WEBVTT 1 00:00:37.079 --> 00:00:41.439 Well here we are live in Texas. I hope this looks good, sounds 2 00:00:41.439 --> 00:00:44.439 good. Everyone should be I realize now I'm gonna have to change my headphones 3 00:00:44.439 --> 00:00:48.359 here in a second. But we are here, live the Professor Andrew Murray 4 00:00:48.359 --> 00:00:50.799 standing by. We have Anthony Miller here, Evan Wills Moore. How are 5 00:00:50.799 --> 00:00:55.719 you guys doing to that? Uh, it's it's crazy that we're here. 6 00:00:55.799 --> 00:00:59.200 I mean, this is It almost feels like it's like the third different league 7 00:00:59.200 --> 00:01:00.880 we've been covering over the last three four years. So it's, uh, 8 00:01:02.320 --> 00:01:04.719 it's surreal to finally be here. But it's a it's an exciting time. 9 00:01:04.760 --> 00:01:08.439 I think it's uh, you know, we we're in a world where the 10 00:01:08.560 --> 00:01:12.200 USF and the xfl are merge and we're finally going to see how the final 11 00:01:12.239 --> 00:01:17.159 product looks today. So I'm excited to watch the games today and tomorrow. 12 00:01:17.319 --> 00:01:19.480 Yeah. I saw Mark Perry post, you know, hopefully the last time, 13 00:01:19.599 --> 00:01:23.640 you know, starting covering the beginning of another league. Evan, we 14 00:01:23.640 --> 00:01:26.000 were here last night. Lots of action going on. I'll pull up some 15 00:01:26.079 --> 00:01:29.799 comments here as well. How are you doing. I'm doing great, man. 16 00:01:29.840 --> 00:01:33.000 I think I think Anthony nailed it, you know, it's like whatever 17 00:01:33.079 --> 00:01:37.719 different league that we're covering now, and it never seems to amaze me or 18 00:01:37.840 --> 00:01:41.840 never fails to amaze me. Rather how how many changes we have here. 19 00:01:41.879 --> 00:01:45.040 But I'm excited to be here man, first time in Arlington, you know, 20 00:01:45.280 --> 00:01:48.599 at Chalkedaw and excited to see how everything works around here. Lots of 21 00:01:48.640 --> 00:01:51.359 people checking in, foods off fans. Are you ready set the stage here? 22 00:01:51.439 --> 00:01:53.359 So we're going to have We're gonna go live two hours here. Anthony 23 00:01:53.400 --> 00:01:56.640 and Evan they're going to be here for the first hour. They're going to 24 00:01:56.680 --> 00:02:00.200 start heading to media availability. Professor Andrew Murray is going to be on with 25 00:02:00.239 --> 00:02:02.040 me, and we have guests every fifteen minutes. I posted on Twitter. 26 00:02:02.120 --> 00:02:07.480 The lineup is in the YouTube description to every fifteen minutes. We've got Emory 27 00:02:07.519 --> 00:02:10.080 Hunt's coming on, Mike Mitchell's coming on, Eric Eager is coming on, 28 00:02:10.199 --> 00:02:15.360 Coach Craig javon Alf all friends of the show going to be good. If 29 00:02:15.360 --> 00:02:17.560 you like any of the stuff that we do, please like and subscribe. 30 00:02:17.639 --> 00:02:22.960 Lots of work coming here. We're adding subscribers. We're at the kickoff today 31 00:02:23.000 --> 00:02:24.879 and then if we get to thirty five hundred, we're like one hundred and 32 00:02:25.039 --> 00:02:30.000 change away two free tickets to the championship games, so I might actually make 33 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:32.199 it to Saint Louis. I wasn't sure if I was going to, but 34 00:02:32.240 --> 00:02:35.879 I might actually be there. But anyway, two free tickets for that, 35 00:02:36.039 --> 00:02:38.759 like and subscribe. Lots of work coming here. We'll get into kind of 36 00:02:38.759 --> 00:02:43.599 some of the football stuff, but just overall surreal back at Choctaw. How 37 00:02:43.639 --> 00:02:46.400 are you sensing kind of the vibe here in the community. You know, 38 00:02:46.520 --> 00:02:50.680 I'm relatively surprised to see that all the tailgating go on this mark. There's 39 00:02:50.719 --> 00:02:53.000 quite a bit of people out there already outside of the stadium and we're three 40 00:02:53.039 --> 00:02:58.120 hours away from kickoffs, so you know, you know, Arlington has always 41 00:02:58.199 --> 00:03:01.639 been like in term of twenty twenty XFL twenty twenty three XFL, they were 42 00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:05.560 always middle of the pack when it comes down to attendance, Like they've always 43 00:03:05.560 --> 00:03:07.719 had enough people that come out and enough interest that there was a lot of 44 00:03:07.759 --> 00:03:10.240 excitement. You know. The last couple of days we've seen a lot of 45 00:03:12.159 --> 00:03:15.840 media, like the local Fox station, local ABC station was out at you 46 00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:19.240 know, Choxhau Stadium with coach Stoops and you know, fans were out there, 47 00:03:19.360 --> 00:03:22.280 So I think as the week has gone on, there's been built up 48 00:03:22.280 --> 00:03:24.360 for more, you know, more and more excitement, and you know, 49 00:03:24.439 --> 00:03:28.759 I I think there are people that are excited to see the running gades back. 50 00:03:28.800 --> 00:03:30.879 I think there's more excitement this year just because they won the championship last 51 00:03:30.960 --> 00:03:35.159 year, so I think the expectations are higher. I think there's a lot 52 00:03:35.199 --> 00:03:38.400 more excitement that this team could end up repeating again because they have you know 53 00:03:38.439 --> 00:03:43.280 that this is a more talented roster than they were last year, so they 54 00:03:43.319 --> 00:03:46.120 have the capabilities of doing it. It's gonna be very tough. There's I 55 00:03:46.159 --> 00:03:47.159 know, we talked about a week or so ago. You got you know, 56 00:03:47.360 --> 00:03:50.919 DC, you got Saint Louis, you got Birmingham. We are probably 57 00:03:50.919 --> 00:03:53.120 the favorites to win the title, but Arlington can be in the running for 58 00:03:53.199 --> 00:03:58.479 it. So I think there's people that are excited, especially having Louis Pez 59 00:03:58.560 --> 00:04:00.120 back. I think that was a big pick up them to get him back 60 00:04:00.120 --> 00:04:04.199 for this year because he made the difference in their championship team last year. 61 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:08.319 So I think having him back, and you know, a lot of most 62 00:04:08.319 --> 00:04:11.240 of the team is back, so this should be a really good football team 63 00:04:11.240 --> 00:04:13.719 this year. We have a question about Matt Carroll. We'll talk about that 64 00:04:13.759 --> 00:04:15.759 in a second. Always, guys, if the audio sounds weird, let 65 00:04:15.759 --> 00:04:17.920 me know. I think we're all good. But if there's any issues audio 66 00:04:18.040 --> 00:04:20.519 video, just check in. I can kind of monitor it here. Evan, 67 00:04:20.600 --> 00:04:24.079 I had a comment here, I'll pull it up. Talking about attendance. 68 00:04:25.639 --> 00:04:29.399 You know, I was a little whelmed last year with attendance. I 69 00:04:29.399 --> 00:04:32.360 didn't think it was fantastic. Obviously a beautiful day here. Today it's a 70 00:04:32.360 --> 00:04:35.800 lot where you can literally see chalk taye here behind us, Rangers are playing 71 00:04:35.839 --> 00:04:39.680 at six. I'm going to that game. I'd be friend of the security 72 00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:43.839 guard that got me like a thirteen dollars employee. We went around. I 73 00:04:43.839 --> 00:04:46.639 felt very sketch. We went around. I was like, is this legal? 74 00:04:46.680 --> 00:04:49.000 But so hopefully you get people out here going to this and then going 75 00:04:49.040 --> 00:04:51.439 to the Ragers because it's kind of this complex here. We'll get anthe as 76 00:04:51.480 --> 00:04:56.040 thoughts attendance as well. But Evan, what's your sets? I mean, 77 00:04:56.079 --> 00:04:59.120 I know we looked at the seed charts this week. Always up to judge, 78 00:04:59.120 --> 00:05:00.079 but what do you think? Yeah, I definitely agree. You know, 79 00:05:00.120 --> 00:05:02.680 I was a bit skeptical at first, and maybe the Rangers game would 80 00:05:02.680 --> 00:05:05.920 actually take away from attendance and more the attention would be on that. I 81 00:05:05.920 --> 00:05:10.959 think they're raising the World Series banner tonight, if I'm not mistaken. So 82 00:05:11.839 --> 00:05:15.439 there's that. But you know, I think I think because the Rangers game 83 00:05:15.480 --> 00:05:17.680 is happening, they'll actually be a decent amount of fans who come to the 84 00:05:17.720 --> 00:05:21.000 game because of that, and they'll do both, so hopefully that'll increase attendance. 85 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:25.560 I'm not expecting anything crazy. Again, We've had so many different iterations 86 00:05:25.600 --> 00:05:28.600 of these leagues that I think, you know, some people might be getting 87 00:05:28.600 --> 00:05:30.319 worn out. But we were at Texas Live last night and there was a 88 00:05:30.319 --> 00:05:33.120 guy wearing a Renegade shirt down there, so you know there is some fan 89 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:35.800 pull. It's good to see, Yeah, said Evan, and I were 90 00:05:35.800 --> 00:05:39.680 at Texas Live. I was having the shinderbock, Evan was not. I 91 00:05:39.720 --> 00:05:42.839 saw some of the league officials there, so obviously they're they're peeking around, 92 00:05:43.319 --> 00:05:46.120 appreciative of what we're doing. I see Andrew Murray checking and give me a 93 00:05:46.160 --> 00:05:47.759 thumbs up, and he's ready to go. We'll pull him on then. 94 00:05:47.879 --> 00:05:51.360 I don't forget Greg Park's first guest coming up here at about ten minutes. 95 00:05:51.399 --> 00:05:56.040 So Andy's fixing this here, Andrew. How are we looking? How are 96 00:05:56.040 --> 00:05:59.319 we sounding here? We're doing all right? You're muted, so I do 97 00:05:59.439 --> 00:06:01.199 know that that is not my foot. That's okay, look at and the 98 00:06:01.240 --> 00:06:05.680 other. No, we'll get Andrews still muted here, Let's get you unmuted. 99 00:06:08.480 --> 00:06:13.759 There we go. How are you, sir? I still can't hear? 100 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:15.800 Can you guys hear? No? I and you see if you can 101 00:06:15.839 --> 00:06:17.959 work with that. Let me see if it's our setting this as well, 102 00:06:18.399 --> 00:06:23.800 Anthony, Uh, let's talk this. Uh to me, the biggest breaking 103 00:06:23.800 --> 00:06:27.319 news coming out is that Matt Corral is Matt Corral as his writing quarterback. 104 00:06:27.319 --> 00:06:29.639 I think a lot of people thought, JMR is do you know anything about 105 00:06:29.680 --> 00:06:32.199 Is that an injury? What are we expecting there? I mean, that's 106 00:06:32.199 --> 00:06:34.800 a great question. I haven't heard anything about it. I mean I'm surprised 107 00:06:34.839 --> 00:06:40.079 that JMR is inactive. I mean that that's that's I think the biggest surprise 108 00:06:40.120 --> 00:06:42.639 of the season so far. Like, I don't think people I don't think 109 00:06:42.639 --> 00:06:46.000 many people are surprised to hear that Matt Correll was either going to start or 110 00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:48.000 at least be one of the you know, the two quarterbacks that you know, 111 00:06:48.040 --> 00:06:50.759 Skip Holes talked about was going to be in you know, uh, 112 00:06:51.040 --> 00:06:55.000 you know, using two quarterbacks this season. So I don't think that was 113 00:06:55.000 --> 00:06:56.959 the surprise to see Matt crow is gonna be one of the two. But 114 00:06:57.160 --> 00:07:00.279 for Adrian Martinez to take that backup job that that's a a really big surprise. 115 00:07:00.360 --> 00:07:02.839 And you know from the injury boards. I mean, JMR is not 116 00:07:02.879 --> 00:07:06.879 on any injury board, so I don't know, it doesn't seem like it's 117 00:07:06.879 --> 00:07:11.800 an injury. So I think, look the potential with Matt Correll coming in 118 00:07:11.839 --> 00:07:15.480 here, He's already been highly you know, regarded as one of the top 119 00:07:15.519 --> 00:07:19.639 quarterbacks in the USFL or the UFL, and just you know the way he's 120 00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:23.720 been able to you know, what he did at Old Miss being able to 121 00:07:23.959 --> 00:07:26.079 the way he threw the football, the way was you know, able to 122 00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:29.319 run it as well. He's got a lot he's got a lot of Alex 123 00:07:29.399 --> 00:07:31.160 Magoo in him, and I think that's what Skip Holes kind of saw in 124 00:07:31.279 --> 00:07:35.439 him. So I'm not surprised Matt Correll is you know, going to be 125 00:07:36.040 --> 00:07:39.560 you know it as one of the two quarterbacks. But it'll be interesting to 126 00:07:39.560 --> 00:07:42.399 see what they use what Adrian Martinez. I can see him as more of 127 00:07:42.439 --> 00:07:46.279 like a package quarterback for like you know, trick plays and running plays and 128 00:07:46.279 --> 00:07:47.839 stuff like that. I don't really see Adrian as the guy that's going to 129 00:07:47.920 --> 00:07:50.839 be able, who's going to step back and you know, throw five to 130 00:07:50.839 --> 00:07:55.160 seven passes a game. It's probably gonna be more. I would not be 131 00:07:55.199 --> 00:07:58.759 surprised that Matt Carrell gets the majority of the steps well, because I just 132 00:07:58.759 --> 00:08:01.759 had that question too, and then we'll I'll Evan will get Andy popmagin here. 133 00:08:01.759 --> 00:08:03.800 I think he's good. The question was like, oh, jmr, 134 00:08:03.839 --> 00:08:07.120 he's QB three because you know the UFL has that rule you can have the 135 00:08:07.120 --> 00:08:11.160 third quarterback injuries all that. But I mean he's totally active. I mean, 136 00:08:11.199 --> 00:08:13.000 you'd have to be dressed, right, So what's your thoughts on that? 137 00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:15.839 And I'll pull up Andy here. Yeah, I mean, I you 138 00:08:15.879 --> 00:08:18.279 know, I was a bit surprised that they named Matt Corrall the starter, 139 00:08:18.399 --> 00:08:20.360 but there's no doubt that he's one of the biggest quarterback names in this league. 140 00:08:20.360 --> 00:08:22.959 And to be honest, I mean I keep saying the rich get richer 141 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:26.879 with Birmingham. I think that quarterback room in particular that they have between Matt 142 00:08:26.879 --> 00:08:31.720 Corrall, Adrian Martinez and even Jamar Smith. He's going to be an active 143 00:08:31.759 --> 00:08:33.600 today, but all three of those guys I think bring a lot of value 144 00:08:33.600 --> 00:08:37.080 to the table. When your QB three, the inactive QB three is a 145 00:08:37.080 --> 00:08:41.480 guy who led you to a championship in twenty twenty two, that should tell 146 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:45.240 you a lot. So I think they think very highly of their quarterbacks and 147 00:08:45.279 --> 00:08:48.240 I'm excited to see Corral. Hopefully we get to see a bit of Adrian 148 00:08:48.279 --> 00:08:50.960 Martinez around this time last year, his name was getting a lot of traction 149 00:08:52.039 --> 00:08:54.720 in the NFL draft. I think he signed UDFA contract with the Lions, 150 00:08:56.279 --> 00:08:58.799 and then obviously now he's with Birmingham. So excited to see how it unfolds. 151 00:08:58.840 --> 00:09:01.799 I know that Matt Carrow's name carries a lot of weight and he was 152 00:09:01.879 --> 00:09:07.360 one of my top players in this league going into this season. Andy, 153 00:09:07.440 --> 00:09:09.480 let's see you on here? Can we get here? You now? What's 154 00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:11.559 your thoughts? I can hear you, Mike go what is your thoughts here 155 00:09:11.559 --> 00:09:13.919 that Matt carl Jmr Smith debate? Well? First of all, hopefully I 156 00:09:13.960 --> 00:09:16.480 have more false starts than they are in the entire game, So I'm glad 157 00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:22.320 that's not going to happen hopefully anymore. But yeah, it's really interesting that 158 00:09:22.399 --> 00:09:26.519 jamr is not in the lineup at all, is not listed on the activity 159 00:09:26.519 --> 00:09:28.879 A roster today. I think that's kind of a testament to how much depth 160 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:35.039 there is on the Birmingham Stallions roster in general. But also keep in mind, 161 00:09:35.080 --> 00:09:37.879 I mean, Skip Holtz has had to have a lot of moving pieces 162 00:09:37.879 --> 00:09:41.080 when it's come to the quarterbacks, right, I mean, you me, 163 00:09:41.240 --> 00:09:46.279 Reid. We saw Alex McGoo starting for the Stallions in twenty twenty two, 164 00:09:46.759 --> 00:09:48.960 and then he eventually got replaced by j Mar Smith in that game where he 165 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:52.879 came back to win against the Generals, and he was kind of the anointed 166 00:09:52.960 --> 00:09:54.519 start of the rest of the season unless he got hurt and wasn't in the 167 00:09:54.559 --> 00:10:00.240 lineup. Fast forward to twenty twenty three, Jay Mar Smith gets hurt, 168 00:10:00.320 --> 00:10:03.240 Alex McCoo comes down, has a spectacular season and now goes into the NFL. 169 00:10:03.320 --> 00:10:07.200 So, I mean, Skip Holds is kind of used to shifting pieces 170 00:10:07.200 --> 00:10:11.240 for Matt Corral. I mean, this is a great opportunity. I mean, 171 00:10:11.320 --> 00:10:16.000 I just hope he stays healthy because injuries have just absolutely plagued him since 172 00:10:16.039 --> 00:10:18.279 he ever since he came out of college, and he even got hurt in 173 00:10:18.279 --> 00:10:20.600 his last game in the Sugar Bowl for Old Miss. So for him, 174 00:10:20.679 --> 00:10:24.240 it's really just the key is staying healthy. And I think if you run 175 00:10:24.440 --> 00:10:28.399 rpo with him and if you're able to kind of use his legs a little 176 00:10:28.399 --> 00:10:31.200 bit more, it could really make some dynamic things happen in this offense. 177 00:10:31.240 --> 00:10:33.080 I think that's why Magou was so effective last year. I mean, his 178 00:10:33.200 --> 00:10:37.960 legs and his arm were both things that were just fantastic assets for this entire 179 00:10:39.000 --> 00:10:41.679 squad. And also you know they I mean they got injured at other positions 180 00:10:41.720 --> 00:10:45.600 too, like with Cyrus Mitchell and a couple of their receiverd Marlon Williams, 181 00:10:45.639 --> 00:10:48.799 like they got really decimated by injuries last year at the receiver positions, both 182 00:10:48.840 --> 00:10:54.519 Scarborough, both Scarborough got hurt. So really it's just a matter of them 183 00:10:54.519 --> 00:10:56.879 staying healthy. But yeah, I mean for Corral, I'm not surprised that 184 00:10:56.919 --> 00:11:01.480 he's starting and that Adrian Martinez in the mix. Maybe it's a little surprising 185 00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:03.840 the people who follow Janmar Smith and especially on Twitter, he's very pronounced on 186 00:11:03.879 --> 00:11:07.399 Twitter. But I think it's just a testament to how much depth there is 187 00:11:07.399 --> 00:11:11.960 on the roster. I'll getting questions here about Louis Perez. I know Andy 188 00:11:11.000 --> 00:11:15.000 will have thoughts on that, but we'll circle back. Let's go to Anthony 189 00:11:15.000 --> 00:11:16.759 first. Here I'm gonna get my Andy and my Anthony messed up all day. 190 00:11:16.799 --> 00:11:20.240 I have a feeling. But you know, Prez coming back. We're 191 00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:22.000 getting comments we was on see Lindsay Scott as well. So I know you 192 00:11:22.039 --> 00:11:24.480 cover the Renegades. You do a great job covering a lot of the teams 193 00:11:24.600 --> 00:11:28.759 Sports Illustrated, but certainly the Renegades as well. Being here at the Arlington's 194 00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:31.559 what are you making the quarterbacks there? Yeah, So obviously Louis Prince is 195 00:11:31.559 --> 00:11:35.840 going to start. Obviously he's the main start of this team. A lot 196 00:11:35.879 --> 00:11:39.759 of praise from him from his leadership ability to how quickly he can learn an 197 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:43.320 offense like his football IQ. I really think he's among the highest in this 198 00:11:43.440 --> 00:11:46.759 league just because of all the trades and all the moves that he has been 199 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:50.840 you know, put through the ringer nearly since twenty nineteen in the AAF with 200 00:11:50.919 --> 00:11:54.519 the Birmingham Iron. So obviously not a surprise that he's starting. I know 201 00:11:54.559 --> 00:11:56.840 a lot of people have questioned about, you know, Lindsay Scott and how 202 00:11:56.840 --> 00:12:01.120 he's going to be used. Coach Dubes has you know, he hasn't really 203 00:12:01.120 --> 00:12:05.279 said it, you know, formally, but I know Mike Mitchell and I 204 00:12:05.320 --> 00:12:07.399 when we were on a zoom call a couple of weeks ago with Coach Tubes, 205 00:12:07.440 --> 00:12:11.639 he did say that, you know, there there could be packages for 206 00:12:11.679 --> 00:12:13.639 Lindsay's gott and I think that you're really there really should be packaged for him. 207 00:12:13.639 --> 00:12:16.480 I think he's you know, when I saw him in the open practice, 208 00:12:16.519 --> 00:12:18.840 he's got a great arm. You know, when he rolls out of 209 00:12:18.840 --> 00:12:22.639 the pocket, he is, you know, pinpoint accuracy with the football. 210 00:12:22.919 --> 00:12:28.600 I think with him you can really use him on running plays, play action 211 00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:31.240 RPO plays. That's the type of stuff they're probably gonna be using him for. 212 00:12:31.399 --> 00:12:37.000 So is there gonna be a two quarterback system? I know, not 213 00:12:37.080 --> 00:12:39.080 really. I think Louis will probably get the majority of the of the plays, 214 00:12:39.080 --> 00:12:43.519 but I think Linday Scott's gonna use a lot like how Kelly Bryant was 215 00:12:43.559 --> 00:12:46.039 using the offense last year, where you know, he was mostly just running. 216 00:12:46.039 --> 00:12:48.559 I think he threw it maybe once or twice, but for the most 217 00:12:48.559 --> 00:12:52.759 part, Lindsay Scott's gonna be out there to be a decoy kind of throw 218 00:12:52.759 --> 00:12:54.360 people off. But I would like to see Lindsay Scott throw the football a 219 00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:58.600 little bit more this year because I think there's a lot of upside with him 220 00:12:58.600 --> 00:13:01.519 where you know, if Louis Perez decides that, you know, he wants 221 00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:05.039 to call it quits for football, Lindsay's got would be a great replacement for 222 00:13:05.120 --> 00:13:07.720 him. Well, that's my question to Evan is you know, obviously you 223 00:13:07.720 --> 00:13:11.039 know, you guys are the football experts are here when Lindsay Scott was being 224 00:13:11.080 --> 00:13:15.080 courted by the league and coming in, I mean that was it seemed to 225 00:13:15.080 --> 00:13:16.679 me at least our fan base is very excited for that. So obviously you're 226 00:13:16.679 --> 00:13:20.000 gonna go with Luis as long as you can. But what upside do you 227 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:22.679 see from Lindsay in the quadeback situation there? Yeah, Lindsay's name carries a 228 00:13:22.679 --> 00:13:26.240 lot of weight. He's somebody that I'm glad to call a personal friend. 229 00:13:26.360 --> 00:13:30.440 Very intriguing college career. Believed he played a seventh season, starting at LSU 230 00:13:30.519 --> 00:13:33.759 Goo Tigers and ending at Incarnate Wards, So you know, he was in 231 00:13:33.799 --> 00:13:37.200 college for seven years. But yeah. I mean he's a bit undersize, 232 00:13:37.240 --> 00:13:39.320 you know, never really I think fit the NFL game pretty sure. When 233 00:13:39.360 --> 00:13:43.399 he came out in the draft, he was already twenty five years old, 234 00:13:43.480 --> 00:13:46.320 so had many camps with Jets and Buccaneers. But you know, it wasn't 235 00:13:46.360 --> 00:13:50.440 exactly a prime NFL candidate, I think for a lot of teams. But 236 00:13:50.519 --> 00:13:52.879 I do see a lot of upside in him. I think it's an interesting 237 00:13:52.919 --> 00:13:56.519 discussion to be having now that Luis Perez is getting older. You know, 238 00:13:56.559 --> 00:13:58.480 we've seen him go through all these leagues. You just wonder when is he 239 00:13:58.519 --> 00:14:01.320 going to slow down? And I certainly think that he's still got a lot 240 00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:03.759 more guests left in the tank. I'm not rooting against him. He is 241 00:14:03.799 --> 00:14:07.440 a Spring league legend. We all know that. I'm gonna give him my 242 00:14:07.519 --> 00:14:11.559 flowers whenever I can. But you know, I see a lot of a 243 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:13.559 lot of potential in Lindsay Scott, and I do think that they found the 244 00:14:13.639 --> 00:14:18.840 right guy to take over in the event that Louise slows down or gets injured, 245 00:14:18.919 --> 00:14:22.080 or you know, this thing keeps going for a couple more years, 246 00:14:22.080 --> 00:14:24.399 any one of those scenarios. You know, we think very highly of Lindsay 247 00:14:24.440 --> 00:14:28.559 Scott. Andy will toss you and then we have Greg standing by. We'll 248 00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:30.720 pull him up here in the medvent and we'll talk more. You the don't 249 00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:33.080 feel like he had a wax poetic on Luis here for ten minutes. But 250 00:14:33.080 --> 00:14:35.360 I want to make sure you get a chance to comment here. We'll circle 251 00:14:35.399 --> 00:14:37.360 back. But thoughts on this and the upside Lindsay Scott everything else with the 252 00:14:37.360 --> 00:14:41.200 Renegans. I mean, time is a flat circle. Read this guy, 253 00:14:41.440 --> 00:14:45.639 Perez just keeps showing you up time after time after time. I've been watching 254 00:14:45.679 --> 00:14:50.639 this man for five years in string football now starting with AF You and I 255 00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:54.320 covered the game when they opened the USFL in twenty twenty two. We see 256 00:14:54.360 --> 00:14:56.759 him in the championship game last year. I mean, this guy just doesn't 257 00:14:56.840 --> 00:15:01.080 he doesn't go away, like don't forget the joust the Jousers. Of course 258 00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:05.720 your your team, the Jousters, And I mean he's just he's a gnat. 259 00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:09.039 He doesn't go away. He just keeps bugging people and he performs well 260 00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:13.559 in a way that his football knowledge is. I think he could be a 261 00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:16.919 coach after he plays, because his football knowledge is incredible. He really just 262 00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:22.759 has the acumen to understand the game at a really supreme level. Maybe his 263 00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:26.360 athletic traits have never been there, and maybe the reason why he's not in 264 00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:30.480 the NFL. But I mean, there's no doubting his cerebral knowledge of the 265 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:33.000 game of football. So for him to be here once again to start against 266 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:37.240 the Stallions again just as a testament to him. But I like your points 267 00:15:37.279 --> 00:15:41.600 on Lindsay Scott. Really, this whole roster for the Renegades really fascinates me 268 00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:46.480 a lot. I'm really interested to see if people, like for example, 269 00:15:46.559 --> 00:15:52.200 Javonta Peyton, if he can consistently produce over the season, because I know 270 00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:56.080 he exploded in that game against the Roughnecks, which I know Evan and Anthony 271 00:15:56.120 --> 00:16:00.519 we're both witnessed too, but I just we are. We have the mad 272 00:16:00.600 --> 00:16:03.559 trying to break into I was trying to make us and he's coming out. 273 00:16:03.679 --> 00:16:07.799 My god, the door's coming down. I mean, hopefully she should have 274 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:11.919 a battery ram, but I just just yeah, just to go off. 275 00:16:11.960 --> 00:16:17.240 Though, I think this Renegade team gets stronger. I agree to the points 276 00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:21.120 about as I mentioned, Lindsay Scott, one of the names that's really kind 277 00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:25.399 of interesting for me to look at is Cameron Hunt, who's the starting the 278 00:16:25.440 --> 00:16:27.600 starting center for the team. I know he's played guard. He was drafted 279 00:16:27.600 --> 00:16:32.320 by the Stallions in twenty twenty two, so he has familiarity with that coaching 280 00:16:32.320 --> 00:16:37.399 staff. Honestly, Johnathan Heinbach, who you've all talked to, the offensive 281 00:16:37.399 --> 00:16:40.120 line coach, has been on both rosters, so there is some familiarity, 282 00:16:40.200 --> 00:16:45.000 some crossover here as well. So that to me is really fascinating just to 283 00:16:45.080 --> 00:16:48.679 kind of know that both these teams, these players, and the coaches are 284 00:16:48.759 --> 00:16:52.320 very familiar with one another. I'll comment your comment here, Bobby Scott will 285 00:16:52.320 --> 00:16:55.399 to get to that in a second wide receivers for Ari on the fan. 286 00:16:55.559 --> 00:17:00.960 Let's pull up Greg Parks here UFL board. Greg, we look sounding good. 287 00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:04.400 How's everything going here? You look great? Uh? You sound great? 288 00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:10.839 And I you know, I thought what better time to try my first 289 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:17.359 Zoa Energy then on kickoff weekend for the UFL. And you know, it 290 00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:22.279 is the official energy drink of the UFL. And by gosh, if you 291 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:26.680 paid attention to the Instagram stories of these teams throughout training camp, you know 292 00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:30.519 that they almost you know, put this right into their veins. They had 293 00:17:30.519 --> 00:17:36.279 it so often. So whatever advertising they use worked for me, so I'm 294 00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:38.400 trying it for the first time here today. All I wanted to say is, 295 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:41.359 look at you, Greg, look at you. Look at you. 296 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:45.160 Look at you, Greg. And when this and when this stream is done, 297 00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:48.640 I want you to keep the same energy about this, Zoe. Yeah, 298 00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:52.400 the rock is really I am liking this a lot. I don't know 299 00:17:52.440 --> 00:17:56.400 if it's the best for promoting football, but it certainly is good to get 300 00:17:56.440 --> 00:17:59.720 them on TV. Greg. What's your status here? I mean I think 301 00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:02.920 you're a little bit more of a pragmatic realist like I am. Here. 302 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:04.759 We're coming today. I'm back in the same hotel I was last year. 303 00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:08.000 We've got the same kind of you know, different different uh you know, 304 00:18:08.079 --> 00:18:11.319 branding, different league stuff. We have different letters on the depth chart, 305 00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:15.319 So what do you make of them all this? There is a certain level 306 00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:18.160 of deja vous that you're feeling. I think, Uh, you know, 307 00:18:18.200 --> 00:18:21.640 I was here last year when we were kicking off the XFL in twenty twenty 308 00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:23.920 three, and you know, we had pretty high hopes, but I think 309 00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:29.720 we were pretty measured in our expectations, and I think it's the same way 310 00:18:29.799 --> 00:18:33.359 this time. There's a little bit more reason for optimism. I think just 311 00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:37.519 because you have you know, last year there was the concern of these two 312 00:18:37.640 --> 00:18:45.920 leagues potentially taking viewership away from each other, and we've seen online that tribalism 313 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:49.279 between the two fan bases that hopefully goes away for the most part. You 314 00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:53.039 know, they still got the XFL and the USFL conferences. But you know, 315 00:18:53.119 --> 00:18:57.000 we're we're all pushing in the same direction this year, and so you 316 00:18:57.039 --> 00:19:02.720 know, that concern is out of the way. So it's still spring football. 317 00:19:02.799 --> 00:19:04.759 It's still an uphill battle to be successful. But I think when you 318 00:19:04.839 --> 00:19:10.519 have entities like Fox Sports, like Redbird, like ESPN again all pushing in 319 00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:14.279 the same direction, I do think it gives you a better chance at success 320 00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:19.240 than uh the USFL or XFL individually that we had last year. Talking about 321 00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:23.519 that. The rivalry right you know, XML versus USFL and boiling that you 322 00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:27.200 know today especially right tomorrow, I think is more in their conference games. 323 00:19:27.519 --> 00:19:30.599 Anthony, what do you I mean to me? That's really smart obviously champion 324 00:19:30.680 --> 00:19:33.039 versus champion and kind of the both teams, But what do you make of 325 00:19:33.039 --> 00:19:37.880 that as the kind of the I don't know if the branding win maybe is 326 00:19:37.960 --> 00:19:40.359 as good as it could have, But I think that at least in theory, 327 00:19:40.400 --> 00:19:41.720 this is the best way to start out the season with this matchup. 328 00:19:41.799 --> 00:19:45.359 Yeah, you had to have the two champions go against each other and you 329 00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:48.519 know, have the tribalism that Greg was talking about, you know, be 330 00:19:48.920 --> 00:19:55.359 in full fledge with you know, USFL fans supporting the Stallions and XFL fans 331 00:19:55.440 --> 00:19:57.799 supporting the Renegades. I think there could you know, talking about the marketing 332 00:19:57.839 --> 00:20:02.559 side, I really think they could of. I didn't see as much marketing 333 00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:06.960 on you know, these games as I really should have, Like I know, 334 00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:11.319 on some of the you know, the typical you know, Fox shows 335 00:20:11.319 --> 00:20:14.400 that they have in the mornings, you know, first things first, Like 336 00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:15.599 I know, they kind of talked about a little bit, but again, 337 00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:21.160 like I hate when they do that because you clearly know that these you know, 338 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:25.000 these broadcasters don't know the league like that. That's the most frustrating part. 339 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:26.680 I would rather them do like a one on one interview with like Darryl 340 00:20:26.759 --> 00:20:32.960 Johnson or somebody within the league or you know, somebody who knows the league 341 00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:34.799 better than anybody else, like r J. Young, Like I wish I 342 00:20:34.839 --> 00:20:37.240 would have seen him a lot more, Like I know, we have our 343 00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:41.039 opinions of it, but he he is the Fox expert on the on the 344 00:20:41.160 --> 00:20:45.400 UFL like that. I should have seen him a lot more on TV instead 345 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:48.319 of you know, Nick Wright not really talking much about it and just you 346 00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:52.599 know, speaking in generals about it, because there are experts out there that 347 00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:56.839 know this league, you know, better than the you know, the talent 348 00:20:56.880 --> 00:20:59.000 that they have a Fox. So I wish they would have done a better 349 00:20:59.079 --> 00:21:02.279 job marketing, but that that's something that they have been doing over the last 350 00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:04.359 couple of years on thoughts with the USFL, and I wish they would stop 351 00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:07.039 doing it and bring on experts. Now I'm not saying they need to bring 352 00:21:07.160 --> 00:21:10.920 us on, but there but you know, get Joe klatt On, he 353 00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:15.039 knows that he knows these leagues better than anybody else on national television. Put 354 00:21:15.119 --> 00:21:17.640 him on TV everywhere and let him talk about it. Well, and they 355 00:21:17.720 --> 00:21:19.680 had they had clad on. I did see him on Coward, but he 356 00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:22.960 was in the context of like we're talking first round picks and then what do 357 00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:26.119 you make I mean I did watch that because I'm like, oh, let 358 00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:29.279 me hear what Joko has to say. Evan In terms of the matchup in 359 00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:33.880 terms of you know, kind of the premiere I hate you where the premiere 360 00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:37.359 is bringing with the two premiere teams here, I mean, certainly a good 361 00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:40.920 way to roll out. Just overall thoughts on that, it's kind of the 362 00:21:40.920 --> 00:21:41.960 way to kick the season up. Yeah, I mean, look, you 363 00:21:41.960 --> 00:21:45.160 know, there's a lot to be excited about, you know, obviously now 364 00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:48.359 that we've joined forces, I think there's going to be a lot more exposure 365 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:52.240 on this league. But the take that I always keep having, and then 366 00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:55.119 I'm going to say now is we're here a couple hours away from kickoff, 367 00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:56.400 is just want to make sure that the talent level is right, you know, 368 00:21:56.440 --> 00:22:00.559 if you've got more eyes you know on this with the big networks, 369 00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:02.920 you want to make sure that you're putting the right product out there and that 370 00:22:03.640 --> 00:22:06.519 you have the right players. I work in player personnel. I understand the 371 00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:08.240 importance of that. You know, it starts with that on field product. 372 00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:11.480 I mean, you can do, you know, all the great stuff that 373 00:22:11.559 --> 00:22:15.279 Fox does from a broadcasting perspective, but if you don't have the players to 374 00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:17.599 get it done, it's gonna be a pretty tough you know, to be 375 00:22:17.599 --> 00:22:19.720 able to enjoy the game and to get excited about it. So I feel 376 00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:22.960 like these teams, you know, roster wise, are very good. I 377 00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:26.279 know we touched on that a bit with the quarterbacks, you know, So 378 00:22:26.359 --> 00:22:27.680 yeah, I mean I expect it to be a good game. I do 379 00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:30.519 think Birmingham will win. I know we're not getting the predictions yet, but 380 00:22:32.079 --> 00:22:34.640 I do like the Stallions in this game. So excited all around. I 381 00:22:34.680 --> 00:22:37.480 think again, you know, like you guys talked about they picked the right 382 00:22:37.559 --> 00:22:41.559 matchup, you know, having the two champions go against each other. It 383 00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:44.680 was something that you know, I think we had flirted with before the merger 384 00:22:44.799 --> 00:22:47.759 had even really been been a thing. People were saying like, oh, 385 00:22:47.880 --> 00:22:51.039 could you imagine if the Stallions played the Renegades, Like wouldn't that be so 386 00:22:51.119 --> 00:22:53.559 cool? And now it's actually happening. So just kind of crazy how things 387 00:22:53.559 --> 00:22:56.839 work out. Man. I can't stress that enough, you know, just 388 00:22:56.880 --> 00:23:00.039 how surreal it is again to be in this position. But yeah, and 389 00:23:00.200 --> 00:23:02.440 overall, I feel like we're in a good spot right now. A couple 390 00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:06.240 hours before kickoff, Greg talking football here and then we'll get andy these thoughts 391 00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:08.880 as well. We were talking quarterbacks. I had a question some of it. 392 00:23:08.920 --> 00:23:12.960 Sorry, just talking about kind of the wide receiver corps for Arlington and 393 00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:15.599 overall, you know, bringing in Louis, I want to get your thoughts 394 00:23:15.640 --> 00:23:18.559 on that matchup, but we'll probably transition to some of the other matchups as 395 00:23:18.599 --> 00:23:21.559 we go through these guests. But at least while we have you here at 396 00:23:21.559 --> 00:23:23.680 the beginning and what are your thoughts on who do you see kind of go 397 00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:27.440 because at Birmingham's scary and I think I've had a lot of people comment at 398 00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:30.319 both you know, football players in otherwise like Birmingham's going to come in and 399 00:23:30.359 --> 00:23:36.279 bollywop this. I hope not. I hope it's a little bit more competitive 400 00:23:36.279 --> 00:23:41.200 game. But yeah, Birmingham seems far and away, at least on paper, 401 00:23:41.359 --> 00:23:44.920 the best team in the league now. As Chris Berman always used to 402 00:23:44.920 --> 00:23:48.319 say, that's why they play the games, right, So we'll see. 403 00:23:48.359 --> 00:23:53.440 You know, Arlington's receiver corps is interesting. I wrote about this in my 404 00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:59.200 positional rankings for UFL board that I think they have some interesting pieces. I 405 00:23:59.240 --> 00:24:03.240 just don't know how they fit all together really well at receiver with guys like 406 00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:07.599 Javonte Payton, with guys like Lewan Winningham. Certainly sale canal at tight end 407 00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:10.880 is going to be an important piece of what they do in the passing game. 408 00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:15.039 So you know, they had to replace a lot of offensive linemen, 409 00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:19.720 and so how they gel together and work together, and how all offensive lines 410 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:22.960 across the league jael together because that's the one position. And you heard Jim 411 00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:29.640 Harbaugh waxing poetic about it earlier this week about offensive lines and how every position 412 00:24:29.720 --> 00:24:33.000 relies on the offensive line, but the offensive line doesn't rely on any other 413 00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:37.920 position basically to do their jobs. So you know that's going to be interesting 414 00:24:37.960 --> 00:24:40.960 to see over the first couple of weeks, is how do these offensive lines 415 00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:45.319 shel together? Are the offensive lines that are most successful, ones that bring 416 00:24:45.359 --> 00:24:48.839 players back from previous seasons and have worked together before in those schemes. So 417 00:24:49.799 --> 00:24:53.920 I think Birmingham does bring a couple of players back along the offensive line Arlington, 418 00:24:53.920 --> 00:24:56.920 I think just one, Cameron Hunt. So it's really going to be 419 00:24:57.000 --> 00:25:00.880 interesting to see how that develops as well. We'll go to Andy here and 420 00:25:00.880 --> 00:25:03.880 they'll get one more for Greg. I see Emory Hunt's punctual standing by here 421 00:25:03.880 --> 00:25:07.359 in the background, so we'll get him on here in the second Andy the 422 00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:11.640 matchup of that, because the continuity right Birmingham right three p here coming back 423 00:25:11.640 --> 00:25:15.720 in Arlington. You're seeing now the continuity with some of the XFL. Is 424 00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:19.559 that enough with with Arlington and all of this or what are you making to 425 00:25:19.640 --> 00:25:22.440 just kind of piggyback off of what Greg was saying and I was trying to 426 00:25:22.440 --> 00:25:26.759 point out a little bit earlier, is Yes, the receiving core for Arlington 427 00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:29.759 is a little bit of a mishmash. Javonta Payton, like I said, 428 00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:32.759 came out in the playoffs and looked really good, but can he do it 429 00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:36.559 over the course of a full season. And Deontay Burnett continues his moment of 430 00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:40.319 with Arlington that he had with Houston. Guys like Davion Smith. I like 431 00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:42.599 Davion Smith a lot. I wonder how much Juicy has left. Guys like 432 00:25:42.680 --> 00:25:45.799 Leeddy Brown are a little bit more intriguing to me that are sitting right behind 433 00:25:45.880 --> 00:25:48.640 him. I think this Arlington team is still going to go through its growing 434 00:25:48.680 --> 00:25:52.759 pains with its offense. Obviously, it's going to be working more of the 435 00:25:52.759 --> 00:25:55.519 intermediate routes, not a deep field passing game. It's going to be a 436 00:25:55.559 --> 00:25:57.960 little bit more methodical. To Anthony's point that I know he said this on 437 00:25:59.000 --> 00:26:02.279 your show, The other day looked like and Jonathan Heinbach also talked about this 438 00:26:02.279 --> 00:26:04.559 too on your show. The practices have been more crisp and they've been a 439 00:26:04.559 --> 00:26:07.839 little bit less janky like they were last year. So maybe coming out of 440 00:26:07.880 --> 00:26:11.400 the gate they feel like they're more prepared, but I still think it's gonna 441 00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:15.440 take time for this offense to gel so defensively on on special teams, I 442 00:26:15.440 --> 00:26:18.319 think they're just fine, Like they're gonna be wrestling on the same laurels they 443 00:26:18.359 --> 00:26:21.160 had last year, and their coaching staff is gonna kind of keep the game 444 00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:25.480 manageable. But against teams like Birmingham and Saint Louis and maybe something with a 445 00:26:25.519 --> 00:26:29.640 more fire power on offense, they might struggle a little bit to kind of 446 00:26:29.640 --> 00:26:30.880 get out of the gate again. And it's not because of the lack of 447 00:26:30.920 --> 00:26:34.680 talent. I think it's just cohesion. Greg thoughts for you. We'll get 448 00:26:34.680 --> 00:26:37.960 you a couple more comments here from you, we'll let you go and then 449 00:26:37.960 --> 00:26:40.240 we'll bring on Emry. Like I said, guys like it, subscribe, 450 00:26:40.279 --> 00:26:41.240 you appreciate the work. I have a lot of guests today. I really 451 00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:45.480 appreciate everyone taking the time early Saturday morning here, Greg, whether you hoping 452 00:26:45.519 --> 00:26:49.640 to see from the game today, from the weekend, and then just kind 453 00:26:49.640 --> 00:26:53.319 of overall here, just kind of looking for it because you know, we 454 00:26:53.359 --> 00:26:56.000 don't even know what expectations are fraid of this stuff right now. I mean, 455 00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:59.160 we're assuming we're back here next year. What are you hoping to see 456 00:27:00.279 --> 00:27:03.240 as far as on field, just clean games, a minimum of penalties, 457 00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:07.599 a minimum of turnovers. You know, turnovers can be exciting, but not 458 00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:14.240 half dozen the game. I think that that can be concerning for offenses and 459 00:27:14.279 --> 00:27:18.640 things like that, and so close games, competitive games, you know, 460 00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:21.480 like a lot of what we saw with the XFL last year. I know 461 00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:25.240 their margin of victory was pretty small, and I think they hit really the 462 00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:29.319 goal that they wanted to hit last year in terms of how close the games 463 00:27:29.319 --> 00:27:33.400 were into the fourth quarter and things like that. So you know, that 464 00:27:33.400 --> 00:27:36.160 I think is really all you can ask for the first weekend and then kind 465 00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:37.839 of let the chips fall where they may in terms of viewership, in terms 466 00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:44.599 of what's out there who talks about the league. That that's something that the 467 00:27:44.680 --> 00:27:48.240 league doesn't really have a ton of control over at that point either, you 468 00:27:48.279 --> 00:27:52.359 know, But to go off of what Anthony said in terms of what kind 469 00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:53.680 of marketing was done. And I know this has been a big focus of 470 00:27:53.759 --> 00:28:00.759 us in the offseason. You know, all of this is stipulate that they 471 00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:03.880 only had really less than three months from the time they announced the league to 472 00:28:04.319 --> 00:28:10.599 the first game, so that Hamstring's league ownership a lot in terms of what 473 00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:14.279 they can do from a marketing perspective. But from my vantage point, it 474 00:28:14.319 --> 00:28:17.880 looks like a lot of the marketing came down to a mix of what the 475 00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:23.000 USFL did and what the XFL did. The USFL had tons of commercials throughout 476 00:28:23.400 --> 00:28:27.880 Fox last year. They did that again. I don't watch a ton of 477 00:28:27.880 --> 00:28:33.200 Fox, but I watched NASCAR and I watched wrestling. You know, I 478 00:28:33.480 --> 00:28:37.119 sound like a true Southerner. I do live in Florida, but I'm from 479 00:28:37.200 --> 00:28:42.480 New York. But I've adopted the Southern philosophy of racing and wrestling, the 480 00:28:42.519 --> 00:28:48.319 two rs, if you will. But you know, the the ads during 481 00:28:48.359 --> 00:28:51.799 those programs have you know, you can't miss them. I mean they're all 482 00:28:51.839 --> 00:28:55.960 over. The announcers talk about the league and things like that, and it 483 00:28:56.000 --> 00:29:00.279 seemed like that was the crux of USFL's advertising last year, and then for 484 00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:03.039 the XFL it was you know, trying to get in market. The USFL 485 00:29:03.079 --> 00:29:07.880 didn't really have to do that as much because of the hub setup, but 486 00:29:07.079 --> 00:29:11.599 we're seeing the town halls that we saw last year with the XFL in these 487 00:29:11.599 --> 00:29:15.279 home markets this year, and it's just it's a little bit it's not to 488 00:29:15.319 --> 00:29:19.079 the level that you would want, which is I think the main complaint about 489 00:29:19.160 --> 00:29:23.000 XFL marketing last year, and it's the same I think with the UFL this 490 00:29:23.079 --> 00:29:29.839 year. So, you know, all of this to stipulate again that they 491 00:29:29.839 --> 00:29:33.319 didn't have a ton of time and while we hope it would be better, 492 00:29:33.359 --> 00:29:37.480 we can kind of understand why it wasn't. And just like we talked about 493 00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:40.200 last year with the XFL, year two is going to be really important to 494 00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:45.519 see what changes they make in terms of acknowledging from a marketing standpoint, what 495 00:29:45.680 --> 00:29:49.160 they can do better and how do most importantly, how to get their name 496 00:29:49.200 --> 00:29:53.200 out there, because name idea is so important, and because if people don't 497 00:29:53.279 --> 00:29:56.480 know that you're out there, they're not going to tune in. So just 498 00:29:56.599 --> 00:30:00.200 getting your name out there, getting the UFL brand out there is going to 499 00:30:00.279 --> 00:30:04.799 be a real big priority for this league in the offseason. Well, Greg 500 00:30:04.839 --> 00:30:08.319 Parks, I appreciate you taking the time today. Greg over at ufl board, 501 00:30:08.440 --> 00:30:11.559 make sure follow him over there. Lots of good content. I appreciate 502 00:30:11.599 --> 00:30:14.599 that, and kind of everything else. Anything else you want to plug and 503 00:30:14.599 --> 00:30:17.400 we'll bring Emory in. Nope, that's it, you plugged it for me. 504 00:30:17.960 --> 00:30:19.720 Just enjoy the day, gentlemen. Who you guys are there live, 505 00:30:19.880 --> 00:30:23.799 so take it. Everything in and I hope everything works well for you guys. 506 00:30:25.160 --> 00:30:27.920 Yeah, and Greg, I'm I'm locked in next weekend WrestleMania. I 507 00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:33.319 haven't watched WrestleMania years. I'm so excited. So follow Greg's work for that 508 00:30:33.359 --> 00:30:36.599 as well. I appreciate Greg, Thank you. And so we're talking with 509 00:30:36.759 --> 00:30:41.079 Greg talking about kind of the No. I wouldn't want to say the casual 510 00:30:41.079 --> 00:30:42.880 because Emory is anything but a casual. But Emory doesn't live in this world 511 00:30:42.920 --> 00:30:45.839 day to day. I'm really excited to hear we have Emory Hunt here, 512 00:30:45.839 --> 00:30:49.200 and believe me, I could pick your brain for a million hours about where 513 00:30:49.200 --> 00:30:52.960 the commander is doing at number two here. I'm very invested in this offseason, 514 00:30:53.000 --> 00:30:56.200 as you can imagine, but emvery Hunt, how are you doing, 515 00:30:56.240 --> 00:30:57.880 sir? I'm doing fantastic, guys. I appreciate you'all bringing me on. 516 00:30:59.680 --> 00:31:02.400 I tell you when I post when Memory is coming on, I get lots 517 00:31:02.400 --> 00:31:04.880 of comments. We're excited everyone's here. Evan and Anthony are excited as well 518 00:31:04.880 --> 00:31:07.880 that they can see on here. I will get to we'll talk games, 519 00:31:07.880 --> 00:31:11.119 and maybe we'll move to Michigan here, right, we'll do all that. 520 00:31:11.200 --> 00:31:12.680 But overall, what are your thoughts here? Because you don't live in this 521 00:31:12.759 --> 00:31:15.200 world. I know you come in and I appreciate you kind of talking the 522 00:31:15.240 --> 00:31:18.279 alternative football? What do you make of UFL here? Because I haven't talked 523 00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:22.480 to you since all this merger stuff. Listen, I love it as always. 524 00:31:22.519 --> 00:31:26.359 I'm all about more football because it's just another opportunity for these guys to 525 00:31:26.359 --> 00:31:30.119 get out here and play. And I'm always willing to dispel the myth that 526 00:31:30.119 --> 00:31:33.359 there's not enough talented guys to fill rosters. I've said this before, with 527 00:31:33.480 --> 00:31:38.480 you even read that. Just you know, if an NFL team wanted its 528 00:31:38.519 --> 00:31:45.119 own, you know spring league, they could fund their own spring league. 529 00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:48.680 Each team could have their own you know league, right, their own team. 530 00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:52.240 You bring ninety guys to camp, you cut forty five. That's your 531 00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:56.200 spring team. So there's more than enough talent out there, and that's why 532 00:31:56.200 --> 00:32:00.200 I'm excited for the UFL, and I do expect it to continue to row 533 00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:04.440 and get bigger. Now that we've combined resources and made it, we have 534 00:32:04.519 --> 00:32:07.839 to, you know, shrink a little bit to expand even more so, 535 00:32:07.839 --> 00:32:10.240 so I'm excited to see how it plays out. Let's get Emory thoughts first, 536 00:32:10.240 --> 00:32:13.440 and then we'll go around here. So we've talked to you. We've 537 00:32:13.440 --> 00:32:16.000 done Arlington, Birmingham, and we have Saint Louis here going into Michigan h 538 00:32:16.319 --> 00:32:21.319 Emory. You know Saint Louis and they're a very loud fan base. Obviously 539 00:32:21.359 --> 00:32:23.880 missed the playoffs last year because of the Sea Dragons. What's exciting to you 540 00:32:23.960 --> 00:32:27.759 about kind of what coached back? And everyone soon we got aj mcchairback. 541 00:32:27.799 --> 00:32:30.000 What are you looking forward to here? Continuity is king in football, whether 542 00:32:30.039 --> 00:32:34.640 that's the NFL, college football, whatever. You know, you have guys 543 00:32:34.680 --> 00:32:38.119 returning. It makes it a lot easier to go into a season because you 544 00:32:38.160 --> 00:32:40.960 know what to expect. Guys have worked with each other the time. It 545 00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:44.839 should be well. So that's why you see, let's say, from a 546 00:32:44.880 --> 00:32:50.440 point spread perspective, a seven point favorite going on the road in Saint Louis 547 00:32:50.480 --> 00:32:52.319 because they have so much continuity. And yes, we like e J. 548 00:32:52.480 --> 00:32:55.160 Perry. We liked what he did when he came in late in the season 549 00:32:55.160 --> 00:32:59.480 for Michigan and was able to do his thing and got those guys playing really 550 00:32:59.480 --> 00:33:01.960 good football because he's talented back there, he's mobile, he's an athlete. 551 00:33:02.000 --> 00:33:06.359 He's gonna find a way to make away. But can we see that for 552 00:33:06.440 --> 00:33:09.480 a full season, And I think that's gonna be the biggest question for Michigan, 553 00:33:09.480 --> 00:33:13.720 who lost some guys. And also, you know, you look at 554 00:33:13.799 --> 00:33:16.519 what they have defensively. I'm talking about Saint Louis. They're good, They're 555 00:33:16.559 --> 00:33:20.599 faster, athletic, they have a lot of speed on offense as well. 556 00:33:20.599 --> 00:33:22.799 They have the big receiver in that Keem Butler. So this is a tough 557 00:33:22.799 --> 00:33:27.880 matchup. But we've seen this before last year with Michigan and e J. 558 00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:30.759 Perry and Cinity. He's found a way to make the games competitive and won 559 00:33:30.799 --> 00:33:35.480 some games in overtime. So I'm excited for this matchup. But it's gonna 560 00:33:35.480 --> 00:33:38.599 be a tall task for the Panthers against the battle Hawks. Yeah, that's 561 00:33:38.640 --> 00:33:42.920 my question. Anthey, I don't see any any world here where the Panthers 562 00:33:42.960 --> 00:33:45.240 all home or otherwise, and I think they can play on Mars and the 563 00:33:45.319 --> 00:33:47.319 Saint Louis probably What do you make of this matchup? Yeah, I think 564 00:33:47.359 --> 00:33:50.759 the big thing for Michigan is they're gonna have to lead on the running game 565 00:33:50.960 --> 00:33:52.720 like they got West Hills. They got Matt Colburn, who I think are 566 00:33:53.119 --> 00:33:57.839 maybe two of the may Bee the one of the best running back duos in 567 00:33:57.839 --> 00:33:59.759 the league. Like the two of them together, I think is gonna be 568 00:33:59.799 --> 00:34:01.839 really good. West Hill's had a breakout season with the Breakers last year, 569 00:34:02.200 --> 00:34:06.000 so I think Michigan is gonna have to lean heavily in their running game. 570 00:34:06.039 --> 00:34:08.400 I just I don't love the receiving corps for Michigan. I don't think E. 571 00:34:08.519 --> 00:34:13.079 J. Perry has enough weapons to really do much offensively, so I 572 00:34:13.079 --> 00:34:15.400 think they're gonna have to lean a lot of their running game. But Saint 573 00:34:15.400 --> 00:34:17.440 Louis is way too dangerous. I mean, I can't wait too Jacor Pearson 574 00:34:17.519 --> 00:34:21.559 gets healthy and gets on that field, because once he's back on the field 575 00:34:21.639 --> 00:34:24.559 that that passing game is gonna be absolutely Another guy I'm really interested to see 576 00:34:24.599 --> 00:34:28.719 is Wayne Goleman, and the new running back for the BattleHawks. He you 577 00:34:28.719 --> 00:34:30.920 know, he had a good NFL career as a you know, at backup 578 00:34:31.000 --> 00:34:35.039 running back, mostly with the New York Giants. He has some success there. 579 00:34:35.119 --> 00:34:38.159 I'm interested to see how he does making the transition into the UFL. 580 00:34:38.199 --> 00:34:42.280 Like I think Saint Louis, I yeah, I think they're gonna I think 581 00:34:42.280 --> 00:34:45.360 I had them winning by like eight to nine points in my prediction. Like, 582 00:34:45.440 --> 00:34:47.679 I like him to win this game. I think they're just a superior 583 00:34:47.719 --> 00:34:51.840 team or Michigan. I think what helps Michigan good running game, and I 584 00:34:51.840 --> 00:34:54.119 think they have a pretty good defense, Like Frank Ginda is obviously one of 585 00:34:54.159 --> 00:34:59.159 the best defensive players in this league. But you know, I think Saint 586 00:34:59.199 --> 00:35:01.760 Louis is over And one thing about Saint Louis too, they have really rebuilt 587 00:35:01.800 --> 00:35:06.000 their secondary. Well that was a defense that wasn't great last year, and 588 00:35:06.039 --> 00:35:07.800 I think Anthony Becker did a really good job building that defense this year. 589 00:35:07.800 --> 00:35:10.280 I think they're better than they were last year. So yeah, I like 590 00:35:10.320 --> 00:35:15.559 Saint Louis beating them. Same question you Evan, Yeah, I mean I 591 00:35:15.599 --> 00:35:17.880 like Saint Louis as well. I think Anthony covered all the points very well. 592 00:35:17.880 --> 00:35:21.320 But I actually had a question for Emery that I want to ask for 593 00:35:21.360 --> 00:35:22.719 it. And this is kind of looking in the bigger picture too. You 594 00:35:22.760 --> 00:35:27.239 know, we're talking about some of the games this weekend, but just for 595 00:35:27.320 --> 00:35:30.320 the whole season, I want to get your opinion on who you think the 596 00:35:30.360 --> 00:35:32.199 strongest team is and who you think the weakest team is, at least from 597 00:35:32.199 --> 00:35:37.320 a roster standpoint, because obviously I know your expertise regarding the NFL draft. 598 00:35:37.360 --> 00:35:39.719 A lot of guys on these rosters that you're probably familiar with. So just 599 00:35:39.760 --> 00:35:43.320 trying to, you know, get a better idea of you know, maybe 600 00:35:43.320 --> 00:35:46.280 where you're at with that DC has the strongest roster and San Antonio has the 601 00:35:46.280 --> 00:35:50.760 weakest. That was easy, you know, that's just you know, how 602 00:35:50.800 --> 00:35:53.599 this thing goes. And DC again, with the amount of guys they have 603 00:35:53.719 --> 00:35:59.000 returning and what they are able to do at quarterback is going to help those 604 00:35:59.039 --> 00:36:01.320 guys out. Now, there is some teams that have improved in certain areas, 605 00:36:01.400 --> 00:36:06.360 but they're like I said, last year and all throughout the season until 606 00:36:06.599 --> 00:36:12.000 sometimes something's changed around the way. You know, some teams are starting the 607 00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:15.079 wrong quarterback. And this is a league where until the offensive lines jail, 608 00:36:15.159 --> 00:36:17.480 you better be able to get out the way, and if you have a 609 00:36:17.480 --> 00:36:21.360 guy that can't get out the way, you're gonna eat a lot of sacks 610 00:36:21.360 --> 00:36:24.960 man And so that's probably what we're gonna see a lot in this ball game 611 00:36:25.679 --> 00:36:30.480 early with Arlington. You know, I know, mister Springball is back there. 612 00:36:30.519 --> 00:36:35.719 You know he's Louis Perez is a good quarterback. But you got Lindsey 613 00:36:35.719 --> 00:36:39.880 Scott sitting right there miss the offense. And it'll be fascinating to see how 614 00:36:39.920 --> 00:36:45.960 long we see before we see Scott this season if he plays today. So 615 00:36:46.199 --> 00:36:51.880 that's what I do. Think DC's roster is legit. Their secondary. They 616 00:36:51.960 --> 00:36:53.960 take the ball away and they bring it back the other way. So I 617 00:36:54.119 --> 00:36:58.840 like they have those guys returning. But San Antonio has a lot of work 618 00:36:58.840 --> 00:37:01.079 to do, uh with their roster, and it's going to be interesting to 619 00:37:01.079 --> 00:37:07.880 see how they work out those little issues, you know, on defense, 620 00:37:07.039 --> 00:37:10.360 But you gotta trust way Phillis. We'll get the defense right. But you 621 00:37:10.400 --> 00:37:15.639 know, I do like Chase Garberge. I think he's very underrated and we'll 622 00:37:15.639 --> 00:37:19.719 see how quickly he can get the ground get on the ground running from a 623 00:37:19.760 --> 00:37:22.519 quarterback position. Philip had a come here walk up at two thirty and am 624 00:37:22.559 --> 00:37:24.719 to start smoking. I was like, oh the breast cut, smoking the 625 00:37:24.760 --> 00:37:28.800 breast cuts and Philip your I mean, I was loving four thirty. I 626 00:37:28.840 --> 00:37:31.039 was too nervous for the show, too excited. One more the emory and 627 00:37:31.039 --> 00:37:35.760 then we'll toss to Andy here. Yeah, everyone's standing on San Antonio. 628 00:37:35.880 --> 00:37:37.199 I mean, they really haven't done a lot. That's my team now, 629 00:37:37.280 --> 00:37:40.239 I you know, we lost to see dragons. I followed Wade Phillips over 630 00:37:40.280 --> 00:37:43.599 there and aj Smith and everything else. So I mean, what is the 631 00:37:43.639 --> 00:37:45.760 deal because it just seems like you have so much knowledge in that room and 632 00:37:45.800 --> 00:37:50.840 all the other staff they have. It's just about acquiring talent, and that's 633 00:37:50.880 --> 00:37:53.400 the biggest thing. You know. I don't know from a commitment standpoint how 634 00:37:53.400 --> 00:37:58.880 many guys they reached out to that turn that turned them down, but it's 635 00:37:58.920 --> 00:38:01.119 again, this is the purpose of these spring leagues is to get those guys 636 00:38:01.320 --> 00:38:05.800 and get those guys that game experience, you know. So we may even 637 00:38:05.800 --> 00:38:09.039 see a surprise from this team and they will band together. Nobody believes in 638 00:38:09.119 --> 00:38:15.639 us type deal. But it's gonna be tough because you're fighting youth versus continuity 639 00:38:15.000 --> 00:38:21.679 and experience. And we saw that playout with Birmingham last year in the USFL 640 00:38:22.239 --> 00:38:24.719 when they had a lot of guys returning after their championship season, they ran 641 00:38:24.760 --> 00:38:30.000 it back once again and route to them the championship. So when you have 642 00:38:30.119 --> 00:38:32.440 that continuity in a league like this, it is huge. And yes, 643 00:38:32.480 --> 00:38:37.239 you may have individual individually talented pieces, but it's gonna have to come together 644 00:38:37.719 --> 00:38:40.079 as a cohesive unit, and they do. You're right, they do have 645 00:38:40.119 --> 00:38:45.159 two excellent coaches that to get it on the right track. But it's about 646 00:38:45.159 --> 00:38:46.840 the Jimmies and Joe's and not the ex's and o's. At some point, 647 00:38:47.880 --> 00:38:51.039 Andy, are you surprised with that? Because I mean, in like, 648 00:38:51.119 --> 00:38:53.199 we're Chase Garber's and I know Max and he's coming on here in a little 649 00:38:53.199 --> 00:38:55.039 bit. You know, I should be excited about all that, and he's 650 00:38:55.079 --> 00:38:59.480 got just you know, and even Darryl Johnson on the show last week. 651 00:38:59.480 --> 00:39:00.639 Oh it's good. You know we have all this talent coming together, and 652 00:39:00.639 --> 00:39:04.960 that we still have these quarterback issues at certain areas. I know emory'stocket. 653 00:39:05.159 --> 00:39:07.519 Maybe we're not playing the right quarterback right now, but it doesn't seem like 654 00:39:07.559 --> 00:39:12.000 san Antonio is anything. I am very skeptical of Chase Garver's just from watching 655 00:39:12.039 --> 00:39:15.159 a mcal Just from my standpoint, no offense, I think it's funny to 656 00:39:15.199 --> 00:39:19.840 hear the sort of talk about him in the same light that they do about 657 00:39:19.840 --> 00:39:22.559 PJ. Walker, that being the Brahma staff. I find that fascinating. 658 00:39:22.599 --> 00:39:25.639 If he can run and throw like PJ. Walker, fantastic, great for 659 00:39:25.719 --> 00:39:29.679 them. I have yet to see it, so I would like to see 660 00:39:29.719 --> 00:39:32.599 mister Garber's actually performed for that level before I'm willing to throw my weight behind 661 00:39:32.639 --> 00:39:37.039 the promise. I am a bit skeptical of their operation. I just the 662 00:39:37.079 --> 00:39:40.000 whole setup is just so bizarre to me. I know, we look, 663 00:39:40.039 --> 00:39:44.239 we've already talked about it on nauseum, but the whole moving from Houston to 664 00:39:44.360 --> 00:39:47.679 San Antonio thing is very just odd. And so as far as adjusting to 665 00:39:47.719 --> 00:39:51.280 that market, I think that's really the biggest thing. They were getting used 666 00:39:51.320 --> 00:39:54.840 to working out of TDECU Stadium. Now they have to work out of the 667 00:39:54.880 --> 00:39:58.840 Almodome, you know, different setting. So we'll see if they can like 668 00:39:58.920 --> 00:40:01.880 kind of move that whole operation over there. But it is a bit strange, 669 00:40:01.920 --> 00:40:06.519 I think, just again, it's a different kind of adjustment period for 670 00:40:06.679 --> 00:40:09.719 some of these other teams because it's relocating as opposed to just just having your 671 00:40:09.719 --> 00:40:13.920 same continuity with your staff and your players. And they do have some of 672 00:40:13.960 --> 00:40:17.000 that, but again it's also trying to readdress to a whole new place and 673 00:40:17.079 --> 00:40:21.119 a new community and all of that. So for me, that's sort of 674 00:40:21.159 --> 00:40:23.519 their biggest hurdle too. But yeah, some of the quarterback death on some 675 00:40:23.599 --> 00:40:28.880 of these teams, Like again, what Emory was going off of with Michigan. 676 00:40:29.000 --> 00:40:30.320 I'm not so sure about J Perry. I mean, I know he 677 00:40:30.360 --> 00:40:34.519 made a couple of nice downfield roads last year. I liked some of his 678 00:40:35.159 --> 00:40:37.280 ability to push the ball down the field, but I'm not sure if he 679 00:40:37.280 --> 00:40:42.360 can do it consistently throughout the entire season. So yeah, I mean, 680 00:40:42.519 --> 00:40:44.760 look, I think you have to throw your way behind the guys that we 681 00:40:44.800 --> 00:40:46.920 know about. It's the Birmingham kept quarterbacks. AJ mccerran, it's the Luis 682 00:40:46.960 --> 00:40:52.159 Perez, It's the same guys we've seen because again it's continuity. But that's 683 00:40:52.199 --> 00:40:55.559 I guess my question for Emory, and then we'll bounce back here is you 684 00:40:55.599 --> 00:40:58.800 know, the guys we wanted to come back came back, right. We 685 00:40:58.800 --> 00:41:00.599 got Mccaarrean, we got tam you know, Matt Corral Now is kind of 686 00:41:00.639 --> 00:41:04.840 be said. Are you just surprised that there is no more Eleo outreach? 687 00:41:04.960 --> 00:41:07.199 Is it? I know we're not paying this much this year because right, 688 00:41:07.239 --> 00:41:10.519 and the XFL is paying you know, the Huntlings and everything. More like, 689 00:41:10.679 --> 00:41:15.360 what do you? I just I'm curious your thoughts. Yeah, that's 690 00:41:15.400 --> 00:41:20.320 the interesting part because I would have completely went about it a different way. 691 00:41:20.920 --> 00:41:25.119 But it's hard to compete now monetarily when you are an upstart league and you're 692 00:41:25.159 --> 00:41:29.760 dealing with nil money, and you're also dealing with the you know, the 693 00:41:29.840 --> 00:41:31.880 dangling carrot of hey, you could be in the NFL. You could potentially 694 00:41:31.960 --> 00:41:36.320 make it. You know, your dreams can't come true. But otherwise, 695 00:41:36.360 --> 00:41:38.719 if I was a DPP or a GM of one of these teams, I 696 00:41:38.760 --> 00:41:44.039 am straight targeting some of these quarterbacks and telling them go bypass that the NFL 697 00:41:44.119 --> 00:41:46.760 process to Leah Tungaba Loo would have been one of my targets. You know, 698 00:41:46.800 --> 00:41:50.360 you look at Jaydon Delaurial would have been one of my targets. You 699 00:41:50.400 --> 00:41:52.719 look at guys like dj Irons out of Acron would have been one of my 700 00:41:52.800 --> 00:41:57.719 targets. Joe Milton one of my targets. Like, I know the money 701 00:41:57.760 --> 00:42:00.719 isn't there, but you get at least three games, you know, before 702 00:42:00.719 --> 00:42:02.960 the NFL drafts, so you got a chance to really show up and show 703 00:42:04.000 --> 00:42:07.320 out. I know the amount of games on the body, I get that, 704 00:42:07.480 --> 00:42:12.320 but listen, you know you talk about wanting people to tune in. 705 00:42:12.760 --> 00:42:15.920 This will get people to tune in. If Joe Milton was starting quarterback for 706 00:42:15.199 --> 00:42:19.000 you know, the Arlington Rennegades. That's why I was saying, Hey, 707 00:42:19.079 --> 00:42:22.559 you gotta get Lindsey Scott out there, because we know this dude can play. 708 00:42:22.639 --> 00:42:25.320 Every time he's been on the field, whether it's been LSU East, 709 00:42:25.360 --> 00:42:32.519 Mississippi Community College, Nichols, ui W, he's balled out. So that's 710 00:42:32.559 --> 00:42:37.440 the type of impact we need in the in the UFL. And I do 711 00:42:37.480 --> 00:42:39.480 feel like, you know, you'll you'll obviously we're gonna watch because we're a 712 00:42:39.519 --> 00:42:44.920 football fans and we love the UFL, but we're gonna get frustrated with the 713 00:42:45.039 --> 00:42:49.679 casuals that pop in on Twitter from national outlets and say, aj Mcarell, 714 00:42:49.679 --> 00:42:52.079 I don't want to watch a j Mcca. This Leade's gonna suck, you 715 00:42:52.159 --> 00:42:54.320 know, Oh, Louise Frriss this leade's gonna suck like and we're gonna get 716 00:42:54.320 --> 00:42:59.400 frustrated at them because they're casuals jumping in. But that's why we need the 717 00:42:59.400 --> 00:43:02.119 PJ. Walls, we need the Lindsay Scotts. We need to Chase Garbers 718 00:43:02.119 --> 00:43:06.800 to step in and really ball out and just wow people. Right, see 719 00:43:06.800 --> 00:43:10.519 how we got all behind Alex Magoo and how well he played, and so 720 00:43:12.000 --> 00:43:16.880 that's what's needed. And maybe after a season we can go back and target 721 00:43:16.960 --> 00:43:21.760 some of these guys that are just toiling around on college football rosters. Why 722 00:43:21.840 --> 00:43:23.679 is Emrie Jones not in the UFL? Right? You know he's not going 723 00:43:23.719 --> 00:43:27.559 to get an opportunity to play in the NFL and he's probably best suited to 724 00:43:27.559 --> 00:43:30.519 play here in the spring league. So there's options for a lot of these 725 00:43:30.559 --> 00:43:37.199 guys. It's just that it's hard to compete when the money isn't enough to 726 00:43:37.280 --> 00:43:42.400 really move the needle yet. But I think it's gonna get there. I'll 727 00:43:42.440 --> 00:43:45.400 let you respond to that and then you can respond to answer question before we 728 00:43:45.440 --> 00:43:47.400 get him out of here. So what do you make? Yeah, I 729 00:43:47.440 --> 00:43:52.480 think the way the league is being built now, they really got to appeal 730 00:43:52.519 --> 00:43:54.920 to college fans. I mean they got like Emery talked about what they got 731 00:43:54.920 --> 00:43:58.719 to get college stars in here. You know early, you know, they're 732 00:43:58.760 --> 00:44:00.719 going through that NFL drafts and b like, hey, come in here, 733 00:44:01.079 --> 00:44:04.480 shell out. Maybe you get a higher draft pick and then you can go 734 00:44:04.519 --> 00:44:07.280 on to the NFL. Because you know, the reality is, I don't 735 00:44:07.320 --> 00:44:12.239 I don't know how many. I just think a lot of fans that are 736 00:44:12.280 --> 00:44:15.000 going to be watching this, they're looking for college stars. You know, 737 00:44:15.480 --> 00:44:17.320 a lot of times when they're bringing up these big time players. You know, 738 00:44:17.440 --> 00:44:20.719 Aj mcchaeron, it's what he did at Alabama. It's not what he 739 00:44:20.760 --> 00:44:22.639 did as a backup quarterback in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals. It's all 740 00:44:22.679 --> 00:44:25.400 about what they didn't call. You know, Matt Corral he didn't do anything 741 00:44:25.440 --> 00:44:29.639 special for Carolina or New England in the NFL, but he was a big 742 00:44:29.679 --> 00:44:31.199 star in college for Old Miss. You know, why do you think you 743 00:44:31.199 --> 00:44:34.280 know, guys like Joel Kladd and r. J. Young are the ones 744 00:44:34.320 --> 00:44:37.599 that are the you know, the the main analyst for this on national television. 745 00:44:37.719 --> 00:44:42.719 Those are college guys. So the UFL has to lean more on finding 746 00:44:42.760 --> 00:44:45.840 these college stars. You know, maybe maybe not the ones that are going 747 00:44:45.880 --> 00:44:47.880 to be projected to be, you know, the first three four rounds of 748 00:44:47.880 --> 00:44:52.639 the NFL draft picks, but ones that really shelled out. Maybe they were 749 00:44:52.679 --> 00:44:55.159 all conference performers that are going to be mid to late round picks. Get 750 00:44:55.199 --> 00:44:59.760 them into this league, getting people excited about that. So, because a 751 00:44:59.760 --> 00:45:01.840 lot of times we're selling on the college story if we're not selling on the 752 00:45:01.880 --> 00:45:06.400 story of what they did in the professionals, because a lot of times they 753 00:45:06.480 --> 00:45:09.599 didn't really do much in the NFL. So it's all about, let's get 754 00:45:09.599 --> 00:45:14.039 some college stars in here that you know, can really sell this league for 755 00:45:14.400 --> 00:45:16.199 what it is. It's you know, I know Daryl Johnson doesn't want this 756 00:45:16.239 --> 00:45:19.880 to be a developmental league. This is a developmental league. Let's call it 757 00:45:19.920 --> 00:45:22.159 as it is. This is a developmental league to get guys into the NFL. 758 00:45:22.199 --> 00:45:24.320 I know that's not the story the league wants to pitch, but I 759 00:45:24.320 --> 00:45:28.199 think that's the story they should lean on. Get college stars in here, 760 00:45:28.280 --> 00:45:30.360 develop them, get them ready for the NFL, get them moving on, 761 00:45:30.480 --> 00:45:35.119 and that's how you build a story with the league. Let's see Evan and 762 00:45:35.159 --> 00:45:38.760 I want to get Emory's thoughts on that as well. Yeah, I mean 763 00:45:38.840 --> 00:45:42.800 fascinating point by Emory. I think that a couple of the names that you 764 00:45:42.840 --> 00:45:46.840 brought up, Talia Tagovailoa and Joe Milton, I definitely see those guys coming 765 00:45:46.880 --> 00:45:50.440 to play in the UFL, especially with Joe Milton. I mean, hell 766 00:45:50.480 --> 00:45:53.360 before my guy Jane Daniels tore it up at LSU, Joe Milton was kind 767 00:45:53.400 --> 00:45:57.639 of the favorite to be the best SEC quarterback and guys still got a hell 768 00:45:57.639 --> 00:46:00.480 of an arm. But in the bigger scale of things, think you brought 769 00:46:00.519 --> 00:46:04.480 up a really interesting point just trying to, you know, sell the product, 770 00:46:04.519 --> 00:46:07.559 like, hey, you can come here and play, and yes it's 771 00:46:07.679 --> 00:46:10.079 less money, but it's an opportunity to get reps. And I'll tell you, 772 00:46:10.119 --> 00:46:14.039 like with my work in the IFL, I always stress the importance of 773 00:46:14.119 --> 00:46:15.760 game film. I say, look, you know, you come in here, 774 00:46:15.760 --> 00:46:19.480 you get game film, you stay healthy, you stay active, Like 775 00:46:19.559 --> 00:46:22.719 that's what these coaches want to see. They want to see that you're playing 776 00:46:22.760 --> 00:46:24.480 and that you can still do it at a high level and that you're at, 777 00:46:24.639 --> 00:46:28.199 you know, your best shape in the event that you know, you 778 00:46:28.280 --> 00:46:30.840 get signed to another league. So I think the same applies here with the 779 00:46:30.920 --> 00:46:35.639 UFL in terms of moving up to the NFL level, you know, so 780 00:46:35.840 --> 00:46:37.280 I just hope to see more of that. I definitely I am glad that 781 00:46:37.320 --> 00:46:40.559 you brought that up. Emory Emery final thoughts from you. I really appreciate 782 00:46:40.559 --> 00:46:45.199 you taking the time on a saraay to do all this be curious like and 783 00:46:45.199 --> 00:46:46.440 I don't know if you saw, you know, Mouse Johnston on the show 784 00:46:46.519 --> 00:46:49.639 last week. Yeah, like, we don't want to be a developmental league. 785 00:46:49.679 --> 00:46:52.119 We want to change perspective on that. What do you make of back, 786 00:46:52.159 --> 00:46:54.559 because I know that you've had various controversial takes about what you how should 787 00:46:54.559 --> 00:46:59.400 these leagues actually exist? Listen? And you know, I'm smiling because he 788 00:46:59.559 --> 00:47:02.320 hit the nail on the head of what I was saying what two years ago, 789 00:47:02.400 --> 00:47:07.320 like, hey man, stop trying to be you know, the second 790 00:47:07.320 --> 00:47:09.880 cousin and be your own. And I'm glad they're going in that direction when 791 00:47:09.920 --> 00:47:16.079 they talk about ownership, because that's the that's gonna help spawn expansion, is 792 00:47:16.119 --> 00:47:21.599 gonna spawn the rising salaries. And now you're going to be able to offer 793 00:47:21.599 --> 00:47:24.519 an attractive, attractive package to a guy that's saying, man, I could 794 00:47:24.719 --> 00:47:28.400 I could, if I could just get on a practice squad, I could 795 00:47:28.440 --> 00:47:31.119 make this amount of money as opposed to being a starter here and getting this 796 00:47:31.199 --> 00:47:35.400 amount of money. But now if you can, you know, get individual 797 00:47:35.440 --> 00:47:39.079 ownership, get a salary cap, you raise a level of pay. Now 798 00:47:39.159 --> 00:47:45.320 it's a livable wage for a pro athlete. Because we all know, and 799 00:47:45.440 --> 00:47:49.719 even football players know, they're a little bit more realistic than basketball players in 800 00:47:49.719 --> 00:47:53.880 the sense that they know there's a line of you know, elite level talent 801 00:47:54.679 --> 00:47:59.599 and right there at the line of good talent. You know, that's the 802 00:47:59.599 --> 00:48:02.960 difference between a Power five and a group of five, and an f C 803 00:48:04.199 --> 00:48:07.599 S and a D two. We know there's levels uh to talent and athleticism 804 00:48:07.719 --> 00:48:14.159 and players, football players a little bit more uh aware of where they are 805 00:48:14.199 --> 00:48:17.199 on that scale. And so a league like this will be beneficial if guys 806 00:48:17.239 --> 00:48:22.159 can come in and be a pro because that's all you want is to get 807 00:48:22.159 --> 00:48:24.280 paid to play ball, because we know we can't. You can't rec league 808 00:48:24.280 --> 00:48:28.159 football. It's the only sport where you just got to go out there and 809 00:48:28.199 --> 00:48:30.920 play. There's no Sunday leagues, uh you know, no church leagues or 810 00:48:30.960 --> 00:48:35.199 no you around the way leagues that you can go play. That that's that 811 00:48:35.559 --> 00:48:39.199 you know that that gets you healthy and ready to go, so you got 812 00:48:39.239 --> 00:48:45.000 to play ball. And I think that's where this league can grow, can 813 00:48:45.039 --> 00:48:49.960 expand can attack. And I like that interview you did where he talked about, 814 00:48:50.079 --> 00:48:52.400 hey man, all right, we're not gonna be a developmental league. 815 00:48:52.679 --> 00:48:55.360 You know, I was hoping he was gonna touch on the expansion part, 816 00:48:55.440 --> 00:49:00.280 but that's a that's what you get another interview with him, and then I'm 817 00:49:00.280 --> 00:49:04.320 like, what's he gonna say right now, March now? Because how did 818 00:49:04.360 --> 00:49:07.400 you know? I'm like, you get another interview with him, an he'll 819 00:49:07.440 --> 00:49:12.480 he'll he'll, uh, you get him at the championship game. He'll expand 820 00:49:12.519 --> 00:49:15.280 on that pun intended. But I do like the fact that we're getting, 821 00:49:15.679 --> 00:49:22.000 you know, valuable opportunities for these guys to play, especially the offensive line, 822 00:49:22.119 --> 00:49:25.719 because as much as people that watch the NFL say there's a lack of 823 00:49:25.719 --> 00:49:30.280 offensive line, and no there's not. It's a lack of development. And 824 00:49:30.360 --> 00:49:32.519 in certain parts, yeah, you're gonna it's a developmental league because you're gonna 825 00:49:32.519 --> 00:49:36.679 play, But you can't call it a developmental league because you want to stand 826 00:49:36.719 --> 00:49:40.000 alone, because development does happen when you play. So in a way, 827 00:49:40.119 --> 00:49:43.280 yes it is, but in a way. You got to sell it that 828 00:49:43.480 --> 00:49:45.840 no, this is something completely separate. This is your own league. You 829 00:49:45.840 --> 00:49:49.960 could be a pro here. Which is why I like that Luis Perez does 830 00:49:50.039 --> 00:49:54.079 come back and tries to be the pro spring league veteran, because you need 831 00:49:54.119 --> 00:49:57.760 that, you need to be able to tune into Okay, I'm gonna watch 832 00:49:57.800 --> 00:50:01.159 Louis Perez play in the spring. I know that springball is around, that's 833 00:50:01.159 --> 00:50:05.239 what they have to continue to build. But it takes young players to buy 834 00:50:05.239 --> 00:50:07.960 into that, that know there's there's no NFL opportunity for them on the other 835 00:50:08.039 --> 00:50:12.400 side. As harsh as that sounds, that's the reality. So let me 836 00:50:12.559 --> 00:50:16.880 just settle in here or in Canada, but most importantly here at the USFL 837 00:50:17.000 --> 00:50:22.880 or UFL level and just play springball three, four years, five years, 838 00:50:22.920 --> 00:50:24.440 whatever you know, you get, get your football out, and then you 839 00:50:24.480 --> 00:50:29.639 go and do something else productive as an adult. Well, Emory, I 840 00:50:29.639 --> 00:50:31.679 really appreciate when a few minutes over with Emory. I don't think anybody will 841 00:50:31.679 --> 00:50:35.960 complain about that, so really appreciate it. Taking the time. We got 842 00:50:35.960 --> 00:50:38.400 two hundred and seventy people watching here in another two one hundred and fifty six 843 00:50:38.440 --> 00:50:42.480 on Twitter, so there should be two hundred and seventy thumbs up right now. 844 00:50:42.519 --> 00:50:45.159 I appreciate Emory. Anything you want to plug before you get out, 845 00:50:45.400 --> 00:50:49.559 go and order the Football game Plan twenty twenty four draft guide. Over nine 846 00:50:49.639 --> 00:50:54.360 hundred individuals scouting reports at Football gameplan dot COM's last twenty twenty four draft guide. 847 00:50:54.480 --> 00:50:58.199 A lot of the guys in that draft guide will end up being a 848 00:50:58.239 --> 00:51:00.000 UFL star, So why don't I get ahead of the curve. And it 849 00:51:00.039 --> 00:51:04.039 helps you out from a betting perspective, because now if you know who's on 850 00:51:04.079 --> 00:51:07.480 the roster, you know how to wage against these sports books. So it's 851 00:51:07.559 --> 00:51:14.280 helpful across all front So Football Gameplan dot Com slast twenty twenty four Draft Guide, 852 00:51:14.960 --> 00:51:16.760 positive comments all around here, Emory, thank you so much. We'll 853 00:51:16.800 --> 00:51:20.960 get you out of here. We got Max standing by. We're going to 854 00:51:21.039 --> 00:51:23.760 talk a little pro football focus here a little bit, and then just just 855 00:51:23.840 --> 00:51:27.280 at the stage, we got about ten minutes, you guys are going to 856 00:51:27.320 --> 00:51:30.800 head start head to media. Andy's gonna stick around. We've got Javon Alfred 857 00:51:30.840 --> 00:51:34.880 coming on. We've got Mike Mitchell coming on, a coach Craig Sports and 858 00:51:34.880 --> 00:51:37.360 then Eric Eager, so lots of fun stuff still to come here at the 859 00:51:37.400 --> 00:51:39.440 halfway point, as I totally delete hear my note they had all of my 860 00:51:39.519 --> 00:51:45.320 guests, Max, how are we doing? It's been a hectic week, 861 00:51:45.440 --> 00:51:49.079 man, There's so much basketball stuff happening right now, and then I'm trying 862 00:51:49.079 --> 00:51:51.840 to keep up with spring football on top of that. It's it's a lot 863 00:51:51.960 --> 00:51:55.679 right now for me. Honestly, I have a article here pulled up, 864 00:51:55.679 --> 00:51:58.559 and let me see if I can just throw it in the stream just a 865 00:51:58.639 --> 00:52:01.239 week and see it. Amanda checking in, we'll do a little of a 866 00:52:01.400 --> 00:52:05.559 non football's talk here while we got you know, obviously football, but you 867 00:52:05.599 --> 00:52:08.159 know the xs knowe here here we have a wonderful article pro football talk, 868 00:52:09.159 --> 00:52:13.519 Spring League after Spring League after Spring League has failed with the UFL, the 869 00:52:13.519 --> 00:52:16.480 product of the XFL USL merger, change that trend, the experiment begins today. 870 00:52:16.719 --> 00:52:22.440 Wonderful exciting headline at wrong UFL logo on that. Let's go Max, 871 00:52:22.519 --> 00:52:24.159 let's get Andy talking again and then we'll get the guys here before they get 872 00:52:24.199 --> 00:52:28.440 it out of here. Max thoughts of that, because it's like basically like 873 00:52:28.480 --> 00:52:32.679 why even try? Well, I mean I think the why even tries? 874 00:52:32.679 --> 00:52:36.639 Because everyone wants to be the one who did it. Everyone wants to be 875 00:52:36.679 --> 00:52:42.199 the one who overcame all these troubles, all these pitfalls that have come across 876 00:52:42.239 --> 00:52:45.519 all these leagues over the past. What we're coming on fifty years now since 877 00:52:45.519 --> 00:52:52.039 the WFL. So everyone thinks they can they can out business, they can 878 00:52:52.039 --> 00:52:57.320 out intelligence, they can out market, and what ends up happening is some 879 00:52:57.360 --> 00:53:01.039 of them get closer than others, but all all of them never fully listen 880 00:53:01.159 --> 00:53:05.559 enough to the fans to ever get across the line. And I'm concerned that 881 00:53:05.679 --> 00:53:07.559 this one is not listening to the fans and not either. So we'll see, 882 00:53:09.159 --> 00:53:10.840 we'll get a follow up on it. Andy, What do you make 883 00:53:10.840 --> 00:53:14.679 it? Because it's like it's just this narrative And that's what I get so 884 00:53:14.719 --> 00:53:19.119 hard because I get always get this reads the negative Nancy like I'm the one 885 00:53:19.159 --> 00:53:22.280 here and we're here in our early day. I'm cut off here. Sorry, 886 00:53:22.719 --> 00:53:23.760 uh you know, So what do you make of this? Because, 887 00:53:24.000 --> 00:53:27.800 like I said, it's this is the national media. This is to me 888 00:53:27.920 --> 00:53:30.880 is always like this is how they're viewing things. Well, first of all, 889 00:53:30.920 --> 00:53:34.079 Florida is the type of student that would question why we have homework in 890 00:53:34.079 --> 00:53:37.159 the first place then actually doing it. So for him, I don't think 891 00:53:37.199 --> 00:53:39.800 it really matters one way or another what league there is, or what pictures 892 00:53:39.800 --> 00:53:44.800 you have to use, or what available information there is for these kinds of 893 00:53:44.880 --> 00:53:46.519 leagues. The national media is not ever going to be able to put in 894 00:53:46.639 --> 00:53:51.880 the proper preparation to actually study these things because they don't care. They don't 895 00:53:51.920 --> 00:53:54.679 care. I'm sorry they don't. So for me, I think it's more 896 00:53:54.679 --> 00:54:00.599 about what happens at the local level and what kind of media outlets do you 897 00:54:00.679 --> 00:54:04.519 have around your own base that you're able to kind of work with and sort 898 00:54:04.559 --> 00:54:08.039 of use as the sort of the foundation of your league. So for I 899 00:54:08.079 --> 00:54:12.159 mean, look, Fox and ESPN have to do a better job of that 900 00:54:12.199 --> 00:54:15.480 because look, they have stakes in this property, they have viewership they have 901 00:54:15.519 --> 00:54:19.239 to get. They have to do a better job of promoting this so that 902 00:54:19.280 --> 00:54:22.159 these kinds of oversights don't happen more with some of these national media evers, 903 00:54:22.159 --> 00:54:25.199 and they look foolish for being wrong. I mean, look, the amount 904 00:54:25.199 --> 00:54:29.760 of correcting I've seen sometimes for someone who throws out a wrong player's name, 905 00:54:29.840 --> 00:54:35.199 or wrong player's origin, or some team's origin, or the fact that you 906 00:54:35.239 --> 00:54:37.360 know they say like, oh, this player played in the XFL. They 907 00:54:37.360 --> 00:54:39.159 played in the USFL instead. You know that happens all the time. So 908 00:54:39.480 --> 00:54:44.920 the more you make those people kind of I guess blush when they find out 909 00:54:44.960 --> 00:54:46.639 that they're wrong and there's people that are going to call them out on it, 910 00:54:46.719 --> 00:54:52.159 then the more notoriety and the more validity you get as a leade. 911 00:54:52.159 --> 00:54:53.519 But that comes with time. You know, it doesn't happen overnight, and 912 00:54:53.559 --> 00:54:57.679 you need that to come over over a long period of time. I and 913 00:54:57.760 --> 00:55:02.519 the XFL has brand identity going back to two thousand and one. The USFL 914 00:55:02.599 --> 00:55:07.599 had brand identity going back to the nineteen eighties. What kind of brand identity. 915 00:55:07.639 --> 00:55:08.960 You can debate about that as far as when they came back in this 916 00:55:09.079 --> 00:55:13.800 iteration, but you know, they both had their own sort of style and 917 00:55:13.840 --> 00:55:16.000 points to them, So you could point to that as far as like what 918 00:55:16.079 --> 00:55:20.960 people remember about them, but it wasn't always emblematic of what's actually happening right 919 00:55:21.000 --> 00:55:23.000 now. So you have to do your own work at the local level. 920 00:55:23.039 --> 00:55:27.360 You have to make sure that your own people are doing the work to promote 921 00:55:27.360 --> 00:55:30.400 their league, to make sure that other people don't make those mistakes. And 922 00:55:30.440 --> 00:55:34.639 when they do make those mistakes that they're held accountable for them. That's for 923 00:55:34.719 --> 00:55:37.679 you guys. And then we'll go up up here with because that's why I'm 924 00:55:37.719 --> 00:55:42.239 such an advocate even for the work that you do with Sports Illustrated that Mike 925 00:55:42.320 --> 00:55:45.800 does, and I wish that the marketing, promoting and building up so it's 926 00:55:45.800 --> 00:55:50.760 something that people take seriously because you know, we see these takes like here. 927 00:55:50.920 --> 00:55:53.280 You know how many people are going to these you know, coach zoom 928 00:55:53.320 --> 00:55:57.480 calls and everything putting in the work to actually cover this the training camp here. 929 00:55:57.519 --> 00:55:59.239 What are your thoughts, because I mean, you're intrenched in this as 930 00:55:59.320 --> 00:56:02.519 much as anyone. I'm just really excited for Monday or Tuesday when we get 931 00:56:02.519 --> 00:56:07.880 the ratings and then Mike folio posts that the ratings are going down. It's 932 00:56:07.880 --> 00:56:10.199 a falling apart. The league is going to cancel them with midway because that's 933 00:56:10.199 --> 00:56:15.119 what always happens. I mean, the national media only covers the ratings part. 934 00:56:15.440 --> 00:56:17.239 And look, I think the reality is we all know this season may 935 00:56:17.280 --> 00:56:22.800 not go as smoothly, so I think they're expecting that it's going to be 936 00:56:22.880 --> 00:56:25.920 like XFL twenty twenty, where it's like two three million viewers you know a 937 00:56:25.960 --> 00:56:29.800 game, and even with that league, you know, you know, in 938 00:56:29.840 --> 00:56:32.079 Week two, ratings were down by fifty percent, there were only a million 939 00:56:32.159 --> 00:56:36.280 viewers a game. And even then they were talking about the xfls falling apart. 940 00:56:36.320 --> 00:56:38.639 It's not going to last through the whole season. So the one thing 941 00:56:38.679 --> 00:56:42.559 I want to say, like Evan, I know you're part of the IFL. 942 00:56:43.000 --> 00:56:45.400 Look what makes the IFL work so well? And the IFL has been 943 00:56:45.400 --> 00:56:49.920 a while with ten plus years fifteen yeah, fifteen years. You know what 944 00:56:50.000 --> 00:56:52.360 makes it work and Andy talks about it. It's what they do in their 945 00:56:52.360 --> 00:56:55.280 local markets. They I think the IFL understands they're not competing with the NFL, 946 00:56:55.480 --> 00:57:00.159 but they do such a great job marketing in their local markets. Like 947 00:57:00.199 --> 00:57:02.119 Friscal Fighters. Over the last two three years, they've done a great job 948 00:57:02.159 --> 00:57:06.159 marketing. I mean, they may not get crazy attendance, but they get 949 00:57:06.199 --> 00:57:08.039 a lot of attention. One because they're a very good team. But two 950 00:57:08.280 --> 00:57:14.360 people care about them, and the league understands we need to market into the 951 00:57:14.400 --> 00:57:16.719 local you know, into you know, our local market, into the people 952 00:57:16.719 --> 00:57:21.239 that live in the area and get them excited about it. They know they're 953 00:57:21.280 --> 00:57:24.679 never gonna you know, get the attention of ESPN and you know, Fox 954 00:57:24.760 --> 00:57:28.800 and that, but it's all about like Andy said, it's all about what 955 00:57:28.840 --> 00:57:32.000 you do in the local market. That what makes leagues like the ifl's that's 956 00:57:32.039 --> 00:57:35.440 been around for so long, like the CFL, like we all know, 957 00:57:35.480 --> 00:57:37.119 they don't get crazy ratings, even in Canada, they don't get crazy ratings, 958 00:57:37.159 --> 00:57:40.800 but they market into their local areas and they do a really good job 959 00:57:40.960 --> 00:57:45.760 of it to get people excited in their local cities. So, I mean, 960 00:57:45.920 --> 00:57:49.440 the national media is always going to crap on the spring football leagues. 961 00:57:49.480 --> 00:57:52.239 We all know it's gonna happen, at least not until the NFL backs it. 962 00:57:52.320 --> 00:57:54.840 I think the only way it happens is if the NFL starts their own 963 00:57:54.840 --> 00:57:59.960 spring league and they end up funding it, then I think people will buy 964 00:58:00.119 --> 00:58:01.519 more into it. Evan thoughts on that, and then we'll toss back to 965 00:58:01.519 --> 00:58:04.440 Max because I want to get some more stuff that we got them on here. 966 00:58:04.519 --> 00:58:07.199 Yeah, well, I appreciate Anthony here plugging the league first of all. 967 00:58:08.280 --> 00:58:10.199 You know, yeah, man, I mean, I think you know, 968 00:58:10.280 --> 00:58:14.679 it's all about perception and all about how you market yourself, like until 969 00:58:15.000 --> 00:58:19.079 the UFL really figures out that niche and what they want. You know, 970 00:58:19.119 --> 00:58:22.000 it's always going to have it's always going to be looked at, you know, 971 00:58:22.119 --> 00:58:25.360 very differently by multiple different groups of people, Like the USFL had a 972 00:58:25.360 --> 00:58:30.000 different brand identity than the XFL. I mean, because I was around the 973 00:58:30.119 --> 00:58:32.559 XFL more last year, I can tell you their big thing was player development, 974 00:58:32.599 --> 00:58:36.280 which we were talking about before it was all about. I mean, 975 00:58:36.360 --> 00:58:39.239 we've all heard the player fifty four term a million times and XFL to NFL 976 00:58:39.320 --> 00:58:43.920 and you know, countless times on the broadcast. That's what they brought up. 977 00:58:43.960 --> 00:58:46.280 And then ultimately when you have only one guy that makes it on an 978 00:58:46.320 --> 00:58:50.800 active NFL roster, and that's the Packers punter who was with the Defenders, 979 00:58:51.119 --> 00:58:52.760 it's like, okay, well maybe we need to change our strategy a bit. 980 00:58:52.840 --> 00:58:57.639 So for me, I think you have to market it as player development. 981 00:58:57.679 --> 00:59:00.400 I think that's really important. You want players to get better or you 982 00:59:00.440 --> 00:59:02.719 care about them. They're good athletes, you see a future for them. 983 00:59:02.960 --> 00:59:07.119 But at the same time, you have to limit those expectations and saying, 984 00:59:07.199 --> 00:59:09.239 hey, the reality is why we want you to develop and be a better 985 00:59:09.239 --> 00:59:12.880 player. You know, you might be staying in this league. And again 986 00:59:12.920 --> 00:59:15.559 that's going back to the player point. It's a bit off topic from the 987 00:59:15.559 --> 00:59:17.519 perception, but it does help with the overall perception. I mean, we 988 00:59:17.559 --> 00:59:22.360 talk about continuity so much, right, I think that you know, if 989 00:59:22.400 --> 00:59:25.840 you have the same players sticking around, that will gain you know, you'll 990 00:59:25.880 --> 00:59:29.360 gain a better fan base that way. I think of Luis Prez, like 991 00:59:29.599 --> 00:59:31.239 that guy's been around in so many of these leagues. Now we can just 992 00:59:31.280 --> 00:59:35.920 say his name and it's like etched into our brains because we've seen him play 993 00:59:35.960 --> 00:59:38.119 so many times. So I think all those things come into play. I 994 00:59:38.119 --> 00:59:42.920 hope that's something that the UFL can, you know, continue to figure out 995 00:59:42.960 --> 00:59:45.360 this year, like, hey, what's the identity? What are we really 996 00:59:45.360 --> 00:59:47.400 striving towards. There's a lot of great people working in football ops in this 997 00:59:47.519 --> 00:59:51.719 league, a lot of guys that I respect it again, have experience doing 998 00:59:51.760 --> 00:59:53.880 this before. Darryl Johnson is you know, the primary one, just because 999 00:59:53.880 --> 00:59:58.239 he's got an incredible wealth of knowledge, and again I think we can all 1000 00:59:58.280 --> 01:00:01.159 appreciate Darryl for that. So yeah, I mean that's that's kind of where 1001 01:00:01.159 --> 01:00:05.679 I'm at with everything. We got over three hundred people here watching that. 1002 01:00:05.800 --> 01:00:07.440 Make sure there's three hundred thumbs up here on the YouTube channel, we would 1003 01:00:07.440 --> 01:00:10.199 appreciate that. Let's get Max on this. I'm going to use the opportunity 1004 01:00:10.199 --> 01:00:13.159 to I have two people here. I'm going to go take a pit stop 1005 01:00:13.199 --> 01:00:15.480 before you guys head out, So Max, why don't you go to that? 1006 01:00:15.559 --> 01:00:21.280 And then we'll get Andy and then I'll be right back. I mean, 1007 01:00:21.400 --> 01:00:27.639 in terms of the like the player development angle, the biggest issue for 1008 01:00:27.719 --> 01:00:31.760 me was always the framing. You can't frame it as this is a developmental 1009 01:00:31.800 --> 01:00:35.800 league. You have to frame it as more this is going to be like 1010 01:00:35.840 --> 01:00:38.599 some sort of battle between the players, all for their last chance, and 1011 01:00:38.840 --> 01:00:44.880 like all or the players you remember from college or whatever, who will shine 1012 01:00:44.880 --> 01:00:47.239 and who who will who will stringing for the limelight? Who was going to 1013 01:00:47.320 --> 01:00:52.119 come up from out of nowhere and be the underdog story. There's just if 1014 01:00:52.119 --> 01:00:57.239 they marketed the unknown, it probably would be more interesting than marketing the developmental 1015 01:00:57.239 --> 01:01:01.519 aspect, because no one cares about development in terms of the broader audience. 1016 01:01:02.119 --> 01:01:06.960 Like there's a reason no one watches the G League. G League plays playing 1017 01:01:07.000 --> 01:01:12.119 fantastic basketball every night. No one is watching that unless it's G League ignite 1018 01:01:12.159 --> 01:01:15.159 and not anymore because now the G League Nite is going away and they are 1019 01:01:15.239 --> 01:01:20.239 terrible this year. So I mean, no one talks about the G League 1020 01:01:20.280 --> 01:01:23.159 unless there's some sort of policy change or there's some sort of young player playing 1021 01:01:23.199 --> 01:01:27.159 really well gets called up to the NBA. Otherwise, no one talks about 1022 01:01:27.199 --> 01:01:30.800 the G League. So whenever people will get so excited for this potential NFL 1023 01:01:30.840 --> 01:01:36.679 partnership, what I think people don't realize is once that happens, the stamp 1024 01:01:36.719 --> 01:01:39.039 will be forever in boss on the UFL, that it is a minor league 1025 01:01:39.079 --> 01:01:43.880 and it is over that you're not instead of people talking bad about You're gonna 1026 01:01:43.920 --> 01:01:49.039 go from having bad press to no press unless someone gets an NFL contract or 1027 01:01:49.039 --> 01:01:52.559 a tryout, So you've lost everything once you've become the official minor league. 1028 01:01:52.559 --> 01:01:55.000 And I just think people need to understand that. I mean, come on, 1029 01:01:55.039 --> 01:01:59.559 how much coverage is there in minor league baseball? Just just have some 1030 01:01:59.559 --> 01:02:01.599 perspective here, folks. MARLEYE Hockey, What what am I min seeing a 1031 01:02:01.639 --> 01:02:06.559 thing here? Folks? I don't think I am. Did the world blow 1032 01:02:06.639 --> 01:02:10.599 up when I was gone? Did we do? Okay? Uh? We 1033 01:02:10.639 --> 01:02:15.599 got job on here? Standing by second Andy? Any other thoughts on Max, 1034 01:02:15.639 --> 01:02:17.800 he or anything else before we get him out here. Yeah, I 1035 01:02:17.840 --> 01:02:22.440 mean, continuing Max is saying, and also what Emory was saying earlier. 1036 01:02:22.519 --> 01:02:24.800 Yeah, it's hard to pitch it as a developmentally because, as Max pointed 1037 01:02:24.800 --> 01:02:29.480 out, no one really wants to know that it's development is going on. 1038 01:02:29.559 --> 01:02:32.119 That's not what people tune in for. But does it happen while players are 1039 01:02:32.159 --> 01:02:37.760 playing. Absolutely, and look that happens in the NFL too. I want 1040 01:02:37.840 --> 01:02:40.239 people to know that development is happening right before our very eyes. Sometimes with 1041 01:02:40.320 --> 01:02:44.000 players in the NFL, just people ignore that because they look at the stars 1042 01:02:44.000 --> 01:02:45.400 and they look at the players who are actually playing well, and they look 1043 01:02:45.400 --> 01:02:47.559 at the guys who aren't playing well and being like, well, there's scrubs. 1044 01:02:47.559 --> 01:02:52.440 They can't do it. Look, you can't tell me that you didn't 1045 01:02:52.440 --> 01:02:54.679 watch Jordan Love all all your last year. Didn't tell me that there was 1046 01:02:54.719 --> 01:03:00.119 a significant improvement in his game mid season as the Packers were figuring it out 1047 01:03:00.159 --> 01:03:02.679 in real time how their offense was tooled. I mean Jordan Love and that 1048 01:03:02.679 --> 01:03:05.760 offense at the beginning of the year versus the end of the year, night 1049 01:03:05.800 --> 01:03:07.280 and day, and it was happening because they were putting in the work and 1050 01:03:07.320 --> 01:03:10.440 the practice and the reps as it was going along. Same thing with Josh 1051 01:03:10.480 --> 01:03:15.639 Allen. I had a kind of a semi revelation about Josh Allen his second 1052 01:03:15.719 --> 01:03:17.320 year that wasn't one of his great years, in fact, it was the 1053 01:03:17.400 --> 01:03:22.639 year before one of his Pro Bowl years, but there was just something about 1054 01:03:22.719 --> 01:03:24.559 him that I realized he was starting to figure out, and I thought, 1055 01:03:24.599 --> 01:03:29.480 maybe if he can get a hold of this and not look like a baby 1056 01:03:29.559 --> 01:03:34.400 draft jumping through a flaming hoop, maybe he can look decent. And he 1057 01:03:34.400 --> 01:03:37.480 did, and he started to look better. This happens all the time players 1058 01:03:37.559 --> 01:03:39.199 developed. They need reps, they need practice, they need game tape. 1059 01:03:39.280 --> 01:03:43.280 It's the same thing here. But again, you can't pitch it like that. 1060 01:03:43.320 --> 01:03:45.639 You have to say, look this guy, there's this player we really 1061 01:03:45.679 --> 01:03:49.559 like. You should pay attention to Luis Prez. You should pay attention to 1062 01:03:49.639 --> 01:03:52.840 Jordan trumb, you should pay attention to any number of these players that you 1063 01:03:52.880 --> 01:03:58.199 know, Scooby Wright one of these guys. But there's going to be development 1064 01:03:58.199 --> 01:04:00.960 as you go along, and once players get better and they perform better, 1065 01:04:00.039 --> 01:04:02.599 then you start to take notice of them, and then you start to really 1066 01:04:02.639 --> 01:04:06.639 look at that. I mean, that's just how the nature of the game 1067 01:04:06.679 --> 01:04:10.840 goes. So again I agree with you. You don't really want to pitch 1068 01:04:10.880 --> 01:04:14.159 it as being a developmental league, because once that happens, that's it. 1069 01:04:14.159 --> 01:04:16.039 It's a minor league forever it's branded as such. But you want to make 1070 01:04:16.039 --> 01:04:19.800 it different, like Daryl Johnson was talking to you about being last week on 1071 01:04:19.840 --> 01:04:24.920 the show, then you can't focus on that. But development is very much 1072 01:04:24.920 --> 01:04:27.480 part of the process, the part of the process in any any way to 1073 01:04:27.559 --> 01:04:30.679 perform, even at the highest levels. Let's see you guys out right, 1074 01:04:30.719 --> 01:04:32.880 you want to head to MEETIA. Anything else you guys, realick Jamon, 1075 01:04:32.920 --> 01:04:35.199 we're coming to the UFS sar. We're unning about two minutes behind here. 1076 01:04:35.480 --> 01:04:39.960 Anything else from you, guys, fre make it to media. I will 1077 01:04:40.000 --> 01:04:43.159 just say, if you don't want to be viewed as a developmental league, 1078 01:04:43.239 --> 01:04:45.280 there's got to be a point where you start paying players like their stars. 1079 01:04:45.480 --> 01:04:48.920 Like I know we're trying to step away from like being a developmental league. 1080 01:04:49.000 --> 01:04:53.480 Totally get that. But when you're paying guys fifty five sixty thousand dollars a 1081 01:04:53.519 --> 01:04:56.159 year, it's kind of hard to try to pitch as Oh, you can 1082 01:04:56.199 --> 01:04:59.519 build a career off of it when we're not raising money. So I think 1083 01:04:59.559 --> 01:05:02.000 you have have to pitch it as a developmental league until you get to the 1084 01:05:02.039 --> 01:05:08.559 point where you can financially start paying players more. Because because at the at 1085 01:05:08.599 --> 01:05:10.880 the end of the day, like Luis Prest can keep coming back every year, 1086 01:05:10.920 --> 01:05:20.079 but if you're gonna keep paying him sixty seventy, hang on, let 1087 01:05:20.079 --> 01:05:24.119 me get that going for a second here, I haven't my microphone here, 1088 01:05:24.239 --> 01:05:28.239 died that maybe just out of powered off here Max to say goodbye here, 1089 01:05:28.320 --> 01:05:30.360 we'll get you out here. Let me see if I get this thing plug 1090 01:05:30.440 --> 01:05:34.719 back in. Uh, well, yeah, I definitely agree. Like it's 1091 01:05:34.920 --> 01:05:38.840 hard to market to players that this isn't a developmental league, but you can 1092 01:05:38.880 --> 01:05:42.559 always market differently to players and the fans like those things, Like most fans 1093 01:05:42.639 --> 01:05:45.440 have no idea how much these players are getting paid. I'm sure that that's 1094 01:05:45.480 --> 01:05:46.599 not even on their mind, but I'm sure they all know it's not that 1095 01:05:46.679 --> 01:05:53.920 much. And then secondarily, I want to finish on Annie's point, which 1096 01:05:53.960 --> 01:05:59.920 is the development when it's attached to a brand is always more interesting to fans, 1097 01:06:00.079 --> 01:06:02.519 and development when it's attached to something they don't care about. So like 1098 01:06:03.639 --> 01:06:08.599 development on the Packers. But if the development happens while the players on the 1099 01:06:08.639 --> 01:06:13.119 Packers, that's a storyline throughout a season in multiple seasons. When development happens 1100 01:06:13.159 --> 01:06:15.880 in some other league, no one cares until he signs with the Packers. 1101 01:06:15.679 --> 01:06:21.599 So's that's just the way it is. Unfortunately, Sorry, I want to 1102 01:06:21.599 --> 01:06:24.400 make sure they get out of there, Evan anything else, I got the 1103 01:06:24.440 --> 01:06:28.320 mispec go And that was a scare there for a second. All good points. 1104 01:06:28.480 --> 01:06:30.679 I'm always good talking everybody. Just excited to get over to the game 1105 01:06:30.719 --> 01:06:33.239 and see everyone. All right, you guys, get out, We'll see 1106 01:06:33.239 --> 01:06:35.719 you over there. Appreciate it. Let's bring in Javon Max. You can 1107 01:06:35.760 --> 01:06:39.519 either stay or get out of here. Let me mike these things, guys, 1108 01:06:40.079 --> 01:06:42.239 Javon Alford, sorry to make you wait, sir. How are you 1109 01:06:42.239 --> 01:06:45.079 doing this? I'm doing all right. How y'all doing goodness? You can 1110 01:06:45.079 --> 01:06:46.440 tell we got movie pieces. Everyone can still hear me? Do I look 1111 01:06:46.480 --> 01:06:50.760 good? Do I sound good? Still sound good to me? Javanda, 1112 01:06:50.840 --> 01:06:55.000 what are you looking forward to today? Here? We got you ufl kickoff 1113 01:06:55.039 --> 01:06:58.519 at how you know you do a lot of different the football and it's probably 1114 01:06:58.599 --> 01:07:00.400 all that kind of stuff. Like, how does this resonate with you what 1115 01:07:00.400 --> 01:07:04.280 we have going on right now? It's an exciting time, you know, 1116 01:07:04.519 --> 01:07:09.679 seeing both leagues you know, have a very good year last year, combining 1117 01:07:09.719 --> 01:07:14.599 in the one, having you know, under one banner, under the notion 1118 01:07:14.800 --> 01:07:17.079 that this is the best of the best playing in one league. I think, 1119 01:07:17.119 --> 01:07:20.039 you know, that's very exciting, you know to see and you know, 1120 01:07:20.119 --> 01:07:25.239 to have the broadcast partners back once again, you know for another year 1121 01:07:25.280 --> 01:07:27.960 where most of your games are don't want to be on Fox, ESPN, 1122 01:07:28.039 --> 01:07:30.760 ABC, Like those things help you know, grow the game. And then 1123 01:07:31.119 --> 01:07:35.760 with you know, the continued involvement of sports betting involved with you know, 1124 01:07:36.079 --> 01:07:40.280 these leagues, I think will only help the league grow. So I'm excited 1125 01:07:40.320 --> 01:07:42.559 to see, you know. The action, you know is you get the 1126 01:07:43.320 --> 01:07:45.719 two champions from the last from last year going off against each other to kick 1127 01:07:45.719 --> 01:07:49.519 it off. You couldn't ask for anything better in your opinion, and then 1128 01:07:49.519 --> 01:07:53.440 we'll toss here, we'll get Andy and Max in your opinion, how's the 1129 01:07:53.519 --> 01:07:56.880 marketing bringing in these players and Matt Carrel's of the world. Has that done 1130 01:07:57.000 --> 01:07:59.719 enough? Do you think to get like a casual or a football fan to 1131 01:07:59.719 --> 01:08:01.719 come in to this because I like getting people like you that aren't necessarily in 1132 01:08:01.760 --> 01:08:05.039 this every second of the day. Yeah, I would, I would say 1133 01:08:05.079 --> 01:08:08.920 so. I think, like you said, having a guy like Matt Carroc, 1134 01:08:08.920 --> 01:08:12.559 I think definitely brings the you know, intriguing intention just you know, 1135 01:08:12.559 --> 01:08:15.639 knowing some of my friends that are football fans and they're like Matt Crow, 1136 01:08:15.840 --> 01:08:18.159 like, haven't seen him, like remembering with the Panthers, But it's that 1137 01:08:18.479 --> 01:08:20.920 like what can he do? Factor? And I think, you know, 1138 01:08:21.000 --> 01:08:26.000 outside of having the AJ mccarran's, you know, last year, everybody's like 1139 01:08:26.039 --> 01:08:29.439 mccaren like, what can he doing? Even though he had some moments last 1140 01:08:29.479 --> 01:08:30.199 year where it was like, Wow, like this guy, just go play 1141 01:08:30.239 --> 01:08:34.159 Hickeen Butler, Toyamu like those guys I think will help. And I think 1142 01:08:34.680 --> 01:08:39.920 Matt Corral being kind of that, you know, maybe hopefully that new faith 1143 01:08:39.960 --> 01:08:43.800 of that franchise with seeing the success that Magoo had will only help the lead 1144 01:08:43.840 --> 01:08:46.760 because if he plays good and have that like PJ. Walker renaissance they we 1145 01:08:46.840 --> 01:08:50.359 saw in the XFL, then that's only gonna bring more attention to more os 1146 01:08:51.319 --> 01:08:55.920 Andy. Are you surprised we didn't get more Matt Corral's this year, like 1147 01:08:56.000 --> 01:08:58.920 it felt like and maybe we're just trying to get we'll get to next year, 1148 01:08:58.920 --> 01:09:00.680 but you know, getting some of these guys than just mccaron and and 1149 01:09:00.720 --> 01:09:03.960 like Tamu coming back, I mean, like Brandon Silver's is hanging around. 1150 01:09:03.960 --> 01:09:08.000 But you know, I just I feel like that's that's an opportunity that every 1151 01:09:08.039 --> 01:09:12.359 talked about that as well. I don't know, with you downsizing these leagues 1152 01:09:12.399 --> 01:09:15.399 and only having eight teams, I think it's hard to bring in those guys 1153 01:09:15.439 --> 01:09:17.920 because they're already cutting players as it is. I don't know how in the 1154 01:09:17.960 --> 01:09:21.319 world do you expect to import more on top of that. And even if 1155 01:09:21.319 --> 01:09:25.520 they are maybe qualified players and players that are at the NFL level and you 1156 01:09:25.520 --> 01:09:28.359 think deserve to have an opportunity, it's still hard for them to kind of 1157 01:09:28.479 --> 01:09:31.560 justify that, especially when there's so many moving pieces. Again, we talked 1158 01:09:31.560 --> 01:09:34.720 about continuity with rosters. There needs to be continuity with these leagues. And 1159 01:09:34.760 --> 01:09:39.119 once you have continuity of the league, then other players in the NFL can 1160 01:09:39.159 --> 01:09:41.039 look at them and be like, oh, you know, I know that 1161 01:09:41.039 --> 01:09:44.880 that league over there, I can go play for them. I think it's 1162 01:09:44.439 --> 01:09:47.880 less of a daunting prospect that way than say, even for you know, 1163 01:09:47.960 --> 01:09:50.960 Canada. I love the CFL. I think the CFL is fantastic, But 1164 01:09:51.039 --> 01:09:55.399 it is a move to go up there, for a player to convince themselves 1165 01:09:55.439 --> 01:09:58.479 from the NFL to go up there, I don't think that really is something 1166 01:09:58.520 --> 01:10:01.039 that happens as much anymore. A long time ago and it had players going 1167 01:10:01.079 --> 01:10:04.239 up there because they couldn't cut it here and decided, well, I'm gonna 1168 01:10:04.239 --> 01:10:08.720 take my talents to Canada instead because that's where I can get playing time. 1169 01:10:09.239 --> 01:10:11.680 That has to be the same thing here. But I think just in the 1170 01:10:11.720 --> 01:10:14.720 current iteration with there only being eight teams, there's not any you know, 1171 01:10:14.960 --> 01:10:17.920 any expansion talks at the moment or anything with anybody. Actually, I know 1172 01:10:18.000 --> 01:10:21.439 there is expansion talks, but not amongst the people who it actually matters with. 1173 01:10:21.840 --> 01:10:26.119 Then it's not going to happen as far as getting some of these players 1174 01:10:26.159 --> 01:10:29.840 to come down from the NFL to try to get more game tape. Max 1175 01:10:29.920 --> 01:10:32.079 quickly, let's get back to Javama. We have him here, but thoughts 1176 01:10:32.079 --> 01:10:36.720 on kind of anything with Andy anything else. So when you're talking about these 1177 01:10:36.800 --> 01:10:42.199 established players who are sitting around at free asans quarterbacks like Josh Brozen Kilmnd. 1178 01:10:42.319 --> 01:10:45.840 I mean, think about those guys were early draft picks who stuck around for 1179 01:10:45.880 --> 01:10:49.760 a little while, and it's like Kellen, the problem with Corral for him 1180 01:10:49.840 --> 01:10:54.479 is that he played and like kind of embarrassed up a little bit at some 1181 01:10:54.600 --> 01:10:57.960 points, and like not necessarily because he was he was always he was like 1182 01:10:58.000 --> 01:10:59.960 a bad player or whatever, because he was just in a bad play. 1183 01:11:00.720 --> 01:11:04.399 So however bad he was or wasn't, was it accentuated by everything happening at 1184 01:11:04.399 --> 01:11:08.840 the Panthers. So he feels like he has to prove himself. But if 1185 01:11:08.880 --> 01:11:13.520 you're Josh Rosa Kellen Man, You're like, I've already been given these opportunities 1186 01:11:13.800 --> 01:11:16.560 and I've made all this money, and I what's the point I don't I 1187 01:11:16.560 --> 01:11:19.439 don't want to do this anymore unless I get back in the NFL. That's 1188 01:11:19.720 --> 01:11:23.880 that's kind of how most of these players are treating it until they get a 1189 01:11:23.960 --> 01:11:27.319 check big enough for them to change their minds. So you know, it 1190 01:11:27.399 --> 01:11:30.680 is what it is. Jamon thoughts on that, because you know, em 1191 01:11:31.079 --> 01:11:33.279 we had Emory Hunt on earlier and he was talking about, you know, 1192 01:11:33.560 --> 01:11:36.720 even coming in here and playing a couple of games before the draft and maybe 1193 01:11:36.760 --> 01:11:40.159 you can kind of help raise your stuck that way. I mean, how 1194 01:11:40.159 --> 01:11:43.159 do you think that the players with this league it can really stand out. 1195 01:11:43.199 --> 01:11:45.640 We've talked to we wanted to be developmental league. We don't want it to 1196 01:11:45.640 --> 01:11:48.319 be a developmental league. Yeah, I think you know what we brought up 1197 01:11:48.319 --> 01:11:51.399 about the college guys you know coming in, you know, showcase and I 1198 01:11:51.439 --> 01:11:56.079 think we thought that back in the second iteration of the XFL when we had 1199 01:11:56.600 --> 01:12:00.439 when they're with Kenny Robinson, when you know draft guy and he ended up 1200 01:12:00.479 --> 01:12:03.239 with the BattleHawks in May plays and it got people talking like who is this 1201 01:12:03.319 --> 01:12:06.600 guy? Like what can he do? And obviously he gets drafted, didn't 1202 01:12:06.640 --> 01:12:10.880 have you know, the best success in the NFL. But those are the 1203 01:12:10.920 --> 01:12:13.479 type of guy that you want to you know, go for. And I 1204 01:12:13.520 --> 01:12:16.439 agree with Max say right, like if you don't increase the pay like you 1205 01:12:16.479 --> 01:12:19.760 won't be able to get you know a lot of these guys that you you 1206 01:12:19.760 --> 01:12:24.000 know, potentially want to get. And then even the Andy's point like with 1207 01:12:24.119 --> 01:12:28.479 consolidations and rosters, it's tough, right. We saw Cole Kelly get cut 1208 01:12:28.560 --> 01:12:31.640 right and Cole Kelly what most would say, it's debt if you're trying to 1209 01:12:31.640 --> 01:12:35.399 develop if the developmental quarterback that you want, because he showed something with the 1210 01:12:35.399 --> 01:12:40.439 show Boots, but you cut him for a guy like Josh Love, who 1211 01:12:40.479 --> 01:12:44.840 we kind of know what Josh Love is at this point. Uh, we 1212 01:12:44.920 --> 01:12:46.520 got Mike Mitchell standing by here. We'll get to him in a second. 1213 01:12:46.600 --> 01:12:49.479 Three hundred and thirty people watching. Make sure them's up. Subscribe, get 1214 01:12:49.479 --> 01:12:51.720 all that. We'll get some comments back on here. People are talking about 1215 01:12:51.760 --> 01:12:55.920 hitting the drunes with footballs and stuff today, Javan anything you want to make 1216 01:12:55.920 --> 01:12:58.119 sure you plug before we get you out of here, because I know Mike 1217 01:12:58.159 --> 01:13:00.279 Scott short time as well. I they want to keep you guys waiting long 1218 01:13:00.279 --> 01:13:02.199 in the background. Yeah, No, appreciate you for having me on. 1219 01:13:02.560 --> 01:13:06.920 Check out Total sportslob totalsports live dot com. Got a week one picks up 1220 01:13:06.960 --> 01:13:11.920 odds and spreads for the UFL season. So got that up, love and 1221 01:13:12.000 --> 01:13:15.239 ready, and appreciate you guys for having me on. Do you do you 1222 01:13:15.399 --> 01:13:17.840 sense an overwhelming interest right now in that? Like? Are you seeing decent 1223 01:13:17.880 --> 01:13:21.279 traffic? I'm always curious about that. Uh, it's a little slow, 1224 01:13:21.319 --> 01:13:26.439 and I think that's probably because it's a new name change. Like UFL, 1225 01:13:26.560 --> 01:13:30.680 Like it's not like we've had XFL USFL where we can like kind of lean 1226 01:13:30.760 --> 01:13:34.359 on for like last year, like you knew like all our USFL's back, 1227 01:13:34.439 --> 01:13:38.800 Like people are going to be checking it out now. Will Fader is intrigue 1228 01:13:38.840 --> 01:13:42.880 with people betting and wanting to tune in because if you bet, just in 1229 01:13:42.920 --> 01:13:45.880 general for sports, you know that eve markets can be taken advantage of if 1230 01:13:45.880 --> 01:13:48.880 you just know a little bit of something and you could get like very good 1231 01:13:48.920 --> 01:13:54.319 odds and very good favorites. So hopefully it will increase with more play and 1232 01:13:54.800 --> 01:13:57.920 we have if you're the great first week, then I definitely think things will 1233 01:13:58.039 --> 01:14:00.199 start to boom. Awesome, Jim, I'm thank you. Appreciate you sitting 1234 01:14:00.199 --> 01:14:02.520 around here while we could get you on here and running a couple of seconds 1235 01:14:02.560 --> 01:14:05.920 behind, So really appreciate it. Thanks guys, problem, Thanks, We've 1236 01:14:05.960 --> 01:14:11.119 had he's been referred to as the Jedi Master, and we have Mike Mitchell 1237 01:14:11.239 --> 01:14:15.439 here. Mike, how the heck are I'm doing well? Reid? How 1238 01:14:15.479 --> 01:14:17.479 are you? Guys? We're good now. Just make sure everyone knows Mike's 1239 01:14:17.479 --> 01:14:20.880 popping in today and then we're going to do a long sit down this week 1240 01:14:20.920 --> 01:14:24.319 we'll figure out. I know, I'm Mike sually busy with work and stuff, 1241 01:14:24.319 --> 01:14:27.000 but we will have that will be the episode this week. We'll have 1242 01:14:27.000 --> 01:14:30.000 a full kind of in depth week one reactions all that. Oh, and 1243 01:14:30.039 --> 01:14:32.479 I should say Andy and I the page has already made Andy and I will 1244 01:14:32.479 --> 01:14:36.079 be recapping on Monday, Week one of the UFL, so you can already 1245 01:14:36.199 --> 01:14:40.119 the event page is already up on their like and subscribe. Click the BELLT 1246 01:14:40.359 --> 01:14:43.119 Mike, how are we feeling here? We're an hour and forty five minutes 1247 01:14:43.119 --> 01:14:45.439 to kick off. Yeah, it feels like groundhogs day. We've had so 1248 01:14:45.479 --> 01:14:50.279 many league launches since twenty nineteen, af XFL in twenty twenty, USFL in 1249 01:14:50.319 --> 01:14:55.359 twenty twenty two, the XFL coming back in twenty twenty twenty three, and 1250 01:14:55.439 --> 01:15:00.680 here we are with the United Football League, this unique and odd merged USFL 1251 01:15:00.920 --> 01:15:05.039 XFL entity. Mike, you stole my analogy. I was gonna say that 1252 01:15:05.119 --> 01:15:10.520 it cels like ground talk day. I was literally thinking about that analogy all 1253 01:15:10.560 --> 01:15:13.039 week. So you hit the nail on the head. Yeah, you know 1254 01:15:13.439 --> 01:15:15.960 hopefully where you know this is a regular thing. Now we get to UFL 1255 01:15:16.000 --> 01:15:21.159 season five six seven, We're not you know, some new leagues coming on 1256 01:15:21.239 --> 01:15:27.079 CBS next year, you know, to try to take over this space. 1257 01:15:28.119 --> 01:15:30.760 But here we are. I mean, it's exciting. I'm excited about the 1258 01:15:30.760 --> 01:15:32.479 football aspects. You've been debate a lot about a lot of different things. 1259 01:15:32.520 --> 01:15:34.800 You've had a great show here today, read a lot of great guests. 1260 01:15:34.880 --> 01:15:39.760 Emory hit on some interesting points. Quarterbacks and all that. To me, 1261 01:15:39.840 --> 01:15:44.159 I'm fascinated by. You can argue the quality of the individuals getting the opportunity, 1262 01:15:44.199 --> 01:15:46.720 but I like the fact that there are four de facto rookie quarterbacks getting 1263 01:15:46.720 --> 01:15:50.520 a shot, whether or not you believe in Chase Garber's or any of the 1264 01:15:50.640 --> 01:15:55.600 you know, Matt Corral who happen to like I'm hoping this league becomes a 1265 01:15:55.600 --> 01:15:59.880 success story for him concerning you know, all the mental health issues he's had 1266 01:16:00.000 --> 01:16:02.359 and everything else. So it's kind of a unique you know you kind of 1267 01:16:02.840 --> 01:16:05.800 you kind of split it down the middle. How high of a quality do 1268 01:16:05.800 --> 01:16:09.479 you want your league to be? Because if you have eight rookie quarterbacks, 1269 01:16:09.479 --> 01:16:13.640 it's gonna be messy, You're gonna have rookie growing pains, but in the 1270 01:16:13.680 --> 01:16:16.319 long run it could pay off dividends wise, So you know, having the 1271 01:16:16.399 --> 01:16:20.119 Luis Perezes, the aj mccerrn's, the coaches that we have, and going 1272 01:16:20.119 --> 01:16:26.079 into their third season in spring pro football, that's gonna give a good quality 1273 01:16:26.079 --> 01:16:29.880 and continuity to the league. And there's built in storylines which kind of makes 1274 01:16:29.880 --> 01:16:32.640 this fun, Like how did the Defenders rebound from last year's championship loss? 1275 01:16:32.680 --> 01:16:35.880 Can the BattleHawks get to the playoffs? They got kind of screwed over last 1276 01:16:35.960 --> 01:16:39.720 year? Can they make it to the championship game at home? Are the 1277 01:16:39.800 --> 01:16:43.199 Stallions as good as everybody thinks they are. We're gonna find out as they 1278 01:16:43.199 --> 01:16:45.159 match up with teams from the XFL, the best of the best from these 1279 01:16:45.159 --> 01:16:48.039 two leagues the last two years, as much as they can get there, 1280 01:16:48.920 --> 01:16:51.960 you know, considering your financial constraints and everything else, is gonna be on 1281 01:16:53.039 --> 01:16:55.960 display, and the games are gonna be fun themselves. I think we're gonna 1282 01:16:55.960 --> 01:17:00.159 see some exciting games and there's built in USFL XFL RN ivalry. Gentlemen, 1283 01:17:00.279 --> 01:17:04.760 If the USFL sweeps today's two games, you'll hear plenty of trash talkers saying 1284 01:17:04.760 --> 01:17:09.880 I told you were better than the XFL. If the Stallions beat the Renegades 1285 01:17:09.880 --> 01:17:13.680 and the Panthers somehow upset the battle Hawks. Today you'll hear plenty of that, 1286 01:17:13.760 --> 01:17:16.239 so that's kind of fun to me. I prefer that tribalism rather than 1287 01:17:16.279 --> 01:17:20.239 the one that was kind of separate before. So hopefully this new entity works 1288 01:17:20.239 --> 01:17:24.560 out in the long run. We got a question here, how's the attendance 1289 01:17:24.600 --> 01:17:26.560 so far? And where did that go? Here? And I was just 1290 01:17:26.560 --> 01:17:29.439 trying to peek out, like I do see a little bit of a line. 1291 01:17:29.600 --> 01:17:30.920 I know that they're opening, and I think the one of the doors 1292 01:17:30.960 --> 01:17:33.479 is opening. They're they're not opening it quite as early. I think media 1293 01:17:33.520 --> 01:17:36.399 availability you can get in like two hours before. I know Danny and the 1294 01:17:36.439 --> 01:17:41.119 Rock are doing stuff. I'll be here wrapping up. But hopefully Anthony can 1295 01:17:41.159 --> 01:17:45.319 go, you know see, hopefully the Rock doesn't beat Andy Anthony with like 1296 01:17:45.359 --> 01:17:49.560 a belt so like he did with Colley Rhoades on Monday. But let's get 1297 01:17:49.600 --> 01:17:54.720 Mike and then Max on this, like so we're talking. I will say 1298 01:17:55.119 --> 01:17:58.319 I have one comment. I am much more excited for watching this in some 1299 01:17:58.319 --> 01:18:01.039 of these USFL games last year. Admit, even as a spring football you 1300 01:18:01.079 --> 01:18:04.399 know, addicts whatever, like you know, to go from the XFL and 1301 01:18:04.439 --> 01:18:08.159 then the weeks and then to go to the USFL and it's like we're watching 1302 01:18:08.359 --> 01:18:12.399 Canton with fifteen people there and it's Whoever's wife freezing and the cold and like, 1303 01:18:12.920 --> 01:18:15.920 so I do appreciate a lot of these storylines and stuff, but to 1304 01:18:15.960 --> 01:18:17.600 me, Mike, a lot of this hasn't built just around us on Mike 1305 01:18:17.800 --> 01:18:21.560 Malvill or however you say his name, tweet this week, like these games 1306 01:18:21.600 --> 01:18:25.000 are on the big market and the networks are going to do better, Like 1307 01:18:25.039 --> 01:18:27.800 it seems that's kind of the philosophy this year. Like we had that we're 1308 01:18:27.840 --> 01:18:30.680 going to rely on Dwayne and Danny last year, and now this year it's, 1309 01:18:30.880 --> 01:18:31.880 well, we're just going to put them on the better time slots. 1310 01:18:31.920 --> 01:18:35.119 Is that how you're reading this a little bit? I spoke with someone this 1311 01:18:35.279 --> 01:18:42.600 morning on the UFL side high up there, and they their expectations are modest 1312 01:18:42.600 --> 01:18:44.600 for this season. They feel like, you know, because they had to 1313 01:18:44.680 --> 01:18:47.359 kind of put this together and do this quick. They're looking more towards twenty 1314 01:18:47.399 --> 01:18:50.439 twenty five in terms of hitting their goals. So like, I don't know, 1315 01:18:50.600 --> 01:18:55.000 Vegas is gonna have over unders on XFL. Oh excuse me, ufl 1316 01:18:55.039 --> 01:18:58.279 attendance. I still think that every time. Yeah, it is what it 1317 01:18:58.359 --> 01:19:00.399 is. But but I don't know, if you have over unders thirteen than 1318 01:19:00.560 --> 01:19:03.279 twelve thousand, fourteen thousand, maybe they do a little bit better. You 1319 01:19:03.319 --> 01:19:06.279 get some walk up. It's Easter weekend, so there's a lot of these 1320 01:19:06.319 --> 01:19:11.720 different factors. New gas stations open up down the road. But but I 1321 01:19:12.079 --> 01:19:15.039 think their expectations from the sense I got is their expectations are modest. Now, 1322 01:19:15.079 --> 01:19:18.720 Michael Malva Hill I always butcher people. That's theation of people's names. 1323 01:19:19.600 --> 01:19:23.079 You know. It's the same kind of argument they had last year. We 1324 01:19:23.119 --> 01:19:29.319 saw that there was a direct correlation between big network television versus cable time slots. 1325 01:19:29.399 --> 01:19:32.159 All that the Derby lead in led to only one of two USFL games 1326 01:19:32.159 --> 01:19:35.479 that had over a million viewers on average, and that was kind of like 1327 01:19:35.520 --> 01:19:39.239 an overinflated thing where they had like two million viewers. I don't think people 1328 01:19:39.239 --> 01:19:43.720 were tuning in for Todd Haley's brilliance, so that was kind of the story 1329 01:19:43.760 --> 01:19:45.479 there. So I think their expectation levels are modest. And I you know, 1330 01:19:45.479 --> 01:19:49.039 I put out a ratings article at Sports Illustrated. Shout out to Casey 1331 01:19:49.039 --> 01:19:53.359 Segar, who's helped me become a better writer who's always editing my stuff. 1332 01:19:53.399 --> 01:19:57.640 But you know, my expectations were low on the ratings. I hope I 1333 01:19:57.720 --> 01:19:59.920 undershot it. I hope they do a little bit better. They cross over 1334 01:20:00.039 --> 01:20:02.960 a million today, But the competition is heavy, and I do since outside 1335 01:20:02.960 --> 01:20:09.279 of our bubble that really just isn't mainstream interest or buzz for spring pro football 1336 01:20:09.279 --> 01:20:13.000 because people have been there and seen it already. They've already sampled it the 1337 01:20:13.079 --> 01:20:15.760 last two years. So what is the rope? What pulls you in? 1338 01:20:15.199 --> 01:20:17.560 So I think that's a big factor in all of this, and we'll see 1339 01:20:17.560 --> 01:20:20.279 how it goes. I definitely think they bought themselves a couple of years, 1340 01:20:20.319 --> 01:20:25.159 so I don't think they're gonna go away after this season. I will say 1341 01:20:25.239 --> 01:20:27.960 that we got three hundred and fifty people watched on YouTube right now, which 1342 01:20:28.000 --> 01:20:30.520 I appreciate. I can always tell like how many I've got like another two 1343 01:20:30.600 --> 01:20:34.000 hundred and thirty On Twitter. I can always tell, like are we really 1344 01:20:34.039 --> 01:20:38.199 popping today? Like I've added some subscribers. But I have a feeling it's 1345 01:20:38.199 --> 01:20:40.119 a lot of like people that have you know, been through this tour. 1346 01:20:40.159 --> 01:20:43.359 Whe's obviously either we appreciate and please like it. Subscribe three hundred and fifty 1347 01:20:43.359 --> 01:20:46.000 give me the thumbs up. Max. We have a comment here football fan 1348 01:20:46.359 --> 01:20:50.000 so high for the rock speech? Do we get another Let's ball out? 1349 01:20:50.039 --> 01:20:55.960 Baby? God? If I know at this point, I mean, I've 1350 01:20:56.439 --> 01:20:59.960 I'm not in for those kind of prop bets. You know, someone else 1351 01:21:00.039 --> 01:21:03.920 and can be on those predictions. But if it's not Dwayne, then is 1352 01:21:03.960 --> 01:21:10.039 it gonna be like Friend of the Show Daryl Bluth Johnson. No, I 1353 01:21:10.079 --> 01:21:14.239 think it's either Dwayne or Strayan. Maybe maybe if Strayan comes out and does 1354 01:21:14.239 --> 01:21:16.840 something right, because it's gotta be someone interesting doing a speech, or maybe 1355 01:21:16.880 --> 01:21:20.600 it's either that or no speech. It can't be someone random, like it 1356 01:21:20.640 --> 01:21:25.720 can't be Eric Shanks, like for example, it can't be it can't be 1357 01:21:25.840 --> 01:21:28.399 Danny at this point, like I'm sorry, I love you, Danny. 1358 01:21:29.279 --> 01:21:31.800 It's your time to find some somewhere else to fit into this because people, 1359 01:21:31.880 --> 01:21:39.119 some people are getting really tired of you on the fans side. But yeah, 1360 01:21:39.239 --> 01:21:41.319 I'm not, I'm not. Look, I don't know if we should 1361 01:21:41.319 --> 01:21:45.319 really expect a big time speech this time around because the marketing has not been 1362 01:21:45.439 --> 01:21:47.600 as over the top. But like we're trying to find random things to get 1363 01:21:47.640 --> 01:21:50.600 people interested, where it just seems to be very consistent. We're the best 1364 01:21:50.640 --> 01:21:54.079 spring league. We're the best spring league over and over again. So we'll 1365 01:21:54.119 --> 01:22:00.399 see Andy bounce on any of this nonsense. I think that I just don't 1366 01:22:00.439 --> 01:22:04.119 have a class and just throw me in. I mean, look, if 1367 01:22:04.119 --> 01:22:08.520 we get the rock coming out and maybe he changes the tagline, maybe he 1368 01:22:08.640 --> 01:22:11.840 just says, let's collaborate, baby, because that's fine too. You know, 1369 01:22:11.920 --> 01:22:15.720 whatever he wants to put it in, that's great synergy, baby. 1370 01:22:16.079 --> 01:22:20.680 I just look two things that I really have to look out for today and 1371 01:22:21.000 --> 01:22:25.239 for the season in general. First of all, if I can just get 1372 01:22:25.279 --> 01:22:29.520 attendance numbers from the USFL side, that would be great. I want the 1373 01:22:29.720 --> 01:22:31.720 attendance numbers. And now's this fudging of like, oh, there seems to 1374 01:22:31.760 --> 01:22:35.760 be about a few thousand people there. That's not I don't want generalities. 1375 01:22:35.800 --> 01:22:39.680 I want numbers. I want facts, thank you. Second of all, 1376 01:22:40.600 --> 01:22:43.640 I mean today it's going to be a bit tough sledding. And just in 1377 01:22:43.680 --> 01:22:46.319 terms of the TV numbers, Mike, I'm glad you talked about maybe some 1378 01:22:46.399 --> 01:22:49.399 of the reality points for some of the execs in the league, because yeah, 1379 01:22:49.439 --> 01:22:54.199 they have stiff competition. I mean, just today at twelve thirty pm 1380 01:22:54.319 --> 01:22:58.840 Pacific time, Kaylen Clark, who is a national sensation, is playing with 1381 01:22:58.920 --> 01:23:03.199 IOWA on TV. She's going to be playing on ABC around the same time. 1382 01:23:03.880 --> 01:23:08.920 You have a lot of NCAA games going on. Obviously, March Madison 1383 01:23:08.920 --> 01:23:11.920 is in full throttle. And it's men's and women's. You know, it's 1384 01:23:11.920 --> 01:23:15.359 not just what the men and women's has been getting incredible ratings the last few 1385 01:23:15.399 --> 01:23:18.960 years, especially with some of the notoriety and the stars that are in that 1386 01:23:19.000 --> 01:23:23.800 league. I mean last year, I remember the women's National Championship game getting 1387 01:23:23.880 --> 01:23:26.920 ten million viewers, and it was during one of the XFL games, and 1388 01:23:26.960 --> 01:23:30.720 I couldn't help but think just the amount of camaraderie and hype that was around 1389 01:23:31.279 --> 01:23:34.119 that matchup. So, I mean, that is something they're going up against 1390 01:23:34.159 --> 01:23:40.479 ultimately. So the TV numbers people are expecting there to be, you know, 1391 01:23:40.960 --> 01:23:44.159 one point five two million numbers, I don't know what they're looking at 1392 01:23:44.159 --> 01:23:46.439 because I don't think that's been really in the realm of reality. I think 1393 01:23:46.479 --> 01:23:49.399 your article the other day put it into perspective very well as far as the 1394 01:23:49.439 --> 01:23:56.279 predictions, and I think that's just something that also the league is maybe also 1395 01:23:56.439 --> 01:23:59.239 understanding as well as far as the season and just trying to build off of 1396 01:23:59.279 --> 01:24:01.880 that going forward. Mike, I'm curious about that, and I appreciate you, 1397 01:24:01.880 --> 01:24:04.039 you know, I like having the I just talked to some of this 1398 01:24:04.079 --> 01:24:05.960 morning, and I like that. That's why you're you know, that's why 1399 01:24:05.960 --> 01:24:10.479 everyone puts Mike with a little goat and all that. But my fear is 1400 01:24:10.560 --> 01:24:14.279 when they're like, we're not expecting a lot this year, We're just trying 1401 01:24:14.279 --> 01:24:16.000 to get through, does that lead to like apathy of like, oh, 1402 01:24:16.039 --> 01:24:18.840 it's fine, Like I mean, you know, where where at least if 1403 01:24:19.000 --> 01:24:23.720 I think the USFL I think had a little egg on their face season one 1404 01:24:23.840 --> 01:24:26.359 going into season two, like we're going to take over the world here, 1405 01:24:26.680 --> 01:24:30.000 This to me is the opposite. I'm fearing it's like, well, it's 1406 01:24:30.000 --> 01:24:31.079 fine, like we'll just kind of get by, we don't really care. 1407 01:24:31.960 --> 01:24:34.920 I think they think that they're going to reach their potential a year from now. 1408 01:24:34.920 --> 01:24:38.560 Whether or not you think they will, that's another story. But I 1409 01:24:38.560 --> 01:24:41.600 think because the way this is kind of put together, I don't want to 1410 01:24:41.640 --> 01:24:45.439 say haphazardly, what kind of like rushed and you see what their Panthers late 1411 01:24:45.479 --> 01:24:47.680 on season tickets. We've seen this movie before with the Vipers last year, 1412 01:24:48.119 --> 01:24:53.000 right, So I think the expectations are modest, and they really kind of 1413 01:24:53.000 --> 01:24:56.279 should be. Their expectation level is very high when it comes to the football. 1414 01:24:56.560 --> 01:24:58.760 They think the football is going to be very good. I happen to 1415 01:24:58.760 --> 01:25:00.399 agree with them, right. So, know, if it's the greatest spring 1416 01:25:00.399 --> 01:25:03.439 Pro Football league ever, let's see the games first. But I do think 1417 01:25:03.479 --> 01:25:05.600 the quality of play is going to be very good because you have like built 1418 01:25:05.640 --> 01:25:10.479 in veterans in this space that are actually very good football players Darius Victor's case, 1419 01:25:10.479 --> 01:25:14.359 Cookiss, et cetera. And then you got all these young talents on 1420 01:25:14.399 --> 01:25:16.159 the on on the UFL team. So I do think the quality of play 1421 01:25:16.239 --> 01:25:18.960 is gonna be very good. Built in coaching staff, continuity, you know. 1422 01:25:19.199 --> 01:25:21.159 You know, if this was the XFL in two thousand and one, 1423 01:25:21.239 --> 01:25:26.119 vincec Man will probably shoot an angle with the rocket Cody Rhodes during one of 1424 01:25:26.159 --> 01:25:30.239 the games. You look at, you resolve it by halftime. Rock will 1425 01:25:30.239 --> 01:25:32.600 bloody them up before WrestleMania as a bleed in. But you know, we'll 1426 01:25:32.640 --> 01:25:35.680 see, you know, and it's got to come down to them, you 1427 01:25:35.680 --> 01:25:40.960 know, getting all their ducks in a row and doing what they're supposed to 1428 01:25:41.000 --> 01:25:43.479 do in terms of promotion and marketing. And you know, the thing is 1429 01:25:44.279 --> 01:25:46.000 they can't have their cake and eat it too because they're trying to save money. 1430 01:25:46.039 --> 01:25:49.399 You know, some media members already messaging me today that they got them. 1431 01:25:49.520 --> 01:25:53.640 Uh, they're getting a little shortage in terms of food, accommodations and 1432 01:25:53.640 --> 01:25:57.840 everything else. So you know, players, no, don't talk of media 1433 01:25:57.880 --> 01:26:00.479 members. You know, they're like the start no start for no foods for 1434 01:26:00.479 --> 01:26:02.600 the media people. I thought that all right, So there you go. 1435 01:26:02.920 --> 01:26:08.560 So my sources are accurate. You know. It's cutting corners, scrimping and 1436 01:26:08.560 --> 01:26:12.079 saving anywhere you can. But I do think, I do think that the 1437 01:26:12.439 --> 01:26:15.239 quality to play. I'm I'm a football fan. I'm into these leagues. 1438 01:26:15.279 --> 01:26:16.680 I'm going to be into the games. I can't wait till they get started. 1439 01:26:17.119 --> 01:26:19.960 From if you look at it from outside the bubble, it comes down 1440 01:26:20.000 --> 01:26:24.239 to business for them. And I think if they do eight hundred thousand, 1441 01:26:24.319 --> 01:26:28.079 nine hundred thousand viewers, I don't think anybody should really push the panic button 1442 01:26:28.359 --> 01:26:30.359 yet. You know, I think you, I think you need to let 1443 01:26:30.359 --> 01:26:33.319 this season right out and then you know, like I said, I've been 1444 01:26:33.319 --> 01:26:36.199 saying this for so long, these two leagues merge because they didn't see the 1445 01:26:36.239 --> 01:26:41.319 light at the end of the tunnel. They're hoping that together they'll see that. 1446 01:26:41.439 --> 01:26:43.479 And you know, you don't like to hear this word read, but 1447 01:26:43.520 --> 01:26:45.079 they have. I spoke with somebody this morning. They have been talking about 1448 01:26:45.119 --> 01:26:50.720 expansion. The places they looked at for Vegas, Tennessee, Arizona, Ohio, 1449 01:26:50.960 --> 01:26:54.960 which was if they had been ten teams, Ohio was going to be 1450 01:26:55.000 --> 01:26:59.680 one of the teams. So well, they first things first before you get 1451 01:26:59.720 --> 01:27:02.199 to that, but that's the hope. And uh, you know, so 1452 01:27:02.359 --> 01:27:06.760 I think people need to temper their expectations. They really to rope in mainstream 1453 01:27:06.800 --> 01:27:12.960 and casual fans. It's gonna take. It's a process, so I don't 1454 01:27:12.960 --> 01:27:15.560 think you're gonna do that overnight. We got coach Craig here long and then 1455 01:27:15.560 --> 01:27:18.199 we'll get to him in just a moment. I appreciate that guy, Mike, 1456 01:27:18.359 --> 01:27:23.000 you are gonna appreciate this. We have a question from three times CFL 1457 01:27:23.079 --> 01:27:26.920 A Great Cup champion, David Sanchez checking in. Thanks for doing this, 1458 01:27:26.960 --> 01:27:30.680 Fellas. Any thoughts on the onfield matchups today for anybody. Betty, we 1459 01:27:30.039 --> 01:27:32.840 talked a little bit about I mean, we've talked a lot about a lot 1460 01:27:32.880 --> 01:27:35.880 of these, but Mike Rundown, just while we have you kind of you 1461 01:27:35.880 --> 01:27:39.600 know, thirty seconds each and like I said, we'll do expand it next 1462 01:27:39.600 --> 01:27:42.560 week. But give me give us your thoughts on all four matchups this weekend. 1463 01:27:43.079 --> 01:27:45.319 I'll go outside the box on this one. I think san Antonio can 1464 01:27:45.359 --> 01:27:49.600 cover against DC on Sunday. I know everybody's just look. I predicted that 1465 01:27:49.640 --> 01:27:54.479 they would finish with a three and seven record, So but I think san 1466 01:27:54.520 --> 01:27:58.079 Antonio is gonna be better this year. How many games they win that remains 1467 01:27:58.119 --> 01:28:00.199 to be seen. It's very competitive to vision. You know, Chase Garbage 1468 01:28:00.279 --> 01:28:03.319 is gonna have to match up his level of play with aj Mccaeron, Jordan 1469 01:28:03.359 --> 01:28:08.239 Tama and Luis Perez. But I do believe that Week one game for d 1470 01:28:08.359 --> 01:28:11.720 C is a bit of a trap. They're without three of their best offensive 1471 01:28:11.720 --> 01:28:15.800 players from last year and Abram Smith. You know, Chris Blair and Lucky 1472 01:28:15.880 --> 01:28:17.880 Jackson. Two of those guys are in the NFL. We know Abram Smithsar's 1473 01:28:17.920 --> 01:28:21.399 ACL, So I think DC might have some kinks to iron out week one. 1474 01:28:21.439 --> 01:28:26.119 I know everybody loves them and I von Hutchins done a tremendous job. 1475 01:28:26.119 --> 01:28:29.399 They have an awesome coaching staff. But I think San Antonio is six point 1476 01:28:29.479 --> 01:28:31.960 underdogs. They have a shot there if Garber's doesn't. I don't want to 1477 01:28:32.000 --> 01:28:36.319 curse on this show, but if the lights aren't too bright for him against 1478 01:28:36.359 --> 01:28:41.560 Greg Williams, ultra aggressive defense and he's able to contain it because they have 1479 01:28:41.640 --> 01:28:45.800 a lot of you know, Marquez Stevenson, John Trey Kirkland, Cody Latimer, 1480 01:28:46.079 --> 01:28:48.880 Anthony McFarland, who's getting the start for them at running back. I 1481 01:28:49.000 --> 01:28:53.039 like these guys. These are young guys who are talented in college that are 1482 01:28:53.039 --> 01:28:56.039 impressive, So I do think they have some playmakers there. I think they 1483 01:28:56.079 --> 01:28:58.439 can make a game of things. So I'm not a big gambler, but 1484 01:28:58.479 --> 01:29:00.920 if I was going I would not. It's not a popular pick, but 1485 01:29:00.920 --> 01:29:04.319 I would take San Antonio to cover that one. Everyone expects Saint Louis to 1486 01:29:04.359 --> 01:29:10.760 steamroll over Michigan again. There's gonna be an upset or two in the first 1487 01:29:10.760 --> 01:29:12.680 week. There's gonna be a wake up call for one of these teams. 1488 01:29:12.680 --> 01:29:16.800 Saint Louis should beat Michigan. But but I'm a little weary of that one. 1489 01:29:17.000 --> 01:29:21.239 Arlington and Birmingham today, I feel the Stallions are gonna win that game. 1490 01:29:21.319 --> 01:29:26.079 I just think they're too deep, too talented. Arlington is a different 1491 01:29:26.079 --> 01:29:29.399 team with Luis Perez at the helm at the controls. They just have to 1492 01:29:29.439 --> 01:29:32.840 prove to me that they have enough talent on the outside a wide receiver to 1493 01:29:33.239 --> 01:29:36.279 compete with the Stallions. I think the Stallions are a better overall team than 1494 01:29:36.319 --> 01:29:40.680 them. So and then so, and I'm missing a game here. Memphis 1495 01:29:40.680 --> 01:29:44.439 and Houston. Memphis, Houston, Yeah, that's an odd one. Memphis 1496 01:29:44.479 --> 01:29:46.119 is very talented. You know, very few teams in the league benefited from 1497 01:29:46.159 --> 01:29:50.680 the dispersal draft process like they did. They've loaded up on veteran, proven 1498 01:29:50.760 --> 01:29:54.479 veteran guys, you know, the diaries, victors, case cookies, et 1499 01:29:54.560 --> 01:30:00.479 CETERA. Interesting kind of breakers show boats combination there with the coach flip bringing 1500 01:30:00.479 --> 01:30:04.800 a couple of his star players from New Orleans. So I like Memphis in 1501 01:30:04.840 --> 01:30:10.520 that game. Jack Guarantano has to prove it to me first, and no, 1502 01:30:10.640 --> 01:30:14.720 Mark Thompson, I'd be all over Memphis if if I was if I 1503 01:30:14.760 --> 01:30:16.319 was picking, if I was a gambler. I would take Memphis, and 1504 01:30:16.439 --> 01:30:19.920 I think they're just a much better football team than the Roughnecks. We have 1505 01:30:20.000 --> 01:30:23.119 one more here, I'll get, We'll get, and then we'll get, 1506 01:30:23.119 --> 01:30:25.560 Craig Zach said of the question from Mike before we get out of here. 1507 01:30:27.239 --> 01:30:29.439 Yeah, in terms, oh, in terms of the promise, yeah, 1508 01:30:29.479 --> 01:30:32.079 John Lewis had the promise winning one game all season, which is which just 1509 01:30:32.199 --> 01:30:34.239 rude. I was going to have him on the podcast and I said, 1510 01:30:34.399 --> 01:30:38.279 you can't come on anymore. That's funny. Here's the thing. Read all 1511 01:30:38.359 --> 01:30:40.920 these teams are better than they were last year. You know, it's crazy, 1512 01:30:40.920 --> 01:30:45.880 like the BrahMos have forty one new players. I mean, we need 1513 01:30:47.680 --> 01:30:51.920 somebody, somebody needs. Somebody has to lose these games, love of averages. 1514 01:30:51.960 --> 01:30:55.560 You can't have eight teams with all five and five records. That's the 1515 01:30:55.600 --> 01:30:59.920 only mathematical possibility for everybody not to have a losing record. So somebody's gonna 1516 01:30:59.920 --> 01:31:01.520 go. There's gonna be good teams that go three and seven, four and 1517 01:31:01.600 --> 01:31:04.119 six. Last year we saw three four and sixties make the playoffs. We're 1518 01:31:04.119 --> 01:31:09.000 not going to get that this year. But I think San Antonio is better 1519 01:31:09.079 --> 01:31:11.880 than they were a year ago. I'd be surprised if they only won one 1520 01:31:11.960 --> 01:31:14.720 game. But like I said, somebody's got to lose these games, So 1521 01:31:14.720 --> 01:31:16.319 somebody's gonna play the patsy. Somebody's gonna, as they say in wrestling, 1522 01:31:16.399 --> 01:31:21.560 do the job. Got to thank you here for David Sanchez, last question 1523 01:31:21.640 --> 01:31:25.760 for Mike. We'll get Craig in here. Zach wants to know about the 1524 01:31:25.800 --> 01:31:28.000 kickoff. He wants to know, and we'll talk more about it this week. 1525 01:31:28.039 --> 01:31:30.680 But we haven't had you on and obviously we had the Darren Louis Johnson 1526 01:31:30.800 --> 01:31:32.239 them at all, and we want to be more traditional, right, real 1527 01:31:32.239 --> 01:31:35.039 football. So what's your thirty second take on that? And then we'll get 1528 01:31:35.079 --> 01:31:39.520 you out of here. Appreciate it. I like the old school NFL kickoff, 1529 01:31:39.600 --> 01:31:41.920 but this has been in the works for a long time, like for 1530 01:31:42.319 --> 01:31:45.199 ten years plus. You could see this change is coming. Sam Schwartz seen 1531 01:31:45.239 --> 01:31:46.479 the team. What was at the forefront of it. If you're gonna ask 1532 01:31:46.479 --> 01:31:49.840 me the NFL kickoff last year versus the USFL kickoff last year, and actually 1533 01:31:49.840 --> 01:31:55.039 take the USFL kickoff, But you have the artificial field position there that I'm 1534 01:31:55.039 --> 01:31:58.640 not a huge fan of. They have some safety things with the alignment and 1535 01:31:58.640 --> 01:32:00.159 all that, and I like the fact that in the return in the game. 1536 01:32:00.760 --> 01:32:03.960 I don't know, maybe some people read will watch today's games and go, 1537 01:32:04.000 --> 01:32:06.520 why can't the NFL use this kickoff? Because I don't want to try 1538 01:32:06.560 --> 01:32:11.239 that crazy gimmicky thing they're talking about. So who knows. You'll get opinions 1539 01:32:11.279 --> 01:32:14.000 all over the place on that one. I would have stuck with the XFL 1540 01:32:14.079 --> 01:32:15.920 kickoff. And Donald Johnson knows a great interview you had with him last week. 1541 01:32:15.920 --> 01:32:18.720 It was interesting that he's you know, the points he made about how 1542 01:32:18.720 --> 01:32:23.760 this benefits players of adaptability into the NFL coverage players and all that. Now 1543 01:32:23.800 --> 01:32:27.039 while the NFL's not using that kickoff anymore, so that doesn't work. And 1544 01:32:27.079 --> 01:32:29.960 then you know, the other aspect of it was that, you know, 1545 01:32:30.000 --> 01:32:31.439 he wanted to be more traditional and all that. Well, now the new 1546 01:32:31.439 --> 01:32:34.760 tradition might be the NFL is not going back. I'm sorry. I would 1547 01:32:34.760 --> 01:32:36.920 love for them to go back to that kickoff. I grew up with it, 1548 01:32:38.000 --> 01:32:41.640 love it. I've been watching football four decades. I love the kickoff. 1549 01:32:41.680 --> 01:32:43.880 I don't want it out of the game. I don't want the AAF 1550 01:32:43.920 --> 01:32:47.039 solution. So this is where we are with it, So maybe people will 1551 01:32:47.119 --> 01:32:50.279 like the UFL kickoff the way it's constituted. USFL had a lot of big 1552 01:32:50.319 --> 01:32:54.880 plays in it. If you can overlook the injuries aspect and overlook the artificial 1553 01:32:54.920 --> 01:32:58.600 field position, then you know, maybe you prefer what you see in these 1554 01:32:58.640 --> 01:33:00.640 games in terms of their kickoff. Well, thank you, Mike. We 1555 01:33:00.720 --> 01:33:03.680 have over four hundred people watch on YouTube right now. I hope there's four 1556 01:33:03.760 --> 01:33:08.279 hundred thumbs up on the video. Please subscribe if you're not four anight. 1557 01:33:08.479 --> 01:33:11.439 A lot of work coming down here all the way to Arlington. Andy's going 1558 01:33:11.479 --> 01:33:14.199 to be back with me Monday. We're doing nine am Pacific. We're going 1559 01:33:14.239 --> 01:33:15.439 to do all the recap for week one, and then Mike and I are 1560 01:33:15.439 --> 01:33:18.199 going to do a full extensive interview. I think that'll just be the episode 1561 01:33:18.239 --> 01:33:20.159 this week. I will just figure out a good time to do that. 1562 01:33:20.279 --> 01:33:24.560 Yeah, we'll pre record Mike anything you want to plug. Mike's over at 1563 01:33:24.560 --> 01:33:27.960 Sports Illustrated. We're working through all those website issues as well anything else. 1564 01:33:28.520 --> 01:33:30.840 A lot of craziness over at S. I shout out to Anthony Miller, 1565 01:33:30.840 --> 01:33:34.600 who's done a tremendous job. You know, It's like we're building up a 1566 01:33:34.680 --> 01:33:38.680 division. We've had a lot of hurdles there at SI. The traffic's been 1567 01:33:38.760 --> 01:33:41.880 very good. Anthony Miller's doing a great job basically covering every team. I 1568 01:33:41.920 --> 01:33:45.399 don't know how he does it, so shout out to him at Sports Illustrated. 1569 01:33:45.399 --> 01:33:47.159 Shout out. Like I said, Casey Seger Arc Garcia, who's one 1570 01:33:47.199 --> 01:33:49.960 of my editors over at Sports Illustrated, shout out to him. He wrote 1571 01:33:49.960 --> 01:33:55.000 for the XFL twenty twenty at their website. Great guy, much smarter than 1572 01:33:55.039 --> 01:33:58.359 I. So that's basically that. So thanks for checking out my work, 1573 01:33:58.399 --> 01:34:00.680 and thanks for all to all the people out there that are passionate about these 1574 01:34:00.760 --> 01:34:04.680 leagues and support them. Appreciate you awesome, Mike, Thank you so much. 1575 01:34:04.720 --> 01:34:09.159 We'll see you next time. Let's get Mike out. We got Coach 1576 01:34:09.199 --> 01:34:11.720 Craig coming on, and then we're gonna have Eric Eager here rounding out the 1577 01:34:11.760 --> 01:34:14.079 show. And then I'm gonna have to shower here again at eleven and then 1578 01:34:14.159 --> 01:34:15.800 run over to the stadium. Here I get really sweaty and like the signs 1579 01:34:15.840 --> 01:34:18.439 on my back, it's like it's a whole thing here. Coach Craig, 1580 01:34:18.520 --> 01:34:23.039 how are you doing so? Oh? I'm all right, a little tired 1581 01:34:23.119 --> 01:34:27.039 that I worked all night, so you'll have that, but happy to be 1582 01:34:27.119 --> 01:34:30.680 here and happy for the season to get started. And we'll go around the 1583 01:34:30.680 --> 01:34:32.079 horn here. But let's start you first, and what is your thought on 1584 01:34:32.119 --> 01:34:35.560 the kickoff thing? Cause it's like that all came out and then we haven't 1585 01:34:35.600 --> 01:34:39.079 had a podcast since really all, I don't think since all this kind of 1586 01:34:39.119 --> 01:34:42.800 came about. So what what? To me? It's not a great look, 1587 01:34:42.840 --> 01:34:45.560 what do you think? I think it's interesting just the way all kind 1588 01:34:45.560 --> 01:34:48.000 of played out as they were, you know, they were debating the two 1589 01:34:48.000 --> 01:34:50.920 different kickoffs, and then it's like, of course, right after they pick 1590 01:34:51.560 --> 01:34:55.199 the one, the NFL is like, oh, we're going to update ours 1591 01:34:55.239 --> 01:35:00.000 to the XFL version essentially after that. I think moving forward, like next 1592 01:35:00.039 --> 01:35:02.560 season will see a flip. Obviously it's too late to try to flip around 1593 01:35:02.640 --> 01:35:08.279 now, but I think the XFL kickoff is something that I really enjoyed because 1594 01:35:08.279 --> 01:35:12.000 it just incorporated a lot of different strategies of how you could approach it overall, 1595 01:35:12.600 --> 01:35:15.720 even though by a team by team basis. Yeah, Andy, are 1596 01:35:15.720 --> 01:35:20.159 you surprised that we didn't Like I wouldn't they couldn't they have just made a 1597 01:35:20.199 --> 01:35:24.439 reverse call here, like, are you surprised? I think it's a spring 1598 01:35:24.520 --> 01:35:26.720 league, Like, hey, we're gonna I don't know. I mean, 1599 01:35:26.840 --> 01:35:28.840 I know it looks bad, but that to me, this looks worse. 1600 01:35:30.239 --> 01:35:32.680 I'm just gonna be a little bit candid here. It's tone deafness, and 1601 01:35:32.800 --> 01:35:36.600 unfortunately, from the standpoint on mister mus Johnson, I think he made a 1602 01:35:36.680 --> 01:35:44.000 humongous air and trying to pitch this old traditional kickoff. With all respect to 1603 01:35:44.119 --> 01:35:46.720 Mike, I don't really care for the NFL kickoff anymore. I like the 1604 01:35:46.880 --> 01:35:51.479 XFL kickoff, and I prefer it. Send me to the doldrums for believing 1605 01:35:51.479 --> 01:35:55.359 that, but that's just how I am. Look, I think it's a 1606 01:35:55.439 --> 01:36:01.439 humongous gaff because you chose to do something look that not only pushes the game 1607 01:36:01.479 --> 01:36:05.079 forward, it indobates, and it also creates something you new and exciting. 1608 01:36:05.600 --> 01:36:10.479 I think that's what these spring leagues also stand for, is trying to create 1609 01:36:10.520 --> 01:36:15.399 new solutions to some things that don't necessarily work in football or antiquated or don't 1610 01:36:15.399 --> 01:36:18.880 really mesh with the TV audience anymore. I think this kind of thing is 1611 01:36:18.920 --> 01:36:25.560 really interesting, and this is why I think it was just an oversight by 1612 01:36:25.640 --> 01:36:28.399 the league to try and abandon something for the sake of trying to bring in 1613 01:36:28.439 --> 01:36:30.279 traditional fans. You need to stand out, you need to be unique. 1614 01:36:30.479 --> 01:36:35.399 You need to have something that separates you from your contemporaries. And when you 1615 01:36:35.439 --> 01:36:39.840 abandon something like that, you get rid of the uniqueness. And then you 1616 01:36:39.840 --> 01:36:42.279 have people questioning why'd you get rid of it? If other people thought it 1617 01:36:42.279 --> 01:36:44.520 was a good idea, Like, why did you give up on it so 1618 01:36:44.640 --> 01:36:48.239 quickly? For me, it just never made sense that that happened. And 1619 01:36:48.479 --> 01:36:51.039 look, if people are out here trying to be like, well, they 1620 01:36:51.039 --> 01:36:54.880 can't predict the future, how would they know? Like, who cares about 1621 01:36:54.880 --> 01:36:57.560 the future. You care about yourself, That's what I say. You care 1622 01:36:57.600 --> 01:37:00.359 about your product. If other people want to follow you, that's fine. 1623 01:37:00.399 --> 01:37:03.319 But I personally believe that the XLK coff it's a lot more interesting. I'm 1624 01:37:03.319 --> 01:37:06.640 just gonna say it. I think the USFL kickoff is just it's too easy. 1625 01:37:06.640 --> 01:37:10.760 It gets too many yards away. I think it's it's it's to me, 1626 01:37:11.279 --> 01:37:14.640 it's it's a reward that shouldn't be there in terms of the field position. 1627 01:37:15.079 --> 01:37:16.920 It's not it's it's not earned and I want it to be earned. 1628 01:37:16.920 --> 01:37:19.199 As a fan, I need it to be earned. That's how I feel. 1629 01:37:19.600 --> 01:37:23.600 And for me, it just felt like a humongous scaff on their part. 1630 01:37:23.720 --> 01:37:28.000 I really I think this league needs to learn its lesson as far as 1631 01:37:28.399 --> 01:37:30.880 when you stick to something, stick with it and don't just change it for 1632 01:37:30.920 --> 01:37:34.840 the sake of getting a few more eyeballs. Max, I'll give you the 1633 01:37:34.880 --> 01:37:42.880 floor here. I know you got thoughts, so let's start with. Greg 1634 01:37:42.960 --> 01:37:45.840 Parks said it better than I ever could in his calm about it a few 1635 01:37:45.920 --> 01:37:50.479 days ago, where he basically said the NFL left the UFL behind and that 1636 01:37:50.560 --> 01:37:55.239 they were willing to be to embrace innovation while the UFL, well, the 1637 01:37:55.359 --> 01:38:00.159 UFL wanted to stick down. And it's you know, Frank and Sign. 1638 01:38:00.439 --> 01:38:01.960 You know, we got an arm from this guy, We got a leg 1639 01:38:02.000 --> 01:38:05.680 from that guy, and that's gonna We're gonna show it together, you know, 1640 01:38:06.439 --> 01:38:12.199 and make a kickoff. We'll hear from one league and another rule from 1641 01:38:12.199 --> 01:38:20.039 another league. And Darryl, I hope you know how you look right now, 1642 01:38:20.279 --> 01:38:27.399 having called the XFL kickoff gimmicky, just for the NFL to adopt it 1643 01:38:27.560 --> 01:38:30.560 and for your darling franchise that you played for, and I'm pretty sure you're 1644 01:38:30.600 --> 01:38:36.079 in the Ring of honor for was one of the main people pushing this kickoff. 1645 01:38:38.800 --> 01:38:42.239 So they're gonna be in a position now where they have to say, 1646 01:38:42.279 --> 01:38:45.439 hey, we could change the rule back, but our players have been practicing 1647 01:38:45.479 --> 01:38:53.359 this one kickoff rule for a month. So in my opinion, if they 1648 01:38:53.399 --> 01:38:58.159 do change it now, it might actually lead to a lot of officiating gaffes, 1649 01:38:59.079 --> 01:39:03.279 and it might lead to a lot of confused special teams units. They 1650 01:39:03.359 --> 01:39:06.399 might have to wait until next year because I mean, they've been drilling this 1651 01:39:06.479 --> 01:39:12.800 other rule for so long. Now we have a comment here, and I 1652 01:39:12.840 --> 01:39:15.960 hope Max you know you're we're peaking viewership right now. It's maxis now, 1653 01:39:15.039 --> 01:39:19.399 mister Johnson, I didn't say any of that that maxis Look. Uh, 1654 01:39:19.520 --> 01:39:24.760 they say the return yards are necessary for springing offenses, coach Craig, and 1655 01:39:24.800 --> 01:39:27.479 then we'll get Danny. But like, because that's what I always saw the 1656 01:39:27.600 --> 01:39:30.479 USFL did. Okay, let's get them starting further back, you know, 1657 01:39:30.640 --> 01:39:31.680 further up on the field. That what do you make of that? Is 1658 01:39:31.800 --> 01:39:36.039 the kind of those gifty yards? I mean, at this point in time, 1659 01:39:36.039 --> 01:39:39.840 we've seen these offenses be able to move the ball up and down the 1660 01:39:39.840 --> 01:39:42.479 field. We got good defenses. We've got good offenses at the same time 1661 01:39:42.520 --> 01:39:45.920 too, we got good coach We got good coaching stats that are able to 1662 01:39:45.560 --> 01:39:49.640 design plays to get the ball down the field. And with what we got 1663 01:39:49.760 --> 01:39:53.439 kind of now too, you know, even with a lot of these quarterbacks 1664 01:39:53.439 --> 01:39:56.479 are turning and everything too, and these teams are beefed up a little bit, 1665 01:39:56.520 --> 01:39:59.520 even more than they were last year. I don't think it's the major 1666 01:39:59.560 --> 01:40:02.600 issue. Plus, I just want to see, you know, even like 1667 01:40:02.640 --> 01:40:06.319 with the XFL version of the kickoff, it just adds such a different element 1668 01:40:06.439 --> 01:40:12.720 to the game overall that you can still get those extra yards there too. 1669 01:40:14.119 --> 01:40:15.479 I don't know why, Mike, I think I'm back on here. Luckily, 1670 01:40:15.520 --> 01:40:18.199 my Mike died with coach Gregs and that's always helpful. And it's not 1671 01:40:18.199 --> 01:40:20.479 when I'm in the middle of saying something, Andy, you shook your head 1672 01:40:20.479 --> 01:40:27.000 about that you're needing the extra yards. The antiquated idea of it being for 1673 01:40:27.039 --> 01:40:30.920 spring offenses, I think is not a logic that I fall look like. 1674 01:40:31.319 --> 01:40:35.119 Coach Craig said, these offenses can move the ball just fine. These offenses 1675 01:40:35.119 --> 01:40:39.760 can prepare themselves just fine. I think in general, if you're not moving 1676 01:40:39.760 --> 01:40:43.479 the ball, that's your problem. You need to strategize better offense and get 1677 01:40:43.520 --> 01:40:46.960 better players. For me, like it's not about where you start, Like 1678 01:40:47.000 --> 01:40:50.319 that is just so cheap. Give those kinds of yards is very cheap, 1679 01:40:50.359 --> 01:40:54.760 and I don't appreciate that. I think you need to earn it. That's 1680 01:40:54.760 --> 01:40:57.159 how I feel as a fan. I've always felt that way as a fan. 1681 01:40:57.520 --> 01:40:59.880 I don't think there needs to be this idea of like, well, 1682 01:41:00.159 --> 01:41:01.279 you know, everyone needs to just start on the forty because they're not good 1683 01:41:01.319 --> 01:41:03.960 enough. Well, then what does that say about your product if you really 1684 01:41:03.960 --> 01:41:06.479 believe that. I don't think that's the right way to go about it. 1685 01:41:06.560 --> 01:41:11.640 So for me, the XFL kickoff at least there was a lot of strategy 1686 01:41:11.680 --> 01:41:14.960 involved with it, and there were some really exciting returns. Darius Shepherd, 1687 01:41:14.960 --> 01:41:17.840 who's coming back into this league with the Balhawks, had some electric flying returns 1688 01:41:17.920 --> 01:41:23.479 last year, and I think for that matter, I just remember it being 1689 01:41:24.000 --> 01:41:27.399 one of the most important things that I think came back with the XFL last 1690 01:41:27.479 --> 01:41:30.720 year. That was the first thing that I kind of missed when the XFL 1691 01:41:30.800 --> 01:41:32.560 was gone after twenty twenty, was thinking man, I missed that kickoff. 1692 01:41:32.600 --> 01:41:35.439 That was the first thing I really thought about because it was just so different. 1693 01:41:36.119 --> 01:41:40.000 That and the point conversion of tents, among other things. But really 1694 01:41:40.520 --> 01:41:44.159 I think it's just again, it's a way of separating yourself from your contemporaries 1695 01:41:44.560 --> 01:41:47.680 and instead of just trying to chase the sun and trying to be the same 1696 01:41:47.760 --> 01:41:53.760 as the NFL. I just think that it was important to have it still 1697 01:41:53.800 --> 01:41:56.600 incorporated here. And look, if you wanted to test it out a few 1698 01:41:56.640 --> 01:41:59.199 years and be like, maybe this isn't our thing, We'll try something else, 1699 01:41:59.199 --> 01:42:01.560 that's fine. What that's fine. That's part of development. We talked 1700 01:42:01.600 --> 01:42:05.720 about development, We've talked about developmental players, we talked about development with rules, 1701 01:42:06.159 --> 01:42:09.319 but this one I don't think was for the sake of development. I 1702 01:42:09.319 --> 01:42:12.479 think it was just one entity being like, well, our kickoffs just seems 1703 01:42:12.520 --> 01:42:15.119 better, and everyone else likes the other kickoff better, so let's just use 1704 01:42:15.159 --> 01:42:16.359 that one. I think that was the wrong way to go about it, 1705 01:42:16.520 --> 01:42:19.640 my opinion. We got our last guest here log and then we'll get to 1706 01:42:19.760 --> 01:42:24.479 Eric in the second Craig before we let you out of here, thoughts, 1707 01:42:25.079 --> 01:42:27.239 you know, thoughts on the game today and then kind of what are you 1708 01:42:27.319 --> 01:42:30.079 looking forward to this weekend? I want to go back to the kickoff thing 1709 01:42:30.119 --> 01:42:32.760 too, now that the fact that they're probably not going to switch it over. 1710 01:42:32.880 --> 01:42:39.079 Just real quick, what disadvantage are these players at now because they didn't 1711 01:42:39.560 --> 01:42:45.319 have the same Like they're going to lose out on NFL tryouts camps just because 1712 01:42:45.760 --> 01:42:47.640 they aren't used to it, Like they could have had such an advantage already 1713 01:42:47.680 --> 01:42:51.880 by playing ten games through this whole system. So a guy that is like 1714 01:42:53.000 --> 01:42:56.520 a solid kick returner, like he might have had a chance just because he's 1715 01:42:56.560 --> 01:42:59.640 already done it ten games and he's proven it and he's put it out there 1716 01:42:59.640 --> 01:43:02.079 on tape that he might get that extra chance. And then all he got 1717 01:43:02.079 --> 01:43:05.680 to do is go into camp and then beat somebody else out. So there's 1718 01:43:05.680 --> 01:43:08.920 a lot of different ways that you could look at it from that regard to 1719 01:43:09.079 --> 01:43:13.520 so the guys that could be missing some opportunities for me when I'm looking for 1720 01:43:13.560 --> 01:43:16.159 this week and I'm just kind of looking for like how these teams look altogether 1721 01:43:16.239 --> 01:43:19.479 too. Obviously some of you guys have been talking about how some of the 1722 01:43:19.479 --> 01:43:24.720 teams have more continuity than others, especially like some of these teams where they've 1723 01:43:24.720 --> 01:43:29.800 had all these excuse me, moving parts over the course of the offseason. 1724 01:43:30.119 --> 01:43:32.640 These teams, especially like from a defensive perspective, that's the one that I'm 1725 01:43:32.680 --> 01:43:35.720 kind of looking at for some of these teams that have a lot of turnover 1726 01:43:35.760 --> 01:43:40.239 on defense. Memphis Showboats are kind of a team like that too. They 1727 01:43:40.319 --> 01:43:44.399 let go some really good players and maybe in favor of some players that I 1728 01:43:44.479 --> 01:43:47.119 thought probably weren't as good. So we'll just have to see what that all 1729 01:43:47.119 --> 01:43:50.680 looks like. Even you know, Michigan held on to a lot of their 1730 01:43:50.680 --> 01:43:53.880 guys, but they cut a lot of good players at the same time too. 1731 01:43:54.119 --> 01:43:57.479 Just a lot of rotating units there overall. And I'm gonna and I'm 1732 01:43:57.520 --> 01:44:00.760 really interested to see what DC's offense looks like without their top three wide receivers 1733 01:44:00.760 --> 01:44:03.680 from last year. Without Abram Smith, Jordan Tama was going to have to 1734 01:44:03.680 --> 01:44:06.640 carry this team on his back early on in the year. He really is 1735 01:44:08.640 --> 01:44:11.319 well, Craig, I appreciate it. I'm just kind of refreshing over here. 1736 01:44:11.600 --> 01:44:14.199 Thank you so much. We're peaking viewership right now, which is always 1737 01:44:14.239 --> 01:44:15.720 good here getting into the end. We got our big final guests coming on 1738 01:44:15.840 --> 01:44:18.600 here. Coach Craig, anything you want to plug before I bring Eric Hegron. 1739 01:44:19.279 --> 01:44:24.079 Yeah. For me personally, it's just you can find me on YouTube 1740 01:44:24.119 --> 01:44:28.279 myself at Coach Craig Sports. I mainly do for UFL over there, it's 1741 01:44:28.359 --> 01:44:30.159 the UFL DFS. I did a little bit of a team preview earlier this 1742 01:44:30.199 --> 01:44:33.920 week as well. Obviously, hopefully you know, moving forward, we got 1743 01:44:33.960 --> 01:44:39.680 a lot more trends that we can see from these first initial games. My 1744 01:44:40.079 --> 01:44:42.840 initial video was a little bit delayed coming out because I was trying to wait 1745 01:44:42.880 --> 01:44:45.520 for all those depth charts to come in and then kind of adjust from there. 1746 01:44:45.279 --> 01:44:51.319 I will say too, the announcement of PFF doing UFL earlier this week 1747 01:44:51.359 --> 01:44:55.319 should make things a little bit easier. Hopefully they have the snapcounts because that's 1748 01:44:55.359 --> 01:45:00.439 going to be a big analytical aspect too. As some body myself personally last 1749 01:45:00.520 --> 01:45:05.399 year, I charted all the offensive players for USFL for the last eight games 1750 01:45:05.399 --> 01:45:10.239 of the year because nowhere else had that information. Oh, Coach Craig, 1751 01:45:10.279 --> 01:45:12.760 I appreciate it, Thank you so much. Homping on here today, We're 1752 01:45:12.760 --> 01:45:15.439 going to bring on our last guest here, Eric Eager Suomer Sports Eric, 1753 01:45:15.520 --> 01:45:18.439 and this is something. I've been tracking all your stuff on Twitter here and 1754 01:45:18.800 --> 01:45:23.039 as you can imagine, as a commander's fan, mock drafts and everything, 1755 01:45:23.079 --> 01:45:26.079 I'm very invested in that. But I want to get your thoughts on this 1756 01:45:26.359 --> 01:45:30.560 USFL XFL kickoff here with the with the NFL, like we have Daryl on 1757 01:45:30.680 --> 01:45:33.279 and what do you make of all this? Well, it felt like the 1758 01:45:33.399 --> 01:45:39.039 USFL just kind of daw the issue, which are one of the issues, 1759 01:45:39.039 --> 01:45:44.680 which was no one's returning kicks, and ignored completely the underlying reason why the 1760 01:45:44.800 --> 01:45:48.520 NFL was trending towards no one returning kicks, which was injury rates and things 1761 01:45:48.560 --> 01:45:51.960 of that nature. And so they just backed the kickoff up right, and 1762 01:45:53.000 --> 01:45:56.800 that that's been the case for two straight years, and it was it was 1763 01:45:56.840 --> 01:46:01.399 sort of the laziest solution to the problem of why aren't we getting kickoff returns? 1764 01:46:01.760 --> 01:46:06.960 And I think from the perspective of player development, it made some sense. 1765 01:46:08.000 --> 01:46:12.000 Hey, we're going to develop returners, we're going to develop kick cover 1766 01:46:12.119 --> 01:46:15.720 men and all this stuff. But then the NFL of course decides to adopt 1767 01:46:15.800 --> 01:46:23.520 the XFL rule, which now makes that kind of obsolete. I don't I 1768 01:46:23.560 --> 01:46:27.600 didn't expect them in the last week to adopt the XFL rule, of course, 1769 01:46:28.439 --> 01:46:30.680 but it is kind of funny now that it's gonna stick out like a 1770 01:46:30.680 --> 01:46:34.640 sore thumb. If this league lasts until next year, I'm guessing that they'll 1771 01:46:34.680 --> 01:46:40.359 adopt the XFL rule, assuming the NFL, who only has a one year 1772 01:46:40.439 --> 01:46:45.199 lease on this particular change, adopts it for the next season. Do you 1773 01:46:45.279 --> 01:46:48.600 buy that these leagues and spring football needs those extra yards to get the offenses 1774 01:46:48.600 --> 01:46:51.319 going, because, like I always thought, the USFL, hey, we 1775 01:46:51.640 --> 01:46:54.760 got to get these guys as much of a head start as we can. 1776 01:46:55.359 --> 01:46:58.760 Yeah, it's weird because you know in the National Football League, right, 1777 01:46:58.800 --> 01:47:03.680 you had pandemic year and then the immediate year after something like forty nine points 1778 01:47:03.680 --> 01:47:06.560 a game and then forty seven points a game. Now it's about forty three 1779 01:47:06.600 --> 01:47:11.920 and a half points a game, and it's not necessarily because the offenses go 1780 01:47:12.000 --> 01:47:15.159 three and out all the time. It's because the offenses like get to the 1781 01:47:15.199 --> 01:47:18.720 forties and punt. And so I'm thinking about this from a betting perspective, 1782 01:47:18.960 --> 01:47:21.800 where I'm still looking at a lot of totals that in the low forties. 1783 01:47:23.039 --> 01:47:26.439 I'm guessing by middle of next week they'll be in the high thirties, because 1784 01:47:26.520 --> 01:47:30.199 I don't think that field position is The field position obviously helps offense, but 1785 01:47:30.800 --> 01:47:35.760 it helps it less than you think, because if you the way that current 1786 01:47:35.800 --> 01:47:41.199 offense and defenses are in professional football, you have two high shelves, and 1787 01:47:41.279 --> 01:47:45.399 so there's not a high like third and long rate or sorry, three and 1788 01:47:45.439 --> 01:47:50.199 out rate. There's a really there's a relatively decent series success rate being turning 1789 01:47:50.600 --> 01:47:57.800 one series into another series of downs. It's more that offenses can't sustain multiple 1790 01:47:57.800 --> 01:48:00.560 first downs in a row to get to the end zone, and it's just 1791 01:48:00.640 --> 01:48:05.039 exacerbated in this league. So I don't necessarily know if the extra fuel position 1792 01:48:05.479 --> 01:48:12.079 will benefit It really hasn't benefited points in this league because you know these teams, 1793 01:48:12.239 --> 01:48:15.640 there's just there's just not that many big plays. There's not quarterbacks that 1794 01:48:15.720 --> 01:48:20.079 are capable of it, and defenses are really good at preventing them anyway, 1795 01:48:20.479 --> 01:48:25.119 And so I think it helps a little bit, but not as much as 1796 01:48:25.119 --> 01:48:28.039 everybody thinks. Andy, I want to give you a chance to respunt. 1797 01:48:28.800 --> 01:48:30.880 I think those are some fantastic points made by Eric Heager. Yeah, that's 1798 01:48:30.920 --> 01:48:34.560 the kind of the trend we're seeing with offensive defenses. There's the two high 1799 01:48:34.720 --> 01:48:40.680 safety shell cover two. There's basically offenses that are not being able to sustain 1800 01:48:40.760 --> 01:48:44.840 these long drives. I mean, once the advent of like the spread option 1801 01:48:45.119 --> 01:48:50.479 and like all the offenses where it was basically all vertical passing games started to 1802 01:48:50.479 --> 01:48:54.960 come into fruition, the emphasis on defense in response was Okay, well, 1803 01:48:54.960 --> 01:48:58.560 we're gonna put more emphasis on speed than we are physicality. And now teams 1804 01:48:58.560 --> 01:49:01.159 are basically not as getting mad explosive plays because that's kind of what they're trying 1805 01:49:01.199 --> 01:49:05.279 to prevent against constantly. And so there's just all of this underneath work, 1806 01:49:05.319 --> 01:49:11.000 and there's more focused on trying to do it down by down by down instead 1807 01:49:11.000 --> 01:49:14.079 of trying to get these big chunk plays, which is not as easy now 1808 01:49:14.119 --> 01:49:17.079 just based on the defensive adjustments. So I agree with you in terms of 1809 01:49:17.800 --> 01:49:21.000 that, and if I don't know if the kickoff is really going to help 1810 01:49:21.000 --> 01:49:25.680 that in this league, especially in a league where these offenses are sort of 1811 01:49:25.760 --> 01:49:30.640 makeshift and there's new players and there's people coming in trying to re establish themselves. 1812 01:49:30.680 --> 01:49:32.600 I mean, we talked about continuity. Maybe from a spring league perspective. 1813 01:49:32.600 --> 01:49:35.840 We know a lot of continuities here, but from an overall perspective. 1814 01:49:35.840 --> 01:49:41.520 I mean, you're talking about the NFL where there's like years plural years of 1815 01:49:41.600 --> 01:49:46.159 a player of continuity and coaching, where these people know each other's tendencies and 1816 01:49:46.159 --> 01:49:49.600 cadences and they're able to use that to their advantage in order to make things 1817 01:49:49.640 --> 01:49:54.079 happen. So I don't know if that's really going to necessarily improve on the 1818 01:49:54.119 --> 01:49:57.840 offensive standpoint in the spring leagues. I'm really curious to see what the overall 1819 01:49:57.880 --> 01:50:01.119 points total are end up going to be in this league going forward now with 1820 01:50:01.159 --> 01:50:06.520 all the talent being reconsolidated, and regardless of what the kickoff is, see 1821 01:50:06.520 --> 01:50:13.119 how consistent these offenses can be. We're peaking here, almost five hundred viewers 1822 01:50:13.119 --> 01:50:15.159 here on E two. We got another three point fifty on Twitter, which 1823 01:50:15.439 --> 01:50:18.119 last year the show did terrible, So maybe this means I don't know if 1824 01:50:18.119 --> 01:50:21.640 there's more interest in this this year or not, but or maybe people just 1825 01:50:21.680 --> 01:50:24.960 really like Eric, which is also could be the case. We got about 1826 01:50:24.960 --> 01:50:27.960 ten minutes left here, we'll toss to Max and then we're going to break 1827 01:50:27.960 --> 01:50:30.720 all this down just shit five h two, So really appreciate that. Andy 1828 01:50:30.720 --> 01:50:32.920 and I will be back on Monday. We'll do a recap show and then 1829 01:50:32.920 --> 01:50:35.760 Mike Mitchell, who is on, we'll be doing all that stuff coming up 1830 01:50:35.960 --> 01:50:41.159 for a regularly Friday episode. Normally the episodes go there, max five twenty. 1831 01:50:41.199 --> 01:50:43.319 Now, do you want to go on another rant here while we're peaking 1832 01:50:43.399 --> 01:50:46.760 viewership? Yeah, I'll go on another rant. The I think in terms 1833 01:50:46.800 --> 01:50:53.920 of offensive output, the far bigger effects was when they newtered the the enforced 1834 01:50:53.960 --> 01:50:58.640 aggression as we'll call it, on punt rules by making it easier to punt. 1835 01:50:58.880 --> 01:51:01.600 They changed the out balance line on punts to twenty five, and they 1836 01:51:01.680 --> 01:51:05.479 changed it to touch back twenty five too, whereas before it was it was 1837 01:51:05.560 --> 01:51:11.479 thirty five. That whenever it was thirty five, you were you were putting 1838 01:51:11.520 --> 01:51:14.840 teams in a real bind to say, we really need to consider going for 1839 01:51:14.920 --> 01:51:18.720 it on fourth and medium in between the forties. They're gonna just kick it 1840 01:51:18.800 --> 01:51:21.720 now like most of the time, like even more than they already were. 1841 01:51:23.840 --> 01:51:28.199 And as as a fan of Spring leagues, as much as I love the 1842 01:51:28.239 --> 01:51:31.680 special teams, the biggest action, the most exciting plays are when teams are 1843 01:51:31.720 --> 01:51:35.159 going for it on fourth down. That's what you're here to see, right, 1844 01:51:35.199 --> 01:51:39.239 You're here to see the last chance, will they move the chains or 1845 01:51:39.279 --> 01:51:44.279 not. And it feels like we want everything to be more traditional instead of 1846 01:51:44.319 --> 01:51:48.560 making things more challenging and more exciting, ensure punters will hate the fact that 1847 01:51:48.600 --> 01:51:51.399 there is in forced aggression, that it makes punter's heart, that makes punting 1848 01:51:51.439 --> 01:51:55.359 harder. But let's be real, Dan Willin's in the league right now because 1849 01:51:55.359 --> 01:51:59.359 he was able to navigate around those horrific punt rules for him and so that 1850 01:51:59.399 --> 01:52:02.840 he's a very field punter. So clearly, if anything, whenever you're a 1851 01:52:02.880 --> 01:52:08.279 specialist and you can navigate around more challenge, you're more likely to make it. 1852 01:52:08.319 --> 01:52:12.920 Whereas, for example, whenever they're changing the receiving rules to two feet, 1853 01:52:13.000 --> 01:52:15.720 let's be real, we haven't had that many, if any receivers break 1854 01:52:15.760 --> 01:52:19.760 out and really stick around on even an active roster other than special teams guys 1855 01:52:19.760 --> 01:52:27.800 like Turpin. So it feels like we're incentivizing more things to be challenging that 1856 01:52:28.000 --> 01:52:30.760 won't help players as much and it will actually make the game less exciting. 1857 01:52:30.840 --> 01:52:34.600 And then where we have other opportunities to make the game more challenging and more 1858 01:52:34.640 --> 01:52:39.399 exciting, we're turning away from it so that instead we can have it be 1859 01:52:39.479 --> 01:52:43.960 more traditional. It just feels like they completely misunderstand what the goal is Spring 1860 01:52:43.960 --> 01:52:47.520 football is supposed to be. We are like, we're hitting the almost seven 1861 01:52:47.600 --> 01:52:49.920 hundred viewers right now, Max, and the time that you've talked, it's 1862 01:52:49.960 --> 01:52:54.640 literally added one hundred and seventy five. The legend you're crazy. Make sure 1863 01:52:54.640 --> 01:52:57.920 you subscribe, like and subscribe thumbs up. Give it all that. Eric. 1864 01:52:57.960 --> 01:53:01.079 Since we're talking UFL weekend, here talk some actual football gameplay right now. 1865 01:53:01.079 --> 01:53:03.960 Obviously we're at Chalk Talk Stadium. What are you looking for in terms 1866 01:53:04.000 --> 01:53:08.880 of the renegades Perez and everything else and everything going on. Yeah, I 1867 01:53:09.359 --> 01:53:14.000 to me, I was really surprised just generally how big the point spreads are 1868 01:53:14.000 --> 01:53:17.039 in this Like you basically have the Memphis game on Sunday afternoon is the only 1869 01:53:17.079 --> 01:53:24.039 game that is close to a pick'em relatively speaking. This this game that's immediately 1870 01:53:24.039 --> 01:53:26.439 going to start, the point spread is anywhere, depending upon where you look, 1871 01:53:26.479 --> 01:53:29.760 three and a half to four and a half, and then and then 1872 01:53:29.800 --> 01:53:32.960 this afternoon later sharps are betting that thing out to eight and a half and 1873 01:53:32.960 --> 01:53:38.840 it's gotten back down to about seven. I just I have a hard time 1874 01:53:38.880 --> 01:53:43.439 believing to what Ay was saying earlier, there's so much turnover in these leagues 1875 01:53:44.039 --> 01:53:47.319 a I really want to see. I always put a little bit more in 1876 01:53:47.439 --> 01:53:51.399 my model's strength towards coaching in these leagues because I think, like, for 1877 01:53:51.479 --> 01:53:57.880 example, the San Antonio Brahmas, like Wade Phillips is is what a top 1878 01:53:57.920 --> 01:54:00.920 two or three coach in this entire league. And there when you look at 1879 01:54:00.960 --> 01:54:02.880 championship bods or anywhere from twelve to one to thirteen to one, they're one 1880 01:54:02.920 --> 01:54:08.399 of the worst teams in the hole in the whole league. Whereas we've always 1881 01:54:08.399 --> 01:54:13.159 seen that basically in this league quarterback play, which in the NFL is exactly 1882 01:54:13.239 --> 01:54:15.720 what you need in order to win championships. Quarterback play, there's not a 1883 01:54:15.720 --> 01:54:18.800 big enough delta in this league for it to matter that much. And then 1884 01:54:19.119 --> 01:54:21.640 you know, down the roster stuff, it's just so hard for us to 1885 01:54:21.680 --> 01:54:26.680 predict a week to week in game to game, especially considering one of the 1886 01:54:26.720 --> 01:54:30.600 big things about spring leagues, and you see it most acutely at quarterback is 1887 01:54:30.039 --> 01:54:35.960 a lot of these players they get injured more often because they're not experienced enough. 1888 01:54:35.960 --> 01:54:40.159 They're not it's sort of this weird thing like case Cookis is like a 1889 01:54:40.239 --> 01:54:43.680 very good quarterback, but he has to use like all of his mental capacity 1890 01:54:43.720 --> 01:54:45.560 to play the position, so he can't even protect himself, so he gets 1891 01:54:45.640 --> 01:54:49.560 hurt all the time. And that's true about like down the roster players across 1892 01:54:49.600 --> 01:54:55.239 this entire league. So if I'm looking and I'm trying to handicap these games, 1893 01:54:55.520 --> 01:54:58.359 I'm looking at who the coaches are on both sides. And so this 1894 01:54:58.439 --> 01:55:01.399 earlier game, obviously where you know you have you have Holtz and you have 1895 01:55:01.399 --> 01:55:04.359 Stoops, like that's a pretty good matchup. I don't think that the difference 1896 01:55:04.399 --> 01:55:09.239 between those two guys is exactly a field goal and a half in this game. 1897 01:55:09.319 --> 01:55:12.399 So when I look at this game that's immediately happening in about an hour, 1898 01:55:12.560 --> 01:55:16.800 I kind of do like the defending XFL champions, especially given Luis Perez 1899 01:55:16.840 --> 01:55:20.199 and how experience he is in this league. Matt Corral is going to get 1900 01:55:20.199 --> 01:55:25.760 the start for Birmingham over Jamar Smith, who, as you know, is 1901 01:55:25.800 --> 01:55:28.479 now relegated a third string. I don't even know if he's gonna address in 1902 01:55:28.520 --> 01:55:33.640 this game or be active. I think that that the continuity there quarterback coach 1903 01:55:34.319 --> 01:55:39.319 is is going to favor Arlington, a little bit more than maybe the betting 1904 01:55:39.319 --> 01:55:43.920 market suggest Yeah, in terms of you know, and we had Darren Luis 1905 01:55:43.960 --> 01:55:46.319 Johnson on last week talking and hey, this season, we're kind of getting 1906 01:55:46.319 --> 01:55:48.359 through here, you know, two months out, kind of the best we 1907 01:55:48.479 --> 01:55:51.800 can we get through the season. How what players you want to see them 1908 01:55:51.840 --> 01:55:55.439 target? Eric and kind of what what what do you want the game plan 1909 01:55:55.520 --> 01:55:57.560 to be for twenty twenty five And then we'll go to Andy as we are 1910 01:55:57.600 --> 01:56:01.079 hitting eight hundred and fifty eight viewers on YouTube. Crazy. Yeah, it 1911 01:56:01.119 --> 01:56:04.439 was funny because Max talked about the kick returners and the special teams guys. 1912 01:56:04.439 --> 01:56:10.680 You know, Brandon Aubrey for example, being the Pro Bowl caliber kicker for 1913 01:56:10.800 --> 01:56:15.079 Dallas, and Turpin has been a great returner for them. I think one 1914 01:56:15.159 --> 01:56:19.439 of the things that I and I've written about this extensively is like the offensive 1915 01:56:19.439 --> 01:56:24.479 line play in the NFL since the twenty eleven collective bargaining agreement and then the 1916 01:56:24.520 --> 01:56:28.680 new one in twenty twenty has been bad. And I think that one of 1917 01:56:28.359 --> 01:56:31.439 the so everybody's talking about Sam Schwarzstein and the kickoff rule, and I obviously 1918 01:56:31.439 --> 01:56:34.079 he deserves a ton of accoletes for that, but one of the things that 1919 01:56:34.119 --> 01:56:38.359 they did in the XFL that the original one in twenty twenty that I thought 1920 01:56:38.399 --> 01:56:42.239 was very apt was they tried to make sure that the talent level on both 1921 01:56:42.279 --> 01:56:45.359 sides of the line of scrimmage was relatively equal, which is really hard to 1922 01:56:45.359 --> 01:56:51.479 do given that often the athleticism disparity between offensive lineman and defensive lineman at the 1923 01:56:51.560 --> 01:56:57.119 highest level is really big, especially early on. And so when I'm looking 1924 01:56:57.159 --> 01:57:03.079 across here, like, I think that there are legitimate depth opportunities too in 1925 01:57:03.159 --> 01:57:09.039 the NFL for offensive linemen for this league to come and develop. And I 1926 01:57:09.039 --> 01:57:12.640 don't know how you do that from a broadcast standpoint. I think Pro Football 1927 01:57:12.680 --> 01:57:15.520 Focus my old employer being able to grave these guys, that's an awesome that's 1928 01:57:15.560 --> 01:57:19.319 an awesome thing so that you can highlight some of these offensive linemen that are 1929 01:57:19.319 --> 01:57:23.399 performing well. But when I'm thinking about this league and like what kind of 1930 01:57:23.399 --> 01:57:26.600 players I want to highlight, that is, if I'm looking at the NFL, 1931 01:57:26.720 --> 01:57:32.079 that is the number one most underserved position group in the entire in the 1932 01:57:32.239 --> 01:57:35.960 entire league, and it's only going to get worse because and I'm not trying 1933 01:57:35.960 --> 01:57:40.079 to be a boomer here, but nil and the transfer portal and things like 1934 01:57:40.119 --> 01:57:43.399 that. At college football, those linemen are going to come into the league 1935 01:57:43.479 --> 01:57:46.319 oftentimes having played for two or three teams and not being as developed as they 1936 01:57:46.359 --> 01:57:50.159 were even ten to fifteen years ago. This league, that is the number 1937 01:57:50.159 --> 01:57:55.079 one opportunity. I think if the UFL sticks long term, it's going to 1938 01:57:55.079 --> 01:57:59.880 be because they develop players at these positions that the NFL is neglected due to 1939 01:58:00.079 --> 01:58:02.560 decreased practice time and etcetera. I think that that's the number one That's what 1940 01:58:02.600 --> 01:58:06.840 I'm looking for and I'm hopeful for for this league. Make sure I'm looking 1941 01:58:06.840 --> 01:58:10.479 here. Watched on YouTube a l right, excuse me? Watching on Twitter. 1942 01:58:10.560 --> 01:58:13.000 Make sure hit the lank and get on YouTube so you can like to 1943 01:58:13.039 --> 01:58:15.600 subscribe on the bumping numbers. I think we have like a huge Twitter viewership 1944 01:58:15.680 --> 01:58:18.800 right now, which I'm trying to figure out how the Elon's pushing that Andy 1945 01:58:18.880 --> 01:58:21.680 comments on that comments on the Eric STEFPF will put this show to the bed 1946 01:58:21.720 --> 01:58:26.319 here pretty simp No. I really love what Eric touched on as far as 1947 01:58:26.439 --> 01:58:29.840 offensive line development. I mean, it's true, it doesn't happen enough, 1948 01:58:29.880 --> 01:58:31.640 even at the highest levels. I mean, I think that's why you see 1949 01:58:31.640 --> 01:58:35.399 a smattering of quarterbacks get injured like we've seen, especially last year. I 1950 01:58:35.439 --> 01:58:38.800 mean one that I can just name off the top of my head, justin 1951 01:58:38.840 --> 01:58:42.079 Herbert. I mean, Cory Lindsley had had to retire. They're all pro 1952 01:58:42.159 --> 01:58:45.680 center had to retire because of a health issue. And so what happens is 1953 01:58:45.680 --> 01:58:48.119 you put in a guy like Will Clap and he just functionality cannot do the 1954 01:58:48.119 --> 01:58:51.760 same things as Corey Linsley as far as setting protection schemes and blocking schemes, 1955 01:58:51.760 --> 01:58:57.399 and he can't even you know, have trouble with staffing the ball, and 1956 01:58:57.600 --> 01:59:00.479 that caused issues for Herbert and eventually it led to him just getting beat up 1957 01:59:00.520 --> 01:59:03.640 all season and eventually he had to basically sit out the rest of the year 1958 01:59:03.640 --> 01:59:06.520 in December. And that's happened to a number of quarterbacks. I think that 1959 01:59:06.560 --> 01:59:11.840 happened to case Cocus, that happened to Brian Scott with the Philadelphia Stars in 1960 01:59:11.880 --> 01:59:14.840 twenty twenty two. I mean, their offensive line was not good and they 1961 01:59:15.079 --> 01:59:19.640 got pummeled the entire season and had to worry about, Okay, instead of 1962 01:59:19.800 --> 01:59:24.039 where's my receiver be, it was where's the defensive lineman going to be? 1963 01:59:24.039 --> 01:59:26.800 And he's gonna be in my face when I throw, and that is so 1964 01:59:27.000 --> 01:59:30.960 different as far as mental processing for a quarterback, as Eric was alluding to, 1965 01:59:30.239 --> 01:59:34.840 I agree, there needs to be more consistent and development overall for some 1966 01:59:34.920 --> 01:59:39.359 of these linemen and how things shuffle around. I mean even with Arlington Arlington 1967 01:59:39.359 --> 01:59:42.800 renegads, I mean there's offensive linemen that are shifting around here too. Like 1968 01:59:42.800 --> 01:59:45.239 I said, Jonathan Heinbach, fantastic guess had last week. He's an awesome, 1969 01:59:45.560 --> 01:59:48.000 awesome offensive line coach, but it's going to take time for him to 1970 01:59:48.079 --> 01:59:53.319 deal with that new cohesive set and for Luis Prez. Hopefully it works and 1971 01:59:53.359 --> 01:59:57.079 everything goes smoothly. But yeah, there needs to be more offensive linean developed 1972 01:59:57.079 --> 01:59:59.720 because the defensive alignment, I'll tell you, are getting more and more freakishi 1973 01:59:59.720 --> 02:00:03.640 of. There are just some absolute animals on the defensive line that just absolutely 1974 02:00:03.640 --> 02:00:08.800 wreck shop. And I think that's something that going forward, there's going to 1975 02:00:08.880 --> 02:00:11.840 need to be more of a kind of a coming to Jesus moment with how 1976 02:00:11.880 --> 02:00:16.600 offensive linement offensive linement line development goes, especially if you want quarterbacks and your 1977 02:00:16.640 --> 02:00:20.880 assets to be protected. Max full of comments for me, We'll toss to 1978 02:00:20.960 --> 02:00:25.640 Eric and we'll get out of here. I think for as far as being 1979 02:00:25.640 --> 02:00:29.720 a steward of the game, the offensive line development is the biggest opportunity as 1980 02:00:29.720 --> 02:00:31.800 far as being of service to the NFL. But until the NFL is paying 1981 02:00:31.880 --> 02:00:39.119 buyout checks to the UFL to get players, which will never happen as far 1982 02:00:39.199 --> 02:00:45.439 as making the UFL able to survive or not, Unfortunately, developing offensive linemen 1983 02:00:45.560 --> 02:00:48.239 is not gonna be any more of a help than improving the quality of play, 1984 02:00:48.600 --> 02:00:57.119 which is obviously quite important, but unfortunately is not going to be what 1985 02:00:57.199 --> 02:00:59.359 it is like, Oh my god, people are going to only tune in 1986 02:00:59.399 --> 02:01:01.319 because these off of linemen are so great and the path text is so great 1987 02:01:01.319 --> 02:01:05.239 now they can make all these great offensive plays. Unfortunately, it feels like 1988 02:01:05.279 --> 02:01:08.920 the quality of football, regardless of how good it is, is not going 1989 02:01:08.960 --> 02:01:15.159 to be enough to draw interest. So it pains me to say that, 1990 02:01:15.199 --> 02:01:16.880 you know, because you think you can put good football on television and people 1991 02:01:16.880 --> 02:01:19.199 will just watch. But I mean, we've seen that you can have really 1992 02:01:19.239 --> 02:01:24.439 good football games, and you know, for example, Guardians Offenders thirty six 1993 02:01:24.560 --> 02:01:30.319 thirty seven last year, barely anybody's watching. So it's gonna take way more 1994 02:01:30.319 --> 02:01:34.279 than that for the UFL to have any sort of impact that's long lasting. 1995 02:01:34.359 --> 02:01:40.239 Unfortunately, Eric, real quick, can we get your four picks for the 1996 02:01:40.239 --> 02:01:44.000 games this weekend and then we'll put this shore to bed. Yeah, So 1997 02:01:44.319 --> 02:01:49.319 against the spread, I'm gonna go Arlington, Michigan, San Antonio, and 1998 02:01:49.359 --> 02:01:53.960 then Memphis. Three dogs. Memphis opened a dog, but now they're a 1999 02:01:53.960 --> 02:01:57.920 favorite. It's depending upon where you look. So I just think I think 2000 02:01:57.920 --> 02:02:01.600 in this early part of the season, like there's just so much uncertainty here. 2001 02:02:01.640 --> 02:02:05.600 I have a really hard time And I know home road is kind of 2002 02:02:05.600 --> 02:02:10.079 a is different because the travel is the same for both teams, but I 2003 02:02:10.439 --> 02:02:14.439 don't understand how there are two road teams in this league who are a touchdown 2004 02:02:14.520 --> 02:02:20.439 favorite given everything. And one thing that I did think was interesting was we 2005 02:02:20.479 --> 02:02:25.119 said this on the show. I think last year the USFL, the quality 2006 02:02:25.159 --> 02:02:28.359 of play held up last year more than I thought it would given that the 2007 02:02:28.479 --> 02:02:32.079 XFL took some of the players from the previous year. I do think we're 2008 02:02:32.079 --> 02:02:36.960 gonna see right away in an hour kind of right away USFL versus XFL, 2009 02:02:38.039 --> 02:02:40.680 like you know, a team that won the championship last year versus the team 2010 02:02:40.680 --> 02:02:44.399 that won the championship the last two years to the USFL, which one of 2011 02:02:44.399 --> 02:02:46.239 the leagues is stronger, because I think that a lot of people would say 2012 02:02:46.279 --> 02:02:49.399 the XFL was stronger, but actually, during the course of the season, 2013 02:02:49.439 --> 02:02:53.680 not only did Birmingham kind of run away with the USFL, but also I 2014 02:02:53.720 --> 02:02:57.720 thought that the quality of play in that second league was stronger than most people 2015 02:02:57.760 --> 02:03:00.439 predicted it would be. Well, I appreciate Eric coming on spending time all 2016 02:03:00.479 --> 02:03:04.079 of our guests today, Mike and Emory and Jamon and Coach Craig and Greg 2017 02:03:04.159 --> 02:03:09.000 Parks and Max has still been on and Andy everyone else. I'm going to 2018 02:03:09.079 --> 02:03:12.720 go. I gotta get over to the media veil at the stadium. If 2019 02:03:12.760 --> 02:03:15.960 you're watching on Twitter, which for whatever reason is like a ton of people 2020 02:03:15.000 --> 02:03:18.600 are, click the link, get on the YouTube, subscribe, give a 2021 02:03:18.640 --> 02:03:21.479 thumbs up, and all that stuff there. Eric, what would you like 2022 02:03:21.520 --> 02:03:25.720 to plug before we get out of here. Yeah, so SUMER Sports Show 2023 02:03:25.760 --> 02:03:29.479 with myself and former Falcons GM and the CEO of our company, Thomas de 2024 02:03:29.560 --> 02:03:32.840 mitrof Is. You know, every Monday and Wednesday on our YouTube channel. 2025 02:03:32.840 --> 02:03:36.239 Subscribe to our YouTube channel after you subscribe to this one, and then we 2026 02:03:36.279 --> 02:03:41.079 have actually a serious XM draft show. Every Friday night, Channel eighty eight 2027 02:03:41.239 --> 02:03:45.159 at seven o'clock. It's a lot of fun, really really fun to talk 2028 02:03:45.159 --> 02:03:47.560 to Spring League. I think fewer people like it more than we do, 2029 02:03:47.680 --> 02:03:51.560 so I love being able to come on and chat a little bit. We're 2030 02:03:51.600 --> 02:03:55.359 back, Yeah, we're back here, kick off again. I'm like, 2031 02:03:55.680 --> 02:03:58.520 I called the same person, set me up the same room. So we'll 2032 02:03:58.560 --> 02:04:00.560 see if we do it again next year. But Andy and I will be 2033 02:04:00.600 --> 02:04:03.640 back on Monday ninety in Pacific. We'll do our week one recap Max. 2034 02:04:03.680 --> 02:04:08.159 I'm sure we'll be back on and we'll talk negative stuff as well. I 2035 02:04:08.199 --> 02:04:12.239 appreciate everyone's time, and I'll play all this and we'll get out of here. 2036 02:04:12.239 --> 02:04:15.439 Thanks, guys, go, I don't know who's my pick o Renegades. 2037 02:04:15.520 --> 02:04:17.039 Right, let's go to the least press, all right, see you guys next