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21 plus only. Must be physically located in North Carolina. TNC's apply and app only. 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 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? Tide's got you covered.
You don't need to use warm water. Additionally, Tide Pods let you confidently fight tough stains with new ColdZheim technology. Just remember, if it's gotta be clean, it's gotta be tide. What's up, everybody? David Shefford in for the great JR Sport Free Fright here.
on the Infiniti Sports Network.
Okay, so I don't have the TV in front of me. Thank you, Ryan Botch, for being the outstanding executive producer. That's the only way. That wasn't me. That was actually Kevin.
Oh, Kevin, Kevin, don't put the funk in bunk. What?
Well his last name is Bunk. Put the wet in the wet? Don't put the funk in bunk. Is that a reference? It's my reference.
Okay, it works. That's how I remember his name. I thought it was out of the loop again. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. No, that's not an Artie Lang, you should know kind of thing.
So, Josh Allen.
So, I don't have the luxury of. Being able to watch this live, I wish I could. but I got to make sure that we're talking about everything, not just the football game. And plus, we can't do play by play. But Kevin.
You typed in Josh Allen got hurt. Then you said he's back in.
So, pressures on you, brother. Enlighten our audience. What is happening on Thursday night football? Just to fill us all in on what's going on with Thursday night football. We did see a James Cook early touchdown with five minutes into the first quarter going for a 45-yard score, scoring six points.
Of course, the Bills, I guess they missed an extra point. Josh Allen looks like he is picking up right where he left off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, seven of nine in terms of from his passing to attempts, 57 yards passing. And meanwhile, we continued to see a struggling backup in Davis Mills, who is now a whopping one of eight. And I am not exaggerating when I say this. You could have Kevin Don't Put the Funk in Bunk.
You could have Ryan Botscher. You can have David Shepard. You can have Bart Winkler. You can have J.R. Sportbrief.
You can have Maggie. You can have Perloff. You can have Carl Dukes. You can. Have Jodi Mac, you get the point.
You can have Gary from Jacksonville, who everyone thinks is the greatest caller since sliced bread. You can put any of these individuals out there on an NFL gridiron, and they will find a way to at least go one of eight.
Now, with all that being said, Kevin, thank you for playing that music as long as possible, by the way, reinforcing to myself at least that I think I'm as cool as J.R. Sport Brief. What happened with Josh Allen, and now you say he's back in the game? Yeah, it was just two drives ago for the Bills. Ended on a bad sack.
Will Anderson got him, got him from the back. Allen looked like maybe a concussion protocol thing. He was on the ground for a little bit. Face mask hit the turf first.
So I think just had to go get checked, come back in. It looked bad for a second, but he's right back in and they're marching.
So, Josh Allen, thank you for clarifying that, Kevin.
So, Josh Allen has found. Seven different receivers so far in the first quarter. That is called spreading the wealth.
Meanwhile, Davis Mills Howard has completed just one pass. for the entirety of the game. Um if you took any player On any of these teams. There is not a chance in Sam hell that they will have a career, as long as LeBron James.
Okay. And That to me. I hope it's getting appreciated and highlighted enough. Because There's not one single player this NBA season. That's averaging 12 assists per game.
Not one. Not even Nikola Jokic. LeBron James. more than six months removed, From playing An NBA game. goes out there.
Still looking to recover. from not having his lungs where it needs to be right now. Place thirty minutes. Finishes with twelve assists. Those twelve assists, six of them, came within a five-minute time frame in the fourth quarter.
and LeBron was making pocket passes, and he was gettin' out in the fast break. and doing no look passes as if he's John Stockton or you know, Gary Payton or Jason Kidd, like he's a true prototype point guard. That probably only five or six other people can make in the entire world. and LeBron James was making it look effortless. and you could tell there was a joy that rubbed off on every one of his teammates.
And we talk about all the time this notion of Father Time is being undefeated. Folks, I think LeBron James Is making the best case we have seen. In Bonner Day Athletics. were forty years old. He can go out there.
and still be a game changer and difference maker. in year 23. The guy has been doing it so long. that there are more than 80 players in the NBA. that weren't even born, When LeBron James made his NBA debut.
And what he was able to do in putting up a double-double with such ease? still having the bounce in his step. You cannot ignore and erase that IQ that LeBron James has. which is why even though The Lakers haven't exactly Put out the red carpet for him in terms of extending beyond 2025, 2026. It is clear that he is a necessary piece and component For this Lakers team if they want to have any shot at actually contending, in a very competitive Western Conference.
And there's never been anyone like this in NBA history. where not only are they planned well past year twenty, But he is still. A significant reason. As to why any team would go far, come playoff time. And you can see how wide open Lukodnacchich gets.
when LeBron James is on the floor because you can't double Luca. Same could be said for Austin Reeves. And You look. at how deep the West is. This is a pivotal time for the Los Angeles Lakers.
because you have new ownership, You obviously have a different direction they're going in with Luka Doncic being the face of the franchise. But the real winner On that Lakers squad, we all know is four-time finals MVP LeBron James. It's not J.J. Reddick, it's not Luka Docsic, it's not Austin Reeves.
So while LeBron James may be in year twenty-three. He is still going to be the engine for this organization of getting them. back to the mountaintop, a place they were. of course back in 2020. But you gotta be really excited about what is going on this season at least with the Lakers.
Because they're deeper than they have been. Sense. that 2020 bubble championship. Think about it. You got Luka Dantic, who's in the middle of his prime.
you got Austin Reeves, who was entering his prime. You have Jackson Hayes. You have Gabe Vincent. You got a lot of depth coming off the bench. Marcus Smart, Jake Laravia?
And then your starting lineup, obviously, featuring the aforementioned Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves, you have Rui Hachimuri, you have DeAndre Ayton. the big you were sorely and drastically missing last year. This is a fun time. to be a Lakers fan. And I do think LeBron James does have an outside shot.
at winning championship number five. I saw enough in game one I saw a team and I know they were going against a jazz, but I saw a team that easily Scored 140 points in LeBron James' first game back. Doesn't even have his full legs underneath him yet. definitely doesn't have the VO2 max and the oxygen. Yet he's still able to go out there.
and take over a basketball game with his IQ, and his innate sense of when to deliver the rock to his teammates. And what's also fascinating About that particular Lakers' game. when it comes to facing the Utah Jazz, is it really puts into A proper perspective of what LeBron James has accomplished. And here's what I mean by that. LeBron James came into the NBA.
as the ultimate I'm gonna show you up player. I'm going to dunk it on your face. I'm going to be the most explosive, most athletic, most airbound, dynamic player. that you can possibly conceive. And you know what he's done?
since getting into the NBA? He's worked tirelessly. on his jump shot. specifically from long range. And as a result, he passed Reggie Miller.
Reggie Miller For the fifth most threes in NVA history. Reggie Miller held that record, had that distinction. For more than a decade. Kobe came into the NBA as a shooter, not LeBron. That was something LeBron had to work with.
So With just two playoff wins. in the last two years That is something that is not going to make Lakers fans happy. It's certainly not how LeBron James wanted to end his career. And so I believe the Lakers. more so than any other time minus that twenty twenty championship in the LeBron James era.
have a real chance of actually competing. for an NBA championship. And the Remember. Over five thousand players. have made it to the MBA.
but yet just one has lasted twenty three seasons. And in that 23rd season, It is mind-boggling. an infathomable that a guy in your 23 can be. the best player. on the floor.
Overall? Mission accomplished. This was a huge success for LA. There is nothing Like the LeBron James factor when it comes to NBA basketball, nothing else compares to it. And let's be honest.
If it weren't for LeBron James, he'd be J.J. Reddick. his former podcast partner of mine, The Game, Wouldn't have this head coaching job. In the first place.
So, JJ, you are more than capable of speaking out. On LeBron James, and this is cut number 24. He gives his thoughts. On LeBron James' season debut. Let's take a listen to the second year head coach.
Thought he played with the right spirit. Very unselfish all night. Um. You know, he was a willing passer, didn't force it, took his drives and his shots when they were there. And speaking of what is there, the guy that's going to benefit so much.
From this particular LeBron James season 23 debut. Is of course going to be someone like a DeAndre Ayton.
someone that plays so well around the rim off of others.
Someone that is long. That can catch the alleys. that can play a high-low game. They missed that sorely last year.
Now they thought that had that. And Mark Williams, but obviously, you know, physical held that up. And ultimately, they were stuck with Jackson Hayes during their playoff run. And it's something. That they didn't even go to down the stretch, which is why many people believe they only were able to win one game.
versus the Minnesota Timberwolves. But what you see with this particular Laker squad, is how much freer and looser Players on the Lakers are with LeBron James on the floor because of the passes he's able to make. and what he's able to see from any angle. and DeAndre again, Is going to be the biggest beneficiary. Of LeBron James' return, he will get himself 10 to 15 points every single game.
Off of Lebrun's passing ability alone. And they were sorely missing that big man last year when they went down four to one against the Minnesota Terran Brawls despite being the lower seed. But they got themselves the legitimate big men. and Deandreyton. He's not going to be confused for Joel Embed, or Nikola Jokic, or Alfred Shangoon.
but he is without question. an upgrade from what they had last year. and easily a good, if not very good, NBA Center. and he's played with some all time greats. He's played with Chris Paul.
He's played with Devin Booker. It's never played with the king. These are his thoughts after game number one with modern day NBA royalty. Let's take a listen. Yeah, he don't make it snee like that, you know, running next to him and he running fast as me down the floor, you don't you don't you don't think that is his twenty third year, you know.
It was a machine. Um I was just telling him a fun fact. You know, he threw me an alley hoop. I said, That's my second alley hoop for you. The first one was when I was in eighth grade at your campaign, you know.
Seeing all that, so it was fun. Yeah, it's pretty cool, by the way, to see LeBron James, you know, have more threes in his career than Reggie Miller, which is just astonishing. And the fact that his son has a three later in the game I don't think that will ever happen again in NBA history. And with the way Bronnie James has been looking in year two, I mean, you know, he belongs on an NBA floor. He still, you know, struggles with feisty pit bull type of defenders where He can get a little loose with the rock.
He can get a little careless. That's something he's going to have to work on in his game.
Somebody who has work to do in their game is even the great Luka Doncic. He can be better with his efficiency. He can be better at defense. But there is no question. Luca very much appreciates being able to share the court with LeBron in year 23 compared to his year eight.
And he spoke about that After the latest Lakers win, let's take a listen. Once you just share him, we'll share him with him, you know. It's 23rd season. It's insane. To show you the code with him, it's special and he sees things that other people can't.
So he's here to help us all. It's amazing. It's only his first game pack and he plays amazing, so I'm excited to play some more. What's amazing is the guy's in year twenty three and he goes out there and he's still an All Star caliber player after being removed for more than six months when it comes to The Rock. LeBron James, he's open to talk history.
But don't call him old. No, not really. I haven't been able to do that throughout my whole career. Um I think it's something I will really enjoy once I'm done to be able to look back and see so many things I accomplished and a group, a great group of guys I was around, the coach staff I was around when I was playing the game. Um I can sit back and think about what you just said as far as seven guys not being born.
I started this journey. And yeah, that just made my back hurt.
So I do got a girl. I got a few days before we play again, so I'll be okay. You know what's interesting about that is three of those individuals that were not yet born when LeBron James made his NBA debut, three of them play. For the LA Lakers. And, you know, it's just fascinating when you talk about this guy's career.
You know, more, more accomplished. Than anyone else in NBA history. And there is a distinction and a fine line between being accomplished. And of course, being the greatest, right? And obviously, people will always, always, always go back to the well when it comes to the conversation of who is the greatest of all time.
Is it Michael? Or is it LeBron? For the sake of this particular segment, I just want to make this about the greatness So much struggle early on with his shot.
So much struggle. He ends up with more Kerber threes than Reggie Miller as a forward, I don't care if he plays for 43 years. That's impressive. And you talk about overall what he's done with his NBA career. I mean the guy has almost 5,000 more points than anyone else in NBA history.
He's got a 1500 more assists. Than arguably the greatest passer in NBA history in Magic Johnson. He's got more rebounds than Patrick Ewing. He's got more blocks than Carl Malone. He's got more steals than Scottie Pippen.
This is the type of career that LeBron has had that has separated himself from everyone else In terms of specific accomplishments. And as we saw on Tuesday, for any basketball and sports fan, just know however long he plays, whether this could be his last, the next year, the next year after that. he still got his A-like stuff. And that's scary. For the rest of the NBA, because nobody has a higher IQ.
Okay. Number to join us is 888-710-4ISN. That is 888-710-4476. The MBA is simply better with LeBron. And it's nice to have a conversation about him.
and what he is able to completely debunk. at soon to be age forty one, But the reality is, LeBron James still has more to prove. and the breezing has got more to prove. is because he has now been through four different head coaches for the LA Lakers. That can't sit well with him.
And so when you're twenty three, He doesn't have to necessarily be mister Hustle out there. But he is someone. That's going to be relevant. and someone that can still compete. with the very best.
cannot say that about anyone else in NBA history. Lebron James and his royalty. Is the Exception. Number to join us is 888-710-4ISN. That is 888-710-4476.
How impressed were you? with LeBron James in his season twenty three debut. And when we get back? Another notable figure in sports is back in action. But this time from a very different Uniform.
It involves the college football world. We'll share with you who that individual is on the other side. You can certainly call and weigh in about season number 23 debut for LeBron James, the first time he has ever started a season. Since the age of nine, it is and wasn't available From the get-go. We'll take you to LeBron Calls.
We will certainly get into the world of college football and how Virginia Tech. Found themselves an absolute gem. You're listening to The Good Shepherd in for the great JR Sport Brief right here on the Infinity Sports Network. And folks, it's no shocker, 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 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, 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 podcast. Extra value meals are back. That means ten tender juicy McNuggets and medium fries and a drink are just eight dollars. Only at McDonald's. For limited time only, prices and participation may vary.
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You're listening to the JR Sport Brief. Here's David Shepard. Great to be in. For JR, always a pleasure to be filling in for the JR Sport Brief right here on the Infinity Sports Network, and it's great to be with you. On the Infinity Sports Network as well.
And whenever I do JR, because I get to work with the great Ryan Botcher. I'm not just on the airwaves, but we're on YouTube. We're streaming the entire time.
So you can weigh in. on anything. Anything. NBA, NFL, NFL. NHL, well, not really.
That was like a Don Rickles.
Well, you can weigh in seriously on anything.
So there's so many ways to get a hold of us each and every time we stream on YouTube.
Now, I I do want to get to.
Something that I believe is a lesson that goes beyond sports. And that is that If you are great at what you do, and you're great to people. eventually the right opportunity. is going to find you. and you won't be the fall guy for long.
Here's what I mean by that. James Franklin got a raw deal at Penn State. We all know that.
Now, whether or not you believe he's the right guy for Penn State, that's a different conversation. But you are at that school. For more than a decade, every single season. You have coached them that has been a full season, so not a COVID season or anything like that, but a full season. You have always had a winning record.
You were coming off of a year. in which you were one play away. from getting to the national championship game. And the following year, through three weeks of the college football season. You were a top three ranked team in the country.
He did not deserve to get fired. in the middle of the year with all that he has done. for Penn State. But will you really credit him? Is not just how he handled the aftermath of that.
But how When it came to the immense buyout, That he was going to be given? He said, No, I don't care about the buyout, I just want a coach. That's the type of guy you want. overseeing your program. because in the eleven full seasons at Penn State Jest remember, He made a huge difference for them.
where they were one of the winningest programmes. in the entire country. And so now What one team believes is not exactly the best endorsement for a coach. The other team ain't buying that. They believe he is the answer.
And that is in the form of of the Virginia Tech Hulkies and recently last forty eight hours you saw them. Make James Franklin. their head coach, And what a difference He is going to be the last five years The Virginia Tech Hokies have been 25 and 36.
Meanwhile, Franklin. Over that same time frame, 44. And seventeen. Expect this higher Right away. And Bill O'Brien did a nice job.
you know, kind of get in this program. back on track. James Franklin. Put it back on the map. By year three, At Penn State, they were already a top five team.
in the nation.
Now I know the four and twenty record against top, you know, ten AP opponents ain't anything to brag about nor anything to be proud of. But there's a lot of coaches. who are still currently employed that have four and twenty records. against those types of caliber of teams, and I guarantee you They did not just attempt to reach the national championship game because they were a playaway in the National Semi-Final Game.
So you look at what he has done, not just at his time. At Penn State. But think about what he did at Vanderbilt. I mean, he took over for the Commodores and by year two They were finishing as the top twenty five program. Not in no Penn State.
Wants to make James Franklin the fall guy. And yes, he was not great in those final three weeks. There's no getting around that. But a guy with that kind of resume, that level of professionalism, They never should have done him dirty like that in the middle of the season. You want to part ways at the end?
Fine by me. But you don't wipe your hands with someone in the middle of a season. 'Cause you know what? Penn State since that point They're one in three. You talk about what this guy is going to mean, James Franklin, to the Virginia Tech Hokies.
Well, he's taken over for Brent P uh Brent Papry. and he was fired in September after an 0-3 start and after an overall record of 16-24. Virginia Tech is going to win big.
Now They have not had a great run. As of late. you know they have obviously struggled recently. But the truth of the matter is, we just saw James Franklin win 13 games last year, right, in total. Virginia Tech, in any of their seasons, in any of their history, they have never won more than 11 games.
Games. And so you gotta feel really good. about hiring James Franklin. Because for a Virginia Tech team, in the last fourteen years that have never put up more than ten wins. Franklin has done that in five.
of his last ten.
So Virginia Tech They're in a great spot? and you know with James Franklin? resurrecting the the program at Vanderbilt. bringing Penn State to heights they had not seen since the heyday of Joe Paterno? He is all about himself bringing a unique experience to the opportunity.
and you know he did that in his time at Vandy. You know he did that in his time at Penn State. And so there is going to be no exception. when it comes to his newest gig. Coaching.
The Virginia Tech Hockeys. Let's take a look. I feel like it's going to put us in a really specific position to separate ourselves over a ton of different schools. There's very few head coaches that have had the experience in the SEC, in the Big Ten, and the ACC. And we're going to use all those experiences and resources for the betterment of Virginia Tech.
Folks, we live in a world where industries are volatile and you never know from moment to moment what the status of your job is. That's just the reality. That is especially appropriate and r a resounding truth. When it comes to being a coach at any level, especially Division one. And so my advice would be listen and heed the lesson of James Franklin.
Don't bash your former employer. Keep it classy. and stay above ground. Franklin did that effortlessly. Even when Nick Sabin was ripping the decision to shredge when Penn State elected to fire James Franklin and he was on the set of College Game Day, he never once took the bait.
And that's why. He didn't have to wait too long. to get another major Division I head coaching program. And he spoke in the spirit of this about being thankful for his first major opportunity as a Division I college football head coach. This is cut number 34.
Franklin, he's always going to take the high road. Including showing his thanks and gratitude for For Penn State, despite Doing him dirty and wrong in the middle of this season. Let's take a listen. I want to thank Penn State. I had 12 years there.
It's very unusual in college football to get 12 years at a place. Most importantly, the relationships, the staff, the players. The players here at Virginia Tech are going to find out I'm a players coach.
Well, he's going to be a major upgrade, that is for damn sure, over Brent Prye. Number to join us is 888-710-4ISN. That is 888-710-4476. When you Think about what kind of season That James Franklin is going to have in 2026 at Virginia Tech. We already know he's going to have a more successful season in the ACC than Bill Belichick, even if Bill Belichick just happens to be coaching in your number two at UNC.
But my question is, How Much better. Do you see Virginia Tech's situation being with James Franklin? How much do you hold his record against AP top ten opponents against him? And how much do you believe that could be just a thing of the past and a fluke? But overall, he is going to make Virginia Tech that much better, given the fact that Virginia Tech in the last 14 years has never had a season where they've had more than 10 wins.
Penn State, under Franklin, has done that five times in the last nine years. Number to join us per usual, 888-710-4ISN. That is 888-710-4476. How do you see James Franklin working out at Virginia Tech? Marco Belletti, it's great to see you, brother.
What's up, Chef? With all that being said, I asked the audience that question. I ask you that question. I see this being a significant upgrade from Brent Fry. I don't think there's any argument here.
What do you believe in terms of the job that James Franklin is going to do as a hokey? Yeah, I don't think there's any question. He's going to make them better. He's going to make them relevant. Are we talking national championship?
No. I don't think he's going to get them there. It's going to be what James Franklin does, which is no slight. He's going to build the program. They're going to win nine to 10 games.
They're going to be in contention and they're not going to get over the hump. Yeah. No, that's that's which for Virginia Tech is, you know what? If you're in the mix, that's a good thing. You're not in the mix now, so you need to take that step up.
It is a major upgrade for Virginia Tech. Oh, for sure.
Now, listen, he's not going 29 years like Frank Beamer. Do you believe he's going to have that? You believe he's going to have that kind of success, though? To get them, yeah, into where they're a nine-win team? Sure.
Yeah. Sure. But again, look, the ACC, you can do that. And it's not as crazy as it seems. And he is a good coach and he can recruit.
Now, how much money he's got behind it, what are they going to do with that? That I can't answer you. I don't know how much Virginia Tech is going to be able to get the guys that he wants simply because of the money aspect. I don't know. I don't know what's in the coffer for Virginia Tech.
If he's got money, if he's got the ability to get the guys that he wants, he'll make you respectable. Yeah. 100%. I only get you for one segment, which sucks. But.
With that being said, Um I began the show by talking about Dak Prescott. And what he was able to do with the most horrific situation Ever known to man and womankind when you lose a teammate at 24 years old, because tragically and devastatingly they take their life, and the fact that Dak Prescott. with the heaviness and the gravity of that was able to go out there. and half his best game all season, I think speaks to Dak so much. I was arguing that he's going to be not that he is right now.
but he is going to be a Hall of Famer. He's already Marco. got more passing touchdowns than Steve Young, Kurt Warner and Terry Bradshaw. that by his next game He's going to be the all-time Cowboys franchise leader in passing yards, and he did it in 23 less games than Tony Romo. I know he has not been to an NFC title game.
That's a disappointment. Obviously, the 2-5 postseason record we can talk more about, but. I also know this. He's 30 games above 500. When he doesn't suit up, in the 10 years that Dak Prescott has been a member of the Dallas Cowboys and they go with another quarterback, they are an under 500 team.
Can you see the argument? Or do you believe Nope, he's in the hall of the very good? He's not a Hall of Famer. He would have to do a whole hell of a lot between now and the end of his career to become a Hall of Famer. A whole hell of a lot.
I'm talking an MVP in a Super Bowl title. Oh, he's a runner-up. He was a runner-up MVP. I don't care. I really don't think even if you gave him an MVP, I still wouldn't put him in the Hall of Fame.
Is Russell Wilson the Hall of Fame? I would probably say no, but then see the argument. If you and I think also, look, and this is a side contract. Sure. Russell Wilson now.
Is the, I mean, you're looking at the death of Russell Wilson. Yeah. That's not the same guy that we watched in Seattle.
So it's recency bias. Right. We forget how freaking good Russell Wilson actually was in his heyday because now he can't do anything. There's a difference. There's a major difference.
We need some time away to maybe look at that. But I think he's borderline at best. Dak Prescott is not even borderline. No. He's a good quarterback.
He's got some good numbers. I mean, honestly, to be totally fair, I'd probably take Tony Romo over him. And I wouldn't put Tony Romo in Hall of Fame. You take Tony Romo over Dak Preserve. Probably.
And I don't think Tony Romo's Hall of Famer. We see good quarterbacks. And I hate when we do the, he's got more passing touchdowns than Terry Bradshaw. Guy played 40 years ago. I know.
I know he did. I know. Steve Young. I know. He couldn't lick Steve Young's boots.
It's not about numbers. It's not about numbers. And we get too fixated on that. The game has changed. And I'm sorry, Dak Prescott is nowhere close.
He's a damn good quarterback. I'm not telling he's not good, he's not Hall of Famer. We obviously know who was better in the postseason, but regular season has to count for something. Eli Manning versus Dak. You're taking Eli?
It's not even close. I'm not talking postseason. I don't care. The regular season, I don't care. I believe Eli Manning is better.
Yes. Again, and you say, well, take this out. Take this out. Oh, great.
Okay. Let me take out all the good things here. I'm going to throw all the bad things there. Like, it doesn't make any sense. When push came to shove, when you wanted a game, when you needed a play, Eli Manning made those plays.
Did he make mistakes? Sure, he did. Every quarterback did. When the game was on the line, Eli Manning was at his best, and he carried one team that was. At best.
A medium, I mean, when you say mid, that 2011 Giant team was a disaster. They were last and running. Their offensive line was a sieve. Their defense couldn't get stopped. Anybody all year long carried them to the playoffs and then through the playoffs to a title.
I've seen Dak with a hell of a lot of talent around him crumble. Crumble. I've also seen him play for an owner that is so grandeur, that is so sophomoric, that is so immature. Great that despite the fact that despite all that, he's still able to keep the Cowboys in relevance. Tremendous.
Did Jerry Jones pick him off in the playoffs, too? Like, I'm sorry. No, but he also traded away his best player this year, and they got 50 cents on the dollar, and they're still somewhat relevant. Great. Look, we dance around it all.
He's a good quarterback. Would I want him if I was starting a team and I could do worse? I could do a lot worse than Dak Prescott. But he's when you're talking into the upper echelon, no. Just know.
You know, my only regret right now, Marco, is that we don't have you on camera. Like, Bachelor, we don't have Marco on. Yeah, we do. Oh, we do! I was jumping back and forth.
Great, man. You should have told me that. It's a little bit out of frame. I don't know if you can see it. Just because I don't want to fix the cameras.
Here's a new system. Look at you improvising in there.
Well done, man.
So we got Marco's rant on camera? Yes. Okay. That's awesome. We need some fan to tweet this out and put it out there.
Take the audio. Don't take the video. Oh, I'll say that. Wow, see, that's messed up, Botch. You could just say that.
You just call me fat and ugly. You just say, cut the chase. I'm going to be completely honest. We can roll it out. You got to dance around it.
For the record, I don't think Marco's fat nor ugly. Just so we're clear. Then you blunt on both. I would just say you are, well now you look fun, you're in a four box, it looks good. But when I had you on screen, what are you, Andrew Kaplan over there?
Look at you. I have like three buttons. It's impressive. I pressed four buttons. How did you learn how to do this, by the way?
How come you know how to do this? And it doesn't seem like anyone else knows how to do this. Chef throwing the flowers. You got four buttons, man. You couldn't figure it out until 10 minutes later.
What are we doing?
Well, no, no, no, no, no. Because now the four screen, it looks fine because you're in the top right corner and it looks nice. But when you're by yourself in a solo cam, Marco. Your face is basically hugging the left boundary, and it's like driving me insane because I don't know how to fix the camera angle. No, I get it.
Close-up's not good for me. No, I get it. It's okay. It's okay. Hollywood Squares, no problem.
Close-up, no good. All right, I get it. Yeah. You want to be as far away from the camera angle on Belletti as possible. You know what?
Marco and Soaps is what you're really saying. Oh, I'm saying Psych Mamster doesn't like the Yankee hat. And as a Mets fan, I don't know. Yeah, but Psych doesn't mean that. Psych is a friendly troll.
He's not a jerk troll. He's not an arrogant troll.
So he's not saying that for real. I know we got to get to an update. Botcher, very quickly. Dak, Hall of Very Good or Hall of Fame? Hall of OK.
Hall of Stars. Man, tough crowd. Tough crowd tonight. Jeez. Number to Jordan is guys.
I mean, come on. I mean, this guy is keeping the Cowboys relevant the last 10 years. And if Romo was so great, the last thing I'm going to say, if Romo was so great, he wouldn't have gotten pushed to the broadcast booth because he got outplayed by Dak when Dak was a rookie and a fourth-round draft pick. Oh, right.
So it had nothing to do with the back injury that sidelined him for the entire season. Oh, he's 36. That doesn't help. Right. That doesn't have nothing to do with it.
That's a good point. Number to join us at 888-710-4ISN, 888-710-4476. We're coming back with this date in sports history. But before we do anything else, let's get to our latest sports flash. A Hall of Famer in my book, even though he doesn't agree with Dak Prescott, here is the aforementioned Marco Belletti.
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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. 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? hides 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. Back, back, back, back! Back in the days when I was young, I'm not a kid anymore, but some days I sit and wish I was a kid again. It's time for this day in sports history.
See, back in those days. We had radio and you couldn't see anything and it was primitive and lousy and we liked it. On the JR Sport Brief Show. I wish I was 50 years younger and I'd kick your ass. Welcome back everybody.
This is David Shefford in for the great JR Sport Brief right here on the Infinity Sports Network alongside the great Ryan Botscher and of course Kevin Don't Put the Funk in Bunk.
Now listen, we got to get it started with this particular audio. 1977, this day in sports history, Walter Payton rushes for an NFL record 275 yards. Nothing sweeter than Walter Payton, which is obviously only echoed in the nickname they were able to edge out the Minnesota Vikings 10-7. And this is how that sounded. In Chicago, hopes of being number one rest with one man.
The Minnesota Vikings knew this last Sunday, but like the weather, what they knew and what they could do about Walter Payton, number 34, were different things entirely. The Vikings seldom stop number 34 short of a 10-yard game, and this 58-yard burst was but a small part of an NFL record 275-yards rushing by the league's leading runner. In most Viking Bears matchups, it doesn't take many points to win, and this was no exception. Along the way to the record, Walter Payton picked up the Bears' only touchdown. But this, coupled with a field goal, was enough to defeat Minnesota 10-7.
That's got to be Herrick Hallis. That voice has got to be Herrick Hallis. That is NFL Films. This date in sports history, 1997, AC Green breaks the NBA record for the most consecutive games with his 907th straight appearance in a Dallas Mavericks loss to the Golden State Warriors before the Steph Curry, Clay Thompson, Draymond Green days. And ultimately, AC Green broke the record of Randy Smith.
AC Green was known for a lot of other things. Clean living, use your mind on what that means. But this is how that sounded. And this is courtesy of the Rich Eisen Show. You know That's how today's society and today's player and the technology today as far as the analytics that go into the game is saying, you know, this is a good thing for today's player in the modern day era.
Fine. I have no problem with it. I think it's crazy. I mean, personally, but. It's cool.
Let them just go ahead and do what they do. You missed three games in your career. Your career, you missed three games. That's true. That's true.
And you never once said, you know what, I'm tired. I just need time because I know we're going to go deep into the playoffs.
Well, the thing about it, Phil Jackson nor Coach Roddy would ever listen to me.
So that was the thing about it. They're just like, get in there. AC Green, very underrated. And speaking of underrated, you know, we talk about the greatest running backs of all time: Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders, Emmett Smith, Gail Sayers, He Who Not Shall Be Named. But of course, we know that's O.J.
Simpson. But the individual we don't talk about a lot is LeDanian Tomlinson. LeDanian Tomlinson, 1999. 26 years ago. Rushed for an NCAA Division I record of 406 yards on 43 carries to go along with a Josh Allen, also known as six touchdowns, in a 52-24 victory over UTEP.
And this shows the Danian Tomlinson thanking his TCU family at his Hall of Fame speech. Take a listen to how that sounded. At TCU, I began as an 18-year-old teenager. and left the young man. What made TCU so special is that it provided academic rigor with combined Christian values.
and family values. My college career got off to a really rough start. The team won just one game and the coach who recruited me What's released? I first thought I should transfer. But when I shared this with my mother, she said Don't quit on your teammates.
Be part of the solution. Be part of the change. Anything worth having. is worth fighting for. You know, speaking of being part of the solution, and that, of course, is this day in sports history.
Ryan Bacher is always solution-oriented, makes my life easy every single time I work with him, outstanding at what he does, and just a tremendous, tremendous executive producer. I really do mean that. Great to work with him. And Kevin Bunk, great to work with you, man. Awesome job on the ones and twos.
You sound like a veteran behind the glass and in terms of running the show.
So, just an excellent job out of you. And my sincere thanks to the audience, man. Just a pleasure to be with you whenever I get to fill in for JR. Love the fact that we're on YouTube every single time that opportunity presents itself. Speaking of guys that are worth listening to, make sure you stay tuned and write here because Bart Winkler is coming up next.
Be good. Be good to each other. I love you all. You all are the best, especially the callers and the YouTube chatters. I will catch you this weekend, 2 a.m.
to 6 a.m. Eastern Time. God bless you, JR. Talk to everybody this weekend. Be good.
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21 plus only. Must be physically located in North Carolina. TNC's applied and app only. 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 coldzy technology. Just remember, if it's gotta be clean, it's gotta be tied.
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.
