Alex Curry and Monse Bolanos talk Super Wild Card Weekend!

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.

Speaker 2 (00:04):
Welcome to Fox Sports Saturday. I'm Alex Curry here with
Monsey Bolanos.

Speaker 3 (00:08):
Thank you for spending.

Speaker 2 (00:09):
Your Saturday afternoon with Monty and me. Happy wild Card weekend.
The playoffs are officially here. Fun fact, it's the first
NFL playoffs without an appearance from Tom Brady or Peyton
Manning since nineteen ninety nine. Wow, so we are in
officially a new era in the NFL.

Speaker 4 (00:26):
That's crazy, even though we know that. Hearing it, you're.

Speaker 3 (00:28):
Just like, oh wow, uh huh wow, oh yeah, you era.

Speaker 4 (00:33):
I know.

Speaker 5 (00:33):
Wow.

Speaker 2 (00:34):
We just filled out our playoff brackets like fifteen minutes ago.

Speaker 3 (00:37):
We'll share those at some point. We both just like
kind of peeked over. I crossed something now, Like just
I said.

Speaker 2 (00:42):
Once we go live, you can't change anything like that
is your bracket.

Speaker 3 (00:46):
I changed my Super Bowl when I've minutes ago.

Speaker 2 (00:50):
I'm like, so on the fence, but yeah, I think
I'm feeling good about it.

Speaker 3 (00:55):
Yeah, I don't know. And then I looked over years ago.
Stop cheating.

Speaker 2 (00:57):
I'm like, you can't cheat if you've already filled out
your bracket. I'm just like looking like, oh you crossed
out a couple two and yeah, yeah, no, I just
was It's it's the playoffs. Anything can happen, anything can happen.
It all starts in about thirty minutes, which is so exciting.
Rounds at Texans, that's the one you were kind of
iffy about, which I'm.

Speaker 3 (01:14):
Not if you're iffy on that one. I'm iffy on that.

Speaker 2 (01:16):
Yeah, I'm iffy on that one. I know it's okay.
We're gonna get into that later and then we have
the Freezer game. No, I can't tonight the Dolphins at Chiefs,
Like I was seeing videos of Chiefs fans already lined
up in like minus nineteen windchill to try to get
in to tailgate, Like.

Speaker 3 (01:34):
Those fans deserve something. You don't function, No, you do not.
I've worked.

Speaker 2 (01:39):
I've worked outside in minus ten in Saint Paul.

Speaker 3 (01:43):
No, thank you again. Like I'm I'm a beach girl.
I grew up.

Speaker 2 (01:46):
I grew up in La at the beach in Manhattan Beach,
and I forgot gloves. I forgot a beanie, like for
like prep day, I walk outside. My nose hair is froze,
my lips froze. I was like, no, yeah, what do
I do, Like words did not properly come out of
my mouth. You have to like do warm up exercises
with your mouth, like Hi, I'm.

Speaker 4 (02:06):
I wish you could see right now. I wish you
guys could see what she looks like because it's not sexy.

Speaker 3 (02:12):
Let me tell you, I didn't even think.

Speaker 4 (02:16):
And that was sexy, so at least for Valancer, for Valuncer.

Speaker 2 (02:20):
Yeah, that's right, We're off to a great start, you guys.

Speaker 4 (02:23):
I've never been I think, in weather that's below like
maybe ten degrees.

Speaker 3 (02:29):
I've been at ten degrees, but I've never been below that.

Speaker 4 (02:31):
Like, I don't tell you I would handle shocks your system,
but I believe it I could barely handle your system.

Speaker 3 (02:36):
So this is going to be a gnarly one tonight.

Speaker 2 (02:38):
And then the Bills and Steelers game has officially been
moved to Monday at four thirty pm Eastern because of
crazy dangerous weather. The New York Governor implemented full travel
band yeah in Erie County starting at nine pm tonight.

Speaker 3 (02:52):
So smart move, smart decision.

Speaker 2 (02:54):
Yeah, I means we got we got a lot of
football Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Speaker 3 (02:58):
How exciting, Which is great.

Speaker 2 (02:59):
You guys, we are broadcasting live from the tyrec dot
Com studios tyrac dot com.

Speaker 3 (03:02):
We'll help you get there.

Speaker 2 (03:03):
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way tire buying should be.

Speaker 3 (03:12):
Now.

Speaker 2 (03:14):
We have so much to get to today. We have
such a great show. We're gonna keep you updated on
all the Browns and Texans highlights once that game gets underway.
We have La Spectrum Sports reporter Little Nikki Kay joining
us at the bottom of the hour to talk some
rams lines, games, Chargers, Lakers, Clippers, basically anything going on
with LA teams. I'm proud of you, Okay, right, our

(03:35):
teams have like flip flopped. We'll talk about that when
we get Nikki in thirty minutes.

Speaker 3 (03:40):
Bottom of hour two.

Speaker 2 (03:41):
We have Cowboys reporter Jane Slater who's gonna break down
that Packers at Dallas game. She is putting in the work.
She is on NFL Network all day today, so we're
gonna get her live at the fielding. That's gonna be
a big one as well. We have producer Bo Benson
with us today. Technical producer Chris Perfett and Eddie Garcia
at the news sets. We're gonna have a blast, a

(04:01):
blast here today. We all know, let's just dive into
it right now. We all knew that this week, this
entire week, was going to be a wild.

Speaker 3 (04:09):
Week for head coaches.

Speaker 2 (04:11):
Yes, right, But I gotta be honest, there were a
couple that shook me, dude. Like this week we said
goodbye to some legendary coaches and their teams. Nick Saban
and Alabama. Man, what yeah, Pete Carroll and the Seahawks.
What also? Like makes sense? But didn't see it coming.
I didn't see it coming. But let's start with Bill

(04:32):
Belichick leaving the Patriots after twenty four years.

Speaker 3 (04:36):
As I expected. This is what I said last Dick,
if not the weekend before. It's it was a mutual agreement.

Speaker 2 (04:42):
They both sides agreed that they would go their separate ways,
which is how it should be.

Speaker 3 (04:48):
Just Yes, you could fire Belichick that word, and it
was the right move.

Speaker 2 (04:54):
It's now been four seasons of disappointment since Tom Brady left.
Bill will go down as the greatest coach and page
its history and possibly of all time.

Speaker 3 (05:02):
But it's a billion dollar business.

Speaker 2 (05:03):
As we talked about and when you're not getting results,
it's time to shake things up. But his farewell presser
did not seem like he was done coaching.

Speaker 6 (05:11):
Right.

Speaker 3 (05:11):
That was the.

Speaker 2 (05:12):
Nicest we've ever seen him dress, the clearest we have
ever heard him speak.

Speaker 3 (05:16):
There was no mumbling oh no, and I was like, oh,
you can speak clearly, Bill. There he is.

Speaker 2 (05:24):
Looked like he was presenting himself in a way that
he's ready to coach a different team. Almost felt like
a job interviewing.

Speaker 3 (05:33):
Ye a bit.

Speaker 2 (05:33):
He dressed for the occasion, And if he was planning
to retire, he would have told us, yes, he would
have told us.

Speaker 3 (05:40):
Now.

Speaker 2 (05:40):
Both Bill and Robert Kraft had these like planned speeches
at the presser and said, you know, very nice things
about each other. Let's start with Robert Kraft talking about Bill.

Speaker 7 (05:52):
At heart, I will always be a sentimental sports fan,
So this is a very emotional day for me. Of
my happiest and most memorable moments were celebrated with my
family during Bill's tenure here. Coach Belichick will forever be
celebrated as a legendary sports icon here in New England,

(06:14):
which makes this decision so hard. But this is a
move that we mutually agreed that is needed at this time.

Speaker 2 (06:23):
Yeah, that perfectly put. Yeah, like he was legendary.

Speaker 4 (06:28):
He built a legacy like he he is the Patriots.

Speaker 2 (06:32):
They were a dynasty. Yeah, for an incredible amount of time.
And Robert Kraft and the Patriots will be forever grateful
for what he did. But it's a business and it's
time to move on. And and Bill, like you could
tell he even kind of understood it, and this is
what he had to say, so.

Speaker 5 (06:54):
Much, thanks for the opportunity to be a coach here
for twenty four years.

Speaker 7 (06:57):
We had a vision of.

Speaker 5 (06:58):
You know, Billy and Winner building championship football team here
that's exceeded, exceeded my wildest dreams. You know, fans and
are amazing. You know, there's so many memories of the fans,
the send offs, the parades, the Sundays, you know, whatever,
the whatever the situations are, the letters to support seeing
the fans you know away from here, you know, to
gas station, in our grocery store or you know where

(07:21):
she bumped into them. Patriot fans here and not just
in New England, but they extend nationally and even internationally.
As I've traveled, it's amazing how far the arm reaches.
We saw that this year in Germany. So so appreciated
the fans for all the support they've given me, my
family in this football team.

Speaker 3 (07:38):
The emotion. Yeah, in Bill's voice, I don't know if
we've ever heard that.

Speaker 2 (07:42):
No, not to that clarity, not to that appreciation, not
to I think it's the first time again twenty four years,
when you're in it, you don't actually you can't, you
can't really like appreciate it.

Speaker 3 (07:53):
Us step them back.

Speaker 2 (07:54):
To be like, whoa, look, we accomplished. But like, once
you know you're moving on, that's the first time you're
able to really.

Speaker 3 (08:01):
Look.

Speaker 2 (08:01):
And I've talked about this with a lot of players,
legendary Hall of Famer players, where it's like, when you're
in it, you don't want to get too caught up
in it, of course, but the moment you kind of
take a step back, you're like, wow, we did some
pretty cool stuff. Yeah, that was epic. Now, as I mentioned,
I don't think Bill's done coaching.

Speaker 4 (08:16):
I don't think so either. The way you just said it,
he just looked so perky.

Speaker 2 (08:23):
Yeah, he would have said I'm done, I'm done, he's here.
Bill does not beat around the bus, right, he tells
you how it is and that's who he is, that's
his personality. He didn't say that, so I very strongly believe,
I would say ninety nine percent that he is going
to land another coaching job. So possible landing spots for Bill,

(08:47):
I would say, there's like three.

Speaker 3 (08:48):
Okay. I have the Falcons, Yeah, good ownership.

Speaker 2 (08:56):
They have a decent draft pick to get a solid quarterback,
eighth overall in the draft. Commanders another one. They just
hired their GM, Adam Peters from the forty nine Ers.
He was the assistant GM. I don't know if that
will necessarily help or hurt Bill wanting to go there
because he was the GM and head coach at the
Patriots and likes having that. Overall, I think power where

(09:19):
he goes, he's gonna.

Speaker 4 (09:20):
Have to it's gonna be it's going to be nobody. Yes,
So wherever he goes, I don't think he's gonna have
that same power.

Speaker 2 (09:28):
Not as much. I will definitely have a say, but
he won't have as much.

Speaker 4 (09:31):
Correct.

Speaker 2 (09:31):
Plus, Commanders have the second overall draft pick. They will
get a great quarterback. And this is an incredible quarterback
draft class and then there's a dark horse that's kind
of been rumoring this week and Philly.

Speaker 3 (09:46):
Right, that's the one. If they lose this.

Speaker 2 (09:48):
Weekend, they're saying Sirianna could be out right and that
could be a.

Speaker 3 (09:54):
Great top spot for Bill.

Speaker 2 (09:57):
Just just kind of keep that in the back of
your mind because it's all going to depend how.

Speaker 3 (10:02):
The Eagles do right during the playoffs.

Speaker 4 (10:05):
Yeah, Bill needs to go to a team that is
kind of already established and just needs to get pushed.

Speaker 3 (10:11):
Over the hume he's not. It's not. I don't see
him doing a full rebul right.

Speaker 4 (10:15):
Like starting from scratch.

Speaker 2 (10:16):
But if he does have a top draft pick and
gets to like develop a new franchise quarterback or you
have a great system in place, I think that works.
I also don't see him coming to the West Coast.
He is an East Coast guy. So that's why I
think more of these Ice Coast teams, the.

Speaker 4 (10:32):
Three you had are the three I actually had to
okay for those reasons. Again, I just not even I
didn't even think about the East Coast. But good point. Yeah,
I just think he's not going to go to a
team that is starting new, starting fresh. He's got to
go to an already kind of established team that just
needs to fine tune things that he can get them
over whatever hump they're stuck at. Yeah, you know, but

(10:53):
I think the dark horse is one to definitely keep
an eye.

Speaker 3 (10:58):
On and see what happens in the playoff.

Speaker 2 (11:01):
I know, but the Patriots didn't waste any time, you know,
hiring their new head coach. Craft hired Mayo. Yeah, I
love that Craft and Mayo. Gerard Mayo is a new
head coach of the Patriots. He played for Bill Belichick.
He won a Super Bowl in twenty fourteen. He's been
the Patriots linebackers coach since twenty nineteen, so he's coached
under Bill and last year the Panthers requested an interview,

(11:25):
Mayo declined the interview. It's now been reported that the
Patriots and Ford Mayo last year that he would be
the next in line to be the head coach. So
this is this didn't come as a surprise to anybody
within the organization or anybody that kind of had that
understanding of what was next. But it also kind of
feels like they're doing the same thing, right. This is

(11:46):
another Bill guy, He's another defensive guy. Doesn't have the
head coaching experience, but they are taking a risk on
a younger guy, similar to kind of what the Rams
did with Sean McVay.

Speaker 3 (11:57):
Mayo is thirty seven years old. He's a part.

Speaker 2 (12:00):
Yeah, he's a part of the Patriots family. The Patriots way.
It's such a specific culture and a way that they
do things there, So you kind of knew it was
going to be someone that was connected the Patriots.

Speaker 4 (12:12):
I'm so surprised about it, But clearly they had decided this.
Now did they know that they were going to have
this many coaches available at this time because obviously this
was in the contract and I think it was supposed to.

Speaker 3 (12:24):
Happen next year. Yeah, they just sped it up.

Speaker 4 (12:27):
It was the worst season, as you said, Dollar, Yeah,
you know it wasn't working. They sped it up. But
it's like, I wonder how they feel, Like if Robert
Kraft is like, man, look at all these available coaches.
I just he didn't know this was going to be
the situation. I am surprised that they though had already
decided because of he's he is not a product of

(12:48):
Bill Belichick, but he has been under Belichick in so
many ways as a player and as a coach, you
can only imagine there's going to be a lot of
similarities in the way.

Speaker 3 (12:56):
Definitely the Patriots move forward.

Speaker 2 (12:58):
Yeah, and you have to remember the Paytriots are in
position to get a top quarterback with the third overall
draft pick, so that could be a key piece to
Mayo's success.

Speaker 3 (13:09):
Right.

Speaker 2 (13:10):
The roster they have right now is not good enough, obviously,
the record shows that, and they need pieces, they need
to upgrade some pieces.

Speaker 3 (13:20):
There's a lot of top quarterbacks in the draft, Kaleb.

Speaker 2 (13:22):
Williams, Drake may Jiden Daniels, Heisman winner, Michael PENNOCKX Junior
bo Nix, Like, there's plenty of to figure out who you.

Speaker 3 (13:31):
Think is going to work best within your system.

Speaker 4 (13:33):
Yeah, and I guess it helps the Patriots that Mayo
has been there, right, So he's not stepping into something
brand new, which is a positive. Yeah, he's stepping into
something he's familiar with.

Speaker 3 (13:42):
Yeah. That has to help him in the long run.

Speaker 4 (13:45):
So even though he is a rookie coach, Yeah, he's
not that rookie coming into that organization.

Speaker 2 (13:50):
No, no, no, no, no, no, not totally no, Yeah, which is.

Speaker 3 (13:52):
A good thing for him. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (13:54):
Okay, we're gonna do one more here just because we'll
stay in the NFL keep college coaches for the next
segment here, But Carol and the Seahawks. Pete also didn't
feel like he was done as of now. He's going
to be an advisor for the Seahawks and they moved
him from the field to the front office. But if
he gets another offer to be a head coach, I

(14:14):
believe he's out of there.

Speaker 3 (14:15):
In a moment and he goes back to college. Interesting.
What if he goes back to very very interesting?

Speaker 2 (14:25):
I mean, and even in his presser he said he
wanted he fucked, yeah, he fun ye to stay the
head coach.

Speaker 8 (14:31):
I see it one way, and I think I got
a way to fix it, and I'm not going to
kind of halfway fix it. I'm trying to fix it
so it's perfect. So I've got, you know, real precise
and specific thoughts. And they may not see it that way.
They may not agree with it, they may not see
that that's the right answer. Well, that's not the answer
that makes them feel good. And the difficult part, if

(14:52):
you guys could know, it's really hard because they're not
football people, you know, they're not coaches and so to
get to the real detail of it, it's really difficult.

Speaker 4 (15:02):
Yeah, he was he did not know he was shut us.

Speaker 2 (15:05):
Yeah, you could tell he was shook a little. He
wasn't ready for it. Yeah, I could see Pete coaching
again again for Sure's who's who's gonna want to take
a chance on, you know.

Speaker 4 (15:18):
Yeah, he's gonna go back to college and Russell Wilson's
gonna go back to the Seahawks.

Speaker 3 (15:23):
What what?

Speaker 2 (15:25):
Okay, hot take. But we'll see, we're gonna on that note.
We're going to take a break here and when we
come back. Is Jim Harbad done in Michigan? If so,
where does he go?

Speaker 3 (15:35):

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Speaker 1 (16:11):
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Speaker 9 (16:12):
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Speaker 3 (16:30):
Well, if you don't get enough.

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Speaker 3 (16:53):
I love this song.

Speaker 2 (16:54):
Yeah, you're listening to Fox Sports Saturday. I'm Alex Curry
here with Manti Bilanyos. We are broadcasting live from the
Tyro dot Com studios in Los Angeles, and you guys,
as we talked about in the first segment, this is
the week for head coaches. We didn't get to hit
Nick Saban in the first segment, so I just want
to give him his flowers because he officially retired from

(17:15):
Alabama and it feels like Saban is actually done coaching.

Speaker 3 (17:21):
He said.

Speaker 2 (17:22):
Obviously he's going to stick around to help with the transition.
But what an incredible career. Seven national championships, six with Bama,
won with LSU, five time SEC Coach of the Year,
two hundred and ninety seven career wins, US fifth all time,
twenty eight years of greatness, and.

Speaker 4 (17:36):
Just like, I like that, twenty eight years of greatness.

Speaker 2 (17:38):
Yeah, some of the NFL players that he produced. Let
me just I saw that.

Speaker 4 (17:42):
Listen, You're just like, are you kidding me?

Speaker 3 (17:44):
It's insane.

Speaker 2 (17:44):
Quarterbacks Jalen Hurts, Tua, Bryce Young, Mac Jones, running back
Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, Naji Harris, mark Ingram, Trent Richardson,
wide receiver, Julio Jones, Amari Cooper, DeVante Smith, Jalen Watal,
Jerry Judy, Calvin Ridley, like this man nose how to
form and create talent.

Speaker 3 (18:03):
So congratulations.

Speaker 2 (18:04):
I can't imagine how excited every team in college football
is right now to not have Nick Saban still coaching,
except for Washington, because just two days after he retired,
Alabama offered Washington's head coach Kaylin to bore the job.

Speaker 3 (18:20):
So that's uh, that was quick. Yeah, they had to.

Speaker 2 (18:25):
You got to think about it has to be quick
because of the transfer portal, because of just everything involved
with players and how quickly they will move on from
a team depending on the coach and the situation.

Speaker 3 (18:36):
And you gotta, you gotta, you gotta keep it rolling.
You know.

Speaker 4 (18:40):
Do you think Washington players are upset?

Speaker 11 (18:43):
Oh?

Speaker 3 (18:43):
Yeah, right, Like I would be so mad. We just
went to the championship. Ye, they're going to transference them.

Speaker 2 (18:47):
We're gonna go with that probably yeah, oh yeah, they
leaves so nice. Caleb Williams, Hello, yeah, all right, but
let's shine a light on the champ you guys. Congrats
to Jim Harbor for overcoming all of the adversity and
winning the national championship. Michigan's first title since nineteen ninety seven.

(19:08):
Is the last time it's a fourteen playoff format. They
went undefeated, fifteen to zero, and they just absolutely dominated Washington.

Speaker 3 (19:16):
They really did, like.

Speaker 2 (19:18):
It's it was not close, which is weird because it
felt like Pennix couldn't miss a pass against Texas and
then he just was not the same guy against Michigan.

Speaker 4 (19:30):
Give it up for Michigan. Their game plan was way
more effective than whatever game plan Washington had and I had.
I took Washington, You took that. You took Michigan's texting
you during Yeah, and you're right, Like the score, you know,
Michigan came out hot and the score stayed relatively close,
but the game didn't look close. That's what the problem was,

(19:50):
even though they didn't score again until the end. But
it was like Michael Pennock Junior did not look the
way we had seen him throughout the entire season.

Speaker 2 (19:58):
Now, Jim Harbaugh absolutely USh, yeah, that that game plan.
So now the big question is will he stay or
will he move on and move back to the NFL,
because if he does, he's going to be the flashiest name,
one of the flashiest names on the market.

Speaker 3 (20:14):
Plus you have to take into consideration.

Speaker 2 (20:16):
You know, the NCAA is still investigating all of the allegations,
correcting allegations, everything that went down this year. I say,
you get out of there, have a fresh start, knowing
that you accomplish and you know, reach the ultimate goal
that you were trying to do at Michigan, and now
try to accomplish that next goal, which is win a
super Bowl in the NFL.

Speaker 3 (20:36):
But Harbo was actually asked about that this week during
his presser, and.

Speaker 8 (20:41):
All those accomplishments in the big person's table, would you
want to add winning a super Bowl to that?

Speaker 12 (20:47):
I just want to enjoy this. I just want to
enjoy this kind of hope you give me that, you know,
kind of guy have that? Does it? Does it always
have to be? You know what's next? What's what's the future?

Speaker 8 (21:02):
You know?

Speaker 12 (21:02):
Like I said the other day, Yeah, I hope. I
hope to have a future. Hope there's a tomorrow, a
day after tomorrow, you know, and next week and next month,
the next year.

Speaker 3 (21:12):
He's great, he is great. It's a perfect great point.
Can we just enjoy this like and it's true, yes, But.

Speaker 2 (21:20):
But if he is moving on to the NFL, these
teams need to figure out their head coaching position fairly quickly.

Speaker 3 (21:27):
So what's the best landing spot for Jim Harbaugh And
why is it the Chargers just putting it out there.
I was listening to the.

Speaker 2 (21:38):
NFL network this morning. There were reports that he has
a meeting set with the Chargers. The Chargers obviously keeping
options open, but are willing to do whatever it takes
if this is where he wants to go.

Speaker 3 (21:51):
I personally think it's the best fit.

Speaker 2 (21:52):
They have their franchise quarterback, they have a lot of
weapons and pieces in place.

Speaker 3 (21:56):
The GM spot is open, so he could have a
say with who he works with. Full place to.

Speaker 2 (22:00):
Live biased of course, it's my hometown and he can
walk in and just have a great team in place.

Speaker 5 (22:06):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (22:07):
I still think there's a really big chance he stays
in Michigan, and I think we're waiting. There's stories out
there that he wants to be where he's wanted the most,
and that he wants confirmation from Michigan that if the
NCAA comes in here they're going to protect him. That
he wants that. There's also that he wants to stay
with JJ McCarthy. He has not declared for the draft yet.

Speaker 3 (22:27):
They haven't until Monday, so I think it's really like
stay or the Chargers. But JJ McCarthy if he declares.

Speaker 4 (22:36):
For the draft, everybody is pointing to he would probably
fall for maybe number thirteenth. You know who has thirteenth
pick the Raiders. So it's like he could go to
the Raiders.

Speaker 3 (22:46):
Now and then they would draft J. J. McCarthy.

Speaker 2 (22:48):
Antonio Peers is like, right, he's the players are right
or die for the head coach right now. Yes, that
he would request a trade if he doesn't get up
if Antonio Peers is not the next head coach. I
think it would hurt Raiders team morale if Pierce wasn't hired,
and Harbaugh would not feel wanted, like he wants to

(23:10):
feel wanted, as you just mentioned by the players as
much as if he was at Chargers or Michigan. I
don't think he's staying at Mission just because of all
the NCAAs.

Speaker 4 (23:19):
Did you also happen to hear what he said to
Scott van Pell after he won the Natty. He said
he asked him, He's like, so, when do you guys
start practice again? He's like, well, we usually start practice
on February fourteenth because we love football, but we're going
to push it back one month and enjoy it, so
we're gonna start in March. That's what he said to
Scott van pel Yeah. So it's like I'm telling you.

Speaker 2 (23:38):
Well, yeah, because right now he hasn't made a decision.
He is still the head coach at Michigan. So you
have to stay in that mentality until you make a public,
proper decision of where you're gonna go.

Speaker 3 (23:48):
But we got it right now. We got to check
in with Eddie Garcia to see what's trending.

Speaker 5 (23:56):
Well.

Speaker 6 (23:57):
NFL Super Wild Card weekend is about to get underway.
They are ready to go in Houston where they Texans
are hosting the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland checks in eleven and
six Houston, the AFC South winners are ten and seven,
but they win the division so they get to host
the game. These two teams did face each other week sixteen.
That was a thirty six to twenty two win for
the Browns and aw CJ Stroud, the star rookie quarterback

(24:19):
for the Texans, did not play in that game. He
was out with a concussion. Joe Flacco, the old veteran
who joined the team late for Cleveland, was the quarterback
in that game for the Browns. One injury. Note of
in this one, the Cleveland kicker Dustin Hopkins is out,
so Riley Patterson, who could be in the spotlight in
this he will be kicking the for Cleveland. Coming up
eight pm Eastern Time. The second game of the day

(24:40):
in Kansas City, Chiefs host the Dolphins. Forecast has the
temperature below zero at kickoff. Both teams are eleven and six.
They did face each other week nine in Frankfurt, Germany.
That was a Kansas City twenty one fourteen victory. There
are reports that Miami wide receiver Jaalen Waddle and running
back where He Moster will both play in this game.
Wadle is nursing anake injury, Moster a knee and ankle injury.

(25:02):
We've got two playoff games today, and now we've got
two on Sunday and two on Monday. Because the NFL
announced earlier today the bill Steelers game, originally scheduled for Sunday,
has been moved to Monday because of severe weather in Buffalo.
So the game on Monday now scheduled for a four
to thirty pm Eastern time kickoff. And one note from
one of the Sunday games, Philadelphi Eagles not gonna have

(25:24):
wide receiver aj Brown for that game against Tampa because
of a knee injury. Some finals from college basketball today.
Number three Kansas beat number nine Oklahoma seventy eight sixty
six in our only matchup of ranked teams. Top rank
Purdue knocks off Penn State ninety five sixty six. Number
five Tennessee beat Georgia eighty five seventy nine. Seventh right
North Carolina Oliver Syracuse one OZHO three sixty seven wins

(25:47):
in the top twenty five for number fifteen Wisconsin and
number twenty two Creyton. And in the NHL, the Capitals
beat the Rangers three to two. Back to Montcivlogios and
Alex Curry in the Tirak dot Com Fox Sports Radio Studios.

Speaker 2 (25:59):
Thank you you're listening to Fox Sports Saturday. I'm Alex
Curry here with Monsey Belonios. We are broadcasting live from
Tarrek dot Com Studios in Los Angeles. Thank you for
spending your Saturday afternoon with Moncey and me. But it
is time to bring in our first guest of the day.
She covers every sport imaginable happening here in LA. I
also can confirm she's a great person to go golfing

(26:19):
with because she's here for a great time, not a
long time.

Speaker 3 (26:22):
Please welcome little Nicky Kay.

Speaker 11 (26:26):
You know what, Alex, I think put that on my
Teamstone here for a good time, not a long time.

Speaker 3 (26:30):
You know how we are.

Speaker 2 (26:32):
Would we say we're professionals having fun? Like, yes, we're
just gonna have a great time.

Speaker 13 (26:37):
We're majoring. Enjoy.

Speaker 3 (26:38):
Oh, we're majoring. That's PhD enjoy. Nice.

Speaker 2 (26:42):
That's it, Hi, ladies, Happy Saturday, Happy Saturday, Nikki. Let's
start with Wildcard weekend RAMS taken on the lines tomorrow art.
There are so many great storylines surrounding this game, the
biggest being Matthew Stafford returning to Detroit fans wanting to
ban stafford journey. How has this been affecting the locker

(27:03):
room motivating the Rams locker room?

Speaker 13 (27:06):
First of all, I love the move by Detroit.

Speaker 11 (27:08):
You know they they've celebrated and heralded Matthew Stafford. He's
had his time there, but now they realize this is
a moment they've been waiting for over three decades for
to have that playoff game, get that playoff win. So
bravo to the fans. In the great City of Motown, right,
But when you talk about how it's affecting the Rams.

(27:29):
All the veterans spoke this week from Matthew Stafford, Cooper Cup,
Aaron Donald, and each one took the podium with the
same kind of approach as that, you know, just another game, obviously,
Matthew Stafford saying I'm not expecting anything. I know I'm
coming in as a bad guy.

Speaker 13 (27:46):
I'm excited for the opportunity.

Speaker 11 (27:48):
But he also added the biggest thing is to continue
to trust what we've been doing, because the Rams were
three and six at the bye week, and he says
they've been in playoff mode ever since then.

Speaker 13 (27:58):
But if you really take a.

Speaker 11 (27:59):
Step back and look big picture, like these guys can
talk to talk of being cool, calm, collected and not
being faced by, you know, the stage.

Speaker 13 (28:07):
That they're about to set foot on.

Speaker 11 (28:08):
But I think even Matthew Stafford, if you you know,
really poked at him and asked what he's feeling internally,
it's going to be an emotional return without a doubt.

Speaker 3 (28:18):
Oh yeah.

Speaker 2 (28:19):
Now, speaking of emotion, it's the first time in NFL
history two quarterbacks are playing. They're former teams in the playoffs,
So there is going to be so much emotion.

Speaker 3 (28:30):
In this game. But also I don't think most people
thought that the Rams were going to be here.

Speaker 2 (28:35):
Yeah, this was a quote rebuild season for the Rams,
and now Sean McVay has them in the playoffs and
looking extremely dangerous. What's been the most impressive thing about
the Rams this season?

Speaker 13 (28:47):
Well, when you talk about that.

Speaker 11 (28:49):
You know, nobody saw this coming.

Speaker 13 (28:52):
I don't think anybody saw the emergence of Kiren.

Speaker 11 (28:55):
And Puka Nakua as these two rookie stars in the
Rams offensive unit right, which they've just really powered and
been options for Matthew Stafford, taken the load off of
someone like Super Cups. So I would say that's been
the most pleasant surprise about this quote unquote rebuild year
is that these guys delivered when when all expectations weren't

(29:18):
even there. And it's it's been so fun to watch.
Puka naku is such a humble kid, and it's it's
when you see them breaking records and having everyone in
the around the league saying their names because they're not
just you know, dominant as rookies in their own rights
in their respective positions. They've had stand out seasons as
some of the best in the league. So for me,

(29:39):
that's something I have truly enjoyed.

Speaker 13 (29:41):
About this Rams team.

Speaker 11 (29:43):
And I think if you even talked to Rams fans
about this playoff game, and I've had these conversations with
some casual fans around me, is that, you know, being
being cheerleaders of Jared Goff and his journey, they would
they would not be upset if the Lions were the
ones to walk way victorious. And Rams nation is well

(30:03):
aware that if the Rams win this game, you know,
it's the task and the test gets taller and more
challenging as the playoffs progress. So I think if you
are a Rams fan, I know there are no moral
victories here, but I don't think you can lose in
this kid. I think it's awesome.

Speaker 3 (30:18):
I'm with you on that. No, yeah, I no, you
are gone. It is gone. You are you are the
enemy now we are not. We can be friends off
of the field, but on the field it is on.
Like Donkey k I think both can be true.

Speaker 11 (30:35):
No, yes, yeah, I think I think both can be
true to Alex yeah, like bring it on like Donkey ko.

Speaker 3 (30:40):
Yeah yeah, I know, of course I'm going to agree
to disagree.

Speaker 4 (30:45):
All right, Nikki, let's talk about the Chargers this week.
Just crazy coach wise, retiring people, just being you know,
let go mutually parting ways. But the Chargers are still
the talk with who is going to be the next
head coach?

Speaker 3 (30:59):
What is is that you've heard?

Speaker 4 (31:00):
Obviously, Jim Harba is the name that keeps being attached
to the Chargers. Alex really wants that.

Speaker 3 (31:06):
Tell her, tell her what you see it.

Speaker 11 (31:09):
Well, I'm with Alex. You know, Harva is so great
for the sport of football, and how fun of an
opportunity would that be to have him in our market
and to engage with him.

Speaker 13 (31:20):
The quote this man says, you know on the daily
are our gifts.

Speaker 11 (31:27):
It's honestly, I can't get enough of him. And if
he if he brought all of that to Los Angeles,
oh my gosh.

Speaker 13 (31:34):
I'd be so excited.

Speaker 11 (31:35):
But I know the latest in terms of tangible candidates
the Chargers have interviewed. They did interview Todd Monkin, who's
Baltimore's offensive coordinator, and and you would hope they've all
that was their fourth coaching candidate they've spoke with. You
would hope that the Chargers do tend to lean offensively
with their selection when you've.

Speaker 13 (31:54):
Got, you know, the talent that you have in Justin Herbert.

Speaker 11 (31:58):
And I mean, if we just lean into this Harbond
native or narrative rather, how would that be him having
played for the Chargers. I think it was head coach
of University of San Diego when the Chargers were in
San Diego. And not to mention, he's a former Court
of Acts himself. So I'm all for the Harbond narrative
and storyline. Haven't heard any you know, tangible nuggets that

(32:25):
he is going to be the guy. But you hope
the Spanos family at least brings him in for an interview.

Speaker 4 (32:31):
Totally.

Speaker 3 (32:31):
Yeah, thank you. I got chilled as you were like
listening all those things. I was like, see, it just
feels right.

Speaker 13 (32:37):
We love a.

Speaker 11 (32:38):
Narrative, We love a good narrative.

Speaker 2 (32:40):
He just he would fit in Hollywood, all right. He's made, Yes,
he's made for Hollywood.

Speaker 11 (32:45):
Okay, I know he said he wants to be married
a Michigan man.

Speaker 1 (32:49):
I mean he is.

Speaker 2 (32:50):
He's already like etched in their history books like he
did that.

Speaker 3 (32:54):
Now let's go to your next gol. Let's move on.

Speaker 2 (32:56):
To the NBA though, because the Lakers have not looked
great since winning the end season tournament.

Speaker 11 (33:01):
So how about those charges with those Clippers.

Speaker 2 (33:03):
Yeah, we'll get to them a second. We'll get to
them in a second. Okay, first, so it breaks my
heart to talk about Lake show right now. But what,
like can put your finger on it? Like, what is
the reason for their struggles right now?

Speaker 13 (33:16):
Well?

Speaker 11 (33:16):
I saw this so accurately tweeted by Alan Sliwa, who
hosts the Lakers radio postgame show. He said, thirty nine.

Speaker 13 (33:23):
Games in, and I still have no clue what this
team is.

Speaker 11 (33:28):
And the lack of consistency is the underlying route of
all of this team's issues right now at nineteen and twenty.
And it is remarkable to think that like just a
month ago, they were popping champagne and smoking cigars and
winning the in season tournament. And really, right, you don't
And another NBA player said, you don't want to be

(33:50):
playing your best basketball in December and right now, the
Lakers role players have been kind of plagued by injuries, illnesses, absences.

Speaker 13 (33:58):
For whatever reason, this team.

Speaker 11 (34:00):
Hasn't been able to have consistent rotations, consistent starting lineups,
consistent finishing lineups, and it's creating issues on the court
as to be expected, and you know, then you get
reports coming from the athletics that, like, you know, players
are unhappy with their.

Speaker 14 (34:17):
Minutes, and.

Speaker 11 (34:19):
As with any Lebron James team about mid season, when
things aren't going great, then questions about the coaching.

Speaker 13 (34:25):
Stability starts coming in, you know, and so it's just
it's not what you I.

Speaker 11 (34:31):
Would say, nine times out of tend the franchises that
go on to win championships in the NBA are a
source of you know, they're stable and they know what
Like look at Denver's locker room right now, you don't
hear anything out of them. And if even if they
do make moves of the trades trade deadline, you haven't.

Speaker 13 (34:49):
Heard of them.

Speaker 11 (34:50):
So it's it's just interesting. And figure that tru trade
deadline coming around February eighth, it's going to be intriguing
to see what moves the Lakers runt office makes.

Speaker 4 (35:01):
Do you think if the Lakers do not make the
playoffs that the in season tournament just kind of now
it's like, what's the point of that.

Speaker 2 (35:09):
No, you don't think it was trying to engage everybody right,
hit the goal, hit the goal when they were trying
to right.

Speaker 4 (35:17):
But now for the future, if this team doesn't make
the playoffs, everyone's gonna be like the what's the point
of the tournament? What does this mean?

Speaker 11 (35:21):
No, is that I don't think you I don't think
you can correlate right when you talk about causation and correlation.
I think you can look at like, yes, the Lakers
when the in season tournament and then they didn't go
on to win, you know, to make the playoffs. But
I don't think you say you know because of a
or a because of the right, Like I don't think

(35:42):
one thing.

Speaker 13 (35:43):
Leads to the other.

Speaker 11 (35:43):
I think it would be maybe more an indication of
the roster building and the talent that ultimately the Lakers
were working with.

Speaker 4 (35:52):
Yeah, speaking of identity, the Clippers, I think I found
their identity and again yeah they did. You know, Oh
my god, I've seen five six in a row with
James Harden. They seem to know what they're doing. And
big thing that I see tell me if I'm wrong.
They seem to be like happy and like having to fly.

Speaker 3 (36:06):
That's the key.

Speaker 11 (36:07):
Well and Monty, I have to give you know, all
the credit to James Harden here because I spoke to
someone on the Clippers coaching staff and I said, what
is working and why? And you talk about James Harden
and what he brings offensively to this Clippers team. He

(36:27):
has been putting in the work after practice to develop
pick and roll chemistry with role players, building their confidence.
But not only that, his presence in the pick and roll.
I mean, Paul George went on to have thirty seven
points and thirty five minutes last night, and he made
it look easy. He didn't have to work too hard
for those he because of the gravity that James has.

Speaker 13 (36:50):
On the court. So what you're saying is a group.

Speaker 11 (36:53):
Of veteran players who really get it, and.

Speaker 13 (36:56):
That get that, you know, not every guy has to have.

Speaker 11 (36:58):
A big night every night, and that maturity is really
helping them develop and become I would put them in
a championship contender this right now?

Speaker 2 (37:10):
All right, Mons, just live in the living the happy
right now, Let's see what happens and if you can.

Speaker 3 (37:14):
Take during the postseason, because we haven't seen that yet.

Speaker 4 (37:18):
In the words of Hardback, can I just enjoy this?

Speaker 3 (37:22):
Yeah? Yeah, I'm going to say, take your moment. Can
I just take your moment.

Speaker 13 (37:25):
Nikki.

Speaker 3 (37:26):
We love you so much. Thank you for coming on
the show.

Speaker 2 (37:29):
You were great, Yes, Gil Power. All right, well we
come back the dudes and the dons in sports. You're
listening to Fox Sports Radio. Welcome back. You're listening to
Fox Sports Saturday. I'm Alex Curry here with Moncey Blanios.
We are broadcasting live from the Tarret dot Com studios
in Los Angeles. Thank you for spending your Saturday afternoon
with Monty me. We have Saturday wild Card weekend. We

(37:51):
are still scoreless in the Cleveland Houston game, eight minutes
left in the first so we'll keep you updated on
that if anything happens, if anything goes down.

Speaker 3 (38:02):
But right now, it is time for the dues and
the donts this weekend.

Speaker 1 (38:06):
Sport level highlighting.

Speaker 15 (38:08):
Duh.

Speaker 8 (38:08):
I love that.

Speaker 1 (38:09):
Putting a spotlight on the don't.

Speaker 3 (38:11):
The subject brings me no joy.

Speaker 12 (38:13):
Don't do that?

Speaker 4 (38:14):
Are you on crack?

Speaker 1 (38:15):
It's time for the dues and the don'ts in sports?

Speaker 3 (38:19):
Okay, well my first due.

Speaker 2 (38:22):
I don't think it's happening anymore, but I still want to, like,
you know, give the Bills a pat on the back.
The Bills were going to pay, Yes, anybody eligible eighteen
or older or with the proper working permit papers to
show up to get twenty dollars an hour plus free
food to shovel out all the snow from the stadium
tonight through the morning.

Speaker 3 (38:43):
But now the game is moved to Monday.

Speaker 2 (38:45):
So I'm curious if if it's still crazy, they'll probably
do that then Sunday or like all of Monday. And
then also another addition, help your fans. I don't know
if you saw this, but Jordan Love helped a young
girl out of a snow dress.

Speaker 13 (39:00):
No.

Speaker 3 (39:00):
Yeah, posted it just a fun little light. Yeah, I
love that. All right, I've got a du.

Speaker 4 (39:08):
And this is great. So there are regulations where sometimes
you can't use a highlight, right if a game is
going on. Okay, so this guy, Sam Ali, the sports
director for mid Michigan, now big Michigan fan, the game
is going on, he's working, he can't use highlights, so
he draws like pictures of the players, and these illustrations

(39:29):
come up and he's like, oh, Donovan Edwards and it's
a stick figure with the jersey.

Speaker 3 (39:33):
Wait, dude, so good.

Speaker 4 (39:35):
And then at the end it's harball holding a trophy
and like draw like he just did him on the spot.

Speaker 3 (39:40):
That's cute, and used it.

Speaker 4 (39:42):
To tell what was happening in the Michigan Washington game.
So good, so good.

Speaker 3 (39:47):
I love that.

Speaker 2 (39:47):
Okay, another dude, do support and surprise your former teammates
family coaches. So Russell Wilson surprise Pete Carroll at his
farewell party earth like you know, yeah, farewell from coaching.
He's still in the front office as of now in Seattle,
which was interesting because he didn't have a great ending
a couple of years ago. But Russ is probably missing

(40:08):
Meete now compared to what he's dealing with in Denver,
being told they don't really know what his future is.

Speaker 3 (40:13):
They haven't made a decision yet, and he's just.

Speaker 2 (40:15):
Like, Pete, I miss you what we had, Like, wasn't
that bad. You don't realize what you got till it's gone.
It's true, perfect scenario, it's true.

Speaker 4 (40:23):
Uh big, don't don't boo a dead man. Did you
see this at the Bulls game?

Speaker 3 (40:27):
Jerry Cross in his heartbreaking I know, y'all, this is
just like.

Speaker 4 (40:30):
What you did if you didn't like.

Speaker 3 (40:32):
The guy, And it's just like that.

Speaker 4 (40:34):
It was and if you watch it, if you watch
his widow, it's just like an awful moment.

Speaker 2 (40:38):
Don't don't boo, no man, don't do now, don't do that. Okay,
I got one more. Do find your way into the
legend suite. We had a couple of Hall of famers
and heavy hitters all in the same suite at the
National Championship and Michael Jordan, Derek Jeter, Travis Scott. I
would love to hear those conversations. Jeter's like one of
the most incredible humans ever. I got to work with him,
like all playoffs songs, A new member of MLB and

(40:59):
five sols.

Speaker 3 (41:00):
Big fan.

Speaker 2 (41:01):
All right, when we come back, who's upsetting Wildcard weekend?

Speaker 3 (41:06):
Dear listening to Fox Sports Radio.

Speaker 2 (41:08):
Welcome to hour two of Fox Sports Saturday. I'm Alex
Curry here with Monty Bilanios. We are broadcasting live from
a tyrack dot com studios in Los Angeles. Tyreck dot
com will help you get there an unmatched selection, fast
free shipping, free roadhouser protection, and over ten thousand recommended installers.
Tyrec dot com the way tire buying should be. Thank
you for spending your Saturday afternoon with Mansey and me.

(41:31):
Let's have a great hour.

Speaker 3 (41:32):
Two.

Speaker 2 (41:32):
We finally h we finally got some points on the board.
Right now, Houston's up by three. Oh, but Flacco's looking
to make a run right now. So we'll keep you
updated on all these highlights as they continue to happen.
We have Cowboys reporter Jane Slater joining us at the
bottom of the hour to break down that epic game.

Speaker 3 (41:53):
Tomorrow, we'll have our wild Card weekend picks.

Speaker 4 (41:58):
I'm uncomfortable with my picks, but you know it's okay,
Super wild Card Weekend.

Speaker 2 (42:02):
Next segment, we'll get to those. But as we mentioned,
it's wild, it's wild. There's gonna be some upsets this weekend,
right We don't know what it's gonna be, but it's
gonna happen. So what we're gonna do is we're gonna
go through every game in order. Okay, we're gonna share
who needs to win more and why. You give me
your thoughts as to why are there any jobs on

(42:23):
the line like that? What is what's the low down here?

Speaker 4 (42:26):
Yeah?

Speaker 2 (42:27):
Okay, so let's get started with the game that's happening
right now. Okay, Brown's at Texans. As we mentioned, the
game is underway. Houston is up three nothing in the
first but the Browns are on a good little run
right now. We'll let you know if anything happens. There
two incredible quarterback stories here, right you have Joe Flacco
and the Browns who came off the couch went four

(42:50):
and one.

Speaker 3 (42:51):
It's insane. CJ. Stroud, second overall.

Speaker 2 (42:55):
Pick in the draft, you know, just put on a
rookie of the year camp pain with the rookie head coach.
But who needs to win more here? First of all,
the Browns made their bed with Deshaun Watson. Now they're
stuck with it. That I'm wrong. I think they made
the wrong move, but they're stuck with it, and now
they hard just in a quarterback carousel. Okay, and Joe

(43:16):
Flacco has come to save the day for them. So
I think the Texans need to win this one more
to prove that they are the real deal. And a
playoff win with a rookie quarterback a rookie head coach
would just be absolutely incredible. Oh Flacco, Oh okay almost
did he get the touchdown?

Speaker 4 (43:34):
Very close?

Speaker 3 (43:35):
I was close bill yard out.

Speaker 2 (43:38):
It would be their first playoff win since twenty nineteen,
the Texans that they had with Deshaun watch Watson, and
they've completely turned this franchise around this year with c J. Stroud,
and it feels like the Texans are just getting started.
So I think it would be bigger for them to
win this game.

Speaker 4 (43:56):
So I think for both of them, they're playing with
house money. I really think they're both kind of like,
we're happy to be here type of thing. The Texans, Yeah, no,
patch Dad, I don't think the Texans touchdown? Yes, and
maybe a push up while we're at it. Why not
the Texans a bran new coach, a bran new quarterback.

Speaker 3 (44:20):
I don't think many people thought they were gonna be
this good.

Speaker 4 (44:23):
They are good, and so I think they're just happy
to be here.

Speaker 3 (44:27):
With the Browns is the same thing.

Speaker 4 (44:29):
After losing Nick Chubb in what week two? I think
the Browns were also like, man, what are we gonna do?
Especially not just Deshaun Watson and that stupid contract he
hadn't played in how long, Like, I don't think they
knew what they were gonna do, And the fact that
they're still here alive and kicking and looking good. I
feel like they're both playing with house money. Honestly, I

(44:51):
don't think one needs to win more than the other,
if I'm being honest for this particular game.

Speaker 2 (44:56):
But this was my toughest game to choose, to choose
it because I really believe, I mean, it could go
like Cleveland has.

Speaker 3 (45:05):
The best defense, Yeah, no question. This season, I think CJ.

Speaker 2 (45:08):
Stroud and the Texans are one of the cooler stories
of turning the season around. So it really can go
either way. But we'll get We'll get to those picks
a little later. Let's move on to the game tonight. Okay,
Dolphins at Chiefs. It's going down the freezer bawl in
Kansas City. I mean, game conditions are insane.

Speaker 4 (45:30):
I can'not.

Speaker 2 (45:30):
It's like zero below like minus what thirty with a
wind child, No one can properly function, you guys in
this weather. We talked about it a little in the
first first segment top of the show, Like your body
does not function properly below zero like anything, like so,
like imagine trying to catch a frozen ball.

Speaker 3 (45:48):
Like imagine trying to throw a frozen ball.

Speaker 2 (45:50):
Feeling conditions like it's going to be a running game,
a handoff running game.

Speaker 3 (45:56):
Yeah, like it's going to be crazy. Okay, this one,
this one's really interesting.

Speaker 2 (46:03):
Obviously, Tyreek Hill going home playing his former teammate.

Speaker 3 (46:09):
He had some interesting things to say about that this week.

Speaker 16 (46:13):
I haven't take my home since they beat by ass
and I takes Kelsey. He still hasn't takes me back.
He's probably still in his tennis school bag. But yeah, man,
those guys are too famous film and I guess you.

Speaker 2 (46:27):
Know, good bullet to board material for Tyreek not hearing
back from Mahomes or Kelsey. But again, like I just said,
it's dog mentality, like we're not friends right now. We
are enemies going against each other. But also not the
usual trash talk that you hear from Tyreek Hill, like
the week before the game, Like he's not hyping up
his team, he's not hyping up him in Tua. That
was kind of like his stick the first half of

(46:47):
the season when they were rolling. He's probably not going
to get a ton of passes in these conditions. It's
interesting here because the Chiefs, I don't I don't think
it's as bad. This is weird saying if they lose
because they're not their best version of themselves. We've seen
the issues they have all season. They don't have a
ton of offensive weapons. They have the most drops in

(47:11):
the league this season. It feels like it's going to
be a very low scoring game with some There's gonna
be a lot of luck involved, lucky bounces, lucky slips,
lucky whatever it goes. I think the Dolphins have more
to prove if they like they need to prove, like
to win this to prove like we are the real deal.

Speaker 4 (47:29):
So I totally agree with you that that's what the
Dolphins need the win for to prove that they're not
just this offensive powerhouse that can only beat mediocre teams.

Speaker 3 (47:38):
Right, they have that to prove.

Speaker 4 (47:39):
But I want to give the edge to Kansas City.
They're trying to establish themselves as a dynasty.

Speaker 3 (47:45):
Yeah, that's that. It's a big picture. Oh, and they
definitely are.

Speaker 4 (47:48):
But this is not that some people aren't giving it
to them. And if they don't have it this year,
next year with Joe Burrow back, AFC is going to
be a lot harder.

Speaker 2 (47:56):
So I'm big on the like, you need three titles
to be considered dynasty. Mahomes has even come out and
said so it's yeah, they are.

Speaker 4 (48:04):
And they also in the midd, I think like next year,
to be right.

Speaker 2 (48:11):
They're gonna go out, they're gonna get weapons, they're gonna
they need to And if they don't, like, what are
you doing?

Speaker 4 (48:14):
But the AFC, as we can see, is already looking
really good this year. Bring the Bengals next year. Oh,
it's gonna be even harder. So you have to you
have to win now. And so I'm giving the Chiefs
that they they need to win more than the Dolphins.
That's I'm gonna give it.

Speaker 2 (48:31):
Yeah. And also just a reminder us saying who needs
to win more is not necessarily who we are picking
to win the games. Okay, we're gonna give that later.
This is just like who we think needs organization. We
obviously like they both need it, right, they need That's
how it works. Okay, let's move on to Steelers at Bills,
which has officially been moved to Monday at four thirty

(48:52):
Eastern due to extreme dangerous weather conditions. But where they
they were the next game? You know when we were
putting this togetter, but it's got now. It's going to
be interesting to see what the weather is like on Monday.
If it's as bad, I don't think it's going to
be great. I don't like obviously hopefully it's going to
be better because they're moving it. So who needs to

(49:13):
win more? Here? I am all over the Bills and
Josh Allen. The Bills have been super Bowl like in
that Super Bowl conversation for years and have underperformed. Now
you have a playoff game at home versus backup quarterback
No TJ.

Speaker 1 (49:27):
Watt.

Speaker 2 (49:27):
The Bills have to win this game. They've been on
a they've been on a role winning their last five
games of the regular season. Like they have to win
this game.

Speaker 4 (49:35):
I am one hundred percent with you. The Bills need
to win this game. You just mentioned. They have been
in the conversation of being the team for what three
years now four years, and they have not been able
to deliver to what everybody was expecting, even just reaching
the Super Bowl, right, and so they need to do it.

(49:56):
I think like jobs are on the line in Buffalo. Also,
like they they need to capitalize on the fact that
they turn the season around.

Speaker 3 (50:04):
After a rough start. So that's one game where you
feel like jobs are on the line.

Speaker 4 (50:09):
I do feel like jobs could be on the line
in Buffalo, all.

Speaker 2 (50:11):
Right, this next game, I feel like jobs can win.
Packers at Cowboys, this 'd be the most interesting matchup.
To me, who needs to win more? I'm gonna say
the Cowboys hands down everyone because the Cowboys are heavy favorites.
But there's a couple things to think about here, right.
They don't have a great playoff record. They've only won
four playoff games since nineteen ninety seven. Yeah, okay, Cowboys

(50:33):
are undefeated at home this season, so if their first
loss is this wild card game, it's not gonna look
good for their main guys. I feel like Dak and
Mike McCarthy are playing for their jobs. Tomorrow, We're going
to talk to NFL Networks Cowboys insider Jane Slater at
the bottom of the hour. She'll give us all the
inside information there. She has been like with this team

(50:54):
not only all season, but every day this week. But
the other thing to look at the other side, love
and the Packers are coming in with nothing to lose, right,
No one is expecting them to win, and that is
the most dangerous time to face a team that underdog
mentality of like, yeah, come on, doubt me, let me
prove you wrong.

Speaker 4 (51:13):
Right, I one, one hundred percent agree with you. With
Dallas needs this win way more than the Packers. The
Packers I think are like, again, we're happy to be here.
We found our franchise quarterback when we weren't sure at
the start of the season, and here they are.

Speaker 3 (51:28):
I agree.

Speaker 4 (51:28):
It's nobody's thinking that they're gonna make any moves against
the Cowboys, which is dangerous because they have nothing to lose.
But yeah, the Cowboys, I mean, like the last time
that they went as far as the NFC Championship and
was nineteen ninety five when they went on to win
the Super Bowl.

Speaker 3 (51:43):
But you mentioned four playoff wins in how many twenty
seven ish years, twenty five years whatever, that's nineteen ninety seven. Yeah,
like long, pack it's a long for sake.

Speaker 2 (51:53):
I want to believe that the Cowboys can do it,
but there hasn't been a track record to show me
that they can get it done in the playoff.

Speaker 4 (52:00):
The only reason you should feel comfortable if you're a
Cowboys fan is cow how the season ended.

Speaker 3 (52:04):
It ended on a really positive note. Fall also that
you're undefeated at home and you're playing it correct, So
that's that's the upside there. Yeah.

Speaker 4 (52:10):
So, I but I think jobs are on the line
for sure. Definitely in Dallas if they are eliminated in
the first round. Okay, we're gonna get to two more
real quick here. Rams at Lions.

Speaker 2 (52:18):
It's the lions first home playoff game in thirty years,
and they are facing their formal face of the franchise,
Matthew Stafford. It's also the first time in history that
both starting quarterbacks will be facing their former teams in
the playoffs, so there's gonna be a lot of emotion
in this game. There's been reports that Lion fans want
a Matthew Stafford jersey band at this game, so it's tough.

Speaker 11 (52:39):
You know.

Speaker 3 (52:39):
He he left and then immediately won.

Speaker 2 (52:41):
A Super Bowl his first year with the Rams, didn't
win a single playoff game with the Lions, so fans
are a little salty, like rightfully, so, so who needs
this win more? I'm gonna say the Lions. This is
their first home playoff game in thirty years. They got
robbed with that win against the Cowboys. They have a
lot to prove that again. They are the real deal

(53:01):
and it's gonna be tough. Sean McVay knows Jared Goff
very well. He knows his weaknesses, he knows how to
play him and GoF has a lot to prove, a
lot to prove here. So yeah, I mean, I am
so excited for this one tomorrow.

Speaker 4 (53:18):
Like you said it, Detroit in six plus decades, have
one playoff victory Detroit in six plus decades.

Speaker 3 (53:26):
Yeah, they need it.

Speaker 4 (53:28):
They need it for the sake of the city, for
the sake of the team, especially having such a good
team and such a good season. Right yeah, Matthew Stafford
and the Rams. We said it to Nikki Kay. Everybody
at the start was like, rebuild season, They're gonna tank,
They're going for Caleb Williams.

Speaker 3 (53:42):
I mean, I thought it was a risk.

Speaker 2 (53:43):
I was in Vegas before the season started, and I
love going to a sports book and like betting out
the sports book. I took Rams over six and a
half wins, and everyone's like.

Speaker 3 (53:52):
You're crazy.

Speaker 2 (53:53):
I was like, come out, crazy, Now, come at me, Brokay,
that's gonna pay out and they're gonna pay out.

Speaker 3 (53:58):
Yeah, and look at them the Lions over six and
a half wins.

Speaker 4 (54:02):
Yeah, I'm with you. I think the Lions need to
win more, but the Rams are I here, It's like,
I don't know what.

Speaker 3 (54:11):
They have, but man, they have something, They got something.

Speaker 2 (54:13):
Okay, let's get to our final game here, Eagles at Bucks.
What a crazy turn of events for the Eagles, going
from Super Bowl favorites to a complete unraveling, like just
disaster at the end of the season, losing their last
five of six games. Who needs to win this one
more the Eagles do. If they don't win, it's already

(54:33):
being reported that Nick sirianni is on the hot seat,
could be out of Philly. But also, like, let's take
into consideration, this is an example of how tough it
is to be a head coach in the NFL.

Speaker 3 (54:42):
He's had a winning season every year that he's been there.

Speaker 2 (54:45):
Okay, twenty twenty one, nine, eight, twenty twenty two, he
was in the Super Bowl twenty twenty.

Speaker 3 (54:49):
Three, eleven and six, And like, if you.

Speaker 2 (54:54):
If he loses this, there's a good chance that he
is out, and those rumors that like Bill Belichick could be.

Speaker 3 (54:59):
In and it's just losing this game.

Speaker 4 (55:01):
It's just how you mentioned it, the way it kind
of spiraled out of control a lot of the games.

Speaker 3 (55:07):
And I said this, you know, when we.

Speaker 4 (55:08):
Were talking about the Eagles throughout the season, they won
a lot of games by a by one score, and
I said to you, I was like, they don't they
don't look great. They're winning, which good job because somebody
has to win. But they have not been the same
team since last year. Their secondary is not what it
was last year. And so I think it's not just
oh you lost this game. We're getting Nikka, We're getting

(55:28):
rid of Sirianni. It's so many other factors spiraling out
at the end. Oh yeah, remember what happens at the
end more than you remember what happened at the beginning
of the season.

Speaker 2 (55:38):
Oh yeah, that's how you started till you finished, right
in everything that every career, every season. Everything, all right,
we're gonna take a quick break here, but when we
come back our end of season awards.

Speaker 3 (55:48):

Speaker 17 (55:50):
Zagonted six at the Browns fifteen, Stroud under center, fakes
to toss, now flows it back to the left, has.

Speaker 1 (55:55):
College ten five to the corner.

Speaker 15 (55:58):
Reason touch Poston, what Texans take the lead?

Speaker 13 (56:04):
Just like that?

Speaker 4 (56:06):
And just like that, the Browns have now taken the lead.
But you just heard Texans Radio network they were on top.

Speaker 3 (56:12):
That was true.

Speaker 4 (56:13):
But in a matter of a minute ago, the Browns
have taken the lead, Joe Flacco connecting with Kareem Hunts,
so Browns on top of the Texans fourteen to ten
early in the second quarter.

Speaker 3 (56:24):
This is actually turning out to be an epic game.

Speaker 13 (56:26):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (56:27):
It is back and forth battle, a strong defense, like
the best defense in the league with the Browns and
c J.

Speaker 3 (56:34):
Stroud and Flacco just going at it.

Speaker 4 (56:36):
It's who This is what you want to kick off
Wald Card weekend.

Speaker 3 (56:40):
I love it so much, love it so much.

Speaker 4 (56:43):
You know I also love our show and you probably
love it too. So shortly after the show, our podcast
is gonna be going up. If you miss any of
today's show, be sure to check out the podcast. Just
search Fox Sports Radio wherever you get your podcasts. Be
sure to follow rate review the podcast, Alex and I
will probably retweet the podcast again. Just arch Box Sports
Radio wherever you get your podcast, and you'll see the
show posted right after we get off air. Yeah, yeah, okay,

(57:06):
do we want to do the fun fact the instacart
that we're trying to figure out right now?

Speaker 3 (57:11):
Share share some fun facts that we're just given to us.

Speaker 4 (57:14):
Yes, So, mister Steve Hartman, who will be on Right
after us with Ivrom Salam. He came over and told
us that he heard that if you signed up for instacart,
you got free per subscription of Peacock, which is the
game later tonight Chiefs and the Dolphins. You can only
watch it on Peacock, and apparently you have to have
like the best subscription of Peacock, not the general one

(57:35):
that's six dollars. So I just went on instacart. You
can sign up for a free truck, you guys, is
not an ad. We're just trying.

Speaker 11 (57:44):
To watch.

Speaker 14 (57:44):
Yeah, I have I have another way to get Peacock too.
Just go to USC and take on soul Crushing Student
Debt and you get free Peacock per So that's that's
how I get Peacock.

Speaker 3 (57:55):
So as anybody else perfect, it's crushing student worth it. Yeah, yeah, absolutely, Okay,
but I'm.

Speaker 4 (58:07):
Here on instacarts page. You can sign up for a
fourteen day free trial of instacart, and it's showing me Peacock.

Speaker 2 (58:15):
Okay, that I would get it, Okay, So we do
it all the time. Sign up and then they cancel
like immediately, so you get like the two weeks. Okay,
you where you go. That's how you're gonna get Now,
let's get to our end of season awards. Mons and
I are gonna go through our MVP, Offensive Player of
the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year,
and Coach of the Year. So let's get started with
our MVP. I'll go first. I'm gonna give it to

(58:38):
Lamar Jackson. What he was able to accomplish this season
without being a leader in majority of the quarterback stats,
I think speaks so highly to his greatness and his
ability to win big games, but also shows how well
rounded of a player he is. Right, Ravens had the
best rushing offensive season, Lamar played a huge part as
that dual threat. He led all quarterbacks in rushing yards

(59:00):
eight hundred and twenty one. This man went out and
defeated every top team that he played in the league
forty nine Ers, Dolphins, Texans, Rams, Lions.

Speaker 3 (59:09):
He is my MVP, Lamar Jackson.

Speaker 4 (59:12):
My MVP has been the same MVP all season, mister
Christian McCaffrey. Obviously, I've been saying this since what Week
four or something, that Christian McCaffrey should be the MVP
in a season where there was no dominant quarterback. This
was the perfect time to give the award to a
non quarterback. We know it's going to a quarterback. Al
it's a quarterback award.

Speaker 3 (59:31):
It's a quarterback award.

Speaker 4 (59:32):
And I thought this was a perfect year because the
MVP conversation changed from quarterback to quarterback week to week,
and so Christian McCaffrey was a stud the whole season.
He ended with one four hundred and fifty nine rushing yard,
scored twenty one touchdowns, tied with Raie Moster for the
most this season. He didn't even play the final game.
He also had two thousand scrimmage yards, joining Eric Dickerson

(59:53):
and Marshall Folks as the only players in NFL history
to do that for two different teams. In a team
full of stars, McCaffrey still stood out.

Speaker 3 (01:00:02):
All right, Offensive Player of the Year. I have Christian McCaffrey. Yeah,
so I'm still giving him as flowers.

Speaker 2 (01:00:09):
He had an incredible season and this man is a
big reason that the forty nine ers team had the
success that they had. But they also have a lot
of other weapons on that team, right that helped get
them there. As you mentioned, he led the league in
rushing yards, nearly three hundred more than the next person. Second,
in rushing touchdowns, he had fourteen among all running backs
and second in receiving yards among all running backs seven

(01:00:30):
receiving touchdowns, most among running backs. So yeah, Christian McCaffrey
has definitely getting some sort of hardware sure at the
end of this season.

Speaker 3 (01:00:38):
Okay, who do you got.

Speaker 4 (01:00:39):
For Offensive Player of the Year. I have Tyreek Kill
who led the league with seven hundred and ninety nine
receiving yards, A big part of the best offensive team
that we would see throughout the season. Explosive, right, the Dolphins,
just their offense was the best offense. They led in
total yards per game four hundred and one, most passing
yards per game to sixty five. But yet again, and

(01:01:00):
surrounded by a bunch of weapons, Tyreek Kill still stood out.

Speaker 2 (01:01:04):
Yeah, and he watch he's been in the MVP conversation.
He wasn't outside of like the favorites. I think fans sure,
because yeah, he stood out, you know.

Speaker 4 (01:01:13):
And it's unfortunate that they didn't win bigger games because
obviously that was a ding for him.

Speaker 3 (01:01:19):
But I think he was he is the offensi Player
of the Year.

Speaker 2 (01:01:21):
Okay, defensive player of the Year. I'm gonna go Miles Garrett.
Brown's defense was great this season and he was a
big part of that. Brown's defense allowed the fewest yards
per game. They were sixth in sacks. Garrett had a
fourteen of forty nine, twenty nine percent of brown sacks.
Bottom line, he was the best player on the best
defense this season, and their defense is a big reason

(01:01:43):
they're playing right now in this wildcard game.

Speaker 3 (01:01:46):
I'm with you.

Speaker 4 (01:01:46):
I have Miles Garrett as well, forteen sacks. Like you mentioned,
he's second in pass rush win rate despite facing the
third highest double team rate. Like you throw everyone at
him and he's still successful.

Speaker 3 (01:01:57):
Oh yeah, part of the big You know, the reason
the Dolphins the Browns are so good is their defense.

Speaker 4 (01:02:02):
Like yeah, but he's still He's still attracted so much
attention and made it easier for the rest of his
team to be so good on defense. So yeah, Miles
Garrett for sure Defensive Player of the Year.

Speaker 2 (01:02:12):
Okay, let's get through these last two pretty quick so
we can get to Jane Slater in just a couple
of minutes.

Speaker 7 (01:02:17):
Here.

Speaker 3 (01:02:17):
Rookie of the Year c J. Stroud incredible season.

Speaker 2 (01:02:21):
First player in NFL history to have over four thousand
passing yards and a passer rating over one hundred as
a rookie, set the rookie set the record for passing
yards in a single game by a rookie.

Speaker 3 (01:02:31):
And he completely turned this franchise around.

Speaker 4 (01:02:33):
And now all of that, and he still got hurt
and still all of that.

Speaker 3 (01:02:36):
You know, I'm saying, like, did you have him? He did?

Speaker 14 (01:02:37):
Yeah?

Speaker 3 (01:02:38):
Okay, absolutely incredible.

Speaker 2 (01:02:39):
Okay, Coach Dan Campbell and Allions. First time the Lions
have won the NFC North in thirty years. The way
he brought this group together was incredible. In his third season,
he has completely changed the culture here.

Speaker 6 (01:02:50):
Right.

Speaker 2 (01:02:51):
First season they were three thirteen and one. Second season
nine and eight, third season twelve and five and won
the division.

Speaker 4 (01:02:57):
I'm gonna give Coach of the Year to Kevin Stefanski
because of what he's done. Yeah, with the Browns again,
losing Nick Chubbs so early, Deshaun Watson in and out, injured,
all these quarterbacks. Here you have Joe Flacco and here
you are, like incredible. I'm giving it to Kevin Savanski.

Speaker 2 (01:03:12):
Okay, Now let's check in with Eddie Garcia to see
what's trending.

Speaker 1 (01:03:19):
Well.

Speaker 6 (01:03:19):
Super Wild Card weekend is underway, and it's been a
super first half in Houston between the Texans and the Browns.
Just moments ago, on the biggest play so far in
this game, c J. Stroud involved.

Speaker 17 (01:03:31):
Here's a little drop back and a pass to Previn Jordan,
white side across the thirty five cuts upside forty quickly
the forty right sideline.

Speaker 15 (01:03:39):
He's gonna go all the way, Previn Jordan to the
end zone.

Speaker 3 (01:03:43):
No flex touch down.

Speaker 1 (01:03:45):
My goodness.

Speaker 15 (01:03:47):
The Texans go seventy six yards in one play to
retake the lead.

Speaker 6 (01:03:52):
On Cleveland Texans Radio with the call that just the
latest big play. As Houston has a seventeen to fourteen
lead over the Browns early in the second quarter, both
quarterbacks starting to put on a show here for CJ.
Stroud seven of eleven one hundred and eighty three yards
and two touchdowns in just a little over a quarter
of work. Joe Flacco not bad, eleven of thirteen one

(01:04:14):
hundred and forty six yards. He has a touchdown pass
as well, So this one is shaping up to be
quite the shootout in Houston. Texans again leading the Browns
seventeen to fourteen, and we still have twelve minutes to
go in the first half. And this is just the
first game of Wild Card weekend. Coming up eight o'clock
Eastern Time in Kansas City. It's the Chiefs hosting the Dolphins.

(01:04:35):
Forecast with the temperature below zero at kickoff in this one.
A couple of injury reports for the Dolphins Jalen Wadle
wide receiver, where he and Moster at the running back
both expected to play in this one, both nursing ankle
and knee issues. Now we have two games today, two
games Sunday, and two games Monday. Because the NFL announced
earlier today the bill Steelers game, originally scheduled for Sunday

(01:04:56):
has been moved to Monday because of severe weather in Buffalo. Again,
that game between the Steelers and Browns now a four
to thirty pm Easter Time kickoff on Monday. Some college basketball,
Number three Kansas beat number nine Oklahoma seventy eight sixty
six Top rank Purdue down Penn State ninety five sixty six.
Number five Tennessee over Georgia eighty five to seventy nine.
At six rank Kentucky upset by techc and M ninety

(01:05:19):
seven ninety two in overtime. Number seven North Carolina eat
Syracuse one o three sixty seven wins for number fifteen
Wisconsin a number twenty two Creighton, and in the NHL,
the Capitals beat the Rangers three to two. Now back
to Monsey Bolonios and Alex Curry and Theetirack dot Com
Fox Sports Radio Studios.

Speaker 2 (01:05:34):
Thank you, Eddie, you're listening to Fox Sports Saturday. I'm
Alex Curry here with Monty Belanos. We are broadcasting live
from the Tirek dot Com Studios in Los Angeles.

Speaker 3 (01:05:42):
Thank you for spending your Saturday afternoon with Monty and me.

Speaker 2 (01:05:45):
We hopefully have NFL Networks Cowboys reporter Jane Slater coming
up in just a moment, but until we get a
hold of Jane, I mentioned that Monty and I filled.

Speaker 3 (01:05:54):
Out our playoff brockets.

Speaker 2 (01:05:55):
We did like fifteen minutes before we went live yet today,
and there were a couple a couple of moments of
like I changed my Super Bowl champion, like right before
we went live. I've got I've gone back and forth
between this so many times. But we're just gonna run
through real quick. Okay, let's get and we're gonna we're
gonna say who we took.

Speaker 3 (01:06:16):
Are you ready? So let's start in the divisional round
this game? Right now? Are you taking Houston or Cleveland?

Speaker 13 (01:06:24):
Oh?

Speaker 4 (01:06:24):
I'm taking Cleveland. I wrote Cleveland, you did confidently?

Speaker 8 (01:06:27):
You know what?

Speaker 2 (01:06:28):
I actually don't know if I want it? Like, is
this going to be giving away our picks for the
next segment?

Speaker 3 (01:06:34):
Okay?

Speaker 2 (01:06:35):
Then maybe just who do you have in the conference championship?
That might kind of give away picks, but maybe not.
Maybe it is a little obvious. Yeah, I think if
you want to do that.

Speaker 3 (01:06:46):
It's gonna take a moment to get there.

Speaker 5 (01:06:47):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:06:49):
How about this? Which one are you least confident about? Okay? Yeah,
I am.

Speaker 4 (01:06:56):
The most uncomfortable matchup is actually Tampa Bay and.

Speaker 3 (01:07:00):
Philadelphia for me right now?

Speaker 4 (01:07:01):
Okay, that's the most uncomfortable matchup where I keep changing
my mind.

Speaker 3 (01:07:05):
Okay, I wrote down Tampa first, and then I took
it off and I put Eagles. Okay that's how I'm.

Speaker 4 (01:07:10):
Very and I want to take it off now.

Speaker 3 (01:07:12):
But you told me I can't change it. Yeah, you
can't change it anymore. We can't do that. So that's
where I'm at, Like, I don't know Okay.

Speaker 2 (01:07:18):
You know what, I'm actually happy that we're not going
through this because I want to save this for the
next segment we have. Jane Slater, is you here? Yes, okay,
it is time. That's one of my favorite humans, the
best in the biz. NFL Networks Cowboys reporter Jane Slater,
you have been putting in the work today and this
entire week.

Speaker 3 (01:07:35):
Woman.

Speaker 13 (01:07:36):
Hello, you know it's fun. It's playoffs, right, so we
get into all the fun storylines, and I mean, there's
just so much with the Playoffs in general. I mean, gosh,
I was joking today I was the indoor cat because
I didn't I know, you look.

Speaker 3 (01:07:53):
So beautiful and warm in Dallas.

Speaker 2 (01:07:56):
And then I was watching and if I'll Network this
morning and they were going to all the different reporters.

Speaker 3 (01:08:01):
I was like, Jane has it so good right now?
She is glowing and she looks warm.

Speaker 2 (01:08:08):
Everyone else is like outside freezing, trying to figure out
what are they gonna do. I love it so much,
but this is a big one, Jane for the Cowboys.
So take us, take us into the locker room. What
has been the mood this whole week?

Speaker 3 (01:08:22):
And are they feeling any outside pressure?

Speaker 13 (01:08:25):
You know, they're not. It's it's crazy watching the evolution
of this team, because this team and the continuity and
the confidence reminds me so much of Dax's the meteoric
rise at rookie season. It is remember that's when he
came in and he took the job from Tony Romo,
and you know, there were so many twists and turns
in that season alone, but that was just a team

(01:08:47):
that really felt like they had something. And then since
then there were all sorts of setbacks and coaching changes.
But this week, you know, I would it's interesting seeing
all this outside talk about the coaching carousel, uh, and
whether Dan Quinn, who had you know, been one of

(01:09:08):
the top candidates the last couple of years. Oh yeah,
this year it feels very real, uh that he could
move on, And why wouldn't you you know, the opportunity
to you know, potentially if again they're not going to
talk about it right now because I'm getting ready to
go in the postseason, but what if he went back
to Seattle as the legion of boom? And Micah Parson
sort of alluded to this this week that you know,
this might be the last one for DQ and jay

(01:09:30):
Ron Curse told me this week that you know, the
love and respect they had for their coach who had
these opportunities. I mean, Denver was, you know one we
heard about last year and that he kept coming back
because he felt like they had unfinished business. And this defense,
the way they played in the absence of Trayvon Diggs
starting off the season, we said this was a championship
level defense. And Trayvon had just signed the extension and

(01:09:53):
a fleep accident in practice rendered him out for the season,
and then in steps to Ron's land, and then you
lose Laighton van Address. She was so key as one
of your linebackers helping stop the run. He gets a
season ending injury, and then you've gotten guys like Marquise
Bell to step up, and you know, this defensive line
and it allows you to continue to use Mica Parsons
at this chess piece. And so it just can't be

(01:10:14):
understated what dan Quinn has done for them. And to
go back to your question, I feel this sense of
urgency in the locker room because of that. Yeah, And
so I think that's an interesting sort of subplot that's
going on in Dallas as a result of all of
this exterior pressure. But also, you know, the big issue
for Dallas heading into the postseason last year was remember

(01:10:35):
they also finished up the regular season finale on the
road against Washington. Laid An Egg and Dak have all
of those interceptions last year and we were talking about,
you know, leading the league in interceptions. Well, this year,
he's leading the league in touchdowns. And you know, we
had a really interesting discussion this week about some of
the struggles both last year and at times this year.

(01:10:57):
Was sometimes when they were getting single safe, he looks
and you know, when you're throwing the ball in tight windows.
Sometimes Dad could explain to me that, you know, he
was getting greedy at times, but he's gonna throw it.
And this year he's only throwing one you know that's
a heat check, but he's still throwing those tight throws.

(01:11:17):
It's just now the receivers are very familiar with where
he's going to throw that ball. But more importantly, they're
familiarizing themselves with some of the coverages they're getting in
terms of their depth of speed, where's the linebacker, where's
the safety, where's the corner. And because of that enhanced communication,
that's why you're seeing some of his success, and then
the steam routes really working well for them this year

(01:11:39):
with Jake Ferguson. And so I say all this to you, guys,
because all of these pieces have been clicking this year,
and that Texas Coast offense, I know we have talked
about that at times, guys. It was sort of slow
to come along. But now that it's you know, they've
seemingly gotten that together. They've seemingly gotten the defensive side
of the ball, right, I mean the kicking situation last year,

(01:12:01):
Brett Varher, You know, we were nervous when we saw
Aubrey missed that one quick last weekend. Of course it was,
you know, a block, and then he missed a field
goal and he was like perfect, Kevin burk Cart, you're
my boy, But why'd you jinks him?

Speaker 6 (01:12:14):
Love it?

Speaker 13 (01:12:15):
But I think everybody's very comfortable with Aubrey. I mean,
Aubrey himself thinks that he can back it up to
the seventy. And so all these pieces that I had
questions in Mark question Mark or for Dallas last year
having the postseason, I don't know if they're necessarily there.
And then a little bit of luck lately, right the
Detroit Lions game seemingly changes them from the fifth seed

(01:12:35):
to the two seed. And while I think Green Bay
is incredibly talented on offense, their defense has really hurt
them this year. And then jay R Alexander this week
gets a freak injury and rolls his ankle, So now
you might be missing one of your starting corners, which
is wild. So it's just, you know, maybe there is
something to the Jimmy curse give me, you know, for
fans that don't know, finally went into the ring of

(01:12:57):
honor that Jerry was so petty out not putting him
for years, and then all these things started clicking. So
I do think it's really really interesting interesting.

Speaker 15 (01:13:07):
I've covered.

Speaker 13 (01:13:10):
For twelve years out and we know, I always feel
like it's it's Murphy's law with them. Anything that can
go wrong does but this year and again this long
way to answer, but anything that can go right seemingly
has right.

Speaker 4 (01:13:22):
Alex and I were talking that we feel that there
are may be jobs on the line here, Like if
for whatever reason, the Cowboys lose to the Packers, do
you think Mike McCarthy and maybe Dak's job is on
the line.

Speaker 13 (01:13:37):
I think Dak's safe in Dallas. I think it's so
hard to find a franchise quarterback in I think Dak
only thirty one, so I mean in terms of age
for a quarterback, I mean he's beginning to sort of
hit his stride right, so I think he's safe. I
don't think Todd France is going to make these negotiations easy.
He certainly didn't make him easy in the past. They've

(01:13:59):
been content and then they've got to figure out ways
to sign Sadie Lamb. And then Micah Parsons was a
really interesting nugget this week when he talked about Dan
Quinn leaving. He said, well, Dan might take me with him,
and we were all like, that's an interesting shot over
the mouth. But as for Mike McCarthy, here's what I
would say about that. There's a lot of smoke. Sometimes

(01:14:23):
there's smokes in a lot of fire. And I found
it very interesting that Adam Schefter had something to say
about this. Peter King flips that stuff in and we
know that those guys talk to Jerry.

Speaker 3 (01:14:32):
Oh yeah.

Speaker 13 (01:14:34):
But what I know about Jerry because I know some
of the moving pieces in the past. Man, he's thrown
out Sean Payton for yours I mean the myth and
the legend that was Sean Payton just hovered over Jason
garrett shoulder for so long and he ultimately didn't do
it right. Sometimes I feel like Jerry and Stephen Jones

(01:14:54):
alluded to this this week on one of Fight Through
the Fans. You know, we're in a talent evaluation business
and the coach is no different. And so I think
it all depends because I would like to credit Mike
McCarthy for three twelve one season, you know, a third
straight trip to the postseason. What's hurt him is those
two not just losses but embarrassing losses. You know, Dack

(01:15:18):
failing to spike the ball in time against Jimmy Garoppolo
in the forty nine ers in Dallas. And then last year,
you know our lingering image of Zeke lining up at
center and lasted. You know, it's last time in the uniform.
When Tony Pollard went down. They seemingly had no answers
on offense. And so if they were to get if

(01:15:39):
they were to get beat at home to Green Bay,
Green Bay by this team with this young defense, then
I think we're having a more serious discussion about the
hot seat that is Mike McCarthy. But I think finding
continuity is hard, and I think finding a coach that
has sort of delegated and endeared himself to that locker

(01:16:01):
room in the sense that he lets them sleep in
their beds before home games, which a lot of fans
may not know. That's that's not normal, that is correct,
And to the players it may not sound like a
big gilt of those of us on the outside, but
the players say, might trust them as men, and to
their credit, you would think these guys might be outpointing

(01:16:22):
the night before old Cowboys teams, I covered dead Alex.

Speaker 1 (01:16:25):
And then.

Speaker 13 (01:16:27):
Right they they haven't uh and they haven't lost one
yet at home. The kids more better in rest days.
And if you talk to a player, the one thing
they love the most about a coach is a coach
that preserves their body so that they can play longer.
And so those little things, and whether Mike deserves the

(01:16:47):
credit for this offense or some would say DAK and CD.
After the bye week, so it came together and said,
we're not doing these short you know, passing routes. We're
going to open this book up. Blah blah blah. Who knows,
But I was talking curse about this this weekend. He said,
it's not a dictatorship around here. Mike values our input
so that stuff can't be understated. So I don't know

(01:17:09):
what to make of these rumors. I think it's easy
and it's low hanging fruit. Bill Belichick is out there.
A couple of years ago, back in twenty nineteen, Jerry
went on the radio and talked about this really interesting
story where he was on the ski slope in a
snowmous and acid, and Bill of all people, tapped him
on the shoulder Wiles rinting out skis for his grandkids,
and said, you know I can coach. Do you ever

(01:17:30):
have a head coaching job? Think of me? And Bill,
a man of very few words to reporters, we had
a very lengthy conversation about his love and admiration for Jerry.
When I ran into him in Miami. It's a super Bowl,
and so I think that they're intrigue as it relates
it to put money on it.

Speaker 2 (01:17:48):
You taking it, you're taking cowboys are doing pretty good.
You think they're can do, but they're going to Jane,
I love you so much. I am getting waived by
my producer right now.

Speaker 13 (01:17:56):
All right.

Speaker 8 (01:17:57):
I know, I know.

Speaker 2 (01:18:00):
If you want to continue to hear Jane, tune in
to NFL Network. She is going to be breaking all
of this down tomorrow. Everything Jane. I love you so much.
Thank you for coming on and have so much fun tomorrow.
You're the best. All right, We're gonna take one more
break when we come back. Monty me have our game, pigs.

Speaker 17 (01:18:18):
Here's a little drop back and I'll pass to Previn
Jordan right side across the thirty five puns inside forty
fifty the forty right side on Who's gonna go all
the way? Brevin Jordan to the end zone? No flex touchdown.
My goodness, the.

Speaker 15 (01:18:34):
Texans go seventy six yards in one play to retake
the lead on Cleveland.

Speaker 4 (01:18:40):
My goodness is right. You heard it all on the
Texans radio network. They're up on the Brown seventeen fourteen,
two minutes to go in the first half.

Speaker 3 (01:18:47):
And it has been an.

Speaker 4 (01:18:47):
Exciting first half, first game of Super Wald Card Weekend.

Speaker 3 (01:18:52):
I mean, what else could you ask for this? I mean,
this is the only we're about to give our picks.

Speaker 2 (01:18:57):
We didn't do this one obviously, because the game was
are already going to be underway.

Speaker 3 (01:19:02):
But I did pick Houston, Moncey did.

Speaker 2 (01:19:04):
They did pick pick Cleveland, Cleveland, So it's this could
really go either way. Right now, you're listening to Fox
Sports Saturday and Alex Career with Monty Belognas. We were
broadcasting live from Tire dot Com Studios in Los Angeles,
and it is time for our wild Card weekend game picks.
We're gonna do them all. Producer Bo, how did we
do last week and then lead us.

Speaker 14 (01:19:23):
Through last week? Alex? You went to and two, Moncey,
I hate that. I'm gonna say this four and oh
last week I didn't even know.

Speaker 7 (01:19:32):
Yeah.

Speaker 14 (01:19:32):
Season totals Alex thirty eight, twenty two or thirty eight
and maybe some of the nose I did my math wrong.
Twenty two Yeah, okay, forty seven to twenty one for Monty.
We're gonna do this pretty quickly. Here, guys, Dolphins at Chiefs.
Chiefs of four and a half point favorite.

Speaker 2 (01:19:45):
I'm taking the Chiefs. This is Mahomes bread and butter.
They're playing at home, it is in freezing conditions. It's
gonna be a running game, and because of that, I
think it evens the playing field a little more for
Kansas City.

Speaker 4 (01:19:57):
Yeah, I also I am taking Kansas City all right.

Speaker 14 (01:20:00):
Steelers at the Bills. This game got moved to Monday.
It did the Bills. I believe they're a nine and
a half ten point favorite.

Speaker 1 (01:20:05):
I go.

Speaker 4 (01:20:06):
I'm taking the Bills. I think they're on a good
roll right now, and as much as the Steelers have
a really good defense that Josh Allen is not going
to lose that game.

Speaker 3 (01:20:15):
No, this is a must win for Josh Allen and
the Bills. I'm taking the Bills, all right.

Speaker 14 (01:20:18):
Packers at Cowboys Cowboys seven point favorite at home.

Speaker 3 (01:20:22):
All Right, Cowboys. I'm taking the Cowboys.

Speaker 2 (01:20:24):
They're undefeated at home this season, and this is a
must win game for Doc and McCarthy's jobs.

Speaker 3 (01:20:29):
I'm with you.

Speaker 4 (01:20:29):
Dallas wins this one at home.

Speaker 14 (01:20:31):
Rams at Lions three point favorite.

Speaker 3 (01:20:33):
I don't like this.

Speaker 4 (01:20:35):
I'm going Lions.

Speaker 3 (01:20:36):
Lions beat the ram I'm taking Rams all the way. Baby.

Speaker 14 (01:20:40):
Eagles at Bucks.

Speaker 3 (01:20:40):
Eagles at three Eagles taken? Are you taking the Eagles
all right? Race Tampa Bay? I put Eagles.

Speaker 7 (01:20:48):
I don't know.

Speaker 2 (01:20:50):
This is the one you crossed out last minute and
one I crossed out last minut I went over to
the dark side.

Speaker 3 (01:20:54):
I think so.

Speaker 14 (01:20:55):
Eagles are losing and hiring Belichick.

Speaker 2 (01:20:58):
WHOA, Okay, stay with that, Stay with that all right.
Thank you for spending your Saturday afternoon with us. We'll
see you next week, same time, same plays. Have a
fun Wildcard NFL weekend.

Speaker 5 (01:21:09):
Bye

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