December 27, 2023 • 33 mins
On today’s edition of the Best of The Odd Couple, Rob Parker and guest host TJ Houshmandzadeh breakdown the Broncos’ decision to bench Russell Wilson for the final two games of the season. Is Denver using Russ as a scapegoat, or are they justified in making this business decision? FOX NFL analyst Randy Mueller joins the show to discuss the reactions to Russell Wilson’s benching, how the player’s union could get involved, and discusses what it could mean for the future of the league’s CBA. CBS Colorado’s Justin Adams joins the show to help navigate the Broncos reportedly being prepared to cut Russell Wilson, his benching, and how the Broncos will move forward with Sean Payton, or without Russ.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to the best of the Odd Couple podcasts.
Be sure to catch us live every weekday from seven
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Speaker 2 (00:22):
You're listening to the Best of the Odd Couple with
Chris Brusson and Ron Harker.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Let's start here, TJ.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
The big news, of course, in the NFL, with two
games to go and the Broncos still having a chance
to possibly make the playoffs. There's only eight percent chance,
but they have a chance. They decided that they were
going to bench Russell Wilson, so Russell will not play
(00:52):
the final two games of the year. Stinham is going
to be the starting quarterback. They haven't been eliminated from
the play playoffs. And you know what, there's something rotten
in Denmark. And this is, TJ. The bad part about
pro sports. And you know this because you played in
the National Football League and there's a money element that's involved,
(01:15):
and people can poop poo it all they want, and
all you just want to win and that's all that matters.
And you don't care about money, But when money's involved,
decisions are made, and this to me is strictly a
money decision.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
If this guy gets.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
Hurt and I mean doesn't get hurt and play the
last two games, you're gonna be on the hook for
that thirty seven million dollars for the twenty twenty five
season if he's on the roster in March and he
passes his physical so they the last thing they want
is for him to play and get hurt and then
(01:55):
that money kicks in. Regardless, am I saying he had
an All Pro ar you're at quarterback?
Speaker 4 (02:01):
No?
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Did he have a better year TJ than he had
his first year in Denver? Without question. They were dead
in the water. They bounced back, they got back into it.
They won some games.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
I get it.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
That lost to the Patriots was just brutal. I mean,
they were down big, came back in that game, but
they still lost. They lost to the Patriots.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
What was that? Christmas Eve?
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Bad loss and basically not all the way knocked him out,
but really damaged their chances of making it to the postseason.
Do you have a problem with where they are in
Denver and what they're doing.
Speaker 5 (02:39):
Man, Rob, there's so many layers to this.
Speaker 6 (02:42):
Honestly, yeah, I have a problem with it, but I
don't have a problem with it when when you and
this is the thing you are doing, at least how
we see it now. And I'll say this, I think
Jered Stenham can play.
Speaker 5 (02:59):
I really do.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
He can play, and he should have been playing before.
Speaker 5 (03:02):
He just hasn't had a lot of reps.
Speaker 6 (03:04):
He's never gonna play when Russell Wilson is making that
type of money. I don't care if they thought he
was better. He's never gonna play when Russell Wilson has
that contract. That's the business side of football. But what
you're doing with the Denver Broncos is even if you
think Russell Wilson gives you the best opportunity to win games,
(03:24):
you're putting it.
Speaker 5 (03:27):
Economics of all.
Speaker 6 (03:29):
If he gets hurt, we have to pay him thirty
seven more million, thirty nine million more guaranteed in twenty
twenty five. What about the rest of the players on
his team on a team that's been busting a but
all season and albeit small, small percent that you're gonna
make the playoffs, but you still have a chance. What
are you telling those guys, You, guys don't matter. The
(03:52):
effort that you guys have given me all season doesn't matter.
I've asked you to give me your all all season.
It doesn't matter. So that's where this coaching staff can
run the risk of losing guys.
Speaker 5 (04:05):
Okay, I'm not this year, not just this year.
Speaker 6 (04:08):
The guys that will be there next year, give it
your all, because I'm gonna give them all. We're always
gonna give you the best chance to win. Hey, guys,
but we're gonna be dressed because we don't know what's
gonna happen in twenty twenty five. Like this is what
you're telling the guys that are on the roster now,
two years down the road. That's what you're worried about.
(04:30):
And you want me to give it my all. And
y'all worried about twenty twenty five. Now, the business side
of football, I get it. If I get it. Russell
Wilson is playing good football this year. He's playing football
the brand of football that he played in Seattle. He's
(04:51):
not playing any worse than what he played in Seat.
Let's take out last year. What he's doing this year
is what he did in Seattle. But Seattle had a
great defense, a great running game in Marshawn Lynch. He
doesn't have that in Denver. I mean, you're talking three
(05:11):
to four Hall of Famers on that defense, and Richard
Sherman and Earl Thomas and Bobby Wagner and Cam Chancellor
and Michael Bennett and those dudes, like they had a
great defense. And so that's why he was what he
was in Seattle because he's playing good football. But the
(05:33):
beginning of the end, Rob was when Sean Payton treated
him like he was nothing on the sideline I went
on college. I had never seen that in my life.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
And that's where I want to get to because this has.
Speaker 6 (05:47):
Never seen that. That was the beginning of the end
right there. That was the beginning the way.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
But this is Sean Payton, this is Sean Peyton, and.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
He's going to use Russell Wilson as a scapegoat for
what's going on in Denver. He's gonna do this is
this is what's happening. And here's the part that bothers me. Okay,
and here's the difference between baseball and football.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
And you talked about it. Okay, they're worried.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
About twenty twenty five and the chances of him getting heard,
people putting me the next and their lives and their
bodies and harm's way every game. And they signed the
contract and now they want to get to make sure
that they can wiggle out when they want to.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
What just happened in baseball?
Speaker 1 (06:32):
What just it's not that just showe hail Tony just
signed a seven hundred million dollar contract. Guess what, TJ.
He signed a seven hundred million dollar contract with a
major injury that will not allow him to be a
unicorn next year, right, and that the Dodgers don't know
what kind of picture he's gonna be again when he
(06:55):
takes the mound.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Do they know?
Speaker 5 (06:57):
Do they know idea?
Speaker 1 (06:58):
They have no idea that's the op them from signing
him or giving him money.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
No, it did not.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
And they use that in football all the time, to
not pay running backs, to not play players. Why do
NFL players accept this? I don't even understand it.
Speaker 6 (07:18):
I mean, rob you, when you look at it, there's
a handful of players that have that type of.
Speaker 5 (07:24):
Power, meaning you're young and you're great. This is what
I want in my contract.
Speaker 6 (07:29):
If I don't get it, I'm not signing and all
those guys that those five or six players where it's Mahomes,
Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, whoever else is that
young guy coming up? It looks to be possibly now CJ.
Speaker 5 (07:47):
Stroud.
Speaker 6 (07:49):
They can really hold firm on I want to guarantee contract.
Oh Lamar tried to and nobody attempted to sign Lamark.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
He had we're going to get into that. We're gonna
get a.
Speaker 6 (08:01):
Non exclusive franchise taking nobody tried to sign him.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
Well, but that and there was a story today NBC,
and this is the financial part that that drives you crazy.
And I don't if you're a Denver Broncos fan and
you just said it too or in that locker room
and you're asking me to give my all, but you're
going to pull a quarterback not because he's terrible and
(08:27):
we can't win with him, but because we can't have
him get hurt the last two games.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
And then we're on.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
The hook because if he's healthy and passing the physical
on March, you know that that guarantee guarantee is kicked
in and there's no turning back from that thirty seven
million they've already basically said we're not going to exercise that,
We're gonna part ways. We're not paying that thirty seven million.
We don't care if we make the playoffs this year.
(08:54):
This is Sean Payton, and Sean Payton came in and
for a guy who's won one Super Bowl and basically
is Mike McCarthy.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
In better shape?
Speaker 1 (09:06):
You know, really, other than that, what's the difference between
Mike McCarthy and him. But everybody makes Mike McCarthy out
like he's kind of a buffoon, and Sean Payton invented football,
like it's unbelievable. They both had Hall of Fame quarterbacks, right,
they both won one championship, but Mike McCarthy never went
(09:27):
seven to nine.
Speaker 3 (09:27):
Three years in a row with a Hall of Fame quarterback.
That's the difference.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
And Sean Payton talked out of the side of his
mouth about Nathaniel Hackett.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
We all know that he did a terrible job.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
That's why Sean got the job, right, So he started
off with that the team was awful, they gave up
a seventy piece to Miami, they bounced back and now
here he is.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
He wanted to.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Get rid of Russell Wilson anyway, couldn't do anything because
he was winning, right and they were winning, and as
soon as he realized, okay, here's my last chance, they
forsake the team's fortune and tell the fans screw you.
That's what that the Denver Broncos and uh Sean Payton
have done.
Speaker 6 (10:10):
The thing is what kind of support does Russell Wilson
have in that locker room that that's key? What kind
of support from the better players in that locker room
that are young that means something to that team specifically
uh Patrick certain like, how does he feel about this?
(10:31):
If your young players are up in arms about this?
Speaker 5 (10:36):
You got a problem.
Speaker 6 (10:37):
You have a problem if you're the Denver Broncos because
you can't come in the offseason in training camp and
preach this, we're gonna give it all all because we're
gonna get you. Give it your all, because we're gonna
give it all. We're gonna give you the best opportunity
to win. You can't. You can't even preach that message
any longer because you've already showed me what you would do.
(11:02):
You showed me what you would do, so don't tell
me because I see better than I hear, and so
it really depends on the type of support that Russell
Wilson has in that locker room. Now again, if Jared
Stidham goes out, there's these next two weeks and balls out,
none of this matters.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
No, And if you don't and if he bombs out,
if he bombs out, but it's still the idea that
you've given up the season.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple
with Chris Brussard and Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm
Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the
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Speaker 3 (11:38):
HI. This is Jay Glazer.
Speaker 7 (11:39):
And you may know me for the world of football
or fighting raven shows like HBO's Ballers.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
Well you don't know is for my entire life.
Speaker 7 (11:47):
I have lived in something I refer to as the
gray depression anxiety. So now I'm coming out with a
new podcast, Unbreakable, a mental health podcast with Jay Glazer,
where each week, while we talk about mental health, I
hope to describe it, give it words. Listen to Unbreakable
with Jay Glazer on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or
wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
GJ.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
Let's start let's stay in the NFL and talk about
another NFL quarterback.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
He's not getting benched, but he has struggled this year.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
And I know it's hard for people to say that
Patrick Mahomes is not playing well.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
We saw.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
In their last game on Sunday just I don't even
know what he had, a fumble six and a pick
six in six seconds. Turnovers, penalties, drop balls, all kinds
of stuff were going on with Kansas City. But it's
pretty ugly right now. And people, they've lost five of
their last eight. They haven't clinched the playoff spot. And
(12:50):
today or this might have come out yesterday, No, it
was this morning. Chiefs legend of two time Pro Ball
pro bowler Dante Hall.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
Guess what he said.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
He had some blunt advice for Patrick Mahomes on NFL's
Good Morning Football.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
Take a listen to TJ can Leave Patrick Mahomes.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
I love you, my favorite quarterback, but I think you
need to fall in love with the mundane. Yes, for
five years we have been used to the big players
of Tyreeed to Kelsey and all of that.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
It's time to be check down. Tom Brady.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
Fall in love with the swing route, the checkdowns these
players have been there for the taking and that's pretty
much what we need to get back to.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
Right check down, TJ. You have the floor. My goodness,
great guy.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
Patrick Mahobs won two Super Bowls, two MVPs, two Super
Bowl MVPs. I mean, the resume is stacked, but he
is having a down year.
Speaker 5 (13:47):
He's not having a year we're accustomed to. And it's shocking.
Speaker 8 (13:53):
It is.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
It is shocking to watch, isn't it.
Speaker 5 (13:55):
Come on, it's shocking.
Speaker 6 (13:56):
And the reason Mahomes must take a lot of the
blame is because when the Chiefs win, he pretty much
gets all of the credit. And so you can't have
it both ways. It can't be. And this is always
with all quarterbacks. They can't get all the credit when
(14:17):
things are great and be absorved of all the blame
when things are bad. And that's how we do with
the quarterbacks. It's they're not winning. Oh he don't have
enough pieces all the offensive line camp like. But as
soon as you give them them pieces, you forget about
the pieces that you complained about previously. And so yeah,
(14:38):
he must take some of the blame. And that's what
it is. We expect so much out of them because
He's shown us he can do it. He's gotten Kansas
City out of so much before their defense was what
it was now or what it is now, I mean,
before their defense can stop anybody. So Mahomes had to
(14:59):
say today they're number four in the league and so yes,
are the Chiefs receivers dropping balls? Yeah, but Mahomes isn't
playing how he's always played.
Speaker 9 (15:12):
And that frustration you see the frustration on the sideline.
We've never seen that out of Mahomes. We haven't seen
that type of frustration. So that lets you know it's
getting to him. It's getting to him because you're even
when Mahomes.
Speaker 6 (15:28):
Was at his best, when they had Tyreek Kill and
everybody was afraid of them, he had bad games, but
he didn't have bad games consecutively in the role where
the offense can't move the ball. The Raiders didn't complete
a pass in the last three quarters and won the game.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
Can you believe that in a game that Patrick Mahomes
was a quarter? Can you believe that TJ.
Speaker 6 (15:54):
And so Mahomes must take some of the blame because
he gets all of the credit. It Now, what Dante
Hall said has some truth to it, but it also
comes with Andy Reid saying, you know what, let's stop
trying to get these chunk plays all the time, and
let's run some ball control style offense. Let's run some
(16:18):
drag routes. Let's run some quick outs. Let's get the
ball out out of his hands faster. Let's get him
played in the rhythm. Let's get away from all these
off script plays where he has to run around in
the pocket and try to create something every time. So
Mahomes can take it when it's there, but Andy Reid
can call it to where Mahomes has no choice but
to take it.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
And let's hear from we got to some sound from
Patrick Mahomes. I think it's on its frustrations.
Speaker 8 (16:44):
People see frustration and they think it causes like a controversy.
Think I see it as a way of showing that
people care. They care about their profession, they care about
trying to do whever they can to win games. And
so when I see stuff like that happen, obviously we
want to be in a positive light and everything like that,
but I see someone that care about the game and
someone that wants to be better, and not better for
himself but for the team.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
I'll say this the one where he went berserk with Tony.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
Remember he was off side clearly, like like they were
jumping around like they should be given that play, TJ.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
Was he not clearly lined up off side?
Speaker 5 (17:19):
Oh yeah, but you a receiver. You're a receiver.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
Tell me how to play the ball.
Speaker 5 (17:26):
When you're on the ball, you always check, you're you
always check. And if you're what do you check for?
Speaker 1 (17:31):
Are you looking for the ref? Are you looking at
the ball? What are you looking at when you line up?
Speaker 3 (17:37):
What are you looking at?
Speaker 6 (17:38):
You're looking at the ref to make sure that you're
not past the ball, you're not technically off side, And
if you are, every single time, the ref will just
give you his hand like backup, or he'll tell you
screwed up every single time, or they'll give you a
thumb up. And so you know, it's just a habit.
It's like it's something that every receiver does. And so
(18:02):
even if you don't do it, when you look in
at the ball, you gotta realize, like I'm off.
Speaker 5 (18:07):
Side, like I'm lining up with the tackles. If I'm
on the ball, I'm the X receiver. I'm lining up
with the left for right tackle.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
Don't you remember d.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
And the big play with Brady through the game losing
intercept was called back yeah, or lined up off.
Speaker 6 (18:23):
Side, and so that was yeah, they were there. Oh
that's not a you never make that call. Yeah, but
you don't never see a receiver do that either. When
last time we seen the receiver line up like that,
I'm not so I have reps don't call that.
Speaker 5 (18:38):
They don't call it because receivers don't do it.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
They don't.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
And to be that far off when you see the video,
it ain't even close.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
It ain't even.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
It ain't like like a like a thumbnail or a toenail,
you know what. It ain't even he's so off side.
Speaker 6 (18:52):
There's certain players like Cardis Tony Is. He's talented, he's
very physically talented. But there's some players man that mentally
the game it's moving too fast. It's just not formed
from a mental perspective. And he may be one of
those guys to where the game is too much for mentally.
Speaker 5 (19:13):
That may be the case. I wasn't.
Speaker 6 (19:15):
I did the draft on Fox myself, Joe Klatt when
he got drafted, And just go back and if you
can find it and listen to what I said when
he got drafted. I didn't like the draft pick when
the Giants drafted him, and I thought he was talented.
I thought he was talented, but I didn't like the
draft pick when the Giants drafted him.
Speaker 5 (19:32):
And so.
Speaker 6 (19:34):
Those are things that are driving Mahomes crazy. And then
we're dropping the ball and Kelsey's throwing his helmet. Andy
Reid is bumping him.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
What about Kelsey?
Speaker 5 (19:45):
Guy?
Speaker 3 (19:46):
He already this year talked about retiring.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
Is that a good sign when you start to hear
players talk about retiring?
Speaker 3 (19:53):
I mean, are you checking out or you're half in?
Half out? All the distraction Kallas Swift, Like everybody has.
Speaker 5 (20:01):
A girlfriend or wife, not a distractions, not but.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
I'm just saying, but like the it just seemed like
there's so much going on and he's not the same.
Speaker 6 (20:09):
Guy that I will say that, like the tailor, just
because she's famous, that's not a distraction. Everybody we have wives,
we have girlfriends. She's just so happened to be, uh,
very famous, and so that that that's not a factor.
The retirement thing, I don't get that, uh because the
game of football, at least for me, was so fun
(20:31):
and to me, you play until you can't play anymore
because when it's sober and sover, you can never get
that back. And he may think about it. I don't
know too many players that are just going to retire
and can still play. A lot of times the league
don't want you or your body. Your body just I
(20:53):
can't give it. I can't go anymore. And so for me,
that retirement talk is just frustrating. We're not we are
not used to seeing this. They are not used to
playing this. When doing this, like you gotta understand this.
The Chiefs, they go up and down the field on
everybody offensively.
Speaker 1 (21:11):
They three game what they have three games in a
row where the didn't score in the second half this year, Yes.
Speaker 3 (21:16):
Like three games in a row.
Speaker 5 (21:18):
TJ like this is the Chiefs.
Speaker 6 (21:20):
And many have said Patrick Mahomes is not the greatest,
but he's on his way to being that.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
And you can say that this year.
Speaker 6 (21:29):
I'll take play it away that they've played offensively. It's concerning.
It really is not.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
Because hol is saying he should check down Charlie, tom
Brady whatever, and they don't done and all.
Speaker 6 (21:44):
That their offen built. Their offense is different. Andy Reid
wants to get the ball down the field, and so
every offense has some elements of there being a check down.
But Mahomes has gotten spoiled with getting a chunk play,
making plays happen off script, getting out.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
I don't think I don't think he can go back
I don't think he could go backwards.
Speaker 6 (22:09):
I mean, that's DNA. That's not in his DNA to
check the ball down or oh, let me just get
this street yard completion when I could possibly get outside
of the pocket. Because a lot of his great plays
where you're like, wow, he's out the pocket. He throws
it with his left hand, touchdown, he's out of the pocket.
He makes a crazy throat when he's getting sacked. That's
(22:30):
why Mahomes is Mahomes because of those type of plays.
So now you want to rain at in. I don't
know if you can do that, because that's what makes
him special and you can't. That's something he does naturally
and he was born that way. His mind thinks differently
and he's able to create plays without feeling that pressure
(22:53):
and that stress of that play.
Speaker 5 (22:55):
But it does he's Mahomes.
Speaker 1 (22:57):
But it says a lot that people would he been
talk about changing anything from this guy's had so much success.
He tells you how bad it is, and people are
looking at it and kind of in some shock of
how poorly the offense is. And you could people, if
you want to go ahead and just only blame the
offensive line and only blame Mahomes had two bad turnovers
(23:23):
in the game, did he not?
Speaker 3 (23:25):
In six seconds?
Speaker 5 (23:27):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (23:27):
I mean the first one was the play called the
fumboy was like, what are they doing?
Speaker 5 (23:33):
Backed up right?
Speaker 6 (23:35):
And they called that kind of a trick type of
play formation.
Speaker 5 (23:40):
And then Jack Jones is just he a baller.
Speaker 3 (23:43):
He's sitting there waiting on that.
Speaker 6 (23:45):
Jack Jones is a ball He was in a bell technique.
He had his eyes on a quarterback and when Mahomes
pulled that orm back to throw the ball, yeah, he
had his eyes on the quarterback the whole time. But
he's that type of player he I coached back in
high school. Great ball skills. Could have been a receiver
in college. That's how talented he was with the ball
(24:06):
in his hands, and so if the balls around him,
it's an interception. He's a defensive back, but could really
be a receiver. That's how great his ball skills are.
But Mahomes and the Chiefs. He doesn't trust the receivers. Fully,
There's just no way they're gonna say all the right
things publicly. But when you drop the ball and you
(24:29):
don't make the plays over a game or two, okay,
the entire season, there's only two games. It's Kelsei or bust.
That's what it is. Now it's Kelsier bus or the
run game? And can you blame him?
Speaker 2 (24:43):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio
dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to
listen live.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
Now, let's welcome in Justin Adams from CBS News Colorado.
He's a sport reporter there and he covers all things Denver.
What's happening justin? Happy holidays, Merry Christmas?
Speaker 5 (25:06):
How are you, Rob?
Speaker 4 (25:07):
Happy holidays to you as well. It is an interesting day,
to say the least to the Male High City. But
not surprised by what happened. But it's a very very interesting.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
Day, no doubt. Say hi to TJ. Houschman Zada, who's
with me instead of Chris today?
Speaker 4 (25:22):
See day my man? What's going on?
Speaker 5 (25:24):
Man? Just trying to be like you that's all.
Speaker 1 (25:26):
That's all we're trying to figure o. All right, so
you say, interesting day, So the writing was on.
Speaker 3 (25:31):
The wall here. Did this not come as a surprise
to you?
Speaker 4 (25:35):
What would you look through the tea leaves and you
see what happened in the last game, the loss that
the Broncos had to get some newting with Patriots. There's
one thing that really stuck out to me quote wise
that Sean Payton said that really when you look at
all the moves that were made, made a lot of sense,
made a lot of Excuse me, he said, right now,
we're an average two below average and a lot of
things offensively, and it's not good enough where you're talking
(25:56):
about a team right now that's twenty fifth on offense
total offense and twenty fifth and passing as well. So
I know you're looking at a whole lot of different
things that Russ did do this season when you look
at his touchdown numbers and also not throwing a lot
of interceptions. But guys, Russell Wilson has thrown the second
fewest passing yards per game that he has in his career.
(26:19):
The only time they he's thrown fewer yards than he
has right now is his rookie season.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
Yeah, I hear you on this, and we could dress
down Russell Wilson. This team has not been eliminated from
the playoffs, and you can't tell me that they have
a better chance with stid them in there than they
do with Wilson. I'm not going to buy into that.
Speaker 4 (26:39):
You mean, a guy who's zero for two in his
career and it's only completed fifty eight percent of his passes.
That's not somebody that we can believe in.
Speaker 1 (26:45):
Yes, I mean, I mean if you want to just say, like,
you know, like they want to look at his numbers
and look at this. Last year was a disaster. He's
played better this year. But this is strictly financial. They
don't care about the team. They don't care TJ. We
talked about it earlier, about all the blood, sweat and tears,
about the other players in that locker room who have
(27:05):
given up their bodies and trying to win, and they
just basically pull the plug because they don't want to
make sure that they don't guarantee him that other thirty
seven million dollars.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
Isn't this what this is?
Speaker 5 (27:16):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (27:17):
Not only that, but think about yesterday too. You let
go of Kareem Jackson, and I understand he's been suspended
a couple of times this year because of it's that,
you know, controversy or whatever. But he's a guy who's
a veteran. He's a veteran safety who's helping you out
on defense, helping you out to be able to get
all the turnovers that allowed you to win five games
in a row. Well, he's gone, he's now with the
Houston Texans. And then the following day you make this
(27:39):
move to get Russell Wilson out and now he's your backup.
You're pretty much a throwing up the white flag. It's
the reality of what's going on. And I think what
the Broncos are also doing is they're telling Jared Stidham,
who's a guy who's only making five million this year,
but it's signed to a two year, ten million dollar contract,
that he has a two game audition to be the
starting quarterback next year, which I don't think is a
(27:59):
great thing, But it's the realities of what's going on
with the Broncos.
Speaker 6 (28:03):
Let's stay with Russell Wilson due is there a path
we know Russe is gonna be released? I don't see
anybody trading for that contract. Is there a path where
we can see Russell Wilson be a starting quarterback in
the NFL next season or will he continue as a
backup with an opportunity to start if the starter gets hurt?
Speaker 4 (28:25):
For sure, you're talking about a guy who's just thirty five,
and guys have been able to play well until their
later years at the quarterback position. But you can see
him at Atlanta if they're not able to go and
land Justice Fields. You can see him at Pittsburgh because
we know how bad that quarterback situation is with Canny
Pike it over there. There's several other different places that
you can see him there. Minnesota currently doesn't have a
(28:46):
quarterback right now, so you can see Russell Wilson play
in any of those places. Even the Las Vegas Raiders,
they have a rookie quarterback starting for them right now.
Russ could be able to go there and instantly give
them a boost at that position. So there's several different
places that he can go to. But it's not going
to be anything like it was when he asked for
a trade out of Seattle a couple of years ago.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
Here's mother thing everybody buried Baker Mayfield, he can't play,
he's done, nobody will take him.
Speaker 3 (29:12):
Blah blah blah. We heard all that he did.
Speaker 1 (29:15):
Win a playoff game in Cleveland and one in twenty
five years when he did win mone and now he's
playing his careers resurrected in Tampa Bay.
Speaker 3 (29:24):
I mean, why can't Russell have something similar.
Speaker 4 (29:27):
To that, because you have to give him in the
right system. And anytime you have a head coach like
Sean Payton who has his own system, it says I
need my guy, I need my Drew Breese or this
is who is this guy?
Speaker 3 (29:39):
Though? I mean, everybody's done starving for who is this guy?
Speaker 5 (29:43):
Stead?
Speaker 4 (29:44):
You want somebody? No, no, really a guy who's for
the most part going to be a pocket passer, and
he's here. Is one true issue with rust though, and
this is just from seeing the games, from being at
the games watching him, there's not a lot of intermediate passes.
And that's a lot of what Sean Payton wants to
do is have that intermediate pass game, especially attacked between
the hasses. TJ. You know about this in today's day,
(30:05):
will you not have to worry about getting hit over
the middle What's the biggest thing you want to do
is to be able to expose the middle of the
field as much as possible, and the Broncos aren't really
able to do that with Russell Wilson right now. Now,
that's the only criticism that I will give him is
that a lot of times he doesn't see over the middle.
He runs a lot in the pocket. I mean, last
week he was sacked five times against the Patriots on
(30:25):
several times where he didn't have to leave the pocket.
He's running around and didn't get sacked. And so he
doesn't allow players to be able to get open, which
hasn't getten sacked. Just in general, I will say this
is that whoever Sean Payton gets, he better go and
get the right guy because his butt's now on the line.
Because now you're saying, hey, I'm going to get my guy, Well,
(30:46):
your butt's going to be on the line as well.
Speaker 6 (30:49):
If you had to take a poll in the locker room,
what would it be in four what's going on or against?
How would you say the locker room is about this decision?
Speaker 4 (31:02):
Just distraught overall because your leader is gone. I mean,
TV you know about this. Anytime that your leader walks
out the door. Just imagine if you know Colson Palmer
just walked out the door.
Speaker 6 (31:11):
Right how Yeah, But to take that off really quick,
it seems as I don't know how Russ is and
how people feel about him. In that locker room. Carson
was loved in that locker room. We all enjoyed playing
with him. We had Carson's cell phone number. Guys won't
even have Russell Wilson's cell.
Speaker 3 (31:29):
Phone numbers celebrity.
Speaker 6 (31:33):
So that's why I ask, how does a locker room feel?
Because he seems to be a little different than what
I've experienced with my quarterbacks. When Marshawn Lynch comes out
and says he don't have his cell phone numbers and
he was the offense, that's concerning to me.
Speaker 4 (31:52):
Yeah, it is. It is different in that sense. I
will say. This is when you look at the relationship
that Russell Wilson had with his left tackle, Garrett Bowles,
and how every game embracing that guy like that's something
that is real, especially in the locker room and also
on the shield. Also Mike mcglinchy, who's the right tackle,
he talked a lot about how just the knowledge of positivity,
but Russ's work ethic has even rubbed off on him.
(32:13):
So those are the positive things that are set in
the locker room. I don't know what happens personally between
the guys just in general, but I do know that
anytime you lose your leader, it does hurt you, justin general,
does hurt the locker room. And at the end of
the day, you still have a mathematical chance to be
able to get into the postseason. There are several different
ways for you to be able to get there, so
(32:35):
for this move to be able to be made. Also,
losing Kareem Jackson the day before really hurts this locker.
Speaker 3 (32:40):
Room in general, no doubt.
Speaker 5 (32:42):
Man.
Speaker 1 (32:43):
His name is Justin Adams, of course, with CBS News
Colorado Sports Reporter. We appreciate the insight and the info.
Thank you so much. Happy Holidays to you and the family.
Justin will be in touch.
Speaker 4 (32:55):
Okay, buddy, he gott I appreciate you as well, And
before I let you go, I will say this an
eye on Trey Lance. Remember the Broncos have to pay
thirty seven million dollars guaranteed for US, Trey Lance will
only cost a five point three million gets the cap
keep an eye on that trade.
Speaker 3 (33:11):
Just okay, we love that nugget. Thank you. I'll take
a six piece spicy. I love that. Appreciate it, my man,
Thank you, no doubt, all right,
Thanks for listening to the best of the Odd Couple podcasts.
Be sure to catch us live every weekday from seven
pm to ten pm Eastern four to seven Pacific on
Fox Sports Radio. Find your local station for The Odd
Couple at Foxsports Radio dot com, or stream us live
every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
You're listening to the Best of the Odd Couple with
Chris Brusson and Ron Harker.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Let's start here, TJ.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
The big news, of course, in the NFL, with two
games to go and the Broncos still having a chance
to possibly make the playoffs. There's only eight percent chance,
but they have a chance. They decided that they were
going to bench Russell Wilson, so Russell will not play
(00:52):
the final two games of the year. Stinham is going
to be the starting quarterback. They haven't been eliminated from
the play playoffs. And you know what, there's something rotten
in Denmark. And this is, TJ. The bad part about
pro sports. And you know this because you played in
the National Football League and there's a money element that's involved,
(01:15):
and people can poop poo it all they want, and
all you just want to win and that's all that matters.
And you don't care about money, But when money's involved,
decisions are made, and this to me is strictly a
money decision.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
If this guy gets.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
Hurt and I mean doesn't get hurt and play the
last two games, you're gonna be on the hook for
that thirty seven million dollars for the twenty twenty five
season if he's on the roster in March and he
passes his physical so they the last thing they want
is for him to play and get hurt and then
(01:55):
that money kicks in. Regardless, am I saying he had
an All Pro ar you're at quarterback?
Speaker 4 (02:01):
No?
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Did he have a better year TJ than he had
his first year in Denver? Without question. They were dead
in the water. They bounced back, they got back into it.
They won some games.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
I get it.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
That lost to the Patriots was just brutal. I mean,
they were down big, came back in that game, but
they still lost. They lost to the Patriots.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
What was that? Christmas Eve?
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Bad loss and basically not all the way knocked him out,
but really damaged their chances of making it to the postseason.
Do you have a problem with where they are in
Denver and what they're doing.
Speaker 5 (02:39):
Man, Rob, there's so many layers to this.
Speaker 6 (02:42):
Honestly, yeah, I have a problem with it, but I
don't have a problem with it when when you and
this is the thing you are doing, at least how
we see it now. And I'll say this, I think
Jered Stenham can play.
Speaker 5 (02:59):
I really do.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
He can play, and he should have been playing before.
Speaker 5 (03:02):
He just hasn't had a lot of reps.
Speaker 6 (03:04):
He's never gonna play when Russell Wilson is making that
type of money. I don't care if they thought he
was better. He's never gonna play when Russell Wilson has
that contract. That's the business side of football. But what
you're doing with the Denver Broncos is even if you
think Russell Wilson gives you the best opportunity to win games,
(03:24):
you're putting it.
Speaker 5 (03:27):
Economics of all.
Speaker 6 (03:29):
If he gets hurt, we have to pay him thirty
seven more million, thirty nine million more guaranteed in twenty
twenty five. What about the rest of the players on
his team on a team that's been busting a but
all season and albeit small, small percent that you're gonna
make the playoffs, but you still have a chance. What
are you telling those guys, You, guys don't matter. The
(03:52):
effort that you guys have given me all season doesn't matter.
I've asked you to give me your all all season.
It doesn't matter. So that's where this coaching staff can
run the risk of losing guys.
Speaker 5 (04:05):
Okay, I'm not this year, not just this year.
Speaker 6 (04:08):
The guys that will be there next year, give it
your all, because I'm gonna give them all. We're always
gonna give you the best chance to win. Hey, guys,
but we're gonna be dressed because we don't know what's
gonna happen in twenty twenty five. Like this is what
you're telling the guys that are on the roster now,
two years down the road. That's what you're worried about.
(04:30):
And you want me to give it my all. And
y'all worried about twenty twenty five. Now, the business side
of football, I get it. If I get it. Russell
Wilson is playing good football this year. He's playing football
the brand of football that he played in Seattle. He's
(04:51):
not playing any worse than what he played in Seat.
Let's take out last year. What he's doing this year
is what he did in Seattle. But Seattle had a
great defense, a great running game in Marshawn Lynch. He
doesn't have that in Denver. I mean, you're talking three
(05:11):
to four Hall of Famers on that defense, and Richard
Sherman and Earl Thomas and Bobby Wagner and Cam Chancellor
and Michael Bennett and those dudes, like they had a
great defense. And so that's why he was what he
was in Seattle because he's playing good football. But the
(05:33):
beginning of the end, Rob was when Sean Payton treated
him like he was nothing on the sideline I went
on college. I had never seen that in my life.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
And that's where I want to get to because this has.
Speaker 6 (05:47):
Never seen that. That was the beginning of the end
right there. That was the beginning the way.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
But this is Sean Payton, this is Sean Peyton, and.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
He's going to use Russell Wilson as a scapegoat for
what's going on in Denver. He's gonna do this is
this is what's happening. And here's the part that bothers me. Okay,
and here's the difference between baseball and football.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
And you talked about it. Okay, they're worried.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
About twenty twenty five and the chances of him getting heard,
people putting me the next and their lives and their
bodies and harm's way every game. And they signed the
contract and now they want to get to make sure
that they can wiggle out when they want to.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
What just happened in baseball?
Speaker 1 (06:32):
What just it's not that just showe hail Tony just
signed a seven hundred million dollar contract. Guess what, TJ.
He signed a seven hundred million dollar contract with a
major injury that will not allow him to be a
unicorn next year, right, and that the Dodgers don't know
what kind of picture he's gonna be again when he
(06:55):
takes the mound.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Do they know?
Speaker 5 (06:57):
Do they know idea?
Speaker 1 (06:58):
They have no idea that's the op them from signing
him or giving him money.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
No, it did not.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
And they use that in football all the time, to
not pay running backs, to not play players. Why do
NFL players accept this? I don't even understand it.
Speaker 6 (07:18):
I mean, rob you, when you look at it, there's
a handful of players that have that type of.
Speaker 5 (07:24):
Power, meaning you're young and you're great. This is what
I want in my contract.
Speaker 6 (07:29):
If I don't get it, I'm not signing and all
those guys that those five or six players where it's Mahomes,
Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, whoever else is that
young guy coming up? It looks to be possibly now CJ.
Speaker 5 (07:47):
Stroud.
Speaker 6 (07:49):
They can really hold firm on I want to guarantee contract.
Oh Lamar tried to and nobody attempted to sign Lamark.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
He had we're going to get into that. We're gonna
get a.
Speaker 6 (08:01):
Non exclusive franchise taking nobody tried to sign him.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
Well, but that and there was a story today NBC,
and this is the financial part that that drives you crazy.
And I don't if you're a Denver Broncos fan and
you just said it too or in that locker room
and you're asking me to give my all, but you're
going to pull a quarterback not because he's terrible and
(08:27):
we can't win with him, but because we can't have
him get hurt the last two games.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
And then we're on.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
The hook because if he's healthy and passing the physical
on March, you know that that guarantee guarantee is kicked
in and there's no turning back from that thirty seven
million they've already basically said we're not going to exercise that,
We're gonna part ways. We're not paying that thirty seven million.
We don't care if we make the playoffs this year.
(08:54):
This is Sean Payton, and Sean Payton came in and
for a guy who's won one Super Bowl and basically
is Mike McCarthy.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
In better shape?
Speaker 1 (09:06):
You know, really, other than that, what's the difference between
Mike McCarthy and him. But everybody makes Mike McCarthy out
like he's kind of a buffoon, and Sean Payton invented football,
like it's unbelievable. They both had Hall of Fame quarterbacks, right,
they both won one championship, but Mike McCarthy never went
(09:27):
seven to nine.
Speaker 3 (09:27):
Three years in a row with a Hall of Fame quarterback.
That's the difference.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
And Sean Payton talked out of the side of his
mouth about Nathaniel Hackett.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
We all know that he did a terrible job.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
That's why Sean got the job, right, So he started
off with that the team was awful, they gave up
a seventy piece to Miami, they bounced back and now
here he is.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
He wanted to.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Get rid of Russell Wilson anyway, couldn't do anything because
he was winning, right and they were winning, and as
soon as he realized, okay, here's my last chance, they
forsake the team's fortune and tell the fans screw you.
That's what that the Denver Broncos and uh Sean Payton
have done.
Speaker 6 (10:10):
The thing is what kind of support does Russell Wilson
have in that locker room that that's key? What kind
of support from the better players in that locker room
that are young that means something to that team specifically
uh Patrick certain like, how does he feel about this?
(10:31):
If your young players are up in arms about this?
Speaker 5 (10:36):
You got a problem.
Speaker 6 (10:37):
You have a problem if you're the Denver Broncos because
you can't come in the offseason in training camp and
preach this, we're gonna give it all all because we're
gonna get you. Give it your all, because we're gonna
give it all. We're gonna give you the best opportunity
to win. You can't. You can't even preach that message
any longer because you've already showed me what you would do.
(11:02):
You showed me what you would do, so don't tell
me because I see better than I hear, and so
it really depends on the type of support that Russell
Wilson has in that locker room. Now again, if Jared
Stidham goes out, there's these next two weeks and balls out,
none of this matters.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
No, And if you don't and if he bombs out,
if he bombs out, but it's still the idea that
you've given up the season.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple
with Chris Brussard and Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm
Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the
iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
HI. This is Jay Glazer.
Speaker 7 (11:39):
And you may know me for the world of football
or fighting raven shows like HBO's Ballers.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
Well you don't know is for my entire life.
Speaker 7 (11:47):
I have lived in something I refer to as the
gray depression anxiety. So now I'm coming out with a
new podcast, Unbreakable, a mental health podcast with Jay Glazer,
where each week, while we talk about mental health, I
hope to describe it, give it words. Listen to Unbreakable
with Jay Glazer on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or
wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
GJ.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
Let's start let's stay in the NFL and talk about
another NFL quarterback.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
He's not getting benched, but he has struggled this year.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
And I know it's hard for people to say that
Patrick Mahomes is not playing well.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
We saw.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
In their last game on Sunday just I don't even
know what he had, a fumble six and a pick
six in six seconds. Turnovers, penalties, drop balls, all kinds
of stuff were going on with Kansas City. But it's
pretty ugly right now. And people, they've lost five of
their last eight. They haven't clinched the playoff spot. And
(12:50):
today or this might have come out yesterday, No, it
was this morning. Chiefs legend of two time Pro Ball
pro bowler Dante Hall.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
Guess what he said.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
He had some blunt advice for Patrick Mahomes on NFL's
Good Morning Football.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
Take a listen to TJ can Leave Patrick Mahomes.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
I love you, my favorite quarterback, but I think you
need to fall in love with the mundane. Yes, for
five years we have been used to the big players
of Tyreeed to Kelsey and all of that.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
It's time to be check down. Tom Brady.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
Fall in love with the swing route, the checkdowns these
players have been there for the taking and that's pretty
much what we need to get back to.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
Right check down, TJ. You have the floor. My goodness,
great guy.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
Patrick Mahobs won two Super Bowls, two MVPs, two Super
Bowl MVPs. I mean, the resume is stacked, but he
is having a down year.
Speaker 5 (13:47):
He's not having a year we're accustomed to. And it's shocking.
Speaker 8 (13:53):
It is.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
It is shocking to watch, isn't it.
Speaker 5 (13:55):
Come on, it's shocking.
Speaker 6 (13:56):
And the reason Mahomes must take a lot of the
blame is because when the Chiefs win, he pretty much
gets all of the credit. And so you can't have
it both ways. It can't be. And this is always
with all quarterbacks. They can't get all the credit when
(14:17):
things are great and be absorved of all the blame
when things are bad. And that's how we do with
the quarterbacks. It's they're not winning. Oh he don't have
enough pieces all the offensive line camp like. But as
soon as you give them them pieces, you forget about
the pieces that you complained about previously. And so yeah,
(14:38):
he must take some of the blame. And that's what
it is. We expect so much out of them because
He's shown us he can do it. He's gotten Kansas
City out of so much before their defense was what
it was now or what it is now, I mean,
before their defense can stop anybody. So Mahomes had to
(14:59):
say today they're number four in the league and so yes,
are the Chiefs receivers dropping balls? Yeah, but Mahomes isn't
playing how he's always played.
Speaker 9 (15:12):
And that frustration you see the frustration on the sideline.
We've never seen that out of Mahomes. We haven't seen
that type of frustration. So that lets you know it's
getting to him. It's getting to him because you're even
when Mahomes.
Speaker 6 (15:28):
Was at his best, when they had Tyreek Kill and
everybody was afraid of them, he had bad games, but
he didn't have bad games consecutively in the role where
the offense can't move the ball. The Raiders didn't complete
a pass in the last three quarters and won the game.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
Can you believe that in a game that Patrick Mahomes
was a quarter? Can you believe that TJ.
Speaker 6 (15:54):
And so Mahomes must take some of the blame because
he gets all of the credit. It Now, what Dante
Hall said has some truth to it, but it also
comes with Andy Reid saying, you know what, let's stop
trying to get these chunk plays all the time, and
let's run some ball control style offense. Let's run some
(16:18):
drag routes. Let's run some quick outs. Let's get the
ball out out of his hands faster. Let's get him
played in the rhythm. Let's get away from all these
off script plays where he has to run around in
the pocket and try to create something every time. So
Mahomes can take it when it's there, but Andy Reid
can call it to where Mahomes has no choice but
to take it.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
And let's hear from we got to some sound from
Patrick Mahomes. I think it's on its frustrations.
Speaker 8 (16:44):
People see frustration and they think it causes like a controversy.
Think I see it as a way of showing that
people care. They care about their profession, they care about
trying to do whever they can to win games. And
so when I see stuff like that happen, obviously we
want to be in a positive light and everything like that,
but I see someone that care about the game and
someone that wants to be better, and not better for
himself but for the team.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
I'll say this the one where he went berserk with Tony.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
Remember he was off side clearly, like like they were
jumping around like they should be given that play, TJ.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
Was he not clearly lined up off side?
Speaker 5 (17:19):
Oh yeah, but you a receiver. You're a receiver.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
Tell me how to play the ball.
Speaker 5 (17:26):
When you're on the ball, you always check, you're you
always check. And if you're what do you check for?
Speaker 1 (17:31):
Are you looking for the ref? Are you looking at
the ball? What are you looking at when you line up?
Speaker 3 (17:37):
What are you looking at?
Speaker 6 (17:38):
You're looking at the ref to make sure that you're
not past the ball, you're not technically off side, And
if you are, every single time, the ref will just
give you his hand like backup, or he'll tell you
screwed up every single time, or they'll give you a
thumb up. And so you know, it's just a habit.
It's like it's something that every receiver does. And so
(18:02):
even if you don't do it, when you look in
at the ball, you gotta realize, like I'm off.
Speaker 5 (18:07):
Side, like I'm lining up with the tackles. If I'm
on the ball, I'm the X receiver. I'm lining up
with the left for right tackle.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
Don't you remember d.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
And the big play with Brady through the game losing
intercept was called back yeah, or lined up off.
Speaker 6 (18:23):
Side, and so that was yeah, they were there. Oh
that's not a you never make that call. Yeah, but
you don't never see a receiver do that either. When
last time we seen the receiver line up like that,
I'm not so I have reps don't call that.
Speaker 5 (18:38):
They don't call it because receivers don't do it.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
They don't.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
And to be that far off when you see the video,
it ain't even close.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
It ain't even.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
It ain't like like a like a thumbnail or a toenail,
you know what. It ain't even he's so off side.
Speaker 6 (18:52):
There's certain players like Cardis Tony Is. He's talented, he's
very physically talented. But there's some players man that mentally
the game it's moving too fast. It's just not formed
from a mental perspective. And he may be one of
those guys to where the game is too much for mentally.
Speaker 5 (19:13):
That may be the case. I wasn't.
Speaker 6 (19:15):
I did the draft on Fox myself, Joe Klatt when
he got drafted, And just go back and if you
can find it and listen to what I said when
he got drafted. I didn't like the draft pick when
the Giants drafted him, and I thought he was talented.
I thought he was talented, but I didn't like the
draft pick when the Giants drafted him.
Speaker 5 (19:32):
And so.
Speaker 6 (19:34):
Those are things that are driving Mahomes crazy. And then
we're dropping the ball and Kelsey's throwing his helmet. Andy
Reid is bumping him.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
What about Kelsey?
Speaker 5 (19:45):
Guy?
Speaker 3 (19:46):
He already this year talked about retiring.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
Is that a good sign when you start to hear
players talk about retiring?
Speaker 3 (19:53):
I mean, are you checking out or you're half in?
Half out? All the distraction Kallas Swift, Like everybody has.
Speaker 5 (20:01):
A girlfriend or wife, not a distractions, not but.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
I'm just saying, but like the it just seemed like
there's so much going on and he's not the same.
Speaker 6 (20:09):
Guy that I will say that, like the tailor, just
because she's famous, that's not a distraction. Everybody we have wives,
we have girlfriends. She's just so happened to be, uh,
very famous, and so that that that's not a factor.
The retirement thing, I don't get that, uh because the
game of football, at least for me, was so fun
(20:31):
and to me, you play until you can't play anymore
because when it's sober and sover, you can never get
that back. And he may think about it. I don't
know too many players that are just going to retire
and can still play. A lot of times the league
don't want you or your body. Your body just I
(20:53):
can't give it. I can't go anymore. And so for me,
that retirement talk is just frustrating. We're not we are
not used to seeing this. They are not used to
playing this. When doing this, like you gotta understand this.
The Chiefs, they go up and down the field on
everybody offensively.
Speaker 1 (21:11):
They three game what they have three games in a
row where the didn't score in the second half this year, Yes.
Speaker 3 (21:16):
Like three games in a row.
Speaker 5 (21:18):
TJ like this is the Chiefs.
Speaker 6 (21:20):
And many have said Patrick Mahomes is not the greatest,
but he's on his way to being that.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
And you can say that this year.
Speaker 6 (21:29):
I'll take play it away that they've played offensively. It's concerning.
It really is not.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
Because hol is saying he should check down Charlie, tom
Brady whatever, and they don't done and all.
Speaker 6 (21:44):
That their offen built. Their offense is different. Andy Reid
wants to get the ball down the field, and so
every offense has some elements of there being a check down.
But Mahomes has gotten spoiled with getting a chunk play,
making plays happen off script, getting out.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
I don't think I don't think he can go back
I don't think he could go backwards.
Speaker 6 (22:09):
I mean, that's DNA. That's not in his DNA to
check the ball down or oh, let me just get
this street yard completion when I could possibly get outside
of the pocket. Because a lot of his great plays
where you're like, wow, he's out the pocket. He throws
it with his left hand, touchdown, he's out of the pocket.
He makes a crazy throat when he's getting sacked. That's
(22:30):
why Mahomes is Mahomes because of those type of plays.
So now you want to rain at in. I don't
know if you can do that, because that's what makes
him special and you can't. That's something he does naturally
and he was born that way. His mind thinks differently
and he's able to create plays without feeling that pressure
(22:53):
and that stress of that play.
Speaker 5 (22:55):
But it does he's Mahomes.
Speaker 1 (22:57):
But it says a lot that people would he been
talk about changing anything from this guy's had so much success.
He tells you how bad it is, and people are
looking at it and kind of in some shock of
how poorly the offense is. And you could people, if
you want to go ahead and just only blame the
offensive line and only blame Mahomes had two bad turnovers
(23:23):
in the game, did he not?
Speaker 3 (23:25):
In six seconds?
Speaker 5 (23:27):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (23:27):
I mean the first one was the play called the
fumboy was like, what are they doing?
Speaker 5 (23:33):
Backed up right?
Speaker 6 (23:35):
And they called that kind of a trick type of
play formation.
Speaker 5 (23:40):
And then Jack Jones is just he a baller.
Speaker 3 (23:43):
He's sitting there waiting on that.
Speaker 6 (23:45):
Jack Jones is a ball He was in a bell technique.
He had his eyes on a quarterback and when Mahomes
pulled that orm back to throw the ball, yeah, he
had his eyes on the quarterback the whole time. But
he's that type of player he I coached back in
high school. Great ball skills. Could have been a receiver
in college. That's how talented he was with the ball
(24:06):
in his hands, and so if the balls around him,
it's an interception. He's a defensive back, but could really
be a receiver. That's how great his ball skills are.
But Mahomes and the Chiefs. He doesn't trust the receivers. Fully,
There's just no way they're gonna say all the right
things publicly. But when you drop the ball and you
(24:29):
don't make the plays over a game or two, okay,
the entire season, there's only two games. It's Kelsei or bust.
That's what it is. Now it's Kelsier bus or the
run game? And can you blame him?
Speaker 2 (24:43):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio
dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to
listen live.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
Now, let's welcome in Justin Adams from CBS News Colorado.
He's a sport reporter there and he covers all things Denver.
What's happening justin? Happy holidays, Merry Christmas?
Speaker 5 (25:06):
How are you, Rob?
Speaker 4 (25:07):
Happy holidays to you as well. It is an interesting day,
to say the least to the Male High City. But
not surprised by what happened. But it's a very very interesting.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
Day, no doubt. Say hi to TJ. Houschman Zada, who's
with me instead of Chris today?
Speaker 4 (25:22):
See day my man? What's going on?
Speaker 5 (25:24):
Man? Just trying to be like you that's all.
Speaker 1 (25:26):
That's all we're trying to figure o. All right, so
you say, interesting day, So the writing was on.
Speaker 3 (25:31):
The wall here. Did this not come as a surprise
to you?
Speaker 4 (25:35):
What would you look through the tea leaves and you
see what happened in the last game, the loss that
the Broncos had to get some newting with Patriots. There's
one thing that really stuck out to me quote wise
that Sean Payton said that really when you look at
all the moves that were made, made a lot of sense,
made a lot of Excuse me, he said, right now,
we're an average two below average and a lot of
things offensively, and it's not good enough where you're talking
(25:56):
about a team right now that's twenty fifth on offense
total offense and twenty fifth and passing as well. So
I know you're looking at a whole lot of different
things that Russ did do this season when you look
at his touchdown numbers and also not throwing a lot
of interceptions. But guys, Russell Wilson has thrown the second
fewest passing yards per game that he has in his career.
(26:19):
The only time they he's thrown fewer yards than he
has right now is his rookie season.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
Yeah, I hear you on this, and we could dress
down Russell Wilson. This team has not been eliminated from
the playoffs, and you can't tell me that they have
a better chance with stid them in there than they
do with Wilson. I'm not going to buy into that.
Speaker 4 (26:39):
You mean, a guy who's zero for two in his
career and it's only completed fifty eight percent of his passes.
That's not somebody that we can believe in.
Speaker 1 (26:45):
Yes, I mean, I mean if you want to just say, like,
you know, like they want to look at his numbers
and look at this. Last year was a disaster. He's
played better this year. But this is strictly financial. They
don't care about the team. They don't care TJ. We
talked about it earlier, about all the blood, sweat and tears,
about the other players in that locker room who have
(27:05):
given up their bodies and trying to win, and they
just basically pull the plug because they don't want to
make sure that they don't guarantee him that other thirty
seven million dollars.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
Isn't this what this is?
Speaker 5 (27:16):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (27:17):
Not only that, but think about yesterday too. You let
go of Kareem Jackson, and I understand he's been suspended
a couple of times this year because of it's that,
you know, controversy or whatever. But he's a guy who's
a veteran. He's a veteran safety who's helping you out
on defense, helping you out to be able to get
all the turnovers that allowed you to win five games
in a row. Well, he's gone, he's now with the
Houston Texans. And then the following day you make this
(27:39):
move to get Russell Wilson out and now he's your backup.
You're pretty much a throwing up the white flag. It's
the reality of what's going on. And I think what
the Broncos are also doing is they're telling Jared Stidham,
who's a guy who's only making five million this year,
but it's signed to a two year, ten million dollar contract,
that he has a two game audition to be the
starting quarterback next year, which I don't think is a
(27:59):
great thing, But it's the realities of what's going on
with the Broncos.
Speaker 6 (28:03):
Let's stay with Russell Wilson due is there a path
we know Russe is gonna be released? I don't see
anybody trading for that contract. Is there a path where
we can see Russell Wilson be a starting quarterback in
the NFL next season or will he continue as a
backup with an opportunity to start if the starter gets hurt?
Speaker 4 (28:25):
For sure, you're talking about a guy who's just thirty five,
and guys have been able to play well until their
later years at the quarterback position. But you can see
him at Atlanta if they're not able to go and
land Justice Fields. You can see him at Pittsburgh because
we know how bad that quarterback situation is with Canny
Pike it over there. There's several other different places that
you can see him there. Minnesota currently doesn't have a
(28:46):
quarterback right now, so you can see Russell Wilson play
in any of those places. Even the Las Vegas Raiders,
they have a rookie quarterback starting for them right now.
Russ could be able to go there and instantly give
them a boost at that position. So there's several different
places that he can go to. But it's not going
to be anything like it was when he asked for
a trade out of Seattle a couple of years ago.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
Here's mother thing everybody buried Baker Mayfield, he can't play,
he's done, nobody will take him.
Speaker 3 (29:12):
Blah blah blah. We heard all that he did.
Speaker 1 (29:15):
Win a playoff game in Cleveland and one in twenty
five years when he did win mone and now he's
playing his careers resurrected in Tampa Bay.
Speaker 3 (29:24):
I mean, why can't Russell have something similar.
Speaker 4 (29:27):
To that, because you have to give him in the
right system. And anytime you have a head coach like
Sean Payton who has his own system, it says I
need my guy, I need my Drew Breese or this
is who is this guy?
Speaker 3 (29:39):
Though? I mean, everybody's done starving for who is this guy?
Speaker 5 (29:43):
Stead?
Speaker 4 (29:44):
You want somebody? No, no, really a guy who's for
the most part going to be a pocket passer, and
he's here. Is one true issue with rust though, and
this is just from seeing the games, from being at
the games watching him, there's not a lot of intermediate passes.
And that's a lot of what Sean Payton wants to
do is have that intermediate pass game, especially attacked between
the hasses. TJ. You know about this in today's day,
(30:05):
will you not have to worry about getting hit over
the middle What's the biggest thing you want to do
is to be able to expose the middle of the
field as much as possible, and the Broncos aren't really
able to do that with Russell Wilson right now. Now,
that's the only criticism that I will give him is
that a lot of times he doesn't see over the middle.
He runs a lot in the pocket. I mean, last
week he was sacked five times against the Patriots on
(30:25):
several times where he didn't have to leave the pocket.
He's running around and didn't get sacked. And so he
doesn't allow players to be able to get open, which
hasn't getten sacked. Just in general, I will say this
is that whoever Sean Payton gets, he better go and
get the right guy because his butt's now on the line.
Because now you're saying, hey, I'm going to get my guy, Well,
(30:46):
your butt's going to be on the line as well.
Speaker 6 (30:49):
If you had to take a poll in the locker room,
what would it be in four what's going on or against?
How would you say the locker room is about this decision?
Speaker 4 (31:02):
Just distraught overall because your leader is gone. I mean,
TV you know about this. Anytime that your leader walks
out the door. Just imagine if you know Colson Palmer
just walked out the door.
Speaker 6 (31:11):
Right how Yeah, But to take that off really quick,
it seems as I don't know how Russ is and
how people feel about him. In that locker room. Carson
was loved in that locker room. We all enjoyed playing
with him. We had Carson's cell phone number. Guys won't
even have Russell Wilson's cell.
Speaker 3 (31:29):
Phone numbers celebrity.
Speaker 6 (31:33):
So that's why I ask, how does a locker room feel?
Because he seems to be a little different than what
I've experienced with my quarterbacks. When Marshawn Lynch comes out
and says he don't have his cell phone numbers and
he was the offense, that's concerning to me.
Speaker 4 (31:52):
Yeah, it is. It is different in that sense. I
will say. This is when you look at the relationship
that Russell Wilson had with his left tackle, Garrett Bowles,
and how every game embracing that guy like that's something
that is real, especially in the locker room and also
on the shield. Also Mike mcglinchy, who's the right tackle,
he talked a lot about how just the knowledge of positivity,
but Russ's work ethic has even rubbed off on him.
(32:13):
So those are the positive things that are set in
the locker room. I don't know what happens personally between
the guys just in general, but I do know that
anytime you lose your leader, it does hurt you, justin general,
does hurt the locker room. And at the end of
the day, you still have a mathematical chance to be
able to get into the postseason. There are several different
ways for you to be able to get there, so
(32:35):
for this move to be able to be made. Also,
losing Kareem Jackson the day before really hurts this locker.
Speaker 3 (32:40):
Room in general, no doubt.
Speaker 5 (32:42):
Man.
Speaker 1 (32:43):
His name is Justin Adams, of course, with CBS News
Colorado Sports Reporter. We appreciate the insight and the info.
Thank you so much. Happy Holidays to you and the family.
Justin will be in touch.
Speaker 4 (32:55):
Okay, buddy, he gott I appreciate you as well, And
before I let you go, I will say this an
eye on Trey Lance. Remember the Broncos have to pay
thirty seven million dollars guaranteed for US, Trey Lance will
only cost a five point three million gets the cap
keep an eye on that trade.
Speaker 3 (33:11):
Just okay, we love that nugget. Thank you. I'll take
a six piece spicy. I love that. Appreciate it, my man,
Thank you, no doubt, all right,
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