January 14, 2026 • 38 mins
Dan and Aaron discuss the nine head coach openings in the NFL and what could be behind this unusual amount of turnover. Dan and Aaron welcome NBA Insider Mark Medina onto the show to discuss all of the major headlines around the NBA. Dan and Aaron weigh in on the comments made by Lebron's agent Rich Paul on his podcast.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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Speaker 2 (00:08):
I just want to make sure Aaron nobody else is
getting fired right like this is like we are finally done,
whether it be in college football or the National Football League,
Like we're done now, We're done at nine at least
in the NFL.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Okay, I wasn't planning on opening the show like this,
but I did have this thought. Today Bills get blown
out in Denver.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
I I know, I I know it could be ten.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
I could know because I was seriously thinking about it
because I have been on If the Bills do not
make the Super Bowl, as Josh Allen's prime is winding down,
do you make the move? The problem is, do you
have to now hold on to Sean McDermott for one
year longer because all of the good candidates may be
gone by the time you're eliminated, even as early as
this coming Saturday.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
I think the teams that have really good situations have
no problem if they need to move on from the
head coach because they think they can get the top candidates.
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(01:18):
It's not who is available, meaning the candidates. It's not
what jobs are available, meaning the teams. It's the number
that is shocking to me, because I feel aarin that
a couple of weeks ago, we're heading into week eighteen.
We knew the Giants job was open in the NFL.
We knew the Titans job was open in the National
Football League. We knew those jobs were going to be filled.
(01:41):
We then assumed that there were rumblings maybe the Falcons
would make a move. The Falcons turned things on at
the end of the year, and all of our shouldn't
say all most of our NFL insiders that we talked
to and bring on say about a handful of openings.
I'm gonna say handful, four to six. Let's give leeway.
(02:01):
Three to seven is not a handful. Let's just say
four to six. And after the first twenty four hour
cycle that we had, we had six. Arizona got rid
of Gannon, Pete Carroll was out with the Raiders. I
mentioned Raheem Morris, Kevin Stefanski was done with the Browns,
and then a few days later it's John Harbaugh, and
(02:24):
then it's Mike McDaniel, and now it's Mike Tomlin stepping aside.
So we've got nine openings, the words of Ed Rooney,
nine nine openings in the National Football League. And again,
what is shocking to me, Aaron, is that now more
than a quarter of the league feels that their leadership
(02:44):
isn't good enough and they need to make a change.
And I am trying to put my finger on why
that is.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
So thinking about this and thinking about the raw numbers
and all the people that are getting interviews, I will
say it does feel like a little bit of an
outline year, not just because of the sheer number, but
because of how some of these jobs opened right Like
the Ravens. It just clearly just came to it like
it every I don't know about everybody, but the people
(03:13):
that mattered agreed that it was time for a change.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
And I thought it was noteworthy.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
The owner and his press conference yesterday noted they said
to him, they said, if you if the if the
kick goes through, you beat Pittsburgh to win the divisions.
John Harbaugh still the head coach, he said, for one
more week, and then the insinuation was I was ready
to move on after this year. So you have that situation,
you have the Miami situation, which we can't quite put
the pieces together of. Mike McDaniel fired a day after,
(03:43):
you know, John Harbaugh becomes available. So so was that
a thing that you know, they who knows there? And
then of course with Pittsburgh, how much of it was
a Pittsburgh thing, But ultimately it was a Mike Tomlin thing,
Mike Tomlin deciding that he had had enough of that job.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
So I just bring it up because it's crazy. The number.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
It's crazy, the jobs available. It's crazy some of the
people that are going to get head coaching jobs. I
hate to open the show with a little bit of
a wet blanket, but I feel like this is an
outlier year in how these jobs open, not just in
the number of jobs that are available.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
I thought that on the surface as well. On the surface,
my immediate gut reaction is this is a one off.
It's just doesn't happen that much. And then when we
start the show and I say that there are nine
openings and you leave the door open that there could
be one more. Maybe the Bills would make a move
with Sean McDermott, and I consider that as well. The
(04:40):
reason I considered it Aaron because I thought the Packers
could make a move with Matt Lafleur. They haven't and
it doesn't seem like they're going to. In fact, they're
going to commit to him, we think with a newer contract.
Now that hasn't been finalized, but by all accounts from
the insider reports it's Green Bay's intention of keeping Matt Lafleur.
That could change. But still, well, the point is is
(05:01):
that he was a possibility of not returning. And so
then I thought to myself, well, if there are nine,
possibly ten, maybe even eleven openings like we're getting, we're
getting up there, what is next year going to look like?
And this is what stood out to me was next
year could be just as bad. Maybe it won't be nine.
(05:23):
But if you think that this is a one off,
you're wrong. And the reason I say that is because
Aaron Gunn is on the hot seat. If the Colts
stink again next season, I think there's a reason for
Shane Steichen to be out in Indianapolis if the Bengals
continue to Bengal Zach Taylor's been on the hot seat
for a while, Andy Reid. There is no guarantee how
(05:46):
long he's going to continue to coach. And we think
the Chiefs will be bad next year too. Yes, so
you've got Patrick Mahomes coming back from his injury, and
who knows what his health situation is going to be.
Maybe he needs a fresh start. I just mentioned Matt
Lafleur if he stays yep, maybe if things go bad
for Green Band next year, maybe they regret whatever contract
(06:08):
situation they have with him and make a change. The
point is is, I'm adding names. Dan Quinn in Washington,
like you've moved on from Cliff Kingsbury as the offensive coordinator.
If Jayden Daniels doesn't get things done and the defense
isn't good next year, Washington, you could say like, all right,
we're gonna move on from dan Quinn. These are all possibilities.
We thought Todd Bowles could maybe lose his job in Tampa,
(06:28):
So I'm just naming names of situations that could possibly
come up. So, by the way, it's Sirianni absolutely Dave Canalis.
Let's say Bryce Young takes a step back. Now Carolina,
even though they're in, you know, win the division at
eight to nine, if they don't show progress, you can
make a re have a reason to move on from
(06:49):
that job. Not saying all these things are going to happen,
but the point is is there could be seven or
eight openings next year, so that in a two year
gap or two year span, you're saying more than half
of the coaches in the National Football League will be
recycled through. That has never happened. It had been about
four or five and now in a time where we
(07:10):
don't even know if we have any good candidates. And
the reason I think that this is happening, the one
reason that I think is for whatever reason, I think
teams think it's now easy to get to conference championship games,
that it's easy to do a quick turnaround, say look
at what we've got here. And I think like Mike
Rabel and the Patriots maybe are an example of that
(07:32):
of you get the right guy in there, the culture
can change. Things can change quickly. If you have your quarterback,
other guys gel together, Boom, you're back atop the AFC
So it's the turnaround of the Patriots after one awful
year with Gerrod Mayo and a couple of bad years
of Bill Belichick, of why a turnaround could happen. We
just got to find the right guy. And we know
(07:54):
right now that you aren't the right guy. So you're
on your way out and we're going to go and
look for that right guy. And that's why I think
right now, and when I say easy, I think you
understand what I mean. They're seeing a turnaround and a
quick turnaround to have success in every team in the
NFL that is making moves of their head coaches want
to get to that spot. And I feel that they
(08:15):
almost think it's an easy fix that just take out
the head guy, let's put someone new in, and let's
make the run. And I just I don't think it's
that simple, and that's why I think like NFL owners
are misguided in that thinking.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
By the way, a funner way to look at it is,
you know, and we don't have to do this on air,
but I'm just saying, how many coaches outside of the
nine jobs that are currently open, so that would leave
twenty three jobs?
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Is that right? Twenty three?
Speaker 4 (08:40):
Like?
Speaker 3 (08:40):
How many guys could just have a train wreck of
a year lat next year and just be one hundred
percent safe. It's like Kyle Shanahan, Ben Johnson, Sean McVay,
that's basically it. Yeah, like McDonald yeaheah, there's a few,
but there are very not many.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Yeah, not many outside of that five or six that
are completely one hundred percent safe.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
And so to your point, I do think there is
something there to the notion. And the ironic part, by
the way, is it's you could actually argue that, especially
up until this year when Mahomes got hurt, it was
actually harder to make the conference championship game than it's
ever been, where basically the AFC has come down to
basically three teams the last couple of years that only
had a realistic shot of making it.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
But no, I think it's a number of different variables.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
Is I do think there is a notion, especially in
the NFL, of why do we have to be terrible
year over year? I mean, I think even the point
about Aaron Glenn of like the conversation of do you
bring him back? He's a defensive coach, he's a former
defensive back. We can't force an interception the entire year.
I just bring it up because it just feels like
one of those situations of like, even though he's back,
(09:48):
you can talk yourself into, you know what, maybe this
isn't the answer and maybe we need to move on.
Pete Carroll being one and done, Girodmeo being done one
and done a year ago. I do think there is
something interesting here about the shelf life being able to
kind of build it the way you want to build it.
And does a two three year build really exist anymore
(10:11):
or do you have to have success right away? I
know it's something that's a little bit of a cliche
talking point right now, but we're seeing it in the
college space as well of because of Nio in the
portal boom, you can build the thing quick. You don't
get four or five years anymore. And it does feel
like increasingly in the NFL we are headed that direction
of Hey, Pete Carroll, you know you brought in your quarterback,
(10:35):
the team got worse time to go, and you can
again use a bunch of examples just like that.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Jason Stewart, do you see any correlation to the college
game or the pro game or why there's so many vacancies.
Speaker 5 (10:45):
To me, guys, it's like the cliche when you're reading
your procedural novel or watching the show when they say
follow the money. I think it a holds back to this.
You hear about how much money Goodell has made for
the owners in recent years, and then you see this,
like to me, a watershed moment. A couple of years back,
the Denver Broncos paid Nathaniel Hackett to go away. They
(11:09):
traded assets and gave Sean Payton a ton of money
to come. Soon after that, they paid Russell Wilson a
ton of money to go away. I think the owners
have had such a flood of revenue and they are
dealing with so much capital now that I think these
decisions are just much more easy to make. Example, Mark Davis,
(11:32):
the Raiders are supposed to be the mom and pop
shop of the NFL. Mark Davis is a poor They're
paying I think four coaches right now on their payroll.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Yeah, there is money everywhere, and if you take the
flip side of that, you're talking about the poorest one.
It means the more the ones who are the wealthiest,
excuse me, think even less. Like you know, they're billionaires,
they're different. They're not like the Rooneys, They're not like
the Davis family. They are it's it doesn't even doesn't
(12:05):
even register, leading to the Broncos and the the Walmart connection,
and just of of all of the enormous assets that
you have that it doesn't even You don't even blink
an eye to pay to move on from what you have.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
Let me ask a follow up on that point though,
is part of why people are doing it, not just
the money, but because the Broncos had success doing it
number one seed in the AFC. But then the counter
to that is there was also a Super Bowl winning
head coach that was available that clearly wanted to get
back in. So I'd be curious for your guys perspectives, liked,
(12:44):
does do the Broncos having immediate success? This guy comes
in completely changes the culture, gets rid of the old
quarterback that isn't good anymore, and now has the number
one seed in the AFC. Do you think other people
are looking at that saying why can't that be us?
And maybe that's to your original point. I think they
looked more at New England. Sure, I think they look
at New England and being like, oh you get Vrabel
and you get a young quarterback. Look at how that
(13:07):
turns around, like immediately, and if we could just you know,
land that or if it's even a Sean McVay sort
of deal, even after all these years, a decade later,
he's he's not one of the longest tenured head coaches
in the National Football League with arbon Tomlin gone. But
I think that you're still trying to find your next
Sean McVay in somebody that could be there and turn
(13:30):
it around. And you're taking risks on guys that also
may not even be qualified for the position in the
first place, so then you have to move on from
them after a shorter period of time. I think this
cycle has had longer guys. A guy stay longer.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
But if you're the Browns, if you're the Ravens, and
you're the Steelers, and again I think Tomlin stepped out.
I don't think the Steelers were gonna fire Tomlin. But
you see to a point that Iowa Sam has been
making throughout this season, Why are the New England Patriots
great again? Like I think that's what some of these
teams are thinking. How does New England all of a
(14:04):
sudden just turn it around almost at a drop of
a hat, and I think that they want to experience
that same thing and feel if they get the right combination. Honestly,
Jacksonville struck gold with Liam Cohen, right, I mean, so
if you're Jacksonville, like, yeah, okay, look it works. We
moved on.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
But the key points there, the quarterback at least that
we think is already in place, right, And so I
think it's an interesting conversation of you know, even driving in,
You're hearing different people say, you know, Marcus Freeman, he's
got to consider Pittsburgh, And I'm like, why why does
he have to consider Pittsburgh? Like, I it's cool what
they did in nineteen seventy eight with Chuck Nole and
(14:43):
Terry Bradshaw, But like, the only selling point of the
Steelers right now is two is history and one they
won't fire you if you're good right away. And I'm
just sitting there saying, like, if you're Marcus Freeman and
you want to go to the NFL again, to your point,
Andy Reid's not to be around forever, Sean McDermott, what
happens to that there are better opportunities? And I think
(15:05):
that's An interesting parallel in this as well is that
I think the actual legitimate coaching candidates that people actually
want can be rather selective in making sure like Mike
Rabil a perfect example last year, Ben Johnson a perfect
example last year of is the situation right for me?
Is it the right ownership specifically the right quarterback? And frankly,
(15:26):
I don't know how many of these jobs that are
currently open outside of Baltimore really have that setup.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
And then they guys will get hired, they don't win.
Guess what they're doing this two three years down the
line again, right.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
McDaniel, I thought, last time I spoke with you, I
think it was last time I spoke with you, he
had just gone fired. It was like a done deal.
Oh he's going to be the Lions offensive coordinator. Now,
this guy's interviewing for every job under the sun.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
So let me just wrap up with this because I'm
curious on Jason your thought I'm curious on samon Isaac's thoughts. Quickly,
you mentioned the Steelers job. So the last time it
was opened was nineteen seasons ago. I feel like the
world has changed. I feel like that generation, if you
were to tell go back to when they hired Mike
Tomlin that said, hey man, you gotta have this job
(16:08):
for twenty years. My generation says, sign me up. Do
you think taking the Steelers job to Aaron's point of
right now, the cupboard's kind of bear But knowing that
this family likely won't fire you for the next fifteen years,
is that even appealing? Is that appealing to this generation
(16:29):
of coaches where we're seeing thirty year olds and taking
over as taking over as coordinators and a defensive coordinators
offensive coordinators? Is that appealing to someone to be like,
you know what, I always stink now, but they're gonna
give me as much time in the world. And do
I really want to stay at one job for fifteen years?
Speaker 3 (16:47):
So let me just jump in real quick because I
want to hear the other guy's perspective as well. I
was thinking about this as well. Is all of these
guys are hyper competitive people. I don't know that, Hey,
you can stink for six years and you won't get
fired is a selling point to a hyper competitive person. Again,
I'll just use Marcus Freeman as the example. He will
(17:07):
have a team good enough to win at the highest level,
at the level that he is at So if Marcus
Freeman wants to leave Notre Dame, he doesn't want to
go somewhere. In my opinion, maybe he's hired as the
Steelers coach by the end of this show.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
My assumption would be if he's going to leave for
the NFL and he's leaving a place where he can
already win at the highest level, he wants to go
somewhere where he can win immediately. Why does Marcus Freeman
want to go rebuild for five years?
Speaker 2 (17:31):
You know?
Speaker 3 (17:31):
And so again, if the Ravens called, maybe he would
have to consider it. But if you're a hyper competitive
person that already has a good job, I actually don't
think it's appealing to be like, oh, you'll get eight.
You could lose for eight straight years, Mike Tomlins. You
know he's been eight You know, he hasn't won a
playoff game in ten years. They would have fired him.
That doesn't sound like a fun existence to me. So
(17:54):
that's my personal opinion, But I like others as well.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Jason sam Isaac Ewitt, Sam, I blame Kurt Signetti for all.
Speaker 6 (18:01):
Of this.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
Guy, all right, because he never loses.
Speaker 7 (18:06):
Yeah, I mean, I mean he just comes in he
turns Indiana from zero to hero. I mean, you see Michigan,
Ohio State and then Indiana as maybe the next national champion.
I mean Kurt Signetti has just changed the timeline completely
for college ampros.
Speaker 5 (18:21):
To answer your question, Dan, I think I think this
generation so gen Z is coaching or Millennials are coaching.
I think they they're not. They're not drawn to stability.
We've seen that in the actual average workplace. People are
moving jobs all the time in that generation. But I
cringe to think that the Steelers are going to still
operate under that business plan. Sure, I hope that they
(18:43):
switch with the times and just go through like three
or four coaches in the next fifteen years.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
They haven't shown us, you know, anything different. We will.
Speaker 8 (18:51):
We will never see anything in sports again the likes
of what the Steelers have had with the stability over
their last three head coach, which is including with the Steelers.
And I'll put this into perspective, and Sam, you make
a great point about Kurt Signetti, but I think this
philosophy predated Signetti. John Wooden didn't win his first national
(19:11):
championship until his sixteenth season at UCLA. If you have
the same John Wooden today, he'd be gone after year five.
The coaching world, in the sports world has completely changed.
Speaker 9 (19:21):
Yeah, Peter Vine, four years later, it has touched for
four hundred people yet, and I think it's changed over
the last twenty years. And to your point, I don't
think that. I don't think that staying in one spot
for an extended period of time is maybe a top
of the priority list, Sam, And.
Speaker 7 (19:38):
I think in college football, maybe there's something about wearing
black and yellow Steelers jerseys that looks similar. In college
you're just not going to see a lot of Kirk
Ference's anymore. I mean, the guy's probably going to spend
thirty years at Iowa. You're just not going to see that.
It's just not going to happen. And he could have
left the program or been dismissed a number of times
over the years when he's still there.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
Yeah, but then you wouldn't be twenty twenty five Orlioquest
Bowl championsh right hey, formerly known as the Outback Bowl.
All right, that diego Pavia.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at foxsports radio
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Speaker 2 (20:13):
Truer words were never spoken. He's eron Torres, I'm Dan
Byer Iowa, Sam, Jason Stewart, Isaac Lowingcron hanging out. Isaac's
gonna be with us in about ten minutes or so
to give us an update of what's happening on this Wednesday.
A big happening when it comes to the NFL Draft
in college football, But we switch our attention to the
NBA joining us now, good buddy, our Fox Sports Radio
(20:39):
NBA insider Mark Medina joins us here on Fox Sports
Radio for the first time in twenty twenty six. Mark,
Happy New Year.
Speaker 4 (20:46):
How are you Happy New Year?
Speaker 8 (20:48):
Dan?
Speaker 4 (20:49):
We'll break the Larry David rule. All good? Uh and
happy for you. You're killing all the shows.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
Oh well, I appreciate that. Aaron and I are having
a good time. And yeah we're two weeks in. But
it's the first time I've spoke with Mark. Question everyone
wants to know, are you in on crypto or was
your ex hacked? That's what people want to know.
Speaker 4 (21:07):
What's the it has been the ladder. I did not
cash out of some crazy investment or bought some amazing car.
So yeah, for anyone else who can help me out.
I'm still trying to get the sword out so I
can tweet about basketball and not fake posts.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
I thought that was quite the quite the flex, you know,
first and escalade and then a look at your financial portfolio.
But it was very unmandina like considering all the NBA
posts that were made.
Speaker 4 (21:38):
Mark Mann. That's why a strong instinct.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
No, well, let's let's talk about what happened last night
in the Association, because Oklahoma City finally got the monkey
off their back, if you will, in beating the San
Antonio Spurs. Wasn't just another game? Was it more for
Oklahoma City last night? What were your thoughts on the
thunder win?
Speaker 4 (21:56):
No, not just another game. I think that this is
It's not going to be like her Seldon, but I
think that this is the next rivalry in the NBA.
You can tell that both teams don't like each other,
especially the Victor Wembanyama chet Hongering dynamic. But what does
it mean for the NBA playoffs? That is where I'm
on shore, because even though the Spurs, with the exception
(22:16):
last night, have had their number in head to head matchups,
I still favored a Thunder in a playoff series. Barring
major injuries. Just because of the old adage of they've
been there before, the continuity, there's not much of any
hangover from the championship last season. But the Spurs have
shown they're the real deal. Not only are they making
(22:38):
the playoffs. It's not just oh, they're a young team
on the rise. They are here. It's Victor Wembanyama. They
got the Spurs culture. They got this great dynamic backcourt,
and the Aaron Fox and Stefan Castle and so and
then they know how to coexist pretty well. So they
are well a machine. But if if I had to
(23:00):
predict seven games series, it would go to the thunder Butt.
That's why it's going to be compelling to semi they
match up.
Speaker 3 (23:08):
So, Mark, I don't know if you were you know,
been around the Lakers. I know you are always around
the Lakers, I should say. So this story about Lebron
having to address something that Rich Paul said, I'll just
be honest. So I'm sure you have a relationship with
Rich Paul. I'm not trying to back you into a corner.
(23:29):
I don't really understand what the upside to Rich Paul
having a podcast is all he's gonna do is make
people mad or not say anything. It doesn't help his clients,
It doesn't help him. I don't know if you have
anything to really add to that situation, but it feels
weird that Lebron now has to address things that his
(23:49):
agent is saying publicly on a podcast.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
Yeah, and it's a fair question and there and I'm
not backed into a corner. I have relationships in the NBA,
but I have a job to do. And I don't
think that, even with the caveat, that every adult has
the right to pursue whatever business venture through the NBA Lane.
I don't think that this is a good look for
rich because perceived or real or a mix of both,
(24:13):
what he says is always going to be looked at.
This is a reflection of what Lebron James wants, even
though Lebron was very clear in the interview with ESPN
that that's not what he thinks. I think the other
thing is just it reeks of being Monday morning quarterback
and trying to be very influential on what teams should do.
And this isn't you know, someone like you and me
(24:35):
talking about what teams should do. We don't have any
roll or direct stake. This is an agent that can
have some sort of leverage. So yeah, it doesn't sit
well with people in the Lakers organization, and certainly shouldn't
sit well with you know, Austin Reeves's agent or anyone
else because you're just thinking the quiet parts out loud.
I mean, it's almost the equivalent of when you know
(24:58):
in laws in insert themselves into private conversations or things
with your partner that shouldn't involve them. They have every
right to do it, but it's something they shouldn't do.
So that's my analysis on it.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
Mark Medina joining us here on Fox Sports Radio. Another
story that caught a lot of people's eye was kind
of the I guess back and forth maybe the way
to put about it on what was happening with Anthony
Davis in his hand situation. You know the report that
came out that said he was likely done for the season,
Davis refutes it. Then there's a second opinion. There's also
(25:33):
trade deadline coming up in less than a month. So
where are we on Anthony Davis in what is happening
with the Mavericks? Big Man?
Speaker 4 (25:42):
Yeah, well, I think what Ad was saying is technically true.
By the letter of the law that he's not ruled
out necessarily for the rest of the season technically, but guys,
let's just be real. You read it the right in
the law Anthony Davis's injury history. Where the Mavericks are,
you know, in this current standings uncertainty if or when
(26:03):
Kyrie Irving is even back. I don't think that they
formally decided that, nor have you know, they've made a
medical diagnosis with doctors, but you connect the dots, it
seems like that's going to be the fore gone conclusion.
But you know, until we get to that point, it's
not official. But I want to be surprised. I would
be surprised if we see a d play in another
(26:25):
basketball game this season because of the injury history as
well as just the fact that it seems like this
is a lost season for Dallas outside of just seeing
Cooper fly contained a blossom of the great rookie.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
So, Mark, I was on air on my Saturday show
the night that the Knicks were eliminated last year by
the Indiana Pacers, and you know, we were one of
the first just shows to have and we might have
had you on that night, I can't remember, but the
conversation about at the time Tom Thibodeau and I just
bring it up because Nick's obviously sitting in second place
in the East. Do you believe that Mike Brown can
(26:56):
elevate them to that level that Tom Thibodeau couldn't, or
is this it's just kind of a veteran team that's
having success very similarly to the way that they have
in previous regular seasons in the last couple of years.
Speaker 4 (27:06):
Yeah, really good question, Aaron. I think that both things
can be true, but I think proportionally it's more of
the fact that the Knicks have a really good roster
and they've retained that and obviously starts with Jalen Brunson,
but it also extends to Karl Anthony Towns being a
more complete player, eliminating a little bit some of his fouls.
(27:26):
But they also have just really great role players o
Giananobia Michel Bridges is more consistent. Josh Hart. I do
think that Mike Brown's coaching has made a difference, specifically
with the amount of pace that they play at. That's
a lot more than Tom Thibodeau did with the same
personnel last season. But I think both are great head
(27:48):
coaches are very well prepared. They know how to motivate players,
They had their respect. You know, they're both defensive gurus.
But where I think Mike Brown has the edge over
Thibodeau is on the offense. Ironically, at the beginning of
Mike Brown's career, he wasn't known as an offensive guru.
But he's innovated. He's been with the Golden State Warriors
(28:09):
as a key assistant under Steve Kerr. When he was
with the Kings, he got them moving at a very
fast paced and I think that's carried over to the
NIXT But it always starts with talent. I think with
the Knicks specifically, the fact that they have the same
core has made a big difference that has allowed them
to be a real true contender in these all.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
Right, last one for me, Mark Medina joining us here
on Fox Sports Radio, and I just want to ask
Jason Stewart. Jason, you have called I believe the Washington
Wizards the most irrelevant franchise in sports. He's nodding his head, yes.
All right, So, for the first time in about four
years of sports talk radio, I have a Washington Wizards question.
(28:50):
How high could Trey Young take the Washington Wizards.
Speaker 4 (28:54):
You know what, don't roar your eyes, but I can't
think they can take them to the playoffs next season.
And I'm I'm with Jason one hundred percent. Like they're
known as irrelevant. There's always been a running joke that
me and some other media members have that the Washington
Wizards historically have only existed solely so that every NBA
team can have an eighty two game schedule. But here
(29:17):
show me out, guys. Trey Young's on low risk. Here
they got him, you know, for a pretty good deal,
only uh not only giving up CJ. McCollum in a
first round pick and a role player because the market
was depressed. They are aren't good right now, but they're
going to protect their number eight pick. Trey Young might
come back, but it's not going to be enough to
affect the winning record. And when you look at this
(29:40):
young core, Alex Sar, Trey Johnson, Blalcole Bally, Keyshawn George,
they're all pretty good individual pieces that if you combine
them with someone like Trey Young, they could be a
playoff team. And I think that they will also keep
in mind, this isn't a functional front office anymore. Travis Schlank,
(30:01):
he used to be with the Hawks. He's the one
that tore them down and built around Trey Young. He
has a pedigree. He used to be at the Warriors
front office. Michael Winger, he used to be with the
Clippers with assembly in their roster. Now, you know, that's
a whole other comvo about Kawhi and Paul George. But
from a talent acquisition standpoint, did a good job. He
has background in OKC. So what I'm getting at, guys,
(30:24):
both things can be true current present time. The Wizards
are relevant. They're a bad team, but I think that
they truly are hey in the right direction because of
all the things I outline.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
They have not been above five hundred since the twenty
seventeen to twenty eighteen season. They have not been above
four hundred since the twenty twenty two twenty three season.
So that's why we can hang a banner the first
time we've asked the Wizards question in four years on
Fox Sports Radio. Hey, good luck with the escalade, Mark,
you know and the crypto. No, we're kidding again. Mark
(30:54):
Medina's ex account has been hacked. You can help him
out by any way please do so. Mark. We appreciate
the time.
Speaker 4 (31:01):
Appreciate you and all seriousness. Report it on X. I'm
sure the more the merrier will get this all resolves, though,
I'm gonna do.
Speaker 2 (31:09):
It right now. G underscore Medina. Everybody was wondering, Wow,
Mark Medina pretty pretty brashed with the crypto obviously hacked.
Thanks Mark, We'll talk to you against you man.
Speaker 4 (31:22):
Thank you, guys, your best.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
All right, let's get the Isaac long Crown at the
news desk for the least of what's happening on this Wednesday?
What's going on? Isaac?
Speaker 8 (31:29):
There's a guy out there named David Kavucci who puts
out a newsletter reporting on interesting information from college sports
that he gets from making Freedom of Information Act requests.
While today he reported on various travel expenses that Big
Ten universities spent for Big Ten Football Media Day in
Las Vegas this past summer, including this, The Nebraska contingent
(31:55):
had six hundred dollars worth of smash burgers door dashed
directly to their private jet on their way out of
town for the flight home back to you guys.
Speaker 2 (32:06):
Ahh, that's one rule I'd like to follow. There you
go about that little Matt rule allowing the smash Burgers
within the budget on the private jet. Weren't there some
schools like was it with basketball that didn't even bring
players or no, it was it was media members. Some
schools didn't even have media members go to media day
(32:28):
because of the travel. I think Penn State was one
of the schools, and you're like, at the time, we
think of Penn State national championship contender, but I don't
think they sent some guys to Las Vegas because of
the cost.
Speaker 3 (32:40):
There was complaint about the how far away it is
except Vegas. You could probably get the cheapest hotel room
anywhere in the country of a major city.
Speaker 2 (32:47):
Neither here nor there. Go ahead, all right, was sam?
Speaker 7 (32:50):
I was just gonna bring up recently Isaac talked about
Texas Longhorns balloon budget and you know some places can't
even send an assistant coach to media days in the
loon budget. What was it again, Isaac, I'm looking right now,
but it was unbelievably high. It was like budget it
was like over one hundred thousand dollars for the athletic
department for the whole year just.
Speaker 2 (33:10):
For balloons and helium. Yeah, yeah, but those numbers can
be inflated.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
Hearing Fox Sports Radio had the best sports talk lineup
in the nation. Catch all of our shows at Fox
sports Radio dot com and within the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
He's erin Torres. I'm Dan Byer. It is Fox Sports Radio.
Isaac lohing Kron here giving us the news. Jason Stewart,
our executive producer, founder of the Midway. That's coming up
at the top of the hour. Iowa Sam's our technical producer.
It's time now for our tirec player of the day.
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(33:47):
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like the tweet's legs fines. McDowell orders up another three.
Speaker 6 (34:00):
We had delivers hockin to Murray McDowell. Final three seconds,
dribble off the clock and you can rock chuck it up.
The Jayhawks win undefeated, no more an absolute domination. Eighty
four to sixty three.
Speaker 2 (34:20):
Kansas down goes number two last night. Brian Hanney from
lear Field on the call. Kansas at the big win.
Speaker 3 (34:28):
Darren Peterson, their star freshman, maybe the number one overall pick,
finally seemingly healthy. He's been in ant a lineup all year.
Big twelve is really good this year. Motherway, you mentioned
I was state number two, Arizona's number one. They don't
appear to be slowing down although they played to night.
Speaker 2 (34:42):
Were you surprised you didn't have a Yukon win over
sat In Hall as our player of the day.
Speaker 9 (34:47):
Well light from Jason Stewart watch eracuse if you watch
the game, there were no great place.
Speaker 3 (34:54):
Yukon blew like a twenty point lead in the final
like eight minutes and held on for dear life. So
there was a lot of and ones from Seaton Hall,
but they lost and then they would miss the follow
up free throw. So hey, I don't know that it
was I don't know that that game was built for
play of the day. It wasn't play of the day
type material.
Speaker 2 (35:11):
Well, Kansas gets the huge win over the previously unbeaten Cyclones.
Rich Paul's doing some talking and Lebron James is doing
some answering. First of all, let's hear from Lebron's agent
on the podcast that Rich Paul does with Max Kellerman.
Speaker 10 (35:25):
If I was the Lakers, I would probably be targeting
the Memphis Grizzlies as a trade partner for some way, somehow,
I would be trying to get Jaron Jackson. If you're
building around Luca going forward, which they are, you need
a guy like you need that anchor. And Jaren doesn't
want to be a part of a rebuild. They just
(35:46):
put John Morant on the market. Now the package just
goes out, is what you have to decide.
Speaker 2 (35:52):
But this comes with a reef.
Speaker 10 (35:55):
This comes with a very unemotional attachment because Austin is
beloved she should be, but he's about again, he's underdog.
Speaker 2 (36:04):
And here's the thing.
Speaker 10 (36:05):
There's a world where you can do what's best for
your team and do what's best Frost because Austin deserves
to get paid.
Speaker 2 (36:11):
So that was Rich Paul on the Game Over with
Max Kellerman and Rich Paul podcast throwing out trade proposals
for the Lakers where Lebron James had to ask was
asked about it last night saying, quote, I think you
all know by now, Rich is his own man. And
what Rich says is not a direct reflection of me
and how I feel. I hope people know that end quote.
Speaker 3 (36:30):
Yeah, all i'd say is, when you actually hear the audio,
it doesn't sound like Rich Paul advocating for a trade.
But to Mark Metidia's point a minute ago, every time
Rich Paul speaks, it feels like it is on behalf
of Lebron James, whether it is or not, And it
just to me leads to the question of, like, I understand,
we live in a world where everybody wants their voices
(36:52):
to be heard, and there's, you know, easy ways to
get your voice out on social media and podcast and
YouTube and whatever.
Speaker 2 (36:58):
I just don't think Rich Paul's the.
Speaker 3 (37:00):
Person to have a podcast because any time that he
is going to talk about the NBA, the insinuation is
going to be that he's secretly saying it to do
something behind the scenes. I don't think it benefits him
or his clients, in this case, the client being Lebron James.
Speaker 2 (37:13):
I'm gonna admit I actually liked it. I liked hearing
someone in the know of an agent saying that, and
I agree one hundred percent with what you said. As
a consumer say, of the product of listening to it
someone of that stature throwing out names like naming names,
and you name names, it's a pretty big deal. And
for him to do that, I'm not saying he's right
(37:36):
in doing that. I'm just saying as a listener, I
was like, Oh, and you could by the way you
could tell it it was talked about beforehand because Max
was jumping in at certain points. If Max didn't know
where Rich Paul was going, you wouldn't have been jumping
in at those points. And so that's why I think
it was also contrived. But I still liked hearing it.
Speaker 3 (37:53):
Yeah, And I would just add too, you can play
You can hear in that audio he's clearly playing more
fantasy GM than like putting on his agent hat. But
I still think when you see it printed out, it
doesn't make him look.
Speaker 2 (38:05):
Yeah, you're right, it's it's the words. And Lebron had
more to say about it in saying that Austin reeves
knows how he feels about him, and so there was
some damage control on the Bron's part. Lebron's probably the
least happy about it all, or maybe not. You never
know what Lebron Wizard. He's Aaron Torres. I'm Dan Byer.
Indiana's a favorite in the National Championship Game and apparently
a favorite of America.
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.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
I just want to make sure Aaron nobody else is
getting fired right like this is like we are finally done,
whether it be in college football or the National Football League,
Like we're done now, We're done at nine at least
in the NFL.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Okay, I wasn't planning on opening the show like this,
but I did have this thought. Today Bills get blown
out in Denver.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
I I know, I I know it could be ten.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
I could know because I was seriously thinking about it
because I have been on If the Bills do not
make the Super Bowl, as Josh Allen's prime is winding down,
do you make the move? The problem is, do you
have to now hold on to Sean McDermott for one
year longer because all of the good candidates may be
gone by the time you're eliminated, even as early as
this coming Saturday.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
I think the teams that have really good situations have
no problem if they need to move on from the
head coach because they think they can get the top candidates.
We shall see facing a peak season looking for a
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(01:18):
It's not who is available, meaning the candidates. It's not
what jobs are available, meaning the teams. It's the number
that is shocking to me, because I feel aarin that
a couple of weeks ago, we're heading into week eighteen.
We knew the Giants job was open in the NFL.
We knew the Titans job was open in the National
Football League. We knew those jobs were going to be filled.
(01:41):
We then assumed that there were rumblings maybe the Falcons
would make a move. The Falcons turned things on at
the end of the year, and all of our shouldn't
say all most of our NFL insiders that we talked
to and bring on say about a handful of openings.
I'm gonna say handful, four to six. Let's give leeway.
(02:01):
Three to seven is not a handful. Let's just say
four to six. And after the first twenty four hour
cycle that we had, we had six. Arizona got rid
of Gannon, Pete Carroll was out with the Raiders. I
mentioned Raheem Morris, Kevin Stefanski was done with the Browns,
and then a few days later it's John Harbaugh, and
(02:24):
then it's Mike McDaniel, and now it's Mike Tomlin stepping aside.
So we've got nine openings, the words of Ed Rooney,
nine nine openings in the National Football League. And again,
what is shocking to me, Aaron, is that now more
than a quarter of the league feels that their leadership
(02:44):
isn't good enough and they need to make a change.
And I am trying to put my finger on why
that is.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
So thinking about this and thinking about the raw numbers
and all the people that are getting interviews, I will
say it does feel like a little bit of an
outline year, not just because of the sheer number, but
because of how some of these jobs opened right Like
the Ravens. It just clearly just came to it like
it every I don't know about everybody, but the people
(03:13):
that mattered agreed that it was time for a change.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
And I thought it was noteworthy.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
The owner and his press conference yesterday noted they said
to him, they said, if you if the if the
kick goes through, you beat Pittsburgh to win the divisions.
John Harbaugh still the head coach, he said, for one
more week, and then the insinuation was I was ready
to move on after this year. So you have that situation,
you have the Miami situation, which we can't quite put
the pieces together of. Mike McDaniel fired a day after,
(03:43):
you know, John Harbaugh becomes available. So so was that
a thing that you know, they who knows there? And
then of course with Pittsburgh, how much of it was
a Pittsburgh thing, But ultimately it was a Mike Tomlin thing,
Mike Tomlin deciding that he had had enough of that job.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
So I just bring it up because it's crazy. The number.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
It's crazy, the jobs available. It's crazy some of the
people that are going to get head coaching jobs. I
hate to open the show with a little bit of
a wet blanket, but I feel like this is an
outlier year in how these jobs open, not just in
the number of jobs that are available.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
I thought that on the surface as well. On the surface,
my immediate gut reaction is this is a one off.
It's just doesn't happen that much. And then when we
start the show and I say that there are nine
openings and you leave the door open that there could
be one more. Maybe the Bills would make a move
with Sean McDermott, and I consider that as well. The
(04:40):
reason I considered it Aaron because I thought the Packers
could make a move with Matt Lafleur. They haven't and
it doesn't seem like they're going to. In fact, they're
going to commit to him, we think with a newer contract.
Now that hasn't been finalized, but by all accounts from
the insider reports it's Green Bay's intention of keeping Matt Lafleur.
That could change. But still, well, the point is is
(05:01):
that he was a possibility of not returning. And so
then I thought to myself, well, if there are nine,
possibly ten, maybe even eleven openings like we're getting, we're
getting up there, what is next year going to look like?
And this is what stood out to me was next
year could be just as bad. Maybe it won't be nine.
(05:23):
But if you think that this is a one off,
you're wrong. And the reason I say that is because
Aaron Gunn is on the hot seat. If the Colts
stink again next season, I think there's a reason for
Shane Steichen to be out in Indianapolis if the Bengals
continue to Bengal Zach Taylor's been on the hot seat
for a while, Andy Reid. There is no guarantee how
(05:46):
long he's going to continue to coach. And we think
the Chiefs will be bad next year too. Yes, so
you've got Patrick Mahomes coming back from his injury, and
who knows what his health situation is going to be.
Maybe he needs a fresh start. I just mentioned Matt
Lafleur if he stays yep, maybe if things go bad
for Green Band next year, maybe they regret whatever contract
(06:08):
situation they have with him and make a change. The
point is is, I'm adding names. Dan Quinn in Washington,
like you've moved on from Cliff Kingsbury as the offensive coordinator.
If Jayden Daniels doesn't get things done and the defense
isn't good next year, Washington, you could say like, all right,
we're gonna move on from dan Quinn. These are all possibilities.
We thought Todd Bowles could maybe lose his job in Tampa,
(06:28):
So I'm just naming names of situations that could possibly
come up. So, by the way, it's Sirianni absolutely Dave Canalis.
Let's say Bryce Young takes a step back. Now Carolina,
even though they're in, you know, win the division at
eight to nine, if they don't show progress, you can
make a re have a reason to move on from
(06:49):
that job. Not saying all these things are going to happen,
but the point is is there could be seven or
eight openings next year, so that in a two year
gap or two year span, you're saying more than half
of the coaches in the National Football League will be
recycled through. That has never happened. It had been about
four or five and now in a time where we
(07:10):
don't even know if we have any good candidates. And
the reason I think that this is happening, the one
reason that I think is for whatever reason, I think
teams think it's now easy to get to conference championship games,
that it's easy to do a quick turnaround, say look
at what we've got here. And I think like Mike
Rabel and the Patriots maybe are an example of that
(07:32):
of you get the right guy in there, the culture
can change. Things can change quickly. If you have your quarterback,
other guys gel together, Boom, you're back atop the AFC
So it's the turnaround of the Patriots after one awful
year with Gerrod Mayo and a couple of bad years
of Bill Belichick, of why a turnaround could happen. We
just got to find the right guy. And we know
(07:54):
right now that you aren't the right guy. So you're
on your way out and we're going to go and
look for that right guy. And that's why I think
right now, and when I say easy, I think you
understand what I mean. They're seeing a turnaround and a
quick turnaround to have success in every team in the
NFL that is making moves of their head coaches want
to get to that spot. And I feel that they
(08:15):
almost think it's an easy fix that just take out
the head guy, let's put someone new in, and let's
make the run. And I just I don't think it's
that simple, and that's why I think like NFL owners
are misguided in that thinking.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
By the way, a funner way to look at it is,
you know, and we don't have to do this on air,
but I'm just saying, how many coaches outside of the
nine jobs that are currently open, so that would leave
twenty three jobs?
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Is that right? Twenty three?
Speaker 4 (08:40):
Like?
Speaker 3 (08:40):
How many guys could just have a train wreck of
a year lat next year and just be one hundred
percent safe. It's like Kyle Shanahan, Ben Johnson, Sean McVay,
that's basically it. Yeah, like McDonald yeaheah, there's a few,
but there are very not many.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Yeah, not many outside of that five or six that
are completely one hundred percent safe.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
And so to your point, I do think there is
something there to the notion. And the ironic part, by
the way, is it's you could actually argue that, especially
up until this year when Mahomes got hurt, it was
actually harder to make the conference championship game than it's
ever been, where basically the AFC has come down to
basically three teams the last couple of years that only
had a realistic shot of making it.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
But no, I think it's a number of different variables.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
Is I do think there is a notion, especially in
the NFL, of why do we have to be terrible
year over year? I mean, I think even the point
about Aaron Glenn of like the conversation of do you
bring him back? He's a defensive coach, he's a former
defensive back. We can't force an interception the entire year.
I just bring it up because it just feels like
one of those situations of like, even though he's back,
(09:48):
you can talk yourself into, you know what, maybe this
isn't the answer and maybe we need to move on.
Pete Carroll being one and done, Girodmeo being done one
and done a year ago. I do think there is
something interesting here about the shelf life being able to
kind of build it the way you want to build it.
And does a two three year build really exist anymore
(10:11):
or do you have to have success right away? I
know it's something that's a little bit of a cliche
talking point right now, but we're seeing it in the
college space as well of because of Nio in the
portal boom, you can build the thing quick. You don't
get four or five years anymore. And it does feel
like increasingly in the NFL we are headed that direction
of Hey, Pete Carroll, you know you brought in your quarterback,
(10:35):
the team got worse time to go, and you can
again use a bunch of examples just like that.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Jason Stewart, do you see any correlation to the college
game or the pro game or why there's so many vacancies.
Speaker 5 (10:45):
To me, guys, it's like the cliche when you're reading
your procedural novel or watching the show when they say
follow the money. I think it a holds back to this.
You hear about how much money Goodell has made for
the owners in recent years, and then you see this,
like to me, a watershed moment. A couple of years back,
the Denver Broncos paid Nathaniel Hackett to go away. They
(11:09):
traded assets and gave Sean Payton a ton of money
to come. Soon after that, they paid Russell Wilson a
ton of money to go away. I think the owners
have had such a flood of revenue and they are
dealing with so much capital now that I think these
decisions are just much more easy to make. Example, Mark Davis,
(11:32):
the Raiders are supposed to be the mom and pop
shop of the NFL. Mark Davis is a poor They're
paying I think four coaches right now on their payroll.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Yeah, there is money everywhere, and if you take the
flip side of that, you're talking about the poorest one.
It means the more the ones who are the wealthiest,
excuse me, think even less. Like you know, they're billionaires,
they're different. They're not like the Rooneys, They're not like
the Davis family. They are it's it doesn't even doesn't
(12:05):
even register, leading to the Broncos and the the Walmart connection,
and just of of all of the enormous assets that
you have that it doesn't even You don't even blink
an eye to pay to move on from what you have.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
Let me ask a follow up on that point though,
is part of why people are doing it, not just
the money, but because the Broncos had success doing it
number one seed in the AFC. But then the counter
to that is there was also a Super Bowl winning
head coach that was available that clearly wanted to get
back in. So I'd be curious for your guys perspectives, liked,
(12:44):
does do the Broncos having immediate success? This guy comes
in completely changes the culture, gets rid of the old
quarterback that isn't good anymore, and now has the number
one seed in the AFC. Do you think other people
are looking at that saying why can't that be us?
And maybe that's to your original point. I think they
looked more at New England. Sure, I think they look
at New England and being like, oh you get Vrabel
and you get a young quarterback. Look at how that
(13:07):
turns around, like immediately, and if we could just you know,
land that or if it's even a Sean McVay sort
of deal, even after all these years, a decade later,
he's he's not one of the longest tenured head coaches
in the National Football League with arbon Tomlin gone. But
I think that you're still trying to find your next
Sean McVay in somebody that could be there and turn
(13:30):
it around. And you're taking risks on guys that also
may not even be qualified for the position in the
first place, so then you have to move on from
them after a shorter period of time. I think this
cycle has had longer guys. A guy stay longer.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
But if you're the Browns, if you're the Ravens, and
you're the Steelers, and again I think Tomlin stepped out.
I don't think the Steelers were gonna fire Tomlin. But
you see to a point that Iowa Sam has been
making throughout this season, Why are the New England Patriots
great again? Like I think that's what some of these
teams are thinking. How does New England all of a
(14:04):
sudden just turn it around almost at a drop of
a hat, and I think that they want to experience
that same thing and feel if they get the right combination. Honestly,
Jacksonville struck gold with Liam Cohen, right, I mean, so
if you're Jacksonville, like, yeah, okay, look it works. We
moved on.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
But the key points there, the quarterback at least that
we think is already in place, right, And so I
think it's an interesting conversation of you know, even driving in,
You're hearing different people say, you know, Marcus Freeman, he's
got to consider Pittsburgh, And I'm like, why why does
he have to consider Pittsburgh? Like, I it's cool what
they did in nineteen seventy eight with Chuck Nole and
(14:43):
Terry Bradshaw, But like, the only selling point of the
Steelers right now is two is history and one they
won't fire you if you're good right away. And I'm
just sitting there saying, like, if you're Marcus Freeman and
you want to go to the NFL again, to your point,
Andy Reid's not to be around forever, Sean McDermott, what
happens to that there are better opportunities? And I think
(15:05):
that's An interesting parallel in this as well is that
I think the actual legitimate coaching candidates that people actually
want can be rather selective in making sure like Mike
Rabil a perfect example last year, Ben Johnson a perfect
example last year of is the situation right for me?
Is it the right ownership specifically the right quarterback? And frankly,
(15:26):
I don't know how many of these jobs that are
currently open outside of Baltimore really have that setup.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
And then they guys will get hired, they don't win.
Guess what they're doing this two three years down the
line again, right.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
McDaniel, I thought, last time I spoke with you, I
think it was last time I spoke with you, he
had just gone fired. It was like a done deal.
Oh he's going to be the Lions offensive coordinator. Now,
this guy's interviewing for every job under the sun.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
So let me just wrap up with this because I'm
curious on Jason your thought I'm curious on samon Isaac's thoughts. Quickly,
you mentioned the Steelers job. So the last time it
was opened was nineteen seasons ago. I feel like the
world has changed. I feel like that generation, if you
were to tell go back to when they hired Mike
Tomlin that said, hey man, you gotta have this job
(16:08):
for twenty years. My generation says, sign me up. Do
you think taking the Steelers job to Aaron's point of
right now, the cupboard's kind of bear But knowing that
this family likely won't fire you for the next fifteen years,
is that even appealing? Is that appealing to this generation
(16:29):
of coaches where we're seeing thirty year olds and taking
over as taking over as coordinators and a defensive coordinators
offensive coordinators? Is that appealing to someone to be like,
you know what, I always stink now, but they're gonna
give me as much time in the world. And do
I really want to stay at one job for fifteen years?
Speaker 3 (16:47):
So let me just jump in real quick because I
want to hear the other guy's perspective as well. I
was thinking about this as well. Is all of these
guys are hyper competitive people. I don't know that, Hey,
you can stink for six years and you won't get
fired is a selling point to a hyper competitive person. Again,
I'll just use Marcus Freeman as the example. He will
(17:07):
have a team good enough to win at the highest level,
at the level that he is at So if Marcus
Freeman wants to leave Notre Dame, he doesn't want to
go somewhere. In my opinion, maybe he's hired as the
Steelers coach by the end of this show.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
My assumption would be if he's going to leave for
the NFL and he's leaving a place where he can
already win at the highest level, he wants to go
somewhere where he can win immediately. Why does Marcus Freeman
want to go rebuild for five years?
Speaker 2 (17:31):
You know?
Speaker 3 (17:31):
And so again, if the Ravens called, maybe he would
have to consider it. But if you're a hyper competitive
person that already has a good job, I actually don't
think it's appealing to be like, oh, you'll get eight.
You could lose for eight straight years, Mike Tomlins. You
know he's been eight You know, he hasn't won a
playoff game in ten years. They would have fired him.
That doesn't sound like a fun existence to me. So
(17:54):
that's my personal opinion, But I like others as well.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Jason sam Isaac Ewitt, Sam, I blame Kurt Signetti for all.
Speaker 6 (18:01):
Of this.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
Guy, all right, because he never loses.
Speaker 7 (18:06):
Yeah, I mean, I mean he just comes in he
turns Indiana from zero to hero. I mean, you see Michigan,
Ohio State and then Indiana as maybe the next national champion.
I mean Kurt Signetti has just changed the timeline completely
for college ampros.
Speaker 5 (18:21):
To answer your question, Dan, I think I think this
generation so gen Z is coaching or Millennials are coaching.
I think they they're not. They're not drawn to stability.
We've seen that in the actual average workplace. People are
moving jobs all the time in that generation. But I
cringe to think that the Steelers are going to still
operate under that business plan. Sure, I hope that they
(18:43):
switch with the times and just go through like three
or four coaches in the next fifteen years.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
They haven't shown us, you know, anything different. We will.
Speaker 8 (18:51):
We will never see anything in sports again the likes
of what the Steelers have had with the stability over
their last three head coach, which is including with the Steelers.
And I'll put this into perspective, and Sam, you make
a great point about Kurt Signetti, but I think this
philosophy predated Signetti. John Wooden didn't win his first national
(19:11):
championship until his sixteenth season at UCLA. If you have
the same John Wooden today, he'd be gone after year five.
The coaching world, in the sports world has completely changed.
Speaker 9 (19:21):
Yeah, Peter Vine, four years later, it has touched for
four hundred people yet, and I think it's changed over
the last twenty years. And to your point, I don't
think that. I don't think that staying in one spot
for an extended period of time is maybe a top
of the priority list, Sam, And.
Speaker 7 (19:38):
I think in college football, maybe there's something about wearing
black and yellow Steelers jerseys that looks similar. In college
you're just not going to see a lot of Kirk
Ference's anymore. I mean, the guy's probably going to spend
thirty years at Iowa. You're just not going to see that.
It's just not going to happen. And he could have
left the program or been dismissed a number of times
over the years when he's still there.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
Yeah, but then you wouldn't be twenty twenty five Orlioquest
Bowl championsh right hey, formerly known as the Outback Bowl.
All right, that diego Pavia.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
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.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Truer words were never spoken. He's eron Torres, I'm Dan
Byer Iowa, Sam, Jason Stewart, Isaac Lowingcron hanging out. Isaac's
gonna be with us in about ten minutes or so
to give us an update of what's happening on this Wednesday.
A big happening when it comes to the NFL Draft
in college football, But we switch our attention to the
NBA joining us now, good buddy, our Fox Sports Radio
(20:39):
NBA insider Mark Medina joins us here on Fox Sports
Radio for the first time in twenty twenty six. Mark,
Happy New Year.
Speaker 4 (20:46):
How are you Happy New Year?
Speaker 8 (20:48):
Dan?
Speaker 4 (20:49):
We'll break the Larry David rule. All good? Uh and
happy for you. You're killing all the shows.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
Oh well, I appreciate that. Aaron and I are having
a good time. And yeah we're two weeks in. But
it's the first time I've spoke with Mark. Question everyone
wants to know, are you in on crypto or was
your ex hacked? That's what people want to know.
Speaker 4 (21:07):
What's the it has been the ladder. I did not
cash out of some crazy investment or bought some amazing car.
So yeah, for anyone else who can help me out.
I'm still trying to get the sword out so I
can tweet about basketball and not fake posts.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
I thought that was quite the quite the flex, you know,
first and escalade and then a look at your financial portfolio.
But it was very unmandina like considering all the NBA
posts that were made.
Speaker 4 (21:38):
Mark Mann. That's why a strong instinct.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
No, well, let's let's talk about what happened last night
in the Association, because Oklahoma City finally got the monkey
off their back, if you will, in beating the San
Antonio Spurs. Wasn't just another game? Was it more for
Oklahoma City last night? What were your thoughts on the
thunder win?
Speaker 4 (21:56):
No, not just another game. I think that this is
It's not going to be like her Seldon, but I
think that this is the next rivalry in the NBA.
You can tell that both teams don't like each other,
especially the Victor Wembanyama chet Hongering dynamic. But what does
it mean for the NBA playoffs? That is where I'm
on shore, because even though the Spurs, with the exception
(22:16):
last night, have had their number in head to head matchups,
I still favored a Thunder in a playoff series. Barring
major injuries. Just because of the old adage of they've
been there before, the continuity, there's not much of any
hangover from the championship last season. But the Spurs have
shown they're the real deal. Not only are they making
(22:38):
the playoffs. It's not just oh, they're a young team
on the rise. They are here. It's Victor Wembanyama. They
got the Spurs culture. They got this great dynamic backcourt,
and the Aaron Fox and Stefan Castle and so and
then they know how to coexist pretty well. So they
are well a machine. But if if I had to
(23:00):
predict seven games series, it would go to the thunder Butt.
That's why it's going to be compelling to semi they
match up.
Speaker 3 (23:08):
So, Mark, I don't know if you were you know,
been around the Lakers. I know you are always around
the Lakers, I should say. So this story about Lebron
having to address something that Rich Paul said, I'll just
be honest. So I'm sure you have a relationship with
Rich Paul. I'm not trying to back you into a corner.
(23:29):
I don't really understand what the upside to Rich Paul
having a podcast is all he's gonna do is make
people mad or not say anything. It doesn't help his clients,
It doesn't help him. I don't know if you have
anything to really add to that situation, but it feels
weird that Lebron now has to address things that his
(23:49):
agent is saying publicly on a podcast.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
Yeah, and it's a fair question and there and I'm
not backed into a corner. I have relationships in the NBA,
but I have a job to do. And I don't
think that, even with the caveat, that every adult has
the right to pursue whatever business venture through the NBA Lane.
I don't think that this is a good look for
rich because perceived or real or a mix of both,
(24:13):
what he says is always going to be looked at.
This is a reflection of what Lebron James wants, even
though Lebron was very clear in the interview with ESPN
that that's not what he thinks. I think the other
thing is just it reeks of being Monday morning quarterback
and trying to be very influential on what teams should do.
And this isn't you know, someone like you and me
(24:35):
talking about what teams should do. We don't have any
roll or direct stake. This is an agent that can
have some sort of leverage. So yeah, it doesn't sit
well with people in the Lakers organization, and certainly shouldn't
sit well with you know, Austin Reeves's agent or anyone
else because you're just thinking the quiet parts out loud.
I mean, it's almost the equivalent of when you know
(24:58):
in laws in insert themselves into private conversations or things
with your partner that shouldn't involve them. They have every
right to do it, but it's something they shouldn't do.
So that's my analysis on it.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
Mark Medina joining us here on Fox Sports Radio. Another
story that caught a lot of people's eye was kind
of the I guess back and forth maybe the way
to put about it on what was happening with Anthony
Davis in his hand situation. You know the report that
came out that said he was likely done for the season,
Davis refutes it. Then there's a second opinion. There's also
(25:33):
trade deadline coming up in less than a month. So
where are we on Anthony Davis in what is happening
with the Mavericks? Big Man?
Speaker 4 (25:42):
Yeah, well, I think what Ad was saying is technically true.
By the letter of the law that he's not ruled
out necessarily for the rest of the season technically, but guys,
let's just be real. You read it the right in
the law Anthony Davis's injury history. Where the Mavericks are,
you know, in this current standings uncertainty if or when
(26:03):
Kyrie Irving is even back. I don't think that they
formally decided that, nor have you know, they've made a
medical diagnosis with doctors, but you connect the dots, it
seems like that's going to be the fore gone conclusion.
But you know, until we get to that point, it's
not official. But I want to be surprised. I would
be surprised if we see a d play in another
(26:25):
basketball game this season because of the injury history as
well as just the fact that it seems like this
is a lost season for Dallas outside of just seeing
Cooper fly contained a blossom of the great rookie.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
So, Mark, I was on air on my Saturday show
the night that the Knicks were eliminated last year by
the Indiana Pacers, and you know, we were one of
the first just shows to have and we might have
had you on that night, I can't remember, but the
conversation about at the time Tom Thibodeau and I just
bring it up because Nick's obviously sitting in second place
in the East. Do you believe that Mike Brown can
(26:56):
elevate them to that level that Tom Thibodeau couldn't, or
is this it's just kind of a veteran team that's
having success very similarly to the way that they have
in previous regular seasons in the last couple of years.
Speaker 4 (27:06):
Yeah, really good question, Aaron. I think that both things
can be true, but I think proportionally it's more of
the fact that the Knicks have a really good roster
and they've retained that and obviously starts with Jalen Brunson,
but it also extends to Karl Anthony Towns being a
more complete player, eliminating a little bit some of his fouls.
(27:26):
But they also have just really great role players o
Giananobia Michel Bridges is more consistent. Josh Hart. I do
think that Mike Brown's coaching has made a difference, specifically
with the amount of pace that they play at. That's
a lot more than Tom Thibodeau did with the same
personnel last season. But I think both are great head
(27:48):
coaches are very well prepared. They know how to motivate players,
They had their respect. You know, they're both defensive gurus.
But where I think Mike Brown has the edge over
Thibodeau is on the offense. Ironically, at the beginning of
Mike Brown's career, he wasn't known as an offensive guru.
But he's innovated. He's been with the Golden State Warriors
(28:09):
as a key assistant under Steve Kerr. When he was
with the Kings, he got them moving at a very
fast paced and I think that's carried over to the
NIXT But it always starts with talent. I think with
the Knicks specifically, the fact that they have the same
core has made a big difference that has allowed them
to be a real true contender in these all.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
Right, last one for me, Mark Medina joining us here
on Fox Sports Radio, and I just want to ask
Jason Stewart. Jason, you have called I believe the Washington
Wizards the most irrelevant franchise in sports. He's nodding his head, yes.
All right, So, for the first time in about four
years of sports talk radio, I have a Washington Wizards question.
(28:50):
How high could Trey Young take the Washington Wizards.
Speaker 4 (28:54):
You know what, don't roar your eyes, but I can't
think they can take them to the playoffs next season.
And I'm I'm with Jason one hundred percent. Like they're
known as irrelevant. There's always been a running joke that
me and some other media members have that the Washington
Wizards historically have only existed solely so that every NBA
team can have an eighty two game schedule. But here
(29:17):
show me out, guys. Trey Young's on low risk. Here
they got him, you know, for a pretty good deal,
only uh not only giving up CJ. McCollum in a
first round pick and a role player because the market
was depressed. They are aren't good right now, but they're
going to protect their number eight pick. Trey Young might
come back, but it's not going to be enough to
affect the winning record. And when you look at this
(29:40):
young core, Alex Sar, Trey Johnson, Blalcole Bally, Keyshawn George,
they're all pretty good individual pieces that if you combine
them with someone like Trey Young, they could be a
playoff team. And I think that they will also keep
in mind, this isn't a functional front office anymore. Travis Schlank,
(30:01):
he used to be with the Hawks. He's the one
that tore them down and built around Trey Young. He
has a pedigree. He used to be at the Warriors
front office. Michael Winger, he used to be with the
Clippers with assembly in their roster. Now, you know, that's
a whole other comvo about Kawhi and Paul George. But
from a talent acquisition standpoint, did a good job. He
has background in OKC. So what I'm getting at, guys,
(30:24):
both things can be true current present time. The Wizards
are relevant. They're a bad team, but I think that
they truly are hey in the right direction because of
all the things I outline.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
They have not been above five hundred since the twenty
seventeen to twenty eighteen season. They have not been above
four hundred since the twenty twenty two twenty three season.
So that's why we can hang a banner the first
time we've asked the Wizards question in four years on
Fox Sports Radio. Hey, good luck with the escalade, Mark,
you know and the crypto. No, we're kidding again. Mark
(30:54):
Medina's ex account has been hacked. You can help him
out by any way please do so. Mark. We appreciate
the time.
Speaker 4 (31:01):
Appreciate you and all seriousness. Report it on X. I'm
sure the more the merrier will get this all resolves, though,
I'm gonna do.
Speaker 2 (31:09):
It right now. G underscore Medina. Everybody was wondering, Wow,
Mark Medina pretty pretty brashed with the crypto obviously hacked.
Thanks Mark, We'll talk to you against you man.
Speaker 4 (31:22):
Thank you, guys, your best.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
All right, let's get the Isaac long Crown at the
news desk for the least of what's happening on this Wednesday?
What's going on? Isaac?
Speaker 8 (31:29):
There's a guy out there named David Kavucci who puts
out a newsletter reporting on interesting information from college sports
that he gets from making Freedom of Information Act requests.
While today he reported on various travel expenses that Big
Ten universities spent for Big Ten Football Media Day in
Las Vegas this past summer, including this, The Nebraska contingent
(31:55):
had six hundred dollars worth of smash burgers door dashed
directly to their private jet on their way out of
town for the flight home back to you guys.
Speaker 2 (32:06):
Ahh, that's one rule I'd like to follow. There you
go about that little Matt rule allowing the smash Burgers
within the budget on the private jet. Weren't there some
schools like was it with basketball that didn't even bring
players or no, it was it was media members. Some
schools didn't even have media members go to media day
(32:28):
because of the travel. I think Penn State was one
of the schools, and you're like, at the time, we
think of Penn State national championship contender, but I don't
think they sent some guys to Las Vegas because of
the cost.
Speaker 3 (32:40):
There was complaint about the how far away it is
except Vegas. You could probably get the cheapest hotel room
anywhere in the country of a major city.
Speaker 2 (32:47):
Neither here nor there. Go ahead, all right, was sam?
Speaker 7 (32:50):
I was just gonna bring up recently Isaac talked about
Texas Longhorns balloon budget and you know some places can't
even send an assistant coach to media days in the
loon budget. What was it again, Isaac, I'm looking right now,
but it was unbelievably high. It was like budget it
was like over one hundred thousand dollars for the athletic
department for the whole year just.
Speaker 2 (33:10):
For balloons and helium. Yeah, yeah, but those numbers can
be inflated.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
Hearing Fox Sports Radio had the best sports talk lineup
in the nation. Catch all of our shows at Fox
sports Radio dot com and within the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
He's erin Torres. I'm Dan Byer. It is Fox Sports Radio.
Isaac lohing Kron here giving us the news. Jason Stewart,
our executive producer, founder of the Midway. That's coming up
at the top of the hour. Iowa Sam's our technical producer.
It's time now for our tirec player of the day.
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(33:47):
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like the tweet's legs fines. McDowell orders up another three.
Speaker 6 (34:00):
We had delivers hockin to Murray McDowell. Final three seconds,
dribble off the clock and you can rock chuck it up.
The Jayhawks win undefeated, no more an absolute domination. Eighty
four to sixty three.
Speaker 2 (34:20):
Kansas down goes number two last night. Brian Hanney from
lear Field on the call. Kansas at the big win.
Speaker 3 (34:28):
Darren Peterson, their star freshman, maybe the number one overall pick,
finally seemingly healthy. He's been in ant a lineup all year.
Big twelve is really good this year. Motherway, you mentioned
I was state number two, Arizona's number one. They don't
appear to be slowing down although they played to night.
Speaker 2 (34:42):
Were you surprised you didn't have a Yukon win over
sat In Hall as our player of the day.
Speaker 9 (34:47):
Well light from Jason Stewart watch eracuse if you watch
the game, there were no great place.
Speaker 3 (34:54):
Yukon blew like a twenty point lead in the final
like eight minutes and held on for dear life. So
there was a lot of and ones from Seaton Hall,
but they lost and then they would miss the follow
up free throw. So hey, I don't know that it
was I don't know that that game was built for
play of the day. It wasn't play of the day
type material.
Speaker 2 (35:11):
Well, Kansas gets the huge win over the previously unbeaten Cyclones.
Rich Paul's doing some talking and Lebron James is doing
some answering. First of all, let's hear from Lebron's agent
on the podcast that Rich Paul does with Max Kellerman.
Speaker 10 (35:25):
If I was the Lakers, I would probably be targeting
the Memphis Grizzlies as a trade partner for some way, somehow,
I would be trying to get Jaron Jackson. If you're
building around Luca going forward, which they are, you need
a guy like you need that anchor. And Jaren doesn't
want to be a part of a rebuild. They just
(35:46):
put John Morant on the market. Now the package just
goes out, is what you have to decide.
Speaker 2 (35:52):
But this comes with a reef.
Speaker 10 (35:55):
This comes with a very unemotional attachment because Austin is
beloved she should be, but he's about again, he's underdog.
Speaker 2 (36:04):
And here's the thing.
Speaker 10 (36:05):
There's a world where you can do what's best for
your team and do what's best Frost because Austin deserves
to get paid.
Speaker 2 (36:11):
So that was Rich Paul on the Game Over with
Max Kellerman and Rich Paul podcast throwing out trade proposals
for the Lakers where Lebron James had to ask was
asked about it last night saying, quote, I think you
all know by now, Rich is his own man. And
what Rich says is not a direct reflection of me
and how I feel. I hope people know that end quote.
Speaker 3 (36:30):
Yeah, all i'd say is, when you actually hear the audio,
it doesn't sound like Rich Paul advocating for a trade.
But to Mark Metidia's point a minute ago, every time
Rich Paul speaks, it feels like it is on behalf
of Lebron James, whether it is or not, And it
just to me leads to the question of, like, I understand,
we live in a world where everybody wants their voices
(36:52):
to be heard, and there's, you know, easy ways to
get your voice out on social media and podcast and
YouTube and whatever.
Speaker 2 (36:58):
I just don't think Rich Paul's the.
Speaker 3 (37:00):
Person to have a podcast because any time that he
is going to talk about the NBA, the insinuation is
going to be that he's secretly saying it to do
something behind the scenes. I don't think it benefits him
or his clients, in this case, the client being Lebron James.
Speaker 2 (37:13):
I'm gonna admit I actually liked it. I liked hearing
someone in the know of an agent saying that, and
I agree one hundred percent with what you said. As
a consumer say, of the product of listening to it
someone of that stature throwing out names like naming names,
and you name names, it's a pretty big deal. And
for him to do that, I'm not saying he's right
(37:36):
in doing that. I'm just saying as a listener, I
was like, Oh, and you could by the way you
could tell it it was talked about beforehand because Max
was jumping in at certain points. If Max didn't know
where Rich Paul was going, you wouldn't have been jumping
in at those points. And so that's why I think
it was also contrived. But I still liked hearing it.
Speaker 3 (37:53):
Yeah, And I would just add too, you can play
You can hear in that audio he's clearly playing more
fantasy GM than like putting on his agent hat. But
I still think when you see it printed out, it
doesn't make him look.
Speaker 2 (38:05):
Yeah, you're right, it's it's the words. And Lebron had
more to say about it in saying that Austin reeves
knows how he feels about him, and so there was
some damage control on the Bron's part. Lebron's probably the
least happy about it all, or maybe not. You never
know what Lebron Wizard. He's Aaron Torres. I'm Dan Byer.
Indiana's a favorite in the National Championship Game and apparently
a favorite of America.
Host
Doug Gottlieb
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