Nightcap Hour 1: Unc speaks on being let go from ESPN

23:16Shannon Sharpe:And I can understand why Lamar got a 79 because Lamar had legs and an arm. Yeah. So I can see why. The same reason he got a 99. The same reason Josh Allen got a 99. because not only can they beat you with their arm, they can beat you with their legs. So I get why Lamar coming out was a 79. And Josh, we knew he was athletic, but we didn't know Josh was like this, athletic. We saw Caleb Williams with the hocus pocus and all that other things that he did. Heisman Trophy winning. At the end of the day, somebody wasn't going to be happy with their rating. Somebody wasn't going to be happy that they got a 70.

23:56Shannon Sharpe:Somebody got an 85, and they're not happy with that. Somebody got a 94, and they're not happy with that. So you're not going to be able to please everyone. But I tell you what you can do. You can play and change that grade.

24:11Joe Johnson:It is.

24:12Shannon Sharpe:You know how the teacher used to tell you? Oh, I'm going to give you some extracurricular work. And you can pull that B up to an A. Or you can take that A and go to an A+. Or you can take that C and take it to a B. That's all on you. Okay. You don't like the grade to 72? do something about it.

24:27Joe Johnson:It is.

24:28Shannon Sharpe:It is. It is.

24:30Joe Johnson:Hey, speaking, now to be on the topic of football, you know what I love about, I hate to go off topic, but I love about Twitter right now is the clips that I keep seeing from camp with the one-on-ones, the receivers and the DBs. So I'm having a joy breaking down what each receiver did wrong or what the DB did wrong or what the DB did right and what the receiver did wrong and just breaking it down and watching it, man. I'm talking about, I feel like a little kid in the candy store just watching some of the videos from like Brown's camp. I saw some one-on-ones with the Panthers. That Keon Coleman Keon Coleman sent me his one-on-one videos so far.

25:12Joe Johnson:For Buffalo? Yes. He sent them to my phone. I'm looking like, boy, you've been putting some work. That's what I'm saying in my head. I ain't even get a chance to to hit him back, but he sent me some stuff to go over and just talk a little bit.

25:27Shannon Sharpe:Critique it. Man, listen, man.

25:31Joe Johnson:Keon, I know you're probably going to see this, boy. I get that for right now, but I need to see it on Sundays. I need to see it on Sunday, but you look good, boy.

25:40Shannon Sharpe:Because the thing is, Ocho, you know the difference between one-on-one and practice and one-on-one in the game is that somebody might, you might think one-on-one and they play in zone. Well, you know one-on-one in practice, it's all man-to-man. Ain't no zone. Right. So you running in 10, you patient. Everybody got patience in practice, Ocho. Oh, you taking your time, you setting old boy up, but you know come game time, ain't nobody rushing the quarterback in one-on-one. You got to go. Got to go. All that. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.

26:17Joe Johnson:Nah.

26:17Shannon Sharpe:Your quarterback, this is what happened to your quarterback while you did it. Ha, ha. Your quarterback slumped over the wheel because he got hit in the back of his head

26:29Joe Johnson:I don't mean to I'm so excited, it's making me so excited though there was a rep on Twitter with Denzel Ward Jesus Christ, my God, this motherfucker so polished, oh I'm sorry for curfew

26:40Shannon Sharpe:Yeah, come on Ocho, you gonna get up

26:42Joe Johnson:we ain't gonna make no money tonight bro Listen, listen, listen, it was Cedric Tillman and Denzel Ward, bump and run and dog, it was when it's done right, the game of football is so beautiful. From a position standpoint, I'm not going to break it down right now, but it was too... Boy, Desire Ward is nice. You talking about a technician?

27:04Shannon Sharpe:Yeah. Well, see, the thing is, he's small frame, so he has to be nice because he doesn't have overwhelming sides. Right, right, right. So, you know what I'm saying, Ocho? So, his technique has to be flawless, and it is. Yeah, it is. I mean, you know, he's here, here, you know, hey, he's great. He's loose in his hips. So he's great to ease his turn and run. He's very fluid. He transitions very well. When you hear, oh, he transitions. Hey, he backpedal, drop, hey, start the run. Hey, DB come back on the comeback. Oh, yeah, I'm on that, too. Yeah, I'm on that, too. I dropped my hips. I'm on that, too.

27:42Shannon Sharpe:So I just want you to know I'm right here. Hey, Uncle Ocho, at this time of the year, at this time of the year doing camp, Tell me something. Y 'all enjoy coming into camp already like in peak shape or you kind of use camp to kind of, you know, get into some. You ain't in no peak shape. You get in shape playing football, Joe. You get in shape and have him all. It don't matter, Joe, it don't matter how much he goes out. I see guys out there who don't look like they in great shape, man. I mean, I see some guys who look like they in elite shape. That's all I'm saying. I'm saying like what was your mindset coming into camp?

28:14Shannon Sharpe:No, the thing was, look, I taped it off like the last two weeks. I was still, I was probably like, at that point in time, I was probably 90%. Because here's the thing. This is how you know you're not in shape. When they put that two-minute drill on your ass. And FBA, you run a go, you run a post, and you run a comeback. You got to run back? Run back, yes. And you do this after three plays. That lets you know right now, you ain't where you need to be. And now, that's what happens to guys now, Ocho. because at least in preseason, we're going to get everything that we need to do in the regular season.

28:51Shannon Sharpe:We're going to get some of that. And they're going to say, you know what? Because Mike might say, you know what? We're going to open up the game with two minutes. We're going to open up the game with no huddle because I want to make sure we get some of that with our number ones. So before anybody gets dinged, I'm going to make sure we get that. We're going to get some short yardage and goal line. We're going to make sure we get some 12 personnel. We're going to get some 11 personnel. You know, we're going to get some empty set. We're going to get all of that, Joe. But, yes, it gives you a great foundation because we've been sprinting on the track and we've been running hundreds and 200s and 150s and threes.

29:23Shannon Sharpe:We've been doing all that. But we ain't been doing none of that with no helmet and no shoulder pads. No contact. That's what we haven't been doing. Exactly. And so now once guys start leaning on you, and we always do that stuff on the third day when that soreness, when that old man said he. Yeah. I already that old man said it on you, Joe. Man, listen. Hey, look. I enjoy camp. Like, it was always fun. But the best times is when you come into camp and you already kind of in great, great shape. Because they're going to run the dog joke out of you in the NBA. You know what I mean? You're going to do a lot of live drills, 17s.

30:01You know, them all, I forgot what's the name of them, down and back. You got to make it a certain amount of time. Wait, y 'all do suicides in the NBA? What? man listen I don't know what they doing right now but I'm saying when I came into the league Ocho and O1 man we worked bro like I'm talking about line drills 17s I'm talking about just the end practice yeah like you had to be in shape bro we had conditioning tests that we had to do hey Unk they was on that coach Carter routine

30:31Shannon Sharpe:yeah but Ocho that's what we did too see we did two minutes at the end of practice We never did two minutes at the beginning of practice. He said, because guess what? It's going to be at the end of the game, which you're going to need the two minutes. So why doing it when you freshest, when you're going to be at your tiredest late in the ball game? So that's what I want. Hey, man, we beat up red and did all that stuff. All right, two minutes. Two minutes, man. I just got out the field. They get you. Man, I'm hot on that. Yeah, they get you where you're at. When you're tired, dead dog tired, you ready to get up out of there.

31:03Get down on that. We got 17. Everybody got to make it. What?

31:07Shannon Sharpe:Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And that's that's. And so, yes, you want a good foundation. And you're right, Joe. If you got that good foundation, it's a lot easier. But man, ain't nothing like football, football shape, but playing football. Yeah. You got to do it. You because you ain't blocking guys. I mean, you got to drive to try to get the guy. Hey, Ochoa, you got to run guys. You got to run guys off because you don't want to block up and run the risk. You got to run 20, 30 yards down the field and come back. And guess what? Do it again if it's another run play. Or it might be a play, Ocho, hey, you ready for this deep ball?

31:44Yeah.

31:46Shannon Sharpe:Hey, you just ran the guy 30 yards. Now you got to come back and run a goal ball.

31:50Joe Johnson:And you better hope it's complete because now you got to run back again. Yeah. It get a little different when them guys get leaning on you. I know. It's just like in basketball. Hell yeah. You can go to the track, get on the treadmill, do all the running you want to. But once you get out there and somebody go to touching on you and pushing you, it's a lot different.

32:09Shannon Sharpe:All right, guys. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam felt the need unprompted to tell the media yesterday that Shadour Sanders was not his pick. Let's take a listen to what the owner had to say about selecting Shadour. When you're moving like I do, trips don't always come together weeks in advance. Sometimes production shoots, interviews, or something I've got to travel for on a short notice. Like the time when I had the last minute trip to Denver and everything came together fast. Once it was locked in, I had to be ready to go. That's where Amazon Prime can make a difference. When something comes together quickly, you can get what you need like grooming essentials, neck pillows, eye masks, even snacks for the flights so you're ready to show up for it.

32:49Shannon Sharpe:With same day delivery, all those items show up on time and still make the trip so you can show up and focus on why you're there and not everything around it. Because at that point, it's not just about getting there, it's about making the most of the opportunity in front of you. That's what I like about Prime. It makes easy to say yes when the moment shows up. Same day delivery, it's on Prime. Available in select areas. Terms apply. Visit amazon.com slash prime to find millions of items delivered fast. Quiet confidence. It's not what you see. It's what you feel. A suit tailored just for you. A perfectly timed guy's trip.

33:28Choosing On Plus nicotine pouches over rough corners and edges. because some things may look better, but the other things simply feel better. On Plus Nicotine Pouches with Niko Silk Mesh, the softest pouch on the planet. Not all varieties available in all geographies. Warning, this product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical. ChatGPT can do more than answer questions. It can help you get real work done. ChatGPT work is built for bigger projects with multiple steps. You bring the goal along with the information it needs, like briefs, notes, files, feedback, calendars, data sets, or project plans.

34:07Then, ChatGPT can help turn all of that into something useful. An analysis, a tracker, a deck outline, a prototype, or a workflow you can keep shaping. It can also use approved apps, connected tools, files, and browser contexts to help move the work forward. And you stay in control. You give direction, review drafts, approve actions, redirect the work, and choose the final output. So you spend less time sorting through busy work and more time making progress on the work that matters. Put ChatGPT to work on your most ambitious ideas and projects. Get started at ChatGPT.com by selecting work mode.

34:46Available on Plus and Pro Plans.

34:50Shannon Sharpe:Ice Cube's Big 3 season has come down to this. The Big 3 championship is coming to Charlotte. who will be crowned the Big 3 Season 9 champion, plus the Big 3 All-Star Game, the biggest names in the game, all on one court, one more time. Two games of the most physical, competitive, and nonstop three-on-three action. The game played the way you love. Watch live Saturday on CBS at 1 p.m. Eastern, 10 a.m. Pacific, and catch replays Monday on BET. Presented by iHeart. A yay yay? Good process, okay? And if you'd have told me, let's see, we picked him on Saturday. Friday night driving home, y 'all are going to pick Shadour, I would say that's not happening.

35:31Shannon Sharpe:But we had a conversation early that morning, and we had a conversation later that day. I can't get the right people involved in the conversation. At the end of the day, that's Andrew Barry's call. Andrew made the call to pick Shadour. Just like who's going to start or what play we're going to call is Kevin's call. But that's Andrew's call. He made the call. who asked him that why did he why did he feel the need to share that information ocho nobody that's what unprompted so you dry snitching ain't nobody asked you what round did you think you was going to take shudu in why did you take nobody asked you that yeah and so he felt the need and i get it yes he's the owner but it's like i'm like bro if y 'all felt if you feel this way about should do her why y 'all still got the man because it seems like every time i turn around ocho somebody trying to take a dig at him yeah well i i got i got a question i have a question for

36:32Joe Johnson:the chat and uncle joe i'm not sure if y 'all know how long has jimmy has been with the cleveland browns a long ass time a long time so since 2000 the cleveland browns have 35 different starting quarterbacks in 2000 35 different starting quarterbacks but now you're going to take it upon yourself to say that Jadour Sanders wasn't your pick. And that's probably why it's going to work. Because you had no dealings in him being drafted. Watch how God work. Watch how God work. What about all them other picks you had? Who picked with they? His? Hey, listen. He never came out before and said this before about anybody else.

37:13Joe Johnson:Never. Hey, when I look at it, when I look at it, Uncle Ocho, I just like how the young man going about himself, man, Shador. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like, if there's no better way to go about this, then keep your head down and keep working, bro. I think he's been doing a phenomenal job at that. Obviously, I think everybody's been keeping up with what's been going on in Cleveland. I know I have. And he looks comfortable out there, first and foremost. And he looks like he's still enjoying the game, man. And I think this is just more, you know, fuel to the fire as opposed to it's going to help him out throughout the regular season or throughout his season or throughout his NFL career in general.

37:58So I understand what the owner said. But I think Shadu is doing an awesome job with all this that's going around. And you can see he's in the community. Not only is he in the community, but he looked like he's playing his butt off. Now, I don't know how much in it is way with, you know, what he's been doing in, you know, in OTAs and offseason and camp and all that. But, I mean, man, our test don't lie, bro. I know, you know, they ain't out there hitting or nothing like that. But he looks comfortable out there. Yeah.

38:29Shannon Sharpe:Well, it's really hard for me to say because from everything that I read, he gets one or two reps with the first team. Well, one or two reps, period. And that's it. It's reported that his dad wanted to come to camp. just like he went to Tampa. He said, nah, Dad, I might get three or four reps. He said, I'm not where I want to be. But if being reported is true, but once I get to where I want to be, come on up then. But I don't get this. That was an Andrew Barry's pick. And just like the guys that play, that's such and such. So all these quarterbacks that y 'all had, and I mean you had Baker so who's pick was Baker and Baker you know Baker had had a had a decent and he got injured and for whatever reason you know Baker's telling the story they wanted him to you know turn tone it down a little bit and wouldn't let him be himself and you see Baker is like himself in Tampa and he's thriving now does he have a better collection of wide receivers around him in Tampa than he had in Cleveland yes he does he he does there ain't no sense in us trying to fool him, saying he has the same level of skill position players around him, because he doesn't.

39:42Shannon Sharpe:He just doesn't. But I don't get why Jimmy Haslam felt the need to take this shot at Shador. Oh, if you'd have told me we'd have been going to take him, I was like, that's not going to happen. Whatever he said. Why? I mean, why did he feel the need to say that, Ocho?

39:59Joe Johnson:Listen, you know what they're trying to do? You know what they're trying to do? Trying to break his confidence? Trying to break him. They used the draft. Okay, we're trying to break him. we're gonna make him wait okay now he's here he's doing everything he's supposed to do doing everything he's supposed to do plus the extra then okay how can we break him now he's out here playing very well i told you i told you i ain't wanting hey listen my ears over there now my ears my ears and asses over there i don't need to be there to see in here stay with me now so what do we do now he's playing well he's got the offense down he's not making too many mistakes he's throwing touchdowns whether he's running with the one to two, three or the fours.

40:37Joe Johnson:So what do we do now? The owner has to come and try to break him again. Break his spirit a little bit. Oh, I ain't wanting. I just want y 'all to know. I ain't wanting. That's an Andrew Barry pick. But listen, but why though? Is it because of what they may seem to be as flamboyant in college because he wore the jewelry, he wore the ice. Yeah, it's just part of who he is, man. It's just part of his swag. That's how he grew up. Hey, really, Joe, honestly, that's all the collegiate athletes coming out of college this year. They got money. They got a little bread. All of them.

41:11Shannon Sharpe:They got a little bread. And so it seems like to me a weak attempt. The guy's already, look, I know people you say, hey, you maintain confidence, but when you're not getting any run and you're used to like, I'm a prime example of that. I used to call my brother. I said, man, I ain't getting no run today. All he said is just be ready. He said, John Elway going to call your number. but make sure when he called your number, I'm like, man, you keep saying that. You said that yesterday. He didn't call my number. He said – I said you keep – I'm saying to myself, you keep saying that, but it ain't happening.

41:48And sure enough, but I'm like, I ain't got nothing but time.

41:52Shannon Sharpe:The way I looked at it, Joe and Ocho, is that as long as I'm here, I still got a chance. It's like when I'm no longer there, I don't have a chance to make the team. So as long as I can stay, the longer I stay, because guess what? I'm going to do something. Y 'all going to put me somewhere, and I'm going to flash something. Yeah. Oh, yeah. I'm going to make a block. You're going to put me on special teams. I'm going to do something that you say, you know what? That kid from Savannah State, he too big, too strong, too fast, not for us to find a place. but hey, create a job for me. Right. We ain't hired.

42:34Joe Johnson:The funny thing about it is all the turmoil, all the negativity, whether it's coming from the Cleveland media, whether it's coming from the owner Jim Hazlum and saying he wasn't my pick, when that preseason starts and he gets his opportunity, the cream is going to rise to the top no matter what. Because you're good at doing one thing. He's good at playing football. Yes. He's good at playing football. He's been a winner from Jackson State to goddamn Colorado, and now you're in a different environment, and that journey starts all over again, even with the enemy that's right in your backyard against you.

43:10Shannon Sharpe:Yeah, sometimes that's really hard to overcome, Ocho, when it seems like the people rooting against you that's right there. I mean, I thought we was all in this thing together. It don't seem like it.

43:25Joe Johnson:I tell you who on the side, though. I tell you what I said, when that goddamn stadium started rooting, started screaming for Shadour, when that goddamn dog pound started going crazy and them chants started shouting for Shadour when things ain't going right with the Browns, all right. I guarantee you. Now watch how it play out.

43:45Shannon Sharpe:I just hope he's around long enough for those said things to happen. Yeah. Because think about it, Ocho. You know, you signed Joe Flacco, 18 years. Well, you know he's not. He's year 18. He's not your answer long term. You re-signed Kenny Pickett hoping that he got a little hamstring tweak. So now basically it's Dylan Gabriel and Shadour. But it seems like Flacco and Gabriel and Flacco getting all the reps. That's what it appears to me from what I read. Now, I'm not following it that close because, you know, put all that time in there and guys that you're watching they're not going to be there so as they get to the preseason Ocho we get a game or two and so we'll get a better understanding a better feel like okay this kid you know get an opportunity to see them guys play like okay he can play because I want to see guys play against somebody playing somebody else just trying to make a team also right you don't know you y 'all don't walk off the field talking hey man hey you know what what you're going to do tonight or, you know, what you, what, you know, such and such.

44:52Shannon Sharpe:Hey, I want to see you go against another guy in another color uniform. That's in the same situation that you are. He's trying to, he's trying to live out his fantasy. He's trying to live out his dream. He's trying to make sure his mom and his grandma, and if he has a kid or a girlfriend or significant other, he's trying to make sure they're taken care of just like you. but this i i i'm shocked by what jimmy haslam had to say because nobody asked him nope right this was something that you probably should have asked out your after the draft you asked you asked this okay so what was your thought process taking should do it in the fifth round oh you know they they said the grade they had on him the grade they had is the grade they had so that's what you're like well hey we felt that you know we had this grade on him and we felt that he might be there.

45:41Shannon Sharpe:So we said now, between rounds four and five, if he's there, we're going to grab him. Okay, but that's a day after the draft. That's two days at best, worst case. That's a week after the draft. Ocho, the draft was in April.

45:58Joe Johnson:Makes no sense.

46:00Shannon Sharpe:The draft was in April, and here we are. That's May, June, July. That's three months. And we're talking about that's an Andrew Barry pick?

46:09Joe Johnson:Yeah, and listen, I could understand if your decision-making in the past, as if you're the goddamn quarterback

46:16Shannon Sharpe:whisperer, I just keep coming

46:17Joe Johnson:out and saying something like that and being confident about it like you just been golden when it came to picking quarterbacks. The last 35 were your picks, and none of them worked. So probably this one that you had nothing to do with, that

46:31Shannon Sharpe:might be the answer. If you Green Bay, y 'all got Brett Favre, then you get Aaron Rodgers, now you got Jordan Love. I would say, well, you know what? Hey, Ocho, Joe, he might be on to something. Right, right, right. They're about to have 50 years of prosperity at the quarterback position, but when you've had 35 years of turmoil and chaos at the quarterback position, with the exception of maybe a year or two here or there, you got one year of Derek Anderson, you got a couple years with Baker, but other than that, let's be realistic now. Come on, Browns. and should do it strikes me as a guy you know when them lights come on Uncle Ocho I feel like he gonna perform at the highest level you know what I mean like he gonna put on you know what I mean that's the type of guy he strikes me as so man I'm gonna be paying attention to them Browns see what's gonna happen now they got four quarterbacks over there right what they gonna do Uncle Ocho I don't see a team keeping four quarterbacks a part of me A part of me hope they, like, try to put him on the practice squad and somebody comes signing.

47:36So they'll carry three quarterbacks and put one on the practice.

47:40Shannon Sharpe:That's too many positions because the quarterbacks don't play special teams. So you got to – because there's only 46 guys, those spots are valuable. Normally you're carrying a guy, a wide receiver, that could – you know, he can play multiple positions. He can play the X. He can play the Z. He can play the slot. And he plays special teams. Same thing with a linebacker. Same thing with a swing offensive lineman. He can play guard. He can play tackle. Okay. So that's what you're looking at. I'm looking at guys that can play multiple positions. Because if I get somebody to go down, what can a quarterback do?

48:14Shannon Sharpe:It's our quarterback.

48:18Shannon Sharpe:Maybe you hope maybe in high school, Ocho, he punted or kicked or something. But for the most part, if you're going to keep somebody extra, is going to be a wide receiver, a DB, somebody that can play special teams. That's why they say, hey, special teams is the quickest way to earn a place on the roster. Unless you want to be top. Now, you top dog. I mean, we get that. You Joe Burrell or Chase or somebody like that, Lamar. We get that. But guys that are not, that are not actually starter, that when, hey, one's up, he runs on the field. And when it's fourth down, he comes off the field and he ain't got to stay out there for punt.

48:59Shannon Sharpe:special team, the more you can do, the longer you can play. The more you can do, the longer you can play. But I didn't like this at all. Because like I said, here we are three months in, Ocho, and this man talking about that's an Andrew Barry pick.

49:15Joe Johnson:You're trying to break him up. It's all mind games. They are.

49:18Shannon Sharpe:They are. They are.

49:19Joe Johnson:All mind games.

49:20Shannon Sharpe:They did what they did. They were like, we're going to show you. We're going to show Coach Prime. you know they talk about you know the Mannings and everybody looked at the Mannings and Eli did what he did and you know Arch and you know so forth and so on they're like nah you're not gonna do that we're gonna show you do we're gonna start it right here and then we're gonna take it a little further we're only gonna give you a handful of reps hmm he's making them how long hey if I'm trying to break it they say they put you in solitary Ocho because they say, you know, we used to communicate it. And when there's no one to communicate to, when all you can do is hear your heartbeat.

50:01Shannon Sharpe:And the only communication is going on in your own head.

50:05Joe Johnson:And you know what? That could be a good thing. Sometimes they put people in solitary confinement, right? And it does it more good than harm because it gives you too much time to think.

50:15Shannon Sharpe:Yeah, I want to be in solitary away from you. Sorry, Mopos.

50:20Joe Johnson:Yeah,

50:22Shannon Sharpe:I want to be in solitary, Ocho because I want to be away from you. Sorry, Mobo. Some of y 'all might rub off on me. Hey, look. I think he definitely locked in, though. You can see it, bro. You can see it. Well, he really doesn't have a choice. I think Tyme has done a great job. Tyme dealing with what he's dealing with. Because think about it now. That's still Tyme's son. But in the meantime, I've got to deal with what I've got to deal with. I've got something gravely going on with me. And I got two sons that – because the only coach that Shadou has ever had has been Ty. Yep. He's only on the play for his dad.

51:02Shannon Sharpe:Mm-hmm. Played for his dad in high school and coming up he coached him in Pop Warner. Ty used to take them kids all over the place. They play Snoop Dogg. They ended up playing Snoop Dogg when – because Ty and I went to the hall together. They played all up in Texas. They coming. And they driving playing other teams. I think they played while they was up there in Canton. So that's the only coach you've ever had. And now my dad, because think about it, man. My dad dealing with something. I don't know what's really going on. Because Tom said, you know, I really didn't let the boys know what was really going on.

51:38Shannon Sharpe:Because they got to focus on that. The last thing is to let your mind wander, Ocho. You know when you're in camp, hey, I'm here. That's what I tell. When you're here, you've got to be here now. Now, when you're over there, deal with whatever you've got to deal with over there and don't worry about here. But when you're here, you've got to be here. And so I think Tyne did a great job of shooting him, not telling them the extent of what's really going on with him so he can stay locked in, especially we know how hard the quarterback position is to play Ocho. The last thing you need is to be worried about, man, Pops.

52:14Shannon Sharpe:man, Sam, Pops really messed up right now, man I ain't getting no burn Pops messed up on a trip and saying all kind of crazy stuff man, it's a lot like I said, you don't know what a person's going through, you don't know you try to compartmentalize, when I'm here Joe Ocho, I'm here and when I'm done, I'll deal with whatever I need to deal with off the field I'll deal with that then Man, I can bring work home, but I can't take you to work. And that's how it is. You can't because they tell you, oh, yeah, there's more important things than sports. They lying. They say that for the public. Oh, yeah.

53:04Shannon Sharpe:No, no, no, no, no. When you play a professional sport, Ocho, they make it abundantly clear. Oh, yeah. The most important thing is that sport. That's it. Yeah. So, Shadour, keep your head up. Keep plugging away, boy. Do your thing. You built for this. You are built for this. Yes, sir. Daryl Morey also felt the need to talk about the Lakers 2020 title today. Morey said, had the Rockets won the title, I absolutely would have celebrated as legitimate, knowing the immense effort and resilience required. Yet everyone speaking around the league probably agrees that it doesn't truly hold up as a genuine championship.

53:43Shannon Sharpe:perhaps the lasting legacy of the nba bubble is that the nba should be proud of its leadership at both the beginning and the end of the pandemic even through the champion will forever be marked by an asterisk there are more you should be last one to talk after what you almost blew up by saying what you said about china and you got your buses you got your butt up out of there Now see, everybody talks about, well, it's an asterisk because you didn't win it. Now you just said, I absolutely would have celebrated as legitimate. Right. Knowing the immense effort and resilience that it took to do it.

54:21Yeah.

54:22Shannon Sharpe:But now because you didn't win it. It's an asterisk. It's an asterisk by it. So is there an asterisk by the strikes short year? What year? That was 99. Yeah. 99. The lockout year? Strike short. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. What about 2012? 2012 was a strike short. Didn't y 'all, didn't y 'all, wasn't y 'all short in 2012, Joe? Yeah, yeah. And, uh. Oh, he don't ask me about that one, huh? Yeah, he put that ass shit by that bubble. But I honestly think. Because he didn't win. Absolutely. But I honestly think, I didn't think it was an advantage to anybody playing in the bubble. You know what I mean?

55:02Like, I wouldn't put no ass shit by it. you know because nobody no team it's probably harder joe yeah that's what i'm saying i'm saying no i don't know if it was harder neither i don't feel like because you took away a lot of the elements of traveling planning altitude environments things of that sort like we all right here no

55:20Shannon Sharpe:fan no what about you couldn't go nowhere yeah i mean i know i know that's hard i knew that was hard you know i'm saying i'll tell you what i would do i'll tell you what i would do joe i'm I'm going to put you in your house for 100 days, and all you can do is go to your backyard and come home. You can't do nothing else. How much money am I making? Whatever the playoffs pay you. Okay, so I made – oh, you're saying just the playoffs. Yeah, because that's what they get. They don't get no extra money to make it with the playoffs. Yeah, hey, hey, look. I wasn't locked – obviously, you know, I played in CBT.

55:54It wasn't nowhere near as being locked in for 90 days or however many days those guys were locked in. I played in the TBT and it was a quarantine environment. We was locked in a hotel for like seven, about ten days. So, I know the challenges that the dudes had to go through. But I'm saying, I don't think it should be an asterisk. Like, I think everybody was... No, absolutely not. Yeah, no, I think everybody... Think about the pandemic

56:20Shannon Sharpe:itself, Joe. Yeah. People were losing their mind. They couldn't go nowhere. Oh, Joe. Yeah. You couldn't go to a... You couldn't go sit inside a restaurant or you couldn't go to a club or you couldn't do... Now, I don't know how it was in some places, but I happened to be in Cali at the time. And when I say Cali shut it down, Cali shut it down. Now, I know Georgia shut it down for a week. Florida shut it down for 10 days. Georgia wasn't shutting down, but they were getting two of that out here. You hear me?

56:49Joe Johnson:Go ahead, Ocho. Listen, it was easy for them, especially during that time. It was easy for the people that don't actually, that don't be outside. I didn't go anywhere anyway so when the pandemic happened listen, I chose that time to catch up on some stuff Netflix, movies I hadn't seen I would tweet, what should I watch hell, I didn't see The Wire you know was I playing during that time? I think I might have been playing, I forgot what year it was I had never seen The Wire, huh? The people told me to watch The Wire I watched Ozark I caught up on it I caught up on all types of stuff on Netflix That was good.

57:25Joe Johnson:I had a bunch of cigars with me. You know, I had my little coffee machine. Hell, I didn't need to go nowhere. Everything I needed was right here. And then I got my game.

57:32Shannon Sharpe:Hey, but look, though. And he's talking about, yeah, everyone else. Go ahead, Joe. Go ahead. Do y 'all think that the COVID times, it really changes? Because think about this. You know, you had your homeboys or your friends talking about they want to come over. You don't know where they done been. You're like, hold on. Now, you can't come over. No, bro. You know what I mean? And then, since it's been over, a lot of us are still kind of knuckle up.

57:58Shannon Sharpe:hey how you doing bro right yeah yeah yeah even still now to this day like that yeah daryl morris said yeah everyone i speak to around the league probably agreed that it truly doesn't hold up as a genuine championship so did you ask people around the league what they thought about what you said about china asking what they genuinely think about how you almost blew it up right right oh you know why let me tell you why that because lebron james won it anybody any other superstar had a won that championship joe johnson you and i both know it'd have been legit it was because lebron james won it it ain't legit you think that's why a lot of people put that action yeah yes absolutely michael kobe larry magic it's death anybody else and that's what i asked i said okay y 'all say well because you said that lebron came to la to be a 6 '8 kevin hart he came to be a move he came to win an oscar as opposed to a larry o 'brien trophy okay he comes out here, he plays, he wins.

59:20Shannon Sharpe:Now, so what's the debate? Had anybody else done that? I say, now, y 'all say that's what he did. I say, now, oh, man, Jordan was past this prime. Jordan, I say, let me ask you a question. Had Jordan won the NBA title, would y 'all say he won seven, or would he have just won six? Come on now. Y 'all said y 'all gave him seven. Yeah. But because he didn't win, oh, he wasn't even trying to win. Yes, he was. Everything Jordan Tech was serious. The reason why they did it like this is because LeBron won. Had anybody else won, they're not calling it a bubble championship. They're not calling it and saying an asterisk needs to be added.

1:00:02Shannon Sharpe:They wouldn't do it. Even Daryl Morey is trying to diminish the man. I guarantee you take it. I guarantee you take it. You need to worry about Philly. That's what you need to do. All that money. I tell you what. Pull another season like you had this year and see what happened to you.

1:00:21Joe Johnson:He the owner, though. What they going to do to him? He the general manager. He ain't no owner.

1:00:25Shannon Sharpe:Josh Harris is the owner. You think they'll fire him? Have another... Boy, you see that money he done gave out? It's a Mr. Playoffs? Somebody going to have to go owe Joe. They still owe... Yeah! They still owe Joe Ellenby damn near$300 million. Damn! They owe a gave Tyrese Max a max deal. They got Paul George on the Max deal.

1:00:49Joe Johnson:Maxie, nice. If Paul knee or ankle, whatever it is, if he come back healthy, they're going to be all right.

1:00:55Shannon Sharpe:Knees don't get healthy as you get older. I think he just had another procedure too.

1:01:02Yeah.

1:01:04Joe Johnson:Hey, I wish I could give all them boys my limbs and legs, man, and arms and Achilles and knees. I just, damn, man. I hate seeing people get injured, man. It sucks, boy. Who asked him this?

1:01:21Shannon Sharpe:Everybody just feel like they're in a really talkative mood today. Everybody was in a really talkative mood today, Ocho. Yeah. Bro, it's 2025. They just got the new package. Amazon just got$77 billion,$76 billion. Amazon got a package. NBC got a package. ESPN got a package. They about to make money out of the yin-yang. And you talking about 2025? Yeah. Why? Yeah. I promise you, nobody in the history of the game has received more criticism than LeBron James. And it's crazy. For what? Because he, no matter what you thought about him, you said, man, I think he's going to be good. He's exceeded all expectations.

1:02:11Shannon Sharpe:No matter what you thought he might be. He's exceeded everything. People say ain't nobody going to break Kareem's record because, first of all, you're not going to play long enough and you're not going to be consistent enough. He did that. Man, ain't nobody going to get no 19 all-star games. He got 21. Man, ain't nobody going to be no all-NBA all those times. He got 21. 13 first teams. But I just don't get it. Man, listen. He go. Ocho, y 'all know when you've been at the top for so long, they got to start picking at you, bro. They got to start picking at you. It's just kind of a part of it. And that's just kind of what it seems like because, like you said, I agree with you.

1:02:57He's exceeded expectations. I'm talking about since the time he came into the NBA at, what, 18, 19 years old, man. All the expectations they put on him, he exceeded it. That's crazy.

1:03:10Shannon Sharpe:Yes. Yeah. There's not a whole lot of 18-year-olds get handed the keys to a franchise. Oh, man. 18. 18. No college, no dominant male. I mean, I guess the dominant male figures would be his coach, Coach Drew. Yeah. They don't hand the keys to a franchise, to an 18-year-old. Yeah. That's what he did. That's what they gave him. That's crazy. that's what they gave him i mean it's almost like well my favorite player didn't play that long he should just go why i guarantee you if your favorite player could play at the level that he's playing at he'd have stayed absolutely kobe body broke down on him he had the shoulder towards labrum and he had the achilles injury and he was just he had given it all he got and you You know what?

1:04:05Shannon Sharpe:Kobe was that Mercedes that had 500 ,000 miles on it, and it just pulled out of the road, and it just stopped. Damn. You don't think, Jordan, if Jordan could have still played at that elite level, you don't think he'd just continue to play? Of course. We all would. He playing right now? Of course. They're mad at the man that's taking care of his body for this long. Lord is blessed and beyond blessed, and he's able to play at an elite level. even in year 22. That man averaged 24-8-8. In year 22. In 40. Everybody else the average. I don't even think anybody did. Anybody averaged 22, the average double figures.

1:04:45Shannon Sharpe:In 40. In year 22. Well, considering that only Vince Carter played the 22, 22 seasons.

1:04:52Joe Johnson:Oh, that's crazy.

1:04:54Shannon Sharpe:I mean, think about that, man. And we just try – and people just try to find things to nitpick and to pick them apart. Mm-hmm. I just I'll just never understand why why I mean he's going to be gone and then you know eventually KD eventually Steph we'll have new guys and then what that's when he'll be missed the most somebody else will take his place

1:05:26Joe Johnson:somebody else that they're going to love to hate

1:05:31Shannon Sharpe:I don't know there's never been anybody before or since him that's been like this nobody I defy you to find it even if you look at the bad boy Pistons nope they didn't dislike them like they disliked this man I agree I think when he hangs it up everybody's gonna miss him cause what he's done for the game yeah Yeah. When you're teeing off and your clients are watching, it's on. When the game goes to overtime and your squad is right there with you, it's on. When you swap out that other nicotine pouch for something softer and feel the difference right away, it's on. On Plus Nicotine Pouches with Nico Silk Mesh.

1:06:16No corners, no rough edges, just the softest pouch on the planet. When there's nothing between you and what's next, it's on with On Plus Nicotine Pouches. Not all varieties available in all geographies. Warning, this product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.

1:06:31Shannon Sharpe:Ice Cube's Big 3 season has come down to this. The Big 3 Championship is coming to Charlotte. Who will be crowned the Big 3 Season 9 champion? Plus the Big 3 All-Star Game. The biggest names in the game. All on one court, one more time. Two games of the most physical, competitive, and non-stop three-on-three action. The game played the way you love. Watch live Saturday on CBS at 1 p.m. Eastern, 10 a.m. Pacific. And catch replays Monday on BET. presented by iHeart. Oh, yay, yay. If you're a lineman in charge of keeping the lights on, Grainger understands that you go to great lengths and sometimes heights to ensure the power is always flowing, which is why you can count on Grainger for professional-grade products and next-day delivery so you have everything you need to get the job done.

1:07:21Call 1-800-GRAINGER, click grainger.com, or just stop by. Granger, for the ones who get it done.

1:07:55Shannon Sharpe:since 1822. Warning, this product is not a safe alternative to cigarettes.