Deebo & Joe - Part 2: OBJ back to Giants? Travis Hunter expectations, NFL pushing for 18-game season

0:00This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed human. Thy ticket, Lady Jennifer of Coolidge. Well, many thanks, good sir. Here is my Discover card. They accept Discover at Renaissance Fairs? Yeah, they do here. Discover is accepted at the places I love to shop. Get it with the times. With the times? You're playing the lute. Yeah, and it sounds pretty good, right? Discover is accepted at 99 % of places that take credit cards nationwide. Based on the February 2025 Nielsen Report. Do you want to find a stress-free way to buy your next car? Start at CarMax and shop your way. If you want to browse with confidence, get pre-qualified online with no impact on your credit score and shop cars within your budget.

0:47From luxury cars to family rides, CarMax has options for almost every price range, including more than 25 ,000 cars priced under$25 ,000. So hey, want to get started? Just head to CarMax.com for details and get pre-qualified today. Want to drive? CarMax. This is Matt Rogers from Las Culture East. That's with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. This is Bowen Yang from Las Culture East. That's with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. Hey, so what if you could boost the Wi-Fi to one of your devices when you need it most? Because Xfinity Wi-Fi can. And what if your Wi-Fi could fix itself before there's even really a problem?

1:23Xfinity is so reliable, it does that too. What if your Wi-Fi had parental instincts? Xfinity Wi-Fi is part nanny, part ninja, protecting your kids while they're online. And finally, what if your Wi-Fi was like the smartest Wi-Fi? Yeah, it's Wi-Fi that is so smart, it makes everything work better together. Bottom line, Xfinity is smart and reliable. You deserve the peace of mind of having Wi-Fi that's got your back. Xfinity. Imagine that. Moto Casino, America's social casino. Welcome to Moto Casino, where the excitement never ends. With thousands of the hottest free-to-play social casino games, fastest payouts, and the best promotions in the industry.

2:03No tricks or gimmicks. Owned and operated in the USA. Moto Casino is a free-to-play social casino. No purchase necessary. 21 plus to play. Void or prohibited. Sign up today for a generous welcome bonus. Moto Casino, America's social casino. Download the Moto Casino app today. Life is full of choices, but the choice between getting crispy chicken nuggets or a Crunchwrap slider isn't one you'll have to make. The new Crispy Chicken Crunchwrap Slider at Taco Bell. All white meat chicken nuggets, breaded in tortilla chips, wrapped up sauce and all inside a slider-sized Crunchwrap. Choose from creamy chipotle or jalapeno honey mustard.

2:39Well, there we go. Life still full of choices. The new Crispy Chicken Crunchwrap Slider. A brand new classic. Only at Taco Bell. and participating U.S. Taco Bell locations for limited time and while supplies last. The Patriots, Robert Kraft, voice support for an 18-game NFL-ready season at the annual NFL League meeting. But he laid out three conditions. He said, hey, we're going to cut the preseason from three games to two. We're going to add a second bye week and have every NFL team play one international game per year. Kraft framed the expansion as necessary for lead growth. We're sort of getting near the top with the domestic coverage.

3:2493 of 100 programs on television are NFL games. Of course, the NFLPA have pushed back on that, citing player safety and health. Now, I will say this. I was told by multiple sources that are on the board that 18 games ain't happening, period. But I believe that to be 100 % bullshit unless the NFLPA is willing to be locked out in 2030. Okay? Now, if that's the case and you're willing to do that, your new NFL executive director should be telling his players from this year forward to save 30 % this year. So you can last 18 months of a lockout. That'll give you what, 120 % of your yearly salary. So you should be able to do that.

4:25But I doubt that it's happening, but that's what needs to happen. And if you're listening, new NFLPA executive director J.C. Tretter and current president Jalen Reeves Maben, you know, I hope you're looking at the history of what Gene Upshaw did and how the process was going to go and all that. you know now if i were president you know what i'm saying i would leave the 18 as a negotiating tactic personally you know how much you can get it would not be without major changes roster size minimum salary increases which is going to raise the cap and longer healthcare benefits. Because after you done playing, dude, this game, and that five years is up, because you only get five years of coverage once you're done playing.

5:28It is hard. What do you think, Joe, of 18 games? You think that's good for football? I mean, I think what you said, if you keep it up for negotiating tactics, you can get, I mean, that's the tactic where we can be able to get as much as we possibly want because that's what they want. you know what I'm saying? The owners and them, they want another game for sure. And you're saying, if we want to hold that up there as a tactic, you talk about getting as much as you possibly can and making sure just for the players, like health benefits, all of that stuff, the rosters, size, making sure like that's something that if you want to get, we get one more game, there's so much that we can be able to really like get, you know what I'm saying?

6:12Because of that game, because that's the main thing they want because they know that's going to bring the money. And for us, health benefits you can look at and it could be a tactic where we can get as much as we possibly want so um i i don't think that we would be too too too much against it um i'm thinking like i heard something that they were looking like players can only play 17 games would they keep it like little things like that just do you think that's a possibility a possibility no no that's not a possibility they're not gonna say it's 18 games players can only play 17 that they're not gonna do that and that's something else like yo you want to move to 18 games you want to cut out um you know you want to cut out a preseason game okay cool but you go you you go pay my guys for that extra regular season game you're not just go cut they pay over 17 weeks like you did last time when you kicked the game to 17 you're going to increase another week of pay whatever that base is for them right now okay under the current contract that they have guys that that negotiate under 18 game schedules, they will have theirs built in because they're negotiating under 18, not 17.

7:16So basically, whatever their contracts are divided by 17 and whatever that number is, add it on. Add it on. Add it on. Because if you're not ready and able to be locked off at 18, you are sitting in a no-one situation. And I think that's the one thing that you were saying too. The next would be the next contract negotiation is the 2030. 30. So like you said, starting right now is when he got to start telling them of stacking up that paper. Like when you're making your money throughout the year, I think hopefully now did they cut it? Did they break it up so you can make it throughout the whole year?

7:53Or do they still do it that you just get paid throughout the season? You get paid throughout the season. But what I'm saying, when you get your pay, you personally, as a responsible adult, fiduciary responsibility for yourself and your family, save 30 % this year. Oh, no, no, for sure, for sure, for sure. 1 ,000%, 1 ,000%, Debo. 1 ,000%. I was just asking how are they still getting their checks out because I'm like, they need to as a grown adult. No, like that's the dudes that's getting in. They looking crazy all the way till the end of the season. Like you said, it doesn't matter how it's kind of getting dispersed.

8:27You still have to save 30%, whether you get it in four months or whether you get it in 12 months. Well, you're still going to get paid. You get paid as you pay over the regular time. You see what I'm saying? I'm saying the season starts September. You start getting paid from there until, what is it, January now. Take 30 % of what you paid there and save it. I know. I know what you're saying. Next year, save it. You know what I'm saying? We're not looking for checks coming from the NFL. The NFLPA is telling you to save your money so you can withstand 18 months. That's what he needs to be telling them.

8:59I completely understand what you're saying. I'm just saying. The breakdown of the checks now, though. Sometimes you can get paid throughout longer, like eight months instead of just the four months throughout the season. Oh, they do that now. Yeah, that's what I was saying. It kind of helped them out because when you're getting it through the season. Well, you don't want to do that because if you get locked out, they're not going to continue. But no matter what, no matter when you get it, you still want to be able to save it because when you get locked out, you're not getting checks for that whole year at all.

9:30So we're saying the same thing. I'm just trying to say that they switched it up from just being that four-month paid that you just get paid during the season, where dudes are looking already like, dude, how are you looking crazy? You're getting that whole thing during this time. But it doesn't come in and go out. Like, what is your monthly expenses? You need to have that thing set up because you're not getting in and coming out. You know how it go. Debo, trust me. And that's why I was stating it like I was because I'm like, they got to save that. but you talking about dudes who's trying to wait until next year like man when we start getting paid again I'm like dang like what do we mean there was nothing like you just went through the whole thing they're trying to do you know you got anything I could do an appearance a signing or something you know talking to the team so I could get the rent pay all this I'm like damn bro like I made I made 60 I made 60 ,000 last for almost two years and on practice squad while I was sitting in and out going through you know NFL Europe and all that I'm like y 'all boys running through How much?

10:28Ooh, wee. But like I said, when I started actually getting some money, my first contract, bro, if it came in, I spent it. You know what I'm saying? I ain't really stop and be like, yo, I got to save something. My thing was like, yo, I'm going to run it until it go. And then when it go, it go. And then I get a regular job. And I had my son. And I was like, oh, my God. If I get it, I stack it. I invest it. and that's what I did, brother. From that second contract home, that is what I did. They just don't know. They go and not even get a house, just go renting cribs and not buy a house. You just need to, you know what I'm saying?

11:11So when you get out of there, you have a place to lay your head. You're renting all these big old cribs and$20 ,000 a month. You're just blowing money. You're giving that money to the owner. The dude that owns the house is getting your check. He's taking his mortgage and tucking some. Like, it ain't nothing but$20 ,000. You know, I'm pulling in$100 ,000. You know, I'm pulling in$130 ,000,$140 ,000. A penny saved is a penny. Every two weeks or something. You know what I'm saying? I'm good. Nah, bro. Next thing you know, that next year, that next contract, you think it's going to come. And they don't.

11:42You're like, yeah, I'm going to just do this, do this, do this. Because my next time, next contract, when I get that one, then that's when I'm going to talk about it. How many dudes you done here with the next contract coming? And don't get it. You better just act like this your last one. right now? No question. Travis Hunter, so they said whenever Travis Hunter, you know, he had the injury, whenever he's cleared to return to practice this spring, he will be spending more time on each side taking reps on both sides of the ball. They said a change from his rookie season where he spent a bulk of the OTAs and many camps on offense.

12:22Hunter will be coming off season with the knee injury, of course, and when he is medically cleared to return to OTAs, they go have him going both ways. Joe, do you think this is a smart move for them to do when he's just getting cleared to come back? I don't think it's smart at all. Why not, Joe? Why not? We already seen my man. I love Travis Hunter, and now I'm realizing, too, at the end of the day, NFL game is different than the college game. I thought Elba was going to be the one to let him play both sides of the ball. I need him to, for me, I want him to find his craft, get him a spot, get good at the craft, try to become an all-pro, all-pro bowler, because he has the skills to do it.

13:08I think receiver and or DB. But if you don't put him in one position where he can really like go thrive, really just study tape, really try to be the best that he can be, I think that we're doing a mess. It's tax season, and by now I know we're all a bit tired of numbers. But here's an important one you need to hear. $16 billion. That's how much money in refunds the IRS flagged for possible identity fraud. Here's another one. One in four honest, hardworking, taxpaying Americans has been a victim of identity theft. But it's not all grim news. LifeLock monitors millions of data points per second for your personal information and alerts you to threats you could easily miss on your own.

13:47If your identity is stolen, LifeLock's U.S.-based restoration specialist will fix it, backed by another good number, the million-dollar protection package. In fact, restoration is guaranteed, or your money back. Don't face identity theft and financial losses alone. There's strength in numbers with LifeLock Identity Theft Protection for tax season and beyond. Visit LifeLock.com slash iHeart and save up to 40 % your first year. That's 40 % off at LifeLock.com slash iHeart. Terms apply. This is Matt Rogers from Lost Culture East. us with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. This is Bowen Yang from Lost Culture Research with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang.

14:25Hey, so what if you could boost the Wi-Fi to one of your devices when you need it most? Because Xfinity Wi-Fi can. And what if your Wi-Fi could fix itself before there's even really a problem? Xfinity is so reliable, it does that too. What if your Wi-Fi had parental instincts? Xfinity Wi-Fi is part nanny, part ninja, protecting your kids while they're online. And finally, what if your Wi-Fi was like the smartest Wi-Fi? Yeah, it's Wi-Fi that is so smart. It makes everything work better together. Bottom line, Xfinity is smart and reliable. You deserve the peace of mind of having Wi-Fi that's got your back.

15:00Xfinity. Imagine that. Hi, Uncle Lazer here. America's built on fast cars, fast food, and even faster women. Moto Casino's built in America. You know what they're fast at? Fast cash, rise, redemption. You see, only Moto is U.S. owned and operated. Moto. It's American-made. That's who we are, and that's who we care about. Play for free at Moto.us. Moto Casino is a social casino. Avoid we're prohibited. No purchase necessary. Visit Moto.us for more details. Must be 21+. Moto Casino. American Social Casino. Support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously.

15:38On Public, you can build a multi-asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto, And now, Generated Assets, which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index with AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20 % year over year. You can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one-of-a-kind index, and lets you backtest it against the S &P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities. Completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's.

16:12Go to public.com slash podcast and earn an uncapped 1 % bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com slash podcast. Paid for by Public Investing. Brokered services by Open to the Public Investing, Inc., Member FINRA, and SIPC. Advisory services by Public Advisors, LLC, SEC Registered Advisor. Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. Complete disclosures available at public.com slash disclosures. Pro drivers live for race day, but for small business owners, every day is race day. that's why going pro with lenovo pro matters one-on-one advice it solutions and customized hardware powered by intel core ultra processors keep your business on the right track business goes pro with lenovo pro sign up for free at lenovo.com slash pro disservice because at corner like last season, his rookie year, it was cool.

17:08He was good. You know what I'm saying? Nothing, nothing too crazy. So we wouldn't think he was one of the best corners in the league. Receiver, cool. Okay. All right. You know what I'm saying? He's just kind of not, not a guy, but just okay. And I think Travis Hunter is way better than okay. I think he has the ability to be one of the best players at corner and, or maybe something, I don't know. I think receiver, he'd still be really solid, but for me, I think he could be a top flight cornerback in the NFL. Like his ball skills, The way Patrick Sertan and I say Stingley, the way that they move and the way that they have ball skills, the way that they can look like receivers at DB, that's what he reminds me of.

17:46Patrick Peterson, just with the ball skills, the speed, being able to contort his body, that athleticism is a lot of receivers kind of have it. But when you're at the cornerback position, that's what makes you special, being able to turn over the ball, being able to track the ball, being able to – he's not holding. No, he's looking at the ball when it's in the air. He's going to go moss the receiver and turn into the wide receiver. Like that is a skill set that not too many corners have. They're trying to break up the ball and they're just more, just make sure he doesn't catch it. Travis Hunter is trying to pick the ball off.

18:16He's trying to turn it over. I think that's like what makes Deion in those great corners so much better. They're not just making PBUs. They're getting picks. So for me, I'm looking at it like he can be elite at corner. He's an amazing player, but it's just, you don't, you don't, you want, I want him to focus on something, get really great to where he could be setting the next contracts. I'm looking at him like, what are you going to pay him as? Like, oh, to saw, okay, corner, you want a receiver? It's just looking at, for me, you need to be, you can be okay at everything or you're going to be great at something.

18:50And I think he could be great at cornerback just with his skills and being able to literally lock in, start studying tape, knowing what's going on, not just playing off his athletic ability. So I think if you just put him in that corner, he's not that big either. Like, he's not the biggest guy. I mean, I can see them putting him in a little bit on offense, just sprinkles. But mostly for me, I'm having him at defense. Yeah, I'm 100 % against it, but I'm 100 % against it because of the health issue. You and I both know and understand that being cleared is a whole lot different than being back to 100%.

19:29And coming off of a major surgery, the real realistic thing of it is you're not back to a normal 100 % for, what, 12, 18 months, sometimes a little more, where you're back to I'm not thinking about it. I'm not feeling anything. I'm not worried about it, you know, giving out. And you're not putting a whole bunch of extra pressure on the other body parts when it comes to other muscles. So I'm worried about the risk of re-injury. or injuring something else because your body is going to automatically try and compensate to protect that knee and putting more workload on other muscles and ligaments. So I say that simply out of a health, you know, a health and recovery standpoint.

20:18Yeah. That's, you know, that's just where I see it. The only way I see it being something that maybe they could possibly do is if the reps that he would take on both sides of the ball equal what it would be as far as being just one side of the ball. So you lower the risk of injury while still getting him to be able to play on both sides. But also, again, I think if you do that, you defeat the purpose of having him on both sides of the ball. He doesn't get the time needed on both sides to be able to play the position at his highest level. You're back in the same position as they were last year.

21:03I'm with you, Debo. I think he's great. Great player. You know what I'm saying? I just think that they need to get him in there. And you said, too, if they're going to play him full-time on defense, just splitting his time up on offense, making sure the reps are kind of the same, I'll be with it. I know they, if you need, he's explosive, so I'm not mad that Jacksonville wanting to get another playmaker. So just wanting him to be on the offensive side of the ball. But me personally, looking at his skill set, I just think he could be an elite quarterback. Yeah, yeah. I just, health standpoint, that's the only thing I'm thinking about.

21:38John Hardball, he confirmed that the team has discussed a potential reunion with free agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. saying, And if Odell is an option, then we'll be looking at him for sure. Yo, you think Odell can still be effective in the NFL? I think he could. I mean, I've seen that he looks still explosive. I don't think he'd be a number one. I think he'd be legitimate. He's still got the hands. He's still got the vertical. He can still run fast. And I think it would be a great spot for him to finish his career. Started off in New York. I think it would be a nice. Like, not just a good story.

22:23They do have Malik Neighbors there. If he comes back healthy, another LSU guy. Odell's not a bad player. Having him at number two there wouldn't be bad. I think they, I mean, not two or three. They still need another receiver. But I think Malik Neighbors, having Odell as your, like we had Thielen with the Steelers. Like, not going to do too much crazy, but still going to be able to catch the ball, slot still quick. secure hands. You know what I'm saying? So I think it wouldn't be a bad wouldn't be a bad spot to go. Yeah, I believe it comes down to what the the term of effectiveness. You know what I'm saying?

23:03As far as what role they want him to play on the team. It's not going to be too much. Because he's not going to be the Odell that was there you know, the first time he was with the Giants. You know, like it ain't no way ain't no way in hell that's happening. But I feel like if he can be a third option, depending on if he's willing to take that or the pay, that would be a third option, one. And two, accept the role, then he can be a special. So if he has a realistic expectation of his current abilities and willing to accept that role, yeah, I think he can excel at that. But I'm putting him at the third.

23:48Are we speaking the same thing? I think Odell's realistic with where, you know what I'm saying, where his how many teams is knocking on the door, you know what I'm saying, if he wants to still continue to play in the league, you know what I'm saying? And then it's just a – I think that he would be able to be a solid three and then just being in New York, I think that would just be sweet. Be sweet. Yeah, that would be a nice – what they call it? Swan. Swan song. A nice bow wrapping on to the end of his... He did. End of his... With him there with Darko. Did he play last year?

24:29I don't know. Yeah, I gotta see. Let's see what we got cracking in the Super Chats, bro. Super Chat. Covenant Life is back. What up, Covenant? $5. His name is Country Club Will Howard of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Let's go, Tramp. This young man can ball, and he will hit back, and I love it. I'm great with that. I like that. Cover the life. Country Club? I don't like the Country Club. Pittsburgh ain't Country Club. That sounds soft, right? I'm not mad at Country Club. I'm not mad at Country Club. Big Ben was at the Country Club. I understand, but his name being Country Club, they called you Country Club Joe Hayden.

25:26Man, listen. If he go out there balling, I'm calling you. They call you Steel Mill Joe Hayden. That sounds good. Okay, we got to think. Look, cover the life. You got to think of something. Country Club, Will Howard. I'm not mad at it because I'm a golfer. But Debo, he feels some type of way.

25:50What golfer you know that you have any fear of? I don't fear nobody. That's first and foremost. What golfer would you think had a chance of beating you up?

26:10Only one, probably Jon Rahm. Maybe. and we're going to have to see. That's what I'm saying. Like, what about DeChambeau? DeChambeau? Nope. DeChambeau. Nope? Okay. Oh, okay. I just want to put it out there. Liam9087,$5. Said it can't hurt to give Will another year to learn behind Aaron. Yeah, it cannot hurt, but I think it was slow as process. I mean, then again, they're going to have another fight. Like next year is going to be, well, Will Howard, then we're going to need to draft another quarterback because it's not going to be Aaron Rodgers. It's going to be this same story until we get him out there to either see if he can go or not play him.

26:57And then, you know, that's just what I'm saying. If we get him, I still need to see him reps of the wine. I want time split. We know Aaron, he don't need a lot of practice. We want to see what he can do. Yeah, I want time. I'm going to rep split at least to give him connection with the ones, you know, and timing, everything. That would be a big thing. Covenant Life back again,$5. From the question yesterday, my player picks would be the Steelers 2009 defense. Move Aaron Smith and give me Justin Tuck of the New York Giants. Oh, no, she trimmed. Oh, what was the one yesterday? We were supposed to do the teams.