WEBVTT 1 00:00:04.519 --> 00:00:07.679 Coming up this week on the mar cast. Well, if you thought after 2 00:00:07.799 --> 00:00:12.800 the successful completion of season one of L twenty twenty three, they were just 3 00:00:12.919 --> 00:00:18.039 going to rest on their laurels, think again. The XFL making league white 4 00:00:18.039 --> 00:00:22.839 cuts, doing the little downsizing. Matt Damon, should we be worried? 5 00:00:22.879 --> 00:00:28.679 What's happening here? Do you understand that you will undergo the permanent and irreversible 6 00:00:28.719 --> 00:00:34.079 medical procedure commonly known as downsizing, and that your bodies will be approximately point 7 00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:41.719 zero three six of their current mass and volume? Nervous a little? Well, 8 00:00:41.719 --> 00:00:47.039 I certainly did not foresee layoffs happening so soon in the executive branch at 9 00:00:47.079 --> 00:00:51.880 the XFL following the championship game. But here we are, chief marketing officer 10 00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:56.359 gone, the VP of Marketing and Branding gone. Should we worry? Is 11 00:00:56.399 --> 00:01:00.960 this cause for concern? I have smashed the emergency class, the professor Andrew 12 00:01:00.039 --> 00:01:03.719 Murray. We need to have a discussion. I mean, it was essentially 13 00:01:03.759 --> 00:01:08.200 the Black Monday for the entire marketing staff of this entire league. And look, 14 00:01:08.840 --> 00:01:12.959 you and I have talked about it at nauseum, about the marketing strategies 15 00:01:14.400 --> 00:01:19.120 that have been implemented or not been implemented since this league came back out of 16 00:01:19.159 --> 00:01:23.480 the dull drums. And then on your regularly scheduled program, we have Evan 17 00:01:23.560 --> 00:01:29.359 Wilsmore coming on. We have created a watch list XFL players that still deserve 18 00:01:29.480 --> 00:01:34.000 a shot in the NFL. Already had players signed off of our list. 19 00:01:34.359 --> 00:01:38.760 Since we have recorded, we are bringing Evan on deep dive who still deserves 20 00:01:38.760 --> 00:01:41.439 a shot in the NFL. It's a numbers game, right someone has to 21 00:01:41.480 --> 00:01:44.719 get injured, you know, something has to happen for that spot to open 22 00:01:44.799 --> 00:01:47.400 up. And I do expect more to come for sure. And then we 23 00:01:47.439 --> 00:01:51.719 are still talking USFL. On the podcast USFL Week eight, we have Furbi 24 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:56.439 of Rendissims coming on full preview of the weekend's matchups. I thought they might 25 00:01:56.480 --> 00:01:59.200 like kind of spights it up a little bit, you know. This year 26 00:01:59.280 --> 00:02:02.200 one, you know they you kind of give them a free pass on some 27 00:02:02.239 --> 00:02:07.239 stuff. But then here too, you think you might make some changes, 28 00:02:07.280 --> 00:02:09.680 and so far it's kind of felt exactly the same. And then we are 29 00:02:09.840 --> 00:02:15.840 one week away from the CFL kickoff. We have three CFL team previews today. 30 00:02:15.120 --> 00:02:20.639 JJ Adams over at post Media talking to BC Lions Mike Hogan of the 31 00:02:20.680 --> 00:02:24.639 Toronto Argonauts previewing the Great Cup Champions return here. And then we have Steve 32 00:02:24.639 --> 00:02:30.599 Milton of the Hamilton's Spectator full CFL team deep dives. We are getting ready 33 00:02:30.639 --> 00:02:32.719 for kickoff Ereston. Probably going to be a long one. Hope you enjoyed. 34 00:02:45.919 --> 00:02:49.400 Hey guys, welcome to the Mark ass read here. Was really just 35 00:02:49.520 --> 00:02:53.120 getting ready to preview, you know, do the CFL previews here. We 36 00:02:53.159 --> 00:02:57.039 had a big segment planned with Evan, you know, talking all the XFL 37 00:02:57.199 --> 00:03:00.840 to NFL our watch list, our wish list, whatever you want to call 38 00:03:00.840 --> 00:03:04.879 it. And then we had big layoffs this week at the XFL. We 39 00:03:04.960 --> 00:03:07.159 did the shorts about it earlier this week. Janet Duke be let go, 40 00:03:07.360 --> 00:03:13.520 Anthony Zucconi, a lot of the sales members from a bunch of the teams 41 00:03:13.560 --> 00:03:17.960 across the league. League is kind of reformulating here. Redbird had a performance 42 00:03:19.000 --> 00:03:22.960 review following the season, kind of going in a new direction with some of 43 00:03:23.000 --> 00:03:25.879 this. Going to get all into that today with Andy. Really appreciate that. 44 00:03:25.960 --> 00:03:30.360 Andy and I already had a big segment coming next week. We had 45 00:03:30.360 --> 00:03:34.159 our whole episode plan, but we're bringing Andy in early as well. We 46 00:03:34.240 --> 00:03:38.319 need the professor here talking through all of that. Really appreciate Andy making the 47 00:03:38.360 --> 00:03:40.639 time. Like I said, Evan traveling, getting done with college. He 48 00:03:40.680 --> 00:03:46.919 has his watch list, all the players, backgrounds, everything that Evan knows. 49 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:51.520 A tremendous insights from Evan. Really appreciate Evan taking the time. And 50 00:03:51.560 --> 00:03:53.879 then Ferbie over at Run the Sims. We've had Justin Freeman on in the 51 00:03:53.919 --> 00:03:59.319 past, and certainly appreciate the guys over at Run the Sims doing the dfs 52 00:03:59.360 --> 00:04:02.840 and the stats everything else you know for XFL, USFL and all of that. 53 00:04:03.039 --> 00:04:06.560 And then we are a week away from the CFL kickoff. Hussy's Huddle 54 00:04:06.599 --> 00:04:13.199 and I are going to be doing a live CFL kickoff pregame show a time 55 00:04:13.240 --> 00:04:16.519 TBD, but obviously before the game. They're BC at Calgary next week. 56 00:04:16.680 --> 00:04:19.920 That game is going to be at six Specifics, so you know, probably 57 00:04:20.040 --> 00:04:24.639 four four thirty there we'll be doing a CFL pregame show. I try to 58 00:04:24.680 --> 00:04:27.399 get some more guests lined up for that. Should be a good one. 59 00:04:27.439 --> 00:04:30.240 And then like I said, Andy and I are going to probably be having 60 00:04:30.279 --> 00:04:33.720 a special live episode next Friday, June night. So if you want the 61 00:04:33.759 --> 00:04:36.759 CFL stuff, come for the pregame show. We're going to be doing that 62 00:04:36.839 --> 00:04:41.399 on the eighth, and then our normal show will most likely be a live 63 00:04:41.439 --> 00:04:45.319 show with Andy if his busy schedule allows it on June ninth, and they 64 00:04:45.399 --> 00:04:47.959 keep in mind, we've had lots of info as well today about the rookie 65 00:04:48.040 --> 00:04:51.000 Draft and all of that. Then I'll be talking about with Andy. Rus 66 00:04:51.079 --> 00:04:56.519 Julio and Doug Whaley were on the inside the league call with Neil Stratton over 67 00:04:56.560 --> 00:05:00.319 there. We are going to be doing an XFL rookie Draft live show. 68 00:05:00.439 --> 00:05:04.240 Hopefully they're on that June sixteenth. They've said it could be in the afternoon, 69 00:05:04.399 --> 00:05:08.160 could be the evening. Waiting for them to pin down the time, 70 00:05:08.240 --> 00:05:12.199 but look for a cavalcadive guests. They're talking the XFL rookie Draft, most 71 00:05:12.240 --> 00:05:15.879 likely for a kind of fun live show. They're on June sixteenth. I 72 00:05:15.959 --> 00:05:17.199 think that's it for me. I we'll check back in at the end of 73 00:05:17.240 --> 00:05:25.800 the show. Thanks again. Well, Andy, we were all set up 74 00:05:25.879 --> 00:05:29.680 next week. We were going to do our big live episode offseason, like 75 00:05:29.720 --> 00:05:32.959 what should the XFL be doing next? Thing? You know, and we're 76 00:05:33.000 --> 00:05:36.319 breaking glass. We bring the Professor in first and foremost. Have you seen 77 00:05:36.360 --> 00:05:40.759 the Matt damon movie downsizing. Do you know the reference I'm making with this 78 00:05:40.800 --> 00:05:46.240 episode, I actually have not. When you first posted that thumbnail, I 79 00:05:46.399 --> 00:05:48.879 was a little bit confused, and then I had to look it up. 80 00:05:49.079 --> 00:05:53.800 I've seen a lot of bad David films that has not been one on my 81 00:05:54.079 --> 00:05:58.279 list or even my bucket list. So you don't have to fill me in 82 00:05:58.319 --> 00:06:00.279 a little bit more on that one. Oh yeah, well, no deep 83 00:06:00.319 --> 00:06:03.519 dive in that. But it is interually downsizing because the premise of the movie 84 00:06:03.639 --> 00:06:08.519 is, you know, people and consumerism is scoff Scott's so big. People 85 00:06:08.560 --> 00:06:12.600 are shrinking down. You know, we're using less resources, we're more consolidated 86 00:06:13.040 --> 00:06:15.079 a little bit. How I feel about the XFL here with some of these 87 00:06:15.160 --> 00:06:17.800 layoffs, we'll talk through all of that. Is this a good thing, 88 00:06:17.839 --> 00:06:20.560 this is a bad thing. I know you have thoughts and I have thoughts. 89 00:06:21.000 --> 00:06:25.480 You know a lot of people north of the border having thoughts and everything 90 00:06:25.480 --> 00:06:29.040 else. But to set the stage here, this was Tuesday, coming off 91 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:31.439 Memorial Day. You know, we just you know, we're celebrate the championship 92 00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:33.839 game all this. I really thought it'd be a couple of quiet weeks. 93 00:06:34.160 --> 00:06:39.399 Evans already on this episode we're doing the XFL players to watch and did the 94 00:06:39.519 --> 00:06:43.720 NFL. Next thing, you know, I get sent a message from Fran 95 00:06:43.959 --> 00:06:46.839 who was on the you know, the live show in sam wherever the heck 96 00:06:46.920 --> 00:06:50.199 we were San Antonio, and he goes, hey, look at this and 97 00:06:50.240 --> 00:06:55.120 it was one of the people that was working for the Vegas team and they 98 00:06:55.160 --> 00:06:58.680 had posted on Facebook that they just got laid off from their sales drop. 99 00:06:59.000 --> 00:07:01.160 He goes hey, read like and started doing some digging. I send it 100 00:07:01.199 --> 00:07:05.120 to the group, you know, Mike goes hey, I think changers are 101 00:07:05.160 --> 00:07:08.399 coming. Dada da da da. You know. Next thing we know, 102 00:07:08.519 --> 00:07:13.680 Mark has this article out huge sweeping cuts Janet Duke, you know, CMO 103 00:07:13.720 --> 00:07:17.120 of the league gone, Anthony Zucconi, he was a VP of marketing the 104 00:07:17.240 --> 00:07:23.519 brand gone many We've heard upwards of thirty people kind of across the teams and 105 00:07:23.560 --> 00:07:26.959 everything else. What did you because I know you're working and stuff, and 106 00:07:27.000 --> 00:07:29.160 I'm like, we got to talk about this. What did you think when 107 00:07:29.160 --> 00:07:31.600 you heard all these layoffs? First and fourth us, I mean, it 108 00:07:31.680 --> 00:07:35.800 was essentially the Black Monday for the entire marketing staff of this entire league. 109 00:07:35.959 --> 00:07:42.279 And look, you and I have talked about it. At nauseum about the 110 00:07:42.360 --> 00:07:48.040 marketing strategies that have been implemented or not been implemented since this league came back 111 00:07:48.079 --> 00:07:53.279 out of the doldrums. And I mean, we can get into a lot 112 00:07:53.319 --> 00:07:57.519 more of those details as the show goes along, but I think the basic 113 00:07:57.560 --> 00:08:01.480 point that we came to the conclusion that we came to multi times that quite 114 00:08:01.519 --> 00:08:05.319 frankly enough, was not being done to promote this league. Now, I 115 00:08:05.800 --> 00:08:09.240 have no doubt and in no way, shape or for him, think that 116 00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:11.720 it has to do with the effort of the people who are behind the scenes. 117 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:15.120 I think they put in as much effort as you could probably ask for. 118 00:08:15.879 --> 00:08:20.000 I do think one of the things I have to consider is that number 119 00:08:20.040 --> 00:08:24.279 that Mike Mitchell has reported a couple of times about the budgeting of the marketing 120 00:08:24.279 --> 00:08:28.079 strategy, like it was somewhere around one hundred and twenty thousand dollars or something 121 00:08:28.079 --> 00:08:31.559 in that neighborhoods what he has mentioned in his articles and has mentioned on air 122 00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:37.600 a couple of times. And so my initial thought when it came out was 123 00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:43.360 was this because of the financial limitations or was this because of the strategy not 124 00:08:43.399 --> 00:08:50.559 being implemented as Redford Capital and perhaps the league saw to what they envisioned, 125 00:08:50.720 --> 00:08:54.600 you know, and maybe it's both. I think we've been learning more details 126 00:08:54.600 --> 00:08:58.759 since that's happened, But that was my initial reaction when I heard that news. 127 00:08:58.360 --> 00:09:01.720 And it's hard, you know, so of course I immediately and I 128 00:09:01.759 --> 00:09:05.159 want to pull up Ben's article here. So Mark had the story Ben Fisher, 129 00:09:05.200 --> 00:09:07.600 who's been on the show, and you know, I felt we were 130 00:09:07.639 --> 00:09:11.000 more apt to talk about this now. I mean, Ben's just reporting the 131 00:09:11.039 --> 00:09:13.279 facts. I think, you know, as much as I respect, then 132 00:09:13.360 --> 00:09:16.519 I think we can run through this a little bit better than he can getting 133 00:09:16.559 --> 00:09:22.639 the statements out the the idea that I had people messaging me. That people 134 00:09:22.679 --> 00:09:24.320 message me like, is this a good thing or a bad thing? I 135 00:09:24.360 --> 00:09:28.960 said, well, we have had criticisms all year about the marketing of this 136 00:09:30.080 --> 00:09:33.120 league, and I never want to see anybody lose a job. You never 137 00:09:33.159 --> 00:09:35.519 want to see anyone you know, Janet's been there forever and Anthony was there. 138 00:09:35.759 --> 00:09:39.720 Janet was a team president of the Guardians back in the day for twenty 139 00:09:39.799 --> 00:09:41.639 twenty. Like, I don't want to see that. But if it's something 140 00:09:41.679 --> 00:09:46.600 that you and I and many people have complained about all year, and they're 141 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:50.240 immediately making changes to fix that, and you know, people had to lose 142 00:09:50.279 --> 00:09:54.240 their jobs. That to me is at least we're like recognizing this and we're 143 00:09:54.240 --> 00:09:56.039 adapting and not like, well, let's like roll it back again, because 144 00:09:56.039 --> 00:10:01.679 I think they went into this they be Danny Jerry, you know, the 145 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:05.679 Rock to whatever extent he's involved, having a certain perceived notion of like what 146 00:10:05.759 --> 00:10:09.200 this was going to look, and feel like, you know, who's going 147 00:10:09.240 --> 00:10:11.240 to talk about as what kind of marketing do we actually need to do? 148 00:10:11.480 --> 00:10:16.679 And then now realizing after year one, oh, I think our preconceived notions 149 00:10:16.720 --> 00:10:20.039 were very, very wrong. Is that do you agree disagree with anything of 150 00:10:20.080 --> 00:10:24.720 that? To some extent, I think what it tells me is that clearly 151 00:10:24.759 --> 00:10:28.240 that benchmark that we kept referring to of twenty twenty clearly was in the minds 152 00:10:28.440 --> 00:10:35.759 of the marketers in terms of the league's operations this entire time. I know 153 00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:39.320 it's unfair to compare it to that point. I get it in some ways 154 00:10:39.399 --> 00:10:45.159 because it was a different time. It's a different ownership, different you know, 155 00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:48.000 just a different mantra that surrounded the league in a lot of ways. 156 00:10:48.240 --> 00:10:52.759 A lot of the rules and some of the players and Obviously some of the 157 00:10:52.279 --> 00:10:56.440 legacy people stayed on board, especially in the marketing department. We talked about 158 00:10:56.480 --> 00:11:01.080 that, Like you mentioned with Jana Douche, She's coming from the Guardians and 159 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:03.519 they had a bigger role here. You had some other holdovers from that that 160 00:11:03.639 --> 00:11:09.440 regime. But it clearly I mean, look, even though we can make 161 00:11:09.480 --> 00:11:11.440 a lot about how, you know, attendance figures for some of these teams 162 00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:16.039 increased as they were went along, the point of the matter is a lot 163 00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:18.480 of them were down on average from their iterations of the teams that were here 164 00:11:18.519 --> 00:11:24.039 before or in comparison to say another league. You know, like I said, 165 00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:26.480 the AF, I mean, we kept going on and on and on 166 00:11:26.519 --> 00:11:30.759 about San Antonio. How they I mean, the Commanders were drawing, you 167 00:11:30.799 --> 00:11:35.480 know, twenty five thousand plus people for that league in the short time that 168 00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:39.519 it was alive. And here you have the Brahmas, who are kind of 169 00:11:39.559 --> 00:11:41.519 a centerpiece. I know they're they're not the hub, but they're kind of 170 00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:46.480 another centerpiece in this operation. And the only time that they broke twenty thousand 171 00:11:46.559 --> 00:11:48.720 the entire year was their first game in the regular season. Next time was 172 00:11:48.759 --> 00:11:52.840 the championship game, and even that didn't top that opener, So you have 173 00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:58.799 to wonder about figures like that and how they compared them or how they measured 174 00:11:58.840 --> 00:12:03.399 them. Clearly, whatever metrics they were using were not good enough, and 175 00:12:03.440 --> 00:12:07.519 this is why these changes were made. I think it's just like you said, 176 00:12:07.559 --> 00:12:09.159 you never want to see someone lose their position over this. It's it's 177 00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:13.440 sad because a lot of people lose their jobs, and it's it's a league 178 00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:18.480 of opportunity, but it's opportunity to the point of what's going to be done 179 00:12:18.480 --> 00:12:20.559 for the league and what's going to be done for the brand. And before 180 00:12:20.600 --> 00:12:22.679 Andy and I get too deep, I'll pull up the article here. We 181 00:12:22.720 --> 00:12:26.159 are going to talk the rookie so that the zoom came out the inside of 182 00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:30.679 the league with Neil I rest Julio was on that, Doug Whaley, we'll 183 00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:33.080 talk about that here at the end. It is kind of looking forward here 184 00:12:33.080 --> 00:12:35.600 they're moving on. But obviously this is the pressing news, you know, 185 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:39.840 obviously leading the show with and then we'll get to that. Because I do 186 00:12:39.799 --> 00:12:45.639 it looks and feels very similar to the USFL College Draft. I don't think 187 00:12:45.679 --> 00:12:48.440 it's totally the same. Call me hypocrite or not. I've been talking with 188 00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:50.320 people about that today, in fact directly, so we can kind of get 189 00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:54.720 into that. But to read through this Benefisher article because I think there's some 190 00:12:54.799 --> 00:12:58.799 interesting notes here. So obviously x Bel dismissed Emo, Janet, Duke, 191 00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:03.799 and Desiconi as part of a broader set of cuts generated by a strategic review 192 00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:07.759 of the league after one season. So Red Bird apparently went in following the 193 00:13:07.799 --> 00:13:11.080 season said we're going to kind of look through this what didn't work. Extra 194 00:13:11.279 --> 00:13:16.559 officials declined to say precisely how many jobs were eliminated. They fit into two 195 00:13:16.039 --> 00:13:20.159 different buckets. One group are now deemed seasonal employees, and that could be 196 00:13:20.200 --> 00:13:24.639 a larger notion of a lot of like the you know, outside of Jane 197 00:13:24.679 --> 00:13:28.200 and Anthony, some of these people contracts. Okay, we don't need you 198 00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:31.960 working like game day events of the c Dragons games. We don't need you 199 00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:35.039 there in August, you know, we need you there in February, March, 200 00:13:35.080 --> 00:13:37.320 April, but don't I don't want to get two seasons on this. 201 00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:41.559 We'll talk about that one of the season, though they could potentially trended their 202 00:13:41.600 --> 00:13:46.679 jobs closer than the second season set to starting in February. The other including 203 00:13:46.759 --> 00:13:50.360 Janet and Anthony were done after a review determined the league should shift from a 204 00:13:50.440 --> 00:13:56.559 brand marketing emphasis seeing appropriate that launch, to a more revenue driven approach to 205 00:13:56.679 --> 00:14:01.519 maximize ticket and sponsor sales heading into the critical second season. That to me 206 00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:03.799 is the more interesting part. What do you make of that, because I 207 00:14:03.799 --> 00:14:07.559 do want to talk seasonality. Also, it tells me that the bottom line 208 00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:11.240 was not being met or it wasn't being met in the way that they expected. 209 00:14:11.360 --> 00:14:16.399 And again, yes, I think the brand itself in a lot of 210 00:14:16.399 --> 00:14:20.080 ways was pretty strong all those things considered, and from the holdover from the 211 00:14:20.159 --> 00:14:22.759 last league, from it being in the cultural zeitgeist. Really since it was 212 00:14:22.759 --> 00:14:26.200 created in two thousand and one, you know, it has a lot of 213 00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:31.279 currency, It really does. I think people still fail to understand how much 214 00:14:31.559 --> 00:14:33.879 currency this league's name has, and I think that's why ultimately the name was 215 00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:37.679 not changed. Like I know you've talked a lot about that with some of 216 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:41.480 your guests, about like what if Danny and the Rock came in and just 217 00:14:41.639 --> 00:14:45.039 made it their own league and just reinbranded it. Well, quite frankly, 218 00:14:45.080 --> 00:14:46.200 I think this is just a brand that was too strong for them to give 219 00:14:46.279 --> 00:14:50.039 up. That being said, clearly there seems to be too much emphasis put 220 00:14:50.039 --> 00:14:52.879 on that brand and expecting, oh, this is going to draw people back 221 00:14:52.879 --> 00:15:00.200 in and reel everybody back in from two twenty and resting on those laurels not 222 00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:03.799 happen. It didn't happen to the extent that we saw back then. And 223 00:15:03.919 --> 00:15:07.919 because of that, while you were able to have traditionalists like the Saint Louis 224 00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:13.399 fans and DC the beer Snakes and things of that nature, you had some 225 00:15:13.440 --> 00:15:18.440 other new traditions that were starting up with San Antonio and Orlando in Vegas and 226 00:15:18.679 --> 00:15:22.879 obviously some of the other teams who had held over even Seattle. But you 227 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:26.320 you've been on the ground floor of Seattle's entire year. You know, straight 228 00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:30.919 straight up it has not been the same level of engagement, just in terms 229 00:15:30.919 --> 00:15:33.799 of the attendance and also in terms of maybe the advertising too. That happened 230 00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:37.600 three years ago. So obviously with those kinds of numbers across the board, 231 00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:41.879 obviously they need They are trying to drive up ticket sales, They're trying to 232 00:15:41.960 --> 00:15:46.960 drive up interests in their membership, They're trying to drive up interest in merchandise 233 00:15:48.039 --> 00:15:52.440 sales and everything across the board. They and their sponsorships. They clearly see 234 00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:56.759 this as the bottom line that they were not able to achieve, and there 235 00:15:56.799 --> 00:16:03.519 was too much emphasis on why had been achieved before and just kind of living 236 00:16:03.559 --> 00:16:07.679 off of the coattails of twenty twenty. Well, and that's you know, 237 00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:10.879 and to say it, I don't want to be too blunt about it, 238 00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:15.399 because I've talked with Mike and meum the reviews episode that we did with Mike, 239 00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:18.120 and it has come up a little bit. If you look at the 240 00:16:18.159 --> 00:16:22.559 major Temple successes that you would say that they had citywise this year, I 241 00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:27.080 would say Saint Louis DC, Seattle was not a success. That it wasn't 242 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:32.879 twenty twenty. I don't know if you could name any others in those two 243 00:16:32.919 --> 00:16:37.440 that you would you would deem that was like an unmitigated success. And if 244 00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:41.080 any of those that were success any that were done by current regime, right, 245 00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:44.399 all of those were, you know, Saint Louis DC carried over from 246 00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:48.279 twenty twenty. I don't know if you could say of any other city or 247 00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:52.480 any newer city that was seen the success this time, right, and even 248 00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:56.559 markets like Houston. You know, Houston obviously was also successful as a team, 249 00:16:56.879 --> 00:17:00.120 but in terms again of the intendance numbers, not so much. You 250 00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:03.240 know, you had a little bit less round across the board there. Arlington, 251 00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:07.200 I mean seemed about the same as it was before. I mean, 252 00:17:07.480 --> 00:17:11.119 I think that has more to do with the confines of the stadium and the 253 00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:14.160 structure of it. But you know that was that was kind of a break 254 00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:17.119 even situation. Orlando. I'll be honest, Orlando did not do as well 255 00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:18.359 as I thought it would. I really thought Orlando was gonna be a better 256 00:17:18.400 --> 00:17:22.680 market. Now again, that's based on my premonition of how the Orlando Apollos 257 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:26.759 did in the AF and who were doing very well as far as their attendance 258 00:17:26.839 --> 00:17:30.880 numbers, and yet they were not able to achieve that same level of success. 259 00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:34.400 And you know, look, who knows, maybe the same thing would 260 00:17:34.440 --> 00:17:38.079 happen if they were in another AF market, you know, Memphis or Utah 261 00:17:38.440 --> 00:17:41.920 or San Diego. Would they have been able to like San Diego is the 262 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:45.759 third highest AAF attendance, would they have achieved those numbers? I don't know. 263 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:48.759 Clearly, if they didn't put that enough emphasis in the marketing of that, 264 00:17:48.759 --> 00:17:52.279 that wasn't going to happen. And I have to tell you read like 265 00:17:52.559 --> 00:17:56.400 again, one of the things that I can't help but remark at again is 266 00:17:56.400 --> 00:18:00.480 just how much local marketing was not being done at some of these levels that 267 00:18:00.519 --> 00:18:03.839 we've we've covered, we've talked about, and just doesn't seem to be as 268 00:18:03.599 --> 00:18:07.680 known or as prevalent this time around. It just it was there three years 269 00:18:07.680 --> 00:18:10.880 ago. It was there in some way, shape or form, and this 270 00:18:10.960 --> 00:18:14.559 time around it just was not there. And you can argue about, you 271 00:18:14.599 --> 00:18:19.039 know, network television exposure, you can talk about it being only on ESPN 272 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:23.119 and ABC and not Fox and as it was you know, last time around, 273 00:18:23.160 --> 00:18:26.880 but the fact of the matter is it just wasn't there this time around. 274 00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:30.519 And it's you know, splitting the difference with a different league. Now 275 00:18:30.640 --> 00:18:33.960 it's a different set of circumstances. But based on their numbers, they did 276 00:18:33.039 --> 00:18:37.000 not achieve their goals. And you know it. We'll talk through and Max 277 00:18:37.079 --> 00:18:40.799 has all these notes. I ultimately think a lot of that will go into 278 00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:44.480 our conversation next week of like what do we want the offseason of the XFL 279 00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:48.039 to look like with in terms of social media and kind of local events and 280 00:18:48.039 --> 00:18:51.119 all that. But at least right now, you know, when it comes 281 00:18:51.119 --> 00:18:52.880 to the where they want to do some of these jobs that they want to 282 00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:56.920 get rid of the you know, from focusing on the brand to more revenue 283 00:18:56.960 --> 00:19:02.960 driven right maximizing, maximize ticket and sponsorship of sales. There has to be 284 00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:07.680 some sort of standardization across the board from these teams when it comes to ticket 285 00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:14.240 sales. You know, Corey the commit the Guardians ticket guy. Corey posts 286 00:19:14.279 --> 00:19:18.400 every day on every Facebook and Twitter and TikTok and come, hey, I'm 287 00:19:18.440 --> 00:19:21.920 sitting at the fifty yard line, Come buy tickets. Come like Corey is 288 00:19:21.960 --> 00:19:26.960 an example of doing tremendous work on his own. I presume grassroots because there 289 00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:32.000 certainly doesn't seem to be standardization. I think the Siallo guy and I hopefully, 290 00:19:32.200 --> 00:19:33.759 you know, I don't know if he sells a job. You know. 291 00:19:33.319 --> 00:19:36.839 I think the guy's name was David. I think I just know that 292 00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:38.119 because I kind of like went to the pick a Seed event and I, 293 00:19:38.200 --> 00:19:41.400 you know, talk to hey, you know, I host whoever, like 294 00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:44.319 you know, we're here. But I don't know the Siallo guy. I 295 00:19:44.359 --> 00:19:47.039 don't know that, you know. I don't know the Arlington guy. I 296 00:19:47.119 --> 00:19:48.400 don't know the girl, you know, I don't know the San Antonio like 297 00:19:48.680 --> 00:19:53.400 the fact that you don't even just have standardization like that across the eighteens and 298 00:19:53.559 --> 00:19:56.440 like, hey, these are going to be our team reps, call them, 299 00:19:56.640 --> 00:20:00.319 email them, get in touch. They're posting, they're you know, 300 00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:04.039 outside of you know, Hailey or whoever with the c Dragons posting that content. 301 00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:07.240 You're trying to drive up ticket sales. No one. I mean, 302 00:20:07.720 --> 00:20:11.759 it was a far cry from Orlando and then a drop to any of the 303 00:20:11.799 --> 00:20:15.240 other seven teams. And I just don't think that that's fathomable. I just 304 00:20:15.240 --> 00:20:21.279 don't understand that. And I think that's interesting you point out about the lack 305 00:20:21.319 --> 00:20:25.319 of standardization. I can't help but think about another league like the CFL, 306 00:20:25.359 --> 00:20:26.640 who kind of deals with that same issue in some ways. You know, 307 00:20:26.759 --> 00:20:33.359 you have so much varying levels of promotion and engagement, whereas you have someone 308 00:20:33.400 --> 00:20:36.759 like BCS of our Doman really putting in the capitol and trying to get people 309 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:40.559 to go out to Vancouver or Victor Qui trying to do everything you can, 310 00:20:40.640 --> 00:20:42.079 just trying to pull out all the stops to give people to go into Edmonton, 311 00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:47.359 versus you know, your community owned team, the Saskatchewan And then you 312 00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:49.440 have Winnipeg who kind of rests on their lows and has their own success. 313 00:20:49.640 --> 00:20:52.240 And then there's Toronto, which everyone sort of you know, points out as 314 00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:55.759 the black sheep of the family in terms of being able to draw attendants. 315 00:20:55.799 --> 00:20:59.160 All of them having these kind of varying levels of success and engagement in their 316 00:20:59.160 --> 00:21:00.839 own way, and there's not a lot of standardization there. Same things kind 317 00:21:00.839 --> 00:21:04.920 of happening here too, Like you said, just but to interrupt that, 318 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:11.160 I apologize the CFL at least that makes sense because you have nine different heads 319 00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:15.240 of teams all coming together with Randy Ambrosi kind of like, right, that 320 00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:19.640 is Ambrosi's role as a commissioner. I got to wrangle these nine governors of 321 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:23.839 all these teams. The XFL you're a single owned entity team of anything. 322 00:21:23.960 --> 00:21:27.839 You should be able to standardize this across because you own everything. I mean, 323 00:21:27.880 --> 00:21:32.319 we're not even to the point of the USFL or the XFLA. We're 324 00:21:32.319 --> 00:21:36.119 franchising these. I mean, of any time to have it all working together, 325 00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:38.359 it's this time right now. Yeah, I mean, why do you 326 00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:42.279 why is it it almost like bleeds into like the social media aspect of it 327 00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:47.200 too, And I know that's it's not always related to like sales, you 328 00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:49.119 know, ticket sales and all that. But like it even seems to bleed 329 00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:52.680 into like some of the mantras of the teams, like why is it you 330 00:21:52.680 --> 00:21:56.759 know, the Seattle account's always you know, on controlling people. Meanwhile the 331 00:21:56.839 --> 00:22:00.400 Arlington Renegades account just seems to wage war against capitalization and it does not and 332 00:22:00.920 --> 00:22:06.559 continues to be the bane of Anthony Miller's existence. But I can't help but 333 00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:08.960 like feel you're right, like there should be some sort of level of like 334 00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:15.880 flat base level standardization that is being done for all these teams um in that 335 00:22:15.079 --> 00:22:19.880 in that respect, especially when you have you have clear markers of who owns 336 00:22:19.960 --> 00:22:26.119 this thing. You have you have the figureheads who have ultimate control. There 337 00:22:26.119 --> 00:22:30.519 are no owners There are is no ownership group that you have to negotiate with 338 00:22:30.640 --> 00:22:33.480 or battle with that doesn't you know, the revenue sharing all that. It's 339 00:22:33.480 --> 00:22:38.519 like there's not something that is there in that terms of that level of um 340 00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:44.759 of parity. So I don't understand why that isn't being done on that level 341 00:22:44.839 --> 00:22:47.599 either. I have to agree with you on that. Well, if you 342 00:22:47.640 --> 00:22:49.440 can't, if you know, if you can't parent your kids under your own 343 00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:52.559 household, I don't think you're going to be able to parent them out, 344 00:22:52.759 --> 00:22:53.839 you know, when they're off into the world. Like if we can't get 345 00:22:53.880 --> 00:22:57.680 this right on and all, you know, Like you know, it goes 346 00:22:57.680 --> 00:23:00.680 with the USFL as well, like if they think they're gonna franchise this thing, 347 00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:04.400 which I believe is ultimately the goal, Like I mean, you can't 348 00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:07.359 do it now with Fox and all the money and you got everything in the 349 00:23:07.400 --> 00:23:11.000 world here that we're gonna you know, it's it's this is what we do. 350 00:23:11.079 --> 00:23:15.400 We make football. If you can't get it all right now, it's 351 00:23:15.640 --> 00:23:19.359 I don't know how these franchises are gonna work because you can't as we've seen 352 00:23:19.400 --> 00:23:22.200 it, Like we said in the CFL, I don't like seeing that level 353 00:23:22.200 --> 00:23:27.640 of disparity. I don't like seeing you know where I've been told Saskatchewan they 354 00:23:27.680 --> 00:23:30.960 don't do anything because they know people are gonna come. Like I've emailed them 355 00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:36.240 to get people. I've done all that. Montreal, anything you want, 356 00:23:36.279 --> 00:23:37.240 Hey, you want the team owner, here, you go, let's send 357 00:23:37.240 --> 00:23:40.759 them over, you know, like anything, because they understand that. But 358 00:23:40.839 --> 00:23:42.799 you shouldn't have you should at least, you know, we talk about parody 359 00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:47.200 in the USFL right now with teams going through the playoffs. You should have 360 00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:51.440 some parody here with these uh you know teams in terms of marketing and sales 361 00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:55.440 and everything. Yeah, I mean the on field product I think will continue 362 00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:57.200 to have parody, and there's definitely gonna be that at least you have that 363 00:23:57.559 --> 00:24:00.519 ability. But when you're not having people who see that in person, it's 364 00:24:00.599 --> 00:24:04.039 kind of hard to draw them into that if you don't understand that, if 365 00:24:04.079 --> 00:24:07.279 you don't have people that understand the notion of Okay, well, this team 366 00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:10.720 wasn't very good this year, but they could be better next year, like 367 00:24:10.839 --> 00:24:12.200 Orlando, you know, and again this is year one, so we don't 368 00:24:12.400 --> 00:24:15.480 we haven't seen this played out. I know this happens in the CFL all 369 00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:19.920 the time, which is kind of honestly, is a blessing for teams like 370 00:24:19.960 --> 00:24:22.720 the Red Blacks for example, Like, yes, you've been terrible the last 371 00:24:22.759 --> 00:24:26.799 few years, but you could dig yourself out of the hole and actually make 372 00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:29.759 a great Cup run if you really tried this year. Then the same thing 373 00:24:29.799 --> 00:24:33.279 could should be under the notion of this XFL league, which I think is 374 00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:36.559 very possible. But again, the people there's not enough people who understand that 375 00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:41.920 and just overall just the lack of outside awareness of some of these brands. 376 00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:45.559 You know. I mean we've been we've been reporting left and right about players 377 00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:48.440 getting signed, but I mean you go into the threads of the teams in 378 00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:52.119 the NFL who signed these people, like people that just didn't watch these guys 379 00:24:52.200 --> 00:24:55.720 or haven't seen their highlight tapes, and that's something that the league has to 380 00:24:55.720 --> 00:24:56.920 get on now. I know, again it's year one, so maybe if 381 00:24:56.920 --> 00:25:00.200 they actually start doing something at the next level I'll start to do They'll actually 382 00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:03.039 start to look back and realize, oh wow, this guy did this this 383 00:25:03.079 --> 00:25:07.000 past season. But they don't have that level of exposure yet. So you 384 00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:11.000 need to get out in front of it and really push the envelope if you're 385 00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:14.799 going to get people to understand that exposure instead of just being word of mouth 386 00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:18.920 or via your player's success or coach success. I do feel a little less 387 00:25:18.920 --> 00:25:22.119 old man screaming at the clouds right now, just with it. Where remember 388 00:25:22.200 --> 00:25:26.319 basically came in and kind of assessed the same thing that we've been doing here 389 00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:29.839 this whole time. Here, let's get there, because I want to read 390 00:25:29.880 --> 00:25:34.160 this statement here that Mark got for New sub and then Ben got This is 391 00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:38.759 from the xcellent spokesperson, Dan Is this Gagniere Gagnier. I don't. I 392 00:25:38.759 --> 00:25:42.519 don't know if I've ever spoken with the showman. As the XFL plans for 393 00:25:42.599 --> 00:25:45.640 twenty twenty four and beyond, it is the time to transition. You do 394 00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:48.880 a dual full time seasonal base kind of going through all that, the x 395 00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:53.519 MEL will continue to employ a full time business and football operations functions about the 396 00:25:53.559 --> 00:25:57.200 team and the league in team levels, and will scale up hiring each year 397 00:25:57.240 --> 00:26:03.319 for preseason and in season role. That's what scares me is because we saw 398 00:26:03.799 --> 00:26:07.880 what the skeleton crew did this year where we brought and I understand we're not 399 00:26:07.880 --> 00:26:10.720 going to be hiring eight hundred people again in the I yes, read, 400 00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:14.000 I understand that, but you know, we saw what it felt like and 401 00:26:14.079 --> 00:26:18.519 looked like this year onboarding and seasonal employees. At the same time that you 402 00:26:18.599 --> 00:26:22.079 have training camp starting, players are showing up, we're doing physicals, we're 403 00:26:22.119 --> 00:26:25.279 learning the playbook, we're doing media stuff. We're trying to get to social 404 00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:27.960 media set. Like I don't, I don't like this scale up, scale 405 00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:33.440 down, and a CFL does it. They go dead from basically December and 406 00:26:33.440 --> 00:26:36.400 they do their little team meetings, but you know they pop up in May 407 00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:41.920 when training camp starts. The day that a spring football league realizes that they're 408 00:26:41.920 --> 00:26:45.960 not a seasonal business will be a day that I'm very happy because I don't 409 00:26:45.960 --> 00:26:49.640 think it works well. I mean I thought that they were already trying to 410 00:26:49.640 --> 00:26:52.519 do that with the draft next month, for example, they already announced that 411 00:26:52.640 --> 00:26:56.480 draft. That's good, Like, that's that's something that they need to do. 412 00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:59.039 Now that they get to keep doing that as they go along. Now 413 00:26:59.079 --> 00:27:02.799 they have the showcase. Those were good. Keep promoting the showcases by all 414 00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:07.440 means necessary. To promote the showcases as much as you can post about it, 415 00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:10.640 talk about it, write about it, do whatever you can to post 416 00:27:10.680 --> 00:27:12.920 about it. But yeah, I mean some of these people are seasonal employees, 417 00:27:12.920 --> 00:27:17.039 which to an extent I understand when there's not a game action going on, 418 00:27:17.079 --> 00:27:19.519 it's hard to get people involved. But you should see it more in 419 00:27:19.559 --> 00:27:23.119 the lines of you know, like stadium employees for example, right, like 420 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:26.720 people don't work out the stadium because there's not an event. I get that, 421 00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:30.759 But in terms of promoting, in terms of you know, being keeping 422 00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:33.599 it in the cultural conscience this entire time, you need to keep doing that, 423 00:27:33.640 --> 00:27:36.960 Like, what's I mean? I know, I know he's a very 424 00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:40.279 busy man, but I wonder about someone like Josh Lewin likes the podcast just 425 00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:41.559 going to disappear for the next you know, seven months. I mean, 426 00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:44.839 maybe you have an answer to that, but I wonder about stuff like that. 427 00:27:45.160 --> 00:27:47.039 Well, that's what I was gonna say that, Yeah, obviously we 428 00:27:47.079 --> 00:27:52.960 don't need and like the lady that does the DC in game announcing the late 429 00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:56.079 they're kind of you know, it's it's like the Adam Goss of the you 430 00:27:56.119 --> 00:28:00.039 know, for the DC, where he's the argos guy and he's screaming and 431 00:28:00.119 --> 00:28:03.279 during the games. Like, you don't need to keep her employed all year. 432 00:28:03.279 --> 00:28:04.400 I understand that, Like we bring in and we did Dad Day. 433 00:28:04.799 --> 00:28:10.480 Yeah, but you know, Josh did. And I understand Josh is busy, 434 00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:11.640 but Josh is paid by the league, and I'm sure the league would 435 00:28:11.640 --> 00:28:17.079 pay him if they felt necessary. Yeah, Josh did the post championship episode 436 00:28:17.279 --> 00:28:22.680 and they haven't posted, right, why not interview some of these players they 437 00:28:22.799 --> 00:28:26.119 just got Why don't we call up Darius Shepard right now and go, hey 438 00:28:26.160 --> 00:28:29.279 man, you got to the Chargers. But it's like, you know, 439 00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:32.559 we don't go away like we don't have I don't have an offseason here, 440 00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:34.240 and I know that we cover the other leagues, but we've talked to XFL 441 00:28:34.359 --> 00:28:37.799 every week and we have planned to continue talking XFL here into the summer. 442 00:28:38.160 --> 00:28:41.559 You know, you saw it, Maddie. I'm done, Like season's over. 443 00:28:41.640 --> 00:28:45.359 I'm done. Mark hasn't posted. Mark did his obviously story this week, 444 00:28:45.400 --> 00:28:48.759 but Mark hasn't posted anything. Josh hasn't posted, Like, you can't 445 00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:52.960 just let this go away. That's what everybody can play to about the USFL. 446 00:28:52.079 --> 00:28:57.000 All last year, USFL goes away because you don't have anything going on 447 00:28:57.039 --> 00:29:00.599 to keep it in the news cycle at all, and it's just not sustainable. 448 00:29:00.599 --> 00:29:03.319 And it was really frustrating to me to see how many people were like, 449 00:29:03.640 --> 00:29:06.880 I'm all in this year, including the XFL, and then the second 450 00:29:06.960 --> 00:29:10.359 the season's done, it's like like We're that's it, We're going off, 451 00:29:10.440 --> 00:29:12.359 you know. And I understand people work hard, right, I understand that, 452 00:29:12.400 --> 00:29:15.960 but like you don't. You don't get there's no there should not be 453 00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:19.279 an off season. There is in an off season in the NFL. There 454 00:29:19.279 --> 00:29:22.759 shouldn't be an off season here. I mean, well, this kind of 455 00:29:22.759 --> 00:29:26.200 information is coming out, but this is not the kind of information they want 456 00:29:26.200 --> 00:29:29.119 to have in the off season, right you want. One of the things 457 00:29:29.119 --> 00:29:32.519 that I want to see done in the fall season is I want to see 458 00:29:32.519 --> 00:29:36.119 more player profiles, but player profiles on people who have made it into the 459 00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:38.880 NFL, who make the fifty three man roster, or at least you know, 460 00:29:38.920 --> 00:29:42.839 are factoring in in some way on the team that they're on, and 461 00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:45.920 be able to interview them and ask them, you know, how, what's 462 00:29:45.960 --> 00:29:49.400 going on, how's it been, what do you take from your time in 463 00:29:49.440 --> 00:29:52.599 the league, and how has it helped you in your experience now in the 464 00:29:52.680 --> 00:29:56.680 NFL. I think that's something that the league should absolutely think about doing, 465 00:29:56.680 --> 00:29:59.359 because you know, we get player profiles all the time, but being able 466 00:29:59.359 --> 00:30:03.319 to see that like transition period too, I think would be fantastic for the 467 00:30:03.400 --> 00:30:07.519 league, especially if you know, possibly you could see someone like Darius Shepherd 468 00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:12.440 having a big kick return for the Chargers, or you know, Hoki Butler 469 00:30:12.440 --> 00:30:17.160 maybe catching a touchdown for the Steelers, like something of that nature that you 470 00:30:17.160 --> 00:30:21.000 can at least draw from and sort of see those parallels between what they learned 471 00:30:21.000 --> 00:30:23.920 in the XFL and then what they brought over into this league because you know, 472 00:30:23.960 --> 00:30:27.279 again seeing commentary on like Shepherd's signing, you know, I tried to 473 00:30:27.359 --> 00:30:30.000 fans who are like, oh, I don't know what this means, and 474 00:30:30.039 --> 00:30:33.000 it's like, this guy's a special Team's Player of the Year and the XFL 475 00:30:33.039 --> 00:30:34.799 this year. He's a good kick returner. He's going to supply competition for 476 00:30:34.839 --> 00:30:37.559 a team that doesn't have a designated kick returner right now, Like, that's 477 00:30:37.599 --> 00:30:42.039 just that's the fact of the matter. So I think that something that they 478 00:30:42.359 --> 00:30:45.960 I think that kind of content would be one. That's just one idea I 479 00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:48.440 have, But yeah, they need to stay on this. They can't just 480 00:30:48.920 --> 00:30:52.799 turn off the lights and disappear, and which they kind of did last year 481 00:30:52.839 --> 00:30:53.960 too, right, Like I mean, yes, we got some announcements, 482 00:30:53.960 --> 00:30:57.000 but they were really putting us in the dark for for a lot of build 483 00:30:57.039 --> 00:31:03.079 up into the league, and that is just mystifying for a lot of us, 484 00:31:03.119 --> 00:31:04.759 And I don't think that's what you want to do, especially if you're 485 00:31:04.759 --> 00:31:07.880 trying to go from year one the year two. You can't do it like 486 00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:12.000 the USFL does this year because there's gonna be numbers like you see on the 487 00:31:12.119 --> 00:31:17.799 USA Network or on FS one like we've seen with some of the attendance figures 488 00:31:17.799 --> 00:31:21.920 where it's like they're just not going up, they're stagnant. And there was 489 00:31:21.960 --> 00:31:25.200 just because, in my opinion, there just wasn't a lot done in the 490 00:31:25.240 --> 00:31:30.960 promotional material besides the Super Bowl ads for the USFL that we're being done all 491 00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:34.880 the months beforehand going into the season. This is gonna will try. I 492 00:31:34.880 --> 00:31:37.079 don't want this to be just a complain fest the whole time, but I 493 00:31:37.119 --> 00:31:41.119 do think this is viable conversation. I don't this is going to sound like 494 00:31:41.359 --> 00:31:45.480 Reid is angling to work for the XFL. I do I owe my own 495 00:31:45.480 --> 00:31:48.680 business. I'm very happy I do. I spent all day to day enditing 496 00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:52.559 the wedding video, very very happy for that have weddings this weekend. The 497 00:31:52.759 --> 00:31:57.279 XFL kickoff for us was episode one hundred and thirty two of this podcast. 498 00:31:59.000 --> 00:32:02.759 Now, obviously we have covered ex USFL and the Spring League and the CFL 499 00:32:02.799 --> 00:32:07.039 and all that stuff. XFL has always had a say with every single week 500 00:32:07.079 --> 00:32:09.079 on this show for one hundred and thirty two episodes, without a single game 501 00:32:09.119 --> 00:32:13.480 of XFL content being played, and most of the time with you know, 502 00:32:13.599 --> 00:32:16.839 very limited resources to the league. Now obviously they've been tremendously helpful once think 503 00:32:16.960 --> 00:32:20.480 you know, once everyone got on board, the XFL has been great. 504 00:32:20.519 --> 00:32:23.359 I have no complaints if we can figure out one hundred and thirty two weeks 505 00:32:23.359 --> 00:32:31.519 of offseason content talking about the XFL, like I'll consult for free, guys 506 00:32:31.640 --> 00:32:36.000 like it's not it's not hard, but yeah, players, like we're getting 507 00:32:36.039 --> 00:32:38.119 it. I would have had I would have Josh on the phone right now 508 00:32:38.119 --> 00:32:40.880 with Darius, like what is going on? Talk me through this? Like 509 00:32:40.920 --> 00:32:45.240 we said, what do you think about the new kick returns in the NFL? 510 00:32:45.279 --> 00:32:47.160 Are you We've heard Kavante Turpin talking about that, how he's going to 511 00:32:47.240 --> 00:32:52.000 run it back anyway? How do you think that you know you spotlighting here? 512 00:32:52.079 --> 00:32:53.759 Is that going to change how teams look to feature you now that that's 513 00:32:53.799 --> 00:32:57.119 all going to be different? Like it just it doesn't have to be that 514 00:32:57.200 --> 00:33:01.559 difficult, and I don't like anyway that's my point. Sorry, well, 515 00:33:01.759 --> 00:33:05.359 no, I mean I have to give credit bouncing off that. I have 516 00:33:05.400 --> 00:33:07.160 to give credit to someone that you had on your show last week, John 517 00:33:07.160 --> 00:33:12.680 Hodge and his employer's predoun Nation. Look, he said on this podcast this 518 00:33:12.720 --> 00:33:15.759 week, I was listening he said that they did a uniform ranking and that 519 00:33:16.400 --> 00:33:20.920 generated a lot of buzz. That's content. You know, it's because there's 520 00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:24.000 some new uniform matches, matchups for some of these teams, obviously the Camerad 521 00:33:24.119 --> 00:33:28.799 blues for the Argos, and some of the redesigns for the BC Lions, 522 00:33:28.799 --> 00:33:31.240 and a lot of other uniforms that are kind of getting rehashed and sort of 523 00:33:31.240 --> 00:33:35.839 reformed, and that created content. If they're doing that, I mean, 524 00:33:35.960 --> 00:33:38.279 why isn't the league doing that? You know what? What's going on with 525 00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:43.599 the aspect of just trying to create any sort of content whatsoever. I mean, 526 00:33:43.880 --> 00:33:45.400 one of the things the NFL does, for example, in the off 527 00:33:45.440 --> 00:33:49.720 season, and I mean the YouTube channel is one of their best resources, 528 00:33:49.759 --> 00:33:53.559 at least for me it is. It's just posting highlight videos, videos of 529 00:33:53.599 --> 00:34:00.000 old games, legacy videos, things of that nature that really help them continue 530 00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:04.319 to stimulate content. I mean, right now is like the dead period for 531 00:34:04.359 --> 00:34:07.839 the NFL. I mean, there's really nothing going on, but yet there's 532 00:34:07.880 --> 00:34:10.840 still things that they're able to kind of create conversation for. And I mean 533 00:34:10.920 --> 00:34:14.760 even something like you know, oh, is Jimmy Garoppolo going to fail as 534 00:34:14.800 --> 00:34:16.719 physical with the Raiders. Like that's something that just got everyone, you know, 535 00:34:17.000 --> 00:34:21.400 kicking the tires and buzzing around and asking Tom Brady questions, are you 536 00:34:21.400 --> 00:34:22.599 coming back this week? And him having to come out in the woodwork and 537 00:34:22.639 --> 00:34:25.199 saying, no, I'm not doing that. But like that's the kind of 538 00:34:25.199 --> 00:34:29.679 thing like you have to somehow, just like almost stirring the hornet's nest a 539 00:34:29.719 --> 00:34:32.639 little bit. You know, sometimes there's got to be a way for leagues 540 00:34:32.719 --> 00:34:37.679 to understand this, because, like you said, you are someone that understands 541 00:34:37.719 --> 00:34:42.159 that and creates content on a regular basis and a weekly basis when there's nothing 542 00:34:42.199 --> 00:34:45.639 going on, And for many iterations of you doing the show for the existence 543 00:34:45.679 --> 00:34:50.960 of the XFL, there really was nothing going on. Did John Hodge bring 544 00:34:51.039 --> 00:34:55.360 up our podcasts on their show right now? But I did not hear that. 545 00:34:55.480 --> 00:34:59.559 No. I scared that, Like you know, I gave John the 546 00:34:59.599 --> 00:35:01.360 hall, gave John to follow, I gave Hodges to follow here. Let's 547 00:35:01.360 --> 00:35:05.480 see what happens. I want to talk through the rookie draft and kind of 548 00:35:05.519 --> 00:35:07.280 all that stuff anything else, because I don't want this to you know, 549 00:35:07.400 --> 00:35:10.159 I again, I feel like this is constructive. I just don't want this 550 00:35:10.239 --> 00:35:14.280 to be like verbal especially just on my part, like verbal diarrhea here. 551 00:35:14.360 --> 00:35:16.159 So anything else you want to make sure we touch, We'll do the whole 552 00:35:16.159 --> 00:35:20.480 offseason talk next week, whether we want to see social media do and the 553 00:35:20.559 --> 00:35:22.760 Vegas deal and you know, a local fan events and kind of all that 554 00:35:22.840 --> 00:35:27.800 have anything else, like where we fire Janet and everybody else. I just 555 00:35:27.840 --> 00:35:30.960 don't think this is an alarmest as everyone wanted to make it out to be 556 00:35:31.320 --> 00:35:35.320 at the beginning of the announcement. I get it. When you hear layoffs, 557 00:35:35.880 --> 00:35:37.639 your first reaction is, oh my god, the company's going underwater. 558 00:35:37.639 --> 00:35:40.800 What's going to happen? That happens. This is the kind of story that 559 00:35:40.800 --> 00:35:45.400 comes out for many kinds of different entities. Now, in this case is 560 00:35:45.440 --> 00:35:49.199 an entity that has not been around that long, so of course your level 561 00:35:49.239 --> 00:35:52.320 of skepticism is maybe a little bit higher than it is with someone like say 562 00:35:52.400 --> 00:35:57.000 Google or Amazon or Twitter or something of that nature, where something all of 563 00:35:57.000 --> 00:36:00.880 a sudden, mass layoffs are happening and you're starting to you know, set 564 00:36:00.920 --> 00:36:07.400 the house on fire. But I just hope that the league is able to 565 00:36:07.800 --> 00:36:10.639 understand where it's going. I think they have a clear vision, but they 566 00:36:10.679 --> 00:36:15.079 need to understand what resources they have on hand, and if they're going to 567 00:36:15.159 --> 00:36:20.559 be more revenue driven, if they're going to be able to keep the interest 568 00:36:20.599 --> 00:36:22.840 going, they need to understand and how they have to go about it. 569 00:36:22.880 --> 00:36:24.760 If it's going to be the same offseason as it was last year, I 570 00:36:24.840 --> 00:36:29.400 don't see many results changing, quite frankly, But if they are going to 571 00:36:29.440 --> 00:36:34.480 actually promote themselves a little bit better and shift gears, and if whatever strategy 572 00:36:34.519 --> 00:36:37.840 they implement this time around with the new employees or people who get into consolidated 573 00:36:37.920 --> 00:36:40.719 roles, all right, then let's see if that works. But this is 574 00:36:42.039 --> 00:36:45.199 something I think you and I both agree that things need to change, and 575 00:36:45.239 --> 00:36:49.920 I think Mike Mitchell and perhaps others would agree with you that there needs to 576 00:36:49.920 --> 00:36:52.239 be at least a shifting of the gears. Here. At last point, 577 00:36:52.239 --> 00:36:58.519 I'll make two. If we're going to do this, try to pitch to 578 00:36:58.679 --> 00:37:02.159 people a little bit better about your Vegas team playing on the equivalent of a 579 00:37:02.239 --> 00:37:07.360 pasture field, because getting people out the cashman was really a chore this year, 580 00:37:07.400 --> 00:37:08.679 and you need to be able to get people involved in that market. 581 00:37:08.719 --> 00:37:13.360 The Vegas market is something that they really have to push for, and obviously 582 00:37:13.440 --> 00:37:20.239 the sales team unfortunately fell on the sword for that one, and look Redward 583 00:37:20.280 --> 00:37:23.679 Capital Jerry Cardinal maybe had a more play in that as far as getting that 584 00:37:23.760 --> 00:37:28.039 out there and involved in having that market out there. But they've really got 585 00:37:28.039 --> 00:37:30.840 to be able to push that because if you wanted to make it work, 586 00:37:30.840 --> 00:37:34.239 you're going to need to push, for lack of a better term, push 587 00:37:34.280 --> 00:37:37.400 more of your chips in the middle of the table. The last thing, 588 00:37:37.400 --> 00:37:38.920 and then I do have one concern here I wanted to forget to bring up. 589 00:37:39.000 --> 00:37:43.639 Yeah, when I heard that the Vegas when it was the Vegas individual 590 00:37:43.719 --> 00:37:46.519 they had posted that they were let go, I immediately thought, oh, 591 00:37:46.519 --> 00:37:50.840 they're relocating Vegas. And then all this other stuff came out and you're like, 592 00:37:50.880 --> 00:37:52.960 okay, it's much bigger than that. I did see CFL people like, 593 00:37:53.000 --> 00:37:55.760 oh my god, you like they laid off the whole marketing staff, 594 00:37:55.800 --> 00:38:00.760 Like that's crazy. I bet you a lot of cf fil fans would be 595 00:38:00.840 --> 00:38:02.320 very happy if the CFL laid off part of their market, you know, 596 00:38:02.360 --> 00:38:06.440 like I mean, it's you know, it's it doesn't. It doesn't doesn't 597 00:38:06.440 --> 00:38:09.599 necessarily mean the budgetarian. But here is my fear. If this is if 598 00:38:09.599 --> 00:38:13.039 we're trying to consult, you know, if we're downsizing, and if we're 599 00:38:13.039 --> 00:38:16.039 trying to consolidate, if they get rid of Janet who you know, for 600 00:38:16.199 --> 00:38:22.000 what they were given, I think we're doing their best. Do we just 601 00:38:22.159 --> 00:38:25.679 have someone at Redbird also do this kind of thing, which to me is 602 00:38:25.679 --> 00:38:30.239 is worse because then you're getting someone even further away, like at least Janet 603 00:38:30.320 --> 00:38:32.079 knew. Okay, this is what was going on in twenty twenty, this 604 00:38:32.159 --> 00:38:36.000 is what worked in New York. That's my fears. Okay, now we 605 00:38:36.119 --> 00:38:38.599 want to save costs, We're just going to have other Redbird people do part 606 00:38:38.599 --> 00:38:43.639 of this stuff. For the XFL. Yeah, I mean that plays more 607 00:38:43.639 --> 00:38:47.159 into the hub strategy in a way. But it does sort of question as 608 00:38:47.159 --> 00:38:52.159 to whether that's going to change the winds at all or if it's just going 609 00:38:52.199 --> 00:38:58.000 to make things just more more consolidated and more conservative in terms of how they 610 00:38:58.199 --> 00:39:01.039 operate. And that's something that I'm beIN gonna be able to get away with 611 00:39:01.039 --> 00:39:05.079 that it seems more in line with what they're going with for the USFL, 612 00:39:05.159 --> 00:39:08.119 for example, that's more of a line with their strategy. And I have 613 00:39:08.280 --> 00:39:12.519 my thoughts on that, and I don't know if there's any way that the 614 00:39:12.679 --> 00:39:15.079 XFL is going to be able to implement that same strategy. Look, people 615 00:39:16.119 --> 00:39:20.599 invest their time and money into this league. There are people who really put 616 00:39:20.599 --> 00:39:23.599 themselves forward and invest their time and money, and we need to see the 617 00:39:23.679 --> 00:39:27.639 league do that too. You know, you can downsize all you want, 618 00:39:27.679 --> 00:39:31.239 but you better whatever strategy you implement, if you're going to be outsourcing, 619 00:39:31.239 --> 00:39:36.679 you better outsourced correctly. Well, but I mean that's my thing is you 620 00:39:36.719 --> 00:39:38.320 know, I think we were talking about it and Mike. I think Mike 621 00:39:38.400 --> 00:39:40.800 was the one that kind of originally brought it up in the group chat and 622 00:39:40.840 --> 00:39:45.679 I said, that's a Fox Sports special. Hey, we got so and 623 00:39:45.760 --> 00:39:50.559 so's do an NFL on Fox social media, Like, let's log you into 624 00:39:50.599 --> 00:39:52.840 the USFL account for a couple hours. I just that's my fear because at 625 00:39:52.920 --> 00:39:58.079 least Janet knew what was happening, like what worked. It was like she 626 00:39:58.320 --> 00:40:00.199 was on the ground floor from the guinty, right. That was that was 627 00:40:00.280 --> 00:40:04.239 my fear. When they got rid of over Locke and Jeffrey Pollock was like, 628 00:40:04.239 --> 00:40:07.719 Okay, we're losing some of this identity that was here, right, 629 00:40:07.760 --> 00:40:09.559 We're losing you know. Same with Sam Schwartzee and all that. You know, 630 00:40:09.599 --> 00:40:14.639 you start kind of shedding the past if you do it too much. 631 00:40:14.719 --> 00:40:19.599 I'm a little concerned that they have someone kind of freelance this alongside other things 632 00:40:19.599 --> 00:40:23.000 are riper, Yeah, like just giving too many responsibilities to one person and 633 00:40:23.159 --> 00:40:28.039 somebody who's not really has their finger on the pulse of what's actually going on. 634 00:40:28.480 --> 00:40:31.039 And you know, we've talked a little bit about that with USFL. 635 00:40:31.119 --> 00:40:36.800 There's sometimes some consolidation or some people that may be involved who are sort of 636 00:40:37.119 --> 00:40:39.599 have their hands on too many baskets and aren't really all in on the operation. 637 00:40:39.719 --> 00:40:43.880 So that's something that I don't want to see from the XFL either. 638 00:40:44.280 --> 00:40:49.679 I would really not prefer that's the route they go unless somebody is really be 639 00:40:49.760 --> 00:40:52.639 committed to this league, like be committed to what's going on, be committed 640 00:40:52.679 --> 00:40:57.519 to the product, the brand, and everything that goes into it. Because 641 00:40:57.639 --> 00:41:00.239 let me tell you, the coaches, the players, person all the fans, 642 00:41:01.039 --> 00:41:06.239 they're all invested. Then everybody who's working in this league needs to be 643 00:41:06.280 --> 00:41:10.239 invested as well. And just my last point we've seen now there was concerns 644 00:41:10.440 --> 00:41:14.719 we have red Bird, they want to make money. There a capital investment 645 00:41:14.760 --> 00:41:19.079 firm. The second the season was done, they came in and said, 646 00:41:19.639 --> 00:41:22.199 these are things that we're not like, we need to get rid of these 647 00:41:22.239 --> 00:41:25.679 immediately. And I, you know, I think Vince. We talked. 648 00:41:25.719 --> 00:41:29.239 If Vince was burning a lot of money and doing a lot of things, 649 00:41:29.239 --> 00:41:31.360 who knows if that would have you know, XFL would have lasted into season 650 00:41:31.400 --> 00:41:36.519 two or three with the churn rate they had. I just you know, 651 00:41:36.639 --> 00:41:38.159 and then this is what happens. Do we have an investment firm and all 652 00:41:38.199 --> 00:41:40.480 of that. All right, so we are going to pull up I want 653 00:41:40.519 --> 00:41:43.880 to get through this all time code this too, so you can just if 654 00:41:43.880 --> 00:41:46.360 we want to talk through this, I'll pull up marsh article. I watched 655 00:41:46.360 --> 00:41:51.039 the Zoom today as well. If you guys, I would recommend if you 656 00:41:51.079 --> 00:41:53.079 are a player, and I tweeted it, if you're a player, is 657 00:41:53.119 --> 00:41:58.440 supposed to dming me or Evan or Pat or a like. How do I 658 00:41:58.480 --> 00:42:00.360 get into all this? The ins I have the league on YouTube. It's 659 00:42:00.360 --> 00:42:05.119 about forty six minutes. Has everything you would ever want to know about the 660 00:42:05.320 --> 00:42:08.360 XFL offseason here, what they're looking to do with the showcases, with the 661 00:42:08.440 --> 00:42:13.679 drafts, multiple drafts, all of this stuff. Russ was on there with 662 00:42:13.920 --> 00:42:17.039 Doug. The big things were obviously the rookie draft coming up. I think 663 00:42:17.079 --> 00:42:21.280 it's going to be ten rounds at eight picks. They're going to have a 664 00:42:21.400 --> 00:42:27.119 secondary draft in the fall and then a supplemental draft in November. What do 665 00:42:27.199 --> 00:42:31.199 you make of this rookie draft because it feels very USFL college drafty, but 666 00:42:31.239 --> 00:42:36.320 I'll explain why maybe it isn't. But what do you think? I think 667 00:42:36.360 --> 00:42:39.440 it's a little bit different. It's not just drafting someone's name out of thin 668 00:42:39.519 --> 00:42:45.159 air, and from what I've collected that they weren't players that were known that 669 00:42:45.239 --> 00:42:49.599 we're privy to knowing that they were actually being drafted by this league or that 670 00:42:49.639 --> 00:42:53.360 they were even eligible for the draft. So for the XFL, it sounds 671 00:42:53.360 --> 00:42:57.599 like it's a little bit different in terms of them actually drafting people who are 672 00:42:57.639 --> 00:43:00.559 undrafted free agents and may not be making the rows in the in the NFL, 673 00:43:00.639 --> 00:43:04.320 which I mean, those are the kind of people that should be targeting, 674 00:43:04.400 --> 00:43:07.000 right That's that's that's the kind of players you want to look for. 675 00:43:07.039 --> 00:43:09.280 Are they have a multitude of players that they're looking after, but that's one 676 00:43:09.280 --> 00:43:15.000 of the pools that they're looking at they have multiple, multiple avenues to go 677 00:43:15.039 --> 00:43:19.519 about this, and I think that's something that if there's a player that doesn't 678 00:43:19.559 --> 00:43:23.079 make the practice squad and the fifty three man roster, that they have a 679 00:43:23.079 --> 00:43:30.199 way to at least have some sort of kind of I guess um hammock or 680 00:43:30.239 --> 00:43:34.400 like net to be able to fall into in case they are not able to 681 00:43:34.440 --> 00:43:39.679 make it past that point. I was corresponding today with someone that's pretty closely 682 00:43:39.679 --> 00:43:43.039 involved with a lot of this stuff and just saying like, hey, I 683 00:43:43.119 --> 00:43:45.119 really appreciate that this was done so that we could kind of see what was 684 00:43:45.159 --> 00:43:49.800 going on because there were so many concerns when it came to the USFL, 685 00:43:50.079 --> 00:43:52.760 not concerns like the usfls college out. Okay, what is this like are 686 00:43:52.800 --> 00:43:58.360 you guys? I just I appreciate the transparency that Russ and Doug had on 687 00:43:58.400 --> 00:44:00.880 the call, and like, you know, we're still working through some of 688 00:44:00.920 --> 00:44:05.079 the stuff, and this is why, like we're not sending out contracts because 689 00:44:05.320 --> 00:44:07.960 we're still trying to figure out if we're going to get unionized, and so 690 00:44:07.039 --> 00:44:09.320 we don't want to have the contracts to be sent out if we're going to 691 00:44:09.440 --> 00:44:15.239 unionize. Even the reason why they had players signed for one year with a 692 00:44:15.360 --> 00:44:20.079 second year extension versus signing people for two years. I think the timing of 693 00:44:20.159 --> 00:44:22.800 this is good, and Russ was the one that said it. Russ is 694 00:44:22.840 --> 00:44:25.239 one of the guys. Would they running all the showcases and doing all this 695 00:44:25.280 --> 00:44:30.840 stuff. If you're an NFL player now wanting to be and it's the middle 696 00:44:30.880 --> 00:44:35.159 of June, you know you're not getting into a camp. Most likely you're 697 00:44:35.159 --> 00:44:38.239 not getting onto a squad as opposed to sitting around and saying, what the 698 00:44:38.320 --> 00:44:42.199 f am I going to do with my life now for the next six months. 699 00:44:42.800 --> 00:44:45.639 Getting drafted into this having your rights retained by one of the teams, 700 00:44:46.079 --> 00:44:51.039 it gives you more of a sense of purpose for that where you know, 701 00:44:51.239 --> 00:44:54.039 timing wise, where the USFL draft did it? You know, immediately following 702 00:44:54.880 --> 00:44:59.920 I think it was even before the actual like draft draft, all of those 703 00:45:00.079 --> 00:45:04.239 players in their heads still think I'm making it to an NFL roster? Why 704 00:45:04.239 --> 00:45:06.880 would I want to Why would I want to be this? Where now, 705 00:45:07.079 --> 00:45:09.159 like you kind of know your lot in life at least for this kind of 706 00:45:09.199 --> 00:45:14.519 calendar cycle. So I think timing wise, even if they're both fundamentally the 707 00:45:14.599 --> 00:45:16.639 same in terms of we're just you'd never have to step a foot in the 708 00:45:16.719 --> 00:45:20.960 XFL. We just have your rights. I think timing wise, this makes 709 00:45:20.960 --> 00:45:24.079 a lot more sense mid June than it does mid February. I think so 710 00:45:24.199 --> 00:45:29.079 too. I mean, once like, the draft is a dream for everybody, 711 00:45:29.079 --> 00:45:31.360 and it's a dream that you want to buy into. And that goes 712 00:45:31.440 --> 00:45:37.079 for all the people who are drafted or undrafted free agents and are assigned onto 713 00:45:37.159 --> 00:45:39.760 a team, you know. I mean, there's all there's a litany of 714 00:45:39.800 --> 00:45:44.760 players in the NFL who were undrafted free agents that ended up being great players. 715 00:45:44.920 --> 00:45:46.880 And I think they still had believe in themselves even when they weren't picked 716 00:45:47.199 --> 00:45:53.159 on those days Thursday, Friday or Saturday or back on the old days when 717 00:45:53.159 --> 00:45:58.760 it was just two days. They don't really feel like they are out of 718 00:45:58.760 --> 00:46:00.480 it until they're truly hold that they're out of it, you know. And 719 00:46:00.559 --> 00:46:04.360 in this case, I think they at least have more of a reality check 720 00:46:04.400 --> 00:46:07.039 of the situation and they kind of start to see, all right, one 721 00:46:07.039 --> 00:46:08.960 of these cutdown's going to start coming, or where am I in the in 722 00:46:09.039 --> 00:46:14.599 the queue or the list of you know, prioritization with some of these with 723 00:46:14.679 --> 00:46:17.800 the coaches in terms of the opportunity that I truly have. I mean again, 724 00:46:17.920 --> 00:46:22.000 it's it's a nice other option, and you know, it's going to 725 00:46:22.039 --> 00:46:25.039 be interesting to see where the XFL goes as far as keeping some of these 726 00:46:25.039 --> 00:46:29.719 players, retaining some of these players too going forward, and people who know 727 00:46:30.280 --> 00:46:32.119 or want to just be XFL lifers. I mean, this year you had 728 00:46:32.159 --> 00:46:35.800 more examples of players who came in for one year were like, Hey, 729 00:46:35.840 --> 00:46:37.719 this is my one year, one month shot, and then I'm out. 730 00:46:37.760 --> 00:46:39.519 You know, t J Barnes, great example, he went up one more 731 00:46:39.599 --> 00:46:43.599 year, he had a great year with the Renegades, got his ring and 732 00:46:43.719 --> 00:46:45.159 pieced out, and now he's onto his next stage in life. Great, 733 00:46:45.159 --> 00:46:49.679 awesome, fantastic. I think there's going to be more players like that going 734 00:46:49.679 --> 00:46:52.639 forward, and maybe some that are more realistic, and maybe some that just 735 00:46:52.679 --> 00:46:54.639 have more fun and just say, hey, I want to be guaranteed playing 736 00:46:54.639 --> 00:46:59.239 time, Like playing is a big deal, it really is. Some of 737 00:46:59.280 --> 00:47:02.320 these players want to get on the field, and the NFL's cutthroat. You're 738 00:47:02.320 --> 00:47:06.679 not going to get that all the time unless you have the absolute right situation. 739 00:47:07.320 --> 00:47:09.840 And I think some players are going to be in that realm of just 740 00:47:09.920 --> 00:47:15.159 wanting to get out there and just play and develop too. Development is such 741 00:47:15.159 --> 00:47:20.039 a big thing, and it felt the NFL is so it can be so 742 00:47:20.199 --> 00:47:23.280 brutal and also just so impatient with players sometimes saying I don't know what this 743 00:47:23.320 --> 00:47:27.960 guy's doing. I don't know where he is. He hasn't gotten anywhere, 744 00:47:28.159 --> 00:47:30.519 and it could be their first two years or three years of development, and 745 00:47:30.559 --> 00:47:32.199 some of these guys just don't come on that early, you know, you 746 00:47:32.199 --> 00:47:36.880 really want to wait and tell simone like someone like Jordan Thammu being in the 747 00:47:36.920 --> 00:47:40.480 NFL, being on a practice squad at twenty two, I mean, quite 748 00:47:40.519 --> 00:47:44.840 frankly, his skill set just wasn't there this past season. I think he 749 00:47:44.880 --> 00:47:47.239 has a much better shot. I mean he has jumped leaps and bounds as 750 00:47:47.280 --> 00:47:51.440 a quarterback, and that took the year, you know, that took years 751 00:47:51.639 --> 00:47:54.199 for him to get to that point and mid season even in this year. 752 00:47:54.480 --> 00:48:00.320 So I just think there needs to be more realistic stock of where players are 753 00:48:01.000 --> 00:48:05.400 as far as where they are and being developed, and especially like you said 754 00:48:05.400 --> 00:48:07.960 in the June timeline, it just makes a lot more sense in terms of 755 00:48:07.199 --> 00:48:12.119 recruiting, getting people into the system. Yeah, so it seems like and 756 00:48:12.639 --> 00:48:16.039 I think it was Russ said, all any XFL draft now is basically going 757 00:48:16.079 --> 00:48:20.239 to be open position. Right, We've kind of we've done our initial one. 758 00:48:20.480 --> 00:48:24.039 We're not rebuilding every team from scratch. There's gonna be this rookie draft 759 00:48:24.079 --> 00:48:29.920 here on the sixteenth. They're ballooning up the offseason rosters up to ninety. 760 00:48:30.320 --> 00:48:35.719 There's going to be obviously they're doing the showcases all year during the summer here, 761 00:48:35.760 --> 00:48:37.519 there's going to be the six Nick Novak's going to do one. They 762 00:48:37.639 --> 00:48:42.320 obviously could add more that's going to go. They're going to funnel those best 763 00:48:42.320 --> 00:48:45.119 players into the combine. All of that's going to kind of be included, 764 00:48:45.159 --> 00:48:49.519 and it sounds like a September draft that's going to be going on, and 765 00:48:49.559 --> 00:48:52.679 then they're going to be having maybe a November draft. We kind of get 766 00:48:52.719 --> 00:48:54.760 final NFL cut. So I don't think any of them are going to ever 767 00:48:54.840 --> 00:49:00.119 be as big again as like the initial but kind of different stopping point so 768 00:49:00.159 --> 00:49:05.320 we can stock up players because it basically it's hitting three unique subsets, right. 769 00:49:05.400 --> 00:49:07.559 These are players that kind of maybe have anything going on right now. 770 00:49:08.000 --> 00:49:10.239 You get the guys that are kind of trying to find their way in the 771 00:49:10.239 --> 00:49:14.920 showcase and do that. If you're not because the rookie draft, you know 772 00:49:14.920 --> 00:49:17.480 it has to be this year, you know you were eligible and not drafted. 773 00:49:19.000 --> 00:49:21.559 If you're an older player, you can do the showcases and all that, 774 00:49:21.639 --> 00:49:23.800 and then obviously the NFL cut. So it seems like they don't want 775 00:49:23.840 --> 00:49:28.840 to let anyone fall through the cracks. Is that am I kind of understanding 776 00:49:28.920 --> 00:49:31.199 that? Absolutely? I think so just keeping all their options open and having 777 00:49:31.320 --> 00:49:36.599 as much pool assessment as they can, and also just you know, signing 778 00:49:36.639 --> 00:49:38.840 players midseason. I think that's something that's a big bigger deal in these leagues 779 00:49:38.840 --> 00:49:44.559 too, is mid season acquisitions or trades. As far as some of these 780 00:49:44.559 --> 00:49:49.199 players moving around. I thought about this morning, if I'm looking at it, 781 00:49:49.440 --> 00:49:52.880 the two teams that won in the past two years in the USFL and 782 00:49:53.039 --> 00:49:57.400 XFL. I think about, like the USFL added Bo Scarborough, right, 783 00:49:57.480 --> 00:50:00.639 he wasn't drafted initially, he was just kind of flowing out there is you 784 00:50:00.639 --> 00:50:04.440 know from the Detroit Lions. They add him, he gives them another element 785 00:50:04.440 --> 00:50:07.760 on their run attack, and he helps them win a championship. Rennegates this 786 00:50:07.800 --> 00:50:10.559 fast year. You know they didn't have Elie Prez. They traded for Lae 787 00:50:10.599 --> 00:50:15.119 Prez, the entire season changes. Some of these midseason ads are a really 788 00:50:15.119 --> 00:50:19.000 big deal for some of these teams that players that are only even in the 789 00:50:19.079 --> 00:50:22.039 draft pool initially are not available at that time, but then later on they 790 00:50:22.079 --> 00:50:25.119 are. So even just the mid season acquisitions too, in addition to these 791 00:50:25.239 --> 00:50:30.079 drafts, this is a multi month process, you know, it really is. 792 00:50:30.360 --> 00:50:34.280 And I think that because of the fact that you don't have these players 793 00:50:34.320 --> 00:50:37.760 who stay for a long term and if they play so well, they're just 794 00:50:37.800 --> 00:50:42.480 gonna move on. You know, you're not going to have sort of like 795 00:50:42.519 --> 00:50:47.440 the same mentality as far as a talent acquisition and all one base like you 796 00:50:47.519 --> 00:50:51.960 do with the NFL. The NFL is just it's the draft, it's free 797 00:50:51.960 --> 00:50:54.840 agency boom. That's it, as opposed to in the XFL and the USFL 798 00:50:54.880 --> 00:50:58.880 and the CFL, where it's it's all year round, you know, it's 799 00:50:58.920 --> 00:51:02.960 just whoever's available moreever time and any reason at any points. So it's that's 800 00:51:04.039 --> 00:51:07.280 also part of why they also the news cycles I think can also bear to 801 00:51:07.280 --> 00:51:10.119 be a little bit more year round, because I mean, the players are 802 00:51:10.159 --> 00:51:15.199 moving year round there there this is a constant cycle for them too, and 803 00:51:15.440 --> 00:51:19.039 like how they they were saying. I think it was Doug said they they 804 00:51:19.039 --> 00:51:22.679 this first batch is obviously off of guys that maybe were invited to the NFL 805 00:51:22.760 --> 00:51:24.320 camps and didn't you know, didn't make it. Kind of they're sitting here 806 00:51:24.320 --> 00:51:28.440 in the summer because like, hey, they were good enough to be brought 807 00:51:28.480 --> 00:51:31.639 into an NFL camp, Like, let's kind of streamline some of our resources 808 00:51:31.679 --> 00:51:37.760 here where maybe we don't have ten thousand hours to you know, spotlight everything, 809 00:51:37.840 --> 00:51:40.119 Like hey, they've already done enough work to kind of deem them worthy 810 00:51:40.159 --> 00:51:43.880 to be in this. It was funny here I was going down and I 811 00:51:43.920 --> 00:51:45.599 saw I'm like, oh no, they made the video private. I think 812 00:51:45.679 --> 00:51:49.920 Mark must have embedded. They posted the wrong zoom last night, so that 813 00:51:50.000 --> 00:51:52.480 must be this one, because I thought, oh my god, no they 814 00:51:52.599 --> 00:51:55.239 because this has such good information and that if you go on the inside the 815 00:51:55.320 --> 00:52:00.320 league, it's still the correct one is still there. It has a hundred 816 00:52:00.360 --> 00:52:05.639 in sixty five yews. Think of all the players that DM Mike, I 817 00:52:05.639 --> 00:52:09.679 said, Evan Sam every one hundred and sixty five years. It tells you 818 00:52:09.920 --> 00:52:13.480 everything you need to know. So anyway, I'm not trying to sell that. 819 00:52:14.000 --> 00:52:15.599 The last note and then we can probably get out of here soon. 820 00:52:15.960 --> 00:52:20.840 They asked about the NFL Alumni Academy, Doug said, they have not heard 821 00:52:20.920 --> 00:52:24.920 from them. Feels weird. What do you make of that they're kind of 822 00:52:24.960 --> 00:52:30.960 moving forward like that's not a thing. Yeah, I have a theory that 823 00:52:31.480 --> 00:52:37.360 the relationship with the NFL Alumni Academy might be terminated as far as this season 824 00:52:37.400 --> 00:52:42.480 goes. Look, it was I'm not going to call it a mess, 825 00:52:42.519 --> 00:52:45.519 but there did. It seemed to be some miscommunication as far as what was 826 00:52:45.599 --> 00:52:49.599 going on earlier last year as far as what's what number of players need to 827 00:52:49.599 --> 00:52:52.679 be allocated, who was guaranteed a contract, who was going to get on 828 00:52:52.679 --> 00:52:53.760 some of these rosters. There were seemed to be a bit of a snaff 829 00:52:53.800 --> 00:52:58.679 food with that as far as what the league promised to maybe what the NFL 830 00:52:58.719 --> 00:53:02.119 Alumni Academy expected, And they kind of rectified it a little bit before the 831 00:53:02.159 --> 00:53:06.559 season started as far as expanding rosters and allowing more players to get on. 832 00:53:06.599 --> 00:53:09.280 But the fact of the matter is, I think the NFL Luma Academy expected 833 00:53:09.360 --> 00:53:13.480 more, and I think the XFL. I think what the XFL realizes that, 834 00:53:13.639 --> 00:53:15.800 oh well, actually, maybe there's more resources than we realize initially. 835 00:53:15.840 --> 00:53:20.280 There's a lot more players out there in different ways that we can collect this 836 00:53:20.360 --> 00:53:22.920 talent, and we don't necessarily have to rely on the NFL alumni academy. 837 00:53:23.119 --> 00:53:27.159 And that's not so much the fault of the NFL alumni academy. It's just 838 00:53:27.199 --> 00:53:30.800 what the XFL found out worked for them. So yeah, I have a 839 00:53:30.840 --> 00:53:36.519 feeling that relationship may not be around much longer, and to no fault of 840 00:53:36.599 --> 00:53:37.960 either side, I think, just not a relationship that was going to be 841 00:53:38.000 --> 00:53:43.079 amicable. I mean, look this IFL thing, right, Like this IFL 842 00:53:43.119 --> 00:53:45.880 partnership for example of the XFL, I don't know how much that's really good 843 00:53:45.920 --> 00:53:49.519 a factor in the next year those guys going to move up from the IFL 844 00:53:49.559 --> 00:53:52.840 into the XFL. I don't know, you know that what kind of partnership 845 00:53:52.880 --> 00:53:55.800 that is. It's good more clout for the IFL than anything, So IM 846 00:53:55.840 --> 00:54:00.320 not really, I think the XFL is kind of piecing this altogether, right. 847 00:54:00.360 --> 00:54:02.079 They're all saying like, all right, this works, this draft works, 848 00:54:02.920 --> 00:54:07.880 this scouting profile work, this showcase work. Maybe this is more where 849 00:54:07.920 --> 00:54:09.039 we need to go, Like they're clearly, I mean, the number of 850 00:54:09.039 --> 00:54:14.400 boosting showcases clearly tells them, Okay, let's put more of our capital resources 851 00:54:14.400 --> 00:54:19.920 than this than opposed to in the NFL alumni academy. So they are piecing 852 00:54:19.960 --> 00:54:22.719 that together themselves. I mean, it's the same thing like the CFL trying 853 00:54:22.719 --> 00:54:27.400 to global draft, and you know, people have their opinions on that whether 854 00:54:27.400 --> 00:54:30.320 that works or not. I think all these leagues are figuring out whether or 855 00:54:30.360 --> 00:54:34.960 not that where their talent acquisitions work and where they don't. So yeah, 856 00:54:35.000 --> 00:54:39.519 I don't think that that relationship between the alumni Academy XPEL is going to be 857 00:54:39.559 --> 00:54:44.480 around much longer. There were surprisingly a lot of questions on the zoom about 858 00:54:44.480 --> 00:54:47.480 the IFL with agents because I just it must have been like, right, 859 00:54:47.639 --> 00:54:51.440 many of the agents on the call where you know, representing guys in that, 860 00:54:52.280 --> 00:54:54.519 you know, they said, we want to we don't they can. 861 00:54:54.679 --> 00:54:59.159 We want them to focus on plane, you know, like if they're in 862 00:54:59.199 --> 00:55:01.519 the playoffs, were knowing that they can, we will see them and know 863 00:55:01.599 --> 00:55:05.440 that we can get a spot. I think it Doug said, we would 864 00:55:05.519 --> 00:55:08.840 much rather see them playing football than running around in their underwear or the combine, 865 00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:10.920 like, so we're going to see the football and all of that. 866 00:55:12.440 --> 00:55:15.880 But I think with the alumni thing, it's kind of like, you know 867 00:55:15.880 --> 00:55:17.519 how like some weeks on the podcast, I have like seven guests. It's 868 00:55:17.519 --> 00:55:21.920 like why does It's like because I ask a lot of people and I don't 869 00:55:21.960 --> 00:55:23.280 know if everyone's gonna say yes. And I think that was kind of like 870 00:55:23.280 --> 00:55:28.039 the XFL, like let's let's kind of get all these things go in because 871 00:55:28.079 --> 00:55:30.440 like what if we don't have anyone that wants to play in our league? 872 00:55:30.440 --> 00:55:30.920 And then next thing, you know, it's like, oh my god, 873 00:55:31.079 --> 00:55:34.519 we have so many players, Like we're you know, we're flushed with cash 874 00:55:34.599 --> 00:55:37.239 here. It's like having two dates to homecoming or something. Well, I 875 00:55:37.239 --> 00:55:39.599 mean they spent months talking to the CFL and talking about a partnership, and 876 00:55:39.599 --> 00:55:44.639 I mean they turned no stone unturned for this league. Really, they looked 877 00:55:44.679 --> 00:55:47.320 through every option possible. Whether you debate whether they should have been involved in 878 00:55:47.360 --> 00:55:52.000 those options, that's up to you, but like they were committed to doing 879 00:55:52.000 --> 00:55:54.559 their homework. I will give them that credit, like they I think that's 880 00:55:54.599 --> 00:56:00.920 something that honestly, I think something like the CFL could learn more from as 881 00:56:00.920 --> 00:56:02.480 far as like just explore your options, see what you got out there, 882 00:56:02.480 --> 00:56:05.840 see who wants to partner with you, who wants to do this, who 883 00:56:05.880 --> 00:56:07.840 wants to work here? You know, the XFL whether it works or not. 884 00:56:07.880 --> 00:56:10.280 I mean, they're kind of just throwing stuff at the wall and seeing 885 00:56:10.360 --> 00:56:14.000 it sticks in some ways. And you know, they want to be more 886 00:56:14.000 --> 00:56:17.519 consistent and more standardized and being more of a league. Sure, but they 887 00:56:17.519 --> 00:56:21.719 clearly were trying to do as much homework as possible the first two years before 888 00:56:21.760 --> 00:56:24.239 they started up again and see what was going to work for them. And 889 00:56:24.719 --> 00:56:29.320 I think they're learning now, which you know, we to go back to 890 00:56:29.360 --> 00:56:32.679 the top of the episode. The marketing wasn't up to par Okay, maybe 891 00:56:32.679 --> 00:56:37.719 the alumni academy relationship wasn't good enough. Okay, we'll see about the relationship 892 00:56:37.719 --> 00:56:39.239 with the IFL moving forward to a partnership. You know that, like all 893 00:56:39.280 --> 00:56:43.119 these different levels of things that they tried at the beginning and in the middle 894 00:56:43.159 --> 00:56:45.599 of their process, if they're going to continue with that. They clearly don't 895 00:56:45.599 --> 00:56:51.679 seem to be afraid of switching gears and going another direction because they believe in 896 00:56:51.719 --> 00:56:54.519 their product and they want to be successful and they're taking risks. Not all 897 00:56:54.519 --> 00:56:58.719 of them are going to work out, and they're right to be criticized for 898 00:56:58.840 --> 00:57:01.000 things that they didn't do well or they could have gone about a different process, 899 00:57:01.039 --> 00:57:06.400 but you know, at least they're trying. Yeah, it's so weird. 900 00:57:06.559 --> 00:57:08.719 I guess my live week aldgo on. I mean clearly forever talking about 901 00:57:08.800 --> 00:57:12.719 all that stuff we just got. If you're enjoying this conversation, Andy, 902 00:57:12.800 --> 00:57:15.039 I next week will plot out the entire XFL offseason. But it's one of 903 00:57:15.039 --> 00:57:19.079 these things like even nowadays, like I just know this, and I don't 904 00:57:19.079 --> 00:57:22.320 know if it's the thing nowadays, like you're not able to like people aren't 905 00:57:22.360 --> 00:57:24.920 able to change their mind or like if you change your mind, like you're 906 00:57:24.920 --> 00:57:29.800 a hypocrite, they're like, oh, you deleted the tweet, Like like 907 00:57:29.840 --> 00:57:34.199 what it's like maybe you thought a thing and you were wrong, or like 908 00:57:34.320 --> 00:57:36.519 I talk a lot with the CFL people now, and I was like, 909 00:57:36.599 --> 00:57:38.280 yeah, I probably didn't know a lot back when I was, you know, 910 00:57:38.280 --> 00:57:40.719 when Paul and I were fighting a rash on here, Like it doesn't 911 00:57:40.760 --> 00:57:45.199 mean that that you're a hypocrite or you know, it means you educated yourself 912 00:57:45.280 --> 00:57:49.119 or you move forward. It's to stay with the XFL here, Like it 913 00:57:49.239 --> 00:57:52.280 wasn't like they went into it like We're gonna calm the Alumni Academy out of 914 00:57:52.400 --> 00:57:55.239 like they thought it was a good idea, they tried to do it. 915 00:57:55.559 --> 00:57:59.639 I could have told him it was too many players and they you know, 916 00:57:59.880 --> 00:58:02.880 I could have told him Cashman Field wasn't gonna work. I couldn't have told 917 00:58:02.920 --> 00:58:06.480 him a lot of things. But you know, I don't know, Andy. 918 00:58:06.519 --> 00:58:07.519 I feel like we could tell a lot of people a lot of things. 919 00:58:07.559 --> 00:58:10.800 But uh, anything else from you? I appreciate this. We're almost 920 00:58:10.800 --> 00:58:14.199 at fifty five minutes here. Anything else from you before we get out? 921 00:58:15.400 --> 00:58:17.440 I mean, just let me know when the next alarm bell is rung and 922 00:58:17.440 --> 00:58:22.199 I'll be there, ready, ready to go whenever you needed read Andy. 923 00:58:22.320 --> 00:58:25.840 Yeah, put up the bat sing though? That really is what is it? 924 00:58:27.440 --> 00:58:31.159 Batman like he's got It was whether the new like ben affleck ones or 925 00:58:31.239 --> 00:58:36.440 Christian ban where he just screams like punish call me, or it's one of 926 00:58:36.480 --> 00:58:40.400 his screaming ones. Oh um, uh you say swear to me? Is 927 00:58:40.400 --> 00:58:45.079 that to me? Yeah? Among amongst his mini lines, Hey, listen, 928 00:58:45.079 --> 00:58:47.199 if anything else, If I can't be your Robbin, you're Batman, 929 00:58:47.239 --> 00:58:52.400 at least try to be your skip to your your Shannon because that because we 930 00:58:52.440 --> 00:58:53.519 hey, we got shoes to fill. Now, buddy, we got we 931 00:58:53.559 --> 00:58:57.440 got big shoes to fill. How did I forget? That's how late in 932 00:58:57.440 --> 00:59:00.079 the day we're recording. How did I forget? Not too started the episode 933 00:59:00.119 --> 00:59:06.039 off with we have now we haven't outlasted, but we've out we've outlived. 934 00:59:06.079 --> 00:59:08.960 And now Skipp and Shannon, which I didn't they didn't talk about it today 935 00:59:09.000 --> 00:59:12.119 on the show, so I think they're just trying to kind of play coy 936 00:59:12.199 --> 00:59:15.480 until the end. We're talking like Miami Heat here at Celtics or whatever. 937 00:59:15.440 --> 00:59:22.800 Uh yeah, just heat and nuggets, the matchups. I'm living in the 938 00:59:22.079 --> 00:59:27.519 don't don't make Sam come after you, you know, our resident Denver Denver 939 00:59:27.760 --> 00:59:32.079 I Sam Sham Shady. Yeah. Anyway, thanks you guys. Well we'll 940 00:59:32.079 --> 00:59:40.199 see you next time. Take here, Hey, guys, future read here 941 00:59:40.320 --> 00:59:45.800 editing the episode. And we already have two additional players from the XFL signed 942 00:59:45.800 --> 00:59:50.960 to NFL contracts via the Battle Hawks today announcing we have Marcel Eightman signed to 943 00:59:51.039 --> 00:59:53.679 the Buffalo Bills, and we have friends of the show Darius Shephard signed to 944 00:59:53.960 --> 00:59:59.039 the Los Angeles Chargers. I know Eddie Murray is especially excited about that one. 945 00:59:59.119 --> 01:00:01.159 I know Evan and night time throughout Darius in our interview, and I 946 01:00:01.239 --> 01:00:06.159 just wanted to keep you guys up today. But Darius and Marcel getting signed 947 01:00:06.199 --> 01:00:08.280 here contracts, it could have more. I hope you guys enjoy Evan and 948 01:00:08.360 --> 01:00:12.400 nice chat, but always good to see. I think we are twenty five 949 01:00:12.519 --> 01:00:15.440 and twenty six players now signed through the NFL via the XFL, so good 950 01:00:15.480 --> 01:00:20.360 for them. Well, here we are, Evan, back from LSU. 951 01:00:20.559 --> 01:00:22.960 Still on the grind. Here, Evan, we talk a lot about how 952 01:00:22.960 --> 01:00:25.639 impressed everyone is with all the work you do, and this will be no 953 01:00:25.760 --> 01:00:30.440 different. Today we have Evan willsmore here, we are talking the XFL to 954 01:00:30.880 --> 01:00:35.039 NFL kind of we're tracking who's got signed. We have twenty four and now 955 01:00:35.119 --> 01:00:37.000 who we're still keeping our eyes on and everything else today. Evan, how 956 01:00:37.039 --> 01:00:39.360 are you doing. I'm doing great, man. Yeah, you know, 957 01:00:39.400 --> 01:00:43.880 I appreciate all the kind words. It's it's good to be back from college, 958 01:00:43.920 --> 01:00:45.199 you know, over the summer, but I'm still working. You're definitely 959 01:00:45.280 --> 01:00:50.039 right about that. It seems like life just gets faster and gets busier as 960 01:00:50.039 --> 01:00:52.199 you get older. So it's one of those things you have to realize. 961 01:00:52.199 --> 01:00:54.519 But I'm excited to be on here today and excited to talk about some players 962 01:00:54.519 --> 01:00:58.760 who you know, we think should maybe go to the NFL or at least 963 01:00:58.960 --> 01:01:01.639 get a chance. Some of them are have already been to many camps and 964 01:01:01.760 --> 01:01:04.639 you know, we'll make note of that, I think as we go. 965 01:01:05.280 --> 01:01:07.679 But yeah, I mean there's a lot of good players you know in this 966 01:01:07.760 --> 01:01:09.960 league that played in twenty twenty three and excited to talk about some of them. 967 01:01:10.320 --> 01:01:14.480 Yeah. So we have here and Max has put together work. Evan's 968 01:01:14.480 --> 01:01:16.000 guy. The list is what we're kind of mounting, is this is the 969 01:01:16.840 --> 01:01:21.440 list we have thus far, the twenty four players signed. We just had 970 01:01:21.679 --> 01:01:25.760 Brandon Dillon here with the Washington Commanders Vegas Vipers this week as of recording. 971 01:01:27.119 --> 01:01:30.320 Obviously things could change here through the end of the week before this goes on, 972 01:01:30.440 --> 01:01:34.039 but twenty four players are Evan. Are you surprised with any of the 973 01:01:34.039 --> 01:01:37.159 players you've seen that have gotten signed thus far to the NFL contracts? As 974 01:01:37.159 --> 01:01:42.519 I tried to address with microphone, Yeah, there's definitely been some surprises, 975 01:01:42.599 --> 01:01:45.199 I think from my perspective, but it seems like that happens in every spring 976 01:01:45.280 --> 01:01:49.039 league. You know, there were guys going back that I was surprised about 977 01:01:49.079 --> 01:01:52.119 in twenty twenty, and you know, the AFROM twenty nineteen, and you 978 01:01:52.119 --> 01:01:54.840 know, even some guys maybe in the CFL. But yeah, I mean 979 01:01:54.880 --> 01:01:59.719 for the most part, it's a pretty solid list. You know. Again, 980 01:01:59.760 --> 01:02:01.760 I'm glad that guys like you know, some of the real standouts like 981 01:02:02.119 --> 01:02:07.000 Lucky Jackson maybe you know, um Jock Wispatrick Luke Barku obviously was a really 982 01:02:07.079 --> 01:02:12.039 good one. A couple of guys on the BattleHawks that I really enjoyed. 983 01:02:12.079 --> 01:02:14.079 And then the CEA Dragons have had a lot of players signed. I was 984 01:02:14.079 --> 01:02:16.519 definitely gonna bring that up. I mean, he just look at that sheet 985 01:02:16.559 --> 01:02:20.360 there, you know, I think that's six players so far, and it 986 01:02:20.360 --> 01:02:22.280 definitely felt like that. But yeah, overall, I mean, not a 987 01:02:22.280 --> 01:02:25.920 bad list. Definitely hope it continues to grow. I will say, maybe 988 01:02:25.920 --> 01:02:30.280 I expected a couple more by now, Maybe I thought we'd be pushing thirty 989 01:02:30.400 --> 01:02:35.559 or a little over. But you know the thing is that these NFL camps, 990 01:02:35.559 --> 01:02:38.360 you know, are starting to get so you know, full up right, 991 01:02:38.360 --> 01:02:42.840 and a guy like who would talking about later Jakor Pierson I think should 992 01:02:42.840 --> 01:02:45.800 be signed already. And I know the forty nine Ers were really interested in 993 01:02:45.880 --> 01:02:47.800 him, but you know, their roster was at ninety and I think Mike 994 01:02:47.840 --> 01:02:51.559 Mitchell was the one who mentioned that. Um So again, it's kind of 995 01:02:51.599 --> 01:02:54.000 just it's a numbers game, right, someone has to get injured, you 996 01:02:54.039 --> 01:02:57.559 know, something has to happen for that spot to open up. And I 997 01:02:57.599 --> 01:03:00.400 do expect more to come, for sure, but it's might be a bit 998 01:03:00.400 --> 01:03:04.480 more of a slow process. I know, Brandon Dillon from Vegas signed with 999 01:03:04.480 --> 01:03:07.519 the Commanders yesterday and that seemed to be the first signing in a couple of 1000 01:03:07.599 --> 01:03:09.719 days. I think the last one before that was Lucky Jackson to the Vikings, 1001 01:03:09.760 --> 01:03:14.079 if I'm not mistaken. So well, it's interesting and we've talked about 1002 01:03:14.079 --> 01:03:17.599 this before on here, and obviously you know XFL twenty twenty in the way 1003 01:03:17.639 --> 01:03:21.239 that that season ended, and you know, we got a lot of players 1004 01:03:21.280 --> 01:03:23.119 that went over to the NFL, a lot of them that they're still there 1005 01:03:23.159 --> 01:03:28.199 to this day, USFL filling the gap last year, and then now obviously 1006 01:03:28.280 --> 01:03:31.360 with the XFL and the USFL either, you're really getting kind of this backlog 1007 01:03:31.480 --> 01:03:35.719 now of talented players trying to get spots. Not saying that it's not going 1008 01:03:35.760 --> 01:03:37.760 to happen. Blank you said, you know, injuries, we don't want 1009 01:03:37.800 --> 01:03:42.119 to see that. But it does open up this gambling probe that's going on 1010 01:03:42.159 --> 01:03:45.320 in the NFL other things like that, So it might, you know, 1011 01:03:45.440 --> 01:03:49.760 kind of curtail into the summer. But it's definitely a different scenario than it 1012 01:03:49.840 --> 01:03:52.719 was even three years ago with the XFL twenty twenty. Oh absolutely, you 1013 01:03:52.760 --> 01:03:58.800 know the XFL when they finished that I guess first or second season, however 1014 01:03:58.800 --> 01:04:00.559 you want to put it. In twenty twenty, that was right when COVID 1015 01:04:00.599 --> 01:04:03.320 started. You know, in the NFL there seemed to be more spots open. 1016 01:04:03.400 --> 01:04:06.559 That was the time where they were expanding practice squads things like that. 1017 01:04:06.719 --> 01:04:10.480 So it definitely was a different time. And you know, I'm not going 1018 01:04:10.519 --> 01:04:14.000 to turn this into a debate about, you know, which version of the 1019 01:04:14.079 --> 01:04:15.880 league was more talented, whether it was twenty twenty or twenty twenty three. 1020 01:04:15.920 --> 01:04:19.000 I'm sure I know people that are on both ends of that spectrum. But 1021 01:04:19.079 --> 01:04:23.599 yeah, you're definitely right. It's a different world now, even just three 1022 01:04:23.679 --> 01:04:26.360 years later. You know, the politics are different and there's a lot more 1023 01:04:26.920 --> 01:04:30.400 that goes into these things than there was before. So we'll get here we'll 1024 01:04:30.440 --> 01:04:33.079 pull up. Evans got his list. Like I said, then Max was 1025 01:04:33.119 --> 01:04:36.199 putting together work as well on this, and we kind of consolidated this down 1026 01:04:36.639 --> 01:04:40.119 a little bit here and we can go team by team touch on this a 1027 01:04:40.119 --> 01:04:45.719 little bit obviously. Renegades, you know, champions here, XFL champions coming 1028 01:04:45.840 --> 01:04:48.599 in late you know, there was a lot of debate even a couple of 1029 01:04:48.599 --> 01:04:51.480 weeks ago, like how come the defenders guys haven't got trads yet? How 1030 01:04:51.480 --> 01:04:56.039 come the reteguates? You know, we're moving to that there through the championship 1031 01:04:56.079 --> 01:04:59.719 game. I don't know if that if that will delay signings or not. 1032 01:05:00.000 --> 01:05:01.119 It is the kind of something to track here, like do you want to 1033 01:05:01.119 --> 01:05:03.639 make the XFL playoffs in the future, do you want to kind of get 1034 01:05:03.679 --> 01:05:06.039 out to be able to get in that first way? But who do you 1035 01:05:06.079 --> 01:05:10.480 have here highlighted for the Renegades? Yeah? Right, so I've got three 1036 01:05:10.480 --> 01:05:15.320 players here for the Renegades. Tyler Vaughns, the wide receiver from USC definitely 1037 01:05:15.360 --> 01:05:17.559 impressed me. Later on in the season once the offense kind of got going 1038 01:05:17.599 --> 01:05:21.920 with Louise Perez. Again, there wasn't a lot there to write home about 1039 01:05:21.920 --> 01:05:26.760 early on between Kyle Sloder and Drew Plitt. That's nothing against them, right, 1040 01:05:26.800 --> 01:05:29.920 but you definitely, I mean we always talk about this sort of transition 1041 01:05:29.960 --> 01:05:32.440 in the Renegades second half of the season, or maybe not even second half. 1042 01:05:32.480 --> 01:05:36.480 I think it was around week seven when they got Perez and started turning 1043 01:05:36.519 --> 01:05:41.880 upward and eventually winning the championship. But Tyler Vaughns was a guy who really 1044 01:05:41.920 --> 01:05:44.400 impressed me. And then the one that really stands out here the most I'm 1045 01:05:44.400 --> 01:05:47.159 going to kind of elaborate on is Donald Payne, the linebacker from Stetson. 1046 01:05:47.599 --> 01:05:49.960 He's a bit older now, want to say, he's maybe twenty nine, 1047 01:05:50.679 --> 01:05:54.800 but he really shine last year with the Gamblers, and I was surprised that 1048 01:05:54.840 --> 01:05:58.360 he wasn't picked up by the NFL again. And if he doesn't get picked 1049 01:05:58.440 --> 01:06:00.320 up, you know, at least for a camp for a bit or something, 1050 01:06:00.800 --> 01:06:03.440 this time around, I'm going to be equally surprised as well, because 1051 01:06:03.760 --> 01:06:06.119 you know, even if this guy is a bit older, and maybe you 1052 01:06:06.159 --> 01:06:11.519 know in the NFL nowadays, they favor more younger players that are coming in 1053 01:06:11.519 --> 01:06:14.559 to compete with you know, the undrafted free agents that the team has signed 1054 01:06:14.559 --> 01:06:16.960 on to the ninety men roster. You know, Donald Payne is someone who 1055 01:06:17.000 --> 01:06:19.239 I think, even at that age, still deserves a shot. And I 1056 01:06:19.280 --> 01:06:23.320 don't know, I want to say the last time he played in the NFL 1057 01:06:23.519 --> 01:06:27.880 was maybe twenty nineteen, I can look that up. I know he was 1058 01:06:27.920 --> 01:06:32.800 with the Jaguars for a bit there very early on. But again Donald Payne 1059 01:06:32.800 --> 01:06:35.920 again extremely impressive and it really showed too, you know, the difference he 1060 01:06:36.000 --> 01:06:40.400 made compared to when he was on the field for the Renegades and when he 1061 01:06:40.440 --> 01:06:43.840 was not. And then the last guy for the Renegades that I have as 1062 01:06:43.920 --> 01:06:46.079 Marquette King, punter from Fort Valley State. A lot of people obviously know 1063 01:06:46.119 --> 01:06:49.519 who Marquette King is. Spent many years with the Raiders, was a second 1064 01:06:49.519 --> 01:06:54.079 team All Pro punter in the NFL, then went to the Broncos for a 1065 01:06:54.079 --> 01:06:58.639 bit, and then was with the BattleHawks in XFL twenty twenty, and then 1066 01:06:58.639 --> 01:07:01.320 this year he was with the Renegades. Obviously a fan favorite, someone I 1067 01:07:01.320 --> 01:07:04.719 got to meet during the XFL season. And you know, for him, 1068 01:07:04.800 --> 01:07:09.079 again, he's an older guy as well. I believe he went undrafted and 1069 01:07:09.079 --> 01:07:12.480 signed with the Raiders in twenty twelve, so you know he's getting up there 1070 01:07:12.480 --> 01:07:14.960 in age, But I mean he was really impressive this season too. You 1071 01:07:14.960 --> 01:07:16.800 know, clearly he's still got the leg and still got the swagger too, 1072 01:07:16.840 --> 01:07:19.239 you know, a bit of an ego, and he's just all around a 1073 01:07:19.280 --> 01:07:21.440 good guy, and I think it would be nice to see him, you 1074 01:07:21.519 --> 01:07:25.400 know, at least get into an NFL camp again. Punter is one of 1075 01:07:25.440 --> 01:07:28.559 those positions where a team is only going to carry one of those, so 1076 01:07:28.639 --> 01:07:30.000 you know, maybe he's one of these guys that kind of sneaks in at 1077 01:07:30.039 --> 01:07:33.480 the end of December or something, you know, if an injury happens. 1078 01:07:33.480 --> 01:07:36.800 But yeah, Marquette King has kind of one kind of one excuse me that 1079 01:07:36.840 --> 01:07:41.119 I wanted to throw in there as well. Now I agree with Marquette obviously. 1080 01:07:41.159 --> 01:07:43.880 I posted a couple of weeks ago, Kyle brand Over on Good Morning 1081 01:07:43.880 --> 01:07:46.639 Football did a segment about that talking and you know, obviously Marquette with his 1082 01:07:46.719 --> 01:07:50.280 big single he has released in coming off of the championship game. Yeah, 1083 01:07:50.400 --> 01:07:54.840 Donald Paine, a friend of the show from this season. I think it's 1084 01:07:54.880 --> 01:07:58.159 an age thing there. Like you said, you're surprised obviously even last year 1085 01:07:58.440 --> 01:08:00.239 with the Gamblers, just a couple of there's just so I don't get yelled 1086 01:08:00.280 --> 01:08:02.599 at here. You know, we had t J. Barnes, we talked 1087 01:08:02.599 --> 01:08:08.960 about Thom's I La, Lily DeVante, buzzby, Josh Hawkins, Joe Pale, 1088 01:08:09.599 --> 01:08:13.440 Taylor, Russolino here coming off of ready to get any other notes or 1089 01:08:13.440 --> 01:08:16.039 comments on any of those players. I mean, again, Russolino was a 1090 01:08:16.079 --> 01:08:19.119 specialist. He impressed me a lot this year. Thought he was one of 1091 01:08:19.119 --> 01:08:23.399 the better kickers in the league behind John Parker Romo, who obviously is now 1092 01:08:23.439 --> 01:08:26.560 signed with the Lions from the Brahmas. But you know, again, kickers, 1093 01:08:26.560 --> 01:08:29.079 another specialist position was they're only going to carry one of those guys, 1094 01:08:29.199 --> 01:08:31.119 right, So Russolino, I remember at the end of twenty twenty played in 1095 01:08:31.119 --> 01:08:33.960 a game for the Broncos and that was one game you know he got signed 1096 01:08:35.079 --> 01:08:39.680 and that was just kind of what it was. So yeah, I got 1097 01:08:39.680 --> 01:08:42.800 like terror Russolino. You know, you might see him come in like at 1098 01:08:42.800 --> 01:08:45.039 the end of a season or something like that, in middle of the season 1099 01:08:45.079 --> 01:08:46.920 as an injury or replacement. But you know, obviously, yes, he 1100 01:08:47.239 --> 01:08:53.359 was impressive. Yeah, RUSI he had that really that was that tough game 1101 01:08:53.399 --> 01:08:56.000 at the Broncos. I remember that it was like the win game and he 1102 01:08:56.039 --> 01:08:58.840 missed on that. We were so exciting for him. I remember because even 1103 01:08:58.880 --> 01:09:02.239 obviously podcasting at that time, like it was great stories to have on at 1104 01:09:02.319 --> 01:09:06.359 least Perez. I don't know, I don't know if I see him making 1105 01:09:06.359 --> 01:09:10.399 the spot here at this point, even having won the championship game. I 1106 01:09:10.399 --> 01:09:12.880 think, Tayamu, we can get on that. Any brief thoughts on the 1107 01:09:12.960 --> 01:09:15.800 last Perez here, what's next for him? Yeah, well, I'm glad 1108 01:09:15.800 --> 01:09:17.720 you brought up Perez again. This was not a guy that was on my 1109 01:09:17.760 --> 01:09:19.840 list, and I feel like, you know, again, he's sort of 1110 01:09:19.840 --> 01:09:25.079 one of these guys where he's not He's definitely not in the twilight of his 1111 01:09:25.159 --> 01:09:27.640 career because we saw what he could do with the Renegades. He definitely had 1112 01:09:27.640 --> 01:09:30.720 an uptick of in performance at the end of this twenty twenty three season, 1113 01:09:30.720 --> 01:09:33.640 and he was very good with the Generals last year in the USFL in twenty 1114 01:09:33.800 --> 01:09:38.800 twenty two. But you know, after even after that, you know, 1115 01:09:38.800 --> 01:09:41.000 he had a season with the Generals last year they lost, you know, 1116 01:09:41.039 --> 01:09:44.399 before they got to the championship. He was brought back to Rams camp. 1117 01:09:44.439 --> 01:09:46.399 You know, obviously he's kind of won over. I think Sean McVay and 1118 01:09:46.399 --> 01:09:49.479 those offensive guys, even though it's been a couple of years since he was 1119 01:09:49.560 --> 01:09:54.279 last there. But with that being said, you know, I feel like 1120 01:09:54.319 --> 01:09:56.880 he's at a point in his career where he might be one of these guys 1121 01:09:56.960 --> 01:09:59.399 where, you know, he just kind of sticks it out in these spring 1122 01:09:59.520 --> 01:10:01.479 leagues. Maybe he just hangs around with the Renegades, tries to you know, 1123 01:10:01.520 --> 01:10:05.239 build things, recruit in the offseason with Bob Stoops and the rest of 1124 01:10:05.279 --> 01:10:10.760 the coaching staff, and of course you know the DPP as well. So 1125 01:10:10.840 --> 01:10:13.560 I think personally, for me, he's a guy I would like to see 1126 01:10:13.560 --> 01:10:15.880 just kind of stay in this spring football realm. I don't know, I 1127 01:10:15.960 --> 01:10:19.279 just don't really see a benefit to him going back to the NFL at this 1128 01:10:19.319 --> 01:10:21.760 point. And that was something that he mentioned in one of the press conferences. 1129 01:10:21.800 --> 01:10:25.239 He said, you know, me being able to do this, you 1130 01:10:25.279 --> 01:10:28.199 know, whether it's the XFL or the USFL, or the AAF or the 1131 01:10:28.199 --> 01:10:30.279 spring league or all these different places that he's been. The one benefit is 1132 01:10:30.279 --> 01:10:33.239 that you actually get tape and you get to play, as opposed to sitting 1133 01:10:33.279 --> 01:10:35.960 on a practice squad or just getting a couple of preseason reps. And I 1134 01:10:35.960 --> 01:10:40.199 think that's kind of his ceiling in the NFL at this point. It's just 1135 01:10:40.239 --> 01:10:43.560 those preseason reps, you know, kind of practice squad guy, you know, 1136 01:10:43.600 --> 01:10:45.760 maybe I don't know. Yeah, just it's someone who would not really 1137 01:10:45.760 --> 01:10:48.800 be active on game of days, is the idea. Yeah, you get 1138 01:10:48.840 --> 01:10:51.600 into that, and I think this is the same missal Canella here where you 1139 01:10:51.600 --> 01:10:55.399 maybe you pop into that a couple of times, maybe you feel a little 1140 01:10:55.439 --> 01:11:00.720 bit more expendable, even if obviously you've had you know they'll able to play 1141 01:11:00.760 --> 01:11:03.000 in all that. The thing with Louis Perez I and we've said this kind 1142 01:11:03.000 --> 01:11:06.239 of like, how does the XFL maintain here coming forward? You have to 1143 01:11:06.239 --> 01:11:10.439 have some of these guys that are just going to be XFL or USFL. 1144 01:11:10.520 --> 01:11:12.840 You know, I either when you got to have these guys that their bodies 1145 01:11:12.840 --> 01:11:15.880 moving forward that you know we're going to be there kind of mainstays. I'm 1146 01:11:15.880 --> 01:11:18.680 moving on to the roughnex Year obviously, a team that you covered thoroughly here 1147 01:11:18.720 --> 01:11:23.560 for new sub you got was it six year? My eyes or are hurting 1148 01:11:23.640 --> 01:11:27.520 me? What do you make of this? And who are you looking for 1149 01:11:27.520 --> 01:11:30.000 from the Roughnecks? Yeah? I believe I have five on that list, 1150 01:11:30.039 --> 01:11:33.039 but I will say, because I was there in all the home games this 1151 01:11:33.039 --> 01:11:35.800 season, I would have probably put ten or fifteen because I love all those 1152 01:11:35.800 --> 01:11:39.720 guys. And again this is where maybe a bit of my bias comes in. 1153 01:11:39.840 --> 01:11:42.680 But regardless, this team still didn't have talent one way or another, 1154 01:11:42.800 --> 01:11:45.000 you know, whether I'm biased or not. The guy really I wanted to 1155 01:11:45.039 --> 01:11:48.119 point out here out of these five is the first name, Max Borgi, 1156 01:11:48.239 --> 01:11:53.640 running back from Washington State. You know, of course he was playing in 1157 01:11:53.680 --> 01:11:57.119 a past first offense with A J. Smith, so didn't have a ton 1158 01:11:57.159 --> 01:12:00.560 of yards and didn't he I think you only averaged three point nine yards per 1159 01:12:00.640 --> 01:12:03.199 carry over the course of the season, which isn't exactly elite, But if 1160 01:12:03.199 --> 01:12:06.319 you watched him during the season, you know, I'd like to say numbers 1161 01:12:06.359 --> 01:12:10.199 don't lie, but they also don't tell the full story. And he's one 1162 01:12:10.239 --> 01:12:14.079 of these players that I think falls into this category because you know, he 1163 01:12:14.199 --> 01:12:16.119 might have not had all the yards or all the you know, high averages 1164 01:12:16.199 --> 01:12:19.479 or whatever, but he was you know, his runs were just so shifty, 1165 01:12:19.520 --> 01:12:23.600 and especially his ability to run after the catch, you know, coming 1166 01:12:23.600 --> 01:12:26.279 out of the backfield. He was a great fit for that offense. And 1167 01:12:26.319 --> 01:12:29.680 I really hope, you know, he was with three NFL teams last year 1168 01:12:29.720 --> 01:12:32.560 in twenty twenty two after going undrafted, so he definitely didn't have time to 1169 01:12:32.600 --> 01:12:35.600 really sit down and learn a playbook. He was bouncing around so much. 1170 01:12:36.199 --> 01:12:39.640 So I really hope that he can at least get into a camp and get 1171 01:12:39.680 --> 01:12:42.800 some preseason reps and just stay with one team most importantly, you know, 1172 01:12:42.840 --> 01:12:45.960 whether he latches onto an active roster or you know, which would be obviously 1173 01:12:46.000 --> 01:12:48.159 the best thing, or even you know, just makes a practice squad or 1174 01:12:48.159 --> 01:12:51.760 whatever. You know, I would hope that it's kind of just more consistent 1175 01:12:51.800 --> 01:12:56.119 than when he was last in the NFL. So what's going on with John 1176 01:12:57.279 --> 01:13:00.960 Trey? My mouth isn't working this John here? What's going on with him? 1177 01:13:00.960 --> 01:13:02.880 And obviously coming off of you know, the injuries and everything else, 1178 01:13:03.000 --> 01:13:06.840 or what's he looking at? Yeah, So John Trey Kirkland was obviously invited 1179 01:13:06.880 --> 01:13:11.439 to Giants mini camp, as I had you pointed out reported whatever, but 1180 01:13:11.479 --> 01:13:15.159 I said specifically, he is not at a point yet where he is recovered 1181 01:13:15.199 --> 01:13:18.399 to actually participate in Giants camp. So from what I understood from people on 1182 01:13:18.439 --> 01:13:23.039 the inside was that you know, he was going to Giants camp just to 1183 01:13:23.039 --> 01:13:25.359 meet with the coaches kind of talk things over. It was more of an 1184 01:13:25.359 --> 01:13:29.439 interview, right, something you do during the pre draft process. Perhaps, 1185 01:13:29.920 --> 01:13:32.520 so he went in for the interview and it was assumed that he was going 1186 01:13:32.560 --> 01:13:35.199 to be signed. As of now, he is yet to be signed. 1187 01:13:35.199 --> 01:13:38.520 And again, I'm sure the injury probably has something to do with that. 1188 01:13:39.000 --> 01:13:42.039 You know, even I am still sort of unclear on the severity. I've 1189 01:13:42.039 --> 01:13:44.920 talked to John Trey on several occasions, and again a couple other people that 1190 01:13:44.920 --> 01:13:47.720 would know maybe more about that than I do. But the bottom line is 1191 01:13:47.720 --> 01:13:50.119 it's going to take him some time, you know, and it might it 1192 01:13:50.199 --> 01:13:53.800 might be one of these things that lingers into the summer, which is a 1193 01:13:53.840 --> 01:13:57.079 real shame. You know. I really hope that he will sign or letch 1194 01:13:57.159 --> 01:14:00.000 onto a practice squad at some point, but you know, whether he's actually 1195 01:14:00.039 --> 01:14:02.239 be able to kind of fully participate in a training camp or you know, 1196 01:14:02.279 --> 01:14:05.359 he might even miss time into the preseason, I'm not quite sure. So 1197 01:14:05.399 --> 01:14:10.119 that definitely kind of, you know, hinders his stock. I guess you 1198 01:14:10.119 --> 01:14:12.439 would say, well, it's good, I mean people because people wanted to 1199 01:14:12.439 --> 01:14:15.079 know, and obviously he was one of the standouts from the Roughnecks and then 1200 01:14:15.119 --> 01:14:17.560 going down and whether the guys that people have been tragging down there. You 1201 01:14:17.600 --> 01:14:21.560 also have Tim Warre trying to Harris and Alex Millett, any any other notes 1202 01:14:21.600 --> 01:14:26.199 on them. Um, yeah, so you know Tim Moore was obviously a 1203 01:14:26.199 --> 01:14:29.159 guy that got banged up in the second half of the season, but um, 1204 01:14:29.199 --> 01:14:30.520 you know him and him and Trent Harris were kind of that you know 1205 01:14:30.840 --> 01:14:33.159 batman, Robin duo, whatever you want to call it. You know, 1206 01:14:33.199 --> 01:14:35.159 one two punch, you know, coming off the edge. I mean that 1207 01:14:35.239 --> 01:14:40.239 defensive law and was just ridiculous. And the two Roughnecks players that have signed 1208 01:14:40.399 --> 01:14:43.319 to the NFL, CJ Brewer and Jack Heflin. Both of those guys are 1209 01:14:43.359 --> 01:14:45.000 defensive linemen. So that should tell you a lot about, you know, 1210 01:14:45.079 --> 01:14:48.760 the strong point of this team, especially them being coached by Bill Johnson, 1211 01:14:48.760 --> 01:14:55.079 who won a national championship at LSU in twenty nineteen. But anyway, yeah, 1212 01:14:55.159 --> 01:14:58.079 Trent Harris was a guy I'm really surprised, you know that he hasn't 1213 01:14:58.079 --> 01:15:00.000 been signed. I think he's twenty seven or twenty eight now, but we 1214 01:15:00.039 --> 01:15:03.760 all know the phenomenal season he had and you know he was definitely a candidate 1215 01:15:03.800 --> 01:15:08.479 for Defensive Player of the Year. But you know, he went to Broncos 1216 01:15:08.479 --> 01:15:12.479 mini camp and you know, he was there with other XFL guys Jockispatrick, 1217 01:15:12.600 --> 01:15:15.680 Bendanucci, you name it. But unfortunately he has yet to sign a contract 1218 01:15:15.680 --> 01:15:19.279 with them, so we'll see what happens. Again. I think he has 1219 01:15:19.319 --> 01:15:23.560 to latch on somewhere at some point. Again, this is one of those 1220 01:15:23.600 --> 01:15:26.680 things where the rosters fill up, you kind of have to wait for a 1221 01:15:26.720 --> 01:15:29.279 guy to you know, get cut or get injured, or whatever the case 1222 01:15:29.359 --> 01:15:31.159 may be, for you know him to be able to come in and make 1223 01:15:31.199 --> 01:15:33.600 an impact there. And then the last guy I think I had was Alex 1224 01:15:33.680 --> 01:15:38.680 Millett who was invited to Seahawks mini camp and he was an incredibly good center. 1225 01:15:38.840 --> 01:15:41.880 Not the only center that I have on this list. I definitely tried 1226 01:15:41.880 --> 01:15:44.840 to include a couple of offensive linemen and a lot of them ended up being 1227 01:15:44.840 --> 01:15:47.880 centers because there were a lot of top end centers in this league. Center 1228 01:15:47.960 --> 01:15:51.000 talent, I guess you'd say, and that is different than you know, 1229 01:15:51.119 --> 01:15:57.079 tackle and guard and someone who you know analyzes football at different levels a lot. 1230 01:15:57.079 --> 01:16:00.279 You know, we can't just I think there's a common misconception where we 1231 01:16:00.359 --> 01:16:02.640 just group all offensive linemen together, but there really is a difference, you 1232 01:16:02.680 --> 01:16:05.760 know between again center, guard, tackle, and then even the sides of 1233 01:16:05.760 --> 01:16:10.479 the line. I won't get too specific here obviously for time reasons, but 1234 01:16:10.520 --> 01:16:14.520 Alex Mullett was an extremely good center this season, one of the best offensive 1235 01:16:14.560 --> 01:16:16.399 linemen in general. Again I just said, don't group all those guys together, 1236 01:16:16.760 --> 01:16:19.640 but he was really one of the best offensive lineman on that team as 1237 01:16:19.640 --> 01:16:23.840 a whole. You know, never missed the snap and he had really high 1238 01:16:23.880 --> 01:16:27.960 PFF grades from my understanding. Again, all around, just a good player. 1239 01:16:28.239 --> 01:16:30.720 I would hope that he was I think with the Colts last year, 1240 01:16:30.800 --> 01:16:34.199 but he didn't end up getting signed. I think he was a final cut 1241 01:16:34.239 --> 01:16:38.159 there, so I hope he gets back. Well, i'mlike R. J. 1242 01:16:38.319 --> 01:16:42.159 Young, we do like our offensive linemen and lineen here on the market. 1243 01:16:42.319 --> 01:16:45.720 So what was that when he had this Like all USFL players who whatever, 1244 01:16:45.720 --> 01:16:48.000 he had no offensive linemen on there though, So we have your guardians 1245 01:16:48.000 --> 01:16:51.439 a couple guys, maybe not as surprising, just with some of the roster 1246 01:16:51.560 --> 01:16:56.359 building that maybe the Guardians would have it. Maybe just if you lest it 1247 01:16:56.359 --> 01:16:59.560 would stand out who do you have here? Yeah, so I have two 1248 01:16:59.600 --> 01:17:02.319 players on this list. Although I only have two players, there's a third 1249 01:17:02.319 --> 01:17:04.720 player I'd like to give a shout out to, and that's Cody Lattimer, 1250 01:17:04.800 --> 01:17:09.840 the tight end who, alongside Salconella, was probably the best tight end in 1251 01:17:09.880 --> 01:17:14.880 the XFL. You know, he's thirty now, so again with the NFL 1252 01:17:15.000 --> 01:17:18.039 kind of favoring age the way they do, I really don't think he's going 1253 01:17:18.079 --> 01:17:21.520 to come back, whether this was the last time that he played football or 1254 01:17:21.520 --> 01:17:24.960 he comes back to the XFL. Last year. He hinted at that kind 1255 01:17:25.000 --> 01:17:28.399 of in a post I think at some point. But yeah, Cody Lattimer 1256 01:17:28.479 --> 01:17:31.640 was an extremely good player's second round pick in twenty fourteen. I believe he 1257 01:17:31.680 --> 01:17:34.760 was with the Broncos again. You know, it was good to see him 1258 01:17:34.760 --> 01:17:39.079 because you know, this was his first time playing really since twenty nineteen. 1259 01:17:39.119 --> 01:17:43.439 I believe he was with the Commanders in the twenty twenty off season, but 1260 01:17:43.439 --> 01:17:45.640 obviously there was no preseason and then he got cut and then this is kind 1261 01:17:45.640 --> 01:17:48.720 of the first chance he's had to play in a while. So special shout 1262 01:17:48.720 --> 01:17:53.279 out to him. He's a great player obviously on Max's list there, but 1263 01:17:53.359 --> 01:17:55.760 I just think again, this is where age kind of plays a role, 1264 01:17:55.800 --> 01:17:58.880 and it would be a real stretch to bring him, you know, into 1265 01:17:58.880 --> 01:18:03.560 a camp give and all the other tight end talent is just younger. And 1266 01:18:03.560 --> 01:18:08.199 then you also have here in Jamma Martin and Macbrown here at Plant Roleness. 1267 01:18:08.560 --> 01:18:13.000 Yeah, so Jamaine Martin again, I kind of thought he was going to 1268 01:18:13.079 --> 01:18:15.039 be the guy. Devin Darrington kind of ended up, you know, being 1269 01:18:15.279 --> 01:18:20.119 I guess the main ball carrier there, and then he went to Commander's camp 1270 01:18:20.119 --> 01:18:25.239 as well, you know, but Jamaine Martin was a guy was really excited 1271 01:18:25.279 --> 01:18:29.239 about during the pre draft process. I think it was last year coming out 1272 01:18:29.279 --> 01:18:31.640 from North Carolina, Ant. You know, HBCUs school we're trying to build 1273 01:18:31.720 --> 01:18:36.840 up, so it's more HBCU representation. The XFL alone has done a great 1274 01:18:36.880 --> 01:18:43.039 job of that, you know, with their HBCUs HBCU excuse B showcases. 1275 01:18:43.479 --> 01:18:45.760 Last year they had one at Jackson State obviously when Dion Sanders was there. 1276 01:18:46.199 --> 01:18:49.199 This year they're doing it at Clark Atlanta University in Georgia, which is a 1277 01:18:49.239 --> 01:18:54.800 Division two program. But yeah, you know, Jamine Martin again didn't exactly 1278 01:18:54.880 --> 01:18:57.960 flash a ton this year, but I feel like you know, he still 1279 01:18:58.000 --> 01:19:00.159 has enough to where he could maybe get another look. And then mac Brown 1280 01:19:00.239 --> 01:19:04.119 again another punter m from Ole Miss. You know mac Brown obviously, I 1281 01:19:04.159 --> 01:19:08.680 think kind of got some u clout this year, you would say, for 1282 01:19:08.840 --> 01:19:11.880 you know, his little trick plays and touchdowns and big passes and that was 1283 01:19:11.920 --> 01:19:14.399 all that was really fun at the end of the season. There, you 1284 01:19:14.439 --> 01:19:16.680 know, Trell Buckley trying to shake things up for the Guardians, get something 1285 01:19:16.760 --> 01:19:20.560 going, get something exciting, and mac Brown really brought that um again. 1286 01:19:20.920 --> 01:19:24.800 You know, punter. We've talked about it before and I'll say it again 1287 01:19:24.920 --> 01:19:28.119 just to you know, really bring the point home. That's one of those 1288 01:19:28.119 --> 01:19:30.000 positions where you know they're only a team is only going to have one. 1289 01:19:30.039 --> 01:19:32.880 It's not like receiver where they carry you know, maybe six on the active 1290 01:19:32.960 --> 01:19:35.680 roster, five and then a couple more on the practice one. You know, 1291 01:19:35.760 --> 01:19:39.199 you kind of have to be that guy. So I don't know if 1292 01:19:39.239 --> 01:19:43.760 mac Brown was necessarily like the best punter in the XFL. But again, 1293 01:19:43.920 --> 01:19:45.640 it's kind of like Mark hit King, just one of those fun stories where 1294 01:19:45.800 --> 01:19:48.199 it would be nice to just see him, you know, come in for 1295 01:19:48.600 --> 01:19:53.079 maybe a game or two at some point and you know, just show what 1296 01:19:53.119 --> 01:19:56.399 he has. Yeah, that was because some of the highlights are in the 1297 01:19:56.399 --> 01:20:00.239 Guardians season. Moving on the Brown here you have you have Calvin turn and 1298 01:20:00.319 --> 01:20:02.880 Delonte Scott. What stands out about them? And I'll flip over here to 1299 01:20:02.960 --> 01:20:06.079 the other list as well we can see. Yeah, so Calvin Turner heading 1300 01:20:06.079 --> 01:20:11.359 into this season was one of the most exciting players you know, that I 1301 01:20:11.439 --> 01:20:15.600 had personally. It's unfortunately because he didn't really end up playing this season. 1302 01:20:15.640 --> 01:20:17.640 I think he might have been active for he might have been around for a 1303 01:20:17.640 --> 01:20:20.159 game or two, but he spent most of the season on the reserve list. 1304 01:20:20.199 --> 01:20:25.279 And you know, obviously I think personally I think that had he played, 1305 01:20:25.399 --> 01:20:29.079 he would have made a big difference in that Brahma's offense, which continuously 1306 01:20:29.119 --> 01:20:32.680 struggled really regardless of the quarterback throughout the season. But yeah, Calvin Turner, 1307 01:20:32.800 --> 01:20:35.560 you know, a really great talent, kind of a hybrid player running 1308 01:20:35.560 --> 01:20:42.079 back slash wide receiver. I think he projected more wide receiver in the XFL, 1309 01:20:42.239 --> 01:20:45.680 especially with the Brahms running back room there with Jock was Patrick and Klin 1310 01:20:45.720 --> 01:20:49.960 Balage. But you know, he had also taken snaps at quarterback in college 1311 01:20:49.960 --> 01:20:55.159 at one point I think at Jacksonville before he came over to Hawaii. And 1312 01:20:55.279 --> 01:20:58.159 then again, he's just a really electric talent and I hope he's one of 1313 01:20:58.199 --> 01:21:00.359 these guys again. You know, maybe he gets another shot in the NFL. 1314 01:21:00.479 --> 01:21:03.000 But I would be really excited if he came back to the Brahmas in 1315 01:21:03.039 --> 01:21:08.239 twenty twenty four and kind of really you know, showed why you know he 1316 01:21:08.399 --> 01:21:11.560 still is there because like again, he didn't have that chance this year. 1317 01:21:11.600 --> 01:21:14.800 He was injured and that was really, to be honest, it was almost 1318 01:21:14.840 --> 01:21:17.319 devastating to me again just because you know, he was like, honestly a 1319 01:21:17.399 --> 01:21:21.199 top five player for me going into this XFL season. Maybe that's a bit 1320 01:21:21.319 --> 01:21:24.840 high, you know, I can debate that with people whatever, but again 1321 01:21:24.920 --> 01:21:28.319 that's just my personal opinion. And then Delante Scott, you know, defensive 1322 01:21:28.399 --> 01:21:30.640 end, outside linebacker, edge rusher from SMU, you know, kind of 1323 01:21:30.680 --> 01:21:34.039 wherever we want to put that. Again, he was phenomenal to watch all 1324 01:21:34.079 --> 01:21:38.960 season. I think his kind of production in twenty twenty three speaks for itself. 1325 01:21:39.039 --> 01:21:41.920 So I'm not going to talk about that for too long, but yeah, 1326 01:21:42.239 --> 01:21:45.039 him, Calvin Turner and Delante Scott were my two guys and then Max 1327 01:21:45.119 --> 01:21:49.319 as Drew Beasley there as well, who was definitely a good player coming here. 1328 01:21:49.359 --> 01:21:51.800 With the defenders, I shouldn't surprise here, you know, some of 1329 01:21:51.840 --> 01:21:57.520 the highest number coming from really winning the standout teams and organizations in the XFL. 1330 01:21:57.880 --> 01:21:59.720 Who are the couple that you wanted to touch on here? From the 1331 01:21:59.760 --> 01:22:02.720 defend there's obviously Tamu and Derek King and everyone else. Yeah, so well, 1332 01:22:02.760 --> 01:22:04.640 this is where it gets a bit interesting, at least for me, 1333 01:22:05.279 --> 01:22:09.960 because here I have two quarterbacks. We haven't talked about quarterbacks yet. Obviously, 1334 01:22:10.079 --> 01:22:12.880 you know, the league goes beyond quarterbacks. I shouldn't have to say 1335 01:22:12.920 --> 01:22:15.399 that, and I mean I myself have been guilty of talking about quarterbacks for 1336 01:22:15.479 --> 01:22:18.760 too long. But with the defenders, I think both of their guys honestly 1337 01:22:19.399 --> 01:22:24.359 deserve chances, especially team you know, we had a debate, I think 1338 01:22:24.720 --> 01:22:28.079 kind of throughout the season, especially with talmu slow start and their reliance on 1339 01:22:28.119 --> 01:22:30.880 the ground game in DC, you know, whether or not this was kind 1340 01:22:30.920 --> 01:22:33.680 of like his last gasp. But then again, second half of the season 1341 01:22:33.960 --> 01:22:38.840 there was a huge uptick in production and for me, that was enough to 1342 01:22:38.960 --> 01:22:42.800 at least warrant him another chance. In camp again similar situation here, do 1343 01:22:42.920 --> 01:22:45.960 I think Louis Perez where Tamu has been in a lot of these spring leagues, 1344 01:22:45.000 --> 01:22:46.760 and he might just want to settle down and be like, you know 1345 01:22:46.840 --> 01:22:50.760 what, like you know, me moving to another state to just go for 1346 01:22:50.800 --> 01:22:54.640 a couple months or maybe sit on the practice squad isn't really worth it. 1347 01:22:54.680 --> 01:22:59.199 I'd rather just again stay here, kind of build the team throughout the offseason 1348 01:22:59.239 --> 01:23:01.560 with the coaches, build a program, whatever you want to call it. 1349 01:23:02.319 --> 01:23:05.039 So I think, you know, but he's still in my opinion, you 1350 01:23:05.079 --> 01:23:06.840 know, whether he wants to do that or not isn't up to me. 1351 01:23:08.000 --> 01:23:10.920 But I think it would have hurt for him to just you know, get 1352 01:23:10.920 --> 01:23:14.159 a couple more preseason reps, you know, and then come back in twenty 1353 01:23:14.319 --> 01:23:17.720 twenty four. And then the other guy had too was the other quarterback, 1354 01:23:17.800 --> 01:23:21.840 Derrett King, one of my again personal favorite players who split his time in 1355 01:23:21.920 --> 01:23:27.720 college between Houston and Miami. You know, he worked out with the Patriots. 1356 01:23:27.720 --> 01:23:31.399 I think at wide receiver last year after going undrafted didn't really work out. 1357 01:23:32.199 --> 01:23:36.119 You know, I still think he has a slim chance of playing quarterback 1358 01:23:36.159 --> 01:23:39.800 in the NFL. I mean, he might have to still take reps in 1359 01:23:39.880 --> 01:23:42.640 other positions if he really wants to last, like through a training camp. 1360 01:23:43.159 --> 01:23:45.920 And that's nothing against him. Again, it's just one of these things where 1361 01:23:45.119 --> 01:23:48.000 you know, the NFL favors. Again we talked about age, but like 1362 01:23:48.119 --> 01:23:51.279 size, you know, Derrek King's a very a small guy and you could 1363 01:23:51.319 --> 01:23:55.600 see that, and of course that works out in college better, but once 1364 01:23:55.640 --> 01:23:58.000 you get to the pros, you know, you kind of have to fill 1365 01:23:58.079 --> 01:24:00.279 in a more knee role because like Derek played this season in DC, but 1366 01:24:00.319 --> 01:24:03.800 he wasn't necessarily the starter. And then it was very odd when they didn't 1367 01:24:03.840 --> 01:24:06.039 play him in the championship game at all. A lot of people thought that 1368 01:24:06.119 --> 01:24:09.960 was strange. Um, but yeah, he was another guy. And then, 1369 01:24:10.159 --> 01:24:13.279 um, I think I had a couple offensive lineman on there too. 1370 01:24:14.000 --> 01:24:15.920 Yeah, Liam Fournadell, who I believe was on the All XFL team, 1371 01:24:16.000 --> 01:24:19.840 from James Madison, Mike my Eddie, another center from Missouri who you know 1372 01:24:19.960 --> 01:24:23.720 might have been for me, the most impressive offensive lineman on that team. 1373 01:24:24.039 --> 01:24:27.239 And then the last two guys. I mean, Abram Smith speaks for itself. 1374 01:24:27.319 --> 01:24:31.039 He was the first overall pick in the XFL draft and I guess that 1375 01:24:31.119 --> 01:24:36.319 was November now, which that's crazy to think about. It does, man, 1376 01:24:36.399 --> 01:24:40.039 it really does. But yeah, Abram Smith again, you know XFL 1377 01:24:40.159 --> 01:24:43.800 leading rusher. You know that was a home run pick by Von Hutchins and 1378 01:24:43.880 --> 01:24:45.199 crew. I won't go on about that for too long. And the same 1379 01:24:45.239 --> 01:24:48.680 with Francis Bernard. He was a guy who went undrafted with the Cowboys, 1380 01:24:48.760 --> 01:24:53.319 spent two seasons with them, I think between twenty twenty and twenty twenty one, 1381 01:24:53.479 --> 01:24:55.199 played in a couple of games. You know, he's got a couple 1382 01:24:55.199 --> 01:24:58.760 of career NFL regular season tackles to his name. Um, but he was 1383 01:24:58.800 --> 01:25:00.640 a guy who really trust me again this year or two, and I think 1384 01:25:00.960 --> 01:25:03.760 he deserves the shot to go back and at least, you know, stay 1385 01:25:03.800 --> 01:25:06.920 on a practice squad for another year. Yeah we're talking, I mean, 1386 01:25:08.079 --> 01:25:11.000 at least right now. Some of these guys like you know, Tiamu or 1387 01:25:11.319 --> 01:25:14.760 Perez to these guys bouncing back and forth at least with the hub model kind 1388 01:25:14.760 --> 01:25:18.039 of the same we've seen with mccabel Thomson with the usbelt. Like maybe it 1389 01:25:18.159 --> 01:25:21.079 isn't the worst thing. Like you know, you moved to Texas, it's 1390 01:25:21.159 --> 01:25:25.039 not as expensive to live. You don't have to live in Seattle or any 1391 01:25:25.079 --> 01:25:28.720 of these more expensive cities. You could have your family there kind of training 1392 01:25:28.800 --> 01:25:30.199 and maybe coach in the off season. I don't know. It's something to 1393 01:25:30.239 --> 01:25:34.199 think about where the hub model, although not ideal for like everything, it 1394 01:25:34.319 --> 01:25:39.000 does allow some some more simplicity when it comes to like well, you know, 1395 01:25:39.079 --> 01:25:42.279 we could kind of position everyone there and work through that. Ce Dragons 1396 01:25:42.319 --> 01:25:45.159 here, Jakor Pierson obviously people know that name. What do you make of 1397 01:25:45.279 --> 01:25:49.119 him and the others stand out? See Dragons players. Yeah, so Jakor 1398 01:25:49.239 --> 01:25:53.439 Pierson, I mean again, you know, he was phenomenal this season. 1399 01:25:53.479 --> 01:25:56.760 I think a lot of people who weren't kind of you know, in tune 1400 01:25:56.800 --> 01:25:59.760 with the XFL would probably assume Josh Gordon would have been, you know, 1401 01:25:59.800 --> 01:26:02.720 the receiver on that team, just given his pedigree. But Jakor Pearson, 1402 01:26:02.920 --> 01:26:05.279 you know, I think was really a step ahead of him. That's nothing 1403 01:26:05.279 --> 01:26:09.119 against Josh Gordon, but just to kind of, you know, prove a 1404 01:26:09.199 --> 01:26:12.840 point, like sometimes just because you have a big name doesn't mean you know 1405 01:26:12.880 --> 01:26:15.439 you're going to be the best player even at your position on your own team 1406 01:26:15.479 --> 01:26:17.399 in a league like this. Because Jakor Pearson, again one of these smaller 1407 01:26:17.439 --> 01:26:20.760 guys, but he really emerged, you know, split his time in college 1408 01:26:20.800 --> 01:26:24.760 between I think well Ole Miss for one. I think the other school is 1409 01:26:24.800 --> 01:26:28.239 Western Kentucky. But he's gotten looks now from both the forty nine ers and 1410 01:26:28.279 --> 01:26:30.039 the Seahawks, and I would expect him to be signed soon. I can't 1411 01:26:30.359 --> 01:26:33.199 imagine, you know, a world where he at least doesn't you know, 1412 01:26:33.279 --> 01:26:36.760 get into a training camp because he really I mean, he was just so 1413 01:26:38.039 --> 01:26:41.039 flashy the season and again he really proved I mean, you know, he's 1414 01:26:41.119 --> 01:26:44.520 five foot seven playing outside receiver. You don't see that very often. Again, 1415 01:26:44.560 --> 01:26:45.920 that's one of those things where you might see it in college, but 1416 01:26:46.039 --> 01:26:49.960 translating it to the pros typically that's not going to work out. But for 1417 01:26:50.119 --> 01:26:53.479 him, you know, if he finds himself in the right offense, Like 1418 01:26:53.520 --> 01:26:55.800 again, I thought he would be a great fit in San Francisco, and 1419 01:26:55.840 --> 01:26:58.840 they've already worked him out and you know, seeing some of his practice tape 1420 01:26:58.880 --> 01:27:01.079 from the Niners camp, it looked really good. I think Shanahan must have 1421 01:27:01.119 --> 01:27:03.720 been really impressed with him. So we'll see what happens again. You know, 1422 01:27:03.840 --> 01:27:06.760 he's with UM. You know, he got invited to work out with 1423 01:27:06.800 --> 01:27:10.640 the Seahawks as well, and you know, obviously that would be kind of 1424 01:27:10.680 --> 01:27:15.239 cool just having a Sea Dragons Seahawks connection. I think especially you Reid would 1425 01:27:15.239 --> 01:27:18.560 appreciate that. But then the other guy had was Antoine Brooks, the safety 1426 01:27:18.640 --> 01:27:21.720 for Maryland. He was kind of all around this year. I think he 1427 01:27:21.800 --> 01:27:26.079 was the guy that had that you know, ridiculous interception against DC where it 1428 01:27:26.199 --> 01:27:28.399 kind of you know, he kind of came down with it, it was 1429 01:27:28.560 --> 01:27:30.680 tipped or whatever. I'd have to go back and look at that. You 1430 01:27:30.760 --> 01:27:33.319 know, there's so many players who have to talk about you know, my 1431 01:27:33.439 --> 01:27:38.079 memory kind of gets a bit foggy. But yeah, regardless, Antoine Brooks 1432 01:27:38.199 --> 01:27:41.319 was definitely impressive this year and one of these guys that I believe he might 1433 01:27:41.399 --> 01:27:43.920 have been a draft pick in the NFL. I would have to go back 1434 01:27:44.000 --> 01:27:45.439 and you know fact check that. But um, you know came out of 1435 01:27:45.479 --> 01:27:49.079 Maryland. I'm surprised he wasn't on the Roughnecks actually, because you know, 1436 01:27:49.159 --> 01:27:54.439 our defensive coordinator Brian Stewart came from Maryland. We had a plenty of Maryland 1437 01:27:54.479 --> 01:27:58.560 guys, including Sean Davis who used to play safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers. 1438 01:27:58.640 --> 01:28:01.039 But that's kind of a just a you know, side note, but yeah, 1439 01:28:01.159 --> 01:28:03.560 those were the two guys who wanted to highlight from the street Dragons. 1440 01:28:03.640 --> 01:28:06.520 There would definitely be more, but honestly, you know, six of their 1441 01:28:06.560 --> 01:28:09.720 players have already sought with the NFL, so I kind of, you know, 1442 01:28:09.840 --> 01:28:12.840 had to be. I was looking at the roster and I was like, 1443 01:28:12.960 --> 01:28:14.600 geez, you know, like a lot of the names I want to 1444 01:28:14.600 --> 01:28:17.439 talk about are already gone. They've already signed you know, wherever, including 1445 01:28:17.520 --> 01:28:20.399 d Nuchi. So well that's the thing. And you talk about, you 1446 01:28:20.479 --> 01:28:24.720 know, Jakurb Pierson versus Josh Gordon, it is interesting that you know, 1447 01:28:24.880 --> 01:28:27.760 Josh hasn't at least for my knowledge, gone a lot of looks following the 1448 01:28:27.840 --> 01:28:30.199 season, right, and obviously Philip Lindsay coming in as well as kind of 1449 01:28:30.279 --> 01:28:33.159 that veteran. Hey, we're gonna try to get over the hump here, 1450 01:28:33.279 --> 01:28:38.319 like you know, I know, at some point it's a lot of DOMINISI 1451 01:28:38.359 --> 01:28:41.000 he returns with some of these older guys going back to the league and trying 1452 01:28:41.000 --> 01:28:44.479 to kind of rebuild their stock. In terms of we got two more teams 1453 01:28:44.520 --> 01:28:46.840 here in terms of the ballot Hawks who no surprise long list here who stands 1454 01:28:46.840 --> 01:28:51.319 out. Um yeah, so I'll just kind of go down the list accordingly. 1455 01:28:51.399 --> 01:28:54.600 Here. I think I've got five names for this one too, and 1456 01:28:54.680 --> 01:28:58.159 then five names for the Vipers. So we're getting into some longer lists now. 1457 01:28:58.520 --> 01:29:00.199 But the first guys, Mateo, do you know kind of filled a 1458 01:29:00.279 --> 01:29:04.479 secondary role behind Brian Hill, but did have a couple you know, key 1459 01:29:04.600 --> 01:29:08.199 moments when Brian Hill was injured, you know, stepped up and he was 1460 01:29:08.279 --> 01:29:11.520 invited to New York Jets minicamp, I believe, and um, you know, 1461 01:29:11.560 --> 01:29:14.800 our colleague Pat Rifino wrote an article about that. Um. Yeah. 1462 01:29:14.840 --> 01:29:17.399 The two guys here that I really want to focus on or the receivers Austin 1463 01:29:17.479 --> 01:29:21.840 Prole or Darius Shepherd. Prole obviously was a guy who was in XFL twenty 1464 01:29:21.920 --> 01:29:26.159 twenty. He's bounced around a bit, you know, doing this and that, 1465 01:29:26.319 --> 01:29:28.479 and you know, got to play for his dad this year in the 1466 01:29:28.640 --> 01:29:31.039 XFL. You know, his dad was coaching receivers coach there in Saint Louis, 1467 01:29:31.079 --> 01:29:34.720 which was awesome, especially because his dad played for the Rams too and 1468 01:29:34.760 --> 01:29:38.760 they won that Super Bowl. And there was that picture of him, you 1469 01:29:38.840 --> 01:29:42.000 know as a baby with his uh maybe not a baby, but a toddler 1470 01:29:42.039 --> 01:29:44.079 and you know his dad was on the field and they won the Super Bowl 1471 01:29:44.119 --> 01:29:46.199 and what a full circle moment that was. Um. And then Darius Shepherd 1472 01:29:46.239 --> 01:29:50.560 obviously, you know again just electric this year All XFL performer, especially in 1473 01:29:50.600 --> 01:29:54.439 the return department. And you know, it's so key if you want to 1474 01:29:54.479 --> 01:29:57.199 move up to the NFL to be able to play special teams. Um, 1475 01:29:57.359 --> 01:30:00.319 you know, all these guys that are trying to make a fifty three or 1476 01:30:00.319 --> 01:30:02.600 even to practice squad, you know, it's so important to have not just 1477 01:30:03.159 --> 01:30:05.800 special teams experience, but to be willing to play it again, you know 1478 01:30:05.840 --> 01:30:10.199 what I mean. And Shephard kind of showed like not only can he you 1479 01:30:10.239 --> 01:30:12.439 know, be a weapon on offense, but you know he can be a 1480 01:30:12.479 --> 01:30:15.039 weapon in the return department on special teams. Again, that's a huge deal 1481 01:30:15.119 --> 01:30:18.760 when it comes to guys you know, signing from spring leagues to the NFL 1482 01:30:18.800 --> 01:30:21.479 and even out of college too. You know, these guys that go undrafted 1483 01:30:21.600 --> 01:30:26.000 or you know, maybe your late seventh round picks or whatever. And then 1484 01:30:26.079 --> 01:30:29.920 yeah, the last two guys I had on their Lavert Hill from Michigan believe 1485 01:30:29.960 --> 01:30:32.760 he was an All XFL performer too. And then Mike Panna shook the offensive 1486 01:30:33.840 --> 01:30:38.119 center. I guess, just center from Michigan State. You know, I 1487 01:30:38.239 --> 01:30:41.600 believe he played defensive line in college. And you know, he got to 1488 01:30:41.640 --> 01:30:45.199 play against his brother the XFL, which was really cool. But again another 1489 01:30:45.279 --> 01:30:47.600 center that really stood out. And I know he might be a bit older 1490 01:30:47.720 --> 01:30:50.680 now, but I hope that he too can again just find his way into 1491 01:30:50.720 --> 01:30:54.840 a camp. At least it's for all these guys. And I will say 1492 01:30:54.920 --> 01:30:58.119 this before we move on to our last team, which is Vegas. You 1493 01:30:58.199 --> 01:31:00.800 know, a lot of these guys that's going to be difficult to just make 1494 01:31:00.840 --> 01:31:02.439 the active roster right out of camp. You can't deny that. That's hard 1495 01:31:02.479 --> 01:31:05.039 for anybody. You know, it's fighting for a spot. But as long 1496 01:31:05.079 --> 01:31:09.439 as these guys can just get signed, you know, get some reps, 1497 01:31:09.640 --> 01:31:12.399 you know, get into camp, get into preseason, you know, maybe 1498 01:31:12.479 --> 01:31:15.720 stay on the practice squad for the course of twenty twenty three, and then 1499 01:31:15.840 --> 01:31:17.199 you know, whether or not they come back to the XFL, that'll be 1500 01:31:17.319 --> 01:31:19.319 up to them, you know, or if they kind of just hang around 1501 01:31:19.359 --> 01:31:23.079 in the NFL like that's not up to me. But I just hope that, 1502 01:31:23.439 --> 01:31:26.880 you know, the point here is not to say, all these guys 1503 01:31:26.920 --> 01:31:30.520 are going to be on NFL active rosters, and you know that's just an 1504 01:31:30.039 --> 01:31:34.159 unrealistic assumption. But yeah, I mean the bottom line is, again, 1505 01:31:34.319 --> 01:31:38.600 as long as these guys can at least just get some sort of reps at 1506 01:31:38.640 --> 01:31:44.319 the NFL level, that would be important. Thirty seconds of thought about AJ 1507 01:31:44.520 --> 01:31:48.079 McCarron, I think he's obviously another one you like Perez here, let's build 1508 01:31:48.119 --> 01:31:51.520 something here where it's really kind of invest I don't see him bouncing back. 1509 01:31:51.600 --> 01:31:54.760 I mean, obviously he turned down the contract. What do you make about 1510 01:31:54.800 --> 01:31:58.199 AJ mccarren. Brief thoughts. Yeah, mccaren's a guy that I think is 1511 01:31:58.199 --> 01:32:00.560 going to stay around now. Had you asked me that at the beginning of 1512 01:32:00.640 --> 01:32:01.600 the season, I said, nah, he would have been in an NFL 1513 01:32:01.680 --> 01:32:04.399 camp by this point. But um, you know, it's clear again age 1514 01:32:04.479 --> 01:32:09.039 is one of these things. You know, AJ really really appreciated his time 1515 01:32:09.079 --> 01:32:12.279 in the XFL. You can just tell that by his demeanor and the whole 1516 01:32:12.279 --> 01:32:15.640 point of him being there was to you know, watch his kids play, 1517 01:32:15.720 --> 01:32:18.079 and he can happily do that again next year. I mean, he's already 1518 01:32:18.159 --> 01:32:21.359 made so much money through the NFL, you know, having won all those 1519 01:32:21.439 --> 01:32:25.680 national championships Alabama, being a draft pick, hanging around for you know, 1520 01:32:25.880 --> 01:32:29.920 X many seasons. You know, I think he was drafted in twenty fourteen, 1521 01:32:30.000 --> 01:32:32.479 maybe maybe earlier than that, but yeah, he's been around for a 1522 01:32:32.560 --> 01:32:35.359 long time, and at this point, you know, I think his kids 1523 01:32:35.439 --> 01:32:39.840 enjoyed seeing him play. His entire family really it's it's a personal thing. 1524 01:32:39.960 --> 01:32:42.359 So it would be great to have him back in twenty twenty four, and 1525 01:32:42.399 --> 01:32:45.279 I know Beck is definitely open to that. I'm sure everyone on that coaching 1526 01:32:45.319 --> 01:32:47.000 staff and the rest of the team that's going to be there in twenty twenty 1527 01:32:47.000 --> 01:32:50.479 four is opening that because he was a phenomenal talent and he definitely played with 1528 01:32:50.560 --> 01:32:55.439 a lot of emotion. Again, given all the given his circumstance, I 1529 01:32:55.520 --> 01:33:00.680 guess this year, well, I see him very easily transitioning intil Ballehawks just 1530 01:33:00.800 --> 01:33:02.720 coaching staff, you know here and if he I mean he was already basically 1531 01:33:02.880 --> 01:33:06.159 kind of working with Bruce and colin the plays and all that last year we 1532 01:33:06.239 --> 01:33:09.720 had the vibers Yale McClendon, a couple of friends at this show here, 1533 01:33:09.840 --> 01:33:14.520 jepidet Deance Anderson who joined us for our our I guess it was our championship 1534 01:33:14.560 --> 01:33:18.039 pregame show who stands out from the vipers there? Yeah, so Jelle McClendon. 1535 01:33:18.439 --> 01:33:21.640 You know, this one can be debated. He was invited to Bill's 1536 01:33:21.720 --> 01:33:27.720 minicamp along with Quinton Dormity from the Guardians, again two sort of underdogs in 1537 01:33:27.800 --> 01:33:30.680 the XFL. You know at New sub we're talking about our underdog award. 1538 01:33:30.720 --> 01:33:33.560 It came down to Joe McClendon or Quinton Dormity because those guys, you know, 1539 01:33:33.680 --> 01:33:36.840 kind of took I guess you'd say bottom end teams and at least made 1540 01:33:36.880 --> 01:33:42.960 them somewhat competitive in the in the this kind of later part of the season. 1541 01:33:43.279 --> 01:33:45.199 But um, yeah, McClendon, you know, it's a long shot 1542 01:33:45.239 --> 01:33:48.319 for him. He was last I think he bounced around. It was with 1543 01:33:48.640 --> 01:33:53.680 you know, Washington and then maybe Baltimore in twenty nineteen, and then obviously 1544 01:33:53.760 --> 01:33:57.399 he was with the Wildcats in XFL twenty twenty. You know, I've gone 1545 01:33:57.439 --> 01:34:00.760 on record, you know, talking about how that Joey Clinks Jales connection with 1546 01:34:00.880 --> 01:34:03.399 him being the DPP in Vegas really helped him out this year more than any 1547 01:34:03.479 --> 01:34:08.199 because like I don't think people understand, you know, how crazy it was 1548 01:34:08.479 --> 01:34:11.720 for Jalen mcclennon to come in and play like that because he had really, 1549 01:34:12.079 --> 01:34:15.920 you know, he had maybe played like a combined I don't know, like 1550 01:34:16.199 --> 01:34:21.079 at most it's probably thirty snaps between NFL preseason and XFL twenty twenty. I 1551 01:34:21.079 --> 01:34:24.680 mean, he was just not there a lot. So to see him, 1552 01:34:24.720 --> 01:34:26.760 you know, go out there and really, you know, prove everybody wrong. 1553 01:34:27.119 --> 01:34:29.239 You know, he was even a step above Brett Hundley, you could 1554 01:34:29.319 --> 01:34:31.199 argue, and I know, the whole Hunley situation is still kind of weird. 1555 01:34:31.239 --> 01:34:33.960 We don't know exactly what happened to him, whether it was injury or 1556 01:34:34.000 --> 01:34:36.520 he had a problem with the coaching staff, but even then, like it 1557 01:34:36.640 --> 01:34:40.920 was clear, you know, he was better than Brett Hundley, even when 1558 01:34:41.000 --> 01:34:44.279 Hundley was playing, and that you know, raised a question, you know, 1559 01:34:44.319 --> 01:34:46.319 maybe they should have just stuck with him the whole season. Of course, 1560 01:34:46.399 --> 01:34:48.840 Prez was there and eventually they traded him. So it was a complex 1561 01:34:48.920 --> 01:34:53.680 issue. But the bottom line is, you know, Jaylee mcclennon, I 1562 01:34:53.720 --> 01:34:57.279 do think again deserves to be at least in an NFL preseason, and you 1563 01:34:57.359 --> 01:35:00.039 know, when it comes to quarterbacks, We've mentioned it already on this show, 1564 01:35:00.680 --> 01:35:03.920 just kind of like like the Louis Pres and the Jordan towns of the 1565 01:35:04.000 --> 01:35:08.079 world. Maybe it's better if he comes back in twenty twenty four and just 1566 01:35:08.199 --> 01:35:11.239 develops and stays there, you know, with the coaching staff or whatever. 1567 01:35:12.159 --> 01:35:17.239 But you know, the good what am I gonna say? The chances are 1568 01:35:17.359 --> 01:35:21.199 that, you know, he goes to an NFL camp, you know, 1569 01:35:21.319 --> 01:35:26.720 maybe gets cut after that or preseason he's maybe a final cut, and then 1570 01:35:26.760 --> 01:35:29.840 he just comes right back into everything in September, so he wouldn't have ended 1571 01:35:29.920 --> 01:35:31.560 up missing that much time. That's the key thing here too, with all 1572 01:35:31.600 --> 01:35:34.720 these players, if they want to come back in twenty twenty four, you 1573 01:35:34.800 --> 01:35:39.199 know, if you don't make it past final cuts, you know, final 1574 01:35:39.239 --> 01:35:41.720 cuts at the end of August, early September, like it's not that far 1575 01:35:41.760 --> 01:35:44.880 away, you're not gonna be dragged out for months, you know, and 1576 01:35:44.960 --> 01:35:46.920 then you're not gonna have to make some you know, key decision, Like 1577 01:35:47.479 --> 01:35:49.800 right before the XFLS he's like, Okay, am I gonna play? You 1578 01:35:49.840 --> 01:35:53.640 know, because you're gonna have a lot of time to think about it during 1579 01:35:53.640 --> 01:35:55.880 the NFL season. If you're a free agent, as long as you don't 1580 01:35:55.880 --> 01:35:59.239 get signed me a practice squad or whatever. But anyway, that's kind of 1581 01:35:59.680 --> 01:36:01.960 different tangent for another time. Um. The other guys I have on this 1582 01:36:02.079 --> 01:36:08.520 list DeAndre Torrey, running back from North Texas again kind of in a somewhat 1583 01:36:08.560 --> 01:36:12.520 reserve role with Vegas, but you know, he only went, um, 1584 01:36:13.199 --> 01:36:15.239 he went he only went undrafted last year. Uh, you know, signed 1585 01:36:15.439 --> 01:36:19.039 with the Michigan Panthers. You know, he kind of took the spring football 1586 01:36:19.119 --> 01:36:25.039 route immediately as opposed to you know, testing the waters with the NFL and 1587 01:36:25.119 --> 01:36:27.920 then you know, from there he went to Eagles camp and then now he 1588 01:36:28.119 --> 01:36:30.359 surfaced back in spring football. I think he, you know, deserves another 1589 01:36:30.399 --> 01:36:35.720 shot, even if the numbers weren't incredible. Jeff Bedett from Oklahoma. Um, 1590 01:36:35.920 --> 01:36:39.359 you know, I mean Bedet is one of these guys that we've always 1591 01:36:39.399 --> 01:36:43.640 pulled for, you know, incredible individual, incredible human. UM this season 1592 01:36:43.760 --> 01:36:45.439 really I think for him, and I don't want to take the words out 1593 01:36:45.479 --> 01:36:49.000 of his mouth, but it really felt like it was sort of um, 1594 01:36:50.760 --> 01:36:54.119 how do I how do I put this? It was like a you know, 1595 01:36:54.439 --> 01:36:57.199 hard work pays off type of thing, and maybe that just sounds you 1596 01:36:57.239 --> 01:36:59.439 know, very vague, But what I mean here is like, you know, 1597 01:36:59.560 --> 01:37:01.600 he dealt with several injuries, and he was on your show talking about, 1598 01:37:02.119 --> 01:37:04.159 you know, in the USFL last year, you know, he was 1599 01:37:04.239 --> 01:37:08.359 depressed, you know, being away from home, home at the hub and 1600 01:37:08.640 --> 01:37:12.039 whatever. That formattress didn't work for him, you know. And then in 1601 01:37:12.079 --> 01:37:14.319 the XFL in twenty twenty, he was with the Rennagades, but he dealt 1602 01:37:14.319 --> 01:37:16.279 with injuries there too, and it's just, you know, he's always kind 1603 01:37:16.279 --> 01:37:18.560 of been dealt, you know, the wrong cards, if you know what 1604 01:37:18.640 --> 01:37:21.199 I mean. And finally, for once, even if his team didn't win 1605 01:37:21.319 --> 01:37:24.800 that many games, you know, he still had a lot of tape and 1606 01:37:24.880 --> 01:37:27.720 a lot of you know, highlights to show, you know, for and 1607 01:37:28.199 --> 01:37:30.000 I think again he's an older guy. Now it's been a couple of years 1608 01:37:30.000 --> 01:37:32.520 since he was in the NFL, but this is one of those things where 1609 01:37:32.560 --> 01:37:35.199 it's like just one more chance, you know, like if he gets one 1610 01:37:35.279 --> 01:37:39.720 more camp or whatever, I think that would be really good to see because 1611 01:37:39.800 --> 01:37:44.319 he, in my opinion, is incredibly deserving of that opportunity. Yeah yeah, 1612 01:37:44.560 --> 01:37:46.199 yeah, very unhappy with this time with the USFL, and I think 1613 01:37:46.319 --> 01:37:49.159 very happy that he could play when he said on the show, he said, 1614 01:37:49.199 --> 01:37:54.520 I just I need one season uninjured. Let me get my tape, 1615 01:37:54.640 --> 01:37:57.359 let me get my highlights. And he certainly did that exactly. Yep, 1616 01:37:57.680 --> 01:38:00.239 and that's that's exactly what he did. So good for him, you know, 1617 01:38:00.640 --> 01:38:02.520 love Jeff. Great guy. Anyway, Um, last two guys on 1618 01:38:02.600 --> 01:38:06.479 this list. Peter Thoma Panu, you know XFL Defensive player of the Year 1619 01:38:06.600 --> 01:38:12.520 from Utah. You know, Peter was you know, I think NFL scouts 1620 01:38:12.560 --> 01:38:14.720 had eyes on him, you know, throughout the entire season, and it 1621 01:38:14.760 --> 01:38:16.319 would be great, you know, to see Peta. You know, to 1622 01:38:16.439 --> 01:38:18.960 me, he could be one of these guys that he one of the few 1623 01:38:19.039 --> 01:38:23.079 that ends up just making the active roster right out of a training camp, 1624 01:38:23.119 --> 01:38:26.199 because to me, he really was that impressive, and it would be a 1625 01:38:26.279 --> 01:38:29.399 great story, you know, for the XFL to have a guy, you 1626 01:38:29.479 --> 01:38:32.159 know, make an impact on an NFL team in the regular season after his 1627 01:38:32.279 --> 01:38:35.119 team in the XFL Wasn't that great, you know what I mean, Because 1628 01:38:35.159 --> 01:38:40.520 sometimes there's a misconception where it's like, you know, the champion or you 1629 01:38:40.560 --> 01:38:42.800 know, the playoff teams are going to have more players go to the NFL. 1630 01:38:42.840 --> 01:38:45.479 I don't necessarily think that's true, you know, and again that's not 1631 01:38:45.600 --> 01:38:47.319 to you know, fault any teams or to say that, you know, 1632 01:38:47.680 --> 01:38:51.119 certain teams don't have NFL caliber players, because at the end of the day, 1633 01:38:51.159 --> 01:38:55.039 you know, I'd say a large majority of the players in these leagues, 1634 01:38:55.039 --> 01:39:00.319 whether it's XFL, USFL or CFL or NFL caliber. But yeah, 1635 01:39:00.319 --> 01:39:01.159 I mean, you know, a guy like Peter tamil Panio, I could 1636 01:39:01.199 --> 01:39:04.159 definitely see him, you know, making an active roster. Um. You 1637 01:39:04.239 --> 01:39:09.439 know, the performance, you know, spoke for itself in the in the 1638 01:39:09.520 --> 01:39:12.680 league. It was a bit surprising to see him win defensive player that Y're 1639 01:39:12.720 --> 01:39:14.840 out right, you know, I would have pulled for Trent Harris again, 1640 01:39:15.159 --> 01:39:17.079 whether I'm biased or not, but a couple other people were surprised. Who 1641 01:39:17.119 --> 01:39:19.760 are you know, well versed in the space. UM. And then the 1642 01:39:19.880 --> 01:39:23.880 last guy had on that list was yeah, Deontay Anderson. And that's someone 1643 01:39:24.199 --> 01:39:26.119 you know, I've been talking to a lot lately. You know, love 1644 01:39:26.199 --> 01:39:29.800 Deontay. Obviously he was on yours show at the river walking San Antonio there 1645 01:39:29.840 --> 01:39:31.800 for the championship. UM. You know, Dante's interesting. You know, 1646 01:39:31.880 --> 01:39:35.279 he went to Raiders mini camp two years ago. They tried him out a 1647 01:39:35.359 --> 01:39:40.199 linebacker because I believed he played linebacker his senior season at Houston didn't work out, 1648 01:39:40.239 --> 01:39:42.640 you know, he doesn't like playing linebacker on the inside. Um. 1649 01:39:42.760 --> 01:39:45.479 This season to me and the XFL proved that he can't play safety at a 1650 01:39:45.560 --> 01:39:51.199 higher level, you know, because he was the UM leading tackler amongst defensive 1651 01:39:51.239 --> 01:39:56.000 backs. But he also had I think nine pass deflections. Um. You 1652 01:39:56.079 --> 01:39:58.760 know, again, I see him, like, you know, he proved 1653 01:39:58.760 --> 01:40:00.239 that he can play in cover. She's not just a guy you know that 1654 01:40:00.399 --> 01:40:03.239 moves up front on the line. He can definitely you know, play further 1655 01:40:03.359 --> 01:40:06.439 back and kind of you know, fill a coverage role. Um. So 1656 01:40:06.520 --> 01:40:09.960 we'll see what happens again. You know. I know he just got an 1657 01:40:10.000 --> 01:40:13.720 agent and he's working through things. Um. But UM, you know, 1658 01:40:13.720 --> 01:40:15.720 I would definitely be excited, you know, to see him at least again 1659 01:40:15.800 --> 01:40:19.039 just getting a camp and I know he's content with coming back in twenty twenty 1660 01:40:19.039 --> 01:40:20.720 four if it does come to that. And I think a lot of these 1661 01:40:20.800 --> 01:40:25.399 guys again that we're talking about, I brought it up earlier, you know, 1662 01:40:25.479 --> 01:40:30.720 guys that that go you know, even if they do go to NFL 1663 01:40:30.760 --> 01:40:32.239 camps, that doesn't necessarily mean they're done with the XFL forever. They can 1664 01:40:32.279 --> 01:40:35.119 easily come back in twenty twenty four make an impact. I mean, you 1665 01:40:35.119 --> 01:40:39.239 saw it in the USFL. You know, guys who went who were in 1666 01:40:39.520 --> 01:40:43.000 the first season in the USFL last year went to NFL camps and then came 1667 01:40:43.039 --> 01:40:45.479 back to the USFL after didn't work out. And there's nothing wrong with that, 1668 01:40:45.600 --> 01:40:47.159 right. It's all about you know, getting reps and further in your 1669 01:40:47.159 --> 01:40:49.760 Career's everyone always says, you know, when they're a kid, you know, 1670 01:40:49.800 --> 01:40:53.439 I want to play in the NFL. And you know, whether you 1671 01:40:53.600 --> 01:40:56.479 count preseason reps or a training camp, is you know, playing in the 1672 01:40:56.600 --> 01:40:59.840 NFL again. That's something that's debated a lot, I think in circles, 1673 01:41:00.000 --> 01:41:01.319 but you know, the bottom line is like, yeah, if you're gonna 1674 01:41:01.680 --> 01:41:04.920 you know, if the NFL calls and you're playing in the XFL, you 1675 01:41:05.000 --> 01:41:09.039 know you're definitely gonna take that opportunity. And it's great to see the XFL 1676 01:41:09.119 --> 01:41:11.680 promote that. That's the other thing I'll bring up here, you know, 1677 01:41:11.760 --> 01:41:14.720 as we close this out, I think is just you know, the league. 1678 01:41:14.760 --> 01:41:16.920 I mean, I think we said during the season they might have pushed 1679 01:41:16.920 --> 01:41:18.560 the narrative a bit too much. You know, it's like, oh, 1680 01:41:18.680 --> 01:41:20.600 well, this guy, you know, it was all about the NFL and 1681 01:41:20.720 --> 01:41:25.560 not about you know, his actual production on his XFL team, And to 1682 01:41:25.680 --> 01:41:27.760 an extent, I agree with that, but it's also good, you know, 1683 01:41:28.039 --> 01:41:30.399 to not see the league just completely shy away. Again, I think 1684 01:41:30.479 --> 01:41:32.960 some of their partnerships help, like with the NFL Alumni Academy. You know, 1685 01:41:33.000 --> 01:41:38.119 they have a strong connection there personnel wise. So yeah, ultimately, 1686 01:41:38.279 --> 01:41:40.319 you know, I think it's good that the league is and again, you 1687 01:41:40.359 --> 01:41:43.039 know they're posting. You know, when guys sign in the NFL, could 1688 01:41:43.079 --> 01:41:45.279 they do maybe a better job, you know, with that being more consistent, 1689 01:41:45.520 --> 01:41:47.560 you know, perhaps you could argue that way. But again, like 1690 01:41:48.039 --> 01:41:50.239 every time a player gets signed, you know, like they have been, 1691 01:41:50.319 --> 01:41:54.319 you know, posting like on xflp or they'll make the graphic, they'll put 1692 01:41:54.359 --> 01:41:56.920 it up on the XFL socials. You know, yeah, like this guy. 1693 01:41:57.399 --> 01:42:00.399 You know, it's like XFL and NFL, And I think the greatest 1694 01:42:00.439 --> 01:42:02.279 thing that they've done really so far with that is, um, you know, 1695 01:42:02.800 --> 01:42:05.199 they're doing YouTube stuff with that. They're making you know, these little 1696 01:42:05.239 --> 01:42:11.079 short documentaries, like they had a couple of the DPPs talking like Von Hutchins, 1697 01:42:11.239 --> 01:42:14.079 you know, Randy Mueller, Mark lily Bridge, you know, going 1698 01:42:14.119 --> 01:42:15.680 on about you know, some of their players that really impressed them. You 1699 01:42:15.720 --> 01:42:18.600 know. It's kind of like a players spotlight, and that helps NFL teams 1700 01:42:18.600 --> 01:42:21.199 too, you know, just to get an idea of what they're looking at. 1701 01:42:21.760 --> 01:42:24.560 So I think, yeah, again, all around it, it's a 1702 01:42:24.600 --> 01:42:27.640 great structure there. Yeah, I think just to wrap this up, I 1703 01:42:27.720 --> 01:42:30.600 think, you know, like you said, pushed a little too hard the 1704 01:42:30.720 --> 01:42:33.439 narrative. I think if the XFL and the USFL could change it a little 1705 01:42:33.479 --> 01:42:38.239 bit where you know, for however many decades now it's kind of like it's 1706 01:42:38.279 --> 01:42:41.359 the NFL or bust and you're if you're don't make it to the NFL, 1707 01:42:41.439 --> 01:42:45.079 you'r sol and your life is over. Like changing the narrative. Like no, 1708 01:42:45.239 --> 01:42:47.880 like we are creating these other places, like these landing spots for you, 1709 01:42:47.960 --> 01:42:50.520 whether you do want to play there for years, you want to play 1710 01:42:50.560 --> 01:42:53.800 here for a year, you want to play here for a few weeks, 1711 01:42:53.920 --> 01:42:56.760 kind of get back, just to not have it be this all er bust 1712 01:42:56.880 --> 01:42:59.800 kind of thing. I think is important to kind of build that narrative around 1713 01:43:00.039 --> 01:43:01.560 and you know we're working on and I think both these leagues are still trying 1714 01:43:01.560 --> 01:43:05.960 to figure out how they want to frame that. Evan and tremendous work here, 1715 01:43:06.159 --> 01:43:10.560 you know, under your knowledge of all of these players stands. I 1716 01:43:10.680 --> 01:43:13.520 know I talked with like Dorothy afterwards, like how do they know all these 1717 01:43:13.600 --> 01:43:15.079 people? I said, you know, this is what Evan does. I 1718 01:43:15.119 --> 01:43:18.239 appreciate Max putting the list together as well. Some notes on there, Evan, 1719 01:43:18.279 --> 01:43:20.840 anything else for me before we get out of here. Yeah, I'll 1720 01:43:20.920 --> 01:43:25.600 just go off your point quickly again about you know, sort of these guys, 1721 01:43:25.680 --> 01:43:27.760 you know, building resumes through these leagues. You know, the one 1722 01:43:27.800 --> 01:43:30.680 thing that I thought was really cool was, you know, especially from the 1723 01:43:30.720 --> 01:43:34.039 spring football standpoint, you know, there were guys who won the championship with 1724 01:43:34.159 --> 01:43:38.840 the Arlington Rennagads this year that we're on the Birmingham Stallions in the USFL last 1725 01:43:38.880 --> 01:43:41.520 year. You know, Doug Coasting, Victor Bolden, there was a couple 1726 01:43:41.560 --> 01:43:44.279 other guys. But anyway, you know, you know, guys aren't able 1727 01:43:44.319 --> 01:43:46.000 to win championships in these leagues. Now, you know that wasn't a thing 1728 01:43:46.560 --> 01:43:48.840 a couple of years ago, Like the last time you had that was you 1729 01:43:48.880 --> 01:43:53.079 know really the UFL. I mean, yeah, the spring League had theirs, 1730 01:43:53.199 --> 01:43:55.720 but you know where does the spring league fall again? You can argue 1731 01:43:55.760 --> 01:43:58.800 with that, but like the AF never completed their season, you know, 1732 01:43:59.159 --> 01:44:02.600 L twenty their season. So now you finally see guys. I think they're 1733 01:44:02.600 --> 01:44:06.560 able to be more emotionally attached. That's what I really hope for, you 1734 01:44:06.680 --> 01:44:10.520 know, these players as the leagues move forward, it's like they can really 1735 01:44:10.560 --> 01:44:13.680 get attached to these teams. And it's not just about you know, waiting 1736 01:44:13.760 --> 01:44:15.560 on that call from the NFL. You know, I'm just here in the 1737 01:44:15.600 --> 01:44:16.760 meantime. It's like, well, you know, you might end up playing 1738 01:44:16.840 --> 01:44:20.079 here for like two three years, so you know, really trying, you 1739 01:44:20.119 --> 01:44:23.560 know, commit to the team. And I'm not saying guys aren't committed. 1740 01:44:23.760 --> 01:44:27.319 I'm just saying I think it depends a lot on and I've talked about this 1741 01:44:27.359 --> 01:44:30.159 with other people. It depends for the player, you know, whether they've 1742 01:44:30.159 --> 01:44:31.760 been in the NFL or not before, Because some guys have had a ton 1743 01:44:31.800 --> 01:44:35.319 of NFL experience. Look at like more Tavis Bryant, that Josh Gordons of 1744 01:44:35.399 --> 01:44:38.079 the world, and then I don't know, you look at maybe like a 1745 01:44:38.159 --> 01:44:41.159 Bryson, a lean who's never really touched the NFL. So there's a couple 1746 01:44:41.199 --> 01:44:43.760 of different perspectives there, but the bottom line is, you know, the 1747 01:44:43.880 --> 01:44:46.199 more emotionally attached guys get, the better the football will be. At least 1748 01:44:46.239 --> 01:44:49.560 that's what I think personally. Yeah, I think you can just feel like 1749 01:44:49.760 --> 01:44:54.119 your heart is a little bit more protected to be invested in this now, 1750 01:44:54.399 --> 01:44:57.840 just with the success the USFL has had and now with the XFL completely like, 1751 01:44:58.119 --> 01:45:00.119 you know, you're not wasting your time here, I'm not. I 1752 01:45:00.159 --> 01:45:01.479 can be invested. I can be a part of this. I could Like 1753 01:45:01.560 --> 01:45:04.319 we've talked with Ag McCarron and the Luis prez or too, I'll be like, 1754 01:45:04.359 --> 01:45:06.640 I feel like I could build something here for a couple of years and 1755 01:45:06.720 --> 01:45:11.119 kind of know what's going to be around. Evan with news up. Appreciate 1756 01:45:11.239 --> 01:45:14.039 it all season. I'm sure we'll do lots more of this throughout the summer, 1757 01:45:14.119 --> 01:45:15.960 but really appreciate your time to that. Absolutely. Yeah, thanks for 1758 01:45:16.000 --> 01:45:18.920 having me on read This was definitely fun to talk about some players. As 1759 01:45:18.960 --> 01:45:28.079 always it always is. Well, we're gonna have good Beard energy on the 1760 01:45:28.159 --> 01:45:30.560 podcast today. I feel like we have Furbie here normally we have Justin Freeman 1761 01:45:30.600 --> 01:45:33.720 overt run the SIMS. Today Justin said Furby is the guy we're talking to. 1762 01:45:33.840 --> 01:45:36.640 We're getting us about week eight and everything else. How are you doing, 1763 01:45:36.720 --> 01:45:40.479 sir, good? How are you doing? Read? I'm good? 1764 01:45:40.560 --> 01:45:43.800 So what are you know? We're here approaching week eight? Pat Raffino and 1765 01:45:43.840 --> 01:45:45.640 I've been kind of doing our you know, Monday recaps through the last a 1766 01:45:45.640 --> 01:45:50.479 little bit. What are you making of USFL season two? It's good. 1767 01:45:51.119 --> 01:45:57.079 It's a lot like season one. I thought they might like kind of spice 1768 01:45:57.079 --> 01:45:59.880 it up a little bit, you know. Year one, you know, 1769 01:46:00.119 --> 01:46:03.560 they you kind of give them a free pass on some stuff. But then 1770 01:46:04.039 --> 01:46:08.039 a year two you think you might make some changes, and so far it's 1771 01:46:08.119 --> 01:46:11.720 kind of felt exactly the same. Starting to feel a little formulaic, you 1772 01:46:11.800 --> 01:46:15.600 know, I for some reason in the Psycho and leave all the notifications on 1773 01:46:15.760 --> 01:46:21.960 on Twitter for all the teams to get the notifications and stuff. But so 1774 01:46:23.159 --> 01:46:26.159 I start to see, you know, it's like the same tweet over and 1775 01:46:26.279 --> 01:46:30.079 over for all the teams. You kind of wonder if that's a little bit 1776 01:46:30.119 --> 01:46:31.800 of Fox, you know, if you ever watch like a Fox sitcom, 1777 01:46:32.439 --> 01:46:36.479 you know, season eleven it kind of becomes very formulaic, and maybe that's 1778 01:46:36.560 --> 01:46:39.960 kind of what they want. You know, they want this you know, 1779 01:46:40.159 --> 01:46:44.359 four TV product, you know, so they're not really necessarily trying to switch 1780 01:46:44.399 --> 01:46:48.520 it up. Did you watch or enjoy the XVl this year. I did, 1781 01:46:49.600 --> 01:46:54.760 and I think it kind of had you know, it was in its 1782 01:46:54.800 --> 01:46:58.479 first year two, so you know, it kind of had the new car 1783 01:46:58.560 --> 01:47:03.159 smell. All. So now USFL, you know, I don't think it's 1784 01:47:03.199 --> 01:47:08.079 stale necessarily, but you know, it's it's in its second year, so 1785 01:47:10.640 --> 01:47:15.680 I think the football is good. Though I'm a known supposed USFL hater on 1786 01:47:15.800 --> 01:47:17.159 here, and so it's either gays got to walk in line with that. 1787 01:47:18.319 --> 01:47:23.840 No. But you know I've said I don't always agree with the XFL's personality, 1788 01:47:24.159 --> 01:47:26.760 right. I think sometimes they try to be a little bit too serious. 1789 01:47:26.960 --> 01:47:30.439 You know that the broadcast people have issues with the ESPN broadcast, But 1790 01:47:30.880 --> 01:47:32.720 at least it feels like it has a little bit of an identity where it 1791 01:47:32.800 --> 01:47:38.359 does feel like this is, like you said, not I wouldn't say stayable, 1792 01:47:38.399 --> 01:47:41.159 like this is stafe, Like we have four games that are very family 1793 01:47:41.199 --> 01:47:44.520 friendly and you can watch and you kind of know what to expect and uh, 1794 01:47:44.800 --> 01:47:46.439 it's kind of like pizza and it's always going to be fine, but 1795 01:47:46.479 --> 01:47:50.239 it might not be exceptional or poor. Yeah, I would agree with that. 1796 01:47:50.479 --> 01:47:58.880 I think XFL maybe they're trying to build a little more and I think 1797 01:47:59.159 --> 01:48:03.239 USFL probably kind of content, you know, having it like this, This 1798 01:48:03.479 --> 01:48:08.720 is a TV spot for Saturday Sunday. As long as their ratings are good, 1799 01:48:08.720 --> 01:48:10.800 They're not going to leave money on the table, you know, but 1800 01:48:10.880 --> 01:48:13.920 they're not maybe not quite as willing to take some of their risks, you 1801 01:48:14.000 --> 01:48:17.560 know, moving cities out of the hub into their hometowns, stuff like that. 1802 01:48:18.439 --> 01:48:21.800 So we had the USFL had the press conference this morning. This will 1803 01:48:21.800 --> 01:48:26.279 air obviously Friday, but kind of previewing the playoffs and you know, okay, 1804 01:48:26.319 --> 01:48:29.920 we've got this going on to Canton and everything else. Are really championing 1805 01:48:30.039 --> 01:48:32.319 the parody of all eight teams. So it's also kind of up in the 1806 01:48:32.399 --> 01:48:35.359 air going in, what have you made at the level of competition with the 1807 01:48:35.439 --> 01:48:41.039 parody of the all eight teams. I'm fine with a parody. I just 1808 01:48:41.239 --> 01:48:46.600 think everyone some of the teams just kind of lack identity. And the XFL 1809 01:48:46.720 --> 01:48:50.039 you kind of had the Defenders run first, or defense was really good. 1810 01:48:50.239 --> 01:48:54.680 You had the roughnecks. You know, they're just gonna sling it. Seattle 1811 01:48:54.800 --> 01:49:00.399 is just going to sling it around the field. I don't mind everyone having 1812 01:49:00.439 --> 01:49:03.520 the same wins and losses, kind of close in the standings, but I 1813 01:49:03.640 --> 01:49:08.880 just don't know if they have the identity that they did last year, even 1814 01:49:09.399 --> 01:49:12.680 you feel like when you think they had more of an identity in season one, 1815 01:49:13.520 --> 01:49:16.279 I think so. And you don't want teams like Pittsburgh last year where 1816 01:49:16.279 --> 01:49:20.600 they're just terrible and a little bit like Orlando in the XFL, or that's 1817 01:49:20.640 --> 01:49:26.199 not even competitive. You certainly always want competitive. But I just look, 1818 01:49:26.239 --> 01:49:29.880 you know, you look at you know, rushing yards per game, and 1819 01:49:30.119 --> 01:49:34.600 there's a few outliers, but almost everybody's within, you know, forty fifty 1820 01:49:34.680 --> 01:49:40.640 yards of each other after seven weeks. In terms of teams, you know 1821 01:49:40.760 --> 01:49:45.079 carried over obviously, either like stars kind of feel like they're finding their footing 1822 01:49:45.159 --> 01:49:47.199 now. You know, Birmingham's looked good, where we had kind of New 1823 01:49:47.319 --> 01:49:50.319 Orleans was the standout. Now they're kind of falter. And I blame I 1824 01:49:50.359 --> 01:49:53.800 had McLoud on the show a couple of weeks ago, so I blame the 1825 01:49:53.880 --> 01:49:57.880 kind of undefeated ray and ending on that. But what teams have you been 1826 01:49:57.920 --> 01:50:03.079 impressed by thus far coming in to the season. Uh, I think I 1827 01:50:03.239 --> 01:50:09.760 was really high on the Breakers to start, Like you said, they've they've 1828 01:50:09.840 --> 01:50:15.560 kind of tapered off a little bit. Uh, the Panthers have shown spurts, 1829 01:50:15.840 --> 01:50:20.399 and the Gamblers I guess have shown spurts of being a pretty good team. 1830 01:50:21.199 --> 01:50:28.520 But uh, like you said, the parody kind of makes everybody kind 1831 01:50:28.520 --> 01:50:32.000 of a muddle. You know. Well, I think the Stallions uh, 1832 01:50:33.279 --> 01:50:36.720 you know, are the cream cream of the crop in the South there though, 1833 01:50:38.640 --> 01:50:42.399 so feeling like they're they're kind of finally they had a little bit going 1834 01:50:42.520 --> 01:50:45.279 early on, but now, yeah, Mgoo's looking good everything else. I 1835 01:50:45.319 --> 01:50:48.800 mean, what's what's sit it out to you about the Stallions? Uh? 1836 01:50:49.199 --> 01:50:55.439 Really just McGoo. I mean he's clearly the MVP so far, you know, 1837 01:50:55.760 --> 01:51:00.960 and he hasn't really separated uh through the air, but just standing back, 1838 01:51:01.000 --> 01:51:04.159 he just he's calm, He's making plays, he'll scramble, he's not 1839 01:51:04.239 --> 01:51:13.720 looking to run first, but he just converts third downs, you know, 1840 01:51:14.279 --> 01:51:17.039 runs when they need him, you know, makes it look easy right now. 1841 01:51:17.880 --> 01:51:20.600 In terms of the breakers that McCleod. Have you been impressed. Did 1842 01:51:20.640 --> 01:51:26.039 you track any of his cflness before he came into the league. I didn't 1843 01:51:26.079 --> 01:51:28.520 track him in the CFL, and lots of times, you know, those 1844 01:51:28.720 --> 01:51:30.319 stats are hard to translate. You know, you always think, oh, 1845 01:51:30.399 --> 01:51:33.319 he's coming from the CFL, he's going to do really good. You know, 1846 01:51:33.399 --> 01:51:39.239 it's kind of doesn't always translate like people expect it to be. Like 1847 01:51:39.960 --> 01:51:43.119 Triple A baseball. You go to MLB, you're gonna like have a certain 1848 01:51:43.279 --> 01:51:46.520 ratio, and it's not always like that. With CFL. Some guy just 1849 01:51:46.640 --> 01:51:51.359 kind of it translates better, and sometimes it doesn't. So I wasn't sure 1850 01:51:51.399 --> 01:51:55.600 how all that was going to work out. And at first it looked pretty 1851 01:51:55.640 --> 01:52:00.199 good, and they've kind of, I don't know what it is, you 1852 01:52:00.239 --> 01:52:02.880 know, they just hit a wall a little bit. It seems like the 1853 01:52:03.199 --> 01:52:09.479 stats are still there for the most part, but they're just kind of not 1854 01:52:09.640 --> 01:52:12.680 making some of the third down, fourth downs. Makes it look a little 1855 01:52:12.680 --> 01:52:15.239 bit worse than it is. It seems, you know, we've kind of 1856 01:52:15.319 --> 01:52:19.119 pontificated. Maybe it's he's hitting the wall kind of coming off of the CFL 1857 01:52:19.279 --> 01:52:23.760 and fatigue and plane and I mean that's something with these spring leagues. And 1858 01:52:23.800 --> 01:52:26.319 obviously he had the time off from November, but you know, he was 1859 01:52:26.640 --> 01:52:29.399 inured in the Gray Cup, takes time off, you know, gets his 1860 01:52:29.479 --> 01:52:31.880 hand figured out, comes back in here, and it does seem like it's 1861 01:52:31.920 --> 01:52:34.880 not really the same energy that was going in the first you know, four 1862 01:52:34.960 --> 01:52:40.479 or five weeks. Yeah. And I mean that team in general has been 1863 01:52:40.840 --> 01:52:45.880 pretty banged up and getting late, and guys that aren't hurt, like Hills 1864 01:52:45.920 --> 01:52:48.000 has just been having a massive workload. You gotta think there's gonna be some 1865 01:52:48.119 --> 01:52:53.640 feet tigue there as well. And you know Dixon was hurt, and you 1866 01:52:53.720 --> 01:52:59.239 know, he's a big part of the offense. You know, I think 1867 01:52:59.359 --> 01:53:02.560 they're starting to come back around. Uh, you know, they were pretty 1868 01:53:02.600 --> 01:53:05.439 close. Every game has been close, you know, you know, a 1869 01:53:05.479 --> 01:53:09.279 couple of you know, a touchdown, Yeah, a couple of plays each 1870 01:53:09.439 --> 01:53:13.399 game. And we're not really having this conversation with coach c Filippo. Have 1871 01:53:13.560 --> 01:53:16.119 you, you know, as the first year kind of spring football coach here 1872 01:53:16.239 --> 01:53:20.279 figuring all this out, have you been impressed with his work? I have. 1873 01:53:21.319 --> 01:53:29.640 I think I prefer seeing the first year guys rather than you know, 1874 01:53:29.760 --> 01:53:33.439 some of the old you know, NFL veterans, guys that are on their 1875 01:53:33.439 --> 01:53:38.439 way up rather than kind of on their way out. You know, sometimes 1876 01:53:38.479 --> 01:53:44.239 they're I think they're just kind of looking the old guys or more looking for, 1877 01:53:45.359 --> 01:53:47.600 you know, just a nine to five job. They're probably not grinding 1878 01:53:47.720 --> 01:53:53.319 film U twelve thirty in the morning on a Tuesday night. I think you 1879 01:53:53.439 --> 01:54:00.479 see that with maybe last year with a couple of the coaches, but Larry 1880 01:54:00.479 --> 01:54:04.800 Fedora maybe a little bit there. Yeah, it turns it Todd Hailey here, 1881 01:54:04.960 --> 01:54:10.119 uh twerquing in the locker room now the team undefeated or are we liking 1882 01:54:10.159 --> 01:54:15.600 with coach Hailey has been putting together with the show butts, I mean it's 1883 01:54:15.640 --> 01:54:19.479 working apparently, But I kind of had Haley pegged. It's one of those 1884 01:54:19.560 --> 01:54:25.039 coaches maybe last year. But I think you're seeing a little bit more that, 1885 01:54:25.239 --> 01:54:30.199 you know, he's not just you know, sitting on the ball, 1886 01:54:30.279 --> 01:54:35.199 you know, he I think he does want to win. And they've made 1887 01:54:35.319 --> 01:54:42.359 I think seven of eight fourth downs in the last four games. I mean, 1888 01:54:44.079 --> 01:54:46.840 things that aren't sustainable. But it's certainly been fun, you know, 1889 01:54:47.039 --> 01:54:51.319 seeing that turnaround. A lot of a lot of positive vibes. Obviously a 1890 01:54:51.359 --> 01:54:54.840 lot of parody here in the South, especially, do you I mean, 1891 01:54:55.800 --> 01:54:58.680 you know, gamblers kind of trying to find their footing with you Bahar and 1892 01:54:58.720 --> 01:55:00.720 everything else. What do you make of you know, Stallion's figure number one, 1893 01:55:00.720 --> 01:55:06.079 who's going to get that second seed in the South? Yeah, it 1894 01:55:06.279 --> 01:55:13.560 certainly Stallions up top. I think the Breakers will figure it out, you 1895 01:55:13.680 --> 01:55:18.399 know. I kind of think the show Boats will be a little closer to 1896 01:55:19.079 --> 01:55:24.680 the first two games than the last first three games rather than the last four. 1897 01:55:25.000 --> 01:55:28.399 But it'll be somewhere in the middle. But and I same with the 1898 01:55:28.479 --> 01:55:34.640 gamblers. I see Stallion's been on top and then the Breakers. In terms 1899 01:55:34.640 --> 01:55:38.600 of here Stars, you're kind of finally figuring out what they want to do. 1900 01:55:38.720 --> 01:55:41.760 Panthers still can't win at home, and they've even talked about that today 1901 01:55:41.800 --> 01:55:44.439 on the USFL press conference. I thought that was funny. They were a 1902 01:55:44.439 --> 01:55:46.880 little self aware of that. But you know, General's really kind of out 1903 01:55:46.920 --> 01:55:50.039 of it. We had DeAndre Johnson get banged up, and the maller is 1904 01:55:50.119 --> 01:55:55.319 here continuing the mall is it Stars Panthers without a doubt here or what do 1905 01:55:55.359 --> 01:56:04.279 you make of the North? I think definitely Stars, and then I think 1906 01:56:04.399 --> 01:56:10.520 Panthers, But I don't know if Love has more up games than down games. 1907 01:56:11.000 --> 01:56:15.319 They also just signed j Perry, so that could be interesting. Yeah, 1908 01:56:15.359 --> 01:56:19.920 do you like Love? Do you like Love as a quarterback? I 1909 01:56:20.000 --> 01:56:31.600 don't think. I think he's looked all right, I think, but I 1910 01:56:31.640 --> 01:56:38.079 wouldn't mind seeing a change there. I was surprised they didn't give Barrier a 1911 01:56:38.159 --> 01:56:43.359 little more look, but they obviously had no interest and seeing I thought Barrier 1912 01:56:43.439 --> 01:56:45.920 looked pretty good last year, you know, kind of gave them to two 1913 01:56:46.000 --> 01:56:54.640 dimensions, but they weren't interested there. So you know, he's on the 1914 01:56:54.760 --> 01:56:59.199 Generals now, so without DeAndre, maybe he'll get a shot there. Yeah, 1915 01:56:59.199 --> 01:57:01.039 honestly, you know, it really seems like they're kind of grasping at 1916 01:57:01.039 --> 01:57:04.000 Strazer. Generals obviously had to make a move with that. But I don't 1917 01:57:04.039 --> 01:57:08.359 know if it's too little too late here to kind of refresh there, you 1918 01:57:08.439 --> 01:57:10.760 know, Is that enough time to get him in and get going here before 1919 01:57:10.800 --> 01:57:15.840 the end of the season. I don't know. I guess At worked with 1920 01:57:15.079 --> 01:57:24.840 Perez and Arlington, but I don't know that Barrier is Perez kind of a 1921 01:57:25.000 --> 01:57:31.039 very different player. And they haven't put Deander Johnson on the an active list 1922 01:57:31.199 --> 01:57:38.359 yet. Now he was d NP yesterday with concussion and it it would be 1923 01:57:38.520 --> 01:57:42.159 really bad optics. You know, after the scene, you know, looked 1924 01:57:42.199 --> 01:57:45.359 really bad, went to the hospital, you know, kind of had like 1925 01:57:45.680 --> 01:57:49.119 kind of two of vibes where it would look really bad if he played, 1926 01:57:50.359 --> 01:57:56.279 you know, put the league kind of risk a little bit. But I 1927 01:57:56.359 --> 01:58:00.920 would expect him to be back within a couple of weeks. So so I 1928 01:58:00.960 --> 01:58:04.439 would imagine they stick with him going forward because we letta just have not looked 1929 01:58:04.520 --> 01:58:09.000 very good. I'd be curious to kind of how they handle him in terms 1930 01:58:09.159 --> 01:58:13.199 of, you know, with the active bonuses and things, you know, 1931 01:58:13.239 --> 01:58:15.079 like I don't know if that goes into that. I think they had that 1932 01:58:15.199 --> 01:58:18.640 last year with when Brian Scott got injured and they kind of kept him on. 1933 01:58:19.159 --> 01:58:21.279 I don't know. I think they do a little bit of tweaking like 1934 01:58:21.399 --> 01:58:24.760 that to make sure guys are getting paid a little bit more. I don't 1935 01:58:24.760 --> 01:58:26.800 know if that goes into it at all, if they just want to keep 1936 01:58:26.880 --> 01:58:30.119 him on and not worry about transferring that out. But something to kind of 1937 01:58:30.199 --> 01:58:33.880 keep in mind there with the generals in terms of the matchups here we have 1938 01:58:34.000 --> 01:58:38.840 going into the weekend Week eight, you know, this might not be the 1939 01:58:38.920 --> 01:58:42.880 prettiest matchup here than nine them Pacific USA. Of the Gamblers Muellers. Who 1940 01:58:42.920 --> 01:58:47.880 do you have in this one? Gamblers are favored by three, and I 1941 01:58:48.159 --> 01:58:53.319 think that seems about right at that line. I'd probably go with the Gamblers. 1942 01:58:53.800 --> 01:59:00.039 But both teams are one and two in pressures and sacks, and the 1943 01:59:00.159 --> 01:59:04.560 Mallers have taken the second most sacks in the league, so it might be 1944 01:59:04.800 --> 01:59:12.119 pretty ugly in terms of offense. It's weird. It's weird that. Yeah, 1945 01:59:12.199 --> 01:59:15.560 the legacy of the Mallers has kind of continued on here. Yeah, 1946 01:59:16.359 --> 01:59:18.960 right, horrid and everything else. I'd be able to turn that around that 1947 01:59:19.119 --> 01:59:23.960 Stars Stallions, this might be the standout game of the weekend here on the 1948 01:59:24.119 --> 01:59:27.760 NBC. I think this is going to do pretty well radiance wise that noon 1949 01:59:27.840 --> 01:59:31.279 Pacific here with the Stars at Birmingham. What are you making of this one? 1950 01:59:31.960 --> 01:59:38.560 Yeah, this could very well be championship preview. Stars are favored by 1951 01:59:38.720 --> 01:59:46.000 a touchdown almost, But so Stallions are over the Stars, and I think 1952 01:59:46.039 --> 01:59:55.439 the story is the Stars offensive line. They were just atrocious through five games, 1953 01:59:55.520 --> 01:59:59.199 and then the last two games they allowed zero sacks to the Mallers and 1954 01:59:59.279 --> 02:00:02.880 then one sack to the Breakers looking a lot better. They could not get 1955 02:00:02.920 --> 02:00:06.600 the ball going at all in the ground. And then last two weeks, 1956 02:00:08.159 --> 02:00:10.720 you know, they've kind of gotten Colburn. You know, it's kind of 1957 02:00:10.720 --> 02:00:15.720 the lead dog now. Dexter Willness was mixing in some but it looks kind 1958 02:00:15.720 --> 02:00:19.640 of like all Colburn now and they're doing a lot better the last a couple 1959 02:00:19.640 --> 02:00:23.079 of weeks. Well, Corpan's been great. I mean he's been good. 1960 02:00:23.119 --> 02:00:26.319 We tracked him all the way through everything going up, big, good, 1961 02:00:26.560 --> 02:00:30.359 good pieces there. It feels like they're finally getting right here. Slow starred 1962 02:00:30.399 --> 02:00:33.720 and I don't know if Case was slow coming back or a Bart was kind 1963 02:00:33.760 --> 02:00:36.720 of snoozy on the sidelines. It feels like they're finally kind of getting their 1964 02:00:36.760 --> 02:00:43.239 footing here. Yeah, definitely. In terms of here, the June fourth 1965 02:00:43.760 --> 02:00:46.920 Sunday Double Fox, I think the ratiings will obviously peak up over last week. 1966 02:00:47.000 --> 02:00:51.359 We've had probably a season low here for the USBL ratings coming out of 1967 02:00:51.439 --> 02:00:55.600 week seven. But the Showboats at the Generals here, I have to imagine 1968 02:00:55.600 --> 02:01:04.680 the showboats are favorite. Yeah, well, the show Boats are two point 1969 02:01:04.800 --> 02:01:09.600 dogs now. For some reason, it opened as the Showboats his favorites, 1970 02:01:09.640 --> 02:01:13.239 and now it's flipped that the Generals are two point favorites. And I couldn't 1971 02:01:13.239 --> 02:01:15.319 figured that one out either. I don't know if it was a DeAndre Johnson 1972 02:01:15.399 --> 02:01:19.199 thing or so. I would certainly be on the Showboats side of that. 1973 02:01:19.600 --> 02:01:24.000 I would bet that immediately. I mean, you have your your sad quarterback 1974 02:01:24.079 --> 02:01:27.119 injured here, and yeah, I mean I guess the trade them all that. 1975 02:01:27.199 --> 02:01:29.520 But I certainly don't think that they bring that up here that quick. 1976 02:01:30.399 --> 02:01:33.439 I don't think that seems odd to me. It is the home field advantage 1977 02:01:33.439 --> 02:01:38.960 of Tom Benson that great. No, But yeah, they're Generals are two 1978 02:01:39.000 --> 02:01:43.279 point favorites right now, and then here Michigan Michigan at New Orleans. It's 1979 02:01:43.279 --> 02:01:45.880 probably the other standout game. I think the Fox it has lacked a little 1980 02:01:45.920 --> 02:01:49.159 bit in the ratings compared to NBC, But I imagine this afternoon game is 1981 02:01:49.159 --> 02:01:54.319 going to go, well, Panthers are breakers, Panthers are not in you 1982 02:01:54.399 --> 02:01:56.800 know, Detroit, and they can certainly win here. What do you make 1983 02:01:56.840 --> 02:02:03.079 of this one? It's time for the Breakers to and the Mark cast curse. 1984 02:02:03.199 --> 02:02:13.399 I guess it's been the West Hillis show so far. You know, 1985 02:02:13.880 --> 02:02:16.439 from a team you think just gonna pass it all the time. They've been 1986 02:02:16.520 --> 02:02:20.560 running quite a bit, you know, they've had some success, but still 1987 02:02:20.600 --> 02:02:26.880 come up short and a wind column. And like we mentioned earlier, I 1988 02:02:26.960 --> 02:02:30.600 think Hillis just has to be getting tired, so they give him a little 1989 02:02:30.600 --> 02:02:33.359 bit of rest. I don't know. I think he fumbled it for once 1990 02:02:33.520 --> 02:02:38.720 there and they went to Jones for a little bit. But I think they're 1991 02:02:38.760 --> 02:02:40.960 just going to go back to him. I mean, his workload has just 1992 02:02:41.039 --> 02:02:48.000 been outrageous. Looking here moving into the playoffs here, you know, a 1993 02:02:48.079 --> 02:02:50.399 couple of weeks left to the regular season playoffs. What are you looking for 1994 02:02:50.600 --> 02:02:54.039 from any of these scenes before we get out of here? Who would you 1995 02:02:54.119 --> 02:02:57.239 like to see? You think that you think Birmingham and Philadelphia at the end. 1996 02:02:58.239 --> 02:03:00.840 I think that's who's going to be. They're certainly the most fun teams, 1997 02:03:01.600 --> 02:03:09.359 the best offenses, Birmingham defense. I think their reputation has been a 1998 02:03:09.399 --> 02:03:14.920 lot stronger than their actual performance on defense this year. But I think if 1999 02:03:14.960 --> 02:03:17.520 they can do that, they're certainly the favorite. Well, Ferbie, I 2000 02:03:17.560 --> 02:03:20.239 appreciate it if people want to learn more about you, kind of what you 2001 02:03:20.319 --> 02:03:24.079 guys do over at run the sims where would you have them. Check out 2002 02:03:25.359 --> 02:03:28.520 run the sims dot com. You can check out me at Ferbie Hoobler on 2003 02:03:28.600 --> 02:03:34.279 Twitter, and we have stuff for USFL XFL. We'll have some NFL preseason 2004 02:03:34.640 --> 02:03:40.520 We mostly dfs betting prop tools. It's a lot of fun. Has the 2005 02:03:41.119 --> 02:03:47.399 USFL interest exceeded or disappointed your expectations this season? Disappointed? I think, 2006 02:03:48.520 --> 02:03:57.439 especially on DraftKings. Is XFL started out, you know about where USFL did 2007 02:03:57.560 --> 02:04:00.000 last season, you know, and then I think people what we're just exhausted. 2008 02:04:00.119 --> 02:04:03.840 You know, XFL started with one hundred thousand dollars to first place, 2009 02:04:04.560 --> 02:04:10.239 and now we're down to two thousand dollars to first place. So I think 2010 02:04:10.279 --> 02:04:16.239 the interest has dwindled quite a bit, and DraftKings just kind of has kind 2011 02:04:16.239 --> 02:04:20.319 of given up on the USFL product, you know, price wise, and 2012 02:04:21.680 --> 02:04:28.439 the players player pools, Like a couple of weeks ago, they haven't figured 2013 02:04:28.439 --> 02:04:31.920 out the difference between the inactive list and you know, like guys that were 2014 02:04:31.960 --> 02:04:34.720 inactive one week, they just don't even add them to the player pool. 2015 02:04:34.800 --> 02:04:41.199 So I think they've mostly given up on the product. But it's been fun, 2016 02:04:41.279 --> 02:04:45.920 though. Do you attribute that to a problem with the USFL product or 2017 02:04:46.039 --> 02:04:49.600 just a general fatigue in spring football that we've done this now for twenty weeks. 2018 02:04:51.199 --> 02:04:56.680 It's both, you know, and it's kind of self. It just 2019 02:04:56.800 --> 02:05:00.399 kind of keeps building. You know, they cut the prize pool so people 2020 02:05:00.399 --> 02:05:04.520 are interested, and then I don't expect DraftKings to keep taking a huge you 2021 02:05:04.600 --> 02:05:10.039 know, cut themselves, so you know, you make the prize pool smaller, 2022 02:05:10.560 --> 02:05:14.239 and then less people want to play, so they have to make the 2023 02:05:14.359 --> 02:05:16.680 next week the prize pool even smaller and keeps getting smaller and smaller. But 2024 02:05:17.119 --> 02:05:21.720 I'd say, yeah, and the interests in spring football or in the USFL 2025 02:05:21.800 --> 02:05:28.079 has been a little bit less than XFL, so it's just been it's been 2026 02:05:28.119 --> 02:05:30.920 a grind. And then let NFL. You're starting to get to mini camps 2027 02:05:30.960 --> 02:05:35.760 and stuff, and people are starting to do bestball drafts, so there's other 2028 02:05:35.880 --> 02:05:40.199 places to play, you know, other games to play. It's interesting. 2029 02:05:40.239 --> 02:05:43.840 I just I use you know, all these metrics and ratings and attendance and 2030 02:05:43.920 --> 02:05:46.399 YouTube kind of traffic I see, And obviously this is another one about so 2031 02:05:46.680 --> 02:05:49.279 I always appreciate those insights as well. Well. For me, thank you 2032 02:05:49.359 --> 02:05:53.439 so much, and I hope you enjoy Yeah, you gotta. I hope 2033 02:05:53.479 --> 02:05:55.479 you enjoy the rest of the season. You see him a little down, 2034 02:05:55.520 --> 02:05:58.680 but we got to grind through. Did I do enjoy it? I didn't 2035 02:05:58.680 --> 02:06:00.960 want to come across the It's good. It's a lot fun. It's this 2036 02:06:01.079 --> 02:06:03.920 lot we've been doing. Yeah, it's been twenty yet since ye now we're 2037 02:06:03.920 --> 02:06:06.880 working there. Well, foreby I appreciate it. Somo, all right, 2038 02:06:06.960 --> 02:06:15.279 thanks a lot. Well, last time we spoke, I was in I 2039 02:06:15.319 --> 02:06:18.159 think I was in the Flamingo over in Vegas. Now I'm relegated to my 2040 02:06:18.279 --> 02:06:21.359 living room. We have the lawnmower outside. Here we are JJ Adams here 2041 02:06:21.439 --> 02:06:24.920 with the post media. How are you doing, sir? I'm good. 2042 02:06:25.119 --> 02:06:29.800 I do remember you throwing that in my face that you were in Vegas having 2043 02:06:29.960 --> 02:06:31.600 like the time of your life when I was I was stuck in I remember 2044 02:06:31.640 --> 02:06:34.399 this. I got the memory like an element. I will never forget that, 2045 02:06:34.960 --> 02:06:38.359 nor will I forgive. But it's good to see you again, o. 2046 02:06:38.479 --> 02:06:40.600 J is good to talk. Yeah, well, much stable, much 2047 02:06:40.720 --> 02:06:44.159 more stable connection here back at marcass headquarters and over at the Flamingo. I 2048 02:06:44.199 --> 02:06:45.920 think I was on the hot spot that day. So anyway, here we're 2049 02:06:45.960 --> 02:06:49.600 doing team breakdowns. We had Ryan Valentine on last week talking Calgary. Obviously 2050 02:06:49.640 --> 02:06:53.960 we have to talk America's CFL team to bas alliance here, JJ is the 2051 02:06:53.960 --> 02:06:56.119 person I want to talk to you. How are you feeling that we've had 2052 02:06:56.159 --> 02:06:58.520 the one preseason game. I mean, I know, wins and losses and 2053 02:06:58.560 --> 02:07:00.640 all of that, but what do you make in the team so far? 2054 02:07:00.439 --> 02:07:05.119 You know, I'm encouraged. I think they brought a lot of the veteran 2055 02:07:05.199 --> 02:07:09.119 flavor that they had from last year. The guys that were like, you 2056 02:07:09.199 --> 02:07:12.039 know, second year players in our third year, they're they're answering that kind 2057 02:07:12.079 --> 02:07:15.960 of impact, kind of zone of their career. So I think, you 2058 02:07:15.039 --> 02:07:18.039 know, they've got a lot of returners. They picked up some good free 2059 02:07:18.119 --> 02:07:23.000 agents. Um, they didn't lose too many pieces, and if they did, 2060 02:07:23.079 --> 02:07:27.640 they might have found some replacements. You know, James Butler came into 2061 02:07:27.680 --> 02:07:31.319 his own last year for the Lions and they had to sort of start from 2062 02:07:31.359 --> 02:07:34.960 scratch here, so we'll see what they have in running back. They lost 2063 02:07:35.000 --> 02:07:40.800 fig figure out to Hamilton as well, so big veteran piece on the line. 2064 02:07:40.840 --> 02:07:44.000 Of course. They picked up Michael Mature at center, so you know, 2065 02:07:44.079 --> 02:07:45.520 they got some more experience there. I think This is going to be 2066 02:07:45.680 --> 02:07:50.279 a team that's going to be challenging for for top in the West again. 2067 02:07:50.800 --> 02:07:55.640 And that is, you know, even without mister Nathan Rourke. Um, 2068 02:07:56.039 --> 02:08:00.560 I think, uh, big play Va is a capable core back and now 2069 02:08:00.600 --> 02:08:03.520 that he's had like a training camp under his belt, he's got some time 2070 02:08:03.640 --> 02:08:11.039 a little runway. The team is unquestionably his to start the season, unquestionably 2071 02:08:11.159 --> 02:08:16.319 his. I think he'll feel very confident and that can only help him, 2072 02:08:16.520 --> 02:08:20.079 you know, uh, sort of get into routine and rhythm and really be 2073 02:08:20.880 --> 02:08:24.479 big play of the A and live up to that nickname he said to start 2074 02:08:24.560 --> 02:08:26.680 the season. Are you foreshadowing that Dan Evans takeover here? Do you mean 2075 02:08:26.760 --> 02:08:31.239 just off the last season with you know, because I want to talk Dan 2076 02:08:31.359 --> 02:08:35.159 too, But yeah, it's I Vernon was on the show postseason, and 2077 02:08:35.279 --> 02:08:39.319 I think people really underestimate the emotional toll that is, Like he was talking 2078 02:08:39.359 --> 02:08:41.920 to you, Yeah, moving across the country. I've got I'm paying rent 2079 02:08:43.000 --> 02:08:45.159 here, I'm paying rent here, I've got my house here. You know, 2080 02:08:45.279 --> 02:08:48.319 he lives down in Tacoma. I got basically a stones throw from me. 2081 02:08:48.439 --> 02:08:52.439 Like there was a lot going into that besides even just football. Yeah, 2082 02:08:52.600 --> 02:08:54.920 no, it was. I mean it was a tough move, like 2083 02:08:54.039 --> 02:08:58.800 he was. You know, he he fell out of out of favor in 2084 02:08:58.000 --> 02:09:03.279 Montreal, and you know the promises that were kept or not kept. He 2085 02:09:03.399 --> 02:09:07.479 just found himself, you know, stuck and um. You know, when 2086 02:09:07.560 --> 02:09:13.119 someone sort of questions your your capabilities and what you can do, and of 2087 02:09:13.159 --> 02:09:16.720 course it's gonna impact your confidence. And then you know, came over in 2088 02:09:16.800 --> 02:09:20.840 mid season to a team that had, you know, one of the best 2089 02:09:20.920 --> 02:09:24.000 quarterbacks this league has seen ever. You know, I'll say it was one 2090 02:09:24.079 --> 02:09:26.319 season, you know, one and a half seasons, but I'll say it 2091 02:09:26.399 --> 02:09:31.399 he was. He was remarkable. So that's a tough situation to come into 2092 02:09:31.960 --> 02:09:35.079 knowing that if that guy comes back, you're gonna be relegated to the bench 2093 02:09:35.159 --> 02:09:39.720 again. Now, you know he is uh, you know, he's got 2094 02:09:39.239 --> 02:09:43.520 that that offseason under his belt. You know, I'm sure you heard about 2095 02:09:43.520 --> 02:09:46.800 the Lion King's camp down into Como where he flew and all the guys. 2096 02:09:46.840 --> 02:09:50.159 He loves to do that, lots of bonding. He's sort of ingrained in 2097 02:09:50.199 --> 02:09:52.319 the culture of the team there. He's a leader on the team now. 2098 02:09:52.800 --> 02:09:56.840 So I don't think we'll see that Vermin Adams that we saw last year that 2099 02:09:58.039 --> 02:10:01.600 was you know, very intitive and conservative. You know, you would see 2100 02:10:01.680 --> 02:10:05.319 him hold on to the ball just way too long and you'd be yelling at 2101 02:10:05.399 --> 02:10:11.000 the at the screen throw the ball or yelling from the and you know he 2102 02:10:11.680 --> 02:10:13.359 gets sacked or run around or something like that. I don't think we're gonna 2103 02:10:13.359 --> 02:10:16.439 see that that via this year. I think he is going to sort of 2104 02:10:18.039 --> 02:10:22.680 throw back to his more successful days and he's got so many weapons at his 2105 02:10:22.800 --> 02:10:26.880 disposal. I mean, it would be nearly impossible for him to like fall 2106 02:10:26.960 --> 02:10:31.600 on his face with that kind of with those kind of options out there. 2107 02:10:31.640 --> 02:10:35.840 So I foresee a very good season for him. And if not, they 2108 02:10:35.920 --> 02:10:39.880 have Dan Evans your guy, well day, I don't want Vernon to do 2109 02:10:39.920 --> 02:10:43.079 anymore. I think he did like the backflip somersaults or whatever when he was 2110 02:10:43.119 --> 02:10:45.920 like running out of bounds and I think it was against Calgary and he did 2111 02:10:46.000 --> 02:10:48.840 like a I would go okay Vernon, like yeah, I thought he was 2112 02:10:48.880 --> 02:10:52.279 gonna like get seriously injured here, like just yeah, it was. It 2113 02:10:52.359 --> 02:10:56.800 was crazy. I like the lion King's thing and the arrow up and I've 2114 02:10:56.840 --> 02:11:00.560 talked with Nick and Mad about it. It's fascinated to me that track that 2115 02:11:00.840 --> 02:11:03.560 just to watch the little personality nuances between all of those guys and like, 2116 02:11:05.520 --> 02:11:07.239 I don't you know, I love Vernon. I think people have Vernon. 2117 02:11:07.479 --> 02:11:11.199 Vernon's a lot, right, A lot comes with Vernon both you know, 2118 02:11:11.279 --> 02:11:13.159 on the field and then off and just the personality. I like watching all 2119 02:11:13.199 --> 02:11:16.760 that. They did a similar thing with the USFL and we saw Brian Scott 2120 02:11:16.840 --> 02:11:20.920 the quarterback there and you know you kind of saw he was having to have 2121 02:11:20.039 --> 02:11:22.920 like a house meeting kind of trying to talk to some of the wide receivers 2122 02:11:24.000 --> 02:11:26.000 and you know, I kind of I don't know, we'll see. I 2123 02:11:26.079 --> 02:11:30.520 like it. They're complicated. You've got you know, Lucky Whitehead and guys 2124 02:11:30.560 --> 02:11:33.600 that have been in the NFL and coming back. It's curious as he kind 2125 02:11:33.600 --> 02:11:37.119 of how they all interact. Yeah. No, I mean that Vernon is 2126 02:11:37.159 --> 02:11:39.960 a is a leader. He's like he really is a leader. I mean 2127 02:11:41.159 --> 02:11:43.840 you saw that in the in the work that they did with the Lion Kings 2128 02:11:43.880 --> 02:11:48.439 when they were sitting down and he was interacting with everyone. And he has 2129 02:11:48.479 --> 02:11:50.600 a track record of doing that. I mean, he did that in Montreal, 2130 02:11:50.760 --> 02:11:54.199 you know, offseason flew in guys put him in a hotel practice with 2131 02:11:54.319 --> 02:11:58.199 him, So he's that's kind of a role that he's he's really comfortable with 2132 02:11:58.680 --> 02:12:03.560 and I think he involved into that that leader again now that he is the 2133 02:12:03.239 --> 02:12:07.560 number one, as long as he doesn't, like you say, get fold 2134 02:12:07.640 --> 02:12:09.479 in half, you know, trying to do something crazy scrambling out of the 2135 02:12:09.479 --> 02:12:13.119 backfield. The Dan Evans thing I remember when he got signed and kind of 2136 02:12:13.359 --> 02:12:16.359 took me by surprise and just thought there would be maybe a hotter market for 2137 02:12:16.520 --> 02:12:20.720 Dane and him coming in seems happy. He's in all the documentary stuff too, 2138 02:12:20.800 --> 02:12:24.520 and obviously he played What do you make of that? Is it just 2139 02:12:24.760 --> 02:12:28.000 hey, he didn't have anywhere else to go a you know, let's it 2140 02:12:28.079 --> 02:12:31.479 doesn't hurt to have another person there. Do you think he's really going to 2141 02:12:31.560 --> 02:12:35.800 compete? No, I think absolutely he's going to compete. I think you 2142 02:12:35.880 --> 02:12:41.039 know, Vernon is the number one guy, but you know, iron sharpens 2143 02:12:41.039 --> 02:12:43.800 iron, so having those guys together is only going to make him better. 2144 02:12:43.239 --> 02:12:48.600 And you know, the Lions saw what happens if you have a number one 2145 02:12:48.720 --> 02:12:52.479 quarterback and he gets hurt and there's really nothing behind it. He saw what 2146 02:12:52.680 --> 02:12:56.920 happened when they tried to you know, rotining the guys that they had last 2147 02:12:56.000 --> 02:13:03.600 year. So now they have a guy who is a capable starter in this 2148 02:13:03.800 --> 02:13:07.640 league and he'll be pushing for number one. I think, you know, 2149 02:13:07.199 --> 02:13:11.319 heading into the season, this is definitely going to be Vernon's Vernon's term. 2150 02:13:11.399 --> 02:13:13.560 But you know, having Dane there, I don't think it's a bad thing. 2151 02:13:13.640 --> 02:13:18.000 I think it's a great room. Everyone on the on the team, 2152 02:13:18.359 --> 02:13:22.079 you know, talks about this culture that they have there where guy, it's 2153 02:13:22.119 --> 02:13:24.439 like a family atmosphere. You know, they're all brothers and they're all trying 2154 02:13:24.439 --> 02:13:26.760 to lift each other up. So I don't think there's any of that sort 2155 02:13:26.800 --> 02:13:31.239 of competition. He doesn't find himself like in that situation. He wasn't in 2156 02:13:31.359 --> 02:13:37.079 Montreal where he felt sidelined and kind of left out. Everyone's included, So 2157 02:13:37.640 --> 02:13:39.920 I think it's it can only be a good thing for the Lions to have 2158 02:13:39.319 --> 02:13:43.159 Dane on the team. And I am, I like you, a little 2159 02:13:43.159 --> 02:13:46.039 surprised there wasn't a hotter market from out there. But you know, we'll 2160 02:13:46.079 --> 02:13:50.680 see what those other teams do and uh in this season with the guys they 2161 02:13:50.760 --> 02:13:54.000 brought in, I am very excited to see Cuy for jar there with Montreal. 2162 02:13:54.079 --> 02:13:56.479 I am very excited to see what that looks like. And I know 2163 02:13:56.600 --> 02:14:00.479 that's a conversation for different team breakdown, but the culley for Jarr who now 2164 02:14:00.560 --> 02:14:03.279 was a friend of the podcast, Cody, we were on not on speaking 2165 02:14:03.399 --> 02:14:07.680 terms for a little while, but Cody's back in the family here and I'm 2166 02:14:07.760 --> 02:14:09.119 excited. I like Montreal. They're my team of the East, and we've 2167 02:14:09.239 --> 02:14:13.640 we've had Gary on the podcast, so I like Montreal and I hope Cody 2168 02:14:13.680 --> 02:14:18.159 finds successory speaking French and doing everything else. What did you do the code 2169 02:14:18.199 --> 02:14:22.520 to you to make him an enemy? I need to know. I tweet. 2170 02:14:22.600 --> 02:14:24.439 I retweeted a Three Down Nation article, the one where he was talking 2171 02:14:24.520 --> 02:14:28.399 he used chicken nuggets as opposed to curse words, and I think Cody went 2172 02:14:28.439 --> 02:14:31.920 on the spree and just stamp found anyone that was associated with that article and 2173 02:14:33.039 --> 02:14:35.000 just went on the block. And so I apologized. I said, I 2174 02:14:35.079 --> 02:14:37.359 accept you know all of that, and yeah, Cody gave on the show. 2175 02:14:37.439 --> 02:14:41.479 It was great, it was a good time. It's funny Vernon has 2176 02:14:41.760 --> 02:14:45.039 had a boat to pick with the Three Down Nation two. You know, 2177 02:14:45.119 --> 02:14:48.520 we came to BC and anytime in the post game, you know, the 2178 02:14:48.560 --> 02:14:52.359 three Down nation writers would ask a question. Answer was always the same, 2179 02:14:52.479 --> 02:14:54.560 gotta look at the film. Didn't matter the question could ask anything. You 2180 02:14:54.640 --> 02:14:58.479 know, what kind of chicken soup do you like? Gotta watch the film. 2181 02:14:58.720 --> 02:15:01.079 I don't know, I just got it was hilarious to see I was 2182 02:15:01.199 --> 02:15:05.680 JC Abbott from three Down. They watched him sweat trying to ask all these 2183 02:15:05.720 --> 02:15:09.399 detailed questions and burn and just be like I watched film. Then he's awesome. 2184 02:15:09.520 --> 02:15:13.159 I love Yeah, JCS still now. John Hodge was on the show 2185 02:15:13.239 --> 02:15:16.000 last week, so I'm slowly working my way up. I think JC is 2186 02:15:16.039 --> 02:15:18.560 like the ultimate boss battle there. So we're working our way up through the 2187 02:15:18.600 --> 02:15:24.479 three down ranks, but trying to be friends. In terms of big losses, 2188 02:15:24.520 --> 02:15:26.800 he a butler all of that. I'm very scared because I didn't think 2189 02:15:26.920 --> 02:15:31.560 BC they have not run the ball well. I felt like in the last 2190 02:15:31.600 --> 02:15:33.520 couple of years. Obviously he had a stand that year, but I am 2191 02:15:33.600 --> 02:15:37.600 scared of that loss and kind of what they're going to do there. Yeah, 2192 02:15:37.920 --> 02:15:41.079 I mean JB was it was. It was a big loss, like 2193 02:15:41.199 --> 02:15:43.279 he really came into his own last year. But if I remember the year 2194 02:15:43.319 --> 02:15:48.000 before he wasn't he wasn't that great. And I think last year was the 2195 02:15:48.359 --> 02:15:52.720 first year against like the Andrew Harris stays that they had like a thousand yard 2196 02:15:52.800 --> 02:15:56.800 rusher and so you know, historically they haven't run the ball well. Um, 2197 02:15:58.399 --> 02:16:01.279 the guys that they got, they had five guys to start camp. 2198 02:16:01.359 --> 02:16:05.199 They whittled it down to four right away. I think it was Von Watson 2199 02:16:05.279 --> 02:16:07.680 can come up because he had a baby, and then whittled that down to 2200 02:16:07.800 --> 02:16:13.680 three and then they released a Buddy Howell U not too long ago. So 2201 02:16:13.760 --> 02:16:18.800 it's and Tony Williams and Smoke Mozelle. Um. I think Williams has got 2202 02:16:18.880 --> 02:16:24.479 the the ability to be a very good back in this league. He's I 2203 02:16:24.560 --> 02:16:28.079 think he's got the intra insight track to be a starter because he's the biggest 2204 02:16:28.159 --> 02:16:31.880 of the bunch. He's you know, he's close to six foot, he's 2205 02:16:31.920 --> 02:16:37.280 two hundred pounds. And blocking is such a huge thing in this league because 2206 02:16:37.280 --> 02:16:41.760 you pass so much that they need a guy who can provide that protection for 2207 02:16:41.799 --> 02:16:45.799 their quarterback. And also he's like a very powerful running like he can he 2208 02:16:45.920 --> 02:16:48.520 can lower his pads and like get through some arm tackles and gain those extra 2209 02:16:48.639 --> 02:16:54.040 yards. Um. So you know, combine that with you know, athleticism. 2210 02:16:54.159 --> 02:16:56.360 He's fast. Uh. You know, we saw a little bit in 2211 02:16:56.440 --> 02:17:01.040 the in the preseason game what he in Smoke would do. Um. But 2212 02:17:01.280 --> 02:17:05.440 definitely, you know, he's a guy that can really do anything you ask. 2213 02:17:07.040 --> 02:17:09.399 Um. Smoke is more of that sort of hybrid kind of guy. 2214 02:17:09.600 --> 02:17:15.079 He's a very good receiver, he's a good runner, he can return kicks. 2215 02:17:15.399 --> 02:17:18.000 He's not huge. I think he was the smallest of the five guys 2216 02:17:18.040 --> 02:17:20.760 that they brought in, but I mean he is shifty, he's fast. 2217 02:17:22.399 --> 02:17:24.520 Uh. You know, he'll provide a very good change of pays to to 2218 02:17:24.680 --> 02:17:26.799 to Williams. So I think they're gonna be set. And you know, 2219 02:17:28.639 --> 02:17:31.799 we talk about replacing James Butler, but you know two years ago, they 2220 02:17:31.840 --> 02:17:33.200 didn't. They didn't have James Butler. They had to develop him. So 2221 02:17:33.600 --> 02:17:37.200 I think we're gonna see the same thing with these guys. And I hopefully, 2222 02:17:37.360 --> 02:17:39.239 you know, we don't know, we don't know until the the you 2223 02:17:39.319 --> 02:17:43.079 know, the the rubber hits the road what they're gonna do. But I 2224 02:17:43.200 --> 02:17:46.799 think they're gonna be you know, pretty much set at running back this season 2225 02:17:46.440 --> 02:17:50.920 in terms of the Lions, you know, kind of carrying on from last 2226 02:17:50.000 --> 02:17:52.959 year, and I know they're going to announce the band here for the you 2227 02:17:54.040 --> 02:17:56.479 know, the day I think halftime of the preseason game, they're going to 2228 02:17:56.520 --> 02:17:58.000 announce for the you know, the kickoff and all of that. But in 2229 02:17:58.239 --> 02:18:01.120 terms of I know, you know, Mark Doman was really into all the 2230 02:18:01.239 --> 02:18:05.040 FSCU stuff and we've had jaman on talking about that and kind of building the 2231 02:18:05.079 --> 02:18:07.920 grassroots and all of that in the community. Do you feel like the Lions 2232 02:18:07.959 --> 02:18:11.840 are going to be able to carry over the momentum they have last year with 2233 02:18:11.040 --> 02:18:16.639 Rourke? It just in terms of like popularity in the community. I think 2234 02:18:16.760 --> 02:18:22.879 that it Rourke's magnificent season. Really, the spark was already there there. 2235 02:18:24.040 --> 02:18:28.239 The excitement was there with having new ownership. That was involved having new ownership 2236 02:18:28.319 --> 02:18:33.040 that was you know at the grassrooms level, handing out scarves and schwag at 2237 02:18:33.120 --> 02:18:35.799 flag football games, you know, sponsoring the flag football leagues. You know, 2238 02:18:35.959 --> 02:18:39.159 the Lions hadn't had that for a while. So that kind of started 2239 02:18:39.200 --> 02:18:43.920 the Ember a little bit, breathed some life back into the team, and 2240 02:18:43.079 --> 02:18:46.719 then Nathan Rourke was just like Yasoline and just boomed. You know, there 2241 02:18:46.840 --> 02:18:50.760 was just this massive interest in the team, and uh yeah, I don't 2242 02:18:50.760 --> 02:18:56.360 I don't know who their their halftime or show will be for the home opener, 2243 02:18:56.399 --> 02:19:00.639 but you know, they keep teasing it and I think it'll be hopefully 2244 02:19:00.639 --> 02:19:03.559 it won't be a Chilliwac again. You know, I think they're they're demographic. 2245 02:19:03.639 --> 02:19:05.799 They did get their demographic a little lower. Uh, not that there's 2246 02:19:05.799 --> 02:19:09.559 anything wrong with classic rock, but you know, let's let's make a little 2247 02:19:09.600 --> 02:19:18.040 lower. Um. I think they're really making an effort to scratch and claw 2248 02:19:18.200 --> 02:19:22.719 their way back into like the the number two spot in Vancouver sports. Like 2249 02:19:22.360 --> 02:19:26.879 no one's gonna be touching the Canucks because the Canucks are the Canucks. But 2250 02:19:26.440 --> 02:19:31.879 you know, the white Caps are in a very popular league, especially in 2251 02:19:31.879 --> 02:19:33.200 the States. I think it's like the number three league down there now. 2252 02:19:33.799 --> 02:19:39.719 Um So interest is rising in that Lions have been lucky and that the white 2253 02:19:39.760 --> 02:19:45.360 Caps have been terrible for a decade, no success. So if they can 2254 02:19:45.600 --> 02:19:48.799 get some some wins on the board and like last year, challenge for a 2255 02:19:50.200 --> 02:19:52.840 you know, a great cup, making to the playoffs, make some noise. 2256 02:19:52.319 --> 02:19:56.360 Um, you know that that's gonna even give them a bigger ramp into 2257 02:19:56.479 --> 02:20:03.440 into season four with with the mar seasons three. So I think absolutely last 2258 02:20:03.520 --> 02:20:07.200 year huge fire. There's the interest is still there. Even though Nathan has 2259 02:20:07.200 --> 02:20:11.120 gone to the NFL now, I think there's still a lot of interest in 2260 02:20:11.159 --> 02:20:15.280 this team and with what they're doing just to make an experience for everybody. 2261 02:20:15.360 --> 02:20:18.600 So yeah, absolutely, I think it'll be even better than last year. 2262 02:20:18.920 --> 02:20:22.399 Well because I think they I mean, you know, Nathan phenomenal talent. 2263 02:20:24.040 --> 02:20:26.680 Nathan wasn't exactly the most electric personality, right, you know, and he 2264 02:20:26.879 --> 02:20:31.319 was on you know, he was on the show pre kind of that season 2265 02:20:31.360 --> 02:20:33.760 and all of that. But you know, I think with Vernon and Keion 2266 02:20:33.920 --> 02:20:37.959 and Lucky and I mean even Dane to some extent, I think, you 2267 02:20:37.040 --> 02:20:41.280 know, Dane's had stories in the past talking about his upbringing and kind of 2268 02:20:41.360 --> 02:20:43.840 his heritage and everything. Like, I think you have a really marketable team 2269 02:20:43.920 --> 02:20:48.399 there. If they can perform even modicamly well whatever on the field, I 2270 02:20:48.520 --> 02:20:52.280 think you have a lot of stars there that you can build around, because 2271 02:20:52.319 --> 02:20:54.760 like Lucky Whitehead is like I don't I've been to yet, Like I don't 2272 02:20:54.799 --> 02:20:58.680 care, Like I'll do whatever i want and like I'm doing sidelines you know, 2273 02:20:58.079 --> 02:21:01.559 it gives in that agger where like he's still all in, but you 2274 02:21:01.600 --> 02:21:05.840 can tell he's a little bit above kind of what's going on. Yeah. 2275 02:21:05.920 --> 02:21:09.879 Absolutely, you just have to look at his Uh everyone's wondering what how is 2276 02:21:09.920 --> 02:21:11.879 he going to get to the game? How is he going to enter the 2277 02:21:11.920 --> 02:21:13.000 game? Is it gonna be on horse bat? Is it gonna be on 2278 02:21:13.120 --> 02:21:16.799 ice cream card? Is it gonna be on a unic cycle? You know, 2279 02:21:16.159 --> 02:21:24.399 it's just that fun kind of modern social media content. Um. And 2280 02:21:24.639 --> 02:21:28.680 with a great personality like Lucky, it's just you know, it's easy to 2281 02:21:30.239 --> 02:21:33.000 to to sort of sell that to people. And like you said, there's 2282 02:21:33.040 --> 02:21:37.719 lots of great personalities and stories on the team, very marketable. Um. 2283 02:21:37.680 --> 02:21:41.040 So you know, I won't say that Baker and Nick have a have an 2284 02:21:41.079 --> 02:21:45.079 easy job, but it's a lot easier to sell people when you know they're 2285 02:21:45.200 --> 02:21:50.520 very outwardly, uh, you know, energetic and enthusiastic. And I'm not 2286 02:21:50.559 --> 02:21:52.360 saying Nathan wasn't. I love I love talking to Nate. You know, 2287 02:21:52.479 --> 02:21:56.799 when the cameras are off, he's a different guy, but you know it's 2288 02:21:56.879 --> 02:22:03.719 a right on camera. He was very straightforward, straight forward. Would you 2289 02:22:03.799 --> 02:22:07.559 would you rather sell you know Vernon or Lucky or would rather sell Trevor Harris 2290 02:22:07.639 --> 02:22:11.440 here and Regina. I mean I think I think, like you know, 2291 02:22:11.600 --> 02:22:15.040 and there's certain certain social media teams have I think that is the tougher sell 2292 02:22:15.120 --> 02:22:18.639 here, which Trevor Harris coming in, Yeah, absolutely absolutely. I mean, 2293 02:22:18.319 --> 02:22:22.920 I mean, the Lions have no uh no shortage of guys that they 2294 02:22:22.959 --> 02:22:28.879 can sell, and I really fearful those guys trying to big up Trevor Harris 2295 02:22:30.040 --> 02:22:31.879 last I think for me, do we do we so you know, we 2296 02:22:31.959 --> 02:22:35.360 did the uniforms right, we have that we're doing the you know, the 2297 02:22:35.600 --> 02:22:39.440 bone and blackout or whatever and all that. I told Matt Baker, I 2298 02:22:39.520 --> 02:22:43.120 want to work the mark has to get to the point where I get those 2299 02:22:43.200 --> 02:22:45.959 jerseys sent to me like Don and Dolly did or whatever. You know. 2300 02:22:46.040 --> 02:22:48.440 I wonder how like how do we how do I get on that? I 2301 02:22:48.520 --> 02:22:50.959 want to get on that that level here? You know, we've had the 2302 02:22:50.040 --> 02:22:52.719 owner of the team on our show for about thirty five minutes, but that 2303 02:22:52.799 --> 02:22:56.239 we'll get there. Um. But then like the Argos do it now and 2304 02:22:56.360 --> 02:23:00.200 like I think Montreal they said they're doing the new uniform next year. I 2305 02:23:00.319 --> 02:23:01.319 said, are we a fan of this is? Are we just trying? 2306 02:23:01.360 --> 02:23:05.639 It's just like false sparky and it's just like a false fire. What do 2307 02:23:05.719 --> 02:23:09.159 you make of this? Well, I would actually like to take personal credit 2308 02:23:09.280 --> 02:23:13.399 for the Minds changing their uniforms this year. You know, I've been lobbying 2309 02:23:13.520 --> 02:23:16.959 a Mars since he came to like bring back the gun metal gray, you 2310 02:23:16.000 --> 02:23:20.399 know, because those those those are dope. Those are my favorite Lions jerseys 2311 02:23:20.479 --> 02:23:24.840 of all time. Even though you you couldn't read the numbers or the letters 2312 02:23:24.879 --> 02:23:28.479 on the back, just I love the color scheme, and so I think 2313 02:23:28.520 --> 02:23:31.559 you kind of took that under advisement tap myself on the back, uh, 2314 02:23:31.680 --> 02:23:35.559 and came out with these these jerseys. I think the blackout one is is 2315 02:23:37.120 --> 02:23:39.040 nice. You know, you can't go wrong with black and orange. It's 2316 02:23:39.079 --> 02:23:43.760 pretty classy. Um the fog gray or the bones fog yeah five, it's 2317 02:23:43.920 --> 02:23:48.959 it's it's it's pretty nice jersey. I will give them that. I think 2318 02:23:48.440 --> 02:23:54.120 that you have to kind of change things up, you know, if you're 2319 02:23:54.159 --> 02:24:00.840 gonna be you want to sort of differentiate yourself and continue to evolved, because 2320 02:24:01.280 --> 02:24:03.399 I don't think to see if I can aboard afford to stayte stagnant. You 2321 02:24:03.520 --> 02:24:07.360 need to freshen it up. And so, you know, yeah, I 2322 02:24:07.440 --> 02:24:11.360 like the Toronto uniforms, you know, baby blue. I'm a unc guy, 2323 02:24:11.479 --> 02:24:13.680 so I love that color scheme. I'd love to see what they come 2324 02:24:13.719 --> 02:24:18.079 out. You said Montreal is coming up with the next year. They said, 2325 02:24:18.639 --> 02:24:20.360 yeah, I'd love to see I think I think it's great. Um, 2326 02:24:22.559 --> 02:24:26.159 yeah, I mean, I'd love to see Winnipeg do something different. 2327 02:24:26.680 --> 02:24:30.079 I think they have the classiest color scheme, but they all like look the 2328 02:24:30.159 --> 02:24:33.079 same to me, like they've changed it, but they all kind of look 2329 02:24:33.159 --> 02:24:37.440 the same. So I'd like to see something from from out of Winnipeg. 2330 02:24:37.959 --> 02:24:39.639 You know, they're they're they're the franchise, right, the model franchise. 2331 02:24:39.719 --> 02:24:45.600 Do something different, do something you know bold, you know the bigs w 2332 02:24:45.840 --> 02:24:48.959 on that right though, come on, do something. So I don't know 2333 02:24:48.959 --> 02:24:52.840 if you want to market the bombers in this political kind of climate, I 2334 02:24:52.879 --> 02:24:56.879 don't know if that's the best. It's kind of like the Washington Bullets. 2335 02:24:56.959 --> 02:25:01.360 That wasn't the best name to change that BA in the day. So yeah, 2336 02:25:01.559 --> 02:25:05.479 last thing for me, you know, how do you feel just you 2337 02:25:05.600 --> 02:25:09.200 know, the CFL existing here going into this year, welfare check on the 2338 02:25:09.239 --> 02:25:15.000 league and the health and everything else. Um, I think it's it's stronger 2339 02:25:15.159 --> 02:25:18.200 than than it was coming out of the pandemic. But it's not hard. 2340 02:25:18.440 --> 02:25:22.920 It's not hard. I think there's a crop of new owners. Um, 2341 02:25:24.399 --> 02:25:26.079 there's a new life in the league. They're really trying to push to do 2342 02:25:26.200 --> 02:25:31.719 things differently than they did before. So I think they're really trying to evolve. 2343 02:25:31.280 --> 02:25:37.200 Um, it'll be interesting to see how they continue to coexist with XFL. 2344 02:25:37.760 --> 02:25:41.639 You know, as much as they never want to admitted, it's had 2345 02:25:41.639 --> 02:25:46.280 a huge huge impact on on the CFL on the player front. So you 2346 02:25:46.399 --> 02:25:52.479 know, if they can find a way to to to coexist and not compete, 2347 02:25:52.840 --> 02:25:54.600 I think that would only help the league. But you know, as 2348 02:25:54.719 --> 02:25:58.719 as a as an individual entity, I think it's uh, you know, 2349 02:25:58.760 --> 02:26:01.799 I think it's the stronger place has been in at least last decade, last 2350 02:26:01.799 --> 02:26:05.799 decade. So I think they're they're doing the right things now. Unless see 2351 02:26:05.840 --> 02:26:09.600 if they can attract some new some new blood in the league, you know, 2352 02:26:09.840 --> 02:26:13.760 need to replace some of those fans who maybe you're in't watching as much 2353 02:26:13.840 --> 02:26:18.120 to be as they used to. Let's just say that. So yeah, 2354 02:26:18.200 --> 02:26:20.120 No, I think I think it's a good place. I think it was 2355 02:26:20.159 --> 02:26:24.239 a direct quote from John Hades like CFL staff wants the XFL and USFL to 2356 02:26:24.319 --> 02:26:28.479 die. I think that was basically like a direct quote on the podcast about 2357 02:26:28.520 --> 02:26:31.760 so but you know, I mean it is it's competition for players, and 2358 02:26:31.239 --> 02:26:35.520 you know, I think long term, if if in the XML and or 2359 02:26:35.639 --> 02:26:39.440 USFL survive and it increases Canadian talent up in the CFL because they have to 2360 02:26:39.520 --> 02:26:43.200 look inward. I mean, I think that that's great. It helps everybody. 2361 02:26:43.200 --> 02:26:45.360 I mean then everyone, you know, it's it's more jobs and more 2362 02:26:45.440 --> 02:26:48.639 roles for everybody. So I think it should be good at j J anything 2363 02:26:48.639 --> 02:26:50.360 else. And I appreciate it here and maybe we'll get you on here sometime 2364 02:26:50.440 --> 02:26:54.799 during the season, hopefully. I think they predicted nine or ten wins they 2365 02:26:54.879 --> 02:26:58.639 had, like the ratings come out this week, like they some wager thing 2366 02:26:58.719 --> 02:27:01.399 talked about like all the team wins or how many wins people are going to 2367 02:27:01.440 --> 02:27:03.399 get that BC Lions were like a ten win team. I think, oh 2368 02:27:05.040 --> 02:27:07.200 hmm, I would I would have given them a little more than that, 2369 02:27:07.280 --> 02:27:11.879 but hey, I'm not I'm not the guy setting all those those money bets. 2370 02:27:11.920 --> 02:27:18.200 So interesting but anytime you want to talk. BC Lions happy to come 2371 02:27:18.239 --> 02:27:26.639 on anytime. My friend s thank you so much, no problem, Well, 2372 02:27:26.680 --> 02:27:31.479 I appreciate it. We have I guess joining live correspondent here from our 2373 02:27:31.879 --> 02:27:33.479 training camp. We have my Cogan here with the Argonauts. How are you 2374 02:27:33.520 --> 02:27:37.079 doing, sir? Doing great? Better now that I'm talking to you. 2375 02:27:37.600 --> 02:27:41.040 Well, I appreciate that. So now that you know the Argots have won, 2376 02:27:41.239 --> 02:27:43.600 like, do you get to go around like when you and Dave Campbell 2377 02:27:43.639 --> 02:27:46.159 and all your other guys see your secret meetups, do you get to like 2378 02:27:46.239 --> 02:27:50.000 flex a little bit harder with the Argonauts the Great up Champions. I love 2379 02:27:50.079 --> 02:27:52.879 the fact that I will so far, I have never this will continue right 2380 02:27:52.959 --> 02:27:58.000 now because I didn't bring up Breakup Champions. You did. So any time 2381 02:27:58.040 --> 02:28:01.920 I've been interviewed as us the country, I have never brought that up. 2382 02:28:01.000 --> 02:28:05.399 I've always let the other people do that, including in Hamilton where I did 2383 02:28:05.440 --> 02:28:09.360 three different shows last week, and I'm proud to say I didn't bring it 2384 02:28:09.440 --> 02:28:13.799 up. Less but that's exciting though. It's good we were there. Exciting 2385 02:28:13.959 --> 02:28:16.399 and obviously with the jack Kellys of it all, and you know McLeod and 2386 02:28:16.479 --> 02:28:20.799 now he's in the USNL. It seems like the argos are in the news 2387 02:28:20.840 --> 02:28:24.600 a lot, which is exciting because obviously we've talked in the past and others 2388 02:28:24.639 --> 02:28:26.559 about you know everything. It seems like kind of the arrow is pointing up 2389 02:28:26.559 --> 02:28:30.000 a little bit. Is that how you feel, Yeah, it is, 2390 02:28:30.840 --> 02:28:33.920 you know, every little bit helps. We got quite a bit of a 2391 02:28:33.959 --> 02:28:37.280 boost from the uniform release and the helmet release and the one fifty news conference 2392 02:28:39.239 --> 02:28:45.040 where we had CTV, CBC Global, TSN and we had all the major 2393 02:28:45.159 --> 02:28:48.520 dailies there, which is not a normal occurrence for an Argonaut news conference, 2394 02:28:48.600 --> 02:28:52.879 sadly in this market. So to see that kind of response, you know, 2395 02:28:54.040 --> 02:28:58.159 hopefully we're we're becoming the cool kids again. You'll see more people on 2396 02:28:58.239 --> 02:29:01.520 the stands at Demo Field here, which is great news. And this is 2397 02:29:01.559 --> 02:29:05.639 our one hundred and fiftieth anniversary season, so we've got a lot of bells 2398 02:29:05.639 --> 02:29:07.520 and whistles plans, some of which we revealed, some we have not. 2399 02:29:09.639 --> 02:29:13.159 Yeah, is that one of those things. It feels like planning you must 2400 02:29:13.200 --> 02:29:16.840 start a little bit further outright than looking forward to the season. It feels 2401 02:29:18.399 --> 02:29:20.719 it's cool, and I know Mike Mitchell cover covers the argos for cf on 2402 02:29:20.760 --> 02:29:24.680 News seven. He's a lifelong Argostan, but it does seem like it's a 2403 02:29:24.760 --> 02:29:28.840 really cool milestone for the CFL, for the argos for this, I mean 2404 02:29:28.920 --> 02:29:31.360 for everything, for the city and every all the you know, the owners 2405 02:29:31.440 --> 02:29:35.159 are everyone across the board from you know, for one hundred and fifty years 2406 02:29:35.200 --> 02:29:37.959 now. One of the things that we did, and we did mention at 2407 02:29:39.000 --> 02:29:41.239 the news conference, so we're not really speaking out of turn. And then 2408 02:29:41.280 --> 02:29:45.600 it's got a little bit of play so far on social media. A panel 2409 02:29:45.639 --> 02:29:50.159 of five of us went through Argonaut history one hundred and fifty years and came 2410 02:29:50.239 --> 02:29:54.760 up with the one hundred and fifty top moments in Argo history, which was 2411 02:29:54.840 --> 02:29:58.760 not easy. Luckily we had I don't know if you know James Fraser or 2412 02:29:58.840 --> 02:30:05.920 not. He runs the Twitter account by goon Boatman. He's a history professor 2413 02:30:05.040 --> 02:30:11.120 here at the University of Guelph whose passion is pre CFL Toronto Argonau football. 2414 02:30:11.840 --> 02:30:16.159 This list would be different without him. The author Paul Woods, the longtime 2415 02:30:16.200 --> 02:30:22.280 broadcaster and lifelong Argo fan, Don Landry and Danny Webb, the longest serving 2416 02:30:22.399 --> 02:30:28.680 Argo employee who started as the equipment manager in nineteen eighty five. The five 2417 02:30:28.760 --> 02:30:33.040 of us got together and it was about a three month exercise and I don't 2418 02:30:33.079 --> 02:30:37.559 know how many hundreds of hours of manpower were spent on this, but we 2419 02:30:37.639 --> 02:30:41.120 were actually very, very surprisingly happy with the list. I think we have 2420 02:30:41.360 --> 02:30:46.079 every decade representative except the eighteen nineties. There you go. I like that. 2421 02:30:46.239 --> 02:30:50.760 So a lot of pressure here coming into this season to perform. You 2422 02:30:50.840 --> 02:30:54.719 know, we've had the preseason game. I want to talk a little Brian 2423 02:30:54.760 --> 02:30:56.639 Scott and everything else, but how did you feel like the argos have looked 2424 02:30:56.680 --> 02:31:01.239 so far headed into the season. What's expected? I mean, the defense 2425 02:31:01.360 --> 02:31:05.719 is ahead of the offense, and usually that's the case in training camp, 2426 02:31:05.920 --> 02:31:09.840 and um, you know, Chad Kelly has looked really good or I think 2427 02:31:09.879 --> 02:31:13.000 everybody's a little relieved. I don't think it was a question at all, 2428 02:31:13.120 --> 02:31:16.120 but you know, there's always that thing in the back of your mind until 2429 02:31:16.159 --> 02:31:20.680 you see it. But but but Chad looks fantastic, so we're not worried. 2430 02:31:20.719 --> 02:31:24.120 There somebody I assume is going to step up and and take the reins 2431 02:31:24.319 --> 02:31:30.000 in that number two battle you mentioned Brian Scott. It's a three way race 2432 02:31:30.120 --> 02:31:31.639 and you know, one day one guy will look great. You know, 2433 02:31:31.840 --> 02:31:35.760 Cameron Dukes will look great the next day and Ben Holmes will look great the 2434 02:31:35.840 --> 02:31:39.000 next day, and then it seems everybody will take a little bit of a 2435 02:31:39.079 --> 02:31:43.200 regression and somebody else will step up the next day. So that's that's one 2436 02:31:43.239 --> 02:31:46.200 of the things I think in the final preseason game, that's that's going to 2437 02:31:46.239 --> 02:31:48.799 be something that the offensive side of the ball is going to be looked at 2438 02:31:48.920 --> 02:31:52.000 looking at, but you know, I think it's the defense looks fantastic. 2439 02:31:52.159 --> 02:31:56.319 Not everybody's been healthy in camp. You know, somebody gets a little nicked. 2440 02:31:56.200 --> 02:32:00.879 They really air on the side of caution, so one day doesn't become 2441 02:32:01.200 --> 02:32:05.520 one week. You don't give them the day off and you know, ready 2442 02:32:05.559 --> 02:32:09.120 to go. The entire the entire coaching staff is back, which you know, 2443 02:32:09.200 --> 02:32:13.799 with the championship team especially, is exceptionally rare. But you know, 2444 02:32:13.959 --> 02:32:16.799 we're lucky here in Toronto where everybody stayed put. Well, that's the thing 2445 02:32:16.879 --> 02:32:20.879 with the quarterbacks, and it's you know, obviously in all of these leagues 2446 02:32:20.920 --> 02:32:24.520 and the CFL, and you know even this year with the round table, 2447 02:32:24.600 --> 02:32:26.799 you know, Trevor's moving and Cody's moving and you know, burned in like 2448 02:32:26.840 --> 02:32:31.680 all that to have Chad Kelly here. You know, you have this monumental 2449 02:32:31.040 --> 02:32:35.559 you know McLeod, who's at least in the time that we've covered the CFL 2450 02:32:35.680 --> 02:32:37.479 one of the main stays, you know, at least with the Argos, 2451 02:32:37.479 --> 02:32:39.479 and I know our time is very short in the Argos history, but you 2452 02:32:39.520 --> 02:32:41.959 know, he goes and then it's like, oh my god, we have 2453 02:32:43.159 --> 02:32:45.959 just this up and coming star here ready to go. I mean, how 2454 02:32:46.319 --> 02:32:48.559 how fortunate it is that for the Argos And is that what do you attribute 2455 02:32:48.600 --> 02:32:50.920 that to to be able to know that, to be in such a good 2456 02:32:50.959 --> 02:32:54.600 spot right now. Yeah, it's great. He knows the offense. It's 2457 02:32:54.600 --> 02:32:56.760 not like there was a learning curve for him. His learning curve was last 2458 02:32:56.879 --> 02:33:00.719 year in terms of, you know, a similar a new game, the 2459 02:33:00.799 --> 02:33:03.040 new rules, the size of the field, the size of the ball, 2460 02:33:03.120 --> 02:33:07.159 all of that stuff. He's used to that now. He got number two 2461 02:33:07.239 --> 02:33:09.559 snaps last year, got to play in a game at the end of the 2462 02:33:09.639 --> 02:33:13.600 season, and we did a conversation and you can read our conversation about our 2463 02:33:13.639 --> 02:33:18.840 conversation at argonaut Dota. He says that the game he got in at the 2464 02:33:18.959 --> 02:33:24.000 end of the season probably meant more to his confidence than even the Great Cup 2465 02:33:24.879 --> 02:33:26.760 because it had been so long since he had actually played a full game. 2466 02:33:28.440 --> 02:33:31.239 He got in, played really well and that kind of got his mojo back. 2467 02:33:31.360 --> 02:33:33.879 And you know, who knows what happens in the Gray Cup if he 2468 02:33:33.920 --> 02:33:37.239 didn't get those reps in the in the final game, which meant nothing in 2469 02:33:37.280 --> 02:33:41.879 the standings, but to the guys who got in, especially the first timers 2470 02:33:41.920 --> 02:33:45.479 like Chad, it meant the world. So you know, he's in, 2471 02:33:45.600 --> 02:33:48.280 He's got the keys to the car. He's cool with that. He's been 2472 02:33:48.360 --> 02:33:52.719 a leader vocally and otherwise, and has looked really good in camp. So 2473 02:33:52.639 --> 02:33:56.479 you know, if there are any worries that anybody may have had in the 2474 02:33:56.559 --> 02:34:00.920 back of their minds, and I know he hasn't even play an exhibition game 2475 02:34:01.040 --> 02:34:05.239 yet, just a scrimmage, but I don't think anybody here is worried about 2476 02:34:05.280 --> 02:34:07.440 Chat at all. Well, let's I hear a lot in you. We've 2477 02:34:07.479 --> 02:34:11.719 had Naylor on the show in the past and talking about this learning curve quarterbacks 2478 02:34:11.799 --> 02:34:16.079 coming up from America. There here's Chat. It seems like is it just 2479 02:34:16.399 --> 02:34:20.879 his what do you attribute that to him being able to one pre you know, 2480 02:34:20.959 --> 02:34:22.559 one exhibition game at the end of the season is it make a great 2481 02:34:22.639 --> 02:34:26.159 quarterback? So what do you attribute that to him being able to step up 2482 02:34:26.200 --> 02:34:28.399 so well? Like all of the best quarterbacks, he's a film junkie. 2483 02:34:28.799 --> 02:34:33.520 Um, he wants to get better, you know. His long term goal, 2484 02:34:33.600 --> 02:34:37.799 like most American players, is to get back to the NFL. And 2485 02:34:37.440 --> 02:34:41.879 he's putting in the work. Uh, you know, he was up here 2486 02:34:41.000 --> 02:34:43.879 all offseason. He was in with didn't why a lot. He was working 2487 02:34:43.959 --> 02:34:48.040 out the receivers. You know, it's not too far from home, being 2488 02:34:48.120 --> 02:34:52.559 from Buffalo, but you know which an hour and a half an hour depending 2489 02:34:52.600 --> 02:34:56.959 on traffic down the quew So it's he's it's within driving distance to go and 2490 02:34:56.079 --> 02:35:00.959 see you know, his family and friends. But he's stayed up here and 2491 02:35:01.639 --> 02:35:05.000 really threw himself at the offense and even was looking back apparently at stuff that 2492 02:35:05.399 --> 02:35:09.799 Dinwoody had done in Calgary, Like he just really wanted in all kind of 2493 02:35:09.799 --> 02:35:13.760 the genesis of the offense. So he knows it inside and out and that 2494 02:35:13.920 --> 02:35:18.479 work ethic has shown. He talks about doing the right things this year, 2495 02:35:18.559 --> 02:35:20.440 being in bed on time, putting the right things into his body in terms 2496 02:35:20.479 --> 02:35:24.559 of nutrition and uh, you know, he's put in the work. You 2497 02:35:24.639 --> 02:35:26.959 know, if you want to talk to him, if you're a member of 2498 02:35:26.079 --> 02:35:30.479 media after practice, you don't have to wait a while because he's doing other 2499 02:35:30.559 --> 02:35:33.239 stuff, whether it be you know, gassers across the sideline or you know, 2500 02:35:33.360 --> 02:35:39.200 taking snaps with Peter mckn castro or throwing the receiver like he's always doing 2501 02:35:39.360 --> 02:35:43.319 something. So nothing he does this year is going to be by accident, 2502 02:35:43.399 --> 02:35:46.959 that's for sure, in terms of the backup quarterback position. And not to 2503 02:35:48.079 --> 02:35:50.799 be a you know, a biased journalist share on my end, you know, 2504 02:35:50.879 --> 02:35:56.600 we so Brian Scott has famously been on the show. Ben Holmes has 2505 02:35:56.639 --> 02:35:58.440 famously no show to our show. So if you want to know where you 2506 02:35:58.520 --> 02:36:01.639 know my else he's lie in terms of men getting the second But you know, 2507 02:36:03.000 --> 02:36:05.719 I saw Ben Grant tweeting writing a lot about Brian Scott. We were 2508 02:36:05.760 --> 02:36:09.840 all communicating in our we have like our XFL little media group. Did he 2509 02:36:11.239 --> 02:36:13.959 and I know that they It was said that it was like the worst game 2510 02:36:13.000 --> 02:36:16.680 that Ben's played, you know, in his time, and also Brian looked 2511 02:36:16.719 --> 02:36:20.920 really good. Bit but you know we're Ben was there last year. Brian's 2512 02:36:20.959 --> 02:36:24.959 coming. Has Brian impressed or what did you make of his performance. Yeah, 2513 02:36:24.000 --> 02:36:26.840 and again, you know, having that pro background's gonna help. You 2514 02:36:26.920 --> 02:36:31.799 know, there are the nuances that he has to pick up. And I 2515 02:36:31.879 --> 02:36:33.280 talked to him and he said one of the things, you know, I 2516 02:36:33.280 --> 02:36:35.399 asked him about the twenty second clock because I've talked to guys who have come 2517 02:36:35.479 --> 02:36:39.799 up, even playing in the NFL, and the twenty second clock will beat 2518 02:36:39.879 --> 02:36:43.600 them quicker than anything else because they're used to coming in, getting the play 2519 02:36:43.639 --> 02:36:46.760 in their helmet, kind of sauntering up to the line, looking over the 2520 02:36:46.840 --> 02:36:50.239 line of scrimmage, calling the audible checking down. By the time that happens, 2521 02:36:50.680 --> 02:36:54.479 plays done. But he said it really seems to help his rhythm. 2522 02:36:54.559 --> 02:36:58.879 He really liked it playing with it, not only in the scrimmage here, 2523 02:36:58.479 --> 02:37:03.159 but in the in the preseason game at Hamilton. So he's really seeming to 2524 02:37:03.239 --> 02:37:07.639 pick it up, you know. You know, Ben Holmes had a tough 2525 02:37:07.719 --> 02:37:13.319 day. The first guy to mention through two interceptions. It sounds like both 2526 02:37:13.360 --> 02:37:16.639 were on him. I'm the last guy that's going to blame a quarterback or 2527 02:37:16.639 --> 02:37:20.239 a receiver because I don't know the route, but just hearing kind of, 2528 02:37:20.399 --> 02:37:24.399 you know, anecdotally that it was on Ben. Ben took full responsibility for 2529 02:37:24.559 --> 02:37:26.879 it. I asked him what he's looking to do on Thursday night and he 2530 02:37:26.959 --> 02:37:31.040 said, how about not throwing two interceptions because he knows he had a rough 2531 02:37:31.079 --> 02:37:35.079 one, no question about that. And with Cameron Dukes, Cameron showed a 2532 02:37:35.120 --> 02:37:39.600 lot too, Like he showed that little giddy up, an underhand toss coming 2533 02:37:39.639 --> 02:37:43.159 out of his end zone, a nice scramble to set up a two point 2534 02:37:43.239 --> 02:37:48.280 conversion. He showed them a mobility that really helps in this league. And 2535 02:37:48.319 --> 02:37:52.200 after watching Mack God love him. He's got a lot of strong suits. 2536 02:37:52.000 --> 02:37:56.440 Mobility ain't his long suit, although he could run when he needed to and 2537 02:37:56.520 --> 02:38:01.959 has shown that obviously in the USFL as well. Was some interesting highlight runs 2538 02:38:01.000 --> 02:38:05.600 where he kind of got cartwheeled at the end of one of them. But 2539 02:38:05.520 --> 02:38:09.879 that mobility with Chat and the guys behind him is just it's interesting because you 2540 02:38:09.959 --> 02:38:13.840 know, we've had guys like Rockie Ray up here, Mclaubethel Thompson who were 2541 02:38:13.879 --> 02:38:16.280 more the traditional back, you know, dropped back guys. So to see 2542 02:38:16.280 --> 02:38:20.200 the guys running around a little bit and extending plays, I think Argo fans 2543 02:38:20.239 --> 02:38:24.760 are gonna like that style, and hopefully everybody is able to you know, 2544 02:38:24.920 --> 02:38:28.479 fulfill what they want to do by buying that a little bit of expert time 2545 02:38:28.520 --> 02:38:31.959 by scrambling out of the pocket. Well, I think I think that's a 2546 02:38:33.040 --> 02:38:35.879 good point. And you have in you know, Ben got kind of pre 2547 02:38:37.280 --> 02:38:39.959 the USFL you know, he kind of got cut in their training camp. 2548 02:38:39.040 --> 02:38:43.280 But having you know, Brian Scott there and even you know Chad in his 2549 02:38:43.360 --> 02:38:48.120 background, but getting these I guess fresh quality quarterbacks up there, I think 2550 02:38:48.159 --> 02:38:50.959 it's exciting. And we talk all the time, you know, it's the 2551 02:38:52.120 --> 02:38:54.799 X Belt, like how are they all going to do? All these quarterbacks 2552 02:38:54.840 --> 02:38:56.959 and everything? But at least right now, it seems like the Argos are 2553 02:38:56.000 --> 02:39:00.520 in a really good spot. Not to focus too much on that, but 2554 02:39:00.639 --> 02:39:03.719 in terms of carrying over from last year that this year just you know, 2555 02:39:03.920 --> 02:39:07.159 championship team and everything the rest of the roster, how do the Argos look 2556 02:39:07.239 --> 02:39:11.520 here headed in because obviously, you know, it wasn't the prettiest season and 2557 02:39:11.639 --> 02:39:13.879 win, but they got it done and it was you know, I heard 2558 02:39:15.000 --> 02:39:16.239 they they just said, we're on the sidelines. We all got to get 2559 02:39:16.280 --> 02:39:20.399 together here and win a peg and kind of everything else. But how have 2560 02:39:20.520 --> 02:39:24.120 they done carrying over to the season. You know, it's it's been interesting 2561 02:39:24.159 --> 02:39:28.280 because I have not seen any championship merchandise. I have not heard anybody talk 2562 02:39:28.559 --> 02:39:33.680 about twenty twenty two unless they were asking about it. Ryan Dinwoody at the 2563 02:39:33.719 --> 02:39:35.920 beginning of the camp said, hey, if you if you're looking in the 2564 02:39:35.000 --> 02:39:39.440 rearview mirror, you're not looking ahead. And if you look too much in 2565 02:39:39.520 --> 02:39:43.040 the rearview mirror, you know, we're screwed essentially. So that's that's been 2566 02:39:43.079 --> 02:39:48.159 the mantra is twenty twenty two is nice. Take from it, what you 2567 02:39:48.319 --> 02:39:52.200 needed in terms of your development. But CFL is going to be tough. 2568 02:39:52.319 --> 02:39:56.200 The's is going to be tough again. Hamilton has improved, Ottawa has improved. 2569 02:39:56.840 --> 02:39:58.360 Montreal might be the wild card in all of this. They might be 2570 02:39:58.440 --> 02:40:01.520 better than people will thank or they may be you know, they may be 2571 02:40:01.680 --> 02:40:05.639 the week sister this year. But you know, you've got a few veterans 2572 02:40:05.680 --> 02:40:09.760 on that team who want to win, and they're always always that surprise team 2573 02:40:09.799 --> 02:40:13.280 in the CFL. So we can't take anything for branded um because team knows 2574 02:40:13.319 --> 02:40:15.879 it. Just can't, you know, throw on the beautiful new uniforms, 2575 02:40:15.920 --> 02:40:18.360 go out there and win the games. They've got to go and put in 2576 02:40:18.440 --> 02:40:22.479 the work. And that's been evident this year, and and all of the 2577 02:40:22.559 --> 02:40:26.239 coaching staff has been very, very firm in terms of, Okay, this 2578 02:40:26.399 --> 02:40:31.239 is what we have to do to get better. And it's been always always 2579 02:40:31.319 --> 02:40:35.360 looking at didn't. Woody's mantra is two percent better every day, and that's 2580 02:40:35.440 --> 02:40:39.440 that's been the goal, is to get better every day. I was just 2581 02:40:39.639 --> 02:40:45.079 got off with JJ Adams talking BC Lions preview and I said, the most 2582 02:40:45.159 --> 02:40:48.239 intriguing story landing me is Coddy for Jarthy win Montreal. I can't think of 2583 02:40:48.440 --> 02:40:52.440 more more exciting just I mean, he's been on the show now in the 2584 02:40:52.479 --> 02:40:56.639 offseason. I'm a fan, and I think he's kind of going in full 2585 02:40:56.879 --> 02:40:58.239 full heart, you know, full steam ahead. I don't think he knows 2586 02:40:58.280 --> 02:41:01.319 any different. But I think the East, you know people and you get 2587 02:41:01.360 --> 02:41:03.479 all these poop pooing and everything of the East. I think it's going to 2588 02:41:03.520 --> 02:41:05.719 be exciting this year. I think there's a lot of mobility over there, 2589 02:41:05.760 --> 02:41:09.520 and you know, you get Mizzoli back and everything else to kind of see 2590 02:41:09.520 --> 02:41:13.520 how that looks. Yeah, I agree. I don't think anybody in the 2591 02:41:13.600 --> 02:41:18.079 East is taking anybody for granted. Things will obviously start to play itself out. 2592 02:41:18.200 --> 02:41:20.360 But you know, you mentioned last year the kind of weird season it 2593 02:41:20.559 --> 02:41:24.920 was, I don't know the last time a team and maybe it happens more 2594 02:41:24.959 --> 02:41:28.559 than you think, but it was really weird where we led the league in 2595 02:41:28.959 --> 02:41:33.120 games miss due injury and still won the Great Cup. You know, people 2596 02:41:33.200 --> 02:41:35.959 looked and said, oh, Toronto at Toronto loa Toronto, We've never really 2597 02:41:37.040 --> 02:41:39.639 had our starting lineup until toward the end of the season. And look, 2598 02:41:39.840 --> 02:41:43.760 you know, oddly enough playing our best football toward the end of the season. 2599 02:41:43.000 --> 02:41:48.479 So um, you know that hoping obviously that that replicates this year, 2600 02:41:48.600 --> 02:41:54.959 but maybe a fewer number of games missed due injury because it was it was 2601 02:41:54.159 --> 02:41:58.280 nuts last year. It's it really is a testament of the coaching staff and 2602 02:41:58.719 --> 02:42:01.000 the guys who were in those you know, backup roles that were able to 2603 02:42:01.040 --> 02:42:07.719 come in and sustain success until the guys got back and a lot of them 2604 02:42:07.799 --> 02:42:11.000 just didn't start rolling back. Just before the end of the season. I 2605 02:42:11.159 --> 02:42:15.159 got to talk with coached in Witty during the media day at the end of 2606 02:42:15.200 --> 02:42:18.040 the season. I don't get a lot of obviously opportunities to kind of talk 2607 02:42:18.079 --> 02:42:20.920 one on one with CFL head coaches like that. But you know, incredible 2608 02:42:22.000 --> 02:42:24.280 guy. You know, conversation, what does the growth that you've seen him 2609 02:42:24.319 --> 02:42:28.440 have here as a leader? You know, coming in and obviously with kind 2610 02:42:28.479 --> 02:42:30.399 of it was, you know, messy, kind of here we're in the 2611 02:42:30.440 --> 02:42:33.639 CFL, We're getting through everything and moving into this year more normalcy. But 2612 02:42:33.760 --> 02:42:37.879 what do you attribute from him to just kind of the leadership on the team. 2613 02:42:37.600 --> 02:42:41.239 He's still a tough coach. And maybe this goes back to something that 2614 02:42:41.280 --> 02:42:45.799 we touched on a little bit earlier today. You know, his first year, 2615 02:42:46.520 --> 02:42:48.920 he really wanted to work the guys and get as many plays in and 2616 02:42:50.040 --> 02:42:52.280 training camp so he could take a look at film and implement what he wanted 2617 02:42:52.319 --> 02:42:56.520 to do. And this year, you know, if a guy is a 2618 02:42:56.559 --> 02:43:01.120 little bit mcduppit will take the day off. Is pushing them to the last. 2619 02:43:01.239 --> 02:43:03.280 He knows the guys now, the veterans especially, so that's a big 2620 02:43:03.440 --> 02:43:07.360 help. But you know, I think he learned in the first year. 2621 02:43:07.440 --> 02:43:09.799 There was there was a play at the end of a scrimmage where he was 2622 02:43:09.920 --> 02:43:13.319 thinking about, Okay, maybe I should let the guys go. It's a 2623 02:43:13.399 --> 02:43:16.799 hot day. Now let's play one more play and in that play, Isaiah 2624 02:43:16.840 --> 02:43:22.200 Cage was injured for the entire season, So that was a learning curve from 2625 02:43:22.239 --> 02:43:26.719 coach Dinwoody. And you know, he continues to get better, and you 2626 02:43:26.799 --> 02:43:30.520 know every coach does, every player does with the more experience they have in 2627 02:43:30.559 --> 02:43:33.319 a specific role. And he's continuing to learn as a head coach and has 2628 02:43:33.399 --> 02:43:37.799 the respect of everybody in the organization. And you know two years here he 2629 02:43:37.239 --> 02:43:41.040 was you know, he won the East and the regular season, uh, 2630 02:43:41.360 --> 02:43:46.200 you know, came within fifteen minutes of winning the Eastern Final, and then 2631 02:43:46.239 --> 02:43:50.520 won the Great Cup last year. So he's been very successful here. And 2632 02:43:50.959 --> 02:43:54.040 I don't think anybody here expects the art goes to be anything but successful good 2633 02:43:54.159 --> 02:43:58.600 enough to win the Great Cup. We hope so from sitting here in golf. 2634 02:43:58.719 --> 02:44:01.479 But they're a lot of the teams in this league. Last thing for 2635 02:44:01.600 --> 02:44:05.879 me today obviously you get to know a lot of these players and stories and 2636 02:44:05.159 --> 02:44:09.520 who are you looking to see kind of standout performances this year on the field. 2637 02:44:09.200 --> 02:44:13.959 Yeah, I'm interested to see guys who performed well in other uniforms and 2638 02:44:13.079 --> 02:44:18.559 how they play here. You know, floor and flow. Mlada is a 2639 02:44:18.639 --> 02:44:22.079 guy who really flashed last year if you look at the status, you go, 2640 02:44:22.440 --> 02:44:24.760 huh. But if you're kind of scratch into the surface and just look 2641 02:44:24.799 --> 02:44:31.799 at quarterback pressures, which isn't a widely you know, circulated stats sadly in 2642 02:44:31.879 --> 02:44:35.799 the CFL, you'd see what kind of pressure he would put on a Darius 2643 02:44:35.879 --> 02:44:39.120 Pickett coming over, you know, to play the sam linebacker spot after being 2644 02:44:39.200 --> 02:44:45.959 Montreal's most outstanding defensive player year ago. Jordan Williams, who astonishingly you know, 2645 02:44:46.280 --> 02:44:48.159 we were able to acquire on a trade, had nothing to do with 2646 02:44:48.319 --> 02:44:54.479 BC or being unhappy in BC. His day job is as a day trader 2647 02:44:54.559 --> 02:44:56.479 and he was tired of getting up at three o'clock in the morning to get 2648 02:44:56.559 --> 02:45:01.479 work done in BC because of the I'm change, wanted to come east. 2649 02:45:01.600 --> 02:45:05.719 And you know, the Argos traded the ninth overall pick in the CFL draft 2650 02:45:05.760 --> 02:45:09.479 to get him. And if this guy in his third season, going into 2651 02:45:09.559 --> 02:45:13.000 his third year, let's just say, he wouldn't have lasted until the ninth 2652 02:45:13.079 --> 02:45:16.920 spot in the draft. So it was a good trade for the Argos. 2653 02:45:18.000 --> 02:45:20.040 And that gives a little flexibility there because he can play the mike, he 2654 02:45:20.079 --> 02:45:22.719 can play the wills. So I think I think that those are the kind 2655 02:45:22.760 --> 02:45:26.719 of guys. And I'm curious to see how Roberts and Daniel comes back after 2656 02:45:26.799 --> 02:45:31.440 a couple of years of being injured. He's looked really good at at the 2657 02:45:31.520 --> 02:45:35.879 field half pack spot, so I'm sorry the boundary halfack spot. So I'm 2658 02:45:35.879 --> 02:45:41.319 really curious to see how he does under a full season. But they've got 2659 02:45:41.399 --> 02:45:43.479 some guys, there's some good guys in this camp. Well, Mike, 2660 02:45:43.559 --> 02:45:46.719 I appreciate it. I'm excited. I'm really excited for this season now because 2661 02:45:46.719 --> 02:45:50.159 we've gotten through the XFL here and we've been doing that and we're getting us 2662 02:45:50.280 --> 02:45:54.760 valve rowing through I do it feels like putting on old shoes now we're going 2663 02:45:54.840 --> 02:45:58.200 our third season and the CFL coverage, I appreciate it. We have our 2664 02:45:58.239 --> 02:46:01.600 flight's book to Hamilton's. I hope I see the Argonauts there, hopefully against 2665 02:46:01.639 --> 02:46:05.280 America's CFL team, the BC Lions. But I hope to see you guys 2666 02:46:05.360 --> 02:46:07.920 there, and I really appreciate your time. Hopefully we get you on here 2667 02:46:07.959 --> 02:46:11.920 once we get some games roll and then talk some more Argonauts anytime you need 2668 02:46:13.000 --> 02:46:15.719 me on just as and thank you so much for what you're doing. Thank 2669 02:46:15.760 --> 02:46:24.120 you well. I just purchase my ticket here. I couldn't fly into Hamilton's 2670 02:46:24.159 --> 02:46:28.319 I was trying to. I'm coming back to Toronto here for a Gray Cup 2671 02:46:28.479 --> 02:46:31.280 in November, so hopefully I'll be seeing this young them in Steve Melton, 2672 02:46:31.280 --> 02:46:33.799 how are you doing so? You definitely will? I think every night in 2673 02:46:33.840 --> 02:46:35.760 the writers suite, won't you remember? We have a suite there for all 2674 02:46:35.799 --> 02:46:39.159 writers football writers of Canada and you're one of them. Well, that's good. 2675 02:46:39.200 --> 02:46:41.280 We're all in. I'm all in. I've got everything we have. 2676 02:46:41.360 --> 02:46:45.520 Steve here, we're talking. We've done BC Lions preview on this show, 2677 02:46:45.600 --> 02:46:48.559 We've done the Argonauts and now we're doing the tie Cats there Steve finishing training 2678 02:46:48.639 --> 02:46:52.479 camp here. How is everything going in Hamilton with the Tyecauts. Well, 2679 02:46:52.520 --> 02:46:54.920 it was going on, I would think fairly well read until yesterday there was 2680 02:46:54.959 --> 02:46:58.719 some kind of accident on campus and it wasn't on the field with a player. 2681 02:46:58.799 --> 02:47:01.719 They You know how you were always looking for those little gems. This 2682 02:47:01.879 --> 02:47:05.959 is a team that brought in a lot of high priced help, proven help, 2683 02:47:07.040 --> 02:47:11.239 but they needed to because of the salary cap, have a couple of 2684 02:47:11.319 --> 02:47:16.239 surprises at a couple of spots, and they found one in a guy named 2685 02:47:16.280 --> 02:47:20.319 Justin McGriff that comes out of Utah State. You don't see this in this 2686 02:47:20.479 --> 02:47:24.520 league. He's foot six and fast and makes really good moves. He's been 2687 02:47:24.600 --> 02:47:28.280 terrific in training camp. In the exhibition game last week, he dropped the 2688 02:47:28.319 --> 02:47:33.319 first bass after running a brilliant route and outdistancing the guy by ten yards on 2689 02:47:33.399 --> 02:47:37.760 the street. Fly dropped it and then caught four passes in very very heavy 2690 02:47:37.799 --> 02:47:41.600 track traffic, like right over the middle to prove that. You know that. 2691 02:47:41.840 --> 02:47:43.879 So he had made the team, and had made the team as a 2692 02:47:43.920 --> 02:47:48.479 starter, And yesterday there was some accident. I don't know what it was, 2693 02:47:48.520 --> 02:47:52.680 but it was off the field and it was somewhere on campus, and 2694 02:47:52.719 --> 02:47:54.799 I don't know what it was. I don't know if he tripped and fell 2695 02:47:54.879 --> 02:48:00.840 and there's a lot of construction around here or whatever. It was still investigating 2696 02:48:00.920 --> 02:48:03.920 that. He's done for the season, right, so he never got to 2697 02:48:03.959 --> 02:48:07.360 play. He was the kind of guy exactly what they were looking for, 2698 02:48:07.559 --> 02:48:11.040 was the tallest receiver by three inches. The quarterback they're using bow isn't isn't 2699 02:48:11.040 --> 02:48:13.200 the tallest guy in the world. So it always helps to have a guy 2700 02:48:13.280 --> 02:48:16.120 that you can you can see by looking over the top instead of having to 2701 02:48:16.159 --> 02:48:20.319 look underneath. And yeah, so that that that was a bit of a 2702 02:48:20.360 --> 02:48:24.760 setback. But they were very, very very deep at receiver, both Canadian 2703 02:48:24.799 --> 02:48:28.959 and American receivers, so m and Anthony Johnson, who was briefly with the 2704 02:48:30.000 --> 02:48:33.399 Buffalo Bills, was a guy they were looking at as a possession receiver. 2705 02:48:33.559 --> 02:48:35.959 He played last year. He's out but only for a couple of games. 2706 02:48:35.040 --> 02:48:39.399 So other than that, they've been okay. They got a lot of They 2707 02:48:39.479 --> 02:48:43.760 have some injuries on the defensive front, but they had too many players, 2708 02:48:43.360 --> 02:48:48.680 proven CFL players on the defensive front anyway, somebody was going to have to 2709 02:48:48.760 --> 02:48:50.479 go on some kind of list or get cut. So now they're hurt, 2710 02:48:50.559 --> 02:48:56.360 but there but yeah, they're they're they're a veteran team, so I think 2711 02:48:56.399 --> 02:49:01.200 that injuries could play a factor, but they've built that into the way they've 2712 02:49:01.239 --> 02:49:05.440 built their roster. It feels like there's obviously, with with Bow and everything 2713 02:49:05.479 --> 02:49:09.040 else, really high level of expectations this year going. I mean, is 2714 02:49:09.040 --> 02:49:13.440 it one of the higher team profiles in terms of like we kind of got 2715 02:49:13.520 --> 02:49:20.239 to deliver this year. Yeah. It probably similar to to Zach the year 2716 02:49:20.280 --> 02:49:22.760 he was coming off the Great Year and had come back after injury. You 2717 02:49:22.840 --> 02:49:31.600 know, uh this in recent years read this is a this is this is 2718 02:49:31.639 --> 02:49:35.360 the closest I've seen to this this year or nothing type of thing. I 2719 02:49:35.440 --> 02:49:39.120 mean, they've got they've got some futures tied into this too, but this 2720 02:49:39.319 --> 02:49:43.799 is this is made for a Hometown Gray Cup. You know. They they 2721 02:49:43.600 --> 02:49:48.120 they almost won the one the last time they had a Hometown Gray Cup. 2722 02:49:48.159 --> 02:49:50.680 They had a team that was built for that, but this has built even 2723 02:49:50.719 --> 02:49:56.440 more for that. They went and got only players that had had some some 2724 02:49:56.760 --> 02:50:01.680 success, you know, either in the league finals or the conference finals. 2725 02:50:01.040 --> 02:50:07.799 So uh and guys that were they upgraded a lot of positions they're up against 2726 02:50:07.959 --> 02:50:11.200 or over the salary cap. So and that's you know, they'll have injuries 2727 02:50:11.239 --> 02:50:16.639 to accommodate that. Uh So. Um yeah, that this is a I 2728 02:50:16.760 --> 02:50:20.840 think it's it's not Great Cup or bust, but it's pretty well nothing. 2729 02:50:20.920 --> 02:50:22.639 But at least an appearance in the Great Cup will do. I mean, 2730 02:50:22.719 --> 02:50:28.719 anything else will be a failure. Uh than anything short of appearing in the 2731 02:50:28.799 --> 02:50:31.639 Great Cup is a failure. It's just weird, you know because obviously we 2732 02:50:31.719 --> 02:50:35.840 were there back Hamilton, you know, coming up short and set you know, 2733 02:50:35.920 --> 02:50:39.440 so close here, and it just felt like that they completely collapsed last 2734 02:50:39.520 --> 02:50:43.200 year, the tie Cats. And I know that Dane had some injuries and 2735 02:50:43.319 --> 02:50:46.000 everything, and obviously he got shipped over here to BC, But what why 2736 02:50:46.159 --> 02:50:52.120 why did you attribute to sense the kind of collapse last year? It was 2737 02:50:52.159 --> 02:50:58.159 just a there's a there was a lack of sustained mental toughness, I think 2738 02:50:58.239 --> 02:51:03.920 an emotional toughness now that began at quarterback for sure, and Dan would be 2739 02:51:03.959 --> 02:51:07.280 the first one. I felt he took almost too much blame there, but 2740 02:51:07.920 --> 02:51:09.719 that was a lot to blame. There was a lot to blame there, 2741 02:51:09.879 --> 02:51:15.520 especially early they fell behind, and every game looked the same. Read even 2742 02:51:15.559 --> 02:51:18.680 the games that they won, where they they do well in the first half. 2743 02:51:18.000 --> 02:51:20.959 I thought there was a coaching issue last year in terms of adjustments at 2744 02:51:22.000 --> 02:51:24.479 the at the half, you know, they'd look really really good. The 2745 02:51:24.559 --> 02:51:28.479 defense was good most of the year, except on always a key drive in 2746 02:51:28.559 --> 02:51:31.959 the fourth quarter they'd get a bad punt in there. Like, they all 2747 02:51:33.079 --> 02:51:35.719 looked the same even the games that they won. They lost the first four 2748 02:51:35.959 --> 02:51:39.559 and the fifth they won. The other team was coming back and kind of 2749 02:51:39.639 --> 02:51:43.760 ran out of real estate and it was Ottawa or they would have been owing 2750 02:51:43.840 --> 02:51:46.440 five. With every game looking the same, The Great Up looked the same. 2751 02:51:46.840 --> 02:51:50.840 They are sorry. The playoff loss to Montreal looked the same. I'm 2752 02:51:50.879 --> 02:51:56.200 wondering it wasn't an imprint. They poo poo maybe on this one, but 2753 02:51:56.280 --> 02:52:00.360 I wondered if there was, it wasn't a bit of a psychological print of 2754 02:52:00.479 --> 02:52:03.200 losing two Great Cups in a row, particularly the way they lost a second 2755 02:52:03.239 --> 02:52:05.959 one at home when it was theirs, right, they was theirs. You 2756 02:52:07.040 --> 02:52:13.479 know, it took until the fourth quarter until untill Zach found what everybody knew 2757 02:52:13.559 --> 02:52:18.479 was going to be a penetrable weakness because they were missing a couple of players 2758 02:52:18.520 --> 02:52:20.319 in the defensive backfield. But it took them to the fourth quarter to find 2759 02:52:20.360 --> 02:52:24.799 it. And even then they had a chance at one of the greatest comebacks 2760 02:52:24.840 --> 02:52:31.040 at history there and it was a a you know, I would say it 2761 02:52:31.200 --> 02:52:33.079 dropped pass in the end zone. That pass was there, a great defensive 2762 02:52:33.079 --> 02:52:35.760 play, but you got to make that play and they went and then they 2763 02:52:35.840 --> 02:52:41.680 lose it in overtime, and even in overtime, there was an interception in 2764 02:52:41.799 --> 02:52:45.920 which the offensive receiver should have broken it up as a defensive player, so 2765 02:52:45.959 --> 02:52:50.280 they'd have one more play. So there's that, And I'm not sure that 2766 02:52:50.879 --> 02:52:56.479 when they started having some turnovers and fumbles from key positions in the first couple 2767 02:52:56.520 --> 02:53:00.799 of games last year and got off to the usually get off to an old 2768 02:53:00.840 --> 02:53:05.239 two start or won three start, and except that one year they went fifteen 2769 02:53:05.239 --> 02:53:07.559 and three. They usually do that, and they were fighting, well, 2770 02:53:07.559 --> 02:53:11.799 they were really fighting from a last year, and that just problems multiplied. 2771 02:53:11.319 --> 02:53:16.559 They didn't have good kicking and have good placement kicking till maybe seven games eight 2772 02:53:16.639 --> 02:53:20.959 games into the season last year. And when that came and they solidified the 2773 02:53:20.000 --> 02:53:24.280 offensive line, the quarterbacks started playing better. You know, like Dane had 2774 02:53:24.319 --> 02:53:28.319 a pretty good last third of the season. Were you surprised to see him 2775 02:53:28.479 --> 02:53:33.000 basically traded. I mean it kind of shipped off to BC for kind of 2776 02:53:33.040 --> 02:53:37.479 a bigger chips here. It feels like, well, yeah, I think 2777 02:53:37.879 --> 02:53:41.159 they were in a way trying to help him out, but they didn't really 2778 02:53:41.159 --> 02:53:43.920 help him out that much. I mean, they couldn't have brought him back 2779 02:53:45.000 --> 02:53:50.799 after I mean, it was just one of those things where they felt they 2780 02:53:50.879 --> 02:53:54.760 got a sense that bo was available. They got a sense when they saw 2781 02:53:54.840 --> 02:54:01.600 him in in the West semifinal that his arm was okay, and when he 2782 02:54:01.680 --> 02:54:05.680 came off the bench in the fourth quarter, and that kind of solidified things. 2783 02:54:05.799 --> 02:54:11.959 I think the fact that the Dean was so obviously and self admittedly and 2784 02:54:11.079 --> 02:54:18.440 publicly and I commend him as a human being for that, for basically talking 2785 02:54:18.440 --> 02:54:22.520 about the stresses that he was under and the pressures that he was under and 2786 02:54:22.920 --> 02:54:26.840 admitting a lot of things, but at all that isn't always the right way 2787 02:54:26.879 --> 02:54:28.920 to do it if you're happening to the quarter of a football team, right, 2788 02:54:30.000 --> 02:54:33.920 So, so I think that's what they felt. As a reporter, 2789 02:54:35.040 --> 02:54:37.760 I felt differently, you know, watching him as a human being conducted himself 2790 02:54:37.799 --> 02:54:41.840 and be honest about it. I really like that. But they know that 2791 02:54:41.959 --> 02:54:46.959 he's a pretty good player. But they think that Bow has the championship pedigree 2792 02:54:48.680 --> 02:54:52.000 and they liked Schultz enough to keep them around as a backup, so they're 2793 02:54:52.040 --> 02:54:54.959 pretty you know, they're pretty good one too at quarterback there. So assuming 2794 02:54:56.000 --> 02:54:58.079 that Bow and Bow takes it, comes in, takes command. I mean, 2795 02:54:58.120 --> 02:55:05.200 he really runs things and he he has a presence with the defense too. 2796 02:55:05.280 --> 02:55:07.760 They really and he brought players players came here because of that. I 2797 02:55:07.799 --> 02:55:11.159 mean, they's signed some big names and that wasn't going to be the number 2798 02:55:11.200 --> 02:55:16.159 one reason those players came. But it was a factor, do you I 2799 02:55:16.239 --> 02:55:18.440 mean, and obviously his pedigree and mental all of that stuff, but I 2800 02:55:18.520 --> 02:55:22.360 mean physically is Bow and from what you've seen in training campsons, I'm right. 2801 02:55:22.399 --> 02:55:24.559 Did he play a little bit? Yeah, it was kind of They 2802 02:55:24.600 --> 02:55:26.959 weren't sure if he was going to go in. He yeah, he won't 2803 02:55:28.000 --> 02:55:31.840 play a Friday night. He played only two series and really they were short 2804 02:55:31.879 --> 02:55:33.719 series. He was out by the end of the first quarter. They liked 2805 02:55:33.760 --> 02:55:37.520 what he saw. He threw. He was three for six, but two 2806 02:55:37.559 --> 02:55:39.639 of the six were drops, including the one I mentioned at the top of 2807 02:55:39.719 --> 02:55:43.840 the show to Justin McGriff who ran this incredible pattern. Bow hit him in 2808 02:55:45.000 --> 02:55:50.159 full stride right in the midst and he dropped it and uh, you know 2809 02:55:50.200 --> 02:55:54.239 about a fifty yard pass. And so, yeah, he's looked pretty good. 2810 02:55:54.280 --> 02:55:56.879 He's looked pretty accurate. He you know, I'm sure he doesn't have 2811 02:55:56.000 --> 02:56:00.639 the same you know, he's not the same guy that he was years ago. 2812 02:56:00.799 --> 02:56:05.959 But but but he's smart. Uh, he won't elude people with his 2813 02:56:05.079 --> 02:56:09.479 speed the way you know, some other quarterbacks do or the way that boatd 2814 02:56:09.520 --> 02:56:13.399 at one point, but he does allude. I mean, he just can 2815 02:56:13.479 --> 02:56:16.040 make that one like Ricky Ray was later in his career, Just make that 2816 02:56:16.120 --> 02:56:18.920 one little shift with his shoulders and all of a sudden that the guy goes 2817 02:56:18.000 --> 02:56:22.200 rushing by him, so you don't have to run out into the open to 2818 02:56:22.280 --> 02:56:26.280 do it. So and he could get out enough. And they've they've really 2819 02:56:26.600 --> 02:56:30.879 really made sure the offensive a line is ready. They'll go with three Canadians, 2820 02:56:30.959 --> 02:56:33.639 not four. I mean, Chris fan Zile is there as an option, 2821 02:56:33.719 --> 02:56:37.360 but he's hurt, likely out the first six games and didn't play much 2822 02:56:37.440 --> 02:56:41.079 last year. So you know, they've they've really taken care to you know, 2823 02:56:41.159 --> 02:56:46.200 they're spending money on a Merrit tackles at left tackle, bringing back Joel 2824 02:56:50.120 --> 02:56:54.520 figure Oha who started here back in twenty thirteen. And you know he may 2825 02:56:54.520 --> 02:56:56.639 be a little long in the tooth, he's got a lot of experience at 2826 02:56:56.680 --> 02:56:58.920 Bowl. Likes him because he's big, and James Butler is a tremendous run 2827 02:57:00.159 --> 02:57:03.440 back and so they had much they you know, they had a pretty good 2828 02:57:03.479 --> 02:57:07.200 running back who ran downhill hard last year, but this guy has more has 2829 02:57:07.319 --> 02:57:11.040 more ability and a quicker first few steps, so he's got breakaway speed once 2830 02:57:11.040 --> 02:57:13.680 he gets to the second level. Well, that was the actually gonna be 2831 02:57:13.760 --> 02:57:18.280 My next question was about Butler, and obviously we were talking with JJ over 2832 02:57:18.440 --> 02:57:20.559 for the BC Lions and kind of you know that to me that was a 2833 02:57:20.600 --> 02:57:24.920 big loss when you he yeah, they didn't pick up his contracts or whatever 2834 02:57:24.040 --> 02:57:28.079 he decided to go. How has he made a difference so far? Do 2835 02:57:28.120 --> 02:57:30.159 you think he's going to be a big difference man, Yeah, you know 2836 02:57:30.280 --> 02:57:31.520 they're going to use him on the you know, they're using him in a 2837 02:57:31.600 --> 02:57:35.520 variety of ways. I mean, he's pretty good out of the back, 2838 02:57:35.600 --> 02:57:37.600 Y'll catching the ball. So I think what they're going to try and do 2839 02:57:37.799 --> 02:57:43.200 is isolate him in a couple of ways. They may swing him into a 2840 02:57:43.559 --> 02:57:48.079 short side wide receiver at times, like either on a swing pass, but 2841 02:57:48.239 --> 02:57:50.280 the bubble I think the bubble screen is what they're really looking at there. 2842 02:57:50.639 --> 02:57:54.360 Where at the worst he's going to be one on one with somebody if the 2843 02:57:54.399 --> 02:57:58.079 other guys even come close to making the other two guys even come close to 2844 02:57:58.159 --> 02:58:01.319 making their blocks, I don't know that. Like with his speed in his 2845 02:58:01.399 --> 02:58:05.799 size, he can go over or around people. That's the feeling and assuming 2846 02:58:05.799 --> 02:58:09.760 he stays healthy, and they're for a similar type backup, so there's a 2847 02:58:09.799 --> 02:58:13.959 bit of a bit of a runoff between two guys for his backup, but 2848 02:58:15.000 --> 02:58:18.399 it'll be clearly as a backup and practice STEO type of things. He he 2849 02:58:18.600 --> 02:58:20.920 was a big get for him, just as their middle They wanted to get 2850 02:58:20.959 --> 02:58:24.399 tougher at middle linebacker. They I mean, they're they're middle linebacker. Made 2851 02:58:24.399 --> 02:58:26.639 the All Star team in the Eastern All Star tacking last year, led the 2852 02:58:26.639 --> 02:58:30.120 team in tackles, fourth most tackles, fifth most tackles in Tyekat history. 2853 02:58:30.559 --> 02:58:35.159 But I think he said he's aid Samier German is a much more physical type 2854 02:58:35.200 --> 02:58:41.000 of player, very much a physical guy, and they're looking for that they 2855 02:58:41.120 --> 02:58:43.959 needed to get. They thought they needed get more physical. And when I 2856 02:58:45.040 --> 02:58:46.840 talked at the top, but I thought they lacked a little bit of emotional 2857 02:58:46.920 --> 02:58:52.079 toughness at key moments last year. I think they felt that at times that 2858 02:58:52.239 --> 02:58:56.639 was related to physical toughness too, you know. I mean they lost a 2859 02:58:56.719 --> 02:59:00.319 lot of fourth quarters last year. A lot. I mean, at one 2860 02:59:00.360 --> 02:59:05.040 point in the season, particularly the first twelve games, the margin by which 2861 02:59:05.040 --> 02:59:09.440 they'd been outscored in the fourth quarter was spectacular, Like it was ridiculous. 2862 02:59:09.479 --> 02:59:13.799 It was like the game was played in two into two parts. In terms 2863 02:59:13.840 --> 02:59:16.760 of coaching staff for this year, right, rival's back, we've happened. 2864 02:59:18.639 --> 02:59:20.959 What do you make of the staff that they have going in this year? 2865 02:59:20.239 --> 02:59:22.760 Well, they did one thing that happened. I don't know if you're aware 2866 02:59:22.799 --> 02:59:31.360 of. There there was a cap on coaching staffs financially and on numerically and 2867 02:59:33.319 --> 02:59:39.559 also on football operations u numerically cash wise. So what they did was roll 2868 02:59:39.639 --> 02:59:43.639 that all into one. So instead of being capped at eleven coaches, plus 2869 02:59:43.719 --> 02:59:48.920 the salary cap for both you know, for football opstion, for football coaching, 2870 02:59:48.360 --> 02:59:52.200 the whole thing now is capped. There's a there's an overall salary cap 2871 02:59:52.760 --> 02:59:56.479 for all the football operations, so that includes staff like that. That doesn't 2872 02:59:56.520 --> 03:00:01.559 include trainers and doctors and those those kind of people, but it does include 2873 03:00:01.719 --> 03:00:05.559 you know, scouts and you know gms and all of those things. Even 2874 03:00:05.159 --> 03:00:11.239 the portion of probably Orlando because he's president of Football Ops and you could have 2875 03:00:11.319 --> 03:00:15.879 it, you can, and you have twenty five jobs in those positions, 2876 03:00:16.840 --> 03:00:20.159 and so a Tiecats chose to go to thirteen coaches that way, so they 2877 03:00:20.200 --> 03:00:26.399 have now an extra coach on special teams, and they brought and they brought 2878 03:00:26.479 --> 03:00:31.840 in the former Argyll head coach, Scott Milanovitch in a similar role to that 2879 03:00:31.000 --> 03:00:35.639 when they brought in Kahari Jones last year, but they're doing it from the 2880 03:00:35.719 --> 03:00:37.200 start of the year. Last year was in result, I think, as 2881 03:00:37.239 --> 03:00:41.719 it was a reaction to offensive woes that team couldn't That team could put up 2882 03:00:41.799 --> 03:00:46.920 yards last year but could not score touchdowns. Now that's another reason they went 2883 03:00:46.959 --> 03:00:52.440 and got bow Like bow is touchdown first, like always, like both considers 2884 03:00:52.719 --> 03:00:56.559 turning it over to the field goal kicker a defeat, so that that mentality 2885 03:00:56.680 --> 03:01:00.719 is something that they wanted there. But also the open wasn't scoring a lot 2886 03:01:00.760 --> 03:01:03.680 of touchdowns in general lecture for a lot of reasons. So I wondered if 2887 03:01:03.680 --> 03:01:07.639 Scott Milanovitch was there to kind of help with a little bit. He's I 2888 03:01:07.680 --> 03:01:11.360 mean, Tommy Condell, who is the open supporter, is also the quarterbacks 2889 03:01:11.440 --> 03:01:15.159 coach and is good with quarterbacks. He's developed a lot of them over the 2890 03:01:15.280 --> 03:01:18.360 years, so it's just an extra set of eyes that kind of thing. 2891 03:01:18.719 --> 03:01:24.760 Scott Milanovich, of course Orlando worked with him at the twenty twelve Great Cup 2892 03:01:24.799 --> 03:01:26.879 team when they were both with the Articles, and Melanovich, of course, 2893 03:01:28.000 --> 03:01:31.000 is a very proven football man. He doesn't want to be a head coach 2894 03:01:31.159 --> 03:01:35.680 right now, but I think he'd He's going to commute a little bit from 2895 03:01:35.719 --> 03:01:37.559 his Florida home, but I think eventually he wouldn't mind getting back in. 2896 03:01:37.680 --> 03:01:41.040 This is a pretty good way for him to do it in terms here just 2897 03:01:41.159 --> 03:01:45.000 looking forward, I'm looking here before we get you out of here. Obviously, 2898 03:01:45.159 --> 03:01:48.319 big game next week, you know Winnipeg Alante Peg going to be a 2899 03:01:48.360 --> 03:01:50.719 big What are you looking to see? And I mean I know we had 2900 03:01:50.719 --> 03:01:54.280 the preseason games said this weekend, but when it comes to the real deal, 2901 03:01:54.360 --> 03:01:56.520 what are you looking for against Winnipeg that first week? Hold on of 2902 03:01:56.559 --> 03:02:01.680 the ball, I think that's the big thing. You know, we don't 2903 03:02:01.719 --> 03:02:03.280 know Seth small way back, that's the kicker, and he's been away his 2904 03:02:03.360 --> 03:02:07.520 wife had a baby, and so he's on a suspended list because he wanted 2905 03:02:07.520 --> 03:02:11.079 to take longer than you normally would. It's a family guy. I don't 2906 03:02:11.079 --> 03:02:13.639 know what else is going on there, but but so hang onto the ball. 2907 03:02:15.319 --> 03:02:18.760 I mean that was the big problem much of last year, particularly early. 2908 03:02:18.879 --> 03:02:22.719 In fact, many of the last part of the last decades, scept 2909 03:02:22.719 --> 03:02:26.200 for a year or two, hanging onto the ball early in the season and 2910 03:02:26.360 --> 03:02:30.000 beating yourselves has been a big thing. I think they're looking for fewer penalties 2911 03:02:30.040 --> 03:02:35.319 than they got against Toronto, a little more discipline that way. And now 2912 03:02:35.440 --> 03:02:39.159 you've got two big possession receiver or two big receivers out of the five you're 2913 03:02:39.200 --> 03:02:43.520 gonna use not playing in Anthony Johnson and who will be back, and Justin 2914 03:02:43.639 --> 03:02:48.280 mcbriff who will not, so both pretty good at spreading the ball around and 2915 03:02:48.719 --> 03:02:54.200 the manner in which they use Butler on offense. On defense, I'm I'm 2916 03:02:54.239 --> 03:02:58.799 also looking for Lawrence Woods to maybe take one back. He's playing defense. 2917 03:03:00.159 --> 03:03:01.639 You know, he's the hell of a punt returner and a kick returner too, 2918 03:03:01.680 --> 03:03:05.120 so they'll use him a bit back. They're probably just on kickoff returns, 2919 03:03:07.040 --> 03:03:11.159 and so I'm looking for special teams there with Ryan Bolts influence, because 2920 03:03:11.159 --> 03:03:16.520 he's a heck of a special teams coach. On defense, the linebacking corps 2921 03:03:16.639 --> 03:03:22.479 is fairly new. The front four has four starters, but they've also got 2922 03:03:22.520 --> 03:03:26.120 four starters hurt. They had eight starters, you know, to fill basically 2923 03:03:26.159 --> 03:03:31.200 six positions, so the rotations six or seven, right, and see how 2924 03:03:31.280 --> 03:03:35.239 that will affect them against Winnipeg, who has a pretty good running game and 2925 03:03:35.280 --> 03:03:37.360 has the biggest line in the league. Still, I think that line's not 2926 03:03:37.479 --> 03:03:41.799 as good as it once was, but it's still among the premier lines in 2927 03:03:41.840 --> 03:03:43.360 the league. Those are the three things. How do they doing the essentially, 2928 03:03:43.399 --> 03:03:46.799 how do they do the trenches? And how does both find enough guys? 2929 03:03:46.120 --> 03:03:48.920 And and as Butler, the key to the offense is this spinoff Butler, 2930 03:03:50.000 --> 03:03:52.840 Butler and Tim White. Is that? Is that the way it's going 2931 03:03:52.879 --> 03:03:56.840 to be? And as there at one point I wondered if there was enough 2932 03:03:56.879 --> 03:04:00.959 football to go around reading you know, they just so many people who could 2933 03:04:00.959 --> 03:04:03.639 play. But that was used to that. He played on some pretty powerful 2934 03:04:03.680 --> 03:04:05.079 Caligary teams. They didn't always get to the Great Cup or win it, 2935 03:04:05.520 --> 03:04:09.079 but they were always very powerful, very deep. Well, I'm excited. 2936 03:04:09.120 --> 03:04:11.000 I think this season is going to be good. I'm sure a lot of 2937 03:04:11.079 --> 03:04:15.559 eyeballs here with Hamilton with bo and hosting and all that stuff. So hopefully 2938 03:04:15.559 --> 03:04:18.360 we'll get you back on here once we get two games. But Steve Melton 2939 03:04:18.559 --> 03:04:26.360 over here with the Hamilton's Spectator. Really appreciate it. Thanks Raid, a 2940 03:04:26.520 --> 03:04:28.680 huge special thanks to all of our guests today for coming on. Like I 2941 03:04:28.719 --> 03:04:33.840 said, really appreciate the professor Andrew Murray making time. I said, Andy, 2942 03:04:33.920 --> 03:04:35.600 I texted him the other day of the layoffs, that's because we need 2943 03:04:37.159 --> 03:04:41.639 the professor this week, Andy coming on whenever he is called doing due diligence. 2944 03:04:41.000 --> 03:04:46.520 And then obviously Evan Willsmore taking time, busy getting into the summer and 2945 03:04:46.719 --> 03:04:50.479 his busy work schedule. Certainly appreciate Evan's time. Thanks again to Furby everyone 2946 03:04:50.559 --> 03:04:54.079 over at Run, the SIMS everyone, they're doing the work for the USFL 2947 03:04:54.200 --> 03:04:58.079 and the XFL, all of that fantasy stuff that's kind of way above my 2948 03:04:58.200 --> 03:05:01.600 head, but certainly reciate their insights. And then the three CFL writers we 2949 03:05:01.639 --> 03:05:05.840 had on today, J. J. Adams and Mike Hogan. Mike's not 2950 03:05:05.920 --> 03:05:07.040 the writer, Mike's an announcer, but you know what I'm saying, the 2951 03:05:07.200 --> 03:05:11.040 three CFL talent JJ, Mike, and then certainly appreciate it. Steve Milton 2952 03:05:11.079 --> 03:05:15.600 as well. Looking forward to catching up probably having a beer with at least 2953 03:05:15.639 --> 03:05:18.479 Steve here coming up in Hamilton for November. We have our ticket spot for 2954 03:05:18.600 --> 03:05:20.879 the Great Cup. That'll do it for me today. Like I said, 2955 03:05:22.319 --> 03:05:26.120 you keep track on Twitter and the YouTube channel, but Pat and I will 2956 03:05:26.120 --> 03:05:30.840 be here Monday for our USFL recap, CFL Live pregame show on Thursday, 2957 03:05:30.959 --> 03:05:35.200 and then a special live episode with Andy Murray next Friday. Busy Times Rookie 2958 03:05:35.280 --> 03:05:39.200 Draft episode coming as well June sixteenth. Thanks as always, like to subscribe 2959 03:05:39.239 --> 03:05:39.879 to you next time.