January 16, 2026 • 52 mins
Charlie Batch joins Mark to talk about the Steelers Coaching search, MFA makes his picks for the divisional round. Ask Mark Anything! Jody Shelley of the Blue Jackets broadcast team joins.
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Speaker 1 (00:10):
The Steelers are looking for coach, but they're looking for
quarterback too. Joining us now to discuss the former quarterback
for the Steelers. He does a podcast with Trey Essex
and he does the postgame show for Steelers games on DVE.
It's Charlie Batch. Charlie, we'll talk about the coach in
a minute. Who's going to be the quarterback next season?
Because without Tomlin, Rogers is certainly out.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
I would agree with that as well. And obviously you
heard his comments when he said I'm only here because
of Mike, So I think ultimately when you look at this,
you know, I would have to guess that Will Howard
way of the pole position, only because the Steelers organization
have showed Mason Rudolph exactly what they felt about him,
because they never gave him the opportunity to be that
starter that he was continuously was overlooked with them bringing
(00:57):
new people in. So this was taking a point out,
say Will Howard, but have they seen enough of him
to now give him full reigns of what's getting ready
to happen here in the twenty twenty sixteen Then I.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
Mixed emotions about that, Charlie, I for sure would give
Howard a big look at training camp because, as we
know last season he was hurt and couldn't play any
snaps in the preseason. I'd keep Mason Rudolph. He's on
another year left in his contract. And I don't figure
they draft the quarterback in the first round this year
because that big quarterback class fell apart. The Steelers won't
(01:30):
be drafting early enough to get a Mendoza or whoever.
But one that I don't want is to recycle an
old guy again. How do you feel about that?
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Yeah, that's going to be interesting to see because we
don't know exactly who all is going to be available
as it relates to free agents and the elder spokesman
of the quarterback position. And then ultimately, when we talked
about the draft and everybody got excited before the season,
started compiling all of these draft picks because of what
was expected in this quarterback class, and right now it
(01:59):
is nowhere near would anybody expect it coming into this season.
So I think this pickings are slimmed at this particular point.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
One name that intrigues me going to be a free
agent Malik Willis Scott drafted in the third round in
twenty twenty two, the same year the Steelers drafted Picket
in the first round. What's your take on him? Should
they be interested? Would Malik be interested in coming to Pittsburgh?
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Christ think coming here? Obviously money speaks over anything at
this particular point, and he's waiting for another opportunity to
be a regular starter, something that he did not necessarily
have in Tennessee, which ultimately led to kream Green Bay.
But I think the important decision is going to be
what does the offensive system look like if he does
come to Pittsburgh. And I think we're all trying to
(02:45):
figure that out, and it's not going to be answered
anytime soon because I expect this whole process to take
a little bit a while, but it has to really
be on an expedited learning curve only because we're getting
we're approaching the All Star Games that are currently happening now,
and then ultimately you're getting ready for the Combine at
the end of February. So again, they're on the tight
timeline right now.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
I gotta tell you, Charlie, at one point I would
have said that I'd never consider Will Howard, but this
being a transition with a new coach, Like I said,
I at least want a long look, and I'm not
dismissing the possibility for the first time.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Yeah, I'm giving up on Will Howard by any means.
Before he got injured, he was actually having a really
good training camp. It's just unfortunately the injury happened. It
was bad timing because as we were preparing to get
ready to see him in preseason games, he gets injured.
You don't see him because we probably would have saw
a large majority of the snaps going get in his direction.
(03:40):
That didn't happen. He went on injured reserve, and then
you had a few months to look at him. But again,
practice in the middle of the season is not an
evaluation piece only because you're the other team's quarterback. You're
not even running your own plays. And that's the challenge
that the Steelers have to have because yet they did
their evaluation piece when he looked good in shorts and
training rafted them in the sixth round. But now you
(04:02):
didn't get those meaningful reps in practice. And that's the
challenge that the Steelers are going to have because it
reminds me of Hey, if you give Will Howard the range,
it's very similar to what Minnesota did. They didn't want
any veteran quarterbacks coming in. They gave the rains to
JJ McCarthy and ultimately things didn't go that well and
they wasted the season in Minnesota. So again these are
the things that Steelers have to think about.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
McCarthy, of course, being a first round pick. And like
you said, Will Howard in the sixth we're talking to
Charlie Batch, brought to us by eighty four lumber Dynasty
partner the Pittsburgh Steelers. Were you surprised by Mike Tomlin
quitting Charlie and what do you think went in his decision?
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Most Yeah, I was, you know, at one point, I
wouldn't have been surprised of the decision if it happened later.
And I used the word shock because the timeline that
had happened, we weren't even fresh off of twenty four hours,
and yet he woke up that morning and he came
up with the decision that he ultimately was resigning and
alerted the team. Obviously we are aware of the timeline
(04:59):
that this particular point. So that's the shocking part that's
happened to me. But again it's hard to tell as
it relates to what ultimately went in. But when you
are the main ship, main part of the ship, which
Mike Tomlin was, you know, the roster was configurated based
off what his vision was looking like. You brought all
of these coaches in and when things don't work out
(05:19):
when you are the leader, you have to accept the
responsibility sometimes even when things totally on your fault. He
did that, he stepped down. Now whoever is next step
to take over? And now they're up and this is
going to be a challenge for them.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Who is your choice to replace some Charlie And obviously
we're both looking relatively speaking from afar, But who would
you pick and what type of coach.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
For me?
Speaker 3 (05:42):
I would you know? You can go both ways, right
and I think it's hard for me to answer far
as who I think would be out there right now,
because I honestly don't have an answer for you right now, Mark.
But ultimately you can go two ways. You can go
an offensive coach and then hire a great defense of
mine and allow him just to flourish and you focus
on the defense, or you hire a great defense mined
coach because we do need help on that side of
the ball as well. And then hire a bright, young
(06:05):
offensive talent that allows him to now take over the
offensive side. So it could go both directions. But this
is ultimately going to come down to the interview process.
What does the Rooney family think? And ultimately the person
who is going to select this new coach coming in
because of his title is Omark kahn Was who's the
general manager. This is going to be solely the majority
(06:26):
of his decision because he has to work with him
on a regular basis.
Speaker 5 (06:29):
Really, you think goldmore has more say than Art I Will.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
I'm not saying that he has more say than Art.
What I'm saying is he's going to work with the
head coach a lot closer than with Art Will. That's
why I say that relationship is going to be one
have to be pick based off the way that those
guys have to have a working relationship.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
Now you said one thing, Troie hit the nail right
on the head. It's going to come down to the
interview process because you don't know what the fit's going
to be like until you.
Speaker 5 (06:55):
Go through that.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
I know for sure kower In, Tomlin, and I suspect
even Chuck noll Way back when we're picked mostly based
on the interview process.
Speaker 5 (07:05):
And that's how it should be, don't you think.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Yeah, it should be And even you know, and I
take myself back to whenever all of this was happening
with Koward, back after the two thousand and sixth season,
and as both of them went through the two guys
who were front runners, Russ Grimm and Ken Wizinghunt and Russ,
you know, there was stories out there that all the
Stealers were getting ready to finalize the deal. But ultimately
they were able to hire Mike towlland brought him in
(07:28):
for a second interview and he crushed it and then
were when he fell in love with him, And obviously
we see what we saw here nineteen years later. Now
you don't have that particular process with no internal candidates
that are ultimately being elevated. And now whoever that guy
that they're interviewing in, they're going to have to come
in and truly impress in their interview process. So I know,
we see the names, but I'm sure the roonies and
(07:50):
they'll turn around and start asking people around the league
give me some names that may not be hot on
the radar right now, that might be under the radar
that we could interview very similar to what Mike Commons
process was, so I wouldn't be shocked if there's more
names added to what we currently see now.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
In fact, Jerry Dulak reported that Charlie it's going to
be at least three more names, maybe four added to
the eighth they're already scheduled to talk to. None of
the assistant coaches are coming back. I feel bad for
guys losing their jobs, but I think that's good. I
think this team needs shaking up as much as possible,
and I'm thinking I would get rid of a couple
(08:26):
veteran players too. What do you think of the coaching
decision and how much should they shake.
Speaker 5 (08:31):
Up the roster? I'm talking about the staff coaches.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Yeah, when you look at just the whole process and
the way that season ends, you know again, I'm going
back to my playing days and the experience.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
You know.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
They when we lost the Super Bowl in twenty ten,
the organization did a good job of saying, hey, Gas,
we're and give you the opportunity to run it back.
We ended up going twelve and four, but yet we
lost that first round against the Broncos on that on
the road to an eight and eight football team, and
they really started to configure the roster and reshape what
that looks like very so to what we're seeing now.
(09:01):
You fall short in your goal, they put all the
money in the defense, you come up short, and when
you're not in that top five, top ten category, yes,
they're going to be sitting there scratching their heads looking
at this roster to say who fits. Again, you're coming
in with a different defensive coordinator who did not pick
these guys to run into his defense. So there's going
to be a lot of conversations that aren't unfold on
(09:23):
both sides of the football to see if they fit
within the scheme, and if they don't, then you'll start
and possibly seeing some changes that are being made. But
a lot of that comes with cap hits and those
type of things on whether you can move a player
or not. But again, ultimately players, they're probably unsure at
this particular point. Coaches, obviously, we've seen what's happening with
them as all of them have been allowed the opportunity
(09:43):
to speak to other teams. So that just let you
know the rumies aren't comfortable with that coach you said,
because they don't want to keep any of them.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Uh, aren't the second ones to contend every year? Is
that possible next year, Charlie with all this upheaval. I'm
not saying it's impossible, but I'm not sure it way
to bed either.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
I wouldn't necessarily be high on next season looking at
it as we speak now, And the only reason is
because you don't know the scheme. And it's very different
than when Mike Tomlin inherited eighteen for his first season
in two thousand and seven. And I say that because
he had a really good defense, but yet he was
inheriting a super Bowl winning quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger. That
(10:24):
is not happening right now. So yes, it could be
intriguing if you're a coach based off the stability working
with the Rooney family. You know their patient and they're
not going to make changes just for the make a
sake of making changes. But the expectations for Steeler fans
at this particular point as we speak today, it's gloomy
and the four chance is gloomy. And it's tough because
(10:44):
there's a lot of holes that they have to fit
on the roster and mainly they have to answer the
quarterback position, because when you miss on the first round
or in a manner that they did with Kenny Pickett
four years ago, now is the time for you to
be exercise of his fifty year option. So you could
get excited about that, but they missed. It set the
organization back, and now here we are talking about who
(11:07):
at the potential quarterback for twenty twenty six and hopefully
the next day decade moving forward.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
Charlie, it was reportedly very emotional with the players, as
you'd expect. Tomlin was the player's coach. I know you
knew him very well.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
Yeah, and I can understand the emotions. It was very
similar when Kawer walked away in t twenty oh six,
you know, But yet those stories weren't out there. The
social media isn't what it is today, so a lot
of the players were speaking and people were picking up
on those reports. So it doesn't surprise me, especially when
you have respect for a coach and ultimately if he
impacted your life in a certain way. Everybody's story is different,
(11:45):
So I understand from the player perspective. You know, ultimately
you have some people out there that I say, we
don't care about the player's feelings again, but you're not
in that situation where a player or a coach has
impacted you in a manner that coach Colin did with
these players. So yeah, he impacted me. I truly appreciate
everything that he's done for me and everything else, but
ultimately that's personal. But when it comes to the business side,
(12:07):
these decisions, ultimately, at some point will happen when you
are in the coaching world. It's not a matter of
if you'll get fired, it's just a matter of when.
That's just the reality of coaching.
Speaker 5 (12:18):
Charlie, I have a vision.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
I'm kind of just seeing in my mind, Charlie Batch,
quarterbacks coach.
Speaker 5 (12:24):
What do you think.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
I'm going Let the organization wants me to help out
in any way possible. My phone lines are open and
I've offered those services. So if there's anything that I
could do, it doesn't necessarily mean it has to be
in a coaching position, but at some point within the
Stealers organization and work working directly with the Rooney family.
My phone lines are open and I am definitely open
for the opportunity. I would love this to discuss further.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
There you go, I like it, Charlie thanks as always.
We'll talk again real soon. But great input.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
I appreciate it. Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
That's a great charge. But Charlie Batch but was by
eighty four lumber. Get your calls in now for calls
on the fifteens. Uh what Steelers player or players is
happy to see Tom win go and a changing of
the guard?
Speaker 5 (13:11):
Tom and I talked earlier.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
Got to be Pat freiermus what do you think and
who do you see being the Steelers quarterback next year?
Number to call eight three three four one two w XDX.
We got mister Friday Afternoon at the bottom of the hour.
He went two and eleven last week. He's flirting with
five hundred on the season, being fifty seven and fifty five.
Speaker 5 (13:30):
I'm mart Man one oh five nine. The only show
move Tomican Dream, so be it baby DX at one
oh five nine.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Mister Friday Afternoon at the bottom of the eye. So
the more you call now for calls on the fifteenth
which is as yet well actually technically we did a
sponsor for this segment, but it's just for this segment,
not specifically for calls on the fifteen. So be like
to throw your hat in the ring. Please do through
management here. But the more calls we get now, the
(14:06):
longer we wait to get my mister Friday afternoon and
his idiocy on Like I said, he went two and
eleven last week. Okay, let's go to Sparky, Sparky, your
own double.
Speaker 6 (14:17):
M Hey, Mark, what up?
Speaker 4 (14:20):
Hey?
Speaker 6 (14:21):
As far as the search goes, like, the bottom line
is this, the Rooneys are woke and they have two
This cana has to be some criterire number one. They
have to be on a forty number two they have
to be a minority.
Speaker 5 (14:35):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
I don't know that that will be a determining factor.
In fact, I'm sure it won't, but it could be.
Well no that's not where it starts. You don't know that.
Speaker 5 (14:45):
But it could be a tiebreaker, could be a tie breaker.
How do you know? Tell me, Sparky, tell me how
you know? Tell me how you know? They're looking specifically
to higher an African American.
Speaker 6 (14:59):
Because I where they whatever they hired Tomlin. You think
back they had Russ Graham, they had Ken wizen Hunt.
Speaker 5 (15:05):
Yeah we're not we're not talking. We're not talking about that,
and this is different. Ruines.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
I'll make you a deal. I'll make you deal, Sparky.
Since you know so much, I'll bet you a thousand bucks.
It's not an African American.
Speaker 4 (15:15):
It's not gonna be a school.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
I'll bet you a thousand bucks, it's not an African American.
Since you're spewing asinine idiocy, why don't you put your money,
which I dot you have much of where your big
fat yapper is.
Speaker 5 (15:27):
You bring a grand in here. I'll tell you what.
I'll bet fifteen hundred against your grand.
Speaker 6 (15:32):
I'll put up two thousand against your fifteen hundred.
Speaker 5 (15:36):
Yeah, you don't have you wouldn't bring it? Tell you what?
Bring it here? We're in Bridgeville, easy to find where.
Bring it in here?
Speaker 6 (15:42):
Bring it in in the ghetto in Bridgeville?
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Oh yeah, well, you know what, I get accused of
my racism, which doesn't exist. Shining through yours is lot
and clear. But what do you mean ghetto in Bridgeville?
Speaker 6 (15:53):
I said, what, they're gonna.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
Go buy you piece of crap? You piece of crap
might be a tie breaker. Ain't gonna be the determining factor?
Speaker 5 (16:03):
Was it? What Tomlin might have mattered? More? Then?
Speaker 1 (16:05):
The Rudy rule was fresher. Let's go to Leo and
mount Levin and Leo. You're on with double.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
M Hey, big sexy, Hey, just all us talk about
getting the quarterback right, which I don't argue, but don't
you feel like that could be the last piece of
the puzzle, meaning if they got good coaching, good culture
and all.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
No, no, it's not the last piece of the puzzle.
They could have good coaching, good culture. They thought they
had that for how long here, which they didn't, but
they lied to themselves.
Speaker 5 (16:33):
But they didn't have a good quarterback, and.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
Not since Ben popped his elbow, maybe even a little
bit before that. I mean Ben did his best at
the end, and Rogers did his best this year, but
they needed better quarterbacking.
Speaker 6 (16:46):
Yeah, but don't you think when Ben first came in
he was I'm not gonna argue.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
I'm not gonna argue about you know, Ben in an
ancient history. I will say this, If what you're trying
to say is that you can assemble everything else and
then pop the quarterback in, yeah you can do that,
but none of it matters unless you do get the quarterback.
You don't have to get the quarterback first. If that's
what you're saying, I agree with that, but by the
same token, by the same token you also got Art
(17:11):
this year, saying he wants to you know, he doesn't
want to waste the season. He wants to contend this year,
and to do that you need to get a better
quarterback than what they have. Although, like I said, if
they wanted to subtly tank to get arched by starting
Will Howard, I would not have a problem with that.
In fact, I would wallow in the glory of that
for seventeen games.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
But if you got a good coaching staff, don't you
feel like the NFC North is still open to backing
into winning the division because.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
The AFC North No, God, no, God no, they have
no chance of winning the division next year.
Speaker 5 (17:43):
What are you kidding me?
Speaker 1 (17:44):
You're gonna have a healthy Burrow, presumably Cleveland's gonna be
better in Baltimore has Lamar and a new coach, which
will come with an adrenaline rush. I mean, how can
you say, we don't even know who the Steelers quarterback
is and you're predicting them to win a division that
includes Berrow and Lamar.
Speaker 5 (17:59):
Let's go to Matthew.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
Matthew, you're on with double m.
Speaker 7 (18:03):
Hey, Mark, I'm a big fan.
Speaker 5 (18:04):
Thanks buddy and Mark.
Speaker 7 (18:05):
I'm a big fan.
Speaker 5 (18:06):
Hey, buddy, I want to talk.
Speaker 7 (18:08):
I want to talk about the status and the happiest players.
The status probably half ear mouth because he can actually
catch some balls.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
Well he No, he's probably the happiest, buddy, because now
he might get you know, more targets in a better
chance to excel. So who do you think is the happiest,
I mean, the saddest. I'd say Farmer's probably the happiest.
Speaker 7 (18:32):
I think it's not a player. Probably a franchise, the
Cleveland Browns, because they can't out coach Mike Tomlin.
Speaker 5 (18:40):
Well that's right.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
They don't have tom Win to beat at home all
the time, no matter who the quarterback is, which is
why I, buddy, think they should hire the architect of
that from Cleveland. Who got fired up there, Stefanski. Thanks
for the call, Matthew. What's going to Seth?
Speaker 5 (18:53):
And Harmer? Seth? What's up?
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Good day, sir?
Speaker 5 (18:56):
I said, good day?
Speaker 8 (18:59):
Kind of park question. Well, the first part is more
so I agree with you. I think Stefansk, he would
actually be a nice hire. Just because it might come
off as a recycling.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
Right, I don't.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
I don't think they're gonna do that, But uh, what
if Stefanski's name got added? Jerry Dulex says, there's three
or four more interviews coming on top of the eight
we know about, and hey, I'd hire him.
Speaker 5 (19:24):
I forget about interview. I just think he's the best candidate.
Speaker 8 (19:30):
I agree. I mean, and and hel Of Belichick, you know,
could leave Cleveland and be as great as a coach
as he was. This guy's the same. But who do
you think the tiebreaker would come down to?
Speaker 5 (19:40):
What do you mean.
Speaker 8 (19:43):
As far as who they go?
Speaker 5 (19:45):
Who the like final two or three candidates would be.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
I don't know, because, as I said with Charlie, a
little bit of go, I think it depends on the
interview process.
Speaker 5 (19:53):
Tomlin got the job in the interview.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
If you made me pick a favorite from way far away,
way far away, it'd be Chris Shula. Even though like uh,
Tim Benn said he wasn't impressed by the Rams defense
this year. He is part of the Sean McVay coaching tree.
His last name Shula. A lot of things add up.
I might not agree, but but a lot of things
add up. I might not disagree either. Let's go to Ben.
Speaker 9 (20:19):
How you doing there? Double Happy Friday and you uh
question about the uh taking a break from the Steelers
talk here for a second.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
You're welcome.
Speaker 9 (20:28):
Uh, the fourth line of the Penguins can what would
you compare them to the most recent in history that
has been as good and it solid and even as dominant.
Speaker 5 (20:39):
Everybody everybody used to talk. They're not dominant, bro, let's not.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
Let's not, you know, go overboard, but that the best
the best fourth line in recent history is that Islanders line.
They called it the identity line. That was who was
that Clutterbuck? And Sosekis and uh one other guy he
was kind of the meathead guy. Well, they were all meatheads.
Matt mart right, meethead meathead Matt Martin. And yeah, they
(21:04):
did pretty good. I mean I think they were overrated
and I think they played more than the fourth line,
which would make them the third line. But yeah, I mean,
do I think this line is better than that Islander's line?
Speaker 5 (21:15):
No, I don't.
Speaker 9 (21:17):
What about Penguin's fourth lines in your recent memory that's
been up the bar with this group, I.
Speaker 5 (21:22):
Don't really remember fourth lines.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
I mean the bottom six in the Lemeux cup era,
like with the Loneyes, the Borks, Trotier. I mean, I
don't know specifically how those lines always fit together because
they switched them up a lot.
Speaker 5 (21:36):
But put it this way, I can guarantee.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
The fourth line of that group was better than the
fourth line of a Charie Doer and Lizatte.
Speaker 5 (21:44):
No offense to them. Thank you for the call.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
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Speaker 3 (22:50):
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Speaker 5 (22:53):
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Speaker 1 (22:55):
Baby the ex at one oh five nine. Hey, once
promising season where my next guest has now gone in
the crapper after a an eleven week last week, he
is now flirting with under five hundred. He's fifty seven
and fifty two. We welcome into the program to predict
(23:18):
the NFL's divisional round. He is, mister Friday Afternoon, MFA,
you screwed the pooch last week, didn't you?
Speaker 2 (23:27):
Well?
Speaker 4 (23:27):
How did I go two and eleven? I actually I
actually were won two on my picks.
Speaker 5 (23:31):
Yeah, but there was a ten point game because we
spun the wheel.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
Yeah, but that's not fair. It should become of sometimes
like you randomly decided that that when we spun the
wheel that.
Speaker 5 (23:50):
No, no, no, that's not true.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
You were at You were the one who demanded who
campaigned to spin the wheel.
Speaker 5 (23:56):
So we did.
Speaker 4 (23:58):
Okay, what I would question your versions of events, So
maybe we should talk to my fans to see what
they thought.
Speaker 5 (24:05):
No, they think that you wanted to spin the wheel.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
We did pick the fact spin the wheel and it
came up, but that the game was worth ten points
and that's how it is.
Speaker 4 (24:15):
Yeah, but it was worth still. But we already had
done the super collider.
Speaker 1 (24:20):
That's right, and we we we assigned I forget if
it was the daily double with the super collider.
Speaker 5 (24:27):
When we spun the wheel, it came up five five
times two is ten?
Speaker 4 (24:34):
All right, look at us to the game.
Speaker 5 (24:36):
Just you certainly can't deny that five times two is ten?
Speaker 4 (24:42):
Is that common? Cory Common Corp Matthew I would argue that.
Speaker 5 (24:48):
Well.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
I talked to HR and they said it's okay. All right,
let's go to the the the picks. You were picking
all four Have you been informed that all four games
all four divisional games.
Speaker 4 (25:03):
I got a text like two minutes before we came
on that I'm having to pick all four games. So
you appreciate contract because the contract explicitly states that if
there's going to be a change in the format, I
need to be I need to be a twenty four
hour notice.
Speaker 5 (25:18):
No, I think it's contract right here.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
It's paragraph B, section Rowman, numeral three, and it says
that in the event of a change in format, you
must get at least two seconds notice.
Speaker 4 (25:33):
I'm gonna talk to HR about that.
Speaker 5 (25:35):
I already did.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
They said it's okay, okay, So let's move to the games.
Let's go first to the Bills and the Broncos. I
see that as a highlight game. I'm a little surprised
that Denver is favored. I know it's at Denver. I
know the Bills aren't very good except for Josh Allen.
But they got Josh Allen.
Speaker 4 (25:55):
Yeah, and but Josh Allen's boogeyman. This year has been
a pass rush. I think in the four games, the
four best. So she's face. He hasn't even thrown for
two hundred yards. He's had trouble. This is a this
is a revenge game. Revenga because Denver blew out a
Buffalo blew out Denver.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
Another reference to to scarface.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
Yeah, because it's a revenge game.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
You do know that Rebenga isn't Spanish for revenge.
Speaker 5 (26:26):
That was the name of the guy they killed.
Speaker 4 (26:29):
Benga. But I'm saying he's the v some people know
we're starting.
Speaker 5 (26:34):
Okay, so what's your pick?
Speaker 2 (26:39):
One?
Speaker 4 (26:40):
One?
Speaker 1 (26:40):
Now your phone is failing, your phone's rotten, like we
can't you just screw this up worse every week.
Speaker 4 (26:47):
Can you hear me? Now?
Speaker 5 (26:49):
Can you hear me?
Speaker 1 (26:51):
I can hear you, yes, let me let me test
in three two one Benga.
Speaker 4 (26:59):
I can hear very clearly.
Speaker 5 (27:00):
Okay, go ahead, Bill's and Broncos.
Speaker 4 (27:04):
Broncos minus one and a half. Bro Bubbleto wasn't that
good this year just because they won a playoff game
against Jacksonville as to make them any better. Denver's the
number one team in the conference and better. Coach On
Payton's excellent. It's a revenge game, but a Benga. So
we're gonna take Denver in the minus one and a half.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
Police quit saying Rebenga. Okay, forty nine Ers and Seahawks.
The forty nine Ers are seven point hunderdogs in Seattle.
That's that's a pretty big number for a pretty good
team to be the underdog.
Speaker 4 (27:35):
Yes, too much. They've been. They've They've dealt with enders
the entire year. I mean, they lost Kidd last week,
but they've been next man up for Joe Frank's fourteen weeks.
The main key to this of all the injuries that
they've had, Okay, their offensive sputter. When Trent Williams is out. Okay,
he's back, okay, and he looked he's played pretty good
(27:57):
last week. They're probably gonna lose the game, okay, because
it's very hard when you have this many injuries to
beat a team as good as Seattle as assisily that defense.
But they're gonna keep it close. Seattle WI win the game,
they won't win it by more than seven. San Francisco
plus seven is a play.
Speaker 5 (28:16):
Okay, let's go now. And by the way, your picks
are very well thought.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
Oh that doesn't mean they won't fail miserably as they
usually do, but you're at least giving a good accounting
for yourself and providing I hang on, I wouldn't say
a radio bit decent radio, Okay.
Speaker 4 (28:31):
But what we've done here is you've decided that we've
got an order. You have not asked me to pick
a lock or the daily double, right.
Speaker 5 (28:40):
Because we changed four.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
You you got to call about that. Two seconds before
you went on, you said so yourself will.
Speaker 4 (28:46):
Need to pick all four games.
Speaker 5 (28:48):
Yes, you just thought we will.
Speaker 1 (28:49):
Well, the lock doesn't matter because it doesn't change the
value of the game, and we will go back and
designate the lock and the daily double afterwards.
Speaker 5 (28:56):
All with the super Collider, and for that matter, which
and we spin.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
The wheel for because we are spinning the wheel. Okay,
if there is nothing you can say that's not me
from spinning that wheel, Okay.
Speaker 4 (29:07):
That's not at all. I forgot. I forgot, I forgot
to mention. Okay, because the San Francisco got deep that
this is also.
Speaker 5 (29:19):
Your your phone's just just just going out.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
Then remind us San Francisco plus seven. Okay, the next game,
and we are going in order, because that's the way
we do it is uh, Houston who eliminated the Steelers,
who you hate. So at least the Steelers are out,
which you're very happy about because you hate them. They
are at New England, Houston a three point underdog. You
must be really happy. I want to hate the Steelers.
Speaker 4 (29:46):
No, I don't hate the Steelers. But don't buy this,
uh this this narrative that Harba sided with the Giants
because I went back and I talked to my sources.
Even after the Steeler lost, they say still that Tomlin
is going to go be coaching Baltimore and the Harbor
will be coming to coach Steelers. Those are my sources.
Speaker 1 (30:05):
Yeah, Harbaugh has already been hired to coach the New
York Giants.
Speaker 4 (30:09):
You idiot, it's not I don't think the inks the
Incas hasn't dried on the contract yet, so that's not
a done deal. I will say this.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
I saw him sign the contract. I'm pretty sure the
ink's dride. It's been like a day or so.
Speaker 4 (30:23):
Well, contract is not ironclad.
Speaker 1 (30:26):
Oh you might be onto something there. Okay, So anyway
we got we got, uh the Texans plus three against
New England.
Speaker 5 (30:35):
Who do you got New England?
Speaker 4 (30:38):
That Nicol Collins. That is huge because they don't have
enough offense to keep up. Both defenses are good. Here's
his defense is excellent those four but uh, Drake may
it's it's complete, like sixty seven percent of his passes
that there's a huge upgrade in offense Aty're playing against
the steel has had nothing newels the first superior offense.
(30:59):
The playing at home, it's gonna be cold, up.
Speaker 5 (31:03):
Didn't have it was cold here.
Speaker 4 (31:08):
Yeah, he fumbled and the strups fumbled five times, so
it's like, I don't know, he's he didn't play that well.
Drains of uh a better quarterback New England min the street.
The Nico Collinson is huge.
Speaker 5 (31:22):
You can't he's not injured.
Speaker 1 (31:24):
Joey Porter Junior just covered him so well, he's scared
to play this week.
Speaker 5 (31:28):
I have that on fact.
Speaker 4 (31:31):
Oh really I do. Okay, Well that's okay.
Speaker 1 (31:33):
Let's go to the Rams and Bears. The Rams are
four and a half point underdogs. Excuse me, the Bears
are four and a half point underdogs at home against
the l A Rams. I got to tell you, MFA,
that line really shocked me.
Speaker 4 (31:45):
I know, it shocks me that it's actually going up
because all everybody's talked about is how cold it is
going to be. And the Rams are eighty two degrees
in LA this week and it's going to be twenty
degrees below with the wind chill, and the Rams franchise
has never played in this kind of weather. It's like, dude,
nobody in this game is played this kind of weather. Okay,
So when you have a whole bunch of guys.
Speaker 5 (32:08):
Big playoff game for the Bears.
Speaker 1 (32:09):
I mean, how many games have they played this time
of year dating back?
Speaker 4 (32:13):
How long It's been a while. So it's like, you
know another the world coach, you got a good coach,
but like that, it feels like last year week was
their super Bowl and like when that.
Speaker 5 (32:22):
Happened, a revenge game.
Speaker 4 (32:27):
You you no.
Speaker 5 (32:29):
No, no, no more rebenga.
Speaker 4 (32:32):
Okay, so the one thing that uh, you know you
you want you're a big soccer fan, Okay, when a
team has a huge win, like more often than not,
they always let down the next week. Okay, that was
like Chicago super Bowl last week. I think the Rams
aren't mission to the best team in football in my opinion,
(32:53):
and I'm just surprised because nobody is giving the Rams
any credit to win this. But the line keeps moving up.
It was three and a half, it's four and a half.
All the public is saying it's cold, and all the
people of all the pundits on the radio with.
Speaker 5 (33:08):
Who do you got?
Speaker 4 (33:09):
I had the Rams? Mine is four and a half.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
Okay, now, which I bought your fans absolutely, what's good
to Mike?
Speaker 5 (33:17):
Mike, you're on with m f A.
Speaker 2 (33:20):
Hey, m f A, it's dump it.
Speaker 1 (33:23):
Okay, I can't believe you were accused of something so heinous,
but I believe it might have happened.
Speaker 5 (33:29):
Well, no I don't.
Speaker 1 (33:30):
For reasons we can't go into here because it slander.
Well we're libel, one of those. So anyway, Okay, let's
uh okay, here's the designations we're gonna use you Ready,
We've got.
Speaker 5 (33:46):
The uh, the Daily Double. What would you like to designate?
Speaker 4 (33:54):
Let's make that the last gave of the weekend. The Rams.
Speaker 5 (34:00):
Okay, l a Rams minus four and a half. That
is the Daily Double.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
Now it's time to pick the Super Collider, and.
Speaker 5 (34:11):
That is my pick.
Speaker 1 (34:14):
Since you hate the Steelers, I'm going to put it
in the game with the team that involves that eliminated
the Steelers, and that is the Houston game, the Houston
New England game. You're picking New England minus three. That
is the Super Collider. Now I would like to christen
(34:36):
a new feature.
Speaker 5 (34:37):
Are you ready for this?
Speaker 4 (34:40):
If it's legal?
Speaker 5 (34:42):
We what do you mean legal? Of course it's legal.
Speaker 4 (34:44):
This is just a stupid subject. So if you're introducing
something that notified, but you're just splinging on me.
Speaker 1 (34:52):
Here, we notified your attorney two seconds before the segment started.
Did he talk to hr Yeah, they said it was okay, okay.
Speaker 5 (35:03):
Okay, this will this will double the value of another game.
Are you ready? M it's the Revenge game that was
the short version, but in stort of a bang up. Okay,
so the revenge the Revenge game.
Speaker 1 (35:23):
The Revenge game will be San Francisco plus seven. I'm
not sure why that's the Revenge game, but we'll go.
Speaker 4 (35:31):
Okay, that sounds good.
Speaker 5 (35:32):
Okay, and that's time to spin the wheel. Are you
ready for that?
Speaker 1 (35:38):
Okay, I'm gonna let you pick. I'm going to be
a sport. What game would you like to designate that
we spin the wheel for?
Speaker 4 (35:48):
Which might as we might as well make it the
Denver Game?
Speaker 5 (35:52):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (35:52):
I mean I would have picked one of the other
games because then the value could go even way up.
Speaker 5 (35:56):
But that's good by me.
Speaker 4 (35:57):
I don't even know. I don't even know what the values.
Speaker 5 (35:59):
Are, well, the point value, what are.
Speaker 4 (36:03):
The values on the wheel?
Speaker 5 (36:04):
The point value.
Speaker 1 (36:05):
Will either increase by two, five, or ten, and there's
one special slot that increases by twenty five.
Speaker 5 (36:12):
Okay, okay, you're ready for the Denver game? Right, let's
spin the wheel.
Speaker 1 (36:22):
Just miss the twenty five the value hasn't increased again
like last week by five.
Speaker 4 (36:28):
All right, so let's recap what we have here.
Speaker 1 (36:31):
Okay, Denver minus one and a half is worth five
points because we spun the wheel. San Francisco plus seven
is two points because it's a revenge game. New England
minus three is the super collider work two points. In
the La Rams game, you took the Rams minus four
and a half. That is the daily double.
Speaker 4 (36:52):
And I just to reiterate all these picks, have it
made with zero doubts.
Speaker 5 (37:01):
Thank you MFA.
Speaker 1 (37:02):
Now it's time to ask Mark anything A three three
four one two wxdx A three three four one two
w xdx, or you can leave a talk back via
the microphone icon on the iHeartMedia app. And at the
top of the hour, we got the list, and we
got Columbus Blue Jackets color man Jody Shelley because the
(37:23):
Jackets are in town tomorrow to play the Penguins one
oh five nine.
Speaker 4 (37:28):
Tomorrow nights, the Pens take on the Blue Jackets.
Speaker 5 (37:32):
Game time is seven. Our coverage starts at six here
every game, and the best coverage right here on your
home of the Pens one five nine DX at Kenny Rossbord.
We've always served our neighbors by offering the best value
on new Ford.
Speaker 1 (37:46):
Models while supplies last current escape lessies can.
Speaker 5 (37:49):
Drive a twenty twenty six.
Speaker 1 (37:51):
Escape Dusty Road demican Dream, So be a Baby X.
Speaker 3 (37:55):
At one oh five nine.
Speaker 5 (38:01):
Somebody on the B team tweeted something I agree with.
Speaker 1 (38:04):
Actually, Joe Starkey, who joins me now as a columnist
for the Trip after.
Speaker 5 (38:08):
Moving O from to PG.
Speaker 1 (38:10):
He says, something seems weird about Tom was abrupt departure,
and it seems odd too that he didn't really say goodbye. Yeah,
really does Doesn't it time to ask Mark anything? Brought
to us by people's hyphengas dot com. What's going to Evan?
Speaker 5 (38:25):
Evan? You're on with double.
Speaker 1 (38:26):
M Okay, Evan wasn't ready.
Speaker 5 (38:32):
Let's go to Ricky. Ricky ask Mark anything?
Speaker 6 (38:35):
Hey, Mark, I got a kiss question for you, Okay.
Speaker 2 (38:40):
I've been noticing that Gene Simmons has.
Speaker 6 (38:43):
Been taking some jabs at days and Peter lately.
Speaker 1 (38:47):
Yeah. Yeah, he almost made fun pretty close of the
way Peter died falling and then he said Peter didn't
really write Beth. I mean why not just shut up?
I mean why be a dink. Your band's done. You
did great, Shut the freak up and let the other
guys have what they got and show some respect, because,
let me tell you, Kiss originally would not have made
(39:08):
it without without Peter and Ace.
Speaker 4 (39:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (39:13):
I agree with you on that, and that's what I
was just about to ask. If you feel like as
though that the four members they never really truly reconciled
or made a mess.
Speaker 1 (39:25):
No, they never really truly did. I think they got
back together to make money. But I don't think Gene
and Gene and Paul ever respected Ason Peter, and I
don't think Ason Peter ever liked Gene and Paul, and
I don't blame Ason Peter.
Speaker 5 (39:36):
Let's go to the talkback.
Speaker 1 (39:41):
Hey, Mark, my question is do you think is Stefanski
doesn't get picked up by anybody? If Steelers would hire
him on as a coordinator, He's going to get hired
by somebody. He absolutely will be a head coach in
the league. I would have taken him over Harbaugh, but
now with Harbaugh having signed with the New York Giants
(40:01):
taking that job, Stefanski's the number one guy out there,
and I think to a lot of teams up next
I'm gonna talk to Jody Shelley. Columbus visiting Pittsburgh tomorrow
night NHL actione X Columbus Blue Jackets and tom tomorrow
night to play against the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena.
(40:23):
Joining me now is the Jackets TV analyst, former NHL player.
Always great to talk to, Jody Shelley, Jody, I'm looking
at the Eastern Conference standings packed from top to bottom.
Is there a legit great team in the entire conference?
Speaker 2 (40:40):
You know what? First of all, thanks for having me on, Mark.
I thought I was gonna have to be a caller
to call in and getting ripped to get on your show.
So I appreciate you.
Speaker 5 (40:49):
We like you shall come on.
Speaker 2 (40:54):
Is there a legit? I think Carolina is still Carolina.
You know, they still are that team that's that's just
hard to play against. But the answer for you, flat
out is no. There's a bunch of teams that are
very similar in the Eastern Conference. But Tampa right now
is making a pleasure. But I think that there's I
think there's a lot.
Speaker 1 (41:15):
Of the same klambas that forty nine points currently seven
points out of a wild card. What's gone bad with
the Jackets. I thought you'd be maybe not a lot better.
Jodey have been a bit better, certainly.
Speaker 2 (41:29):
Yeah, it's been a funny year. I thought they would
have been better too. They've They've had players underachieve. Goaltending
has been good. But I just feel like they've made
some changes in the offseason, you know, some new players
in here, and then some of the injuries have hurt
them and some of the players have just been shocked
(41:49):
around little bit, the young players, especially Kant Johnson, Cole Cillinger.
You know, they've made a coaching change here. Obviously that's
settle things down a little bit, But it's just a
it's been a season where I think expectations might have
gotten to them a little bit. Last year there was none.
You know, they came in and dealt with an unthinkable
(42:09):
tragedy as a group and really bonded and and we're finding,
you know, ways to win games with you know, tucks
were going in and things were going right. And this
year they've fought it a little bit and I think
they're the expectations. They put a little pressure on this
group and they've kind of fallen into that category of
of how to get it done. And then the third
(42:31):
period blowing all the leads that they've done. It shows
a fragile team and a team that has lacked confidence.
Speaker 1 (42:37):
I think that that Rick Bonus is gonna you know,
straighten some of that out though. I mean, I'm not
knocking Dean Evison, but Bonus is an old school coach
who kind of has a history of writing teams that
are struggling, doesn't.
Speaker 2 (42:49):
He he does? And you know what else, he doesn't
need this job. He's retired. It's not like he's coaching
to get another job. So it's unique to get a
coach in that position where you know he's coming in
here to assess and help the Columbus Blue Jackets. He's
a tactician. I mean, he's been coaching for since the
(43:10):
early eighties. As a players coach, he's been around people
like Al Arbor. I mean, this guy has got so
much experienced, so much respect around the National Hockey League
that immediately we just feel the players a little more
tent of there's a little more a little more of
a game plan in place, and it's maybe it's a
(43:31):
refreshing change that they need it, but I think there's
more of a strategy with our COMPONUS two, and I
think you're right. I think he's One thing he does
very well is he's he can he can assess players,
put them in the right position, and then kind of
lift them up with positivity and man, that goes a
long way with these young players now. So I think
that's or I guess it did anytime. I love the
(43:52):
good pat on the back. Who doesn't, but you know,
he he's good at that, and I think that's important.
Speaker 1 (43:59):
We're talking to Jody's Columbus Blue Jackets TV analyst. The
Jackets are and tom tomorrow night to play the Penguins.
I could talk all day about Zach Lrensky on defense.
Speaker 5 (44:08):
Sall.
Speaker 1 (44:09):
I think he's the best defenseman in the league. I
think he played for Marquee team. He might have won
at least one Norris and maybe multiple and he just
excels on both sides of the puck. I don't know
what you can add to that, but I love watching
the guy playing.
Speaker 2 (44:23):
Yeah, I watch him closely tomorrow night. He doesn't ever panic,
and you know it's it's unique. You'll see most of
the players, most of the defensemen that get the puck
in some situations under pressure they'll spit it somewhere, you
know what I mean, the right it's usually h it's
juerually somewhere that's not right. He'll never see him do that.
(44:46):
I mean, he's always got it out and I think
the greats in any sport have that, and I think
that's what you're seeing with him. It's just and he's
always just. I mean, he seems like his heart rate
is at probably ninety all the time, which is pretty low.
I think could even be lower. But he just is calm,
cool and collected, always has always has an out, always
(45:07):
makes the right play. I think that's what's so impressive
about him when you watch him closely. In his skating ability,
I find it unique because he's a big man. He's
naturally big and strong, and he's just got a powerful
stride that he just kind of cruises up the ice
but he's flying. When I see him at ice level,
it's it really stands out. So yeah, he's a fun
one to watch, and I agree with you one of
(45:28):
the best, if not the best, in the National Hockey League,
especially because he plays a lot of defensive minutes. He
does a lot of matchup the matchup game against the
top players of the opposition, and you know that takes
away from that offensive zone time. And I think macar
gets a lot of out there in Carolina or in
Colorado where he plays with Nate mc kinnon.
Speaker 1 (45:47):
I love fan Tilly at center thirty points forty seven games,
plays a solid two hundred foot game show. But how
can he be more productive? I'm not saying he doesn't
put up enough numbers. I just think he could put
up better.
Speaker 2 (46:01):
I think he's got to play more of his game.
You know, I think sometimes as a young sentiment, playing
with a guy like Marchenko who wants to puck in
certain areas, I think you worry about that sometimes too much.
You know, you get the puck and you think, to me,
he could play a little freer. I guess what I'm saying.
You know, there's a natural ability of a player that
(46:21):
can take the puck and do a lot of different things.
And sometimes I think he's he might feel pressure or
put pressure on himself to get the puck to Marchenko
and situations where maybe that's not available. So there's a
little more of his game where I think the game
could come his way, you know what I mean, Like
you you hear players say the game slowed down for me,
(46:43):
I think at times it does that for Adam. I
think right now is a time where, like he's a driver,
when he has the pockey drives, he can push d back.
He's got the moves to take it wherever he wants.
But then when he looks for that option, sometimes he
optually pay isn't the right one, and it ends up
he's back in the neutral zone, at the defensive zone.
(47:05):
I think that's because he trying to force it too
much to Marchenko, who wants that puck in a certain area.
And I think if he can free up a little
bit and really just focus on his game, I think
he's got a level or two more to get to.
Speaker 5 (47:17):
Even this season, I totally agree.
Speaker 1 (47:19):
And you mentioned Marchenko, he's doing good seventeen goals, veron
Kov another Russian winger, sixteen goals. But what about the
Russian winger that got away shell You guys traded Chinikov
to Pittsburgh and he came in and started scoring three
goals in eight games. I mean, I don't know if it's
just a change of scenery. I certainly don't know if
it'll continue. But what's your take on Chinnikoff and what
(47:40):
he's done here so far.
Speaker 2 (47:42):
I've always liked Chinnikoff. He's had a couple of bad
seasons with injuries and then with a new coach last year.
Didn't get on the right side of that coach, Dean Edison,
and couldn't get on the right side of him this year,
where he was a healthy scratch and he was playing
seven minutes a game and not on the power play.
And when you're a skilled player and he's you know,
(48:05):
he simply said, to his credit, I'm not a checker,
Like that's not how I play hockey. So he would
just when he was in the lineup, he would try
to get on the good side of the coach by
trying to be, you know, that player that would, you know,
be a good four check guy and be in the
right position defensively. But he wasn't playing hockey. He's got
(48:25):
excellent speed, as you guys have seen. I think he's
got to the hardest wrishout in the National Hockey League.
It was recorded at one hundred miles an hour three
years ago. When he went over to Finland, they had
this whole setup. I like him. He's got all the
skills and him with speed to receive a puck. He can,
he can drive and do anything with it. I think
(48:45):
you got a good, a great prospect here. Remember he
was the pick Yarmo Kecklin and made the draft where
no one knew who was They were like, who's this guy?
They had the analyst had to go with through all
their papers. They had like twenty papers. They couldn't find
this Cincote. He was hof to boy and no, he's
a good one. He just needs ice time and some confidence.
And you know he's here with one of the best
(49:06):
Russian players we've ever seen him, Malkin. I saw the
goal was out the other night where he picked up
the puck from Malkin. Like these are good things for Chinikoff.
I think it's a great pickup by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Speaker 1 (49:16):
Penguins are really up and down, shall you seeing the
streaks eight game losing streak, six game winning streak.
Speaker 5 (49:22):
How good are they really? Because I see.
Speaker 1 (49:24):
Them every game and I'm not sure I've figured it
out yet.
Speaker 2 (49:29):
Well, I mean, I think they surprised the entire National
Hockey League the way they came out this year. The pickups,
the line of Manta being healthy with Brazo. I mean
that's a big factor with Malkin Kindle coming in doing
what he's doing. But it all comes down to goaltender.
You can talk about a plan and say and look
at the teams around the league that you think are
(49:50):
doing well, but it all comes down to goaltending, especially
on the penalty kill. You have to have that big
savor two on the penalty kill. You have to have
the confidence from a goaltender when you're not have your best,
especially this season where it's a grind for every team.
Goalie's got to play his card at the beginning of
the game sometimes or the end to allow your team
either to get your footing or say the bacon And
(50:10):
I think that's what you're seeing like Buffalo to me,
like they're getting some better goaltending, they're getting some confidence.
I think Pittsford's good. I mean, I like where they're at.
I like that they have the championship pedigree of course
of let Tang Malkin Crosby. I love how this room
is handled and the excellence that they you know that
they always provide to the room just by doing what
(50:31):
they've done in career in their careers and and bring
that to these new players that come in, and I'm
cheering for them, not tomorro night. I'm with the Blue
Jackets on the Blue Jackets bus right now, so I'm
not going to be cheering for them more night. But
I think they're right there with most of the East,
you know, because everyone you look at it, the majority
of teams in the East, it's the same story, inconsistency,
(50:54):
there's wars throughout every team, there's disappointment throughout every team.
From night to night or or week to week. There's
the moments. But I think it's I think they're one
of those teams that you know they're they're always hard
to play against. For the Blue Jackets, they always find
a way to get it done. And when they have
a power play play like that, that's a whip weapon
you have to stay away from.
Speaker 5 (51:16):
Shell great talking to you.
Speaker 1 (51:18):
I appreciate your listenership to my show, which I understand
is still alive and well, and we'll see it.
Speaker 5 (51:23):
Tomorrow at the game.
Speaker 2 (51:25):
We will, and there is a day I'm gonna call
in just so you can rip me and call me
an idiot. But thanks for having me on today. I
appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (51:31):
I'm sure. I'm sure you never said anything stupid and
we'll see you tomorrow night.
Speaker 2 (51:34):
Thanks Shelle, I see you, buddy. Bye.
Speaker 5 (51:37):
That's Jody Shelley.
Speaker 1 (51:39):
I love all the Columbus media guys, radio and TV guys.
Rather we got Mersy out there ex to the Penguins, Shelley,
Bob mcgelligan will get him on next time.
Speaker 5 (51:50):
We got R. J Umberg.
Speaker 1 (51:51):
You're living in Columbus, former jacket, former flyer boo and
of course a product of plump
The Steelers are looking for coach, but they're looking for
quarterback too. Joining us now to discuss the former quarterback
for the Steelers. He does a podcast with Trey Essex
and he does the postgame show for Steelers games on DVE.
It's Charlie Batch. Charlie, we'll talk about the coach in
a minute. Who's going to be the quarterback next season?
Because without Tomlin, Rogers is certainly out.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
I would agree with that as well. And obviously you
heard his comments when he said I'm only here because
of Mike, So I think ultimately when you look at this,
you know, I would have to guess that Will Howard
way of the pole position, only because the Steelers organization
have showed Mason Rudolph exactly what they felt about him,
because they never gave him the opportunity to be that
starter that he was continuously was overlooked with them bringing
(00:57):
new people in. So this was taking a point out,
say Will Howard, but have they seen enough of him
to now give him full reigns of what's getting ready
to happen here in the twenty twenty sixteen Then I.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
Mixed emotions about that, Charlie, I for sure would give
Howard a big look at training camp because, as we
know last season he was hurt and couldn't play any
snaps in the preseason. I'd keep Mason Rudolph. He's on
another year left in his contract. And I don't figure
they draft the quarterback in the first round this year
because that big quarterback class fell apart. The Steelers won't
(01:30):
be drafting early enough to get a Mendoza or whoever.
But one that I don't want is to recycle an
old guy again. How do you feel about that?
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Yeah, that's going to be interesting to see because we
don't know exactly who all is going to be available
as it relates to free agents and the elder spokesman
of the quarterback position. And then ultimately, when we talked
about the draft and everybody got excited before the season,
started compiling all of these draft picks because of what
was expected in this quarterback class, and right now it
(01:59):
is nowhere near would anybody expect it coming into this season.
So I think this pickings are slimmed at this particular point.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
One name that intrigues me going to be a free
agent Malik Willis Scott drafted in the third round in
twenty twenty two, the same year the Steelers drafted Picket
in the first round. What's your take on him? Should
they be interested? Would Malik be interested in coming to Pittsburgh?
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Christ think coming here? Obviously money speaks over anything at
this particular point, and he's waiting for another opportunity to
be a regular starter, something that he did not necessarily
have in Tennessee, which ultimately led to kream Green Bay.
But I think the important decision is going to be
what does the offensive system look like if he does
come to Pittsburgh. And I think we're all trying to
(02:45):
figure that out, and it's not going to be answered
anytime soon because I expect this whole process to take
a little bit a while, but it has to really
be on an expedited learning curve only because we're getting
we're approaching the All Star Games that are currently happening now,
and then ultimately you're getting ready for the Combine at
the end of February. So again, they're on the tight
timeline right now.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
I gotta tell you, Charlie, at one point I would
have said that I'd never consider Will Howard, but this
being a transition with a new coach, Like I said,
I at least want a long look, and I'm not
dismissing the possibility for the first time.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Yeah, I'm giving up on Will Howard by any means.
Before he got injured, he was actually having a really
good training camp. It's just unfortunately the injury happened. It
was bad timing because as we were preparing to get
ready to see him in preseason games, he gets injured.
You don't see him because we probably would have saw
a large majority of the snaps going get in his direction.
(03:40):
That didn't happen. He went on injured reserve, and then
you had a few months to look at him. But again,
practice in the middle of the season is not an
evaluation piece only because you're the other team's quarterback. You're
not even running your own plays. And that's the challenge
that the Steelers have to have because yet they did
their evaluation piece when he looked good in shorts and
training rafted them in the sixth round. But now you
(04:02):
didn't get those meaningful reps in practice. And that's the
challenge that the Steelers are going to have because it
reminds me of Hey, if you give Will Howard the range,
it's very similar to what Minnesota did. They didn't want
any veteran quarterbacks coming in. They gave the rains to
JJ McCarthy and ultimately things didn't go that well and
they wasted the season in Minnesota. So again these are
the things that Steelers have to think about.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
McCarthy, of course, being a first round pick. And like
you said, Will Howard in the sixth we're talking to
Charlie Batch, brought to us by eighty four lumber Dynasty
partner the Pittsburgh Steelers. Were you surprised by Mike Tomlin
quitting Charlie and what do you think went in his decision?
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Most Yeah, I was, you know, at one point, I
wouldn't have been surprised of the decision if it happened later.
And I used the word shock because the timeline that
had happened, we weren't even fresh off of twenty four hours,
and yet he woke up that morning and he came
up with the decision that he ultimately was resigning and
alerted the team. Obviously we are aware of the timeline
(04:59):
that this particular point. So that's the shocking part that's
happened to me. But again it's hard to tell as
it relates to what ultimately went in. But when you
are the main ship, main part of the ship, which
Mike Tomlin was, you know, the roster was configurated based
off what his vision was looking like. You brought all
of these coaches in and when things don't work out
(05:19):
when you are the leader, you have to accept the
responsibility sometimes even when things totally on your fault. He
did that, he stepped down. Now whoever is next step
to take over? And now they're up and this is
going to be a challenge for them.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Who is your choice to replace some Charlie And obviously
we're both looking relatively speaking from afar, But who would
you pick and what type of coach.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
For me?
Speaker 3 (05:42):
I would you know? You can go both ways, right
and I think it's hard for me to answer far
as who I think would be out there right now,
because I honestly don't have an answer for you right now, Mark.
But ultimately you can go two ways. You can go
an offensive coach and then hire a great defense of
mine and allow him just to flourish and you focus
on the defense, or you hire a great defense mined
coach because we do need help on that side of
the ball as well. And then hire a bright, young
(06:05):
offensive talent that allows him to now take over the
offensive side. So it could go both directions. But this
is ultimately going to come down to the interview process.
What does the Rooney family think? And ultimately the person
who is going to select this new coach coming in
because of his title is Omark kahn Was who's the
general manager. This is going to be solely the majority
(06:26):
of his decision because he has to work with him
on a regular basis.
Speaker 5 (06:29):
Really, you think goldmore has more say than Art I Will.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
I'm not saying that he has more say than Art.
What I'm saying is he's going to work with the
head coach a lot closer than with Art Will. That's
why I say that relationship is going to be one
have to be pick based off the way that those
guys have to have a working relationship.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
Now you said one thing, Troie hit the nail right
on the head. It's going to come down to the
interview process because you don't know what the fit's going
to be like until you.
Speaker 5 (06:55):
Go through that.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
I know for sure kower In, Tomlin, and I suspect
even Chuck noll Way back when we're picked mostly based
on the interview process.
Speaker 5 (07:05):
And that's how it should be, don't you think.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Yeah, it should be And even you know, and I
take myself back to whenever all of this was happening
with Koward, back after the two thousand and sixth season,
and as both of them went through the two guys
who were front runners, Russ Grimm and Ken Wizinghunt and Russ,
you know, there was stories out there that all the
Stealers were getting ready to finalize the deal. But ultimately
they were able to hire Mike towlland brought him in
(07:28):
for a second interview and he crushed it and then
were when he fell in love with him, And obviously
we see what we saw here nineteen years later. Now
you don't have that particular process with no internal candidates
that are ultimately being elevated. And now whoever that guy
that they're interviewing in, they're going to have to come
in and truly impress in their interview process. So I know,
we see the names, but I'm sure the roonies and
(07:50):
they'll turn around and start asking people around the league
give me some names that may not be hot on
the radar right now, that might be under the radar
that we could interview very similar to what Mike Commons
process was, so I wouldn't be shocked if there's more
names added to what we currently see now.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
In fact, Jerry Dulak reported that Charlie it's going to
be at least three more names, maybe four added to
the eighth they're already scheduled to talk to. None of
the assistant coaches are coming back. I feel bad for
guys losing their jobs, but I think that's good. I
think this team needs shaking up as much as possible,
and I'm thinking I would get rid of a couple
(08:26):
veteran players too. What do you think of the coaching
decision and how much should they shake.
Speaker 5 (08:31):
Up the roster? I'm talking about the staff coaches.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Yeah, when you look at just the whole process and
the way that season ends, you know again, I'm going
back to my playing days and the experience.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
You know.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
They when we lost the Super Bowl in twenty ten,
the organization did a good job of saying, hey, Gas,
we're and give you the opportunity to run it back.
We ended up going twelve and four, but yet we
lost that first round against the Broncos on that on
the road to an eight and eight football team, and
they really started to configure the roster and reshape what
that looks like very so to what we're seeing now.
(09:01):
You fall short in your goal, they put all the
money in the defense, you come up short, and when
you're not in that top five, top ten category, yes,
they're going to be sitting there scratching their heads looking
at this roster to say who fits. Again, you're coming
in with a different defensive coordinator who did not pick
these guys to run into his defense. So there's going
to be a lot of conversations that aren't unfold on
(09:23):
both sides of the football to see if they fit
within the scheme, and if they don't, then you'll start
and possibly seeing some changes that are being made. But
a lot of that comes with cap hits and those
type of things on whether you can move a player
or not. But again, ultimately players, they're probably unsure at
this particular point. Coaches, obviously, we've seen what's happening with
them as all of them have been allowed the opportunity
(09:43):
to speak to other teams. So that just let you
know the rumies aren't comfortable with that coach you said,
because they don't want to keep any of them.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Uh, aren't the second ones to contend every year? Is
that possible next year, Charlie with all this upheaval. I'm
not saying it's impossible, but I'm not sure it way
to bed either.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
I wouldn't necessarily be high on next season looking at
it as we speak now, And the only reason is
because you don't know the scheme. And it's very different
than when Mike Tomlin inherited eighteen for his first season
in two thousand and seven. And I say that because
he had a really good defense, but yet he was
inheriting a super Bowl winning quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger. That
(10:24):
is not happening right now. So yes, it could be
intriguing if you're a coach based off the stability working
with the Rooney family. You know their patient and they're
not going to make changes just for the make a
sake of making changes. But the expectations for Steeler fans
at this particular point as we speak today, it's gloomy
and the four chance is gloomy. And it's tough because
(10:44):
there's a lot of holes that they have to fit
on the roster and mainly they have to answer the
quarterback position, because when you miss on the first round
or in a manner that they did with Kenny Pickett
four years ago, now is the time for you to
be exercise of his fifty year option. So you could
get excited about that, but they missed. It set the
organization back, and now here we are talking about who
(11:07):
at the potential quarterback for twenty twenty six and hopefully
the next day decade moving forward.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
Charlie, it was reportedly very emotional with the players, as
you'd expect. Tomlin was the player's coach. I know you
knew him very well.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
Yeah, and I can understand the emotions. It was very
similar when Kawer walked away in t twenty oh six,
you know, But yet those stories weren't out there. The
social media isn't what it is today, so a lot
of the players were speaking and people were picking up
on those reports. So it doesn't surprise me, especially when
you have respect for a coach and ultimately if he
impacted your life in a certain way. Everybody's story is different,
(11:45):
So I understand from the player perspective. You know, ultimately
you have some people out there that I say, we
don't care about the player's feelings again, but you're not
in that situation where a player or a coach has
impacted you in a manner that coach Colin did with
these players. So yeah, he impacted me. I truly appreciate
everything that he's done for me and everything else, but
ultimately that's personal. But when it comes to the business side,
(12:07):
these decisions, ultimately, at some point will happen when you
are in the coaching world. It's not a matter of
if you'll get fired, it's just a matter of when.
That's just the reality of coaching.
Speaker 5 (12:18):
Charlie, I have a vision.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
I'm kind of just seeing in my mind, Charlie Batch,
quarterbacks coach.
Speaker 5 (12:24):
What do you think.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
I'm going Let the organization wants me to help out
in any way possible. My phone lines are open and
I've offered those services. So if there's anything that I
could do, it doesn't necessarily mean it has to be
in a coaching position, but at some point within the
Stealers organization and work working directly with the Rooney family.
My phone lines are open and I am definitely open
for the opportunity. I would love this to discuss further.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
There you go, I like it, Charlie thanks as always.
We'll talk again real soon. But great input.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
I appreciate it. Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
That's a great charge. But Charlie Batch but was by
eighty four lumber. Get your calls in now for calls
on the fifteens. Uh what Steelers player or players is
happy to see Tom win go and a changing of
the guard?
Speaker 5 (13:11):
Tom and I talked earlier.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
Got to be Pat freiermus what do you think and
who do you see being the Steelers quarterback next year?
Number to call eight three three four one two w XDX.
We got mister Friday Afternoon at the bottom of the hour.
He went two and eleven last week. He's flirting with
five hundred on the season, being fifty seven and fifty five.
Speaker 5 (13:30):
I'm mart Man one oh five nine. The only show
move Tomican Dream, so be it baby DX at one
oh five nine.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Mister Friday Afternoon at the bottom of the eye. So
the more you call now for calls on the fifteenth
which is as yet well actually technically we did a
sponsor for this segment, but it's just for this segment,
not specifically for calls on the fifteen. So be like
to throw your hat in the ring. Please do through
management here. But the more calls we get now, the
(14:06):
longer we wait to get my mister Friday afternoon and
his idiocy on Like I said, he went two and
eleven last week. Okay, let's go to Sparky, Sparky, your
own double.
Speaker 6 (14:17):
M Hey, Mark, what up?
Speaker 4 (14:20):
Hey?
Speaker 6 (14:21):
As far as the search goes, like, the bottom line
is this, the Rooneys are woke and they have two
This cana has to be some criterire number one. They
have to be on a forty number two they have
to be a minority.
Speaker 5 (14:35):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
I don't know that that will be a determining factor.
In fact, I'm sure it won't, but it could be.
Well no that's not where it starts. You don't know that.
Speaker 5 (14:45):
But it could be a tiebreaker, could be a tie breaker.
How do you know? Tell me, Sparky, tell me how
you know? Tell me how you know? They're looking specifically
to higher an African American.
Speaker 6 (14:59):
Because I where they whatever they hired Tomlin. You think
back they had Russ Graham, they had Ken wizen Hunt.
Speaker 5 (15:05):
Yeah we're not we're not talking. We're not talking about that,
and this is different. Ruines.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
I'll make you a deal. I'll make you deal, Sparky.
Since you know so much, I'll bet you a thousand bucks.
It's not an African American.
Speaker 4 (15:15):
It's not gonna be a school.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
I'll bet you a thousand bucks, it's not an African American.
Since you're spewing asinine idiocy, why don't you put your money,
which I dot you have much of where your big
fat yapper is.
Speaker 5 (15:27):
You bring a grand in here. I'll tell you what.
I'll bet fifteen hundred against your grand.
Speaker 6 (15:32):
I'll put up two thousand against your fifteen hundred.
Speaker 5 (15:36):
Yeah, you don't have you wouldn't bring it? Tell you what?
Bring it here? We're in Bridgeville, easy to find where.
Bring it in here?
Speaker 6 (15:42):
Bring it in in the ghetto in Bridgeville?
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Oh yeah, well, you know what, I get accused of
my racism, which doesn't exist. Shining through yours is lot
and clear. But what do you mean ghetto in Bridgeville?
Speaker 6 (15:53):
I said, what, they're gonna.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
Go buy you piece of crap? You piece of crap
might be a tie breaker. Ain't gonna be the determining factor?
Speaker 5 (16:03):
Was it? What Tomlin might have mattered? More? Then?
Speaker 1 (16:05):
The Rudy rule was fresher. Let's go to Leo and
mount Levin and Leo. You're on with double.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
M Hey, big sexy, Hey, just all us talk about
getting the quarterback right, which I don't argue, but don't
you feel like that could be the last piece of
the puzzle, meaning if they got good coaching, good culture
and all.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
No, no, it's not the last piece of the puzzle.
They could have good coaching, good culture. They thought they
had that for how long here, which they didn't, but
they lied to themselves.
Speaker 5 (16:33):
But they didn't have a good quarterback, and.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
Not since Ben popped his elbow, maybe even a little
bit before that. I mean Ben did his best at
the end, and Rogers did his best this year, but
they needed better quarterbacking.
Speaker 6 (16:46):
Yeah, but don't you think when Ben first came in
he was I'm not gonna argue.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
I'm not gonna argue about you know, Ben in an
ancient history. I will say this, If what you're trying
to say is that you can assemble everything else and
then pop the quarterback in, yeah you can do that,
but none of it matters unless you do get the quarterback.
You don't have to get the quarterback first. If that's
what you're saying, I agree with that, but by the
same token, by the same token you also got Art
(17:11):
this year, saying he wants to you know, he doesn't
want to waste the season. He wants to contend this year,
and to do that you need to get a better
quarterback than what they have. Although, like I said, if
they wanted to subtly tank to get arched by starting
Will Howard, I would not have a problem with that.
In fact, I would wallow in the glory of that
for seventeen games.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
But if you got a good coaching staff, don't you
feel like the NFC North is still open to backing
into winning the division because.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
The AFC North No, God, no, God no, they have
no chance of winning the division next year.
Speaker 5 (17:43):
What are you kidding me?
Speaker 1 (17:44):
You're gonna have a healthy Burrow, presumably Cleveland's gonna be
better in Baltimore has Lamar and a new coach, which
will come with an adrenaline rush. I mean, how can
you say, we don't even know who the Steelers quarterback
is and you're predicting them to win a division that
includes Berrow and Lamar.
Speaker 5 (17:59):
Let's go to Matthew.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
Matthew, you're on with double m.
Speaker 7 (18:03):
Hey, Mark, I'm a big fan.
Speaker 5 (18:04):
Thanks buddy and Mark.
Speaker 7 (18:05):
I'm a big fan.
Speaker 5 (18:06):
Hey, buddy, I want to talk.
Speaker 7 (18:08):
I want to talk about the status and the happiest players.
The status probably half ear mouth because he can actually
catch some balls.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
Well he No, he's probably the happiest, buddy, because now
he might get you know, more targets in a better
chance to excel. So who do you think is the happiest,
I mean, the saddest. I'd say Farmer's probably the happiest.
Speaker 7 (18:32):
I think it's not a player. Probably a franchise, the
Cleveland Browns, because they can't out coach Mike Tomlin.
Speaker 5 (18:40):
Well that's right.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
They don't have tom Win to beat at home all
the time, no matter who the quarterback is, which is
why I, buddy, think they should hire the architect of
that from Cleveland. Who got fired up there, Stefanski. Thanks
for the call, Matthew. What's going to Seth?
Speaker 5 (18:53):
And Harmer? Seth? What's up?
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Good day, sir?
Speaker 5 (18:56):
I said, good day?
Speaker 8 (18:59):
Kind of park question. Well, the first part is more
so I agree with you. I think Stefansk, he would
actually be a nice hire. Just because it might come
off as a recycling.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
Right, I don't.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
I don't think they're gonna do that, But uh, what
if Stefanski's name got added? Jerry Dulex says, there's three
or four more interviews coming on top of the eight
we know about, and hey, I'd hire him.
Speaker 5 (19:24):
I forget about interview. I just think he's the best candidate.
Speaker 8 (19:30):
I agree. I mean, and and hel Of Belichick, you know,
could leave Cleveland and be as great as a coach
as he was. This guy's the same. But who do
you think the tiebreaker would come down to?
Speaker 5 (19:40):
What do you mean.
Speaker 8 (19:43):
As far as who they go?
Speaker 5 (19:45):
Who the like final two or three candidates would be.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
I don't know, because, as I said with Charlie, a
little bit of go, I think it depends on the
interview process.
Speaker 5 (19:53):
Tomlin got the job in the interview.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
If you made me pick a favorite from way far away,
way far away, it'd be Chris Shula. Even though like uh,
Tim Benn said he wasn't impressed by the Rams defense
this year. He is part of the Sean McVay coaching tree.
His last name Shula. A lot of things add up.
I might not agree, but but a lot of things
add up. I might not disagree either. Let's go to Ben.
Speaker 9 (20:19):
How you doing there? Double Happy Friday and you uh
question about the uh taking a break from the Steelers
talk here for a second.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
You're welcome.
Speaker 9 (20:28):
Uh, the fourth line of the Penguins can what would
you compare them to the most recent in history that
has been as good and it solid and even as dominant.
Speaker 5 (20:39):
Everybody everybody used to talk. They're not dominant, bro, let's not.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
Let's not, you know, go overboard, but that the best
the best fourth line in recent history is that Islanders line.
They called it the identity line. That was who was
that Clutterbuck? And Sosekis and uh one other guy he
was kind of the meathead guy. Well, they were all meatheads.
Matt mart right, meethead meathead Matt Martin. And yeah, they
(21:04):
did pretty good. I mean I think they were overrated
and I think they played more than the fourth line,
which would make them the third line. But yeah, I mean,
do I think this line is better than that Islander's line?
Speaker 5 (21:15):
No, I don't.
Speaker 9 (21:17):
What about Penguin's fourth lines in your recent memory that's
been up the bar with this group, I.
Speaker 5 (21:22):
Don't really remember fourth lines.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
I mean the bottom six in the Lemeux cup era,
like with the Loneyes, the Borks, Trotier. I mean, I
don't know specifically how those lines always fit together because
they switched them up a lot.
Speaker 5 (21:36):
But put it this way, I can guarantee.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
The fourth line of that group was better than the
fourth line of a Charie Doer and Lizatte.
Speaker 5 (21:44):
No offense to them. Thank you for the call.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
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Afternoon up next one oh five to nine.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
Heay, find yourself needing a little post holiday canchegrity.
Speaker 5 (22:53):
I love it, nothink it's great, A pung.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
Baby the ex at one oh five nine. Hey, once
promising season where my next guest has now gone in
the crapper after a an eleven week last week, he
is now flirting with under five hundred. He's fifty seven
and fifty two. We welcome into the program to predict
(23:18):
the NFL's divisional round. He is, mister Friday Afternoon, MFA,
you screwed the pooch last week, didn't you?
Speaker 2 (23:27):
Well?
Speaker 4 (23:27):
How did I go two and eleven? I actually I
actually were won two on my picks.
Speaker 5 (23:31):
Yeah, but there was a ten point game because we
spun the wheel.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
Yeah, but that's not fair. It should become of sometimes
like you randomly decided that that when we spun the
wheel that.
Speaker 5 (23:50):
No, no, no, that's not true.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
You were at You were the one who demanded who
campaigned to spin the wheel.
Speaker 5 (23:56):
So we did.
Speaker 4 (23:58):
Okay, what I would question your versions of events, So
maybe we should talk to my fans to see what
they thought.
Speaker 5 (24:05):
No, they think that you wanted to spin the wheel.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
We did pick the fact spin the wheel and it
came up, but that the game was worth ten points
and that's how it is.
Speaker 4 (24:15):
Yeah, but it was worth still. But we already had
done the super collider.
Speaker 1 (24:20):
That's right, and we we we assigned I forget if
it was the daily double with the super collider.
Speaker 5 (24:27):
When we spun the wheel, it came up five five
times two is ten?
Speaker 4 (24:34):
All right, look at us to the game.
Speaker 5 (24:36):
Just you certainly can't deny that five times two is ten?
Speaker 4 (24:42):
Is that common? Cory Common Corp Matthew I would argue that.
Speaker 5 (24:48):
Well.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
I talked to HR and they said it's okay. All right,
let's go to the the the picks. You were picking
all four Have you been informed that all four games
all four divisional games.
Speaker 4 (25:03):
I got a text like two minutes before we came
on that I'm having to pick all four games. So
you appreciate contract because the contract explicitly states that if
there's going to be a change in the format, I
need to be I need to be a twenty four
hour notice.
Speaker 5 (25:18):
No, I think it's contract right here.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
It's paragraph B, section Rowman, numeral three, and it says
that in the event of a change in format, you
must get at least two seconds notice.
Speaker 4 (25:33):
I'm gonna talk to HR about that.
Speaker 5 (25:35):
I already did.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
They said it's okay, okay, So let's move to the games.
Let's go first to the Bills and the Broncos. I
see that as a highlight game. I'm a little surprised
that Denver is favored. I know it's at Denver. I
know the Bills aren't very good except for Josh Allen.
But they got Josh Allen.
Speaker 4 (25:55):
Yeah, and but Josh Allen's boogeyman. This year has been
a pass rush. I think in the four games, the
four best. So she's face. He hasn't even thrown for
two hundred yards. He's had trouble. This is a this
is a revenge game. Revenga because Denver blew out a
Buffalo blew out Denver.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
Another reference to to scarface.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
Yeah, because it's a revenge game.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
You do know that Rebenga isn't Spanish for revenge.
Speaker 5 (26:26):
That was the name of the guy they killed.
Speaker 4 (26:29):
Benga. But I'm saying he's the v some people know
we're starting.
Speaker 5 (26:34):
Okay, so what's your pick?
Speaker 2 (26:39):
One?
Speaker 4 (26:40):
One?
Speaker 1 (26:40):
Now your phone is failing, your phone's rotten, like we
can't you just screw this up worse every week.
Speaker 4 (26:47):
Can you hear me? Now?
Speaker 5 (26:49):
Can you hear me?
Speaker 1 (26:51):
I can hear you, yes, let me let me test
in three two one Benga.
Speaker 4 (26:59):
I can hear very clearly.
Speaker 5 (27:00):
Okay, go ahead, Bill's and Broncos.
Speaker 4 (27:04):
Broncos minus one and a half. Bro Bubbleto wasn't that
good this year just because they won a playoff game
against Jacksonville as to make them any better. Denver's the
number one team in the conference and better. Coach On
Payton's excellent. It's a revenge game, but a Benga. So
we're gonna take Denver in the minus one and a half.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
Police quit saying Rebenga. Okay, forty nine Ers and Seahawks.
The forty nine Ers are seven point hunderdogs in Seattle.
That's that's a pretty big number for a pretty good
team to be the underdog.
Speaker 4 (27:35):
Yes, too much. They've been. They've They've dealt with enders
the entire year. I mean, they lost Kidd last week,
but they've been next man up for Joe Frank's fourteen weeks.
The main key to this of all the injuries that
they've had, Okay, their offensive sputter. When Trent Williams is out. Okay,
he's back, okay, and he looked he's played pretty good
(27:57):
last week. They're probably gonna lose the game, okay, because
it's very hard when you have this many injuries to
beat a team as good as Seattle as assisily that defense.
But they're gonna keep it close. Seattle WI win the game,
they won't win it by more than seven. San Francisco
plus seven is a play.
Speaker 5 (28:16):
Okay, let's go now. And by the way, your picks
are very well thought.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
Oh that doesn't mean they won't fail miserably as they
usually do, but you're at least giving a good accounting
for yourself and providing I hang on, I wouldn't say
a radio bit decent radio, Okay.
Speaker 4 (28:31):
But what we've done here is you've decided that we've
got an order. You have not asked me to pick
a lock or the daily double, right.
Speaker 5 (28:40):
Because we changed four.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
You you got to call about that. Two seconds before
you went on, you said so yourself will.
Speaker 4 (28:46):
Need to pick all four games.
Speaker 5 (28:48):
Yes, you just thought we will.
Speaker 1 (28:49):
Well, the lock doesn't matter because it doesn't change the
value of the game, and we will go back and
designate the lock and the daily double afterwards.
Speaker 5 (28:56):
All with the super Collider, and for that matter, which
and we spin.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
The wheel for because we are spinning the wheel. Okay,
if there is nothing you can say that's not me
from spinning that wheel, Okay.
Speaker 4 (29:07):
That's not at all. I forgot. I forgot, I forgot
to mention. Okay, because the San Francisco got deep that
this is also.
Speaker 5 (29:19):
Your your phone's just just just going out.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
Then remind us San Francisco plus seven. Okay, the next game,
and we are going in order, because that's the way
we do it is uh, Houston who eliminated the Steelers,
who you hate. So at least the Steelers are out,
which you're very happy about because you hate them. They
are at New England, Houston a three point underdog. You
must be really happy. I want to hate the Steelers.
Speaker 4 (29:46):
No, I don't hate the Steelers. But don't buy this,
uh this this narrative that Harba sided with the Giants
because I went back and I talked to my sources.
Even after the Steeler lost, they say still that Tomlin
is going to go be coaching Baltimore and the Harbor
will be coming to coach Steelers. Those are my sources.
Speaker 1 (30:05):
Yeah, Harbaugh has already been hired to coach the New
York Giants.
Speaker 4 (30:09):
You idiot, it's not I don't think the inks the
Incas hasn't dried on the contract yet, so that's not
a done deal. I will say this.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
I saw him sign the contract. I'm pretty sure the
ink's dride. It's been like a day or so.
Speaker 4 (30:23):
Well, contract is not ironclad.
Speaker 1 (30:26):
Oh you might be onto something there. Okay, So anyway
we got we got, uh the Texans plus three against
New England.
Speaker 5 (30:35):
Who do you got New England?
Speaker 4 (30:38):
That Nicol Collins. That is huge because they don't have
enough offense to keep up. Both defenses are good. Here's
his defense is excellent those four but uh, Drake may
it's it's complete, like sixty seven percent of his passes
that there's a huge upgrade in offense Aty're playing against
the steel has had nothing newels the first superior offense.
(30:59):
The playing at home, it's gonna be cold, up.
Speaker 5 (31:03):
Didn't have it was cold here.
Speaker 4 (31:08):
Yeah, he fumbled and the strups fumbled five times, so
it's like, I don't know, he's he didn't play that well.
Drains of uh a better quarterback New England min the street.
The Nico Collinson is huge.
Speaker 5 (31:22):
You can't he's not injured.
Speaker 1 (31:24):
Joey Porter Junior just covered him so well, he's scared
to play this week.
Speaker 5 (31:28):
I have that on fact.
Speaker 4 (31:31):
Oh really I do. Okay, Well that's okay.
Speaker 1 (31:33):
Let's go to the Rams and Bears. The Rams are
four and a half point underdogs. Excuse me, the Bears
are four and a half point underdogs at home against
the l A Rams. I got to tell you, MFA,
that line really shocked me.
Speaker 4 (31:45):
I know, it shocks me that it's actually going up
because all everybody's talked about is how cold it is
going to be. And the Rams are eighty two degrees
in LA this week and it's going to be twenty
degrees below with the wind chill, and the Rams franchise
has never played in this kind of weather. It's like, dude,
nobody in this game is played this kind of weather. Okay,
So when you have a whole bunch of guys.
Speaker 5 (32:08):
Big playoff game for the Bears.
Speaker 1 (32:09):
I mean, how many games have they played this time
of year dating back?
Speaker 4 (32:13):
How long It's been a while. So it's like, you
know another the world coach, you got a good coach,
but like that, it feels like last year week was
their super Bowl and like when that.
Speaker 5 (32:22):
Happened, a revenge game.
Speaker 4 (32:27):
You you no.
Speaker 5 (32:29):
No, no, no more rebenga.
Speaker 4 (32:32):
Okay, so the one thing that uh, you know you
you want you're a big soccer fan, Okay, when a
team has a huge win, like more often than not,
they always let down the next week. Okay, that was
like Chicago super Bowl last week. I think the Rams
aren't mission to the best team in football in my opinion,
(32:53):
and I'm just surprised because nobody is giving the Rams
any credit to win this. But the line keeps moving up.
It was three and a half, it's four and a half.
All the public is saying it's cold, and all the
people of all the pundits on the radio with.
Speaker 5 (33:08):
Who do you got?
Speaker 4 (33:09):
I had the Rams? Mine is four and a half.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
Okay, now, which I bought your fans absolutely, what's good
to Mike?
Speaker 5 (33:17):
Mike, you're on with m f A.
Speaker 2 (33:20):
Hey, m f A, it's dump it.
Speaker 1 (33:23):
Okay, I can't believe you were accused of something so heinous,
but I believe it might have happened.
Speaker 5 (33:29):
Well, no I don't.
Speaker 1 (33:30):
For reasons we can't go into here because it slander.
Well we're libel, one of those. So anyway, Okay, let's
uh okay, here's the designations we're gonna use you Ready,
We've got.
Speaker 5 (33:46):
The uh, the Daily Double. What would you like to designate?
Speaker 4 (33:54):
Let's make that the last gave of the weekend. The Rams.
Speaker 5 (34:00):
Okay, l a Rams minus four and a half. That
is the Daily Double.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
Now it's time to pick the Super Collider, and.
Speaker 5 (34:11):
That is my pick.
Speaker 1 (34:14):
Since you hate the Steelers, I'm going to put it
in the game with the team that involves that eliminated
the Steelers, and that is the Houston game, the Houston
New England game. You're picking New England minus three. That
is the Super Collider. Now I would like to christen
(34:36):
a new feature.
Speaker 5 (34:37):
Are you ready for this?
Speaker 4 (34:40):
If it's legal?
Speaker 5 (34:42):
We what do you mean legal? Of course it's legal.
Speaker 4 (34:44):
This is just a stupid subject. So if you're introducing
something that notified, but you're just splinging on me.
Speaker 1 (34:52):
Here, we notified your attorney two seconds before the segment started.
Did he talk to hr Yeah, they said it was okay, okay.
Speaker 5 (35:03):
Okay, this will this will double the value of another game.
Are you ready? M it's the Revenge game that was
the short version, but in stort of a bang up. Okay,
so the revenge the Revenge game.
Speaker 1 (35:23):
The Revenge game will be San Francisco plus seven. I'm
not sure why that's the Revenge game, but we'll go.
Speaker 4 (35:31):
Okay, that sounds good.
Speaker 5 (35:32):
Okay, and that's time to spin the wheel. Are you
ready for that?
Speaker 1 (35:38):
Okay, I'm gonna let you pick. I'm going to be
a sport. What game would you like to designate that
we spin the wheel for?
Speaker 4 (35:48):
Which might as we might as well make it the
Denver Game?
Speaker 5 (35:52):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (35:52):
I mean I would have picked one of the other
games because then the value could go even way up.
Speaker 5 (35:56):
But that's good by me.
Speaker 4 (35:57):
I don't even know. I don't even know what the values.
Speaker 5 (35:59):
Are, well, the point value, what are.
Speaker 4 (36:03):
The values on the wheel?
Speaker 5 (36:04):
The point value.
Speaker 1 (36:05):
Will either increase by two, five, or ten, and there's
one special slot that increases by twenty five.
Speaker 5 (36:12):
Okay, okay, you're ready for the Denver game? Right, let's
spin the wheel.
Speaker 1 (36:22):
Just miss the twenty five the value hasn't increased again
like last week by five.
Speaker 4 (36:28):
All right, so let's recap what we have here.
Speaker 1 (36:31):
Okay, Denver minus one and a half is worth five
points because we spun the wheel. San Francisco plus seven
is two points because it's a revenge game. New England
minus three is the super collider work two points. In
the La Rams game, you took the Rams minus four
and a half. That is the daily double.
Speaker 4 (36:52):
And I just to reiterate all these picks, have it
made with zero doubts.
Speaker 5 (37:01):
Thank you MFA.
Speaker 1 (37:02):
Now it's time to ask Mark anything A three three
four one two wxdx A three three four one two
w xdx, or you can leave a talk back via
the microphone icon on the iHeartMedia app. And at the
top of the hour, we got the list, and we
got Columbus Blue Jackets color man Jody Shelley because the
(37:23):
Jackets are in town tomorrow to play the Penguins one
oh five nine.
Speaker 4 (37:28):
Tomorrow nights, the Pens take on the Blue Jackets.
Speaker 5 (37:32):
Game time is seven. Our coverage starts at six here
every game, and the best coverage right here on your
home of the Pens one five nine DX at Kenny Rossbord.
We've always served our neighbors by offering the best value
on new Ford.
Speaker 1 (37:46):
Models while supplies last current escape lessies can.
Speaker 5 (37:49):
Drive a twenty twenty six.
Speaker 1 (37:51):
Escape Dusty Road demican Dream, So be a Baby X.
Speaker 3 (37:55):
At one oh five nine.
Speaker 5 (38:01):
Somebody on the B team tweeted something I agree with.
Speaker 1 (38:04):
Actually, Joe Starkey, who joins me now as a columnist
for the Trip after.
Speaker 5 (38:08):
Moving O from to PG.
Speaker 1 (38:10):
He says, something seems weird about Tom was abrupt departure,
and it seems odd too that he didn't really say goodbye. Yeah,
really does Doesn't it time to ask Mark anything? Brought
to us by people's hyphengas dot com. What's going to Evan?
Speaker 5 (38:25):
Evan? You're on with double.
Speaker 1 (38:26):
M Okay, Evan wasn't ready.
Speaker 5 (38:32):
Let's go to Ricky. Ricky ask Mark anything?
Speaker 6 (38:35):
Hey, Mark, I got a kiss question for you, Okay.
Speaker 2 (38:40):
I've been noticing that Gene Simmons has.
Speaker 6 (38:43):
Been taking some jabs at days and Peter lately.
Speaker 1 (38:47):
Yeah. Yeah, he almost made fun pretty close of the
way Peter died falling and then he said Peter didn't
really write Beth. I mean why not just shut up?
I mean why be a dink. Your band's done. You
did great, Shut the freak up and let the other
guys have what they got and show some respect, because,
let me tell you, Kiss originally would not have made
(39:08):
it without without Peter and Ace.
Speaker 4 (39:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (39:13):
I agree with you on that, and that's what I
was just about to ask. If you feel like as
though that the four members they never really truly reconciled
or made a mess.
Speaker 1 (39:25):
No, they never really truly did. I think they got
back together to make money. But I don't think Gene
and Gene and Paul ever respected Ason Peter, and I
don't think Ason Peter ever liked Gene and Paul, and
I don't blame Ason Peter.
Speaker 5 (39:36):
Let's go to the talkback.
Speaker 1 (39:41):
Hey, Mark, my question is do you think is Stefanski
doesn't get picked up by anybody? If Steelers would hire
him on as a coordinator, He's going to get hired
by somebody. He absolutely will be a head coach in
the league. I would have taken him over Harbaugh, but
now with Harbaugh having signed with the New York Giants
(40:01):
taking that job, Stefanski's the number one guy out there,
and I think to a lot of teams up next
I'm gonna talk to Jody Shelley. Columbus visiting Pittsburgh tomorrow
night NHL actione X Columbus Blue Jackets and tom tomorrow
night to play against the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena.
(40:23):
Joining me now is the Jackets TV analyst, former NHL player.
Always great to talk to, Jody Shelley, Jody, I'm looking
at the Eastern Conference standings packed from top to bottom.
Is there a legit great team in the entire conference?
Speaker 2 (40:40):
You know what? First of all, thanks for having me on, Mark.
I thought I was gonna have to be a caller
to call in and getting ripped to get on your show.
So I appreciate you.
Speaker 5 (40:49):
We like you shall come on.
Speaker 2 (40:54):
Is there a legit? I think Carolina is still Carolina.
You know, they still are that team that's that's just
hard to play against. But the answer for you, flat
out is no. There's a bunch of teams that are
very similar in the Eastern Conference. But Tampa right now
is making a pleasure. But I think that there's I
think there's a lot.
Speaker 1 (41:15):
Of the same klambas that forty nine points currently seven
points out of a wild card. What's gone bad with
the Jackets. I thought you'd be maybe not a lot better.
Jodey have been a bit better, certainly.
Speaker 2 (41:29):
Yeah, it's been a funny year. I thought they would
have been better too. They've They've had players underachieve. Goaltending
has been good. But I just feel like they've made
some changes in the offseason, you know, some new players
in here, and then some of the injuries have hurt
them and some of the players have just been shocked
(41:49):
around little bit, the young players, especially Kant Johnson, Cole Cillinger.
You know, they've made a coaching change here. Obviously that's
settle things down a little bit, But it's just a
it's been a season where I think expectations might have
gotten to them a little bit. Last year there was none.
You know, they came in and dealt with an unthinkable
(42:09):
tragedy as a group and really bonded and and we're finding,
you know, ways to win games with you know, tucks
were going in and things were going right. And this
year they've fought it a little bit and I think
they're the expectations. They put a little pressure on this
group and they've kind of fallen into that category of
of how to get it done. And then the third
(42:31):
period blowing all the leads that they've done. It shows
a fragile team and a team that has lacked confidence.
Speaker 1 (42:37):
I think that that Rick Bonus is gonna you know,
straighten some of that out though. I mean, I'm not
knocking Dean Evison, but Bonus is an old school coach
who kind of has a history of writing teams that
are struggling, doesn't.
Speaker 2 (42:49):
He he does? And you know what else, he doesn't
need this job. He's retired. It's not like he's coaching
to get another job. So it's unique to get a
coach in that position where you know he's coming in
here to assess and help the Columbus Blue Jackets. He's
a tactician. I mean, he's been coaching for since the
(43:10):
early eighties. As a players coach, he's been around people
like Al Arbor. I mean, this guy has got so
much experienced, so much respect around the National Hockey League
that immediately we just feel the players a little more
tent of there's a little more a little more of
a game plan in place, and it's maybe it's a
(43:31):
refreshing change that they need it, but I think there's
more of a strategy with our COMPONUS two, and I
think you're right. I think he's One thing he does
very well is he's he can he can assess players,
put them in the right position, and then kind of
lift them up with positivity and man, that goes a
long way with these young players now. So I think
that's or I guess it did anytime. I love the
(43:52):
good pat on the back. Who doesn't, but you know,
he he's good at that, and I think that's important.
Speaker 1 (43:59):
We're talking to Jody's Columbus Blue Jackets TV analyst. The
Jackets are and tom tomorrow night to play the Penguins.
I could talk all day about Zach Lrensky on defense.
Speaker 5 (44:08):
Sall.
Speaker 1 (44:09):
I think he's the best defenseman in the league. I
think he played for Marquee team. He might have won
at least one Norris and maybe multiple and he just
excels on both sides of the puck. I don't know
what you can add to that, but I love watching
the guy playing.
Speaker 2 (44:23):
Yeah, I watch him closely tomorrow night. He doesn't ever panic,
and you know it's it's unique. You'll see most of
the players, most of the defensemen that get the puck
in some situations under pressure they'll spit it somewhere, you
know what I mean, the right it's usually h it's
juerually somewhere that's not right. He'll never see him do that.
(44:46):
I mean, he's always got it out and I think
the greats in any sport have that, and I think
that's what you're seeing with him. It's just and he's
always just. I mean, he seems like his heart rate
is at probably ninety all the time, which is pretty low.
I think could even be lower. But he just is calm,
cool and collected, always has always has an out, always
(45:07):
makes the right play. I think that's what's so impressive
about him when you watch him closely. In his skating ability,
I find it unique because he's a big man. He's
naturally big and strong, and he's just got a powerful
stride that he just kind of cruises up the ice
but he's flying. When I see him at ice level,
it's it really stands out. So yeah, he's a fun
one to watch, and I agree with you one of
(45:28):
the best, if not the best, in the National Hockey League,
especially because he plays a lot of defensive minutes. He
does a lot of matchup the matchup game against the
top players of the opposition, and you know that takes
away from that offensive zone time. And I think macar
gets a lot of out there in Carolina or in
Colorado where he plays with Nate mc kinnon.
Speaker 1 (45:47):
I love fan Tilly at center thirty points forty seven games,
plays a solid two hundred foot game show. But how
can he be more productive? I'm not saying he doesn't
put up enough numbers. I just think he could put
up better.
Speaker 2 (46:01):
I think he's got to play more of his game.
You know, I think sometimes as a young sentiment, playing
with a guy like Marchenko who wants to puck in
certain areas, I think you worry about that sometimes too much.
You know, you get the puck and you think, to me,
he could play a little freer. I guess what I'm saying.
You know, there's a natural ability of a player that
(46:21):
can take the puck and do a lot of different things.
And sometimes I think he's he might feel pressure or
put pressure on himself to get the puck to Marchenko
and situations where maybe that's not available. So there's a
little more of his game where I think the game
could come his way, you know what I mean, Like
you you hear players say the game slowed down for me,
(46:43):
I think at times it does that for Adam. I
think right now is a time where, like he's a driver,
when he has the pockey drives, he can push d back.
He's got the moves to take it wherever he wants.
But then when he looks for that option, sometimes he
optually pay isn't the right one, and it ends up
he's back in the neutral zone, at the defensive zone.
(47:05):
I think that's because he trying to force it too
much to Marchenko, who wants that puck in a certain area.
And I think if he can free up a little
bit and really just focus on his game, I think
he's got a level or two more to get to.
Speaker 5 (47:17):
Even this season, I totally agree.
Speaker 1 (47:19):
And you mentioned Marchenko, he's doing good seventeen goals, veron
Kov another Russian winger, sixteen goals. But what about the
Russian winger that got away shell You guys traded Chinikov
to Pittsburgh and he came in and started scoring three
goals in eight games. I mean, I don't know if it's
just a change of scenery. I certainly don't know if
it'll continue. But what's your take on Chinnikoff and what
(47:40):
he's done here so far.
Speaker 2 (47:42):
I've always liked Chinnikoff. He's had a couple of bad
seasons with injuries and then with a new coach last year.
Didn't get on the right side of that coach, Dean Edison,
and couldn't get on the right side of him this year,
where he was a healthy scratch and he was playing
seven minutes a game and not on the power play.
And when you're a skilled player and he's you know,
(48:05):
he simply said, to his credit, I'm not a checker,
Like that's not how I play hockey. So he would
just when he was in the lineup, he would try
to get on the good side of the coach by
trying to be, you know, that player that would, you know,
be a good four check guy and be in the
right position defensively. But he wasn't playing hockey. He's got
(48:25):
excellent speed, as you guys have seen. I think he's
got to the hardest wrishout in the National Hockey League.
It was recorded at one hundred miles an hour three
years ago. When he went over to Finland, they had
this whole setup. I like him. He's got all the
skills and him with speed to receive a puck. He can,
he can drive and do anything with it. I think
(48:45):
you got a good, a great prospect here. Remember he
was the pick Yarmo Kecklin and made the draft where
no one knew who was They were like, who's this guy?
They had the analyst had to go with through all
their papers. They had like twenty papers. They couldn't find
this Cincote. He was hof to boy and no, he's
a good one. He just needs ice time and some confidence.
And you know he's here with one of the best
(49:06):
Russian players we've ever seen him, Malkin. I saw the
goal was out the other night where he picked up
the puck from Malkin. Like these are good things for Chinikoff.
I think it's a great pickup by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Speaker 1 (49:16):
Penguins are really up and down, shall you seeing the
streaks eight game losing streak, six game winning streak.
Speaker 5 (49:22):
How good are they really? Because I see.
Speaker 1 (49:24):
Them every game and I'm not sure I've figured it
out yet.
Speaker 2 (49:29):
Well, I mean, I think they surprised the entire National
Hockey League the way they came out this year. The pickups,
the line of Manta being healthy with Brazo. I mean
that's a big factor with Malkin Kindle coming in doing
what he's doing. But it all comes down to goaltender.
You can talk about a plan and say and look
at the teams around the league that you think are
(49:50):
doing well, but it all comes down to goaltending, especially
on the penalty kill. You have to have that big
savor two on the penalty kill. You have to have
the confidence from a goaltender when you're not have your best,
especially this season where it's a grind for every team.
Goalie's got to play his card at the beginning of
the game sometimes or the end to allow your team
either to get your footing or say the bacon And
(50:10):
I think that's what you're seeing like Buffalo to me,
like they're getting some better goaltending, they're getting some confidence.
I think Pittsford's good. I mean, I like where they're at.
I like that they have the championship pedigree of course
of let Tang Malkin Crosby. I love how this room
is handled and the excellence that they you know that
they always provide to the room just by doing what
(50:31):
they've done in career in their careers and and bring
that to these new players that come in, and I'm
cheering for them, not tomorro night. I'm with the Blue
Jackets on the Blue Jackets bus right now, so I'm
not going to be cheering for them more night. But
I think they're right there with most of the East,
you know, because everyone you look at it, the majority
of teams in the East, it's the same story, inconsistency,
(50:54):
there's wars throughout every team, there's disappointment throughout every team.
From night to night or or week to week. There's
the moments. But I think it's I think they're one
of those teams that you know they're they're always hard
to play against. For the Blue Jackets, they always find
a way to get it done. And when they have
a power play play like that, that's a whip weapon
you have to stay away from.
Speaker 5 (51:16):
Shell great talking to you.
Speaker 1 (51:18):
I appreciate your listenership to my show, which I understand
is still alive and well, and we'll see it.
Speaker 5 (51:23):
Tomorrow at the game.
Speaker 2 (51:25):
We will, and there is a day I'm gonna call
in just so you can rip me and call me
an idiot. But thanks for having me on today. I
appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (51:31):
I'm sure. I'm sure you never said anything stupid and
we'll see you tomorrow night.
Speaker 2 (51:34):
Thanks Shelle, I see you, buddy. Bye.
Speaker 5 (51:37):
That's Jody Shelley.
Speaker 1 (51:39):
I love all the Columbus media guys, radio and TV guys.
Rather we got Mersy out there ex to the Penguins, Shelley,
Bob mcgelligan will get him on next time.
Speaker 5 (51:50):
We got R. J Umberg.
Speaker 1 (51:51):
You're living in Columbus, former jacket, former flyer boo and
of course a product of plump
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