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What's good, y'all? It's Von Miller, Super Bowl MVP, SAG Master, and now your host of Free Range. This is where NFL meets real talk. Every week, I'm bringing you inside the game, from locker room stories to league-wide headlines. You want football IQ, locker room insight, and real conversations with the people shaping the league?
Welcome to Free Range with Von Miller, where nothing is off limits and every down counts. New episodes every Wednesday. Listen and follow Free Range with me, Von Miller, wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back, everybody. This is the Infinity Sports Network.
This is the Good Shepherd in for the great JR Sport Brief, right here on the Infinity Sports Network. You picked a good time to join us in listening to us if you just picked us up right now because it's halftime. We got a whole nother half to go. We will certainly preview Thursday Night Football. We will get into LeBron James.
We will get into James Franklin. Speaking as a hokey, naughty nitty lion, that doesn't sound right, that doesn't make any sense, doesn't even make dollars. That was my dad's joke for the show. Number to join us, 888-7104ISN. That is 888-710-4476.
No, hey, this is not um Kevin, you're doing a really good job. Really good job. But Uh yeah, Patrick, have you changed things where you don't you fade down the music quickly? Uh it depends. It depends who's hosting.
Okay, I I see how it is.
So If it's JR. He's cool enough. To have that bed instrumental underneath play the whole time. But if it's me. You make the executive decision, Kevin, or Botcher is telling you not to keep that music going the whole time because, quite frankly, you're saying, I'm not that cool.
That's what that is. You and I have never worked together, so I gotta figure out if you have the status for me to let that bed roll. Look at you swimming hard. I like that. Kevin, I'm one of the coolest cats ever to host a microphone at the Infinity Space.
I was going to pick that up.
So yeah, but you didn't let the music run.
Well, let it run. You want me to let it ride right now?
Well, I mean, I guess. Too late now. We'll do it next time through. I'll get it right. You're getting a lot right.
You're doing seriously. You're doing an excellent job. Where are you from, by the way? I'm from Long Island, Suffolk County. Very nice.
Are you just out of school? Just out of school. Yeah, graduated Hofster in May. Congratulations. Thank you.
How are you liking Infinity so far? I'm loving it. Everyone here is great. It's a really fun job. Good place to be.
What's it like learning from the master? It's great. He started training me two days ago. In about an hour, I think I knew everything here.
So he's the best. You would think he's like 30. As much as he knows, not from an eight. He's calling me old. He's called me looks old.
No, that's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is, like, you know, like, you're an old soul. Like, you've gotten that before, right? By you. No, I personally wouldn't like to go by old soul.
Oh, when people say have an old soul, that's the biggest compliment. Really? Yes. That makes me feel like I'm in like. like loafers and and like a and a No, it me it means you're cultured.
It means you're a man of the world. It means you have life experience. It means that you appreciate not just the present and the future, but you you you yearn for what was great in the past too. You're you're a man of multi-dimensions. You're a man of of critical and deep enduring thought.
That's not a bad thing at all. I know it's not a bad thing, it's a good compliment. But in my brain, the way it processes is not the same. I just think I'm on my lawn mower mowing lawn on my lawn. On a Saturday morning, when I hear old soul.
Okay. And I got like, get off my lawn type.
Well, that's an old bitter man, is what that is. That's not an old soul. Old soul is someone who is young, but they think like they are from a different generation. That is essentially what a quintessential old soul means. There is not much to be said about an old soul when it comes to the Houston Texans because D'Amico Ryans and somebody like a CJ Stroud, they're very young and they thrive the first year, not the case.
Over these last two, I like Buffalo very much on Thursday night football in week number 12. The same Bills team that put up 44 points against the Tampa Bay Bay Buccaneers, there's a reason why they are a five-point favorite. Heading in to Thursday night football. And look, I mean, here's the reality, right? The reason why you like the Buffalo Bills in this game is because the Houston Texans are 500.
But remember, it's really not a 500 record because they have the worst team in their division in the Tennessee Titans, which essentially is like having a bye week when you play them, and that's two wins right there for them. But when the Houston Texans play against teams that are above 500 this season, Keep in mind, they're just two and five. And unfortunately, we're not getting the very best Ryan Botcher's pushing 30 on 24. I love it. But they're not, that's our YouTube chat for you, but they're not necessarily getting the very best out of Houston right now because you have Davis Mills, who's nice, but he ain't CJ Stroud.
So, from a product standpoint, from an entertainment standpoint, from a competitive standpoint, that's not going to bode well on Thursday Night Football against Josh Allen. There's just no way of getting around that. And at this particular point, you know the Bills are playing like their backs are against the wall because they are a game and a half back. Of the New England Patriots.
So every single win matters just to keep pace with what New England is looking to do this year. And when you look at their opponents the rest of the way, and if you want to include the Ravens in this conversation, you want to call them a playoff team. I have no problem with that.
So four of the next six games New England plays minus Baltimore and of course minus the Buffalo Bills, they're facing non-500 teams. And so you like their chances to move forward. And what also doesn't bold well for the Houston Texans is Davis Mills has sputtered in two of his three starts, just scoring 18 points or less in the majority of his starts this year. And when you couple that with what they're going against in Buffalo, just remember the two of the last four games, they have put up at least 40 points. Only the Colts have more points in the AFC.
This season. And so Josh Allen cut number 13. He says That the Texans He respects them from this perspective. They know how to do the simple well. One, the way they can produce those type of numbers Um and still be I'm not calling like a team that doesn't blitz a whole lot.
They're not a lot of exotic looks. Um they just kind of put the ball down and and and play. But with all that being said, Thursday night football ain't Monday night football. It's definitely not Sunday night football. And we were going to get.
A marquee matchup of two quarterbacks, but unfortunately, one of the things. One is not able to go in CJ Stroud, so we're stuck with Davis Mills. But with that being said, According to Sean McDermott, Thursday night football? Cut number 16. It's just tough all the way around.
It's hard on the players, it definitely is, and getting there fresh. Legs back underneath of them and everything, and coming off of a game.
So there's certainly challenges on the front end, and there's certainly some. Kind of rest on the back end for the guys, which is important. Yeah, I think that's fair to say it's important, Coach Sean McDermott. And I I'm glad that we've talked about this because, you know, Josh Allen, he's going to put on a Superman cape and he's going to show up big time. We saw him just recently in his last game go for three passing touchdowns, three rushing touchdowns.
That had not been done in a game by anyone not named Josh Allen since 1954. Shout out to the late grade Otto Graham, by the way. But what makes Buffalo so unique, so dangerous, so lethal, so potent this particular season is the fact that they are not a one-man band. They have themselves a running back threat, and James Cook is having himself a career year. I'm not the only one that's aware of that.
Head coach of the Texans, D'Amico Ryans, he is too. James does a really good job, I think, of really when they're running the outside zone, he presses his blocks really well.
So when he cuts it back, he cuts it back with speed, just has a really good feel for the zone scheme that they run. And he has a really good feel for just finding that open area. Did you guys know Chris O'Donnell is acting on television these days? Ooh. Chris O'Hoo?
Chris O'Donnell? Who? Sent of a woman? Whoa? Who?
Exact who no. You don't know Chris L. Dottie played Robin and Batman and Robin? Oh, the guy from NCISLA. Yes, yes, with a little cool day.
If you said NCIS LA, I'd be like, okay, cool.
Okay, I mean, I know him from his movies in the 90s. I know Batman and Robin. That's a great movie, by the way. Are you are you an Artie Lang fan? Don't know is that is that a person?
Yeah, am I am I he's kidding, right? Ari Ling. Kevin. He's kidding. Artie Lang.
Riot Botcher. Are you messing with me right now? Are you really serious? Artie Ling, the actor? Is he an actor?
R.D. Lang, the radio personality, one of the great radio personalities in the history of the medium. I'm a guy that was essentially Howard Stern's sidekick for a day. Basically, I'm going to be so real. I never watched Howard Stern.
But it's Howard Stern. You don't have to watch Howard Stern and not know who Artie Lang is. Man. Do me a favor, hit up the YouTube chat, ask how many people know who Artie Lang is. They will all know who that is.
I can't believe you don't know who Artie Lang is. But then again, you know about a thousand times more about a lot of things that I don't know about.
So I'm just giving you a hard time for the sake of nothing. But you really didn't, you've never heard the name? No. I bring that up because uh Chris O'Donnell was in a movie, The Bachelor. With Artie Lang.
And with a great actress by the name of Renee Zellwiger. I know you've heard of her. Uh in spirit of course, because I don't know who the hell that is. What's her name? Renee Zellweger.
Renee. Kevin, do you know who Artie Lang is? Yeah, I know already like.
Okay, do you know who Renee Zellwiger is? Was she in what's that movie? Is it Bridget Jones? Yeah. She is, right?
Yes. Okay, that's great. That's what I would know her from.
Okay. Have you ever seen Jerry Maguire? Yes. Okay, so she was great in that, right? By the way, Tom Cruise.
won an honorary Oscar Award. Good for him. Finally wins an Oscar. It only took him 62 years. Tom Cruise?
Yeah. I know who Tom Cruise was. That's funny. You know, if you said you didn't know who Tom Cruise was. Th th then I know I'm in the Twilight Zone.
Ah, the guy from War of the Worlds. Or Mission Impossible, you know, one or two. One, two, or eight or twelve. Or Top Gun. He's in a lot of things.
Have you seen Top Gun 2? Yes, it's great. It's so good. Did you see it in theaters? I did not.
Oh, he missed out then. I know. I thought Hangman. was one of the better characters in and Top Gun 2. Yeah, so that's it basically just Glenn Powell now is everywhere because of that.
He's literally everywhere. He just hosted SNL, and like, then he was on like five shows after that, like in the same week. It's ridiculous. He did like hot ones and. Uh he's promoting um The running man?
Yes. That's what it is. Am I? Am I being harsh when I say I don't think he's that great of an actor? I don't I don't mind him.
He's not like going to win an Oscar, but he's he's an action slash comedy star.
Okay. All right. I'll I'll give you that. We were talking about the Houston Texans and the Buffalo Bills. I believe the Buffalo Bills are going to win convincingly on Thursday night football because They're going in a direction where you feel like they're only improving.
And the Houston Texans, minus the franchise quarterback in CJ Stroud with Davis Mills, two of the three games that he started this year, he's put up 18 points or less. Did you ask the YouTube chat who Artie Lang is? No, because I feel like if they everyone knew in the chat Who it was, I'd be getting roasted.
Okay, fair enough. All right. Maybe that's just me. Maybe Artie Lang's been out of it for so long that no one knows who he is anymore. Love you, Artie Lang.
Number to join us: 888-710-4ISN, 888-710-4476. Let's get to the busy phone lines. Let's get to Marshall in Milwaukee. Marshall, good to hear from you, buddy. How are you doing?
What you got for us?
Well, good evening, Shep, as always in the new in the different time slot. And thank you for promoting the Infinity Sports Network. I've called other people, as you know, in the past, and You're you're a wonderful network and uh One that I do miss is Amy Mortz, just to be fair. Yeah, Amy was a staple here for over a decade. You know, we always wish her success and wish her well, and she did a great job for us, for sure.
And love tennis, too, of course. We talked dad at times. But did you see the Djokovic interview with Pierce Morgan? I did not. No, Marshall, you will love it, man.
You will love it. It touches on so many.
So many really behind the scenes aspects of tennis that we're not even aware of. As a general public, as a media organization that they don't really talk about a lot, it was so revealing. It was so transparent. I'm always blown away by Novak Djokovic. I think he is such a critical thinker and someone that is very profound.
But you see him in an even different light with this particular interview. And Pierce Morgan actually comes off as a halfway decent guy, believe it or not. Yeah, I always thought he, you know, I don't agree with him on every issue out there, but I always have felt that he's a good interviewer and he's pretty much a straight shooter.
So, you know, I give him that. He's good. I've always liked him, too. Yes. He's around my age, too, I think.
But anyway, tonight, I just am. Just basking in the strike may talk, you know. I mean, It's just incredible, Ship. And you know, I got I was thinking, I was telling my brother here recently here. if the New England Patriots do make the Super Bowl this year, He would equal Dan Marino in getting there in his second season.
So, you know, and as you know, Marshall. Uh one of the most surprising things in NFL history, Marino made that Super Bowl this second year and had the all-time greatest quarterback year you can argue in nineteen eighty four. But in the remaining 14 years of his career, as you know, he never made it back. Right. And you know the comparison, the baseball comparison, many my age, maybe and older have said is you know Ted Williams made the World Series the one time after the war, after this first war, the World War two, and then he served in Korea, of course.
But in forty six, the Red Sox made it. My even my late dad remembered this. He was a huge baseball fan. But and he liked Ted Williams also, but uh But Ted Williams never got back to the World Series either. I mean, that comparison is there.
it doesn't take away from their greatness, but It just goes to show you, you know, old Jimmy Connors used to say, you know, don't assume you'll ever get back because you may never get back. And listen, you know, he would always say that. I mean, Marsha I mean, McEnroe, I don't think and I know I know he never won a Grand Slam. I shouldn't even call it a grand slam. Let's call it a major.
Because when we say grand slam, what we really mean is all four majors, which Rod Labor is the last to do so in 1968, at least in one calendar year. Novak Djokovic, 2015, 2016. He did. He did, in fact, do four straight majors, but it wasn't in a calendar year. But remember, McEnroe at the age of 25.
He won he won, I believe it was the US. And he never I don't think he ever made it back to a final. I know he never won another major, but I don't think he ever made it back to a finals at a major after that. It was incredible, Shep. I can remember that era so well, of course.
And the amazing thing to me at that time is how dominant he was from. Like the eighty-one-ish to eighty-four, and you just really felt that. that he would go on and do things. But distractions happened. There were things that happened in his life.
But yet he continued on until early the early nineties. He retired at Center Court Wimbledon, nineteen ninety two. And, you know, he he still salvaged something at the end. But yeah, he made the semis that year against that and then got wiped off the court by Agassiz. Yep, I saw that.
I remember that match well. And then Agassiz, of course, beat Ibanisovich in the final in a great match. There's to win his first major ever. And only Wimbledon ever, but he always said, and I'll never forget what Andre said after that. And I know he came to some semifinals in the nineties into the early zeros, but he said, even if I don't win Wimbledon, I'll always go around being known as Wimbledon champion, and nobody can take that from me.
So you love the people that do it multiple times, but shoot, if you do it even once, You've got it more than 99.99% of the people on the plane. Oh, so. Of course. I mean, you're tennis royalty. I mean, literally in the royal box if you win.
if you went you went a slam. But uh but yeah, and Marshall, to your point about To your point about Drake May, Um guys that are really ahead of the curve. This is one of the great second years. We've ever seen in NFL history.
Now, to your point, what Dan Marino was able to do his second year when he completely obliterated every single major passing record in NFL history and makes it to a Super Bowl, right? The last Super Bowl that the Miami Dolphins have ever played in, and now we're talking about 41 years in counting, and God knows it's going to be 42 years in counting because they ain't doing anything this year. Drake May is putting up one of the great sophomore campaigns in NFL history at the quarterback position. No question about it. Yeah, it's really something, and you know, it's You know, prior to May and Sam Howell, you know, we had.
UNC had not been exactly known as the cradle of quarterbacks, to quote a certain Ohio school there back in my young days, but or or Brigham Young out west too, but uh But those two guys were incredible. And even though maybe we didn't go as far as we had hoped with them, They had they they were so entertaining, and you just knew, especially with Drake. The left-handed touchdown passes, you know, just switching the ball in midair almost like Michael Jordan did. you know, in his his prime You know, it was just incredible. And you knew that something good was there.
I can remember his dad. I went to school with his dad for one year and who knows without Tommy John's surgery, what might have been. But as I've said, has he put out some great kids? And this is going to be the best the best one of them all, health remitting.
So it's It's really something. I just also lastly, before I let you go, Shep. Thanksgiving Day. I don't want to look past Minnesota too much. I think we're going to beat the Vikings, but The irony of irony is on Thanksgiving Day, and I'm going to be around some Michigan State folks that day.
Michigan State and North Carolina play in Fort Myers, Florida. And of course, the Lions and the Packers play On Thanksgiving at dude.
So it's going to be. You got a full slate of football ahead for you on Thanksgiving Day, not just with the NFL, but with your alma mater, the North Carolina Tar Heels, Mr. Crumudgeon, Bill Belichick himself.
So have fun with that one. Oh, it's not. No, it's basketball. We're going to be able to do it.
Okay, that makes more sense.
So, what are you guys? Five and O now? Five and old, but now the tougher games are coming up.
So We play the Bonnies on Tuesday and then Thanksgiving Day, Michigan State, and we've got Kentucky coming on the grup arena, too, in early December.
So, we're going to see what we're really made out of at that time. But it sure makes me sleep easy at night that Caleb Wilson is on that floor. I'm telling you. Yeah, I mean, you talk about an absolute diaper dandy in the words of Dick Vital. He is the definition of that as a freshman.
And I trust anyone who played for Dean Smith. Let's put it that way. It's why I'm going to ultimately bet on Hubert Davis to carry this through and not get fired like a lot of people felt like he was going to be at the beginning of the season. But what a great way to shove that aside by starting the season 5-0. And obviously, you mentioned the Caleb freshman that he is just an absolute sensation.
You're a sensation too, Marshall. You always are. Great to talk to you, buddy. We'll talk over the weekend. Have a great rest of your Thursday, okay?
Yeah, well, just in closing on Hubert there, what's so cool about him, besides the person he is. Is that he really connects the Roy Williams era and the Dean Smith era. And I know I'm getting older now, and I know when he leaves, it's. The Dean Smith era is going to be kind of in the past, which will be a little sad for some of us. Let's let's hope he sticks around a long, long time until I'm a very old man and And we go from there, and then you know, the the ziers and the millennials.
It's Roy Williams. It's always going to be Roy Williams to them. But hey, they both are Hall of Famers and. What a privilege I've had is to quote Chrissy Ever, a charm fandom, as I like to call it, that I've had just with those two coaches at Miami Mona.
Well said, Marshall. Always good to hear from you, my friend. And yes, Hubert Davis is an absolute conduit to Roy Williams, who's obviously a conduit to Dean Smith. And there's a lot. We could spend a whole four hours talking about the legacy of Dean Smith and what that meant to Roy Williams and how he conducted himself as a head coach and then how that's a carryover effect to Hubert Davis.
We're going to get to more of your calls on the other side. There's a lot more people that want to weigh in on the AFC East, Dak Prescott, talking about Thursday night football. But here's the question for you. Not whether or not you know Artie Lang, which clearly Ryan Botcher does now. My question for you is: we got Thursday night football kicking off.
Right now, who do you see? Coming out victorious. The Houston Texans hosting the Buffalo Bills. I see the Buffalo Bills going 8-3. I see the Texans ultimately falling to 5-6.
What say you? Number to join us: 888-710-4ISN, 888-710-4476. If you cannot get through our busy phone lines, you can always hit me up on Twitter or Instagram at Shopon Air. And you can always hit us up. in our YouTube chat.
It's ongoing. It's never ending. And there's a lot of opinions. Good to see the General Custer in there. Good to see Chris.
Good to see Ryan Botcher talking. Good to see Psych Maptor as usual. Good to see Big Friendly Daily. You know, you talk about individuals like Excel Burton Force 9908 commenting on Warren Moon. This YouTube chat is wild.
Pine Needle. Always good to see Pine Needle. It's all going back and forth with Big Friendly. I love the camaraderie in this chat. Love the camaraderie on the phones.
We'll take your calls on the other side. We'll talk LeBron at some point in the next hour. We'll get to James Franklin getting hired by Virginia Tech. Brilliant hire for the Hokies, by the way.
So much more to do right here on the JR Sport Brief. We're coming right back. Listen up, football fans. You won't want to miss this. Right now, new Bet365 customers bet $5 and give $150 in bonus bets, win or lose!
So you can turn that $150 into something bigger when you bet on money loss, spread, totals, player props. $150 in bonus bets when new customers bet $5. I know where I'm going to bet from now on. Download the app today and see why it's never ordinary at Bet365. Gambling problem?
Call 1-877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov. 21 plus only. Must be physically located in North Carolina. TNC is a plot in app only. What's good, y'all?
It's Vaughn Miller, Super Bowl MVP, SAG Master, and now your host of Free Range. This is where NFL meets real talk. Every week, I'm bringing you inside the game-from locker room stories to league-wide headlines. You want football IQ, locker room insight, and real conversations with the people shaping the league? Welcome to Free Range with Vaughn Miller, where nothing is off limits and every down counts.
New episodes every Wednesday. Listen and follow Free Range with me, Von Miller, wherever you get your podcast. Did you know Tide has been upgraded to provide an even better, clean and cold water? Tide is specifically designed to fight any stain you throw at it. even in cold.
Butter? Yep. Chocolate ice cream? Sure thing. Barbecue sauce?
Tides got you covered. You don't need to use warm water. Additionally, Tide Pods let you confidently fight tough stains with new Coldzyme technology. Just remember, if it's gotta be clean, it's gotta be tied. You're listening to the JR Sport Brief.
Here's David Shepard. In the bizarre news of the day, and welcome back, everybody. This is indeed the Good Shepard on the Infinity Sports Network. Just know if you're on hold. We are going to get to everyone.
before the end of the hour. In the bizarre news. Of November 20th, 2025, on this Thursday evening. Kevin Spacey says that he is homeless.
Now, we gotta be careful with our words. We have to be responsible with what we say. Especially when we are public figures, and Kevin Spacey certainly With all the backlash that he has gotten From his behavior Um he's still one of the greatest actors of his generation. There there's no question about that. But he told the the telegraph that he's homeless.
He's not. Homeless is you literally don't have a roof over your head. You don't have shelter. That's homeless. living in hotels and and you know Uh Air B and B's.
So he's just got to be a little more careful with with his words and and I you know, look, He he's fallen off. You know, there there's there's there's some people that what they have done that there's really no coming back from. And it doesn't mean you wish harm on this individual, but you realize that there's a reason why they're not in the public lamelight anymore. But that's been trending all over social media these last 24 hours, and you can't be homeless. If you're spending time in Airbnbs and hotels and you have the funds to do so.
Um that just means you're not a home owner. There's a big distinction. That just means that You are a nomad. You travel from place to place and you stay at multiple venues throughout a year. I rent.
I live in New York City, so owning is not the easiest thing in the world. But there's a big distinction between being homeless and not being a homeowner. I wouldn't consider myself homeless. I don't own anything. Except my body and my dad-type sense of humor.
But in all seriousness, Um you gotta be really careful. when you put things out there like that because it does show a lack of perspective. Um what I'm not going to lack in perspective is the turnaround. of LeBron James in year 23. and how great he was as a pocket passer.
How amazing he was from the outside from long range. What kind of a attacker of the rim he still is? in year 23. He made history this week. We'll get to that.
in the next hour will also Talk about the incredible week 13 college football matchup that you need to know about. But before we do anything else and take your calls on the other side as well, if you are waiting on hold, we're going to get to you before the end of the hour. But In the meantime, the Let's get to our latest Sports Flash and it is always great to work with this man. Here's the Ack-Man, Rich Ackerman. Listen up, football fans.
You won't want to miss this. Right now, new Bet365 customers bet $5 and get $150 in bonus bets, win or lose.
So you could turn that $150 into something bigger. When you bet on money loss, spread, totals, player props. $150 in bonus bets when new customers bet $5. I know where I'm going to bet from now on. Download the app today and see why it's never ordinary at Bet365.
Gambling Problem, call 1-877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov. 21 plus only. Must be physically located in North Carolina. TNC Supply and app only. What's good, y'all?
It's Von Miller, Super Bowl MVP, SAC Master, and now your host of Free Range. This is where NFL meets real talk. Every week, I'm bringing you inside the game, from locker room stories to league-wide headlines. You want football IQ, locker room insight, and real conversations with the people shaping the league? Welcome to Free Range with Von Miller, where nothing is off limits and every down counts.
New episodes every Wednesday. Listen and follow Free Range with me, Von Miller, wherever you get your podcast. Did you know Tide has been upgraded to provide an even better clean and cold water? Tide is specifically designed to fight any stain you throw at it. even in cold.
Butter? Yep. Chocolate ice cream? Sure thing. Barbecue sauce?
tides got you covered. You don't need to use warm water. Additionally, Tide Pods let you confidently fight tough stains with new Coldzyme technology. Just remember, if it's gotta be clean, it's gotta be tied. With stays under $250 a night, Virbo makes it easy to celebrate sweater weather.
Book a cabin with leaf views or a home with a fire pit for nights with friends. With stays under $250 a night, find a home for your exact needs. Book now at Virbo.com. You're listening to the JR Sport Brief. Here's David Shepard.
You are listening to the JR Sport Brief. And this is David Shepard on the Infinity Sports Network. Always great to fill in for my guy at JR. Always great to be with you.
However, wherever you may be listening from, you could be listening to us in your car, in your truck, at work, like Ryan Botcher and Kevin. Don't tell me, Kevin. Kevin. Bunk Did I get that right? Got it.
You put the bunk in funk? That's one way to do it. I respect that, man. Remember to join us, 888-710-4ISN, 888-710-4476. Let's get to the busy phone line.
We got Connor, who has been very patient in Ohio. Connor, Long time no see, brother. How you doing? It's been a very long time, barely a week. How about that, huh?
Hey, ma'am. It was great to have you and your mom grace us with your presence and join us in studio. That was awesome. Our audience, our audience. Ate it up.
I still, to this day, am getting feedback about how well you came off on the air, how in tune you were, how sharp you were.
So You got a very bright future in this space, ma'am. No, that means a lot. And I appreciate everyone out there, the listeners who who uh all their support for me and I that just means a lot, you know, it just uh it makes you it makes you realize that there's still so much good in this world, you know, it's just uh Yeah, you're damn damn right. And you and your mom are a big part you and your mom are a big part of that so much good in this world. Yeah.
And thanks to her, I am who I am today. Yes, sir.
So uh you know it's just um Just taking it one day at a time, you know, just living life. the the best way that I can. Yeah, that one just uh Yes. taking a walk, you know. Um So, I guess I can get to right to what I'm trying to say.
You know, since we got busy phone lines, you know, this is wonderful to talk to you, though, Shep. Appreciate you having me on. I guess I can switch it over to the Texans and the Bills that I'm watching again, actually, right now. Right. And again, I gotta say, uh I definitely got bills.
Bills are definitely gonna they're gonna Open. Booty. of the Texans. You already got James Cook. Ah who He had a huge touchdown.
That was that was yeah, man. He's you know, midway through the first quarter. He's already got 50 yards, man. And Davis Mills is a whopping one of six with 10 yards. You and I could do that.
Yeah, I know, yeah. And they they honestly they left it wide open too. They didn't even I I've w I was watching the Texans players, you know, pursuing Jay Sloop and they barely even gave their all. Right. It's interest it's interesting, honestly.
Well, the Texans understand that they're not winning Anything this year. They're certainly not winning their division. They're not even going to get by Jacksonville, let alone the Indianapolis Colts.
Meanwhile, the Bills are trying to keep pace with the Patriots and the AFC E, so they know every single game matters at this point. They feel like their backs are against the wall. And they came out not wasting any time, you know, scoring. On a drive that didn't take too long. And they were able to score five minutes into the game off of a James Cook 45-yard touchdown run.
And we spoke about not just Josh Allen and how. Much prowess he has at the quarterback position and how much he's improved as the downfield passer and what he can do as a dual threat. But what makes this Bills team so unique is the balance they have this year, which is more significant than any other year in the Josh Allen era. And that is because of James Cook and the year that he is putting out there, which is the greatest year of any running back minus Jonathan Taylor.
Okay. Yeah, no, 100%. And I gotta give it to you. Jonathan Taylor is wow. How about Jonathan Taylor, man?
And it's not like he's like it's not like he's even a Came out of nowhere. I mean, he's been a part of the NFL for six seasons. The dude is 26 years old. Yes. And he is killing it out there.
Um and I got and I gotta give it to him for just showing up this season and and made and run just Running almost like a historical season for himself. We forget, man. Like, this cat was, you know, five years ago, he was a Russian title holder. Like, the guy almost ran for 2,000 yards, man. No, yeah.
And you know, it's just it's funny. You know, you You look at this guy and you see what he's doing, and you just can't help but think to yourself, like, wow. That guy right there, like, why haven't we been watching him more and more? Like, where did he even come from? Because I feel like.
I feel like he really kind of I really didn't hear too much about him until this season actually, like, you know. before and I hadn't really been paying attention to them a whole bunch, so that's partly on me.
Meanwhile, he is on the end of the day.
Well, I mean, I mean, but yeah, but in fairness, in fairness, in fairness to you, and I and I don't mean this disrespectfully because I don't think he was given a. a real chance to succeed. But any time you're playing behind Anthony Richardson, a guy who didn't even have twenty career starts in his college career, you're not going anywhere.
So Jonathan Taylor became an afterthought because I mean, the Colts that they weren't any anything close to being a contender.
Now that they are a contender, there's a light being shined on them that hasn't quite been there in, you know, years, if not decades. No, absolutely. And yeah, and exactly as you said. When when you're the coach and your team that, you know, It's falling off quite a bit. And they certainly did.
They were. They were nothing to look at. Right. In no disrespect. They were nothing to look at, nothing to be proud of as a fan of them.
Anybody who is out there, I'm sorry, but it's true. in those past couple of seasons. And so when you when you have a team that At plays like that, you know, you're not really going to it's just nearly impossible to get your name out there. especially when you're not able to put up the amount of yardage that He's been putting up this season already. It's crazy.
I'm I'm with you. With you 100%, man. Good analysis as always. I don't think it's much of a debate, discussion in terms of who's going to win Thursday Night Football. You follow the NVA at all?
Did you catch you catch L V J in his season twenty three debut? I did not. Yeah, and I'm sorry. I'm sorry. No, you got a lot.
You got a lot to learn. You got a lot of four-layer set. You kind of shoot me four layers. No, come on.
Now you got a senior in high school. You got jobs. I get it, brother. You're you're busy, man. I mean, I have to pay attention.
I do this for a living. I'm not that good of an actor where I can pretend like I watch games if I really didn't. You know what I mean? I am watching I am paying a little bit of attention to Vic uh Wembinyama and Castle. Yeah, well they're well they make a really good one two combinations.
Over the edge right there. Yes. They're really something for that team. I gotta give them getting getting Castle and Wembinyama is something One of the best things seen the Spurs doing a little bit now.
So I got to give it to them. They definitely made the right decision. Those two are some. Those two have got some chemistry, I gotta I gotta say. I mean, if I played with a seven foot six alien that could shoot free throws from thirty feet out and also dunk it with taken off from the free throw line off of half and a rebound machine and a block machine at that, hey man, Connor, great to have you on the airwaves.
You call back. Call back anytime you want, but keep being productive and keep being you, man. Don't ever change. Thank you so much. Hey, same to you, Steph.
You're an amazing individual, and I don't know where the world would be without people such as yourself, sir. I appreciate that, Connor. Probably down in the dunks, that's for sure. Thank you, brother. Always get to hear from Connor in Ohio.
The truth is. You know, that's a really good young man right there.
Someone that has called us. On our network for four or five years, and someone that I had the privilege and the good fortune of being able to introduce him to what we do here at the Infinity Sports Network was lucky enough to kind of host him a little bit here and kind of show him the lay of the land, and just an awesome experience for me. I know it was awesome for Nick Theodoro as well, who was here as a producer, and Giannivi Sripati. I'm pretty sure I'm getting that name right. Um I'm not the best with names.
if I don't know someone. That's a weakness of mine. That's definitely a blind spot. But I'm getting better.
Someone who doesn't have any blind spots, Alex from Miami. Alex, how you doing, brother? Everything good? Hey Chef, what's up? Listen.
Um I always call the good shepherds, I always call the bonus shepherds, but This evening, it was a real, real compliment that I got from Botcher. It's really flattering. He ranked me as one of the top cotters on the Infiniti Sports Network. You're there. And I'm taking Boscher, and I appreciate it.
And let me tell you something. Ryan Boster doesn't give praise out easily. He's a tough man. He is a tough Man. To get that stamp of approval from.
No, I mean, Ratcher, like in all seriousness. You're a nice pr you're a really nice guy. But you're not you don't go You're not. Like, who who's who's a good example? Like, you're you're you're you don't you're you're you're an introvert.
In a way, yes. I it takes me poking you. to get you to really get going about something. Yes. Yes.
I I I generally, most of the time, will not go on a tangent or Yeah. Like, listen, you were the utmost professional individual, but. You're not the most, I don't want to say the most. You're not. You're not the mayor.
You don't go out there and make conversation with everyone.
Sometimes, like, you kind of keep to yourself. You're in your lane. And there's a lot of people like that here. You're not alone. Um But when you give out praise like that, My point is, it's coming from a real genuine place.
You don't say anything. to blow smoke up people's tukkas. You know what I mean? Yeah, I get that now. Yeah.
I don't know. No, no, you're not. No, you're all business. You know who you remind me of? Tom D.
Celestino. Is that a fair comparison? Yeah, I can see that. Right?
So, Alex, I'm with Ryan Botcher on this. And I'm telling you, man, getting praise from Botcher. That's not the easiest thing because he's not a phony when it comes to that stuff.
Well, to be put in the same breath with Gobert Tobig Friendly, Gary and others, that's a big feature. Me personally me personally, I have you I have you above Gary in Florida. I don't think Gary in Florida is in your league. Yeah. Wow.
That's uh, that's a lot to say, Chep. But you know, don't don't break me up so high because when you fall, you fall really hard. That's fair. But but but who says you're falling? Oh, you never know.
That's true. I could be like I could I could be like the the hurricanes, I could go up a cliff and fall.
So you you could be so you you you could be the Kevin Spacey of Infinity Sports Network callers, is that what you're saying? Most definitely, most definitely. You ain't falling that much, that's for sure. But I called um I really called to talk about uh the ASC East, the state of the ASC East. Sure.
Um You know what? You got to give a lot of props to the Patriots. They're having a real good year.
However, um I don't think their time is here yet. I think their time is coming. I think they lack experience. They need to mature more as a team. I don't think that Josh Allen has really put on his Superman cape yet.
I think he's left it in the closet. And last week you took it out.
Okay, I was about to say, Alex, did you not just witness what he did on Sunday becoming the first quarterback since 1954 to put up three rushing touchdowns and three passing touchdowns and good. I just want to make sure we're on the same page. He put it on a week ago, and he's going to have it on for the rest of the season.
So I do think they're going to wind up winning the AFCs.
However, yes, I do want to give a big compliment to to Drake May, I I wa you know, to to the Patriots, they they've done really well. And they made a lot of strides, but it's not their time yet because They have a problem, and that problem is the Buffalo Bills.
Now Going forward, do you really think that the Patreons can be the Buffalo Bills? And I know they're not in the playoff picture yet, but I think they will be. The Chiefs Or the Ravens? I don't think so, not because of lack of experience. I think at the end, they're still going to be the top three teams in the AFC.
Going forward, however, if the bills falter, I think there's going to be rolling heads there.
So, Alex, my question for you is: explain to me week five then. And I know it's the regular season versus the postseason. But explain week five to me. I think that going forward, they're going to flip a switch. I know that they play that they played terrible week five.
I understand what you're saying. That switch happened before and after Miami. I've played many times against Kansas City, and I've always wound up losing. You know what I mean? So until they don't wind up out of the playoffs, I'm still going to believe that they are going to make the playoffs and that they're going to be and that they're going to be.
A force to be reckoned with in the playoffs. Then, if that doesn't happen, then I might change my mind. But I bet against them too many times and lost too many times. Yeah, I can't see them losing against the Colts at home. I can't see them losing against Dallas.
They're going to beat Houston. They're going to beat the Chargers. They're absolutely going to be Tennessee. You know they're going to get revenge on Denver. And then by the time they play the Raiders, the Raiders, by that point, would be a month removed from actually caring about the season.
I'm with you, Alex. Listen, it's the opposite of what happened last year, right? When they were. What, like 9-0, 10-0 at one point for one-possession games?
Now they can't win one-possession games if their life depended on it. You know, it's backwards. You know, if you look at the Denver game, Denver did what Kansas City usually does, and Kansas City did what Denver usually does. You know, and that's how the game. It was like Reverse osmosis or something like that.
You know, what what wasn't supposed to happen happened, but it did. But I think going forward, they're going to flip a switch. I think they're going to take it serious. I think that Andy Reid is going to prove the type of coach that he is. He's going to get to their head that they're going to go forward and sneak into the playoffs.
They're going to back their way into the playoffs. But once they're in the playoffs, It's a brand new season. And then they're going to be the arrowhead invitation, it's obviously going to be open, and I'm going to win the division. Right, right.
Okay. But there's still going to be a team to be reckoned with, and Mahomes can beat anybody any day. Yeah, and that's where experience really comes into play. Alex, always a pleasure, man. Appreciate the insight.
Appreciate the conversation. We'll talk over the weekend. You have a great rest of your Thursday, okay, my friend? Yeah, later on, going down the road, we'll talk about. I guess I'm running out of time.
We'll talk about the Bills. If the Bills don't go deep into the playoffs, I think there's going to be rolling heads in Buffalo.
Sounds good, Alex. I appreciate you, brother. Always good to talk to you. And speaking of rolling heads, there were rolling heads in LA. But not because of LeBron James.
He made his season debut less than forty-eight hours ago. We'll recop that and why one person actually has defeated Father Time. That's next. Good Shepherd, Inferred JR. We're coming right back.
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It's Von Miller, Super Bowl MVP, SAG Master, and now your host of Free Range. This is where NFL meets real talk. Every week, I'm bringing you inside the game, from locker room stories to league-wide headlines. You want football IQ, locker room insight, and real conversations with the people shaping the league? Welcome to Free Range with Von Miller, where nothing is off limits and every down counts.
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