WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:02.480 Our old buddy from the PAC twelve days which a 2 00:00:02.520 --> 00:00:04.839 tier is now falling down my cheek, but always great 3 00:00:04.879 --> 00:00:05.719 to catch up with JB. 4 00:00:05.839 --> 00:00:06.960 Long On a Friday, JB. 5 00:00:07.120 --> 00:00:09.919 Larry David tells me, I have through today to wish 6 00:00:09.960 --> 00:00:11.720 you a happy New Year, sir, so I will do 7 00:00:11.880 --> 00:00:12.199 just that. 8 00:00:12.279 --> 00:00:13.000 Happy Friday. 9 00:00:13.599 --> 00:00:15.519 I'll curb it right back to you. Same to you. 10 00:00:15.599 --> 00:00:17.640 How can I set you up for success in the 11 00:00:17.679 --> 00:00:20.120 five o'clock hour? That's my primary concern here. 12 00:00:20.239 --> 00:00:22.719 Well, I would, I wouldn't want anybody else to do it. 13 00:00:22.760 --> 00:00:24.679 So I appreciate it because it has been a little 14 00:00:24.679 --> 00:00:26.000 bit and I do want to get to the rams 15 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:28.679 in a moment. But of course a little college football 16 00:00:28.719 --> 00:00:31.480 because it is top of mind and you still exist 17 00:00:31.559 --> 00:00:33.439 in that space quite a bit. I just want to 18 00:00:33.439 --> 00:00:36.679 ask you, from a thirty thousand foot Macro viewpoint, now 19 00:00:36.719 --> 00:00:39.200 that we are seeing the twelve team CFP in front 20 00:00:39.200 --> 00:00:41.920 of us, what are your thoughts so far? 21 00:00:42.119 --> 00:00:44.520 Of course, four teams left standing as of now. 22 00:00:46.200 --> 00:00:49.840 Well, through my Irish tinted lenses, I'm happy for Notre 23 00:00:49.960 --> 00:00:52.719 Dame to be competing in this environment and to beat 24 00:00:52.799 --> 00:00:56.200 a true SEC powerhouse. I understand, George is not what 25 00:00:56.200 --> 00:00:58.159 they have been in recent years, but they were still 26 00:00:58.159 --> 00:01:00.359 worthy of being there, and so happy for my mater 27 00:01:00.479 --> 00:01:02.159 to show up on that stage. 28 00:01:01.799 --> 00:01:02.799 And win convincingly. 29 00:01:04.159 --> 00:01:08.400 I think my you know, thirty thousand foot perspective is 30 00:01:08.799 --> 00:01:11.439 a little bit cynical, but I'll offer it to you anyway, 31 00:01:11.480 --> 00:01:14.120 which is now that everybody has the chance to compensate 32 00:01:14.159 --> 00:01:17.959 players and attract them, if not equally, at least with 33 00:01:18.239 --> 00:01:22.840 you know, true financial incentives. It's probably not a coincidence 34 00:01:23.079 --> 00:01:26.040 that when you then put them in a broader playing 35 00:01:26.079 --> 00:01:30.120 field at neutral sites, that the SEC is not necessarily 36 00:01:30.120 --> 00:01:32.920 as dominant as they have been when the game was 37 00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:35.920 kind of catered to them specifically. So I think if 38 00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:38.640 that's the dominant narrative coming out of this year's college 39 00:01:38.640 --> 00:01:41.799 football playoffs, I'm right on board with it. I don't 40 00:01:41.799 --> 00:01:44.319 think the SEC is going anywhere. I still think they're 41 00:01:44.359 --> 00:01:48.319 the best resource. I still think they're going to win 42 00:01:48.799 --> 00:01:51.840 the preponderance of college football playoffs because of the bread 43 00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:54.200 and caliber of their teams and their coaches and their 44 00:01:54.239 --> 00:01:56.680 care factor. But I think this is a good place 45 00:01:56.719 --> 00:02:01.000 to start a new era of college football with the 46 00:02:01.040 --> 00:02:01.680 final four. 47 00:02:01.599 --> 00:02:05.000 That we have completely forgot and I knew that you 48 00:02:05.040 --> 00:02:07.760 were a Notre Dame alum. So let me take advantage 49 00:02:07.799 --> 00:02:10.439 of your knowledge and ask you about what stands out 50 00:02:10.520 --> 00:02:13.319 most when it comes to the job that Marcus Freeman 51 00:02:13.360 --> 00:02:15.199 has done. You know, I think I was caught off 52 00:02:15.199 --> 00:02:17.879 guard when Brian Kelly left, and all due respect to 53 00:02:18.080 --> 00:02:20.199 a man who I've never met, Marcus Freeman seems like 54 00:02:20.240 --> 00:02:22.639 a lot more likable. It's a more likable Notre Dame 55 00:02:22.680 --> 00:02:25.800 football team. What stands out most about this building job 56 00:02:25.840 --> 00:02:26.639 that he's done. 57 00:02:28.360 --> 00:02:28.719 A lot? 58 00:02:28.960 --> 00:02:31.800 I think the reaction to Brian Kelly leaving and him 59 00:02:31.840 --> 00:02:34.240 stepping back into that Notre Dame locker room said that 60 00:02:34.280 --> 00:02:36.599 he was a player favorite, But hiring a player favorite 61 00:02:36.680 --> 00:02:40.719 is not necessarily a formula for success in college football succession. 62 00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:43.879 I think there was plenty of reason to question how 63 00:02:43.919 --> 00:02:47.080 he would think or swim in this environment, and he's 64 00:02:47.080 --> 00:02:49.360 done nothing but thrive, and I give him a ton 65 00:02:49.400 --> 00:02:52.319 of credit for that. Both, you know, long lens and 66 00:02:52.360 --> 00:02:55.840 short lens like to stumble after beating Texas A and 67 00:02:56.000 --> 00:02:58.280 m a college station, to stumble against NIU and to 68 00:02:58.360 --> 00:03:00.000 kind of have egg on your face, and to play 69 00:03:00.199 --> 00:03:01.840 the long game and to win out and to be 70 00:03:01.919 --> 00:03:04.080 right there at the finish line. I think that says 71 00:03:04.120 --> 00:03:07.479 a lot about him individually and the personality that his 72 00:03:07.560 --> 00:03:10.400 team has adopted. I think Notre Dame has threaded the 73 00:03:10.439 --> 00:03:14.120 needle just perfectly between still being true to their roots 74 00:03:14.560 --> 00:03:17.800 but realizing that the NIL game is where the future 75 00:03:17.879 --> 00:03:19.960 is and if they want to play big boy college football, 76 00:03:20.319 --> 00:03:23.759 they need to not not just participate, but dominate it 77 00:03:23.800 --> 00:03:26.159 to the extent that they're able. And I never thought 78 00:03:26.159 --> 00:03:30.039 I would see a transfer portal era reach South Bend. 79 00:03:30.039 --> 00:03:33.599 It's so antithetical to what that institution has been all 80 00:03:33.639 --> 00:03:35.319 about for so many years. But the way that they 81 00:03:35.400 --> 00:03:40.039 selectively utilized transfers who are in good academic standing and 82 00:03:40.080 --> 00:03:43.039 could contribute to specific roles, there's no way they win 83 00:03:43.159 --> 00:03:46.039 that game last night, which is high school players that 84 00:03:46.039 --> 00:03:46.759 they had recruited. 85 00:03:47.680 --> 00:03:52.919 Do you feel like Notre Dame is capable of winning 86 00:03:52.960 --> 00:03:55.759 it all this year? You know it from my vantage 87 00:03:55.800 --> 00:03:58.919 point JB. A lot of people who I respect and 88 00:03:59.039 --> 00:04:01.719 cover the sport have always talked about all your long 89 00:04:01.719 --> 00:04:05.719 Ohio State's best being better than everybody else's best. It 90 00:04:05.759 --> 00:04:09.599 didn't manifest against Michigan, but ultimately they're kind of rolling. 91 00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:12.120 What for your alma mater. What do you think? What 92 00:04:12.159 --> 00:04:13.439 do you think the ceiling is this year? 93 00:04:14.039 --> 00:04:14.120 No? 94 00:04:14.280 --> 00:04:16.600 Sure, I think any of the four teams has the 95 00:04:16.639 --> 00:04:18.600 potential to win it all. I think for all that 96 00:04:18.639 --> 00:04:21.639 we I shouldn't say we, for all that some gripe 97 00:04:21.720 --> 00:04:23.480 about the first round of games, and we can talk 98 00:04:23.480 --> 00:04:24.639 about that too if you want. 99 00:04:25.120 --> 00:04:26.920 I think the final four. 100 00:04:26.839 --> 00:04:28.879 Are worthy and each of them, if they play to 101 00:04:28.920 --> 00:04:31.160 their highest potential, has every reason to believe that they're 102 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:34.600 going to be the national champion. And you know, I 103 00:04:34.600 --> 00:04:37.240 think what we've landed on, correct me if you feel otherwise, 104 00:04:37.399 --> 00:04:41.040 is March Madness on grass in the winner when you 105 00:04:41.120 --> 00:04:44.959 expand the field, whether or not you saw upsets happen 106 00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:46.720 in the first round like we're used to on that 107 00:04:46.759 --> 00:04:50.560 first Thursday and Friday of March Madness. Ultimately you get 108 00:04:50.560 --> 00:04:52.480 to Sweet sixteen weekend, and if you've made it to 109 00:04:52.519 --> 00:04:54.399 that second week and you're for real and you've got 110 00:04:54.399 --> 00:04:56.360 a chance, certainly, if you make it to the final four, 111 00:04:56.720 --> 00:04:59.319 you're a contender. And I'm glad it took us too long, 112 00:04:59.360 --> 00:05:01.959 but I'm glad that this is where we are as 113 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:06.240 a college football space, because whether it's Arizona. 114 00:05:05.800 --> 00:05:08.279 State or Boise State or. 115 00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:10.879 Even Indiana some of the others that fell by the wayside. 116 00:05:10.920 --> 00:05:13.319 I don't think just because you lost a one off game, 117 00:05:13.439 --> 00:05:16.000 especially if you lost in a true road game, that 118 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:18.120 that means that you're anything other than a top twelve 119 00:05:18.160 --> 00:05:19.480 team in the college football this year. 120 00:05:19.720 --> 00:05:22.800 Yeah, and you know, those of us that remember the 121 00:05:22.839 --> 00:05:26.519 PAC twelve years certainly will always wonder what a team 122 00:05:26.639 --> 00:05:28.920 like Utah at their peak could have done in an 123 00:05:28.959 --> 00:05:33.079 expanded twelve team situation. But unfortunately, JB. Let's move over 124 00:05:33.160 --> 00:05:35.240 to where we find ourselves here. And we did visit 125 00:05:35.360 --> 00:05:38.319 with you, I believe, once during the college football season. 126 00:05:38.759 --> 00:05:41.120 But you're a guy that covered Utah football for a 127 00:05:41.160 --> 00:05:43.519 number of years, called Utah football games for a number 128 00:05:43.560 --> 00:05:46.439 of years since you and I last spoke. Coach Witt 129 00:05:46.480 --> 00:05:49.040 has announced he's coming back for year twenty one. So 130 00:05:49.199 --> 00:05:53.360 the succession plan in place, you know, Morgan Scaley is 131 00:05:53.639 --> 00:05:56.199 now being Logan Royd. He's not ready to hand over 132 00:05:56.319 --> 00:05:58.319 you know, the company to his oldest son just yet. 133 00:05:58.800 --> 00:06:00.879 And so that's on whole for one year. 134 00:06:01.360 --> 00:06:04.480 As of now, we have sixteen new transfer portal editions, 135 00:06:04.519 --> 00:06:07.160 twenty five incoming freshman, forty one. 136 00:06:07.560 --> 00:06:08.720 New players for the Utes. 137 00:06:08.720 --> 00:06:10.839 But based off of what you know about this program, 138 00:06:10.959 --> 00:06:15.439 do you feel confident that this disappointing season could be 139 00:06:15.639 --> 00:06:18.040 a one off as opposed to the new reality of 140 00:06:18.160 --> 00:06:18.879 Utah football. 141 00:06:19.519 --> 00:06:20.600 Yeah, it's a fair question. 142 00:06:20.600 --> 00:06:22.360 It's probably one that I would be speaking out of 143 00:06:22.399 --> 00:06:25.639 turn to answer too definitively, not being as in the 144 00:06:25.639 --> 00:06:28.120 weeds as I once was. But you know how much 145 00:06:28.120 --> 00:06:30.920 faith I have in that leadership and the resources around 146 00:06:30.920 --> 00:06:33.439 that program, and the commitment of the community to it. 147 00:06:34.120 --> 00:06:36.439 I very much agree with the sentiment you expressed that 148 00:06:36.920 --> 00:06:40.319 had Utah as a PAC champion been gifted not gifted, 149 00:06:40.399 --> 00:06:43.319 had earned the opportunity to host a first round playoff game, 150 00:06:43.519 --> 00:06:45.399 I think good things would have happened. I think a 151 00:06:45.399 --> 00:06:48.240 lot of your audience agrees with that. But the other 152 00:06:48.279 --> 00:06:51.839 reason why I'm hesitant to reply in any definitive manner 153 00:06:51.920 --> 00:06:55.680 is because what is January twenty twenty five tell us 154 00:06:55.759 --> 00:06:59.480 at all about September or November or December of twenty five. 155 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:04.639 Imagine telling an Arizona State die hard, much less any 156 00:07:04.639 --> 00:07:07.480 of us kind of adjacent to that program, that Kenny 157 00:07:07.519 --> 00:07:11.240 Dillingham and Cam Scataboo would be in the first college 158 00:07:11.240 --> 00:07:14.319 football playoffs, And I think justifiably they should have won 159 00:07:14.399 --> 00:07:17.600 that game and been part of the final four. That's 160 00:07:17.680 --> 00:07:21.600 an absurdity to even ponder at this stage of the calendar. 161 00:07:21.639 --> 00:07:24.399 And yet in the era that we are in, you 162 00:07:24.519 --> 00:07:28.160 can cobble together a completely different team than the one 163 00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:31.439 that I saw in person in Salt Lake City last year. 164 00:07:31.519 --> 00:07:34.040 I think you probably remember that game, like I was 165 00:07:34.040 --> 00:07:35.600 worried the sun Devils weren't going to get out of 166 00:07:35.639 --> 00:07:38.319 there in one piece, Like they didn't have a quarterback, 167 00:07:38.360 --> 00:07:40.639 they had their tight end warming up on the sideline 168 00:07:40.639 --> 00:07:43.480 to take snaps. And here they are a year later, 169 00:07:44.079 --> 00:07:47.279 deservedly having a true argument to say that they should 170 00:07:47.279 --> 00:07:49.920 be part of the college football playoffs semi finals. 171 00:07:50.480 --> 00:07:53.000 Yeah, and to your point, only time would tell, because 172 00:07:53.079 --> 00:07:56.160 there's still another transfer portal window that will open. And 173 00:07:56.600 --> 00:07:58.800 I mean, look, they could lose a ton of talent 174 00:07:58.879 --> 00:08:02.079 between now and the fall an exercise and futility. But 175 00:08:02.120 --> 00:08:04.879 before we move on to the pros, you know, one 176 00:08:04.879 --> 00:08:07.560 of the conversations that we continue to have, not just here, 177 00:08:07.639 --> 00:08:11.000 but people across the landscape of college football media is 178 00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:12.959 what the future of the sport is going to look 179 00:08:13.079 --> 00:08:16.079 like with all of the lack of regulations the NCAA 180 00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:19.319 is not even allowed to offer any sort of guidance 181 00:08:19.399 --> 00:08:22.199 or punishment. They have been told that that's not a 182 00:08:22.240 --> 00:08:24.480 thing that they're allowed to do anymore. They had decades 183 00:08:24.519 --> 00:08:27.079 to try to figure it out, but they couldn't. And 184 00:08:27.160 --> 00:08:29.319 ultimately a lot of people believe we are high speed 185 00:08:29.360 --> 00:08:30.560 ahead to a pro model. 186 00:08:30.959 --> 00:08:31.680 I feel like that. 187 00:08:31.639 --> 00:08:33.759 Would solve a lot of the problems that seem to 188 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:38.200 play college football. You know, allow the players to unionize collectively, bargain. 189 00:08:38.279 --> 00:08:40.799 I know administrators at schools don't want that. I feel 190 00:08:40.840 --> 00:08:43.679 like coaches do do you feel like? And you know, 191 00:08:43.759 --> 00:08:47.159 despite all of the off field issues, ratings are through 192 00:08:47.200 --> 00:08:50.639 the roof. Consumption is fine. So what I say, is 193 00:08:50.679 --> 00:08:53.200 the sport in trouble? The answer is probably no. But 194 00:08:53.320 --> 00:08:55.440 if you look in the Jblong crystal ball, what does 195 00:08:55.440 --> 00:08:57.000 the future of college football look like? 196 00:08:58.159 --> 00:09:01.559 Well, I hope that college football can find it's Roger Goodell. 197 00:09:01.919 --> 00:09:04.440 And what I mean by that is, regardless of how 198 00:09:04.519 --> 00:09:07.000 you feel about that name and his role in the 199 00:09:07.080 --> 00:09:12.360 National Football League, college football desperately direly needs someone with 200 00:09:12.440 --> 00:09:16.440 the authority to say yes, no, maybe, And right now 201 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:20.320 there just isn't anyone not in Indianapolis. Not at the 202 00:09:20.440 --> 00:09:24.039 NCAAA level, Like it's a bunch of college commissioners who 203 00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:29.120 have all sorts of very difficult motivations. But I think 204 00:09:29.159 --> 00:09:31.720 we need to nominate a someone, and I don't want 205 00:09:31.759 --> 00:09:34.279 a committee. I want to someone who has the authority 206 00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:38.279 to take this what I think has the potential be 207 00:09:38.279 --> 00:09:41.919 a golden era of college football to its next iteration. 208 00:09:42.519 --> 00:09:43.879 And it's not to say that that's going to. 209 00:09:43.879 --> 00:09:47.039 Be some czar that has unilateral say, but he or 210 00:09:47.159 --> 00:09:52.279 she will speak for the key stakeholders who can voice 211 00:09:52.320 --> 00:09:56.519 their preferences and concerns to that person. But ultimately, there 212 00:09:56.600 --> 00:10:00.679 has to be something that connects Eugene to Salt Lake 213 00:10:00.799 --> 00:10:06.879 City to Austin, Texas, to Tuscaloosa to College Station and 214 00:10:06.960 --> 00:10:09.840 Happy Valley right like, right now that just doesn't exist. 215 00:10:10.200 --> 00:10:13.320 And I think we're seeing the fragmented nature of college football. 216 00:10:13.559 --> 00:10:16.519 And just because it's great right now, Spence, I think 217 00:10:16.559 --> 00:10:19.519 there is a red blinking light that if we're not 218 00:10:19.919 --> 00:10:23.080 careful and if we don't act soon enough, it can 219 00:10:23.159 --> 00:10:23.960 go the wrong way. 220 00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:25.360 I do agree with that. 221 00:10:25.360 --> 00:10:27.679 That's why I talk about the issues as often as 222 00:10:27.720 --> 00:10:30.480 I do, because I love the sport. We care about 223 00:10:30.519 --> 00:10:32.759 it here on our stay with both Utah and Berg 224 00:10:32.799 --> 00:10:35.399 of Young and want to make sure that everything is 225 00:10:35.720 --> 00:10:38.440 in place for it to continue to thrive. All right, 226 00:10:39.120 --> 00:10:41.879 As you know, we are the unofficial home of the Rams, 227 00:10:41.960 --> 00:10:44.120 the La Rams here in Salt Lake City. Off and 228 00:10:44.159 --> 00:10:46.960 tell you because mcveigh's my guy. But look four or 229 00:10:47.000 --> 00:10:48.879 five to start the year, right. I think a lot 230 00:10:48.879 --> 00:10:50.559 of people thought that this was going to be a 231 00:10:50.600 --> 00:10:53.320 rebuilding year, but here they are. Man, you guys won 232 00:10:54.039 --> 00:10:56.600 the division. You're going to the postseason no matter what 233 00:10:56.600 --> 00:10:59.559 happens over the weekend. How has coach McVeigh been able 234 00:10:59.559 --> 00:11:01.759 to pull this off after such a rough start. 235 00:11:01.480 --> 00:11:01.879 Of the year. 236 00:11:02.519 --> 00:11:04.759 Yeah, I know this is what you meant by saying 237 00:11:04.759 --> 00:11:06.360 four or five, but let me just spell it out 238 00:11:06.360 --> 00:11:08.200 for the audience. He may just be going about their 239 00:11:08.320 --> 00:11:10.480 day not dialed into exactly what you said. 240 00:11:10.480 --> 00:11:10.799 There. 241 00:11:10.840 --> 00:11:12.679 They lost four of their fives. 242 00:11:12.759 --> 00:11:15.639 Yeah you know, say for a walkoff field goal against 243 00:11:15.679 --> 00:11:18.120 the San Francisco forty nine ers. They were dead in 244 00:11:18.159 --> 00:11:20.000 the water at their bye week, just like they were 245 00:11:20.039 --> 00:11:22.720 a year ago, three games below five hundred. You know 246 00:11:22.799 --> 00:11:25.120 it was different this year is you know you just 247 00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:27.440 hadn't seen the team that they had built in its 248 00:11:27.720 --> 00:11:30.519 full form and if there was a reason for optimism, 249 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:32.279 that was it. It's like, how can you judge this 250 00:11:32.320 --> 00:11:35.440 team before we see Pukainaku as year two? How can 251 00:11:35.480 --> 00:11:38.960 you judge Matthew Stafford until he plays behind at least 252 00:11:39.000 --> 00:11:42.000 four of the five offensive linemen that you invested in 253 00:11:42.039 --> 00:11:45.759 this offseason, so that latent potential was there, but still 254 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:48.240 to cash it in and the clinch before Week eighteen 255 00:11:48.399 --> 00:11:50.399 was a scenario that I don't even think the Braves 256 00:11:50.519 --> 00:11:53.159 or boldest Rams fan would have gone out on a 257 00:11:53.240 --> 00:11:56.519 limb to say. But I do keep bringing it back 258 00:11:56.559 --> 00:11:59.120 to Sean and I think he is a unique force 259 00:11:59.159 --> 00:12:01.559 of football, and I think this is one of his better, 260 00:12:02.279 --> 00:12:04.960 if not best, one of his better coaching jobs, because 261 00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:08.960 it was so unique from even as recently as last year, 262 00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:11.559 when on paper they did the same thing, but if 263 00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:13.240 you lived at day to day, it was nothing like 264 00:12:13.320 --> 00:12:14.279 what they did last year. 265 00:12:14.679 --> 00:12:17.039 Of course, you have a local player that we've been 266 00:12:17.080 --> 00:12:19.559 watching since he was fourteen year years old in Pooka 267 00:12:19.559 --> 00:12:23.519 and Akoua, and some health issues early on, and then 268 00:12:23.559 --> 00:12:25.879 he came back and every single week you just kind 269 00:12:25.879 --> 00:12:28.600 of shake your head at what he's able to do. 270 00:12:28.679 --> 00:12:30.279 I think we all thought he had a chance to 271 00:12:30.279 --> 00:12:32.600 be a pro, but I don't think anybody thoughts that 272 00:12:32.679 --> 00:12:35.639 he was going to look and play like this week 273 00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:37.559 in and week out. I mean, I don't know that 274 00:12:37.639 --> 00:12:39.759 I have a question for you, just your thoughts on 275 00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:44.440 yet another unbelievable successful season year two for Pookin Akuah. 276 00:12:45.279 --> 00:12:45.519 Yeah. 277 00:12:45.559 --> 00:12:47.279 I don't know what higher praise I can give him, 278 00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:50.240 except he really improved from a record setting rookie season, 279 00:12:50.279 --> 00:12:53.200 and that's not easy to do. When you go from 280 00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:55.960 a running mate of Cooper Cup who shines in his 281 00:12:56.039 --> 00:12:59.440 absence and thrives opposite him, to someone who is now 282 00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:03.200 getting the full force of every defensive scating report and 283 00:13:03.279 --> 00:13:06.720 coverage and you get better. That's a testament to who 284 00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:08.679 he is and the work that he put in to 285 00:13:08.799 --> 00:13:11.240 take that leap, and it doesn't come easily because of 286 00:13:11.240 --> 00:13:14.360 how high he set the bar. But you know, if 287 00:13:14.399 --> 00:13:16.399 there was anything to pick at last year, it was 288 00:13:16.440 --> 00:13:19.639 that he had some drops Other than dropping the first 289 00:13:19.639 --> 00:13:22.120 pass that Stafford threw him after his return from injury, 290 00:13:22.120 --> 00:13:23.799 I don't think he's put another one on the ground 291 00:13:23.879 --> 00:13:27.759 since he's been spectacular. He competes without the football, which 292 00:13:27.799 --> 00:13:29.960 is something that he'll never get as much credit for 293 00:13:30.039 --> 00:13:33.000 as he deserves, but it's demanded of someone in his 294 00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:36.120 role within the McVeigh offense. So there's a lot on 295 00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:38.440 pookah shoulders and they're broad and they're strong, and thank 296 00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:41.559 goodness because you could say it one of two ways. 297 00:13:41.600 --> 00:13:43.600 The Rams go as far in this postseason as Matthew 298 00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:46.639 Stafford can take them, and I think that's true. But 299 00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:50.279 Matthew Stafford's you know, first look and last look is 300 00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:52.320 going to beat a puka nakua through the year because 301 00:13:52.360 --> 00:13:54.480 that's the best thing the Rams have going offensively. 302 00:13:54.799 --> 00:13:57.080 So Vegas tells us that the Chiefs are still the 303 00:13:57.120 --> 00:13:59.879 favorite to win the Super Bowl, and you know, it has. 304 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:03.600 It's been a razor's edge for them. Where on one hand, 305 00:14:03.679 --> 00:14:06.919 it's pretty remarkable to watch Patrick Mahomes kind of evolve 306 00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:10.840 into this intellectual quarterback and Andy Reid to just simply 307 00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:12.720 coach them to win games. 308 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:13.360 However they need to. 309 00:14:13.799 --> 00:14:16.320 And on the other hand, you look around at the 310 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:19.240 litany of talent and really good teams in Pro football 311 00:14:19.279 --> 00:14:21.480 and you say, can you survive that come playoff time? 312 00:14:21.559 --> 00:14:23.519 Do you think this is Kansas City's to win again 313 00:14:23.559 --> 00:14:24.600 for the third straight time. 314 00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:28.799 Yeah, probably probably. But like I think last time, I 315 00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:31.200 ducked this question by saying, if you were to give 316 00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:33.039 me Kansas City or the field, I would want the field. 317 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:35.120 What if I narrated a little bit and I said. 318 00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:37.159 Just specifically to the AFC. 319 00:14:37.159 --> 00:14:41.279 Would you rather have Kansas City or Buffalo and Baltimore? 320 00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:44.000 Can I take Buffalo and Baltimore? 321 00:14:44.080 --> 00:14:46.559 I think I'm with you because I think. 322 00:14:46.440 --> 00:14:49.399 Either one of them that gets a shot at Kansas 323 00:14:49.399 --> 00:14:52.519 City has every reason to believe they can win that game. 324 00:14:53.039 --> 00:14:55.080 But I think the reason why the Chiefs are still 325 00:14:55.120 --> 00:14:57.240 the favorite, besides having to coach the quarterback and the 326 00:14:57.240 --> 00:14:59.480 home field advantage, is I think what they did this 327 00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:03.480 year to win fifteen games as they look to three pete, 328 00:15:04.399 --> 00:15:08.799 that's nearly impossible. Like to maintain that edge, that competitive 329 00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:11.480 edge when you know the only thing you're going to 330 00:15:11.480 --> 00:15:15.120 be judged on is January and February. What a testament 331 00:15:15.279 --> 00:15:18.639 to everyone within that organization is that's one of the 332 00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:22.039 most impossible things I've ever seen done in my lifetime 333 00:15:22.120 --> 00:15:25.039 of covering this sport. And that's probably hyperbole, but I 334 00:15:25.080 --> 00:15:25.960 sincerely mean it. 335 00:15:26.600 --> 00:15:28.600 What stands out most to you because as you know, 336 00:15:28.679 --> 00:15:31.679 as we've talked over the years. I'm a long suffering 337 00:15:31.720 --> 00:15:33.159 fan of the New York Jets. I do not have 338 00:15:33.200 --> 00:15:35.320 a question about the Jets. We're not gonna waste our time. 339 00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:38.159 I'm not going to waste my oxygen. But I will 340 00:15:38.200 --> 00:15:41.039 ask you about Sam Darnold, because over the past decade 341 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:43.840 or so, every time the Jets have drafted a quarterback, 342 00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:45.399 Sam was the only one where. 343 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:46.639 I said, Okay, that's the guy. 344 00:15:47.320 --> 00:15:50.519 And of course it didn't work, but you have to 345 00:15:50.679 --> 00:15:53.600 just I mean, it's unbelievably impressive. Yes, it's a very 346 00:15:53.600 --> 00:15:56.039 good team, it's a good coaching staff. He's surrounded by talent. 347 00:15:56.559 --> 00:15:59.120 They've got a decision to make. I don't know how 348 00:15:59.159 --> 00:16:01.960 you say goodbye to him after what he's done, but 349 00:16:02.279 --> 00:16:05.360 the Sam Donald Viking story is one of my favorites 350 00:16:05.399 --> 00:16:05.759 of the year. 351 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:06.639 Give me your thoughts. 352 00:16:06.720 --> 00:16:06.919 JB. 353 00:16:07.639 --> 00:16:09.720 Well and Kevin O'Connell was with the Rams when they 354 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:11.960 won the Super Bowl, and he'll always be someone that 355 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:15.080 I think very, verrely highly of, and he's someone that 356 00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:18.440 Sean McVay really entrusted and I know is happy to 357 00:16:18.480 --> 00:16:23.639 see get that opportunity. Donald's not exactly like Rock Purdy, right, 358 00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:26.200 this is not mister irrelevant. This is a number one pick, 359 00:16:27.399 --> 00:16:29.799 and whether he had to go through a couple of 360 00:16:29.799 --> 00:16:34.159 cycles of finding himself or finding the right circumstances, probably both. 361 00:16:34.559 --> 00:16:36.799 It's not like the guy that lacks for talent. What 362 00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:37.519 I really. 363 00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:40.399 Commend is the stuff between the years, and I would 364 00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:43.879 put Baker Mayfield in a very similar category that those 365 00:16:43.879 --> 00:16:47.720 two guys are likely you know, leading playoff teams and 366 00:16:48.440 --> 00:16:52.080 NFC contenders, given where they've been at various depths of 367 00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:57.200 their career, including together side by side. It's probably you know, 368 00:16:57.240 --> 00:17:01.559 a Neon Green Vegas sized signed to the National Football 369 00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:03.639 League that we give up on and we write the 370 00:17:03.720 --> 00:17:08.079 narrative on especially that position too quickly. Now, whether that 371 00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:11.960 applies to an Anthony Richardson or a Justin s Fields 372 00:17:12.519 --> 00:17:16.200 or whoever's next trying to, you know, hopefully reclaim their 373 00:17:16.279 --> 00:17:20.279 career as a once highly touted draft prospect at quarterback. 374 00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:20.359 I don't know. 375 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:23.000 It could be unique to those men and their grit 376 00:17:23.079 --> 00:17:28.519 and determination. It also, I would say, for certain depends 377 00:17:28.519 --> 00:17:32.240 on having someone like Kevin O'Connell and Justin Jefferson and 378 00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:34.880 all the other good things that are going on organizationally 379 00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:38.599 in Minneapolis, because it can't happen without that, all. 380 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:41.119 Right, before I say you loose and again your heart's 381 00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:43.559 with the Rams. I understand that, But the Lions have 382 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:46.920 a litany amount of injuries, litany of injuries on the 383 00:17:46.960 --> 00:17:50.200 defensive side of football. Philly just seems to get in 384 00:17:50.200 --> 00:17:53.319 their own way with the locker room chemistry issues. 385 00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:54.839 The Rams won five straight. 386 00:17:54.880 --> 00:17:57.920 So I'm not saying that the Rams can't do anything special, 387 00:17:58.039 --> 00:17:59.000 because I'm sure they can. 388 00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:00.839 We've seen that coach, You've seen that team. 389 00:18:01.079 --> 00:18:03.200 Who's the team though that there's your peer in the 390 00:18:03.319 --> 00:18:05.640 NFC that you would be most afraid of. On the 391 00:18:05.680 --> 00:18:09.200 other side if you ran into them. 392 00:18:09.559 --> 00:18:12.720 Well, I think the raws nerve is probably Saquon Barkley 393 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:15.400 and the Philadelphia Eagles having done it in face to 394 00:18:15.400 --> 00:18:18.119 face at SOFI Stadium, and it was just a total 395 00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:19.839 thorough beat down. 396 00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:20.640 It was a blowout. 397 00:18:20.759 --> 00:18:24.319 It was a low point and the season that had 398 00:18:24.440 --> 00:18:28.039 very few of them. So to the extent that Philadelphia 399 00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:31.079 doesn't have to leave their home stadium until a potential 400 00:18:31.240 --> 00:18:36.319 NFC championship game. They're the team man, both in terms 401 00:18:36.359 --> 00:18:38.759