The Ryen Russillo Podcast - Part 1: Daniel Jeremiah on Ohio State’s Dominance, Texas’s Near Disaster, Ewers vs. Allar, and Drake Maye Over Caleb Among NFL Rookie QBs

Episode Date: January 2, 2025

To kick things off in Part 1, Russillo welcomes in Daniel Jeremiah to recap Wednesday’s playoff action, break down the best college QBs, and give Drake Maye his flowers (0:47). Finally, Kyle and Ceruti join for Life Advice (47:31)! How do I handle my friend having a party and not inviting me? Check us out on YouTube for exclusive clips, live streams, and more at https://www.youtube.com/@RyenRussilloPodcast The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Host: Ryen Russillo Guest: Daniel Jeremiah Producers: Steve Ceruti, Kyle Crichton, and Mike Wargon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Okay, this is part one of a two part day for the Ryan Russell podcast. So basically what we're going to do and why we change things up. Danger Jeremiah is going to come on right now. We're going to talk about the bowl games, what he's seen and then relate that to some of the draft stuff. He has some awesome stuff on like quarterbacks in general. If you're a Drake May fan, you're probably really going to talk about the bowl games, what he's seen, and then relate that to some of the draft stuff. And he has some awesome stuff on like quarterbacks in general. If you're a Drake May fan, you're probably really going to like it. And we'll do a very straightforward life advice later on tonight.

We'll be part two of the Friday feedback, but I'm also going to kind of recap Notre Dame, Georgia into a state of the conference stuff that I was talking about earlier with Daniel Jeremiah. So we basically gave you some bonus stuff and two pods. Um, and that's what we're going to do. So enjoy part one. Different schedule this week, but a great time to have Daniel Jeremiah on. We're going to talk about the bowl games, some of the draft stuff as well,

and some thoughts on the NFL. Daniel Jeremiah, of course, with NFL Network as an analyst to be part of the draft coverage and host of Move the Sticks podcast with Bucky Brooks and Rhett Lewis available wherever you get your podcasts. Happy new year, man. What's up? Good to see you buddy. Um, to see you, uh, you know, have all the success over the years, but I mean that's, that's kind of a given you're talented,

but the fact that you're getting so often spoofed now I think has taken you to a, uh, I think that's a different tier, you know, when there's people, they're spoofing you on, uh, on social media. I think that's just a level of, uh, of fame we can all, uh, hope to get to. Yeah, no, you're right. I think that's the way you got to look at it. Uh, a few more have made it, uh, my way the past week. So I just always want it to be good.

You know, it's like, if it's gonna, if you're going to do it now, cause I think there's a few like mail it in approaches I've seen a few times where I'm like, I don't know. I don't know if your writings B plus level on the guy who did you, the guy who did you that did, uh, I think it's the same guy that did Schrager and Simmons. Right. I don't know. I think so.

I saw one with Schrager and I thought, I don't know if anybody can do Peter Schrager, but I saw this thing. I was like, not bad, not bad. We'll see. We'll get it. We'll get some Daniel Jeremiah in there. Look, watching, watching Ohio state, Oregon yesterday, um, part of me wonders if the Michigan loss is going to be the greatest thing that's happened to Ohio state football in years. Uh, because they look like a beast now, a different team at halftime, it's 34, nothing, it's total dominance. And to kind of, at least for me, I'm like, who's picking against Ohio

State again, um, the rest of the way. Cause this looks like you're, it looks like the national championship winner. Granted, there's still some work to do with the expanded playoff here, but what do you think was different in the second matchup for you? I mean, it just looked completely different. Um, you know, start with Will Howard. That was my kind of skepticism was okay. Was that a one-off, you know, the last time we saw Will Howard against Tennessee,

was that like the Zenith is that as good as it gets, and then he's going to kind of come back, um, but then he, you know, he put together another solid game. I thought ship to like the Michigan thing is going to be, you know, that I can't wrap my brain around. And I'd be curious if like you gave a truth serum to chip and just be like, why, like, why, why are you guys so committed to the run against Michigan? They got two great players on defense and you just ran into the teeth of them, uh, that entire game when you've got a got a cyborg on the outside

that nobody can touch. And then it was like, Tennessee, oh, we're just gonna, we're just gonna throw it around. We're gonna get those guys involved early, run away. This game came out even more aggressive. We're gonna throw it, get them involved early, ran away. And so I think that was, that was really kind of the, the mystery of the Michigan game, which I don't know

if we've ever got an answer to that question. I'll never understand that Michigan game, which I don't know if I've ever got an answer to that question. I'll never understand that Michigan game. Oh, weird watch, right? Just like what are they doing? Yeah, because if there was something about Ohio State, it was the shuffling offensive line. It was a two year stretch here of Ohio State where you go,

you know, they're not really a line it up and running down your throat against the other teams that are at their level. I mean, maybe they can do it some of the other teams in the conference, but like your strengths are three NFL receivers. And even if you don't like Will Howard as much, the first time I felt really good about him this year

was in the Oregon game. I know he had the mistake at the end on the last position, but that's really like a timing downs type of thing. So I don't, I don't, I didn't leave that game going, Oh, really good game. But he, he screwed it all up at the end. So for them to come out and do that and show that version of them, I just. I mean, there's no way I'm picking Texas against them. There's just.

Well, the other thing, the other thing I think when you've played a team is that you kind of identify where you can go at them. And that's just not, I'm going to talk about the secondary, I'm talking about the offensive line and God bless the right tackle from Oregon, man. But he just had a, he just had a bullseye on his chest the whole game. And they realized they could bowl him. They realized they could power him. And it's just, they, and they were rolling guys through it. Wasn't just, you know, one guy, it wasn't just Sawyer.

They're running a bunch of guys through there and they just rushed right through his chest and he had no breaks. I mean, that was, that was tough. I thought Gabriel looked, I mean, that was a game too, where I thought, man, he looked, I've seen him in person and he is small, but he looked really small. Everything was just kind of collapsing. And even on some of those he was making, it was like, kind of like he was throwing out of a well, just like trying to get over the wall, just get the ball over the wall that was in front of him.

The degree of difficulty on him hitting like a 10 yard crosser was off the charts. Yeah. I think the broadcasts are always trying to be nice, right? Because they talked about that storyline. Fowler and Herbstree were talking about how he put in his papers. And for those that just need a reminder, if you're draft eligible, but you're deciding whether or not you want to come back, certainly with a number of guys coming back now, you'll get an evaluation from the NFL and they'll kind of like recommend this as your draft range and for him it was undrafted free agent. So he comes back, you look at the resume, the touchdowns, the wins, the

game started and all that kind of stuff. And I think there's like a nice version of everybody in the football world that wants to say stuff where it's like, you know, that's a lot of experience. It's a lot of production. You know, you could do worse than that. It's like, yeah, but I mean, there's dudes. This kind of reminds me of like the Kellen Moore thing

when he was in college. That was my comp. Look at my tweet from last night. Oh, is it really? I didn't even- Swear to you. Swear to you. If you pull up my tweet from last night. Oh, is it really? I didn't even. Swear to you. Swear to you. Okay.

If you pull up my tweet from last night, I said, I all listed all of his skills. And I said, he's, he reminds me of Kelly Moore, like identical. By the way, his size, cause I looked it up, cause I have it from the spring when the guys went through there, when the scouts went through there. Cause you know, you always see what's listed. He's five, 10, four. So he's five, 10 and a half, 201 pounds. But it has to be beyond just the size though.

Well, if you have that, if you have that, if you're short and you're like that, that is really short. So Russell Wilson, um, had huge arms, you know, as someone who was in that, you know, and he was 20 pounds heavier, who looked like who's built like a wrestler, you know, and, and I would, is more urgent, more sudden, especially coming out Russ could, could really move. So you start there. Kyler Murray's as we all know, is a freak athlete with a freak arm. Like the other, the other traits have to be off the charts. If you're not going to check the, you know, the size box.

And then I had somebody, I think maybe it was Ross Tucker, but reached out to me and said, well, what's the difference between him and Tua? And I'm like, well, yeah, they have similar strengths, but with Tua, those strengths are at an elite, elite level, you know, in terms of processing, release, you know, ball handling, RPO stuff, just how quick he is with all of his movements. And then Tua was bigger and stronger. So yeah, like he's that type of quarterback, but two is, is way above the line and all of those same strength areas.

Whereas I think Gabriel's kind of more on the line. Would Jeremiah Smith be the number one pick this year? He'd be the best player. Yeah. I mean, so then it just comes down to need who's picking first, but he would, if you were going to put a grade on players that I've, that I've seen throughout this year, all the draft eligible guys I've done, he's better than all of them.

So. Yeah. I don't know that there's a huge surprise there. Okay. So this is a good, cause this is kind of how I'm going to do it. Kind of jump around here a little bit. Quinn Ewers, we know the resume coming out and it is always kind of weird to be reminded, it's like, he's the highest grad out and it is always kind of weird to be reminded.

It's like he's the highest graded quarterback prospect ever in the recruiting process. You know, Ohio state ends up at Texas. He's good. You know, he's good. We know that he hasn't been I mean we keep hearing about this oblique thing and then the ankle stuff and everything Texas falling apart in that game, which makes no sense except that it's the most Texas thing of the 24th season because this is who they've had multiple games all year long where you're like, they're so much better than the other team. And then you look up and you're like, how is this a game? And in this case, it's Scadaboo with the fourth down.

It's the fake punt. It's the safety. You know, you'd start adding up all these little things that are happening. Scadaboo has the catch. They get both two point conversions. You've got Burt Auburn missing kicks. But I would say, like this is not the game to get on Ewer's case,

because I thought the drive to get into the first game winning kick attempt that was missed was incredible. There were three throws in that drive where I'm like, okay, this is really good stuff. He gets them in even closer range. They missed the next one. So I know people can talk about the fourth down touchdown and overtime and then the game winner.

I thought there were throws specifically the second to last game winning kick attempt where I know you guys don't have them as like this lock top 10 guy, but even with the limitations statistically from where he's been kind of in the second half of the season, uh, this, this game to me is not even close to being on his shoulders that it ended up in double overtime. So I'm not, I'm not ready to quit on him and I'll give you the three reasons why.

I think there's three components to it. Number one, I liked them over the summer when I studied them off last year. Like I was excited about him. I thought he was, you know, I thought he had a real good shot of being a first round pick. I thought there was Twitch with him. I thought the ball came out well. He's got it. He's everything about him has got some life to it.

Um, now it's just, okay, can we clean it, clean up some of the decision making and maybe just kind of dial some things in a little bit. I thought maybe with age and experience that would come. So that's the first thing is what you had coming into this year. The oblique thing's real. Cause I, I, from what I was told, that thing was like torn and he's just been playing through that. And as someone who's thrown, you think about having to throw with that.

That's got to be miserable, uh, in terms of how you're feeling with that. So I'll give him a little bit of a pass for some of the performance that hasn't measured up based off of the injury. And then number three, the way he's, the way he kind of finished up and the way he finished up in this game is a great example. Now let's see where he goes. As we go through the rest of this thing and they got a monster coming up. But I would even add a fourth in that it's an underwhelming quarterback class.

So if he decides he doesn't want to go on the portal, doesn't want to take the reported, what are they saying? Like five or 6 million bucks is probably sitting out there for him. Um, I think he's going to have a chance to fight his way up through the spring just because of, you know, who he's competing against. Cause there is the guy is talented. He's got ability in there. And I think there is the, you know, the toughness component.

I don't know if you can question that physically based off what he's worked through, and then I don't know how you could question, question his mental toughness when you've got literally the most popular backup quarterback, maybe in the history of college football, you know, right behind you. Yeah. Deep throws, I think are always kind of the issue with him. And then he did have the pick that was part of the comeback too, but it wasn't like it was some deep in your own territory, first second down

pick where you're like, it's a decision thing where you're like, what are you doing on that? By the way, I loved, um, I think it was Katie George gave us the sideline report of the fourth and one throw where she had Sark essentially going to the play college, the guys up in the booth was like, Hey, what are we doing? That was unbelievable access because I was thinking like fourth and one against Arizona state and you're throwing it to the sideline. And again, it was like a covered throw. So you were just had to get the ball up.

I think golden had that catch, but it was awesome access to be at home. Cause there's just been play calling. And I don't, I don't really love to be the, Oh, that play call. These guys are, you know, I think it's a very simple thing to do when people just think every time a team loses that their play calling is just atrocious. But I'd say even like with Penn State in the Boise game, like there was a third and one where they ran kind of misdirection to a tight end throw and you're going. What do you want?

What it's Boise. Like, what are you guys doing fourth one against Arizona state? Like, I guess you're, you're trying to do something that defense isn't predicting. And I'd say even with Penn state, like Colten, that's. That's kind of what you're getting with him. You're going to get some adventurous stuff and you can't like it as opposed to being vanilla as Penn state has been in the past and then be upset when, when he does something a little bit different.

But, um, yeah, I think the play college just feeling themselves a little bit over the last. Well, I think the opposite side of that is true though, too. Cause I was watching from the Boise side of things going, gosh, like that's your boys, like you gotta, you gotta get creative and spice this thing up a little bit here. Like I kept waiting for, you know, kind of old school vintage Boise to kind of, uh, throw some tricks out of the bag there to try and, you know, take down a

team that's more talented than you across the board and they kind of, uh, throw some tricks out of the bag there to try and, you know, take down a team that's more talented than you across the board. And they kind of played it more safe and, and, uh, and right down the middle, which kind of surprised me a little bit. Do you think, and I was thinking about this, like Scataboo gets them back into the game. Um, is it impossible to be an underdog running back based offense and, and knock off one of the big boys. I feel like I've, I have these memories from my past of like a

running back and carry a team and you know, look, it's, it's a couple of games and Arizona state got back into this thing. So what am I talking about me? So maybe it was a bit more prominent of a thought when I was watching Boise. And I just, I think moving forward from now on, like if it's a team that's a dog and running back as their primary weapon, it's just like, I don't know how you're ever going to have a chance unless a bunch of stupid stuff happens in a football game. Yeah. The hard thing is you're trying to convince a guy who grew up in San

Diego and watched Marshall Falk just tear up everybody that they played against at San Diego state. So I still hold out a little bit of hope for a team that has, you know, that's a hall of fame level, you know, back though. Yeah, but that's a hall of fame level, you know, back though. Yeah. But that's kind of the point is that I think we grew up that it's not just

romanticizing something. I think it, I think it did happen. And now I don't know that I'll ever be like, yeah, I'm going to pick them. I'm going to pick them as an underdog built around, um, a running back kind of offense. All right. So does that mean where are you on your Penn State belief system? Just riding the true Alar express, like the rest of the country, man, just, uh,

you know, seeing if he can, if he can string together some consistent performances, if he does the rest of it's really, really good. Um, with all the other pieces that they have. So, um, I, I know with him too, uh, he had to be loving it. Just like, God, I finally get to get out of this crappy weather, like put me in a perfect environment. Uh, and I can throw this thing around a little bit, but everything else they've got is really good. I'm Abdul Carter's injury will be interesting. Um, I don't even know what it, did they say exactly what it was with

him? Why he didn't come back in? I thought it was, and I could be wrong here now. It was a shoulder? Two days shoulder. Cause the stuff that they sewed him doing or the, you know, whether it was trying to figure out what was wrong, it felt like they kept putting his arm above his head. Yeah.

Cause he's as talented as anybody in this draft class. So, I mean, that's a very big piece for them. Um, but I mean, now they've got, you know, they've got solid backs. They're good upfront on both sides of the line of scrimmage and they have a quarterback. And I, I kind of, and we've talked about this, I think before NFL related is when you look at the playoffs, um, with quarterbacks, like consistency, it's almost like, ah, I don't really care about the floor so much when we get in the playoffs. I care about what your ceiling is.

And can you Joe Flacco this thing for a month and just, you know, hit that ceiling three, four times? That's all I need. I don't need, I'm not relying on you to roll out there 17 weeks in a row and be good and consistent. And I think Drew Aller kind of fits that mold of like, he's fully capable of going on a four game run, you know, cause he's got a ton of ability. Do you like him better than yours? I think they're, I think they're total opposites, you know, I, I just, they're totally I think they're total opposites. You know, I, I just, they're totally different styles.

I think they're what kind of offense you're going to be in is going to be a factor. And I think who you got working with those guys is going to be a factor. Um, but our is, our gets to a run, a run team with, with, uh, you know, ability to work off play action and just fricking fire seeds on comebacks and curls and work outside the numbers and vertical. Like I think he'll be really good. I think if you just put him in the shotgun and we're going to throw it 45 times a game, I think yours has more of a chance to develop into being one of those types of guys.

I had mentioned, what was it? Monday's pod. I'm just happy about Brock Bowers. Cause I thought for a stretch there, the first couple of years at Georgia, he looked like the single best player in all the college football. He missed some time his junior year. And it was just such a weird class in 24 because of all the quarterbacks and everything.

He ends up, you know, we could look back on that and be like, how did he go that late? It's like, well, go back through the draft and quarterback needs. I mean, that's going to bump you down six spots or whatever. How do you compare Tyler Warren to how you felt about Brock? Uh, again, like I would have a higher grade on Brock, um, but totally, totally different guys. Um, he just, Tyler Warren's enormous. He's so big and you know, the Gronk thing is going to, going to be the

comp because it's just, there's so many similarities there. I think Gronk had a little bit more twitch to him. I think both those guys, like I just, I just was watching, uh, Loveland the other day and studying him at Michigan. And it's like, okay, it's literally, what do you want? Like Gronk, if you want to run like option routes and whip routes, like that's not Gronk, why are you drafting Gronk to do that? But if you want to just have a rolling billboard going down the seam that has

a ridiculous catch radius that nobody can tackle once he does catch the ball or you want to keep him on the move, you know, crossers, overs, all those things, it's perfect. Whereas Loveland has got more kind of like the, he's from the Kelsey branch of the tight end tree where, hey, we can get in and out whip routes. You know, we're going to have option routes to work off of a linebackersers He's going to create all this separation. Tyler Warren doesn't create a ton of separation, but it doesn't really matter He just walls guys off and boxes them out and catches everything. So To me Bowers what made him so unique is He can play he can actually play above the rim and do those things for a smaller tight end

He can go up and get it but the whip route stuff the change of direction stuff, you're seeing a bunch of things with them where they're running, I guess you'd almost call it a mesh return, where you run a lot of mesh and they'll run mesh, he'll be coming across and then he'll wind back. And his ability to just turn and just sudden and immediate get out of there and explode,

that was what Bowers did that was so special. I saw that Georgia team he was on over his career play live like two or three times. And every time I left the stadium, I was like, as much talent as on this field, like he's the best football player on the field. Yeah, and it's played out that way as Ricky year, especially when you think about

who Vegas has been this season. How about McConkie and him, by the way? Is that gonna go down as one of the more underrated combos in college football? Like, I don't know that people have realized like McConkie has been as good as any rookie receiver in the NFL. Brock Bowers has put together the best rookie tight end season in history. Yeah.

And it also makes you realize like, as you're getting ready for Georgia, Notre Dame, another reminder of why Georgia has some issues. Do you have a, do you have a lean on that one tonight? I just, I think that Notre Dame is like the, if you just kind of go resume and I test like, Oh, they've played better, they're the better football team. But I just, I. Cut these playoff games or quarterbacks and D line driven. And I just can't stop thinking about this Georgia D line just

being so fresh and Kirby having them just go out there you know having them just dialed up and ready to go and I think that's their defensive line could single-handedly win them this ballgame so I'm actually I actually taking Georgia to win but I say that knowing look based off what we've seen the eye test and and you know who's the quote-unquote better it would be Notre Dame, but I just think that defensive line could take it over. So this is a good transition into this because, you know, as somebody who obviously like I've argued for the SEC for years, uh, I think it is the better

conference and then, I mean, it just became really, really political and it's going to get even worse with the 12 teams. Um, I did not, even though I was, had thrown at me a lot over the past week, I never argued Bama to be in after the Oklahoma loss. Um, because I don't know that there's anybody that's been more critical of Milrow, uh, you know, other than I'm talking like a guy who's doing what I'm doing hell I'm doing an NBA pot once a week too. So, you know, I'm just not a fan. And the only way you lose to Michigan is in the way that you lose to Michigan. other than I'm talking like a guy who's doing what I'm doing. Hell, I'm doing an NBA pot once a week too.

So, you know, I'm just not a fan. And the only way you lose to Michigan is in the way that Alabama lost to them. But when you look at the head-to-head stuff here with Ohio State, Tennessee, the South Carolina game was a lot more surprising to me than having Mill Road just have some dud and then Michigan ends up getting into it.

Then you get USC, A&M. So the head-to-head stuff here with the Big 10 and the SEC, you know, it's been, it's been a nice bowl season here for the Big 10 and who knows? I mean, if Ohio State gets Texas, you could have a Penn State, Georgia thing in there. I mean, the Big 10 could put together an incredible resume and maybe even another national championship here. I think when it comes to the conference stuff though, like it's, it's slow moving mass where it has to consistently go in a direction for me to all of a sudden

annoying, like finally be ready to say, yeah, there's actually another conference that's better than the SEC because I think that's, that's something that doesn't get updated weekly, you know, it's, it's something that has to happen. And eventually you'd think it would maybe happen just because of the cycle of that's something that doesn't get updated weekly. It's something that has to happen. And eventually you'd think it would maybe happen just because of the cycle of sports. So look, there's momentum here for the Big Ten and for what we've seen from the SEC here. I guess the problem I always have with coming to that conclusion is I've never met any coach that's coached in the SEC and then in another conference, say anything other than, yeah, it's just different.

It's harder and it's different and the players are better. And, you know, somebody can't go from the SEC and then go coach in the big 12 or the big 10 and then say, Oh, actually the SEC still is better. Like there, you're not going to get that quote from anyone once they move to work in another part of the country. And because of the access over all the years of ESPN and being friends with guys, it's just, I'm waiting for the one guy who's who I trust, who I have a great relationship with tell me.

Actually there isn't that big of a gap because I've never heard it. I just think that it's look, it's pretty simple. Two things. Number one is it pertains to like who gets into the tournament and all that kind of stuff. I am anti, well, they have the most NFL talent. So they get to get into the tournament because that just is. That's to me, it's, that has nothing to do with who the best team is because

I've looked, I'm a Padre fan. So we'd have a lot of, we'd have a lot of banners flying around a Petco park of just being the most talented team, you know, met maybe the best team. So that getting into term, it's one thing. The other thing is, by the way, just to interject here, make sure you bring that up to McShea because even as I would sit here arguing for the SEC all season long, um, he proposed that like somebody in NFL evaluators should be on the committee. To help talk about how talented the team is.

Even I had to push back a bit. I knew as he said it, I could just feel the rage from every other sector of the country outside of the Southeast. Well, there used to be, I mean, I remember in the, you know, this is going back into the, gosh, it has to be like the early 2000s, like early 2010s. I remember being in draft meetings where I want to say it was Georgia too, because every year we would have this conversation. I that never has so little been done with so much, because we would just look at our draft board and it's just littered with all these players

and we'd be like, how did they not win everything with all these guys? So that's two different conversations in terms of talent and team. The second thing is, I think one of the reasons we've seen this incredible era of SEC football is that at least one, if not more than one of those elite teams who've always had elite talent finally had quarterbacks. Like LSU had quarterbacks, Alabama has went on a string, a run of having quarterbacks. So it let all that talent play and show. And now it's almost like some of that talent is being hidden Behind the fact that these elite teams George doesn't have a great quarterback

LSU's got a solid quarterback, but not a you know, no, there's not that's not Joe burrow Going through their Alabama said a little bit of a lull here after being on an incredible run So I still think that they're just pure talent wise, the SEC has that, but the quarterback stuff has not been great. And I think that now it's just a level playing field with everybody else. And Ohio State has always been on par with the SEC. You could say they're the extra SEC team with Penn State and Michigan on a yearly basis kind of being in that mix.

So I still think it's kind of that same core group of teams. It's mostly sec plus two or three more, but I think the big story with the sec is like, they're on a little bit of a dry run with quarterbacks right now. Yeah. Because I mean, you'll add up this bowl season. I mean, we'll see where it goes. I mean, you could really dig into it and be like, well, wait a minute, the big tens whipping it out and they're eight and five in the bowl

season and the sec seven and five. Can we use the bowl? I don't, and I'm, and I'm. Agreeing with your premise, wait a minute, the big tens whipping it out and they're eight and five in the bowl season and the SEC seven and five. Can we use the bowl? I don't, and I'm, and I'm agreeing with your premise, but I just, but the bowl season, these are spring games now. Yeah. But I mean, look, the SEC doesn't not use it to their side of the argument. I mean, I'm kind of having like a weird spot here because again, it's so political where it's like, well, no one's actually changing their mind.

Yeah. You know, like with the SEC's record in bowl games and going through it, of course, you would use that as evidence. So you can't skip it. Even if there are times now I'm kind of doing the open that I was going to do later on, but whatever, just, just using it. You know, I call it like Danny Cannell day. There was a bowl season like 10 years ago where the SEC just lost a bunch of these games, bunch of close games, just some weird stuff happened.

And then he came in like he just won an election the next day at work. And all it really was, was like a dead cat bounce. It was, it was a bowl season that was bad on paper for them. And then they just kept rolling. But you know, Ohio state gets another title. You go back to back, you know, that was always kind of the other thing is if you look at the SEC and you've got five teams here in recent history that have won a national championship and those teams, most of them winning multiple national championships, like could you get five deep with the big 10 before

you'd start laughing at the idea of it? Well, you know, at least in this case, if Ohio state pulls it out here, still again, a lot of work to do. I think at least the conversation is moving in a direction where you can have a conversation about something that I would never have never indulged in. Do you realize how close we are to having, I mean, this conversation, it's going to be revisionist because if, if I have this right, if, if Notre Dame wins, right, Notre Dame beats Georgia, we have in the final four. Which is totally possible by the way. Totally possible, right?

Right. So we have coming off on the heels of having a four team playoff, all the top four seeds gone in this thing. So you're gonna have, I'm telling all of Danny, Danny's like the perfect one, he'll have a field day with this and be like, all these years where we scholarship the second SEC team into the 14 playoff and now here we are. Now we're seeing how flawed this system has been that, you know, when we rank the

top four, none of them could even make it into the semis, uh, in the first year of the 12th team playoff. It's just, I don't know. It's there. People are going to have a field day with the seating. And I would say I'd need more than one year of results to, to feel like we can come to some kind of conclusion and look, go back through all the 14 years. I really don't think they got it wrong.

Yeah. I'd have to go through and look at that. I don't, I don't, there's nothing off the top of my head that says, Oh, I can't believe this team got in over that team. That was so egregious. That impact. An Alabama, Ohio State argument one year. Um, I mean, look, I was happy with TCU getting in.

I didn't love Cincinnati that year, but I was, when you looked at the field, they're like, okay, you know, let's see, let's see how it looks. Like, let's go. Um, usually that all just became kind of backed up by everything else. Usually that all just became kind of backed up by everything else. The NFL playoffs are almost here, but it's not too late to get in on regular season action with FanDuel, America's number one sports book, because right now new customers can finish the season strong with $250 in bonus

bets. If your first $5 bet wins, FanDuel has so many ways for you to pick up the W. Not only can you bet on the game, but you also have bets for which players will score a touchdown, how many points each team will score, and so much more. They have a play up right now for Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, where if you want to lay 10 plus one, four, seven,

so plus 1473, Anytime touchdown with Jamar Chase picking this Najee Harris and T. Higgins. I think that's a tad more challenging. So the biggest thing with this week is trying to figure out who you think actually is gonna show up, right? Because of all the different storylines. Like how do you bet New England Buffalo?

I don't know how you bet that game right now because they both should, well, Buffalo won't care and New England should wanna lose. So that's why we've got the Vikings plus two and a half. Everybody in Kansas City is gonna be resting. So that's good for Denver, but the total's 39 and a half. So we're gonna go over there and then under on what I think will be a hard fought game

with Cincinnati Pittsburgh, where something is obviously on the line there as well. So under 48 and a half, Cincinnati Pittsburgh, Vikings plus obviously on the line there as well. Um, so under 48 and a half since then, I Pittsburgh Vikings plus two and a half at Detroit to close out the season, everything on the line for the last game of the regular season and over 39 and a half Kansas city and Denver. So that's the stuff I like, at least because I feel like, all right, I know what's expected of both teams throughout this contest as opposed to what's the motivation there.

We've got Baltimore at an 18 and 1 1⁄2 point favor and Cleveland on the, I don't even know how you can touch that. Anyway, just visit fanduel.com slash Ryan, R-Y-E-N, to join today. This way, you'll be all set for the biggest games of the year. That's fanduel.com slash Ryan, R-Y-E-N, for your chance at $250 in bonus bets. Make every moment more with FanDuel, an official Sportsbook partner of the NFL. Must be 21 and older in present select states or 18 plus in present DC. First online real money wager only $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued

is non-retribable bonus bets which expire seven days after a seat. Restrictions apply C terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling problem call 100 Gambler or visit rg-help.com. I want to ask you about the NFL stuff as we finish up the season and look ahead to the playoffs. How do you see the personalities of the top AFC teams in comparison with what we have in the NFC right now? I think it's interesting, man. I think we're just looking at the quarterback stuff specifically. I think this is the day you just kind of run through those seven teams and there's so many

in the AFC. I think Russell Wilson is the only one that's not a homegrown first round pick. Like they're all homegrown ones, um, with superior talent that have, you know, that have hit. And there's some more defensive coaches on the AFC side, which I found was kind of fascinating, uh, in terms of how marriage between the head coach and the quarterback, then you go to the NFC and it's like these incredible stories of Sam, you know, and Baker right at the top of the list of kind of, of guys who've found their, their right spot and their right fit Stafford is, and you know, obviously as a super bowl at the Rams, but still, you know, really hitting big,

um, in the right fit on his, uh, you know, on his second team. So it's, it's fascinating to kind of watch these his, you know, on his second team. So it's fascinating to kind of watch these different, you know, how you build a team, the different ways you kind of build a roster with the centerpiece of that being the quarterback. The difference between the AFC and the NFC golf, obviously on the other end of that trade, you know, him or Darnold, one of them is going to have the number one overall seed. So I think going into this, I'm kind of marrying the playoffs into what's going into the spring grind with the draft. And it's like, I think it's a little underwhelming on the quarterback side of

things. And I think that if you're a general manager, you're going to go, okay, we're not trying to find our next Jaden Daniels this year. We're trying to find our next, you know, Jared Goff, Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield. Like who's the reclamation project that we can, that we can get our arms around. I I've told this story before, so I apologize if I told it to you, but like becoming friendly with liner because I live out here and I remember

having like this pretty intense conversation about like his journey and him looking at me going like, you know, the first year I really felt comfortable, felt like I was a good fit for the system, kind of understood what it was. It was like my fifth year. And he's like, at that point, like everybody's over me. It's done.

Like it's over. It's impossible to be in a front office and tell your ownership, like, here's what we'd like to do. Give me five, give me five, maybe six years of runway here. To hope our guy can figure it out. Um, so just, just stay the course with us here. So, I mean, we can see the Darnold and the Baker stuff and certainly, you know, the golf thing isn't as new as, as Darnold.

Um, and you know, look Baker in this offense and what they've been doing. I mean, this is, this is a couple of years now at Tampa, right? So, but it's something that I had tracked for a really long time. That didn't really happen is the flame out first rounder is usually not a success somewhere else. And now we're having it happen multiple times all at the same time. Um, I mean, was there ever a guy, I guess I should pivot this into a question. Was there ever a guy that you had when you were working in the front office?

This we were like, I know I'm right about him. I just wish he had more time. Oh gosh. I mean, well, Sam, I mean, just from that's, that's after my, you know, being in the, in the NFL scouting role. Right. Yeah. But in terms of when I was actually in the league and scouting, I'm trying to

go back through and think of like some, some really good grades that I gave. Um, I know it's not Kyle Bowler. So, no, I came in right after that and I've told you the, the Bowler story. So, uh, no, that was, that was right after that. Oh gosh. I mean, you know what? I had a huge, well, I ended up working out, but I had a huge grade on Alex Smith, you know?

And then he was just kind of flamed out, kind of ho hum, and then Harbaugh kind of turned him late. And then obviously he got with Andy and had some real success there with the Chiefs. But that was one early on was like, this is not looking good with the grade that I gave him. And having him and Aaron Rodgers right next to year, I think I had him over Aaron Rogers. And so there's that after Aaron sits that early start and you're like, Holy, obviously he's hall of fame and you know, going to go down as one of the all time greats.

But like, that's when we're like, how could I be that bad? How could I be that off that this guy can't play for this team? And this other guy is going to go down as one of the five best quarterbacks, you know, maybe of all time. Um, that's a bad mess. And then, uh, and then finally he kind of kick saved it a little bit when he got an opportunity there, uh, with Andy. So that's one that comes off top of my head.

When I got the chance to interview Alex this year, I mean, I know everybody loves the guy, I did not fully understand how he was putting himself through the wrer mentally. And there's just no accounting for that. Like how do you, how do you predict, Hey, you know, we love all of his talent, he's won everywhere, super productive, great in the interviews, but I can see him being a mental mess for the first five or six years of his career. And it sounds like at least the way he explained it to me is, is he kind of made himself crazy and it was limiting his ability

because all he was doing was thinking about living up to all of the expectations instead of just playing football. Um, which is a really hard thing to do. He had played at such a high level. He was so young and he'd had so much team success and then the expectations on top of that, I could see that kind of drowning you, you know, to, to some degree, and he was so freaking smart. Like, I just remember we were obviously weren't in a position to be able to pick

him, but you know, going through all the process and then being at the pro day and, and, and visiting with him and then talking with teams that would be, you know, talking with him and it was just like, so freaking smart, man, like he's, you know, we'd like the tools and I don't think it's, you know, not an elite, elite, elite arm, elite, elite athlete, but everything he does is above the line and like, he's such a great dude and he's so freaking smart. Like I thought this was an easy bet, you know, on, uh, on that grade. Where would you rank Drake may as far as this year's quarterback class?

I said this about Drake. I would, if I was going to rank him, um, just off purely how they played, I would put him second for me and that's above Knicks and that's behind Jaden. But if I was going to, if you rephrase the question, say, what's been the most impressive of the quarterbacks? Like what's impressed me the most? What Drake has done with what he has has been the most impressive to me. I mean, they are, they are bad, bad.

I mean, they, when you look at that team and I just saw them live last week and I go, okay, what are the pieces? Like I always like to say, when this team's good, maybe that's a year from now, two years from now, five years from now, how many members of this offense are going to be on that good team? members of this offense are going to be on that good team. Ramandre Stevenson. Um, they got a couple of decent interior offensive linemen, but like nothing that gets me super excited. I don't think there's a receiver on that team that's going to be when they're

good, that's going to be playing. Uh, the tackles are definitely not on that team. I like Hunter, Hunter Henry is a solid vet, but I mean, he's not going to be by the time they're good, he's not going to be in that window. So this is a one man band, um, and he's made them watchable and competitive. So I think he's been the most impressive that way. All right. You did a better job of answering a question I didn't ask, um, because I was

talking about like the 25 class, but let's stay on this though for a second. So are you talking about ranking all six guys? You would have Drake number two behind Jayden? I personally would, because I think what he's done, I think if you were to him and Bo were to switch and they switch places, I think he would be doing even more, which is impressive to say because of Nick's numbers and how that looks. But I think they have done such a good job of building that thing around bow and shawne's done such a good job of calling plays and even like this is one thing that's always. Bug me about coaches that have rookie quarterbacks that don't take advantage of this go look at the like inside the five touchdown passes. Go look at the like inside the five touchdown passes that that Sean will give him.

Go look at the like third and one, you know, fourth and one short yardage where he'll get him some home run, like layups, like nakeds and boots, where he can get some layup free shots, like it would drive me nuts when I would watch Zach Wilson with the jets and I'm like, they would be first and goal with the one. And I'm like, dude, do you know what this means in this market with this? Someone who needs some confidence? You have a three touchdown game that's just given to you on a platter. Just first down or just just let him let him play action, get the tight end. It's a gimme touchdown. It sounds stupid that in this era

with all the numbers we have that touchdown interception ratio should be so important. But how many times do you hear it referenced in the dialogue and you know what's written about and what's talked about on the radio and on television. Oh yeah, good year, he had 25 touchdowns and six picks. Like why would you not take the opportunity to give him some of those freebies? And I think Sean does those little things like that of understanding the importance of building him up not only only, you know, individually, but also the whole support system going like, oh, he's having a heck of a year. Yeah.

It sounds like we're really, we've not talked about Bo Nicks, you or I all season long, because it's been a really good season for a rookie quarterback. And yet I can't help but think like, yeah, all right, like maybe he'll be okay. You know, where the Drake may thing where you were like, if you put Bo Nicks with Drake, it sounds like you wouldn't like it as much as you like Drake may right now. No, no. And that, and that's the challenge of it.

And I, I don't do that to disparage or take anything away from Bo. I think Bo is. Bo got hit the ground running and I thought he would, I thought he would be. You know, closer to what he's going to be faster than any of these other guys. He just played, he's put 62 games in college. Like he was going to arrive kind of, you know, clear packaging, no assembly required. You know, put them out there and you're going to get the best of Bo Nicks. And I think you've gotten nice played really well.

I noticed Caleb wasn't mentioned yet. He's tough, man. I still, I still maintain my, my confidence that this is going to get figured out. It's all in there. Everybody can see it. The flashes, it's all in there. He's just got to speed up. He's just got to adjust.

He's got to speed up. And he's trying so hard not to make a mistake. And that's got to come with a new, a new coach, new quarterback coach, new offensive coordinator has got to liberate him and free him and say, I do not care if you throw 20 interceptions, that's not, that's, this is not who you are. Just sitting in there stuck holding the ball. It's not who you are. I think that interception streak was a terrible development this year.

Um, it sounds really good, but that tells me he is scared to death. And 1000%. Like I like what I saw from him in games, the beginning of the year, where the stats were worse more than what I'm seeing now and like, well, you can say the Detroit game, like he got them back into it, but I, I still look, we just saw college games with it. Nobody plays. the Detroit game, like he got him back into it. But I, I still look, we just saw college games, nobody plays 11 intensity for 60 minutes, especially when you think the other team stinks. And so there's usually some yards in there late, some touchdown, touchdown or two, and you know,

the final box score looks like it's okay. Uh, the once that enters the street kept going and going and going. It was like, Hey, this is like, I don't think this is actually a good thing. He referenced it the other day, which told me exactly what we're talking about, that that was, that was in his head. He was talking about, he was, it was a nice thing. He was trying, he was trying to relay the message that the offensive line that it's not their fault, you know, with all these sacks, like some of those are on me, and then he made this comment, which something along the lines of, you know,

like receivers drop passes, you know, you're going to miss a block. You know, I've thrown six interceptions. Like he mentioned like the number of interceptions and I'm sitting here going like that was so in his head of like, that's a good game, you know, you didn't turn the ball over, that's it. You know, that's a good game. It's like, no, I need, I didn't draft you to be that guy. No, no, not at all.

But you got to have to take some chances there. But I think he did. It's all in there, though, don't you think? I mean, I just yeah, I'm not I'm not sitting here being like he's it's bad. I just I don't really understand the Bears. I think he's more like embarrassed fans are going, oh, no kidding. I was a Bears fan this season for like six or seven games. And after the Hail Mary against Washington, I just couldn't do it anymore emotionally. But I don't know why.

Well, I do know why, because you just hired a coach. I mean, the same thing may happen with Mayo where, and I would have a hard time like firing any, any of these coaches after just one season. I think it's like, so what are we doing? But Caleb was going to be stuck in like a weird transitional decision thing where what you should have done is just cleaned house and made sure everything was structured around him to benefit him. And this should have been the lump year. And the problem is like next year could be lump year two because it's going to be another new system and all this different

stuff. Um, but yeah, I'm not, I didn't get done with the year going, Oh my God, what a huge mistake or I'm wrong about him. I'm just, I mean, that's going to take a little longer. If anybody's ever listened to me before, I think they understand. It's weird to say this is that this kind of juxtaposition of, I'm, uh, I'm confident it's all in there and I'm confident he's going to get there, but I'm also going to, he's paper on paper.

His numbers this year look better than where he, than way actually played. That's a good way to put it. So you would have, you went on a redraft. You would have Drake ahead of Caleb. Just, I mean, I hate redrafts. That's the worst. You don't even have to, but I'm just saying, cause it's just all out there. It's still off there.

I just say above, I had Drake is my second quarterback in the draft. So I love Drake coming into the process. So I, and look, I had Jaden is my third and through one year, Jaden clearly looks like the best quarterback in the bunch. So saying, but saying that I just, I, I love the way Drake competes. I love the way he plays. I, you know, I just think everything he does is what this league is looking for. And I think it's now the onus, like the onus on Caleb, you know, with the bears,

there's a lot of onus on Caleb. They need to get a better offensive line, especially, you know, uh, the tackle situation has not been good. But, but I feel like the, for them to move forward, like the onus is way more on Caleb to raise his level, whereas I feel in New England, the onus is way more on what's around, like they've got to give him some something, you know, that I, if he does what he's doing now plays kind of like he's playing now, but with better personnel, they're going to, you know, they're going to turn

around pretty quick. So it sounds then I already can predict your answer. If you were, if Drake were being drafted this year, he would be the number one. Far and away, far and away. How would you have it if it were Drake may in the 25 class, give me like Drake and then the next four guys. I mean, it's, it's Drake, the cam ward for me is the, I like him. That's the best quarterback in this draft.

So the ones I've done like on the homework the most I've done him and Shadoor, so I've got to do a lot more on all the other guys in this, in this group. Now I'm not even, there's so much talk about, you know, is Drew Aller going to eventually enter into this mix? Is Ewer going to go on the portal? mix is you are going to go on the portal. Um, you know, I know Jackson Dart is, uh, you know, is, is in this draft who intrigues me a little bit, but it feels to me like it is, if you're going to tear it, I would say Drake.

I think there's a significant drop off from Drake. Um, I would put ward. I think there's a little drop off from ward down to should do her. And then I haven't done enough on the others to give you the, the, the order I would have them, but from what I've seen off the others, there's no middle class and quarterbacks in the draft anymore, there just isn't like everybody's I, I might just pay attention in the draft season when you hear people say, you know what, that's a day two quarterback and be like, well, that's an

endangered species because the day two quarterbacks get pushed into day one. And there, there really isn't such a thing as that day two quarterback. If you want more from Daniel Jeremiah, you can check them out on NFL network. And again, move the sticks, the podcast with Bucky Brooks and Rhett Lewis, man. Uh, thanks. Enjoy the rest of, uh, what's still sort of a down week for everybody. This, this Wednesday, Wednesday holiday thing, just weird, huh? A wrench into all of it.

Uh, but thanks for doing this, man. Enjoy the game tonight. Thanks, buddy. See you, man. You want details? Fine. I drive a Ferrari. 355 Cabriolet.

What's up? I have a ridiculous house in the South Fork. I have every toy you could possibly imagine. And best of all kids, I am liquid. So now you know what's possible. Let me tell you what's required. Life advice, happy new year everybody. The email address for all you need fixing.

Life advice, rr at gmail.com. Kyle has a look on his face. He's like, is Ryan in a good mood or something? What's going on? I just thought of the Kenny Powers fictions when you were saying we probably need fictions anyway. Yeah. Yeah, Kenny Powers is a good show.

Great. He's bound down, technically, but whatever. All right, let's just get to it. Does anybody have anything? Anybody need to do anything? Yeah, real quick, couple of follow ups. People think I don't bathe my child or care about my child. Like, can we just relax?

Can we relax? Every other day? I didn't even see those. We're like, oh, it's free. It doesn't want, it's free. It doesn't give a shit about a child who doesn't want to brush your teeth. It was a joke. It's a joke.

It's just a joke. Did people have a problem with your every other day bathing? I don't know. Do you even start stinking really until? Yeah, I had a couple people hit me up and be like, you know, people I don't know, obviously, and they're just like, dude, you don't give your kid a bath every day. First off, it's middle winter here. Like the kids dry her out. The kid's skin is dry. Yeah. We lotion lather like we're doing all right over here. Just relax.

Everybody settle down. All right. Glad we cleared that up. Don't need DCF call. I made a joke on a pocket. Get swatted. Um, yeah. All right. Cool. That's it. I didn't, I didn pocket. It gets swatted. Um, yeah. All right. Cool. That's it.

I didn't, I didn't know about any of that. All right. Uh, here's the first life advice. Hello. Life advice coalition, five 11 and three quarters. I developed the habit of stating my height so precisely during my nearly 15 year stretch of being single. Uh, I realized when guys claim to be six feet tall, girls often assume

they're actually around five, 10. However, if you're exact about it, they're more likely to believe you. Plus it's a fun conversation starter. I think this guy's nailing it off the jump. That's a good opener. Hi, I'm five 11 and three quarters. It'll be easier for me to look you in the eyes or something like that. Like, uh, I am, I'm Dave, five, 11, three quarters, and I'm about honesty. Can I get you a drink?

Yeah. It kind of sounds like you're also desperate for that last quarter inch. It's almost like, you know, when somebody's like, you know, I'm nine and three quarters, you're like, dude, I know you want to be 10, but just be nine for a little bit. I don't think this guy sounds desperate at all. I think he knows who he is and what he wants out of life. Yeah. I also think that, you know,

if you're talking to a girl and that's a deal breaker, like you're not six feet, then you don't want, you want to deal with that anyway, so you're fine. Yeah. Tell the truth, brother. I like it. Tell the truth. All right, as for comps, I used to be able to dunk and once made eight three pointers in a high school game.

I could tell this guy had game. But now I can barely touch the net. Oh, then we'll probably go one for eight. Can't touch the net? Come on, but now I can barely touch the net. Oh, it would probably go one for eight. Can't touch the net. Come on, dude. You can definitely touch the net. Five 11 and three quarters, man. Doing it.

That's like a six inch for, I feel like. Yeah, yeah. It's not great. I mean, net touching for like those of us that weren't pogo sticks, that's like seventh, eighth grade stuff, right? Pretty attainable yeah. Yeah right. Kyle, see if you can touch the net this week. I can touch the net. I can tell you

right now. Yeah I don't need to see it at all. You can definitely touch the net. There's no doubt about it yeah. I think that's not even a flex. I get three quarters of the net. I can rip it a little and fuck it up. I would be embarrassed to say I could touch that. That's not even cool like. little and fuck it up. I would be embarrassed to say I could touch that. That's not even cool. Could touch the top of my doorway too. I don't know. Do it for fun sometimes.

Yeah, that would be an awesome like, hey, this is our buddy Dave. We can't touch that. I don't even, yeah. I don't know who's not grown man that can't touch a net. Don't even send us an email, we can't help you. All right, let's see here. Yeah, what's this guy's other problem?

Yeah, I recently discovered, I recently discovered that one of my good friends, say Brad and his girlfriend were hosting a party that my girlfriend and I were invited to for context. I've known Brad for over five years. We've been, it's just a grumbling from Cerruti, it's just so good today. Uh, we've been friends for over five years.

We've even been on a few trips together since he moved in with his girlfriend at a different part of town. We haven't interacted as much, but we still see each other in group settings a few times a year. Text about various things every few months. Went on a boys trip a year ago and I invited him to go fishing recently. It felt odd not to be invited, but I'm not the type to read

too much into these situations. They had only met my new girlfriend a couple of times and we had recently moved to a slightly further part of town. So I figured they just forgot. I found out about the party when my close friend Trevor asked if we were going. I simply replied that we were not invited but didn't make a big deal about it.

Out of the blue on the day of the party, Brad, again the host, texted me about something unrelated. We exchanged a few messages, but he didn't mention the party. I decided it was silly to assume he didn't want me there and asked him what he was doing that night. He responded that they were planning a chill night with one other couple. After I assumed my friend Trevor had been mistaken

about it being a party and moved on. The situation took a turn the next day when my girlfriend heard from Trevor's girlfriend that it had definitely been a party with all of our closest friends. Not only that, but Brad told him John, the situation took a turn the next day when my girlfriend heard from Trevor's girlfriend that it had definitely been a party with all of our closest friends. Not only that, but Brad told my friends that he had invited me when he definitely had not.

Oh man. Whoa. This is, okay, so he's hot. What the hell, man? I think I know what's going on. The day of text is sinister too. Hey man, what are you doing today? You find out about my secret party?

Oh, we're in the clear. Yeah, just checking in. Wow. Okay, so he has a theory. Story develops with a picture. This was obviously strange and I racked my brain for anything I could have done to deserve this snub but came up empty handed.

My initial thought was that maybe Brad's girlfriend felt threatened by my girlfriend. My girlfriend is attractive and younger than most of my friend's girlfriends, but she's so sweet that it's never been an issue, so I initially dismissed this theory. However, while discussing it with my girlfriend, I remembered that Brad had followed her on Instagram and liked a post of her in a swimsuit soon after meeting her the first time. His girlfriend wasn't there for the initial meeting, but shortly after Brad's girlfriend met my girlfriend and followed my girlfriend on Instagram,

which made me realize she must have looked at her profile, which is normal after following someone and seen her boyfriend that he has a like on my girlfriend's photo. Tough scene, yeah. The photo wasn't provocative, but it's still a swimsuit, sea attached. She is very attractive. Congrats, man. And it's a great photo. I don't know if you guys are in the EDM scene or what's going on with the hairstyle.

It's good babies. It all works. Congrats to you, dude. He's the real winner here. Yeah, right. Do we need to read the rest of the email? Like who gives a shit? Anyway, so we also realized that he had now, unlike the photo, we're now confident

that his girlfriend saw he liked the photo, they argued about it, and that's why we weren't invited. It now makes more sense why he even went so far as to randomly text me on the day of the party so he could claim he texted me to my other friends. Obviously Brad couldn't admit to my friends that he couldn't invite me because he got in trouble for liking my girlfriend's photo. My girlfriend and I have been laughing about the whole situation, but it's also kind of sad.

I've always valued Brad as one of my more level-headed friends with similar interests and ambitions. It really sucks to think we missed out on a fun event with all our friends over something so silly. To be clear, I'm not mad, but would like things to return to normal. I could call him out for lying, but it doesn't seem likely he would admit it was over an Instagram post. I don't think any, no guy could be like, yep, that's what it was. He would lie about that. I mean, just lie about it.

I really like that photo of your girlfriend, man. Sorry. It would be hilarious. You'd be like, hey, is this what happened? And he goes, that's exactly what happened. Glad you understand. I actually think there's a reasonable, I don't know. I think I have buddies that would cop to that

if you really called them out directly on it. Like, hey man, I'm not mad. Like, I'm not mad about the party. I found out about it. I think this is why. Again, not mad. Like, we both laughed about it, but like, I still want to be your friend, man. And like, if we could put this behind us, like this isn't going to be a huge deal

going forward. But I like, you know, just admit that this is what it was. I think I have buddies that would admit to that. Strong group of buddies. Uh, before we get to more of this, let me just finish everything. Cause it's, it's, it's a great email. It's got a good picture. Uh, it really sucks. We missed out on a fun event. Not mad. Um, I honestly have no guess what he would say because this is so out of character

for him, I could let it go and see if it resolves itself, but the like was already over six months ago, we told Trevor's girlfriend about the situation and she agreed that was probably the reason and offered to do some digging. Oh, what? Some recon? But even if we find out that is the reason, then what? I'm mostly frustrated this is affecting a solid relationship. We don't hang out a ton, but I work a lot, so I value the few friendships I do have.

Hey man, I know what you're talking about there. So look, wait, that was that last piece though. The Trevor. We told Trevor's girlfriend about the situation and she agreed that was probably the reason and office. So wait, the girlfriend's actually on your side and is aware. So he's gonna find out about it. No, no, no, Trevor is the other, his mutual friend.

So not the guy who's party he got stiff from. That's the guy who did the classic mistake. You're like, are you going to the party that you were invited to? I was mixing up my Trevor and Brad's again. My bad. Yeah, right, right. All right, well, I think the thing

that would bother me the most is not the invite, but don't go telling my fucking friends, our friends that you invited me and I just didn't show up. Because then, I'm gonna find out about that. So even if it has nothing to do with the girlfriend and the picture thing and how stupid it is, and that's probably exactly what it is, especially if all the other girlfriends are older and don't look like your girlfriend, which I'm imagining they don't. So you could just go simple win. It seems like you also have this great power that I've been thinking about more and more as you get older, developing the superpower of, it's not

the subtle art of not giving a fuck thing. It's just not being bothered by, and I never read the book. It just, you know, maybe it worked for other people, but there's something that happens to you as older as you're more like content with who you are, where it's an unbelievable power to just go, I don't care about this. I don't care you lied about the party You didn't invite me. It is a bummer I'd prefer to gone to a party and had something to do with all my friends, but I'm not gonna let your bullshit Bum me out for a couple days because you're the messed up one here

So I actually don't like I'm gonna talk to you about it I write a show email about it, but I don't get the sense that this guy's actually messed up by any of this at all. I think he's, this is guys. I mean, it's five 11 and three quarter. This guy's killing it. Um, and maybe it's cause I have the picture and you guys don't. But the point is, is I would, I would hammer them on that one a little bit more, right? So it's not the investigative like, how did we get here?

But I think you wanna talk to them about it. I would want to, you want them to still be your friend. It sounds like all these things can still happen. But I would, in a very stern tone, be like, if you're gonna do something like that, don't lie about inviting me. So then my friends, because it all came back to me anyway,

and you seem to be okay with all of these moving parts knowing that I was likely gonna find out about all of this. And if that's who you're gonna be, then just let me know because I'm out. Yeah, that part feels like the only betrayal. Like I think, you know, advanced analytics would suggest don't bring up your theory on the Instagram photo. I think you have a worse chance of getting the outcome you want by going that

route. But to say that, listen, I know that you said that you texted me and I know you didn't. Our friends just talk, sorry. I wasn't doing an investigation. It fell in my lap and I know that part. So I just want to know what's up with that. Maybe that's a one-on-one situation where you, you know, cause it sounds like maybe it might just be hard. Like, I mean, the way that you could figure out if this is true or not is like try to do a couple's thing.

And if that doesn't work out, you know, like not just a party, but like asking, fuck, is it Brad? Or asking Brad if he wants to go out with his girlfriend or something. That's the way you'll know. If there's a reason that that can't happen, then you'll know that's what it is. But I wouldn't like come up to him with your theory.

I think the thing you know for sure is that he lied about inviting you to this thing. And that's something that you could totally, you could totally, you know, one-on-one massage that. But I definitely wouldn't do this whole theory about like, dude, is your girlfriend really jealous of mine? Like that's just not going to work. No one's going to be truthful in that situation. I don't know. I feel,

I guess I just feel like it's more cut and dry than you guys do. That has to be it. Like the other girlfriend kind of confirmed it. And it is such a dude move to just like, do you have this half ass plan where you're going to not tell her you're going to text your buddy, but not invite him to the party so that you think you've covered all your bases, but it's actually a terrible idea. I think you just I again I think you just have to confront him and say hey, man. This is actually kind of funny I'm not mad about this

But like if this is the reason like I'm not you're not ruining my friends social circles because you're horny or you're you know You're cuz you're fucked up, you know, like this is these are my friends too. We can get over this but come on, dude I think I think you just have to make it lighthearted and joke it with him, and then I think he'll be honest with you about it. And I don't think he will be, I mean he was already pretty deceitful, he texted him day off to kind of-

He got back into a corner though, but he got back, I feel like maybe she was like, she can't invite him, like you know, don't invite that couple, like I don't know, maybe he needs to have a little bit more of a backbone, I just probably, maybe he got back into a corner and made this thing last second, I was like all right, here's the perfect plan of how I can just like get around this

for one holiday, but he's going to have to address this at another place. Kyle said, invite him out somewhere. He's going to have to address this at some other point in the future. So it's going to, it's come up, it's going to come out. My point was address the thing where you caught him red handed. I know for a fact that you lied about inviting me like, well, that's just, that's weird. And I would think you would know our groups a little tighter than this, that like shit gets back. Not the theory of like, dude, you're so horny

that you had to like my, you know, whatever. Like I just- Maybe it was an accident. It was an accident. That's when maybe the claws come out and it's like, you're not gonna get to the bottom of this. And this whole thing was a wash. That's why I think if you just,

if you just went to the part, you know, that's like, actually I think a dude would admit, yeah, that was shitty, I'm sorry. Instead of, you know, I think I know what's really going on here. Like, I think that might that might just put the kibosh on the whole thing. Maybe Trevor. I mean, would Trevor get involved and be like, this is the this is the running theory, man. This is what they think. So that way you're not directly. Yeah, I don't know. I don't think I don't like the Trevor part of it.

I don't like the Trevor girlfriend part of it. I think it's harder for you to control the message here. Now, Trevor's girlfriend is gonna get involved in all sorts of theories. I know her. Yeah, can you trust Trevor's girlfriend to keep her mouth shut? Not sure.

Yeah, I don't like that. This is Rossello PR in its finest right here, yeah. Yeah, I think what you focus on here the most, because I understand what you're saying, Sturgeon, how funny it would be if you went to your boy who who's like one of your guys, and be like, is this what happened? And he goes, yep, that's 100%. That's hilarious. But the fact that, but he's,

Brad isn't gonna be that way. He's a deceitful person. He texted you day of to one, cover his bases, to say that he texted you, but then to also feel you out, to see if you knew about the party, and if you were gonna ask him directly. So therefore he felt better about having the party

because he thought your dumb ass was sitting at home with your super hot younger girlfriend, just going like, whatever, it doesn't matter. And the fact that he has that in him to do to you, it doesn't really have anything to do. Or you know what, fire off 70 likes in a row on his girlfriend's page. That's always, that's always a good move. Just, just blitzkrieg it.

Yeah, we're going back to 2015. Right? Okay. All right. Let's do a simpler one here. Golf simulator drama. Hey guys, big fan of the show. So my buddy, let's call him AK. Andre Carolenko, you're friends with him?

That's awesome. Check out a home equity loan to build a sick backyard garage with a golf simulator. Yes. We're gonna have to. Yes. Wish I had one friend that would do shit like that. That'd be awesome.

I thought about this. I thought, cause they sell one at Costco and I was talking to my buddies about this. I'm like, we split this like five ways, put it put it at my house like you guys come over whenever you want. Dude I saw like an old man like get this for Christmas from his wife and it was like the nicest video ever it was I watched all two minutes of it so great. You know it'd be nice it's like nicer than getting it as an old man getting it as a young man. I know I'm aware. In your backyard.

Gonna have Josh Brown on. Be like, okay, we got a guy here says he wants to take out a $20,000 home equity loan. He's calling it an investment in the future. Right. And it's an investment in the future, but also as friends, also investment in friendship. Yeah. So Rudy, for me to do that, if I were one of your friends, you'd be like, you're

putting it at my house. I'd be like, okay, but when you list this house on Zillow in five years, you can't say that includes a golf simulator. Yeah. Do you think about that? What's it gonna do to your taxes? Come on. I would agree with that.

What's the value now? I think it was like 15 grand. How much was it? Oh, 10 grand maybe? 10 grand. Anyway, email. Oh, player, oh, 65315, player comp 2007, Chris Kamen. Big dude.

That guy's not dealing in quarter inches at all. No, and that's why his friends with Carolinco. It actually makes sense now. They're both big bigger dudes. Every Friday night our group goes over to play, drink beers, watch hoops, hang out. It's great. Over holiday break, my buddy Parker and I texted AK

to see if we could swing by one morning to hit some balls. He said, quote, sure, but Venmo me $20 each for heat, electricity, and wear and tear. Hmm. Hmm. Uh, now I get it. It's his house, his rules, but come on, we already paid $50 each. $50 each for the Friday night league.

I'm pretty sure AK clears at least 300 every winner in those dues. I thought asking for more cash on top of that was kind of a dick move, so I texted back saying it was crazy, that kicked off a back and forth. AK dropped the price to $10, like he was cutting us a deal. Then I implied I couldn't afford, or then implied I couldn't afford. Aw, dude.

Italics, $20, and completely missing the point. His argument, it's still cheaper than going into the city and using a professional simulator, which yeah, technically true, but completely missing the point. His argument, it's still cheaper than going into the city and using a professional simulator, which yeah, technically true, but also not the point. So what's the play here? Am I the asshole for thinking this is over the line? Do we just cough up the $20 or the discount of $10 and move on?

Or is this one of those hill to die on moments? I think maybe he's like, you're just maybe a little bit more respectful. Like you're still going into this guy's house. Maybe you're just, maybe you just think, think a little bit more respectful. Like you're still going into this guy's house. Maybe you just think a little bit more carefully about it. And he's just like, all right, there's a transaction here. It's not just like, I got the hookup. We'll go to my buddy's place of, you know,

his domicile where he lives just like while he's gone. Like, I don't know. I think maybe it just makes you think about it a little more respectfully. I don't know. It sounds like he's going the other way and thinking like, how can he do this to me? But you know, just like using, about it a little more respectfully. I don't know. It sounds like he's going the other way and thinking like, how can he do this to me? But just like using, people get a little comfortable.

Maybe this is the way of making sure people don't get too comfortable just going to his house because he did this thing that he paid for it. Took out a loan, paying interest on all that. Maybe he just wants people to feel a little bit less comfortable than when he's away. I don't know. Maybe he's the one that's uncomfortable with the finances and that's why he's like, Matt, did I get a little ahead of my skis on this thing? And I need to recoup some of the cash fast. I think what you do is if your other buddies are kind of in on this,

I think you just kind of make fun of it, but still pay. And that way, like the message gets across, but it doesn't feel like you're being cheap. You know, you're just kind of giving them a hard time for it. And that way, like, I don't know, maybe he kind of gets the message of like, am I being a little bit too much of an asshole by asking my friends for an additional $20 every time they come over to use this thing? 2610 seems a lot better than 20 to me, but still. I guess the principle.

Like, come on, like that's a little, that seems a little, a little bit. I don't know whose side to take. Yeah, you're right. Um, because I think Kyle nails in the beginning with there needs to be some sort of boundary that prevents because there's likely one guy in the group will just be like, Oh, I'll just go over to AKs again and hit balls. And it's like, right. That's not really, this isn't a business.

First birthday party. Yeah. Yeah. What are we doing? You know, romantic dinner, some Chilean sea bass. I know he's speaking to Chile. Nice. Sov.

Nice. You get Chile, nice. Sov. Nice. You get Doug out there just. Lens off. Doug's just going like, God damn it. In the background. Trying to fix the look. Yep. Yeah.

So I think what Kyle is saying is there needs to be something that exists. Some, it's not even a mental barrier, but there has to be some transactional point where this is not just a free for all, for all you guys come up. But then the series point, I'm totally with you too. I don't like the verbiage wear and tear. What is this a fucking rental car?

Like it's cheaper than going into the city. So what are you telling me that your rates are just better? Like this is, you know, I'm swearing a lot today. I don't know why. Anyway, I would just pay the $10 because it is still a decent deal while you understand that he just clearly is not comfortable with everybody just coming over hitting balls for free all the time, because it may not be you, the emailer, but it could be somebody from the friend group

that kind of like, hey, hit me up if you need anything that nobody ever expects to take you up on, and then the person that takes you up on. And then you're just like, ah, okay, this is brutal. It's kind of like pools, right, in the summer. Like I think I've done this before, but both my parents have pools, and it's just people will start coming out of the woodwork and you don't charge

people money for pools. I think maybe that's a bridge too far, but you can just see when people get too comfortable and like, Oh, can my cousin, it's like, who the fuck's your cousin and then your cousin's girlfriend. And it's like, Oh yeah. And her kid. And it's just, it just, before you know it, you know, there's people there and nobody brought anything, you know, half of them don't have towels. It's just, it can get out of control. And you know, most people respect the pool boundaries, but some people are like, how many people can I bring here before you tell me something? So, um, I just think it's the same sentiment. It's definitely not the same, you know, process here, but I think it's the

same sentiment where people can just get a little too comfortable. You have this cool thing. And if they could just work their way into it, they feel like they got to win. So I don't know. Cause I have to say, I'm pretty jealous, Like being able to go to a buddy's house and hang out with your guys every Friday, hit that's so that's that's like living the dream, man. But I don't know that it feels like he's a little too power hungry. I think it's one of two things. He's a little too power hungry or maybe he maybe the money is a little tight and he's

just kind of like a little nervous about the investment. I don't know. Yeah. Pay it with a couple of well-placed jokes. I think, I think we've we've blended that perfectly here. Okay. Maybe a good nickname. That'll do for us. What's that?

Maybe a good nickname. I don't know. The landlord. I don't know, how did he call something funny? Start joking that you're gonna call the Better Business Bureau on him. There you go, yeah, these are good. They're not deep cuts, but yeah, that's good.

Sorry. You can end the show now. Thanks to Oregon. Thanks to Kyle and Saruti. Check out our YouTube page. We'll have Friday feedback up, a fresh one for you, freshly delivered today. And as always, subscribe to the podcast.

Ryan Russell over here on Spotify. Must be 21 and older. Present in select states for Kansas in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino or 18 plus and present in DC gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit ccpg.org forward slash chat in Connecticut or visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland. Hope is here. Visit gamblinghelplinema.org or call 800-327-5050 for 24-7 support in Massachusetts or call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY in New York.