Transcript
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Announcer:
Welcome to the podcast, to be named later, where we explore the world of conversation at a time, sit back and enjoy. Here are your hosts, Chris and Kelly.

Kelly::
Hello everyone and welcome to another edition of the podcast to be named later. We haven't been around for a bit. Football and sports have been going full tilt along with baseball, basketball, hockey. NASCAR and more Chris himself, as you can probably hear a little bit and the background's going full tilt on the road, but we thought we'd get back in, talk a little bit about football season and more. Hey, Chris, how's it going out there? Where are you, New Mexico?
Chris:
I am in New Mexico. It is southbound I-25 from Santa Fe down into Albuquerque.
Kelly::
Alright man, I was there this summer.
Chris:
Yeah, Domestico's got some offerings, not not the. Worst state in the Union?
Kelly::
Oh, there's some interesting stuff there, actually, and some really old buildings. And really there's been a population there for a while.
Chris:
Yeah. So headed back down to where the. Where the airplanes land. And I'm glad we got a chance to catch.
Kelly::
Up, but yeah, so as I was saying, you know, football seasons, it's really weird. It's already a third of the way over.
Chris:
Yeah, this is you kind of made mention of it and this is the time of year that as a sports fan just really exciting man. I mean, basketball's taking off hockey, are already rolling baseballs, winding down now starts winding down footballs, starting to play, you know. Just like the preseason's over, you know, and we're starting to get data points, we're starting to see some things starting to see some trends and streaks and you know, teams kind of. You know, they're they're on a path that they're going to continue to be on. You know, a lot of them, right. So, you know, there's always some surprise teams. Minnesota Vikings comes to mind. I don't think a lot of us thought they were going to be this good with Sam Darnold at QB, but they are, and they're legitimate, you know? And, you know, on the other side, there's some other teams that like the Cleveland Browns. I don't think any of us thought they'd be this bad, but they are and and they're not getting better. So yeah, it's exciting, man.
Kelly::
Well, and let's not forget we've got Green Bay Packers E with, you know. So not only the guys that were there before Aaron Rodgers and Alan Lazard, but now Devante Adams works him with his way to The Jets. So great to see.
Chris:
Yeah. I mean, they already have a lot. Of green clothing. So.
Kelly::
What? What do you think? Though I is this. Can the band get back together or is this wishful thinking?
Chris:
That's an excellent question. I know. I don't know that I have a firm answer on that. So your reality is The Jets have a lot of good pieces in that franchise. So you know the the Devante Adams adding is a legitimate ad. You know there is going to be. Marked improvement offensively by bringing him into the building is. Enough for them to, you know, win these games instead of losing them right then in, in, in a couple of fights and that they've lost Miss Devante Adams, the missing geese that could get them over the hump. I I don't know that he is or he is at I I do believe they will be better. Oh. So I'm still.
Kelly::
The thing I wonder about with trades like this though is. I don't know, you know, can you recreate the magic if you will? Aaron Rodgers is a couple of years older. Devante Adams is a couple years older, and he also just spent whatever a year and a half or however long was at two. I guess a year and a half on a pretty bad football team. So you know you can't just turn on the magic button and say, move Lambeau Field to met, you know, MetLife Stadium and the Magic's just going to happen again.
Chris:
Right. And and you know, there's there's a couple of things with regards to both of those players. Like you said, they're they're older. You know, neither one of their mobility has increased. They're they're not, they're not better. But man, where they were starting from where, where their bar was at their peak is you're talking all time. Great. So you know you could have fit dropped down a notch or two. You know their best is still probably better than most other.
Kelly::
Yeah, I think.
Chris:
If they drop down a little bit.
Kelly::
I mean, on Monday night, I think we saw some of all of that. I mean, Aaron Rodgers worked as Hail Mary magic again. That was pretty incredible. I mean, whether you're in the backyard as a kid or watching your Craver teams, dude, I mean more often than not, the Hail Mary doesn't work. And this goes God, I don't know. It's like four or six of them that were pretty magic. So that's kind of cool. But we've also seen Aaron Rodgers. I happen to listen to that game on the radio. I really like. Kevin Harlan and. Trying to remember who the color commentator was normally on Monday night on the radio. It wasn't who it normally is. But he made a point, he said. Boy, and no matter what happens in this game, Aaron Rodgers is going to be sore tomorrow, I mean. He's taking more hits than he has cause his mobility is less.
Chris:
Correct. Yeah, that's that's the thing. And so and there's still a lot of season left, I know we're through the way through right now. But I mean you and I both have have a skelly, right, neither one of us is 18 years old anymore. And you know, just everything as you get older is. It's more it takes longer to heal. You know, the the sprained ankle that used to heal in four days. Now it it, it takes a month to heal and on and on, right. So I guarantee Aaron Rodgers is feeling every hit he's taking this season and they're going to stay with him. They're not going to go away. So, you know, as the season continues to wear on and. It gets offensive line. While I'm thinking it's better than it was last year, it's still not one of the better offensive lines in football. They they they're they're not good. And his inability, you know, Rogers, they're trying to remind me a little bit of the Patrick Mahomes and he and Rogers younger day, he take you off and run as needed. You, you know, never get fused. Looks like Lamar Jackson and Michael Vick. You know, the Steve Young, they need real high quality rushing quarterbacks. But but Eric is same way that does today. You know, to go get a first down when things open up to run for 12. Absolutely. You could do that as needed. That's gone. But not only that, he's in pocket mobility is is a ability to just navigate from within the pocket that is diminished as well. And man, when that goes you're in a lot of trouble. You're just sitting duck. I think. You know it's going to be a chore to keep him up right all year.
Kelly::
Well, we talked about this in a couple ways and like when we talk about what is, why are there so few people that are able to play quarterback in the NFL, right? I mean, it's Rogers clearly has the intellect to do that. I mean probably as good if not better than anybody with. Some of the things he's done, his cadence and just understanding what's going to happen and observation, I mean, you know, as a Packer fan, I always loved it when he gets that free play because he's seen 12 men on the field or. All the other things. So he's still got that. But the physical ability, I mean it's less and again I'm sure it's still better than most people on the planet, but we'll see and I think it's also interesting because we've had this discussion. About you know which way do teams want to try and build for their success? And. You know, we talked about like Peyton Manning, you know, he went to Denver, aging quarterback and that's how they opted to build for their success. And they got a Super Bowl out of it. The Jets have tried this path at least twice. They tried it with two banker quarterbacks that we know of, right. I mean, 5. And now Rogers on. And we'll see. The jury is still out, obviously on Rogers, but it didn't work with Farve in the end. And so it's really interesting how different franchises kind of go.
Chris:
Yeah, for sure. I mean, I know if I ever became a multi billionaire and owned a professional sports team, I know how I would build my franchise. Yeah, I probably be very similar to Jim Harbaugh. Be offensive tackles and defensive tackles and defensive ends and offensive. Yards and and I I built my team from the inside out that way and I do it slow and then you know, but you got plenty of franchise this man and you know they they want to put all their chips in the middle. You know, like it's been successful in different ways. You know, the the Rams kind of threw all their chips in the middle when we got past Stafford. You know, golf away and spends a lot of money in free agency to bring into, you know, Jill and Ramseys and and, you know. Backload a lot of contracts in order to get a really talented team on the field. They won a Super Bowl and you know, and and there's a little bit of a price to pay for that then, right? So the bill comes to, as they say, and I actually think the Rams did a pretty good job of staying relative relatively competitive. Even through like this soft rebuild that they're in right now, when you push all your chips in the middle, either it it it it works you know, and it turns over or it didn't work, you're broke. But either way you guys start over and you know, there's there's all you just make being made both ways. And I I'm sure as macrophage. Kelly, if you're anything like. Me. There's been several seasons where I wish the Packers and. I have a. Little more that push their chips and mentality and. You know it's. Nice to win 12 games every year and everything, but man, we just couple after Super Bowls.
Kelly::
Yeah, I mean we, we.
Chris:
And with a little bit more spending.
Kelly::
We've talked about it several times and you know again we've had. Elite quarterback play for more than 30 years. But only been to three Super Bowls 1/2. So. Even if you say success or failure is 10% out of that, you know if 30 years 10% of those years you ended up in a super. Bowl is that. Enough. I don't know. The Patriots somehow got how many with Brady and Bill of check. So. It's it's really interesting. The thing is, I mean, there's 32 teams in football. And again, even if you just stood around Robin of every team won the Super Bowl once and you know, there came up 32 years later would be a lot of code. I mean, just the mathematically most teams are going to have failure more than success.
Chris:
Yeah, 31 teams are disappointed every year, so and then you know, like you said, the Patriots had their the Chiefs are on a run right now and. Well, hell, if you're gobbling up 23456 of them that you know they don't do a lot for the rest of us to share, you know? Yeah. So a lot of teams leave the season disappointed. You know, just at various points.
Kelly::
You know, I do have to say, Speaking of disappointments. Is there a better sound? I mean, obviously it's just to convey the emotion of a fair. Here, then, the old Doink of the football, hitting the goalpost.
Chris:
Yeah, if you watch the game Monday night, you got a lot of it. If you could see it though, the the way the ball was moving in the air. And I mean, I've, you know, kicking. It's the hardest easy job on the planet, right? And so the you can just see them. It all looks good. And then all of a sudden it's not. And I I can't. I I don't know. I've never takes field goals professionally. So, you know, I don't know the challenges that come with it, but. You know, both of them were struggling mightily.
Kelly::
They both were and coming a little further W up here to Green Bay, you know, just cost a player his job. With the Packers replacing their kicker, I mean, you know, they missed the kick in every game. That's like you see, it really is the hardest easy job almost, it seems. I mean, it's kind of like, you know, rarely do kickers win games.
Chris:
Yes.
Kelly::
Once in a while. But they sure can lose them.
Chris:
Yeah, well, there's some out there, man. I mean, you got to trust Tucker and some of the big kicks if you don't remember back to Adam and it's herity. There's some guys out there that have absolutely who wants and some teams. Are. You know, in a better position, simply because they're their kicker, makes every big kick needed to be made. So I mean, you know, if you got a good one, you want to hold on to him, I'll say that.
Kelly::
I mean, I don't know all the science behind kicking, but I mean I every once in a while and if you look at the distance that peels go kicking or making kicks from. Me, I mean. I'm not going to say 50 yards is automatic, but it's a lot more automatic and that's 150 feet, so I don't know how they do it, man to. Be honest like.
Chris:
The.
Kelly::
Kick a ball 150 feet in the air relative. You know, at some angle whether you know if it's on the Hatch or whatever, but. One angle that's changing with every yard, or even if it's straight on and how they do that, I don't know, man.
Chris:
Yeah, it's amazing and you know. Like you said, 50s, nothing anymore. I mean I that's nothing, I think. Let's name Aubrey from the Cowboys. I mean, that dude could kick a 70 yarder man, if given the opportunity. So 50's the 50's, the the 40's, the new 5th year said the the distance has finally grown. What kickers are capable of doing?
Speaker
Down.
Kelly::
Accurately, hey, we've got six weeks in the.
Chris:
I wanna man I wanna. I wanted I wanted to ask you some stuff. Dude. Dude, you generally direct the conversation, but I have some curiosities and I want to get your info while you on the horn. So I mean, we got six weeks in like, you know, I made mention of the Vikings and the Browns and you know what? What's some of your surprises to this point this season? Kelly, of you, what? You know, what are some of the teams? You have surprised you, good or bad.
Kelly::
Honestly, my number one surprise is the Vikings. I especially when you know JJ McCarthy went down and Sam Darnold had kind of had a rough history. But they're playing really good football. And they're winning. Well, so and I would just say this, the whole NFC North is really it's the first time and I can't remember how long I read the headline. You know all four of those teams are at least four and two. So that that's kind of a surprise. I don't know if I'm surprised by this, but I'm tell you this, I'm impressed. Derrick Henry in Baltimore, man. That guy is still. I mean, he might not get as many yards every game, but when you need the yards, he's still the battering ram and also fast and.
Speaker
Hmm.
Kelly::
Just. Every once in a while, there's a running back that defies age and like he's right now, the guy that's doing it more than anybody. And then I would also say.
Chris:
You're 100%.
Kelly::
Disappointing on kind of a. I didn't expect him to be be this bad, although I mean, you know, it is what it is. Cleveland with the people they have, I'm not going to get into the quarterback. There's so much going on with that guy, but with some of the other players they have. I would have expected him to be better. They're really underperforming, I think. And then I don't know where the the the last kind of surprise because he's kind of been a guy I've been all in on in several conversations, but it seems like it's kind of going off the rails again. Would be Doug Peterson down in Jacksonville. Just not sure what's going on there yet.
Chris:
Well, man, our biggest quarterback play. I I I think the a lot of what you just described in my opinion you know so many franchises go as their quarterback goes and the Browns I can say for certain that's what it is. I mean they have a championship caliber. Lost. Sure, just terrible horrified play. Now the offensive line took a step back this year. You know, Chubb hasn't been there, you know, he's he's been there, of course, back for all this time and that offensive line, it's been great for 6-7 years, and I know they had a couple of injuries that have set them back a little bit, but when you go talked about. Australis in terms of talent, the Cleveland Browns. If you take all 53 of them and compare them, you know franchise by franchise they they would be in the top five in the NFL and they are getting bottom 5. Quarterback play out of Deshaun Watson. I don't know. I mean, I know it's a business. I understand he's getting a ton of money. I I get that. But I mean, at some point, like, I don't know where the stubbornness lies, I don't think it's Stefanski, right? I mean, I think it's fancy is a good coach, but for whatever. Come on, man. I mean, like everybody. And see that Deshaun Watson is no good at playing football. It's terrible. I. Mean if you. Want to go into advanced metrics and catch your footballs and and a dots and and you know and and and some of the. Metrics that define, you know, you know what players are doing, he's you know, so you know, I I don't know what you need to see, I mean and then it's just the eye test and you can just watch the Browns football game and watch him chucking balls at people's ankles. No. No. And this guy. I played quarterback that he's terrible. So you got miles. Gary, you got uh, you got all these pieces in play. Everything. Well, now you just let Cooper go, but you got all these pieces in place. And you saw it last year when Flacco came in, that that team got a spark. If you could bring a 91 year old Joe Flacco in and get a spark that tells you you had a problem in your quarterback position and they probably never should have let Flacco go because he did the same thing when he came in for Anthony Richardson. All of a sudden the the Indianapolis. Both look like a good football team and by no means do I think Joe Flacco is a world beater at QB. But that kind of tells you where you're at us at with your, with your starting QB. If this guy can come in and make you better, then obviously. You know he's not Patrick Mahomes, right? So obviously your quarterback is terrible. Then if this guy could come in and make you better. So I don't know why they don't give at least Jameis Winston. You know what you're getting? You're going to get a 30 touchdown, 30 interception. Guy. He's done it before, right? So at a minimum, you give yourself a chance. Right now, with what they're rolling out with Deshaun Watson at QB, you're not giving your team a chance. And what? You're gonna end up doing. It's missing a whole locker room off and and the team's gonna quit, you know? Well, I'm sure it's hard.
Kelly::
Yeah, I know. So, I mean, they've already made the deal, the monies, you know the money is already guaranteed. So there's nothing they can do, you know, to get that money back. I don't understand it myself, unless it's just stubbornness by ownership to say, you know, this is what we paid and. You're going to get it, but you'd be way better off with Jameis Winston, I mean. You know, when he first came into the league, he had, you know, had the interception issue and the jokes about throwing to the wrong jerseys and all that. But he's a serviceable quarterback. I mean, he's one of those guys that we've talked about. I put it, you know, he's. In the middle 50%, if you will, where there if I say there's 8 elites, you know, 16 middle of the road and eight that are in the bottom and Watson is. On any other team, he'd be benched already, man, so I don't that I don't know the other team. I guess we'll just. Who knows what they are? The Cowboys man I I don't like those Cowboys. But wow. Makes you so happy. That was quite the birthday present for Jerry Jones.
Chris:
Yeah, yeah, I I, I I just. You made me laugh, buddy. I was, like, laughing at on the couch, watching the game. I loved it. And and just watching Detroit rub their noses in it too, and putting tackles out wide. And they got Penny stool doing hook and ladders and diving for. And like the lions are just having a good old time on tour chery's birthday party.
Kelly::
I mean we, you know, there's been guys. Football is a very man on man Sport and you just impose your will like that on the team. Now they you know, you got to be careful because the Zen of the universe you may pay for that at some point. But I got to believe that was a fun flight home other than obviously the serious injury to their defensive player. I mean, that's very sobering, but. I like Detroit. Look, I'm a Packer fan, but Detroit's been bad for so long, and I like to. I I like their coach. I've been in on him too, and I like their attitude and they're playing some good football and Jared Goff kind of resurrected his career.
Chris:
Oh, absolutely. I'm of the same mindset that you are, Kelly. I, you know, I I also, I'm a Packer fan, you know, and and generally, you know, just by default you hate all the other teams in your division because you want to beat them. But for whatever reason, I don't have that same hatred towards Detroit. And I just, you know, they're just. Dan Campbell's just an easy guy to like, man and and a very easy guy to respect. And I gotta imagine people absolutely love play. For him, and you can see it on the field that they're having fun. They're going for it on 4th downs more than anybody, you know, they are in full attack mode at all times. And I got a ton of respect for that. I mean, you know, quite frankly they they have just as good a chance as any other team in football, chiefs included, of winning the Super Bowl this year. I mean, they are right on that same tier, you know, big difference being they haven't done it before, right. So you know, sometimes you have to learn how to win and Detroit certainly isn't a team. That's, you know. Covered in success over the over the last, you know well, really ever. So we'll see. But in terms of what they can do on the field there, there's going any team out there?
Kelly::
Well, definitely.
Chris:
That's a lot, though. You're right that that's a sad 1 Kelly, you know, and he's just such a class dude. And and just. You know, it's it's such a huge loss to the franchise as a whole, man. You know, it's that Cobe Bryant effect or Michael Jordan. You know, when your best player or one of your best players is also the hardest working guy and also the most humble and also the guy. Not that Michael Jordan was real humble Kobe either. I guess for that matter but. But I'm I'm saying they they they bring that work ethic to, to work every day. And if the if the guy who's in a leadership position. Is how working everybody it just pulls everybody up to their level. So yeah, it's a huge loss to that.
Kelly::
I mean, leaders, leaders, good leaders, elevate those around them. Through their actions and that that's the unfortunate. It's funny looking at the NFL games this week and I'm like, what are the games I'm really looking forward to is actually Minnesota and deterrent.
Chris:
That's probably the game of the week coming up.
Kelly::
You know.
Chris:
You're in Minnesota. You you mentioned how it's funny side note. So you know we've made mention on this podcast before that I I do a little gambling from time to time. So I made my preseason bets and I had a feeling that the NFC North was going to be one of the better divisions at football and whoever came out of it was going to be battle tested. They will have, they will have. Had to earn their way into the playoffs and. So I so I placed a bet on the Packers. Of course, I placed a bet on the Lions because, you know, they're just a good football team, period. And then I took a flyer on the Bears at like 45 to one or something like that. Like. Yeah, you never know. They got a good defense. Maybe the young quarterback comes in and gives them a little spark on offense. And and you never know, right at 45 to one. I'll take a I'll take a little schwack. The one team I didn't bet was. The Vikings? They got no shot. And so I I I took the whole NFC North except for the team that's undefeated in first place.
Kelly::
So with six weeks in on the NFL, what it what? And we talked about this when we kicked off this season, but what do you what's your what do you think of this new kickoff?
Chris:
It's fine, man. I mean, it hasn't been life altering by any means. I mean, we're getting more returns, which I like. So you can see how. The way it's set up, I mean you, you know, you could see how one missed block or or you know one bad lane I guess is the the thing could create a scene, right? So you know I I like it. I mean I like that there are kickoffs. It was too bad. That it was taken away, you know, and for for several years, I understand safety matters. But you know, so it's an important part of the game. And and historically it has has flipped games and we lost it for a few years and and now it's back. And kickoffs are happening, there's still quite a few touchbacks. You know the percentages off the top of my head, but it used to be close to zero man like there there was no kickoff returns. And now now there's some at least. So I like it myself.
Kelly::
I'm OK with it. The one thing I don't like, I guess is. If you're going to do an onside kick, you gotta declare that you're doing it. Not.
Chris:
Yeah. I mean, they had to give up something, right, so.
Kelly::
I I'm OK with it overall. I mean, look, man, these these are human. Beings, and if. It and the numbers I've read anyway say that the concussions on kickoffs are, I think I read something that said they've only had one this year and that's obviously lower than other year. So I mean, I get it, this is a very. Top sport and I think athletes, you know, compete. But I don't want to see them unduly hurt.
Chris:
I I think it's funny how the NFL picks and chooses like where it where, where it's genuinely concerned about player safety, you know.
Kelly::
Yeah, I'm not. Yeah, I will say this. So they're truly concerned about player safety. We wouldn't have Thursday games, dude.
Chris:
Right, correct.
Kelly::
Like you can talk to everyday and we wouldn't play games on Astro.
Chris:
And we wouldn't, you know, be travelling people all over the, you know, the the world to, to play games and you know, like, you know, the clear safety matters. But well, I mean, not more than money. I mean, money matters the most and then player Safety's number 2.
Kelly::
Yeah, because I mean every state, they have the stadiums where they've got Astro turf. When they have the World Cup here, they're going to put grass fields in. And so I mean, they could do it and they should do it. I would tell you this. I mean any. You don't gotta go very far. Challenge anybody that's hearing this podcast. Go walk on any football field. I don't care if it's high school football field and then go walk on any astroturf field and you ask yourself which one you want to get knocked down on.
Chris:
No, you're 100% correct, Sir.
Kelly::
Then on I think 3 or 4 Astro turf football fields in my life. Not. Not that I've I've been to a lot of stadiums, but I have. And you can tell. I don't care how much padding you put under it. Dude, you can tell it's concrete underneath. There's no give.
Speaker
Yep.
Kelly::
Percent right. And then that doesn't even deal with the other issues. That happen where? Dudes cleats get locked in or so. We'll see. I mean, so we've got, uh, another big change here just in the football sphere, though, college football. You know, we're we're halfway almost through to figure out what this playoffs going to look like, definitely. Some interesting games there.
Chris:
Well, and the other thing too, you know what, with all this realignment, you know, we just saw Ohio State play at Oregon in like, you know, whatever week 6, you know, oh, there was a great game. I mean, that game could have gone either way. I mean it, you know, if the game was 3 minutes longer, there might have been a different victor in it. You know, it was a really, really, really good.
Kelly::
That was a great game, man.
Chris:
Football game and we've had a couple of them, you know George, George and Alabama play just fight every year anyway. But now this week coming up, another one, Georgia had Texas and you know, we just had a bunch of them like early in the in in the. Season and I'm excited, man. And I I I. Don't think there is. Any less drama, you know? And now that now we're basically at the halfway point for college football and. With with where we are now, it's, I would argue it's even more exciting because. There's all these little mini like playoff games now, so if you already got a loss like Georgia for instance, let's say you know they already took an L to to Alabama. If they go into Texas and get 2 losses in the SEC, that might be the end of. It you're not going to get a. To come up, up and make that ground. So now we're getting these little like mini playoff games and even, you know, even if you're not talking about top 10 ranked teams and national powerhouses, you've got your Kansas states playing in Oklahoma. And, you know, if Kansas State wants to have any chance of of making it into the top. Well, they can't lose this game and you know, I don't think Clemson and Miami play, but you're gonna have all these little ones where sure, you both have a loss already. But you're still alive, like you still have a chance to go in your you know, when the ACC or win the big 10 or win the SEC and and get. In that way, but. Not if you lose this game. And so we're getting I I would argue that the drama is even. Better you know that.
Kelly::
Ohh, I think it is by far. I think that because one of the things is that in the old system, right? Look, you're going to, you're going to take 1210. In the old system, you know we took four. So just by mathematics, every loss that you did have was more impactful and you got kicked out of the tournament, if you will. Earlier on now, yes, you. You can still get kicked out of the tournament.
Speaker
Right.
Kelly::
But. You have more chances like that one loss early in the season or at some point in the season doesn't eliminate you, so it actually makes more of the games compelling. Because the you know, again, like Georgia. They, they they still got a lot to play for in it and kind of amplifies every game. I I I. From a pure emotional standpoint, I love college football. Just the drama every week. I mean, and I think it's just one of the most entertaining things going on in sports.
Chris:
Oh, I agree with you all heartily, man. I mean for. You know, 20 years now, you know, I'm I may pay, I may pay more attention to the NFL, but a lot of that has to do with just like gambling and fantasy and and and that type of stuff. But just from a pure sports fan, I think college football is the the best thing going in sports. So you know. Just you, you get these different styles, man. You get these. You know, you get, you get a lot of times. I mean, I know people pull from all over the country and you can get a tailback that went to school in Southern California that that now plays for that, you know, a team in the SEC and and there's some movement, but they still are the most of the roster is still. Made-up regionally and. It's just cool to see, man. It's cool to see a team that runs the fear go up against the team. That's friends are spread off in. You know, it's great to see Army and Navy, you know, smashing people, armies, killing people there. And it's just like it's just awesome and it's it's, it's so much fun and like that, you know, you and I see that sound like we're in agreement. That that there is no drama loss and you know all the talk for all those years where they were hosting us with the BCS and then the college bowl like, oh, we don't want to take, we don't, you know, we don't want to take away from the excitement of the regular season and we don't want to pull away, you know the from the drama of of you know the the. For weekly Saturday matchups and stuff, and it's like, dude, you this has made it better, like it's it's much more exciting now in my opinion.
Kelly::
Yeah, I think it is. And I think that on, you know, they got to work though. There's there's some things to work out here. Again, transfer Portal, I mean, got to figure out what the right balance is for that and Neil? You know, again, I nothing against the players, you know, but pretty much a lot of teams, you know, they're recruiting big part of their team every year right now. So we'll see. I think there'll be a little more adjustment to some of that, but I'm really going to be curious to see how the playoffs. Take out and go with that.
Chris:
Yeah, me too, Nick.
Kelly::
What's that?
Chris:
I said me too.
Kelly::
When you thinking about old baseball here, where you know, is it going to be in New York, the World Series, the Dodgers going to do it?
Chris:
Man, baseball's so tough. I mean, it sure looks like the the Yankees and the Dodgers. I mean, they, you know, of their two respective leagues. They, I mean, they've been at the top or here at the top throughout the season. It sure looks like if, you know, if I had to pick, you know, that those are probably the favorites. This baseball man, I mean, you know, a couple of hot bats can can really carry and and win a series and we see it all every single year, so.
Kelly::
I saw it a couple weeks ago. Dude had my heart broken.
Chris:
Yeah, well, that's the. Brewers. Every year we get our hearts broken so.
Kelly::
I actually for the first time I did something I've never done before though, and I'll tell you it's just different feeling. I'm into a playoff game. And it is, even though it was just the wild card round. And I've been to, I don't know. Probably more than 100 baseball games in my life and some big ones, I guess, but. Even that the first game of the playoffs. It's like a friend of mine said I was at the game with him. Normally you know you're in the stands and. Kind of. You know, especially nowadays people are kind of doing a bunch of other stuff while they're at the game, but just the level of attention the people were paying at that game game was so much higher. Also, I don't think I told you this. I had my little brush with fame at the Brewer game.
Chris:
Yeah, yeah. Tell to tell.
Kelly::
We were walking I and while our brother Matt were walking kind of. First down the concourse and he goes, hey, that's an uh Chris Christie, you know, former governor of New Jersey. One time presidential candidate. And then we actually this was out in the concourse and then? We were walking behind our seats in the stadium here and he goes ohh now. Chris Christie's following us and he ended up walking past us but he stopped and said Hello, shook our hand, you know. Not necessarily a fan of his politics, but it was just. Kind of neat. To see and he was just sitting down. Uh, uh, couple couple rolls down from us and over a little bit. And you know, his team got a win, but that's probably, you know, my little brush with fame.
Chris:
You Chuck any?
Kelly::
Popcorn. No. But it is funny because he actually. I remember this at the game I was at. He made a. Where he was sitting was right near one of the cameras and microphones and if you go back to ESPN, there's a highlight of them picking up him, cheering when I'm met. So I forget who the player was, but did something good and you can hear Christie going at a boy. I mean, he's got a very recognizable voice.
Chris:
Yeah, I I mean, you know, I've been tuned into the baseball following it every day. You know, it kills me, and I think we've talked about this in previous podcast back. You know, we've been doing this for a little bit. Now, and it's just the the. First day of the playoffs, I just shook my head again. It's just like, you know, baseball just has their heads so far. It's like dude. You know the the first game where where I live started at.
Speaker
Let's.
Chris:
I want to say it was 9:00 AM. And anyway, there was three games, you know the the the first Wild Card weekend and in the in the very first day and it's like. What? What are you doing, man? Like 162 games. You guys drank this out all this time? And then you're finally, too. When people care, you know what I mean? Like you got me. I'm. I'm not the only guy like me. Kelly, right? I'm not the only casual sports fan that you know, I'm pretty die hard into football, but I'm a casual NASCAR fan. I'm a casual hockey fan. Casual basketball fan, casual baseball fan. When? You get to the. Playoffs. That's what I'm tuning in, man. I'm, I'm in. Alright. You read it out all the week. You got the best of the best remaining. Let's see what you guys got now. Now I'm paying attention and there's literally. You know, hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people just like me across the country that are just now tuning in and you're going to slow them three games in on the same day and you're going to have the first one. Play at 9:00. AM on a Tuesday. What are you doing? Like you.
Kelly::
They're the way they it. It is, so I get it. Like they have some calendar issues here and weather issues in some stadiums, but the most bizarre thing to me, you know, is just that. So we go 162 games. Although this year we actually had to go, but we still was 162 has had they had all that grand planning, they still had to play a double header on the Monday after the regular season was supposedly ending between the Mets and the Braves. But in the Padre or not the Padres. But the Diamondbacks probably didn't like the result of that, but OK, so we. We we take this really long season, you know, we started like March 31st or something. And then you take in your first round of the playoffs. Are are jammed in with. It was actually four games, I think on the first day and because of how these series goes, I believe three of the four were over in two days like. Man, you gotta do something. Stagger this a little bit more. Even if you got to take a couple games out of the regular season, if you're going to have those, this playoff format where you're going to have 12 teams, you know with guys and wild. Cards let the series play out a little bit more and don't just go three games and stack them all up on the same day. It is playing back to backs and and like so you gotta you got to take a page out of the NBA's book.
Chris:
You know the half the teams make the playoffs and then they drag that thing out for. It's a whole new season. They drag that thing out for two months, baby, you know, and then they stagger the games out as they get into like, the the Eastern Conference and Western Conference Conference. Channels, they're they're. They're getting a day off in between games, sometimes three days in between games, and they just they just drag this thing out and spread it all out. And it's like, you know, everything's in prime time. Everything is after people are home from or, you know, like baseball is. Just what are you doing, man? Like I it is just so asinine to me and I don't know. You know what kind of contracts they've signed and what kind of deals with the devil they had to make to get them themselves in this. But at some point, you've got to look at it for what it is and just say, hey, we are. Losing a ton of money simply based on, you know, we don't maximize our playoffs. You know, we we just rush through it and sum up as possible.
Kelly::
I mean, your playoffs are your showcase. You know, like I said, man, careers are made in the regular season. Legends are made in the playoffs. You you got, you should be maximizing the availability of as many people as possible to see your playoff games. Every one of them, and make it an event, man. Yep. Not ohh, well, uh. You know, even here, whatever the first game. My own when it was noon or 1:00. Like a lot of us got jobs, dudes.
Chris:
Yeah.
Kelly::
You know, I mean, and good grief, man. By the time you know, you get and then it's gone, your team made the playoffs and two days later after, you know, really literally so the regular season ended on Sunday. Most of the Wild Card series started on Tuesday for any series that the you know, one team won the 1st 2 games. That means three days after the regular season.
Speaker
Then.
Kelly::
Those some of those series were were already over. I get it. You want don't want to drag it out forever, but man, capitalize a little more on the momentum.
Chris:
Yeah, I I I I mean, no one, no one's called and asked my opinion. But if anyone's listening and I mean you, you got to pull your head out, man, and and restructure and yes. So so you shave a whole month off the season, whatever that translates into, you know. You shave, you know, 1520 games off.
Speaker
Like.
Chris:
And then. Stretch the playoffs out, put it, put it in the evenings, you know, find time slots that work. Obviously, you know, part part of the problem with, you know, I've heard some NASCAR drivers, you know, NASCAR generally races on Sundays and their their season bleeds into the start of the NFL. Nobody wants to mess with the NFL, right? NFL's the king. Everybody knows it. And. Nobody wants to go to head to head against the NFL in terms of ratings because, like even the worst you could, you could put the Panthers against the Patriots on Monday night and more people are going to watch that than the Yankees, Dodgers, right? And so.
Kelly::
Do more people watch the NFL draft than half? The other sports.
Chris:
Right. So nobody wants to go against the NFL and I get that. So you know, you got to find a way to work around them because they ain't moving. And you, you can't beat the almighty beast of the NFL, right? Well, you know that going in so quickly in your season into it, or at least be trimmed down enough that you can work around them, you know, and you have a game on Saturday and you don't play again till Tuesday that, you know, work it out to where you don't have to go head to head. That against them very often, and what I'll say about that after I forget who it was when he was talking, he said. What do we do? Like nobody's watching our stuff. I don't know. I don't want to watch our stuff. And this is I'm a driver. I want to watch it. Football. Like, I don't know why we? Why? We want to pick a fight with the NFL. We gonna lose. And it was pretty funny, dude. And. He said. I don't want to be here. I want to be home watching football. So you know baseball, for whatever reason I I don't know, man. I I mean, I hopefully someday they come to their senses because right now they do have a good product. But no. But you you're making I have a job dude like I I can't. I'm not taking off. Work to watch your baseball game. I'm sorry. So, I mean, I, I I work out of the field. I don't work at an office. I can't. I can't put the game on in the background. You know, I can. I can catch it when I get back in the truck, you know? And I can put it on, you know, SiriusXM or or whatever. And and. And and follow. It that way. But if you're going to put a game. On at noon and on Tuesday. I'm not catch as much as I can, but I'm. I'm sorry. I'm not watching it. I'm not watching the product. I I got a job, you know that I have to go to so. And like I said, there's millions just like me. They're like, well, I guess I'll just check the score at the end of the day. And, you know, if there's a game on tonight, I'll watch that one. But I'm going to miss three of your four games because you should, and then they overlap them, too. You know what I mean? And and they make it so like, wow, do you want to watch the end of this game or do you want to watch the all of that game because you? Can't do both and yeah.
Kelly::
You know, I would just like to see him do a few things, you know, I. I would trade cutting off a little bit at the beginning and end of the regular season. You could knock two weeks off of each of those. Start in the middle of April. You know, I get it. 162 games like that's maybe that's how it's been for a while. I would trade take two weeks off of each. And you know, go April 15th to September 15 in the regular season. Cut back. Whatever. How many other games that needs to be, you know, and especially with the 12 teams in the playoffs, have a little more drama. And I don't think especially now with the way that games change like, you know. All you know, pitchers don't pitch like they used to, so you know, we're probably never going to have, like, these massive 20 game winners anymore. They just don't like every. It's changed so much. So adapt this season as well to reflect the reality of today.
Chris:
I couldn't agree more, Sir. And.
Kelly::
There in New York City that is at MLB headquarters. I'll throw my hat in the ring for Commissioner. If you want to hire me.
Chris:
Well, the only thing is. You take a personal investment away from people too, you know. Like, I'll get into basketball series Kelly. And you know it's playoffs and and you know, the Phoenix Suns are playing the Los Angeles. Lakers or whatever. And and I look forward to the next game. And and it's like, hey, I watched all of game one. I'm, I'm I'm when's game two? I want to watch it. You know I'm in. It now, well, baseball sets it up in such a way that it's like, well, I miss game one because they put it on at 9:00 in the morning. Like, I guess it doesn't really matter if I watch game two. You know, there's an emotional investment you get from sports. And you know. And and when you're following it, it doesn't have to be your team. It could. It could just be a series, you know. There's a lot of these teams. I don't necessarily have an emotional investment in, but you know, like I said, I get, I get wrapped up in a series and now like, I make a point to make sure I can see the next one and and baseball makes it impossible. Look, I'm a baseball fan, but.
Kelly::
I don't if I'm not gonna. If I if I know ahead of time. I'm not going to be able to, like, get into the whole. Please. I don't invest in them because why do I want to invest, you know? You know, I'm. I'm the guy that likes the stories and the story aspect of it. Well, I want to be able to read the whole book, not just a few random pages here and there. So if if you, you know.
Chris:
Yeah, I mean, you know, it sounds like you and I are of the same mindset. I mean, it's just frustrating. They just do it all wrong and you know, whatever. And I'm not other stuff to do maths. Fine. You know, I mean, I don't. I don't have to be interested in your league then. No, that's it. I still am following it. I mean, I'm checking. I'm checking my phone throughout the day to see what the score is. You know, I'm. I'm looking at the box score to see who who you know, who contributed to the runs and. This and that and but but it's. A really loose follow you know? And I don't have the same kind of like what I was alluding to. I don't have the same like want to to like, hunt this game down like I I don't. I don't schedule around it, right. I don't make sure I'm home by 5. Like get so I can be there for first pitch or anything like that. It's just like, well, you you don't seem to really care about me and my time. So I don't really care about your product that much. You know, if there's some, if there's some overlap, cool, that's fine. You know, but you've you've just, you've made it. So I don't I don't have an emotional investment in you.
Kelly::
Yeah. What I would say and then we can, I guess get off of get off my lawn. Because we sure it's not like tools grums but.
Chris:
We do, I know, but.
Kelly::
But what I would say is this. So in the summer, right, baseball's on every day and it's kind of the fabric of your life and all that. And it's great, OK, if you don't see all of every game and that's fine because there's always something on. But you got to recognize that. What works in the summer? You know when it's it's kind of just around you all the time. When it comes time for the uh, the playoffs, you gotta change your your. Too, because then, if it's just the background fabric of the life that don't work, man, especially when these series are over so quick, man.
Chris:
Well, another thing too is the timing of everything. You have to realize like kind of like you, you alluded to it. Right here and. And you know, in the summer, there's not a whole you kind of the only. Game in town. You know, there's not a lot. A lot else going on, you know, after the hockey and baseball playoffs and baseball gets this summer to themselves, you know NASCAR's role and golf is is still in effect and stuff. But those guys aren't real contenders for people's attention the way some, you know, the way football, hockey and baseball. And so Facebook kind of has, like, free room. You know, you're you're you're in. That's good. That's happening right now. Well, now, that's not the case, man. There's a lot going on, you know? And so you're losing a lot of your audience to other things, to hockey, to basketball, to football, to college football, you know. And. And uh. I just. I don't. I don't. I don't get it that you either got to make your products much more appealing, much more compelling, you got you got to demand my attention or or you have to take more advantage of when I don't have nothing else going on and nothing else has my attention, you know? And and baseball just fails on those fronts. That's enough. Like you said, get off my lawn. I've been ditching for 10 minutes now.
Kelly::
All right. So before we call it a day, not going to hold you to this because we're 1/3 of the way. But. Who are who are your Super Bowl teams and who's winning the Super Bowl based on what you've seen so far?
Chris:
Kansas City Chiefs. Are going to beat the Detroit Lions.
Kelly::
OK, I am going to say based on what I've seen right now, the Detroit Lions are beating the Baltimore Colts.
Chris:
The Baltimore Colts throwback, huh? Ohh.
Speaker
Ah.
Kelly::
OK.
Chris:
We got you. Johnny, you coming to cover coming out?
Kelly::
I didn't tell you I had that time machine.
Chris:
That'd be that'd be great.
Kelly::
OK, now the real question is.
Chris:
You know, with all the CGI and it's available now and and what they can do, how fun would that be? A note to people who have much more skills on the computers and all that than I do. How fun would it be to watch? You know, Lombardi's Packers play against, you know, Andy Reid's chiefs. You know what I mean? Let's get the CGI people working and and, you know, met and missed some game, filled them together and and throw a couple stories like I might be on to something here. Man, we can make some money. Kelly, let's, let's get some. You know, all time classics, right and.
Kelly::
I want to see Ray Nitschke going after Patrick Mahomes man.
Chris:
You know, have a Turkey. Right. And and have a you know, why don't you set up a tournament? You know what I mean? And and takes 64 teams or 32 teams or whatever and all time greats, right. The undefeated Dolphins are in there and, you know, pick any number of Tom Brady 7 championships. You know, pick a couple of those and I mean, hell, you can have Tom Brady playing against Tom Brady under this scenario and. The The the Tom Brady LED Buccaneers against the Tom Brady LED, you know, Patriots right? Or the Peyton Manning led the Broncos. I guess the Peyton Manning LED Colts in the AFC Championship showed out, and but anyway, how cool would it be to see a tournament? Of all time great NFL teams, you know, you pick 616 of them, single elimination tournament and have them whittle down. You know, I think that would be amazing. And and with today's technology, I mean we absolutely. We could mesh in a film together and use some CGI to fill in the gaps and and like, actually watch a game shortened version, obviously, maybe like a 10 minute game or 15 minute game, you know, but I think you know. I'm just giving that I'm. I'm I'm.
Kelly::
That's an interesting idea. I mean, maybe since.
Chris:
Giving this brilliant idea away to to to somebody. I make millions off of it just because I want to watch it.
Kelly::
And just for the records I I will not fix it on the edit, but I am meant to say the Detroit Lions will beat the Baltimore Ravens.
Chris:
Yeah, the, the, the Super Bowl, I want to see I I mean, I think the Packers have a legitimate outside shot at it, man, I like. You had a lot of questions about what they would look like on defense this year. You know, we picked up Savior McKinney, great pickup guy had a pick in in five straight games to start the year. He looks every every bit worth the money that he was paid and he he is a legitimate Pro Bowl caliber free safety out there. Just roaming the field making plays. But then we proceeded to draft. Like 3 safeties and you know, it's not like we didn't have any safeties to begin with. And it's, you know, I I remember leaving the draft thinking, what the hell are we going to do with all these? And you know, watching the Packers play football right now is really exciting, especially on defense. I love what they're doing on offense, I mean, but I expected this, right. They get a lot of. High quality young receiver, you know they they Matt Lafleur's offense. A lot of a lot of creativity in it and I thought I thought this was the offense we would see but my question was on. Defense and what they've shown is they just have a playmakers all over the field, especially in in the like the back 2 levels between linebacker and the secondary. There's guys that can just cover tons of ground and I I I I I don't know what they have exactly but I want to say they have like 17 turnovers and.
Kelly::
Well, it's some crazy number, man. I can't remember the name.
Chris:
And it's like, you know, you're seeing it like ohh wow, man. Like sometimes if you just get football. Players that maybe don't fit specifically into a body type or a specific role, but if you just fill if you just fill the the field up with with football players and let them just kind of run, run free and and make plays and that's what the Packers defense is doing. So you know they they still have development to do. I mean, they're still not great. Chance to run. They're they're rushed. They're they're they're running game on offense. Could could still lose a little pick me up, but I don't rule them out, man. I mean, they're going to be in the fight. I think they they look like a playoff team to me and they're the team. They cook. Yeah. Not at the right time. Get some timely turnovers, you know, have a couple big plays on offense and I don't rule them out for a possible.
Kelly::
I don't leave them out. I think that that, you know, I I'll I'll say two things to what you said for sure, especially with the way the football is geared towards offense. Man, I love it when you can see a good defense. I it's just exciting because I think playing defense in the NFL has gotten significantly harder. Just I mean it's. You know, rule changes have geared towards scoring and so when you see defensive players able to. Stop these offensive juggernauts. I think that's great. And then? You know, I think the Packers, you know, I'd put them up there probably in, in the NFC. Uh, in the top six teams right now for sure.
Speaker
Yeah.
Kelly::
And so we'll see.
Chris:
Yeah. Like I said, they'll be in the fight. They're a really tough division. They're four and two and in last place, but I think I think they, like I said, I think they'll be in the fight. So you know, they should have an opportunity and we'll see if they can make good on it.
Kelly::
And I know we'll have an opportunity again to pick up with our audience in the next episode. Promise everybody. It won't be another six weeks. Just life got busy for a bit. And thanks everyone for listening to this episode of the podcast to be known later. And Chris, thanks to you for a great chat again.
Chris:
Always buddy. Love them every time.
Kelly::
All right, man.