December 17, 2024 • 57 mins
On this episode, Ewan starts it off about talking this personal stuff. Then he breaks down week 15 and how crazy it was. After that, Ewan brings Sports 1440 Host and producer Connor Halley on the podcast. They talk Oilers Bold NFL takes and the fun of the league overall. ENJOY! 00:00-17:53 Ewans Recap and Him 17:57-57:21 Connor Halley ENJOY https://linktr.ee/themanningshow all links above!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
You are listening to The Manning Show with You and Manning.
You're number one sports podcast starts now.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Welcome back another fun episode that I've got for you guys.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Today.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
It was a fun overall weekend. I mean, wow, we
had some good afternoon games. The morning games were pretty
brutal in my opinion, just not really living up to
the expectations that the afternoon games did. When we saw
quarterbacks like Timoil and I'm just trying to list on
(00:47):
the bad quarterbacks that we saw this afternoon. We saw
Cooper Rash, we saw James Winston, Aaron Rodgers has not
been great, Mac Jones, we saw two different We saw
Hanar for the Saints.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
We all saw.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Spencer Rattler, Tommy DeVito. We saw a lot of bad quarterbacks.
So it was a pretty boring morning to say the least,
for this football weekend. But I hope everyone was able
to enjoy it.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Today. Nonetheless, we have a fun.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Episode for everyone. We're bringing on Connor Halley later. My
audio interface is kind of scratched up here.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
That's not good.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
But anyways, we are bringing on Connor Halley, which I've
been trying to get him to come on for so long.
He is a massive Chargers fan. When I say massive,
I mean massive. So he's also works for Sports fourteen forty.
He does oilers stuff as well, So we're gonna talk
about the big the big oiler stuff then as well.
(02:01):
That'll probably be like twenty thirty minute interview and then
kind of have my own recap like right now.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
So it was it's gonna be a ton of fun.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
I'm recording this right now at one o'clock on December seventeenth.
This this episode is dropping at eight o'clock tonight on
December seventeenth.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
But it was a fun week.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
I'm sorry I didn't do a pod last week, like
I said, like later in the week.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
But Connor could come on at this time. But yeah,
it was.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
It was a fun one, say the least, fun week.
Too bad that Mpton Oilers couldn't finish it off with
with a huge w.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
But just overall the vibes who we are pretty high.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
It started with Saturday just kind of getting excited for
the NFL.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
On the weekend, we had some oilers and it all
kind of just trickled into an exciting especially Monday with
the two NFL games that were not very good and
then the Oilers game, which was very exciting. But obviously
we had fantasy playoffs. A lot of you probably in
(03:25):
the middle of fantasy playoffs. Hopefully you ended up winning
in one of your leagues. Like I went one for
two in playoffs. I lost one unfortunately. That's in this
big league. I have shout out to Uncle Jonathan if
you're listening. I lost big time by thirty points. I
(03:47):
got trampled.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
It was one thirty to one hundred.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
So I'm out in that league, which is the biggest
prize in terms of money and maybe even some bragging rights.
But I'm still in the other league, which has some
good prize money as well, and my team is a wagon.
But I'm gonna have to win one more to get
some guaranteed money. So that's kind of what I'm praying
for because I need to I need to win bad semifinal.
(04:11):
I lost to this guy the last time I played him.
But yeah, I use CBS for this one league I
because you have to.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Pay for CBS. It's really good.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
It gives you like the breakdown of your all time
record and a bunch of interesting stats.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
They send it to you by email. It's like automated.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
It's pretty cool, nonetheless, But yeah, that's kind of what's
going on with my fantasy football.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
It's I've had such.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
A fun time this year with fantasy football, kind of
getting too emotional with it though, like too attached with it.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
With my league, Like I get way too attached, to
say the least.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Like I just need to chill out sometimes and it
just doesn't it doesn't work out, like I never I'm
so I get so emotionally attached with just my friends especially,
(05:12):
and then it just kind of turns into me getting
a little bit of a rage braded. So yeah, yeah,
it's just it was tough for me to come last
in fantasy especially winning I've won. We started doing this
(05:35):
in Grade eight. Okay, so after COVID nineteen, I won
the first year of the league, lost in the final
the second year, won the third year, and then this
year I come second last.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
So kind of a down year for my team.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
But again, like I was saying, I get so emotionally
attached and I'm acting like I'm a real general manager
trying to make all these trades, but it's like it's
really not that deep. So I kind of need to
chill out. There, like I'm in fantasy hockey as well.
I'm in so many fantasy football leagues that it's like
I kind of need to chill out at some points.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
It's just yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
I mean, if you've ever played and you kind of
lock in a little bit too much, that's what happens.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
But fantasy has been fun this year. To break it
down simply as that. But let's kind of break it
down here.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
The NFL with an excellent week, I'm just gonna do
my quick little breakdown. It was a lot of fun
this week. Like I said many times, the Rams winning
on the big Thursday night, that was the big thing
that we talked about. I'm still waiting for Darryl Saban's.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
His video.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
So one of my dad's friends I'm close with because
he is a forty nine Ers and I need him.
We made a bet right after the podcast on because
he listened and he was He was like, I had
to wear a jersey, a forty nine Ers jersey if
the Rams lost, A forty nine jersey if the Rams lost.
(07:14):
Can you believe that I did not want to wear
a jersey on this podcast of the forty nine ers.
I would have to wear a jersey. Can you like
that is so shameful wearing another team's jersey. That's like
the worst punishment you could get if you're a real fan.
And I would have had to talk about how good
rock Party is. But now I get to the opposite
and absolutely destroy him because he is a awful quarterback,
(07:38):
like I've been saying for so long.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
A twelve to six win.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Maybe the worst football game I've ever watched, behind when
the Rams lost Super Bowl to the New England Patriots
in twenty eighteen, when I was a little like eight
year old crying my butt off and on the beach
on Hawaii. But the Rams did not play well. Their
defense played excellent. I mean, you have a terrible core
that you're playing against. But the Rams offense could not
(08:03):
get anything going. And the first quarter it was like
six or seven punts. Was like, what is going on?
People who are I'm sure batting on the game were
not happy because it's such a low scoring.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Every time these teams have played, every.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Single time, it's always been decently high scoring, so that
says a lot and this one just wasn't the same.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
It. It really wasn't. The Rams going over two in
the red zone. The forty nine ers didn't even get
to the red zone.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Like, let's talk about that. They didn't even get to
the red zone. They didn't even get a chance to
score a touchdown. It's unbelievable. They have such a good
team and they went oh for oh in the red zone, Like,
are you serious? You have Deebo Samuel George Kittle. Okay,
those are your weapons. You should be able to do
(08:58):
something with that. I know you're missing Ayuk, I know
you're missing your best on line. I know you're missing McCaffrey.
But again, if your quarterback is so good and you
still have two weapons, you should be able to at
least do something.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
This scored six points. They still have people. He is
not elite. Think about a good quarterbacks.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Put Mahomes in the forty nine er situations, think about
how good they would be.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
Juwan Jennings is not a bad wide receiver.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Purdy has played so poor and the one throw he
made if you saw me post on Instagram and the
pick by Darius Williams in the end zone, that was
the worst throw I've ever seen.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
He is so average it's not even funny. There might
pick to.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Win the Super Bowl because of all the weapons around.
They lose those weapons and they're like, oh.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
No, it's because we're heard, it's because we're hurt.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Well, now, look, your quarterback's doing nothing. He was called
a top five quarterback last year by some people, and
now it's absolutely silent.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
I don't hear anything on the media about him. He
does nothing.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
And I saw a report and it was like forty
nine ers contract thoughts with party have changed after that
Thursday night game. It's like, duh, what did you expect.
He's in the best situation ever. It's just it's mind boggling.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
To me how he can be considered an elite quarterback
because he is so booty. But yeah, huge win for
the Rams. That's kind of the fun one that I
wanted to break down.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
They could have done a lot better in the red zone.
They're still so bad in the red zone. It was like,
oh my goodness.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
But the snow game was the rain game was not
good for either team.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
It really slowed down all the fun stuff. But yeah, Rams.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
Huge twelve to six victory.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
The Cowboys absolutely smoking the Panthers thirty to fourteen. Bryce
Young going back to normal, looking like average Bryce Young,
Cooper Rush, good game, Ceedee lamb cooking Chiefs Browns twenty
one to seven victory over the Chiefs. The most notable
thing though, in that game Jameis Winston absolutely terrible getting
yanked out of that game.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Mahomes getting the high ankle sprain.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
It's considered a low as mild injury, so I expect
to see him back. Yeah, he's gonna be fun, that's
all I got to say. Texans barely squeak went out
on the Dolphins twenty to twelve. Texans somehow getting another
fraud win.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
They don't even look that good, to be honest with you,
so that should be a That was a fun game. Nonetheless,
Then we had the Jets and.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
The Jaguars, thirty two to twenty five victory for the
Jets barely squeaking out with one DeVante Adams absolutely going
off two hundred yards around.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
And two touchdowns. Unbelievable stuff for them. I mean, the.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Rams play them next week, so that's a huge win
for them. The Commanders barely squeaking went over the Saints.
It was like an nineteen to nothing game early or
it was a high score game early for the Commanders,
where like this game is probably over Jaye and Daniels
missed some deep balls to.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
Terry McLaurin.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
But Spencer Rattler comes in the game after Hayner gets pulled.
I don't know what Darren Rizzy was thinking putting in
Hayner and Spencer Ratler almost goes down that he gets
the touchdown with three seconds left. They go for two
to win the game. And not a great design play
on the kind of the just the online blocks gives
(12:36):
them lots of time, rules right and incomplete. So it
was a good tray to the Saints. I mean, a
smart thing to do against Jade Daniels' offense. That would
have been a touchdown if it went to overtime. So yeah,
I mean smart idea. You're a losing team, try and
bump someone out. Because the Commanders the Eagles would have
(12:56):
won the division if the Comanders lost, so that that
would have been The Ravens beat the Giants thirty five fourteen.
Not much to be said here, Lamar Jackson, five bass
and touchdowns, elite, elite, elite, That's all I gotta say
about that one. The Bengals squeaking out over the Titans,
t Higgins having a massive game also Jamar Cha says
the one while having a big game. I mean the
first quarter they the Titans put up a fight, but
(13:17):
then Will Levis the turnover machine. He might be the
worst quarterback in the league for turnovers, fumbles, interceptions, just brutal.
It's good to see the Bengals win one though.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
Good for that. The Cardinals beat the Patriots thirty to seventeen.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Huge win for the Cardinals. The Patriots just did not
have enough in that game. James Connor having a big
game as well, but yeah, a lot of field goals
for the Cardinals, so if.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
You had their kicker, big game for him.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Colts lose to the Broncos thirty one to thirteen, still
looking elite bonus. I know he had two interceptions in
the game, also through for two tds, but Broncos would
take that win nine to five.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
No one would have expected from the Broncos. Goodness gracious.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
And then the fun one, the Bill's beating the Lions.
This is the big game that I kind of wanted
to talk about.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Forty eight to forty two.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
Wow, that was quite something, I would say. Jared Goff
five passing touchdowns, he threw it the ball sixty times.
Josh Allen also another game over fifty fantasy points, like,
oh my gosh, if he is not the MVP, I
(14:31):
will lose my mind. He's single handedly the Bills offense
is nowhere near the weapons to being as the lead
as it was, and he just went off like he
just said I'm gonna do it. He just said, screw it,
I'm doing it myself this year, and that's what he's doing.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
It's unbelievable. Forty eight points. The Lions are a great
football team, and.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
David Montgomery is out for the season now, so that
is tough for the Lion's a tough loss. Their defense
looks so bad. They have no pass rush, They've lost
a lot of corners. They're in big trouble on the
defensive side of the ball. Lost Aiden Hutchinson obviously earlier
this season. That's a big loss. But the injuries might
do it for the Lions. Like the Eagles are looking
like a wagon will get to them in a second.
(15:17):
But I would say Dan Campbell has some of his
decisions not great, but this could be a picking outlier
for the Lion's defense. That's all I gotta say. He
can be their best enemy. He can also be their
worst enemy, Dan Campbell, so it'll be interesting to see
(15:38):
if they can bounce off that because it can get up.
The Box beat the Chargers forty to seventeen. Big game
for the Box. Baker again looking excellent. He's turned into
quite a quarterback. But the Chargers are actually fading. They
might We're gonna talk with Connor Halley later, but they
might not be a playoff team just the way they're playing.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Baker again looking very excellent.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Then the big game, the Eagles wiping the Steelers twenty
seven at thirteen. Steelers offense missing George Pickens, which is
a big factor in that game. But the Steelers need
George Pickens man like. Their passing game is so so
bad when they don't have them. And the Eagles Aj
Brown and DeVante Smith both going for one hundred yards,
so good for them. The Packers beat the Seahawks thirty
(16:25):
to thirteen.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
Big one for the Packers. They will take that every
single day over the Seahawks. They just look really poor again.
The Seahawks, they're a fraud team.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
They play a good team and finally they get whipped.
This is they're gonna play the Rams DRAMs are gonna
whoop them. The two Monday night games, the Vikings obviously
smoking the Bears, the Bears offense looking absolutely horrendous.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
So that's all I gotta say about that. They just
look bad. And then the Falcons beating the Raiders fifteen
to nine.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
The Falcons are in the hunt to win the AFC
South and they can't even beat the Raiders by more
than a touchdown. If you like, it's just brutal. Like
if I was a Falcons fan, I'd be very worried
about this team. Kirk Cousins is not like the lead.
But yeah, that was.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
Kind of our breakdown for week fifteen.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
A fun one in the books. But yeah, I'm probably
gonna leave it at that.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
I might do a.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Little bit after Connor Holly gets off, but I gotta
head back to school because I got school right now.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
But I don't have school. I have a spare, So yeah,
I'm gonna get picked up. But we will.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
Hopefully you enjoy this this interview I had with Connor Hall.
It's gonna be a lot of fun. We talked a
lot of football, so enjoy that. I will hopefully talk
to you. I go on vacation so talk to you
next week sometime. But yeah, peace. Now, we're excited to
(17:57):
bring on the one and only. He's working at Sports
fourteen forty right now. He worked at TSN twelve sixty
for a long time. He is a Chargers fan and
a Oilers fan, an Edmonton sports fan in general. I'm
excited to bring on my buddy Connor Hallie. Thank you
for being on today.
Speaker 4 (18:14):
Hey, and thanks a lot for having me on today.
Really appreciate the invite.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
I can't imagine what today was like because just overall
a crazy Monday for sports over at Sports fourteen forty.
Let's start with the Edmonton Oilers, an absolutely crazy hockey
game that ends up not going the way that Oilers
fans would have liked with a lot of hectic but
(18:40):
it was an entertaining game, nonethe last, what were some
of the things that you were hearing kind of from
the people today.
Speaker 4 (18:47):
Oh yeah, I mean that's kind of the fun thing
when that happens. It's always what's the storyline going to be?
And you know, I think a lot of Oilers fans
looked at it a big picture. Florida's a good team,
you know, obviously we know they win this down cup
a story to open up those wounds. But the Florida
Panthers are a very good hockey team, so you're gonna
get that occasionally from them. I mean, they showed that
championship pedigree down a few goals, found a way to
(19:10):
battle back and eventually get the win. Evan Bouchard though,
evan main storyline even you know mitiasak Com a little
bit as well, it's okay to call about. You know,
they didn't have their best games and the Florida Panthers
capitalized on it. But yeah, Evan Bouchard has been kind
of the big storyline for us. If you look at
the season on a whole. He's had a few games
(19:32):
where you're left scratching your head some of the decisions
that he makes. So that's getting a little bit frustrating.
And then you know, when your goal allows six goals,
I think there's always going to be a little bit
of criticism. But you know, could he have made one
of those saves I think for Stuart's henna last night, Yes,
he could have made one of those saves and that
would have gone a long way, of course in a
one goal hockey game, So you know, whenever the team loses.
(19:53):
I think a lot of times hockey fans are less
likely to say, hey, the other team was just better
that night. It's more so what did we do wrong?
In what did we mess up? And last night it
was three names, three numbers in particular, Stuart Skinner, Evan
Bouchard and a Tiasecon.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Yeah, that's that's totally fair.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
I mean oilers fans especially are just like that crazy
in general. For sure, Evan Bouchard like not having the
greatest game that we've seen him have. Uh, what are
kind of your thoughts on on us having because his
contract year is coming up? Yeah, are your thoughts on
(20:33):
paying him?
Speaker 4 (20:35):
It's it's like one of the best questions you could
ask me, because I don't know what the proper answer
is right now. When Philip Roberg had the offer sheet
and you know, made the money that he did going
to Saint Louis, a lot of people said, well, you'd
love to match for Broberg, a young defenseman up and comer,
but you do have to pay Evan Bouchard in the future.
And what does that number start with? Is it a
(20:56):
is it a nine, is it a ten? Is it
gonna go that high. I don't really know because you
look at Evan Bouchard when it comes to running a
power play, and I wills be the first say with
the caveat you're running a powerful you think David in
dry Sidle. He does it very well, does it better
than even Tyson Barry did and made it an even
better group. This shot is unbelievable. You know, there's times
(21:19):
and he's shown it big games where he stepped up
in the playoffs and scored big goals for this hockey club.
But you can't just disregard the defensive lapses that he has.
And sometimes it's just you're less scratching your head. I
mean you and you've seen these games. Yeah, there's times
where he can make a simple play, you know, glass
and out. It's not the sexy played by any means,
(21:40):
but it's needed in hockey. Just get it out of
your end, live to fight another day. And he tries
to make a cross ized path that goes the other
way and ends up in the back of their nets.
So I don't know what the number is going to be.
We know Evan Bouchard when he's on, he's an elite
offensive defenceman, can anchor a power play as one of
the best shots in the NHL, and when he's off,
(22:00):
he's gonna be a bit of a liability in his
own end, and teams are gonna capitalize on that, and
they're gonna put their best players out there attack his end,
and that can be a downside. So I assume it's
gonna be a pretty big number whatever it is, let's
say north of nine. Some people aren't going to like it,
but that's gonna be the price to pay for an
offensive defense went in the NHL, and we'll see exactly
(22:22):
how it works. But for me, I go back to it.
We talked totally. You know, Philip Roberg. I touched on
it there when that whole thing went down. A lot
of people had said, you can't pay him because they're
gonna pay Bouchard. So I just like to think that
it's gonna be a big amount of money. Going back
to that, I wish they would have kept Philip Roberg.
I wish they would have found a way to make
that work, especially when they traded Cody cc I thought
(22:44):
for sure it was gonna happen, but they did it
for a reason. They cleared up some space, and I
think Bouchard's gonna get paid, and I don't think it's
much of a crazy thought. I don't think I'm stepping
out on a huge ledgu here. People are gonna hate it.
It's gonna be a contract that's gonna be polar in
our city in the same fashion that Darnell Nurses.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
Yeah, that's that's totally fair.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
He's been in the playoffs especially, just so good and
in those big games that's, in my opinion, the most important.
When he's on you normally few get a feeling that
the team is on and he'll make defensive mistakes overall,
but when he's scoring big goals, it's it's pretty unbelievable.
(23:30):
Kind of looking into the contract as well, with Connor
McDavid his contract is expiring next year and now having
to sign both of these guys. We also have I'm
pretty sure Mattias x Holme coming up, Zach Hymen's coming up.
Just looking into some of these contracts, what are your
(23:51):
thoughts on how the Oilers are going to have to
manage this in the future.
Speaker 4 (23:55):
Go ahead, Yeah, you know, it is something you're gonna
have to look out for for this team going forward,
and you know the key pieces are definitely signed for
the long term. When it comes to McDavid, the dry
so we know McDavid's gonna get done, you know, Dry, Settle,
new Chiman, those sorts of guys locked up for a
little while here, and you know, I guess you can
even throw the likes of matisn Mark the way he's
(24:15):
played this year somebody. It's nice to have for a
long time here. I think what it does, though, does
give the team a little bit of flexibility that they're
not locked into those bottom six guys for the most
part for too long. Jeff Skinner's gonna be a free agent,
Corey Perry, cappen In, Connor Brown, Derek Ryan, you know,
so if you want, you know, I guess it'd be
maybe a different situation if you had a little more
faith in the system and you have some prospects could
(24:37):
bring up for the minimum. I think that's something that
the teams like the Kings and the Blackhawks did really
well during their Cup years where they paid their top
end players but then had young guys to kind of
fill this box. The Penguins as well. For the Oilers,
I don't know if it's quite there. There's a few guys.
I think that can make that jump next year. But yeah,
you know, you're certainly going to take a look at
players that you might want to bring back. Connor Brown,
(24:58):
with what he's been able to offer this team this season,
I would think you'd want him back. Corey Perry, who
knows what to see if he wants to play again,
if he wants to come back for another year. For
what he's been asked to do, I think he's been okay.
Maybe it's going to be that one million dollar mark
Kis Perry, Kapnan. We'll see. I think we have to
see how this plays out for the long term because
one of the things we know about him is the
season goes on, does the motivation stay there the longer
(25:21):
he's with the team. This could be his last opportunity
in the NHL after being waived this season, so maybe
the motivation's there. He likes the city, he likes the team.
Maybe more importantly, they like him and then you bring
them back. But yeah, I think for the Mlinton Oilers,
you do have to be very wary that you do
have to pay your top end guys. You got to
make get McDavid and Bouchard signed and then there's some
other guys you're gonna have to look at as well.
(25:42):
And you know, I think it's going to be really
important for stan Bowman and this team to not only
you know, evaluate and assess their own guys, but then
have their pro scouts looking out there where they can
find some cheap alternatives just to round out the team
more of the bottom six, bottom defense a pairing as well.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
Yeah, I would totally agree with that.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
They they've made some interesting pickups, like Captain, like you said,
he's been playing very very well I've noticed recently and
seeing kind of how they make some waiver claims. I
don't remember seeing that as much from Ken Holland as
we've seen so far with stan Bowman, which is interesting.
So that's been a nice little thing that they've done
to kind of pick up pieces here and there. But
(26:23):
like you said, I'm all for the guys they've made. Obviously,
they might have made a mistake with Perry and Janmark
signing though losing Halloway, which.
Speaker 1 (26:34):
It's too bad we lost those two guys. I mean,
they were so far, they're playing so well in Saint Louis.
I know Halloway wouldn't have had the same kind of.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
Minutes and stuff with the Oilers and opportunities. But they've
looked really, really good, So I mean, it's a bomber
that we lost them. Now we can see here, we'll
kind of switch gears here. I love the Oilers and all,
but I think we can both agree we love football absolutely. Yeah,
you're wearing a Chargers sweater right now. So for people
(27:09):
that don't know you're a big Chargers fan, now, they've
had quite an interesting year. Just kind of break down
a little bit of their year.
Speaker 4 (27:18):
Yeah, I mean, and I think you have to go
back to the offseason to really get a full look
at it. And they were in part of my language
cap hell like, it was not a good situation for
this team. There was talk that they'd have to part
ways with, you know, Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Keenan Allen,
Mike Williams, just to try to get back on track
here with a new GM and Joe Hortiz and a
new head coach with Jim Harbaugh. And lucky enough for them,
(27:40):
they were able to reconstruct some of the contracts. You
kept Khalil Mack, who's been very good this year, Joey
Bosa probably in his last year at the Chargers. They
lost their receivers, but they created a lot of cap
space going forward, and you know, I thought with Jim Harbaugh,
this would be a team that would compete. And you know, honestly,
they've kind of lived up to the exact expectations that
I've had. They beat the teams they probably should beat.
(28:02):
You know, when you have a justin Herbert and you
know you invest in the offensive line the way the
defense is pretty good as well. Jesse Mancher, the defensive coordinator,
could be gone next year. He's just done such a
good job with that defense. But then when you play
a team that is stronger and maybe a little bit
more physical, for talking the Steelers, the Bucks, the Chiefs
tough to beat those teams and they've beat them. So
one of the things with the Charges, for me personally,
(28:24):
I kind of have to take a step back. I'm
a huge fan of cheer for this team. You know,
going back to two thousand and one when they drafted
Ladanian Tollinson and Doug Flutie signed there after not being
signed by the Buffalo Bills, the expectations have to be
a little bit low. This is a team that picked
sixth overall this year. They're not a team coming in
with championship aspirations. And this is year one of the
(28:45):
Jim Harbaugh regime. This is the worst team he'll probably
ever have because they're gonna build it up year by year,
player by player, and we're already seeing it. With Joe Hortiz,
their general manager. He came over from Baltimore where they
draft very well. They got tarheep Still and Cam Hart,
who can be their starting corners for the next five
to seven years, potentially in the fifth round that Joe
Waltz was maybe not the pick I wanted personally, I
(29:08):
bit into the hype when it comes to the wide receivers,
but I absolutely loved Lad McConkie. I was hyping him
up on Fantasy Frenzy. I thought for sure he would
end up with the Kansas City Chiefs. I thought he
would just be a perfect fit for Patrick Mahomes and
what they want to do. They wouldn't think Xavier Worthy,
who's a fine player, but Lad McConkie was an absolute
steal in the second round. So overall, for the Chargers season,
(29:29):
if they can make the playoffs one and done, that's
a win, it'll suck because you always want your teams
to win. I know you're a big Rams fan, and yeah,
ask you about your trip to LA because I saw
it on social media and it's going to see Sofi Stadium.
But but you know, overall, if they Chargers make the playoffs,
going from a team that picked six to overall making
that jump in year one, that's a pretty good season
(29:51):
and I'd have to be pretty happy with it.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
Yeah, they've really I think, in my opinion, especially to
start the season, they've played very very well on the
offensive side of the ball. It just seems like they're
lacking that one Lad's been so good, but they're lacking
that one player, right like they used to have. Austin
Eckler very very good, Keenan Allen, Mike Williams was also
(30:16):
very very good.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
I think they're just missing.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
That one weapon and that offense will I think explode
quite a bit, help out.
Speaker 1 (30:23):
Ladd a little bit.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
And Quentin Johnson's again, I mean, not not the way
that you've wanted him to turn out.
Speaker 1 (30:31):
He's looked okay, I guess, and the d looks really
really good.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
So you're totally right, You're they're right there, and in
the next couple of years they could be really really good.
Speaker 4 (30:41):
Yeah, a little little improven maybe on the interior of
the offense and the defensive line. Like you said, a
true legit number one, like I think Ladd McConkie can
save a Steve Smith, you know type number arc Like
good numbers put up big plays. But you want that
guy who in the games on the line is going
to beat the double coverage. They're not going to go
get a Calvin Johnson or I mean, those guys don't
(31:03):
come around too often. But someone with a little more
physicality can beat the press coverage. That sort of thing,
can still stretch the field, get over top of the corners.
That would be a great addition for this team. And
any football fan that's watching, he's probably saying, yeah, we'd
all love that, But I'm a fan too, and I
want to see it from the Chargers. Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (31:20):
Yeah, the big the big player can be huge, and
especially for the Rams finding that two of those guys
in the middle rounds like Kyron Williams and Puka I mean,
the drafting has just been so elite and Jared Verse
this year, Yeah, likely gonna win de Roy his Buddy
Braden Fisk, who is also the interior line I'm pretty
(31:41):
sure he's almost leading in sacks for rookies for defense.
So it's they've drafted so well and just getting these
these pieces.
Speaker 1 (31:51):
It's kind of a retool.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
I thought after that year where we tried to win
the Super Bowl again that we were gonna have to
totally rebuild and we'd have to restart, and they've done
so well with the draft in that it's just it's
just been fun.
Speaker 4 (32:05):
Yeah, just quickly, if I may say that the State
defense last year was phenomenal, and to go get those
players with your first and second pick, I think they're
total combined over ten sacks from two rookies, especially building
up that front seven with the loss of Aaron Donald
right like, they saw a firsthand how much of a
game wrecker he was. To go and address that need
immediately and fill that production and for a team that
(32:29):
typically doesn't have first round picks as well, pretty impressive.
Speaker 2 (32:32):
Yeah, it's it's been a lot of fun watching them
this year and last year. Switching off right now, the
playoffs are tight looking. I'm looking at the standings right now,
especially the NFC side. The Bucks are likely going to
(32:54):
win the NFC South just by the way that I
mean you saw last night. The Falcons are not really
a threat, barely beating the Raiders. You kind of the
Commanders in the seventh spot though, with the seventy eight
percent chance to make playoffs. The Seahawks are right behind them,
and the Falcons are right there, and the Cardinals are
all there, and you can never forget the forty nine ers.
(33:16):
Who do you think is do you think the way
that the playoffs are right now, do you think that
that's how it's gonna stay, or do you think maybe
the Rams don't find a way to get in?
Speaker 1 (33:25):
Like what do you think in terms of the playoffs?
Speaker 2 (33:27):
And even on the AFC side, you know your Chargers
in the Broncos are both right there, the Colts and Dolphins.
I know the Dolphins had a tough loss this weekend.
Even the Bengals somehow being a factor after losing a
bunch of games in a row.
Speaker 1 (33:41):
What do you think? How do you think everything was
gonna slot out?
Speaker 3 (33:44):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (33:44):
I mean looking we'll start off with the NFC. I mean,
Detroit and Philadelphia obviously locks make the playoffs. I feel
bad for the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers
playing in that tough division. But realistically, the Vikings and
Lions are tied for first in that division. That could
fall in a bunch of directions. You know, maybe the
Packers even get hot. I don't see the Vikings obviously
losing too many more games, But the Detroit Lions have
(34:06):
a lot of injuries, and you know, I think that
could be tough for them. They felt the Buffalo Bills.
They're probably just smiling. They don't have to play Josh
Allen anymore because man, he is playing some outstanding football
right now. But those three teams locks to make the
playoffs in my opinion, Although I know the Green Bay
Packers haven't quite locked it up yet, I think they'll
be there. The division that I'm very intrigued by would
(34:27):
be your Rams and the Seahawks. Yeah see West, because
correct me if I'm wrong. Those two teams play Week eighteen, right,
yes they do. That could be an absolutely massive game.
I love what the NFL has done the last couple
weeks of this season, having those divisional matchups, so Week eighteen,
there's so much that could change. That's gonna be a
lot of fun. Yeah, I would love to see the
Falcons do something like I've been on that bandwig in
(34:49):
for a little while here, just saying they've got to
figure out the offense. You can't to have Drake London,
Kyle Pitts, Bijohn Robinson and struggle in the fashion that
they do. They barely got past the Vegas Raiders. I
think it was point last night. Victory. Yeah, I don't
know what it is. Maybe it's time to move on
from Kirk Cousins, but I think for the whole we're
probably going to see this play out the way it's sitting.
(35:11):
I think the Seahawks would be the team that could
make that jump over the Commanders. Commanders played the Philadelphia
Eagles this week. That's gonna be a tough one for them.
But I would say the top six seeds in the
NFC probably probably going to stay the same. It is funny, though,
just to see two teams, the Bucks and the Rams,
eight wins. You've got little digit teams behind them in
(35:33):
the standings. But that just shows the importance to win
your division in the NFL. When it comes to the AFC, yeah,
I mean, I think the Indianapolis Colts really just shot
themselves in the foot last week. Jonathan Taylor, that's inexcusable
for a college a high school player, like you carry
the football into the end zone, give it to the ref,
dunk the basketball if you want, do whatever you have
(35:54):
to do to make sure you cross the plane, and
then within striking distance they try to run the little
double reverse they get very cute. Denver Broncos picked six.
I didn't like that. If the Colts had won that game,
their schedule upcoming is very easy, Like they would have
given themselves a really good chance to put pressure on
the Broncos and even the Chargers for maybe that final
(36:17):
wild card spot. But the way they played that one,
I just I don't know. I don't think the Dolphins
can do it either too much up and down. Then
they have hard times beating, you know, teams that have
better than five hundred records. I think McDaniel's record was
three and fifteen or something along those lines. So maybe
the Dolphins make it close. But for the Chargers, they've
got pretty I don't want to say easy. There's no
(36:39):
easy game in the NFL. It can all be tough.
But they have the Patriots and the Raiders to wrap
up their season after Thursday Night's game against the Denver Broncos.
So if I were a betting man, I would say
the playoff picks in the AFCs they used the exact same.
Potentially you get some movement between the Steelers and the Ravens.
Maybe the Ravens can leapfrog the Steelers with their only
one game back there. But I don't see anyone catching
(37:01):
the Texans. I don't see anyone catching the Chiefs, the Bills.
It looks like it's gonna be pretty much said in Stone,
and I will say I'm not looking forward to the
potential Chargers Bills Round one matchup. California teams going to
the cold weather can have trouble. I know, the Chargers
kind of fancy themselves to be a run team or
a cold weather team that plays in southern California. With
the Buffalo Bills right now just looks so good, their
(37:24):
defense a little bit leaky, with their offense finding ways
to make it work. And yeah, Josh Allen can feach
you through the air with his legs. It doesn't really matter.
We're gonna have what I think is gonna be a
you know, if it happens, one hell of a matchup
between the Chiefs and the Bills, and then on the
other side, maybe we get to you know, I was
thinking maybe Detroit in Philadelphia in the NFC Championship. But
(37:46):
count relout the Vikings either because Sam Darnold's playing good football,
distributing it very well, and if they get home field advantage,
watch out because going to Minnesota that's one of the
tougher places to play in the league.
Speaker 2 (37:56):
Yeah, I would totally agree. Starting with Josh Allen, Holy goodness,
he has been probably this is the best stretch of
football I've seen him play overall. And then Sam Darnold
as well, like just so so good. And even without
Justin Jefferson being a huge factor in some football games,
(38:19):
the Vikings still make it work. Addison has been very good,
Aaron Jones has been very good, and the defense, oh
my goodness, unbelievable. But yeah, there's some really good teams.
The Eagles also very very good. The Lions I'm having
a little bit of second thoughts about right now based
on how hurt they are, and obviously leasing David Montgomery
(38:42):
is a big loss. Losing many defensive players as well,
that could be an issue going into the playoffs for sure,
especially playing teams like the Packers and even the Rams can.
Speaker 1 (38:54):
Put up a fight, the Eagles, the Vikings.
Speaker 2 (38:56):
It's gonna be tougher than people think for them getting
to a super Bowl with these injuries that they have,
so overall, it's going to be a fun finish, especially
in Week eighteen.
Speaker 1 (39:11):
Moving on here, who do you think is the MVP?
Speaker 4 (39:17):
I mean, for me, I look at Josh Allen and
just doing what he's had to do to keep his
team in games, you know, putting up the amount of
points as he's had to the defense, which was for
a long time the strong suit in Buffalo. I mean
they lost a lot of players the last couple of
years here to free agency. I think they brought back
Mike ah Hyde this year, who said he'd only play
(39:37):
four Buffalo. He's not the player he once was. I
think he's just signed a couple of weeks ago. Lamar
Jackson's in the category he has to be. I don't
know if we'll get a Steve McNair Peyton Manning co
MVP situation that we had back in the early two thousands.
I don't know if it's gonna work out that way,
but both of those guys I think are having MVP campaigns.
Sam Darnold has to get some respect. I mean from
(39:58):
what he was able to do, you know, playing in
New York as bad as it went, kind of went
back to San Franz, you know, learned some things. I think,
you know, became a professional. Then going into the system
with Minnesota Vikings, and you touched on it. I mean,
justin Jefferson, although statistically might not put up game numbers
in every game, you have to game plan for him.
You have to have two players on eighteen in Purple,
(40:19):
otherwise he's gonna make you pay and it can just
be one play where you know your little lax and
all of a sudden he's grittying in the back of
the end zone. So yeah, I think that Sam Darnold,
I'm gonna put a little respect on his name. He's
not gonna win the MVP, but I think you should
get a little bit of consideration. It's a quarterback award,
Saikwon Barkley, You're gonna win Offensive Player of the Year,
but you're not gonna get the MVP. I think it's
(40:40):
going to go to seventeen in Buffalo.
Speaker 1 (40:43):
Yeah, I couldn't agree more.
Speaker 2 (40:44):
He has been just maybe in terms of seasons and dominance,
I don't think I've watched a better quarterback in terms
maybe Tom Brady, but in terms of who I've watched
growing up, it has been an unbelievable season for him.
He's his decision making as well, has gotten so much better.
(41:04):
Like he used to lead the league at interceptions, and
that's the one thing I noticed.
Speaker 1 (41:09):
He's so much smarter with the football and he used.
Speaker 2 (41:12):
To struggle with that massively throwing it when he doesn't
need to throwing it into double coverage. He is so
much better with the football and so much smarter, and
he can do it himself. I mean playing the ram,
three passing, touchdowns, three rushing like I have never seen
that before. So it was it's been so fun to
watch and out there every week every Sunday.
Speaker 1 (41:32):
Yeah, you know what.
Speaker 4 (41:33):
I talk with Dathlan Krueger, one of our employees here
at Sports fourteen and forty. He's a huge Bills fan,
And we were probably eight weeks into the season. I said,
how many tough throws did Josh Allen have to make
like we saw in the past, Like you said, he
might throw it up to Gabe Davis and triple coverage
or have to, you know, throw a dart to Stefan Diegs.
It seems like the coaching staff, whether it's Joe Brady,
Sean mcdermom, whoever you want to get the credit to,
(41:54):
has really schemed up good game plans where if if
he's thrown the ball like Khalil should hear sometimes so
open and he just makes the throws that he has to.
And I think a lot of that does come with
the maturity and the experience in learning to read the defenses.
There's probably nothing he hasn't seen now that he's been
in the league as long as he has, so he's he's,
like you said, he's gotten a lot smarter with the ball.
(42:15):
He's not turning the ball over and h hey, ball securities,
job security. So that's gonna be the number one attribute
for a quarterback and a good observation by you.
Speaker 1 (42:23):
Yeah, he's been unbelievable. Like I haven't watched as many
elite quarterbacks as you have, but in terms of what
I've seen, he's he's the m VP and if anyone
else wins, that eye would be shocked.
Speaker 4 (42:37):
If you want to watch a quarterback that's kind of
like painful to watch. Go watch Peyton Manning highlights. Oh yeah,
he would drain the clock. He would you know, make audible,
smooth players around, drop back five steps and then just
distribute the football. Not not as fun as Josh Allen.
Josh Allen is way more fun. But Tom Brady, Peyton
Manning in their prime. You got to get some credit
to Aaron Rodgers as well. I've seen Drew Brees. There's
(43:00):
been a lot of good ones. But Josh Allen is
doing it just as good as those guys doing in
his own way.
Speaker 1 (43:06):
Yeah, I was kind of a bit of a Peyton
Manning fan when I was younger, just because of the name,
But obviously I don't remember as much being that young. Now.
Speaker 2 (43:18):
To rookies, I mean overall, who do you think is
the best rookie and who was the steel pick kind
of out of the draft this year?
Speaker 4 (43:27):
You're talking steel picks here, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (43:29):
Steel picks and just like your favorite rookie for the future.
Speaker 4 (43:33):
Well, you know what I gotta say, There's been a
lot of rookies that I've enjoyed watching as a Homer pick.
Joe Walt has been an absolute revelation. At right tackle
for the Chargers because they had Rashaun Slater and they
brought Joe Walton and you know, he was fantastic. I
had like really high expectations for Marvin Harrison Junior with
the Cardinals and Elik Neighbors, and Elik Neighbors totally reached
(43:55):
them to start the season right like, he was very good.
Had the concussion and coming back, the quarnerback play dropped off.
You know, that's always going to be a factor for
wide receivers. Brian Thomas Junior for the Jaggs has been
someone who I've I've really been a big fan of
for what he's been able to do. Uh, you know,
And and then I would say one of the guys
(44:16):
I think he got to get a little credit to
Quinya and Mitchell. For the Philadelphia Eagles, it's Alito. I
believe he's been very good in the shutdown role. And
then you know, my my sweater is showing. But Tar
Heaps still for the Chargers, a fifth round pick out
of Maryland. He's got four interceptions, took one to the
house a couple of weeks ago. He's been very good.
So I mean the rookie class every year it holds up.
(44:37):
It's always a lot of fun boone Nicks. The way
he's come on, Oh yeah, I know, you know, coming
out of Oregon people made jokes but how long he
played college football? But that's just more stars, that's more reps.
Who cares if you're twenty three to twenty four, you
know you're drafting these guys in the first round to
play twelve, thirteen, fourteen to fifteen seasons. So who cares
(44:57):
if you know in their tenth year, if they're thirty
four or thirty two, you know they're there for a
long time. You're still getting in the prime of their career.
Joe Nick Boonix has been someone who's been really good.
So those are probably the guys for me that I've
really enjoyed watching. Jayden Daniels has been fantastic. Kylen Williams
has been flashes. I think the Bears are kind of
a mess, but he's shown us the flashes of what
(45:18):
he can do. So as as there is every year,
there's a lot of good guys that I've enjoyed watching.
Speaker 2 (45:23):
Yeah, I think the big shocker for me was bon Next.
I did not expect him to He had a rough
a rougher start in terms of play, but he really
solid it out and he got a lot better as
the season has gone along. Here, Jayden Daniels as well man,
the second overall pick in the last two years, has
(45:45):
been have have been really really good.
Speaker 1 (45:48):
As of late, hasn't been as.
Speaker 2 (45:49):
Dominant, but he's so talented in his first his first year.
Speaker 1 (45:55):
C J.
Speaker 2 (45:55):
Stroud obviously has showed a sophomore slump, so'll be interesting
to see how Jaden is next year. Especially, I assume
Washington's going to take a big step up with the
some of the players that they have. It's been cool
to see Terry McLaurin get a good quarterback and get the.
Speaker 1 (46:11):
Ball a little bit more.
Speaker 2 (46:13):
Absolutely, Yeah, you're give me your pick for your number
one disappointing team and surprising team.
Speaker 1 (46:24):
For the NFL.
Speaker 4 (46:26):
Oh disappointing team. You know we were talking about today
on Fantasy Friends. I'm just gonna scroll through the lineup
because it might be the matchup of the most disappointing
teams in the NFL this season. Uh, the Niners, Dolphins
and the San Francisco forty nine Ers. I can't put
the blame all on them, like they've had so many injuries.
Christ McCaffrey is one that ask any fantasy owner who
(46:46):
probably took him with the first overall pick. We didn't
foresee this coming. The injuries for there. Then you know,
it kind of continued Trent Williams or Field, you know,
sadly unfortunately for a few other players. Off the field.
They got players quitting on the team when Dre Greenlaw
comes back because they're not getting playing time. Huge disappointment there,
And you know, I didn't think it's me be a
(47:07):
cake walk for them in that division. The Rams, the Seahawks,
cards all pretty tough teams, but I thought we'd see
a little bit more The Miami Dolphins. Same thing, and
that's going to be obviously led by two tongue of
by Loa suffering the injury that he did. The concussions
are so scary with him, and I'm glad they didn't
rush him back. They kind of took their time. But
I thought the Dolphins for sure would be a team
that'd be a little bit more in the wildcard picture here,
(47:29):
you know, holding a spot rather than trying to battle
back and trying to get into it. Another team in Florida,
the Jacksonville Jaguars Trevor Lawrence. I mean, I've said it
for the last couple of years. I don't know what
he is. I mean, sometimes he looks fantastic. He can
look like one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL,
and then sometimes it's just not there. I don't know
if they need to make a change at the coaching
position or what it might be, but those three teams,
(47:51):
for me personally, would be the ones I'm looking at
is the most disappointing. If we're talking surprising teams. I
got to throw at the Minnesota Vikings. I mean with
a Darnold, there was a lot on a Sayers, there
was a lot of flak about what they would be
able to do, and you know, they've been fantastic. Brian
Flores to me, she probably shouldn't have lost his job
in Miami. Obviously, we know there was this stuff behind
(48:13):
the scenes and it wasn't a good scene. But Brian Flores,
what he's done to that Vikings defense, I think he's
got to be on the top of the coaching candidates
if owners trust him. And the Denver Broncos as well,
like the surprise with Bo Nixt to me, that's the
entire team. They've lost them players to injury. Alex Singleton
was kind of the heartbeat of their defense. He went
down with it. The ACL believe he finished the game
(48:34):
on that injury. The Denver Broncos are playing some really
good football and it's Sean Payton got his guy. I
don't know if bo Nick is going to turn out
to be Drew Brees two point zero, but I really
like what the Denver Broncos are building. And it pains
me to say that because if you listen to Fantasy Frenzy,
we've got a listener name and Brad And at the
start of the year we did make a bet fifty
dollars to charity who would have the better record, Chargers
(48:56):
or Broncos, And right now he's up on me. So
I'm not loving that one. But I think the NFC West,
you know, it's gonna have three tough teams, and the
Vegas Raiders could potentially be taking the top pick. Who's
it gonna be shitro Sanders cam Ward, I don't know,
but they could be building as well. So yeah, the
AFC West is gonna be tough for the next few years,
and maybe Kansas City will get some actual competition.
Speaker 2 (49:17):
Yeah, that would I think everyone would be hopeful for that.
Not many people, even just talking with my friends, no one.
No one likes the Chiefs.
Speaker 1 (49:27):
So yeah, so those are those are totally fair.
Speaker 2 (49:30):
The Vikings been so so good, and no one was
like I was so against picking Justin Jefferson fantasy.
Speaker 1 (49:38):
I'm like, well, he's got no one to throw the
ball to him. Yeah, sure enough.
Speaker 2 (49:41):
I mean, who knows if it's how their offenses run,
or if it's Sam Darnold, or if it's more Justin
Jefferson letting him make these plays.
Speaker 1 (49:52):
But I give him all the credit. He's been so
so good. And that team has been really really surprising.
The disappointment side, I mean, there's been some some tough teams,
but on the show, if I for the people listening,
you you hear me harp on the forty nine ers,
it's the team that I hate, and it's the team
that I really give a lot of crap to.
Speaker 2 (50:13):
So I it's been a disappointing year. I know they've
had their injuries, but it's just felt falling off the
rails a lot of people last year. This is the
point I make over and over gave Brock Purdy the
either system quarterback or top five quarterback, and I think
(50:34):
he's kind of proven to me that he's still has
weapons and all, Like you still have kidd On Deebo.
Diebo hasn't been as good, but you still have some
weapons and they have they still can't do anything with it.
So Purdy hasn't looked as good. They everything's fallen off
the rails for them. So that's my number one disappointment
team for sure. I had them to win the super
(50:54):
Bowl at the start of the season.
Speaker 1 (50:56):
Oh really, So yeah, as much as I dislike them,
they I don't know like what they're gonna do, how
they're gonna go from here. Deebo's contracts expiring, It'll be
interesting to see how that works.
Speaker 4 (51:08):
Yeah, I mean Deebo, I think we've seen it. I'm
not just gonna write him off for anything, but he
doesn't looked like the player he has in the past.
The injuries pile up and Brock pretty He's really interesting.
He'd be a fun case study because obviously he had
the experience and maybe didn't put up the gaudy numbers
in college, but he could make good reads. You surround
him with elite talent like this team had, you know,
(51:30):
when they're healthy with Kittle, going back to Brandon Ayuk
when he's healthy, Debo, when he's playing the way he can,
and then of course Christian McCaffrey and you know, some
animals on that offensive line. You know, it can make
you look pretty good. It's really gonna be the test
obviously how he plays down the stretch here. But yeah,
I don't know. I think it's kind of a tough
tough spot to pay Rock pretty if he's gonna lose
(51:52):
his weapons and you're paying him fifty million dollars a
year for the next whatever it might be seven years,
I mean years four or five, six, that contract might
look tough if he doesn't have that elite cast around him.
Speaker 1 (52:04):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2 (52:05):
It'll be interesting to see how they kind of pivot
from their Super Bowl aspirations this year. Part of the reason,
having all those contracts that they had to re sign
at the off season might have made some interesting like
drama around camp, and it kind of started them with
a rough start to the season. Finally, here, I know,
(52:26):
we're kind of getting to the thirty minute mark around
the super Bowl and the Stanley Cupp, Who are your
picks for both? I know Stanley Cup might be obvious,
but coming out of the East end West and the
same for the Super Bowl, NFC, AFC.
Speaker 4 (52:39):
Yeah, well we'll start with the Super Bowl here. It'll
be here a little bit quicker. I guess I'll take
the Buffalo Bills and the Minnesota Vikings. Let me go
with the Vikings here, Lions, the injury concerns are there
for me, you know, and offense can put a points.
(53:01):
They can hang around with anyone. But I really do
think that that first overall spot's going to be important,
and I think the Vikings might have a chance to
leap frog Detroit here to get that one. But wouldn't
be surprised also at Philadelphia Detroit. In that conversation from
the AFC, I'm gonna go with the Buffalo Bills. I
just think it's their year. If they go on the road,
I think they can, you know, move that ball around.
(53:22):
On the Kansas City defense, the Chiefs have won a
lot of close games. I think that they are more
beatable than they've ever been in the Andy Reid, Patrick
Mahomes kind of dynasty run that they've had. I think
they're a very beatable football team right now. So I
think this is the year the Bills can get it done,
even if they have to go to Arrowhead, which they
all likely will have to then in the NHL. Here,
(53:42):
it's a good question. Let me ask you and are
a lot of your viewers from Edmonton.
Speaker 1 (53:47):
Yes, most of them would be for sure.
Speaker 4 (53:50):
Okay, Well, then I'm going to take the Oilers to
win the Stanley Cup because I think that's a good
road to take here. Who they're going to beat? How
about the Capitals? Give me the Capitals. If they beat
the Capitals, Ovie becomes the bad guy, he praised Swayne
Gretzky's record to make him a villain at Edmonton, and
then he plays the Oilers in the Stanley Cup final.
It'd be fun to see because I don't know how
(54:11):
many people really had this coming for the Washington Capitals.
I'd like to see a run like that go on
for them. Give Ov an opportunity which just fall fall
a little bit short. Connor McDavid hoisting Lord Stanley.
Speaker 2 (54:23):
Yeah, that's I think what everyone wants to see on
this show, especially my picks.
Speaker 1 (54:28):
Super Bowl. I have to go Eagles, for sure.
Speaker 2 (54:32):
I know they're not great in the big game, but
I think they're kind of quiet, quietly playing so well.
I know they had that drama between Jalen Hurts and
AJ Brown, but I think they're figuring out they've they've
had that experience.
Speaker 1 (54:45):
I think it's their chance to go back. And then
on the other side, I can't.
Speaker 2 (54:51):
I don't want to say the Chiefs, but I'm probably
gonna have to go with the Chiefs. I think they
will find another way and we will have the Super
Bowl rematch.
Speaker 1 (55:00):
I like the Bills, I think it's their chance.
Speaker 2 (55:02):
But the Chiefs, I mean Mahomes every time they get
to the playoffs, it's just he finds a way to win,
and the way they've done it this year, they still
find ways to win. So that would be my pick
there the Stanley Cup, I might just have the rematch
from last year. I don't really know how the Panthers
don't get back.
Speaker 1 (55:21):
I mean, there was talk.
Speaker 2 (55:23):
On I was listening to a lot of sports shows today,
Sports fourteen forty mainly, and talk about kind of some
of the stamina that might affect the Panthers right to
play so well for that many seasons, right, it'll be
really interesting to see how they they can deal with
(55:44):
not having that time. You lose a lot of muscle
mass in the offseason, and I think it's gonna be
interesting to see how they they can keep healthy and
get their way back. But the East obviously isn't as
strong as the West. Looking at the West right now,
oh my goodness. So I'm looking at the ploffs and
I'm like, the oilers, you're gonna have to go through
every matchup. It's going to be a difficult one for them,
(56:06):
But I obviously want my Evanson oilers.
Speaker 1 (56:08):
I'm taking them to win it all. But yeah, thanks
for coming on today.
Speaker 2 (56:14):
It was a lot of fun having you here, and
I wanted to get you on for a little while.
Speaker 4 (56:19):
Yeah, happy to do it. I know we were talking
about over the summer and me and my wife just
moved into a new house and didn't have this setup,
and then you asked me to come on today, and
I thought, you know what, I work at a radio station.
Other than commercials coming on occasionally. During this little hit here,
it's worked out pretty smoothly. I don't know if you noticed,
but your question about the rookies in the NFL, I
had commercials playing in the headphones. Yeah I could tell
(56:41):
I was trying to focus and listen to what you
were saying. But yeah, happy to come on you anytime
you need a guest. I'm always available.
Speaker 2 (56:47):
Well, thank you, I appreciate so much. That was The
Manning Show with Connor Halley.
Speaker 1 (56:53):
Thanks for listening to The Man in Tree. You can
follow us on Twitter at the Underscore Manning Show. Can
follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Ask you and n A
ninety seven. Thanks for listening. We will be back tomorrow.
Have a good day.
You are listening to The Manning Show with You and Manning.
You're number one sports podcast starts now.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Welcome back another fun episode that I've got for you guys.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Today.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
It was a fun overall weekend. I mean, wow, we
had some good afternoon games. The morning games were pretty
brutal in my opinion, just not really living up to
the expectations that the afternoon games did. When we saw
quarterbacks like Timoil and I'm just trying to list on
(00:47):
the bad quarterbacks that we saw this afternoon. We saw
Cooper Rash, we saw James Winston, Aaron Rodgers has not
been great, Mac Jones, we saw two different We saw
Hanar for the Saints.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
We all saw.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Spencer Rattler, Tommy DeVito. We saw a lot of bad quarterbacks.
So it was a pretty boring morning to say the least,
for this football weekend. But I hope everyone was able
to enjoy it.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Today. Nonetheless, we have a fun.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Episode for everyone. We're bringing on Connor Halley later. My
audio interface is kind of scratched up here.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
That's not good.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
But anyways, we are bringing on Connor Halley, which I've
been trying to get him to come on for so long.
He is a massive Chargers fan. When I say massive,
I mean massive. So he's also works for Sports fourteen forty.
He does oilers stuff as well, So we're gonna talk
about the big the big oiler stuff then as well.
(02:01):
That'll probably be like twenty thirty minute interview and then
kind of have my own recap like right now.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
So it was it's gonna be a ton of fun.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
I'm recording this right now at one o'clock on December seventeenth.
This this episode is dropping at eight o'clock tonight on
December seventeenth.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
But it was a fun week.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
I'm sorry I didn't do a pod last week, like
I said, like later in the week.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
But Connor could come on at this time. But yeah,
it was.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
It was a fun one, say the least, fun week.
Too bad that Mpton Oilers couldn't finish it off with
with a huge w.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
But just overall the vibes who we are pretty high.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
It started with Saturday just kind of getting excited for
the NFL.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
On the weekend, we had some oilers and it all
kind of just trickled into an exciting especially Monday with
the two NFL games that were not very good and
then the Oilers game, which was very exciting. But obviously
we had fantasy playoffs. A lot of you probably in
(03:25):
the middle of fantasy playoffs. Hopefully you ended up winning
in one of your leagues. Like I went one for
two in playoffs. I lost one unfortunately. That's in this
big league. I have shout out to Uncle Jonathan if
you're listening. I lost big time by thirty points. I
(03:47):
got trampled.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
It was one thirty to one hundred.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
So I'm out in that league, which is the biggest
prize in terms of money and maybe even some bragging rights.
But I'm still in the other league, which has some
good prize money as well, and my team is a wagon.
But I'm gonna have to win one more to get
some guaranteed money. So that's kind of what I'm praying
for because I need to I need to win bad semifinal.
(04:11):
I lost to this guy the last time I played him.
But yeah, I use CBS for this one league I
because you have to.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Pay for CBS. It's really good.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
It gives you like the breakdown of your all time
record and a bunch of interesting stats.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
They send it to you by email. It's like automated.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
It's pretty cool, nonetheless, But yeah, that's kind of what's
going on with my fantasy football.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
It's I've had such.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
A fun time this year with fantasy football, kind of
getting too emotional with it though, like too attached with it.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
With my league, Like I get way too attached, to
say the least.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Like I just need to chill out sometimes and it
just doesn't it doesn't work out, like I never I'm
so I get so emotionally attached with just my friends especially,
(05:12):
and then it just kind of turns into me getting
a little bit of a rage braded. So yeah, yeah,
it's just it was tough for me to come last
in fantasy especially winning I've won. We started doing this
(05:35):
in Grade eight. Okay, so after COVID nineteen, I won
the first year of the league, lost in the final
the second year, won the third year, and then this
year I come second last.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
So kind of a down year for my team.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
But again, like I was saying, I get so emotionally
attached and I'm acting like I'm a real general manager
trying to make all these trades, but it's like it's
really not that deep. So I kind of need to
chill out. There, like I'm in fantasy hockey as well.
I'm in so many fantasy football leagues that it's like
I kind of need to chill out at some points.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
It's just yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
I mean, if you've ever played and you kind of
lock in a little bit too much, that's what happens.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
But fantasy has been fun this year. To break it
down simply as that. But let's kind of break it
down here.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
The NFL with an excellent week, I'm just gonna do
my quick little breakdown. It was a lot of fun
this week. Like I said many times, the Rams winning
on the big Thursday night, that was the big thing
that we talked about. I'm still waiting for Darryl Saban's.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
His video.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
So one of my dad's friends I'm close with because
he is a forty nine Ers and I need him.
We made a bet right after the podcast on because
he listened and he was He was like, I had
to wear a jersey, a forty nine Ers jersey if
the Rams lost, A forty nine jersey if the Rams lost.
(07:14):
Can you believe that I did not want to wear
a jersey on this podcast of the forty nine ers.
I would have to wear a jersey. Can you like
that is so shameful wearing another team's jersey. That's like
the worst punishment you could get if you're a real fan.
And I would have had to talk about how good
rock Party is. But now I get to the opposite
and absolutely destroy him because he is a awful quarterback,
(07:38):
like I've been saying for so long.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
A twelve to six win.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Maybe the worst football game I've ever watched, behind when
the Rams lost Super Bowl to the New England Patriots
in twenty eighteen, when I was a little like eight
year old crying my butt off and on the beach
on Hawaii. But the Rams did not play well. Their
defense played excellent. I mean, you have a terrible core
that you're playing against. But the Rams offense could not
(08:03):
get anything going. And the first quarter it was like
six or seven punts. Was like, what is going on?
People who are I'm sure batting on the game were
not happy because it's such a low scoring.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Every time these teams have played, every.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Single time, it's always been decently high scoring, so that
says a lot and this one just wasn't the same.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
It. It really wasn't. The Rams going over two in
the red zone. The forty nine ers didn't even get
to the red zone.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Like, let's talk about that. They didn't even get to
the red zone. They didn't even get a chance to
score a touchdown. It's unbelievable. They have such a good
team and they went oh for oh in the red zone, Like,
are you serious? You have Deebo Samuel George Kittle. Okay,
those are your weapons. You should be able to do
(08:58):
something with that. I know you're missing Ayuk, I know
you're missing your best on line. I know you're missing McCaffrey.
But again, if your quarterback is so good and you
still have two weapons, you should be able to at
least do something.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
This scored six points. They still have people. He is
not elite. Think about a good quarterbacks.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Put Mahomes in the forty nine er situations, think about
how good they would be.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
Juwan Jennings is not a bad wide receiver.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Purdy has played so poor and the one throw he
made if you saw me post on Instagram and the
pick by Darius Williams in the end zone, that was
the worst throw I've ever seen.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
He is so average it's not even funny. There might
pick to.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Win the Super Bowl because of all the weapons around.
They lose those weapons and they're like, oh.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
No, it's because we're heard, it's because we're hurt.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Well, now, look, your quarterback's doing nothing. He was called
a top five quarterback last year by some people, and
now it's absolutely silent.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
I don't hear anything on the media about him. He
does nothing.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
And I saw a report and it was like forty
nine ers contract thoughts with party have changed after that
Thursday night game. It's like, duh, what did you expect.
He's in the best situation ever. It's just it's mind boggling.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
To me how he can be considered an elite quarterback
because he is so booty. But yeah, huge win for
the Rams. That's kind of the fun one that I
wanted to break down.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
They could have done a lot better in the red zone.
They're still so bad in the red zone. It was like,
oh my goodness.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
But the snow game was the rain game was not
good for either team.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
It really slowed down all the fun stuff. But yeah, Rams.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
Huge twelve to six victory.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
The Cowboys absolutely smoking the Panthers thirty to fourteen. Bryce
Young going back to normal, looking like average Bryce Young,
Cooper Rush, good game, Ceedee lamb cooking Chiefs Browns twenty
one to seven victory over the Chiefs. The most notable
thing though, in that game Jameis Winston absolutely terrible getting
yanked out of that game.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Mahomes getting the high ankle sprain.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
It's considered a low as mild injury, so I expect
to see him back. Yeah, he's gonna be fun, that's
all I got to say. Texans barely squeak went out
on the Dolphins twenty to twelve. Texans somehow getting another
fraud win.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
They don't even look that good, to be honest with you,
so that should be a That was a fun game. Nonetheless,
Then we had the Jets and.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
The Jaguars, thirty two to twenty five victory for the
Jets barely squeaking out with one DeVante Adams absolutely going
off two hundred yards around.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
And two touchdowns. Unbelievable stuff for them. I mean, the.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Rams play them next week, so that's a huge win
for them. The Commanders barely squeaking went over the Saints.
It was like an nineteen to nothing game early or
it was a high score game early for the Commanders,
where like this game is probably over Jaye and Daniels
missed some deep balls to.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
Terry McLaurin.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
But Spencer Rattler comes in the game after Hayner gets pulled.
I don't know what Darren Rizzy was thinking putting in
Hayner and Spencer Ratler almost goes down that he gets
the touchdown with three seconds left. They go for two
to win the game. And not a great design play
on the kind of the just the online blocks gives
(12:36):
them lots of time, rules right and incomplete. So it
was a good tray to the Saints. I mean, a
smart thing to do against Jade Daniels' offense. That would
have been a touchdown if it went to overtime. So yeah,
I mean smart idea. You're a losing team, try and
bump someone out. Because the Commanders the Eagles would have
(12:56):
won the division if the Comanders lost, so that that
would have been The Ravens beat the Giants thirty five fourteen.
Not much to be said here, Lamar Jackson, five bass
and touchdowns, elite, elite, elite, That's all I gotta say
about that one. The Bengals squeaking out over the Titans,
t Higgins having a massive game also Jamar Cha says
the one while having a big game. I mean the
first quarter they the Titans put up a fight, but
(13:17):
then Will Levis the turnover machine. He might be the
worst quarterback in the league for turnovers, fumbles, interceptions, just brutal.
It's good to see the Bengals win one though.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
Good for that. The Cardinals beat the Patriots thirty to seventeen.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Huge win for the Cardinals. The Patriots just did not
have enough in that game. James Connor having a big
game as well, but yeah, a lot of field goals
for the Cardinals, so if.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
You had their kicker, big game for him.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Colts lose to the Broncos thirty one to thirteen, still
looking elite bonus. I know he had two interceptions in
the game, also through for two tds, but Broncos would
take that win nine to five.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
No one would have expected from the Broncos. Goodness gracious.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
And then the fun one, the Bill's beating the Lions.
This is the big game that I kind of wanted
to talk about.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Forty eight to forty two.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
Wow, that was quite something, I would say. Jared Goff
five passing touchdowns, he threw it the ball sixty times.
Josh Allen also another game over fifty fantasy points, like,
oh my gosh, if he is not the MVP, I
(14:31):
will lose my mind. He's single handedly the Bills offense
is nowhere near the weapons to being as the lead
as it was, and he just went off like he
just said I'm gonna do it. He just said, screw it,
I'm doing it myself this year, and that's what he's doing.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
It's unbelievable. Forty eight points. The Lions are a great
football team, and.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
David Montgomery is out for the season now, so that
is tough for the Lion's a tough loss. Their defense
looks so bad. They have no pass rush, They've lost
a lot of corners. They're in big trouble on the
defensive side of the ball. Lost Aiden Hutchinson obviously earlier
this season. That's a big loss. But the injuries might
do it for the Lions. Like the Eagles are looking
like a wagon will get to them in a second.
(15:17):
But I would say Dan Campbell has some of his
decisions not great, but this could be a picking outlier
for the Lion's defense. That's all I gotta say. He
can be their best enemy. He can also be their
worst enemy, Dan Campbell, so it'll be interesting to see
(15:38):
if they can bounce off that because it can get up.
The Box beat the Chargers forty to seventeen. Big game
for the Box. Baker again looking excellent. He's turned into
quite a quarterback. But the Chargers are actually fading. They
might We're gonna talk with Connor Halley later, but they
might not be a playoff team just the way they're playing.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Baker again looking very excellent.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Then the big game, the Eagles wiping the Steelers twenty
seven at thirteen. Steelers offense missing George Pickens, which is
a big factor in that game. But the Steelers need
George Pickens man like. Their passing game is so so
bad when they don't have them. And the Eagles Aj
Brown and DeVante Smith both going for one hundred yards,
so good for them. The Packers beat the Seahawks thirty
(16:25):
to thirteen.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
Big one for the Packers. They will take that every
single day over the Seahawks. They just look really poor again.
The Seahawks, they're a fraud team.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
They play a good team and finally they get whipped.
This is they're gonna play the Rams DRAMs are gonna
whoop them. The two Monday night games, the Vikings obviously
smoking the Bears, the Bears offense looking absolutely horrendous.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
So that's all I gotta say about that. They just
look bad. And then the Falcons beating the Raiders fifteen
to nine.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
The Falcons are in the hunt to win the AFC
South and they can't even beat the Raiders by more
than a touchdown. If you like, it's just brutal. Like
if I was a Falcons fan, I'd be very worried
about this team. Kirk Cousins is not like the lead.
But yeah, that was.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
Kind of our breakdown for week fifteen.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
A fun one in the books. But yeah, I'm probably
gonna leave it at that.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
I might do a.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Little bit after Connor Holly gets off, but I gotta
head back to school because I got school right now.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
But I don't have school. I have a spare, So yeah,
I'm gonna get picked up. But we will.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
Hopefully you enjoy this this interview I had with Connor Hall.
It's gonna be a lot of fun. We talked a
lot of football, so enjoy that. I will hopefully talk
to you. I go on vacation so talk to you
next week sometime. But yeah, peace. Now, we're excited to
(17:57):
bring on the one and only. He's working at Sports
fourteen forty right now. He worked at TSN twelve sixty
for a long time. He is a Chargers fan and
a Oilers fan, an Edmonton sports fan in general. I'm
excited to bring on my buddy Connor Hallie. Thank you
for being on today.
Speaker 4 (18:14):
Hey, and thanks a lot for having me on today.
Really appreciate the invite.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
I can't imagine what today was like because just overall
a crazy Monday for sports over at Sports fourteen forty.
Let's start with the Edmonton Oilers, an absolutely crazy hockey
game that ends up not going the way that Oilers
fans would have liked with a lot of hectic but
(18:40):
it was an entertaining game, nonethe last, what were some
of the things that you were hearing kind of from
the people today.
Speaker 4 (18:47):
Oh yeah, I mean that's kind of the fun thing
when that happens. It's always what's the storyline going to be?
And you know, I think a lot of Oilers fans
looked at it a big picture. Florida's a good team,
you know, obviously we know they win this down cup
a story to open up those wounds. But the Florida
Panthers are a very good hockey team, so you're gonna
get that occasionally from them. I mean, they showed that
championship pedigree down a few goals, found a way to
(19:10):
battle back and eventually get the win. Evan Bouchard though,
evan main storyline even you know mitiasak Com a little
bit as well, it's okay to call about. You know,
they didn't have their best games and the Florida Panthers
capitalized on it. But yeah, Evan Bouchard has been kind
of the big storyline for us. If you look at
the season on a whole. He's had a few games
(19:32):
where you're left scratching your head some of the decisions
that he makes. So that's getting a little bit frustrating.
And then you know, when your goal allows six goals,
I think there's always going to be a little bit
of criticism. But you know, could he have made one
of those saves I think for Stuart's henna last night, Yes,
he could have made one of those saves and that
would have gone a long way, of course in a
one goal hockey game, So you know, whenever the team loses.
(19:53):
I think a lot of times hockey fans are less
likely to say, hey, the other team was just better
that night. It's more so what did we do wrong?
In what did we mess up? And last night it
was three names, three numbers in particular, Stuart Skinner, Evan
Bouchard and a Tiasecon.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Yeah, that's that's totally fair.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
I mean oilers fans especially are just like that crazy
in general. For sure, Evan Bouchard like not having the
greatest game that we've seen him have. Uh, what are
kind of your thoughts on on us having because his
contract year is coming up? Yeah, are your thoughts on
(20:33):
paying him?
Speaker 4 (20:35):
It's it's like one of the best questions you could
ask me, because I don't know what the proper answer
is right now. When Philip Roberg had the offer sheet
and you know, made the money that he did going
to Saint Louis, a lot of people said, well, you'd
love to match for Broberg, a young defenseman up and comer,
but you do have to pay Evan Bouchard in the future.
And what does that number start with? Is it a
(20:56):
is it a nine, is it a ten? Is it
gonna go that high. I don't really know because you
look at Evan Bouchard when it comes to running a
power play, and I wills be the first say with
the caveat you're running a powerful you think David in
dry Sidle. He does it very well, does it better
than even Tyson Barry did and made it an even
better group. This shot is unbelievable. You know, there's times
(21:19):
and he's shown it big games where he stepped up
in the playoffs and scored big goals for this hockey club.
But you can't just disregard the defensive lapses that he has.
And sometimes it's just you're less scratching your head. I
mean you and you've seen these games. Yeah, there's times
where he can make a simple play, you know, glass
and out. It's not the sexy played by any means,
(21:40):
but it's needed in hockey. Just get it out of
your end, live to fight another day. And he tries
to make a cross ized path that goes the other
way and ends up in the back of their nets.
So I don't know what the number is going to be.
We know Evan Bouchard when he's on, he's an elite
offensive defenceman, can anchor a power play as one of
the best shots in the NHL, and when he's off,
(22:00):
he's gonna be a bit of a liability in his
own end, and teams are gonna capitalize on that, and
they're gonna put their best players out there attack his end,
and that can be a downside. So I assume it's
gonna be a pretty big number whatever it is, let's
say north of nine. Some people aren't going to like it,
but that's gonna be the price to pay for an
offensive defense went in the NHL, and we'll see exactly
(22:22):
how it works. But for me, I go back to it.
We talked totally. You know, Philip Roberg. I touched on
it there when that whole thing went down. A lot
of people had said, you can't pay him because they're
gonna pay Bouchard. So I just like to think that
it's gonna be a big amount of money. Going back
to that, I wish they would have kept Philip Roberg.
I wish they would have found a way to make
that work, especially when they traded Cody cc I thought
(22:44):
for sure it was gonna happen, but they did it
for a reason. They cleared up some space, and I
think Bouchard's gonna get paid, and I don't think it's
much of a crazy thought. I don't think I'm stepping
out on a huge ledgu here. People are gonna hate it.
It's gonna be a contract that's gonna be polar in
our city in the same fashion that Darnell Nurses.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
Yeah, that's that's totally fair.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
He's been in the playoffs especially, just so good and
in those big games that's, in my opinion, the most important.
When he's on you normally few get a feeling that
the team is on and he'll make defensive mistakes overall,
but when he's scoring big goals, it's it's pretty unbelievable.
(23:30):
Kind of looking into the contract as well, with Connor
McDavid his contract is expiring next year and now having
to sign both of these guys. We also have I'm
pretty sure Mattias x Holme coming up, Zach Hymen's coming up.
Just looking into some of these contracts, what are your
(23:51):
thoughts on how the Oilers are going to have to
manage this in the future.
Speaker 4 (23:55):
Go ahead, Yeah, you know, it is something you're gonna
have to look out for for this team going forward,
and you know the key pieces are definitely signed for
the long term. When it comes to McDavid, the dry
so we know McDavid's gonna get done, you know, Dry, Settle,
new Chiman, those sorts of guys locked up for a
little while here, and you know, I guess you can
even throw the likes of matisn Mark the way he's
(24:15):
played this year somebody. It's nice to have for a
long time here. I think what it does, though, does
give the team a little bit of flexibility that they're
not locked into those bottom six guys for the most
part for too long. Jeff Skinner's gonna be a free agent,
Corey Perry, cappen In, Connor Brown, Derek Ryan, you know,
so if you want, you know, I guess it'd be
maybe a different situation if you had a little more
faith in the system and you have some prospects could
(24:37):
bring up for the minimum. I think that's something that
the teams like the Kings and the Blackhawks did really
well during their Cup years where they paid their top
end players but then had young guys to kind of
fill this box. The Penguins as well. For the Oilers,
I don't know if it's quite there. There's a few guys.
I think that can make that jump next year. But yeah,
you know, you're certainly going to take a look at
players that you might want to bring back. Connor Brown,
(24:58):
with what he's been able to offer this team this season,
I would think you'd want him back. Corey Perry, who
knows what to see if he wants to play again,
if he wants to come back for another year. For
what he's been asked to do, I think he's been okay.
Maybe it's going to be that one million dollar mark
Kis Perry, Kapnan. We'll see. I think we have to
see how this plays out for the long term because
one of the things we know about him is the
season goes on, does the motivation stay there the longer
(25:21):
he's with the team. This could be his last opportunity
in the NHL after being waived this season, so maybe
the motivation's there. He likes the city, he likes the team.
Maybe more importantly, they like him and then you bring
them back. But yeah, I think for the Mlinton Oilers,
you do have to be very wary that you do
have to pay your top end guys. You got to
make get McDavid and Bouchard signed and then there's some
other guys you're gonna have to look at as well.
(25:42):
And you know, I think it's going to be really
important for stan Bowman and this team to not only
you know, evaluate and assess their own guys, but then
have their pro scouts looking out there where they can
find some cheap alternatives just to round out the team
more of the bottom six, bottom defense a pairing as well.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
Yeah, I would totally agree with that.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
They they've made some interesting pickups, like Captain, like you said,
he's been playing very very well I've noticed recently and
seeing kind of how they make some waiver claims. I
don't remember seeing that as much from Ken Holland as
we've seen so far with stan Bowman, which is interesting.
So that's been a nice little thing that they've done
to kind of pick up pieces here and there. But
(26:23):
like you said, I'm all for the guys they've made. Obviously,
they might have made a mistake with Perry and Janmark
signing though losing Halloway, which.
Speaker 1 (26:34):
It's too bad we lost those two guys. I mean,
they were so far, they're playing so well in Saint Louis.
I know Halloway wouldn't have had the same kind of.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
Minutes and stuff with the Oilers and opportunities. But they've
looked really, really good, So I mean, it's a bomber
that we lost them. Now we can see here, we'll
kind of switch gears here. I love the Oilers and all,
but I think we can both agree we love football absolutely. Yeah,
you're wearing a Chargers sweater right now. So for people
(27:09):
that don't know you're a big Chargers fan, now, they've
had quite an interesting year. Just kind of break down
a little bit of their year.
Speaker 4 (27:18):
Yeah, I mean, and I think you have to go
back to the offseason to really get a full look
at it. And they were in part of my language
cap hell like, it was not a good situation for
this team. There was talk that they'd have to part
ways with, you know, Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Keenan Allen,
Mike Williams, just to try to get back on track
here with a new GM and Joe Hortiz and a
new head coach with Jim Harbaugh. And lucky enough for them,
(27:40):
they were able to reconstruct some of the contracts. You
kept Khalil Mack, who's been very good this year, Joey
Bosa probably in his last year at the Chargers. They
lost their receivers, but they created a lot of cap
space going forward, and you know, I thought with Jim Harbaugh,
this would be a team that would compete. And you know, honestly,
they've kind of lived up to the exact expectations that
I've had. They beat the teams they probably should beat.
(28:02):
You know, when you have a justin Herbert and you
know you invest in the offensive line the way the
defense is pretty good as well. Jesse Mancher, the defensive coordinator,
could be gone next year. He's just done such a
good job with that defense. But then when you play
a team that is stronger and maybe a little bit
more physical, for talking the Steelers, the Bucks, the Chiefs
tough to beat those teams and they've beat them. So
one of the things with the Charges, for me personally,
(28:24):
I kind of have to take a step back. I'm
a huge fan of cheer for this team. You know,
going back to two thousand and one when they drafted
Ladanian Tollinson and Doug Flutie signed there after not being
signed by the Buffalo Bills, the expectations have to be
a little bit low. This is a team that picked
sixth overall this year. They're not a team coming in
with championship aspirations. And this is year one of the
(28:45):
Jim Harbaugh regime. This is the worst team he'll probably
ever have because they're gonna build it up year by year,
player by player, and we're already seeing it. With Joe Hortiz,
their general manager. He came over from Baltimore where they
draft very well. They got tarheep Still and Cam Hart,
who can be their starting corners for the next five
to seven years, potentially in the fifth round that Joe
Waltz was maybe not the pick I wanted personally, I
(29:08):
bit into the hype when it comes to the wide receivers,
but I absolutely loved Lad McConkie. I was hyping him
up on Fantasy Frenzy. I thought for sure he would
end up with the Kansas City Chiefs. I thought he
would just be a perfect fit for Patrick Mahomes and
what they want to do. They wouldn't think Xavier Worthy,
who's a fine player, but Lad McConkie was an absolute
steal in the second round. So overall, for the Chargers season,
(29:29):
if they can make the playoffs one and done, that's
a win, it'll suck because you always want your teams
to win. I know you're a big Rams fan, and yeah,
ask you about your trip to LA because I saw
it on social media and it's going to see Sofi Stadium.
But but you know, overall, if they Chargers make the playoffs,
going from a team that picked six to overall making
that jump in year one, that's a pretty good season
(29:51):
and I'd have to be pretty happy with it.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
Yeah, they've really I think, in my opinion, especially to
start the season, they've played very very well on the
offensive side of the ball. It just seems like they're
lacking that one Lad's been so good, but they're lacking
that one player, right like they used to have. Austin
Eckler very very good, Keenan Allen, Mike Williams was also
(30:16):
very very good.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
I think they're just missing.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
That one weapon and that offense will I think explode
quite a bit, help out.
Speaker 1 (30:23):
Ladd a little bit.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
And Quentin Johnson's again, I mean, not not the way
that you've wanted him to turn out.
Speaker 1 (30:31):
He's looked okay, I guess, and the d looks really
really good.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
So you're totally right, You're they're right there, and in
the next couple of years they could be really really good.
Speaker 4 (30:41):
Yeah, a little little improven maybe on the interior of
the offense and the defensive line. Like you said, a
true legit number one, like I think Ladd McConkie can
save a Steve Smith, you know type number arc Like
good numbers put up big plays. But you want that
guy who in the games on the line is going
to beat the double coverage. They're not going to go
get a Calvin Johnson or I mean, those guys don't
(31:03):
come around too often. But someone with a little more
physicality can beat the press coverage. That sort of thing,
can still stretch the field, get over top of the corners.
That would be a great addition for this team. And
any football fan that's watching, he's probably saying, yeah, we'd
all love that, But I'm a fan too, and I
want to see it from the Chargers. Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (31:20):
Yeah, the big the big player can be huge, and
especially for the Rams finding that two of those guys
in the middle rounds like Kyron Williams and Puka I mean,
the drafting has just been so elite and Jared Verse
this year, Yeah, likely gonna win de Roy his Buddy
Braden Fisk, who is also the interior line I'm pretty
(31:41):
sure he's almost leading in sacks for rookies for defense.
So it's they've drafted so well and just getting these
these pieces.
Speaker 1 (31:51):
It's kind of a retool.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
I thought after that year where we tried to win
the Super Bowl again that we were gonna have to
totally rebuild and we'd have to restart, and they've done
so well with the draft in that it's just it's
just been fun.
Speaker 4 (32:05):
Yeah, just quickly, if I may say that the State
defense last year was phenomenal, and to go get those
players with your first and second pick, I think they're
total combined over ten sacks from two rookies, especially building
up that front seven with the loss of Aaron Donald
right like, they saw a firsthand how much of a
game wrecker he was. To go and address that need
immediately and fill that production and for a team that
(32:29):
typically doesn't have first round picks as well, pretty impressive.
Speaker 2 (32:32):
Yeah, it's it's been a lot of fun watching them
this year and last year. Switching off right now, the
playoffs are tight looking. I'm looking at the standings right now,
especially the NFC side. The Bucks are likely going to
(32:54):
win the NFC South just by the way that I
mean you saw last night. The Falcons are not really
a threat, barely beating the Raiders. You kind of the
Commanders in the seventh spot though, with the seventy eight
percent chance to make playoffs. The Seahawks are right behind them,
and the Falcons are right there, and the Cardinals are
all there, and you can never forget the forty nine ers.
(33:16):
Who do you think is do you think the way
that the playoffs are right now, do you think that
that's how it's gonna stay, or do you think maybe
the Rams don't find a way to get in?
Speaker 1 (33:25):
Like what do you think in terms of the playoffs?
Speaker 2 (33:27):
And even on the AFC side, you know your Chargers
in the Broncos are both right there, the Colts and Dolphins.
I know the Dolphins had a tough loss this weekend.
Even the Bengals somehow being a factor after losing a
bunch of games in a row.
Speaker 1 (33:41):
What do you think? How do you think everything was
gonna slot out?
Speaker 3 (33:44):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (33:44):
I mean looking we'll start off with the NFC. I mean,
Detroit and Philadelphia obviously locks make the playoffs. I feel
bad for the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers
playing in that tough division. But realistically, the Vikings and
Lions are tied for first in that division. That could
fall in a bunch of directions. You know, maybe the
Packers even get hot. I don't see the Vikings obviously
losing too many more games, But the Detroit Lions have
(34:06):
a lot of injuries, and you know, I think that
could be tough for them. They felt the Buffalo Bills.
They're probably just smiling. They don't have to play Josh
Allen anymore because man, he is playing some outstanding football
right now. But those three teams locks to make the
playoffs in my opinion, Although I know the Green Bay
Packers haven't quite locked it up yet, I think they'll
be there. The division that I'm very intrigued by would
(34:27):
be your Rams and the Seahawks. Yeah see West, because
correct me if I'm wrong. Those two teams play Week eighteen, right,
yes they do. That could be an absolutely massive game.
I love what the NFL has done the last couple
weeks of this season, having those divisional matchups, so Week eighteen,
there's so much that could change. That's gonna be a
lot of fun. Yeah, I would love to see the
Falcons do something like I've been on that bandwig in
(34:49):
for a little while here, just saying they've got to
figure out the offense. You can't to have Drake London,
Kyle Pitts, Bijohn Robinson and struggle in the fashion that
they do. They barely got past the Vegas Raiders. I
think it was point last night. Victory. Yeah, I don't
know what it is. Maybe it's time to move on
from Kirk Cousins, but I think for the whole we're
probably going to see this play out the way it's sitting.
(35:11):
I think the Seahawks would be the team that could
make that jump over the Commanders. Commanders played the Philadelphia
Eagles this week. That's gonna be a tough one for them.
But I would say the top six seeds in the
NFC probably probably going to stay the same. It is funny, though,
just to see two teams, the Bucks and the Rams,
eight wins. You've got little digit teams behind them in
(35:33):
the standings. But that just shows the importance to win
your division in the NFL. When it comes to the AFC, yeah,
I mean, I think the Indianapolis Colts really just shot
themselves in the foot last week. Jonathan Taylor, that's inexcusable
for a college a high school player, like you carry
the football into the end zone, give it to the ref,
dunk the basketball if you want, do whatever you have
(35:54):
to do to make sure you cross the plane, and
then within striking distance they try to run the little
double reverse they get very cute. Denver Broncos picked six.
I didn't like that. If the Colts had won that game,
their schedule upcoming is very easy, Like they would have
given themselves a really good chance to put pressure on
the Broncos and even the Chargers for maybe that final
(36:17):
wild card spot. But the way they played that one,
I just I don't know. I don't think the Dolphins
can do it either too much up and down. Then
they have hard times beating, you know, teams that have
better than five hundred records. I think McDaniel's record was
three and fifteen or something along those lines. So maybe
the Dolphins make it close. But for the Chargers, they've
got pretty I don't want to say easy. There's no
(36:39):
easy game in the NFL. It can all be tough.
But they have the Patriots and the Raiders to wrap
up their season after Thursday Night's game against the Denver Broncos.
So if I were a betting man, I would say
the playoff picks in the AFCs they used the exact same.
Potentially you get some movement between the Steelers and the Ravens.
Maybe the Ravens can leapfrog the Steelers with their only
one game back there. But I don't see anyone catching
(37:01):
the Texans. I don't see anyone catching the Chiefs, the Bills.
It looks like it's gonna be pretty much said in Stone,
and I will say I'm not looking forward to the
potential Chargers Bills Round one matchup. California teams going to
the cold weather can have trouble. I know, the Chargers
kind of fancy themselves to be a run team or
a cold weather team that plays in southern California. With
the Buffalo Bills right now just looks so good, their
(37:24):
defense a little bit leaky, with their offense finding ways
to make it work. And yeah, Josh Allen can feach
you through the air with his legs. It doesn't really matter.
We're gonna have what I think is gonna be a
you know, if it happens, one hell of a matchup
between the Chiefs and the Bills, and then on the
other side, maybe we get to you know, I was
thinking maybe Detroit in Philadelphia in the NFC Championship. But
(37:46):
count relout the Vikings either because Sam Darnold's playing good football,
distributing it very well, and if they get home field advantage,
watch out because going to Minnesota that's one of the
tougher places to play in the league.
Speaker 2 (37:56):
Yeah, I would totally agree. Starting with Josh Allen, Holy goodness,
he has been probably this is the best stretch of
football I've seen him play overall. And then Sam Darnold
as well, like just so so good. And even without
Justin Jefferson being a huge factor in some football games,
(38:19):
the Vikings still make it work. Addison has been very good,
Aaron Jones has been very good, and the defense, oh
my goodness, unbelievable. But yeah, there's some really good teams.
The Eagles also very very good. The Lions I'm having
a little bit of second thoughts about right now based
on how hurt they are, and obviously leasing David Montgomery
(38:42):
is a big loss. Losing many defensive players as well,
that could be an issue going into the playoffs for sure,
especially playing teams like the Packers and even the Rams can.
Speaker 1 (38:54):
Put up a fight, the Eagles, the Vikings.
Speaker 2 (38:56):
It's gonna be tougher than people think for them getting
to a super Bowl with these injuries that they have,
so overall, it's going to be a fun finish, especially
in Week eighteen.
Speaker 1 (39:11):
Moving on here, who do you think is the MVP?
Speaker 4 (39:17):
I mean, for me, I look at Josh Allen and
just doing what he's had to do to keep his
team in games, you know, putting up the amount of
points as he's had to the defense, which was for
a long time the strong suit in Buffalo. I mean
they lost a lot of players the last couple of
years here to free agency. I think they brought back
Mike ah Hyde this year, who said he'd only play
(39:37):
four Buffalo. He's not the player he once was. I
think he's just signed a couple of weeks ago. Lamar
Jackson's in the category he has to be. I don't
know if we'll get a Steve McNair Peyton Manning co
MVP situation that we had back in the early two thousands.
I don't know if it's gonna work out that way,
but both of those guys I think are having MVP campaigns.
Sam Darnold has to get some respect. I mean from
(39:58):
what he was able to do, you know, playing in
New York as bad as it went, kind of went
back to San Franz, you know, learned some things. I think,
you know, became a professional. Then going into the system
with Minnesota Vikings, and you touched on it. I mean,
justin Jefferson, although statistically might not put up game numbers
in every game, you have to game plan for him.
You have to have two players on eighteen in Purple,
(40:19):
otherwise he's gonna make you pay and it can just
be one play where you know your little lax and
all of a sudden he's grittying in the back of
the end zone. So yeah, I think that Sam Darnold,
I'm gonna put a little respect on his name. He's
not gonna win the MVP, but I think you should
get a little bit of consideration. It's a quarterback award,
Saikwon Barkley, You're gonna win Offensive Player of the Year,
but you're not gonna get the MVP. I think it's
(40:40):
going to go to seventeen in Buffalo.
Speaker 1 (40:43):
Yeah, I couldn't agree more.
Speaker 2 (40:44):
He has been just maybe in terms of seasons and dominance,
I don't think I've watched a better quarterback in terms
maybe Tom Brady, but in terms of who I've watched
growing up, it has been an unbelievable season for him.
He's his decision making as well, has gotten so much better.
(41:04):
Like he used to lead the league at interceptions, and
that's the one thing I noticed.
Speaker 1 (41:09):
He's so much smarter with the football and he used.
Speaker 2 (41:12):
To struggle with that massively throwing it when he doesn't
need to throwing it into double coverage. He is so
much better with the football and so much smarter, and
he can do it himself. I mean playing the ram,
three passing, touchdowns, three rushing like I have never seen
that before. So it was it's been so fun to
watch and out there every week every Sunday.
Speaker 1 (41:32):
Yeah, you know what.
Speaker 4 (41:33):
I talk with Dathlan Krueger, one of our employees here
at Sports fourteen and forty. He's a huge Bills fan,
And we were probably eight weeks into the season. I said,
how many tough throws did Josh Allen have to make
like we saw in the past, Like you said, he
might throw it up to Gabe Davis and triple coverage
or have to, you know, throw a dart to Stefan Diegs.
It seems like the coaching staff, whether it's Joe Brady,
Sean mcdermom, whoever you want to get the credit to,
(41:54):
has really schemed up good game plans where if if
he's thrown the ball like Khalil should hear sometimes so
open and he just makes the throws that he has to.
And I think a lot of that does come with
the maturity and the experience in learning to read the defenses.
There's probably nothing he hasn't seen now that he's been
in the league as long as he has, so he's he's,
like you said, he's gotten a lot smarter with the ball.
(42:15):
He's not turning the ball over and h hey, ball securities,
job security. So that's gonna be the number one attribute
for a quarterback and a good observation by you.
Speaker 1 (42:23):
Yeah, he's been unbelievable. Like I haven't watched as many
elite quarterbacks as you have, but in terms of what
I've seen, he's he's the m VP and if anyone
else wins, that eye would be shocked.
Speaker 4 (42:37):
If you want to watch a quarterback that's kind of
like painful to watch. Go watch Peyton Manning highlights. Oh yeah,
he would drain the clock. He would you know, make audible,
smooth players around, drop back five steps and then just
distribute the football. Not not as fun as Josh Allen.
Josh Allen is way more fun. But Tom Brady, Peyton
Manning in their prime. You got to get some credit
to Aaron Rodgers as well. I've seen Drew Brees. There's
(43:00):
been a lot of good ones. But Josh Allen is
doing it just as good as those guys doing in
his own way.
Speaker 1 (43:06):
Yeah, I was kind of a bit of a Peyton
Manning fan when I was younger, just because of the name,
But obviously I don't remember as much being that young. Now.
Speaker 2 (43:18):
To rookies, I mean overall, who do you think is
the best rookie and who was the steel pick kind
of out of the draft this year?
Speaker 4 (43:27):
You're talking steel picks here, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (43:29):
Steel picks and just like your favorite rookie for the future.
Speaker 4 (43:33):
Well, you know what I gotta say, There's been a
lot of rookies that I've enjoyed watching as a Homer pick.
Joe Walt has been an absolute revelation. At right tackle
for the Chargers because they had Rashaun Slater and they
brought Joe Walton and you know, he was fantastic. I
had like really high expectations for Marvin Harrison Junior with
the Cardinals and Elik Neighbors, and Elik Neighbors totally reached
(43:55):
them to start the season right like, he was very good.
Had the concussion and coming back, the quarnerback play dropped off.
You know, that's always going to be a factor for
wide receivers. Brian Thomas Junior for the Jaggs has been
someone who I've I've really been a big fan of
for what he's been able to do. Uh, you know,
And and then I would say one of the guys
(44:16):
I think he got to get a little credit to
Quinya and Mitchell. For the Philadelphia Eagles, it's Alito. I
believe he's been very good in the shutdown role. And
then you know, my my sweater is showing. But Tar
Heaps still for the Chargers, a fifth round pick out
of Maryland. He's got four interceptions, took one to the
house a couple of weeks ago. He's been very good.
So I mean the rookie class every year it holds up.
(44:37):
It's always a lot of fun boone Nicks. The way
he's come on, Oh yeah, I know, you know, coming
out of Oregon people made jokes but how long he
played college football? But that's just more stars, that's more reps.
Who cares if you're twenty three to twenty four, you
know you're drafting these guys in the first round to
play twelve, thirteen, fourteen to fifteen seasons. So who cares
(44:57):
if you know in their tenth year, if they're thirty
four or thirty two, you know they're there for a
long time. You're still getting in the prime of their career.
Joe Nick Boonix has been someone who's been really good.
So those are probably the guys for me that I've
really enjoyed watching. Jayden Daniels has been fantastic. Kylen Williams
has been flashes. I think the Bears are kind of
a mess, but he's shown us the flashes of what
(45:18):
he can do. So as as there is every year,
there's a lot of good guys that I've enjoyed watching.
Speaker 2 (45:23):
Yeah, I think the big shocker for me was bon Next.
I did not expect him to He had a rough
a rougher start in terms of play, but he really
solid it out and he got a lot better as
the season has gone along. Here, Jayden Daniels as well man,
the second overall pick in the last two years, has
(45:45):
been have have been really really good.
Speaker 1 (45:48):
As of late, hasn't been as.
Speaker 2 (45:49):
Dominant, but he's so talented in his first his first year.
Speaker 1 (45:55):
C J.
Speaker 2 (45:55):
Stroud obviously has showed a sophomore slump, so'll be interesting
to see how Jaden is next year. Especially, I assume
Washington's going to take a big step up with the
some of the players that they have. It's been cool
to see Terry McLaurin get a good quarterback and get the.
Speaker 1 (46:11):
Ball a little bit more.
Speaker 2 (46:13):
Absolutely, Yeah, you're give me your pick for your number
one disappointing team and surprising team.
Speaker 1 (46:24):
For the NFL.
Speaker 4 (46:26):
Oh disappointing team. You know we were talking about today
on Fantasy Friends. I'm just gonna scroll through the lineup
because it might be the matchup of the most disappointing
teams in the NFL this season. Uh, the Niners, Dolphins
and the San Francisco forty nine Ers. I can't put
the blame all on them, like they've had so many injuries.
Christ McCaffrey is one that ask any fantasy owner who
(46:46):
probably took him with the first overall pick. We didn't
foresee this coming. The injuries for there. Then you know,
it kind of continued Trent Williams or Field, you know,
sadly unfortunately for a few other players. Off the field.
They got players quitting on the team when Dre Greenlaw
comes back because they're not getting playing time. Huge disappointment there,
And you know, I didn't think it's me be a
(47:07):
cake walk for them in that division. The Rams, the Seahawks,
cards all pretty tough teams, but I thought we'd see
a little bit more The Miami Dolphins. Same thing, and
that's going to be obviously led by two tongue of
by Loa suffering the injury that he did. The concussions
are so scary with him, and I'm glad they didn't
rush him back. They kind of took their time. But
I thought the Dolphins for sure would be a team
that'd be a little bit more in the wildcard picture here,
(47:29):
you know, holding a spot rather than trying to battle
back and trying to get into it. Another team in Florida,
the Jacksonville Jaguars Trevor Lawrence. I mean, I've said it
for the last couple of years. I don't know what
he is. I mean, sometimes he looks fantastic. He can
look like one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL,
and then sometimes it's just not there. I don't know
if they need to make a change at the coaching
position or what it might be, but those three teams,
(47:51):
for me personally, would be the ones I'm looking at
is the most disappointing. If we're talking surprising teams. I
got to throw at the Minnesota Vikings. I mean with
a Darnold, there was a lot on a Sayers, there
was a lot of flak about what they would be
able to do, and you know, they've been fantastic. Brian
Flores to me, she probably shouldn't have lost his job
in Miami. Obviously, we know there was this stuff behind
(48:13):
the scenes and it wasn't a good scene. But Brian Flores,
what he's done to that Vikings defense, I think he's
got to be on the top of the coaching candidates
if owners trust him. And the Denver Broncos as well,
like the surprise with Bo Nixt to me, that's the
entire team. They've lost them players to injury. Alex Singleton
was kind of the heartbeat of their defense. He went
down with it. The ACL believe he finished the game
(48:34):
on that injury. The Denver Broncos are playing some really
good football and it's Sean Payton got his guy. I
don't know if bo Nick is going to turn out
to be Drew Brees two point zero, but I really
like what the Denver Broncos are building. And it pains
me to say that because if you listen to Fantasy Frenzy,
we've got a listener name and Brad And at the
start of the year we did make a bet fifty
dollars to charity who would have the better record, Chargers
(48:56):
or Broncos, And right now he's up on me. So
I'm not loving that one. But I think the NFC West,
you know, it's gonna have three tough teams, and the
Vegas Raiders could potentially be taking the top pick. Who's
it gonna be shitro Sanders cam Ward, I don't know,
but they could be building as well. So yeah, the
AFC West is gonna be tough for the next few years,
and maybe Kansas City will get some actual competition.
Speaker 2 (49:17):
Yeah, that would I think everyone would be hopeful for that.
Not many people, even just talking with my friends, no one.
No one likes the Chiefs.
Speaker 1 (49:27):
So yeah, so those are those are totally fair.
Speaker 2 (49:30):
The Vikings been so so good, and no one was
like I was so against picking Justin Jefferson fantasy.
Speaker 1 (49:38):
I'm like, well, he's got no one to throw the
ball to him. Yeah, sure enough.
Speaker 2 (49:41):
I mean, who knows if it's how their offenses run,
or if it's Sam Darnold, or if it's more Justin
Jefferson letting him make these plays.
Speaker 1 (49:52):
But I give him all the credit. He's been so
so good. And that team has been really really surprising.
The disappointment side, I mean, there's been some some tough teams,
but on the show, if I for the people listening,
you you hear me harp on the forty nine ers,
it's the team that I hate, and it's the team
that I really give a lot of crap to.
Speaker 2 (50:13):
So I it's been a disappointing year. I know they've
had their injuries, but it's just felt falling off the
rails a lot of people last year. This is the
point I make over and over gave Brock Purdy the
either system quarterback or top five quarterback, and I think
(50:34):
he's kind of proven to me that he's still has
weapons and all, Like you still have kidd On Deebo.
Diebo hasn't been as good, but you still have some
weapons and they have they still can't do anything with it.
So Purdy hasn't looked as good. They everything's fallen off
the rails for them. So that's my number one disappointment
team for sure. I had them to win the super
(50:54):
Bowl at the start of the season.
Speaker 1 (50:56):
Oh really, So yeah, as much as I dislike them,
they I don't know like what they're gonna do, how
they're gonna go from here. Deebo's contracts expiring, It'll be
interesting to see how that works.
Speaker 4 (51:08):
Yeah, I mean Deebo, I think we've seen it. I'm
not just gonna write him off for anything, but he
doesn't looked like the player he has in the past.
The injuries pile up and Brock pretty He's really interesting.
He'd be a fun case study because obviously he had
the experience and maybe didn't put up the gaudy numbers
in college, but he could make good reads. You surround
him with elite talent like this team had, you know,
(51:30):
when they're healthy with Kittle, going back to Brandon Ayuk
when he's healthy, Debo, when he's playing the way he can,
and then of course Christian McCaffrey and you know, some
animals on that offensive line. You know, it can make
you look pretty good. It's really gonna be the test
obviously how he plays down the stretch here. But yeah,
I don't know. I think it's kind of a tough
tough spot to pay Rock pretty if he's gonna lose
(51:52):
his weapons and you're paying him fifty million dollars a
year for the next whatever it might be seven years,
I mean years four or five, six, that contract might
look tough if he doesn't have that elite cast around him.
Speaker 1 (52:04):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2 (52:05):
It'll be interesting to see how they kind of pivot
from their Super Bowl aspirations this year. Part of the reason,
having all those contracts that they had to re sign
at the off season might have made some interesting like
drama around camp, and it kind of started them with
a rough start to the season. Finally, here, I know,
(52:26):
we're kind of getting to the thirty minute mark around
the super Bowl and the Stanley Cupp, Who are your
picks for both? I know Stanley Cup might be obvious,
but coming out of the East end West and the
same for the Super Bowl, NFC, AFC.
Speaker 4 (52:39):
Yeah, well we'll start with the Super Bowl here. It'll
be here a little bit quicker. I guess I'll take
the Buffalo Bills and the Minnesota Vikings. Let me go
with the Vikings here, Lions, the injury concerns are there
for me, you know, and offense can put a points.
(53:01):
They can hang around with anyone. But I really do
think that that first overall spot's going to be important,
and I think the Vikings might have a chance to
leap frog Detroit here to get that one. But wouldn't
be surprised also at Philadelphia Detroit. In that conversation from
the AFC, I'm gonna go with the Buffalo Bills. I
just think it's their year. If they go on the road,
I think they can, you know, move that ball around.
(53:22):
On the Kansas City defense, the Chiefs have won a
lot of close games. I think that they are more
beatable than they've ever been in the Andy Reid, Patrick
Mahomes kind of dynasty run that they've had. I think
they're a very beatable football team right now. So I
think this is the year the Bills can get it done,
even if they have to go to Arrowhead, which they
all likely will have to then in the NHL. Here,
(53:42):
it's a good question. Let me ask you and are
a lot of your viewers from Edmonton.
Speaker 1 (53:47):
Yes, most of them would be for sure.
Speaker 4 (53:50):
Okay, Well, then I'm going to take the Oilers to
win the Stanley Cup because I think that's a good
road to take here. Who they're going to beat? How
about the Capitals? Give me the Capitals. If they beat
the Capitals, Ovie becomes the bad guy, he praised Swayne
Gretzky's record to make him a villain at Edmonton, and
then he plays the Oilers in the Stanley Cup final.
It'd be fun to see because I don't know how
(54:11):
many people really had this coming for the Washington Capitals.
I'd like to see a run like that go on
for them. Give Ov an opportunity which just fall fall
a little bit short. Connor McDavid hoisting Lord Stanley.
Speaker 2 (54:23):
Yeah, that's I think what everyone wants to see on
this show, especially my picks.
Speaker 1 (54:28):
Super Bowl. I have to go Eagles, for sure.
Speaker 2 (54:32):
I know they're not great in the big game, but
I think they're kind of quiet, quietly playing so well.
I know they had that drama between Jalen Hurts and
AJ Brown, but I think they're figuring out they've they've
had that experience.
Speaker 1 (54:45):
I think it's their chance to go back. And then
on the other side, I can't.
Speaker 2 (54:51):
I don't want to say the Chiefs, but I'm probably
gonna have to go with the Chiefs. I think they
will find another way and we will have the Super
Bowl rematch.
Speaker 1 (55:00):
I like the Bills, I think it's their chance.
Speaker 2 (55:02):
But the Chiefs, I mean Mahomes every time they get
to the playoffs, it's just he finds a way to win,
and the way they've done it this year, they still
find ways to win. So that would be my pick
there the Stanley Cup, I might just have the rematch
from last year. I don't really know how the Panthers
don't get back.
Speaker 1 (55:21):
I mean, there was talk.
Speaker 2 (55:23):
On I was listening to a lot of sports shows today,
Sports fourteen forty mainly, and talk about kind of some
of the stamina that might affect the Panthers right to
play so well for that many seasons, right, it'll be
really interesting to see how they they can deal with
(55:44):
not having that time. You lose a lot of muscle
mass in the offseason, and I think it's gonna be
interesting to see how they they can keep healthy and
get their way back. But the East obviously isn't as
strong as the West. Looking at the West right now,
oh my goodness. So I'm looking at the ploffs and
I'm like, the oilers, you're gonna have to go through
every matchup. It's going to be a difficult one for them,
(56:06):
But I obviously want my Evanson oilers.
Speaker 1 (56:08):
I'm taking them to win it all. But yeah, thanks
for coming on today.
Speaker 2 (56:14):
It was a lot of fun having you here, and
I wanted to get you on for a little while.
Speaker 4 (56:19):
Yeah, happy to do it. I know we were talking
about over the summer and me and my wife just
moved into a new house and didn't have this setup,
and then you asked me to come on today, and
I thought, you know what, I work at a radio station.
Other than commercials coming on occasionally. During this little hit here,
it's worked out pretty smoothly. I don't know if you noticed,
but your question about the rookies in the NFL, I
had commercials playing in the headphones. Yeah I could tell
(56:41):
I was trying to focus and listen to what you
were saying. But yeah, happy to come on you anytime
you need a guest. I'm always available.
Speaker 2 (56:47):
Well, thank you, I appreciate so much. That was The
Manning Show with Connor Halley.
Speaker 1 (56:53):
Thanks for listening to The Man in Tree. You can
follow us on Twitter at the Underscore Manning Show. Can
follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Ask you and n A
ninety seven. Thanks for listening. We will be back tomorrow.
Have a good day.
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