James Harden is Peyton Manning Plus Dana Holgorsen

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Boom, What Up America, Doug Gottlieb Show, Fox Sports Radio.
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(00:42):
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(01:07):
don't even like watching him play, and I liked watching
him play last night. That's my feelings on James Harden.
James Harden is an unbelievable one on one player. And
for the record, I'm not a huge one on one guy.
All right, I'm not a one on one guy. I'm
not a three on three guy. Oh you know three
on threes in the Olympics now and three on threes like,

(01:28):
that's great. Basketball is five guys on each side by
fifty that's basketball. So one on one like, that's cool,
But can you play with four other guys? That's why
I believe it's the perfect game. Some people think football
because you have eleven guys who all have to be
working together. Maybe you can have your I like the
five guys because you all have to be a threat.

(01:50):
There's specific spacing in a way in which you have
to kind of move together either. That's what I love
about team sports is that you know, no chain is
as strong, is any stronger than its weakest link. You
have to find a way to work together. On the
other hand, in basketball, if you have a stronger link.
You can't play to that where it's a little bit
harder in football, but one on one basketball, assess you

(02:13):
in his dribble, dribble, dribble, crossover, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble
through your legs, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, step back, dribble,
take a shot, dribble. Try to take a shot like it.
It can be a bit of a hard watch. So, um,
I sit there, I think this is me. I don't

(02:34):
even like watching James Harden play normally, but last night
was pretty amazing, right, I mean, who we kidding? He
goes in without Chris Paul. He goes in without Air Gordon,
and after trailing by seventeen points, seventeen points in the
first half on the road, the Golden State Warriors like man,
they look like the old Warriors. They are humming along.

(03:00):
He leads him on a comeback. They scored thirty nine
in the third quarter and uh they the game. He
forces over time, despite the fact that with about a
minute ago they trailed by six and the and the
Warriors had the ball, and the final line is obscene.
Forty four points, fifteen assists, ten rebounds, also had seven turnovers,

(03:21):
by the way, So look, there there's two parts to this,
or maybe even three. I don't love watching him play,
but man, is he a special one on one player.
And I would I'm okay if you told me that
his all the round skill is better as a one
on one player or better as a as a go

(03:42):
to kind of alpha score maybe than anybody else the
game has. And you're like, what, okay? So like Kevin Durant,
who struggled in terms of field goal percentage and didn't
have the opportunities last night, but you know, Durant had
to lead, and he ends up ten of twenty three.
He has seven rebounds and three assists. Durant can pass,
but he's not the past. We'd all agree there. And

(04:05):
and maybe maybe Harden is better at drawing fouls and
smarter at drawing vowels, and maybe it's his style, but
Durant never gets to the line with you know, like
the twenty seven times that Harden got to left. There
is a skill to that. He has all the tricks
and pushing off with his off hand and how to

(04:25):
shoot a step back and create space, whereas Durant at
times he gets away with just jumping up and shooting
over people because he's seven feet tall. Pick another score,
Lebron James. He can't shoot with James Harden can't shoot
with him. And while Lebron James is a better solid passer,
he isn't the creative passage of James Harden. He's not.

(04:46):
I know you're gonna sit there and go. He could
be the all time assist leader. You're right, because the
key to getting a volume of assists is having the
ball in your hands a lot and delivering the easy pass.
I think he's an incredible creative passer. And while he's
not the shooter of Steph Curry, he's a much better driver,
much better finisher, and knows how to use his body

(05:07):
to create contact, whereas Curry can go hot, can go cold,
and when he gets in there, he's got to use
a lot more creativity, doesn't have the body like I'm
okay if you say hey. As as lead scores go,
he's the He's got the most skill and the most
well rounded skill. And I don't like watching him play,

(05:29):
but I loved watching him last night. Has nothing to
do with the Warriors. It has to do with how
he played, and the the volume, the volume of shots,
the volume of of shots and variety of shots. A
matter of fact, is general manager and of course the
general managers the one who traded for him and has
given this huge contract. You could argue he's the best
offensive player at all time. To be able to say

(05:51):
that with a straight face and not have it have
it be a GM speaker coach speak is pretty amazing.
There's a whole bunch of ways to measure it. But
he's sure in the conversation, the greatest offensive player ever.
And I don't think that's wrong. And while I liked it,
and while he won, and why he will have more
talent around him in the playoffs, I think it becomes

(06:12):
Peyton Manning in the in the postseason, Hayden's numbers are
numbers in the regular season versus postseason. Fewer points per game,
lower field goal percentage, lower three point percentage, and fewer
free throw attempts. The free throws do matter. He allows
him to catch his breath, it allows him to see
the ball go through the hoop, which gives him confidence

(06:34):
for the rest of his game. It also puts the
defense in a defensive position where they can't foul. The
officiating changes in the postseason, and it it affects James
Harden greatly. Additionally, he's called on to defend more in
the postseason. Like last night the Golden State Warriors, they
weren't attacking James Harden defensively. Do you notice that? Did

(06:58):
you notice that when Kevin Durant was going one on
one he was going against p J. Tucker who he
could beat several times over, But there was help in
the lane. They were just out there playing and Harden
was coming down and going one on one. Never a
double team when there should have been. Why Because in
the playoffs there will be you can be more physical
with him, and you can attack him more defensively. And
when you attack him more defensively that kills his legs.

(07:20):
Is conditioning that hurts his shooting. Payton Mayton Manning's numbers
in the regular season versus the playoffs. Lower completion percentage
in the playoffs, lower TV interception ratio if you were
touchdown per game, fewer yards per tempt. Why Because the
officiating changes in the postseason. It becomes more physical in
both the NFL and the NBA, right as opposed to

(07:47):
you know, Madison bum Gardener versus Clayton Kershaw. You know,
mais and bum Gardener is a lower e R right,
a lower whip, fewer home runs per nine innings. Why
because that dude is bill for the postseason in terms
of being a power pitcher and also having incredible stamina.
Eli Manning has a higher completion percentage, a better to

(08:09):
TV the intersepstration, more touchdowns per game, more yards per game,
more yards per tempt better in the postseason. Why because
it's his style. Eli Manning was one of the best
downfield throwers in the NFL, whereas his brother was not.
His brother was not. So I look at James Harden
and I think he was magnificent last night. He's been

(08:29):
magnificent for a while now, not just last year when
he won the m v P, but the three previous
years where he could have won it, probably two of
those three years. But I don't buy in the postseason
for the same reason that. And I know Peyton won
two Super Bowls, but he won one in a day
louge against Rex Grossman, and he won another one where
he didn't do anything offensively against Cam Newton and the

(08:52):
Carolina Panthers. Pay me, he is the greatest regular season
quarterback ever. James Harden is probably the great greatest regular
seas and score ever. But you make him play defense,
You keep him off the foul line, you double team
at times, you go at him defensively, and he tires,
He gets worn down, he takes bad shots, his team

(09:13):
comes up short. Eight seven seven nine nin Fox is
in fact the phone number alright. Coming up next, we'll
turn to college football. Dana Holgerson did an incredible job
this year at West Virginia. So was he rewarded with
a new contract? No? Did you take a bigger job? No?

(09:35):
Actually he took the job at Houston, where he was
formerly an offensive coordinator. Why go from the Big twelve
to the American, We'll ask him, he joins us. Next,
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(09:57):
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Doug Otlive Show, Fox Sports Radio Dana Olgerson to catch
up with us in a second. Um Olgerson, of course,
one of those kind of offensive masterminds and Iowa cat
who began his career at Valdosta State, went to Mississippi

(10:41):
College to WINDGate before getting his shot at at Texas
Tech under then head coach Mike Leach. Was the offensive
coording or quarterbacks coach of Houston, then went as o
C quarterbacks coach to Oklahoma State, then got his break
as West Virginia's head coach, where he's sixty one and
forty one and coming off of a really really good year,

(11:02):
really good year, and uh, he decided to leave one
ten one one eight games this year, ten games two
years ago in a league like the Big Twelve. Did
lose the Camping World Bowl, but did so without Will Greer,
his star quarterback, and he's decided to go back to

(11:23):
Houston to take that job. Of course he was down
specially as the higher earlier. This week, we catch up
with him in Uh in a second, it is Oh
he's here. Oh cool. Danta Holgerson joins us new head
coach of the Houston Cooks. He joins us on Fox
Sports Radio Data. How are you? I'm good dog? How
you doing good? Man? Um? So, I take it you're
not buying the same house that you lived in last

(11:44):
time you're in Houston. Now, Uh, it might it might be.
Uh it might be a different size. Okay, So look,
I think everybody wants to know why, like to the
outsider to the outside, Like, you guys had a good year.
Like I think you win the bull game if Will plays.
Obviously he chose not to play. You guys had a

(12:04):
good year. You kind of have a fun thing going.
You know, you beat Texas at Texas it seemed again
like outsider. It feels like you fit with Morgantown, you know,
kind of in terms of style. What what was it
that led you to want to leave simply the University
of Houston? Uh, you know, I love this University. I

(12:25):
spent two good years here, um you know, and and
and had a lot of fun coaching ball here, high
school football in this state and this city is is
second to none. The city of Houston means a lot
to me. I got a lot of friends, a lot
of family here, um you know, and and love the
leadership that that that that is currently at the University

(12:45):
of Houston, Chance of renewa tour is as a superstar.
She's been here twelve years and has taken this university
from um, you know to too great heights, Um you know,
chairman town for Tito. Don't need to introduce him to anybody. Uh,
he's a rock star in this city and is providing
great leadership across across the country. And then Chris President

(13:07):
and the athletic director is uh is a is a
superstar into making. So I'm just I'm just excited about
being in this city and at this university. Has nothing
to do with West Virginia. I I thoroughly enjoyed my
time there. We you know, we want at Texas three
out of the last four years that we played there,
So that was nothing new to us here this year,
But um transitioned West Virginia from from the Big East

(13:30):
end of the Big Twelve. We had a lot of success.
I left that wild and wonderful state with my head
held high, great great people, great fans. Uh will be
near and dear in my heart forever and ever. But
it's just simply an opportunity to be able to come
to the University of Houston and continue to success that
they've already had. Yeah, look, look, I I look. It's
the best job in that league because of one you've

(13:51):
had a ton of success and with a bunch of
different coaches and proximity to talent, you know, maybe Central Florida.
That's one the reason they've been success from that league
is procticimity to town but youth Central Florida. As an example,
they undefeated the last two regular seasons and can't get
into the College Football Playoff. Whereas if you're at West
Virginia and you go, you lose a game, you win

(14:12):
the Big Twelve Championship, you get in. So, you know,
is the is the potential to not be rewarded with
the chance to play for a national championship, something that
we keep others away. Why wouldn't keep you away? Well,
so here here's here's the deal, Doug. I mean, every
everybody's goal is to win their conference. I don't care
if it's if it's you know, Power five, power six,

(14:36):
Group of five, whatever you want to call it, and
all that. If it's you know, FCS, uh, if it's
Division two, Division three, high school football, junior high everybody's
goal is to win the conference. And if you win
the conference, and that's something that you can be proud of.
Now I think, um, you know, if if if, if
you know the future of that, that of the college

(14:57):
football playoff or the realignment or a I'd like to
hear it, but I don't. I don't think anybody knows
what's gonna happen. So all you do is is you
try to go somewhere that that you have a chance
to win. And that's gonna happen here at the University
of Houston. Yeah, go somewhere with quality of life is awesome,
which that happens in in h town. And and then
you make the most of it, and you put your

(15:17):
head down and your coach hard and uh, you know
that that's what I plan on doing. You try to
position yourself and the university the best you possibly can
We're gonna be able to do that here at You
of Age Dana Hogerson joining us on the Doug Gottlieb
Show here on Fox Sports Radio. People who have followed
your story knew you had a sick house. You had
a really really cool house in Morgantown. To somebody who

(15:38):
has not seen your version of Cribs, what did that
house have in it than I thought you were gonna
try to buy it? My pockets are not that deep,
nor do I nor do I spend enough time in Morgantown. Okay, yeah,
I know. Well, I'm waiting to see who who is
the next head coach at West Virginia. I'm gonna make
a phone call real quick. But it's it's what's his

(16:02):
name Brown? From from Troy right, Neil Brown's getting the job.
So so Neil, if you're listening, or Neil's people if
you're listening, I got I got a line in a
great house in Morgantown. Here's what I need you to do.
I need you to get Neil on the phone if
he's the next head coach at West Virginia and try
to convince him in that. But it's a neat, it's
a neat home. I tell you we we entertained a lot.
It was. It was a great great house for for

(16:24):
you know, current players to come over and and and
hang out, have dinner, and then we had all our
recruits there and help boost your functions there. It was.
It's a great house to be able to entertain and
develop friendships. And it worked out really good for us there.
So I don't, Yeah, we need somebody to go ahead
and scoop that up. Yeah, there's there's the there's the story.
The untold story of coaching changes is these is these

(16:47):
houses which you have to get bigger than you want
because you do have to have the team over and
other functions in your house, and then when you leave,
you somehow got to unload it. And those are usually
not in places where uh, there's a there's a huge
appetite for houses of of that variety. On the other hand,
I've only heard great things about it. Now, did you
design the all the interior stuff and pick out all
the furnishings yourself? Now that that's what family score. You know,

(17:09):
My my mom, uh you know, Pat and Steve, My
mom and dad lived in Morgantown and they're they're the ones.
They were the caretakers. They picked out all the furniture
and decorated it, and you know that they're going to
be in charge of selling it as well. So and
brother Nick is as a designer. You know, salt is Uh,
there's a new thing here to the United States. To

(17:29):
talk about it forever and ever, but it's it's a
unique deal that's going to be very very popular for
somebody that wants what are you inheriting? I mean, like, look,
makes Apooy was only there two years and he gets fired,
so that the thought must be there must be a
feeling that they underachieved their what what do you what
has been left behind for you at Houston? Well, yeah,

(17:51):
I gotta get my my, my, I gotta wrap my
mind around all that. There's only so many hours in
the day to be able to do this stuff, you know.
I gotta figure out, you know, the the recruiting aspect
of it, who signed national, whatever's intent and and talk
to those guys haven't had an opportunity to be able
to do that. I met. I met a couple of
dozen of the players yesterday, you know, led by Derrick

(18:12):
King or our quarterback is a spectacular football player. And
a spectacular young man, so excited to start there, you know.
And then and then uh, you know, met some of
the other guys as well, so give it figure out
kind of what they got. But the expectations are high here.
I don't I wouldn't. I wouldn't have came here if
the expectations weren't high. So, you know, a lot of
people are making a big deal about that, but you know,

(18:34):
the expectations across campus are high. You know, whether whether
it comes to football, basketball or the new medical school
that's that's coming in here. Hotel and restaurant um uh
is off the charts. You know, tell him and got
one of those degrees here a long time ago, and
he's he's turned into a pretty good guy when it

(18:55):
comes to the hotel and restaurant business. So, um, the
expectations across camp us are high. And that's why I
want to be a part of this. And being in
a great city like Houston is obviously where where I
want to be. Yeah, well, I would also think that
you gotta have did you have you talked to Tillman
about getting one of those those cards to where you
can go into any of his restaurants and you don't
have to be just like you have a Tillman card

(19:15):
and you can eat whenever you want, right And we're
talking for people don't know he owns Morton's and mccormicks,
Smicks and and Salt Grass and Claim Jumper like these
are these are all part of his portfolio. Do you
have a special special you know, like like some people
have that I know, a police officer, I give the
Police Officers Fund card. Do you have a time Friends
with Tillman card that you can walk into Morton Steakhouse
and get the best seat in the house and the

(19:36):
best steak in the house in the night ly That
that's that's gotta be part of the deal, right, Yeah, well,
if it's not, it needs to be certainly. I mean
he owns them all. But uh, you know, had had
dinner at Masters last night, which is a new establishment
here in Houston, and that that that was spectaculor I'm
just gonna go to dinner with all these great you
of h boosters and let them pick up the tab.
You know. So I'm sure Tilman is uh is listening

(19:59):
to your show because it's one of the most popular
ones out there, and he's he's probably the first, right
Dana Hogerson joining us here on the Doug Gottlieb Show. Um,
look your style you you being a creative play caller.
Um is one which Look, that's what the NFL is
looking for, right I mean even even look at at

(20:19):
Tech and Cliff Kingsbury loses his job and he's gotten interviews.
Has did that cross your mind? And in looking for
another gig? Or has has that ever been explored by
you or by anybody close to you? You know? I really,
I really hadn't ever thought about it, you know, And
I did hear a Cliff was for some of those jobs,
and I think he would be a spectacular head coach

(20:40):
in the NFL. That's his that's his style, and and
that's what the NFL is looking for right now. Um,
you know, it hadn't really crossed my path. I wasn't
looking for a job I had. I had a good job,
and I was I was happy with where I was at.
But you know, this was this was an opportunity that
that I wanted to take advantage of. And these opportunities
don't come across uh, you know, your your timeline very often,

(21:02):
and when they do, you got to be able to
jump on it, but the NFL is intriguing. Um, if
I choose to do that in the future, it's gonna
be a long time from now. Pretty pretty locked up
here and excited about the challenge ahead, let me ask
you about one additional challenge. Um At Oliver obviously set
out the ball game you had with Will Greer. Set
out the ball game, and you on every interview I

(21:22):
heard you said, hey, Will Greer's a pro. He just
has to be playing in college. And I don't remember
you having any issue with Will sitting out the ball game.
But there is the challenge of, hey, look, you get
evaluated as a coach at the ball game. And one
of the reasons I think I've changed was maybe is
they got blasted by Army seven and fourteen in the
ball game. Right, So how do you how do you
balance that which you want your players to improve and
to become NFL caliber draft picks. On the other hand,

(21:45):
you also need them to complete the season in order
to leave it with a good taste in everybody's mouth.
How do you balance that in the future. Yeah, that's
a great question. And I don't know how much time
you got, but you know I I do worry about
the future of our bowl system. Um know, there's just
so much being made. And we talked about it earlier
that there's so much made about the CFP. It's all

(22:06):
about the CFP. It's all about the CFP. And there's
only four teams that I'm going to the CFP right now.
I think that that that's going to change. I don't
I don't have the you know, the formula or anything
like that. And you know, I don't know what the
future holds. I do think it's gonna change. I think
conference realignment's going to change, and and and there's gonna
be a bunch of change. Um the bowl system right now,

(22:26):
I think is a little bit broke. But we had
a great time in Orlando. The Florida Citrus Sports Association
is a fantastic organization, very charitable in the in the community,
and we had a great time and it was an
exciting bowl game. We we didn't we didn't happen to win,
but what we did, especially with this new red shirt rule,
we played about ten guys that red shirted, you know,

(22:49):
so it gave them an opportunity to be able to
you know, practice for two weeks and then playing a
meaningful game. We did our best to try to win it,
but uh, you know, Syracuse came out on top. I
think Dino is doing an outstanding job up there. But
it wasn't all for nothing because so so Dana, does
it Does it cost against your four? Like you can
play four games and still red shirt? Does that not

(23:11):
count the ball game? Yeah, it's got no it does.
It's got to be one. The ball game has gotta
be one of the four, you know. So I mean
that there's there's a couple of players that played in
the ball game that was that was their first game
that they had played all year because they weren't just
they weren't ready to play up until that point. So
I do think there's value in a game at the
end of the year. Ball game at the end of

(23:31):
the year, Um, you know, And we get judged by
wins and losses, but we also had an opportunity to
be able to develop young men and stars football players,
which that's what's all about. Yeah, well, listen, Dana, if
you're happy, we're happy for you. Can't wait to see
you with the Coog's this coming fall. In meantime, good
luck selling that house will get you coach Brown's number
and you can you can text him and offer no

(23:52):
real or fees. Right, no real or fees. We cut
that price a little bit. Appreciate you join us on
Fox Sports Radio. I appreciate you, man. You do a
great job of ship. You're having me on thanks to Anna.
Dana Holgerson, head coach of the Houston Cougars, joining us
on the Doug Gottlip Show here on Fox Sports Radio.
That's that's fascinating. Look, my my personal guess is obviously
there were some things at West Virginia and there's you know,

(24:14):
you you win ten games in the Big East, you
win ten games in the Big Twelve. That is the thought, Hey,
why can't we win ten games more often? But I
also think that here's a guy who's been at at
tech UH, at Houston before they had facilities, at Oklahoma
State when they were just building and finishing the facilities,
and now West Virginia, Like, look, Houston's probably the best
job in that league. There's something to having the best

(24:37):
job in your league where you have a better recruiting
base than anybody else. And I think Central Florida is
a close second, although there's there's a also a ton
of competition there where you can bounce back recruit there,
bounce back recruit at Houston. Bounce back means getting transfers.
Guys that go to Texas gotta go to Texas and
M guy goes l s U from Houston wants to

(24:58):
transfer back play more. That's what you get there, as
well as guys that people miss on and sometimes you know, hey,
you you can go head up with a guy at
at Texas or at A and M for for some
of your recruits, but there is something too leaving a
good job for the best job in the league. Car
shopping can be confusing with terms like dealer priceless price,

(25:19):
invoice price. True Car shows you what other people in
your area pay for the car that you want, so
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who of course has his Sunday show here on Fox
Sports Radio. That's nine am Eastern time, six o'clock Pacific
time in the morning Sunday morning. You get up, turn

(25:40):
on before the NFL games. He'll wrap up Saturday's wild
Card and get you ready for Sunday. What you got, Doug,
I've got a big announcement This Sunday. Our show expands
to not three but four hours, So we'll be with
you all the way up until kick off of that
Chargers Ravens game against starting nine o'clock Eastern tim Sunday morning,
my Carmon and myself four hours. Yeah, looking back at

(26:01):
the two games on Saturday, and looking ahead the Sunday,
and looking ahead the Monday in that National Championship game.
We'll start with the NFL Chiefs. Quarterback Patrick mahomesa in
the Associated Press First Team All Pro Quarterback today, receiving
forty five out of fifty first place votes, not a
unanimous pick. There was only one that was Rams defensive
tackle Aaron Donald. Four rookies were named to the first team,
two of them Colts linebacker Darius Leonard and guard Quintin

(26:24):
Nelson named First Team All Pro Today. Chiefs and Bears,
by the way, each had four members on the All
Pro First Team, the most of any team in the
National Football League. Chargers have the Ravens. As I mentioned,
Melvin Gordon not on the injury report, Austin Ekeler is
the running back, is questionable for the game with a
groin injury. NFL Network says the Dolphins want to interview

(26:44):
Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen for their head coaching vacancy.
You mentioned that Neil Brown, leaving Troy to be the
next head football coach at West Virginia will former Georgia
quarterback Justin Fields will reportedly transfer to Ohio State. Number
one overall prospect, Justin Fields run past threat anyway, go ahead, No,
that's all right. He actually um would be the second

(27:04):
highest recruits rated wise that Ohio State ever had the
top one Terrell Prior, so but and Rrell Prior who
did start in the NFL, like and I think he
went to the wrong school at the time. I thought
at the time, remember he didn't want to run the
zone read that that rich Rodriguez ran at He was

(27:26):
gonna go to gonna go to West Virginia what rich
Rod was. Then rich Rod goes to Michigan and there
was thoughts he'll play basketball and football at Michigan and
run the zone read. And then Ohio State hadn't convinced
they could make him into an NFL quarterback. He was
an NFL quarterback for a very short period time. Now
he's an NFL wide receiver anyway, yeah's Urell prior. Also,
it's a UH interest from Oregon at that time as well.

(27:46):
UH and the NBA News Lakers forward Lebron James gonna
be re evaluated in a week as he's dealing with
a strained groin. Six Or swing man Jimmy Butler miss
practice with Nil's today and may mr tomorrow's game against
the Son's. ESPN reporting there could be some friction with
Butler and the new Sixer's head coach Brett Brown. We'll
be back to the Dug Gottli showing about ten seconds.
But first, the word from farmers. From a dog accidentally

(28:08):
flooding a living room to a dog taking a joy ride,
we've covered it, talked to farmers. We know a thing
or two because we've seen a thing or two. We
are farmers under written my farmers truck fire insurance exchanges
and affiliates products unavailable in every state. You heard Dan Buyer,
Dan Um and I know you're super busy, but but
the the Jimmy Butler story is literally the least surprising

(28:31):
story of all time, right, Jimmy Butler, Jimmy Butler, who
everybody hated in Chicago. He ends up going to Minnesota,
where I think, you know, I think that regime thought,
like way we were in Chicago with you, we were great.
Jimmy's great, and you can't win with me. Remember, he
basically wanted out because he thought he was the reason

(28:53):
that they would win and the young guys reason they
would lose. He goes to Philadelphia, and so here's here's
the report. Butler has been vocal in his contesting of
Brett Brown as the head coach in his system, including
a recent film session in Portland where some witnesses considered
disrespectful and beyond normal player of courts coach discourse. Brown
has told people within the organization he had no issues
with it. A source close to Butler contends that his intense,

(29:16):
direct style can come off as combative when he's trying
to make clear his viewpoints. Butler's sluggish assimilation to the
Sixers environment is causing some concern about his long term viability. No, really,
all right, people are who they are. Man. Once you
get to thirty years old, you are who you are.
You gotta do some research in it, Jimmy Butler takes

(29:36):
his own car to games. Jimmy Butler wants to be
in l a or in New York, and Jimmy Butler
thinks that his way is the way, even though he
hadn't won anything in the NBA as of yet. This
is marked this down as one of the least surprising
stories of all time. That is a water is wet
right wait, Jimmy Butler is unhappy with the culture and

(29:58):
the environment and the coach. That is really surprising. Next thing,
you know, Next thing you know, our president is gonna
tweet about something he sees on one of the news channels.
That is surprising these things, don't you know? This doesn't
just happen once, Steve, That's what happens a couple of times.

(30:21):
So anyway, I'm I'm not I'm not surprised by whatsoever.
I like bread cumbs. I like those bread crumbs that
lead us to answers before the questions are even posed.
But since people have been asking about the m v P,
there are bread crumbs that points to a clear winner.
Let'll tell you what who those bread crumbs lead to?

(30:42):
Upcoming next to the Doug got Leap Show Fox Sports Radio.
Be sure to catch live editions of the Doug Dot
Leap Show week days at noon Eastern three pm Pacific.
From a hot balloon landing on a car to a
load of concrete falling on one, we've covered it. Talk
to farmers. We know a thing or two because we've
seen a thing or two. We are farmers. Underwritten my
farmer's truck, Fire insurance exchanges and affiliates products not available

(31:04):
in every state. Car shopping can be confusing with terms
like dealer price, list price, an invoice price. True Car
shows what other people paid for the car you want.
You can recognize a good price when you're ready to
buy a new or use car. Visit True Car and
enjoy more confident car buying experience. Doug Ot Leave show
here on Fox Sports Radio, getting you ready for a
wild wild Card weekend. Cliff Avril, super Bowl Champion NFL

(31:27):
unless tail join us twenty after next hour, We'll get
his thoughts on his former team, the Seahawks as they
go into into DAOs. Pete Carroll's never lost that first
game in the playoffs. What is it about Pete Carroll's
approach that allows that's allowed them to be successful. John
Middlecalf will join us later on in the show as well.
Middlec of course has the Three and Out podcast now
music my All Ball podcast. It has dropped, right, it

(31:50):
is it is ready to be consumed, is it not?
That is correct, Doug, But you have to kind of
you kind of explained it to me in a in
a very interesting way. Well, you can currently find it
where we always post it, being on the Doug Gottlieb
Show page on iTunes. We always post it there in
addition to the All Ball podcast, but we are currently

(32:13):
changing podcasting softwares and so the All Ball feed is
not quite ready via that particular software, so it is
not on the All Ball podcast, but you can find
it on the Dug gottlip Show page. John, do you
have any idea what he's talking about? I got last,
he said, Doug. Yeah, he there was a pause, he

(32:35):
said normally sort of you can then he goes software
and you just lost me, just lost me like I
I get it, like if I here's I'll check out
my phone. Here right on your phone, you have something
called your look at that. It just got finished. It
is up now on the All Ball and apparently golf.

(33:00):
So hold on, can you send it to me so
I can tweet it out. I will take care of that.
No immediately, I mean we need it like right, like
right now. Um okay, no, I I okay. So we
have an All Ball podcast. It has it's Steve Prome
is our guest this week is the head coach at
Iowa State. They take on Kansas on Saturday in the

(33:24):
Big Twelve. Remember a lot of Big Twelve conference games starting.
I'm head out to see o D you take on
Western Kentucky, a game available on Facebook. I got a
bunch of stuff coming up that we want to announced.
But in the meantime, let's get to a game. This
is game time on the Doug Gottlieb Show. The game

(33:46):
is Psychic and Dan Buyer is gonna bring it to
us Psychic fire. It is all right, let's uh wow.
Lots of GETSU for the psychic today. Hopefully we don't
waste these psychic powers that they wear out with so
many questions psychic, this is a college football questions psychic
will be college football playoff? Ever, go to the Bay

(34:09):
Area again to host the National Championship game. Ticket sales
have been slow, to say the least or at least
have been quite cheap on the secondary market. Will the
college football playoffs ever go to the Bay Area again,
don't see it. Remember, not only do you have other
sites that are more regionally located in terms of the
fan bases, but even the West Coast l A Stadium

(34:31):
opens in two years, Las Vegas Stadium opens in two years.
Those are better parks. They're also domes um And this
one is not centrally located like the Vegas one, is
just off the strip. The l A one is right
basically you can parachute in when you're landing in you know,
in uh at l a X. This one is not
in San Francisco. It's in Santa Clara, UM, which he

(34:54):
better off lying into San Jose. It's not near, it's
not near where the people are, especially where it's it's
hard enough to get people to come to northern California
from the South, especially after went to the College ball
playoff semifinals last week and some of them went. But
then you're you're asking them to go to California again, Like, yeah,
I would say no, I do not. I believe it's
the last time it will be at Levi state. Matter

(35:16):
of fact, this stadium is so bad that I would
guess that of the new stadiums, mark this down. If
I'm still doing radio Fox Sports Radio in twenty years,
it'll be the first one replaced. Oh yeah, there have
been issues, not only with the turf, the sun. Yeah,
there's there's one side which sits in the sun for
most of any any sort of afternoon day games. Okay,

(35:36):
the turf they can't they can't, seem it's the only
place in California they can't grow grass. How and and
it's not near San Francisa. It's forty five minutes from
San Francisco, which has horrendous traffic outside of that, And
Mrs Lincoln, how was the show Psychic? Will this year
be the only year Patrick Mahomes wins an NFL MVP Award?

(35:59):
We expect Tim to win the m v P after
he was named APS First team quarterback today for their
All Pro team. Will this year be the only year
he wins in his career? Drew Brees doesn't have an
m v P award? Yeah, um, I would say no,
I do believe he's gonna win it. That was That's
the bread crumbs that I talked about the bread crumbs
on the ground, leading us to Pat Mahomes. Forty five

(36:20):
fifty UH voters in the AP poll put him as
the first team All Pro quarterback and five fifty touchdowns,
five thousand yards and the number one seed in the
f C. He's gonna win the m v P. I
think it win another one. I think he has remarkable
arm talent. Do I think that means he's a great
postseason quarterback? No, it doesn't mean that. But I think
I went another one. I did some number crunching through

(36:41):
this up on Twitter. The last time that a quarterback
was named All Pro First Team All Pro by the
AP and a different quarterback one m v P was
N seven. Montana was actually named first team All Pro
with John Elway winning the m v P. There have
been running backs who have one m v P where
the quarterbacks hasn't. But other wise, if you've been a
first team out Pro quarterback, you have a pretty good

(37:02):
shot at being the m v P psychic. Will the
road teams or home teams have a winning record this
weekend in the NFL playoffs? Yes, all right, maybe two
and two's I'm I'm thinking I'm thinking two and two.
I'm thinking two and two alright, Psychic will Antonio BROWNBIA
Pittsburgh Steeler week one of the twenty nineteen season, I'm

(37:24):
gonna say yes. I just think it's too cost prohibitive
um in terms of the salary cap to trade him.
Bet online actually has odds yes right now minus two hundred,
so one to two that he would be a Steeler,
three to two that he would not have plus one
fifty Psychic. How many of the head coaches fired this
year in the NFL will land new head coaching jobs?

(37:46):
And let's put Greg Williams into this of maybe him
being promoted in Cleveland, But how many of those fired
do you think will actually be head coaches next year
on different teams? Uh? McCarthy, Will and gaze will I
think who will be head coaches? Alright? Looks like Hugh
Jackson could be headed for Minnesota possibly, Psychic oh an

(38:06):
NBA question? How long will Lebron James be out with
this groin injury? Is? The team announts today that he
will be re evaluated in another week. Yeah, that means
he's not close right, four games he's expected to miss
because of this injury. They are against the next tonight.
You got the t Wolves Pistons, And as I look
over my shoulders coming out Pistons, Mavericks is the other one. Um,

(38:32):
he will be back. He'll be cleared in a week. Okay,
they've got a big game against the Rockets coming up
in a couple of weeks as well. Uh. Finally, Psychic
a baseball question a report from the Athletics saying that
Bryce Harper got an offer with more than three hundred
million dollars from the Nationals. Where will Bryce Harper end
up signing? Psychic? I think he'll end up signing with

(38:53):
the Philadelphia Phillies. Money talks. This is a time on
the Duck Godly Show. You know, you know it's fascinating. Um,
you don't. You don't have to rosenounce your agent football
unless you want to get more money, right, And you
don't have Scott Boris as your agent baseball unless you

(39:14):
want to get more money. So when I knowing that
Scott Boris is the representative of Bryce Harper, like, why
would you hire Scott Boris unless you're trying to get
every penny? And if you're gonna get every penny, you're
gonna go to somewhere like the Phillies or the White Sox.
They have to overpay to get you, whereas the team
that currently has you probably feels like, look, we've talked

(39:34):
about this, and we've gone in circles about it. We
really want a short term deal, will pay you a
lot of money to keep you and try and fix
this thing. But we don't. We don't like like the
idea of a ten year deal. And he's stuck on
a ten year deal. And when I hear that the
number three coming out of Washington, it strikes me as
there's probably some outs in that contract because everybody believes,
uh that a short term deal is a smarter deal.

(39:56):
I'd be interested in see what the Nationals end up doing,
but I think you higher an agent like Scott Boards
should go for top dollar, and that top dollars probably
coming from Philadelphia. You know. Look, playoff football, playoff basketball,
playoff baseball, it just has so much more pressure. Everything
is more intense, and a lot of people are gonna
point out Dak Prescott has pressure on him because he

(40:18):
has the ability to sign a contract this upcoming off season.
I don't think he's a quarterback with the most pressure
on him a future Hall of Famer, does tell you
that is next in the Doug Otlop Show. Fox Sports
Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation.
Catch all of our shows at Fox Sports Radio dot
com and within the I Heart Radio app. Search f

(40:40):
s R to listen live. What Up Doug Gottlieb Show?
Fox Sports Radio? You know wild Card weekend is interesting.
Here's what I want to do. John Ramos, you have
a how how good is your memory? Do you think it's? Okay?
It could be better? I think music, I say, your member,
your memory is pretty darn good, right, I mean that's
not I'm not speaking out of turn. Yeah, I'd say

(41:02):
it's pretty pretty good. Okay, um, okay, So who was
in the wild Card? What do you remember about the
um the NFL wild Card last year? I would say
it was I remember it was the Chiefs collapse and

(41:23):
the Titans come back? Right, Chiefs fans are sitting there
going which one? Yes, I remember that one. There was
that one. Man, I'm trying to think of what else.
Let's see, the Vikings had to buy, Eagles had to buy.
Oh them, you had the Rams, who everyone thought were

(41:44):
the darlings of the NFL then came in smacked him around.
That's right. You remember Jacksonville Buffalo? No, actually, I don't
tend to three Terrible Football game three ten, ten to three.
Do you remember the other NFC one you got? You
got Tennessee one over Kansas City. That was a comeback.
That was a comeback win. Do you remember the other

(42:05):
the other one? Was it the Panthers? Yeah? And who
they play? The Saints? Ah, that's right, because then the
Saints had to go on and barely lost to the Vikings. Right.
So okay, so we'll start there and then go back
to two thousand seventeen. That was there that everyone was hurt.

(42:28):
Right now, last year was the year it was hurt. No,
But I mean in the playoffs, it was like the
Dolphins had to play Matt Moore, the Raiders had to
play Connor Cook. It was like all the backup quarterbacks
had to play in the playoffs. Yes, that that is
that is that absolutely correct. But in the in the
in the wild card weekend, right, so Miami played Pittsburgh,

(42:49):
Pittsburgh smacked him thirty to twelve. But Matt Moore was
a quarterback. Houston played Oakland, It didn't they have a
backup quarterback to like t J. Yates or something. Yeah,
it was t J. Eights or and I think it
was Case Kingdom actually. And then green Bay beat the
beat the hell out of the New York Giants. That
was that was after the boat, right when they go

(43:10):
down the boat and they could beat thirteen and Seattle
beat the pants off of Detroit before Seattle lost to Atlanta.
Green Bay in the divisional game, came back against came
back against Dallas, right. Houston went up to New England
and got beat and Pittsburgh went in and beat Kansas
City without scoring a touchdown the following week. So my
point is that we in our focus on the wild cards,

(43:32):
and look, there have been wild card winners who have
gone all the way to the super Bowl, but we
will talk about as if it's the most memorable weekend
in football, and really even last year, like, I totally
forgot two of those games. And I'm not trying to
make Ryan Music look bad. Before I knew I was
gonna do this segment, I too forgot about those games.

(43:52):
I was like, who are the other teams? Like, oh, yeah,
Buffalo made it in Jacksonville. I remember the gaming. Oh man,
is that ugly, But what happens is what comes out
of it is a narrative, right, you could establish yourself
and what was this was the ceiling for Alex Smith
was and I know he got the n C Championship

(44:14):
Game with the fort and he played well when they
lost to the to the Saints, and the Saints went
on to won the Super Bowl. But last year and
previous years with the Kansas Chiefs, he couldn't get out
of the first round, whether it was the comeback loss
to the Titans or the comeback loss too to the
Colts years years before that. The fact is that Alex Smith,

(44:37):
since coming over from San Francisco forty Niners, could not
escape this idea that we all had that he was
just managing the game, getting the ball to talented players
in space, and ultimately in the playoffs, that wouldn't be enough.
He wasn't good enough to win in the playoffs. Winning
the playoffs seems like it's it just seems like the
accomplishment of a better player than winning in the regular season.

(44:58):
That's fair, right, which brings us to the two guys
that are the most pressure this weekend. Dak Prescott's one
everybody's gonna point to Dac of course, hasn't won a
playoff game. Jason Garrett's only won one playoff game. Some
of that's out of health issues that that he had
with Romo, but he's only one one playoff game. But
when you're Dak and you potentially could get a new

(45:19):
contract this summer, and you're playing in the playoffs and
you're kind of a run oriented team, the guess is
you're still going to want to be a run oriented team.
But the pressure is gonna be on Dak Prescott to
make some big throws because if he loses, then it's, hey,
you know, you can't pay him top dollar. If you
can't even win you a playoff game. I'll tell you

(45:40):
who else is under it have. So that's more financial
pressure because Dak Prescott is gonna have plenty of other
opportunities to win in the playoffs and starting quarterback of
the Cowboys, that's a financial pressure. One legacy pressure I
think that goes to Philip Rivers. Like Philip Rivers has
been an outstanding quarterback for a decade for the for

(46:01):
the Chargers a decade, and you don't have to like
the Chargers moving you can be like me and not
understand why the Chargers don't wear powder blue every single game,
to realize that the Chargers have a really really good
roster and Philip Rivers didn't previously have that really good roster.
He just didn't. They couldn't protect him, they couldn't keep

(46:23):
guys healthy. They had bad They should have been the
playoffs last year. They had bad field goal kickers. Like
all of this stuff collectively, all of this stuff seem
to always come to a head. And I mean, how
long has it been since they won a playoff game?
And this is a tremendous quarterback, probably a Hall of

(46:44):
Fame caliber quarterback, but the idea that would that you
lose not that much to lose. No, no no, no no.
He's going on the road branded great defense, tough environment.
But he has Melvin Gordon, not even on the injury report,
Keenan Allen. He's got you know, Mike Williams. He's also

(47:05):
gets Austin Neckler who didn't play last time against Ravens.
And he gets Hunter Henry, a Pro Bowl maybe all
All Pro caliber tight end who's missed the whole year.
He's got all kinds of and their de and I
was like, well, it's not like Pat Mahomes, where Pat
Mahomes can go, hey, look my defense sucks. His defense
doesn't stink. He's got Melvin Gordon, he's got Joey Bosa,
he's got Derwin James. Like their defense isn't bad, the

(47:27):
kicking games way better than it's been, and the offensive
talents really good. Kind of feels like it's unfilled to produce.
So I look at this weekend and I think in
terms of financial pressure, you gotta put that on deck.
But in terms of personal pressure and legacy, that's not
a guy like Philip Rivers. It really is, Yes, rhyme music.

(47:51):
How many more years do you think Philip Rivers really has?
I know, we can't kind of say that a lot
of having kids, he needs to keep making money. I
know we keep saying not about guys like Eli Manning
or Tom Brady, but it seems like Philip Rivers is
the one guy who we kind of take for granted,
as like we're not really questioning how much longer he
can do it. I know he's had a great year,

(48:13):
but at times, you know, due to his lack of
athleticism and he can throw a pretty ugly ball kind
of like Peyton Manning. He doesn't seem like he has
like another five or six years left. No. Going back
to sort of what you said with like this is
he wants to coaches kids in high school football too,

(48:33):
Like that's what he wants to do. He'll be He'll
also be uh, he also be a candidate for for TV,
Like you'll have to turn down every TV TV job
in America. Um, how many years left? He's thirty seven
years old. I'd say that the ceiling is three, the
floor is you know, he wins the Super Bowl this

(48:53):
year and walks out the door, and the likelhood is
somewhere between one and two. Um. He he has since
he's been the starting quarterback, he's never missed a game.
He did terris a c l at the end of
the playoff run when they lost to the to the Patriots,
but he's never missed a game. Really crazy, two hundred
and eight consecutive starts. He's thrown for four thousand yards

(49:19):
each of the last six seasons and uh ten of
the last eleven seasons. So before everybody else through for
four thousand, he was thrown for four thousand and uh.
He led the league in those early years in yards
per attempt. So here's a guy who should be on
everybody's Hall of Fame ballot, should be considered one of

(49:40):
the all time greats. But you do have to do
in the playoffs. Now he's getting the benefit of playing
against the team he's played before, and against an offense
that doesn't feel like he can run away and hide.
But there is a mountain amount of pressure because the
excuses you could make previously was well, he wasn't surrounded
by that good of talent. Now he absolutely positively is
around him by big, big, big, big time town, big

(50:03):
time town. They got a block for him. I mean,
that's a as much talent you want. They got a
block for him. So we shall see. The Doug got
Leap Show is brought to you by Farmers and Farmers
we've seen almost everything, so we know how to cover
almost anything when it's time. When it's game time, have
the experienced player help you stay ahead of the game,
put in put their experience into play. At farmers dot com,
we are Farmers. Cliff Avril had to retire last year

(50:28):
because of injury, but he's a legendary Seattle Seahawk who
has been two Super Bowls with him in won one.
This was supposed to be a rebuilding year. We thought,
how the Seahawks reload? We ask Cliff. He joins us next.
Be sure to catch live editions of The Doug Dot
Leap Show week days at noon eastern three pm Pacific
on Fox Sports Radio and the I Heart Radio app.

(50:48):
From a car landing on a roof to a car
landing in the pool, we've covered him. Talk to farmers.
We know a thing or two. Because we've seen a
thing or two. We are farmers under my Pharmer's Struck
Fire Insurance exchanges and affiliates products unavailable in every state.
Car shopping can be confusing with terms like dealer price,
list price, an invoice price. True Car shows what other

(51:08):
people paid for the car you want. You can recognize
a good price when you're ready to buy a new
or used car. Visit True Car and they enjoy more
confident car buying experience. I happen to pick up Sports
Illustrated's NFL Preview magazine, and among the surprising things, cults
were picked in last place suits. So too was with
the Seattle Seahawks, and of course here they are in

(51:30):
the playoffs. Yet again, this was supposed to be a
rebuilding year. Cliff Avril gone, Richard Sherman gone, others gone right,
And you know they draft a first round pick as
a running back. You're like, wow, that seems like a reach.
They had to rebuild their offensive line. It was a
disaster last year. Like meanwhile, the Niners, remember they ended

(51:50):
on a winning streak. They had Jimmy Garoppolo um although
the Airs on a Cardinals drafted Josh Rosen. They also
had David Johnson coming back off of that hand injury.
He had fits, he got Christian Kirk, he got on defense.
You still had Patrick Peterson. Like you looked around this division,
and then of course the Rams were loaded up, and

(52:11):
you're like, all right, Seattle'll be lucky to win four
or five games. Here they are in the playoffs. So
they lost the Rams both times, both competitive games. Now
they got to go on the road and take on
the Dallas Cowboys, who there's a lot of similarities. Great
running team, quarterback that makes plays, and of course nobody
makes as many plays seemingly at the end of the
game running around then Russell Wilson, who knows better than
Cliff Avril, of course, former Seahawk um and you can

(52:34):
check out his his show, Cliff and Puck Show on KGP.
He joins us here on The Doug Gotlip Show on
Fox Sports Radio. Cliff, Honestly, what did you think of
this team before they took the field this season? I
was one of the few, honestly that that thought they
would at least win eight games. I definitely believe they

(52:54):
would at least be at five because you know, most
people tend, you know, rebuild, rebuild. All the stuff is.
They still had a quarterback in Russell Wilson who was
probably the top five, top six quarterback, and then they
had probably the best linebacker in the NFL with Bobby Wagner.
So if if you're rebuilding, but you have probably two
of the most elite at those positions, it's not really

(53:18):
you're not too far behind, You're not too far off.
So I think that they had a real good chance
of winning more games, and most thought, now, you know,
winning ten games. Everyone's surprised, and I wasn't too shocked
just knowing that that they had that nucleus going into
the season. All Right, what about the offensive line? How
have they look? They become a really good running team,

(53:38):
and you can't do that without offensive line. Is it
because of the commitment running the football? Is because the
offensive line is that much better. A little bit of both,
a little bit of both the commitment to run the ball,
but you have to be confident in running the ball
if with the guys that you have, right. But I
think d J. Fluker was a big, big pick up
for these guys this year and a huge signing for

(53:58):
for the Seahawks. And then also Dwayne Brown extended him
and his leadership, his leadership skills and what he's brought
to that to that old line, I think was the
biggest two things that allowed them to be able to
run the ball so effectively this year. And also just
being committed to it. Yeah, it's interesting because Fluker they
felt like he was just such a big man and

(54:19):
and especially considering the way which you know, the charger
was almost always in the gun as opposed to the
way the Seahawks like to play like they were concerned
about his body breaking down. Just that he's just a
huge human being. Uh. And then Dwayne Brown they got
because obviously he got into it with the front office there,
with the ownership group of the now deceased owner Bob
McNair and they trade him away. Like those two moves

(54:40):
completely changed. I think that not the future the president
of the Seahawks most definitely know though both of those
moves were was just great moves. Again, Dwayne just being
a pro Bowl player and and understand what it takes
to play at a high level, and just being able
to coach the younger players of right and a Fetty
who a lot of people were knocking and and and

(55:01):
had issues with going into the season. But he's brought
a Fatty up to speed and now Fatty's player some
really good ball. Darena Fetty are are right tackle and
and you know, bring in Fluker and and helping Justin
bridd out a little bit, although Justin bridd is a solid,
solid center, one of the best in the in the league.
But just having the camaraderie, having and building that those

(55:21):
relationships and and and the mindset of what it takes
to be able to play some really good ball up front,
then you had the running backs to the game and
be the commitment to the game. All that has helped
Russell Wilson. But that offense succeeds Cliff April joining us
on the Doug Gottlip Show on Fox Sports Radio. Back
when you were playing, one of the teams that gave

(55:42):
you problems was the Rams, and the Rams would line
up and just try and smash it, try to run
the football. There wasn't a lot of creativity with it.
And whether they beat you, whether it was closed, the
game's always seemed to be competitive. How similar is that
match up to what the Cowboys are going to try
and do to the Seahawks this week, Kid, That's exactly
what it's gonna It's gonna play out with the boat,

(56:03):
both teams running the ball and seeing how effective they
can be in the running game and seeing how if
your defense can hold handle that. But now the question,
but I think for this game is is okay once
you slow down the game and both teams, both teams
realized they want to establish the run and their defensive
kind of stand still and slow that down. Which quarterback
can you lean on to be able to pull you

(56:25):
off and pull that win off? Me personally, obviously I'm biased,
but also understanding and being around this guy for so long,
I would lean towards Russell Wilson because he's been in
these situations. He's played in top game, in a lot
of big games. He's been in the playoffs, and he's
won a lot of the playoff games as well. In
comparison to Doc, you know, he's only been in one
playoff game. He's still very young, very athletic quarterback, very good.

(56:48):
But I would lean with Russell being able to take
control of that game if the running game got slowed
down a little bit. Did you see this coming from
Chris Carson? Did I see it coming? Not? Not not
about of Yaller. I knew he was. I knew he
was a solid running back. I knew he he had
potential obviously playing with him last year. Uh. In the
locker rooms, it's a quiet focus guy. You know, he

(57:09):
knows what he wants, but to see the performance, to
see how athletic he what he is, and what he's
been able to do this season and has been very
very impressive. But not only just him though. They're so
committed to it where they had one running back rush
for a thousand yards and have two other running backs
rushed for over five hundred yards. You know, so they
are definitely dedicated and committed to this running game, and

(57:30):
all three of these running backs have been very, very
solid all season long. Yeah, I mean, look, they're even
good at at punter right where Michael Dick. Michael Dixon's
a first team All Pro. Like, look, I get it,
like he's a putter, but that that matters when you're
when you're playing, when you're playing, when you're running, it
shorten the clock playing to a defense. I mean, they're
they're good at places where I mean, you know, Bobby

(57:52):
Wagner and All Pro as well at linebacker. It's been
fascinating to watch how they've how they've rebuilt this roster.
Now it's been it's been extremely impressive on Howley Bennet.
I was just talking about this on my show actually
about the punter. Uh my whole career, right played ten
years in the league, four years in times, few years
in high school. I've never ever paid attention to our punners,

(58:16):
never cared to pay attention to it up until this year.
It's really impressive seeing what Dixon can do with that
football and it's in and it's a big part of
why this team has been able to win. You know,
your office get shut down and the Reds are backed
up against with their back to the goal line. You know,
you can punt it and you will still give your
defense some room to be able to defend. Um you know,

(58:37):
the offense that they're about to go again. So it's
a weapon. Most people don't pay attention to it. But
he's in. He's uh an amazing addition to this team.
He'll play for an extremely long time. You know, a
lot of us um um, a lot of us uh.
I wondered about the defense losing guys like you. Obviously,

(58:58):
Richard got you know, Richard got hurt, and then they
part of ways. Richard didn't offer a contract. He goes
to San Francisco. How they put this thing together? Because
they lost a lot of big names, a lot of
really good players. You know, Michael Bennett's gone, he's in,
he's in Philadelphia. How they done this that? Like you said, right,
they lost a lot of guys. Myself, sum might be
Cam Chancellor. I mean the thing is, you know, everyone

(59:23):
including the city of Seattle, got used to the same names, right,
the same guys, and we've been doing it for five,
six even years together, and that played you know, some
good ball through those years. But there's still a lot
of championship guys still there in that locker room. Right,
you got your Bobby White, and you got your kid, Right,
you got Russell Wilson, Doug Ball with all these guys

(59:44):
know what it takes to be able to play at
a high level, to win a lot of games, to
get to the playoffs. So having those guys in the
locker room with all these other young players and teaching
them in the row and showing what it means to
be a professional, showing showing them what it means to
play at a high level, I think is the key
pieces to why this team has has basically excelled and

(01:00:06):
got to this point. Do you think they win? But
oh yeah, of course, And and that's that's not just
me being biased. I just think we have a better
quarterback in Russell Wilson if things were to break down
right in the running games, because I think both these
defenses are are are pretty solid. Obviously the Cowboys play
and there I think their top five defense as well. Um,

(01:00:26):
they're linebackers are playing some good football, but our linebackers
are playing some good football. I just think it's gonna
boil down to the quarterback play and you have to
leave with Russell Wilson when he comes down to that,
what about Sea Bass, How's he's been kicking, How's Sebastian
Jenny Cows keeping Sebastelor he's been lessing good ball. He's
met a few field goals here and there that unfortunately
didn't stop them from winning any games. But you know,

(01:00:49):
having a veteran guy like that, I feel like he's
been playing forever. I remember when he got drafted out.
I hadn't even started playing football yet. You know, that's
how full he's been in the league. So you know,
seeing what he's been able to do, and and and
how funny he looks like he's somebody's uncle when you
walk into the locker room, Like who's uncle was just
sitting in his locker? You know, just seeing that in
his president is pretty funny to me. But he've been

(01:01:11):
playing some really good ball for the Seahawks. I know
you've been doing great things with your foundation. So happy
that you found out home on radio with with Paul
Cliff and Puck Show on k JP nine fifty. Cliff April,
thanks so much for joining us on Fox Sports Radio.
Thanks for having me. I appreciate you enjoy all right.
That's Cliff April. No, Homer just said, hey, look I
think and and that's a it's a strong argument there, right,
anybody makes he goes like, hey, look, end of the day,

(01:01:33):
Russell Wilson or Dak Prescott, who are you gonna take?
Like I'm gonna take Russell Wilson. But um, everybody wasn't
nobody before they were somebody? Right, speaking of a somebody,
Let's get you to Dan Buyer, He's a somebody. I'm
I'm somebody, all right? What who knows? But something and somebody.
Patrick Mahomes assure of somebody. And right now he's a

(01:01:55):
first team All Pro quarterback, receiving forty five out of
fifty first place notes to grab the first team All
Pro honors from the a P. He's not the only
Chief on the first team All Pro squad. He's joined
by three of his teammates as well. It's time for
the most of any team in the NFL. Bears also
had four players on the first team, one unanimous pick,
not a surprise. Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald a unanimous selection.

(01:02:18):
Now the Chargers have the Ravens coming up on Sunday.
The good news is Melvin Gordon's not even on the
injury list. He's gonna start that game. His teammate Austin Ekeler, though,
is questionable because of a growing injury. The Eagles did
not put Nick Foles on their their injury list for
their matchup against the Bears. He's expected to start Sunday afternoon.
NFL Network says the Dolphins want to interview Saints defensive

(01:02:39):
coordinator Dennis Allen for their head coaching position. West Virginia
has found a replacement for Dana Holgersson and joined Doug
earlier on the show. Neil Brown from Troy expected to
be the mountaineers new head coach. And former Georgia quarterback
Justin Fields will reportedly transfer to Ohio State and could
enroll for the spring semester. There is a question, though,
whether he'll be eligible to play in the fallow twenty nineteen,

(01:03:00):
or if you'll have to sit out of here and
then be eligible in the fall of twenty Lebron James
will be reevaluated in a week as he's dealing with
a strained groin, and The Athletic reports the Washington Nationals
offered Bryce Harper a contract more than three hundred million dollars.
Harper and the National's reportedly met for five hours prior
to Christmas. We'll be back to the Doug gott Leap Show,
and Doug and said seconds, but first, a word from farmers.

(01:03:22):
From a dog accidentally flooding a living room to a
dog taking a joy ride, we've covered it. Talk to farmers.
We know a thing or two. Because we've seen a
thing or two. We are farmers under written my farmers
truck fire insurance, exchanges and affiliates products unavailable in every state.
Last night, Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors without Kyle

(01:03:42):
Lowry went back into San Antonio. Took an ol. He
actually played well, but Danny Green could hit a shot
and they end up losing. Uh. There's some video of
his mom getting into it with another fan who was
yelling at her. Fans remain the worst. Although, mom, you know,
kind of what did you expect to take a Listen
to Greg Popovitch. After Kauhi Leonard returned to San Antonio.
I felt badly about it. Kauai is a high character guy.

(01:04:06):
You know. We all make decisions in our lives. What
we're gonna do with our futures. He has that same
right as any of us. So I felt badly in
all honestly, he was talking to him badly about him
getting booed right he um and Kauai said like, look,
this is kind of about the media. No, it's not. No,

(01:04:26):
it's not. Look, I don't I don't think you should
hurl insults. Hurl insults at at at Kawai Leonard. I
don't think that's a good look anybody who hurls insults
at at any professional athlete, Like, what are you doing
but booing? I don't think it's a big deal. I

(01:04:48):
just don't. And I understand the conflict of Hey, he
wanted title was the finals m v P. Doesn't he
deserve the respective I I in time, Yes, But let
me ask you this, right, let's say that you know,
because Kauai has not found his his future at home yet,

(01:05:09):
this is a this is a tweener move, we think,
unless he decides to stay in Toronto. This is like, look,
you get divorced and then it's the holidays, and you
know he's like, look, I'm not gonna do the holidays
by myself. We have kids, I'm gonna come over and
he brings you know, his girlfriend with him, and you're like,

(01:05:30):
that's really uncomfortable right now. The the ex wife who
sitting there, she has every right to be upset. Now
you should during the holidays, bygones, bygones, it's the first
holidays since she's split up. You know, let's just make
a positive of it. It's the Christmas spirit or whatever.
But she can be she can be upset. You're allowed

(01:05:53):
to be upset, You're allowed to feel like really really,
And I think that's how fans feel. That's how fans feel.
It is within their booing is okay, it's okay. Nobody
gets hurt by booing. Boo, Like, come on, really, we're

(01:06:13):
to the point where you can't boo anymore now, Yelling
insults and calling and chanting trader, he's not a trader yet. Eventually,
if he's with the Lakers, then he's a trader. Right there,
you go into the arch enemy. But booing, I kind
of think it's par for the course, and I think
it's tame, and I think it's okay. I'm am I

(01:06:34):
I don't think it's that big like fans. This is
fans first chance and only real chance to express themselves, like, look,
we have plenty of time the rest of our lives
to appreciate you. Maybe retire your jersey someday. Maybe maybe,
But you wanted out. We were willing to offer you
more money than anybody else, Like, I don't know. Yeah,

(01:06:57):
it's your free will to do so, it's also our
free will to boo you. Like, I'm not encouraging any
sort of negative behavior by fans towards players, and I'm
not not getting close to that, but I am realistic
where a guy gets it, has a team kind of
carved out around him. They're willing to pay him the
super Max contract, gave him as much time as he

(01:07:17):
needed off last year just to get his thigh right.
He's still like, you know, I want out. Greg Popovitch
goes down to San Diego to visit him. Now I
want out, And then we're supposed to like come in
and go, hey ah you you you kai uh way

(01:07:37):
to go, leaving us in a lurch with dud Damard
Rose in a bad contract, who can't make a three
you thank you, thank you. No, you're perfect, No, you're smoochy,
you're you're moosmocchi yo. You now you don't have to
do that. You just boo. You think, why why did

(01:07:59):
you live like this? Fine music? Tell me I'm wrong,
I cannot. I just think it's funny that in this
day and age, when people tend to say the NBA
has become a players league, where people become fans of players,
Like people aren't fans of teams as much as they're

(01:08:19):
a Lebron James fan, or they're a Steph Curry fan,
or they're a Kawhi Leonard fan. But then when these
people who are clearly Spurs fans do the most fan
thing possible, which is defended their team over an individual player,
they're looked at as some sort of you know, human
garbage if you will, yep, yep. And and there are

(01:08:41):
there are going to be fans who drink too much,
who say rude things, and if you want to get
the mess corted out of building point, you go ahead,
do it. Are the there's gonna be jerk fans for
and and just so you know, like the over the
top happy fan is equally annoying just non offensive, right
or the yell at every there's also fans that yell

(01:09:03):
at every call of ref makes and they don't know
the rules of basketball. Like, well, last night, did you
watch the Golden State Houston game. There's a play right
before James Harden hit the shot where um Kevin Durant
has two ft out of bounds for a couple of steps,
like clearly like a yard out of bounds. He saves

(01:09:26):
the ball only because it was called. When nothing was called,
they throw it in Steph Curry shot fakes one dribble
jump jump shot and makes a pull up and the
offessionals don't blow the whistle at all. It's a terrible call,
and you know what you have, You have the right
to boo. Just don't do the You're the game's rigged.

(01:09:47):
Like now, they just missed it. I don't know how
they missed it, but they missed it. That's about as
egregious a miscall as I've seen in a long time,
because look, with a with a with a mac on
the hand on a block shot or a dunk, there's
still a little bit of judgment to it, and it
happens really fast. He was clearly out of bounds last night.

(01:10:10):
It wasn't close. I don't even know how Like his
feet never got back in bounds like he was trying
to tiptoe to save the ball. I cannot think off
the top of my head of a more egregious, more
obvious miscall because there's a line right there, is right
in front of the camera. It's right in front of
the refs, two of them, and they all missed it. Ramos,

(01:10:34):
have you seen that call? The blown call where where
Kevin Durant saved the basketball? I did not see that
called no music. Can you show it to him on
your phone or on your computer because it's everywhere and
it's more than a little embarrassing. Are you checked that
one out? But my my, my summation is, look, I
think it was a good trade made by both sides.

(01:10:55):
But it was a trade made because Kwi Leard wanted out.
Trade me right now, I want out. And the idea
that you're not supposed to boo him when he had
a long future as your best player and a super
Max contract waiting for him that he refused to sign.
I don't know what more do you want. Of course
you're allowed to boo. You said our city is not

(01:11:17):
good enough, you said our programs not We've won five
NBA titles. We're not good enough. I find nothing wrong
with it. Booing in sports of trade can make or
break your team is no different when it comes to
selling or trading your car. You need to make great
choices in a true car. You gotta star in your
roster so we're ready to when you were. When you're
ready to sell or trade in your car, check out
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(01:11:40):
Nick Wright thinks Russell Wilson will be the difference in
the Seahawks versus the Cowboys. Common theme right, we get
to it next. Be sure to catch live editions of
the Doug Dot Leap Show week days at noon eastern
three pm Pacific. From a heart rible loon landing on
a car to a load of concrete falling on one,
we've covered it. Talk to farmers. We know a thing
or two Because we've seen a thing or two. We
are farmers. Under written my Farmers Truck Fire insurance exchanges

(01:12:05):
and affiliates products unavailable in every state. Car shopping can
be confusing with terms like dealer price, list price, an
invoice price. True car shows what other people paid for
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when you're ready to buy a new or used car,
visit True Car and they enjoy more confident car buying experience.
Doug Golap Show Fox Sports Radio. Every day at this
time we play for you a portion of a previous

(01:12:25):
show on Fox Sports Radio or Fox Sports when don't
we call it. Here's Dick right giving his thoughts in
the Seahawks Cowboys game. My key to the game is,
is the Russell Wilson we've seen this year in the
fourth quarter going to be the Russell Wilson we see
for four quarters. Because Russell's numbers in totality this year

(01:12:45):
we're very good, career high in touchdowns, career high in
the fewest pick picks of his career, in the highest
quarterback rating. But if you just had what hed in
the fourth quarter and had that be what he did
throughout the game, he would have had a five thou
is in yards season rushing passing, combined, forty touchdowns, a
one o nine rating, nearly nine yards per attempts. He

(01:13:07):
was good through the first three quarters of games this year.
He was the best quarterback in football in the fourth quarter,
and I think that will be the Seattle mentality. If
you will and Russell's mentality from the word go yeah.
I mean, like, look, I've told people all along it
seems like every game has him running around making a
play in the fourth quarter. But part of that is

(01:13:29):
their their style. They don't want to have him throw
thirty times, and you can't pro rate numbers because the
defense has changed. They get where they get worn down
and sucked in by the run all game long, and
then he's able to scramble or make a play with
his arm late in the game. Like I don't there's
a reason that you can't pro rate quarters or count different.
Quote out, we won that quarter, so that helps us.

(01:13:50):
We won three quarters, win the game. It's all all
who ends up with the final score. That said, I mean,
that's a pretty sound philosophy. Is Hey, I'm gonna take
the Hawks to beat the Cowboys because they're better at quarterback.
I would also point out that the Russell Wilson hasn't
been as good on the road. The Seahawks haven't been
as good in the road, and the Cowboys have been
outstanding at home. And though I would agree Russell Wilson's

(01:14:12):
better than Dak prescott Um, I also think that Ezeke
Yellott is better than Chris Carson and the running backs
for the Seahawks. I think their defense, the Cowboys defense
is outstanding, and I think though I like Doug Baldwin
better than anybody the Cowboys have, in totality, I like
the Cowboys wide receiving corps better because it is, in
fact the team game. Let's get to Colin Cowherd. He

(01:14:32):
had this to saying discussing the difference seen Andy Reid
and Bill Belichick. The difference between Parcels and Bill Walsh.
One of them had Joe Montana and the other had
you know, Phil Simms, Jeff hoss Atler, Tony Romo, good players,
but not Joe Montana. The difference between Andy Reid and
Bill Belichick. One has Tom Brady and one has had
Jeff Garcia. So when you talk about coaching trees, and

(01:14:55):
I think this stuff matters a lot, it's residence beyond yourself, impact,
beyond on yourself, influence, beyond yourself. Look at Andy Reid's
coaching tree, branches, it's beautiful, it's flourishing, it's a very
healthy tree. Look at look at Bill Parcel's coaching tree.
That thing needs watering. That's not very good. His guys

(01:15:15):
have all been mostly busts, except Bill O'Brien, who has
been a marginal success. Yeah, I'm gonna disagree. First of all,
Bill O'Brien has been good. Like the idea you have
to win a super Bowl in order to be a
successful quarterback is kind of silly, right, Like, kind of
kind of silly. Um and Andy Reids, andy Reid's former assistance.

(01:15:39):
Obviously he had one Doug Peterson who won a Super Bowl.
Does that make any reads Tree that much better than
Belotics Tree is throughout the league? And like, I think
a little bit of of Belotics Tree, there's a lot
like coach Ka's Tree. Coach Case Tree going back ten
years ago, fifteen years ago wasn't very good. You know,
Quinn Sneider failed at Missouri. UM, you go around and

(01:16:02):
you start to look at at some of the you know,
Johnny Dawkins at times struggled, lost his job at Stanford.
Now seems to have recovered at Central Florida. But a
lot of these guys now have taken jobs, like Steve
Ojahowski at Marquette, jobs that have some at least similarities
to Duke. Academics are important private school is good and
they've been able to flourish there. Chris Collins Northwestern another example.

(01:16:24):
So I think coach Kay's guys have gotten smart about
which jobs they taken. I think the same is true
for Bill Belichick and for Josh mc dams in terms
of which which jobs they take. But in terms of playoffs,
you can't point out. And you got to the playoffs
five out of six, it seem the NFC Champions Game

(01:16:44):
five out of six years when he had Donovan McNabb
as his quarterback. So yeah, you're always helped out by
a great by by great quarterback. And the other thing
is like, look, they're doing things differently. They used to
be West Coast and now you know they run some
of the zone reed stuff and some r p O s.
They also run a lot of jet sweeps. They they've
changed and evolved with what exactly the Andy Reid coaching

(01:17:06):
tree is. But Andy Reid's biggest club is their inability
in Kansas City to hold leads in the playoffs, get
out to hot starts and then they hold on for
dear life in and they've lost. That's generally kind of
what happens, you know, was it the limitations of an
Alex Smith. We're you gonna say music? I heard you

(01:17:27):
pop in my ear? You want to hop in here? No, no,
I didn't have a whole lot to add. There were
you eating something? No, I don't believe that was me.
But anyways, I can't. So here's here's a question, Ramos.
You saw the video now of Kevin Durant with I

(01:17:48):
did have you seen a worst can? Can you think
of a worst blown call? That was pretty agree I mean,
it's one if you missed the guy going out of
bounce one time, but he literally walked out of bounce,
down the whole sideline to the other side of the
and then threw the ball in, And that would be
You don't have to be the really bad angle to
miss all of that. What is bird Box? It's a

(01:18:08):
movie with Sandra Bullock on Netflix. Okay, um. It's a
mysterious force decimates the population. The only thing is certain
if you see it, you die. The survivors now must
avoid coming face to face with the entity that takes
form of your worst fears. Searching for hope in a
new beginning, a woman and her child embark on a
dangerous journey through the woods and down the river, uh

(01:18:31):
to find the one place that offers sanctuary. To make it,
they have to cover their eyes from the evil that
chases them and complete the trip blindfolded. So so that's
the idea. Now, is this a Netflix movie where it's
a quote Netflix original? Is it good? It was? It was.
It got along at the end, but the beginning with

(01:18:51):
the premise was very interesting. So I we watched on
New Year's Eve, scary um probably for the youth of
the world. You you the world, if you were if
you were chased by your greatest fear, what would it be?
A dog? You're scared of? Not scared of large dogs.
I got attacked by a dog when I was like seven.

(01:19:11):
What it was like, labrador? It was a big dog,
I don't remember. It was just coming at me. I
was really freaked. So, yeah, a big dog coming at you, slobbering,
salivating music to give your chase by your your if
you're chased by by your greatest fear of, what would
be Yeah, man, I mean I guess a shark would

(01:19:32):
probably be pretty high on that list. Okay. The thing
about sharks is they can be avoided, Like I can
guarantee you you can avoid ever coming anywhere near to shark.
Do you know how I don't go in the water.
There you go. If you never go in the water,
there is a one thousand percent chance that you do
not get bitten nor eaten by a shark. There's already

(01:19:55):
there's already already well, Sharknado. Yeah, I was gonna say, clearly,
you have not seen Sharknado. Okay, So have you seen
the bird box memes with the officials from last night,
like they were really officiating blindfolded? Have you guys seen these?
Pretty good? They're pretty good, Dan Buyer, you want to
get in on what your greatest fear is. I don't know, Dann.

(01:20:16):
Dan's like, oh man, not being able to hit driver
off the tea ever again, I haven't for years, but
or haven't been able to. I try. I'm not a
big snakes guy. I don't like snakes. You're like Harrison
you know, you know what character you're like that doesn't
like sneaks? Right, Indiana Jones? Yes, have you seen Indian?
You know? But you started to say hair and I

(01:20:36):
figured it wasn't Han Solo. Damn God, you're smart. You're
so much smarter than me. That. That's really good. I
love that that you that you know he's afraid of snakes,
and if you watched all three you would know why
he's scared of steaks. You have to see the third
one to understand why what James Harden performance showed us
about Lebron james career. That's right. Fox Sports Radio has

(01:20:58):
the best sports talk lineup the nation. Catch all of
our shows at Fox Sports Radio dot com and within
the I Heart Radio app search f s R to
listen live. Can we all agree James Harden is good?
Might any any dissenters? Ramos? You get that look after
your face Ramo's YouTube music. Okay, I don't love watching

(01:21:18):
him play. I don't. But he's leading the league in
scoring by four almost five points. All right, he's by
the way, like you know, it's not like that's the
only stat that he's dominant in. Here he is. You
go look at league leaders, he's third and fourth, excuse me,
and assists behind John Walla, who by the way, he's

(01:21:40):
not gonna play the rest of the year, and it'll
end up with a higher assist total points and assists.
And the downside to it is and you may call
me a hater is he has the ball in his
hands a lot, a lot, a lot. You're familiar with
what's called usage rate, right, we all were familiar with
usage rate. UM. I don't know how exactly exactly how

(01:22:05):
it's uh, how it's calculated, but your usage rate and
his is thirty nine point four. So for a little perspective,
do you think Russell Westbrook has the ball more or
as much as James Harden. Russell Westbrook's thirty three point three,

(01:22:26):
which is the second highest in the league. Lebron James
is thirty one, which is in line with Janice, with
Joel Embiid, with Kevin Durant, with Steph Curry who's at
thirty point seven, with Kyrie Irving who's only at thirty
point three. James Harden is so far ahead in terms

(01:22:47):
of usage rate, so far ahead, it's crazy. But much
like the usage, usage is super high, so too can
be said for possessions per game. You know, possessions per
game for NBA team, So against um, against other star players,

(01:23:12):
James Harden, it has a high usage rating against other years.
Think about this. The Houston Rockets, who don't play the
fastest pace all right, Houston Rockets actually are twenty seven
in possessions per game. Excuse me, twenty eight in possessions
per game, but I don't know. Go back to two

(01:23:37):
thousand three and two thousand four, but that's when Kobe
Bryant scored forty nine games in a row. Scored forty
nine games row. The Lakers average ninety four and a
half possessions per game and a half. The Dallas Mavericks
were number one in the league and they averaged nineties
six point seven possessions per game. This year are the

(01:24:00):
Atlanta Hawks have a hundred eight point four possessions per game.
So the other guys say, like, look at how many
points Trey Young averages and assist Trey Young as what
Trey Young's team is on track for the highest number
of possessions per game in the last twenty five years
in the NBA. Of course you're gonna average. Everybody's gonna
average more points, including the opposition. A matter of fact,

(01:24:25):
Oklahoma Cities is actually actually down a little bit. They're
one of six point seven, but in the last three
d and twelve possessions per game. Of course, everybody stats
are up. You got more opportunities and when you have
more opportunities, and you have individually more ball dominant guys
than you've ever had before. You're gonna have new records
in the NBA. I say this all the time about

(01:24:47):
like college football. College football, you can't compare the numbers
today for the numbers of even ten years ago, fifteen
years ago. First teams are playing more games. The championship
teams will play fifteen games this season, and the postseason
games and bowl games all count, and the college and
the conference championship games count. In addition to within each game,

(01:25:09):
there's more plays, more possessions than there's ever been. So
you can't compare eras not just because the style of
play is different, and because in football guys throw more,
the defense is wide open. The rules have changed the
r P O s. You know, RPO works more in
college because in college you can block three lines three

(01:25:31):
yards beyond the line of scrimmage, and the quarterback can
still throw a football and you don't have the offensive
lineman downfield, the legal legal man downfield. In the NBA,
in addition to the fact they've changed the rules, right,
there's no such thing really as a moving screen. There
is no hand checking. People have embraced the three point
line as well. So the hoop is the lane is

(01:25:53):
more spread out, and they're playing far more possessions per
game and players its stars on teams have ball more
per game than they ever had before. So my point is, like, look,
I can take away from James. I think James Harden
is awesome at one on one, at at at one
on one. I think he's a great player. Think he's
probably the best one on overall, like going one on

(01:26:15):
one score passer, driver, shooter, like in two thousand eighteen,
two thousand nineteen. This is how you play like he's
great at it, but don't use his stats to back
up up. You can use his stats versus other players,
but you have to put an asterix by it, because
he's he's six up six points higher in terms of
usage rating than anybody else in the league. And that's

(01:26:37):
by a mile. Six is a mile if you put
in the context of every other star in the NBA
is between thirty and thirty three in terms of the possessions.
Excuse me, in terms of usage rating, he's thirty nine
point four. The same is true for today's NBA players
compared to others. You gotta put an asterick by it.

(01:26:58):
And so when I hear guys like uh, Nick, right,
go like wow, you know, look at the numbers, he's
gonna be the all time scoring leader, Like yeah, well
he played fifteen years, didn't have to go to college.
He played in the league that favorite offensive players. There's
more possessions, and they're more ball dominant guys. So you
get more opportunities within each of those games that have

(01:27:18):
more possessions, and then you're playing the same length game
as before. It's almost unfair. It's almost unfair. Go back
to OH three and O four. That's a that's a
great one. Okay, here's the here's the easiest thing. So

(01:27:40):
he's had what does he have my music? With five
consecutive games? Is that? Right? Five? Five games with um
I believe he has five games with forty or more
points in a row. Right. His usage rating is thirty
nine point four. When we think of Kobe Bryant, we

(01:28:00):
think of Kobe Bryant as a ball hog, as being
ball dominant. Right. Kobe Bryant's usage rating in OH three
oh four, which he only played sixty five games, was
twenty seven thirty seven. Let me let me give you
a little context here. Okay, so he would dominate the

(01:28:21):
ball as much now as Luca John Chick, Carris LeVert,
Mike Conley, Drew Holiday. There's the context. In addition to
the fact that within the usage rating in each game
you had fewer possessions per game. I'm making sense. This

(01:28:44):
is am I throwing out too many numbers and too
many terms. The idea is basketball has changed so much that,
in addition to creating Russell Westbrook's triple double average the
last two years, because there's more possessions, more opportunity, more
dominant usage ratings. The same is true for James Harden Like,
He's not that much better a score than other people,
he just has more opportunities to score. The same can

(01:29:06):
be said for the career of Lebron James. I hope
that came out the way I wanted to come out,
all right, Dak Prescot or Philip Rivers. I'll ask former
NFL scout John Midelcoff who has more pressure on them
to perform this weekend. We'll ask him next. But first,
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(01:30:32):
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Doug Gottlieb Show, Fox Sports Radio. It is Friday night
and the party is here on the west side, best side.
I don't know why they're holding this college football playoff

(01:31:14):
and Levi's Stadium. Uh let's let's welcome in Northern California zone.
John Middlecoff, who, of course, the three Now podcast is
a good one. It alongside My All Ball podcast, part
of the Herd podcast network. His is football minus basketball John's,
the former scout in the Nation Football League, provides an
incredible amount of insight. Um. I look, I know that's

(01:31:37):
not what we brought you on to talk about, but
that stadium sucks. Like location is bad, you know. I
know it's one of those like, oh, architectural digest. Yeah,
but people are sitting in the sun during day games.
The turf they can't It's literally the only place in
California it can't grow grass like it. That stadium stinks.
You know, I'm gonna disagree a little bit. I don't

(01:31:59):
like the lokal Ah neither. I I live closer above
San Francisco. It's a long drive for me. I like
the Colosseum because you live above it. So yeah, I
live that's that's next to Oakland. That's in the nice side.
That's over the hill in Oakland. That's not Abu, I guess.
I guess above Santa Clara, San Jose. So I don't

(01:32:20):
get me wrong. I don't love the drive and traffics.
Not l a bad, but it's gotten dramatically worse the
last five or six years. But I attended the Super
Bowl as a fan, and I thought it was incredible.
So to me to play. WrestleMania has been there, these
these big events would not have come. And here's the
other thing on the college football. It's the San Francisco

(01:32:40):
area in general, you know, is an incredible NFL market
by every metric. It's the number one West Coast NFL
market than forty Niners. To me are the biggest West
Coast team, especially when they're good, but we're not very.
College football does not matter. But you can't live in
this little southern bubble and just keep the games in Atlanta.
I'm with you, I think, but I think it when

(01:33:01):
it comes out west now it's gonna come to l A.
Are gonna go to Vegas eventually? Well, but I saw
the ticket prices compared to win I think the championship
game was in Glendale, you know, the Arizona Stadium two
years ago. These tickets are actually more expensive. I think
it's more of a West Coast thing, Like do you
think the vibe once Crown Key's Palaces built? People in
l A are gonna care anymore than a week care
up here? If it's Alabama Clemson, you know, I mean,

(01:33:23):
if it was s C. Let's say it was sc
Alabama in this game. Don't you think a lot more
people would quote unquote care about no question, no question,
and if look, if it's the Big Ten, they'll travel better.
But I also think that one of the things that
that football guys have college football guys have said is like, look,
if you're gonna add an additional round, you're asking a
lot for fans. You just are to travel expensive. It's

(01:33:45):
it's expensive, and like, look, we already go Like if
I'm a I'm a Georgia van, already go to Florida,
Georgia every game. Right, I'm gonna go to the Auburn
game because that's the oldest river in South I gotta
go to the SEC championship game. Now I gotta go
to three rounds. And it did like like I just
only have so much money and I can watch TV.
I also think they are a little you know, in
the South, you can basically drive everywhere, right, Like if

(01:34:07):
you live in Alabama, you can drive to Atlanta like
things out here, Like I know, I have buddies in
the SCC Scouts. They drive everywhere. I did the West Coast,
I mean, the go u c. L A to the
University of Washington, Like you ain't making that drive. So
we're just much more spread out geographically out here in
that trek for both those two teams. It is a
long plane flight. It is tough, but it's you do

(01:34:27):
have to kind of expand the brand. And you know,
the Pact twelve is terrible. It doesn't look like they're
going to get a team in the playoffs anytime soon.
So I'm you listen. I'm a West Coast homer. I
know you're from out here. I'm glad the game's out here. Um,
I'll just say this. We do have buses in California
that people use. It's called Southwest Airlines. We do. We
use those. We use those the Greyhound of the Sky.
That's uh. John Mintlcoff joins us. All right, let's this.

(01:34:51):
This is a question I've been kind of pondering all
day of discussing who do you think has more pressure
on them to perform at quarterback. On one end, you've
got that Prescott who has performed much better since they
gave him a number one wide receiver, but he's playing
for a new contract. On the other hand, you have
Philip Rivers who's playing for Legacy now right, but he
has he has an incredible supporting cast, but he's playing

(01:35:14):
on the road against a really dynamic defense. And you know,
the best thing Philip Rivers ever did was win on
the road against Peyton Manning on a torn a c
L and then play on a torn a c L
when Ladanian Thomason didn't play. Is going back years years back.
But like in terms of so legacy versus contract, which
quarterback has much pressure on them, I think, by far

(01:35:34):
of any player in this playoffs, and that includes the
teams on buys, that Rivers has more pressure on him
than any guy, mainly because I think there's kind of split,
you know, visions on what he is as a player.
Is he an all time grade? Is he not? And
you can kind of argue both. But since they started
owing four last year, then they finished nine and seven,
So they went nine and three down the stretch, and

(01:35:54):
they went twelve and four this year. If you were
to lose, especially lose twice in I know, he's not
playing Lamar Jackson, and the Ravens defense is excellent. They
don't lose that often at home. But he's got to
have something to show for this kind of resurgence late
in his career, you know, winning that Kansas City game.
I still think it's probably his best regular season game,

(01:36:15):
given you know how good Kansas City had been going
on the road, the style in which he won that game,
but it would feel a little hollow. And I'm a
Rivers guy, I'm rooting for him, but he's got to
win a playoff game. And I think if they are
somehow able to get over the hump and win this
playoff game, maybe he can go on a little run.
But here's the other thing. It is hard. I mean,
they're West Coast teams. Historically, when they go to that

(01:36:36):
East Coast time zone, they play the morning game is
just tough. The Ravens don't often lose at home just
in general. Their defense is excellent. But to me, you
can't lose to a quarterback that's completing like ten to
fifteen balls a game like they got San Diego to
me or l A. Has to find a way to
win this game, especially agree with you. Do you think
they will can? Can? I give you my pessimism, I

(01:37:00):
mean giving my pi I'm gonna gamble on him. I
do not feel good about it at all. Okay yet,
so you're cautiously pessimistic, right, my my biggest problem is
they get behind everybody. And this is the this is
one of the styles of football you do not want
to get behind because it becomes a shorter game. Your possessions, right,
That's the whole magic to it is shorten the game,
keep the defense out the field. Played the kicking game

(01:37:21):
and you know, ten nothing is not that big a
deal against the Arizona Cardinals. They fell behind there because
you can reel off forty five points in a row,
you can, you know, but it's it's harder in in
a in a shortened game. That's honestly my biggest fear.
I think. Look, having Hunter Henry, however many snaps he plays,
that's a new weapon. Eckler didn't play less he's back
for sure. Um having having Eckler back, who's back for sure, Like,

(01:37:46):
that's another weapon that they didn't have instead of playing
justin Jackson. And they've seen the defense and they've seen
the offense. And this is important because it's the offense
is unique to anybody else in the NFL, and they
seem to have kind of figured it out right. But
if you're behind like that to me is my biggest
fear with the Chargers, and they they seem to get
off the bad starts almost every game. There is something

(01:38:06):
to be said. They are the unique, really good team
that just feels better on the road than they do
at home. Uh. They clearly have had some huge road
wins this season. I know the Steelers didn't make end
up making the playoffs. That that was a big deal
for the Chargers to go in there and get that win.
And then, like I said, the Kansas City game, what
was that three weeks ago? Now they go. They went

(01:38:27):
seven and one this year on the road. So they
are a team, this group, like this unit is confident
on the road, and there is to me something to
be saying about said about that, especially for this branchise
that have had some rough losses over the last five
six years. On the first time they made the playoffs
in six years, seven years this, I do think they
are equipped as well as they have been since you know,

(01:38:47):
those Marty Ball teams in the mid two thousands, Like
legit talent, legit players, they are equipped to go on
the road and beat really good defenses. And that's what
they have to do to win this game. All right,
Let's let's get to a couple a couple of others.
Um Colts take on the Texans. That's an early Saturday,
early Saturday game. We've seen this game twice earlier in
the year, before either of the team's really formed. The

(01:39:08):
Colts gave away a chance to tie and I don't
even think they're really playing for a win, but they
end up losing that game. Then they go down a
couple of weeks ago and beat the Texans in Houston.
Texans not a great history in the playoffs, albeit they've
been decent at home in the in the wild card round.
Who do you like? I mean, the best quarterback Houston's
ever had in their franchise history, right, and this is

(01:39:29):
a guy that you know, he technically hasn't played in
any big NFL games beside the regular season. I mean
Alabama Clemson's pretty big games. He's played two of those,
played four playoff games. I'm leaning Houston in this game. Uh,
they just have too many just truly blue chip guys,
like difference makers J. J. Watt bounce back season. I
didn't see it coming, clown. He's turned into an excellent player.

(01:39:50):
Hopkins arguably best receiver in the league. There at home.
I think Bill O'Brien. I remember going to a practice
when I worked in Philly and going down to Penn
State and watching him operating. I think he's almost underrated
at this point. People make fun of him. Maybe it's
the butchin, I don't know, but I think he's a
really good coach. He's one everywhere he's been and now
he has the best quarterback he's ever coached as a

(01:40:11):
head coach. Um, I expect him to win this game.
But I mean the Colts, there is something to be
said about, like the mojo they have going this year.
When they start one in five, Luck will throw the
occasional bad pick. But I mean, I I don't feel
great betting against Andrew Luck in a playoff game. He's
won several first playoff game he's had since two thousand
four teen. Uh. It almost feels like the Colts are

(01:40:31):
a year early. All there, most of their players. I mean,
they have a couple of rookie all pros that's that's
unheard of. And then they again they have Andrew Luck.
So they're a year or two away from me from
being like a real real factor. But in the Dome
they are, like you said, they this is a division team,
so they're used to playing them. But I'm gonna take
the Texas reluctantly. All right, let's get to Seahawks Cowboys.

(01:40:52):
That's a night game on Fox on on Saturday night.
Hawks come in. They're not as good on the road,
they're better at home them, but they also come in
a team who's won their last two, beating the Chiefs
being the Cardinals. But the Cardinals game was ridiculously close,
and I don't know, like, did anybody notice that the
Cardinals didn't call time out at all at the end
of the game when they could have to get the
ball back? That that was? That was weird anyway, it was.

(01:41:16):
It had a weird field second half to it. Yeah,
it did. Um look a lot of people would like, look,
I like the Cowboys. I like the Seahawks. That kind
of look like mirror image of each other. But I
like Russell Wilson more than Dak Prescott. That's why I'm
taking the Seahawks. Is it that easy? I mean, if
you look at it, just like pick the best quarterback

(01:41:38):
in any playoff game, you're probably gonna be right more
often than you're wrong. It's like if you picked the
best player in an NBA playoff series, on either team,
you're gonna usually win that series. I do think at
the end of the day, though, Dallas, like Dak, is
pretty good. I almost think he's a little underrated at
this point because people just love to kind of rip him.
Especially remember two years ago when they played the Packers

(01:41:59):
in that playoff game they lost. He was really good.
He was not the problem. They couldn't stop anyone on
defense that you look at see like. I think Dallas
just has better, like more blue chip guys. I mean,
their defensive line is awesome. The two young linebackers kick ass.
Amar He's a really good player, much better than anything
they had. Zeke led the league in rushing. I don't
think most people realize that because all we do is

(01:42:19):
tweet and talk about Todd Gurley. But Zeke is a stud.
If DoD can just play and he didn't play the
last game, by the ways, didn't play last games, Yeah,
I mean he's a monster. He's a blue Chipper's blue chipper.
So I I like Dallas in this game. I think
they because that weird game they had they lost to
Indie even though the division was basically over and they
didn't have anything to play for. Remember Dallas when I

(01:42:40):
have like a three game stretch on Thanksgiving and then
they beat the Saints and then they beat the Eagles,
where they their highs. Like, clearly, if they play well,
they can play with anyone in the NFL. I actually
kind of think they're a sleeper team in the NFC
to make a little run. I like Seattle, they had
a great season. I mean it was a total muscle
flex repeat this year. But I I just I'm taking

(01:43:00):
the Cowboys, Eagles, Bears go. I'm got a sticking with
my guy Matt Maggie and the Bears. But you know,
it's how do you bet against Nick Foles? I mean,
you kind of on that magic carpet right again. But
the line is pretty big, so it shows you. Like,
to me, the Bears are just better. They've had the
best defense start to finish. They just their roster is
legit loaded. Uh. The thing that would give you pause

(01:43:23):
is like, what if it's a tie game in the
fourth quarter and Mitch has to complete a third and eight?
You trust, No, you can't, can't. Now, I'm just betting
on the fact that they're not gonna be I'm taking
the Bears I think they'll just be in control because
maybe their defense they can run the ball special teams.
But if they're in that position and you've bet on
the Bears or you're a Bears fan or that soldier field,

(01:43:44):
people are gonna be terrified because you just he does
make a lot of plays with his legs. He isn't
actually really really high end NFL athlete, but as a quarterback,
you just have to make throws. Why I'm betting against
Lamar Jackson. I do think that especially they can get
up early. That's gonna be a key here, getting him
settled down. Uh usually when they've played well, they start fast.

(01:44:07):
Now they still have blown some of those games because
again you go off script after the you know, first
couple of drives, and he just gotta play. Remember the
game you were at that Miami game right there. He
starts fine and then it kind of unravels. So I
think last week was pretty key though, and Naggie, you know,
could have benched everyone, especially after the first second half

(01:44:27):
started and the Rams were running away with it in
their playoffs seating. But he played that game like it
was a playoff game, because Minnesota was playing it like
a playoff game on the road. Mitch played really well
the big time drive in the second half. I think
they completed like four third downs. They had like a
nine minute drive. I do think he could build off that,
you know, that's to me that's big for young players,
Like a Russell Wilson type guy wouldn't have mattered, but

(01:44:49):
for Mitch. That's why I'm a little more confident going
into this game than I would have been if like
the playoffs started December one or something. It was. It
was weird though that they played like they wanted to
play the Eagles and they could have played the Vikings again, right.
I think there's something that he said though about Doug
about keeping momentum, Like when you're playing well, the Giants
have done that a couple of times, you win the
last couple of games, you know, especially if you're gonna

(01:45:10):
play in the wild card around it's a little different.
You're gonna get a buy. I don't think it matters
as much, but just to keep the momentum rolling and
beating Minnesota at home and they had to I got
the big deal for the Bears, you know, probably meant
more for their players that it did like us outside,
But I do think they can build off that and
build more confidence going into this playoff game. Yeah, winning
nine of your last ten, winning twelve games is in

(01:45:31):
fact a big thing, feeling good about yourself going to
the playoffs. He's they're a big favorite, but it feels
like they're almost an underdog. Is weird? It does? It
does a little bit. I think it's most of the
quarterback position, although you know, Nick Foles has some stinkers
even in the playoffs, going back to last year before
he before he played exceedingly well against the Vikings and
then late against against the Patriots. John midill coffs name
at first half against Atlanta either it was the second

(01:45:52):
half that he kind of turned it on, right right,
I mean it's it. He can. He can run hot
and run really really cold. That's where Chicago a fan,
i mean Eagles fan freaks out because I said, there's
something he's He's got some Ryan Fitzpatrick to him where
in a fill and sometimes he gets really hot and
people forget how bad he was at the start of
this year. John middlecoffin three Now is the podcast download,

(01:46:12):
It's on the Herd podcast Network. It's awesome. Uh, And
of course follow him on Facebook as well, where he'll
give you Facebook post about all things in the National
Football League. John, thanks so much for joining us. Thanks
have a good weekend. Pleasures minds get you to Dan Buyer,
who's always ready, always available. What he got Dan? We
have gotten news from the National Football League in advance
of wild Card weekend. Good news for the Chargers running

(01:46:35):
back Melvin Gordon not on the injury reports. He'll be
good to go to face the Ravens, while his teammate
Austin Ekeler questionable for that game with the growing injury.
The Eagles did not have Nick Foles on the injury report.
He is good to go to start against the Bears
Sunday despite a rib injury. Chiefs and quarterback Patrick Mahomes
have a bye for wild Card weekend. They'll resume play

(01:46:55):
during the during the divisional playoff round. Mahomes today the
name of the assault see ad Press first team All
Pro quarterback receiving forty five out of fifty first place votes.
The only unanimous pick was Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
Some news from college football was Virginia's hiring Neil Brown
is their new head football coach. He comes over for
Troy and takes over for Dana Holger Sinulve for Houston.

(01:47:17):
Former Georgia quarterback Justin Fields will reportedly transfer to Ohio
State and enroll for the spring semester, according to reports,
while Stanford wide receiver j j R. Sega Whiteside will
enter the NFL draft. The Athletic is saying the Washington
Nationals offered Bryce harpera contract with more than three hundred
million dollars. Lebron James gonna miss another week for the
Lakers because of his strained Groyd will be back to

(01:47:40):
Doug Gottlieb in the Doug Got Leave Show in ten seconds.
But first, no word from farmers. From a dog accidentally
flooding a living room to a dog taking a joy ride,
We've covered it. Talk to farmers. We know a thing
or two because we've seen a thing or two. We
are farmers under written my farmers truck fire insurance exchanges
and affiliates products unavailable in every state. Doug back to you,

(01:48:01):
Thank you, Dan, Doug got lip show here on Fox
Sports Radio, an NFL coach on the hot seat. No more.
I'll tell you who next. Be sure to catch live
editions of the Doug Dot Leap Show weekdays at noon
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or two. Because we've seen a thing or two. We

(01:48:22):
are farmers under written my Farmers Truck fire insurance exchanges
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(01:48:42):
Doug Gotlim Show, Fox Sports Radio. I'm fired up for
wild Card weekend. You know what, Here's what I'm gonna do.
We usually do my picks segment, like do we want
to do my you want to do our picks? Do
you want to do five for five? And then we
don't have four, like how do you want to do
this music? Because we didn't plan out the picks segment.
We plan out the press with Dan Buyer, which we'll
get to in a moment. Or you just want to
get me to give you my picks? Is that is

(01:49:03):
that fun enough for you? Will do the press here
and then after the press we will just go over
your picks. Since there are not five or five of them,
will just give him out after the pre You want
the open to the segment to be an accurate depiction
of what is contained in the segment. Is that correct?
That would be correct? Doug, Yeah, all right, I got it.
I'm I'm okay with that. I'm okay with that. Let's

(01:49:24):
get to the press the press. Do do do do do?
Dan Buyer got we got news out of Washington, d
C n NBC Sports Washington sing that the Washington Redskins
have told that coach ja Gruden that he will be
back foreen. So there could have maybe been nine openings

(01:49:47):
in the NFL, there will only be eight. J Gruden
back with the Redskins next season. I don't think they
did a great job, but it should be pointed out
that they were in first place before Alex Smith broke
his leg and then Cold mcgoy broke his leg. Like,
what are the chances you're both your top two quarterbacks break?
They're like, has that ever happened before an NFL season
with both your your top two quarterbacks both break their leg. Gosh,

(01:50:10):
off the top of my head, I can't think of
any so so it does make some sense. They were
in first place, both quarterbacks broke their leg, and uh,
they didn't end up in last place, so they had massive,
massive hostel injuries. The Green Bay Packers will reportedly interview
Adam Gaze for their head coaching position on Sunday. According

(01:50:32):
to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Casee has already spoken with
the Jets and Cardinals. It feels like he's gonna get
a job. Didn't Yes, which one do you think he gets? Um?
I think he gets the Packers job kind of too,
been a head coach before and wouldn't that when that
sucked though for Joe Philip and he's like abbing uphensquarterinell
been the head coach of the Dolphins. Why don't I

(01:50:52):
get the job? The the odds been online having the
odds right now, Josh McDaniels would be a two to
three favorite games all the way twelve to one. Matt Lafleur,
the Titans offensive coordinator, is going to interview with the
Packers on Sunday as well. He is listed at seven
to two. Yeah, just to put that out there. Gaze,

(01:51:14):
by the way, according to bet online, not a favorite
for any of the jobs. Well, he also has a
history in in Denver. It's not on the question he
gets that job, that is, but apparently and when they
had some falling out, he and he and John Elway.
But then they can fall back in love if you
offer them the job. Online, Freddie Kitchens is the favorite

(01:51:37):
to be the Cardinals head coach at three to one.
That's interesting. Lions general manager Bob Quinn said the team
would not trade quarterback Matthew Stafford this offseason, adding quote,
Matthew Stafford is our quarterback here. He'll be our quarterback here.
End quote. My guess is just too hard to find

(01:51:58):
a quarterback right like him. We've paid all the money
up front, Like, yeah, he's not the problem. We've got
other problems. My answer would have been, look, we want
Matt Stafford to be the quarterback, but we're open to
the possibility of a home run deal if somebody wants
to come and get somebody appreciates Matt Stafford the way
we appreciate him, and anything is on the table because

(01:52:18):
we gotta get better. That would have been the answer.
I would have preferred. Lakers forward Lebron James will be
reevaluated in a week as he's dealing with a strained groin.
Out tonight against the Knicks. He'll then miss games against
the Mavericks, Timberwolves, and the Pistons. What's the word on
Kyle Kuzman's he playing to night? Um? I don't have
that readily, Availabeah. I was looking at it like everybody's talking. No,

(01:52:41):
I'm not making I'm saying everyone is talking about everyone's
talking about Lebron. No one's asking whether or not Kyle
Kuzman is gonna play tonight. Like right, so we'll we'll see. Um,
it's gonna be fascinating to see if they can kind
of hang around and win some games without Bron and
without Rondo. He did not take part in shoot around
this morning. Kuzma did not, but the Lakers only sent

(01:53:03):
out a release on lebronze status. Oh guys, it's a
National Trivia Day question. We've got three trivia questions for
everyone to participate. Doug, you are since it's your show,
you are free to answer. First, We've got a multiple
choice fill in the blank and true false. Okay, So,
first of all, multiple choice, what franchise has the best

(01:53:26):
winning percentage in the NFL playoffs for a franchise history.
What franchise is the best winning percentage in the NFL playoffs?
Is it a the Patriots, be the Ravens or see
the Cowboys? Oh, it sounds like a trick question. I'm
gonna go Patriots, all right, Ryan Music, I'll go Ravens,

(01:53:47):
and John Ramos I'll take demn Cowboys, all the cow
everybody goes. The winner on this question is Ryan Music.
It's the Baltimore Ravens with the best winning percentage. Alright,
fill in the blanks, guys, of the twelve teams in
the playoffs, the blank have the worst overall winning percentage
in the postseason. So, of these twelve teams as a franchise,

(01:54:08):
what team has the worst winning percentage of the twelve chargers?
For Doug Ryan Music, I'm gonna go with the Texans,
the Texans. John Ramos, I will also take the Chargers. Okay, guys,
it's the Kansas City Chiefs. Yes, the Kansas City Chiefs
with the lowest winning percentage. And finally, true or false? Guys,

(01:54:29):
the Texans have the fewest playoff wins of any NFL
team as a franchise. Is that true or false? Ugly true?
Ryan Music, I will go with false. I'll break the
tie and say true it is true. John and Doug
are correct. Just three playoff wins for the Houston Texans,

(01:54:52):
who of course started play in two thousand two. And
UH Athletics say is the Nats are offering Bryce Harper
more than three hundred million dollars. Yeah, I want to
know the structure of that deal. That's a big question
for me. Do you think he goes there? No? I
actually think their home field is fine for the future,
so I don't really understand. I think they would offer
m a short term deal, which is what they offered
him before. The fact that he hasn't signed a deal

(01:55:14):
means he doesn't have the offer that he wants. Get
out there and pressed. That was the press. Okay, buyer,
Now it's your chance, your chance? Who do you like
this weekend? In one? I'll take the spreads Colts Texans
is such a crazy one, but I'll go Colts. I
can't bet against the Seahawks. I like the Chargers on
the road and give the Bears to win. But I
think the Eagles will cover, all right. I like the
Bears to win and cover like the Chargers to win,

(01:55:35):
which would mean they would cover. I like the Cowboys
at home, and I like the Colts on the road.
So I like three of the four favorites. Obviously, the
one I'm hedging is most about is the is the Eagles.
Um um, did you guys see this? Do you know
how many players? Here's a question for you, Ryan Music.
How many guys you think rushed for a thousand yards
this year? I'm gonna go with seven. Okay, the answer

(01:55:56):
is nine. Can you name them? Gurly? Yeah, I heard Gurly?
That's one, Julie Zeki Elliott. I'll give you those two.
Sa Kwan Barkley. You know the rookie yards. Can you
name any the other? Chris Carson whos with the Seahawks.
That's that's four. Christian McCaffrey is five. Derrick Henry had

(01:56:17):
that huge game on was the Thursday night football? Right?
Can you name the other two? Here's the here's the hint.
They both went to Oklahoma. Joe Mixon. Joe Mixon fourth
in rushing this year and he missed a couple of
games and the other one, oh man, I'm John and blank.

(01:56:38):
Thirty three year old Adrian Peterson rushed for it though
played in every game. Mick Chubb had it, but the
I didn't have a yard rushing though, and in the
last game of the year didn't need it. But Mick
Chubb had a thousand and then lost five yards on
his final carry and ended up with like, that's true,
Otherwise I would have musically you like this weekend, I
will go with the Colts, the Chargers, Seahawks and Bears. Bears, Seahawks, Colts, Chargers, Ramos,

(01:57:09):
he likes the Rams. They're not playing this weekend, Ramos quickly, Seahawks, Colts, Ravens, Eagles.
I'm not going against the Chargers, you know, and I
just I have this healthy amount of fear for the
Ravens as a Charger fan. All Right, we'll be back Monday.
Trent Dilford joins US, Michael Lombardi joins US. Plus we'll
get you ready for the National Championship Game. Download the
Elball Podcast. Have a great weekend to doug out the show.

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