
Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre
1,491 episodes — Page 24 of 30

Brady vs Belichick Snoozefest, Kyler Murray for MVP & NFL QBs on the Way Out
On today’s episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on the highly-anticipated showdown between Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Bill Belichick’s New England Patriots. As we predicted last week, this one absolutely did not live up to the hype. It was sloppy and uneventful for most of the night, save for a questionable field goal try by Belichick late that ultimately cost the Patriots the chance at a victory. Producer Rob G thinks Belichick’s ego may have gotten the best of him in the moment, but we’ll never know for sure. Later, Jason explains why Kyler Murray has to be considered the NFL MVP frontrunner at the quarter pole of the season after he powered the Arizona Cardinals to a shellacking of the Rams in Los Angeles. In fact, you could even argue that the Cardinals are the best team in football at the moment. Speaking of mobile quarterbacks, have you noticed that Lamar Jackson is suddenly winning games from the pocket? The Baltimore Ravens have won 3 in a row, and should be able to keep the momentum going in Week 5 against the Colts. On the flip side, Ben Roethlisberger and Jimmy Garoppolo both appear to be on their last legs in their respective towns. Big Ben is clearly washed, and Jimmy G is hurt again. The only positive you can take from this is at least the San Francisco 49ers have a succession plan in place. Finally, Jason closes the show with a special Chargers-Raiders Monday Night Football edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jags Catch Another 'L", Buzzing on Brady vs. Belichick & NFL Best Bets
On today's episode, Jason kicks things off by taking Urban Meyer and the Jaguars to task following their loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. After jumping out to an early lead and making a super aggressive decision to end the first half (which ultimately backfired), Meyer got tight at the end of the game and basically handed the victory to Joe Burrow and the Bengals. On the bright side, Trevor Lawrence looked exactly like you'd hope a #1 overall pick would; He just got outplayed by Burrow. No shame in that. Later, Producer Rob G joins the show to help Jason preview Sunday Night's showdown between Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. While most of the sports media world continues to hype this game like it's the Super Bowl, the guys both agree it might barely crack the top 5 of the Sunday slate. Are we certain that Brady and Belichick are actually rivals? Are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New England Patriots evenly matched squads? If your answer to both is no, then it's hard to justify all this hype. Finally, Jason closes the show with a very special NFL and college football weekend edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deshaun Watson Rumors Heating Up + Professional sports bettor Rufus Peabody
On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a quick thought on Jay Glazer's suggestion that the Miami Dolphins could be in on Deshaun Watson in a potential trade. That's not to say that any trade is imminent, but we all know that Glazer doesn't just float stuff out there without having inside information to back it up. Keep an eye out on this one. Later, professional sports bettor and podcast host Rufus Peabody swings by to explain how he got into sports wagering, why he take a purely analytical approach to gambling, why he's been banned from betting at certain shops, why he uses Massey-Peabody simulation software to help determine which NFL games and teams have the best value on any given week, why he thinks there's more value on the Las Vegas Raiders' futures right now than the Kansas City Chiefs', what makes the NFL tougher to win gambling on than some other sports, why he prefers not to target the 'lowest common denominator' gamblers, why he doesn't believe in selling picks, and much more! Finally, Jason closes the show with a special Thursday Night Football Jaguars-Bengals edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MGM Grand sportsbook director Lamarr Mitchell on Super Bowl Futures, Pros vs Joes & More!
On today's episode, MGM Grand Director of Race and Sports Lamarr Mitchell joins Jason for an extended conversation in which he discusses the rise of female sports bettors during the pandemic, why the Kansas City Chiefs remain a popular bet for the public and why they still have the best odds to win the Super Bowl despite being 1-2 on the season, why he could see inflated lines on the Dallas Cowboys later in the season if they run through the bad NFC East as most expect, why it would be bad news for the sportsbooks if Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers repeat as Super Bowl champions, why the Pros and Joes are so heavily split on this weekend's showdown between Notre Dame and Cincinnati, why he believes bettors have just as good information as the oddsmakers these days, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cowboys Control the NFC East & Kyrie the Contrarian
On today's episode, Jason get the party started by sharing his thoughts on the Dallas Cowboys' Monday Night demolition of the Philadelphia Eagles. In the immortal words of Dennis Green: "They are who we thought they were!" Both teams are, actually. We knew coming into the season that the Jalen Hurts-Nick Sirianni combo in Philadelphia was going to struggle. Similarly, with Dak Prescott back from injury, the Dallas Cowboys were so loaded offensively that we expected they'd be able to light up the scoreboard. With Washington's defense proving to be a mirage and the the New York Giants looking like a dumpster fire again, the Cowboys should cruise to an NFC East title. Later, Producer Rob G joins the show for a deep dive into Kyrie Irving and the NBA's 'anti-vax' problem. Kyrie is a highly influential individual who has been described as a 'contrarian without a cause' (shout out Howard Bryant), so it's not really all that surprising to see that he's refusing to get the COVID vaccine without giving a real reason why. Is Kyrie really willing to skip Brooklyn Nets home games just to prove point? More importantly, would Kevin Durant and James Harden be willing to stand alongside him? Only time will tell. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jimmy G is JAG, the Rams are the Class of the NFC & All Hail Justin Herbert
On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a deep dive into the Green Bay Packers thrilling Sunday night victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Aaron Rodgers did what Rodgers does, but the real story to come of this game was the play of the much-maligned Jimmy Garoppolo. It's hard to kill Jimmy G considering he put the 49ers in position to win the game with :37 left, but it's also hard to praise him considering he was just okay most of the night. Jimmy G isn't going to make you great, but he's definitely good enough to win. The only question at this point is who he'll be playing for next year because it darn sure won't be San Francisco (Maybe Pittsburgh or Miami?). Sticking in the NFC West, Matthew Stafford has absolutely unlocked the Sean McVay offense for the Los Angeles Rams. Jason tried to tell you when the Stafford trade went down that it made the Rams the Super Bowl favorites, and after the way they handled Tom Brady and the Buccaneers on Sunday, it's hard not to feel the same way today. Not to be outdone, Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers put the rest of the League on notice when they beat the Chiefs on Sunday. Herbert is arguably the most talented young quarterback in football outside of Patrick Mahomes, and he should be in the NFL MVP race this year and for years to come. Finally, Jason closes the show with a very special Monday Night Football (Philadelphia Eagles vs Dallas Cowboys) edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Good and Awful Night for the Panthers, the Truth About the Kyrie-Simmons Rumor & NFL and College Football Picks
On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a quick thought on the Carolina Panthers' Thursday Night Football victory over the Houston Texans. Carolina got the win to move to 3-0, but lost superstar running back Christian McCaffrey to a hamstring injury in the process. With CMC down, Sam Darnold and the Panthers could see that perfect record evaporate pretty quickly. Later, Producer Rob G joins the show to help make sense of the wild Ben Simmons-for-Kyrie Irving rumor that hit the news cycle earlier this week. Jason is convinced that the idea was floated out by a competing network in hopes of juicing their ratings, but is it possible that it could have had something to do with Kyrie's reported aversion to the COVID-19 vaccine? Either way, it's highly unlikely that Kyrie get moved at all, but it is a situation that needs to be monitored. Finally, Jason closes the show with a very special NFL and College Football weekend edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Injury Bug Hits NFL QBs + Former NFL GM and VSiN host Michael Lombardi
On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a quick thought on some of the key injuries facing several NFL quarterbacks, including Andy Dalton, Tua Tagovailoa, Ben Roethlisberger and Derek Carr. It's really hard to bet a side on any of these games when the backups are unproven (Dalton & Tua), much less when we still don't know whether or not these guys will play (Ben & Carr). Later, former NFL general manager and VSiN host Michael Lombardi swings by to discuss how he came to work in the sports gambling space even though he doesn’t actually gamble, why the Houston Texans are a better team than most people give them credit for, why he expects the tough Denver Broncos defense to give the New York Jets offense a hard time, why he believes Tua Tagovailoa may be the worst quarterback in the AFC East, why Mac Jones is the best rookie quarterback in the NFL who only fell in the Draft because he doesn't really look the part, why he'd have a hard time trading for Deshaun Watson right now if he ran a team, why the Jimmy G-Trey Lance situation in San Francisco could be a win-win for the 49ers, and much more! Finally, Jason closes the show with a very special Thursday Night Football edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Action Sports Network Senior Executive Producer Darren Rovell on Sports Memorabilia, Sports Wagering & More!
On today's episode, Action Sports Network Senior Executive Producer Darren Rovell joins Jason for an extended conversation in which the pair discuss the exploding market that is sports memorabilia and why some items are harder to come by (and thus more valuable) than others, why sports wagering has suddenly become mainstream and why he has more respect for bettors who attach their names to every pick they make, why it's more important to drive content in the sports wagering space rather than just push ads with big names who have no real interest in gambling, the future of sports wagering and how much emphasis we'll see on in-game betting for American sports leagues and their television partners, why its so important to bet games that you have a good feeling about - not just the games that you're most excited to watch, why his celebrity boxing match with Pro Football Commenter from Barstool Sports fell apart at the last minute, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Packers are Just Okay, Josh Allen Coming Back to Earth & Tom Brady Defying Father Time
On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a very quick thought on the Green Bay Packers victory over the Detroit Lions on Monday Night. Everyone is going crazy over Aaron Rodgers' 4 touchdown passes, but let's keep it real: The game was ugly, the Lions are bad and the Packers still don't look like an elite football team. It seems like a long shot at best that the Packers will be sniff 13 wins again this season. Later, Jason takes a verbal victory lap on the heels of Josh Allen's uneven start to the season. Allen was rewarded with one of the richest deals in the NFL history this past offseason, and he responded by posting some of the worst advanced stats in the League through two games. Then again, Allen has been the wildly inaccurate guy with the bazooka arm going back to high school. so maybe this is just who he's always been. Finally, Producer Rob G joins the show for a spirited debate with Jason on the narrative that Tom Brady is playing the best football of his career. It's not all that surprising that Brady is better at 44 than he was at 24 considering he was a glorified game manager early on and he's spent the last decade dedicating himself to his craft like never before. That said, is it fair to question the legitimacy of Brady's counting stats in Tampa Bay considering that he's mostly fattened up on bad teams during that stretch? Trust us, you won't want to miss the verbal fireworks on this one! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Patrick Mahomes vs. Lamar Jackson Still Isn't a Rivalry, Dolphins Need to Call About Deshaun Watson & Derek Carr the Darkhorse MVP Candidate
On today's episode, Jason and Producer Rob G kicks things off with by sharing their thoughts on the thrilling showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night. Lamar Jackson put up an all-time great performance, and he closed the game by converting one of the ballsiest 4th-and-1 calls you'll ever see. Even still, it's hard not come away from the game even more impressed by Patrick Mahomes. In a loss, Mahomes reminded the rest of the football world that it's probably going to take an otherworldly performance from his counterpart just to compete with him on an 'average' night. Mahomes vs. Jackson isn't a rivalry, it never has been. Later, the guys explain why the latest injury to Miami Dolphins franchise quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is just another sign that Miami needs to try and swing a trade for Deshaun Watson. If Miami thinks they have any legitimate shot of making a run in the AFC then they're going to need a quarterback who can compete with guys like Mahomes and Jackson. Plus, Rob G takes a verbal victory lap as his beloved Las Vegas Raiders improved to 2-0 on the young season. Say what you want about the Raiders season-long outlook, but right now, Derek Carr has the look of a darkhorse MVP candidate. Finally, Jason closes the show by admitting that his preseason pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars to win the AFC South may have been a little premature. The Jags are terrible offensively, and Trevor Lawrence looks exactly how you'd expect a rookie quarterback on a bad roster to look. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe Judge is on the Hot Seat, NFL and College Best Bets + Professional sports bettor David Baker
On today’s episode, Jason and Producer Rob G kick things off by sharing their thoughts on the New York Giants’ heartbreaking loss to the Washington Football Team. It’s one thing to lose, but to lose like that is why Joe Judge is a good bet to becoming the first NFL head coach to get fired this season. This team continues to find new and unique ways to embarrass themselves week-to-week; the only thing they seem to have any level of consistency with is catching L’s. Later, Professional sports bettor David Baker and reigning Westgate Super Contest champion swings by to discuss how he fared in week 1 of the Westgate and Circa contests, why he's so high on Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams this season, why he's still bullish on the Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills even after they both underperformed in Week 1, why folks still seem to be unsure about Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals, why he doesn't seem much value in Jason's beloved 'divisional dogs' this week, why the Atlanta Falcons' disastrous performance is giving fans an inflated view of the Philadelphia Eagles, why he doesn't subscribe to the same trends and data points that other 'sharps' do, and much more! Finally, Jason closes the show with a special NFL and college football weekend edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cowboys Can't Catch a Break, Urban Meyer Says 'No' to USC + Professional sports bettor Adam Chernoff
On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few quick thoughts on the recent string of bad luck that has hit the Dallas Cowboys. In the last week, they've lost right tackle La'el Collins, wide receiver Michael Gallup, and pass rushers Randy Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence. I don't know what they did to bring this bad juju on themselves but let's hope it wears off fast. Either way, so long as Dak Prescott remains upright, the Cowboys should still win the division. Moreover, it wasn't clear already, Urban Meyer publicly proclaimed that he will not be taking over as the next head football coach at USC. It really isn't all that shocking; Urban just isn't a fit for Southern California. Now that it's all out in the open, the Trojans can pivot and find themselves a real candidate. Later, professional sports bettor and Covers product manager Adam Chernoff swings by to discuss his 5-0 start in week 1 of the famed Circa contest, why so many bettors tend to overreact to what they saw in NFL week 1, why he's in on Teddy Bridgewater and the Denver Broncos this Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, why the Seattle Seahawks probably aren't as good and the Tennessee Titans aren't as bad as they looked last week, why the Los Angeles Rams blowing out a bad Chicago Bears team on Sunday Night Football shouldn't sway your opinion about them either way, how the Las Vegas Raiders' big win over the Baltimore Ravens might impact the line this week in their showdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who he likes in tonight's Thursday Night Football matchup between the New York Giants and Washington Football Team, and much more! Finally, Jason closes the show the TNF edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason McIntyre's NFL Week 1 Power Rankings
On today’s episode, Jason hits you with a change-of-pace by revealing his top 10 teams in the NFL after week 1 of the regular season. Where do the reigning Super Bowl participant Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs come in after both had to grind out tough wins in week 1? Will the injury bug that hit the San Francisco 49ers be enough to knock them down the list? Which one-loss team cracks the top 5? Which AFC team had the most dominant victory that nobody seems to be talking about? And how the heck did the New Orleans Saints – who just laid the smack down on the Green Bay Packers – not make the cut? Trust us, you won’t want to miss this one! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Derek Carr's Coming Out Party & the $250 Million Question about Lamar Jackson
On today's episode, Jason and Producer Rob G share their thoughts on the Las Vegas Raiders' wild Monday Night Football victory over the Baltimore Ravens. It was a coming out party of sorts for Derek Carr as he thoroughly outplayed Lamar Jackson for most of the game, and more importantly, made the clutch plays down the stretch in the 4th quarter and overtime to help the Raiders win the game. On the flip side, Jackson was under siege most of the night behind a leaky offensive line and had two backbreaking turnovers late that burned the Ravens; He made a number of 'splash' plays throughout the night but he also missed several routine plays that he's going to have to make if he has any hopes of securing that $250 million extension he's been looking for. Come to think of it, none of the 'big money' extension quarterbacks (Jackson, Josh Allen, Baker Mayfield) came up clutch in week 1. In any event, with the Kansas City Chiefs looming in week 2, this was a game that the Ravens almost had to win; Baltimore can't afford to fall down 0-2 if they want to keep pace in the AFC. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aaron Rodgers Gets Roasted, Matthew Stafford is a Stud & the Browns' Baker Mayfield Problem
On today’s episode, Jason does a deep dive into all the biggest headlines to come out of Sunday’s NFL action. If there's one thing we learned over the weekend, it's that negativity sells in sports media... and nobody had a worse weekend than Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. You can't spend your entire offseason engaged in a power struggle with the front office only to lay an egg in Week 1, Aaron. Thankfully for the Packers they should be able to 'get right' against the Detroit Lions next week, but their next games on the schedule are against the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers; Don't be surprised to see Green Bay starts the season 1-3. On the flip side, Matthew Stafford lit up the scoreboard in his debut performance as the Los Angeles Rams' quarterback. Stafford brings an entirely new dimension to what was already a fantastic team. If you haven't already made your Rams Super Bow futures bet, you better get on it. Later, Jason and Producer Rob G get into a little debate about the long-term outlook of the Cleveland Browns. Did their close loss to the Kansas City Chiefs prove that they're a legitimate Super Bowl contender? Or, does the way they melted down in the 4th quarter prove that Baker Mayfield isn't quite ready to go toe-to-toe with the elite quarterbacks in the League? Finally, the guys close the show by sharing a few unsubstantiated rumors swirling around the USC football program, and a special Monday Night Football edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Still No 'D' in Dallas, Tampa Bay Buccaneers are Like the Golden State Warriors & Weekend Best Bets
On today's episode, Jason and Producer Rob G kick things off with a deep dive into the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' season-opening victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense marched up and down the field all night but were unable to capitalize on the Buccaneers turnovers and went just 1-for-4 in the red zone. Even worse, the Dallas defense was as porous as ever. On the flip side, Tom Brady continues to defy Father Time as he absolutely carved up the Cowboys. Were it not for all the turnovers, Brady may have hung up a 50 burger. The scary part about all this is the Bucs probably played a C-level game and they still never really looked like they were in danger of losing. Tampa Bay has an embarrassment of riches offensively; In fact, you could argue that they're almost like the Steph Curry-Kevin Durant-Klay Thompson Warriors of the NFL. Later, Jason closes the show with an extended NFL and College Football edition of The Best Bet! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professional sports bettor TA on NFL Week 1, NFL Futures & More!
On today's episode, professional sports bettor TA swings by for an extending conversation in which he discusses the importance of being 'contrarian' when to sports wagering, why you should always keeps tabs on the injury report and a team's depth chart before firing on any games, why the Miami Dolphins are the most intriguing team to him heading into the upcoming season, why he's not very confident that Carson Wentz will suddenly be able to recapture the magic he had under Frank Reich a few years back, why he felt compelled to take some Denver Broncos futures very early in the offseason, why EPA is such an importance stat to know these days, why Sam Darnold and the Carolina Panthers could surprise some people this season, which NFL week 1 games he's looking to fire on - including Cowboys vs. Bucs and Steelers vs Bills & much more!Check out all of TA's NFL analysis at https://www.clevanalytics.com/ Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NFL Division Winners, Wild Card teams & Super Bowl Prediction
On today's episode, Jason brings you his official NFL preseason predictions on the eve of the 2021 season. Starting in the AFC, the Buffalo Bills and Kansas Chiefs appear to be locks of the century to win their respective divisions. The AFC North is the arguably the toughest in the conference, but an easy schedule will be the reason why the Cleveland Browns win the division and the Baltimore Ravens settle for a wild card berth. The AFC South is a dumpster fire and things are setting up very nicely for the Jacksonville Jaguars to become the next team to go from worst-to-first, while the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos ride stout defenses and game-managers at quarterback to the final two wild card spots. In the NFC, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers should be able to roll their rather weak divisions. The San Francisco 49ers have the deepest roster in all of football, and that should be enough for them to win a very tough NFC West. What's more, as mentioned previously, most of the teams in the conference are mediocre at best, so Jason is predicting that all four NFC West teams - 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals - will make the playoffs. And if you thought that was crazy, wait until you hear who he's picking to win the Super Bowl... Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The $80,000 College Football Parlay + FOX Sports Radio host Bernie Fratto
On today's episode, Jason kicks things off by paying homage to the bettor who hit a 14-team parlay over the weekend and turned a $10 bet into almost $80,000. WOW! Parlays are always fun and can be very profitable - provided you don't throw anything more than 'pizza money' down at the window. Plus, Jason tells us why Ole Miss' impressive victory on Monday night over Louisville proves once again that Lane Kiffin is one of the better offensive minds in all of college football. If Ole Miss can't navigate a tough SEC, quarterback Matt Corral could be in the Heisman race, and Kiffin could find himself getting courted by another upper-echelon program. Later, 'Straight Outta Vegas' on FOX Sports Radio host Bernie Fratto swings by to discuss which NFL week 1 games he's looking to wager on, why history says you should take underdogs facing a division rival in week 1 (Houston Texans), why historical gambling trends are only good when you consider the context of each game as well, why so many bettors are teasing down the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Dallas Cowboys and parlaying that with a San Francisco 49ers victory over the Detroit Lions, why he's so low on Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles entering this season, why he's leaning on the underdog New Orleans Saints heading into their week 1 showdown with Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, how the rookie quarterbacks (Mac Jones, Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, etc.) could impact the gambling lines throughout the season, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brian Kelly's Attempt at Humor, Week 1 College Football Recap + ESPN Fantasy Football analyst Matthew Berry
On today’s episode, Jason kicks things off with a quick defense of Brian Kelly after the Notre Dame head football coach joked that his players should be executed after the way they played against Florida State. Can’t anyone take a joke these days? It’s not that serious. Speaking of serious, Producer Rob G’s UCLA Bruins put the college football world on notice after they dismantled LSU on Saturday. Suddenly, Chip Kelly’s Bruins look like serious contenders to win the Pac-12. Then again, all of this might be for naught given what we saw from Alabama in week 1; They are an absolute juggernaut and should be heavily favored in every game they play this season. Later, ESPN fantasy football analyst Matthew Berry swings by to discuss what it’s like playing in a fantasy league with Jay-Z and Chris Paul, why he’s down on Saquon Barkley entering the upcoming season, why he disagrees with Jason that Derrick Henry is in for a down year, why guys like Nick Chubb are better in real football than they are in fantasy football, why he’s all-in on Chargers running back Austin Ekeler, why it’s so important to try and draft a quarterback who can get you some points with his legs as well as his arm, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All Sizzle and No Steak for Brady vs Belichick, Kyler Murray for MVP & NFL QBs on the Way Out
400 sloppy game, told you it was overhypeddid bill's ego cost them the game??familiarity matters in the nfl - played out on Sunday1300 baker needs a big game against chargers and cardinalskyler mvp front runner. best team in the nfl right nowhave the ravens turned the corner? they're 3-1. Lamar throwing the ballsteelers dont have an exit plan. jimmy G more valuable than you think. Lance looked lost. do they make a trade? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pump the Brakes on the Buckeyes, Week 1 CFB Best Bets + Professional sports bettor Brad Powers
On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a quick thought on the Ohio State Buckeyes' victory over Minnesota on Thursday night. Yes, OSU covered the spread. Yes, quarterback CJ Stroud threw 4 touchdowns in his first career star. But, let's not act like the Buckeyes were all that impressive in the win. They're going to have their hands full against Oregon next week. Later, founder of BradPowersSports.com and professional sports bettor Brad Powers swings by to discuss how he was able to grab the elusive 'middle' of the Notre Dame-Florida State game, why he loves the under on this weekend's showdown between Alabama and Miami given how loaded each team is on the defensive end, why it should feel like an LSU home game when the Tigers travel to UCLA this weekend, why he prefers to bet on games almost as soon as the betting lines come out, which week 2 games he's already looking to bet - including Ohio State vs Oregon, why there are certain sportsbooks that he prefers more than others, and much more! Finally, Jason closes the show with a very special 7-pack - SEVEN! - edition of the Best Bet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

COVID is Taking Over Sports... Again + Fantasy Football analyst Evan Silva
On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a quick thought on how COVID-19, or more specifically, the health and safety protocols brought upon by COVID-19, is taking over sports for the second year in a row. Whether it's Cam Newton possibly losing his job in New England because he wasn't vaccinated or Urban Meyer saying the Jacksonville Jaguars considered vaccination status when deciding on their Final 53, it seems as thought every single day we have a new COVID-related headline in the world of sports. Later, EstablishTheRun.com founder and fantasy football analyst Evan Silva swings by to discuss how gambling and fantasy are so intertwined, why the Chicago Bears defense could give up big numbers to opposing wide receivers, why he expects Calvin Ridley to have a stellar season for the Atlanta Falcons, the dreaded 'Talent vs. Volume' debate in fantasy football, how the JK Dobbins injury impacts the Baltimore Ravens backfield, which rookie running back could become a league winner for you in the second half of the season, why he's lower on Saquon Barkley than at least one of his colleagues, why the decision to dump Cam Newton and start Mac Jones actually boosts the upside of every single New England Patriots skill position player, why it's hard not to be concerned about the availability of unvaccinated players like Lamar Jackson and Kirk Cousins from both a gambling and fantasy perspective, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Upside Play on Mac Jones, Potential Landing Spots for Cam Newton & the Ben Simmons Problem
On today’s episode, Jason kicks things off by sharing his thoughts on the New England Patriots’ decision to cut team captain Cam Newton and name rookie Mac Jones their starting quarterback. This feels like an upside play for the Patriots. Unlike Newton, who is limited as a passer at this point in his career, Jones has shown in the preseason that he’s capable of playing several different styles. What’s more, recent history tells us that it’s usually a quarterback taken later in the first round that tends to pop early in his career because he’s surrounded by better talent around him (See: Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes). With a loaded defense and a revamped receiving core, Jones could see early success in New England. On the flip side, Newton heads into free agency facing a ton of uncertainty. Jason argues that there are probably just three potential landing spots for Cam: the Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans and Carolina Panthers. The Panthers are a familiar spot for Newton and they don’t have a legitimate franchise quarterback in place, the Texans are in desperate need of any kind of star power given how bad their overall roster is, and the Dolphins clearly don’t believe in Tua Tagovailoa. Finally, Jason closes the show with a quick thought on the report that Ben Simmons has demanded a trade out of Philadelphia. We’ve known for a while that Simmons and the Sixers were headed for divorce, but this news could help speed up the process. Only problem is, with Simmons threating to boycott training camp, will Philly be forced to take a lesser deal just to get their disgruntled star out of town? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carson Wentz Can't Catch a Break + FOX Sports college football analyst Brock Huard
On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on Carson Wentz getting placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Even though he hasn't formally acknowledged his vaccination status, we can infer that Wentz still has not been vaccinated. What Wentz chooses to do with his body is his own business, but it is a bit confounding that someone with such an extensive history of missing games would further jeopardize his own availability by refusing to take the vaccine. This is definitely something to monitor if you're an Indianapolis Colts fan. Later, FOX Sports college football analyst Brock Huard swings by to discuss what's gone wrong for Scott Frost during the first few years of his tenure as the head coach at Nebraska, why he believes the UCLA Bruins could give the LSU Tigers a tough time when the two teams meet this Saturday night, the biggest difference between teams in the SEC and Big Ten and everyone else, what the big showdown between Georgia and Clemson this weekend could mean for the College Football Playoff, why the Seattle Seahawks felt compelled to make Jamal Adams the highest paid safety in NFL history, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deshaun Watson to the Dolphins?, A Fantasy Football Snafu & Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley
On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few quick thoughts on a handful of stories boiling over around the NFL. The Indianapolis Colts are still getting battered by the injury bug along the offensive line, and that's precisely why it's not wise to bet big on Carson Wentz on the boys this season. Sticking in the AFC, Mac Jones continues to impress in New England. If this was really a legitimate quarterback competition like we've been led to believe then Jones should beat out Cam Newton for the starting gig. The biggest story to hit the NFL, though, involves Deshaun Watson and his future with the Houston Texans. According to reports, the Miami Dolphins are now considered the frontrunners for Watson. While most Dolphins fans must be jumping for joy at the thought of Watson moving to Miami, one guy who can't be feeling good right now is Tua Tagovailoa. Later, Jason goes deep on a fantasy football snafu that he got caught in over the weekend. Without spoiling the story too much, let's just say that there's a reason why most players aren't big fans of auction drafts. Finally, Producer Rob G helps Jason close the show with a few thoughts on the Jake Paul-Tyron Woodley boxing match that had social media buzzing over the weekend. Say what you want about Paul and his antics, but he generates a ton of interest. and he's filling the void left by all the 'legitimate' stars of boxing. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Difference Between the Bucs and the Bills, Cam Newton Can't Be a Backup & Chip Kelly's Prove It Year
On today's episode, Jason and Producer Rob G kick things off with a deep dive into the latest news surrounding the NFL's COVID-19 protocols. Like it or not, COVID has hit the sports world hard again all the way from the NFL down to the youth sports level. With guys like Josh Allen and Cole Beasley leading the way, the Buffalo Bills have decided that they're going to continue to stress the 'personal choice' mantra within their locker room. Unfortunately, that attitude has led to a handful of players being forced to miss time and a couple to get hit with fines. On the other hand, Bruce Arians, Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have decided that they're going to abide by an even stricter set of protocols to try and ensure that nothing - not even COVID - can prevent them from repeating as Super Bowl champions. Moreover, COVID protocols could be precisely what opened the door for Mac Jones to unseat Cam Newton as the New England Patriots starting quarterback. That said, if Newton were to get beat out, would the Pats be willing to keep him around as the backup? Is any quarterback who has had Newton's level of NFL success capable of playing a backup role? History would tell us no. Finally, the guys close the show with a quick preview of Week 0 in college football, and explain why this could be a make-or-break year for Chip Kelly and the UCLA Bruins. The fans in Westwood have waited long enough, and now it's time for Chip to turn the Bruins into a winner. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professional sports bettor Preston Johnson on NCAA vs NFL Wagering, the Growth of NFTs & More!
On today's episode, professional sports gambler Preston Johnson swings by to discuss his decision to leave his job as an ESPN sports gambling analyst, why he believes there's more money to be made betting on college football than on the NFL for recreational bettors, the upside of betting on Georgia to win the national championship and quarterback JT Daniels to win the Heisman Trophy, why he believes it's a smart play to take the over on the win total for the Steve Sarkisian-led Texans Longhorns, the work he's doing in the NFT space these days with PUNKS Comic, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bucks Had No Choice with Coach Bud + NBC Sports/Pro Football Talk NFL analyst Chris Simms
On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a quick thought on the Milwaukee Bucks' decision to offer head coach Mike Budenholzer a 3-year contract extension. While most folks on NBA Twitter took Milwaukee to task for paying to keep a coach that they were on the verge of firing before Kyrie Irving and James Harden got hurt in the Brooklyn series, the reality is that the Bucks did ultimately win the title and it would have been bad business not to extend him after that. They were really stuck between a rock and a hard place. Later, NBC Sports NFL analyst and Pro Football Talk co-host Chris Simms swings by to discuss the inexact science that is quarterback evaluation, why he's confident that Josh Allen can be even better moving forward, why he was one of the few analysts who were so high on Patrick Mahomes coming out of Texas Tech, why he's optimistic that Sam Darold is going to be able to turn his career around with the Carolina Panthers, why he ranks Tom Brady as the 10th best quarterback entering the 2021-22 NFL season, how Brady has benefitted from great schemes, coaching and overall talent around him throughout his career, the Jameis Winston-Taysom Hill quarterback battle in New Orleans, why the San Francisco 49ers are hesitant to name rookie Trey Lance as their starting quarterback, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pump the Brakes on Jameis Winston and the Saints + NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah
On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a quick thought on Jameis Winston's impressive performance on Monday Night Football against the Jacksonville Jaguars. In short, it was a big nothing-burger. If you want to buy stock in Jameis and the Saints after one half of preseason football against the Jags, you're bound to be disappointed. Later, former NFL scout and NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah swings by to discuss how Cam Newton's COVID protocol 'misunderstanding' could open the door for Mac Jones to start in week 1, how a quarterback change in New England might impact the Patriots locker room, why Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy's experience working under Andy Reid in Kansas City is probably the biggest reason why he's sticking with Andy Dalton over Justin Fields, why it was a no-brainer for the New York Jets to trade away Jamal Adams last season, why the Cleveland Browns compare favorably to the San Diego Chargers of the mid-2000s, what went wrong for Carson Wentz in Philadelphia, the Baltimore Ravens commitment to the 'run the ball and play defense' identity the past decade-plus, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Betting on the Baker Mayfield and the Browns + The Ringer NFL writer Kevin Clark
On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a quick note on why he's going to be throwing down a couple of futures bets on Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns this upcoming season. Both are decent long-shots that could pay off pretty big down the road. Later, the Ringer NFL writer Kevin Clark swings by to discuss which NFL coaches could be on the hot seat this season, why he's skeptical about Kliff Kingsbury and the Arizona Cardinals' ability to get over the hump, if things are as copacetic between Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll as they'd like us to believe they are, how Jimmy Garoppolo could impact the 2022 NFL Draft quarterback market, why he likes Dan Campbell's fit as the head coach of the Detroit Lions, why he's not optimistic about Jon Gruden and the Las Vegas Raiders right now, the biggest challenge facing Urban Meyer as he transitions from the college game to the NFL, why you shouldn't read too much into Zach Wilson's training camp struggles, how Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert compared as prospects coming out of college and why so many teams passed on them in their respective NFL Drafts, why he doesn't play fantasy football, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cam Newton vs Mac Jones Heats Up + The Athletic NFL reporter Sheil Kapadia
On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a quick thought on the New England Patriots' preseason bludgeoning of the Philadelphia Eagles. Both Cam Newton and Mac Jones played fairly well in the contest, and it's looking like Bill Belichick is going to have a tough time choosing his Week 1 starter. On the flip side, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was pulled minutes before kickoff with a mysterious stomach ailment. Let's just hope we don't have another Tyrod Taylor-type situation on our hands. Later, The Athletic NFL reporter Sheil Kapadia swings by to discuss his rise up the ranks in sports media world, why he expects this to be a one-off season for Jalen Hurts and for the Philadelphia Eagles to target a new quarterback next offseason, the injury bug that has hit the New York Jets even before the season has officially started, why he believes the Tennessee Titans could take a step back even with the addition of Julio Jones, why NFL teams still haven't fully embraced analytics and why it's so important for the front office and the coaching staff to be in lock step in that regard, why he doesn't share Jason's optimism about the New York Giants, why he has Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers as a dark horse Super Bowl contender, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're Not Worthy of Ohtani, a Sleeping Giant in the NFC & the Truth About Jamal Adams
On today's episode, Jason kicks things off by paying homage to Angels' superstar Shohei Ohtani. Not only did he put together another gem last night (40th HR of the season + 7 strikeouts as a pitcher), but he added to his own legend after the game by diffusing a social media controversy stemming from an insensitive comment by Jack Morris. Not only is Ohtani is performing like the greatest player since Babe Ruth on the field, he's also carrying himself like a Presidential candidate off the field. He's the real deal. Later, Jason explains why he likes the New York Giants as a sleeper team in the NFC. Their defense is solid, and they've quietly assembled an outstanding group of offensive skill position players headlined by Saquon Barkley, Kenny Golladay and Evan Ingram. If Daniel 'Danny Dimes' Jones cant take any kind of step forward as the team's starting quarterback, they could make some noise in the NFC this season. Finally, Jason closes the show with a deep dive into the the Seattle Seahawks' decision to sign safety Jamal Adams to massive contract extension. Adams was one of the worst safeties in the League last season. What's more, the Seahawks defensive improvement down the stretch was just as much a product of the mediocre quarterbacks they faced as anything else. Seattle could come to regret this signing very soon. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bad to Worse for Deshaun Watson, Tim Tebow's Blessing in Disguise & Ben Simmons to Sac Town?
On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on the report that the FBI is investigating Deshaun Watson over his alleged sexual misconduct towards over 20 massage therapists. If the victims' attorney is to be believed, Watson could soon be facing human trafficking charges. If it wasn't clear already, it should be now: Watson's trade demand from the Houston Texans is the least of his problems. Later, Jason does a deep dive into Tim Tebow's release from the Jacksonville Jaguars. Tebow was always a long shot to make the final 53-man roster, even with Urban Meyer in his corner. And yet, so many in the media took his release as yet another opportunity to dance on his proverbial grave. But if you take a step back, you'll see that Tebow is still a winner in all of this. If you would've told a teenage Tebow that he'd win the Heisman trophy and two national championships in college, get drafted in the first round and win an NFL playoff game and eventually play professional baseball, you don't think he'd consider himself a success story? In many ways, his 'failure' was actually a blessing in disguise. Finally, Jason shares a quick thought on the Sacramento Kings' NBA Summer League championship. The win doesn't mean a whole heck of a lot in the grand scheme of things, but it did showcase Davion Mitchell's defensive prowess. With Mitchell and second-year guard Tyrese Haliburton in the fold, is it possible we could see a De'Aaron Fox-for-Ben Simmons trade to balance out the roster? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Action Network College Football insider Brett McMurphy on Conference Expansion, NIL & More!
Action Network college football insider Brett McMurphy swings by to discuss his transition from print journalism to digital media, the fallout stemming from his bombshell report regarding Zach Smith, Urban Meyer and Ohio State football a few years back, the secretive nature of college football coaches especially as it relates to injuries, why he could see Oklahoma and Texas jump to the SEC well before 2025, why he believes we'll see multiple 16-team super-conferences in the coming years, why all the conference expansion could be a bad thing for the non-Power 5 schools, why it's so hard to determine who the best quarterback is entering this upcoming college football season, why folks have such a hard time betting against Alabama no matter how many high-profile losses they sustain on their roster and on their coaching staff every year, how Name Image and Likeness could impact college sports moving forward, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bad Weekend for Veteran NFL QBs, Tough Start for Tim Tebow & Why the Clippers Could Miss the Playoffs
On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a deep dive into Week 1 of the NFL preseason. Let's just say it was a bad weekend for veteran quarterbacks. Andy Dalton, Cam Newton and even Teddy Bridgewater had to walk into the facilities shaking their heads on Monday morning after Justin Fields, Mac Jones and Drew Lock lit it up in Week 1. Heck, if the New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars had veteran quarterbacks to speak of, they'd be shaking in their boots as well given what we saw from Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson. On the flip side, quarterback-turned-tight end Tim Tebow had a tough go of it during his first game action at the new position. Tebow had zero catches and still went viral after he completely whiffed on a blocking assignment. Luckily for him, he has Urban Meyer in his corner so his spot on the roster should still be relatively safe. Later, Producer Rob G joins the show to help make sense of the Eric Bledsoe-for-Patrick Beverly (and Rajon Rondo) trade by the Los Angeles Clippers. Turns out all those ‘dawgs’ that made the Cilps such a tough out a few years back were no match for Kawhi Leonard’s ‘snake’ tendencies. More importantly, Jason argues that this roster purge puts the Clippers in danger of missing the playoffs next season. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Second-Guessing an NFL Futures Bet + Sports Illustrated senior writer Greg Bishop
On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a quick thought on the Jacksonville Jaguars' recent string of puzzling personnel decisions. If the Jags are going come through on Jason's long-shot bet to win the AFC South, they're going to need to get their act together. Sports Illustrated senior writer Greg Bishop swings by for an in-depth conversation in which he discusses what the atmosphere was like covering the Olympics in Japan in the middle of a pandemic, why Manny Pacquiao's upcoming fight is about a whole lot more than winning a championship belt, how tough it can be navigating a world where sports and politics constantly intersect, his secret to getting high-profile athletes like Dak Prescott to open up to him, the current trend of athletes openly speaking out about their mental health, the overall impact of social media on sports and society as a whole, his upcoming book on Kansas City Chiefs lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former NFL QB Shaun King on the Sports Wagering Explosion, Jon Gruden, Rookie Quarterbacks & More!
On today's episode, former NFL quarterback and VSiN radio host Shaun King swings by for a lengthy conversation in which he explains to Jason why sports wagering is exploding across the country, how sports wagering could bring in casual fans the same way fantasy football did, why he's still optimistic about Jon Gruden and the Las Vegas Raiders... assuming Derek Carr can elevate his game, why he believes the New York Jets will come to regret taking Zach Wilson with the 2nd pick in the NFL Draft, why the Houston Texans should be viewed as the 'Donkey of the Decade' for their complete and utter mismangement of the Deshaun Watson situation, why Jameis Winston being forced to ride the bench last season was probably the best thing that could've happened to him, why Matt Nagy might prefer to keep Justin Fields on the bench to start the year, why he views the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns as high-value bets to make the Super Bowl, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Schroder Fumbled the Bag, a Hit-and-Run at Home + The MMQB Senior NFL reporter Albert Breer
On today’s episode, Jason kicks things off with a quick thought on Dennis Schroder’s decision to sign a 1-year, $5.9 million deal with the Boston Celtics. Schroder had a $84 million offer from the Lakers last year and he turned it down in hopes of cashing in even bigger in free agency. It was a classic case of when betting on yourself goes wrong. Later, Jason gives us a glimpse into his personal life with a play-by-play re-enactment of the hit-and-run car accident that took place on Sunday. Let’s just say, you won’t like Jason when he’s angry. Finally, the MMQB senior NFL reporter Albert Breer swings by to explain why few teams have a wider range of possible outcomes next season than the Dallas Cowboys, why the Philadelphia Eagles and the Carolina Panthers make sense if the Houston Texans decide to trade disgruntled quarterback Deshaun Watson, why the 49ers plan to play both Trey Lance and Jimmy G this season and what it could mean in 2022, why we could see Cam Newton out of New England altogether if Mac Jones ends up winning the starting gig, why he’s so high on CeeDee Lamb from a fantasy perspective, why he like the Los Angeles Rams and Cleveland Browns as out-on-a-limb Super Bowl picks, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Luka Doncic Conundrum, 1998 Bulls vs 2021 Lakers & The Trey Lance-Michael Vick Connection
On today’s episode, Jason and Producer Rob G kick things off with a deep dive into Luka Doncic’s $200+ million contract extension with the Dallas Mavericks. Luka is the next Face of the NBA and very clearly worth every penny that he’s set to earn, but it does set up an interesting conundrum for the Mavs moving forward. Should they be patient and look to cash in on another superstar in free agency a few years from now? Or, should they push all-in immediately given that Luka is arguably the best player in the world right now. So much will depend on what Dallas is able to do with the albatross commonly referred to as the Kristaps Porzingis contract. Later, the guys explain why they have a small problem with all of the sports media talking heads who continue to point out how old the 2021 Los Angeles Lakers roster is. Did you know that the Lakers key rotation players led by LeBron James are roughly the same age - or younger - than the rotation players on the 1998 Chicago Bulls led by Michael Jordan? If you're going to continue to make jokes about the 'old' Lakers, please keep that same energy for all NBA rosters. Finally, Jason explain why he's so high on the San Francisco 49ers heading into next season. Much of the conversation around the team is focused on the Jimmy Garoppolo-Trey Lance quarterback 'controversy', but take argues that we could easily see Lance be used in a Michael Vick-type role early on. People forget that Vick appeared in 8 games his rookie season before taking over as the starter, and that should serve as the template for Lance in The Bay. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NBA Summer League Overreactions, The 'Best Version of Yourself' Debate & Josh Allen's Big Pay Day
On today's episode, Jason and Producer Rob G share their thoughts on the first week of NBA Summer League action. Neither Cade Cunningham nor Evan Mobley played particularly well in their debuts, while the #1 player on Jason's Big Board - Jalen Green - was fantastic. Is this a sign of things to come for the top 3 picks in the NBA Draft? Or, is this just another case of fans overreacting to NBA Summer League action? Only time will tell. Later, the guys re-litigate their 'Best Version of Yourself' debate from last week using Team USA Basketball as a backdrop. Kevin Durant powered Team USA to the gold medal, but the real story of the tournament was the play of guys like Jrue Holiday and Devin Booker. Neither one put up the kind of numbers we normally see from them in the NBA, but both were instrumental in Team USA's overall success. That said, just because they won the gold, would you argue that we saw the best versions of Holiday and Booker during Olympic play? The debate rages on. Finally, Jason and Rob G close the show with a lengthy discussion on Josh Allen's massive contract extension. Did the Buffalo Bills jump the gun on this one? And more importantly, did guys like Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes actually hurt Allen during his contract negotiation? Their answers may surprise you. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Durant's Case for Best Player in the World & The Hypocrite Charles Barkley
On today’s episode, Jason and Producer Rob G kick things off with a deep dive into Kevin Durant’s case as the Best Player in the World coming off his virtuoso performance against Australia in the Olympics. This isn't a new discussion by any means but it is worth talking about given that everybody seems to have a different criteria when defining the Best Player in the World. Does he have to be a guy that you can drop on a team of scrubs and instantly make them contenders? If so, Luka Doncic and LeBron James probably have a better case than Durant. Does he have to have won a championship? KD has two, but people still rip him for the way he got them. Is it something that is generally decided by your peers? If that's the case, then the way all his Olympics teammates deferred to him against Australia should make KD a lock. Later, the guys take Charles Barkley to task for suggesting that LeBron James should be eliminated from the GOAT conversation because he’s always played on stacked teams. This is such an odd thing to say considering Barkley himself forced his way to Super Teams twice (Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets) after starting his career playing alongside multiple Hall of Famers. Talk about a hypocrite. What’s more, Barkley decided that Michael Jordan should be held in higher regard than LeBron because he had to struggle in Chicago before finally breaking through and winning his rings… while conveniently leaving out the fact that by the time MJ starting winning, his Chicago Bulls were the Super Team of that era. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

LeBron's Message to the Haters & Philly's Pursuit of Damian Lillard
On today’s episode, Jason and Producer Rob G kick things off with a few thoughts on LeBron James’ since-deleted tweet taking aim at the members of the media who have been critical of the current Los Angeles Lakers roster. The King accomplished two things with his tweet: 1) He stirred the pot in such a way that it's bound to keep the NBA in the news for at least another couple of days, and 2) He addressed the 'old roster' narrative that could be the biggest reason why he's back in the MVP race next season. In any event, the guys agree that the Lakers should be very good next season and would be shocked if they're not back in the NBA Finals. Later, the Jason and Rob G get into a little debate about whether or not LeBron James actually makes his superstar teammates better. Does the fact that LeBron helped Chris Bosh and Kevin Love win championships prove that he does? Or, does the fact that both Bosh and Love had to turn themselves into glorified role players to win prove that he doesn't? It's a fascinating discussion. Finally, the guys close the show with a quick note on the Philadelphia 76ers' decision to add Damian Lillard's longtime trainer to their coaching staff. Would Dame and Joel Embiid instantly vault Philly to the top of the Eastern Conference? Either way, let's just celebrate that Tampering Szn is officially upon us! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NBA champion Eddie House on LeBron and the Lakers, Giannis, the New-Look Heat & More!
On today's episode, NBA champion and FOX Sports Radio NBA analyst Eddie House swings by for a lengthy basketball conversation. In the interview, House explains to Jason why he thinks the additions of Kyle Lowry and PJ Tucker gives the Miami Heat a slight edge over the Milwaukee Bucks for second place in the Eastern Conference next season, why the Bucks and Phoenix were always the two best teams last year even if they didn’t have as much star power as the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets, which former NBA general manager rubbed him the wrong way during his own Draft process back in the way, why he believes the Lakers Big Three of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook will work out, why he loves the Malik Monk and Carmelo Anthony additions by the Lakers, why he fully expects to see the Lakers and the Nets face off in the next NBA Finals, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NBA Free Agency Frenzy: Zion's Exit Strategy, Heat Culture 2.0, the L(AARP) Lakers & More!
On today's episode, Jason and Producer Rob G give you wall-to-wall reaction to Day One of the NBA Free Agency period. Lonzo Ball kicked things off by inking a 4-year $85 million with the Chicago Bulls. What should be a welcome addition to the Zach LaVine-Nikola Vucevic core could also be what ultimately pushes Zion Williamson out of New Orleans in a few years. Few teams have done a worse job of surrounding their young superstar with talent than the Pelicans. Zion could be planning his exit strategy as we speak. On the flip side, the big winners of Day One have to be the Miami Heat. They added Kyle Lowry and PJ Tucker to a roster that already includes All-Stars Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, and should immediately be viewed as a top-4 team in the East. Heck, if things break right, they could even challenge the Brooklyn Nets for Eastern Conference supremacy. Later, the guys share their thoughts on the suddenly aging Los Angeles Lakers. LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook will be surrounded by the oldest set of role players in the NBA. Unless the Lakers can flip Dennis Schroder for younger parts in a sign-and-trade, we may need to start referring to them as the L (A.A.R.P.) Lakers. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Summer of Soccer Rolls On, Kyle Lowry is Feeling the Heat + Football Outsiders' NFL analyst Aaron Schatz
On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a quick thought on the USMNT’s victory over Mexico in the Gold Cup final. The Summer of Soccer has been fantastic on all fronts, so it was fitting that the Gold Cup ended in dramatic fashion. And if you watched the match on FS1, you saw that that buzz for soccer is building considerably here in the USA. Later, Jason explains why he's not too high on the impending sign-and-trade that will be sending Kyle Lowry to the Miami Heat. At 35 years old, Lowry is still a very good player, but he's not good enough to help Miami overtake the Brooklyn Nets in the Eastern Conference. On the positive side, with the Lowry domino falling, we should see the point guard market (Lonzo Ball, Dennis Schroder, Spencer Dinwiddie, etc.) heat up in a big way very quickly once the free agency period officially opens on Monday night. Finally, Football Outsiders' NFL analyst Aaron Schatz swings by to discuss why he expects the Minnesota Vikings to give the Green Bay Packers a run for their money in the NFC North, the notion that the New Orleans Saints are due for a 2020 Patriots-esque fall this season, the ugly truth behind the Los Angeles Rams' top-heavy roster, why he believes the Dallas Cowboys are a sneaky pick to make the Super Bowl, why the numbers don't always jive with what he actually believes (ie. the Baltimore Ravens being better than the Kansas City Chiefs), why it's more likely that Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers take a step back than they take a massive step forward, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Russell Westbrook to the Lakers, NBA Draft Reaction & Damian Lillard's Passive Aggressive Trade Demand
On today's episode, Jason and Producer Rob G kick things off with a deep dive into the Los Angeles Lakers blockbuster trade for Russell Westbrook. The Lakers traded away most of their depth (Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope & Montrezl Harrell) for a one-man wrecking ball who may or may not be a fit next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. For all the stat padding that Westbrook does during the regular season, his numbers fall off pretty consistently in the postseason. Maybe that's why guys like Kevin Durant, Paul George and James Harden decided they'd rather play somewhere else than alongside Brodie. Westbrook will absolutely help the Lakers win regular season games but his inability to shoot could doom them in the playoffs. Later, the guys share a quick thought on the rather underwhelming NBA Draft. Outside of Jalen Suggs slipping to the Orlando Magic at #5, everything pretty much went according to plan. Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green and Evan Mobley went 1-2-3, and a bunch of guys you probably never heard of got picked (and traded) as the night wore on. Finally, Jason and Rob G closed the show with a few notes on Damian Lillard's social media beef with True Hoop founder Henry Abbott. Lillard continues to deny that he's planning on a requesting a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers this summer... while simultaneously reminding us why he would request a trade if he decided to do so. This whole thing is bizarre and it just might be the most passive aggressive trade demand in NBA history. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Simone Biles and the Stigma of Quitting, Senator Aaron Rodgers & the Next Step for NIL
On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a deep dive into the Simone Biles situation that took place this week at the Olympics. Say what you want about her mental health an anxiety, but in a word, Biles quit. Period. But that doesn’t mean it has to hold a negative connotation or disqualify her from any larger conversation about her place in gymnastics history. There’s no perfect comparison for Biles in sports history but one that comes close is Robert Duran’s famous ‘No Mas’ fight against Sugar Ray Leonard. At the time, Duran was widely criticized for throwing in the towel. But years later, Mike Tyson said he admired the courage it took for Duran to recognize he didn’t have it and quit. The same logic can be applied to Biles. Moreover, anybody who thinks that Biles can no longer be considered the GOAT of women’s gymnastics because of this is asinine. Should LeBron James be eliminated from basketball GOAT consideration because he melted down in the 2011 NBA Finals? Of course not. Later, Jason shares a few thoughts on Aaron Rodgers’ ‘senatorial’ address to the media detailing everything that’s gone wrong with the Packers organization for the past few years; Rodgers gave the organization a verbal spanking for the world to see. Maybe next time the Packers - or any other NFL franchise - will take their superstar's feelings and thoughts into consideration the next time they decide to make wholesale changes. That's not to say that NFL teams should bow down to their stars, but they'd be foolish not to at least consult them from time to time. Finally, Jason closes the show with a quick note on Quinn Ewers' decision to forego his senior year of high school so he can immediately capitalize on his Name Image and Likeness at Ohio State. Is this going to become the norm for college sports? Only time will tell. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NFL's Free Agency Problem, Damian Lillard's Future + NBA Draft analyst Matt Babcock
Jason kicks things off with a deep dive into Xavien Howard’s trade demand coming out of Miami. Howard is arguably the best cornerback in the NFL so this isn’t something to be taken lightly if you’re a Dolphins fan. What’s more, the Howard situation is a microcosm of a bigger problem throughout the NFL. Most NFL layers don’t like when their team brings in a high-priced free agent before they pay their own guys. When the Dolphins brought in Byron Jones to play opposite Howard, they unknowingly started a chain reaction that led to him ultimately requesting a trade. Either way, you must expect the Dolphins will do everything they can to keep him in town now that they have a legitimate chance to win the division for the first time in years. Later, Jason shares a quick thought on the latest report detailing Damian Lillard’s frustration in Portland. All signs point to Dame requesting a trade from the Blazers at some point this summer - perhaps even before the NBA Draft. That's definitely something to keep an eye out on in the next 48 hours. Finally, BasketballNews.com NBA Draft analyst Matt Babcock swings by to explain why he has Scottie Barnes in his top-4 and the inevitable comparisons to Ben Simmons, why it's not a stretch to say that Jalen Suggs has some Jrue Holiday to his game, why he still expects Cade Cunningham to go first overall to the Detroit Pistons, why he believes that both Evan Mobley and Jalen Green may have more overall upside than Cunningham, why Jonathan Kuminga's stock is 'falling' in the days leading up to the Draft, how 'ageism' is impacting the back half of the lottery, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.