December 30, 2020 • 38 mins
Rob Parker and Brian Noe, in for Chris Broussard, react to the news of another football league popping up this time with former first round pick Johnny Manziel as one of its quarterbacks and whether it can be popular. Jarrett Bell joins the show to discuss the NFL Playoffs, MVP race and more. Plus, Rob and Brian discuss the most underrated and overrated teams heading into the playoffs.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to The Odd Couple podcasts. Be sure
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(00:25):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. It is The Odd Couple.
On a worship Wednesday. The final hour of the program,
Rob Parker along with Brian No, don't you know? Filling
in for mister Chris Bussardi, We're coming to your live
(00:45):
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for people who are listening. Brian and I had a
show together for about six months when I first started
on Fox Sports Radio and I was doing weekends and
(01:07):
we had a fun little show. Brian didn't we Absolutely
we did. I incorrectly pointed out that Nick Fools would
not beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl. That's right.
I was fooling everybody into thinking it was a franchise quarterback.
I was right over the long haul. Just wrong with
that prediction. But that's one of the things that stands
out from our time together. And I did win wings
(01:27):
on that one, right, That's right. We've had a lot
of wing bets. We still Brian of course, is on
the weekends on Fox Sports Radio and he has his
own big time TV and radio show in Portland. But
we stay in touch and we text and we uh,
you know, do stuff. And as far as he was
(01:48):
in La, we went out for pizza, hang out. It
was fun, definitely working with you, and it's great that
you could fill in for Chris during this New Year's
week Ye man, for sure, I'm happy to be here.
And when things get back to normal, like when you
and and Chris are in the studio again, I'm gonna
slide on by, you know, see what's going on in
(02:09):
the studio one day, not buggy, I'm not gonna na
you can you know, you could always come in, you know,
grab a microphone and be like, yeah, I'm gonna take
over now. Nah, It'll be all good speaking out, hang
out with you guys when we get back to normal. Man. Yeah, man,
it's been crazy. I mean it seemed like a year
since we went to the Pizza Paula right here in
LA and had lunch together when you were in La.
(02:29):
So it really does. It feels like it was five
years ago. Crazy, crazy, I know. But uh, you know
there's some news football news, you know. I mean, Brian,
I love football. I think you love football. Most people
love football. Stop with the new football leagues. Haven't they learned?
You know what, people like NFL football, not just any
(02:52):
football thrown together. And they think that people are gonna
watch what was that league? The aff for? What was
that league? AAF What was that? Uh yeah, what was it? AAF?
I can't even remember, right, but it uh AAF right
barely got off. The should have been to WTF. You know,
(03:15):
I think if they had a league that was named that,
people might just understand this isn't competing with the NFL.
You might have more chances for success. That's the biggest
problem they make. They they have their sightset way too
high on what this league is gonna end up being.
It's like, dude, you're competing against the NFL. You're gonna
get squashed. And then and then I mean, you know
(03:37):
Benja McMahon, who's a smart businessman, tries to uh revive
the XFL, which failed on NBC. You remember that, Brian,
and that failed, so he want to try it again.
And I'm like, dude, you could go to the high
the tallest building in uh New York, to Troy LA
(04:00):
and just throw the money off the roof. Okay, it's
the same thing. What are you What are you doing
all his poor kids and their grandkids? What are you
doing without inheritance? You know what I mean? What a
football league? The XFL. That thing didn't last. I mean,
if you can't last with Vince McMahon and his money,
(04:20):
Brian Howe and now here we go. Yeah, Johnny Manziel
has joined the new fan controlled football startup league, and
Vince please tell me what this is and why Johnny
Manziel is attached to this. So it's basically, it's a
(04:41):
it's a fan controlled football league. It's gonna be seven
on seven games where fans set the rosters, call plays,
and interact in a blend of traditional and esports environments.
And you know, if you guys like esports are the
you know, Madden, NBA, Live, bunch of different things out
there was competitive sports for the playing video games. I
(05:01):
don't know exactly how it's gonna work that way, but
the teams will play a six week schedule with games
live suite streamed on Twitch from a league least facility
in Atlanta. The games will last about an hour. The
field will be fifty by thirty five yards with ten
yard end zones, and players will will have backgrounds in
college Division one and two programs along with they'll use
(05:22):
from CFL, XFL and indoor Football. Sign me up. Yeah,
so that the league will be will be begin with
four teams and it's actually gonna have some interesting owners.
Celebrity owners NFL and players include Richard Sherman, Austin Eckler,
and Marshawn Lynz who's recently retired. Other owners include Mike Tyson,
hip hop artist Quevo who's part of Me Goos, and
(05:46):
uh Menory, who I'm not sure who that one is,
but you know, it's it's a little bit of a
twist on I feel like it's could be like a
flag football thing, but it doesn't really say but u
Manzelle got drawn into this through a comedian and who
introduced him to the founders of the league, So that's
how he's he got into it, Brian, How how much
of a fall from grace is this for Johnny Manzel?
(06:09):
I mean, come on, man, it's at the bottom rung right,
like this is at the bottom here. But uh, I
think that's the funniest part is a comedian got Johnny
Manzel into this thing, right, Like, we're looking at how
this all came together. When it's time to pay him,
he's gonna hear a rim shot when the check bout this,
(06:30):
all right? But I mean, I don't care who's involved
with the league, who's running a team, or I care
about who's playing, right, I'm not gonna go out of
my way to see what Richard Sherman is saying if
he's like trying to influence a play being called, or
if Mike Tyson says something on the sideline, like I
care about who's playing the game. If I don't know
(06:53):
who's playing out there, who's on the field, I'm not
gonna be interested in it. You know what, these guys,
these NFL players, they might as well to sink money
into this. You might as well open up a record shop,
because it'd be it's just as much of a waste
of money as opening up a record shop in this
day and age, you know what I mean, Like, like,
(07:14):
what are you doing? No, people aren't going to watch
We just saw two leagues. Remember Bill Polian was a
part of that, AAF or whatever it was, right, you
had big names behind it. They had a TV contract
with CBS. They pay to payroll in a week two. Yeah,
they were on I believe, ABC and ESPN. Like they
(07:37):
had major networks broadcasting their games. They had innovative ideas.
They had coaches miked up, some of the players are
miked up. They're doing interviews in different ways. They're putting
bells and whistles on it. And if we don't know
who's playing quarterback or who's on the field, it's not
gonna be successful. And that's not me saying I don't
want it to be successful. That's just the way it is.
(07:58):
If we aren't familiar with who's out there and it
isn't an attraction, we're not gonna go out of our
way to watch it. I just like like Johnny Manzel
was it wasn't he wanted to catch me out? Brian
am I all exaggerating? No, he's a Heisman Trophy winner,
first round pick, then washed out of the league quickly
(08:21):
and try to revive it. Didn't They kick him out
of the CFL. Yeah, kicked out of the CFL, and
now he's going to resurface with a what is it,
some sort of fan controlled league? Okay, all right, if
you are being objective and you're buying, think about this
league as a stock. Are you buying stock in this
(08:43):
league thinking it's going to be successful? Like put rooting
interest to the site. This is just your money. There's
no way I would buy this league for it to
be successful. I'm just like, leave it alone, you know what.
I keep telling people, stop it. People love their NFL football,
and then you got a college football. That's enough, Brian,
isn't it? We got enough football? Thank you. I want
(09:05):
the football season the end right after the Super Bowl,
I do, and I want to be into other sports
and watch the NBA playoffs and watch baseball and watch
hockey playoffs or whatever it is after that, and then
I look forward to September and a new season. I
don't want football every week, do you No? I don't.
(09:25):
I like the offseason because it makes you, It makes
you long for the season to come back even more
and than when it finally does it feels great. I
don't want the football season to go through whatever April
or May with the spring league. I just don't want that.
If it's a great product, I'll watch it. But I'm
more like you. I like how it's how it's set up,
(09:47):
and it's got to be something that's pretty extraordinary for
me to change my patterns. Think about what we were
talking about this with the NBA last hour, with the ratings.
I think because the NBA, they were playing games and
it wasn't their typical season, right, they were playing against baseball,
they were playing against other things. And you know what
(10:08):
the ratings suffered big time. Absolutely in LA. You ready
for it is the Dodgers ratings were better than than
the Lakers. The Dodgers ratings were better than the Lakers
because you know what I mean, Like, obviously both teams
will love in LA. But I'm saying the time of
the year, they're people here who are Dodger fans, right,
(10:30):
you know that four million people buy tickets every year
and their team is in the World Series. What are
you watching? I mean, what are you watching? Yeah? So too? Good?
Good luck is all I can say for any startup
football league when you are like, you're basically going to
be compared to the NFL. So there's that that's going
(10:53):
completely against you. And then whatever seasons you're infringing on,
a lot of people get into their hatpits of hey,
it's this month. I watched this sport, allright, watched this
league or whatever, So you're competing against that too. Good luck,
that's all I can say. Good luck, God bless you
if you work it out. So there's two things I
would love to hear U people chime in eight eight, seven,
(11:15):
seven ninety nine on Fox eight seven, seven, nine nine
six sixty three sixty nine, Brian, two things ay, or
do you have any interest in this new fan controlled
league which will be shocking in itself, but also the
fall from grace for Johnny Manziel, that that you know,
at twenty eight years old, you're washed out and you're
(11:37):
doing this putting your This guy was a Heisman Trophy winner,
right uh, top pick. He had everything going, he was
he was it. People were all fired up about Johnny Manziel,
and I hope that must say should go, you know,
crawl up in a ball in a corner and not
do anything in life. But This just doesn't seem right,
(12:00):
but this should be. I hope that Dwayne Haskins sees
this report of Johnny Manziel being involved in this league,
and I hope Dwayne Haskins says, you know what, I
gotta start making better decisions and be a professional here,
because the way Johnny Manziel washed out of the league,
I can do that too. If I don't take care
of my business. You don't want to be a part
of the fan controlled startup league. You want to be
(12:22):
in the NFL where the real money is. So hopefully
Dwayne Haskins can get on track because Johnny Manziel shure didn't.
I don't know. I think the only people who would
be interested in this league are a people who are
interested in control substances. Oh, I'm sorry, the controlled substances league.
(12:43):
Everybody's on a controlled substance out on the field. Let's
see what happens here, all right? The Fan Control Football
League starts up in February. There it is right after
the Super Bowl? Will be ready. Is Johnny Manzel enough
to make you want to watch? Or do you want
to break from football? We want to hear from football fans.
(13:03):
We'll take your calls next eight seven seven ninety nine
On Fox, It is The Odd Couple. Rob Parker and
Brian No. Don't you know right here? On Fox Sports Radio.
Thanks for listening to The Odd Couple podcast. Be sure
to catch us live every weekday from seven pm to
ten pm Eastern four to seven pm Pacific on Fox
(13:26):
Sports Radio. Find your local station for The Odd Couple
at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live
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Worship Wednesday, Rob Parker and Brian No in for Chris Broussard,
(13:50):
our telephone number eight seven seven ninety nine. On Fox,
We're coming to your live from the Geico Fox Sports
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(14:12):
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benefit your business with a free product tour at NetSuite
dot com. Slash odd We're talking about this new fan
controlled football league schedule to debut in February. And Johnny Manziel,
(14:33):
the former Heisman Trophy NFL washout, is a part of
this league. And are you interested? Are you gonna watch?
Are you that crazy about football that anything dealing with
football works or have you had enough with these new
makeshift leagues? That's right, Rob, So we want to hear
what the people have to say about it. We're going
(14:55):
out to Joe in Austin. He's up first, Joe. You're
on the odd Couple on Fox Sports Radio. Go ahead, Bud. Hey, guys,
how y'all doing doing great? Happy New Year? Hey, Happy
New Year to you guys. Yeah, well that's real quick.
What's Chris doing? You know what? What is what is
the sports radio hook? Yeah, Chris has got the big contract.
(15:17):
I'm just he also ran. Uh he go off for
two weeks and he'll be back on Monday. But we're
holding it down all right. You know you'll know I
have to like go to Antarctica just to get a
week off. I never would have two weeks off, I
hear me. Man, Uh yeah, we're call in uh. I
mean when it comes to the new league, I think,
(15:41):
I mean, I'm definitely gonna check it out. I'm a
fan of organized sports from wreck to pro. You know,
I appreciate people getting together playing sports. I think it's great,
But this is I never heard anything like this when
it comes to Manzil. I'm definitely gonna watch just to
see how he plays because it's been so long. But uh,
let me ask you'll ever seen the Manziel go on
(16:02):
Gruden's Quarterback Show? Anybody remember that? Yeah? Yeah, I'd kind
of figured I would definitely go on YouTube check it out.
That video age so well because Gruden really breaks him
down because he was getting so popular and he was
he was already kind of you know, not being a pro,
you know, and he was asking, He's liked, do I
want to draft you? And just listen to what Manziel says.
(16:24):
It's classic. So he's totally just lying through his teeth
and you could just see, you know, from the results
of what happened, about what happened, Man, We appreciate the call.
Thank you so much. Man. He always I'll tell you what,
Rob Johnny, Manziel always said the right thing, didn't always
do it, but every time he screwed up, He's like,
I guess gotta be better. I gotta mature and then
it just never quite worked out. But we're asking about
(16:45):
this new league that he's a part of. Are you
interested in the fan controlled league that Johnny Manziel is
taking part in starting in February? JJ is in Indiana. JJ,
you're on the odd Couple on Fox Sports Radio Fireway Man. Hey,
what's up? Rob and Brian? First of all, Rob, you're
never a scrubbings up? Just to let you know, my
brother Man, I appreciate that. I appreciate it, and I
(17:08):
appreciate the support here on the show. You know, I'm
just playing around. Hey, he votum listen here, people are
gonna watch it. But I got a question Johnny Manziel.
He shows up all the time, mister money, I like you.
What is his major? Why is he not in telecommunications?
Why is he not trying to call games from his
(17:30):
alma mater or something like that. That's the first question.
That's a good question. I don't think a question to
that is what's going on? As far as the side
of it, it seems like they're starting these leagues to
give more opportunities for betting purposes. Yeah, but the only
problem is the other two leagues. Thanks for the call,
(17:52):
We appreciate it. Happy New Year, Brian. Anybody can start
a league. I mean we just talked about it. These
two leagues that just started, the XFL with Vince McMahon, right,
I mean the wrestling mogul, and he had ESPN Games
and ABC and Fox and people didn't watch, right, Yeah,
(18:13):
they had the backing. Yeah, and like, you gotta be
affiliated with the NFL. I think that's what the AAF
was trying to do. They were trying to be partners
with the NFL, but the NFL was like, we're good,
you know, right, Like I think you have to have
some type of partnership with the NFL or you're gonna
be looked at as the step son. Right, you're gonna
(18:35):
look at but as a second hand league. Right. And
they try to do it like they're a minor league. No,
we already have monor league football. That's college football. So
we're not looking for you, do you know what I mean?
Like that, like we already have something else to watch
the people progress and get to the next level, right,
we do. We have that. So I don't understand when
(18:56):
they talk about Wolves an alternative league, and it's gonna
help other but no, no, I don't find it thumbs
down on it. We've got Vincent Virginia his thoughts on
this new fan controlled startup football league. Vince, you're on
the odd couple on Fox Sports Radio. All right, thank you.
I'm a diehard football fan, but normally after February or
(19:17):
after the Super Bowl, I'm meant to NASCAR. Did they
twenty five hundreds right around the corner? So my focus
is really on LASCAR. But Rob, I got a question
for you. I know you're a baseball guy. I always
meant to ask you this about the because I know
the LA Dodgers you mentioned on your last secondment. What
do you think the reason was the last the World
Series between the Dodgers and the Tampa Bay Rays. Why
(19:40):
was the TV ratings not so good? And I'll just
take my question off the air, thank you. Well, all
the sports were down, and I think it was just
a combination and probably would have been higher, Brian had
it been the Yankees and Dodgers, right, I mean, Tampa
Bay is not going to move the needle for most people.
They're not gonna know who the players are on the team.
(20:02):
They were a good team, but the NBA ratings. I mean,
Lebron James played in the lowest rated NBA Finals ever.
Just think about think about what I just told you. Ever,
it's all wild to me. That blows my mind. And
I get it. You don't have as much competition right
now for the NBA, and I think that's partly why
(20:22):
the ratings are much better. But I still it still
blows my mind that the finals ratings were that bad
when you're just aching for sports to come back, and
then it came back and a lot of fans were like, man, whatever,
and braun Is attached and it was a chance for
him to win a third championship with three different franchises.
So that was something unique, and it still didn't bring
(20:43):
people to the TV set. Yeah, it was wild. I
want to sneak in one more. Mac is in Oregon.
Does he care about this new fan controlled startup football league. Mac,
you're on the odd couple in Fox Sports Radio. Go
for it, man, mister Parker, Yes, mister Parker, All right,
(21:05):
here we go, sir, here we go, Here we go.
Let's go. All right. My thought is about the AFC
and the NFC. No, now they want to put it
in seventeen games. What we ought to do is put
it that the NFC plays seventeen different games and then
the playoffs is about playing in your conference. Stuff like
(21:27):
that make more diversity, sir, all right, that's it, all right,
Praise Jehovah for worship Wednesday, Prace Jeova all right, Happy
New Year to you as well. I thought he was
gonna give me a shout out there. Rob. He's like
mister Parker and mister He's like, I don't know the
other guy. Mister Parker, he just doubled up. He's in Oregon.
How does he not know you? Yeah? Right, what's up
(21:49):
with that? Come on? You got the big show in Portland?
Are you kidding? All right? What's up with Mac? You
know he'll be better next time? I think that ain't right.
That's that's thanks to be honest, all right. It is
The Couple of Fox Sports Radio, and coming up next,
Jared Bell from USA Today joins us on the show.
(22:10):
Give us some thoughts on a lot of stuff happened
in the NFL. One of the best football writers in
the country, he'll do that next. Be sure to catch
live editions of The Odd Couple with Chris Brussard and
Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm Eastern four pm Pacific
on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app. It is
the Odd Couple Fox Sports Radio coming to your live
(22:32):
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It is a worship Wednesday, Rob Parker and Brian No
in for Chris Brussard, and now I want to welcome
(22:54):
into the Odd Couple one of my favorite people, one
of the best football writers in this country. His name
is Jared Bell, NFL columnists for USA Today. What's up, Jared?
How are you doing? Hey? Rob? What's up? No doubt?
Say hi to Brian No Brian, my man, what's up?
(23:15):
What's up? Jared Bell? We go way back. I used
to interview you when I did radio and Fresno, California,
many moons ago, and you would come on and talk
NFL football. You're a man, Oh yeah, yeah, I knew
your name was familiar. Man. That's hey, hey, Jared. Let's
just start so Patrick Mahomes is going to sit uh
(23:39):
to rest? Um? Does that mean? I mean I think
most people have Aaron Rodgers what in the NFL MVP?
Uh do you? And and you know when you when
you rest a guy and he doesn't play all the games,
it's kind of like that's not that as important as
it is trying to win a super Bowl. Correct, Yeah,
for sure. You know, I Rick Mahomes had a choice,
(24:01):
he would probably say I'd have the Super Bowl MVP
versus the MVP. Nothing he won't want post. But yeah,
I think you kind of proceed at this point for
what you need to do to try to win the
super Bowl. You know, it'd be a different thing if
they were like, um, you know, not in the playoffs.
(24:22):
But how many MVPs are not in the playoffs? So
then you scratch that for a second. But yeah, it's
it's really looking like, in my mind, Aaron Rodgers is
the guy to beat because his season has just been
so amazing, and you know, you can kind of get
into this team where you start looking at stats and
(24:43):
stuff and saying, when those guy's got more touchdowns and
this guy's got a better passer rating and all that,
which Aaron Rodgers does have. But Patrick Mahomes has got
all those ws and he gets the opportunity to rest
in week seventeen, So that has to count for something.
So I think I don't think it leans anything that
(25:03):
Mahomes is resting because of the circumstance. You've already comes
to the number one seed. So if you had a
doubt about him, he weren't going to get it in
week seventeen. How about Aaron? I just want to follow
this up, Brian Aaron Rodgers. A lot some people wrote
them off when they, you know, traded up in the
draft to pick a quarterback. People are like, oh, this
(25:25):
is it writings on the wall. They didn't get Aaron
Rodgers a receiver, they've never drafted him a skilled position player,
and his entire career in the first round in Green
Bay and so people were writing him off at thirty
seven to come back and put up the numbers that
he has. How amazing is that? And are you shocked
at all? I'm not shocked. That's too strong of a word.
(25:48):
But you know, nothing was guaranteed just in terms of
how it was all going to play out. And you
can even go back to last year when Matt Flip
Floyd got there. But I think what's happened I'm last
year to this year. Even though they didn't have the
offseason workoffs, they had a chance to just kind of
see what all worked hard worked, how it flowed with
(26:10):
the system, and they got better in that. But on
top of that, you light a fire under Aaron Rodgers
and you draft Jordan Love and it makes Rogers say, Okay,
I'm gonna show you. And you know, Rogers is in
a position where if you don't want me, I can
do it Tom Brady and you know, maybe he'll end
up in Tampa Bay another couple of years. I don't
(26:31):
think that's going to happen season, but I mean that's
kind of got to be some of the things that
you know, we're going through his mind when it happened.
But again, sometimes you poke a bear and he's gonna
come after you. And I think that's what we're saying
with Aaron Rodgers too. And you ate eight Rob You
(26:51):
talk about not drafting skill position players, which is true,
but Aaron Rodgers just makes those guys. I mean, I'm
mad that I didn't pick the path just tight end
for my fantasy. Oh man, he's balling out right, yes, yes,
and then you know, DeVante's has been even better than
ever and you look at you know, the time that
(27:12):
they've spent together and all of that, and now they
just you know, have more and more chemistry. So yeah,
Aaron Rodgers, Yeah what a beast man, Jared Bell, I
need as we look forward to the postseason. The playoff
teams are almost set and we have a general idea
who's gonna be there. So I need one team who
(27:33):
you think is overrated and another team who you think
is underrated as we inch closer to playoff time. Yeah, yeah,
that's good. I got my underrated, but my overrated. You know,
it's easy to pick on the Steelers right now, right
and say, yeah, this team is overrated. You know, Buffalo's
(27:54):
got all those wins too. But I guess if I
had to say one team that's kind of in there, yeah,
maybe it is Pittsburgh, and only because we've seen the
struggles of the past a few weeks, and really, when
they were on their way to eleven and Old, there
were people questioning whether they were as good as their record.
(28:17):
You know what, Jared, I called them the worst eleven
and Old team I had ever seen. I was spot on.
Yes you were robbed, Yeah, you've done that before. Yes,
oh man, but underrated. I'm gonna say the Baltimore Ravens,
and this is not the Ravens that you grew up
(28:38):
with in terms of, you know, having a monster defense.
But they still have a pretty good defense, right, and
then you've got Lamar just being the guy. And they
haven't won a playoff game with Lamar, so okay, let's
let's see if that finally happens this year. But that's
the team I don't want to play because they've had,
(29:00):
you know, so many issues over the past few weeks
with the you know, stimmon form, the COVID thing, and
then they you know, they got back, they got Lamar back,
and now they've been rolling in their offense, which you know,
you think about Baltimore last year versus this year on offense.
I've been to the defense. But on offense, they lost
their best two offensive linemens last year and Marshall Yonder
(29:24):
retired and Ronnie Stanley season in an injury. So that's
a huge thing for them to lose, and so they
don't do as much like three tight ends. They also
wanted a tight ends to the thought that it another
one to injury it Nick Boyle, so they don't have
the same personnel. But Lamar has played, you know better
(29:46):
down the stretch and so in the game one game,
despite his playoff record, I mean, he can provide the
magic and we saw that in Cleveland and in a
big way. And so that would be the team I
would not want to play. And you think back to
some of the the other Ravens playoff runs over the years,
(30:06):
even though it's a different cast now, but with Hardball
and I guess Jackson Tucker is still there. They've shown
that they could go and win in the playoffs on
the road, So I don't think that they're a team
that has to be at home to you know, really
make a legit Super Bowl run. Jared, last thing I
(30:27):
want to ask you about the Saints and where they
are and Drew Brees. I know Alvin Kamara ran over
what was six touchdowns. He was very impressive, but Drew
Brees didn't have any touchdowns in that game, a couple
of picks. He just didn't look that good. Can they
get to the super Bowl or win a Super Bowl
(30:47):
with where Drew Brees is or will he have some
time to finally get it together or bounce back. Yeah,
he does have a little bit of time. Because I
think that's a great point because remember he came back.
I mean, how many crack ribs he's had at least
a half a slab. I think like, yeah, let's go
(31:10):
over the famous days and get the eleven. Yeah. Yeah.
But but here's the thing with brees Um, you know,
because he was really rusty in that first half against
Kansas City, and I think he's going to get better,
and as you know, the playoffs flow, I wouldn't worry
so much about him beyond what we've talked about with
(31:32):
him when he was healthy, Like does he plowed the
deep ball as well as he used to and all
that kind of stuff. But the thing that Drew Brees
does that you need and if it seems if you're
gonna have a chance to go to the super Bowl,
you gotta have him and not one of those other guys,
be it, you know, Taysom Hill or Jameis Winson. You
gotta have Breeze because he knows that the offense he
reads and he's find an open guy. He's probably gonna
(31:54):
get Michael Thomas back Um and then you mentioned Kamara.
So when Breeze is at quarterback Camara, it still runs
through Kamara, right, But Breeze operates that offense like Camara
is that guy. But when Taysom Hill is a quarterback,
it actually diminishes what they do with Camara. And when
(32:16):
Breeze is a quarterback, you can spring Takesom Hill along
them in a lot of different ways. That's why I
was surprised that when when Breeze went down, if they
didn't go with Jameis Winston just to keep Taysom Hill
in that hybrid X factor we're gonna We're gonna smack
you factor right no, and so yeah, So I think
(32:37):
the fact that they got Breeze it actually helps with
Taysom Hills and all the things they can do with him,
and it helps Kamara and both. They get Michael Thomas back,
you know, healthy enough, they can make a run because
the key tenses is one of the best in the playoffs,
no doubt. His name is Jerry Bell of course, NFL
Commas for USA today, friend of mine and Jared, thank
(33:01):
you so much, man, love the insight. Happy New Year
to you and the family. We appreciate you, my man.
Oh man, you know, I appreciate it. Happy New Year
to YouTube man, and check out my b enemy story
on USA Today dot Com. We broke that down and
it published today and I think you'll you'll like it.
So is he going? Is he going to the Lions? Yes?
Or no? That's all we got Yes or no? No?
(33:23):
I think no. I think Robert Sallens, but we'll see.
All right, appreciate it. We'll check that story out USA
Today dot Com. All right, Jared Bell, just let us
know he thinks he's underrated and overrated heading into the
playoffs coming up. It's gonna be you, mister. Know you'll
tell us who you think is underrated overrated and I'll
(33:46):
debate you. Of course we'll do that. Next, It is
The Odd Couple Fox Sports Radio. Thanks for listening to
The Odd Couple podcasts. Be sure to check us out
live every weekday from seven pm to ten pm Eastern
for to se in Pacific or on Fox Sports Radio.
Find your local station for The Odd Couple at Fox
Sports Radio dot com or stream us live every day
(34:09):
on the iHeartRadio app by searching f s R. It
is the I Couple On a worship Wednesday, Rob Parker,
Brian Noe and for Chris Boussard, and we're coming to
your live from the Guy cooed Fox Sports Radio Studios
Programming Note. Tomorrow, Doug Gottlieb and I will fill in
(34:30):
for Dan Patrick. And on New Year's Day, t J
Housch Menzada and I will fill in for Dan Patrick.
And yes, I will be on the Odd Couple tomorrow,
New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Look at you.
Props to you, Rob Parker. Working hard, dude, I love it.
You know you know me, Brian, I'm a worker. Maybe
(34:53):
we're both workers. You work a lot, man, Are you kidding?
You're one of the hardest workers out there as well?
But um, Brian, let's for to show up with this.
I got a bone to pick with you. Okay, all right,
because you're talking. You're telling me that Kansas City and
Green Bay are bold, overrated, overrated. That's right, Rob Parker, overrated.
(35:15):
Let's start with the Green Bay packers over here. If
you slow down, Davante Adams, which yeah, it can't be
easier said than done, but it's I know, I know.
But think about Bill Belichick. What has he done? He
has taken? What you do best, and he has found
a way to at least slow it down and force
you to beat them another way. That's what. Yeah, but
(35:35):
he needs a video camera to do that. But that's
another story. It's unfair. It's a cheap shot right by you.
But think about the Saints. They've got a real defense.
You think they're incapable of slowing down Davanta Adams. Of
course not so if you slow him down, that's a
different offense. I agree with you. Aaron Rodgers is the MVP.
He's been magnificent. But if Davanta Adams, his main weapon
(35:55):
is slowed down, that's a completely different offense. I don't
like their rushing defense. It is wide over in the NFC,
and I am predicting Rob Parker, they are going to
regret not using that first round pick on a player
that can actually help them here and now instead of
a guy holding a clipboard. I have them as an
overrated team. Okay, Kansas City overrated? Yes, Kansas City overrated.
(36:20):
They've won their last seven games and it's been a
one possession game like they're talking about that. You have
to be basically perfect to beat the Chiefs. The four
and eleven Falcons almost beat them last week. Okay, they're
not invincible. We talked about this earlier in the show.
They had ten point deficits at least double digit deficits
(36:42):
in every single playoff game last season. That's not a
great long term You remember the checks if they don't
go for it on their own side of the field.
Do you remember that they turned the game around. They
were up twenty four to nothing, and I know that
the Chiefs have firepower, and they came back. They found
a way to win a game. But when you're facing
deficits like that, you can be had. I'm just simply
(37:03):
saying they're not the juggernaut that many people believe they are.
I think they are overrated, all right though, also the
team to be and thirty seconds give me Pittsburgh is underrated. Underrated,
Rob Parklay. Here's what you have to do. You have
to take the mainstream opinion about a team and then
assess is it too harsh or is it too lenient?
(37:23):
And the the evaluation of the Steelers is too harsh.
All the focuses on what they don't do well. They
don't run the ball well. Yes, I realize they have
their wards, but all these teams have warts. They bring
their defense number one in sacks, tied for number one
in takeaways, taking the ball away very important, number two
scoring defense and Big Ben for all this talk. Thirty
(37:44):
three touchdowns and ten picks, so very good. I'd rather
take Uncle Ben at this point. All Right, his name
is Brian, No, my man, Thank you so much, so
much fun reconnecting and doing a show with you. Absolute Matthew. Yes, yep,
all right, I couple. We'll be back tomorrow. Make sure
(38:05):
you're here right here on Fox Sports Radio. Fox Sports
Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation.
Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio dot com
and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to listen live.
Thanks for listening to The Odd Couple podcasts. Be sure
to check us out live every weekday from seven pm
to ten pm Eastern four to seven Pacific on Fox
Sports Radio. Find your local station for The Odd Couple
at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live
every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching f s R.
(00:25):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. It is The Odd Couple.
On a worship Wednesday. The final hour of the program,
Rob Parker along with Brian No, don't you know? Filling
in for mister Chris Bussardi, We're coming to your live
(00:45):
from the Geico Fox Sports Radio studios. Fifteen minutes could
save you fifteen percent of more on your car insurance.
Visit Geico dot com for a free rate quote and
for people who are listening. Brian and I had a
show together for about six months when I first started
on Fox Sports Radio and I was doing weekends and
(01:07):
we had a fun little show. Brian didn't we Absolutely
we did. I incorrectly pointed out that Nick Fools would
not beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl. That's right.
I was fooling everybody into thinking it was a franchise quarterback.
I was right over the long haul. Just wrong with
that prediction. But that's one of the things that stands
out from our time together. And I did win wings
(01:27):
on that one, right, That's right. We've had a lot
of wing bets. We still Brian of course, is on
the weekends on Fox Sports Radio and he has his
own big time TV and radio show in Portland. But
we stay in touch and we text and we uh,
you know, do stuff. And as far as he was
(01:48):
in La, we went out for pizza, hang out. It
was fun, definitely working with you, and it's great that
you could fill in for Chris during this New Year's
week Ye man, for sure, I'm happy to be here.
And when things get back to normal, like when you
and and Chris are in the studio again, I'm gonna
slide on by, you know, see what's going on in
(02:09):
the studio one day, not buggy, I'm not gonna na
you can you know, you could always come in, you know,
grab a microphone and be like, yeah, I'm gonna take
over now. Nah, It'll be all good speaking out, hang
out with you guys when we get back to normal. Man. Yeah, man,
it's been crazy. I mean it seemed like a year
since we went to the Pizza Paula right here in
LA and had lunch together when you were in La.
(02:29):
So it really does. It feels like it was five
years ago. Crazy, crazy, I know. But uh, you know
there's some news football news, you know. I mean, Brian,
I love football. I think you love football. Most people
love football. Stop with the new football leagues. Haven't they learned?
You know what, people like NFL football, not just any
(02:52):
football thrown together. And they think that people are gonna
watch what was that league? The aff for? What was
that league? AAF What was that? Uh yeah, what was it? AAF?
I can't even remember, right, but it uh AAF right
barely got off. The should have been to WTF. You know,
(03:15):
I think if they had a league that was named that,
people might just understand this isn't competing with the NFL.
You might have more chances for success. That's the biggest
problem they make. They they have their sightset way too
high on what this league is gonna end up being.
It's like, dude, you're competing against the NFL. You're gonna
get squashed. And then and then I mean, you know
(03:37):
Benja McMahon, who's a smart businessman, tries to uh revive
the XFL, which failed on NBC. You remember that, Brian,
and that failed, so he want to try it again.
And I'm like, dude, you could go to the high
the tallest building in uh New York, to Troy LA
(04:00):
and just throw the money off the roof. Okay, it's
the same thing. What are you What are you doing
all his poor kids and their grandkids? What are you
doing without inheritance? You know what I mean? What a
football league? The XFL. That thing didn't last. I mean,
if you can't last with Vince McMahon and his money,
(04:20):
Brian Howe and now here we go. Yeah, Johnny Manziel
has joined the new fan controlled football startup league, and
Vince please tell me what this is and why Johnny
Manziel is attached to this. So it's basically, it's a
(04:41):
it's a fan controlled football league. It's gonna be seven
on seven games where fans set the rosters, call plays,
and interact in a blend of traditional and esports environments.
And you know, if you guys like esports are the
you know, Madden, NBA, Live, bunch of different things out
there was competitive sports for the playing video games. I
(05:01):
don't know exactly how it's gonna work that way, but
the teams will play a six week schedule with games
live suite streamed on Twitch from a league least facility
in Atlanta. The games will last about an hour. The
field will be fifty by thirty five yards with ten
yard end zones, and players will will have backgrounds in
college Division one and two programs along with they'll use
(05:22):
from CFL, XFL and indoor Football. Sign me up. Yeah,
so that the league will be will be begin with
four teams and it's actually gonna have some interesting owners.
Celebrity owners NFL and players include Richard Sherman, Austin Eckler,
and Marshawn Lynz who's recently retired. Other owners include Mike Tyson,
hip hop artist Quevo who's part of Me Goos, and
(05:46):
uh Menory, who I'm not sure who that one is,
but you know, it's it's a little bit of a
twist on I feel like it's could be like a
flag football thing, but it doesn't really say but u
Manzelle got drawn into this through a comedian and who
introduced him to the founders of the league, So that's
how he's he got into it, Brian, How how much
of a fall from grace is this for Johnny Manzel?
(06:09):
I mean, come on, man, it's at the bottom rung right,
like this is at the bottom here. But uh, I
think that's the funniest part is a comedian got Johnny
Manzel into this thing, right, Like, we're looking at how
this all came together. When it's time to pay him,
he's gonna hear a rim shot when the check bout this,
(06:30):
all right? But I mean, I don't care who's involved
with the league, who's running a team, or I care
about who's playing, right, I'm not gonna go out of
my way to see what Richard Sherman is saying if
he's like trying to influence a play being called, or
if Mike Tyson says something on the sideline, like I
care about who's playing the game. If I don't know
(06:53):
who's playing out there, who's on the field, I'm not
gonna be interested in it. You know what, these guys,
these NFL players, they might as well to sink money
into this. You might as well open up a record shop,
because it'd be it's just as much of a waste
of money as opening up a record shop in this
day and age, you know what I mean, Like, like,
(07:14):
what are you doing? No, people aren't going to watch
We just saw two leagues. Remember Bill Polian was a
part of that, AAF or whatever it was, right, you
had big names behind it. They had a TV contract
with CBS. They pay to payroll in a week two. Yeah,
they were on I believe, ABC and ESPN. Like they
(07:37):
had major networks broadcasting their games. They had innovative ideas.
They had coaches miked up, some of the players are
miked up. They're doing interviews in different ways. They're putting
bells and whistles on it. And if we don't know
who's playing quarterback or who's on the field, it's not
gonna be successful. And that's not me saying I don't
want it to be successful. That's just the way it is.
(07:58):
If we aren't familiar with who's out there and it
isn't an attraction, we're not gonna go out of our
way to watch it. I just like like Johnny Manzel
was it wasn't he wanted to catch me out? Brian
am I all exaggerating? No, he's a Heisman Trophy winner,
first round pick, then washed out of the league quickly
(08:21):
and try to revive it. Didn't They kick him out
of the CFL. Yeah, kicked out of the CFL, and
now he's going to resurface with a what is it,
some sort of fan controlled league? Okay, all right, if
you are being objective and you're buying, think about this
league as a stock. Are you buying stock in this
(08:43):
league thinking it's going to be successful? Like put rooting
interest to the site. This is just your money. There's
no way I would buy this league for it to
be successful. I'm just like, leave it alone, you know what.
I keep telling people, stop it. People love their NFL football,
and then you got a college football. That's enough, Brian,
isn't it? We got enough football? Thank you. I want
(09:05):
the football season the end right after the Super Bowl,
I do, and I want to be into other sports
and watch the NBA playoffs and watch baseball and watch
hockey playoffs or whatever it is after that, and then
I look forward to September and a new season. I
don't want football every week, do you No? I don't.
(09:25):
I like the offseason because it makes you, It makes
you long for the season to come back even more
and than when it finally does it feels great. I
don't want the football season to go through whatever April
or May with the spring league. I just don't want that.
If it's a great product, I'll watch it. But I'm
more like you. I like how it's how it's set up,
(09:47):
and it's got to be something that's pretty extraordinary for
me to change my patterns. Think about what we were
talking about this with the NBA last hour, with the ratings.
I think because the NBA, they were playing games and
it wasn't their typical season, right, they were playing against baseball,
they were playing against other things. And you know what
(10:08):
the ratings suffered big time. Absolutely in LA. You ready
for it is the Dodgers ratings were better than than
the Lakers. The Dodgers ratings were better than the Lakers
because you know what I mean, Like, obviously both teams
will love in LA. But I'm saying the time of
the year, they're people here who are Dodger fans, right,
(10:30):
you know that four million people buy tickets every year
and their team is in the World Series. What are
you watching? I mean, what are you watching? Yeah? So too? Good?
Good luck is all I can say for any startup
football league when you are like, you're basically going to
be compared to the NFL. So there's that that's going
(10:53):
completely against you. And then whatever seasons you're infringing on,
a lot of people get into their hatpits of hey,
it's this month. I watched this sport, allright, watched this
league or whatever, So you're competing against that too. Good luck,
that's all I can say. Good luck, God bless you
if you work it out. So there's two things I
would love to hear U people chime in eight eight, seven,
(11:15):
seven ninety nine on Fox eight seven, seven, nine nine
six sixty three sixty nine, Brian, two things ay, or
do you have any interest in this new fan controlled
league which will be shocking in itself, but also the
fall from grace for Johnny Manziel, that that you know,
at twenty eight years old, you're washed out and you're
(11:37):
doing this putting your This guy was a Heisman Trophy winner,
right uh, top pick. He had everything going, he was
he was it. People were all fired up about Johnny Manziel,
and I hope that must say should go, you know,
crawl up in a ball in a corner and not
do anything in life. But This just doesn't seem right,
(12:00):
but this should be. I hope that Dwayne Haskins sees
this report of Johnny Manziel being involved in this league,
and I hope Dwayne Haskins says, you know what, I
gotta start making better decisions and be a professional here,
because the way Johnny Manziel washed out of the league,
I can do that too. If I don't take care
of my business. You don't want to be a part
of the fan controlled startup league. You want to be
(12:22):
in the NFL where the real money is. So hopefully
Dwayne Haskins can get on track because Johnny Manziel shure didn't.
I don't know. I think the only people who would
be interested in this league are a people who are
interested in control substances. Oh, I'm sorry, the controlled substances league.
(12:43):
Everybody's on a controlled substance out on the field. Let's
see what happens here, all right? The Fan Control Football
League starts up in February. There it is right after
the Super Bowl? Will be ready. Is Johnny Manzel enough
to make you want to watch? Or do you want
to break from football? We want to hear from football fans.
(13:03):
We'll take your calls next eight seven seven ninety nine
On Fox, It is The Odd Couple. Rob Parker and
Brian No. Don't you know right here? On Fox Sports Radio.
Thanks for listening to The Odd Couple podcast. Be sure
to catch us live every weekday from seven pm to
ten pm Eastern four to seven pm Pacific on Fox
(13:26):
Sports Radio. Find your local station for The Odd Couple
at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live
every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching f s R.
It is the Odd Couple, Fox Sports Radio. On the
Worship Wednesday, Rob Parker and Brian No in for Chris Broussard,
(13:50):
our telephone number eight seven seven ninety nine. On Fox,
We're coming to your live from the Geico Fox Sports
Radio Studios. And business today moves faster than ever, and
if you're slow to adapt, then you will get left behind.
And if you're still running on quick books, shame on you.
I mean, come on, it's time to hit the gas
(14:12):
and accelerate with NetSuite. Let NetSuite show you how they'll
benefit your business with a free product tour at NetSuite
dot com. Slash odd We're talking about this new fan
controlled football league schedule to debut in February. And Johnny Manziel,
(14:33):
the former Heisman Trophy NFL washout, is a part of
this league. And are you interested? Are you gonna watch?
Are you that crazy about football that anything dealing with
football works or have you had enough with these new
makeshift leagues? That's right, Rob, So we want to hear
what the people have to say about it. We're going
(14:55):
out to Joe in Austin. He's up first, Joe. You're
on the odd Couple on Fox Sports Radio. Go ahead, Bud. Hey, guys,
how y'all doing doing great? Happy New Year? Hey, Happy
New Year to you guys. Yeah, well that's real quick.
What's Chris doing? You know what? What is what is
the sports radio hook? Yeah, Chris has got the big contract.
(15:17):
I'm just he also ran. Uh he go off for
two weeks and he'll be back on Monday. But we're
holding it down all right. You know you'll know I
have to like go to Antarctica just to get a
week off. I never would have two weeks off, I
hear me. Man, Uh yeah, we're call in uh. I
mean when it comes to the new league, I think,
(15:41):
I mean, I'm definitely gonna check it out. I'm a
fan of organized sports from wreck to pro. You know,
I appreciate people getting together playing sports. I think it's great,
But this is I never heard anything like this when
it comes to Manzil. I'm definitely gonna watch just to
see how he plays because it's been so long. But uh,
let me ask you'll ever seen the Manziel go on
(16:02):
Gruden's Quarterback Show? Anybody remember that? Yeah? Yeah, I'd kind
of figured I would definitely go on YouTube check it out.
That video age so well because Gruden really breaks him
down because he was getting so popular and he was
he was already kind of you know, not being a pro,
you know, and he was asking, He's liked, do I
want to draft you? And just listen to what Manziel says.
(16:24):
It's classic. So he's totally just lying through his teeth
and you could just see, you know, from the results
of what happened, about what happened, Man, We appreciate the call.
Thank you so much. Man. He always I'll tell you what,
Rob Johnny, Manziel always said the right thing, didn't always
do it, but every time he screwed up, He's like,
I guess gotta be better. I gotta mature and then
it just never quite worked out. But we're asking about
(16:45):
this new league that he's a part of. Are you
interested in the fan controlled league that Johnny Manziel is
taking part in starting in February? JJ is in Indiana. JJ,
you're on the odd Couple on Fox Sports Radio Fireway Man. Hey,
what's up? Rob and Brian? First of all, Rob, you're
never a scrubbings up? Just to let you know, my
brother Man, I appreciate that. I appreciate it, and I
(17:08):
appreciate the support here on the show. You know, I'm
just playing around. Hey, he votum listen here, people are
gonna watch it. But I got a question Johnny Manziel.
He shows up all the time, mister money, I like you.
What is his major? Why is he not in telecommunications?
Why is he not trying to call games from his
(17:30):
alma mater or something like that. That's the first question.
That's a good question. I don't think a question to
that is what's going on? As far as the side
of it, it seems like they're starting these leagues to
give more opportunities for betting purposes. Yeah, but the only
problem is the other two leagues. Thanks for the call,
(17:52):
We appreciate it. Happy New Year, Brian. Anybody can start
a league. I mean we just talked about it. These
two leagues that just started, the XFL with Vince McMahon, right,
I mean the wrestling mogul, and he had ESPN Games
and ABC and Fox and people didn't watch, right, Yeah,
(18:13):
they had the backing. Yeah, and like, you gotta be
affiliated with the NFL. I think that's what the AAF
was trying to do. They were trying to be partners
with the NFL, but the NFL was like, we're good,
you know, right, Like I think you have to have
some type of partnership with the NFL or you're gonna
be looked at as the step son. Right, you're gonna
(18:35):
look at but as a second hand league. Right. And
they try to do it like they're a minor league. No,
we already have monor league football. That's college football. So
we're not looking for you, do you know what I mean?
Like that, like we already have something else to watch
the people progress and get to the next level, right,
we do. We have that. So I don't understand when
(18:56):
they talk about Wolves an alternative league, and it's gonna
help other but no, no, I don't find it thumbs
down on it. We've got Vincent Virginia his thoughts on
this new fan controlled startup football league. Vince, you're on
the odd couple on Fox Sports Radio. All right, thank you.
I'm a diehard football fan, but normally after February or
(19:17):
after the Super Bowl, I'm meant to NASCAR. Did they
twenty five hundreds right around the corner? So my focus
is really on LASCAR. But Rob, I got a question
for you. I know you're a baseball guy. I always
meant to ask you this about the because I know
the LA Dodgers you mentioned on your last secondment. What
do you think the reason was the last the World
Series between the Dodgers and the Tampa Bay Rays. Why
(19:40):
was the TV ratings not so good? And I'll just
take my question off the air, thank you. Well, all
the sports were down, and I think it was just
a combination and probably would have been higher, Brian had
it been the Yankees and Dodgers, right, I mean, Tampa
Bay is not going to move the needle for most people.
They're not gonna know who the players are on the team.
(20:02):
They were a good team, but the NBA ratings. I mean,
Lebron James played in the lowest rated NBA Finals ever.
Just think about think about what I just told you. Ever,
it's all wild to me. That blows my mind. And
I get it. You don't have as much competition right
now for the NBA, and I think that's partly why
(20:22):
the ratings are much better. But I still it still
blows my mind that the finals ratings were that bad
when you're just aching for sports to come back, and
then it came back and a lot of fans were like, man, whatever,
and braun Is attached and it was a chance for
him to win a third championship with three different franchises.
So that was something unique, and it still didn't bring
(20:43):
people to the TV set. Yeah, it was wild. I
want to sneak in one more. Mac is in Oregon.
Does he care about this new fan controlled startup football league. Mac,
you're on the odd couple in Fox Sports Radio. Go
for it, man, mister Parker, Yes, mister Parker, All right,
(21:05):
here we go, sir, here we go, Here we go.
Let's go. All right. My thought is about the AFC
and the NFC. No, now they want to put it
in seventeen games. What we ought to do is put
it that the NFC plays seventeen different games and then
the playoffs is about playing in your conference. Stuff like
(21:27):
that make more diversity, sir, all right, that's it, all right,
Praise Jehovah for worship Wednesday, Prace Jeova all right, Happy
New Year to you as well. I thought he was
gonna give me a shout out there. Rob. He's like
mister Parker and mister He's like, I don't know the
other guy. Mister Parker, he just doubled up. He's in Oregon.
How does he not know you? Yeah? Right, what's up
(21:49):
with that? Come on? You got the big show in Portland?
Are you kidding? All right? What's up with Mac? You
know he'll be better next time? I think that ain't right.
That's that's thanks to be honest, all right. It is
The Couple of Fox Sports Radio, and coming up next,
Jared Bell from USA Today joins us on the show.
(22:10):
Give us some thoughts on a lot of stuff happened
in the NFL. One of the best football writers in
the country, he'll do that next. Be sure to catch
live editions of The Odd Couple with Chris Brussard and
Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm Eastern four pm Pacific
on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app. It is
the Odd Couple Fox Sports Radio coming to your live
(22:32):
from the Geico Fox Sports Radio studios. It's easy to
say fifteen percent of more on your car insurance. Visit
Geico dot com or eight hundred nine four seven Auto.
The only hard part is figuring out which way is easier.
It is a worship Wednesday, Rob Parker and Brian No
in for Chris Brussard, and now I want to welcome
(22:54):
into the Odd Couple one of my favorite people, one
of the best football writers in this country. His name
is Jared Bell, NFL columnists for USA Today. What's up, Jared?
How are you doing? Hey? Rob? What's up? No doubt?
Say hi to Brian No Brian, my man, what's up?
(23:15):
What's up? Jared Bell? We go way back. I used
to interview you when I did radio and Fresno, California,
many moons ago, and you would come on and talk
NFL football. You're a man, Oh yeah, yeah, I knew
your name was familiar. Man. That's hey, hey, Jared. Let's
just start so Patrick Mahomes is going to sit uh
(23:39):
to rest? Um? Does that mean? I mean I think
most people have Aaron Rodgers what in the NFL MVP?
Uh do you? And and you know when you when
you rest a guy and he doesn't play all the games,
it's kind of like that's not that as important as
it is trying to win a super Bowl. Correct, Yeah,
for sure. You know, I Rick Mahomes had a choice,
(24:01):
he would probably say I'd have the Super Bowl MVP
versus the MVP. Nothing he won't want post. But yeah,
I think you kind of proceed at this point for
what you need to do to try to win the
super Bowl. You know, it'd be a different thing if
they were like, um, you know, not in the playoffs.
(24:22):
But how many MVPs are not in the playoffs? So
then you scratch that for a second. But yeah, it's
it's really looking like, in my mind, Aaron Rodgers is
the guy to beat because his season has just been
so amazing, and you know, you can kind of get
into this team where you start looking at stats and
(24:43):
stuff and saying, when those guy's got more touchdowns and
this guy's got a better passer rating and all that,
which Aaron Rodgers does have. But Patrick Mahomes has got
all those ws and he gets the opportunity to rest
in week seventeen, So that has to count for something.
So I think I don't think it leans anything that
(25:03):
Mahomes is resting because of the circumstance. You've already comes
to the number one seed. So if you had a
doubt about him, he weren't going to get it in
week seventeen. How about Aaron? I just want to follow
this up, Brian Aaron Rodgers. A lot some people wrote
them off when they, you know, traded up in the
draft to pick a quarterback. People are like, oh, this
(25:25):
is it writings on the wall. They didn't get Aaron
Rodgers a receiver, they've never drafted him a skilled position player,
and his entire career in the first round in Green
Bay and so people were writing him off at thirty
seven to come back and put up the numbers that
he has. How amazing is that? And are you shocked
at all? I'm not shocked. That's too strong of a word.
(25:48):
But you know, nothing was guaranteed just in terms of
how it was all going to play out. And you
can even go back to last year when Matt Flip
Floyd got there. But I think what's happened I'm last
year to this year. Even though they didn't have the
offseason workoffs, they had a chance to just kind of
see what all worked hard worked, how it flowed with
(26:10):
the system, and they got better in that. But on
top of that, you light a fire under Aaron Rodgers
and you draft Jordan Love and it makes Rogers say, Okay,
I'm gonna show you. And you know, Rogers is in
a position where if you don't want me, I can
do it Tom Brady and you know, maybe he'll end
up in Tampa Bay another couple of years. I don't
(26:31):
think that's going to happen season, but I mean that's
kind of got to be some of the things that
you know, we're going through his mind when it happened.
But again, sometimes you poke a bear and he's gonna
come after you. And I think that's what we're saying
with Aaron Rodgers too. And you ate eight Rob You
(26:51):
talk about not drafting skill position players, which is true,
but Aaron Rodgers just makes those guys. I mean, I'm
mad that I didn't pick the path just tight end
for my fantasy. Oh man, he's balling out right, yes, yes,
and then you know, DeVante's has been even better than
ever and you look at you know, the time that
(27:12):
they've spent together and all of that, and now they
just you know, have more and more chemistry. So yeah,
Aaron Rodgers, Yeah what a beast man, Jared Bell, I
need as we look forward to the postseason. The playoff
teams are almost set and we have a general idea
who's gonna be there. So I need one team who
(27:33):
you think is overrated and another team who you think
is underrated as we inch closer to playoff time. Yeah, yeah,
that's good. I got my underrated, but my overrated. You know,
it's easy to pick on the Steelers right now, right
and say, yeah, this team is overrated. You know, Buffalo's
(27:54):
got all those wins too. But I guess if I
had to say one team that's kind of in there, yeah,
maybe it is Pittsburgh, and only because we've seen the
struggles of the past a few weeks, and really, when
they were on their way to eleven and Old, there
were people questioning whether they were as good as their record.
(28:17):
You know what, Jared, I called them the worst eleven
and Old team I had ever seen. I was spot on.
Yes you were robbed, Yeah, you've done that before. Yes,
oh man, but underrated. I'm gonna say the Baltimore Ravens,
and this is not the Ravens that you grew up
(28:38):
with in terms of, you know, having a monster defense.
But they still have a pretty good defense, right, and
then you've got Lamar just being the guy. And they
haven't won a playoff game with Lamar, so okay, let's
let's see if that finally happens this year. But that's
the team I don't want to play because they've had,
(29:00):
you know, so many issues over the past few weeks
with the you know, stimmon form, the COVID thing, and
then they you know, they got back, they got Lamar back,
and now they've been rolling in their offense, which you know,
you think about Baltimore last year versus this year on offense.
I've been to the defense. But on offense, they lost
their best two offensive linemens last year and Marshall Yonder
(29:24):
retired and Ronnie Stanley season in an injury. So that's
a huge thing for them to lose, and so they
don't do as much like three tight ends. They also
wanted a tight ends to the thought that it another
one to injury it Nick Boyle, so they don't have
the same personnel. But Lamar has played, you know better
(29:46):
down the stretch and so in the game one game,
despite his playoff record, I mean, he can provide the
magic and we saw that in Cleveland and in a
big way. And so that would be the team I
would not want to play. And you think back to
some of the the other Ravens playoff runs over the years,
(30:06):
even though it's a different cast now, but with Hardball
and I guess Jackson Tucker is still there. They've shown
that they could go and win in the playoffs on
the road, So I don't think that they're a team
that has to be at home to you know, really
make a legit Super Bowl run. Jared, last thing I
(30:27):
want to ask you about the Saints and where they
are and Drew Brees. I know Alvin Kamara ran over
what was six touchdowns. He was very impressive, but Drew
Brees didn't have any touchdowns in that game, a couple
of picks. He just didn't look that good. Can they
get to the super Bowl or win a Super Bowl
(30:47):
with where Drew Brees is or will he have some
time to finally get it together or bounce back. Yeah,
he does have a little bit of time. Because I
think that's a great point because remember he came back.
I mean, how many crack ribs he's had at least
a half a slab. I think like, yeah, let's go
(31:10):
over the famous days and get the eleven. Yeah. Yeah.
But but here's the thing with brees Um, you know,
because he was really rusty in that first half against
Kansas City, and I think he's going to get better,
and as you know, the playoffs flow, I wouldn't worry
so much about him beyond what we've talked about with
(31:32):
him when he was healthy, Like does he plowed the
deep ball as well as he used to and all
that kind of stuff. But the thing that Drew Brees
does that you need and if it seems if you're
gonna have a chance to go to the super Bowl,
you gotta have him and not one of those other guys,
be it, you know, Taysom Hill or Jameis Winson. You
gotta have Breeze because he knows that the offense he
reads and he's find an open guy. He's probably gonna
(31:54):
get Michael Thomas back Um and then you mentioned Kamara.
So when Breeze is at quarterback Camara, it still runs
through Kamara, right, But Breeze operates that offense like Camara
is that guy. But when Taysom Hill is a quarterback,
it actually diminishes what they do with Camara. And when
(32:16):
Breeze is a quarterback, you can spring Takesom Hill along
them in a lot of different ways. That's why I
was surprised that when when Breeze went down, if they
didn't go with Jameis Winston just to keep Taysom Hill
in that hybrid X factor we're gonna We're gonna smack
you factor right no, and so yeah, So I think
(32:37):
the fact that they got Breeze it actually helps with
Taysom Hills and all the things they can do with him,
and it helps Kamara and both. They get Michael Thomas back,
you know, healthy enough, they can make a run because
the key tenses is one of the best in the playoffs,
no doubt. His name is Jerry Bell of course, NFL
Commas for USA today, friend of mine and Jared, thank
(33:01):
you so much, man, love the insight. Happy New Year
to you and the family. We appreciate you, my man.
Oh man, you know, I appreciate it. Happy New Year
to YouTube man, and check out my b enemy story
on USA Today dot Com. We broke that down and
it published today and I think you'll you'll like it.
So is he going? Is he going to the Lions? Yes?
Or no? That's all we got Yes or no? No?
(33:23):
I think no. I think Robert Sallens, but we'll see.
All right, appreciate it. We'll check that story out USA
Today dot Com. All right, Jared Bell, just let us
know he thinks he's underrated and overrated heading into the
playoffs coming up. It's gonna be you, mister. Know you'll
tell us who you think is underrated overrated and I'll
(33:46):
debate you. Of course we'll do that. Next, It is
The Odd Couple Fox Sports Radio. Thanks for listening to
The Odd Couple podcasts. Be sure to check us out
live every weekday from seven pm to ten pm Eastern
for to se in Pacific or on Fox Sports Radio.
Find your local station for The Odd Couple at Fox
Sports Radio dot com or stream us live every day
(34:09):
on the iHeartRadio app by searching f s R. It
is the I Couple On a worship Wednesday, Rob Parker,
Brian Noe and for Chris Boussard, and we're coming to
your live from the Guy cooed Fox Sports Radio Studios
Programming Note. Tomorrow, Doug Gottlieb and I will fill in
(34:30):
for Dan Patrick. And on New Year's Day, t J
Housch Menzada and I will fill in for Dan Patrick.
And yes, I will be on the Odd Couple tomorrow,
New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Look at you.
Props to you, Rob Parker. Working hard, dude, I love it.
You know you know me, Brian, I'm a worker. Maybe
(34:53):
we're both workers. You work a lot, man, Are you kidding?
You're one of the hardest workers out there as well?
But um, Brian, let's for to show up with this.
I got a bone to pick with you. Okay, all right,
because you're talking. You're telling me that Kansas City and
Green Bay are bold, overrated, overrated. That's right, Rob Parker, overrated.
(35:15):
Let's start with the Green Bay packers over here. If
you slow down, Davante Adams, which yeah, it can't be
easier said than done, but it's I know, I know.
But think about Bill Belichick. What has he done? He
has taken? What you do best, and he has found
a way to at least slow it down and force
you to beat them another way. That's what. Yeah, but
(35:35):
he needs a video camera to do that. But that's
another story. It's unfair. It's a cheap shot right by you.
But think about the Saints. They've got a real defense.
You think they're incapable of slowing down Davanta Adams. Of
course not so if you slow him down, that's a
different offense. I agree with you. Aaron Rodgers is the MVP.
He's been magnificent. But if Davanta Adams, his main weapon
(35:55):
is slowed down, that's a completely different offense. I don't
like their rushing defense. It is wide over in the NFC,
and I am predicting Rob Parker, they are going to
regret not using that first round pick on a player
that can actually help them here and now instead of
a guy holding a clipboard. I have them as an
overrated team. Okay, Kansas City overrated? Yes, Kansas City overrated.
(36:20):
They've won their last seven games and it's been a
one possession game like they're talking about that. You have
to be basically perfect to beat the Chiefs. The four
and eleven Falcons almost beat them last week. Okay, they're
not invincible. We talked about this earlier in the show.
They had ten point deficits at least double digit deficits
(36:42):
in every single playoff game last season. That's not a
great long term You remember the checks if they don't
go for it on their own side of the field.
Do you remember that they turned the game around. They
were up twenty four to nothing, and I know that
the Chiefs have firepower, and they came back. They found
a way to win a game. But when you're facing
deficits like that, you can be had. I'm just simply
(37:03):
saying they're not the juggernaut that many people believe they are.
I think they are overrated, all right though, also the
team to be and thirty seconds give me Pittsburgh is underrated. Underrated,
Rob Parklay. Here's what you have to do. You have
to take the mainstream opinion about a team and then
assess is it too harsh or is it too lenient?
(37:23):
And the the evaluation of the Steelers is too harsh.
All the focuses on what they don't do well. They
don't run the ball well. Yes, I realize they have
their wards, but all these teams have warts. They bring
their defense number one in sacks, tied for number one
in takeaways, taking the ball away very important, number two
scoring defense and Big Ben for all this talk. Thirty
(37:44):
three touchdowns and ten picks, so very good. I'd rather
take Uncle Ben at this point. All Right, his name
is Brian, No, my man, Thank you so much, so
much fun reconnecting and doing a show with you. Absolute Matthew. Yes, yep,
all right, I couple. We'll be back tomorrow. Make sure
(38:05):
you're here right here on Fox Sports Radio. Fox Sports
Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation.
Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio dot com
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