June 3, 2026 • 33 mins
Nate Atkins from The Athletic joins us to talk about Myles Garrett joining the Rams and the possibility of Aaron Donald coming out of retirement to join him. Its Lit features a USC QB on the cover of Madden, a potential blockbuster trade in the NBA that would send Giannis to the Western Conference and more.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right, we continue on Fred rug and Rodney Pete
and by somebody LA Sports two hours Show Force Today
coming up later in the hour, we have It's Lit
and Kevin will get us caught up on everything that
is happening. I'm not sure exactly what that is, Rodney,
but there are things that have gone on, and Kevin
has McCain.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Are you gonna ask Kevin if he's gonna tease it? Again? Fred?
Just so, I don't know if Kevin. I think Kevin
can agree or disagree, but I think if Kevin worked,
wanted to or decided to what thought it was appropriate,
he would jump in and say, let's tease it's lit.
I don't think you have to ask Kevin, Kevin, are
(00:43):
you gonna tease it's lit? As we go forward, I.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Don't even know if Kevin's there, But if Kevin's.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
There, I mean a sho I can see if he's here.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
All right, Are you there is? Are you gonna tease
it's lit?
Speaker 3 (00:54):
H sure? Yeah, that's some big news evolving.
Speaker 4 (00:56):
A USC quarterback, not the one that we're talking to
right now, by the way, another USC quarterback that's.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Coming up in It's leg all right.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Is Nate ready to go, Yes he is. Let's bring
on from the athletic the man who covers the Rams,
Nate Atkins. Nate, good afternoon.
Speaker 5 (01:11):
Appreciate you having man. I don't know if there's any reason,
if there's anything going on with.
Speaker 6 (01:15):
The Rams this week that I missed.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Yeah, here's the thing, Nate. You know, and you should
know this because it is your job. Is Aaron Donald
coming back or not? Just give us the answer.
Speaker 5 (01:25):
Now, Nate, And I wish I had that answer. I
think everyone wants that answer, including the people over at
the RAMS, because they're hoping for it. For sure, it is.
It is at least a possibility. It's something that Sean
McVay has discussed with Aaron Donald. But you know, a
lot has to come together first, you know. Just just
(01:48):
take it back to last fall, Aaron Donald came back
to the facility as they were honoring him. I head
a Sunday night game against the Buccaneers, and I asked
him when he was there about what, you know, what
he runs into in his daily life that gives him
that itch to play again or to miss football, and
he said nothing at all at that point. So here
(02:08):
we are just a few months later, and you know,
the Rams make a trade for Miles Garrett and it's
it's suddenly at least a possibility, but you know, you're
trying to think through all that that has to happen
for that to be realistic for a player who you know,
has not played the past two years, because in his
mid thirties, who plays on the defensive line. Cut all
(02:30):
these factors that have kept anyone from really doing that before.
But also understanding that there's almost never been a defensive
lineman built like Aaron Donald, and he has spent pretty
much every day since he retired training in the gym
at the level that an NFL player would, or even
higher than some NFL players do, with all that time
coming back into his life. So the Rams are positive
(02:52):
that if he wanted to play, he absolutely could step
right in play that three technique spot next to Miles
Garrett and add a lot to this defense, even after
being off a couple of years and being a little
bit older. So they're very intrigued by it. They're very hopeful,
but I would I would still kind of put it
in that hope stage right now, because just a lot
to figure out, as far as you know, does he
(03:14):
actually want to take this plunge and come back, And
then you know, there'd be a lot of logistics to
figure out as far as kind of how you how
you ease him back into this, how you ramp him
back up, and whether training camp is something that he'd
want to do or you know, there's or when he
would want to join this team, whether that's you know,
to start the season or maybe kind of like mid season,
(03:35):
back half of the season type thing. So there's a
lot of questions and a lot of wonders, uh that
people are having in cleaning over at the RAMS facility,
and so it's just kind of an exciting idea right now.
But all the all the cards are really with Aaron
and it just comes down to whether or not he
wants to play again. But I do know that ever
since he's retired, there's a part of the RAMS that's
(03:55):
always held out at least a little bit.
Speaker 6 (03:57):
Of hope that he might consider this.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Yeah, yeah, and he's still you know, he's still had
a striking age. I would say, I don't know if
it's a better term to put it that he's in
his mid thirties, but one of the guys that has
always kept himself in tremendous shape, and as you mentioned,
I've run into him several times and hang out with
him a few times, but he is I think he
(04:19):
trains harder now than he did when he was playing,
only because I think he's he's not as banged up.
But I think what started when Miles Garrett signed started
as Hey, that may be a possibility. It feels like
now it's got a little legs. It feels like it's
got some legs to it. I know it remains to
(04:41):
be seen, and there's a window. There's a window for
retired guys that if you are going to come back,
it's got to be in that two to three or
four year window. Otherwise you pass it. You've been away
from the game too long. Obviously, Aaron's a unique anim
a unique player in the terms of where he trains
(05:03):
and his body and the way he's been in shape.
But I will say that he hasn't been in the
trenches for two years either, so he's probably as healthy
as he's ever ever been. Do you think that this,
if this were to happen money wise, that that would
not be an issue or they would have to really
work something out to get him in the building.
Speaker 6 (05:26):
Yeah, that's one of the questions out there.
Speaker 5 (05:28):
You know, he he retired with a year left on
his contract at the time that has since expired, so
it would take a new deal. You know, obviously they
had to figure out. And that's part of the conversation too.
I'm sure for Aaron is you know, if you're going
to come back, what are you coming back for financially
and how much Is that part of the incentive versus
(05:48):
this idea of chasing one more ring and playing with
Miles Garrett. So they do have some flexibility because even
though they just traded for Miles Garrett, he comes in
this year on a salary of just eight million dollars.
It's just a little bit more, maybe maybe around double
what Jared Verse was making when he was here, just
based on the way that it got structured with the
(06:08):
deal and the Browns picking up a lot of that money.
So for a one year rental, I if he wants
to come back, it makes sense that this is you know,
this is probably is probably one team decision for him,
and you know, they'll I have a feeling they can
figure that out. The Rams have always kind of figured
uh that kind of stuff out and ownership has been
(06:29):
very generous, especially when it comes to big swings of
making a few more things possible. And obviously Aaron Donald
is is maybe the most celebrated ram that that this
ownership group has ever had, So I imagine that there's
be enough motivation on all ends to figure something out
that makes sense. But I am curious about that too,
because Aaron Donald is at the stage where, you know,
(06:51):
he walked away from so much money left on the table.
I'm just curious how much that you know with factor
into this or not. But it does seem like the
primary motivation is more about the on field potential in
what they could win this year. And obviously he's made
so much money in his career that maybe it is
less of a concern. But these are all kinds of
questions that I think are out there that only really
(07:13):
Aaron Donald knows for sure right now.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
All right, So for arguments sake, Nate, he comes back
answer this, how does anybody stop Miles Garrett and Aaron
Donald on the same defensive line, both of them.
Speaker 5 (07:28):
Hope and pray. I mean, it would be pretty crazy
because you think about the fact, like I wonder if
if Aaron Donalds attempted by this. You know, I Miles
Garrett is obviously that the headliner right now, but this
team went out also and added Trent McDuffie this offseason
and all Pro cornerback. And you think about last year,
there was there were people calling for this last year
(07:48):
when he came and visited, and of course it was
a little different. That was middle of a season, but
it would have been a different role for him then
because that defense is trying to overwhelm so much upfront
that they could survive very lacking out assets at outside cornerback.
And it's very different this year with Trent McDuffie and
Jalen Watson to Super Bowl champions, who are very physical
(08:10):
corners from the Kansas City Chiefs, And so you think
about the defensive line element of that is you replaced
Jared Vers with Miles Garrett on one side, You've got
Byron Young and the other. And then if Aaron Donald
were to come back, you would have a mix of him,
Kobe Turner, and Braden Fisk rushing the passer with Puniford
there to stop the run and rush the passer a
(08:31):
little bit. So it would be it's already probably the
most talented defense in the NFL. On paper, we'd see
how it comes together. I think Aaron Donald would just
take it up another notch. And the thing that's attractive
to pass rushers and why Miles Garrett was willing to
waive his not trade clause to come here, is that
this team sets up pass rushers to rush the passer
because they get leads. They had the number one scoring
(08:53):
offense last season. You think about Miles Garrett just broke
the NFL sack record with twenty three on a Browns
team that won five games and finished thirty first in scoring.
They did not have a lot of these obvious dropback
situations forcing other teams to come back on them the
way that this year's Rams team is trying to set up.
So I think it would be a pretty perfect marriage.
(09:14):
Is on paper in a football sense, it's why the
Rams are.
Speaker 6 (09:17):
Are hopeful for it.
Speaker 5 (09:18):
But like I said, it's it's still comes down to
what Aaron wants to do and whether whether he's happy
just being retired.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Still, Yeah, you mentioned Trent McDuffie. I was going to
say that, you know, the the probably the happiest person
other than Miles Garrett coming too LA from Cleveland and
getting you know, no offense to Cleveland, but man, you're
getting out of the wasteland to come to LA. You're
going from Cleveland. I don't know if there's a better
situation in sports going from Cleveland to LA and LA
(09:51):
being a contender. I'm just you know, again, I got
some friends that are from Cleveland, so I had to
throw that out there.
Speaker 6 (09:57):
Fish duffie appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Sorry. Trim McDuffie has got to be the most excited guy.
As you mentioned Wawkins too, because now all of a sudden,
you know, the pressure on the quarterback. The opposing quarterback
is gonna be great. They they they both should have
tremendous years based on what they do upfront with Miles
Garrett there, and then if you had Aaron Donald, it's
(10:22):
gonna be even greater. The second guy is gotta be
Matthew Stafford because he's gonna get two to three more
series than he had last year and he won the MVP.
This is this is one of those things where I
think it puts life into the building. Everybody's looking up
at Matthew Stafford going this may be his last year,
(10:42):
he's got one more. He had a one year deal
kind of extension situation. He may play five years as
long as Miles Garrett's there because they got a chance
to h to be in that conversation for the next
three years. As long as it's here with his defense,
don't you think.
Speaker 5 (10:59):
Yeah, it'll be interesting to see if that factors in
at all for Stafford. You know, a big part of him.
I was pretty confident after the last season that he
would come back, just because he was at the top
of his game and came back close.
Speaker 6 (11:12):
To the Super Bowl.
Speaker 5 (11:13):
But for as long as this team feels like it's
right there in Super Bowl contention and as long as
his physical abilities are holding up, that same kind of
conversation can happen for him, depending on how things go.
But it's looking good right now. And you know, the
big thing I thought was coming out of last season
was that they had to find a way to transfer
their star power from offense to defense in some way.
(11:36):
Last year, they had the number one scoring offense. They
had a defense that finished top ten but faded down
the stretch because it was the lowest paid defense in
the NFL. And what they found out in the playoffs
is they did not have any of those playmakers at
premium positions who are going to make the closing plays
on big money downs. Their top three pass rushers, Jared Verse,
Byron Young, and Kobe Turner combined for one sack in
(11:58):
three playoff games, and so that was what they wanted
to remake this year. And you think back to the
last time they won the Super Bowl in twenty twenty one,
they had Jalen Ramsey in the secondary and they had
Aaron Donald on the defensive line. So they're trying to
create a version of that now with Trent McDuffie in
the secondary and Miles Garrett on the defensive line. And
I think they need to do that because as much
(12:19):
as you as much as they're super excited to have
Stafford back and believe in this offense, any unit that
finishes number one in something is likely due for regression.
And you just have to be realistic about a quarterback
who's coming off a career year in his first MVP year,
but now it's thirty eight, a wide receiver in Devontae
Adams who will turn thirty four this fall, and the
(12:40):
fact that you had two running backs and Kyen Williams
and Blake Krum, who did not miss a single.
Speaker 6 (12:45):
Game between them last year, in really good.
Speaker 5 (12:47):
Help on the offensive line, so so much came together
for their offense, and they were amazing last year.
Speaker 6 (12:52):
I just don't think.
Speaker 5 (12:52):
You can count on having the number one offense for
a second straight year when it's at the ages that
it is position. So they still have a lot of
hope and believe that'll be really, really good, but they
needed the defense to step up and avoid a situation
like that NFC title game where it felt like the
offense had to lift up the defense and the special
(13:13):
teams and carry the whole engine. Now they're trying to
balance that out with the right now. I think on
paper you could at least argue the offense and defense
are pretty close in total talent. Defense has to prove
it can do with the offense did last year. But
I think going into this year, they do have the
feeling that like they've spread out the resources. They've added
championship pedigree and star power to a defense that didn't
(13:35):
really have that last year, and that's where they're trying
to take their shot to.
Speaker 6 (13:39):
Try to win a Super Bowl this year.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
And Nate when you look at it. Do you think
teams around the league when they heard about this deal
from Miles Garrett, when damn it not the Rams? I mean,
they're so loaded as it is. Do you think that
affects other teams around the league.
Speaker 5 (13:56):
Oh yeah, I just saw a clip from the the
offensive line coach of the forty nine Ers saying that
was his exact reaction to that trade going down. It's
one of those where, like anytime a big name star
player is theoretically available, teams will reach out to the Rams,
knowing that they are aggressive at going after these type
(14:17):
of players and they do not have sticker shock at
the price. But I definitely think especially the NFC teams
looking at this landscape this year and wondering kind of
how they're going to combat this because I think last year,
as fearful as the Rams were, you still looked at
that team and thought, we can really get after them
in the secondary.
Speaker 6 (14:35):
I'm not sure they're going.
Speaker 5 (14:36):
To wreck the game with their defense, and then obviously
they had special teams issues to exploit.
Speaker 6 (14:41):
The special teams.
Speaker 5 (14:42):
Area is still the one that's you know, that's a
question until they prove it's not. But talent wise, they're
much much caught up, and you know, but the Rams
also realize that they are in the toughest division in football.
They have a top five strengthen schedule this year, and
they want to be able to get home field. So
as talented as they are, they also will have one
(15:03):
of the tougher roads to getting where they want to get.
And I think that's also why they're as aggressive as
they are right now.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
You mentioned home field advantage, which is a big, big
part of especially in the NFL, more so I think
than in any other sports, because it's a one and
done one game. Is there a sense that the Rams
feel like if they had that game at home, they're
going and winning the Super Bowl, meaning the championship game.
Speaker 5 (15:32):
Yeah, I think there's some thought about that. They really
looked at last year thinking they were right there with
the Seahawks and those were the two best teams in
the NFL is I think how the Rams ended up
looking at it, And I think there's some people with
the Rams that looked at it and thought they were
the better team if you just went to overall talent
and star power. But they realized that the Seahawks.
Speaker 6 (15:54):
Had the more complete team.
Speaker 5 (15:55):
They had the defense and the special teams in a
pretty good offense, whereas the Rams really concentrated their whole
engine on the offense. But I mean, if that game
is at Sofi Stadium, you never quite know. I mean
that you know, it was a super tight game the
first time those teams played there. But you know, I
do think that the Seattle crowd. I think that that
(16:16):
can affect a lot of things, mainly on special teams
when you have players that are younger, unproven put in
huge spots. When that crowd gets roaring and you're outdoors
in those settings in January, I think that ended up
playing into it. So the last two times they played there,
they had two special teams disasters, with the pun return
(16:38):
touchdown in the first the first matchup in Seattle, and
then the drop pump from Xavier Smith last year.
Speaker 6 (16:45):
So there's moments like.
Speaker 5 (16:46):
That from young players that get a little bit more
exposed out in someone else's elements that there could be
a little different at home. So I think that's a
motivation for this year. And it's also you know, just
looking out at this season, they have a chance can
go out and get that number one seed to play
an entire postseason at home at Sofi Stadium, including the
Super Bowl, which is exactly what they did back in
(17:09):
twenty twenty one when they won the Super Bowl at
Sofi Stadium. So even though they had to go on
the road early in the playoffs, So their dream is
to be able to host the entire postseason at home.
And to do that, they're gonna have to win the
toughest division in football and win a lot of games
in a tough schedule. And I think that's why they're
going as hard as they are after guys like Miles
Garrett and Trent McDuffie.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
All Right, Nate Adkins covers the Rams for The Athletic
Love to have you on, Nate.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
Thanks for the time.
Speaker 6 (17:36):
Today, Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
All right, when we come back, Kevin is locked and
loaded and running a fire with its lip.
Speaker 7 (17:51):
Make Am five seventy LA Sports a preset before you
plug in your foote Presets in the iHeartRadio app now
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Speaker 3 (18:05):
Oh Yes, let's go.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
Many thanks to Nate Atkins for joining us breaking down
the Rams and what's going on in the future and
Aaron Donald, Will he or will he not come back
to play for the RAM. That would be extremely exciting
if there's a there's a few players that you know,
retire FRED and still maintain the intensity and game shape
(18:31):
of when they once played, and Aaron Donald is at
the top of that list. I've seen him, I've seen
videos of his workouts. It is like he's still playing
the way he works out, and I know a couple
of guys that trained with him, and he is a
tremendous force. So I don't think it's going to be
that much effort where a lot of guys got to,
(18:52):
oh my god, I need I need eight months to
get ready to go play again, because I haven't really
been doing it. I've been you know, fat cat it
out there, had taken vacations, all that kind of stuff,
where Aaron Donald's been in the gym. So I don't
think that part of it will be, uh be a strain.
But as we said yesterday, he's got a significant other,
the wife. The wife factor, I don't think a whole
(19:14):
lot of people are talking about, but that is a
that is a huge factor of whether he comes back.
He has to get her blessing before he even steps
foot in that building to play again.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
Yeah, because it's a commitment, even for one season. If
you haven't been through what, you don't understand it. He
has kids, and Rodney, I mean, well you played. There's
not a lot of time for anything. When you're playing.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
You're i mean nine months out of the year, you're gone,
you're absent, You're an absentee husband, absentee dad, all of that.
And you gotta find moments to really step away for it,
from from it and commit to you know, family time
and all that. But it's difficult. So yeah, that's another thing.
(20:01):
And they've gotten comfortable with him being at home, you know,
for two years and being around and being present, and
then they're going to go back to him, you know
during the fall, well really starting in July and August,
where he is going to be committed eight to ten
hours a day with the Rams are more than that actually,
(20:24):
so you know, we'll see. All right, let's get caught
up Kevin here.
Speaker 7 (20:28):
We got stories lighting up their sports headliners.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Speaking of the Rams.
Speaker 4 (20:36):
They're a pretty class organization. They would do something like this.
I think the Dodgers would probably do something like this.
So we know that Jared Versus fan favorite, defensive rookie
of the Year, you got a gift to get. So
the Cleveland Browns were adamant that he'd be added in
that trade, and ultimately they ad to adamant of the
trade in order to bring in Miles Garrett. But what
the Rams are doing, because he was such a fan
favorite and because he sold a lot of jerseys, they
(20:58):
announced earlier today they're offering a free exchange if you
purchased a Jared Versus jersey from their team store, either
online or on site. Because go in, bring in the jersey,
bring in your receipt, and you can exchange it for
any other jersey, uh, for free.
Speaker 3 (21:14):
I'm thinking of one organization.
Speaker 4 (21:15):
You guys could probably think of one too in this
city that definitely would not do that. You guys know
the organization I'm talking about.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
Yes, you want me to say it, Yeah, go ahead
say it.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
The Angels?
Speaker 6 (21:26):
Oh yeah, do.
Speaker 4 (21:27):
You think that the Angels traded Zach NetTel tonight? They'd
have some program where you can exchange that jersey that
you just bought.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
They didn't sign Otani and they're still selling his jerseys.
Speaker 4 (21:39):
Exactly as of last year. They were I don't know
about this year. I haven't seen this year, but as
of last season they still were they were.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
Can we find that out? Are they still selling angel
I'm gonna look at Angels team store.
Speaker 4 (21:50):
Oh but a classic move on the rams. You know,
if if somebody and these jerseys are expensive, especially the
authentic ones, You're talking hundreds of dollars. So for them
to be able to accept those back and be able
to exchange it is a is a cool gesture on
their part.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
But can you exchange it for a Miles Garrett.
Speaker 3 (22:07):
That they have not?
Speaker 4 (22:07):
They said, they said for any other jersey in the
team stores, So I would assume, but I don't know that.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
I would imagine.
Speaker 4 (22:14):
So all right, so Fred is currently checking the Angels
team store to see if they're still selling show hal jerseys.
I will tell you that if they had any left
in inventory, best belief they're still selling them. They're not
shipping those shipping them off to you know, Africa or something,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
The official Angels online shops and it went to the Dodgers.
Speaker 4 (22:39):
Oh yeah, because it's all through mb shop dot com.
So there's that that part. Maybe it's in the throwback
section you know.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
And hold on.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
You fine one.
Speaker 1 (22:57):
No, I do not see it on the Angel teams. No,
I do not see it on the Angel team store.
Hold on, well, I don't see it.
Speaker 3 (23:10):
Mm hmmm.
Speaker 2 (23:13):
As soon as Otani retires, it will be back in there.
Speaker 3 (23:16):
Oh absolutely, Oh my god.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
All right, go ahead, Kevin.
Speaker 4 (23:20):
We can get a so layer jersey. I'm sure those
are flying off the shelves.
Speaker 2 (23:24):
They got a ton of those.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
I'm sure they do. Uh.
Speaker 4 (23:26):
So talking about, uh, the Madden cover, it's a big deal.
Uh For a lot of years, Riddy. During the time
that you played, it was the Madden Curse. You almost
didn't want to be on the cover of Madden because
every year somebody got hurt. Marshall Falk was on there,
got injured. I mean every single Solids here year somebody was.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
Like a three to five year run where it was bad.
Either you got hurt or you had a terrible season.
Speaker 4 (23:47):
Right Michael on that cup Michael Vick was on the cover,
had a terrible season. Sean Alexander won the MVP Award
for the Seahawks, and he had a terrible year the
next year. So at some point in time, the curve
changed and all of a sudden, it's back to being
an honor and guys are playing well. And so earlier
today the NFL announced, or i should say EA Sports
announced that Caleb Williams, your USC brother in there Rodney
(24:08):
is going to be the first Chicago Bear to ever
be on the cover of Madden. And that is a
big deal for players nowadays that they all want to
know what their Madden score is, what they're Madden rating.
That's a huge deal and all that stuff is announced
and players get legitimately pissed off if they feel their
Madden rating is too low. So cool, cool accomplishment there
for Caleb Williams, who had a breakout here last year
for the Bears.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
Yeah, that's a great a camp. It really is. It's
a badge of honor because you know, the which is
really interesting because it's happened when when later in my
career that as new stadiums were being built, new locker
rooms were being built and designed and all those things,
one of the first things that went into the players
(24:49):
lounge in the locker room were TVs and having components
to play Madden because everybody did it, and so in
your downtime, a lot of guys would be playing Madden
in the locker room, and so it is a big
deal and it is a badge of honor. It's like
(25:11):
what Sports Illustrated used to be back in the day
when you're under cover of Sports Illustrated, and to get
that cover for Madden means a great deal for a
lot of folks. So congratulations to Caleb Williams. He deserved it.
You know, a tremendous year for the Bears last year,
getting you know, new coach and new attitude and making
the playoffs and having some great moments throughout the year,
(25:32):
including in the playoffs and the throw he made against
the Rams to send that game where it went. It
was incredible and he had many of those throws. So
it's well deserved. Let's just hope he can he can
have a similar season this year, because we don't want
it to fall off and then they go back to
blaming it on the Madden curse.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
That's exactly the thing. Yeah, right, that's exactly the thing.
He's got to have the same kind of season this year.
He has to, He has no choice.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
If he does, then he's good to go.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
If he doesn't, well, then you know, right, you.
Speaker 4 (26:05):
Know, lesta off the court news or off season news.
Steal the spotlight away from the NBA Finals, which are
tipping off tonight, and we'll talk about that coming up
next time permitting. But the big story is Giannis a
Tittakoupo and where's he's gonna end up now. Sam Aymy
of The Athletic did a ride up this morning about
possible destinations. According to he and him and his sources,
(26:25):
a lot of people in the league still believe that
the most likely destination for Giannas will be with the
Miami Heat, but there's been It's been picking up steam
ever since Oklahoma City got eliminated that they might make
a run at Gianni's because they know that the Spurs
are not going anywhere and they don't have an answer.
Ched Holger came up small, to say the least against
Wimby in the front court. So people are putting two
(26:47):
and two together, like, well, Oklahoma City's not gonna be
able to keep this core together. They're gonna have to
start breaking this up because the guys are making too
much money. So with all the draft picks that they have,
knowing that they have Jayla Williams, an All Star who
they lost from the majority of the season to injury.
Knowing they have chet Holmgren, could they put a package
together with Williams and or Homegren along with draft picks
that would entice the Bucks to send him here or
(27:08):
send him to Oklahoma City. So I guess the question
there is, if you are Oklahoma City, do you send
those assets out and bringing Janton to Takompo who would
have a better shot of being able to hang with Wimby,
although you know he's not as young, so you're gonna
have a very, very finite amount of time with him
in your front court.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
Trading guys, which Jalen Williams.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
Oh the All Star Jalen Williams. Oh, Okay, I say,
quote unquote little Jalen Williams. He's not six seventh.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
Nine, but Williams that played in the playoff. Actually he
played big.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
He played very well for them. He's a role player.
Speaker 4 (27:37):
This is a second team All NBA All Star Jalen
Williams who was out for the majority of.
Speaker 2 (27:41):
The season, right, Okay, yeah, you look two weeks ago. No,
but watching Chet Holmgren shrink and just don't want any
part of Wenby. I mean, I've never seen a All
Star competitive NBA player just shy away and I don't
(28:08):
want to fight. I don't want to compete in a
Game seven like that. I don't think I've ever seen
that before. It was like he did not want to
be there, and it was embarrassing. If I'm him, I'm
going overseas and I'm not coming back until the season
starts again next year. It was utterly how do you
(28:29):
take four shots in game seven? You're the second best
player on the team, You're the guy next to SGA,
you're an All Star. You have this rivalry with this
big fella from San Antonio that leading up to it,
everybody was building it up. Wimby was talking about it.
It was very well known that they don't like each other.
(28:51):
Let's go. It's a heavyweight bout. Let's go, and he
ran and hid. Man If I'm OKAYC, I'm trying to
make that deal happen as soon as possible. I can't
sign it fast enough. If they want check and Jalen Williams,
come on, bring on Giannis. At least I know Jannis
is gonna give me some fight. I know he's gonna
(29:11):
give me some fighting. Plus, you know they didn't let
Giannis play at the end of the year, so he's
probably healthy.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
So let's go, all right, and if they give up
those two players, Kevin, what's their depth flight.
Speaker 3 (29:24):
Uh, they have plenty of depth.
Speaker 4 (29:25):
They have a lot of guys who they have two
guys who are injured during the entire series that didn't
even play and they still made it into Game seven
against Santa.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
And they got these draft picks still, right.
Speaker 4 (29:33):
And Sam Presty is one of the best at identifying talent,
so it would hurt them a little bit, sure, but
they have plenty of death all right.
Speaker 1 (29:42):
So you're weighing the injury risk of Giannis and his age.
Speaker 3 (29:45):
Right, And if you want to acknowledge the fact that
shit is torn, you're gonna.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
Miss Jalen Williams, you know what I mean. With Gianni's
coming there, it's a wash with check not even a wash.
I think Giannis would be better.
Speaker 3 (29:55):
That's an upgrade for sure.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
Yeah, that's an upgrade. So the person you're gonna miss
is Jayleen Waives, all right, So but you do believe
they're given what what happened. Giannis gives you a better
shot against Wenby, but.
Speaker 3 (30:10):
There's no question.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
You gotta do it, then, come on, Fred, if you
give you a better shot, you gotta put you gotta
put Alex Caruso on Wimby, who's six' six and as
opposed to your seven foot one all.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
Star those guys are supposed to be guarding each. Other let's,
go let's. Go come, on and he doesn't even guard with.
Me come, on, yeah you have to make that move, Then. Kevin.
Speaker 4 (30:41):
Yeah speaking Of, wmby of, COURSE i Mentioned game one
of the finals. Tonight The New York knicks underdogs plus
one sixty for the, series San antonio minus one. Ninety
The spurs are four and a half point favorites coming
up In game, one specifically.
Speaker 3 (30:53):
TONIGHT a lot of people like The knicks in this.
Matchup what do you guys think?
Speaker 1 (30:58):
NOW i like The, KNICKS i. DO i think the
stage will Be, look neither one has been, there The
knicks for a long time and this group From San antonio.
Never BUT i think The knicks have played on a
bigger stage all year.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
Long AND i think.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
What will happen is The spurs will will represent but
the little we'll stage.
Speaker 2 (31:17):
FRIGHT i think that's what will.
Speaker 1 (31:19):
HAPPEN i think the lights will be too bright for
in this go. ROUND i just think The knicks playing
In New, york so they dealt with things that The
spurs have not all year. Long bigger, stage more. PRESSURE
i think the next beat.
Speaker 2 (31:29):
Them, YEAH i was. Surprised how to, me it feels
Overwhelmingly knicks are gonna win this, thing even, though like you, said,
Okay spurs are our favorite in this one in game,
one BUT i would tend to agree WITH i think The.
Knicks their roster is more veterans on that roster that's
(31:49):
been there and playing In New york and playing in the,
high high intensity situations AND i leverage situations In New. York,
brunson you're gonna have to find an answer for. Him,
yes The spurs are, gritty they're. YOUNG i think this
could be one of those we get a taste of
(32:13):
what it's like and they go on a run for
the next five years beating The. Spurs BUT i think
The knicks would have the advantage this year because of
their experience number one in their age with their guys
as opposed to the young crew From San. Antonio and that's.
Speaker 3 (32:32):
What's lighting up the.
Speaker 1 (32:33):
Headlines all, Right thank, You, kevin and we will come
back and wrap it.
Speaker 7 (32:42):
Up Make am five Seventy La sports a preset before
you plug in your poone, presets and The iHeartRadio app
now available With Apple CarPlay And android autom just another
easy way to listen to LA's best sports talk
All right, we continue on Fred rug and Rodney Pete
and by somebody LA Sports two hours Show Force Today
coming up later in the hour, we have It's Lit
and Kevin will get us caught up on everything that
is happening. I'm not sure exactly what that is, Rodney,
but there are things that have gone on, and Kevin
has McCain.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Are you gonna ask Kevin if he's gonna tease it? Again? Fred?
Just so, I don't know if Kevin. I think Kevin
can agree or disagree, but I think if Kevin worked,
wanted to or decided to what thought it was appropriate,
he would jump in and say, let's tease it's lit.
I don't think you have to ask Kevin, Kevin, are
(00:43):
you gonna tease it's lit? As we go forward, I.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Don't even know if Kevin's there, But if Kevin's.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
There, I mean a sho I can see if he's here.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
All right, Are you there is? Are you gonna tease
it's lit?
Speaker 3 (00:54):
H sure? Yeah, that's some big news evolving.
Speaker 4 (00:56):
A USC quarterback, not the one that we're talking to
right now, by the way, another USC quarterback that's.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Coming up in It's leg all right.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Is Nate ready to go, Yes he is. Let's bring
on from the athletic the man who covers the Rams,
Nate Atkins. Nate, good afternoon.
Speaker 5 (01:11):
Appreciate you having man. I don't know if there's any reason,
if there's anything going on with.
Speaker 6 (01:15):
The Rams this week that I missed.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Yeah, here's the thing, Nate. You know, and you should
know this because it is your job. Is Aaron Donald
coming back or not? Just give us the answer.
Speaker 5 (01:25):
Now, Nate, And I wish I had that answer. I
think everyone wants that answer, including the people over at
the RAMS, because they're hoping for it. For sure, it is.
It is at least a possibility. It's something that Sean
McVay has discussed with Aaron Donald. But you know, a
lot has to come together first, you know. Just just
(01:48):
take it back to last fall, Aaron Donald came back
to the facility as they were honoring him. I head
a Sunday night game against the Buccaneers, and I asked
him when he was there about what, you know, what
he runs into in his daily life that gives him
that itch to play again or to miss football, and
he said nothing at all at that point. So here
(02:08):
we are just a few months later, and you know,
the Rams make a trade for Miles Garrett and it's
it's suddenly at least a possibility, but you know, you're
trying to think through all that that has to happen
for that to be realistic for a player who you know,
has not played the past two years, because in his
mid thirties, who plays on the defensive line. Cut all
(02:30):
these factors that have kept anyone from really doing that before.
But also understanding that there's almost never been a defensive
lineman built like Aaron Donald, and he has spent pretty
much every day since he retired training in the gym
at the level that an NFL player would, or even
higher than some NFL players do, with all that time
coming back into his life. So the Rams are positive
(02:52):
that if he wanted to play, he absolutely could step
right in play that three technique spot next to Miles
Garrett and add a lot to this defense, even after
being off a couple of years and being a little
bit older. So they're very intrigued by it. They're very hopeful,
but I would I would still kind of put it
in that hope stage right now, because just a lot
to figure out, as far as you know, does he
(03:14):
actually want to take this plunge and come back, And
then you know, there'd be a lot of logistics to
figure out as far as kind of how you how
you ease him back into this, how you ramp him
back up, and whether training camp is something that he'd
want to do or you know, there's or when he
would want to join this team, whether that's you know,
to start the season or maybe kind of like mid season,
(03:35):
back half of the season type thing. So there's a
lot of questions and a lot of wonders, uh that
people are having in cleaning over at the RAMS facility,
and so it's just kind of an exciting idea right now.
But all the all the cards are really with Aaron
and it just comes down to whether or not he
wants to play again. But I do know that ever
since he's retired, there's a part of the RAMS that's
(03:55):
always held out at least a little bit.
Speaker 6 (03:57):
Of hope that he might consider this.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Yeah, yeah, and he's still you know, he's still had
a striking age. I would say, I don't know if
it's a better term to put it that he's in
his mid thirties, but one of the guys that has
always kept himself in tremendous shape, and as you mentioned,
I've run into him several times and hang out with
him a few times, but he is I think he
(04:19):
trains harder now than he did when he was playing,
only because I think he's he's not as banged up.
But I think what started when Miles Garrett signed started
as Hey, that may be a possibility. It feels like
now it's got a little legs. It feels like it's
got some legs to it. I know it remains to
(04:41):
be seen, and there's a window. There's a window for
retired guys that if you are going to come back,
it's got to be in that two to three or
four year window. Otherwise you pass it. You've been away
from the game too long. Obviously, Aaron's a unique anim
a unique player in the terms of where he trains
(05:03):
and his body and the way he's been in shape.
But I will say that he hasn't been in the
trenches for two years either, so he's probably as healthy
as he's ever ever been. Do you think that this,
if this were to happen money wise, that that would
not be an issue or they would have to really
work something out to get him in the building.
Speaker 6 (05:26):
Yeah, that's one of the questions out there.
Speaker 5 (05:28):
You know, he he retired with a year left on
his contract at the time that has since expired, so
it would take a new deal. You know, obviously they
had to figure out. And that's part of the conversation too.
I'm sure for Aaron is you know, if you're going
to come back, what are you coming back for financially
and how much Is that part of the incentive versus
(05:48):
this idea of chasing one more ring and playing with
Miles Garrett. So they do have some flexibility because even
though they just traded for Miles Garrett, he comes in
this year on a salary of just eight million dollars.
It's just a little bit more, maybe maybe around double
what Jared Verse was making when he was here, just
based on the way that it got structured with the
(06:08):
deal and the Browns picking up a lot of that money.
So for a one year rental, I if he wants
to come back, it makes sense that this is you know,
this is probably is probably one team decision for him,
and you know, they'll I have a feeling they can
figure that out. The Rams have always kind of figured
uh that kind of stuff out and ownership has been
(06:29):
very generous, especially when it comes to big swings of
making a few more things possible. And obviously Aaron Donald
is is maybe the most celebrated ram that that this
ownership group has ever had, So I imagine that there's
be enough motivation on all ends to figure something out
that makes sense. But I am curious about that too,
because Aaron Donald is at the stage where, you know,
(06:51):
he walked away from so much money left on the table.
I'm just curious how much that you know with factor
into this or not. But it does seem like the
primary motivation is more about the on field potential in
what they could win this year. And obviously he's made
so much money in his career that maybe it is
less of a concern. But these are all kinds of
questions that I think are out there that only really
(07:13):
Aaron Donald knows for sure right now.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
All right, So for arguments sake, Nate, he comes back
answer this, how does anybody stop Miles Garrett and Aaron
Donald on the same defensive line, both of them.
Speaker 5 (07:28):
Hope and pray. I mean, it would be pretty crazy
because you think about the fact, like I wonder if
if Aaron Donalds attempted by this. You know, I Miles
Garrett is obviously that the headliner right now, but this
team went out also and added Trent McDuffie this offseason
and all Pro cornerback. And you think about last year,
there was there were people calling for this last year
(07:48):
when he came and visited, and of course it was
a little different. That was middle of a season, but
it would have been a different role for him then
because that defense is trying to overwhelm so much upfront
that they could survive very lacking out assets at outside cornerback.
And it's very different this year with Trent McDuffie and
Jalen Watson to Super Bowl champions, who are very physical
(08:10):
corners from the Kansas City Chiefs, And so you think
about the defensive line element of that is you replaced
Jared Vers with Miles Garrett on one side, You've got
Byron Young and the other. And then if Aaron Donald
were to come back, you would have a mix of him,
Kobe Turner, and Braden Fisk rushing the passer with Puniford
there to stop the run and rush the passer a
(08:31):
little bit. So it would be it's already probably the
most talented defense in the NFL. On paper, we'd see
how it comes together. I think Aaron Donald would just
take it up another notch. And the thing that's attractive
to pass rushers and why Miles Garrett was willing to
waive his not trade clause to come here, is that
this team sets up pass rushers to rush the passer
because they get leads. They had the number one scoring
(08:53):
offense last season. You think about Miles Garrett just broke
the NFL sack record with twenty three on a Browns
team that won five games and finished thirty first in scoring.
They did not have a lot of these obvious dropback
situations forcing other teams to come back on them the
way that this year's Rams team is trying to set up.
So I think it would be a pretty perfect marriage.
(09:14):
Is on paper in a football sense, it's why the
Rams are.
Speaker 6 (09:17):
Are hopeful for it.
Speaker 5 (09:18):
But like I said, it's it's still comes down to
what Aaron wants to do and whether whether he's happy
just being retired.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Still, Yeah, you mentioned Trent McDuffie. I was going to
say that, you know, the the probably the happiest person
other than Miles Garrett coming too LA from Cleveland and
getting you know, no offense to Cleveland, but man, you're
getting out of the wasteland to come to LA. You're
going from Cleveland. I don't know if there's a better
situation in sports going from Cleveland to LA and LA
(09:51):
being a contender. I'm just you know, again, I got
some friends that are from Cleveland, so I had to
throw that out there.
Speaker 6 (09:57):
Fish duffie appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Sorry. Trim McDuffie has got to be the most excited guy.
As you mentioned Wawkins too, because now all of a sudden,
you know, the pressure on the quarterback. The opposing quarterback
is gonna be great. They they they both should have
tremendous years based on what they do upfront with Miles
Garrett there, and then if you had Aaron Donald, it's
(10:22):
gonna be even greater. The second guy is gotta be
Matthew Stafford because he's gonna get two to three more
series than he had last year and he won the MVP.
This is this is one of those things where I
think it puts life into the building. Everybody's looking up
at Matthew Stafford going this may be his last year,
(10:42):
he's got one more. He had a one year deal
kind of extension situation. He may play five years as
long as Miles Garrett's there because they got a chance
to h to be in that conversation for the next
three years. As long as it's here with his defense,
don't you think.
Speaker 5 (10:59):
Yeah, it'll be interesting to see if that factors in
at all for Stafford. You know, a big part of him.
I was pretty confident after the last season that he
would come back, just because he was at the top
of his game and came back close.
Speaker 6 (11:12):
To the Super Bowl.
Speaker 5 (11:13):
But for as long as this team feels like it's
right there in Super Bowl contention and as long as
his physical abilities are holding up, that same kind of
conversation can happen for him, depending on how things go.
But it's looking good right now. And you know, the
big thing I thought was coming out of last season
was that they had to find a way to transfer
their star power from offense to defense in some way.
(11:36):
Last year, they had the number one scoring offense. They
had a defense that finished top ten but faded down
the stretch because it was the lowest paid defense in
the NFL. And what they found out in the playoffs
is they did not have any of those playmakers at
premium positions who are going to make the closing plays
on big money downs. Their top three pass rushers, Jared Verse,
Byron Young, and Kobe Turner combined for one sack in
(11:58):
three playoff games, and so that was what they wanted
to remake this year. And you think back to the
last time they won the Super Bowl in twenty twenty one,
they had Jalen Ramsey in the secondary and they had
Aaron Donald on the defensive line. So they're trying to
create a version of that now with Trent McDuffie in
the secondary and Miles Garrett on the defensive line. And
I think they need to do that because as much
(12:19):
as you as much as they're super excited to have
Stafford back and believe in this offense, any unit that
finishes number one in something is likely due for regression.
And you just have to be realistic about a quarterback
who's coming off a career year in his first MVP year,
but now it's thirty eight, a wide receiver in Devontae
Adams who will turn thirty four this fall, and the
(12:40):
fact that you had two running backs and Kyen Williams
and Blake Krum, who did not miss a single.
Speaker 6 (12:45):
Game between them last year, in really good.
Speaker 5 (12:47):
Help on the offensive line, so so much came together
for their offense, and they were amazing last year.
Speaker 6 (12:52):
I just don't think.
Speaker 5 (12:52):
You can count on having the number one offense for
a second straight year when it's at the ages that
it is position. So they still have a lot of
hope and believe that'll be really, really good, but they
needed the defense to step up and avoid a situation
like that NFC title game where it felt like the
offense had to lift up the defense and the special
(13:13):
teams and carry the whole engine. Now they're trying to
balance that out with the right now. I think on
paper you could at least argue the offense and defense
are pretty close in total talent. Defense has to prove
it can do with the offense did last year. But
I think going into this year, they do have the
feeling that like they've spread out the resources. They've added
championship pedigree and star power to a defense that didn't
(13:35):
really have that last year, and that's where they're trying
to take their shot to.
Speaker 6 (13:39):
Try to win a Super Bowl this year.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
And Nate when you look at it. Do you think
teams around the league when they heard about this deal
from Miles Garrett, when damn it not the Rams? I mean,
they're so loaded as it is. Do you think that
affects other teams around the league.
Speaker 5 (13:56):
Oh yeah, I just saw a clip from the the
offensive line coach of the forty nine Ers saying that
was his exact reaction to that trade going down. It's
one of those where, like anytime a big name star
player is theoretically available, teams will reach out to the Rams,
knowing that they are aggressive at going after these type
(14:17):
of players and they do not have sticker shock at
the price. But I definitely think especially the NFC teams
looking at this landscape this year and wondering kind of
how they're going to combat this because I think last year,
as fearful as the Rams were, you still looked at
that team and thought, we can really get after them
in the secondary.
Speaker 6 (14:35):
I'm not sure they're going.
Speaker 5 (14:36):
To wreck the game with their defense, and then obviously
they had special teams issues to exploit.
Speaker 6 (14:41):
The special teams.
Speaker 5 (14:42):
Area is still the one that's you know, that's a
question until they prove it's not. But talent wise, they're
much much caught up, and you know, but the Rams
also realize that they are in the toughest division in football.
They have a top five strengthen schedule this year, and
they want to be able to get home field. So
as talented as they are, they also will have one
(15:03):
of the tougher roads to getting where they want to get.
And I think that's also why they're as aggressive as
they are right now.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
You mentioned home field advantage, which is a big, big
part of especially in the NFL, more so I think
than in any other sports, because it's a one and
done one game. Is there a sense that the Rams
feel like if they had that game at home, they're
going and winning the Super Bowl, meaning the championship game.
Speaker 5 (15:32):
Yeah, I think there's some thought about that. They really
looked at last year thinking they were right there with
the Seahawks and those were the two best teams in
the NFL is I think how the Rams ended up
looking at it, And I think there's some people with
the Rams that looked at it and thought they were
the better team if you just went to overall talent
and star power. But they realized that the Seahawks.
Speaker 6 (15:54):
Had the more complete team.
Speaker 5 (15:55):
They had the defense and the special teams in a
pretty good offense, whereas the Rams really concentrated their whole
engine on the offense. But I mean, if that game
is at Sofi Stadium, you never quite know. I mean
that you know, it was a super tight game the
first time those teams played there. But you know, I
do think that the Seattle crowd. I think that that
(16:16):
can affect a lot of things, mainly on special teams
when you have players that are younger, unproven put in
huge spots. When that crowd gets roaring and you're outdoors
in those settings in January, I think that ended up
playing into it. So the last two times they played there,
they had two special teams disasters, with the pun return
(16:38):
touchdown in the first the first matchup in Seattle, and
then the drop pump from Xavier Smith last year.
Speaker 6 (16:45):
So there's moments like.
Speaker 5 (16:46):
That from young players that get a little bit more
exposed out in someone else's elements that there could be
a little different at home. So I think that's a
motivation for this year. And it's also you know, just
looking out at this season, they have a chance can
go out and get that number one seed to play
an entire postseason at home at Sofi Stadium, including the
Super Bowl, which is exactly what they did back in
(17:09):
twenty twenty one when they won the Super Bowl at
Sofi Stadium. So even though they had to go on
the road early in the playoffs, So their dream is
to be able to host the entire postseason at home.
And to do that, they're gonna have to win the
toughest division in football and win a lot of games
in a tough schedule. And I think that's why they're
going as hard as they are after guys like Miles
Garrett and Trent McDuffie.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
All Right, Nate Adkins covers the Rams for The Athletic
Love to have you on, Nate.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
Thanks for the time.
Speaker 6 (17:36):
Today, Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
All right, when we come back, Kevin is locked and
loaded and running a fire with its lip.
Speaker 7 (17:51):
Make Am five seventy LA Sports a preset before you
plug in your foote Presets in the iHeartRadio app now
available with Apple car Play and Android autom Just another
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Speaker 3 (18:05):
Oh Yes, let's go.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
Many thanks to Nate Atkins for joining us breaking down
the Rams and what's going on in the future and
Aaron Donald, Will he or will he not come back
to play for the RAM. That would be extremely exciting
if there's a there's a few players that you know,
retire FRED and still maintain the intensity and game shape
(18:31):
of when they once played, and Aaron Donald is at
the top of that list. I've seen him, I've seen
videos of his workouts. It is like he's still playing
the way he works out, and I know a couple
of guys that trained with him, and he is a
tremendous force. So I don't think it's going to be
that much effort where a lot of guys got to,
(18:52):
oh my god, I need I need eight months to
get ready to go play again, because I haven't really
been doing it. I've been you know, fat cat it
out there, had taken vacations, all that kind of stuff,
where Aaron Donald's been in the gym. So I don't
think that part of it will be, uh be a strain.
But as we said yesterday, he's got a significant other,
the wife. The wife factor, I don't think a whole
(19:14):
lot of people are talking about, but that is a
that is a huge factor of whether he comes back.
He has to get her blessing before he even steps
foot in that building to play again.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
Yeah, because it's a commitment, even for one season. If
you haven't been through what, you don't understand it. He
has kids, and Rodney, I mean, well you played. There's
not a lot of time for anything. When you're playing.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
You're i mean nine months out of the year, you're gone,
you're absent, You're an absentee husband, absentee dad, all of that.
And you gotta find moments to really step away for it,
from from it and commit to you know, family time
and all that. But it's difficult. So yeah, that's another thing.
(20:01):
And they've gotten comfortable with him being at home, you know,
for two years and being around and being present, and
then they're going to go back to him, you know
during the fall, well really starting in July and August,
where he is going to be committed eight to ten
hours a day with the Rams are more than that actually,
(20:24):
so you know, we'll see. All right, let's get caught
up Kevin here.
Speaker 7 (20:28):
We got stories lighting up their sports headliners.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Speaking of the Rams.
Speaker 4 (20:36):
They're a pretty class organization. They would do something like this.
I think the Dodgers would probably do something like this.
So we know that Jared Versus fan favorite, defensive rookie
of the Year, you got a gift to get. So
the Cleveland Browns were adamant that he'd be added in
that trade, and ultimately they ad to adamant of the
trade in order to bring in Miles Garrett. But what
the Rams are doing, because he was such a fan
favorite and because he sold a lot of jerseys, they
(20:58):
announced earlier today they're offering a free exchange if you
purchased a Jared Versus jersey from their team store, either
online or on site. Because go in, bring in the jersey,
bring in your receipt, and you can exchange it for
any other jersey, uh, for free.
Speaker 3 (21:14):
I'm thinking of one organization.
Speaker 4 (21:15):
You guys could probably think of one too in this
city that definitely would not do that. You guys know
the organization I'm talking about.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
Yes, you want me to say it, Yeah, go ahead
say it.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
The Angels?
Speaker 6 (21:26):
Oh yeah, do.
Speaker 4 (21:27):
You think that the Angels traded Zach NetTel tonight? They'd
have some program where you can exchange that jersey that
you just bought.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
They didn't sign Otani and they're still selling his jerseys.
Speaker 4 (21:39):
Exactly as of last year. They were I don't know
about this year. I haven't seen this year, but as
of last season they still were they were.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
Can we find that out? Are they still selling angel
I'm gonna look at Angels team store.
Speaker 4 (21:50):
Oh but a classic move on the rams. You know,
if if somebody and these jerseys are expensive, especially the
authentic ones, You're talking hundreds of dollars. So for them
to be able to accept those back and be able
to exchange it is a is a cool gesture on
their part.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
But can you exchange it for a Miles Garrett.
Speaker 3 (22:07):
That they have not?
Speaker 4 (22:07):
They said, they said for any other jersey in the
team stores, So I would assume, but I don't know that.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
I would imagine.
Speaker 4 (22:14):
So all right, so Fred is currently checking the Angels
team store to see if they're still selling show hal jerseys.
I will tell you that if they had any left
in inventory, best belief they're still selling them. They're not
shipping those shipping them off to you know, Africa or something,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
The official Angels online shops and it went to the Dodgers.
Speaker 4 (22:39):
Oh yeah, because it's all through mb shop dot com.
So there's that that part. Maybe it's in the throwback
section you know.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
And hold on.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
You fine one.
Speaker 1 (22:57):
No, I do not see it on the Angel teams. No,
I do not see it on the Angel team store.
Hold on, well, I don't see it.
Speaker 3 (23:10):
Mm hmmm.
Speaker 2 (23:13):
As soon as Otani retires, it will be back in there.
Speaker 3 (23:16):
Oh absolutely, Oh my god.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
All right, go ahead, Kevin.
Speaker 4 (23:20):
We can get a so layer jersey. I'm sure those
are flying off the shelves.
Speaker 2 (23:24):
They got a ton of those.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
I'm sure they do. Uh.
Speaker 4 (23:26):
So talking about, uh, the Madden cover, it's a big deal.
Uh For a lot of years, Riddy. During the time
that you played, it was the Madden Curse. You almost
didn't want to be on the cover of Madden because
every year somebody got hurt. Marshall Falk was on there,
got injured. I mean every single Solids here year somebody was.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
Like a three to five year run where it was bad.
Either you got hurt or you had a terrible season.
Speaker 4 (23:47):
Right Michael on that cup Michael Vick was on the cover,
had a terrible season. Sean Alexander won the MVP Award
for the Seahawks, and he had a terrible year the
next year. So at some point in time, the curve
changed and all of a sudden, it's back to being
an honor and guys are playing well. And so earlier
today the NFL announced, or i should say EA Sports
announced that Caleb Williams, your USC brother in there Rodney
(24:08):
is going to be the first Chicago Bear to ever
be on the cover of Madden. And that is a
big deal for players nowadays that they all want to
know what their Madden score is, what they're Madden rating.
That's a huge deal and all that stuff is announced
and players get legitimately pissed off if they feel their
Madden rating is too low. So cool, cool accomplishment there
for Caleb Williams, who had a breakout here last year
for the Bears.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
Yeah, that's a great a camp. It really is. It's
a badge of honor because you know, the which is
really interesting because it's happened when when later in my
career that as new stadiums were being built, new locker
rooms were being built and designed and all those things,
one of the first things that went into the players
(24:49):
lounge in the locker room were TVs and having components
to play Madden because everybody did it, and so in
your downtime, a lot of guys would be playing Madden
in the locker room, and so it is a big
deal and it is a badge of honor. It's like
(25:11):
what Sports Illustrated used to be back in the day
when you're under cover of Sports Illustrated, and to get
that cover for Madden means a great deal for a
lot of folks. So congratulations to Caleb Williams. He deserved it.
You know, a tremendous year for the Bears last year,
getting you know, new coach and new attitude and making
the playoffs and having some great moments throughout the year,
(25:32):
including in the playoffs and the throw he made against
the Rams to send that game where it went. It
was incredible and he had many of those throws. So
it's well deserved. Let's just hope he can he can
have a similar season this year, because we don't want
it to fall off and then they go back to
blaming it on the Madden curse.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
That's exactly the thing. Yeah, right, that's exactly the thing.
He's got to have the same kind of season this year.
He has to, He has no choice.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
If he does, then he's good to go.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
If he doesn't, well, then you know, right, you.
Speaker 4 (26:05):
Know, lesta off the court news or off season news.
Steal the spotlight away from the NBA Finals, which are
tipping off tonight, and we'll talk about that coming up
next time permitting. But the big story is Giannis a
Tittakoupo and where's he's gonna end up now. Sam Aymy
of The Athletic did a ride up this morning about
possible destinations. According to he and him and his sources,
(26:25):
a lot of people in the league still believe that
the most likely destination for Giannas will be with the
Miami Heat, but there's been It's been picking up steam
ever since Oklahoma City got eliminated that they might make
a run at Gianni's because they know that the Spurs
are not going anywhere and they don't have an answer.
Ched Holger came up small, to say the least against
Wimby in the front court. So people are putting two
(26:47):
and two together, like, well, Oklahoma City's not gonna be
able to keep this core together. They're gonna have to
start breaking this up because the guys are making too
much money. So with all the draft picks that they have,
knowing that they have Jayla Williams, an All Star who
they lost from the majority of the season to injury.
Knowing they have chet Holmgren, could they put a package
together with Williams and or Homegren along with draft picks
that would entice the Bucks to send him here or
(27:08):
send him to Oklahoma City. So I guess the question
there is, if you are Oklahoma City, do you send
those assets out and bringing Janton to Takompo who would
have a better shot of being able to hang with Wimby,
although you know he's not as young, so you're gonna
have a very, very finite amount of time with him
in your front court.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
Trading guys, which Jalen Williams.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
Oh the All Star Jalen Williams. Oh, Okay, I say,
quote unquote little Jalen Williams. He's not six seventh.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
Nine, but Williams that played in the playoff. Actually he
played big.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
He played very well for them. He's a role player.
Speaker 4 (27:37):
This is a second team All NBA All Star Jalen
Williams who was out for the majority of.
Speaker 2 (27:41):
The season, right, Okay, yeah, you look two weeks ago. No,
but watching Chet Holmgren shrink and just don't want any
part of Wenby. I mean, I've never seen a All
Star competitive NBA player just shy away and I don't
(28:08):
want to fight. I don't want to compete in a
Game seven like that. I don't think I've ever seen
that before. It was like he did not want to
be there, and it was embarrassing. If I'm him, I'm
going overseas and I'm not coming back until the season
starts again next year. It was utterly how do you
(28:29):
take four shots in game seven? You're the second best
player on the team, You're the guy next to SGA,
you're an All Star. You have this rivalry with this
big fella from San Antonio that leading up to it,
everybody was building it up. Wimby was talking about it.
It was very well known that they don't like each other.
(28:51):
Let's go. It's a heavyweight bout. Let's go, and he
ran and hid. Man If I'm OKAYC, I'm trying to
make that deal happen as soon as possible. I can't
sign it fast enough. If they want check and Jalen Williams,
come on, bring on Giannis. At least I know Jannis
is gonna give me some fight. I know he's gonna
(29:11):
give me some fighting. Plus, you know they didn't let
Giannis play at the end of the year, so he's
probably healthy.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
So let's go, all right, and if they give up
those two players, Kevin, what's their depth flight.
Speaker 3 (29:24):
Uh, they have plenty of depth.
Speaker 4 (29:25):
They have a lot of guys who they have two
guys who are injured during the entire series that didn't
even play and they still made it into Game seven
against Santa.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
And they got these draft picks still, right.
Speaker 4 (29:33):
And Sam Presty is one of the best at identifying talent,
so it would hurt them a little bit, sure, but
they have plenty of death all right.
Speaker 1 (29:42):
So you're weighing the injury risk of Giannis and his age.
Speaker 3 (29:45):
Right, And if you want to acknowledge the fact that
shit is torn, you're gonna.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
Miss Jalen Williams, you know what I mean. With Gianni's
coming there, it's a wash with check not even a wash.
I think Giannis would be better.
Speaker 3 (29:55):
That's an upgrade for sure.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
Yeah, that's an upgrade. So the person you're gonna miss
is Jayleen Waives, all right, So but you do believe
they're given what what happened. Giannis gives you a better
shot against Wenby, but.
Speaker 3 (30:10):
There's no question.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
You gotta do it, then, come on, Fred, if you
give you a better shot, you gotta put you gotta
put Alex Caruso on Wimby, who's six' six and as
opposed to your seven foot one all.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
Star those guys are supposed to be guarding each. Other let's,
go let's. Go come, on and he doesn't even guard with.
Me come, on, yeah you have to make that move, Then. Kevin.
Speaker 4 (30:41):
Yeah speaking Of, wmby of, COURSE i Mentioned game one
of the finals. Tonight The New York knicks underdogs plus
one sixty for the, series San antonio minus one. Ninety
The spurs are four and a half point favorites coming
up In game, one specifically.
Speaker 3 (30:53):
TONIGHT a lot of people like The knicks in this.
Matchup what do you guys think?
Speaker 1 (30:58):
NOW i like The, KNICKS i. DO i think the
stage will Be, look neither one has been, there The
knicks for a long time and this group From San antonio.
Never BUT i think The knicks have played on a
bigger stage all year.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
Long AND i think.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
What will happen is The spurs will will represent but
the little we'll stage.
Speaker 2 (31:17):
FRIGHT i think that's what will.
Speaker 1 (31:19):
HAPPEN i think the lights will be too bright for
in this go. ROUND i just think The knicks playing
In New, york so they dealt with things that The
spurs have not all year. Long bigger, stage more. PRESSURE
i think the next beat.
Speaker 2 (31:29):
Them, YEAH i was. Surprised how to, me it feels
Overwhelmingly knicks are gonna win this, thing even, though like you, said,
Okay spurs are our favorite in this one in game,
one BUT i would tend to agree WITH i think The.
Knicks their roster is more veterans on that roster that's
(31:49):
been there and playing In New york and playing in the,
high high intensity situations AND i leverage situations In New. York,
brunson you're gonna have to find an answer for. Him,
yes The spurs are, gritty they're. YOUNG i think this
could be one of those we get a taste of
(32:13):
what it's like and they go on a run for
the next five years beating The. Spurs BUT i think
The knicks would have the advantage this year because of
their experience number one in their age with their guys
as opposed to the young crew From San. Antonio and that's.
Speaker 3 (32:32):
What's lighting up the.
Speaker 1 (32:33):
Headlines all, Right thank, You, kevin and we will come
back and wrap it.
Speaker 7 (32:42):
Up Make am five Seventy La sports a preset before
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