August 7, 2025 • 35 mins
Former NFL offensive lineman Ephraim Salaam and FOX Sports Radio Weekend host Aaron Torres are in for the guys, and they tell us how much the season-ending injury to Los Angeles Chargers All-Pro LT Rashawn Slater might shake up the AFC as a whole, explain why it's hard to take Archie Manning's comments about Arch Manning's NFL future as a total certainty, and discuss whether Sean McDermott is really the man to lead the Buffalo Bills to the Super Bowl.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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Speaker 2 (00:19):
You're listening to the Best of the Odd Couple.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
As you heard Rashaun Slater tackle Los Angeles Chargers. I
think there are a lot of people's dark horse here
early in you know camp in everything he is out
for the year. Torn Pateller tendon was carted off today.
You know, listen, we like to start with the more upbeat,
(00:46):
fun things. But one, this is certainly the most newsworthy
thing of the day. Two, you know, you are probably
the best person to speak to about this here at
Fox Sports Radio, so we can get into the impact
of Los Angeles Chargers, et cetera. But thirteen year NFL
Vets Super Bowl champion played offensive tackle in the NFL.
(01:07):
Just your first reaction to hearing that news which just
broke here within the last.
Speaker 4 (01:12):
Time literally during the update, I looked at you like,
oh my god, it is number one it's awful, of course,
I feel I feel extremely sorrowful for this young man
who is one of the bright stars on the offensive
line in the NFL. It every year we have these
(01:35):
type of injuries to teams in training camp. It just
lets you know how how aggressive I'll say, football is,
whether it be in practice or in the game. And
so when you have guys who don't feel like they're
(01:56):
being compensated the right way, they hold out to hold
in Now because of the fine system has changed, you
start to understand why. So less than a week ago,
this young man signed a four year extension FO one
hundred and fourteen million dollars and ninety two million guaranteed.
(02:16):
If he had not signed that contract seven days or
so ago, the numbers would be considerably different after sitting
out this whole year. And I just want to say
it like that to keep it in context for our
wonderful listeners who join us every day. This is it's
a business now. Most of our listeners are fans and
(02:41):
sports today. They want guys to show up and be
there for their teams. But it's a just a job,
one dred percent. And if you're being underpaid at your
job and you're excelling at your job, then you feel
a certain type of way. I understand what Michael Parsons
is going through. I understand what Henderson is going through.
(03:01):
I understand what Terry McLaurin is going through because they
know that next day at practice tomorrow, yep, their season
could be over. And now negotiations take on a whole
nother dimension.
Speaker 5 (03:18):
And so.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
As for the Chargers, we are a lot of high
hopes of second year under Hardball, running game hard knows,
justin Herbert really stepping into his own and really for
the first time in his career having a real coach
last year with Jim and so now seeing this news,
(03:44):
it's this is one thing I can tell you for sure,
playing left tackle for many, many years in the NFL,
most teams don't have to.
Speaker 6 (03:54):
Sure sure sure, sure, sure sure.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
Right, So most teams don't have too high level left tackles.
Now you may have a swing guy who come in
and do some stuff spot duty here and there, and
later in my career I was that guy after starting
for ten years. But it's a huge setback because that's
a huge void in a hole that you can't easily
(04:18):
feel sure like. It's not like a running back we
can go get that guy. Or it's not like a
dB where you can bring someone over, or it's not
like a guard where you can hide them in between
you know, a center and a good tackle. You're out
on an island and you're out on an island on
(04:38):
the blind side, and not having that at the level
they needed to make some noise and make a real
push this postseason is as a huge setback for this team.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Okay, so I got a couple of takeaways, but my
first one for you, and I want to just ask
you this. You know, we obviously we all love football.
We all know kind of the next man up philosophy.
Take us into a training camp though, because to me,
I think it's easy to sit there and say, oh,
next man up and it's a new opportunity.
Speaker 6 (05:09):
But the counter to that is you got a lot
of guys like you said that, you.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Know, Keenan Allen literally just you know, ended up on
it with this organization a few days ago, thinking that
he has a window to go to a super Bowl,
win a super Bowl. You have a bunch of other vets.
What is the locker room like after a situation like this?
Understanding from the second you put your pads on when
you're a high school, teenager, middle school, whatever, that these
(05:36):
injuries can happen. But it's also easy to say next
man up. It's another thing when a player of this
significance goes down. And even if you want to have
that next man up theory, you also understand that with
due respect to whoever's stepping in, they ain't the guy
that you just lost.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
I'll put it like this, think about losing your star quarterback.
Speaker 5 (05:59):
Year at star quarterback.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
Sure, yeah, you two other guys on the roster, yep,
and they have to step in and show up and
show out. It's not the same. Sure, the offense cannot
function the same way. And I believe it's the same
way when you replace a left tack. When you lose
a Pro Bowl left tackle, someone of his caliber, one
(06:21):
of the great young stars in this league at that position,
it changes how you now can approach defenses. You can
no longer not worry about what's going on. Case in point,
Deon Sanders. Sure, Deon Sanders would be standing over there
when the defense was huddled.
Speaker 6 (06:41):
Up, and you just didn't throw that side of the field.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
You knew no matter what was going on. He was fine.
So when you're calling these offensive plays, you know, we
can turn the whole protection away.
Speaker 5 (06:55):
Right.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
He can be on an island, he can shine, He's
okay over there. That's why you get pay so much.
So we can do some things and know that he
can hold up against whatever they're trying to do. Now
that's gone, right, So now you have to reconfigure and
and have a different approach in how you're going to
(07:17):
attack defenses because now most likely you're going to have
to have some form of help to help whoever is
replacing him. And that changes the playbook dramatically, and it
also changes This is one thing. The reason quarterbacks love
(07:38):
left tackles is because they don't have to worry about anything.
I got you. We're good, right, I've been there. I've
had tremendous relationships with the quarterbacks I've played with, and
they'll throw a touchdown pass or a big play and
they'll look at me, tap me on the We had
a bunch of plays designed for me to be alone.
Speaker 5 (07:59):
And that's what I call it.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
The island. DB's have an island. Left tackles have an island.
That island is lonely and when you're going against the
Jason Taylor's, the Dwight Freenies, the Charles Haley's, the straight hands,
it gets really lonely.
Speaker 6 (08:16):
Sure, sure, I spent.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
My career being alone on an island and crying the
night before most games. But it's that trust that the
offensive coordinator has in you, that those other four guys
on the offensive line has, that the quarterback has to know,
all right, even when we call this play, it's we're
(08:39):
good over here, So now you can focus on other things.
It's gone now. So now the biggest person this is
gonna hurt is justin Herbert, of course. So now he
has to keep an eye on, you know, his blind side.
He has to check there, which takes you from your
reeds downfield. That's the tough part. Are you have a
(08:59):
bad over here chipping which doesn't allow them to get out,
You take away a lot of empty sets where backs
they're you know, free release right away. It changes your dynamic.
Speaker 5 (09:13):
And I know.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
Everybody upstairs in the coaching staff, especially on offensively, they're
rilling right now because they're trying to figure out, okay,
how do we plug a hole that you can't plug?
Speaker 6 (09:28):
Last question?
Speaker 3 (09:28):
And I think I already know the answer based on
everything you've said over the last couple of minutes. Chargers,
as I said, were you know Chiefs coming off that
frustrating loss in the Super Bowl, they get beat up. Whatever,
you know, Buffalo has the point being a lot of
people this was the trendy could they win the division?
First of all, but also, you know, if you want
(09:50):
to call it a dark horse, pseudo dark horse super
Bowl contender, I assume that based on everything that you've
told me that's essentially off the table, that the expectations
for or this for this team in twenty twenty five
should be altered or changed if you believed it.
Speaker 5 (10:06):
Absolutely.
Speaker 4 (10:08):
You can't lose a position like left tackle at that
level and be like no, we're good, No, we're good,
just like you couldn't lose a quarterback sure and be like, no,
we're How many Tom Brady's are on teams right now
in terms of being backups coming in ready to carry
the torch right away? Those they're outliers out there, and
(10:30):
I'd be interesting to see what the Chargers are trying
to do. They're on phones with agents, guys who have
played and all pro guys who maybe have retired or
not quite retired.
Speaker 6 (10:42):
Jump in real quick.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
I think producer Rob told us they're going to try
to move Joe Alt from right tackle to left tackle,
And I would ask you how, because again, right tackle
isn't on an island. Right tackle isn't the blind side.
If that's the move one, you obviously have to find
a right tackle. Now, how easy or is it easy
even for a first round pick like Joe Ault to
(11:04):
make that conversion? And let me dumb like dumb it
down for us as much as you can understand, like,
how different is the playbook? How different is this? How
different is not just the responsibility of being on the
blind side, being on an island, but also just I
don't even know, just just the playbook whatever.
Speaker 4 (11:24):
So the great thing about them if they do decide
to move their first round pick this year to left tackle,
which he played, yeah, which he played in college, that
bowls well for him. He's a natural left tackle, and
so making that transition. When I came into the league,
when I got drafted, I was a left tackle, but
(11:46):
we had a perennial pro bowler, Bob Whitfield, the behemoth
from Stan first at left tackle. So when I got
to training camp. I was fifth on the depth chart
or fourth on the depth chart at left tackle. Something happened.
Somebody got on the right side, so I moved over
and took advantage of the opportunity and ended up starting
my rookie year at right tackle.
Speaker 5 (12:07):
Everything was different.
Speaker 4 (12:08):
Okay, it's like you're right handed, Sure, start writing with
your left hand.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
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Speaker 6 (12:26):
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Speaker 7 (12:27):
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Speaker 6 (12:38):
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Speaker 3 (12:58):
A little bit of an interesting story came out today,
so obviously, heading into the season, coaches Pole dropped this week.
The Texas long Horns are the number one team in
the country, and of course they have I think the
guy that everybody is most intrigued to watch in college football.
That is Arch Manning, the nephew of Peyton and eli
(13:19):
son of Cooper Manning. Why we are talking about Arch
Manning today is because he is the Heisman favorite. Texas
is the preseason number one team in the country. But
if you're an NFL team hoping to draft Arch Manning
in the twenty twenty six NFL Draft, you may have
to think again. Archie Manning, who of course is his father,
our grandfather, excuse me, was interviewed this week for Texas
(13:44):
Monthly and asked about the idea of Arch essentially being
a one and done starter starting this year, going to
the NFL, because of course this is his third year
of college football. Archie Manning about his grandson, said, quote,
Arch isn't going to do that. He'll be at Texas
in twenty twenty six. What do you think you from,
(14:06):
I mean Archie Manning. You know he's convinced his grandson
will be there. I got takes, but go ahead. I
want to give you the floor.
Speaker 4 (14:13):
I think it has a lot to do with number one,
the money Archie is making, arch is making, and number two,
you don't want to let the cat out of the bag.
Of course to potential nil donors, sure that's great. So
you don't want to just be like, no, no, no, no,
(14:33):
he'll be because if he is slated, if he has
the type of year people are expecting him to have,
and he's slated as a number one pick in the draft,
I can promise you he won't be in college next year. Yes,
Outside of that, yeah, I mean, what's the harm in
(14:54):
saying is what you don't want to do is say no,
he's going to the league and he doesn't have the
type of year that everyone is anticipating. And you got
to remember, he hasn't played a lot of college football. No,
he's been there three years, going on his third year
and he hasn't really played, so we don't even know
(15:16):
the type of player he is. So to put the
type of pressure on this young man by saying, oh, no,
we're here for this year and then we'll head to
the NFL before he's even started a season in college football,
I think that's a smart thing to do for his grandfather.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
Yeah, this is almost like the reverse LeVar ball, like no, yeah,
we're going right, yeah, yeah, no, you know, listen, I
saw this come across the news today, and certainly it's
something we should be talking about. But it's the right like,
it's just it's the right thing for everyone, right is.
I think we're all smart enough to understand if Arch
(15:57):
Manning takes the world by storm in college football, wins
the Heisman, maybe wins a national championship, and he's definitively ready,
then he will go and he should go. Let me
say this, I think it's actually one of the cool
things about the NIL world that we live in.
Speaker 6 (16:13):
Nil is not perfect.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
We're gonna get to another NIL topic here in a
few minutes, but players now don't have to rush the process.
And yeah, and I know Arch is a unique situation
with his family set up, and I don't think financially
he's hurting. But if he if he even if he's
good but he doesn't feel like he's ready, he doesn't
have to rush the process.
Speaker 6 (16:34):
He's going to make plenty of money in college now.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
To be clear, the difference between a four year guaranteed
contract and one year of NIL, those are two.
Speaker 6 (16:43):
Completely different things.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
But I do think this is a cool part of
NIL is that you don't have to rush the process.
If you're not ready, you can come back, you can
stay in school. And so I get why Archie would
say this, but I also think that you know, we'll
see what happened. But I think it's the cool part
of NIL is you don't have to rush the process
and even worry about it this time.
Speaker 4 (17:04):
No, I think it allows players to actually grow into
to being professionals and being able to come into a league,
whether it be basketball or football, come into the league
ready and prepared to play. I think it's really going
to show its head on the college basketball because now
(17:29):
the onus of being one and done is kind of diminishing.
Now you have outliers, the Cooper Flags, the Duke trio
who decided to leave after their first year. But you
know it made sense, right, that makes sense. But if
(17:50):
you're if you're at Illinois and you're one of the
you know, leading the NCAA and scoring, and you're making
you leave Illinois and next year you can go to
Kentucky and they pay you six million dollars, right opposed
to going and getting drafted maybe early second round, late
(18:12):
first round in the NBA. Yeah, I think I'm going
to Kentucky on a bigger stage. Sure, six million dollars
in my pocket. Develop more So, now maybe I put
myself in the conversation of being a lottery pick in
the NBA draft. I like that aspect of it because
now guys don't feel like I have to go now yep,
(18:34):
and then you get.
Speaker 5 (18:35):
To develop more than one thing.
Speaker 4 (18:37):
I don't like football basketball, not so much in football
because you gotta be there three years. You're stepping into
an arena, and you're playing against grown men. Yes, like
there's a rookie like Cooper Flag is going to be
playing against a forty one year old Lebron James.
Speaker 5 (18:53):
You see what I'm saying. And so now it's like.
Speaker 4 (18:55):
Oh, this is two different spectrums, completely different spectrums in
terms of ability, age, strength, all of those things. And
so players staying in college a year longer, developing longer.
I think bo'swell for the league's both ways. So much so,
(19:20):
not to get off topic, but as a father of
an AAU player, my eleven year old, ok so, my
son's eleven, he's a young eleven going.
Speaker 5 (19:29):
Into the sixth grade. Sure.
Speaker 4 (19:31):
I was told, oh, no, you can have him repeat
fifth grade, so he'll be twelve going into the sixth grade.
And I'm like, no, he's tested gifted, he's we're not
going to slow his scholastic endeavors down for athletics. Just
not gonna happen. Oh, by the way, I graduated from
high school at sixteen. It's okay, it works out.
Speaker 5 (19:51):
Sure. And so.
Speaker 4 (19:55):
We watched the uh this path the last not this
weekend the weekend before watch the middle school Championship.
Speaker 5 (20:02):
Series and Anaheim.
Speaker 4 (20:04):
My son was playing in the fifth grade division of that,
and I was watching the eighth grade game and these
kids were catching lobs and dunking out. So I'm sitting
next to one of the dads, I'm like, what grade
is this? It's eighth grade.
Speaker 5 (20:20):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (20:21):
There are two kids on one team who were fifteen.
There were everybody was fourteen, fourteen, and fifteen year old
eighth graders going into ninth grade. So you're fifteen years
old going into the ninth grade, meaning you're nineteen. School
(20:43):
That is criminal. Yeah, I don't like that. I'm not
a fan of that. But what happens is eighth grade
is the year where they hold basketball players back, Sure,
they do eighth grade twice and football as well. They
really do it in football because now you can go
(21:03):
to college nineteen twenty year old freshman and physically you
have a leg up on a seventeen, eighteen year old freshman.
I think it's a travesty. I think fifteen year old
shouldn't be playing with thirteen year old. Sure, it's dangerous.
(21:29):
I definitely don't think a nineteen year old should be
playing with a fourteen fifteen year old varsity basketball in
high school.
Speaker 5 (21:37):
That's crazy.
Speaker 4 (21:37):
Think about this, if you're fourteen years old and you're
good enough to make your varsity team and you're playing
against a team that has three starters that are nineteen Yeah,
are you kidding me?
Speaker 5 (21:48):
Sure? Right?
Speaker 4 (21:49):
Like I would say going into my junior year at
nineteen years old at San Diego State.
Speaker 6 (21:58):
Wow. And So that's that's where NIL is.
Speaker 4 (22:03):
That's where the just Youth athletics itself is skewing to
holding kids back for their physical attributes. But no one's asking, well,
what does that do to them scholastically? Like what you're
gonna repeat eighth grade? What if you got all a's
in eighth grade. You're gonna stay back and do eighth
(22:26):
grade again. Sure, that's crazy to me, Like, whoa what
if you don't make it to the NBA.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
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Speaker 3 (22:45):
Last time I worked with Ephraim, I said, you know
we were filling in. I think I must have been
filling in for Mark Willard during the AFC Championship game.
And I joked with Scott our Boss, I said, I
hope we get a topic as media as the Bills
completely melting down like we did the last time that
you and I got together now several months ago. So
(23:07):
I bring it up because obviously in training camp all
sorts of things are going on. Obviously Hard Knocks premiered
the other day, and Hard Knocks is the Bills, And
so why I want to come full circle on our
conversation you and I. We're pretty tough on Sean McDermott
(23:27):
and the Bills after that AFC Championship Game loss, as
we should have been, but with Hard Knocks rolling all
sorts of cameras everywhere And one thing that I did
find interesting from over the last couple of days some
of the media availability that has come out is Brandon Bean,
who of course is the GM of the Buffalo Bills,
(23:50):
talking about the Kansas City Chiefs. He said, quote, we
just have to keep moving forward to get there. It's
a player two here or there. We're close, but we
can't just prepare the team to beat the Chiefs. There
are a lot of other good teams in the AFC.
I don't think we're far away. We just have to
make a stop here or there. So why it's interesting
(24:11):
is because they have, well one, they've beaten the Chiefs
in the regular season, but they've basically slayed everybody else
there is to slay in the playoffs. So I get
the notion that, yes, you can't build a team solely
to beat the Chiefs when you're probably gonna have to
go through Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. You're probably potentially
(24:32):
gonna see Joe Burrow in the Cincinnati Bengals, you might
see CJ. Stroud in the Houston Texans. And I get
you can't say that everything comes down to the Chiefs.
But when you've lost to them, what four out of
the last five years, three out of the last four years.
Whatever it is, multiple AFC Championship games, I'd say it
does kind of come down to the Chiefs.
Speaker 6 (24:52):
Whether you want to admit it or not.
Speaker 4 (24:53):
Yeah, it does. That's the standard, that's the team. The
hump you haven't been able to get over, and you know,
as good as as you are at the quarterback position
with the Bills, it's more than just quarterback plays, decision making,
its adjustments. It's all these things that coaches like Andy Reid,
(25:16):
Bill Belichick have you know, been masterminds at and you know,
watching hard knocks with the Bills, and the thing I
took away first was, first of all, gave me anxiety
watching them go into training camp at a small university
(25:38):
and sleeping in the dorm room, like I hate That's
the part.
Speaker 5 (25:43):
I hate it.
Speaker 4 (25:44):
Now later in my career, the teams I went to
you could stay at a Veterans can stay at home,
which makes all the difference in the world. Sleeping well,
there are only five teams still currently that leave and
go to train camp somewhere else interesting and just watching that.
(26:04):
In Atlanta, we used to go to Furman University. Oh god,
it's awful. And Denver. We used to go up to
northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado, the manure capital of the world.
Imagine what that smelled like, twenty four hours a day.
And so the summer, it's just it was all of
these things that were like, oh, it's just tough. But
(26:29):
what I took from that is watching them coming in
and how could you not like Josh Allen?
Speaker 6 (26:38):
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 4 (26:40):
How could you not like that guy? Sure, they like
him so much. They're building a stadium so the wind
later in the years doesn't hamper his abilities. Interesting, I
did't get to the end of hard knocks. That was
what I cut it off.
Speaker 6 (26:56):
When they were touring the new facility.
Speaker 4 (26:58):
They're taking a look at the state, and they explained,
you got to remember that game they played against New
England when they lost to mac Jones.
Speaker 5 (27:06):
The wind was whipping all around. They couldn't even pass
the ball.
Speaker 4 (27:09):
They're like, yeah, we're not gonna do that again. We're
not going to leave it up to that. Sure, and
so they went out and they're building this beautiful facility
that shields the field from the wind. Some of the
other elements like that. That's how important Josh Allen is
to this community, into this team. And he's you know,
(27:32):
a family man, just got married. He's just one of
those guys like I look at him and I'm like, man,
I would love to block for that guy.
Speaker 6 (27:40):
Sure, you know, I love that.
Speaker 5 (27:42):
He's a team guy.
Speaker 4 (27:44):
He's great, came from the Mountain West, you know, played
at Wyoming. No star recruit turns into the league MVP.
And so what they're doing. The first of all, they
have some of the most dynamic fans ever. Bill's Mafia's
real thing. And they traveled. When I mentioned earlier, I
was over in London, I went to the Jacksonville I
(28:05):
was going to ask yeah, and Bill's Mafia was in effect.
Speaker 5 (28:09):
They were.
Speaker 4 (28:10):
They were deep in London. And so just the world
getting to see this unique team. And you know, it's
not a lot going on in Buffalo, New York. Sure, right,
not a destination, but they love, love, love the Bills. Uh.
And it's good to see the impact that Josh Hallen
(28:32):
has on on the community. Not only the community, but
the NFL and also Big Dan Dawkins had an opportunity
to meet him. We do a thing with the NFL.
My production company teamed up with the NFL and sky
Dance Sports and we put on this uh a four
(28:53):
day immersive for athletes who want for NFL players who
want to get into production and get to the the
entertainment business. And got a chance to meet Big Dawkins
and just watching him drive the drift car. Like I
love Hard Knocks because it lets you inside. It's kind
of under the helmet. You get to really know these
(29:14):
guys and it's not just about football and on the field.
I was on the first iteration. Really it was just
it's called training camp, I think on the NFL network
and it was with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and it was
they were just trying to see if this thing could
(29:36):
be something sure, and we were there and it was hilarious,
it was fun, and it turned into what it is now.
Speaker 6 (29:43):
Well, and that was before everyone had cameras everywhere.
Speaker 5 (29:45):
Oh yeah, this this was like a real reality. Sure.
Speaker 4 (29:48):
I remember after practice going in and seriously so it
was to see where it is now. I think it's
it's great for the fans. I think it's great for
the league, and it's helped growing the overall brand.
Speaker 3 (30:03):
So that is the glasses half full Hard Knocks Review.
Now to quote another real reality show, let's stop getting
polite and start getting real Buffalo Bills again.
Speaker 6 (30:17):
You and I were on air during the.
Speaker 3 (30:20):
AFC Championship game, and I certainly don't want to put
words in your mouth. I seem to remember as soon
as the Bills went for two right before halftime. If
you remember, they were down twenty one to ten, they
score a touchdown, it's twenty one to sixteen. They go
for two to cut it to three before the half
for reasons only known.
Speaker 6 (30:41):
To Sean McDermott.
Speaker 3 (30:42):
So I'm not gonna speak for you or what your
thought process was, but I vividly remember you saying he's
not coaching the way that he normally does. I'm worried,
and I bring it up because I truly do believe.
I think there are certain guys that are great in
the regular season, guys that are great in the postseason,
some guys that are great in both. I think he
coaches differently in the postseason. I think he's got a
(31:05):
Chiefs problem. I'm not convinced. And in the other part too.
Josh Allen's now twenty nine years old. I mean, how
many great years does he have left with the way
that he plays. I thought they should have moved off
Sean McDermott last year, multiple AFC Championship games. You can't
get over the humps, You can't beat the Chiefs. Where
do you stand on the state of things with this organization?
(31:30):
Knowing they've been on the doorstep? Can't get over the hump,
can't get past KC. But also quite a bit of
it is self inflicted by a lot of different variables.
But I would say Sean McDermott being number.
Speaker 4 (31:41):
One, Yeah, it's hard to fire a coach that successful,
I know.
Speaker 6 (31:45):
Right hot on January eighteenth.
Speaker 4 (31:49):
Yeah, But because you're watching it and I'm looking, I'm like, oh,
oh no, it seems too big for him. Yes, if
you're playing a team like Kansas City and Patrick Mahomes
and Andy Ree, you almost got to be perfect, yes,
and not just the players, coaching decisions and all of
those things must be perfect. And when they're not, like
(32:11):
going for two for no reason and chasing points because
once you don't get that too, you're chasing that point. Yes,
exactly what did it come down to to a two
to three point game?
Speaker 5 (32:22):
Right?
Speaker 4 (32:22):
And so you look think back and be like those
decisions early in the game have a profound effect on
the outcome in a negative way for you. And if
you can't see that as the head coach, then I'm like, oh,
this seems too big for him. Yes, And you know,
it's hard to fire a coach that can get you
(32:44):
to the NFC our AFC Championship game. It's hard to
just be like, you know what, enough is enough because
who do you replace them with?
Speaker 3 (32:52):
Well, I think Joe Brady's going to be a head
coach at some point, and I don't know if he's
good enough.
Speaker 6 (32:57):
I know that.
Speaker 3 (32:58):
And here's the other thing. So, first of all, it
was a three point game. It is worth noting, by
the way, because I remember this stat being a thing
while we were on air. They went for it on
fourth down six times.
Speaker 5 (33:10):
I couldn't believe they were doing that.
Speaker 3 (33:11):
Yes, six times they went for it on fourth down
push and they didn't not execute it. And they do
it and we were watching it. I'm like, what is
happening right now? And you brought up a great point.
You said, Josh Allen doesn't look comfortable, he's so big.
What makes Jalen Hurts so unique at it is that
I don't know what is he six' one sixty two
but he's not six.' six, BUT yeah, i mean you
(33:34):
know they they end up losing. By three they're chasing.
Speaker 5 (33:37):
That.
Speaker 3 (33:37):
Point Uh The Kansas, city chiefs by, the way uh
kicked a field goal up twenty nine to. Twenty nine
you know if you had, that point it would have
been twenty. ONE seventeen i can't do all the math
off the top of, my head but it ended up,
costing them even though the quote unquote.
Speaker 4 (33:51):
Lous what happens when you give up points? Like that
you we see it happened to all.
Speaker 3 (33:56):
The TIME can i jump in really because it was
right before halftime TO and i vividly remember both, of
us but certainly you haven't played like you?
Speaker 6 (34:04):
Know what that how much.
Speaker 3 (34:06):
Energy because you just scored a touchdown right before the
half and all all you.
Speaker 5 (34:11):
Gotta do is? Kill, me yep but?
Speaker 4 (34:13):
Go ahead it. Changes everything that momentum. Changes everything going
in after doing something positive and having a. Negative effect
it's like scoring a touchdown and giving up a touchdown
on a. Kickoff, return, yep right scoring, a touchdown missing the,
extra point scoring, a touchdown going for two and not
getting it you take the energy out of, the room
(34:34):
and that that's the energy you.
Speaker 5 (34:36):
Want to go into the locker.
Speaker 4 (34:37):
Room with on been in games where we've had a,
big turnover we've caused the big turnover and scored going
into a into half in the game that WERE Behind
nfc championship game in ninety eight Against, the vikings they
were really giving it. To us we get, a, sack fumble.
We score now we're going into the locker room down
(35:00):
less than. A touchdown we knew we had them at, that,
Moment right and so it's those types of things. Going
forward with the touch push six times it's. Not necessary
and when you're pushing and pushing and pushing as, a
player it's difficult enough because that's when, interceptions happens that's when.
(35:21):
Fumbles happens but from a, coaching standpoint when you don't
PUT your mvp in a situation for him to, be
successful then the oness is.
Speaker 5 (35:29):
On you
Thanks for listening to the Best of the Odd Couple podcasts.
Be sure to check us out live every weekday from
four to seven pm Pacific seven to ten pm Eastern
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Speaker 2 (00:19):
You're listening to the Best of the Odd Couple.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
As you heard Rashaun Slater tackle Los Angeles Chargers. I
think there are a lot of people's dark horse here
early in you know camp in everything he is out
for the year. Torn Pateller tendon was carted off today.
You know, listen, we like to start with the more upbeat,
(00:46):
fun things. But one, this is certainly the most newsworthy
thing of the day. Two, you know, you are probably
the best person to speak to about this here at
Fox Sports Radio, so we can get into the impact
of Los Angeles Chargers, et cetera. But thirteen year NFL
Vets Super Bowl champion played offensive tackle in the NFL.
(01:07):
Just your first reaction to hearing that news which just
broke here within the last.
Speaker 4 (01:12):
Time literally during the update, I looked at you like,
oh my god, it is number one it's awful, of course,
I feel I feel extremely sorrowful for this young man
who is one of the bright stars on the offensive
line in the NFL. It every year we have these
(01:35):
type of injuries to teams in training camp. It just
lets you know how how aggressive I'll say, football is,
whether it be in practice or in the game. And
so when you have guys who don't feel like they're
(01:56):
being compensated the right way, they hold out to hold
in Now because of the fine system has changed, you
start to understand why. So less than a week ago,
this young man signed a four year extension FO one
hundred and fourteen million dollars and ninety two million guaranteed.
(02:16):
If he had not signed that contract seven days or
so ago, the numbers would be considerably different after sitting
out this whole year. And I just want to say
it like that to keep it in context for our
wonderful listeners who join us every day. This is it's
a business now. Most of our listeners are fans and
(02:41):
sports today. They want guys to show up and be
there for their teams. But it's a just a job,
one dred percent. And if you're being underpaid at your
job and you're excelling at your job, then you feel
a certain type of way. I understand what Michael Parsons
is going through. I understand what Henderson is going through.
(03:01):
I understand what Terry McLaurin is going through because they
know that next day at practice tomorrow, yep, their season
could be over. And now negotiations take on a whole
nother dimension.
Speaker 5 (03:18):
And so.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
As for the Chargers, we are a lot of high
hopes of second year under Hardball, running game hard knows,
justin Herbert really stepping into his own and really for
the first time in his career having a real coach
last year with Jim and so now seeing this news,
(03:44):
it's this is one thing I can tell you for sure,
playing left tackle for many, many years in the NFL,
most teams don't have to.
Speaker 6 (03:54):
Sure sure sure, sure, sure sure.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
Right, So most teams don't have too high level left tackles.
Now you may have a swing guy who come in
and do some stuff spot duty here and there, and
later in my career I was that guy after starting
for ten years. But it's a huge setback because that's
a huge void in a hole that you can't easily
(04:18):
feel sure like. It's not like a running back we
can go get that guy. Or it's not like a
dB where you can bring someone over, or it's not
like a guard where you can hide them in between
you know, a center and a good tackle. You're out
on an island and you're out on an island on
(04:38):
the blind side, and not having that at the level
they needed to make some noise and make a real
push this postseason is as a huge setback for this team.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Okay, so I got a couple of takeaways, but my
first one for you, and I want to just ask
you this. You know, we obviously we all love football.
We all know kind of the next man up philosophy.
Take us into a training camp though, because to me,
I think it's easy to sit there and say, oh,
next man up and it's a new opportunity.
Speaker 6 (05:09):
But the counter to that is you got a lot
of guys like you said that, you.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Know, Keenan Allen literally just you know, ended up on
it with this organization a few days ago, thinking that
he has a window to go to a super Bowl,
win a super Bowl. You have a bunch of other vets.
What is the locker room like after a situation like this?
Understanding from the second you put your pads on when
you're a high school, teenager, middle school, whatever, that these
(05:36):
injuries can happen. But it's also easy to say next
man up. It's another thing when a player of this
significance goes down. And even if you want to have
that next man up theory, you also understand that with
due respect to whoever's stepping in, they ain't the guy
that you just lost.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
I'll put it like this, think about losing your star quarterback.
Speaker 5 (05:59):
Year at star quarterback.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
Sure, yeah, you two other guys on the roster, yep,
and they have to step in and show up and
show out. It's not the same. Sure, the offense cannot
function the same way. And I believe it's the same
way when you replace a left tack. When you lose
a Pro Bowl left tackle, someone of his caliber, one
(06:21):
of the great young stars in this league at that position,
it changes how you now can approach defenses. You can
no longer not worry about what's going on. Case in point,
Deon Sanders. Sure, Deon Sanders would be standing over there
when the defense was huddled.
Speaker 6 (06:41):
Up, and you just didn't throw that side of the field.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
You knew no matter what was going on. He was fine.
So when you're calling these offensive plays, you know, we
can turn the whole protection away.
Speaker 5 (06:55):
Right.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
He can be on an island, he can shine, He's
okay over there. That's why you get pay so much.
So we can do some things and know that he
can hold up against whatever they're trying to do. Now
that's gone, right, So now you have to reconfigure and
and have a different approach in how you're going to
(07:17):
attack defenses because now most likely you're going to have
to have some form of help to help whoever is
replacing him. And that changes the playbook dramatically, and it
also changes This is one thing. The reason quarterbacks love
(07:38):
left tackles is because they don't have to worry about anything.
I got you. We're good, right, I've been there. I've
had tremendous relationships with the quarterbacks I've played with, and
they'll throw a touchdown pass or a big play and
they'll look at me, tap me on the We had
a bunch of plays designed for me to be alone.
Speaker 5 (07:59):
And that's what I call it.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
The island. DB's have an island. Left tackles have an island.
That island is lonely and when you're going against the
Jason Taylor's, the Dwight Freenies, the Charles Haley's, the straight hands,
it gets really lonely.
Speaker 6 (08:16):
Sure, sure, I spent.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
My career being alone on an island and crying the
night before most games. But it's that trust that the
offensive coordinator has in you, that those other four guys
on the offensive line has, that the quarterback has to know,
all right, even when we call this play, it's we're
(08:39):
good over here, So now you can focus on other things.
It's gone now. So now the biggest person this is
gonna hurt is justin Herbert, of course. So now he
has to keep an eye on, you know, his blind side.
He has to check there, which takes you from your
reeds downfield. That's the tough part. Are you have a
(08:59):
bad over here chipping which doesn't allow them to get out,
You take away a lot of empty sets where backs
they're you know, free release right away. It changes your dynamic.
Speaker 5 (09:13):
And I know.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
Everybody upstairs in the coaching staff, especially on offensively, they're
rilling right now because they're trying to figure out, okay,
how do we plug a hole that you can't plug?
Speaker 6 (09:28):
Last question?
Speaker 3 (09:28):
And I think I already know the answer based on
everything you've said over the last couple of minutes. Chargers,
as I said, were you know Chiefs coming off that
frustrating loss in the Super Bowl, they get beat up. Whatever,
you know, Buffalo has the point being a lot of
people this was the trendy could they win the division?
First of all, but also, you know, if you want
(09:50):
to call it a dark horse, pseudo dark horse super
Bowl contender, I assume that based on everything that you've
told me that's essentially off the table, that the expectations
for or this for this team in twenty twenty five
should be altered or changed if you believed it.
Speaker 5 (10:06):
Absolutely.
Speaker 4 (10:08):
You can't lose a position like left tackle at that
level and be like no, we're good, No, we're good,
just like you couldn't lose a quarterback sure and be like, no,
we're How many Tom Brady's are on teams right now
in terms of being backups coming in ready to carry
the torch right away? Those they're outliers out there, and
(10:30):
I'd be interesting to see what the Chargers are trying
to do. They're on phones with agents, guys who have
played and all pro guys who maybe have retired or
not quite retired.
Speaker 6 (10:42):
Jump in real quick.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
I think producer Rob told us they're going to try
to move Joe Alt from right tackle to left tackle,
And I would ask you how, because again, right tackle
isn't on an island. Right tackle isn't the blind side.
If that's the move one, you obviously have to find
a right tackle. Now, how easy or is it easy
even for a first round pick like Joe Ault to
(11:04):
make that conversion? And let me dumb like dumb it
down for us as much as you can understand, like,
how different is the playbook? How different is this? How
different is not just the responsibility of being on the
blind side, being on an island, but also just I
don't even know, just just the playbook whatever.
Speaker 4 (11:24):
So the great thing about them if they do decide
to move their first round pick this year to left tackle,
which he played, yeah, which he played in college, that
bowls well for him. He's a natural left tackle, and
so making that transition. When I came into the league,
when I got drafted, I was a left tackle, but
(11:46):
we had a perennial pro bowler, Bob Whitfield, the behemoth
from Stan first at left tackle. So when I got
to training camp. I was fifth on the depth chart
or fourth on the depth chart at left tackle. Something happened.
Somebody got on the right side, so I moved over
and took advantage of the opportunity and ended up starting
my rookie year at right tackle.
Speaker 5 (12:07):
Everything was different.
Speaker 4 (12:08):
Okay, it's like you're right handed, Sure, start writing with
your left hand.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
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Speaker 6 (12:26):
Hey, this is Jason McIntyre.
Speaker 7 (12:27):
Join me every weekday morning on my podcast, Straight Fire
with Jason McIntyre. This isn't your typical sports pod pushing
the same tired narratives down your throat every day.
Speaker 6 (12:38):
Straight Fire gives you.
Speaker 7 (12:39):
Honest opinions on all the biggest sports headlines, accurate stats
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Speaker 2 (12:45):
And all the best guests.
Speaker 7 (12:46):
Do yourself a favor and listen to Straight Fire with
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Speaker 6 (12:53):
Or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
A little bit of an interesting story came out today,
so obviously, heading into the season, coaches Pole dropped this week.
The Texas long Horns are the number one team in
the country, and of course they have I think the
guy that everybody is most intrigued to watch in college football.
That is Arch Manning, the nephew of Peyton and eli
(13:19):
son of Cooper Manning. Why we are talking about Arch
Manning today is because he is the Heisman favorite. Texas
is the preseason number one team in the country. But
if you're an NFL team hoping to draft Arch Manning
in the twenty twenty six NFL Draft, you may have
to think again. Archie Manning, who of course is his father,
our grandfather, excuse me, was interviewed this week for Texas
(13:44):
Monthly and asked about the idea of Arch essentially being
a one and done starter starting this year, going to
the NFL, because of course this is his third year
of college football. Archie Manning about his grandson, said, quote,
Arch isn't going to do that. He'll be at Texas
in twenty twenty six. What do you think you from,
(14:06):
I mean Archie Manning. You know he's convinced his grandson
will be there. I got takes, but go ahead. I
want to give you the floor.
Speaker 4 (14:13):
I think it has a lot to do with number one,
the money Archie is making, arch is making, and number two,
you don't want to let the cat out of the bag.
Of course to potential nil donors, sure that's great. So
you don't want to just be like, no, no, no, no,
(14:33):
he'll be because if he is slated, if he has
the type of year people are expecting him to have,
and he's slated as a number one pick in the draft,
I can promise you he won't be in college next year. Yes,
Outside of that, yeah, I mean, what's the harm in
(14:54):
saying is what you don't want to do is say no,
he's going to the league and he doesn't have the
type of year that everyone is anticipating. And you got
to remember, he hasn't played a lot of college football. No,
he's been there three years, going on his third year
and he hasn't really played, so we don't even know
(15:16):
the type of player he is. So to put the
type of pressure on this young man by saying, oh, no,
we're here for this year and then we'll head to
the NFL before he's even started a season in college football,
I think that's a smart thing to do for his grandfather.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
Yeah, this is almost like the reverse LeVar ball, like no, yeah,
we're going right, yeah, yeah, no, you know, listen, I
saw this come across the news today, and certainly it's
something we should be talking about. But it's the right like,
it's just it's the right thing for everyone, right is.
I think we're all smart enough to understand if Arch
(15:57):
Manning takes the world by storm in college football, wins
the Heisman, maybe wins a national championship, and he's definitively ready,
then he will go and he should go. Let me
say this, I think it's actually one of the cool
things about the NIL world that we live in.
Speaker 6 (16:13):
Nil is not perfect.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
We're gonna get to another NIL topic here in a
few minutes, but players now don't have to rush the process.
And yeah, and I know Arch is a unique situation
with his family set up, and I don't think financially
he's hurting. But if he if he even if he's
good but he doesn't feel like he's ready, he doesn't
have to rush the process.
Speaker 6 (16:34):
He's going to make plenty of money in college now.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
To be clear, the difference between a four year guaranteed
contract and one year of NIL, those are two.
Speaker 6 (16:43):
Completely different things.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
But I do think this is a cool part of
NIL is that you don't have to rush the process.
If you're not ready, you can come back, you can
stay in school. And so I get why Archie would
say this, but I also think that you know, we'll
see what happened. But I think it's the cool part
of NIL is you don't have to rush the process
and even worry about it this time.
Speaker 4 (17:04):
No, I think it allows players to actually grow into
to being professionals and being able to come into a league,
whether it be basketball or football, come into the league
ready and prepared to play. I think it's really going
to show its head on the college basketball because now
(17:29):
the onus of being one and done is kind of diminishing.
Now you have outliers, the Cooper Flags, the Duke trio
who decided to leave after their first year. But you
know it made sense, right, that makes sense. But if
(17:50):
you're if you're at Illinois and you're one of the
you know, leading the NCAA and scoring, and you're making
you leave Illinois and next year you can go to
Kentucky and they pay you six million dollars, right opposed
to going and getting drafted maybe early second round, late
(18:12):
first round in the NBA. Yeah, I think I'm going
to Kentucky on a bigger stage. Sure, six million dollars
in my pocket. Develop more So, now maybe I put
myself in the conversation of being a lottery pick in
the NBA draft. I like that aspect of it because
now guys don't feel like I have to go now yep,
(18:34):
and then you get.
Speaker 5 (18:35):
To develop more than one thing.
Speaker 4 (18:37):
I don't like football basketball, not so much in football
because you gotta be there three years. You're stepping into
an arena, and you're playing against grown men. Yes, like
there's a rookie like Cooper Flag is going to be
playing against a forty one year old Lebron James.
Speaker 5 (18:53):
You see what I'm saying. And so now it's like.
Speaker 4 (18:55):
Oh, this is two different spectrums, completely different spectrums in
terms of ability, age, strength, all of those things. And
so players staying in college a year longer, developing longer.
I think bo'swell for the league's both ways. So much so,
(19:20):
not to get off topic, but as a father of
an AAU player, my eleven year old, ok so, my
son's eleven, he's a young eleven going.
Speaker 5 (19:29):
Into the sixth grade. Sure.
Speaker 4 (19:31):
I was told, oh, no, you can have him repeat
fifth grade, so he'll be twelve going into the sixth grade.
And I'm like, no, he's tested gifted, he's we're not
going to slow his scholastic endeavors down for athletics. Just
not gonna happen. Oh, by the way, I graduated from
high school at sixteen. It's okay, it works out.
Speaker 5 (19:51):
Sure. And so.
Speaker 4 (19:55):
We watched the uh this path the last not this
weekend the weekend before watch the middle school Championship.
Speaker 5 (20:02):
Series and Anaheim.
Speaker 4 (20:04):
My son was playing in the fifth grade division of that,
and I was watching the eighth grade game and these
kids were catching lobs and dunking out. So I'm sitting
next to one of the dads, I'm like, what grade
is this? It's eighth grade.
Speaker 5 (20:20):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (20:21):
There are two kids on one team who were fifteen.
There were everybody was fourteen, fourteen, and fifteen year old
eighth graders going into ninth grade. So you're fifteen years
old going into the ninth grade, meaning you're nineteen. School
(20:43):
That is criminal. Yeah, I don't like that. I'm not
a fan of that. But what happens is eighth grade
is the year where they hold basketball players back, Sure,
they do eighth grade twice and football as well. They
really do it in football because now you can go
(21:03):
to college nineteen twenty year old freshman and physically you
have a leg up on a seventeen, eighteen year old freshman.
I think it's a travesty. I think fifteen year old
shouldn't be playing with thirteen year old. Sure, it's dangerous.
(21:29):
I definitely don't think a nineteen year old should be
playing with a fourteen fifteen year old varsity basketball in
high school.
Speaker 5 (21:37):
That's crazy.
Speaker 4 (21:37):
Think about this, if you're fourteen years old and you're
good enough to make your varsity team and you're playing
against a team that has three starters that are nineteen Yeah,
are you kidding me?
Speaker 5 (21:48):
Sure? Right?
Speaker 4 (21:49):
Like I would say going into my junior year at
nineteen years old at San Diego State.
Speaker 6 (21:58):
Wow. And So that's that's where NIL is.
Speaker 4 (22:03):
That's where the just Youth athletics itself is skewing to
holding kids back for their physical attributes. But no one's asking, well,
what does that do to them scholastically? Like what you're
gonna repeat eighth grade? What if you got all a's
in eighth grade. You're gonna stay back and do eighth
(22:26):
grade again. Sure, that's crazy to me, Like, whoa what
if you don't make it to the NBA.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
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Speaker 3 (22:45):
Last time I worked with Ephraim, I said, you know
we were filling in. I think I must have been
filling in for Mark Willard during the AFC Championship game.
And I joked with Scott our Boss, I said, I
hope we get a topic as media as the Bills
completely melting down like we did the last time that
you and I got together now several months ago. So
(23:07):
I bring it up because obviously in training camp all
sorts of things are going on. Obviously Hard Knocks premiered
the other day, and Hard Knocks is the Bills, And
so why I want to come full circle on our
conversation you and I. We're pretty tough on Sean McDermott
(23:27):
and the Bills after that AFC Championship Game loss, as
we should have been, but with Hard Knocks rolling all
sorts of cameras everywhere And one thing that I did
find interesting from over the last couple of days some
of the media availability that has come out is Brandon Bean,
who of course is the GM of the Buffalo Bills,
(23:50):
talking about the Kansas City Chiefs. He said, quote, we
just have to keep moving forward to get there. It's
a player two here or there. We're close, but we
can't just prepare the team to beat the Chiefs. There
are a lot of other good teams in the AFC.
I don't think we're far away. We just have to
make a stop here or there. So why it's interesting
(24:11):
is because they have, well one, they've beaten the Chiefs
in the regular season, but they've basically slayed everybody else
there is to slay in the playoffs. So I get
the notion that, yes, you can't build a team solely
to beat the Chiefs when you're probably gonna have to
go through Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. You're probably potentially
(24:32):
gonna see Joe Burrow in the Cincinnati Bengals, you might
see CJ. Stroud in the Houston Texans. And I get
you can't say that everything comes down to the Chiefs.
But when you've lost to them, what four out of
the last five years, three out of the last four years.
Whatever it is, multiple AFC Championship games, I'd say it
does kind of come down to the Chiefs.
Speaker 6 (24:52):
Whether you want to admit it or not.
Speaker 4 (24:53):
Yeah, it does. That's the standard, that's the team. The
hump you haven't been able to get over, and you know,
as good as as you are at the quarterback position
with the Bills, it's more than just quarterback plays, decision making,
its adjustments. It's all these things that coaches like Andy Reid,
(25:16):
Bill Belichick have you know, been masterminds at and you know,
watching hard knocks with the Bills, and the thing I
took away first was, first of all, gave me anxiety
watching them go into training camp at a small university
(25:38):
and sleeping in the dorm room, like I hate That's
the part.
Speaker 5 (25:43):
I hate it.
Speaker 4 (25:44):
Now later in my career, the teams I went to
you could stay at a Veterans can stay at home,
which makes all the difference in the world. Sleeping well,
there are only five teams still currently that leave and
go to train camp somewhere else interesting and just watching that.
(26:04):
In Atlanta, we used to go to Furman University. Oh god,
it's awful. And Denver. We used to go up to
northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado, the manure capital of the world.
Imagine what that smelled like, twenty four hours a day.
And so the summer, it's just it was all of
these things that were like, oh, it's just tough. But
(26:29):
what I took from that is watching them coming in
and how could you not like Josh Allen?
Speaker 6 (26:38):
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 4 (26:40):
How could you not like that guy? Sure, they like
him so much. They're building a stadium so the wind
later in the years doesn't hamper his abilities. Interesting, I
did't get to the end of hard knocks. That was
what I cut it off.
Speaker 6 (26:56):
When they were touring the new facility.
Speaker 4 (26:58):
They're taking a look at the state, and they explained,
you got to remember that game they played against New
England when they lost to mac Jones.
Speaker 5 (27:06):
The wind was whipping all around. They couldn't even pass
the ball.
Speaker 4 (27:09):
They're like, yeah, we're not gonna do that again. We're
not going to leave it up to that. Sure, and
so they went out and they're building this beautiful facility
that shields the field from the wind. Some of the
other elements like that. That's how important Josh Allen is
to this community, into this team. And he's you know,
(27:32):
a family man, just got married. He's just one of
those guys like I look at him and I'm like, man,
I would love to block for that guy.
Speaker 6 (27:40):
Sure, you know, I love that.
Speaker 5 (27:42):
He's a team guy.
Speaker 4 (27:44):
He's great, came from the Mountain West, you know, played
at Wyoming. No star recruit turns into the league MVP.
And so what they're doing. The first of all, they
have some of the most dynamic fans ever. Bill's Mafia's
real thing. And they traveled. When I mentioned earlier, I
was over in London, I went to the Jacksonville I
(28:05):
was going to ask yeah, and Bill's Mafia was in effect.
Speaker 5 (28:09):
They were.
Speaker 4 (28:10):
They were deep in London. And so just the world
getting to see this unique team. And you know, it's
not a lot going on in Buffalo, New York. Sure, right,
not a destination, but they love, love, love the Bills. Uh.
And it's good to see the impact that Josh Hallen
(28:32):
has on on the community. Not only the community, but
the NFL and also Big Dan Dawkins had an opportunity
to meet him. We do a thing with the NFL.
My production company teamed up with the NFL and sky
Dance Sports and we put on this uh a four
(28:53):
day immersive for athletes who want for NFL players who
want to get into production and get to the the
entertainment business. And got a chance to meet Big Dawkins
and just watching him drive the drift car. Like I
love Hard Knocks because it lets you inside. It's kind
of under the helmet. You get to really know these
(29:14):
guys and it's not just about football and on the field.
I was on the first iteration. Really it was just
it's called training camp, I think on the NFL network
and it was with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and it was
they were just trying to see if this thing could
(29:36):
be something sure, and we were there and it was hilarious,
it was fun, and it turned into what it is now.
Speaker 6 (29:43):
Well, and that was before everyone had cameras everywhere.
Speaker 5 (29:45):
Oh yeah, this this was like a real reality. Sure.
Speaker 4 (29:48):
I remember after practice going in and seriously so it
was to see where it is now. I think it's
it's great for the fans. I think it's great for
the league, and it's helped growing the overall brand.
Speaker 3 (30:03):
So that is the glasses half full Hard Knocks Review.
Now to quote another real reality show, let's stop getting
polite and start getting real Buffalo Bills again.
Speaker 6 (30:17):
You and I were on air during the.
Speaker 3 (30:20):
AFC Championship game, and I certainly don't want to put
words in your mouth. I seem to remember as soon
as the Bills went for two right before halftime. If
you remember, they were down twenty one to ten, they
score a touchdown, it's twenty one to sixteen. They go
for two to cut it to three before the half
for reasons only known.
Speaker 6 (30:41):
To Sean McDermott.
Speaker 3 (30:42):
So I'm not gonna speak for you or what your
thought process was, but I vividly remember you saying he's
not coaching the way that he normally does. I'm worried,
and I bring it up because I truly do believe.
I think there are certain guys that are great in
the regular season, guys that are great in the postseason,
some guys that are great in both. I think he
coaches differently in the postseason. I think he's got a
(31:05):
Chiefs problem. I'm not convinced. And in the other part too.
Josh Allen's now twenty nine years old. I mean, how
many great years does he have left with the way
that he plays. I thought they should have moved off
Sean McDermott last year, multiple AFC Championship games. You can't
get over the humps, You can't beat the Chiefs. Where
do you stand on the state of things with this organization?
(31:30):
Knowing they've been on the doorstep? Can't get over the hump,
can't get past KC. But also quite a bit of
it is self inflicted by a lot of different variables.
But I would say Sean McDermott being number.
Speaker 4 (31:41):
One, Yeah, it's hard to fire a coach that successful,
I know.
Speaker 6 (31:45):
Right hot on January eighteenth.
Speaker 4 (31:49):
Yeah, But because you're watching it and I'm looking, I'm like, oh,
oh no, it seems too big for him. Yes, if
you're playing a team like Kansas City and Patrick Mahomes
and Andy Ree, you almost got to be perfect, yes,
and not just the players, coaching decisions and all of
those things must be perfect. And when they're not, like
(32:11):
going for two for no reason and chasing points because
once you don't get that too, you're chasing that point. Yes,
exactly what did it come down to to a two
to three point game?
Speaker 5 (32:22):
Right?
Speaker 4 (32:22):
And so you look think back and be like those
decisions early in the game have a profound effect on
the outcome in a negative way for you. And if
you can't see that as the head coach, then I'm like, oh,
this seems too big for him. Yes, And you know,
it's hard to fire a coach that can get you
(32:44):
to the NFC our AFC Championship game. It's hard to
just be like, you know what, enough is enough because
who do you replace them with?
Speaker 3 (32:52):
Well, I think Joe Brady's going to be a head
coach at some point, and I don't know if he's
good enough.
Speaker 6 (32:57):
I know that.
Speaker 3 (32:58):
And here's the other thing. So, first of all, it
was a three point game. It is worth noting, by
the way, because I remember this stat being a thing
while we were on air. They went for it on
fourth down six times.
Speaker 5 (33:10):
I couldn't believe they were doing that.
Speaker 3 (33:11):
Yes, six times they went for it on fourth down
push and they didn't not execute it. And they do
it and we were watching it. I'm like, what is
happening right now? And you brought up a great point.
You said, Josh Allen doesn't look comfortable, he's so big.
What makes Jalen Hurts so unique at it is that
I don't know what is he six' one sixty two
but he's not six.' six, BUT yeah, i mean you
(33:34):
know they they end up losing. By three they're chasing.
Speaker 5 (33:37):
That.
Speaker 3 (33:37):
Point Uh The Kansas, city chiefs by, the way uh
kicked a field goal up twenty nine to. Twenty nine
you know if you had, that point it would have
been twenty. ONE seventeen i can't do all the math
off the top of, my head but it ended up,
costing them even though the quote unquote.
Speaker 4 (33:51):
Lous what happens when you give up points? Like that
you we see it happened to all.
Speaker 3 (33:56):
The TIME can i jump in really because it was
right before halftime TO and i vividly remember both, of
us but certainly you haven't played like you?
Speaker 6 (34:04):
Know what that how much.
Speaker 3 (34:06):
Energy because you just scored a touchdown right before the
half and all all you.
Speaker 5 (34:11):
Gotta do is? Kill, me yep but?
Speaker 4 (34:13):
Go ahead it. Changes everything that momentum. Changes everything going
in after doing something positive and having a. Negative effect
it's like scoring a touchdown and giving up a touchdown
on a. Kickoff, return, yep right scoring, a touchdown missing the,
extra point scoring, a touchdown going for two and not
getting it you take the energy out of, the room
(34:34):
and that that's the energy you.
Speaker 5 (34:36):
Want to go into the locker.
Speaker 4 (34:37):
Room with on been in games where we've had a,
big turnover we've caused the big turnover and scored going
into a into half in the game that WERE Behind
nfc championship game in ninety eight Against, the vikings they
were really giving it. To us we get, a, sack fumble.
We score now we're going into the locker room down
(35:00):
less than. A touchdown we knew we had them at, that,
Moment right and so it's those types of things. Going
forward with the touch push six times it's. Not necessary
and when you're pushing and pushing and pushing as, a
player it's difficult enough because that's when, interceptions happens that's when.
(35:21):
Fumbles happens but from a, coaching standpoint when you don't
PUT your mvp in a situation for him to, be
successful then the oness is.
Speaker 5 (35:29):
On you
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