The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - GBF: Conference Championship Friday!
Episode Date: January 26, 2024Stugotz is surprised to hear that Adam Schefter is reporting a story he made up weeks ago. Chris Simms gets Stu ready for Conference Championship weekend. Clay Matthews talks Door Dash and dishwashers... the the guy. Stu Ya Gotz. Austin Ekeler reacts to Jim Harbaugh being hired by the Chargers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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You're listening to Giraffe Kings Network.
God bless football, Billy Gill. God bless football, Billy Gill.
God bless football, Mikey A.
God bless football, Stugas.
Thank you, Mikey A. Championship weekend. It deserves two episodes.
Not one, but two episodes of God bless football, too. That's right, two.
A lot of news happening. A lot of things happening, Billy Gill.
You seem intrigued by something you saw on ESPN.com's homepage.
What happened?
There's some moving and some shaking going on, Stugatz.
Can I tell you something?
Can I reveal something to you?
Please.
I almost just said God bless football Stugatz back to you
just to see Mikey's reaction since we talked about it
earlier this week with Golik.
I almost did it, but I was like, let me not.
What do we get from doing this? You guys are picking on me this week. First with
Cam Newton and now you want to skip me in the God bless football roundabout.
Sorry but Billy's showing some restraint there that's pretty incredible.
Yeah you'd be surprised with how things actually happen but you'd be surprised
at how many times in my head I think risk for war, is this worth it? And I say no, which is crazy to think that this
happens frequently, but quite often I say like, not worth it, probably not worth it.
Have you ever thought it to yourself when you're about to say, and we're back?
No, I haven't. And I'll say this, we have a guest coming on today, brought to you by DoorDash, and in the brought
to you by DoorDash, I was going to say, and we're back, brought to you by DoorDash, but
I didn't. We just conducted a normal interview. Yeah.
Yeah, that's very nice of you. It's Clay Matthews, huh? We got Clay Matthews today.
Listen, we have had two great episodes.
We have Chris Sims, who's going to join us.
Austin Eckler going to join us.
Clay Matthews going to join us.
We really enjoyed all three.
Clay Matthews was really fun to talk to.
But Billy, you talked about the moving and shaking,
and we haven't updated the audience.
I'm not moving it, I'm not shaking yet.
I mean, what's happening?
Well, it seems like every team wants to hire a coach.
So all those vacancies are getting filled up pretty quickly here
Yep, we had this hired a coach. Yeah, the panthers hired a coach the Falcons hired a coach
Yeah, seems like old Billy Bella check might be left out in the cold right now. Why are you calling him Billy Bella check?
I mean what happened there?
All right, we'll get to we'll get to ESPN.com's home page. It
is the second. There are still two jobs that are available. Washington and Seattle. Those
two jobs are still open now. Okay. But the Falcons and Carolina did hire a coach. The
Eagles are surrounding Sirianni with all kinds of head coaches because the second he stumbles,
he's going to be out. So this is all fascinating. What is going to happen with Bill Belichick?
Billy, what did you read on ESPN.com's homepage
that got you excited?
Well, so I'm on ESPN.com's NFL page
and I scroll about halfway down.
And I see a video that I think you might find
a little bit interesting, Stu Gatz,
where your friend, Adam Schefter, speculates,
could Bill Belichick replace Andy Reid in Kansas City?
Thank you.
I believe that's what's happening, I really do.
I mean, even though we asked Peter King earlier this week,
if he thought it, and he knows Andy Reid very well,
do you think Andy's gonna retire?
He said no.
We asked Mike Golik, who knows him very, very well, okay?
Has a relationship with Andy Reid.
Ask Golik, he said no.
I still believe it's happening, okay?
How about that?
Can I ask you a question?
And this is like more of a serious question.
Sure.
Just, you know, like one human to the other.
Yeah.
And Mikey, you know, you're here.
You can, you know, give your thoughts as well.
Mostly human.
Montez is here as well somewhere.
How do you feel when something that you completely made up becomes possibly real and then someone else gets credit for
something that again you completely made up and they're like oh wow I hadn't even thought
of that. When you've been saying it but you've been saying it with absolutely no sources
or insight whatsoever because again you just completely made it up and now it may become a reality.
It angers me. I can't, you know, I've already texted Chifter like, hey,
you got that for me. You know, you got it from me. Give me some credit. You know?
But he didn't get it from you because again,
he probably has sources or has some sort of information
that led him to put, it wasn't,
he was thinking back to last week or two weeks ago
when he was walking down the hall talking to us.
He didn't think about that.
I don't think when he reported that, you know?
Does it make, let me re-ask this question.
Does it make you wanna make up things less or more
than you currently do?
More, more, more.
There is a thrill because you know, I know,
Mikey A knows and that's all that matters to me, OK?
You know I made something up out of thin air
and I love that it has legs now
and Adam Schefter is running with it
and other people are running with it.
Does it drive me a little bit crazy
that I don't get credit for it?
Sure, but I made it up.
So, I mean, what can I do?
I told you, Andy Reid was
thinking about retirement. He's 65 years old. It's just, Billy, I don't have
sources. What I do is I have logic. Okay. That's what I have. Logic. That's it.
Logical thinking. 65, third Super Bowl. Time to hang it up, you know? Go hang out
and be with the family. That's all. But you're saying that about someone who is gonna be what, 70 something
and has six Super Bowls?
Here's the thing, Andy Reid has a family.
Andy Reid has grandkids.
Andy Reid has things to do.
Belichick has nothing.
Nothing, he has a dog and he goes,
takes it and he visits the Naval Academy five times a year and he's
got a daughter who coaches at Holy Cross, La Crosse, Holy Cross, La Crosse, Holy Cross,
the Crusaders women's La Crosse team. And that's it. That's all he has. He has nothing
better to do with his time. Andy Reid has things to do with his time. Belichick is a
coach. All he cares about is football, his dog, and the Naval Academy. How about that?
Anyway, we have games this weekend, Billy. Big games. Billy, we, we, yeah, championship games, some would say.
Yeah, we do. I'm excited. Ravens Lions, Ravens and Kansas City in that first game,
and the Lions in San Francisco in that second game. I will tell you this, I am confident in the
Lions plus seven of the Lions might win that game. I'm not sold on Brock Purdy. I have no idea what
to do with that first game. It feels like Patrick Mahomes is going to steal the more
Jackson's moment. It really does.
Can I give you a coaching moment, Stugatz? And I don't want you to take this any way
other than the way it's intended. You have Stugatz coming up. If you tell everyone what
teams you like and the spreads now,
then there's no need for them to listen to Stu you got Slater.
There's only two games.
You gave away one of them already.
Oh, I might go the other way by the time I get around to it though.
I like that tease.
I like that tease.
You like the Lions for now.
For now.
Right.
But in five minutes, you never know.
Who knows? Who knows? There's only two games. If
there's a full slate, it's easier to get away with it. But with two games, you gotta be
careful. So well done by you, asshole. No, because I felt like we were headed towards
game number two there. We were. You stopped me before I got to it. Imagine if that was the whole episode is three minutes and it's like I like this team like that team
All right, God bless football. See you next week. It's what Mike and the man dog was
All right, let's get to let's get to our buddy Chris Sims here Austin Eckler
Gonna join us as well and Clay Matthews will join us here on God bless football, but first it is a
mad Upsets play Matthews will join us here on God bless football. But first it is a mad upsets Chris Sims who misses his friend Billy Gill.
Sims, you look great by the way, but no Billy today.
I don't know where he is and Mikey has not turned on his camera.
I mean, we're a mess around here.
I'm not shocked. I mean, Mikey a probably took a few too many gummies and he can't
figure out where the on button is. That's not a surprise.
I'm not surprised by Billy either. Right. You know, I mean, that's just what Billy
is the bigger the stakes, whatever it is, he melts away. He fades away.
You're like the dolphins a little bit. It's like, why he probably likes him?
Playoff football comes around. He disappears. That's what I understand.
That's the way he is. Tell him to do it in the postseason Sims. Just show up in the
postseason. Damn seriously show up like literally show up. I just can't believe
it. I'm just I feel disrespected really. You show last week he doesn't show up
very convenient right after the dolphinsphins lose the Chiefs.
You know, here we are and he's not here still.
It's typical Billy.
PFT with Mike Florio every day,
the unbutton podcast, Football Night in America.
Chris, this is right now, like this weekend,
where I start to get sad.
Even though we have two exciting games,
we have Championship Sunday,
and then we have two weeks off and then the Super Bowl,
I get sad because we have three football games remaining.
Do you feel the same way? Yeah, I'm with you. Oh, I'm totally with you. Yes.
I mean, I'm the guy, okay,
that organized senior cut day to be the day after the Super Bowl.
Right. When I was in high school, right? Because I was like, guys, like,
we all want to watch the game and have fun that night. Yes.
Like, why don't we make senior cut day to day after the Super Bowl instead of like some
stupid random day in April, right?
Yes.
And I rallied the troops together and got it, but it's a sad day.
It is.
It is a sad weekend.
I was sad when Thursday night football went away.
Now we got nothing to watch on Saturday and it is just Sunday.
So yeah, it's coming to an end, but
also like the ultimate excitement too for two football games. But yeah, like Saturday
of the year for me every year is the day after the Super Bowl. It's like an emptiness in
my soul. I'm with you there. So you guys,
I'm so glad we arrived here because I've been telling Leviton forever. The Super Bowl should
be on a Saturday. It should be on a Saturday. Why not? They have two weeks off
Super Bowl Saturday nights. I well, I think to what you're saying here and no one enough people in the NFL, right?
I think ultimately and what I'd like to see is the NFL is gonna try to get the Super Bowl always always on
President's Day weekend, so then you have that Monday off
It's like a national holiday weekend. I think that's what they would like to do. That's what I've heard
You know through the rumorville that eventually we get there
I don't know how they'll figure that out with planning and the calendar and all that but you know, I'm with you
Exactly why I mean it's such we know everybody in our country is watching TV
Why? I mean, it's such, we know everybody in our country is watching TV,
drinking liquor, eating like,
staying up late. The game doesn't end until 10 something,
let alone now you got to drive home and whatever else. Like, yeah,
should be a national holiday the day after the Super Bowl.
I love that you organized cut day though. Like, how did that look? Like, take me inside that conversation, Chris.
Well, I was, I was good. I was, I was a versatile friend, right?
Yeah.
I was quarterback meathead guy, but I was also like friends with
some of the cerebral nerds and wouldn't let all the other meatheads ever
pick on them. So they were like, Dan, we like Chris.
I was also friends with the stoner pot heads too. So they were like, oh, what man?. I was also friends with the Stoner potheads too.
So they were like, oh, what man?
What dude?
You're the super bulls when?
And I'm like, dude, it means we can stay up and smoke weed all night and not have to go.
And they were like, cool, dude, let's do it.
So I kind of rallied like, you know, the leaders of all those little groups there made my pitch.
Head Stoner was like, yeah, yeah, man, that's
right. Let's do that. And then we got it all together and got everybody to vote the right
way. And we, uh, we made it, you know, senior cut day.
You got support from all angles. You should be a politician, Sims. I mean, Jesus.
I, you know, I've thought about it before. I thought I tried to be a man on the people.
That's what I try to do.
You're still friends with a stoner. I mean, yeah.
Talking about my kids.
Yes. I'm friends with all kinds of people.
I don't discriminate. That's for sure.
Before we get to the games this weekend, Chris,
what were your thoughts yesterday as the news broke?
Jim Harbaugh leaves Michigan. He goes to the Chargers.
He has the highest winning percentage of any coach in the NFL,
which is amazing.
He has a coach there in several years,
but what a, I think it's a perfect fit for Justin Herbert.
So what are your thoughts?
Agreed, a perfect fit.
Justin Herbert, not the most vocal, right?
Demonstrative guy, right?
As compared to maybe some of the other superstar quarterbacks.
Harbaugh's a guy where he's got the quarterbacks back, right? He was all
in on Collard Kaepernick with the 49ers, right? I mean, like made him feel like, hey, I'm
in this with you. I was in Michigan earlier this year. It's the same thing with those
quarterbacks. J.J. McCarthy, his best friend was Jim Harbaugh. I mean, and I was like shocked
by all that. He's got a great way the players He'll he'll make Herbert become a better leader and then ultimately, you know with Jim Harbaugh
I like the fit because like yeah, he's not an exes and those genius. It's not gonna be like, oh, no
Here comes Jim Harbaugh. They're gonna light up the scoreboard. No, he's really more of a
Overseer he's gonna get everybody in the organization
on the same page.
For an organization that's kind of been dysfunctional,
they have injury problems,
they haven't been able to run the ball,
there's no physical physicality,
they fuck up game situations and clock management
and all that.
That is Jim Harbaugh's wheelhouse.
He's gonna make sure everybody in that organization
is on the same page.
Wait, why are we doing it this way?
We gotta fix it.
Hey, we gotta play this way.
He is the ultimate coach of teaching his team
not to beat itself and back to the basics a little bit.
It's like what I grew up in.
It's Bill Parcell's, Bill Belichick.
And we're gonna hit, we're gonna be physical,
we're gonna tackle well, right? We're not gonna turn the ball over
We're gonna do all the things we can do to control that we can control first and then we'll go from there
And I think that's where he instills the basics backs into an organization
And I think he'll be perfect for the Chargers who who lack a little tough this and let's be serious do gots
It's the ASC West.
They need a big time leader.
It's Andy Reed in my homes.
It's Sean Payton in the Broncos.
You better have somebody big time
to combat that right there.
It's funny as you're describing Hal Hill lead
and what he'll do, I'm thinking about John Horbaugh's brother.
Exactly right.
That's what it is.
Exactly.
It's, hey, we're gonna bully you.
No nonsense. You know we're not gonna mess up. We're not going to make any excuses.
We're going to be the physical team on the field. That's the way he did it with the 49ers and he had incredible results. And of course, what he did in Michigan was incredible as well.
So I think you're going to see a lot of those same type of things that, uh, you know, from a Chargers football team. And I think he is the, like you said, the perfect fit for that team and that organization
right now.
I know my home's just strolling into that stadium, but man, Chris, it feels like Lamar's
time.
Doesn't it?
Like it just feels like Lamar Jackson's time.
It does.
It feels like it, but you know, I don't know.
It's, it's like, I don't count this damn group out of anything.
Right?
Yeah.
I mean, I've never seen a team go this way. The whole regular season, like the Kansas city chiefs look like it on Christmas day,
you know, getting the playoffs and all of a sudden go, Hey,
we can just turn it on and know, Hey,
now we're one of the most high functioning awesome offices in football.
Even though we were inconsistent as hell the whole year, it's amazing. Right?
They're unlike any other dynasty we've seen. They don't
care about distraction. They like being the big show. They don't care what they say, how
you perceive them. Taylor Swift, Kelsey, take your shirt off. Let's go crazy. Right? That's
where I find them awesome. We've never seen a dynasty or a team be this good with this
kind of flair, right? At least in my opinion, the Cowboys of the 90s might be the only team that be close to it.
It'd be like, we're here. Yep. We said we're going to beat you.
Now we're going to come out and beat you. Right? So that's where I, they're scary that way.
All right. Follow me. Follow me down this path though. Real quick, because I'm with you. Like,
Mahomes has a real, it sounds funny, but Mahomes, who was one, two Super Bowls,
he's been to others, he's one MVP, he's done everything. This has a real, it sounds funny, but Mahomes, who has won two Super Bowls, he's been to others, he's won MVPs, he's done everything.
This is a real opportunity.
Those teams were supposed to win the Super Bowls
the years they won them, Chris.
This is different.
No one expects this team to win the Super Bowl,
and if he does it by beating Josh Allen in Buffalo,
and Lamar Jackson in Baltimore,
this is a whole different animal we're talking about.
Like, it's-
That's why I don't put anything past them.
That's a point I tried to make earlier in the week.
This is not, you know, I think if they were home
in the number one seat again,
they might be like, oh, this is boring or whatever.
This is kind of reinvigorated them.
Wait, we've never been the villain.
We were running on the field and they're all like,
boo, you suck my arms.
Use, and then they love it because they haven't had this.
So, you know, because of what you're saying, I do agree with you that
that's kind of giving them a little extra juice because they're like, wait,
we haven't checked the box on.
We come on, we come on the road and kick the shit out of everybody in their own
stadium.
That's kind of a cool.
Let me check a box there and add to my hall of fame resume.
Hey, this is, I mean, come on.
It's a special stuff overseeing this guy.
This is a all timer of all timers.
He is already in the goat conversation.
I mean, come on, Kelsey, the Mahomes, the guys, but he's still got a baby face.
He's already breaking Brady's connection records with Gronk. Yeah, right?
I mean, he's already climbing up the list of all-time playoff wins and like looking like he's only gonna be behind behind
Brady and Montana when this playoffs are over. I mean, it's crazy. It is at the same said that I'm gonna take the Ravens to win
the football game. I
Was gonna say at the same time, it's a great opportunity because I like the Ravens
too. I don't see how they do. I am going to go with them, right? But it scares me.
It's an equally great opportunity, if not a bigger opportunity for Lamar Jackson to
beat the guy that you just talked about in such glowing terms to make it to his first
Super Bowl. What an opportunity for him, man.
Definitely. And I feel like this has been, you know, circled for them all year long.
Yes. This is what it's all about. You know, like I told you guys last week,
I think when they were the number one seed in 2019, they were like, oh, this is awesome.
What a great year. This year, I don't think any of that meant crap. I don't think they,
they were like, we're getting in the playoffs, we're going to the Super Bowl.
That's all that matters. And we'll do whatever we gotta do to do that.
They've been the best team in football throughout the year.
Every time they've been in a big game or a big moment
or ooh, they could lose or whatever,
they've shown up and kicked the shit out of everybody.
I'm gonna take them 24 to 20.
I don't feel comfortable about that.
You know, the Chiefs D is awesome.
They can play man, right? We saw Lamar and
the Bravins offense had problems with the Blitz last week. This is a much better defense
to the Texans defense, much more creative as well. Right? So I worry about some of that.
I wasn't necessarily impressed with the Ravens Blitz plan there. And then, Hey, the other
thing is the Chiefs can protect. Right? The Ravens don't have to get over get after the quarterback
But not with their front four. It's more through blitz that could be scary
My home's those how to pick up the blitz hey
Let me redirect the protection and all of a sudden your blitz and you're going oh shit
We're blocked and now we got two less guys in coverage and we got big holes down there
So that's where it is dangerous, you know, But ultimately, I think the Ravens have more answers
than years past, their defense is phenomenal.
They can throw the ball equally as good
as they can run the ball.
And I think too, the Chiefs D-Line,
Willie Gay, Derek Nottie not being healthy 100%,
I worry about their interior part of their D-Line
with guys not named Chris Jones,
and that the Baltimore Ravens might be able
to run the ball on them.
I took Ravens 24-20's to God's,
I'm not betting money on it,
because the Chiefs are scary.
Right, it's the scariest thing in the sport,
is to bet money against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Right.
It's terrifying.
What do we do with Josh Allen, Chris?
Cause I watch, even in defeat,
I watch that game and I say to myself, not his fault.
So he's the reason they're there.
He's the reason they're in these games.
No, I mean, come on.
I mean, again, led the team in rushing.
Yeah.
I mean, it wasn't like you watched any pass plays
where people were wide open.
I mean, every throw was, let me throw a
in perfect laser in there for five yards.
Cause I have nobody that can get open down the field, right?
I mean again, the bills have a lot of good. I don't I think they should stay the course
You've heard me say this for a year and a half now
They don't they got all the the meat and potatoes they need on the roster. They need some sizzle
The bills have one all pro player his name's Josh Allen. Let's see the chiefs have my homes
Kelsey right the creed Humphrey was an all-pro at center last year check goes great
Our Joe Tunis approved all pro this year. Chris Jones is an all-pro
Magaria Snead is an all-pro
Trent McDuffie is an all-pro
Nick Bolden if he wasn't hurt for eight games would be an all-pro. Nick Bolden, if he wasn't hurt for eight games, would be an all-pro middle linebacker.
Like that's where people gotta start to realize it.
And then we can go to the 49ers
and rattle off a whole bunch of guys on their team
and a whole bunch of guys on the Ravens team.
You can't do that with the Bills.
It's one guy.
It's Stevon Diggs and the GM is even answering questions
whether, oh, I think he's a number one receiver.
If we're having that conversation that just tells you
He's not a superstar right. We know that
Right. Yes. I mean so that's where I feel for Josh Allen
He misses one throw late in the game where he gets hit as he's throwing and everybody's gonna judge that and go
Oh, I could have hit that I mean that's he's Josh Allen
He should be able to get hit by Chris Jones and throw a 40-yard laser
could have hit that. I mean, that's he's Josh Allen. He should be able to get hit by Chris Jones and throw a 40 yard laser.
The expectations are not realistic and even look on that play.
They don't even cover stuff on digs. They doubled two other people.
That tells you that defenses aren't even worried about digs. Right.
But Chris, how about the deep?
I need help. How about the deep ball he put right in digs his hands?
Like you get your stuff on digs. You cannot complain.
OK, you cannot pout and not catch that ball
That's thrown right in your hands, man
Well, I agreed, you know, and you know, Khalil Shakir, he dropped a go route
That was a little harder catch earlier in the fourth quarter. But here here's the point like and I love Stefan Diggs
I really do always one of my players. Yes. He's a great route runner
Their offense right now. This is where they got to dissect the Joe Brady situation
They don't value route running. They're a little bit
They play an offense where they look like actually like like like we got forward burners
And we're just gonna run straight now and I'll throw you bombs, but yet they don't have four burners
So it doesn't work digs had his best years under Brian Daybaugh, who was from New England, who understands route running
and how to develop offenses around that,
like an Edelman or a Wes Welker.
So Diggs was like that guy, he's perfect for that.
Now they're playing a little bit like,
oh, it's man to man, just beat him and you'll get open
because you're a freak and that's not what he is.
He's a route runner.
And I went through this the other day,
again, he's phenomenal, but I think it's fair to argue is he the top half of football as a number one receiver
I don't know you want me to rip off some names for you. Sure. I mean
Justin Jefferson. Yeah, the two receivers in Miami. I think we're taking over digs. Yeah CD lamb you're taking
Yeah, who can the cool and probably Cooper cup as well.
Yeah. A J Brown and Devonte Smith.
Jamar,
the 49ers receivers, right? Mike Evans,
Jamar Chase, maybe T Higgins too.
Yeah. Amari Cooper, Devonte Adams,
George Pickens, DK Metcalf,
maybe Tyler Lockett as well.
There's guys like Garrett Wilson and Terry McCormick,
and then I'd go, I don't know. You tell me if they were in Josh Allen there, I think they'd look a
lot better too. So I mean, again, those are just like, that's just the tip of the iceberg.
But I think that's again, where the unrealistic expectations around Josh Allen and I just don't
understand the hate around them. That's what I don't get.
Right. I, you know, like I said, Jaylin Hertz is on an all-star team and plays like for seven weeks in a row.
Nobody in ESPN questions it.
Josh Allen carries his team for seven weeks in a row and they don't beat
one of the all-time great teams in a playoff game.
And they go, well, that's all his fault.
And that's just idiotic to me.
Well, I think the talent just jumps off the screen and people are like,
how does this guy not win? He needs to win. He has to win. He's so good.
Right. He's not winning. You know, right? Yeah, I hear you.
So they got to dive a little deeper and stop just looking at him and going,
Oh, it must be him, even though he's the best player on the team. No, it's not.
That doesn't make sense. What you're saying person on TV dissected a little more than that.
Tell them to get to work, Sims, enough like,
There's like, get to work, right? Niners. Listen,
they're playing the Lions this week. I know everyone wants the Lions to work, Sims enough like, watch the bill. Right. Niners. Listen, they're playing the lions this week. I know everyone wants the lions to win. But, and I will say this, Chris,
the 49ers are the more talented team. But if Brock Purdy plays against the lions, the
way he played against the Packers last week, I don't see how the 49ers win. He has to be
better.
A hundred. I mean, a hundred. It's too God's like, let's, let's, you're, you're being nice.
He sucked last week. Right. Okay. He was horrible. Right. Yeah.
I mean, he was horrible.
If he hits a few of those throws, they're going to break the game open,
but instead he kept missing them and he allowed the,
the Packers to kind of have it both ways where they played run defense and they
played these really conservative coverages where they were basically like, here's 10 yard throw, here's 15 yard throw, but he kept
missing them. So they were like, well, let's keep doing it. And he never got them out of it. I would
think we get bounce back Brock Purdy this week, right? The 49ers, it's fair to question that they
peaked too early, right? We know they hadn't played in a while. They certainly showed it in that football game. The Packers are talented. You know, as we've been saying all year
There's a lot of talent there. There's no doubt. But yeah, he's got to play better and still got to your point
I think it's going to be on him
The Lions are a team that usually go all in on
Whatever they got to do for that like, oh if you're in a run offense, they go all in and stop the run. If you get an empty in the shotgun, they rush three and drop eight.
Like they'll call your bluff, right? I would think they're going to go all in on stopping
McCaffrey and go, we got to stop that. And then we'll, we'll make Brock Purdy proved to us that
he can beat us with his right arm. I would think that's their approach. I honestly think that
will be both teams approaches. They're both going to go, wait, I don't want
Gibbs. I don't want Christian McCaffrey tearing me up. I don't know if the quarterback can
tear us up. Let's stop the run and make these quarterbacks prove it to us.
And which quarterback do you think will step up? I think the 49ers are better football.
I agree. I'm going to stay with the 49ers here and what I see there. But,
but again, I think there's some matchups here that, that, that the Lions certainly match up well with a lot of the 49ers and can make things interesting. But all at all, I see more avenues
in which the 49ers can win the football game. All right. Quickly, we'll get you out of here.
What's going on in Philadelphia? What's happening there? Well, I think, you know, we, we hit on
the coordinator thing the whole year
I still think that's the biggest issue, right? When Vic Fangio said yesterday that they were
Partying ways in Miami. I literally was like, oh, well, he's going to Philadelphia. I can guarantee you that he wanted to be the
Decordinator of the Eagles last year
Some issues happen. He's from Pennsylvania. That's a great hire now
They got to find the right offensive guys there and that's where Nick Sirianni. I know they're interviewing Kellen Moore
We'll see where they go
But yeah that that to me is the biggest thing and then Nick Sirianni has got to kind of work on the psyche of the team and the organization and all that
Crazy end of the year but but it feels like it feels like they're surrounding seriani with a bunch of head coaches at the event
That they fire them two or three weeks. Well, maybe maybe you know again
Yeah, it's just the spotlight is gonna be on seriani here for sure
And the office of coordinator thing is going to be yeah very interesting
Again again because we saw that team. It's it's the best online and football
It's arguably the best duo receiver in football, you know, and then it's a best O-line in football. It's arguably the best duo or receiver in football.
And then it's a quarterback that regressed in a major way.
So that's gotta be concerning
and that's where they gotta get that right.
All right, PFT with Mike Florio,
every single day on Peacock, the unbutton podcast,
football night in America as well.
He, like me, is sad because football is almost over.
No Billy, no Mikey, I like this.
I had Sims all to myself, this was great.
Damn, most intelligent conversation we had all year.
This is the best thing we did.
Screwed the hell with those guys,
we don't need them anymore.
I do though.
All right, fine, you do, I don't.
You don't need them.
All right, thank you buddy, we love you.
We'll talk to you, we'll talk to you,
I don't know, maybe next week, we'll see.
We'll see what happens.
Yeah, we'll figure it out, but I'll talk to you.
We'll be good, enjoy the weekend, man.
We'll break down the skills competition at the Pro Bowl.
No, thank you.
Ha ha ha ha.
Billy, very exciting.
Clay Matthews is gonna join us.
I mean, a handsome devil, a great head of hair.
I am very excited for this.
It is presented by DoorDash. And let's start right there, Clay. What are you doing with DoorDash? Tell
us about it.
Yeah. So I teamed up with DraftKings this year. We've been putting on a weekly fantasy football
contest with, uh, and with DoorDash and DraftKings, it's called the challenge DoorDash and Clay
Matthews contest. We've been doing it all year
with opportunities to win cash prizes, gift cards,
and we're continuing all the way through the playoffs.
So it's free to join, come challenge me,
come challenge Door Dash.
And if you're feeling good about your lineup,
you're already in the contest,
then you're looking for something to eat
and struggling with that, then call Door Dash.
So deliver right to your door, it's as easy as that. What was it like Billy loves door dash by the way. He's a big door dash guy. Aren't you big door dash guy
You are a big door
Yes
What was it like growing up in a house filled with football players like what was that like it was just business as usual for me
I didn't think
You know, we were any different. I was just business as usual for me. I didn't think we were any different.
I was just where as most fathers probably worked Monday
through Friday, mine worked on Sunday.
So for me, it wasn't much different.
It was just kind of the family business.
You know, it's what you talked about around
the dinner table, Thanksgiving when you got together
with uncles and grandparents.
I mean, everybody had a story to tell.
And I think, you know, that's what helped with my career,
especially early on, is just being a part of that lineage
and understanding the expectations
and everything that comes along with it.
What do you miss most about the NFL?
It's cliche, but it's the locker room.
Really?
I mean, yeah, I thought it was pretty telling.
My first year off, I was kind of staying in shape,
you know, ready for a call.
And it felt good on Sundays just watching the game
and not having that, you know, anxiety and level of stress,
in which case I was eating a lot fattier meats
and a few more alcoholic drinks.
But it's got to be the locker room,
just kind of going in there every day
and, you know, having that banter,
bringing every, all your boys together
and working towards a common goal.
Now I'm at home with my three kids,
trying to raise them the right way
and the conversations aren't as fruitful
as the locker room, shall I say.
Yeah, but now you get to order actual fun food
from DoorDash, not like protein stuff, low carb this.
Like get to enjoy your life.
The BMI has been ticking up, so it is a lot of fun,
but every once in a while, you know,
you gotta look in the mirror.
So I agree with that, but, you know,
this New Year's resolution might be a February resolution.
What was the exact resolution?
Lose weight?
I mean, you look great, man.
No, no, no, actually, I really don't make a resolution like that
I've never really done that. I think I I tried that years ago
I'm like I'm gonna floss a lot more and you know, I think that lasted for however long like everybody in America
But no, I didn't make any resolutions. I'm I'm I'm enjoying the retired life. I'm enjoying where I'm at in life and
You know raising these kids and helping them
I was helping them with their their passports in school last night.
These pretend ones.
We were learning about China and South Korea.
So I'm actually learning a lot.
Like the capital of South Korea's soul,
it has a little under 10 million people there.
It has the fastest internet in the world.
Really?
Wow.
I bet you guys didn't know that.
You have a chief export or anything from South Korea or no, we haven't Wow. That you guys didn't know that. You have a chief exporter or anything from South Korea
or no, we haven't gotten there yet.
You know, I didn't dig that deep.
But another interesting fact about South Korea
is that when you are born,
you are considered to be one year old.
Interesting.
I don't like that.
I like building up to one year, you know?
Yeah.
Well, I don't know if they consider, you know,
when the time in the womb and then they just round up but
You know, I saw it on three websites, so it has to be correct
I haven't confirmed it with anybody, you know, that might actually know this but these three websites for kids said it was true
It's yeah triple confirmed. It seems like a fact to me
Like Twitter. I'm Mikey. Did you say their chief export was Wi-Fi?
Yeah, based on what he just said.
Look at you play Matthews.
Look at you play Matthews.
Oh my God, that is funny.
What will this Sunday look like in your house?
Like, will you watch the games?
Are you getting, are you ordering wings?
Like, how does it look for Clay Matthews
in the house on Sunday?
I like to watch the games alone.
You know, sometimes I'll have my brothers over and we'll watch.
But like, you know, with with with other friends,
I really like to focus on the game.
And man, I was disappointed after the Packers lost last week.
So I will watch naturally as a football fan.
I enjoy the game.
I love the game.
I love watching my wife knows on Sunday morning, I do, you know,
a couple of loads of laundry, wash the dishes. And then once on Sunday morning, I do a couple loads of laundry,
wash the dishes, and then once Red Zone starts,
she knows I'm checked out for the day.
So this weekend, she'll get a little more time with me
as we only have two games, but I'll watch her for sure.
And I'm enjoying it.
I'm always a little disappointed when the season ends,
and you got to move on to basketball or whatever's next.
Were you surprised to see that Jordan Love was kind of able to just step in after Aaron
left because obviously the Packers have had a great run.
You have Brett Farve, then you go right into Aaron Rodgers.
You draft Jordan Love, but he sits there a couple of years.
You're not exactly sure.
You have an idea of what he's going to be, and that's why you're fine letting Aaron
go to New York, trading him to New York, but you don't know until he plays.
And then he kind of just showed he can do it.
Yeah, I think for the first part of this,
I guess, 2023 season, you know,
you kind of had those growing pains with not only him,
but the young receivers.
And I think they were almost anemic on offense
in the first half.
And in that second half of the season,
I mean, he just caught on fire.
I remember I showed my wife, I don't think she really cared, but
I rewound the game because he made a throw against one of these teams where
it looked like Farve, it looked like Rodgers, and it looks like they've got a
quarterback of the future who's going to be a stud.
And obviously he showed that through the second half of the season,
through the playoffs, like he said, he wishes he would have had that last throwback,
or sorry, that last throwback.
But it's all part of the growing maturation process,
but it was fun to watch.
They were a fun team to watch,
the latter part of the season.
Clay, can you take us through that?
The rewinding of a play,
like does your wife fake interest?
Does she give you at least that?
What happens there.
I used to get my dad such a hard time this was back when we had Tebow and it made the little noise I don't know if you guys remember that it was you know it made me yeah exactly and I dare
come on stop and then here I'm doing it with my kids and my wife who just don't care I'm looking at
the you know the the probably just the little nuances of the game,
whether it's, you know, how the tackle's sitting in his stance,
how, you know, is the receiver within five yards
so you can kind of knock them down
as the quarterback out of the pocket.
So I watch it a little differently
than I'm assuming most fans, but yeah, my kids,
they're a little too young to appreciate,
you know, what I'm looking at, maybe in time.
And I think my wife just rolls her eyes,
but it brings me joy, so it keeps me quiet.
You're getting old.
Like you're getting to that point
where you start then telling the kids,
like, oh, this isn't real football.
This isn't football I played.
Back in my day.
No, I've actually already started doing that.
And I do it a little bit in jest because,
when my dad played, he retired in, I think I believe started doing that. And I do it a little bit in jest because, you know, when my dad played, he retired in,
I think I believe it was 96.
And, you know, the money then was not what it was.
In my rookie year before playing a down in the NFL,
I signed a check for, I think, more money
than he had made in his entire career.
And now I go to my dad,
I go, dad, I should have played a couple more years.
These pass rushers nowadays are making,
you know, X amount more than I ever was.
So that's just the nature of being a crusty old vet.
Once you get out of the league,
you got to find something to complain about
and salary's the low hanging fruit.
I like the idea of you telling your dad like,
yeah, you know, I have things to do.
I'm going to go talk about Door Dash.
And go, back in my day,
we used to drive to get our own food if we were hungry.
We used to walk uphill both ways to get our sandwiches.
Does dad do that to you?
Like, what's this Door Dash?
Oh, I don't think he's ever used it.
I think he still calls in and still does take out us.
In fact, I'm gonna give him a call right after this
and, you know, let him into this wonderful world
of, you know, these little fees, but you can get food delivered to your house.
It's unbelievable.
You can change.
Burgers, chips, dips, soda, pizza, wings,
anything you want, straight to your door, dad.
American way.
Uh-huh.
Is it, but it's not your dad's America.
I mean.
Well, that's true.
Isn't that every generation as we get older?
It's so funny.
Wait, so you're watching TV, you're watching the games.
Do you blurt out like dad things like I'll say in front of my kids,
like they miss an extra point.
That's going to come back in haunting.
Oh, I'll haunt them.
What?
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
I mean, you know, going back to that Packers game, they had two dropped
interceptions that were that were gimme's absolute gimme's.
Right.
For whoever was listening to my house, which was probably zero people, I said,
you can't do that at this point in the season
and expect to win the game. Fast forward to the end of the
game. Obviously, with that miss field goal, you know, those
two drop picks, I would say those were the the crucial parts
of the game, which is why I didn't come out on top even though
I felt like, you know, as most people would agree, they played
better than them and looked like a better team until you know,
the very end. So, yeah, I mean, it's I they played better than them and looked like a better team until, you know, the very end.
So, yeah, I mean, it's, I do, I do, I do have a lot to say.
Does your family like watching the Super Bowl with you?
And do you like watching it with them?
Because it feels like the arrangement might be best for you guys to all just watch it in separate rooms from each other.
Because I think you want to watch the actual game and rewind and break things down.
And they want to watch the commercials and not pay attention to anything you're talking about
Well, I fortunately coming from a football family. I think we're all on the same boat, you know, it's the commercials and
The pageantry everything that goes along doesn't mean a whole lot to us
But ultimately the gameplay the plays being made from certain individuals
That's what we kind of focus on. So for us, it's a little different. I the gameplay, the plays being made from certain individuals.
That's what we kind of focus on.
So for us, it's a little different.
I guess I should clarify when I say,
while I enjoy watching it alone, I
do enjoy watching it with like-minded people, people who
have played in the NFL, people who understand the nuances
of the game, where it's not just you're rooting for your team,
but you're rooting for certain players.
You understand scheme and angles and all that.
Clay, I know the Ravens seem, I mean, the Chiefs are terrifying,
but the Ravens seem overwhelming
and it seems like it's Lamar's time.
What do you think?
I agree with that.
I agree with that.
I think they've been on the cusp for so long
and with how well their defense has been playing
and Lamar being such a wild card.
I think what, last week he had over, you know, 100 yards pass and 100 yards rushing.
It's just, it's such a killer on third down, second and long when the play breaks down
and he's able to do that with his feet.
It just, you can't account for him every play.
You put your guys on an island when that's the case.
If you do, that's what happens.
Excuse me.
If you don't, you know, he's able to just make plays.
Not only that too, he's not just such a dynamic runner.
I mean, he's been doing it with his arm now.
And like I said, their defense has been playing outstanding.
So it'll be a fun game to watch.
I think the Ravens will take it, but you know, the Chiefs,
Chiefs are rolling, you know, they know how to turn it on.
It was a little struggle this year, but they're playing well, being a, you know,
a very confident Buffalo team up there.
So I wouldn't be surprised.
I know that's the PC answer,
but I see Baltimore taking it.
Clay Matthews is with us.
It's presented by DoorDash.
Have you fallen in love like the rest of the country
with Dan Campbell?
Yeah.
I was just, I don't know who I was talking to.
I was talking to somebody, I was talking with somebody
within the Packers organization.
And, you know, obviously after that tough loss,
and I was just saying how I'm pulling for Detroit
with so much history with the 49ers
and them seeming to have Green Bay's number
back to when I was there in Kaepernick and all that.
So, but yeah, I mean, Detroit's just a team
that I feel like they're a team you wanna pull for,
you wanna root for with Campbell as their coach.
I mean, coming in there and the biting kneecaps
and starting off with however many straight losses
and to get to the point where they're at
where they play hard, they represent the city.
So I don't know if I'm getting soft and removed
from the game and I don't respect the loyalty of Packers.
What that means to play in the NFC North.
But they're a fun team to watch.
I'm hoping they can get it done.
It's going to be a tough ask.
But I think they have the ability to get it done.
We'll see.
I'm rooting for them.
You mentioned that you were washing dishes earlier.
Billy loves to wash dishes.
In fact, he did it on the show with Peter King yesterday.
He was washing dishes.
Peter King wasn't.
Do you find that cathartic the doing of dishes?
Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
And it's like log in hours, you know, it's like you do the things that your wife can see, you know,
then you feel like you can take some time off later, like the grunt work.
For me, I throw on some, some air pods, some headphones, you know,
I got the YouTube, I got some podcast stream and I just zone out, you know,
a lot of times the kids are fighting.
It's just my way to escape reality and, you know, I just get to do some dishes.
But yeah, I mean, there's a certain way I love the dishwasher as well.
I'm very particular about it.
So it's very cathartic and you know it's
I like a clean house, a clean environment.
When you do the dishes and you're having
like your U-time, you ever wash the same dish
like three or four times because you're like
you know what, let's uh, I just need a little
more time here. Let me try this out a little bit.
I'm a big SOS guy.
You know I get the little, the steel
wool pads on the stainless steel pans
trying to get that black stuff off.
Yeah.
They come out sparkling and then, you know, the very next night, something's burned on
it and, you know, I let it soak overnight.
So, I love it.
Wait, are you, are you guys saying that you have to do it when your wife is present or
there's just proof that you did the dishes?
Like how does this work for you?
That's, you know, it's a case by case basis.
It depends, you know, how busy she is.
Like, you know, if she's hanging around
like on her computer or something,
you really want to show her you're working hard.
But if she's working hard, as long as you get it done,
then that goes a long way.
It depends on the, sometimes you just need to see
the results there, like everything's clean over there.
And then sometimes to Clay's point, you're logging hours.
Like you're making sure you're being watched
and you're on the clock and you know, sometimes.
But I like the idea of Clay's wife being outside,
laying out by the pool and him going out of his way
to show her that he's doing the dishes.
Like, hey honey, got a question.
He walks out with a dish or a sponge,
he's got the whole thing going, you know?
If you ask her, I think she's logging in
a lot more hours than I am with the kids.
So I think I'm just trying to maintain that bar
where we're on the same playing field.
What's the best way to load your dishwasher?
Cause I feel like everyone has figured
their own specific situation out,
but like I'm open for tips
if you have something that I haven't thought of.
Well, I like to pre-wash really well, you know,
to the point where if somewhere to open it,
they would think they were clean.
So that's step number one. Step two is let's go with the silverware. I like to organize them knives, spoons, forks.
I also have a separate compartment for the kids, little cutlery and silverware.
Then you got the oddballs, the straws for the hydro flask, you know, you have your paring knives and whatnot.
Then I start with the plates, biggest, smallest know, you have your pairing knives and whatnot.
Then I start with the plates, biggest, small,
or their way down.
Plastic likes to go on the second tray.
Yeah, because it'll melt.
It's usually not dry in the morning.
You gotta get a nice towel, cotton towel, and dry it off.
So, I mean, it's science, but I've mastered it.
You know what I found, Clay, and I don't know,
your dishwasher's probably different than mine
because they're all different.
But mine, like where you put the
You know the cutlery like the knives forks all of that the handle for it is by the side
But the handle is right above some of the slots that you do
So I always put the knives in the back because there's always the situation
I try to put the spoons underneath the handle so when I go to grab it
I don't accidentally poke myself or stab myself with like one of the forks or one of the knives, you know?
You must have an older dishwasher.
Nowadays they come with like a third shelf at the top
where you can put some knives and whatnot
so you don't cut yourself.
But we can continue this conversation
after this interview.
I love this.
Well, no, I'd like to continue it every week.
If you don't mind.
I want you to do playoff dishes.
Can we do playoff dishes next week?
I'm down, let's do it.
Yes, Billy will do dishes.
You'll do dishes.
We'll talk football together.
Is that cool?
That sounds great.
I love it.
This is great, playoff dishes.
All right, Clay, we appreciate it.
One more time on the way out here.
Tell us what you're doing again with DoorDash.
Yeah, so just to remind everyone,
I teamed up with draft Kings this year.
We've been putting on a weekly fantasy football contest, a challenge DoorDash
and Clay Matthews entry is free.
You have a chance to win cash prizes, gift cards, and we are continuing
through the playoffs.
So join play me.
I draft my own lineup.
Um, and then if you feel good about it, you're already, uh, you me, I draft my own lineup.
And then if you feel good about it, you're already in the game, in the contest, and don't
feel so good about what you're eating, then you got to go through DoorDash and have some
food delivered right to your door for this weekend's game.
So appreciate the platform.
You got it, man.
Quick yes or no on the way out here, the New York Jets.
Yes or no, we'll trade for Jordan love in the year 2037. It only seems right. Yes
Thank you, Clay. This is a lot of fun. We appreciate it, man. Thanks guys. All right, you got it
It is time for this week's edition of Steve you got presented by draft king sports book and official sports betting partner of the
NFL
Download the draft king sports book app today use code stew for a special offer when you sign up. That's code stew only at Draft King Sports
Book one in three a week ago, five and five for the playoffs, 76, 71 for the entire season.
Championship Sunday is here to absolute beauties. First game Ravens at home, take it on the
cheese Ravens a four point
favorite. It feels like Baltimore's time. It feels like Lamar Jackson's time.
I'm taking the Ravens. It is their time. It is his time. The Ravens by 10
points over the Chiefs. Andy Reed retires. Bill Belichick takes over the
head coaching job for the Kansas City Chiefs. How about that little little
hot take involved in your picks here?
Second game, NFC Championship game, Lions plus seven at San Francisco. Buy it up to seven and a half.
I love buying the hook. I really do. I have a problem because I'm taking the Lions to win the
game outright. Rock, Perti, blah, blah, blah. Kyle Shanahan, blahda hit blah blah blah the Lions win the game outright they cover the spread they advance
It will be a Lions Raven Super Bowl me and Billy will be there
It's gonna be glorious, but those are the picks everyone enjoy your championship Sunday and good luck everyone
Jim Harbaugh, huh? I mean, what do you think Austin?
Man, hey, I mean, I'm not big into college sports.
Obviously, I watched the college playoffs though, and I watched him
win a championship. So that was pretty special.
So we know he's got what it takes to make it all the way.
And yeah, it's one of these things where there's a lot of hype.
You know, I would love to meet him. Obviously, I don't know what the
situation is going on over there. I know there was I still all like the Chargers alerts, even though I'm going to be a free
agent. So sent out a nice message. So that was cool to see reaching out to the guys.
And I'm excited. I'm excited for the organization.
No telling if I'm going to be on it again, you know, again or not.
But regardless, I think it's going to be a good combination for those guys that are there.
Do your teammates or your former teammates, I guess, right now,
but they're still your teammates for life.
They're your friends for life.
Are they excited about it?
Haven't had the conversations yet.
I don't know.
Haven't reached out yet.
So no comment on that one.
OK.
Horbaugh did not reach out to you because if I was advising him,
I would tell him to reach out to you, the captain of the team.
You know?
Hey, I would love to talk and just kind of, you know,
give a diagnostic on how I feel like the season way, what we could have done
better, things like that.
Um, I don't know if they value my opinion over there anymore, but hey,
if, you know, if that comes to be, would love to give that insight.
I'm wondering, does something, is this, is this strictly a business decision
or does something like this, them hiring this coach
who, Austin, listen to me, he has the highest winning percentage of any coach in the NFL
and he hasn't coached there in eight years.
So like does this change your mind or make you rethink anything or is this strictly,
hey, who wants me and it comes down to business?
Yeah, I think there's going to be factors that probably don't have to do with the head
coach that will play into the decision that I'm making.
Whether it's money, whether it's just what the team structure is looking like as far
as my usage and things like that.
So I can't tell.
I don't know if it helps or hurts me.
I really don't know.
I had a bunch of people hitting me up like, oh, Marble.
Half these people don't even know I'm gonna be a free agent.
They're like, oh, he got a new coach.
I was like, oh, Harbaugh. Like half these people don't even know I'm going to be a free agent. They're like, oh, he got a new coach. I'm like, yeah, they do.
So so I can't tell no.
I really don't know until until we get to free agency and we start talking,
you know, we'll probably talk to the charges before then to see what the interest is.
But I'm really not trying to rush the process.
By the way, the house looks amazing.
We've never seen this part of the house like it looks.
Yeah, you have not.
You know, it's great.
We got some lights that these these things above. Like it looks. Yeah, you have not. It's great.
We got some lights up.
These things above me like turn on, they're called clouds.
And so yeah, it gets pretty cool in here.
Yeah.
Yeah, it's nice.
That's, well, we know that you have your room.
The rest of the house is hers though.
Yes, this is Mel's part of the house.
And so that's why it looks very nice.
You know, nice chandelier.
That's, you know, never, it has a speck of dust on it
or anything like that.
So yeah, it's good. Is Mel a Michigan fan?. You're right. Of course is Malamichican fan or
She kind of did you grow up in Michigan thing?
Honestly, Michigan State. Oh, she was the Michigan State
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, Now feel free to tell me so I can break news. Okay, that's my job. I'm supposed to break news. You're probably not in Vegas since we're already here. We're not leaving anymore.
Wait, what happens in Vegas is supposed to stay in Vegas.
If she tells me in Vegas, I can't take it with me.
We're already here, so we might be staying.
Okay.
I'll let you guys know when I find out.
Thank you.
Text me.
Tell Austin.
Austin, give her my number.
Okay.
Tell her to text me so I can bring like, you guys got a new chat going.
Yeah, okay.
I'll just say it's a sort, I'll just say sources.
That's it, I will not name names.
Right, right, yeah.
Trusted sources.
Trusty, the most trusted source, yes.
But I do love this because you love the city,
you love the organization, you certainly love the fans.
And so this is like, this is a good day day This was a good day for the Los Angeles Chargers
Yeah, absolutely, and you know how football is you know
There's there's a lot of anticipation and I think this is one of those things that you can anticipate like hey
We're expecting good things expecting good things to come from this from the cultural standpoint from you know
The play standpoint and then it leads up to the build and the excitement of what happens actually on the field.
And so it's good for football, honestly, in my opinion for the NFL anyway, especially
for the Chargers because it's another one of these years.
We had it last year too.
There was a lot of expectations, a lot of anticipation.
And obviously the season didn't play out the way we wanted to, but I think it's kind of
reignited that same type of anticipation for the season coming up.
I mean, the guy got Jimmy Garoppolo to a Super Bowl. But I think it's kind of reignited that same type of anticipation for this season coming up.
I mean, the guy got Jimmy Garoppolo to a Super Bowl. Imagine what he'll do with your quarterback coming.
Regardless of where I am, I'm looking forward to it.
Yeah, it's it's it's super interesting.
By the way, the Dolphins, there's a rumor and I'll let you go right right here
that Brandon Staley might come down to Miami to be the defensive coordinator
replacing Vic Fangio. right here that Brandon Staley might come down to Miami to be the defensive coordinator replacing
Vic Fangio. So if that were to happen and you know we're we're located in South Florida here,
tell the Dolphin fans what they could expect if if that were indeed to happen. Yeah, I mean no
doubt about it. You're getting an absolute guru when it comes to knowing the defense,
knowing football. And so that is something that you are 100% going to get this guy has taught me
probably more about football than I've ever learned from any other coach. Just how he dissects it,
how he's running, he's talking about, Hey, we can never play two man down in the red zone. Because
then, you know, the quarterbacks, legs come alive. And I'm just like, I'm learning all these
philosophies and wins to do these things. And when not, and how to play, how to play as a cover
two corner, you can't turn your back and all this stuff. And so all these different little tidbits that he puts into the meetings, it's super fascinating.
Like he gives, he like reignited like my interest in like the fundamentals of scheme,
when he would go through this really intricate ways of calling the defense and what's good,
what's not good. Because he just had just, the one when you hear someone that's speaking the
language you've been speaking, but they're really knowledgeable about it and you're just super intrigued.
It was like, okay, like this is this is really interesting.
And so that's what they're going to get.
They're going to get a guy who knows what the heck he's doing and put him hopefully
in the best position to go win games.
You know, you love that guy.
That's like, yeah, you love that guy, man.
And I love the idea of him piping into McDaniel's head set and say, even though he's the DC and telling them to go for it,
fourth and five on their own 28.
I'm not sure he's going to have that pulling more,
but you know, he'll do a good job with his roles for sure.
How's the moving in going for you?
It's gone really well, actually.
I mean, we're only on like day like 12 right now,
so, but that's, it's been good.
We get out here in Vegas, I'm catching up with everyone
and everyone's, oh, are you in town?
You in town?
Everyone's gotta, you know, get their piece of,
hey, catching back up.
And, you know, I talked for a lot too.
So it's like hours of just sitting out with everyone.
And then Mel, this is new out here for her.
So she's gotta figure out how she's gonna work out here.
She's gotta find, kind of redefine herself out in Las Vegas. So I've been encouraging her to keep doing
that. And because, I mean, you know, I want her to have this sense of, okay, I belong
out here. I can find my own path out here. So you were looking for a place to write.
So like you're here, but you may be moving again shortly within Vegas and then again,
possibly to another team.
So you may have two more moves.
Well, OK, depending on where I am coming up with the season, which, like I said,
the last time I'm not even looking at that right now, not really till March.
Yeah, I could potentially be moving again.
Yeah, for sure.
But you'll give a place at Vegas, I would assume, right?
Like, yeah, I'll keep this place.
This will be this will be the place that I've always kind of come and fallen back to so have you had a situation where you're trying to
Like hang something on a wall in one room and your wife's like no no no no no no your wife to be
That's not happening and that she either tells you what's not happening or she just moves it herself. Is that happen yet?
It happens a lot. It happens a lot
I'm learning where my lanes are.
Where's my lane?
It doesn't go away.
I'll save my lane.
If there are two lanes, Austin, both lanes are hers, okay?
Right.
Right.
Well, now I'm wondering once you get married, how much of your house, because you've had
this place before, how much of that changes?
Like now do you lose this extra room that you had for whatever?
Like a streaming room is now like, well, I like to do crafts.
So this is a craft room where I like to, you know, work out or I like to whatever it is.
Play the drums, right?
Exactly.
This is my room in the house.
Everything else is ours or hers.
Like she's going to like put her touch on like the spare bedrooms like we have to have these certain pillows and
There's like 15 of them and that we needed the carpet to match the you know the comforter and we need some accent pillows
And I'm like I'm glad you care about this stuff because I could care less I'll put one pillow on there and then there we go
Let me answer it this way Austin
It's called Cinderella's castle even though she hadn't lived there until
the end of the movie, but it's still Cinderella's Castle.
It always will be.
And soon that room will be her room.
Whatever we're thinking, I was going to say, I was going to say,
I was going to say, like, I was gonna warn you Austin, like,
that's your room, but you don't play the drums, buddy.
And I see drums back there.
Very true, very true.
I'm already creeping in, creeping in.
It couldn't fit anywhere else,
so I had to go in my room, you know?
Can you update and just tell us the time and the day,
just keep us updated on when that room
that you're in right now,
that your room becomes her room.
Okay, just let us know what it happens.
We already had some files starting to come in here
in the cabinets and the drums as you see
we're moving it here too.
It's over.
It's over.
You had a good run, Austin.
It's already her room, Billy.
He just doesn't know it yet.
Yeah.
I love it.
If Austin, if I made you the commissioner, and by the way, you would be a great commissioner
of the NFL.
If I made you commissioner, what are like the first two or three things you would do?
Like what needs changing in the NFL according to Austin Eckler?
The thing is, now you're putting me on the other side.
Sorry.
Really, what I want to do is I'm granting you this almighty power
where you can make whatever changes, rule changes to the NFL that you want.
Is there one that kind of bothers you the most or?
Oh, one that bothers me the most.
I mean, there's there's a few, um, like media in the locker room.
That's that's one that's not like huge, but it's just like as a player,
like imagine you're getting changed in the morning
And there's people just standing in there just waiting for you to just you know ask to do some interviews
And I'm butt naked, you know with a towel around me coming around to my my locker
And I got a change and so now I got to do this like shuffle and get out of the view of everyone
That's one the franchise tag not a fan of that. I think it is detrimental to players. See, I'm obviously biased because I am a player.
And so I want to see what's what's best for our players.
And that's why it wouldn't be a great commissioner because they are trying to
combat that as far as, hey, you have a balance between the ownership and the players.
But those are the those are two that stick out to me top of the head.
All right. Sorry to make you commissioner.
Sorry to put you on the other side.
Yeah.
I, if I'm commissioner, I need, I need a lot longer, uh, time horizon to kind of,
and then who, what side am I on?
Am I a player commission?
Cause commissioners like, Hey, he's running for the ownership.
So yes.
Right.
I think you would have to be on the ownership side, Austin.
That's where the money.
I could never do that job.
Never.
$56 million a year though, just to be a shield. No, no, no, it's the integrity, the integrity of, hey, I've been over here with the players,
like I've been on this side, like this is where I lie.
I got to make sure I fight for the players.
And, you know, I know that ownership is trying to fight for the game.
And sometimes it's not always about the players,
but more so for the success of the game, which isn't always
in the player's best interest.
Could be, but not always.
There's things that kind of, it gets in the gray area.
And I think we could do things better.
You know, actually, another one is like, hey,
what's going on?
Like the offseason program.
Like, can we make that better?
Because can people get injured during offseason
when it doesn't
matter just because we want to have some, some type of spring ball that
no one else does like a random offseason.
Hey, we're going to do this six weeks, eight weeks thing where we're going
to actually go and practice and be around each other and do stuff like that.
Like it's just risking ourselves for more injuries.
And so it's like, okay, can we make things like that better?
But anyway, I digress
A year I'm just what a hundred million dollars a year not there's not a number that I would go in 200
How can we push it? It gets to the point where money?
Doesn't bring you any more qualitative, you know feelings, you know
And you got to actually go and experience things in life, you know, feelings, you know, and you got to actually go and experience things in life, you know.
So that would be an experience that I would not want to have regardless of the money because
if let's say if I was broke, absolutely, I'm going to do it.
But guess what?
I've made some money.
So now it's like, okay, I don't need to rely on, you know, even a big ticket, you know,
job for myself.
So 300 million.
300 million.
300 million.
300 million. A billion dollars. Let's just get to 300 million. 300 yet. 300 billion dollars.
Let's just get to a billion.
A billion, a billion a year.
I answer this one carefully.
Okay.
Uh, do you like Roger Goddell?
Do I like what?
That's a fair question.
I'm just wondering if he likes the commission of the league.
That's all I'm asking.
Have you met him?
Do you enjoy your conversations with him? That's all I'm asking. Have you met him? Do you enjoy your conversations with him?
That's all I'm saying.
I'm not trying to put him in a bad spot.
I've never met him, but I'll say this.
As much as I want to see things change, there has to be an opposition on both sides.
Not one way can get all what they want.
That's just not how things progress because, like I said, ownership, hey, let's make sure
the game continues to stay healthy
and we can progress it.
Players, we want player health and safety,
we want more money and we want long careers.
That's what we're looking for.
And so there is a balance that has to happen.
So it might not be that I necessarily like him,
but he is one, or that position is 100% needed.
Like you have to have that Like you have to have that.
You have to have that role.
And so for that, I guess I do like that position.
I don't I've never met him as a person.
So I've only seen him, you know, on draft day, getting booed and stuff like that.
And, you know, when we talk about him, sometimes when we're bringing up stuff,
you know, in the PA and all of our stuff, our business.
But, um, yeah, I guess.
So we asked your bride to be if she would take $100 million for you to be the commissioner. and all of our business, but yeah. I guess so.
So we asked your bride to be,
if she would take a hundred million dollars
for you to be the commissioner,
because I'm guessing her answer would be different, you know?
I think we got us to 300 million.
Yeah.
I got up to a billion.
I don't think so.
I don't think so.
All right, we won't ask.
I'm wondering, Austin, as someone who plays in the league
and plays at a super high level,
do you look at Patrick Mahomes? Do you watch Patrick Mahomes and Marvel the way we do?
How does that work for you? Yeah, he's a stud, man. So, you know, especially when you're out of it
and there's playoffs are going on, like, when you take the logo side out of football, like,
it's a huge brotherhood. Like, we're all in this together, like, I'm going to go see go see these guys you know we have a golf tournament in Mexico coming up we got our NFL PA meetings you
know we're around each other around the Super Bowl around Pro Bowl all this stuff and it really is
there's a lot of mutual respect between between individuals because we all play the same game
and we're all really just trying to continue to win and push towards really the same goal for all
of us but the logos are what divide us during season.
You take that out of it.
Like, yeah, I think what he's doing is amazing.
It's amazing for the game itself, right?
And all these other players, not just, you know, Pat, but that I'm rooting for,
really I just root for the success of our guys.
And to hope not none of them get injured or anything like that.
So it is very impressive, you know, I think maybe I said it on here before, but maybe not. But he is like the next closest thing to Tom Brady, right? Whereas I hate,
there's no one even close to as far as, you know, the trajectory he's having where he's been
sucks because he was in my division for the last ever. But, you know, looking outside of it,
outside of football, it's great. And they want to ask you a question.
Well, I have two questions if you don't mind, Mel, okay?
Of course. Austin. Austin said that the room he is currently in is his room. It's Austin's room.
It's the one room in the house that is Austin's. And we're wondering how long he doesn't know this
yet. You know it. I know it. Mikey, hey, Billy, we all know it. He doesn't know yet.
We know this. Your drums are in there already yet. We know that room becomes your room now.
Let's let's you know.
Yeah, as you can see, I'm slowly moving my way into this.
Maybe like this corner for now.
Hey, I got something for now.
For now. Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah.
Yes, Mel, we could see it.
The problem is Austin can't see it. Yeah. Yes, no, we could see it. The problem is Austin can't see. Yeah.
Well, that's as you guys get it. He'll get it at some. Yeah. Now, here's the second question.
I we asked Austin if he would want to be commissioner of the NFL. Now, I think Roger
could now last year made $56 million. That was not enough for Austin to do it. So we
upped the ante to 100 and eventually got to a billion dollars
Okay, so let's just do it this way if Austin came to you and said hey
I got an offer to be the commissioner of the NFL and he'd be great
But he doesn't want to do it. I understand why but if he comes to you it says hey I
Was offered three hundred million dollars a year to be the commissioner of the NFL you would advise him to do what?
the year to be the commissioner of the NFL, you would advise him to do what?
You know, you know, I think quality of life is more important. So I don't think
he fist bumping like he just won a game.
He might literally be able to get his own room with 300 million, you know
Who needs that amount of money? We don't need that so
You being happy is more important. So I think all of your other things would be better. Thank you. All right I got wrong same page. What if I made it a billion now?
Happiness. We're happy.
This is all we need.
Look at the two of you.
A couple with integrity.
This is beautiful.
It's great.
It's great.
I'm sure.
I love that you're taking his room, but you don't want $100 million a year.
You're great.
Heck no.
It's principle.
It's principle.
But that really means a lot.
Wait a second.
So Austin, can you help us out with something though?
Because you're talking about Mahomes.
We judge these things by Super Bowl rings.
And I don't know if that's the right way to do it.
It's just the way that we do it.
It's the way I certainly do it.
But is there really a big difference
between Justin Herbert, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen,
Lamar Jackson?
Is there a big difference?
Is there any difference?
It's a small difference, but it's a small difference
that makes a big difference.
Because when you're talking about this high of a level
of play, the margin of errors are so small.
And if you have even just one little edge
when you're playing at that high a level,
it makes all of the difference down the road.
And so that's the NFL in general.
If you look at the general population of NFL players,
really, capabilities and stuff,
there's definitely a variance.
But when you look at really the athletes,
they're all fast, strong, big,
look at the combine, like all these players,
and that's why you see like,
oh, that's great, look at all these measurables.
But they don't always translate to football
because there's all of these little things that
give people the edge, right?
And then a lot of it's the mental part.
You know, how much more are you putting in?
What are your capabilities?
How do you understand football?
How do you can click, right?
What decisions you make?
So the physical part runs its course, absolutely.
But then it's the little edge mentally.
And there's some capabilities in there, absolutely.
Like, I mean, Lamar plays to his strengths,
so does Pat, so does Herb.
But it's the smallest things at that level that make,
hey, I'm a Super Bowl winner.
I'm a playoff type of team, or I just miss it every single year.
And then there's some factors that you
can't control in there as well, like the team coaching, things like that.
But I would say for individuals, yes,
there is a difference and it's not big,
but it makes a big difference.
That's a great answer.
I'm assuming that you've played against LeMaur Jackson
at some point in your career, correct?
Yeah, we played last year.
Oh, that's right, yes.
Okay, what's it like watching that guy up close?
Like, I know you're focused on the game
and what you got to do and your responsibilities,
but have you had that chance?
You just like, holy s***, this guy's amazing.
Yeah, it's pretty unique, especially to have your quarterback,
you know, who I've been with Phillip and Herbert.
So they're not going to be, you know, juking anybody out,
things like that.
We got to protect these guys at all costs,
especially when we had Phillip
because he wasn't running anything like that. We got to protect these guys at all costs, especially when we had Phillip, because he wasn't running anything like that.
And so to seize a quarterback going out
and actually making guys miss and being dynamic
and actually being able to throw the ball as well,
doing the play action, it's pretty special.
It's pretty special.
So I am so excited for this game coming up,
because I know it's gonna be some great football,
exciting for both sides
for different reasons. But yeah, Lamar is an absolute stud.
Who do you think is going to win quickly?
Ooh, who I think is going to win.
I don't know.
I really don't know.
Um, I'm leaning towards the chiefs because damn, I know I say damn.
I mean, again, I want them all to win one, damn, I know I say damn.
I mean, again, I want them or to win one, man. I know, I know.
I want to spread the love to, I want to spread the love to, but man,
but I'm kind of with you.
And then there's Taylor Swift in Vegas to the Super Bowl enough.
I mean, maybe that's what it is.
Maybe the script is like, hey, we got to get,
we got to get tailored to the Super Bowl. Because then I mean, I don't know if you guys saw the numbers that came out
on the ratings of people watching, but the game like 50 million watching that game. You know, so
hey, I don't know. Speaking of the script, because this came out a lot last year. What was your
first thoughts when you saw the script and you realized you had to go down week one?
Well, I had 150 yards and a touchdown that game.
And so it eased the pain a little bit, but yeah.
No, there's no script obviously
because of the injury randomness, but yeah, it sucks.
Sucks, injury always is the worst part
of any type of sporting event. And then second worst, actually Josh Allen said it sucks. It sucks. Injury always is the worst part of any type of sporting event.
And then second worst, actually, Josh Allen said it perfect.
He's like, the worst thing is getting injured, second worst is losing.
That is 100% true.
You want to promote anything on the way out here, Austin?
Yeah, let's promote God bless football.
I love these guys.
Love coming on here with you guys every single week.
I appreciate you.
Looking forward to next.
And then I know we got Super Bowl coming up here,
but we'll be on Super Bowl then.
So looking forward to that.
Yeah, we'll do one next week.
We'll see you Radio Rose, Super Bowl week.
I'm going to read your best man speech.
I would like Melvin to present when I do it, OK?
All right, you guys.
We'll see you.
Thank you.
All right, enjoy the room while you have it, OK?
See you.
I know.
And we're back.
Yep.
This one's weird because this isn't even for TV.
This is just a podcast.
And like truth be told, there probably was not a commercial before this moment right
now anyway.
So we're not coming back from anything.
We're just rolling right into this.
Uh, Billy, I got to tell you something. We're just rolling right into this. Uh-huh. Billy, I gotta tell you something.
Yeah?
I took the Niners.
Ooh.
But I heard you.
I heard it.
It aired already.
I know.
Yeah.
Yeah.
This is after.
This is an outro.
It already has happened.
Unless you want to change your picks. I want to take the Lions
Really plus seven
Buy it up to seven and a half the hook. Of course you always
Football lines win by three god bless football. I can't lose. I've taken both sides
Why are you the way you are? I don't know
I'm one and out Why are you the way you are? I don't know.
I'm wanna know.