the Texans mentioned and they're probably gonna arrest.

Speaker 1 (58:43):
Most of their players today. All right.

Speaker 2 (58:45):
They're playing at the Broncos, so I don't think it
means much. They're gonna rest the players with players I guess, right,
they're eleven and five, and what else could they do.

Speaker 1 (58:54):
Right, I just think they'll just rest those guys. We're
not going to see many starters today.

Speaker 3 (59:02):
I look, they're resting everybody.

Speaker 5 (59:04):
They're opting to make sure they have everybody available for
the postseason, which is fine.

Speaker 3 (59:08):
They lost out.

Speaker 5 (59:09):
Last week on a chance to win the division, so
they're making the decision to let Justin Herbert and some
of the other guys get healthy, and they're gonna take
on teams in the playoffs and one day they have
to go on the road to get it done. We'll
see how it works out, you know, like you can
line it up and get those things ready, but it
comes down to being able to exche you in the postseason.
So however they see fit, they'll be judged on how

(59:31):
they perform next weekend. All right.

Speaker 1 (59:33):
The Buffalo Bills are hosting the Jest today.

Speaker 2 (59:36):
The Bills are eleven and five, they lost to the
Eagles in the week seventeen. Then that loss eliminated them
from winning the AFC East and it moved them now
to the number seven seas. But they have the they
have the playoff brods, so it's not a big deal.
I don't think like you say. What you're gonna do
is get into the playoffs. So we're gonna see if
they're gonna choose between rest overseed positioning today against the Jets.

(01:00:01):
What do you think, although I think I read somewhere
that Josh Allen will play today.

Speaker 5 (01:00:07):
Look, you've you the Buffalo Bills. You want to play
at your best. You want to give yourself the best
chance to go into the postseason with a little momentum.
And if that requires you to put Josh Allen on
the bench to make sure that he's healthy and available
to play because his foot has been a big issue,
you want him right because if he's right, he gives
you the best chance of winning because it's going to

(01:00:29):
be him having to be a superhero to get them
to advance through the tournament. So do what you gotta do.
Whether you're the six seed to seven seed, it doesn't
really matter. You just want to make sure that number
seventeen is healthy and available to go.

Speaker 1 (01:00:41):
Okay, the big Ones tonight. We're going to get into
that a little later on.

Speaker 2 (01:00:43):
But the Ravens eight and eight there at Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh's
nine and seven, and that game right now is for
the AFC North title, so we'll see what happened. Then
they played back I think in week thirteen and Baltimore
came back, but they lost that game, so we'll see
what happens. Then there could be the Swanson really for
Aaron Rodgers and the two coaches. So we've got a
lot to talk about with that and so much more.

(01:01:05):
He's Bucky Brooks. Get him on X at Bucky Brooks
or at Andy Furman FSR and again eight seven seven
ninety nine one Fox, We love to hear from you.
You can hear from the little dumper right there. He'll
answer your phone call eight seven seven nine nine six
sixty three sixty nine. And we've got the blame game
at the end of this hour. But but does the
losing coach from this game get handed at pink slip?

(01:01:27):
That's next one coach has not one, not two, not three,
not four, but five teams in the college football playoffs.
That's right around the corner. All right, good morning everybody.
This is Fox Football Sunday at Fox Sports Radio. He's
Bucket Brooks and Andy Furman and we're broadcasting live from
the Fox Sports Radio studios. And by the way, if
you missed any of you today's show, you want to

(01:01:47):
catch the podcast, just search Fox Sports Radio wherever you
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just search Fox Sports Radio wherever you get your podcasts,
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Speaker 1 (01:02:04):
After we get off the al Right.

Speaker 2 (01:02:06):
I want to spend a few minutes on this because
Bucky Brooks spent a lot of time on it. I
think it's well worth it, well worth the read, and
it's quite interesting because in this time of the year,
everybody's still about Coach of the Year m VP. Bucky
Brooks was smart enough to go back and review the
top rookies on NFL dot com.

Speaker 1 (01:02:23):
Is that correct? And how did you do it?

Speaker 2 (01:02:25):
I want to know how you judge this thing, because
this is a pretty tough category to locate and find
out how these guys did, how they improved.

Speaker 5 (01:02:34):
Yeah, you have to talk around and talk to people
about the most impactful rookie classes, and some of those
you can just see. You saw the impact that the
Browns rookies had on their team, and there I can't
even call success their performance this year. You look at
Atlanta foul because then what their past rush was able
to do. So you try and look and evaluate and
see who had the biggest impact on their squads as

(01:02:56):
you kind of go back and review the entire season.

Speaker 2 (01:02:59):
Okay, so he ask this the success Is that a
coincidence or if you have a general manager or a
personnel guy who has a nose for talent, is that
the way?

Speaker 1 (01:03:10):
Or is it luck? I don't know.

Speaker 2 (01:03:12):
I mean, because again I live in the Cincinnati area.
Bengals have gotten some pretty decent draft selections as far
as picks, the number and the draft and a lot
of them never panned out. Is that because just bad
luck or these guys don't know who to pick?

Speaker 3 (01:03:28):
Combination of everything.

Speaker 5 (01:03:31):
There's some luck involved, but it's also the talent of
the player, and then how the coaches develop a utilized
the player. All of those things matter and you have
to nail all three of them for the player to
maximize his talent and to become the player that you
envisioned him becoming when you take him at the top
of the draft. So it's a combination of all those factors.

Speaker 2 (01:03:52):
Okay, you got a general manager in Seattle and John Schneider.
He's done a whale of a job to turn the
Seahawks around their thirteen and three and you've got them
rank number.

Speaker 1 (01:04:00):
Five in the top five.

Speaker 2 (01:04:02):
Who is some of the stars on that rookie lineup
and give me some of the names.

Speaker 5 (01:04:07):
Well, I mean like Gray's Abel starts Edgar for them,
Nick Emnu Worry has done a really good job of
coming in and helping them. Tory Horton, Elijah Royo. I mean,
They've had a handful of young guys that have come in,
but I would say the two main guys have been
grates Able solidifying the interior of that offensive line, and
then Nick and Man and Worry being able to be
that Cam Chancellor like presence near the box. Their versatility,

(01:04:31):
their ability to quickly adapted and simulate to the pro
game has allowed the Seahawks to have a lot of success.
All of the heels of If you look at the
last three or four years when they've drafted their first
and second round picks have been money. That helps a
lot because you need to find your starters in the
first and second rounds.

Speaker 1 (01:04:50):
What round was Jackson Smith and Jig drafted by by Seattle?

Speaker 3 (01:04:53):
This their receiver.

Speaker 5 (01:04:54):
Do you remember he was the first round pick a
couple of years ago. He's a good player Ohio State.
He played Ohio State at the same time.

Speaker 1 (01:05:02):
I remember him.

Speaker 5 (01:05:04):
Yeah, he's a great player. He's a great player. He
didn't play his final season because he had injuries and
those things. Yeah. I mean like they've had a run
of receivers to come through there where it's easy for
him to be overshadowed.

Speaker 1 (01:05:17):
Believe me, he was overshadowed in my mind, but not
now that's for sure. All Right.

Speaker 2 (01:05:20):
You got the New England Patris. You got two teams
that have turned it around this year. Seattle in New
England rated five and four as far as great draft picks,
and not only great draft picks, but immediate help that
have come on that lineup.

Speaker 5 (01:05:32):
Right. Yeah, for the New England Patriots, since the offensive
help around Drake, may they go and get to lineman,
Will Camberl and j Wilson, who has success that left
the left side of the airline of scrimmage is solidified.
They've guys have played well as a tantem. They played
well when Will Campbell's out and Wilson had to hold
it down on his own. They've been able to do that.

(01:05:54):
Travon Henderson has given him the explosive playmaker that they
needed out of the backfield. And when we look at
the success of the Patriots, it's the offensive line dominating
and the permitter playmakers making a ton of big plays
to have the quarterback play at a level that we
didn't expect him to get to this soon, right.

Speaker 2 (01:06:14):
And another team that's turned it around the Chicago Bears.
I right up there as well, you got them right
number three. As far as rookies that have really made an.

Speaker 5 (01:06:20):
Impact, Yeah, And the common theme that you're seeing is
teams that are successful in the draft, they nailed the
first handful of picks, meaning your first, second, and sometimes
your third round pick. Those guys are expected to be
starters and key contributors. And what you're seeing is the
Bears are getting that kind of contribution from their young guys.

(01:06:40):
Early Coaston Loveland catching them all over the middlefield, Luther
Burton being able to be an X factor in the
passing game giving them what they need. Cal Manungai, the
running back from Rutgers seventh round pick who has teamed
up with DeAndre Swift to be a formidable tandem.

Speaker 3 (01:06:58):
They're good.

Speaker 5 (01:06:58):
And look, they got a kid, rookie Ozzie Tapio, who's
been able to have success. So this is a really
well constructed team. They've drafted well, they've acquired talent well
and free agency, and then they got the right coach
and Ben Johnson who has allowed at all to come
to light.

Speaker 2 (01:07:13):
Okay, and the one team that really has not really
geled yet with draft picks, and that may very well
beb to go. See the quarterback situation, which really up
in the air. The number one you have was a
Cleveland Browns. But I tell you, and you've always been
a should do Or Sanders fan, I'm a believer. I
think that this guy should be a heck of a
player in the National Football League.

Speaker 5 (01:07:32):
Yeah, but their success goes beyond what Sdeorg Sanders has done,
and I think he's done a solid job and his
limited opportunities he can still continue to cut back on
so many interceptions, but the offense moves much better with
him and to him than it did prior to that.
It's the other guys that have really helped him. Mason Graham,
Carson Swegender on defense are terrific offensively, every playmaker. This

(01:07:57):
is the only team that has rookies lead them in passing,
receiving and right. That shouldn't happen, but that is what's
happening in Cleveland. Quinn, Shawn Judkins, Isaiah Bond, Dylan Sampson,
Harrold Fanning Junior, all those guys that played really well
in key moments. And you're optimistic, if you're a Browns fan,
that this team can go to the next level. As
this group continues to grow, and hopefully as they identify

(01:08:20):
their franchise quarterback, they'll put the pieces in place to
be very, very successful in a short time.

Speaker 1 (01:08:25):
And that's why Stefanski may remain. You may not get fired.

Speaker 5 (01:08:29):
I can't imagine him remaining because it's been a bit
of a cluster, right. So for all the things, the
number one question that you're going to have if your
doer Sanders outplays Dylan Gabriel Why did it take so
long to get to the point where you put your
door in? Why all of this whatever this was with him?
Why not give him reps during offseason, training camp and

(01:08:51):
those things to see if he can compete at.

Speaker 3 (01:08:53):
A love with Dylan Gabriel. I think he has to
answer to that.

Speaker 5 (01:08:56):
And let's be honest to records seven to twenty six
last couple years. Yeah, it's hard to justify that part
of it. I mean, you can if you want to,
but it just appears that maybe the general managers stays
and Kevin Stevanski.

Speaker 2 (01:09:09):
Goes there we go, okay, Speaking of coaches and pink slips,
we talked about tonight's game Pittsburgh and Baltimore. Mike Tomlin
and John Harbard. They say that the loser may lose
his job. Pittsburgh nine and six, they're gonna host Baltimore
eight and eight in a game that will determine which
team wins the AFC North and also the playoffs spot
that comes with it. And of course the Ravens. They
started one in five, then they won five straight and

(01:09:30):
they kind of got past Pittsburgh in the division standings
that were one to three. Late season slide and I
lost to Pittsburgh, hurt them a little bit, But now
it's for all the marbles tonight, which is gonna be
a great game. I would hope it would be. Baltimore
needed to win in Green Bay last week and the
Steelers lost in Cleveland the following Sunday last Sunday and
now makes a winner take all game tonight Week eighteen

(01:09:53):
showdown with Pittsburgh and then look, it's gonna be be
a pretty good game. But it could be the last
for one of those coaches, and maybe could be the
last game for Aaron Rodgers. So I think the Ravens
right now have the better team. I think Lamar's healthier.
I don't think it's one hundred percent, but no one's
one hundred percent this time of the year. I think
Baltimore wins this game tonight. Yeah, who do you like

(01:10:14):
in this game?

Speaker 1 (01:10:15):
Honestly? Because I just think they're just a better team.

Speaker 5 (01:10:18):
I mean, I'd say that with both teams, like, I
have no idea which team is better. Which team is
going to show up on paper? The Baltimore Ravens are
the better team. When you look at the combination of
Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson. They should be able to
run rough shot over any group. However, this is a
team that sometimes forget that those two players are their
best players, and they'll DEVI eight and start throwing the

(01:10:40):
ball all over the yard and making mistakes and having turnovers,
which then exposes their defense. Because their defense has struggled,
and even though it's gotten better of late, they still
aren't a shut them down, lock them down defense. They
have some cracks. The problem if you're the Pittsburgh Stiller
is without DK Metcalf, there is no one, no one

(01:11:00):
in that offensive lineup that scars you, nobody that demands
a double team.

Speaker 3 (01:11:05):
No one that demands you changed the way that you
prefer to play.

Speaker 5 (01:11:08):
It's gonna be tough sledding for the Pittsburgh Steelers tonight
unless their defense comes up and just throws and pay
some masterpiece. I don't see that happening. I think it's look,
I think we've done so when it comes to the Steelers.

Speaker 2 (01:11:21):
Okay, but I don't think Mike Tomlin's gone. They were
six and six this year after twelve games. Everybody went
nut to cleave and Roethlisberger. Tomlin has two more years
in his current contract. And the Steelers, I guess they
have until March first to pick up his option for
twenty twenty seven.

Speaker 1 (01:11:35):
But here's the deal.

Speaker 2 (01:11:36):
The Pittsburgh Steelers have not fired a head coach since
nineteen forty one, So the thought of Mike Tomlin getting
fired is kind of like a gray area. I don't
think it's gonna happen. I just don't think Mike tom
So Hall of Fame coach. He's not getting fired.

Speaker 3 (01:11:52):
No, he's not getting fired.

Speaker 5 (01:11:53):
In their organization that is proud of themselves on their consistency,
their stability, that has led to a lot of their success.

Speaker 3 (01:12:00):
Yeah, that's not gonna change.

Speaker 5 (01:12:01):
I think that's going to continue to be a big
part of who they are.

Speaker 3 (01:12:05):
Their blueprint. That's it.

Speaker 5 (01:12:07):
They cannot keep falling apart at the end of seasons
like they have. Back to back years they've fallen apart.
If they don't make the playoffs like they've had this
late season swoon, that'd be problematic. And if they do
go to the playoffs and they don't win a playoff game,
that's another year that they've gone with winning a playoff game. Regardless,
they have to they have to do some spring cleaning.

(01:12:28):
They have to freshen up a little bit and kind
of figure out how they can get to get younger.
This malays this malaise that they're in yet right now.

Speaker 2 (01:12:35):
If they lose tonight. The Steelers lose tonight, it will
be the ninth straight year without a playoff win. Pretty
long drought, okay, And it will be the Steelers second
season without a playoff win since Mike Tomlins signed his
most recent contract.

Speaker 1 (01:12:48):
So we'll see what happens there. But all about Harbor.

Speaker 2 (01:12:50):
When Harbar and Tomlin have in common, they're both super
win They both have won a Super Bowl, which is great.
As far as Halbar's concerned, I guess he hasn't won
enough for the fans, right and he's had playoffs success,
but in the playoffs he hasn't done much. You've gone
to the playoffs, but they haven't done much once they
get there.

Speaker 5 (01:13:10):
Yeah, I mean they've had that, They've been snake bitten.
They just haven't been able to get it done. They've
had some unfortunate bounces go against them, but no excuses.

Speaker 3 (01:13:19):
They got to perform better.

Speaker 5 (01:13:20):
You got to think a team with an MVP caliber
quarterback and Lamar Jackson would be able to be there
a ton. They just haven't gotten it done. So that
falls on him because he's the head.

Speaker 3 (01:13:30):
Coach of the team.

Speaker 5 (01:13:32):
But I just can't see moving off from him because
my question in both of those instances, Tomlin and there.

Speaker 3 (01:13:38):
Are who you're going to hire this better?

Speaker 5 (01:13:41):
Who can you hire that is guaranteed to be better
in those circumstances and those things like that's the one thing.
It's great to fire people, but now you've got to
hire somebody. And are you hiring somebody that's guaranteed you
better results short term and long term? I don't know.

Speaker 3 (01:13:57):
I have no idea either.

Speaker 1 (01:13:58):
I'll tell you what we move on.

Speaker 2 (01:13:59):
I met you coming into this segment that there was
there's one coach that has five teams in the college
football playoffs, And I want to answer that question right now.
I'm sure you know the answer. But Kirby Smart, Georgia,
Dan Lanning, Old Miss Peak going old Miss Dan Lanning, Oregon,
Kurt Signetti, Indiana, Maria Crystobald Miami. They have all worked
as assistance under former Alabama coach Nick Saban.

Speaker 1 (01:14:19):
That's pretty good.

Speaker 2 (01:14:20):
So there's the one coach's got five had five because
some of them are out. Kirby's out of there, but
he had five coaches in the playoffs and they all
work for Nick Saban. Says a lot for Nick Saban
really does. So there's the answer.

Speaker 3 (01:14:33):
Yeah, Yeah, it says a lot about him.

Speaker 5 (01:14:35):
When I've asked people about him, his process is playing
why does it work? And the best way to describe it,
They're like, man, it's like your grandma making her favorite
oatmeal cookie recipe. Like he has methods that are tried
and true. It never changes and as long as you
don't mess with the recipe, it'll always work. But in
doing that, you got to make sure you do it

(01:14:56):
with your own personal touch. Kirk Signetti has followed the blueprint,
but he does it within his own personality and that's
the key to all of these guys having success.

Speaker 3 (01:15:07):
They may have the.

Speaker 5 (01:15:08):
Infrastructure that they have learned from Nick Saban and Alabama,
but they all are doing it their own way, which
is why it's been successful for them.

Speaker 2 (01:15:15):
Here we go, he is Bucky Brooks and Andy Furrman
with live from the Fox Best Radio Studios, and now
it's time to let some's team is really let some
steam out of it? How why the blame game is
freaking next. Alrighty, they got the blame game right around
the corner and Stevie won.

Speaker 1 (01:15:31):
That takes us into the blame game. And he's Bucky Brooks.

Speaker 2 (01:15:34):
I'm Andy Furman, and we're live from the Fox Best
Radio studios. And by the way, at the top of
the hour, about maybe twelve minutes from now, there were
the eight am on the East Coast, Greg Coach Sell
and Mike Harmon will be chatting talking football what else,
of course on Fox Sports Radio. And we want to
think a little dupper today filling in as our executive
do thank you, thank you so much.

Speaker 1 (01:15:54):
I beg you, Clint. I'm glad. All is well, all right,
but right now it's time four the playing game. You
ruined me. It's all your fault. No, it's your fault.
What is all your fault? Maybe it's everyone's faults.

Speaker 4 (01:16:12):
She's a liar. That's why there's the blame game, the
blame game.

Speaker 1 (01:16:15):
Let's figure out who to blame. He's a liar.

Speaker 2 (01:16:19):
Oh, hey, little duffer, you know how to play?

Speaker 7 (01:16:22):
Oh I know how to play. Well, it's time to
play the blame game. Everybody. With that said, let's get
on to it. So guys, Ohio State spent thirty five
million on a football team and lost to Indiana. Yikes,
who do.

Speaker 1 (01:16:38):
You blame for that?

Speaker 3 (01:16:39):
Andy?

Speaker 1 (01:16:41):
You know what?

Speaker 2 (01:16:42):
It all goes down to the CEO of the organization.
I'm gonna blame Ryan Day. Let me tell you why
I blame Ryan Day. You know, God bless him. He's
a heck of a coach. He's going through some living
hell right now. But he went to a business meeting
about a year ago in Columbus begging these top businessmen
in the Columbus area from money for his program. And
that's okay, because that's what you need to survive. But

(01:17:04):
keep it quiet. It went public and no one had
to know how much money they're spending. And they spent
thirty five mil for that football team. I don't know
how much Indiana has spent. I don't know how much
anybody else has spent, but we know how much Ohio
State spent, and it's really biting them in the rear ends.

Speaker 1 (01:17:19):
So Ryan Day asked for the money. But do it quietly,
all right, It's on you.

Speaker 5 (01:17:25):
There's no such thing as quietly asking for money. Because
all the players in their agents tell people what they're doing.
The main thing that you have to do in this
climate is you have to find ways to win games.
And unfortunately for Ohio State, they didn't win the games.

Speaker 3 (01:17:39):
They mattered.

Speaker 5 (01:17:39):
They lost the Big Ten championship, they lost in the playoff.
So it's a failure for them. But you got to
spend the money to have an opportunity to be in
the mix and then they got to figure out way
to finish it when they get a chance.

Speaker 7 (01:17:52):
All right, all right, well we're gonna double dip on
Indiana for this one, guys, because speaking of another team
that also lost the Indiana just this time in the playoffs,
Alabama not only lost Indiana here, they were ambarrassed.

Speaker 1 (01:18:06):
Why and who do you blame?

Speaker 7 (01:18:08):
Bucky?

Speaker 5 (01:18:09):
I blame killing the boor. I believe this. This team
is just and program is just so drastically different than
it was under Nick Safe.

Speaker 3 (01:18:17):
And it's not as fault.

Speaker 5 (01:18:18):
He coaches the way that he coaches, and he's had
a lot of success doing it his way. I just
think at Alabama there's been a certain standard that's been
established and it's hard when you deviate away from the
program's process.

Speaker 3 (01:18:32):
Uh, maybe he can find his.

Speaker 5 (01:18:33):
Way, he gets his whole new crew and do all that.
But yeah, it's on him right now. They look four
losses in back to back years unacceptable to Alabama.

Speaker 2 (01:18:41):
I hope Kellen dvoor is renting. I hope he didn't
buy a house. I hope he's renting over there. But
you know, I'm gonna blame I'm gonna blame Kurt Signetic
because this team was better prepared, they would better coach.
I mean, yeah, it was okay if they would have
won twenty seven to twenty four, I get it. Thirty
eight to three, you were embarrassed. You were prepared better,
You knew what was going on. They weren't fooled. How
many plays? Indiana knew what was coming up? They studied

(01:19:04):
it and they knew it. Maybe they're smarter players. Could
that beat Bucky Brooks? Maybe they're just smarter football players too.

Speaker 5 (01:19:11):
Yeah, maybe that has some doing it. They just beat
due Tail, That's all I know.

Speaker 7 (01:19:15):
All right, Well, I'll tell you what I know here.
Two NFL teams started strong and made us into believers,
the Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and then the
slid happened.

Speaker 1 (01:19:28):
Why who do you blame?

Speaker 2 (01:19:29):
Many you know what there, it's so easy, it's almost
a crutch to use this. But I'm gonna use the
injury excuse because look, Baker Mayfield and sad he was
playing with a bad shoulder most of the season. He
came up back yesterday won. He wasn't really that impressive,
but the team won. And I just think that injury
is the fact that obviously with the quarterback situation, when

(01:19:50):
you got to bring Philip Rivers in off the couch,
I mean this problem is over there. They were good,
they were believable. I thought they were for real. But
you know, without that quarterback go with injuries. That's what
it it's all about.

Speaker 3 (01:20:02):
Yeah, I mean it's everything.

Speaker 5 (01:20:03):
Like the quarterback is the most important piece of the puzzle.
When you have quarterback injuries in those things things can falter.
You hope that you have a well constructed team that
could play around a quarterback injury, but most teams aren't
equipped to do that.

Speaker 3 (01:20:17):
So when the quarterback goes down, so do your playoff hopes?

Speaker 7 (01:20:19):
All?

Speaker 3 (01:20:19):
Right?

Speaker 7 (01:20:20):
Final one guys, Kirk Cousins rallied the Falcons downstretch and
didn't play early on Why and who do you blame
for that?

Speaker 1 (01:20:28):
One, Bucky.

Speaker 5 (01:20:30):
Well, look man, kirk Cousins played well, but look, every
time he had been in pride of that he had
been terrible. He found in a rhythm, he knew that
there was no other option when Bichael Pennis was hurt,
and his confidence shot up. And it'd be interesting to
see what Atlanta Falcons do going forward because kirk Cousins
had some limitations.

Speaker 3 (01:20:45):
But he's clearly beilter than Pennis at this point.

Speaker 2 (01:20:48):
Right, But he's not the future. That's what it's all about,
all right, Bucky, I have a great day.

Speaker 1 (01:20:52):
Thank you.

Speaker 2 (01:20:52):
Picked up a stick over. Stick over here, Greg Kochelle
Holme in next

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