Mike Vrabel’s Coaching // Mazz’s Tiers Reaction // Caller Reaction - 2/26 (Hour 2)

This is 2026. No more messing around. It's the first day of the rest of your life. Today, you are switching to Astound. Shifting your Wi-Fi and life into a new gear. Reliable, affordable connection. So you can browse, watch, and play like you've always wanted. Because slow Wi-Fi is so last year. Under budget, full speed ahead. That's Astound. Gig Wi-Fi for $50 a month with a three-year price lock. Restrictions apply. See Astound.com for details. These guys won't stop touching. And you can pretty much do it. Tell you're at Maz. In perpetuity. Yep. The Sports Hub. Athletes who need the ring the most to validate their reputation. Right. Derrick Henry. Derrick Henry. Not bad. Good one. Not bad. He's had a hell of a career. Not bad, right? The Barry Sanders equivalent. Yeah. So football's tough because, like, you know, what are you going to do? Pick a right guard? No, right. You know what I mean? So it's usually quarterbacks. But you could get after, like, another one that crossed the right. Christian McCaffrey's never won, right? Yeah, good one. Right. Oh, that's a good one. So, Christian McCaffrey is, you know, again, but he's not a quarterback, so you can't put it all on him. But he's a high volume. Fumbled a couple times in these big games. And he's a high volume touch guy. Yeah. I mean, he's getting the ball 25 times a game. Anyway, he's another one that crossed my mind. Back to your phones on all of this. David and Wellesley. Go ahead, David. Hey, so I know it's small market, but I think it's almost – well, I guess you could say it either way, but I think it's more important. Anthony Edwards. So that he's getting there. He's a good one to bring up. So there's ones like Joe Burrow would be a lower tier for me too, Matt, like yours was because he's young. And you're not sitting there saying, will he ever win one? Correct. Not yet. Not yet. You know, he's got a few more years to go. I think you've got to. I don't know what that line is. Lamar Jackson should be ahead of him, though. He is. Yeah. Lamar Jackson's tier one. Josh Allen's tier one. Those guys have been in the league longer than Joe Burrow. And Allen and Jackson were drafted in the same class. Okay. So they've been in the league the same time. Burrow came a couple of years later. And if you're a winning MVP, sorry to cut you off, there's more pressure on you. Jackson's got two, right? And then Allen just had the one that he had. I looked up the games played on those guys because Burrow's been hurt too. So as much as I want to hold that against him, part of that's the Bengals. But Burrow has like under 80 starts in his career. Allen has like 125. And Lamar Jackson has like almost 110. So they're really almost all a season apart in terms of number of starts made. But Burrow has lagged behind because of injuries. You don't want my suggestion that no one cares about, but he belongs on the list? If we were doing it in Milwaukee, I'd have put him on. If you just had a bigger worldview than inside of 128, you would have picked Christian Yelich. Christian Yelich. One-time NL MVP, finished second, a second-year franchise player, a couple hundred million dollar contract, been in the playoffs just about every year, and hasn't just come up short, has epically sucked. Complete basket case. He's a choker in the playoffs, right? Complete basket case. I gotta look that up. Can barely hold the bat. Franchise player, constantly there, highly decorated, highly compensated, and is a absolute puddle in these big games. And whether you care or not, he belongs on the list. 218 average in the postseason. 121 played appearances. Is there some crazy stat that he hasn't had a postseason RBI in a decade or something like that? Hasn't had one since 2018. Hasn't it? And they're in the playoffs every year. Wow, that blows. Thank you. Larry Nandover on the Patriots receiver situation. Go. You're probably right about getting a number one, but what about these teams that find these guys in the third and fourth rounds and they're all productive. Look at your team, the Green Bay Packers, again. They all can catch the ball. Yeah, Dobbs, Wicks, Watson, yes, yes, yes. It's possible the Patriots might draft a player like that. If he hits and puts up huge numbers and becomes a legit number one from the second round, a la DK Metcalf or Devontae Adams or Tyreek Hill from the fifth round or one of these guys, they're not going to pay him. Correct. They're not going to give him the contract. And that's not me calling them cheap, although it's kind of part of it, the way they manage their business. They don't like those kind of contracts. But they're not going to have Drake May on the books as the highest-paid quarterback in the history of the game, which is what he's going to be next year. And Chris Gonzalez is the highest-paid corner in the history of the game. And building out Mike Vrabel's defense and then pay the equivalent of Jamar Chase $50, $60, $70 million a year, it's not going to happen. It's just not going to happen here. But can they draft better and have a nice, balanced group? And if a kid gets really hits, trade him? Yeah, I can see that, but not anytime soon, but it's possible. While we're on the topic, just quickly, what do they do with Booty? Is he? He's up after next year. Next year? Yeah. He's got one more year. Yeah, they're going to. I mean, they won't. Okay, well, one of two things. They're going to float a team-friendly deal in front of them and simply say, do you want your money now or not? I know you think you can get more in the market, but if you want to sign now and you want your bonus money now, then take this crap-ass deal. Or he bets it himself, has a great season, then he's going to want 30 per and they're not going to pay it. Buy. Yeah, they won't pay him. One of two things. So, I mean, in between, would he hold out or do something like that? I don't know. but they'll they should and probably will try and re-sign him it'll of course be team friendly because they're going to him early and they're the patriots and then maybe he takes it maybe he doesn't with him that's the right play you know he only had 33 catches like it felt like more didn't it to me he's they were impactful though they were yeah they usually are yeah but he doesn't solve the number one thing no he doesn't i'm sorry he's not no but he has value to them because he fits well with may and you know they throw the ball down the field anthony in texas thanks for Holden, Anthony, what do you got? Hey, guys. I'm not too convinced that Drake May is going to get that monster contract that you're talking about, Felger, because I think we're in for a big regression from him next year. We see this all the time in the NFL where these young quarterbacks catch lightning in a bottle, and then they're never the same again. You saw what happened with Stroud. And I think that we're going to see more of the Drake May in the playoffs going forward than we did the first few weeks of the season when he was lighting it up against, like, the New Orleans of the world. God help us if that's the case. but I still think even if he regresses slightly, which I think is a totally reasonable thing to expect. He was second. He was one vote shy of being the league MVP. Correct. So if he falls off of that, it's not even a knock. It's just, you know, what goes up comes down, all that sort of stuff. And their schedule, have we mentioned, is really hard. And so I would expect him to maybe not be quite what he was last year. He's still going to get his ass paid. Let me just give an example. Sorry for all the Wisconsin sports talk, But when Jordan Love came up, it was time for his contract. He became the highest paid quarterback in the history of the national football. Or like right there anyway. Got an incredible contract. So did Dak Prescott, in fact. I think it's the same thing. It's not about necessarily the year you're coming off or if you're the best or not. It's the timing. It's when you're up. Was Jalen Brown the best basketball player in the history of the NBA? No. He became the highest paid player in the history of the NBA when he was up. That hack, too, got $212 million. Daniel Jones is another one. He got a big deal from the Giants. Drake May is getting his ass paid. Daniel Jones was coming off a big year, though. He was. I'm saying Drake May doesn't even need a big year. He just needs to be in the ballpark of what he was last year and up. And he's getting it. And the Pats are going to pay him. Pats are going to pay him. They'll have no other recourse. What does that mean for everything else? And what does that mean for everything else? It means the number one receiver is a dream. dudes in Pittsfield yes dudes hey guys how you doing um love mads his tears as always but mads i gotta disagree with you on the tommy fleawood one i mean it's not like he won the disney world classic i mean the guy won the number one tournament every golfer wants to win year in and year out other than a major championship other than a major yeah what's that right right exactly what is the one or the fedex what's the fedex yeah the fedex cup i mean he won the the FedEx Cup. Big deal. Jim Murray, the FedEx Cup. The FedEx Cup has been around, I'm going to guess, for something like 20, 25 years. Not even that long, I don't think. Couldn't tell you where it's played, when it happens. Name one winner, other than Tommy Fleetwood, because I just told you. Name one winner ever of the FedEx Cup. Tiger Woods. I'm not. I'm not asking you, Maz. Did he win it? I mean, he won everything. He had to at some point, didn't he? Schefter. Scheffler, you mean. Adam Schefter in those little boy clubs. He probably can't putt. The thing has been around since 07, so I was right. It was closer to 20 years. Would you say 25? 20 to 25 years. So Tiger definitely won that thing at some point. Tiger won it in 07. There you go. Scheffler won it. I'm not asking you, man. No one gives a rat's ass about the FedEx Cup, caller. Nope, I don't either. Does not count as a clutch win or a legacy-defining win or anything like that. You must win a major. Tommy Fleetwood doesn't belong there. Tommy Fleetwood. Please. I mean, but I might go, like, how old is Ricky Fowler? Ricky Fowler. So I might go Ricky Fowler before I go Tommy Fleetwood. Is Fleetwood young enough where you'd say there's still time there? Yeah, definitely. He's in his 30s, I think. I mean, but I sort of look at Fowler now as sort of being like. It's not happening. Well, he's more like Russell Westbrook. Like, the time has come and gone. He kind of blows now. They said, oh, boy, Tommy Fleetwood's 35. Yeah. He's not a kid. But he's in his prime. Sergio Garcia. Like those guys, they needed it. They needed it. Fleetwood. He's the number three player in the world. The number three player in the world behind Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. Is he British? He's English. Choking Brit. What'd you say? British. Oh, yeah. Or English, and you said the other. No, no, sorry. I wasn't really listening. It's one and the same. You know it is. That why I perked up What am I missing It not quite the same actually Great Britain encompasses Great Britain English is England Correct He English It's one and the same. It's not quite the same. That, my friend, is circumcising the mosquito. It is. He's American. I said he's from the U.S. Yeah, he's from Canada. North American. Golfers. 617-779-0985. We continue with your thoughts right after these words. This is 2026. No more messing around. It's the first day of the rest of your life. Today, you are switching to Astound. Shifting your Wi-Fi and life into a new gear. Reliable, affordable connection. So you can browse, watch, and play like you've always wanted. Because slow Wi-Fi is so last year. Under budget, full speed ahead. That's Astound. Gig Wi-Fi for $50 a month with a three-year price lock. Restrictions apply. See us down.com for details. Hey, it's Owen. Shaking things up a bit. No formal intro. Let's see what Carlo from Auburn has to say. The biggest thing that I received out of this Awaken 180 program was that I was able to get a best friend. And when I say that, I mean the person that I look to in the mirror every morning. I would walk by the mirror and not look. Now, the Awaken 180 program has given me the ability to look in the mirror, smile, and actually enjoy and appreciate the person I am. I went from, you know, 301 down to 213. I've lost 84 pounds with Awaken 180. 84 pounds of Carlo did it in just under four months. And those results, buddy, are the results you'll get with Awaken 180. Do what Carlo did, what I did, Greg Bedard, Dr. Laura Carman, and everybody else that's done it. Get back to liking the person you see in the mirror and choose Awaken 180 Weight Loss online at awaken180weightloss.com. Hi, I'm Sean Flaherty, managing partner of Catch's Law Group. And for over 40 years, Catch's Law has been more than just a law firm. We've been your neighbors. We've stood with New England families through good times and through tough times. That's why the New England Patriots chose us to be their official law firm. Because we know what this region is built on. Hard work, grit, and loyalty. At Catcher's Law, we fight for workers who are injured on the job, families who have been wronged, and neighbors who need a voice. When you need someone in your corner, turn to the team that's been here for decades. Visit Catcher'sLaw.com today. It looks like one of the toenail clippings that usually leaves in the studio. Welcome to Blah Blah Blah, everybody. Felger and Mez, 98.5, the Sports Hub. How do you strike that balance between the reality? All these guys are going to be gone at some point, but while they're here, they're my guys. Well, I think I lived it, and I can explain to them that I didn't start a game in Pittsburgh for four years. Had an opportunity to come to New England on an opportunity contract. It wasn't about the dollars. It was about opportunity, but also then built into a player that was compensated well for his position, that was expected to perform was a player that, you know, asked for a new contract. And if he didn't, you know, maybe the best thing is to trade me. And that's what happened. I got traded. And so I take them through that journey. And I also take them through the personal side of this thing. And I take them through the professional side of it. And the professional side and the personal side, they can coexist, but they have to, there's a line there. And we want to care about them, the things that they care about, the things that they think are important. the things that they believe that are important, their families, their careers. You know, we want to help them do all that stuff. But then there's also a professional side that we have to maintain and we have to make decisions that are in the best interest of the Patriots. Who's the coach that's... But honesty normally helps and being genuine and being authentic and being honest. That was Mike Vrabel yesterday. He did the Indy Combine media circles and landed on Pro Football Talk with our buddy Mike Florio and my idol, Chris Sims. And there was that exchange. And a lot of these comments, they sort of went back into territory that's been covered here, you know, certainly in the year plus since Rabel's been here. But his makeup, his management style, his connection with the players, and a lot of this we found interesting, Maz. What did you like about that comment? Well, what were the words again? Honest, genuine, authentic. Did he go on to say everything Bill Belichick is not? Like, did he go that far? because look I think it's obvious again when you hear Vrabel it's just such a culture shock from what we had for 20 years and as he started talking about his experiences as a player like it's easy to say that the players like him Vrabel connects with his players because he was one when he laid it out the way he laid it out I think it's more than that it's that he experienced many things that a lot of players don't even experienced. He was a backup in Pittsburgh. He became a stud here. Then he wanted his money and they traded his ass after the, you know, the comment that he made about Patriot Place and we help build this. We should be able to get some of the money. So he had a falling out with the crafts over a period of time. So he has lived the reality of being a backup. He's lived the reality of benefiting from the business of being a player. he's the reality of being hurt by the business of being a player so he really does have not just a player experience but the ability to connect with a lot of different players he can look at some guys and go yeah i got a lot of playing time i know the pressure that's on you yeah i know what it's like i was a backup for four years yeah believe me i know what it's like when you feel like uh stefan coming out of houston and minnesota because the patriots traded my ass as soon as i opened my mouth my mouth about the money. Or the Steelers didn't even believe in me to give him a starting job. Right, so he's got experiences that allow him to really connect with a lot of other people. Look, the personality of Vrabel is obvious and the tongue bath that they gave him in this interview, Florio and Sims, I'd love them both, but this is why the media loves Vrabel because he sits there and tries to answer questions head on. He engages with you and he can joke with you back and forth like there's a there's a give and take that exists with vrabel and it doesn't come off as personal florio actually called him the great mike vrabel yeah and it wasn't the jared the great mike vrabel it wasn't that this sarcastic tone no no it was no he actually said we are pleased to be joined by the great mike vrabel like and i'm joking about it but but sims at one point said to him i want to ask you about your game management because we're big fans of your game management here. Both of us. Well, I think that's the next cut because the way Vrabel talks about bending the rules is really classic Mike Vrabel. Is number four, Jimmy? I'm amazed by your game management. Okay. Right. And we talk about that a lot. During the AFC championship game, and I think one of the most underrated plays of all of the playoffs is you with the slow substitution. Well, that's not slow. That's not deemed slow. That's in it. I know it's not. That's in a timely manner. Right. Okay. Stop. Like he's got him in stitches. He's just got. Yeah, they're yucking it up. Oh, I got it up. No, really. They love him. They're eating out of his hand. He's got the media eating out of his hand. And look, as much as I mark it, he's doing it well. Like they're buying it. And this is why I think it's part of the reason he won Coach of the Year. He deserved it. He's a worthy candidate. But they love him. They love him to death no matter what he says. when bill it was like oh what an asshole sorry sorry i can't say that you can say we're not in safe harbor mezz you can say it on tv you can say it on tv you can say that one on tv you actually can these days well i i'm bst one current abuses that thing no well well uh they yes they did used to let you say the uh s bomb then they took that away but once a quarter i'd call aaron rogers or Brett Favre the full a-hole. And I think they let it go once a quarter. But again, that's after 10 p.m. That's safe harbor. Oh, is that what that is? Yeah, yeah. 10 p.m. safe harbor? Yep. This is not safe harbor. No, no, that one slipped out. Sorry. Been a while. Because Bill's an a-hole. Yes, because Bill's an a-hole. You can also go asshat. Yes, asshat. But not the... I can also substitute something for ass with hole, but I don't think... You did it. I mean, it's just amazing. Sorry, sorry. But I don't think that would work. Go ahead. Pick up the comment. You can call my butt face. Would you please, Stu, just pick up the comment? Go ahead. After the delay catches up and everything. Is you with the slow substitution? Well, that's not slow. That's not deemed slow. I know it's not. That's in a timely manner. Right. Okay. That's not slow. Well, okay. But you know what I'm saying with this grin. They're defensive linemen. How fast you want to run out there. The field is snowy. They could slip. They could injure themselves. That's the first time I heard him speak full of crap. That's the first time I heard you speak full of crap. I didn't know that. I did not know that came out of your mouth before. I just thought that was amazing. We want to try to make sure that our players understand what the rules are. Again, good teams know the rules. the rules, you know, and great teams can use them to their advantage. Right. And whatever they are, we'll play by them. And if they say to change our behavior, this is what I tell our team. If the ref warns you and you don't change, they should take the flag and they should hit you over the helmet with it. Because they warn you. They warn you. And if we're doing something that they warn us, then we need to change our behavior or we need to change what we're doing. Right. D-tackles, be careful substituting. Don't fall down. Those are first date giggles. Yeah, big time. No, it is. Florio sounds like Ed McMahon. That's in a timely manner. Right. Okay. People love themselves to Mike Vareno. Oh, my gosh. Okay. Seriously, he should run for president for crying out loud the way people respond to him. It's unreal. The follow-up on the rules was good, though, too, Jimmy. Number five. If we could We still in delay Thanks to you Sorry I was trying to re re up the laugh Go ahead Thanks What are we looking for Number five Follow up on the rules You know the rules intimately You know how to use them to your advantage, but I never get the sense that you take it too far. We don't want to be gimmicky. Yeah. Right. We don't want to be some sort of gimmick. And you can get into that. You can go down that rabbit hole at times with the rules, with the timing, with the situations, with any play that you could dial up at the end of the game to do something. You don't want to be gimmicky. And the most important thing is that the players understand it. And as long as they understand it and it's practiced and they're comfortable and they're confident in it, then I think it's okay. But once it becomes a gimmick and are you just doing things just to try to be different, I don't think that's the right way to go. You've got a reason for everything you do. Try to be intentional. And you know it's within the rules. Right. And it's all toward the end. I think you just have to continue to show the players, hey, this is how this is going to help. So, again, he's gotten those guys eaten out of the palm of his hand, and it's easy to see. He's a very relatable, compelling guy to listen to. He is. And the thing about the rules, like you don't want to be gimmicky, and sometimes you end up going down that rabbit hole. To me, the thing I thought of immediately was the clock thing with Stephon Diggs at Tampa Bay, right? That was in Tampa? Oh, well, they got too fine with the clock down there, yeah. Right. and they whittled it down to no time on the clock and then Diggs had to make a ridiculous catch for a touchdown down there. I think if he were to, my guess is if you asked Rabel and he was drinking truth serum, he would have said, we cut that one a little too close. You know, like, so, you know, it seems like he's aware of it when they start to overdo it. But, you know, it's a, you're so right about the laughing. My God, I'm telling you, The national media eats up everything he says. Not the local media? Well, they do, too. Good grief. It's worse nationally. All right, so continue with your thoughts. I promise you're all lined up to your phones after Big Jim Murray gets you updated here. This is 2026. No more messing around. It's the first day of the rest of your life. Today, you are switching to astound. Shifting your Wi-Fi and life into a new gear. Reliable, affordable connection. so you can browse, watch, and play like you've always wanted. Because slow Wi-Fi is so last year. Under budget, full speed ahead. That's Astound. Wi-Fi starting at $19.95 per month. Restrictions apply. See astound.com for details. Hey, it's Owen. Shaking things up a bit. No formal intro. Let's see what Carlo from Auburn has to say. The biggest thing that I received out of this Awaken 180 program was that I was able to get a best friend. And when I say that, I mean the person that I look to in the mirror every morning. I would walk by the mirror and not look. Now, the Awaken 180 program has given me the ability to look in the mirror, smile, and actually enjoy and appreciate the person I am. I went from, you know, 301 down to 213. I've lost 84 pounds with Awaken 180. 84 pounds, and Carlo did it in just under four months. and those results, buddy, are the results you'll get with Awaken 180. Do what Carlo did, what I did, Greg Bedard, Dr. Laura Carman, and everybody else that's done it. Get back to liking the person you see in the mirror and choose Awaken 180 Weight Loss online at awaken180weightloss.com. Hi, I'm Sean Flaherty, managing partner of Catcher's Law Group. At Catcher's Law, we're proud of our roots. For more than 40 years, we've been part of this community, raising families, cheering for the Patriots, and fighting for our neighbors. Being named the official law firm of the New England Patriots isn't just an honor. It's a reflection of what we stand for. Loyalty, strength, and community. Whether you've been hurt on the job or are suffering from years of physical wear and tear, we are here for you. Visit CatchesLaw.com or call us today to schedule your free consultation. Belger and Maz continues on the Sports Hub. I got one more. How do you manage being caught between this crossfire between Belichick and the crafts? Oh, man. And it's more Belichick towards the crafts, as far as I can tell. And again, I think that that's just part of my job. And I think it is a unique thing that I played for a guy that had a lot of success. But also, you know, sometimes these endings to these coaches and owners, they don't end well. Divorces sometimes don't end well. And I have a responsibility to Robert and Jonathan, who I appreciate their support each and every day, but also can understand that I played and grew and had a lot of success under, you know, Bill. Like that question too, Mass? I thought the question was excellent from Florio, because again, who has asked him that yet? Vrabel's been like done a million interviews, national ones, because the team made the run. He's been in all these interviews. Do you remember anybody asking him what's it like to navigate or to navigate the existence between Kraft and Belichick while they're sniping at each other? I hear you. And I think it caught Vrabel a little off guard. He sort of had to stop and think, how am I going to answer this? Because he was, you know, he expects football questions. You know, he handled it like a PR person would encourage you to answer it. You know, you like them both or you work for them both and can appreciate them both. And you don't really say anything, but he dodged it. That's the only time I've seen him sort of tap his feet a little bit. Back to your calls. Maz's tiers were athletes that need a ring the most to validate their legacy. Who needs a ring the most? Phil in the car has an addition. Go ahead, Phil, quick. Hi. I wanted to add one to tier three, and that would be Eric Carlson. He is the only Norris trophy winner to win multiple times and not have a ring. Is that true? The only multiple Norris hockey player without a championship? Interesting stat. We can double-check that. That's a good stat. He's won three of them. Ray Bork was on that list for a long time. Matt in the truck has an addition. Go. Hey, guys. Matt, for you, just wanted to say a baseball one. You know, Jose Ramirez at the Guardians, constantly regarded as probably best third baseman in the league right now by a lot of pundits. So I just wanted your thoughts on that. Well, here's another baseball player. Rich in Rhode Island. Yes, Rich. Hey, how about Manny Machado, that ass donut hole? He's a good one. Machado came up. I go Machado over Ramirez because Machado's more of a household name. Definitely. And also, you know, there is something about being in a smaller market that means your team is not going to have the resources that some of the other ones will. So, like, I look at Jose Ramirez and I say, well, where did he F up? And the small market teams don't have as much pressure. Well, Yellich belongs on there. More than Ramirez. Has Ramirez ever won an MVP? No. No, I don't think he has. Win an MVP and then go 0-71 in the league championship series? He's finished in the top five, though. One, two, three, four. Wow. One, two, three, four, five, six times. Wow. Mike in Connecticut on Vrabel. Go, Mike. Hey, wasn't there a time when Vrabel played Belichick and he used a gimmicky rule to run time off the clock at the end of the game? Yes. And Belichick was pissed. Sure did. Sure was. So I don't know if that qualifies as Vrabel when he said sometimes you can take that too far and go down the rabbit hole and we don't want to be gimmicky. I wonder if he, because that stupid thing with the punt is gimmicky and not in the spirit of the game. And like, you know, now you're just dicking with the rule to dick with it. But listen, it's the playoffs and you're holding a lead. It's all about advancing. So you're a Titan fan or the Titans management. You're saying good job. But I wonder if Mike would, I wonder if Rabel in his innards said, yeah, good, change this rule because this is ridiculous. Yeah, and in that case, Bill had already done it. Yeah, right. So it was almost like, oh, you're going to play at that level, then I'll play at it too. F you. And I mean, he did it in a different game. I think it was against the Jets. But like, you know, I don't have anybody sticking it in Bill's face. I'll tell you that. Any problem with it, I mean. 617-779-0985. Johns and Plymouth open lines if you want them. Hi, John. Hello? Hi. Hi. Do you think the Patriots should trade their first-round pick? No. Me neither. Depending for who. Trade back into the second round and get two second-round picks. Oh, something like that? I mean, at 31, yeah, go ahead, I guess. I don't know. I'm kind of over the trade-back thing. It really bugged me for a lot of years when Bill just kept doing it because I just think Belichick was just playing with himself at the draft a lot of times. Just playing with the value chart. You know, oh, you'll give me two seconds for a first. Well, when I add that up on the value chart, I win. Ha, ha, ha, ha. And then draft Duke Dawson and, you know, who's a horrible cornerback. Miley Cyrus. Oh, Razai Dowling? No, no, no, no, no. Miley Cyrus. No, Cyrus. Cyrus Jones. Cyrus Jones. Yeah, the bum out of Alabama. Not Miley. I came in like a wrecking ball. Not Miley Cyrus. Cyrus Jones. but so he would just do this endlessly just to oh you're going to give me a second next year for a third this year cha-ching oh i'm saying 21 but i can trade down to 27 but pick up an extra fourth then i'm going to trade up to 25 for a seventh and when i net out the four he's just sitting there playing with himself and then he botched all the picks so like all that trading down stuff bugged the crap out of me with belichick these guys i don't know there's been enough time i i would like to think they're not going to do it just to do with it just to do it just to play with themselves so if they want to trade down go ahead trade down and especially at thank you and especially with like the 31 like really what are we talking about so you know what they have a couple of fourths right i would rather throw in a fourth and see if you can get up to 25 if there's a guy you like i got i could you know i know i'm great i know you know i don't mean to start playing that whole game all i'm saying is if there's a guy you like at 25 and he's not going to make it to you use one of the ones you have later i would rather take a guy higher than another one later let me tell what i'd be surprised by is if they gave up 31 overall for aj brown or they gave up 31 overall even for max crosby or any any existing player that would surprise me because i i think they in still draft and develop mode and save some money mode and they going to give up on a rookie contract to accelerate it with an expensive existing player I don't see it. I think they're picking at 31 or they're going to futz with it up a few, down a few. But I think they're keeping that pick. Long commercial free segment comes your way next. This is 2026. No more messing around. It's the first day of the rest of your life. Today, you are switching to astound. Shifting your Wi-Fi and life into a new gear. Reliable, affordable connection. So you can browse, watch, and play like you've always wanted. Because slow Wi-Fi is so last year. Under budget, full speed ahead. That's Astound. Wi-Fi starting at $19.95 per month. Restrictions apply. See astound.com for details. Hey, it's Owen. Shaking things up a bit. No formal intro. Let's see what Carlo from Auburn has to say. The biggest thing that I received out of this Awaken 180 program was that I was able to get a best friend. And when I say that, I mean the person that I look to in the mirror every morning. I would walk by the mirror and not look. 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Whether you've been hurt on the job or are suffering from years of physical wear and tear, we are here for you. Visit CatchesLaw.com or call us today to schedule your free consultation. We're back with more Belger and Mads. We're big fans of you and what you do. I don't think you give a shit what we say about you. You can say that, just no F-bombs. Exactly. Hey, look at that. He saw that on there. He's paying attention. I feel like you're a chip off the old block. Sometimes I say Bill Parcells in that way. But the first thing I wanted to ask you is just your time away from head coach a little bit. Was there an adjustment you made in your own coach there? I don't know if there was an adjustment. I just tried to figure out what my role was in Cleveland and how I could help and also spend time, you know, with my family and get away on the weekends and during football season. But try to invest in their staff and their players. And, you know, you realize that that's what's important. It's about the players. It's about making connections and keeping those connections and trying to develop develop players. and sometimes when you get into this thing longer than a few years as a head coach, you start to, you know, a lot of the other things wear on you more than just, you know, the players and the coaches. It's everything outside of that. And try to focus on what's important and where you can make an impact. Crabill, Pro Football Talk interview, which was good. Back to your phones. Jim and Swampscott on the Patriots receiver situation. Go ahead, Jim. Hey, Mike. Hey, before I get to the receivers, man, if Charlie McAvoy doesn't play tonight, what a freaking baby. You think you would want to. You want a gold medal. Get out there. Freaking engage with the crowd. It's like a one-time freaking thing in your life. It's not just – okay, listen, Jim. It's not just engaging with the crowd. They need the game. They're in eighth place. Columbus is in ninth. They're right at your heels. This game could determine the playoffs. So, like, that's why he should be out there. I agree with you. That's what I mean. He's such a disappointment. On receivers, what do you guys think about Mike Evans? If he came in at the right price, I think he'd be a great fitness office. Yes. Yep. Well, that's what it's going to take, you know, the right price. You are now in this era, I think, where you are going to cycle through one guy after the next who's a good fit for a short time at the right price. Steph Diggs, A.J. Brown, if he renegotiates his contract, feels like he's going to have to. Mike Evans at a good number. And I think he can kind of make it work. I just wonder if everyone's aware of what's coming because I don't see the long-term solution anywhere. If Diggs is out, I would take him. It's the injury history with him with hamstrings. So I just looked it up. I knew this felt consistent. Did you know that Mike Evans has had a hamstring injury in every season since 2019? Seven straight seasons. I'm not surprised. That is insane. It is. It's insane. It's right. And look, some of that is, you know, laziness. Right. It's conditioning. I mean, you know, I suppose there's a chance he's like some sort of chronic problem, but you'd like to think that somewhere along the line you could manage that. And he hasn't managed it. He's also a little on the soft side. He's old. Like, I don't know. But when he's on, he's good. Yeah. Big target. Two additions to Maz's tears. Chris in the car. Go, Chris. Yeah, guys. I was thinking Brock Purdy. He's a game manager. He's a great quarterback. He's Mr. Irrelevant. He's good enough. I think if he were to win or win in the future a ring, I think that it would be totally validated. Everybody would be. He's fine, but no one expects Brock Purdy. No one looks at Brock Purdy and will be like, oh, man. All-time great. Yeah. He's only played four years. Not even. We're talking. And right. He's not old enough. You'd be saying like the guys got all the talent in the world but can't win the big game. That's kind of what we're talking about. Marino. Right. That's not Brock Purdy. Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen. Yes. Brock Purdy. I mean, Matthew Stafford was one of these guys up until a few years ago. But he was one like, you got to win, dude. Pat in Franklin. Yes, Pat. Hey, Tony. I love the tears. Let me ask you a question. Do you think Lamar and Lucas should be in tier one knowing that, like, they don't, like, try hard enough? They, you know, they're a little bit like Harden in some senses, meaning I never question my guy, Josh, Jimmy. Like, that guy, he's a warrior. He's had broken bones. But those guys, I think they're – Okay, well, so listen, this is the problem. James Harden's on the tiers. Correct. Tier three, it's guys with, quote, unquote, all the talent in the world, but haven't won, can't win, need to win. Doncic is like Harden. I think they're similar. It's not a bad comp. I mean, really. I mean, that's what Doncic is becoming. Out of shape. Useless. Unless he's shooting the basketball. Slob tiers. They're tier one. Yeah, slob tiers. Very good. And does he even want to play defense? Right. Like, it's one thing to say he can't because he has limitations athletically. athletically it's another thing to say does he try lamar jackson i don't put in this list i i think lamar jackson is uh limited as a passer and it comes out when it matters most something along those lines like all the talent in the world yeah but you know the big as i've given to you like the big time running quarterbacks don't win championships it's you got to be an elite passer or have a great Two-time MVP. Have a great defense. Listen, if Lamar Jackson had Seattle's defense, you know, he could win. But Lamar Jackson, I don't put on the same. I don't think Lamar Jackson's an underachiever. I look at Luka Doncic and James Harden and go, you know, look at yourself. Yeah, Doncic to me is, you know, and Harden too, for that matter. Tom and Salisbury on the Patriots. Go, Tom. Hi, guys. Love the show. The NFL Combine's going on right now. So what are all these teams going to learn about any player there that they don't know already? How long their arms are, how small their hands are, wingspan, things of this nature. And you also get the cut of a guy's job. You get to interview them. You get to look at them. You get to see how they compete, all that sort of stuff. But if your tone there implies you think this whole thing is overrated, I am with you, sir. Overrated. I want to know who the workout warrior is going to be this year. Like last year was that Shamar Stewart, like, you know, who got drafted by the Bengals and then held out. We've been over this a lot. The only thing that interests me is you and your reaction to it. Guy measures short arms at this thing, and everyone looks at it and says, well, those arms and that wingspan, it's hard to excel at tackle with those measurements, and everybody agrees on it. Then you draft him, and it's like, well, why are you measuring his arms? It doesn't matter. That's the only part that matters. you're happy to call short you're happy to call a guy short fat fast slow or anywhere in between but then when you draft him suddenly we have to ignore all of that because well what does that matter that's the only fun i have with the combine speaking of fat can we get to the celtics uh last night is that coming up let's get to the celtics shall we speaking of fat has someone in mind next in his crosshairs. But Celtics thought, quick one. You mean the guy that schooled them last night? Yeah, well, quick thought off of last night, but really more about this Jason Tatum commentary, which to me is just, it is, to me, so ridiculous and keeps getting ridiculous-er. More and more ridiculous by the day, this talk surrounding Jason Tatum, to the point where I wonder, are they all just doing it? is Tatum actually calling up these people and saying, I need more material for episode four. And so these guys are just going along with it to give him some content for his effing show. Cause the, the talk around Jason Tatum's return to me is just bonkers to me, but more on that coming after Murray's 92nd update, no commercials.