Hey friends, I'm Sharon McMahon, host of Here's Where It Gets Interesting. Each week I speak with authors, experts, and thought leaders on everything from American history and democracy to how to be a better person on the internet. And don't miss my extremely popular docu series, which educate you on things you never learned in history class. Follow and listen to Here's Where It Gets Interesting on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. It is the JR Sport Brief Show.
on the Infinity Sports Network. Come to you live from Atlanta, Georgia. Thank you to everybody tuned in all across North America. I hope you're well. I hope you're safe.
Thank you. for being here. Thank you. for listening. This show gets started every weekday, 6 p.m.
Eastern. Three, Pacific. You can listen on the free Odyssey app. Your local Infinity Sports Network affiliate. Sirius XM, it's channel 375.
So if you're paying for Sirius, you're paying at $5, $15, $20. I don't know what you're paying, but it's $375.
Well, the station, the channel is three seventy five, not the price. Anyway You can always hit Rewind on the Free Odyssey app, too. And if you've got a smart speaker, ask the speaker to play. the Infinity Sports Network. I told you we've been hanging out an hour.
We've talked about this. National League Championship Series matchup between the Brewers and the Dodgers. Currently, Of course, the Dodgers lead the series 2-0, but right now in Los Angeles, they are all tied up. at one run apiece. In the third inning, Tyler Glass now is currently on the mound.
Mazarowski is on the mound for the Brewers. The Brewers are trying to avoid a three Oh Hole, we got more baseball in the evening. In about an hour and Well, about 90 minutes, I could say at this point in time. We have the Mariners and the Blue Jays. The Blue Jays are trying to tie the series up at two games apiece.
And then we got Monday night. No, damn botcher, whoa. Stop the music, botcha, damn We're that late in the week, and I'm trying to throw it back to Monday. What's wrong with me? It's because we talked about Caleb Williams on Monday.
Damn. Is it is that why? Probably the connection because he played Monday Night Football. Man, I'm not trying to go back to Monday. Sheesh.
I'm trying to stay on Thursday. Damn. Well, we got Thursday night football. Got the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Cincinnati Bengals, we got a battle of the old ass quarterbacks.
This has been dubbed the icy hot ball. Forty one year old Aaron Rodgers. Forty year old Joe Flacco. We got that game. We got that matchup coming in an hour from now.
Don't expect to see Trey Hendrickson out there. He asked for that contract, did all that holding out. They gave him a raise. He's going to be out today with a bad back, so don't expect to see Trey Hendrickson. Running after Old man Aaron Rodgers.
We'll get into that game in a little bit. Of course, we'll keep you up to date on all the baseball going on tonight. In about 20 minutes from now, we're going to have a conversation with Luke Easterling. From Athlon Sports.
So we'll come through. He'll come through and talk some NFL with us. And if you want to talk, you can too. You got a phone number? Does it work?
You can call up anytime 888-710-4ISN. That's 888-74-4-4-4-4- For ISN. That's how you can get a hold of us. That's how you can also be heard on the airwaves.
So, we talked about Caleb Williams as. Our producer Ryan Botcher just mentioned. We heard from. Drew Brees on what makes a A young quarterback, you can actually evaluate him. He says it takes 50 high-quality starts.
Between college and the pros, I don't I don't fault him for thinking that. I mean, of course Drew Brees would know more about quarterback play than me or you. Or anybody, right? Yeah, sure. Unless your name is Tom Brady.
Absolutely. And so, yeah, what's one guy to another? Bunch of old people. Old people know best. Most of the time.
As I say that, Aaron Rodgers is on the screen in front of me. I don't know if I'd agree with that. Aaron Rodgers is forty one. Joe Flacco is forty. We heard Aaron Rodgers.
He's just like: when I watch old athletes on TV, I root for them, they make me feel good about myself. And so I guess Aaron Rogers must be a real big fan of LeBron James, then, huh? LeBron James is about to be forty one years old. In December LeBron James is about to enter into his twenty third season. When it comes to longevity, LeBron James just about has everything.
About to play in more games and more seasons and all-time games and minutes played and just all of it. It's like, bruh, you're not hired yet? He's like, damn, I'm going to squeeze every inch of dribbling this damn basketball. I'm gonna squeeze every piece of it that I can out. Period.
Done Except for right now he has a pain in the ass. And we've kind of gotten dribs and drabs about this with LeBron James. As he enters into the final year of his contract for the first time ever in his career, typically he gets extensions. He can control how things go, good for him. If you can do it, go for it.
Luca is the central focus, as it should be. LeBron is 41 in a couple of months. But we learned that he had a nerve issue in his glute, and I said, Oh, that's a pain in the ass, okay. And then it went from being a pain issue in his glute to formerly being sciatica. And then I have to go, wait, that's not just a pain in your glute.
That's a nerve issue in your back your back side into your leg. Man, you just dragging that sucker and moving it. It is not fun having sciatica. It is not fun. Anything having to deal with your back hurting is not fun.
Stupid backs. Botcha, when we can fix somebody's back, then we gonna be in business here, huh? Ah, I I think they can fix people's backs now. Oh man, when you a back a back is a back, bro. When you mess your back up, There ain't no fixing backs, man.
You know somebody who got a back fixed? Uh I was gonna say like a superhero. A superhero. Yeah, put like an iron plate back there, you know, make it a steel spine. There are people who have iron plates and screws in their back and their neck.
That's not fun. It works though. But you can't. From I'd assume so. They're not going to be able to do it.
Botcha still hurts, bruh. You've never had your back hurt. You haven't reached that point in life yet? No, I've had back pain, but not like. debilitating You can't walk.
I have been. It took me three hours to crawl from my bed to my bathroom one day.
Okay. It is not fun. Back said, No, thanks, you're not going any. My back locked up on me. It's like Now you talk about superheroes.
It's like if King Kong grabbed me with one hand and just squeeze my back. That's how I felt. I felt like I couldn't move. It's horrific. I'm not wishing a back pain on anybody.
But LeBron is dealing with sciatica. And so we learn that next week on the 22nd, when the Lakers open up their season against the Golden State Warriors. that it was it was unlikely that we see Lebron in action. This would be the first time in twenty three years. That LeBron is not available.
opening night.
Well It appears that he might be out a little longer than that. Damn. Listen to what Sharms had to say about LeBron James. in his return. Malika, I'm told that the Lakers and LeBron are looking at around mid-November as a realistic debut For him, and so October 30th would be the earliest that the Lakers would be officially re-evaluating LeBron James.
But it is expected he will need at least a few weeks after that point. A source told me tonight that LeBron will be taking. a patient approach with this rehab from nerve injury. And so the ramp up process for this will be a lot of basketball shape conditioning work because remember, as I reported last week on NBA Today, LeBron James first suffered this nerve issue during an on-court workout in late July, early August. He wasn't able to have that normal LeBron James offseason that we're accustomed to.
And as superhuman as he's been throughout his NBA career, He is turning 41 in December and he is in year 23.
So that's the timeline on LeBron James at some point in November, likely around that mid-November. Ow, mid November Whoa Whoa, that guy he's gonna miss like ten to fifteen games. Maybe LeBron James doesn't care about all NBA. He doesn't care about the awards. He doesn't care about the accolades.
Maybe he's just like, man. I don't give a damn about none of this. If I'm not winning another title, I just need to get through the season. Damn, mid-November. I feel bad.
Now, now, Botcher. I know we heard about that that clown. He wanted to sue LeBron James for his uh his Hennessy stunt. last week where LeBron James teased an announcement A lot of people thought he might be teasing a retirement at some point. And then people started just picking up tickets all over the place.
And for his final game, what would have been his final game? final game of the season in 25-26. I guess some schmuck bought a ticket for almost $900. and he decided to sue LeBron. Because he felt deceived.
Now, if you doing that. You're just a schmuck. Like, that's your own fault. That's your own problem. Uh but I do feel bad for people who bought Lakers tickets a little bit.
thinking that they might see Lebrun, And now he's legitimately out. With a butt injury, a butt, back, and leg injury. That stinks. I feel like the fans in LA Are used to it at this point with LeBron. I feel like LeBron's missed a ton of games the last three years.
Yeah, but it's never about the home fans. It's about the fans in other cities. That may not have a chance to see LeBron.
So, for instance, here in Atlanta. Of course the Lakers come to town. The Lakers go anywhere on the road. It's a hot ticket. The Lakers are going to play 41 games at home.
That's a good bulk. But then in other cities, especially in the Eastern Conference, The Lakers are only going to be there one. It's hide. And so I think I've seen LeBron James play here. just about every, I don't know, ev past five, six seasons, The Lakers are going to be in Atlanta on November 8th.
There's a good chance. that LeBron James is not going to be available. I can tell you right out of the gate. Of course, they're Laker fans everywhere. They're like Celtic fans, Laker fans.
Well, not Laker fans. They're like Knick fans. They're everywhere. It don't matter where you go, they're everywhere. But there's not going to be the same type of energy.
If LeBron James is just sitting over there on the bench. And for people so that are in. Atlanta or Orlando or Indiana. And if you miss LeBron, you're cooked. You know, I feel bad for those folks.
Hey uh I would say traditionally, yes, but at the same time, with all the load management, I think people need to stop. Trying to see the stars. And that sounds that sounds bad. Not the stars, LeBron specifically. He's been around for twenty three years.
Yeah, but it's about him being at the end.
Well, listen, Botcha, not everybody has money just to wake up and go to an NBA game. That's true. The second part is he's towards the end. I mean, when LeBron is in year three or four, you go, oh, yeah, I got plenty of years and plenty of time to see him. But at the same time, whether you've seen him once, or you've never seen him, Because you tried to save or you didn't have the opportunity.
This is it. Like, it's coming down to the wire. I think there's going to be one more season. None of this is guaranteed. LeBron James could step out onto the court, and his sciatic nerve may be like, man, I'm done, leave me alone.
He may have to quit just just out of the blue. And so I know in most cases, almost everywhere, especially in the NBA. It's buyer beware. I mean, if you buy Enclippis tickets to see Kauai, Then you need to be slapped from high hell, okay? If you're buying 76ers tickets, I don't know, maybe.
Maybe you're Cameroonian and you live in Houston, Texas, and you go, oh my God, I gotta see. Jolenbi.
Well, that's just a bad. investment. You know, and I think this is different. Maybe you're a Floridian. You you live in Miami?
And you you're Greek. And you love Giannis, okay? I think you got a better chance of seeing Giannis. But some of these guys, it's buyer, beware. But with LeBron, Yeah.
You want to you're rolling the dice. And all these guys you're rolling the dice. But I think there's more disappointment knowing. If LeBron doesn't play, I'm screwed. Just enjoy the Lakers.
Look at Luca. He lost weight. That's something to be a. There's your entertainment value. Luca can drop fifty, maybe.
Yeah, I think That's that's the thing. Also, I feel like if you wanna see LeBron I would wait. until the season starts. Just I I know I know you wanna buy big games, so like if you're the Warriors are probably big. For the Lakers, and then on top of that.
If you're a team like the Hawks... Or, like, the Pistons or something, where it's like you gotta get it early. Really? I feel like those games you can wait. A little bit.
Nah, bro. You got to buy the ticket. The tickets are going to sell out. The tickets are already hype. What is a bigger ticket in the NBA?
From a visitor's perspective, is there a bigger ticket than the Lakers? No. Probably the Warriors are probably up there. No, I would go Lakers, Warriors. See, you can't even put the fact that you can't even put the Champs.
In that category. Like that they're not I mean, I would say the Celtics, but they're not even maybe not this year coming off of a championship. I think overall If you're thinking about the biggest, hottest road ticket, It's Los Angeles Lakers. It's probably, I'd say, Warriors and Knicks might be in the same space. And then Celtics, and then you might move on to the Champs.
And who knows? Maybe. Like Wembin Yama may be uh above uh Oklahoma City for all I know, you know? Yeah, I just checked Seat Geek for the Nets. War it's the Lakers by by far, by like seventy bucks.
And then it's the Warriors. And then it's like a toss-up between the Nuggets, Celtics. Spurs. And Mavericks and Nick. Wow.
Wow. The Knicks are not high up?
Well, the Knicks are the third, but like, I don't. Oh. It's in New York, though, so, like, it's just crosstown.
So I can't really, like. John. Oh, if it's a job. I'm just trying to say, from road to, I'm pretty sure we'll look this up. We got a.
We got our guest, Luke Easterling. He'll be joining us in five minutes to talk NFL from Athlon Sports. We'll look this up. But if we take a look from last year road attendance, I, I am sure. That it is probably I know Lake has got to be one.
The New York Knicks probably ought to be they're no lower than five. You know, how that kind of rounds out is to be seen.
So we'll look that up and get back to everybody. We're going to take a break. When we come back on the other side, it's time to have a chat with Luke Easterling. He covers all things NFL for Athlon Sports. We'll get his thoughts on tonight's icy hot bowl between Aaron Rodgers and Joe Flacco.
We'll talk about some of the other matchups that we have this coming weekend. Guys who are hurt, people who might be coming back, guys who are still cooked. We'll have that conversation with Luke on the other side. We got a lot to do. Oh, yeah, by the way, the Dodgers and Brewers still tied at one run apiece.
We'll chat with Luke on the other side. It's the JR Sport Brief Show, coast to coast on the Infinity Sports Network. Botox Cosmetic, Autobotulinum Toxin A, FDA approved for over 20 years.
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Hey friends, I'm Sharon McMahon, host of Here's Where It Gets Interesting. Each week I speak with authors, experts, and thought leaders on everything from American history and democracy to how to be a better person on the internet. And don't miss my extremely popular Docu series, which educate you on things you never learned in history class. Follow and listen to Here is Where It Gets Interesting on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. 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. We got all this baseball going on. Themes are trying to go to the World Series, playing in the championship round. The NFL continues to march on as we have now moved forward to week number seven.
and about well, man, about a little less than an hour from now, We're going to have week seven starting up in Cincinnati. It's the uh the icy hot bowl between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals. 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers. We got 40-year-old Joe Flacco, who just got to the Cincinnati Bangles. They're starting us off.
And then we have some pretty interesting matchups this coming Sunday as well. As Mike Vrabel will be returning to Tennessee, which is a complete dumpster fire. Rashi Rice will be back making his season debut for the Kansas City Chiefs. There is a lot going on in the NFL to talk about it all. Right now, with someone who covers the league, has been covering the league for Athlon Sports.
Welcome to the show, Luke Easterling. Luke, thank you for the time. Hey, my pleasure, JR. Thanks for having me. No doubt about it.
I mean, when we think about the matchup that's going to start off the week, this isn't the most engaging. Thursday night football matchup, a battle of the old guys. If you're tuning in, there's no Trey Hendrickson. Flacco is old. The Steelers have been kind of quiet and rolling.
What are you looking forward to with this game? Is there anything we should pay attention to? Yeah, I gotta tell you, man, I'm gonna turn 40 here in about a month or so and watching these two quarterbacks go at it. I don't know if I'm gonna be like inspired or just hurt worse when I wake up in the morning. I'm not sure which one's gonna be.
Maybe a little bit of both. But if you're looking for something to get excited about in this game, I love AFC North rivalries in general, so there's always going to be some sort of fireworks, whoever's on the field.
Somebody, there's going to be some fisticuffs of some sort, and so it'll the energy of this game should be fun. But in terms of excitement, in terms of the players, I'm looking at the wide receivers, man. I'm looking at the fact that on the Cincinnati side, regardless of who's throwing the ball, You got Jamar Chase and T. Higgins catching the ball, which is always going to be fun. And I think they'll have a little bit better of a shot with Flacco doing it than they've had with Jake Browning.
And then on the other side, I mean, DK Metcalf has been everything that the Steelers were hoping he would be when they traded for him from Seattle and signed him to the new contract. He's absolutely been their number one. They would love to have a secondary target to kind of take the pressure off him, but. Man, he's been as advertised and those two pass catchers over in Cincinnati are a lot of fun. I think if anything, either of these teams would love to get the ground game going.
I think both teams have been disappointed with the way they've been able to run the ball. Obviously, that starts up front. Both of these offensive lines have been inconsistent at best. But you're looking at Jalen Warren and the rookie Caleb Johnson, the third rounder out of Iowa on the Pittsburgh side to kind of get something going, and then Chase Brown after the year he had last year. been really slow going for him to live up to the expectations he set for himself last year.
Well, Luke, that's for tonight. And you mentioned the AFC North grudge matches. This is not an AFC North Grudge match, but On Sunday we got Mike Vrabel, Returning to Tennessee, the stupid team that decided to give him the boot. They just fired their coach on Monday and Callahan. How bad is Tennessee?
Are they screwing up Cam Ward? I mean, well, first of all, if I was a betting man, I'd be putting something di decent down on New England to I don't know what the spread is, but they're going to lay the wood, I think. I don't think I don't think Rabel's going to let up on Sunday, so that should be fun. But no, I think Yeah. Listen, a couple of people have said it.
I've talked to my friend Lewis Riddick at ESPN. I've talked to, yeah, I've seen some stuff from Kevin O'Connell in Minnesota that have basically said the same thing, which is that organizations Fail these young quarterbacks way more often than the quarterbacks fail the organizations. And I think. If anything, I'm glad the Titans did what they did with Callahan because if you realize you have something special in your quarterback in Cam Ward, which I believe they do. And you realize that the coaching staff is not the right one to maximize him and to get him to his feeling.
what should what must be done eventually should be done immediately. I've always believed that in terms of team building. And so for them to say, you know what, this isn't the staff. We're going to just cut our losses, do the best we can to get the rest of the way, and then we're going to get an early start. on looking for our next coach.
And if you look honestly at what happened last year, the last four number one overall picks, by the way, have all gotten their coaches fired. And obviously that hasn't been on the quarterback, but I think that's teams realizing, listen, if you're not the coach to get the most out of this guy, we just spent the number one pick, we're going to find the right person. And look at what those quarterbacks are doing now. Caleb Williams looks a lot better with Ben Johnson in year two. Trevor Lawrence has looked better with.
Liam Cohen, two coaches later, but they figured it out. And Jacksonville's doing really, really well. Bryce Young is starting to finally come along under Dave Canalis, who's been with him for a year or two now. The the advantage to Tennessee is not for this year, but it's to get a head start on finding the right person, the right coach to lead this team into the future and to get the most out of Cam Ward so they don't waste the talent that he brings to the table. Luke Easterlining is joining us from Athlon Sports.
You talk about being able to turn things around. The Kansas City Chiefs have now moved their record to being even at 3-3. They're going to get Rashi Rice back. They got the the Raiders coming into the building in Kansas City. How concerned with all the parity that currently exists in the league should everybody be worried about these Kansas City Chiefs?
I mean, they always should have been worried about him, right? Even when they started so slow and they had the losing record until this past week. You know, they've all they've got the same Poor players and all the same reasons to be worried, right? We've seen Patrick Mahomes win a Super Bowl without a ton of weapons outside of Kelsey. He's done it before.
We've seen him lose a Super Bowl with a ton of weapons in Tampa Bay, like maybe the best team they had, and they couldn't get it done in the Super Bowl. But they're always going to be in the conversation, regardless of what's around those pieces. It starts with Andy Reid. at the very, very top in terms of organizationally, the tone they set. and the play calling on Sundays, but Steve Spagnola was still one of the best defensive coordinators in the NFL.
Chris Jones, I know there's been some inconsistency in terms of the effort there on certain plays, but when he's on, he's still one of the most dominant interior pass rushers in the league. And so when you've got All of that going on, and you've already got number 15 taking the snaps, you're always going to be a danger. And so, regardless of what their record was earlier in the season, If they had made the playoffs as a seven seed, if they had been literally the last seed to get in, they're still going to be the team that nobody wants. They're going to be the team that nobody wants to go up against because they're so experienced in those clutch moments. They're so experienced in those big games.
That they were always going to be a problem. They were always going to be in this conversation. Obviously, Rice coming back makes them stronger on offense, but. When they've got those core things, it's Mahomes, it's Reed, it's Spaggs, it's Chris Jones, and all uh all of those things, if those guys are on the field, I would put Trent McDuffie in that conversation as one of the best corners in the league. They're always going to be a problem.
They're going to continue to be, and they're still going to be a contender regardless of what that record is if they get in the playoffs.
Well, Luke, let me ask you about two teams that have amazing records. We know there are no undefeated teams, but we have two that are standing at 5-1. That's the Buccaneers. They're 5-1 despite all their injuries. It looks like they might be getting some help with Mike Evans back.
And then you also have the Indianapolis Colts who are running out Daniel Jones. They're 5-1.
So which one of these teams would you be more confident in as the season continues? Yeah, I think honestly India's the biggest surprise to me just because I didn't see Daniel Jones being this effective. And I didn't see the rest of the team playing as well as they have up to this point.
So kudos to Shane Seichen and his staff. to Daniel Jones for everything he's doing and that team really for stepping up and out playing. Tampa Bay is interesting because if you had told me at the beginning of the year, hey, they're going to start out 5-1, I actually would have been like, yeah, yeah, that actually makes sense because I'm pretty confident in that roster they have. If you'd have told me they'd been 5-1 with all the players they've been missing, now I'm shocked because they, I mean, first three weeks of the season, no Tristan Wurf, the all-pro left tackle, no Chris Godwin, the Pro Bowl wide receiver. They lose the right tackle, Luke Gedeke, in halfway through, or I think a drive into week two.
They lose their best interior pass rusher and Kalijah Cancey at halftime of that same game. They've been out since then. Meka Abuka just goes down. I mean, Baker Mayfield was throwing touchdowns to his fifth and sixth wide receivers on Sunday against San Francisco. That dude, if he's not at the top of your MVP ballot right now, I don't know what you're doing because there's nobody that's in this league that's done more with less.
than what he's working with. And kudos to Josh Brizard, the 35-year-old first-year offensive coordinator that's getting things done there in Tampa. It just speaks to, in my opinion, what Baker Mayfield has brought to the table, but also Jason Light, who I think is the most underrated general manager in the NFL. the depth that he's built on that roster. The Bucs had an injury on Sunday against San Francisco where they lost their right guard.
That's the third one they've lost in six weeks. And so for them to continue to play through these injuries, I think If your original question, which was which team am I most confident in moving forward, is Tampa Bay because they've lost so much and they've got so much coming back. It's going to be a little bit at a time, right?
So hopefully Mike gets back this week. But down the road, they're going to start to get some of those guys back. Zion McCollum and the rookie Benjamin Morrison, two of their top three corners, were back at practice this week as well. I mean, for them to be 5-1 and for us still to not have seen that entire starting team, you know, that entire starting lineup on the field yet. when they get down the stretch, not only are they going to get those injuries back, but that's schedule down the stretch, man.
They've got a tough stretch here for a few weeks here with Detroit. They've got Buffalo still. They're going to have a tough few games ahead of them. But down the stretch, man, they play Arizona. They play Miami.
They play Carolina twice. You know, they play the Saints. And so, you know, those last six games are super winnable. If they stay anywhere near the two or three loss range going into those last six games. I I think they they could have a chance to run the table and end up with that one seat.
Luke Easterling is here with us on the JR Sport Reshow coast to coast. We got two teams that are currently on losing streaks that are Super Bowl contenders. The Philadelphia Eagles, the Buffalo Bills, I think their respective fan bases might be ringing alarms on different types of levels. What is your level of concern when it comes down to the Eagles and Bills, if at all? Yeah, I mean, I've got a little bit of concern there just because they they they're playing so uncharacteristic of of what they're capable of.
And I think watching that Buffalo, Atlanta game the other night, It was just like the ineptitude on offense is what concerned me. On defense, you know they've got some injuries, you know the secondary's been weak, so you expect.
Some drop-off there with that unit, but it's an offense that's run by Josh Allen that has as many playmakers as they do on that side of the ball. to be as disjointed as they looked the other night was really concerning for me.
So the talent I don't think is the issue. I think schematically they've got to figure out some things and no offense that has Josh Allen running the show should look as bad as they looked the other night, which on the other hand, kudos to Raheem Morris and that Atlanta defense for making them look that way. There's two teams out there that are both getting paid and so good on their defense for doing that. You can bet that the teams that have Buffalo on their schedule ahead of them are looking at that tape and saying, hey, how do we replicate that? Easier said than done.
But I think that's what it is. If they can figure out their identity and get that figured out on offense and do enough to mitigate what they know they don't have on defense, I think they'll be all right. And then Philly. It's very, very similar where Their defense is fine. Their defense is getting the job done.
But that offense is so boring, man. It's so lifeless, particularly with the passing game. You've got. Jalen Hurts, who I believe in as a passer, I think he doesn't get enough credit for how good he can be as a passer, but schematically. They are not doing enough to feature what their offense does well.
I heard a stat, we were just talking about Baker Mayfield. Baker Mayfield has as many missed tackles. Forced as a runner, as Saquon Barkley does this year. Ouch.
So, like, that says something about both players, but there's just so much about that offense that isn't up to what we saw last year. And I think it's mostly on the coaching staff. They need to figure out. You look out there and you see Jalen Hurts, you see Devontae Smith, you see A.J. Brown and Barkley, and you can't move the ball because your play calling is so stale and boring.
I think that's on them to figure it out. I trust Philly mostly because that defense is so talented and I think they're going to continue to hold things together. But that offense has got to figure it out quick. There's no reason to have that much talent at those skill positions in particular and still have one of the better offensive lines in the league and be as as boring and stagnant as they've been on that side of the ball.
Well, Luke, you mentioned what took place with the Bills, unfortunately, for them losing to the Atlanta Falcons. And I just got to ask you. Kind of as our final question here. We got a lot of people in Atlanta who are obviously high on what they just did. To the Buffalo Bills.
What are your thoughts on these Falcons? Of course, I think they can compete. for a playoff spot, but I I'm not gonna go super crazy about him at this point, you know? I really love, and just full disclosure, I'm a Tampa guy. I was born and raised in Tampa.
I'm a lifelong Bucks fan.
So I'm perfectly honest when I'm telling you that I hate. what the Falcons have done the last couple of years as a Bucs fan. They have built so well and they've made so many bold moves. I'm a huge Raheem Morris fan. I did not think he got a fair shake when he was down in Tampa during his time.
I think they probably should have hired him the first time when Atlanta had the chance to make him the full-time head coach when he was the interim guy before. And so I'm pulling for him as a person. I really like Ra. And as a Tampa guy too, Michael Pennix Jr. being from Dade City down there just north of Tampa, I pull for him as well.
So when Atlanta makes him their quarterback in the future, I'm like, you gotta be kidding me, man. Stop drafting all the guys I like. Same with Xavier Watts, who I was a big fan of coming out of Notre Dame in this draft, but Man, the way they attacked their needs in this draft and in the offseason, trading up to get James Pierce Jr. after drafting Jalen Walker and stealing him at number 15, they've attacked their needs so well. That side of the ball, the defense has improved their pass rush, which was obviously their biggest drawback in years past.
Years. Yeah, man. And so that has made such a huge difference. And again, Xavier Watts. Nobody took the ball away more on the back end in college football the last couple years than Xavier Watts.
So the fact that they stole him in the third round was huge. I just I don't know I believe in Raheem Morris this time around I I love that he got another shot and I hope he's able to succeed with it kind of hate that it's in Tampa Bay's division because I think Atlanta's going to be a problem for a long time now that you have a guy in Pennex who can take full advantage. It's still gonna take a little time, but but all those weapons around him He's the guy to take advantage of it. If they can keep the offensive line strong and healthy, if they can continue to build on the defensive side of the ball, I think Atlanta and Tampa are going to be at each other's throats, and it's going to be entertaining to watch down the stretch, and it's going to be that way for a long time, because Atlanta is going to be a problem. It's a lot of fun to watch.
Hey, Luke, thank you so much for your expertise. Tell everybody where they can follow you, keep up with you, and everything you do with Athlon. Yeah, absolutely. You can find me on Twitter at LukeEasterling on athlonsports.com. All my written work will be there.
I have a weekly podcast called Best Podcast available. It's the Athlon Sports NFL draft show. We drop a new episode every Tuesday.
So we talk about the draft, but we talk about college football. We talk about the NFL. A lot of rookie talk. It's just kind of centered around the draft.
So definitely check all of it out. Hey, Luke, it was a pleasure, man. I look forward to catching you real soon, okay? Absolutely. Thanks for having me.
Well, thank you. That Luke Easterling covers all things NFL for Athlon Sports. It's the JR Sport Brief Show here with you, coast to coast on the Infinity Sports Network. We got this Dodgers game going on with the Brewers. We got more baseball coming up.
We got a football game coming up. We're going to talk about it all. A matter of fact, on the other side of the break, let's get into what we can expect to see between these steelers. and these bangles. And I think unfortunately Like that game isn't even the biggest story this week for the Steelers.
People are complaining about something else. We'll get into that on the other side of the break. Give you an update on some of these NFL injuries. There's a lot going on in the world of sports. To get an update on it all, here he is with a news flash: it's Rich Ackerman.
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Hey friends, I'm Sharon McMahon, host of Here's Where It Gets Interesting, where you'll learn about American history, current events, and so much more. Follow and listen to me on Here's Where It Gets Interesting on the Free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. You're listening to the JR Sport Brief. It is. The JR Sport Brief Show here with you coast to coast.
on the Infiniti Sports Network. Thank you so much to Luke Easterling for joining us. From Athlon Sports.
That was a good chat. Talking all things NFL. In about 30 minutes from now, we're going to have Thursday night football in Cincinnati. between the Bengals hosting The Pittsburgh Steelers. And thank God this game is taking place in Cincinnati.
And not Pittsburgh. You may have heard. Over the past several days. Outside of this being a battle of old quarterbacks with Flacco and Aaron Rodgers. One of the larger stories.
has been about the field conditions. in Pittsburgh with the Steelers. They're now playing it used to be called Hinesfield. A little bit more easy to go through.
Now I think it's Acroshore and stupid name. Whoever buys it and sells it. Their name is stadium everything. I mean, we had a. Basketball arena called Sleep Train Arena.
whatever. Anyway. There have been more conversations about the field conditions in Pittsburgh than anything else. Uh this past Sunday We saw the Steelers go out there and beat the Browns 23-9. Their kicker Chris Boswell at one point in time, he slipped in an entire divot.
Like an entire hole came out of the field, and everybody was like, This is absolutely. not safe and so all week long There hasn't as much been focus on tonight's actual game. But we've had everybody coming out. is saying that they need to redo this field and forget redoing the field. They share the stadium with the Pittsburgh Panthers, the college football squad.
They've been playing there, sharing the stadium since it opened. About 25 years ago.
Okay, there was a point in time where Pitt had its own stadium. They ripped it down. Built another, a whole bunch of other student properties and an arena. And so now there is no space. As far as I know, out in Oakland, there is no space, Oakland and Pittsburgh, the neighborhood.
There's a lot of places out of Oakland. We got to Oakland here in Atlanta. I digress. They don't got no space. and money to just poof, let's just build a football stadium.
a big old size. Ben Rothenzberger was like Man, th the damn college They gotta go. Come on now. Listen to what Roth Lisberger had to say. There's been issues with it before.
Players have talked about it before. We've all Out there when it's like it's just a sand base, it just gives out so easy. I don't know what the solution is other than In my opinion, either get like we've even said this: get what about just getting Bermuda? Like, well, it grows dormant. Who cares?
Yeah, like, at least you got put on the practice, at least you got something because our practice fields are about the same way, really. Like, they tear up and it's terrible. You can't have a professional football team. Not just the Steelers, but the opponents play on a surface like that. Yeah.
Because you're paying them a lot of money, and if people get hurt, it's not a good thing. I don't think Pitt should play there anymore. Oh. Damn, Ben, tell me how you really feel. Everybody at Pitt is like, oh, give us a break.
We're out here just sharing. We want from us. They re sighted the field on Monday, by the way. Mike Tomlin was asked about the field conditions on Monday, and of course, Mike Tomlin's short, sweet, and to the point. I thought it was poor yesterday.
I'm not concerned going forward, it's my understanding. The debt that turf is going to be swapped out, but I certainly acknowledge It was a concern yesterday. Yeah, he's leaving it where it is. What about the old man that has to play on it? And he knows a thing or two about being on the field and getting hurt.
He got hurt in New Jersey. That's that's Aaron Rodgers. He said the field sucks, too. First half drives stalled, but thankfully Boz, you know, took care of those kicks before the field got borderline unplayable.
So that was nice to get those touchdowns in the second half. Oh man. Botchin, is there anybody else that called out the field? Bola. Cam Hayward.
Oh my gosh. He's always complaining.
Well, let's listen to him complain too. Honestly, you're ringing. Uh I lost one of my teammates and time makes me sad. Do you still like the grass over the turf even if it's tall? I like grass, but that wasn't grass with my.
What can you guys do differently than introduction? I can't do anything, so. I mean the team though, the team, the the state. I'm not a landscaper, I'm not gonna ask like I like I am, but uh, you know, hopefully it's handled by the next time we fuck. Yeah, well, they had a new field that was being sotted as recently as Monday, the day.
After the game, they wasted no time. And so tonight they don't have to play on that crap field. They'll be in Cincinnati, probably lighting up the Bengals. I don't know, maybe we get a I was gonna, let me be careful. I was gonna say, maybe we get a shootout.
It might be, it's more likely to be ugly or one-sided than it is a shootout. We'll see. the next time The Pittsburgh Steelers are at home in Pittsburgh. will be the following Sunday, the 26th, the the week of Halloween. against Green Bay.
And that'll be a Sunday night football game. And so you can bet your bottom dollar or whatever you got. That they're they're gonna be talking about that turf. Before the damn gang. At the beginning of the game.
during the game. We might have Chris Collinsworth out there saying something about the turf. Bacha, help me out. Does Mike Tariq? Is Mike Tarico and Collinsworth, or am I bugging?
Monday, right? Sunday. Sunday is Tarico. Monday is fuck. Yeah, yeah, so it's Mike Torico.
I know Collinsworth is NB, so it's Chris Collinsworth and Mike Torico. Yes.
Okay, just making sure. I know Collinsworth is there. I think about. That's a recap. Look, I I think everybody has a legitimate right with the turf.
Well, not the turf, the grass. And it doesn't matter what surface it is. I mean, everybody complains about MetLife Stadium and how many people get their knees ate up in that place and torn ACLs and this and that, Malik neighbors. Just went down. It's like once a year.
You know, everybody starts complaining about the turf. At MetLife. And every one of you just heard. was correct. I mean, even when Ben Roffelsberger was playing, People were out there complaining about the feel.
in Pittsburgh. It's what it is. It's it's all about economics. It really is. And so when you got two teams, A college football team playing on a Saturday.
You got a professional team playing on a Sunday. You start sprinkling in some of these high school games. Maybe it's the championships at the end of the year. That's a lot of use, man. And it's going to get ripped to shreds.
And so I'm also not a landscaper. Where is the happy medium? I mean, if you put down turf to make it available throughout the course of the year, Then it's not safe. If you put in grass, then you gotta kick a team out, and it's just built for one squad. I mean, I know we got a lot of NFL players in the Players Association not happy.
that as the World Cup comes to America next year, North America. That we got a lot of stadiums that they have to put in grass. And you got NFL players going, well Why does the soccer guys get grass? And we gotta run around on turf and and busted up grass.
Well, it's It's all about money. I mean, damn it, as much money as the NFL makes, if it was making money like the World Cup, then they they'd get grass too. Bach, I don't think anything is ever going to change. I mean, are they going to have a lockout because they can't agree on field conditions? It'll never happen.
I think they pl the players need to come to terms with the fact that they're going to get hurt. They are in top tier athletes and things happen. not every playing condition will be perfect. Unless it's a dome in every stadium. with the perfect Grass or turf, and that's too much money.
to even put out there.
So It's gonna happen. If the field is unplayable like the Steelers had now, they'll fix it. But The baseline is not going to change for these guys. And then you have some locations, I mean, just based on where you are. Like Grass ain't gonna grow all that well.
That's just the reality of it. I mean, in Tennessee, they're just like. How are we going to get good field conditions right now? It's too cold. You're not in the south, you're not in the north, it's you're kinda in the middle.
It's it's rough going folks. I don't want to say get over it because I ain't playing, but injuries, they are part of the game. You'll get paid a lot of money, but who wants to get hurt? Not me. It's the JR Sport Reef Show here with you coast to coast on the Infinity Sports Network.
Speaking of people being hurt, when we come back, I'll give you an update on some of these NFL injuries here on the Infinity Sports Network. Botox Cosmetic, Autobotulinum Toxin A, FDA approved for over 20 years.
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Hey friends, I'm Sharon McMahon, host of Here's Where It Gets Interesting, where you'll learn about American history, current events, and so much more. Follow and listen to me on Here's Where It Gets Interesting on the Free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. Mm.
