#92Noon! 10am Hour 12/31 Ben Leber!

92Noon! Leber - Flores Talk - NDN

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
What uf Norden for pa on a New Year's Eve
mourn and joining me now weekly guest long time, whether
it's the Power Trip Mondays and Thursdays, Thursdays with nine
to noon, bumper to bumper, you hear them as well,
and like every other year during the grum and you
can see him on TV Twin Cities Live. It's it's
been Lieber on the hotline today thanks to the Why

(00:24):
do I not have it in front of me? Children's
Cancer Research Fund?

Speaker 2 (00:28):
Excuse me? How you doing?

Speaker 3 (00:29):
Liber I'm great, Nordo, and you know I was ready
just to pick up right where you stumbled on Children's
Cancer Research Fund. So it was there, Yeah, it was.
I couldn't mind it. I was, I was ready to
pull the trigger.

Speaker 1 (00:41):
Well, I'm actually glad the Children's Cancer Research Fund, whether
it's Saint Jude, your support of that in years past,
but but the Children's Cancer Research Fund just really grad
glad that you've used your platform and kind of gone
out of your way to target opportunities that exist like
those to support such a cool thing. So I don't
know why that came to mind, but now that I

(01:02):
can finally say Children's Cancer Research Fund without tripping over myself.

Speaker 2 (01:06):
Just appreciative that you promote such things.

Speaker 3 (01:10):
Well, I appreciate that, Nordo. Oh yeah, I'm thankful for
them and all that they do. And yeah, I mean
it goes without saying that it sucks that we have
to have charities like this, that cancer and children and
juveniles and you know, little kids still exist. So we'll
do everything we can to fight back and find cures.

Speaker 1 (01:30):
Indeed, yes, thank you Children's Cancer Research Fund. Now, mister
liber At, Nacho liber some vikings bits that I want
to get into with you this morning. But something I
was pondering as I was driving into work that you know,
for the most part nine to noon, I don't think
that we have given enough credit to Sam Darnold for

(01:51):
what he has done in twenty twenty five and really
winning what now twenty six games over the last two
or twenty seven games, excuse me, over the last two seasons,
and really finding himself after we remember and it hurt
that that Detroit game, the finale and the red zone
woes and everything, he's right back in the same freaking

(02:12):
spot a year later, Saturday night in the Bay at
the Niners with a chance to secure the one Seed.
Is it okay given everything that's transpired, is it okay
for me to root for I kind of want to
root for Sam Donald on Saturday Night.

Speaker 2 (02:27):
Where's your head at on that?

Speaker 3 (02:29):
Yeah? I mean the fact that the Vikings are out
of it? Why not? I mean I think everybody, we're
all football fans, So if our favorite team is not
going to be in it, you know, find an emotional
attachment that you can ride through the playoffs. And if
your guys Sam Sam Darnald, because of all the reasons
that you just mentioned, then yeah, man, I'll be rooting

(02:53):
for Seattle, like I think, I want to see him
kind of get that monkey off his back. You know.
Obviously you talk about the weight of the game and
the similarities to last year at the end of the
season and the way that he performed, and then then
the next game into the playoffs. I hope that he
goes out there and you know, dices up those Niners

(03:15):
and if they lose at least is not his fault.

Speaker 1 (03:18):
Right, And because it's just one of those things, like
you think about how we analyze our team, and we
look through it through a certain prism. J. J.

Speaker 2 (03:25):
McCarthy for instance, So we believe.

Speaker 1 (03:29):
That into twenty twenty six that we want him to
have an opportunity to learn from what he experienced this
season and be better. So why does last year and
specifically a two game stretch have to define all of
Sam Donald his previous five seasons? Where at one point,
I mean, he's the butt of a joke Sam Donald

(03:50):
was in most cases, specifically you remember charge just emotionally
melting down when we got him in free agency. How
embarrassing that was. That wasn't defining of Sam darl Arnold
when he won fourteen games for US last year? Why
do that does that two game stretch then have to
define him moving forward?

Speaker 2 (04:07):
You know what I mean?

Speaker 1 (04:07):
I mean the ability to overcome and grow from adversity
As sports fans, as you noted, I think that we
should be rooting for that.

Speaker 2 (04:16):
In fact, well okay, I agree with you, But.

Speaker 3 (04:24):
You know, some situations define players, and not every game
is the same type of game, Not every game carries
the same weight. Look at let's say Adam Vinettieri. You're right,
I mean, he's a finalist for the Pro Football Hall
of Fame. What do we know about him? Clutch kicks? Right?

(04:45):
It wasn't I don't think he really remembers his statistics
as far as like, well he was you know, he
was ninety eight percent in the regular season and then
all by the way, he also kicked all the playoffs.
Now it's it's the memorable kicks, it's the clutch kick,
it's the ones that kind of defined that organization at
that time. So, you know, we have the same kind

(05:06):
of the opposite going on with JJ McCarthy in that,
you know, we love the fact that there's this this gamer,
this natural gamer that can turn on in the fourth quarter.
He seems to rise above in big moments and and
maybe not so much in regular moments for lack of

(05:27):
a better term. So as much as I want to
like completely agree with you, I do think that those
defining moments are are what like set forth the reputation
that you have for the rest of your career and
kind of build that legacy. So unfortunately, if Sam Darnold
is one of those guys that can like kick all
the extra points but then can't make the clutch game

(05:50):
winning field goal per se, then that's gonna end up
being his legacy. So I do think that it's somewhat
fair that we are kind of looking at him under
a microscope for just a couple of games. Even though
he's he's got a catalog of a lot of other
really good games, a lot of great statistics, and a
lot of great wins the last couple of years. If

(06:11):
he can't win the big games, then that might be
something that's just too sticky to shake off.

Speaker 1 (06:16):
Yeah no, no, you're you're dead right in that regard,
and he has an opportunity to shake that off and
we'll see if he can do it.

Speaker 2 (06:24):
Saturday night. I will get back to the postseason.

Speaker 1 (06:27):
It's just a fascinating playoff grouping that we have in
front of us. Potentially want to get to that. But
in terms of our favorite team with the border, battle
around the corner, just everything that has popped over the
last few days, it's super hot. The talker of talkers,
it exists between two people, Brian Flores whether he'll stay

(06:49):
or whether he'll go, and then Harrison Smith whether he'll
stay or whether he will go. What do you think
of all this Flores steam over the last week.

Speaker 3 (07:00):
Well, I think it's expected. I mean, it doesn't shouldn't
come as a surprise to anybody that you know, We
were potentially and we potentially will lose him either to
a lateral move with other incentives, or he gets elevated
and gets a head coaching job. I mean, we were
kind of sweating this thing out last year. I think
a little bit just like oh man, like what's what's

(07:21):
gonna happen? And I think everything was just kind of
predicated on the lawsuits that he has with the NFL.
And now this year, that's doesn't seem like much of
a talking point. Now it's just like, all right, who's
going to pick him up? Who's is he going to
make a lot of remove to Dallas? Is he going
to get a head coaching job somewhere? You know? Is
he going to go back to New York and get

(07:42):
close to home with the Giants. I don't think it's
any surprise. I think he's earned it. He deserves another
chance to be a head coach. My biggest question mark
is what's the plan without him? You know? Are we
are we going to elevate somebody within and let them

(08:03):
kind of take over the B flow scheme? And because
we have the players now to run this specific scheme,
or do we go a different direction? Is there something
about the scheme that we don't like, do we pull
back a little bit, do we play a little bit
more man coverage? Do we play a little more you know,
zone cover? Like what is what is the plan going forward?
And how is our defense going to look and what

(08:23):
are our individual players going to look like in that
set scheme? So I'm almost kind of shifting my attention
into like what's next because I guess kind of feel
like Beflow's gone no matter where he goes?

Speaker 1 (08:35):
Well, what what is a lateral So kind of fleshing
that out a bit? You me and the Steam from
Dallas Florio has written a bit about it, kind of
the idea of that lateral move, and I'll admit not
to just flippantly dismiss it, but that hasn't necessarily made
sense to me. You threw in kind of the idea
lateral move would require incentives and just kind of fleshing

(08:56):
that out, if I mean, just kind of the idea
if he goes to Dallas, for instance, Shottenheimer, it's like, okay,
you could be coaching waiting, Well what about me? If
if you're Shottenheimer, You're you're instantly annoyed by that. There's
instant tension or abrasion in some respects. There just what
a lateral move? For me? That just it seems so
far fetch. Should I should I pay more attention to

(09:18):
that idea?

Speaker 3 (09:20):
Well, it doesn't make sense to me. I I wouldn't.
I would not have thought about it unless Floria wrote
about it. And yes, usually he's got he's got a
little bit of steam. But you know, I was, I
was kind of casting my gaze into all right, what's
the head coaching gig that he's going to get? Because
why why would he Everything that I understand, and not
just coming from his own mouth but just people around

(09:43):
it sounds like he really does like Minnesota. Yep, his
kids love Minnesota. His kids love the sports that they're in,
they love the associations that they're in, they love the
friends that they have, the school that they're at. So
all that being said, I don't know why he would
want to make a lateral move, and I'm not really
sure what incentives we couldn't match here with Minnesota. So

(10:08):
I didn't put much stake into it until I just
see the steam and the smoke from Florio. Then I'm like, well,
I guess we have to chew on this. I don't
know why we have to chew on this, but let's
see what this looks like. And again, if I'm a
Dallas Cowboys fan and if I'm Brian Schottenheimer, I'm like, well,
why would this guy want to come here if he's
just not going to be the coach in waiting, which

(10:29):
means that I'm a lame duck coach. So all of
a sudden, now I'm going to get undermined and undercut
from my own ownership. And then you want me to
go out there and try to lead this group of
guys when everybody feels like the writing's on the wall
that Beeflow's going to take over. Like it doesn't make
any sense to me. And I'm not even sure why
if I'm Brian Flores, Like, why would I want to

(10:50):
go into that situation? Like why would I want to
immediately step foot into a toxic situation? So I don't
know where Florio is getting this information. I don't know
what you know, what what he's heard on the street
or what, but I don't get it either. So, like
I said, I'm kind of casting my gaze more into
what head coaching vacancy is going to be out there.

Speaker 1 (11:12):
Yeah, I agree, And as I've talked with Pa about too,
I just like Pittsburgh for me has really been just
kind of that's the spot.

Speaker 2 (11:19):
I don't know why. I just I feel there's.

Speaker 1 (11:21):
A connect connectivity there where he found that safe kind
of nookie blanky after the whole Miami kerfuffle went south.
I'm just looking at Pittsburgh now to that. We had
Kevin O'Connell in studio yesterday at TCO and there's a
moment and Kevin handles any question, good, bad or ugly.
He'll he'll, he'll get He'll find his way through it,

(11:43):
and very articulate and sometimes very expanded answers from the
head coach. But I almost felt for a moment as
I was watching the coach, PA asked him a question about, uh,
you know, Harrison Smith and just kind of what do
you what do you think of this? I think is
how he framed it up, kind of basically, if if
if Flores was to go somewhere else, how maybe that

(12:03):
impacts Harrison Smith's decision. And for just a split second,
I'm looking at the coach and I almost found a
guy questioning his own mortality. Where he's thinking of these first,
Like you mentioned what the hell this defense looks like
without Flores next year, and what it might look like
without Harrison Smith. Now what from your vantage point, how
would it look without Harrison Smith? How vital has he

(12:26):
been to this operation? I mean, it's future hof Some
of that is very clear to answer, But just the
situation with Harrison moving forward really feels just as tenuous
as it is with the defensive coordinator.

Speaker 3 (12:40):
You know, in some ways, I just feel like the
life cycle of a player is a little bit more
finite and easily predictable versus what a young talented coach
sort of looks like. I mean, Brian Flores I mean
right now, probably has another twenty years of coaching if
you wants. So it's certainly not the case for Harrison Smith.

(13:01):
I don't know. I guess I don't want to if
I'm being emotional about it. From a fan standpoint, yeah,
I'd love to have Harrison be here as long as
he wants. If I'm making a business decision and I'm
in the front office, you got to start making plans
for him not to be there, And almost making plans
for him not to be there is is like not

(13:22):
just like, oh, let's find a backup here and there
to Groom, like, no, you need to find his replacement,
Like now you need to find out who that guy
is now, because as great as Harrison's been the last
couple of weeks, you know, I know he was coming
off you know, an illness type thing at the start
of the season. He's talked about, you know, kind of
getting his strength back. Took him a while to kind

(13:45):
of get that energy back and kind of get in
game shape. So you know, he's got a little bit.
He's got definitely an excuse of why he started the
season slow, but it certainly has not been the consistent
play that I think that you would expect throughout the
seven games sixteen games so far. So yeah, I don't

(14:05):
want to get the last couple of games, you know,
making that like a cloudy decision. I think that regardless
of what Harrison wants to do, I think that you
almost have to picture him not on the roster next
year and you're going out to find his replacement.

Speaker 1 (14:21):
Yeah, And it's now as part of this when as
we're celebrating what we saw the Dynamo defensive performance, and
now I'm just begging in the border battle. Let's get
number twenty two a pick so he can get into
that forty twenty club with Ronde Barber Charles Woodson. Forty picks,
twenty sacks. That'd be sweet. That's all time stuff. But
it felt like Flora is maybe acknowledging to your point.

(14:44):
Slow start combined with maybe ain't as fresh as as
the hit man used to be a lot more blitzing,
a lot more time at the line and not bailing.
It felt like Flora's maybe just kind of in the
way we're looking offensively to figure out what works with
the kid.

Speaker 2 (14:59):
QB.

Speaker 1 (15:00):
The defensive coordinator figured out what worked for number twenty two,
and it's kind of paid dividends over the last month.

Speaker 3 (15:08):
Yeah, it really has. And the thing is, in a
perfect world, you know, you'd have a healthy Josh Mattellus
and you'd have another safety out there that you could
you could really trust in the deep center of the field.
And now that we've kind of kind of rotated with
like Jay Ward and and and Jackson, but I think

(15:28):
that he definitely has figured out that if if we
need a trigger man to this defense, there's no better
player than Harrison Smith because he's so cerebral and you
understand what spends, what's going on. So he can handle
the line of scrimmage stuff, he can handle the audible stuff.
He can also you know, kind of rotate back to
that deep center field. But I think in a perfect world,
I think that you'd want to have somebody that can

(15:49):
be a little bit more trustworthy in open space. And
I definitely think that that's where in the last couple
of years Harrison's kind of struggled. Is he's just not
the same guy when he's when he's coverage, and he's
not the same guy when he's in the deep middle
of the field. So where can you best use him, Well,
at the line of scrimmage where he can make some calls,
he can blitz, he can do those things and act

(16:11):
sort of like a like a pseudo outside linebacker. That's
great that we figured that out, but I think going forward,
if you really want to make this defense hum, you
would change up who that guy is. You know, you
would have a guy at the line of scrimmage on
the other side. It's a safety that can rotate back
and forth or do whatever, not always have to have
Harrison Smith do it. Then you've really got a wild

(16:31):
card to the defense, because now you have no idea
who the trigger guy is on defense, You have no
idea the guy which guy's going to rotate back there?

Speaker 1 (16:39):
Order battle this Sunday and it's a nooner, and well,
I mean, just beat the Packers, right, become go nine
and eight? Who cares to throw records out the windows?
It could be Brosmer versus Clayton too, and just get
the w right.

Speaker 3 (16:53):
Yeah, I mean that's what it is. You know, Let's
find some let's find some storylines that we can follow,
and and let's hope that the guys show up on
both sides and they make it a competitive football game. Yeah.
I don't see any reason why we shouldn't win this game.
I mean, if they're they're gonna be resting their starters.
You know, we're gonna be playing a bulk of our starters.

(17:15):
You know, I'm a little worried. You know, I think
from a from a milestone standpoint with Justin Jefferson, I
understand that we probably want to get him a thousand yards,
But you know, there is that that factor in the
back of your mind. They're like, well at what costs?
You know, like, what are we doing here if something
something bad happens before he gets to one thousand yards.

(17:35):
So I know that it's going to be a cool
moment if he gets the thousand yards. But I also
am looking at like we've got to protect our biggest
assets on the team outside of McCarthy, and I'm not
sure that he should probably be playing in this game.

Speaker 2 (17:49):
Yeah, no, no doubt about that. So border battle.

Speaker 1 (17:52):
It may not be the most thrilling affair, but it's
a border battle. And my guy, my guy was joking
about it the other days, like I don't even know
what to do with this depth chart, Like who in the.

Speaker 2 (18:01):
Heck or the Packers is going to play here? Who
the hell are they gonna put on the field?

Speaker 1 (18:04):
I got bow Melton starting at wide out and corner.
Probably in a game like this, I mean just a
weird one. It'll be time for one or two more.
Who's your favorite team in the NFC in terms of
the playoffs.

Speaker 3 (18:24):
I would probably have to say the Rams. Yeah, I
think you know, as as we all know, it is
about the defense a lot of times that comes out
to play and are the biggest factor. And and I
hesitated because as much as it's probably an unpopular opinion.

(18:45):
If if the Eagles can figure it out, nobody wants
to see that defensive front. If that defensive front is
motivated and ready to go, I don't know if there's
a better defensive front in the league. It's just whether
or not they're going to be healthy and they're going
to be firing all cylinders and they can kind of
hold it together internally with some of the mayhem that's

(19:06):
going on behind the scenes. If they can just like
rally together, I'm a solid unit for a playoff push.
They're a tough out. I don't care what you say
about hurts, and I don't care what you say about
maybe their offensive woes. I mean, their defense is scary.
And I could say the same thing about the Rams,
and but the Rams have definitely much more of a
cohesive unit on the offensive side. So I would say

(19:28):
right now the Rams are probably going to be the
toughest out.

Speaker 1 (19:32):
Is that we were doing kind of this what if
this happened scenario. We're joking around, like Houston Texas they
got ed Ingram on the offensive line. What if he
makes some sort of game winning type block to clear
the road for a Woody Marks in a Super Bowl
and we're all just thinking, well, we used to have
that guy. That's not fair. What about Garrett Bradberry in

(19:52):
New England? You think about that? Of course, we mentioned
Darnald and what kind of emotions that might stir up
if you see him hoist in a Lombard. What if
Sean Payton and those stupid Broncos with bo Nix find
their way to the one seed and find their way
to winning the Super Bowl? I mean, right now, you know,
quarterback conversation in vogue as it should be. The top

(20:12):
two teams in the AFC have two throwers that were
in the same draft as the kid we took. We
know the Bears making a play. They have Caleb Williams,
not that may Or Williams wherever in the cards for
us from a draft perspective, But what do you think
about the AFC and the Rats nest I still think
whoever gets that home field advantage, like, good luck beating

(20:32):
the Broncos a mile high, good luck beating Vrabel at
Gillette like it kind of that's kind of how it.

Speaker 2 (20:38):
Weighs out for me.

Speaker 1 (20:39):
It's just that there's not a clear front running juggernaut
on that side of the conference.

Speaker 3 (20:47):
No, And you know, to stick with my theory on
the NFC side, I mean that's why I really like
what Houston's doing and the way that they're sort of
baking at the right moment, and you know, I defense
can carry them. Then I do think that they have
enough of an offense and if they have to play,
you know, they're they're probably have to obviously win a

(21:09):
few games on the road, which is going to be difficult.
But their defenses is better than I think New England's.
It's right there with with Denver's. And I know Denver
has an outstanding front as well. They're outside linebackers can
really get after it. But I think when you look
at all eleven players, I think I would rather take
the Texans defense. There's something about bow Knicks in that

(21:33):
offense that I just don't trust. Yet, he definitely has
a gamer to him. I think he's got the intangibles.
I don't think that he's mentally ready yet to handle
a championship run. I definitely think that Drake may is
and and I think that they're probably poised obviously if
they've got home field advantage to make a push. So

(21:55):
I'd put it between the Texans. Well, gosh, here's the
other thing. I mean, you look at the way that
Jacksonville's playing and see that's a team right there that
nobody's talking about. They will, they will perpetually fly under
the radar because of where they are and the small
media market. But if if they're you know, running those

(22:19):
you know screen games and that that short quick passing game,
and it's all they're letting their guys go out there
and make plays like they have been doing. I mean,
they can be a tough out of their defenses playing well,
and I would say that all three phases from a
team standpoint, might be the strongest of those teams I mentioned.
So it really is going to be a crapshoot in
the AFC.

Speaker 2 (22:37):
Yeah, it's crazy, man.

Speaker 1 (22:39):
Hey, thanks for all you do for nine to noon
and making a play to join Wednesday instead of of
course the holiday tomorrow. But have an awesome New Year, man,
and we'll catch up next week.

Speaker 3 (22:49):
So yeah you too. Man. You guys gonna do any
celebrating tonight.

Speaker 1 (22:53):
I mean, I got I got kids and stuff, and
it's yeah, we will, we will. We're gonna get the
neighbors together, that's what we do with with young kids
is let the kids run around, tear the bleep out
of somebody's house, and we just we sip on some
scotch and ring in the new year.

Speaker 3 (23:07):
I love it. You're doing eleven o'clock or the midnight.

Speaker 1 (23:10):
Oh, I'm making the kids stay up until midnight. They've
been talking a bit for you. They've been talking a
big game for two weeks. They fell asleep at ten
o'clock last year. So step it up, ladies. You're ten
years old. If you're going to brag about it, you're
gonna be You're gonna bring this bravado.

Speaker 2 (23:25):
Let's see it happen, and that that'll it'll turn.

Speaker 1 (23:28):
It'll turn tomorrow into a mess because they're just gonna
be in awful moods.

Speaker 2 (23:31):
But we're gonna we're gonna try and make it happen tonight.

Speaker 3 (23:34):
I love it. So you're basically telling your girls, like,
if you're going to talk about it, be about it.

Speaker 2 (23:38):
Absolutely. Yes, that's correct.

Speaker 3 (23:44):
I love the pep talk. I have a great night.
Happy New Year.

Speaker 2 (23:47):
Yeah, Happy New Year man.

Speaker 1 (23:48):
That's Ben Lieber. That's Ben Lieber, weekly guest nine to noon.
Thanks to his support of children's cancer research, Fund Weekly
guest nine to noon. And as he said it, whether
it's a it's just a complete rats nest in the AFC,
the rams, I mean kind of pick your flavor in
terms of how the NFC West is going to find
its way, and the story will be told in large part.

(24:09):
I mean, if you have to go through Seattle to
get to the Super Bowl, good luck, and if you
have to go through the Bay, good luck. Despite I mean,
they just can't find I mean, they can't find a
pass rusher to save their lives as injured as.

Speaker 2 (24:23):
The Niners have been. But Shanny still does his thing.

Speaker 1 (24:26):
How about Shanahan and the work he and Robert Sala
have done with that group considering all the injury problems
they've had through twenty twenty five. But fun conversations with Lieber,
and we're going to continue. I get some texts and
such that we'll dig into some news to finish the hour,
and then Lavelli Neil third will be in studio at
the top. It's order went for Pa on a New

(24:48):
Year's Eve, more and Brett Blake Moore by my side
and more conversation next on the Fan.

Speaker 4 (25:47):
You're Lien inteen ninety eight.

Speaker 1 (25:58):
Nort went for p A Happy New Year's Eve to
all of you. Awesome holiday upon you. I hope you
know there's always like have a safe one. Well, yeah,
of course, please be saved, have fun. We were talking
about it last segment Brian Flores some Flores fodder, and

(26:19):
I had mentioned it and I found the audio from
X's and O's with head coach Kevin O'Connell and where
I found the coach. I'm sitting there in studio as
I always do, and I basically this is on radio,
so I'll describe it as much as I can. This
is more for Brett than you the listener, so I apologize.
But in the TCO Studios studio, I have to kind

(26:43):
of sit back, basically up against the wall to stay
out of the camera view.

Speaker 2 (26:49):
They have about seven cameras in there right now.

Speaker 1 (26:51):
I mean, I've never been to like a high end
television studio, but it kind of feels like they have that.

Speaker 2 (27:00):
They have like these like six.

Speaker 1 (27:01):
Or seven four K cameras in there, and they're getting
at you from every angle, and so I got to
hide up against the wall like I'm a catburg, where
I just got to stay out of view.

Speaker 2 (27:10):
Here, it's like your mission impossible.

Speaker 5 (27:12):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (27:13):
So but I get to I'm in the room and
I'm watching it unfold, and this is the moment where
I'm just kind of and I mentioned it to lead,
like I felt like the head coach was kind of
questioning his own mortality in terms of what the twenty
twenty sixth edition of The Vikings might look like without
either the defensive coordinator or Harrison Smith.

Speaker 2 (27:35):
What do you think of this?

Speaker 6 (27:36):
Because when I or others talk to Harrison Smith there
there's a side of it where he's like, this individual
defense that I'm in mentally stimulating puts me in a
good spot, and it's good.

Speaker 2 (27:51):
So, now, can you take.

Speaker 6 (27:52):
The Harrison Smith forward thinking conversation and kind of tie
it to what's next for Flores, whether it's here or
somewhere else in regards to like like say Brian, Say
Brian goes somewhere else. Yeah, well then that may elevate
the chances Harrison doesn't come back.

Speaker 7 (28:08):
Well, first of all, I'd not like to think like that, Pa,
But second of all, what's been what I would say
here is you know, I do think what has been
built here, especially.

Speaker 1 (28:21):
He goes on with he goes on with a longer
let me see here, there we go. He goes on
with a longer answer, a typical Kevin O'Connell answer, and uh,
and actually does not in the end, I'll admit it.

Speaker 2 (28:35):
I'll admit it. Here you can listen to it podcast.

Speaker 1 (28:37):
He really never comes back to the concept of those
two being linked. But again, I he's thinking about it
the way that you are thinking about it, as as
Rubes as fans. I'm a rube, I'm a fan. I'm
thinking about it.

Speaker 2 (28:52):
Anything that we're.

Speaker 1 (28:53):
Thinking about the coach has probably thought about, and especially
this particular coach who appears to spend most of his
existence thinking about everything from every angle. But I was
watching there again, pressed up against the wall, can't get
in the camera angle, you never know which one ve
end's using, so you know, the heavy producer needs to stay,

(29:14):
has to get small and get out of the way.
But watching him kind of question his own mortality a bit.
And I think, you know, the PA hit the nail
on the head with that particular question in the vein
that I think that it is truly linked and it's
not something I mean, we can talk about just even
a year ago. Kind of the idea of whether you're

(29:35):
getting quotes from Smith himself just how much he's really
loved playing in this defense and really bringing out Not
that I don't think he ever lost the love for
the game, but you kind of hear once in a
while where a player is like I kind of rediscovered
just how joyful it is to be blessed with the
ability to play in this league. And I think a

(29:56):
big part of that has been his connection to Brian Flores. Now,
I don't think the Vikings are thinking, well, we need
to bring Brian Flores back, and that Harrison Smith returning
as part.

Speaker 2 (30:09):
Of that is is the top of the list.

Speaker 1 (30:12):
I think the head coaches thinking or the team's thinking,
and the head coach is thinking, we need to bring
Brian Flores back, because my goodness, what the hell does
this thing look like without the defensive coordinator and without
your potential Hall of Fame safety in there.

Speaker 2 (30:30):
And I received some texts. I got this from Kyle
and Santy.

Speaker 1 (30:34):
Any confidence in THEO Jackson at safety I feel and
this is Kyle saying, I feel like he didn't have
any impactful plays all season, and for the most part,
Kyle and anybody that I would have to agree. And
you know, you wonder again the coach is thinking and
doing the mental machinations in that conversation with PA and

(30:54):
probably having more vocal and direct conversations in some office
at TCOH what this thing looks like when you pull
twenty two out of the mix. I've joked about him
many times. Flores has gone out of his way? Did
it early on? Maybe twenty late? Was it late twenty
twenty two? No, it wasn't that. That was Donnatel twenty
twenty three. I should say where it's like, I want

(31:16):
to bring I want to bring Harrison Smith to the sideline,
and I want to keep some tread on the tires.
But I can't. Flores blatantly said that I can't. And
that's how important he is to what Flores wants to accomplish.
So the combination of the inability you heard it with Lieber.
If we're going to move on, you got to find

(31:36):
his replacement now, right for Harrison Smith, THEO Jackson's not
his replacement. Jay Ward actually enjoyed some of Jay Ward's
play this year, and specifically more recently bringing him in.
You saw him playing outside really as a corner outside
tackling has been for this defense over the course of

(31:56):
twenty twenty five at large has been an issue at times.
Jay Ward good tackler, Tavi or Thomas not a replacement
for number twenty two.

Speaker 2 (32:06):
But you all know that.

Speaker 1 (32:09):
And so whether it's it's drafting, whether it's identifying a
replacement via free agency, they just haven't been able to
do that.

Speaker 2 (32:17):
And so.

Speaker 1 (32:19):
You're in a spot now, are you judging Harrison based
on his quality of play or are you judging Harrison
Smith on just well, it ain't like it used to be,
but it's still the best we got And maybe maybe
the answer lies somewhere in the middle. But to that point,
Harrison Smith, if we're going to start going a la

(32:41):
carte here year by year, then I believe and I
think that it's it's absolutely true that if he comes back,
it will not only but almost only an important part
of that will be because Brian Flores is indeed your
defensive coordinator.

Speaker 2 (33:00):
Now talking with with Lieber about that a bit.

Speaker 1 (33:02):
Last segment, as the coach again, question is what is
this defense going to look like without?

Speaker 2 (33:10):
Without him in the mix?

Speaker 1 (33:12):
The lateral move idea to me, I can't call it
preposterous because the moment I call it preposterous is the
moment that Flores makes a lateral move. But I mostly
think that it's preposterous. And whatever those incentives are, and
and and and and that's all in combination.

Speaker 2 (33:30):
Again.

Speaker 1 (33:30):
Now let's we're we're making the assumption that that Brian
Flores absolutely truly does need and want another opportunity coaching
head coaching in the NFL and everything that goes around
with that. Right now, he gets to focus on the defense.
That is that is his job. He does it at
a super high level, which is why it's such a
hot talker. Does he want to become the head coach

(33:53):
where now he is having meetings, he is having many
more press opportunities.

Speaker 2 (34:00):
He does pa mentioned some of that, I believe yesterday.

Speaker 1 (34:02):
That's an interesting part of this in terms of the
schedule and the workload and everything that goes around with it.
This is after the bad taste left in mouths across
the board leaving Miami during his tenure. But if he's
going to be picky about the opportunities, let's just take
the lateral thing. Not interested in that at the moment,
But what are the opportunities that he's going to potentially

(34:24):
have in twenty twenty six. In terms of head coaching jobs,
right now, there's only two coaches that have been already.
Let go Dable with the Giants, he's gone. I think
it's Mike Kafka that's the interim, And then I'm totally
losing it was a Callahan. I think it was Callahan
that was fired. It's the Titans coach was fired. And

(34:44):
I forget the name of the interim right now. But
those are the only two spots in which we know
we'll be seeking new head coaches. Okay, Giants, Well, he
got Dart, he got Scataboo. I think there's an expiration
date on that. With the way Dark plays, Skataboo just
doesn't strike me as a guy that's going to have
a fifteen year career.

Speaker 2 (35:03):
Yes, Brett, we.

Speaker 5 (35:06):
May have a starting quarterback against the Vikings.

Speaker 1 (35:10):
Thought, I thought you were going to tell me that
Brian Flores. There's a rumor about him making a lateral move.
So this just broke.

Speaker 5 (35:16):
Okay, Desmond Ritter is signing with the Green Bay Packers
practice squad and may play something against your purfle.

Speaker 1 (35:26):
Yeah, who's inside information. Yeah, that's why they're saying about it.
That's why we got Ben Simms back from the pack
who actually the Packers took at one point because he
played for the Vikings.

Speaker 2 (35:37):
It's all, you know, he just he's.

Speaker 1 (35:39):
Looking for xerox copies of the playbook, typical border battle stuff.

Speaker 2 (35:43):
Desmond Ritter signing he probably was it likely the starter
was I just was I just being dumb?

Speaker 1 (35:50):
Then Bretton and just assuming that definitely no love, definitely
no willis. So it was Clayton Tune and then would
Rider be signed now potentially as a backup on game
data Clayton Tune?

Speaker 5 (36:04):
I mean I read this. I mean I guess how
long does it take to understand the offense? And does
it matter?

Speaker 2 (36:10):
You're the disease Packers fan here?

Speaker 1 (36:12):
Yeah, I think he's coming in as a backup to Tune, right,
he could be, or what if he has the subtrifuge
ready to go and he just plays.

Speaker 5 (36:22):
Either way, it's not gonna be good for the Green
and Gold. Is there's not a winning formula between those
two quarterbacks, I don't think.

Speaker 1 (36:29):
Yeah, Desmond Desmond Ridder now a member of the Green
and Gold Watch out see and if PA is listening,
to this. I don't know what what his schedule is today.
Maybe add Desmond Ridder to the depth chart. I don't
need to tell him how to do his depth chart.
But but that's what we're that's that's what this has
come to. Desmond Ridder, Clayton, Tune Bow Melton. What a

(36:49):
season for both teams really, But yes, just just that
the Flora is fodder and it's it's not fun to
talk about the idea of him leaving. I just as
I look at it, whether it's it's the Giants and
you know, I have dual car they have a little
bit of piece, a few pieces there defensively that that
they have to work with Dexter Lawrence is showing his age.

(37:12):
That just doesn't strike me as being a spot, especially
considering by the way the Giants. The Giants were the
team that hired Brian Dabole, and Bill Belichick, who knew
about it on the on the on the sly was
the one that texted Brian Flores congratulating him on a
job that he actually.

Speaker 2 (37:33):
Never had the opportunity for. So that doesn't make sense.
I saw this.

Speaker 1 (37:36):
I'm working off this, uh this list from mid month
because we all secretly love lists, even though lists are boring,
but just kind of in terms of potential openings. And
they put together eight of them. So I don't think
either the Giants or the Titans are enticing enough for
Flores to leave the Falcons.

Speaker 2 (37:56):
You got the Falcons, Now what do you do? Aging Kirk?
You got with the third knee.

Speaker 1 (38:01):
But that defense, they get some cool There's some Caden Ellis,
I think that's his name, Cayden Ellis on the on
the Falcons, who is just a freaking tackling machine, has
like the most tackles over the last two years as
he has made himself one of the absolute studs on
that defensive unit for the Falcons. Pierce, I believe is
a rookie. There's another rookie. I think they took two.

(38:24):
But they have some young pieces there. They got Jean,
they got Bijeon, but I don't know about that they
put on this list. Though the Dolphins potentially an opportunity,
there's something that tells me that the Dolphins won't be
in the mix in terms of a Brian Flores coaching job.

Speaker 2 (38:40):
The Raiders raider tons of.

Speaker 1 (38:41):
Money, but if he's looking for stable organizations, the Raiders. Okay,
what else do we have here? Oh the Browns? Oh yeah,
stable organizations. Let's go to the shores of Lake Erie.
Try to figure out what the hell's going on there.
And that's if, by the way, they move on from
a two time head coach of the Year, and maybe
that is potentially nearing its end.

Speaker 2 (39:02):
Not that I don't think.

Speaker 1 (39:04):
I think Stefanski's done everything he could with what they've
put in front of him, But they still have a
year at Deshaun Watson on the cap, Shude or Sanders.
I root for him the same way I root for
any young QB to figure it out. Hasn't been any
good injuries Galore, Miles Garrett, though maybe Flores would do
it for Miles Garrett.

Speaker 2 (39:22):
The cards cards have fallen apart. They got young pieces.

Speaker 1 (39:26):
Offensively, you got the Kyler conundrum and he's signed for multiply.
That feels like a trade opportunity there. But who's going
to take him and what's that going to look like?
They got to figure that out. That's a little bit
in turmoil. I saw this on the list the Bengals.
Could they be bored with Zach Taylor? They got a
ton of cash, They got one hundred million in cap
space next year, so the chance to build something there,

(39:47):
Maybe there's potential there.

Speaker 2 (39:48):
You got Burrow and Chase, et cetera.

Speaker 5 (39:49):
Their defense could certainly get better.

Speaker 1 (39:51):
Their defense needs to improve vastly, and Flores, I think
would would certainly play a part in that. So I
mean those are I guess you know again in the
in terms of mid December, boring lists of potential coaching
vacancies that may exist, and if I'm missing one that's
just obvious in your head, like this place is absolutely
going to be a spot where he could go. You

(40:12):
can tell me that's fine, six four, six eighty six.
I don't see it. I still, just as I mentioned
with Lieber, I think Pittsburgh's the spot. Pittsburgh's the spot.
I always felt it was going to be a baton
toss and it didn't work that way. He comes here
as a defensive coordinator, Tomlin. I think signs a new
three year deal. But I just the pickiness of it here.
He loves it in Minnesota, but the pickiness of it.

(40:33):
If there is going to be a second head coaching job,
I think Flores is more than patient to wait for
that thing to fit wait for it to be right.
Not the chaos of Dallas, not the chaos as some
of those bad teams I mentioned, but an organization like Pittsburgh,
and if it's going to happen, I just think that
would be the spot to watch.

Speaker 2 (40:53):
And I just don't think that's going to happen this offseason.

Speaker 1 (40:56):
So that's Flores Fodder from the producer's angle, and we're
going to continue. I mean, we got what two weeks
and then the contracts up. But moves are being made
and conversations are being had at high levels, I'm sure,
and we'll get some finality on this, hopefully sooner than later.
Don't want to be sweating this into, you know, the
end of January February, trying to continue in to have

(41:19):
Flores Fodder on a day to day basis. Maybe we
get a sponsor and it's a daily segment, but I
hope he just re ups and we don't have to
have this conversation and then maybe hit Man comes back.
We draft to Safety in April and everyone's feeling fine,
We're gonna pause. News is next level. At the top
of the hour, it's nor to win for PA nine
to noon. Yes, Robbie yes, Robbie, it is a dog

(41:48):
and pony show. That response, by the way, is to
a text message that sadly does not include you. Then
to noon listeners, I apologize, but welcome back. That's so dumb,
little little on air production meeting of just some of
the weird conversations that I find myself in with some

(42:08):
of my friends. News Denord's brought to you by the
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Speaker 2 (42:21):
You're having SIPs at Chips.

Speaker 1 (42:23):
The live racing season is going to kick off again
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it too. Canterbury Park dot com. Speaking of text messages,
out of the six four six eight six, Brad Shawn
Bryant text line other than Flores, any potential changes in
coaching staff and to another text as well, just kind.

Speaker 2 (42:46):
Of you know, I don't under this was let me
see here, Nordo.

Speaker 1 (42:49):
I don't understand why people are generally confused about the
Flores situation. If he gets ahead coaching job he wants,
he's gone. If not, the Vikings will pay him. He's
not going to do a lateral. I I agree with you,
but but there's just there's a hotness to it.

Speaker 2 (43:01):
There's just kind of I don't know, fear is probably
the wrong word.

Speaker 1 (43:07):
But again, the idea of what this thing looks like
without him in the mix, I just think it bears
some conversation.

Speaker 2 (43:12):
And that's why I went through that awful list.

Speaker 1 (43:15):
Is there are not from my standpoint, Eleit, opportunities for
Flores at this particular stage. And I still point to
Pittsburgh as the one spot. So I agree with you
in that text. But to Craig's question, any other changes
in coaching staffs, in the coaching staff at large, potentially,
I don't know. I have no idea, no inside steam.

(43:38):
It's not like I'm texting with the head coach. I
do get the chance to interact with people and just
kind of put put dots together. Might you say it
feels like in a non playoff year, it feels like
there will be heavy discussion in the offseason in terms of,
you know, the way we framed it up late at
where did we go wrong? The dev and DuVernay the

(44:00):
special teams related issues. If you think about that, the
twenty some O line combinations.

Speaker 2 (44:05):
Is the O line good enough? Certainly invested in it.

Speaker 1 (44:09):
And that's where at the end of the border battle,
there's going to be a cool off and exit meetings
and people are going to clean out locker rooms. We'll
get final audio bits from some of our favorite players and.

Speaker 2 (44:20):
Then they just kind of disappear into the mist for
a while.

Speaker 1 (44:24):
But the coaches are going to go back to work
and the big wigs down at TCO are going to
get together and start asking those questions, where did we
go wrong? So we loved the idea of bolstering the
offensive line. Did we make the right decisions? We loved
the idea of bolstering the defensive front. Did we make
the right decisions? We loved the game planning into the draft.
Did we select the right players and so? And I

(44:47):
think there's a lot of discussion to be had with
some of those decisions. We loved the ascension of the
kid QB. To the degree that we went the path
we did. We decided I did that bolstering that offensive line,
bolstering that defensive front, and building around the kid was
more important potentially than finding financial answers to bringing a

(45:10):
more veteran presence in at the QB spot. We loved
that idea. Was it the right decision? So the idea
versus the execution and then kind of the idea and
you think about it in from the fan mindset, a
fair number of you want accountability, right the team didn't

(45:31):
make the playoffs.

Speaker 2 (45:33):
Head's got a role? Well do they? That bears conversation.

Speaker 1 (45:37):
That's that's what they're talking about, or we'll be talking
about and which heads And so I can't I can't,
I can't peg a spot right now specifically that says
this just has to this has to go. I've never
I guess I've never really gone down that road in
any vein anyway. But I just think about certain parts

(45:59):
of this the massive, the massive injuries, the depth at
certain positions, are inability to recover from those injuries, uh,
the the inadequacy at certain spots, gaffes and things.

Speaker 2 (46:13):
Uh, there's a lot that needs to be reviewed.

Speaker 1 (46:16):
And it's it's crazy to speak that way in some
ways because this is still a team that, with myriad issues,
are on the verge of finding their way to nine
and eight. I mean some low rated opponents down the
stretch here, helping to maybe pad the stats a bit,
but all the same, uh, the win loss record being
where it is, given where we came from. Wow, what

(46:38):
a year. Leavell's going to join us next segment. But
the reason that that I went down that road is well,
Leavell texted me and told me, hey, roads are a
little slick, underestimated traffic.

Speaker 5 (46:49):
So let's do some news with Brett blakemore. What do
you got, Brett, Well, a couple of things on your monologue. One,
we're team accountability here, we're team accountability. You and me
your team accountability.

Speaker 1 (46:59):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (46:59):
Also the Dog and Pony Show.

Speaker 5 (47:01):
I think they should hold that maybe in Long Island
somewhere in the New York area. That would be my guest.
All right, let's go number start here.

Speaker 6 (47:10):
Right curly, the Michigan State Spartan gives it over, gets
it back, left side circle.

Speaker 2 (47:16):
Back side, star sellers on par and it's six to
four t USA.

Speaker 1 (47:26):
That was a great highlight because you got all a
Halvey yes, in the entire thing where it started out.
It's like, okay, we got a little rip Van Helvey here. Okay,
he's just a little sleepy. Oh and then he comes
to live.

Speaker 2 (47:38):
He comes to live the Michigan State Spartan all right.

Speaker 1 (47:41):
So there's that, and then it crescendos in the absolute
perfect spot.

Speaker 2 (47:46):
He did. He did a great job.

Speaker 1 (47:48):
That the work that that Halvey and uh and Mark
Parrish have done. And I just heard that the one
game that was I believe Silakia the six' five affair,
Awesome so props to, them kudos to them as part
of The World. Juniors and and what's going on? There
what was your, Question, Brett, well the question is it's
more of just a statement To americans In sweden Rights American.

Speaker 5 (48:10):
Sweden you'll hear it right Here Zach, Hallferson Alexis pearson
on the call. Today but it's a big Gall, yes
it's a it's a big game because it's basically The
GROUP a or THE Usa group title, game And canada
later today also has their group winning game Against. Finland
now my understanding, is and IF i have this, wrong

(48:31):
and we'll correct it AND i get to play The
covenant cleanup.

Speaker 2 (48:33):
Button but for.

Speaker 5 (48:35):
My understanding, is IF us And canada both win their,
groups they cannot play each other until the gold medal,
game which is something everybody. Wants if they one of
them wins and one of them, loses then they can
play each other in the, Semis so that would kind of.
Stink it'd still be fun to go to that. GAME
i want to go whenever they Play, canada hopefully that
happens at some, point hopefully in the gold medal. Game

(48:56):
but it's a big day for the tournament as a,
whole with THE us And, sweden which you'll hear right
here on the, fan and Then Canada finland later today
at three M.

Speaker 1 (49:05):
So if both if Both canada and THE us, win
that would put them on that, trajectory then y they
what you're, saying it would.

Speaker 5 (49:12):
Keep them away from each other until the gold medal. Game,
correct that's my. Understanding, okay, cool well THEN i IF
i THEN i.

Speaker 2 (49:19):
AGREE i.

Speaker 5 (49:20):
Guess, okay it's not really, questions just it's a big,
day awesome, news do or no looking forward to.

Speaker 2 (49:25):
It we mentioned.

Speaker 1 (49:25):
It it Is World juniors M n two six dot.
Com all remaining. Games you can actually get individual tickets
versus buying the. Sessions for those of you that were
apt on the whatever the pre sale side was in,
advance et. Cetera you can get the individual game tickets,
Themselves World juniors M n two six dot. Com and

(49:51):
even if you don't get into a game With, america
what about Watching canada to do their thing and some
of these performances you're getting to see At Grand Casino.

Speaker 2 (49:59):
ARENA i think it's worth. It and people are showing
out and that's.

Speaker 1 (50:02):
Cool and then if it IS Us canada in the
final in the gold medal, game they're going TO i
believe they haven't opened to sales opportunities for The Upper
bowl quite, yet so you have the opportunity maybe to
get in. Usv canada for the Gold that would be.
Sweet and that's happening right here in, town right In Saint.
Paul that's.

Speaker 4 (50:22):
Awesome number two more hockey in the left wing. Quarter
they Go tarasenko wrestled down By Cola. Sara the final
seconds tick down The Minnesota wild two and oher to
start the road trip.

Speaker 2 (50:33):
They built The Golden knights In.

Speaker 4 (50:34):
Vegas they get the first spy and they win at five.

Speaker 5 (50:38):
TOO i think it may be the most convincing. Win,
yeah it was nice to beat The Lance Black, friday
but the most, convincing just smacking a team around win
since The Quinn hughes. Trade they just dominate a team
who has traditionally been a problem for The wild in
The Vegas Golden. Knights now they get to go to
The Shark tank to play A sharks team that's well, Like,

(50:59):
OKAY i guess you'll hear that extended Pregame Wild, weekly
but a Live Wild weekly Me Kevin, Falness joe And
tom from a booth that's at. Two we go here
right here on the fan puck drop at three In San.

Speaker 2 (51:12):
Jose, yeah they should get the.

Speaker 1 (51:14):
Win AND i, mean if it's every Other gus was
was tremendous most, Recently does he get the net again
since he got a couple of days in?

Speaker 2 (51:22):
Between or will it be? Uh will it be?

Speaker 3 (51:24):
Yes? Sir?

Speaker 2 (51:25):
Yes burr as in The wall Of Saint, paul Mister.
Valstett you know.

Speaker 1 (51:30):
The, Convincing, YES i would SAY i would agree with
you that it's. Convincing not the most, thrilling but the most. Convincing, Now,
fondness you Heard faldness in here trying to pour water all. Over,
well they're they're beating up, hey hold on the. Dot
they don't have anybody playing for him right, now and

(51:52):
The Golden knights are are struggling from a health, standpoint wet.

Speaker 5 (51:55):
Blanket, Fallness i've always.

Speaker 1 (51:56):
Said and they're they're going to find a way to
get a guy on ir and then he's going to
bounce back for the playoffs and so they won't have
to count him against the cap and they're they're gonna
they're gonna operate in. Hijinks nobody's counting out The Golden,
knights at least they shouldn't.

Speaker 2 (52:10):
Be but, uh but, NO i would, Agree, yeah.

Speaker 1 (52:13):
Convincing or, dominating that's probably the most dominating performance since
they Got Quinn. Hughes and you, know, sadly you, know
that's just a couple of games from removed from a
tough el to the. Preds uh that. Tough, UH i
mean you want to talk about being. Dominated THE abs
just rolled in here and just, said, okay, Yeah Black,
friday that was cute and we lost and it was
a fun game and it came down to the wire

(52:34):
and you best at us.

Speaker 2 (52:35):
Or it's gonna roll in and remind you what we
have and, uh and they did. That.

Speaker 1 (52:39):
Uh it's it's crazy how this this division or maybe
it's not. Crazy can you tell me if it's? Crazy
just kind of the separation man fighting the voice on
A New Year's eve. Here, uh it's kind of, crazy
the separation you've started to see within the. Division so you,
know as good as The wild have, been and they're

(53:01):
still staring up at both The Dallas stars and everyone's
staring up At, colorado but then you have to dig
in here a little. Bit The wild at fifty four,
POINTS i think the Next Central division team would be
The Utah mammoth with thirty, Nine so you've already staked
a fifteen point lead in your own.

Speaker 2 (53:20):
Division AND i just.

Speaker 1 (53:22):
Thought, utah it sounded like they're kind of on the.
Come you just kind of appreciate maybe What nashville has
and what they potentially could, do although maybe in the
end they're going to be a middling. Team blues again right,
there similar, conversation battling operation as they always, are but
maybe not going to get over the. Hump but you

(53:43):
just look like and then The jets are just the
dredge of the of The Western conference right, Now LIKE i,
mean we kind of have a hideous division and you
have the three top End, juggernauts which is probably, frustrating
which is why would.

Speaker 5 (53:58):
We Be let me see, Here it's kind of like
THE sec when WHEN i was growing up and in high,
school where you have like the two or three just,
powerhouses and you Have, vanderbilt yeah In, kentucky and then
just the sledge just the.

Speaker 2 (54:09):
Walkovers so AM i.

Speaker 1 (54:12):
Correct that if we would go back to AND i
don't remember when exactly they went to kind of.

Speaker 2 (54:19):
Focus we want to create rivalries in the.

Speaker 1 (54:21):
Playoffs we want, them and maybe it's a decade ago,
now maybe it's.

Speaker 2 (54:25):
A little longer than. That i'm not.

Speaker 1 (54:26):
Sure but if we went back to the typical one to, eight, Yeah,
aves let me See avs obviously the One, stars Two wild,
THREE i mean, Yeah, Oilers, knights And ducks would then be,
four five and, six so we would get The ducks
home ice advantage first, round, okay and then The avs

(54:49):
would be hosting The, Sharks stars hosting The, Kings we
host The, ducks oil And.

Speaker 2 (54:55):
Knights they kind of had a pre. Series they had
a fun series this last, spring didn't.

Speaker 5 (54:59):
They, Yeah, yeah we need at some point they, did,
yeah and it would make a great. Series, again we.

Speaker 1 (55:05):
Need to go back to the one. Eight is that
a hot talker in? Hockey it is a, talker and
it's it's been. SAID i, mean think about it this.
Way in the league standings the ENTIRE, nhl It's, Colorado,
Dallas minnesota one two. Three so the third place team
in the ENTIRE nhl does not have home ice advantage
in the first. Round we'd have to go to go To. Dallas,

(55:27):
yeah it makes no sense at. All how does the
how does THE nhl not see? THIS i feel like
When betman makes a. DECISION i, mean how long did
The coyotes stay in a college? Rink you, know two
or three years before they're, like all, right, fine we've.

Speaker 2 (55:44):
Got a good old.

Speaker 5 (55:44):
Mullet yeah.

Speaker 2 (55:45):
Exactly was that where you.

Speaker 1 (55:46):
Got That arizona state jacket that you're wearing right around that?
Area so you visited to you visited MULLET i have
when you went To. Arizona, yeah good for.

Speaker 2 (55:55):
You and forks.

Speaker 5 (55:56):
Up we love. That it's great rink for the sun
devil that shaves his head with a perfect spot for. You,
oh it's the.

Speaker 1 (56:03):
Best we need to go back to one, eight all,
RIGHT i used to NOT I i don't need to. Have,
oh it's so cool that we have this division matchup
in the.

Speaker 2 (56:13):
Playoffs, no it's not.

Speaker 1 (56:14):
Cool one of the three best teams in THE nhl
is going home in the first.

Speaker 2 (56:19):
Round, no that's.

Speaker 1 (56:20):
Unacceptable all, right anything, else you got one more and
then we'll.

Speaker 2 (56:24):
Break we can do a Little wolves.

Speaker 5 (56:26):
Talk they get The hawks today to Face Trent tucker's
number one target for The, Wolves Tray. Young that's at
two o'clock AND i believe it's on The wolves channel
on the iHeartRadio. App they had an embarrassing performance at
home not Last saturday against The, nets where they just
didn't show up at. All then they went To chicago

(56:47):
with The prince uniforms and beat around The bulls one thirty,
six one oh. One so hopefully that continues on the
road trip In.

Speaker 1 (56:53):
Atlanta, yeah you get to See Nikhil Alexander walker as well,
today Former, timberwolf SOMEBODY i think the team, IS i
mean just missing dearly right. Now and then just by
by nature of the cap and we got second apron
here and tax liabilities, there you couldn't afford to keep.

Speaker 2 (57:11):
Them but but he's earning his paycheck down In.

Speaker 1 (57:13):
Atlanta he's been very remarkable and terrific through his first
so many games with The.

Speaker 2 (57:19):
Hawks so that's gonna be.

Speaker 1 (57:21):
Cool you, Mentioned, well see now that we were talking, Earlier,
Trent Trent tucker Likes Trey, young Wants Trey young.

Speaker 2 (57:27):
Los A, yes.

Speaker 5 (57:31):
Professor of puck.

Speaker 2 (57:31):
Ology well, no.

Speaker 1 (57:32):
But that's the that's the problem is If Trent tucker
Loves Trey young on this, team then my opinion is
wrong because my, idea the idea is ball dominant guard
with what we do here With Aunt, julius et. Cetera,
LIKE i think that's potentially a. Problem But trent likes,

(57:55):
him all, Right, well we got to Get Trey.

Speaker 2 (57:58):
Young that's. It that's. It the professor who Abought.

Speaker 1 (58:01):
NO i JUST i Adore trent AND i appreciate Maybe
i'm seeing it the wrong. WAY i got to talk
To trent about. This i'm gonna text him about. It
and what we're gonna do is we're gonna, pause And
i'm going to find some water and, uh let's heal
up the voice a bit over the next three four,
minutes and then we're gonna kick off the final.

Speaker 2 (58:17):
Hour chat Dem, bears, CHAT nfl.

Speaker 1 (58:20):
Chat all kinds of things with leavell see how he's
doing as we roll into the eleven am hour of
A New Year's eve morn nine to new, addition thanks
To brett for some nugs during news brought to you
by the casino At Canterbury park dot.

Speaker 2 (58:34):
Com we'll be next back next on the fan