Paying QBs Ruin the NFL? 🤯 | Spygate Disqualifies 1st Ballot | Pain Points Ep. 14

Super Bowl 60 is officially set — and we break down EVERYTHING you need to know.

This week on Pain Points, we dive into the biggest stories in sports:

🏈 Seahawks vs Patriots — full Super Bowl 60 preview & predictions
 💰 Is the new NFL trend NOT paying quarterbacks big money? (Top 10 highest paid QBs aren’t even close to the Super Bowl…)
 🏆 Should Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft be first-ballot Hall of Famers? (We disagree 👀)
 📋 Which new NFL head coaches will succeed next season?
 🏀 Did LeBron really deserve an All-Star spot?
 🎯 Plus: our official Super Bowl picks… and one of us is completely on an island

Hot takes. Real debates. No fence sitting.

#PainPointsShow #SuperBowl60 #NFLPlayoffs #Seahawks #Patriots #NFLDebate #BillBelichick #RobertKraft #NFLCoaches #LeBronJames #NBAAllStar #FootballTalk #SportsPodcast #NFLPicks #SportsYouTube

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Transcript

Spygate And Hall Of Fame Standards

SPEAKER_03 0:00

First ballot is a certain, you know, that um that that's a certain standard. Dude, it's one of the biggest cheating scandals in the history of sports. So it was they they burned the tapes. They lost draft picks. Like it did this wasn't like this wasn't a little thing. Like they literally set the tapes on fire. So there would not be now today some big so Brianna wouldn't have some big story and package on this and dig it up and go, oh, this is all the stuff that happened. Like they burned the footage.

Show Kickoff And Agenda

SPEAKER_05 0:37

All right. Another fantastic episode of Plain Plan is happening right now, and we have a lot to talk about. We're gonna talk about the NFL, we're gonna talk about the NBA, we're gonna go through our super picks, and we're gonna talk about the Super Bowl. So I'm very excited. So let's kick it off right now. I'm so excited.

Sam Darnold’s Redemption And QB Value

SPEAKER_03 0:54

Sam Darnold. Yeah, your guy. Caroline, didn't he? Didn't he used to play for the Panthers?

SPEAKER_04 1:01

He did. And he did. Now again, as a Panthers fan, right? Everybody do a buyer's report, you know, because everybody has like high side being 2020. But in that time period, I want everybody to remember that Frank Reich was that coach, right? Have we seen him in the league since then? Matt really and Frank Reich were his coaches and Steve Wils. Have we seen either of them in the league in a prominent role since they've left? No. So I will say, Sam Darnold, you are having a phenomenal year. I'm not hating. You proved me wrong in the biggest game of your life. You went toe-to-toe with a guy who I think should win MVP and basically responded every single time your team needed to drive because your defense did not perform to snuff to reek woollen. My god, like if that game ended differently after that targeting penalty, it would be bad for him. It would get really bad for him. But I honestly think that Sam is a test of, I just like that he proved me wrong. Now, as a Panthers fan, you know, obviously it sucks. But again, there's a Clint Kubiac, there's a JSN, there's a solid offensive line, there's Kenneth Walker, there's a there's a great defense who didn't play up to par, but when they needed to make plays, they made plays. Panthers didn't necessarily have that, so we don't have any buyer's remorse. I'm just happy for them, but I'm also more happy for you that your theory all year, your hot take of buying low on quarterbacks, you were proven right. So, you know, take your victory lap. This is the only victory lap you got since you know ultimately the Rams didn't go to the Super Bowl. But hey, enjoy your victory lap, Darren.

SPEAKER_03 2:41

True, but in true fashion, I was the most right. So that's all I care about. You know, the Rams got you know closer than anybody else. Uh, so I was the most right. So that's all that ultimately matters. Um, but in terms of um the you know, buy low theory, yeah, yeah. I mean, that's just the way the way it is now. Um, there's so much parity. You can't afford to pay a quarterback, you know, half of the salary. I mean, you've got to have strong defense, you have to have other pieces. And if you're paying your quarterback 60, it was going to be 70 million soon. Um, you just can't do it. I saw a graphic recently, um, I forget the show, but it showed like the top 10 quarterbacks salary-wise. And of course, you know, none of them, you know, um are in the Super Bowl. So paying all that money, but what what are you getting? So I think that's something that you have to look at as you know, you're making predictions for the future, who's gonna make it, strength of schedule, uh, and you know, that that quarterback can't give the quarterback all the money.

SPEAKER_04 3:53

And the one thing I will say is that the thing, I just feel like it was a perfect combination for that team. Because I know again, everybody. I honestly don't know what people were seeing with Geno Smith. I thought he was good, decent. I didn't think that he's like a superstar who's gonna like elevate this team. I thought, like, you know, this is a great serviceable story. But again, you know, when you go from bus to team to team to backup, to now you're in a starting role because JJ McCarthy gets hurt. And again, the Vikings, and seeing that that's why Questy got fired, that's where I'm like the Vikings really should have just ran it back. Like, that's where I'm looking at this because they could have had a Seattle story because they have Justin Jefferson, they have KOC, like they have all this stuff, but because again, they got figured out by the Rams, too again, the Rams are a perennial playoff team, like they're going to go on a deep run in the playoffs every single year. So I that's why I'm like, I don't know if like him getting figured out by the Rams in the last game is the reason why you're like, okay, he needs to go, and we're gonna roll the dice on a quarterback. Basically, set our franchise back two or three years, and now you're trying to compete in an NFC North that now has the Chicago Bears, and you're still gonna have to deal with Detroit and Green Bay. Like, this was that's where I'm like, as a Panthers fan, I'm like, look, it took us a minute to even like get out of like the stuff with Sam with Baker, and I understand that that was bad, but as a Vikings fan, the immediate moment of like, oh, we had the formula, and then we just let it go, and now we're seeing what this formula and this for that this formula could potentially win a Super Bowl, that's where I would have more by a remorse. But I do think that yet again, Sam is Sam showed me something on versus the Rams. I'm not gonna lie. I was I did not see that coming. I did not see that coming at all. And I was I was pleasantly surprised. So as Lamar Jackson fan, I am hurt because if we get there's a Sam Darnold Super Bowl MVP before Lamar even touches his touches the Super Bowl. I just just understand it's gonna be a real rough day for me. I'll be okay. A real rough day.

SPEAKER_03 6:04

Yeah, that that will be rough for you. Yeah, I don't know. I mean, uh I'm still not sold on Sam Darnold. I just I'm sorry. I'm just I'm just not. I don't know what he did in that game. That was so spectacular. I think it's it's it's similar to the Eagles, you know. Wow. I think you could put about 20 quarterbacks in that situation, and they do the same thing. And so if I'm Minnesota, I don't know if I necessarily have buyer's remorse. I mean, I get it on the face because he, you know, they lost what, two, three games last year. Um, and then you just automatically say, hey, with the defense and with those pieces, they're running back. But with Minnesota, I think they just got too caught up in nine, you know. Just go ahead and put put somebody else, put another plug and play, quarterback in there, and you'll be just fine. Uh, so you know, I I wouldn't worry too much about buyers remorse with Darnold. Uh, I think I don't know. I just I I I think you can plug a lot of people there. I think it's a great situation in Seattle. And I'm not saying they should go with someone else. I think two things can be true. You know, I think they've got the perfect system, he's the perfect person to plug in there as long as he's not making over a certain amount. And great, you know, keep running with that, but I don't think he's all of a sudden, you know, become this great quarterback. I think he's just someone that won't crash the Porsche. Basically, just just keep keep it on the road, don't go above third gear.

SPEAKER_04 7:41

Basically, the opposite of CJ Stroud, like the anti-CJ Shroud, essentially.

SPEAKER_03 7:45

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yes, great, yes, yes.

SPEAKER_05 7:49

Great comparison.

SPEAKER_04 7:50

Yes, yeah, yeah. I love that. Just when we need you, just be awesome. And then when we don't need you, just be quiet. Like that's yeah, that's that's kind of how they won all their playoff games because it was again Kenneth Walker in the defense took more of the lead in the first game, and then it was just Sam Sam, be great. We need you to be great in this one moment now. We'll see next what they do versus the Pats, which the Patriots. There's a lot going on with them. On to the Patriots.

Paying QBs Versus Building Rosters

SPEAKER_04 8:20

Real interesting stuff happening out there, y'all. Because uh I you know there's a thing, one of my favorite TV shows talks about this thing called Love Equivalent Exchange, right? It's an anime, it's called Full Male Alchemist, right? It's basically like you can't get something in life without something bad happening. I fear that with the NFL Hall of Fame voters, right? We might get a second dynasty out of pure spite just because just because they didn't let Robert and Bill in the Hall of Fame. I am very worried about that. Now, I think the pet Patriots in this game, they're gonna have to force turnovers for sure. Ray May's gonna have to be better. Like, there's no way you can have 80 yards versus Seattle and think and think, oh yeah, we're gonna win this game. So that's where I'm kind of at with it. But I'm scared now because I'm like, hold on, there's something going on where like your owner and the coach are gonna make the Hall of Fame first ballot after having won the greatest narrative ever. Now, next year is the real one for me where I get a little scared. Because I'm like, if they say Tom Brady isn't a Hall of Famer because of the flank eight, it I it's that's bad. That's my concern. That is my concern, which is why I'm so worried that now the Patriots are like, you know what? Out of pure revenge for this, we're gonna start another dynasty and prove prove that we can do this again without all the cheating. And that concerns me. I I was like, oh yeah, Seattle's the obvious matchup here, but after this, after the whole Hall of Fame thing, I'm like, hold on, this could this could get a little interesting, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 9:58

It it can. Um so okay, so what what are y'all's take on Belichick and now craft not being first ballot Hall of Famers?

SPEAKER_05 10:10

I think it's really odd.

SPEAKER_03 10:13

Okay, it's odd.

SPEAKER_05 10:14

It doesn't make sense to me.

unknown 10:16

Okay.

SPEAKER_04 10:18

I'm sorry, like the way that the entire during the entire Patriots run, everybody gets said, oh, the Patriots, they're the gold standard, you know, the Patriot way. For we heard this best for 20-something years, almost my entire life on this play-doh, right? I have heard about the Patriot way. I've seen documentary after documentary, show after show, interview after interview about the Patriot way. What does it mean to be a Patriot, right? So, and again, hearing about how much of a story Bill Belichick is, how Robert Kraft like turned this team around in the 80s and 90s after he bought him, like how much he wanted to invest in Gillette Stadium, like all this stuff, right? And now, all of a sudden, because they cheated, and this mind you this is after all the cheating, and you know, they win three more Super Bowls. So, after all of that, y'all are still praising them and being like, Oh, this is the greatest team, this is the greatest dynasty we've seen in sports. This is the entire media landscape. So now, all of a sudden, when it's time to be like, hey, let's honor these people, we're not gonna do it because of the cheating, even though though during the second half of the dynasty, when and again, the cheating happened during the whole dry spell thing, and then that first Super Bowl versus Seattle, right?

SPEAKER_03 11:35

So they still the the flake gate was part of the part of the second dynasty, right?

SPEAKER_04 11:42

Yeah, even still if you felt like you punished that punished them, you know, with the whole suspensions and fines and stuff, right? I just think it's odd, because to be fair, with the NFL Hall of Fame, if we look up some people and their histories, it's not necessarily the greatest. So that's where I'm kind of at with it, where I'm like, ah, if you see certain names of people that are Hall of Famers in the NFL, and you're like, hey, this guy's a Hall of Famer, but these guys are, and again, caping far be it for me to cape for Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick. Like, I hated watching the Patriots for a couple years, but it comes to a point where you have to respect what they put out on the field time and time again. Now, again, my concern now is Tom Brady won't be a first battle hall of famer, and that's where I'm like, okay, I can understand the coach, I can understand the owner if you feel like you want to punish the organization, but the player who didn't necessarily have anything to do with this, if next year Tom Brady's not first ballot, I'm gonna be irritated. I'm so sorry. That doesn't make any sense.

SPEAKER_03 12:44

Yeah, I think I think Brady will uh be first ballot, it'll be very interesting. I think now the stage is set, so we'll all be waiting to see what happens with that. Um, I personally didn't have a problem with craft or um Belichick, especially Belichick. Um, you know, not being first ballot, I mean they're going to be Hall of Famer. So if it's okay, are they gonna be Hall of Famer or not? Okay, yeah, need to be Hall of Famer. But first ballot is a certain, you know, that um that that's a certain standard. And dude, it's one of the biggest cheating scandals in the history of the sports. So it was they they burned the tapes. Like, this is real, like the NFL burned the tapes. Um, and the fact that dude, and you out of all people, ought to be uh happy and fine with it because your Panthers might have won the freaking Super Bowl. Like you lost to the Patriots, and that was right in the middle of Spy Gate. Like, what one guys on the Panthers was even, he was like, I swear they knew exactly what we were running. Like, so I mean, that's a pretty pretty big deal, man.

SPEAKER_04 14:05

I wasn't there for the first half, and I was like five, I was like from like five to like 12 when like spine game was really like happening. So I wasn't like I wasn't all the way there, there, but yeah.

SPEAKER_03 14:24

Like this was a this big deal.

SPEAKER_04 14:28

But even this, but that's what I'm saying. Despite the cheating, the media was still hyping them as the greatest American dynasty against sports. Like, that's my thing. If you would have said, at least with baseball, they'll at least say, Oh, the steroid era was bad, uh, the records reduced, we don't like this. Like, at least they said it and we're honest about the era in like the late 90s and like early 2000s. At least they like said that about the era. There wasn't this still, like, oh, we would still respect and revere the Patriots, is what they are. We're still putting Bill Belichick's like playbooks and all of his stuff in the hall of fame. We're still putting like all this stuff in the hall of fame. Like, that's my issue. It would be different.

SPEAKER_03 15:07

I I I I I get what you're saying, and that was more NFL because NFL and Hall of Fame are kind of separate in entities, right? The NFL they didn't want the attention to be on that, so they wanted it to go. Hell, that that's why they burned the tapes. Like, they literally set the tapes on fire so there would not be now today, some big so Brianna wouldn't have some big story and package on this and dig it up and go, Oh, this is all the stuff that happened. Like, they burned the footage to prevent it from happening. So they the NFL did not want that. I'll give you a great comparison, all right. In NBA and the referee, uh Don Don Donahi, Tim Donahi, or whatever, that was like federal charges, right? Like, when you sit down and look at it, that was a pretty big freaking deal. Like, like the the the Lakers probably won that championship because that ref was crooked and with the mob, right?

SPEAKER_06 16:12

Yeah, that's crazy.

SPEAKER_03 16:14

But again, they discovered the the NBA, they were like, nothing to see here. That was a rogue ref. Like, they just wanted that to go away, like stop talking about it, sweep it under the rug, like be quiet.

SPEAKER_05 16:27

So I think they still don't talk about the refs.

SPEAKER_03 16:30

No, they don't, like, and that's you know, I mean, so I think it was the league just like, hey, hush, hush, quiet, nothing to see here. This is it. But the hall of fame was like, okay, wait a minute, yeah, you're great

Vikings, Geno, And System Quarterbacks

SPEAKER_03 16:43

and all, but your penalty is gonna be you're not gonna be first ballot because that was a pretty freaking big deal.

SPEAKER_06 16:49

Okay, see your point.

SPEAKER_04 16:51

I like now, and I think because uh I needed to see that in perspective because this is younger be, so I got it. Appreciate you. Yeah, I was like, has knowledge what everything was created.

SPEAKER_03 17:04

Oh, for sure. That's just living, and and I'm I'm shocked that there's not many folks because you know, we're we're talking about this a few days after, so a lot of people, you know, a lot of talking heads, people, you know, huge followings have addressed this, and I really haven't seen many people, you know, with this tape. Most people are outraged, shocked, should have been hall of fame. You know, they're acting, you know, um like it's the worst thing ever. And I'm like, man, man, we really, if we go back and look at what happened, like that that was a that was a big deal.

SPEAKER_05 17:40

You know, I forget about that though, because I was like very, very cool, you know, like I'm only 19, so yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 17:48

So but we'll see next year. But I'm very curious to see with with Brady if if they yeah, that's that's gonna be.

SPEAKER_04 17:56

I don't I listen, listen. I the way that old that old heads are about Michael Jordan, I am that way about Tom Brady. I'm so serious. I I need him to make the hall of fame in like just just so no nothing crazy happens because I don't know if the world can be able to handle that. Like, that's that's that's too much. There's too all this crazy stuff going on, and then all of a sudden we find out next year Tom Brady make the hall of fame. Hey, let's let's keep this planet more together than it already is. Just put him in the hall of fame.

SPEAKER_03 18:28

So is he eligible next year?

SPEAKER_04 18:30

He's eligible next year because he grabbed he I think it was it's either next year or 2028. When did he return? Was it 23? Was last year 23 or 22?

SPEAKER_03 18:41

Yeah, it would be cool. I hope it is next year. That would be cool for all of them to go in together.

SPEAKER_05 18:46

Yeah, we'll make a particular warm-hearted thing, just do it all at one time. Just knock it out, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 18:55

Let's not drag this out. No, the cowboys era you had every year, it was like, oh, Aikman this year, then Emmett, then you know, it was somebody every year. So now let's just do it all at one time. Just get it over.

SPEAKER_04 19:09

Last year, all y'all going in. Well, we don't want any more controversy. Right.

SPEAKER_05 19:13

All right, well, speaking of coaches, we're gonna move along to the best coach.

SPEAKER_04 19:18

All right, after the staff he assembled in Baltimore, I am very excited for Jesse Mentor. I am very excited for the Ravens returning to defensive football, Lamar Jackson having a Ben Johnson disciple, and Declan Doyle, very excited. Anthony Weaver being being retained. I'm very happy. The one thing I am worried about is the fact that Declan Doyle and Lamar are the same age, and that's the little concerning thing because I'm like, if you learn from Ben Johnson, I hope that there's like like the play calling is more modern, there's about there's a good balance between running the ball, but uh my worry is that like they're gonna give up on Derrick Henry too soon throughout the season because one thing you know about Ben Johnson is he has the two-back system, and they also hired the run game coordinator from Atlanta, so they have B. John Robinson, Tyler Algier. You know, the maddening thing with B. John Robinson and Tyler Algier is that, like, okay, you can give the ball to Bijan, but they're like, okay, Tyler, come on and cook. And like, you have Derrick Henry and Keaton Mitchell. Keaton has shown flashes, but then you still have like probably a first belt Hall of Fame running back loyal. We don't know who's first belt anymore, ironically. But like, I do think that Derrick Henry, like, when is the buff gonna stop eventually? So that's where what I worry about is if he starts off slow next season, they're gonna go away from him, and that could really affect their season. Now, again, their defense will be improved, so I hope that that you know helps balance it out. But I'm excited for Jesse Mansure in Baltimore. I would also say there's another coach I'm really excited for.

SPEAKER_01 20:58

Harbaugh?

SPEAKER_04 21:03

Listen, Harbaugh, don't give me start like hiring Matt Nagy at like just at the end, and it's like, okay, like I don't I don't know what special things he's gonna do with that offense. And like, we've seen the Chiefs offense the past four years, and then you saw the Chiefs hire back the enemy, which is kind of a sign that like they kind of saw how the offense was over the past few Super Bowl runs and been like, hey, it's like it's a hit the same. We we need something, we need something.

SPEAKER_03 21:35

So yeah, I think, man, the Harbaugh, and I mean, and again, I know some of my biggest takes was kind of going against Harbaugh, but I've always felt he was a good coach, never had anything against Harbaugh, but just for some reason, man, he's become like the Vince Lombardi since getting fired from Baltimore. Everybody clamoring after him and whatnot, and I just don't get it. And then taking the Giants, the Giants job, I mean, yeah, man, I I don't see them having uh a great year.

SPEAKER_04 22:14

Maybe they gain a game or so, but yeah, I know that's not not really the question, but uh thing is you got one magical Joe Flacco run in Ray Lewis's last hurrah, and that's that's your entire playoffs, like your big hurrah throughout the time because you got slapped around by the Patriots, and then you got gifted one of the most talented quarterbacks of this generation, and you're known for like not managing the game well, blown fourth quarter leads, not showing up in the playoffs, and forgetting your identity like during the entirety tenure that you had Lamar, and like all of a sudden you're going to coach, go and coach a very young team in one of the better divisions in the NFL. Because as far as it's kept, the Eagles are gonna want to new out of OC to be better. Yeah, the Eagles have to be better on offense next year. Like, there's no way it can be as bad as it was last year. Jane Daniels, if it gets worse than what it was last year, oh Siriana gotta go. But anyway, Jaden Daniels is gonna be back healthy, and we're gonna see what Washington does. Dallas, I don't know, Dallas is either good or mid. Like this, this is like, but either way, Dallas could be competitive next year. It really just depends on, you know. I because again, Eagles fans are freaking out because their defensive their defensive coordinator like left and went to the one of their like bigger like defensive coaches is now the defensive coordinator for the Cowboys. So hopefully Christian Parker can turn that around. I that's uh no, man. You chose a very competitive division, you chose the worst team that's gonna require more of a rebuild, and you're an older gentleman. Like, I don't understand how this is gonna I don't understand how this is gonna work. Uh and again, I don't know why Harbaugh all of a sudden is like, oh, he's a great coach. It's like I know he's been carried by talent, he's been carried by having like a magical Super Bowl run, and then one of the greatest talents we've ever seen play football. Yeah, you still couldn't get over the hump with him.

SPEAKER_03 24:04

So it's like Ray Lewis coached that team.

SPEAKER_04 24:08

Um like there was known, like the fact that during the entire season we saw more and more reports coming out about players not rocking with you. What do you think a young team's gonna do, man? Like, this is a team that has continuity, like like has the same players year after year after year. Yeah, what do you think a young team's gonna do with I don't know, man, but we're coaches or y'all thinking that we'll have good seasons. Let me let me get off this hard box later because I don't I don't want to do them too, man.

SPEAKER_03 24:35

But uh yeah, I mean, I I think uh Joe Brady in in Buffalo, I think they have a they have a a good year. Um again, the the offense is is uh uh they go they've got the new stadium, they'll have a big buzz, they'll have a ton of prime time games, like they always do. Yeah, for for sure. So um not sure about the schedule. So that will be the only question mark they did make the playoffs. So that'll make the schedule a little tough. But you got the Jets um twice a year, so that that helps. So those are hopefully a couple of a couple of wins. Yes. Um Dolphins, we'll see where where they are. But um, yeah, I think I think Joe Joe Brady typically in in that case through history, when you have a team that's knocking on the door, knocking on the door, and you make a coaching change, and it's a coach that's internal, that's already on the staff. Normally, at least that very next year, they have a big year. They typically do. Now, then it might take a dive after that, but everybody's gonna be motivated, especially Josh Allen, to really, really do well. They're they're really close, uh, Allen and Brady. So I think at least next year, they have a good year, and then we'll see where it goes from there.

SPEAKER_05 25:51

Yeah, one can hope.

SPEAKER_04 25:53

Yeah, no, no hits, Josh. I'm not gonna lie. Ado cry that though, I need like Super Bowl tiers next year, Josh. If this was super bowl tiers at the podium, bro, like we did it, I fucking got over the hub. Uh listen, I'll be so happy. Yeah, and I know that Josh Allen take was showing that I was hating. Trust, there is not a hate bone in my body for him. I think he is a great quarterback. He just happens to run up versus my my favorite player to possibly ever play the sport. I'll all respect to Josh. I want you to get a ring, bro. I just want one of y'all to get a ring because now Sam Darnold might get one, so it's it's the world's messed up right now.

SPEAKER_03 26:32

But man, the AFC is gonna be so brutal next year. I mean, you got Denver that's gonna be back. Just just the the defenses alone, yeah. You got Denver, you've got Houston, you know what I mean? Man, New England will be back, like it's it's gonna be the Kansas City reloads in this offseason, Kansas City, exactly. Kansas City Kelsey retires.

SPEAKER_04 26:57

Uh, yeah, that's Baltimore. I I don't know, and then if Cincy somehow gets there, like Joe Burrow has a healthy year or something, like that's where I'm like, I don't know. Like, it's I really think that the NFC is more like the team conference, but now that the defenses have started to catch up on the AFC, that's where I'm like, okay, this could get this can get serious.

SPEAKER_03 27:23

Man, dang, he makes a lot of money though. I don't know how to get around it, but I just had this vision because they seem like they'd have a lot of salary cap room.

Patriots, Voter Backlash, And Dynasty Fears

SPEAKER_03 27:32

Well, man, if if Houston could somehow get Burrow.

SPEAKER_04 27:39

I mean, there it's the same situation because they're gonna have to give Will Anderson the farm. Like, it's like yeah, they have to pay Will Anderson. It if they could, if Joe Bro Joe was like, Hey, I take less money and I just do it, I that would be the only way. And oh, I don't want him in Houston.

SPEAKER_03 27:58

Oh, that's because that's what people don't realize. That that's what Brady did, and that's what some of these QBs need to get smarter. That's kind of what Mahomes is doing, because what Mahomes does is he's signing these multi-multi, he's signing these 10-year deals, and then they're giving him a big signing bonus every year and kind of pushing the cap number down, so he's still getting his money, but they're just working some cap magic. Some of these other teams and QBs need to do that because, like, just think of how good Dallas would be if Dak was making 20 million less, right? Still making you still making 40 million, you know, you're still making money. But if it could just somehow work that to where not even bank account take less, but take less annually, right? And get more in the signing bonus and just structure it around differently, that that's how they were able to have you know the pieces around Brady for as long as they did, have the defenses there, and one of these days, whatever other quarterback gets hip to that, that could be your next team that that runs it. Mahomes and them are kind of doing that, but man, if they could ever do that with any of these other teams that have talent, you know, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 29:15

Yeah, but I don't want Del Burrow anywhere on our Houston team, bro. I'll be Lamar ain't never getting the ring if that happens. Oh my god. Yeah, how'd he take Del? Oh, oh no, oh no, no, uh uh well best topic ever.

SPEAKER_03 29:37

Oh man.

SPEAKER_04 29:38

All right, LeBron. All right, should he be an all-star? Well, if they didn't just add Kawhi later to the to the all-star thing earlier today, I would have been like, oh no, it should have been Kawhi. But because they they added him because we needed another spot for TAB USA, because you know the world team is gonna wax us because they have like four of the five best players on the planet, you know, on their team. That's great. That's that's uh yeah. Because I don't know what we're gonna do with like Webby and Shay. Like, that's that's my kind of thing. Like we're gonna allow a team with Webby and Shay and Luca on the on a court. Like, that's it were like, hey, old guys from USA, we're by the same glory days. That's not gonna happen.

SPEAKER_03 30:25

Webby Steph Steph better be on fire.

SPEAKER_04 30:28

Yeah, because I don't know. Now again, look, I feel like this is one of the honorary things, you know. I'm not gonna say it's like Dirk bad where they were like giving Dirk an all-star because LeBron's been okay, but this hasn't been like an like an amazing, awe-inspiring LeBron James season. But I feel like this is the more like okay, we're giving you your nod, and then next year, when the farewell tour is really farewell tour, we're gonna get one more appearance, and then we just go, we just go let him let him bow out, let him, let him go out gracefully. And I am I say this as Lakerspay, knowing that like the reason why we don't have title expectations is because we can't defend to save our life. Like, I'm like, we got the offense where if we get a good matchup in the first round, boom, we're gonna make the we're gonna get past it, then we're gonna lose the second round. That's exactly what's gonna happen. So, hey, LeBron, let's let's let's figure out this retirement tour, buddy. Let's start wrapping it up. Let's start wrapping it up. Happy you're an all-star for the last time, but like let's let's start having the farewells. You know, they gave him the honorary patch of like him being in the league for however many years. They're both trying to like be like, hey, we got Wemby and Shane now, bro. Let's let's get to step. Let's get to stuff. So I'm I'm happy for him, you know. Shout out to shout out to my goat, but hey, it's it's time. It's it's it's it's time. It's let's it's down the fact that I had to bring up the whole like Dirk being an all-star, what was it like 2018, 2019, and Dirk was yeah, Dirk was getting DMP'd because Luca was showing flashes, like that's like oh, also the irony, the fact that like as soon as it becomes a Luca Doncic team, now LeBron feels like he's getting the dirt pass. That's true.

SPEAKER_07 32:12

That's true.

SPEAKER_04 32:13

But we'll see. We'll see. Also, um, there is news that broke in the NBA. James Harden just got traded to the Cleveland to the Cleveland Cavaliers. I for Darius Garland. I don't know how to feel about that. I don't know.

SPEAKER_03 32:28

So James Harden. So for Cleveland, was Garland the one who always had the foot injuries?

SPEAKER_04 32:35

Always had the foot injuries. He has the reds, yes, yes.

SPEAKER_03 32:38

Okay, so so for Cleveland, that's great then, because that that totally messed them up. We wouldn't have even had to deal with the Pacers if he was able to just play last time. So yeah, I think that's a great move for them. Clippers, I don't really get it. Um, because I mean he was carrying the Clippers, he's been the best player since you yeah, some of them aren't selling like usual. Yeah, I mean, you you can't depend on Clippers player, yeah. I mean, he was the heart and soul. I mean, I I was very impressed and blown away and shocked at his age and size now, you know.

First-Ballot Debate For Belichick And Kraft

SPEAKER_03 33:20

The fact that you know he's putting in work and doing what he's doing with the Clippers. Big shout out to um to uh James Harden because I mean he's still clearly partying, but it doesn't matter, he's still putting in giving it.

SPEAKER_04 33:35

Sometimes some players don't need all the LeBron conditioning, you know.

SPEAKER_03 33:39

Sometimes I'm like, hey, hey, you can do it, roll out the club, drop 30. Like, hey, do it, so yeah, he's doing it. So don't get it from the Clippers standpoint. But uh for Cleveland, yeah, I love it because Garland that that injury is gonna keep popping up.

SPEAKER_04 33:55

You got two people who are injury prone, and you're trying. I love the Clippers, man. Like they literally were picking themselves up out of the basement, and they were like, Yeah, they were like getting back to like over 500, and now you're trading your best players, yeah. That's an injury pro young point guard instead of the proven guy when y'all literally were getting y'all pushed because of him. Like, it's uh yours only the clippers.

SPEAKER_03 34:25

I didn't even think of Garland going to the Clippers, I'm just so caught up in heart art and going there. But my gosh, you are a thousand percent right. Only the freaking clippers would do something as dumb as I understand, man.

SPEAKER_04 34:37

I'm why do y'all love B Lil' Bro so much, bro? Like, this is sad. This is sad. Like, we at least traded Luca for we at least got Luca for Anthony Davis. Like, we at least got something. You just got Darius Garland, you couldn't get a big, you couldn't get anything else, you can't get Jared Allen or Evan Mobley with that. You just got Darius Garland, no other young franchise piece, like you couldn't trade like Garland and Mobley, and then if it was James Harden, who else? James Harden and another piece of something, like they ain't never gone. Listen, remember when Kawhi came to came to LA saying, like, oh, this is title town, you know, this is this is my town now. LA, like, you know, I'm bringing rings here. What is what has Kawhi done? What has what has he done since he got to LA? Ben Hurt, yeah, nothing. That's it, and and a funny couple funny moments. There's playoff teams with PG that are more memorable than what they were with Kawhi Letter. Like, what are we yeah? Clippers don't clip.

SPEAKER_03 35:48

The words of Will Smith, Clippers gonna clip, and yeah, yeah, that's that's true. Well, there's gonna be a lot more headlines, especially with the Super Bowl coming up. So we know how the NBA does.

SPEAKER_04 35:58

So real messy. Try to get real messy before the Super Bowl, then they get their chain stash again.

SPEAKER_03 36:06

You're gonna see Yannis go to Golden State, you're gonna see all that, man.

SPEAKER_04 36:10

Yeah, I swear if I get that now, because the Yannis and Golden State notification would like the look of the AD one last year, was already crazy because I was so confused. That's gonna be I was I was like, this is a typo, somebody got hacked. We read this wrong.

SPEAKER_03 36:28

Yeah, now where Harden now, I don't it probably wouldn't have worked out numbers wise and whatnot, but just fantasy basketball for a second. I would have loved to see Harden back in Houston actions by by them not having their point guard for the rest of the year, and Harden could have distributed and they would have been back with KD. And there's so many storylines with that. That would have been pretty cool to see again, cap-wise, probably wouldn't have worked, but that would have been neat to just from a basketball perspective.

SPEAKER_04 36:56

I just think I just I don't know what the LA Clippers are doing, man. I just I don't get it.

SPEAKER_03 37:03

I don't I don't know. Beautiful stadium, though. Good gracious. All right, I've got to see that into it dome.

SPEAKER_04 37:10

I'm trying to like the wall with the fans where they're like, Yeah, that's that's Bree.

SPEAKER_03 37:15

Are you are are you going?

SPEAKER_05 37:17

I think I am okay.

SPEAKER_03 37:19

Because it's it's at the um intuit dome. Is she right? Oh yeah, hopefully try to figure out what's yeah, oh that'll be yeah, because this seems uh I know it's totally state of the art, all the technology with the Microsoft, you know, uh owner being you know behind it and all of that, and that wall, and oh man, yeah, it just seems like the most amazing place to see a game. So yeah, that looks amazing.

SPEAKER_05 37:52

We didn't get your take. Do you think LeBron should be an all-star?

SPEAKER_03 37:55

Yeah. Uh man. So okay, it's kind of layered. Okay, I'm I'm fine from a legacy standpoint. If you want to put him on there and not take a roster spot again, like they did with Dirk or whatever, I'm fine with that. I'm not really good with him having a spot that's taken away from somewhere else because I don't think he's an all-star from that standpoint. But I think it's crazy how the NBA does the all-star. Like you're basing all-stars, well, in in one breath, it's like you're basing them off of what they do the first two weeks of the season, right? Because I mean it is the it's so early, it's it's the most ridiculous thing on one hand, and then on the other hand, okay, if it's halfway through the season and you have someone that misses the first month or two of the season, how in the world is it even possible for you to be an all-star? Like that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen. What do you base it on?

SPEAKER_04 38:56

Well, if you're like Nicola Jokic and then like your first game back, you dropped like a 30-point triple double. I think it's kind of obvious where it's like, oh, this guy's obviously an all-star. But if it's like somebody who's like, you know, on like a lower team at the Eastern Conference, and then they're like, oh, this person's an all-star. I'm like, okay, what type of buckets are they getting on this team, or if they were on like a more championship caliber team? Because if they're on a playing team, like that's where like it gets a little confusing and hectic. So I agree with you there. I just I don't know, man. I hope this USA versus World Game is good and like we're not beat, we're not beating that team. I'm sorry. Like the Olympics was already scary enough, like that already put the fear in America enough where we were just like, hey, we but this gap might have might have closed a little bit.

SPEAKER_03 39:43

Now with with that, with the whole the way the format is, is typical. Um what's our commissioner? Sorry, commissioner's name.

SPEAKER_04 39:54

Oh, Adam Silver.

SPEAKER_03 39:55

At Adam Silver. It's typical at Adam Silver with this, to where everybody thinks it's the dumbest thing in the world and it's awful, awful, awful, awful. It's going to be a hit, and then everyone's gonna think, oh, it was great, it was great, and then gonna have to apologize. Just like the play-in and the the the um the the midseason tournament, all the things that he comes up with. Everybody thinks it's terrible, they reject it, push back, and then a year or two later, it's like, oh man, this is amazing! Yeah, of course it's gonna be great. Man, what once they get out there and start competing and the competitive juices starts going and whatnot, and you've got man USA versus the world, that is going to be a huge hit, and I do not get why everybody thinks it's not gonna be. That's gonna be great.

SPEAKER_04 40:43

I think it's just because you have a team with Wemby, Luca, and Check. Like it that's that's my concerning thing. And we're relying on a bunch of older dudes from America to basically be like, save, like, help save us and carry us. Okay, that's my concern. It's like it would be different if the world players had the same exchange of like older but talented players, yeah. Not the fact that it's like the young blood, it's like the MVP, like three MVP candidates, four are on one team. Like, that's where I'm at. That's what's concerning me.

SPEAKER_03 41:16

But and I I get what you're saying, yeah. You got all the MVPs, arguably top players on that team, but with the exception of Wemby, they're not defenders, fair, and so that could kind of be the equalizer there. And the other thing that we got on here is this can be ants time to shine. I don't know how they'll have the the the roster stock stocked up, but you don't think ants gonna be motivated to come out and step up and show them what's up? Like, oh man, this can be like I said, it's gonna be fine. Please give me Ant and Steph in that backcourt, and hey, that that could be the great equalizer, man.

SPEAKER_05 41:57

Yeah, that'll be good.

SPEAKER_03 41:59

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So again, because again, Luca, come on, hey, as great as he is offensively. We we see with the Lakers, he ain't playing no D. You know, Shay, hey, love Shay, think he's Mvp this year, but it's all star game, right? I mean, Shay, Shay's he's good, but he ain't locking nobody up like that, you know what I mean? But and can, and just depending on how the rosters are, I have to see uh the whole setup, but I hope they at least have um Ant and Steph on the same roster and try to work work that out some way. I think that could be hot.

SPEAKER_05 42:38

Yeah, that'd be really cool, actually. I think everyone would love that.

SPEAKER_03 42:42

Yeah, did um did Book make it?

SPEAKER_05 42:45

Yeah, he's on reserve.

SPEAKER_03 42:46

He okay, good, good, good, good.

SPEAKER_05 42:49

But he's her right now, anyway.

SPEAKER_02 42:51

So oh, that's ah dang that.

SPEAKER_05 42:54

Dylan Brooks should have been on it. He feels clearly he's he's got 40 points, career high. Like, he's doing so good.

SPEAKER_03 43:02

So Dylan Brooks should have definitely been, and with this format, we really need him because again, just like I'm saying, he's that dog, they could have really used him because he would lock up, D up. They they could really use him, like Canadian though, so he's gonna be on the world team.

SPEAKER_04 43:19

That's why like he's gonna be with the world because he's Canadian.

SPEAKER_06 43:23

Oh dang, he is yeah, yeah, we might not.

SPEAKER_05 43:30

And all these great players are from Canada, like all the good ones.

SPEAKER_06 43:36

That's right. I was like, Yeah, no, we do.

SPEAKER_05 43:41

I literally knew that too. Like, I literally interviewed his trainer this year, like yes, yes.

SPEAKER_02 43:47

Oh man, yeah, that's funny.

SPEAKER_04 43:50

But he is gonna defense, but I'm like, hey, like that defense is going beyond Anthony Edwards, and then that would be a spicy moment, but I I don't uh Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 44:01

Man, I'm excited.

SPEAKER_03 44:04

Yeah. It's gonna be the watch. Everyone's good. That's gonna be the talk. Oh, so great. Oh

Brady’s Legacy And Eligibility Clock

SPEAKER_03 44:10

man, oh, I gotta give Adam Silver his flowers. We were wrong again. That's what everybody's gonna be saying after that.

SPEAKER_04 44:16

I hope so. I hope so. That's so funny.

SPEAKER_05 44:20

Oh my. Okay, let's move on. Okay, sorry, I've been seeing me lately. Every word. Okay. Time for our Super Bowl picks because we put it off. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 44:36

Who we picking? Huh?

SPEAKER_05 44:37

Yeah, who are you picking?

SPEAKER_04 44:39

My gut is telling me the Seahawks has been the Seahawks all season. Y'all, I don't want the Hall of Fame voters to make us have another dynasty. Seattle, please win this. I need like a performance like how you had versus the 49ers. I need a classic 2013 Broncos type butt weapon. That's what I need. Make like Nick Eamon Wori or somebody be the Super Bowl MVP. That's what I need in my life. Because I can't deal with a Sam Darnold MVP. Can't can't deal with that on my conscience. So hey, can't listen. If Sam Darnold wins Super Bowl MVP, I'm sorry. Like we I don't want to have that whole Jalen Hurts discussion again. Like I don't want that to please somebody on defense get like two pick sixes so we can just wrap it up. All right. Please thank you. Seattle. I got Seattle by. I have Seattle by six. I don't think they're gonna blow him out, but I do think because I do think there's gonna be one crazy turnover from Sam Darrow that's gonna get close, and then Seattle might just their defense is gonna make a play at the end of the game to close it out.

SPEAKER_05 45:54

Okay, okay. Derek, your turn.

SPEAKER_03 45:59

Oh man, this is this is this is so tough. I know, I know. I'm I'm not I'm not that I'm just this is the Super Bowl, so okay, great. Excited about that, the food and whatnot, but uh this is not the matchup that I wanted. Uh so many other teams I wish were here, but this is what we've got. So I'm gonna go ahead and agree with C Pain. I'm gonna go Seattle. Uh I'm gonna go Seattle by 10.

SPEAKER_06 46:28

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 46:28

Yeah, yeah. Somewhat of I guess Super Bowl standards, you can say blowout. Yeah. Let's let let's go Seattle. Come on, uh, give me something to be happy about from the turn offs because the rest has just been been terrible.

SPEAKER_04 46:44

You are looking over the Rams, Derek. It's okay, it's okay. Listen, listen, it'll be all right.

SPEAKER_03 46:50

No, not so much. I mean, no, not not not so much. It's just more the Patriots being there, right? It's not so much. I'm I'm cool with the Rams not being there. It's just the Patriots is is more more my thing. So yeah.

SPEAKER_05 47:05

Interesting.

SPEAKER_03 47:06

Yep.

SPEAKER_04 47:08

All right, for Domus, let's see for two. Two for two.

SPEAKER_05 47:13

Let's do it, Bree. I've been so like back and forth in my head on like I don't know who to pick. Like great defense, great everything goes to Seahawks, but the Patriots, their last game was a little shaky. But I mean, for them to flip their whole team around and everything else, you know what I mean? Like Andrake May being so young, I'm like so. I'm gonna go with my original like gut feeling that I felt like in the beginning, and I keep going back and forth, but you know what? I'm gonna take the Patriots. Okay, I have like I don't know. I mean, I picked the matchup, right? But we'll see if I lose it, right? Because I've been going so back and forth. So if they lose, I've like, well, you know, I kind of also thought the Seahawks would win, so my thing is the Patriots.

SPEAKER_04 48:03

All right, let's be green out here for two.

SPEAKER_05 48:06

Yeah, we'll see. I don't know. I'm on an island.

SPEAKER_02 48:09

Yeah on the on the island with the

Coaching Carousel: Ravens, Chiefs, Giants

SPEAKER_02 48:12

Patriots.

SPEAKER_04 48:14

Look, yeah, hey picked the Chiefs last year after all three of us picked the Eagles, so you know hey, you know, there's not a good island precedent with this, but hey, you know, maybe maybe real real butt the trend. Yeah, maybe we'll see what happens. You did not Diego Avery me, Diego Abre picked the Eagles at the last show. Diego picked the Chiefs.

SPEAKER_03 48:42

I had the Eagles stuff on, I had the green.

SPEAKER_04 48:45

We only went to the mall to get like the most because I say you look like the most Philly person ever because you had the glasses and the blue. That's right. I was like, oh yeah, yeah, yeah. All right.

SPEAKER_05 48:58

That was so funny, but I'm taking the underdog in this one. So we'll see.

SPEAKER_03 49:03

All right, all right, right. You gotta break the break the uh oh not the curse, but I guess the the the the trend of whoever's on the island typically does not get the super bowl, but you could start uh start something new here.

SPEAKER_05 49:18

Yeah, we never know. I mean, probably not, but we'll see.

SPEAKER_03 49:21

We'll see. We'll see. You know what?

SPEAKER_05 49:23

I'll start projecting it.

SPEAKER_04 49:26

All right, we'll see what happens when you project stuff reasonable. To be fair, to be fair, for sure, for sure.

SPEAKER_03 49:34

Uh uh a part of me was like, Man, maybe may maybe I pick the Patriots so they can lose. You know, that was kind of part of the worst geeks.

SPEAKER_06 49:44

Like, how you name the Ravens?

SPEAKER_04 49:45

Yeah, yeah. Like, how you give the Ravens? It was like, I'll pick a Lamar for MVP, and I was like, that was go go left, and guess what? It did, it did.

SPEAKER_05 49:56

It did.

Correction: This timestamp must be within duration

SPEAKER_02 50:01

So um too funny, too funny.

SPEAKER_03 50:07

All right, good deal, good deal, good show. Well, yeah, yeah, we'll be uh five days.

SPEAKER_04 50:13

I guess the Pro Bowl's on now, so yeah Pro Bowl Games, Pro Bowl Games, yeah, games flag football instead of Sean Taylor taking off people's heads, you know what happened. Yeah, Shador said, Hey, we're gonna see your guys.

SPEAKER_02 50:31

Pro Bowl, Pro Bowl QB, Shador Sanders, yes, and you're flac or Pro Bowlers.

SPEAKER_04 50:36

That's great. Yeah. Great institutions of this lovely sport. All right.

SPEAKER_05 50:49

We'll see.

SPEAKER_03 50:52

All right, cool. Well, yes, we will uh see y'all next time. See who's right, see who's wrong. Yes, until then. Pick them pro.