September 12, 2026 • 40 mins
TJ & Plaxico talk about the media back and forth between Michigan HC Kyle Whittingham & QB Bryce Underwood and what TJ would do if he was Underwood, whether or not the Falcons have a chance to be the worst team in the league, ranking WR duos, and another edition of Up on Game / Down on Game!
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Uh, lights, camera, action. Start the show, we about.
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To get it.
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Yeah, fast. All right, here we go.
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You want NFL experience? Then this is the show for you.
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It's our time. With LeVar Arrington.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Has this team been exposed?
Speaker 1 (00:15):
T.J. Houshmandzada.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Let the players decide the game.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
And Plaxico Burress.
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All I gotta say is this, don't poke the bed, man.
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It's a show with three of the best to ever
do it on and off the field at and not
live from the Fox Sports Radio studios. Here's Pro Bowler T.J.
Houshmandzada and Super Bowl champion Plaxico Burress.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Welcome back in to the second hour of Up On Game.
Fox Sports Radio, that's Plaxico Burress. I'm T.J. Houshmandzada. And
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I want to talk about this, man. It ain't even on,
it wasn't on the rundown, but I said, we going
to talk about this, uh, We have some sound, and
(01:27):
we'll get into the sound shortly. Plexico's not his favorite school.
Probably his least favorite school, the University of Michigan. Kyle
Whittingham said some things about Bryce Underwood. Bryce Underwood was
surprised by what was said. Obviously, they were gifted students.
(01:50):
victory last week in a game they should have lost
it was given to them but they still had to
complete a Hail Mary like was Western Michigan yes Western
Michigan stopped the Hail Mary but you guys did win
the game and they cheated you guys at least that's
my opinion um let's get into this sound with Kyle
Whittingham speaking on Bryce Underwood.
Speaker 5 (02:14):
He's our QB right now and uh It's not something
that's infinite. At some point, we've got to turn a
corner and we've got to see improvement as we do
with a bunch of stuff. We've got to see improvement
out of the coaches. It's not just on Bryce. It's
not just Bryce's job that is not absolutely set in concrete.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Nobody's.
Speaker 5 (02:37):
You've got to perform week in and week out and
become somebody that we feel like is playing at a
level that we can win with and And that goes
far beyond Bryce. It goes throughout the whole team. And
so what you've done lately is very important in football.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
So Bryce Underwood, I don't believe he heard any of this.
And so this was his response when a reporter asked
him the question.
Speaker 5 (03:04):
Coach Bananian's comments about how your job isn't permanent.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Those comments about that?
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Yeah, he said that your job isn't permanent.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Yeah, that's the starter. That's cool. I see that. What's
your reaction?
Speaker 4 (03:21):
It's cool.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
So this is– and what Kyle Whittingham said isn't wrong.
You know, everybody– this is a performance-based business. And when
you're a college athlete and you're getting paid and you're
getting paid big bucks, this is what happens. But I
have a few problems with it. Winningham says, you know,
(03:47):
all coaches are evaluated. If you're not doing a job,
you basically get demoted. They don't be demoting these coaches.
You want to blame all the players when they don't
play well? Like, you ain't demoting these coaches. We know
you're not demoting the coaches. You just say that. This
is what bothered me was you can think this, Kyle Winningham,
(04:11):
and it's perfectly fine. We never– no, let me say never.
We rarely hear a coach come out and say this publicly.
If you feel this way, you get in your staff meeting,
you tell the staff, hey, guys, it's like the quarterback play.
Bryce is going to have to be much better if
he doesn't. We may have to make a move with
(04:32):
somebody else and see what they can do. You don't
say this publicly because now Bryce Underwood is going to
be afraid to make a mistake. That's how he's going
to be playing now because he knows what's waiting on him.
He knows what's waiting on him. Kyle Whittingham, you can
feel this way. You just don't say this publicly because
you're going to have a quarterback that is nervous. And furthermore,
(04:52):
Kyle Whittingham, the last time that I checked, you tell
me a quarterback that you've coached that you had drafted.
I'll wait because you don't have one. You've been coaching
at Utah all these years. Top 10 finishes. Great season here.
Great season there. Not one of your quarterbacks has ever
(05:16):
been drafted. Not one. So you don't even know what
it is to have a quarterback and get him drafted
to the National Football League. So them coaches and players
that need to be demoted, when you going to start
demoting them coaches? Because they ain't preparing none of them
kids that you had in Utah for the National Football League.
(05:39):
The Snoop Huntleys, undrafted free agent. All them dudes that
came from Utah that made it to, they're undrafted. So
until you show me you know what you're doing from
that perspective and you can get a kid drafted, what
are you talking about? So I said this on the podcast, Plex,
and I'm just going to talk because I'm going to
let you finish this one off. This is what TJ said.
(06:01):
If I'm Bryce Underwood, I hope to play so well,
I'm leaving Michigan, good or bad, I'm gone. I'm gone. Because...
The coach don't like me. He's just playing me because
of this money that I'm making NIL-wise. I'm gone. I'm
leaving Michigan. You can have this opinion, Kyle Winham. You
can have this belief. But when have we heard a
(06:24):
coach say this publicly to undermine a young quarterback that
is uneasy about his performance anyway?
Speaker 6 (06:30):
You know, I don't think I've ever heard– Coach criticized
his starting quarterback in that fashion, even though all the
circumstances behind the win last week and he didn't play well.
(06:51):
I mean, granted, it was Western Michigan, so you would
think a guy of the number one recruit, five-star, with
an NIL deal, if I'm not mistaken, north of $ 12 million.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
$ 12 million.
Speaker 6 (07:06):
Would be able to go out and perform against a
Mac team in Western Michigan. But I don't believe he's
starting just because of NIL money, but he's the best
quarterback that they have on the roster. So he has
to play him. But you have to look at it
from a Kyle, you know, Whittenham standpoint because he did
(07:27):
not recruit Bryce Underwood. He wasn't a part of the
NIL deal with him coming to Michigan and and starting
as a true freshman. He had nothing to do with that.
So Bryce Underwood is not his quarterback. So he has
(07:48):
to learn to like him and learn what his strengths
and weaknesses are as a quarterback. But we know that
these coaches like to recruit their own players and especially
at the quarterback position. So maybe Bryce Underwood does not
(08:11):
fit the scheme or style of play that Kyle Winningham
wants to have. Obviously, there's some friction there, but it
doesn't matter. The young man is, I believe, the highest-paid
college football player in America. He's not going anywhere. For
the next three to four years, he's earning money. $ 3
(08:32):
million a year in NIL money.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
He's not leaving. Well, he ain't the highest paid. It
may be total contract, but you got quarterbacks making $ 5
million a year in college. I'm talking about his total
NIL contract deal. Yes.
Speaker 6 (08:47):
He is, I believe, $ 12, $ 13 million in that range.
So with that being said, he is going to be
the quarterback of Michigan until he graduates because I don't
believe that he's going to leave and go anywhere else.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
It may happen.
Speaker 6 (09:02):
If Michigan doesn't play well or do well this year,
maybe somebody picks up the NIL money.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
I don't know.
Speaker 6 (09:09):
But from a Kyle Winterham standpoint, based off of last
weekend of how he, Bryce Underwood played and his team
played collectively, moving forward, if you're going to struggle with
what's the Michigan and the MAAC teams, what's going to
(09:29):
happen when you run into, like today they're playing Oklahoma.
I don't know the story of that game, but trust me,
the Big Ten is a lot tougher than the Mac.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
When they play Oklahoma today, they are getting– They're playing
right now. They are getting smacked. I don't even know
what the score is. I don't. I do not know
what the score is. I don't care what the score is.
Speaker 4 (09:52):
Oh.
Speaker 7 (09:53):
Would you guys like a live update?
Speaker 3 (09:54):
Yeah, Michigan's up 7-0. They just recovered a fumble. In
the second quarter. quarter.
Speaker 5 (10:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
And so this is the thing, though. If Bryce Underwood
starts playing well, Kyle Whittingham going to tuck his tail. Oh, yeah,
this is exactly what we needed out of Bryce. You know,
this is the– I knew he could be this type
of player and da-da-da-da-da. Nah, get out of here. Kick rocks.
I just– You cannot say these things publicly because we
(10:22):
don't see it all. Well, don't you want to hear
it publicly? Oh, you want to hear it publicly in
this instance, but not all that. No. I just felt
like the way he handled it. And if Whittingham has
had a history of his quarterbacks getting drafted, say what
you got to say. Do what you got to do.
You don't have that history. Your guys don't get drafted.
(10:44):
Your guys go undrafted. What you talking about? I'm like,
I just, that bothered me. And people are saying, oh, TJ,
you're what's wrong with college football. You're just ready to
up and go. Yep, I am. I'm up and go.
Should have gone out and let you to begin with.
And that's just how I feel because when you're dealing
with a young player, you can permanently scar him and, oh,
(11:09):
he's mentally weak. Man, I don't want to get in
all this and that. I want a coach. I want
my son to play for a coach that believes in
my son and is going to teach my son right
from wrong but more how to play football because if
my son is with you i don't taught him right
from wrong i don't need you giving my son life
lessons i've given my son life lessons throughout his time
(11:30):
of me raising him man get my son better at
the game of football that's why he's at your school
everything else i got that and i don't think people
understand yes it's a business But, Plexico, we do not
hear head coaches say these things about the quarterback. They
may say it about us as a receiver. Yeah, TJ
(11:50):
and Plexico, they got to catch the ball. If not,
we got the other guy. We get it. The quarterback?
And so, Bryce Underwood, man, I want you to go
ball out the rest of this season and then enter
the portal and see if Kyle Whittingham can get one
of them quarterbacks to go undrafted again while he's at Michigan.
(12:11):
He won't be that long. And I can't imagine if
they go on to win this game. Because, you know, Bright,
I ain't going to lie. He balling right now. He
four for five, 70 yards. He playing very well right now.
Can you imagine how he backpedal better than Deion Whittingham
if he ends up playing very well and they win
(12:32):
this game? He going to backpedal so fast and I
don't like all the wishy-washy. Nah, stand on what you said.
Stand on what you said. Oh, well, he played better
so the spot is his.
Speaker 6 (12:43):
Oh.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
But then when he played bad next week, if he
plays bad next week, is your opinion going to change?
Is it going to be a week? I just, you,
we don't see this with quarterbacks. And this is why
I had the stance that I had. You rarely see
this with a quarterback, especially a head coach. And so that,
that was all, you know, I didn't, I didn't like
the way he approached it. And people will say he's
(13:06):
a straight shooter. They, they appreciate that. Not with the quarterback.
I didn't like it. If that was my son, I
would have a problem with it. Um, But I wish
Michigan and Bryce Underwood the best. I'm sure you wish
Bryce Underwood the best, just not Michigan. But, hey, they
up 7-0 after because Oklahoma smacked them last year. Brett Venables,
(13:28):
that defensive coordinator, was giving Bryce Underwood, and I'm sure
he's still going to give him looks that he's just
not accustomed to seeing. So let's see how that plays out.
We got to take a break. That's Plaxico Burris. I'm
TJ Huchmanzada. This is Up On Game, Fox Sports Radio.
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Speaker 3 (14:27):
Welcome back in up on game. That's Mr. Plaxico Burris.
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Sports Radio in the iHeart app man let's talk about
this real quick I don't know how long we gonna
go on this but uh the Falcons and Mr. Tua
(15:13):
Tagovailoa he out for Sunday man he I guess in
yesterday's walkthrough man uh little back spasms that went out
uh Are the Falcons going to be in the basement
of the National Football League this year? The worst team
pick number one? Like, what's going on with the Falcons?
(15:36):
You know what? That's a good question. Here we are.
Speaker 6 (15:41):
You know, we've been talking about B. John Robinson as
possibly being, you know, the best running back in all
of football. Him and Jamar Gibbs just receiving these. huge
contracts to uplift these organizations at the running back position. And,
you know, you draft Michael Pennix Jr. when you have
(16:02):
Kirk Cousins at the helm as the Falcons. So that
doesn't really work out. Michael Pennix hasn't been able to
stay healthy. So coming off a major injury from last year,
you bring in Tua Tungvaloa for insurance policy. And, you know,
you're saying to yourself, From an organizational standpoint, if Michael
(16:23):
Penix Jr. is not healthy enough, then Tua gives us
an opportunity to win football games if he's not available.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
But on the.
Speaker 6 (16:34):
Flip side of it, Tua has struggled with injury history also.
So the other day, I believe he has an oblique injury.
Just backing up on a regular drop back and he
strains his oblique. So now he's not available for Sunday.
(16:54):
Either it's Michael Pennis Jr. Now you're bringing Cooper Rush.
And everything that has been happening with the Atlanta Falcons,
I thought that if they came into the season healthy,
even if Michael Pennis Jr. did not start, I thought
that the Atlanta Falcons had the opportunity to win the
(17:18):
NFC South because... I believe that they are the most
talented team in the division. You look at Carolina, what
they did last year, they made the playoffs and they
went 8-9. And you say to yourself, you have Kyle Pitts,
you have Drake London, you have B. John Robinson, and
(17:40):
all we need is a quarterback to basically do is
go out there and manage the football game to us,
get the ball to number seven behind us, he's going
to be the workhorse and find a way to get
Kyle Pitts more involved in his offense. And Drake London
is a very good wide receiver. But now with this happening,
(18:01):
you just don't know where the Atlanta Falcons are right now.
Cooper Rush, we haven't seen him. We don't know what
he's capable of. We saw him in Dallas a few
years ago. Obviously, that didn't work out. So we just
really don't know where the Atlanta Falcons are right now.
from a quarterbacking standpoint, what their team is really going
(18:23):
to look like with Cooper Rush on the center. So
I hope this thing really doesn't just implode because they have,
I believe, a very dynamic roster offensively and defensively. And
they just got to get some security at the quarterback position.
I don't know what it's going to take. Hopefully, Michael Penix,
(18:43):
you can get healthy and try to navigate this team
to compete in the NFC South. But for right now,
going into Sunday, you really just don't know what the
Atlanta Falcons are going to do simply because of the
quarterback position. So if either of these guys aren't healthy
for the first month of the season, I would say
(19:06):
that the Atlanta Falcons do not make the playoffs this year.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
Man, if you're the Falcons, Pennix is coming off, I believe,
his third ACL reconstruction. including high school and college, now
the National Football League. And then you sign a quarterback
who has a history of being injured. So you sign
in a quarterback who's always injured to fill in for
(19:31):
a quarterback who is injured. What you think you're going
to get? They're going to be injured. And voila, what
has happened to what's now hurt. And Penix is yet
to be cleared. I believe Penix will probably be week two, three,
fourth at the latest. Fourth week, I believe he'll be
up and running and good to go. The problem is
(19:53):
I just don't think you can sign a guy like
Tua and expect him to be healthy when he hasn't
been in the last two to three seasons. You just
can't expect that. Yeah. And if you're Stefanski, you probably
got to be thinking like, oh, my God, here we
go again. Can I just get a quarterback? Hey, I'm
going to say this. I'm going to say this. I'm
going to say this. I believe if you're.
Speaker 6 (20:16):
In the NFC South, I really honestly believe that winning
nine games in this division will get you into the playoffs.
You will win the division at winning nine games. The
Saints should be better. They should be a better football team.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
The Bucs. They have a pretty good collection of players.
They should be better. The Panthers, you spoke on it.
They went to the playoffs with a losing record, but
they going to be better. And if the Falcons can
just get competent. If the Falcons can get competent quarterback play,
they should win the division. But that's a big if.
(20:52):
You just guys can't stay healthy at the quarterback position
for the Falcons. The Falcons have the best collection of
skilled players in that division. And I think everybody will
say that. And so but the Panthers are far behind.
The Saints are far behind and the Bucks are far behind.
I'm just talking in depth of skill players. And so
I could see any of these teams winning the division
(21:14):
minus the Falcons, because I just don't know what the
quarterback position is going to be. Nobody nobody knows that
you have no idea. And so could they quite possibly
the worst team pulling up in the basement? They the
caboose if we on the train. Yeah, I could see that.
I could see that. Them or the Jets. They going
(21:36):
to be fighting to see who's going to draft Dante Moore. Oh,
my gosh. You know what, man?
Speaker 6 (21:40):
You know one thing I've spoken on this several times
that I really dislike about this league is that if
you are a team that wins your division with a
losing record, The team that you are playing, if they
(22:00):
have a winning record, you should not be able to
host a home game if you have a losing record.
Don't penalize the Rams or the 49ers because they are
playing in a division where they're winning 13 and 14 games.
They go 12 and 5, and they got to go
play a team that is 8 and 9 in another division.
Speaker 3 (22:25):
I don't like that, man. I really don't, and I've
said it over and over again. Yeah, but they can't
help it that they division week and you didn't win
your division and we won our division. They can't help that.
They can't help it. And I'm not saying I disagree
with you. You got the teams that are in divisions
with losing records, making the playoffs. They're going to say
we won our division. That's going to be the argument.
(22:48):
If you want to host a home.
Speaker 6 (22:49):
Game, you can't win your division. Yeah, you won with
a losing record. You won with a losing record. Is
that really winning? Is that really winning?
Speaker 3 (22:58):
It's just, if you're that team, you don't want that
at all. But if you're the team with the winning
record going. We made the playoffs last year. Come on.
It's kind of unfortunate. But, yeah, man, the Falcons are in,
as it looks right now, it looks to be they're
in a tough spot, man. The Falcons are, they don't
(23:20):
have a quarterback right now. And if you don't have
a quarterback, hopefully, hey, last year, was it last year? no,
not a year before, Cooper Rush got off. He got
off with the Cowboys. He did exactly what he was
supposed to do as a backup. He went there and
won some games, kept his team in the hunt. And
if he can do that until Michael Penix gets back,
because you said Drake London, Kyle Pitts, B. John, what
(23:44):
team has it like that? So the Falcons, they had
a guy. They just need number nine, Michael Penix, to
come back healthy and ready to go because you just
can't rely on Tua right now. He's not reliable. Man,
Mike McDaniel and Tyree Hill, they made Tua look so good. God.
(24:07):
Tua signed for over $ 200 million, bro. So kudos to him.
Some of the boys will check. And let's go see
what's going on in the world of college football, man.
Isaac Lonecron, we're going to check in with Isla and
get these updates. Isla.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
Hey, fellas, let's start with defending national champion and fifth-ranked Indiana.
They're up 41-0 at halftime over Howard.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
Number 10, Texas A & M. Meanwhile, a 14-10 lead
over Arizona State. Two minutes left to play in the
second quarter. Let's head to Ann Arbor, where Michigan still
up 7-0 over 11th-ranked Oklahoma. Yeah, just over five minutes
left to play in the first half. Michigan has a
second and seven at the Sooner 27-yard line. The only
(24:53):
score of the ballgame, courtesy of this 38-yard touchdown run
by Bryce Underwood on WCSX.
Speaker 3 (25:00):
Goes QB run here on this play. Bryce Underwood with
some room.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
Comes to the near side.
Speaker 3 (25:04):
Bryce Underwood 20, 15, 10.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
Bryce going for the pylon.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
Touchdown Wolverines! Bryce Underwood with a 38-yard quarterback run, and
Michigan takes a 6-0 lead here at the big house.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
Now, fellas, in the interest of fairness and balance, let's
check in on some of the Oklahoma message boards to
see how Sooner fans are doing right now. This is
courtesy of the popular social media curating site Sooner. Message
board geniuses at Dollar Bill Russell posting about the Sooners, quote,
(25:39):
This team is a bleeping joke. Fire Brent Venables at halftime. Meanwhile,
at Dr. Kill Patient posting, quote, Are we on drugs?
Speaker 1 (25:51):
Unquote.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
Not sure if he was talking about the team or
everyone posting about it on social media.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
Anyway, elsewhere, number.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
16, Penn State has a 10-3 halftime lead at Temple.
The game being played at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
Penn State taking the lead on a 23-yard touchdown pass
from Rocco Becht to Benjamin Bramer.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
Man, look at what I'm doing.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
I'm laying it down. Get out of here.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
Anyway, elsewhere, number two, Georgia up 21-0 over Western Kentucky
early in the second quarter. just underway after a long
lightning delay. Sixth-ranked Oregon and Oklahoma State no score just
over a minute in.
Speaker 1 (26:29):
In Stillwater, guys, back to you.
Speaker 3 (26:30):
Hey, man. I don't know what's going on with Penn State.
Y'all don't even score 10 points right now against Temple? Man,
I don't know what's... Temple, 10-3. Hey, man, they got
work to do. It's early in the season, man. We
(26:50):
not going to... Get on LaVar's old Nittany Lions. Not on.
It's too early. It's too early in the season. But
this ain't too early. Very rarely do you go through
a show and you don't bring up the Dallas Cowboys.
But George Pickens said he and CeeDee Lamb are the
(27:15):
best wide receiver duo in the league. And this is
perfect because this is you and I. Let's talk about it.
Let's rank who we believe are the best duos in
the league right now.
Speaker 6 (27:33):
So what are the duos? I mean, if you look
at Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.
Speaker 3 (27:40):
So the people that are only in the mix got
to be what you just said, the Vikings, Addison, And Jets. Obviously.
You go to rounds with Puka and Devontae. The Bengals
with T and Jamar. Yeah. CD. Pickens. And GP. We
(28:03):
missing anybody? Ilo, we missing any more duos?
Speaker 6 (28:10):
No, I believe that's really about it. Four or five duos.
I just think, like, right now, just, you know, looking
at it. It's between two. It's only between two. I
really think it's between T. Higgins and Jamar Chase, obviously,
(28:32):
who I think Jamar Chase is the best wide receiver
in all of football.
Speaker 3 (28:35):
That's just my personal opinion. And I.
Speaker 6 (28:40):
Would have to say, Seedy and Pickens. When Pickens is focused, man,
and he's locked in, man, he's one of the premier
athletes at the position. And it's unfortunate because we always
have to throw in that when he's focused. He's very talented, man.
(29:01):
He's slippery. He makes contested catches. He does all of
those things that you know, you want your wide receiver
to do, and he can be special when he needs
to be special, but he just has those lulls, I feel,
in certain parts of the game where you need him
to be.
Speaker 3 (29:21):
Elite.
Speaker 6 (29:23):
So I do agree with him. They are a great duo,
him and CeeDee Lamb, but if I'm going to go
with two from a consistent standpoint of ball catching and
making plays when it needs to be made, I'm going
to go with T. Higgins and Jamar Chase. And I
(29:44):
love Justin Jefferson, don't get me wrong, and Jordan Addison. But,
you know, Jordan Addison's not always there. I don't know
what they need to do from– an offensive standpoint, KO,
getting him more involved to take some of that pressure
off of J.J. But I believe that Jordan Addison is
(30:08):
talented enough to go out every game and at least
catch six or seven balls. I believe he's that talented.
But I believe they have to put him in positions
to take some of that pressure off of J.J. so
he can go be elite. I think that's the only
thing altering my opinion of who I think the best
(30:33):
duos in the NFL are.
Speaker 3 (30:37):
Number three for me is either Puka and Devontae or
Jets and Addison. That for me because I would probably
put Puka and Devontae three over Jets and Addison. That's me.
If we're looking at, if we're talking about who is
the best duo, if we base it off of last season, oh,
(31:03):
it's for sure GP and CeeDee Lamb, for sure. If
we base it off of their careers thus far, oh,
it's T. Higgins and Jamar, for sure. Because we agree.
Your opinion is my opinion. Jamar Chase is the best
receiver in the league. And so individually, are CeeDee Lamb
(31:27):
and George Pickens better individually than Tee Higgins? Many will
say yes, but if you're going on the totality of
each of their careers since they've gotten into the league,
you got to give Tee, he's been consistent. And GP
(31:48):
was consistent last year, but in Pittsburgh he was inconsistent
And you can say the quarterback play was a yes,
I'll give you that. But all we can do is
judge you by how you've played. And so based off
of last year, it's CD and GP. You base it
off of career. It's T Higgins and Jamar Chase. Now,
(32:08):
if I got to go into this year and say,
who would I want? I'm taking Jamar T because Jamar
is the best receiver in the league. I know what
I'm going to get out of him weekend and week out.
I'm going to get close. to 110 catches. I'm going
to get close to between 14 to 1600 yards, eight
to 14 touchdowns. I know I'm getting that out of him.
(32:30):
And so what I do like though, with the Cowboys
and GP and CD, they don't miss many games. CD
was kind of banged up last year and that's when
GP went to work. But T, he's been missing some
games here and there with injuries. That's what I don't like.
But you get either one of those guys. When I
(32:51):
say guys, any one of those duos, you good. But
those to me are by far and away number one
or two. Number three and four, it's a further gap
between two and three than it is between one and two.
So that to me, and I'm trying to sit here
and think, are there any more duos that we've missed?
(33:14):
Back before this year, you would have put A.J. Brown
and Devontae Smith, but that's no longer a question. And so, yeah,
it's just really those four teams and specifically the Bengals
and the Cowboys with the duos of who is the best.
Speaker 6 (33:29):
Man, we had some real duos when we was playing, man.
When you sit here and think about it, right? People
don't understand it. You had you and Chad. I love
who you got. Who you got for us, I love.
Speaker 7 (33:40):
We haven't seen him play yet, but Jalen Waddle and
Cortland Sutton might be a sneaky duo this year.
Speaker 3 (33:45):
Yeah, they'd be number five, though.
Speaker 7 (33:49):
Oh yeah no like the top spots.
Speaker 3 (33:50):
Are all that is if yeah cause you know you
know what Sean Payton he gonna use Waddle like he
had when he had Ted Gannon when he got a
speed guy he gonna get him the ball but that
is kinda under the radar duo that nobody would think
(34:12):
of that is true that is a sneaky good duo
it will be But, yeah, we did have some. We had,
at the time, probably the best was Marvin Reggie. Marvin Reggie.
Then you had Fitz. Then you had TJ. And Quan.
And Quan. You had me and Chad. You had Steve
(34:35):
Smith and Moosen.
Speaker 6 (34:37):
We had Eric Mose and Peerless Price. We had Jimmy
Smith and Keenan McArdle.
Speaker 3 (34:44):
And Keenan McArdle. Damn, it was crazy. You had T-Holt
and Isaac Bruce. Some real duos. Yeah. Damn, it was. Yeah,
it really was. Oh, Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey. Hey,
and right now, shit. Sorry. Excuse me. Right now, you
(35:04):
got me and you on the radio. Who a better
duo than that? Yeah, play with it. We got to
go to break. Hey, I don't know what's going on
with me. We got to take a break and Hey,
if you miss any of today's show, you want to
catch the podcast, just search Fox Sports Radio, wherever you
(35:25):
get your podcasts, right after the show. Today's podcast will
be posted. Be sure to follow the podcast, rated five stars.
You can even provide a review. Again, just search Fox
Sports Radio, wherever you get your podcasts. Follow the feed.
You'll find today's show fully posted right after we get
off the air. Welcome back in to Up On Games.
(35:46):
Fox Sports Radio, that's Mr. Plaxico Burris, and I am
TJ Houshmandzada. Man, this show be going by so fast.
But the wait is over. Football is here, and so
is DraftKings. DraftKings is now live in all 50 states.
One app, every sport, all 50 states. Right now, use
(36:07):
the promo code UPONGAME to claim your special offer at
DraftKings again. That's promo code UPONGAME at DraftKings.com. The crown
is yours. And we have not done this in a while.
But it's back. Up on game, down on game. Basically,
when I pick all the winners and y'all try to
(36:28):
keep up. Yeah, whatever, man. Don't do that, man. Let's
make sure we keep a record.
Speaker 1 (36:33):
We know who the real champion is. Let's crank this up.
Speaker 3 (36:37):
Let's crank it up.
Speaker 1 (36:38):
Down on game.
Speaker 7 (36:41):
Yeah, no, we're going to keep track. We just need
to make sure that Penn State actually wins so that.
Speaker 3 (36:45):
LeVar keeps doing the show.
Speaker 7 (36:47):
We can have all three of you guys.
Speaker 3 (36:49):
And LeVar might be the bad luck charm. Every time
he go to the game, they struggling. They in the
dog fight. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (36:55):
So, yeah, up on game, down on game.
Speaker 7 (36:57):
The guys are going to pick against the spread and
the game totals. These are all courtesy of our friends
over at DraftKings here. We're going to start with the
Chicago Bears taking on the Carolina Panthers on the road tonight.
The Bears a three-point favorite. The total is 47 and
a half.
Speaker 3 (37:16):
47 and a half. I'm going under.
Speaker 6 (37:19):
I just really just still don't believe in the Carolina
Panthers and Bryce Young. So I'm going to take the
Chicago Bears for the win in under 47.
Speaker 3 (37:31):
Man, I know the Bears are a sexy pick for
many people to think they have an opportunity to make
it to the Super Bowl. I'm going to go I'm
going to also take the under on that. The Panthers
in that defense. And I'm going to take the Carolina
Panthers to pull the upset. I got the Panthers in
the under.
Speaker 7 (37:51):
All right. Next up, we have the Baltimore Ravens heading
to Indianapolis to take on the Colts. Baltimore, another road favorite,
3.5 here. The total also 47.5.
Speaker 6 (37:59):
Well, I'm going to take Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens.
They will probably win by a touchdown. And I'm just
really unsure about the quarterback play. For the Colts right now,
Danny Jones, Richardson, you just really don't know what you're
going to get from them. So I'm taking Lamar Jackson
(38:21):
with a touchdown, and I'm going under on the points.
Speaker 3 (38:25):
Yeah, when you start picking each team, like new offense,
new coordinator with Lamar Jackson, Daniel Jones will be the
quarterback for the Colts, very familiar with offense.
Speaker 6 (38:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (38:37):
Defense should be a lot better. That secondary is going
to be really good. So I'm going to go upset again.
I'm going to take the Colts and I'm going to
go over the points.
Speaker 1 (38:48):
All right.
Speaker 7 (38:48):
Next up, the Cowboys, a trendy Super Bowl pick every year,
it seems, in New York for Sunday Night Football. Dallas,
another road favorite here by three. The total, 48 and
a half.
Speaker 3 (39:01):
Oh, man, I'm taking the Giants, taking the G-Men.
Speaker 6 (39:04):
Uh uh john harborough's uh first uh you know game
as the head coach for the new york giants under
the lights uh big blue uh sunday night football so
i'm taking my g-men and you know what i'm going
over on the points man i just really feel like
it's going to be a lot of scoring, so I'm
taking the G and I'm going over on the points.
Speaker 3 (39:26):
Well, we know the Cowboys are going to score. I
picked the Cowboys to win this division. They better start
the season off with a bang. I'm taking the Dallas
Cowboys to win the game. I'm taking the Dallas Cowboys
to score about 30 points if Ooh, the Giants can
come up and get about 15 to 17, then we
got the over. So I'm taking the Cowboys and over.
(39:48):
I believe the Cowboys are a sneaky Super Bowl contender.
Speaker 7 (39:53):
All right, real quick, wrap it up with Denver heading
to Kansas City with Patrick Mahomes making his return. Kansas City,
a two-and-a-half point favorite. Total is 43-and-a-half.
Speaker 6 (40:01):
I'm taking KC, and I'm going over on the points
for two-and-a-half.
Speaker 3 (40:07):
I'm taking Patrick Mahomes. Wow. Like, we are literally every
game on the opposite side. I'm taking the under, but
I'm taking the Denver Broncos. That left tackle position with
the Chiefs is iffy. We don't know what it's going
to be. I got the Broncos and under.
Speaker 7 (40:25):
All right, that's up on game, down on game.
Speaker 3 (40:27):
So that does up on game. We are done. I
will be five or whatever I am, and Plexico will
be what he is, less than me. Fox Sports Radio,
we appreciate you guys for watching. tuning in up on game.
We will see y'all next week. That's Mr.
Speaker 1 (40:39):
Burris.
Speaker 3 (40:40):
I'm TJ Zimzada. Y'all stay tuned in. Great weekend of football.
Uh, lights, camera, action. Start the show, we about.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
To get it.
Speaker 3 (00:04):
Yeah, fast. All right, here we go.
Speaker 4 (00:06):
You want NFL experience? Then this is the show for you.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
It's our time. With LeVar Arrington.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Has this team been exposed?
Speaker 1 (00:15):
T.J. Houshmandzada.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Let the players decide the game.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
And Plaxico Burress.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
All I gotta say is this, don't poke the bed, man.
Speaker 4 (00:23):
It's a show with three of the best to ever
do it on and off the field at and not
live from the Fox Sports Radio studios. Here's Pro Bowler T.J.
Houshmandzada and Super Bowl champion Plaxico Burress.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Welcome back in to the second hour of Up On Game.
Fox Sports Radio, that's Plaxico Burress. I'm T.J. Houshmandzada. And
real talk, the right audio changes the whole vibe. J
lab makes personal technology that hits different headphones, earbuds, speakers,
gaming gear for people who set the tone everywhere they
(01:03):
go through a live with J lab, visit the blue
box retailers, visit the blue box at retailers in Amazon
or visit J lab.com. As we get into the second hour,
I want to talk about this, man. It ain't even on,
it wasn't on the rundown, but I said, we going
to talk about this, uh, We have some sound, and
(01:27):
we'll get into the sound shortly. Plexico's not his favorite school.
Probably his least favorite school, the University of Michigan. Kyle
Whittingham said some things about Bryce Underwood. Bryce Underwood was
surprised by what was said. Obviously, they were gifted students.
(01:50):
victory last week in a game they should have lost
it was given to them but they still had to
complete a Hail Mary like was Western Michigan yes Western
Michigan stopped the Hail Mary but you guys did win
the game and they cheated you guys at least that's
my opinion um let's get into this sound with Kyle
Whittingham speaking on Bryce Underwood.
Speaker 5 (02:14):
He's our QB right now and uh It's not something
that's infinite. At some point, we've got to turn a
corner and we've got to see improvement as we do
with a bunch of stuff. We've got to see improvement
out of the coaches. It's not just on Bryce. It's
not just Bryce's job that is not absolutely set in concrete.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Nobody's.
Speaker 5 (02:37):
You've got to perform week in and week out and
become somebody that we feel like is playing at a
level that we can win with and And that goes
far beyond Bryce. It goes throughout the whole team. And
so what you've done lately is very important in football.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
So Bryce Underwood, I don't believe he heard any of this.
And so this was his response when a reporter asked
him the question.
Speaker 5 (03:04):
Coach Bananian's comments about how your job isn't permanent.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Those comments about that?
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Yeah, he said that your job isn't permanent.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Yeah, that's the starter. That's cool. I see that. What's
your reaction?
Speaker 4 (03:21):
It's cool.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
So this is– and what Kyle Whittingham said isn't wrong.
You know, everybody– this is a performance-based business. And when
you're a college athlete and you're getting paid and you're
getting paid big bucks, this is what happens. But I
have a few problems with it. Winningham says, you know,
(03:47):
all coaches are evaluated. If you're not doing a job,
you basically get demoted. They don't be demoting these coaches.
You want to blame all the players when they don't
play well? Like, you ain't demoting these coaches. We know
you're not demoting the coaches. You just say that. This
is what bothered me was you can think this, Kyle Winningham,
(04:11):
and it's perfectly fine. We never– no, let me say never.
We rarely hear a coach come out and say this publicly.
If you feel this way, you get in your staff meeting,
you tell the staff, hey, guys, it's like the quarterback play.
Bryce is going to have to be much better if
he doesn't. We may have to make a move with
(04:32):
somebody else and see what they can do. You don't
say this publicly because now Bryce Underwood is going to
be afraid to make a mistake. That's how he's going
to be playing now because he knows what's waiting on him.
He knows what's waiting on him. Kyle Whittingham, you can
feel this way. You just don't say this publicly because
you're going to have a quarterback that is nervous. And furthermore,
(04:52):
Kyle Whittingham, the last time that I checked, you tell
me a quarterback that you've coached that you had drafted.
I'll wait because you don't have one. You've been coaching
at Utah all these years. Top 10 finishes. Great season here.
Great season there. Not one of your quarterbacks has ever
(05:16):
been drafted. Not one. So you don't even know what
it is to have a quarterback and get him drafted
to the National Football League. So them coaches and players
that need to be demoted, when you going to start
demoting them coaches? Because they ain't preparing none of them
kids that you had in Utah for the National Football League.
(05:39):
The Snoop Huntleys, undrafted free agent. All them dudes that
came from Utah that made it to, they're undrafted. So
until you show me you know what you're doing from
that perspective and you can get a kid drafted, what
are you talking about? So I said this on the podcast, Plex,
and I'm just going to talk because I'm going to
let you finish this one off. This is what TJ said.
(06:01):
If I'm Bryce Underwood, I hope to play so well,
I'm leaving Michigan, good or bad, I'm gone. I'm gone. Because...
The coach don't like me. He's just playing me because
of this money that I'm making NIL-wise. I'm gone. I'm
leaving Michigan. You can have this opinion, Kyle Winham. You
can have this belief. But when have we heard a
(06:24):
coach say this publicly to undermine a young quarterback that
is uneasy about his performance anyway?
Speaker 6 (06:30):
You know, I don't think I've ever heard– Coach criticized
his starting quarterback in that fashion, even though all the
circumstances behind the win last week and he didn't play well.
(06:51):
I mean, granted, it was Western Michigan, so you would
think a guy of the number one recruit, five-star, with
an NIL deal, if I'm not mistaken, north of $ 12 million.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
$ 12 million.
Speaker 6 (07:06):
Would be able to go out and perform against a
Mac team in Western Michigan. But I don't believe he's
starting just because of NIL money, but he's the best
quarterback that they have on the roster. So he has
to play him. But you have to look at it
from a Kyle, you know, Whittenham standpoint because he did
(07:27):
not recruit Bryce Underwood. He wasn't a part of the
NIL deal with him coming to Michigan and and starting
as a true freshman. He had nothing to do with that.
So Bryce Underwood is not his quarterback. So he has
(07:48):
to learn to like him and learn what his strengths
and weaknesses are as a quarterback. But we know that
these coaches like to recruit their own players and especially
at the quarterback position. So maybe Bryce Underwood does not
(08:11):
fit the scheme or style of play that Kyle Winningham
wants to have. Obviously, there's some friction there, but it
doesn't matter. The young man is, I believe, the highest-paid
college football player in America. He's not going anywhere. For
the next three to four years, he's earning money. $ 3
(08:32):
million a year in NIL money.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
He's not leaving. Well, he ain't the highest paid. It
may be total contract, but you got quarterbacks making $ 5
million a year in college. I'm talking about his total
NIL contract deal. Yes.
Speaker 6 (08:47):
He is, I believe, $ 12, $ 13 million in that range.
So with that being said, he is going to be
the quarterback of Michigan until he graduates because I don't
believe that he's going to leave and go anywhere else.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
It may happen.
Speaker 6 (09:02):
If Michigan doesn't play well or do well this year,
maybe somebody picks up the NIL money.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
I don't know.
Speaker 6 (09:09):
But from a Kyle Winterham standpoint, based off of last
weekend of how he, Bryce Underwood played and his team
played collectively, moving forward, if you're going to struggle with
what's the Michigan and the MAAC teams, what's going to
(09:29):
happen when you run into, like today they're playing Oklahoma.
I don't know the story of that game, but trust me,
the Big Ten is a lot tougher than the Mac.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
When they play Oklahoma today, they are getting– They're playing
right now. They are getting smacked. I don't even know
what the score is. I don't. I do not know
what the score is. I don't care what the score is.
Speaker 4 (09:52):
Oh.
Speaker 7 (09:53):
Would you guys like a live update?
Speaker 3 (09:54):
Yeah, Michigan's up 7-0. They just recovered a fumble. In
the second quarter. quarter.
Speaker 5 (10:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
And so this is the thing, though. If Bryce Underwood
starts playing well, Kyle Whittingham going to tuck his tail. Oh, yeah,
this is exactly what we needed out of Bryce. You know,
this is the– I knew he could be this type
of player and da-da-da-da-da. Nah, get out of here. Kick rocks.
I just– You cannot say these things publicly because we
(10:22):
don't see it all. Well, don't you want to hear
it publicly? Oh, you want to hear it publicly in
this instance, but not all that. No. I just felt
like the way he handled it. And if Whittingham has
had a history of his quarterbacks getting drafted, say what
you got to say. Do what you got to do.
You don't have that history. Your guys don't get drafted.
(10:44):
Your guys go undrafted. What you talking about? I'm like,
I just, that bothered me. And people are saying, oh, TJ,
you're what's wrong with college football. You're just ready to
up and go. Yep, I am. I'm up and go.
Should have gone out and let you to begin with.
And that's just how I feel because when you're dealing
with a young player, you can permanently scar him and, oh,
(11:09):
he's mentally weak. Man, I don't want to get in
all this and that. I want a coach. I want
my son to play for a coach that believes in
my son and is going to teach my son right
from wrong but more how to play football because if
my son is with you i don't taught him right
from wrong i don't need you giving my son life
lessons i've given my son life lessons throughout his time
(11:30):
of me raising him man get my son better at
the game of football that's why he's at your school
everything else i got that and i don't think people
understand yes it's a business But, Plexico, we do not
hear head coaches say these things about the quarterback. They
may say it about us as a receiver. Yeah, TJ
(11:50):
and Plexico, they got to catch the ball. If not,
we got the other guy. We get it. The quarterback?
And so, Bryce Underwood, man, I want you to go
ball out the rest of this season and then enter
the portal and see if Kyle Whittingham can get one
of them quarterbacks to go undrafted again while he's at Michigan.
(12:11):
He won't be that long. And I can't imagine if
they go on to win this game. Because, you know, Bright,
I ain't going to lie. He balling right now. He
four for five, 70 yards. He playing very well right now.
Can you imagine how he backpedal better than Deion Whittingham
if he ends up playing very well and they win
(12:32):
this game? He going to backpedal so fast and I
don't like all the wishy-washy. Nah, stand on what you said.
Stand on what you said. Oh, well, he played better
so the spot is his.
Speaker 6 (12:43):
Oh.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
But then when he played bad next week, if he
plays bad next week, is your opinion going to change?
Is it going to be a week? I just, you,
we don't see this with quarterbacks. And this is why
I had the stance that I had. You rarely see
this with a quarterback, especially a head coach. And so that,
that was all, you know, I didn't, I didn't like
the way he approached it. And people will say he's
(13:06):
a straight shooter. They, they appreciate that. Not with the quarterback.
I didn't like it. If that was my son, I
would have a problem with it. Um, But I wish
Michigan and Bryce Underwood the best. I'm sure you wish
Bryce Underwood the best, just not Michigan. But, hey, they
up 7-0 after because Oklahoma smacked them last year. Brett Venables,
(13:28):
that defensive coordinator, was giving Bryce Underwood, and I'm sure
he's still going to give him looks that he's just
not accustomed to seeing. So let's see how that plays out.
We got to take a break. That's Plaxico Burris. I'm
TJ Huchmanzada. This is Up On Game, Fox Sports Radio.
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Speaker 3 (14:27):
Welcome back in up on game. That's Mr. Plaxico Burris.
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Sports Radio in the iHeart app man let's talk about
this real quick I don't know how long we gonna
go on this but uh the Falcons and Mr. Tua
(15:13):
Tagovailoa he out for Sunday man he I guess in
yesterday's walkthrough man uh little back spasms that went out
uh Are the Falcons going to be in the basement
of the National Football League this year? The worst team
pick number one? Like, what's going on with the Falcons?
(15:36):
You know what? That's a good question. Here we are.
Speaker 6 (15:41):
You know, we've been talking about B. John Robinson as
possibly being, you know, the best running back in all
of football. Him and Jamar Gibbs just receiving these. huge
contracts to uplift these organizations at the running back position. And,
you know, you draft Michael Pennix Jr. when you have
(16:02):
Kirk Cousins at the helm as the Falcons. So that
doesn't really work out. Michael Pennix hasn't been able to
stay healthy. So coming off a major injury from last year,
you bring in Tua Tungvaloa for insurance policy. And, you know,
you're saying to yourself, From an organizational standpoint, if Michael
(16:23):
Penix Jr. is not healthy enough, then Tua gives us
an opportunity to win football games if he's not available.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
But on the.
Speaker 6 (16:34):
Flip side of it, Tua has struggled with injury history also.
So the other day, I believe he has an oblique injury.
Just backing up on a regular drop back and he
strains his oblique. So now he's not available for Sunday.
(16:54):
Either it's Michael Pennis Jr. Now you're bringing Cooper Rush.
And everything that has been happening with the Atlanta Falcons,
I thought that if they came into the season healthy,
even if Michael Pennis Jr. did not start, I thought
that the Atlanta Falcons had the opportunity to win the
(17:18):
NFC South because... I believe that they are the most
talented team in the division. You look at Carolina, what
they did last year, they made the playoffs and they
went 8-9. And you say to yourself, you have Kyle Pitts,
you have Drake London, you have B. John Robinson, and
(17:40):
all we need is a quarterback to basically do is
go out there and manage the football game to us,
get the ball to number seven behind us, he's going
to be the workhorse and find a way to get
Kyle Pitts more involved in his offense. And Drake London
is a very good wide receiver. But now with this happening,
(18:01):
you just don't know where the Atlanta Falcons are right now.
Cooper Rush, we haven't seen him. We don't know what
he's capable of. We saw him in Dallas a few
years ago. Obviously, that didn't work out. So we just
really don't know where the Atlanta Falcons are right now.
from a quarterbacking standpoint, what their team is really going
(18:23):
to look like with Cooper Rush on the center. So
I hope this thing really doesn't just implode because they have,
I believe, a very dynamic roster offensively and defensively. And
they just got to get some security at the quarterback position.
I don't know what it's going to take. Hopefully, Michael Penix,
(18:43):
you can get healthy and try to navigate this team
to compete in the NFC South. But for right now,
going into Sunday, you really just don't know what the
Atlanta Falcons are going to do simply because of the
quarterback position. So if either of these guys aren't healthy
for the first month of the season, I would say
(19:06):
that the Atlanta Falcons do not make the playoffs this year.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
Man, if you're the Falcons, Pennix is coming off, I believe,
his third ACL reconstruction. including high school and college, now
the National Football League. And then you sign a quarterback
who has a history of being injured. So you sign
in a quarterback who's always injured to fill in for
(19:31):
a quarterback who is injured. What you think you're going
to get? They're going to be injured. And voila, what
has happened to what's now hurt. And Penix is yet
to be cleared. I believe Penix will probably be week two, three,
fourth at the latest. Fourth week, I believe he'll be
up and running and good to go. The problem is
(19:53):
I just don't think you can sign a guy like
Tua and expect him to be healthy when he hasn't
been in the last two to three seasons. You just
can't expect that. Yeah. And if you're Stefanski, you probably
got to be thinking like, oh, my God, here we
go again. Can I just get a quarterback? Hey, I'm
going to say this. I'm going to say this. I'm
going to say this. I believe if you're.
Speaker 6 (20:16):
In the NFC South, I really honestly believe that winning
nine games in this division will get you into the playoffs.
You will win the division at winning nine games. The
Saints should be better. They should be a better football team.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
The Bucs. They have a pretty good collection of players.
They should be better. The Panthers, you spoke on it.
They went to the playoffs with a losing record, but
they going to be better. And if the Falcons can
just get competent. If the Falcons can get competent quarterback play,
they should win the division. But that's a big if.
(20:52):
You just guys can't stay healthy at the quarterback position
for the Falcons. The Falcons have the best collection of
skilled players in that division. And I think everybody will
say that. And so but the Panthers are far behind.
The Saints are far behind and the Bucks are far behind.
I'm just talking in depth of skill players. And so
I could see any of these teams winning the division
(21:14):
minus the Falcons, because I just don't know what the
quarterback position is going to be. Nobody nobody knows that
you have no idea. And so could they quite possibly
the worst team pulling up in the basement? They the
caboose if we on the train. Yeah, I could see that.
I could see that. Them or the Jets. They going
(21:36):
to be fighting to see who's going to draft Dante Moore. Oh,
my gosh. You know what, man?
Speaker 6 (21:40):
You know one thing I've spoken on this several times
that I really dislike about this league is that if
you are a team that wins your division with a
losing record, The team that you are playing, if they
(22:00):
have a winning record, you should not be able to
host a home game if you have a losing record.
Don't penalize the Rams or the 49ers because they are
playing in a division where they're winning 13 and 14 games.
They go 12 and 5, and they got to go
play a team that is 8 and 9 in another division.
Speaker 3 (22:25):
I don't like that, man. I really don't, and I've
said it over and over again. Yeah, but they can't
help it that they division week and you didn't win
your division and we won our division. They can't help that.
They can't help it. And I'm not saying I disagree
with you. You got the teams that are in divisions
with losing records, making the playoffs. They're going to say
we won our division. That's going to be the argument.
(22:48):
If you want to host a home.
Speaker 6 (22:49):
Game, you can't win your division. Yeah, you won with
a losing record. You won with a losing record. Is
that really winning? Is that really winning?
Speaker 3 (22:58):
It's just, if you're that team, you don't want that
at all. But if you're the team with the winning
record going. We made the playoffs last year. Come on.
It's kind of unfortunate. But, yeah, man, the Falcons are in,
as it looks right now, it looks to be they're
in a tough spot, man. The Falcons are, they don't
(23:20):
have a quarterback right now. And if you don't have
a quarterback, hopefully, hey, last year, was it last year? no,
not a year before, Cooper Rush got off. He got
off with the Cowboys. He did exactly what he was
supposed to do as a backup. He went there and
won some games, kept his team in the hunt. And
if he can do that until Michael Penix gets back,
because you said Drake London, Kyle Pitts, B. John, what
(23:44):
team has it like that? So the Falcons, they had
a guy. They just need number nine, Michael Penix, to
come back healthy and ready to go because you just
can't rely on Tua right now. He's not reliable. Man,
Mike McDaniel and Tyree Hill, they made Tua look so good. God.
(24:07):
Tua signed for over $ 200 million, bro. So kudos to him.
Some of the boys will check. And let's go see
what's going on in the world of college football, man.
Isaac Lonecron, we're going to check in with Isla and
get these updates. Isla.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
Hey, fellas, let's start with defending national champion and fifth-ranked Indiana.
They're up 41-0 at halftime over Howard.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
Number 10, Texas A & M. Meanwhile, a 14-10 lead
over Arizona State. Two minutes left to play in the
second quarter. Let's head to Ann Arbor, where Michigan still
up 7-0 over 11th-ranked Oklahoma. Yeah, just over five minutes
left to play in the first half. Michigan has a
second and seven at the Sooner 27-yard line. The only
(24:53):
score of the ballgame, courtesy of this 38-yard touchdown run
by Bryce Underwood on WCSX.
Speaker 3 (25:00):
Goes QB run here on this play. Bryce Underwood with
some room.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
Comes to the near side.
Speaker 3 (25:04):
Bryce Underwood 20, 15, 10.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
Bryce going for the pylon.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
Touchdown Wolverines! Bryce Underwood with a 38-yard quarterback run, and
Michigan takes a 6-0 lead here at the big house.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
Now, fellas, in the interest of fairness and balance, let's
check in on some of the Oklahoma message boards to
see how Sooner fans are doing right now. This is
courtesy of the popular social media curating site Sooner. Message
board geniuses at Dollar Bill Russell posting about the Sooners, quote,
(25:39):
This team is a bleeping joke. Fire Brent Venables at halftime. Meanwhile,
at Dr. Kill Patient posting, quote, Are we on drugs?
Speaker 1 (25:51):
Unquote.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
Not sure if he was talking about the team or
everyone posting about it on social media.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
Anyway, elsewhere, number.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
16, Penn State has a 10-3 halftime lead at Temple.
The game being played at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
Penn State taking the lead on a 23-yard touchdown pass
from Rocco Becht to Benjamin Bramer.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
Man, look at what I'm doing.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
I'm laying it down. Get out of here.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
Anyway, elsewhere, number two, Georgia up 21-0 over Western Kentucky
early in the second quarter. just underway after a long
lightning delay. Sixth-ranked Oregon and Oklahoma State no score just
over a minute in.
Speaker 1 (26:29):
In Stillwater, guys, back to you.
Speaker 3 (26:30):
Hey, man. I don't know what's going on with Penn State.
Y'all don't even score 10 points right now against Temple? Man,
I don't know what's... Temple, 10-3. Hey, man, they got
work to do. It's early in the season, man. We
(26:50):
not going to... Get on LaVar's old Nittany Lions. Not on.
It's too early. It's too early in the season. But
this ain't too early. Very rarely do you go through
a show and you don't bring up the Dallas Cowboys.
But George Pickens said he and CeeDee Lamb are the
(27:15):
best wide receiver duo in the league. And this is
perfect because this is you and I. Let's talk about it.
Let's rank who we believe are the best duos in
the league right now.
Speaker 6 (27:33):
So what are the duos? I mean, if you look
at Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.
Speaker 3 (27:40):
So the people that are only in the mix got
to be what you just said, the Vikings, Addison, And Jets. Obviously.
You go to rounds with Puka and Devontae. The Bengals
with T and Jamar. Yeah. CD. Pickens. And GP. We
(28:03):
missing anybody? Ilo, we missing any more duos?
Speaker 6 (28:10):
No, I believe that's really about it. Four or five duos.
I just think, like, right now, just, you know, looking
at it. It's between two. It's only between two. I
really think it's between T. Higgins and Jamar Chase, obviously,
(28:32):
who I think Jamar Chase is the best wide receiver
in all of football.
Speaker 3 (28:35):
That's just my personal opinion. And I.
Speaker 6 (28:40):
Would have to say, Seedy and Pickens. When Pickens is focused, man,
and he's locked in, man, he's one of the premier
athletes at the position. And it's unfortunate because we always
have to throw in that when he's focused. He's very talented, man.
(29:01):
He's slippery. He makes contested catches. He does all of
those things that you know, you want your wide receiver
to do, and he can be special when he needs
to be special, but he just has those lulls, I feel,
in certain parts of the game where you need him
to be.
Speaker 3 (29:21):
Elite.
Speaker 6 (29:23):
So I do agree with him. They are a great duo,
him and CeeDee Lamb, but if I'm going to go
with two from a consistent standpoint of ball catching and
making plays when it needs to be made, I'm going
to go with T. Higgins and Jamar Chase. And I
(29:44):
love Justin Jefferson, don't get me wrong, and Jordan Addison. But,
you know, Jordan Addison's not always there. I don't know
what they need to do from– an offensive standpoint, KO,
getting him more involved to take some of that pressure
off of J.J. But I believe that Jordan Addison is
(30:08):
talented enough to go out every game and at least
catch six or seven balls. I believe he's that talented.
But I believe they have to put him in positions
to take some of that pressure off of J.J. so
he can go be elite. I think that's the only
thing altering my opinion of who I think the best
(30:33):
duos in the NFL are.
Speaker 3 (30:37):
Number three for me is either Puka and Devontae or
Jets and Addison. That for me because I would probably
put Puka and Devontae three over Jets and Addison. That's me.
If we're looking at, if we're talking about who is
the best duo, if we base it off of last season, oh,
(31:03):
it's for sure GP and CeeDee Lamb, for sure. If
we base it off of their careers thus far, oh,
it's T. Higgins and Jamar, for sure. Because we agree.
Your opinion is my opinion. Jamar Chase is the best
receiver in the league. And so individually, are CeeDee Lamb
(31:27):
and George Pickens better individually than Tee Higgins? Many will
say yes, but if you're going on the totality of
each of their careers since they've gotten into the league,
you got to give Tee, he's been consistent. And GP
(31:48):
was consistent last year, but in Pittsburgh he was inconsistent
And you can say the quarterback play was a yes,
I'll give you that. But all we can do is
judge you by how you've played. And so based off
of last year, it's CD and GP. You base it
off of career. It's T Higgins and Jamar Chase. Now,
(32:08):
if I got to go into this year and say,
who would I want? I'm taking Jamar T because Jamar
is the best receiver in the league. I know what
I'm going to get out of him weekend and week out.
I'm going to get close. to 110 catches. I'm going
to get close to between 14 to 1600 yards, eight
to 14 touchdowns. I know I'm getting that out of him.
(32:30):
And so what I do like though, with the Cowboys
and GP and CD, they don't miss many games. CD
was kind of banged up last year and that's when
GP went to work. But T, he's been missing some
games here and there with injuries. That's what I don't like.
But you get either one of those guys. When I
(32:51):
say guys, any one of those duos, you good. But
those to me are by far and away number one
or two. Number three and four, it's a further gap
between two and three than it is between one and two.
So that to me, and I'm trying to sit here
and think, are there any more duos that we've missed?
(33:14):
Back before this year, you would have put A.J. Brown
and Devontae Smith, but that's no longer a question. And so, yeah,
it's just really those four teams and specifically the Bengals
and the Cowboys with the duos of who is the best.
Speaker 6 (33:29):
Man, we had some real duos when we was playing, man.
When you sit here and think about it, right? People
don't understand it. You had you and Chad. I love
who you got. Who you got for us, I love.
Speaker 7 (33:40):
We haven't seen him play yet, but Jalen Waddle and
Cortland Sutton might be a sneaky duo this year.
Speaker 3 (33:45):
Yeah, they'd be number five, though.
Speaker 7 (33:49):
Oh yeah no like the top spots.
Speaker 3 (33:50):
Are all that is if yeah cause you know you
know what Sean Payton he gonna use Waddle like he
had when he had Ted Gannon when he got a
speed guy he gonna get him the ball but that
is kinda under the radar duo that nobody would think
(34:12):
of that is true that is a sneaky good duo
it will be But, yeah, we did have some. We had,
at the time, probably the best was Marvin Reggie. Marvin Reggie.
Then you had Fitz. Then you had TJ. And Quan.
And Quan. You had me and Chad. You had Steve
(34:35):
Smith and Moosen.
Speaker 6 (34:37):
We had Eric Mose and Peerless Price. We had Jimmy
Smith and Keenan McArdle.
Speaker 3 (34:44):
And Keenan McArdle. Damn, it was crazy. You had T-Holt
and Isaac Bruce. Some real duos. Yeah. Damn, it was. Yeah,
it really was. Oh, Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey. Hey,
and right now, shit. Sorry. Excuse me. Right now, you
(35:04):
got me and you on the radio. Who a better
duo than that? Yeah, play with it. We got to
go to break. Hey, I don't know what's going on
with me. We got to take a break and Hey,
if you miss any of today's show, you want to
catch the podcast, just search Fox Sports Radio, wherever you
(35:25):
get your podcasts, right after the show. Today's podcast will
be posted. Be sure to follow the podcast, rated five stars.
You can even provide a review. Again, just search Fox
Sports Radio, wherever you get your podcasts. Follow the feed.
You'll find today's show fully posted right after we get
off the air. Welcome back in to Up On Games.
(35:46):
Fox Sports Radio, that's Mr. Plaxico Burris, and I am
TJ Houshmandzada. Man, this show be going by so fast.
But the wait is over. Football is here, and so
is DraftKings. DraftKings is now live in all 50 states.
One app, every sport, all 50 states. Right now, use
(36:07):
the promo code UPONGAME to claim your special offer at
DraftKings again. That's promo code UPONGAME at DraftKings.com. The crown
is yours. And we have not done this in a while.
But it's back. Up on game, down on game. Basically,
when I pick all the winners and y'all try to
(36:28):
keep up. Yeah, whatever, man. Don't do that, man. Let's
make sure we keep a record.
Speaker 1 (36:33):
We know who the real champion is. Let's crank this up.
Speaker 3 (36:37):
Let's crank it up.
Speaker 1 (36:38):
Down on game.
Speaker 7 (36:41):
Yeah, no, we're going to keep track. We just need
to make sure that Penn State actually wins so that.
Speaker 3 (36:45):
LeVar keeps doing the show.
Speaker 7 (36:47):
We can have all three of you guys.
Speaker 3 (36:49):
And LeVar might be the bad luck charm. Every time
he go to the game, they struggling. They in the
dog fight. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (36:55):
So, yeah, up on game, down on game.
Speaker 7 (36:57):
The guys are going to pick against the spread and
the game totals. These are all courtesy of our friends
over at DraftKings here. We're going to start with the
Chicago Bears taking on the Carolina Panthers on the road tonight.
The Bears a three-point favorite. The total is 47 and
a half.
Speaker 3 (37:16):
47 and a half. I'm going under.
Speaker 6 (37:19):
I just really just still don't believe in the Carolina
Panthers and Bryce Young. So I'm going to take the
Chicago Bears for the win in under 47.
Speaker 3 (37:31):
Man, I know the Bears are a sexy pick for
many people to think they have an opportunity to make
it to the Super Bowl. I'm going to go I'm
going to also take the under on that. The Panthers
in that defense. And I'm going to take the Carolina
Panthers to pull the upset. I got the Panthers in
the under.
Speaker 7 (37:51):
All right. Next up, we have the Baltimore Ravens heading
to Indianapolis to take on the Colts. Baltimore, another road favorite,
3.5 here. The total also 47.5.
Speaker 6 (37:59):
Well, I'm going to take Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens.
They will probably win by a touchdown. And I'm just
really unsure about the quarterback play. For the Colts right now,
Danny Jones, Richardson, you just really don't know what you're
going to get from them. So I'm taking Lamar Jackson
(38:21):
with a touchdown, and I'm going under on the points.
Speaker 3 (38:25):
Yeah, when you start picking each team, like new offense,
new coordinator with Lamar Jackson, Daniel Jones will be the
quarterback for the Colts, very familiar with offense.
Speaker 6 (38:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (38:37):
Defense should be a lot better. That secondary is going
to be really good. So I'm going to go upset again.
I'm going to take the Colts and I'm going to
go over the points.
Speaker 1 (38:48):
All right.
Speaker 7 (38:48):
Next up, the Cowboys, a trendy Super Bowl pick every year,
it seems, in New York for Sunday Night Football. Dallas,
another road favorite here by three. The total, 48 and
a half.
Speaker 3 (39:01):
Oh, man, I'm taking the Giants, taking the G-Men.
Speaker 6 (39:04):
Uh uh john harborough's uh first uh you know game
as the head coach for the new york giants under
the lights uh big blue uh sunday night football so
i'm taking my g-men and you know what i'm going
over on the points man i just really feel like
it's going to be a lot of scoring, so I'm
taking the G and I'm going over on the points.
Speaker 3 (39:26):
Well, we know the Cowboys are going to score. I
picked the Cowboys to win this division. They better start
the season off with a bang. I'm taking the Dallas
Cowboys to win the game. I'm taking the Dallas Cowboys
to score about 30 points if Ooh, the Giants can
come up and get about 15 to 17, then we
got the over. So I'm taking the Cowboys and over.
(39:48):
I believe the Cowboys are a sneaky Super Bowl contender.
Speaker 7 (39:53):
All right, real quick, wrap it up with Denver heading
to Kansas City with Patrick Mahomes making his return. Kansas City,
a two-and-a-half point favorite. Total is 43-and-a-half.
Speaker 6 (40:01):
I'm taking KC, and I'm going over on the points
for two-and-a-half.
Speaker 3 (40:07):
I'm taking Patrick Mahomes. Wow. Like, we are literally every
game on the opposite side. I'm taking the under, but
I'm taking the Denver Broncos. That left tackle position with
the Chiefs is iffy. We don't know what it's going
to be. I got the Broncos and under.
Speaker 7 (40:25):
All right, that's up on game, down on game.
Speaker 3 (40:27):
So that does up on game. We are done. I
will be five or whatever I am, and Plexico will
be what he is, less than me. Fox Sports Radio,
we appreciate you guys for watching. tuning in up on game.
We will see y'all next week. That's Mr.
Speaker 1 (40:39):
Burris.
Speaker 3 (40:40):
I'm TJ Zimzada. Y'all stay tuned in. Great weekend of football.
Fox Sports Radio News
Host
Jonas Knox
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