December 11, 2025 • 52 mins
00:00 – 25:57 - Philip Rivers meets the media: why he wanted to come back and why he thinks he’s capable, James’ viral moment, Rivers on his weight right now, realistic expectations if he’s activated for Sunday?
25:58 – 32:32 – Butler head coach Thad Matta joins us and discusses the Bulldogs’ loss to Boise State and what went wrong, Greg Oden, getting ready for Providence
32:33 – 42:56 – Mike Niziolek of the Herald Times joins us to discuss covering the Heisman and Fernando Mendoza’s ascent and his personality around the IU team
42:57 – 52:14 - WIBC’s Jason Hammer joins us and discusses the TNF game between the Falcons and Bucs, the point spread, Mike Evans’ return and expectations, Philip Rivers expectations, Army/Navy, IU expectations
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Previously on the Fan Morning Show.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Might see a negative two degrees on Saturday. Yeah, it's
it's insane. I won't here.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
I mean what.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Only I didn't say fudge.
Speaker 4 (00:20):
I said the word, the big one, the queen mother
of gerty words, the V dash dash dash word.
Speaker 5 (00:31):
Didn't the dump button on that one, right, I didn't
say that was close enough.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
You're gonna get in trouble. Kevin's not gonna get trouble.
Here we go, I'll get in trouble.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
The dumb button has been hit. I think I was
the first time I've had to dump Kevin. I'm like
some others we've discussed today. I definitely pulled out there.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Part of what happened yesterday. Kevin was on one yesterday
he was rolling. I'm the one that got my mouth
washed off with soap when it was all said and done, though,
let's how that worked. So good morning along with jameisk Yeah,
I'm back and got that switch going.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Kevin Bowen, James Boy, Jeff Rickard.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Also, how about I also want to give a shout
out to Spencer Thompson from Thompson Furniture and Mattress. They
sponsored a lot of our butler stuff including the Thad
Mada appearance. Every week they Spencer Thompson sent each and
every one of us a great yetty engraved with our
names and our favorite teams.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
So I think, Kevin, you got one from Notre Dame.
Speaker 6 (01:29):
Right, yeah, put in the dishwasher last night, so I
cannot wait to use it. So shot shot Spencer text yesterday,
thank you very very much to him.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
Really cool, really cool.
Speaker 6 (01:39):
He'll be thrilled when I tell her I don't want
to drink the cup that has my.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Family on it anymore. I want to drink the one
that has Notre Dame on it. And you sound like me. Mind,
I don't have the family.
Speaker 6 (01:49):
Notice you didn't mention Notre Dame on the checkdown there,
go ahead about their win over Idaho.
Speaker 7 (01:54):
Go ahead.
Speaker 6 (01:54):
You seem to do that quite often when it comes
to the Irish.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Jeff, if you mean to, I would never got you
going with Notre Dame. Well, how it is, but yesterday
they they had the Idaho Vandals last night, Kevin, how
to go Idaho?
Speaker 6 (02:06):
Very good Mid Major team life without Marcus Burton. A
bit of a struggle for the first thirty minutes, but
Hunter day and pulled away and impress a fashion, so good.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Work from Michael Shusbury company.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
There we go. Yeah, it's funny.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
I was popping in and out of the Purdue game
last night and it was fairly tight in the first half.
But then man watched maybe the first six minutes of
that second half and it was Katie bar the door
twenty one nothing run to start thinking.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
So that's how you went at home.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
By the way, that's how you get that belt put
on you.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Yeah, whoop, And Booty Colt's going.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
To be back at practice a little bit later on today.
We'll see how Philip Rivers bounces back from a very
busy day yesterday. And we talked a lot if you're
just joining us this morning, we've talked a lot already
about you know how Shane Stikeing just seems in like
on cloud nine right now, Kevin, like he is floating
with Philip Rivers coming to town.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Yes, that is a great way to put it.
Speaker 6 (02:56):
I have not seen Shane Syken that energized in quite
a while. And you know, if you want to get
a little bit more into maybe, okay, where are the
Colts at having lost four of five?
Speaker 2 (03:08):
They need an injection of life now. Again.
Speaker 6 (03:12):
You know, Sunday at four twenty five will be the
big decider and exactly how much the injection of life
has occurred. But for now, Philip Rivers undoubtedly brings energy.
He brings certainly he's such a unique football player period.
You know, you hear Jack Doyle talk about him yesterday
and we had him on. You know, I think it
(03:32):
was a very easy gravitational pull, even during the COVID
year that Jack experience with Philip Rivers. That guy's you know,
might feel. But again, how long is all of that
going to last? I think that's kind of where I
sit on this Thursday morning, and I'll reiterate what I
said earlier. I expect him to start unless things just
look awful in practice, unless he woke up and felt
like a forty four year old that had worked out
(03:54):
in a different manner for the first time in five years,
I expect.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Him to be the guy on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
It's interesting when you hear him talk all day yesterday,
James Is He's answering questions and talking about why he
wanted to come back and why he wanted to be
a part of this franchise and all those kinds of things.
As a reporter, you're sitting in that room and this
is kind of unprecedented, right, So now what.
Speaker 5 (04:17):
It truly is and the way I look at it, Jeff,
and the way I can perhaps explain it best is
the fact that when we were talking to Zaire Franklin,
he said talking to Philip is like talking to Shane,
and that right there really summed it up for me,
because we can go through all of the other possibilities
(04:41):
at quarterback, and also knew with Newsworthy shot out to
my guy Parker Gabriel, who is a Denver Broncos reporter
for the Denver Post.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
He reported and actually not even really a report.
Speaker 5 (04:52):
He went and talked to Sam because you remember we
kept asking why he wasn't chosen. Sam turned him down,
so they reached out and it sounds like from his
reporting Parker Gabriel again that the Colts wanted to bring
in Sam and Philip Rivers. So this is me speculating
at this point, perhaps it wasn't as enticing for Sam
(05:14):
to be like, all right, why would I leave the
situation I'm in where I'm a backup to go somewhere
else to be the backup?
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Because he's not a dumb guy.
Speaker 5 (05:21):
He probably knows Okay, I know the offense, but not
as well as that dude.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
So we will see how it all shakes out.
Speaker 5 (05:27):
But again, it feels like they're talking to each other
kind of like in the mirror, and one guy is
just physically what we think able to play the game
where Shane will be coaching the game.
Speaker 6 (05:37):
Mark, are we able to cue up any audio clips?
I don't know how we are from a technological standard.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
For sure.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
We're just throwing stuff against the wall that we should be. Okay, though,
figure it out.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Philip, he's so happy today.
Speaker 6 (05:47):
I have a little clip number four Mark Phillip Rivers
on why he wants to come back to playing here
at the age of forty four.
Speaker 8 (05:53):
To get emotional. Actually, you asking that as simple as
as can be as a coach. That and an organization
that I really enjoyed being with, you know, mister ersay
believing in me in that year in twenty twenty when
it didn't go so good in twenty nineteen. And shoot,
(06:14):
the teammates that I was able to were able to
play with, Shoot, fourteen of them are still here training rooms.
The same pr guys are the same quicker rooms the same,
and they wanted me. And you know, I try to
keep it as simple as that. And you know, a game,
a game I love to play, a game that I
(06:34):
thought it was was I was done playing, certainly, I
wasn't really hanging on any hope of playing again. I'd
kind of i'd kind of thought that ship had sailed,
but something about it excited me. And uh, it's kind
of one of those deals. The door opens and you
can either walk through it and find out if you
can do it, or or run from it. And I know,
(06:56):
I know that there's there's risk involved, obviously of what
may or may not happen, but the only one to
find out is going for it. And I just felt
almost like it was a gift, another opportunity to play
and kind of loose with the guys in the game
you love to play and the dream that you got
to live. You may get some bonus time. So I
really kept it as kept it as simple as that
(07:16):
in my mind. And uh, and here I stand.
Speaker 6 (07:20):
Yeah, I found it interesting James that Phillips said yesterday
he was watching the Colts game on Sunday Live when
Daniel Jones went down and he did think to himself,
will Shane Styken call me, And sure enough a few
hours later.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Shane stikein dials them up and the rest is history here.
Speaker 6 (07:39):
And so you know, one of my big takeaways from
yesterday is this has a lot less to do with
the health.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
And availability of Riley Leonard than I previously thought. Absolutely
to me, I agree with you.
Speaker 6 (07:53):
Is much more about Shane stike and thinking that too
football obsessed individuals, given the state of the quarterback room
right now, can somehow, some way chess match their way
into staying out of bad plays, making the right pre
snap checks.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
This that obviously, after rely.
Speaker 6 (08:14):
On jonathan' taybor like no other, your defense can't play
anywhere near like you did last week. And you pray
for rain and that the wet football luck bounces your
way in Seattle on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Well, it's gonna be fascinating to watch, and obviously it's
a lottery ticket, James, you hope that it pays off
out well, Willie Wonker right now, well, you're hoping that
you get that golden ticket because you clearly to your point,
there's some juice. There's obviously, the community, the connection between
the coach and the quarterback and all that stuff. But
when you look at the other options that were available
(08:45):
to you probably say to yourself, look, we've lost four
out of five. Anyway, this isn't looking good. Maybe we
get to Forest back. Maybe at some point you get
Sauce Gardner back. But to your point yesterday, Kevin, if
you just win two of four and so, if you
can bring Philip Rivers in for a couple of weeks,
two months, Max, let's take it all the way to
the very end for the complete Disney story. It is
(09:07):
a lottery ticke But it doesn't work out, then you
just stop playing him after the first half, right.
Speaker 5 (09:11):
First half, first half benching Philip Rivers for Uncle Phil. Nah, nah,
you can't come back for a half. You gotta play
a whole thing out, Riley Leonard. If they try to
put you in there after it goes terrible in the
first half, you tell them I'm not getting killed in Seattle.
You get me ready for Monday night football. But jokes aside, Jeff,
how long is it?
Speaker 2 (09:29):
How big is the hook?
Speaker 7 (09:30):
Though?
Speaker 2 (09:30):
That is a question, that's a very big question.
Speaker 5 (09:33):
A lot of it I just don't know yet because
of the physical nature of the game, and he let
that out perfectly yesterday and eloquently and repeatedly.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
I know I haven't played football.
Speaker 5 (09:45):
I know I can still sling it, I can still
throw it, but I haven't played and I don't know
until I get out there. So part of it, to
me is admirable to just try to go out there
and see if you can still do the thing that
you once did. But at the same time, I don't
think it'll be enough juice to offset, you know, five
(10:06):
years of not playing the game. So one of the
funnier comments from the press conference yesterday, besides me asking
if Rivers is he is older than Shane's psyching, He's like, yeah,
he's been older than me in my entire life, James,
You're dumb. So other than that, I thought one of
the funnier moments when Kevin asked him. Kevin asked, Shane,
(10:27):
I need to read the transcript because this this is hilarious.
Speaker 6 (10:30):
We should have Mark pulled Mark if you can maybe
maybe save for the eight o'clock our Marcus. I know
you got a lot to deal with in this new
studio today, but I just read it aloud.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
This is hilarious.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
Transcript might be funnier.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
So we're all peppering Shane with questions and us.
Speaker 5 (10:50):
Yes, Kevin jumps in, is there any part of you
that says, we've lost four or five we need juice?
He is juice and they have it written out he
is juice And I could not stop laughing at that.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
And the response was he he does give us juice.
So there you have it, juice jub Cults. Yeah, I
think it's real.
Speaker 6 (11:09):
Like, I think that is a big part in this
I feeling in the locker room.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
I was Philip Rivers.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
Was I don't know.
Speaker 6 (11:17):
I'm trying to think of like a semi accomplished like
all jokes aside if he was Matt Ryan, Like, okay,
let's act like Matt Ryan didn't put on a cold uniform.
Let's act like Matt Ryan retired as a Falcon when
when Rivers did five years ago. Okay, we don't talk
about Matt Ryan in the manner we talk about Philip Rivers, right,
Philip Rivers has always been this trash talking, no cussing,
(11:38):
unique individual, high energy football upset like Matt Ryan is
his own, you know, personality, but he's not Philip Rivers.
And I think guys, And again, just listen to Jack
Dole describe him when he joined us yesterday. When guys
are teammates are around Philip Rivers, there's just like this
unique gravitational pull that he has. Now, as I've said
(12:01):
all morning long, you know how much can that last
once the ball is kicked off at four twenty five?
But for the time being, he does insert some injection
of life into your building.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
But I'll be totally.
Speaker 6 (12:14):
Honest with you, guys, And I don't know if this
is politically correct for me to say it or not.
When Phil Rivers walked in that room yesterday, I thought
he was Tim Allen to save Christmas.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
I love that. Tell us more?
Speaker 6 (12:32):
Am I not the only one.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Explain to folks Kevin that didn't need to see a.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
Few weeks back?
Speaker 6 (12:41):
Hopefully Mattie isn't listening. She's probably driving the kids to
school at this point. But you know, had a hell
of a drive through some snow to get back in
time for the Colts game from Thanksgiving. You know, it
was that brutal Saturday snow and you know I got
back to Indian thoughts to myself. I deserve a full pizza.
I deserve some Donado's pizza, and sure enough I decided
to eat a full medium Denado's pizza. I might have
(13:02):
had a couple of breadsticks, and boy, James, boyd, I
couldn't get off that couch for three hours, and I
thought to myself.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
You may be eating like you boy.
Speaker 5 (13:11):
Well, I can't say anymore. I'm a thirty year old
man and my diet.
Speaker 6 (13:14):
Listening to Philip Rivers answered the question about how much
he currently weighs, it got me thinking back to the
Donato's pizza I had a few weeks back.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
Wow, so here's.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
My question about the Did no one else think that?
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Did no one else think that Philip Rivers looked out
of shape?
Speaker 1 (13:28):
And he was in the best shape he's ever been in?
Speaker 7 (13:31):
Right for me?
Speaker 2 (13:33):
He didn't say that, but.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
Somebody said that Philip was very honest.
Speaker 6 (13:37):
Philip was like, yeah, that I weigh a few pounds
more than I did in Buffalo, and he countered with
one of the great comments.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
And Mark, you actually had that clip. This is Philip
Rivers yesterday on his weight, not what it was.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
When I walked up the film in Buffalo.
Speaker 8 (13:52):
I can tell you that, but but then I'll follow
that up with I ain't never ran away from anybody.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
Anyway, So so.
Speaker 8 (13:59):
I'm they you know, people say, well they're gonna You're
gonna be right there, and it's like, well, they do
that for sixteen seventeen years.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
So now he's not wrong about any of that.
Speaker 6 (14:09):
But at the same time, I do say this in
all seriousness, like where is he at from a cardio standpoint.
I'm not saying Philip Rivers is tucking and running it
RPO style, but like the stamina on the eighth play
of a drive. I brought it up earlier, what about
a two minute situation at the end of the first half.
I mean, this is a dude that if we're playing
(14:31):
the guests in the weight game, you're grouping him in
with tight ends pretty quickly in terms of how much
he's weighing right now, if not some defensive ends on
this football team. So I asked that, and I don't know,
maybe it's unfair of me to say that, but I
mean we're talking about NFL football players here.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
That is a legitimate question I have For Sunday.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
I get some of the text and the talk back. JT.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
Sorry, we'll get you if you want to call back
that we're going on some stuff in there, but justin
Texan says, it's not shocking that this franchise continuously let's
Ballard use it as his own personal circus. Shane can
have all the confidence, but he's been he hasn't been
right in one decision he's ever made with the franchise.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
That might be a little bit harsh there, but there.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Are a lot of people that are justifiably so down
on Chris. And yet every time I hear people on
the national media talking about the Colts, they say, other
than the quarterback, he's put together a pretty good team.
And now we can all parse that out, and I
think all three of us in here kind of shrug
our shoulders at that one. But it's but that's the NFL.
You got to find a quarterback. You're not gonna win
(15:33):
in this league.
Speaker 5 (15:34):
Yeah, I guess the argument is you've had the rookie
who was just in a National Championship game last year.
Granted it's a lot different playing the pros. He's been
a part of your program for a year now and
he's been there every day. You know, or you should
know what he's capable of. And maybe that's why you
do go out and get Philip Rivers. So to me,
(15:57):
it comes down to not the head and next stuff.
The dude knows the game, but just physically it's borderline
and it probably is unprecedented. I know people have reference
oh other teams that brought guys that are retirement and
even a few of them with this time difference, But
I would like to go back and see how many
of them have been plugged into this situation where you're
(16:22):
eight and five and you still have a chance to
get into the dance and you're relying on a forty
four year old to do it.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
So that to me is it is quite the endeavor
to put it mildly.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
And look at the end of the day too. This
is going back to something Kevin said during checkdown a
minute ago. There's still a lot of questions and a
lot of issues on defense right now, especially with some
of the injuries. Well, we're all going to focus on
this quarterback thing all week long, and I get it,
but there's still there's a reason that they've lost four.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
Out of five and wasn't all just offensive court.
Speaker 6 (16:55):
I think that's a great point, and you know, you
look at the run game too. I mean and losing
four or five. Basically, Jonathan Taylor's ineffectiveness in those four
losses has been a constant.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
And then of course the defensive effort you.
Speaker 6 (17:06):
Saw and now you know, maybe to Forest Buckner's back
on Sunday, but you're defending I would say, one of
the better wideouts period in the NFL, and I think
one of the better wide receiver trios with the trade
for Rashid Shaheed in Seattle. And you're doing it without
an all likelihood Sauce Gardner and then of course Mooney
Ward now on injured reserve, and we should mention as
far as Philip Rivers and pass protection all that.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
You know, you're looking at the rare offensive.
Speaker 6 (17:31):
Line change in all likelihood as a rookie in Braiden
in Jalen Travis for Braden Smith potentially coming up on
Sunday here. So that is another element. But boy, I
just I keep on coming back to Riley Leonard, James
and Ryley Leonard said all the right things yesterday, but boy,
(17:51):
his tone it just felt like, damn, I can't believe
they brought in Philip Rivers to.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Take my spot. And when I say take my spot,
I don't want to act.
Speaker 6 (18:06):
Like, you know, Riley Lennard has earned this like unquestionable.
You know, no one can doubt him as a player.
But given how he played on Sunday, given him practicing
full yesterday, I just would have figured he would start
again on Sunday. And then if you would have told
me the alternative option was a dude that hasn't played
football in five years.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
If I'm Riley Leonard, I'm like.
Speaker 6 (18:31):
Damn, that's how they think about me, because that's a
word debating right now? Who is the better option for
Sunday in Seattle, Riley Leonard, who appears to be a
lot closer to full health than was made out to
believe earlier in the week, or forty four year old Philip.
Speaker 9 (18:49):
Rivers or my or your ex. You brought back the
old chick. She ain't supposed to be here. I'm supposed
to be able to enjoy my new relationship, and you
bring a hubback. So I do think Chucks aside.
Speaker 5 (19:04):
He has every right to feel that way, and honestly,
if he didn't feel slighted, I would question his competitive
nature because you got to be thinking, I'm twenty three,
even with my knee as a one hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
I can still give you a better chance than the.
Speaker 5 (19:17):
Guy who, granted has been around the game, hasn't played
the game. So I get that, and I think that
he more or less and perhaps will plays audio throughout
the show today or even tomorrow as a get closer
to the game. But one of the culotes that set
out to me Kevin and I actually use it for
a story because I was like, oh, this is him
saying it playing and clean for all of us to
(19:38):
really read it and digest it.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
He said, it's.
Speaker 5 (19:45):
As crazy to me as it is to anybody, but yeah,
it's cool.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
Those were his words.
Speaker 6 (19:52):
Yeah, his first word he said yesterday and a scrum,
was it's weird, yes and not. This is awesome, right,
this is And again for those unfamiliar, precedented, him and
Philip Rivers are very close. Yes, I mean they lived
near each other. Philip Rivers helped train him in the
off season to get ready.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
For the draft, so I didn't see that text change
between those two.
Speaker 6 (20:13):
I appreciated Riley for that candor because it is odd.
Like again, I thought yesterday Philip Rivers was going to
start on Sunday, but I figured Riley Leonard was really
hurt to the point where either he wouldn't practice or
was really limited. And Riley is like, yeah, I should
have no limitations of practice today. And he was full
full on the injury report. If you're full on a
(20:34):
Wednesday injury report, you play literally ninety nine point nine
times out.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
Of one hundred in an NFL game.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
We saw a little bit of video of Philip Rivers
throwing yesterday. What did you guys see there?
Speaker 5 (20:45):
I think it looks fine. You know what's crazy to me?
I maybe I'm just not well versed in arm speed
and talent. But the people who we post the clips, Kevin,
I'm sure you've gone through the same sort of thing
in your mentions and emails and stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Who gloss over or not gloss over?
Speaker 5 (21:04):
But like, live and die with every little thing in
these videos, I just don't know what we're really looking at.
I'm like, Okay, did he have enough zip? Maybe did
he not? I don't know, did he miss this guy
he's late? Like, I'm not looking at it through the
lens of Shane Steichen or Chris Ballard, And I kind
of think of, Okay, if they worked him out Monday
with some practice receivers, and I leave Josh down is
(21:26):
actually on his podcast that a few of the receivers
that he looked fine. Then who am I to really
look at, you know, fifteen minutes of practice and say
whether he has it or not. I got to see Sunday.
Speaker 6 (21:34):
Yeah, I think coleman Owen on the practice squad, and
I believe Eli Pancole, the Penalton Heights guy was a
part of who he threw to on Monday.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
Who's currently on.
Speaker 6 (21:41):
The Colts practice squad. I've never thought like Rivers has
been this like big time velocity dude, like you know,
you know.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
His thing is accuracy.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
The only guy that always got credit for throwing guys open.
Speaker 6 (21:54):
Yeah, I was gonna say he throws with anticipation, and
you know, I think that's the point, good point, he
has the pinpoint nature to him. But the general velocity
question slash continuing to throw at anticipation, that is probably
right up there with just general movement as my biggest
question for Sunday because you know, these Seattle Seahawks defenders,
(22:20):
we have yet to see him throw with a defender
out there. I mean, all the throws we saw yesterday
were stationary. You know, yes, he's throwing to Pittman and
Downs and all those guys, but it's not like they're
being guarded in front of us when we're out there.
So that would be the question that you have of Okay,
windows are going to look a whole lot different in
forty eight degree weather and spitting rain or whatever Seattle
is going to be come Sunday a four o'clock.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
Yeah, and again I go back to what's the speed
of the game going to be like for him? Yes,
he played in the NFL for seventeen years, he understands
NFL speed. It's one thing to have lived it. But
it's five years later now, and oh yeah, those guys
are that quick. And that pass that I used to
throw in that spot, oh yeah, I forgot how quick
that guy can close it on that right.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
I don't know, is it all still there?
Speaker 3 (23:03):
Is it all still muscle memory or does your body
have to ramping up period just to catch.
Speaker 7 (23:07):
Up with the speed. Again.
Speaker 5 (23:08):
I was listening to a lot of people weigh in
on this yesterday, one of them being Kurt Warner, who
joined our show at the Athletics Scoop City. He was
saying that when he still trains a bunch of high
school athletes. I believe he actually does high school coaching
as well. And he mentioned that a few years ago,
maybe back in twenty twenty, or maybe I'm misremembering like
(23:29):
the actual timeline, but years ago, the Cardinals quarterback room
kind of got decimated and he was thinking, is there
a chance for me to come back and play? I
can go out here and get ready. But he was like, yea,
I can still outthrow all these people when it comes
to just drills, I can still do that at a
very high level. That's like riding a black But he
was like, your mental clock, your presence of the pocket,
(23:50):
things of that nature, you just can't quantify until you
get out there.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
And that is the risk that Phili Rivers is taking.
Speaker 7 (23:56):
Well.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
In the moment of play breaks down on Sunday year.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
Aft, does he go to Peyton Manninggan just drop right, Oh, yes,
absolutely right, absolutely he has to.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Now you can look at that one of two ways.
Speaker 6 (24:07):
Okay, he'll stay out of bad plays, he'll just go
down drives will end in punts. Or also you can
look at it and say, well, that means the Colts
have to be absolutely perfect in everything else. Pre snap
as soon as the play is snaped like and what
have you. Well, the run game has definitely struggled.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
Here as a way.
Speaker 6 (24:26):
But if you look at Riley Leonard on Sunday, that
first third down he converts, that is Riley Leonard making
a play. It's him getting out of the pocket, it's
him extending, it's him finding ale at Pierce. Now again,
maybe Rivers will say, hey, pre snap, I know Seattle's
playing this cloud coverage, and I know that means boom,
two and a half steps and that ball's got to
come out and it's got to go to Tyler Warren.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
That's the other thing I thought of yesterday.
Speaker 6 (24:46):
I thought, boy, Tyler Warren's got to love this, and
Alec Pearce has got to think, damn, there goes my
chance of getting deep balls.
Speaker 3 (24:54):
I also wonder about the deep balls. That's the big question. Yeah,
but you bring that that last name up. One of
the other things I would think would be attracted to
Shane in this particular offense and all the communication he's
had with Philip Rivers. Philip Rivers demonstrated he knows what
to do with a really good tight end. In the
course of his career, didn't he.
Speaker 5 (25:12):
Yeah, Tyler Warren was saying, Hey, he's one of the
best of the best. Excited to play with him. Well
as excited as Tyler Warren ever appears to be. I
don't think he gets excited about anything. I want to
see him win in the Super Bowl just so I
see if his pulse raises at all.
Speaker 3 (25:23):
Yeah, because I mean, for all those years, Kevin Antonio
Gates was Philip Rivers's biggest weapon bi Excuseonville ad time.
So a lot going on and the Colts will get
their first look at life without Daniel Jones for a
full game and whether that is going to be Philip
Rivers starting at quarterback or is it Riley Leonard.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
We'll find out.
Speaker 3 (25:43):
We got a lot of other input to get to
as well. That model coming your way the head coach
the Butler Bulldogs. At eight thirty, it's the Fan Morning
Show live from the brand new Downtown Studios just off Meridian,
Saint Jose. It's ninety three five and one of seven
to five of the Fan Good morning, everyone, and welcome
into the Fan Show. James Boyd, Kevin bow and Jeff
Rickard and of course Mike Mark Dyton whatever your what's
(26:05):
your name, Mark Dydon On the other side of the
glass this morning, I want to say, on the other side,
it's me. You have your own room now, I do
with a tendance and everything. You got like an audience
in there, all kinds of stuff going on.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
I know, I feel a little bit uncomfortable, as too
many people right now. I can't take hants off.
Speaker 1 (26:20):
Oh lord, you know our next guest is on the phone.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
You can hear everything.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
It's the head coach for the Butler Bulldogs. I don't
know what it's like sometimes around where you're at, But
who knows.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
What's going to happen here at that who knows? We
like it that way.
Speaker 10 (26:36):
That's a good thing, right, I mean, there's there's nothing
better than the unknown, that's for sure.
Speaker 3 (26:40):
We're starting to find out a little bit more about
the Butler Bulldogs.
Speaker 7 (26:44):
They.
Speaker 1 (26:46):
I think you've played well so far. What your thoughts
been over these first couple of weeks.
Speaker 10 (26:52):
Well, you know, we've had some good moments, there's no
question about that. And I think as all teams in
college basketball, we're still work in progress, and you know,
just sort of getting guys experience at certain positions. And
and you know, kind of looking at our rotations and
seeing what guys are bringing to the table with they
(27:13):
bring to the table. And you know, the hard part
is is no opponents the same. And you know from
for instance, you know you play Boys you Stayed on
on Saturday, and you got Providence this Saturday, and there
are two completely different basketball teams. And so trying to
get your guys to understand the preparation that goes into
what we have to do and how we have to
(27:35):
do it. I think that's the biggest things in terms
of the teaching and the coaching that we have to do.
Speaker 6 (27:40):
FA What did you see particularly, I guess that second
half when you know it's a pretty close game on
Saturday there with Boise and then they made that run
and you guys couldn't get.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
Back in it.
Speaker 10 (27:49):
Yeah, I tell you what. You know, it's uh when
you play a team like Boys Stayed and I said
this last week, they're really really good team. And you know,
we had some some breakdowns defensively and you know they
just say they made us pay for him, and then
well offensively, you know, it is one of those games
where we really really struggle to put the ball in
(28:10):
the basket. You know, we missed up dunks at the
beginning of the game, and uh, I think we're one
for eleven for three at halftime, and you know, had
some that were great looks that went in and out,
and uh, you know when that happens, you got to
you got to keep defending. You can't tie your your
offense to your defense. And uh, every you know the
game I get, every possession is vitally important.
Speaker 2 (28:31):
Dad, I'm very curious about this.
Speaker 5 (28:33):
When it comes to college basketball schedule, you will have
quite the gap in between now and your next game,
and you've had quite the gap.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
Rather, what does that look like? How do you plan for.
Speaker 5 (28:45):
That when you know you're gonna have your guys off
probably a little healthier, but you want them to stay
in that competitive mind frame for a big game coming
up against Providence.
Speaker 10 (28:53):
Yeah, you know this sketching is is is crazy, to
be honest with you. And this is kind of a
slow week in college basketball. And then next week Finals week.
You know, I remember Peggy the day when it was
taboo to play a game during the finals week. We
got We're at yukon next Wednesday. I know, we got
a guys taking finals out there, but no, we've taken
this week and you know, really tried to hone in
(29:17):
on us as well. It's prepared for providence, but you know,
knowing that we got a we got a lot of
areas and that we need to get better at and
we've addressed those and we've also gotten some rest. We've
we've been sick this week. We haven't had a full roster.
Hopefully today we've got everybody back, but we've been missing
like four guys and practice this week.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
That makes it makes it tough, no question about it.
That Mada brought to you every week by Thompson Furniture
and Mattress and Columbus in Missines since the year before
Henklefield House Open.
Speaker 1 (29:47):
That's nineteen twenty seven.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
Lazy Boy, Indiana's made Smith Brothers Furniture, Stearns and Foster,
temper Pedic Mattresses, free deliberty the entire Indie metro area.
It's worth the drive to Columbus too. Check them out.
Thompson Furniture, Sure dot Net coach. We talk about the
big guns all the time, Finley Bizjack and and we
talk about Jai and guys like that.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
From the bottom of your roster up.
Speaker 3 (30:08):
Who are some of the guys that have really impressed
you and have worked hard and are making a contribution
for you on the floor right now that people don't
always see.
Speaker 10 (30:16):
Well, yeah, I would starting with Jamie Kus. I think
Jamie's is having a heck of a season. We need
him to get more shots up throughout the course of
the game, but you know, defensively, he's had some some
really really good moments for us. I think you see
Drayton Jones is kind of coming into uh the player
that we were hoping he was going to be a
(30:37):
mont four shots the other day, which we need the
rim protection. I think Xavier and is growing. I mean
he's nine college games into his career and you know,
folks that who missed five weeks, uh is uh getting
more and more game experience. You know. Johann we I
(30:57):
like the way when he's when he's on, he's playing
really well. We got even more consistent throughout. But I
think he's doing a heck of a job for so
you know, just really across the board, and you know,
the freshmen are coming along. We've we've been able to
get them a lot of experience early in the season,
so you know, hopefully, And that's that's one of our things, man.
We got to keep developing these guys all the way through.
(31:17):
We never stopped with the skill instruction and and all
the film work that we do on the side and
just trying to get them be the best they can be.
Speaker 6 (31:25):
Biggy Slay go and open up here for the bulldogs
coming up on Saturday. They got providence inside of hankle
a to a clock tip that model with us on
the Payloss Slickers hotline.
Speaker 2 (31:33):
Coach.
Speaker 6 (31:34):
I don't know if it's the Philip Rivers storyline that
has me going down a.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
Little bit of memory lane.
Speaker 6 (31:39):
But we obviously saw Greg Odin on your staff there
a butler for a couple of years, and he has
moved on for our audience, I might not know. Could
you fill us in on where Greg is at right
now from a professional standpoint?
Speaker 10 (31:52):
Yeah, you know, great went back to Columbus and and
is doing you know, kind of the social media thing
and talked him not so long ago and really enjoyed
he you know, wanted to be your father, raised London
and and uh be more more at home and that
sort of thing, which he's able to do.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
It's always terrific to talk to you every week, Coach.
We appreciate you taking the time out and doing that.
Good luck this weekend Saturday, Providence the Fieldhouse.
Speaker 1 (32:16):
You're ready to go. Let's let's do it.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
Let's get another w Okay.
Speaker 10 (32:20):
It's gonna it's gonna be a high octane game. They
play fast as we do. So it's uh, bring your
bring your track shoes.
Speaker 7 (32:28):
To this one.
Speaker 1 (32:28):
I like it, Thanks, coach, I appreciate you.
Speaker 7 (32:31):
All right.
Speaker 1 (32:34):
A lot going on around here right now, as you know.
Speaker 3 (32:37):
The pretty boiler Makers get a win in basketball last
night at Mackie. A nice job bouncing back from the
Iowas Tate game. They beat Minnesota. We'll be talking all
morning long, and have been talking for the last day
or two about Philip Rivers joining the Indianapolis Colts. But
everybody around here is an Indiana football fan, Kevin. They're
still just kind of riding the high and taking that
cloud ride from a Big Ten championship win, a continued
(32:57):
undefeated season, and now they're getting ready to play a
playoff game at the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day.
Speaker 1 (33:03):
Is the number one ranked team in the country.
Speaker 3 (33:07):
Michael and nasalk Or Nyslek covers the team for the
Indian University Athletics beat at the Herald Times down there,
and he has watched this evolution every step of the way,
and he's kind enough to join us this morning on
the Payless Lookers Hotline.
Speaker 1 (33:22):
Michael, thanks so much for being here. We appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (33:25):
And even when this season started, was being undefeated and
being the number one overall seed in the college football Playoff?
Was that a bridge too far? Even in your mind
at the beginning of the season.
Speaker 11 (33:38):
You know you could after what they did last year,
I don't think you could rule anything out. I mean,
you know they had that much harder schedule obviously, but
everybody kind of thought they brought, you know, a core
group of talent and obviously is the man in charge, uh,
you know, as a history of winning. So I guess
anything was possible and it was.
Speaker 1 (33:59):
Mike.
Speaker 6 (33:59):
I hate ask questions on conference calls all the time
and people say your last name like me speaking wing Dings.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
Is that correct?
Speaker 7 (34:07):
Yes? Correct?
Speaker 2 (34:07):
Okay? Absolutely want to make sure I got it.
Speaker 7 (34:10):
Corries all good.
Speaker 6 (34:11):
Mike Nisley from Hald Times with this year Payles Lakers Hotline,
your Heisman Trophy ceremony bound correct.
Speaker 7 (34:17):
Correct, Yes, heap to New York in the morning.
Speaker 6 (34:19):
Yes, I'm gonna guess that's your first time covering it.
If not, have you ever covered it and do you
have any idea like what Saturday will look like. I've
never even covered I guess an award show like that.
Speaker 11 (34:32):
Uh, yeah, no, this is my first time covering it.
I had had some colleagues that have covered it in
past years and kind of spoke with them to sort
of pick their brain and get kind of a lay
of the land. You kind of go uh Friday, and
then they have a bunch of you basically talk to
the finalists. You have three opportunities to talk to them,
(34:53):
once on Friday, once before the ceremony on Saturday, and
then the winner after the ceremony again on Saturday. You
don't media actually isn't allowed to like see the ceremony
in person. You stay back at kind of the media
hotel and watch it.
Speaker 7 (35:09):
It's very limited access.
Speaker 11 (35:10):
I mean, even the schools and the players are granted
just a very you know, small number. It's a very
sort of intimate, sort of small uh setup. So we'll
watch it back at the hotel and kind of get
ready to watch ask the questions to the winner. I
you know, I think Fernando takes it home. But then
that's kind of how it's all set up.
Speaker 2 (35:32):
What would you say now that you're like a gambling guy.
Speaker 6 (35:35):
But I'm trying to like equate it to a football game,
Like I you, Iowa is what I'm coming back to.
Like Fernando Mendos, is I you about a touchdown favorite
over Diego Pavia?
Speaker 2 (35:44):
He would be IOWA in this instance.
Speaker 6 (35:46):
Is that kind of how like you're viewing it from
you know, potentially you know, straw polls and all these
you know, voting mechanisms that we're seeing here to project
the Heisman winner.
Speaker 11 (35:55):
Yeah, I mean maybe it's sort of what maybe against well,
I mean I get almost everybody at home. They were
sort of favored by more twenty or more. So maybe
it's two touchdown favorites. Mendoza is is probably where I
would equate it. You know, it's come down a little bit.
I mean before it was like right after like the
(36:16):
game the game was coming to an end, the Ohio
State Game, the Big Tenttile Game. His odds shot up
to minus five thousand. I think the last time I
looked it was minus twelve hundred. Diego Pavia is kind
of the guy that's kind of lurking. And it's hard
to say, obviously, because it's a big voting vakum. I
think it's like nine hundred and thirty sixty former Heisman
(36:36):
winners or fifty nine former high the Heisman winners. They
are still a live one fan vote and the rest
are media, and obviously it's media over over the country.
There's some regionality to it, you know. The guys that
you've seen sort of tend to get the more votes
in those areas of the South obviously see country, they've
seen Diego. Maybe he gets more first place bodes from them.
(36:58):
But I just can't see how the large majority of
voters are gonna, you know, even if they're not totally
familiar with what Fernando did during the season that Big
ten title game.
Speaker 7 (37:08):
I think we'll speak loudly.
Speaker 5 (37:10):
Michael, I'm sorry, I'm finguing my mica'she you're a new studio, Michael,
I'm sorry. Thanks taking the time for us and Michael
Nislick here for the Herald Times covering IU athletics. How
big of a loss is Stephen Daily and just knowing
how much he meant to that D line and that
defense and the uniqueness of the injury.
Speaker 11 (37:29):
Yeah, I've been asked, I got this this the other day,
just in terms of like you know what the impact
would be or do you do you do you worry
that you know they won't have anybody to kind of
step in because I mean, they don't have a ton
of experience, right, But I mean I'm at the point
where it's Brian Haynes, this other guy, Like I'm not
questioning him, you know, like what he's done. You know,
Kayden Turner stepped in earlier this season, the fourth linebackerund
(37:51):
the team and had an interception against Maryland.
Speaker 7 (37:53):
Right, So it's like.
Speaker 11 (37:54):
This, this is a defense that has you know, Stephen
Daley himself is kind of a guy that stepped in
and you know it was splitting time with Kellen Wyatt
and then stepped in and was kind of one of
the best defenders in the country the last six weeks.
So it's like, you know, you don't ll just because
of how they've been able to have the you know,
obviously every coach says next man up philosophy, but I mean, really,
they've lived it.
Speaker 7 (38:15):
The last two years, and anytime they've had an injury.
Speaker 11 (38:17):
Somebody's stepped in, they've still got macal Kamara on the
other side, Daniel and the Duke Way is probably the
guy that's going to step in U there at that spot.
I just you know, they they've done such a good
job with anybody that's had to step in sort of
an emergency role all throughout the season. I mean, even
DeAngelo Ponds was a huge game against Iowa, rolling Gandy
stepped in, got the job done. And you've just kind
(38:39):
of seen an instance after instance of them having a
guy come in when they've needed him. Will he be
as productive as a stealing Stephen Daley has been the
last six weeks. No, that's that's that's probably setting the
bar too high, but giving them what they need to.
Speaker 7 (38:53):
Get through that game.
Speaker 11 (38:53):
That's I think where you set where you kind of
hope the where you set the mark, and I think
they'll meet it.
Speaker 1 (38:58):
Yeah, as far.
Speaker 3 (38:59):
As we know, we talked earlier about the big injury
and crazy the way it happened, But who we also
keep an eye on, is we get a week or
two here to rest guys up, anybody else that really
needs this time.
Speaker 11 (39:12):
Yeah, I mean they've had They had a very small
injury report going into the Big Ten Title game. Brandon
Frankie was the only sort of guy that was like
questioned out, but so a guy that could come back.
He's their kickoff specialist. But I think when you walked
around the field after that game, the toll of facing
an Ohio State is kind of like the physical part.
Speaker 7 (39:31):
Of that game.
Speaker 11 (39:31):
I mean, everybody in the offensive line was limping, you know,
like not obviously not what daily was, but just like
beat up and feeling all the fifty sixty snaps they played.
I think this is another time, you know, we talked
about that off week kind of being well timed before
the Purdue game in the Big Ten Title game to
sort of rest up and get guys on the fence
that were kind of you know, dealing with kind of
(39:52):
the season's long worth bumps and bruises. I think this
is another chance for them to rest up. I mean,
because like Indians is not as deepest sort of the
high end teams like Ohio State. You know that they're
just they're just not yet. And so I think this
is a chance for them to rest up and get
guys just that that that felt, that Ohio State game,
that that big tent title game, and just be in
(40:14):
a better spot. And I think that that's what they'll
they'll use this and that's why they're taking basically the
ten days from now until they find out who their
opponent is and treating it like an off week, rest
and recovery. That's kind of what they're focused on.
Speaker 1 (40:25):
Good stuff, Michael Nielik, Thanks so much for Yeah.
Speaker 5 (40:28):
One more for Michael, because I'm very curious about the
Heisman speech uh that I assume Fan Mendoz will be
giving here shortly over the weekend. When did you realize
that the way he articulates himself is not a bit
because for those who are not used to that Fernando
MENDOZI experience. I know my father was talking about over
(40:49):
the weekend. He was like, who is this like dorky
but tough kid Iu that's doing this thing. How long
did it take you out to realize that he can
again articulate himself that way but still be this fiery
competitive to do on the field.
Speaker 11 (41:04):
Well, you know, it's funny, like all quarterbacks have, especially
ones that have had kind of extra experience, kind of
get to the point where they get very polished, right,
And I guess he's sort of been like a fully
formed kind of media presidence since it starts like he, uh,
he looked at the camera, no matter, like, he doesn't
look at you, he looks at what your your devices,
So he's like looking.
Speaker 7 (41:23):
Straight at it.
Speaker 11 (41:24):
Anybody that asks will turn and look at it. It's
very funny, but I mean it's genuine.
Speaker 7 (41:28):
It is truly.
Speaker 11 (41:29):
I'm I've talked to his parents about this. They kind
of laugh. A funny story kind of. He was asked
about the Heisman earlier this season and he's kind of like, uh,
you know, I don't need that now. I just really
want a national title. That'd be great, but I you know,
get you know, just that doesn't matter to me as
much as as winning a title. And his mom was like, jeez,
he just doesn't have to go that far. He doesn't
have to say voters listening, like he doesn't think he
(41:52):
could feel that, but don't say it, Fernando. So like
that's just who he is. That's just kind of his personality.
He has so much he kind of wants to go
off his us and spread kind of the credit to
his teammates.
Speaker 7 (42:03):
It's just just how he is.
Speaker 11 (42:04):
I think you learned pretty quickly that this he was
just a little different cat, you know, just how he
was very just you know, humble, but like at the
same time, it's very articulate and has so much on
his mind. I mean, that's that business that cal business
degree at work. But she's a very thoughtful kid, and
you kind of appreciate that, especially as a reporter. Somebody
(42:25):
that takes the you know, really takes it to heart.
Answering those questions.
Speaker 2 (42:29):
Well, I'll tell you what.
Speaker 5 (42:30):
He might not brag, but I'll brag for him because
the dude can play.
Speaker 7 (42:33):
He can absolutely.
Speaker 3 (42:35):
Michael, thanks again. We really appreciate you getting up early
this morning and joining us. You can read his stuff
down at the Harald Times. You can also go online
Harald Times online dot com. Check out his coverage of
Indiana University. What a dream beat all of a sudden, Michael,
what a just a dream.
Speaker 7 (42:50):
Beat and best team in the country.
Speaker 1 (42:52):
Right, go get it man, have fun.
Speaker 11 (42:54):
All right, thanks guys, anytime, man oh man, Ohman, We
are good to go.
Speaker 3 (43:00):
New studio here, Jason Hammer's already found the place before
his show comes up.
Speaker 1 (43:04):
Bud.
Speaker 3 (43:05):
You guys debut yesterday or today today at the new
studio today.
Speaker 4 (43:08):
So we look forward to a well oiled machine this
afternoon with absolutely no issues whatsoever. At least that's what
I've been told to say by management. I hope it
goes well.
Speaker 3 (43:18):
Thanks as always for being here, because we are here,
you're here to.
Speaker 1 (43:22):
Help us, help our listeners make money.
Speaker 4 (43:24):
Yes, So Thursday nights this is I believe week fifteen.
We're ten and four on the game play. And like
I said last week, last week, the prop bets have
been a train wreck. I've abandoned, I've jumped ship, I've
gotten on the emergency boat to get away from the Titanic.
But in terms of the game itself, we're ten and
four on Thursday Nights. Now, I'm gonna need you guys
(43:46):
to kind of hold your nose on this one tonight.
Falcons and Bucks. Okay, conventional wisdom says Bucks are going
to roll these dudes up. It's four and a half
point spread right now, four and a half points.
Speaker 1 (44:01):
Let's stay below.
Speaker 4 (44:03):
Well, here's why Baker mayfield four straight games of two
hundred yards or less through the air. Now, keep in mind,
about a month ago we were having a debate who's
going to be the MVP, Jonathan Taylor, Danny Dimes or
Baker Mayfield. Life comes at you fast. Four straight turns
from Baker. That Tampa Bay defense, which is normally pretty good,
(44:25):
you know, historically pretty good, they've given up twenty four
or more and four of the last five Tampa Bay
is zero to five against the spread in the last five.
And in Tampa seven wins this year, five of them
have been by three points or less, so they're not
blowing anybody out. And you look at this Falcons team,
I know they stink, but this is a primetime game.
(44:48):
If you're tanking and you're ready to go to Cancun,
there's only a few games you get up for, and
prime time games is one one of the games you
get up for, and two where you can be seen
for a new team next year.
Speaker 3 (45:01):
Well, maybe as excited to play tonight as AL will
be to broadcasting.
Speaker 4 (45:06):
Al will let you know what the spread is at
some point, I promise you that.
Speaker 6 (45:10):
So Mike Evans back no Drake London and you still
are going Falcons.
Speaker 1 (45:14):
Well, yeah, I like the Bucks to night at home.
Give me Atlanta with the points.
Speaker 4 (45:17):
I think the Bucks win this thing, but I think
the Falcons hang around. Four and a half is such
a quirky number in gambling, so that basically FRA all
intents and purposes, mean six because nobody wins by five.
Hardly anybody wins by four. Few people do it twenty
four to twenty, but four and a half is the number.
So give me Atlanta. It's a glorified six divisional matchup.
(45:41):
I think it's close, hold your nose, and let's pull
for the dog tonight.
Speaker 3 (45:46):
I know it's probably not on your list, but what
would you think in his first game back? It's his
favorite target over under for catches for Mike Evans. Do
you think today he'll be targeted?
Speaker 4 (45:56):
I don't have the number in front of me right now,
but he'll get looks, So I would bet if they're
not easing him back into the mix, which I don't
know what their game plan is for him tonight, I
would assume four and a half to five. That would
be my handicap off the top of my head for that,
So I'm sorry again. I haven't seen the actual Vegas
(46:20):
number on his props because I gave up on props
because that was so awful at it this year. Kate
Beacon backed me up. Last year we were a big
Harry American winning machine. This year, I know when I'm beat,
I waved the white flag on props. We're just focusing
on games at this point.
Speaker 5 (46:35):
So my question is to further the NFL conversation. Have
you looked at this Colts Seahawks game.
Speaker 6 (46:42):
I know you have, oh yeah, oh, the biggest spread
in week fifteen, right, and the possibility of old man
Rivers getting out there.
Speaker 4 (46:50):
So remember when Cardale Jones was at Ohio State. You
remember then he said, we didn't come here to play school.
Philip Rivers didn't come here to play on the practice team.
He didn't come here to just hand the ball off
the Jonathan Taylor. That's a big number you'll get at
two touchdowns for the Colts at Seattle. Listen, maybe I've
had a few cocktails this early in the morning. I'm
(47:12):
not mad at taking a look at the Colts with
fourteen like odds makers are treating the Colts like they're the.
Speaker 1 (47:17):
Titans, like they're the Raiders here. I mean, this is
a decent team.
Speaker 4 (47:21):
I know the quarterback situation is a hot mess, but
you've got the best running back in the league. You've
got a decent offensive line, a banged up but okay defense,
You've got a really good tight end, some pretty good receivers.
To say, it's the Titans, it's not the Browns, I'll
take pretty much any NFL team if you're giving me
(47:41):
two touchdowns. Man, Like, take a look at the Colts
catching fourteen, and I'm wondering once they announce who the
starter is, whether it's Riley Leonard or if it's old
Man Rivers, if that line changes at all. But I'm
not mad at two touchdowns at all. The Colts are
better than that.
Speaker 2 (47:58):
It's amazing.
Speaker 6 (47:58):
This line started three and a half pre Daniel jones injury,
rose to about ten once Jones got hurt, and now
has risen since the Philip.
Speaker 2 (48:07):
Rivers smoke I think has started.
Speaker 1 (48:09):
So do you think Daniel Jones is worth eleven points?
Speaker 8 (48:12):
Like?
Speaker 4 (48:12):
I like Daniel Jones just like the next guy. But
is there any NFL player that is worth an eleven
point swing in a game? Like if Patrick Mahomes goes
out like this week, does that line change by eleven points?
Speaker 1 (48:25):
That seems a little extreme to me.
Speaker 6 (48:26):
Well, the drop is a guy that hasn't played football
in five years, whereas the drop from Mahomes would be
to Gardner Minshew.
Speaker 4 (48:31):
You know, and I keep hearing that he hasn't played
football in five years. Well you know what, Gino Smith
played last week and he stinks. Whoever the Saints are
whimping to the finish line with stinks. Whoever the Jets
are whimping to the finish line with stinks. I don't
care if he's been playing you know, catch in the
street with a couple of fat guys. Give me forty
four year old Grandpaul Philip Rivers over some of these
turns in the league right.
Speaker 12 (48:51):
Now, the hammer putting down the hammer, he looked like
Tim Allen walking up to the podium Christmas. Okay, anything
else we don't have obviously call Army Navy I think
is a must watch every year. I think it first
half under we get patritree, what is the over under?
Speaker 1 (49:06):
Thirty eight and a half?
Speaker 2 (49:08):
There's Army Navy.
Speaker 7 (49:09):
Now.
Speaker 1 (49:09):
Last year, like, is that sad that I need?
Speaker 4 (49:12):
It was under most of the game and then there
was a whacky fourth quarter if I remember right. So
we're gonna play it safe this year. First half under
I think it's nineteen and a half.
Speaker 2 (49:23):
Jason Hammer.
Speaker 6 (49:23):
Course, you can hear him every afternoon at WIBC, our
sister station.
Speaker 2 (49:26):
That is the Hammer of Nigel Show degenerates next door
of the podcast.
Speaker 6 (49:30):
Anything else you like from a let's make some money
this weekend standpoint?
Speaker 4 (49:35):
Not this weekend, but the first line of college football
playoff games on Friday.
Speaker 6 (49:40):
Will be Alabama Oklahoma, and then we get the three
games on next Saturday.
Speaker 4 (49:44):
I think Oregon just beats the absolute breaks off James Madison.
Twenty one and a half I believe is the number.
Twenty one and a half. That's not enough give me
Oregon in that one. I took a look at Tulane
Old Miss, but the coaching situation is a little quirky
to me.
Speaker 6 (49:59):
Old Miss win by five touchdowns in the rare season
against them.
Speaker 4 (50:03):
But with Lane Kivid God, I mean, I don't know,
uh to a forty point difference? Maybe I don't know,
he runs up the score. He's that much of a
petty a hole. James Madison, though, this is like a
contest winner. Somebody was calling number nine and got to
be part of the college football playoff, and your reward
is going to Eugene. Give me Oregon. I think they
(50:25):
win that game big. I'll lay the twenty one and
a half. It's a big number. But if I'm playing
it and I'm laying it, what do you think about
the one and a half points spread?
Speaker 3 (50:31):
Alabama is favored right now against Oklahoma. Alabama has not
looked great in my opinion. Who is Oklahoma?
Speaker 4 (50:40):
Oklahoma's got a really good defense and an NFL kicker.
As a Tennessee ball fan, let me tell you about
Oklahoma's kicker three point fifty plus yarders in Knoxville to
help beat Tennessee at home in a primetime game this
year in Essen's knocking them out. And while everybody's down
on Alabama, and you guys know this, I feel like
I say this every week. I'm a by low Sell
(51:01):
high guy. I can't see them being this bad multiple
weeks in a row.
Speaker 7 (51:07):
Now.
Speaker 4 (51:07):
They could be uh Simpson their quarterback. One week he
looks great, one week he's trash.
Speaker 5 (51:12):
What do you mean they have the best offense in
the country. He told us that after they did not
have best offense in the country.
Speaker 3 (51:17):
He looked confused for the second half of that game
against Georgia.
Speaker 4 (51:20):
Oklahoma's defense is going to come at him. But man,
don't count Bama out on this one. Man, that's gonna
be to me, that's the best game in the first
round by far. I'll take Indiana over the winner.
Speaker 1 (51:31):
Of either one of those. But don't sleep on the tide.
Speaker 10 (51:34):
Man.
Speaker 4 (51:34):
Oklahoma's defense is good, but that offense isn't great. And
if Bama can get anything offensively, we got ourselves a
ball game down there in Oklahoma.
Speaker 7 (51:43):
All right.
Speaker 3 (51:44):
I'm glad your card key works for the first day
of the new building, So that's that's a positive start.
Speaker 1 (51:49):
I say that every day I come to work.
Speaker 7 (51:51):
Jeff the car Key works.
Speaker 2 (51:52):
I saw a hammer house sauce on called a police
and said, who is this man on the door? Man,
give me work?
Speaker 1 (51:56):
Give me he's heard a colored shirt, a colored dress shirt.
Speaker 2 (52:00):
Jacket, he had a long night last night. He ain't
been home yet.
Speaker 6 (52:04):
I love.
Speaker 4 (52:04):
I show up to work with pants on, and everybody thinks,
what's going on around here?
Speaker 1 (52:07):
What's the Christmas party you're going to tonight or last night?
It's tonight?
Speaker 2 (52:11):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (52:12):
Diamond's direct proud sponsor of The Hammer and Nigel Show.
Previously on the Fan Morning Show.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Might see a negative two degrees on Saturday. Yeah, it's
it's insane. I won't here.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
I mean what.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Only I didn't say fudge.
Speaker 4 (00:20):
I said the word, the big one, the queen mother
of gerty words, the V dash dash dash word.
Speaker 5 (00:31):
Didn't the dump button on that one, right, I didn't
say that was close enough.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
You're gonna get in trouble. Kevin's not gonna get trouble.
Here we go, I'll get in trouble.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
The dumb button has been hit. I think I was
the first time I've had to dump Kevin. I'm like
some others we've discussed today. I definitely pulled out there.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Part of what happened yesterday. Kevin was on one yesterday
he was rolling. I'm the one that got my mouth
washed off with soap when it was all said and done, though,
let's how that worked. So good morning along with jameisk Yeah,
I'm back and got that switch going.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Kevin Bowen, James Boy, Jeff Rickard.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Also, how about I also want to give a shout
out to Spencer Thompson from Thompson Furniture and Mattress. They
sponsored a lot of our butler stuff including the Thad
Mada appearance. Every week they Spencer Thompson sent each and
every one of us a great yetty engraved with our
names and our favorite teams.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
So I think, Kevin, you got one from Notre Dame.
Speaker 6 (01:29):
Right, yeah, put in the dishwasher last night, so I
cannot wait to use it. So shot shot Spencer text yesterday,
thank you very very much to him.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
Really cool, really cool.
Speaker 6 (01:39):
He'll be thrilled when I tell her I don't want
to drink the cup that has my.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Family on it anymore. I want to drink the one
that has Notre Dame on it. And you sound like me. Mind,
I don't have the family.
Speaker 6 (01:49):
Notice you didn't mention Notre Dame on the checkdown there,
go ahead about their win over Idaho.
Speaker 7 (01:54):
Go ahead.
Speaker 6 (01:54):
You seem to do that quite often when it comes
to the Irish.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Jeff, if you mean to, I would never got you
going with Notre Dame. Well, how it is, but yesterday
they they had the Idaho Vandals last night, Kevin, how
to go Idaho?
Speaker 6 (02:06):
Very good Mid Major team life without Marcus Burton. A
bit of a struggle for the first thirty minutes, but
Hunter day and pulled away and impress a fashion, so good.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Work from Michael Shusbury company.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
There we go. Yeah, it's funny.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
I was popping in and out of the Purdue game
last night and it was fairly tight in the first half.
But then man watched maybe the first six minutes of
that second half and it was Katie bar the door
twenty one nothing run to start thinking.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
So that's how you went at home.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
By the way, that's how you get that belt put
on you.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Yeah, whoop, And Booty Colt's going.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
To be back at practice a little bit later on today.
We'll see how Philip Rivers bounces back from a very
busy day yesterday. And we talked a lot if you're
just joining us this morning, we've talked a lot already
about you know how Shane Stikeing just seems in like
on cloud nine right now, Kevin, like he is floating
with Philip Rivers coming to town.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Yes, that is a great way to put it.
Speaker 6 (02:56):
I have not seen Shane Syken that energized in quite
a while. And you know, if you want to get
a little bit more into maybe, okay, where are the
Colts at having lost four of five?
Speaker 2 (03:08):
They need an injection of life now. Again.
Speaker 6 (03:12):
You know, Sunday at four twenty five will be the
big decider and exactly how much the injection of life
has occurred. But for now, Philip Rivers undoubtedly brings energy.
He brings certainly he's such a unique football player period.
You know, you hear Jack Doyle talk about him yesterday
and we had him on. You know, I think it
(03:32):
was a very easy gravitational pull, even during the COVID
year that Jack experience with Philip Rivers. That guy's you know,
might feel. But again, how long is all of that
going to last? I think that's kind of where I
sit on this Thursday morning, and I'll reiterate what I
said earlier. I expect him to start unless things just
look awful in practice, unless he woke up and felt
like a forty four year old that had worked out
(03:54):
in a different manner for the first time in five years,
I expect.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Him to be the guy on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
It's interesting when you hear him talk all day yesterday,
James Is He's answering questions and talking about why he
wanted to come back and why he wanted to be
a part of this franchise and all those kinds of things.
As a reporter, you're sitting in that room and this
is kind of unprecedented, right, So now what.
Speaker 5 (04:17):
It truly is and the way I look at it, Jeff,
and the way I can perhaps explain it best is
the fact that when we were talking to Zaire Franklin,
he said talking to Philip is like talking to Shane,
and that right there really summed it up for me,
because we can go through all of the other possibilities
(04:41):
at quarterback, and also knew with Newsworthy shot out to
my guy Parker Gabriel, who is a Denver Broncos reporter
for the Denver Post.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
He reported and actually not even really a report.
Speaker 5 (04:52):
He went and talked to Sam because you remember we
kept asking why he wasn't chosen. Sam turned him down,
so they reached out and it sounds like from his
reporting Parker Gabriel again that the Colts wanted to bring
in Sam and Philip Rivers. So this is me speculating
at this point, perhaps it wasn't as enticing for Sam
(05:14):
to be like, all right, why would I leave the
situation I'm in where I'm a backup to go somewhere
else to be the backup?
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Because he's not a dumb guy.
Speaker 5 (05:21):
He probably knows Okay, I know the offense, but not
as well as that dude.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
So we will see how it all shakes out.
Speaker 5 (05:27):
But again, it feels like they're talking to each other
kind of like in the mirror, and one guy is
just physically what we think able to play the game
where Shane will be coaching the game.
Speaker 6 (05:37):
Mark, are we able to cue up any audio clips?
I don't know how we are from a technological standard.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
For sure.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
We're just throwing stuff against the wall that we should be. Okay, though,
figure it out.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Philip, he's so happy today.
Speaker 6 (05:47):
I have a little clip number four Mark Phillip Rivers
on why he wants to come back to playing here
at the age of forty four.
Speaker 8 (05:53):
To get emotional. Actually, you asking that as simple as
as can be as a coach. That and an organization
that I really enjoyed being with, you know, mister ersay
believing in me in that year in twenty twenty when
it didn't go so good in twenty nineteen. And shoot,
(06:14):
the teammates that I was able to were able to
play with, Shoot, fourteen of them are still here training rooms.
The same pr guys are the same quicker rooms the same,
and they wanted me. And you know, I try to
keep it as simple as that. And you know, a game,
a game I love to play, a game that I
(06:34):
thought it was was I was done playing, certainly, I
wasn't really hanging on any hope of playing again. I'd
kind of i'd kind of thought that ship had sailed,
but something about it excited me. And uh, it's kind
of one of those deals. The door opens and you
can either walk through it and find out if you
can do it, or or run from it. And I know,
(06:56):
I know that there's there's risk involved, obviously of what
may or may not happen, but the only one to
find out is going for it. And I just felt
almost like it was a gift, another opportunity to play
and kind of loose with the guys in the game
you love to play and the dream that you got
to live. You may get some bonus time. So I
really kept it as kept it as simple as that
(07:16):
in my mind. And uh, and here I stand.
Speaker 6 (07:20):
Yeah, I found it interesting James that Phillips said yesterday
he was watching the Colts game on Sunday Live when
Daniel Jones went down and he did think to himself,
will Shane Styken call me, And sure enough a few
hours later.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Shane stikein dials them up and the rest is history here.
Speaker 6 (07:39):
And so you know, one of my big takeaways from
yesterday is this has a lot less to do with
the health.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
And availability of Riley Leonard than I previously thought. Absolutely
to me, I agree with you.
Speaker 6 (07:53):
Is much more about Shane stike and thinking that too
football obsessed individuals, given the state of the quarterback room
right now, can somehow, some way chess match their way
into staying out of bad plays, making the right pre
snap checks.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
This that obviously, after rely.
Speaker 6 (08:14):
On jonathan' taybor like no other, your defense can't play
anywhere near like you did last week. And you pray
for rain and that the wet football luck bounces your
way in Seattle on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Well, it's gonna be fascinating to watch, and obviously it's
a lottery ticket, James, you hope that it pays off
out well, Willie Wonker right now, well, you're hoping that
you get that golden ticket because you clearly to your point,
there's some juice. There's obviously, the community, the connection between
the coach and the quarterback and all that stuff. But
when you look at the other options that were available
(08:45):
to you probably say to yourself, look, we've lost four
out of five. Anyway, this isn't looking good. Maybe we
get to Forest back. Maybe at some point you get
Sauce Gardner back. But to your point yesterday, Kevin, if
you just win two of four and so, if you
can bring Philip Rivers in for a couple of weeks,
two months, Max, let's take it all the way to
the very end for the complete Disney story. It is
(09:07):
a lottery ticke But it doesn't work out, then you
just stop playing him after the first half, right.
Speaker 5 (09:11):
First half, first half benching Philip Rivers for Uncle Phil. Nah, nah,
you can't come back for a half. You gotta play
a whole thing out, Riley Leonard. If they try to
put you in there after it goes terrible in the
first half, you tell them I'm not getting killed in Seattle.
You get me ready for Monday night football. But jokes aside, Jeff,
how long is it?
Speaker 2 (09:29):
How big is the hook?
Speaker 7 (09:30):
Though?
Speaker 2 (09:30):
That is a question, that's a very big question.
Speaker 5 (09:33):
A lot of it I just don't know yet because
of the physical nature of the game, and he let
that out perfectly yesterday and eloquently and repeatedly.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
I know I haven't played football.
Speaker 5 (09:45):
I know I can still sling it, I can still
throw it, but I haven't played and I don't know
until I get out there. So part of it, to
me is admirable to just try to go out there
and see if you can still do the thing that
you once did. But at the same time, I don't
think it'll be enough juice to offset, you know, five
(10:06):
years of not playing the game. So one of the
funnier comments from the press conference yesterday, besides me asking
if Rivers is he is older than Shane's psyching, He's like, yeah,
he's been older than me in my entire life, James,
You're dumb. So other than that, I thought one of
the funnier moments when Kevin asked him. Kevin asked, Shane,
(10:27):
I need to read the transcript because this this is hilarious.
Speaker 6 (10:30):
We should have Mark pulled Mark if you can maybe
maybe save for the eight o'clock our Marcus. I know
you got a lot to deal with in this new
studio today, but I just read it aloud.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
This is hilarious.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
Transcript might be funnier.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
So we're all peppering Shane with questions and us.
Speaker 5 (10:50):
Yes, Kevin jumps in, is there any part of you
that says, we've lost four or five we need juice?
He is juice and they have it written out he
is juice And I could not stop laughing at that.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
And the response was he he does give us juice.
So there you have it, juice jub Cults. Yeah, I
think it's real.
Speaker 6 (11:09):
Like, I think that is a big part in this
I feeling in the locker room.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
I was Philip Rivers.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
Was I don't know.
Speaker 6 (11:17):
I'm trying to think of like a semi accomplished like
all jokes aside if he was Matt Ryan, Like, okay,
let's act like Matt Ryan didn't put on a cold uniform.
Let's act like Matt Ryan retired as a Falcon when
when Rivers did five years ago. Okay, we don't talk
about Matt Ryan in the manner we talk about Philip Rivers, right,
Philip Rivers has always been this trash talking, no cussing,
(11:38):
unique individual, high energy football upset like Matt Ryan is
his own, you know, personality, but he's not Philip Rivers.
And I think guys, And again, just listen to Jack
Dole describe him when he joined us yesterday. When guys
are teammates are around Philip Rivers, there's just like this
unique gravitational pull that he has. Now, as I've said
(12:01):
all morning long, you know how much can that last
once the ball is kicked off at four twenty five?
But for the time being, he does insert some injection
of life into your building.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
But I'll be totally.
Speaker 6 (12:14):
Honest with you, guys, And I don't know if this
is politically correct for me to say it or not.
When Phil Rivers walked in that room yesterday, I thought
he was Tim Allen to save Christmas.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
I love that. Tell us more?
Speaker 6 (12:32):
Am I not the only one.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Explain to folks Kevin that didn't need to see a.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
Few weeks back?
Speaker 6 (12:41):
Hopefully Mattie isn't listening. She's probably driving the kids to
school at this point. But you know, had a hell
of a drive through some snow to get back in
time for the Colts game from Thanksgiving. You know, it
was that brutal Saturday snow and you know I got
back to Indian thoughts to myself. I deserve a full pizza.
I deserve some Donado's pizza, and sure enough I decided
to eat a full medium Denado's pizza. I might have
(13:02):
had a couple of breadsticks, and boy, James, boyd, I
couldn't get off that couch for three hours, and I
thought to myself.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
You may be eating like you boy.
Speaker 5 (13:11):
Well, I can't say anymore. I'm a thirty year old
man and my diet.
Speaker 6 (13:14):
Listening to Philip Rivers answered the question about how much
he currently weighs, it got me thinking back to the
Donato's pizza I had a few weeks back.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
Wow, so here's.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
My question about the Did no one else think that?
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Did no one else think that Philip Rivers looked out
of shape?
Speaker 1 (13:28):
And he was in the best shape he's ever been in?
Speaker 7 (13:31):
Right for me?
Speaker 2 (13:33):
He didn't say that, but.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
Somebody said that Philip was very honest.
Speaker 6 (13:37):
Philip was like, yeah, that I weigh a few pounds
more than I did in Buffalo, and he countered with
one of the great comments.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
And Mark, you actually had that clip. This is Philip
Rivers yesterday on his weight, not what it was.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
When I walked up the film in Buffalo.
Speaker 8 (13:52):
I can tell you that, but but then I'll follow
that up with I ain't never ran away from anybody.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
Anyway, So so.
Speaker 8 (13:59):
I'm they you know, people say, well they're gonna You're
gonna be right there, and it's like, well, they do
that for sixteen seventeen years.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
So now he's not wrong about any of that.
Speaker 6 (14:09):
But at the same time, I do say this in
all seriousness, like where is he at from a cardio standpoint.
I'm not saying Philip Rivers is tucking and running it
RPO style, but like the stamina on the eighth play
of a drive. I brought it up earlier, what about
a two minute situation at the end of the first half.
I mean, this is a dude that if we're playing
(14:31):
the guests in the weight game, you're grouping him in
with tight ends pretty quickly in terms of how much
he's weighing right now, if not some defensive ends on
this football team. So I asked that, and I don't know,
maybe it's unfair of me to say that, but I
mean we're talking about NFL football players here.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
That is a legitimate question I have For Sunday.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
I get some of the text and the talk back. JT.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
Sorry, we'll get you if you want to call back
that we're going on some stuff in there, but justin
Texan says, it's not shocking that this franchise continuously let's
Ballard use it as his own personal circus. Shane can
have all the confidence, but he's been he hasn't been
right in one decision he's ever made with the franchise.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
That might be a little bit harsh there, but there.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Are a lot of people that are justifiably so down
on Chris. And yet every time I hear people on
the national media talking about the Colts, they say, other
than the quarterback, he's put together a pretty good team.
And now we can all parse that out, and I
think all three of us in here kind of shrug
our shoulders at that one. But it's but that's the NFL.
You got to find a quarterback. You're not gonna win
(15:33):
in this league.
Speaker 5 (15:34):
Yeah, I guess the argument is you've had the rookie
who was just in a National Championship game last year.
Granted it's a lot different playing the pros. He's been
a part of your program for a year now and
he's been there every day. You know, or you should
know what he's capable of. And maybe that's why you
do go out and get Philip Rivers. So to me,
(15:57):
it comes down to not the head and next stuff.
The dude knows the game, but just physically it's borderline
and it probably is unprecedented. I know people have reference
oh other teams that brought guys that are retirement and
even a few of them with this time difference, But
I would like to go back and see how many
of them have been plugged into this situation where you're
(16:22):
eight and five and you still have a chance to
get into the dance and you're relying on a forty
four year old to do it.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
So that to me is it is quite the endeavor
to put it mildly.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
And look at the end of the day too. This
is going back to something Kevin said during checkdown a
minute ago. There's still a lot of questions and a
lot of issues on defense right now, especially with some
of the injuries. Well, we're all going to focus on
this quarterback thing all week long, and I get it,
but there's still there's a reason that they've lost four.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
Out of five and wasn't all just offensive court.
Speaker 6 (16:55):
I think that's a great point, and you know, you
look at the run game too. I mean and losing
four or five. Basically, Jonathan Taylor's ineffectiveness in those four
losses has been a constant.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
And then of course the defensive effort you.
Speaker 6 (17:06):
Saw and now you know, maybe to Forest Buckner's back
on Sunday, but you're defending I would say, one of
the better wideouts period in the NFL, and I think
one of the better wide receiver trios with the trade
for Rashid Shaheed in Seattle. And you're doing it without
an all likelihood Sauce Gardner and then of course Mooney
Ward now on injured reserve, and we should mention as
far as Philip Rivers and pass protection all that.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
You know, you're looking at the rare offensive.
Speaker 6 (17:31):
Line change in all likelihood as a rookie in Braiden
in Jalen Travis for Braden Smith potentially coming up on
Sunday here. So that is another element. But boy, I
just I keep on coming back to Riley Leonard, James
and Ryley Leonard said all the right things yesterday, but boy,
(17:51):
his tone it just felt like, damn, I can't believe
they brought in Philip Rivers to.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Take my spot. And when I say take my spot,
I don't want to act.
Speaker 6 (18:06):
Like, you know, Riley Lennard has earned this like unquestionable.
You know, no one can doubt him as a player.
But given how he played on Sunday, given him practicing
full yesterday, I just would have figured he would start
again on Sunday. And then if you would have told
me the alternative option was a dude that hasn't played
football in five years.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
If I'm Riley Leonard, I'm like.
Speaker 6 (18:31):
Damn, that's how they think about me, because that's a
word debating right now? Who is the better option for
Sunday in Seattle, Riley Leonard, who appears to be a
lot closer to full health than was made out to
believe earlier in the week, or forty four year old Philip.
Speaker 9 (18:49):
Rivers or my or your ex. You brought back the
old chick. She ain't supposed to be here. I'm supposed
to be able to enjoy my new relationship, and you
bring a hubback. So I do think Chucks aside.
Speaker 5 (19:04):
He has every right to feel that way, and honestly,
if he didn't feel slighted, I would question his competitive
nature because you got to be thinking, I'm twenty three,
even with my knee as a one hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
I can still give you a better chance than the.
Speaker 5 (19:17):
Guy who, granted has been around the game, hasn't played
the game. So I get that, and I think that
he more or less and perhaps will plays audio throughout
the show today or even tomorrow as a get closer
to the game. But one of the culotes that set
out to me Kevin and I actually use it for
a story because I was like, oh, this is him
saying it playing and clean for all of us to
(19:38):
really read it and digest it.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
He said, it's.
Speaker 5 (19:45):
As crazy to me as it is to anybody, but yeah,
it's cool.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
Those were his words.
Speaker 6 (19:52):
Yeah, his first word he said yesterday and a scrum,
was it's weird, yes and not. This is awesome, right,
this is And again for those unfamiliar, precedented, him and
Philip Rivers are very close. Yes, I mean they lived
near each other. Philip Rivers helped train him in the
off season to get ready.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
For the draft, so I didn't see that text change
between those two.
Speaker 6 (20:13):
I appreciated Riley for that candor because it is odd.
Like again, I thought yesterday Philip Rivers was going to
start on Sunday, but I figured Riley Leonard was really
hurt to the point where either he wouldn't practice or
was really limited. And Riley is like, yeah, I should
have no limitations of practice today. And he was full
full on the injury report. If you're full on a
(20:34):
Wednesday injury report, you play literally ninety nine point nine
times out.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
Of one hundred in an NFL game.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
We saw a little bit of video of Philip Rivers
throwing yesterday. What did you guys see there?
Speaker 5 (20:45):
I think it looks fine. You know what's crazy to me?
I maybe I'm just not well versed in arm speed
and talent. But the people who we post the clips, Kevin,
I'm sure you've gone through the same sort of thing
in your mentions and emails and stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Who gloss over or not gloss over?
Speaker 5 (21:04):
But like, live and die with every little thing in
these videos, I just don't know what we're really looking at.
I'm like, Okay, did he have enough zip? Maybe did
he not? I don't know, did he miss this guy
he's late? Like, I'm not looking at it through the
lens of Shane Steichen or Chris Ballard, And I kind
of think of, Okay, if they worked him out Monday
with some practice receivers, and I leave Josh down is
(21:26):
actually on his podcast that a few of the receivers
that he looked fine. Then who am I to really
look at, you know, fifteen minutes of practice and say
whether he has it or not. I got to see Sunday.
Speaker 6 (21:34):
Yeah, I think coleman Owen on the practice squad, and
I believe Eli Pancole, the Penalton Heights guy was a
part of who he threw to on Monday.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
Who's currently on.
Speaker 6 (21:41):
The Colts practice squad. I've never thought like Rivers has
been this like big time velocity dude, like you know,
you know.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
His thing is accuracy.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
The only guy that always got credit for throwing guys open.
Speaker 6 (21:54):
Yeah, I was gonna say he throws with anticipation, and
you know, I think that's the point, good point, he
has the pinpoint nature to him. But the general velocity
question slash continuing to throw at anticipation, that is probably
right up there with just general movement as my biggest
question for Sunday because you know, these Seattle Seahawks defenders,
(22:20):
we have yet to see him throw with a defender
out there. I mean, all the throws we saw yesterday
were stationary. You know, yes, he's throwing to Pittman and
Downs and all those guys, but it's not like they're
being guarded in front of us when we're out there.
So that would be the question that you have of Okay,
windows are going to look a whole lot different in
forty eight degree weather and spitting rain or whatever Seattle
is going to be come Sunday a four o'clock.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
Yeah, and again I go back to what's the speed
of the game going to be like for him? Yes,
he played in the NFL for seventeen years, he understands
NFL speed. It's one thing to have lived it. But
it's five years later now, and oh yeah, those guys
are that quick. And that pass that I used to
throw in that spot, oh yeah, I forgot how quick
that guy can close it on that right.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
I don't know, is it all still there?
Speaker 3 (23:03):
Is it all still muscle memory or does your body
have to ramping up period just to catch.
Speaker 7 (23:07):
Up with the speed. Again.
Speaker 5 (23:08):
I was listening to a lot of people weigh in
on this yesterday, one of them being Kurt Warner, who
joined our show at the Athletics Scoop City. He was
saying that when he still trains a bunch of high
school athletes. I believe he actually does high school coaching
as well. And he mentioned that a few years ago,
maybe back in twenty twenty, or maybe I'm misremembering like
(23:29):
the actual timeline, but years ago, the Cardinals quarterback room
kind of got decimated and he was thinking, is there
a chance for me to come back and play? I
can go out here and get ready. But he was like, yea,
I can still outthrow all these people when it comes
to just drills, I can still do that at a
very high level. That's like riding a black But he
was like, your mental clock, your presence of the pocket,
(23:50):
things of that nature, you just can't quantify until you
get out there.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
And that is the risk that Phili Rivers is taking.
Speaker 7 (23:56):
Well.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
In the moment of play breaks down on Sunday year.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
Aft, does he go to Peyton Manninggan just drop right, Oh, yes,
absolutely right, absolutely he has to.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Now you can look at that one of two ways.
Speaker 6 (24:07):
Okay, he'll stay out of bad plays, he'll just go
down drives will end in punts. Or also you can
look at it and say, well, that means the Colts
have to be absolutely perfect in everything else. Pre snap
as soon as the play is snaped like and what
have you. Well, the run game has definitely struggled.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
Here as a way.
Speaker 6 (24:26):
But if you look at Riley Leonard on Sunday, that
first third down he converts, that is Riley Leonard making
a play. It's him getting out of the pocket, it's
him extending, it's him finding ale at Pierce. Now again,
maybe Rivers will say, hey, pre snap, I know Seattle's
playing this cloud coverage, and I know that means boom,
two and a half steps and that ball's got to
come out and it's got to go to Tyler Warren.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
That's the other thing I thought of yesterday.
Speaker 6 (24:46):
I thought, boy, Tyler Warren's got to love this, and
Alec Pearce has got to think, damn, there goes my
chance of getting deep balls.
Speaker 3 (24:54):
I also wonder about the deep balls. That's the big question. Yeah,
but you bring that that last name up. One of
the other things I would think would be attracted to
Shane in this particular offense and all the communication he's
had with Philip Rivers. Philip Rivers demonstrated he knows what
to do with a really good tight end. In the
course of his career, didn't he.
Speaker 5 (25:12):
Yeah, Tyler Warren was saying, Hey, he's one of the
best of the best. Excited to play with him. Well
as excited as Tyler Warren ever appears to be. I
don't think he gets excited about anything. I want to
see him win in the Super Bowl just so I
see if his pulse raises at all.
Speaker 3 (25:23):
Yeah, because I mean, for all those years, Kevin Antonio
Gates was Philip Rivers's biggest weapon bi Excuseonville ad time.
So a lot going on and the Colts will get
their first look at life without Daniel Jones for a
full game and whether that is going to be Philip
Rivers starting at quarterback or is it Riley Leonard.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
We'll find out.
Speaker 3 (25:43):
We got a lot of other input to get to
as well. That model coming your way the head coach
the Butler Bulldogs. At eight thirty, it's the Fan Morning
Show live from the brand new Downtown Studios just off Meridian,
Saint Jose. It's ninety three five and one of seven
to five of the Fan Good morning, everyone, and welcome
into the Fan Show. James Boyd, Kevin bow and Jeff
Rickard and of course Mike Mark Dyton whatever your what's
(26:05):
your name, Mark Dydon On the other side of the
glass this morning, I want to say, on the other side,
it's me. You have your own room now, I do
with a tendance and everything. You got like an audience
in there, all kinds of stuff going on.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
I know, I feel a little bit uncomfortable, as too
many people right now. I can't take hants off.
Speaker 1 (26:20):
Oh lord, you know our next guest is on the phone.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
You can hear everything.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
It's the head coach for the Butler Bulldogs. I don't
know what it's like sometimes around where you're at, But
who knows.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
What's going to happen here at that who knows? We
like it that way.
Speaker 10 (26:36):
That's a good thing, right, I mean, there's there's nothing
better than the unknown, that's for sure.
Speaker 3 (26:40):
We're starting to find out a little bit more about
the Butler Bulldogs.
Speaker 7 (26:44):
They.
Speaker 1 (26:46):
I think you've played well so far. What your thoughts
been over these first couple of weeks.
Speaker 10 (26:52):
Well, you know, we've had some good moments, there's no
question about that. And I think as all teams in
college basketball, we're still work in progress, and you know,
just sort of getting guys experience at certain positions. And
and you know, kind of looking at our rotations and
seeing what guys are bringing to the table with they
(27:13):
bring to the table. And you know, the hard part
is is no opponents the same. And you know from
for instance, you know you play Boys you Stayed on
on Saturday, and you got Providence this Saturday, and there
are two completely different basketball teams. And so trying to
get your guys to understand the preparation that goes into
what we have to do and how we have to
(27:35):
do it. I think that's the biggest things in terms
of the teaching and the coaching that we have to do.
Speaker 6 (27:40):
FA What did you see particularly, I guess that second
half when you know it's a pretty close game on
Saturday there with Boise and then they made that run
and you guys couldn't get.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
Back in it.
Speaker 10 (27:49):
Yeah, I tell you what. You know, it's uh when
you play a team like Boys Stayed and I said
this last week, they're really really good team. And you know,
we had some some breakdowns defensively and you know they
just say they made us pay for him, and then
well offensively, you know, it is one of those games
where we really really struggle to put the ball in
(28:10):
the basket. You know, we missed up dunks at the
beginning of the game, and uh, I think we're one
for eleven for three at halftime, and you know, had
some that were great looks that went in and out,
and uh, you know when that happens, you got to
you got to keep defending. You can't tie your your
offense to your defense. And uh, every you know the
game I get, every possession is vitally important.
Speaker 2 (28:31):
Dad, I'm very curious about this.
Speaker 5 (28:33):
When it comes to college basketball schedule, you will have
quite the gap in between now and your next game,
and you've had quite the gap.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
Rather, what does that look like? How do you plan for.
Speaker 5 (28:45):
That when you know you're gonna have your guys off
probably a little healthier, but you want them to stay
in that competitive mind frame for a big game coming
up against Providence.
Speaker 10 (28:53):
Yeah, you know this sketching is is is crazy, to
be honest with you. And this is kind of a
slow week in college basketball. And then next week Finals week.
You know, I remember Peggy the day when it was
taboo to play a game during the finals week. We
got We're at yukon next Wednesday. I know, we got
a guys taking finals out there, but no, we've taken
this week and you know, really tried to hone in
(29:17):
on us as well. It's prepared for providence, but you know,
knowing that we got a we got a lot of
areas and that we need to get better at and
we've addressed those and we've also gotten some rest. We've
we've been sick this week. We haven't had a full roster.
Hopefully today we've got everybody back, but we've been missing
like four guys and practice this week.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
That makes it makes it tough, no question about it.
That Mada brought to you every week by Thompson Furniture
and Mattress and Columbus in Missines since the year before
Henklefield House Open.
Speaker 1 (29:47):
That's nineteen twenty seven.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
Lazy Boy, Indiana's made Smith Brothers Furniture, Stearns and Foster,
temper Pedic Mattresses, free deliberty the entire Indie metro area.
It's worth the drive to Columbus too. Check them out.
Thompson Furniture, Sure dot Net coach. We talk about the
big guns all the time, Finley Bizjack and and we
talk about Jai and guys like that.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
From the bottom of your roster up.
Speaker 3 (30:08):
Who are some of the guys that have really impressed
you and have worked hard and are making a contribution
for you on the floor right now that people don't
always see.
Speaker 10 (30:16):
Well, yeah, I would starting with Jamie Kus. I think
Jamie's is having a heck of a season. We need
him to get more shots up throughout the course of
the game, but you know, defensively, he's had some some
really really good moments for us. I think you see
Drayton Jones is kind of coming into uh the player
that we were hoping he was going to be a
(30:37):
mont four shots the other day, which we need the
rim protection. I think Xavier and is growing. I mean
he's nine college games into his career and you know,
folks that who missed five weeks, uh is uh getting
more and more game experience. You know. Johann we I
(30:57):
like the way when he's when he's on, he's playing
really well. We got even more consistent throughout. But I
think he's doing a heck of a job for so
you know, just really across the board, and you know,
the freshmen are coming along. We've we've been able to
get them a lot of experience early in the season,
so you know, hopefully, And that's that's one of our things, man.
We got to keep developing these guys all the way through.
(31:17):
We never stopped with the skill instruction and and all
the film work that we do on the side and
just trying to get them be the best they can be.
Speaker 6 (31:25):
Biggy Slay go and open up here for the bulldogs
coming up on Saturday. They got providence inside of hankle
a to a clock tip that model with us on
the Payloss Slickers hotline.
Speaker 2 (31:33):
Coach.
Speaker 6 (31:34):
I don't know if it's the Philip Rivers storyline that
has me going down a.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
Little bit of memory lane.
Speaker 6 (31:39):
But we obviously saw Greg Odin on your staff there
a butler for a couple of years, and he has
moved on for our audience, I might not know. Could
you fill us in on where Greg is at right
now from a professional standpoint?
Speaker 10 (31:52):
Yeah, you know, great went back to Columbus and and
is doing you know, kind of the social media thing
and talked him not so long ago and really enjoyed
he you know, wanted to be your father, raised London
and and uh be more more at home and that
sort of thing, which he's able to do.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
It's always terrific to talk to you every week, Coach.
We appreciate you taking the time out and doing that.
Good luck this weekend Saturday, Providence the Fieldhouse.
Speaker 1 (32:16):
You're ready to go. Let's let's do it.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
Let's get another w Okay.
Speaker 10 (32:20):
It's gonna it's gonna be a high octane game. They
play fast as we do. So it's uh, bring your
bring your track shoes.
Speaker 7 (32:28):
To this one.
Speaker 1 (32:28):
I like it, Thanks, coach, I appreciate you.
Speaker 7 (32:31):
All right.
Speaker 1 (32:34):
A lot going on around here right now, as you know.
Speaker 3 (32:37):
The pretty boiler Makers get a win in basketball last
night at Mackie. A nice job bouncing back from the
Iowas Tate game. They beat Minnesota. We'll be talking all
morning long, and have been talking for the last day
or two about Philip Rivers joining the Indianapolis Colts. But
everybody around here is an Indiana football fan, Kevin. They're
still just kind of riding the high and taking that
cloud ride from a Big Ten championship win, a continued
(32:57):
undefeated season, and now they're getting ready to play a
playoff game at the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day.
Speaker 1 (33:03):
Is the number one ranked team in the country.
Speaker 3 (33:07):
Michael and nasalk Or Nyslek covers the team for the
Indian University Athletics beat at the Herald Times down there,
and he has watched this evolution every step of the way,
and he's kind enough to join us this morning on
the Payless Lookers Hotline.
Speaker 1 (33:22):
Michael, thanks so much for being here. We appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (33:25):
And even when this season started, was being undefeated and
being the number one overall seed in the college football Playoff?
Was that a bridge too far? Even in your mind
at the beginning of the season.
Speaker 11 (33:38):
You know you could after what they did last year,
I don't think you could rule anything out. I mean,
you know they had that much harder schedule obviously, but
everybody kind of thought they brought, you know, a core
group of talent and obviously is the man in charge, uh,
you know, as a history of winning. So I guess
anything was possible and it was.
Speaker 1 (33:59):
Mike.
Speaker 6 (33:59):
I hate ask questions on conference calls all the time
and people say your last name like me speaking wing Dings.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
Is that correct?
Speaker 7 (34:07):
Yes? Correct?
Speaker 2 (34:07):
Okay? Absolutely want to make sure I got it.
Speaker 7 (34:10):
Corries all good.
Speaker 6 (34:11):
Mike Nisley from Hald Times with this year Payles Lakers Hotline,
your Heisman Trophy ceremony bound correct.
Speaker 7 (34:17):
Correct, Yes, heap to New York in the morning.
Speaker 6 (34:19):
Yes, I'm gonna guess that's your first time covering it.
If not, have you ever covered it and do you
have any idea like what Saturday will look like. I've
never even covered I guess an award show like that.
Speaker 11 (34:32):
Uh, yeah, no, this is my first time covering it.
I had had some colleagues that have covered it in
past years and kind of spoke with them to sort
of pick their brain and get kind of a lay
of the land. You kind of go uh Friday, and
then they have a bunch of you basically talk to
the finalists. You have three opportunities to talk to them,
(34:53):
once on Friday, once before the ceremony on Saturday, and
then the winner after the ceremony again on Saturday. You
don't media actually isn't allowed to like see the ceremony
in person. You stay back at kind of the media
hotel and watch it.
Speaker 7 (35:09):
It's very limited access.
Speaker 11 (35:10):
I mean, even the schools and the players are granted
just a very you know, small number. It's a very
sort of intimate, sort of small uh setup. So we'll
watch it back at the hotel and kind of get
ready to watch ask the questions to the winner. I
you know, I think Fernando takes it home. But then
that's kind of how it's all set up.
Speaker 2 (35:32):
What would you say now that you're like a gambling guy.
Speaker 6 (35:35):
But I'm trying to like equate it to a football game,
Like I you, Iowa is what I'm coming back to.
Like Fernando Mendos, is I you about a touchdown favorite
over Diego Pavia?
Speaker 2 (35:44):
He would be IOWA in this instance.
Speaker 6 (35:46):
Is that kind of how like you're viewing it from
you know, potentially you know, straw polls and all these
you know, voting mechanisms that we're seeing here to project
the Heisman winner.
Speaker 11 (35:55):
Yeah, I mean maybe it's sort of what maybe against well,
I mean I get almost everybody at home. They were
sort of favored by more twenty or more. So maybe
it's two touchdown favorites. Mendoza is is probably where I
would equate it. You know, it's come down a little bit.
I mean before it was like right after like the
(36:16):
game the game was coming to an end, the Ohio
State Game, the Big Tenttile Game. His odds shot up
to minus five thousand. I think the last time I
looked it was minus twelve hundred. Diego Pavia is kind
of the guy that's kind of lurking. And it's hard
to say, obviously, because it's a big voting vakum. I
think it's like nine hundred and thirty sixty former Heisman
(36:36):
winners or fifty nine former high the Heisman winners. They
are still a live one fan vote and the rest
are media, and obviously it's media over over the country.
There's some regionality to it, you know. The guys that
you've seen sort of tend to get the more votes
in those areas of the South obviously see country, they've
seen Diego. Maybe he gets more first place bodes from them.
(36:58):
But I just can't see how the large majority of
voters are gonna, you know, even if they're not totally
familiar with what Fernando did during the season that Big
ten title game.
Speaker 7 (37:08):
I think we'll speak loudly.
Speaker 5 (37:10):
Michael, I'm sorry, I'm finguing my mica'she you're a new studio, Michael,
I'm sorry. Thanks taking the time for us and Michael
Nislick here for the Herald Times covering IU athletics. How
big of a loss is Stephen Daily and just knowing
how much he meant to that D line and that
defense and the uniqueness of the injury.
Speaker 11 (37:29):
Yeah, I've been asked, I got this this the other day,
just in terms of like you know what the impact
would be or do you do you do you worry
that you know they won't have anybody to kind of
step in because I mean, they don't have a ton
of experience, right, But I mean I'm at the point
where it's Brian Haynes, this other guy, Like I'm not
questioning him, you know, like what he's done. You know,
Kayden Turner stepped in earlier this season, the fourth linebackerund
(37:51):
the team and had an interception against Maryland.
Speaker 7 (37:53):
Right, So it's like.
Speaker 11 (37:54):
This, this is a defense that has you know, Stephen
Daley himself is kind of a guy that stepped in
and you know it was splitting time with Kellen Wyatt
and then stepped in and was kind of one of
the best defenders in the country the last six weeks.
So it's like, you know, you don't ll just because
of how they've been able to have the you know,
obviously every coach says next man up philosophy, but I mean, really,
they've lived it.
Speaker 7 (38:15):
The last two years, and anytime they've had an injury.
Speaker 11 (38:17):
Somebody's stepped in, they've still got macal Kamara on the
other side, Daniel and the Duke Way is probably the
guy that's going to step in U there at that spot.
I just you know, they they've done such a good
job with anybody that's had to step in sort of
an emergency role all throughout the season. I mean, even
DeAngelo Ponds was a huge game against Iowa, rolling Gandy
stepped in, got the job done. And you've just kind
(38:39):
of seen an instance after instance of them having a
guy come in when they've needed him. Will he be
as productive as a stealing Stephen Daley has been the
last six weeks. No, that's that's that's probably setting the
bar too high, but giving them what they need to.
Speaker 7 (38:53):
Get through that game.
Speaker 11 (38:53):
That's I think where you set where you kind of
hope the where you set the mark, and I think
they'll meet it.
Speaker 1 (38:58):
Yeah, as far.
Speaker 3 (38:59):
As we know, we talked earlier about the big injury
and crazy the way it happened, But who we also
keep an eye on, is we get a week or
two here to rest guys up, anybody else that really
needs this time.
Speaker 11 (39:12):
Yeah, I mean they've had They had a very small
injury report going into the Big Ten Title game. Brandon
Frankie was the only sort of guy that was like
questioned out, but so a guy that could come back.
He's their kickoff specialist. But I think when you walked
around the field after that game, the toll of facing
an Ohio State is kind of like the physical part.
Speaker 7 (39:31):
Of that game.
Speaker 11 (39:31):
I mean, everybody in the offensive line was limping, you know,
like not obviously not what daily was, but just like
beat up and feeling all the fifty sixty snaps they played.
I think this is another time, you know, we talked
about that off week kind of being well timed before
the Purdue game in the Big Ten Title game to
sort of rest up and get guys on the fence
that were kind of you know, dealing with kind of
(39:52):
the season's long worth bumps and bruises. I think this
is another chance for them to rest up. I mean,
because like Indians is not as deepest sort of the
high end teams like Ohio State. You know that they're
just they're just not yet. And so I think this
is a chance for them to rest up and get
guys just that that that felt, that Ohio State game,
that that big tent title game, and just be in
(40:14):
a better spot. And I think that that's what they'll
they'll use this and that's why they're taking basically the
ten days from now until they find out who their
opponent is and treating it like an off week, rest
and recovery. That's kind of what they're focused on.
Speaker 1 (40:25):
Good stuff, Michael Nielik, Thanks so much for Yeah.
Speaker 5 (40:28):
One more for Michael, because I'm very curious about the
Heisman speech uh that I assume Fan Mendoz will be
giving here shortly over the weekend. When did you realize
that the way he articulates himself is not a bit
because for those who are not used to that Fernando
MENDOZI experience. I know my father was talking about over
(40:49):
the weekend. He was like, who is this like dorky
but tough kid Iu that's doing this thing. How long
did it take you out to realize that he can
again articulate himself that way but still be this fiery
competitive to do on the field.
Speaker 11 (41:04):
Well, you know, it's funny, like all quarterbacks have, especially
ones that have had kind of extra experience, kind of
get to the point where they get very polished, right,
And I guess he's sort of been like a fully
formed kind of media presidence since it starts like he, uh,
he looked at the camera, no matter, like, he doesn't
look at you, he looks at what your your devices,
So he's like looking.
Speaker 7 (41:23):
Straight at it.
Speaker 11 (41:24):
Anybody that asks will turn and look at it. It's
very funny, but I mean it's genuine.
Speaker 7 (41:28):
It is truly.
Speaker 11 (41:29):
I'm I've talked to his parents about this. They kind
of laugh. A funny story kind of. He was asked
about the Heisman earlier this season and he's kind of like, uh,
you know, I don't need that now. I just really
want a national title. That'd be great, but I you know,
get you know, just that doesn't matter to me as
much as as winning a title. And his mom was like, jeez,
he just doesn't have to go that far. He doesn't
have to say voters listening, like he doesn't think he
(41:52):
could feel that, but don't say it, Fernando. So like
that's just who he is. That's just kind of his personality.
He has so much he kind of wants to go
off his us and spread kind of the credit to
his teammates.
Speaker 7 (42:03):
It's just just how he is.
Speaker 11 (42:04):
I think you learned pretty quickly that this he was
just a little different cat, you know, just how he
was very just you know, humble, but like at the
same time, it's very articulate and has so much on
his mind. I mean, that's that business that cal business
degree at work. But she's a very thoughtful kid, and
you kind of appreciate that, especially as a reporter. Somebody
(42:25):
that takes the you know, really takes it to heart.
Answering those questions.
Speaker 2 (42:29):
Well, I'll tell you what.
Speaker 5 (42:30):
He might not brag, but I'll brag for him because
the dude can play.
Speaker 7 (42:33):
He can absolutely.
Speaker 3 (42:35):
Michael, thanks again. We really appreciate you getting up early
this morning and joining us. You can read his stuff
down at the Harald Times. You can also go online
Harald Times online dot com. Check out his coverage of
Indiana University. What a dream beat all of a sudden, Michael,
what a just a dream.
Speaker 7 (42:50):
Beat and best team in the country.
Speaker 1 (42:52):
Right, go get it man, have fun.
Speaker 11 (42:54):
All right, thanks guys, anytime, man oh man, Ohman, We
are good to go.
Speaker 3 (43:00):
New studio here, Jason Hammer's already found the place before
his show comes up.
Speaker 1 (43:04):
Bud.
Speaker 3 (43:05):
You guys debut yesterday or today today at the new
studio today.
Speaker 4 (43:08):
So we look forward to a well oiled machine this
afternoon with absolutely no issues whatsoever. At least that's what
I've been told to say by management. I hope it
goes well.
Speaker 3 (43:18):
Thanks as always for being here, because we are here,
you're here to.
Speaker 1 (43:22):
Help us, help our listeners make money.
Speaker 4 (43:24):
Yes, So Thursday nights this is I believe week fifteen.
We're ten and four on the game play. And like
I said last week, last week, the prop bets have
been a train wreck. I've abandoned, I've jumped ship, I've
gotten on the emergency boat to get away from the Titanic.
But in terms of the game itself, we're ten and
four on Thursday Nights. Now, I'm gonna need you guys
(43:46):
to kind of hold your nose on this one tonight.
Falcons and Bucks. Okay, conventional wisdom says Bucks are going
to roll these dudes up. It's four and a half
point spread right now, four and a half points.
Speaker 1 (44:01):
Let's stay below.
Speaker 4 (44:03):
Well, here's why Baker mayfield four straight games of two
hundred yards or less through the air. Now, keep in mind,
about a month ago we were having a debate who's
going to be the MVP, Jonathan Taylor, Danny Dimes or
Baker Mayfield. Life comes at you fast. Four straight turns
from Baker. That Tampa Bay defense, which is normally pretty good,
(44:25):
you know, historically pretty good, they've given up twenty four
or more and four of the last five Tampa Bay
is zero to five against the spread in the last five.
And in Tampa seven wins this year, five of them
have been by three points or less, so they're not
blowing anybody out. And you look at this Falcons team,
I know they stink, but this is a primetime game.
(44:48):
If you're tanking and you're ready to go to Cancun,
there's only a few games you get up for, and
prime time games is one one of the games you
get up for, and two where you can be seen
for a new team next year.
Speaker 3 (45:01):
Well, maybe as excited to play tonight as AL will
be to broadcasting.
Speaker 4 (45:06):
Al will let you know what the spread is at
some point, I promise you that.
Speaker 6 (45:10):
So Mike Evans back no Drake London and you still
are going Falcons.
Speaker 1 (45:14):
Well, yeah, I like the Bucks to night at home.
Give me Atlanta with the points.
Speaker 4 (45:17):
I think the Bucks win this thing, but I think
the Falcons hang around. Four and a half is such
a quirky number in gambling, so that basically FRA all
intents and purposes, mean six because nobody wins by five.
Hardly anybody wins by four. Few people do it twenty
four to twenty, but four and a half is the number.
So give me Atlanta. It's a glorified six divisional matchup.
(45:41):
I think it's close, hold your nose, and let's pull
for the dog tonight.
Speaker 3 (45:46):
I know it's probably not on your list, but what
would you think in his first game back? It's his
favorite target over under for catches for Mike Evans. Do
you think today he'll be targeted?
Speaker 4 (45:56):
I don't have the number in front of me right now,
but he'll get looks, So I would bet if they're
not easing him back into the mix, which I don't
know what their game plan is for him tonight, I
would assume four and a half to five. That would
be my handicap off the top of my head for that,
So I'm sorry again. I haven't seen the actual Vegas
(46:20):
number on his props because I gave up on props
because that was so awful at it this year. Kate
Beacon backed me up. Last year we were a big
Harry American winning machine. This year, I know when I'm beat,
I waved the white flag on props. We're just focusing
on games at this point.
Speaker 5 (46:35):
So my question is to further the NFL conversation. Have
you looked at this Colts Seahawks game.
Speaker 6 (46:42):
I know you have, oh yeah, oh, the biggest spread
in week fifteen, right, and the possibility of old man
Rivers getting out there.
Speaker 4 (46:50):
So remember when Cardale Jones was at Ohio State. You
remember then he said, we didn't come here to play school.
Philip Rivers didn't come here to play on the practice team.
He didn't come here to just hand the ball off
the Jonathan Taylor. That's a big number you'll get at
two touchdowns for the Colts at Seattle. Listen, maybe I've
had a few cocktails this early in the morning. I'm
(47:12):
not mad at taking a look at the Colts with
fourteen like odds makers are treating the Colts like they're the.
Speaker 1 (47:17):
Titans, like they're the Raiders here. I mean, this is
a decent team.
Speaker 4 (47:21):
I know the quarterback situation is a hot mess, but
you've got the best running back in the league. You've
got a decent offensive line, a banged up but okay defense,
You've got a really good tight end, some pretty good receivers.
To say, it's the Titans, it's not the Browns, I'll
take pretty much any NFL team if you're giving me
(47:41):
two touchdowns. Man, Like, take a look at the Colts
catching fourteen, and I'm wondering once they announce who the
starter is, whether it's Riley Leonard or if it's old
Man Rivers, if that line changes at all. But I'm
not mad at two touchdowns at all. The Colts are
better than that.
Speaker 2 (47:58):
It's amazing.
Speaker 6 (47:58):
This line started three and a half pre Daniel jones injury,
rose to about ten once Jones got hurt, and now
has risen since the Philip.
Speaker 2 (48:07):
Rivers smoke I think has started.
Speaker 1 (48:09):
So do you think Daniel Jones is worth eleven points?
Speaker 8 (48:12):
Like?
Speaker 4 (48:12):
I like Daniel Jones just like the next guy. But
is there any NFL player that is worth an eleven
point swing in a game? Like if Patrick Mahomes goes
out like this week, does that line change by eleven points?
Speaker 1 (48:25):
That seems a little extreme to me.
Speaker 6 (48:26):
Well, the drop is a guy that hasn't played football
in five years, whereas the drop from Mahomes would be
to Gardner Minshew.
Speaker 4 (48:31):
You know, and I keep hearing that he hasn't played
football in five years. Well you know what, Gino Smith
played last week and he stinks. Whoever the Saints are
whimping to the finish line with stinks. Whoever the Jets
are whimping to the finish line with stinks. I don't
care if he's been playing you know, catch in the
street with a couple of fat guys. Give me forty
four year old Grandpaul Philip Rivers over some of these
turns in the league right.
Speaker 12 (48:51):
Now, the hammer putting down the hammer, he looked like
Tim Allen walking up to the podium Christmas. Okay, anything
else we don't have obviously call Army Navy I think
is a must watch every year. I think it first
half under we get patritree, what is the over under?
Speaker 1 (49:06):
Thirty eight and a half?
Speaker 2 (49:08):
There's Army Navy.
Speaker 7 (49:09):
Now.
Speaker 1 (49:09):
Last year, like, is that sad that I need?
Speaker 4 (49:12):
It was under most of the game and then there
was a whacky fourth quarter if I remember right. So
we're gonna play it safe this year. First half under
I think it's nineteen and a half.
Speaker 2 (49:23):
Jason Hammer.
Speaker 6 (49:23):
Course, you can hear him every afternoon at WIBC, our
sister station.
Speaker 2 (49:26):
That is the Hammer of Nigel Show degenerates next door
of the podcast.
Speaker 6 (49:30):
Anything else you like from a let's make some money
this weekend standpoint?
Speaker 4 (49:35):
Not this weekend, but the first line of college football
playoff games on Friday.
Speaker 6 (49:40):
Will be Alabama Oklahoma, and then we get the three
games on next Saturday.
Speaker 4 (49:44):
I think Oregon just beats the absolute breaks off James Madison.
Twenty one and a half I believe is the number.
Twenty one and a half. That's not enough give me
Oregon in that one. I took a look at Tulane
Old Miss, but the coaching situation is a little quirky
to me.
Speaker 6 (49:59):
Old Miss win by five touchdowns in the rare season
against them.
Speaker 4 (50:03):
But with Lane Kivid God, I mean, I don't know,
uh to a forty point difference? Maybe I don't know,
he runs up the score. He's that much of a
petty a hole. James Madison, though, this is like a
contest winner. Somebody was calling number nine and got to
be part of the college football playoff, and your reward
is going to Eugene. Give me Oregon. I think they
(50:25):
win that game big. I'll lay the twenty one and
a half. It's a big number. But if I'm playing
it and I'm laying it, what do you think about
the one and a half points spread?
Speaker 3 (50:31):
Alabama is favored right now against Oklahoma. Alabama has not
looked great in my opinion. Who is Oklahoma?
Speaker 4 (50:40):
Oklahoma's got a really good defense and an NFL kicker.
As a Tennessee ball fan, let me tell you about
Oklahoma's kicker three point fifty plus yarders in Knoxville to
help beat Tennessee at home in a primetime game this
year in Essen's knocking them out. And while everybody's down
on Alabama, and you guys know this, I feel like
I say this every week. I'm a by low Sell
(51:01):
high guy. I can't see them being this bad multiple
weeks in a row.
Speaker 7 (51:07):
Now.
Speaker 4 (51:07):
They could be uh Simpson their quarterback. One week he
looks great, one week he's trash.
Speaker 5 (51:12):
What do you mean they have the best offense in
the country. He told us that after they did not
have best offense in the country.
Speaker 3 (51:17):
He looked confused for the second half of that game
against Georgia.
Speaker 4 (51:20):
Oklahoma's defense is going to come at him. But man,
don't count Bama out on this one. Man, that's gonna
be to me, that's the best game in the first
round by far. I'll take Indiana over the winner.
Speaker 1 (51:31):
Of either one of those. But don't sleep on the tide.
Speaker 10 (51:34):
Man.
Speaker 4 (51:34):
Oklahoma's defense is good, but that offense isn't great. And
if Bama can get anything offensively, we got ourselves a
ball game down there in Oklahoma.
Speaker 7 (51:43):
All right.
Speaker 3 (51:44):
I'm glad your card key works for the first day
of the new building, So that's that's a positive start.
Speaker 1 (51:49):
I say that every day I come to work.
Speaker 7 (51:51):
Jeff the car Key works.
Speaker 2 (51:52):
I saw a hammer house sauce on called a police
and said, who is this man on the door? Man,
give me work?
Speaker 1 (51:56):
Give me he's heard a colored shirt, a colored dress shirt.
Speaker 2 (52:00):
Jacket, he had a long night last night. He ain't
been home yet.
Speaker 6 (52:04):
I love.
Speaker 4 (52:04):
I show up to work with pants on, and everybody thinks,
what's going on around here?
Speaker 1 (52:07):
What's the Christmas party you're going to tonight or last night?
It's tonight?
Speaker 2 (52:11):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (52:12):
Diamond's direct proud sponsor of The Hammer and Nigel Show.
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