After Hours with Amy Lawrence PODCAST: Hour 4

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That's betterhelp.com slash positive. What is more impressive, the streak the Kansas City Chiefs are riding right now, five consecutive AFC Championship appearances, all of which they've hosted by the way, all five games have been at Arrowhead Stadium. So we know that's impressive. Is it a record? No, that belongs to the Patriots, eight consecutive AFC Championship appearances.

But the Chiefs right now are tied for third longest if you include the Cleveland Browns, which the NFL does for purposes of its records, though is pre-Super Bowl era. Five in a row in the AFC Championship game or it's not official yet. Unofficially, we can say unofficially, the Astros are knocking on the door of seven consecutive ALCS's. I hate saying it like that. I just I have a thing about pluralizing the S's. ALCS appearances sound so much better.

What do you think, Jay? Football, baseball, five versus seven. If the Astros get there, I guess we don't count our twins before they hatch. But if they get there. I have to go with the football.

The seven's incredible. There's no taking anything away from that. Even though they were cheating for part of it?

I guess there's a little taking away from that. No, but football, I just think for me, because it's just the turnover of the teams year after year, it's just we see a different, what is it, half the playoff teams usually turn over. Yes, seven of the 14. So to go five straight AFC Championship games, any championship game is unbelievable in football for me.

I'll go football. Right. So then the Patriots, who have the record at eight, can you see if the Chiefs approach that and actually got to the point where they were on eight straight? That would be something I never thought we'd see again. But you got to be impressed whether or not you love the Astros. And I realize that's a very small cross-section of the audience that loves the Astros.

The Astros have definitely become among those public enemies, maybe even public enemy number one in sports. Because they, and they don't have all the same guys that they had in 2017 either when they won the World Series. They've had some sizable turnover, not to mention the general manager and the manager of the team were both ousted because of the cheating. Their bench coach, he'd already moved on to Boston. But Alex Cora, he was gone. Carlos Beltran, he briefly was the manager of the Mets for he paid dearly with it.

But yeah, they not only turned over their entire managerial and coaching staff, but they also have turned over a lot of the players. You got a few that are left over. What was it last year, five, six guys?

If you want to Google that, you remind me or see if you can find it. Astros left from the 17 World Series. I believe it might have been five.

Don't quote me on that. Now Justin Verlander has returned, so I guess he counts. He does count. But yeah, we're talking about Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman. Of course, Justin Verlander, he's part of that. Yuli Gurriel.

Yuli Gurriel, to be sure. Is McCullers still on the team? Lance McCullers? I'm not sure.

I thought Lance McCullers was, but I thought he was hurt. That might be it. We're gonna have to go check that.

Anyway, there can't be more than five or six. I feel like that's it. That's somewhere in the neighborhood. The colors are still there. But hurt. Yeah. Yeah. So here are the Astros.

One win away. And the formula's not that different. It really isn't. We see what they've, they did lose game two to the Twins at Minute Maid Park. But for them, it's about using their pop and their power. Certainly jumping on pitchers. They stress out opposing pitchers because of how challenging that lineup is from top to bottom.

I actually looked up the age of Jose Abreu. Guy's 36, and he's got two home runs in their game three win in Target Field. So even as we play, this is coming from the ninth inning. I mostly want you to hear this behind Robert Ford, the voice of the Astros, how quiet it is.

I likened it to the food court at the mall, but I honestly think a Saturday at the mall with teenagers at the food court is louder than it was at Target Field at the end. 2-2. And Alvarez belts it to right.

Pretty deep going back. Kepler on the warning track, looking up. See you later. A high majestic shot by Yordan Alvarez, his fourth home run of the series. And it is 7-1 Astros. 1-0. And that is hammered deep to left field.

Kiss it goodbye. Second home run of the day for Jose Abreu. This one's a two-run shot. He's driven in five. Astros lead is 9-1.

It's great. Altuve put together a good at bat, a two-strike hit. And then Yordan and Tucker both reached. And after that, Abreu put a great swing on the ball and got us off to a good point. Yeah, Jose Abreu, a three-run homer for Houston in what was a four-run first hitting against Sonny Gray. And once they piled on, I don't want to say it's impossible to come back because it's not.

Nothing's ever impossible. But Christian Javier, he lasted through five. He didn't give up any runs. Though, got to give him credit because he walked the bases loaded in the fifth inning and then was able to come back and strike out the last two guys that he faced.

So he worked himself into a jam but got himself out of a jam as well. I mean, Yordan Alvarez, he pummels. He pulverizes baseballs.

It's almost unfair. Sometimes I feel like he clubs the baseball. Like, forget his swing is pure power, of course. But it just feels like he's got a personal vendetta against the baseball.

Fourth home run in three games for Alvarez. And now you've got the Astros kind of flexing their muscles and this is what they do. And it's another reason why fans can't stay in them because even though there's only a handful of guys left, what do we say, five, six, right, five, the guys that are left will not apologize. They will not apologize. They do not believe that in 2017 they were the only team that was cheating, the only team that was using illegal means to communicate signs.

I don't know anybody else who was banging trash cans. But regardless, they're not apologetic. And even though a lot of the the roster has turned over, the guys who've come in and Dusty Baker allows them to be who they are. It's why so many players love him because and he really does translate. He's a lifer but he's also a player's manager. He allows them to be who they are. He's not trying to make them cut their hair and walk a certain way and only listen to music in the clubhouse and blah, blah, blah. Did I hear they were listening to Creed in the club? That's right.

Why? That's a great question. Anyway, maybe that can't possibly be Dusty Baker. But anyway, I mean, he just allows them to be who they are. And Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman, they set the tone. They're brash and they're bold and they are unapologetic. And Bregman has been annoying people with his celebrations going back now since he was a rookie.

If you don't like him, you're going to have to beat him and that's going to be a tough out. They are a tough out and are now one win away from their seventh consecutive ALCS. Of course, Carlos Correa is on the other side and he certainly understands what it means to be in this position. When you go into an elementary game, you know, you gotta be ready to do whatever is possible to help the team win. Everybody's available. All the arms are available and, you know, we gotta do a better job with people on base if we want to stay alive.

And, yeah, we're gonna do that tomorrow. Abreu showing up at just the right time. Didn't have a good regular season. Didn't have a great batting average.

Way below what he's used to in his career. But I suppose they'll take the two home runs in a postseason game. So now the twins are on the brink but the Astros, they would have been a tough out anyway. I mean if they can force this back to Minute Maid Park, I'll take a game five. The Astros are battle tested though and remember they were pursuing the Rangers for a good portion of the season. So it's not like they were just kind of kicking back, maxing, relaxing like the Dodgers and the Braves for the last six weeks. No, they were trying to reel in the Rangers, reel in the Rangers and even after they caught them, well the Rangers leapfrogged them again. And so it was a battle all the way through and Astros love the chase.

They don't mind being the team with the bullseye on their backs but they also really enjoyed the chase. It's After Hours with Amy Lawrence here on CBS Sports Radio. On Twitter, ALawRadio. If I didn't answer your question here on the show, ask Amy. Well then you can find some of the answers later on social so check it out on both Twitter and Facebook. Jay just got this tweet.

Are you ready? Julie Gurriel plays for the Marlins. Well it just takes me back to Monday Night Football when Troy Aitman was like giving the Rangers their props and Joe Buck says to him, I'll give you whatever 50 bucks. I don't know what he said. If you can, if you can name four Rangers.

And how many people out there, I started doing it, but how many people out there decided, oh yeah I'm gonna have to name as many Rangers as I possibly can. Yep, literally he went through the whole team but tried to. Yes he absolutely did. Okay so the Astros are one win away. Now you've got the Rangers who felt it. I mean they felt it. They stewed in it. They stewed over it the last weekend of the regular season. They dropped 3-4 to Seattle. They lose the AOS title in a tie break and we know from Bruce Bochy that it stung. This hurt them.

They wanted that division title however they have not lost since and you want to talk about a team that is pounding the ball into submission. And the one-two pinch and that ball is lifted high into the air deep left field. Hayes is going back back onto the track.

He looks up it is gone. Adolis Garcia will touch them all. His three-run blast has given Texas a six to nothing lead.

He knew it the moment he hit it. And here comes Brandon Hyde. Dean Kramer will not make it out of the second inning. The Rangers have put up a five spot here in the second.

The call there with Eric Nadel on the Rangers radio network. Yeah they've had these big blasts that you want to talk about demoralizing. That's what they had done to the Baltimore Orioles into their pitchers. And so for the Rangers to hit 21 well to score 21 runs to hit a handful of home runs and to be able to jump on the Orioles every single time. I don't I'm not one of those people that thinks you need to lose right so you hear that sometimes in college basketball if you got a really good team oh they needed to lose they needed to feel that humiliation that pain of losing.

I don't buy into that all the time. I think you can have a team that understands how hard it is to win and doesn't rest on their laurels so to speak and doesn't get comfy and fat and happy. I don't think you need to lose but I do think that there is value in kind of the the sting and the humiliation of what the Rangers went through at the end of the regular season to understand they're in a precarious position and they were they led the AOS for most of the regular season but at the very end lost it to the Astros. I mean talk about having to protect your position right protect your real estate and they've gone into this playoff run with a different kind of attitude a reset if you will so now they're five and oh first playoff game at their new field for them right so that was where the 2020 NLCS and World Series were held and Corey Seeger remembers it well and now he's setting the tone for the Rangers who have not lost yet in these playoffs and get to their first ALCS since 2011 and Bruce Bochy emotional afterwards. This is why you played the game this is why I came back you know you have your your moments the ups and downs but you know to see see those players you know celebrate I couldn't be happier for them especially the ones that were here last year you know that was a tough year for them over the last you know two three years and and to see their faces and their and the celebration that's that's what really made it special for me and of course the front office and the ownership that's that's the cool thing about this game and makes it all worthwhile you know the getting in three four in the morning on some of these trips and but here you know we are celebrating going to the championship series.

Bruce Bochy adds an element to this team that they hadn't had I mean just a couple of years ago they lost over a hundred games and to bring him back with his equity his credibility certainly his knowledge and his wisdom around the game but I mean he's got World Series rings which means when he walks into a clubhouse there's instant respect there and so he's kind of brought that with him stabilizing force the leadership to be sure old dog and and I do not mean that as a negative just a a lifer a guy who commands instant respect and so while these Rangers have you know pieces that have come from other teams as a group they're kind of going through this together for the first time and he is that beacon I'm so melodramatic sometimes I like it also Dustin is angry at us Jay see I'm not I'm not going to apologize for not keeping track of which teams are playing which music in the clubhouses because I don't give a crap I remembered it incorrectly obviously hey a law radio do a bit more research before spouting things it's the Rangers who are playing Creed in the clubhouse oh yes that fundamental piece of information I apologize for getting the wrong Texas team it's not music is not my department I do not care I apologize I stay far away from Creed as possible try to do a bit more research oh I don't like I don't do research what what's research exactly I apologize Dustin did I ruin your day I hope I didn't I hope I didn't ruin your day Jay's gonna play some Creed for you no let's not get crazy okay so anyway the Rangers are on to the ALCS for the first time with their Creed music I won't ever forget ever again for the first time since 2011 I guarantee they weren't playing Creed back then so the Orioles are done 101 wins for the Orioles and they're done swept gotta hurt we'll check in with our favorite Baltimore radio host and voice he was at the no he wasn't at the I don't think he took the trip to Texas I'm gonna say no with that but he was there for the games in Baltimore is getting ready for his morning show on our affiliate and he's gonna speak for Orioles fans and for the Orioles themselves it's after hours with Amy Lawrence on CBS for facts are facts like how contributing to employees financial security makes them want to work harder for their company in fact according to a 2023 study by principle 87% of employers say that better employee financial security means employees are more engaged and productive at work the fact of the matter is that employees want to feel financially secure in their future so consider this principle helps you invest in your employees by providing customized benefits and retirement plans to help keep your employees more engaged and productive when you take care of your team they take care of business that's a fact learn how principle can help you find the right benefits and retirement plan for your team at principal.com slash benefits products and services offered by member companies of the principal financial group Des Moines Iowa for important information visit principle.com slash disclosures I'm here to tell you about pom pom at home where comfort meets elegance pom pom at home is offering 20% off site wide for a limited time see why so many of the top designers use pom poms luxury easy care bedding they have created a timeless beautiful coastal living look that incorporates subtle tones and natural fibers offering a unique touch create your dream bed now get 20% off sheets duvets throws and more right now at pom pom at home.com easy to use easy to love luxury bedding just enter code pom pom at checkout. The all-electric Hyundai IONIQ 6 is sleek full of advanced tech and has a range of up to 360 miles any drawbacks yeah every IONIQ 6 comes with a complimentary ev charger and up to 600 installation credit so you're gonna have to figure out something else to spend that money on the all-electric Hyundai IONIQ 6. Hyundai it's your journey. EPA estimated 361 mile range for IONIQ 6 SE long range rear wheel drive with fully charged battery. Actual range varies based on trim and other factors.

Actual charge time varies based on charging unit output temperature and other factors. Call 562-314-4603 for complete details. You are listening to the after hours podcast. Leclerc is ready to go oh and two here it is swing and a miss strike three and that will do it it's irony that really hurts you go the entire season you go until last may you had not been swept and the Orioles are swept in three games in the American League division series by the Texas Rangers. This is after hours with Amy Lawrence. The call on the Baltimore Orioles radio network and you can hear the 41,000 strong in Arlington behind that call because the Orioles are swept on the road in game three against the Rangers 21 runs given up by O's pitching and our next guest put this question on his twitter almost 24 hours ago if the O's fall short of the ALCS was it a successful season. It's after hours with Amy Lawrence on CBS sports radio Rob Long joining us from our Baltimore affiliate 105.7 the fan getting set for his big bad morning show.

Rob will you please answer that question yourself? I think it was successful season definitely your expectations change however Amy you know that'll be you you go into the season people expect you to win do it in 81 games because they take you they think you'll take a step back from last year as if last year were fluke and and then all of a sudden you look up at the all-star breaking and you're right there so then your expectations change so although I think it was a successful season it was a very disappointing ending. What happened? How did they fail to mount a charge against the Rangers? Well I mean just as a person who's been up close and personal watching this team all year you start seeing it down the stretch if you look down the stretch and going back to Houston they scored a one run what was it one run in Houston and two runs and then they won a couple of ball games in Cleveland two to one they beat the Nets one to nothing they beat the Boston Reds two to nothing then they got shut out against Boston so basically those runs became scarce down the stretch and that bit them in the playoff that continued in the postseason they did have the loud outburst on Sunday at home but they were trailing big you know when teams are up big you know they do some things different they tend to be a little bit more relaxed even though they put up eight runs and a loss on Sunday what happened to this team is they just stopped scoring runs and stopped hitting they would stop hitting team of runners in scoring position but not down to stress not the last two weeks of the season. Is it Rangers pitching?

Do you think it was experience? And as you point out this started at the end of the regular season a couple of the guys mentioned after the the game though that you know it's our first time through this it's our first experience in the playoffs as a group a lot of these guys of course making their October debuts anything you can pinpoint? I think it's a perfect storm.

I think it's a little bit of all those things. Rangers pitching showed up. I can't say it wasn't Rangers pitching when Nate involved he all of a sudden could become you know a top of the line starter he was he was not that good down the stretch he did well in the wild card and great last night so you got to take something you got to tip your hat to the Rangers pitching because all of a sudden they became top notch but I think it also you know you saw experience in there as well on top of a team that was struggling offensively to start with when the postseason began so I think it was a it was kind of a perfect storm.

Rob Long is with us from Baltimore sports talk morning host on our affiliate 105.7 The Fan also host of O's Extra on Mathen. So how are Orioles fans feeling this morning then? You know well we'll we'll wait to see but just by the responses that I saw on on on social media you have some who are gonna throw dirt just because that's the type of people they are but I think for the most part Orioles fans feel optimistic. You said something about you know the announcers and players saying they'll be back I think most of the fan base feels that way you can never predict getting back to the postseason especially when you have a veteran team because it's a thin line between being a veteran and being old but when you have a team that your nucleus is is this young this inexperienced this was great experience for them and you feel confident about this team getting back in the postseason especially you know not only just the opportunity to win the east but you also have three wildcard spots. I feel confident that this is a team that will get back to the postseason and and take this loss you know I keep hearing that's eight consecutive postseason losses for the Baltimore Orioles that started in 2014.

Middle school they had nothing to do with that. I think they faced this postseason will help them out especially make them hungry I mean you know how it is when you know where the finish line is anyway when all you've had in 162 it's hard to fathom getting past 162 but now that these guys going to spring training knowing what it feels like to go beyond that I think the creative differences of hunger from them beginning in spring training where they may have just picked up on that this year halfway through when they start believing they can do it. All right I want to circle back to the question it had 630 responses on your twitter I don't know how many of those you actually read but here is Brandon Hyde's response to whether or not 23 is a success. We're supposed to win 76 games won 101 when the American League East proud of really proud of our group um they defied all the odds nobody gave us a chance they got these guys play their butts off for six months we just we just didn't play well for these these last three unfortunately and um it's definitely a successful season and these guys are gonna be really good going forward. So that's the manager's take on it I'm not sure what the fans had to say to you so mixed bag of the of the comments that you were inundated with on twitter? First of all he's right some of the experts had to win 76 games I thought that was a joke uh from the very beginning I you know this team was legit last year they didn't they didn't sneak up on 83 wins I thought this team worst case scenario was gonna be the third wildcard team coming into the season that was my prediction that they'd be a wildcard team but that 76 he's right that was a that was the prediction but that was never my expectations on this team I thought they were much too good for that um but again from what I didn't read all 600 so shame on you but most of the feeling I'm getting I would say at least 80 of the people that I've read are saying that yes it's a successful season but I think most agree with me success because of the expectations from the beginning disappointing because those expectations were raised changed over 162 this team became a team that we expected to get to the ALCS I did uh the hitting was just good the pitching was good but so I think right now we're seeing the the impact of the bullpen um you know I thought going into the to the trade deadline you know people around here were talking about starters and I said to them listen man you win you win out of the bullpen in the postseason now and I thought that was something that they needed to really focus on I you know I came to learn that they did focus on that they just weren't willing to give up the pieces that other teams wanted and I don't blame them you know you you've got some studs still remaining in the bottom leagues um I think I'll hold on to some of them before I trade up trade them off and they just couldn't put together the pieces that they wanted for a bullpen fujinami coming over from oakland just wasn't the answer he wasn't even on the postseason roster I think what they have to address in the off season especially with batista being down with tommy john surgery they just got to address that bullpen no fewer than three legit pieces have to be added to that bullpen uh for the ballgame and I think they have to address that bullpen uh for the baltimore royals the next year because that's what it takes to win in the postseason they briefly had the lead in game number two so they jumped up with the two runs in the opening frame before the rangers just opened the floodgates where they have nine in the next couple innings if I remember correctly uh but what was the atmosphere like at camden yards for the return of postseason baseball amy I've I've I've been through every stage of camden yards I've been through the swamps through the bad teams back to the playoffs I've never experienced not even over the day I've never experienced what I did uh what I experienced on saturday and sunday and I'll tell you why sunday to me was even more special when the rangers were up nine to two the crowd got louder they got defiant um they stood it's almost like they felt like they felt like they seemed to win um and I've never experienced that at camden yards uh it was just electric I was glad uh masson did not have the broadcast because it's national but we had pregame we had postgame so for the first time I really got to soak in the crowd and walk around the crowd during the game because I had no in-game responsibilities and it's just you know from the rooftop deck to to utah street to to in the club level it was just it was a buzz throughout the stadium that I've never seen and I've seen some great moments that I was in the stadium when delvin young had the bases loaded double but I've never seen I never felt witness not ending to what I witnessed on sunday rob long is with us from baltimore for just a couple more minutes you're awake now right can I drop a question on you that we've been asking our listeners or thrown out to our listeners I've been awake since four oh how okay but why because the snow starts at six you can call preparation angels whatever you could do it the night before I suppose but between the game though you well I guess it wasn't wait shoot which game was earlier no you had the later game last night yeah I did so did you get any sleep uh I got a nap a nap yeah okay so this is what we're asking our listeners to do on this edition of the show it's not really a question it's more about fill in the blank word association if you will but I know you're smart and you're you're already awake so you're gonna be good when I say ravens you say what through week five um no no no thinking let's go let's go consistent inconsistent very inconsistent that's the word I throw in they're they're inconsistent bunch uh I think game five week five was was their inconsistency on display uh at times they looked to dominate at times they looked at the head they didn't have a clue um you know and some passes were caught some passes were not called this is a very very lots of drops and and the problem is Amy we saw this last year this is not new you know I mean you had a huge lead against Buffalo you lose the game and you know you're ahead of the lead against Miami you lose the game this is last year so I think this is a very inconsistent bunch you don't know what you get from time to time with them from half to half from quarter to quarter and and um they've got to develop some kind of continuity uh some kind of some kind of plan it seems like sometimes they don't have a plan you go out for fourth and two are we going to go for it are we not going to go forward why did you snap the ball because I saw the defense move oh wasn't it a no snap situation and I mean so that to me it makes me add this but what was the plan you should never ask what was the plan when you're looking at a professional sports team in general but it's just you know that there's just so many things that happened in that that you can look at as a microcosm of where they are right now well and and to maybe even narrow it down a tad bit more in the fourth quarter on back-to-back possessions well the Steelers and then the Ravens you've got the Ravens were covering what was essentially a fumble on a punt right but but it was a stealer that knocked the ball out of his own teammate's arms so the Ravens the Ravens get that on a punt return they get the possession but then a couple minutes later Lamar Jackson throws an interception in the end zone on a on a ball that probably shouldn't have been a 50-50 ball it shouldn't have been available for the DB to take it away from that was from OBJ right so that's the type of inconsistency right there in the microcosm of a couple of minutes absolutely he's dropping dimes early as someone would drop and then you know instead of throwing the ball to the back pylon with either OBJ makes a great catch or it falls on your kicker gets the field goal you're right you're throwing an exception and all of a sudden now Pittsburgh has the momentum the Ravens gain Pittsburgh the momentum all the way down to the momentum on so many occasions and finally Pittsburgh said you know what I'm gonna take advantage of and win this game it's just very you know the block punt you know we talked about it we you know about my co-host Ed Norris was was screaming bloody murder how do you give up a block punt to the agap and I agree with him you don't give up a block punt to the agap you make somebody make a great play coming off the edge you do not give up a block punt over the top yeah gotcha all right well plenty to talk about that is the beauty of our business though I certainly understand if Orioles fans are feeling a bit muted this morning it was a great season now they've got a little playoff taste under their belts and they'll talk about it on 105.7 the fan that's Rob Long Sports on Twitter Rob Long Sports big bad morning show host of O's Extra on Mathen one of our BFFs here on the show and clearly awake and ready to tangle thank you Rob always good to talk to you let's go thanks a lot let's go I'm not sure I've ever had a guest get off the air quite like that before let's go yeah it is I can understand that it would be a mixed reaction with the Orioles I like what Brandon Hyde had to say stumping for his team but there's no way that you don't win 101 games in the regular season not win a game in the playoffs and not feel some twinge of disappointment or shoot was that all worth it but yes it's part of the building process Rome slash World Series titles weren't built in a day it's after hours with Amy Lawrence coming up your choice for TD of the week and while the NHL may have dropped the puck on its 23-24 season last night that's actually not the biggest story in the game you are listening to the after hours podcast you're listening to after hours with Amy Lawrence firing for the end zone touchdown touchdown takes it himself to the pylon touchdown the people have spoken and one score stands above the rest here is your TD of the week the San Francisco 49ers here's an end around and a flea flicker back to Brock Purdy takes a shot down the sideline to George Kittle Kittle all the way to the end zone touchdown San Francisco with a little razzle dazzle reverse flea flicker they flip it to McCaffrey he flips it back to Deebo Deebo flips it to Purdy and Purdy drops it to George Kittle down the sideline you know I was a hell of a seventh grade running back I'll tell you that much yeah running back in defensive end I had a lot of sacks as well but uh yeah I know it's been a minute but it's always fun been a minute since he had three touchdowns in the game or been a minute that he had a touchdown actually George Kittle following the game against the Dallas Cowboys and you know he incited the wrath of one Micah Parsons by wearing a t-shirt with some choice words about those Dallas Cowboys it's kind of a fun feud I wouldn't say it's a family feud but I would say it's a fun feud between the Cowboys and the Niners we can get more of that the NFL schedulers will randomly arrange it if you will it's after hours with Amy Lawrence CBS Sports Radio yeah George saying he's never scored three touchdowns in a single game it had been a minute since he scored any touchdowns at all but perfect timing if you're a Niners fan because that offense was powerful and potent and the Cowboys got the brunt of it on Sunday Night Football it's after hours on our Facebook page on our YouTube channel also on Twitter after hours CBS and many of you are weighing in with our word association kind of awkward to put up on social media I readily admit that but we're asking you to to fill in the blank essentially when I say Vikings you say what well when I say Vikings right now I assume a lot of you are saying Justin Jefferson no because that is what they're dealing with worst case scenario he's out at least four games with a strain right hamstring which means he can't return before week 10 the Vikings are already in dire straits and Kevin O'Connell is trying to make the point hey there's so many other targets for Kirk Cousins we still are really excited about Jordan Addison KJ Osborne's been ultra consistent TJ Hockinson there's a reason why he's here and and and we'll continue to build things on all downs to keep him involved and then how does CJ Ham or Josh Oliver Johnny Mundt or Brandon Powell how do those guys fit in in their complementary roles where they can really really see some premier opportunities they need to listen to Creed in the locker room okay here's the thing yes those are all professional football players none of them are number ones and when you do not have a Justin Jefferson on the field or forget on the field when you don't have to game plan for Justin Jefferson in the weeks leading up to the game or the days leading up to the game it changes everything the defense doesn't have to worry about JJ the task becomes that much easier I would say a hell of a lot easier he's one of the best playmakers in the league so as much as you can hold up all of these other dudes it's not the same even if JJ is nothing but a decoy you have to set a couple of guys with him you always have to know where he is on the field at all times he's dangerous sometimes we talk about players in hoops and we can say this in hockey too but they don't need someone else to set them up they can create their own scoring opportunities with the basketball with the puck when it comes to JJ obviously any receiver has to receive the ball from his quarterback or take it as a handoff yada yada if you're Deebo Samuel what do you call himself a wide back a couple years ago but JJ can once he gets that ball or once the ball is coming to him the body control and the ability to to out muscle guys or to get them all twisted around I love the fact that he can can win a jump ball contest if he needs to stop it it's just wrong you just ruined everything I said about Justin Jefferson I can't I just I can't I mean I feel I feel like I might as well just get up and walk out of the studio now is that because of Creed are you rubbing again it was it our listener friend Dustin he's so angry about the fact that we got the wrong team are you trying to rub his nose and find some way to get Creed in there at some point yeah that might be the only thank you that might be the only Creed song I know is that bad no that's actually I'd say that's a good thing but name another one let me see if I know it um my sacrifice oh I do know that one that's another one there's two I know two there's another one that's like popular no give me a second well you know I guess we need to hang out the Rangers clubhouse anyway not having Justin Jefferson it just changes everything right I mean this is a guy who can in fact create scores on his own once you give him the football or send the football his direction he's gonna make something happen it's after hours here on CBS Sports Radio he's not the only guy who's injured actually we've been kind of keeping track of some of the injuries coming out of week number five we also know that Devon Achan the Dolphins rookie running back is now expected to miss multiple weeks with a knee injury they may put him on IR like Jefferson they may not a lot of times they hold out hope that he won't have to miss four weeks and so if they believe there's any way he can come back before the month is done well then they'll save the roster spot for him and not put him on IR though Raheem Ostert I mean right now he's one of the top touchdown guys in the NFL so not a bad backup plan if you will I'm using my air quotations and and then Wilson who is the guy they brought over from saviors Jeff Wilson yeah right so he's on the roster too right so I think he was hurt but remember it was like this I want to say a mass exodus but a bunch of guys that McDaniel then plucked off of or brought over from the Niners guys that he was familiar with all right before we hit the top of the hour NHL dropped the puck on its season last night Connor Medard, Sidney Crosby same arena Connor has his first NHL point it's an assist but a lot of the hockey world focused on the news coming out of well ESPN although officially Barry Melrose is retiring and stepping away from his responsibilities there after 30 years you may not know his history but he was the coach of the LA Kings when Wayne Gretzky played for him there right so toward the end of Wayne's career and I don't do we have time for it Jay so we'll maybe get to it on our next the next edition of the show but if you haven't seen it there's a video out there that's been shared all over social media that is narrated by Wayne Gretzky and now that Barry has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and is retiring you're talking about a half a century of playing and coaching and talking about hockey and he's a character he's always been one of those kind of larger than life I mean laid back and smooth but the suits that the ties the outfits he would wear at my previous network I would encounter him a lot in the hallways we worked a lot of the same hours he would come on my shows there he was always he was always prepared for anything you would throw at him and he could have a conversation about anything in hockey but what I appreciated most is that he was kind and he always had a big smile he loved his job he loved the game and we wish him nothing but the best now it's after hours with Amy Lawrence CBS sports radio boom