It is. The JR Sport Brief Show here on the Infinity Sports Network. I'm coming to you live from Atlanta, Georgia. Thank you to everybody for being tuned in all over North America. My people on the east coast, the west coast, down south, midwest, Canada, everything in between, I appreciate you.
Thank you to our producer in New York City, Ryan Botcher. The show gets started every weekday at 6 p.m. Eastern. Three Pacific. Of course, we've been here for an hour already.
We've discussed some of the biggest names that have been cut. As NFL rosters have had to be trimmed down, So 55. Three. Guys like Tommy DeVito gone. Jake Hainer gone.
Deontay Johnson gone. Hunter Renfro, gone. Those are just a few of the names.
Now we talked about some guys who do have jobs. Congratulations to Spencer Rattler. The new quarterback of the New Orleans Saints. For now.
Okay, we got more to get into as the show continues on. Of course, we talked about Mr. Johnson. Travis Kelsey.
now engaged to Taylor Swift. Does this mean that this guy's going to be gone sooner than later? Oh, I think that was going to be a certainty. Regardless. We have so much more to get into.
In about 20 minutes, we'll have a chat with pro football guru and. Historian Russell Baxter Russell will be here with us in about twenty minutes. To kind of go through everything that took place today and what we can expect as the NFL. season gets closer. And Closer.
We'll get into some, so excuse me, we'll get into some Ohio State football. And talk about Colorado, who has their next quarterback. It's a lot that we need to pay attention to as the show continues on. If you want to be a part of it, you can. 888-710-45.
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So We talked about cut day. The Browns quarterback situation. Dylan Gabriel is number two behind Flacco. Shadora's number three. Talked about Spencer Rattler beating out Tyler Shuck.
down in New Orleans, got into Travis Kelsey. Just a little bit. And just really made me think again. And then we also, unfortunately. We found out that Nathan Avaldi of the Texas Rangers is out for the season.
Strained rotator cuff not good when you're a pitcher. And then a few minutes ago, by the way, We found out that a guy who just lost his ever loving mind yesterday has been suspended It's six games. by Major League Baseball. The man? Wilson, Contreras.
From from the cardinals. I remember him starting off as the catcher for the Chicago Cubs. He's been with the Cards for a couple seasons now. And this is actually the first season that he's been moved full-time to first base.
So he doesn't have to take the beating. Of a catcher. And so he could actually stay healthy. Last year, he broke his arm, and they were like, you know what, man? We got a catcher in Herrera.
You can be first baseman. He can play behind the plate. You're older, he's younger. And so far it's worked. Wilson Contraras has nineteen home runs and seventy two R B I's.
But last night The cards? taking on the Pittsburgh Pirates? Wilson Contreras, Lost his mind.
Okay. He got hit with a called strike. That struck him out. looked like a strike to anybody who could see the baseball. And Wilson Contraras was not happy.
With the results. What did he then do? He decided to bump The umpire.
Now you know damn well, That is a no-no. In Major League Baseball, you do not touch the referees. You do not touch the officials. That is a non-negotiable. Could you imagine in professional sports?
If we had NFL players picking up referees and moving em out the way, Could you imagine in an NBA game? If you just had I don't know. Pick a guy 6'8. Forget that. Pick a guy 6'9.
Could you imagine if LeBron James shoved a referee out the way? In baseball, The proximity to the catcher and the ump. You cannot Put your hands on them. You can't get physical. It's a no-no.
It sets a horrible precedent. And so he bumped the raft. He comes out, coach tries to separate him. He's walking away kind of tosses his bat. Towards the ump, accidentally hits his coach.
And then he decides to take some bubblegum. Big ass that of it. container Throws it onto the field. And the umpire Derek Thomas couldn't do anything but stand around and just go, What did this guy lose his mind? Bacha, that was the closest thing to a third.
It was a low third strike, but it was a strike. Yeah, it was right down the middle. That's like as close as you're going to get to a confirmed strike, as it's going to be. And he had a fit about it. And so today we find out that he suspended six games.
But last night When he spoke to the media in his locker room after, Wilson Contraras made it sound like. The referee called the third strike that the guy threw out of the stadium. Listen to this. Still wondering to be honest. I don't think he had urgent to throw me out.
I didn't argue any pitch. In any about I didn't argue any patient my last about. The only thing I said was Call the pitchable side because you're missing for us. That's it, and then turn around. The next year like he threw me out, he had no reason for it.
I didn't argue any of the pitch in any of that today. 'Cause I know he's a he's a good umpire, but The only thing bad I say was Code or pg plus five. That's it.
Well and and I got it w it kinda surprised me because I kn I know the game is by one. One of the opponents was by one. I don't wanna get thrown now in a close game. Yeah, at the time they were leading 6-5. They ultimately lost 7-6.
But this is crazy to hear from a catcher. Like Wilson Contreras really stood there in front of the guy was a catcher. He really said He doesn't know why he didn't get through. He got thrown out. Because you touched the umpire.
Like di did was he did he black out so much in anger? That he didn't realize that he made contact with an official is Is he on something? He must have not seen the replay, and maybe he didn't. Maybe he was so mad He didn't realize he bumped the ump. And then he got ejected from the gang.
Botcha, do you think he realized what he did? I feel that He thinks in his mind that he did nothing wrong to get ejected, that everything else after the ejection is okay.
So I think he thinks that chest bumping the umpire, throwing the bat, throwing the bubblegum on the field, that's all okay. because he felt that he had did nothing wrong to get ejected in the first place. Am I missing something? He got ejected after he bumped the ump. You know, I think I think he got ejected.
before that, because he says He thump points at him after he said something, walking away. And then he ejected. And then he came back and then he came back and chest bumped him.
Okay. All right, well re so what does he think about his he's appealing his suspension.
So he's gonna be they start they play again The Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cardinals. They're back in action in another you know, thirty or so minutes. He's going to be able to play. until that he has the suspension appeal. But wh when you look at the totality of what took place, What is Major League Baseball going to do?
Take away one game? It doesn't matter. He bumped the ref. You keep the bumped up, you can't do that. He also threw his bat.
Yes. Would you look at Victor Robuzz two weeks ago? It was 10 games. But they give him seven, it was a ten. It was ten.
So I don't know if there was after appeal they lowered it, but either way You're throwing a bat again. and it almost hit someone, the umpire. After he got ejected, it's not a good look, so they have to suspend him for a while.
Now, did it almost hit the umpire? It hit his own coach, his coach, which is never a good thing. But if you needed to hit anybody, wouldn't you want to hit your own coach instead of hitting up? No. I wouldn't hit anyone with a bat if I was being honest.
Uh too shag. Yeah, it's just It's just wild behavior from a catcher. A. The ball was a strike. And so you're saying you didn't complain about it.
And then after the fact You're trying to understand why you were ejected. Yeah, I'm looking at it right now.
Okay. Third cold strike, he walks away. He looks back, says something, Okay. Looks like he's cursing that up. You see, that part was up the the okay, he's he thought he heard okay.
Here we go. We got subtitles. He feels that well, the ump thought that he told him basically to uh Bleep off. Apparently, apparently. Is that justified like a tossing, right?
Ah Yeah, you curse at an umpire. I'd assume you have the power to eject someone. I'd say if you're an MOB umpire, you should have some tough skin and not react to the first curse word at you. But it's okay. Yeah, I I'm I'm gonna verify this in the break.
Wilson Contreras Told the home plate umpire to, you know, go do something to himself. after the third cold strike. leading to the ejection.
So apparently there is a there's a little bit of sound here. of this interaction. which would justify getting tossed.
Now, what's the contrary? You just heard what he said. He's like, Oh, I didn't argue whether or not it was a ball, I didn't argue whether or not it was a strike. Bruh, but there's some magic words in the world of sports that you. Y you cannot utter.
That's not going to necessarily go in your favor.
So, just wild behavior from a catcher. But Wilson Contreras every now and then, he's been known to conduct. fly off the handle just a little bit.
So when you think about the alleged words that he used to towards the ump You think about him bumping the umpire. You think about throwing that bat, even though it didn't hit the ump, it hit his own coach. And then you think about the uh the bubble gum onto the field. It appears that Wilson Contreras, I would say, yeah, this guy deserves His his games and he deserves to to sit out some time. Major League Baseball just says Wilson Contraras, it's time for you to have a seat.
A six-game suspension. That he's appealing.
Now whooped he do. I guess they just bring him down to five games in the world. And we'll continue on. We'll see. 888-710-4ISN is the number.
That's 888-710. four I S N little little wild that he's taking this approach of uh I don't just I don't wanna say being hard headed in response, but Let's take the suspension, keep it moving, everybody goes home happy. Get it, you won maybe you want a you want another day's worth of pay, but I don't know if this is going to work out in his favor. Maybe at the end of the day, he'll apologize. We'll find out sooner than later.
Speaking of apologies, I can't believe I heard this one. Aaron Rodgers? He sat down with Adam Shine. And Aaron Rogers says that he is sorry To the fans in New York for not winning? Are you kidding me?
Listen to what Aaron Rodgers had to say. about his time in New York. I wish it had gone differently up there for sure. But um you know, I put all I had into it. I mean, I tore my Achilles and battle my aspect to come back to practice.
to inspire the guys and hope to come back. Yeah, I put a lot into it and I'm sorry.
Sorry it didn't work out, but. Um I'm thankful for the couple of special moments that there were had. Wow Didn't Aaron didn't expect that from Aaron Rodgers. I mean, in his tenure in New York, he kind of it was either going to go one or two ways. No one could have expected That this guy would have basically started his career four plays later, and boom, he's out for the season.
Comes back the next season. New York Jets is still miserable. Nobody Yeah, you could have guessed it. One way. He would have went to the jets and everything would have imploded.
He was their last ditch effort. And their last chance. to have success with would Rob Salah and Joe Douglas. De everybody knew if it ain't work, There's a good chance that they all would have gotten fired. And they did.
The other thing Is that Aaron Rodgers goes out there? The Jets can go to the playoffs, they can look pretty decent. and then maybe along the way they can develop somebody behind him. That was always less likely. and so Aaron Rogers can feel as bad as he wants.
It was destined to pretty much not work in New York. What took place is what was the most likeliest. of scenarios, but at least he said sorry. Maybe he's warmer, kindler, and gentler as his uh career. Is coming to a close.
It's the JR Sport Brief Show here with you coast to coast on the Infinity Sports Network. I don't think we're going to get no sorry from Wilson Contreras. But when we come back on the other side of the break, We're going to have a chat. with Russell Baxter from Pro Football Guru. NFL writer and historian.
Let's get his thoughts on Aaron Rodgers this year, the Cleveland Browns quarterback dilemma. What the Saints are going to do. I'll talk to one of the biggest, best minds in the world of football, Russell Baxter on the other side. It's the J.R. Sport Reshow.
on the Infinity Sports Network. You're listening to the JR Sport Brief. It is the JR Sport Brief Show here with you coast to coast on the Infinity Sports Network. NFL teams have to get their rosters down to 53 today. We got some quarterbacks who got some jobs.
We got a bunch of quarterbacks who've been cut joining us right now as we inch closer and closer to the start of the regular season. is an NFL writer. A historian. He's a football guru. Joining us right now is Russell Baxter.
Russell, how are you, man? I'm good at that I'm Didn't realize that was me. I thought, wow, you got a hell of a guest coming on here.
Well, listen, I got to biggy up the best way possible, Russell. Hey, that's all right. There's a lot to be said for PayVal and PayPal and Venmo. I'm glad you got the payment. No, no, no doubt about it.
Hey, listen, Russell. Out of everything that took place today, no big names, no gigantic surprises, what caught your attention? I d I think with um You know, Seattle had a plan this offseason. to rebuild basically its all of its skill positions. um they have a new quarterback they have a new offensive coordinator they have a new offensive line coach They have a new wide receiving room for the most part.
And one of those guys was a guy who Clint Kubiak Had in New Orleans last year for a brief time, and that was Marquez Valve-Scantling. Yes. Burner, a little inconsistent. Um Gave him a deal and wound up cutting him today. Which was a little bit of a surprise.
They kept guys like Cody White. They really liked Tori Horton. Who was a fifth-round pick out of Colorado State, but he's been a little banged up the last couple of days. There's a lot riding on the Seahawks this year, I think, because of the. Gamble they made through, this was a 10-win team.
In fact, they're the only 10-win team last year that didn't make the playoffs. And some of that was due to an erratic defense, which started strong. Um really stunk up the joint the middle of the season and then finished strong. And big reason they won six of their last eight games. Um But John Schneider not only brought in Darnold, they brought in Cooper Cup.
You know, they got rid of DK Metcalf, they got rid of Geno Smith, they got rid of Tyler Lockett, they got rid of Noah Fant. Um and You know, Seattle drafted 11 guys in April and nine of them on offense.
So it wasn't really deep. I think they feel confident in some of the things they did on defense. Nick Imminwuri, the defensive back from South Carolina. He's a player to watch. Demarcus Lawrence had his season cut short last year.
He comes in and gives them a little defensive depth. And, you know, whether the Cowboys succeeded in the playoffs or not, he at least played in some playoff games. But Scantling, I thought, was Valdez Scantling getting cut loose, I thought was. A little bit of a surprise move.
Now, they could also feel very, very good about the young players they have. But it's a very big year for Seattle because they invested a lot of money into Sam Darnold. And as I wrote last night, are we going to see Sam Darnold? The first 16 times we saw him last year for the most part, or the Sam Darnold who Uh you know couldn't complete 50% of his passes in Detroit and got sacked nine times by the Rams in the playoffs. I'm going to think it's closer to what we saw at the end.
I mean, he had such a career year. I don't think he's going to be bad, but. It it'd be hard to duplicate what he did last season. Oh yeah, I think 4,300 yards is hard for anybody to duplicate. Plus, what Seattle really wants to do.
Is run the football. And the kid who they got in the first round, their guard, Gray Zabel from North Dakota State. You know, they don't make all, you know, they don't make offensive linemen usually offensive rookies of the year. But that's a guy to keep an eye on. Um, now their line has been awful the last couple of years, and Kubiak, let's put it this way: the Seahawks were 28th.
in Russian in 2023. Talk about consistency. They were 28th in rushing in 2024. I don't think that's going to be the case this year. I think you see a lot more balance.
Um One way to fix an offensive line that you know, gives up a lot of sacks. Um is them on the running game. And have you watched them during the preseason? That's exactly what now their starters didn't really play against Green Bay. Um but Training camp is the time you try to get these offensive lines together.
It's harder than it used to be because you don't have the contact that you used to do and you can't really build up that toughness and sometimes you can't build up that those reps. And that consistency and so on. But Seattle to me is an intriguing team to watch. I think, frankly, the NFC West is kind of wide open.
Okay. Russell Baxter is here with us, founder, pro football guru. Football guru. One of the big stories that we got today, not huge, but Dylan Gabriel is quarterback number two in the Browns. And then Shador is there at number three.
Now that Kenny Pickett is now backing up Geno Smith in Las Vegas, How long do you think it might be until we see Shador get a chance or an opportunity this season?
Well, he's going to, you know, the next man up after Joe Flacker will be Dylan Gabriel, obviously. Um and hopefully for the sake of Kevin Stefansky. He actually has a quarterback. That he gets 17 games out of.
Okay, and you know, keep in mind something, and Flat go is already on the list.
Okay, since 1999. The Browns have started 40 different quarterbacks. Oh, Jesus. 40.
Okay. Um you know, if you're if you're out with the guys and um you stop and and get some refreshments a 40 is a good thing correct It can be on a street corner. Yeah, it can be. 40 different quarterbacks is not a good thing. And if by chance Gabriel and Shador wind up starting, that would make it 42.
Now this is only since 1999 when the team came back into the league. as an expansion team.
So Kevin Stefanski's won Coach of the Year twice. And mainly because of How he was able to. in some ways rehab Baker Mayfield after a shaky start to his career and now they had one bad year. He moved on and now he's kind of reaching, now he's a Pro Bowl quarterback. Joe Flaca, remember the year they went to the playoffs in 2023?
Joe Flaca won comeback player of the year for basically playing five games, and Stefanski won coach of the year.
So Kevin Stefansky knows who's going.
Now, how good is the team around him? This was a three-win team. Last season, they had more problems than just just quarterback. But if form holds. in recent years.
I'm not going to be shocked to see all three of them get at least one start this year. It's just how it's been. But you know, you never know. I mean, this is an unpredictable league where teams. Go from last to playoff team, just ask the Chargers and the Commanders last year.
They were. basement dwellers in 2023. One of them reached the playoffs, one of them reached the NFC title game. Hey, bring in a competent coach and a solid quarterback on one end, and things could change rather quickly. Russell Baxter's joining us here on the JR Sport Brief Show.
You talk about a team. Bringing in a quarterback, they hope is a good bridge to whatever they end up doing next. We just heard before you joined us from Aaron Rodgers basically saying, Yeah, I'm I'm I'm sad that things didn't work out the way that we intended. In New York. What do you think will take place this upcoming season in Pittsburgh?
Well, you know, I know there's been like a little sound and a little guessing about. you know not even really talking about 2025 you know people asking questions even amongst themselves um you know would he even return in 2026 I don't think, and this is just my feeling and a guess without talking to anybody. I don't know if that's necessarily in the plans. For the Steelers, I have felt all along watching them make the moves that they have: trading for John New Smith, getting Jalen Ramsey, Juan Thornhill. And remember, they let a lot of contracts expire.
This year. Dan Moore went to Tennessee. Najee Harris went to the Chargers. Um They're not official yet. But you go with the trades they've made Okay.
Um and the anticipated compensatory picks. in next year's draft. And the Pittsburgh Steelers are sitting at a dozen picks right now, if that all pans out.
Now, that to me sounds like a team that is hoping to maybe hit a little magic in 2025 and maybe looking for a Quarterback. Who they can build things around, and maybe a franchise quarterback, and doing it without. You know, and who knows what's going to happen. Maybe they could completely bottom out. All right.
I mean, it's been a while since the franchise has had. a losing season. You have to go all the way back to 2003, the year before they took Ben Ralthusberger in the first round of the draft. Um but that that's the plumbing I think we know enough about Aaron Rodgers to know that he's a year-by-year case. There's no question.
Now, from all reports I'm hearing, he is throwing the hell out of the football.
Okay, and I'm not going to be surprised to see him and DK Metcalf do some very exciting things. But the Steelers need to run the football. their offensive line. Neil really needs to come together. They have an excellent young center.
And Zach Frazier. They've got two first-round draft choices at the tackle spots. Roger Jones is going back. to his natural left tackle spot, but he's been a major disappointment. Troy Fonteno got hurt in the second game of the year last year.
He's a little more of a promising prospect. Listen. Oh, thank you. Every year we sit here talking about skilled positions. Every year we talk about this and that.
Ah. We saw what the offensive line did for the Philadelphia Eagles these two years. And even the year they lost to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. Howie Roseman has this thing down pat. Build up your team in the trenches, offensive line, defensive line.
It leads to a lot of good things. It's funny because there's so much. And you know this, rating Jalen Hurts. this and raiding Jalen Hurts that.
Okay. How about, you know, but then you turn around and see the offensive line for the Eagles, the top. you know, just about everybody's list. because that's what they're built on. And that's what their philosophy is.
And that's a hard philosophy. Teep tune Beat.
Okay, because if you are solid there. A lot of good things are going to happen no matter what the situation is. Tells where.
Okay? It was funny, Saquon Barkley didn't have a breakout game at five. Any regards? Against the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, correct? Yeah, yeah.
But I believe he he touched the football more than any other player. And the more he touched the football, Was the less times the Chiefs touched football, although I will say When the Chiefs did touch the football, they didn't hang on to it very much. Yeah, Mahomes was running for his life out there. Six sacks, three turnovers. Um you know, and I think a lot of people are There's a little question with the Eagles because guys like Josh Schweat and Milton Williams moved on.
But Hallie Roseman just has that now. Zach Bond was basically a special teams player with the Saints. He was an all-pro linebacker with the Eagles. Not pro, but all-pro. Old probe.
Okay? I mean, not just I mean, just Howie Roseman's probably the best guy in the game right now because he has that philosophy. of not m his idea of a splash move is getting The center. And I'm not trying to be sarcastic or anything, but he understands what ultimately wins in this game. And that's why he's been able to get.
You know, he's won two Super Bowls. As a general manager, The two different starting quarterbacks. and two different head coaches. Russell Baxter is here with us on the JR Sport Brief Show.
Well, let me ask you this in finality. The team that didn't win the Super Bowl. Earlier this year. The Kansas City Chiefs, they trying and have retooled. On their offensive line.
They certainly hope that everything kind of works out. And then we got this news today that Travis Kelsey is going to get hitched. Is this kind of a last ditch this year? Are we going to be done with Kelsey? What do you think this means for this team this season?
Well, you know, pass catching, I mean, he's still a very, very pivotal part of what they do. I think he wore it down at the end of the year. And I think the Chiefs in general, the Chiefs have played a lot of football. These last couple that's what happens when you go to three straight Super Bowls and remember when they beat the 49ers in Super Bowl 58. They weren't a number one seed.
They had to play four playoff games.
Okay, now, of course, the Eagles had to play four playoff games in name, but. You know, when you go to the playoffs, what is it, ten years in a row they've been in there now? you know, second longest streak, you know, they can tie the Patriots. They have a chance of Tying the Bills this year if they get back to the Super Bowl. You know, the only other team to get the Ford Super Bowls, of course, the Bills didn't win the year there.
There's the Chiefs. I mean the Chiefs have been to the Super Bowl five of the last six years. That's. almost unfathomable.
Okay, that the team can do that.
Okay? I mean when the Patriots did what they did, they had their gaps.
Okay, they went to three in four years. Then they kind of got spread out. I mean, I'm not telling you anything New England did. Premier Dynasty, we did do that for 20 years. Um you know, but remember Travis Kelsey But it And for people who don't know.
Travis Kelsey was a rookie. the first year that Andy Reid coached the Chiefs in 2013. That's a long time. Yeah, he's going to be 36 in October. It might be time to.
Hang them up and just be a celebrity. We're going to find out sooner than later. Hey, Russell, thank you so much for coming through and joining us. Tell everybody where they could follow you and all of your work. Backswootball guru on well, I still call it Twitter, okay?
I'm a creature app. Backswootball guru on Twitter. I put all the stuff out that I do for on SI. um and uh be jumping back in nfl spin zone once the season starts Um with some of my weekly columns like food for thought and key statistics and Um stuff like that um Always fun to talk football. Nine days away.
From the season opener, who's the greatest number nine in NFL history in your mind? The greatest number nine? Oh my goodness. Or your favorite number nine. My favorite number not Romo.
Romo's on my list of. I do, if you go on my Twitter account, I do countdowns. When it comes to the the Super Bowl, the draft. the Hall of Fame and so on.
So today it was nine. And of course you have guys like Drew Brees. who is first time eligible. for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Well you know he's good.
Well, you hope so. I mean second all time. I mean passing away behind by Tom Brady, okay? It's amazing. There's a question that he's not getting.
We know it's not Elon Manning. We know he's getting in.
Well But he didn't get in last year. And I'll just remind people: they've kind of tweaked the rules when it came to the Hall of Fame. This past year, which I was in Canton, I go every year. Um it was only four guys enshrined. That was the fewest in 20 years.
Yeah.
So. It's now a matter of not getting in. It's a matter of: are you a first ballot? Are you a second ballot? Um, you know, they have certain limits with certain things.
Um, I'll tell you one guy, I but nothing surprised me, Larry Fitzgerald. His first time eligibility now, he wore number 11, that was two days ago.
Okay, so but Drupris obviously at number nine, probably the one hall of famer. I'll date myself. Um Anybody out there remember Sunday Jerkinson? From the Redskins and the Ethos quarterback, Hall of Fame quarterback? He w he wore number nine?
So he says good.
Now tomorrow is number eight. That's always a fun topic. Uh Steve Young and Troy Aikman. Yeah, well, yeah, I go young over Aikman. I think Aikman towards the end got a little worse.
Well, they both unfortunately got banged up at the end, but I think Aikman had a little bit worse. Yeah, well, yeah, I mean, Troy got. I mean, he was, it was Lamar Arrington, I think, that hit him. Yeah.
And Steve got. steamrolled on a Monday night. And that was big. And I had the privilege of working with Steve at ESPN, great gentleman, and so on, great analyst, a lot of fun to work with, and so on. But there's some.
The veterans out there who remember old school football, per se, not Detroit, and Steve didn't play it. But there's a great Hall of Fame safety from The St. Louis Cardinals named uh Larry Wilson. who a lot of people credit with creating. whether he did or not, the safety blitz.
Okay. And what what year was this? Oh sixties?
Okay, yeah, now that pre that I'm it's not when you would get it and by the way Maybe the greatest punter of all time, Ray Guy wore number eight. Oh, Ray Guy. I remember Ray Guy. And I don't.
So that and that's what makes it fun and for me on a personal level. For the guys who are still with us and still playing in the league, I always get a big kick because I tag them. on Twitter. And Many of them respond. With a thank you and so on.
So it's nice to hear because I do that, it's a tribute to the players. Um and it's it's one way and it's also to me. We need to be, I'll get on my soapbox for 30 seconds. We in the media need to be better teachers. That's it?
There was nothing. You said 30 seconds for soapbox. I thought you were going to say more after that. No, no, no, I'm running for office next year, not this year. All right, no taking, no taking.
Well, you came through and educated us, Russell. We appreciate the time.
Okay, we'll catch you soon. You gotcha. Nine days, eight days. It's getting here quick. We're getting here.
Yeah, I can't wait. Don't remind me. The only bad part, it's about to be September. I still miss summertime, but. Hey, I'll enjoy it while we can.
Hey, Russell, we'll talk to you real soon, okay? You got it, sir. No doubt about it. Shout outs to the NFL historian and the founder of Pro Football Guru. Russell Baxter for joining us.
Yeah, he's reminding everybody that the NFL season is upon us. We still got some guys who got some jobs. It's the J.R. Sport Brief Show here on the Infinity Sports Network. We got more to get into, but right now we got to get into a news flash.
Here he is: Rich Ackerman. You're listening to the JR Sport Brief. It is the JR Sport Brief Show here with you, coast to coast. on the Infinity Sports Network. Hey, thank you so much to NFL historian.
Founder of Pro Football Guru. Russell Baxter for coming through. To talk some NFL with us. As we continue on with the show, we'll talk some more NFL. And, you know, at the top of the hour, I do want to get into some.
some college. Everybody's waiting on this Ohio state and Texas game arch and saying two guys expected to kind of take their programs and continue on with the big traditions. And then we also had the news about Ohio State banning not banning Dave Portnoy from bar stool. It's just It's a lot of drama. That has nothing to do With the actual football.
We'll get into that.
Next hour. And then, as well, Tony Gerdman is going to join us from the Buckeye Huddle.
So, we'll talk some college football. And then even how about this? You you want to talk about continuing anything. We know that Shadore. Third on the depth chart.
For the Cleveland Browns, Dylan Gabriel is number two. Deion Sanders even had his own announcement today. About who's officially gonna take over the reins. at Colorado. Buffaloes get ready to start their season this upcoming Friday night, which will be a fun watch against Georgia Tech.
and Dion officially named His QB. Take a listen to this. Feeling darn good about them. We got two guys that are capable of uh getting the job done. Case all is going to start.
You guys knew that. I don't know why you played a play. He was going to start. Uh Your kid has a ton of experience. Dual threat.
You can throw the heck out of the ball as well. He's the guy. He's the guy at this point. We were praying and we're hoping. That you see some Juju periodically through the game as well.
We would like to. to get him some reps as well. But the game predicates that.
So Caden Salter, who transferred over from Liberty, and has some experience playing some college football. No surprise, no big shock, he's going to get the start. But as you heard from Dion as well, Uh Julian Lewis. who just graduated from high school. He's going to get some reps here and there.
But he's not going to get the keys to the car right away. They'll hand it to him, maybe get a little test drive in here. They go around a corner. Uh but you can expect to see Caden Salter. Throughout the course of the season, unless things change.
And we always know they can change.
Now, separately from that, And maybe this is one of the reasons that people didn't want to draft Shador. Deon Sanders was also asked about his son Shiloh being cut. from the Buccaneers. Remember he threw that punch over the weekend? Through a punch on Saturday.
On Sunday, the Buccaneers said. Goodbye. Dion had a response to that when asked. Listen You know, NFL is a tough business. Shallow had, you know, some bad business.
Have you talked to him and how is his experience? Most definitely. He's your son. Um I'm proud of my my kids, all of them. And I prepared my kids for any and everything that could possibly happen in life.
and in sports. This this part of fathering, that's part of parenting, that's part of having a relationship.
So he is mentally Where he needs to be, physically, where he needs to be. We're praying that he gets. another opportunity to go with a team. But if he doesn't, The plans have already been Put forward to what he's going to do next. Shiloh is a man of many talents.
I don't know if you guys know. He's a man of many talents in uh He's gonna be straight. All the standards are gonna be straight. With or without football. You better believe that.
You better believe that. I take care of mine. And I've always have, and y'all know what I mean. All right, not too much of an emphasis on why he got cut. more so about ha what he can expect from him.
uh going forward, regardless of whether he's playing football or not And just the the fact that You know, he he answered that question. Is one of the reasons I think that teams kind of looked at Shador and said, is the juice. worth the squeeze. because eventually throughout the course of seventeen games, If Dion is asked about Shadore, wherever the hell he would have ended up. Like, who wants to deal with that?
What coach wants to deal with that? The answer is nobody. wants to deal with that. You gotta let the guy go out there and be his own man. And who knows, maybe once Chador gets some starts in for Cleveland, if he does.
I'm sure we're going to hear from Dion. He's going to be asked and I'm I'm almost certain. He's going to have a response. The JR Sport Brief Show here with you, coast to coast, on the Infinity Sports Network. When we take a break, I'm going to talk some more college football action.
It is upon us. I've been waiting. I need to see Arch Manning. I need to see what the Ohio State University is going to do.
Now that they're coming off of a national championship, what is Sand going to do as quarterback? What is Manning going to do at quarterback? And is Dave Portnoy going to be allowed into the building? Yeah, there's there's even more drama besides the two schools going at it. We'll get into that on the other side of the break.
We'll get into Mr. Travis Kelsey as well. And I asked Russell this, and he basically said the Chiefs have played a lot of football. Is Travis Kelsey done? Is it time for him to stay his behind home and...
cooking clean for his wife. You know, we'll talk about that too. The JR Sport Reich Show, the Infinity Sports Network.
