December 31, 2022 • 37 mins
Mike Harmon and Arnie Spanier preview this weekend’s College Football Playoff action, LeBron James big game on his birthday and the state of the Lakers, and odd occurrence around Drew Brees role as an assistant coach at Purdue, and more!
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to The Odd Couple podcast. Be sure
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(00:21):
f s R. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Welcome man,
Oh my goodness, gracist over and it is a funky
flashback Friday here on The Odd Couple Rob Parker along
(00:45):
with Allen Lee Parker. That's right in for Chris Broussard,
and we're broadcasting live from the tire rech dot Com studio.
Thank you, Bill, tire rech dot com. We'll help you
get there. An unmatched election, fast free shipping, free road
had a protection and over ten thousand recommended installed. Tire
(01:07):
rack dot com the way tire buying should be. Welcome.
In his last Friday of the old year, he's on
his way out. I can't believe it. Alan Tomorrow's New
Year's Eve and then New Year's Day. You're right, what's up, buddy?
Not much doing great? How about the holidays? Everything good?
(01:30):
You got? Everything is good. Family was good, the boys
home for the holiday. Young one is the oldest One's
back in Michigan. He still he wanted. He loves Michigan.
He loves the change of seasons. Unbelievable. So how many
kids who have parents moved to southern California, Like, no, no, no,
I'm gonna stay in Detroit. Hello is it's on. I'm
(01:50):
telling you now. So we know we did the zoom
Christmas morning where we got to see him open his present.
But yeah, and then he took a picture of the
outside for us, the snow and all that, right because
they got a white Christmas. You know, enjoy it, enjoy, enjoy.
Drake is a smart one, I'm gonna tell you a
smart one because he goes to school at USC and
(02:13):
there's one of one of my classes. As far as
uh journalism and everything in the newsroom. So great, all right, Alan,
we got a lot to get to and uh first,
let's welcome in the odd couple crew. We wouldn't be
able to do this fine radio program without him. Alex
is our engineer. Ricky don't lose my number is of
(02:34):
course the producer filling in for Rob g and Mr
Steve de Seger is on the anchor desk and before
we get there, Alan, Um, let's take a moment and uh,
Chris Bouchart is off this week filling in for Chris.
And we've talked kind of around it and send our
prayers out to Chris. But you know, he was supposed
(02:57):
to be off this week for Christmas in the Holida,
but his dad passed on Monday, and so we've been
sending out love and prayers to the Broussard family. And
then today Chris had can you see the picture of
his dad right there? Yeah? Nice? Right? So yeah, So
Chris put out a post on Instagram. So I want
to read this so people just know what's going on
(03:19):
and you can send your well wishes and prayers to
the Broussard family. But here we go. Chris wrote this,
I lost the great One on Monday. My dad, Edward Broussard,
went on to be with the Lord at age seventy nine.
Though it's a time of sadness, I've had, I have
wonderful memories of him and with him. He was married
(03:43):
to my mom, Cheryl, for fifty seven years and taught
his two boys how to be responsible and successful men.
The Three Principles he lived by were love the Lord,
love and take care of your family and have fun.
We did them all all very well. He did them
all very well. I should say nothing but love for
(04:05):
you always, Daddy, and then hashtag father, hashtag family, hashtag
r I p rest in peace. So again, our prayers
and love out to the Bussard family with the passing
of his dad at seventy nine years old. Edward who
always a very difficult transition of you know, but you
(04:27):
have lost both of my parents. I'm right there with you,
and you know every little thing you never will forget.
It gets easier every day. But you know, even I
was coming in to day as a matter of fact,
and even listening to certain music on the radio, think
you think you back to moments or instances in your life.
So you know it will hurt forever, but you'll take
(04:48):
with you forever the memories and the things that they
taught you, no doubt. That's I always feel the same way.
All Right, We got some show today for you. We're
gonna talk with Ben Brown at the bottom of the
hour from Pro Football Focus. We'll talk with him. Uh,
we got a lot of football to get to. As
we're winding down unbelievable with the season. But we're gonna
(05:10):
start here, and we also have Lamar Mitchell's coming up
in the final hour from bet MGM. He's the director
of trading. But and let's start here with the Lakers.
Today is Lebron James birthday. He is what thirty eight
years old? Is that where we are? Thirty eight years old,
still playing season number twenty, still had some of his
(05:30):
hairline with a little spray paint. But that's what I mean,
whatever you gotta do. But but Lebron, hey, it's unbelievable.
He's a speciman. He's still playing at a high level.
He doesn't impact winning as much. He scores a lot
of points, but they don't win even if he scores
thirty points plus. But anyway, Lebron should be happy. Wouldn't
you be happy at your birthday? Right? But Lebron is
(05:52):
not happy because the Lakers are stinky. And here's Lebron.
As long as my mind stays in it, I can
play at this level for for a minute. That's up
to my mind. It's not my body. It's gonna be okay,
because if my mind into it, I would make sure
my body is taking care of and I'll continue to
put into work. I'm a winner and I want to win,
(06:14):
and um, you know, I want to win and give
myself a chance to win and steal compe for championships.
That has always been my passion, has always been my
goal since I entered the league at an eighteen year
old kid out of acron, Ohio. And I know it
takes steps to get there. Once you get there, and
you know how to get there playing basketball at this level,
just to be playing basketball, it's not it's not in
(06:34):
my DNA, It's not in my DNA um anymore. I
want to win and give myself a chance to win
and steal compe for championships. That has always been my passion,
has always been my goals as I entered the league
at an eighteen year old kid out of acron Ohio.
Signal takes steps to get Yeah, we got it all right, Alan?
Can I say Poppycock and Boulder Dash? I mean Lebron seriously,
(06:58):
like like, this is your team, Alan, this is your team, Lebron.
You put this together? You know, the Dr Frankenstein of
this atrocity. I mean you are yes, indeed, yeah, one
of the Anthony Davis traded. Wow, was like zillion guys
(07:20):
away to get Anthony Day and Ingram, a ton of people,
of people, Kyle Kuzman just going thirty five every night
and Watchington. Now, now I did a little research before
the show. Let me tell you something. The two thousand
and eighteen nineteen Lakers. This was this was the guys
that were on that team. Lebron was on that team,
Lonzo Ball, Contavius called Will Pope, Alex Caruso, Josh Hart, Brandon, Ingram,
(07:43):
Kyle Kuzman, Ritz Wagner, and at Zoobach who plays for
the Clippers. But they gave away right and the year
before that before Lebron came to the Lakers. Now this
is not all on Lebron. That's probably on the Lakers too.
At lant of the year before had Jordan Clarkson on
their Brook Lopez, Gary Payton, a second, Julius Randall, Larry Nance.
(08:04):
So here comes Lebron on this squad. Right, they decide
to move Clarkston and Nance to Cleveland in a trade
for Isaiah Thomas Channing Fry in the two thousand and
eighteen first round pick. So you give it up. Jordan
Clarkson's were the best six been in the game. You
gave up Larry, he's lost some big time in Utah,
very capable player. You let Brook Lopez walk out the door.
(08:26):
He's in Milwaukee. Julius Randall I remember this discussion. They
were like, well, we don't want to resign round because
he and Lebron might class. He just went to the
Knicks and went to became an All Star in terms
of style. So can you imagine the Lakers quad right
now that has Brandon Ingramaner who's averaging twenty point eight
points per game, Kyle Kuzma, who's having the career high
points here at twenty one point six points per game,
(08:49):
seven point five rebounds, Wagner is averaging twelve point four
points at six point six rebounds. And then you would
have Clarkson coming off the bench. Possibly you have Brook
Lopez seven ft who could run the floor, shoot me outside,
Gary Payton who helped the Warriors, defensive specialist, tough kid.
Julius Randall give you at least possibly double double every night.
(09:11):
Lonzo ball and the granted balls hurt in Chicago. But
even if you had kept that team intact and not
brought Lebron on at some point doing that whole run,
you would have been able to bring on another superstar,
a lower tier guy, maybe a Bradley Bill might have
come over. You might have gotten to mar de Rosen
to come over at that point in time. You never know.
(09:32):
It would be a drastically dim But the Lakers were
in this mindset of we want to win right now
right and when you do that, Alan, you can mess
yourself up for a while. And now there with Lebron,
Lebron wanted a D. A D didn't start getting hurt
Allen once he came to l A. That was his mode,
that was his history. Okay, so you rolled the dice
(09:53):
with a D, and all he's been doing is getting
hurt every year except the bubble year when they have
four months. All right, and he's the one who one
at Westbrook they wanted Buddy. He'll remember that, like he's
a shooter. Lebron needs shooters, but they that Westbrook is
a top seventy five player. He's a name, a former
(10:16):
m v P. Lebron wants to play with names, not
play with Buddy. He'll who played for the Kings and
and most people don't know who he is. You know,
what I'm saying, like, but but he he fits better.
And so for Lebron to say, I don't I don't
want to be around this, dude, this is what you
put together? Who are you mad at? Are you mad at?
(10:39):
Because the Lakers haven't given up, uh, the their twenty
seven and twenty eight first round picks and to bring
more players in, Like, at some point you gotta say, dude,
what are we doing? At some point, ge Bus has
got to go, you know what, I'm not gonna keep
this and then we're gonna wait around for Brownie to
show up to is that Ronnie? No way he played
(11:01):
with the Lake. No, I don't see it, Lebron, because
I can't see two years from now, do you know
what I mean? If I'm the Lakers that I can't
see this staying together, especially if they don't win. I've
seen Brownie playing a few games. I don't know if
he's even gonna be in the pros. I mean, you know,
(11:23):
somebody will be shot, but I'm with you, it's not
a guarantee. But there are certainly a lot of better
players out there right now than Bronnie James. It's unbelievable,
but yeah, Lebron James belly aching thirty eight birthday today.
That's great. He's in great shape, he's scoring thirty points.
The Lakers aren't winning, and he's not happy. But but
who's the blame for this? I'm serious. Lebron James is
(11:47):
the Dr Franken style. He's created this monster and now
to be bummed out. And I don't know how long
in my mind, I don't know if I can keep
playing and just playing and not have a chance to
win a championship. Really, like like all the other players,
do you think, Alan, You're supposed I have a chance
to win a championship every year you've been in the league,
(12:07):
No nobody playing? Who who? Who's played for that nobody?
Michael Jordan went to the Wizards last two years. They
had no shot to win a championship. And you always
have the factor in the unknown, which is injuries that happen,
and if you're limited as a bench, you're in big trouble.
It's definitely big trouble. But you know, Lebron doesn't deserve
(12:27):
a little bit of blame for this. But also the
Lakers have to take their fair share of blame for
this because they were primed and ready for a situation
to watch a bunch of young guys come together and
gel over the years, and they got impatient. No, but
the problem is once you get in bred. Look, with Lebron,
it ain't about the future, it's about now. You can't
(12:47):
have a twenty year veteran went on a three three
year plan. Alan told's either you're going with the young
guys or you don't bring Lebron in because you already
know what you're gonna get. So the Laker become slaves
to Lebron because that like, we brought him in and
now we can't like not give him what he wants.
But the only problem is they've done it so many times.
(13:10):
How in the world can they do it again? And
that's why they haven't pulled the trigger because I think
they know that there's no player out there that that's
gonna help them win a championship at this point on
a thirty eight year old individual, I'm not gonna sacrifice
my future by giving up some some top draft picks
because they've done it too much in the past, no doubt.
All right, I'll telephone number eight seven seven ninety nine
(13:31):
on Fox eight seven seven nine nine, six sixty three
sixty nine, and we want to hear from you. Lebron
on his birthday is not happy. He should be happy, smappy,
blowing out the candles and eating ice cream and cake.
Instead he's mad at where the Lakers are. Who's the
blame for this? Is it Lebron all the way? Or
(13:52):
is it the Lakers? We want to hear from you.
Eight seven, seven ninety nine. On Fox, It's a Funky
Flashback Friday, Rob Parker and Allan in for Chris Broussard,
Stick and stay. Be sure to catch live editions of
The Odd Couple with Chris Brussard and Rob Parker weet
days at seven pm Eastern, four pm Pacific on Fox
Sports Radio and the I Heart Radio app. It is
(14:15):
the I Couple on a Funky Flashback Friday. Alan leaves
to him back he had on the bell bottoms and
the white shoes and all that in the seventies. I
don't know that, alright, I do remember that married in
the seventies. No, I did not get married in seven
(14:36):
Oh my god man, all right, It is the couple
on the Flashback Friday, coming to you live from the
tire rack dot Com Studios. Rob Parker and Allen Lee
and for Chris Boushard, I'll telephone number eight seven seven
ninety nine on Fox. It is Lebron James's birthday and
he's belly aching about the situation he's in and I
(14:57):
hate to break it to him, but he's the one
who made this funky goo losh. We want to hear
from you. Who are you blaming? Is it Lebron or
is it the Lakers? All right, let's get through some cause.
Why don't we Sean from Palmdale, you listen to the
Odd Couple on Fox Sports Radio. What's your take? Sean? Hey, guys,
Happy New Years. Thanks for having me. So. I grew
(15:21):
up a Laker fan, purple and gold since the Dale
was born. Um, she's Kobe guy, which which might make
me a little biased in this whole conversation, but in
my opinion, Uh, Genie Buss told her soul to Lebron
post Kobe era, to be relevant, to put butts in
the seats, to get the Lakers back on tv. UM,
(15:43):
and we had a good thing going with the draft picks.
Guys were developing, Guys were jealing a little bit um
that looked like there was some hope on the horizon,
and then what happens. Lebron comes in and you understand
what happens at that point, all the guys are gonna
get moved, all the clutch sports buddies are gonna come
on the team, and it's going to be a whole
blitz to try and win a championship within the first
(16:03):
several years of the contract, and then after that's going
to be a disaster. So you've given him most of
the blame, not the Lakers. Oh yeah, because I mean
I call him the GM because the guy comes in
and and he basically calls the shots. The GM doesn't
even have a job anymore. M All his buddies are
coming in. Uh. I mean, it's just he he fills
the roster with the guys he likes that are willing
(16:25):
to come over there and and and they run in
with that team. But man, we appreciate it. Seven seven Fox.
All right, Richard from Wrightwood, California. You're listening to the
odd Couple on Fox Sports Radio. Which way you lean in? Okay,
let's start with I was introduced to basketball the first
(16:49):
time I saw black and white TV Lakers Celtics Triple overtime,
Jerry West al Jan Baylor all the way to the prison.
Now let's go to a decision. It bothered me and
I didn't know why. And for years I'm going, what
is about this? It bothered me? And then I realized
he's shoving this down our throats like some kid doing
(17:10):
some prank, and he's showing his video on the worldwide Web.
This guy has no brains in his head whatsoever. He's
a he should play basketball and stop wearing the hat
like Kyrie Irving and k D. They're all copycatting him.
All he's doing is ruining anything that he comes into.
(17:31):
He has screwed the Lakers, He's gutted the Lakers, and
he's complaining. I can't believe that that he's taking this
stance like where stupid? Thank you? Thank you, Richard Mine
goodness eight seven seven ninety Fox, we're talking about Lebron
is not happy about the direction of the Lakers where
(17:52):
they're going. And yes, it's his birthday. He should be
blowing out candles. Instead he's spitting fire and he's mad.
All right, let's go now to Bruccio, and I hope
I pronounced that name correctly from Florida. You're listening to
the Odd Couple on Fox Sports Radio. Happy New Year
to you. Thank you brother's loyal list to the Odd Couple,
Chris Bus, are we holding it down for your brother?
(18:13):
God blessed? Doubt, no doubt, Thank you for that most
deaf um Brock you made your bed sleeping it now.
I'm curious, though, Rob Parker, you got the missaut for
durand you got the full flow for Brady. What's what's
(18:34):
Lebron's little? Okay? So, so we got the missaut is
for Kevin Durant, the most sensitive of all time. Tom
Brady is the load, the luckiest of all time. And
Lebron is the FULLFO, the finals failure of all time
because he's lost more final championships than any other former
m v P. He's the FULLFO. I think it should
(18:56):
be the the fakest time, the real Remember three played
in Chicago, y'all. Have a good night, guy, all right,
you're too happy new you appreciate it. Eight seven, seven
ninety nine on Fox. Andre from Massachusetts, you're listening to
the Odd Couple on Fox Sports Radio. Andre, go ahead,
you got the flora yours? Hey, don't Thanks for taking
(19:17):
the call first and foremost respect to the Brussard family.
Uh God couple, you know, just appreciate you learn about
you over the years. So Chris, your whole family just thoughts,
prayers and respect. Yes. Indeed, in terms of Lebron, you
know this is clearly a burden that he has to bear.
All the other callers have said it, and it's based
(19:39):
off of this. Listen. Magic Johnson was the GM when
Lebron came into town, and he was adamant, listen, we
have these young pieces, Lonzo Kuzma b I, Uh, we
want you to play with them and grow together. And
from early on Lebron just put his foot down and said, no,
we have that picture. When they were all on the tunnel,
Magic Johnson, Lebron goes there to stand with them and
Rob Polinka asserting him to up and saying, listen, I'm
(20:01):
going to impose on well, it's gonna be my way
that to everybody else to send. Here's the thing. Genie
buss has made it clear Lebron plays on our team.
He she didn't even use his name. He plays on
our team. She sent the signal loud and clear that
you're gonna do things our away from here on out.
What Lebron do? He signed a two year extension because
(20:21):
he wants to stay in l A because of what
it does for his Q rating. That's why he wants
to be there, because of all of his other endeavors.
But it's not changing in terms of if you're gonna
stay in l A and you want to do all
these movie deals and you're very successful, you're gonna have
to do with the Lakers way. And that's what Genie
has clearly established. This was tectonic plates under the surface
kind of going into the off season period. But what
(20:44):
Lebron do? You signed the extension, so guess what this
is what you're in for. Lebron is a master playing
the spin game and all these different names. But at
the end of the day, it's not changing. There not
tipping up those draft picks, and Lebron is gonna have
to be a team player in his last couple of years.
If once one championship or you can hit the road
at the at their um for their deal. All right, thanks, Andre,
(21:04):
appreciate one more squeez him in real quick, all right?
Damon from New York. He listened to the odd couple
on the Fox Sports Radio. What you got, Damon? Hey,
how are you guys doing? Hey? Man, I'm a long
time Laker fan from back in the days when Kareem
first got there, and I'm here to tell you I'm
not happy at all. And when I look at the
(21:26):
fact that Lebron is getting upset at at the team
that he has around him, it's his own fault. I mean,
this guy came there and we were in and as
Laker fans, we want championships. And I can see why
management brought him in because of his chan championship calib
(21:49):
you know, the way he approaches the game, but at
the age that he he is and when he came
and now you can't expect this guy to give us
a championship. Now, No, thanks, Damon, appreciate it. He just
the time that boat, that ship is sale. Probably. I mean,
like Lebron scoring thirty, they don't win alan they they
(22:12):
lose more. They beat Orlando, won't they beat the Magic?
That was the one game that they beat one on
the road. They have another game tonight. All right. Coming
up next, We're gonna talk with Ben Brown. He's a
pro football focus. He's an analyst betting UH for betting
and debt and data. Fox Sports Radio has the best
sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our
(22:33):
shows at Fox sports Radio dot com and within the
I Heart Radio app. Search f s R to listen live. Now,
let's welcome in our next guest. He is Ben Brown
from Pro Football Focus. He's an analyst betting and data. Ben.
Welcome to the Odd Couple and happy New Year to
you and yours. Hey guys, Yeah, I appreciate you guys
(22:53):
having me. I love love listening to the Odd Couple,
So it's definitely a pleasure bringing on this show. Man,
Thank you so much. Let's start, uh with the Cowboys
and uh what we saw from them last night? I
know people won pretty they got to win, they didn't
cover the spread, but anyway, uh, what did you make
of that when over I depleted uh Titans team? Yeah,
(23:20):
I mean obviously I would say the biggest takeaway, um
is very much gonna be that I I would say the
news the injury situation was Tyler. But as I think that,
you know, specifically at the center position, if they're kind
of forced to, I would say reshuffle a lot of
the guys around in that offensive line. That is would
I would say it's gonna be very concerning, especially as
they maybe need to match up against the team like
(23:42):
the Stamps, the forty Niners or even you know, the
Philadelphia Eagles later on. So the speed in which he's
gonna be available off of that high ankle spring, I
think is definitely a big takeaway. But outside of that,
you know, it's gonna be the question for the Dallas
Cowboys until its actually answered, and that is, you know,
with Dak Prescott, we he obviously has the high interception right.
(24:02):
One of them definitely wasn't his fault last night. One
of them definitely was like, can he be this franchise
type guy and actually allow them to be some teams
that maybe have a better talent level than what they
have on the football field. I think that's gonna be
the question that we do end up getting answered here, um,
you know, as they moved forward to the NFC Championship game.
But I do think that, you know, solidifying the offensive
(24:23):
line around him has to be out say, the main
concern headed out of this week's seventeen matchup Cowboy fans
be worried or concerned about Tony I would say a
little bit I think that was more, you know, a
precautionary thing with holding him out, so I would expect
him to probably be back in the fold in the
first round of the wild card round, you know, which
very much is gonna open up a lot of things
(24:45):
for this offense. Obviously, Ezekiel Elliott provide some semblance of
you know, Russian production kind of smashed multi football, but
Tony Pollard has been the guy that can can create
separation both through the passing game and also break off
a lot of these high chunk runs. And without him
kind of in the fold, you know, they turn into
more of a methodical, you know, move the chain type offense.
And I think they really need that big play capabilities
(25:07):
because they don't really have it outside of Seedee Lamb
at the wide receiver position. But thankfully, I think it's
injury situation is going to break to the point where
he is available for the first round of the wild
card round and should be fully rested once they end
up getting there. Hey, Ben, stay in the same division there.
How much to the Philadelphia Eagles be worried about Jalen Hurts,
(25:28):
I think so it does seem like give you know,
given the extent with which they can kind of rest
him and still get the number one seeds, like he
should be back and healthy, but after five weeks of
you know, a really long layoff, especially with some of
these other guys playing, like the rhythm is not going
to be there. They are in a lot of ways
kind of restarting, especially if he's not getting in a
ton of practice reps, you know, as we move towards
(25:50):
them potentially getting that number one seed. So I think
from like the rest perspective and the fact that it's
very much as looking like he's gonna be off for
five plus weeks, like that is very concerned if they're
gonna have, uh, you know, a really tough Divisital match
up against the team like the Dallas Cowboys or maybe
the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. So I think, you know, from
that angle, with the rest aspect and everything else, like
(26:12):
it is concerning UH and also really poor time and
probably a reason why, you know, it could be the
main reason why the Philadelphia Eagles don't end up getting
to that NFC Championship game and don't end up representing
the NFC UH in the Super Bowl this year. Our
guest is Ben Brown from Pro Football Focus. He's an
analyst betting in data. And let me ask you this
(26:33):
stuff talk floating around about Tom Brady maybe going to
New Orleans, right, uh And and I don't know if
people have really been honest about what's happened in Tampa
Bay this year. But has Tom not played well? I mean,
don't the numbers bear it out that he has struggled
(26:53):
and hasn't played well. I know people want to make
excuses the offensive line, this and that and all these
other things, but has he played well? He he has
definitely not been where Tom Brady has lived. I think
we still have him as, like, you know, a top
seven or eight quarterbacks from a PFF grading perspective. But
given the state of the roster, like you said, kind
(27:14):
of given this situation, with what they're dealing with because
of the offensive line, of the injury situation, and the
fact that they kind of had to remake this offense
to be really quick hitting with you know very much,
guys like Mike Evans are are much better as downfield
threats as opposed to kind of needed to win off
the line of scrimmage and continue to move methodical drives.
Like it has kind of completely changed this offense, and
(27:35):
I think you know, overall they're just they're just not
where they need to be. Part of that, uh, you know,
very much outstay sits on Tom Brady's shoulders, and the
fact that he is you know, for all intents and purposes, uh,
kind of a sitting duck in the in this pocket,
can't really make any moves whatsoever with his legs in
the game you know, in itself from an NFL perspective,
is very much shifting in the other direction. Right, So
(27:57):
in some ways, you know, he's being replaced by a
game that is becoming much quicker, which is forcing and
needing a quarterback that is mobile and in the pocket.
And when the when he doesn't actually have that ability
to buy some time, they're forced to only have some
of these quick tech throws and that's very much stagnated
the offense, you know, given what they have at the
past catching position. So uh, you know, overall, definitely embarished
(28:19):
on the Buccaneers. I think, you know, even this week
against Carolina, like, uh, there's a lot of people I
would say that wanted to the you know, the Carolina
Panthers represent the NFC South and they might be a
tougher route. Uh, you know, given where they're currently asking
what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to put forth. Look ahead
to this weekend with huge game highlighting two of the
best quarterbacks in the league, how do you see the
(28:40):
Bills Bengals game ending up? Yeah, I mean, it's it's
really tough to go against. I would say the freight
train that is the Cincinnati Bengals, especially offensively right now.
Right I think, you know, heading into the season, the
Bills were very much the team that you know, the
odds on favorite to win the Super Bowl and all
these other things, and the Bengals were kind of a
lot of ways, you know, a really popular regression candidate
(29:02):
because they got to the super Bowl. But but but
kind of dated in you know, not necessarily an unconventional fashion,
but a way in which didn't seem to be all
that predictive of future success. So the fact that they've
very much arrived, the fact that they've weathered, you know,
numerous injuries at the widest heiver position, they do have
to figure out, you know, kind of what this remade
offensive line looks looks like without Lyle Colins. But at
(29:25):
the end of the day, they still have Joe Burrow,
and they have Joe Burrow on a rookie contract, and
that's allowed them, I would say, to build out the
talents along the rest of the offense, and when they
actually have that, they very much. I would say it
looks like the best offensive football. So I like the
Bengals at plus one. I also think you know that
the total sitting at like forty nine and a half
or something like that, Like, there's there's no part of
(29:47):
me that thinks either one of these defenses is going
to have a ton of success going down the offense.
So this game very much could come down to the
last possession, but I think we see a ton of
points being scored in the process. I agree with you, Ben,
and I think o'burrow could wind up maybe winning the
m v P if he has a big game in
this game and they have another game next week, right
(30:07):
if they if he beats those two good teams and
plays well, he could wind up sneaking in and winning
the m v P. Ben Brown, Well appreciate your insight
and your comments here from Pro Football Focus. He's an analyst.
We appreciate you. Happy new year, Ben, Thank you guys.
Have a great retro show. Happy new to hear both
(30:27):
you as well. Job appreciate it, no doubt. All right,
Coming up next Sheckle City, Allen. I've been rolling a
little bit, well little a little shackle City, that and
much more. It is the Odd Couple Fox Sports Radio
on a fucking flashback Friday, Rob Parker along with Allen
Lee stick and stay for one of the last shows
(30:49):
in two in the US of A. Be sure to
catch live editions of The Odd Couple with Chris Brussar
then Rob Parker week days at seven pm Eastern four
pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the I Heart
Radio app. I need baby oil. That's all right to
bring in the new year. I guess all right, It
is the Odd Couple Fox Sports Radio on a funky
(31:13):
flashback Friday, Rob Parker filling it for christ Bussar. Were
coming to your live from the Tyro dot Com studios
and guess what, all only, it's time for check ole City.
Welcome to shackle City, the whole base for Rob Parker's
daily Dicks against the Spread. Last night I went won
(31:41):
one and one and man, yeah that was the Cowboys.
That other one I did a number one, not a
number two. That's it could have been worse. All right, Tonight,
here we go. Uh, NBA got three NBA games, so
we got the Suns. I remember, bet mgm Allen is
(32:02):
a good way if you want to put some shekels down.
But uh, I got the Sons over the Raptors in Toronto. Also,
I love the Hawks over the Lakers. The Lakers, of course,
you know, they won the other nights and I and
then they lost, so they weren't gonna be on a
(32:23):
loser streak. And the last game, you know, I stopped
betting on the Pistons because every time I've bet on
the Pistons they win. But uh, and the last game
I picked is the Pelicans. The Pelicans are plus one
hosting the seventies six ers. So there you go. I've
got the Sons as a favorite, uh, the Hawks our favorite,
(32:44):
and the Pelicans and on the dog. I love all three.
Remember I'm not telling you who the bet on. I'm
telling you who I bet on. Zion going up against
Embed that wanted to be a good little match up,
no doubt. Ay Allen, we got a story here that's
kind of crazy. So we wanna I want to talk
(33:05):
to you about it. Uh an announcer, how many times? Alan,
how many years you were on television? Sure, that's a
good questions and uh, radio, you've done everything and broadcasting.
But why do these guys keep doing the same thing,
which is putting their foot in their mouth? So here's
(33:26):
a guy, North Carolina State announcer Gary Hahn. It's suspended
indefinitely for offensive comment about immigrants. Are you ready for this? Okay?
So he does NC State football and men's basketball. He's
the play by play guy. So it wasn't even about
(33:47):
the game that he was doing. He's given a score
of another game, not even the game he's doing. Okay,
So this is per to report from the News and Observer.
Han was announcing the score of the Sun Bowl during
the broadcast of Duke's Mayo Bowl between Maryland and NC
(34:09):
State when he said, quote, amongst all the illegal aliens
down in an El Paso, it's u c l A
fourteen and Pittsburgh. Say why, Alan, why would you bring
up illegal alien? I know you're trying to be cute
giving out of town score, right, It's something I know
(34:30):
in your head. It may sound funnier and it's cute,
but there's got to be a filter there to realize
what you're saying. And it's not just you know, your
boys sitting around. He is Steve the segre there is
he is he Steve, Steve. You've been doing this for
a long time. How many guys got to lose their
gigs by doing this? Did you hear what I just
said that that sounds like a comment of somebody who's
(34:52):
had the same gig for thirty years? Am I right? Yeah?
You get comfortable, you get and you think that you're
making jokes of illegal a the ends to give an update,
to give a score up. I appreciate that that story
was mentioned at the beginning of the broadcast by CBS
and it was treated with the seriousness it is that right, yes,
(35:12):
and in part it affected the Bowl because apparently the
convention center that they wanted to use as a media
base during the week is now being used for other
things because of that border crisis. So it was dealt with.
It is a story in the town, but the way
it was dealt with here is just he's making light
of this whole situation, and to give a score to
(35:34):
make fun of it, just read the score. Yeah, unbelievable.
So there you go. I don't know. You know, there's
no other towns with games that have scores that also
have How when does this stop? Right, you would be
able to do that dub a lot, You would be
able to do it a lot. I don't. It's just
mind boggling. And uh, it happens over and over. Guys
(35:58):
have seen other guys losing, and I don't know how
many times it's got to happen before a guy can
realize stop being cute, stop trying to be funny on
serious issues. So so you're saying this is not canceled culture.
It's on him that he shouldn't have said this, right,
it's not canceled culture, you know, because you shouldn't. You
(36:20):
shouldn't be making light of these circumstances. All I'm saying is, Steve,
you can say whatever you want, but they're also consequence.
That's all I'm saying. And you know, whenever people talk
about cancel culture, go look at Anita Brian when she
lost her gig with Tropican Ars. Do do do you know
when that happened in the seventies, So when people right,
(36:42):
because they were like, we don't want people to stop
buying our arms you. They're in business. That's the that's
the bottom line. So anyway, there's a story. He's suspended
and definitely we'll see what happens moving forward. Thanks Steve
for chime and appreciate it. Yeah, all right, coming up
our number two, the Cowboys. They won, but it was fugly.
(37:02):
What do you make of it? And what can they
win a championship playing like this? Sticking sticks best if
you're in Dallas guy, my fad
Thanks for listening to The Odd Couple podcast. Be sure
to catch us live every weekday from seven pm to
ten pm Eastern for the seven pm Pacific on Fox
Sports Radio. Find your local station for The Odd Couple
at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live
every day on the I Heart Radio app by searching
(00:21):
f s R. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Welcome man,
Oh my goodness, gracist over and it is a funky
flashback Friday here on The Odd Couple Rob Parker along
(00:45):
with Allen Lee Parker. That's right in for Chris Broussard,
and we're broadcasting live from the tire rech dot Com studio.
Thank you, Bill, tire rech dot com. We'll help you
get there. An unmatched election, fast free shipping, free road
had a protection and over ten thousand recommended installed. Tire
(01:07):
rack dot com the way tire buying should be. Welcome.
In his last Friday of the old year, he's on
his way out. I can't believe it. Alan Tomorrow's New
Year's Eve and then New Year's Day. You're right, what's up, buddy?
Not much doing great? How about the holidays? Everything good?
(01:30):
You got? Everything is good. Family was good, the boys
home for the holiday. Young one is the oldest One's
back in Michigan. He still he wanted. He loves Michigan.
He loves the change of seasons. Unbelievable. So how many
kids who have parents moved to southern California, Like, no, no, no,
I'm gonna stay in Detroit. Hello is it's on. I'm
(01:50):
telling you now. So we know we did the zoom
Christmas morning where we got to see him open his present.
But yeah, and then he took a picture of the
outside for us, the snow and all that, right because
they got a white Christmas. You know, enjoy it, enjoy, enjoy.
Drake is a smart one, I'm gonna tell you a
smart one because he goes to school at USC and
(02:13):
there's one of one of my classes. As far as
uh journalism and everything in the newsroom. So great, all right, Alan,
we got a lot to get to and uh first,
let's welcome in the odd couple crew. We wouldn't be
able to do this fine radio program without him. Alex
is our engineer. Ricky don't lose my number is of
(02:34):
course the producer filling in for Rob g and Mr
Steve de Seger is on the anchor desk and before
we get there, Alan, Um, let's take a moment and uh,
Chris Bouchart is off this week filling in for Chris.
And we've talked kind of around it and send our
prayers out to Chris. But you know, he was supposed
(02:57):
to be off this week for Christmas in the Holida,
but his dad passed on Monday, and so we've been
sending out love and prayers to the Broussard family. And
then today Chris had can you see the picture of
his dad right there? Yeah? Nice? Right? So yeah, So
Chris put out a post on Instagram. So I want
to read this so people just know what's going on
(03:19):
and you can send your well wishes and prayers to
the Broussard family. But here we go. Chris wrote this,
I lost the great One on Monday. My dad, Edward Broussard,
went on to be with the Lord at age seventy nine.
Though it's a time of sadness, I've had, I have
wonderful memories of him and with him. He was married
(03:43):
to my mom, Cheryl, for fifty seven years and taught
his two boys how to be responsible and successful men.
The Three Principles he lived by were love the Lord,
love and take care of your family and have fun.
We did them all all very well. He did them
all very well. I should say nothing but love for
(04:05):
you always, Daddy, and then hashtag father, hashtag family, hashtag
r I p rest in peace. So again, our prayers
and love out to the Bussard family with the passing
of his dad at seventy nine years old. Edward who
always a very difficult transition of you know, but you
(04:27):
have lost both of my parents. I'm right there with you,
and you know every little thing you never will forget.
It gets easier every day. But you know, even I
was coming in to day as a matter of fact,
and even listening to certain music on the radio, think
you think you back to moments or instances in your life.
So you know it will hurt forever, but you'll take
(04:48):
with you forever the memories and the things that they
taught you, no doubt. That's I always feel the same way.
All Right, We got some show today for you. We're
gonna talk with Ben Brown at the bottom of the
hour from Pro Football Focus. We'll talk with him. Uh,
we got a lot of football to get to. As
we're winding down unbelievable with the season. But we're gonna
(05:10):
start here, and we also have Lamar Mitchell's coming up
in the final hour from bet MGM. He's the director
of trading. But and let's start here with the Lakers.
Today is Lebron James birthday. He is what thirty eight
years old? Is that where we are? Thirty eight years old,
still playing season number twenty, still had some of his
(05:30):
hairline with a little spray paint. But that's what I mean,
whatever you gotta do. But but Lebron, hey, it's unbelievable.
He's a speciman. He's still playing at a high level.
He doesn't impact winning as much. He scores a lot
of points, but they don't win even if he scores
thirty points plus. But anyway, Lebron should be happy. Wouldn't
you be happy at your birthday? Right? But Lebron is
(05:52):
not happy because the Lakers are stinky. And here's Lebron.
As long as my mind stays in it, I can
play at this level for for a minute. That's up
to my mind. It's not my body. It's gonna be okay,
because if my mind into it, I would make sure
my body is taking care of and I'll continue to
put into work. I'm a winner and I want to win,
(06:14):
and um, you know, I want to win and give
myself a chance to win and steal compe for championships.
That has always been my passion, has always been my
goal since I entered the league at an eighteen year
old kid out of acron, Ohio. And I know it
takes steps to get there. Once you get there, and
you know how to get there playing basketball at this level,
just to be playing basketball, it's not it's not in
(06:34):
my DNA, It's not in my DNA um anymore. I
want to win and give myself a chance to win
and steal compe for championships. That has always been my passion,
has always been my goals as I entered the league
at an eighteen year old kid out of acron Ohio.
Signal takes steps to get Yeah, we got it all right, Alan?
Can I say Poppycock and Boulder Dash? I mean Lebron seriously,
(06:58):
like like, this is your team, Alan, this is your team, Lebron.
You put this together? You know, the Dr Frankenstein of
this atrocity. I mean you are yes, indeed, yeah, one
of the Anthony Davis traded. Wow, was like zillion guys
(07:20):
away to get Anthony Day and Ingram, a ton of people,
of people, Kyle Kuzman just going thirty five every night
and Watchington. Now, now I did a little research before
the show. Let me tell you something. The two thousand
and eighteen nineteen Lakers. This was this was the guys
that were on that team. Lebron was on that team,
Lonzo Ball, Contavius called Will Pope, Alex Caruso, Josh Hart, Brandon, Ingram,
(07:43):
Kyle Kuzman, Ritz Wagner, and at Zoobach who plays for
the Clippers. But they gave away right and the year
before that before Lebron came to the Lakers. Now this
is not all on Lebron. That's probably on the Lakers too.
At lant of the year before had Jordan Clarkson on
their Brook Lopez, Gary Payton, a second, Julius Randall, Larry Nance.
(08:04):
So here comes Lebron on this squad. Right, they decide
to move Clarkston and Nance to Cleveland in a trade
for Isaiah Thomas Channing Fry in the two thousand and
eighteen first round pick. So you give it up. Jordan
Clarkson's were the best six been in the game. You
gave up Larry, he's lost some big time in Utah,
very capable player. You let Brook Lopez walk out the door.
(08:26):
He's in Milwaukee. Julius Randall I remember this discussion. They
were like, well, we don't want to resign round because
he and Lebron might class. He just went to the
Knicks and went to became an All Star in terms
of style. So can you imagine the Lakers quad right
now that has Brandon Ingramaner who's averaging twenty point eight
points per game, Kyle Kuzma, who's having the career high
points here at twenty one point six points per game,
(08:49):
seven point five rebounds, Wagner is averaging twelve point four
points at six point six rebounds. And then you would
have Clarkson coming off the bench. Possibly you have Brook
Lopez seven ft who could run the floor, shoot me outside,
Gary Payton who helped the Warriors, defensive specialist, tough kid.
Julius Randall give you at least possibly double double every night.
(09:11):
Lonzo ball and the granted balls hurt in Chicago. But
even if you had kept that team intact and not
brought Lebron on at some point doing that whole run,
you would have been able to bring on another superstar,
a lower tier guy, maybe a Bradley Bill might have
come over. You might have gotten to mar de Rosen
to come over at that point in time. You never know.
(09:32):
It would be a drastically dim But the Lakers were
in this mindset of we want to win right now
right and when you do that, Alan, you can mess
yourself up for a while. And now there with Lebron,
Lebron wanted a D. A D didn't start getting hurt
Allen once he came to l A. That was his mode,
that was his history. Okay, so you rolled the dice
(09:53):
with a D, and all he's been doing is getting
hurt every year except the bubble year when they have
four months. All right, and he's the one who one
at Westbrook they wanted Buddy. He'll remember that, like he's
a shooter. Lebron needs shooters, but they that Westbrook is
a top seventy five player. He's a name, a former
(10:16):
m v P. Lebron wants to play with names, not
play with Buddy. He'll who played for the Kings and
and most people don't know who he is. You know,
what I'm saying, like, but but he he fits better.
And so for Lebron to say, I don't I don't
want to be around this, dude, this is what you
put together? Who are you mad at? Are you mad at?
(10:39):
Because the Lakers haven't given up, uh, the their twenty
seven and twenty eight first round picks and to bring
more players in, Like, at some point you gotta say, dude,
what are we doing? At some point, ge Bus has
got to go, you know what, I'm not gonna keep
this and then we're gonna wait around for Brownie to
show up to is that Ronnie? No way he played
(11:01):
with the Lake. No, I don't see it, Lebron, because
I can't see two years from now, do you know
what I mean? If I'm the Lakers that I can't
see this staying together, especially if they don't win. I've
seen Brownie playing a few games. I don't know if
he's even gonna be in the pros. I mean, you know,
(11:23):
somebody will be shot, but I'm with you, it's not
a guarantee. But there are certainly a lot of better
players out there right now than Bronnie James. It's unbelievable,
but yeah, Lebron James belly aching thirty eight birthday today.
That's great. He's in great shape, he's scoring thirty points.
The Lakers aren't winning, and he's not happy. But but
who's the blame for this? I'm serious. Lebron James is
(11:47):
the Dr Franken style. He's created this monster and now
to be bummed out. And I don't know how long
in my mind, I don't know if I can keep
playing and just playing and not have a chance to
win a championship. Really, like like all the other players,
do you think, Alan, You're supposed I have a chance
to win a championship every year you've been in the league,
(12:07):
No nobody playing? Who who? Who's played for that nobody?
Michael Jordan went to the Wizards last two years. They
had no shot to win a championship. And you always
have the factor in the unknown, which is injuries that happen,
and if you're limited as a bench, you're in big trouble.
It's definitely big trouble. But you know, Lebron doesn't deserve
(12:27):
a little bit of blame for this. But also the
Lakers have to take their fair share of blame for
this because they were primed and ready for a situation
to watch a bunch of young guys come together and
gel over the years, and they got impatient. No, but
the problem is once you get in bred. Look, with Lebron,
it ain't about the future, it's about now. You can't
(12:47):
have a twenty year veteran went on a three three
year plan. Alan told's either you're going with the young
guys or you don't bring Lebron in because you already
know what you're gonna get. So the Laker become slaves
to Lebron because that like, we brought him in and
now we can't like not give him what he wants.
But the only problem is they've done it so many times.
(13:10):
How in the world can they do it again? And
that's why they haven't pulled the trigger because I think
they know that there's no player out there that that's
gonna help them win a championship at this point on
a thirty eight year old individual, I'm not gonna sacrifice
my future by giving up some some top draft picks
because they've done it too much in the past, no doubt.
All right, I'll telephone number eight seven seven ninety nine
(13:31):
on Fox eight seven seven nine nine, six sixty three
sixty nine, and we want to hear from you. Lebron
on his birthday is not happy. He should be happy, smappy,
blowing out the candles and eating ice cream and cake.
Instead he's mad at where the Lakers are. Who's the
blame for this? Is it Lebron all the way? Or
(13:52):
is it the Lakers? We want to hear from you.
Eight seven, seven ninety nine. On Fox, It's a Funky
Flashback Friday, Rob Parker and Allan in for Chris Broussard,
Stick and stay. Be sure to catch live editions of
The Odd Couple with Chris Brussard and Rob Parker weet
days at seven pm Eastern, four pm Pacific on Fox
Sports Radio and the I Heart Radio app. It is
(14:15):
the I Couple on a Funky Flashback Friday. Alan leaves
to him back he had on the bell bottoms and
the white shoes and all that in the seventies. I
don't know that, alright, I do remember that married in
the seventies. No, I did not get married in seven
(14:36):
Oh my god man, all right, It is the couple
on the Flashback Friday, coming to you live from the
tire rack dot Com Studios. Rob Parker and Allen Lee
and for Chris Boushard, I'll telephone number eight seven seven
ninety nine on Fox. It is Lebron James's birthday and
he's belly aching about the situation he's in and I
(14:57):
hate to break it to him, but he's the one
who made this funky goo losh. We want to hear
from you. Who are you blaming? Is it Lebron or
is it the Lakers? All right, let's get through some cause.
Why don't we Sean from Palmdale, you listen to the
Odd Couple on Fox Sports Radio. What's your take? Sean? Hey, guys,
Happy New Years. Thanks for having me. So. I grew
(15:21):
up a Laker fan, purple and gold since the Dale
was born. Um, she's Kobe guy, which which might make
me a little biased in this whole conversation, but in
my opinion, Uh, Genie Buss told her soul to Lebron
post Kobe era, to be relevant, to put butts in
the seats, to get the Lakers back on tv. UM,
(15:43):
and we had a good thing going with the draft picks.
Guys were developing, Guys were jealing a little bit um
that looked like there was some hope on the horizon,
and then what happens. Lebron comes in and you understand
what happens at that point, all the guys are gonna
get moved, all the clutch sports buddies are gonna come
on the team, and it's going to be a whole
blitz to try and win a championship within the first
(16:03):
several years of the contract, and then after that's going
to be a disaster. So you've given him most of
the blame, not the Lakers. Oh yeah, because I mean
I call him the GM because the guy comes in
and and he basically calls the shots. The GM doesn't
even have a job anymore. M All his buddies are
coming in. Uh. I mean, it's just he he fills
the roster with the guys he likes that are willing
(16:25):
to come over there and and and they run in
with that team. But man, we appreciate it. Seven seven Fox.
All right, Richard from Wrightwood, California. You're listening to the
odd Couple on Fox Sports Radio. Which way you lean in? Okay,
let's start with I was introduced to basketball the first
(16:49):
time I saw black and white TV Lakers Celtics Triple overtime,
Jerry West al Jan Baylor all the way to the prison.
Now let's go to a decision. It bothered me and
I didn't know why. And for years I'm going, what
is about this? It bothered me? And then I realized
he's shoving this down our throats like some kid doing
(17:10):
some prank, and he's showing his video on the worldwide Web.
This guy has no brains in his head whatsoever. He's
a he should play basketball and stop wearing the hat
like Kyrie Irving and k D. They're all copycatting him.
All he's doing is ruining anything that he comes into.
(17:31):
He has screwed the Lakers, He's gutted the Lakers, and
he's complaining. I can't believe that that he's taking this
stance like where stupid? Thank you? Thank you, Richard Mine
goodness eight seven seven ninety Fox, we're talking about Lebron
is not happy about the direction of the Lakers where
(17:52):
they're going. And yes, it's his birthday. He should be
blowing out candles. Instead he's spitting fire and he's mad.
All right, let's go now to Bruccio, and I hope
I pronounced that name correctly from Florida. You're listening to
the Odd Couple on Fox Sports Radio. Happy New Year
to you. Thank you brother's loyal list to the Odd Couple,
Chris Bus, are we holding it down for your brother?
(18:13):
God blessed? Doubt, no doubt, Thank you for that most
deaf um Brock you made your bed sleeping it now.
I'm curious, though, Rob Parker, you got the missaut for
durand you got the full flow for Brady. What's what's
(18:34):
Lebron's little? Okay? So, so we got the missaut is
for Kevin Durant, the most sensitive of all time. Tom
Brady is the load, the luckiest of all time. And
Lebron is the FULLFO, the finals failure of all time
because he's lost more final championships than any other former
m v P. He's the FULLFO. I think it should
(18:56):
be the the fakest time, the real Remember three played
in Chicago, y'all. Have a good night, guy, all right,
you're too happy new you appreciate it. Eight seven, seven
ninety nine on Fox. Andre from Massachusetts, you're listening to
the Odd Couple on Fox Sports Radio. Andre, go ahead,
you got the flora yours? Hey, don't Thanks for taking
(19:17):
the call first and foremost respect to the Brussard family.
Uh God couple, you know, just appreciate you learn about
you over the years. So Chris, your whole family just thoughts,
prayers and respect. Yes. Indeed, in terms of Lebron, you
know this is clearly a burden that he has to bear.
All the other callers have said it, and it's based
(19:39):
off of this. Listen. Magic Johnson was the GM when
Lebron came into town, and he was adamant, listen, we
have these young pieces, Lonzo Kuzma b I, Uh, we
want you to play with them and grow together. And
from early on Lebron just put his foot down and said, no,
we have that picture. When they were all on the tunnel,
Magic Johnson, Lebron goes there to stand with them and
Rob Polinka asserting him to up and saying, listen, I'm
(20:01):
going to impose on well, it's gonna be my way
that to everybody else to send. Here's the thing. Genie
buss has made it clear Lebron plays on our team.
He she didn't even use his name. He plays on
our team. She sent the signal loud and clear that
you're gonna do things our away from here on out.
What Lebron do? He signed a two year extension because
(20:21):
he wants to stay in l A because of what
it does for his Q rating. That's why he wants
to be there, because of all of his other endeavors.
But it's not changing in terms of if you're gonna
stay in l A and you want to do all
these movie deals and you're very successful, you're gonna have
to do with the Lakers way. And that's what Genie
has clearly established. This was tectonic plates under the surface
kind of going into the off season period. But what
(20:44):
Lebron do? You signed the extension, so guess what this
is what you're in for. Lebron is a master playing
the spin game and all these different names. But at
the end of the day, it's not changing. There not
tipping up those draft picks, and Lebron is gonna have
to be a team player in his last couple of years.
If once one championship or you can hit the road
at the at their um for their deal. All right, thanks, Andre,
(21:04):
appreciate one more squeez him in real quick, all right?
Damon from New York. He listened to the odd couple
on the Fox Sports Radio. What you got, Damon? Hey,
how are you guys doing? Hey? Man, I'm a long
time Laker fan from back in the days when Kareem
first got there, and I'm here to tell you I'm
not happy at all. And when I look at the
(21:26):
fact that Lebron is getting upset at at the team
that he has around him, it's his own fault. I mean,
this guy came there and we were in and as
Laker fans, we want championships. And I can see why
management brought him in because of his chan championship calib
(21:49):
you know, the way he approaches the game, but at
the age that he he is and when he came
and now you can't expect this guy to give us
a championship. Now, No, thanks, Damon, appreciate it. He just
the time that boat, that ship is sale. Probably. I mean,
like Lebron scoring thirty, they don't win alan they they
(22:12):
lose more. They beat Orlando, won't they beat the Magic?
That was the one game that they beat one on
the road. They have another game tonight. All right. Coming
up next, We're gonna talk with Ben Brown. He's a
pro football focus. He's an analyst betting UH for betting
and debt and data. Fox Sports Radio has the best
sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our
(22:33):
shows at Fox sports Radio dot com and within the
I Heart Radio app. Search f s R to listen live. Now,
let's welcome in our next guest. He is Ben Brown
from Pro Football Focus. He's an analyst betting and data. Ben.
Welcome to the Odd Couple and happy New Year to
you and yours. Hey guys, Yeah, I appreciate you guys
(22:53):
having me. I love love listening to the Odd Couple,
So it's definitely a pleasure bringing on this show. Man,
Thank you so much. Let's start, uh with the Cowboys
and uh what we saw from them last night? I
know people won pretty they got to win, they didn't
cover the spread, but anyway, uh, what did you make
of that when over I depleted uh Titans team? Yeah,
(23:20):
I mean obviously I would say the biggest takeaway, um
is very much gonna be that I I would say the
news the injury situation was Tyler. But as I think that,
you know, specifically at the center position, if they're kind
of forced to, I would say reshuffle a lot of
the guys around in that offensive line. That is would
I would say it's gonna be very concerning, especially as
they maybe need to match up against the team like
(23:42):
the Stamps, the forty Niners or even you know, the
Philadelphia Eagles later on. So the speed in which he's
gonna be available off of that high ankle spring, I
think is definitely a big takeaway. But outside of that,
you know, it's gonna be the question for the Dallas
Cowboys until its actually answered, and that is, you know,
with Dak Prescott, we he obviously has the high interception right.
(24:02):
One of them definitely wasn't his fault last night. One
of them definitely was like, can he be this franchise
type guy and actually allow them to be some teams
that maybe have a better talent level than what they
have on the football field. I think that's gonna be
the question that we do end up getting answered here, um,
you know, as they moved forward to the NFC Championship game.
But I do think that, you know, solidifying the offensive
(24:23):
line around him has to be out say, the main
concern headed out of this week's seventeen matchup Cowboy fans
be worried or concerned about Tony I would say a
little bit I think that was more, you know, a
precautionary thing with holding him out, so I would expect
him to probably be back in the fold in the
first round of the wild card round, you know, which
very much is gonna open up a lot of things
(24:45):
for this offense. Obviously, Ezekiel Elliott provide some semblance of
you know, Russian production kind of smashed multi football, but
Tony Pollard has been the guy that can can create
separation both through the passing game and also break off
a lot of these high chunk runs. And without him
kind of in the fold, you know, they turn into
more of a methodical, you know, move the chain type offense.
And I think they really need that big play capabilities
(25:07):
because they don't really have it outside of Seedee Lamb
at the wide receiver position. But thankfully, I think it's
injury situation is going to break to the point where
he is available for the first round of the wild
card round and should be fully rested once they end
up getting there. Hey, Ben, stay in the same division there.
How much to the Philadelphia Eagles be worried about Jalen Hurts,
(25:28):
I think so it does seem like give you know,
given the extent with which they can kind of rest
him and still get the number one seeds, like he
should be back and healthy, but after five weeks of
you know, a really long layoff, especially with some of
these other guys playing, like the rhythm is not going
to be there. They are in a lot of ways
kind of restarting, especially if he's not getting in a
ton of practice reps, you know, as we move towards
(25:50):
them potentially getting that number one seed. So I think
from like the rest perspective and the fact that it's
very much as looking like he's gonna be off for
five plus weeks, like that is very concerned if they're
gonna have, uh, you know, a really tough Divisital match
up against the team like the Dallas Cowboys or maybe
the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. So I think, you know, from
that angle, with the rest aspect and everything else, like
(26:12):
it is concerning UH and also really poor time and
probably a reason why, you know, it could be the
main reason why the Philadelphia Eagles don't end up getting
to that NFC Championship game and don't end up representing
the NFC UH in the Super Bowl this year. Our
guest is Ben Brown from Pro Football Focus. He's an
analyst betting in data. And let me ask you this
(26:33):
stuff talk floating around about Tom Brady maybe going to
New Orleans, right, uh And and I don't know if
people have really been honest about what's happened in Tampa
Bay this year. But has Tom not played well? I mean,
don't the numbers bear it out that he has struggled
(26:53):
and hasn't played well. I know people want to make
excuses the offensive line, this and that and all these
other things, but has he played well? He he has
definitely not been where Tom Brady has lived. I think
we still have him as, like, you know, a top
seven or eight quarterbacks from a PFF grading perspective. But
given the state of the roster, like you said, kind
(27:14):
of given this situation, with what they're dealing with because
of the offensive line, of the injury situation, and the
fact that they kind of had to remake this offense
to be really quick hitting with you know very much,
guys like Mike Evans are are much better as downfield
threats as opposed to kind of needed to win off
the line of scrimmage and continue to move methodical drives.
Like it has kind of completely changed this offense, and
(27:35):
I think you know, overall they're just they're just not
where they need to be. Part of that, uh, you know,
very much outstay sits on Tom Brady's shoulders, and the
fact that he is you know, for all intents and purposes, uh,
kind of a sitting duck in the in this pocket,
can't really make any moves whatsoever with his legs in
the game you know, in itself from an NFL perspective,
is very much shifting in the other direction. Right, So
(27:57):
in some ways, you know, he's being replaced by a
game that is becoming much quicker, which is forcing and
needing a quarterback that is mobile and in the pocket.
And when the when he doesn't actually have that ability
to buy some time, they're forced to only have some
of these quick tech throws and that's very much stagnated
the offense, you know, given what they have at the
past catching position. So uh, you know, overall, definitely embarished
(28:19):
on the Buccaneers. I think, you know, even this week
against Carolina, like, uh, there's a lot of people I
would say that wanted to the you know, the Carolina
Panthers represent the NFC South and they might be a
tougher route. Uh, you know, given where they're currently asking
what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to put forth. Look ahead
to this weekend with huge game highlighting two of the
best quarterbacks in the league, how do you see the
(28:40):
Bills Bengals game ending up? Yeah, I mean, it's it's
really tough to go against. I would say the freight
train that is the Cincinnati Bengals, especially offensively right now.
Right I think, you know, heading into the season, the
Bills were very much the team that you know, the
odds on favorite to win the Super Bowl and all
these other things, and the Bengals were kind of a
lot of ways, you know, a really popular regression candidate
(29:02):
because they got to the super Bowl. But but but
kind of dated in you know, not necessarily an unconventional fashion,
but a way in which didn't seem to be all
that predictive of future success. So the fact that they've
very much arrived, the fact that they've weathered, you know,
numerous injuries at the widest heiver position, they do have
to figure out, you know, kind of what this remade
offensive line looks looks like without Lyle Colins. But at
(29:25):
the end of the day, they still have Joe Burrow,
and they have Joe Burrow on a rookie contract, and
that's allowed them, I would say, to build out the
talents along the rest of the offense, and when they
actually have that, they very much. I would say it
looks like the best offensive football. So I like the
Bengals at plus one. I also think you know that
the total sitting at like forty nine and a half
or something like that, Like, there's there's no part of
(29:47):
me that thinks either one of these defenses is going
to have a ton of success going down the offense.
So this game very much could come down to the
last possession, but I think we see a ton of
points being scored in the process. I agree with you, Ben,
and I think o'burrow could wind up maybe winning the
m v P if he has a big game in
this game and they have another game next week, right
(30:07):
if they if he beats those two good teams and
plays well, he could wind up sneaking in and winning
the m v P. Ben Brown, Well appreciate your insight
and your comments here from Pro Football Focus. He's an analyst.
We appreciate you. Happy new year, Ben, Thank you guys.
Have a great retro show. Happy new to hear both
(30:27):
you as well. Job appreciate it, no doubt. All right,
Coming up next Sheckle City, Allen. I've been rolling a
little bit, well little a little shackle City, that and
much more. It is the Odd Couple Fox Sports Radio
on a fucking flashback Friday, Rob Parker along with Allen
Lee stick and stay for one of the last shows
(30:49):
in two in the US of A. Be sure to
catch live editions of The Odd Couple with Chris Brussar
then Rob Parker week days at seven pm Eastern four
pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the I Heart
Radio app. I need baby oil. That's all right to
bring in the new year. I guess all right, It
is the Odd Couple Fox Sports Radio on a funky
(31:13):
flashback Friday, Rob Parker filling it for christ Bussar. Were
coming to your live from the Tyro dot Com studios
and guess what, all only, it's time for check ole City.
Welcome to shackle City, the whole base for Rob Parker's
daily Dicks against the Spread. Last night I went won
(31:41):
one and one and man, yeah that was the Cowboys.
That other one I did a number one, not a
number two. That's it could have been worse. All right, Tonight,
here we go. Uh, NBA got three NBA games, so
we got the Suns. I remember, bet mgm Allen is
(32:02):
a good way if you want to put some shekels down.
But uh, I got the Sons over the Raptors in Toronto. Also,
I love the Hawks over the Lakers. The Lakers, of course,
you know, they won the other nights and I and
then they lost, so they weren't gonna be on a
(32:23):
loser streak. And the last game, you know, I stopped
betting on the Pistons because every time I've bet on
the Pistons they win. But uh, and the last game
I picked is the Pelicans. The Pelicans are plus one
hosting the seventies six ers. So there you go. I've
got the Sons as a favorite, uh, the Hawks our favorite,
(32:44):
and the Pelicans and on the dog. I love all three.
Remember I'm not telling you who the bet on. I'm
telling you who I bet on. Zion going up against
Embed that wanted to be a good little match up,
no doubt. Ay Allen, we got a story here that's
kind of crazy. So we wanna I want to talk
(33:05):
to you about it. Uh an announcer, how many times? Alan,
how many years you were on television? Sure, that's a
good questions and uh, radio, you've done everything and broadcasting.
But why do these guys keep doing the same thing,
which is putting their foot in their mouth? So here's
(33:26):
a guy, North Carolina State announcer Gary Hahn. It's suspended
indefinitely for offensive comment about immigrants. Are you ready for this? Okay?
So he does NC State football and men's basketball. He's
the play by play guy. So it wasn't even about
(33:47):
the game that he was doing. He's given a score
of another game, not even the game he's doing. Okay,
So this is per to report from the News and Observer.
Han was announcing the score of the Sun Bowl during
the broadcast of Duke's Mayo Bowl between Maryland and NC
(34:09):
State when he said, quote, amongst all the illegal aliens
down in an El Paso, it's u c l A
fourteen and Pittsburgh. Say why, Alan, why would you bring
up illegal alien? I know you're trying to be cute
giving out of town score, right, It's something I know
(34:30):
in your head. It may sound funnier and it's cute,
but there's got to be a filter there to realize
what you're saying. And it's not just you know, your
boys sitting around. He is Steve the segre there is
he is he Steve, Steve. You've been doing this for
a long time. How many guys got to lose their
gigs by doing this? Did you hear what I just
said that that sounds like a comment of somebody who's
(34:52):
had the same gig for thirty years? Am I right? Yeah?
You get comfortable, you get and you think that you're
making jokes of illegal a the ends to give an update,
to give a score up. I appreciate that that story
was mentioned at the beginning of the broadcast by CBS
and it was treated with the seriousness it is that right, yes,
(35:12):
and in part it affected the Bowl because apparently the
convention center that they wanted to use as a media
base during the week is now being used for other
things because of that border crisis. So it was dealt with.
It is a story in the town, but the way
it was dealt with here is just he's making light
of this whole situation, and to give a score to
(35:34):
make fun of it, just read the score. Yeah, unbelievable.
So there you go. I don't know. You know, there's
no other towns with games that have scores that also
have How when does this stop? Right, you would be
able to do that dub a lot, You would be
able to do it a lot. I don't. It's just
mind boggling. And uh, it happens over and over. Guys
(35:58):
have seen other guys losing, and I don't know how
many times it's got to happen before a guy can
realize stop being cute, stop trying to be funny on
serious issues. So so you're saying this is not canceled culture.
It's on him that he shouldn't have said this, right,
it's not canceled culture, you know, because you shouldn't. You
(36:20):
shouldn't be making light of these circumstances. All I'm saying is, Steve,
you can say whatever you want, but they're also consequence.
That's all I'm saying. And you know, whenever people talk
about cancel culture, go look at Anita Brian when she
lost her gig with Tropican Ars. Do do do you know
when that happened in the seventies, So when people right,
(36:42):
because they were like, we don't want people to stop
buying our arms you. They're in business. That's the that's
the bottom line. So anyway, there's a story. He's suspended
and definitely we'll see what happens moving forward. Thanks Steve
for chime and appreciate it. Yeah, all right, coming up
our number two, the Cowboys. They won, but it was fugly.
(37:02):
What do you make of it? And what can they
win a championship playing like this? Sticking sticks best if
you're in Dallas guy, my fad
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