Nightcap Hour 1: Ravens HIRE Chargers Jesse Minter as NEW Head Coach + Cowboys HIRE Christian Parker for DC + Baker Mayfield SENDS SHOTS at Kevin Stefanski + CJ Stroud MAKING EXCUSES?!

24:05Shannon Sharpe:That's a stark difference from Dallas, which was the worst defense in the league in passing yards allowed, giving up a whopping 35 touchdowns, 31st in 2025. The Dallas also finished 32nd and 30th in points and yards allowed respectively, which led to the firing of defensive coordinator Matt Eberflues after one season. Ochoa, would you like this hire? I mean, the hire doesn't matter, huh? The hire doesn't matter. I mean, you could bring Jesus out there to be the defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys. You're still going to get what you got. You have to understand where coach is coming from, huh?

24:39Coach is coming from the Philadelphia Eagles.

24:41Shannon Sharpe:Yes. Their strength and their identity is on the defensive end. Well, hell, you got Cooper DeJuan, you got Keon Mitchell. You got, hello? Blankenship. That front four, that blanket ship. Zach Braun. You got that front four. N 'Kobe Dean. Hey, the second level, you got Bond? I mean, there's a reason why the defense looked like it did. There's a reason why coaches get jobs to go other places when they've been at places where the goddamn talent level is somewhat damn near easy. I agree. And that's what it is. Now for Coach, you know, Mr. Parker going over to goddamn Dallas, now is where coaching comes into play.

25:16Yep. If you ain't got the quality or the skill players in those positions, you're still going to get exposed. So what you had to work with in Philly, you don't have to work with and goddamn Dallas That's going to be the problem that you're gonna run into so it doesn't matter who you bring in the coach If you don't have the quality of players to be able to run the scheme or the system that you want to that you want to incorporate

25:39Shannon Sharpe:I'm just being honest you being very honest and I think that's the thing is that I I can't off the top of my head. I don't know if there's a player on deep on Dallas's defense that I would take over somebody on the Eagles defense, especially not the secondary. Nobody. Definitely not the linebackers. I'm not even Quentin Mitchell. I wouldn't take him over Jordan Davis. I wouldn't. And I know he's been an all pro and I know he's going to the pro bowl. But right now, as I sit here and we have this conversation, I wouldn't. We know Jalen Carter has talent at the yin yang. Oh yeah. I just need him to play hard all the time.

26:17Shannon Sharpe:I don't think, I mean, I need Vic Fangio to get in his ear and have a conversation with him. Hopefully he called him in and said, son, if you're not in Defensive Player of the Year discussion, you failed. We failed you and you failed us. You have that kind of ability. Vic Fangio has been around some of the great talent, defensive players in the league. I remember having a conversation with Wade Phillips. Wade was the D coordinator in Houston. And I was asking him about J.J. Watt. and he said Shannon they keep talking about he's he a bust he's gonna be a bust he said Shannon he's gonna have a bust in Canton with you I swear that's what he told me he said Shannon he's gonna have a bust in Canton with you before the guy even played a down he said if you watch this guy in practice now I think he would know he coached Reggie White he coached Ricky Jackson he coached Vaughn Miller he coached a lot of great What's the guy?

27:16Shannon Sharpe:He won Defensive Player of the Year at Buffalo. Bryce Popp. Yeah. Bruce Smith. Bryce Popp was the Defensive Player of the Year. Bruce Smith was the Defensive Player of the Year. Reggie White was the Defensive Player of the Year. Ricky Jacks in the Hall of Fame. Vaughn Miller, we know. He said, this guy's as good as I've ever coached. And I'm talking about Reggie. He coached Reggie. He coached Ricky Jack. He coached Bruce Smith. he said this kid is as good as I've seen. Yeah. So it matters. I don't care about no scheme and all this. You can get as exotic as you want to. Give me them horses. Yeah.

28:00Shannon Sharpe:You need them, huh? You need them. You need the horses. I'm glad Mr. Christian Parker got the D.C. job. It's good to see you continue to elevate in your career and try to climb that ladder, that coaching ladder was very difficult to climb, especially going to Dallas to be able to do it. The problem that you're going to face is if you don't have the same quality of players that you had in Philly. You don't have the Eagles secondary. You don't. You don't have Quinion. You don't have Cooper. You don't have Blankenship. No. Ain't nobody in your secondary is comparable to those three guys. Now, obviously, you're going to coordinate the defense.

28:34Shannon Sharpe:And when you throw Vaughn and N 'Kobe Dean in there and you look at, they got Jalen Phillips. They got Jordan Davis. they got a Carter. Y 'all don't have the equivalent of that in Dallas. No. And it doesn't matter what you do offensively because we've seen Dak has been playing out of his mind. Mine, yeah. But if he has a slow start or an off game, you guys aren't stopping anything. Now, what we can say, Unk, is we do have the draft coming up. We do have offseason acquisitions. I'm sure Dallas is going to have to go offseason. Dallas doesn't like to spend the money offseason. They don't like to go in free agency.

29:09Shannon Sharpe:said, Ocho. They like to get, Ocho, you know how you just go back to school? Yeah. You done got everything been picked on. Everybody done tried them jeans on and the shirts on. Right, right, right. Damn. Oh, it's just, we're going to mark it off another$5 because it got a little mark because everybody had their ass in these jeans. Yeah. Now, you heard what you just said? Yeah. You said Dallas doesn't like to do certain things. They don't? They don't like to do certain things as far as in the offseason. When's the last time Dallas been to the playoffs in the Super Bowl? Forget the playoffs. They've been to the playoffs recently.

29:38When the last time they've been to the Super Bowl? 95. 95. 95 Super Bowl, January of 96. Okay, you make your hay. You make your hay in off-season acquisitions and getting players that can help you improve year to year. How do I get better? What areas do I need to improve in? You get those veteran players, veteran presence, because the chances of getting somebody in the draft that are going to come in right now and make a tremendous impact and change the trajectory of your offense or your defense is not likely. Man, give up those two first-round picks and go get Max Crosby and stop playing.

30:12Shannon Sharpe:Come on, now. Talk to me. Talk nice to me. Talk nice to me. Go get those two first-round draft picks and go get Max Crosby. Because you're not going to get anybody in the draft better than Max Crosby. No. And he's probably the only guy that can be had as far as – You're not getting Miles Garrett. You're not getting Hutchinson. You're not getting Daniel Hunter. You're not getting Will Anderson, Jr. You're not getting any of those guys. You're not getting Benito. you're not getting versed you're not getting any of these top tier uh uh uh rushes so i don't give up that first hold on hold on hold on go get max cross i got a question i got a question man yeah you said you said a whole lot of names you know of some good impact players that can make a a change have a tremendous impact over there in dallas what you think about um old 95 down there in cleveland coming on down there to the big star they're not trading him Hey, listen.

31:09I'm just asking you. I'm trying to see where you're headed at.

31:12Shannon Sharpe:Hold on. This guy about to be a two-time defensive player of the year. I'll tell you what. They're going to have to give up three first-round draft picks and probably a couple of players. Hey, but let me tell you something. He was there with the last— He ain't even 30. Hold on. He was with Cleveland last year, right? Yes. How many wins they had last year with him? Not a lot. Okay, well, they could have not a lot without him. Guess what? He's the only reason you're going. You know they're going to lose. But I'm going to see how many sacks he's going to get. Okay, I got you. You know what I'm saying?

31:40Shannon Sharpe:You got to have something, Ocho. Yeah. And look, he's seen, and he's made it abundantly clear. He's happy there. He said, hey, I want to win. And as long as I believe that they're going and trending in the right direction, I'm happy. I'll be here. Don't fall for that. Come on. I'm just saying what he said. Okay, that's what he said. But anytime you put a camera and a mic in front of a player's face and it's going to get out there, everything is PC. It's PC. You know that. Honestly, Ocho, I don't think he wants to leave. I think he likes Cleveland. I think he wants to – whatever success that Cleveland has, he wants to be a part of it.

32:19Shannon Sharpe:He doesn't want to – he doesn't look at himself like a mercenary. See, like Vaughn was willing – like the Broncos traded Vaughn to the Rams, and what did they do? They put him inside AD and Leonard Fordham, and now you got hell on your hands. and you see the second half Joe had that outstanding first half and you watch the second half and you watch the mofos take the game over. You watch A.D. whip. Everybody has. Well I tell you what. I tell you what. If you say Miles Garrett had no chance or opportunity to go to the Dallas Cowboys because the Cleveland Browns would never even think the thought of trading him is a no-no because that's the only thing you do have.

32:54What about T.J. Watt? Leaving the Steelers and going to put that star on his own? T.J.

32:58Shannon Sharpe:might be a possibility. Trey Hendrickson. You got Trey Hendrickson. You wouldn't have to give up any compensation for him. Yeah. I like the upside of having TJ Watt. I like the upside of having TJ Watt. Now, he's been Nick the last couple of years. His production tends to go down towards the tail end of the season. But that first half, he's phenomenal. Yeah. He's a defensive player of the year. He's a Pro Bowl player. He's been an all-pro. he had tied the NFL record to 22 and a half sacks until Miles Garrett broke it of 23 so yeah I like it but that's a big salary you got to pay now hello we need to do something you got to pay for your product now you ain't getting that for free I know one thing if you do pay that big salary every owner when it comes to business also when it comes to players if we put money into you we want to return on that investment And that's the type of player where if you're paying the big money, the chances are 98.9 % you're going to get a return on an investment when you invest in elite talent like that.

34:08Shannon Sharpe:I agree. I agree, Ocho. But they got to do something. They got to do something because it doesn't do you any good. You got a 4 ,000-yard passer, two 1 ,000-yard receivers, and a 1 ,000-yard rusher, and your ass missed the playoffs. Yeah. Yeah. We know why. Because you had a Super Bowl offense and a Bud Bowl defense. Yeah. Hey, could you imagine? I got a question for you. Yes. Could you imagine the Dallas Cowboys, hypothetically speaking? Chat, stay with me. The Dallas Cowboys offense with the Seahawks defense, with the Broncos defense. No, that would ain't going to be fair. Man. You're not. Ocho, do you understand how hard it is to have that?

34:51Man.

34:51Shannon Sharpe:Because normally you invest on one side or the other. You say, okay, this is how we're going to make our hay. Now, it's possible if you draft really, really well. Really well. Yes. You look at the Broncos one year. Okay, they drafted Demarius Thomas. They drafted Eric Decker. They drafted Julius Thomas. They drafted Noshon Marino. They drafted, I think Clady was there. And then they drafted Von Miller. they drafted Roby they drafted Chris Harris Jr. was undrafted they drafted those two backers Danny Trevathan and Brandon Marshall they drafted Derrick Wolfe they drafted Malik Jackson so now you sprinkle in Akeem now you sprinkle in TJ Ward yeah okay okay now we got something yeah you know it's it's all about knowing how to build a team you do A having the right team, having the right eyes, having the right scouts.

35:52Yes. And Jeffrey Lurie and Howie Roseman have done a phenomenal job at that. I'm not sure why this is a copycat league. It's a copycat NFL when it comes to offenses and defenses, things that you see work for other people. Most of the time, teams copy it, whether it be offense or defense. I'm not sure why owners and coaches and GMs and scouts don't copy. Because I'm trying to do it my way, Ocho.

36:17Shannon Sharpe:That's your way. Yeah, but their way's working. That's the point I'm trying to make. I'd rather fail my way than succeed somebody else's. Hey. Look at the Houston Texans. Look how they drafted. You get Will Anderson. You get Stingley, Lassiter, Petrie, Tua Tua. I think that's how you say his name. T-O-O-T-O-L. You get him. Now, you traded for Algier.

36:48Shannon Sharpe:Will Anderson Jr. Now you get Danelle Hunter in free agency. Danelle, yep. Okay, you get CJ. You get Nico. You get Tank Dale. Woody Marks with a low-round draft pick. I think you go back into the draft, you get an offensive lineman. But that's what you got. You got to have it. It's hard, I mean, to have me. One offense, one defense. I think the Patriots, not the Patriots, the Chargers, had the number one offense and the number one defense and missed the playoffs. How that happened? But the Cowboys, look, the Cowboys have a formula. Jerry believes he has a formula. He wants everybody to take a discount because you're playing in Dallas and it should be an honor to play in Dallas.

37:29Shannon Sharpe:It should be an honor. He don't really pay his coach's top dollar because it's an honor for you to coach the Cowboys. But something's got to give. Now, he keeps on talking that he'll sit down and retire once he has the most Super Bowl. Bro, you got three. The Patriots got six.

37:49Shannon Sharpe:and the Steelers, the Roonies, they got six. You got a ways to go. You're not close. You missed the playoffs. I don't even know why you're talking Super Bowls. You shouldn't say super or bowl.

38:02As a matter of fact, you should put another piece, say supper.

38:06Shannon Sharpe:We about to eat and go to bed. But, look, I agree with everything you just said. I'm glad for the meteoric rise that Parker had but at the end of the day I don't care who the trainer is Bob Baffert's great he ain't winning the Kentucky Derby with donkeys without the horses god damn it's a good analogy boy and I know Bob very well that's a good analogy that's a good analogy that's a good one that's a good analogy I like that one I'm stealing that

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42:51Shannon Sharpe:So, they let the Falcons find their new head coach. They agreed to terms with Kevin Stefanski last week. And Stefanski now is in the NFC South. It means that he's going to have to face off against Baker Mayfield twice a year. Yeah. Orlando Ledbetter, Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski, had a dumpster fight quarterback in Cleveland. Baker Mayfield, Deshaun Watson failed, which started the chain reaction to 11 other starters. Shador Sanders closed out last season with seven starts. excuse me Baker took exception and responded by firing a shot at his former coach failed is quite a reach pal still waiting on a text or call from him after I got shipped off like a piece of garbage can't wait to see you twice a year coach then Joe Thomas you know we had Joe Thomas on last year at the draft it was in Green Bay he's from Wisconsin Joe played over 10 ,000 snaps and only missed one snap in his career uh he's that joe thomas said i could be wrong but i've heard that communication is a two-way street and there are no laws against you baker sending stefanski a text or calling him after you got traded why why in the hell why in the hell would the goddamn player text the coach after getting traded what sense does that make i love joe i love joe to death absolutely not You don't text and call no coach about, oh, thank you for everything.

44:20No. It's up to the coach.

44:22Shannon Sharpe:Not your position coach, offensive coordinator, or your quarterback coach. Yeah, most of the time. But, you know, but listen, don't nobody really need to be texting nobody, honestly. You know, nobody need to be texting honestly. You know. Well, I got texted. I ain't going to lie. This is business. This is the business. This ain't, we ain't here to be friends. We getting paid a hefty ransom to play a child's game that we love. and if it's not working out here what we gonna do? We gonna ship your ass off You mean a king's ransom or a hefty I said a hefty ransom King's hefty, same shit, it's a lot It means a lot The chat knew what you meant though Right, okay, my bad We gonna look back 40 years from now, that's gonna be a hefty ransom

45:15Shannon Sharpe:Look Look, when I left Denver, Coob and my position coach, Brian Periani, who you saw in the video with me on Saturday in the box, we still communicate. And when I left Baltimore to go back to Denver, Wade Harmon, who was my position coach, they all called me. So I didn't expect the head coach to call, but my position coach and the offensive coordinator, like I said, but I had known Coob since I'd been in Denver. I'd known Coob since who's the offensive coordinator. He was my quarterback back up to John for two years. 91, 91. 92 years. And then he was my offensive coordinator from 95 through 99.

45:57Shannon Sharpe:And when I got back 02 and 03, BP was the same thing. So we had that type of relationship. They called and said, Bud, I'm sorry. Wish there was something I could do. But Coop told me, said, look, go show him what it takes to be a champion. Go show him what it takes to win a Super Bowl. I know you still got juice in the tires and I wish there was something. BP said, homeboy, said, damn, I sure hate to see you go, but go do what you do. Yes, sir. And Wade Harmon, who was my position coach in Baltimore, said the same thing. Say, I'm going to miss you, big play. I'm going to miss you. You kept it fun, and I never had to worry about you.

46:32Shannon Sharpe:But normally coaches, head coaches, don't call. No. They don't. They don't. I mean, Ocho, look, I'm not trying to dump on Baker because I think Baker has done a great job. I don't know if Baker would have had the level of success that he had in Tampa if he'd have had in Cleveland because they were out. I think the organization, because you hear whispered, they wanted an adult to lead the team. And I think they were kind of out on him at that point in time, Ocho. So I don't know if he'd have the level of success. He wasn't going to have success in Carolina because Carolina was just – that was the dumpster fire.

47:10Shannon Sharpe:And then he went to the Rams, and we know that was only because Matthew Stafford got hurt, and they needed a quarterback to fill in and so forth and so on. So he landed on his feet.

47:23Shannon Sharpe:But you take it a little personal, Ocho. Because if somebody gets rid of you, if your girl says she wants to break up, she believes that she can find someone better than you. Mm-mm. You feel some type of way. You do. It's natural. And it's okay. So I'm like, damn, oh, y 'all really feel like y 'all can replace me. Forget on the field. Y 'all don't even know about all these brush fires that I put out. Come on now. In the locker room. Take your time. That you don't even know about. how I kept the guys loose on the practice and made sure guys were ready to play and held guys accountable yeah bet I like it, I like Baker now this is going to be exciting for me now we got Stefanski and we got Baker that is going to be the replacement for Marshawn Lattimore and got damn Mike Evans even though Stefanski is not on the field I'm looking forward to every Tampa Bay and goddamn Atlanta Falcon game because I just want to see Baker throw a touchdown or throw something and look at Stefanski and just say you know he is, you know he will hey, talk is trash, I like the way Baker Mayfield plays the game he got moxied like Mel Kuyper says, he plays with a chip on his shoulder you know, so I have no problem with it, I understand the only thing I don't like is, oh you could have called nah man, it's a business man, people don't care nothing about you, especially when they don't see you as valuable anymore.

49:00Thank you. We don't see you as valuable anymore. Man, go about your business, man. That's why we're shipping you off.

49:05Shannon Sharpe:Let me ask you a question, Ocho. You think Coach Belichick called Tom Brady? Hell no. Absolutely not. If Brady can't get no parting call, ain't nobody getting no damn call. Not at all. But it's the nature of the business. You got to be able to separate the two. You have to be able to separate the two and understand and get your feelings out of it. you gotta get your feelings out of it oh I know what I meant the owner Art Modell when I left he wrote me a personal letter handwritten I got I'll take a picture of next time it's on my wall because when I went to the hall of fame Peyton sent me a letter Mr.

49:53Shannon Sharpe:Dan Rooney sent me a letter there about three owners four owners sent me a letter player, Peyton Manning was the player. But Art Modell, when I went to go back to Denver, he's like, Shannon, I would love to have you. He said, but you deserve the right to go back to Denver and retire Bronco. He said, you did me proud. You did what, you know, hey, you're great. He said, but I'd be so selfish if I kept you knowing that you really wanted to go back to Denver. That meant a lot to me. that meant a lot because he thought a lot he thought a lot of me and Ray we'd always he he and Ozzie would be sitting on the golf cart Ocho and he would make Ozzie him and Ozzie would walk back while me and Ray would get the golf cart and drive well I damn sure we're going to drive it back to get back on there we'd drive it up to the building and park it or he'd have a drive or something and he would drive us up there they'd get off standing top drive and take me and Ray up to the building turn around and go back and get Ozzie and Art.

50:55So Art did.

50:58Shannon Sharpe:He did, in fact, when I went back to Denver, send me a personal letter thanking me for my contributions there and said I deserve the right to go retire Bronco. That's dope. That's dope. That was bad. Yeah, your relationship is kind of different. It is, man. I had great relationships with the owner. Most players don't carry themselves the way you did where there's a certain respect. Yes. Where he didn't see it as just business. You know, he saw it a little bit more special than that. And everyone is not afforded the opportunity to build that type of relationship with owners. But owners are really good at keeping it down the middle, being able to separate the two.

51:35Shannon Sharpe:Because when it's time to let you go, you can't have feelings getting in the way. You're right. Well, that's why they don't want higher-ups messing with subordinates because it clouds your judgment. Yeah. You remember what David did to Bathsheba's husband? Come on now. That's why you don't let generals have a, with corporals and underneath. Because I, you know, we get this thing called war and I might have to put your ass out there. Yeah. And then, you know, we got a little hanky-panky going on. You know, I'm like, come on now, my boo can't go. Right. Mr. B, when I got back, man, I remember when I retired, Ocho, and I had a conversation with Mr.

52:11Shannon Sharpe:B, and he's like,

52:16Shannon Sharpe:is there any job that you want in the organization? I said, nah, Mr. B. I said, you know, this TV thing. And every time I would come back, you know, I used to go back a lot. I did. I used to go back a lot. I'd go see him in training camp and stuff like that. He would always ask me, you know, Sharper, you know, I love to have it. I just, I'd love to have your presence around. I'm like, Mr. B. I said, I love you to death. I say, but working for a football teammate, my passion, is not my calling. Right, right, right. But you're right, Ocho. I had a great relationship with Mr. B. I only had two owners, Mr.

52:50Shannon Sharpe:B and Art Modell. I remember the first time I got on a plane with him because I was going back when he was dealing with the situation with Ray back in 2000. And I said, Mr. Modell, you know, he's like, don't call me Mr. He said, that was my grandfather. Call me Art. Call me Art, yeah. So from that point on, everybody called him Art. Nobody called him Mr. Modell. But it was a great relationship. And it's nice. And I wish more owners were accessible. and it's, you know, I understand you got a job. I got a job. He has a job. I'm going to do my job to the best of my ability. I'm going to be very respectful.

53:29Shannon Sharpe:But, you know, obviously some owners, you know, they keep to the – and I became a great player for the Broncos, Ocho, and so I understood. but but for the most part I think most great players do have somewhat of a cordial relationship a friendly relationship with the owner yeah yeah I have a great one obviously I've had one owner my whole career obviously playing for Mr. Kraft and Tom Brady and Belichick during my time there but it was so short I mean the relationship there was really no extent to it but Mr. Brown and that organization and what they've done for me and and having that relationship with them where i have an open door policy at all times regardless of who's coaching regards to what's going on anything i ever need it's open door policy and they have they have been very gracious in in showing that love and and and appreciation for me years removed um where the most important thing i am of no value to you anymore.

54:34Yep. I'm of no value and still it's open arms and open doors. So for that, I've always been gracious, but I don't take advantage of it. No, no, no, no. I don't take advantage of it. I go to one or two games a year. That's it. I don't call.

54:50Shannon Sharpe:Even back then, Ocho, when Mr. Bowler was there, he's like, you need anything. You need tickets. Just call my secretary. I had a direct line to the secretary and they'll take care of everything. I wouldn't go through that. I would go through the ticket and then I would charge it on my card and say, X, Y, and Z, so forth and so on. The same thing was the case. Like, hey, I got, you know, Will call, Shannon Sharp, and then get the tickets. That's how I did it. Because like you said, I didn't want anything. And then when the Super Bowl was happening, they was like, hey, you know, you want to go to the Super Bowl?

55:23Shannon Sharpe:I was like, yeah. I was like, New York? Man, it's going to be cold, man. I said, man, I said, Mr. Bowler, I would love to go. I said, I would love to go Mr. B. I said, but I can't sit out there in no cold. He said, he's like Sharpie. And this how you know. Yeah. So now, I got to call. How am I going to be in a box by myself? So, hey, Rod, you want to go to the Super Bowl? Hey, all you got to do is get here. I got tickets and everything. Cronk, you want to go to the Super Bowl? I got tickets and everything. Same thing in San Francisco. Had a big old suite. I had like a 12-person suite with just me, Rod, and and foots i mean me rod and crop yeah and just to give to give people in the chat you know a better better perspective and better context on my relationship in cincinnati with mike brown and everyone under mike brown and those who are in positions of power who call the shots and have the green lights when it comes to structuring and changing their culture there 2021 they went to the subo yep 2021 went to the subo i don't even play no more and i'm getting the offering listen we're to school bowl if you if you're going to be down in la we have a ticket for you did you go no remember i remember i was already there oh yeah you know obviously i do all my work during the week but you know i leave i leave the morning of the game i never used to be i i go in there do my appearances you know make make my little bag so i can afford mcdonald's and i get up on that listen i said thank you i appreciate it but i'm not i'm not going to be able to make it to the game but i i I will be watching in full support.

56:59Shannon Sharpe:Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I'm – but it's great. I just think the Baker, you know – I mean, you get hurt. Sometimes you get your feelings hurt. But I think it's rare. I don't know. Like I said, I don't know every relationship player, coach player. But it's hard for me. I mean, I don't see a situation where – I don't even know. I'm trying to think. well Jim Caldwell got fired so yes because remember his first year they went to the Super Bowl the next year Peyton got hurt he got fired so I don't know if he might have did but I don't know if he can call and say anything because he got fired and Peyton got cut so it was a situation that was terrible for everyone Ocho Ocho, Ocho, Ocho.

57:55Shannon Sharpe:I want to get your take. I'm just going to sit back. I'm going to kick my heels up. In his exit interview this week, C.J. Stryer blamed the Texans' stellar defense for his struggles this season as he no longer has to be Superman on the field. Ocho, take a listen to what this young man had to say. I think just the turnovers. You know, like I haven't really been prone to turnovers in my career, especially like, you know, the timely turnovers, you know, where, you know, like I told y 'all before, I've really, you know, been on some great teams, you know, my whole career where a lot of them were, you know, offensive droving, you know, and like, you know, playing for Coach Day where, you know, we're taking shots and all these.

58:31And then, you know, like being on this team, you know, where, you know, we're more full everywhere, you know, where it's offense, defense and special teams where, you know, defense is, you know, is making a bunch of plays. So, you know, this year was a step for me where, like, I didn't have to be Superman all the time. And I'm still growing in that, you know what I'm saying? So, you know, I appreciate my team is taking a lot of pressure, you know, off of my plate. But also, you know, they do know that I can make those plays. So, you know, I'm appreciative of that, them having that perspective.

58:59And I feel like I've grown, you know, in that way of like, you know, taking what's there, you know, in ways where, you know, I would have taken a shot there or just, you know, take care of the ball some other ways. But, you know, I just see some growth in my footwork, you know, in the pocket, you know, trusting my guys, staying in the pocket, not just running around, you know, but, you know, staying strong. and firm so I think I stepped I made a step in that area as well but you know always things are improving and I'll do that. Yeah I mean I...

59:29Shannon Sharpe:This is AI. This has got to be AI. Hey let's check see if this is AI. Because they know Elcho ain't no way in hell. Well which part? Which part? The whole thing is AI. I mean from what I just heard him reflecting on some of the things where he has room for improvement he said the turnovers. He said the reason why is because of his defense was so great. Okay, I must have missed that part. You want us to replay it for you? Yeah, he must have said that. Can we rewrite that right quick? At the very beginning?

1:00:05I think just the turnovers. I haven't really been prone to turnovers in my career, especially the timely turnovers. Like I told y 'all before, I've been on some great teams my whole career where a lot of them were offensive droving and playing for Coach Day where we're taking shots. And then being on this team where we're more full everywhere where it's offense, defense, and special teams where defense is making a bunch of plays. So this year was a step for me where I didn't have to be Superman all the time. And I'm still growing in that. You know what I'm saying?

1:00:47take it away Ocho wait I'm maybe I'm tripping maybe some wrong my goddamn ears I mean I'm listening to what he's saying but maybe the way the way the way you're regurgitating it to me I'm expecting to say something like that but I mean from what I got from it is it's one of the few times I didn't have to be Superman this year because my defense is as great as they were so that's why you turned the ball over No, obviously he said, you heard what he said, huh? I have room for improvement. I have to stop turning the ball over. And I like that he's reflecting on some of the things that he can continue to grow on.

1:01:23I heard that part.

1:01:25Shannon Sharpe:I think the reason why he turned the ball over was because of his defense, because he knew they could get it back for him. Oh, that's a little bit excessive right there, huh? Oh, Joe, with that defense, you take risk that you normally wouldn't take. Wouldn't take. Right, right, right, right, right, right. but oh wait about how careful Dak Prescott has to be with the football right knowing his defense can't get it back for him right yeah okay I see what you're saying I see I see you going with it I see you going with it I like I like it look the only season that he really didn't turn the ball over was his rookie season yeah because his rookie season he had five picks the next year he had 12 now he had five interceptions in the play in two games in the postseason with five fumbles yeah he had eight picks but he missed three games and half another one so are we short He doesn't turn the ball?

1:02:13Shannon Sharpe:Are we sure? Are you willing to go out and live, Mocho? Yeah, I mean, we watched the game, Monk. We saw it. We saw it. We watched the game. I'm saying, are you sure he doesn't turn the ball over? Because that's not what his resume says. His resume says his rookie year, he's absolutely right. He didn't turn the ball over. But I look at his second and third year, I mean, the numbers would disagree. Agree, yeah, yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. He knows he got a lot of – excuse me, my bad. young boy know he got a lot of work to do he has a lot of work to do and I like the fact that he can stand up in front of the camera and he can take accountability for it as well Ojo you don't have to do all that talking just say you know what I need to do better don't blame your defense for you not having to put the Superman cape on hold on was Danelle Hunter there last year?

1:03:01Shannon Sharpe:was Stingley there last year? was Will Anderson Jr. there last year?

1:03:08Shannon Sharpe:Shazier 2-0, 2-0? Petrie? I'm just, no. Help me understand who on this defense that's there this year wasn't there last year. Yeah. I don't know. What's rankings there? Look and see. I want to see if rankings were there last year. If Tim Settle Jr., Mario Edwards Jr., I want to know. Because I believe those other guys that I mentioned, I believe they were there. So I'm going to find out what guys weren't there on that defense this year that wasn't there last year.

1:03:53hey you guys hey hey you you thought it was you thought it was bad to wait to wait the way he uh gave the interview though

1:04:03Rankins wasn't there last year

1:04:05Shannon Sharpe:What about Settle Jr. or Mario Edwards Jr. Mario Edwards Jr. Okay He was there Hold on, Mario Edwards Jr. ain't the former number one pick son, is it?

1:04:25No, no, no Oh, but I'm finna say, god damn time flying

1:04:29Shannon Sharpe:no no no no no no okay this Mario Edwards is uh and that was Mario Williams Williams yeah okay my bad my bad my bad Ocho if you don't have to be Superman you shouldn't struggle because I don't need you to take unnecessary risk I don't need you to put that cape on right you see how you You see how it doesn't juxtapose? You see? I was thinking, well, I don't have to be Superman. It should be easy. Hand the ball off, make a few plays here or there, got a defense that can back me up, knowing if I don't turn the ball over, the likelihood of a team driving 70, 80 yards on us, we coaching. Not good yet, we good.

1:05:15Yeah.

1:05:17Shannon Sharpe:I don't get it, but I don't get.

1:05:24he's reflecting on the entirety of his season in a small clip, more so mentioning some of the things he can do better and some of the areas where he's worked. But what does his defense have to do with him not having to be Superman?

1:05:39Shannon Sharpe:And how does that equate to him turning? I'm thinking if you don't have to be Superman, you don't have to take the unnecessary risk. Right. I mean, Josh Allen has to be Superman. And he had to be, and guess what he did, Ocho? He turned the ball over. If you're saying you don't have to be Superman, I'm just trying to figure out how turnovers come along with that. Right. Because you don't have to take the risk. You don't have to put the ball in harm's way because you don't have to worry about an offense outscoring you because the likelihood of they scoring 28, 31 points on that defense. Not happening.

1:06:13Shannon Sharpe:Without pick six, scooping scores, or return, that ain't happening. Yeah. That ain't happening.

1:06:23Shannon Sharpe:I don't know. I just think the thing sometimes that we talk too much. Yeah. Just, hey, in that situation, I'm just disappointed how the season turned out. There are some things that I need to work on. But don't say you struggled because of the defense was so good and you didn't have to be Superman. You only really Superman one year, Ocho. You see, it goes back to that rookie season. I don't think he meant it in the way you're – How am I supposed to take it, Ocho? Tell me. I want you to explain it to me if I was French fry.

1:07:04I mean, I think maybe we're hearing it in two different ways. I think he just – listen, I made mistakes. He made mistakes in the past.

1:07:13Shannon Sharpe:What does his defense have to do with that, though? Him making mistakes. That's like, Ocho, man. man, well, I did this because Unk made a mistake. What does my mistake have to do with you? What does the defense being great have to do with him turning the ball over? Okay, explain that to me. Him turning the ball over, what does that defense have to do with that? I have no idea. I have no idea. I'm just listening to the part where he said on the things that he needs to work on. That's all. That's all. I understand him mentioning the defense as good as they were. it shouldn't have looked like it did those last two games.

1:07:51It shouldn't have. Because we said that on the show before they even played the first playoff game. If they keep the ball out of harm's way they got a superior chance. Absolutely. Superior. And they should be playing this weekend if there were no turnovers. Honestly.

1:08:09Shannon Sharpe:Or one. Just don't give a five Ocho. Ocho the man They may have five fumbles and five picks in two games. Now, granted, he jumped on a couple of them in Pittsburgh. But, Ocho, you can't turn them. What do you have, four picks in the first half? Yeah. Four picks in the first half?

1:08:38Shannon Sharpe:Defense, hey, Will Anderson Jr. says, hey, you gave it to him. I'm going to get it back for you. He said, I'm going to get it right back to him, though.

1:08:51Shannon Sharpe:sometimes when things go good you say little when they go bad you say even less wait he had to talk he had to talk today so he had to he had to say something you know most of the time we complain about players not stepping up to the mic and not talking when things don't go well how the season went and just just that's it i'll be better and then leave your struggles you don't mention your struggles because of the success of the defense. I mean, Ocho, the man been in the league three years, name the time that you've heard somebody say C.J. Stride put on that Superman cake. I've heard it with Lamar.

1:09:31Shannon Sharpe:I've heard it with Josh Allen. I've heard it with my homeboy. I've heard it with Joe Burrow. Tell me the time you've heard somebody say that about C.J. I'm going to want to do a cough drop. Take your time.

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