Shams Charania: The Knicks Coaching Search Is Unorthodox

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You just. This is the Rich Eisen Show. If we get the Joe Flacco who is out of F's to give, the fact that people want to get on their phones and show people you're an adult. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. Joe Flacco is my favorite player in the league.

I'm saying, root for him. Earlier on the show. NFL Network Insider Tom Pellicero. Coming up. ESPN NBA Insider Sham Shirania.

ESPN NFL Analyst Lewis Riddick. And now. And Mr. Rich Eisen. That's right.

Hour number two of the Rich Eisen Show is on the air. We're going to have a little what's more likely this hour, correct? Are you ready for that, Christopher? Right in the middle of this hour? Fantastic.

Sean Shirani slated to zoom in. I believe he was just on with Pat inside of Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

So that's what's going on in Indianapolis right now. 844-204-Rich is the number to dominate. We'll take your phone calls here on the program. Just chatted with. Tommy P., Tom Pellisero of NFL Network.

Game. four is tonight in the NBA finals. When you say Gotta have it if you're the Oklahoma City Thunder. Can't go back. I mean...

Yeah. I mean, these are the phrases we use in in um in sports. talk right like they gotta have it if they don't have it They would still have more home games than not if they don't get it tonight, but. Would prefer to get this one and go back to OKC22. And that would mean we're getting closer to.

The seven-game series that everyone would love to see. Exactly. But Indianapolis would. Love to show up in full force tonight. and take care of business.

There's only been one team to come back from 3-1. That's the Cavs, right? Yeah, so it's this is, yeah, the kind of do or die. Right. And I don't, I don't think, like.

If if I'm I mean Who would be the enforcer on Indianapolis? They don't have one, right? Obviously Top and kick someone in the top end kicks. Yeah. Kicks SGA in the church bells and the Halliburtons.

James Johnson. Hello. He's the toughest man in the NBA. He's the enforcer. Joining us here now on the Rich Eisen Show.

Thrilled to have him on the program. It's been quite some time. I think it's the first time he's been on since he joined ESPN and the Disney family of networks. Joining us from Indianapolis right now is Shams Shirani. Good to see you, Shams.

How are you, brother? Rich, I'm good. Great to be back. It's been a minute. It's been a minute, but it's good to be back.

It's good to see you.

So. Y what um What is going on with the New York Knicks? Head coaching search, shums. Because it looks like I've been hearing that a lot. I've been hearing that a lot.

Like the one word I keep thinking about is unorthodox. I mean, people around the league I talk to, like, they haven't seen anything quite like this. There's always stuff that happens behind the scenes, which, like, you've been around the game enough to know, you know, teams are, I'm not going to say tampering, but teams are always. Having conversations about things. And so, you know, but to do it in a way where you're reaching out to teams, requesting permission, you know, teams with current head coaches, they've been denied by five teams this week.

I mean, there was a 24-hour stretch where they were rejected four times by teams. And then Billy Donovan with the Bulls was the latest.

So Billy Donovan with the Bulls, Quinn Snyder with the Hawks, Chris Finch with the Timberwolves, Eme Udoka with the Rockets, and then Jason Kidd with the Dallas Mavericks. And so I think, you know, it gives you an idea that those are the types of coaches that they wanted to see fill that seat. And now I think what the Knicks' mindset is is continue to be patient with this search. They're the only vacancy right now in the NBA.

So they have time on their side and they. To my knowledge, they're using that process as really an educational tool to see who could be available, who could we talk to, who could we go get. Clearly, neither of those five.

So, I would expect this weekend they're going to continue to do due diligence and potentially hone in more on these available coaches that are out there, free agent coaches that are out there, maybe some assistant coaches around the league as well. I mean, you think about names that are out there like Taylor Jenkins, Mike Brown, Michael Malone. There's going to be some assistants with other teams potentially you could see that make fits.

So, uh, it's definitely unorthodox to put at least.

Well, the issue is if they do introduce one of those uh coaches, and you know, Michael Malone, uh, his dad has history with the Knicks, um, and obviously he's from the area and he's won a championship, Shams, and obviously the guy's got a great resume, but On the resume, would now be clearly the sixth choice of the New York Knicks, right? Like, that's the problem, and that's the thing I don't understand. is wouldn't they I mean you you know the association Better than most, wouldn't they at least have an inkling through agents or through somebody that they would know in these organizations? That does that mean there was interest from these head coaches and they knocked on the door, you know, thinking that the knock on the door would pry the coach loose? I mean, what do they think?

One of these teams would actually say, Yeah, take Chris Finch. Like, really? Like, what's up with that? Yeah, it's definitely something where if you're firing a coach like Tom Thibodeau, who took you to four playoff runs in five years as head coach, that took you to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years, a quarter century in New York, that's a big deal. And you fire a coach like that.

You would think that they have a person lined up, that they have a course of action in place. And so, for sure, this process shows that they probably were flying more in the dark than a lot of us thought they were, that they were really still searching, that this was going to be a true search. I think there was definitely some skepticism that when you fire a coach like Tom Thibodeau, they probably know they're going to go with Michael Malone or they're going to have this coach lined up.

So, it's unorthodox. You talk to people with the Knicks, and the response that I get is: this is all part of the process, that this is something, it's an educational process for us to do due diligence, see which coaches could be available, see if we could do more research on some of these coaches.

So, you have to take them at their word. They are the only vacancy there. Technically, there is no deadline for them. The only deadline is before training camp opens up in late September.

So, they're not really under any type of a gun or pressure there. And so, I really do believe the Knicks are going to be patient now, and they went through this process. And we, listen, there's always moments to see first, right? This is a first in the NBA where a coach, where a team is going to fire a coach that made it to the conference finals for the first time in franchise in 25 years, and then there's going to be calling around the league for current sitting head coaches. We have never seen that happen in the league.

Okay.

So this is I'm I'm so excited to have you here because I get an answer to a question that I've been asking into this microphone since I saw your tweet about Jason Kidd. in particular Saying that Dallas gave a firm rejection. What is a firm rejection, Shams? Can you say that? Rich.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'll give you some examples. I'm not going to say that was this one, but out of the five rejections, some of the scenarios that I heard were: you know, teams would just hang up, they would say no and hang up. Teams would have maybe some profanity, maybe there's some F no. In other situations, it's the owners.

Calling the team and being the one to be like, You're not talking to our guy. And so, listen, the Knicks probably expected some of these responses. Anytime you reach out to other teams for their head coaches, you are susceptible for that team to have some kind of a reaction. And the Knicks went through this exercise, an educational process in their mind to see which coaches they could potentially talk to. And out of all five of those coaches, there was really one coach with just one year left on his deal, an expiring contract.

And that was Billy Donovan with the Bulls. And I think there was some optimism that maybe they could pry him out. But Billy Donovan wants to stay in Chicago. He believes in their future there.

So you think about it: the Bulls and Hawks, two teams that are really fringe play-in tournament teams. And then the other three coaches are on contending teams going in next year.

So whether it's a contender or a play-in type team, the Knicks just did not have success in that lane that they were on. And then, in terms of, again, your predecessor, Woj Shams, had a way with words. Certainly when it came to tipping picks, he had a whole thesaurus on how to come up with different ways to announce that somebody was about to be selected. I noticed in the Quinn Snyder post of yours, Shams, you didn't say firm rejection. You said firmly denied.

Is there a difference between a denial and a rejection? Or they're the same thing in your estimation, in my mind, it's the same thing. But I do think. I think once it started to become known that other teams were firmly denying, I think, or firmly rejecting, I think other teams are like, you know what? We also got to be a lot more firm with our guys.

Okay, Shams. See, at least I'm paying attention, right? I'm paying attention to your word choice. Firmly rejected. It sounded like my prom night.

Shams Shirani are here on the Rich Eisen Show.

Okay, so did Giannis shut the door? On a trade from Milwaukee this past week, did he say I'm staying pretty much or what? I didn't see him. Did he say that? I didn't see that.

No, he was basically talking about how he loves Milwaukee and he's. You know, he's as uh I guess As committed as ever. To loving the babies, he's loyal to the city. Is that where he is in private? Or where do things stand right now with Giannis?

It's a great way to say. Things stand where the Bucks are operating under the belief that Jans Aduta Cumpo. Will remain a buck going into next season that they're going to have him. They've had discussions on playing him more on the ball, having him be more part of the ball, be the focus of the offense more with the ball in his hands, not playing off the ball as much as he potentially did alongside Damian Lillard the last couple of seasons. And Doc Rivers and John Horst there, they really believe that this team has a chance to contend.

In the Eastern Conference next season, uh, you know, potentially, you look around the league, people look at the Eastern Conference a certain way, clearly, but Indiana up 2-1 in this series on Oklahoma City.

So, With those two factors. And at the end of the day Jans and Kumpo has been there for 12 years.

So you're banking on the equity that you built with him. But I reported during the NBA draft lottery in Combine Week that Jans and Didikumpo was open to exploring his options outside of Milwaukee. And there were some serious conversations with his representatives internally. Uh there was a lot of chatter around the NBA. no doubt.

And so I I definitely stand by that. But, you know, again, there's going to be a level of skepticism just based on the fact that Giannis Antonikumbo has been there for 12 years. He's shown nothing but loyalty there. He's spoken, though, about how much he wants to win a championship. He wants, you know, he doesn't want to be a guy that only wins one ring.

Like, he's going to have a tough time sleeping at night after his career is over.

So, those are his words. He has said that. On the record. And so, if he believes that this Bucs team is a championship team next season and for years to come, and that Doc Rivers and John Horse have sold him on a championship vision next season. That's certainly his prerogative.

And there's definitely a belief, Ron, the NBA, that Jan's into Decumpo. Will he be on the board? Will he not be on the board? That it might be that he is bought into what's going on in Milwaukee right now.

So you also were saying, I saw you said on Pat's show that the, I guess, offseason, for the lack of a better phrase, is going to be off the hook. With the NBA, do you still feel that way right now? But there's going to be a remarkable amount of action. activity including some boldface names on the move. Shams, you feel that way still right now?

For sure. For sure I do. Yeah. I mean, obviously we have the Kevin Durant market. You have the NBA draft coming up.

You have free agency coming up. There's always going to be wild cards. There's always going to be some surprises. Is Cooper Flag going to be on the move, or you just think the Mavericks are. are going to just take him and rip the knob off Shams.

The Mavericks are going to be taking Cooper flag for sure.

Okay.

So, okay, so he won't wind up on the Lakers with only them making a deal for him? Sean, that's not happening. No, no, I don't expect that. He's actually going to go visit them this upcoming week after Father's Day. We'll spend time with Nico Harrison, Jason Kidd, that organization.

So he'll be there for a couple of days. And I think they have fully Fully honed in on. Cooper flag as the number one overall pick in the NBA draft. But you think would the second overall pick be in play? Would that be in play, do you think, right now?

With the Spurs. The Sixers are obviously sitting there at three. What intrigue do you think is involved with the draft coming up and free agents to be? Sean. I think we're going to see a ton of draft pick movement.

You know, if I had to. uh you know pouch it for the for the spurs i think they probably keep that number two pick versus not it it it always when you when you think about the top three it always takes a a massive offer to go get go you know come up on on you know come off it And for a team to move up.

So they're going to get a ton of calls between now and June 25th on offers to move up from teams 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. We'll see if there's any traction on those conversations. But listen, Dylan Harper's a guy you have to look at at number two. But the Spurs are going to get plenty of calls on it. But I think, you know, there's going to be a ton of movement, I think, this year, not only in the lottery, picks moving up, picks moving down throughout the NBA drive.

Okay.

And Durant. do you think is the first that could be moved? What do you think? Kevin Durant is the best available domino right now. He's the guy that everyone's got their eye on right now in the NBA.

And from my understanding, there is some traction and conversations, some significant conversations ongoing with the Suns. To move Durant sooner rather than later. I think there's some motivation with some teams to get a deal done. In the last 24 hours, I'm told the focus with the Suns conversation has been on the Houston Rockets, the Minnesota Timbers, and the Miami Heat.

So those are three teams that had interest in him at the deadline that could see whether they get a deal done, bring him into the mix, allow themselves to potentially have a better chance of competing for a championship. And you know, the biggest key there is the fact that he's got one year left on his deal, about $54 million. And so, does a team. Need to have a guaranteed understanding that he's going to have an extension agreement locked in. Is there a team that just takes a swing for him?

There's also some wildcard team. There's been about six, eight teams that. Calling to the suns, making offers, reaching out.

So I do think sooner rather than later, there will be a move with Kevin Durant.

Okay.

And last one for you here, Shams, just to circle back. You said that there's no real deadline for the Knicks to find their next head coach. You mentioned training camp.

So you're saying that it's possible, as a possible midnight strike for when they have to make that move. You think the Knicks could go through a draft, free agency, make all these moves without a head coach offering any insight? And then once the roster's set, go find the right coach for it? You think that that's a possibility, Sean's? Rich, you always want to have a coach locked in, especially for the draft and free agency.

So for sure, I'm positive that's the preference for the Knicks, but the way they're operating, from my understanding, they don't believe they're under a pressure point right now to make a hire. They just want to get it right. To give this team the best chance to win a championship.

Okay.

Well, I appreciate you coming on, Shams. And as a thank you, We're going to give you a scoop, Shams, because I keep talking about the Knicks coaching search and what are they doing and why do they keep going after people who are taken in and didn't reject. Did they reach out to you as well?

Well, you rejected them. No, Shams, I'll put it up on the screen. Gilbert ex-Gallego, like, you know, a consumer of this show, he turned down the Knicks job. Just let us know, and I'm letting you know as well.

So take Gilbert. off the list, okay? Will you do that? Along with probably hundreds of others out there in the Twitter universe.

Well, the whole thing is: it's just that I. It's not like they're These coaches are rejecting. It's the teams basically saying, you know. Pound sand, you know, and that's I don't know. Maybe the Knicks are hoping that one coach, when they hear about the interest, will try to force the issue.

Is that part of this scenario? As well? You know? Potentially, but so far No luck. Thank you, sir.

Appreciate the time. Have a great time at Game Four tonight, taking it all in. And thanks again, and congrats on everything that you have built for yourself. And I look forward to more chats with you, Shams. Thank you.

Thompson. Ladies and gentlemen, Tom Sharon, you're here. No luck. No love. He says, okay.

No luck. Sorry, Gilbert. Gilbert's out. Ah, I was pulling for him. I heard he was like one of the higher ranking uh contendees for the job criminal you know what it's so rare That We have fun.

On this program about somebody's report or tweet or post. and get an actual answer. Because we did notice the language, how it was different. We were saying. Between denial and rejected.

Firmly rejected. Right. Firm. Denial, like firmly rejected, sounded like that line from a few good men. Oh, you object?

No, I strenuously object. Oh, well, then in that case, you're, you know, it's overturned. Strenuously object. But firm denial, firmly rejected. Hang-ups, and even an F no.

Which we were speculating about yesterday. Like, how did it go? Like, what? Excuse me. Didn't I say an owner also?

Yeah. Like, is it possible A-Rod's like, I got this, you know what I mean? Hey, honestly, I hope Alex or our buddy, my longtime run-rich, run buddy, Mark Lori, gets a call saying, So the Knicks want Chris Finch. And either one of them, like, I got this. And Lori's from Staten Island.

He's like, I speak New York. Hold on a minute. Let me get. Hey, Jimmy Dolan, you there? Hey, Jimmy.

Hey. F no, G T F O H like I speak New York. Is that Could that have been it? Please, God, that would be amazing. That would be so great.

I think you're being too nice about it. And you know how they record the NFL draft, like when they call the kids? Who has the recording? Who is video rapping? Yeah, nobody at the call.

This is not content. Everything is content. But surprise.

Well, for us it is, and that's the point of this: is that if you are going to call. Another team. For their head coach who has in the case of the Timberwolves Taken The team back-to-back years deep into the playoffs, and clearly has a pulse on the The young Jedi Knight, you know, and Or you doka. You're gonna call him emay for emate. If you're going to do this and then keep...

Trying. You're like dialing for coaches. Like, who wants to come and coach the Knicks? We want to speak to your. Like you're taking, you're throwing a dart at a board that the team is done with their coach or is willing or is eager to get out from under a contract.

It's got to get out. It's got to be content. It's going to get out. Nobody's going to text Shams like, hey, you'll never guess. Dolan just called us.

It's not just that, also, it's agents who want to screw it up. Like what if I again, I'm just saying what if Any of these coaches, I'm just going to take a step. I don't know. But what if one of these coaches they're calling for is also Thibodeau's agent? Or is friends with Thibodeau's agent and wants to do a solid.

Or they've known Thibodeau, or they've known one of the assistants who's just lost. Their job, too. This could come from anybody, anywhere, and I'm assuming the association is like the NFL. Chaddy People are everywhere, certainly around the one event that's remaining in the league. Super Bowl week, Combine Week.

Good lord is everybody telling you a story. And these are stories, you know. It's like that line from the Godfather. Pop, we got some people in the newspaper business, they might like a story like this. You know?

Can come for it's gotta get out.

So, hey, Taylor Jenkins. Hey, Michael Malone. Hey, it's Mike Brown, everybody, new coach of the Knicks. First question of the press conference. Uh Mike, you know, you were...

What'd you think of all the coaches that the Knicks reached out to? You don't think somebody in the New York media is going to ask a question like that? Maybe not first up, but at some point, And obviously, you get through all that. It's awkward, it's embarrassing, and then you sort of just dig into the. Business of trying to win a championship for New York.

And if that coach does, this entire conversation becomes moot. In the same way. Nobody talks about the draft choices the Bills gave up for Josh Allen. Mm-hmm. Because Josh Allen worked out.

Mm-hmm. So This might just be a uh a An unfortunate footnote. I hope that's the way it is. But it's interesting to me. He says it's Sean just called this whole thing unorthodox that you don't see this sort of thing.

Right?

Okay, you don't see this sort of thing. And the two coaches that are available where they don't have to ask for permission. We're both bounced in some of the most unorthodox. Way by being bounced in the last 10 games of a season in which your team is on the way to the playoffs. Denver's coach and Memphis' coach.

So weird. They're available. Because they got bounced in the most unorthodox way, and they might wind up with a new job because of the most unorthodox coaching search we've seen in some time. Let's take a break. What's more likely Friday, next on The Rich Isaac Show.

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So Right now, Trade is exclusively offering our listeners fifty percent off your one month trial at drink trade dot com slash Eisen. That's drink trade, T R A D E dot com slash Eizen for fifty percent off your one month trial. Drinktrade dot com slash Eisen. Just saw, we just played a video of Bill Pullman on the program years ago talking about working with Mel Brooks in space balls and. Spaceballs 2 announced Yesterday, our friend Josh Gadd, who was here a few weeks ago, he told us that when he was leaving.

that it was coming. We didn't say anything. And then it's now official. And apparently, Rick Moranis is coming out of retirement to play. Darth Helmut.

And Mel, God bless him at age 99, is going to play Yogurt, who is Yoda. Bill Pullman's son is in it, along with Bill Pullman. The whole cast getting back together. Can't wait.

Now, are you a Star Wars person or you're not a Star Wars person? I am a Star Wars person. I kind of checked out a little bit on some of the recent stuff, but obviously the back-in-the-day ones and the re-release of the first three. Right. Yeah, I love that.

Are you a Star Wars person, TJ? You're not? You've got to turn your microphone. That one was me. Yeah, thank you.

Heavily into the original Star Wars. I've never been able to. I'll never get that feeling again with any of these new ones that I had when we were kids and those came out. Taylor gets a little older. We'll watch Mandalorian and Andor.

Let me tell you something. I heard those were amazing. I did watch that. I was into that. The Disney.

Mandalorian was awesome. I'll just say this. Are you a Star Wars person?

Okay.

God darn it. All right. Mandy Lauren was.

Well, again. Uh Mandalorian season one. It's phenomenal. The following episodes Yeah. And or Is one of the best KV shows ever.

Scene. I keep hearing that. I need to watch that for sure. Andor is, and again, Mandalorian is still Star Wars kind of for kids as well. Andor's fully ad adult program.

And it's it's confusing at times, certainly for kids to watch. You gotta You know, you got to kind of guide them through it, through some plot points. It's created by Tony Gilroy, who was. Uh Writer-director of Michael Clayton, just to give you an idea. And I think, did Tony Gilroy write Rogue One?

Was he the guy behind Rogue One? Do me that favor, look up. I should have looked it up before going down this path here.

Well, he's the born movies. He is see he's the creator of Andor. Yeah. And do me a favor, look up. Was he the guy who wrote Rogue One?

He wrote Rogue One. Rogue One is amazing. Rogue One is great.

So you like Rogue One? I did. You must. See Andor.

So does Andor like Rogue One? Got it. Which is, as you know, Rogue One is the prequel to the First ever Star Wars takes you right up into the first scene, basically.

So, what somebody decided to do years ago. is Say we need to have a Star Wars prequel. And explain what happened Leading up to the original Star Wars. I don't know why somebody came up with that idea. Great idea.

Cool idea. And then somebody sat down and said, let's call Tony Gilroy again, unless it was his idea. And say, let's create a television show. about what led up to Rogue One. How did Andor get born?

The acting, the writing, the directing, it is truly one of the most spectacular TV dramas I've ever seen. Cooper and I just finished it yesterday. Oh, yeah. Is the reason why it's fresh in my mind, and I'm bringing it up now. Marrying it to the rip from the headline Spaceballs 2 is coming back, which is great for Taylor because she loves Spaceballs because I am.

Best dad ever. Um introducing her to uh and Susie well, I shouldn't say that Susie's a Massive Mel Brooks fan. But, um You got, you gotta, I could not more highly recommend it on Disney Plus, which you can see right here on Roku. I'm telling you. Yeah, so it is that talking about it earlier this year.

Amazing. And it was so satisfying the way it ended. And we are based off of that. Cooper and I are 100% watching Rogue One again this weekend. Maybe I know what I'm going to do for Father's Day now.

Nice. There you go. Hey, there you go. Leave me alone and let's watch Rogue One. Not in that order.

844-204 Rich, number to dial here.

So, what's more likely Friday? Time to do it. Hit it. Hit it. What?

What's more likely? Never say never, but never. All right, what do you got over there, Christopher? Everybody good? You guys good?

Happy Friday. What up, what up? All right. Guys, is it more likely, we talk a lot about this guy and this team all offseason now that they are one. Is it more likely Aaron Rodgers is a top 10 quarterback this year or the Steelers missed the playoffs?

Why does it have to be one or the other? I mean, top 10 quarterback? Why can't he be 12?

Well, I mean, that would be Terry Bradshaw's number, and you know, that's off the table. It's bark chewing right there. We can't have it. Bark chewing. Um.

Chew on bark. Top ten quarterback? Chris, guys, what? What criteria makes you top 10 though? Like, what?

We're talking yards, touchdowns, the QB rating. Screw it. Let's do it. Let's do it. Hold on a minute.

Let's do it. Let's do it. Because you realize last year he was eighth. Despite everything, everyone thinking he was so off. Eighth in what?

In rating. Or I might be wrong about that. I think I am wrong about that. Never mind. I was looking at yards.

My bad. Get the eighth most yards. Hold on, which I'm shocked by. I'm almost there. I appreciate you guys.

At the end of the year, you look at all the stats. You look at the quarterbacks. You say, oh man, he was a top 10 quarterback. Forget about stats. I've got Mahomes, Borough, Lamar, Josh Allen, Stafford, Jalen Hurts, Jaden Daniels.

That's seven.

Okay.

Rogers doesn't crack that seven. Nope. But again, The eye test, knowing what you see of what a top 10 quarterback is.

Okay, sir. Just, I'm not saying, I'm just, I'm literally, there are so much criteria as to what is top 10 here. That's, I mean, and now you're in the realm of golf. And you're in the realm of Baker. You're in the realm of Herbert.

Herbert You know, you're in the realm of... Who else are we getting in the realm of here? I mean, you could say Stafford could get in that realm. Rogers is 20th past Rogers last year. I get it.

He wasn't a top 10 quarterback last year, but I think the Steelers aren't missing the playoffs.

So, why don't I just say Rodgers is a top 10 quarterback this season? Just for time purposes and we're talking about that. Because I think he could pop into, you know, 10. I mean, who else am I missing? That is just by eyesight a top 10 quarterback in the league.

Did you put your boy in there, Brock Purdy, Baker Mayfield? No, I mean, Purdy is in the conversation of cracking the top 10. Stroud, Jordan Love. Stroud, Jordan Love, sure. Herbert.

He had the seventh most touchdown passes last year.

So I'll say Rogers' top 10 quarterback. That's more likely. What else, Chris? More likely, a disgruntled Ed Rusher to get a new deal first. TJ Watt, Micah Parsons, Trey Hendrickson.

I will go TJ Watt. Because the Bengals right now are a total wildcard as to when midnight's going to strike. And Jerry Jones does things like signing contracts. That generationally enriching. The night before week one.

Yeah, Mike is good. He knows he's getting lit.

So I'll go TJ Watt because the Steelers are the more. Conventional. I will, I will, instead of saying functional, I will say conventional way of like. They know it. We know it.

Steelers know it. Watt knows it. Tama knows it. They are not going to let this thing linger. Period end of story.

But the other two I I can't speak to. I'd go TJ Watt. Most likely. What else, Chris? How about this one?

These two guys were awesome last year. Second-year LSU wide receivers to be even better this year. Malik Neighbors Brian Thomas Jr. Huh. Who's gonna be even better?

I will go with Brian Thomas Jr. How about them, apples? Oh. Yeah. I'll go there.

I will go there. We definitely know who's throwing the football to Brian Thomas Jr. Correct. Do we know who's throwing the ball to Malik Neighbors? Maybe week one we do.

Okay, but weeks one through 18, we're pretty much. Uh health That's a I'd say. We know who's going to be the guy. He may be wearing a sleeve right now. And um who's the second wide receiver for the for the G-Men?

Mm, off the top of my head? You don't have one. Wandale Robinson? You know who's the second wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars? We think it's Travis Hunter.

It's going to be.

Okay.

So, I'll go Brian Thomas Jr.'s Yeah, baby. That's where I'm going with that one. What else, Chris? Rich, it's so funny. I had written this before you had come up with this morning's open.

It's so funny how we can be on the same page sometimes. Pressurized quarterbacks? We can be on the same page sometimes, my friend. Is it more likely in their career? Dak wins a Super Bowl with the Cowboys.

Or either Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson win one. Oh. I'll go Alan or Lamar win one. They're younger. healthier Yeah.

I'll do that. Come on. This is better odds. Please. I'll take two.

Versus one any day, right? And then the last two are MVPs of the league. Right?

AFC much tougher than the NFC? I am more interested in the answer of the gentleman. From Pennsylvania. My colleague across the aisle, sir. Do you not remember the combo we had last week where I had to hit myself in the head with a kendo stick?

You were trying to bait me into saying that I thought that they were going to win the Super Bowl. I'm not going to say that. I'm not going to give Stephen A. Smith what he wants. No.

I'm not going to say that. How about just giving a direct answer instead of the kendo stick and the Stephen A. Smith? It was difficult for me to follow that logic.

Now, you followed me. You don't think Dak's going to win one with the Cowboys? I don't. It's very you got we act like winning that Super Bowl is easy It's not. We don't act that way.

But we're playing what's more likely.

Well, what's more likely is two against one. But they have to play against each other and they haven't made it yet. That's. Yeah, but the two. guys are the last MVPs of the league, and they're younger and healthier.

And the guy Chris, there's no pressure on these two for MVPs, and they have a better roster, they have better. More, I guess, um Um GMs you can believe in. The Cowboys have a better roster than the Bills, no. Do they?

Okay, Chris as a betting man. I don't know. Did you think that one through? What do you mean? It's just two against one.

Jay Felly, it's better when you don't talk. Oh, finally get a little courage. Jason, you were perfectly short. You dare say that to Jason Felly. I wish that you had Jay Felly.

That's what DJ should say. You dare say that to Jay Felly. Yeah, but the Bills and Ravens have better Super Bowl odds than the Cowboys, but I don't know. NFC is a little bit easier to get through, no? Really?

Okay.

Yeah, because there's better than the AFC. I think the NFC has the defending Super Bowl champion. Yeah, and the AFC has a man named Merlin. I got it. He's a bad man.

Okay.

What else gets here a lot? What else, Chris? All right, JFell, you can switch music. Let's do it. Shut up, let me answer.

And then. Is it more likely the Pacers win the NBA Championship in six games or the Thunder win it in sevens? Six for the Pacers. That's more likely. What did I tell you after the game what?

Richards pick up sticks. Pacers in six. Wow. Yeah. Dude.

That's all they do is beat people when nobody's expecting them to do it. And you're even halfway. to the NBA championship with just as many home games remaining. As the 68-win team that's down 2-1, and we're still saying they don't have what it takes. Who's winning?

Really? I didn't know. I'm not saying that.

Well, when I say we, I don't know. I'm picking the pace. I picked the pace weed.

Okay.

What are you I guess Collectively, this is the conversation we're having. Yeah, I'm having my own business, sorry. Pacers at six, more likely than not. Chris. How about this one?

More likely to be the higher number. The winning score of the U.S. Open. Below par, current leader minus four, or Stanley Cup final overtime games. We're already a three, right?

We are. I like that. And with Three more to go. At least two more to go. That third one is.

Asterisk, if necessary. Mike lay down. Great question. I will go with Stanley Cup overtime games. Ooh.

Oh yeah. I don't even know what the weather is going to be like in Oakmont. Who knows? At Oakmont. It's only going to get harder if I'm not going to.

based on the the weather I'm hearing for Washington, D.C. for the weekend. Because that is newsworthy conversation. I'm wondering if that might be some sort of a system that's messing with Western PA also. I don't know.

But all you got to do is add some wind and and uh we we're We might just not need another overtime game in the Stanley Cup finals, and I might be right. Other than calling it the finals, it's final. My bad. What else, Chris? We have to take a break.

Oh, we do? Oh. Yeah. Oh. Unfortunately.

Well, the two that I have left are going to require some conversation.

Okay.

So, oh, we're going to keep what's more likely through the break? Yeah, yeah.

Okay.

This is a first. All right. Do you want to apologize to the guys at home for the editing, or is it my hosting that's caused it to go up against the brick? Could be a combination of everything. Stay tuned for the stirring conclusion of what's more likely.

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Last we left previously on what's more likely. Give me uh do we do we do the drop or we don't know we don't have time for the drop. All right, here we go. What the hell? What's more likely?

Never say never, but never. All right, Christopher, let's finish up strong. Part two, guys, it's Friday the 13th. Yeah. Happy Friday the 13th.

I'm not sure if you guys celebrate, but more likely to be the more successful sports name. Jason, or the other Halloween franchise, Freddy. Screw that guy. What do you mean, more six Freeman? Is that what you're saying?

Who's the better sports names? Jason or Freddy? Meaning what? Jason's more like. Are Jason's better than Freddy's or are Freddy's better than Jason's?

Jason King. I thought this was kind of easy to do. No pressure. McCordy. Oh, Kelsey.

Freddie Freeman. Freddy couples. I'm ready, Lynn. You know what I'm gonna do? I'm going Jason.

Because I don't like the trophy the guy in the right was hugging. Wow. Freddie Freeman, maybe a nice guy. Jason Taylor. Good dad.

All that stuff. Jason Terry, Jason Barate. I don't like that.

So many great guys. And Freddy Freeland, great. Freddie Adams. Awesome. Jason Richardson.

Great. I thought that was way more into that one. Not at all. I love that. And you looked up Michael, too.

You know, that's the other thing. Oh, purposely. Michael, yeah. Because that would have won. Do you think we need one more?

Oh, sure. Oh, God. All right, we'll get one more. Who knew that was going to happen? Guys, is it more likely the Red Sox win the series again this weekend against the Yankees?

Or Juan Soto out homers Aaron Judge over the weekend. On soda on fire. Absolutely, I would never think is likeliest.

So I'm now history would tell you that I don't appreciate, but one is more likely than the other.

Sodo outhomers judge this weekend. There you go. But guess what? Judge will outhomer Soto. And this dumbass thing with the, with the, with the Fenway monster head and all that business.

Wally. Wally. He has a name.

Okay.

Oh, my bad. I didn't mean to disparage Wally. What's a Yankee mascot name? We don't have one. We're dumb and hate fun.

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