Steve Hartman and Geoff Schwartz Talk Horses, Rodgers & Ruggs

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Don't listening to Fox Sports eleven the drain once again
on a fabulous college football Saturday. It is Fox Football Saturday.
Hartmann and Shorts with you here in the Fox Sports
radio studios. All right, right now, we're watching the final
seconds of this matchup between North Carolina and wake Forest.

(00:23):
Going into this season, I think North Carolina was the
pick too maybe emerge this year as the team to
keep an eye on in the a SEC. Wake Force
not necessarily that team. The rolls flipped over the course
of the season. Going in the Demon Deacons, the Wake
Force ain't no on the season, number nine in the country.
The tar Heels are disappointing four and four, but it

(00:45):
looks like the tar Heels are going to survive this game,
and in fact, the final seconds are taking off the clock.
Sam how today sixteen sixteen yards, one touchdown, those scores.
He also ran for a hundred and four yards and
two touchdowns. Sam Hartman and my little biased Yeah, a
little bit unbelievable day today, fifty one three or ninety yards,

(01:07):
five touchdown passes. He also ran for two touchdowns and
seventy eight yards. But it wasn't enough, so cross Wake
Forest off the list. They are no longer undefeated. We're
down to five undefeated teams in the FBS. So we
got a lot of college football going on right now.
And when we look at the scoreboard right now, some

(01:28):
of the games we're gonna get into Cincinnati getting off
to a quick start. They are number six in the
country in terms of the College Football Playoff Poll right now,
number two in the a P number two in the
coaches poll, but number six in the College Football Playoff Poll.
And they're off to an early seven nothing lead over
Tulsa in that game. Uh So we'll keep our eye

(01:50):
on the scoreboard with everything going on around the college
football scene. By the way, Michigan State number three right
now in the college football hole. They're on the road
against Big Ten rival per Due. That game is now
tied at seven. So we'll keep our eye on the Spartans,
one of the few remaining un defeated teams, and no

(02:11):
problem with number one. Look, let's let's be honest here, folks,
when it comes to college football in there's Georgia and
there's everybody else. Georgia smacking Missouri today forty three to six.
This defense of Georgia has become the story of the
year in college football. There's got to be some kind

(02:32):
of recognition there. I got a Heisman vote. I'm gonna
keep my eyes open as a possibility there. So Georgia
forty six over Missouri today they go to nine and
oh on the season. Once again, there'll be a unanimous
number one in all the polls. Also, Ohio State was
able to hang on today on the road against Nebraska,
winning that game twenty six to seventeen. C J. Stroud

(02:54):
through for a lot of yards but not necessarily a
lot of points. Pretty good battle for Nebraska today. But
Scott Frost and company, they're hurting not only three and
seven overall, but one and six in the Big Ten.
Maybe you have to worry about his future there in Lincoln.
And a bounce back game for Matt Corral and Old
Miss today as they beat Liberty to fourteen. Uh so

(03:16):
number sixteen Old Miss still there. And when I talk
about these rankings, now, these are the rankings in the
college football playoff pole, and that, of course what everyone's
keeping their eyes on as we move ahead toward the
college football playoff. Well, it's gonna be carverying. Plenty of
NFL news and do you think there was any big
stories in the NFL this week? Where do we begin?

(03:38):
You have the Aaron Rodgers story and his spin on
what he may have said in the preseason as opposed
to what he's saying now. Bottom line here is Aaron
Rodgers played a deception game. He tried to be as
he usually tries to be the smartest guy in the room.
He was constantly playing around with his words and how

(04:00):
he said things, and how he behaved and everything else.
You don't even have to get political on this. Forget
whatever political stance you have on whether you want to
be vaccinated or you don't want to be vaccinated. The
bottom line is is that Aaron Rodgers is a member
of the NFL Players Association. As a player in the NFL.

(04:21):
If he didn't like the rules that were laid down
by the players union and the NFL, he did have
an option retire, leave the NFL. That's your option. But
when you work for a company or you work for
a union and they have certain protocol and you decide
to go against that protocol, then you're in violation. And

(04:41):
I will be watching the NFL on whether or not
because they haven't they haven't compromised in any way when
it comes to punishing teams or individuals when they have
broken protocol. As far as the COVID situation is concerned,
go back a year ago. Remember the Denver Broncos. They
had all their quarterbacks in the meeting room. Somebody had

(05:02):
been exposed and guess what they had to play a
game without a quarterback. We had coaches being fight a
hundred thousand dollars for not properly wearing their mask. Here
you have Aaron Rodgers, who is he can even again
spent Well, I I didn't say I was vaccinated. I
said I was immunized. Now you didn't. The direct question

(05:23):
was have you been vaccinated? In said, and you said, yes,
I've been immunized. Yes, I've been immunized. So you answered
the question have you been vaccinated, yes, I've been inmumized.
Well that was a lie. Um. So we'll see what's
going on for But I I will be very disappointed
in the NFL if they don't proceed and really dropped

(05:47):
the hammer on both Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers,
because if they don't, then the NFL has a lot
of explaining to do, because you can't have one set
of rules, no matter how big a star they are.
You can't have one set of rules for Aaron Rodgers
and another set of rules for everyone else. So we
got the armed Roger's story. Then we have two stories

(06:08):
that came about this week, one a horrific tragedy and
another just a mountain of controversy involving the same position
wide receiver. It started with a horrific story of Henry Ruggs,
the young wide receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders, traveling
in access of a hundred and fifty miles an hour

(06:28):
in his corvette at three forty in the morning, slamming
into a park car, woman inside with her dog they perish.
I'm still amazed how he survived, because they said when
the air bags deployed on his car, he was going
a hundred twenty seven miles an hour. Immediately the Raiders
released him. He is now facing up to forty six

(06:51):
years in prison his future in the NFL. While it
seems unlikely that this guy will ever play again in
the NFL, I could get you plenty of examples to
the contrary, but here is as horrific as that situation
was for the Raiders. I have a warning to a
team that I used to work for many years ago.

(07:12):
Do not bring Odell Beckham into this situation right now.
Do not bring Odell Beckham in. Odell Beckham forced his
way out of Cleveland. Should have been done before the
season even began. He hasn't been happy essentially since he
arrived in Cleveland, so there was no secret the fact

(07:33):
that he was unhappy. Then that video came out with
all the different times that Baker Mayfield may have passed
on him as an option for that Cleveland offense, especially
against that in the Steelers game where they lose fifteen
to ten. That was an ugly loss for the Cleveland Browns.
And then Beckham's father gets involved and puts that video
out there, making an impossible situation, and suddenly you've got

(07:58):
Baker Mayfield force to answer questions. Kevin Stefanski, the coach,
has to ask questions, and they cut him loose. But
a warning to any team that's gonna sign Odell Beckham Jr.
Couple of things. One, as soon as he arrives with
a team, immediately you're gonna have your quarterback being asked questions.
How many times you're gonna throw Odell Beckham the ball

(08:21):
because if he doesn't get his hands on the ball,
he's very upset and he'll go public about how upset
he is. Here's another warning about Odell Beckham. Part of
the reason that Baker Maya Fields stopped looking for him
is that he wasn't always catching the ball. He was
dropping the ball a lot Beckham. Actually, if you look

(08:42):
at his career in the NFL, even at the height
of his powers, first three years with the New York Giants,
you look at how many times he was targeted and
how many times he received the ball. Percentage wasn't all
that high. This was a knock on t o back
in the day. He dropped all a lot of them.
Oh yeah, once he got his hands on the ball,

(09:03):
he could do special things. But he wasn't always catching
the ball. And when you're a quarterback and you can't
depend on a receiver to actually catch the football, guess
what happens. They stopped throwing the ball. So that's a
twofold situation. And if there's one team, and the reason
I mentioned the Raiders is there were reports later on

(09:25):
as this week went on as his team is an
absolute fog after what happened to Henry Rugs, who, by
the way, by all accounts, was a good teammate. He'd
been making great progress in his second year in the
National Football League. The question was what do you do next?
Do you go out and get an Odell Beckham Jr.

(09:48):
And they're apparently shuffling some salaries, moving some numbers around
to make room for that possibility. He is not the
guy you want in that locker room, because, as I said,
you bring him into that locker room. Here's Derek Carr
who admits when he walked by the locker of Henry
Rugs and know what Henry did, it was hard for him,

(10:10):
like he was shaken to the boots. Do you really
want to have to answer questions about how many times
you're gonna throw the ball to Odell Beckham Jr. I
don't think so. So. I don't know where Odell Beckham
ultimately will land, but for the Raider's sake, I hope
it won't be there all right. On the other side,
we got luck to do today with college football the NFL.
Rose are gonna get an update on the Breeders Cup,

(10:32):
which is actually this weekend. Keep it right here, on
Fox Football Saturday. Fox Sports Radio has the best sports
talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows
at Fox sports Radio dot com and within the I
Heart Radio app search f s R to listen live. Hey,
what's up everybody? It's me three time Pro Bowl Little
Warrington and I couldn't be more excited to announce a

(10:55):
new podcast called Up on Game? What is up on Game?
You asked, along with my fellow Pro bowler t J.
Hudshman's Otta and Super Bowl champion. That's right, Plexico Birds.
You can only name a show with that type of
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sharing our real life experiences loaded with teachable moments. Listen

(11:17):
to Up on Game with Me, LaVar Arrington, t J
Hudgmans Otta, and Plexico Birds on the I Heart Radio app,
Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast from Steve
Harman Jeff Schwartz with you. It is Fox a Football Saturday,

(11:37):
and with fourteen championship races, were thirty one million dollars
in purses and awards. The Breeders Cop is two days
of horse racing too big to miss. Learn more at
Breeders Cup dot com slash one or bet now at
tv G dot com. I was asked to make a

(11:58):
pick for the Classic today at the Breeder's Cup. Now,
when it comes to my picks recently, they've been a disaster.
So let's I'm gonna put that into context as I'm
about to make my prediction for the Breeders Club Classic today.
Nick's go is your favorite, but I'm gonna go with
Medina's Spirit. I'm going with Medina Spirit, I think right now,

(12:20):
listen at four to one, I just can't pick the favorite,
right I gotta go with a different horse. It's a
Bob Bafford horse, so I'm gonna go with Bafford. I
know Bafford is expelled essentially from our Churchill Downs, but
he's very much a part of the Breeder's Cup. So
I'm gonna go with the Bafford horse, Medina's Spirit. Join
us right now. Host and Racing Analysts or t v
G Caleb Keller is join us, Caleb, how are you today?

(12:43):
Are you glad to be holl with you? We have
two Breeders Cup races already in the charts, and we
got another one, the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile going to
the Gate right now, but the pick six has not
even begun. And this is the land of opportunity. This
Breeders Cup Saturday, Well, beautiful del Mar Chorus is in
my backyard down there at caleb Um. I've always been
prize why they haven't hosted more Breeders Cups over the years.

(13:04):
How did it come down that we ended up back
at del Mar? Well? I think it was long overdue,
so I think they gave him a double scoop right
here on top of each other. And you know, for
the East Coast track, they used to be you know,
I used to go to New York. You used to
actually go to Canada. But the last couple of times, Steve,
they were in those parts. You know, when they had
it in a doozen seven in New Jersey, it pour
rained one of the worst two days of weather. The

(13:25):
last thing they had it in New York, I believe
two thousand and five, it was like bone chilling cold.
So they said, you know what, fall trees at Denmark,
don't look too bad. It's a beautiful track. I mean,
absolutely spectators, so I'm looking. I'm a West Coast guy,
Santa Anita. I mean, these are just phenomenal horse racing venues.
Um I mentioned Anita spirit. Bob Bafford, what what is

(13:45):
the give it? Give us a little sidebar. Obviously the
Bafford situation, the controversy with the Derby and essentially being
expelled for the Derby for the next several years. What
sort of the mood around Bob Bafford these days. Well,
I think we all can agree that we've had some
problems in life that maybe you know that it's coming,
but you don't have to address it just yet. And

(14:05):
I feel like that's the phase that we're in currently.
You know, they weren't answering any questions about Corniche because
obviously he's not gonna be able to go to the
Derby under Baffort, and they're not going to allow him
to run. An assistance name Jimmy Bards is not just
gonna roll this source in the town as the obvious
assistant to Baffort. So if it's going to happen, they're
going to have to go to a different trainer. So
this is kind of the end of this little grace

(14:25):
honeymoon period. And as we turned into the next year,
the clients for Bob baffer and he himself. We're gonna
start making some real decisions about where these horses are
gonna go. All right, So give us an update. Now
you mentioned a couple of races in the books. Give
us a little set for the rest of the weekend here. Well,
I think that the turf races are obviously going to
be really fun, a race like the Breeders Cups sprint.

(14:46):
Jackie's Warrior looks to be the fastest horse in the country,
so you know Jackie's Warrior, uh And even even his
trainers said that to the owners, and Steve Asterson doesn't
really use those type of superlatives. So Jackie's Warrior could
take lifts off today in the sprint. The Breeder's got
turk at a couple of keys scratches, but the winner
from last year, to Tarnala is back and I do
think that she is in really good for and there's

(15:08):
one long shot. I do like Turnala in the turf.
I have a tough time seeing her missing the board,
but I do like Acclimate. It's a local speed stir
for Philip the Amato, and there's other speed horses in
the race, but for the most part, Acclimates the true
speed horse. And I feel like he's gonna potentially air
this group out and big, huge odds. I think he's
gonna have to leap deep stretch by the way. Final
thing here, Kale, I had no idea that your pick

(15:29):
for the Classic was Medinas Spirit. I'm just seeing it
right now on your Twitter account. Uh, Nick's called the
favorite here. How do you see the Classic shaping up? Well?
When there's two speed horses. For the most part, I'd
like to play the speed horses, and in this case,
you know, Nick's goes the speed type and so is
Medinas Spirit, and then hot Rod Charlie's righting behind. But
those are the two that make the pace, and they

(15:50):
also have the same jockey's agent. For what that's worth,
Rosario on Nick's go Velaska is on Medina's Spirit, both
by legendary agent Ron Anderson, and I just feel like
they're gonna kind of have a gentleman's agreement to try
to try to slow this thing down and make it
a race for themselves. I think as the race goes on,
Nick's goes so fast, and Medina's Spirit takes in his
surrounding so well. He has such a high hurt dynamic.

(16:12):
I think the Cup at the top of the stretch
and there's still probably one two for the top two
trainers in the game right now, and Medina's spirit I
do feel kind of tipped his hand that he's now
becoming super elite. You know, he was rugged enough to
win the derby with the perfect trip, but now he's
really taking his game to the next level. He might
be able to out finish Nick's go there from the
top of the stretch on now. I'm one of those
guys old enough to remember the birth of the Breeder's

(16:34):
Cup and I kept thinking that, Look, the Trouble Crown
races are horse racing. I mean, there's always gonna be
local interest in horse racing. I get it. From a
national perspective, it's going to be about the Trouble Crown races.
And yet the Breeder's Cup to me, has gotten to
a level I didn't imagine back in four Where does
it sit now in your opinion, Caleb is someone that

(16:55):
you know talks about it covers this sport. Where does
Breeder's Croup rank for you? I think the broader audience
is getting more involved. I feel like, you know, having
this discussion twenty years ago, Steve. We're talking to hard
and horse players, right. I mean, there were fans of
people that wanted to dress up, but now you know,
I got buddies from high school that want to play
group tickets together. I got friends and family kind of
asking me about it as we're at Keenelin. So I

(17:16):
do feel that they have really accommodated to presented to
a larger audience. Of course, the Harden Gambler is gonna
be there every time, but I feel like the I
feel like the extra audience of the sporting public is
starting to change the channel over from college football a
little bit more now to the Breeders Cup than maybe,
let's say it twenty years ago. Well, Cayle, we appreciate
it's gonna be a big weekend out there at del
Mar the Breeders Cup. Caleb Keller, we always appreciate at

(17:40):
the time. Thanks so much, good talking, Thanks for having
me here. That's Caleb Keller. They're hosting racing als for
tv G as we have the Breeders Couple weekend down
there in beautiful del Mar. All right, let's get it
a little update right now. What's happening around the college
football scene. Big story of the day so far is
we have lost one of our undefeated teams. That would

(18:00):
be Wake Force. They went down to North Carolina fifty
eight to fifty five. Defensive struggle on that one. Sam
Hartman no relation that I know of, had a fabulous
date through for five touchdowns, ran for two touchdowns, but
wasn't enough as Mac Brown's tar Heels come out on
top of this game fifty to fifty five. Some of

(18:22):
the games going on right now, and specifically looking at
those undefeated teams number three and again when I talk
about their rankings, this is the college football playoff rankings.
Doall number three Michigan State on the road in West
Lafayette there against Perdue and that game is tied seven seven.
Michigan State coming out that huge win against previously undefeated

(18:45):
Michigan also undefeated Cincinnati. They are now number six in
the College Football Playoff poll. Law to controversy about that ranking,
but they're leading Tulsa right now fourteen to three. We
got twelve of twenty to go in the first half
in that game. Some other games, Navy two and six

(19:06):
on the season on the road against seven and one
Notre Dame, and it is Navy leading right now by
a score of three to nothing very early on in
the game. But so far Notre Dame's offense, which has
been a problem all season long, has yet to show
up in this game. Earlier today it was Georgia forty
three to six Missouri. Uh, no match against this number

(19:28):
one Georgia team that just seems to be head and
shoulders above every other team in college football this year.
Number five Ohio State didn't look great today. Uh they
survived against Nebraska on the road, twenty six to seven team.
And uh, later on, we're gonna have Alabama back in action.
They're gonna be hosting l s U. Alabama gets a
number two ranking in the College Football Playoff Poll despite

(19:51):
their loss to Texas A and M. And I just
want to keep it there for a second, this College
Football Playoff Poll. Jeff, and last week we're making our
predictions on how the first college Football Playoff Poll was
going to actually ring out when it came out on Tuesday.
And I told him at the time, do not expect

(20:12):
Cincinnati to be in the top four. He thought they would.
I told him they wouldn't, And for once I was right.
There was no Cincinnati in the top four Georgia, Alabama,
Michigan State, and Oregon in that order. The one thing
I did like about this college football playoff poll is
that they did have a seven or one Oregon team
over a seven and one Ohio State team. Would certainly

(20:36):
makes sense considering Oregon beat Ohio State without their best player,
Thibodeau earlier on in the season. I still don't understand
when we started this call college football playoff back in
team and I remember they said they would have a
committee that at the end of the year would sort
of take in the whole season and then decide which

(20:58):
four teams to make the playoffs. I had no idea
that we were actually going to get weekly top twenty
five rankings all right now, you probably were wondering, why
is it that Hartman, even though he is a Mike
Hogg to begin with, has dominated the broadcast. Um, Jeff
Schwartz is finally joining us right now from his homestead,

(21:20):
Day Carolina. And uh, I know you've been enjoying listening
to me, Joe, but you're also chopping at the bit
to to get your two cents. Ors. I'm gonna leave
right now, and I'm gonna give you in the next
half hour of this show. How do you feel about that?
That sounds good. I just hope my ducks don't have
the same issues I have for the first thirty minutes
of their game today, connecting to uh, it's a student.

(21:41):
When we're here, we're ready to go. We had wake
Forest lose. I heard you mentioned that, unfortunately your long
lost son I was not able to do it with
fifty points today. How you blame on me? Through five
touchdown fast as he ran for two touchdowns. All right,
I'll tell you what. We're Jeff getting stars. So it's
great to hear Jeff's voice. We are going to get
to my Heisman update. Are we okay with a Heisman update?

(22:03):
Not yet? Okay? Okay, well you will all right? So
right now iowas Sam is frantic, but he feels good
because he actually found Jeff Schwartz. But first, before we
get to Jeff and get his update on some of
the things I've already talked about, let's find out what's
trending right now as we bring on Mr David Gascon.
Let's up Steve. You know, David, I am capable of

(22:26):
literally talking all day long, as you know, I can.
I can talk and talk and talk and talk and talk,
you know, like when when a picture warms up prior
to his first pitch. Um. That's how I kind of
feel like I am in this this studio by myself.
I am your bullpen catcher. I know you are. And uh,

(22:46):
I see about sixty to seventy tosses and then you
get back on the bump and uh and you're re
commenced for seven. Well, I will tell you this, if,
for whatever reason, we were not going to hook up
with Jeff, my game plan is this. I was gonna
rotate segments, one with you and then when one was Sam,
then one with Danny, and we were gonna sort of
work that way through the rest of the show. Well,

(23:08):
I'll tell you what you and you and Danny would
have a lot to talk about in Las Vegas. Yes, Well,
we talked about those raiders day and night, night and day,
about that whole situation. All right, what's happening out there, David?
I don't know. You want to hear a little Sam Hartman,
North Carolina. Chandler steps through a tackle, Chandler over the forty,
Chandler still going, Chandler twinty chin, goodbye, want to come back.

(23:33):
Chandler from fifty yards away. What's a steak in the
heart of the undefeated season? I wait four? Oh my gosh.
Sam Hartman, the son of Steve Hartman here Fox Sports Radio,
man wake Forest falls Now. He had five touchdowns in

(23:53):
Hartman and he also ran for two tits. That's seven
touchdown but with eight Forest in front, Hartman threw a
pick he did which resulted in North Carolina on a
short field, going down the field and tying it and
they eventually took the lead. Sam hell on the other side,
guys twur in sixteen yards, one touchdown pass, but he

(24:16):
had twenty one carries for a hundred and forty yards
and two scores. Yeah. They also had a two hundred
yard rush. Yeah Ti Chandler twenty two carries and four
scores of his zone. And it feels like this is
exactly what happened last night with Utahon Stanford. But North
Carolina they stormed the field. Weight forces now eight and
one five is the final. They're uh West Virginia three

(24:38):
nothing over Oklahoma State Cowboys do have the football and
the Mountaineers six yard line here in the second quarter.
Navy three nothing over Notre Dame, Baylor and TC. You
were locked up at seven apiece, Texas A and M
and Auburn three three's a score and b y U
eight to nothing over one and seven Idaho State Cougars

(24:59):
or seven and to the season of course, Georgia one
today big blasting Missouri Ohio. Steve held on to beat Nebraska,
and Liberty falls to Old miss to fourteen. The shocker
I guess rank Minnesota loses at home to Illinois fourteen
six Tenner Morgan two I n t s Big ten

(25:19):
awful awful not according to college Football playoff rankings, they
love the Big ten. I mean they need me the
one breadwinner. Yeah, that's about anyways, Jeff, it's it's nice
to see you, nice to welcome you into the I'm
glad to be here. That was a couple of harrow,
harrowing thirty minutes of of just like pure panic. Um,

(25:45):
but I'm here, and I'm glad to be here. Well,
and and the panic is is that I'm able to
say everything I want to say without any pushback from you,
and You're like, no, no, no, I I know I
know how it works. Uh, David, thanks so much. We'll
check in with you a little bit later on A
backtracked a lot of things I covered, especially with the
NFL news later, but I want to stay with this
college football playoff rankings that came out this week. Um,

(26:08):
I got bad news for Cincinnati. UH. If you're eight, no,
with a road win against Notre Dame. Uh, a road
win by the way, against a Big ten school in Indiana,
nothing on your schedule is gonna help your ranking. They're
never going to be in the top five if they're
If they're not in the top four right now, Jeff,
there's nobody remaining on the A A C schedule, no

(26:30):
win that's ever going to get them into the top four.
So basically, what this committee make clear with its initial
poll is there's nothing that a group of five school
can do, nothing to get them into the top four.
As far as the college football Playoff is concerned, Well,
the thing they can do is have everyone else lose.

(26:50):
There's nothing they can do that. There are three teams
and what lost ahead of them, Well, yeah, but they
might lose and the organ's got a tough schedule down
the stretch. Ohio State doesn't look like a sure thing,
and front of them, they struggled to put away in
Nebraska today and if Nebraska had any semblance of any
functional offense, loses that game. Um, you know, but they
have to also worry about Oklahoma running the table because

(27:11):
Oklahoma has three ranked opponents back to back to back
after they're by this weekend, and it is letting them
know like hey man, um, uh, it's just uh you know,
it's sorry essentially, which is not fair. Well, if Notre
Dame were to win, they'll they'll jump Cincinnata. They're not
gonna put him in. Jeff was no play no chance,
no how that ESPN is going to allow the University

(27:35):
of Cincinnati to be in that playoff? Um, And I
say esp KENS because it's their show. This is not
a playoff. This is a made for TV in the
show definitely is there a show? Um? In fact, a
two loss Alabama people, So what about Alabama? Well, if
Alabama runs the table and we have a Georgia Alabama
SEC championship game, which we expect, and Alabama loses that

(27:58):
game and have a second loss, they will take it
to lost Alabama team over undefeated Cincinnati, I promise you.
So when when Alabama came out second in this rankings.
I tweet out, like, look, they're sending them them up
to end up being in the cultural playoff with a
close loss to Georgia and the SEC championship game. Right Like,
if they lose to the best team in the country

(28:18):
and Georgia against smoked Missouri today, if they lose, let's
say Georgia by three in Atlanta, they're not going past five, guys,
I'm I'm the past four, like they're gonna be four.
I'm let you over three. That would basically put them
set off to buy Georgia again the playoffs. You're right,
and the question becomes the playoff that's always tough, right
is is it most deserving or best team? Because Alabama

(28:39):
is the second best team in the country, they'd be
favored over everyone but Georgia. But the question becomes are
the most deserving? I argue right now they're not. They're
not the most deserving round. Maybe they will be one
point this year, but as of right now, Mischian State
undefeated right now, playing Perdue Oklahoma undefeated right now. You
have to Cinsenna defeatd right now. You have to just
give love to the teams that have won the games

(29:00):
on their schedule at the end of the season. This
tends to kind of work itself out, and so I
would not have pen Alabama. I mean, I knew what
they were gonna put him in the top four, but
second ahead of these teams are undefeated. Is tough for me,
at least right now. Maybe in two or three weeks
it won't be step, but right now it's tough for me.
The one thing I said I was happy about what
this poll was to see Oregon over Ohio State because

(29:21):
I look at that a p pole right now, ohighest
State at six, Oregon at seven in the playoff rankings,
Oregon as four Ohio states five. Oregon beat Ohio State.
They not only beat them, they beat them convincingly without
their best late player, Thibodeaux, and they won in Columbus. Okay,
that that can't be more clear than that. I keep

(29:42):
standing at the eight people, how two teams, same records
seven and one. They played each other at Ohio State
and Oregon won that game convincing lee I have no
idea what they're thinking. So on that one one decision
by this college football playoff ranking committee that made the

(30:03):
right one. Oregon should be and it's earned to be
ahead of Ohio State. I wanna I want to address
us really quickly as the office Organ grad in this discussion. Um.
The thing that's bothered me most about the way we've
talked about Organ Ohio State is the idea that people
have said, well, Ohio State has gotten better, well so
is Organ. Guys like Organ is not the same team

(30:23):
that people quarterbacks got. Brown has gone better. And that's
my point. If he Brown has gone better last two
he is he he has. He's a sixth year senior
with the trajectory of a red shirt freshman like he's getting.
He's he's supposed to not make mistakes, and he makes
the mistakes that freshman make in his sixth season. But
Organ has great big wide receivers. We have a six

(30:44):
five kid, Devin Williams, a true freshman Troy Franklin six
to like when he when he's now trusting to throw
the ball up to them and they're making he's trusting
the offense more now. So our offense is better than
it was against Ohio State, even with the injuries. Look,
c J. Fordell being out has not been good. Our
center has been out not being but we've made it
work defensively. We're better now because the best part of
the country is back. So to say that that that

(31:05):
Ohio State somehow deserves to be ahead of Organ in
the first ranking because they're better now, well, you're just
not watching the Pack twelve. It's okay to you're not.
A lot of people are not. It's fine right right now,
there's a patrol Of game on packtrol Of network. Guys.
It is cal Arizona. It's zero zero at halftime with
eleven punts. I understand when you're not watching that football game. Okay,
I get what you're not watching pack to football. But

(31:26):
the point is that like some of us do watch it,
and we see that the organ has gone better and
Utah obviously has gone better. It's not part of the
discussion right now. But oh House is not the only
team that got better, and they didn't look better today.
They'd not look better against Penn States are playing better teams,
really better defenses. Right, Penn State and Nebrassas struggle all offensively.
So yes, it made sense Organs ahead of do I
think Organs the fourth best team in the country. Not really,

(31:48):
But we have four games left, like we can get
better each week. We have four to our four toughest
games back to back to back back, and if at
that point where we've won, we've won all our games,
and yeah, we deserve to be number four, But right
now we're the four teens. We beat Ohio State, we
the best win the country so far this year. That's
what we got the fourth ranking. And we might go
to Washington and Lane Egg. I don't think so, and

(32:09):
then we'll be on the top four and everyone can
stop complaining about it. All right, So we'll see how
that plays. But it all maybe a mood point because
once again today we watched Georgia dismantle Missouri. Missouri is
not a great team, but they've given up a total
so far of fifty six points in nine games. That's
barely six a game. Look at these scores from the

(32:29):
opening game against Clemson. Remember that was sort of a
shock already of that opening week. Wow, Clemson and Georgia.
They won that game ten three. Since sen the scores
have been fifty six to seven, forty to thirteen, sixty
two nothing, thirty seven nothing, thirty four ten, twenty thirty
to thirteen, thirty four seven, and forty three to six
By the way, the last six games on that seven

(32:51):
games are conference games. Conference games, these are SEC games.
They haven't given more than thirteen points in any game
this see season. So we're not talking just a good defense.
We're talking a historic defense. Amazing because the last couple
of years we've been talking about historic offenses, you know,
with L s U in t and Alabama, and what

(33:12):
we're seeing this year the SEC is a historic defense.
I mean, when you watch this defense, give us a
little insight. Why are they so dominant? Well, I mean
obviously starts with with guys inside, I mean Jordan Davis
in the ability to stop the run, and really what
that does. That puts you in third and long situations
right and third and long is tougher to convert than

(33:33):
third and short. And that's why it's important to get
yards early in downs. And the best teams, the best offenses,
most often um are put in third and short situations
or get a first down on your first two plays
of a down right for a second down because you
avoid the third down. Now, of course, the better offenses
are good on third down, but they're not typically in

(33:53):
third and eight, third and nine right there, third and four,
third and three, third and two and when Georgia, So
that's that's the first thing they do. You're not running
the football on this so it puts teams behind when
when they can't run the football. Now they're in third
and long, and then typically you can't run the football,
you probably can't pass. Protecting termally well, and they have
great secondary. They're well coached, they're they're they're they're so

(34:14):
physical and big, and I'm excited to see them play eventually,
hopefully Alabama at some point, to test them against the
best offense they're gonna face. They remind me of the
two thousand tennis Alabama team, right, like the first iteration
of Savings teams, which were very good defensively and then
obviously kind of limited offensively. And you know, I do
worry that if this team ever play in a shootout

(34:37):
what thirty points, I guess I don't know, A student
would would be that they would struggle. And but they
don't have to do that, right because they're never gonna
be in that spot until they play Alabama. There's no
concern in my opinion, of them facing anyone that can
move the ball to Alabama or a playoff, and in
the original lines. I've seen this organ. I think it
was fifteen point underdogs to Georgia, favored by fifteen in
that first game. I mean even then, like I I Joe,

(34:58):
I mean of Organ Scorch when he formed that game.
I mean that that would be really good, right, I mean,
it's just that's what that's how dominant they are. And
again it puts you in third and long where you
do not want to be. You do not want to
be in third and long. There's only so many things
you can do with third and long. There's only so
much your quarterback can take as far as hits on
third on third and long, you just don't want to
be in that spot. All right. On the other side,

(35:19):
we're gonna get to my Heisman update. Yes, indeed, we'll
give you the latest on where I stand as far
as the Heisman Trophy is concerned. Keep it right here.
This is Fox Football Saturday. Dads waiting for the direct snap,
hands it off to Jerome Ford. Hey's into the end zone, touchdown,
Bearcats Cincinnati goes on top by two t ds. That

(35:44):
is Dan Horde from lair Field there. So the Bearcats
a Cincinnati probably not happy right now that they are
not not in the top four in the college football
playoff pull but right now Cincinnati leading Tulsa by a
score of fourteen to nine. All right, it is that time, updates, updates,

(36:11):
all right, So what I like to do is update
to each week afore I stand on the Heisman. Racist
is through last week, through last week's games. So here
is my current number three snap to Hartman rpo pulls
it out of the belly of the running back crows
down field. He's got a manage stride that is Roberson,

(36:31):
and he has made the catch for a wake course
touchdown Stan Cotton from liar field. That's Sam Hartman. Let
me just say it again, Sam Hartman. He's playing well,
but they're now well. No no, no, no, no no.
This is through last week's games and no two touchdowns,

(36:52):
only three picks head run for six rushing touchdowns. I'll
put it this way about Sam Hartman. I wake fours,
run the table, and when's the a c C a
c C Championship through five touchdowns, ran for two more today,
He's not out of the chase. Here's my current number
two quay action fake price throws hawk touchdown John mchie

(37:15):
play action throws everybody any pitch up. The touchdown on
a pinpoint pass at Alabama takes the four Jeene Lee
Eli go from lear Phield. Bryce Young the quarterback at Alabama.
Twenty six touchdowns, only three picks. He's doing everything right.
Doesn't have the loss to a m and of course
he will have his golden opportunity down the road in

(37:38):
that SEC Championship game match up weekspect against Georgia. But
here is my current number one. The hand off to
Kenneth Walker close through the wold, the reins on his
feet at the ten, he's into the end zone. Touchdown
to m s you do you believe it? With a
twenty three yard touchdown run. That's his fifth t of

(38:00):
the ball game Spartan's Radio network. That would be Michigan
State running back Kenneth Walker the third. He leads the
nation in rushing hundred forty nine yards a game and
in his biggest game of the season against previously undefeated
Michigan Jeff ninety seven yards rushing in five touchdowns. What
have I been saying all season long? At the end

(38:21):
of the year, when I look at your resume, I say,
what did you do in your most important game of
the year. Well, that's as good a performance in a
big game as we've seen so far in college football.
That's why Kenneth Walker is my current number one. He's
I was watching the michi State offensive line this week
for the Joe Moore Award. I thought, this is it's
award we give the best offensive line in college football.

(38:43):
So it's a ton of fun to be part of.
And man, because you know, if you think Kenneth Walker,
who I grew with you, so the Heisman front runner
at the moment in Michigan State has consumed losing four
seven against Purdue right now, Um that you know their
offense on you like you, man, these have to be
a bunch of mallers. That guys be great, huge holes
and their offensive line like does it, but like they're

(39:06):
not like a great offensive It's kind of odd, right
because most of the time when you have a runner
of his statue's averaging almost seven yards of carry, even today,
you would think, like, man, this offensive line, like you know,
Alabama offense line of the years or in Iowa three
years ago it was contint notre dame, and they're not
that and they still are able to get done I
really commend this offensale in the way they're able to

(39:26):
work kind of not having a ton of pros on
the offense and being able to get Kenneth Walker down
the field making plays. And yeah, he he is, He's
something else, man. He is a patient runner than that burst, right,
it's patients burst, boom go, and he does that really well.
He deserves to be the front runner. Now. Now, if
they lose to Perdue today, maybe it's not well. And

(39:47):
you mentioned it's ironic. So he came into this game
averaging six point eight yards of carry today is tank
carrys for sixty eight yards six point eight yards. Um.
So if you're gonna do this again, are they're gonna
be a nut like a general giant killer. We all
that's Perdue football. So today has been a weird day
so far. Right, So if you look around around the

(40:07):
just top twenty five Ohio states struggle in Nebraska rate
top five team right and by the way, Jenny Tapple
Jonas on the other side, she was gay, uh wake
on the road on right. North Carolina loses right obviously,
Michigan State right now ranked top three on the road losing. Um.

(40:28):
Since I's at home and and they're struggling against Tulsa.
This is why, by the way, they're not in the
top five, told like top four. This is why, right,
this is what people look at and say, hey, look
they're struggling to put away Tulsa right now. This is
concerning about going into Seattle tonight. It terrifies me, yeah,
because you know, I was getting with that um Organ

(40:49):
is far better, like they're they're they're Ohio States, Nebraska
like there, but but washington't even have Nebraska's defense like
they're not. They're like eleventh in the conference and rush defense,
like we should be able to go in there and
boom boom boom and win the game. And now I'm
terrified because everyone else is playing poorly. It's like it's now,
it's it's on. I just do that weight. So in
Washington's arrival, we hate him too. I just again, I

(41:10):
look at all these teams that we're talking about right now,
and then there's Georgia. Georgia is just steamrolling through their
games bloots, and they have two quarterbacks. They know just
one quarterback. They have two quarterbacks they can go through
and they're really a non factor because when you're not
giving up more than thirteen points in any game. Uh,

(41:31):
most likely you're gonna come out on top. And that's
why they are nine and o. On the other side,
Jenny Tapp is gonna be joining us. She was at
that Ohio State victory on the road. S'll come up next,
strap through a t D past last possession. He's got
the ball in his hands this time, throws up the
left side, called Smith and Jig, but runs to the
Ohio State forty blues to the fifty, down the left
sideline in Nebraska's forty, to the thirty, to the twenty,

(41:52):
to the tan and into the end zone. Goes Checks
and Smith and jigbuk not as Paul kills from Larfield,
Ohio States Sir fives on the road against Nebraska, winning
the game by a score of twenty six and seventeen.
And Jonius right now is she's so graciously does week
after week after week. Host of Undisputed Fox college football

(42:14):
sideline reporter Jenny Taft our dear friend, So, Jenny, let's
let's get right to this game. This is a Nebraska
team that now is three and seven overall, one and
six in the Big Ten, and they gave a highest
state of games. So was this more about Nebraska or
was this more about Ohio State that this game was
a lot closer than people expected. I think you could

(42:37):
really take it both ways when you ask that question,
because it's it's really let me look at Nebraska in
the season they've had. I mean, they have played all
of their games close. I mean they're seven and one
score games. They struggled in those moments, they haven't been
able to finish it. But I mean Ohio State knew
that that was coming and facing Nebraska, coach Day said
all along all weekis that I was going to say

(42:59):
it till I was LEU in the face. I mean,
Nebraska is a talented team, and they have weapons. They
have a dual threat QB and and in in Adrian,
and I think unfortunately it just wasn't fully on display today.
They had their moments, but their defense was clearly the
difference maker for Nebraska, and they just weren't able to
get it done. They struggled with the kick game, and
so that is a difference maker. If you make those

(43:21):
field goals, we're back to having this to a six
point game. So they struggled Nebraska, and I feel for
those fans. I I genuinely feel for the agony of
the way this season has been. And I know Adrian Martinez, look,
he's had his ups and downs, but he was better
today and that was that's just a hard loss for them.
But when you look at Ohio State, because I know
that all the attention it's good going to be on

(43:44):
the Buckeyes and and maybe what wasn't there today and
how you guys introd me was all about Jackson Smith
and Jake but what a performance for that sophomore receiver.
He stepped up. No Garrett Wilson uh and dealing with
an undisclosed injury. Coach Day wouldn't share the specifics. He
did say that he hoped to have him back against
for Due next week. But he was the biggest bright

(44:05):
spot on this offense. And you know c J. Stroud
had two picks. He hadn't had any mistakes in the
last four games. That was a bit surprising to me.
But I did notice without garretson Garrett Wilson, it really
was that the offense was still trying to find a
groove throughout the game. And a lave was there and
he's got that veteran leadership, but you've got new players
that are trying to make an impact on this team.

(44:25):
And it felt like a lot of teaching moments that
Julian Fleming, Marvin Harrison Jr. They wanted to see these
guys step up. Coach Day wanted that, and they were
clearly putting the ball in the air and seeing who
would make an impact today. And I think there were
good things. But then at the same time, you know,
the run game wasn't there today for the Buckeye and
that's going to be a question moving forward. I'm want
to turn it touching back to Nebraska very quickly. So

(44:47):
Scott Frost is obviously an offensive mind, right, And so
when I look at at a head coach, you know,
if you're not very good the thing you're supposed to
be good at. I kind of questioned, liken'thing to be
working out right, I mean, how how can you justify
kind of their offensive performance considering he's supposed to be
offensive coach, Right, Like, at least you should be good
on that side of the ball. Defensively, as you mentioned,
they're fine, but offensively, mat it's just it's painful to

(45:10):
watch sometimes, I know, and it's it's weird. And we
sat with coach Frost yesterday and we went through all
the little mistakes that have gone into their their inability
to get these wins. And you know, part of me
feels for him, and you you understand that, and you
you look at how close these losses have been. But
this is a game of inches, right, I mean, that's

(45:31):
there's two sides every store, there's two teams here, and
it's close for everyone. And you know, Adrian Martinez has
really had his ups and downs this season. He had
four packs last weekend in their loss to Purdue, and
that's that was his worst performance of the season. And
Coach Frost said, we were going to go with him
because he's our quarterback. That's going to give us our
best chance to win. And and so unfortunately, when you

(45:52):
look at Scott Frost in the decision making, and yes,
that's what they're always going to go back to what
are they doing on offense? And they're not getting it done.
And that's the reality of the situation. My biggest thing
is it's been four years. He came into a program
that really was in a dire situation, and you can't
over emphasize and that enough, right, so do they give

(46:13):
him another chance? They have the talent, they're building on it.
You know that they have some of those senior leaders
they're going to be sticking around. And the fight from
the team I was blown away by. I mean it
was just really impressive to think that all these guys
have had these close games and there's no quit. I mean,
they truly. Jojo Dolman had this great quote this week.
He was like, in the locker room this week, we

(46:34):
decided that we weren't gonna quit. We could have, and
we even addressed it. We said, we have one ft in,
one ft out. It's maybe less painful we give up now.
But that's not who we are. That's not who Scott
Frost is. And you know, I gotta give him the
credit for fighting, but a hundred percent the questions remained,
if Frost is the guy, will they give him give
him another shot? And at this point I just don't

(46:56):
know if they will. Jenny tapped his joining US shoes
on the sidelines or a High State seventeen victory against
the Nebraska corn Huskers. All right, Jenny, you've seen plenty
of Ohio State this year. You've seen them over the
last few years as well. By the way, I just
wanted to mention that Michigan State on a fourth and
two just ran for a touchdown to get back Kenneth Walker,

(47:18):
that Heisman candidate just ran four teen yards or a touchdown.
They're still trailing Perdue by the way, team penning the
extra point. But I'm looking at the remainder of Ohio
States schedule. They're gonna host Perdue is playing pretty well today,
then they host Michigan State, and then they'll play at
ann Arbor against Michigan. From what you've seen of Ohio
State this year, because we just say Ohio State, right,

(47:41):
they reload there as good, does this Ohio State team
look on the same level that we've seen in recent
years you've seen in recent years of Ohio State football.
I think it's hard to tell given the performance today,
if you would have asked me well, and if unique
considering the last game I covered for the buck Eye
was their loss to Oregon, we saw the issues there. Then.

(48:03):
Of course c J. Stroud gets that Week four off,
he heals up his shoulder, which he told me this
week was actually more severe than then he had alluded
to light he'd been dealing with a a separated ac
joint suffered Week one, so he's been kind of playing
through it, and then since that break he had a
really strong performance. But then again, you have to look
at the opponents and what they were doing on offense

(48:23):
and those numbers they were putting up today. I think
those two picks he's not gonna be proud of that.
Those are moments that he knows he would like to
have back. I can send that frustration from him on
the sideline. So in terms of Ohio State and their potential,
I think that Perdue is, like you guys mentioned, they're
giving Michigan State the game, but that's a huge challenge
and coach date it continues to go back to you

(48:45):
gotta win, want to know, but Michigan State, we know
what they're capable of doing Michigan in ann Arbor that
I mean, this might be the biggest matchup in terms
of the game that I've had, and I've been covering
it for now. This will be my fifth I believe,
which is pretty incredible to be around that rivalry and
the magnitude, But wow, this could be the year that
Michigan probably has the best shot in going up against

(49:06):
Ohio State. So I still feel like there's question marks.
I think the defense, again, Coach Day really complimented they're
kind of doing everything by committee. They don't have that
one Chase Young, they don't have that that impact player
on the defense, but they're getting it done and they're
still young in some of those areas. But I just
I don't know. I felt like on offense they were
figuring it out still, and that kind of is where

(49:29):
my biggest question mark is surrounding the buck Eyes right now.
And look, these are three tough opponents coming up and
they must win out of course, as we all know,
playoff is the goal. Playoff is the hope. And coach
Day said a great thing to me, like November football
is March tennis, like you win and you survive. And
I thought that was a really good point that they
are playing on this edge. They need to keep building

(49:51):
because it was not a complete performance today. Last question
from me, um, You know you've obviously covered the game
for a long time. The cultu A playoff rankings come
out every team not named Georgia today and like the
top twelve is really struggling right like Auburn and Baylor
Oklahoma State and Cincinnati and Michigan State, Like, what is
it about the pressure of the rankings being Is it

(50:12):
because they're official now? Because the people none of these
teams are like kind of struggle after that, But everyone
today outside of Georgia seems to be having issues. That's
so interesting to point out, right, I hadn't thought of
it that way. Is it the pressure? And you know,
I think the playoff coming out so early is is
kind of a blessing and a curse because we still
have a month of football to play. And you know,

(50:33):
when you ask a team like in Oklahoma that's sitting
on the outside look again, they're like, great, we'll just
prove you everyone wrong at this point, and it's I
know they've got there by this week. We're actually going
to see them next week at Baylor, so that should
be an interesting matchup. But the playoff is so bizarre
because the players and coaches tell you the same thing
every time. We don't pay attention to it, we don't
care about it. But social media is a real thing.

(50:53):
I know these guys are well aware. They all are
very conscious of what the playoff means, and especially a
team like Ohio State, when the expectation is national championship
or bust. I mean, there is no second place when
it comes to what they're expected to do. And like
c J. Stroud even I asked him about the playoffs
and he said, yeah, we pay attention to it. I

(51:14):
think we still have a lot of football. And he
was pretty honest with me in in admitting, like, no
one tells you how stressful this job can be. At
the pressure of it, you have to have a support system,
you have to have a foundation. And he's still a
young guy. I mean, this is still a c J.
Stroud that we are just getting to now, a redshirt freshman.
I mean, he's taken it all in one game at

(51:35):
a time as well. So I almost get worried to
critique some of those mistakes because his youth is still
very apparent and he's already come so far this season.
And look, he's gonna have to be strong for them
to continue this thing. And the playoff, no doubt impacts
these players. But at the end of the day, you
just gotta keep winning or you're not going to be
in the conversation. All right, So where are you gonna
be next week? Jenny? So I'm heading to Waco, so

(51:57):
that will be my game Oklahoma at Baylor, and you know,
good old Waco atmosphere is everything I'm looking forward to.
And just to be around the Big twelve again will
be good. I mean, I love Big ten football and
I've been so spoiled with some incredible games this season.
I mean Michigan Michigan State. I'm still on a high
from guys. I know we talked after that one and
you just said Kenneth Walker and another touchdown. That makes

(52:20):
me happy because that guy is special. But how are
we already in November? Didn't we just start talking with
one in Minnesota? Like how are we here? So it's
a it's a treat and uh, we are far from done,
which is even the best part. Jenny will check check
in with you next week. As always, we appreciate it.
Thanks so much, Cool, I have a good one guy,
Thanks for having me, Jenny Taff Johnny is there. Kenneth Walker,

(52:42):
by the way, did that did get that touchdown? Huge
score for Michigan State right before the half? So they
are trailing Produce fourteen. There's four seconds ago in the
forest half there and Kenneth Walker in ninety three yards
and that score, having a pretty good first half in
that game. All right on the other side, because as
we got a little bit of a late start with
Jeff today due to technical difficulties, it's time for him

(53:05):
to weigh in on some of the biggest stories that
happened this week in the NFL. Starting with Aaron Rodgers
coming up next. In motion, Jayden Reid right to left
hand to Kenneth Runston is right, He's gonna go like
inside the five into the end zone, touchdown, m s U.

(53:26):
That is Spartan's Radio Network, big, big score for number
three Michigan State try to hang in on the road
against a surprising Purdue team, Purdue leading at the half
by a score of twenty one two fourteen. UM. By
the way, just a quick follow up before we move

(53:47):
on to the Aaron Rodgers situation. UM, get your thoughts
in Ohio State right now? Do they look like a
team as they head into their final three games? Now
they'll have a home game against Purdue, home against Michigan
State at Michigan. Is this going to be in Ohio
State team at the end of the day, it's gonna
walk away with a Big Ten championship? Or is that

(54:08):
still very much in doubt. Well, it seems that they're
having more issues against these better teams, right and um,
as you mentioned, look produce it has been a giant killer.
But this is in the horseshoe, so we'll find out, right,
and then Michigan State comes to the horse show. I
think Michigan State is not as good as maybe they're
winn against Michigan. They they were done four teen points

(54:28):
at home in that game, right, and then obviously they're
at Michigan, and maybe this is the year. Like Jenny
said that Michigan you can think of that. But I
do believe in ownage like I do. I do think
that's a thing in sports where if you have someone's number,
you almost so you're of Michigan, right, like Michigan you
know has Michigan number, I should say, And you know,
if you're a Mischigan you have to work almost extra

(54:50):
hard to break that, right, kind of like break that curse,
and so things like winning a game, it just takes
a little bit extra And I don't know if they
have that kind of extra special on their team. Will
find out obviously that weekend. But Ohio State to me
feels like they could drop Michigan State or Michigan I
actually still believe that most of the teams outside of

(55:10):
Georgia in the top seven, outside of Cincinnati, a top eight,
I should say, have a chance to lose a game.
Organ schedule, they're their four toughest games coming up. Two
teams will be ranked after this weekend. I would imagine
Organ State in Utah. They have to go to Utah
in two weeks. Um they play Utah again the Pactrol
Championship game. UM. Obviously Oklahoma has Baylor, Iowa State, Oklahoma

(55:30):
State at Baylor home of Iowa State at Oklahoma State.
They're probably not going to feeding through that stretch. UM.
And obviously we saw we're seeing Michigan State now struggled
with Purdue O how State has struggled. Cincinnati is playing
Tulsa's that we get that right, Tulsa today half team
and a half a statement today. No, and it does.

(55:51):
But by the way, to be fair, though today is
a weird day. It has that feeling of the playoff.
Ruk's came out, which should not matter. Be It's like
I said, you know, these teams are fairly ranked around
the same point they've been ranked all year, right, and
so why would now today be the day when you
feel the extra pressure of the plot that a lot
of the teams are on the road? Right wake, Force

(56:12):
on the road loses, Ohio State on the road, didn't
play their best game but still end up winning. Michigan
State on the road losing right now since he's at
home obviously, UM and Oklahoma States at West Virginia only
up seven right now, Baylor on the road their number twelve,
but they're on the road, TCU, they're only up there.
To me, they're down to as we approach the end
of the first half. Just it was like a weird day.

(56:33):
And that's what we look about college football. We don't
get this in the NFL. We don't get a lot
of We might get one weird game, but we don't
get a weird day in the NFL. And and this
is one of the college sports because every single Saturday
you might have a day like this. All right, let's
get to the Aaron Rodgers situation. I had to go
off on Aaron Rodgers. By the way, you have an
update on the Aaron Rodgers story. So without rehashing the

(56:56):
entire week he tested positive, we knew he was gonna
miss this game against the Chiefs. Then it came out
that he was not vaccinated. Even then, everyone assumed he
was vaccinated based on his own words and very much
his actions throughout the course of the season. Then yesterday
he won just nuts basically talking about his anti vACC

(57:16):
stance and all the different concerns he had about vaccinations,
also talking about how he feared the cancer culture. Well
guess what he just got canceled. Previa Health has said
bye bye Aaron Rodgers. They have ended their partnership which
has gone way way back, and there could be more
based not so much on Aaron Rodgers coming out that

(57:36):
he was not vaccinated, but now some of the statements
that he has made. So without really taking a look
at the political side of this, because everyone wants to
do that and we don't. UM. I want to just
get your thoughts again as a former NFL player, UM
as far as adhering to the wishes of the players Union, which,
by the way, the protocols were in accord with the

(57:58):
NFL itself, and also just your perspective from a teammate standpoint,
especially a quarterback. You being a former offensive lineman. I
step back and lay it out for you, Jeff Schwartz,
your thoughts on the Aaron Rodgers situation. Well, you know,
he wants me the smartest guy in the room, and
he wants to prove how smart he is and how

(58:19):
different he is. And he's a freethinker. It's happens. So
it's so weird that freethinkers kind of all say the
same thing, right, and and the rest of us are
a bunch of sheep um and you know, just sound
like the smartest guy in the room. Right. I've said
this from the beginning here. I've been very I've been
very firm on this take. Had not way rey from it. Yes,
there are people that want to take the vaccine. I

(58:39):
was one of them. There are people that did not
want to take the vaccine in the NFL. Let's just
talk about the NFL in general, right, But they understood
that the best way to help yourself win yourself personally
and your team was to get vaccinated, right, not only
just obviously protecting yourself from being out in a game,
because the protocols are so different. Jordan Love mentioned, I'm vaccinated.
I get to play the week because otherwise I was

(59:02):
I've been with Rogers, I'd be out for contact tracing
at least five days, and and understanding that you sacrifice
a lot of things to win, right, You sacrifice family time,
You sacrifice your body obviously, right, your sacrifice going out
your friends and and drinking and having a good time
and and eating whatever you want. Right. You kind of
sac about all this in the name of winning and

(59:24):
making your money. And most of the NFL has got
vaccinated tom Brady. Everyone said, well, Tom Brady, if Tom Brady,
you know, was unvaccinated, this would be a story. I'm like, well,
he's not. That he's vaccinated a vaccination rate for the
bucks because guess why. His ethos is winning first, right,
winning first? And this proves to me that that Aaron
Rodgers is not on that same level. And people have

(59:44):
thought that for a while. I personally haven't. I feel
like he wants to win and cares about winning. But
this just kind of shows. First, obviously, he was very
deceitful and his his his original press conference about whether
or not he was vaccinated. He obviously did not wear
a mask at the press conference, most I would imagine,
most likely because he didn't want to be out at
as being unvaccinated r and having to deal with the
with the backlash. But this made it worse, right, this

(01:00:06):
made it much worse. That's why he's losing sponsors um
and he's costing his team money. And I'll tell you why.
There in line right now for the one seed, they're
playing some good football. Now they're going to a stretch
against a Chiefs team that's hampered right now right not
playing very well for you know, not playing very well.
Then they would play Seattle. Now he might be back
for Seattle, but he would not have been there for

(01:00:26):
ten days if they dropped those two games. They're not
getting home through an advantage in the NFC. And last
year was the first year in eight years where a
team that did not have home field advantage, you mean,
did not have a bye. I should say there's only
one by now that did not that made Super Bowl.
That was Tampa Bay right previously was twelve. I believe
both Ravens and Niners mean in in a situation it's

(01:00:48):
now he's gonna go on the road in the playoffs,
where his record is not terribly great, especially on the road,
and he's gonna have to now try to win a
Super Bowl. That way, so from the possible one seed
not no longer having that. He's cost the team a
chance to go to high you know, to go to
Super Bowl, and he's cost people money on that team.
And I know people have said, well, the team isn't

(01:01:08):
stick with him in this. I'm like, I mean, they will,
right that they want to win. But he's just kind
of showing the you know what people kind of thought
about him as as as a person. He kind of
showed that, I think in this interview. And I just
have trouble with the logic of this. And this is
not political, but the thing about the logic here, Steve, Okay,
So I'm an athlete, Rogers an athlete, and let's say

(01:01:30):
we hurt our ankle. I've heard my ankle plenty of times,
and I'm in the doctor's office and there's a there's
orthopedic surgeon there, right, let's says the team doctor. And
his goal is to get me back healthy and playing
and help the team out. And now, of course we
sometimes don't believe that, but that's in essence what the
doctor is trying to do, right, And he shows me
an ankle m I and I look at the m R.
I and I pretend to know what I'm what I'm

(01:01:51):
looking at, and he's like, oh, here's the problem, here's
this and that. I'm gonna go in there, We're gonna
fix all this. And I'm just like, all right, doctor cool,
I'll see you. I'll see you in surgery in two days.
Of course, I get a second opinion on that, but
you know, there was they tend to be right, Okay.
What's the difference between that, okay, and I've had I
had a teammate at MERSA. All right, Alex Smith, we
saw get infection. Carl Nixon offensive linement in Tampa Bay

(01:02:13):
got MERSA. I've seen I have other family members have
gone and bad infections after surgery there, So there's a
risk and surgery. What's what's difference between the packers orthopedist
or their internist coming to the team and say, hey, guys, look,
I've researched the vaccine. I've I think it's good for you,
it's good for the team, it's gonna help us win,
and I would go ahead and do that. What's difference

(01:02:33):
between one doctor you trust his opinion and the other
one You're gonna do more research on the computer about
like I don't get that logic, man, I just don't.
And of course it's okay to be skeptical of life, right,
you don't have to believe. That's where the second opinions
for orthopedic surgeons. You don't have to believe everything you hear.
But but the but the logic behind that, especially for
a smart person like like like Rogers, I don't understand

(01:02:54):
and I will not understand that, because again, surgery is
not always gonna work. Right. There are problem with surgery.
It's like there are problems at times with the vaccine.
But the logic of those two things I can't square with.
All Right, Well, one thing I will say when you
say that you you know he wants to win. Yeah,
but why does he want to win? He wants to
win to pat his own stats. In other words, he's

(01:03:16):
an individual in a team sport. That can be a problem.
No matter how great a player you are, if you
have an individual mindset in a team sport, that can
create some problems. Al Right. On the other side, I
do want to get a little bit more into what
the NFL does next and how that's important to send
a message everybody else around the league. When we've had
an individual so blatantly break protocol, knowingly break protocol. What

(01:03:43):
needs to be coming down from the NFL, But first
let's find out what's trending right now. David Gash, you
you want to jump in. I know on this conversation,
it's fun, it's good, and I don't I agree with
a lot of it. I don't agree with everything, but
you don't have to. Yeah, I do think with response

(01:04:05):
to what Jeff was saying, is that you're talking about
doctors and orthopedic surgeons that have been treating injuries and
doing surgeries on tendons and bones for a long period
of time. And this is drastically different, and it hasn't
been around for decades, and it hasn't been around for

(01:04:27):
don't you don't you trust? So don't you trust your
doctor who's been doing this for the vaccine? I didn't
say that. I'm just saying, like you just say yourself,
it's an opinion. So there are many opinions, and there
are plenty of doctors that are also gone the other
way on it. And so unlike a surgery for a
bone or a tendon, or if the doctor screws up,

(01:04:50):
he can rebreak the bone, or he can have another
surgery on said tendon. Once you get the vaccine, you
can't eradicate that from your body. All right, But when
we talk about getting second opinions, let's shut off COVID.
Just just something in general. If you got your mind
made up on something, Let's say it's an elective surgery
or the treatment for some kind of disease, and you've

(01:05:12):
got your mindset one way, and you keep asking doctors
until you finally find one that agrees with the like,
there it is, That's what I'm going to do, right,
Isn't that what it just comes down to, a lot
of times they say get a second opinion? Why might
get a third, fourth, fifth, or six opinions? All I
find a guy that agrees with me, it's a personal yeah.
And you go to some of the best hospitals and

(01:05:34):
the best doctors in the country, you know, John Hopkins,
You go to u c l A, you go to USD,
and you go to some the best places in the
world or in this country, and you and you seek
those opinions. And so if you had gotten that, or
if you dig get it from somebody, I don't see
anything wrong in that with that being said, it's not
just a doctor, but doctor will fix you if you
have an injury, but it's also your responsibility and also

(01:05:55):
a physical therapist responsibility to help you recovery. Becomes that
athlete again. So a doctor is just one portion of
that physical therapist and yourself or two other elements that
are involved. My my, my thoughts again on Aaron Rodgers,
the reason he didn't want to come clean early, like
Kirk Cousin wants to fire well, exactly, especially when you
have all those sponsors behind you, a lot of them

(01:06:19):
taking a very pro stance on the vaccination. But this
just goes back to cost himself millions of dollars and
may still by the way, now that he's finally come
clean on his truth. But this just goes back to
his point about being chastised and condemned by certain people.
I mean that it's his personal choice, and the companies

(01:06:40):
have a personal decision whether his sponsored anymore, that's his
personal choices. Like this has never ever happened in our country, Jeff,
Like this has never happened where you're gonna have individuals
that are fired from their jobs where we are. But
keep in mind, you were also having doctors, nurses, police officers,

(01:07:03):
and firefighters got to have a way through this room.
You know, I understand this social media all the stuff,
but you went through this last year and you didn't
fire any of those professionals, and now these people are
getting fired. But doesn't add up. Look, man, my wife
is a nurse. She's that's just not as many you
think are being fired. First of all, most of them

(01:07:25):
end up dating the shot anyways. I just I'm not
having this conversation right now. You don't have to, but
I that's just it's just, you know, this whole thing.
They're like that. You know, they're all these all these
people are gonna be fired. They're all gonna be fired,
they're all leaving. It's like a tiny fraction of people
to end up getting like let go their jobs. Everyone.
Of course I understand that, but I'm saying it's it's
not like this just one person, you know what I mean.

(01:07:48):
There are people in other I mean here in Los Angeles.
It's a perfect example. The l A p D and
the l A County Sheriff or bipolar like, they're drastically
different on their stances, but they've also been the middle
of this entire thing the whole time. So I mean
I get it, like nurse family, the whole nine yards.
I get it. But that is that is you. You know,

(01:08:10):
you can't speak for everybody feeling. Again, is Aaron Rodgers
have a lot more credibility had he taken this stance
from the GetUp, if he just said it in the
very beginning, then we wouldn't be talking about this right now.
Lamar Jackson went through it twice. So that's that's where
we're at. But speaking of where we're at, Michigan State,
they were in a whole last week, still in a
hole again, they trail perdue. This ball game is at

(01:08:33):
the half that Keith Walker has got in his sixteen
carries for ninety three yards and a touchdown. But again
boiler Makers have fourteen points in the second quarter. That's
where they have a seven point lead. Cincinnati is in
a little bit of a tussa a Tulsae twelve Bearcats
have a lead. Bearcats trying to go to nine and
know this season Notre Dame not have any problems anymore.
With Navy seventeen three, Baylor twelfth ranked in the nation,

(01:08:55):
losing at TCU sixteen fourteen is the score. This ball
game is also the half Auburn in Texas A and
m the uh the Unders on its way three. Three's
a score. The second half is just beginning. Wisconsin smashing
Rutgers by thirty five, seventeenth, Mississippi State losing to Arkansas
seven earlier today, Georgia want easily Ohio State by nine.

(01:09:17):
In Nebraska, wake Forest the loan upset amongst the top
ten fifty fifty five. North Carolina got him. Sam Hartman
had five touchdowns through the air, two on the ground,
but it was all for not as North Carolina had
three hundred and thirty yards rushing to come from behind.
They scored twenty four points in the fourth court to
beat Steve's son and the Demon Deacon. That's okay, he's

(01:09:41):
not out of the not yet, Larry, Yeah, thank you
very much. All right, David, thank you very much. As always,
plenty to say, Mr Gascon, all right, I want to
finish off with this Aaron Rodgers story here, Jeff, in
terms of what the NFL does, and here's the thing
that really stands. Uh So, Aaron Rodgers will try to

(01:10:02):
twist what he really meant about getting immunized and playing
with his words and everything else. But the one thing
he's not denying in terms of breaking protocol was showing
up for all these press conferences without a mask, only
amplifying what a lot of people thought. The only reason
he would show up without a mask indoors on the
team facility, where if you're not vaccinated you're required to

(01:10:25):
wear a mask at all times. The fact that he
was showing up indoors at the team facility at these
press conferences without a mask was people said, well, he's
we already know he's vaccinated, that's why he can do this,
and now he mits, no, I I knew what I
was doing. I thought it was a stupid rule because
everyone else in the room, the members of the media,
have to be masked and vaccinated to be in that rule,

(01:10:48):
So why should I have to wear a mask? Doesn't matter.
The bottom line is he is im blatant disregard to
the protocol that was agreed upon between the union and
the league, and my feeling is if the league doesn't
take some serious action for him blatantly. And by the way,
how did the NFL said, well, we weren't aware that

(01:11:08):
he wasn't work? What really they were fully aware because
they knew he wasn't vaccinated. All of that had to
be reported to the league. You could say, well, the
Packers should have done more the league what he never
saw him in any of these press conferences. Of course
they did so to me, the NFL has a lot
of explaining to do. And if they don't take some
dramatic action to penalize him where they have absolutely penalized

(01:11:30):
everybody else, or even a slight and fraction of the protocol,
that's a dangerous message you're sending to the rest of
the league. He really is And yeah, it's um you know,
the NFL. And at times it does get accused of
kind of being light on certain punishments, and I would
agree with that, but really they have not been lightwending
COVID related They have come down harsh on a lot

(01:11:53):
of um, a lot of teams and players. You know,
if you were called the Broncos last year, right, they
try to skirt the system and instead of moving their game,
which they obsolutely could have done, they just made him
play with no quarterback. So they can be harsh when
they want. And you have now one of your all
time great players who stirred the system. Um, and I

(01:12:14):
don't know. I don't know if it's the publicly owned
team matters here people discussed. I don't think it does.
I just think that he plays for the Packers and
he definitely is, you know, a brand name. But you
have to punish him. You you absolutely have to punish him. Um,
you cannot let this go. But you have put together
protocols that were negotiated with you, you know, the NFL
and the NFL p A. They were agreed upon. Our
players did not like them. But guess what you all do?

(01:12:36):
Outspoken players again that were outspoken about this, that didn't
want this done, they're all following the protocols. Cole Beasley, right,
who's been very outspoke. Guess what, guys, he's following the protocols.
Carson Wentz, who hasn't been outspoken. We know it's not vaccine.
I saw him Thursdon of football mask on the sidelines, right,
because that's that's what's required of him not being vaccine. Cousins,
same thing, right. Alan Lazard's on the package as well.

(01:12:57):
They said he's done virtual press conferences all season long
because that's what he feels more comfortable doing. So wearing
a mask and Aaron Rodgers was not doing that. He
has to be punish this. And the question you know
that I have, I don't know we've answered for this
is why has this not been monitored yet? And why
has there not been any punishment for this? Now the
NFL claims that it's a packer's job to punish him. Okay, um,

(01:13:19):
but they they did were they weren't doing it, and
they have to come down hard on I don't I
don't know what if it's won two game suspension, I
don't know what it's going to be. Um, but it's
not going to be pleasant for the packers. And again,
this cost them guys a lot of money. Man, it's
cost everyone. Well. I understand the packers being nervous because
they don't want to upset Aaron Rodgers. I mean, all

(01:13:41):
the threats of this will indeedb is finding year as
a packer are not what they think. They think that
no one was gonna find out. I guess that they might.
They might have. Well, if he had never tested positive
for COVID, they might have gotten away with it. Yeah, No,
it's it's it's very fair. They might have. Um, but
the league is known about this from the get go.
I mean the idea that, well, you know, we expected

(01:14:01):
the Packers to do something. Really, I mean, the NFL
has never hesitated to jump in beyond a team's decision
if they feel something isn't right. When is the league
office ever hesitated? Ever? I mean they always jump in.
So they were fully aware that A he was not

(01:14:22):
facts that it B was showing up at these press
conferences without a mask in total violation of the protocol.
Were they just hoping nothing was gonna happen? Because again,
if I'm a member of the union and you were
obviously a member of the union, I'm looking at them saying,
what's the deal here? I mean, either we're all in
or or not, because if you do make an exception,

(01:14:43):
even if it's a superstar player, that means that we
all can be excused. I mean, by the way, I
don't did you see this whole thing about he doesn't
have to be tested for ninety days? What is that about? Well,
so they have said you know that if because you
have you have the antibodies, right, So when you have COVID,
you have natural antibodies obviously, and so you obviously would

(01:15:05):
you would test positive possibly on did you see the
ninety days would run out? Yeah, like the day before
the Super Bowl, before the Super But they're not going
to now, I promise you that. Um. But you know
the kind of bigger picture here future. So I thought
up until last week that Rogers was coming back next season.
I always believe that we talked about this, right that.
I always thought Rogers would staying in Groom. He's the

(01:15:26):
best chance to win. Not anymore, he's gone, like this
is the Packers there there and and maybe and maybe
they had talked with him this off season about this.
Maybe just mentioned in conversations with the Packers and with
Aaron Rodgers about how to restructure his deal. You know,
are you vaccine blah blah blah. I don't know. Maybe
it was, maybe it wasn't. Um, but this just leads

(01:15:47):
to kind of another layer of why they wanted to
go on from Rogers. Right again, he declined a little
bit in twenty nineteen. So I get why they drafted Love.
I don't like how they did it. I don't think
the trade up for Jordan's Love was the right thing
to do for their team, but obviously they went in
that direction. Um. But kind of gives you a window, right,
Like I don't we Love wrong. He's a good player,

(01:16:08):
but like something about I just we kind of kind
of have to have a plan. And the plans here
if if Jordan Love plays well, he's not getting Roger's
not getting benched. But it does lead to a much
easier decision to split after the season. If Love plays
well this weekend, maybe next week. Look, the Chief's defense
is not very good. Uh, there's there's guys you can target.

(01:16:30):
I won't mention their names. I don't want to embarrass anyone,
but there's guys, like if you know what you're doing,
there's guys you can take advantage of. And this is
a good week. It's not a full week of practice
to to kind of get your first chance on the
road to get a you know, Super Bowl participant from
last season. And it's time for Jordan Left to shine now.
So while the Packers brought him in and he has

(01:16:52):
got to start paying dividends for them now that he
gets the opportunity to play a little bit again, Rogers
not being benched this year, but if he plays well,
Jordan Love does it. I think it makes it this
vision which I didn't think Rogers would leaving anyways, but
it makes a decision now. I think much easier to
get rid of him after the season. All right. Michigan
State is even up there a game against Perdue. They
are now tied at twenty one. At one point, Spartans
are down two touchdowns twenty one all now twelve minutes

(01:17:13):
ago in the third quarter. On the other side, Jeff's
gonna tell us the definitive answer. Where will Odell Beckham
end up next? Coming up next? Con is ready for
the balls. He sets up in the shotgun three wideouts
to his right, looks that way, now throws to his
laft wide open Kevin Austin. He will go by himself
to the end zone. Five touchdown, Notre Dame, seventy yards

(01:17:37):
cone to Austin. All right, So that's the Notre Dame
Radio network. Notre Dame leading Navy right now, seventeen to six.
We got three twenty four to go in the third quarter,
as the fighting Irish like to go to eight and
one on the season. All right, So I want to
get to Odell Beckham Jr. Here briefly before we get

(01:17:58):
to the top of the hour. The Cleveland Browns finally
parting ways with Odell beck and there's some stories on
how they were able to cancel the last two years
of his contract to really create a free agency situation
for him after this season. One observation I made earlier
and when to get your thoughts, Jeff. One team that
does not need Odell Beckham right now is the Raiders. Um,

(01:18:19):
they're going through all kinds of things with his latest
tragedy involving Henry Ruggs and the idea of throwing this
guy into the fire in that locker room when you know,
the day he arrives anywhere, everyone's gonna ask that quarterback,
are you going to throw him the ball? Because that
seems to be a story. I don't think the Raiders
want to face that right now. But what are your
thoughts on on where he might end up, what might

(01:18:40):
be a decent fit for him? Yeah, so, so it
tells a better locker room guy than that I think
the media gives him credit for. But he's also not
number one receiver anymore, and you have to realize that.
He has to realize I should say, um, you know
that he there's still a lot uh that I think
he has left in the tank, but probably not number one.
And you have to realize you're knocking to get the

(01:19:00):
ball as much as you used to, and you have
to realize that you kind of, you know, maybe part
of a kind of a bigger planet offense, and sometimes
you might not get the ball as much as you like.
And I don't know if he if he's gonna accept that. Again,
I think he can still play. I think he could
be helpful for a handful of teams that if he
understands his rule right. Again. I don't think he's a
bad locker room I play with Odell, you know. I
don't think anyone in Cleveland I think he's a bad

(01:19:22):
locker room guy. Just he wanted the ball, wasn't getting
the ball, and made a stink about it. And that's
what happens with wide receivers. But you have to be
self aware to know what type of player you become.
And um, obviously he's not the same guy he was
in New York and he might never get back to
that point. But he didn't ask to be traded in
the off season. According to reports during this season like
that the Brown should have done this, They should have

(01:19:42):
taken care of him Um, there was. It's clear that
his baker has been better without him. But when the
other one last year without him, Uh, they should have
moved on to the off season and they would have
got something for Odell, But now they're not, and he'll
clear waivers. You know, people have said, you know Patriots
or you know a Packers she eaves. Um. I agree

(01:20:02):
with you with the Raiders that right now not not
ideal adding him to the mix. I would say, obviously,
losing rugs and um and that strategy, you know it's
gonna hurt your team, But you can't Odell. You're not
not bringing Odell. I don't, Steve, I really don't know.
I don't know, because I think you have to have,
you know, a locker room culture that can kind of

(01:20:25):
maybe withstand a little bit of the questions they're gonna
be asked, as you mentioned, right, And I don't know
many teams that kind of have that right now, and
I don't. I don't know. They're the workings of longer.
I mean, you know, I went to Antonio Brown, right
He's gonna to be a cancer in Tampa Bay. Has
been fine, but he's also I think better than Odell
right now, and he understands that. So part of it
is Odell kind of soft function. Where do you think
this go? I don't have a great idea. I again,

(01:20:45):
I agree with you a hundred percent when you talk
about where he stands right now as a receiver. Uh,
it's interesting they put together this eleven minute highlight package
of how he's being ignored by Baker Mayfield. You, by
the way, you could put almost as many minutes together
of him ropping balls that were throwing his way or
or maybe not. I mean I always look at you
know now you can see targets versus receptions. Right you

(01:21:09):
can go to Football Reference and they will show how
many times a receiver has been targeted, and there's a
percentage there right there. There are certain guys like Michael
Thomas when he was actually playing, had an insanely high
percentage of receptions. Of course, you could say that's because
he had the most accurate quarterback in the league. But
I look at some of these numbers for Odell Beckham,
even in its heyday with the Giants, and they look suspiciously.

(01:21:31):
See like t O back in the day, who didn't
exactly have a high percentage of receptions per targets over
the course of his career. Um. But again, as far
as the Raiders are concerned, Look, they've already had to
come together in the aftermath of the sudden resignation of
Grood and what went down there, and they did it,
and they seemed to come together as a team. I

(01:21:52):
believe the same thing has to happen in the aftermath
of this tragedy with Henry, who by all accounts was
a good teammate, a popular teammate. Only the guys in
the locker room could fully comprehend what's going on there,
and they just need to come together. It's much different
coach being fired, because you know that happens in sports.
You yeah, you're used to that reaction. We've I think
we've I'm sure at some point everyone has been with

(01:22:13):
someone who has left the team at any level. This
is obviously much different and and it's gonna be tougher
to deal with this in a coach being fired. All right,
So we're gonna have much more on the NFL A big,
big Sunday. Are the Chiefs that were gonna bounce back?
Is that team ever gonna show up again? We'll get
to that. Plus all the college football coming up next,

(01:22:36):
O'Connell brings a man in motion. They handed off straight
ahead to Daru Daru draggy tacklers. He is in Florida.
Touchdown King Daro with a one yard rush, his second
touchdown of the season, and Perdue goes back on top.
So that's Perdue right there, retaking the lead against number
three Michigan State twenty to twenty one. Right now, boiler

(01:22:57):
Makers with eight minutes ago in the third quarter. That
was Tim Newton on the call there from liar Field.
So Perdue read takes the lead over number three Michigan State.
We've already had one undefeated team go down today, that
was wake Forest. Another one now in dangers after the
wake Forest lost, Uh, Jeff, we were down to five

(01:23:20):
undefeated teams, including Texas San Antonio. By the way, Texas
San Antonio, which was number sixteen in the AP poll
this week, did not even show up in the top
twenty five in the college football playoff rankings, not even
the top That was a little bit. That was a
little suspect. I mean they will now in Minnesota lost today,

(01:23:43):
I mean there's there, they'll find their way back up
in the top twenty five. I feel like you do.
I'm not sure that it's Again, the committee goes back
to scheduling a lot right there. I see the schedule
the CD opponents, there's no one on their schedule is
gonna help. And this gets back to the Cincinnati situation.
I this is the thing that just irks me. And

(01:24:03):
as long as we are going to be subjected to
this fake playoff, and that's what I say, because it's
not really a playoff. It is a made for television
event where you sort of pick and choose, cherry pick
teams to be in a final four to gardner as
much attention as possible. I understand what it's about, but
it's not a playoff because in the end, no n
c A A champion is crown in Division one football,

(01:24:26):
I think we need to forever divide these these halves
and have nots at the uh FBS level because I
can't think of any sport and you've got kids that
are involved in youth sports, Jeff, youth sports, high school sports,
college sports, you name it, girls, boys, men, women, there's

(01:24:48):
always a path for you to win a championship, unless,
of course, you having to be playing college football for
a group of five conference team. This is the only
sport anywhere on the planet where if you play for
one of those schools, because if you're at the one
double A level FCS level, Division two, Division three, UH
and A I A in college football, you have a

(01:25:09):
path to win a championship. Only these schools that are
members of this group of five conferences, they start the
season with zero chance of winning a championship. Zero. Yeah.
Any other sport you mentioned, uh, like high school fool?
But I went to high skeotball game last night for
the first time all year, and how it was a

(01:25:30):
ton of fun. It was freezing and you know where
I'm in, Charlotte, and it went from it was thirty
seven agrees with But I mean the whole atmosphere, Yeah
it was. It wasn't really full. I was surprised. But
but a couple of things were great. Was like the parents,
Like one dad yelling at like llower like young at
his kid. Another mom was yelling that her son wasn't

(01:25:52):
getting the ball throw to someone else now because like
it was just it just is like my son. The
best part, by the absolutely best parts, I'm gonna say Atham, Charlotte,
like in the deep South, So not everyone has like
a real Southern accent, but the play by play guy did,
and he said there was a player on Myers Park
High School nicknamed pot Rose. He was a D tackle number,

(01:26:14):
and every time he made a tackle, he'd be like,
on the tackle, pot ROAs okay with you know, both
a real deep Southern accent. And my son loved it
to like and he was like, damn, what's a pot Roast?
I'm trying the play and I'm like, so, um, it's
in for this situation. It's an endearing term about kind

(01:26:34):
of like the size of the player and went. But
the best part was by far, like even place he
didn't make, if he was near the tackle, he'd be like,
you know, so Mooresville two yard carry here and what
do you know? Pot Roast on the tackle again, and
like he wasn't even like close to play. It was
like the greatest it was. It was perfect. It's a
perfect nun. It was so much fun. Well, I got

(01:26:54):
a good news for you. Every one of those high
school kids has a bat to win a championship. Not
if you played for a group of school, you have
no path to win a championship. No, you do not
um and so uh oh, produce just had a one
open guy in the end zone to go up to
scores and missed them. Um. Yeah, so you know you
you you definitely don't. Then we'll get there soon. I

(01:27:14):
know they talked this week about the playoffs. I feel
like we will expend eight or twelve and the next
couple of years. Um, and this is a year that's
that feels really needed because really anyone outside of Georgia,
I think, well, let's go back to eight. Forget that.
Here's how you do it. You know what they go
eight to twelve. You gotta go six team. It's simple.
You have ten conferences. At the FBS level, there's ten.

(01:27:35):
The champion of each of those conferences needs to be
in the playoff, and then you have six at large
teams whatever. I'm like in the n A Basketball Tournament,
every con there's over thirty conferences. They get an automatic
bit into the NSA Basketball Tournament. You have ten conferences,
all ten conference champions all I have conference tournaments all

(01:27:55):
I mean the championship game, the winner those ten championship
games are in, and then you put six at large
teams in to have a sixteen school tournament. It's obvious,
it's it would solve all the problems. It's right there
for you. But they don't want to jeopardize the bowl games. Oh,
we don't want to jeopardize those bull games, those meaningless

(01:28:17):
bowl games that none of our of us are watching,
even when our schools are in those games and controls
all the ball games. But too, how many of those
Oregan games you watch when they're in some who Dad's
Bowl or whatever? They played in the Sun Bowl? Okay,
so mind you, and actually it was a very fun game. Um. Look,
I agree with you there. And like the Rose Bowl,

(01:28:38):
which we love, has got to be more flexible. It's
got to understand its role in the new environment of
college sports. Uh. It feels very simple, right. You play
the semifinal games, the first round games on campus. The
first round would be on campus, and then you moved
to different bull sites, different bull sites, and um that
is uh, that's how you do it, and you make

(01:28:59):
it simple. Now the sixteen team playof which is a
buddy of mine. R. J. Young is also advocated for.
And the thing that I would just say is, um,
do we want like the sixteen seed being playing like
Georgia in the right round. Like I mean, I get
I'd watch it. I'd bet on Georgia. I don't know.

(01:29:20):
I asked Villanova basketball playing against what was that Baltimore, Maryland,
vir Virginia. That's right, number one Virginia. Yeah, happened, and
they not only lost that game, they lost it big. Yeah.
So the one time in a hundred years, that's okay,
it was one time. Yeah, it was. It was the

(01:29:42):
bottom lane is then you don't then you don't. At
least you can't say we didn't give you a shot.
All right, you had the chance, you weren't good enough,
but at least you had a path in front of
you where you could win a championship. And you could say, well,
all these group of five teams are gonna down the
first round. I'm not necessarily I mean Cincinnati, we've already

(01:30:04):
seen them, went on the road against Notre Dame. I
take their chances in the first round matchup of a
seven verses eight or whatever their ceding might be, uh
in the in the in the playoff, but at least
he gives everybody a fair opportunity to say, well, we
had our chance, we just weren't good enough, and that's
all that's all you want. You want to have everybody

(01:30:25):
have a chance. So let the doctors. They had their chance.
They weren't good enough. How do you feel about the
fact that the Brace had the worst record of any
of the ten teams that made the Baseball Playoffs this
year and they're the ones that win the World Series worst.
They were worse than St. Louis, They were worse than
any other team in the playoffs, and they won it.
After the trade deadline though, they went eighteen like they

(01:30:45):
traded for the whole new outfield, and the hell of
a trade they got by the way, three of those
guys Rosario they picked up for Pablo Sandoval, who was
released immediately after the trade. That was one for one trade. Uh.
They were able to get Solar for a minor league
pitcher who's never pitched in the major leagues. And they
also got Jack Peterson for a minor league pictures. So

(01:31:06):
those three guys they got for a total of two
minor league pictures. Not bad. Devolve cost him a little
bit more, obviously, great great job by them. Yeahs that
by landed yet is it's still traveling in Houston? I
don't know it left the building. I don't know if
we had actually landed very very Albert Pool holes esk.

(01:31:26):
If you remember from that World Series, I mean he
in like I like that baseball is accepting now the
kind of the pimp job right where we hit the
home run. You get to stare and like pound your
chest if though your bat like that at a almoment.
Come on, guys, like that deserved a giant you know,
like you know, he pound his chest, pulled a dug
out through his bat, like, come on, hit that ball
four hundred and forty five feet. Um no, it's it's

(01:31:48):
good for Atlantas need some sports wins. There's some, there's some.
There's some funny things about kind of the the the
Georgia Bulldogs Atlanta Falcons kind of having a combo win
Atlanta wins. And there's also a thing with um like
the Braves three World Series are like there's been a

(01:32:09):
Knix at quarterback for Auburn. It's like this like weird
Atlanta Georgia thing happening. Did you see that one? There's yeah,
there's like a all three Braves World series have had
a Nixon quarterback. Um, so this is like weird quincidence
kind of floating around with this whole thing. So, um, well,
you're just relieved as a Giants fan. And by the way,

(01:32:29):
your entire starting rotations on the free agent market right now.
Dean's Cofani Gosman would uh quado. Every one of these
Giants pitchers is on the free agent market right now.
I still don't know people are gonna look back a
hundred years from now and say, how did that team
win a hundred seven games? It was retired, Posey just retired,
which just retired. And by the way, very quickly on

(01:32:50):
Posy as we're getting a little sidetrack on our football day. Um,
I believe Posey's in the Hall of Fame. But if
you were to compare his career to Thurman Munson, they
really had identical careers identical They both were rookie there,
they both were an m VP, they went to three
World Series, both played in seven All Star Games. The differences.
Monthson's postseason career average was three fifty seven opposes two

(01:33:13):
fifty two, and yet Monthson never got more than fifteen
percent of the vote. I believe that both those guys
belong in the Hall of Fame. But if you're gonna
bug put Serposey in the Hall of Fame. Then third
Months and has to go on the Hall of Fame
because their careers are identical. Well, the thing about about
Months and Right is he wasn't the only excellent player
in that team. I mean, this is gonna be the

(01:33:33):
only Hall of Famer on that Giant's kind of mini
dynasty run right, And he was the captain of that
Yankees team. I know this is before you were born.
I get that. But and Posey and Posey is also
caught the most um the most shutouts in the postseason,
like fourteen, like it's like eight more than anyone else.
Like his his defense and his ability to Months and

(01:33:54):
won three Gold Gloves to his one. Um Munson was
a Hall of Fame believe five pats mean, if you
go to Baseball Reference, it's eerie. Yeah, most catchers have
a sixty War and does not to. And if he had,
you know, and and the argument is he could have
just stayed in baseball for three more years and got there.
If you want to do yeah, people will understand. War

(01:34:14):
is accumulated like any stat By the way, Munson's career,
War is actually higher than during My favorite thing about
War it's my favorite argument ever. It's my favorite whatever
does Bonds Griffy argument right, and Bonds is far better
than Griffy just over everybody. Um. Griffy's career war is
less than Bonds his first twelve years, like before he
started taking steroids, his entire career in time, career is

(01:34:37):
less than Bonds. We get get ready for this year's
vote because it's Bonds and Clemens last time in the
ballot and gets who shows up for the first time
a rod. Uh, You're gonna have a guy with seven
hundred and sixty seven home runs and a guy with
six hundred. It's ninety six career home runs, first and
fourth all time, and neither one's gonna get in. I yet,

(01:35:00):
is the Hall of Fame? I think Bonds should. I
think the Veterans Committee puts Bonds in and put put
Spawns in. Well, remember that's his contemporaries. I think he
has even a worse chance amongst them to get in.
I don't think so, because they know what was happening
in baseball. We'll see, we'll see. But sports, I've had
many argument with dear friends of mine. There are members
of the Baseball Writers Association and I think what they've

(01:35:23):
done to the Hall of Fame is an absolute disgrace,
because these are the same guys that gave Barry Bonds
seven m v P Awards, including four in a row
when he was obviously juiced out of his mind, and
they didn't say anything about it. They handed him m
VP awards, And now they decided to rewrite history and
claim that, by the way, he never tested positive once
even after they started testing. But I can't. I'm not

(01:35:44):
a member of the Baseball Writer Associated They insist there's
his only true Hall of Fame. I say that Hall
of Fame, especially minus Pete Rose as well, is a mockery.
Is an absolute mockery. All right. On the other side,
we're gonna get right back to talking some NFL football.
Adam capelan Our Fox Sports Radio NFL Insider will join us.
Coming up next, play action Chailer throws it. It is

(01:36:12):
called touch down. How about Damn Dominic the nuts on
the tight end for the touchdown reception the first of
his career. Have a hortdrawns go up Baylor. That is
Brian Astridge from Lierfield TCU taking a twenty three to
twenty one lead over twelveth rank Baylor. We got to

(01:36:34):
twenty two to go on the third quarter. By the way,
to discover matches. All the cash back you earn on
your credit card at the end of your first year.
It's amazing because discovers accept at nine percent of all
places in the US that takes credit cards. Learn more
discovered dot com slash yes Nilson Report limitations apply. All right,
we'll joining us right now to break down the National

(01:36:56):
Football League, as he so graciously does week after week
after week Fox Sports Radio's own NFL Insider series x
M NFL Adam Kaplan. All right, Adam, before we get
to all the big Sunday games coming up, I gotta
get your thoughts on where we go next with Aaron Rodgers,
now that he is readily admitted that he blatantly broke

(01:37:17):
protocol not wearing a mask indoors as far as press
conferences a concern, throwing it right back in the face
of the NFL because he thought it was stupid. What
action do you expect the NFL to take? What action
should they take against the guy who has blatantly broken protocol,
that being Aaron Rodgers. Yeah, I would expect to leave

(01:37:38):
to have something to say about this within the next
show three to five days. Remember, now, he because he
was not actually he did not actually have a vaccine,
so he had his immunization was different from what the
league will approve. And remember, because he tested positive UM
and he has not had a vaccine, he must wait

(01:37:59):
at least ten days to be able to UH even
if he has to, he's gotta wait ten days even
it has two negative tests. So that's a that's one thing, right,
and then the league will have to make a decision
on what they're going to do here, on how they're
going to handle this is unique. This is that this
is a very unique situation because I remember, as far
as the NFL is concerned, he is not vaccinated fully vaccinated.

(01:38:19):
So that's the way he's recognized with the league. So
I made the point that others have as well, that
this is not only going to be an issue for him, right,
is that he's costing his team money because I players
on his team, because they're not going to have the
one seat now most likely was Jordan Love is just
so much better than we expect. UM. He's probably getting suspended.
I can't imagine, you know, in the NFL has been

(01:38:40):
pretty harsh about their kind of COVID punishments, punishments right
when they did Denver last year and whatnot and not
following So he might be suspended after this, Like he's
costing his team money? How will this play in the
locker room? Again, not everyone is proving vaccine locker room,
but they're kind of they're all pro winning and making money. Yeah,
but Jeff, it's not like they didn't know this. Players
knew exactly what what his situation wants. Was the secret

(01:39:03):
to them? Um Now, I don't know if all the
players knew. That's a different story. That's that's another situation
they're gonna have to get through. Now you say, hey,
there's no way or they might not get the the
number one seed. I mean, we know what happened last
week with the Packer Packer Cardinal game. The Packers gave
the Cardinals the first loss is really an amazing game.
It it's just a matter of how long Rogers are

(01:39:25):
going to be out. We we know he's not eligible
to play tomorrow. We'll see if he's eligible to play
the following week and go after that. It's not like
you know, when you look at that the NFC. It's
not like there are a lot of teams now with
one loss. I mean it's we'll we'll see what happens,
but I will not rule them out at all for
the number one seed. All right, So this is when
this is gonna be a matchup that we are looking
forward to the battle of state farm quarterbacks. Uh, super

(01:39:48):
Bowl one if you even called it that, because back
in the day it was actually the a f L
NFL Championship game Packers and Cheese. But what do you
expect here, Adam, with these two quarterbacks, Jordan's Love getting
the sudden all to become the starting quarterback this week
against the Chiefs. And what do you expect from Patrick Mahomes,
who has become to be gracious suddenly erratic at quarterback

(01:40:10):
for the Chiefs. Yeah, I mean we've been you know,
the three of us have been talking about the struggles
of the Homes for several weeks now, this is nothing new.
He didn't play well quite frankly Monday night. I mean
they were able to win. Their defense play better. Um,
what do I expect? I expect Joe Barry, the defense
coordinator and his staff from a Barry by the way
was not. He didn't coach last week due to the

(01:40:31):
COVID protocol. But I expect the staff to get themselves
together here and play a good game. Uh you know,
I know, I get it's on the road, but you know,
our head is not what it once was. I mean
it's certainly teams don't like going in there, but the
Chiefs are not as dominant he once we're at home. UM,
I would expect a lot of running here with Jordan's love.
In terms of the run game, Aaron Jones and j Dillon,

(01:40:53):
you're not gonna if you can, You're not gonna ask
to ask him to throw the ball more than twenty
five times if you could. That to me is a
dream number there between twenty and attempts. As far as Mahomes,
I mean, it's the same stuff there. The throws right
in front of me, don't make them. He's still trying
to make the spectacular play. It's very similar every week
with him. This is nothing new. This has been going
on for now about two months. Just the national media

(01:41:15):
has caught up to it. I've known about this prior
to an Eagles game. That's the one I really trust
in personnel. Hey give me what you see from Mahomes.
He said, he's he's starting to he's starting to see
things that aren't there. He's still trying to make the
spectacular play. And this is going on every week now.
It's not like they're gonna bench him. They just throw
any Reid and the staff to shopes that that they
get they get him on the right track. Here. It's

(01:41:36):
it's hard to watch him quite finkly. It's the first
time I could remember it a long time that I
I shake my head sometimes ago what is in his
head there? But we we we can't get into said,
he's just gotta gotta get out of his own way. Yeah,
that's it's a good way to put it. We could
discuss that for many hours here, but turn your attention
to to the a f C North. So Kevin Stefanski
is O and seven. It gets the spread in division

(01:41:57):
games during the regular season. Obviously they played the Steers
and beat them. But now that Cleveland goes to Cincinnati,
obviously O'Dell is off the team. Now that distraction is gone.
But the Browns have not played well against any team
that can really give up give him a fight, right
that they've Chiefs, I mean, see me, they haven't closed
well against all those teams, right, I think close well
against Pittsburgh, Kansas City, the Chargers. Obviously Arizona game was bad.

(01:42:18):
They're on the road now get Cincinnati, who's gonna be
much more prepared. I think after that Jets game, what
do you make of of of this matchup in the North? Yeah?
There were, yes, there were much better last year against
their division. Fact, they handled Pittsburgh every way you could,
you could do it. I mean, they just did a
great job against Pittsburgh last year this year. The one
thing talking the Browns this week their injury situation a

(01:42:40):
little bit worse than I expected it to be. A
Denzel where the best corners still they don't know if
he's going to play. That's a problem when Cincinnati g
has spread you out. Cincinna, it's got one of the
deepest receiver corps in the league. And maybe as maybe
as one person said, it's probably probably pretty good idea
throw on the road this week at the Bengals. Now,
I have no idea what happened to the Bengals last
week other than their coverage was terrible against Mike White.

(01:43:03):
They may Mike White look like a passer. Mike White
did not have a good training camp. Talking to guys
who cover the Jets, they were shocked that he won
the number two job. They want to buy the fault.
They didn't have anyone else could challenge him. But I
expect this to be a good game. The Bandals are
just playing better football. Save last week. The Browns are
banged up the right tackles. Al Jack Conklin went on,

(01:43:24):
I are today. They gotta get the run game going.
You know, Nick Chubb does not look like he did
last year. I know he had the calf strain. He
was off the injury report this week. They got to
get their run game going. And I get Baker Mayfield
credit playing with that left shoulder injury, which has got
two issues. It's all about the run game. If if
the Browns don't run the ball well, they will definitely
lose on the road at the Bengals. Let's turning the
NFC West right now, Adam, the forty Niners hosting the Cardinals.

(01:43:47):
Of forty Niners winless at home this year, Cardinals undefeated
on the road. You feel like the Cardinals easily could
be eight. No, right now, we're still wondering what Green
was thinking in the end zone. Hurry throwing that interception?
Will the forty Niners got probably their best game of
the year out of Jimmy Garoppolo h this past week.
What do you see in this matchup? Let's start with

(01:44:07):
the Cardinals A G. Green's on the COVID lift um
DeAndre Hopkins injured his hamstring on the on that passed
down the left sideline. I would be very surprised if
he played. He didn't do anything this week. Carla Murray
didn't even practice at all. Uh. Colt McCoy took all
the ones, are preparing him to start. So Barnes some
change and in Murray's ankle, it'll it'll be over the

(01:44:27):
next twenty four hours. It's going to be Colt McCoy.
To me, the Niners are gonna get George Kittle back
for this game. Out is absolutely huge for the run game.
People forget about it about that how great he is
an integral to the run game. I'm gonna if Colton
McCoy starts, I'm gonna pick the Niners in an upset.
It is amazing though that they have not played well
at home in Santa Clara but I'll pick the Niners,
and you could call it an upset, but G. G.

(01:44:50):
Watt went on, I are today and they've got some
injury issues with the Cardinals. Um, we talked a little
bit about the Raiders and adding Odell, but specifically to
their mindset after the incident with with Rugs. So when
when a coach is fired, we've dealt with that before
his players, Right, We've all had at some point imagine
a coach fired or not. But this is a lot different, right,

(01:45:10):
it is a player who's going to jail now for
a long time, we've committed a really horrible crime. And
it's theres video and and you know, and you know
the how they traveled to New York. Now MetLife is
going to be dead tomorrow. How the Raiders you think
mentally gonna be able to process what's happened really the
last month, but specifically to this week. Jeff, we you know,
we had talked when the Raiders had to play the

(01:45:32):
bron because the first game pass the Gruden uh situation.
I had said that, so I'm very high up um
with the Raiders. Said to me that this is a
great thing that they're all that they're on the road
this week and it turned out to be the case. Um,
they played really really well. They're coming off there by Um.
One of the coaches told me that it was incredibly
somber after they got the news. Is he actually before

(01:45:54):
Ruggs was released, they just we're in shock, um, because
he's never had never given a problem, You've never done
anything bad off the field or this has been this
negligent and this is a different type. I'd like the
way you framed it. This is a different type of situation,
which one there's no way to prepare for. Um. It's
just it's it's been a tough week for them, no doubt.

(01:46:16):
And then Damon Arnatt's got an off the field issue.
Who's former first round pickles on injury reserve that it's
from several months ago, but the news just came out
on that. They've been incredibly resilient this football team, in
this organization under Mike Mayock on the personnel, and it's
gonna be hard for them, no doubt. The Giants played.
By the way, the Giants played really really well. They
could have I don't want to easily beat in the Chiefs,

(01:46:37):
but they had a chance to win. Um. Uh there.
I'll say this about the Raiders. They've been resilient, They've
been able to win on the road. They're changing three
time zones here. They're the better, clearly better football team
on the pick them and Enrich Versaccio, their interim head coach,
has done a really good job. Well. If the Raiders
do win that game on the road and the Titans
lose on the road to the Rams, the Raiders will

(01:46:59):
be the current number one seed in the a f C.
I don't think anybody could have predicted that. Um, Adam,
great stuff. As always we always appreciate at the time.
Thanks so much. That's Adam Kaplan our Fox Sports Radio
NFL Insider. Much more on the Big Sunday ahead of us.
For right now, let's find out what's trending as we
returned to the Promised Land, which is, of course, Mr

(01:47:22):
David Gascon. You're not going to Hawaii anytime sooner, you
I am not, Although the Assecs of San Diego State
are there right now. You know they're favorite by a
touchdown on this game. Well, Hawaii did beat ironically Fresno,
who the Assecs finally lost their first game of the
year too. Um, that's a tough radio going to Hawaii.

(01:47:42):
Is it's not a normal road game, right, yeahs anything?
But yeah, I mean you arrive in Hawaii. It's Hawaii. Right.
What was the last time you were there? Honeymoon? The
last time I was there was actually a radio deal.
Eric Dickerson I were hang it out together in a
Wait a few years ago. I had back to back

(01:48:04):
years where I had to go there for a big
radio promotion. Not the worst radio promotion. They want to
join us in Hawaii. Uh, that's an easy give away
from bad cell. That was. That was a pretty good
sell for us. But yeah, I always enjoyed my time.
They're fair enough. Well, how about this. Some of the
top ranked teams the nation. One of them went down today,
not number six. In today they lead Tulsa by six

(01:48:26):
to twelve, and Notre Dame is gonna improve to eat
in one. They're leading Navy twenty seven to six. They're
gonna bump up because wait, Force lost today in a
shootout against North Carolina fifty five tire heels now five
and four the season. Demon Deacons go to eight and one.
Baylor down by two at TCU. This game is on
Fox right now. But TCU has the football as they

(01:48:48):
tricked their way into the fourth quarter to twenty one.
Chandler Moore's four nine yards passing four yards passed excuse me,
in one touchdown. They finally got a touchdown the Texas
in m Auburn game. Aggie's seventeen three over the Tigers
eleven sixteen to play in the final Stanza b y
U Hammer and Idaho State Wisconsin fifty two to three

(01:49:10):
over Rutgers Penn State right now on FS when leading
Maryland by seven to fourteen guys. Christian McCaffrey activated for tomorrow.
Sam Donald will be playing as well for the Carolina Panthers. Um.
You know one thing they haven't talked about a lot,
Calvin Ridley. Yeah, what about Ridler Man? So he's he's

(01:49:30):
obviously out for at least three weeks because because of
some mental health issues. But that kind of fell under
the radar, just flew underneath it. Excuse me. Well, I
mean when you have huge stories like the Henry Ruggs
story and obviously Aaron Rods, but I mean that mental
health thing, and and and the thing about that is
and I always think back, you know, back to the
Stone Age when I was working for the Raiders, is

(01:49:53):
you always think about you got all these doctors and
specials to deal with any kind of physical problems you
might have, But I don't I remember somebody on hand
to deal with any psychological problems that you might be
facing that could obviously have as much an effect on
your game. So I would hope that this Calvin Ridley
situation more and more teams take note of that because Jeff,

(01:50:15):
I know you've had teammates, maybe you went through it
yourself at times where it's not always just your physical game,
it's your mental game. So I saw a sports psychologist
from the middle of college for my entire kind of
pro career a little bit afterwards, UM, and it just
it wasn't every day. I mean, it got to a
point where I would just call them kind of what
I need him to check in? UM, But it wasn't

(01:50:38):
because I was like I wouldn't I just need someone
else to talk to. It wasn't my parents like that
right about issues in life and sports. Um. And I
do think that we're moving in direction where it's more
acceptable now to talk about which is great. Like Lane
Johnson went with Jay Glazier last week. I loved Lane
sharing his story. I hope Calvin really one day we've

(01:50:59):
seen Kevin share a story. My brother went on a
podcast this week with the On the Athletic with Robert Mason,
talked about some of you know, just kind of stress,
his anxieties of playing football and how we're seeing teams now,
but but the ones that The one thing I will
say though, is that players are a little skeptical to
trust like a team psychologist, right, even though they're not

(01:51:19):
supposed to tell the team what you talk about. I
think a lot of us are sort of like, we
don't trust, Like I think any players still need to
kind of seek out maybe their own person um. And
it's hard to I think, find that person if you're
not willing to share some of the concerns you have
about your mental state. But I think it's a big
good part of it. Like I, like you said, JEVI,

(01:51:41):
it's it's far more accepted now that this is real.
It's greatest accepted. Love that Calvin Ridley's situations certainly bring
that to light. David, thank you very much. As always,
don't forget Michigan State and purdu right now. Sparta down
by thirteen with the football produce nine yard land, four
den and four play in the fourth quarter. Guys, is

(01:52:02):
it conceivable that Notre Dame could find their way through
a back door and get into the College FO if
they went out? Absolutely, if they go eleven and one, okay,
but if they're only losses to since, then feel that's so,
that's a great one to see that. That would be
the ultimate, wouldn't it if you had Lamb at four
and five and you have a one lost Notre Dame

(01:52:24):
team who you know they want to get into the
playoff even though they've been blown out of every playoff
or BCS Championship game opportunity, and the team they're battling
for that last slot as a team to beat them
at Notre Dame. I mean, would that be the ultimate?
If they picked one lovest Notre Dame over undefeated Cincinnati

(01:52:46):
has to be in that situation. I feel like, well,
you would say so, by the way Notre Dame up
thirty four to six right now over Navy. But it
doesn't necessarily work that way. It's through a playoffs. Let's
say that today, Okay, we've had Mission State loseres I
mean they're they're not. The game's not over. It's minutes
right here we go, by the way, speaking of it's

(01:53:07):
fourth and four right now, Michigan State is at the
nine yard line and perdue. This is started a last stand.
Let's watch here, because they they got they can't get
a first down here. It is fourth and four. They're
gonna throw the ball and it is intercepted. It is
intercepted very ahead of me. Yeah, and that ball was

(01:53:29):
badly thrown. So yeah, it looks like, by the way,
this is not good news for Bryce Young today. I
had Sam Hartman in my top three iceman. They lost today,
first loss of the year. I had Kenneth Walker my
top three. Uh, they're losing right now, down thirteen. UM
does not vote well for Bryce Young. So let's say that, UM,
the Mission State is PROBABLYNNA lose this game. And let's

(01:53:50):
just say that, UM. I don't want to put it
out there, but let's say there's a team in the
Pacific Northwest that has a tough game tonight. I don't
even want to say it. If you to say it, UM,
and Cincinnati being the top four, then okay, So let's
let's let's take a look at this so number one
Georgia one easily as usual. Let's assume that Alabama is

(01:54:10):
a four touchdown favorite at home against LSU, that they win.
Number three goes down Michigan State, and then you say
number four, number four, we alternate universe. They have a
tough game tonight. Um, the number five team was Ohio State.
They won today three and four. Loose? Did you put

(01:54:33):
Michigan headin santy? Because I'll tell you what's going to
happen here you you watch, it will be interesting to see. Again.
Notre Dame is a big X factor in this whole
thing because of the favoritism that Notre Dame always seems
to get because oh, I'll they are Notre Dame. So
right now, Notre Dame is at ten, wake Forest at
nine lost, Oklahoma place later? Are they off this week? Okloma? Yeah?

(01:54:57):
So Oklaoma is off this week? Michigan in they're off
this week? Right? I believe this week? Correct? Okay? So
that's machine was seven, Oklahoma's eight, unless or excuse me,
that team that's playing in Seattle tonight loses. There's no
way Cincinnati is going to be in the top for someone,

(01:55:18):
and that someone in the top ten has got to
play well today, and it's gonna be my team. Okay,
like it says it's gonna be our team. It's well
your the wordner back, as you say, the sixth year
guy uh is finally playing some pretty good It's so
the reports I've gone so far. I text someone who's
on the field right now. It's cold, wet and windy
in Seattle, which is shock, which is it's it's colder

(01:55:40):
than usual is yeah, right November. Um, but that's like
glorious Lyman weather and we're just like we're better on
the trenches and just this a classic Pacific Northwest matchup
between two perennial Pact twelve South powers. Yeah, it's gonna
be good football tonight. It's gonna be it's gonna be great.
If this game was on, like during the show, I

(01:56:00):
don't know what I would do. It wasn't all right, Well,
you get to enjoy a little later on. But on
the other side, the first thing you have to do
is give us your picks. That's right, Jeff Schwartz will
give us all the picks, including that game. I want
to hear a pick in that game and the NFL
Sunday schedule coming up next. We're just a bunch of
fat kids living a dream. Two receivers to the left.

(01:56:22):
Now in motion from left to right goes to various
Johnson fake the bigsby Nix fubble the football minus lose
picked up by Clubbits, puts down Michael Clubbits puts down
Andrew Monica from lire Field and without Texas say, I'm
leading Auburn two verily evenly matched teams. And and M

(01:56:44):
was fourteen on the College Football Playoff rankings. Auburn was thirteen.
But A and M winning this game seventeen to three.
We got six and a half minutes to go. Uh,
it does not look good for Michigan State right now.
So most likely we are going to be down to
four undefeated teams by day's end. Uh. So we're getting

(01:57:06):
down the nitty gritty except Produce just can't quite put
them away. And even with the field goal, even the
field goal here, it's still two stories like they're kind
of like because it's I believe it's not gonna be
a catch here. On second down, the balls of five
through its bells had two hundred yards and eleven catches. Uh,
it looks like the ball. This is not caught, even
though in the NFL now I think this is now

(01:57:27):
a catch, but in college football it's not quite yet
a catch. It's hard to stay on the radio, obviously.
But the problem here for Michigan State is their passing
game is just not that And this is the thing
about culturable this year, Steve. There's not a m every
team and George is the one who probably is has
the the not the biggest get but like every team

(01:57:49):
has a flaw, like Alabama this year, it's just kind
of not as good up front as they've been in
the past, and not as good on defense they've been
in the past. Um, you know, they have some holes.
Ohio State offensively right, some some concerns, some concern on defense.
Michigan State right, passing the game not really not not
as great as we wanted to be. The organ has
issues on a quarterback there and third down and in Cincinnati.

(01:58:10):
Can't mean they can't put away Tulsa at home. Right now,
they're only up eight in that game the fourth quarter. Excume, yeah,
fourth quarter, four minutes left, Tulsa has the ball down eight.
Everyone kind of has a little bit of a flaw
and so That's why we're gonna see chaos in my
opinion as we head down the stretch, just because there's
not two or three or four teams that are really

(01:58:30):
locked in. What there what their weaknesses are. They kind
of all over the place all right. By the way,
perdu has no problems throwing the ball. O'Connell has uh
four seventy three yards, passing three touchdowns, no picks in
this game. So he's throwing the ball well against the
undefeated Spartans. Wanting to thank to Crewe today, Iowa, Sam,
it's quite a challenge, like we're all over the place today.
I mean technically some challenges today, but somehow you held

(01:58:53):
it all together. Challenge met, challenge accepted absolutely. David Gascon
brilliant is always the man just simply brings the a
game weekend and we got By the way, Danny, our
producer Danna never actually quickly here your thoughts as a
Raider die hard. You want to see Odell Beckham with
a silver and black No, I would rather see DeShawn
Jackson go to the Raiders stretch the field. He's also

(01:59:16):
available after his release from the RMS. I just again,
it's nothing personal against Beckham, other than the fact that
he will create an immediate distraction for a team that's
had plenty of that all season one. All right, let's
get to the pics right now. Jeff Schwartz is looking
at the college football landscape the rest of today NFL Sunday.
What do you see out there, Jeff Well, I took

(01:59:36):
Organ already UM at six and a half. I think
the line seven organs Organs better than Washington. I know
it's been a weird day, but like in the end,
if you're better in the trenches, which they're by far
better than you, just gonna win a game like this
is cold, wet, and windy. I don't really have anything
else tonight other than if Jackson Dark plays for USC,
I think USC will cover the in half. By the way,

(01:59:58):
Michigan does play tonight. Hoste about that, I think there's
a chance that USC can cover the now nine and
a half ten wherever number you have uh in in
Temple Attempe. There's some weird things happen Arizona State. So tomorrow, okay, Yeah,
I took Houston at plus six and a half before
Tyrod Taylor. The news of Tyrod Taylor. I don't. There's

(02:00:19):
five and a half. Now the Dolphins aren't any good.
Texas are good either, But why the dolmintary by five
and a half over anyone at home? I was gonna say,
Dolphins have not one at home, Texas having won on
the road, Well, the book have what They both have
lost seven in a row. I like the Bengals to
cover at home two and a half against the Brown.
Brown's just kind of a wreck right now. Bengals, by
the way, remember got embarrassed last weekend. I think we
see a much a much more renewed focus uh this

(02:00:42):
week as well. After two meniless teams go ahead, what's next? Um?
I took so I took the Niners at plus two
before the Kylin Murray news. They're now favored by three.
I was gonna say that there. I don't like that
one as much I did a Chiefs Rams a teaser.
So put the Chiefs down below obviously a field goal

(02:01:05):
of the Rams down new or pick them both the
kind of nearor pick them I don't actually like the
Rams before the Henry news when it was like at five,
but now the line is creeped up to seven and
seven a half. I would I wouldn't play that seven
a half, but I still put those two in the tease.
Let me ask about it game quickly. The Chargers Eagles
game the Chargers. The Chargers gonna say the Eagles are
winless at home this year. The line has moved the Chargers.

(02:01:27):
I think open at three, they're down to point and
a half. I don't see this Chargers team losing three
in a row, right, I took the Chargers. I took
the Chargers. Here in my super contest picks, UM the
run defensive suspect. But here's suspect worse in the league.
Here's the Here's the point though, of why I took him,
is that, um, are they really gonna lose the Eagles? Like?

(02:01:47):
Are they gonna lose three in a row? We've been
trumpeting Brandon Staley is some you know, new hot coach.
So I can't. I just can't see that. I took
the charge So my super contest picks this year, ever,
this week, the five of them were UM were the Chargers,
the Niners, the Texans, the Bengals. I took the Falcons
plus six because of Trevor Simeon. I mean, the Falcons

(02:02:09):
aren't I don't think very good. But sat six the
other way in that game only because I swear to
God my Matt Ryants killed me all season long enough.
The Falcons, the Falcons or everyone's least favorite team to
beattle every weekend. And I all right, let me ask
you this, as we sit here today, are the Rams

(02:02:30):
and the Bills heading to the Super Bowl? Are they?
Are they? I would not put money on a single
team in the a f C. I don't trust any
of them, not even the Bills right now. No, offensively,
there's there's something missing. Something you see the Vegas odds,
this was unbelievable. They have Josh Allen is the favorite
to win m v P Vegas right now, as Josh

(02:02:51):
Allen as the favorite to be the NFL's Most Valuable.
The most valuable player in the NFL is Lamar Jackson.
But that doesn't mean the most it's gonna win that award.
I mean they have seventeen guys in injured reserves. I
think Von Miller is gonna have a major impact for
that Ram defense, not to the effect of changing their
AWESO in Super Bowl. Now, the Rams are the best
team in the NFL right now. Um, I could buy

(02:03:14):
that argument, buy the argument. You know, Cooper copies putting up.
But Jerry Rice numbers this year, I mean the offensive
player of the year. All right, that was That's enough
for us self. We'll do it again next week. Keeping
her up. Fox Sports Radio,

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