December 24, 2025 • 37 mins
Former NFL scout John Middlekauff previews the Christmas Day games and tells which teams he likes the most to win and why. Next, does John think the Bears are actually a good team this year, who is to blame for Baltimore's issues this year, and could Phillip Rivers be back next year for the Colts? All that and more in this episode's mailbag segment.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
The volume What is going On Everybody? John Middlecoff three
and out podcast, brought to you by my friends at
(00:23):
Zone Pouches. I want to wish everyone to marry Christmas.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Hopefully you have a great week with.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Family, friends, loved ones, and enjoy yourself. We will not
have any podcast or reaction on Christmas, mainly because the
games are so terrible and me nothing so did not
see this coming maybe a couple months ago, but I said,
let's enjoy ourselves, spend some time with family and not
(00:50):
work Christmas night for who for what? As my guy
Ricky Waters would say, that will be the tentative game
plan we will Saturday night I'll have We'll do it
live on YouTube, and then it'll be a podcast for
Sunday reacting to the Chargers play the Texans and the
Ravens play the Packers in a couple of massive games.
(01:11):
So we will be uh, we will get back on
the saddle for those two. I think I think I
have some function with my wife on Saturday morning and
then we'll just be watching football the rest of the day.
So excited for that, and then Sunday will be normal,
Monday will be normal.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Just be back.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
We're rocking and rolling again, and then then we got
college football playoff games next week, so we got a
lot going on. Obviously, we had podcasts on the Big
Nighter game beating Philip Rivers and a lot of content
this week. But this will be the last thing for
the next couple of days. So hopefully everyone is enjoying
their time. And you guys know the Drill. Subscribe to
(01:47):
the podcast, subscribed to the YouTube channel, so you never
miss a thing. But today we'll just be a mailbag
at John Middlecoff. At John Middlecoff is the Instagram. Fire
in those dms, get your questions answered here on the
show again, just my instagram's two or my Instagram two f's.
I don't have a burner, but firing those dms, get
your questions answered on the show. That is what we're
(02:09):
gonna do. So before we do, I do just want
to hit on the three games. I mean Dallas playing
I guess Josh Johnson with Dallas nothing to play for obviously,
Washington is in complete shambles, not gonna lie, I think,
Brian schott Enneimer, you know I want. Dak's been one
of the better quarterbacks in the league all season long.
(02:30):
You know, you could make an argument start to finish,
he's been a top five quarterback in the NFL this year.
I think you could make a pretty consistent argument with that.
And I just think he's he's gonna play well in
this game. Their team on Washington, the secondary is so bad.
So I love the Cowboys, which is crazy to say
minus seven on the road on Christmas, depending on where
(02:51):
you live. Morning for me it's you know, eleven am
Mountain time, but I anytime touchdown props for ceedee lamb.
For George Pickens. I mean George Pickens. Now, it's like
if I'm his agent, hey man, we want to finish strong.
We want negotiating power, whether it's Jerry, whether it's a franchise,
tag and trade, whether it's a big contract. We've had
a good season. We got a little weird there for
(03:13):
a second. But you know, you saw him last week
that they look good in that first half against the Chargers,
kind of ran out of juice. Obviously their defense isn't good.
But what's Josh Johnson gonna do? Go to Josh Johnson's
Wikipedia page. It's craziest thing you'll ever see. He's played
in like three different leagues the XFL. I guess it
wasn't the XFL at the time, it was some other league.
He was on the Sacramento Mountain Lions played in the UFL.
(03:34):
I'm pretty sure he played in the AFL. Obviously, he's
played in the NFL. My man loves some football and
likes a paycheck.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Don't blame him.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
So I like the Cowboys minus seven this game Detroit
and Minnesota. Let's face it, Minnesota's got a quarterback problem.
While JJ started showing signs of life, he's injured again.
And even the season when he came into it healthy,
he has just missed basically the half the games. And
these are major from concussions to the hamstring. Now he
(04:06):
you know, or I guess the ankle. I guess it
was earlier in the season that kind of came out
of nowhere. Concussion that kind of came out of nowhere,
which can happen now he breaks his hand. Just a disaster.
So I think the Lions again, prideful organization, disastrous season
relative to what they've been. I just think they are
going to in the Dome. You know, Jared Goffs played
(04:28):
well against the Minnesota Vikings. I'm gonna take them laying
the points seven and a half. I'm in Ross Saint Brown.
I would imagine is gonna have a big game Jamison
Williams Like, it wouldn't shock me at all if if
those guys kind of go off. I think Minnesota at
this point in time, it's pretty crazy that they're seven
and eight. I looked within the last twenty four hours
like they're seven and eight? That what, how did how
(04:48):
did that happen? And the reality is they've played the Giants,
the Commanders and the Giants, the Commanders and the Cowboys
the last three weeks, so they've kind of of, you know,
gotten their mojo back with that the night game. I
think at this point in time, you know, they just
got worked by the Tennessee Titans. It's just a season
(05:12):
from hell. And once you get to this point in
their situation with the uncertainty this offseason with are they
gonna trade Chris Jones? Is Travis Kelsey gonna retire? Patrick's
health status? Like how quickly can he come back even
if he rehabs perfectly from this injury? Is he ready
week one? Is it more of a midseason thing? Like
they're much better losing these next two games, and they
(05:33):
might not even They're not gonna even have to try
to lose this game. There is no way that this guy. Again,
I'm not saying this to be a dick. No one
could point this guy out of a lineup. No one
knew beside his family and his friends that he was
in the NFL. I can't even pronounce his name. He
has no shot on God's Green Earth to you know,
Trevor Lawrence just annihilated Denver, so they're coming off a loss.
(05:54):
I think you're gonna get a spirited effort. This to
me has like twenty to three written all over it. Again,
the Typton's just rolled the Chiefs, and I think at
this point in time, you lose this game, then you ruin,
especially if the Raiders lose the Giants.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
I think, if you're.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Andy Reid, you ruined the Raiders season and you lose them,
and you derailed their opportunity to get Fernando Mendoza unless
they want to trade a bunch of picks, which also
kind of screws though.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
And if I'm a.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Raider fan, I swear to God if we lose this
week to the Giants and Pete Carroll wins that last
game to the Chiefs, It'll be hard to ever shake.
I mean, once upon a time Brian Flores, who is
a really good coach. I mean, the stuff that happened
in Miami was like, Bro, you beat Cincinnati in an
overtime game and it cost you Joe Burrow and you
(06:39):
ended up with Tua Tonga by Loa who you personally hated,
and clearly the organization no longer likes either, who got
really rich on Stephen Ross's time. But I like Denver
big in this game wouldn't shock me at all. Sutton
has a touchdown, so I'm gonna it's a lot of points.
If you would have told someone like two months ago
that Denver is gonna be favored by two touchdowns essentially
going into this game and were like it sucks. Like
(07:01):
Netflix spent a lot of money. These games on paper
looked pretty good. I mean, you could throw the Cowboys
against you know, a pee wee team, and people are
gonna watch the Vikings and the Lions. Those teams had
fourteen wins each going into the last game of the
season last year. I mean they played a winner get
in or a winner gets the number one seed. I
mean that was I would have picked that game too.
(07:21):
And the Chiefs have been the biggest brand in the
league for the last five six years, and Denver made
the playoffs last year. It was clear they were gonna
be good again. And it just sometimes, you know, the
sports people get injured. Things change fast, especially in the NFL, right,
I mean every year you hear those numbers like four
or five teams missed the playoffs that made it the
previous year, Like.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
No, that can't be.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Well, it's gonna happen this year. Lions out, you know,
forty nine ers missed last year, they're in obviously, Teams
like the Jags, you know, are in. Uh so, yeah,
it's just crazy times. That's for the Chiefs are out.
Whoever would have thought that? Uh but here here we are.
And then really quick on the same Saturday matchups, I
(08:01):
like the Texans getting two and a half points at
the Chargers one. I think it got a little wake
up call against the Raiders. Now, part of it is
Genti ed. You could argue his best game as a pro,
had the sixty yard catch, had the other big run.
I just think that they're gonna come with a spirited effort.
The other thing is like their defensive line. What Herbert
has done even against the Cowboys's pretty impressive, and he
(08:24):
looks fantastic. The eye tests like damn. But that pass rush,
I do think it could be a It could be
a rough day for Herbert, especially indoors, fast turf. I
like the Texans. Now the quarterback situation on this night
game is up in the air. I mean it easily
could be Tyler Huntley versus Malik Willis. I like the
Packers in this game one. I mean they were one eyes,
(08:48):
like just staying down on the ball, him catching the
on side kick from them winning that game, and I
think we would discuss them a lot differently coming to
this week. They obviously unraveled at the end, giving up
the two touch downs fourteen points in the blink of
an eye. But I do think you're gonna get a
spirited effort. And let's face it, the Ravens are done.
You know, the Steelers are not going to lose even
(09:10):
without DK Metcalfter the Cleveland Browns they just lost, you
could argue their best offensive player in the running back Jenkins.
So I think the Ravens are circling the drain. I
think this Harbaugh thing is going to get louder and
louder I would expect. I think the Packers role. So
I don't like green Bay minus two and a half.
I love green Bay minus two and a half. I
would expect them to win ten plus points in this game.
(09:32):
To be honest with you, so Christmas not great. Enjoy
your family, enjoy some stails, and just have a good time.
Hopefully you got some loved ones some presents and you
can see some joy in their eyes. And then we'll
get back on the saddle on Saturday night. I want
(09:53):
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New Jersey, Ohio, Ennis Steve, Virginia. Let's dive into the mailbag.
One thing I was thinking sometimes after I do like
a you know, when I react on Thursday nights, Sunday nights,
(11:26):
Monday nights, it's hard for me to fall asleep. So
by the time, like on what day would that have
been Monday night after the diner cold scam, by the
time I get inside, brush my teeth, wash my face,
kind of get ready for bed, it takes me an
hour just to kind of calm down. So usually, you know,
I get in there a lot of times she's asleep,
so I'll just throw on something and turn it down low.
(11:48):
And I saw Elway the documentary was on Netflix, Hunt
right up my alley press play. And this in relation
to Philip Rivers, you can't compare what John Elway, Dan Marino,
Joe Montana, even guys through the nineties and the two
thousands up until when the rules changed ten twelve years
(12:08):
ago to quarterback play. Now, if you watch those videos
of John Elway in the mid eighties, you could get
fucking killed. It was not a safe environment, even if
you were the best players. I mean, do you know
how many times, like Joe Montana would have serious back
injuries because one of the guys on the Giants, I
don't know, one of the great defenses of all time,
(12:30):
would like break him in half. You're not even allowed
to do that. So I was thinking, like Philip Rivers
last night. One, could they bring Philip Rivers back? Like,
is Philip Rivers better than Daniel Jones, especially with an
offseason to train and two Like it'd be like taking
a PGA tour golfer and letting him play the Ladies teas.
Philip Rivers played in an era and he's played in
(12:51):
both eras, but like for the first ten years of
his career, you could kill Philip Rivers. Part of the
reason he got a shot right is because Drew Brees
got injured because John Lenny, which I would imagine if
we go back and look at the hit was pretty
violent one that would be flagged now. I mean, hell,
there was a guy in the Chargers thrown out of
a game a couple of weeks ago. It just looked
like a normal hit. And listen, I understand why they did.
(13:12):
They didn't want to get sued. But the quarterback play
now is way easier because you know you're pretty safe.
You know they're not going to They're not even allowed
to drive you into the ground. They get penalized. So
I do wonder for Philip Rivers if there's a freedom.
Clearly his knowledge and understanding of the offense is pretty unique.
He's like, these guys aren't gonna hit me. Now, I
(13:33):
get the forty nine Ers aren't the most ferocious defense,
but just weaken even last week against Seattle's Like, yeah,
they kind of hit me. What are they really gonna do?
Like pick me up and slamming into the ground. I
know they can't do that, so there has to be
a little bit of a freedom of Like one, the
league is smaller now, especially with linebackers. So if I'm Philip,
I'm bigger than these guys. And two like there, I
feel pretty safe. Like yeah, my adrenaline, I get my
(13:55):
feet wet a little bit. But after a while watching
that Lway documentary. But you can't even compare what quarterbacks
do now to like the guys in the eighties. I
mean you really can't. It's it's like apples to cheeseburgers
in terms of the violence. Say the same for the
wide receivers going over them. The word hospital ball doesn't
even exist anymore because you can't even throw it because
(14:17):
even if you do one ninety percent of the time,
the safety is very or the linebacker is very, very
hesitant to leave his feet, and if you do, they
immediately like quadruple flag and like toss that guy out
of the league. So and listen, I'm not one of
those guys bitching and moaning. I mean, anyone my age
grew up on the violence of football. I've never apologized
(14:39):
for lacking violence, and the reality is humans like violence.
There's a reason when people fight in junior high and
high school, everyone you know surrounds it.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
We're drawn to it.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
It's why these fights on Netflix with Jake, Paul and
Joshua do huge numbers.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
Right.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
It's why boxing and UFC have crushed historically with interest
because we like violence and football. I'm not saying is
not still violent. It is, but when it comes to
the quarterback, they're kind of safe. You know, they're much
safer than they were back in the day. Ok, let's
bang out some mail back questions. I want to know
your opinion on the public perception of the Chicago Bears.
(15:15):
I one hundred percent commend them for being so much
better than anyone could have anticipated. But I've seen a
lot of the media calling the Bears a real live
dog for winning the conference. I mean that defense is atrocious,
and I get that they get takeaways and Caleb and
the offenses, and the offense is very sneaky. The Packers
lost their starting quarterback, went over five in the red zone,
(15:36):
including an awful fumble within the five, and still took
a miraculous on site kick.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Blunder to even send it to overtime.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
If the current seating holds and it's the Packers at
Chicago and the wild card, who would you favor? Assuming
love is healthy, Sometimes you're just touched by the football gods.
Washington was last year. They are the least talented team
in terms of the roster that I think I can
ever remember.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
Making it to a championship game.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
I mean, think of some of the rosters recently that
have been in the AFC and NFC championship game, right
the Chiefs, Josh Allen, some of the forty nine Ers teams,
the Rams teams, the Packers over the years, just go
back through the twenty tens, sometimes just your year, you
know it Just weird things happen, So I'm with you.
(16:20):
Like when you win a game, people forget that you
were down ten points with three minutes to go, right,
because you win in the miraculous form. But the whole
point of the game is to win. So yeah, over
the totality of several seasons, one score games and turnover
luck like that bounces back and forth. Right, But I
(16:43):
do believe that there's something kind of special about this
Bear season, I think, I said. Me and Colin talked
about on Sundays. It wouldn't shock me if they won
multiple playoff games, and it wouldn't shock me if they
got bounced in the first round. That's kind of like
they play in a lot of crazy games, and when
you play in crazy games, sometimes the luck doesn't bounce
(17:04):
your way. But I think we're gonna learn a lot
this week because they have a massive advantage playing the
forty nine ers. They have fifty plus hours of rest
advantage and coaching advantage in terms of like they were
in the office yesterday on Monday, they could prep. They're
not super tired today. I mean, I bet the forty
nine ers touchdown at like three four am. Think of
(17:25):
their coaches just went right to the office, are getting
ready for the Bears. So if they win this week
kind of is what it is now. I'm with you.
They play the Packers in that first game, anything could
happen that that is, that's box office. That will if
it's Packers Bears two seven, and let's say like Niners
(17:45):
Eagles three to six.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
I think you're looking at the Saturday night.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
Game and Monday night football game and I don't know
who would go where, but I think you're looking at
two primetime games there and then probably the Bucks or
the Panthers playing Seattle or the Rams.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
If that's the way it shakes as like.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
An afternoon Sunday game or morning Sunday game, I guess yeah.
If it was in Tampa, they could play it at
ten am Pacific Standard time. What we did Sunday night
was coaching mail practice and at an all time high.
Even when Lamar is out of the game, you still
take the ball to your second best player on Offens's
hands literally helped put up eleven and didn't touch the
(18:26):
ball again in the fourth.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
Quarter when we were going to hold.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
When are we going to hold our head coach who
doesn't call the offense, defense, or the special teams accountable.
Only thing he is good at is being dumbfounded to
look on the sideline. Harbaugh isn't all of the Ravens
fault they can't succeed, but he is the main culprit.
He is the reason why we have blown so many leads.
I think twelve or thirteen since twenty one, the most
(18:51):
in a five year span in NFL history. It's a
crazy stat What are your thoughts on the debacle from Sunday?
I think I saw Harbaugh said that obviously he regrets
taking him out of the game. I think sometimes when
you are the CEO head coach, because I think it
would be easy, like I don't run the rotations, right,
(19:14):
Did he get benched?
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Did they just go to the other rotation? It was
dumbfound dumbfounding.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
When we were sitting on our couch and watching it
happen in real time. But like at the end of
the day, their defense gave ups a big place and
Marlon Humphrey became a major target and they couldn't get
stops when they need to get stops, and Drake may
dominated that game. So I think I think Harbaugh, we
talked about live dogs in you know, Alabama playing Indiana
(19:44):
or the Bears is a live dog to win the NFC.
I think Harbaugh's a live dog to get canned. Like
we've it's kind of run its course. Time to make
a pivot, right, like we've seen it, been there, done that.
Maybe it's time now. You could easily justify it's one
bad season. He guys have been good la several years.
But you have stats like the blown leads, you start
asking like what are you doing beside? Like raw Ross
(20:06):
speeches and using samurai swords in the middle of the
uh the locker room, which I don't think he's done lately.
But listen, I got nothing against John Harbaugh, but let's
be real, Like, I do think you could replace him
or attempt to, and I think he'd immediately get another job.
Like if John Harbaugh was fired, I think the Giants
would hire him yesterday, right, I think the Giants would
(20:29):
run that they would drive someone to Baltimore or to
Pittsburgh to hire either one of those guys, where I
think both guys. And we'll see what happens with Pittsburgh
these last two or potentially three or four weeks. You know,
I think it's kind of run its course. It's hard,
like this isn't marriage, right, You're not supposed to be
somewhere in twenty twenty five, fifteen to twenty years as
(20:50):
a head coach. It's very very rare. And it's one
thing like Andy's one been to five and the last
six Super Bowls one three of them, Like that carries
you a long time. When's the last time John's been
in the Super Bowl?
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Twenty twelve, two twenty five.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
Can you talk about the contract implications of Daniel Jones
signing next year with the Colts. With Philip Rivers having
an incredible rescue performances late this season, could Philip Rivers
ruin Daniel Jones pay day? I don't know how you
pay Daniel Jones. This is the problem with everything they
just did. He's not under contract, and then he broke
his leg in towards Achilles and he's never beside. Like
(21:26):
the eight game stretch for you guys been that great.
So you're going to what last time he signed a contract,
his agents dominated the Giants and basically got a two year,
eighty million dollar deal.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
So what's he gonna do now?
Speaker 1 (21:38):
Sign like a two year ten million dollar deal if
I get him for like two year twenty million dollars,
But I think his agents would refuse to sign that.
Now you could also argue, like where are you gonna go?
But you can't franchise, franchise tach. I haven't even look
at the franchise number, but my guest would be forty
forty five million dollars.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
You cannot do that.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
I mean, Philip Rivers better than him, But Philip Rivers
is a better player.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
Of course he is.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
Daniel Jones on his best day has never been Philip
even close to Philip rivers I mean Philip rivers A.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
We can argue.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
About it, and to me, he's probably not quite good
enough to be in the Hall of Fame, but he's
right on that tier. Like he was a better player
throughout the course of his career than Eli Manning. Eli
Manning had the two better playoff runs, right, But I mean,
this is who we're talking about here, and I don't know.
I think the culture in a very, very weird spot.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
I really do.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
As you previously stated, Brock Purty will always be a
polarizing player. But why do bo Knicks and Caleb get
more credit? Purty and Knicks are twenty five, Caleb is
twenty four. At some point resumes should matter.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
More than draft profile.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
I like all three, but the sophomore players need to
show more with their stacked rosters. I think they would
fall into his category. I think Caleb Williams is extremely
polarizing player. Bow Knicks is even more polarizing than Caleb.
I mean, those guys would all fall under the bucket
of very polarizing. I mean Caleb as games where he's
(23:05):
just very inaccurate right, I mean throwing like fifty percent
in a league that is very, very.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
Easy to complete passes.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
I mean, let's just face it, like we talked about,
it's never been easier to complete passes in the history
of the league. And he can be inaccurate, but he
also makes incredible plays. And he's been the most clutch
guy in the league. But I like, if we just
played who would you trade who for? Like if the
Bears called the Patriots, Caleb straight up for Drake May,
I'll tell you who would hang up first, and it
(23:33):
wouldn't even be a question to be Mike Vrabel and
Josh mc daniels, you know. And unless I'm not trying
to shit on Caleb at all, like I've come around,
you make big time This is the bottom line league, right, Okay,
you play shitting in the second quarter. Well, if you're
making plays to win games, I can live with it.
Over the course of your career, you're gonna have to
be better and more accurate. But like Cam wasn't the
most accurate guy, but he made some big time plays
(23:56):
and he was a playmaker, right, And he was a
that you know, had some very successful season, won an MVP.
I would say, a shittier version of that was like
Deshaun Watson was more of a playmaker well before he
got to the Houston Texans, but he wasn't wasn't sitting
in the pocket and picking you apart. That's not the
way he played. Russell Wilson was by far the.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
Best version of that.
Speaker 1 (24:18):
But I think all those guys are extremely polarizing. The
only guys is like not polarizing is like Lamar Jackson
when he's dominating, and Josh Allen. Even Mahomes been like
is Mahomes losing a little bit?
Speaker 2 (24:31):
Right?
Speaker 1 (24:31):
I mean that's we do it with Herbert, Yeah, I
mean there's still a contingent like is this guy good?
It's like, yeah, he's good. Guys, you fucking morons. My
family and I excuse my language, children, our lifelong Vikings
fan We never miss a snap. If you were the Vikings,
why not offer four to five first round picks and
go make a move for Burrow. Last year we won
(24:53):
fourteen games with Darnold, and we obviously have the requisite
talent around him to succeed. I just feel like without
this kind of move, it's only a matter of time
before JJ wants out. They would say no, they're not
trading him this conversation. Listen, I get it's fun. I
(25:13):
get a lot of people are in the business. When
he makes a comment like that. I thought it was like, God,
this is such a waste of everyone's energy. They're not
he could demand a trade and they would say no.
And clearly he's come out and said like I'm not.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
He's gonna be on the Bengals next year. So I
think the.
Speaker 1 (25:28):
Max amount of first rounders you can trade in the
NFL is three years out, so you could only trade
if you had one first rounder of a year three
first rounders total. But I don't think there's anything you
could offer them that they would say yes. I just
don't it's not even possible. So you guys are in
a tough spot.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Man.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
He's hurt again. Still a lot of question marks. Part
of the reason he was hurt, I haven't seen. Maybe,
I'm sure Kevin O'Connell was asked about it and explained it.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
But on the.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
Play which he was hurt, Like, is that his fault
for not seeing the block?
Speaker 2 (26:00):
Guy?
Speaker 1 (26:01):
You know, Anthony Richardson got obliterated in the preseason when
he ran a play and looked up the other side
when the protection clearly the guy was gonna be unblocked.
And was that the case? Again, I'm speaking a little
out of turn because I haven't seen O'Connell's comments on it,
and I don't pretend to be some you know, Andy
Reid here when it comes to schematics. But from the
(26:24):
naked eye sitting on my couch, it looked like JJ
McCarthy takes some blame on that why he's injured. And
again Anthony Richardson got destroyed in NFL circles for that.
So JJ's injured again. Showed some signs of light there
for a couple of weeks. The problem is what was
against two of the worst teams in the league defensively,
(26:44):
especially so now he's injured and you go, we're just
gonna roll this guy back. It's a tough spot, man,
it really is. I feel for Vikings fans because god,
you guys are so close last year. I mean, you
guys were sixty minutes away from being the one seed.
(27:13):
If the Bills don't make it at least to the
Super Bowl, they should fire both the head coach and
the GM and hire Robert Solo. The Bill's defense always
seems to struggle with injuries in the playoffs, and Sala
has shown he can manage a defense to adversity. Even
though our receiver suck. The offense has never been the problem.
It's always been the defense. Giving up thirty four points
per game to the Chiefs in four playoff games is unacceptable.
(27:34):
I truly believe Bean hasn't set McDermott up for success
on defense. But if our goal isn't met this year,
I don't think we can continue to run it back.
Many will see this as a lateral move. But what
are your thoughts. I hear what you're saying to fire McDermott.
To hire another defensive coach who was just in your
division who used to beat the shit out of is
(27:56):
kind of a tough sell. I guess Sala is a
little lighter personality, feels like a little more engaging than Sean.
You know, Sean can be a little stiff tight, But
like Shawn's proven, like I'm taking a playoff team a
year in year out. I mean, they just drafted a
wide receiver now, granted, what's his name, Josh Allen When
(28:17):
they drafted key On Coleman, part of it was Brandon
Bean sent a bunch of wide receivers. He watched them
and he liked him. That can't even he was in
act him again.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
Last week.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
I mean, what three of the last four games been inactive.
I mean it's a disaster. So I think, listen, Brandon Bean.
I was talking to a guy that worked in the
NFL who's advanced scouted them, and he's like, the thing
that you really noticed compared to some of the other
good teams over the last several years, they're kind of small.
Speaker 2 (28:44):
They're just they're.
Speaker 1 (28:45):
More built for Like if they were a college team,
he'd be like, they're a big twelve team, not an
SEC team. Now they're a big twelve team with the
best quarterback in the country, so it's like, yeah, we
can compete if he's slinging it. But there's something about
the way they built their team which is just something's off.
So I'm with you. He seems like a really nice guy.
(29:06):
I don't know him personally, but I do think the
GMS let them down. I think he'd have to be
the first to admit it. I would put it more
on the personnel staff than the coaching staff. Question for
your next show, should the Lions completely revamp their OW
and D line. I think we need a fresh start
and rebuild around Sewol and Hutch.
Speaker 2 (29:27):
It's hard to do, man.
Speaker 1 (29:29):
I mean one issue you guys are gonna have is like,
let's use the Bears for example. So this offseason they
sign a center and I think they trade for two guards.
You have a lot of money tied up into a
lot of guys. Right, golf makes a lot of money.
Sewell signed a big contract, Saint Brown signed a big contract.
(29:50):
Hudgson that he already get paid or he's gonna get paid.
Jameson Williams got a contract extension. Gibbs is gonna need
a contract extension. You have a high priced team and
this worked. Talk about windows. Part of your window a
couple of years ago is like a lot of these
guys were on rookie deals and now they've become high end,
high priced guys. So I think that becomes a big,
(30:11):
big challenge for you. It's like where do you just
find offensive lineman? I mean you can draft them, but
we see that doesn't work out often, or like a
young guy is thrust into the action. You guys are
playing important games. It's tough, and it's hard to find
defensive lineman. You know, part of the reason Hutchinson's elite,
who's drafted two overall, like you usually don't find tho
like Max Crosby is in an outlier that that is
(30:35):
very abnormal to the way to acquire defensive lineman. Right,
think of the best pass rushers in the league, if
we just go around, most of them are high end picks.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
So I think that's really really difficult to do.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
There's something your DB's just I feel like your dbs
get hurt every year all the time, and obviously branch
Tearing's achilles this year is pretty devastating. But yeah, I
don't really know what to tell you. I think it's
gonna be tough sledding.
Speaker 2 (31:04):
At least.
Speaker 1 (31:05):
The bright spot for you guys a lot of high
end playmakers, a lot of high end talent.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
I mean, you have.
Speaker 1 (31:12):
Elite players that every team would want. But you know,
the play calling this year, the injuries, I don't really
you know, I can't pretend to guess why that's happening,
but it's happening. I understand why Vrabel is a Coach
of the Year candidate, But when you look at Ben
Johnson and even Kyle Shanahan have done. How can it
(31:32):
even be close? The Bears are in a division with
the Packers, Lions, and the Vikings with Kevin O'Connell. Vrabel
has had to fight it out with the Dolphins, Jets,
and an average Bills teams. Albeit they have Josh Allen
and James Cook. The Bears have arguably played a much
harder schedule and compared to where the franchise has been
for years. It is such a turnaround, even the Niners
(31:54):
with a much tougher schedule and injuries. With a number
one seed potential, I don't think Vrabel's gonna win it.
I'm with you. I think it's I kind of feel
like it's Ben Johnson's to lose. Liam Cohen's throwing his
hat in the ring, and I think Kyle. If Kyle
were to get the number one seed, I think he
would just have to split it with somebody, you know.
(32:14):
Because they were the betting favorite to win the division
this year, they were one of the betting favorites in
the NFC to be in the Super Bowl. So a
lot of teams bet or I mean a lot of
people were predicting that they were gonna be good now.
Losing Fred Warner Nick Bosa was not part of that equation.
So I would have no problem if you like, if
Kyle Winsley's next to I mean you could argue, what
(32:35):
if Kyle beats Ben Johnson on Sunday Night, We'd be like, well,
you had two extra days rest. You know, does George
Kittle play if Kyle wins Sunday Night? I think you
could make a big case. Personally, I don't give a
shit about Coach of the Year because, let's face it,
(32:56):
it's just we thought you were gonna suck it.
Speaker 2 (32:57):
Now you're good.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
Even Ben Johnson, if they would have gotten like eight
to nine this year and shown signs, he would have.
Speaker 2 (33:03):
Got a lot of credit.
Speaker 1 (33:04):
But part of it is that organization was a joke.
Everything about it was pretty embarrassing, you know what he
took over. I have no problem with Ben Johnson winning it.
Rabel's done an excellent job, but let's face it, a
huge part of their success has been Drake May And.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
You know, it's not like Mike's coaching them.
Speaker 1 (33:24):
If the forty nine ers win their next two games
that are at home, they will get the number one
seed and a bye followed by two home games, and
then if they win the NFC Championship game.
Speaker 2 (33:35):
They will host the Super Bowl.
Speaker 1 (33:38):
So you're saying the forty nine ers never have to leave.
That would be if the forty nine ers are at
Levi Stadium in early February.
Speaker 2 (33:47):
It's the most incredible thing I've ever seen. It really is.
Speaker 1 (33:52):
I'm not quite counting it out. I still think their
defense it's gonna be a challenge. If they win this week,
I'm convinced they could win a Super Bowl. Or when
I say win the Super they can win the NFC
then the Super Bowl one game.
Speaker 2 (34:03):
Anything can happen.
Speaker 1 (34:05):
But I mean, again, that lway Doc he's in Super Bowls,
he's like losing.
Speaker 2 (34:08):
Forty two to ten.
Speaker 1 (34:10):
Doesn't feel like we've had that many blowout Super Bowls.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
I guess the Eagles Chiefs was last year.
Speaker 1 (34:14):
But to me, like obviously the forty nine ers are
they could win any individual playoff game if they are
the wild card. I do foresee it being a challenge
to win three straight games with their defense. If they
win these next two games and I beat the Bears
in Seattle, then I don't see how you could say
they couldn't win the Super Bowl.
Speaker 2 (34:35):
Or definitely the NFC.
Speaker 1 (34:38):
On Spotify, you are wearing your hat backwards. Colin is
notorious for his hat on backwards guy takes. Is it
an inside joke between you two or just a random
picture Spotify picked. I think when we were looking for
a picture we've I think we're gonna change the logo
here in twenty twenty six. It was just like, I
(34:59):
don't have the many photos of me just by myself,
and that was some photo that they used. I also
am adamant about this because I do agree that when
you represent, you know, major corporations, you know how I
guess dress matters a little bit though, Like you know,
I'm from northern California. The richest people in the world
(35:21):
wear hoodies every day. Silicon Valley is full of people
that don't even own suits. You know. Elon must wears
a T shirt every day. Steve Jobs wore jeans every day.
Speaker 2 (35:30):
You know.
Speaker 1 (35:31):
The culture on the West Coast is a little bit different.
We're a little we're a little looser than they are
in the East Coast. Like you go to New York,
like they're a little more buttoned up with their dress.
The succes quote unquote successful people. For us, it doesn't matter,
you know, the hat on backwards thing.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
I'm bald. I truly we play by different rules.
Speaker 1 (35:50):
If you have hair, then I judge you a little
bit differently if you want to judge someone for a
hat on backwards.
Speaker 2 (35:56):
But myself being.
Speaker 1 (35:57):
Bald and today I haven't shaved and it looks terrible,
I can do whatever I want. So the rules for me,
who again is a professional podcaster, I would say or
is a little bit different than like some guy running
a bank. But I'll say this guy running a bank hit.
The rules where I would disagree with Colin is like
your rules depending on what you do change. If I'm
(36:18):
Jamie Diamond and run Chase, yeah, I'm gonna dress a
little bit different than if I'm Mark Zuckerberg and run meta.
Speaker 2 (36:24):
Right.
Speaker 1 (36:24):
I mean one, Jamie, you don't own Chase. You are
just the president of CEO, you know, picked by the board.
If I'm Mark, like I own this motherfucker, I wear
whatever I want. So it rules change for different people.
If you're a young player, you know you should be
a little more cognizant. I guess, but I also think
fashion changes. I mean look at chicks now. They're wearing
(36:45):
the baggy jeans, which I think is a terrible look,
but I get it, Like things EBB and flow, I
just think, like I'm a podcaster, you know, I wear
basketball shorts, tennis shoes, and hoodies most every day. And
I do believe this, Like my rules, like if you
have good hair, you know, like put a little product
(37:07):
in it, don't even wear at like for me, like
sometimes I gotta cover my head one the lighting starts
shining too.
Speaker 2 (37:12):
I haven't shaved.
Speaker 1 (37:14):
We just we got the short end of the stick
when it comes to the follicle power upstairs, and we're
a little more Our rules aren't as strict I would say.
But I just really believe, you know, in all seriousness,
they just picked the picture years ago. I don't even
think anyone even thought twice about the backward hats thing.
It turned out to be kind of ironic and funny.
(37:36):
But but yeah, I'll end on that, So have a
great day. The volume
The volume What is going On Everybody? John Middlecoff three
and out podcast, brought to you by my friends at
(00:23):
Zone Pouches. I want to wish everyone to marry Christmas.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Hopefully you have a great week with.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Family, friends, loved ones, and enjoy yourself. We will not
have any podcast or reaction on Christmas, mainly because the
games are so terrible and me nothing so did not
see this coming maybe a couple months ago, but I said,
let's enjoy ourselves, spend some time with family and not
(00:50):
work Christmas night for who for what? As my guy
Ricky Waters would say, that will be the tentative game
plan we will Saturday night I'll have We'll do it
live on YouTube, and then it'll be a podcast for
Sunday reacting to the Chargers play the Texans and the
Ravens play the Packers in a couple of massive games.
(01:11):
So we will be uh, we will get back on
the saddle for those two. I think I think I
have some function with my wife on Saturday morning and
then we'll just be watching football the rest of the day.
So excited for that, and then Sunday will be normal,
Monday will be normal.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Just be back.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
We're rocking and rolling again, and then then we got
college football playoff games next week, so we got a
lot going on. Obviously, we had podcasts on the Big
Nighter game beating Philip Rivers and a lot of content
this week. But this will be the last thing for
the next couple of days. So hopefully everyone is enjoying
their time. And you guys know the Drill. Subscribe to
(01:47):
the podcast, subscribed to the YouTube channel, so you never
miss a thing. But today we'll just be a mailbag
at John Middlecoff. At John Middlecoff is the Instagram. Fire
in those dms, get your questions answered here on the
show again, just my instagram's two or my Instagram two f's.
I don't have a burner, but firing those dms, get
your questions answered on the show. That is what we're
(02:09):
gonna do. So before we do, I do just want
to hit on the three games. I mean Dallas playing
I guess Josh Johnson with Dallas nothing to play for obviously,
Washington is in complete shambles, not gonna lie, I think,
Brian schott Enneimer, you know I want. Dak's been one
of the better quarterbacks in the league all season long.
(02:30):
You know, you could make an argument start to finish,
he's been a top five quarterback in the NFL this year.
I think you could make a pretty consistent argument with that.
And I just think he's he's gonna play well in
this game. Their team on Washington, the secondary is so bad.
So I love the Cowboys, which is crazy to say
minus seven on the road on Christmas, depending on where
(02:51):
you live. Morning for me it's you know, eleven am
Mountain time, but I anytime touchdown props for ceedee lamb.
For George Pickens. I mean George Pickens. Now, it's like
if I'm his agent, hey man, we want to finish strong.
We want negotiating power, whether it's Jerry, whether it's a franchise,
tag and trade, whether it's a big contract. We've had
a good season. We got a little weird there for
(03:13):
a second. But you know, you saw him last week
that they look good in that first half against the Chargers,
kind of ran out of juice. Obviously their defense isn't good.
But what's Josh Johnson gonna do? Go to Josh Johnson's
Wikipedia page. It's craziest thing you'll ever see. He's played
in like three different leagues the XFL. I guess it
wasn't the XFL at the time, it was some other league.
He was on the Sacramento Mountain Lions played in the UFL.
(03:34):
I'm pretty sure he played in the AFL. Obviously, he's
played in the NFL. My man loves some football and
likes a paycheck.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Don't blame him.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
So I like the Cowboys minus seven this game Detroit
and Minnesota. Let's face it, Minnesota's got a quarterback problem.
While JJ started showing signs of life, he's injured again.
And even the season when he came into it healthy,
he has just missed basically the half the games. And
these are major from concussions to the hamstring. Now he
(04:06):
you know, or I guess the ankle. I guess it
was earlier in the season that kind of came out
of nowhere. Concussion that kind of came out of nowhere,
which can happen now he breaks his hand. Just a disaster.
So I think the Lions again, prideful organization, disastrous season
relative to what they've been. I just think they are
going to in the Dome. You know, Jared Goffs played
(04:28):
well against the Minnesota Vikings. I'm gonna take them laying
the points seven and a half. I'm in Ross Saint Brown.
I would imagine is gonna have a big game Jamison
Williams Like, it wouldn't shock me at all if if
those guys kind of go off. I think Minnesota at
this point in time, it's pretty crazy that they're seven
and eight. I looked within the last twenty four hours
like they're seven and eight? That what, how did how
(04:48):
did that happen? And the reality is they've played the Giants,
the Commanders and the Giants, the Commanders and the Cowboys
the last three weeks, so they've kind of of, you know,
gotten their mojo back with that the night game. I
think at this point in time, you know, they just
got worked by the Tennessee Titans. It's just a season
(05:12):
from hell. And once you get to this point in
their situation with the uncertainty this offseason with are they
gonna trade Chris Jones? Is Travis Kelsey gonna retire? Patrick's
health status? Like how quickly can he come back even
if he rehabs perfectly from this injury? Is he ready
week one? Is it more of a midseason thing? Like
they're much better losing these next two games, and they
(05:33):
might not even They're not gonna even have to try
to lose this game. There is no way that this guy. Again,
I'm not saying this to be a dick. No one
could point this guy out of a lineup. No one
knew beside his family and his friends that he was
in the NFL. I can't even pronounce his name. He
has no shot on God's Green Earth to you know,
Trevor Lawrence just annihilated Denver, so they're coming off a loss.
(05:54):
I think you're gonna get a spirited effort. This to
me has like twenty to three written all over it. Again,
the Typton's just rolled the Chiefs, and I think at
this point in time, you lose this game, then you ruin,
especially if the Raiders lose the Giants.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
I think, if you're.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Andy Reid, you ruined the Raiders season and you lose them,
and you derailed their opportunity to get Fernando Mendoza unless
they want to trade a bunch of picks, which also
kind of screws though.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
And if I'm a.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Raider fan, I swear to God if we lose this
week to the Giants and Pete Carroll wins that last
game to the Chiefs, It'll be hard to ever shake.
I mean, once upon a time Brian Flores, who is
a really good coach. I mean, the stuff that happened
in Miami was like, Bro, you beat Cincinnati in an
overtime game and it cost you Joe Burrow and you
(06:39):
ended up with Tua Tonga by Loa who you personally hated,
and clearly the organization no longer likes either, who got
really rich on Stephen Ross's time. But I like Denver
big in this game wouldn't shock me at all. Sutton
has a touchdown, so I'm gonna it's a lot of points.
If you would have told someone like two months ago
that Denver is gonna be favored by two touchdowns essentially
going into this game and were like it sucks. Like
(07:01):
Netflix spent a lot of money. These games on paper
looked pretty good. I mean, you could throw the Cowboys
against you know, a pee wee team, and people are
gonna watch the Vikings and the Lions. Those teams had
fourteen wins each going into the last game of the
season last year. I mean they played a winner get
in or a winner gets the number one seed. I
mean that was I would have picked that game too.
(07:21):
And the Chiefs have been the biggest brand in the
league for the last five six years, and Denver made
the playoffs last year. It was clear they were gonna
be good again. And it just sometimes, you know, the
sports people get injured. Things change fast, especially in the NFL, right,
I mean every year you hear those numbers like four
or five teams missed the playoffs that made it the
previous year, Like.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
No, that can't be.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Well, it's gonna happen this year. Lions out, you know,
forty nine ers missed last year, they're in obviously, Teams
like the Jags, you know, are in. Uh so, yeah,
it's just crazy times. That's for the Chiefs are out.
Whoever would have thought that? Uh but here here we are.
And then really quick on the same Saturday matchups, I
(08:01):
like the Texans getting two and a half points at
the Chargers one. I think it got a little wake
up call against the Raiders. Now, part of it is
Genti ed. You could argue his best game as a pro,
had the sixty yard catch, had the other big run.
I just think that they're gonna come with a spirited effort.
The other thing is like their defensive line. What Herbert
has done even against the Cowboys's pretty impressive, and he
(08:24):
looks fantastic. The eye tests like damn. But that pass rush,
I do think it could be a It could be
a rough day for Herbert, especially indoors, fast turf. I
like the Texans. Now the quarterback situation on this night
game is up in the air. I mean it easily
could be Tyler Huntley versus Malik Willis. I like the
Packers in this game one. I mean they were one eyes,
(08:48):
like just staying down on the ball, him catching the
on side kick from them winning that game, and I
think we would discuss them a lot differently coming to
this week. They obviously unraveled at the end, giving up
the two touch downs fourteen points in the blink of
an eye. But I do think you're gonna get a
spirited effort. And let's face it, the Ravens are done.
You know, the Steelers are not going to lose even
(09:10):
without DK Metcalfter the Cleveland Browns they just lost, you
could argue their best offensive player in the running back Jenkins.
So I think the Ravens are circling the drain. I
think this Harbaugh thing is going to get louder and
louder I would expect. I think the Packers role. So
I don't like green Bay minus two and a half.
I love green Bay minus two and a half. I
would expect them to win ten plus points in this game.
(09:32):
To be honest with you, so Christmas not great. Enjoy
your family, enjoy some stails, and just have a good time.
Hopefully you got some loved ones some presents and you
can see some joy in their eyes. And then we'll
get back on the saddle on Saturday night. I want
(09:53):
to know where I bet on football during the holiday season.
It's hard Rock Bet, not just because they're the presenting
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nine with it gambling problem called one hundred Gambler Arizona, Colorado, Illinois,
New Jersey, Ohio, Ennis Steve, Virginia. Let's dive into the mailbag.
One thing I was thinking sometimes after I do like
a you know, when I react on Thursday nights, Sunday nights,
(11:26):
Monday nights, it's hard for me to fall asleep. So
by the time, like on what day would that have
been Monday night after the diner cold scam, by the
time I get inside, brush my teeth, wash my face,
kind of get ready for bed, it takes me an
hour just to kind of calm down. So usually, you know,
I get in there a lot of times she's asleep,
so I'll just throw on something and turn it down low.
(11:48):
And I saw Elway the documentary was on Netflix, Hunt
right up my alley press play. And this in relation
to Philip Rivers, you can't compare what John Elway, Dan Marino,
Joe Montana, even guys through the nineties and the two
thousands up until when the rules changed ten twelve years
(12:08):
ago to quarterback play. Now, if you watch those videos
of John Elway in the mid eighties, you could get
fucking killed. It was not a safe environment, even if
you were the best players. I mean, do you know
how many times, like Joe Montana would have serious back
injuries because one of the guys on the Giants, I
don't know, one of the great defenses of all time,
(12:30):
would like break him in half. You're not even allowed
to do that. So I was thinking, like Philip Rivers
last night. One, could they bring Philip Rivers back? Like,
is Philip Rivers better than Daniel Jones, especially with an
offseason to train and two Like it'd be like taking
a PGA tour golfer and letting him play the Ladies teas.
Philip Rivers played in an era and he's played in
(12:51):
both eras, but like for the first ten years of
his career, you could kill Philip Rivers. Part of the
reason he got a shot right is because Drew Brees
got injured because John Lenny, which I would imagine if
we go back and look at the hit was pretty
violent one that would be flagged now. I mean, hell,
there was a guy in the Chargers thrown out of
a game a couple of weeks ago. It just looked
like a normal hit. And listen, I understand why they did.
(13:12):
They didn't want to get sued. But the quarterback play
now is way easier because you know you're pretty safe.
You know they're not going to They're not even allowed
to drive you into the ground. They get penalized. So
I do wonder for Philip Rivers if there's a freedom.
Clearly his knowledge and understanding of the offense is pretty unique.
He's like, these guys aren't gonna hit me. Now, I
(13:33):
get the forty nine Ers aren't the most ferocious defense,
but just weaken even last week against Seattle's Like, yeah,
they kind of hit me. What are they really gonna do?
Like pick me up and slamming into the ground. I
know they can't do that, so there has to be
a little bit of a freedom of Like one, the
league is smaller now, especially with linebackers. So if I'm Philip,
I'm bigger than these guys. And two like there, I
feel pretty safe. Like yeah, my adrenaline, I get my
(13:55):
feet wet a little bit. But after a while watching
that Lway documentary. But you can't even compare what quarterbacks
do now to like the guys in the eighties. I
mean you really can't. It's it's like apples to cheeseburgers
in terms of the violence. Say the same for the
wide receivers going over them. The word hospital ball doesn't
even exist anymore because you can't even throw it because
(14:17):
even if you do one ninety percent of the time,
the safety is very or the linebacker is very, very
hesitant to leave his feet, and if you do, they
immediately like quadruple flag and like toss that guy out
of the league. So and listen, I'm not one of
those guys bitching and moaning. I mean, anyone my age
grew up on the violence of football. I've never apologized
(14:39):
for lacking violence, and the reality is humans like violence.
There's a reason when people fight in junior high and
high school, everyone you know surrounds it.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
We're drawn to it.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
It's why these fights on Netflix with Jake, Paul and
Joshua do huge numbers.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
Right.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
It's why boxing and UFC have crushed historically with interest
because we like violence and football. I'm not saying is
not still violent. It is, but when it comes to
the quarterback, they're kind of safe. You know, they're much
safer than they were back in the day. Ok, let's
bang out some mail back questions. I want to know
your opinion on the public perception of the Chicago Bears.
(15:15):
I one hundred percent commend them for being so much
better than anyone could have anticipated. But I've seen a
lot of the media calling the Bears a real live
dog for winning the conference. I mean that defense is atrocious,
and I get that they get takeaways and Caleb and
the offenses, and the offense is very sneaky. The Packers
lost their starting quarterback, went over five in the red zone,
(15:36):
including an awful fumble within the five, and still took
a miraculous on site kick.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Blunder to even send it to overtime.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
If the current seating holds and it's the Packers at
Chicago and the wild card, who would you favor? Assuming
love is healthy, Sometimes you're just touched by the football gods.
Washington was last year. They are the least talented team
in terms of the roster that I think I can
ever remember.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
Making it to a championship game.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
I mean, think of some of the rosters recently that
have been in the AFC and NFC championship game, right
the Chiefs, Josh Allen, some of the forty nine Ers teams,
the Rams teams, the Packers over the years, just go
back through the twenty tens, sometimes just your year, you
know it Just weird things happen, So I'm with you.
(16:20):
Like when you win a game, people forget that you
were down ten points with three minutes to go, right,
because you win in the miraculous form. But the whole
point of the game is to win. So yeah, over
the totality of several seasons, one score games and turnover
luck like that bounces back and forth. Right, But I
(16:43):
do believe that there's something kind of special about this
Bear season, I think, I said. Me and Colin talked
about on Sundays. It wouldn't shock me if they won
multiple playoff games, and it wouldn't shock me if they
got bounced in the first round. That's kind of like
they play in a lot of crazy games, and when
you play in crazy games, sometimes the luck doesn't bounce
(17:04):
your way. But I think we're gonna learn a lot
this week because they have a massive advantage playing the
forty nine ers. They have fifty plus hours of rest
advantage and coaching advantage in terms of like they were
in the office yesterday on Monday, they could prep. They're
not super tired today. I mean, I bet the forty
nine ers touchdown at like three four am. Think of
(17:25):
their coaches just went right to the office, are getting
ready for the Bears. So if they win this week
kind of is what it is now. I'm with you.
They play the Packers in that first game, anything could
happen that that is, that's box office. That will if
it's Packers Bears two seven, and let's say like Niners
(17:45):
Eagles three to six.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
I think you're looking at the Saturday night.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
Game and Monday night football game and I don't know
who would go where, but I think you're looking at
two primetime games there and then probably the Bucks or
the Panthers playing Seattle or the Rams.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
If that's the way it shakes as like.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
An afternoon Sunday game or morning Sunday game, I guess yeah.
If it was in Tampa, they could play it at
ten am Pacific Standard time. What we did Sunday night
was coaching mail practice and at an all time high.
Even when Lamar is out of the game, you still
take the ball to your second best player on Offens's
hands literally helped put up eleven and didn't touch the
(18:26):
ball again in the fourth.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
Quarter when we were going to hold.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
When are we going to hold our head coach who
doesn't call the offense, defense, or the special teams accountable.
Only thing he is good at is being dumbfounded to
look on the sideline. Harbaugh isn't all of the Ravens
fault they can't succeed, but he is the main culprit.
He is the reason why we have blown so many leads.
I think twelve or thirteen since twenty one, the most
(18:51):
in a five year span in NFL history. It's a
crazy stat What are your thoughts on the debacle from Sunday?
I think I saw Harbaugh said that obviously he regrets
taking him out of the game. I think sometimes when
you are the CEO head coach, because I think it
would be easy, like I don't run the rotations, right,
(19:14):
Did he get benched?
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Did they just go to the other rotation? It was
dumbfound dumbfounding.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
When we were sitting on our couch and watching it
happen in real time. But like at the end of
the day, their defense gave ups a big place and
Marlon Humphrey became a major target and they couldn't get
stops when they need to get stops, and Drake may
dominated that game. So I think I think Harbaugh, we
talked about live dogs in you know, Alabama playing Indiana
(19:44):
or the Bears is a live dog to win the NFC.
I think Harbaugh's a live dog to get canned. Like
we've it's kind of run its course. Time to make
a pivot, right, like we've seen it, been there, done that.
Maybe it's time now. You could easily justify it's one
bad season. He guys have been good la several years.
But you have stats like the blown leads, you start
asking like what are you doing beside? Like raw Ross
(20:06):
speeches and using samurai swords in the middle of the
uh the locker room, which I don't think he's done lately.
But listen, I got nothing against John Harbaugh, but let's
be real, Like, I do think you could replace him
or attempt to, and I think he'd immediately get another job.
Like if John Harbaugh was fired, I think the Giants
would hire him yesterday, right, I think the Giants would
(20:29):
run that they would drive someone to Baltimore or to
Pittsburgh to hire either one of those guys, where I
think both guys. And we'll see what happens with Pittsburgh
these last two or potentially three or four weeks. You know,
I think it's kind of run its course. It's hard,
like this isn't marriage, right, You're not supposed to be
somewhere in twenty twenty five, fifteen to twenty years as
(20:50):
a head coach. It's very very rare. And it's one
thing like Andy's one been to five and the last
six Super Bowls one three of them, Like that carries
you a long time. When's the last time John's been
in the Super Bowl?
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Twenty twelve, two twenty five.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
Can you talk about the contract implications of Daniel Jones
signing next year with the Colts. With Philip Rivers having
an incredible rescue performances late this season, could Philip Rivers
ruin Daniel Jones pay day? I don't know how you
pay Daniel Jones. This is the problem with everything they
just did. He's not under contract, and then he broke
his leg in towards Achilles and he's never beside. Like
(21:26):
the eight game stretch for you guys been that great.
So you're going to what last time he signed a contract,
his agents dominated the Giants and basically got a two year,
eighty million dollar deal.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
So what's he gonna do now?
Speaker 1 (21:38):
Sign like a two year ten million dollar deal if
I get him for like two year twenty million dollars,
But I think his agents would refuse to sign that.
Now you could also argue, like where are you gonna go?
But you can't franchise, franchise tach. I haven't even look
at the franchise number, but my guest would be forty
forty five million dollars.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
You cannot do that.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
I mean, Philip Rivers better than him, But Philip Rivers
is a better player.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
Of course he is.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
Daniel Jones on his best day has never been Philip
even close to Philip rivers I mean Philip rivers A.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
We can argue.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
About it, and to me, he's probably not quite good
enough to be in the Hall of Fame, but he's
right on that tier. Like he was a better player
throughout the course of his career than Eli Manning. Eli
Manning had the two better playoff runs, right, But I mean,
this is who we're talking about here, and I don't know.
I think the culture in a very, very weird spot.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
I really do.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
As you previously stated, Brock Purty will always be a
polarizing player. But why do bo Knicks and Caleb get
more credit? Purty and Knicks are twenty five, Caleb is
twenty four. At some point resumes should matter.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
More than draft profile.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
I like all three, but the sophomore players need to
show more with their stacked rosters. I think they would
fall into his category. I think Caleb Williams is extremely
polarizing player. Bow Knicks is even more polarizing than Caleb.
I mean, those guys would all fall under the bucket
of very polarizing. I mean Caleb as games where he's
(23:05):
just very inaccurate right, I mean throwing like fifty percent
in a league that is very, very.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
Easy to complete passes.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
I mean, let's just face it, like we talked about,
it's never been easier to complete passes in the history
of the league. And he can be inaccurate, but he
also makes incredible plays. And he's been the most clutch
guy in the league. But I like, if we just
played who would you trade who for? Like if the
Bears called the Patriots, Caleb straight up for Drake May,
I'll tell you who would hang up first, and it
(23:33):
wouldn't even be a question to be Mike Vrabel and
Josh mc daniels, you know. And unless I'm not trying
to shit on Caleb at all, like I've come around,
you make big time This is the bottom line league, right, Okay,
you play shitting in the second quarter. Well, if you're
making plays to win games, I can live with it.
Over the course of your career, you're gonna have to
be better and more accurate. But like Cam wasn't the
most accurate guy, but he made some big time plays
(23:56):
and he was a playmaker, right, And he was a
that you know, had some very successful season, won an MVP.
I would say, a shittier version of that was like
Deshaun Watson was more of a playmaker well before he
got to the Houston Texans, but he wasn't wasn't sitting
in the pocket and picking you apart. That's not the
way he played. Russell Wilson was by far the.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
Best version of that.
Speaker 1 (24:18):
But I think all those guys are extremely polarizing. The
only guys is like not polarizing is like Lamar Jackson
when he's dominating, and Josh Allen. Even Mahomes been like
is Mahomes losing a little bit?
Speaker 2 (24:31):
Right?
Speaker 1 (24:31):
I mean that's we do it with Herbert, Yeah, I
mean there's still a contingent like is this guy good?
It's like, yeah, he's good. Guys, you fucking morons. My
family and I excuse my language, children, our lifelong Vikings
fan We never miss a snap. If you were the Vikings,
why not offer four to five first round picks and
go make a move for Burrow. Last year we won
(24:53):
fourteen games with Darnold, and we obviously have the requisite
talent around him to succeed. I just feel like without
this kind of move, it's only a matter of time
before JJ wants out. They would say no, they're not
trading him this conversation. Listen, I get it's fun. I
(25:13):
get a lot of people are in the business. When
he makes a comment like that. I thought it was like, God,
this is such a waste of everyone's energy. They're not
he could demand a trade and they would say no.
And clearly he's come out and said like I'm not.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
He's gonna be on the Bengals next year. So I
think the.
Speaker 1 (25:28):
Max amount of first rounders you can trade in the
NFL is three years out, so you could only trade
if you had one first rounder of a year three
first rounders total. But I don't think there's anything you
could offer them that they would say yes. I just
don't it's not even possible. So you guys are in
a tough spot.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Man.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
He's hurt again. Still a lot of question marks. Part
of the reason he was hurt, I haven't seen. Maybe,
I'm sure Kevin O'Connell was asked about it and explained it.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
But on the.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
Play which he was hurt, Like, is that his fault
for not seeing the block?
Speaker 2 (26:00):
Guy?
Speaker 1 (26:01):
You know, Anthony Richardson got obliterated in the preseason when
he ran a play and looked up the other side
when the protection clearly the guy was gonna be unblocked.
And was that the case? Again, I'm speaking a little
out of turn because I haven't seen O'Connell's comments on it,
and I don't pretend to be some you know, Andy
Reid here when it comes to schematics. But from the
(26:24):
naked eye sitting on my couch, it looked like JJ
McCarthy takes some blame on that why he's injured. And
again Anthony Richardson got destroyed in NFL circles for that.
So JJ's injured again. Showed some signs of light there
for a couple of weeks. The problem is what was
against two of the worst teams in the league defensively,
(26:44):
especially so now he's injured and you go, we're just
gonna roll this guy back. It's a tough spot, man,
it really is. I feel for Vikings fans because god,
you guys are so close last year. I mean, you
guys were sixty minutes away from being the one seed.
(27:13):
If the Bills don't make it at least to the
Super Bowl, they should fire both the head coach and
the GM and hire Robert Solo. The Bill's defense always
seems to struggle with injuries in the playoffs, and Sala
has shown he can manage a defense to adversity. Even
though our receiver suck. The offense has never been the problem.
It's always been the defense. Giving up thirty four points
per game to the Chiefs in four playoff games is unacceptable.
(27:34):
I truly believe Bean hasn't set McDermott up for success
on defense. But if our goal isn't met this year,
I don't think we can continue to run it back.
Many will see this as a lateral move. But what
are your thoughts. I hear what you're saying to fire McDermott.
To hire another defensive coach who was just in your
division who used to beat the shit out of is
(27:56):
kind of a tough sell. I guess Sala is a
little lighter personality, feels like a little more engaging than Sean.
You know, Sean can be a little stiff tight, But
like Shawn's proven, like I'm taking a playoff team a
year in year out. I mean, they just drafted a
wide receiver now, granted, what's his name, Josh Allen When
(28:17):
they drafted key On Coleman, part of it was Brandon
Bean sent a bunch of wide receivers. He watched them
and he liked him. That can't even he was in
act him again.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
Last week.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
I mean, what three of the last four games been inactive.
I mean it's a disaster. So I think, listen, Brandon Bean.
I was talking to a guy that worked in the
NFL who's advanced scouted them, and he's like, the thing
that you really noticed compared to some of the other
good teams over the last several years, they're kind of small.
Speaker 2 (28:44):
They're just they're.
Speaker 1 (28:45):
More built for Like if they were a college team,
he'd be like, they're a big twelve team, not an
SEC team. Now they're a big twelve team with the
best quarterback in the country, so it's like, yeah, we
can compete if he's slinging it. But there's something about
the way they built their team which is just something's off.
So I'm with you. He seems like a really nice guy.
(29:06):
I don't know him personally, but I do think the
GMS let them down. I think he'd have to be
the first to admit it. I would put it more
on the personnel staff than the coaching staff. Question for
your next show, should the Lions completely revamp their OW
and D line. I think we need a fresh start
and rebuild around Sewol and Hutch.
Speaker 2 (29:27):
It's hard to do, man.
Speaker 1 (29:29):
I mean one issue you guys are gonna have is like,
let's use the Bears for example. So this offseason they
sign a center and I think they trade for two guards.
You have a lot of money tied up into a
lot of guys. Right, golf makes a lot of money.
Sewell signed a big contract, Saint Brown signed a big contract.
(29:50):
Hudgson that he already get paid or he's gonna get paid.
Jameson Williams got a contract extension. Gibbs is gonna need
a contract extension. You have a high priced team and
this worked. Talk about windows. Part of your window a
couple of years ago is like a lot of these
guys were on rookie deals and now they've become high end,
high priced guys. So I think that becomes a big,
(30:11):
big challenge for you. It's like where do you just
find offensive lineman? I mean you can draft them, but
we see that doesn't work out often, or like a
young guy is thrust into the action. You guys are
playing important games. It's tough, and it's hard to find
defensive lineman. You know, part of the reason Hutchinson's elite,
who's drafted two overall, like you usually don't find tho
like Max Crosby is in an outlier that that is
(30:35):
very abnormal to the way to acquire defensive lineman. Right,
think of the best pass rushers in the league, if
we just go around, most of them are high end picks.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
So I think that's really really difficult to do.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
There's something your DB's just I feel like your dbs
get hurt every year all the time, and obviously branch
Tearing's achilles this year is pretty devastating. But yeah, I
don't really know what to tell you. I think it's
gonna be tough sledding.
Speaker 2 (31:04):
At least.
Speaker 1 (31:05):
The bright spot for you guys a lot of high
end playmakers, a lot of high end talent.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
I mean, you have.
Speaker 1 (31:12):
Elite players that every team would want. But you know,
the play calling this year, the injuries, I don't really
you know, I can't pretend to guess why that's happening,
but it's happening. I understand why Vrabel is a Coach
of the Year candidate, But when you look at Ben
Johnson and even Kyle Shanahan have done. How can it
(31:32):
even be close? The Bears are in a division with
the Packers, Lions, and the Vikings with Kevin O'Connell. Vrabel
has had to fight it out with the Dolphins, Jets,
and an average Bills teams. Albeit they have Josh Allen
and James Cook. The Bears have arguably played a much
harder schedule and compared to where the franchise has been
for years. It is such a turnaround, even the Niners
(31:54):
with a much tougher schedule and injuries. With a number
one seed potential, I don't think Vrabel's gonna win it.
I'm with you. I think it's I kind of feel
like it's Ben Johnson's to lose. Liam Cohen's throwing his
hat in the ring, and I think Kyle. If Kyle
were to get the number one seed, I think he
would just have to split it with somebody, you know.
(32:14):
Because they were the betting favorite to win the division
this year, they were one of the betting favorites in
the NFC to be in the Super Bowl. So a
lot of teams bet or I mean a lot of
people were predicting that they were gonna be good now.
Losing Fred Warner Nick Bosa was not part of that equation.
So I would have no problem if you like, if
Kyle Winsley's next to I mean you could argue, what
(32:35):
if Kyle beats Ben Johnson on Sunday Night, We'd be like, well,
you had two extra days rest. You know, does George
Kittle play if Kyle wins Sunday Night? I think you
could make a big case. Personally, I don't give a
shit about Coach of the Year because, let's face it,
(32:56):
it's just we thought you were gonna suck it.
Speaker 2 (32:57):
Now you're good.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
Even Ben Johnson, if they would have gotten like eight
to nine this year and shown signs, he would have.
Speaker 2 (33:03):
Got a lot of credit.
Speaker 1 (33:04):
But part of it is that organization was a joke.
Everything about it was pretty embarrassing, you know what he
took over. I have no problem with Ben Johnson winning it.
Rabel's done an excellent job, but let's face it, a
huge part of their success has been Drake May And.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
You know, it's not like Mike's coaching them.
Speaker 1 (33:24):
If the forty nine ers win their next two games
that are at home, they will get the number one
seed and a bye followed by two home games, and
then if they win the NFC Championship game.
Speaker 2 (33:35):
They will host the Super Bowl.
Speaker 1 (33:38):
So you're saying the forty nine ers never have to leave.
That would be if the forty nine ers are at
Levi Stadium in early February.
Speaker 2 (33:47):
It's the most incredible thing I've ever seen. It really is.
Speaker 1 (33:52):
I'm not quite counting it out. I still think their
defense it's gonna be a challenge. If they win this week,
I'm convinced they could win a Super Bowl. Or when
I say win the Super they can win the NFC
then the Super Bowl one game.
Speaker 2 (34:03):
Anything can happen.
Speaker 1 (34:05):
But I mean, again, that lway Doc he's in Super Bowls,
he's like losing.
Speaker 2 (34:08):
Forty two to ten.
Speaker 1 (34:10):
Doesn't feel like we've had that many blowout Super Bowls.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
I guess the Eagles Chiefs was last year.
Speaker 1 (34:14):
But to me, like obviously the forty nine ers are
they could win any individual playoff game if they are
the wild card. I do foresee it being a challenge
to win three straight games with their defense. If they
win these next two games and I beat the Bears
in Seattle, then I don't see how you could say
they couldn't win the Super Bowl.
Speaker 2 (34:35):
Or definitely the NFC.
Speaker 1 (34:38):
On Spotify, you are wearing your hat backwards. Colin is
notorious for his hat on backwards guy takes. Is it
an inside joke between you two or just a random
picture Spotify picked. I think when we were looking for
a picture we've I think we're gonna change the logo
here in twenty twenty six. It was just like, I
(34:59):
don't have the many photos of me just by myself,
and that was some photo that they used. I also
am adamant about this because I do agree that when
you represent, you know, major corporations, you know how I
guess dress matters a little bit though, Like you know,
I'm from northern California. The richest people in the world
(35:21):
wear hoodies every day. Silicon Valley is full of people
that don't even own suits. You know. Elon must wears
a T shirt every day. Steve Jobs wore jeans every day.
Speaker 2 (35:30):
You know.
Speaker 1 (35:31):
The culture on the West Coast is a little bit different.
We're a little we're a little looser than they are
in the East Coast. Like you go to New York,
like they're a little more buttoned up with their dress.
The succes quote unquote successful people. For us, it doesn't matter,
you know, the hat on backwards thing.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
I'm bald. I truly we play by different rules.
Speaker 1 (35:50):
If you have hair, then I judge you a little
bit differently if you want to judge someone for a
hat on backwards.
Speaker 2 (35:56):
But myself being.
Speaker 1 (35:57):
Bald and today I haven't shaved and it looks terrible,
I can do whatever I want. So the rules for me,
who again is a professional podcaster, I would say or
is a little bit different than like some guy running
a bank. But I'll say this guy running a bank hit.
The rules where I would disagree with Colin is like
your rules depending on what you do change. If I'm
(36:18):
Jamie Diamond and run Chase, yeah, I'm gonna dress a
little bit different than if I'm Mark Zuckerberg and run meta.
Speaker 2 (36:24):
Right.
Speaker 1 (36:24):
I mean one, Jamie, you don't own Chase. You are
just the president of CEO, you know, picked by the board.
If I'm Mark, like I own this motherfucker, I wear
whatever I want. So it rules change for different people.
If you're a young player, you know you should be
a little more cognizant. I guess, but I also think
fashion changes. I mean look at chicks now. They're wearing
(36:45):
the baggy jeans, which I think is a terrible look,
but I get it, Like things EBB and flow, I
just think, like I'm a podcaster, you know, I wear
basketball shorts, tennis shoes, and hoodies most every day. And
I do believe this, Like my rules, like if you
have good hair, you know, like put a little product
(37:07):
in it, don't even wear at like for me, like
sometimes I gotta cover my head one the lighting starts
shining too.
Speaker 2 (37:12):
I haven't shaved.
Speaker 1 (37:14):
We just we got the short end of the stick
when it comes to the follicle power upstairs, and we're
a little more Our rules aren't as strict I would say.
But I just really believe, you know, in all seriousness,
they just picked the picture years ago. I don't even
think anyone even thought twice about the backward hats thing.
It turned out to be kind of ironic and funny.
(37:36):
But but yeah, I'll end on that, So have a
great day. The volume
Hosts And Creators
Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
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The Burden
The Burden is a documentary series that takes listeners into the hidden places where justice is done (and undone). It dives deep into the lives of heroes and villains. And it focuses a spotlight on those who triumph even when the odds are against them. Season 5 - The Burden: Death & Deceit in Alliance On April Fools Day 1999, 26-year-old Yvonne Layne was found murdered in her Alliance, Ohio home. David Thorne, her ex-boyfriend and father of one of her children, was instantly a suspect. Another young man admitted to the murder, and David breathed a sigh of relief, until the confessed murderer fingered David; “He paid me to do it.” David was sentenced to life without parole. Two decades later, Pulitzer winner and podcast host, Maggie Freleng (Bone Valley Season 3: Graves County, Wrongful Conviction, Suave) launched a “live” investigation into David's conviction alongside Jason Baldwin (himself wrongfully convicted as a member of the West Memphis Three). Maggie had come to believe that the entire investigation of David was botched by the tiny local police department, or worse, covered up the real killer. Was Maggie correct? Was David’s claim of innocence credible? In Death and Deceit in Alliance, Maggie recounts the case that launched her career, and ultimately, “broke” her.” The results will shock the listener and reduce Maggie to tears and self-doubt. This is not your typical wrongful conviction story. In fact, it turns the genre on its head. It asks the question: What if our champions are foolish? Season 4 - The Burden: Get the Money and Run “Trying to murder my father, this was the thing that put me on the path.” That’s Joe Loya and that path was bank robbery. Bank, bank, bank, bank, bank. In season 4 of The Burden: Get the Money and Run, we hear from Joe who was once the most prolific bank robber in Southern California, and beyond. He used disguises, body doubles, proxies. He leaped over counters, grabbed the money and ran. Even as the FBI was closing in. It was a showdown between a daring bank robber, and a patient FBI agent. Joe was no ordinary bank robber. He was bright, articulate, charismatic, and driven by a dark rage that he summoned up at will. In seven episodes, Joe tells all: the what, the how… and the why. Including why he tried to murder his father. Season 3 - The Burden: Avenger Miriam Lewin is one of Argentina’s leading journalists today. At 19 years old, she was kidnapped off the streets of Buenos Aires for her political activism and thrown into a concentration camp. Thousands of her fellow inmates were executed, tossed alive from a cargo plane into the ocean. Miriam, along with a handful of others, will survive the camp. Then as a journalist, she will wage a decades long campaign to bring her tormentors to justice. Avenger is about one woman’s triumphant battle against unbelievable odds to survive torture, claim justice for the crimes done against her and others like her, and change the future of her country. Season 2 - The Burden: Empire on Blood Empire on Blood is set in the Bronx, NY, in the early 90s, when two young drug dealers ruled an intersection known as “The Corner on Blood.” The boss, Calvin Buari, lived large. He and a protege swore they would build an empire on blood. Then the relationship frayed and the protege accused Calvin of a double homicide which he claimed he didn’t do. But did he? Award-winning journalist Steve Fishman spent seven years to answer that question. This is the story of one man’s last chance to overturn his life sentence. He may prevail, but someone’s gotta pay. The Burden: Empire on Blood is the director’s cut of the true crime classic which reached #1 on the charts when it was first released half a dozen years ago. Season 1 - The Burden In the 1990s, Detective Louis N. Scarcella was legendary. In a city overrun by violent crime, he cracked the toughest cases and put away the worst criminals. “The Hulk” was his nickname. Then the story changed. Scarcella ran into a group of convicted murderers who all say they are innocent. They turned themselves into jailhouse-lawyers and in prison founded a lway firm. When they realized Scarcella helped put many of them away, they set their sights on taking him down. And with the help of a NY Times reporter they have a chance. For years, Scarcella insisted he did nothing wrong. But that’s all he’d say. Until we tracked Scarcella to a sauna in a Russian bathhouse, where he started to talk..and talk and talk. “The guilty have gone free,” he whispered. And then agreed to take us into the belly of the beast. Welcome to The Burden.