E.P.I.C. Podcast "Every Play Is Crucial"
Life is full of moments you cannot predict or control only experience and enjoy right? Come join Vernon, Isaac, Justin, and Jared every Wednesday where we lend our opinions about current event going on in sports. Every episode is promising to be entertaining, not necessarily informational.
E.P.I.C. Podcast "Every Play Is Crucial"
The Epic Roundup: From March Madness to NFL Rule Changes
The College Basketball Final Four matchups are set with all number one seeds advancing for the first time since 2008, creating highly anticipated showdowns between Florida-Auburn and Duke-Houston.
• Florida's explosive scoring ability will challenge Auburn's balanced attack and depth
• Auburn's Johni Broome battling injury concerns could impact their frontcourt presence
• Duke's significant size advantage poses major rebounding challenges for Houston
• Houston's defense and three-point shooting must improve to compete with Duke's talent
• Memphis Grizzlies firing coach Taylor Jenkins with seven games remaining created confusion
• NBA suspensions following Pistons-Timberwolves altercation seem lighter than previous similar incidents
• NFL approved changes to kickoff rules, moving touchbacks to the 35-yard line
• New NFL overtime rules guarantee both teams possession in regular season games
• Detroit's proposal to change playoff seeding based on record rather than division titles was tabled
• Boxing prospect Abdullah Mason fighting April 5th shows tremendous potential in lightweight division
Check us out on YouTube at Epic Sports Podcast, on TikTok at The Epic Sports Podcast, and on Instagram and Facebook. We appreciate everybody sharing and we'll catch you next week.
Yeah, what's up with it. Do it cause I love it and I stuck with it. We ain't with the subbing and the cut with it. Please, none of the talks. I heard enough of it Like what you gon' do when you at who you with you ain't really bout this. Don't talk about it. Really. On the move on the map, never slip. Keep your hands to your lips. Don't talk about it. Real eyes, real lives, real lives all the time. Stand on it. If we said it, we don't walk around it. Loose lips ain't ships. Red cup, blue strips, new phone, who this? No, we don't allow it. Really, on goal, I don't know what's her off day Now. We on road came from smoking in the hallway. Now we got shows. Boys feeling like Broadway, always look both ways, even on the crossway climbing down Cross Bay, our town, barclays, really on. Big teams Came up a small way. Championship rings Baby, that's a ball game. Oh, she won a little bag, baby, that's small change.
Speaker 2:Cass man, we a little light today. It's just me and Justin in the house today. Man, how was your sports weekend man?
Speaker 3:It was cool man. You know, same weekend man. It was cool man. Same old, same old Watched some college basketball. That was about it, man.
Speaker 2:Games aren't really that good, though, man, I mean for most of it to be one against twos and things of that nature. It really wasn't that good. It was some blowouts. I think one game was relatively close, the Michigan State game was good. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. I think that was the close one against Auburn, but that was still a 14-point win.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it was late. Though that was late, it was still a good fight. I think Michigan State had it down to like six with under a minute left. My bad.
Speaker 2:I'm thinking about the Florida-Texas Tech game. Oh, yeah, yeah that one was only five points.
Speaker 3:Yeah, nah, nah, you really probably would have been. Houston-tennessee was a blowout, but Florida-Texas Tech was actually a good game. Yeah, duke Alabama was another blowout, though.
Speaker 2:Yeah that's what I'm saying. Like three out of the four was like really blowouts, but I mean, like you said, sometimes down the stretch it just be like whatever.
Speaker 3:Yeah, some of them are a little closer than what the final score shows, but you know it is what it is. That Purdue-Houston game was real good.
Speaker 2:Yes, it was, yeah, it was. I caught the end of that just because I was out and about.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that Purdue-Houston game was real good. Had a good play, out-of-bounds play, drawing up for the end of the game, man, and sealed that win for Houston.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, but I mean that's kind of like the essence of March Madness man. Oh yeah, it keeps you on the edge. You'll see, and I think most people want that end of the game, that last shot type of ordeal, to To be in those type of situations it gets great to witness.
Speaker 3:Oh yeah, fun games to watch for sure.
Speaker 2:Sorry, I'm clicking around. That's where we're going to start off today Talking about a little college basketball man, these final four games. Man, that's where we're going to start off today. Stay with talking about a little college basketball man, these final four games. So right now we got Florida, Auburn and we got Houston and Duke. I think we're kind of Duke being overall number one seed Probably the best out of the four, Florida probably second, Houston being third and probably Auburn bringing up the rear. How do you look at that Auburn-Florida game?
Speaker 3:It's going to be. I mean, that's going to be a pretty. I see that as being a real good game honestly. Really just depends upon how healthy Auburn is going into that game, but really I mean that's going to be a good game. If you ask me, because what's his name? Broome? He got hurt in that game.
Speaker 2:That big man in Auburn.
Speaker 3:Yeah, he got hurt. He came back in later on but he was still limping and stuff and then they said something with his elbow too. So I think something with his elbow too. So I think if he's healthy, that's going to make that matchup a pretty good matchup against Florida. But probably my favorite player on Auburn is a point guard Pettiford. I like him, he got game. Yeah, he got game. He a guard. Pettiford, I like him. He got game. He a freshman, but he got game. But then Florida I can't even think of a buddy name they got a guard.
Speaker 2:Walter Clayton.
Speaker 3:Clayton. He's been playing well throughout the tournament. I think it's a matter of who's star plays the best.
Speaker 3:Yep, I don't even know Like I feel like Auburn probably got a little bit more all around to throw at you offensively, so I don't know that theirs is going to be so much about, because they I mean, even with Broome out, they still kept their 14-point lead. They were fine. He helped, obviously, but Florida, I think, is a little bit more dependent on him. So I think he's going to have to, I think Clayton's going to have to play well and play big for them to pull it out.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I just think back to like that Tennessee game and I think they was tied with like they was tied at like 16, with like 11 minutes to play in the first half and then, like right after that that like next thing you know, florida was up like 12. So I just look at that as a sense like Florida can kind of like take off at any point in the game. You know what I mean. So it's like hopefully can Auburn contain them defensively you know what I mean and keep them from going on those big runs that Florida ultimately goes on to separate themselves from teams, definitely going into the second half and in the second half again, you know, when they push their leads up. So I think, like you said, Auburn can stay engaged defensively and kind of keep Florida on the ropes, like you said, with a lot of the players that they had to have the firepower from. They're not just strictly dependent on Boone, even if he's hurt or banged up. Even though they got to win Monday. Is it the fifth?
Speaker 2:You know, what I think you're right. On the fifth, I'm actually looking at the right.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I want to say you're right, Let me see Yep the fifth.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the fifth Yep. So they got essentially four days until they play. So that'll get them. You know all teams at this point is tired after you know going through the gauntlet playing every other day in the tournament. So you know, give the teams time to rest up. Hopefully they turn into some good games. I don't want to see a blowout, especially when you got all number one teams. You want to see some down to the wire, you know close games.
Speaker 3:I don't think you're going to have a blowout, though I don't think in that one. Like even I think it's Elijah Martin is the other guard at Florida, like they guard play is solid, but Auburn has good guard play as well. Like I said, I think the difference really comes is I just think Auburn's bigs are better than Florida's bigs. So I mean, could it be a blowout? Yeah, but I don't think it will be. I think you're going to see a pretty good game, at least up until that you know the end of that second half, and then you know games can get a little ugly if you've got to play the free throw game and all that kind of stuff.
Speaker 2:But, all in all, I think both games are going to be real good games. I really do so. Yeah, with florida, you're looking at clayton martin and uh, and richard, that's the, that's the third guy. I couldn't think of the third guy because they got, they usually run three guards, um, so uh, richard is the other one, okay, okay. So yeah, you got 18, average of 18, 14 and 13, um, right there. So, like you said, they, they definitely, I mean, defensively, auburn is going to have to keep up with those three guards.
Speaker 3:But I think they can. I think Auburn actually has the personnel to be able to do it. Honestly, it's just the only thing that kind of has concerned me throughout this tournament with Auburn is they play such a short rotation. They usually only go about eight deep, and, don't get me wrong, I know teams usually have a shorter bench in the tournament, don't get me wrong. Uh, but with broom being a little banged up, I just wonder how they're gonna adjust those minutes and whatnot, because, um, I forgot the other big man's name they got. Is it cardwell? I'm at the look, let me see I'm looking.
Speaker 3:I'm looking right now yeah, it's cardwell yeah he has to stay out of foul trouble because if broomome gets banged up or is not going to be 100%, they need him to stay out of foul trouble. Although my man is a horrendous free throw shooter I think they said in that game my man shoots like 37% from the free throw line.
Speaker 2:No, he's shooting 32 right now. I'm looking at it.
Speaker 3:How do you shoot 32% from the free?
Speaker 2:throw line, oh no.
Speaker 3:Beyond my understanding, but they need him to stay out of foul trouble.
Speaker 2:Wait a minute.
Speaker 3:But while shooting 50% from the three, what did he shoot? Like six, he's not shooting a lot of them but I'm just looking at the percentage.
Speaker 2:I mean 70%, I mean field goal percentage overall, which is the highest on the team.
Speaker 3:So yeah, he stays around the bucket. He don't really go outside to paint too heavy. So yeah, I'm not surprised by it.
Speaker 2:So, and I mean looking by, you know many counts and games played, probably Hudson, Howard, I mean they got a couple guys that look like they could throw at them. Their production is around the same. So Howard Caldwell, I mean Johnson plays, plays more than anybody. But uh, as far as the forwards, but I mean they got, I mean they heavy guard play too. I mean, uh, you got baker pedifer, kelly jones, so they're heavy on their guard play too. A little more spread out, like you said they got. I mean they got five guys averaging double digits. You might as well say six. So they, like you said, very much more spread out. Again, it's just Florida just has that rapid fire that like if you miss a couple buckets and they get on the run, they can run up, you know, to a double-digit lead in no time.
Speaker 3:Yes, they can.
Speaker 2:So hopefully, like you said, hopefully, broom come back. Like I said, keep it a good game. I mean averaging 19 and 11, like they're going to need that. Yeah, yeah, they're going to need that. They're going to need that, yeah very much so. So I'm definitely with that. Moving on to the other game, duke and Houston, I'm not going to lie, I haven't watched much Houston.
Speaker 3:What do?
Speaker 2:you think about them.
Speaker 3:Houston is tough. Yeah, Houston is tough.
Speaker 2:I haven't watched a lot of them. I mean, of course they just keep Duke on TV. Yeah, of course. So if you're into college basketball you ain't seen the Duke game, you pretty much know what to expect with them, yeah, so, yeah, I mean, from what I've read, the St Houston's defense is going to be the key to this game, as far as for them.
Speaker 3:Yep, yep. They're going to have to get up.
Speaker 3:put some pressure on them, man, and they're going to have to make some shots, because even in their last game against Tennessee, they didn't shoot the three well, they didn't shoot the ball well, period, if you ask me, but they really didn't shoot the three well, and I think they're going to have to make some of these shots that they did not make against Tennessee, against Duke, if they want to have a chance.
Speaker 3:But yeah, I think it's going to be an interesting game, to say the least. I'll be honest with you, I don't think Houston has a huge chance on this one, not that they can't do it. But probably my biggest concern, more than anything with Houston, is how effective are they going to be on the glass against Duke? Because Duke has a pretty big lineup and Houston is not a huge team. So I just don't know, from a matchup perspective, how that's going to work for Houston, what that's going to look like for Houston trying to keep Duke's bigs off the glass, because I'm looking here now to try to see the size, because I'm like man, I'm almost sure I don't think I've seen. Let me see.
Speaker 2:I can look at it right now Roster Houston. So you got as far as forward 6'8" center, 6'9" center, 1'6" 11 center and that's it.
Speaker 3:Everybody else is 6'8 or shorter. Smaller guys. Yeah, I have concerns in terms of their ability to keep Duke off the glass. I don't know how effective they're going to be at doing it. Really, I have a lot of concern with that, if I'm being honest with you.
Speaker 2:Their top rebounder is, on the average, six rebounds a game, and that's Roberts.
Speaker 3:Yeah, they do not rebound very well, so yep.
Speaker 2:That's fair.
Speaker 3:I'll say this, not that they don't rebound well. I don't know if they're going to rebound well against Duke.
Speaker 2:I'll say it that way, and that's fair, Because I mean they're averaging, I mean as a team, they're averaging 37 rebounds a game, Duke's on the average in 38. So but again, that's size too.
Speaker 3:Yep In that matchup, the's that's size too. Yep, in that, in that matchup, the question that's you know, that's my question is in that matchup, what is that going to look like? How are they going to, how are they going to look in those situations? And that's a that's a huge concern, if you ask me.
Speaker 2:Yeah, cause, looking at, looking at at duke, I mean, they got seven, two, six, eleven, seven foot six, like they're complete opposite, like even their guards are big.
Speaker 2:You know what I mean. They got six, six guards, six, seven guards. Like, like you said, that size may be, which normally, when is that ever really a factor that you talk about? But, like you said, that may be the factor, like if Duke and Cooper you know, cooper, he likes to work around the room anyway, that that may be, like you said, that may be the determining factor. Rebounding, offensive rebounding.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yep.
Speaker 2:And I mean Duke also has more talent than everybody else too, so that's always the thing here's the thing.
Speaker 3:I don't even know that. I would say they have more talent to every like.
Speaker 2:I mean let's just talk. Let's just let's just speak about Houston, and I mean they clearly I mean at least three NFL prospects right now, with Flagg Gosh I don't want to butcher his last name who does Malibu, yeah. And then Canupal, whatever Con Canupal too. So I mean, like those three I mean possibly in the LA World Cup flag probably going to be number one pick, but you know, the other two being NFL prospects, I mean NFL, nba prospects. I mean I don't really see a lot of that for Houston right now. I just say this.
Speaker 3:I think it's very interesting. I just say this I think it's very interesting. It's very interesting that the hype that Cooper Flagg gets I'll say that not to say he's not good, but he gets a lot of. He gets a lot of hype around him. But me watching him, I see some flaws in his game that I would say. I'll be curious to see how not that he won't be a good pro, but to see how he translates to the next level.
Speaker 3:I guess I'll say that the NBA is a little different type of league anyway, so that's going to be what it is. But yeah, be very curious to see how that ends up playing out at the next level for him, how that ends up playing out at the next level for him.
Speaker 2:I mean, because the biggest thing I see now in college basketball and in the NBA is like, are you a creator? Like, yeah, in college, like you're running a lot of sets, you're running a lot of plays, a lot of pick and rolls, and you know it's not more about creating. I think the NFL, nfl, god, nba, I know right, the NBA is more about create.
Speaker 1:I think the NFL, nba, nfl, god NBA.
Speaker 2:I know right, the NBA is more about creating. You know what I mean. You got to be able to separate and create on your own. You know what I mean? Get your shot off.
Speaker 2:It's not a lot of plays being ran and I think that's kind of what kind of said like he can work on his own. He don't have to work within the offense that they run per se. He's not a he's. He doesn't have to have the play call for him in order for him to score. Like he'll. He'll do the dirty work, he'll get a steal, he'll like just get offensive rebound, put back things. Like that. He'll do those things, which I think helps him immensely in the nba if he keeps that type of hustle, because some guys are just bored.
Speaker 2:They can just score. You know what I mean. They can just score, or they're in the system too. It's like what they run. They run off pick and rolls, shooting off pick and rolls and things of that nature. But I just don't think Houston, like you said, with their shooting they got to shoot better, even though they hit their average in nine threes per game in the tournament and they came up late, like you said, they shot horrible early in the game but they end up putting Tennessee away late. You know, with some dagger threes. You know me later on, but you're going to have to come out swinging against Duke in order to keep it competitive. If any game I would say get away from, it may be this one, like you said, with the size difference. Rebounding, yeah, and you know Cooper Flagg comes with his best.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I mean that's my biggest concern is just the rebounding, because I think if Duke dominates the glass the game could get I mean it could be a double-digit game pretty quickly, especially if they keep Houston from getting second-chance points and those type of things. So I mean we'll see. I think you'll be able to tell pretty early on.
Speaker 2:Pretty early.
Speaker 3:Whereas I think with Auburn and Florida, I think that's going to be a back-and-forth game. Like I said, all game, I think that's going to be a pretty close matchup, whereas I think the Duke game could could get away Uh, if Houston's not making shots and we see that Duke is able to establish their dominance on the glass.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I agree with that. I agree, um, definitely looking forward to it, man. Uh, can't wait to see uh who goes to the championship game. I think any one of these matches I mean no matter who wins, it's all number ones which Brandon predicted on the show, which is crazy. Over a week ago he was talking about that it's very possible that all four number ones could make it to the Final Four, which hadn't happened since 2008,.
Speaker 3:I want to say I saw the year I can't remember exactly when it was my nephew he predicted this anyway. As far as the final four, he predicted the number ones. But I'm I'm not surprised, so don't get me wrong. Like even then there wasn't a whole lot of teams that I thought were that kind of good anyway, so this wasn't a huge surprise to me to see the, the four, number one seeds, make it. Yeah.
Speaker 2:And that's what kind of Brandon was saying too Like not many upsets, like if it was going to be upset it was going to be later on with like a two, like you know, like a one versus two, two versus three, Like somewhere there, but not necessarily you know a one getting upset. So came to fruition man. I mean, normally you just get a Cinderella and it adds more anticipation to it. This year, I think these are good number ones, good enough to where people are really going to want to watch Again.
Speaker 2:I'm excited because this doesn't happen often To get four number ones. Hopefully we get four good games without any blowouts. So definitely, definitely.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I think I like I really do. I think that I think you're going to get close games. Like I said, my biggest concern is going to come in that Houston game, but I mean, only time will tell on that one, as far as you know where that ends up going. But I think ultimately you're, we are going to get, I think, some good games and which is, I think, is going to be a nice, a nice change as far as that goes, cause, like you said, there have been quite a few blowouts in the tournament, so there's been more games. I would say there've been more games that I've cut off than games that I've watched in this tournament than in a long time. It's been a long time since I've had to kind of cut the games off the way that I have, because it's been like they haven't even been worth watching you know what I mean.
Speaker 2:And I'm talking like a couple minutes into the second half, like Ari does. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3:Like where you're, like, yeah, you don't even see a comeback in the future.
Speaker 2:Right, right, like you're right at the second half, you can kind of see if the losing team come out with some fight. All right, man, I'm cool, yep.
Speaker 3:Yep and you're like well, I guess that's going to be it, right there.
Speaker 2:So keep it moving.
Speaker 3:Yep, no, I'm right there with you on that.
Speaker 2:All right, we have got a little NBA news. Man Just wanted to talk about quickly just some recent current events. Man, nba suspends three Pistons and two Timberwolves for their Warriors in that little fight. Man, I didn't watch that game so I don't have much to say about it, but again, it just seems like it's the same people in the NBA, like the Isaiah Stewards, the Draymonds, the old boy in Houston.
Speaker 3:Oh, Dylan Brooks.
Speaker 2:Brooks Like it's the same guy. So Piston. So Isaiah Stewart gets two games guys, piston. So Isaiah Stewart gets two games. Teammates Marcus what's his name? Slasler, sasser, sasser and Hollins they each get one game. Deva Conchenzo and Nas Reed both get one game, which is pretty light compared to what I've seen from the video.
Speaker 2:I've seen people get more for less and I wonder if it's going to be some fines coming too. So I'm sure, exactly Like they were into, like into the ground, like in the cameraman, like coaches were trying to pull it was it was, it was, like I said, I've seen um worse for less. So I think definitely it may be some fines. And isaiah stewart like at some point you got to start looking at him on that on that draymond rashid wallace list like of just those guys that just do too much, which, again, I love rashid wall is one of my favorite players um, but it was just like he's just one of them. Guys that just know how to get under people's skin yeah and it's like now the nba has zero tolerance for that.
Speaker 2:You know, like sometimes you would be like, okay, cool, it's kind of edgy, you know what I mean, but you kind of like those players. But then it's like now people are too sensitive for people to be playing that way.
Speaker 3:I was going to say. The problem is it's just a sensitive type of hey, Google stop.
Speaker 2:I don't know why Google stopped. Tonight is not my night, this is not my night. They hear you talking boy.
Speaker 3:They hear you talking, they on you. But no, it's one of those things, bro, I mean to your point, if I'm being honest, I mean it was weak. There's no fights in the NBA, let's just be real. There's no real fights in the NBA Like this is a glorified shoving match. You know what I mean? That's really what goes on To your point. We've seen people get suspended. What feels like a heftier type of suspension than what we saw here. I don't ever necessarily understand the rhyme or reason behind these suspensions. For me, I wouldn't have suspended nobody going about your business.
Speaker 3:Sending that on the court. I'm not going to suspend nobody over that. Make sure y'all keep it on the court. Yeah, like, yeah, like, I'm not nervous to spend nobody over that, like, all right, make sure y'all keep it on the court, don't you know? Don't let that you know go into the stands. I get all that you know. Be careful. You got cameramen and women out there. So yeah, yada, yada, yada. But it's a shopping match man, get on out of here this is the nba and like repeat offenders.
Speaker 2:So like you know, like the isaiah stewart's and you know like the Isaiah Stewart's and you know those guys, like these people, that's constantly yeah, yeah, you know what I mean. It's like normally it's usually five or more. You know what I mean?
Speaker 3:Yeah, they send a message to somebody.
Speaker 2:Yeah, like normally it's five or more games, so the two, I'm like it's almost like not doing it. You know what I mean. I it's almost like not doing it. You know what I mean. I guess, if you count that game as one, you know what I mean, because of course, all of them got, you know, seven people got ejected, you know, including the five people who got suspensions. So it's like, if you want to count that game, I mean whatever. But like, ultimately, like, if you really want to keep these type of things from happening, you're going to have to increase the suspension. And you're going to have to increase the suspension, especially on repeat offenders, guys like the stewards. I mean Draymond. Has Draymond been suspended this year?
Speaker 3:I try not to think of Draymond Green in any capacity.
Speaker 2:In any capacity. I wonder if he's been suspended this year. He has been annoying for years for me so I don't keep up with nothing pertaining to that guy, but, yeah, nonetheless, I want to see, like I said, going forward with the NBA, how they handle these things, especially, like I said, isaiah Stewart becoming one of those names in the league of a reoccurring theme with him. So I wonder if the penalty gets more harsh as they go on.
Speaker 3:I would assume, again, he's one of those that they're going to. The penalty gets more harsh as they go on. I would assume he's again he's one of those that they're going to keep an eye on for sure, if I had to guess. But who?
Speaker 2:knows. And, like I said too, fines let's see. You know, normally there's some fines that come along with it too.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it's the NBA, though, so who knows?
Speaker 2:Probably not.
Speaker 3:I think they're trying to get more eyeballs on the NBA. That's all, of course.
Speaker 2:But I mean, if that's the never mind, I ain't even going to go there, because that's a long rabbit hole Yep. You ain't going there, I ain't going there. It's going to be a long rabbit hole but nonetheless, man, catching up with you. Know the Memphis Grizzlies like firing Taylor Jenkins.
Speaker 1:What do you think?
Speaker 2:about that. I know, we kind of touched on it a few weeks ago but didn't really get any information because the Grizzlies weren't saying anything about it. But they finally talked to their GM about it. From what I've read, they were just saying basically there was no clear direction or no clear, clear communication on the direction of the team was going. No clear, clear communication on the direction of the team was going. You know, because I heard they tried to get Draymond this offseason. Before you know he resigned with Golden State.
Speaker 1:They were trying to make?
Speaker 2:I don't know, I'm just telling you what I read yeah, I know, but I'm just saying like for what?
Speaker 2:But you got to think, like, memphis has always been like one of those gritty teams, so they go after those type of players. You know what I mean the Tony Allens, the Draymonds, Like even when they got a what you call it from Boston, marcus Smart, like those type of you know guys. Yeah, I'm with you, look, I'm with you. Yeah, I'm with you, I'm with you. That's not really who you need on your team, them type of people, especially with John Morant and the issues he's been having, you probably want to put some more veteran leadership, bring in some more positive guys, culture guys.
Speaker 2:Nonetheless, from what the GM was saying, they didn't have a clear direction in which way the team was headed. I think they had fired some assistants in the offseason Writing was kind of right. It was kind of on the wall that eventually he was going to go If he got rid of all your assistants and brought in some new assistants that you didn't even have parts in interviewing with the GM. Just kind of brought in some assistants and, like I said, the head coach Jenkins didn't even get to vet these guys. So I think he kind of knew it. But, like, at this point in the season, I think if you're going to do that, maybe around the all-star break or something like that, but like almost, yeah, like almost wait too long, 70 games in.
Speaker 3:Yeah, 70 games into the season say, hey, I'm going to fire my coach when you're on a playoff spot. That sounds real stupid.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and that's what I was really trying to look at too, to try to see like the last thing I read was this was a move to please Ja Morant, because Ja was not happy with the ball not being in his hands as much as he would like, kind of thing. And my whole thing that I would say about that is I know, I think the game after they fired him they lost, I don't know. They got blown out, boy, like by 30 or 40 points, like they're in the fifth spot in the West. I was looking it up. They're in the fifth spot in the West. Golden State is a half game behind them. I could definitely see Golden State catching them. Minnesota's a game behind them. Minnesota could mess around and catch them. The Clippers are a game behind them. They could still mess around and catch them.
Speaker 3:So you're talking about potentially a team that was pushing for the fourth seed, with the Lakers to potentially drop into eighth. Because I'll say this Memphis ain't that good. It ain't like they got this whole slew of talent there. I thought the coach was doing a good job coaching the talent that he did have and putting those guys in a position to win. But you know what, if it was something where John and them wanted to change, they got what they wanted. Now we're going to see where it ends up for them.
Speaker 2:You know, what I mean yeah.
Speaker 3:I don't get it. I don't get it, especially not right now. You might as well just wait until the offseason, if you're going to do that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, no, I agree, this is almost unheard of like at this point in the season. Like you said, fighting for the fighting for your playoff spots, yeah, like outside of, I mean like I could see if they wasn't in contention, if they wasn't even you know what I mean If they wasn't in the play-in, or even being you know number 10 in the play-in, or something like that. Like fighting for that, like you'd be like okay, like maybe a change now may give us the boost we need. You know what I mean. And maybe take that 10th spot, but I mean they, they, they in the West too, of all places, like they're not really struggling. But I also get it too, like you said, with the talent they have, like with Ja being your kind of lone superstar you know what I mean. Like I can understand his frustration too, and it probably just ain't him either. Like usually, if your top guys is having an issue, that's gonna trickle down. You know what I mean. So it's probably jackson and you know some of the vets.
Speaker 3:like I said, the market, it's probably other guys in there too but my thing is this y'all come so y'all in a position to potentially push out, because I mean, based upon their record, especially before the two losses, they were in a position to potentially push out Cause I mean based upon their record, especially before the two losses, they were in a position to push for third. You know what I'm saying. They were in a position to at least get up to third. I mean, depending on the how the streak went, I mean maybe even get the second. You know what I'm saying. I don't think nobody's catching OKC, but you know, maybe even get the second Right.
Speaker 3:So you guys are complaining about because of how you're winning that part I mean that's some stupid logic there.
Speaker 3:You know what I'm saying. Like a lot of people just want to win. You know what I mean. If y'all concerned with your numbers and all that, I mean it is what it is, I guess, because they get their wish now, but they just better hope that whoever they get in there to replace him is going to be better for them, because if not, you know, every coach got their own culture, every coach got their own play style, how they like to play. I mean, y'all have drafted guys, y'all have developed guys. What moves are you going to make? You know what I'm saying? What does that look like for you? Because now are you talking about? Now we got to really kind of start to shake up our roster. You know, because you got to bring.
Speaker 2:You know, because you got to bring, you know you're going to bring in a coach and then you got to get players that fits that coach's uh, you know their scheme and how he likes to play. So yeah, because see, like they try, I mean and like I said, this is all from what I was reading like they tried to get mikhail bridges, I just just tried to make some moves and I mean nothing really panned out, uh, and I mean I'm looking at their roster like I I mean you got a solid starting five. I mean that's all I can see. I mean from Jackson to Moran, of course, bang dude with Aladama Wells. I mean you got Pippen coming off the pond playing well, averaging them their 10. You got Canard coming off the bench, them their averaging 10, and your rookie Edie coming off the pond, well, averaging them their 10. You got Canard coming off the bench, them their averaging 10. And your rookie Edie coming off the pond them their averaging 10. You know what I mean? Marcus Smart's been playing better since he's been back.
Speaker 2:He only played 19 games he can hurt, but I mean still averaging 8. Clark averaging 8. I mean they're very well-rounded.
Speaker 2:So maybe I mean mean what I don't like. What more do you want? That's, that's what I don't get. Like what? What I mean? I mean, looking at this roster tonight, nobody jumps off this. Yeah, yeah, like nothing jumps off the screen at me. Like I mean between I mean jack, I mean jackson and moran are both averaging 22-4. So, like I mean, your two top guys are doing what they're supposed to be doing and Bane, as your third option, is doing what he's supposed to be doing at 18. I don't see this huge drop-off between them three and then the rest of the guys. No, you got 12-10, 10-10, 10-10. That's very good play, Even if you don't like the offense. I mean, maybe I think he should be averaging more, which I do think for the money he's getting paid, he should be averaging more. But so maybe his complaint is that, hey look, I can't maximize, I can't be the best, I can't be what y'all paid me to be if I'm not getting more touches.
Speaker 2:But I mean, being more balanced is not necessarily turning into wins either, because, like you said, I mean the last couple games, I mean the last three, they done lost all by double digits. They won, they blew out Utah, but that's not saying much and then they lost three before that. All double-digit losses. I mean bad loses too. Double digit losses. I mean bad loses too.
Speaker 2:Like you got 10, 16, 20. You beat Utah by 37. But then you turn around and lose by 19. Like it's really up and down, and over your past 10 games you got two wins and eight losses. So like Yep, Maybe that's the coach because you had won your last previous four, you know, before then. So I mean I don't know, it's been like win four, lose one, win one, lose three. Like so maybe. But you're going into the final stretch. You only got seven games left. It just don't make sense. You just ride it out and your games. You got Golden State tonight, then you get Miami, Detroit, then you get Charlotte, Minnesota, Denver and then Dallas at the end of the season. I don't see them beating Golden State. Miami has finally figured out how to play basketball again, so that ain't going to be easy out.
Speaker 2:Detroit is playing some of the best basketball in the East. You can probably get Charlotte, minnesota if they got their head on right. Maybe you can get them, but probably not. Denver is a loss and Dallas you could probably end the season with them. So maybe, going these past last seven, you probably go three and four tops, maybe, maybe, but you're probably looking at two and five to end the season, which probably might put you in the play-in in the West with how close it is. Yep, that may push you down to nine or ten, like, yeah, I don't, like I said I don't get the firing. I guess you know, as a GM, if you're not seeing what you need to see as far as direction, and your stars are complaining which, like you said they had to, it had to be from a John Morant, jackson Bane. Like those guys had to be complaining, yeah.
Speaker 1:In order for it to be at this point.
Speaker 3:Yeah, you know what I'm saying, but for what? Like, what are y'all? Again, my thing always comes back to what is y'all's expectation? You know what I'm saying. Like you're complaining, you're complaining, but what is your expectation, given the talent that you guys have? Like, what are we really saying? The expectation is that's my question Like, what are we talking about? You know, like they got to be realistic about their situation. You could be in a lot worse of a position because there's some bad coaches. Here's the thing. How about this? You want that? Go ahead, hire, because I I told you know, I can't stand him as a coach. I, I cannot stand this dude as a coach and I that's why his teams never win. I'm not gonna go down that rabbit hole but give john, let john have a little taste of like a tibidow and then then see how much to be honest, that is a typical type of team yeah, but not the same though yeah, no, but I'm just like that's.
Speaker 2:I wouldn't be surprised at a hiring. That's what I'm saying if I look at like when you remember you were talking about like bringing in a coach and and and like he's not a culture coach, no. So if you're trying to change the culture, that's not the coach to get, no, but also like the style of play, they will fit the style of play. But I don't think that fits locker room issues, which we know. Memphis has had a slew of um, but I got rid of one headache and dylan, but I mean yeah yeah, he's, yeah, he's definitely a headache.
Speaker 2:It's still to see if John Morant is, you know, has turned a corner on his woes. So, yeah, yeah, so, like I said, I don't get it, we'll see. We'll see who the hires be. Hopefully they kind of I think they need something fresh in in um, if it's maybe an offensive coach, not necessarily, I mean, because they usually bring in defensive guys. That's why I don't know.
Speaker 3:I don't know, I don't have a name yeah, I don't have anybody that comes to mind when I'm like, yeah, that's exactly who they need to to go get like I don't.
Speaker 2:I don't. I mean, I can't even think of no good assistants around the league. It just pops out to be like, okay, maybe they need another shot or need a shot. Yeah, I mean, whoever wins the championship or make a deep playoff run, a lot of their assistants will start looking out for these jobs. So we'll probably hear something, probably in the next month or so, about you know potentials depending on what Memphis does, if they make the playoffs or you know what I mean, if they get through the play and all that good stuff, we'll see. But yeah, yeah, If you got a team like, say, in fifth in the West, balanced, uh, plus a guy who's been there for six years and went through the up and downs with y'all guys, all the job, my rent, bull crap, the Dylan Brooks BS, um, to just fire him like that, I don't think that's to me the way to go, but I digress to me the way to go, but I digress.
Speaker 2:Last but not least, man, nfl stuff, man, oh, I want to say a lot going on in NFL, but you know this is that time of the year where they're doing the league meeting, so a lot of rules and things get get discussed, changes that they want to discuss with this upcoming year, in the next year, things that worked last year that may not work this year. Um, so, just adjustments. So to start off well, first off, tush push being banned. How do you feel about that? We've talked about it in the past, because they've just been talking about it all offseason. Should it be banned, should it not? What do you think?
Speaker 3:That's a loaded question only because I didn't notice originally. And then, I think after we had the conversation, I heard that they have a rule for the field goals where they can't oh yes, you can't push, yeah, they can't.
Speaker 2:Oh yes, you can't push. Yeah, you can't push the players.
Speaker 3:So my thing is if you can't do it there, what makes it okay to do it with the touch? Just going to be honest, If it wasn't for that rule, I would say I don't have a problem with it. To be honest with you, Don't be mad because I can't stop it. I mean because that's really all it comes down to you. Stop it, that's I mean because that's really all it comes down to you.
Speaker 2:Mad because you can't stop it, but understanding that there is a rule in place that is similar to stopping people on the other side of it. I don't see how you allow it to continue to go. That's all. Yeah. Yeah, I would say I agree. That was my. My sentiment also with the touch push, is that, if you're not going to allow the defense to be able to do that, I mean because, essentially, everybody, you know over four people, you know you essentially look at the defensive line like you're pushing everybody over. You know you. Just it's seven, seven on four, seven on five at the most, which most of it aimed towards the middle and the quarterback. So again, if on special teams we can't overwhelm the long snapper and push him over to get a block which sounds like a perfect football play, you know what I mean, because it takes athleticism. Jumping over the line, you can't, even well, you can as long as you don't touch nobody, which is hard.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I was going to say you know how hard it is.
Speaker 2:Because the center jumps straight up after he hikes it.
Speaker 2:You know the long snapper jumps straight up after you got to perfectly time it, you know right so I think again, like you said, if we can't, if you can't do that on the defensive end, then, um, I don't think they should be able to do that. I think maybe it should be a limit as far as, like you can, you can keep me sneaking all day, but you can't have nobody behind the quarterback can push the quarterback Right or the offensive lineman to gain an unfair advantage, because to me it's an unfair advantage. Now, when I'm watching the play it's beautiful. I agree it's a beautiful play. Nobody's executed it quite like the Eagles have. They've won a Super Bowl doing it. It's hard to just gash it. From what I'm reading, 16 teams are with it.
Speaker 2:It probably won't be banned because the majority of the teams you gotta have but I do think there should be some adjustment it's.
Speaker 3:I forgot the account, but it's like you gotta have a majority so, yeah, it's got to be a majority you gotta have.
Speaker 3:I want to say it's like 28 votes or something like that, 26 or 28 votes against it. So it's like it's not gonna get banned. But the fact that you got you know half of the league saying, yeah, we should consider, so it's like it's not going to get banned, but the fact that you got you know half of the league saying, yeah, we should consider it, it's kind of an alarm. Only because you're like but why Like? What's the why behind why you want?
Speaker 2:to NFL bylaws require a minimum of 24 votes to approve a change. Yeah, so you got to get 24 out of the 30 teams to agree, which that's very tough out of the 30 teams to agree, which that's very tough. But, like I said, right now I mean they're only at 14 opposing. So I don't think, like I said, I don't think that's going to change. Calais Campbell is back with the Cardinals, so one-year deal again, going into his 16th year. Not mad at it, not huge changing, but I mean the Cardinals, I mean it's the Cardinals. So, nonetheless, nfl players wanting to play flag football in the 28 Olympics what do you think about that? I?
Speaker 3:mean I understand it's fun. I mean I understand it's fun. I mean flag football's fun. I understand why they would. The problem is you'll never get the teams or people in the NFL to agree to allow those guys to do that. That's really what your problem is. They're never going to agree to it because it's too much of a risk.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:It's just too much of a risk for them in terms of you go out there, you get hurt. Yeah, I mean, that's a lot of money. Yeah, that's a lot of money being set out there. I guess I'll say it that way. That's the only way to really say it. Yeah, no, I can't see it actually happening. But I mean it'd be fun to watch.
Speaker 2:Nonetheless, um, I don't see anything where going one way or another. Uh, mainly, the biggest thing that I read is that goodell said he's gonna just continue to uh have conversations about it. I mean, of course, again Jerry Jones, he supports it, good old.
Speaker 2:Jerry, Good old Jerry. But I mean again, I don't. I mean you got two years, three years almost, until, I mean, a decision can be made, so that gives the team's player association all that stuff to come up with some provisions. It's kind of maybe if, hey, at your own risk, a team can waive you, cut you without any financial responsibility if you get hurt, you know, maybe something of that nature. It would have to be something extreme, definitely for the NFL and how they operate.
Speaker 3:For sure.
Speaker 2:The owners are not going to. You know, blow money if Josh Allen decides to play, no, and get hurt, you know what I mean. Like one of those type of guys, like the receivers, a Tyreek, you know one of these guys, these big name guys, a Justin Jefferson, you know torn knee up or something like that. I know guys want to play, but I would say by then it would definitely be some clauses definitely protect the NFL.
Speaker 2:I don't think there's anything you do to protect the players, nothing the players really do to protect themselves. It would just be a risk that you would have to be willing to take on your own. Yep, and I think that's kind of where the NFL would leave it and definitely give teams an option out, because I mean, if you lose a Justin Jefferson and you go into a free agency, you want to have a chance to sign somebody or use that money to replace that person, whoever that may be, whether it's a receiver, quarterback, db, whatever, Definitely had that money available. So if it was up to me, that would be the direction I'd go. I'd be like, hey look, I can play in the Olympics as you want, but it's at your own risk.
Speaker 3:But you said that was 2028?.
Speaker 2:That's 2028, yeah.
Speaker 3:And.
Speaker 2:I'll be honest with you. So that's the Los Angeles one, that's the one this year that's going to be in Los Angeles. So I mean, you're still talking about like three years.
Speaker 3:So I'll be honest with you, by that time as crazy as it may sound, I highly doubt like they'll say guys with NFL contracts can do it. But think about it, man, you got so much talent that say newly retired.
Speaker 2:Free agent markets yeah.
Speaker 3:I mean, be honest, you got people, people like Trey Owens at 50, still out here trying to play. You know what I'm saying. So it's like you put them in that kind of stuff. I mean, you're still going to have some talent on the field just because there's just so much talent around that's been had. So I don't know, would it be fun to watch them? Yeah, will it happen? I don't see it.
Speaker 2:I mean, first off, you're going to bring more eyes to the game by whatever names you allow to play in it. Yep, the other countries. I don't know how they're competing or if they would, or how do you do that? Is it? Players from the NFL can play for their native countries?
Speaker 3:Yes, I would assume yes, you know.
Speaker 2:So I mean, maybe balance it a little bit, but I mean, of course, the US will be the overwhelmingly favorites, just depending on what names you get in there, even some of the guys from the UFL. I would probably even go that route and be like you know, maybe introduce some of those guys into it too.
Speaker 3:You know what I mean. I think there's opportunity across the board when it comes to getting guys into a position to be able to do this stuff. It's just for me it's more so from a business standpoint they won't be allowing NFL guys to do it. So you know, whatever you may think, you can keep thinking because it's not happening. At the end of the day, it's just they're not going to put their product at risk to play flag football for the Olympics.
Speaker 3:Now, with that being said, I think you've got talent elsewhere where it could happen. Because then my question would like I don't think you can get college kids to do it. That's the other thing, because now, with NIL and all that, I don't even think you're going to get college kids who will be willing to play in that stuff and risk getting injured before they even get an NFL contract or before they get a chance to get drafted. So I think your best hope is going to be, like you said, ufl guys, free agents, newly retired NFL guys, stuff like that that you can go out there and put a team together.
Speaker 2:No, I agree, I agree with that. Put a team together, I agree with that. Last but not least, new rules. That's been presented, not necessarily approved, but they're just discussing possible changes for this year, except for the kickoff. The kickoff has been approved. New kickoff rule Last year, when you called a fair catch in the end zone or kicked a touchback, the ball would be at the 30. So now they're moving it to the 35, trying to incentivize more returns, even though they approved year over year. So the return rate from last year 32 percent, let me see, yeah, return rate, yeah. So spotting at the 30, you got a 32% return rate. Spotting at the 30, you got a 32% return rate. They're trying to push it up higher, projecting that possibly with this change.
Speaker 3:They want more returns.
Speaker 2:They want more returns. They're trying to get it into the 70s.
Speaker 3:Well, my thing is this You're not, oh, never mind, isn't?
Speaker 2:it feeling so dumb?
Speaker 3:No, I'm just saying they're so dumb with some of what they do. It's like I understand trying to like limit the impact and all that stuff, so like don't get me wrong, like I get all that, but my thing is this if you want more returns, don't give them so much yardage for not returning it.
Speaker 2:Well, what I think is they're trying to incentivize uh, they're trying to keep teams from kicking touchbacks, so just kicking it through the end zone. They're trying to make them kick it in the zone and in play in the zone yeah, in the zone, so they'll return it and, possible, stop them from getting to the 30 or the 35 okay I mean, I guess I think they're in the reverse, but, like you said, the return team. If I'm the return team, of course I would I'm to take it at the 35 every time.
Speaker 3:Every time, not even a question Like every time. I'm just taking it from there and I'm going to keep it moving. So what are we talking about?
Speaker 2:But they also said with the new rules, concussion rates dropped 43% from 2023. So from the old rules to the new rules, concussions drop 40%.
Speaker 3:But just on kickoffs On kickoffs.
Speaker 2:yes, so that helped. So I think they're still trying to. I think they see it as working for what they wanted it to work for and now they're just like, okay, we want more of it. Essentially, you're going to gather more data. Concussions may go up a little more, but if they drop 43%, even if they go, even if with more returns, it goes down to 35. I still think that's a huge win for the NFL. Oh.
Speaker 1:I think so For what they're trying to accomplish. Yep, I agree.
Speaker 2:Nonetheless, they approve a proposal from the Philadelphia Eagles to give each team a guaranteed possession and overtime during the regular season. I like that.
Speaker 2:So what they did. So it used to be that way in the playoffs Playoffs, every team guaranteed a possession, but it wasn't like that in the regular season. So now they're going to discuss those overtime rules. Even if a team scores a touchdown in the regular season in overtime, the other team still gets a chance to score. As of now, if you scored in overtime in the regular season, the touchdown, the game was over.
Speaker 3:I do like that, also the original thing that they encounter on those guys. I think they were the ones who brought it to the table. I was a fan of.
Speaker 2:Hold on, we got some more. We might get to it. I think I know what you're talking about. We got some more stuff too. They also endorsed the competition committee to add an additional uh specification on unsportsmanlike rules. So you know how they. You know you can't do the throw slash no more. You can't act like you're shooting, no more uh nose wipe gesture.
Speaker 3:So all that stupid stuff, but yep right right.
Speaker 2:So I mean, which I? It's crazy because you're already kind of limiting celebrations and things like that. Still, I think it's crazy. If you make a good play, you should be able to celebrate outside of putting your hands on another player. You should be able to do what you want. Yep, I'm with you on that. But now they're trying to get some clarification on this with that.
Speaker 2:Another approved proposal from the Pittsburgh Steelers to have one video or phone call with more, no more than five prospect free agents during the negotiation period. Open a free agency, because before you can only talk to agents before the free agency period. What they want to do is be able to communicate with at least five free agents, not their agents, but actually the player directly. So kind of that tampering thing, trying to tone it down some and kind of give some free reign to give teams a chance to talk to players, not just their agents. Approve the request for multiple teams to allow team staff members to prepare kicking balls.
Speaker 2:So I heard a lot about this too throughout the season, like game days, like it was hard to get, I guess, kickers, like the balls beat up to kick better and they haven't been letting them do it because of, I guess, whatever went on in New England with the Flakegate or whatever. They've been kind of not letting people adjust balls, but they're trying to get a request for that for kickers. They tabled for the decision with Detroit Lions proposal to make a playoff seeding based on regular season records rather than division championships. Um, rather than division championships, so um, the lions wanted to. Instead of it being okay, the top four seeds are the division champions. If somebody in that fifth seed's record is better than the fourth or the third seed, then they get that third and fourth seed and that division champion does make it to the playoffs, but as a lesser seed I am with I am 100 with it?
Speaker 2:um, I think you work hard to earn your record. You play hard.
Speaker 3:You deserve a better scene if your record is better and you don't pick your division, so on those teams that are just in groups of divisions, uh, who we all would say, yeah, they deserve to be higher seated than this team. That just got in with a seven, eight win season.
Speaker 2:Yeah, like it should be Especially for y'all like NFC not NFC AFC North where you can get the Bengals, the Ravens and the Steelers in there, like, if you get them three as playoff teams, then they've been battling all year for the position, but if you know what I mean, you're going to get the division winner, but like shoot you may. What I mean You're going to get the division winner but like shoot, they may have a a two, three, four situation with you know Ravens, bengals, steelers, you know what I mean? Yep, and push the rest of those guys down if the record is you know worse. So no, I'm definitely with that. Prove to be designated to return from injury reserve if they've been placed on IR when rosters are reduced to 53, granting playoff teams two more return from IR spots in the postseason and designated point differential and a third tiebreaker in waiver claims. So basically, what's that saying is you can add two players to the IR, two extra players to the IR in the postseason if they're be able to come back during that time. So let's say, because I think IR right now you've got to sit out four games, but let's say you've got a guy that's coming back from IR, you're a playoff team and you've got a guy coming back from IR that first game of the playoffs, that would be one of his first games in that wild card. That first game of the playoffs, that would be one of his first games in that wild card, that first round you can put another guy on IR with anticipation of that guy coming back. That fourth game or two, up to two players you can do that with. So, which I'm with, because it doesn't just leave you with empty roster spots.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know what I mean. To where you got a guy come back from now. You could have put you know what I mean. To where you got a guy come back from now. You could have put you know two potential uh players in there and helped you out. And you know as far as depth in the playoffs, um, I like that rule too, um, and it happens in the offseason too. So if you get somebody to go on ir in the offseason, you can still sign two guys that they gonna come to come back within a couple of first games of the season. Did not approve Detroit's proposal to eliminate automatic first down penalties imposed for defensive holding and illegal contact.
Speaker 3:Crazy. I actually that one. I'll be honest with you, though. I understand where they're coming from on that.
Speaker 2:Yes, but they're the only. They proposed this because they were the most penalized team in that department. We didn't have to say it, though, man. Yes, we did, yeah, we did.
Speaker 3:Hey, I found that out as soon as I read it. Whoever was who was putting out the info said they are also the most penalized man. I couldn't help but laugh.
Speaker 2:But with that though, like I mean, I think it keeps from calling a whole bunch of pass interferences. Yeah, um, you know, because I mean most of the time you get defensive holding in illegal contact, it's usually on dbs or or linebackers down the field, so that just eliminates. All they're gonna do is, if they take that out, all they're gonna do is call a bunch of pass interferences. It's going to be 15, 20 yards. You know, spot of the foul. You don't want that. So I think this is a way to say if it's not egregious, we can give them five yards in the first down. Yeah, so yeah.
Speaker 3:Here's my thing, though even with that. So like now, this is different than that rule. So Now this is different than that rule. So please understand where I'm coming from. But part of my issue with the NFL and where it was the disappointment of hearing this did not get brought up. They got to chill on these hits to the head. On the quarterback rules yes, they got to fix that. They got to fix that. To me, that's one of the biggest issues in the NFL that almost make it unwatchable in some games. That and In the slide, in the slide, yeah, I'll say this If a quarterback does not slide, I don't care if they're running out of bounds or not. They free hit, I don't care where they are.
Speaker 2:I agree with that. If they fake slide after that, they're fair game. That's a penalty.
Speaker 3:Or a penalty. I was going to say penalized offense. If he fakes, slide the loss of all the points.
Speaker 2:Replay the down.
Speaker 3:I don't even say replay, it's a 10-yard, 5-yard penalty. Whatever it is, it's a penalty, you move them back. You move them back and a loss of a down Make it harsh, because those penalties change the game the Josh Allens, the Lamar Jacksons, the Patrick Mahomes, the guys who run more, patrick and Josh.
Speaker 3:Lamar's fine. They don't give Lamar calls. That's the funny thing. They don't give him calls. Patrick Mahomes. You look at him sideways and that ref looking like go ahead and get too close, I'm going to blow this whistle. They don't give Lamar calls that's the funny thing. They don't give him calls. Patrick Mahomes. You look at him sideways and that ref looking like go ahead and get too close, I'm going to blow this whistle on you.
Speaker 2:I agree with that. I figure, hey look, there's no fake sliding. If you're heading towards out of bounds, go out of bounds. No juking, no running back moves, nope.
Speaker 3:You're fair. I mean you're fair game If you do you're just fair game At any point.
Speaker 2:Yeah right, If you juke stiff, arm any of those things as a QB running, then we can do that.
Speaker 3:Yep, Yep, that's just how I look at it. To me, that's just how I look at it. I just think that that makes the most sense. Most sense, if you ask me, is you need to look at it that way, in that manner?
Speaker 2:And I'm surprised nobody brought it up. That's, that's crazy.
Speaker 3:That's what I'm saying, like, but no one brought it up, no one.
Speaker 2:But I think also with that too is like, I think it's kind of. I think teams are looking at it as a catch-22. It's like, yeah, if we propose this, we also put our quarterback at risk too.
Speaker 3:True, but here's the thing If you know you don't have a quarterback who abuses the rule, you really shouldn't worry about it too much.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but you never know when you're going to need the rule, and I think that's what everybody's scared of.
Speaker 3:I mean, you're right, I'm sure. Look, I'll be honest. I'm sure you are 100% right on that.
Speaker 2:Because, I've looked at it and I think about Anthony Richardson, yeah.
Speaker 3:I never know when I'm going to need the rule. Here's my thing, though if you know what's there and that's in place, you just need to make sure that you tell. You, tell that coach, you tell that player, whomever like hey, hey, uh-uh, no, no, you slide. But I also think our quarterbacks.
Speaker 2:Don't mind getting hit, like I don't think anthony richardson shows he's on mind getting hit josh allen don't mind getting it like you know more.
Speaker 2:Like those guys don't mind taking a hit. If it me't mind getting hit, yeah, lamar, those guys don't mind taking a hit. If it's one or two yards and they know they're going to get the first down, they'll lower their shoulder and get the first down, or make the attempt anyway. Patrick Mahomes abuses it way too much. I've seen Kyler Murray do it a lot. The fake yes, I've seen him. He's done it a lot. Most of Um. The fake yes, I see him, he's done it a lot. Um. Most of the time he outruns people, but I've seen him close to the sideline and cut back up cut back up Uh you get his little book.
Speaker 3:One good time, guess what? Yeah, yeah. I won't be doing that again.
Speaker 2:Put it, go ahead and put some put put a little bit of that, that heat on him one good time.
Speaker 2:And last but not least, uh, they announced the use of uh sony's hawkeye technology to marriage their first downs now.
Speaker 2:So, uh, I think we heard about this, they talked about it towards the end of last season about getting rid of the chain game, um, and doing digital uh first downs. Uh, not totally against, I just think they're not going to have them on the sideline. I think, for situations as far as measurements, like you know, when a team asks for a measurement, I think they'll bring them out for that, but they're just not going to be up and down the sidelines, which I kind of agree, because a lot of them guys have been getting hurt, people have been running into them. You know what I mean. Like, when you play these go-tours out of bounds, players can't stop, they're running into him. I agree with that. I think, if it's accurate, we already see it at home with the digital lines and stuff like that. But to do it real time, I want to see how that looks and how that works, because you've got a few times to mess it up and teams are going to be pissed.
Speaker 3:Oh, for sure.
Speaker 2:For sure.
Speaker 3:It's going to give them something else to complain about you know what?
Speaker 3:I'm saying at the end of the day. So, like you said, we'll see where it goes. The good thing is they're going to have the chain game. There still is backup. But like I'm curious myself to kind of, can I say this man and I'm all for advancement of sports, but it doesn't it kind of take away when everything goes through, technology doing everything for you, um, humans, you miss calls, it happens. You, you miss a measurement here, it happens. Um, like I don't know, I guess, like I'm just curious to see how far we go with this. Uh, when, when do they start putting chips in the football so that you don't have to guess anymore when the football crosses the line? You know it's just gonna, it's just gonna like go off or something. There's going to be a, a alert that goes off and says, hey, you know, the ball crossed the ball across the plane. That's the type of stuff where not that I'm against it, but it's like man, we're just really getting into some interesting territory, to say the least.
Speaker 2:No, I agree. I just think I look at it from a job standpoint. I think the game would be better if the NFL employees are full time. Yes, oh, yeah, you know what I mean. Like you would get better quality, you know, from the refs.
Speaker 2:Uh, like you said, chain gang, uh, things of that nature, like all the way around, I I think, with being a part, like working for the nfl as a ref, part-time, um, and not being your full-time job, like is it that important? You know what I mean. Like, do the refs care? You know what I mean, enough to get it right for it to matter, knowing that, hey look, you know the other. You know eight months of the year I'm working somewhere else and doing something else. You know what I mean. So mean I say, if anything, make them full-time employees, off-season training. You know what I mean. It's a bunch of things you can do to justify the cost. Billions of dollars. You pay them $70,000, $80,000 a year. I don't think that's outrageous for a referee, for what they do, running up and down the field making calls, especially when they have to deal with death threats and everything else you know what I mean.
Speaker 3:That's what I'm saying.
Speaker 2:I mean like a full-time wage, a full-time living wage. I don't think that's crazy. No, it's not. And even if you do it based on where they live, you know the games they call playoff. You know based on, you know percentage of right calls, get playoff games bonuses. You know reviews at the end of the year hey, look, you know bad calls, good calls, you know what I mean and reward them for making the right calls.
Speaker 2:Yep, um, I don't see. I see all that, as you know. Do it like contracts. You know what I mean. Put it clauses in there, you know. Hey, you know if you, if you have a 90% uh, you know good call rate, you know what I mean you get extra whatever 4,000, you know whatever, however, it works out. I think there's a way to do that and make it beneficial for the game and the refs, because I think they get an unfair shake a lot of times Because, like you said, human error is human error and that's when you bring technology in. Hey, if you believe a call is missed and I think they did a little bit of it last year You've seen things Some calls kind of changed. You know what I mean before the next play, keep that going and maybe do more of that. Replays become faster. You got to get faster on replays when you go into that booth.
Speaker 2:It shouldn't take that long. No, we as spectators shouldn't know the right call before y'all come out.
Speaker 3:I mean not a half an hour before. It's like by the time y'all go in when we see it.
Speaker 2:We already seen the replay seven times. We done heard from New York. We done got the rulings, the rule book and everything, before y'all come out the tent and tell us.
Speaker 3:And I know they always be like well, they don't get to see it as fast as you guys. Like I get all that, but y'all need to. Exactly y'all got to speed that up because there's no reason we should. We should see it from 10 different angles by the time. You know og get in there to start looking at it and then still don't have a ruling for 10 minutes. And sometimes the stuff be clear as day and it'd be like well, why is it taking them so long to figure out that this is clear as day? Like why are we still out here watching this replay for the 1300th time and these fools still can't figure it out? I don't get it.
Speaker 2:I agree. The networks can replay, zoom in all these things instantly. Then within a minute we're already hearing from New York. It should take less than five minutes to correct the call or confirm the call is right yep, so the funny thing is new york step in any other time.
Speaker 3:So so what's the problem? You know what I'm saying, like, what's what we're talking about? Why is there? Why is there such an issue? Or why is it taking so long to get stuff done at the end of the day? Because it really shouldn't.
Speaker 2:I agree, I agree with that man, but I'm against all things to advance the game, to make it better for it and safer. Yeah, yeah, but that's all I got, man. That's it, man. Anything else. Before we get out of here, anything on nothing new on the boxing scene that we need to know about.
Speaker 3:Yep. So Abdullah Mason, he fights this Saturday. That's the youngster I was telling you about. He's definitely worth watching. He fights on Saturday Next week. Well, I don't know if that fight's still on. I think I heard it got canceled. But Jerron Ennis or people know him as Boots he had a fight coming up on the 12th, but I want to say I heard it just got canceled.
Speaker 2:Let's look. I'm going to look at the schedule right now For April 12th. It was 12th Jerron Ennis Hold on this is why 12th dry in this hold on this is why is this not showing me right? April, okay, here we go. Here we go. April 5th you said what's the, what's the guy name?
Speaker 3:no.
Speaker 2:April 5th is Abdullah Mason okay, okay okay, I see, okay, abdullah Mason, okay, cool. And versus a Carlos Ornelas, yep. And then.
Speaker 3:April 12th was when boots was supposed to fight versus Carlos Ornelas Yep. And then April 12th was when Boots was supposed to fight, but I want to say I heard that one got canceled.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I don't see him on the. Yeah, no.
Speaker 3:I want to say it got canceled then, which is an unfortunate thing? Yep, unfortunate thing, I will say.
Speaker 2:But we'll definitely tune in to the fight on April 5th. Definitely check out your guy Mason.
Speaker 3:Yeah he's worth the watch, you won't be disappointed. A youngster man, disappointing youngster man, and I'll say a youngster with a lot of pop, a lot of speed. Like I said, I think I told you all last time he's a guy, I think, that's going to end up challenging. When it's all said and done. You start talking about the 130, 135, even 140 weight division. He may be the one standing at the end of it all and I mean that, okay, yeah, because he's in light weight. Yep, he's that talented, he is that talented. He might be the one standing when it's all said and done. It might not be Gervonta, it might not be none of them. You might be like who's this kid? Abdullah Mason, where'd he come from?
Speaker 2:Okay, I'll definitely tune in in that fight. Yeah, look like no championships on this fight, nah.
Speaker 3:Nah, but I'll tell you now he's worth all the action and they're probably starting to try to test to see how viewership does with him.
Speaker 3:Okay, try to test to see how he, um, how viewership does with him. Because he's, because I think he's about, he's the, he's that person that's probably about ready to do. Um, all right, let's, let's start putting towards the top of a pay-per-view sales type guy, um, he, he, he's, he's aiming and getting to that point. So I'd be very curious to see, like I said, where some of this stuff starts to land. Be very curious to see where it starts to land and kind of where things go Now. With that being said, only other thing I wanted to bring up to you is, in the end of the first half, steph Curry got eight threes in the first half, jeez, yep. So, and don't forget, the record is 14, I think Clay. So he would be on pace to break it at this pace.
Speaker 1:So just, one of those two Against Memphis.
Speaker 3:Yeah, we're not going to say Look, I ain't going to keep saying their name. All I'm going to say is they may get what they asked for, but it might not be exactly what they thought it was. Just say it that way.
Speaker 2:All right man.
Speaker 3:I'm at luck, I'm gonna just leave it at that. And they, they, they. We know what they asked for, but what they asked for might not be what they really thought it was.
Speaker 2:So fair, fair enough, Fair enough man.
Speaker 3:So we'll see. We'll see, we'll see man, but uh, but yeah, that's it though, bro, that's it all right, man.
Speaker 2:Well, with that being said, man, this has been the epic podcast. Man, like, share, subscribe, check us out on youtube epic podcast, epic sports podcast. Um. Check us out on uh tiktok all our clips and things on tiktok at the epic sports podcast. Uh, facebook group, facebook page, all those things, man. We are on every platform Instagram, epic Sports Podcast. Check us out, man, check out our clips if you're not able to watch the show, man, and we will be back next week, man.
Speaker 3:Yep, we appreciate everybody sharing.
Speaker 2:Appreciate it, appreciate y'all, catch y'all next week.