Rivalries, Playoff Predictions, and Snow Stories

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Recorded January 11th, 2025

What happens when you mix a snowy weekend, a football fanatic named Buckeye, and the ever-unpredictable NFL playoffs? You get a lively episode packed with insights and laughs as we, the Bald Guys on the Bench, serve up our takes on recent games. We ponder Sam Darnold’s rollercoaster performances and our own balancing acts of family, work, and catching every key play. As we welcome our best friend Brian Ruckman, fondly known as Buckeye, an Ohio State diehard with a penchant for tattoo bets, the conversation turns into an animated exploration of college football rivalries.

From the legendary Ohio State-Michigan clashes under Ryan Day's strategic leadership to the controversial calls in nail-biting games like Penn State-Notre Dame, our chat covers the emotional highs and lows of college football fandom. Drawing parallels with iconic rivalries such as Carolina-Duke in basketball, we reflect on how physicality can overshadow star talent. And just as the football talk warms up, we acknowledge our shared love for golf, eagerly counting down the days to the Masters and weaving in some light-hearted humor to keep things fresh.

The NFL playoff buzz takes over as we analyze everything from Justin Herbert's early career comparisons to Peyton Manning, to the surprising strength of the Texans this season. The Pittsburgh Steelers face scrutiny as we discuss their quarterback situation, strategic evolution, and the aging defense. With a spotlight on wildcard weekend, we critique player performances, team strategies, and coaching styles, particularly honing in on the complexities of the Dallas Cowboys' management. Our discussions are peppered with personal anecdotes, predictions, and a dash of friendly banter—perfect for any football aficionado seeking a blend of humor and insight.

#baldguysonthebench #graboneandcrackone #cfp #ohiostbuckeyes #notredamefightingirish #nfl #steelers #lachargers #nflplayoffs

Episode Transcript

Announcer (00:07):
Welcome to another episode of the Bald Guys on the
Bench podcast, with your hostsGraham Cohen and Scott Wasco.

Graham (00:21):
What's up everybody.
Welcome back to another episodeof the Bald Guys on the Bench.
It's football Monday.
We got the playoffs, we got theRams, we got the Vikings In
Arizona.
Scott, how you doing, brother?
What's up?

Scott (00:33):
Well, I'm doing all right , all things considered.
Let's get down to it.
You know what time it is.
It's time to grab one and crackone.
We got a fun episode with oneof our best friends Going to
call in in a little while.
Talk a little college football.
Huge Ohio State fan.
We might have mentioned himbefore, the guy that made the

(00:54):
bet going to get the tattooremoved, brian Ruckman, aka
Buckeye.
But Graham, let's grab it,let's crack it.
It's time let's go.
Monday night wild card.
We got the Rams laying in thewood to the Vikings in the third

(01:16):
quarter in Arizona because allthe fires.

Graham (01:22):
I hate to say lay in the wood, but I mean they kind of
are.
It's just.
I guess the real question iswhat's happened to Sam Darnold?
He's been great for 17 weeks.
And then what happened lastweek and right now I mean
watching this game?
Just in their first series, inthe second half he missed a wide
open receiver on third down,threw it right behind him that

(01:44):
if he threw it on perfect timingDuke could have caught it.
Oh, turnover.

Announcer (01:49):
Kyron just fumbled Kyron Williams and he's hurt.
Oh my Lord, oh, come on, buddy,did he fumble it?
It's not what we like to hear,is that?

Scott (01:58):
ball out.
No, he's down.

Announcer (02:02):
He's down, oh, barely .

Scott (02:05):
Barely by a frog hair.
Yeah, yikes.
But like you were just sayingabout Sam Darnold as a Charger
fan, I'm not talking shit aboutanybody's quarterback in the NFL
.
After the performance myquarterback had on Saturday,

(02:25):
Right.
Even though we're not evengoing to get into that yet.
Graham, how was your weekend?

Graham (02:35):
Yes, weekend was good.
Back at work, watched,obviously, the football games
between the college on Thursdayand Friday, had your game on
Saturday, had your game onSaturday, had my game on
Saturday.
We had all the hope andpositive thoughts and, you know,
was at work and watched yourgame and it was rough.

(02:57):
And then I left and made ithome Perfect time to watch the
game with my parents and thegame didn't start off how I
thought it was going to startoff, but you know, the second
half we came back.

Scott (03:09):
Well, I would say we came back all right, we're not gonna
get into that yet.

Graham (03:13):
Yeah, we're good, I know , I know I'm just yeah, I know,
I know we're gonna do it yeah uh, but my point is and then
sunday came around, still hadwork and then watched the other
rest of the games and um yeahjust spent time with the fam and
did that.
What about you?
How was your weekend?

Scott (03:26):
You know didn't have to work Saturday because we got
snow here and Chargers had theearly game Saturday 430.
And my dad came over, ava'sboyfriend Andrew came over,
kellen's girlfriend Addie cameover and I had everybody over
watching the games and, you know, kept reminding myself, kellen

(03:48):
and I and Kristen talked aboutit early on Saturday.
I'm like, hey, remember, win orlose, it's been a hell of a
season, just like you and I havetalked about on the show.
If somebody would have told mebefore week one that the
Chargers would have won 11 gamesand been the five seed and got

(04:08):
bounced in the wild card round,I would have been cool with it.
Right.
But anyhow, funny thing and youknow me in football, as I'm
picking Kellen's girlfriend upfrom her house, we're on the way
home and I'm like Addie, I'mjust going to tell you that
tonight you're probably going tosee a different Scott.

(04:31):
You've never experienced Scottwatching chargers football and
she was like oh okay, and kindof laughed.
And then, funny thing, I got togive her a shout out.
Okay, kellen's girlfriend, Iordered new stickers, remember?
We talked about it last week.
I'm putting them in the mailtomorrow.
Kellen's girl yeah, back of herphone.

(04:54):
Bald guys on the bench, let'sgo.
Let's go, addie.
So Love it.
Anyhow, before we even get intothe games, something that I
brought up on an episode a longtime ago and you and I were
dying laughing at it, becauseit's 100% true.

(05:15):
You know, I wish I had all thepeople text me on my birthday,
that text me when my team loses.
You know what I'm saying.
Facts, I mean people I haven'ttalked to in over a year on the

(05:41):
pick six game over buddy.
I'm sorry, who are you?
You don't even know if afootball is stuffed or inflated.
We've never talked footballever.
You know.
I mean whatever haters going tohate, it's all good, right, you

(06:03):
know, but anyhow, I mean, ifyou want, want, it was a sad
saturday for me and you it was.
It was kind of like weird thatboth of our teams played on the
same day and both lost, right?

Graham (06:19):
yeah you know, they couldn't have broke that up a
little bit?

Scott (06:23):
right.
I mean, can you at least haveone of us happy for another 10
hours, 12 hours, whateverExactly?
So everyone, like I mentionedearlier in the show, we've got
one of my best friends on theuniverse joining us right now,
even though he cheers for thatteam in Ohio that's mascot is a

(06:46):
nut, and that is none other thanBrian Ruckman, aka Buckeye.
You've heard us talk about himwhen he basically made the bet
he was going to have his tattooremoved if he lost to Tennessee,
if Ohio State didn't throw theball.
So anyhow, bucky, welcome tothe show First time here.

(07:09):
Graham, what do we do when wegot one of our best friends on
the universe here with us?

Graham (07:15):
Like always, especially when talking sports, we got to
grab one and crack one brother.

Scott (07:19):
Let's go.

Graham (07:20):
Bucky.

Scott (07:22):
Cheers boys.

Announcer (07:24):
Oh yeah, there you go .
So just a little history realquick, before Bucky gets Cheers,
boys Dude.
Oh yeah, there you go.

Scott (07:25):
So just a little history real quick before Bucky gets in
here.
I met Bucky at SCGA when I wasan assistant pro.
Way back in the day and I'mplaying golf and he gets paired
up with us and I see a tattoo onhis calf and I'm like dude,

(07:46):
what is that shit?
I'm like you cheer for thatteam.
And he's like I do, and the restwas history.
So I mean that started it off.
I mean we could spend the wholeepisode talking about the three
of us hanging out and drinkingbeers and you know.
But anyhow, that's how go ahead.

Buckey (08:09):
It's funny how we all have the nicknames, though.
You know what I mean.
So it's yeah, bucky, bucky fromfrom ohio and we got badger
from from wisconsin.

Scott (08:21):
We're all transplants yeah, but anyhow, facts bucky's
been wanting to come on the show.
I told him it had to be theright time and there's no better
time than right now, with Ohiostate obviously making it to the
national championship gameplaying against Notre Dame.
But before we even starttalking about that, let's, you

(08:43):
know, rewind us as sports fans.
Before we even start talkingabout that, let's rewind Us as
sports fans.
We got blessed with five daysin a row of playoff football,
starting Thursday night PennState Notre Dame, friday night
Ohio State Texas, then the NFL.
So let's start it off.

(09:04):
Penn State Notre Dame.
What do you got to say?
I mean?

Graham (09:11):
besides, penn State was dominating in the first half.
Look, you know, I'll kick thisoff being a Pennsylvania guy
myself and a Penn State fanfamily's alumni.
Look, franklin.
I mean everything kind of ledthe way you would think things
would go, in the sense of, hey,we had a good season, the new

(09:34):
playoff 12 team system, we got agreat seating.
We have the easiest road to thenational championship.
Penn State was blessed.
I mean, look, did they getspecial privileges?

Scott (09:45):
I don't know how anything works, but we'll take it.
You know who was blessed morethan anyone?
That team that has a goddangnut as their mascot, because if
it wasn't a 12-team playoff,guess who's not in the four
teams.
Facts, but it worked right.

Buckey (10:04):
Well, I think it worked in a sense.
I think it's got to be tweakedto where and I've said this to
you before, just talking to youcasually that I feel like you
have to take away the automaticbids for winning your conference
championships, because I don'tthink any of us would agree that

(10:24):
boise state and or arizonastate was one of the top four
teams in the country?

Scott (10:29):
is it take away the automatic bids or is it take
away the buy?

Buckey (10:34):
well.
So that's, that's what.
No, no, well yeah I guess, youcan say either way, but I I said
my throwing this in there wouldbe.
You can weigh them winning thechampionship into where you rank
them, but just go one through12 and whoever your top four is
get the buys.
You know what I mean.
So Arizona State's maybe a five, boise State's maybe a six,

(10:58):
what have you?
But in my opinion they are notone of the top four teams in the
country.
Now, they played well, granted,especially Arizona State.
They had a real chance to winthat game.
A couple missed calls here andthere.

Graham (11:15):
I mean, I can make a point that they should have won
that game but, we'll get intothat, but still I mean that was
the worst call I've seen almostever.
I mean my brain can't think ofall the shitty calls I've ever
seen, but that one was.
That was bad.
I mean You're talking about thetargeting call.

Announcer (11:37):
Oh yeah.

Graham (11:38):
Or the non-targeting call.
You can't preach something foryears upon years upon years and
then when a textbook situationhappens, oh no, no, no, that
didn't happen, right, okay.
I saw videos online where someguys are trying to say that like
, well, it's not really anofficial playoff system.

(11:58):
You know the call it, the.
They were saying that thecollege football playoffs can
basically pick who makes it tothe next round.
So if they, like arizona state,won this appeal and those other
bullshit, I was like bro that'snever gonna happen.

Buckey (12:09):
Well, wait a minute, whatever the final score.
So so did you hear about thethe field?

Scott (12:14):
yeah, but the ball, you remember, if it hits somebody's
hand and goes through theuprights, the play is dead.
If it doesn't hit somebody'shand and goes through, it, hits
the ground and bounces in, itcounts.
I looked it up.
Well, that's what happened.

Buckey (12:33):
Yeah, it was blocked.
It was blocked and then hit theground and went through the
upright.

Scott (12:40):
As soon as it hits somebody's hand and then hits
the ground and goes through theupright, it's dead.
Yeah, If it doesn't get blocked, because remember, remember
Flutie used to do the old dropkick, try to field goal thing
back in the day yeah, yeah.
So if it hits somebody's hand,the end so.
But anyhow, dude, Penn Statehad a great season.

(13:02):
You know their tight end's astud.
Notre Dame here's somethingthat I was thinking about when I
was thinking about the notesfor this episode.
Okay, the two teams that are inthe national championship,
Notre Dame and Ohio State.
They might have had theabsolute worst losses in the

(13:24):
season this year Notre Damelosing to Northern Illinois At
home and Ohio State, a 20-pointfavorite, losing to Michigan.
Okay, the two worst losses.
And look where they're at.
Right.

Buckey (13:42):
The Northern Illinois.
One might be worse, but Holycrap, did they go on a tear?
Absolutely, what is it?
What is it?
12 straight or something likethat.
But so I'll give you thislittle nugget, and it can't
actually came from a Michiganfan, a guy I work with.
You know I was dreading theMonday after the Ohio state

(14:03):
Michigan game, for obviousreasons, and we sat around at
the coffee at our table at workdrinking our coffee in complete
dead silence for like 10 minutes.
He goes.
So do you want to talk aboutwhat happened on Saturday?
I said absolutely not.
He goes.
Okay, fair enough, he goes.
But here's what I will tell youhe goes.

(14:23):
I have a feeling that Michiganjust woke the giant.
And that actually came from amichigan fan.
So I was like, well, you mightbe right on that, you know, and
I I'm still baffled at the playcalling.
I'm baffled that.
You know, when jack sawyerintercepted that pass on the
goal line, I was like perfect,ohio state's got seven minutes

(14:44):
in the fourth quarter.
Go down, kick a field goal, wewin the game.
And you know, obviously thatdidn't happen.

Scott (14:51):
But Ryan, Day and his sharpie beard tried to
out-physical the team instead ofusing the best two wide
receivers in college footballand dominate Michigan, which
they did.
Their last possession on thefirst half.
What happened?
Boom, boom, boom, boom.
The end Touchdown right, yep,and then they tried to run the

(15:14):
ball.
It was like he was pounding hischest going.
I'm going to be the morephysical team.
How'd that work out, right?

Buckey (15:21):
Well, because they were saying something.
You know.
The stat is something like 22.
For the last 22 straight years,the team that's won the run
game has won the game, and hegot caught up in that, you know.
So that's why I told you likeTennessee, they were built just
like Michigan, and if Ohio Statedidn't throw the ball tattoo

(15:42):
gone, Damn, why couldn't?

Announcer (15:45):
that shit happen.
Didn't throw the ball.
Tattoo gone, Damn.
Why couldn't that shit?
Dude him and Chip.

Scott (15:49):
Kelly, they knew they weren't going to try to do that.
I mean, I don't know but Pennstate, notre Dame.
What a good game, right.
I mean the.
The officials tried to hand thegame to Penn State the whole
time.
I mean pass interferencehomeboys throwing in the

(16:09):
quadruple coverage throws theball 10 yards short.
The receiver didn't even seethe ball, dude.
But whatever, tomato, tomato.
Nothing is worse than the OhioState-Texas game when they got
it first and go on the one.
Worse than the Ohio State-Texasgame when they got it first and
go on the one and just Sarkshits the bed.

(16:30):
I thought the play calling wasgreat.
Yeah, as an Ohio State fan, ofcourse.

Buckey (16:38):
Of course, Shocker.
I saw them run wide on thatthird down and I was like that's
great, that's perfect.
And then Scotty's boy came tothe rescue and sent us to the
trip.

Scott (16:51):
Oh, dude, you know the proclaimed Ryan Day legend.
Oh yeah, you know legends.
Aren't 0-4 against the teamfrom up north, aren't 0-4
against the team from up north?
I mean, the play that he's mostthought about this year, is
most memorable, was trying totackle the Michigan cheerleader

(17:12):
after the flag was planted.

Graham (17:14):
I mean whatever, hey put some respect on my name.

Buckey (17:21):
Put some respect on my name.
I just think that you knowyou're gonna try to go plant a
flag and turf.
You know it's not even naturalgrass.
How are you gonna get it inthere, dude?
You know these guys ain't smartenough all that, bro, dumbass
michigan players, that's what itis.
I mean?

Scott (17:37):
I mean, you know, these guys ain't smart enough to think
about that.

Buckey (17:41):
You know who started.
It was baker.
Was Baker Mayfield back inOklahoma?

Scott (17:46):
Didn't he do it at Ohio State?
Yeah, and then somebody atTexas did it this year against
Michigan when Texas beatMichigan.
But anyhow, something that Ialways will remember and we
talked about it last week whenyou guys won, you were a little,

(18:08):
maybe over-served.
You might not remember it Afteryou win yeah, was something you
said to me the last time OhioState beat Michigan.
You were like dude, this is thegreatest rivalry in college
football.
I mean, they call it the gamefor a reason, right, and you

(18:31):
used to always say a rivalry isnot a rivalry unless both teams
win.
As an Ohio State fan that justlaid the wood to Michigan for
year upon year upon year 100%.
That's how good that rivalry is.

Buckey (18:49):
They got to a point where Michigan was almost
irrelevant.
Ohio State had nine in a row,and then now here we go with
Michigan's four in a row.
It just makes it for a betterrivalry year in year out?

Scott (19:04):
Absolutely, graham.
Why are you shaking your headwhen I said it's the greatest
rivalry in college football?
What's?

Buckey (19:11):
better.

Scott (19:11):
I think it's the greatest rivalry in all sport, in
college sports.
Okay, let's not collegefootball, I mean Carolina, duke
rivals it college basketball Twouniversities that are literally
separated by a freeway.
That's true.
I mean Browns, ravens.
Dude, smack yourself.

(19:31):
We're talking about collegesports.

Graham (19:34):
I just did, I know Well, I'm just saying it's the
greatest ever.

Buckey (19:39):
He's mad because he can't name three players on Penn
State's team Got him.

Scott (19:44):
Show me your hands, graham.
Show me your hands, don'tGoogle it.

Graham (19:49):
My phone is on the game right now, bro.
I don't got time to Google andlook at all these people's names
and what other shit you got me.
Woo-hoo-hoo, I don't watchcollege football until the
fucking playoffs.
Big fucking deal, because onlythe last three games of the
season matter anyway.
Like, let's be real.

Buckey (20:10):
Sorry, graham, I still love you, kid.

Graham (20:15):
First off Ohio State barely beat Penn State number
one.

Announcer (20:18):
We didn't play you Michigan.

Graham (20:21):
Barely yeah what it came down to the end.
They stopped him and theyscored another touchdown at the
end.
That was meaningless.
What did he fucking do?

Scott (20:30):
Your pedophile university didn't even score an offensive
touchdown, were they in the gameAt the beginning.
Did they have a chance to winthe game?
Yesterday, the Broncos scoredfirst two, did they have a?
Chance to win the game 7-0.
How'd that work out?

Graham (20:47):
you know what we don't?
We don't need to start gettinginto feelings over here bro we
got a lot of sadness to talkabout chops, but anyhow, a lot
of sadness.

Scott (20:57):
Later buckeye was in the golf world and worked early when
I met him for a company thatdid pro-ams and stuff for the
PGA tour.
And you know me, you andBuckeye all met because of the
sport of golf.
So I figured, as we continueand Buckeye hangs up and we get

(21:18):
off of here, I just thought I'dbring this up 89 days till the
masters, I know, 89 days untilthe Masters, I know I can't wait
89 days, your boy actually gaveyou a ticket.

Graham (21:33):
Did what Did your boy that you told him to sign up for
the ticket and got it.
Is he giving you that extraticket?

Scott (21:41):
He's talking to you, Bucky.
I'm talking to you, bucky.
Oh, I'm sorry, sorry your boythat won the lottery that I
didn't hear you one more thatwon the lottery and got two
tickets that you told him to, orhow the lottery is he taking
you?

Buckey (21:56):
no, no, he's gonna take his wife, I mean, come on yeah
come on, I don't blame him.
I would probably take my wifetoo.
I don't know.

Graham (22:10):
I mean, I for someone that would have never done it
anyway and she would.

Buckey (22:15):
She would not, she would not go and ride in the golf
cart with me if I was playingnine holes, but she would go and
watch live.
Yeah, yeah, so, and, and, so,and, and you know I'm I've never
been to the masters.
Um, I, I know she hasn't, but Iwould probably end up taking it
as well, one year it's going toall work out.

Scott (22:35):
I hope man God knows I don't know, but anyhow, bucky
love you.
I.
Anyhow, bucky, love you.
I'm glad you finally got on.
Good luck to hey man.
Thanks for having me.

Graham (22:49):
Before we kick him out, we got to ask him the most
important question who do yougot in the final?

Scott (22:54):
game and what's the score ?
You already know the answer tothat.

Graham (22:58):
Well.
I want to know, how much hethinks they're going to beat
their ass by.
That's what I'm really asking.

Buckey (23:04):
I think it's 35, 17 ohio state fair enough I like it.
So just looking at the teamsbetween texas and notre dame,
notre notre dame plays a lot ofman coverage in the back end and
texas plays a lot of zone.
That's why you didn't see awhole lot of jeremiah smith in
the texas game.

(23:24):
He had one catch for threeyards.
So I think I think he gets moreinvolved, uh, against notre
dame and but I'm looking forwardto it because it's you know
they stack up two, two greatdefenses and you know we're
gonna see.
We're gonna see where it allshakes out.
You know, I still think theBuckeyes are on top 35-17.

(23:49):
I like it.
And then I'm taking Tuesday off.

Scott (23:54):
Hey, your boy's going to be down in Orlando for the PGA
show and I ain't got nothinggoing on Tuesday.
And you know, unfortunately ifOhio State wins, you and I win a
pool.
So unfortunately I kind of haveto root for that team.
But the only good part aboutthat is if Ohio State does win,

(24:19):
they still lost to Michigan inthe same season.

Graham (24:23):
Is there any way they both can lose?

Buckey (24:26):
I told you I would trade a national championship for a
Michigan loss Stop it when youruniversity losses out every M at
the horseshoe for a game.

Scott (24:38):
Don't even tell me that that's just because they got
nothing better to do, exactlybut deliver pizzas.
Anyhow, buckeye, I love you.
Thanks for coming on the show.
That's just because they gotnothing better, exactly, but
deliver pizzas.
Anyhow, buckeye, I love you.
Thanks for coming on the show.
Good luck, even though I wantyou to lose, but I like my love
you guys.
I like my wallet better thancheering against teams.
So you know, let's go, damnright.
I appreciate you guys.

(24:59):
Yeah, buddy, love you, be goodvery well and we'll talk to you
soon, yes, sir, but I'm justgonna start it out talking about
my chargers, and then we'll getinto your steelers game.
And, like I've mentioned overand over and over, was I bummed?
Of course I was bummed, dude.
I mean my team lost, but was Idevastated?

(25:20):
No, at least we got blown outand it wasn't a a 27-point lead
against the Jaguars and we lose,you know.
But anyhow, the game starts off, dude, couldn't have been
better.
We get the ball first, go downthe field, kick a field goal 3-0
.
The Texans' first play onoffense homeboy fumbles.

(25:43):
You know we're up six tonothing.
We're dominating the game.
And then you know it's back andforth, back and forth.
But you know me, I don't wantto.
We got the shit kicked out ofus.
Herbert threw four picks, butit's six to nothing.
Late in the second quarterpicks, but it's six to nothing.

(26:09):
Late in the second quarter.
We've got them pinned andstroud is getting rushed.
Throws it out of bounds.
Should have been intentionalgrounding.
Intentional grounding in theend zone is what a safety
charger should have been up.
Eight to nothing and gettingthe ball back.
Twitter went ballistic, I wentballistic, harbaugh on the

(26:30):
sidelines going ballistic.
Okay, whatever.
On that same drive.
A couple plays later, it'sthird and 16.
They're on the four-yard line.
Stroud wasn't even ready forthe snap.
It bounces off his helmet.
The entire Chargers defense runsto the ball.

(26:52):
Stroud launches a 40 yard pass,first down.
They end up scoring a touchdown.
Chargers go three and out.
Texans get the ball go down thefield, kick a field goal.
I'm like holy shit, we werejust dominating the first half
and now we're losing and theTexans get the ball coming out

(27:13):
of halftime.
What happens?
Texans get the ball coming outsecond half, throw a pick.
I'm like let's go and it iswhat it is.
You know we lost.
Herbert threw four picks.
Two of them were his fault, twoof them bounced off receivers.

(27:33):
Everybody wants to go out andblast Herbert and say he's shit,
he's this, he's that.
You know.
I'm just going to go back andsay this.
You know who started off 0-2 inthe playoffs?
Peyton Manning.
He had a pretty good career.

(27:54):
He didn't win a playoff gameuntil his sixth season.

Graham (27:58):
I mean.

Scott (27:59):
He ended up.
All right, dude, I get it.
He had the worst game of hiscareer.
Okay, our left tackle and ourright tackle, our left tackle.
All pro pro bowl right tacklebeen amazing all year.
They had the worst games oftheir career.

(28:20):
Okay, right, I get it, it iswhat it is career.
Okay, right, I get it, it iswhat it is.
But let's just remember this,and after the dust has settled
and I've thought about thissince Saturday all chargers,
fans and chargers, social mediaand press we're doing what go

(28:45):
into the last week of the season.
Steelers lose, chargers win, weget the five seed.
We kept five seed, five seed,five seed, five seed.
You don't think that's bulletinboard material for the Texans?

Graham (29:02):
Did you want to go to Baltimore?

Scott (29:04):
I agree.
I agree, but let's also don'tforget a lot of people had the
Texans as the one seed goinginto the season, after what they
did last year.

Buckey (29:20):
And let's also don't forget their defense.

Scott (29:24):
I mean they were top three in the NFL in sacks and
the one guy on the right numberthree overall pick.
The dude on the left.
You don't give somebody $50million guaranteed because he
sucks For two seasons.

Graham (29:46):
Yeah, you hey, as the kids say, you ain't wrong.

Scott (29:50):
And you know, you know something I have to remind
myself, and you know me, dude, Ilove Herbert.
He gets bashed for the Jaguarsgame.
We were up 27 to nothing.
He didn't turn the ball over inthe entire game, right, okay, I

(30:13):
can't defend him for what hedid Saturday.
One of the dumbest throws.
I've ever seen him make hisfirst interception.
I mean, my guy had threeinterceptions the entire season.
He had four on Saturday.
We've been talking about it allyear.
He has no weapons.

(30:36):
Okay, ladd was not supposed tobe the number one.
Ladd had nine catches for ashit ton of yards and a
touchdown.
You know what?
The next highest reception guywas on the team, two more than
me and you, yikes, that's rough.

(30:58):
We couldn't run the ball.
Dobbins had like nine rushesfor 26 yards, I mean.
But all I can say is this Likethe Broncos, like the Chargers,
like the Redskins, this was notsupposed to happen for these

(31:19):
three teams.
That happened this year andthis is the worst team that
Harbaugh is going to have.
This is the worst offense thatHerbert is going to have.
Sean Payton for what he did andyou know me, I hate the Broncos
more than any team in the NFLFor what the Broncos did this

(31:42):
season is amazing, with the deadspace on cap.
Because of Russell Wilson andfor them, redskins won four
games last year.

Graham (31:56):
So who's your coach of the year then?

Scott (32:01):
I would, honestly, I'd give it to Sean Payton.
Wow, yeah, the more you thinkabout it, the more you put
everything out there.
The dead space from Russ, Imean, how do you not?
Yeah, they got blown out by theBills.
Okay, whatever.
Yeah.

(32:21):
Look what he did, dude.
Their win total in Vegas wasfive and a half.
I don't disagree with you, Iknow I mean they're all valid
points, all valid points.

Graham (32:31):
I'm just curious, because usually the coach of the
year it's down to one or two,but you could almost say a
couple of guys.

Scott (32:37):
There's a lot dude, yeah, and you could argue all of them
.
Yeah, I mean the Vikings, dudeO'Connell.
I know it's tough, but you knowwhat I mean.
As the season ended for me, youknow it was bad.
Like I said earlier, I'm gladwe got the shit kicked out of us

(33:00):
instead of a last second loss.
Now I'm a Chargers fan dude.
I've dealt with last secondlosses forever.
I'd rather let's go.
I'd rather it be.

Graham (33:16):
Vikings decided to make this a game.

Scott (33:20):
And by making it a game, you're saying down 17?
.
Hey it can happen, they got atouchdown.

Graham (33:28):
They got a touchdown.

Scott (33:29):
Yeah, but I don't know.

Graham (33:33):
Now we just need another field goal.

Scott (33:36):
And as the Chargers wrap up the season, I can't hang my
head low, dude.
I mean, it is what it is.

Graham (33:45):
And you shouldn't.

Scott (33:46):
No, I'm, I sent Rob and I haven't sent it to you.
Uh, the three and out podcast.
If you haven't ever listened toit, for anybody out there,
listen to it, cause it's prettygood.
And homeboy is like why all theherbert bashing?
Nobody ever said he's the guy.

(34:08):
Nobody's ever said he's betterthan burrow, better than lamar,
better than better than Kermit.
But guess what?
He's probably five.
Are they going for two?

Graham (34:23):
They are.

Scott (34:24):
They are, if they get this.

Graham (34:25):
We can get over ten and a half right here.
Nope, not if you throw upbehind the line of scrimmage.
You, son of a Wow, so six andthree is nine yeah, wow.
Mitch.
You, son of a wow, so six andthree is nine yeah, wow, but way
to go you know, our boy, rob,is out there.

Scott (34:48):
Get rid of Herbert.
Get rid of Herbert, all right,who do you want?
Rob said this, all dude.
If I even read what he textedme after.
I said in the podcast.
All right, I mean I gotta blasthim we're on the air.
I gotta blast him and thenwe'll move change subjects what
why, did you not tell me thisbefore?

(35:09):
all right, so I sit in thepodcast.
I know he and I'm like go tothe 26 minute mark.
This dude is spot on.
He responds late last night.
I don't agree with him.
Herbert's not, and I doubt hewill ever be, a top-10
quarterback.
People suck him off because ofhis supposed arm talent.
But a real top quarterbackfinds ways to take over games

(35:30):
and will his team to win.
He does not have the internalmakeup to win big games.
Name a big game that he hasever taken over and led the team
to a big win.
Three weeks ago it's theBroncos.
That was a pretty big win onThursday night football.
Then he says as much as I hatemy homes, he finds ways to win.
Herbert fits the chartersorganization perfectly because

(35:51):
he finds ways to lose.
Look at Alan.
He takes over games, not justwhen playing the Raiders, but
against the best teams in theNFL.

Graham (36:01):
Rob was at the game that you and I were at for the
Steelers-Chargers game.
You tell me Herbert didn't putthe team on his back and win
that game.

Scott (36:11):
And ran for 1,000 yards.

Graham (36:13):
Like what what.
Oh.

Scott (36:19):
Rob, yeah, and I'm just sitting here going.
All right, you got Lamar, yougot Josh Allen, you got Kermit
and you got Burrow.
Okay, there's four quarterbacks.
Then you got you know.
Now you got Jaden Daniels.
That's five.
Now you got Bo Nix there's sixteams.

(36:42):
Okay, how many teams are in theNFL?

Graham (36:46):
32 32.

Scott (36:47):
Okay, so there's six teams that are perfectly content
with their quarterback positiongoing forward.
You're telling me the other 26teams wouldn't take Herbert in a
second.

Graham (37:02):
I can't argue any of that?
Not at all.
Hey, come to Pittsburgh, bro.

Scott (37:06):
It's kind of like it's kind of like all your Steelers
fans, as we transition to yourgame, out there calling for
Tomlin's head.
Who do you want?
Who do you want?
Who do you want?

Graham (37:23):
Even if they supposedly found the next guy, the next guy
is not fixing the quarterbacksituation.
If there's no one coming out inthe draft and no one's going to
give away a legitimate starter,so you're only going to take a
backup, then what are we doing?
We've got two backups.

(37:44):
As it is right now, we'llprobably retain one of them, aka
Fields or Russell Wilson.
But it's like what is gettingKirk Cousins going to make us
better?
No.
Is getting old-ass AaronRodgers going to make us better?
No.
Is getting old-ass AaronRodgers going to make us better?
No, so who's out there, right?
So if that's the case, what'sthe point of changing the head

(38:04):
coach?
I mean, to be honest, everyonewas all excited when we got
Arthur Smith, because it's oh.
We're going back to Steelersfootball.
I've been hearing some thingsrecently and it's just like this
is 2025.
The old way that football usedto be played doesn't happen in

(38:26):
the league anymore.
This is a passing league.
I mean, it's been a passingleague for a while, for a while,
but it's just nowadays the oldlet's have a great running game,
a great defense, we'll poundthe rock, just be efficient on
third downs and we can win thesegames.
We can.
I don't want to say not struggle, but like we can handle how

(38:49):
each game goes.
But here's the thing If you'rea good football team, you don't
just methodically I don't knowwhat to say you don't just
manage games to get by and winright.
The great teams blow otherteams out and the Pittsburgh
Steelers have not done that inany capacity in the last.

(39:13):
A hot minute right, and a lotof that comes down to the
quarterback position, obviously.
Yeah, we've had a couple goodgames in the past, don't get me
wrong.
Look the game that I flew backfor against the Jets.
At least I can look back on theseason and say I had some good
memories.
I mean, that was a great timewith A&E and stuff and all that.

(39:34):
So I mean it's just like I don'tknow for the Steelers what has
to change.
Obviously, look with whatRussell Wilson did when he came
in and he looked like the guy.
He had those beautiful moonballs.
We looked like a decent squad.
But then it's like this is alsoearly in the season when you

(39:55):
can't tell if a team is suspector if they're actually bad.
You know what I mean.
And everyone's going back oh,you beat these teams and they
were shit.
Well, they weren't that shitwhen we played them.
We just didn't know they stillplayed.
Well, it's like when we lostthe week before.
So week five, when we lost toDallas on Monday night,

(40:17):
obviously Dallas turned out tobe what Dallas is.
We still played it.
It was still a pretty decentgame going back and forth.
You know what I mean.
It's just like sometimes thingshappen.
And with the Steelersorganization it's just like I
think the most telling part waswatching that game on Saturday
Pittsburgh Steelers the offensewasn't getting it going in the

(40:40):
first half but they got it to.
It was like fourth and inches,it was barely even a yard, or if
they said it was a full yard.
Tomlin didn't even blink andsend out the field goal unit.
Tomlin went for it in like whatweek two On his own 23-yard line
.
You'll do it then, but then youwon't do it in the playoffs.
Like we weren't doing anythingto move the ball.

(41:01):
We actually had it on our ownlike 40-yard line or 45-yard
line.
Bro, quarterbacks need to dosomething.
Tush, push, like why we'realready down seven or we were
down 14 at that point.
Like you can't.
Just, I know situationalfootball, but like, bro, you
have to do something to give theoffense confidence, to go out

(41:23):
there and do anything.
And when they came out in thesecond half, yeah, we looked
better.
But, bro, when you're down 21to nothing, like you can only go
up.
And yeah, we got a quick scorewhen we came back from the half
and, you know, made it a 14point game and then the defense
let up and then they score.
It's just like we got it to apoint where we were within 14

(41:45):
and we had a chance, but it'sjust like we weren't aggressive.
You make all this hype aboutjustin fields.
You say that you're gonna puthim in packages.
He only went on the field twice.
Wow, now look.
Going between two quarterbacksin the game is not the best
strategy, but there's still.
Look the commanders.
They had a package withmariotta and uh and daniels.

(42:09):
Granted, it was mainly formariotta to do the the tush, but
there was a threat.
if you know someone's only goingto be there for rushing, that's
fine, but now this is theplayoffs.
At least do something where youmake them think that it's going
to be a run and then drop backand you could have had a wide
receiver wide open.
You know what I mean?
Like things could have happenedand it just seems like, look,

(42:30):
I'm a big Tomlin guy.
If you listen to the podcast,you know where I've been.
But there, as you know, I'vebeen.
But there's just some timeswhere it's just like, bro, you
can't do things the way thatyou've been doing them and
expect things to change.
And the worst part is ourdefense is getting older.
Cam Hayward's playing almosthis best season and he's 35.
They even restructured his deal, do you?

(42:53):
They would make him take a paycut to come back to play.
I don't know if he's stillunder contract for next year.
Don't quote me on that rightnow.

Buckey (43:00):
I'm not, but it's just like you know TJ, another year
older.

Graham (43:04):
Granted, he's still only .
I think it's year eight for him.
It's the same with MikaFitzpatrick, like I mean, at the
start of the season our defenselooked like everything was
gravy.
So the question is, was itgravy, or were all the teams at
the beginning of the season justnot that good, or like like?
What happened like I mean all Iknow hard knocks all I know is

(43:27):
watching your game.

Scott (43:29):
All I could think about was a conversation you and I had
friday night after buckeye gotoff the phone and we were
looking at draft Kings, you werelooking at bed MGM and we were
looking at player props and youand I were both like you were
putting together your lotteryticket parlay and I was like,

(43:52):
dude, you got to take what?
Over five and a half tackles,it's a lock.

Announcer (44:00):
Yeah.

Scott (44:01):
You know how many tackles he had in that game.

Graham (44:05):
Nope, hit me with it.

Scott (44:06):
The same amount as you and I Wait what he didn't have
one tackle.
I'm looking at it right now.

Graham (44:15):
No, I believe you, I just I don't.
I, how can you say someone isnot who they used to be?
Like, I don't know.

Scott (44:27):
Well, the Ravens game plan.
You know, we're sitting herewatching it.
They added King Henry.
Okay, they now have a massiverunning back and we're sitting
there watching it.
And we're watching the RPO withLamar literally fake handoff to

(44:48):
Henry and TJ instantly goesstraight to Henry and levels him
and then the whole right sideof the field is wide-ass open.
When Lamar has the lead, it'simpossible to defend.
We've talked about it foreverthe only way to beat the Ravens
is make them one-dimensional,and they made the Steelers have

(45:14):
to defend.
That it was.
You know it was bad, you knowit was, I don't know.
The Steelers looked like theycame out flat to me to see, to
see a team and a franchise withthe history of the Steelers that

(45:36):
are known for defense and theSteel Curtain, and to give up
186 yards to King Henry and then81 rushing yards to Lamar.
Well, you watched the game.

Graham (45:55):
I know you watched the game.
Who's stopping them?
I know, when they play likethat, who is stopping them?
Detroit, probably, not theEagles.
I mean Kansas City.

Scott (46:07):
Kansas City ain't stopping them.
I mean, the goddamn Patriotsput up 200-0 on the Bills.
I mean, granted, the Ravenslaid the wood to the bills week
three or week four, but that wasin Baltimore.
Let's see what happens thisweek.
It's going to be a hell of agame.

Graham (46:31):
I can't wait, oh, I can't, I agree.

Scott (46:36):
The real question is the Steelers.
They got a lot of things tofigure out in the offseason.
I mean number one who's takingsnaps, because both of those
guys are free agents.

Graham (46:57):
Well, I went that third quarter over 10.5 points.
I know See you later, by what?
Thanks for that.
A point no nine because theydidn't take the field goal or
they didn't take the extra point, they went for two.

Scott (47:11):
So we lost by a point and a half.
Wonderful.

Graham (47:14):
Yeah.
But, and, mind you, that waswith six minutes left in the
third.
Nothing happened.

Scott (47:19):
And then Pickens in his press conference at the end of
the game.
I'm sure you saw that when theyasked how confident he was in
the offense moving forward, hisresponse was nah Nah was nah I,

(47:45):
I that guy, that guy needs to goto the Canadian Football League
.
Well, that's not happening, Iknow, but he needs to leave your
team.
He is not a Pittsburgh Steelers.
When you think of PittsburghSteelers, like I talked about
earlier, you think of strength,physicality, football players.
This dude, he ain't it.

(48:10):
He ain't it when you're tryingto fight the home crowd.
That's enough.
You're looking at the fourthquarter numbers.
I know I can tell by the lookon your face.
Ladies and gentlemen, we havecreated a monster.

Graham (48:30):
Yes you have.
Hey, you got to make up whatjust happened, bro.
12.

Scott (48:35):
And a half, as they say it's the worst thing to do.

Announcer (48:37):
I know.

Scott (48:39):
What's the score right now?
Over 100 live is 48 and a half.
Yep, I'm just leaving it alone.
Sometimes, you know, like myboy, kenny Rogers, said, you got
to know when to hold them, knowwhen to fold them, know when to

(49:01):
walk away, know when to run.
Wow, that was a song I didn'tthink I was going to be singing
tonight.
Let's go.
Anyhow, let's move on, becausethe next game we're going to
talk about we already kind oftalked about it, summed it up uh

(49:22):
, donkeys, get up to a seven,nothing lead.
And that was the end of that.
So, eagles, move on.
Uh, yes, aj brown reading abook on the sideline.

Graham (49:37):
He's like oh, I do this every week, I have this here and
I'm like bro, there's no way.
I'm like dude, if you pulled abook out, one camera would catch
that.

Scott (49:45):
Right.
I agree.

Graham (49:46):
Especially if you did that every week.
You think Pittsburgh hasproblems.
Look, philadelphia, looks great.
But what are you doing aboutthat situation?
Oh, he's gone.
Aj Brown is not going to be aPhiladelphia Eagle next year.
What do you have?
One catch?
I'd trade him for Pickens.
Let's go Come on now.

Scott (50:07):
You're getting rid of one .
Like I told you last night,you're getting rid of one prima
donna wide receiver for anotherone.

Graham (50:15):
Yeah, but I don't know he wasn't prima donna when he
was getting the ball.
It's just they got a lot ofmouths to feed and that was also
before Sequel and Barkley.
I'm just saying I get whatyou're saying.
Yeah.
I get it.
I'm just saying, if that's thecase, he wouldn't be happy
anywhere.
He'd be happy on a shitty teamthat just has to throw in the

(50:38):
ball every time.

Scott (50:39):
So now that, years later, everybody's blasted the Titans
for trading him, were they?

Graham (50:44):
right, yes and no, but they did that for picks, I mean.

Scott (50:52):
I'm not saying you're wrong, I get it.

Graham (50:54):
I get it.

Scott (50:57):
Yeah, anyhow, donkeys bills, boat race donkeys.
Sorry about it, you know, Istill, like I said earlier, mad
props.
They did a lot with a littleCan't hate on it.
Like we said, episode one ofthis journey, we don't talk fan
ball, we talk football.
You got to give respect whereit's due and they did it Anyhow.

(51:24):
Eagles Packers you know, openingkickoff of the game.
Packers are receiving the ball.
Opening kickoff.
You know, we talked about itlast night.
Homeboy from the Packersfumbles the ball, which number
one should have been helmet tohelmet Number two.
He fumbled it, then recoveredit and then all 22 players jump

(51:46):
on the pile and he doesn'tsurvive the pile and the Eagles
guy gets the ball.
That was basically the end, theend, and now you can actually
review that.
And they reviewed it and theEagles still got the ball.
Whatever Did the better teamwin?
Yeah, they did.
But finally, last night in thewildcard round, we got a good

(52:11):
game because, as we're sittinghere on Monday night, this is a
blowout.
Because, as we're sitting hereon Monday night, this is a
blowout.
Other than Washington, at Tampa, every game was a snooze fest.
Right, right, dude, dan Quinn,they used to call Ron Rivera

(52:32):
Riverboat Ron because he used togamble.
What kind of gambling nicknamecan we give Dan Quinn, because
my guy in his fourth down?

Graham (52:46):
They've seen what can happen, folks.

Scott (52:48):
Dude, the commanders, here's a fun stat for you their
last five wins have all camedown to their last possession.
You, their last five wins haveall came down to their last
possession.
And last night, dude, Icouldn't be happier for anybody
on that team more than scaryterry, because he's been there

(53:08):
forever.
I mean, washi didn't have a kidin 2006.
That's crazy to think about,right?

Graham (53:23):
You know, it's funny that you say that, because I saw
a stat last night onSportsCenter and I took a photo
of it.

Scott (53:33):
Here we go.
If you throw out the stat thatI was going to throw out, I'm
chugging this beer.

Graham (53:40):
Well, no, it just says notable droughts.
For the Commanders entering2024.
Alright, it's not good, I don'thave to chug this.
Last winning season, 2015.
Snapped.
Last playoff win 2005.
Check Last playoff win 2005.
Check Last conferenceappearance.
I'm sorry, last conferencechampionship appearance was 91,

(54:04):
and last Super Bowl appearancewas 91.
Obviously that's still to come,but when I saw that stat I was
like whoa, these people haven'twon since 2005?
Sheesh, it's crazy.

Scott (54:16):
It's crazy.
It's crazy.
Especially they're not thatgood.
They don't have players ondefense that are difference
makers.
They got 38-year-old.
Bobby Wagner, and he is making aname and he played his ass off
last night.
I mean Jaden Daniels.

(54:39):
There's nothing more I can sayabout this guy and I'm getting
ready to say something and quoteme.
Write it down.
Take a picture, I don't give ableep.
Jaden Daniels is the guy thateverybody thinks lamar jackson

(55:01):
is right.
The dude is ridiculous.
Right, the poise in this guyridiculous.
I mean, the game's tied thattampa kicks the field goal to
tie it up with four minutes and41 seconds left and what does

(55:23):
Daniels do?
Takes Washington down for thedrive of his career, milks the
clock all the way to the end tokick the game, winning field
goal as time expires.
Yeah, it was a doink, butwhatever went in.
I mean, what else can you sayabout the guy?
Well, I'm going to say it rightnow.

(55:46):
You ready for this?
Here's the stat that I thoughtlet's do it.
In NFL history, there have beenthree instances of a team
having zero turnovers and zeropunts in a game behind a rookie,
starting quarterback, regularor post season.
All three by the commandersJaden Daniels this year, week

(56:12):
two, week three and last night.

Announcer (56:17):
That's insane.

Scott (56:18):
I mean week two, week three and last night.
That's insane.
I mean the guy's legit dude.
And guess what?
They got a shit ton of capspace for next year, right, and
you know what else?
Jerry Jones, take note this howstupid do you think Daniel

(56:42):
Snyder feels right now, thesecond year he hasn't owned the
team, where he turns the teamover and allows football people
to make the decisions?
Yeah, how are they doing?

Announcer (56:57):
that's a good.
How are they doing?
That's a good question.
How are they doing?

Graham (57:07):
That's a good question.

Scott (57:10):
I mean that's Daniel Snyder's I mean.

Graham (57:14):
Look, it's a perfect example of any organization.
When you get rid of a badleader and you bring in people
that do it the right way, andwhat you thought you had and
wasn't going the right way nowhas the right people and it
starts going the right way,you're like, oh, it wasn't us,
it was you.
And now the writing is on thewall.
So I mean, look, you can't feelbad for someone that bought a

(57:38):
team for what?
$800 million and sold it for $5billion Still.

Scott (57:43):
So not that money's the whole factor but I'm just saying
Right, right, right, no, I getit.

Graham (57:48):
It's the coincidence of the situation.

Scott (57:50):
But he also gave up the decision-making.

Graham (58:02):
The new owner, he's allowing football people to make
football decisions and, to behonest, take a page from Jerry
Jones' books people.
Sometimes let the people thatknow what they're doing do it.
You can still be a hands-onowner without making decisions.

Scott (58:20):
well, you know what I'm trying to say you just said take
a piece from jerry jones.
No, jerry jones doesn't allowpeople to do that no, that's my
point.

Graham (58:31):
My point in saying that is, if you do what jerry jones
does and he wants to runeverything and make all the
decisions, you'll have afranchise like the cowboys, who
are like, let's be honest, sincethey had their three
superwolves in the early 90s,they're a fraudulent team.
Like I'm like, what's worsethan being a cowboys fan?

(58:51):
I mean, let's seriously thinkabout it.
How many of those years are you?
I mean it, it's like you know.
I mean I'm not going to compareit to the Steelers, but it's
just like, in the sense of allthe hype, oh we're America's
team.
And oh, blow this and blow that.
Like, oh, we're good.
How many 13-win seasons do youhave in the last 20 years that
you got knocked out in the firstround or in the second round?

(59:14):
Because you got the first roundby?

Scott (59:16):
Not only that, but you know, we all saw the news today
McCarthy's not coming back andit wasn't even an argument over
money, it was an argument overyears on the contract.
And after Vrabel went to thePatriots, mccarthy hired Tom

(59:43):
Brady's agent, switched agentsand you don't think after Vrabel
got hired, mccarthy's agent waslike yo, we got them by the
balls.
We can say whatever we want, wecan get whatever we want.
We can get whatever we want.
They're either going to pay you, yeah, or you're gone.
And you know what.

(01:00:04):
I like mccarthy and I'm happyfor him that he's out of that
organization and right.
I've strongly believe thereason he wanted the extra years
on his contract is he's lookingin the division and he's going.
We got the Eagles that have thebest GM in the game, that are

(01:00:25):
10 players better than us ontheir roster.
We got Washington that hassecond or third most cap space.
The Giants are a dumpster fire.
We're not even gonna talk aboutthem.
But he needed time.
He realized that to get thisthing right and when they didn't

(01:00:46):
give him the extra years, he'slike deuces.
You don't think he's going tobe a head coach in the NFL next
year.

Graham (01:00:53):
Of course he is.
Oh, I'd be surprised if he'snot the head coach of the Bears
next year.
To be honest, I agree.

Scott (01:01:01):
I mean the Bears asked the Cowboys, hey, can we
interview him?
And the Cowboys were like no.
Number one douchebag move ofthe year, jerry Jones, you're
going to release the dude andyou say no.

Graham (01:01:13):
First of all, douchebag.
Award of the year already wastaken by him in Week 18, when he
didn't start yeah, Cooper Rush.
Thank you To save 500 grand.
Are you kidding me?

Scott (01:01:27):
And then act like he didn't even know about it.

Announcer (01:01:29):
Shut up, guy Get the f*** out of here.

Graham (01:01:32):
Come on.
I mean, his kids have to belike Dad, come, dad, come on,
please stop shooting us in thefoot here.
But the thing like, but hekeeps saying it's his team, he
can do whatever he wants, andit's just like.
Well, when you make thatcomment, I'm like so when you
pass, are you not giving it toyour sons?

(01:01:52):
Are you selling the team?
But then would you sell them toyour.
That just doesn't make anysense To not keep it in the fam.
And then, if that's the case,why would you sell it?
You don't need the money andyou're going to die.
Everything about it just makesabsolutely no sense.
So, as the son, how do you tellyour dad yo, it ain't you

(01:02:12):
anymore.

Scott (01:02:14):
Not only that, what head coach wants to go there?

Graham (01:02:23):
A first-time head coach.

Scott (01:02:25):
You know who it's going to be.
Who.

Graham (01:02:32):
What Eric Bien-Ami.

Scott (01:02:34):
Kellen Moore oh yeah.
He is going to be the nextDallas Cowboys head coach.

Graham (01:02:43):
Yeah, jerry Jones wouldn't hire Eric Bien-Ami.
I'm not implying anything, I'mjust saying.

Scott (01:02:48):
No, I'm just saying Kellen Moore is the guy.

Graham (01:02:55):
I mean, if track record proves anything, with jerry
jones spot on, I mean washingtonalmost hits again, it's gonna.
Washington almost hits again.
Want to tell the folks whathappened yesterday about the bet
last night yeah, the bet lastnight.

Scott (01:03:14):
Oh man, sometimes you do very smart things when you've
over-served yourself.
And I got lucky and bet.
You know, on our betting appsyou can bet what's going to
happen on this drive and it'seither touchdown, field goal,

(01:03:38):
punt or turnover or safety.
I literally tell Grahamturnover's coming Five to one
and here comes a little $5stupid bet on turnover.
Literally the next play,turnover Easy $25.

Graham (01:04:04):
Let's go, god, lucky, lucky.
Sometimes you get lucky.

Scott (01:04:05):
You know facts.
Hey, better to be lucky thangood, right, yeah, but anyhow,
you know this game.
There's nine minutes left.
This has been a long ass game.
Uh, rams are up 27 to 9.
Looks like the r are going togo on the road and play the
Eagles next week.
We got Washington at Detroit,we got Houston at the Chiefs and

(01:04:27):
we got the Ravens at the Bills.

Graham (01:04:32):
So let me ask you this, since you already said all the
games, at this point I wouldn'tsay there's any.
They're all great teams, right.
So you can't say there's anupset, but do you see any?
Either road team or well, itwould be the road team because
they're the higher seed.
Do you see any higher seedwinning?

Scott (01:05:04):
If I was going to pick one, it might be the Rams, yeah.

Graham (01:05:09):
Rams or the Eagles, probably the best choice.

Scott (01:05:13):
I will say this If Houston can rush the passer like
they did against us, they canmake that a way closer game than
expected.
I'm not even going to sayanything about the Bills and the

(01:05:34):
Ravens.

Announcer (01:05:37):
Who knows?

Graham (01:05:39):
Because, that's going to be a game.
Yeah, what about the Commandersand Lions?
I don't know, dude.
I don't know I think that Imean it could go either way.

Scott (01:05:53):
I mean I still like the Lions, but I don't think
Washington has enough pieces ondefense.
I mean the Lions offense isridiculous.
I don't know?

Graham (01:06:05):
Oh bro, they're nasty.

Scott (01:06:08):
And the Lions are getting Montgomery back supposedly.
Yeah, they're getting a couple.

Announcer (01:06:14):
Which is huge.

Scott (01:06:15):
Yeah, they're getting a couple dudes back on defense,
but you know, jayden daniels isjayden daniels I I don't know
right no I I, I agree.

Graham (01:06:31):
I mean there's a lot to go on here.
I mean I think it's going to behard to pick these games.
I just which, now that I saythat I feel like we kind of
should considering our nextepisode won't be until after the
games are over.

Scott (01:06:45):
so you got the Texans at the Chiefs.
Chiefs are a seven and a halfpoint favorite.

Graham (01:06:54):
Alright, how about this?
Take the spread and then themoney line who you like.

Scott (01:07:02):
I'm going to I don't know dude, Because I'm I don't know
Chiefs are going to win.

Graham (01:07:11):
I'll take the Chiefs.

Scott (01:07:12):
Yeah, chiefs are going to win.
I'll take the Texans to cover,okay.

Graham (01:07:17):
I'll take the Texans to cover.
Okay, I like that.

Scott (01:07:20):
Later, that same day, you got Washington at Detroit,
detroit laying nine and a halfOof.

Graham (01:07:28):
Yeah, I'll take Lions-Moneyline, but I'll take
the Commanders plus the points Imean.
Well, with anything, it'seither a blowout, not a blowout,
but it's either a 10-point gameor it's tight, which, oh gee,
graham, that's a veryintelligent decision there.

Announcer (01:07:49):
Okay, not at all.
Tell me better.

Scott (01:07:51):
Not at all, because I said the same thing to my dad
right before your game kickedoff Saturday night.
I said the Steelers are eithergoing to win or they're going to
get killed.

Announcer (01:08:02):
Oh yeah.

Graham (01:08:05):
And the latter happened yeah.

Scott (01:08:09):
Then they don't have the lineup for the winner of this
game playing the Eagles.
But then they got the Ravens atthe Bills.
Ravens are one and a half pointfavorites on the road.

Graham (01:08:22):
I'll say this the blowout of the Donkeys surprised
me, especially when they wentup that seven quick.
I knew well I can't say I knewI had a feeling Buffalo was
going to win the game.
I just didn't expect it to bethat way, especially against
that defense.
So it gives me a little moreconfidence in.

(01:08:45):
Buffalo.
I don't know if you got towatch that game at all.
Not in its entirety.
Well, the end of the first halfI was watching clips of it.

Scott (01:08:53):
The end of the first half I don't know if you saw the
Broncos went down the field withless than a minute and had like
a 45 yard field goal, I think,to tie yeah and they missed it
and that was the end yeah, I.

Graham (01:09:09):
I mean, look, the billets had a couple games that
they were suspect on the rundefense.
I mean, look the game three orfour weeks ago that I thought
was a lock of the year againstthe Patriots, and the Patriots
ran all over them.
Look, dude, it's going to takea committed effort to stop
Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson.
So I just look, I was tellingyou earlier this week like bro,

(01:09:33):
I'm liking the Ravens to win itall.
They're plus 600 right now andif they do win it all, if you're
going to make that bet, thenyou're saying they're going to
beat the Bills, they'll beat theChiefs and then they'll beat
the winner out of the NFC, whichI think will be Detroit, but
any given Sunday, who knows?
So I mean, look, if and I wantto be cautious, but if the

(01:09:58):
Ravens win the teams that theywent through to get there, I
mean you got to give creditwhere credit's due.

Scott (01:10:08):
You want to hear something funny.
Let's hear it About the Ravens,and I heard this the other day
and I was like, oh God, they'rewinning the Super Bowl.
Funny how things in historycoincidence, oh.

Graham (01:10:27):
I know what you're going to say, but go ahead.

Scott (01:10:29):
They won the Super Bowl in 2001.
They won the Super Bowl in 2013.
12 years later, it's 2025.

Graham (01:10:42):
Yeah, joe Flacco was 28 years old when he won it.
Lamar Jackson is how old?
28.
28 years old, I mean people canmake anything out of anything.
I mean yes, I get it, I get it,I get it.
But that being said, and like Itold you early in the podcast
and during the week, if theRavens play like that against
Pittsburgh, science stilldelivered.

(01:11:04):
But as you said the only way tostop the Ravens is to go up on
them and look, their defense haslooked better.
I mean, now that they put KyleHamilton back into the safety
position, he doesn't have toreally play corner, they shorted
that defense a little bit.
I mean, they dude, they heldPittsburgh's.
Najee didn't even have 25rushing yards, warren didn't

(01:11:25):
have 25.
Granted, we had to throw, butstill, even when they knew that
we had to throw, so they didn'tload the box, they still stopped
us.
So was that on our shitoffensive line?
I mean that's whatever iswhatever stopped us.
So was that on our shitoffensive line?
I mean that's whatever'swhatever, but I don't know.
I mean.
That being said, I mean the wayI'm talking, I guess I mean I
like Buffalo too.

(01:11:46):
That's the worst part.

Scott (01:11:48):
All right, so here's the question.

Graham (01:11:51):
I'm taking the Ravens.

Scott (01:11:53):
Here's the question Gun to your head who is taking snaps
at quarterback next year foryour Steeler?

Graham (01:12:04):
Russell, the fans want Fields.
Look, I would prefer Fields.
It's just.
Here's the problem Fieldsdoesn't throw it as well.
If you can't pass in thisleague, you can't win.
Running quarterbacks are great,but look all the stuff people

(01:12:24):
were talking about Lamar andwhat his record was in the
playoffs and he can't do it.
I think Lamar was just like yo.
I get it.
Now I've calmed down.
I'm not nervous.
I mean to watch him throw theball and was accurate and did
what he did.
Fields is not that, not evenclose.

Announcer (01:12:42):
Yeah.

Graham (01:12:43):
So if you're not, yeah, I mean.
Yeah.
Yeah, but that being the case,he would need to stay in an
organization that wants todevelop him and do all that.
So I would love him to stay.
The question is for him does hethink it will help his career
if he does stay?
Because he has to say tohimself am I a starter anywhere?

(01:13:05):
No, so if you're going to be abackup somewhere, be in a spot
that you know will coach you upand give you an opportunity to
be that guy.
I mean, look, you had the firstsix game for us.
You did well.
I mean, like I get it, you didwell enough.
But how much of that in thebeginning?

(01:13:27):
Like we won games, that thefour games that we won was a lot
of.
It was because of the defense.
But the plays on offense thatwe made, like we weren't wowing
anybody on offense, it was.
We made the one play that weneeded to.
We made the one play that weneeded to.
We made the one play thatneeded to happen.
And it's just like you can't wingames in the nfl.
I mean like you can.
But what's the point of going10 and 7, 11 and 6, 12 and 5 and
making the playoffs and havinga first round out it literally

(01:13:49):
means absolutely nothing ifyou're not contending for a
championship.
What's the point?
And that's what they say sayyou know, the Pittsburgh
ownership was like well, we'reall about championships, like I
get that, but it's adouble-edged sword because as an
organization that's used tobeing a good organization,
obviously you strive for theSuper Bowl, but from the fan

(01:14:10):
side of it, would you rather bea Browns fan?
Would you rather be a Lions fan?
Like have shit years for almostall your life, but then now you
have these three years of likeoh my god, this is amazing,

(01:14:31):
right, and it's just like.
I mean, I give credit to theother teams that it's just like
for their fans, like the factthat you put up with this and
you watch it like that.
That just shows you love ball.

Scott (01:14:47):
I'm just like I'm, as if I was a Steelers fan and they
were my team.
I would let Russ walk.
He's at the end of his career.
Keep the younger guy Because,remember, Russ comes off the
books, I believe, with thedonkeys.
So now you're going to have topay him.

(01:15:08):
Yeah, he does.
Now you're going to have to payhim.

Graham (01:15:10):
Yeah For the future.

Scott (01:15:17):
I'm going Fields.

Graham (01:15:20):
I totally agree and something I'm just thinking
about right now all the teamsare watching everybody right.
Who, like, is another teamseeing what Russ did in the last
five games and saying that'sour starter?
I'll name one games and sayingthat's our starter, I'll name
one.
I mean, I'm sure there's a fewteams, but I'm just saying, like

(01:15:41):
the question is, couldPittsburgh get away with being
like here's 20?
That's what I'm saying.
Look, russ said this was one ofhis favorite years being in the
NFL.
He loves Pittsburgh, he lovesTomlin.
I mean, look, I love Russ, buthe also likes to fluff up a

(01:16:02):
situation.

Scott (01:16:03):
Yeah, like my old boss Flint said, I'm from the IRS and
I'm here to help.
I mean, come on, he also usedto say something else.
We're not going to air that onon the podcast.
I'll tell you that off?

Graham (01:16:21):
um rust to the saints yeah I mean he could go a bunch
of places, but it's still, it'sa stopgap.
He's a stopgap until they draftsomeone else.
You know what I mean.
And it's just like Pittsburgh'sownership feels that we're not
in a stopgap year.

(01:16:41):
And now that we realize that Imean as a Sealer fan do you have
to just read the writing on thewall and be like, all right, I
guess he's not it?
I mean, was I bamboozled fromwhat I saw at the beginning of
the year or in the middle of theyear when he had that success?
Who knows, there's so muchsituational stuff.
Our offensive line looked likedog shit during the year when
you can't run the ball.

(01:17:03):
My thing thinking about it is,if we got rid of some of these
players, najee could gosomewhere else and could kill it
, pickens could go somewhereelse and kill it.
It's just knowing we've hadgood players, but we're just
missing little pieces, those.
And it's just knowing likewe've had good players but we're
just missing little pieces, andthose little pieces are serious
things.
Like we lost our center for theyear, we lost our tackle, or I
mean our guard for the year, andit's just like look, I know the

(01:17:24):
next man up, I get it.
But there's just certain thingswhere it's just like you could
only do so much with what youhave and moving forward like
what you know.
Draft pieces will help, we'llhave some money to spend and
it's kind of like we'll see whathappens.
But then again, look, how doyou make decisions when?
Look, we got Mike Williams whenhe actually was put into the

(01:17:49):
game.
He made some plays, they justweren't putting him into the
game.

Scott (01:17:54):
And he's a free agent.

Graham (01:17:55):
What?
And yeah, so you're trying todecide which wide receiver is
going to play, and some of thathas to do with the type of the
offense.
So if we go away from Arthur,Smith.
He's not leaving.
Well, that's my point.
So if he doesn't go but I'mjust saying hypothetically if he

(01:18:21):
did go and say we got one ofthese new, like I know it will
never happen, but if Ben Johnsoncame, the offense would look
completely different and maybewe would use the wide receivers
that we have in a different way.
I mean look, we didn't even useRoman Wilson, didn't even suit
up this year.
Wow good stat right there andmy point in saying that is.

Scott (01:18:34):
Wasn't he a third, second , third round pick?

Graham (01:18:36):
Yeah, he was a, yeah, he was a third, and that's my
point.
I'm saying I feel like we'vehad pieces.
I just don't.
I don't know if it's themessage is not being received or
what the correlation there is.
You know what I mean?
Like I don't know if it's thegame plan and then within the

(01:18:58):
game, it's just like I don'tknow.
There's games that we lookedreally good, yeah.
Then there's games that we looklike, uh, which?

Announcer (01:19:04):
way did he go?

Graham (01:19:05):
I agree.
Which way did he go?
So I'm almost like it's.
I'd rather be in your situationwhere it's like, you know the
direction that it's going andlook, I mean I get it After
having been Ralph's worker for18 years.
We were spoiled, I get it, andthese last five have been
absolutely brutal.
So it's just, it is what it is.

Scott (01:19:28):
I don't disagree with you and you know as a Chargers fan.
We had Rivers for X amount ofyears.
We moved on to Herbert Tyrodhad a game of years.
We moved on to Herbert Tyrodhad a game in between.
We've talked about it.
There's organizations that havebeen spoiled with starting
quarterbacks, and then you lookat a franchise like the Browns,

(01:19:57):
washington, miami, you know, butanyhow, we could sit here all
night and love it because ourteams just got bounced Saturday
and we're already talking aboutthe future.
That's why I love the NFL right.

Graham (01:20:10):
When's the draft?

Scott (01:20:11):
Yeah, april, right, something like that.
Yeah.
But anyhow.
Uh, there's three minutes and26 seconds left in this game
Rams up 27-9.
Looks like the Rams got amatchup with the Eagles next
week.
So what are you crossing yourfingers for?
What bet did you make?

Graham (01:20:33):
You know I couldn't, bro , you know I couldn't.

Scott (01:20:37):
Didn't I just sing Kenny Rogers?

Graham (01:20:40):
Yeah, I know.
Well, when Minnesota wasdriving the ball down the field,
there was an alternate spread.
Well, I took an alternatespread because it went down to
like 13,.
So then I dropped it down to11.5 for minus 130.
No one four.
It was minus one 40.
I think so.

(01:21:02):
Yeah, so your boy took it forthe game, for the game, for the
game.
Oh, rams, minus 11 and a half.

Scott (01:21:10):
Dude Cook just had the text of the year in our San
Diego thread.

Graham (01:21:15):
I mean, can we say it on the air?

Scott (01:21:16):
Yeah, Watching the Vikings is like going to a strip
club it's all promised till theend and you walk out with blue
balls.

Graham (01:21:28):
Folks, if there's a mic drop moment there, it is Scott.
It's a pleasure doing thepodcast with you.
I mean anything else before Ilet us go?

Scott (01:21:37):
Thanks for coming on the show, Buckeye.
Appreciate it.
Good luck to your pizzadelivery guys next week in the
national championship game.
It's been a fun episode.

Graham (01:21:50):
That it has, that it has .
Hopefully Rams can hold out andit all works out for me.
Scott, I can't wait for episode.
Next week Conferencechampionships will be decided.

Scott (01:22:02):
And, by the way, we may or may not have a special guest
next week on the episode.
As you know, I'll be in Floridaat the PGA show in Orlando.
We may or may not have somebodyon the show.

Graham (01:22:18):
Wait, you got Tiger Woods to come on.
Yeah.

Scott (01:22:23):
Me and Eldrick hanging out.

Graham (01:22:28):
Well, scott, pleasure doing the podcast with you.
Bucky, thanks for coming on,had a great time and, folks,
until next time, as the besthomie always says, buh-bye.

Scott (01:22:38):
Good night friends.
I'll see you next week inorlando gym dance for the second
year in a row.

Announcer (01:22:44):
Can't wait this episode of the bald Guys on the
Bench podcast is brought to youby our friends at Northstar
Credit Union and Southern Auto,located in Southeast Virginia.