October 14, 2025 • 45 mins
00:00 – 24:00 – Who are the Colts options to sign a free agent backup QB and how important is it to have one, are there players to trade for on defense, Morning Checkdown
24:01 – 33:54 – Alex Golden of the Setting the Pace Podcast joins the show, he talks about the Pacers center struggles, the impact of TJ McConnell missing time, Jarace Walker’s preseason up to this point, what will the Pacers need to see from Benedict Mathurin, what it’s like being next to Victor Wembenyama
33:55 – 45:33 - The Athletic’s Zak Keefer joins the show to comment on his story about Daniel Jones and his connection to Jason Garrett, why Indiana is the right fit for him, why the Colts offense looks and feels different than last year, Kevin and Zak’s football memories from IU games as students, Cignetti’s attitude on the sidelines
Support the show: https://1075thefan.com/the-wake-up-call-1075-the-fan/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
You were listening to the Best of the Fan morning
show on ninety three five and one oh seven five
the Fan.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
It's not enough that we bring you Kevin Bow and
James Boyd every day. It's not enough that we have
Caleb Zuver in here when Mark Dyton is happily sleeping
in after a Bears win somewhere in Florida. It's not
enough that we do all those things. Let you hear
Josh Downs a little while ago, but we're gonna have
Alex Golden at eight thirty to talk about the Pacers
and what they have coming up this season, as it
was their first preseason game into year last night. And
(00:28):
then Zach Keifer's gonna stop by one of the one
of my favorite writers over at the Athletic Gonna be
here at nine o'clock. Saw him milling around James in
the press box at the football game on Sunday with
the Colts.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Yeah, I told him to stay away. Every time he comes,
weird things happen. So if you're.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Blaming him for the for the crazy.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Things, absolutely, then you all don't understand the backstory. I've
said this many times. When I joined the Colts beat,
he was my co beat writer. He told me, hey, James,
the team is pretty stable. Frank Reich is great. Nothing
really ever happens with this team is gonna be a nice,
smooth entry to the NFL. And then twenty twenty two happened,
(01:04):
and we all know that was a disaster. And I
told him, you're a liar, You're a fraud. You bamboozled me.
So no, I have beef with Zach Kiefer forever because
of this, But no, great guy. I'm glad that he
was at the game Sunday, the phenomenal I think piece
this morning they could post on the Athletic about Daniel
Jones and some of the backstory there, and really he
got a chance to talk to Jason Garrett, his former
(01:25):
be offensive coordinator with the Giants, and so check that out.
A lot of insight there. Zach's always all over that stuff.
But good to see him, and certainly he was saying
as much as I was, very weird, but good times
for these colts who are five and one.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Yeah, and you know, we've been talking a lot about
who's been most viable player whatever. We're only six games in.
But the more I think about it, you talk about
Daniel Jones. He's just made everything work. He's made everything go.
Does he do crazy things like Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen, No,
but you know what, he's doing everything really well, Kevin,
and he's moving the chains.
Speaker 4 (01:59):
James, did you come up cross any quarterback name in
your research yesterday that you think Colts fans would not
immediately tell you you're an idiot that player sucks.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
I think the biggest one probably Taylor Heineke. I feel
like Colts fans have a healthy respect for him, especially
if you remember.
Speaker 5 (02:17):
They at him, but now they would be with him exactly.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
They remember the game that he actually won here in
Lucas Oil Stadium a couple of years ago.
Speaker 4 (02:25):
But I think he's beating the Colts twice right Atlanta
in Atlanta, good point years ago in Washington.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
So the game that you bring up again familiar with him.
I do think he could be like a spot starter
for you. Certainly don't want to get him the Keys
of the French Eyes by any means, but he's a
good player. He's someone that that I think that they can,
you know, sleep a little easier if he ends up
being your back up.
Speaker 5 (02:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
So the question for me comes down to this, are
you going to try and trade for a quarterback somewhere
around the league? That would you would think lead to
a little bit more of a Oh okay, I kind
of like that move like that, you know, would be
a little bit of a whatever higher Can I interest
you in Russell Wilson? Well, yeah, Jamis Winston.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Jamis is on a two year deal, so I don't
think that would really happened. But like, who would you
trade for?
Speaker 4 (03:06):
Well, you know, again some of these guys that maybe
don't h immediately, like why would Kansas City.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Like I know they wouldn't give him up?
Speaker 4 (03:14):
Like, you know, somebody asked me about Jimmy g in
the Text show. It was like, well, you know, Matthew
Stafford's back, Why are the Rams gonna do that?
Speaker 3 (03:20):
So it's funny, like, you know, it's kind of hard
to get a good player for cheap. Well that is
that's basically what I was going through yesterday, like, oh,
this guy's pretty good. Wait, that would cost a little
bit more than what I'm willing to give up.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
And I'll keep on coming back to this as well.
You know, when Michael Badsley was signed last week, it's
you know something that boiled down to what probably Colts connections, right.
I mean, Michael Badgley had kicked with Luke Rohods and
Rico bertso Sanchez. Michael Badgley had been with Shane Stikeen
for three years and the Chargers, so you know when
(03:51):
you say Taylor Heineke, there are some Colts connections a
little bit. First off, Shane stike and saw him opposite
in the NC East for a couple of years. I
do think that matters. I think Shane Syken watching film
of you in a rather intricate way for a couple
of years would matter. Also, you know he beat the
Colts twice, so Chris Ballard obviously seen that firsthand. Couple
(04:12):
other names just to throw out there, and again some
of these might make you puke, but Colts connections. A
guy that's been kind of a longer backup in Jacksonville
for a while with CJ. Bethard from Iowa. Jim Bob Cooter,
the Colts offensive coordinator, was in Jacksonville for a year.
Bethard currently is on the Lions practice squad, so you
would need to sign him off the practice squad to
(04:33):
your active roster, which is something we see happen. The
Colts did it a few weeks ago with a linebacker
from Dallas, Easton Stick. He is part of that North
Dakota State tree, if you will, of quarterbacks. He was
actually a draft pick of the Chargers when Shane Steichen
was with the Chargers. He's currently on Atlanta's practice squad. So,
(04:56):
you know, again, a couple names I don't know about
Desmond Ritter. You know, he did spend a few days here.
It was a mini camp tryout back in mid June.
You know, would that I don't want to pretend like
he got very deep into the Colts playbook when he
was here for a few days, But clearly the Colts
were curious about him in the summer. Would they be
(05:17):
you know, curious about him again here in mid October.
So those are just a few of the names that
connection wise, I think you throw out there.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Yeah, and also people want to know, you know, with
trade deadline coming up, and we talked about it a
little bit yesterday, is there pass rush help out there?
And I know everybody wants to go swing big and
what's Max Crosby doing? But I don't know that a
they could afford Max Crosby or if he's even available,
and what that would even possibly take. But what are
some of the realistic options? Is there a Bradley Chubb
(05:48):
that might be a guy that's available that has shown
the ability to put pressure on quarterbacks and could be
had for less than certainly what a Max Crosby is,
or we're talking about just people that could help out
a little bit, James, is that even a possibility right now?
Speaker 3 (06:05):
I think you certainly should entertain it. But yeah, as
far as Max Crosby, No, they're not going to trade
for Max Crosby. He just signed a huge extension. He
costs a lot of money, and he's also been like
loyal to a fault I would say to the Raiders,
who are god awful. So no, that does not seem
realistic at all, even in the slightest I guess the
(06:26):
name that and I'm not saying this is even a
real thought. But social media has ways of bringing up names,
Trey Hendrickson being one of them, and him being on
a one year deal with the Bengals. The Bengals stink.
He's also aging, so would you make a move for him?
But the thought there is that you're doing that literally
(06:47):
just just cash in for this year, because then he
would become a free agent afterwards. I would not necessarily
want to trade for him and give him a bunch
of money because he's an older player. So yeah, that's
an idea as well. But yeah, I do think the
next couple weeks will kind of inform a lot when
it comes to what the Colts might do. Because if
you look up after the next two games and you're
(07:10):
seven and one, do you say, hey, this is our
shot to do something special this year, because then you
go from being a feel good story. So wait a second,
we're a pretty good team. And even if you're six
and two, you know, heading into your last game before
the bye week, you know, going overseas to face the Falcons,
who had a pretty good game yesterday. I think that
certainly is a conversation that garners more validity than I
(07:34):
think before.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
It's honestly something where I could probably talk myself into
a trade at three different positions in the defense. I
could talk myself into pass rusher. Certainly, I could talk
myself into a linebacker upgrade and corner given the depth there.
So you know, three weeks from today is a trade deadline.
Do you do something right now? Do you sit back
(07:56):
and wait again? Are you investing in a draft quarterback
wise at all into trying to find a backup here? James,
you got this from Thomas. Thomas goes, what's wrong with
Riley Leonard? It's a four week backup job? Come on,
do you think do you view it in that light
like it's fine? You got Riley Leonard? He led Notre
Dame to the national title last year. Do you see
(08:18):
him in the preseason game against Cincinnati?
Speaker 3 (08:20):
No, I'm not with that at all. A lot of
players look great in the preseason. I mean, to be honest.
Bringing back Jason Bean, I mean, Sam Ellinger is probably
a name we could throw out there as well, someone
who knows Shane and it has proven to be a
very professional quarterback in this league. But no, I do
not think that is a smart tactic, mainly because and
(08:42):
not to be like bogus, but when you get to
the NFL, I truly do not care who did in
college anymore. I mean, great, you led Notre Dame to
the national championship. Will Howard won the national championship. Neither
one of them are starting quarterbacks in the NFL, and
no one thought that when they left college. So yeah,
could he be a spot starter someday? Yes, I just
(09:03):
think that you're putting too much on the guy fresh
out of the gate. That to me is just not wise.
And it's funny because we did a story yesterday on
the IR injury update with Anthony Richardson and someone on
our editing staff must be a Notre Dame person or
most be a big, big ry Leonard fan, because they
put in like this random paragraph about he was like
(09:25):
preseason all ACC. And I went back and was like,
who cares? Cut that out? Like, yeah, we can mention
the National championship part that I think is significant, but
like preseason all ACC, good leader, whatever, can he play
football in the NFL. He's not proven to do that.
I don't think you should do, like just throw it
to him if you can find someone who's at least
(09:45):
done it relatively well or in a spot here or there,
I mean, has some experience in that department.
Speaker 4 (09:51):
And I think the question becomes this, if you look
at the Colts schedule upcoming here the rest of the
way I was looking at it last night, I want
to say, of the eleven teams you have left, eight
are currently at five hundred or better. So eight of
the eleven right now are a five hundred football team.
More better, if you look at the three games you
(10:11):
would play to teams below five hundred, two of those
three are Houston, which I don't think we look at
Houston as like laughing stock bad.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Right, No, we probably think that they're gonna be at
least a nine to eight team before the season's over.
Speaker 5 (10:25):
Well, and again, if CJ.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
Shrout's healthy, like, it's still very competent, even if they
aren't necessarily their record wise, and who knows, maybe they're
now starting to find a little bit of their groove
they had to buy this past week. So the schedule
is undoubtedly getting tougher. And you know, do you view
it as Hey, if Daniel Jones were to be lost
for three to four weeks, does a quarterback move Let's
(10:47):
let's call it four weeks? If Riley Leonard's is gonna
go one and three? Does the backup quarterback the other guy?
Could that guy go too?
Speaker 2 (10:54):
And two?
Speaker 4 (10:55):
And is that the difference between winning the ANFC South
and not? Man, I know, we're kind of getting into
the weeds a little bit here. But I think that's
how you have to view it of is that player
going to is one game going to be the difference?
And when Jacksonville's sitting there one game behind you right
now in the division, you still have two more games
with them down the stretch. I think these are all
(11:16):
conversations that the Colts have to have inside of their
building today and we'll see how it exactly plays out.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
One last one for you. Wes tech sin at two three, nine,
ten seventy on the fan text line says Sam hell
is Sam Howell is Philadelphia quarterback three? Maybe he's cheap?
Is that a guy you'd look at?
Speaker 3 (11:32):
They always trade, so perhaps that is somebody to take about.
I think what Tamer m Key's all over there as well.
So yeah, it just comes down how do you want
to pursue it. Do you want to be very cheap
and say, hey, just get me somebody that I don't
have to spend too much money on who's a free
agent or I could pick up off of a practice squad.
Or do I want to invest a little bit more
there to be a little more sure of myself in
(11:53):
case anything happens to Daniel Jones, which Lord have mercy.
Let's not even speak those words.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Right, Yeah, and the people that are texting in and
talking about that, we really need to spend all this
time and energy thinking about a backup quarterback for a
team that's five and one, Yes, because what happens if
Daniel Zones even has to miss a half or a
game and a half or something like that. Every win
is going to count for a team that all of
a sudden has designs on doing something special this year.
Speaker 4 (12:19):
Kevin, We'll see too if the Colts bring that player
right away onto the fifty three manters oster. The Richardson
news yesterday to IR they brought in a undrafted I
think corner safety from the sounds of it, Ruben Lowry
who played in Baltimore this year, undersized but super smart dude.
And we'll see exactly how he fits. So clearly they're
(12:41):
trying to churn even more corner They continue to work
out corners, They continue to work out veteran corners. But
that was the roster move yesterday. For those that did
see Richardson d aged reserve. The Colts filled it, but
not with the quarterback, with a kind of a corner safety,
so again that will play out today exactly what they
do at quarterback. They could just go practice squad and
you know, bump that guy up a couple of weeks
(13:02):
and then you know, kick the can down the road
for a bigger decision there.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
Yeah, you say you undersize it. What is he like
five ninety two four or something?
Speaker 4 (13:08):
But I want to see Tennessee Chattanooga comes to mind
of where he played collegiately, put up some big time numbers.
Uh mechanical engineering degree ro OTC. I mean, sounds like
a really smart individual, but undersized and was playing but
played a ton of snaps for Baltimore a few weeks ago.
Obviously Baltimore really banged up, so uh, any move at
(13:30):
corner safety right now, particularly corner right now, I don't
gloss over because they need corners.
Speaker 5 (13:35):
So who knows if this guy could get up to
speed as quickly as Sunday.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Maybe you just hope you keep bringing people in. Somebody's
gonna stick and it's gonna work out. Because like we said,
loved Jacoby Brissette, but man, he looked awfully good against
the cult secondary this past week. And I don't know
how much that was just Jacoby on a day and
how much of it was just there needs to be
some work done in that secondary.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
Jeff is saying, Jacoby, you should have just kept your
bags here. Okay, let's just make the tray for him
and everyone. Great. I'd be happy with Kobe is the
backup quarterback, I know, but again, like I said, then
it costs a lot of things, you know, to go
get him. So yeah, I think the options have to
be a little bit, you know, lower, The expectations had
to a little bit lower on who they bring in.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Yeah, all right, So that's what's happening with the cults.
The Pacers played last night. Let's give you all the
details on everything else you need to know. We call
it the morning check, James. So the culture off today
and we'll just keep an eye on whether or not
they bring quarterbacks in or take a look at that
market today.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
Right, Yeah, that is certainly the big news after Anthony
Richardson went on IR yesterday due to an orbital fracture
he sustained due to a stretching injury he had in
the locker room before the game Sunday. And just to clarify,
it wasn't the band. He had the band attached to
something in the locker room and that something broke and
it recoiled to hit him in the face. And so
(14:49):
people who are like, ha ha, how did that happen? Like, man,
imagine someone just throwing a baseball full speed at your
face Like that is essentially how it happened. Very fluke thing,
very unfortunate for him. But just to clarify there for
people who are who thinks it is just like, you know,
this guy's made a class, Like no, man, you get
hitting the face that hard, anybody's face is gonna break.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
We'll get more information on a bunch of things later
on this week, Kevin, how close were we to get
in Kenny Moore of the second back last week?
Speaker 4 (15:14):
He was doing some field work when we were out there, James,
I think I was Friday. He was doing some lateral
field work. But still he is yet to practice and
it's now three straight weeks, nine practices.
Speaker 5 (15:24):
Total, three games.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
I would you know it is three days enough of practice?
Is this an injury that was more severe to where
you'd want multiple weeks? If you go just basically based
off of they didn't put him on injury reserve, then
Sunday he should be back. That would be his fourth
game that you know he would miss. So it's a
big one because you know, I think you're facing the
Chargers team that has some definite injury issues, but they
(15:49):
could be getting a little healthier at wide out and
we know what Justin Herbert can do, so obviously that'll
be a big one to watch this week. And by
all accounts, the Colts didn't have anybody get hurt in
the game. We'll see how that plays out tomorrow practice,
but it was before the game or pre game. Everybody's
going to start wearing bubble wrap and all their helmets
during all the pregame routines.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
Now two games on Monday Night Football. Last night, Atlanta
Falcons beat the Buffalo Bills twenty four to fourteen. Bishn
Robinson ran wild one hundred and seventy yards and eighty
one yard touchdown scamper six catches sixty eight yards. Josh
Allen struggled a little bit, just one hundred and eighty
yards and two touchdowns passing, but also two interceptions, and
they just couldn't get it going against the Falcons, who
(16:29):
have improved to three and two right now and after
the game, James Michael Pennix said, this team is legit.
Don't go to sleep on the Falcons quite yet. We
start paying attention to them in the NFC South.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
I feel like they're always right there. That division kind
of stanks year in and year out, so they always
have a chance to kind of be in the mix.
And so yeah, going from being losing thirty to nothing
to the Panthers to what they did last night certainly
feels the vibes feel a lot different in Atlanta right now.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Jake Mudy hit a thirty eight yard game winning field
goal as time expired and the Bears win in Washington
twenty five to twenty four. Mark Dyton happy doing his
happy dance somewhere. But a nice revenge game for the
Bears who gave up that crazy play in the loss
to the Commanders a year ago. Kevin, people remember that one.
Speaker 4 (17:14):
Yeah, so Mark Dyton, I guess I heard that he
got another week of vacation once that field goal went
in last night, So Caleb will need you for another
week here, Jeff. Jeff just signed off on five more
days from Mark Dyton to go to Disney World.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
It's no problem with me. Yeah, you work here for
a long time. You just start racking. Apparently Mark has
two hundred and fourteen PTO days. I don't know. I
don't even know how that works.
Speaker 5 (17:34):
Let's have the right last name with some people in
this building.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
That's it, all right. The Indiana Pacers at home last
night at the field House. They lose to the Spurs
one twenty four to one oh eight, a meaningless preseason
game except for the fact that Benedict Matherin we already
know can score in bunches. James went off for twenty
seven in the first half, thirty one for the game.
They did lose. But that's man. If Benedict Matherin can
(17:57):
become instant scoring on a consistent basis, pretty interesting things
happening for the Basers.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
Yeah. I would say that he's been proving himself as
a scorer since he got in the NBA. He can
score the best of them. It's just the other things
I know. Listening to the halftime show, Yeah. On Fantom
Sports Network, Rick Carlos talked a lot about how they
believe he's gonna have to draw some of the bigger
defensive assignments this year, especially on the wing, considering that
you don't want to put a lot of that on
(18:24):
Andrew Nemhard as a lead guard. So I'm curious to
see how Benedict embraces that part of his game because
he has the physical tools to do it. But yeah,
I think the bread and butter at the end of
the day will always be him scoring the basketball. Does
that in his sleep, and you know, if he scores
at that raid, he'll be looking at a nice extension
at some point, I would imagine.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
You know, James, I saw that clip with Rick Carlisle
at half time last night too. I thought it was
very interesting in the middle of that when he was
talking about the defense that Maverin's gonna have to play.
He said early in games, which made me believe that
you give him a lot of that defensive work early
in the game, but when it comes crunch time, maybe
in the fourth quarter, now you switch back to your
defense of lockdown with them heart something like that.
Speaker 3 (19:01):
Maybe we'll see certainly something to keep an eye on.
But yeah, like you pointed out earlier in the show,
the Sinners were bad, and I'm looking at a stats
like the little what is it the play by play
tracker from the third quarter yesterday. Here is what Isaiah
Jackson did in the matter of three seconds, personal foul,
personal foul, personal foul. Pacers called time.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
Out the four centers, uh is Say Jackson, Jay Huff,
Tony Bradley, James Wiseman collective last night, No, none.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
Of that's good Man had three fouls, none of literally
three seconds.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
Like that'sugh thirty seven preseason minutes for Isaiah Jackson, nine fouls,
and I don't think Jay Huffs would much better in
terms of defending without fouling.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
So I knew they were taking a step back without
Miles and this is just kind of, you know, reafforsting
that a little bit early. It's early for them as well,
but like they should.
Speaker 4 (19:50):
Rai Smith's behind the bench last night, I thought anything
anything left in the tank?
Speaker 3 (19:54):
Yeah, for the six minutes, six minutes, he ain't even
got that.
Speaker 4 (19:58):
I'll just take defending without falling asking for a hook shot.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Pacers will finish up their preseason schedule Friday night in
San Antonio, and then they get ready to once again
play the Oklahoma City Thunder, who they just played like
every other game, now, don't they there you go, Yeah,
all right, So Major League Baseball last night, the American League,
National League Championship Series both took place Game two of
the ALCS. The Mariners got the hitting clubs at club
(20:24):
the Toronto Blue Jays ten to three. Julio Rodriguez Jorge
Polanco each had three run home runs, Josh Naylor hit
a two run shot and they get the win there
to take a two games to none of the Brewers
two to one, and Blake Snell eight innings, no runs,
one hit, no walks, ten strikeouts. I think that's pretty
good right there. James, especially in that spot not bad.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
A lot of pressure in those spots and he showed up.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
Yeah, and later on tonight, Game two of the National
League Championship Series starts at eight oh eight. The ALCS
is off as they traveled back to Seattle to Mariners
with the two games to none lead. High school rankings
are out this week from the USA today. Not much
change amongst the top teams and six A. It's still
Brownsburg number one, New Palace number one in five A,
Bishops Chichard number one in four A. Top ranked teams
(21:12):
in three A, two A and one A are Evansville Memorial,
Adam Central, and Springs Valley, respectively. So anything else you
guys want to throw in. I know there was a
firing yesterday James in the National.
Speaker 5 (21:23):
Football Larry Birds, Springs Valley.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
I would not know, honestly shout out, but as far
as the firing goes, yeah, Bryan Callahan is out for
the Titans and Kevin. I'm not surprised by the move
at all. Honestly, when you lose.
Speaker 5 (21:41):
Why the hell.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
They're regretting that. It felt like a power struggle at
the top, like thunder joke.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
They are, and they're setting themselves up to be in
this position again in a couple of years. I don't
know how can Ward develops now, We'll see, but I
think maybe the destraw that broke to Campbell's back. And
I'm not in Tennessee, but here in Callahan's comments last
week about you know, hey, everyone's got to get better.
We want to see some progress, and he'd like pointed
out cam Ward and was like he needs to get
(22:12):
better news, I'm like, man, you don't want to start
coming at your first round pick, your number one pick.
I mean, you're the guy who supposed to be developing him.
So now he's out of a job.
Speaker 4 (22:19):
And by all accounts, Bran Callahan was pretty deep as
a finalist here in Indy, which you know, is kind
of crazy to see how obviously all that's played out.
Purdue number one in the preseason poll for college basketball.
First place votes go to Matt Painters bunch Houston second
with sixteen first place votes, Florida eight, Yukon two. There's
your top four there. Matt Painters already said, feels like
(22:41):
the depth, that's what's a little different about this Purdue
team and why he feels like this is indeed the
best national title contending team he has had of they
could withstand something that you know, maybe prior years they
had a little bit of a smaller margin for air
other Big Ten teams in Michigan seven, UCLA Twelvellis seventeen,
Michigan State twenty two, the Badgers at twenty four. Indiana
(23:06):
got oon vote, and if you add all that up,
that would be the forty third place team in the nation,
the Hoosiers with Darren Devrees.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
I'm still not used to. I know it's been a
while now, I'm still not used to UCLA, USC Oregon
in the Big Ten. I'm just not there yet.
Speaker 5 (23:23):
I don't know if I'm used to Rutgers being the
big time.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
It's been it's been a nice You're right, I'm still
not used to the Chargers being in La.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
Bouz saying it's been a while for both of those things.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
Guy Uh, Kevin and Ires slow to come around on
some things, James, That's all it is.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
Get what the Times.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
The Times will feature Alex Golden, who setting the pace
as one of the leading podcasters when it comes to
the Indiana Pacers and kind enough to join us with
his unique perspective. Coming up in a moment here. We'll
also have the Pacers playback for you, debuting is we
continue on on a Tuesday morning. It's ninety three five
and one oh seven. Pacers have two seconds to get
(24:05):
a shot.
Speaker 6 (24:05):
And Matherin concludes a brilliant first half with a three
from out near the left hash mark.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
He made every shut in this head. Believe it the
way for the Pacers With thirty one points Time for
our Pacers playback after every game, presented by C and
J Water, the official water treatment partner of the Indiana
Pacers cnjwater dot com. James, he was terrific last night,
thirty one points in all slowed down in the second half,
didn't play a ton there, but he could not miss
(24:33):
in the first quarter of last night's basketball game.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
Hey is what he does, man bucket getter, special guar.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
Yeah, he was, and so we'll keep an eye on
him as the preseason rolls on. The Spurs did win
one twenty four to one oh eight. And here to
tell us more about that, one of our favorite guests
joining us on the Payless Lickers Hotline. That, of course
would be the one the only Alex Golden. Good morning, Alex.
How was your preseason extravaganza last night?
Speaker 1 (24:57):
It was a little bit more entertaining than I would say.
It's still it against the thunder or I should say
the okase he Blue since they didn't bring ten of
their guys.
Speaker 7 (25:05):
But yeah, it was.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
It was good to see some of the starters play
more more minutes and we saw one Viniyama eve been
playing in the fourth quarter, so a little bit more
of a competitive game to kind of get a better
evaluation of what this team looks like.
Speaker 5 (25:17):
Alex, what the hell do you do at center?
Speaker 4 (25:19):
It's been fouling and fouling and fouling and not scoring
or rebounding much.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
It's not been good.
Speaker 7 (25:26):
Kevin I'll tell you that.
Speaker 1 (25:27):
And I think Facer fans, while they are not happy
that Miles Turner left for Milwaukee and feel like things
could be better without him, I think they might be
wishing Miles Turner was still in this cross. I mean,
you got to give a little bit of you know,
context here with just Wiseman and Jackson coming back from injuries.
Jay Huff really has not been a part of this
system at all, and when he played with the starters
(25:47):
last night, ran into Siakam at one point, just didn't
really know what to do. Him and Mathurn we're having
conversations be.
Speaker 7 (25:52):
Where he's supposed to be at.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
So I think it's all just a learning curve. It's
still really early, so don't want to write them off
completely yet, but I think this is a big year
for the Pacers to see if they have anything at
center with this. I would first three games, a player
that's probably looked the most consistent is the guy that's
probably gonna get cut, and that's Tony Bradley. So I
just I have not been impressed, and the fouling has
been an issue for me, and just the floor space
(26:15):
and that they're used to with Turner, they don't have
that anymore, Jay huff O four from three in the
preseason so far. So yeah, it's it's not been great,
But I think they just have to give it some time,
give us some chemistry, maybe something to play out. Right now,
I am not overly impressed.
Speaker 4 (26:28):
If they played a real game tomorrow. By the way,
Alex Golden setting the pace a great listen for Pacers
fans out there his podcast, He's with us here on
the Paylostickers top line. If they played a real game tomorrow,
would their best lineup be Obie Topping at the five?
Kind of small ball like we saw a little bit
in the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
Oh yeah, I mean they did that a little bit
last night too. The Spurs were playing some zone and
they went to Obi top and at the five, and
the Pacers I think were like a plus two and
like three and a half minutes of that group together.
So we might get to some point in the season
where it's just like, you know what, start Obi Topping.
I mean, if they're really trying to win games and
things like that, it's going to make a huge difference.
But one thing to me that really plays a huge
(27:04):
factor in just the centers and how they will all
be utilized. Is not having TJ McConnell right now. TJ
McConnell does so much for that center position with his
ability to get into the paint and push pace. So
I think as you have a new point guarding camera,
pign trying to learn things a little bit, it is
kind of like stagnating the offense and what they're trying
to do. So yeah, I just think not having McConnell
(27:24):
is going to be a huge impact for a lot
of what this team does. But overall, I just yeah,
they they. I think Obi Topping is clearly the best
you know, starting center at this point on the roster.
Speaker 3 (27:36):
Alex, what has been your impression of Jaris Walker so
far throughout the preseason? And I know kind of up
and down last nine to five turnover is not great.
But if we're looking at steps you want to see
the Pacers take out imagine a big part of that.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
Yeah, for sure, I think we've seen more good stuff
from Jariffs and bad stuff throughout the preseason. I wasn't
overly impressed with his first game against Minnesota, thought he
had a nice shooting game against Minnesota, and then if
you look at his performance against OKC. I thought that
was probably one of his better ones, almost out a
triple double in that game, and then last night he
had a really really strong third quarter, and then in
(28:11):
the fourth quarter they threw him out there with a
random group and had him playing some point guard at
one point.
Speaker 7 (28:15):
So for me when it comes.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
To jars Walker, I just want to see him play
with a consistent level of course and not take plays off.
We've seen some bad passes, we've seen some not getting
back on defense and things like that. But if he
can just play the right way, play good defense, fit
into the system, take the open shots when they're there,
it's going to be great. He had a move on
Saturday against OKC that looked very Pascal Siakam esque in
(28:38):
the second quarter. And if he can do more things
like that, quick decisions when he gets to basketball, like
I'm going to go to the basket, I'm gonna score
versus let me wait and think about this for a second.
I think that's going to help him as well.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
Alex, Just before you came on, we were talking about
some things that Rick Carlisle said during the halftime of
last night's broadcast regarding Benedict Matherin and what his role
might be and what the guard position is going to
look like without Tyrese Hollim Burton, and the fact that
that maybe Mathern takes on a few more defensive responsibilities,
certainly at the beginning of a game, and in addition
(29:10):
to some of the scoring. What his role looks like
coming into this season.
Speaker 1 (29:15):
Yeah, they're gonna be They're gonna need a lot of
Matherin and a lot of good Materron for this team
to have any success because Matherin obviously at the two
guard right now, you're so thin that Kayl and Peter,
a guy on a two way contracts your backup. So
they just really need him to step up and do
a little bit more. We know he can do a
lot of stuff offensive. I don't think that's ever gonna
be a problem for him, But defensively, I think that
they're getting him some reps. If you look at the
(29:36):
first game against Minnesota, he was guarding Anthony Edwards. Is
the second game against the Thunder, he was guarding Case
and Wallace. So they're having him guard some of the
better guards out there just to try and see what
he can do. And I think he's a better on
ball defender than he is an off ball defender, because
he gets lost a little bit playing off ball, but
on ball he's a little bit more locked in and engaged.
He just has to learn how to navigate those screens
(29:58):
and fright through that. But I think he's gotten better
and then offensively, one thing that maybe doesn't stick out
in terms of like stats or anything like that, but
one thing I've noticed is his passing has looked better.
One of the first plays against the Thunder on Saturday,
he threw a great bounce pass lead passed to Isaiah
Jackson as the ball was swinging around and Jimmy boot
six teams aboff the bench starts clapping because it was
a great pass, and so they want to see him
(30:18):
do more of that. We know he can score the
basketball last night eleven to twelve for thirty one points,
like unbelievable twenty three minutes of play, So we know
he can do that. But just those quick reads and
then playing better defense, I think that's gonna be his role,
and I think he's gonna play probably close to thirty
thirty two minutes tonight.
Speaker 3 (30:34):
Alex Is Pascal Siakam like Steph Curry now because he's
just knocking down threes that are extremely high rate. Shot
it at thirty eight percent last year, career high. But
what do you say from him to, you know, take
the reins more offensively. Now it's Tyry Saliburton is not
going to play this year.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
Yeah, we just got to see more of a heavy
dose of Fiakam than we've seen in the last two seasons.
I feel like last year a lot of times we
would see in the regular season Pascal have a really
strong half in the first or second half, but it
was never like the entirety of the game. And I
think we have to do the Pacers have to do
about getting him more involved throughout the entirety of the
game where they can really just force feed him to basketball.
(31:11):
I mean not overly do it, right, They still gonna
play it in their system. But like you said, he's
shot the ball incredibly well since coming here. He's really
worked on a shot and I feel like he's gonna
make it more than he's gonna miss it when.
Speaker 7 (31:21):
He pulls it.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
And then just his ability to use that footwork. There
was a great play last night early in the game
when he had Victorimaniyama on him, and seven foot five freak,
and you know he uses his footwork to create enough
space and get a jump over him. That's how special
of a talent Pascal Siakami is. So he's gonna have
to take the reins. And I mean he might need
to score close to twenty five points a night for
(31:42):
this team to really consider themselves the playoffs team.
Speaker 3 (31:45):
Alex, after he made that shot a fotog, make sure
you send that to me right away immediately, because I mean,
you see all the other weird plays that happened throughout
that game, like how about the putback from Wimby in
the paint on Jay Huff where he barely what what
are we doing? Well, yeah, I'm not gonna lie.
Speaker 1 (32:05):
He walked by me three times last night back by
the media area, and I literally was just shocked. I
couldn't I couldn't believe what I was seeing. And I
actually tried to take a picture of him as I
was like walking into the media room. We were coming
up the elevators, he was coming down the hallway. I
tried to take a picture of him and be sneaky
about it. He caught me and smiled at me. So
it's pretty embarrassing. But it's just like, this guy is
(32:25):
such a freak. It's crazy, like that boot back duck,
like you're mentioning.
Speaker 7 (32:28):
I don't even think he jumped, so he didn't.
Speaker 1 (32:31):
He's like playing on a little tyke's basketball goal and
everybody else's.
Speaker 3 (32:34):
Yeah, this is you and your son, this is this
You're showing him how to do things, and I'm like,
this is a grown man out here just sunning the Pacers.
So I still have my Whimby the Indie shirts somewhere
in the basement. Uh, you know, I'm still still pushing
for that. You know, in an alternate reality, I think that.
Speaker 1 (32:50):
Would have been a second favorite team to go to.
I mean, he likes the Pacers, so it was I
think the Pacers were one lottery ball away from getting
the number one overall picking.
Speaker 7 (32:57):
That year's draft.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
So just a little bit more heartbreak for me. But yeah,
Rick Carlisle, I thought he was just hilarious talking about him.
Said you just watching disbelief.
Speaker 7 (33:06):
That's the scouting report.
Speaker 1 (33:07):
And he said, I'm glad he's in the West.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
Man oh Man twice a year is all. But they
will see him Friday night in their final preseason game.
That'll be in San Antonio. Alex, thanks for spending time
with us this morning. As always, we appreciate you.
Speaker 1 (33:18):
Yeah, anytime, guys, thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (33:20):
You can listen to Alex on setting the pace where
you can find that anywhere you can get podcasts, certainly
on Spotify as where I usually go to get it
as well. That's a look at the Pacers losing last
night one twenty four to one O eight to the
San Antonio Spurs. Again. Benedict Matherin had thirty one points,
Andrew Nembard was eleven points, eight assists and a big
zero for the four setters, Jackson Huff, Bradley Wiseman. Oh,
(33:43):
freaking and a lot of fouls too, especially when PACER's
playback presented by CNJ Water, the official water treatment partner
of the Indiana Pacers cnjwater dot Com. All right, let's
check the gay guest line right now, the Payless Liquors
hot line, and Zach Keifer from the Athletic is standing
by it. Talk to us and Zach, good morning, Thanks
for being here on a Tuesday. Always good to hear
(34:03):
from you. We were just talking about this as you
came on. Is it possible we've seen the last of
Anthony Richardson with the Indianapolis Colts.
Speaker 6 (34:13):
I think that's a totally fair question, Jeff. I hadn't
really thought about that, and it's really unfortunate that this
is the incident that sort of spurs that question. First off,
I hope he I hope he's okay. This sounds like
a really strange, weird accident that happened in the locker
room before the game. But I do feel like this
(34:33):
team is starting to realize that their quarterback is Daniel Jones,
and maybe everything falls apart at the end of the season,
but it certainly seems like Daniel Jones is going to
be the quarterback beyond twenty twenty five.
Speaker 3 (34:47):
So I do want to say, Zach, thanks joining the show,
and thanks for ruining my life like you always seem
to do when you come around. Things got a little
weird there for us in pregame, but I do know
that you were stopping by not only for the game,
but more or so to get a little more insight
on Daniel Jones how he's wired. You basically told him
after the game he has no life, and he kind
of grinned at you. But reading through your story. This morning,
(35:09):
you had a chance to catch up with Jason Garrett,
who gave us a lot of you know, sort of
I think insight that I hadn't heard of publicly. So
can you give us I guess not to give away
your story, but give us a couple of cliff notes
there on what you learned from Jason Garrett about Daniel
Jones and why that's helped him here Indianapolis.
Speaker 7 (35:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (35:27):
So you guys are not going to believe this, but
when you're trying to find something interesting about Daniel Jones.
Speaker 7 (35:32):
It's really freaked hard.
Speaker 6 (35:34):
I mean, I put this in the lead of the story,
but I asked like two or three of the vets
on the team, like, can you tell me something interesting
about this dude? And I got a lot of blank scares.
Speaker 7 (35:44):
And that's not to say.
Speaker 6 (35:45):
That Daniel Georges is super, super boring, but even he
said in his press conference, like I don't do a
whole lot besides this stuff, and this stuff would be
right now running the best offense in the league, the
highest scoring offense in football.
Speaker 7 (35:59):
But pivot to Jason Garrett. Yeah, like I learned a
little bit from him. I don't know if he was the.
Speaker 6 (36:07):
Right fit in New York. And I know that Eli
was his predecessor. And Eli was the guy who never
gave any good quotes and was super stoic and was unflappable, right,
and he won the two Super Bowls, one of which
he won right down the street at Lucas so Oil.
But with Daniel Jones, you know, I got the story
of him like taking the ferry across the Hudson River
and then renning an e bike to ride into New
(36:28):
York City when he would go to dinner with people,
and it just seems like the most opposite thing you
would think of the New York Giants quarterback. And I
just don't know if his personality meshed with New York
as well as some others would maybe Jackson Dark who
seems to be really embracing the spotlight there, and they
seem to be have something going there in terms of
(36:48):
a spark. But honestly, like in talking to Daniel Jones
and the talking to Jason Garrett and talking to people
in New York, it just feels like.
Speaker 7 (36:57):
Indiana is more his speed. And there's nothing wrong with that.
It's my speed too.
Speaker 4 (37:02):
Can Zach Keeper from the athletic who with the sea
on the Payloss Slickers sideline. The latest Daniel Jones might
be the most vanilla QB in the NFL and a
perfect fit for the Colts.
Speaker 3 (37:12):
More chocolate.
Speaker 4 (37:13):
It's a great read up on the well Halloween right now?
You know what's his favorite Halloween candy?
Speaker 5 (37:19):
We could go there?
Speaker 2 (37:20):
Cookies are brownies?
Speaker 3 (37:21):
Right?
Speaker 7 (37:22):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (37:22):
Which one?
Speaker 4 (37:23):
Zach Verry broke signetti at him, Zach Keefer, do you
have a favorite cookies or brownies?
Speaker 7 (37:29):
Cookie?
Speaker 5 (37:31):
Zach?
Speaker 2 (37:32):
You're invited Saturday afternoon and watch some football. We'll call
it good.
Speaker 4 (37:35):
There's the reason why Zach looks away he does and
runs as fast as he does. You know he's not
enough brownies out there, uh, Zach. It almost seems like
when you say perfect fit for the Colts, I immediately
go to Shane Psychin and just how he's wired. He
is psychotic from a preparation standpoint, I would argue, and
I think Daniel Jones meets him at that level.
Speaker 5 (37:55):
So yes, you know, living in.
Speaker 4 (37:57):
More of a quaint city and whatever part of town
and all of that, and the speed of Indie I
would agree with. It also seems like the marriage from
a head coach, play caller fits exactly what he was
looking for as well.
Speaker 6 (38:09):
You know what, I went back to KB, you're dead
on and this this really hit me on Sunday as
I was listening to Spike and talk about the preparation
they do, and then Daniel Jones talk about it when
we have Shane Steiken back in twenty twenty three, what
he wanted in the quarterback because we knew they were
gonna draft one. The first thing he said was obsession.
Speaker 7 (38:29):
I want a quarterback who's obsessed.
Speaker 6 (38:31):
And that hit me more and more as we got
through the Anthony Richardson era, which TDD at this point,
but it feels like Jones is that guy. I mean,
he's calling out plays from the Panthers Week two game
the night before they played the Cardinals on Sunday to say, hey,
let's watch this clip from a month ago because we
might see this look and it just seems like that's
more of Shane Stikeen's style. Why, because that's who Stikeen was.
(38:55):
I mean, Stikeen was the teenager in high school who
would skip out on the parties to sneak into the
stadium to throw to his receivers. I mean he wants
an obsessive guy. Why did he have so much success
in Philly because Jalen Hurts is like that. He's all business,
he's all football, and he's locked in. And it just
feels like Staken may have finally found the perfect fit
(39:15):
for him in Indianapolis. He had some success with Gardner Minshew,
But it just feels like, like you mentioned, obsessive psychotic.
Speaker 7 (39:22):
I mean, that's Psiching, right. He is all ball.
Speaker 6 (39:25):
Everyone I talked to in the league has the same
description of the same psychic. He's all ball, there's nothing else.
And it just feels like Daniel Jones is the perfect
quarterback for that. And I don't want to omit the
fact that he's got maybe the best young tight end
in football. He's got a running back, he's playing like
an MVP. The line is balling out, and the receivers
have been really good. Reggie Wayne deserves a lot of credit.
(39:46):
Josh downs with a tremendous touchdown, Alec Pierce that back
sort of turning away from him, fingertip grabbing the red zone.
I mean, like that unit, it's to some of the parts.
It's certainly not Daniel Jones carrying this thing. But I
think Shane Stikeen's that good that he can get the
most out of a quarterback like Daniel Jones and have
the highest scoring offense in the league.
Speaker 3 (40:07):
Zach, when you were there in person, perhaps what impressed
you the most about the way the Colts offenses operate,
especially against an Arizona defense coming into that game that
ranked fourth in the league in points alout.
Speaker 6 (40:20):
Yeah, so I go back to this, I go back
to the best offenses make it easy on themselves, Right.
Speaker 7 (40:26):
So I travel around lot, I watch a lot.
Speaker 6 (40:28):
Of these offenses in training camp and then in the season,
and you get a feel for how easy they're making
it on themselves. Are they putting themselves in third and
nine and they putting themselves in third and two? You know,
the Colts are averaging the most first downs per drive
of any offense in football. This is the polar opposite
of last year. This is the polar opposite. And I
don't mean to pile on Anthony Richardson because everybody wasn't blame,
(40:51):
but look, they made it so difficult on themselves last year.
They couldn't make the layoffs, they couldn't complete easy passes
over the middle, and they couldn't do the things that
sustain drives. The Colts had the shortest time up possession
per drive last year.
Speaker 7 (41:04):
You guys know why. You watched all the games, right,
three and out.
Speaker 6 (41:07):
Three and out, three and out, third and eleven, third
and twelve, third and nine, and they just didn't have
a quarterback who was accurate enough to complete those passes.
Jones is certainly more accurate than Richardson, but he also
is getting them in better situations. I'm pretty sure the
touchdown to Taylor was a check. So it's just those
little things that add up that make it easier on
your offense. And to your question, James Arizontal, it was
(41:29):
a difficult defense. They were tough, and it looked like
the Colts are having some trouble getting the ball consistently
down there, but they just kept finding a way. They
have a lot of answers and the quarterback has a
lot of answers, and I think you put that together,
it's really fun to watch them really click, because this
offense has not clicked like this since I mean, I'm
(41:49):
not even gonna say twenty twenty one, because the quarterbacks
faded down the stretch and nobody wants to talk about that,
but it's a little bit like the Philip Rivers offense
in twenty twenty, which I have a soft spot for
because it was so fricking fun to watch him throw
that throw that offense out there and just throw with anticipation.
Speaker 7 (42:05):
And so this office is for real.
Speaker 6 (42:07):
They have a lot of answers, they have a lot
of balance, and Shae Stiken really deserves a lot of
credit for what he's doing with this group.
Speaker 4 (42:14):
Zach, I want to take it in a different direction
here before we let you go, and again appreciate your
time here on this Tuesday morning. I said it to
you in the press box on Sunday. You need to
write the Kurt Signetti feature. I know some people have
attempted it, but no one's a future writer like you.
It's your alma mater. Someone's got to write that story
(42:34):
because it's one of the best coaching jobs pro college.
Speaker 5 (42:39):
You need to do it. Sorry to put work on
your plate, man.
Speaker 6 (42:43):
I don't think I'd have a shred of objectivity if
I did that story, because I'm having as much fun
with AYU football I think as anybody.
Speaker 7 (42:51):
And I was arguing with my friends the other day
and I'll throw this to you, guys.
Speaker 6 (42:55):
Is it the best hire that they've made since Bob Knight,
since Jerry Yegley. I mean, it's it's hard to argue
with that. You just don't see this in college football,
what he's done in such a short amount of time.
But I think it's up there with one of the
best hires in that school's athletic history.
Speaker 4 (43:10):
Zach and my four years there, which I think overlapped
a little bit with you. They won three Big Ten
football games in four years. They gave up eighty three
points in a football game to Wisconsin, Like, go there.
Those are my football memories.
Speaker 6 (43:26):
Yeah, it's my football memories. Are people not leaving the
tailgates because there was no point, sure, that's what it was.
That's what it was, Or leaving the game after the
first and second quarter because that's what it was.
Speaker 7 (43:38):
And he's completely changed it.
Speaker 6 (43:40):
He's cocky, he's arrogant, and I'm here for every minute
of it.
Speaker 2 (43:45):
You know, he's down of business when he puts those
hands on the hips and he's got that look on
his face like something bad's about that into the other team.
I like that he's got a side.
Speaker 6 (43:53):
We were watching him during the Illinois game, we went
down and had some pretty good seats, and I mean
the game was a little tight early in the first
early James early in the game.
Speaker 3 (44:05):
But if you went to the bathroom and came back,
they were down thirty. But you're saying he.
Speaker 6 (44:10):
Was He was away from the coaches most of the
game with his hands on his hips, just glaring at
the field. And then you watch the game and they
are just punishing them upfront, I mean absolutely destroying the
alignis offensive line and Signetti doesn't even act like he's face,
doesn't even act like you've seen anything happening out there.
Speaker 7 (44:28):
It was amazing.
Speaker 6 (44:28):
I mean it was We're talking about one of the
greatest beatdowns I've ever seen him from.
Speaker 3 (44:32):
Oh okay, okay, right enough, get him off the airwaves,
all right, Zach? That was facts. No, I agree, man.
After seeing that is why I picked them against Oregon.
I'm like, you beat a team like that by fifty
who for the following Illino WHI came back and beat
usc They're not some scrub team. They just did I
use on a different level this.
Speaker 7 (44:51):
Year, What a different world we live in. The Colts are.
Speaker 6 (44:54):
Rolling the Indiana Who's just football team is rolling. It
feels like it feels like we're st money right now
or something.
Speaker 3 (45:02):
Hey, this is a good living, so Zach will let
you get out of here. Man, thanks for stopping by
the game. I'm sure I'll see you around. But uh yeah,
get started on that signetty piece. We're not asking for
objectivity anyway. Just be objectively fun in the piece.
Speaker 7 (45:14):
How about that sounds good? Thanks guys, I'll be listening, Zach.
Speaker 2 (45:18):
All I know is I have several family members that
occasionally make a batch of cookies for me. You're invited
next time.
Speaker 7 (45:24):
Man, you're the man I'm in. I mean, I stay
away from those brownies though, I'm in.
Speaker 2 (45:28):
Thanks guys, all right, sounds good. Zach Keith for the
athletic joining us here on the Payless Liquors Hotline.
You were listening to the Best of the Fan morning
show on ninety three five and one oh seven five
the Fan.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
It's not enough that we bring you Kevin Bow and
James Boyd every day. It's not enough that we have
Caleb Zuver in here when Mark Dyton is happily sleeping
in after a Bears win somewhere in Florida. It's not
enough that we do all those things. Let you hear
Josh Downs a little while ago, but we're gonna have
Alex Golden at eight thirty to talk about the Pacers
and what they have coming up this season, as it
was their first preseason game into year last night. And
(00:28):
then Zach Keifer's gonna stop by one of the one
of my favorite writers over at the Athletic Gonna be
here at nine o'clock. Saw him milling around James in
the press box at the football game on Sunday with
the Colts.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Yeah, I told him to stay away. Every time he comes,
weird things happen. So if you're.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Blaming him for the for the crazy.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Things, absolutely, then you all don't understand the backstory. I've
said this many times. When I joined the Colts beat,
he was my co beat writer. He told me, hey, James,
the team is pretty stable. Frank Reich is great. Nothing
really ever happens with this team is gonna be a nice,
smooth entry to the NFL. And then twenty twenty two happened,
(01:04):
and we all know that was a disaster. And I
told him, you're a liar, You're a fraud. You bamboozled me.
So no, I have beef with Zach Kiefer forever because
of this, But no, great guy. I'm glad that he
was at the game Sunday, the phenomenal I think piece
this morning they could post on the Athletic about Daniel
Jones and some of the backstory there, and really he
got a chance to talk to Jason Garrett, his former
(01:25):
be offensive coordinator with the Giants, and so check that out.
A lot of insight there. Zach's always all over that stuff.
But good to see him, and certainly he was saying
as much as I was, very weird, but good times
for these colts who are five and one.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Yeah, and you know, we've been talking a lot about
who's been most viable player whatever. We're only six games in.
But the more I think about it, you talk about
Daniel Jones. He's just made everything work. He's made everything go.
Does he do crazy things like Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen, No,
but you know what, he's doing everything really well, Kevin,
and he's moving the chains.
Speaker 4 (01:59):
James, did you come up cross any quarterback name in
your research yesterday that you think Colts fans would not
immediately tell you you're an idiot that player sucks.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
I think the biggest one probably Taylor Heineke. I feel
like Colts fans have a healthy respect for him, especially
if you remember.
Speaker 5 (02:17):
They at him, but now they would be with him exactly.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
They remember the game that he actually won here in
Lucas Oil Stadium a couple of years ago.
Speaker 4 (02:25):
But I think he's beating the Colts twice right Atlanta
in Atlanta, good point years ago in Washington.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
So the game that you bring up again familiar with him.
I do think he could be like a spot starter
for you. Certainly don't want to get him the Keys
of the French Eyes by any means, but he's a
good player. He's someone that that I think that they can,
you know, sleep a little easier if he ends up
being your back up.
Speaker 5 (02:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
So the question for me comes down to this, are
you going to try and trade for a quarterback somewhere
around the league? That would you would think lead to
a little bit more of a Oh okay, I kind
of like that move like that, you know, would be
a little bit of a whatever higher Can I interest
you in Russell Wilson? Well, yeah, Jamis Winston.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Jamis is on a two year deal, so I don't
think that would really happened. But like, who would you
trade for?
Speaker 4 (03:06):
Well, you know, again some of these guys that maybe
don't h immediately, like why would Kansas City.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Like I know they wouldn't give him up?
Speaker 4 (03:14):
Like, you know, somebody asked me about Jimmy g in
the Text show. It was like, well, you know, Matthew
Stafford's back, Why are the Rams gonna do that?
Speaker 3 (03:20):
So it's funny, like, you know, it's kind of hard
to get a good player for cheap. Well that is
that's basically what I was going through yesterday, like, oh,
this guy's pretty good. Wait, that would cost a little
bit more than what I'm willing to give up.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
And I'll keep on coming back to this as well.
You know, when Michael Badsley was signed last week, it's
you know something that boiled down to what probably Colts connections, right.
I mean, Michael Badgley had kicked with Luke Rohods and
Rico bertso Sanchez. Michael Badgley had been with Shane Stikeen
for three years and the Chargers, so you know when
(03:51):
you say Taylor Heineke, there are some Colts connections a
little bit. First off, Shane stike and saw him opposite
in the NC East for a couple of years. I
do think that matters. I think Shane Syken watching film
of you in a rather intricate way for a couple
of years would matter. Also, you know he beat the
Colts twice, so Chris Ballard obviously seen that firsthand. Couple
(04:12):
other names just to throw out there, and again some
of these might make you puke, but Colts connections. A
guy that's been kind of a longer backup in Jacksonville
for a while with CJ. Bethard from Iowa. Jim Bob Cooter,
the Colts offensive coordinator, was in Jacksonville for a year.
Bethard currently is on the Lions practice squad, so you
would need to sign him off the practice squad to
(04:33):
your active roster, which is something we see happen. The
Colts did it a few weeks ago with a linebacker
from Dallas, Easton Stick. He is part of that North
Dakota State tree, if you will, of quarterbacks. He was
actually a draft pick of the Chargers when Shane Steichen
was with the Chargers. He's currently on Atlanta's practice squad. So,
(04:56):
you know, again, a couple names I don't know about
Desmond Ritter. You know, he did spend a few days here.
It was a mini camp tryout back in mid June.
You know, would that I don't want to pretend like
he got very deep into the Colts playbook when he
was here for a few days, But clearly the Colts
were curious about him in the summer. Would they be
(05:17):
you know, curious about him again here in mid October.
So those are just a few of the names that
connection wise, I think you throw out there.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Yeah, and also people want to know, you know, with
trade deadline coming up, and we talked about it a
little bit yesterday, is there pass rush help out there?
And I know everybody wants to go swing big and
what's Max Crosby doing? But I don't know that a
they could afford Max Crosby or if he's even available,
and what that would even possibly take. But what are
some of the realistic options? Is there a Bradley Chubb
(05:48):
that might be a guy that's available that has shown
the ability to put pressure on quarterbacks and could be
had for less than certainly what a Max Crosby is,
or we're talking about just people that could help out
a little bit, James, is that even a possibility right now?
Speaker 3 (06:05):
I think you certainly should entertain it. But yeah, as
far as Max Crosby, No, they're not going to trade
for Max Crosby. He just signed a huge extension. He
costs a lot of money, and he's also been like
loyal to a fault I would say to the Raiders,
who are god awful. So no, that does not seem
realistic at all, even in the slightest I guess the
(06:26):
name that and I'm not saying this is even a
real thought. But social media has ways of bringing up names,
Trey Hendrickson being one of them, and him being on
a one year deal with the Bengals. The Bengals stink.
He's also aging, so would you make a move for him?
But the thought there is that you're doing that literally
(06:47):
just just cash in for this year, because then he
would become a free agent afterwards. I would not necessarily
want to trade for him and give him a bunch
of money because he's an older player. So yeah, that's
an idea as well. But yeah, I do think the
next couple weeks will kind of inform a lot when
it comes to what the Colts might do. Because if
you look up after the next two games and you're
(07:10):
seven and one, do you say, hey, this is our
shot to do something special this year, because then you
go from being a feel good story. So wait a second,
we're a pretty good team. And even if you're six
and two, you know, heading into your last game before
the bye week, you know, going overseas to face the Falcons,
who had a pretty good game yesterday. I think that
certainly is a conversation that garners more validity than I
(07:34):
think before.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
It's honestly something where I could probably talk myself into
a trade at three different positions in the defense. I
could talk myself into pass rusher. Certainly, I could talk
myself into a linebacker upgrade and corner given the depth there.
So you know, three weeks from today is a trade deadline.
Do you do something right now? Do you sit back
(07:56):
and wait again? Are you investing in a draft quarterback
wise at all into trying to find a backup here? James,
you got this from Thomas. Thomas goes, what's wrong with
Riley Leonard? It's a four week backup job? Come on,
do you think do you view it in that light
like it's fine? You got Riley Leonard? He led Notre
Dame to the national title last year. Do you see
(08:18):
him in the preseason game against Cincinnati?
Speaker 3 (08:20):
No, I'm not with that at all. A lot of
players look great in the preseason. I mean, to be honest.
Bringing back Jason Bean, I mean, Sam Ellinger is probably
a name we could throw out there as well, someone
who knows Shane and it has proven to be a
very professional quarterback in this league. But no, I do
not think that is a smart tactic, mainly because and
(08:42):
not to be like bogus, but when you get to
the NFL, I truly do not care who did in
college anymore. I mean, great, you led Notre Dame to
the national championship. Will Howard won the national championship. Neither
one of them are starting quarterbacks in the NFL, and
no one thought that when they left college. So yeah,
could he be a spot starter someday? Yes, I just
(09:03):
think that you're putting too much on the guy fresh
out of the gate. That to me is just not wise.
And it's funny because we did a story yesterday on
the IR injury update with Anthony Richardson and someone on
our editing staff must be a Notre Dame person or
most be a big, big ry Leonard fan, because they
put in like this random paragraph about he was like
(09:25):
preseason all ACC. And I went back and was like,
who cares? Cut that out? Like, yeah, we can mention
the National championship part that I think is significant, but
like preseason all ACC, good leader, whatever, can he play
football in the NFL. He's not proven to do that.
I don't think you should do, like just throw it
to him if you can find someone who's at least
(09:45):
done it relatively well or in a spot here or there,
I mean, has some experience in that department.
Speaker 4 (09:51):
And I think the question becomes this, if you look
at the Colts schedule upcoming here the rest of the
way I was looking at it last night, I want
to say, of the eleven teams you have left, eight
are currently at five hundred or better. So eight of
the eleven right now are a five hundred football team.
More better, if you look at the three games you
(10:11):
would play to teams below five hundred, two of those
three are Houston, which I don't think we look at
Houston as like laughing stock bad.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Right, No, we probably think that they're gonna be at
least a nine to eight team before the season's over.
Speaker 5 (10:25):
Well, and again, if CJ.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
Shrout's healthy, like, it's still very competent, even if they
aren't necessarily their record wise, and who knows, maybe they're
now starting to find a little bit of their groove
they had to buy this past week. So the schedule
is undoubtedly getting tougher. And you know, do you view
it as Hey, if Daniel Jones were to be lost
for three to four weeks, does a quarterback move Let's
(10:47):
let's call it four weeks? If Riley Leonard's is gonna
go one and three? Does the backup quarterback the other guy?
Could that guy go too?
Speaker 2 (10:54):
And two?
Speaker 4 (10:55):
And is that the difference between winning the ANFC South
and not? Man, I know, we're kind of getting into
the weeds a little bit here. But I think that's
how you have to view it of is that player
going to is one game going to be the difference?
And when Jacksonville's sitting there one game behind you right
now in the division, you still have two more games
with them down the stretch. I think these are all
(11:16):
conversations that the Colts have to have inside of their
building today and we'll see how it exactly plays out.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
One last one for you. Wes tech sin at two three, nine,
ten seventy on the fan text line says Sam hell
is Sam Howell is Philadelphia quarterback three? Maybe he's cheap?
Is that a guy you'd look at?
Speaker 3 (11:32):
They always trade, so perhaps that is somebody to take about.
I think what Tamer m Key's all over there as well.
So yeah, it just comes down how do you want
to pursue it. Do you want to be very cheap
and say, hey, just get me somebody that I don't
have to spend too much money on who's a free
agent or I could pick up off of a practice squad.
Or do I want to invest a little bit more
there to be a little more sure of myself in
(11:53):
case anything happens to Daniel Jones, which Lord have mercy.
Let's not even speak those words.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Right, Yeah, and the people that are texting in and
talking about that, we really need to spend all this
time and energy thinking about a backup quarterback for a
team that's five and one, Yes, because what happens if
Daniel Zones even has to miss a half or a
game and a half or something like that. Every win
is going to count for a team that all of
a sudden has designs on doing something special this year.
Speaker 4 (12:19):
Kevin, We'll see too if the Colts bring that player
right away onto the fifty three manters oster. The Richardson
news yesterday to IR they brought in a undrafted I
think corner safety from the sounds of it, Ruben Lowry
who played in Baltimore this year, undersized but super smart dude.
And we'll see exactly how he fits. So clearly they're
(12:41):
trying to churn even more corner They continue to work
out corners, They continue to work out veteran corners. But
that was the roster move yesterday. For those that did
see Richardson d aged reserve. The Colts filled it, but
not with the quarterback, with a kind of a corner safety,
so again that will play out today exactly what they
do at quarterback. They could just go practice squad and
you know, bump that guy up a couple of weeks
(13:02):
and then you know, kick the can down the road
for a bigger decision there.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
Yeah, you say you undersize it. What is he like
five ninety two four or something?
Speaker 4 (13:08):
But I want to see Tennessee Chattanooga comes to mind
of where he played collegiately, put up some big time numbers.
Uh mechanical engineering degree ro OTC. I mean, sounds like
a really smart individual, but undersized and was playing but
played a ton of snaps for Baltimore a few weeks ago.
Obviously Baltimore really banged up, so uh, any move at
(13:30):
corner safety right now, particularly corner right now, I don't
gloss over because they need corners.
Speaker 5 (13:35):
So who knows if this guy could get up to
speed as quickly as Sunday.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Maybe you just hope you keep bringing people in. Somebody's
gonna stick and it's gonna work out. Because like we said,
loved Jacoby Brissette, but man, he looked awfully good against
the cult secondary this past week. And I don't know
how much that was just Jacoby on a day and
how much of it was just there needs to be
some work done in that secondary.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
Jeff is saying, Jacoby, you should have just kept your
bags here. Okay, let's just make the tray for him
and everyone. Great. I'd be happy with Kobe is the
backup quarterback, I know, but again, like I said, then
it costs a lot of things, you know, to go
get him. So yeah, I think the options have to
be a little bit, you know, lower, The expectations had
to a little bit lower on who they bring in.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Yeah, all right, So that's what's happening with the cults.
The Pacers played last night. Let's give you all the
details on everything else you need to know. We call
it the morning check, James. So the culture off today
and we'll just keep an eye on whether or not
they bring quarterbacks in or take a look at that
market today.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
Right, Yeah, that is certainly the big news after Anthony
Richardson went on IR yesterday due to an orbital fracture
he sustained due to a stretching injury he had in
the locker room before the game Sunday. And just to clarify,
it wasn't the band. He had the band attached to
something in the locker room and that something broke and
it recoiled to hit him in the face. And so
(14:49):
people who are like, ha ha, how did that happen? Like, man,
imagine someone just throwing a baseball full speed at your
face Like that is essentially how it happened. Very fluke thing,
very unfortunate for him. But just to clarify there for
people who are who thinks it is just like, you know,
this guy's made a class, Like no, man, you get
hitting the face that hard, anybody's face is gonna break.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
We'll get more information on a bunch of things later
on this week, Kevin, how close were we to get
in Kenny Moore of the second back last week?
Speaker 4 (15:14):
He was doing some field work when we were out there, James,
I think I was Friday. He was doing some lateral
field work. But still he is yet to practice and
it's now three straight weeks, nine practices.
Speaker 5 (15:24):
Total, three games.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
I would you know it is three days enough of practice?
Is this an injury that was more severe to where
you'd want multiple weeks? If you go just basically based
off of they didn't put him on injury reserve, then
Sunday he should be back. That would be his fourth
game that you know he would miss. So it's a
big one because you know, I think you're facing the
Chargers team that has some definite injury issues, but they
(15:49):
could be getting a little healthier at wide out and
we know what Justin Herbert can do, so obviously that'll
be a big one to watch this week. And by
all accounts, the Colts didn't have anybody get hurt in
the game. We'll see how that plays out tomorrow practice,
but it was before the game or pre game. Everybody's
going to start wearing bubble wrap and all their helmets
during all the pregame routines.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
Now two games on Monday Night Football. Last night, Atlanta
Falcons beat the Buffalo Bills twenty four to fourteen. Bishn
Robinson ran wild one hundred and seventy yards and eighty
one yard touchdown scamper six catches sixty eight yards. Josh
Allen struggled a little bit, just one hundred and eighty
yards and two touchdowns passing, but also two interceptions, and
they just couldn't get it going against the Falcons, who
(16:29):
have improved to three and two right now and after
the game, James Michael Pennix said, this team is legit.
Don't go to sleep on the Falcons quite yet. We
start paying attention to them in the NFC South.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
I feel like they're always right there. That division kind
of stanks year in and year out, so they always
have a chance to kind of be in the mix.
And so yeah, going from being losing thirty to nothing
to the Panthers to what they did last night certainly
feels the vibes feel a lot different in Atlanta right now.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Jake Mudy hit a thirty eight yard game winning field
goal as time expired and the Bears win in Washington
twenty five to twenty four. Mark Dyton happy doing his
happy dance somewhere. But a nice revenge game for the
Bears who gave up that crazy play in the loss
to the Commanders a year ago. Kevin, people remember that one.
Speaker 4 (17:14):
Yeah, so Mark Dyton, I guess I heard that he
got another week of vacation once that field goal went
in last night, So Caleb will need you for another
week here, Jeff. Jeff just signed off on five more
days from Mark Dyton to go to Disney World.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
It's no problem with me. Yeah, you work here for
a long time. You just start racking. Apparently Mark has
two hundred and fourteen PTO days. I don't know. I
don't even know how that works.
Speaker 5 (17:34):
Let's have the right last name with some people in
this building.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
That's it, all right. The Indiana Pacers at home last
night at the field House. They lose to the Spurs
one twenty four to one oh eight, a meaningless preseason
game except for the fact that Benedict Matherin we already
know can score in bunches. James went off for twenty
seven in the first half, thirty one for the game.
They did lose. But that's man. If Benedict Matherin can
(17:57):
become instant scoring on a consistent basis, pretty interesting things
happening for the Basers.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
Yeah. I would say that he's been proving himself as
a scorer since he got in the NBA. He can
score the best of them. It's just the other things
I know. Listening to the halftime show, Yeah. On Fantom
Sports Network, Rick Carlos talked a lot about how they
believe he's gonna have to draw some of the bigger
defensive assignments this year, especially on the wing, considering that
you don't want to put a lot of that on
(18:24):
Andrew Nemhard as a lead guard. So I'm curious to
see how Benedict embraces that part of his game because
he has the physical tools to do it. But yeah,
I think the bread and butter at the end of
the day will always be him scoring the basketball. Does
that in his sleep, and you know, if he scores
at that raid, he'll be looking at a nice extension
at some point, I would imagine.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
You know, James, I saw that clip with Rick Carlisle
at half time last night too. I thought it was
very interesting in the middle of that when he was
talking about the defense that Maverin's gonna have to play.
He said early in games, which made me believe that
you give him a lot of that defensive work early
in the game, but when it comes crunch time, maybe
in the fourth quarter, now you switch back to your
defense of lockdown with them heart something like that.
Speaker 3 (19:01):
Maybe we'll see certainly something to keep an eye on.
But yeah, like you pointed out earlier in the show,
the Sinners were bad, and I'm looking at a stats
like the little what is it the play by play
tracker from the third quarter yesterday. Here is what Isaiah
Jackson did in the matter of three seconds, personal foul,
personal foul, personal foul. Pacers called time.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
Out the four centers, uh is Say Jackson, Jay Huff,
Tony Bradley, James Wiseman collective last night, No, none.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
Of that's good Man had three fouls, none of literally
three seconds.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
Like that'sugh thirty seven preseason minutes for Isaiah Jackson, nine fouls,
and I don't think Jay Huffs would much better in
terms of defending without fouling.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
So I knew they were taking a step back without
Miles and this is just kind of, you know, reafforsting
that a little bit early. It's early for them as well,
but like they should.
Speaker 4 (19:50):
Rai Smith's behind the bench last night, I thought anything
anything left in the tank?
Speaker 3 (19:54):
Yeah, for the six minutes, six minutes, he ain't even
got that.
Speaker 4 (19:58):
I'll just take defending without falling asking for a hook shot.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Pacers will finish up their preseason schedule Friday night in
San Antonio, and then they get ready to once again
play the Oklahoma City Thunder, who they just played like
every other game, now, don't they there you go, Yeah,
all right, So Major League Baseball last night, the American League,
National League Championship Series both took place Game two of
the ALCS. The Mariners got the hitting clubs at club
(20:24):
the Toronto Blue Jays ten to three. Julio Rodriguez Jorge
Polanco each had three run home runs, Josh Naylor hit
a two run shot and they get the win there
to take a two games to none of the Brewers
two to one, and Blake Snell eight innings, no runs,
one hit, no walks, ten strikeouts. I think that's pretty
good right there. James, especially in that spot not bad.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
A lot of pressure in those spots and he showed up.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
Yeah, and later on tonight, Game two of the National
League Championship Series starts at eight oh eight. The ALCS
is off as they traveled back to Seattle to Mariners
with the two games to none lead. High school rankings
are out this week from the USA today. Not much
change amongst the top teams and six A. It's still
Brownsburg number one, New Palace number one in five A,
Bishops Chichard number one in four A. Top ranked teams
(21:12):
in three A, two A and one A are Evansville Memorial,
Adam Central, and Springs Valley, respectively. So anything else you
guys want to throw in. I know there was a
firing yesterday James in the National.
Speaker 5 (21:23):
Football Larry Birds, Springs Valley.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
I would not know, honestly shout out, but as far
as the firing goes, yeah, Bryan Callahan is out for
the Titans and Kevin. I'm not surprised by the move
at all. Honestly, when you lose.
Speaker 5 (21:41):
Why the hell.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
They're regretting that. It felt like a power struggle at
the top, like thunder joke.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
They are, and they're setting themselves up to be in
this position again in a couple of years. I don't
know how can Ward develops now, We'll see, but I
think maybe the destraw that broke to Campbell's back. And
I'm not in Tennessee, but here in Callahan's comments last
week about you know, hey, everyone's got to get better.
We want to see some progress, and he'd like pointed
out cam Ward and was like he needs to get
(22:12):
better news, I'm like, man, you don't want to start
coming at your first round pick, your number one pick.
I mean, you're the guy who supposed to be developing him.
So now he's out of a job.
Speaker 4 (22:19):
And by all accounts, Bran Callahan was pretty deep as
a finalist here in Indy, which you know, is kind
of crazy to see how obviously all that's played out.
Purdue number one in the preseason poll for college basketball.
First place votes go to Matt Painters bunch Houston second
with sixteen first place votes, Florida eight, Yukon two. There's
your top four there. Matt Painters already said, feels like
(22:41):
the depth, that's what's a little different about this Purdue
team and why he feels like this is indeed the
best national title contending team he has had of they
could withstand something that you know, maybe prior years they
had a little bit of a smaller margin for air
other Big Ten teams in Michigan seven, UCLA Twelvellis seventeen,
Michigan State twenty two, the Badgers at twenty four. Indiana
(23:06):
got oon vote, and if you add all that up,
that would be the forty third place team in the nation,
the Hoosiers with Darren Devrees.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
I'm still not used to. I know it's been a
while now, I'm still not used to UCLA, USC Oregon
in the Big Ten. I'm just not there yet.
Speaker 5 (23:23):
I don't know if I'm used to Rutgers being the
big time.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
It's been it's been a nice You're right, I'm still
not used to the Chargers being in La.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
Bouz saying it's been a while for both of those things.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
Guy Uh, Kevin and Ires slow to come around on
some things, James, That's all it is.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
Get what the Times.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
The Times will feature Alex Golden, who setting the pace
as one of the leading podcasters when it comes to
the Indiana Pacers and kind enough to join us with
his unique perspective. Coming up in a moment here. We'll
also have the Pacers playback for you, debuting is we
continue on on a Tuesday morning. It's ninety three five
and one oh seven. Pacers have two seconds to get
(24:05):
a shot.
Speaker 6 (24:05):
And Matherin concludes a brilliant first half with a three
from out near the left hash mark.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
He made every shut in this head. Believe it the
way for the Pacers With thirty one points Time for
our Pacers playback after every game, presented by C and
J Water, the official water treatment partner of the Indiana
Pacers cnjwater dot com. James, he was terrific last night,
thirty one points in all slowed down in the second half,
didn't play a ton there, but he could not miss
(24:33):
in the first quarter of last night's basketball game.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
Hey is what he does, man bucket getter, special guar.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
Yeah, he was, and so we'll keep an eye on
him as the preseason rolls on. The Spurs did win
one twenty four to one oh eight. And here to
tell us more about that, one of our favorite guests
joining us on the Payless Lickers Hotline. That, of course
would be the one the only Alex Golden. Good morning, Alex.
How was your preseason extravaganza last night?
Speaker 1 (24:57):
It was a little bit more entertaining than I would say.
It's still it against the thunder or I should say
the okase he Blue since they didn't bring ten of
their guys.
Speaker 7 (25:05):
But yeah, it was.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
It was good to see some of the starters play
more more minutes and we saw one Viniyama eve been
playing in the fourth quarter, so a little bit more
of a competitive game to kind of get a better
evaluation of what this team looks like.
Speaker 5 (25:17):
Alex, what the hell do you do at center?
Speaker 4 (25:19):
It's been fouling and fouling and fouling and not scoring
or rebounding much.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
It's not been good.
Speaker 7 (25:26):
Kevin I'll tell you that.
Speaker 1 (25:27):
And I think Facer fans, while they are not happy
that Miles Turner left for Milwaukee and feel like things
could be better without him, I think they might be
wishing Miles Turner was still in this cross. I mean,
you got to give a little bit of you know,
context here with just Wiseman and Jackson coming back from injuries.
Jay Huff really has not been a part of this
system at all, and when he played with the starters
(25:47):
last night, ran into Siakam at one point, just didn't
really know what to do. Him and Mathurn we're having
conversations be.
Speaker 7 (25:52):
Where he's supposed to be at.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
So I think it's all just a learning curve. It's
still really early, so don't want to write them off
completely yet, but I think this is a big year
for the Pacers to see if they have anything at
center with this. I would first three games, a player
that's probably looked the most consistent is the guy that's
probably gonna get cut, and that's Tony Bradley. So I
just I have not been impressed, and the fouling has
been an issue for me, and just the floor space
(26:15):
and that they're used to with Turner, they don't have
that anymore, Jay huff O four from three in the
preseason so far. So yeah, it's it's not been great,
But I think they just have to give it some time,
give us some chemistry, maybe something to play out. Right now,
I am not overly impressed.
Speaker 4 (26:28):
If they played a real game tomorrow. By the way,
Alex Golden setting the pace a great listen for Pacers
fans out there his podcast, He's with us here on
the Paylostickers top line. If they played a real game tomorrow,
would their best lineup be Obie Topping at the five?
Kind of small ball like we saw a little bit
in the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
Oh yeah, I mean they did that a little bit
last night too. The Spurs were playing some zone and
they went to Obi top and at the five, and
the Pacers I think were like a plus two and
like three and a half minutes of that group together.
So we might get to some point in the season
where it's just like, you know what, start Obi Topping.
I mean, if they're really trying to win games and
things like that, it's going to make a huge difference.
But one thing to me that really plays a huge
(27:04):
factor in just the centers and how they will all
be utilized. Is not having TJ McConnell right now. TJ
McConnell does so much for that center position with his
ability to get into the paint and push pace. So
I think as you have a new point guarding camera,
pign trying to learn things a little bit, it is
kind of like stagnating the offense and what they're trying
to do. So yeah, I just think not having McConnell
(27:24):
is going to be a huge impact for a lot
of what this team does. But overall, I just yeah,
they they. I think Obi Topping is clearly the best
you know, starting center at this point on the roster.
Speaker 3 (27:36):
Alex, what has been your impression of Jaris Walker so
far throughout the preseason? And I know kind of up
and down last nine to five turnover is not great.
But if we're looking at steps you want to see
the Pacers take out imagine a big part of that.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
Yeah, for sure, I think we've seen more good stuff
from Jariffs and bad stuff throughout the preseason. I wasn't
overly impressed with his first game against Minnesota, thought he
had a nice shooting game against Minnesota, and then if
you look at his performance against OKC. I thought that
was probably one of his better ones, almost out a
triple double in that game, and then last night he
had a really really strong third quarter, and then in
(28:11):
the fourth quarter they threw him out there with a
random group and had him playing some point guard at
one point.
Speaker 7 (28:15):
So for me when it comes.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
To jars Walker, I just want to see him play
with a consistent level of course and not take plays off.
We've seen some bad passes, we've seen some not getting
back on defense and things like that. But if he
can just play the right way, play good defense, fit
into the system, take the open shots when they're there,
it's going to be great. He had a move on
Saturday against OKC that looked very Pascal Siakam esque in
(28:38):
the second quarter. And if he can do more things
like that, quick decisions when he gets to basketball, like
I'm going to go to the basket, I'm gonna score
versus let me wait and think about this for a second.
I think that's going to help him as well.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
Alex, Just before you came on, we were talking about
some things that Rick Carlisle said during the halftime of
last night's broadcast regarding Benedict Matherin and what his role
might be and what the guard position is going to
look like without Tyrese Hollim Burton, and the fact that
that maybe Mathern takes on a few more defensive responsibilities,
certainly at the beginning of a game, and in addition
(29:10):
to some of the scoring. What his role looks like
coming into this season.
Speaker 1 (29:15):
Yeah, they're gonna be They're gonna need a lot of
Matherin and a lot of good Materron for this team
to have any success because Matherin obviously at the two
guard right now, you're so thin that Kayl and Peter,
a guy on a two way contracts your backup. So
they just really need him to step up and do
a little bit more. We know he can do a
lot of stuff offensive. I don't think that's ever gonna
be a problem for him, But defensively, I think that
they're getting him some reps. If you look at the
(29:36):
first game against Minnesota, he was guarding Anthony Edwards. Is
the second game against the Thunder, he was guarding Case
and Wallace. So they're having him guard some of the
better guards out there just to try and see what
he can do. And I think he's a better on
ball defender than he is an off ball defender, because
he gets lost a little bit playing off ball, but
on ball he's a little bit more locked in and engaged.
He just has to learn how to navigate those screens
(29:58):
and fright through that. But I think he's gotten better
and then offensively, one thing that maybe doesn't stick out
in terms of like stats or anything like that, but
one thing I've noticed is his passing has looked better.
One of the first plays against the Thunder on Saturday,
he threw a great bounce pass lead passed to Isaiah
Jackson as the ball was swinging around and Jimmy boot
six teams aboff the bench starts clapping because it was
a great pass, and so they want to see him
(30:18):
do more of that. We know he can score the
basketball last night eleven to twelve for thirty one points,
like unbelievable twenty three minutes of play, So we know
he can do that. But just those quick reads and
then playing better defense, I think that's gonna be his role,
and I think he's gonna play probably close to thirty
thirty two minutes tonight.
Speaker 3 (30:34):
Alex Is Pascal Siakam like Steph Curry now because he's
just knocking down threes that are extremely high rate. Shot
it at thirty eight percent last year, career high. But
what do you say from him to, you know, take
the reins more offensively. Now it's Tyry Saliburton is not
going to play this year.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
Yeah, we just got to see more of a heavy
dose of Fiakam than we've seen in the last two seasons.
I feel like last year a lot of times we
would see in the regular season Pascal have a really
strong half in the first or second half, but it
was never like the entirety of the game. And I
think we have to do the Pacers have to do
about getting him more involved throughout the entirety of the
game where they can really just force feed him to basketball.
(31:11):
I mean not overly do it, right, They still gonna
play it in their system. But like you said, he's
shot the ball incredibly well since coming here. He's really
worked on a shot and I feel like he's gonna
make it more than he's gonna miss it when.
Speaker 7 (31:21):
He pulls it.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
And then just his ability to use that footwork. There
was a great play last night early in the game
when he had Victorimaniyama on him, and seven foot five freak,
and you know he uses his footwork to create enough
space and get a jump over him. That's how special
of a talent Pascal Siakami is. So he's gonna have
to take the reins. And I mean he might need
to score close to twenty five points a night for
(31:42):
this team to really consider themselves the playoffs team.
Speaker 3 (31:45):
Alex, after he made that shot a fotog, make sure
you send that to me right away immediately, because I mean,
you see all the other weird plays that happened throughout
that game, like how about the putback from Wimby in
the paint on Jay Huff where he barely what what
are we doing? Well, yeah, I'm not gonna lie.
Speaker 1 (32:05):
He walked by me three times last night back by
the media area, and I literally was just shocked. I
couldn't I couldn't believe what I was seeing. And I
actually tried to take a picture of him as I
was like walking into the media room. We were coming
up the elevators, he was coming down the hallway. I
tried to take a picture of him and be sneaky
about it. He caught me and smiled at me. So
it's pretty embarrassing. But it's just like, this guy is
(32:25):
such a freak. It's crazy, like that boot back duck,
like you're mentioning.
Speaker 7 (32:28):
I don't even think he jumped, so he didn't.
Speaker 1 (32:31):
He's like playing on a little tyke's basketball goal and
everybody else's.
Speaker 3 (32:34):
Yeah, this is you and your son, this is this
You're showing him how to do things, and I'm like,
this is a grown man out here just sunning the Pacers.
So I still have my Whimby the Indie shirts somewhere
in the basement. Uh, you know, I'm still still pushing
for that. You know, in an alternate reality, I think that.
Speaker 1 (32:50):
Would have been a second favorite team to go to.
I mean, he likes the Pacers, so it was I
think the Pacers were one lottery ball away from getting
the number one overall picking.
Speaker 7 (32:57):
That year's draft.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
So just a little bit more heartbreak for me. But yeah,
Rick Carlisle, I thought he was just hilarious talking about him.
Said you just watching disbelief.
Speaker 7 (33:06):
That's the scouting report.
Speaker 1 (33:07):
And he said, I'm glad he's in the West.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
Man oh Man twice a year is all. But they
will see him Friday night in their final preseason game.
That'll be in San Antonio. Alex, thanks for spending time
with us this morning. As always, we appreciate you.
Speaker 1 (33:18):
Yeah, anytime, guys, thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (33:20):
You can listen to Alex on setting the pace where
you can find that anywhere you can get podcasts, certainly
on Spotify as where I usually go to get it
as well. That's a look at the Pacers losing last
night one twenty four to one O eight to the
San Antonio Spurs. Again. Benedict Matherin had thirty one points,
Andrew Nembard was eleven points, eight assists and a big
zero for the four setters, Jackson Huff, Bradley Wiseman. Oh,
(33:43):
freaking and a lot of fouls too, especially when PACER's
playback presented by CNJ Water, the official water treatment partner
of the Indiana Pacers cnjwater dot Com. All right, let's
check the gay guest line right now, the Payless Liquors
hot line, and Zach Keifer from the Athletic is standing
by it. Talk to us and Zach, good morning, Thanks
for being here on a Tuesday. Always good to hear
(34:03):
from you. We were just talking about this as you
came on. Is it possible we've seen the last of
Anthony Richardson with the Indianapolis Colts.
Speaker 6 (34:13):
I think that's a totally fair question, Jeff. I hadn't
really thought about that, and it's really unfortunate that this
is the incident that sort of spurs that question. First off,
I hope he I hope he's okay. This sounds like
a really strange, weird accident that happened in the locker
room before the game. But I do feel like this
(34:33):
team is starting to realize that their quarterback is Daniel Jones,
and maybe everything falls apart at the end of the season,
but it certainly seems like Daniel Jones is going to
be the quarterback beyond twenty twenty five.
Speaker 3 (34:47):
So I do want to say, Zach, thanks joining the show,
and thanks for ruining my life like you always seem
to do when you come around. Things got a little
weird there for us in pregame, but I do know
that you were stopping by not only for the game,
but more or so to get a little more insight
on Daniel Jones how he's wired. You basically told him
after the game he has no life, and he kind
of grinned at you. But reading through your story. This morning,
(35:09):
you had a chance to catch up with Jason Garrett,
who gave us a lot of you know, sort of
I think insight that I hadn't heard of publicly. So
can you give us I guess not to give away
your story, but give us a couple of cliff notes
there on what you learned from Jason Garrett about Daniel
Jones and why that's helped him here Indianapolis.
Speaker 7 (35:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (35:27):
So you guys are not going to believe this, but
when you're trying to find something interesting about Daniel Jones.
Speaker 7 (35:32):
It's really freaked hard.
Speaker 6 (35:34):
I mean, I put this in the lead of the story,
but I asked like two or three of the vets
on the team, like, can you tell me something interesting
about this dude? And I got a lot of blank scares.
Speaker 7 (35:44):
And that's not to say.
Speaker 6 (35:45):
That Daniel Georges is super, super boring, but even he
said in his press conference, like I don't do a
whole lot besides this stuff, and this stuff would be
right now running the best offense in the league, the
highest scoring offense in football.
Speaker 7 (35:59):
But pivot to Jason Garrett. Yeah, like I learned a
little bit from him. I don't know if he was the.
Speaker 6 (36:07):
Right fit in New York. And I know that Eli
was his predecessor. And Eli was the guy who never
gave any good quotes and was super stoic and was unflappable, right,
and he won the two Super Bowls, one of which
he won right down the street at Lucas so Oil.
But with Daniel Jones, you know, I got the story
of him like taking the ferry across the Hudson River
and then renning an e bike to ride into New
(36:28):
York City when he would go to dinner with people,
and it just seems like the most opposite thing you
would think of the New York Giants quarterback. And I
just don't know if his personality meshed with New York
as well as some others would maybe Jackson Dark who
seems to be really embracing the spotlight there, and they
seem to be have something going there in terms of
(36:48):
a spark. But honestly, like in talking to Daniel Jones
and the talking to Jason Garrett and talking to people
in New York, it just feels like.
Speaker 7 (36:57):
Indiana is more his speed. And there's nothing wrong with that.
It's my speed too.
Speaker 4 (37:02):
Can Zach Keeper from the athletic who with the sea
on the Payloss Slickers sideline. The latest Daniel Jones might
be the most vanilla QB in the NFL and a
perfect fit for the Colts.
Speaker 3 (37:12):
More chocolate.
Speaker 4 (37:13):
It's a great read up on the well Halloween right now?
You know what's his favorite Halloween candy?
Speaker 5 (37:19):
We could go there?
Speaker 2 (37:20):
Cookies are brownies?
Speaker 3 (37:21):
Right?
Speaker 7 (37:22):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (37:22):
Which one?
Speaker 4 (37:23):
Zach Verry broke signetti at him, Zach Keefer, do you
have a favorite cookies or brownies?
Speaker 7 (37:29):
Cookie?
Speaker 5 (37:31):
Zach?
Speaker 2 (37:32):
You're invited Saturday afternoon and watch some football. We'll call
it good.
Speaker 4 (37:35):
There's the reason why Zach looks away he does and
runs as fast as he does. You know he's not
enough brownies out there, uh, Zach. It almost seems like
when you say perfect fit for the Colts, I immediately
go to Shane Psychin and just how he's wired. He
is psychotic from a preparation standpoint, I would argue, and
I think Daniel Jones meets him at that level.
Speaker 5 (37:55):
So yes, you know, living in.
Speaker 4 (37:57):
More of a quaint city and whatever part of town
and all of that, and the speed of Indie I
would agree with. It also seems like the marriage from
a head coach, play caller fits exactly what he was
looking for as well.
Speaker 6 (38:09):
You know what, I went back to KB, you're dead
on and this this really hit me on Sunday as
I was listening to Spike and talk about the preparation
they do, and then Daniel Jones talk about it when
we have Shane Steiken back in twenty twenty three, what
he wanted in the quarterback because we knew they were
gonna draft one. The first thing he said was obsession.
Speaker 7 (38:29):
I want a quarterback who's obsessed.
Speaker 6 (38:31):
And that hit me more and more as we got
through the Anthony Richardson era, which TDD at this point,
but it feels like Jones is that guy. I mean,
he's calling out plays from the Panthers Week two game
the night before they played the Cardinals on Sunday to say, hey,
let's watch this clip from a month ago because we
might see this look and it just seems like that's
more of Shane Stikeen's style. Why, because that's who Stikeen was.
(38:55):
I mean, Stikeen was the teenager in high school who
would skip out on the parties to sneak into the
stadium to throw to his receivers. I mean he wants
an obsessive guy. Why did he have so much success
in Philly because Jalen Hurts is like that. He's all business,
he's all football, and he's locked in. And it just
feels like Staken may have finally found the perfect fit
(39:15):
for him in Indianapolis. He had some success with Gardner Minshew,
But it just feels like, like you mentioned, obsessive psychotic.
Speaker 7 (39:22):
I mean, that's Psiching, right. He is all ball.
Speaker 6 (39:25):
Everyone I talked to in the league has the same
description of the same psychic. He's all ball, there's nothing else.
And it just feels like Daniel Jones is the perfect
quarterback for that. And I don't want to omit the
fact that he's got maybe the best young tight end
in football. He's got a running back, he's playing like
an MVP. The line is balling out, and the receivers
have been really good. Reggie Wayne deserves a lot of credit.
(39:46):
Josh downs with a tremendous touchdown, Alec Pierce that back
sort of turning away from him, fingertip grabbing the red zone.
I mean, like that unit, it's to some of the parts.
It's certainly not Daniel Jones carrying this thing. But I
think Shane Stikeen's that good that he can get the
most out of a quarterback like Daniel Jones and have
the highest scoring offense in the league.
Speaker 3 (40:07):
Zach, when you were there in person, perhaps what impressed
you the most about the way the Colts offenses operate,
especially against an Arizona defense coming into that game that
ranked fourth in the league in points alout.
Speaker 6 (40:20):
Yeah, so I go back to this, I go back
to the best offenses make it easy on themselves, Right.
Speaker 7 (40:26):
So I travel around lot, I watch a lot.
Speaker 6 (40:28):
Of these offenses in training camp and then in the season,
and you get a feel for how easy they're making
it on themselves. Are they putting themselves in third and
nine and they putting themselves in third and two? You know,
the Colts are averaging the most first downs per drive
of any offense in football. This is the polar opposite
of last year. This is the polar opposite. And I
don't mean to pile on Anthony Richardson because everybody wasn't blame,
(40:51):
but look, they made it so difficult on themselves last year.
They couldn't make the layoffs, they couldn't complete easy passes
over the middle, and they couldn't do the things that
sustain drives. The Colts had the shortest time up possession
per drive last year.
Speaker 7 (41:04):
You guys know why. You watched all the games, right,
three and out.
Speaker 6 (41:07):
Three and out, three and out, third and eleven, third
and twelve, third and nine, and they just didn't have
a quarterback who was accurate enough to complete those passes.
Jones is certainly more accurate than Richardson, but he also
is getting them in better situations. I'm pretty sure the
touchdown to Taylor was a check. So it's just those
little things that add up that make it easier on
your offense. And to your question, James Arizontal, it was
(41:29):
a difficult defense. They were tough, and it looked like
the Colts are having some trouble getting the ball consistently
down there, but they just kept finding a way. They
have a lot of answers and the quarterback has a
lot of answers, and I think you put that together,
it's really fun to watch them really click, because this
offense has not clicked like this since I mean, I'm
(41:49):
not even gonna say twenty twenty one, because the quarterbacks
faded down the stretch and nobody wants to talk about that,
but it's a little bit like the Philip Rivers offense
in twenty twenty, which I have a soft spot for
because it was so fricking fun to watch him throw
that throw that offense out there and just throw with anticipation.
Speaker 7 (42:05):
And so this office is for real.
Speaker 6 (42:07):
They have a lot of answers, they have a lot
of balance, and Shae Stiken really deserves a lot of
credit for what he's doing with this group.
Speaker 4 (42:14):
Zach, I want to take it in a different direction
here before we let you go, and again appreciate your
time here on this Tuesday morning. I said it to
you in the press box on Sunday. You need to
write the Kurt Signetti feature. I know some people have
attempted it, but no one's a future writer like you.
It's your alma mater. Someone's got to write that story
(42:34):
because it's one of the best coaching jobs pro college.
Speaker 5 (42:39):
You need to do it. Sorry to put work on
your plate, man.
Speaker 6 (42:43):
I don't think I'd have a shred of objectivity if
I did that story, because I'm having as much fun
with AYU football I think as anybody.
Speaker 7 (42:51):
And I was arguing with my friends the other day
and I'll throw this to you, guys.
Speaker 6 (42:55):
Is it the best hire that they've made since Bob Knight,
since Jerry Yegley. I mean, it's it's hard to argue
with that. You just don't see this in college football,
what he's done in such a short amount of time.
But I think it's up there with one of the
best hires in that school's athletic history.
Speaker 4 (43:10):
Zach and my four years there, which I think overlapped
a little bit with you. They won three Big Ten
football games in four years. They gave up eighty three
points in a football game to Wisconsin, Like, go there.
Those are my football memories.
Speaker 6 (43:26):
Yeah, it's my football memories. Are people not leaving the
tailgates because there was no point, sure, that's what it was.
That's what it was, Or leaving the game after the
first and second quarter because that's what it was.
Speaker 7 (43:38):
And he's completely changed it.
Speaker 6 (43:40):
He's cocky, he's arrogant, and I'm here for every minute
of it.
Speaker 2 (43:45):
You know, he's down of business when he puts those
hands on the hips and he's got that look on
his face like something bad's about that into the other team.
I like that he's got a side.
Speaker 6 (43:53):
We were watching him during the Illinois game, we went
down and had some pretty good seats, and I mean
the game was a little tight early in the first
early James early in the game.
Speaker 3 (44:05):
But if you went to the bathroom and came back,
they were down thirty. But you're saying he.
Speaker 6 (44:10):
Was He was away from the coaches most of the
game with his hands on his hips, just glaring at
the field. And then you watch the game and they
are just punishing them upfront, I mean absolutely destroying the
alignis offensive line and Signetti doesn't even act like he's face,
doesn't even act like you've seen anything happening out there.
Speaker 7 (44:28):
It was amazing.
Speaker 6 (44:28):
I mean it was We're talking about one of the
greatest beatdowns I've ever seen him from.
Speaker 3 (44:32):
Oh okay, okay, right enough, get him off the airwaves,
all right, Zach? That was facts. No, I agree, man.
After seeing that is why I picked them against Oregon.
I'm like, you beat a team like that by fifty
who for the following Illino WHI came back and beat
usc They're not some scrub team. They just did I
use on a different level this.
Speaker 7 (44:51):
Year, What a different world we live in. The Colts are.
Speaker 6 (44:54):
Rolling the Indiana Who's just football team is rolling. It
feels like it feels like we're st money right now
or something.
Speaker 3 (45:02):
Hey, this is a good living, so Zach will let
you get out of here. Man, thanks for stopping by
the game. I'm sure I'll see you around. But uh yeah,
get started on that signetty piece. We're not asking for
objectivity anyway. Just be objectively fun in the piece.
Speaker 7 (45:14):
How about that sounds good? Thanks guys, I'll be listening, Zach.
Speaker 2 (45:18):
All I know is I have several family members that
occasionally make a batch of cookies for me. You're invited
next time.
Speaker 7 (45:24):
Man, you're the man I'm in. I mean, I stay
away from those brownies though, I'm in.
Speaker 2 (45:28):
Thanks guys, all right, sounds good. Zach Keith for the
athletic joining us here on the Payless Liquors Hotline.
Popular Podcasts
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com