Wemby makes MVP case, Lakers winning streak snapped, Travis Kelce signs extension, King of the Hill

Live from New York I just show that's just trying to gosh Not take any credit for it Just trying to make moves Like the second guy in the Godfather. What's his name? Hagan Tom Hagan. Yeah, that's me. That's me. That's you just out here whispering How to do stuff? I think I really unintentionally brew you got upset while no It's just a misunderstanding of the creative process I That I up that brew and I were upset with each other because of our spirit and sports I was like the only person who could have been upset by that was KW brew and I love every second This is competitive sports debate. That's occasionally a fun hang. It's not competitive sports debate. Sometimes it is occasionally There was some red lines over there When you were like if you watch the game Watching the game I'm not playing cards I really don't think you've seen him play it was right there. I like please We're talking when it's gonna happen again Again better watch that game You better listen to every I pulled that on wilds today. I was like Like you watch the highlight he's like he's like well, I think I watch the missus. He's like look awesome My home's Kelsey back for 2026 that'll be interesting and finally special edition of King of the Hill Featuring Luca Doncik player of the week and one more player of the week We're not announcing it the NBA announced it, but I don't think it makes enough Wave so I'm giving this guy the attention. He's so richly deserved He could make a name for himself in about a month. Yeah. Oh, yeah, sadly. He's not gonna make it out of the play But I also have an announcement coming up in about an hour and eight minutes potential First things first road trip. Oh, can't great idea Great idea Philly Hornets play-in game Hornets at Barclays In the regular season you would actually go with us. Yeah We started Miami when be dominant 26 points 15 rebounds five blocks only 26 minutes, bro Guy didn't get the 30 though Spurs Cruz after the game when be was asked about the MVP and he laid out his case I have thought about it. I think right now There is a debate, you know, that should be Even though I think I should leave the race and Try and make sure that until the end of the season. There's no debate in the mirror. My first one would be that Defense is 50% of the game and that it is undervalued so far in the MVP race Because I believe I'm the most impactful player defensively in the league Second argument would be That We almost swept okay see in the season and we dominated him three times with their real team and four times with that more rotation affairs and My third argument would be that offense Impact is not just sports I've never seen that before brew Did you like when be making his MVP case? This is tough. Yeah, because I am of course the wimpy guy well both are but I'm unquestioned He's the president you're his vice president chairman. I'll take that. Yeah, I'll tell you you're just a clerk in I don't see SGA doing this nope or Luca or Yolk itch or Jalen or Kade for that man historically and there or or he right MVP's in the past. Yeah, so I don't like it I Love this and I got Nick too and Vinnie Goodwill I saw you on get up trying to steal my bitch Don't be biting my style All right Wow, I love this because when be is here for the smoke. Oh, yeah, he wants it all Okay, he just said SGA we beat y'all four out of five. We dominated. Yeah Yes, exactly. He said Luca Yolk itch y'all don't play defense Wimpy is not here to make friends. He is here to dominate the lead and He didn't give a PR answer politically correct. None of that He said what he felt and I'm cool with it and here's the thing Nick I Didn't get mad at Muhammad Ali and I was around when he said he's the greatest of all times. All right I didn't get mad at money Mayweather Floyd when he wears the TBE hat the best ever even though I disagree with him I didn't get mad at him. You can do that. You see I'm not mad at LeBron For saying he's the goal even though I disagree with I'm not mad at it So how am I gonna get mad at Wimpy for saying I think I'm the MVP? I've talked to MVP candidates one-on-one and they all think they should win it. Yeah So like I said if I can't crush those guys I mentioned I'm not crushing Wimpy for this So I also am not gonna crush Wimpy for this because I have been long on the record that I Personally prefer from athletes honest arrogance Rather than false humility It's some guys are by nature just very humble But a lot of times guys are pretending they think they're the baddest I get it cuz you know you it's the polite thing to say and in most media corners They would they know they would get criticized. Yeah, and that's what I Now brew you have been consistent on this where I haven't we've been in the show together a long time and there's I You haven't done a lot of like scolding guys for they think they're awesome But there are a lot of Folks in the media who do who seem to Have a little carve out for the 22 year old French kid like they're okay with him. Yeah, well, they were okay There have been a lot of I Think interesting Wimpy double standards that I've seen dating back to When he and Chris Paul cheated in the skills competition and people are like savvy We are all talk about how all-star weekend's broken these two guys just throw in skills I'm just trying to win it. Everyone's like that's how much he wants to win I'm like I thought that was actually kind of a crummy thing. I I don't think There is a player in the league that before he played in a single playoff game Could have gotten away with at the beginning of the year being like well, they don't play the right way But we do but he did I Certainly don't think there are many guys who before they have won anything Could talk trash essentially about the defending champion and defending league MVP not in To make the case as to why his team is great But why he should win MVP like what he just like what he just did and not get criticized and when he's not gonna get criticized for this I thought that was a compliment to okay see That we've dominated them. That's why I should be the league MVP. Yeah, but it's like they're the best and we beat them I so I so I don't but he this was not a we this was a me This was not about make the three cases is why the Spurs can win the title This was make give us your three points now. He was asked he didn't just bring it up and prompted why you're the league MVP And it is listen I it's just a very unique Kind of media acceptance Before a guy checks any of the boxes that historically we have needed for guys to be able to talk this way but He plays he's unique. I mean, I mean he's thoughtful. He plays so selflessly He's just he's just we've never seen anything like this. I just never I mean just his size It's obviously what changes it and I think that is part of I also think this Nick I Wonder if some of this he's from France obviously and I wonder if some of this is naivete like Because you're right most guys would not come out and make an MVM VP case for themselves I wonder some if some of that is just naivete not knowing how it might be taken or I've seen coaches in New York in particular Do that and then they start seeing stuff on the back page that they said In just being honest and didn't mean anything but it was put on the back page and become something different I mean he had three reasons. He's almost had a full screen. He's like dusty PR so like but don't so on that note brew I do I also think I Almost feel like I know the media would not be accepting of something like that from a domestic player I do not think who who's that if AJ DeBonsa is the number one pick and It three years from now. It's like man. He might be the MVP already, right and he is out that year You know staking the case for himself and saying the things he said I think there will be a lot of again I don't think from this show because we're not really scolds but a lot of go win something young fella and Wimby has Just kind of been Graduated to a place of we're also certain he will win We're also certain he one day will if he's not already the best player in the world that there is a lot of stuff that he is been kind of given the runway to do that typically young Unproven not just ringless, but accolade list players Aren't allowed to do I don't know if you guys might remember you you remember when LeBron. I think it was his It was his rookie year I guess when he didn't make the all-star team and they were talking to him about being an alternate and he was like I'm not an alternate or something like he wouldn't go if do you guys remember that? I don't remember if he was criticized or not. I don't remember that but that was unique MB's not domestic. I mean he played on team USA, but he's from Africa He remember he and that's the other thing MB campaigned openly for the MVP award and Won it and I voted for him not because of his campaigning But because I thought he had a great year and deserved it, but a lot of people Do feel like he won it because he campaigned openly and this could this actually I do think Well, now I don't I don't think he'll I don't know if you I don't think you'll win it But I think this could help him Because again, it helped him be I but don't clearly help them be in bead Can't and I know we want to talk about whether or not he should be the no But I feel like that's where I like does this sway you well So the I feel like the guys we've seen that have camp because we have seen guys campaign for themselves before Typically, it's guys who have come close multiple times and fallen short like I the Kevin Durant The if you remember the cover of sports illustrated was like I'm sick of coming in second It was I was second pick of the draft. I was I think you know second MVP voting I we came in second in the finals like this is the year that I come in first we've seen in bead had repeatedly run into the wall of Joker and that and Listen, I I know I'm going to come across and I'm gonna have to wear probably four years Being called like Anti-Wimby I'm not I'm not as pro Wimby as that side of the table or I would say the majority of the media But I right now if I had a ballot, I would have him third like a brew and I went to war over Luca V Wimby yesterday I think our maybe I'm wrong my MVP ballot if it existed would go Shay Luca Wimby Brews so drastically different would go Shay Wimby Luca. Do I have that right or Yoko? Oh, right? But I got Shay right now, so you so that's what I was gonna ask you you still have Shay Yeah, look, I think there's an argument for Wimby. I mean he made some there's better like I think for him Defense and I think Nick and maybe I'm misreading it you but you've talked about it like okay He's a great. He's the best defensive player in the world, but that's never generally major than me I But I think that's down playing his impact defense. He's the best defensive player I've seen I can know I've said I only could think about comparing him to Bill Russell when Bill Russell came into the league It wasn't as big so he was unique to some degree in that regard It was an unwritten rule you kept a certain you know only three four maybe five black players on the team So it was all the best players in the world weren't in the league So Bill Russell was just incredibly dominant defensively This guy is the best I've seen so I don't think it's a better than P. Kakeen Well defensively over I would not if we if he didn't play anymore I would rank of course, but you think his defense of impact. Yeah, I think it's unlike anything We've seen because he can now it's different I came was obviously more inside because the game was more around the paint But when we can get out there and guard guards on the perimeter For everybody a perimeter in the post. I just I don't think this is Dennis Rodman or Elijah And this is something we've never seen so I think it weighs a little heavier But he's also a very good offensive player the thing is Nick his 24 points a game Which are you kind of harp on he's the only he plays 29 minutes a game Yep, he's the only top 20 score in the league who plays less than 30 minutes And so he if he played more obviously you think he would score more so there that's something But all that said I think Shay right now is then be I would love to see Winby win it But I got to be honest to myself and my voting right now. I'd have Shay I liked that he said there's only 10 games left roughly He said it's my job to make it not a debate over the rest of the season I don't know if he's got enough time, but he's gonna obviously go out there and try to really Do could he do anything to leap Shay? I mean I Look if they became the number one seed somehow That would move him ahead because my main thing for Shay obviously Shay's got great numbers all that But and he's also a good defensive player But the thing is his second best player has missed two-thirds of the season now he's back But it's only like 10 games like and there's still the number one seed so I got Shay right now I guess if Winby goes crazy over the next three weeks then maybe but I'd have him second right now Do you want to go or can I know I want to get to LeBron because I'm final thoughts yet So I I I do take Very seriously you saying that you think right now He has his defensive impact is higher in your mind than peek a king I you know I the it's not just because we did the Winby a keen thing back when he was drafted But I have and I think I said it too when he was on the show like I believe a Kimmelage wants the greatest defensive player of my lifetime I would agree with and the Russell is the was great. Don't don't go was great Garnett was great Robin I think he was a king was so dominant with that said his apex domination I was a toddler and then eight nine years old when he was winning his titles So I do rely on a lot of what I've read people. I respect that I listen to as you know as much as you go back And what so I I if you are that level of defender It does change the math on how much defense should matter in the MVP, right? I can't I'm sorry guys My my hang up right now for when beyond MVP is not that I think you're necessarily wrong that he could be a more dominant Offensive player he could be putting up gaudier numbers But because he hasn't in his yet in his career and he's not right now And then you add to it the three other major candidates are all having truly historical offensive seasons whether it's shea breaking Wilts record while averaging 32 again Shooting 55% from the field Joker Joker like you said the triple double while leading the league and rebounds and assists Luca putting up if this close to 34 a game which only Five guys in the modern era have ever done and Luca doing it on the same efficiency as Wimby That when we talk about it's never been easier to score 24 points and three assists Compared to those guys offensive performances the defense for me is not enough to close that gap and it sounds like even for you It's not quite enough yet. No, I think yeah, so but I I do listen I I what I am really interested in and then we move on I don't think they can win the title with him at 24 again He's gonna play more minutes in the playoffs and he's going to I think have to be more dominant Offensively and I think we'll get a test remember They have eight guys scoring in double figure, but I just don't think that you other fairly big scores in castle and Fox But don't you I just think for them to win four rounds There there is he is going to have to carry a heavier offensive load that I believe one day He'll be able to maybe that day is this year, but I that part I don't know you I would love to see him ask him to I don't think they ask him to Spurs in Memphis tomorrow Lakers winning streak ends in Detroit last night Lucas two late shots Can't find the bottom the net he ends the night with 32 LeBron didn't score until about six minutes were left in the third quarter He was asked about it and said hey man. I get in where I fit in my words not his Here's his quote It's the road that I'm playing for the ball club for us to win ball games is the road I'm playing and It's just how to game as well Your reaction a little brah I mean he's absolutely right like this is the role I don't think it was some people think it was passive aggressive Maybe you do that look in your eyes like you do LeBron was telling the truth and the fact is since he's come back from his little injury and Been playing like this. They're six in one I'm not tripping over a loss. I get it K. Cunningham wasn't there. I'm not tripping over like what do we say? They were due sure right you gonna lose games in NBA to what lesser team road game in eight. Yeah, I'm not I mean I This is they should continue on the path Now I have some things to say a little later. We talked about Luke and all that stuff but This role where LeBron is the third offensive scoring option and doing all the other things because here's the thing He had ten assist and nine rebounds. Yeah, all right So his shot was just off. He was 0 for five in the first half He ended up for so four for five in the second half So I but I think this is the best chance the Lakers have of doing something special in the playoffs And so they should stay this keep on this path and I think LeBron understands that I'm surprised that didn't his post game Comments didn't hit your radar like they hit mine. Yeah, well tell the hole hit during the win streak the vibes were out of control LeBron was happy for Luca celebrating Luke canard He was super pumped up and this was the first time that he could have easily been like hey, you know what we were due for a loss We were down we came all the way back But he was very short in this interview and we talked earlier how LeBron wears his emotions on his sleeve and I am willing to reconsider how happy he is in the third fiddle role It's like you used to be used to be the actor now your best supporting actor I'm not convinced that he's thrilled with this November through February where he was already You know not the star right? It was at 16 Field goal attempts again in March. He's at 12.6 last night Luca took 29 shots LeBron took 10 in Orlando. Luca took 30 LeBron took 13 in Miami You know Luca took 30 LeBron took 12. I'm just not convinced. He's as thrilled and I don't know how you could I Want to tell me what your take? Viemently disagree with you and I'm that I'm I'm I didn't you we didn't talk for the show about this I didn't know that's what you thought I the it's very interesting you you know the passive it wasn't being passive aggressive came up I'm not saying I'm passive aggressive I'm saying he's was less thrilled than we had Coming off a lot. I mean they they so like the only reason I mentioned that is because I think it was Dan Woyke whoever is the article I read it in the athletic so the Lakers writer for the athletic my apologies if I got the author wrong specific Put LeBron's quote that we played in the story and then specifically wrote and to be clear This was not passive aggressive LeBron. This was LeBron who want like understands and is pulling in the direction of where the team needs to be now I mean you saw it differently everyone's no I just I I pulled up around like I mean because I I didn't want to just take the quote I'm like let me watch the full interview and I've seen him more optimistic post losses. So I don't think so I listen This is the first time in his entire career He has played more than 38 minutes and taken 10 or fewer shots So it's the it literally the fewest shots he's ever taken in a game where he played that long It's the first time in a decade He's played 35 minutes and taken 10 or fewer shots I don't think LeBron would be thrilled with Taking eight nine ten shots a game. You know what I mean moving forward. So I think the combination of Hit even in the even in the third option role This was as low usage is he's gonna get yeah, plus they lost Plus the way they lost which was they could have just let go of the rope. They were down 18 They fought all the way back got a lead with 30 seconds left and then had bad defensive possession And then back-to-back bad offensive possessions. I think probably bums you out a little bit Um, did you think the final play was something? That was a terrible play. Well, can I tell you what I think happened there? I think I think Luca Understandably thought the pistons were gonna because they were up three We're gonna try to foul and it screwed everything up Like he instead of just trying to like get into a shot was like trying to avoid letting them foul him and then all of a sudden The play is a disaster and so I will say this while and I don't agree. I think LeBron is fine I think he understands is the best chance we have him winning and it's fine for him Look, we all talk about how high his basketball IQ is historically high There's no way LeBron is sitting there watching Luca shoot 30 shots and miss two-thirds of them thinking that's smart Yeah, and take a turnaround contested jump Yeah, I know I'm not saying yet I definitely am not saying he has any issue with Luca or anything, but he's watching this There's no way he thinks that's the best way to play basketball. I will say that okay And he I think he realizes though this is the only way we can win if I Deplete myself the way Duane way not this much but did a little bit for LeBron This is the best thing way we can win, but he know that's not that's that's not smart basketball Well, listen, that's why as great as I think Luca is and Nick I said the other day very few people ever been better offensively, but it's not the smartest basketball him gunning all this More on this later Mahomes and Kelsey are back. That's next on FS1 the Fox Sports Channel in series 6m The new LinkedIn hiring pro can't undo your last hire the lone wolf who you thought was a good collaborator Because you didn't have the right candidate insights, but once you hired them It was all hoarding info declining meetings and howling at the full moon But LinkedIn hiring pro can find you a perfect fit by using insights from the LinkedIn network to give you a short list of the best fit Candidates hire right the first time with LinkedIn hiring pro post your first job today and get 100 pounds off at linkedin.com Slash a I hire terms and conditions apply missing football good news We got the UFL coming up new season of pro football this spring kickoff weekend starts Friday 8 Eastern and continue Saturday at 4 on Fox we also have they're gonna have halftime concerts Ludacris is gonna be here. Yeah and most importantly Houston back to be in the gamblers like they're supposed to be instead of the rough next switch the name. Oh, yeah I liked the rough no think for a while the gamblers Houston gamblers. I used to live there at the name of the team after me pretty UFL kick it off Travis Kelsey signed a brand new deal Yesterday he's back with the chiefs in Mahomes called him during the contract signing. It's a nice moment. Take a listen Oh What's up one five Patricio Patricio Let's go, baby home sweet home You already know dog hope a rehab going good, baby I Think that's the USA goalie Jersey here was Kelsey's year last year amongst tight ends No, it wasn't Kelsey ask but top five and a lot of stuff Reception yards and targets. Are you expecting a great year from Mahomes and Kelsey? I? I'm expecting that level that we saw right there or better and I So I just want a level set if I may for a moment the year the chiefs had because I think it has been Misremembered a bit because it was such a truly disastrous end Okay at the exact midway point of the season This was true The chiefs had just ripped off five straight games where they averaged more than 30 points and an average margin of victory of 17 Points including games against teams that we thought were you know Baltimore Detroit they they're their demolition of Washington kind of ended Washington's hopes for the year In that game the the midway point which was the game against Washington Patrick had 3 30 and three touchdowns Travis had six for a hundred and a touchdown and The very next day Patrick was the favorite to win league MVP and the chiefs for the favorite to win the Super Bowl From that moment was their record at that five and three okay from that moment for though So they had lost their opening two games they played the game against Jacksonville They lost the very end they'd won everything and they won five of theirs last six with the one loss being the Jacksonville game from that moment forward everything was a disaster and They the game where Patrick blew out his knee they were six and seven Down three on the fringe of field goal range against the Chargers with two minutes left Patrick blew out his knee and They were just dead from that moment forward What is What has bristled me about Bruce pessimism about my beloved Jesus is so Again, they're six and seven in the game Patrick blows out his knee. They lose that game. They're six and eight Yeah, I mean they weren't death. I mean they're down three at pass midfield in field goal range when Patrick blew out his knee I don't know. I don't think it's fair to say they were six and eight with my homes Well, I mean they're gonna lose they were outplayed most of that game. Okay, the so be it the The rest of the year they then lost to Tennessee and Vegas and then the game against the Broncos where they 1313 yeah, I don't even count those last right, but so that's why that's that's where I'm getting it So Baltimore won eight games. I think you believe in them Cincinnati was three and three with Joe Burrow forget their overall record won't hold it against them and the Previous two years with burrow they were 14 and 13 they've been around an eight nine win team with burrow The chiefs I think as bad as things were at the end of the year if Patrick doesn't get hurt finish eight and nine I think they beat Tennessee and Vegas like crazy. We call me crazy. I think they do. I don't know why Teams or the throw the Lions in as well who collapsed at the end of the year who I think you have some faith in for next year Why those teams deserve more? Confidence that last year was an outlier year just a down year They and the chiefs do and I feel like that's how I think both of you potentially feel and so that's my set You know, that's my argument. Well, look, it's true that I guess the first half of the season We all were believers in the chiefs. They look great, right? They beat Baltimore like you said they beat Detroit They beat they crushed Detroit. They crush Baltimore. They look great, but It wasn't a good year for no obvious and I think and and I think even with my homes It wasn't good even if you want to say six and seven instead of six and eight That's not good now some of it's probably because we're there They've been the standard and we're judging them against their old team But I also think a lot of people are looking at the year before when they had a great record But so many of those games were close then they get into the Super Bowl and get Annihilated and in the next year there's six and eight six and seven with my homes and my homes I want nothing more than to see him Back to when he was putting up these video game numbers, but we haven't seen that in three years even when they've won he hasn't put up those numbers and so That I'm just I am I am surprised even to myself a bit pessimistic about them I think some of it Nick also is their division. I think the charges are really good I think Denver is a good team. That's the part that I'm stunned you have more faith in the Chargers than the Chiefs I'm still I think the Chargers are I think they got they that last year they had a good year Obviously didn't do anything in the playoffs, but they had two of their offensive linemen, which is important We've seen my homes without his offensive line and he struggled to it now Herbert's a question mark We haven't seen him do anything of no in the playoffs The Chargers made great like massive A lot I'm thinking he's gonna help Herbert I'll give you that I know and I have a lot of faith in hardball too. Yeah, so I I won't be shocked if they come back and get back to that contender You know top contender status, but right now I am even to myself a little bit And I just don't see it happen. Are you confident in the Chiefs defense? Are we in a scenario where the defense isn't? Top notch. Oh, my home's has to do more. I think the Chiefs the best case scenario for the defense is the situation the defense found themselves in in The year they traded Tyreek When at the NFL films clip from the Super Bowl win over the Eagles When they allowed 35 in that Super Bowl Um Where the Trent McDuffie is saying to I think Jalen Watson two guys who were gone He's like he's like man. We won the Super Bowl. We didn't even know what we were doing out there where it is a young very young draft pick heavy defense that gets better that peaks in the playoffs because that year that teams That that year that we won the Super Bowl the defense in the Super Bowl struggled But it'd been good in the playoffs and it'd been good at the end of the year So I the next year the defense was excellent That was the year it had all the drops and then the offense was great in the playoff run I think the defense is going to have to be a work in progress over the course of the year I also think a lot of that Will be determined by is the ninth pick and the most talented ad rusher the Chiefs have had You know of this era with respect to print Clark or is it a wide receiver? Right or depending on what they use that ninth pick on Because I they do take an edge rusher in the top 10 that guy those guys if if you hit on the pick step in and immediately make an impact And the draft is huge for obviously they lost so many guys free New Steelers pass catcher Michael Pittman doesn't know who he will be catching passes from He joined k Adams and talked about his potential QB who he hasn't spoken to erin rogers take a listen Obviously the whole quarterback thing is going on um And I and like and like she's like I don't know nothing My car I haven't talked to erin what a way to put it. What a way to put it. Hold on the whole quarterback thing going on What do you mean you haven't talked to erin? What does that? What do you mean? So i'm trying to give him space, you know because erin's a guy like he likes his space Like he likes to get like refreshed like I didn't want to just get signed and then blow him up and be like hey erin like What's the deal? Pittman not speaking to rogers to give him some space Something or nothing Nothing I mean he's michael pittman. He's a big with all new respect. He's michael pittman. What? Huh has he ever made a pro ball? He's a good receiver. He's a good receiver. Yeah, cd lamb coming in there It's not jamarch. I mean He's a good receiver not even dk mac have coming in there I imagine and I have no little doubt that if one of those type receivers was going to pittsburgh rogers would have been in touch so before he calls it I don't think he's this and michael pittman. I don't think he's this and michael pittman See what your catch rate was. No, he's a good player. See if I can dial nine numbers. I'm not saying he's not a good receiver He is a good receiver, but you can't text let's go receiver. Well, he's not with the team yet He doesn't have a contract. He's told us that They haven't offered him a contract. I think he's coming back I think it's nothing because I think he's gonna play for the stealers. So Go ahead. I just this is just raw meat for you. It's just obviously something and it's Michael pittman hasn't played with Aaron rogers before correct. He was a cult. No, he's stealing Yet he's been told the talking points of He's a guy who likes his space. He likes to be refreshed. We can't but listen You can't bother Aaron rogers in his private time can patrick mohomes text, you know, facetime travis kelson when he's signing He's driving his Kelsey the the drake may show up with his beard to foxboro The to welcome everybody in and their families this brew here is my he ain't Aaron rogers No, drake may is at this point dramatically better than this is just normal behavior No, I'm saying Aaron rogers is a hall of fame Look, I'm not trying to defend him because I agree with a lot of you know your stuff about his shenanigans I'm just saying he's gonna be the stealers quarterback. Okay. Well, if he's going to be the stealers quarterback then why Then why does everyone? It is just an extra little drain on everyone involved with the stealers That you have to deal with this charade That's that and so it is Because here's the other thing And I I don't know my commitment at all. I'm not trying to accuse anyone of lying But I owe the audience honesty There's a part of my brain that thinks yeah, of course they talked. Oh interesting But Aaron but he's not allowed to say they talked because Aaron's not officially a stealer yet And so it's either they talked and he felt the need to lie about it Or they haven't talked which is again not pulling In the right leadership direction in my opinion and I understand if you are Aaron rogers friends or family Probably more likely friends and you see this you think i'm Picking on him or being unfair. I just don't Understand why This has to be So difficult Why the stealers for the second straight year have to Operate as if a player is their starting quarterback of their team But without the player committing to doing it now the stealers are opting into that. I think that organizationally right They they own the accountability for not having enough organizational self-respect to say no We're not doing this right, but I remember was it art rooney. It was somebody I I think it was someone above omar kahn But maybe it was omar kahn that in the end of year press conference told us That this wasn't going to drag on like last time Well, it's late march It's late march and right now will howards their starting quarterback like that should have been the question If you talk to will howard, he's the starting quarterback of the stealers and so I just don't get it Look, I don't know who benefits from it bruce. That's the other part. I don't know why erin benefits from it Well, that's just his thing his personality or whatever it would be great for the stealers if this was something Because then it maybe if it was something it would mean, you know what erin's not going to be your quarterback Which I think would be the best thing for them. They're not winning anything with erin rogers What they're there I I've said it every time we talk about them. I don't know what in the world the stealers are thinking I don't want to I don't want to make this I first of all I only kw can make edis on the show. So I don't even have the license to do it Um, but I I and I don't want to do anything Flipently especially because we do have some are you busting an editorial I really would like to I would like to have a meeting About putting an editorial halt on any erin rogers stories until the stealers until he signs with the team Because it feels like I you know what I mean I feel like the audience sees this and feels like all right just pull the court on nick He's going to talk about how selfish and bad this is and that is what i'm doing I'm in reruns on it because he's in reruns on it I don't call them reruns. You know what I call them. What greatest hits Thanks, buddy And you didn't even do you didn't play one of my favorites. Can I make a request? Yeah, what about the cell phone service, dude? Oh, yeah, that's right. Pittman. Does Pittman know he has to FaceTime him? great Shen Gu, was great last night. How rockets lose to the bulls Your wallet check in on the warriors They beat the mavs last night moody led the team with 23 points before suffering a scary knee injury. Hope he's okay Steph was supposed to start five on five practice this weekend, but that has been pushed back here. Steve curran Steph We are squarely in the plan no matter what we do so um The bottom line is if Steph is Healthy, he's got to play that's what we're here for and The chance to get into the playoffs is a big deal for us big deal for Steph 38 Don't know how many more chances there are so you go for it looks down Yeah, he does look down in a little weathered for some courage. It feels like the last few years of warring on it It's like this is a big deal for Steph. Like is it well, I mean the This is going to be I listen. I respect Steph and Kerr for the mentality of we're pro basketball team and pro basketball players and if he's healthy, he's gonna play because this is what we do um, so good for him in that regard I think they're drawing dead in the plan Like I I think they're gonna make the play in as the nine or the ten And this will be this will be the fourth time Plans only existed for six years. This will be the why the the pandemic year right? Yeah This will be their fourth time in the plan and I think their third play in loss and I know there are some rumblings if you will that this could be bronze destination next year Which I think would be fun and cool But not right not they're not gonna win the title and I just don't I think it's going to be a quiet close to Steph in golden state Because if bronze there it won't be quiet next year. It'll be a big show. It'll be great. Um, But without him, I don't think jimmy butler at his age coming back from an ACL Moves the needle substantially. I don't think they're getting yonis And step is still great, but he is 38 He is a smaller player and he is dealt with injuries all year now where he's gonna play half the season He's played 39 games Which is why I'm fine with him playing if he's if he's fully healthy if he plays into playing The days of stuff you're right unless they get yonis somehow Lebron would be a circus it be fun. It'd be great, but they wouldn't win the championship. We don't think The days of stuff like playing for championships are over. Yeah, this is generally how it is larry bird michael jordan I mean, this is typically how it ends. I mean magic, you know had a unique search for circumstances, but So if stuff is like look, I want to play I want to see he should go out there and play He could get hurt in practice. He could get hurt In warm. I mean so if he got hurt came back and played and got hurt is just Probably was gonna get hurt anyway. He's 38 years old. So so what happens next year? I just Well next year watch the watch hopefully they can make some moves that make them at least interesting But if he's gonna go to have to be the number two guy Don't you need another huge star to go along with him like the Lebron path? Like I said, I think they they're days of competing for championships are over unless they make a blockbuster Yanis is really the only Kind of guy out there that I think could change their force the and and I don't know if that would be enough Really? I mean if butler was back you got dray. No, but I but right well Some of this has to go for Yanis I I but that would they would be into that would be okay. You'd feel like they had a shot Sure. I just don't think they're gonna be able to make the best package for yonis. I think this is the better The the happier way to view This last few years for stefin the warriors their Last moment and by the timeline of basically every small player ever other than john stockton before stef It would have been really the last moment was the title four years ago. Yeah, that was the oh man They had one more great run in them. Yeah, that was it since then they've been Knocked out in the play-in twice and they've had two seven game round one wins Only to be quickly dispatched in round two Twice like they have not that was and by the way Steff was 34 like that that's old for NBA guys and the fact that he's still right that is NBA guys his size the fact that he was still 28 a game when healthy this year is a remarkable testament to who he is but the the warriors didn't Handle the kaminga moody wiseman asset properly to try to be able to somehow have a third Or fourth whatever phase of this And so it's going to kind of go out with a whimper like that's that's what it is He's a great player one of the greatest players ever, but that's how it ends Maybe yonis shows up Maybe nice. Look at shat. Kobe. Look out there. I mean, this is what happens. All right. Look at mike evans Oh I'm like In Tampa Bay, but guess what? They're fast. Yeah, he's leaving. Maybe step should leave. That's what you're saying Live from new york, it's a show that's talking about stef curry going to charlotte. It's a great idea by you It's not my idea. Yeah other people have kicked it. It would be nice I mean Really? I would rather see step step's going to end his career on a non contender I'd rather be golden state than just because his dad played there and his dad's on the brady They might be interesting in the east with step if they could keep conical brandy miller and lamello Steph adding shooting already shooting. They got a bunch of shooters The east is step is not enough to turn the tenth best team I'm not saying they'd be the best into the but next year they're not going to be the tenth best. They'll be maybe 11 Maybe six no seven. They'll be in the sixth. I gotta see I gotta see Lamello's taking any road trips this summer before I ready to Second hour first things first today. Lakers losing to the pistons Something or nothing do for a loss You're gonna let the tiger out. No, there's nothing you think is big. No, it's just in a stew observation Okay, but just let the time run out of action by you If you had if I had listened to guitars for 20 years, I'd be like, oh that guitar's out of tune Okay, that's all I'm saying I'm just saying I'm a LeBron quotes expert. Okay Okay, don't know if I agree with that Well, if you've done anything for 25 or 30 years like I have you just accidentally become an expert You see I got I was an expert at how long you've been doing weird and wonderful. You screwed that up 10 minutes ago I Only three or four years I guarantee you 2050. I'll be crushing that day 79 days until the world cup kicks off its world cup Wednesday On a Tuesday, uh, we are a little over three weeks away from the nba playoffs Playoff seeds are being planted. Oh, wow you get a legend you are mvp debate is sprouting It's time to combine both in today's episode of king of the hill seeds get it. Yeah, we get it like a spring thing. No, well done Only a couple guys off the hill from last week as And I'm just being honest with the audience if your team Is in the tankers I'm not considering you for the hill. Thank you Like no at this point in the year the early in the year is one thing but at this point in the year Michael porter doing it right. That's a great example if you're just if your team is Trying to lose games if they're bummed out when you play great and get a win You're just sorry not your fault. Maybe it's a little your fault. Great cause you're not eligible With that said here are the people that slid off the hill from last week. I'm in thompson who That team doesn't seem to really be pulling in the same direction and scottie barns Nothing into them both good young players a couple other guys were more deserving And then there's the injured and eligible with a sad addition Yanis now on injured and He's just he came back, but then got hurt again He's now fighting with the team about is he coming back? So he's just off the hill for the time being and And honestly maybe for the rest of the year by What I just said a moment ago, which is if your team is upset when you win games You're not going to be on the hill. That's where the bucks are. Everybody knows. Yanis still top five player in the world Might be down to fifth On that probably i think he in fairness probably is But that that's where we're at. All right seventh row Couple of those guys brew you always talk about as blue chippers There's all these great young players until we needed to prove Oh, wimby is best player in the world now. I'm suddenly just caring these pubs No, you know why those guys are on there. The what why you know why they're on there? Why because they're take away from wimby No, that's cats. I think they're great. But i'm just sit on there and brew. Are you gonna sit here and say next week? Uh, a champ penny's gonna be on there bro. Are you gonna sit here and act like I have not been America's leading dearen fox Proponent for years. Yes. I was lighting the beam Nick mentioned dearen fox since he was in sacrament. No, you're the number one dearen fox I'm the number one dearen fox guy. I told you that story about how I watched him score 40 and a half against my sun's a u team I've liked him since high school It's playing great. He's on the hill step on castle who is we talked about being all defense eligible I'm just saying they got a really good team Wimby's got a ton of help Castles actually says the reason he can be such a daring defender because oh that part I totally agree with I do think wimby's gravity Defensively helps all of them palo drops of it as his teams in freefall dini avd and evan mobly stay where they are and two wilds guys Back on the hill for the first time in a bit chat home grin again I'm not really rocking a chat like that for the record because the guy said he doesn't read doesn't mean you can abandon him He's a professional basketball player not a library I actually have to you know, okay He's only a check. He's been the second best thunder this year. Yes without but now jay does back Yeah, but he's been the second best thunder And they always plan for him to be the second best thunder jay dove ascending pass him a surprise Lamello, they've been winning some games. Oh, yeah, it's on there Row six a lot of guys that had to move down Listen, we're all gonna be patient with jason tatum. I think it's great that he came back I don't I'm not freaking out by the fact that he's not making his jump shots and that's really all it is He's rebounding great, which speaks to the fact that he actually The some of the like the athleticism maybe has returned quicker than it's thought but the jump shot's been off He drops donovan drops a bit bam gets back to probably where he was like fourth last No, he should have been no he was seven was like one last week. He was a far drop row five He was sevens. Wasn't he there's or maybe it was four seven through ten It I think it was two weeks whatever bam moved up. He scored 83 points in a game guys barely Barely 83. No, he barely moved up and now he barely moved down. Okay. He should have but he should have moved down off I don't know what you want from me, man I I don't know. I'm trying to when he's out there catching logs We're not too wimpy yet and you know, you know when I'm supposed to talk or when you're supposed to talk When you're a little boxed in on that. It's a cue. It's a cue in the box the audience. No, man. Boom my time Jaylin Johnson moves down austin reves and brawn even though evidently brawn's sad now because they lost Stays where they stays where they are All right, even though there's teams in a bit of free fall Much like when bam scored 83 you pass michael jordan on a list Get a little bump up kevin durant Back up to row five feels fair jaylin brunson Missed a game only 20 a game this week moves down just a bit and then three guys scoring plightin jamal moorey moves out james harden Danny hasn't been talking about as much lately, but harden's played really well this past week in particular He moves up and carl anthony towns who's been really good Offensively and rebounding the last few weeks. He moves up row four Cade's not going to miss enough time to fall in the injured ineligible I'm surprised. I was surprised. Cade's still in and so I don't I don't really know How best to handle it. He dropped just a bit Uh, devin booker who I almost I started war on the show by saying I thought he was a better offensive player than wimpy I think he is uh devin booker Moves up a bit even though the team has fallen Lost a few in a row jaylin brown stays where he is and I thought jail and duran You know, they've been they've won their games without kade. He is trying to prove like hey We did have a second all-star. It was me. We're we're gonna hold on to the one seed move them up row three Joker and ant ant if you're watching probably gonna move down next week We gave you a one week grace with the injury if you don't play by this time next week We're gonna have to move you down and kawai Is back and playing awesome again kawai this week is 29 a game kawai this season is close to 28 a game I I think I'm very curious who you guys think If it's sun's clippers in the play Who do you think the thunder are rooting for? Like who who do they want to win so they don't have to play it? I Probably phoenix, so I would say you think they don't I don't think you want to see kawai. No, I think no It probably right they would rather play phoenix right they would want the clippers to win So the clippers get locked into the seven. That's what I think too. I just think kawai by himself Yeah, you don't really want to maybe scare you for about dylan brooks that way But that I tell you what kawai would be interested in for san Antonio. Oh, yeah first his experience and they're an Index with all grudge match. All right and san Antonio. That's a good point. Uh, all right roto wimby stays where he is Shay even though they haven't lost he's playing awesome moves down not because he did anything poorly but because Since we did the last hill and honestly since we had the last couple of hills Over the last few weeks last night one loss not withstanding the best player in the league in march Has been the guy atop the hill luka donchich Back at my day Guy gave me a 34 9 and 9 it was it was all it was all we asked for and I was like I want that and you to fight through picks better I don't really care luka And so he is for the first time all year Atop the hill. Oh, I like him, but he doesn't take enough Exactly right like back back. I'll say do it on out of bounds denying ball back in my day scoring champ Was all we had for from our superstars. Well, yeah, but how many shot clock violations has he drawn? I'm gonna jump in into passing lanes I'ma drop some knowledge on you two guys To move luka down I don't care if you put sj or wimby on the top, but luka should be on the top and here's why He has been on a tremendous heater. Yeah But the heater may be over. Oh from one and he doesn't know it Wow, what's going on with ever his last two games last two games Which are a narrow win over the eastern conferences eighth seed orlando Yeah, and a loss to detroit missing its best player luka has shot 23 for 59 Yeah, 39% six for 26 from three 23% And there is no way Anyone should be taking 30 shots a game When you're shooting 39% When you have lebron james and austin reeves on your team luka in his last two games has taken more shots than reeves and lebron combined He has taken more threes in the last two games. Then lebron is taking shots What are we doing? I you were on an amazing. I get you taking 30 shots when you hit 18 of them and scored 60 Yeah, well, how do you know how many you're gonna? Yeah, you know it. You know you're off. All right. And so That is just not smart basketball and you and i'm not saying lebron has an issue with luka But lebron is one of the smartest ball players. We've ever seen he knows if I know he knows You you're sitting there watching a dude Gun and I told you last year. I said luka's a gunner. No, you said i love him a ball You turn to the camera like I have an announcement. Yeah, he's he's a hall of fame ball hog He's an all-time great ball hog, but he's ball hog And lebron sees that It's just so I can't look nick. There's he can't be on the top of the hill when he shot 60 59 shots in his life The last two games is a lot. It should it's ridiculous. It is worth noting even if you're shooting well It's a lot but he takes fewer shots per game than Jordan right who is the and jordan was jordan was what more efficient as i mean not a point shoot He didn't shoot many threes back there, but as a point he's always around 50 No, I understand and luka on twos is always around 50 percent the reason he doesn't have a I'm just saying to be fair luka's efficient. You can't compare. He's not that efficient for today's game. He's a gunner I I mean i'm going he just shot 11 for 29 I mean I and the game before that he was just no I under yeah, I know the last two games I'm not a little bit. What's the hill for the the whole season Tapestry but your your indictment of him was seemed to be more than just the last two games and i'm saying like mainly You can there there are You can win with a guy shooting as much as luka you can win some well That's why I brought up I brought up jordan was they they had so much you can't compare the way jordan played to the way No, they did win nine in a row bro. Yeah, no, i'm not saying he's not a great player and that they're not playing Well, i'm saying he shouldn't be a top to hill Coming off two games where he's taking 59 shots more than his next two options combined and his next two options are really good players And he's shooting 38 percent. That's all i'm saying I'm not he's an awesome player. All right. I always not can't be on top of hill I mean that's your words on the bottom line bro. I'm gonna go luclier on this hill. You got to keep your eye on dusty He's getting away out of Dusty came in. I have my you can put mine up dust the one that I wrote Because we have to write it in the google doc. Okay. I wrote lamella and lucar the players of the week Yours are so playing I have to as a counterbalance to dusty's wildness. He's like we'll just build both I'm like you don't need to build both graphics dust What do you mean both? I don't know if you know what he built some he built some Some line that it's like an escape room You're like have to search around to figure out what's going on any of that mines straight down the middle Lamella and lucar players the week. I agree with lucar being number one one nine in the row Hitting game winners doing all sorts of amazing stuff vibes are great That piece are you just shot down the vibes? Well the vibes were great until last night. Yeah, but these these are just saying it's player the week But they're a little different these two stat lines I just see player the week one guy plays in the west one guy plays in the east. That's all it is Okay, it's just mba does two players a week. This guy's on the top of the hill This guy is on the bottom of the hill doesn't seem fair. Just want to move them up a little bit Let's dig into the numbers since the last hill I don't even know how the week goes to be honest with you. Uh-huh since the last hill undefeated 26 points five rebounds seven assists shooting 50 percent making threes Now the argument that we had upstairs was Are the hornets any good? Well the 37 34 which for the hornets is They're the tin seed buddy But rising I mean, they're definitely he'd have lost five in a row a little bit the magic have lost five in a blue The tin seed the sixers have lost one in a row their next games That counts. Yeah, their next game. So hold on the first one's easy. Then it gets a little harder home Sacramento that's easy dub Home against the nicks tricky Home against the sixers. They're gonna lose. That's a w home against the Celtics. I know you would think well Crushed the Celtics in boston. They play well and then on tuesday. Look what i'm thinking about doing for the group I don't know if you can see this you can't we're not going to a net net Are you staying well when the tickets are dinner nicks bought lunch 52 bucks? I am lunch Can I tell you some good seats though? You would never sit in a 52 dollar seat? I know you buddy. Give us some good seats. Yeah, I'll tell you what feet on the wood And we'll that's expensive You make a lot of money 143 for pretty good. Okay. Will you sit there? 274? Yeah, will you sit there? 274 But not all you know all four of all of us If if three of us Danny and giana jadekis. No, I think it comes with like hot dogs I get good enough seats that we can have soda. Oh, there it is. Hold on. I would like to go to that I would like that to happen. No, it's a lame. Let me have balls. Oh, oh Again, and this is a file thing we got to go to break Exactly A lot of what we were talking about Lebron's workload on offense and defense wemby's workload offense defense You can conserve some energy on offense. Luke has taken the shots. Use it on defense Who knows what this show could be if we reallocated all of the energy we had and spent towards puns Who knows where we could be It could be it could be a great you could be a top 20 show. Uh, I I can't move the mellow up any higher at the moment. We'll see where he is in a week We'll see where he is in a week. I'm gonna bring the grass to bark. Yes, and this I can't wait for this album Missing football well good news the ufl returns with a new season of pro football in the spring Ufl kickoff weekend starts friday eight eastern continues saturday at four on fox going to be a great year Some teams have been renamed. There's musical concerts big superstars too bro ludicrous. Yeah dj caled Gucci man Gucci main. Yeah Um, and the rules changes. I'm very excited for Yes, I'm I'm really excited about that. Uh, no tush push if you're a fan of the tush push You are square. It's a nice way to experiment with some of these new rules. Yeah, some of them will come to fruition. Yep Ufl starting friday on fox afternoon headlines Sponsored by hilton garden in hilton It's for the stay lakers win streak Stopped at nine lucas final shots No good, then he had this turnaround three Well, the brawn just kind of watches. Yeah, they weren't look, but it was it was also. I mean screwed up from the get go you know, it just It's just I don't like that You know what I should have had that I'm just saying I just I I would have felt The brawn was one rebound away from a triple double But he also didn't score until there were six minutes left in the third was this loss something or nothing If it was anything, I think it was something good Oh, but first let me I just want to say something about luke at the end of the game because listen luke The it was a little dirty pool me saying jordan takes more shots than him because it is well true Jordan's one of I think two guys in league history who takes more shots per game than luke luke obviously is A super high use and super high volume guy however That shot the game winner he made in the game Where austin Missed the free throw intentionally and got the putback. So that was against denver a week and a half ago Was the first Potential game winner buzzer beater. He's taken as a leaker He had because he the story was passed up right He passed one up and threw it to lebron when I said it was right said it was too late And so I am not acting as if luke is not a super high volume. I usage player But he has not been a I have to be the one to take the final shot Austin's done a lot of that austin in this game the possession before the highlights we showed Had the ball the whole possession to give the lakers their first lead of the entire second half So I don't think that the end of game stuff Lebron feels like this is outrageous. I just don't feel like I don't think that on the end of game stuff I agree. No, it but throughout the game, you know, I mean lebron's got to be looking at some of this Well, I but again up until two games ago. Yes, the volume was insane He also had been averaged 40 for the month and they were winning every game And he was on a second out of a back to back. He scored 60 like luke was Running hot even by his standards the reason I said I think this is if it is something as something good as twofold brew Is I don't think all of a sudden lebron's bummed out about the direction of the team And I do think the fact that the lakers In a game they didn't have to have Their fifth game in eight nights all on the road Down 18 could have just said, okay We ain't got it tonight. You know what which teams do all the time and austin said The difference between this game and games in previous earlier in the year was they were lost by 100 Was once they got down the fact that they fought all the way back To me shows a team that is getting Itself into playoff mode. I think that's positive and the other thing that I think's positive is just For us evaluating the lakers from a knowledge perspective so to speak I think it is a reminder and this is a very dangerous game to play But this is a team That cannot sustain a marcus smart injury in the playoffs. Yeah, and that is a and that listen He's an older player. He's been injured. He's good But I think he is in a weird way Depending on the matchup they have in the playoffs could be more critical For a few games then like austin Yeah, because if austin were to be out for a couple games lebron just takes on that role instantly They have nobody to take on marcus smart's role and I think jj reddick said as much after the game Yep No, I agree with that and I look it's mostly nothing. They were due they had one what nine straight or whatever it was But there are a few red flags and you kind of alluded to it with marcus smart, but Somebody named danis jinkins. Yeah, put 30 on yeah now a two months ago He was a two-way player meaning g league and the nba and he goes and gets 30 on you And because he was quick and able to create You know space and things like that They also nick they hunted austin and luka to a degree Which is what is going to happen in the playoffs Team especially over at seven games serious people are going to hunt them and then like I said earlier luka I get he was on a phenomenal heater you but you have to be able to read it Like you've got two other very capable scores and i'm not saying he shouldn't have taken the most shots on the team But when you don't have it going and you got two other guys that can put the ball in the hole Just read it and get them the ball get them going so I think that He don't need he does not need to be shooting 30 shots a game on average And that's what he's done the last three games and he was hot three games ago He scored 60 and but the last two he hasn't been and it's really and he was the game against orlando I think he was like eight of 10 like he was the first half for 30 He was no he was 18 of 30, but he finished one of 13. So what does that mean? So you know what I mean? So that the I he was something he was he started incredibly hot and then was just awful down the stretch He can read the game but he's smart enough from a player to read the game better other side of the ball Uh jenkins goes for a career high 30 in the bucket that would prove to be the game winner pistons are in first place four wins in a row Five games ahead of the Celtics five and a half ahead of the nicks 11 games left Have we been sleeping on the pistons? We felt like we cooled on them post kade cunningham injury I don't think so look they can't do anything In the playoffs without kade cunningham at his best Okay, but they're this might maybe could be a blessing in disguise for them In that jenkins whose average 26 in his last two games on like 60 shooting I'm not expecting that to continue, but maybe They're discovering in him another guy that can at least create his own offense and create offense for his teammates He's that eight assistant each of those games too Who can come off the bench give kade a breather or just create some stuff for the second unit? During as you say it is played really well, and I just think they're eight and two without kade this season Okay, they've won their last three without him since he went down So I maybe this gives them confident the other guys some confidence that we can do something When kade is on the bench during those moments So it might boost the confidence of the other players, but they definitely will need kade to be at his best to even I think probably Probably to win the first round Whoever it is whether it's miami or lando filly or charlotte if kade is not playing or is not Really able to do his thing. I think that's going to be tough Atlanta also possible at lana. Yeah, lana, which has been playing great. Go ahead k. W No, I was just I think we have been sleeping on the pistons. I feel like I wanted to jam this topic into the show because We framed everything around the lakers lost. We're like, oh, maybe it's time to start thinking about the pistons. Maybe we maybe we've Like coronated Coronated the Celtics way too early Where you at on kade like as far as Like well, I'm a hornet's guy. I would love to play the pistons in the first round without k without k. Yeah I'm hornet's guy. That's a isn't that a contradictory. Well, if kade is k. If that's just the hornet I'm just trying to be the hornet's guy. No, but if you're the hornet. Hold on, but wait just real quick If you're the hornet's guy Kade is back. Let's just say would you rather play the pistons or the Celtics in round one? The pistons So was that little thing all for show? We all just do we do we coronate the Celtics too early? Like I don't I don't I don't I don't know what we want what you want me and bruce say Other than things we believe, you know, I are we sleeping on the pistons the answer can be no Okay, okay, then the answer is no. Well, that's just a question. They're a good team. That's had a good year I would be stunned I would be if kade is what if kade is back to himself if kade is back to himself I believe they are good enough to lose in the conference finals If kade is not back to himself, then I think the cabs can get them in round two Uh And but I I don't think they can win it win the east No, I think the nix Celtics series in round two that we're going to get is the eastern conference finals That's why the nix do not want to see kade healthy. They beat him in the playoffs last year They won't issue if they play it with kade Joining us now the great dane peter schmichael all-time great goalkeeper Nick called him a goal tender and was uh yelled at during the break. It was a bad move by you That way to start the interview. So I personally apologize on behalf of the show at large I didn't yell I just said please please don't use that term You're such a bad guy Peter Well, and we just saw politic. What are your expectations for politic this round? Yeah, I mean you have to think if the us is going to do something in this in this world cup. He has got to play His best game. He's got to be on top form. He's an unbelievable player He's had some incredibly big performances this season Probably the best he's played for a very very long time Um, and you know, it's his stage. It's in the in the usa And he is the biggest player In that us team. So he's got to step up to it. He's got to take that responsibility and I expect him to do that So you helped carry your home country of denmark to its best performance in the world cup 1998 you guys made the quarter finals the the united states a slightly larger country than denmark our best Performance also is the quarter finals. I'm curious Uh, the the feeling even almost 30 years later of pride you take from that that the best you guys have ever done in this tournament Was that performance and then I guess the second part of the question The chance you give the us of at least equaling their best performance, which would be a quarter finals appearance Yeah, I mean for our country to to meet a quarter final being knocked out by brazil as it was Coming off the game really annoyed that we didn't win the game because it's one of them games you play against Uh a reputation so brazil obviously Probably the best best country in the world in terms of world cups And their performances and the players have had and then you come off the game Understanding that you were probably the better team in the game, but didn't win that was very disappointing But of course for a country like of our size to keep producing results like that is is you know, that's we're very proud of that And the thing is we obviously we've got a tradition in this sport So has most of the european countries where you can talk about the the the usa A building on that, but it's quite new so for you guys to be in the quarters It's very very good And of course being at home being you know in your own country with your own supporters Uh and living through the atmosphere that that's going to create is always going to lift your players And you know if if I was if I was a us fan I would be taking some comfort from having poach as your your manager. He's a very very experienced coach He has played obviously as a player himself at the highest level and he's coached at the highest level And he's probably one of the most sought-after coaches At the moment in in in world football. There's a lot of empty seats in in in his business And his name is always very close to the top of the list So it's you put all that together and I think there is a good That's a good case to be made for for the us to do really really well in this tournament So is you mentioned a new new coach and all of that stuff is the quarter finals Still kind of the ceiling for the us or is there any realistic chance of them maybe even getting beyond that? Yeah, I mean one thing is you you never never jump the gun on anything you got to take every game as to come You got to be very very sure that you get through your group And we saw what happened the concoff or the concoff two two years ago at home soil as well Which wasn't great. It was very disappointing. Obviously a lot of changes has been made since that But just just think about if you go back to the world cup 2018 in in russia The the russian team they had absolutely no confidence in what they could do in in that tournament They you know They hadn't won a lot of games in the build-up and they hadn't played well at all And then all of a sudden they hit that home ground home support thing in there in their own country And create that atmosphere around the team and and as I said before once you feel that as a player It does carry you on a little bit and and it helps a lot so Get through the group create that atmosphere and then you get into the knockout stages and and you get to a point I just talked about you know, Denmark, Brazil there You know, we probably should have won that game. Obviously we were not in Denmark at the time But if you think about if the US come into that kind of situation and had they have all that backing from From everywhere they are everywhere they move in the country at the time That's going to live you lift you a lot and you know anything anything is possible, you know, but it requires That you know the team is ready for the tournament. It requires your best players I mean we talked about question before that that he's he's playing to his level Western McKinney we saw him with that pass for the for the Pulisic goal there All of these players they've got to step up to the plate and really really perform to the top level and from then on anything is really possible I feel like the US Goalkeeper position you have a chance to become a star My brother was a goalkeeper. We had a poster of Tony Miola You see tim howard has a podcast and his star really rose right now I think we're carrying four goalies in the in the first Cut down of the roster, but it's matt turner and freeze are sort of competing Do you think either one has the advantage? Who do you think is going to be our goalkeeper? Well, I think freeze because he's played it is the 11 games now that he's That he's placed and the thing about that position and that one position is that You cannot have a competition situation In that position because if you do that you will have goalkeepers trying to prove that they're better than the other one So I always give this advice to to to managers pick your number one stick by that number one regardless of what happens And if you if you are contemplating a change it has to be because it's not worked out over a number of games Not just one game And the thing about the goalkeeping position is that it's uh, it's the only position and on a football pitch That's not proactive. It's 100% reactive. So you are not in charge of anything You don't decide anything you have to react to what is happening what somebody else is doing Whereas if you play out feel you get the ball you can decide what you want to do So what you don't want your goalkeeper to do is to actually start looking for situations That will show you show the manager that you are a better goalkeeper than the one that you're competing with So pot just played his uh freeze for I think it's 11 games now So he's made his choice and I think that's that's you know wise Now who's the better goalkeeper of the four? You know, I don't know I mean it depends on how the team is going to play and what the format they're there in but It kind of feels like he's made his choice I want to stay on goalkeepers for a moment and move it outside of the us And again for our audience that is maybe not quite as familiar with the history of English soccer or the world cup the man we're talking to is at least arguably and someone say in arguably the greatest Let me get this right goalkeeper not goaltender in the history of soccer Um, and so when you look at the full field Is there a particular country that you feel like if they go on a special run? It will be powered by Their ability to hold teams to clean sheets because of what a great keeper they have That that could maybe excel past where people expect them to based on the strength of their goalkeeper Hmm I this I in fact is a great question. Um That I always look there's always germany. I always look at germany in these kind of tournaments And their ability to produce wins now when you look at how they play They they play very much like buying Munich a plague at the moment scoring a lot of goals But also conceding goals not not so many but they play with a high risk They play with a high line. They are conceding chances And of course for me, it's one of the best goalkeepers ever in in the german goal manual noya I don't know if he'll be fit at the moment. He's he's he's injured But even though you have the best goalkeeper in the world It doesn't mean that you're keeping clean sheets And at the end of the day in a tournament like the world cup it it comes down to More than just keeping clean sheets also the number of goals you can score So you have to look at what they have in the team going forward And and you know with a team like germany, they have incredible striking Players With bioimmune I mean I always look to buy munix they they produce one of the I think he could be one of the biggest stars in the tournament lenard carl He only just turned 18 and he's already established himself in in the bioimmune team And he's an incredible player and you add you know the musialas and all these players to that equation That would mean scoring a lot of goals Now if they score two or three and concede one, they're still winning games So it doesn't necessarily come down to to keeping clean sheets so When i'm just top top of my head thinking about the the the teams of favorite teams You know, you you obviously need good goalkeepers. So the current world champions Argentina they've got emi martinez and if you think back to the the final in 2022 He actually won the final for argentina because he made that big big save in the last minute So you obviously you need high quality goalkeepers But it has to be a team effort. That means you've got to have players scoring goals as well So staying on the subject of goalkeepers not you don't point to one goalkeeper and say well He's going to win the world cup for this country because it's not I don't think it works like that Well, thank you very much peter 79 days until the world cup kicks off on fox and fs1 Appreciate it. We'll see you all throughout the summer. Thank you very much Thank you very much for having me. Cheers. Have a good day. Thank you. Thanks for first things first after the break Live from new york first things first overtime power pack today Starting with do we like wemby making his mvp case? I sure do a lot of people didn't Meanwhile ufl season kicks off friday on fox Lots of concerts we just discussed and we have an early preview some new rules parkin's going to be great And finally, of course, it's tuesday which means time for top 10 tuesday sweet 16 edition we liked your um Last time we were on top 10 tuesday you laid out like the story lines or the people that would decide Top 10 tuesday and then we all are doing a bracket except bruce who didn't want to risk a reputation Final four and they're all still alive, but we're all in it right now Very choppy upset your first day any yeah, of course. How is your where are you? In the rankings of the office. I was told i'm in the top 17 There's only 19 of us in it. That's probably top seven. Where are you guys? What i'm seven What am i? I think i'm I think i heard you were 14th or something It's good. No, i thought you got totally 12. My bad. I got you I didn't want to shortchange you two spots. I've no watch out watch out when duke comes alive. Also, can we change them? No On the air you can change them the office pool now feels like we should be able to we're starting in miami everyone Stopped 10 tuesday. Wemby was dominant 26 points 15 rebounds five blocks four lobs About a baker's dozen plays that made me say this guy's the best Spurs roll after the game wemby was asked about the mvp. There was his answer I have thought about it. I think right now There is a debate, you know, that should be Uh, even though I think I should leave the race And uh, I'm trying to make sure that until the end of the season. There's no debate in the duke My first one would be that Defense is 50 percent of the game And that it is undervalued so far in the MVP race Because um, I believe i'm the most impactful player defensively in the league Second argument would be That We almost swept okay C in the season and we dominated him three times with their real team and four times with the um um more rotation theories and um My third argument would be that offense Impact is not just sports I mean this was just this guy was just crushing first things first yesterday I love that. Your reaction Danny. I find it wildly compelling I just like is wemby cocky. Yes. Yeah, wimby wants the smoke which I love. Yeah I think we all do. Yeah who like right, I mean Cocky arrogant Offensive abrasive like there's maybe a thin line there and it's open to interpretation But like some of the most popular athletes in the history of sport walk that line and talk that talk I heard you mentioned a lot of the least popular too sure Yeah, bro, I'm just saying like the that's kind of my point is that but it is universally compelling Look, you gotta back it up. Yes Ali Floyd Terrell Owens Michael Jordan back it up who cares like whatever name deon sanders like whatever name you want to put on it It's just like it makes you more interesting um And I agreed with like a lot of what he said not all of it though like I believe I am the most impactful defensive player. I think we all completely agree. Yes Defenses 50 of the sport Probably not it is more of an offensive game. So we can quibble on that one. Well, can I just can I stop you real quick? I mean, I feel like it's 50 percent. It's 50 percent of the possessions And it's 50 of a team's success It is not typically 50 of how we evaluate an individual player, but that's what he said He said I mean, he's technically right, but we just have he said and it's not he says it's actually 50 percent No, but it's not being viewed like that, right? But I and I think it is Maybe he will change How and let's finish how defense is valued But it is correctly not viewed that way, which is why guys can be Dennis Rodman can be year over year with the pistons early in his career The best defensive wing in the league and not make even all NBA Right, we didn't say Rudy go bare should be the MVP of his argument is that it should Be 50 50 and it's and I don't know if that would be wrong I don't even know if that's like if he was averaging 13 points in eight rebounds a game I don't even think he would be thinking he's MVP. So it's that's the thing. He's still a very 24 and 11 Is nothing to sneeze in 29 minutes, right? Right? So he's a good. He's a very good offensive player. He's a I think it's exactly how but he's a very good off. Yeah, and then I thought the head-to-head argument was Ridiculous for MVP, but really compelling for the playoffs like we've never cared about regular season head-to-head in an end like Charles Barkley beat Michael Jordan head-to-head in a game But like did you beat him in the playoffs like that that but the fact that he said we dominated okc He thinks they're gonna dominate okc if they get them in the playoffs, which is not something I agree with But that'll be very very very interesting. I don't know that he thinks that he would this was not a question about Why the Spurs can win the title? Right. This was about me victor women yama. Why I should be MVP and shay gilgis. Alexander should not be And that's we played in my team one the right that's a fair I'm not saying it's not I'm I'm simply saying I don't know that it is He was giving a predictive statement about what will happen in the playoffs He was giving a historical statement about why he should get the award for MVP of the league But have you ever like have you ever factored that in and I guess you're you're the voter and you're the historian I don't have you ever once said head-to-head regular season that matters for my vote Like team record overall like if you say like if the Spurs get the ones he didn't have more team wins totally, but like No, you generally you generally don't because there's so many games they play and then there's injuries or there's Back-to-backs one team was on a back-to-back one team four or five nights in the past But I did when mv when I voted for mb He dominated yoke itch in their one-on-one matchup now. He did it statistically When be when be the first couple games he was coming back from injury Okay, see he played like 20 minutes 23 minutes something like that He played well, but his minutes were limited because he was getting back in joker and bead same position guarding each other Right, which is different than shit. Can I ask you it's the last thing he said? Of the third point I agree with it, but I don't know how it helps his case When he said offensive impact is more than just points. Oh, yeah, definitely Like you're stef curry like the people are guarding you so far from the basket Or you're to use the guy mentioned yesterday tyree's haliburton. You are creating everything I don't know How wimby is an amazing shooter for a guy who's seven six He is a good shooter for anybody. That's over six eight. He's just a good shooter. Um, he is not He doesn't have the gravitational pull though at least as of yet that great shooters have And he's not Even an above average distributor. He might be for his size, but as far as like creating points So I don't know I don't know where what I would have loved a follow-up there on like All right, so what do you mean about that third point? Like what of what of your Offensive impact is not showing up in the stats because I can see it with Certain guys I don't see it and maybe this is part of argument yesterday about where the I don't think He has like oh, there's so much of wimby's offense I think there's a million things about wimby's defense. They don't show up in the stats shots People are afraid to turn not even altered not taken right shots not taken. I don't know what part of his game Offensively is not showing up in the stats. Well one the defense has to really account for him everywhere He's at but beyond that the ability to score 24 points. He's fourth on the team in minutes Fourth on its team and he leads them in points rebounds and blocks But his the ability to score 24 points on efficient shooting Within the flow of the offense. It's not built around you It's huge because if that allows castle and fox and vasel and champini That's why they got eight scores in double figures versus and i'm not Uh Critic versus a luke or a harden where everything is focused on you you create Every that's one reason luke's numbers are so huge because he creates every single thing for the lakers and so That in and of itself like these guys on the spurs would not be getting those numbers with luke or harden or something because They would be dominating the ball So I think that is a huge impact And it allows that team to be so dangerous because any guy feels like they can go get their offense Right. He doesn't have the ball on his hand as much the usage is lower The per 36 is higher because he's not even playing 36 minutes a night I The idea of making your own mvp case was interesting to me because a lot of people just let us do it or let history do it So I try to do it this way and this kind of combines stats and history So I wanted to show you guys this and tell me if you like it. So this is 24 or more points 10 or more rebounds four more or three or more blocks and your team won 50 or more games I've been keeping the block stats since 73 74. So those are the last 12 instances of it and Half of the guys won mvp if you won 50 games the spurs have won 54 games But they have real quick But they got 10 games left. Maybe they don't catch the thunder But if they go six and four and they get to 60 Only three times ever has there the lead guy been 24 10 and three on a 60 win team It's interesting and all of them won the mvp So even because I would give it to shea Because shea is to me doing exactly what he did last year this year and he's done it the without j-dub So I would give it to shea and he's got more wins than wendy But to me that's how I would make the case So can I let me if I may just for a moment push back on that graphic, please I I am fairly certain All of those three guys definitely shack and definitely robinson and I think kareem their 60 wins, um Also was the one seed so they didn't have a one seed that they were like somebody because mvp whether it should or not mvp has been For a long time. It was Very closely correlated to best player on best team But we often don't have a lot of seasons with multiple 60 wins teams agreed, but there I think you could do a very similar graphic on for joker Shea or luke about team one x And player did y and everyone who's done its one mvp I think for shea be the one seed with 60 plus wins average 30 plus I bet every single one of those guys ever who's done it. It's probably michael jordan a few times Steph the second year. He wanted hard and won like guess what was the mvp for joker Average a triple double, you know what? I mean, it's gonna lie not with wins What do you mean? Well? I'm saying like like the luke of parsing this year. You wouldn't be able to do it with sure You would 50 wins an average and average at least 33 a game Since the merger that's gonna be you win 50 games you average 33 Jordan didn't win it. He averaged 37. They didn't win 50 that year That was year three for him like the and so you know and to my point is like I one of the things that I I think Fairly is going and all three of us have shea is the mvp. Yeah, I don't know if you have wimby's second Yeah, I have won. I have wimby's second So our whole disagreement comes down in fact that I have luke a second and wimby third And you guys have wimby's second and luke a third or fourth right? We're parsing But I think that The offensive Brew says a lot correctly like offensive numbers are inflated. You know what? I mean now at this point Well, if when we use that to say so a guy, you know, shea averaging 31 a game keep in mind It's easier to score 30 that then also means I think Wimby's 24 is not quite as impressive as david robinson's 24 30 years ago when it was harder to score Akeem's 24 30 years ago when it was harder to score and when you have three guys who are having In their own right historic offensive seasons I think it's going to be really hard for wimby to win the award and I I think it's fair that it's going to be hard for him to win it I think him saying this though will help him And I and it hasn't swayed me. Obviously. I still feel like it's shea. I'm open though to these last 10 games I'm very interested in how bruce ballot plays out these last I would love personally I would love to see wimby get it, but I got to be fair right now. I think it's shea But this helped joel mb when he said this helped him, you know, win his mvp So it'll be interesting. I think it's just making people rethink some things. I think bruce ballot on the show Is going to be hurt by the fact that bruce has an actual ballot Because I think I think your respect for the history of the award Is going to lean you heavily towards shea And I think that if you didn't have an actual if you didn't have an actual impact on who was going to win I think you might be like ah ty goes to wimby But the fact the fact that you have a real ballot. I think actually it's going to impact that we'll see find out on friday bruce ballot It's tuesday, which means it's time for top 10 tuesday last week He did the top 10 players that would impact or define the tournament several of those players now watching at home That's an impact also. Yeah 100 right. So now we're we're talking about the top 10 impactful characters sweet 16 moving forward Yes people players coaches and people because as you'll see there is a caveat here for one of the spots in the top 10 Now guys, I don't make the rules, but I do enforce them Iowa not a cinderella Not likely to go to the final four But you deserve a spot in top 10 because the tournament is made of stories. So alvaro vulgaris This is the one shining moment like the buzzer beater to beat the one seed And you don't run and celebrate with your team But you run into your mother's arms because your father passed away when you were nine and she flew in from spain And it's only the second time she's seen you play In the us and he's crying This is the type of thing that gets the country talking about this tournament So it is not a typical cinderella story But it is a uniquely march story and we'll see if you can keep it going against nebraska Speaking of nebraska coming in at number nine Cornhusker fans I don't know if you guys saw this on the broadcast, but nebraska fans obviously the first ever Tournament win then they get to under fred hoiberg. They made the drive to oklahoma city where the thunder plate decibel reading Loudest that arena had ever been besting the number for the thunder in last year's playoffs Will cornhusker fans travel all the way down to houston? Of course they will but houston also playing in that regional You're gonna have a ton of nebraska fans a ton of houston fans in the same location should be a wild atmosphere Coming to number eight had to have arizona represented here tommy lewitt the coach of the wildcats They are a powerhouse program that hasn't won a title since 97 haven't been to the final four since 2001 Two double digit wins should continue to advance but a very tough path having to get through What is it? They got arkansas coming up and calipari and then purdue who is pre season number one So a tough path for tommy lewitt and arizona to get there at number seven Kingston flemmings This is the dream When you're in the region where the one seed loses so florida loses You're on houston. You're playing the sweet 16 in the elite eight in your home city Which is a tremendous break because rice is hoping hosting the regional you have illinois in the sweet 16 game might be the game of the weekend Top offense against top defense. Kingston flemming could be a top 10 pick best offensive player on houston Can he keep up with the fighting a line? I come in at number six? rick patino I mean Maybe the best coach if you needed to win a single game in the history of college basketball trying to get his Fourth program to a final four which would of course be a record. He's got to go through duke and If it goes all the way on the other side, it would be number five Dan hurley his arch rival at yuka now he has to get through of course tom iso and michigan state But dan hurley already looking ahead a little bit Don't know if you guys saw this with rick patino. Take a listen to dan hurley It'll be a live building. I would only probably it's probably a little bit early But obviously I think we've got to try to support each other It's pretty brutal on twitter. I think it's social between our fan bases, but I think we got to kind of try to come together Um on friday night against our opponents so that then we could have a bloodbath He's such a troll because like if you've ever been to an ncda tournament regional The fans of the team that's playing in the next game like usually root for the upset in the game before and they turn against each other So he's asking st John's fans to be rooting for yukon and yukon fans to be rooting for duke It's interesting. It'd be the fourth time yukon fans rooting for st Yukon fans rooting for st john's do you think that's legit that he wants another shot at st john's or he's scared to do he'd rather play He would rather play he'd rather play st John's and avenge the big east tournament loss where they got blown out in the final not have to play duke And it's just you need some good old fashioned rivalries in this tournament. I love that coming into number four John shire man get your team ready to play You're you're the coach of the number one overall seed and you're losing by double digits to sienna almost losing a 116 Would have been the biggest upset in the history of the tournament then you're tied at with 14 minutes left against tcu Get your team ready to play like you argument for john shire to be number one But coming to number three the michigan bigs They were my pick. I said if you watch one second of michigan, you just realize they're huge lendeborg johnson and mara averaging 52 points 20 rebounds and five blocks between them in these tournament games. They just impose their will on everybody They're averaging a will Yeah, but in 40 minute game it's pretty impressive coming to number two The big 10 There's always this like who is going to be the power conference in the nil world who has the most money It's obviously works for the big 10 in football or the sec They've got to win it Big 10 has not won a title since michigan state in 2000 They have six of the 16 left in one of the regions. They have three of the four So there is a ton of pressure On the most lucrative conference which is the most resources to cut down the nets at the end of this tournament They have to be well represented in the final four and the title and then at number one He was on the list last week. I'm moving up a lot this week. Darius a cuff. What a run Reebok announces a signature shoe bill Simmons compares him to kairi. Look at what he's done sec tournament and ncda tournament He's averaging 30 In five postseason games. Is he the best mba prospect left over cameron boozer? Can he be the third pick in the draft? Can he be the second pick in the draft? Like we always talk about the springboard that this tournament gives a guy If he cuts through here and comes out of this very tough region into the national championship game Darius a cuff to me could define the rest of the tournament. All right. I don't I don't say am I first brew? Yeah, I don't say this often Great list Uh Great job mark the tape. Um, however You have a lot of coaches yet you've left out two that I think are noteworthy So i'm curious about tom iso and john calipari. So a little pack stat for you on a tuesday. Love it Every coach who has made more than five final fours has multiple titles except for those two guys Denny crumb went to six. He has two eight off ruff went to six. He has four Patino who's on there has gone to seven. He has two titles Uh, roi williams went to nine. He has three and then we Dean went to 11 has two john wooden pretty good one to 12 has 10 titles coach k went to 13 has five tom iso's been to eight has one Coach cal's been to seven. He has one I feel like maybe is it because you think both of them are getting clipped this round that I mean if if dan hurley can be on there if rick patino can be on there I wonder where tom is on john calipari. So I I didn't want to do all coaches for it So there's there's only 10 spots. There's 16 teams left cal's represented to me by a cuff right? He's there and then Hurley Can have three titles in four years. That's historic patino Also can do four programs for final fours But he would have to go through Kansas and then duke and then the winner so like his path to it is a little tougher than isos, which is also tough So yeah, I mean listen if there are 12 spots I mean you put the entire big 10 and three players from michigan you could have Michigan could have combined patino and hurley in the one Michigan states also you put Nebraska's fan base you've got 10 thousand for people on your list. That was an unbelievable story You can't get isos If it isos kind of incorporated in number two with the big 10 Well, look dusty came into my office today Offered me food and drink and begged me To put this is there point guard braden smith on there. Yeah, so So that's it. I went with it mason smith Who is the all-time leader and assist at division number one or two? Yeah, I mean and they got 11c texas Should make you lead it. Yeah, they should get to the elite eight chance for him to shine. He's a senior You know experienced and be a nice run. So It won't be totally fair. I consider them. Sorry dust. I didn't know that my top 10 list offended you But again ticked off only only 10 spots. Oh, he was mad. There's tens of thousands of people on your list You'll be getting some dirty looks from just from dusty Okay, I wanted to shout out. I love this list. I just like to tell you that the top four are my final four Arkansas, Illinois Michigan and duke and as a bonus you con it's perp you and I are just Locked in lock you get no props if you kind of get some sorry you pick duke I've been on duke for months, but I exactly. I know everybody knows I love you con I I don't know that you didn't love enough to stick with right exactly. No, like they were bad. They're too It's like you in the MVP. It's what you want your heart and what you actually see It would be like next year if the chiefs make the playoffs and I'm like I'll go with buffalo And they come out of the AFC You are quietly doing that. No, you're I love when you do that so I can take a baker Yeah, okay, you've done a little bit you like a lot of you Joe you've talked about josh They missed the playoffs never mind. We're taking away from danie's. Good job on top 10 to date UFL preview new rules brand new season Coming starting on friday. We preview it next ricky pro coming up First things first overtime Welcome back to first things first danie parkinson willy cologne out here the 2026 ufl season kicks off this friday 80 eastern on fox and joining us now to talk about it st. Louis battle hawks head coach ricky pro you can catch the battle hawks in their season opener against the defenders saturday at noon Ricky, thank you so much for the time now you played in that the nfl for 17 years You've been around this game your whole life. There are a lot of success stories of ufl guys to the nfl kevante turpin Brandon awbrey, but now you've been in the ufl for a while Can you tell our audience who are trying to get into this league and more familiar with it? How high the level of play is in the ufl? I mean it's it's It comes down to You know of repetitions how much time you're getting in training camp um these guys can play and The the level is is so high here. It's it's it's just a fraction Below they just need they need time and they need reps and I think that's the hardest thing is Some of them have now the opportunity to showcase their talent and skill set And even when they get into camp sometimes that you know coaches training camp is so different than when I played You know it's it's having those opportunities and a lot of these guys They just haven't had the opportunities to do the things that they're capable of doing and In therefore, that's why they haven't made the team Coach your team has the fifth best odds to win it all. Do you do you feel like people are sleeping on you guys? Absolutely, um, but that's okay. You know, that's kind of a good place to be you know, it's um, I'm really uh You know, I'm excited about our football team. It's uh, you know, obviously it's a process and it's it's uh But these guys are so much fun to coach they come to work every day. They want to get better They want to learn and and that's that's why we coach is to try to help these guys get another shot Get that opportunity to uh to get into another camp and showcase what they can do and and now I think it's More specifically is what I spoke about earlier is trying to put them in a system that they can excel and strive and showcase their talents and and uh, you know me coaching in Carolina a couple years ago, um That was the biggest thing for me is it's certain guys have a skill set and as coaches It's our job to understand what that skill set is and to put them in positions to have success and showcase their talents And and that's what we're going to try to do this year with with our team so I love The creativity of the ufl like I want to we're going to put this up on the screen here These are some rules that you would not see in the anafel, but maybe you will one day one day If you kick a field goal over 60 yards, it's four points. Not three And maybe the greatest rule of all time No, tush pushes. This isn't rugby. We're trying to play football. So the tush push has been banned If you get past midfield, don't be a coward. You're not allowed to punt unless it's the last two minutes of the game Kickoffs move back to the 30 yard line more returns and I like this You can have the 1 point 2 point or 3 point conversion attempt So I got a lot of thoughts on these coach, but you know, you're the coach What is the best ufl rule that is not there in the nfl? Don't forget the fourth and 12 too. Yes. Oh Because you're not on site that we a couple years ago The battle Hawks we went for fourth and 12. We scored I think 16 points in a minute and a half Because of that rule and so that's if you score a touchdown If you score a touchdown and you want to not go for an onside kick You can rely on up for a fourth and 12 penalty to keep the ball or fourth and 12 play to keep the ball Yes, yes, um, I love it. I think it's you know, especially now with these kickers how good they are. I mean Kicking 60 yarders. I mean, it should be it should be four points. I mean it that's going to add the excitement and we're You know, let's be real. I I'm an offensive guy. I kind of I kind of feel for defensive guys I mean, it's it's all about offense scoring points, but that's what sells tickets. That's what gets ratings on tv and You know, who wants to watch a 10-7 ball game? We want to see the 42 38 overtime games and uh, you know, that's That's what this league does. That's what it brings and the new rules. I think it's We're on the cutting edge of of changing the game and and obviously the kickoff You know has changed it's now incorporated in the nfl and it's um, but it's also about player safety as well Coach you're in st. Louis. What would the local support from everybody around you guys mean to you? It's I mean, we're the we're the staple of the league. I mean, we we've got You know close to 25,000 season tickets. Um, you know, it's just it's a great atmosphere St. Louis is one of the best sports town in our country. I mean they support Every sport in that city and and the battle Hawks are no different when we were with the rams and doing our thing It was a great advantage that dorm is so loud and and in the ufl they've been for five years straight They've been so supportive and it's they've adopted this football team and it shows every sunday every time we're playing They're there and they're making noise and um, this is their football team and it's exciting to be a part of So, you know, I mentioned earlier you played 17 years in the nfl you've played you've played in super bowls you're on the greatest show on turf team like Dick for meal mic martz my guy dav wandstead John fox you played for a wide list of coaches and I know i'm leaving out plenty of big names there coach But like you've now made this transition your first time head coach Who do you model your coaching style after or do you take from all of them? um Probably, you know, I think you know when you're on teams That don't do well you learn a lot about your players your teammates your coaching your leadership You know good and bad and I've I've taken a little bit of of all of that and and that's why i'm here You know those guys the dick vermel's and tony dunge's john fox's my position coach al saunders ted plum I mean those guys impacted me In such a positive way that when things aren't going great, how do we respond? You know, what are you doing? What defines you as a player? It's consistency It's work come to work every day whether you win or lose and uh, you know, I had nine years of losing a lot of four and 12 three and 13 but I learned a lot through those years and uh, you know just What it takes to be a successful team and it's playing together. It's playing selfless and and uh, When I experienced in st. Louis and what they built that culture, we loved each other man It's not just as as teammates, but as a brotherhood and and um, and that's what we're trying to build here um He's just teaching guys how to play for each other and be selfless and um go to the next level play You know from a receiver standpoint blocking downfield opening holes for the running back keeping the safeties off them You know turning 10 year old runs into explosive runs and and defensive run into the ball You know creating turnovers scoop and score all that stuff. It's just playing fast But having fun that's the biggest thing is we all played this game because we love to compete and um, but we had fun at In our youth playing this game and it's at the end of the day We got to have fun and uh, obviously women you have fun, but it's it's playing together as a team All right, so ricky I got to ask we were reminiscing before you came on before came on the air about the 97 Bears, thank you for the seven touchdowns eric kramer. It was fun But now I know what it's like to have calib williams. I have to ask Your impressions of calib williams uh as someone who I know still follows the league and his story Is great story. I mean I'm just I'm rooting for you know, the bears are such a great sports town as well You know, you like to see them well do well. I love um the season they had I trained I did train in prior to this position for the last eight years I've been in orange county working for excel sports manager right there roman dunes a I trained room Big fan great kid works hard. He's going to continue to get better and um, but they've got They've got the nucleus and and obviously now they've got a great head coach who's done an amazing job that understands the skill set of players and how to to have success and and They bought in real fast and uh, so I'm listen I wish nothing but the best for chicago. I had a great year there. I loved playing there great fans and a great venue to play Well ricky, thank you so much for joining us. Good luck against the defenders in your opener on saturday The opener for the league is friday night eight o'clock on fox. Thank you so much for the time. Good luck coach. Appreciate you Thank you guys. Appreciate it Thanks for hanging out on the ot you still got willy cologne out here Let's go to seattle lovely place. I've never been but it's probably the top american city that I haven't been to That's not why you called uh jackson smith and jigma got a huge payday yesterday Uh, when asked if jsn is the best receiver in football One of the two of us willy cologne at this table said no it was pukin nakuha And during the last year of his rookie deal and will become a free agent in 2027 So willy we put together the career comparison of these two guys very very similar Obviously the yardage goes heavily to nakuha yards to catch same number touchdowns the total number of catches goes to jsn How do you see jsn's record setting extension? Impacting pukin nakuha. Well, there's no doubt pukin's gonna get the bag And i'm pretty sure his agent and family are doing back flips and running down the road screaming hallelujah I think what i'm more interested in is how this deal is structured follow me if If and then i'm going off because of their play style if you're the rams do you offer puker more in a short term considering that hey man They they use puka like cooper cup meaning he's more physical He's not a guy who's going to like run out of like jsn is one of those guys gets the ball gets down Or he's trying to get to the yard as he can and he's going to get out of bounds puker's a more physical receiver So that means this you're talking about a shorter career When he's at his at his elite self. So he's also talked about Not playing forever and those correct. He's very he's a very young guy But he has already given some credence to he's not he's not going to play for 10 more years I just look at puka's game and it's more like what they ask cooper cup to do Reference to being an someone third down being Handling the dirty work a little bit more jsn is more like a finesse elite streamline runner who can make plays after the catch So i'm interested in how they they can show how they work that deal out So i think everything you said makes perfect sense from a football standpoint, right? But if I am puka's agent I am doing very simple math and I'm saying okay jsn got 42.2 million a year for four years with 120 million guaranteed You're gonna have to give me at least 42 and a half million dollars for four years with 121 million guaranteed like my guess is these contracts Basically mirror each other and poop really yeah, I think you know the puka's gonna fight for one dollar more That's what i'm saying. I think I think I think you know like almost literally be one dollar more Like I I think it will be four years 170 million okay with 121 million guaranteed like I think you will beat him by hundreds of thousands of dollars per year And a million dollars guaranteed They are so similar and they are the same age and they are in the same division and the numbers are so close like The the ram situation is just what jason has played more games than puka. Yes. Yes. He has but I mean they are on a per game basis They are very and the total touchdown numbers are very close like I just I think that they are similar enough production and age and draft time and timeline and all of that that I think these contracts are going to It's like when we did the justin jefferson jamar chase thing. It's like they're kind of the same guy They're both clearly number ones. They're both clearly You know top in the conversation for best receiver in football. So even though their styles are very different I think the contracts are going to mirror each other and yes They should be doing back flips in the nikua family is is there a chance that the rams for incha's tag? No I mean listen. He's got another year They have they got to pay fisk. They got to pay verse next year. So they got a lot of guys coming up I would be floored if they drew a hard line on puka. I I'd be floored Well, the reason I ask you want to see um listen you double down to see if he's still that guy Yeah, they don't have to do that this year. I think before I think I think it happens I think the contract comes this off season and they play hardball with somebody else But you know, it's always possible to pittsburgh Hey, we got willy on here. Let's talk stealers michael pittman jr. Hopped on with k adam's to talk about the upcoming season And what they called the quarterback situation. Oh who they could be referring to in pittsburgh willy take a listen Obviously the whole quarterback thing is going on um And I and like and like she's like, I don't know nothing my car I haven't talked to erin. What a way to put it. What a way to put it. Hold on the whole quarterback thing going on What do you mean? You haven't talked to erin. What does that? What do you mean? So i'm trying to give him space, you know, because erin's a guy like he likes his space Like he likes to get like refreshed like I didn't want to just get signed and then blow him up and be like, hey, erin Like what's the deal? The whole quarterback thing going on my apologies. I called the situation What do you make of the fact though that uh, pittman and rogers haven't talked? Well, this is not him Ignoring the team. This is erin rogers taking his time away from football and this is what he does this time of year People hate it is very on brand or what he does this time of year We know one thing is true with erin rogers. He cuts the court, right? Like he separates himself He goes off wherever he goes off to and he regroups resets and then he makes a decision Yeah, yeah, if you're a young receiver not young receivers 28 years old But if you're michael pittman, sure you would like a call But you're different you're dealing with a different quarterback. You're dealing you're dealing with a different dog So you just have to humble yourself and when the man makes his decision and lands back in piss pair You can have as many conversations as you want and I I get that to a point. There's something to detachment As a leader Okay, as a leader Don't you owe the guy a congrats text erin rogers owes michael pittman nothing. Okay I'm like what what what? Isn't it the right thing to do? He's not a hostess. Like he's not welcoming him into pissberg He's the starting yellow You know, you know a pan of pierogi's an iron city in the yellow towel telling about hey, welcome to pissberg No, erin rogers is a hired assassin like he's very on brand of who he is So michael pittman will get his welcome to erin rogers world soon enough. Uh, just it won't be happening anytime right now Okay, I then it's just and I heard bruce. Can I say something? I heard bruce karmic talking about well if this was cd land walking in a building Erin would call that was justin jefferson. I don't think so I think erin rogers is is that smug enough to be like, hey man This is my time. This is my me time. You will respect my me time. Okay. Um, as long as we're both willing to call it smug You know, you know as long as we're both willing to call smug 100 because it's it is not Listen say he signs in a month and then he talks to michael pittman and there's plenty of time before the upcoming season I get all of it, but it is There's rules for 31 quarterbacks and then there's rules for erin It's always been there's rules for 52 players on the Steelers and then there's rules for erin And I got to be honest with you when He was throwing for 45 touchdowns And six picks and at that moment was the most talented quarterback that these two eyes had ever seen to play the physician I would have been like, yeah, man Do you but when you but I'll beat playoff teams and dink and dunk And are in your early 40s 24 touchdowns. I only had seven interceptions 24 hole touchdowns That's what i'm actually that's what mitzger bisky threw when he made the pro but i had the same time 24 touchdowns I don't consider that washed I didn't I didn't say wash. Okay, but there but there how many quarterbacks were better than erin rogers last year 15 20 he was in top 15 in my eyes. Oh, I know you're in your Steelers eyes But I guess my point is is like it is one thing to have the jordan rules When you're michael jordan and it's another thing to have a little bit Of self-awareness To be like I should just be a good teammate the great mitzger me used to say I will treat you all fairly I just won't treat you the same You know what I mean and that erin does not treat himself the same 100 percent So whether we adhere to it or not, this is what it is and we've and listen this time of year We all sit around and say what's erin going to do next This is what we've been doing for a long time. So pitman is just falling in line Of what and what the league and and fans and everybody around the nfl universe has agreed to We all bend the knee and wait for erin. It is what it is. Would it have annoyed you? No Yeah, you don't hear from your quarterback when you join a new team. What what what did he say? Hi Yeah, this is where you get the best sandwiches with french fries Like something a little a little something. I'll see you when I see you home. Okay I need to be courted All right, let's head down to met life We got former jet willy cologne out here and your old team worked out former penn state quarterback drue aller Other reports say they got their eyes on former miami quarterback Carson beck and the jets have the second pick of the draft not saying it would be with that pick obviously But they own nine total draft picks willy. Would you be okay with the Jets using one of those nine picks on aller back? Yeah, this is not a high pick, you know, I think if you feel like you have a guy that can obviously add some depth in the Quarterback room short. I don't know much. I listen. I have watched Carson beck for a good portion of his career Um, I think he strengths in the big moments, but he's an efficient quarterback Hopefully he can upgrade that at the next level atler. I didn't watch much of to be honest with you But nevertheless, man, if you're if you're the jets your your goal going into this draft is structure Right, how can we continue to build on the structure? We have right now You've done a great job in free agency out of pieces, but they need quality depth not just guys Because that's what the jets have done in the past. They get guys. They don't get quality depth. That's what cavers you into january So if they feel like they got a guy that can help them late in the season, sure go get so I wouldn't love it because When like when the browns drafted dillon gabriel and shidore sanders I was like you used a third and a fifth round pick on quarterbacks when you didn't have the team around you Like what if one of those guys was a great special teamer and the other was a starting offensive lineman Or you got a linebacker and a lineman like Bill if you don't have a premium asset to use on a quarterback Build your team and then draft the quarterbacks. So draft the quarterback that you actually love I'm not sure that our back for the jets solve the problems. Go be team. Geno. You know what I'm saying. I'm team. Geno. I know you are