Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Film Alani filling in for Benjamin all Right, hanging out
in studio with the one and only Nick Ferguson. Nick,
let's talk a little about Sean Payton's history here with
the playoffs. Of course, winning the Super Bowl in two
thousand and nine. You know, so many amazing images, you know,
with him and Drew, you know, Hoiston, Lombardi and everybody
(00:23):
thinks to the big decision that Sean had made for
the on side kick to start the second half. There
it's Sean now with the Broncos making the playoffs for
the tenth time in his seventeen year career. So really
impressive to make the playoffs that much. Well, when you
think back to his career, you think about some of
those heartbreaking losses too, you know, like the miracle in
(00:46):
Minnesota with case Keenum.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Oh boy, you.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Think about that pass interference call, you know, in the
NFC Championship game. There's just there's been a lot of
moments where Sean is had some really good teams and
for whatever reason, something that crazy has.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Happened and they haven't been able to get done.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
You know what, It's sad and unfortunate that he's been
on the opposite side of some bad play calls. I
remember watching that Minnesota Vikings game and even tweeting something
out right after it because it was called pass. It
should have been OPI on the Minnesota Bikes tight end
(01:27):
because Russ states that you can't extend your arm to
create separation and Rudolph did just that yep, And I
was like, wait a minute, how was it in a
critical game? We're not calling OPI. But if it was
a defensive pass and affairs, had he grabbed him, then
you would have said there was okay. So that was
(01:48):
kind of a tough situation for them. And then what
was it Ni Kill Roby Coleman or something like that,
who played for the Rams at that time. Yeah, it
should have been helme with the helmet contact, and it
should have been defensive past.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Interference, definitely the defensive past interference.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Yet and it was it wasn't called at all. So
there was a couple of close calls on the resume
for one Sean Payne. It makes me wonder what like
what if things would have been like for Sean Payton
at that time. And then also on those kind of
that closing period with with with with the new Orleans Saints.
(02:31):
But that's kind of like it's water under the bridge.
But I can see the idea that of those things
coming up, because if I'm not mistaken, Phil, I think
he's what nine and eight in playoffs or something like that.
Is that the number?
Speaker 3 (02:44):
I think? Here, hold on a second, I can look
it up.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Yeah, nine and eight. Yeah, you're so nine and eight
in the playoffs. So a win on Sunday puts him
at five hundred.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Oh no, No, he's got nine wins and eight losses,
so ten.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Yes, But once again, it just shows though a lot
of teams that he's been around, they've had the opportunity
to get to the playoffs and in a lot of
cases win playoff games. But now you're doing it in
an entirely different fashion. Yes, when you look at the
Broncos team, the average age of twenty six young team,
(03:22):
young quarterback. Once again, if he is able to do that,
that takes the whole folk lore associated with Sean Payton
and it takes up another level. And I know some
people say, well, Sean Payton is not concerned with that.
He may not be openly concerned with it, but he's
(03:43):
thinking about it. He's thinking about it. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
I think I think that Sean thinks about his legacy
a lot, especially you know, like some of these coaches
that are like the play callers and you know that
they've had their thumbprint on the game. Legacy is important
to him, and you know, I think that Sean, you know,
(04:06):
like like to start there in New Orleans, they win
the Super Bowl, you know, in two thousand and nine,
they made the playoffs his first year there in two
thousand and six, you know, his legacy was heading on that,
on that trajectory. Then of course you have the season
you know where he suspended that I think really hurt
(04:26):
him because that, for a long time is what people
thought of when you thought of Sean Payton. Was that
then those then those New Orleans teams were so good there,
like twenty seventeen, eleven and five, that was the miracle
in Minnesota with Stefan Diggs, you know, then twenty eighteen
they're thirteen and three, twenty nineteen they're thirteen and three,
(04:49):
twenty twenty to even there were twelve and four. I mean,
those are some really good teams there, and then they
weren't able to get it done, and they weren't able
to get a and cross the finish line. Then that
is what Sean was being known for, was oh, these
heartbreaking losses and that you know, maybe the NFL is
(05:09):
against him, you know, and all this that's what he
sort of became known for. And then now if he's
able to turn the Broncos around, develop Bo Nicks pre
established that winning tradition with the Broncos, win another super Bowl,
maybe then that's what he'll be known for, is that
he was able to turn around really two organizations with
(05:33):
what he was able to do with the Saints and
then do it here with the Broncos, and that'll change
his legacy. And that's important to him. It's important for anybody.
They want their legacy. They want to re remember it
as great, you know. And so you get the Shawn's motivated,
especially after taking that year away from the game. Now
he's back, he's energized, He's got this young team. There's
(05:56):
a lot of positive forward thinking with this team, and
now he's ready to change that legacy in the narrative
around him again.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Yeah, and ideas that what he's trying to pull off.
He's trying to do it on so many different levels.
He's trying to develop a young quarterback something that he's
never done before, and he's trying to take that young
quarterback career to similar heights of Drew Brees. And then
he's trying to do something that most coaches find very
(06:26):
difficult to do. The first thing is when a super Bowl,
which he has done, but he's trying to achieve something
that is really there's only there's a short list of
guys that when super Bowls with two different all clubs
very very difficult to do.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Has anybody done it?
Speaker 2 (06:46):
I don't know, you know what I think it's I
don't know. I don't think it's been done. There's coaches
for it, they've they've taken, but there's no coach that
I know of. And you know, hey, if you on
the text line and you know this and I don't
be sure, to hit us up and let let us know.
But I don't think.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
I don't think anybody's ever won it in two places
like because you think Mike home Grin did it with
the Packers and with Seattle both made it. Dan Reeves,
Broncos and Falcons. I'm looking it up now, Andy Andy Reid.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Has done it because he took the Donovant nabbed to
the Patriots and he's one one with yeah, so he's
kind of yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
Yeah, I don't think Dick Vermial took the Eagles and
then he won with.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
The Rams and then Marcels ye Patriots, And if I'm
not mistaken, I should notice because I grew up in Miami.
Uh don in Miami, that's right? Yeah, yeah, yeah, But
so don didn't didn't win, He lost San Francisco and
then lost to the Jets and Joe will you name it?
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Yep, ye, So I don't think any I don't think
a cush has ever won.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
In two different teams.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Yeah. So I want to say that maybe I'm forgetting
something that maybe someone's done it and I just don't know.
But I still feel like I'm missing something, Phil, this
is something you're missing something. It just feels though maybe
there is a coach that might have done it and
just right now and it's just slipping my mind. But
(08:21):
for the most part, we'll just just say no coach
has ever done it.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Let's yeah, I don't think.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
I mean, it would be amazing if Sean got this
Broncos team to make a Super Bowl. I'm not saying
this year, I'm just saying during his tenure, Yes, that
would be incredible turnaround for where this organization was.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Do you think that, because I mean we obviously at
the point of the season where we always talk about
these postseason awards. Do you think based on what this
team has accomplished, that Sean gets Coach of the Year.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
I don't think so.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
I think Kevin O'Connell in Minnesota's probably got that lot
over Dan Campbell just the way I'm thinking of, like
the injuries of JJ McCarthy and then the way that
he's resurrected Sam Darnold and the way that he's got
that team playing. I think that like so so much
(09:16):
has been stacked against him there to be able to
do what he's done. I think I would give it
to him. But Dan Campbell, I mean it's amazing watching
Detroit is like so much fun.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
They've got so much just.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
Like energy, you know, like it all comes from him,
I think, you know, and so like and the way
that that city has really gotten behind, Like like I
saw Aaron Glenn was at the Pistons game the other night,
like that the state went crazy for him.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
You know, listen as as a guy that broke into
the league with the Jets. I was a young player
and Aaron was one of those older Vets. I saw
the video footage that you were talking about. I mean,
I was so watching that. And for me, it's a
person that I know. It's a person that I played with,
(10:06):
a person who kind of mentored me coming up as
a young player. But I look at it from this approach.
He's a former player. That's the biggest thing for me.
He's a former player who is now stepping into this limelight,
this stage. And what they did not to make it
(10:27):
really about the Detroit Alliance, but I mean Real recognized
Real to have so many injuries on their squad and
play the Minnesota Vikers the way they did. Hell, when
I saw the video Hose, I started clapping right, So
it meant something to the fans of Detroit because that
city has been forgotten. That's just call it what it is.
(10:51):
And when we think about what that fan base have
been for almost twenty thirty years, they too have been fit.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
It's amazing. It's amazing.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
And then also like to have that heartbreak where they
probably should have won in San Francisco, and then to
get the team refocused and right back in that same
I mean they're they're primed to make another run here.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
That is impressive.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
I mean that's that says something about the coach and
where they are.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
If there was a team that I would say that,
I would love to see the Broncos kind of model
themselves after and you can you can pick and choose,
well why I say that are certain things, but I
look at it from a worse The first type of situation, YEP,
an attitude is looking at Dan Campbell and understanding that
(11:38):
Dan Campbell, you know, coach under Sean Payton and he
played for it from not mistaken Bill Parcells, right, So
understanding how Campbell was able to get his team to
overcome that loss against the San Francisco Forda. I mean,
you are right there the Lions in the game and
(12:02):
then forty nine has come back and steal away and
go to the super Bowl. But trying to get a
little that attitude injected, infuse it into this young Broncos
team and that would be really exciting to see.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
I think even Sean last year mentioned that at one
point that like, hey, you could see what the Lions
did and that energy and it's infectious and he even
talks about that a lot with like Bo Nicks and
this year's team, that the energy is infectious and the
belief and everything. I mean, I think that that energy
there's some of that with this Broncos team, So that
(12:37):
is exciting. But the other guy I think for Coach
of the Year could be Sean McVay. You can make
the case for him going ten and seven with that
Rams team to get them back in the playoffs. Nobody
was thinking thinking that for them, So I definitely think
Sean is like in the mix. He like, if there
was a finalist for that, I think that that he
would be right there. But hard to argue with the
(12:59):
two with Dan Campbell and Kevin O'Connell.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Yeah, it's hard to do. And that was kind of
the frustrating thing as a football fan watching Minnesota and
Detroit play each other. Notice that there was going to
be a team that was like fourteen and two or
whatever going into that week. That team is going to
be like the number five seed.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
Yeah, it was just like the seeding because I feel
like winning your division should count for someone, It should.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Count for something. But here's the thing. Okay, your team
wins their division, but it doesn't have a better record
than the team in another division who is probably the
second best team in their division. Yeah, so should that
team now say, well, you know what, they have a
better record than you, Peel, so that should be the
(13:47):
team that should host a hostlay game. I would like
to see that change because I like the idea and
the concept of rewarding teams with good stats.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
Yeah, like, like, I don't think you could argue the
Rams had a better season than the Vikings, but yet
the Vikings are going on the road and they're playing
at so far. Yes, you know, I agree that, like
the better season should be hosting games, but they got
to put they got to make win in the division.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
Count for something.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
So whatever, man.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
Yeah, the last one about Sean in his history, Bill
Vinovich was the referee for that defensive passit no call
interference against the Rams. He will be on the whistle
again this week when the Broncos and Bill's play.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Well, well, maybe maybe it helps the Broncos out in
this situation because he owes him one. He owes one. Yes,
it doesn't make a difference when it comes back to you.
It's just a matter of fact that someone gives it
to you because it's old.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
I was gonna ask you though, like being on the field,
do you are you aware of who's calling your game
and the relationship that you have with that particular referee
over the course of your career.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
He oh, yeah. I learned a very valuable theme playing
because obviously the referees control the game and they are
people too, even though coaches and players yell at him.
I mean I played here with Alex Gibbs, and he
yelled at everyone, I mean even players. He didn't coach,
but he was always given it to officials. So for me,
(15:19):
as a young player, I learned to figure out who
the officials were, make sure I talk to them before
the game, learn their names, Hey, Bill, and knowing that
I don't know him, and Bill doesn't know who I am.
But Bill will turn around after he has a conversation
with me and he will look at the back of
my jersey, see my name, and see my number. So
(15:41):
I've been in games where let's just say, I'm not
turning over to any tables, but I've been in a
situation where there might have been maybe if he lately
lay hit, it's not called on me, right, he'd give
me a warning, all right, for.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
I was close because you got that resultlylationship established prea
Think about it.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
If you an official with someone is screaming at you,
calling you everything but the child of God? Right, are
you going to be in their favorite? No? You're not.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
So this is interesting. I want to continue this conversation.
We got to take a quick break here, but more
about Bill Vanovitch calling this game for the for the
Broncos and Bills.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
Coming up.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
You're listening to Broncos Country tonight, because Country tonight, I'm
film money filling in for Benjamin Alright, hanging out with
Nick Ferguson here in studio. Before that break, we were
talking about the referee relationship with with the players, with
the coach, and the fact that Bill Vanovich is going
(16:44):
to be on the whistle here for this game with
the Broncos and Bills, and the fact that he's got
this relationship now with Sean that dates.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
Back to that no no call, the.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Obvious DPI with the Rams and Saints, and if that
relateationship continues into like present day, even though that call
happened so many years ago.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
You say yes, yeah, because look, there's certain things that
you don't forget. You don't forget how someone treated you well,
and you don't forget how someone treated you poorly. Right,
these are things that you don't forget. And referees are
people too. Yeah, they make mistakes, they're bang bang plays.
(17:27):
But for me, my mom always told me you catch
more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. So
if you spitting, you know, vinegar at officials, you're yelling
and you're screaming, and you're calling them all these different names,
feel that they're not going to favor you on certain calls.
They're not. And believe it or not, people do.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
Hold grudges, yeah, for a long time. So what would
that look like in this game?
Speaker 1 (17:56):
Like a grudge, like not something that's really over the
top obvious, but like maybe if it's like a fifty
to fifty.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
Call, Okay, let's just say there is a possibly maybe
pass interference. Maybe you don't get that call right, Maybe
there's a there's a holding offensively on Jonathan Cooper or
let's just say.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
Pat Sortan, right, yep, maybe you don't get it.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
Maybe you don't get that call. I can see that
Corlin Sudden's trying to fight to break free in the
back of the end zone. Somehow he is escorted out
at the back of the end zone. Can't make a catch, right,
you see, I use my words carefully escorted out. You
don't get that call. So officials can impact games in
(18:50):
so many different ways.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
They're not robots out there.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
They're not robots. Yeah, and when you have one against you,
you may have them against you for a while. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
Maybe they've repaired that relationship though, who knows.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
I don't know really, right, do you really think that
that's like mixing oil and vinegar together, right, or vocking milk? Nah,
they don't mix.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
Let's get lunch, let's talk about it.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
Yeah, you know, I don't know your people.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
Call my people.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Yeah. Yeah, it's one of those types to get things. Now.
I hope that is kind of not the case. And
I know what I'm speaking out speaking about. Most people
think that know that childish, that wouldn't happen. You would
be amazed at what really happens in some of these games.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
Yeah, because you like watching on TV, Like you see
the coach on the sideline just screaming and screaming, and
the ref is just sometimes just looking straight ahead, you know,
and you're like, man, how much of that is he
going to take? You know, over the course of an
entire game. That's an interesting balance. You know, how do
you massage yelling at a ref not yelling saying all right,
(20:00):
I see what you did.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
You know, heavy bro, not you. But if you ever
had been in your dating life and had your girlfriend
yell at you for something, you know, you're never really
feeling right at that particular moment. Now, even what you
may be thinking you would never do, you may not
ever say. But you're a human this there's only so
(20:22):
much that you're going to deal with and you're gonna tolerate.
And I know some of these times watching the games,
listening or watching the referees get an infew full. I'm
sure they want to turn around and smack the coach,
but they can't do it.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Can't do that, No, But what they can do is
that there you go. Yep. Yeah, it's interesting.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
Uh well, it's just something to watch for this week,
I guess, just considering their history, just something to watch.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
It's something to watch.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
Now. We could just we could be talking about something
that may not ever come to fruition. But as we
started to break down the game, we definitely have to
take it into consideration.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
It's it's just interesting that he got assigned to this
game too, you know, like you're just like, why, you know,
do you.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
Think they do it like this? Okay, well, I know
they do it this way if if the officiating crew
has done a great job during the year, that's right,
and if you have seniority, they probably give you the
opportunity to choose. No, no, I don't know this, but
(21:34):
but this would be very interesting if they had on
the board all the games that were that were taking place,
and you, having seniority, have an opportunity to choose which
game that you want to officiate, and he chose you. No,
I want that one, but it might be cold in Buffalo.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
No, no, no, no, I want that one.
Speaker 2 (21:55):
Yes, that would be very interesting, you know, in interesting.
We've all seen like Hard Knocks, right, we've seen in
season Hard Knocks. Why haven't we seen a version of
Hard Knocks that features the NFL officials.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
The officials, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Yeah, why not? They live very unique lives.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
Might be a little bit boring, but I don't think it's.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Going to be that boring because you know, that little
clear bubble with the microphone in it picks.
Speaker 3 (22:25):
Up everything on the side. Yes, you think you can hear.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
That's what And the idea is with hard knocks, you're
taking the fans that's right behind the curtain. Yes, I
want to see what it's like when a referee has
been yelled at.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
I think that the broadcast cris have done a good
job of like having like the rules official come in
and be like explain a situation maybe, and that sort
of takes you into, you know, the mindset of like
what a ref might be doing in that particular moment
or whatnot. But yeah, maybe for a game, i'd watch
a micd up of a of a ref you.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Know what when they do that both and they're doing
in the pros and now they've now started doing it
in college football. The thing that gets me is that
there's a call on the field, they go to testa
tour what is it? Okay, and they go through different
guys and they disagree with the call on the field,
and it's like, wait a minute. If you're saying that
(23:19):
this is the way that it should be called and
he called the wrong thing, what the hell's going on?
Speaker 3 (23:24):
Yeah, well they're a human, Like what you're saying you know,
like you.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
No, no, no, no, no, steel were human. We make mistakes,
but the rules are rules. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
So like you know, like saying baseball, they're talking about
maybe having like you know, like the robots. Yeah, exactly
call balls and strikes. No, you know, do you like that?
Speaker 2 (23:43):
I don't know. I don't like I robot.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
Because they'll get the call right.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
We don't know that. Wait, we don't know that. See
we're hoping that because it's an artificial intelligence, that they're
going to get through the play right, right, But what
to say they get it wrong?
Speaker 3 (23:59):
Then what, Well, that's what I'm going to Like.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
I think that there's sort of like a romance here
to having maybe a little bit of room there where
maybe there is an error, but that's part of the game,
you know.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
What I mean. Wow, this is just me thinking and
I haven't really thought this through. Like I'm afraid, I'm
afraid making this really interactive. If there's a if there's
a flag on the field, you know, treat it like
it's what what was the singing show American Idol where
fans get to get the.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
Vote in right, let fans determine what happens.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
Let the fans vote was that Was that really pass?
Speaker 3 (24:47):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (24:47):
I don't know, because in some situations they do have
that eye in the sky that they'll overturn something right
in the moment and they'll just move on, you know,
because the camera side and like they go to New
York and they see that boom, it's so like speed up.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
There's not like the review in the moments.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
I like my idea better. I like the ideas letty
fans dial in and even bringing a fan on and
let the fan kind of have his moment to talk
about it.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
Fan of the game. Let's bring him into the booths.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
Well, well not bring him in the boot, but actually
take a phone call, like you know sometimes Grant would
take phone calls. I mean, come on, come on, Grant,
tell me, tell me you with this, it makes sense.
Speaker 4 (25:28):
See, I think you take it one step further and
just have a fan as a referee from the goals
and they get the final call no matter what.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Why why not?
Speaker 1 (25:37):
You're like, hey, should the Broncos go for it on
fourth down? Let's have the fans aside. Yes, the NFL.
Speaker 4 (25:43):
Is technically an entertainment business, right exactly.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
An idea is to increase the level of fan engagement,
because you got to think about it. How many fans
watch games and they are like armchair Monday morning quarterbacks
and oh they should have done this, and just say,
instead of going to the analytics guy that everything has
you know what, let go to uh Jim and uh
(26:06):
and I guess we'll give me give me a place
right here park Metal. Yes, let's go to a bend
and and and Dtcah. What do you think Sean Page
should do on this fourth and one play?
Speaker 1 (26:17):
Yeah, but it's started down. They're trying to run out
the clock. What should they do? And like a Madden
thing pops up? They got three places to choose from.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
Yes, yes, hey, they got to run that play. The
fan decided.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
All right, Frank in Colorado, you got the hot mic.
Right now the Blacos have gone through their first possession.
That now they've completed their first first down, what's to
be the first call? Run the ball? Right, Frank, Hey,
Frank franken Bolder, you got to be more specific. We
just can't just run the ball. Give give me a
little something more specific.
Speaker 4 (26:50):
We need a twenty four ISO.
Speaker 2 (26:54):
Franken Bolder call for twenty one io. That call goes directly.
Speaker 3 (26:58):
To Bodnick's yeah there you go over, Yeah exactly.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
And then we get a chance to see Sean Payton
probably blow a dast the sideline.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
So like oh, Bob and Cardis Rings is challenging in
the play, it stops to stop to get.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
Oh man, then you know how long games would take.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
Maybe they could try that as a new version of
the Pro Bowl. You know, do you know face some
of this stuff in Let's yeah, let's phase it into
something like.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
That, because because you use the Pro Bowl in the
preseason for.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
That, Yeah, you could do that too.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
Yeah, or like you know, like fans already vote, like
I think they're a third of the vote for.
Speaker 3 (27:40):
The Pro Bowl, you know, so hey, why not why
not that the fans?
Speaker 2 (27:45):
That would be very interesting. I mean because doing the
Pro Bowl you have both pay and Eli called the plays. Yeah,
why not let Neil frankin Wisconsin?
Speaker 3 (27:54):
This is an interesting idea.
Speaker 1 (27:57):
I don't know I could get you better have your
finger on the mute button, you know, just some.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
It's gonna have some producers. Well, first of all, that's
what you know, live TV and radios.
Speaker 1 (28:07):
For right, That's true. It'll be entertaining, but you know,
you can't argue.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (28:11):
Well, you know, Phil, you were talking about before the show,
how to make Week eighteen more interesting in the NFL
the games that don't have any playoffs consequences. This is
what we can do.
Speaker 1 (28:21):
Andy Reid turns over the playbook. You know, That's what
I do think. You know, Nick, a lot of people
in Cincinnati are like going crazy about how the Chiefs
handled Week eighteen. You know, I think that they're like
they've got like a petition and they're like trying to
get people to vote, and they want to like somehow
get the Bengals, you know. I mean it's just crazy
(28:42):
fan talk, right, It's very interesting.
Speaker 2 (28:44):
We happen to have a Bengals fan here on the show.
So what do you think about that? Grant?
Speaker 4 (28:51):
I think if they were to beat the Patriots.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
In Week one, now that's what it mattered.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
Well, they lost like seven games that were like one
possession games or something crazy, right, so they could have
handled it different. But I do think that it's interesting
that like there was just not that much drama a
Week eight team this year. You know, it felt like
it was that just the Vikings and Lions. That was
really the only game that it came down to this,
(29:15):
and I don't know, I'm sure that the league was
not thrilled with like how everything was handled.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
They may not have been thrilled, but by scheduling, they
kind of set things up because when you look at
most of the teams, a lot of their divisional games
were left for the latter part of the schedule.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
They do that on purpose.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
Yeah, like the last game of the season, everybody's playing
a division Yeah, I mean, just.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
Look at it. Think about Baltimore. Baltimore didn't really started
to get into the think of their divisional games until
maybe Week ten or something like that, So that part
made it really exciting. But this is what you expect.
This is something that's going to happen when we know
early on that teams are not in the playoffs and
teams clinched. Like for me, I don't think there's nothing
(30:01):
wrong with what Kansas City did, right.
Speaker 3 (30:04):
And they're trying to win a Super Bowl.
Speaker 2 (30:06):
That's right, and once again, that's where you want to be.
You've earned the right to rest your players when you
have the number one seed, and to hell with everyone else.
You don't do what you want if you don't like it.
Like the Bengals fans petitioning. You know what they need
a petition for. They need a petition the damn defense.
(30:27):
Petition the damn defense. Those are the guys you should
have been encouraging every single week to play to the
level they needed to, because those are the individuals who
screwed you.
Speaker 1 (30:37):
And like the reverse happened, like with the Patriots, they won,
and then now they're not the number one seed.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
You know, so like, okay, well really quickly for you
and grant if you're in that situation when you know
the number one seed is on the line, right and
coaches' jobs are to win football games, do you go
and subtly entice your coach to I don't know, not
throw the game, but not win the game.
Speaker 3 (31:00):
Uh maybe that's why Mayo got fired. You're getting into
some great area.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
Yeah, because you wouldn't do it. Yeah, yeah, I remember,
Lovey Smith did it in Houston he got fired. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
You just want you know, the you know, you know,
you wanted to see what the product on the field.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
You want it to be real.
Speaker 1 (31:20):
So that's all you're hoping for from a fans perspective,
and from the league they're trying to design it like this.
But I don't think there's a way to avoid some
of this with Week eighteen. It's just like how in
basketball they rest some stars, Like that's an issue in
the NBA. You know, there's just there's I don't know
if there's a way to kind of fix Week eighteen.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
But well you can maybe put more money on the line.
Speaker 3 (31:45):
Oh yeah, like some bonuses and stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (31:47):
Yeah, especially for those teams who are not in the playoffs. Yeah,
extra incentives for coaches so they can coach more, and
for players to say, well, we're not thinking one, two, three,
can't coon now, we're thinking about getting this extra check.
I Wentz.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
Wentz had a one hundred thousand dollars bonus if they
would have won that game.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
It didn't work out for him, did it.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
I was like, well, that's not like that much money.
Maybe you sweetened that pot up for a starting quarterback.
Who knows, Maybe maybe you can incentivize it a little
bit more. All right, that's going to do it for us.
For Nick Ferguson, I am Fulmalani. You're listening to Broncos
country tonight,
Film Alani filling in for Benjamin all Right, hanging out
in studio with the one and only Nick Ferguson. Nick,
let's talk a little about Sean Payton's history here with
the playoffs. Of course, winning the Super Bowl in two
thousand and nine. You know, so many amazing images, you know,
with him and Drew, you know, Hoiston, Lombardi and everybody
(00:23):
thinks to the big decision that Sean had made for
the on side kick to start the second half. There
it's Sean now with the Broncos making the playoffs for
the tenth time in his seventeen year career. So really
impressive to make the playoffs that much. Well, when you
think back to his career, you think about some of
those heartbreaking losses too, you know, like the miracle in
(00:46):
Minnesota with case Keenum.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Oh boy, you.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Think about that pass interference call, you know, in the
NFC Championship game. There's just there's been a lot of
moments where Sean is had some really good teams and
for whatever reason, something that crazy has.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Happened and they haven't been able to get done.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
You know what, It's sad and unfortunate that he's been
on the opposite side of some bad play calls. I
remember watching that Minnesota Vikings game and even tweeting something
out right after it because it was called pass. It
should have been OPI on the Minnesota Bikes tight end
(01:27):
because Russ states that you can't extend your arm to
create separation and Rudolph did just that yep, And I
was like, wait a minute, how was it in a
critical game? We're not calling OPI. But if it was
a defensive pass and affairs, had he grabbed him, then
you would have said there was okay. So that was
(01:48):
kind of a tough situation for them. And then what
was it Ni Kill Roby Coleman or something like that,
who played for the Rams at that time. Yeah, it
should have been helme with the helmet contact, and it
should have been defensive past.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Interference, definitely the defensive past interference.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Yet and it was it wasn't called at all. So
there was a couple of close calls on the resume
for one Sean Payne. It makes me wonder what like
what if things would have been like for Sean Payton
at that time. And then also on those kind of
that closing period with with with with the new Orleans Saints.
(02:31):
But that's kind of like it's water under the bridge.
But I can see the idea that of those things
coming up, because if I'm not mistaken, Phil, I think
he's what nine and eight in playoffs or something like that.
Is that the number?
Speaker 3 (02:44):
I think? Here, hold on a second, I can look
it up.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Yeah, nine and eight. Yeah, you're so nine and eight
in the playoffs. So a win on Sunday puts him
at five hundred.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Oh no, No, he's got nine wins and eight losses,
so ten.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Yes, But once again, it just shows though a lot
of teams that he's been around, they've had the opportunity
to get to the playoffs and in a lot of
cases win playoff games. But now you're doing it in
an entirely different fashion. Yes, when you look at the
Broncos team, the average age of twenty six young team,
(03:22):
young quarterback. Once again, if he is able to do that,
that takes the whole folk lore associated with Sean Payton
and it takes up another level. And I know some
people say, well, Sean Payton is not concerned with that.
He may not be openly concerned with it, but he's
(03:43):
thinking about it. He's thinking about it. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
I think I think that Sean thinks about his legacy
a lot, especially you know, like some of these coaches
that are like the play callers and you know that
they've had their thumbprint on the game. Legacy is important
to him, and you know, I think that Sean, you know,
(04:06):
like like to start there in New Orleans, they win
the Super Bowl, you know, in two thousand and nine,
they made the playoffs his first year there in two
thousand and six, you know, his legacy was heading on that,
on that trajectory. Then of course you have the season
you know where he suspended that I think really hurt
(04:26):
him because that, for a long time is what people
thought of when you thought of Sean Payton. Was that
then those then those New Orleans teams were so good there,
like twenty seventeen, eleven and five, that was the miracle
in Minnesota with Stefan Diggs, you know, then twenty eighteen
they're thirteen and three, twenty nineteen they're thirteen and three,
(04:49):
twenty twenty to even there were twelve and four. I mean,
those are some really good teams there, and then they
weren't able to get it done, and they weren't able
to get a and cross the finish line. Then that
is what Sean was being known for, was oh, these
heartbreaking losses and that you know, maybe the NFL is
(05:09):
against him, you know, and all this that's what he
sort of became known for. And then now if he's
able to turn the Broncos around, develop Bo Nicks pre
established that winning tradition with the Broncos, win another super Bowl,
maybe then that's what he'll be known for, is that
he was able to turn around really two organizations with
(05:33):
what he was able to do with the Saints and
then do it here with the Broncos, and that'll change
his legacy. And that's important to him. It's important for anybody.
They want their legacy. They want to re remember it
as great, you know. And so you get the Shawn's motivated,
especially after taking that year away from the game. Now
he's back, he's energized, He's got this young team. There's
(05:56):
a lot of positive forward thinking with this team, and
now he's ready to change that legacy in the narrative
around him again.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Yeah, and ideas that what he's trying to pull off.
He's trying to do it on so many different levels.
He's trying to develop a young quarterback something that he's
never done before, and he's trying to take that young
quarterback career to similar heights of Drew Brees. And then
he's trying to do something that most coaches find very
(06:26):
difficult to do. The first thing is when a super Bowl,
which he has done, but he's trying to achieve something
that is really there's only there's a short list of
guys that when super Bowls with two different all clubs
very very difficult to do.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Has anybody done it?
Speaker 2 (06:46):
I don't know, you know what I think it's I
don't know. I don't think it's been done. There's coaches
for it, they've they've taken, but there's no coach that
I know of. And you know, hey, if you on
the text line and you know this and I don't
be sure, to hit us up and let let us know.
But I don't think.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
I don't think anybody's ever won it in two places
like because you think Mike home Grin did it with
the Packers and with Seattle both made it. Dan Reeves,
Broncos and Falcons. I'm looking it up now, Andy Andy Reid.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Has done it because he took the Donovant nabbed to
the Patriots and he's one one with yeah, so he's
kind of yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
Yeah, I don't think Dick Vermial took the Eagles and
then he won with.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
The Rams and then Marcels ye Patriots, And if I'm
not mistaken, I should notice because I grew up in Miami.
Uh don in Miami, that's right? Yeah, yeah, yeah, But
so don didn't didn't win, He lost San Francisco and
then lost to the Jets and Joe will you name it?
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Yep, ye, So I don't think any I don't think
a cush has ever won.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
In two different teams.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Yeah. So I want to say that maybe I'm forgetting
something that maybe someone's done it and I just don't know.
But I still feel like I'm missing something, Phil, this
is something you're missing something. It just feels though maybe
there is a coach that might have done it and
just right now and it's just slipping my mind. But
(08:21):
for the most part, we'll just just say no coach
has ever done it.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Let's yeah, I don't think.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
I mean, it would be amazing if Sean got this
Broncos team to make a Super Bowl. I'm not saying
this year, I'm just saying during his tenure, Yes, that
would be incredible turnaround for where this organization was.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Do you think that, because I mean we obviously at
the point of the season where we always talk about
these postseason awards. Do you think based on what this
team has accomplished, that Sean gets Coach of the Year.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
I don't think so.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
I think Kevin O'Connell in Minnesota's probably got that lot
over Dan Campbell just the way I'm thinking of, like
the injuries of JJ McCarthy and then the way that
he's resurrected Sam Darnold and the way that he's got
that team playing. I think that like so so much
(09:16):
has been stacked against him there to be able to
do what he's done. I think I would give it
to him. But Dan Campbell, I mean it's amazing watching
Detroit is like so much fun.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
They've got so much just.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
Like energy, you know, like it all comes from him,
I think, you know, and so like and the way
that that city has really gotten behind, Like like I
saw Aaron Glenn was at the Pistons game the other night,
like that the state went crazy for him.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
You know, listen as as a guy that broke into
the league with the Jets. I was a young player
and Aaron was one of those older Vets. I saw
the video footage that you were talking about. I mean,
I was so watching that. And for me, it's a
person that I know. It's a person that I played with,
(10:06):
a person who kind of mentored me coming up as
a young player. But I look at it from this approach.
He's a former player. That's the biggest thing for me.
He's a former player who is now stepping into this limelight,
this stage. And what they did not to make it
(10:27):
really about the Detroit Alliance, but I mean Real recognized
Real to have so many injuries on their squad and
play the Minnesota Vikers the way they did. Hell, when
I saw the video Hose, I started clapping right, So
it meant something to the fans of Detroit because that
city has been forgotten. That's just call it what it is.
(10:51):
And when we think about what that fan base have
been for almost twenty thirty years, they too have been fit.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
It's amazing. It's amazing.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
And then also like to have that heartbreak where they
probably should have won in San Francisco, and then to
get the team refocused and right back in that same
I mean they're they're primed to make another run here.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
That is impressive.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
I mean that's that says something about the coach and
where they are.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
If there was a team that I would say that,
I would love to see the Broncos kind of model
themselves after and you can you can pick and choose,
well why I say that are certain things, but I
look at it from a worse The first type of situation, YEP,
an attitude is looking at Dan Campbell and understanding that
(11:38):
Dan Campbell, you know, coach under Sean Payton and he
played for it from not mistaken Bill Parcells, right, So
understanding how Campbell was able to get his team to
overcome that loss against the San Francisco Forda. I mean,
you are right there the Lions in the game and
(12:02):
then forty nine has come back and steal away and
go to the super Bowl. But trying to get a
little that attitude injected, infuse it into this young Broncos
team and that would be really exciting to see.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
I think even Sean last year mentioned that at one
point that like, hey, you could see what the Lions
did and that energy and it's infectious and he even
talks about that a lot with like Bo Nicks and
this year's team, that the energy is infectious and the
belief and everything. I mean, I think that that energy
there's some of that with this Broncos team, So that
(12:37):
is exciting. But the other guy I think for Coach
of the Year could be Sean McVay. You can make
the case for him going ten and seven with that
Rams team to get them back in the playoffs. Nobody
was thinking thinking that for them, So I definitely think
Sean is like in the mix. He like, if there
was a finalist for that, I think that that he
would be right there. But hard to argue with the
(12:59):
two with Dan Campbell and Kevin O'Connell.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Yeah, it's hard to do. And that was kind of
the frustrating thing as a football fan watching Minnesota and
Detroit play each other. Notice that there was going to
be a team that was like fourteen and two or
whatever going into that week. That team is going to
be like the number five seed.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
Yeah, it was just like the seeding because I feel
like winning your division should count for someone, It should.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Count for something. But here's the thing. Okay, your team
wins their division, but it doesn't have a better record
than the team in another division who is probably the
second best team in their division. Yeah, so should that
team now say, well, you know what, they have a
better record than you, Peel, so that should be the
(13:47):
team that should host a hostlay game. I would like
to see that change because I like the idea and
the concept of rewarding teams with good stats.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
Yeah, like, like, I don't think you could argue the
Rams had a better season than the Vikings, but yet
the Vikings are going on the road and they're playing
at so far. Yes, you know, I agree that, like
the better season should be hosting games, but they got
to put they got to make win in the division.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
Count for something.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
So whatever, man.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
Yeah, the last one about Sean in his history, Bill
Vinovich was the referee for that defensive passit no call
interference against the Rams. He will be on the whistle
again this week when the Broncos and Bill's play.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Well, well, maybe maybe it helps the Broncos out in
this situation because he owes him one. He owes one. Yes,
it doesn't make a difference when it comes back to you.
It's just a matter of fact that someone gives it
to you because it's old.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
I was gonna ask you though, like being on the field,
do you are you aware of who's calling your game
and the relationship that you have with that particular referee
over the course of your career.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
He oh, yeah. I learned a very valuable theme playing
because obviously the referees control the game and they are
people too, even though coaches and players yell at him.
I mean I played here with Alex Gibbs, and he
yelled at everyone, I mean even players. He didn't coach,
but he was always given it to officials. So for me,
(15:19):
as a young player, I learned to figure out who
the officials were, make sure I talk to them before
the game, learn their names, Hey, Bill, and knowing that
I don't know him, and Bill doesn't know who I am.
But Bill will turn around after he has a conversation
with me and he will look at the back of
my jersey, see my name, and see my number. So
(15:41):
I've been in games where let's just say, I'm not
turning over to any tables, but I've been in a
situation where there might have been maybe if he lately
lay hit, it's not called on me, right, he'd give
me a warning, all right, for.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
I was close because you got that resultlylationship established prea
Think about it.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
If you an official with someone is screaming at you,
calling you everything but the child of God? Right, are
you going to be in their favorite? No? You're not.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
So this is interesting. I want to continue this conversation.
We got to take a quick break here, but more
about Bill Vanovitch calling this game for the for the
Broncos and Bills.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
Coming up.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
You're listening to Broncos Country tonight, because Country tonight, I'm
film money filling in for Benjamin Alright, hanging out with
Nick Ferguson here in studio. Before that break, we were
talking about the referee relationship with with the players, with
the coach, and the fact that Bill Vanovich is going
(16:44):
to be on the whistle here for this game with
the Broncos and Bills, and the fact that he's got
this relationship now with Sean that dates.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
Back to that no no call, the.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Obvious DPI with the Rams and Saints, and if that
relateationship continues into like present day, even though that call
happened so many years ago.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
You say yes, yeah, because look, there's certain things that
you don't forget. You don't forget how someone treated you well,
and you don't forget how someone treated you poorly. Right,
these are things that you don't forget. And referees are
people too. Yeah, they make mistakes, they're bang bang plays.
(17:27):
But for me, my mom always told me you catch
more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. So
if you spitting, you know, vinegar at officials, you're yelling
and you're screaming, and you're calling them all these different names,
feel that they're not going to favor you on certain calls.
They're not. And believe it or not, people do.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
Hold grudges, yeah, for a long time. So what would
that look like in this game?
Speaker 1 (17:56):
Like a grudge, like not something that's really over the
top obvious, but like maybe if it's like a fifty
to fifty.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
Call, Okay, let's just say there is a possibly maybe
pass interference. Maybe you don't get that call right, Maybe
there's a there's a holding offensively on Jonathan Cooper or
let's just say.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
Pat Sortan, right, yep, maybe you don't get it.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
Maybe you don't get that call. I can see that
Corlin Sudden's trying to fight to break free in the
back of the end zone. Somehow he is escorted out
at the back of the end zone. Can't make a catch, right,
you see, I use my words carefully escorted out. You
don't get that call. So officials can impact games in
(18:50):
so many different ways.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
They're not robots out there.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
They're not robots. Yeah, and when you have one against you,
you may have them against you for a while. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
Maybe they've repaired that relationship though, who knows.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
I don't know really, right, do you really think that
that's like mixing oil and vinegar together, right, or vocking milk? Nah,
they don't mix.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
Let's get lunch, let's talk about it.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
Yeah, you know, I don't know your people.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
Call my people.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Yeah. Yeah, it's one of those types to get things. Now.
I hope that is kind of not the case. And
I know what I'm speaking out speaking about. Most people
think that know that childish, that wouldn't happen. You would
be amazed at what really happens in some of these games.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
Yeah, because you like watching on TV, Like you see
the coach on the sideline just screaming and screaming, and
the ref is just sometimes just looking straight ahead, you know,
and you're like, man, how much of that is he
going to take? You know, over the course of an
entire game. That's an interesting balance. You know, how do
you massage yelling at a ref not yelling saying all right,
(20:00):
I see what you did.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
You know, heavy bro, not you. But if you ever
had been in your dating life and had your girlfriend
yell at you for something, you know, you're never really
feeling right at that particular moment. Now, even what you
may be thinking you would never do, you may not
ever say. But you're a human this there's only so
(20:22):
much that you're going to deal with and you're gonna tolerate.
And I know some of these times watching the games,
listening or watching the referees get an infew full. I'm
sure they want to turn around and smack the coach,
but they can't do it.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Can't do that, No, But what they can do is
that there you go. Yep. Yeah, it's interesting.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
Uh well, it's just something to watch for this week,
I guess, just considering their history, just something to watch.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
It's something to watch.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
Now. We could just we could be talking about something
that may not ever come to fruition. But as we
started to break down the game, we definitely have to
take it into consideration.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
It's it's just interesting that he got assigned to this
game too, you know, like you're just like, why, you know,
do you.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
Think they do it like this? Okay, well, I know
they do it this way if if the officiating crew
has done a great job during the year, that's right,
and if you have seniority, they probably give you the
opportunity to choose. No, no, I don't know this, but
(21:34):
but this would be very interesting if they had on
the board all the games that were that were taking place,
and you, having seniority, have an opportunity to choose which
game that you want to officiate, and he chose you. No,
I want that one, but it might be cold in Buffalo.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
No, no, no, no, I want that one.
Speaker 2 (21:55):
Yes, that would be very interesting, you know, in interesting.
We've all seen like Hard Knocks, right, we've seen in
season Hard Knocks. Why haven't we seen a version of
Hard Knocks that features the NFL officials.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
The officials, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Yeah, why not? They live very unique lives.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
Might be a little bit boring, but I don't think it's.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Going to be that boring because you know, that little
clear bubble with the microphone in it picks.
Speaker 3 (22:25):
Up everything on the side. Yes, you think you can hear.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
That's what And the idea is with hard knocks, you're
taking the fans that's right behind the curtain. Yes, I
want to see what it's like when a referee has
been yelled at.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
I think that the broadcast cris have done a good
job of like having like the rules official come in
and be like explain a situation maybe, and that sort
of takes you into, you know, the mindset of like
what a ref might be doing in that particular moment
or whatnot. But yeah, maybe for a game, i'd watch
a micd up of a of a ref you.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Know what when they do that both and they're doing
in the pros and now they've now started doing it
in college football. The thing that gets me is that
there's a call on the field, they go to testa
tour what is it? Okay, and they go through different
guys and they disagree with the call on the field,
and it's like, wait a minute. If you're saying that
(23:19):
this is the way that it should be called and
he called the wrong thing, what the hell's going on?
Speaker 3 (23:24):
Yeah, well they're a human, Like what you're saying you know,
like you.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
No, no, no, no, no, steel were human. We make mistakes,
but the rules are rules. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
So like you know, like saying baseball, they're talking about
maybe having like you know, like the robots. Yeah, exactly
call balls and strikes. No, you know, do you like that?
Speaker 2 (23:43):
I don't know. I don't like I robot.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
Because they'll get the call right.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
We don't know that. Wait, we don't know that. See
we're hoping that because it's an artificial intelligence, that they're
going to get through the play right, right, But what
to say they get it wrong?
Speaker 3 (23:59):
Then what, Well, that's what I'm going to Like.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
I think that there's sort of like a romance here
to having maybe a little bit of room there where
maybe there is an error, but that's part of the game,
you know.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
What I mean. Wow, this is just me thinking and
I haven't really thought this through. Like I'm afraid, I'm
afraid making this really interactive. If there's a if there's
a flag on the field, you know, treat it like
it's what what was the singing show American Idol where
fans get to get the.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
Vote in right, let fans determine what happens.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
Let the fans vote was that Was that really pass?
Speaker 3 (24:47):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (24:47):
I don't know, because in some situations they do have
that eye in the sky that they'll overturn something right
in the moment and they'll just move on, you know,
because the camera side and like they go to New
York and they see that boom, it's so like speed up.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
There's not like the review in the moments.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
I like my idea better. I like the ideas letty
fans dial in and even bringing a fan on and
let the fan kind of have his moment to talk
about it.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
Fan of the game. Let's bring him into the booths.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
Well, well not bring him in the boot, but actually
take a phone call, like you know sometimes Grant would
take phone calls. I mean, come on, come on, Grant,
tell me, tell me you with this, it makes sense.
Speaker 4 (25:28):
See, I think you take it one step further and
just have a fan as a referee from the goals
and they get the final call no matter what.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Why why not?
Speaker 1 (25:37):
You're like, hey, should the Broncos go for it on
fourth down? Let's have the fans aside. Yes, the NFL.
Speaker 4 (25:43):
Is technically an entertainment business, right exactly.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
An idea is to increase the level of fan engagement,
because you got to think about it. How many fans
watch games and they are like armchair Monday morning quarterbacks
and oh they should have done this, and just say,
instead of going to the analytics guy that everything has
you know what, let go to uh Jim and uh
(26:06):
and I guess we'll give me give me a place
right here park Metal. Yes, let's go to a bend
and and and Dtcah. What do you think Sean Page
should do on this fourth and one play?
Speaker 1 (26:17):
Yeah, but it's started down. They're trying to run out
the clock. What should they do? And like a Madden
thing pops up? They got three places to choose from.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
Yes, yes, hey, they got to run that play. The
fan decided.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
All right, Frank in Colorado, you got the hot mic.
Right now the Blacos have gone through their first possession.
That now they've completed their first first down, what's to
be the first call? Run the ball? Right, Frank, Hey,
Frank franken Bolder, you got to be more specific. We
just can't just run the ball. Give give me a
little something more specific.
Speaker 4 (26:50):
We need a twenty four ISO.
Speaker 2 (26:54):
Franken Bolder call for twenty one io. That call goes directly.
Speaker 3 (26:58):
To Bodnick's yeah there you go over, Yeah exactly.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
And then we get a chance to see Sean Payton
probably blow a dast the sideline.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
So like oh, Bob and Cardis Rings is challenging in
the play, it stops to stop to get.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
Oh man, then you know how long games would take.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
Maybe they could try that as a new version of
the Pro Bowl. You know, do you know face some
of this stuff in Let's yeah, let's phase it into
something like.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
That, because because you use the Pro Bowl in the
preseason for.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
That, Yeah, you could do that too.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
Yeah, or like you know, like fans already vote, like
I think they're a third of the vote for.
Speaker 3 (27:40):
The Pro Bowl, you know, so hey, why not why
not that the fans?
Speaker 2 (27:45):
That would be very interesting. I mean because doing the
Pro Bowl you have both pay and Eli called the plays. Yeah,
why not let Neil frankin Wisconsin?
Speaker 3 (27:54):
This is an interesting idea.
Speaker 1 (27:57):
I don't know I could get you better have your
finger on the mute button, you know, just some.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
It's gonna have some producers. Well, first of all, that's
what you know, live TV and radios.
Speaker 1 (28:07):
For right, That's true. It'll be entertaining, but you know,
you can't argue.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (28:11):
Well, you know, Phil, you were talking about before the show,
how to make Week eighteen more interesting in the NFL
the games that don't have any playoffs consequences. This is
what we can do.
Speaker 1 (28:21):
Andy Reid turns over the playbook. You know, That's what
I do think. You know, Nick, a lot of people
in Cincinnati are like going crazy about how the Chiefs
handled Week eighteen. You know, I think that they're like
they've got like a petition and they're like trying to
get people to vote, and they want to like somehow
get the Bengals, you know. I mean it's just crazy
(28:42):
fan talk, right, It's very interesting.
Speaker 2 (28:44):
We happen to have a Bengals fan here on the show.
So what do you think about that? Grant?
Speaker 4 (28:51):
I think if they were to beat the Patriots.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
In Week one, now that's what it mattered.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
Well, they lost like seven games that were like one
possession games or something crazy, right, so they could have
handled it different. But I do think that it's interesting
that like there was just not that much drama a
Week eight team this year. You know, it felt like
it was that just the Vikings and Lions. That was
really the only game that it came down to this,
(29:15):
and I don't know, I'm sure that the league was
not thrilled with like how everything was handled.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
They may not have been thrilled, but by scheduling, they
kind of set things up because when you look at
most of the teams, a lot of their divisional games
were left for the latter part of the schedule.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
They do that on purpose.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
Yeah, like the last game of the season, everybody's playing
a division Yeah, I mean, just.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
Look at it. Think about Baltimore. Baltimore didn't really started
to get into the think of their divisional games until
maybe Week ten or something like that, So that part
made it really exciting. But this is what you expect.
This is something that's going to happen when we know
early on that teams are not in the playoffs and
teams clinched. Like for me, I don't think there's nothing
(30:01):
wrong with what Kansas City did, right.
Speaker 3 (30:04):
And they're trying to win a Super Bowl.
Speaker 2 (30:06):
That's right, and once again, that's where you want to be.
You've earned the right to rest your players when you
have the number one seed, and to hell with everyone else.
You don't do what you want if you don't like it.
Like the Bengals fans petitioning. You know what they need
a petition for. They need a petition the damn defense.
(30:27):
Petition the damn defense. Those are the guys you should
have been encouraging every single week to play to the
level they needed to, because those are the individuals who
screwed you.
Speaker 1 (30:37):
And like the reverse happened, like with the Patriots, they won,
and then now they're not the number one seed.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
You know, so like, okay, well really quickly for you
and grant if you're in that situation when you know
the number one seed is on the line, right and
coaches' jobs are to win football games, do you go
and subtly entice your coach to I don't know, not
throw the game, but not win the game.
Speaker 3 (31:00):
Uh maybe that's why Mayo got fired. You're getting into
some great area.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
Yeah, because you wouldn't do it. Yeah, yeah, I remember,
Lovey Smith did it in Houston he got fired. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
You just want you know, the you know, you know,
you wanted to see what the product on the field.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
You want it to be real.
Speaker 1 (31:20):
So that's all you're hoping for from a fans perspective,
and from the league they're trying to design it like this.
But I don't think there's a way to avoid some
of this with Week eighteen. It's just like how in
basketball they rest some stars, Like that's an issue in
the NBA. You know, there's just there's I don't know
if there's a way to kind of fix Week eighteen.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
But well you can maybe put more money on the line.
Speaker 3 (31:45):
Oh yeah, like some bonuses and stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (31:47):
Yeah, especially for those teams who are not in the playoffs. Yeah,
extra incentives for coaches so they can coach more, and
for players to say, well, we're not thinking one, two, three,
can't coon now, we're thinking about getting this extra check.
I Wentz.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
Wentz had a one hundred thousand dollars bonus if they
would have won that game.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
It didn't work out for him, did it.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
I was like, well, that's not like that much money.
Maybe you sweetened that pot up for a starting quarterback.
Who knows, Maybe maybe you can incentivize it a little
bit more. All right, that's going to do it for us.
For Nick Ferguson, I am Fulmalani. You're listening to Broncos
country tonight,
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