Trying to figure out what to eat for dinner yet again? With NOR sides and bullion as your not-so-secret ingredient, you can skip the drive-thru and do dinner at home. NOR taste combos provide a menu of delicious, affordable, and well-balanced meals that you can prepare in 30 minutes or less. Visit nor.com to get quick and easy recipe ideas for your home-cooked weeknight dinners.
It's not fast food, but it's so good. Here's why April chose to vaccinate her child. Someone who was not vaccinated and now has a lifelong struggle with a childhood disease really cemented for me that it's super important that we as parents continue to vaccinate our children. Talk to your pediatrician or visit yvaccines.com.
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That's amazon.com slash prime. It is the J.R. Sportbrief Show here on the Infinity Sports Network. Thank you to everybody tuned in and locked in all over North America. This show is emanating from Atlanta, Georgia. Thank you to our super producer and host, Ryan Hickey.
He's holding it down in New York City. And thank you for you for listening, okay? We'll be hanging out with you for two more hours. This is a four-hour show.
It gets started every single weekday at 6 p.m. Eastern, 3 Pacific. Had some interesting news come down the pipe today. J.J. McCarthy, man has a torn meniscus. We don't know how long he's gonna be out. Is it gonna be weeks?
Is it gonna be months? And Sam Donald's gonna be leading the Minnesota Vikings. Thank you to Andrew Kramer for joining us from the Star Tribune to break it down. Brandon Aiyuk, there's a report that says the Steelers have a deal ready. They're just waiting on the 49ers and Brandon Aiyuk to say, yeah, I'll go. This man has been complaining for months only to just sit on the sidelines. Now, figure it out.
You wanna stay or you wanna move? Aaron Rodgers says his Achilles is fine. He also says preseason is not real football. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Michigan, Sharron Moore. They continue to be, I don't know, dare I say, rebellious when it comes down to sign-stealing scandals and scandals involving recruitment. Jim Harbaugh was gonna be the honorary captain to open up the season. Now his parents will do it. He's like, what am I showing up for? Y'all don't need me there.
My parents can do it and they will. And so Jim Harbaugh's gonna be sticking around with the Chargers who, by the way, where the hell are they going? They're gonna be in the game. Where the hell are they going?
I have no idea where they're going. As a matter of fact, let's talk about the Chargers. We'll have that conversation in about 20 minutes with Fernando Ramirez who covers the Chargers for the Sporting Tribute. Chargers are just, there's so many teams in transition. Do they have a new quarterback? No, they don't. Do they have a new coach?
Yes, they do. Probably the best coach that they've had, it is the best coach that they've had in a long time. He just needs to get his talent out there onto the field. And so we'll talk to Fernando Ramirez about everything going on with the Chargers and Jim Harbaugh and Herbert.
What's the deal with his foot? We'll get into all of that in about 20 minutes. If you wanna participate in the show, you can. The phone number is 855-212-4227.
It's 855-212-4227. You can also find me online. I am everywhere.
I am at JR Sport Brief. Now, I do wanna tell you this. Speaking of Harbaugh, this was a little bit of a shock, but I feel at this point in time, it's an annual thing. We have a quarterback. We have a former player for Jim Harbaugh who says that he wants back in the NFL something that he hasn't done since 2016. And no, this is not Martavius Bryant. No, this is not him.
The commanders are giving him a look. This is Colin Kaepernick. Yeah, when's the last time you heard that guy's name? It's like you hear it once a year, and typically it involves Colin Kaepernick saying that he wants to return, and then you hear nothing. And that's exactly what we got earlier today, because Colin Kaepernick has been out in Paris.
Why, because guess what? The Olympics are taking place in Paris. The Paralympics, the Olympics, yeah, it's still going on. Colin Kaepernick ran the 10-kilometer marathon for All In. This is something that Nike is doing.
I'm pretty sure it's a nice event to raise money for something. Okay, we'll see what it is. Fine, whatever. And so Colin Kaepernick spoke with Sky Sports, which is based out in the United Kingdom. And what a shock, because the news kinda went all over the damn place earlier today that, newsflash, Colin Kaepernick still wants to be a part of the NFL.
A matter of fact, take a listen out of his own words, what Colin Kaepernick told Sky Sports. We're still training, still pushing, so hopefully we just gotta get one of these team owners to open up. What would it mean to you to play NFL again? I mean, it's something I've trained my whole life for, so to be able to step back on the field, I think that would be a major moment, major accomplishment for me.
Also, I think it's something that I could bring a lot to a team and help them win a championship. No, it's done. It's done, it's finished, come on now. Every year that goes by, it gets further away. Colin Kaepernick is going to be 37 years old in November. He has not played, this sounds crazy. He hasn't played since 2016, okay? I'm just, just in general math, if I'm just rounding up, the man hasn't played in going on a decade.
Like, we're moving in that direction. And it's nice to hear that he's still training and working out, who's calling? I don't know, maybe Jim Harbaugh will call him.
I mean, right, I don't know, he's been talking about, oh, that's my guy and this and that, not recently, but he hasn't necessarily closed the book on the dude. I don't see a circumstance, especially given the distractions, and it doesn't matter what you thought or what you felt about what Colin Kaepernick did or what he said or kneeling or how you feel about that, it doesn't matter. The brass taxes, he hasn't been in the NFL since 2016. Given all the attention that he would receive, given all the distraction, it'd be a distraction. And it may not be a worthwhile distraction because we haven't seen a guy throw a football bat since 2016. So I think the man got a raw deal and sat on the sword, yeah, he did, okay, and he paid for it. And I think at the other end of the spectrum, I think people went a little too hard on the guy, but a crap season he had as he got hurt and injured and couldn't lift weights, and he looked like a shell of himself.
So there's a little bit of truth in all of it, but there's no further reality then. What quarterback do you know that rolled out of bed after what, like eight years, in their 30s, and is just gonna play? I mean, the NFL has had an influx of young, durable, athletic, championship quarterback, like Colin Kaepernick, let's just say Colin Kaepernick was on the football field, right? Let's say he was opposing Patrick Mahomes. I feel like I was watching a relic, looking at Patrick Mahomes, and then looking at Colin Kaepernick, I'd be like, what am I looking at right now? Let's look at Lamar Jackson, let's put Colin Kaepernick on a football field with Lamar Jackson.
What are we doing? And I get it, this is his dream and he still wants to play, but I think the door is closed. Why would an NFL team bring on Colin Kaepernick, why?
Hickey, what are your thoughts? He says he still wants to play, I'm sure he does, but I mean, you think we're gonna see this guy play again? I don't think so. No chance, I mean, there's zero chances this is happening. Honestly, I think you and I have a better chance of making the NFL, and that's like no hyperbole. Ow, ouch.
It is, it's not even slim to none, it's none. He's had, well, I don't wanna say he had chances, that's a whole different discussion, but there's been workouts, there's been press conferences, there's been movements to get him on an NFL roster, and this is when he was still, I guess, somewhat in his prime, like three, four years ago, so what did that be, like 33, 34? Yeah, yeah. 37, not playing in eight years, done so. It's crazy to think how much time is gone by. This has been eight, Hickey, this has been eight damn years. Eight, how?
Well, you know, now that I think about it, if you think about it, and a lot of this has been politicized, we have gone from one president to another president in the process of voting on another president, and so when you do the math, yeah, it is about eight years, and it's just unbelievable to think about. We have Drake Mays, and Bo Nixes, and we got established dude, Josh Allens of the world. We have seen, we've gone through an entire new generation of quarterbacks now since Colin Kaepernick has been absent. Colin, you know, I can't even say, I was gonna say he'd be closer to coaching at this point in time, but why would anybody, hey, why would he want to coach? He still thinks he can play.
Why would an NFL coach bring him on to the staff? He's a, everything would be a distraction. I don't know if we'll see him involved in the NFL in any type of way.
Hickey, I know this sounds bad. He'd have to be brought on in like a senior advisor role, and I'm talking years from now when he is, that afro and his hair is all grayed out, and people feel bad for him and what took place. Like there's going to have to be another catastrophe for people to go, you know what? You know what we should talk to and bring in in some type of advisory, it should be Colin Kaepernick. Like I don't see any other way that he's involved in the NFL. You know, Brian Flores is a coach, he's not a player. You know, nobody gives a damn about his lawsuits against the NFL and discrimination, nobody cares.
But it's one thing to be a coach, it's another thing to be a player. I don't think he's gonna get the Pete Rose treatment. I don't think we'll see Colin Kaepernick banished out to Siberia and nobody's thinking about the Hall of Fame for the dude. But ultimately, I wouldn't be surprised if he was one day accepted back into the NFL. It's gonna be long after Roger Goodell, and I don't know, Colin Kaepernick may have to tack another 20-something years onto his life.
And at that point, he may not even want to be bothered. Do you think there's any pathway to having some type of relationship with the league? I don't, you make a good point in terms of at least the change of ownership and the change of commissioner. It would have to be, you know, a progressive owner or someone maybe even not involved in the league, you know, had their whole fiasco now eight years ago. But like you said, we're talking bare minimum, a decade down the road. And if you're Colin Kaepernick by that point, what's the point?
You know, like what are you gaining? Do you even want to coach in general? If so, like, I just don't think it would be worth it for him and I just, yeah, I don't see him as part of the NFL player, coach, even advisor. Like if you're not front facing, then why even do it if you're Kaepernick?
No, I think, well, I think maybe part of that would be the case, but that's what I say. He'd have to be very, very senior. He's 37 years old right now. You know, what Colin Kaepernick is doing when he is, I don't know, in another 10 years, he'll be staring 50 in the face. And that's not old, not by any stretch of the imagination.
It's going to be too old to play. You know, what he does behind closed doors and in regards to helping people out and being charitable, I have no idea. I certainly have heard more from him in the years following his protests, but now it's kind of low profile. I mean, he took the money, he took a settlement from the NFL and things have been pretty quiet. You know, every now and then, a couple of years, you feel, you see a book, you see a movie, he supports this, he supports that.
If I remember correctly, there was a documentary on him in his life that he helped produce. But listen, when you're out of the public eye, like what ground do you stand on? You know, how big is your megaphone to scream? You know, we talked about the Dallas Cowboys and their valuation, more than $10 billion.
It's because they have an owner who just shouts from the mountaintops. He preaches the gospel on the Dallas Cowboys any chance that he can get. If you're Colin Kaepernick, hey, you took the money, that's number one. And then B, you've been gone for so long, what else is there to say?
What else is there to do? So Colin Kaepernick, I mean, them days are over, turning 37. Cam Newton has a better chance of coming back and I think he's the same age. Cam Newton is like everybody else, doing a podcast. Hickey, you've listened to Cam Newton's podcast, you subscribe, right?
Oh, definitely, yeah, big time, P1 listener. You like his hats? Oh, the hats, the glasses, the scarves, the outfits, the shoes, the capris, all of it.
Takes a lot, takes a lot to be Colin Kaepernick, huh? Hey, let me tell you, Hickey, he has a nice cigar bar here, though. Oh yeah? Very nice, oh, it's one of the nicest cigar bars there's ever been to ever.
Nice, nice place. Do you have to wear one of his hats and scarves to get in? No, just look decent, Hickey, come on now, look like decent. You can't wear your shorts and your T-shirt, you know, but you just put something on. So there is a dress code. Yeah, it's a cigar lounge, you just can't walk in there with a... You've never been to a cigar lounge?
I've been to one cigar lounge. I'm trying to think, do we have a polo? I think I had a polo on, maybe. I bet you did. Flip-flops?
Flip-flops, oh, were you outside or something? No, it was in Scottsdale, I don't know if that changes. Oh, different, different, right?
Sorry, it's not as classy, maybe, as the cigar bars you frequent. No, I'm saying it's hot, maybe, right? It was hot.
Scottsdale in August, it was hot. Maybe you get a pass. Okay.
Maybe you get a pass, I don't know. If I tried to... Slacks button down here to get in this?
If I tried to wear flip-flops to this place, they'd be, man, go home. Oh. What are you doing?
Okay. What are you doing? Can't wear that here, what are you doing? Classy only, good to know. No, just go find some shoes.
Find some shoes, man, please, find some shoes. Anyway, it's the JR Sport Reshow here with you on the Infinity Sports Network. Hey, let me tell you about this. The defensive player of the week is sponsored by the Navy Federal Credit Union, who proudly serves the armed forces DOD. Veterans and their families, their members are the mission.
You can learn more at navyfederal.org. Padre's phenom, Jackson Merrill, he saved the game on Monday night as San Diego held on to beat the Pirates, two to one. But two outs, a run on first. Merrill was hanging around, patrolling center field.
He made a big old diving catch on a sinking Brian Reynolds line drive to record the final out of the game. It was Curtains and the Padres recorded their eighth win in nine games. The Padres are hot, hot, hot. All these damn trades that they've made, I know they want to be hot, hot, hot into the post season. Otherwise their GM, Preller, will get the boot.
Maybe, possibly, I don't know that for sure. It's the JR Sport Reshow here on the Infinity Sports Network. We're going to take a break. When we come back on the other side, it's time to have a conversation with Fernando Ramirez. He covers the Chargers for the Sporting Tribune. I want to ask him about Harbaugh. I want to ask him about Herbert. I want to ask him about the players coming in.
I want to ask him, like this is definitely a year in transition, right? What can we expect from the Chargers besides, I don't know, tanking out? We'll talk about it.
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Talk to your pediatrician or visit yvaccines.com. Brought to you by Merck. You're listening to the JR Sport Brief.
It's the JR Sport Brief show here with you on the Infinity Sports Network. People locked in listening coast to coast. It's time to go out to the West Coast. It's time to take a look at the Chargers. It's time to take a look at the team that Jim Harbaugh is now leading after leaving and winning a national championship in Michigan.
But of course, this comes with questions. What's going on with the roster? How healthy is the quarterback? Are we gonna have defensive players who are gonna be banged up all the time? This is certainly a team in transition after another disappointing year last season.
They only won five games, five. To talk about these Chargers, what's going on now? What may happen in the future? Joining us right now is Fernando Ramirez from the Sporting Tribune, covers all things Chargers. Fernando, how are you, man?
JR, I'm doing well. I mean, I'm out here in Cali. The weather is beautiful all the time, so I really can't complain. Well, I'm happy you can't complain.
I know there might be some Charger fans who wanna complain. Let me get to this first, Fernando. Yeah. How's Justin Herbert doing with that foot, man? How's that going? Well, I mean, Thursday should be two weeks. The report came out, he'll be reevaluated in two weeks and should be out of the walking boots, so two weeks is Thursday. He's been out of practice every single day that I have been there.
He's cheering on his teammates. He's paying attention to what Greg Roman's saying. You're listening to everything, and Greg today said that he doesn't feel like Herbert will skip a beat, that he feels like as soon as he comes back in, it's gonna be like riding a bike, that he's gonna be able to go and that the offense should be ready to go.
But yeah, it's been about two weeks now and obviously Easton's stick has not looked good and that should be, yeah, I heard that. That should be a little bit concerning to the team, especially if Justin's not able to start the season. But all indications are that they feel good that Justin should start the season week one against the Raiders. Well, Fernando, with this being a team in transition, everything from a new general manager, a new coach, the quarterback is learning a new system, but some of the more familiar names on offense over the past few years are gone. Austin Eckler gone.
Mike Williams, regardless of injuries, he's now gone. What's the expectation for this team in whole, for this season? Well, I mean, if you ask the fans and a lot of people that are familiar with Jim Harbaugh and his past, they're thinking playoffs.
They're thinking at least make a wild card and hopefully win a game. But realistically, I mean, the defense is flying around and a couple of weeks ago they were going up against the Rams and you could tell Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Derwin James, those guys were putting their stamp on the practice. But what really surprised me was they were doing red zone and Matthew Stafford does an end around with Puka Nakua and Elohi Gilman comes up and he stamps them a little bit and knocks them down and Sean McVay comes over and he goes, hey, be smarter, dude.
Why are you knocking down my guy? And Elohi, Derwin's like, nah, nah, nah, come on. That's how we're going and Derwin said after practice, hey, we're flying around. Like we're excited about this. So the defense is, they feel good about it. It's the offense where you have a little bit of question marks. Defense, what I have a question mark is about the secondary with Asante Samuel Jr. and Christian Fulton. They've looked good in practice.
Christian did a good job against Cooper Cup. The defensive line's a little bit of a question mark. I mean, you have Puna Ford, Scott Madlock and Otitogbanya and Morgan Fox, but what's that gonna look like come game day?
Because those, Scott Madlock and Otitogbanya were two kind of reserve guys last year. So what's that gonna look like? And Puna Ford, can he stay healthy?
So that's gonna be a question mark. On the offensive side, it's gonna be about Justin and how can you replace the production that, like you said, Austin Eckler, Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, they're really high on Ladd-McConkey and they feel like Ladd-McConkey's gonna make, he's gonna put the stamp on this offense and they feel like he could really be a weapon that could take over for Keenan. On third down, they would always go to Keenan Allen, Justin would, and it feels like Ladd-McConkey may take over that third down, that third, those third down duties.
So there's a lot of, there's a lot of hopes and a lot of will-sees, but that's all they can really go on right now, especially with their quarterback not practicing. Oh man, well as a bulldog here, I'd love to see it from Ladd-McConkey getting some of that work. Fernando Ramirez is joining us here from the Sporting Tribune, covers all things Chargers. Let's get down to brass stacks.
Let's do it. How is this team embracing Jim Harbaugh? So, I mean, you know, the players are the ones that can smell BS from a mile away and they keep on telling, and you know, I like to go with the veteran guys, guys that have been around, I mean, you go to a guy like Khalil Mack, who's been around Brandon Staley, John Gruden, Matt Eberfluse, Matt Nagy, Jack Del Rio, and he says, hey, like this is different, like it feels different. They like the way that Jim, Ben Herbert, and all those guys are taking care of their bodies. They like exactly what Jim's doing and you listen to some of these veteran players and they're really excited about having the opportunity to finally win, I mean, being in the Chargers organization is not easy, I mean, it's been the 27-0 blown lead against Jacksonville, it's been, there's been the game where they're going to New England with no linebackers and they had to play with seven secondary players, or, cornerbacks and safeties, and New England just blew them out of the water. I mean, there's been things, I mean, Chargering, all that stuff, and they feel like with Jim Harbaugh, things are gonna change. So that's kind of, I mean, I don't wanna say that he's, like, people think that he's the answer, he's the chosen, he's the Anakin Skywalker of all this, but kind of feels like everybody feels like Jim's kind of the chosen one, the one that's gonna lead them to winning and possibly winning a championship, something that their franchise has never done, so that's kind of where the veteran players are. When you listen to them, they're really excited about this and they say it's night and day completely different from everything that they had last year.
So they're really excited about, and then obviously Jim's working out with them. I saw him after the game on Saturday, he had cleats on, and I'm like, wow, and like, before the game, he's over there catching passes from Easton's stick and stuff, so it's just, he's definitely different, but it seems like the players are really embracing his involvement and the way he's coaching and the way him and his coaches are coaching them. Well, Fernando, with so many questions going on about his past tenure as Michigan's coach and some of the sanctions and suspensions and whatnot that are being handed down for a guy who's not there, we seemingly still get statements from Harbaugh regarding his old job. At what point does he just say, hey guys, I'm not answering any more questions about Michigan, or is he just gonna be an open book?
What do you think? No, I think he, I think last week he said, and that's the last I'm gonna talk about that, so I think if more things come out, there's gonna be no way we can't ask him those kinds of questions. Like, if more things start coming out, because that was only about the 2020, 2021 stuff. I mean, the Connor Stallions and all that other stuff, we'll see what happens.
I think I saw Coach Moore said he can't wait until that stuff comes out to clear them, but I mean, we'll see how all that comes down. But yeah, it was pretty interesting when he's like, I do have a statement. And he goes, the opposite of Eddie Guerrero, former WWE legend, he goes, I don't lie, I don't cheat, I don't steal on my account. Yeah, so I was like, wow, this is kind of a WWE promo when he went with what he was saying. So I was like, kudos to you, I'd love to see, and I'm not trying to steer away from this, but I'd love to see Jim do something with WWE. Like, I think it'd be interesting to see him to do something like that, like hit a wrestler over the head with a chair or something.
Like, I have some fun with it, but by that, I'm sorry. No, I did say, hey, how about, no, before you joined in the last break, I said that if he were to return to Michigan, this would be a very WWE thing to do. Like, the guy who's suspended is showing up to stick it to his boss. This is like, well, not his boss, but the NCAA. It's like Stone Cold Steve Austin of football here.
Right? That's funny, there you go. I mean, we think alike, JR, but yeah, no, when I first heard that he was going, I was like, oh, wow.
I'm like, that's brass right there, going down there and doing that. And then all of a sudden, today, Coach Moore was like, oh, no, he's not going to come. He's going to send his parents instead.
I think I saw that, that he was going to send his parents. And I'm like, oh, I'm like, that actually would have been pretty interesting to see him show up. Because you know, the fans would have been adoring him. They would have cheered him. They would have been everything that the NCAA didn't want.
So yeah, kind of a letdown now. He won't be showing up. Yeah, well, maybe his parents can go out there and give the middle finger to the NCAA. Fernando Ramirez is joining us from the Sporting Tribune, covers all things Chargers. I want to ask you about somebody who had a difficult season last year. I don't know if he couldn't find the football or if the football was finding a way in between his hands.
I know where you're going. Yeah, yeah, Quentin Johnston. This guy's supposed to be a big time, big man wide receiver. Or was he just another TCU scam out here? What's this about?
So I mean, OK, so I'm going to put it to you like this. Kellen Moore, the Chargers offensive coordinator, and Brandon Saley and his staff decided that when Mike Williams went down, they were going to put Quentin in that role. That's not what Quentin does.
Quentin is nothing like Mike Williams. He's not that kind of player. And so that kind of slowed him down. And he hasn't made any excuses. He said, I mean, I talked to him at the Super Bowl.
And he's like, yeah, I just got to patch some things up. It was a rough freshman rookie year. And the funny part is that the Chargers have kind of had a history like this in the past. Melvin Gordon, his first year.
Oh my goodness. Very bad first year. Mike Williams first year didn't really get going. And then in their second year, they had kind of a better second season.
So I mean, that could be the case here. But I think it's all about the way the Chargers are going to use them. And Quentin said that he talked to Mike or to Jim Harbaugh on that. Jim keeps on every time he sees him, he's like, you screwed me over in that game when you went 75 yards and took it to the house.
So but the thing here is Sanjay Lal, the receiver's coach, he was with Seattle last year. And he said, look, I got to do a lot of homework on Quentin Johnston. Same as GM Joe Ortiz. Both of them did a lot because they had the 22nd pick.
So they all did their homework. And they said they found ways to be able to use Quentin. And they feel very confident that Quentin's going to have a way better second year. So I mean, according to them, he's doing everything that he needs to do. And then according to him, they're putting him in a position to be able to succeed this season.
So yeah, it should be interesting to see what way they try and use them, if it's drag routes and then have him turn the corner and use the speed or what they decide to do with him. But they're expecting him to have an impact on this offense. Well, Fernando, you said the fans are expecting, I don't know, competing for a wildcard berth. You take a look at the AFC West, it's the Chiefs and everybody else, whether it's the Broncos or the Raiders. Everybody is in some type of transition. What do you realistically expect from this team?
If Justin Herbert is able to play all 17 games and he shows up week one against the Raiders out of that boot, what do you expect him from the squad? I do. So I always look at the odds. And it always says, I think before the season, it said seven and a half or a couple of weeks, like before training camp, it said seven and a half or eight wins for the charge. And I said, you know what, I'll add three just because it's Harbaugh. And I think I put it at 10. So I said 10 wins. I just have to see.
I haven't done my full prediction yet, but I've been saying 10 wins. I think they make a wildcard. And then from there, it's whatever it needs to be. But whatever happens, happens. But I think for Herbert, they're going to need at least, because there's been question marks about him. And I mean, obviously, he was kind of dealt a rough hand with the way this team has kind of been constructed in years past. And then you get to hear more about what happened with Staley and everything.
And you're like, oh, wow, like it really was a mess in this organization. So I think 10 wins, and I think they do make a wildcard. The thing is, they're going to have to, their defense is going to be different. They're really excited about their defense or defensive packages. One area that I don't feel like a lot of people are talking about the Chargers is, I think their special team is going to be even better this year. I think Darrius Davis is an explosive returner who could score multiple touchdowns for them. And then on top of that, I mean, you have Justin Herbert. If you have a quarterback, you should be able to make the playoffs.
And the Chargers do have one of the better quarterbacks in the league. So they should be able to compete for it, as long as everybody stays healthy. And like you said, if Herbert plays all 17, then I think they do make a wildcard, especially with the way Jim and this staff is. I think they're going to, they could be in for a 10-win season and then let the cards fall where they may in the wildcard.
But I do think that they make a wildcard. Knowing that Harbaugh wants to play from the inside out and that Herbert is not going to be tasked with probably throwing the ball a million times, are there no concerns with, for the life of me, I'm like, these are just raven running backs, OK? But are there no concerns that injuries are going to screw them up there?
No, I mean, not really. And I guess it's about kind of hoping that these guys stay healthy. I mean, JK has been one of those guys where, man, I'll tell you one thing, Jar.
He's looked really explosive in practice. And it seems like they're being very careful with both him and Gus Edwards. And they're kind of slowing them in, easing them in. They did partake in parts of the joint practice. They've had some practices, some practices where they sit out.
But they've been very careful with them. And they feel like if JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards are healthy to start the season, and they're healthy this season, they're going to have a really good run game. And they're kind of that smash and dash, kind of like that, and I don't want to compare them, but kind of like that Chris Johnson, Lindell White, big back in Gus Edwards.
And then you have the quick, elusive back in JK Dobbins. So they're really excited about them. But I don't necessarily believe that Herbert's not going to throw the ball a lot.
I feel like when the nitty gritty comes to it, they're going to go to Justin. How many times are they going to be like that? Because Hayden Hurst told us from the beginning, a hardball run team is exactly what you think it is.
It's tough. They want to punch you in the face. And in the fourth quarter, they want the other team to be looking up and saying, crap, we still have another quarter to face these guys. And our team is going to be like, yes, we have another fourth quarter to beat up on these guys. So I mean, they expect to be tough. They expect to be able to run the football. But I think when obviously the tough gets going, they're going to want number 10 with the ball in his hands. I just think that it's going to be different than anything we've seen in the past. Because hardball has never had a quarterback like this. So I think a lot of people are picturing Justin basically being JJ McCarthy 2.0, where he throws the ball nine times, or 10 times, or 11 times.
And I just don't see that that's going to happen. I think, yes, they're going to want to take some pressure off of Justin. But at the same time, they're going to try and mold their offense around him. It sounds like everything is all about number 10. So I think the show is going to be number 10.
And I don't think they're very, not nervous, but I think they're going full steam ahead with their running backs. OK. Well, Justin Herbert, hopefully his foot is out that boot. And he's out there earning all of that $53-plus million. Fernando, where can people follow you and all your work with the Sporting Tribune? Oh, I'm at at RealFRamirez on Twitter, Instagram.
I do some TikTok here and there. And then I'll be at the sportingtribune.com and just look up my name or charges and you'll find all my work. But JR, I appreciate you having me on. You are the best of the best. I always enjoy our conversations. Well, thank you so much. I appreciate you being here.
We'll catch you on down the line, Fernando, OK? All right, any time, man. You have a good rest of your evening. You as well. That, Fernando Ramirez, covers all thing charges for the Sporting Tribune.
Somehow, some way, Jim Harbaugh is in the news for everything, even if it doesn't have anything to do with the charges, but a lot to do with Michigan. Christy Pierce-Rampone here, former member of the US Women's National Soccer Team, three-time gold medalist, and two-time World Cup champion. I'm mom to two teenage girls and a dog mom too. All four of them need lots of stuff and we always need it fast. And that's why we use Amazon Prime. When our favorite leash broke, I went right to Prime and with one click, I ordered it again. Not to mention all the great streaming shows I watch with family. From streaming to shopping, it's on Prime. Visit amazon.com slash prime to get more out of whatever you're into.
Whatever you're into, it's on Prime. If your day sounds like we need to report ASAP, you deserve Medella. If you've persevered through, you deserve this rich golden lager with a crisp and refreshing taste.
Or if you overcame, you deserve this ice cold reward. Medella, the mark of the fight. Trick responsibly. You're imported by Crown Lake Port Chicago, Illinois. You're listening to the JR Sport Brief.
The JR Sport Reshow on the Infinity Sports Network. Thank you so much to Fernando Ramirez for joining us in the last break. As we took a look at everything going on with the Los Angeles Chargers. I'm sorry.
I will never, I don't want to say forgive, not my place. I'm always going to think of the Chargers to be in San Diego. That's it. They should have just been straight on down the highway, closer to Mexico, not up in Los Angeles playing second fiddle to the Rams. Shout out to all my folks down in San Diego. Anyway, if you missed the conversation with Fernando Ramirez, go ahead and hit rewind on the Free Odyssey app. Fernando believes that these Los Angeles.
Hickey, I keep every time for years now. Like I want to call them San Diego so bad, man. Maybe one day they'll go back. You think? I don't think so. You're probably right, but it would be nice. It's a nice pipe dream to have. Maybe, I guess. I guess.
We'll see. That's like saying, what team? Do you think the Raiders one day will go back to California? Well, they have been vagabonds for their entire existence. But now, I mean, Vegas?
They've never been out in Vegas. You build a stadium, that black spaceship off the side of the highway, they're not going anywhere, man. For at least 50 years.
50? Yeah. What's going to happen? The aliens are going to shoot up Vegas, leave it decimated? Mistake it for an enemy spaceship, take it out immediately? Yeah, like Mars attacks or something like that. Jim Brown was in that movie, looking like he'd still crush human beings, and stepping on aliens.
I need the Google who came up with that movie. Anyway, Mars attacks was something different. But hey, he said the Chargers 10 games, maybe because the rest of the division sucks outside of the Chiefs. 10 games? I don't know about that. Hickey, what do you think the Chargers are going to look like?
I'm with you. I think they're rebuilding big time here. Like, I know they have Justin Herbert, and that's the flashy item everyone could point to. But Jim Harbaugh had his success in Michigan because he was ground and pound brute force, essentially. The Chargers for, what, the last 25 years?
They've been finesse. With Philip Rivers, with Drew Brees, now with Justin Herbert, I would not categorize the Chargers as tough. And I think it's going to take a year or two for Jim Harbaugh to instill toughness into this team. And so I don't think we're looking at all of a sudden a quick turnaround where they go from, what, five wins last year, now all of a sudden they double up?
No. They drafted Joe Ault. I mean, they got an offensive line. That was, I don't want to say that's the most exciting thing they did this offseason, but am I wrong in saying it was?
It is? Like, this is, they're trying to build from the trenches. And then having to compete with the Chiefs of all teams? They're not competing with the Chiefs. The Chiefs are going to run away with the division unless, God forbid, there's an injury to Patrick Mahomes. You've got the Raiders trying to figure out quarterback. OK, you can go ahead and take a look at the Broncos trying to figure out the quarterback situation. And then you've got the Chargers here with a brand new head coach with a new philosophy. Kellen Moore is gone.
He's not hanging out in Philadelphia trying to play makeup or at least help Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts play makeup. And then they got in Greg Roman, who I guess has some type of familiarity between Dobbins and Gus Edwards. But even between those two, like those are your running backs? Those are the guys who are going to split the carries? I think it's one thing to run the football with a three headed attack with Lamar Jackson in those two.
But to now have those two guys just beat the guys running the football? I know where Justin Herbert isn't going anywhere. He's probably the best and last I'm going to drop back and throw the ball passer in the league. Nobody wants to see Justin Herbert running around with the rock. Justin Herbert gets the ball snapped into his hands. He drops back.
And he launches it. Ain't none of that running around stuff. This is not Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson. And so good luck to the Chargers. I think it's going to take a couple of seasons just to get. I don't want to say the kinks ironed out. But just for Jim Harbaugh to turn things around. And look, if there's any indication as to some of his other coaching stops, then maybe things get turned around sooner than later.
Let's just put it that way. But I don't think it's going to be any type of smooth sailing. And I hope, well, I really don't care.
But I don't know. I kind of expect more Michigan questions throughout the year. If the NCAA, if they really want to be a bunch of jackasses, Hickey, what they'll do is they will drop news involving Harbaugh. They will drop it every Monday following a game. They'll drop it at like 10 AM, 11 AM just so he has to stand in front of the media following a game on a Monday and have to answer these questions.
More text messages leaked from Jim Harbaugh's phone. Yeah, that's petty. If you're going to be petty, you might as well go all the way, right?
I'm here for it. When someone goes low, go lower. When someone goes lower, go lower. That's not what Hillary Clinton said. That's not what she said, right? No? Is that what she said? No, she said something about going higher. Me, I'll go lower.
I need that. When they go low, I'll go lower. Good idea, Hickey. Let's print that up and sell it, OK?
Jaron wisdom right there. When they go low, go lower. Take them out at the knees. Give them the good old Dan Campbell. Bite the kneecaps and rip the ankles.
Go for it. It's the JR sport re-show on the Infinity Sports Network. We're going to come back from break. We're going to go low. We're going to talk about Aaron Rodgers and Hassan Redick and JJ McCarthy. And Iyuk will give you an update on everything.
It's the JR sport re-show on the Infinity Sports Network. We go low. Listen as Selenia tells us why she chose to vaccinate her daughter. I definitely felt like the pros far outweighed the cons, the diseases that I am protecting my child against.
They're still here. And at the end of the day, it's my job as a mother to keep my child safe. Talk to your child's doctor and learn more at yvaccines.com. Brought to you by Merck. Christy Pierce-Rampone here, former member of the US Women's National Soccer Team, three-time gold medalist, and two-time World Cup champion. A mom-mom to two teenage girls and a dog mom, too. All four of them need lots of stuff, and we always need it fast. And that's why we use Amazon Prime. When our favorite leash broke, I went right to Prime.
And with one click, I ordered it again. Not to mention all the great streaming shows I watch with family. From streaming to shopping, it's on Prime. Visit amazon.com slash prime to get more out of whatever you're into.
Whatever you're into, it's on Prime. If your day sounds like we need the report ASAP, you deserve Madella. If you've persevered through, you deserve this rich golden lager with a crisp and refreshing taste. Or if you overcame, you deserve this ice cold reward. Madella, the Markable Fighter. Drink responsibly.
Beer imported by Crown Lake Port, Chicago, Illinois. After you use bounce dryer sheets and realize how fresh, soft, less wrinkled, and less staticky your laundry can be, you'll put a sheet on it every time. Like those socks that smell like they've been through a marathon. Put a sheet on it. Or that blanket that's got wrinkles on its wrinkles. Put a sheet on it. Maybe even your chatty coworker who keeps distracting you. OK, bounce dryer sheets can't do it all. But for fresher, softer, better laundry, put a sheet on it with bounce.
