Las Vegas Raiders Insider Podcast explores the future of the Silver and Black, NFL Playoffs, and much more on our latest episode.
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00:00 Hi everybody this is Hondo
00:04 Carpenter from Sports
00:04 Illustrated's Fan Nation Las
00:06 Vegas Raiders insider podcast
00:08 joined as I am each and every
00:09 week by my dear friend the
00:10 editor and publisher of the
00:11 Spun dot com.
00:12 The one and only the great Matt
00:14 Hladik.
00:14 Matt how you doing friend.
00:16 I'm doing well.
00:17 Hondo is good to be talking
00:20 some ball with you.
00:20 I can't believe we're talking
00:22 about the playoffs already.
00:23 Does it not just seem like
00:25 yesterday we were talking about
00:26 thank God it's the start of
00:28 the OTAs.
00:30 I'm being completely serious.
00:31 I was on the airplane.
00:33 I was on the airplane last
00:34 night and just you know how you
00:37 do sometimes in your mind it's
00:39 super late you're catching a
00:40 red eye and I was just thinking
00:44 where did this year go.
00:45 I mean it just it just goes by
00:48 so fast I've never seen like it
00:50 the NFL football season as long
00:53 as it is goes by so fast
00:54 doesn't it.
00:56 It does.
00:57 But I think that football in
00:59 general NFL and college
01:02 especially NFL with how
01:03 year-round it is the build up
01:06 in the anticipation of the
01:08 season seems like it's lasting
01:11 forever.
01:11 And then the season goes by
01:13 like this.
01:14 And listen you're talking about
01:15 18 weeks four and a half months
01:17 basically and 17 games.
01:22 But they just they fly by and
01:24 next thing you know you're
01:25 you're sitting here like we are
01:26 in January.
01:27 And you're talking about you
01:28 know breaking down the road to
01:29 the Super Bowl.
01:31 I was talking yesterday with a
01:36 significant NFL player and we
01:39 were just talking about you
01:41 know how fast the season's over
01:42 or whatever.
01:43 And he mentioned to me well
01:47 actually I mentioned to him I
01:48 said you know would you like to
01:49 see more games added.
01:52 And he said yeah I would like to
01:54 see.
01:55 Let's just get rid of
01:56 preseason games and just add
01:58 three more games.
01:59 He goes but to do that you've
02:01 got to expand the roster.
02:02 We can't add any more without a
02:04 bigger roster.
02:05 And he goes it's just it's just
02:07 too physically demanding.
02:10 He goes if you made the three
02:13 preseason games regular season
02:15 games and you expanded the
02:17 roster instead let's say from
02:18 53 to 60 or even 63.
02:22 He said and just made all the
02:24 practice squad guys part of the
02:27 team every week.
02:29 He said I would.
02:31 He goes but no more than that.
02:33 It's just he goes it's just too
02:35 physically demanding.
02:36 And I agree with him by the way.
02:37 But here was my thought that got
02:39 me thinking on the airplane last
02:41 night.
02:42 I think one of the reasons
02:43 Christmas is such a popular
02:45 holiday is that it's only once a
02:47 year.
02:49 Excuse me.
02:50 Only once a year.
02:51 So there's a huge anticipation
02:54 and then it seems like Christmas
02:56 is over.
02:58 I I don't I'm not a baseball fan.
03:03 I used to be you know grew up in
03:05 Michigan Sparky Anderson you
03:08 know the Tigers all of that but
03:11 baseball lost me baseball moved
03:13 away from me.
03:15 And so they lost me.
03:18 But I too much more than maybe
03:21 taking away the preseason games.
03:23 I think football's in danger of
03:26 saturating too much.
03:27 Right or wrong.
03:31 You know I don't know because I
03:33 just think that the league is so
03:35 popular.
03:36 We talk about it now all the
03:38 time on here how it's just it's
03:41 a year round entity and it goes
03:43 right from the regular season to
03:48 simultaneously the postseason for
03:50 14 teams right now.
03:53 But it's also the coaching
03:54 carousel for the 18 teams that
03:57 didn't make the playoffs for
04:00 some of them not all of them are
04:01 looking for head coach but some
04:02 are looking for coordinators
04:03 things like that.
04:04 It's draft season for some of
04:05 those teams already as fans are
04:07 starting to talk about mocks and
04:08 all those type of things and who
04:10 they can pick pretty soon it'll
04:12 be the combine it'll be
04:14 everything else.
04:15 So you know I don't know I think
04:18 the NFL has got a pretty good
04:19 thing going for it.
04:20 I think that the people that are
04:22 fans of football really like the
04:26 you know really like what's what
04:27 football has to offer and they
04:29 are you know they're not
04:31 complaining.
04:33 So let me throw this to you in a
04:35 different angle then I was
04:36 talking to Warren Spahn I've seen
04:39 no longer with us but the
04:41 tremendous Hall of Fame baseball
04:43 pitcher once and we were talking
04:47 about baseball and professional
04:51 baseball and and I had mentioned
04:54 to him at that point I hadn't
04:55 completely turned my back on
04:56 baseball but I was headed in
04:58 that direction and he talked
05:00 about when he was coming up as a
05:02 pitcher there was none of this
05:04 pitch count there was none of
05:07 this you know OK I'm going to
05:09 take you out because you can't
05:11 finish a game you were given the
05:13 baseball and you were told go
05:14 pitch he goes go back and look
05:17 at how many innings we pitched
05:18 or how many pitches we threw
05:21 compared to modern day and he
05:23 made a statement and this is
05:26 where I'm going with this that
05:28 stats today you know this was
05:31 several years ago but still
05:33 aren't like they used to be
05:34 because there was a lot less
05:36 teams so there are a lot of guys
05:38 who back in his day would be in
05:40 the minor leagues that are stars
05:42 allegedly now and it's diluted
05:45 the thing my whole concern is
05:47 take away the three preseason
05:50 games and make them regular
05:51 season I'm fine with that if
05:52 that's what the players and
05:53 everybody agree on let's do 20
05:54 games but no preseason but
05:57 expanding more than that I think
05:59 there's a there's a chance of
06:01 diluting the product and you
06:05 still say no bueno on that you
06:07 don't agree no I that I agree
06:09 with I think diluting the
06:10 interest is where I just I think
06:11 the interest will be there
06:13 regardless but I don't want the
06:15 product the product the product
06:17 yes I think because even with
06:19 this extra game added now and
06:22 the reduction of preseason I
06:23 think you see the first month or
06:25 so as he gets a little sloppy
06:27 and the product is a little it
06:29 was a little shaky early on so I
06:31 think you would see that the
06:33 interest level I don't know if
06:34 there's anything you can do to
06:36 dilute its interest level but
06:38 the product yes like that I
06:39 would agree.
06:40 You had an NFL general manager
06:43 once tell me this and I I think
06:45 it's brilliant I never thought
06:47 of it he said there are eight
06:50 teams in the NFL every year who
06:53 are 100 percent convinced
06:54 they've got their quarterback to
06:56 go in a Super Bowl then there
06:58 are eight teams that are hoping
07:02 they've got that quarterback to
07:04 go get him to the Super Bowl
07:06 then there are 16 teams looking
07:10 for one of those 16 I thought
07:11 that was brilliant analysis and
07:14 if this is where I'm concerned
07:15 about don't add any more teams
07:17 because there's already at least
07:20 half if not more that have
07:22 quarterbacks that shouldn't even
07:24 be on an NFL team and if you
07:27 keep adding teams you're going
07:29 to dilute the thing until stats
07:30 no longer matter.
07:31 Right and you look at this year
07:34 there was a lot of injuries and
07:35 a lot of quarterback injuries we
07:37 saw this year which is the last
07:40 thing that the league wants I
07:41 mean you look at how many big
07:44 name QBs or you know what
07:48 quality starting quarterbacks
07:50 miss excuse me significant time
07:53 this year whether it was our
07:55 Rogers Joe Burrow Kirk cousins
07:58 you know I know I'm missing some
08:01 others for sure but there was
08:03 just a ton of injuries at the
08:05 QB position which is the last
08:07 place the league wants guys
08:09 get hurt because they really
08:10 control more so than anybody
08:12 else the quality of the product
08:13 in the field.
08:14 Sure do.
08:15 So yeah I think that that's
08:18 where we become problematic if
08:19 the league expanded too much.
08:21 Yeah.
08:22 And you want to know something.
08:23 So TJ Duckett who you know the
08:25 first one draft pick of the
08:27 Atlanta Falcons big monster
08:30 running back part of my family
08:32 now so I'm a little bit biased I
08:33 love the guy but ran a four four
08:36 four three forty and I'll never
08:40 forget I was talking to him
08:42 after I think it was after his
08:45 rookie season may have been
08:46 after a sophomore year but in
08:48 the NFL his second year and I
08:50 asked him what's the biggest
08:51 jump from college to the NFL and
08:55 he said I'll never forget it
08:56 first day tackling in training
08:58 camp rookie season I take the
09:01 ball I go on a sweep and I got
09:04 tackled and I looked around and
09:05 I'm going to I'm going to tell
09:06 the story a little bit different
09:08 just for the sake of keeping it
09:11 clean he goes I turned around
09:13 who tackled me and here's a
09:16 defensive line he goes I had
09:18 never been tackled been caught
09:21 by a defensive lineman obviously
09:22 going up the middle he'd been
09:23 tackled he goes and I realize
09:25 man this level everybody's fast
09:28 and I'm just I don't want him to
09:30 dilute the product I love the
09:31 NFL and for a long time I loved
09:35 college football but college
09:37 football now has turned itself
09:39 into the pros so if I'm going to
09:40 turn it I still like it but not
09:42 like I used to and I love the
09:46 NFL I just love it all right
09:48 let's go to the to the Raiders
09:49 now lot to talk about here as
09:53 you saw I put the story out last
09:55 night I was talking to a Giants
09:57 executive that said if the
09:59 Raiders don't hire AP he'd be
10:01 right on near the top of the
10:03 list for the D.C. and with the
10:05 Giants Antonio Pierce tremendous
10:10 football coach extremely smart
10:14 very I laugh that people talk
10:16 about him not being you know all
10:19 X's and O's I've made the
10:20 comment your head coach doesn't
10:22 have to be Mr. X's and O's
10:24 meaning breaking down an
10:25 offense breaking down a defense
10:27 but this man knows the game as
10:28 good as anybody he gets it he
10:31 understands he may not know all
10:32 the X's and O's about offense
10:35 but for all those years on
10:36 defense he knows what offenses
10:37 look like and even though he's a
10:39 defensive coach it's just
10:40 foolishness he's very smart he
10:44 gets the game he's a he's a he's
10:46 a film hawk talk about the job
10:49 you think he did finishing five
10:51 and four in the job you think he
10:52 did as the interim coach of the
10:53 Raiders.
10:55 Well I think that we've talked
10:56 about it all the time on here I
10:59 think he's done enough at least
11:01 looking at it from an outside
11:03 perspective and from a big
11:04 picture perspective I think he
11:06 did enough to earn a look as the
11:08 permanent guy and I thought that
11:10 I'd be consistent with saying
11:11 this I think that when you look
11:14 at what happened two years ago
11:16 when Mark Davis didn't hire
11:18 Richard Basak who had a lot of
11:20 support among Raider fans or
11:22 Raider players and he went out
11:24 he you know it's just wagging
11:26 the Josh Daniels and it didn't
11:27 work out now you put yourself in
11:30 a position where you have to
11:32 nail this higher period.
11:35 If you go away from the popular
11:37 interim head coach and you
11:39 bring in an outsider whether
11:41 it's you know you talked about
11:43 last week Jim Harbaugh we
11:45 talked about you talked about if
11:48 he ever went back to John
11:49 Gruden if it was a possibility
11:51 anything like that if you bring
11:52 in a guy like that it had better
11:55 work out and it had better work
11:57 out resoundingly and pretty
12:00 quickly as well because Antonio
12:02 Pierce I think listen has he
12:04 is there stuff he's still got to
12:06 learn I'm sure yes you know you
12:07 don't know everything you know
12:09 as NFL head coach through nine
12:10 games whether either nine games
12:12 is the permanent head coach of
12:13 the interim head coach but he
12:15 does he did show a lot of the
12:17 significant support of his
12:18 players he got his guys to buy
12:21 in and believe and play hard.
12:25 Like you mentioned with the
12:26 Giants at the beginning of the
12:27 segment I would I would
12:30 definitely be interested in
12:32 seeing him interview or be
12:33 candidate for the Giants D.C.
12:35 job if the Raiders don't hire
12:36 him because I think that he
12:37 would bring a lot to the table.
12:42 He doesn't have the D.C.
12:43 experience that Wink Martindale
12:45 had obviously but he does have
12:47 that defensive now is that
12:49 intensity that accountability
12:50 that he bring which would which
12:52 would be he was a coordinator
12:53 Arizona State he was a
12:54 coordinator right.
12:55 But that NFL experience I mean
12:57 it went right.
12:58 No you're absolutely right.
12:59 But he's done it before.
13:01 Like you said and he does bring
13:04 that element of I've been a pro
13:07 in New York I've won a Super
13:08 Bowl in New York.
13:10 It would be you know it would
13:12 win the PR.
13:13 It would be an exciting hire for
13:15 Giants fans definitely.
13:16 But I think he deserves a shot
13:17 Vegas full time.
13:20 And if you bring him into New
13:22 York you've got your next coach.
13:26 Yeah it's possible.
13:29 Yeah.
13:29 I mean to me this is a no
13:32 brainer for the Raiders.
13:34 But if the Raiders somehow Mark
13:38 Davis decides I want to do
13:39 something else.
13:41 His team do whatever he wants.
13:43 He doesn't need my opinion
13:44 didn't care what I think.
13:46 If I'm the Giants I have a jet
13:48 waiting in Vegas.
13:50 The moment my moment Mark Davis
13:51 says you're not the guy there.
13:54 If I'm the right if I'm the
13:55 Giants I make the move now.
13:57 And just go make him your head
13:58 good but I get it.
13:59 Total sense.
14:00 So let's talk about the Raiders
14:03 in general.
14:06 You look at all of the weapons
14:08 and there's a lot of Michael
14:09 Mayer really an emerging tight
14:11 end.
14:12 You got Colton Miller who's
14:14 very very good offensive lineman
14:16 Dylan Parham is a very very good
14:18 offensive.
14:19 They've got it.
14:20 They've got an offensive line
14:22 that's not terrible in the least
14:23 bit.
14:25 Are they elite.
14:27 All of them as a unit.
14:28 No.
14:29 I mean Greg Van Roten played so
14:31 well but he's older.
14:33 He's at the end of his career and
14:34 they would like to go a little
14:36 bit.
14:45 But they like to upgrade.
14:47 Yes.
14:47 But still you've got a couple of
14:49 stars and Parham and Colton
14:51 Miller.
14:54 You obviously have Devante
14:56 under contract to Kobe Myers
14:58 under contract.
15:00 I anticipate Hunter Renfroe
15:02 probably moving on Josh Jacobs
15:05 if AP
15:08 doesn't get the job I expect him
15:09 to move on.
15:11 But you know they got Zamir
15:12 White who looks phenomenal
15:13 coming along go to the other
15:14 side of the ball.
15:15 You got Robert Spillane who got
15:17 Rob should have been an all
15:18 pro.
15:19 He got Rob but he's a linebacker
15:21 he's he's great.
15:22 Divine Diablo is a guy coming
15:25 getting better all the time
15:26 Coons and Crosby are there.
15:29 You got some really good
15:30 interior defensive lineman.
15:32 You know you look at a Nate
15:33 Hobbs you look at a Jack Jones
15:36 look at the youth in the
15:37 secondary they're coming.
15:38 Patrick Graham he doesn't get a
15:40 head coaching job.
15:42 He'd be there with AP.
15:44 There's a lot on this team.
15:47 This is not a rebuild regardless
15:49 of who the coach is.
15:51 It's not a rebuild in my opinion
15:53 you got the best punter the best
15:54 kicker got a terrific long
15:56 snapper you're solid on defense
15:58 solid on special teams and a lot
16:03 of weapons to become solid on
16:05 offense where am I wrong.
16:08 No I agree I think that next
16:10 year especially when you look at
16:13 improving by two games this year
16:15 from 2020 to eight nine.
16:21 You know I think that the
16:22 possibility is there for a 10
16:25 and 7 season or better next year
16:28 to be in the hunt for the
16:29 playoffs.
16:30 I think that you know with the
16:32 right hire the right offseason
16:35 moves in development this can be
16:37 a playoff team next year.
16:41 You know it's not it's not
16:43 obviously you said it's not a
16:45 tear down it's not a rebuild
16:46 there's some pieces in place and
16:50 you know I mean the only the
16:52 only thing I could see them
16:54 doing in terms of a rebuilding
16:57 move we're building tight move
17:00 is like you said if the Jets
17:02 are willing to offer an
17:04 exorbitant amount for Devontae
17:06 Adams you might have to take it
17:09 as good as he is just because it
17:10 would be too good to pass up.
17:12 But if they don't then you still
17:13 have one of the best receivers
17:14 in football on your roster next
17:16 year.
17:17 Obviously the quarterback
17:18 position needs to be shaken out.
17:20 Are you going in O'Connell as
17:21 your starter.
17:22 Are you going to take a guy this
17:24 year in the draft.
17:25 Are you going to do something
17:26 else with the position.
17:28 You'll see.
17:29 But I think that there's enough
17:31 talent on the roster and it's
17:33 the roster is showing enough.
17:35 This year in the second half of
17:38 the season under Antonio Pierce
17:39 to say that OK.
17:42 Regardless of who the head
17:42 coach is next year there's a
17:45 possible playoff team in the mix
17:47 here.
17:48 Tell you Matt if they.
17:51 Move away from.
17:57 A.P.
17:58 And I don't care who the coaches
18:00 it can be Gruden it could be
18:01 Harbaugh whomever.
18:03 And let's make no mistake.
18:05 It's a it's a two horse race.
18:09 If there is a third candidate it
18:11 would be John Gruden but it's a
18:13 two horse race it's Harbaugh
18:14 AP.
18:16 They're going to be an element
18:18 of rebuild.
18:19 That's just.
18:20 And that's not a slam on Gruden
18:23 or Harbaugh.
18:25 You're going to come in with
18:26 your system what you want to do
18:29 that.
18:30 I've had someone say to me are
18:31 you.
18:32 It's almost like it sounds like
18:33 you're trying to threaten the
18:34 ramming trying to threaten the
18:35 Raiders.
18:35 That's a reality.
18:37 Anytime.
18:39 This is what I said when Rich
18:40 Versace was there.
18:42 And you may remember I asked
18:44 Mark Davis is this a rebuild.
18:47 No.
18:48 OK.
18:49 Because I said at the time that
18:51 any time you bring in a new
18:52 coaches there's going to be an
18:53 element of a rebuild.
18:55 I'm going to say this to you
18:56 Matt.
18:56 These fans and you remember
18:59 because you and I've been
19:00 friends for nearly two decades.
19:04 Decade and a half.
19:07 I told you when I came out here
19:09 I'm really anxious to kind of
19:10 get to know this fan base.
19:11 I heard a lot about him.
19:13 I know him now.
19:15 I know him now.
19:16 And the parking lots when
19:18 they're tailgating I'm talking
19:20 to him I'm interacting with
19:21 them.
19:23 Their their reputation is so
19:25 unfair.
19:26 They don't care.
19:27 They're glad that people think
19:29 they're a bunch of thugs.
19:31 But it's just you could be out
19:33 in there.
19:33 This is the funny thing I've
19:34 learned about these people.
19:37 They don't care if you're a
19:38 Republican or Democrat.
19:40 They don't care what color you
19:41 are.
19:42 They don't care about your
19:44 gender.
19:45 They don't care about anything
19:46 else.
19:47 They don't care why you're
19:48 silver and black.
19:49 That's all they care about.
19:51 And you can go find a rich
19:53 doctor and a guy on Social
19:56 Security that disagree on
19:59 everything.
20:00 Hanging out with each other
20:01 having a drink eating a rib.
20:03 I mean it's just amazing.
20:06 They deserve better than what
20:09 their franchise has given them.
20:11 They deserve better than what
20:13 the Raiders have done for them.
20:14 And the Raiders motto that they
20:16 just win baby.
20:17 You've had two coaches who took
20:19 you to the playoffs.
20:19 You fired them both.
20:22 Let's talk about the fans
20:23 perspective.
20:23 This is one of the best fan
20:25 bases in all of professional
20:27 sports and they deserve better.
20:29 They don't deserve to go through
20:31 another rebuild.
20:32 Am I right or wrong.
20:33 It's a really loyal fan base.
20:35 Like you said it's a fan base
20:37 that is is with the
20:38 organization with team through
20:41 thick and thin.
20:43 I see it every week just by
20:44 looking on the you know your
20:46 Facebook page.
20:47 Orator nation.
20:49 You know what people are saying
20:51 and they're still wearing black
20:52 going through but they're
20:53 getting frustrated.
20:54 You know this is now two decades
20:56 of kind of instability and a lot
21:00 of losing and no real vision and
21:04 consistent foundation.
21:06 So I think that's what the
21:07 Raiders are looking for.
21:09 They're looking to kind of get
21:10 back to you know what they had
21:13 obviously.
21:13 Now they haven't won a Super
21:15 Bowl in 40 years.
21:17 But if you look at the two
21:19 decades from.
21:21 A four after the last Super
21:23 Bowl through the 2002 season so
21:26 a little less than two decades
21:28 they had experienced some
21:29 success in the back half of the
21:30 80s they were in the playoffs
21:33 multiple times in the 90s they
21:35 had a few playoff appearances
21:37 and you know there were a couple
21:38 of scenes but they missed the
21:39 playoffs but they were you know
21:40 five hundred nine and seven they
21:42 were in the mix.
21:43 Things really didn't start
21:45 to fall apart until 2003 after
21:47 the Super Bowl lost to Tampa
21:48 Bay.
21:50 And I think that the fans they
21:53 deserve better.
21:53 Any fan base that's dealt with
21:56 that kind of long standing
21:58 ineptitude or struggles is going
22:00 to get frustrated and deserves
22:03 better.
22:03 I think the Raiders especially
22:05 when you look at how loyal and
22:07 how passionate and how just
22:10 expansive the fan base is
22:12 because it goes from coast to
22:13 coast and in foreign countries
22:16 to around the world.
22:17 Yeah it's it's a fan base that's
22:19 deserving of a consistent
22:21 product consistent consistent
22:24 good product consistent winner.
22:27 Yeah I agree with you.
22:28 All right.
22:29 I want to go on a little bit of
22:31 a different direction still
22:32 talking Raiders.
22:33 Oh by the way I got to tell you
22:36 so I'm out in the parking lots
22:37 at the tailgates on Sunday and
22:42 I had this guy come up to me and
22:44 I don't remember his name was
22:46 Raider something because
22:47 everybody's Raider something
22:49 and super nice guy older guy
22:53 and I wish I could remember his
22:55 name.
22:55 I'm sorry but walks up to me and
22:58 he goes I love your podcast.
23:01 And I said thank you.
23:02 He goes watch it every week.
23:03 I said thank you.
23:04 He goes I want to describe Raider
23:08 nation to you.
23:10 I'm like OK.
23:12 So here's probably five foot
23:14 six.
23:14 So obviously standing next to me
23:17 and I go OK.
23:17 But he's super intense man.
23:19 I was so funny.
23:21 He goes we're like that lady
23:24 that's the best wife in the
23:26 world.
23:30 And all her idiot husband does
23:32 is cheat on her.
23:35 All right.
23:36 And we still stay faithful.
23:41 And I'm like wow.
23:43 And then he mentioned a Denzel
23:44 Washington movie which I don't
23:47 remember which one it was but
23:48 evidently there's a scene in the
23:49 movie where his wife basically
23:51 says you know you've been a
23:52 cheater and you've been on it.
23:54 He goes in Denzel's wife's
23:56 telling him you're a cheater
23:57 you're this but I've always
23:58 stayed faithful to you.
24:00 I don't know what movie that was
24:01 and I've watched I think I've
24:02 seen every Denzel Washington
24:03 movie so I don't.
24:05 But that's what he said.
24:05 So I'm telling you he goes
24:08 we're them.
24:10 You've cheated on us you do
24:11 but guess what we're here.
24:12 I'm here to Josh McDaniels.
24:15 I mean it was just he was so
24:17 intense it was just awesome.
24:20 And that's them Matt.
24:21 I mean they are just faithful.
24:24 They're faithful.
24:26 They are and you got to give it
24:27 to them and I think it's
24:29 something that's generational
24:31 because I think it's something
24:33 that's passed down from father
24:36 to son and mother to son and
24:37 father daughter mother daughter.
24:39 It's it's you know grandfathers
24:41 uncles everything.
24:43 It's it's extended from one
24:45 generation to the next because
24:48 you know I know even out on the
24:50 East Coast by me some of my
24:52 friends who are Raider fans are
24:53 second or third generation.
24:55 Their dad's were Raider fans
24:57 their grandparents were Raider
24:58 fans.
24:59 So they have that connection too.
25:01 So you know or you know they're
25:03 going to pass it down to their
25:04 kids.
25:06 So yeah it's it's something that
25:08 definitely has you know it's a
25:10 smash in their blood.
25:12 It's in their blood.
25:12 It's in their blood.
25:13 You know there are some people
25:15 that are fans like I'll give you
25:16 an example.
25:17 I've got a ton of relatives
25:19 being from Michigan who are
25:20 Lions fans.
25:22 OK.
25:23 And they'll wear the clothing or
25:24 whatever but if the Lions win or
25:26 lose.
25:27 Who cares.
25:28 OK.
25:29 If if if though when they're
25:32 rooting for the Super Bowl it's
25:34 OK yeah I'm going to root for
25:35 Green Bay or I'm going to root
25:36 for Chicago or I'm going to root
25:37 for whomever in the Super Bowl.
25:39 OK.
25:40 Raider fan.
25:42 We root for nobody.
25:44 I'm going to watch it because I
25:45 love football.
25:48 But no I take that back.
25:50 If Kansas City Denver or the
25:52 Chargers are playing they're
25:53 rooting for whoever's playing
25:55 them right.
25:56 Or if New England's playing
25:57 they're rooting and who's ever
25:58 playing them.
25:59 But I mean for the most part no
26:01 don't root for anyone else.
26:02 I'm a Raider man.
26:03 I just I love it.
26:04 And it's so much that my wife
26:06 after the game you're going to
26:08 appreciate this because you and
26:09 I haven't had a chance to talk.
26:10 My wife texts me either right
26:13 after the game or just at the
26:15 end and says screw it.
26:17 I know you're not a fan.
26:18 That's your job.
26:19 You're neutral.
26:21 I am.
26:22 And I'm raising decks for a
26:23 Raider fan.
26:24 I mean they got her.
26:26 They got her Matt.
26:27 And that's all.
26:29 I just think it's special.
26:30 I think it's special.
26:31 All right.
26:31 I want to go to Aiden O'Connell.
26:34 This is a young man that
26:36 finishes second highest rookie
26:38 quarterback.
26:40 I think in his last
26:43 I mean multiple games
26:45 I think of the last four games
26:47 eight touchdowns no
26:48 interceptions.
26:50 He just where there's some lacks.
26:53 Yup.
26:54 But he's also a rookie.
26:57 He died you know because you've
26:58 known me a long time and I'm not
26:59 going to change who I am.
27:01 I like my quarterback to have a
27:02 little bit of mobility.
27:05 I think he could develop that
27:07 because I've seen him at times
27:08 especially at Purdue where he
27:09 had a little bit.
27:10 He didn't use it at all but he
27:12 protects the football.
27:14 He got better.
27:15 He made wise decisions.
27:17 And I don't think you've seen
27:19 enough to say he's the next Ken
27:21 Stabler.
27:22 But I also don't think you've
27:24 seen enough to say he's not.
27:27 I think he's developed.
27:29 He's developing.
27:31 But I think there is a lot of
27:32 reasons.
27:33 Now I'm still going to go get a
27:34 quarterback in the draft and let
27:37 them compete because I think you
27:38 want that competition is good
27:40 for everybody.
27:42 But I like this kid.
27:43 I know this off the record.
27:48 Not heard one player say we got
27:50 to get another quarterback off
27:52 the record.
27:52 And I talk to a lot man I'll
27:55 tell you what I think he I think
27:56 he could be special.
27:57 I think he could do this.
27:58 He's got the cannon in the arm.
28:00 I think you get him with
28:01 somebody that can develop them.
28:03 You give him an OTA as many
28:05 camps training camps with a new
28:07 scheme.
28:08 I think there's a lot.
28:09 Again I still go get a
28:10 quarterback and let them compete.
28:15 But I think this kid has a lot
28:16 of upside and I am in no way
28:19 willing to say he's the next
28:20 Kenny Stabler but I'm in no way
28:22 willing to throw him away.
28:23 I think first of all I like him
28:24 personally but he is a kid I
28:27 think he's got a lot of
28:28 potential.
28:28 Your thoughts as an outsider
28:30 on a.
28:32 I thought he did quit himself
28:33 really well this year.
28:35 Getting thrown into the fire
28:36 midseason and you know kind of a
28:39 team that was struggling and now
28:41 now you're the guy I think at
28:43 the very least he's shown he has
28:45 a future in the league.
28:47 The Raiders slump determine what
28:48 that future is.
28:49 Is it as a high end kind of
28:51 backup cheap backup now for the
28:52 next couple of seasons.
28:54 Do they think they can make him
28:57 a quality starting quarterback.
28:59 If he's a quality starting
29:01 quarterback is he one of those
29:02 guys that you hope you can win a
29:04 Super Bowl with or is he
29:05 eventually one of those guys you
29:06 can win a Super Bowl with.
29:09 You know you got it.
29:10 That's to be determined.
29:12 I agree with you.
29:13 I think unless Antonio Pierce or
29:17 it's less Antonio Pierce is the
29:19 head coach and he's really so
29:20 that you know Kyle I would bring
29:22 in another quarterback in the
29:24 offseason.
29:26 I'm assuming that if it's Jim
29:27 Marvel or if it's John Gruden
29:29 somehow that they would want to
29:31 bring a quarterback because
29:32 they're going to look to bring
29:33 in their own guy or have some
29:35 type of competition at the
29:36 position.
29:38 So I think that what you found
29:40 is you have an asset.
29:41 It's just a matter of how much
29:42 is that asset going to grow and
29:44 what's what is its peak value
29:47 and end value going to be.
29:50 You know one of the things is I
29:52 think Aiden O'Connell would
29:54 bring in another quarterback
29:55 because you have Brian Hoyer
29:57 who's older.
29:57 You've got Jimmy Garoppolo.
29:59 I think Aiden O'Connell would
30:00 bring in another quarterback.
30:01 He's extremely comfortable in
30:03 his own skin.
30:05 I think you've got to bring him
30:07 in because you always want
30:08 competition.
30:09 Now guess what.
30:09 I'm one of these guys.
30:11 You're drafting a quarterback
30:12 every year trying to always have
30:15 competition looking because
30:16 the quarterback position is too
30:18 important to not have
30:19 competition and it's hard for
30:20 guys to go a whole season
30:21 without getting injured.
30:23 But again I I hear people say
30:26 well he sucks he's terrible.
30:28 Really?
30:29 Now I want to go to AP because I
30:31 want to talk about something in
30:34 his leadership style that I
30:35 don't think is getting any
30:37 attention.
30:39 Now in fairness I'm not watching
30:42 other podcasts or reading a
30:43 whole lot of other stuff.
30:46 So there may be people talking
30:48 about it that I'm unaware of.
30:51 So he goes to them and says
30:52 listen we didn't have OTAs.
30:55 We didn't have any camps.
30:56 We didn't have training camps.
30:57 We got here after the training
30:58 deadline and oh by the way we're
30:59 short two offensive coaches
31:01 because we let Mick Lombardi and
31:03 Josh McDaniels go.
31:05 We have to throw out a bunch of
31:06 the playbook because we don't
31:07 have the personnel.
31:09 We didn't even know it when Josh
31:10 was here.
31:13 We're going to play physical
31:14 defense.
31:16 We're going to be a really good
31:17 defense.
31:17 We're going to run the ball.
31:20 We're not going to ask Aiden to
31:22 go throw for 500 yards to beat
31:24 people but we're going to ask
31:26 him not to hurt us.
31:28 Don't throw the interceptions.
31:29 Don't make those kind of
31:30 mistakes.
31:31 And we're going to play that
31:32 kind of football.
31:34 He's got the cannon so he can go
31:36 downfield.
31:38 He's got the arm.
31:40 And so people will say well look
31:42 at he you know yeah he had a
31:43 QB rating of 110 but he only had
31:46 220 yards.
31:47 Yup.
31:47 But two TDs and no interceptions.
31:51 I thought it was brilliant when
31:53 people say yeah but he didn't do
31:55 this.
31:55 Well that wasn't what he was
31:56 asked to do.
31:57 He was asked don't lose this the
32:00 game.
32:01 If if it's third and 12 now
32:04 listen I hate it when it's third
32:06 and seven and you throw the ball
32:07 six yards.
32:08 I hate it when it's third and
32:10 five and you throw the ball
32:12 behind the line of scrimmage.
32:13 I get it.
32:14 But their belief was our
32:16 defense is good.
32:16 They're not going to score more
32:18 than twice a game on us.
32:19 So go ahead do the safe one.
32:23 Third and 12 would pick up five
32:24 will punt it.
32:24 Our defense will stop and we're
32:26 going to flip the field.
32:28 You may disagree with that
32:30 philosophy.
32:32 But it worked for the Raiders.
32:34 They finished five and four.
32:36 It worked with their young
32:38 quarterback.
32:39 I think it's an underrated X's
32:42 and O's part of AP that said
32:44 listen our motto is just not
32:46 just win.
32:46 It's just win baby.
32:48 It's not just look sexy.
32:49 The motto of the Raiders just
32:51 win.
32:51 We just won.
32:53 Any thoughts on that.
32:54 I think it's smart when you
32:56 ever you're breaking in a new
32:57 quarterback particularly a
32:58 rookie to kind of play to their
33:00 strengths and not ask them to do
33:02 something they're not
33:03 comfortable with right away.
33:05 And I think that that's what you
33:08 know good coaching is.
33:11 Executing and doing exactly what
33:14 you just said.
33:14 I think the Raiders defense was
33:16 its strong point all year long.
33:18 It was a strong point before
33:20 Josh McDaniels got fired.
33:22 It was a strong point throughout
33:23 Antonio Pierce's nine games.
33:25 So I think leaning on that
33:27 defense and trying to win with
33:28 that defense was the way to go.
33:29 I mean now can you expect
33:33 multiple defensive touchdowns
33:35 every week.
33:35 No they got it a couple of weeks
33:37 in a row with the Chargers and
33:38 Chiefs games.
33:38 But you know next year you know
33:42 you have to become a little bit
33:43 more explosive offensively to
33:45 put some more points on the
33:46 board.
33:46 But this year I think it was the
33:49 way to go.
33:49 I think it was a sound strategy.
33:52 And I think it worked for the
33:53 most part.
33:53 You're looking at talking about
33:55 a team that went five and four
33:57 excuse me picked up a couple of
34:00 really nice wins down the
34:01 stretch and even some of the
34:02 losses towards the end of the
34:05 year.
34:06 They were right in each game.
34:07 I mean the only loss I think that
34:10 he had that was ugly was just
34:13 because it was a three nothing
34:14 game was that Viking game.
34:15 They couldn't get anything
34:16 going.
34:18 But you know I mean it was they
34:20 could have beaten the Colts.
34:21 In week 17 they played the
34:24 Chiefs tough in the game they
34:26 lost to them in days.
34:29 You know they played they were
34:30 in it for a little bit with
34:31 Miami to down there.
34:32 So I think that overall it was
34:35 something that worked.
34:37 Yeah totally agree with you.
34:40 All right.
34:41 So let's let's go in a different
34:44 direction now.
34:47 Harbaugh.
34:49 No question.
34:51 The Las Vegas football coach
34:53 wins everywhere he's at every
34:55 goes.
34:56 And I I think that whoever they
35:00 hire if you get Harbaugh or you
35:03 get Antonio Pierce you're
35:05 getting a great coach great
35:06 coach.
35:06 I mean I don't one of them.
35:09 I said this the other day.
35:10 If I am any one of the 31 teams
35:15 not named the Las Vegas Raiders
35:18 Harbaugh is number one on my
35:20 list.
35:20 Now I'm going to have some
35:22 issues with Jim that I'm going
35:23 to want to talk to him about.
35:25 As far as the process of how he
35:28 does things but he's top of my
35:30 list to talk to.
35:32 And no one here at least on my
35:36 staff is making it sound like
35:38 Harbaugh is not a good coach or
35:39 wouldn't be a viable option.
35:40 But to me for the Raiders where
35:43 they're at where they've been at
35:46 the entire totality what he's
35:48 done there's it's just as clear
35:51 nobody other than AP.
35:52 But it's hard to say somebody's
35:54 going wrong with a Harbaugh your
35:56 thoughts on Harbaugh in the NFL.
35:58 I think that overall the gist of
36:02 what you said is kind of where
36:03 I'm at.
36:03 I think they to me this is a guy
36:07 like you said he's won.
36:08 He's either won a championship
36:11 or competed for championships
36:13 every single place he's been.
36:15 He turns every place around.
36:17 And I think you know what you're
36:20 going to get.
36:20 I think I'm expecting him to
36:25 make the jump back to the NFL.
36:27 I think that he's coming off a
36:29 national championship at
36:30 Michigan.
36:30 He's a god in Ann Arbor for the
36:33 rest of his life and beyond
36:35 because he delivered that title
36:37 what he was asked to do and
36:40 expected to do when they hired.
36:41 In the NFL I think where I think
36:45 he's successful no matter where
36:46 he goes in the NFL.
36:47 The question is like is with the
36:51 Raiders if they're swinging big
36:54 and I do think he's the biggest
36:56 swing you can take and I think
36:57 it would likely work out at
37:00 least in terms of you'd have
37:01 some winning seasons you better
37:04 hit a home run because Antonio
37:09 Pierce has shown in it on an
37:12 interim basis.
37:13 Yes but he's shown some
37:14 aptitude for the position he's
37:16 shown kind of a he fits in with
37:20 the Raider ethos the Raider
37:22 organization the players love
37:24 all the fans love them.
37:25 So if you're going to go away
37:28 from that you would better be a
37:32 hundred percent sure that you
37:35 know the guy you're getting is
37:36 going to be a success.
37:37 I think that Jim Arbor is by far
37:42 the best option out there for
37:47 for other teams to hire.
37:49 It's just a question because he
37:51 the right guy for the race.
37:52 Interesting stuff.
37:55 All right let's quickly talk
37:56 about the playoffs this weekend
37:57 because that doesn't stop.
37:58 Let's start on Saturday.
38:01 We got the Browns at Houston.
38:04 I really like Houston.
38:06 It's at Houston.
38:08 My only thing is that Browns
38:11 defense.
38:12 I love the way Joe Flacco is
38:13 playing.
38:14 I'm going to take the Browns.
38:16 I hope it's Houston but I'm
38:18 taking the Browns just because I
38:20 think Flacco is extremely
38:21 underrated.
38:22 I think he's a really good
38:23 quarterback really underrated
38:24 and I love the Browns defense
38:26 and defense wins championships.
38:28 I'm rooting for Houston.
38:29 I think it's Cleveland.
38:30 What do you think.
38:31 I think a defense from
38:33 Cleveland travels on the road at
38:35 Houston and I know that CJ
38:38 Stroud I love to see the
38:39 strategies.
38:39 Unbelievable.
38:40 One of the best performances by
38:42 a rookie quarterback I've ever
38:43 seen this whole season.
38:46 I do think that the Browns have
38:51 a little bit of playoff
38:52 experience with Stefanski and
38:53 with some of those guys that
38:55 were around three years ago.
38:56 It's it's a different beast when
39:01 you get into the postseason.
39:02 I wouldn't be shocked if the
39:05 Texans won because that's how
39:06 good to be go Ryans and CJ
39:08 Stroud have been in year one.
39:09 Amazing.
39:10 I think that when you take the
39:12 Browns defense and I think that
39:15 when you take the fact that Joe
39:17 Flacco has been playing really
39:19 well and seems to almost have
39:21 you know that magic horseshoe
39:22 going for him at this point you
39:24 know coming from off his couch
39:26 to you know being a star in the
39:28 NFL level.
39:29 I think the Browns win that one.
39:31 Yeah I'm going to tell you
39:33 D'Amico Ryan.
39:34 Anybody wants to know what
39:36 you're getting in AP.
39:38 D'Amico Ryan.
39:39 All right.
39:40 Dolphins at Kansas City I've
39:41 seen both teams on their home
39:43 field up close and personal this
39:46 year.
39:46 Kansas City couple of times I've
39:48 watched.
39:48 Nine or 10 Dolphin games I've
39:51 watched.
39:52 Really 12 or 13 Kansas City
39:56 games.
39:56 I'm gonna be honest.
39:58 Just in what I saw with my own
40:00 eyes.
40:01 Dolphins were more impressive to
40:05 me.
40:06 But to be the man you got to
40:08 beat the man in the games in
40:10 Kansas City.
40:10 I'm going to ride with the
40:12 Chiefs.
40:12 Chiefs Kingdom.
40:13 Their their fan base at Kansas
40:16 City is electric.
40:17 It's going to be playoff time I
40:20 expect Kansas City to rise up.
40:22 I'm going to go with the
40:23 Chiefs.
40:23 I quite frankly would rather see
40:27 the Dolphins win.
40:28 I think the Chiefs have played
40:30 sloppy this year.
40:31 I've not been impressed but Andy
40:33 Reid is the best coach in the
40:34 NFL.
40:35 Patrick Mahomes is the best
40:36 quarterback.
40:37 I'm going to go with Kansas City
40:40 your thoughts.
40:41 Yeah I don't know about Kansas
40:43 City staying power in these
40:45 playoffs compared to past years.
40:46 They really just don't look like
40:48 the team that they've had.
40:49 But I think they win this game.
40:51 I think it's all it's just a
40:53 matter of.
40:54 In much of my reasoning for
40:57 picking them is a matter of
40:58 location.
40:59 I think that when you look at
41:00 the fact this is going to be a
41:02 Saturday night primetime game.
41:05 At Arrowhead in zero degree
41:07 weather literally I think this
41:08 forecast is saying it's going to
41:10 be about zero degrees.
41:11 Now you got the Dolphins coming
41:13 in there and excuse me the
41:15 Dolphins are banked up.
41:16 You know right.
41:17 He most are Jane while being
41:19 finished a regular season.
41:20 I don't know what they'll be
41:22 like for for Saturday.
41:24 Just this week they said the two
41:27 starter to start linebackers
41:29 Jerome Baker and Andrew Van
41:30 Ginkel are out for the probably
41:32 the entire playoffs.
41:33 You have to get hurt in the
41:34 finale against the Bills.
41:36 I think it's a disappointing
41:39 end to the season for a really
41:40 fun dolphins team because they
41:42 could have won a division at
41:44 home in week 18 against Buffalo
41:46 and had a home playoff game.
41:48 But I think they go on a road
41:49 and lose on Saturday to Kansas
41:52 City.
41:52 Have you ever been to Arrowhead.
41:55 I have not.
41:56 Oh.
41:57 You just got to go.
41:58 Got to go to Arrowhead.
42:00 All right.
42:00 Then we go to Sunday.
42:02 Then we go to Sunday's game
42:04 Pittsburgh at Buffalo.
42:05 Mike Tomlin in my opinion
42:07 probably the second best coach
42:09 in the National Football League
42:10 behind Andy Reid.
42:11 I love Mike Tomlin.
42:13 I told you I had a player who
42:16 played for AP and Mike Tomlin
42:20 before they were head coaches.
42:22 I don't know if I would say
42:23 played for but played on teams
42:25 where they coached.
42:26 Neither one was their position
42:28 coach but saw them both.
42:29 I had a coach in Pittsburgh that
42:31 told me a piece Mike Tomlin
42:35 Pittsburgh heads the Buffalo.
42:37 I'm riding the Buffalo train.
42:40 I think this is such a good
42:42 football team.
42:43 It's at home.
42:44 I don't think the weather
42:45 affects Pittsburgh whatsoever.
42:47 But I think Buffalo has a shot a
42:50 real legitimate shot of getting
42:52 to the Super Bowl.
42:53 I don't even think this is
42:55 close.
42:55 Congratulations to Tomlin
42:57 getting in.
42:57 God bless the guy.
42:58 Great coach.
42:59 Thank you.
43:00 Flat out.
43:01 I don't think Pittsburgh has a
43:04 shot.
43:04 Let's go with Buffalo.
43:05 Your thoughts.
43:06 I think it's close or close.
43:09 Close enough.
43:10 I think that Mike Tomlin the
43:11 defense even without TJ why
43:13 he'll find a way to keep them in
43:14 the game.
43:15 But I don't think they win.
43:17 I can't see them winning this
43:18 game even with Mason Rewa having
43:20 played well down the stretch.
43:21 The bills.
43:23 Have found something in their
43:26 last you know five weeks after
43:28 that by.
43:29 I think they've they've gotten
43:32 some type of mix of the right
43:35 mix going.
43:36 I think that they win this game
43:38 and I think they have a
43:39 legitimate chance of at least
43:43 getting back to the AFC title
43:44 game this year.
43:45 So I'm going with the bills.
43:48 I would be I wouldn't be shocked
43:50 if this game like I said this
43:52 game is a tighter game than
43:54 people expect or the Steelers
43:55 hang around.
43:56 I would be very surprised that
43:58 they win the game.
43:58 Right.
44:00 Next this third Sunday second
44:02 Sunday game Green Bay heads to
44:03 Dallas.
44:04 Now you may remember beginning
44:05 the year I and our predictions I
44:07 predicted Green Bay to win the
44:09 NFC Norris division.
44:10 Lions did.
44:12 I'm a big believer in Jordan
44:14 Love.
44:15 Several and I said this all
44:17 before the season as you know
44:19 several of my friends in the
44:21 NFL very high on him.
44:23 You know he started a little bit
44:25 slow.
44:25 I think that was not just him it
44:27 was the team.
44:27 But he's coming on strong.
44:30 I'm not a buyer in Dallas after
44:33 Jimmy Johnson even with Barry
44:35 Switzer I should say after Troy
44:37 Aikman and Emmitt Smith and that
44:39 group left.
44:39 I'm not a buyer.
44:42 Any time you have expectations
44:44 of the Cowboys they fail.
44:46 They're though they're the ones
44:47 they're the they're the gorgeous
44:48 bridesmaid that you're always
44:50 like oh man she's getting
44:51 married next.
44:51 Who she's.
44:52 Giggity.
44:55 And they always look the part.
44:57 And they don't produce.
44:59 I think they win this one at
45:01 home.
45:01 I think they have the talent and
45:03 everything to win a Super Bowl.
45:05 But they're not going to get
45:06 there because they're Dallas and
45:07 they always perennially
45:09 disappoint.
45:10 I think Green Bay's coming.
45:11 I think this game is close.
45:13 I guess this is a one score
45:15 game.
45:16 But Dallas finds a way I'm sure
45:18 the refs will help them.
45:20 But your thoughts I'm going to
45:22 ride with Dallas but don't make
45:23 it doesn't don't make that
45:24 think I'm a Dallas believer and
45:26 I still think Green Bay's
45:27 coming.
45:27 I think Green Bay really the way
45:30 they close out the season was
45:32 should have fans excited for the
45:34 future especially with Jordan
45:35 Love and some of those young
45:36 receivers.
45:37 I think this is a game that
45:40 Dallas wins.
45:41 I think this is a game that's
45:43 kind of you know I've said the
45:45 same thing about Dallas I think
45:46 everybody recognizes they have an
45:48 immense amount of talent and
45:49 they could probably enough
45:51 talent to at least play in the
45:52 Super Bowl.
45:54 They could play in the playoffs
45:55 but they never seem to put
45:57 together when they have to.
45:59 However they have shown in the
46:01 playoffs they can win these
46:03 games that they're the first
46:06 round games that they're
46:06 expected to win like last year
46:08 they did it.
46:09 They did it a few years ago and
46:11 they beat Seattle at home.
46:13 I think this is a game that
46:15 they're expect to win.
46:16 They typically played very well
46:17 at home this year.
46:18 I think they win the game.
46:19 I just don't know about what is
46:23 next for Dallas.
46:24 I think a lot of it depends on
46:26 who who they're playing in
46:29 round two because if they win on
46:33 Sunday and they're playing you
46:38 know let's say the say they're
46:41 playing the Eagles in round two
46:42 or the or the Bucs in round two
46:44 because because the Rams upset
46:47 Detroit Dallas can be in the
46:51 NFC title game.
46:52 But if they're playing you know
46:55 it all depends on matchups for
46:56 them.
46:56 But I do think they win on
46:58 Sunday.
46:58 My wife just handed me this
47:01 note.
47:01 I think the term you're looking
47:03 for is always a bridesmaid never
47:05 a bride.
47:05 But she said and then she said
47:08 but don't forget to tell the
47:09 people.
47:09 Ray.
47:11 I'm not saying that.
47:16 That was my wife saying letting
47:19 everyone know she's a Raider fan.
47:21 Oh my God that's kind of funny
47:22 isn't it.
47:23 That's awesome.
47:23 That's it.
47:24 She's dedicated she's into it.
47:25 She's in.
47:26 I'm telling you man she's all in.
47:28 Oh so.
47:29 Well we're going to finish with
47:31 that.
47:31 We're going to come back.
47:32 I got some more Raiders stuff to
47:33 talk to you about Rams and
47:34 Lions.
47:34 Now a few weeks ago I told you
47:36 wouldn't that just be like how
47:38 the NFL works out if the Lions
47:41 and the Rams end up playing in
47:43 the playoffs in Detroit.
47:45 Last game on Sunday.
47:47 No.
47:48 I'm going to be up near the
47:52 Canadian border way up near
47:53 Canada on a hunting trip.
47:56 I've been asked if I want to go
47:58 cover the game.
47:59 I can't.
48:01 This was my wife's wedding
48:02 present.
48:02 I mean my wife's Christmas
48:03 present if the Raiders weren't
48:04 in the playoffs she wanted to go
48:05 on a hunting trip.
48:06 She won a new rifle and go on a
48:07 hunting trip.
48:08 So.
48:08 I would love to see Detroit go
48:13 and I'm not a fan.
48:14 Because I grew up one.
48:17 So many friends and family.
48:20 But I have friends and family in
48:22 both organizations both as
48:25 players both in whatever.
48:27 I just can't get behind the
48:31 Lions.
48:32 I just can't do it.
48:35 Years ago you may remember they
48:38 started out when Rod Marinelli
48:40 was coach.
48:40 I think they started out three
48:42 and one or something like that
48:43 or five and two.
48:44 And Mike Furry who ended up
48:46 being the NFL's leading receiver
48:48 that still remains one of my
48:50 great friends.
48:50 You know the wide receiver coach
48:52 for the Bears still remind him
48:54 and Cor and his wife are some of
48:55 our closest friends.
48:56 He walks in the locker room he
48:59 goes take that media.
49:01 What curse.
49:02 And then the season collapses
49:05 and I'll never forget after the
49:06 year we were having dinner and
49:09 we still talk all the time and
49:11 he says to me I almost think
49:14 this curse stuff is real and I
49:15 don't believe in curses.
49:16 He goes it's just it's the
49:17 Lions.
49:18 He goes I don't get it.
49:20 I don't understand it.
49:21 I'm I love Matthew Stamford him
49:24 and Kelly.
49:24 I'm friends with.
49:26 Let's just say I got I got a lot
49:30 of friends on the Rams teams
49:32 players that I'm very close
49:33 with.
49:33 You know come up and see us in
49:35 Vegas.
49:36 We go out to eat at the casinos
49:37 and have fun.
49:38 My wife loves them.
49:39 And so I'm picking the Rams on
49:43 this because I just don't have
49:45 faith in the Lions.
49:46 I love Dan Campbell.
49:48 I think it's a great roster.
49:49 All of it.
49:50 I'm just riding with the Rams.
49:54 This is going to get me in so
49:56 much trouble the family but I'm
49:58 riding with the Rams.
49:59 What do you think.
49:59 I think if the Lions were
50:01 hosting.
50:02 The Packers a team in their
50:06 division that they've beaten.
50:08 Or Dallas.
50:09 That they're better than I think
50:11 it.
50:11 I think if the Lions were
50:13 hosting even the Eagles a team
50:15 that's been just falling apart
50:17 the last six weeks.
50:18 I would be picking the Lions to
50:20 win this game.
50:20 I think they can still beat the
50:22 Rams.
50:23 I do too.
50:24 But I think that the Rams to me
50:27 are a scary team in these
50:29 playoffs with the way Matthew
50:31 Stafford is playing with the way
50:33 Sean McVay is kind of found a
50:35 rhythm here and the way they're
50:37 playing offensive football.
50:39 This is a Rams team if they get
50:41 they could get past.
50:42 They get past the Lions.
50:47 And say you know they're
50:48 playing.
50:49 Say they're playing San
50:51 Francisco.
50:52 They can put a scare in San
50:53 Francisco I think in the you
50:56 know the SEC the second round of
50:57 the playoffs.
50:58 I think it's going to be an
51:00 awesome game.
51:00 I think it's a one score game.
51:02 I think the atmosphere in
51:03 Detroit at Ford Field will be
51:05 lit credible.
51:06 It's going to be just awesome.
51:10 Just an unbelievable playoff
51:12 atmosphere.
51:12 I would like to see the Lions
51:14 win.
51:15 I think the Rams win.
51:15 We would too.
51:16 Yeah.
51:18 Yeah I would too.
51:19 I don't know if you heard I said
51:20 the term lit.
51:21 This is a new word I've learned.
51:23 Yeah.
51:23 You're a little bit younger than
51:25 me but do you know that term
51:26 lit.
51:27 Oh yeah.
51:28 Yeah.
51:28 Just making sure I get mocked
51:33 all the time because I'm not
51:34 real good on what these how
51:35 these modern kids talk like now
51:37 they say 100 which means I agree
51:39 with you or facts which means I
51:42 agree.
51:42 Remember when I was a kid if you
51:44 said oh man you're cold.
51:46 That was an insult.
51:47 Now whatever.
51:49 All right.
51:49 Now we move to Monday Night
51:52 Football.
51:53 My generation if you're
51:55 wondering Howard Cosell Chris
51:58 Berman.
51:58 Monday Night Football.
52:00 OK.
52:00 Philly at Tampa.
52:03 I don't think there's any doubt
52:05 Baker Mayfield is the comeback
52:07 player of the year.
52:07 If you wait.
52:08 Matter of fact I was going to
52:10 put a tweet out the other day.
52:11 Who is the NFL playoff NFL
52:13 comeback player of the year and
52:15 why did it take you so long to
52:16 take Baker Mayfield.
52:17 I know so many people that know
52:21 him.
52:21 I've met him several times but I
52:24 wouldn't say I know him.
52:25 Who love him.
52:27 He's grown up.
52:28 He's great.
52:30 But I'm telling you.
52:31 Philly's got a lot of talent
52:35 there.
52:36 They're reeling.
52:37 But I just think Philly finds a
52:40 way to go on the road get the
52:42 wind I'm riding with.
52:43 I would love to see Tampa win.
52:45 And we're up against the time
52:46 clock so we've got to hurry a
52:47 little bit but I'm riding with
52:48 the Eagles.
52:49 Your thoughts.
52:49 Yeah Philly has been really
52:51 look awful at six week nothing
52:54 like what we've expected of
52:55 them.
52:55 And I think the Bucks have a
52:57 shot in this game unlike last
52:59 year when I really felt like
53:00 they were on fumes and couldn't
53:01 beat Dallas and they got blown
53:02 out.
53:02 But I think Philly finds it puts
53:04 together just for one week and
53:06 they win this game.
53:07 But I don't think they're long
53:08 for the playoffs.
53:09 All right.
53:10 So very quickly we've got to end
53:12 with this.
53:13 AP's press conference yesterday
53:15 he is he's all Raider.
53:20 OK.
53:21 You got to love his passion and
53:23 he's in the press room and you
53:24 know one of the press room
53:25 things is we don't cheer.
53:27 And matter of fact they say
53:30 before every game this is a
53:31 press box and you wouldn't
53:32 cheer in here gets kicked out.
53:33 It's just it's not what we do.
53:35 Doesn't mean we're bad.
53:36 Just means that's what you're
53:38 not.
53:38 You're not you know Zeke
53:40 Trezevani works for me as a fan.
53:41 Nothing wrong with that but you
53:42 don't cheer.
53:44 And he does.
53:44 It's like my wife just did.
53:47 And one person who can be a fan
53:51 she works for the team yells it
53:53 back.
53:53 And it was fun.
53:55 It was a lot a lot of fun.
53:56 He goes we got to work on that.
53:57 I thought it was great.
53:58 But was there any better way for
54:00 him to end his press conference
54:01 than that.
54:02 No and I think it's like you
54:04 said he fits in with the culture
54:05 he's embraced everything about
54:07 the Raiders and I think he would
54:08 be a tremendous hire if they
54:12 choose to give him the permanent
54:13 gig.
54:13 I agree with it 100 percent.
54:15 All right listen you know I love
54:17 you.
54:17 You know I care about you.
54:18 Can't wait to be back here
54:19 talking with you next week.
54:20 He is the great Matt Hladdy from
54:22 the Spun dot com.
54:23 Remember follow me on I.G.
54:24 at Hondo S.R.
54:26 Follow me on at X formerly known
54:29 as Twitter at Hondo Carpenter.
54:31 Also checking out all of our
54:34 articles at S.I. dot com forward
54:35 slash NFL forward slash Raiders.
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54:40 newsletter.
54:41 You'll never miss another one of
54:42 our big stories.
54:43 I've got a series of articles my
54:45 next deep dive and Matt you know
54:48 a little bit about him.
54:49 It's going to be there's so much
54:51 information.
54:51 It's going to be probably three
54:53 days.
54:53 Now Matt without breaking
54:55 anything because we want a little
54:56 bit of suspense.
54:57 Are people not going to be
54:59 riveted by these next sets of
55:00 deep dives.
55:01 They'll be very very intrigued.
55:03 I know I am going to get a lot of
55:05 national attention.
55:05 Would you agree with that.
55:06 So yes.
55:08 Yeah it's going to be powerful
55:10 so those are common.
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55:19 Thank you everybody.
55:21 Remember I'm Hondo Carpenter from
55:22 Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation
55:24 Las Vegas Raiders insider podcast
55:26 part of the fans for Sports
55:27 Network.
55:27 This guy's Matt Olatte.
55:29 He is the editor and publisher
55:30 of the Spun dot com.
55:31 Put it in your favorites.
55:32 Check it out every day.
55:33 Goodbye everybody.
55:34 We'll see you again tomorrow.
55:35 We'll see you again tomorrow.