January 2, 2019 • 32 mins
It's The Best of the Odd Couple with Chris Broussard and Rob Parker! Chris and Rob explain why Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown is starting to look like he's '30 Going on 13' as news continues to pour out surrounding his year-long temper tantrum, why LeBron James can learn a thing or two from Michael Jordan when it comes to humility, and why the New York Giants might be trapped with Eli Manning in 2019.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to the best of the Odd Couple podcasts.
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(00:20):
s R. You're listening to the best of the Odd
Couple with Chris Brusso and Rod Harker. You know what
else is bad? Yes, people are not laughing in Pittsburgh
Antonio Brown, and they're so. I mean, it's it's stuff
coming out every hour on this if not even more frequently.
(00:45):
But you know the deal. He skipped a few practices
before their last regular season game, which the must win
for the playoffs. He's three football at Ben Roethlisberger. He
was imitating Ben Roethlisberger because the throat was at his feet, right.
But this is what I said. But you think he's
doing the right he wants out. We believe you think
(01:06):
he's doing the right thing. That's like Jimmy Butler got
out of Minnesota by acting stank. Chris, I know it's
not professional, but we're not talking about that. I think
in order to really get get out of Pittsburgh. And
it's not I said, I don't think that they really
want to give up a talent like that. I don't
know of Coho does. I don't think they do. And
but if you make enough of us, think and you
(01:29):
don't return Ben roethlisburgers Texas and phone calls, and you
follow them on Twitter and did that, Yeah, he did that.
He unfollowed Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Steelers on social media. You know,
you do all that kind of stuff. And now he's
following the San Francisco forty nine ers, so he's following
them instead. And you do all that kind of stuff.
(01:51):
That's how you get yourself traded. So if I'm another team,
I wouldn't be bothered by it because I get it.
I understand that's your only way of probably getting what
you want. Make it so miserable that they say enough
is enough. I don't want him here anymore. Let's get
rid of them. I don't have a problem with all
of that. I don't have a problem with unfollowing the
(02:13):
Pittsburgh Steelers on Twitter. I don't have a problem with
flirting with the other players around the league. Who are saying, oh,
they want you to come. Oh yeah. I don't have
a problem with you putting yourself in the San Francisco
forty nine ers uniform on Instagram or Twitter or whatever
it was. I don't have a problem with any of that.
I don't even have a problem with you saying you
(02:34):
want to be traded. What I have a problem with
is you, in the biggest game of the season for
your team, not showing up for practice and essentially not
showing up for the guy. I know he showed up
thinking he gonna play. I ain't no way he thought
he was gonna play. I know he thought he was
(02:56):
gonna play. He had gotten away with so much before,
but not like you said. I think he felt like,
they we gotta win this game. They gonna play me,
and they did the right thing. Kudos to Mike Tomlin
because he did the right thing for you. You wouldn't
lose the whole locker room. Oh man, man, you would
lose the whole locker room if he did that. That's
a that's like because that now, if I'm another team,
(03:20):
I am wondered and we could talk about you got
about Odell Beckham and all that he's done. None of
that even comes close to what Antonio Brown did. He
look he's yelled at offensive coordinators and teammates on the sidelines,
he's thrown over you know, water chest and this and that.
(03:41):
He was just trying. All the stuff he's done. I'm fine,
we were trying. You can live with that. What I
can't live with is you not showing up for any
game but the most important game of the season. Don't
tell me you want to win. Don't tell me you care,
even if you've made up in your mind at that point,
(04:03):
I want out. Now here's still have to show up
and play. Here's my counter to that. And I totally
agree with you. That's totally different from what he's doing. Now,
that's inexcusable. You gotta go to practice, be a professional,
even if you're not happy with the situation. So I'm
with you. I'm not gonna make excuses for him. But
when he gets into that interview with that other team
(04:24):
and those other people who see his obvious talent, because
the guys are talented, great, that ain't even up for debate.
He'll have to make a case on he does want
to win. He understands that stuff. It was a mistake
on his part. Just own it. If he comes into you,
Chris and you're the general manager and he says, I
never should have done that. I was I acted immature.
(04:47):
I've grown since then. I understand that when things aren't
going things aren't always going to go my way. But
I need to be a professional. I need to be
there for my team, from my teammates, from my organization,
for my city. You know what I mean, And for me,
I need to I need to do that. That was
wrong and I'll never do that again. All I want
to do is play football, win and be happy, and
(05:11):
I think I could do that here with this organization.
If I hear that as a GM, I'm I'm okay
with it. So you're buying that hook line and sinker,
I'm all in. I'd like he needs to say that
wherever he's at. But but but but I'm not totally
buying it now. I'm not saying that means I won't
trade for it. Okay, that's what I'm not totally buying
(05:31):
it because I'm sure in the past. You know people,
when your backs against the wall, when you want something,
you say whatever you want something. But some people don't
they never give in or never uh you know, accepted
or or claim responsible. Those people are a lot of
people say stuff that they get here. But here's the thing.
(05:55):
It's gonna be tough for them to trade him just
because of the financial ram of tions for themselves. And
I know there was a story one in the Pittsburgh Post, Yeah,
and it says they won't be you know, if one
million dollars of dead money it really with with a
lot of different things and his contract that could be
more like six million, but it's still it's still something
(06:16):
you don't really want to do for financial reasons and
for his talent. If I'm the Pittsburgh Steelers robbed because
I think Ben Roethlisberg is part of the problem. Roethlisberger
is prout of the problem. I think Antonio he played
poorly this year, right Antonio Brown feels like, you know,
Ben gets away with everything, and there's a little resentment there.
(06:37):
I think also unfortunately for Antonio, he's selfish and he
feels he's bothered that Juju Smith Schuster, the other receiver,
the number two receiver, was the team MVP was a
you know, voted by his teammates and they had more
and more receptions, more yards. Even though Abe had more touchdowns,
I think that he had fifteen and fifteen games. Look,
(07:00):
the dude is incredible. But here's the thing. If I'm
the Steelers, I'm getting Mike Tomlin, Ben Roethlisberger, and ab
Antonio Brown in the room together, and maybe Art Rooney
or you know, somebody from the higher up. You're gonna
have security in there too. If I need to. You
(07:21):
might need it. But I'm sitting down like men, and
let's discuss this. Ben you have to make changes. Ab
you have to make is acting like he's thirteen years old.
I'm sorry, he's acting like he's thirteen years old. No,
it's definitely immature part of it though, And I get
I'm not talking about I will never endorse a guy
(07:43):
not going to practice and doing what he's supposed to.
But I'm I understand why he's acting up now, acting out.
We talked about it with the Jimmy Butler thing, that
that was his way, his tick it out, and you
know what he got, He got his wish, he got
to go. He got to go elsewhere, and he's playing
for a team that's playing for something instead of being
in Minnesota. With to guys he didn't want to. Yeah, yeah,
(08:04):
but this is a little bit different. Antonio has his money,
He's in a great situation. He they and again, if
you're the Steelers, I'm not just trading him. I'm trying
to work it out. I'm trying and I think and A.
I'm trying to get a B and Antonio Brown to
go to the teammates and just what you said, Look,
(08:27):
I was wrong. I'm trying to get him to do that.
And maybe Ben needs to say something to the team too,
because he hasn't been the best leader to a tammates, right.
I mean, look, you gotta have a behind closed doors
hard to harden and and I'm gonna say this too,
even though we're in the media, Ben, Antonio, Tomlin, who whatever,
(08:51):
executives in the meeting, don't be texting it to a writer.
What do I mean, Chris, what are you trying to start?
So I'm being honest because I think that bothers and
I look, it's fine for stories, you know, I'm saying
even no, I'm we're in the media, and you want
that if I'm in this room with these guys and
we're gonna have a heart to heart. Everybody needs. It
(09:12):
doesn't leave this room. It doesn't leave the room. That's
the only way I can trust you. And so they
need to have a heart to heart talk it out
like men. That's one thing I hate when men scramble
around and can't talk to each other about something. Hey online.
One is the Pittsburgh media that told you to be quiet. Now,
I get it. I get it because I want people
(09:34):
to lead it to to me and you and all
that stuff. But for the benefit of our organization, you
can't do it. You know, your relationship with that teammate
or that coach has to be stronger than your relationship
to some reporter just keeping it real from their perspective.
But there's always people who are out there and people
love to talk. You know that you've been in the
(09:54):
business for thirty twenty five years. Yeah, but I understand
what you're saying. Be sure that can 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 iHeart Radio app. And Rob, you have joked,
but maybe there is some truth to it about Lebron
(10:15):
move into La, going to the Lakers, to be Meryl Streep,
you know, yeah, and you know, to be a Hollywood
you know what I mean, Yeah, more about Hollywood and
not not that he if he won, fine, but that
wasn't his motivation. He wanted to be out in Hollywood.
He want to be a mover and shaker. He get
(10:35):
really want to win. But it's not eating at him.
Like I know, he's comfortable with, comfortable with his legacy
no matter what if if he doesn't win again, it's
not like he didn't win. He won three. He's got
all these other records about he will eventually pass Kareem
Abdul Jabbar. Scoring he has all of those things like
laid out for him. So I know that. But I
think he came here for other reasons. Well you look,
(10:58):
I mean because you could say, and I said it
before that, Look, he's a business mogul. He's even got
interest things going on in Hollywood, in LA while he
was in Cleveland, while he was in Miami. But there
are things he's doing now that if you you I
don't even know if you could do them if he
(11:19):
was in Cleveland or somewhere else, but it certainly makes
it easier to do than while you're here in LA
and that I mean all his shows shut up in Dribble,
the documentary, the shop where he I'm sure that somewhere
in LA and all the stars you had it years ago.
You had it years ago. I don't know if you
(11:42):
could have got all those superstars on there, but but
I had the concept. You had the concept, and um,
he's doing that. And then he's doing is more than
an athlete with ESPN on ESPN Plus. And look they've
been very entertaining, very good, but on more than an athlete.
He really started uh a discussion and some controversy with
(12:03):
these comments that he made on his last episode, that
one right there made me the greatest player of all time.
For I was a super super ecstatic to win one
for Cleveland because of the fifty two year drought. Like
I was ecstatic, like obviously I showed that. The first
wave of emotion was once y'all everyone saw me crying
like that was all for fifty two years, everything the
sports have gone on to Cleveland. And then after I stopped,
(12:26):
I was like, that one right there made you the
greatest player of all time. No, everybody was just talking
how they were the greatest team of all time, like
it was the greatest team to ever assembled. And for
us to come back, you know, the way we came
back in that fashion, I was like, you did you
did something special. That's plainly one of the only times
(12:47):
in my career I felt like like you did something special.
I haven't really had time to really like sit back
and think, but that that was a moment. Now, Chris,
I want to defer to you only from the standpoint
you grew up in Akron and right Cleveland, Cleveland and
worked there and all that northeast Ohise, okay, during that area,
(13:08):
and you also, especially earlier on, had a relationship with
Lebron around him, spend some time not as much now right, Yeah,
I don't see him as much now, okay, but to
spend a lot of time around Okay, when you heard that,
and I'm not you know, you could say I'm a
Lebron hate or whatever you want to put me up,
but but what did that What was your first initial
(13:29):
reaction to hearing that, you know, come out of his mouth. Well,
I was surprised he said it, because you've never heard
Michael Jordan say that. You never heard Kareem Abdul Jabra.
Jabbar said, and when you talk about Michael and even Kobe,
who's not really in the conversation, but a lot of people,
(13:49):
young guys especially, and even guys in the league, former
players will say ilized guys that played against Cole. They
think he should be in the conversation. Kobe, though, has
never said it. And then Michael and Kobe, you were
talking about guys, and I think Lebron has a killer instinct.
It's a spectrum, you know, but he didn't have it
(14:11):
to the level that Jordan and Kobe had it. That's
times right, And they have not said, you know, each
one of them every time they stepped on the floor,
it was I'm the best ever. But they've never said
it publicly. So I was shocked that he said it. Now,
let me tell you a little story. He was talking
to Rich Paul, his agent, Maverick Carter, his business manager,
(14:34):
and Randy Mims, his personal manager, chief of staff as
they call him. And after they won that series, you know,
I was there and the media on the court, the
players on the court, everybody's going crazy like we're all there,
and Rich I was talking to Rich Paul and he
was telling me. So I'm you're gonna see why this
(14:55):
I'm saying this. He was coming up to me saying
he's the greatest, Chris, He's the greatest ever, He's the goal.
Jordan never could have done that. So I'm sure he
was saying the same stuff with Lebron. And I'm not
saying that's where the thought came from. Lebron probably just
sincerely thinks he's the greatest. But that's that whole crew
(15:16):
and that's what they were thinking, at least Rich and Lebron,
and so that's where a lot of this comes up.
But but but to me, it's just not classy and
it's without humility. You don't need to say that. I
don't need to walk into the club and tell everybody
I'm the best looking guy in the club. Boy, I'm
the richest guy in the club. You don't have to
(15:36):
announce that. Do you know what I'm saying, Well, Michael Jordan,
here's what he said. It's from a two thousand and
nine interview with Yeah. I don't want it in a
sense because I think it disrespects Will Chamberlain, Jerry West,
you know all the guys that prior to me, I've
(15:56):
never had a chance to play against You know what,
everybody's saying that I never had the chance to compete
against other legends, that that was prior to me. When
I hear it, I cringe a little bit because, you know,
it's it's a little bit embarrassing because no one knows,
you know, I never had the chances once again to
play against those guys. You know, Um, I would love
(16:19):
to have played against him, but I never did, you know,
And for you to say that I'm better than him,
I mean, it's your opinion. You know, it's their opinion.
I accept that as their opinion. If you ask me,
I would never say that I'm the greatest player, you know,
and that's because I never played against all all the
people that represented the league prior to Michael Jordan. If
(16:40):
you didn't like Michael Jordan, then you heard just heard
that for the first time. Don't tell me you don't
like him a little bit more. No, I'm with you,
And it looks that's the humility I'm talking about. And
you were right, Chris on the court against competing, he'd
probably tell you I'm the best. I'll bust you up
on this court. You can't play with me, you know,
you're not on my level and all that. But he would, right,
(17:03):
but he would never pat hisself on the back. He said,
I would never say that. That's not for you to say.
And I'm telling you this is where Lebron disconnects with
some people. Well, and I think to your point about
Jordan being this great trash talker, but then never, he's
never gonna say off the court, I'm the greatest ever.
The reason he would talk trash to you and maybe
(17:24):
say I'm the greatest, I'm better than you was because
he could settle it and show you and pive it
to you right then and there on the court. And
I think Jordan was being sincere. A lot of people
are gonna say, oh, Jordan was a killer. He was
just saying that. I know Rob G thinks that. But
there's another clip going around on social media. After Jordan
(17:44):
won his third straight championship with Chicago in the early nineties,
he was asked about you know, how it felt and
this and that, and he what he said was, this
is great that I can say I did something. I'm paraphrasing,
but that Isaiah Isaiah Thomas, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson never
(18:07):
did and they all won. Well, Bird didn't even win
two in a row, but Magic and Isaiah one two straight.
My point is this, Notice he didn't say what will
Never did or what the dream never he said it
about against. He didn't bring up the guys that he
never got a chance to play against. And so that
(18:30):
I think Jordan was being sincere when he said that.
And and here's the problem. I mean, look, like you said,
it's there. It comes off as arrogant, it comes off
as disrespectful to the others. But the other thing, it's
not just the other thing is this rob It opens
you up to Now, granted, Lebron gets a lot of
(18:51):
scrutiny as it is, but unless your record is impeccable,
now it opens you up to even people that may
have been on your side. Are some of them may say, well,
hold on, Lebron, you're not the go Now he really
raises the level of scrutiny even higher because you and
I we don't think he's the goat. I think Jordan's
(19:11):
the goal and I think it's clear cut. I think
it's clear cut, and it just it just speaks like
Lebron's trying to speak it into existence, like to put
it out there, and people say, I'm gonna throw out
the number eight seven, seven ninety nine on Fox eight
seven seven nine nine six sixty three sixty nine. If
you want to chime in, as you said, throwing it
(19:31):
out there, and I said this one we we co
hosted Undisputed yesterday. I and I'm serious about this. I
don't know if it's true at all. I'ven't talked to
anybody in Lebron's camp about this, but I wonder if
Lebron is trying to do the Muhammed Ali pattern. But
the only thing, okay, uh, Lebron is said he wants
(19:54):
to be like Muhammed Ali. One of Muhammed Ali's ex wives.
It's wife said that Lebron is the Muhammed Ali of
this generation, and Lebron said he wanted to be an
Ali in terms of being a global icon direct quote
global icon. Of all the stuff that Ali did outside
of his sport, Lebron he's known for that as much
(20:17):
as for what he did in the sport. Lebron is
following that pattern. And I want you know, one of
the things rob that makes us feel and as great
as Ali was as a fighter, one of the things
that makes us feel he was the greatest, even if
it's subconsciously, was the fact that he he told us
(20:38):
he was the greatest. He drilled it into our head.
Now he did it in a funny way. He did
it with rhymes. He did it, you know, raggadociously, like
he did it a different way than Lebron. But I'm
just wondering, And I'm just wondering if Lebron is thinking,
let me say it. Because Lebron smart, he knew this
was gonna start a conversation, so let me start putting
(21:00):
it out there so people really start believing it or
saying it. But the differences we're boxing, which is an
individual sport and a salesmanship in box, well there wasn't
before I leave, but he was the first. He was
unusual to come out like Joe Lewis. But I'm saying
talk like that, right, But I'm saying it's almost like
when you go to these press things and then and
(21:21):
you know, like this is what people days. Definitely what
I'm saying. And Ali was was a polarizing figure. There
was no in between either people hated because I'm gonna say,
even you love Muhammad Ali or you hated him because
he was so braggadocious. I'm pretty, remember all the everything.
(21:42):
I'm pretty, I'm not before he beat Sonny. Listen, you
you said it on the show. He was saying that
before he before he won the championship, I'm the greatest,
and he hadn't even won the championship. So that's what
I'm saying to your point, people, including African Americans, because
now Ali is as much as everybody else loves him,
(22:02):
Black people really love him because he stood up for
black people so much. My father was like, when he
was cast us play, we hate he bragging, he's this,
he's that Sonny. We wanted Sonny listening to knock his
block exactly. That's what I'm saying. He was. He was
the perfect polarizing guy because there's no middle ground. Either
(22:22):
you all in or you you were out on him.
Be sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple
with Chris Brussard and Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm
Eastern four pm Pacific. The New York Football Giants yes
yet another disappointing season in the weakest division in the NFC.
(22:43):
They finished dead last five and eleven. You and I
told him didn't I get this to you for your birthday? Yes,
you did. I was just looking at this sweat jacket.
Nice one, too nice. But anyway, back to the Giants,
we told him you better draft Sam Darnald or and
(23:07):
instead they drafted Saint Kwan Barkley, who you and I
agree should be the rookie of the year. The height,
oh my gosh, I think he surpassed the hype two
thousand from scrimmage, he was unbelievable. But catching the football,
running the football, he's a running back and it just
isn't as important as having that franchise quarterback. And maybe
Sam Darnald will become that for the New York Jets
(23:29):
instead of the New York Giants who could have had him.
So they're stuck with Eli Manning and today GM Dave
Gettleman talked about going forward, Is it Eli or someone
else next season? Eli and I had a very extensive
conversation on Monday, No holds bod He he took me
in a low post and won. But you know the
butterfline is it was a very honest and upfront conversation.
(23:51):
I'll keep what was said private between he and I
Gonna evaluate everything. Everything's on the table for us. No holds,
bod you gotta pull up clip out the way he
said that, did you hit that thing? Yeah? That was good.
And I like Bob took me in the low post
and bodied me or what did he say something something
to that effect. Yeah that was good. But but you
know what, Uh, the Giants are a day lay the
(24:14):
dollars short, and now they gotta hope somehow, some way
a quarterback lays, you know, falls into their lap. You
knew that this was coming. I know everybody they wanted, Uh,
the old coach in general manager, you remember when they
benched him, remember that? Yeah, and Jerry Reees, you know
(24:34):
they wanted them out of town after that, Oh my god,
and they and they got them both throne out of town. Right.
But they were right, though, Chris. They wanted the right track.
It was time to move away from ELI. And now
the Giants it sounds like they're noncommittal, which is what
they should be. You can't totally throw them out because
you don't know if you want to get a quarterback
or not. So you gotta be a little careful to
(24:57):
just say, well, he's done. He will not be out.
Quarterback because you haven't secured a quarterback at this point.
You have to enter next season thinking Eli, man, he's
your quarterback because you don't have a guy yet, you
don't have anybody. No, I got that. And let me
say this, and I totally was with you and stilling
with you that they should have drafted Sam Darneld. Even
(25:19):
if Eli would have started this year for the whole year,
half the year, three quarters, whatever, you could have groomed
Darnald for the next era, no doubt about it. However,
I will say this went second half of the season.
Rob second half of the season, defensive line got solidified
(25:41):
to some degree. Eli wasn't that bad. That's all I'm saying. Look, okay, well,
let me let me give you some of the numbers.
The last eight games, they were four and four. Wasn't
all Eli, but he played a significant role. He threw
thirteen touchdown pass is only five interceptions. They put up
(26:03):
thirty eight points against Tampa Bay, thirty against Chicago, whom
they beat, forty against Washington, and thirty five in a
loss to Dallas. The offense got going. Eli was not
the worst pro problem in the second half of the season.
I'm just saying again, if Duwayne Haskins is there, I'm
(26:26):
taking him. If they can get the high draft pick
or wherever they're sliding right now, on fifth something, whatever
they are. If you can get Duwayne Haskins from Ohio State,
who looks like the best quarterback in this class so
many comes out, take him, Mama right now. Whether Eli
can still do it next year or not, you need
(26:47):
to get that next guy. Now. I think it could
be Haskins, but I'm just saying Eli could be okay
for next year. To me, the problem is, I always
look when your numbers start, when you know you and
you give the last eight games and they were four
and four, but the season was over, and sometimes those
stats aren't always real time stats. I want to see
(27:10):
the stats when the season starts and when the games
really matter and you're in the race and you have
a chance. Once you start, I don't know what they started.
What did they start? Six? They were ended four and four?
They ended five and eleft or no one in I'm
sorry seven, see what I'm saying, Like like they were
one in seven when they got started, and then once
that's okay, once you're one in seven, the playoff, the
(27:30):
playoffs are out of the picture. You're not gonna win anything,
and it's kind of it's not well, I would disagree
because numbers aren't the guy Matt Stafford. You talk about
this like once the games out of reach, then the
defense is playing pre event and they're giving you all
this stuff underneath the pad, the stats. I get that,
but teams aren't doing that for full games. Even though
(27:52):
the Giants were one in seven, it wasn't like teams
were taking them lightly, or teams aren't playing hard against them,
or they're playing some funky defense that gives up yardage.
They had to beat the Giants. I just had to
win these games. And I also would say this robe
Eli is a different animal. You know this as well.
You're the one always pubbling him as mister clutch I
(28:14):
told you so, I'm saying it would be one thing
with a young guy who hasn't done it. You might say, oh, well,
he didn't get going until the pressure was off, the
season was over, we were out of the playoffs, and
then he played well. I wonder how he would do
it when the pressure stillin. We know Eli is best
under pressure, so I think he's a little different in
(28:35):
that regard. Only difference is is he's he's an old
thirty seven and he's played a lot of games. You know,
he started every game until that one game, so you
know what I mean. He has been durable, but he's
been beat up a lot, been sacked a lot. My
only thing, he's an old thirty seven and he's not
unlike any other great quarterback. And I'm gonna say great
(28:57):
greatness for his championships. Not overall player, but how many
guys we count down the list, Chris all the time?
Did Joe Montana finish his career in San Francisco? Look,
I'm with you. If none of these guys did nothing.
The only guy who looks like it's gonna happen is
Tom Brady. But all these other great courts, they wind
up going somewhere else to finish because you run out
(29:19):
of time in the place. Eli's time off of exit
sixteen w is up? What? Look, I'm with you, But
like again, they should have drafted Durnal. They should draft
away Haskins if they have the chance, if they're lucky enough,
you don't, where are you going? If you don't get Haskins?
(29:42):
What are you to do? Well, We're gonna be eli
and I'm not gonna completely write them off. If the
offensive line is solid, you got good receivers. You got
a great running back and a great receiver. Let me
tell you something. The other one, maybe they can get
some things done. You mentioned I think Teddy bridge Water
got a chance to play and it was a disaster,
you know, like everybody was. I know, but one game.
(30:08):
I'm not gonna what I'm saying. That was like if
I'm Jacksonville, I'm still thinking of Teddy and that was
a chance to like, you know, he's been sitting there
playing like it's been a while. And I felt bad
that it was so bad because I'm sure people are
gonna take a look at that film that's all they
got on and and think about it as much as
(30:28):
we And I'm I'm just going off what he did
in Minnesota, and he obviously was crazy, got hurt. Yeah,
but the Jets must have seen something in practice too,
like maybe has he lost it? That's what I'm saying
that because they got rid of them, they traded him,
they were like moving on and it must have said
there's something that they see. That's why I always said
it was like the kirk Cousins thing and quote, um
(30:51):
Washington drafted him right the same year they drafted r
G three and they watched every single snap. Yeah, they
knew him better than him, better than anybody would like
he was somebody else's They didn't know what he was
in the beginning. No, they saw everything, and they refused
to sign this guy to their own pick. And they
(31:12):
just did say something to you. They did everything they
could but signed him. Yeah, no, question, didn't it tell you.
It tells you that they knew something that other people
didn't know. It was like dating a woman living with
her for years, right, you need mary for some reason,
And yeah, that's what it was with him. But Rob
again that I mean, so let's take out Teddy Bridgewater
(31:35):
because he was one of the guys you might say, okay,
maybe they could bring him. So my only point is
that Eli is probably going to end up being the guy.
And as bad as that is, they have other problems
that are worse. I actually think I was a little
heartened buy the second half of the season about Eli Manning.
(31:58):
I'm gonna tell you right here, my guy, Eli Manning
will not n oltb with the Giants next year. With
them even so, okay, so who I know even if
they So you're saying they're gonna get a free agent
because even if they draft somebody, it's not going to
be Nick Folds will be available. Well, hey, I would,
(32:20):
I would bring in Nick Foles. Then there's no way
the Eagles gonna sign him to a twenty million dollar
contract as a backup. You got wins. Yeah, they're gonna
be a Look, I'm just saying I know, but just saying,
be a lot of teamster. That's just my gut. I
don't because of the history of this league and quarterbacks
rarely finishing with their original teams, I believe Eli could
(32:41):
wind up in Jacksonville with Coughlin or something like that.
Look that he being upgrade over boarders, hears out, you know,
he being upgrade overboarders barely
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 Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us
live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching f
(00:20):
s R. You're listening to the best of the Odd
Couple with Chris Brusso and Rod Harker. You know what
else is bad? Yes, people are not laughing in Pittsburgh
Antonio Brown, and they're so. I mean, it's it's stuff
coming out every hour on this if not even more frequently.
(00:45):
But you know the deal. He skipped a few practices
before their last regular season game, which the must win
for the playoffs. He's three football at Ben Roethlisberger. He
was imitating Ben Roethlisberger because the throat was at his feet, right.
But this is what I said. But you think he's
doing the right he wants out. We believe you think
(01:06):
he's doing the right thing. That's like Jimmy Butler got
out of Minnesota by acting stank. Chris, I know it's
not professional, but we're not talking about that. I think
in order to really get get out of Pittsburgh. And
it's not I said, I don't think that they really
want to give up a talent like that. I don't
know of Coho does. I don't think they do. And
but if you make enough of us, think and you
(01:29):
don't return Ben roethlisburgers Texas and phone calls, and you
follow them on Twitter and did that, Yeah, he did that.
He unfollowed Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Steelers on social media. You know,
you do all that kind of stuff. And now he's
following the San Francisco forty nine ers, so he's following
them instead. And you do all that kind of stuff.
(01:51):
That's how you get yourself traded. So if I'm another team,
I wouldn't be bothered by it because I get it.
I understand that's your only way of probably getting what
you want. Make it so miserable that they say enough
is enough. I don't want him here anymore. Let's get
rid of them. I don't have a problem with all
of that. I don't have a problem with unfollowing the
(02:13):
Pittsburgh Steelers on Twitter. I don't have a problem with
flirting with the other players around the league. Who are saying, oh,
they want you to come. Oh yeah. I don't have
a problem with you putting yourself in the San Francisco
forty nine ers uniform on Instagram or Twitter or whatever
it was. I don't have a problem with any of that.
I don't even have a problem with you saying you
(02:34):
want to be traded. What I have a problem with
is you, in the biggest game of the season for
your team, not showing up for practice and essentially not
showing up for the guy. I know he showed up
thinking he gonna play. I ain't no way he thought
he was gonna play. I know he thought he was
(02:56):
gonna play. He had gotten away with so much before,
but not like you said. I think he felt like,
they we gotta win this game. They gonna play me,
and they did the right thing. Kudos to Mike Tomlin
because he did the right thing for you. You wouldn't
lose the whole locker room. Oh man, man, you would
lose the whole locker room if he did that. That's
a that's like because that now, if I'm another team,
(03:20):
I am wondered and we could talk about you got
about Odell Beckham and all that he's done. None of
that even comes close to what Antonio Brown did. He
look he's yelled at offensive coordinators and teammates on the sidelines,
he's thrown over you know, water chest and this and that.
(03:41):
He was just trying. All the stuff he's done. I'm fine,
we were trying. You can live with that. What I
can't live with is you not showing up for any
game but the most important game of the season. Don't
tell me you want to win. Don't tell me you care,
even if you've made up in your mind at that point,
(04:03):
I want out. Now here's still have to show up
and play. Here's my counter to that. And I totally
agree with you. That's totally different from what he's doing. Now,
that's inexcusable. You gotta go to practice, be a professional,
even if you're not happy with the situation. So I'm
with you. I'm not gonna make excuses for him. But
when he gets into that interview with that other team
(04:24):
and those other people who see his obvious talent, because
the guys are talented, great, that ain't even up for debate.
He'll have to make a case on he does want
to win. He understands that stuff. It was a mistake
on his part. Just own it. If he comes into you,
Chris and you're the general manager and he says, I
never should have done that. I was I acted immature.
(04:47):
I've grown since then. I understand that when things aren't
going things aren't always going to go my way. But
I need to be a professional. I need to be
there for my team, from my teammates, from my organization,
for my city. You know what I mean, And for me,
I need to I need to do that. That was
wrong and I'll never do that again. All I want
to do is play football, win and be happy, and
(05:11):
I think I could do that here with this organization.
If I hear that as a GM, I'm I'm okay
with it. So you're buying that hook line and sinker,
I'm all in. I'd like he needs to say that
wherever he's at. But but but but I'm not totally
buying it now. I'm not saying that means I won't
trade for it. Okay, that's what I'm not totally buying
(05:31):
it because I'm sure in the past. You know people,
when your backs against the wall, when you want something,
you say whatever you want something. But some people don't
they never give in or never uh you know, accepted
or or claim responsible. Those people are a lot of
people say stuff that they get here. But here's the thing.
(05:55):
It's gonna be tough for them to trade him just
because of the financial ram of tions for themselves. And
I know there was a story one in the Pittsburgh Post, Yeah,
and it says they won't be you know, if one
million dollars of dead money it really with with a
lot of different things and his contract that could be
more like six million, but it's still it's still something
(06:16):
you don't really want to do for financial reasons and
for his talent. If I'm the Pittsburgh Steelers robbed because
I think Ben Roethlisberg is part of the problem. Roethlisberger
is prout of the problem. I think Antonio he played
poorly this year, right Antonio Brown feels like, you know,
Ben gets away with everything, and there's a little resentment there.
(06:37):
I think also unfortunately for Antonio, he's selfish and he
feels he's bothered that Juju Smith Schuster, the other receiver,
the number two receiver, was the team MVP was a
you know, voted by his teammates and they had more
and more receptions, more yards. Even though Abe had more touchdowns,
I think that he had fifteen and fifteen games. Look,
(07:00):
the dude is incredible. But here's the thing. If I'm
the Steelers, I'm getting Mike Tomlin, Ben Roethlisberger, and ab
Antonio Brown in the room together, and maybe Art Rooney
or you know, somebody from the higher up. You're gonna
have security in there too. If I need to. You
(07:21):
might need it. But I'm sitting down like men, and
let's discuss this. Ben you have to make changes. Ab
you have to make is acting like he's thirteen years old.
I'm sorry, he's acting like he's thirteen years old. No,
it's definitely immature part of it though, And I get
I'm not talking about I will never endorse a guy
(07:43):
not going to practice and doing what he's supposed to.
But I'm I understand why he's acting up now, acting out.
We talked about it with the Jimmy Butler thing, that
that was his way, his tick it out, and you
know what he got, He got his wish, he got
to go. He got to go elsewhere, and he's playing
for a team that's playing for something instead of being
in Minnesota. With to guys he didn't want to. Yeah, yeah,
(08:04):
but this is a little bit different. Antonio has his money,
He's in a great situation. He they and again, if
you're the Steelers, I'm not just trading him. I'm trying
to work it out. I'm trying and I think and A.
I'm trying to get a B and Antonio Brown to
go to the teammates and just what you said, Look,
(08:27):
I was wrong. I'm trying to get him to do that.
And maybe Ben needs to say something to the team too,
because he hasn't been the best leader to a tammates, right.
I mean, look, you gotta have a behind closed doors
hard to harden and and I'm gonna say this too,
even though we're in the media, Ben, Antonio, Tomlin, who whatever,
(08:51):
executives in the meeting, don't be texting it to a writer.
What do I mean, Chris, what are you trying to start?
So I'm being honest because I think that bothers and
I look, it's fine for stories, you know, I'm saying
even no, I'm we're in the media, and you want
that if I'm in this room with these guys and
we're gonna have a heart to heart. Everybody needs. It
(09:12):
doesn't leave this room. It doesn't leave the room. That's
the only way I can trust you. And so they
need to have a heart to heart talk it out
like men. That's one thing I hate when men scramble
around and can't talk to each other about something. Hey online.
One is the Pittsburgh media that told you to be quiet. Now,
I get it. I get it because I want people
(09:34):
to lead it to to me and you and all
that stuff. But for the benefit of our organization, you
can't do it. You know, your relationship with that teammate
or that coach has to be stronger than your relationship
to some reporter just keeping it real from their perspective.
But there's always people who are out there and people
love to talk. You know that you've been in the
(09:54):
business for thirty twenty five years. Yeah, but I understand
what you're saying. Be sure that can 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 iHeart Radio app. And Rob, you have joked,
but maybe there is some truth to it about Lebron
(10:15):
move into La, going to the Lakers, to be Meryl Streep,
you know, yeah, and you know, to be a Hollywood
you know what I mean, Yeah, more about Hollywood and
not not that he if he won, fine, but that
wasn't his motivation. He wanted to be out in Hollywood.
He want to be a mover and shaker. He get
(10:35):
really want to win. But it's not eating at him.
Like I know, he's comfortable with, comfortable with his legacy
no matter what if if he doesn't win again, it's
not like he didn't win. He won three. He's got
all these other records about he will eventually pass Kareem
Abdul Jabbar. Scoring he has all of those things like
laid out for him. So I know that. But I
think he came here for other reasons. Well you look,
(10:58):
I mean because you could say, and I said it
before that, Look, he's a business mogul. He's even got
interest things going on in Hollywood, in LA while he
was in Cleveland, while he was in Miami. But there
are things he's doing now that if you you I
don't even know if you could do them if he
(11:19):
was in Cleveland or somewhere else, but it certainly makes
it easier to do than while you're here in LA
and that I mean all his shows shut up in Dribble,
the documentary, the shop where he I'm sure that somewhere
in LA and all the stars you had it years ago.
You had it years ago. I don't know if you
(11:42):
could have got all those superstars on there, but but
I had the concept. You had the concept, and um,
he's doing that. And then he's doing is more than
an athlete with ESPN on ESPN Plus. And look they've
been very entertaining, very good, but on more than an athlete.
He really started uh a discussion and some controversy with
(12:03):
these comments that he made on his last episode, that
one right there made me the greatest player of all time.
For I was a super super ecstatic to win one
for Cleveland because of the fifty two year drought. Like
I was ecstatic, like obviously I showed that. The first
wave of emotion was once y'all everyone saw me crying
like that was all for fifty two years, everything the
sports have gone on to Cleveland. And then after I stopped,
(12:26):
I was like, that one right there made you the
greatest player of all time. No, everybody was just talking
how they were the greatest team of all time, like
it was the greatest team to ever assembled. And for
us to come back, you know, the way we came
back in that fashion, I was like, you did you
did something special. That's plainly one of the only times
(12:47):
in my career I felt like like you did something special.
I haven't really had time to really like sit back
and think, but that that was a moment. Now, Chris,
I want to defer to you only from the standpoint
you grew up in Akron and right Cleveland, Cleveland and
worked there and all that northeast Ohise, okay, during that area,
(13:08):
and you also, especially earlier on, had a relationship with
Lebron around him, spend some time not as much now right, Yeah,
I don't see him as much now, okay, but to
spend a lot of time around Okay, when you heard that,
and I'm not you know, you could say I'm a
Lebron hate or whatever you want to put me up,
but but what did that What was your first initial
(13:29):
reaction to hearing that, you know, come out of his mouth. Well,
I was surprised he said it, because you've never heard
Michael Jordan say that. You never heard Kareem Abdul Jabra.
Jabbar said, and when you talk about Michael and even Kobe,
who's not really in the conversation, but a lot of people,
(13:49):
young guys especially, and even guys in the league, former
players will say ilized guys that played against Cole. They
think he should be in the conversation. Kobe, though, has
never said it. And then Michael and Kobe, you were
talking about guys, and I think Lebron has a killer instinct.
It's a spectrum, you know, but he didn't have it
(14:11):
to the level that Jordan and Kobe had it. That's
times right, And they have not said, you know, each
one of them every time they stepped on the floor,
it was I'm the best ever. But they've never said
it publicly. So I was shocked that he said it. Now,
let me tell you a little story. He was talking
to Rich Paul, his agent, Maverick Carter, his business manager,
(14:34):
and Randy Mims, his personal manager, chief of staff as
they call him. And after they won that series, you know,
I was there and the media on the court, the
players on the court, everybody's going crazy like we're all there,
and Rich I was talking to Rich Paul and he
was telling me. So I'm you're gonna see why this
(14:55):
I'm saying this. He was coming up to me saying
he's the greatest, Chris, He's the greatest ever, He's the goal.
Jordan never could have done that. So I'm sure he
was saying the same stuff with Lebron. And I'm not
saying that's where the thought came from. Lebron probably just
sincerely thinks he's the greatest. But that's that whole crew
(15:16):
and that's what they were thinking, at least Rich and Lebron,
and so that's where a lot of this comes up.
But but but to me, it's just not classy and
it's without humility. You don't need to say that. I
don't need to walk into the club and tell everybody
I'm the best looking guy in the club. Boy, I'm
the richest guy in the club. You don't have to
(15:36):
announce that. Do you know what I'm saying, Well, Michael Jordan,
here's what he said. It's from a two thousand and
nine interview with Yeah. I don't want it in a
sense because I think it disrespects Will Chamberlain, Jerry West,
you know all the guys that prior to me, I've
(15:56):
never had a chance to play against You know what,
everybody's saying that I never had the chance to compete
against other legends, that that was prior to me. When
I hear it, I cringe a little bit because, you know,
it's it's a little bit embarrassing because no one knows,
you know, I never had the chances once again to
play against those guys. You know, Um, I would love
(16:19):
to have played against him, but I never did, you know,
And for you to say that I'm better than him,
I mean, it's your opinion. You know, it's their opinion.
I accept that as their opinion. If you ask me,
I would never say that I'm the greatest player, you know,
and that's because I never played against all all the
people that represented the league prior to Michael Jordan. If
(16:40):
you didn't like Michael Jordan, then you heard just heard
that for the first time. Don't tell me you don't
like him a little bit more. No, I'm with you,
And it looks that's the humility I'm talking about. And
you were right, Chris on the court against competing, he'd
probably tell you I'm the best. I'll bust you up
on this court. You can't play with me, you know,
you're not on my level and all that. But he would, right,
(17:03):
but he would never pat hisself on the back. He said,
I would never say that. That's not for you to say.
And I'm telling you this is where Lebron disconnects with
some people. Well, and I think to your point about
Jordan being this great trash talker, but then never, he's
never gonna say off the court, I'm the greatest ever.
The reason he would talk trash to you and maybe
(17:24):
say I'm the greatest, I'm better than you was because
he could settle it and show you and pive it
to you right then and there on the court. And
I think Jordan was being sincere. A lot of people
are gonna say, oh, Jordan was a killer. He was
just saying that. I know Rob G thinks that. But
there's another clip going around on social media. After Jordan
(17:44):
won his third straight championship with Chicago in the early nineties,
he was asked about you know, how it felt and
this and that, and he what he said was, this
is great that I can say I did something. I'm paraphrasing,
but that Isaiah Isaiah Thomas, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson never
(18:07):
did and they all won. Well, Bird didn't even win
two in a row, but Magic and Isaiah one two straight.
My point is this, Notice he didn't say what will
Never did or what the dream never he said it
about against. He didn't bring up the guys that he
never got a chance to play against. And so that
(18:30):
I think Jordan was being sincere when he said that.
And and here's the problem. I mean, look, like you said,
it's there. It comes off as arrogant, it comes off
as disrespectful to the others. But the other thing, it's
not just the other thing is this rob It opens
you up to Now, granted, Lebron gets a lot of
(18:51):
scrutiny as it is, but unless your record is impeccable,
now it opens you up to even people that may
have been on your side. Are some of them may say, well,
hold on, Lebron, you're not the go Now he really
raises the level of scrutiny even higher because you and
I we don't think he's the goat. I think Jordan's
(19:11):
the goal and I think it's clear cut. I think
it's clear cut, and it just it just speaks like
Lebron's trying to speak it into existence, like to put
it out there, and people say, I'm gonna throw out
the number eight seven, seven ninety nine on Fox eight
seven seven nine nine six sixty three sixty nine. If
you want to chime in, as you said, throwing it
(19:31):
out there, and I said this one we we co
hosted Undisputed yesterday. I and I'm serious about this. I
don't know if it's true at all. I'ven't talked to
anybody in Lebron's camp about this, but I wonder if
Lebron is trying to do the Muhammed Ali pattern. But
the only thing, okay, uh, Lebron is said he wants
(19:54):
to be like Muhammed Ali. One of Muhammed Ali's ex wives.
It's wife said that Lebron is the Muhammed Ali of
this generation, and Lebron said he wanted to be an
Ali in terms of being a global icon direct quote
global icon. Of all the stuff that Ali did outside
of his sport, Lebron he's known for that as much
(20:17):
as for what he did in the sport. Lebron is
following that pattern. And I want you know, one of
the things rob that makes us feel and as great
as Ali was as a fighter, one of the things
that makes us feel he was the greatest, even if
it's subconsciously, was the fact that he he told us
(20:38):
he was the greatest. He drilled it into our head.
Now he did it in a funny way. He did
it with rhymes. He did it, you know, raggadociously, like
he did it a different way than Lebron. But I'm
just wondering, And I'm just wondering if Lebron is thinking,
let me say it. Because Lebron smart, he knew this
was gonna start a conversation, so let me start putting
(21:00):
it out there so people really start believing it or
saying it. But the differences we're boxing, which is an
individual sport and a salesmanship in box, well there wasn't
before I leave, but he was the first. He was
unusual to come out like Joe Lewis. But I'm saying
talk like that, right, But I'm saying it's almost like
when you go to these press things and then and
(21:21):
you know, like this is what people days. Definitely what
I'm saying. And Ali was was a polarizing figure. There
was no in between either people hated because I'm gonna say,
even you love Muhammad Ali or you hated him because
he was so braggadocious. I'm pretty, remember all the everything.
(21:42):
I'm pretty, I'm not before he beat Sonny. Listen, you
you said it on the show. He was saying that
before he before he won the championship, I'm the greatest,
and he hadn't even won the championship. So that's what
I'm saying to your point, people, including African Americans, because
now Ali is as much as everybody else loves him,
(22:02):
Black people really love him because he stood up for
black people so much. My father was like, when he
was cast us play, we hate he bragging, he's this,
he's that Sonny. We wanted Sonny listening to knock his
block exactly. That's what I'm saying. He was. He was
the perfect polarizing guy because there's no middle ground. Either
(22:22):
you all in or you you were out on him.
Be sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple
with Chris Brussard and Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm
Eastern four pm Pacific. The New York Football Giants yes
yet another disappointing season in the weakest division in the NFC.
(22:43):
They finished dead last five and eleven. You and I
told him didn't I get this to you for your birthday? Yes,
you did. I was just looking at this sweat jacket.
Nice one, too nice. But anyway, back to the Giants,
we told him you better draft Sam Darnald or and
(23:07):
instead they drafted Saint Kwan Barkley, who you and I
agree should be the rookie of the year. The height,
oh my gosh, I think he surpassed the hype two
thousand from scrimmage, he was unbelievable. But catching the football,
running the football, he's a running back and it just
isn't as important as having that franchise quarterback. And maybe
Sam Darnald will become that for the New York Jets
(23:29):
instead of the New York Giants who could have had him.
So they're stuck with Eli Manning and today GM Dave
Gettleman talked about going forward, Is it Eli or someone
else next season? Eli and I had a very extensive
conversation on Monday, No holds bod He he took me
in a low post and won. But you know the
butterfline is it was a very honest and upfront conversation.
(23:51):
I'll keep what was said private between he and I
Gonna evaluate everything. Everything's on the table for us. No holds,
bod you gotta pull up clip out the way he
said that, did you hit that thing? Yeah? That was good.
And I like Bob took me in the low post
and bodied me or what did he say something something
to that effect. Yeah that was good. But but you
know what, Uh, the Giants are a day lay the
(24:14):
dollars short, and now they gotta hope somehow, some way
a quarterback lays, you know, falls into their lap. You
knew that this was coming. I know everybody they wanted, Uh,
the old coach in general manager, you remember when they
benched him, remember that? Yeah, and Jerry Reees, you know
(24:34):
they wanted them out of town after that, Oh my god,
and they and they got them both throne out of town. Right.
But they were right, though, Chris. They wanted the right track.
It was time to move away from ELI. And now
the Giants it sounds like they're noncommittal, which is what
they should be. You can't totally throw them out because
you don't know if you want to get a quarterback
or not. So you gotta be a little careful to
(24:57):
just say, well, he's done. He will not be out.
Quarterback because you haven't secured a quarterback at this point.
You have to enter next season thinking Eli, man, he's
your quarterback because you don't have a guy yet, you
don't have anybody. No, I got that. And let me
say this, and I totally was with you and stilling
with you that they should have drafted Sam Darneld. Even
(25:19):
if Eli would have started this year for the whole year,
half the year, three quarters, whatever, you could have groomed
Darnald for the next era, no doubt about it. However,
I will say this went second half of the season.
Rob second half of the season, defensive line got solidified
(25:41):
to some degree. Eli wasn't that bad. That's all I'm saying. Look, okay, well,
let me let me give you some of the numbers.
The last eight games, they were four and four. Wasn't
all Eli, but he played a significant role. He threw
thirteen touchdown pass is only five interceptions. They put up
(26:03):
thirty eight points against Tampa Bay, thirty against Chicago, whom
they beat, forty against Washington, and thirty five in a
loss to Dallas. The offense got going. Eli was not
the worst pro problem in the second half of the season.
I'm just saying again, if Duwayne Haskins is there, I'm
(26:26):
taking him. If they can get the high draft pick
or wherever they're sliding right now, on fifth something, whatever
they are. If you can get Duwayne Haskins from Ohio State,
who looks like the best quarterback in this class so
many comes out, take him, Mama right now. Whether Eli
can still do it next year or not, you need
(26:47):
to get that next guy. Now. I think it could
be Haskins, but I'm just saying Eli could be okay
for next year. To me, the problem is, I always
look when your numbers start, when you know you and
you give the last eight games and they were four
and four, but the season was over, and sometimes those
stats aren't always real time stats. I want to see
(27:10):
the stats when the season starts and when the games
really matter and you're in the race and you have
a chance. Once you start, I don't know what they started.
What did they start? Six? They were ended four and four?
They ended five and eleft or no one in I'm
sorry seven, see what I'm saying, Like like they were
one in seven when they got started, and then once
that's okay, once you're one in seven, the playoff, the
(27:30):
playoffs are out of the picture. You're not gonna win anything,
and it's kind of it's not well, I would disagree
because numbers aren't the guy Matt Stafford. You talk about
this like once the games out of reach, then the
defense is playing pre event and they're giving you all
this stuff underneath the pad, the stats. I get that,
but teams aren't doing that for full games. Even though
(27:52):
the Giants were one in seven, it wasn't like teams
were taking them lightly, or teams aren't playing hard against them,
or they're playing some funky defense that gives up yardage.
They had to beat the Giants. I just had to
win these games. And I also would say this robe
Eli is a different animal. You know this as well.
You're the one always pubbling him as mister clutch I
(28:14):
told you so, I'm saying it would be one thing
with a young guy who hasn't done it. You might say, oh, well,
he didn't get going until the pressure was off, the
season was over, we were out of the playoffs, and
then he played well. I wonder how he would do
it when the pressure stillin. We know Eli is best
under pressure, so I think he's a little different in
(28:35):
that regard. Only difference is is he's he's an old
thirty seven and he's played a lot of games. You know,
he started every game until that one game, so you
know what I mean. He has been durable, but he's
been beat up a lot, been sacked a lot. My
only thing, he's an old thirty seven and he's not
unlike any other great quarterback. And I'm gonna say great
(28:57):
greatness for his championships. Not overall player, but how many
guys we count down the list, Chris all the time?
Did Joe Montana finish his career in San Francisco? Look,
I'm with you. If none of these guys did nothing.
The only guy who looks like it's gonna happen is
Tom Brady. But all these other great courts, they wind
up going somewhere else to finish because you run out
(29:19):
of time in the place. Eli's time off of exit
sixteen w is up? What? Look, I'm with you, But
like again, they should have drafted Durnal. They should draft
away Haskins if they have the chance, if they're lucky enough,
you don't, where are you going? If you don't get Haskins?
(29:42):
What are you to do? Well, We're gonna be eli
and I'm not gonna completely write them off. If the
offensive line is solid, you got good receivers. You got
a great running back and a great receiver. Let me
tell you something. The other one, maybe they can get
some things done. You mentioned I think Teddy bridge Water
got a chance to play and it was a disaster,
you know, like everybody was. I know, but one game.
(30:08):
I'm not gonna what I'm saying. That was like if
I'm Jacksonville, I'm still thinking of Teddy and that was
a chance to like, you know, he's been sitting there
playing like it's been a while. And I felt bad
that it was so bad because I'm sure people are
gonna take a look at that film that's all they
got on and and think about it as much as
(30:28):
we And I'm I'm just going off what he did
in Minnesota, and he obviously was crazy, got hurt. Yeah,
but the Jets must have seen something in practice too,
like maybe has he lost it? That's what I'm saying
that because they got rid of them, they traded him,
they were like moving on and it must have said
there's something that they see. That's why I always said
it was like the kirk Cousins thing and quote, um
(30:51):
Washington drafted him right the same year they drafted r
G three and they watched every single snap. Yeah, they
knew him better than him, better than anybody would like
he was somebody else's They didn't know what he was
in the beginning. No, they saw everything, and they refused
to sign this guy to their own pick. And they
(31:12):
just did say something to you. They did everything they
could but signed him. Yeah, no, question, didn't it tell you.
It tells you that they knew something that other people
didn't know. It was like dating a woman living with
her for years, right, you need mary for some reason,
And yeah, that's what it was with him. But Rob
again that I mean, so let's take out Teddy Bridgewater
(31:35):
because he was one of the guys you might say, okay,
maybe they could bring him. So my only point is
that Eli is probably going to end up being the guy.
And as bad as that is, they have other problems
that are worse. I actually think I was a little
heartened buy the second half of the season about Eli Manning.
(31:58):
I'm gonna tell you right here, my guy, Eli Manning
will not n oltb with the Giants next year. With
them even so, okay, so who I know even if
they So you're saying they're gonna get a free agent
because even if they draft somebody, it's not going to
be Nick Folds will be available. Well, hey, I would,
(32:20):
I would bring in Nick Foles. Then there's no way
the Eagles gonna sign him to a twenty million dollar
contract as a backup. You got wins. Yeah, they're gonna
be a Look, I'm just saying I know, but just saying,
be a lot of teamster. That's just my gut. I
don't because of the history of this league and quarterbacks
rarely finishing with their original teams, I believe Eli could
(32:41):
wind up in Jacksonville with Coughlin or something like that.
Look that he being upgrade over boarders, hears out, you know,
he being upgrade overboarders barely
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kelvin washington
Rob Parker
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