September 6, 2025 • 28 mins
On this episode of the Giants Huddle podcast, John Schmeelk is joined by Vice TV’s, Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, to talk about the Giants season, discuss his new show on Vice TV with Phil Simms, and take a look at the NFL season as a whole.
:00 - NFL Classic show
7:40 - Giants season preview
12:25 - Giants quarterbacks
16:20 - Giants offense and defense
19:30 - NFL overview
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's time to get inside the Giants. Hulet's go, Let's go,
Let's go, Alliance.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Dont get up my Giants bubbling, give me some job.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Part of the Giants podcast Network. Let's roll.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
Welcome to another edition of the Giants Little Podcast, brought
to you by Citizens, the official bank of the Giants.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
I am John Schmelk.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
I am thrilled today to be joining the Hackensack Merity
Health podcast studio. Keep getting Better by the one and
only Chris mad Dog Russo. Doggie, it's been a long
time by friend, Hey, how.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Are you pal?
Speaker 4 (00:27):
Saturday Mornings a long time ago on a great series
in the great U sixty six Sports Radio sixty six.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
But I'm even forgetting the names myself here on wf AN.
But it's been a long time, nice to talk to.
Speaker 4 (00:38):
You've had a great career during his Giant stuff and
hopefully you win more than three games this year.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Give yourself a little juice in a course, which you should.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
And of course this is uh from your lips, Doggie,
and now were working with you and Morgan with your
former producer Melusa's we're a host that shows every week
on Saturday morning.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
Now, Oh, are you really you and Martie good to
hear that, and Mark still got the pix thing go
on General Evan Sports does he not?
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Yes? He does?
Speaker 2 (01:03):
And you the Bovie Boy. The FA and crew keeps.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
On expanding, which is good to see.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
I do think the Giants will have a good year.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Actually, I think they'd be a lot better in twenty
twenty five.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Yes, and we'll get to the Gihnson the second of
Your Dog.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
But you're gonna be part of a cool show coming
up called NFL Classic After further Review, hosted by Kyle Brandt,
and you basically have guys watching past NFL games and
talking about it. The game you got this year. I
think it's gonna be the season finale. It's gonna be
every Wednesday night at nine pm on Vice TV. You're
gonna be with Phil Simms talking about his Super Bowl
where he was almost perfect against the Broncos.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
How cool is this thing? Gonna be excellent?
Speaker 4 (01:39):
And I had had Fell on my radio program here
at Sirius XM for the last five six years, so
I have a very good relationship with him.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Who doesn't love.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
Phil, But we spent you know, a good couple of
hours watching that. Denver game in January of eighty seven
out of course in Pasadena and going through the specifics
of the game, I mean, not every play, but every
significant drive of the game. He of course was twenty
two or twenty five. The aspect of the game that
is interesting is the idea that the game, you know,
(02:11):
Denver had to you know, it was right there for
a large part of the game.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
You know, it was a ten nine at the half
and everything else.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
I mean, the Broncos were right in the game, and
the Giants with a much better team and obviously blew
Bloom out in the second half, winning the game thirty
nine to twenty. But we spent a lot of time
in philm thill re numbered every play like you wouldn't believe,
gave us some insights on specific pass routes.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Bavaro a touchdown, Zeke Mullatt a big touchdown, and so on.
Speaker 4 (02:36):
McConkie had a huge game, as you know, you know,
he felt very good going into that game.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
He had great workouts out in California during the week.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
He thought he was crisp, thought that they were going
to throw the ball and the effective good stuff in there,
you know, was listening.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
It's forty years ago.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
But most Giant fans, you know, if you're fifteen over,
have a good feeling of that game. It's their first
championship in thirty years. And Kyle does a great job.
And Phil and I break down a game with Kyle there.
So if you are a football fan and you like
the Giants, there's nothing much you're not gonna like. Maybe
if you're a Bronco fan, you laid low, but if
you're a Giant fan, you're gonna enjoy it.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Now, I've want to fill a bunch over here. Did
he allow you to get at least a couple words
in while.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
You're Yesad and his memory, he is wonderful with his memory.
We talked a little bit about the Brown game because
remember the week before that or two weeks before that,
that was a ninety eight yard drive by Lway against Cleveland.
Now we talked a little bit about that, and that
was the first game of that double ahead of that day.
The Giant Washington game was game two. I mean he
(03:39):
talked a little bit about that game. I think he
was on the field during the Lway drive, you know, warmups.
But you know, did you want to play the Browns
or do you wanted to play the Broncos. Now, they
played the Broncos, as you know, John during the regular
season late and that was the George Martin play. It
was either a fumble or an interception where he turned
it like seventy three yards for a touchdown.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
So very very good stuff out of film.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
Uh, he's again, he's very proud of that day, as
he should. Talked about the Disney thing. You know, I
want to go to Disney World. He thought that was
a joke and then found you know, that was the
first time they had ever done it. Yep, and he
thought it was a joke and how lucrative that was.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
And he did go to.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
Disney World, parcels, you know, you name it. They discussed
and they were confident. You could tell the Giants offense.
Bill felt very good about what he was gonna do
in that game. They knew that had a great defense,
they had beaten Denver in the regular year. Or though close,
they were confident the Giants. I think the biggest surprise
the game was so close for the first thirty minutes.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
That was a close game at the half, and then
the pen three right, ten three, nine, ten to nine.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Thank you.
Speaker 4 (04:44):
I remember ten nine, and don't forget they went for
it on fourth and won early in the third quarter
on that quarterback sneak by what was the backup quarterbacks
name Jeff something No, not hostile was in ninety not Rutledge?
Speaker 1 (05:00):
He was gone by then?
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Right now? Who the hell was it?
Speaker 4 (05:04):
I'll think of it a second, but they got a
first down on fourth and on short. I think it
was the first lave of the third quarter on a
quarterback sneak, which is a huge Mayben Rutledge, which is
a huge playing the game gave the Giants momentum away.
They went talk a little bit about that play too,
So a lot of good things in there.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
If you're a Giant fan, no question about it.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
It's funny dog.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
But before we get to this year, I always say
that I think the favorite game that I've been a
part of doing the Giants thing. Look, it's been a
Watson and Johns have been in some really big games,
but it wasn't one of the Super Bowls. The game
I remember the most, still being in the booth boor
and doing was the game at Green Bay in the
title game early two thousand and eight, two thousand and seven,
seasons and you were in the booth of us watch
(05:45):
it that game. You had done a show there previous
that day, And I always tell the story. We're in
the booth, Papa's got the windows open, even though it's
like negative thirty degrees outside. We're all freezing, and me
and you look at each other when they go out
there and Tinnes lines up for the next field goal,
and we both look at each other that we go,
there's no way he's making the stake.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
See and mister Watson earlier I did Boom.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
It's a lot of right through I do.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
That was the Corey Webster interception on farv yep in
that game. Yeah. That was the second game that day
was Monus two degrees at kickoff, I had Mike had
done his first show.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
I did a show after that on that Sunday afternoon.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
I had Jim Taylor on Never Forget It, the Great
Packer running back and you know the Giants, and obviously
Coffin didn't have the mask on his face. Froze and
Eli had an incredible game, and so the Plaxico bursts.
I think Plaxico Burris broke the ray Berry record for
catches in a championship game, which Barry had established in
(06:44):
the fifty eight game against the Giants, and I think
Boris maybe by one or two catches, broke the record.
He had twelve catches that day.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
It was a twelve.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
I had to look it up, but there's a lot
of them. And that was a great game and a
great Giant win, and of course they went from there.
You know, one of the great runs are gonna have
beat Tampa, beat Dallas, beat Green Bay.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
And beat the Patriots. Can't game better than that if
you're a Giant fan.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
And Rutledgit of a two yard running that game, so
I think it was Rutledgis that had run.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
So Rutgers was the backup quarterback on the quarterback sneak.
You'll see that play extolled and discussed with Phil on
the Vice Show and.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
At Burr's by the way, Al Harris had a lot
to say heading into that game, and Burrs absolutely murdered
Al Harris.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
Did he have twelve catches, one hundred and fifty eight
yards of whatever it was? He had a huge game.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Everyone thinks, oh far from the cold weather, it's advantage
Packers and the be and Eli that out played the
cold weather.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
Eli had a Eli play Eli in a lot of
ways his career, in a lot of ways. It's like
about five or six games that were superlative, two against Tampa,
one in San Francisco. That game in Green Bay, though,
may have been from an ability standpoint, the best game
he's ever played, because he was great that game.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
I agree with you.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
And they always seem to come in the biggest spots,
which is why Eli was who he was, all right, Doggie.
You mentioned a couple of times you think the Giants
gonna be better this year. Very simple, Why Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
I love their defense. I think they a great pass rush,
so I like that aspect of it.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
And we know they got a tough schedule, but I
love their pass rush. The kid from Penn State's gonna
be a monster. Burns is very good. You know Lawrence
sitting there, you know Thibodeau's sitting there. I mean, they
got a lot of defense. They got a lot of
defensive linemen.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
I like that. Wilson will be better than Jones.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
Prussia got Dardan Air who I think we'll get some sequences.
We saw that jet preseason game where he had that
one pass play neighbors is very good. The schedule is
brutal early on Washington, Dallas, Kansas City.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
That first Sunday night game at home their opener.
Speaker 4 (08:37):
But I think the Giants are gonna be do I
think they'd be a playoff team. I wouldn't say that,
but I think they're gonna win eight nine games.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
And I like Dable. I think Dabel's a good coach.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
I think Shane took way too much heat for letting
Barkley go to Philadelphia. You know, I deal with the
ESPN guys all the time. On a Wednesday. They love
to kill Shane, you know, for that hard knock series.
I don't blame Ain't for that.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
You know.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
As it turns out, Barkley walked into the perfect spot
with that offensive line. And although I like to see
Dave will open up a little more with the media,
I think he's a good I think he's he never
says anything, but I.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
Did not trust I'm aware, Oh he doesn't anything.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
I mean, Brian, nobody's gonna bite share. You can give
us something, I mean, just to pacify its place. Give
me an opinion. But I do like him. I think
most Giants fans do like him. And I think he's
a I think he's a good coach, and I think
he'll see some of that this year. I think Gihant's
got a much better season. Now again, it doesn't mean
they're gonna go thirteen and four, but I think the
(09:35):
Giants gotta have a much better season. And from what
we've seen, John, you're there practices, so you know more
than I do. I only saw a little bit in
the preseason. I saw him a lot in college. Dart
looks like he's gonna be pretty good, and that's huge.
I mean, they got the kidf and Penn State and
they get Dart, and if they win eight nine games,
that's a good year for the Giants.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
It's good year.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
The Giants Total podcast is brought to you by Citizens,
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to your every day financial needs, big move Fans can
get the most out of every moment with Citizens. Learn
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(10:17):
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Speaker 1 (10:26):
Huddle up, get in here. If you're lined up here,
you gotta go over the middle with at the score great?
Speaker 2 (10:31):
How do we make that happen? I don't know, Bud
Citizens does?
Speaker 3 (10:36):
It makes sense of your money with Citizens official Bank
of Eli Manning, and.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
It gives fans hope.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Right, you see progress with the players here, and then
you see what the future could look like, which is important.
So I guess, I guess. My question for you is this,
how do you think they navigate this? Because you know, dog,
you've been through this with a lot of young teams
that draft on the quarterbacks, they have the veteran How
are they going to navigate this over the course of
the year, because they can get mess if it doesn't
go well.
Speaker 4 (11:01):
Early unpususally had demanding thing with Warner a few years
a long time ago, correct, but he took him out
at five and four. But Warner handled that like such
a good guy that it wasn't that messy. I'm not
sure if Wilson will be as accommodating. I think the
first thing that you'll received. I do think Dart to
get Jameis Winston. I do think that Dart will see
(11:22):
some action in certain packages in the course of the
early part of the season. I think he'll get get
three or four players like you saw not checking. I
think you might just as a change up. I think
you might see that. But I think that is going
to be very tricky for the coaching staff. Is you know,
when is it a parent where you're not making the
(11:43):
playoffs where you gotta let the kid play. I mean,
let's face it, you can't play the whole season without
getting a look at him for three or four games.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
And when you make that switch, how he handle it?
Speaker 4 (11:55):
With Wilson, as long as you're pretty good and you know,
having a better year than you, I think you gotta
leave it alone. But he's got to play. So I
think that is a very interesting question. That is something
that is gonna be You're not gonna pay attention to
it too much the first half of the year, but.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
There's gonna be coming in time around Halloween.
Speaker 4 (12:14):
If the Giants are playing badly, where if people are
gonna want to see dark play and how.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Dable make that switch will be interesting.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
I think the interesting aspect of it though, is if
they're bad, it's easier to make the switch. How about
if the Giants are surprising people effective and they're five.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
And four, then what do you do?
Speaker 1 (12:35):
And look, I think that he's back.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
The playoffs, you're five and four? How do you handle
that with Dart?
Speaker 3 (12:39):
That will be you know, I think that's the situation
they want to be in, right. They don't want this
to be a deal where they kind of get pushed
into it, right.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
They want to be able to sit there and have
the choice.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
And if they're winning with Russell Wilson and Doug, you know,
they just haven't scored enough points the last two years.
The offense has been a fifteen points in game, sixteen
points game. You can't win doing that. If they get
up to twenty twenty one points per game with Russell
Wilson and they're hovered around five hundred, I feel like
they're gonna try to stick with him for as long
as they can here because they bring him in here
(13:09):
and they're trying to win ball games.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
You know, I agree with you, John.
Speaker 4 (13:13):
I do think they probably will go with Wilson as
long as they can. And I do think, and I'm
only basing this, and I know he's not a runner,
but I'm only basing this on that Jet preseason game
when he put him in surprisingly enough to a forty
six yard pass just to the one play. He may
have just wanted to see how it went if Dark
can handle it. But I do think there'll be some games,
(13:35):
even when Wilson is distorted early, where you might see
Dark get in there for a player two just to
keep his feet wet. I could see that where the
Giants are trying to go down that very tricky line
where they're trying to win but also develop a rookie
and a franchise.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
It hasn't won in a while.
Speaker 4 (13:55):
That obviously, with Shane and Dable need to show some improvement,
especially the head coach, to get another crack at it
for down the road. But I do think Matra likes
to both of them. I think Shane he's had some
good drafts. I think he had a great draft this year.
Drafting moving up to get Dart was excellent and I'm
a dable. I don't know how you feel about it.
(14:15):
I don't talk the Giant fan on a week to
week basis like you might calling up on talk shows.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
This is not nineteen ninety seven. You know, when I'm sitting.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
There with Mike for five and a half hours Giant
Core after Giant call, it's a little different when you're
doing it over serious, so I don't get a sense
of what the temperature is. But if it's me and
I'm a Giant fan, I do think Dabel's a good coach.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
Look I think so too, And I just think he's
been invigorated dog by having different guys in the quarterback
room that are willing to kind of make those throws downfield.
And now Russell wils is not the same guy who
was ten years ago. No one will claim that he is.
He can't move around as well, But I just think
we have a veteran like that. It raises the floor
so much, and he's gonna make the right, you know,
calls at the line of scrimmage protection decisions. He's not
(15:00):
going to turn it over. I think DA will trust
him to execute his vision. And I think we'll see
now if you have the right player in there can't
what does that vision look like?
Speaker 1 (15:09):
Which I'm not sure we've seen the last couple of years.
Speaker 4 (15:11):
Boy, he made that great pass in the Jet game,
the bomb, and theyble made sure he plays him for that.
And somebody who would know and I hate to play
the someone who know game without giving you the name,
but someone told me that Dable is drooling over dark
so uh, you know, and again all signs pointed to
the fact he's going to be pretty good.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
So and it's funny about Dart.
Speaker 4 (15:33):
I the one game last year and I we saw
them play plenty and you know, you see all miss
played three four games the Bowl game two or two
against Penn State.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
But the one game last year that was a little
alarming with old.
Speaker 4 (15:44):
Miss No the Florida LSU they played.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Well, oh, that's right. It was the fourth quarter against Auburn, right,
is that.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
What it was? The Florida game, Florida, Florida.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
That's right, thank you.
Speaker 4 (15:54):
While he was terrible through four interceptions, I was or
got beat up by the pass rush. And that was
the last game they played, and they needed to win
that game to be in consideration.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
It wasn't the last game to the Mississippi State last
but they.
Speaker 4 (16:06):
Needed to win that game to be in consideration for
the playoffs, and they lost that game. Alarm me, But
the Giants might know more than I do, and Dable
does like him supposedly, so that's good news.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
No, your memory is still unelievable by the way. You
are all over it a long time. Gids.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
Little podcast have brought to you by Citizen Official Bank
of the Giants game. They celebrations every day financial and
these big new fans and get the most out of
every move with citizens.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
Learn more at.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
Citizens bank dot com slash Giants. What do you think
this looks like with Russell Wilson Dogs? Are they gonna
try to recreate Seattle here with good defense, run it,
throw some deep balls down the field, not put too
much on this plate.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
What do you think is gonna look like with him
as the starter earlier in the year.
Speaker 4 (16:42):
Yeah, I don't think you're gonna see the Wilson that
we saw with Seattle there, say, eight nine years ago.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
He wasn't terrible.
Speaker 4 (16:48):
Last year with Pittsburgh wasn't terrible, I mean, obviously, and
the second year in Denver for Peyton, he wasn't terrible.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Either he was off with that first year.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
You know, he said, look, everybody claims he's a little
aloof uh you know, you know in Denver especially.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
Which is funny though, because he has not been here.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Love him. The players love him.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
It's about the media.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
So far, so good, so far, so good.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
Really wow, So that's that's a good sign then, So
I mean I think, well, I mean, Wilson skylous something
to prove.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
I mean, he's been dumped out by a lot of teams.
Speaker 4 (17:23):
Seattle trades him, Denver gets rid of him, Pittsburgh this
is fourth team in five years.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
You know, he was a Hall of Fame quarterback.
Speaker 4 (17:31):
Now with all the movement in the last five years,
he's almost a little bit more on the you know,
on the bubble. He was a Hall of Famer there
at the end of his Seattle run. Now you're not
so sure, Plasu. You got to bring up that unbelievably
poor play against the Patriots when he threw an interception
at the goal line, which was just course from the
Super Bowl. We found out he left tennis this weekend.
He was at the US Open for two consecutive days.
(17:54):
I didn't realize how much he loved.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
It good athlete.
Speaker 4 (17:57):
I think that, you know, I think he'd be pretty
careful with the football.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
He was pretty decent for Pittsburgh last year. Decent.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
I think that I think he'd be a step up.
Do I think he's gonna be great? No, But I
do love that giant pass rush. I also do think
Wilson included Giants got a little chip on their shoulder.
I think the Giants have a decent seasonally, I think,
and I don't love the Jets at all. I think
the Giants have a decent season all right.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
Last one on the Giants before we hit the league
a little bit. Focusing on that defense. You've mentioned a
couple of times you think this defense is gonna be
really good, don't you.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
I do. Yeah. I know they aided some people in
the secondary.
Speaker 4 (18:36):
But it also Bill Wallah said it a long time ago,
the kid, the NFL football is a fourth.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
Quarter pass rush.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
Uh And if if Bill watsh can say it, Andy,
I listened and Wash said that a lot with that
great NINU team that had very underrated defense. And you know,
Haley was tremendous for him getting on the quarterback. And
I think the Giants will get to the quarterback, and
I think that's a big plus. And this quarter he's great. Right,
He's had an incredible camp. You can't block them. And
then you got Burns who's quietly, very very good Lawrence
(19:06):
in the middle. I love the giant pass rush and
because of that, I think they're going to be a
very dangerous team.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
I think their defense gonna be so much better.
Speaker 4 (19:16):
And as a result of that, I think they got
a chance to be an effective team.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
And I do like their defense.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
Jurney, if you want to know how to manage two
minutes of crunch time football, I'm your man.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
But if you're wondering about a long term financial plan,
you should talk to Citizens. Hey, I can also talk
long care. I'd like to learn about Amilia team. Yes,
I knew I could.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
Help make sense of your money with Citizens.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
All right, Doggie.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
We have not seen a team repeat as NFC East
champion since two thousand and four, when Andy Reid and
Donovan McNabb did it make the case? How does that
streak continue this year? With the Eagles just being as
talented as they.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
Are, I'll take Washington just to the hell of it.
Speaker 4 (19:54):
You know, they got the receivers signed, the quarterback is very,
very good.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
And did you.
Speaker 4 (19:59):
See the schedule? Oh my yeah, I've never seen his
schedule like this. They played the AFC West, which had
three playoff teams last year. They played Buffalo, which is
on the road. They play Washington the last two games,
the last two out of three games.
Speaker 3 (20:15):
This season, and they.
Speaker 4 (20:17):
Play the Lions Packers Minnesota. It took the words right
out of my mouth. And don't forget uh. They have
to play the Bucks in the Rams because they won divisions.
I think the Eagles, and remember they weren't so good
after they lost the Super Bowl a few years ago.
They came back the next year. They were ten to
one and they finished eleven and five. They're over under
number is off the high now Dallas, who knows Giants
(20:40):
are not gonna win eleven games. It have to be
up to Washington to do that. Washington's a little older
team than you would think. And you know, are they
gonna catch people by surprise again? But I think the Eagles.
I will say there will not be a repeat NFC.
As you said, the NFC East hasn't been a repeat winner.
Is that what you said, Joe? Yes, that is interesting.
(21:04):
So that means I'd have to take Washington. I can't
take Dallas and the Giants. I'd have to take Washington.
So I'm a little worried to do that. Sophomore Jinks
quarterback getting the north of line. Know he's good, but
boy boy, that is you know, to be to be different.
I'll say that Washington wins the NFC East. That fill
out your schedule is hard. Let's be honest. That's a
(21:26):
hard schedule, Jaez, That's a hard schedule. I mean, they
play at Kansas City in week two at you know,
they finish up at Washington at Buffalo Washington.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
That is bootle. And they play the Giants early in
the season twice.
Speaker 4 (21:42):
And so the Giants who always fed the Eagles late
this season when they're out of it, this year, the
Giant's gonna get them early with the games will be
more significant, was the Giants will feel like they're in it.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
Those would be harder games.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
I mean, you know, and the NFC West, the NFC
West is hard, so I see the Eagles would come
down a little bit down to the earth, and I'll
say Washington will win the division eleven seven something like that.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
It's funny you mentioned the NFC West Dog. Have you
ever seen a division with coaches like that Harball, Reid, Peyton, Carroll.
You could have three or four Hall.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
Of Famers coaching at that division right now. That's crazy.
Speaker 4 (22:17):
That's one hundred percent right. And I know the Chiefs
have a hard schedule too. You know they played Buffalo
in the Ravens and the Eagles the NFC East.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
Uh, you know they got That division's hard. There's a
lot of rival Now they.
Speaker 4 (22:30):
Win those games in the division every year, but they
are rivalry games. But you're right, that division's got you know,
Harbaugh's excellent.
Speaker 3 (22:38):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (22:38):
And I'm a worried about Herbert who did not play
well last year and was awful against the Texas.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Awful. His star is dipped to me, has dipped a
little bit.
Speaker 3 (22:48):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
But you know, obviously Peyton's is an excellent coach.
Speaker 4 (22:52):
And you bring in the idea that you know Reid
is going to the Hall of Fame and Karen knows
how to win. You're right, and that division is a
good division because there's not a bad team in that division.
All those teams are pretty even. The Raiders are not bad.
Gino and Carol, that's not terrible. So that division will
be relatively competitive. You got to pick the Chiefs, but
(23:13):
they're knocked each other. They knocked each.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
Other all four year long. In the AFC West, we
think they.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
Will AFC we know they got the monster quarterbacks. Those
are the teams that it can compete for a super Bowl.
In the NFC, it's a much more wide open doggie
aside from Philadelphia. Who's the team you're watching now that
you think could try to make a run and get
to the super Bowl.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Yeah, it's good. I'm gonna say San Francisco.
Speaker 4 (23:33):
I like, I know they've lost a lot of people,
but I like their winning culture.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
I love Shanahan.
Speaker 4 (23:39):
The Vegas number is ten and a half, which is
you say, wow, really, why that high?
Speaker 2 (23:45):
You see their schedule? Oh my god, it's so easy.
Speaker 4 (23:48):
They play the NFC South and the AFC South, So
they have Tennessee, Jacksonville, Carolina, the Saints. They got a
very very easy schedule, and then they play the last
plays teams they for the Giants, the Bears, and the Browns.
So they have Arizona, Seattle and the Rams. Six times.
(24:11):
They play the Giants, the Browns, and the Bears. That's
nine times and then they play all those games, the
eight games against those two divisions, that's pretty easy. So
because they have an easy start to the year, they
play Seattle, the Saints, Jacksonville. They got a chance before
(24:33):
going up and Purty's better than you think. And I
like the court, I like the head coach. I think
San francisc would be better than you think in the NFC.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
Do either Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson finally break through
this year and get to the Super Bowl.
Speaker 4 (24:44):
Well, I think Allen's better than Jackson. So if I
had to take somebody, I would take Allen. I know
everybody likes to put Lamar on this incredible level because
of winning the two MVPs, but he's three and five
in the playoffs. He's never played a great playoff game.
Even last year. I though it was Mark Andrews's fault.
He fumbled which resulted in a touchdown. He didn't play
(25:06):
great in the game. Allen's had great games and losing
causes to against the Chiefs. Just the one game in
Kansas City when freaking mcgummot didn't know what he was
doing with the squib kick and then he lost because
Diggs couldn't catch a pass of twenty seven to twenty
four two years ago when the Chiefs beat him in
Buffalo in the Division round. Maybe Buffaloes do. It's had
a bad preseason, but maybe Buffaloes do. So I think
(25:28):
if anybody could do it, I like Alan better than
I like Lamar, and I think the Bengals will be
better too. I know their defense thinks, but they seem
like they understand they got to get off to a
better start in September. They're one and eleven under Zach
Tiller the last three Septembers. They should be better than
that this year. I think the Bengals would be better
than you think too.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
Since final question, Doggie, Now they d're over at the
Mothership doing stuff with Steven a First taking all that stuff.
Does ESPN realize that they've stole like half of their
commer half of their programming format from the success you
and Mike had back in the day and all debating
each other now and they basically just do sports talk
on the radios that they put cameras in front of people.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
Do they realize that or no, you know.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
I haven't heard.
Speaker 4 (26:07):
I should If they do, I should, I should get
a residual feat because Mike and I did that, you know,
and yes for a while, we did it for such
a long time, and it is it's a debate show,
and the idea there when you do these debate shows
on TV.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
I have two rules of thumb.
Speaker 4 (26:23):
One, get in and out pretty quick, don't fit a
buster for three four minutes. Give everybody a chance to talk.
That's important. And number two, don't take it too seriously.
Let's have some fun with it. Let's not take yourself
so seriously. So those are the two themes that I
play with, and I'm just happy they still want me
(26:43):
after all these years.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
But you're right, it's it's TV debate, sports.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
Talk, right, John on the Mad Dog Radio series ex
Sam I mentioned first ake ESPN. Of course you also
find them an NFL classic after further review Wednesday nights,
nine pm Eastern on Vice TV, Chris Madog Russo, Doggie,
anything else you do in you do that you want
people know about?
Speaker 1 (27:02):
Any more books coming out?
Speaker 4 (27:04):
I do?
Speaker 2 (27:04):
Yeah? You know one thing.
Speaker 4 (27:05):
I'm about to finish a five part series on wesce
UH where we're going to debate again that word athletes.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
Ruth Oshani A.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
Le Tyson, Oh Fier with Jack.
Speaker 4 (27:20):
There's five shows. We have one more to make sure
we finish the tennis one, but it will be It's
very good, a lot of good interviews. Gary Myers has
a lot of input with it. It's the second time,
second year I've done with device. Wece does a great job.
They let me do what I want with it. They
got a great staff. I love Wece. So since you
mentioned Wevice with this thing in conjunction with Omaha Productions,
(27:43):
mine is not in conjunction with Omaha. This rewind thing
with the football is, but it's on Vice and they
did the Patino thing in Kada Parry. So they do
a good job of sports and so that we are
going to work on in the fall two.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
To keep an eye on that.
Speaker 1 (27:57):
Oh when that comes out, mate, we'll have you back on.
We could talk about it, dog, that would be rate
and see you doing so well, John.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
I I appreciate that. Look, I grew up in sports.
I got into this business because of you and Mike.
I've told you that before. You guys are the best
you always have been, And I really appreciate everything you've
done for me in my career.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
I really do appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
Good job, Giants, Good Giants.
Speaker 3 (28:15):
You can find that episode with Dog and Sims talking
about Super Bowl twenty one, October eighth, the season finale
of NFL Classic after further review on Vice TV. That's
the Johnson Podcast, brought to you by Citizens Official Bank
of the Giants.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
We'll see you next time. Everybody,
It's time to get inside the Giants. Hulet's go, Let's go,
Let's go, Alliance.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Dont get up my Giants bubbling, give me some job.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Part of the Giants podcast Network. Let's roll.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
Welcome to another edition of the Giants Little Podcast, brought
to you by Citizens, the official bank of the Giants.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
I am John Schmelk.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
I am thrilled today to be joining the Hackensack Merity
Health podcast studio. Keep getting Better by the one and
only Chris mad Dog Russo. Doggie, it's been a long
time by friend, Hey, how.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Are you pal?
Speaker 4 (00:27):
Saturday Mornings a long time ago on a great series
in the great U sixty six Sports Radio sixty six.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
But I'm even forgetting the names myself here on wf AN.
But it's been a long time, nice to talk to.
Speaker 4 (00:38):
You've had a great career during his Giant stuff and
hopefully you win more than three games this year.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Give yourself a little juice in a course, which you should.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
And of course this is uh from your lips, Doggie,
and now were working with you and Morgan with your
former producer Melusa's we're a host that shows every week
on Saturday morning.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
Now, Oh, are you really you and Martie good to
hear that, and Mark still got the pix thing go
on General Evan Sports does he not?
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Yes? He does?
Speaker 2 (01:03):
And you the Bovie Boy. The FA and crew keeps.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
On expanding, which is good to see.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
I do think the Giants will have a good year.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Actually, I think they'd be a lot better in twenty
twenty five.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Yes, and we'll get to the Gihnson the second of
Your Dog.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
But you're gonna be part of a cool show coming
up called NFL Classic After further Review, hosted by Kyle Brandt,
and you basically have guys watching past NFL games and
talking about it. The game you got this year. I
think it's gonna be the season finale. It's gonna be
every Wednesday night at nine pm on Vice TV. You're
gonna be with Phil Simms talking about his Super Bowl
where he was almost perfect against the Broncos.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
How cool is this thing? Gonna be excellent?
Speaker 4 (01:39):
And I had had Fell on my radio program here
at Sirius XM for the last five six years, so
I have a very good relationship with him.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Who doesn't love.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
Phil, But we spent you know, a good couple of
hours watching that. Denver game in January of eighty seven
out of course in Pasadena and going through the specifics
of the game, I mean, not every play, but every
significant drive of the game. He of course was twenty
two or twenty five. The aspect of the game that
is interesting is the idea that the game, you know,
(02:11):
Denver had to you know, it was right there for
a large part of the game.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
You know, it was a ten nine at the half
and everything else.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
I mean, the Broncos were right in the game, and
the Giants with a much better team and obviously blew
Bloom out in the second half, winning the game thirty
nine to twenty. But we spent a lot of time
in philm thill re numbered every play like you wouldn't believe,
gave us some insights on specific pass routes.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Bavaro a touchdown, Zeke Mullatt a big touchdown, and so on.
Speaker 4 (02:36):
McConkie had a huge game, as you know, you know,
he felt very good going into that game.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
He had great workouts out in California during the week.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
He thought he was crisp, thought that they were going
to throw the ball and the effective good stuff in there,
you know, was listening.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
It's forty years ago.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
But most Giant fans, you know, if you're fifteen over,
have a good feeling of that game. It's their first
championship in thirty years. And Kyle does a great job.
And Phil and I break down a game with Kyle there.
So if you are a football fan and you like
the Giants, there's nothing much you're not gonna like. Maybe
if you're a Bronco fan, you laid low, but if
you're a Giant fan, you're gonna enjoy it.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Now, I've want to fill a bunch over here. Did
he allow you to get at least a couple words
in while.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
You're Yesad and his memory, he is wonderful with his memory.
We talked a little bit about the Brown game because
remember the week before that or two weeks before that,
that was a ninety eight yard drive by Lway against Cleveland.
Now we talked a little bit about that, and that
was the first game of that double ahead of that day.
The Giant Washington game was game two. I mean he
(03:39):
talked a little bit about that game. I think he
was on the field during the Lway drive, you know, warmups.
But you know, did you want to play the Browns
or do you wanted to play the Broncos. Now, they
played the Broncos, as you know, John during the regular
season late and that was the George Martin play. It
was either a fumble or an interception where he turned
it like seventy three yards for a touchdown.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
So very very good stuff out of film.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
Uh, he's again, he's very proud of that day, as
he should. Talked about the Disney thing. You know, I
want to go to Disney World. He thought that was
a joke and then found you know, that was the
first time they had ever done it. Yep, and he
thought it was a joke and how lucrative that was.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
And he did go to.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
Disney World, parcels, you know, you name it. They discussed
and they were confident. You could tell the Giants offense.
Bill felt very good about what he was gonna do
in that game. They knew that had a great defense,
they had beaten Denver in the regular year. Or though close,
they were confident the Giants. I think the biggest surprise
the game was so close for the first thirty minutes.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
That was a close game at the half, and then
the pen three right, ten three, nine, ten to nine.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Thank you.
Speaker 4 (04:44):
I remember ten nine, and don't forget they went for
it on fourth and won early in the third quarter
on that quarterback sneak by what was the backup quarterbacks
name Jeff something No, not hostile was in ninety not Rutledge?
Speaker 1 (05:00):
He was gone by then?
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Right now? Who the hell was it?
Speaker 4 (05:04):
I'll think of it a second, but they got a
first down on fourth and on short. I think it
was the first lave of the third quarter on a
quarterback sneak, which is a huge Mayben Rutledge, which is
a huge playing the game gave the Giants momentum away.
They went talk a little bit about that play too,
So a lot of good things in there.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
If you're a Giant fan, no question about it.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
It's funny dog.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
But before we get to this year, I always say
that I think the favorite game that I've been a
part of doing the Giants thing. Look, it's been a
Watson and Johns have been in some really big games,
but it wasn't one of the Super Bowls. The game
I remember the most, still being in the booth boor
and doing was the game at Green Bay in the
title game early two thousand and eight, two thousand and seven,
seasons and you were in the booth of us watch
(05:45):
it that game. You had done a show there previous
that day, And I always tell the story. We're in
the booth, Papa's got the windows open, even though it's
like negative thirty degrees outside. We're all freezing, and me
and you look at each other when they go out
there and Tinnes lines up for the next field goal,
and we both look at each other that we go,
there's no way he's making the stake.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
See and mister Watson earlier I did Boom.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
It's a lot of right through I do.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
That was the Corey Webster interception on farv yep in
that game. Yeah. That was the second game that day
was Monus two degrees at kickoff, I had Mike had
done his first show.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
I did a show after that on that Sunday afternoon.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
I had Jim Taylor on Never Forget It, the Great
Packer running back and you know the Giants, and obviously
Coffin didn't have the mask on his face. Froze and
Eli had an incredible game, and so the Plaxico bursts.
I think Plaxico Burris broke the ray Berry record for
catches in a championship game, which Barry had established in
(06:44):
the fifty eight game against the Giants, and I think
Boris maybe by one or two catches, broke the record.
He had twelve catches that day.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
It was a twelve.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
I had to look it up, but there's a lot
of them. And that was a great game and a
great Giant win, and of course they went from there.
You know, one of the great runs are gonna have
beat Tampa, beat Dallas, beat Green Bay.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
And beat the Patriots. Can't game better than that if
you're a Giant fan.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
And Rutledgit of a two yard running that game, so
I think it was Rutledgis that had run.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
So Rutgers was the backup quarterback on the quarterback sneak.
You'll see that play extolled and discussed with Phil on
the Vice Show and.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
At Burr's by the way, Al Harris had a lot
to say heading into that game, and Burrs absolutely murdered
Al Harris.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
Did he have twelve catches, one hundred and fifty eight
yards of whatever it was? He had a huge game.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Everyone thinks, oh far from the cold weather, it's advantage
Packers and the be and Eli that out played the
cold weather.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
Eli had a Eli play Eli in a lot of
ways his career, in a lot of ways. It's like
about five or six games that were superlative, two against Tampa,
one in San Francisco. That game in Green Bay, though,
may have been from an ability standpoint, the best game
he's ever played, because he was great that game.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
I agree with you.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
And they always seem to come in the biggest spots,
which is why Eli was who he was, all right, Doggie.
You mentioned a couple of times you think the Giants
gonna be better this year. Very simple, Why Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
I love their defense. I think they a great pass rush,
so I like that aspect of it.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
And we know they got a tough schedule, but I
love their pass rush. The kid from Penn State's gonna
be a monster. Burns is very good. You know Lawrence
sitting there, you know Thibodeau's sitting there. I mean, they
got a lot of defense. They got a lot of
defensive linemen.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
I like that. Wilson will be better than Jones.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
Prussia got Dardan Air who I think we'll get some sequences.
We saw that jet preseason game where he had that
one pass play neighbors is very good. The schedule is
brutal early on Washington, Dallas, Kansas City.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
That first Sunday night game at home their opener.
Speaker 4 (08:37):
But I think the Giants are gonna be do I
think they'd be a playoff team. I wouldn't say that,
but I think they're gonna win eight nine games.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
And I like Dable. I think Dabel's a good coach.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
I think Shane took way too much heat for letting
Barkley go to Philadelphia. You know, I deal with the
ESPN guys all the time. On a Wednesday. They love
to kill Shane, you know, for that hard knock series.
I don't blame Ain't for that.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
You know.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
As it turns out, Barkley walked into the perfect spot
with that offensive line. And although I like to see
Dave will open up a little more with the media,
I think he's a good I think he's he never
says anything, but I.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
Did not trust I'm aware, Oh he doesn't anything.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
I mean, Brian, nobody's gonna bite share. You can give
us something, I mean, just to pacify its place. Give
me an opinion. But I do like him. I think
most Giants fans do like him. And I think he's
a I think he's a good coach, and I think
he'll see some of that this year. I think Gihant's
got a much better season. Now again, it doesn't mean
they're gonna go thirteen and four, but I think the
(09:35):
Giants gotta have a much better season. And from what
we've seen, John, you're there practices, so you know more
than I do. I only saw a little bit in
the preseason. I saw him a lot in college. Dart
looks like he's gonna be pretty good, and that's huge.
I mean, they got the kidf and Penn State and
they get Dart, and if they win eight nine games,
that's a good year for the Giants.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
It's good year.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
The Giants Total podcast is brought to you by Citizens,
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(10:17):
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Speaker 1 (10:26):
Huddle up, get in here. If you're lined up here,
you gotta go over the middle with at the score great?
Speaker 2 (10:31):
How do we make that happen? I don't know, Bud
Citizens does?
Speaker 3 (10:36):
It makes sense of your money with Citizens official Bank
of Eli Manning, and.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
It gives fans hope.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Right, you see progress with the players here, and then
you see what the future could look like, which is important.
So I guess, I guess. My question for you is this,
how do you think they navigate this? Because you know, dog,
you've been through this with a lot of young teams
that draft on the quarterbacks, they have the veteran How
are they going to navigate this over the course of
the year, because they can get mess if it doesn't
go well.
Speaker 4 (11:01):
Early unpususally had demanding thing with Warner a few years
a long time ago, correct, but he took him out
at five and four. But Warner handled that like such
a good guy that it wasn't that messy. I'm not
sure if Wilson will be as accommodating. I think the
first thing that you'll received. I do think Dart to
get Jameis Winston. I do think that Dart will see
(11:22):
some action in certain packages in the course of the
early part of the season. I think he'll get get
three or four players like you saw not checking. I
think you might just as a change up. I think
you might see that. But I think that is going
to be very tricky for the coaching staff. Is you know,
when is it a parent where you're not making the
(11:43):
playoffs where you gotta let the kid play. I mean,
let's face it, you can't play the whole season without
getting a look at him for three or four games.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
And when you make that switch, how he handle it?
Speaker 4 (11:55):
With Wilson, as long as you're pretty good and you know,
having a better year than you, I think you gotta
leave it alone. But he's got to play. So I
think that is a very interesting question. That is something
that is gonna be You're not gonna pay attention to
it too much the first half of the year, but.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
There's gonna be coming in time around Halloween.
Speaker 4 (12:14):
If the Giants are playing badly, where if people are
gonna want to see dark play and how.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Dable make that switch will be interesting.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
I think the interesting aspect of it though, is if
they're bad, it's easier to make the switch. How about
if the Giants are surprising people effective and they're five.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
And four, then what do you do?
Speaker 1 (12:35):
And look, I think that he's back.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
The playoffs, you're five and four? How do you handle
that with Dart?
Speaker 3 (12:39):
That will be you know, I think that's the situation
they want to be in, right. They don't want this
to be a deal where they kind of get pushed
into it, right.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
They want to be able to sit there and have
the choice.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
And if they're winning with Russell Wilson and Doug, you know,
they just haven't scored enough points the last two years.
The offense has been a fifteen points in game, sixteen
points game. You can't win doing that. If they get
up to twenty twenty one points per game with Russell
Wilson and they're hovered around five hundred, I feel like
they're gonna try to stick with him for as long
as they can here because they bring him in here
(13:09):
and they're trying to win ball games.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
You know, I agree with you, John.
Speaker 4 (13:13):
I do think they probably will go with Wilson as
long as they can. And I do think, and I'm
only basing this, and I know he's not a runner,
but I'm only basing this on that Jet preseason game
when he put him in surprisingly enough to a forty
six yard pass just to the one play. He may
have just wanted to see how it went if Dark
can handle it. But I do think there'll be some games,
(13:35):
even when Wilson is distorted early, where you might see
Dark get in there for a player two just to
keep his feet wet. I could see that where the
Giants are trying to go down that very tricky line
where they're trying to win but also develop a rookie
and a franchise.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
It hasn't won in a while.
Speaker 4 (13:55):
That obviously, with Shane and Dable need to show some improvement,
especially the head coach, to get another crack at it
for down the road. But I do think Matra likes
to both of them. I think Shane he's had some
good drafts. I think he had a great draft this year.
Drafting moving up to get Dart was excellent and I'm
a dable. I don't know how you feel about it.
(14:15):
I don't talk the Giant fan on a week to
week basis like you might calling up on talk shows.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
This is not nineteen ninety seven. You know, when I'm sitting.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
There with Mike for five and a half hours Giant
Core after Giant call, it's a little different when you're
doing it over serious, so I don't get a sense
of what the temperature is. But if it's me and
I'm a Giant fan, I do think Dabel's a good coach.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
Look I think so too, And I just think he's
been invigorated dog by having different guys in the quarterback
room that are willing to kind of make those throws downfield.
And now Russell wils is not the same guy who
was ten years ago. No one will claim that he is.
He can't move around as well, But I just think
we have a veteran like that. It raises the floor
so much, and he's gonna make the right, you know,
calls at the line of scrimmage protection decisions. He's not
(15:00):
going to turn it over. I think DA will trust
him to execute his vision. And I think we'll see
now if you have the right player in there can't
what does that vision look like?
Speaker 1 (15:09):
Which I'm not sure we've seen the last couple of years.
Speaker 4 (15:11):
Boy, he made that great pass in the Jet game,
the bomb, and theyble made sure he plays him for that.
And somebody who would know and I hate to play
the someone who know game without giving you the name,
but someone told me that Dable is drooling over dark
so uh, you know, and again all signs pointed to
the fact he's going to be pretty good.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
So and it's funny about Dart.
Speaker 4 (15:33):
I the one game last year and I we saw
them play plenty and you know, you see all miss
played three four games the Bowl game two or two
against Penn State.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
But the one game last year that was a little
alarming with old.
Speaker 4 (15:44):
Miss No the Florida LSU they played.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Well, oh, that's right. It was the fourth quarter against Auburn, right,
is that.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
What it was? The Florida game, Florida, Florida.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
That's right, thank you.
Speaker 4 (15:54):
While he was terrible through four interceptions, I was or
got beat up by the pass rush. And that was
the last game they played, and they needed to win
that game to be in consideration.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
It wasn't the last game to the Mississippi State last
but they.
Speaker 4 (16:06):
Needed to win that game to be in consideration for
the playoffs, and they lost that game. Alarm me, But
the Giants might know more than I do, and Dable
does like him supposedly, so that's good news.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
No, your memory is still unelievable by the way. You
are all over it a long time. Gids.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
Little podcast have brought to you by Citizen Official Bank
of the Giants game. They celebrations every day financial and
these big new fans and get the most out of
every move with citizens.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
Learn more at.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
Citizens bank dot com slash Giants. What do you think
this looks like with Russell Wilson Dogs? Are they gonna
try to recreate Seattle here with good defense, run it,
throw some deep balls down the field, not put too
much on this plate.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
What do you think is gonna look like with him
as the starter earlier in the year.
Speaker 4 (16:42):
Yeah, I don't think you're gonna see the Wilson that
we saw with Seattle there, say, eight nine years ago.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
He wasn't terrible.
Speaker 4 (16:48):
Last year with Pittsburgh wasn't terrible, I mean, obviously, and
the second year in Denver for Peyton, he wasn't terrible.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Either he was off with that first year.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
You know, he said, look, everybody claims he's a little
aloof uh you know, you know in Denver especially.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
Which is funny though, because he has not been here.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Love him. The players love him.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
It's about the media.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
So far, so good, so far, so good.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
Really wow, So that's that's a good sign then, So
I mean I think, well, I mean, Wilson skylous something
to prove.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
I mean, he's been dumped out by a lot of teams.
Speaker 4 (17:23):
Seattle trades him, Denver gets rid of him, Pittsburgh this
is fourth team in five years.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
You know, he was a Hall of Fame quarterback.
Speaker 4 (17:31):
Now with all the movement in the last five years,
he's almost a little bit more on the you know,
on the bubble. He was a Hall of Famer there
at the end of his Seattle run. Now you're not
so sure, Plasu. You got to bring up that unbelievably
poor play against the Patriots when he threw an interception
at the goal line, which was just course from the
Super Bowl. We found out he left tennis this weekend.
He was at the US Open for two consecutive days.
(17:54):
I didn't realize how much he loved.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
It good athlete.
Speaker 4 (17:57):
I think that, you know, I think he'd be pretty
careful with the football.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
He was pretty decent for Pittsburgh last year. Decent.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
I think that I think he'd be a step up.
Do I think he's gonna be great? No, But I
do love that giant pass rush. I also do think
Wilson included Giants got a little chip on their shoulder.
I think the Giants have a decent seasonally, I think,
and I don't love the Jets at all. I think
the Giants have a decent season all right.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
Last one on the Giants before we hit the league
a little bit. Focusing on that defense. You've mentioned a
couple of times you think this defense is gonna be
really good, don't you.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
I do. Yeah. I know they aided some people in
the secondary.
Speaker 4 (18:36):
But it also Bill Wallah said it a long time ago,
the kid, the NFL football is a fourth.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
Quarter pass rush.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
Uh And if if Bill watsh can say it, Andy,
I listened and Wash said that a lot with that
great NINU team that had very underrated defense. And you know,
Haley was tremendous for him getting on the quarterback. And
I think the Giants will get to the quarterback, and
I think that's a big plus. And this quarter he's great. Right,
He's had an incredible camp. You can't block them. And
then you got Burns who's quietly, very very good Lawrence
(19:06):
in the middle. I love the giant pass rush and
because of that, I think they're going to be a
very dangerous team.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
I think their defense gonna be so much better.
Speaker 4 (19:16):
And as a result of that, I think they got
a chance to be an effective team.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
And I do like their defense.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
Jurney, if you want to know how to manage two
minutes of crunch time football, I'm your man.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
But if you're wondering about a long term financial plan,
you should talk to Citizens. Hey, I can also talk
long care. I'd like to learn about Amilia team. Yes,
I knew I could.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
Help make sense of your money with Citizens.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
All right, Doggie.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
We have not seen a team repeat as NFC East
champion since two thousand and four, when Andy Reid and
Donovan McNabb did it make the case? How does that
streak continue this year? With the Eagles just being as
talented as they.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
Are, I'll take Washington just to the hell of it.
Speaker 4 (19:54):
You know, they got the receivers signed, the quarterback is very,
very good.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
And did you.
Speaker 4 (19:59):
See the schedule? Oh my yeah, I've never seen his
schedule like this. They played the AFC West, which had
three playoff teams last year. They played Buffalo, which is
on the road. They play Washington the last two games,
the last two out of three games.
Speaker 3 (20:15):
This season, and they.
Speaker 4 (20:17):
Play the Lions Packers Minnesota. It took the words right
out of my mouth. And don't forget uh. They have
to play the Bucks in the Rams because they won divisions.
I think the Eagles, and remember they weren't so good
after they lost the Super Bowl a few years ago.
They came back the next year. They were ten to
one and they finished eleven and five. They're over under
number is off the high now Dallas, who knows Giants
(20:40):
are not gonna win eleven games. It have to be
up to Washington to do that. Washington's a little older
team than you would think. And you know, are they
gonna catch people by surprise again? But I think the Eagles.
I will say there will not be a repeat NFC.
As you said, the NFC East hasn't been a repeat winner.
Is that what you said, Joe? Yes, that is interesting.
(21:04):
So that means I'd have to take Washington. I can't
take Dallas and the Giants. I'd have to take Washington.
So I'm a little worried to do that. Sophomore Jinks
quarterback getting the north of line. Know he's good, but
boy boy, that is you know, to be to be different.
I'll say that Washington wins the NFC East. That fill
out your schedule is hard. Let's be honest. That's a
(21:26):
hard schedule, Jaez, That's a hard schedule. I mean, they
play at Kansas City in week two at you know,
they finish up at Washington at Buffalo Washington.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
That is bootle. And they play the Giants early in
the season twice.
Speaker 4 (21:42):
And so the Giants who always fed the Eagles late
this season when they're out of it, this year, the
Giant's gonna get them early with the games will be
more significant, was the Giants will feel like they're in it.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
Those would be harder games.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
I mean, you know, and the NFC West, the NFC
West is hard, so I see the Eagles would come
down a little bit down to the earth, and I'll
say Washington will win the division eleven seven something like that.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
It's funny you mentioned the NFC West Dog. Have you
ever seen a division with coaches like that Harball, Reid, Peyton, Carroll.
You could have three or four Hall.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
Of Famers coaching at that division right now. That's crazy.
Speaker 4 (22:17):
That's one hundred percent right. And I know the Chiefs
have a hard schedule too. You know they played Buffalo
in the Ravens and the Eagles the NFC East.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
Uh, you know they got That division's hard. There's a
lot of rival Now they.
Speaker 4 (22:30):
Win those games in the division every year, but they
are rivalry games. But you're right, that division's got you know,
Harbaugh's excellent.
Speaker 3 (22:38):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (22:38):
And I'm a worried about Herbert who did not play
well last year and was awful against the Texas.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Awful. His star is dipped to me, has dipped a
little bit.
Speaker 3 (22:48):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
But you know, obviously Peyton's is an excellent coach.
Speaker 4 (22:52):
And you bring in the idea that you know Reid
is going to the Hall of Fame and Karen knows
how to win. You're right, and that division is a
good division because there's not a bad team in that division.
All those teams are pretty even. The Raiders are not bad.
Gino and Carol, that's not terrible. So that division will
be relatively competitive. You got to pick the Chiefs, but
(23:13):
they're knocked each other. They knocked each.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
Other all four year long. In the AFC West, we
think they.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
Will AFC we know they got the monster quarterbacks. Those
are the teams that it can compete for a super Bowl.
In the NFC, it's a much more wide open doggie
aside from Philadelphia. Who's the team you're watching now that
you think could try to make a run and get
to the super Bowl.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Yeah, it's good. I'm gonna say San Francisco.
Speaker 4 (23:33):
I like, I know they've lost a lot of people,
but I like their winning culture.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
I love Shanahan.
Speaker 4 (23:39):
The Vegas number is ten and a half, which is
you say, wow, really, why that high?
Speaker 2 (23:45):
You see their schedule? Oh my god, it's so easy.
Speaker 4 (23:48):
They play the NFC South and the AFC South, So
they have Tennessee, Jacksonville, Carolina, the Saints. They got a
very very easy schedule, and then they play the last
plays teams they for the Giants, the Bears, and the Browns.
So they have Arizona, Seattle and the Rams. Six times.
(24:11):
They play the Giants, the Browns, and the Bears. That's
nine times and then they play all those games, the
eight games against those two divisions, that's pretty easy. So
because they have an easy start to the year, they
play Seattle, the Saints, Jacksonville. They got a chance before
(24:33):
going up and Purty's better than you think. And I
like the court, I like the head coach. I think
San francisc would be better than you think in the NFC.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
Do either Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson finally break through
this year and get to the Super Bowl.
Speaker 4 (24:44):
Well, I think Allen's better than Jackson. So if I
had to take somebody, I would take Allen. I know
everybody likes to put Lamar on this incredible level because
of winning the two MVPs, but he's three and five
in the playoffs. He's never played a great playoff game.
Even last year. I though it was Mark Andrews's fault.
He fumbled which resulted in a touchdown. He didn't play
(25:06):
great in the game. Allen's had great games and losing
causes to against the Chiefs. Just the one game in
Kansas City when freaking mcgummot didn't know what he was
doing with the squib kick and then he lost because
Diggs couldn't catch a pass of twenty seven to twenty
four two years ago when the Chiefs beat him in
Buffalo in the Division round. Maybe Buffaloes do. It's had
a bad preseason, but maybe Buffaloes do. So I think
(25:28):
if anybody could do it, I like Alan better than
I like Lamar, and I think the Bengals will be
better too. I know their defense thinks, but they seem
like they understand they got to get off to a
better start in September. They're one and eleven under Zach
Tiller the last three Septembers. They should be better than
that this year. I think the Bengals would be better
than you think too.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
Since final question, Doggie, Now they d're over at the
Mothership doing stuff with Steven a First taking all that stuff.
Does ESPN realize that they've stole like half of their
commer half of their programming format from the success you
and Mike had back in the day and all debating
each other now and they basically just do sports talk
on the radios that they put cameras in front of people.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
Do they realize that or no, you know.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
I haven't heard.
Speaker 4 (26:07):
I should If they do, I should, I should get
a residual feat because Mike and I did that, you know,
and yes for a while, we did it for such
a long time, and it is it's a debate show,
and the idea there when you do these debate shows
on TV.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
I have two rules of thumb.
Speaker 4 (26:23):
One, get in and out pretty quick, don't fit a
buster for three four minutes. Give everybody a chance to talk.
That's important. And number two, don't take it too seriously.
Let's have some fun with it. Let's not take yourself
so seriously. So those are the two themes that I
play with, and I'm just happy they still want me
(26:43):
after all these years.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
But you're right, it's it's TV debate, sports.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
Talk, right, John on the Mad Dog Radio series ex
Sam I mentioned first ake ESPN. Of course you also
find them an NFL classic after further review Wednesday nights,
nine pm Eastern on Vice TV, Chris Madog Russo, Doggie,
anything else you do in you do that you want
people know about?
Speaker 1 (27:02):
Any more books coming out?
Speaker 4 (27:04):
I do?
Speaker 2 (27:04):
Yeah? You know one thing.
Speaker 4 (27:05):
I'm about to finish a five part series on wesce
UH where we're going to debate again that word athletes.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
Ruth Oshani A.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
Le Tyson, Oh Fier with Jack.
Speaker 4 (27:20):
There's five shows. We have one more to make sure
we finish the tennis one, but it will be It's
very good, a lot of good interviews. Gary Myers has
a lot of input with it. It's the second time,
second year I've done with device. Wece does a great job.
They let me do what I want with it. They
got a great staff. I love Wece. So since you
mentioned Wevice with this thing in conjunction with Omaha Productions,
(27:43):
mine is not in conjunction with Omaha. This rewind thing
with the football is, but it's on Vice and they
did the Patino thing in Kada Parry. So they do
a good job of sports and so that we are
going to work on in the fall two.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
To keep an eye on that.
Speaker 1 (27:57):
Oh when that comes out, mate, we'll have you back on.
We could talk about it, dog, that would be rate
and see you doing so well, John.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
I I appreciate that. Look, I grew up in sports.
I got into this business because of you and Mike.
I've told you that before. You guys are the best
you always have been, And I really appreciate everything you've
done for me in my career.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
I really do appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
Good job, Giants, Good Giants.
Speaker 3 (28:15):
You can find that episode with Dog and Sims talking
about Super Bowl twenty one, October eighth, the season finale
of NFL Classic after further review on Vice TV. That's
the Johnson Podcast, brought to you by Citizens Official Bank
of the Giants.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
We'll see you next time. Everybody,
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