PMS 2.0 1551 - Live From NFL HQ with Mark Butterworth, Chris Paul, Peter Schrager, Kirk Herbstreit, Roger Goodell, PK Subban

19:48Pat McAfee:That's horse poop, D-Butt. That's because you DBs got all mad about that. And then who was in here before you? Alberta? Was it Mr. Riveron? Well, it was, yeah, Allen, then Russell Yerick. Boo! All right. Thank you for your service to the game, boys. Thank you for your service to the game, boys. I understand what you're doing. But it felt like the pass interference one, they were trying to make it a miserable experience so that we could get rid of the rules. You were a part of it, I guess, because you're here for 27 years. Didn't it feel like that? Like, hey, we don't want this to be a reviewable thing because it is so subjective?

20:20Pat McAfee:It felt like there was a little bit of maybe personal pushback from the officials on that potentially being there because it's such a close call? Is that real or no? So as a replay official, I went through that season where we did have pass interference, and it needed to rise to the standard that it was clear and obvious that it didn't happen one way or another. My final game that year was a wild card game in New Orleans, of all places. Tight play at the back of the end zone. It was just big man, little man. There was no pass interference there. So hold on. So me saying that you guys were getting him wrong on purpose, you're saying we got him right.

20:53Pat McAfee:That's what you're saying. I like that. I like what you just said. I like that you have confidence in the lads. I like that the decisions that you make, you have faith in. And whenever we get upset about it, that's just something you have to sit in, I guess. Like, hey, that's just a job that you kind of have to take? Correct. And, Pat, you have to remember, we have the best officials in the world on the field. We have the best replay officials in the world in the booth. We want to train up our staff so that their judgment. And you have to remember, the officials on the field, they see it one time real speed.

21:16We can slow everything down here. Broadcast can slow it down. We can look at different angles. We want to make sure officials are in their proper position to make that proper judgment call.

21:25Pat McAfee:Tom Diggs, who has an AP vote, has a question for you, Mr. Butter. Yeah, I do, Mr. Butter. Do you guys have audio, game audio, when you're looking at any of this? or have you listened back to Starator and been like, Gene, you really screwed us on this one. The way that you were explaining this really screwed us. I assume that doesn't come into play at all while you're making the call, but have you ever had any conversations with those refs that are on the TV booth or TV copy to talk to them about maybe what they didn't see or saw wrong or anything like that? So our three screens at the front of the room, we have every game that's live.

21:55We have it up on those screens. We actually switch the audio between when we have a referee announcement or a team challenge. We're actually communicating with our broadcast partners real time to let them know what we're doing so they're the most informed when they come on the air.

22:12Pat McAfee:Yeah, because whenever they counter whatever you do, not good for the game. Correct. So I always talk about it's like dealing with my wife. I explain to her why I did something. She may not agree with it, but at least she knows why I did it. Can you let these people know why we made this decision? And obviously, you talk about doing something. If you get 100 right. Oh, if there's 100 plays, we nail 99 in that last play. And there's a little shade of gray. And people are going to be so upset. Yes, certainly. It's a thankless job. Welcome to the club, Mr. Byron. Welcome to the business. Life of a DB.

22:42Pat McAfee:That's the business. Life of a DB, punter, kicker. I mean, we can start going down the line. You're a professional. You've earned your way here. We can't wait to follow along with the season with you. And I wish you would have got the power from Clause 19. But I'm happy we don't have replacement refs, so maybe someday we'll get to that. Thank you for your service to the league. Thank you for your service to the ball. And thank you for the hospitality here in this beautiful Art McNally game day central, sir. Pat, you're welcome anytime. Where are you from, Ohio? Canton, Ohio. Wow. That's a beautiful thing.

23:12Pat McAfee:Appreciate you, Mr. Butter. Ladies and gentlemen, that's Canton, Ohio's finest, Mr. Butter. Hey, Butter. Thank you. You can put that right there. Confirmed the NFL hates the Bills. Well, yeah. yeah keeping them up at night hey so oh just quick follow-up here quick follow-up interception d but d but just said that because the two calls uh that keep you up at night are both against the bills uh that it is confirmed that this room does hate the buffalo big would you like to make a statement it goes chiefs oh yeah yeah okay yeah don't do that that you cannot do what you just did not funny butter oh yeah butter just said that's not on the air right yeah okay that is i do appreciate a super competitive yeah you know what off air when i brought up the var thing he was like ah that's tough and it's like oh you know about this it's like oh yeah he definitely does they're trying to be the best replay system you know in the entire world set the standard they've certainly invested in it here and uh we're very grateful and thankful okay let's pivot away from the nfl aj let's go to the nba which has been absolutely spectacular throughout this playoff series.

24:19Pat McAfee:Obviously, there's been some sweeps. There's been teams getting some rest, but there's also been electricity from beginning to end. Ladies and gentlemen, the man who's been joining us through it all, friend of the program, icon, 12-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA, seven-time All-Defense. Ladies and gentlemen, Chris Paul. Chris! Seven, yeah, that's the first time. I think you're muted. I don't know if it's on your side or on my side. Yeah, I can't. There he is. Seven times. Seven times. But then second team, so you're nine-time all-defense, 12-team all-star, 11-team all-NBA, and a man who's been spectacular for us on this program through the playoffs.

25:02Pat McAfee:We appreciate the hell out of you. Let's dive right into this. CP's top three of what's going on in the playoffs right now. Chris, I love what the Spider-Man is doing for Cleveland over there against the Stones. Donovan wouldn't be denied. Tell me about him cooking last night. And also, I think he said some things that are going to be memable about somebody being able to guard him or not. Love everything about it, Chris. Tell me a little bit about Donovan and your thoughts on the Cavs. I mean, when you watch the game last night in the first half, Donovan had a tough time getting going early, right?

25:34It looked like Detroit had it going. Don put 39 up in the second half. That's tough. But if you know Don, he just wasn't going to let his team lose. You can see him trying to get everybody involved early. but 39 in the second half. I think this is the most what in a half, right? Tied, yep.

25:52Pat McAfee:Yeah. Yeah, that's tough. That's tough. Yeah, I mean, just a buzz sauce. Anytime you're the Stones and Foxy, I haven't even got a chance to chat with you about this. I mean, just getting absolutely steamrolled there for a while with nothing to celebrate. Zero on the board as the other team just continues to fill up the bucket. Are the Stones fans going to be able to survive this Donovan Mitchell onslaught? Foxy, what's going on in Detroit? We'll be okay. As Chris Paul told us, I think the very first time he was on here, you've got to rely on your superstars to win you some games. So the first game the Cavs won, James Harden cooked in that game, and then now it's 2-2.

26:28We have Donovan Mitchell cooking in this one, so everything will be A-OK. We're going back to Detroit. It's Cade Cunningham and Jalen Durant time out there.

26:36Pat McAfee:I love that Cade. Go ahead, Chris. I was going to say, you know what I think? hurt Detroit in that game. I think they only had two of their starters score in double figures. Right? So, that's hard in those games, especially playoff games. You're going to need everybody to be better. And I think Jalen Duran is definitely going to have to be better in order for them to have a chance. AJ, you believe in the Cavaliers? AJ, is that what you're doing right now? I do believe in the Cavs, especially now. I think if, like, Chris, you could tell me, are Pistons fans and Pistons players, are they, I don't know, now the series is tied up, like, does that change their mentality now, thinking like, alright, now Are we not pressed, but I don't know, maybe some players?

27:14Does it change anything for them? I don't think it changes, but what I said once upon a time on here was that when you win a playoff game, you feel like you're never going to lose. When you lose one, you feel like you're never going to win. So Cleveland obviously has to feel good going into Detroit, but you're going back home. You know, Detroit, you're going back home to where you get to sleep in your bed. You get to be around your fans. You get to do your regular pregame routine. So Detroit probably ain't tripping too much.

27:38Pat McAfee:Yeah, and you get to hear the let's go stones. Let's go Stones. Let's go Stones. That's what you get to hear. Hey, James Harden said he doesn't do internet, which I respect and appreciate. I wish more people would be able to do that, myself included. After he goes crazy two games ago, he's asked afterwards, like, do you think that quiet of the chatter? He goes, what chatter? Didn't hear it. Kendrick Perkins said that his heart was spilled with Kool-Aid, not with blood, because of how he had been performing. Your thoughts on James Harden for this Cavaliers team and what his role kind of means to them going forward?

28:13Oh, man. You know, in our league, obviously, everyone says different things about the Internet and following this and that, and you never know. But I think, guys, you're very conscious of what's being said. I would say I always say a pair of lips would say anything. But you need to say that. You need to make sure everybody is as locked in as possible. Each guy on every team has whatever. You may try to stay off social media or whatnot, but you know to a certain extent because you can feel the energy with your teammates. You know, they're going to let you know if they need more from you or whatnot.

28:49But, you know, they got a really good team. James has been here before. Donovan has been here before, and they got to figure it out.

28:59Pat McAfee:I love Cavaliers this postseason. Home, 6-0, 118 points per game. Woo! That's a lot of points. What's the goal? What's the goal for points nowadays? Do you guys have that? For NFL, we have let's not give up 100 yards rushing. Let's score like 24 points. For special teams, there's like let's have at least a 35-yard drive. We have these goals going into the game that if we accomplish them, we'll win. Some teams, if you score 17 points against this team, you're going to win. For you guys going into each individual game, is there a number for each different game or is there a standard that you guys kind of look at in the NBA?

29:34That's a real good question, Pat. It's crazy. I think about how long I got a chance to play. When I first came into the NBA, I used to think like 25 points a quarter, you know, that's going to give you 100. But what started happening is now people scoring 130, people scoring 140. So it's more percentages, and it depends on how a team plays. There's so much analytics that go into a game now. It gets crazy being in the locker room, right? Like some of the sorriest teams in the league will have the best stats at something. you ought to hear some of the pregame talks in the locker room. You'll be playing against a team that's, you would gain 70 and ain't got the 12 wins.

30:12And your coach would be like, they're number one in the league and fast break points in the third quarter with three minutes left. Oh yeah. It's different stats. So at the end of the day, my, my stat, my biggest stat is win the game.

30:27Pat McAfee:Okay. One more point than the other team. Yeah. I like that. The goal for points is one more than the other team. That is kind of how we'll go. Okay. let's go to your next headline out of CP's top three SGA being MVP. You see, it's three letters, AJ, both of them, SGA and MVP. And we watched him do this shit last year. And it feels like he's back. And now he just retired a legend. Chris, I would like you to speak on all of these things. Okay. Obviously your LeBron take is certainly going to be a huge one on this particular day, but SGA doing what he's doing and how they play, they seem unbeatable.

31:00Pat McAfee:Actually, this is a wagon of all types of power. out of Oklahoma City, and you love SGA, it appears. Well, I mean, I got a chance to be a teammate of his and Luke Dorff, and Dagnar was actually my coach while I was there. We say this all the time. You're going to hear everybody say it on their shows. They just know how to play, and they play together. Jared McCain, I've known him since he was in high school. This is where people get messed up, is the NBA is about situations. Jared was in Philly just not getting an opportunity to play, but he's been the man since he was a young kid. So when he comes in these games and people see him making threes and playing the way, he's always trained like that.

31:41And Shea, as you see here, he built for these moments. But they really have a team. They celebrate each other's wins, and it's going to be really tough to beat them.

31:50Pat McAfee:And LeBron James is never playing basketball again? Whoa. That came out of nowhere, it feels like. The conversation yesterday after our show, and I should have been paying attention more was like, hey, we didn't even bring up the fact that this could be LeBron's last game tonight. I'm like, last game tonight? 10.30 on prime? We got to get swept. I don't, I hope not. This doesn't feel like how this is supposed to go. Is there ever a right time though? You know, like, is there ever a proper exit? He has said that he doesn't want to do the entire, you know, last trip around tour. He has said that publicly.

32:25Pat McAfee:I think he has earned that if that is what he wanted to do. What are your thoughts on trying to step away from the game when it's been your entire life and you've given so much and you're already playing the way you're playing as a 40-year-old. How much more can you do this? Yeah, it's tough. I think what he'll do is probably what he said. I think he said go talk to his family, evaluate it. I know when you get up to that age in 41 or whatever, he didn't show that he got the ability to still play at a high level, get himself ready for the games, but it's the mental aspect of it, right? even though you're grateful for the opportunity to play and do all these different things, there's a point where the off-seasons just get a little bit longer and the preparation for each game and the time away from your family is tough.

33:11It's tough. And so I guess we'll all be seeing what he decides. When you watch him play and you see what he's able to do at this age,

33:22Pat McAfee:does there not become something in his mind, though, where it's like, hey, maybe I do do this until I'm 50. Never would have guessed that I could still do this at this age. Why not do it till I'm 50 and just prove I'm the greatest professional athlete of all time? Like, that is – that's still possible, it appears. He's still high and high. I mean, he's – you know, he's everywhere somehow still with that. I pulled my hamstring, taking a dump of the spicy rigatone from Carbone at 4.30 this morning. You hear me? I'm 39. Chris, I'm 39 years old. I'm not proud of this. Okay, I'm not – huh? I'm 41. Could you handle the spicy rigatone from Carbone?

34:04Pat McAfee:The ZZ's club, you think, or you think you're pulling your hamstring getting up with the toilet at 4.30 a.m.? What do you think, Chris? Honestly, maybe you're a little better shape than me. I messed up my hamstring enough times. I'm cool. That's what I'm saying. He's 41, still doing it. This guy, you're not, the body, human body's not supposed to be doing this. And if that was it last night, bravo, buddy. Congratulations. What a run. What a run. What a run. From the Hummer in high school all the way through now, we've seen this dude do everything that he's ever done, basically. And obviously, there's been a couple wars that have happened because of things that he's said and beliefs that he's had.

34:40Pat McAfee:But I think anybody in the public eye is going to have that. I think that's going to happen, especially if you're growing up in front of everybody. And what a run. If that was it, I don't like it, first of all. I don't like that that was it. I don't like it, first of all. Just would like that on the record. But if it was, good for you, dude. What's that, D-Bot? It's got to end, you know, somehow, someway. There's no great ending. Yeah, it's at this point. Getting sweeped by Oklahoma City Thunder at 1 a.m. on fucking Prime. Is that the one? You remember the career, though. I'm going to remember that.

35:10Some will remember. Pat, I'll tell you right now, that's the last thing that's on his mind, right, is that. And I'm telling you, like, some of y 'all, like, Pat, I know you got a little girl, right?

35:21Pat McAfee:Yeah. So in having family and kids and for him giving 23 years of his life to this game, training, off seasons, missing, you know, so much. And so many other people have done it in other fields. Don't get me twisted. But there's a time where you just sit back and you evaluate. You know, Ronnie's obviously in the league playing. Bryce is at Arizona, you know, getting ready for his sophomore year. You got Zuri playing volleyball and doing all these things. Like, there's life, too. And he also started chasing that little white ball around. True. He started chasing that thing around. Yeah, he started chasing that thing around.

36:00Pat McAfee:Imagine if he figures out tempo. Challenge Blocky at the PGA Championship maybe in two years. Whoa, whoa, easy. How do you feel about Michael Blocking a – whoa, D-butt. D-butt. What did you say? I missed it. Plus$500 ,000. Throw$10 on him. Yeah, I'll take it. blocky is currently plus 500 000 to win the pga championship this weekend obviously that is some of the largest odds that you'll ever see on anything and in my history with blocky that guy brings electricity maybe he does this for all of us but lebron picking up the sport of golf it's like this guy's retiring he's becoming a youtube golfer oh this guy's got to be done but also that's a huge decision we're watching it with aaron right now it's a huge decision to make to give up your life but obviously life keeps life and now let's get to your third headline Go ahead, AJ.

36:49Here we go, CP. Wemby's Spurs gotta have it tonight. What do you say? Man, that's gonna be a big game. It's a big game for that city, for the team, for the organization. I know Vic going out the way that he did last game with that flagrant foul. One thing about Vic is he loves the hoop. He loves to play. And so when that happened, I'm sure he owned his mistake. but seeing what Ant did in that second half last game in that fourth quarter was 16.6 for six. It's going to be a big time game tonight.

37:24Pat McAfee:Timberwolves offense in series versus Spurs. Wemby on the court, 15.2 average field goal attempts. 43 % of field goal attempts in the paint. Wemby on the bench, 11.4 average field goal attempt. 62 % in the paint. Shout out to Genius IQ, says Hembo. That means don't get near the paint when there's an alien flailing around down there. Okay, and how do you feel about him not getting suspended? What are your thoughts? Old school basketball is back, or are you like Darius and Gumpy who think, oh, because he's European, he gets away with it. If he was an American, this would certainly be a suspension of sorts.

37:57Pat McAfee:What are your thoughts on this ruling? Yeah, I don't think he should have got suspended or not. And, of course, people don't say I'm biased about it, but it's probably the first offense. Whether or not, it's been a rough series and all that. He got ejected. They lost the game. That was a penalty right there. I agree. Interesting. I agree. Thank you for saying that, Chris. Not interesting. You're an adult. You're an adult. Bring back tough basketball. That's not what Big Perk said. I mean, if your first crime is robbing a bank, you're going to do some time. Okay, he didn't rob a bank. This guy's played a game.

38:30He accidentally hit him with his elbow. He got shoved in the back the other night, too, and he didn't get a phone. You're acting real soft. Hey, Bo, some damage. What's that?

38:39Pat McAfee:And 7 '6", getting pushed around like a tumbleweed. Yeah, right. He's going to respond. If you're one of the 10 best players in the league, you should have like a chip or a trade-in card that says, I get to elbow a guy in the larynx if I want to. Exactly. The larynx is a pow. The other thing is tough is at his height, if he elbow anybody, it's over for you. Yeah, especially with – I don't know how they – They said it's the, what's the thing that they said built the pyramids? The A? Aliens? Maybe. Potentially. Rick Ross told me that in a song. It was awesome. Rick Ross just clearly stated that in a song, too, about, you know, who built the pyramids.

39:25Pat McAfee:It was incredible. I think Lane Kiffin said that, too. Well, I don't know if that's what Lane Kiffin said, but there were certainly some others. But what's that? It's a thing. It's an A thing. You used the old school. A-frame. A-frame, maybe. No. Catapult. Oh, you're talking about like one of those dollies like they have back in the day? What is he talking about? Yeah, what are you talking about? A wheelie. I'm just saying with how long his bicep thing. What is this? Long lever is a strong lever. My coach used to say that. Long lever is a strong lever. Boom. Like that elbow potentially has, I think like physics says, that that thing has more.

40:00Pat McAfee:Oh, my God. Because of how long the bones are. It's an accident. Big long bones out there. You know what I mean? That's what I'm saying. When I was watching the game and I saw it happen, they didn't even have to review it long. You knew he was getting ejected. Yeah, and he said he didn't know what that means. Chris Paul, it was rude that they said this. What does that mean? Watch him reach Harrison Barnes' head from sitting down. Come down here. Come down here. Come down here. Chris, I didn't like that they were saying it. I didn't like it one bit that they were saying it, but they were saying it.

40:31Pat McAfee:I feel obligated to tell you because I don't know how much you're on the internet. they said if Wemby would have done that with you wind yeah and it would have been nothing I think that's a benefit for you now on the flip side of that how many elbows have you gotten because of your size and how you play defense I assume there was a lot of you were eating elbows I assume that was a real thing and how do you avoid that while you're playing good defense in the NBA you can't avoid it you can't avoid it that's probably one of the things that probably made me the madest right because you you think about getting elbowed or whatnot like when you get elbowed in the nose or you get elbowed in the mouth like when you get elbowed in the mouth that was probably my biggest pet peeve in my career because then it was hard to eat like french fries and stuff like that for like a week or whatever of course french fries thank you yeah yeah that's that's that's my weakness french fries your weakness what do we like burgers we like dip them in ketchup yeah what is it we using ketchup and mustard?

41:32Pat McAfee:Fancy sauce? I'm definitely a french fry connoisseur. Yes. What's the best french fry? Who make the best fries? Yeah. What fast food is the best fries? Fresh out. McDonald's definitely. Crispy. McDonald's is fire. Shake Shack. Agreed. You ever been to a potato patch at Kennywood? It's called the patch now. Have you ever been to a potato patch at Kennywood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania? It's a number four theme park in the country voted on by really official people. Have you ever had the potato patch fries there? They're very good. Haven't been there yet, but I'd love to go try. They're actually having a French fry convention here in L.A.

42:10Shut up soon.

42:11Pat McAfee:Are you going and are you hosting? I should be hosting. Okay, let's talk about it. Twisty Doohus, the steak fries, the standard fries, what type of tater tots? Crinkle cut seasoned. Steak. Crinkle cut seasoned is fire. Bojangles, any of y 'all know about Bojangles? We know Bojangles. We know Bojangles. We've been down here in North Carolina. We've been to TST. We know Bojangles. We know fucking Bojangles. I got some wheat tea from Bojangles down there in North Carolina, about 130 degrees out there. I never had their fries, though. I think they got a little like Miami subseasoning. Yeah, 100. I got you.

42:54I got you on that one.

42:56Pat McAfee:Here's CP's top three recap. We appreciate you. You're the man. Ladies and gentlemen, bring the program. Hey, listen here, fellas. I appreciate y 'all, and I just want to send out prayers and stuff to my family, Ricardo Lewis, man. Sending you so much love and prayers, man. Love you. Yeah, we are, too. We appreciate the hell out of you doing that. Shout out to Ricardo, and nothing but positive vibes to your family and to Ricardo at this time. And thank you for joining us, Chris. You're the man. Appreciate y 'all, fellas, man. Ladies and gentlemen, Chris Paul. Hey, Chris. I believe his niece's husband, I do.

43:32Pat McAfee:Yep. So that's obviously positive vibes as much as we possibly can. Chris Paul on the all-defense team nine times, he's eaten so many. So many. He was a menace. Imagine how annoying it would be if he's guarding you. Yeah. He didn't. Remember, his shit was what? Like, ha, ha, ha. Right? Yeah. That was his. Yeah, it was. Like, his ha, ha, ha. Just like that. Yeah. Like, he was, like, pissed all the time. the steve kerr thing that's exactly what i think of him walking by steve kerr laughing and then just getting so mad and continuing on the fake you know who does you know who doesn't make me mad oh somebody that has the ability to call car bones to get us in a zz club somebody that's able to walk us down the street and show us where gary v actually is oh alexis uh hanging the guy that founded reddit shregs knows he's right here okay ladies and gentlemen the king of new york Emmy Award winner.

44:26Pat McAfee:A man who's going to be a part of the primetime coverage of the NFL schedule release on Thursday night. Live from the Art McNally. Game day central, ladies and gentlemen. Pierce Shaker. Pierce Shaker. Bruce couldn't get you in a car bone. Yes. I'm shocked. I am shocked. I'm going to say this. I'm going to say this with as much couth as possible. Bruce has done nothing for us. Shaker has done everything. What? that brucey brooks bruce put us on a train that retired okay the thing just stopped break the train was doing all right but no i do not have any pull at carbone like shrakes the king of new york does shrakes is the king of new york which is how we need to start talking i would like to let the world know a little bit of an update too i have uh tried to contact action brunson and i will be attempting to meet up with him yes to potentially travel to a different altitude as well man be careful please man what is that you talking about bam bam brosolini okay i have praised at the temple of the sun i have been to mecca i have been to the sets of tibet in 18 degrees he's gonna have you dragging in the hudson man i'll tell you what i'm a boogie board a crocodile only okay let's get right to uh schrager with nfl news as we we got i first want to just say I want the recap from last night I wasn't with you so but I'll get my side of it here you guys were in town you're on the west side ZZ's Club which is the private Carbone deal I got a hook up there my guy Danny Glazer is a member I said can you hook up my guy McAfee and his friends and sure enough you guys were set up in Mario Carbone I texted him one of the legends the guy who owns the whole and he was like I love that Pat is frequenting our restaurant i told him this i told mr carbone i said grazie no there was a guy named uh noah that was showing up around he had a nice suit a good uh good head of hair i would say hannah was our our waitress she was from london she's a tottenham fan she has a tottenham hotspur tattoo on uh on the back of her leg she's diehard so obviously we just immediately started talking shit about sports she was spectacular aaron the bartender heavy pores but delightful taste i mean the whole thing was nice saw some art from the metal and the walls I mean it was sushi down here best in the city flying in from Japan we got some wagyu coming in from like an action Bronson song I love this this is good that's all I thought last night is I've been disease ease at car bone anyways let's move along thank you for the connection oh come on you're the best and I think tonight by the way he's putting us into a spot we're gonna see a nice little New York make a wish going on through uh we appreciate you it's my greatest joy uh okay shrags big news right now obviously schedule release happening do you mccarthy's right over here yeah what's up thank you for this and i'm excited we're having this conversation right in front of you do you hate or love the like weak leaks of the schedules because i'm gonna let you know as a daily show host it's been hard to keep up with who the hell's where at what time who's leaking these do you think it's a part of it and do you love like i do the fact that the schedule release is now becoming another celebration of the football schedule i absolutely love that it is a tentpole item of the calendar year it goes from combine to free agency to draft to then schedule release and then you take a nice two months or whatever it is then we get back for otas and we go but i'll tell you pat these aren't leaks these are announcements what we're getting if we got an actual he's not if we got an actual thing that wasn't announced by one of the the actual broadcast partners i'd say that's good reporting that's a leak but we haven't gotten any that's actually confirmed that hasn't been announced in a big upfront and some splashy display okay so this is on purpose to turn this into a couple day little hey here's the appetizer here's the cabris with the the mushrooms we had a little pizza thing what actually it becomes the main dish for these upfronts like they're starting NBC and saying guess what we've got Mike Tirico here and here is our Sunday night opener and that's they're like tentpole for NBC for the entire fall calendar Fox did the same thing Fox did it as well there here's our Thanksgiving Day game and then to Amazon did theirs with here's Lions bill So as much as we love to talk about Jack Reacher or whatever else they have on like that is going is that not is Jack Is that not a great show?

48:48It's great. It's great. But that's Amazon right? So like that We love Jack the real tentpole is the NFL and we've got this and we're gonna roll it out and that's the main dish

49:00Pat McAfee:The Caprese salad is whatever else we have. Okay, I got it. And then Thursday night, primetime on ESPN, 8 p.m. The NFL live crew will basically be launching us into the next football calendar. Chiefs Broncos has been leaked as the Monday night football game, but we don't know what city it's in. Are we going to get brisket or marijuana? I cannot wait. Is it going to be Kansas City or Denver? That would be a good start to the season. Those guys usually go hand in hand. Well, risk it certainly can taste a little bit more delightful. Denver, obviously, fantastic fan bases. Monday night's going to have to hit.

49:34Pat McAfee:It's an interesting balance because the NFL has to keep all their partners happy. Obviously, they have a lot more partners now. It is literally being subject to investigation with how many partners they have because everybody wants to get into the NFL's game. But balancing good games is, like, pivotal for the entire league's success. They've been able to do that. And I think that is a massive thing that the NFL has over. Good schedule matters. But you better believe the competition of ratings and all that is great. but the competition of who got the best games is real amongst these networks. And it's, hey, what do you mean?

50:02You're going to give Amazon that? What are we going to get? Or, hey, you gave NBC Giants Cowboys? So this one's interesting to me. Obviously, we're ESPN, but they haven't announced where it is yet, which means by Thursday they will. And as I'm walking over here and we're in this awesome replay room, there's another conference room where all the schedule makers are still meeting at this very moment, and they're putting together the final touches, so it's not even done yet. Come on!

50:27Pat McAfee:It's Monday night football every week. Every week. Where are they? I need a night game for that suite. I've been investing$250 ,000 a year in that thing. We've only been in there one time at night. It was spectacular. Well, that's the team's fault. Hey, Tony, why don't you shut? Do you guys got a quarterback over there, Tony? How about that? Who's your quarterback? Yeah. Who's your quarterback? I was actually going to ask. It's going to be hard to put you guys on primetime. Nobody knows who your quarterback is. That's what I was going to ask. Do you think the league is pissed at Aaron because they can't put the Steelers on primetime yet because they don't know who their quarterback is going to be?

50:56Pat McAfee:Hey, fascinating thing. actually, because if Aaron was on the team, they would certainly be searching for primetime games, I think. Well, I think it's actually a real talking point. It starts when they start making the schedule. And I've talked to Mike North, who runs the whole thing several times over the years, that yes, every little piece matters. So is Rogers playing? We don't know. We're going to have to go with our best guess. But if he doesn't play, are they not equally intriguing to you? Like, is that not worthy? Mike McCarthy is worthy of primetime. I would think a Will Howard, at least for an early Monday night game, let's see what we have.

51:25But they have to weigh all that stuff. No, not at all. I don't think you want seven games.

51:29Pat McAfee:Here's a part of the process. We're allowed to get behind the scenes footage. We're very grateful for it. Shout out to barcode and ESPN crew for setting this all up, getting these shots earlier today. That's trying to match everything. Here's the front office, obviously the NFL office is playing, still playing NFL network back there. Kyle Brandt in a sweatshirt. Hey Kyle, he's part of the prime. It is on Thursday night with me cannot wait to see that corpo um to the fullest here these are the guys this is the scheduling team right here you see that's mike north with the long hair these are the folks working on it that's it right there they're in that room good luck in there boys that is being brother yeah i don't know i'm not 100 sure but we are very thankful for them getting at this this is not a live look but this was filmed about 45 minutes ago this is the brain trust and pretty jovial pretty jovial i assume there's some ai in there somewhere as well if we had to guess i like it's a tight room you know let's let's make sure that the vibes are are being heard as we're live here in new york city okay let's bounce around a little bit from the boys to get you all the nfl news that we possibly can zito could you please ask bristol to push to 102 here so we can really get all the shrader information that we can possibly get d but there's some video coming out of las vegas raiders camp with fernando mendoza i don't know if that's what you're trying to ask Shregs about, but I know you got something.

52:48Absolutely not. He did look great, though. Spending it, love seeing those throws in slow motion. They always play. But Shregs, I want to ask you, because I know as a player, I used to look at, you know, where are we playing and when? You know, weather games, the primetime games. That was the first thing I looked at as a player. What's the first thing you look at once the full schedule drops? I look at the miles that these teams have to travel. I remember one year, Tampa Bay had to go six straight road games, including a London trip, and Bruce Arians was losing his mind over the amount of miles that they had in the middle of the season that stuff matters and it's almost that like Seventh thing on the list, but how much are you going to be traveling?

53:23And then when you have these international games or these west coast to east coast games How long in between is there a Thursday night game waiting on the other end or is it a bye or a Monday night game? So to me, it's those long road trips and where you have it with all these international games to me It's like what's on the back end and what's before that because I need my body to heal and I want to be at my best

53:42Pat McAfee:Niners traveling twice internationally. Yes. That seems interesting. Obviously, Melbourne to start. And then Kyle Shanahan, not a fan of the first one, where they have to be starting the season over in Australia and also nine days ahead of time. Now, you said it's the best food you ever had. You felt like a million bucks. It was unbelievable. Coming back was a little bit of an adjustment. But remember, Kyle Shanahan wasn't happy. And then Roger Goodell did a press conference down there and said, Shanahan's going to have to shut up. That is basically what he said. But Kyle understands how important this is to football, and he's a coach.

54:13Pat McAfee:So coaches like routines. Coaches obviously would like to take care of his players. We think that they're going to do great here. I can't wait to see how that works out because if Australia is available, okay, you would think anywhere on earth is now available. Absolutely. If you can handle it, and we don't have a bunch of injuries out of this entire thing, feels like if that's a possibility, anywhere could be a possibility. Good for the game, especially with 18 games around the corner, and we don't want to push too much for information as the people that are probably going to have that information are literally sitting just a few feet away.

54:40Pat McAfee:Yeah. I would add this. On the Ref Association, when's the players' CBA getting done? Huh? We negotiating that already? Or let's get more? Hey, AJ, we should do a vote right now. Me, you, and Darius. Should the NFL just unload maybe$200 million to$300 million to former players? Yes. Aye. Aye. Shrags hates former players. No, he didn't want to do it. We knew he hated them. But it's crazy how much information and how many decisions have to be made in this building And like how much is on the line the reffing thing was crazy got done that getting done is insane We're so happy about that I thought we were miles away when we were at the league meetings less than two months ago, and they got it done Yeah, thank God this league's doing a pretty good aren't they?

55:26Well, it feels like they got a pretty figure I think I think in a world of tech and media right now that we're starting off all these upfronts this week and it's Netflix and it's Amazon and it's all these new partners but also the broadcast partners and they're showcasing the nfl as the central piece i think that's a sign of where football is in the greater landscape yeah i think so too shout the ball shout

55:44Pat McAfee:to the league shout it to uh us being a tiny part of it and getting to do this for a living ton digs has a question for you shrie yeah shrieks i don't think any of us have any problem with it actually i know that none of us in on mics right now have any problem with it games being one wednesday through monday now but i have seen some people on the internet saying like sunday's not sacred anymore is that you think that's just a small very small section of nfl fans saying like hey sunday's not sacred anymore there's too many streaming services too many games on too many days like i assume that is is just a couple people or you or do you have that sense at all too no i look i'm a purist in a lot of ways where it's i like having eight games at one o 'clock in the window and then i like having five games at four o 'clock in the window and then i know i got my sunday night and my monday night and now we're gonna have to be a little bit more flexible they're adding windows for Fox or adding games for CBS down the line.

56:33But I understand anyone's complaint. I also think Thanksgiving weekend when there's a game Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday and Monday, I would like those people to say, okay, I'm boycotting the Wednesday night.

56:43Pat McAfee:I'm going to watch the game. You're going to watch the game. And to me, as long as the players are at least somewhat on board with it, Pat, I think it's fine. And Tone, I don't know. I'll be watching. I'm fine with that. I'm a part of the problem. I'm watching as well. And the expanded March Madness, guess what I'm going to do? I'll watch it all. I'm going to watch it too. I'm part of the problem. And now people are making those decisions. We're not making those decisions. But if you put a football game on Thanksgiving Eve, yeah, I'm going to watch it. You put a football game on Wednesday afternoon in Pittsburgh, okay, during COVID, I'm going to watch it.

57:17Pat McAfee:RG3 is going to get 30 yards on one rush, blow out his hamstring, but certainly hit his over for rush yards literally on one play Wednesday afternoon. The memories are all about. Exactly. You put a game on Saturday, I'm going to watch Sunday. i'm a i think they know that about us though like i think they know that about us i do think they have been calculated on how much for the how much do we continue to rule i think they've gotten they could have gotten much more greedy much quicker you think like i think so i think they could have us going to wednesday the nfl going to wednesday is a wild move but it feels like it's only a matter of time before we get a one-off game i mean because we'll watch maxion on wednesday we don't want to kill maxion but if you have an nfl game on wednesday i assume the ratings will be outrageous and i'll say during the covet season when they had to be so flexible and there were tuesday night games it showed that that there is a nimble ability by the nfl and the schedules that we can make this work as long as we get the required time off after the games and i know again purists are going to say i don't want to not have 11 games at one o 'clock i grew up with that but are you watching all 11 games how do you feel about your ball security right now not great get that out of there oh my god it's not a loaf of bread peter he was on a you play tailback in brooklyn brooklyn high the covenant 30 years brooklyn high brooklyn high no i did not play poly prep is where brian flores went though and he that is a brooklyn school did you uh you obviously could shoot a hoop basketball i did not play football in high school for real township i saw a bag uh ball scooter i love this game that one i'm punching from the back yeah i'm I'm in the league office, in the arteries of the league office, holding an official NFL football.

58:50You better believe I'm going to hold this.

58:51Pat McAfee:It's not just the arteries. This is the Art McNally. Sorry. Art McNally. You know what it means to me. Cover the tip from the back. Someone's going to punch it from the line. Three points, Peter. I know, but I could just go right there. Try. Try. You can't put that left hand. Yeah. My kid will get that out. Come on, now. What was the movie? The Program? Omar Epps? Yeah. All day around campus? Yeah. That's not just the program. That's real life. That's anybody that carries the ball. That's real football. that right there is the program that's it know that program uh connor has a question for you sure yeah sure i will actually ask about mendoza and the raiders uh should i really believe that they're going to win 10 12 no games this season what do you why over over a video of him throwing a spiral it's possible they are one of these great these great stories but i would look closer

59:46Oh, my God. Toast out.

59:48Pat McAfee:All right, please tell us how we're not supposed to think 15 wins next year with that. Kirk Cousins is quarterback. What do we need to know? Yeah, I think if you listen to anything Brady has said over the last 10 years of Tom Brady talking about quarterback play, I think it's ideal for the quarterback to get some time behind a veteran. And that's what he had. And I would imagine Kirk Cousins out of the gates. That said, the Raiders, they have a lot of things going for them. But, like, let's not put that on them just yet, Connor. I would say. I did not see this one from Connor. I mean, it's beautiful.

1:00:18It's a little bit more wobbly than Fernando's. When's Fernando getting the lineup, Pete? I don't know. I don't know. I honestly don't know. I think Kubiak and Brady are going to have a big voice in this, and I don't think either one is looking to rush this guy in there.

1:00:32Pat McAfee:Well, Fernando obviously missed the White House trip yesterday because he had practice. He said that he's not a schedule maker. He's not a super calendar guy. Thanks. I know the calendar. I know the schedule. If I don't have practice, I'll be able to make it to celebrate with the boys. He was not able to make it because he was practicing. Might be in Orlando. Well, I don't know if you heard the president said Fernando called him and said, hey. Big fan. Yeah, I just believe everything he says. Big fan. Now, on that note, it was a nice celebration of college football at the White House. Oh, yeah.

1:01:04Pat McAfee:It was. And I do appreciate the fact that Kurt Signetti was kind of getting his flowers right there. and I also appreciate the fact that it was clearly the first time that that message was being read, you know, and the Rose Bowl, 38-3. Holy! Yeah. That was a good moment because what that Indiana team did do was outrageous. I'm happy they're getting celebrated yet again. But Signetti, although I think he probably did appreciate getting his flowers there, all he's thinking about is get us out of here. We don't need to think about this. Let's on to the next one. College football is great. I'm happy they celebrated it, and we're only 109 days away from college ball, let alone how far we are from NFL ball.

1:01:41Pat McAfee:We're lucky to be here in Shregs. We love you, brother. Thank you for everything here. Thank you. I'm excited for the rest of the day with you. Oh, we're going to hang. That's it. We had some good morning interactions, too. Come on. Great morning. New York's been fantastic. We'll be back on the other side. P.K. Subban will be joining us. Kirk Herbshue will be joining us. We will see you then. Goodbye.

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1:03:14Sports! It's what we're doing right, Pat. Thanks to Peter Schrager. Obviously, I know you're going to have a couple other guests join you in studio soon. This alternate angle that you are controlling is amazing.

1:03:24Pat McAfee:Yeah, I think this one really gets a shot in the vibe of what you need to feel here at the Art McNally. That's what you're bopping around, too. How you're bopping around in frame, too. Yeah, so that's the thing is I can't really see what you all are seeing in this particular. Yeah, okay. Let's go over here. Maybe a little bit too tight here with the laws in New York City. You know, I've been at the altitude of the Brunson boiler. You know, I have certainly done that. It's outrageous here. It really is. I just went out to the bathroom, you know, to run. In the hallway, you run into literally the people that are creating the schedules.

1:03:58Pat McAfee:And then you got the other side. We got a butter runs into our officiating person. They got a meeting about something else. It's like always cooking. I appreciate something that feels alive. This office certainly does that. And today is a special day in sports. Obviously, we get a chance to celebrate the NBA playoffs and the NHL playoffs. But here, we're getting an all-access look at the entire NFL offices and what next year and what this league is currently up to. And this ball that I'm holding right here, I was told during the break, I was just kind of tossing it around earlier, this was in the Super Bowl.

1:04:25Pat McAfee:What? Yeah, they got this from the basement, brought it up. This is Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl. I like that Sam Donald does like a little bit of clay on this thing, a little bit of stick, a little bit of grind. a little bit of it does have a little bit of a uh a diamondy you know yeah it's certainly not a ball that you would like to kick but it doesn't feel as if it's uh deflated at all as we head to the toxic table at boston connor and one half of the hammer done cowboys ap town this ball is fully pumped still months after the super bowl it was in the basement here con man your thoughts on the seattle seahawks sam donald's super bowl ball probably a poopy ball i feel like the deflated jokes has probably been in a what a controlled temperature environment in the basement a very consistent what 65 degrees perhaps you know if you were to drop that thing down to a 20 degrees the ball would shrink in fact that's just science that's just facts interesting because I don't believe Sam Darnold threw any touchdowns with any of those footballs so it's probably Walker's ball if anything wow okay well I would like I assume Kenneth Walker kept all the balls he scored I don't think this one made it into the game no is it rubbed on it looks rubbed on I don't know if we're both 66.

1:05:38Pat McAfee:I mean a lot had to happen a lot had to happen to get to this one but it was certainly it was certainly uh which which uh this one right here okay go ahead and zoom in on there yeah oh that is yeah that's a yeah that is sweet okay that is yeah that looks not like that I see that signature on is he in the building today or uh you're talking about uh where is he uh oh he's over here no he's on the other side yep where's he there he is this one right boom you're talking about that yeah see or is he too scared this big one tell us who's opening the year against the team on that football or where is rog now that i think about it kind of in his house right now aren't we we did ask some tough questions at the draft so he's probably avoiding ross should have interest music man i think about it if the if the glass broke and he walked in here i think that would be apropos for the situation i think that would be a fantastic setup for what we're doing but yeah life is good is what i'm saying aj thank you for traveling to the thunderdome basketball story is obviously never ending the nhl obviously continues to have a great night and last night we We had broken nose and a superstar.

1:06:51Pat McAfee:We had blood. We had goals. We had everything. Con man, the NHL continues to deliver great hockey every single night. Yeah, and this is kind of the first one that was different. The wild avalanche. You see it's only 1-1 with a minute left in the second. McKinnon took a vicious puck right off the schnoz. He ended up coming back. I'm not sure what they did to him in the back. Yeah, there it is. And it was tough, too. They don't actually show the slapper. But that was basically a clap bomb from his own defenseman trying to clean up the garbage in front of the net. It goes right to his grill. He ends up coming back scoring an empty one.

1:07:28Excuse me. Empty netter winner, which is pretty, pretty nice. But this is a much different game. Low scoring. It was about one to one halfway through the third when the avalanche ended up getting it done. That was the first goal for the abs from Codry. There's their second one to kind of put them up. The Wild would answer immediately, which was fantastic. Kind of make this game a little more interesting going into the back half of the third period. But yeah, fantastic night of hockey. Here's the McKinnon empty netter to kind of ice the game. Everyone cleared out after Avs take command and 3-1 lead.

1:08:04And then tonight we're back in the Bell Center, the Centra Bell in Montreal. So yeah, the NHL playoffs roll on. They've been fantastic. Sabres at Canadians. Huge game four. The Sabres trying to kind of even the series. And then Ducks against Ty's Golden Knights. Game five, I believe, whoever wins game five, the percentage to win the series goes way, way up. So we'll see what happens tonight. But yeah, it starts in Montreal in that crazy environment.

1:08:32Pat McAfee:Can't wait to see that. Sports are obviously spectacular. Montreal and Buffalo have both showcased that all playoffs. AJ, NBA story is potentially LeBron's done. As a kid from Ohio, how would that make you feel? Would you look in the mirror and say, you know what, AJ? Our stars are hanging them up. Makes you feel old, doesn't it? Yes, it starts making you feel old. LeBron James playing basketball has just been a part of my life seemingly since memory. So for him to hang it up, I didn't expect to start thinking like this. It can't go out the way. That cannot be the last time. That just cannot be.

1:09:13Pat McAfee:And I don't want to repeat what I said last hour, but it kind of stopped because Chris Paul was on, and he has much better takes than we would ever have. There's no way that is the way LeBron James' career ends last night. I cannot have it. Just as somebody that has been – there's no way that – Foxy, you're a diehard Bron James fan as well. There's no way that's how this whole thing stops. I didn't invest my time in being – I didn't get into fights with people about Michael Jordan stuff, me talking out of my ass, not knowing anything about what basketball used to be back there to defend LeBron.

1:09:44Pat McAfee:For it to be 1.45 a.m. on prime, getting swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder with nobody really celebrating until afterwards going, this could be his last warm-up. Shouldn't we be doing this for the last couple weeks if we think this is what it's going to be? This guy's giving a lot to the game, Foxy. Pat, we've watched LeBron our entire lives, and if we know anything about LeBron, there's a 0 % chance this is going to be it. there's a thousand percent chance that next year we're going to see him at every single away arena getting a standing ovation and they're going to he's going to make it all about himself one more time i love lebron he knows exactly what he'll do he deserves it and that's exactly what he'll do and that's what i hope he does look and i'll be watching every single one of them aj what does that mean what do you mean you took a shot at we're saying you're his biggest fan then you just take a complete shot at him saying what he's a no he's still he goes out of control where he's selfish is that what you're trying to say no i'm saying what the heck that's what fox he's trying to say i don't know why you guys said he'll make it about himself that's what someone with a giant ego would do that's not lebron that's super negative way to take it i just think he's the greatest of all time and he deserves that from every single away arena and all fans worldwide that love basketball go back to the calves for another year that'd be cool go play one more year for the Cavs.

1:11:04Pat McAfee:Go play for the Pacers. D-Bot, it sounds like you think it's potentially over. Is that what it sounds like? Potentially. I wouldn't say I'm not with Foxy. I don't think 0 % chance. I think it's a 25 % chance. 75 % chance he comes back. 25 % chance he retires and goes off into the night. And I only say that because of the things that he's been saying. He's been kind of putting it out there. You know LeBron is like very very locked in on what he's actually putting out there. So he talked about, hey, I'm going to spend a lot more time with my wife. I've never seen him post a lot during playoff runs, especially when he was with the Heat.

1:11:41He would go zero, dark 30. But I saw him posting golf videos down 0-3 in a series. I've never seen that from LeBron. So the love of golf, chasing the bug. We just saw the Kevin Hart roast. Kevin Hart said a couple weeks ago, hey, I thought about giving up stand-up and giving up this to chase this new golf love thing. So I wouldn't be shocked if he just launches a new brand, does a decision 2.0 and says, hey, I'm going to go off, spend time with my family, spend time on this course. Whatever he wants to do, though, take your time. Like CP said, it's probably the last thing on his mind, getting swept.

1:12:14It's part of it. He's been swept. He's won championships. He's done all the things that basketball, you know, you can experience in that. So whatever he does do, man, you know, we'll be watching and we'll be talking about it.

1:12:23Pat McAfee:Yeah, if he takes his talents to the golf course, that'd be a crazy way to end this. That'd be a crazy way to end this if that's what he was to do. And on that note, whatever he wants to do, it makes him happy. I will certainly celebrate the hell out of it. I just don't love the fact that it could be over the way that it ended last night. LeBron James, maybe he doesn't start on team next year, and maybe he gets picked up halfway through his season, three-quarters way through his season. Maybe he just does another playoff run. Maybe he does not play off run. Maybe he joins a team that could go on a win.

1:12:52Pat McAfee:And maybe, I said it in brief passing there, and everybody kind of shoot it off, maybe he does come play for the Pacers. He's not going to win this DNC. Maybe he does come play for the Pacers. What? Uh-oh. Whoa. Be the first New World. Speaking of LeBron and goats. Yeah, you know who. You know who. Ladies and gentlemen, joining us is not just Peter Herbstreit, okay, who is obviously the most notable dog, I do believe, in the world. Is Peter hosting the up front? Peter's part of the up front. Should be, by the way. If we're trying to get money, let's send Peter in there for sure. I mean, if that is the showcase to show off.

1:13:27Pat McAfee:Ladies and gentlemen, kicking off every NFL season on Thursday night with Amazon, college game day face, and face of college football, voice of college, Will A.Z. Kirk Herbstreit. Hey,

1:13:39Pat McAfee:which side are you going to put? Yeah, he taught me that. I'll go left here. You taught me that back in the day. Do you remember telling me that? I was doing Thursday night football. It was a Remy operation, which means ass operation. Everything is super delayed. You have no.

1:13:53AJ Hawk:What about the Vegas flag football game?

1:13:56Pat McAfee:Yes, that was when you told me. So I was doing Thursday Night Football with Matt Hasselbeck, Adam Amin, Molly McGrath. It was an incredible crew. Incredible. Seth Green. I want to make sure I get the names right. We were doing it all. And I had the headset on, and I was on the outside.

1:14:12AJ Hawk:Well, you don't want to look. Yeah.

1:14:15Pat McAfee:Microphone is covering my face. Herbie goes, get the microphone.

1:14:17AJ Hawk:I didn't say it like that.

1:14:19Pat McAfee:But that's how I took it. It was like, hey, idiot. I said just flip it over here. Put it on the other side. because you've been doing how long you've been doing television now that's 31 years this fall

1:14:29AJ Hawk:damn yeah 31 years and uh peter how many years peter peter is this is uh year three year three

1:14:38Pat McAfee:coming up peter's had a great off scene i've seen him in the pool and shit yeah i've seen him living out there he is a beautiful dog in any room he walks into obviously the aura is impeccable the room that we're going to be walking into is obviously one that's going to be celebrating sport in a big way by investing billions of dollars into it so we certainly appreciate that yeah college game day though is uh the bit we're going to be doing up there college football 109 days away okay we just passed the halfway point and nine yeah we're close what are your thoughts on the current state of college football uh honestly the last few years it's been so much chaos driven conversation outside the game but then we look at the ratings of the sport itself up and to the right everybody loves the product how do you feel where we're sitting right now i'm

1:15:16AJ Hawk:I feel like every time we get into the offseason, we get into, oh, no, what's going to happen? And then we get to the fall, and attendance has never been better. Interest has never been higher. Like, we keep waiting for it to just explode, and it just gets more intriguing. I think the playoff going to 12, and we can talk about that, the 24, I think as we predicted, I mean, now you've got the last two weeks of the season, and still have 20 teams that are trying to throw their hat in the ring. So I don't know. I've given up on saying it's doomsday. I think it's more about we need to get some parameters, as everybody always says, on the NIL and the portal.

1:15:56AJ Hawk:But I think overall it's creating a ton of interest, in my opinion.

1:16:01Pat McAfee:Yeah, I think a ton of interest. There's new things to talk about. Obviously, contracts are a massive piece of the conversation around the NFL. It's only going to become more normalized, I think, with college football. How about some of these quarterbacks, Pat, taking a pay cut? Yeah. To go to the NFL crazy like guys like Carson Beck they're making more in college than they're making and then the reports of what the offers were turned down like hey this guy Peter Berg's not Peter Berg Peter Peter Berg by the way Peter Herbstreet absolutely Did he high step there? I think he just ran through a camera I mean Peter that's what that's Peter Berg Peter Herbstreet geez I'm so sorry Peter Herbstreet and to Peter Berg you guys are not resemble each other at all But Peter Herbstreet, I'll tell you.

1:16:43AJ Hawk:Peter Berg's got some stuff going on, huh? Some big stuff. He's a beast. So is Peter Herbstreet. Big stuff.

1:16:49Pat McAfee:Yeah, I mean, the Peets are kind of crushing. The Peters are crushing. You just see Pete Thamel. Pete Thamel. Hey, that Ahmad Hardy stuff, crazy. I know. That is.

1:16:56AJ Hawk:Is he?

1:16:57Pat McAfee:They said stable, and then the report we got from Pete Thamel was that he will definitely return to football. But there was no, like, timeline. I'm hoping. He's an incredible football player. Oh, man. Best back.

1:17:08AJ Hawk:Probably the best back. Maybe one of the best college players in the country returning.

1:17:12Pat McAfee:And I think there was a little bit more information. It's kind of been a slow roll with info through this entire thing. So hopefully Pete Famel will get all the info that we need as Pete Herbstreet continues to do his thing here in Peter Bergstown. Okay, so college football going to more teams in the playoffs. Yeah, what do you think of that? I would assume you hate it. Huh? I think you would hate it.

1:17:33AJ Hawk:Kind of indifferent. Okay, okay. Until you get experience, it's hard to hate it. I do love that our regular season is probably the best thing going in sports because, you know, even calling these NFL games, we just had one of our games got out. Calling these NFL games, Detroit at Buffalo, which is going to be awesome. That's a huge stadium. Yeah, new stadium. Yeah, opening up the new stadium, it's going to be amazing. Detroit, obviously, looking for a bounce back here after last year, and you would think Buffalo with a new head coach. There's a lot going on there. So two great quarterbacks. That's going to be hyped up.

1:18:09AJ Hawk:But I think in the NFL, you kind of feel like you get to week 10, 11, 12, and all of a sudden you lived it. Everything is like margin of error is like this. We've got to win four of our last. The intensity cranks up. I feel like in college it kind of starts that way. And would we lose that if you went to 24? Would we lose the importance of Ohio State, Michigan, Alabama, Auburn, all those big games at the end?

1:18:33Pat McAfee:is it yeah are we already there so yeah exactly especially with the championship games that i know the coaches those need to go well the coaches came out and voted on the conference championship leaving and the schedule changing and we like this and we do this and then from our understanding that was met with uh that's cute coaches thanks for your input exactly that is kind of how it was meant but i think the coaches were just trying to say hey we would agree if this is what it was but i think what they were laying out was a lot of how fans would feel, too, about what the season could be. What's reality?

1:19:05Pat McAfee:I think the championship games get a lot of money.

1:19:07AJ Hawk:Yeah. But let's find a new – let's just, within this new structure, take whatever money that the conferences are losing and make them whole. Agreed. Right? And then let's just do what's right for the game.

1:19:19Pat McAfee:Are you going to say that up there at the upfronts? Because the people in that room might be the people that could be able to do that.

1:19:23AJ Hawk:Whatever you guys say, let's say.

1:19:25Pat McAfee:No, I'm not going to say. Usually you say. You say, hey, let's take the money from the conference championship games. Go ahead and pick that up. Let's move that to some other shit. Let's make sure we're moving. Let's do it for a good ball.

1:19:34AJ Hawk:But do you think 24 is too many? Do you think that's a big number?

1:19:37Pat McAfee:Why did Petiti want it? Petiti was the best.

1:19:39AJ Hawk:By the way, he started it, and everyone else was like, no way. Yep. And now everybody except one person is like, let's do 24.

1:19:48Pat McAfee:Yeah, and I think it's probably going to happen.

1:19:50AJ Hawk:As long as it aren't AQs. Let's just take the best teams. I don't want to say Big Ten, you get five or six. In SEC, you get five or six. ACC, Big 12, you only get two or three. Let's not associate anything, in my opinion. Let's just rank the teams at the end and stack them up, and those are your teams.

1:20:07Pat McAfee:I agree completely. And Notre Dame getting an opportunity to get in as opposed to winning their conference championship because they're not in a conference. If they're ranked in the top 12 or whatever, top 20, I guess it'll have to be, or top 15 whenever it goes to more teams, they get an automatic bid. I think people automatically want to hate that, but Notre Dame's been able to do this without a conference somehow. I don't know. A lot of people have tried to do it. They have not been able to pull it off. Notre Dame obviously has power. do you feel good about that do you think that inevitably changes because if notre dame's in it obviously it's much better for ball yeah but then there is like the you know like west virginia is about to become you know yep a real wagon maybe we should just get an automatic you know

1:20:44AJ Hawk:i mean notre dame's gonna have to work hard not to get in it right i mean nine and three would probably get notre dame and i mean eight ten and two i mean at 24 teams how would you You think 9-3 are getting in, Kirk? You think he loses the game? People are going to be so pissed.

1:21:00Pat McAfee:Yeah, 24.

1:21:01AJ Hawk:I'm saying if it's 24 teams, it'd be hard for them to – look at my man here. It'd be hard for them to not get in. One thing I get concerned about is the way the coaches responded last year to playing big games in a non-conference. I fear that everybody's answer is to just go Cupcake Central because at the end of the day, A.J., I don't know how you feel about this, but in late November, early December, no one's talking about, well, Texas went to Columbus and lost by seven. All they're doing is stacking up wins. No one cares about Texas went to Columbus in a great game. And they should, to me, even though they lost, you should get points for that as opposed to getting points taken away.

1:21:48AJ Hawk:But nobody, I think the coaches and the ADs are looking at that and saying, man, what's the point in playing Ohio State if I'm Texas? If we lose, it's going to be held against me. Screws your whole thing. Screws everything. If you don't make it, you're done. You're fired if you're the coach.

1:22:03Pat McAfee:Alabama, Ohio State kept each other on the schedule, right, AJ? They did, yeah. That was announced, I think. Yeah. I think that's a big deal. How do you feel about AJ Day going to Northwestern? I like that move as well. Yeah, it's great. I think that's an opportunity. Chip Kelly, yeah. Should be nice. Yeah, but I think that's good family dynamic. Okay, first of all, the dad, who's the head coach of Ohio State, could have easily made a big stink, forced his kid into Ohio State, especially if he's getting offered scholarships from other Big Ten schools, could certainly do that. The fact that both the son and the dad did not do anything that's seemingly obnoxious in this entire thing, I think we all respect greatly.

1:22:40Pat McAfee:Don't you think so, AJ? Like, legitimately. I respect the fact that because he has committed to Northwestern, Ryan Day could abuse his power and say, I'm giving this kid a scholarship to be on the Ohio State Buckeyes. And everybody on earth, probably in Ohio as well, would potentially say, that kid doesn't deserve to be a Buckeyes. What are we doing? We're giving out scholarships just because of the kid. Instead, it feels like they handled it all perfectly. And I like the kid, and I like Ryan more. And I'm pulling for Northwestern now because of the way it all worked out. AJ, how do you feel about it?

1:23:07Pat McAfee:And I appreciate the fact that they handled it that way. Yeah, I think it's awesome. I mean, it is kind of a weird spot if you're the head coach at Ohio State and your son is being recruited around the country to play there, to play the quarterback. I don't know. Like, it would be really awkward, I think, to offer your own son or to try to bring your own son in to jam him in. Like, that's kind of – I don't know. It definitely can happen and it does happen. But what could be even weirder is if, you know, a couple years down the road and you've got your defense game plan on how to kill your own son at the quarterback position.

1:23:36How do we get to the quarterback?

1:23:37Pat McAfee:Well, and then also Northwestern is just letting Ryan Day kind of walk around the facility, you know. Yeah. Yeah, that's pretty cool. AJ wants to go see Michigan, doesn't he? Yeah, you do. Got a full visit. Got to snoop around. How's that going up there as a Michigan man? We saw some highlights out of Chase out of the spring game. Tony Diggs, he was moving, wasn't he? He was moving around. I was watching it. Kirk was getting a ton of air time. It was when Chase was in. Unintentionally. Yeah, Chase was in versus CJ Carr's brother, I believe, who is now at Michigan. And he was scrambling. He was moving good.

1:24:09He looked good out there, Kirk.

1:24:11AJ Hawk:Yeah, it's going well. I mean, it was a pretty rocky road for a first year with everything that went down that last fall. But I think, as you'd expect, I mean, I was surprised Kyle Whittingham wanted to come back to college. I figured he was pretty much done with his career. But, boy, they hired the right guy, the right staff to really get this thing back in order and kind of live up to what the Michigan standard is both on and off the field.

1:24:37Pat McAfee:Yeah, and Shefter was hosting some MC event down at some Illuminati party. So Michigan's going to have a couple billion dollars to spend.

1:24:45AJ Hawk:They got a lot of money, I guess. I just read, wasn't there something that broke the other day? Something insane. Two billion, yeah, and it must have been an open AI.

1:24:52Pat McAfee:Is Chase getting five billion or something like that? Yeah, look at this fresh shoot. Pitcher's looking pretty clean. I don't know if this is NIL money coming through here from the Michigan Wolverines. D-Bud has a question for you, Herbie, about ball. Yeah, Kurt, you're kind of face of both leagues now. You're on the mic. You've got to be locked in. And which team, I guess either collegiately or in the pros, has surprised you the most or that you're most excited about going into this year, whether it be the portal and recruiting on the college level or the offseason with the draft and free agency?

1:25:24AJ Hawk:I did the Thursday night, first round of the draft, and I don't know how you guys felt. The New York Jets that were just kind of used to things not going well for them actually had a pretty good weekend. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? I was pretty energized by what they were doing. And Aaron Glenn, who survived, a lot of times you go through a tough first year, you're gone. And to their credit, they stuck with him. They signed Brees Hall, obviously, to the long-term deal. I'm not saying that they're going to make huge moves this year. I just was surprised to see some positive moves being made by the Jets.

1:26:02AJ Hawk:I'm excited about Kansas City. I think it's almost as if people have maybe felt that that's the end, you know, because of the injury to Mahomes, because of some of the losses that they've had. You know, is it time for Kansas City's story to be over? And obviously I don't think it is. I think any time you question Patrick Mahomes, you know, he's going to come out swinging. And I think that's kind of how it is right now with where Kansas City is.

1:26:30Pat McAfee:I appreciate the fact that, to multiple points, I love a doubted Patrick Mahomes getting an opportunity to do something. I like Travis Kelsey coming back and not liking that that's how that ended. This is paper, Ben, or Peter. Sorry.

1:26:41AJ Hawk:I do that a lot.

1:26:43Pat McAfee:How often?

1:26:44AJ Hawk:Once a day, maybe.

1:26:46Pat McAfee:Bro, Ben was.

1:26:46AJ Hawk:I know. You know Ben.

1:26:48Pat McAfee:Yeah, me and Ben. I'm happy that started this entire trend, by the way. And Peter is obviously phenomenal.

1:26:55AJ Hawk:You think Kansas City is going to make a move? Okay, so I like that.

1:26:58Pat McAfee:i also like the fact that the jets had um no leaks at the number two overall pick yeah obviously you guys were doing game day on abc yeah number two pick the odds were changing day of the odds were

1:27:09AJ Hawk:changing and we're trying to clean that down yeah you just drop it no don't i don't get it i got it go ahead go ahead what are you saying ohio guy right there yep there you go solid earth what are you saying like the reds could never watch out ben don't don't back up kirk you're not

1:27:26Pat McAfee:back up no no i'm not backing up yeah because you got you got peter's face right next to your hind right now all right thank you for doing that i i gave peter some water that's 100 on me i like that uh patrick mahomes has a chance to be angry okay and motivated that's dangerous i think so too yeah uh but with the jets not having any leaks at the number two overall pick i thought that was a special thing legit i thought that was a special thing did you guys have any tips on your show uh no we didn't know we were kind of foster boss are you the boss that's foster boss right there he's dressed up for the up front this guy's been dressed super fashionable all day saw him this morning fresh out of the local new york city coffee shop starbucks he looked absolutely

1:28:06AJ Hawk:amazing you're sweating you're are you okay yeah i should have gone hoodie on him i'm warm i'm warm

1:28:12Pat McAfee:in here did you like i walked over unbelievable day here come on perfect day oh my god i saw no human poop well that's great i know i i think that's what you expecting to see that yes i i mean this is just like when we went to san francisco san francisco i'm i have the internet you know okay

1:28:30AJ Hawk:yeah i got i didn't see anything in san francisco it was beautiful i had the time of my life there new york city this is perfect more i hate this hit grand central station who's running this city nowadays i haven't really paid attention who schrager is running this oh he is oh peter schrager

1:28:47Pat McAfee:is running this city i could see that he got us in carbone last night wow you could have came through with peter i think with the way we kind of got his wow but the jets let's talk about yeah jets a lot of new yorkers are big time jets fans right i think we're in the city of jets fans around here them not having leaks i think is the biggest indicator that their culture might not be s like that is that is a real deal i think at number two overall all that takes is one person in the building not to be on the same page aaron glenn maybe gm whoever says hey we're not telling anybody anything here and it didn't get out of their building sportsbooks had no idea we had no idea when it got to number two we had no clue what was going to happen we thought maybe we had some guesses but nobody knew for sure for me that felt very not jetsy yeah like that just didn't feel i agree with that at all yeah so i was very impressed by that but didn't use i mean overall the entire

1:29:34AJ Hawk:weekend in pittsburgh by the way that was great you and i haven't had a chance to to talk about that all the guys were there that was fun on uh wednesday night football town shasta came in

1:29:44Pat McAfee:science center unbelievable is that out now uh i think it's still with cayman science center i

1:29:47AJ Hawk:believe they're releasing it digital that if you're just a football fan you got to watch that but just the overall week hey thank you for coming to that oh yeah of course and i thought overall was just a blast but when when the dust settled i just thought the jets did a pretty good job you know overall you're dripping sweat turn your head sideways should i try to go here this guy's dripping that's good you're efficient kurt that means you're hydrant you want to go on a nice walk through the city and it turns out being a lot hotter than you thought it would be it's also

1:30:15Pat McAfee:like 30 blocks yeah that's a long way but peter needs to get i like that you're holding the wiffle ball bat maybe go ahead and swing a little bit there with thunderball aj um the thing aj run a point right yeah aj's back there in the thunderdome he's going to be playing thunderball too it does appear he's getting lubed up no we're not gonna let him he would definitely break something yeah without a doubt yeah well i mean there's potential for a fight too if you peg them uh in the wrong place you know thunderball can get a bit aggressive who's the best at thunderball Best pitcher is Ty.

1:30:42AJ Hawk:Yeah, well, that's a given.

1:30:43Pat McAfee:No, that wasn't always a given in your mind. No, and now it is.

1:30:47AJ Hawk:You set the record straight.

1:30:49Pat McAfee:Okay.

1:30:50AJ Hawk:Now I get it. He had a baby. His wife had a baby.

1:30:53Pat McAfee:Would you like to say congratulations to him?

1:30:54AJ Hawk:Yeah, where is he? Through the lens. Oh, okay. Break the fourth wall, always watching. Congrats, buddy. He and I were talking about that in Pittsburgh. And how long is he going to be down and out?

1:31:05Pat McAfee:I don't know. Maybe next week he's back. It's kind of on him.

1:31:07AJ Hawk:Okay.

1:31:08Pat McAfee:listen you don't have to look at h and r about this okay uh well i would like to let it be known that no pressure hey paternity leave you do whatever you need to do whatever you need to do you need to get guys do the paternity leave now that's what we're kind of in the middle of right here but i have heard of like a six-month-er from have you not heard about this no for for for his wife he's big so i how does that work i don't hear someone taking six months now you said that Yeah, I heard exactly, AJ. Okay, so you heard the same thing. So I, as the person who, I guess, sued, definitely in charge at the company, these are all, like, real things, especially as we're, like, you know, everybody's having kids.

1:31:49Pat McAfee:So my—

1:31:50AJ Hawk:So he's officially allowed to take— Whatever the fuck he wants.

1:31:54Pat McAfee:That's what I say. Get me out of all this shit. If we ever get—if our company ever gets bought by somebody else, we'll let them deal with it. For me, whatever you need. Have a good one. See you later.

1:32:04AJ Hawk:But technically, could he go six? Can people? I'm his boss.

1:32:08Pat McAfee:Yeah, he can do whatever he wants.

1:32:09AJ Hawk:Corporate America, is that a thing? It depends on where you are. Is each place different or is there like some mandated thing?

1:32:15Pat McAfee:Three months, four months, six months. I think there became a time where there was like a lot of like, oh, I'm not, you know, a lot of, oh, I'm not. You know, those things start happening. Oh, I'm not. You know, those things. And then all of a sudden they start stacking on top of each other. We've got a half a year. But on that note.

1:32:30AJ Hawk:And you're paid the whole time?

1:32:33Pat McAfee:absolutely Ty take your time Ty you call H &R you do whatever you need to do we love you and we support you Bruce is wearing a suit today he seemingly has an answer for this yeah what do you got um so a lot of it was competitive where like I don't know what which company was but like Facebook says six months and then all of a sudden Google Spotify all these other places that are competing for the people they got to go up to six months and all of a sudden people take when did that start? COVID?

1:33:00AJ Hawk:Yeah, COVID era.

1:33:02Pat McAfee:This is for the good of families, Kirk.

1:33:04AJ Hawk:I don't agree with that. The dude needs to take a few days off and then I think I took maybe a half a day off. I don't understand what the guy's doing. Supporting!

1:33:18Pat McAfee:Dadding!

1:33:18AJ Hawk:Get out of the way if you want to support. We have nothing to do. We're a disaster. When a new baby comes on, we're just like... I have learned that.

1:33:26Pat McAfee:You know, just what can I – I'm going to go take Peter for a walk.

1:33:30AJ Hawk:I mean, that's – let's be honest. Do you need a drink? Do you need water? No. Yeah, what can I do to help? Can I do anything? Change a diaper. Give him a break. Change a diaper early, though. That's a challenge. What? When you're a first-time dad. When their turns are still – what's it called when it's all mushy?

1:33:46Pat McAfee:You're a former quarterback at Ohio State, you kid.

1:33:48AJ Hawk:Yeah, once the stinky poop comes in, then you're getting it right in. But at the beginning, you're just like, I don't want to hurt anything.

1:33:55Pat McAfee:you know let me just every sound is anxiety laden with like you the dudes need to get back to work

1:34:02AJ Hawk:that's ridiculous that's the most ridiculous thing i've ever heard in my life okay what else

1:34:14Pat McAfee:dana dana's in it for that one we hope everybody's happy and we would like to let ty know and anybody buddy you do whatever you need to do okay you do whatever you need to do i'll be back next week there's no way i'd take six months but i'd like to let ty know if that's what you think you need to do i pat mcAfee not Kirk Herbstreet i would like to support you and your endeavor as a great father get it get back to work we do miss you though ty we do miss you aj how many days you take off what is your eight at least three months yeah i don't know that's a good question i was i was around but i was my first kid was born during the season we won the super bowl a couple

1:34:57AJ Hawk:months later so i was there but well you you didn't get you didn't get to take off as a football player i had a game i had a game right back to the hospital yeah yeah kirk how old are you again 56.

1:35:11Pat McAfee:56. what year were you born in 69. see people forget that because you look the same exact way that my eyes saw you the first time 30 years ago. People forget you're – take this as no disrespect. You're an older man.

1:35:25AJ Hawk:Yeah.

1:35:25Pat McAfee:Okay, from Ohio.

1:35:27AJ Hawk:Yeah, exactly.

1:35:28Pat McAfee:People forget that. You know, Kirk will come out and say something, and people are like, Kirk looks like he's like 25 years old. This guy's been on TV. He should not be saying what he's saying. It's like, Kirk is almost – Well, you're saying this is a new rule from COVID.

1:35:42AJ Hawk:Like, that's when this came about. I think Bruce was right, how companies were competing for the talent to come to these companies. We care more. Oh, hey, you get four weeks vacation, you get nine months. Go down the line of all the guys there in Indianapolis. I want to find out who thinks you should take six months off. Nobody thinks that. Just go right down the line.

1:36:01Pat McAfee:If you do, though, it's on you. It's on you.

1:36:03AJ Hawk:Do whatever you want to do, but what do you think? Take yourselves out of it, just in general of that rule. Go down the line, boys. Go on, Debo. Go ahead. Six months. Debo, what do you got? You know, like Pat said, however long it takes, I don't come between the man and his family. No, no, no, no, no, no. Great point, D. That is right, D. But thank you. Why are you guys afraid to say what you think is your family? One band, one sound. We don't know. We're not in their home. We're not in everybody's home. We don't know how their relationship works.

1:36:29Pat McAfee:That's right, A.J. He's from Ohio, too. That's really nice to hear.

1:36:32AJ Hawk:This is a lot of dancing. This is a lot of dancing.

1:36:37Pat McAfee:Let's get back to the ball, please. Hey, let's talk about dancing. what if he could breastfeed once the reason why we all brought up six months yeah is because we all found it to be pretty ridiculous yeah on that note ty you take as much pat mcphee your boss you do whatever you're good kid okay whatever you need to do we appreciate what would your dad say about six months

1:37:04AJ Hawk:is your dad around the office there maybe he'll be honest Connor has a question for you. Herbie, always a pleasure. Hey, buddy. I really want to ask you something that's going to get us into another similar conversation. No, please. I'm not going to. Instead, let's go to LSU. Lane Kiffin, he actually did say something that got him into some hot water a little bit, but he clarified that. But what should my expectation be about LSU? We were talking about Ohio State's and BAM's of the world, and it feels like Lane Kiffin basically threw him into that type of category where it's either he wins the national championship and it's exactly what he was supposed to do or they don't and everybody says, what the hell were you doing leaving Ole Miss?

1:37:46What should I kind of be expecting? And also that was one of the games that got leaked. Congrats, you're going to LSU versus Clemson week one.

1:37:54AJ Hawk:What is Vegas' over-under? Do you guys have any idea? I would guess 10.5. I know they're probably 10.5 is they're probably over-under if I had to take a guess. They're third in the SEC, directly right behind Texas and Georgia. Connor, I think the sky is the limit with Lane Kiffin. I know he is a polarizing figure. I know a lot of people like to talk about stuff he says, whether it's what he sends out on X or stuff he might say. But I'm just telling you, he's going to bring – I think he's going to bring an energy. when you're around LSU, when they're rolling, it's different than any other program in the country.

1:38:37AJ Hawk:There's a, it's not a swagger, it's just a, when they recruit the state of Louisiana, there's such pride in that state when it comes to how good they are at football. That if you recruit the right guys, and it's not just, you know, talking trash, but it's actually, when they were rolling, the good teams, I think he's going to plug into that. I don't know how soon. Sam Levitt is going to be a lot to do with this to transfer a quarterback from Arizona State. If he can hit the ground running, you mentioned they got Clemson early. They go to Ole Miss week three. That's going to be incredible. But I would take the over personally on LSU with Lane Kiffin.

1:39:20AJ Hawk:And this is just the beginning. This is kind of year one. And I think it's a good fit, just like he was a good fit at Ole Miss. I think wherever he goes, he's going to win.

1:39:30Pat McAfee:Yeah, he's football mind. I think we all understand that.

1:39:33AJ Hawk:Got a great D coordinator.

1:39:35Pat McAfee:Especially with five stars, too, that he's able to get just because he's at LSU. I think that has been a big topic of the conversation. They're 10.5-point favorites against Clemson week one, which they will be hosting. Wow, 10.5. I guess college game day will be there. That's spectacular to get back down there. They are currently sitting at plus 1 ,600 to win the natty. Okay, Ohio State plus 650. Notre Dame plus 700. Indiana plus 750. Look at Indiana, will you? signetti i think the i think they're not going away i think you know what miami's uh their fourth choice plus 1500 so the the talk about signetti okay i think we all just trust him now in the sports books trust that he's a good talent evaluator like hey he'll be able to figure out the right talent to be in his system i don't know if he if he just wins again this year that'd

1:40:22AJ Hawk:be when you say wins again you mean has it has another eight nine ten win season i think they're They're definitely going to win.

1:40:28Pat McAfee:Oh, yeah.

1:40:28AJ Hawk:Are you talking about winning at all? Yeah. Oh, you're talking back-to-back. Oh, yeah.

1:40:32Pat McAfee:That would be crazy. I think this is another reload year to get every – I think they have a good year. I think they win. But then I think they have another batch of guys that are season tough, another NIL one, and then they go on a run another year. I think that's how I view the Indiana Hoosiers, but I might be wrong. But, yeah, I think they're going to – I think Cignetti wins. Google him. I mean, he's the guy that said that.

1:40:51AJ Hawk:That, and he's got Shanahan on the offensive coordinator, Haynes is a defensive coordinator. He's got enough back of the nucleus of that championship team. He loses some high-profile guys, but a lot of those hardcore guys are back. And he's really good at finding guys that have started for two or three years at other schools and bringing them in. I don't know if they're going to win it all again, but they're going to definitely be in the mix. I think Miami might be the team to win it all this year. I think Miami – A lot of people think Mensa's an upgrade over Carson Beck. Mensa?

1:41:26Pat McAfee:Carson Beck looked good.

1:41:27AJ Hawk:Yeah. Did you see him in Arizona? And they got the back. The running back's back. Tony's back. I mean, they're going to be loaded.

1:41:34Pat McAfee:Malachi was training in a – I saw him with JSN? Yeah, with like a sailboat jean thing that he was wearing on his pants. Parachute jeans. Parachute pants. It was unbelievable. You're trying to be fast, and it was the complete opposite of that. He almost wore like a backpack while he was running on his pants. He looks so fast. Running back, gigantic, 6 '4". Fletcher? Mark Fletcher. Fletcher. He's awesome. He took over those games late playoffs.

1:42:02AJ Hawk:They told us to pick a team to, what are we, in April, May? Who are you picking for the – I picked Miami. But that doesn't mean we're being held to it.

1:42:13Pat McAfee:This is for the Disney up front. We're doing a final pick. We're picking a national champions.

1:42:17AJ Hawk:Subject to change. Who are you picking today? I'm not giving it away.

1:42:24Pat McAfee:I'm not giving it away. You'll find out in real time, Herbstreet, in front of all the suits. Chris Henry Jr.? Probably West Virginia.

1:42:32AJ Hawk:Hey, I don't want to say anything. Give me a quick scouting report on where we are. They got blocky odds. Fast. Big. What do you got for us? Blocky odds, please. Where are they on the board here? Can you pull up those odds? Pull those odds up. Oh, there they are. That sounds like a play for me. They're the blockies. They're right by Maryland.

1:42:57Pat McAfee:Right by Maryland and East Carolina. And Northwestern, A.J. Day's school. I mean. The West Virginia blockies, baby. UCLA's got plus 60 better odds than us. Well, yeah, they got Niko, yeah.

1:43:11AJ Hawk:What's West Virginia? What are you most confident about? Kevin Brown, bitch.

1:43:17Pat McAfee:Kevin Brown. I mean, you name it. We're going to do this. Coach Trickett, our offensive line coach, is back. Oh, I love him. Yeah.

1:43:24AJ Hawk:Now we go. Now we go.

1:43:26Pat McAfee:Plus$80 ,000, not a bad little sprinkle. Not a bad little sprinkle there for the Mountaineers. You know, Herbie's been one of the biggest Mountaineer haters of all time. What? Not tell the truth. He'll say I tell the truth. How am I a hater? Not pick him to win? What did you just do there? Hey, let's look up West Virginia. He's not a hater. I wanted to see. That's what you just did. I wanted to see. Okay, well, now you are armed with information.

1:43:50AJ Hawk:I am a rich ride guy. So the second he came back, I was first guy in line. I'm all in.

1:43:57Pat McAfee:Okay. I'm all in. Hey, I agree with that, by the way. I love him. You want to help out the NIL situation? Yeah. You got Amazon money? Would you like to help out the NIL?

1:44:07AJ Hawk:Oh, that's your department, right? You're carrying the NIL.

1:44:10Pat McAfee:Yeah, I'm not. I am not. I'm not going to go out there and start talking as if I... Like Mark Cuban? Okay.

1:44:21Pat McAfee:down in bloomington the indiana run last year there was a lot of chatter about like mark cuban has funded this team mark cuban has funded this team doesn't sound like it and then mark cuban came out and didn't say that he did though like during the run he did not say he did he did not act like i don't think he was trying he certainly did contribute certainly late mil million a couple million he has done that like he has contributed but i think there was a narrative because we get the big donors name at all these other schools right who's indiana's guy mark cuban's indiana guy so he's definitely the guy i think they got a lot of people that sounds like it they got a lot of people in bloomington that have companies whether it's logistics company plastic company medical companies all that type of so they got a lot of people going in there so when mark cuban says hey what in that interview i think what he was trying to say is like if you need any extra from this thing i can help get the whole thing done but obviously it takes on a life of If it's out in the way he said it, if he did it, I don't think – I think Indiana has a good NIL, strong NIL base.

1:45:14AJ Hawk:Yeah, but what's great is they're not spinning – everyone's like, who's spinning the most, they're going to win. No. They're not doing that. Sig, talent evaluator. Exactly.

1:45:21Pat McAfee:That's the most important part is evaluation of talent. No question. You can't miss on people.

1:45:26AJ Hawk:And then the culture. When the Michigan State guy comes out, he's like, what are you doing wearing gold shoes? We don't do that here. Get your ass back inside and come back out with the issue, the team issued you.

1:45:34Pat McAfee:D-butt, Nick Saban said, if you spend money on the wrong guys, Yeah. Shit out of luck. And that's a real thing. And I think that's been Cignetti's superpower over there in Indiana. Yeah, not like you guys just said, not just the money, but the evaluation. He's been the best in the business. And that run last year, that's some of the best shit that we've seen in sports, regardless of the sport on any level, like getting this team to the heights that they've gotten to. So, yeah, they will keep winning as long as Cig as they're running the show and evaluating and getting the right core group of guys that want to come in there and actually build a team and build that culture week in and week out.

1:46:07So, yeah, odds are always high on those guys.

1:46:10AJ Hawk:D, but you know what was interesting, and nobody can appreciate this more than you and AJ, but just the efficiency of the way they played. Like, you'd have to go back and watch every game to try to find mental errors or busts, you know, on the back end. Or they just were in sync. Everybody communicated. It was a well-oiled machine. Very rarely do you ever see them beat themselves like one time last year. The closest I saw to it. Go ahead, Andy. The closest I saw to it, at least being boots on the ground, is that Michigan team we watched with J.J. McCarthy. They went on to win it. Just seeing their whole operation offensively and defensively, how they came out of the huddle, their shifts, their motions.

1:46:54And then defensively, I think mentors were on the show at the time. Their disguises pre-snaps. You saw the same things with the Indiana team as far as how they were all on the same page. you can just watch a team and tell how they practice. You can tell how they meet. You can tell how they get along and how they communicate. They don't have to say anything. You can just watch it. So those were the closest teams, I would say, side by side. But, yeah, it's unbelievable the job that they've been able to do.

1:47:18Pat McAfee:That's why I think it will take a year. I think it's going to take a year to get back to what they were on the defense. Obviously, Fernando Mendoza, Heisman winner. Had an incredible season. Number one overall pick. We believe in him. You believe in him in the NFL? Absolutely. Me too. I do believe in him. And I've got to stick by that.

1:47:33AJ Hawk:You know why you believe in him? Because he's going to beat you with his mind. There aren't a whole lot of guys that know the game and understand the game to be able to see pre-snap movement in the NFL, the complexities of half the defense is playing this coverage, the other half is playing this. Now, he may need some time. Troy Aikman, Peyton Manning, everybody needs time to adjust to the speed of the game. But he is going to be a game manager. He's going to be a distributor. and his x factor is he moves better than I think a lot of people want to give him credit big yeah

1:48:06Pat McAfee:big dude every ball is a tight spiral yeah we watched him throw during TV timeouts we watched him throw during games we watched him throw on the sideline with his brother we watched him almost take signet his head off whenever he was warming up every ball is a dart every single one the RPO offense that everybody was kind of judging him on I think that's modern football and I think the people that think he won't be able to figure out defenses just have never you know brilliant this This guy's actually brilliant.

1:48:30AJ Hawk:And he makes, if he ends up hitting it, he makes everybody, like D-Bot would like it. You know what I'm saying? The corners like him. The safeties. He's a nerd. Right. He's a nerd who loves ball. He's a lovable nerd. Exactly. You know what I mean? When it comes to morale. When it comes to the team morale. Beers with the lads. Yeah. Absolutely. Just like Kirk. Not Herbstreet Cousins. Very similar kind of vibes. Yeah. Same kind. And that's why it's such a great fit to have him in that room with him.

1:48:58Pat McAfee:And Signetti, similar vibes as Fernando. I think those two were a good match together. I think those two. I think Kirk and Fernando, good match. I think Fernando and Tom could, if Tom was investing enough, become a very good. I think he's going to have success. When do you guys think he starts? Oh? When's their bye? We don't know. We'll find out Thursday.

1:49:21AJ Hawk:You don't think he won, Kirk? I don't. Not with Cousins there.

1:49:25Pat McAfee:Why would they bring him in? I agree. I agree with you, but some people think that Kirk might not start at all. It might be – I think week one. Yeah, D-Bot. Oh, wow. Week one, D-Bot? You think Nando week one over there? I think it's going to be hard to keep him off the field. Now, the biggest – we talk about X factors. I think the biggest X factor for him going from his style in college to the pros is, especially in Cougs' system, is being under the center. You know, operating under the center and then hitting those kind of – we saw Sam Donald do a ton. That play action and hitting guys across the middle.

1:49:54instructor that that's a big it's a big change but if he's picking up in practice and otas and many can't he's obviously we've been around him he's going to be locked in he's going to be the first guy in last guy out he's going to do all the right things you talk about him physically you know being able to move around and get himself out of some shit if they have trust in the offensive line and you got the guy that they spent a touch a lender bomb they spent a bunch of money on he'll be able to call it and get things lined up and sorted out up front i think of all those thing, if he checks those boxes, it's going to be hard to not try them out there week one, but we'll see.

1:50:26AJ Hawk:And Debo, just for fans out there, when you go from a gun to more under center, and Caleb Williams is dealing with this now in Chicago, it's not just obviously you can go under center and take a snap. It's being able to get in a huddle, right? It's being able to call the plays which are much longer in the NFL, and then the timing and the rhythm when you're under center is very, very different than what you do when you're you know in the gun and you turn your back to the defense turn your back off the

1:50:54Pat McAfee:play action that is the biggest one because when you're quarterbacking you see everything in the shot college guys always up here because they're reading they're looking like this since high school when you get under center you're at some point you're gonna have to do this one yep and then you're gonna have to re-find it and that's when panic can sit in nando's not gonna have a clue out of panic he's not you don't even know what that is he's just gonna go ahead and move not that ty simpson's not gonna be incredibly successful now before we get out of here on espn We got to rattle off the other headlines of the day.

1:51:20Pat McAfee:Peter Herbstreit crushing the offseason. I think that needs to be noted. Sean Payton on Bo Nix. He'll be well ahead of time for training camp. I think there's a good chance we see him in this offseason program in June. Connor, what do you think he's saying over there quickly about Bo Nix? Feels like he's healing well. Yeah, if healing well, all is going as scheduled. We probably weren't privy to the information of him getting another surgery, but feels like everything is just right. Yeah, anytime they announce another surgery, there's time for panic. But, boy, what a nice little situation that was for the Patriots going into the AFC Championship where Bo Nix breaks his leg with, what, just like a minute left in the fourth quarter?

1:51:54Pat McAfee:We don't know until way afterwards. Can't even really celebrate a massive playoff win because you know your quarterback's breaking his leg. That was a sad ending to a season. I'm excited to see them get back on it. Excited.

1:52:04AJ Hawk:I'm with you on that. Think of that division, how much fun that division is going to be this year.

1:52:10Pat McAfee:Let's see here. They're a Patriots rookie first rounder, O-tackle. Caleb Lomo only practiced exclusively at left tackle. What does that mean, Connor? Are you guys a little bit worried over there? I know. It was just the backups looked further into this. This was all second stringers, and he was the second string left tackle. Makes a lot of sense. I don't know if you see what's written below that, Pat, on that sheet. That's the bigger news. Kyle Williams, wide receiver, who is a rookie, he switched his number from 18 to 8 last week. This week, switches from 18 back to 8. Stefan Diggs is coming home, baby.

1:52:43Pat McAfee:Ladies and gentlemen, joining us live from the NFL offices. I'm so glad you're here. Hey, thank you so much for having us. How are you, man? Great to see you. What an incredible thing you have here. There he is. Have you met Peter? Oh, yeah. Peter's big in our house. Hey, he's phenomenal. I want to let you know, thank you for the hospitality. Also, getting a chance to talk to Mr. Butter through everything. Feels like you guys are really on top of it. Embracing the future while also trying to have a great game. I respect the appreciation of the game that you have and everybody here that works for it.

1:53:13You've got to come in here and see this. Can you talk to this? You've got to come in here and see it on a Sunday because all this is lit up. Oh, this is your 50 people in here. This is where the decisions are actually made. Okay. So you're in the bunker. This is it. Mr.

1:53:28Pat McAfee:Butter, this is his desk, even though he said he's a pacer, he's a mover. The schedule being made right now currently, right? That's still happening or are we done? Just approved it an hour ago. Hey! Yay! That's big news. Love that. All right, well, congratulations. Thank you. We'll see you over here. Come back again. You got it. And tell me before. I looked up on my TV, and there you are down. Who's opening night? As we send you to SportsCenter here on this glorious Tuesday, the commish has obviously welcomed us into the Art McNally. Game day central. We're lucky to be here. Sports are the greatest.

1:54:00Pat McAfee:More playoffs tonight. We'll see you tomorrow. That's Kirk Herbstreit. Peter Herbstreit. Goodbye. We're still live, Herbie. We're still live. Who's opening night, Rog? Hey, Rog, who's opening night, Rog? Who's playing Seattle? We'll see you over there. He's not coming. We'll see you over there. Can't wait. Oh, you know. Pat Seahawks opening night's Super Bowl rematch. No Colts primetime? What? Danny Dimes. I don't know. What did you say, D-Bot? I want to know how many times we're on primetime. I heard AR might be back in the mix. Someone said goose egg. I don't know why. That can't be true. Not with Danny Dimes.

1:54:33Pat McAfee:There's a lot of things getting said right now over there, and I don't know what's real and what isn't real. So if you guys could clarify some things. AR is back in the mix. Was that Anthony Calhoun? For number two. Yeah, for number two. I did see a report. I like to hear that. Okay, I like that our NFL career is still continuing for Anthony Richardson. I love that. Okay? Another year of an injury being disappointment for himself and I think for his development. He could be number two. Riley Leonard looked really good.

1:54:59AJ Hawk:He did. Really?

1:55:00Pat McAfee:Last year, Riley Leonard looked really good.

1:55:02AJ Hawk:Is he locked in there? No.

1:55:04Pat McAfee:Well, it sounds like it's being reported. Anthony Richardson might be able to get number two overall spot there over Riley Leonard. Daniel Jones, Riley Leonard was who I assume was going to be the one-two punch for the Colts. Anthony Richardson asked for a trade. No trade comes to be. Back on the field, getting to work. Why not try to regain his spot here? I like that. I like that out of him.

1:55:20AJ Hawk:Good. It's always good to have competition.

1:55:23Pat McAfee:Indeed. Did you know Daniel Jones had a broken leg and a torn Achilles? Did you know Alec Pierce signed the biggest deal of all time? Had a surgery due on his head. Do you know the Colts are going to win the Super Bowl this year?

1:55:37AJ Hawk:Did you know that? West Virginia is going to win the Natty, and the Colts are going to win the Super Bowl.

1:55:41Pat McAfee:I am not on the record. What's that part, man?

1:55:44AJ Hawk:Yeah, play that part.

1:55:45Pat McAfee:I love that.

1:55:47AJ Hawk:Throw the Reds in there as the World Series champs. We got a huge one.

1:55:52Pat McAfee:How did you guys win? We got two in a row. I don't know.

1:55:55AJ Hawk:Kirk, we're on a two-game win streak, bud. Two-game win streak, Kirk. We're okay. When? Last two. The problem is you have to, it turns out, you have to be able to hit the baseball consistently to win. Got to score. Got to score a run. That's part of baseball I've learned.

1:56:13Pat McAfee:I'm new to baseball.

1:56:14AJ Hawk:But, yeah, you got to, the wood bat has got to make contact. Let him use metal.

1:56:20Pat McAfee:Pitching is pretty important, too. Need good woods. Pitching's got a chance, but it's just, we can't figure that thing out. Why don't you get out there for the Reds, maybe glory days. Glory days. No, I'm just a fan. It suffers. glory days. I love that AJ

1:56:38AJ Hawk:knew that we won two in a row.

1:56:40Pat McAfee:He's a big Mets fan. He takes it on the shins because the Pittsburgh Pirates obviously unbelievable this year. So we understand that. This is a plus 5 ,286 ,500 odds. Oh my gosh. West Virginia to win the national championship. Just think if we played that and it hit. I am. We have to. Might as well throw Blocky in there too. if we're just making them fake stuff. Put Blocky in there. I'm not sure about Blocky.

1:57:07AJ Hawk:Throw the Buccos in there. Good idea. Throw the Buccos in there. Top 10 record in baseball. I know. I'm saying throw them in there. Are we the leaders of the Central? No, but I got a lot more confidence in you guys.

1:57:19Pat McAfee:Than the Cubs?

1:57:20AJ Hawk:Than the Reds.

1:57:21Pat McAfee:Are the Reds in the lead in the Central?

1:57:23AJ Hawk:No, they're there after losing 10 in a row. I think Cubs are number one in the NL Central. Cubs are the team to beat.

1:57:27Pat McAfee:And then the Buccos? PCA. I would say the Buccos up there. We love PCA. He's up, man. our show pico i'm sure it is yeah it is skein's day today yeah they're they're uh minus 350 so i don't know how you're gonna just stay away from that one probably all right uh a man got here looking incredibly dressed herbie we'll see you in like 10 15 minutes are you gonna walk back with us i'm just walking yeah all right we gotta do we gotta do hockey right now oh you are yeah we have to do okay especially you could feel this man's presence right when he walked in you could yeah

1:57:57AJ Hawk:Yeah. I'm going Carolina against Colorado. What? In the Stanley Cup. I don't know.

1:58:04Pat McAfee:Connor just mockingly said, wow. That's who I got.

1:58:08AJ Hawk:That's who I'm going with. Montreal. No puck. You could pull with it. You could say Montreal, but no one's going to beat Colorado. Just give it to them right now.

1:58:16Pat McAfee:Okay, so Colorado has lost the game, though. So Minnesota, obviously, has beaten Colorado one time. Carolina is back-to-back sweeps, 4-0, 4-0. Colorado sweep.

1:58:29AJ Hawk:How great is playoff hockey?

1:58:31Pat McAfee:Oh, the best. The best. Guy ate a puck to the nose last night. Yeah. Then came back and scored later. Of course. Best player, too.

1:58:39AJ Hawk:It's unbelievable.

1:58:41Pat McAfee:The energy. We're going to do some hockey. Don't leave us. All right, I won't. Ladies and gentlemen, joining us now, friend of the program, a guy who played 13 years in the NHL, Kirk Sweat, from the moment he got here. Wow. That was impressive. And so now. You can see it. The moment he's walking out. I don't know. I'm a sauna guy in the morning. Are you a sauna guy in the morning? I am. He was sweating like, you know, you take a shower quick and you rush out the door. Yeah, shower didn't take. Yeah, shower sweat. That did feel like a shower sweat there. He's dripping this guy. It's a long walk.

1:59:15I don't know. He's been carrying that tongue. Don't let him make you walk.

1:59:20Pat McAfee:Michelle Smallman here. PayPal is now the official peer-to-peer payment sponsor of the NFL, which means all the money moments that fandom creates, whether splitting tailgate costs or chipping in on tickets and game day food between friends are covered. Wherever the game is played or watched PayPal moves with fans. You can send money through text, email, or directly to your friends with eligible accounts on Venmo. Just download the PayPal app and share all the moments that matter. Account with PayPal is required, not available in all regions where PayPal operates. Most protein drinks ask you to choose between results and taste.

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2:00:30Pat McAfee:15 minutes we're gonna do a hockey talk right now with an incredible conversator ladies and gentlemen joining us now 13 year NHL vet man who calls New York home now just gave 10 million dollars to the Montreal Children's Hospital incredibly fly PK Subban.

2:00:49wow

2:01:01hey i had to when i was coming in i had to i had to look the part today okay so this is not one

2:01:06Pat McAfee:of the costumes you would wear on super duper hockey night on espn but this is one that you would wear whenever you have to look fly would i have to be a professional today's a professional day you're incredible uh obviously what you do do you you live in new york uh full time yes i'm in new york now full time okay are you in this area of town no i'm soho so i'm one of those single guys yeah one of those single guys just living the dream you know down in soho so i'm loving it you ever been the carbone zz's club you know what i have not been to whoa is it cast the chip rianni's on the water is that what you're talking about carbone is that the same or no it sounds like you don't know what you're from no i'm an emelios guy emelio balados that's it's a staple are you friends with emelio yeah i am i am friends with him actually yeah really close that makes sense one of the first people i met in the city when i came just a real guy from the city and i don't know whenever i go to a new city i don't want to meet people that move there i want to meet people that are actually from there that know the city that can tell me where to actually go absolutely And it's like with not tourists and stuff.

2:02:11So, shout out to Emilio.

2:02:13Pat McAfee:Yeah, shout out to Emilio, man. Everybody that's friends with you is very happy that they're friends with you. That is what I've learned for over the last 24 hours of being here in New York. I've learned of this Emilio, man, multiple times. Everybody that's friends with Emilio says, I'm friends with Emilio. And it's like a big, holy fuck. Yeah. That's how everybody views this? He's the guy. Because he's just cool. He's the coolest. He's a good dude. He's rooted in the city. But he's just down to earth. He's going to treat you like everybody else. So that's why I think people love to go there. I like the local stuff.

2:02:40Pat McAfee:That's why I went to Starbucks this morning. You went to Starbucks? Okay. I still go to Starbucks. I'm not going to the local coffee shop in New York. I'll go to a Starbucks. I felt a little bit like an asshole. Did you? Yeah. We walked by 14 cafes. Yeah. Right to the Starbucks. You walked by all 14 to pay like$35 for what? Yeah. Hot water and a couple espresso shots. I'm not chirping Starbucks by any means. No. I certainly drank it. Yeah. We certainly drank it. But I felt like a little bit of an asshole walking by Jack's and Diane's and Lucy's. You know the other one? Lucy's. I think it was a cafe I walked by earlier.

2:03:11Pat McAfee:Oh, okay. Super hipsters. Sweet-looking people in there. Would have had a cool glass of coffee. I said, excuse me, I've got to get Starbucks. I felt like an asshole. Okay, well. It's kind of Bruce's fault over there. You see Bruce? Yeah, I see Bruce. Which one's Bruce? Bruce right here over here. Hey, what's up, Bruce? What's going on? What's up, dude? Bruce, why'd you take me to Starbucks instead of one of the local places? I just prefer it, to be honest with you. A lot of what PK's talking about with super expensive lattes, it's just not really worth it. We go to Starbucks. We get what we always get.

2:03:38We keep them moving. Wait till he takes you to his favorite pizza place to borrow.

2:03:43Pat McAfee:You ever been to that? You ever tried Sparrow? No. S-B-A-R-R-O? Is it? So good. It's New York. That's not like a special place. That's not like a special place. It's not a special place. Is it special? I mean, it's not Emilio's, of course, but Sparrow is very special to a lot of people. Okay. The genuine New York spice. Hold on. The Starbucks of pizza. My pizza place is not even in Manhattan. I got to go out to Brooklyn for this one. L &B's, Spumoni Gardens. I got to get out there. You have to get the square slice. It's unbelievable. So I drive. I drive out there to get it. I'm in Brooklyn, Queenville.

2:04:21You know what I mean? BK in the BK. Oh, I like that. Oh, yeah. Okay. It's like the Jay Tatum. I know. We're going to put that one to bed. No! Okay. All right. We'll bring it. We'll keep it. We'll keep it.

2:04:32Pat McAfee:But they're out of the playoffs, so now it's not hitting as hard. in my mind, but the J. J. Tate. Boom! Let's go. That's a pretty good little double pump there. Can you tell me about hockey? The Avalanche have lost to the Minnesota Wild one time. It could have been a clean sweep. Obviously, the Carolina Hurricanes were able to do that. Kirk Herbstreit goes way out on a limb where the food are and says he likes Carolina to take on Colorado. Is that how we should be viewing it, or is there a chance that Montreal Buffalo kind of sneak their way into the finals that we can showcase maybe their atmospheres.

2:05:07Pat McAfee:How about Vegas Golden Knights? Nobody's talking about them. Anaheim Ducks obviously got Lorax as a coach. I love their team. They're in a battle 2-2 series. Feels like Colorado and Carolina have stolen the conversation strictly because they've been sweeping everybody. Can anybody make it right now? Is that how you view this, or is it really a two-horse race at this stage? Anybody can make it. I think in the East, there's still a chance. And I really believe it's Montreal. Obviously, they've got to get out of this series. Buffalo's going to turn it on tonight. I expect a much better game from Buffalo tonight.

2:05:37They were not good enough. They didn't tilt the ice. They were sitting back on their heels. Other than the start of scoring 53 seconds into the game, that was their best shot. What are you doing over here? That stuff's good. I know. You got a long day.

2:05:49Pat McAfee:Don't you worry about what's going on. Okay. Okay? We're cleaning things up over here. No, no, no. I'm just kidding. So, I think that Montreal is going to come. I think they might challenge Carolina. But Carolina, as much as this pains me to say it, Pat, I haven't picked Carolina to win a series in four or five years. Carolina Hurricane fans are loving every single moment of this right now. And I do believe that this, if this is going to be their best chance to win a Stanley Cup since the last time they won. Like, this is their chance. If they don't get it this year, and I'm not talking about getting to the finals, they got to win it this year.

2:06:22So, that being said, that's what Montreal or Buffalo is up against. In the West, I agree. I think Colorado is the team coming out of the West. Vegas has a chance, but they got to figure out Anaheim first.

2:06:33Pat McAfee:Yeah, Anaheim's certainly been a little bit of a tough task there. The Hurricanes become the first team to start a postseason 8-0 since the Oilers in 1985. Lost three games the entire playoffs en route to a title. A lot of people saying they're going to win a title if you have this particular stat, this particular stat. The Caniacs down there in Raleigh will certainly love another opportunity at that. Let's turn a conversation into NHL playoff hockey. do you think this has been a great display of what the game is? I think it has been. Ratings have been up and to the right. Montreal going to change to showcase who they are.

2:07:06Pat McAfee:Every single environment has been fantastic. Now, a couple of runaways. Carolina sweeps two people. They're going to wait for a week, maybe get healthy. Colorado could potentially do the same. But I think hockey has shown up here. Do you not agree? Oh, 100%. And in regards to the sweeps, by the way, we always want to have the element of the underdog upsetting a better team. It's always there. I've been an eight-seeded team that upset a first-place team in the playoffs. It can happen. So, you know, some years it's going to happen. Some years it's not going to happen. That's a part of it. But aside from that, you cannot tell me the quality of hockey isn't at the highest that it's been ever, I think, in terms of the skill, the young players.

2:07:44Like, that's the thing now. The young players are coming in ready to play. The NHL is not a development league. I'm not going to tell someone you're going to develop in this league. You have to come in ready to play. and you see guys like Lane Hudson that are now being considered in just a couple years some of the best players in the league. You look at Lane Hudson, Slavkovsky, all these guys. Buffalo's got a few guys. Anaheim's got Leo Carlson, Troy Terry, and a couple other guys, Seneca, that are coming. So there's a smorgasbord of young talent. That's what screams the future is bright in the NHL, right?

2:08:15Pat McAfee:Speaking of the future, the draft obviously just found its way. Connor has a question for you about number one overall pick. Yeah, PK, it feels as though, and I'm not, you know, making accusations. Okay. But it feels as though maybe it was rigged for Gavin McKenna to go. Number one, the Toronto Maple Leafs have had odds in the top 10, basically twice. And they missed the playoffs twice in the last 10, 15 years. And both times they end up with that number one pick. How do you feel about Gavin McKenna going? Number one, is that definitely a lock? And do you think that the Toronto Maple Leafs. I mean, we're not even going to bring up the GM.

2:08:51You said you got a lot to say about that, but do you think they hang on to kind of their core with Austin Matthews and them, or do you think this is kind of a new era for Toronto as far as the Maple Leafs go? Great questions. First of all, this puts an immense amount of pressure. If there wasn't enough pressure on Toronto already, getting the first overall pick, I know some people are excited about it, but being a new GM coming in, new management, and getting that first overall pick in Toronto, you cannot mess that up. You can't fuck that up. Yeah, no, no. You can't. Excuse my French, but you can't mess that up.

2:09:24Oui, oui. If they do, you know, this is not going to be good. So the question is here. Do they build around Austin Matthews and Willie Nyland? And I'd have to say I think they're closer to probably tearing this thing down and rebuilding it. You know, I don't want to say that. I don't know. I don't have any insight into it, but they need defense. They have to retool their goaltending. like how many young prospects do they have in the system they've traded away first round picks they have to retool like we're building this not to compete and content you got to win a championship not content for one you got to win one so they've built contending teams that haven't even been able to get out of the first round so to me a new breath of fresh air has got to come in whether austin matthews and nylander are part of it i think that's up to them too whether their contracts allow them to go or not do they want to be a part of a rebuild do you think the entire

2:10:16Pat McAfee:our U.S. Olympic team should just come back to America? Get Halibut the hell out of there? Get Brady Kachuk the hell out of there? Get Austin Matthews the hell out of there? And listen, Michael Landlauer, the ownership there, I know what they're doing in Ottawa, and I believe that Ottawa's going to be a great place to play. A lot of guys are going to want to play there once all that stuff happens in the new arena, I think, eventually. But, for Brady Kachuk right now, I would have been out of there yesterday, because of just of where he is in his career, where his game is, I believe it's just too heavy it's too much he shouldn't have that much on his shoulders to go he's already the captain of the team leads by example they put way too much heat on him and i played in canada i know what it's like but for him he should be appreciated for the game that he brings every day and i think he's gonna have a better opportunity to go somewhere and lead and win yeah i think florida i want to see him go play with matthew in florida good he fits listen to me he fits in with their style yeah right he might be a better fit for florida than matthew is with the way he plays I'm being honest.

2:11:15So now he slides in there. I would like to see him in there.

2:11:19Pat McAfee:And they're kachucking knucks, too. Yeah. Oh, for sure. They're certainly kachucking knucks all over the place. I got a few. He beat. Oh, yeah. Brady. I fought Brady. You fought for how to go. Oh, my God. Do you win a lot of fights or lose a lot of fights? Surprisingly so with the way my face looks, I've won more than I've lost, obviously. Because I'm telling you, I fought a couple guys that I shouldn't have fought that could have gone the wrong way. Like, I remember one fight, Borowicki, he could have splattered my whole face, and he just happened to hit my visor. Lucky time. But very, very, very, very lucky.

2:11:52But Brady, I'm in Ottawa. It's his rookie season. And, you know, I know Keith Kachuk. I remember meeting Brady and Matthew at a hockey tournament when they were just little kids. And Chris O'Sullivan's a good friend of mine, obviously the Fitzgeralds that are tight with the Kachuk, so I know him. So Brady's out there, but he's got a little chip on his shoulder, and I'm out there. I'd been out there for an extended shift and he gets in front of the net and he knows I've been out there long I'm not giving him that free pass I know Keith taught him how to fight and when to pick his fights. He grabbed me at the end of my shift But it didn't matter.

2:12:23He put his hands on me from the 18 years old. He put his hands on me I don't know if I've ever felt a guy in my career that at that young have that much strength He's basically going like this on the top of my head. Look, I'm way in over my head here way in over my head and I'm just eating them you know just gotta hang in there try to get your arm loose you can tell I'm tired and Brady's like yep you're getting tucked in and that's exactly what he said to me at the end he's like yep I tucked you in body slam yep watch and then he tells me right after he got tucked in it's okay this is probably closer to the end for you you'll probably be with Pat watching this in a couple years and he wasn't wrong about that it wasn't wrong about that at all yeah he is a unit I got a lot of respect for him man he's as tough

2:13:10Pat McAfee:as they come we got a lot of respect for you we appreciate you coming over here and giving us the hockey good it's great to see you dude it's so nice to meet you pat i'm telling you guys you're better looking in person you look great on tv but better in person i can see why you're a kicker now i can see the legs man yeah you got a little bit of these no it's an honor man thank you thank you for having me bro bro all right how about it yeah let's go pinstripe suit what a new york experience you're having yeah i had to i had to come strong for you today i couldn't come in with some bullshit today.

2:13:39I had to come in.

2:13:41Pat McAfee:Yeah. What type of shoes are you got? Okay. So I got the sailor. Sailor. But this is Cesare Antolini. So I only wear his suit. New York. Top, top, top, top. This is where you gotta get it. This is Mr. Antolini. Yep. Right here. Cesare, baby. You tie that tie? Cesare. I did tie the tie. Double-breasted. Look at this guy. Hold on. I'll open it up a little bit here. Let me just open it up and show you. I did doing episode salt bath i heard the sauna talk before you got me all excited hockey players are the best at times for sure 400 years they've been making suits they know what they're doing yup yeah i have to i gotta dude i i can get fat so fast i have to single here the program hey he's i mean that's just living up in soho single life single guy in soho taking some salt baths Yes.

2:14:33Pat McAfee:A massage every day. Working out, getting after it. We appreciate you, PK. Thanks, boys. Hey, hold on. Don't leave us. Don't leave us just yet. Ladies and gentlemen, it's been a fantastic day here in New York. We can't thank you enough. I'll be back live from the Thunderdome. AJ, thank you for traveling over to Indianapolis, brother. Of course. Awesome time. I appreciate you supporting Tiger, too. Hell yeah. I am. You're right. Wherever he may be. Hell yeah. We need to tell him to stop driving, though, right? Yeah, we do. We all agree. We all love Tiger. Tiger, we love you. We appreciate you. stop driving yeah yeah you got a windows of waymo now yes i did see that drunk white puking all over the side of that waymo that's good video huge addition smart never even dude i feel like a part of the team right now this you are you got anything to say to the crew uh you know what love watching you guys love having you guys on keep grinding keep changing the game you guys are changing the whole media game i love it so i'm it's an honor to be on pat dude you're the best for saying that.

2:15:28Pat McAfee:How about you, Big City Bruce? Anything? I just pulled up that Waymo puke guy and I look just like him. That might have been me. Well said, Bruce. See your friend, tell your friend something nice. It might change your life. We're in this thing together. Team on me. Team on three. We love you all. Thank you so much for allowing us to do this for a living. We got to go do a show for a bunch of suits. Never would have thought I'd say that. But what an honor it is to continue to try to find more people that want to invest in sports, which are the greatest thing to ever be existed. We're allowed to do this, and we're thankful for it, all because of you that watch along at home.

2:16:05Pat McAfee:Thank you so much. Be your friend. Tell a friend something nice. It might change your life. We're in a sing together. Team on me. Team on three. One, two, three. Team! Goodbye. Nailed it. Nailed it. Rich Eisen here. PayPal is now the official peer-to-peer payments sponsor of the NFL, which means all the money moments that fandom creates, whether splitting tailgate costs or chipping in on tickets and game day food between friends are covered wherever the game is played or watched paypal moves with fans you can send money through text email or directly to your friends with eligible accounts on venmo just download the paypal app and share all the moments that matter account with paypal is required not available in all regions where paypal operates hey sports fans the espn app has all of espn all in one place the espn app is your home to thousands of live events espn shows and originals across every espn network in service and now you can check if you already have espn unlimited as part of your tv package for no additional cost visit activate.espn.com to learn how to access your account or sign up then start streaming in the espn app it's all of espn all in one place sign up or activate now