Alex Curry & Carmen Vitali Walk Back Some Right And Wrong NFL Hot Takes, Talk Caitlin Clark Winning ROTY, Hype For MLB Postseason, And More!

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
You're listening to Fox Sports.

Speaker 2 (00:02):
Radio Radio A Welcome to Fox Football Saturday. I'm Alex
Curry here with Carmen Vitally. Thank you for spending your
Saturday afternoon with us. It's going to be a blast.
We got so many great games going on right now.

Speaker 3 (00:17):
It's ah who I honestly love coming into the radio
studio because you were TVs.

Speaker 4 (00:24):
We got sc Wisconsin.

Speaker 2 (00:26):
I didn't see what was going on here, but it's
promoting UCLA game.

Speaker 4 (00:31):
Later.

Speaker 3 (00:31):
As someone who is part of a college football pick
and pool, like I need to be keeping track of
all of these, even the Georgia State game, which I.

Speaker 5 (00:38):
Had to pick this week's uh huh No.

Speaker 3 (00:41):
I love great.

Speaker 4 (00:42):
I love all of this.

Speaker 2 (00:43):
Now I need to start out our show by giving
a huge congrats to the new WBO welterweight world champion,
my friend, Mikayla Mayer. She moved up a weight class
after being a lightweight world champ, and last night she
defeated Sandy Ryan. She said she's coming for everyone else's championships.

(01:04):
She wants to go undisputed, and I'm just so proud
of her. I've been to a couple of her fights
when she was in like the lighter weight. She's such
a batty. That's so fun, such a batty. So Mikayla, congrats.
I wish I could have been there in New York
last night, but just whoa, let's go. We'll celebrate when
I see you next. But also so much great. As
we said, football today, La is just poppin' right now.

(01:28):
We got Wisconsin in town at usc Oregan in town
at UCLA, so it's.

Speaker 4 (01:34):
Gonna be a good one.

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Speaker 2 (02:09):
Now we've got a great show for you guys. Today,
We've got Minnesota Viking staff writer Lindsay Young joining us
in thirty minutes.

Speaker 4 (02:18):
What a start to the sea easy, I know.

Speaker 5 (02:20):
I'm so excited to talk to Lindsay.

Speaker 4 (02:22):
Holy welcome, Moly. I can't wait to get some like
inside the locker room feed.

Speaker 3 (02:26):
Oh yeah yeah.

Speaker 4 (02:27):
With that team, no.

Speaker 3 (02:27):
One spends more time around these guys than Lindsay does.

Speaker 5 (02:29):
So I'm so excited.

Speaker 2 (02:30):
This is what we need and what we love. Then
we have NFL Networks Bridget Condon. In hour two, We've
got producer Patrick with us today, technical producer Chris.

Speaker 4 (02:38):
Perfet, Brian Finley at the news desk.

Speaker 2 (02:41):
We're going to keep you updated on all the college
football action as it goes down today. But okay, before
we jump into our topic, I was telling you off
the top of the show, do you remember last week
when we did the whole like.

Speaker 4 (02:51):
Are you dark mode or light mode?

Speaker 5 (02:52):
Yeah?

Speaker 4 (02:53):
I took a poll. It's pretty it's pretty equal?

Speaker 3 (02:55):
Is it?

Speaker 2 (02:57):
It ended up like pretty equal? Boxley on Instagram and Twitter.

Speaker 3 (03:01):
You know what's funny is I think that so many
of my friends are in this industry where we're staring
at screens, we're addicted to Twitter, we have to be
on Twitter for our jobs all that other stuff. And
I feel like those people are all in dark mode
because it's easier on your on your eyes when you're
having to when you stare at screens all day, which
I do.

Speaker 2 (03:20):
Which is hilarious because I'm like, give it to me
blasted as bright.

Speaker 3 (03:24):
As the can go. I think that the general population
probably has a much healthier relationship with their.

Speaker 5 (03:29):
Phone than I do.

Speaker 2 (03:30):
So and most of my friends, all my friends are
terminally online. So my my husband's a dark mode. So
like we're house divided.

Speaker 3 (03:40):
Our house is dark mode all the way we live
in like born from it, molded by its bone in
the darkness.

Speaker 4 (03:48):
Yes, Bain, Okay, now.

Speaker 3 (03:52):
I know you were doing the show with Bain today.

Speaker 4 (03:55):
Have you seen Bain cat? By the way, has anyone ere.

Speaker 5 (03:59):
Seen I think I may have seen a little bit
of Bain.

Speaker 4 (04:04):
I'll find it and i'll send it.

Speaker 3 (04:05):
You guys at that stressed up as Baine, You know,
I think I have seen this.

Speaker 4 (04:10):
Alex.

Speaker 2 (04:13):
Okay, enough off topic, we're gonna get started. We spent
an entire off season predicting different scenarios in the NFL.

Speaker 4 (04:22):
Right, so now that we're entering we're in week four.

Speaker 2 (04:26):
It's time to call out what we got right and
what we got wrong.

Speaker 4 (04:31):
So we're each going to share a take that we
got right and we got wrong.

Speaker 3 (04:39):
I'm going to add a disclaimer to this though.

Speaker 4 (04:40):
Okay, like right now, some of them, we're.

Speaker 3 (04:45):
Only we're only three weeks into the season. Like, I
don't think it's too early to start worrying, like we
were talked about last week, but I do think that
there are ways that were like this is a TBD.

Speaker 5 (04:57):
Still a lot of this is still.

Speaker 2 (04:58):
This is just in the first like the first three
full weeks that we've seen. Okay, I'm gonna start with
a right, because we're gonna start a happy note here.

Speaker 4 (05:08):
In my right is Justin Fields Deniers.

Speaker 2 (05:13):
They they were my team to watch all off season
because of the quarterback situation right now, something I was
very adamant about was that Justin Fields would be starting
this season, even though we knew Russ was probably going
to be the number one choice.

Speaker 4 (05:30):
Now, I personally.

Speaker 2 (05:34):
Wasn't like betting that it was going to be Week one,
but I knew it was going to be sometime before Thanksgiving,
was what I was saying. And this man, this man,
Justin Fields, got his second shot. When Russ was ruled
out with the calf injury, Justin told non for dear life,
but he's been doing what they need him to do.

(05:57):
He's doing enough to help them win and doing enough.
It's not your fault if they lose, and they haven't.
The defense is obviously amazing and the star of this team.
But Field, this is doing exactly what he's asked to do,
and at this point, that's all you can do. I
don't think Russ would have been any better. At this point,
his future is in his own hands right now. If

(06:19):
Justin Fields keeps winning, keeps playing good enough, I don't
think you can take him out. This is his job
to lose right now. Grab it, grab it by the horns,
give it everything.

Speaker 3 (06:31):
Let me ask you something then, because all right, yeah,
I mean I agree with you that I don't know
that Russ would have done phenomenally better. But again, like
we're it wasn't a situation where Justin Fields was started
over Russ.

Speaker 5 (06:42):
He would start over us because Russ.

Speaker 4 (06:43):
Is hurt, still got the start.

Speaker 3 (06:46):
Because Russ was hurt. I think that Russ would have
gotten you know, but this is my question. Do you
think that Justin Fields then has been doing enough to
then be the starter for the season beyond this one?

Speaker 2 (07:00):
He keeps this up, if they keep winningly that he
keeps if he keeps doing enough, this is his job
to lose.

Speaker 4 (07:07):
It is not just for this season right now.

Speaker 3 (07:08):
I'm talking future, like the like the the Pittsburgh Steelers
are not going to go out and get another quarterback
and then Justin Field is then their starter for the future.

Speaker 2 (07:18):
That is gonna have to be in a month ask
me that. Okay, Like I need a bigger sample size
to like predict future. But this season right now, if
he keeps doing enough, I don't think you can take
him out. And this is like I love stories like
this also because I have a very personal connection to
a story like this, Like I this is how I

(07:39):
got my starting job in college. I walked on at SDSU.
I was told I wasn't going to start Game one.
The senior that was playing center back got sick. I
got to play that first game. I never came out.
We ended up going on to Windows. Yeah, so it's.

Speaker 4 (07:53):
Just like no matter how you get that opportunity.

Speaker 2 (07:57):
Once you get that shot, you have to do everything
in your power to not let it go. And this
is his second chance right now, This is his opportunity
to go out there do whatever it takes to keep
this starting role.

Speaker 3 (08:12):
Yeah. I haven't seen that from him though. All I've
seen from him is that he's doing enough to not
lose games with the phenomenal defense of the I mean, oh.

Speaker 4 (08:19):
Yeah, the Steelers defense team. The start of the show,
the Steelers.

Speaker 3 (08:22):
Defense is allowing less than ten points a game. Yeah,
that's outrageous. That's that's the thing is, that's not sustainable.
So now I need to see, Okay, when the defense
does falter, when the defense does let up more than
ten points, yeah, which is going to happen? Can you
respond and can you score more? Because this offense is
not high scoring offense either.

Speaker 4 (08:40):
No. So the Steelers are a defensive yes.

Speaker 3 (08:44):
And they have been for years. And that's why I
still am not sold on. I think we talked about
this before the season started. Oh yeah, I didn't think
that the Steelers quarterback of the future was on this
roster period. I did not think that Russ was the answer.
I didn't think that Justin Fields was the answer, and
I haven't seen an to think that that's true.

Speaker 2 (09:01):
Yeah, case you also, you also have a very deep
connection with Justin Fields. You have written so many stories,
spent so many years covering his career. So there's also
like you need to see a lot more and have
proven a lot more I think for your personal experience,
your psyche, like everything you've seen.

Speaker 3 (09:18):
I mean, I think that that's just true in general
because in order to be a like bona fide franchise
starter at quarterback, you have to be able to win
your team games, and that's not something that I've ever
seen up into the like I still haven't seen it.

Speaker 5 (09:35):
So that's why it does.

Speaker 3 (09:36):
It leaves me a little wary because I'm like, all right,
I talked about it on Speak. I remember in the
off season talking about like not necessarily fools gold, but
just you need to like make sure that you're expecting
the standard for a franchise quarterback out of Justin Fields
before you can say, all right, this is it. And
I do think that Arthur Smith has done a wonderful
job setting him up for success. Oh yeah, that absolutely matters.

(09:57):
This offensive line has been doing well in Pittsburgh for
him as well. But you're not asking, though, justin fields
to like bomb like the does the ball down.

Speaker 4 (10:06):
The field doesn't have to.

Speaker 2 (10:08):
Eventually you're going to have a Steelers are three and
oh Joe Burrow and the Bengals are oh and three.
I don't think anybody called that noon, But that's what matters.

Speaker 4 (10:18):
That's what matters.

Speaker 3 (10:18):
That's the crazy part is the quarterbacks, the fin They
could not be more different on both of those teams.

Speaker 2 (10:23):
Yeah, it's yeah, it'll be interesting. They play the Colts tomorrow.
Steelers are a two point favorite stee if they can
keep this streak alive.

Speaker 4 (10:31):
But Carmen, where were you right?

Speaker 3 (10:33):
Where wasn't I right? Alex?

Speaker 5 (10:34):
No, I'm just kidding.

Speaker 4 (10:37):
I'm wrong about no, no, no, no, no, I'm.

Speaker 5 (10:39):
Wrong about things.

Speaker 3 (10:40):
But uh no, I mean like, but I mean again,
I take this with a grain of salt because it
is only three games into the season. The biggest thing
that I want to hammer home is I kept trying
to temper expectations in Chicago. Yes you did, and nobody
wanted to hear it.

Speaker 4 (10:57):
They got mad at you for it.

Speaker 3 (10:59):
I was I wish you guys like I was just like,
screenshot my DM screenshot my mentions. I need to just
put this out there, just like the absolute vitual that
I have had to like witness and put up with
for just saying, hey, give these guys some time. It
might not look good right away. And now that I'm

(11:19):
saying now that it hasn't looked good right away, yeah,
and I'm saying, hey, just pump the brakes a little bit.
Don't make any sweeping conclusions yet. This is going to
take at least a half a season before you start
to really see if this is gonna work or not.
Now people are hating on that too, and I'm like,
I'm not making excuses, but I try to tell y'all,
from the very beginning, everything was new in Chicago offensively

(11:42):
outside of the offensive line. What concerns me at this
point is that the offensive line is not playing.

Speaker 2 (11:47):
Like, yeah, you said, the one thing that wasn't new
was your line, and that's the biggest concern, right But here's.

Speaker 3 (11:53):
No, that's not even that the line is a concern.
It's not as big of a concern as people are
saying it is. It's still a very average line, but
the play calling is like that in combination with the
play calling, in combination with having a rookie whose responsibilities
he's got. Killer Williams has a ton of responsibilities pre
snap on his shoulders. He is getting to line, He's

(12:14):
the one setting the protections, he is the one making
all of the identifications, he's the one audibling, he is
the one kind of having to orchestrate everything, which, yes,
that's a quarterback's job, but there are ways to make
that easier on a younger quarterback, as in put those
protection calls on the offensive line themselves, on the center themselves.
Their center is a veteran center, Coleman Shelton. He absolutely

(12:35):
could is capable of making those protection calls, taking things
off of Kleb William's plate, so that he can kind of.

Speaker 5 (12:41):
Ease into this.

Speaker 3 (12:41):
That has not been the case with what just with
what Caleb Williams has been asked to do so far
under Shane Waldron. Shane Waldron is absolutely adopting this like
baptism by fire in Chicago. And here's the thing they
are betting on. They're betting on Caleb Williams though coming
out the other side, and the fact that he is
progressing each week. It's incremental, but he is. I mean,

(13:05):
you saw the connection with Roma Dunesay. This last week
he threw for three hundred and sixty three yards, which
is not something that a Bear's quarterback has done in years.

Speaker 4 (13:14):
In four years, I believe you're finding the silver linings.

Speaker 3 (13:17):
So you're gonna have to take those kind of like
I'm not one to take moral victories, and I'm not
saying you should take it as a victory, but you
need to be taking those into account because c J.
Stroud is not the norm. Jaden Daniels not the norm.
This is something that is very typical. But like what
happens with a young quarterback.

Speaker 4 (13:38):
Everybody expected him to be what we saw from.

Speaker 3 (13:40):
Jail and I told you not to do it. I
told you not to do it. I told you not
to do it.

Speaker 2 (13:44):
I was to be like the future, the once in
a generational player.

Speaker 3 (13:49):
I never once use the term generational for Kayla Williams.
I was very intentional about that. That's not a fair
label to put on somebody before they've even taken an
NFL snap. Yep, I still think that Caleb Williams is
going to be a phenomenal player. Well, you just need
to give him a little bit of time.

Speaker 2 (14:05):
Yeah, Rams, Rams in Chicago, there are more quarterbacks.

Speaker 3 (14:08):
There are more quarterbacks that have started poorly but ended
up having wonderful careers than there have been quarterbacks that
started hot and stayed hot their entire careers. Okay, that's
all that saying.

Speaker 4 (14:19):
There's a chance, a huge chance.

Speaker 2 (14:21):
Okay, now it's time to call ourselves out on what
we got wrong. I'll start Josh Allen and the Bills.
I'm sorry, Josh Allen. I underestimated you, and I will
never do that again. He is proving this season why
he has always been in that elite quarterback conversation. Josh
Allen three and zero, highest passer rating in the league,

(14:43):
second most passing touchdowns. The biggest concern this year was
Josh losing his weapon weapons Stefan Diggs gave Davis the
Bills not going out to get like a top tier
wide receiver. They did draft h Kean Coleman. But Josh
is still able to to win games and put this
team on his back, which we've now seen twice with

(15:05):
top quarterbacks. We saw with Patrick Mahomes losing Tyreek Hill,
and then now we're seeing Josh Allen losing Stefan Diggs.
These these guys are the elite, top tier quarterbacks. The
great ones will make it work no matter what the
situation is, no matter who they are placed with, they
will always find a way to win. They're both three
to know to start the season. Josh Allen is currently
the MVP favorite. I mean, the Sunday night football game

(15:29):
is going to be it's the game of the week,
Bills at Ravens.

Speaker 3 (15:32):
So it's I was high on the Bills the whole time.
I know. That's what I'm saying. I was wrong.

Speaker 4 (15:38):
I was wrong. Okay, what were you? What was your wrong?

Speaker 5 (15:41):
I was wrong about the Bengals sort of.

Speaker 4 (15:44):
Does that hurt though.

Speaker 3 (15:46):
No, because I don't really under know. But that's the thing.
It's not Joey like Joe Burrow right seventh in EPA
per play. He has one hundred and two point six
ratings through three games. This is not Joe Burrow's fault.
This is not the offense. Is in general the defense.
What is happening with this defense? That is what I
cannot figure out for the life of me. They rank

(16:07):
thirtieth in EPA per play. They are allowing twenty six
point seven points per game, which is the sixth most
of any team. That is why they are oh and
three right now. Is the defense they've been in all
of these games. They lost the Chiefs by one point
in Week two. This is not an oh and three team,
Yet they are sitting at oh and three, and the
odds are not stacked in their favor for getting to

(16:29):
the postseason starting oh to three. So that's my biggest
surprise is that I did not think, especially this last game,
which was one of those the Commander's game was one
of those like this is because you finished like you're
playing a fourth play schedule. The Commanders are who you
get because of that, you need to win that game.
But now, I mean, we're gonna see hopefully they get

(16:51):
an easy game upcoming.

Speaker 5 (16:53):
I just I they have the opportunity.

Speaker 3 (16:55):
To get on track against Carolina Panthers and then keep
getting on track because I get.

Speaker 4 (16:59):
The Giants like Panthers also like came out and like
blew up.

Speaker 3 (17:03):
That was the backup bump. I'm not convinced that the
Panthers are actually that. I mean, I think they're better
than they were because the bar is the floor, yes,
but I don't think that they're going to beat the Bengals.
The Bengals are a good team that shouldn't be zero
to three.

Speaker 4 (17:16):
All right, Yeah, but they are shocking.

Speaker 3 (17:19):
And that's and that's why it's shocking. And again, it
has nothing to do with the offense.

Speaker 4 (17:22):
It's here.

Speaker 3 (17:22):
A quarterbacks has nothing to do with the offense, has
nothing to Joey b has been as good as you
could possibly expect him to be, has done everything you
need him to do. The Bengals have been putting up points.
It's it's it's when you're allowing twenty six point seven
points a game, it's it's hard. You can't do It's hard,
not against good teams.

Speaker 2 (17:40):
We're gonna take a quick break here, but when we
come back, Caitlin Clark's rookie season may be over, but
she is just getting started.

Speaker 4 (17:46):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.

Speaker 1 (17:48):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
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dot Com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to listen.

Speaker 6 (17:59):
Love.

Speaker 2 (18:00):
Welcome back to Fox Football Saturday. I'm Alex Curry here
with Carmen Vitalia. We are broadcasting live from the Tara
Dot com Studios in Los Angeles.

Speaker 4 (18:08):
Thank you for spending your Saturday after.

Speaker 5 (18:10):
This, because the darkness conversation.

Speaker 2 (18:12):
I don't know, tell me no anything, any inspiration behind
the music here popped up.

Speaker 7 (18:20):
It felt like today's a smashing Pumpkins start.

Speaker 2 (18:21):
So maybe it was because like we're just secretly, like
subconsciously like putting everybody in the darkness.

Speaker 3 (18:27):
In the darkness. I mean, it's fall now, guys, I
have now switched.

Speaker 4 (18:31):
You're in a flannel flannel today. It's it's still you, guys.
It's still seventy three degrees out in Los Angele, not.

Speaker 3 (18:38):
Where we are. Last night it was legitimately cold when
I went out.

Speaker 4 (18:42):
It was chilly at night. But it's daytime and we're
in the valley, so it's hot.

Speaker 3 (18:47):
Yea.

Speaker 5 (18:47):
The valley is different.

Speaker 3 (18:48):
It's the valley is different, but we don't live in
the valley, so I'm allowed to enjoy my fall.

Speaker 4 (18:54):
It does.

Speaker 2 (18:54):
It does officially feel like faul it's here, okay, But
the w NBA Playoffs are also here underway. This week
we saw the end of possibly one of the best
rookie seasons we've ever seen. Congratulations to Kitlyn Clark. The
WNBA Rookie of the Year. She's already changed the game
in the w She is the moment, she is the future.

Speaker 4 (19:17):
Tough for the league.

Speaker 2 (19:18):
That she's out in the first round, so we don't
really have the Obviously, Reese was out about a month
ago with her injury, so we don't have the two
rookie phenoms playing in the postseason here. But like, I
just want to take a moment to recognize everything that
she's helped elevate the league since she's been here. The

(19:41):
private charters for every team, almost every fever game on
National TV partnership money, viewership records, sold out arenas. And
I know people don't like to hear this because there
are so many other incredible, amazing players that came before her,
and that doesn't diminish any of that, But Caitlyn Clark,
I'll put the w NBA on the mainstream map.

Speaker 4 (20:04):
That's what it is. Once she entered the league, she started.

Speaker 2 (20:09):
Bringing the w into the a blocks of almost every
sports talk TV show, radio show in a way.

Speaker 4 (20:16):
That we have never seen before.

Speaker 2 (20:18):
So now, how does the WNBA build off this for
the future, Because you have stars and now people are
getting to know these stars, really get invested and we're
seeing a whole new audience be here for the w
So how do how do you build off this and
how do you grow?

Speaker 3 (20:37):
Well, I think there's another there's something to be said
about also her or on the court impact here, which
is she took the worst team in the league.

Speaker 4 (20:46):
Yeah, two two years in a row, two years.

Speaker 3 (20:49):
You had the number one pig two years in a row,
took them into the sixth seed. Yeah, and that then
increase is the parody in the w NBA itself, like
it was the last Vegas Aces, the New York Liberty
like that was it. Big names and now between Caitlin Clark,

(21:11):
Angel rees like these are now you're you're starting to
see teams because basketball is just as a sport, so
you can it can be influenced so much by one player.
Oh yeah, one player can make a difference on the team,
which is very unique. It's very unique that one player
can make that much of a difference for a team.

(21:32):
But now I think that there's something to be said
and something that's not being talked about enough is that
Caitlyn Clark had and again an Angel rees. A few
of these rookies now have increased the parody that we
are seeing in the w NBA, which then makes it
overall a more interesting and compelling product, which is incredible

(21:53):
to see one player be able to do that. I mean,
just in the regular season her average eighteen point eight
points a game, or field goal percentage forty one.

Speaker 4 (22:02):
Point seven, so many records, it's three.

Speaker 3 (22:05):
Point percentage thirty four point four percent. Just and these
were averages across the entire season. So now she has arrived,
she will now be considered in all of these All
Star awards.

Speaker 5 (22:19):
This that the other.

Speaker 3 (22:20):
It's no longer like, oh, we need to see it
in the pros from Briton Clark. She she blew.

Speaker 5 (22:25):
It out of the water.

Speaker 2 (22:25):
She blew like she needs to be a part of
every big thing the W does commercials. Make her be
one of the big faces of the league. Make sure
she's in the three point contest at the All Star
Game next year.

Speaker 4 (22:37):
Give her whatever she needs to be there.

Speaker 2 (22:39):
Like utilize, learn from like what you had this year,
and just take it to the next level because it's
right there. It already was like an insane jump this year.
You can like double triple, quadruple that again next year
if you do it right. And bring in the right
marketing people. But it's gonna be exciting. It's just it's

(23:00):
already so exciting to see the growth of the w
this year.

Speaker 4 (23:03):
We love it. Everybody watches women's sports.

Speaker 8 (23:05):
Whoo.

Speaker 4 (23:05):
Now let's check in with Brian Ventl and see what's trending.

Speaker 7 (23:09):
No question about it. And speaking of what people are
probably watching in Los Angeles, that USC football game, I know,
that's one of the many that are happening right now
and in the form of college football games. Number thirteen
USC he has the football tied to bit seven against
Wisconsin and they're about to start the second quarter. Number
sixteen Notre Dame battling it out with Number fifteen in Louisville,

(23:32):
and the Fighting Irish, after giving up a touchdown about
a minute or so into the first quarter, have scored
three straight touchdowns and are in front twenty one to
fourteen early stages of the second quarter. There for Auburn
and number twenty one Oklahoma. KeAndre Lambert Smith just hauled
in a thirty one yard receiving touchdown to get the
Tigers on the board. What do you guys think about

(23:52):
this one between the Tigers and Oklahoma? Do you have
a specific team you're looking for.

Speaker 3 (23:57):
I'm trying to think if I had to pick this
game that I'm in because I don't like that. That's
basically my main concern now is like, did I have
to pick this?

Speaker 5 (24:07):
Do like?

Speaker 3 (24:08):
And then that causes me to.

Speaker 2 (24:10):
See mine is like who and my family went there?
And I have like a bunch of life.

Speaker 3 (24:14):
I didn't have to pass this game, so I don't
have a dog in this always.

Speaker 7 (24:17):
Yeah, well, to your point, I do have a dog
in the fight of and I don't think many people
saw this coming. Number six Old Miss in Kentucky. My
sister and dad went to Old Miss and yeah, let's
just say my sister is not taking this loss all
too well. The Kentucky going into Oxford and winning twenty
to seventeen. There was a forty eight yard attempt at

(24:39):
a field goal in a minute to go for the ReBs,
but they were put in a very tough position and
it looked as if they underestimated.

Speaker 3 (24:45):
We are an anti Old Mes household because the duo
LSU household and if LSU has like it's their main
rivals are like Alabama and Old Mess.

Speaker 2 (24:56):
Carmen's marrying into the rivalry, and she's already going in.

Speaker 3 (25:00):
I'm hard, I'm all right, I'm only I'm full end
my other teams, although as you is doing better this year.
But my other sense of ASCO in Northwestern just don't
we love a marion.

Speaker 4 (25:10):
We love a marion and then just jump.

Speaker 3 (25:11):
And ride awayire part of your life. The well being
of my household depends on it.

Speaker 4 (25:15):
Oh, I get that.

Speaker 7 (25:16):
I will say that good radio isn't involving people that
agree with things. So it's nice to have a spirited
discussion of back and forth and some rivalry between all
of us here on the show. So yeah, that's a
big upset. Number six Old miss number twelve Michigan holding
on twenty seven to twenty four against Minnesota, who win
for number twenty three Kansas State also number twenty two
BYU and Baylor, And quickly, just two notes from the

(25:38):
NFL regarding all the games that are coming up tomorrow.
The Bengals placing offensive tackle Trent Brown on injured reserve,
and according to NFL Network, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is
expected to go this week against the Chiefs. He's gonna
tough it out or at least attempt to do so
barring any pre gun.

Speaker 5 (25:58):
You've got no shock though.

Speaker 7 (26:01):
Well that's why for sure. And as they throw it
back to you, the pregame setback, if it happens, would
be looking at that high ankle sprain and seeing how
it is performing, how it's holding up in the warm ups.

Speaker 4 (26:13):
Yeah, high ankle sprain is no job.

Speaker 3 (26:14):
Yeah, that's but the starts don't have a shot, yes,
Rustin Herbert though.

Speaker 4 (26:20):
All right, thank you, Brian.

Speaker 2 (26:21):
If you're listening to Fox Football Saturday, I am Alex
Curry here with Carmen Vitally. We are broadcasting live from
the Tyrek dot Com studios in Los Angeles, and it
is time to bring in our first guest staff writer,
an editor for the Minnesota Vikings, Lindsey Young.

Speaker 4 (26:34):
Thank you for joining the show.

Speaker 3 (26:35):
Helens.

Speaker 6 (26:36):
Hey, guys, so happy to be on.

Speaker 3 (26:38):
So happy to be able to talk to you.

Speaker 4 (26:41):
This is amazing.

Speaker 2 (26:42):
Also, your Vikings, they haven't started three and oh since
twenty sixteen. Also, just a new era without Kirk Cousins.
Take us into that locker room. What made this group
have such a hot start?

Speaker 8 (26:55):
Yeah, like you said, it has been a long.

Speaker 6 (26:57):
Time since the Vikings have started three and oh and
it's been a really like high energy start to the season.
And I feel like, you know, it's definitely fair to
say that the Vikings were not they didn't have super
high expectations from kind of outside of voices analysts going
into this season, but like even during training camps, even

(27:18):
maybe back as far as OTAs, like the players in
the locker room and the coaches just really have this
confidence about them. And I think the most unique thing
is the number of free agents that the Vikings signed
the spring, whether it's a lot on defense, definitely a
lot on defense with Andrew ban Ginkel Johns and Grenard

(27:39):
Camu gruge Hill, but then also bringing in Aaron Jones of course,
which I'm sure we'll chat about, but like the number
of new faces that came into this team and just
immediately gelled in the locker room is crazy, Like it's
so special, and you can see that that's what the
players are feeling. You talk to them, and of them

(28:00):
have used the word special and just sort of describing
this team. I was at the game this past weekend
and it was like from the very first snap, Usbank
Stadium was so loud, Like I'm not sure it's been
that loud. It's been going back to like the Minneapolis
Miracle games. It's just been really fun. The players are

(28:24):
having fun, and I think you see that, like there's
a confidence just having fun with each other, connecting with
each other.

Speaker 5 (28:32):
I love that.

Speaker 3 (28:33):
And honestly, US Bank has one of the best game
day atmospheres of any place that I've gone to.

Speaker 5 (28:39):
It's just the fake snow in the.

Speaker 3 (28:40):
Beginning, just the skull chant, the press box is open
air because it's dome. It's just it's such a cool stadium.
I think it's my favorite in the NFL. WHOA but yeah,
Oh I love and Plus I get to see Lindsay.

Speaker 5 (28:53):
I get to see you every time, Linds.

Speaker 3 (28:55):
Yes, I want to talk about though, I think so
much of this, at least from the outside, seems as
though it's because of the two coaches, in particular, Kevin
O'Connell and Brian Flores, that these guys have to rally behind.
Because I don't know another team in the NFL that
has a better situation when it comes to their play,
their offensive and defensive play callers. Brian Flores has been

(29:18):
a head coach in this league for years. He now
is taking over this defense that is just so much
fun to watch because it's so damn confusing. I don't
know a better situation is that what have you seen
from these two coaches?

Speaker 5 (29:31):
Because I want to give them their shine.

Speaker 3 (29:33):
I don't think that they're getting enough credit for the
belief that they've instilled in this team, but also because
everything that they've done is so sound.

Speaker 6 (29:43):
No, it's incredible, right, And I mean talking about new
new players, new names, obviously, the biggest one is Sam Darnold,
and I feel like there's not a better situation that
he could have come into than here in Minnesota with
Kevin O'Connell. Just the way that those two has, you know,
seen mainly worked together. I think Kevin O'Connell obviously being

(30:04):
a former excuse me, quarterback himself, has a passion for
you know, developing that that position, for finding the best
team and best fit for the quarterback. And so you've
seen that as well. And I think the comfort level
for Sam with coach O'Connell is huge, and so of

(30:25):
course like that has been really awesome seeing coach O'Connell
in his third season and then Brian Flora's in his
second season. I mean, the defense just loves to play
for this coach like they you know, they will run
through a brick wall for him. He was an adage
every Sunday. And I think the fun part is too,

(30:47):
is like you see that Brian Flores just it's like
he knew which types of players would fit in this
scheme and worked well for him, and he went out.

Speaker 8 (30:58):
And got them.

Speaker 6 (31:00):
We saw what Joshua Tellis did last season underflow, and
I think this season too, bringing in especially someone like
interviewing Gakles, who he can move around a lot, and
it reminds me a lot of like a Joshua Mantelius,
just as far as sort of mindset and approach and
just really smart, smart players. And so you know, you

(31:23):
hear these players talk about coach Slow and how fun
it is to play in their defense. I mean, Harrison
Smith came back for a thirteenth season the defense, Like,
I mean, thirteen seasons is a long time.

Speaker 3 (31:37):
You're asking him to do a lot. I mean, this
man is like starting on the line of scrimmage and
dropping in to cover the deep hat.

Speaker 5 (31:43):
I'm like, oh my.

Speaker 3 (31:44):
God, I can't. I cracked when I got out of
bed in the morning.

Speaker 8 (31:48):
Why does this man do no and he wants to
do it all.

Speaker 6 (31:51):
Like earlier this season, coach Flow was joking that, like,
you know, with someone like Harry who's in a thirteenth season,
there's gonna be occasionally maybe like some snapcounts, you know,
trying to take him out here and there make sure
that he's fresh. And coach Blow was like, I want
him out there one hundred snaps a game, Like how
this goes. But it's been been so fun to see, Like,

(32:15):
you know, it's early in the season, but these first
three games have been really, really fun.

Speaker 4 (32:19):
They've been fun to watch.

Speaker 2 (32:20):
Now, the season started with some heartbreaking news for your
first round pick JJ McCarthy's NFL career. How is his
recovery going and how involved has he been like in
and around practice, walk throughs, games, Like.

Speaker 4 (32:34):
Is he still very much a part of this team?

Speaker 6 (32:38):
Yeah, so he's definitely around the building a ton.

Speaker 1 (32:42):
Actually.

Speaker 6 (32:43):
Coach O'Connell was just asked yesterday if JJ is getting
close to the point of like being able to be
on the sideline at home games and stuff like that,
because that's more of a medical safety issue that he
has to be able to protect himself. Of course, if
he had to get out of the way, but he
has been around the team, around the building. He's got

(33:03):
his electric scooter and he's shooting around always, like, has
the most positive attitude, just a really like so much maturity.
He's so excited for Sam too. It's fun to watch
JJ's instagram.

Speaker 4 (33:22):
Okay, so good luck, go watch it.

Speaker 6 (33:25):
Yeah you mean the Sam Darnold means like Sam on
a Viking ship and really yeah, yeah to watch and definitely,
I mean it was such a bummer, but you know,
he's he has the best mindset.

Speaker 5 (33:42):
Real quick, because we're gonna have to let you go soon.

Speaker 3 (33:44):
But I want to talk about Aaron Jones in particular,
what does this mean for him? I know he penned
that letter in the Player's Tribune about playing his former
team this week.

Speaker 5 (33:53):
How fired up is he?

Speaker 3 (33:55):
Oh?

Speaker 6 (33:55):
So fired up? He is so excited for this weekend.
And you can tell that. You know, Green Bay means
a lot to him, the fans there, everything that they
gave him there, the opportunity that that team gave him,
It means a lot to him. But it's it's also
been really fun to see how quickly he embraced Minnesota
Viking fans, the school chant being at US Bank Stadium.

(34:20):
But it was fun talking to him this week and
just you know, seeing sort of his thoughts on being
back and you know a lot of positivity about the
part of his career that that team played for him,
and just being back in that stadium. Obviously there's a
lot of you know, special emotions there at Lambeau. He

(34:41):
did say that if he scores, he's going to do
the Lambeau Leap and looks for some Viking fans.

Speaker 4 (34:45):
Soe.

Speaker 5 (34:48):
Vikings fans need to make that happen for Aaron Jones.

Speaker 3 (34:50):
I have no I have no question that Kevin O'Connell
is going to give Aaron Jones the rock because he
knows that he's got to get there.

Speaker 4 (34:57):
That's so cool.

Speaker 2 (34:58):
Lindy, thank you so much for joining us. Have so
much fun at the game tomorrow.

Speaker 8 (35:02):
Of course, Thank you guys.

Speaker 6 (35:03):
Have a good day.

Speaker 3 (35:04):
Thanks Lynz.

Speaker 2 (35:05):
All right, guys, when we come back, it's the Dues
and the don'ts in sports. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.

Speaker 1 (35:10):
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.

Speaker 2 (35:22):
with Carmen Vitali. We are broadcasting live from the Tarak
dot Com studios in Los Angeles. Thank you for spending
your Saturday afternoon with CARMEI and me. It is time
for the dues and the don'ts in sports.

Speaker 1 (35:38):
Highlighting the dues I love that, and putting a spotlight.

Speaker 2 (35:41):
On the don't the subject brings me no joy.

Speaker 3 (35:44):
Don't that's insane.

Speaker 1 (35:46):
It's time for the dues and the don'ts in sports.

Speaker 2 (35:50):
All right, I'm gonna start with a d do keep
that ball the show? Hey you, Tani? Fifty to fifty
ball has hit options now, if you remember, I think
we talked about it last week. The Dodgers originally offered
the guy who caught it three hundred thousand dollars, but
it's going to auction and can be purchased for four

(36:11):
point five million dollars.

Speaker 5 (36:14):
Is that like the opening The opening.

Speaker 2 (36:15):
Bid is set at five hundred thousand dollars. Perspective buyers
will have a chance to purchase the baseball outright for
four point five million, exclusively between September twenty seventh and
October ninth. If the bidding reaches three million prior to
October nine, the option to purchase privately will no longer
be available.

Speaker 4 (36:33):
But this man, oh yeah, that was his life changing money.

Speaker 3 (36:37):
Yeah, like it would have been hard to turn down
three hundred k. But also like you knew for sure
this is going to go yeah for more than that.

Speaker 4 (36:46):
Anything that's not said that's suing him.

Speaker 3 (36:49):
They tried to get it to not go to auction
because he had a hand on it.

Speaker 4 (36:53):
That's so silly anyways, I mean it's millions of dollars.
People are going to try to do whatever they can.

Speaker 3 (36:56):
Yeah, Like when when this guy like scooped it up
off the ground, he get two hands on it, this
other kid like second hand and had a hand on it. Yeah,
and then try to like block it from going to auction.
Doesn't work.

Speaker 4 (37:06):
Nope, nope, nope. What you got I also have to
do do strive.

Speaker 5 (37:11):
To be the best of everything.

Speaker 3 (37:12):
You do, Yeah, even.

Speaker 5 (37:14):
If it's sucking.

Speaker 3 (37:16):
Chicago White Sox, my friends, are the.

Speaker 2 (37:20):
Worst team ever baseball history.

Speaker 3 (37:23):
In Major League Baseball history, they currently have thirty nine wins,
losses one and twenty one.

Speaker 5 (37:31):
Losses it is.

Speaker 3 (37:33):
It is phenomenal if you ask me, because you know what,
if you're gonna do something, give your all. They're gonna
stock worse be the best at it, and the White
Sox are the best. I don't know if you've seen
Southlaws as their mascot their Twitter. Yeah, no, uh, it's
absolutely hilarious. I literally just retweeted a couple of things

(37:55):
from Southpaw Southpaw. Also, I worked at the White Sox
for a year. I love South Fak. They just posted
a picture my birthday with their like Instagram or their
text message in box.

Speaker 4 (38:09):
Yeah to two text messages Yeah.

Speaker 3 (38:11):
September twenty seventh, twenty twenty four. They you know, yeah,
solidified the thirty nine wins, h forty seven texts leaning
so far into this, it's great. Please go check out
south Buzz Instagram, so I'm gonna or the White Sox Instagram,
slash Twitter.

Speaker 4 (38:27):
I'm gonna.

Speaker 2 (38:27):
I'm gonna stay on a baseball topic here, and I
also have I have a don't okay, don't be a
bad owner. The A's played their very last game in
Oakland on Thursday. It was heartbreaking for Oakland fans. I
have so many friends and family who just grew up
with the A's and cried at the last Homestand I mean,

(38:51):
John Fisher is just the worst owner in the league.
Hasn't put any money into this game or it's fan
base or its future. He's literally moved them out of
the Oakland Coliseum.

Speaker 4 (39:04):
They're moving to Vegas, but not for three seasons. So
the as we're not going to be playing in Sacramento
in a minor league stadium, it doesn't make any sense.
It makes zero sense.

Speaker 2 (39:13):
Like there were, ugh there were fans that tried to
steal seats out of the stadium.

Speaker 4 (39:18):
There were signs.

Speaker 2 (39:18):
I was here for the first pitch in nineteen sixty eight,
in the last in twenty twenty four.

Speaker 4 (39:24):
It's just it's heartbreaking.

Speaker 2 (39:25):
There's so much history and they were great at one point, yes,
in the franchise.

Speaker 3 (39:31):
It's like there was a lot of it. There's a
lot of sports that have happened in that building because
like the Raiders played there too.

Speaker 5 (39:37):
Like it's just.

Speaker 4 (39:37):
It's rip sports in Oakland, like.

Speaker 3 (39:40):
RP Sports and Oakland, which like it's horrible and I
don't know why, because fans and Oakland in the Bay
Area are so.

Speaker 4 (39:45):
Good, right or died like they're crazy.

Speaker 3 (39:47):
It doesn't make a lot of sense, but all right,
I've got another due. Okay, do find creative ways to
express your emotions.

Speaker 4 (39:52):
All right?

Speaker 3 (39:53):
Have you seen moodang? Yeah it's a little baby hippo.

Speaker 4 (39:56):
Yes, we love it.

Speaker 3 (39:58):
Every sports team has got.

Speaker 5 (39:59):
Viral of moodang.

Speaker 3 (40:01):
I love it so much. The NFL, I guess me
on NFL assigned like a little like quad box of
like which moodang is your team and then assign each
team to a various moodang expression.

Speaker 5 (40:12):
You guys have not seen this baby pygmy hippos.

Speaker 3 (40:15):
She's adorable.

Speaker 4 (40:16):
Yeah, we love it all right.

Speaker 2 (40:18):
When we come back, you guys, a couple teams have
had some tough breaks and they turn it around. You're
listening to Box Sports Radio. Welcome to hour two of
Fox Football Saturday. I'm Alex Curry here with Carmen Vitali.
Thank you for spending your Saturday afternoon with carme and me. Now,
I got to start out by giving a huge shout

(40:38):
out to Homage. Right as I was running out the door,
a huge package arrived at my house.

Speaker 3 (40:43):
We love a package from Homage.

Speaker 2 (40:45):
We love it, and so I threw on this you're
killing me Small's shirt, which I'm obsessed with from Homage.
I'm doing a really awesome giveaway next week with Homage,
so stay tuned for all of that to see how
you can win some gear to your favorite MLB teams
to celebrate the MLB postseason kicking off next week.

Speaker 4 (41:05):
So thank you.

Speaker 2 (41:06):
Excited to do that with all of you. Thank you
Homage for dressing both KRMEI and me a lot.

Speaker 3 (41:11):
So it's I alternate between like home Field and Homage.

Speaker 2 (41:14):
I know you do, so it's it's actually you're the reason.
Like I got this package and connect, so thank you.
You wore it last week and I tagged them and
then I got the call, So thank you.

Speaker 4 (41:24):
They're great.

Speaker 3 (41:25):
Yeah, they're phenomenal.

Speaker 4 (41:26):
It's awesome. We love it, you guys, we love it.

Speaker 2 (41:29):
And oh my gosh, yes, as you just heard in
the news updates, so many exciting college football games going
on right now. I don't know if you would call
them like little upsets. Auburn ahead, USC down against Wisconsin.

Speaker 3 (41:42):
There.

Speaker 5 (41:43):
I picked Wisconsin.

Speaker 3 (41:44):
That was a huge spread, and I actually I had
to pick against the spread, and I picked Wisconsin not
to necessarily win, but to not for USC to not
win by sixteen points spread with.

Speaker 4 (41:53):
Sixteen that's too big, way too big. That's way too big.
I mean there's still time. Yeah, there's still plenty of time.

Speaker 3 (41:59):
Well yeah, but like I still don't I don't know.
I mean, I guess I've been wrong before. But sixteen
is a lot.

Speaker 4 (42:04):
It's a big that is a big spread.

Speaker 2 (42:05):
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Speaker 4 (42:16):
The way tirefying should.

Speaker 3 (42:18):
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(42:40):
get an extra five percent off.

Speaker 2 (42:42):
Love it, guys, We've got a great second hour for you.
NFL Networks Bridget Condon is joining us in thirty minutes
to break down a couple of big games we got
going on tomorrow.

Speaker 4 (42:52):
So we're gonna.

Speaker 2 (42:54):
Talk some NFL tough breaks and share if we think
they can can turn it around.

Speaker 4 (43:02):
So let's start with the forty nine ers and all
of their injuries.

Speaker 2 (43:05):
This was the team that was favored in every single
game this season before the season started, and they have
been struck by the injury bug. And injuries suck. There's
nothing you can really do about it. Christian McCaffrey was
the first big one. He's on the ir early as
he can come back is week six, but he just
went to Germany for some treatments, so it feels like

(43:27):
week six.

Speaker 5 (43:28):
That's Longau the way.

Speaker 2 (43:31):
Himself, right, You're going over there to Yes, I'm like,
am I allowed to say that? I don't know, but
that's like, that's.

Speaker 4 (43:38):
What you do when you go over to Europe to
get these treatments.

Speaker 2 (43:41):
And then you have Debo Samuel's calf injury questionable for
the game.

Speaker 4 (43:45):
He did return to practice, but calfs are tricky. They linger,
they can turn into bigger injuries. Trent Williams toe injury
questionable for this week. This is the biggest loss for perty.

Speaker 3 (43:56):
I just.

Speaker 2 (43:58):
Heart Grave on defense out for the season with the
torn tricep like they did.

Speaker 4 (44:02):
Just get Kittle back.

Speaker 2 (44:04):
Party was listed as day to day with backsworts this week,
but he was back Friday at practice, so he should
be fine.

Speaker 5 (44:11):
He's got no designation.

Speaker 4 (44:12):
Yeah, yeah, but.

Speaker 2 (44:14):
It's just is this just a tough break or can
the forty nine ers push through and turn this around?

Speaker 4 (44:23):
Is the question.

Speaker 3 (44:24):
I mean, defense is suffering without Javon Hargrave in there.
Talent of Hufanga is also questionable for this game. It's
someone that came back, you know for this season. Everybody's
really excited to add him back into the defense. Yeah,
he's now battling injury already.

Speaker 4 (44:38):
Those are two big losses on you.

Speaker 3 (44:40):
Also, then kind of opened this season on offense thinking
that you were going to have CMC.

Speaker 5 (44:44):
Think you were going to have Deebo Samuel.

Speaker 4 (44:46):
This is a used nothing. He hasn't taken off yet.

Speaker 3 (44:51):
Well he hasn't because A he had to ramp up. B.
When you have debo as questionable and you don't have
CMC as a part of this offense, defenses can then
key in on Brandon Ayuk.

Speaker 5 (45:01):
It's just what they're doing.

Speaker 3 (45:02):
Yeah, and so you don't have as much flexibility as
Shanahan would perhaps like. It takes some adjustment. Now, Devot
being back at practice is a really good thing. The
fact that he's probably going to play just at all
is enough that a team needs a game plan for that, right. Yeah,
that's gonna help. CMC is a huge loss. I don't
expect him to be back anytime soon, like you said,

(45:23):
because you don't go to Germany if things are okay,
you just don't.

Speaker 4 (45:27):
It helps. They're playing the Patriots tomorrow. You would think.

Speaker 5 (45:32):
They have a tough defense.

Speaker 3 (45:33):
Though they're a good they're very well coached under Gerrod
Mayo on the defensive side of the ball. It's not
going to be the rollover in whatever I do.

Speaker 5 (45:42):
Think that we're putting.

Speaker 3 (45:43):
We shouldn't put any stock really in the Niners losing
in Minnesota, because there's something about Minneapolis that just makes
them lose there. They haven't won there in thirty two years.
That was the eighth straight game that they've lost at
either US Bank or the Metrodome. There's like there's something
about Minnesota that just completely confunds confounds, I should say
Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco forty nine ers, So

(46:05):
I don't I'm not putting a lot of talk in that.
I do think that they're still going to be one
of the better teams in the NFC. But I mean
you're going to have to make some changes on offense
to account for the absences that you have, especially if
CMC is out.

Speaker 5 (46:17):
It's free extended time.

Speaker 2 (46:18):
I'm going to say, though, there's a silver lining here, right,
and that's that Brock Purty looked great even without all
of his weapons, And I think the game in LA,
even though they lost, was approve it to the rest
of the football world that Brock Party is the real deal.
The argument by so many is like, what would Purdy
be without all of his weapons?

Speaker 4 (46:34):
Well, we got the answer.

Speaker 2 (46:35):
He had one of the better games of his career,
made the most of what he had with the weapons
he had, and the Fortnitors did not lose that game
because of Purty. He did everything he could to keep
them in it. So I think with all the unfortunate
injuries and they got a lot like.

Speaker 4 (46:55):
It's just more on.

Speaker 3 (46:57):
Kyle Shanahan to figure this out than it does anybody else.
And yes, I think you're right. Brock Party is a
good he's quarterback.

Speaker 4 (47:03):
Quarterback.

Speaker 5 (47:03):
He's a really good quarterback.

Speaker 3 (47:05):
And we've seen that in all of the advanced kind
of efficiency metrics that you know, you can kind of
look up and see where brock Party has. He led
the league last year in so many of them. As
far as like the paper play, like all that other stuff,
it's more than that, like it he himself was adding.
I love using EPA per play because it's expected points

(47:27):
added and it's a way of quantifying how one individual
added or subtracted from a team and their overall success.

Speaker 5 (47:34):
Brock Party led the league.

Speaker 3 (47:36):
Yeah, so that's that's something that like that tries like
that's trying to isolate exactly brock Party's impact, and we
have now seen the fact, like with the eye test,
but when he doesn't have his weapons, he's still able
to get stuff done.

Speaker 4 (47:50):
Yeah. Okay, So do we think they're going to overcome
tough pray?

Speaker 5 (47:53):
Yeah?

Speaker 3 (47:54):
No, I think that they're going to end up being
still one of the best teams in the NFC. I
just it's not going to be easy and there's going
to again the onus balls on Kyle Shanahan to make
some adjustments, especially if they do not have CMC for the.

Speaker 2 (48:04):
Sea catcher, which could be yeah, a lot longer than
most expect. Okay, let's move on to our next tough break.
Can they overcome this? The Bengals starting oh and three again.
I don't think anybody had justin Field starting three and
oh and Joe Burrow starting oh and three in the
AFC North here. Honestly, it's just been weird week. When
loss to the Patriots, weird Chiefs. They were close, lost

(48:25):
by the field goal. Loss of the Commanders was Jayden Daniels,
Welcome to the NFL game. Burrow didn't play bad, but
Jane Daniels was just better.

Speaker 4 (48:34):
He was just better.

Speaker 2 (48:35):
And after starting oh and three, Joe Burrow had some
things to say about his leadership on the team.

Speaker 5 (48:43):
Maybe a little more vocal.

Speaker 2 (48:45):
I'm usually lead by example kind of guy, but I
think I could pick my spots say say some more things.

Speaker 8 (48:49):
So find those spots this week.

Speaker 6 (48:51):
Why do you think that that could be beneficial?

Speaker 3 (48:54):
We got a lot of young guys that were coming on.

Speaker 6 (48:56):
I haven't really been here before, so have them hear
my voice A little bit might be beneficial for them.

Speaker 4 (49:01):
No, no, so is this just a tough break?

Speaker 3 (49:05):
Yeah?

Speaker 4 (49:05):
Or can Burrow in the Bengals turn this run?

Speaker 3 (49:08):
This is why this is why wins are not a
quarterback stat. Yeah, because Joe Burrow wasn't just good in
that game.

Speaker 5 (49:13):
He was great.

Speaker 3 (49:14):
Yeah, He's been great all season. And the Bengals are
losing anyway because it's a team game. Yep. I do
think that they are going to be able to overcome this.
I don't know how, Like you just have to get
one of those wildcard spots. Unfortunately, in the AFC it's
going to be that much harder because the field is
just more crowded. But their next few games, the Bengals

(49:35):
play the Panthers upcoming. That's got to be a win.

Speaker 4 (49:38):
Andy Dalton took the Raiders last week.

Speaker 3 (49:40):
I don't want to hear it. I don't want to
hear I have to hear it though. No, No, it's
the backup bump. The Panthers have way more holes than
just the quarterback. They are still in one of the
worst divisions in football. This is not I'm like, the
Raiders have been up and down and we don't know
who they are yet I am not going to hear that.
The Panthers kind.

Speaker 4 (49:59):
Of way about the like this one works.

Speaker 5 (50:02):
So much better.

Speaker 3 (50:02):
The results there's so much better.

Speaker 4 (50:05):
Before you can really believe in this.

Speaker 3 (50:07):
Team, there's they're like they were going to figure things out.
I have faith in Louianna rum Or. The defensive coordinator
Trey Hendrickson needs some more help along that defensive front,
but I think he's going to get it. They're reeling
from a loss of a d DJ reader, which I
think people were underestimating coming into this season. But the
Bengals now have the Panthers, the Ravens, the Giants, the Browns.
Those are all winnable games at this point for the

(50:28):
Cincinnati Bengals, they have to be.

Speaker 2 (50:29):
I mean the home opener should have been a winnable game, yes,
But I'm saying know.

Speaker 3 (50:33):
They have like they they have historically started slow. Joe
Burrow has always lost his season opener. Like as member
of the Bengals in the pros, Joe Burrow has never
won Week one.

Speaker 5 (50:44):
So like that in and.

Speaker 3 (50:46):
Of itself, all right, they take a while to get going,
they should get going.

Speaker 5 (50:50):
This is exactly the top the time that they should
get going. They have to.

Speaker 3 (50:53):
You can't go down zero four. You got the Panthers.
That's very like, there's no way that the Bengals are
losing this game.

Speaker 4 (51:03):
The Panthers have one more win of the Bengals, Like.

Speaker 3 (51:05):
It doesn't matter, it matter. They lost their best defensive player.
What happens on top of the quarterbre what happened. I'm
not even going there because you don't think, No, it's
not it's not going to happen.

Speaker 5 (51:18):
It's not going to happen.

Speaker 3 (51:19):
Well, then then the Bengals are screwed, and they're really screwed.
I really don't think, though, that this is gonna could
be a continuing trend. I think that once they get
that first one under their belt, they'll be well equipped
to take on the Ravens, the Giants, the Browns. Those
are all games that they can be successful. And I
still believe in Joe Burrow. I still believe in this
offense in particular, and I have faith again, and I

(51:40):
know the defense. We talked about how bad they are
allowing twenty six point seven points a game on average.
I can't think that's going to continue. With a guy
like lou Ana Remo.

Speaker 4 (51:48):
We love big lou He's one of me.

Speaker 5 (51:51):
He's a really great defensive.

Speaker 2 (51:53):
Is up for like head coaching gigs the last five years, right,
And I think.

Speaker 3 (51:57):
That that will just they're going to have to account
for some loss is that they suffered in free agency
this past offseason. I think that again that was just
being a little bit underestimated. But I am not going
to take the Panther seriously right now. I'm not going
to the Bengals are a better team.

Speaker 4 (52:14):
They also shouldn't be oh and three.

Speaker 5 (52:16):
They shouldn't exactly not they should not be going three.

Speaker 2 (52:19):
Yeah, Okay, let's move to a final one here. The
Dolphins quarterback situation. This one is just heartbreaking. Tua is
out until at least Week eight, So you would think
Miami would go out and get another quarterback, right, a
big name quarterback.

Speaker 4 (52:36):
Wrong, they did not.

Speaker 2 (52:37):
Rumors or that it doesn't seem likely that they'll make
a possible quarterback trade. Gonna wait to see what happens
with Tua, even though he's out for at least three
more games. I just like, why would you not have
a legit backup plan? This is the most important position
on the field. You've lost the two games that he's
been out, haven't scored a touchdown since Tua got hurt,

(53:00):
haven't looked good on offense. Now, they did sign Tyler Huntley,
but that's not like snoop. Yeah, I mean rumors that
they like, we're trying for Ryan Tannehill, but he doesn't
want to be a filling guy.

Speaker 4 (53:11):
He wants to be the guy.

Speaker 2 (53:13):
So if the Dolphins don't make a legit push for
a quarterback to be like part of this team, Like,
there's also a world where Tua doesn't get cleared to
play football, probably should again, definitely should not be Like
you need a legit backup plan. Tua is concussion prone.
This is a guy that you need legit.

Speaker 4 (53:36):
A legit insurance plan on. Even if he doesn't come back.

Speaker 2 (53:40):
Even if he does come back and play every single play,
you're going to be holding your breath hoping he doesn't
get hurt again. This one is just a really this
is a tough break for me. I don't think Miami
prepared themselves properly for this exact situation that everybody knew
was a possibility and was the elephant in the room
when they were in contract negotiations.

Speaker 3 (54:01):
This Miami team is not put together properly, and I knew.
We knew that before the season even started, Like, okay,
you gave two of this contract. What did you do
on the offensive line to then ensure the investment you
just made in Tua? They did not do anything. And
now your left tackle, Toron toront Armsteat is out this
game with a concussion. You have no depth behind him.

(54:24):
That offensive line was one of the worst in the
league last year. You did not do much to make
it better.

Speaker 4 (54:30):
Have been the most important thing.

Speaker 3 (54:31):
I never understood the fact that the Dolphins did not
go out and make more moves along the offensive line,
draft more guys, bring in more free agents.

Speaker 5 (54:39):
That to me was reckless.

Speaker 3 (54:41):
And I get it that this too is last concussion
was his own decision making. It had nothing to do
with the offensive line necessarily. But this is also kind
of coming to a head in the run game. Yeah,
the Dolphins are twenty sixth in rushing yards per play.
They I'm like, at this point, just run the wildcat
offense because you're not using your backs otherwise. And the
crazy part is actually that the offensive line is not

(55:04):
doing so. They're not doing poorly in run blocking. They
are terrible in pass protection. They rank twenty six in
EPA per play in pass protection, but they are pretty
average when it comes through the run game. The backs
just haven't been able to get going. And I don't
that hasn't been the case up until this season. I
don't really know where the disconnect is. And at this point,
I'm just like, fine, you know what, run the wildcat.

(55:24):
Put out a running back in there and just run
him out of the run him as the quarterback.

Speaker 5 (55:29):
That's fine.

Speaker 4 (55:29):
I don't see them turning this around.

Speaker 3 (55:31):
I don't either.

Speaker 4 (55:31):
I don't either, but I think it's breaking tough break.

Speaker 3 (55:35):
It stems from even before the two injury as to
how this team was constructed and how recklessly it was constructed.

Speaker 4 (55:41):
No backup plan, no depth, no backup plan.

Speaker 2 (55:44):
All right, we're gonna take a quick break here, but
when we come back, we're talking MLB playoffs because they're
start next week. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Welcome
back to Fox Football Saturday. I'm Alex Curry alongside Carmen Vitally,
coming to you live from the tarret dot Com studios
in La. Thank you for spending your Saturday afternoon with
KRMI and me.

Speaker 4 (56:03):
It is a dance pod.

Speaker 2 (56:05):
Eng always it's always going to be such a wonderful
just like, yeah, you know, it's like nostalgic. Yes, even
though I never lived in New York me neither. But
it's just that I feel that every time I go
to I know, I'm like, I know.

Speaker 3 (56:18):
Exactly what I mean. I've been there a bunch of times.
In fact, although that won't end up on the podcast unfortunately,
because I don't think we have the music rights.

Speaker 4 (56:26):
No, definitely.

Speaker 3 (56:27):
What if you missed any of today's show, go ahead
and search Fox Sports Radio wherever you get your podcasts,
and our episode is going to be up as soon
as we're off the air because our producers are amazing
like that. If you could do us a favorite, two, follow, rate, subscribe,
do all those.

Speaker 4 (56:42):
Wonderful tell us you love us.

Speaker 3 (56:44):
It would be really, really wonderful. Just search Fox Sports Radio. Yeah,
just search Fox Sports Radio where your podcast or look
at my social media CARMEI b Alex and social media
Alex Underscore Curry. We post it right after the the
worthy air as well.

Speaker 4 (56:59):
Sweet all right.

Speaker 2 (57:01):
MLB postseason starts on Tuesday came. All of our teams
ended with some records this season Dodgers twelve straight playoff appearances,
longest active MLB streak, Angels ten straight seasons of a
playoff drought, longest active MLB streak, and then the White Sox.

(57:22):
White Sox a very different record baseball history, with one
hundred and twenty one losses, a very different record.

Speaker 3 (57:29):
Gosh, I said, if you're gonna suck, do it the
best of anybody.

Speaker 4 (57:38):
And that's what sucks worst of all time.

Speaker 5 (57:43):
Thet they're they're they're the votes there.

Speaker 4 (57:46):
I mean, it is I had to type that out
in order to see it in here.

Speaker 3 (57:49):
It's funny. I just I mean, I feel bad for
the White Sox because it is such a dejected feeling.
I worked for them for a season and they didn't
do particularly well that year, and it was like it
was very up and down, and when you go through
those long stretches of losing games where you haven't seen
the mountaintop of a victory.

Speaker 4 (58:07):
Oh. I was the Angels for ten years.

Speaker 2 (58:10):
I was with the team the last time that they
were in the postseason in twenty fourteen, and it was a.

Speaker 4 (58:15):
Three game sweep. I'm really it was not great.

Speaker 3 (58:19):
That is not great. It affects not only the players
in the locker room. It affects the whole organization, all
the people working behind the scenes.

Speaker 2 (58:25):
Like you said, like it affects like your well being
at home, like when your partner's team doesn't lose, Like
this is literally.

Speaker 3 (58:30):
When you work for a team.

Speaker 2 (58:32):
My husband was like, I need the Angels to win
so I have a happy wife, happy life at home.

Speaker 3 (58:36):
Yes, because everything is so much easier when you're winning,
and especially from the staff perspective, and especially when you.

Speaker 5 (58:41):
Have one hundred and sixties.

Speaker 4 (58:42):
Oh, it's insane.

Speaker 3 (58:43):
Season. Working in baseball was like I worked in it
for two years and I was like, if I can
do this, I god to do any Oh.

Speaker 2 (58:51):
I remember before I did the World Cup, they were like,
it's going to be a lot. It's like five weeks
in a row. I was like, you do realize I've
done baseball my entire career.

Speaker 3 (59:01):
And also every day I did baseball in Chicago, where
like seven eight months, there's so much emphasis placed on
summer in Chicago. So instead of just not having a summer,
I decided I was going to do both. I don't
think I've ever been more exhausted in my entire life.

Speaker 4 (59:15):
Oh yeah, young you can do it.

Speaker 2 (59:17):
But let's talk about the Mets Brave doubleheader, you guys
on Monday, because this has.

Speaker 4 (59:24):
So much weight.

Speaker 2 (59:27):
The Enna Wildcard race is coming down to the wire,
and most likely those two games on Monday. The Braves
and Mets games were postponed this week due to Hurricane Helene,
so they will be playing a double header on Monday,
which was supposed to be an off day for the
entire league before the postseason started on Tuesday. Now, right now,
the Mets Braves are tied in the wildcard race along

(59:51):
with the d Backs. The d Backs are on the
outside looking in. They all play today Tomorrow, and then
Monday is the doubleheader, so that will most likely decide
the wild card situation, which is crazy because they will
finish that second game on Monday and the winner will
most likely have to hop on a plane, maybe both
of them.

Speaker 4 (01:00:10):
If the d Backs lose these next two games, they.

Speaker 3 (01:00:14):
Lose the tie treker too. So literally, if they all
finish tied, yeah, the d Bacs lose the tiebreaker between
those three teams and then it's the Mets and the Braves.

Speaker 2 (01:00:22):
I just have to say, at the start of the season,
I did not have the Mets playing the Braves to
get into the postseason fighting for this spot. The Mets
had such a surprisingly great turnaround for the season.

Speaker 4 (01:00:34):
Especially with what happened last year.

Speaker 2 (01:00:36):
How they made all of these big moves then sold
everybody off of the trade deadline and said that they
were in a rebuild, and here we are. They are
like inches away from looking at the posts.

Speaker 3 (01:00:49):
I also talk though about how this is the most
Mets way to get into the postseason, especially if you
do get into the postseason. If these teams get into
the postseason, between the Braves and the Mets, yeah, that
will mean that fleeting up to it and then going
into the postseason, they will play eight games in seven days. Yep,
that is the most Mets thing.

Speaker 2 (01:01:08):
A Horn fans are like, I don't think expectations are
high because the Mets always met. So it's like I
think New York Mets fans are just like crossing their fingers.

Speaker 3 (01:01:16):
Like, please, there's been more that Major League Baseball could
have done, though, like there are so many other options.

Speaker 4 (01:01:23):
This is a nightmare.

Speaker 3 (01:01:24):
Like I guess that the hurricane obviously isn't their fault,
but like, couldn't you like in anticipation. It's not like
you didn't know the hurricane was coming. Could you've moved
the games up.

Speaker 4 (01:01:33):
No idea. Could you have a would have had it
been double headers? I don't know, or we moved it
to a neutral site? Yeah?

Speaker 3 (01:01:41):
Like, But but the thing is, if you played last
Monday a doubleheader, that's better than playing this Monday as
a double header and then again playing eight games in
seven days. That's it's so reckless. It's just I feel
like there were other solutions to this problem, and Major
League Baseball just kind of it was just a huge kerfuffle.

Speaker 4 (01:01:59):
Oh yeah, no use that word today. So we're going
to say it again. What does it mean?

Speaker 3 (01:02:04):
Affle, It's exactly what it sounds like.

Speaker 5 (01:02:06):
It's just it's it's not a it's what do you do?

Speaker 3 (01:02:09):
It's a conundrums.

Speaker 4 (01:02:11):
Words are hard for me.

Speaker 2 (01:02:12):
Carmen, you are the dictionary and I just talked for
a living. But first, also, like congrats to show he
Tani his first division win, NS chance, his first playoff
experience is going to be happening. He had his dog
decoy on the field with him celebrating a babby please like.

Speaker 4 (01:02:31):
For for dogs, like more is more, We love it.

Speaker 3 (01:02:33):
All he had that dog in him and has that
dog with him.

Speaker 5 (01:02:38):
You're welcome. You are welcome for that.

Speaker 3 (01:02:43):
Thank you.

Speaker 7 (01:02:46):
Speaking of dogs, we need to see more corky races
like the Buffalo Bills.

Speaker 3 (01:02:55):
Out like Corky will be my next dog and.

Speaker 4 (01:02:57):
I call the low Riders dog don't kocaid?

Speaker 5 (01:03:00):
Yes?

Speaker 2 (01:03:01):
Yeah, so any dog that's like a mix of a corgy.

Speaker 4 (01:03:04):
I'm just like, this just looks like a Corky in
disguise as this dog, Like they are like the happiest.
I know you have a Corky.

Speaker 7 (01:03:12):
I do have a corgy and looking to get her
in some sort of race. So if you have any
idea for a corgin.

Speaker 3 (01:03:17):
Like the local teams that are doing corky, yes, so can.

Speaker 7 (01:03:20):
You guys keep me in the Yeah, as far as.

Speaker 3 (01:03:22):
It's royalty too, by the way, oh yeah, I know
they are. Yeah, Like that's like the British royal family
has always had corky.

Speaker 4 (01:03:30):
Gosh, they're so cute.

Speaker 7 (01:03:31):
Yeah, and like I'm living in her house essentially it
is a queen.

Speaker 4 (01:03:36):
Yeah, queen.

Speaker 7 (01:03:38):
Yeah, I love that. By the way, if you're looking
at a football game, Wisconsint seemingly the Kings in this
matchup against number thirteen USC.

Speaker 5 (01:03:46):
Smart, Who is I am?

Speaker 3 (01:03:48):
I picked?

Speaker 7 (01:03:49):
You picked Wisconsin?

Speaker 3 (01:03:51):
I guess the spread. I didn't pick them that wins
straight up, but like the spread was like sixteen.

Speaker 7 (01:03:55):
I don't think Alex picked Wisconsin this one. Absolutely no,
not at all smart. Yeah, twenty one to ten is
where that score is early in the third quarter. Wisconstant
leading Number thirteen USC just started the third quarter Number
sixteen Notre Dame trying to fight off number fifteen level.
It is twenty four to fourteen. There also early stages
of the third quarter in the planes and it's Auburn

(01:04:16):
fourteen to seven in front of number twenty one Oklahoma.
We're also witnessing some upsets, especially one early where Kentucky
went in Oxford at vont Hemingway Stadium and rocked number
six almost twenty to seventeen. Who saw it? Yeah, dare you?
Now you're rubbing it in. Now you're rubbing it in.
My sister graduated there in twenty fourteen.

Speaker 5 (01:04:38):
I'm sorry for your sister, I know.

Speaker 7 (01:04:40):
Emotionally, emotionally it feels like she's on the team. Yeah,
because which that's the chief fan.

Speaker 3 (01:04:46):
I mean, the SEC slogan is literally, it means more.
And I'm here to tell you my fiance always says
it when I'm like really really and he's just like,
it just means more.

Speaker 7 (01:04:54):
Has your fiancee been to an SEC football game? He
went to LSU. Oh well that's of course you mentioned. Yes,
boards of it.

Speaker 3 (01:05:01):
He is in it, and so therefore the.

Speaker 1 (01:05:04):
Is it.

Speaker 3 (01:05:05):
I'm in it?

Speaker 7 (01:05:07):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know we're up against it in time.
I just want to get two quick three quick notes
from the NFL. No, no, I love the cross talk,
but I know you've got a very like hurry it up, yeah,
distinguish guests coming up. Hey, So, the Chargers have downgraded
offensive tackle jew All to doubtful for Sunday's game charges quarterback.

(01:05:27):
This according to NFL Network, justin Herbert going to give
it a shot. They're saying yes against the Chiefs despite
the the high ankle sprain. They're gonna look at how
he does in the warm up to see how the
ankle is doing. But it looks as if he's gonna go.
And then, lastly, after not playing the last two games,
he was an active Jordan Love taking center stage. He

(01:05:48):
is back Sunday against the Vikings. So that's exciting for
Packers fans.

Speaker 1 (01:05:52):
Yeah.

Speaker 7 (01:05:53):
Back to Carmen, back to alp.

Speaker 4 (01:05:54):
Thank you, Brian.

Speaker 2 (01:05:55):
You're listening to Fox Football Saturday. I'm Alex Curry here
with Carmen Vitally. We are broadcasting live from the Tower
Com Studios in Los Angeles, and it is time for
our next guest. I am so happy we finally got.

Speaker 4 (01:06:05):
Her on the show.

Speaker 2 (01:06:06):
NFL Networks, Bridget Condent, thanks for joining us, Rich.

Speaker 8 (01:06:10):
I am so excited to be hearing you guys. I
swear Saturdays are the worst because I'm always traveling, And
as soon as you texted me, I was like, I'm
dropping everything, I am making time. I've been sitting in
for on my phone for the past hour, just waiting
for this ball. Oh thank you for having me. I
love you both, and I'm so happy to talk some ball.

Speaker 4 (01:06:27):
I love this so much.

Speaker 2 (01:06:29):
Let's start with Bengals at Panthers because Joe Burrow has
started oh to three for the first time in his
NFL career. How badly does Cincinnati need to get a
win over the Panthers to start their season turnaround.

Speaker 8 (01:06:42):
They needed a win Monday night against the Commanders. Yeah,
did not get that They need this win not only
for their season. Look, they have never made the playoffs.
As the Cincinnati Bengals team starting zero to three, anything
can happen, obviously, Joe Burrow and this team is way
different than the Bengals team we know of the past,
So I don't think playoffs are completely out of the question.

(01:07:03):
But you have to win, especially against the Panthers team
that has struggled. Yes, I understand they're coming up, will win,
Andy Dalton facing his former team, all of those storylines,
but this is so important. We talk about Josh Allen,
Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes as some of the younger new
good quarterbacks. Well, Joe Burrow, you need to go into
Carolina and dominate this game. We saw some improvement last

(01:07:26):
week with T Higgins back on the field. I do
think it allows more opportunity for Jamar Chase when both
T Higgins and Jamar.

Speaker 3 (01:07:33):
Are on the field.

Speaker 8 (01:07:34):
We saw the offense, you know, improve in that Monday
Night game. The defense is what really caused them the
loss against Jayden Daniels and mcmanderds. So you know, I
know that lou Ana Roumo is doing everything he can
to get that defense up to speed so that they
can come back on that plane as you know, a
one and three team, not an zero to four team.

Speaker 3 (01:07:54):
Yeah, it's so interesting because when I was looking prepping
for some things this week, I'm looking at this Bengals
defense and Trey Hendrickson doing Trey Hendrickson things. He has
the highest you know, pass rush win weight on the
team at like twenty two percent, and then after that,
after him, it goes down so drastically, Like the next
best guy is Lawrence Guy and he is at twelve

(01:08:16):
and a half percent. I mean, it seems like Trey
Hendrickson is being left on an island here to kind
of do everything and get all of the pressure for
this Bengals pass rush, which isn't fair.

Speaker 8 (01:08:27):
One hundred percent. Trey Hendrickson literally is their defense with
three sucks. You know, von Bell came back and they
have you know, some guys that have been there for
a couple of years now. Last season we talked about
this defense as being really young, right, and like give
them a break, Well, they're they've started the season worse
than last season. They've now allowed twenty six in the

(01:08:48):
league in terms of points per game, which you know,
it's really not good, especially when you have Joe Burrow
and your offense on the field for you know, a
portion of the game. So Gary Henderson, he's a great guy.
Hopefully he grabbed everybody together in the locker room and
was like, this is not us because you know, I
will always speak positively about defensive coordinator lou Anarroumo. I

(01:09:11):
think we have a great thot. We love Blue, We
loved him, and I think that he will, you know,
get these guys together, but it is going to speak
volumes as to where they are mentally when they come
out for a snap Sunday in Carolina.

Speaker 2 (01:09:25):
Okay, So then thinking and looking at the mental side.
You've spent time around this Bengals team this season. There's
a lot of new young guys. As we heard Joe
Burrow talk about this week, he needs to be leading
more vocally, not just by example. What's the vibe been
like in that locker room this year?

Speaker 8 (01:09:43):
You know what's crazy, Alex is that this was the
first preseason that Joe Burrow was healthy. Yes, he was
working back from risk injury, but like everybody, I was
there a lot in the summer and you know I
was there for the first game against the Panthers or
the Patriots.

Speaker 6 (01:09:58):
Excuse me.

Speaker 8 (01:10:00):
Many people were excited, like this is our year, this
is our window. We're going to the super Bowl. So
it's crazy to me to see the success. If you
walked into that locker room this summer, you would have
came out of there and been like, this is a
super Bowl team. This is a team that's going to
make it far because they all believe. And sometimes you
get that vibe where you know, players are saying certain things.
You walk in the locker room and you're like, Okay,

(01:10:21):
what they're saying, actually isn't true, right, Like they're saying,
we believe, you know, we're good and you walk in
there and you're like, em, they're not there yet. That
wasn't the case with the Bengals. They all were on
the same page and like really thought this was their year.

Speaker 2 (01:10:35):
So that's why it's so crazy heartbreaking. We just we
did it right and wrong, and that was Carmen's wrong.
Like I thought it was the Bengals and Burrow I know, So.

Speaker 8 (01:10:44):
I don't know, Like you know, obviously, after the first
two games, Mr Chase was, for lack of a better word, pissed. Yeah,
you know, because he wasn't being targeted much. And I
think that has a lot to do with Tea, right, Like,
if he's not on the field, they're going to double
teams tomorrow, he's not going to be able to get
as much. Yeah, so you saw the connection start to
build their Monday night. But then again when they get down,

(01:11:07):
they can't do what they want to do. The playbook
shrinks and they're trying to come back from behind and
that's because of the defense. So hopefully they get back
on the same page again. It's week four. I know
that I said they have never made the playoffs ozer
and three, but this is a different team. You have
stars in this locker room, whereas you look at the Panthers,
who are their stars? Not trying to be rude, but really.

Speaker 3 (01:11:27):
And they lost their best player on defense and Derek Brown.
I mean, there's so many more holes on this Panther
seane than just.

Speaker 4 (01:11:32):
The puny ar.

Speaker 3 (01:11:33):
Yeah. The Bengals, I'm I'm still worried about them, but
I have to think that they're going to turn this around,
because they just don't. They shouldn't be an OH to
three team. But I do want to get to another
game and that is here Chiefs Chargers. I am concerned
given that weird we're hearing that Justin Herbert is going

(01:11:56):
to test that ankle on game day. He's expected to play,
but he's also going to likely be playing without his
right tackle in Joe all Ray, Shawn Slater is playing
their injury to his left tackle. That is concerning against
a defensive front that includes Christians. Am I right?

Speaker 1 (01:12:11):
Yeah?

Speaker 8 (01:12:11):
One hundred when you okay, another team that this summer
we were all buying in, Like, I don't know if
it's me, but I always buy into these teams. You
get around training camp and you're like, this is the team,
and like then the Chargers are injured again and we're
in Week four, and I feel like it's a broken record,
right because I've covered this team now for four seasons,
and this team that you know, we're talking about Super Bowl,

(01:12:34):
we're talking about playoffs, Jim Harma, all that now is
dealing with injuries, and that one hundred percent is what
worries me. The one thing that I will say is
the Chargers have lacked a run game for the past
couple of seasons. Yes, Austin Exter has been good, but
they never have been able to get their run game going,
and I think this season with JK. Dobbins, we've seen
a difference. I mean, he's the third leading rusher in

(01:12:55):
the NFL, behind Saquon and Jordan Mason. So if they
can lean on their run game, which again with the
a line that's feed up, how is that going to look?
I don't know, But if they can lean on that
and not force Justin to do a ton on that ankle,
I think they could have a chance. The thing is
they always play well with the chief. It's one of

(01:13:16):
those things like you know, I know, you're you know
in the NFC, Norris Carmen, Like there are games like
that too, right, Like Packers Vikings have a you know,
uh uh what do I saying? Rivalry matches this weekend too.
It's like always, no matter what these teams are doing,
there's always seems to be a good game. And Jim
Harbaugh too, and oh against and Andy Reid. I don't know,
does that mean I do?

Speaker 3 (01:13:39):
I do appreciate too that Jim Harbaugh is not afraid
to help out his offensive line with extra protection, Like
you can see these really condensed formations where he adds
the tight ends to the formation. He'll bring in an
extra blocker. He's not afraid to kind of take away
from if these skill players to add to the line,
which helps that run game get going.

Speaker 5 (01:13:56):
So I appreciate that.

Speaker 2 (01:13:57):
Let's talk about the chance real quick before we let
you go. Because you have been winning, but it hasn't
been in a dominant fashion. It's hard to doubt the
dynasty while it's happening. But is there any concern in
Kansas City for the season at all?

Speaker 8 (01:14:14):
I think not because of remember we have these conversations
last season too. Yes, the same team and then they
get to the super cool Like last season it was
like they're down here, it's going to be this season.
So I think when you have won it and you
know the formula no matter what, and like we see
Patrick Mahomes after the game last week talk about you know,

(01:14:36):
he's pissed they won the game, but he's like, I
didn't play well. And when you have a competitor like that, yeah,
maybe Patrick Mahomes feels a certain way of like we're
not exactly where I want to be. But nobody else
in that locker room does. They look over and they
see Patrick Mahomes, They're like we're gonna We're gonna be fine.
And I think when you have that confidence, which is
something that you know, the Chargers haven't had the pastor

(01:14:58):
they always have, like oh uh, it's like we're doing
this again. Yeah, I think the only thing like if
Taylor Split's not at the game, maybe camp.

Speaker 3 (01:15:08):
I don't know, to be a little bit of good
luck time. But also yeah, like I'm not going to
pretend like last year didn't happen, like we're this Yeks
were fine and we were we were concerned like it.

Speaker 4 (01:15:18):
Was the year. Yeah, Bridget, thank you so much. We
love you. Thank you so much for coming on. Have
a great rest of your weekend.

Speaker 8 (01:15:24):
Thanks Bridge, Thanks for having me. Guys, let's talk so.

Speaker 2 (01:15:27):
Yes please bye math all right, guys, we're gonna take
one more break favorite when we come back, we're making
our NFL game picks.

Speaker 4 (01:15:34):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.

Speaker 2 (01:15:36):
with Carmen Vitali. We are broadcasting live from the Tower
dot Com Studios in Los Angeles, and it is time
for our Week four NFL pick. So Producer Patrick first,
set us up.

Speaker 4 (01:15:49):
How how are we sitting so far. Yeah, it's not
been great. It's not been great.

Speaker 9 (01:15:54):
You know what based off of there was a little
bit of Carmen, you want a certain game, but Alex
you also won a certain game. But honestly, scores from
last week you both went three and two. We're sitting
at pretty much. It didn't move.

Speaker 3 (01:16:11):
Just so what about one game back from Alex?

Speaker 9 (01:16:14):
You were two games back of Alex, but you still
shouldn't gain. You didn't lose, all right, Alex, you're ten
and nine. Carmen, you're eight and eleven.

Speaker 3 (01:16:22):
So we have rooms.

Speaker 5 (01:16:24):
We still have room.

Speaker 9 (01:16:25):
I overthink everything about Well, you didn't overthink the Vikings
on that one there, Carmen from last week.

Speaker 3 (01:16:30):
So I got there. You're welcome, Pat you you're welcome.

Speaker 9 (01:16:34):
And you know what, speaking of the Vikings, yep, that
kind of brings us to our first pick of this week,
and uh, leader in the club house are fearless leader, Alex.
The Vikings are taking on the Green Bay Packers. Packers
are three point favorites, Alex, take us away.

Speaker 3 (01:16:50):
What are we feeling?

Speaker 2 (01:16:53):
I am taken the Green Bay Packers a big divisional matchup.

Speaker 4 (01:16:58):
Jordan Love is back and I feel like.

Speaker 2 (01:17:01):
This is gonna be a comeback, go off game, so
I'm taking the Packers here.

Speaker 3 (01:17:06):
I actually don't know that it's going to be a
go off game for Jordan Love because I still think
that green Bay is going to lean on the run
game a lot more. I am I fully recognizing Aaron
Jones is coming back to green Bay all of that
that's going to have him juiced up. I just think
that the green Bay defense is going to know exactly
what to expect from Aaron Jones because he was in
green Bay for so long. So I am also going
the green Bay Packers at home with Jordan Love back,

(01:17:29):
but it's still going to feature Josh Jacobs very heavily.
It hurts me to say that.

Speaker 5 (01:17:34):
It hurts to hear this, Sorrick.

Speaker 3 (01:17:37):
It's going to be super close. I go either way,
I know, and I'm pie on the Bikings this whole time.
You know true, I will move on.

Speaker 9 (01:17:45):
Okay, with heart hurting, but I'll move the number two.
The Eagles of Philly are going to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,
and with that set the away team, the Eagles are
one half point favorites.

Speaker 3 (01:17:58):
Carmen, how we fill in, They've met a lot of
injuries on offense, They're gonna have to ride Saquon really hard.

Speaker 5 (01:18:05):
That sounded bad, Sorry, guys, the.

Speaker 3 (01:18:07):
Box historically, the box historically, I'm just gonna move right on.
We're gonna go, guys, come on, be a professional here.
What's wrong with all of you? The Bucks historically about
a really good run defense. So that's I'm gonna go
with the Bucks. They're getting Vita Ba back, or they
should get vi to Beya back, and the Eagles have

(01:18:28):
a lot of offensive injuries. I'm going with the Bucks
at home, all right?

Speaker 2 (01:18:33):
I say the Eagles here. I just feel Saquon Barkley's
gonna keep it rolling. As you mentioned, they're gonna have
to rely heavy on him. He had one hundred and
forty seven yards in two touchdowns last weekend, and I
feel like he is just gonna keep it going.

Speaker 4 (01:18:47):
So Eagles for me.

Speaker 3 (01:18:48):
All right?

Speaker 9 (01:18:49):
Well, speaking of keeping things rolling, Alex, the Rams are
taking on the Bears. Bears are home and three point favorites.
But do the Rams roll on to win number two?

Speaker 4 (01:19:00):
Yeah? Take us away? Yes, they do. Rams all the way.

Speaker 1 (01:19:03):
Baby.

Speaker 2 (01:19:04):
Matthew Stafford showed us he can get it done even
without his top weapons. Haven't really seen Caleb and the
Bears fully put it together yet. I don't think it's
gonna happen tomorrow against the Rams. I'm taking the Rams.

Speaker 3 (01:19:17):
I do think injuries are gonna catch up with the Rams,
and they're going into Chicago. The Bears have tweaked around
some things. They're relatively healthy. They're getting Keenan Allen back,
or they should anyway. I want to see what the
full this whole offense looks like. I think it's gonna
look better. I'm going Bears.

Speaker 4 (01:19:30):
Okay, it's go quickly, all right, We're going quick.

Speaker 9 (01:19:32):
It's the Nolin Saints at the Atlanta Falcons. Falcons three
point favorites. Starman, What do you think I'm going Saints.
I think they bounced back.

Speaker 4 (01:19:40):
Okay, I'm going Falcons. This was a toss up for me.

Speaker 2 (01:19:42):
Really can go either way, but I'm just yeah, I'm
gonna take I'm gonna take Cousins over car all right.

Speaker 5 (01:19:47):
Last one we got.

Speaker 9 (01:19:48):
We got the Buffalo Bills Game of the week at
the Baltimore Ravens, who are two and a half point
favorites at home.

Speaker 3 (01:19:53):
Alex take it away.

Speaker 2 (01:19:54):
I apologize to Josh Allen and the Bills today saying
I wasn't gonna bet against them, so now I'm taking
Josh Allen and Bills. Ravens haven't fully proven it all
to me yet, so I'm taking the Bills here.

Speaker 3 (01:20:04):
No, Ravens have been very inconsistent. The Bills have been
the picture of consistency. Josh Allen the picture of consistency,
elite quarterback, MVP leader.

Speaker 2 (01:20:12):
Hello, so thank you so much for spending your Saturday
afternoon with us. We'll see you next week's same time,
same place. Have a great one.

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