No QB Excuses! (Hour 3)

Life comes with a lot of decisions and it can be hard to know the right path sometimes. A therapist can help you map out what you really want so you trust yourself to make great choices and feel excited about the future. BetterHelp offers convenient professional online therapy on your schedule however you want it by phone, chat, or video call. Let therapy be your map with BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.com positive today to get 10% off your first month.

That's BetterHelp h-e-l-p dot com slash positive. That's what I'm talking about hour number three of our radio program. It is the Zach Gelb show coast to coast on CBS Sports Radio. If you don't follow me on Twitter and Instagram, what the heck are you waiting for? Do so right now at Zach Gelb z-a-c-h g-e-l-b. So Hickey, I've compiled the list here and I want you to be a part of the system of checks and balances here on the show.

That if you think I've missed anybody or someone you have questions on, go ahead fire away at the end of my monologue that is coming up right here. But the question is, who are the QBs in the NFL that there's no more excuses for? And I've put together in no order a list and there are one, two, three, four, five, six, seven quarterbacks that I'm going to highlight.

So in no order, I'll just go through these quarterbacks right now. Josh Allen, I think the world of Josh Allen, I think Josh Allen is a phenomenal leader. I think he's a phenomenal quarterback, but you never know how long of a window there is in the NFL. And Lige Duisable, the former jet defensive lineman said this to us, this is probably like a month or two ago. And he said that he doesn't know how long this window is for the Buffalo Bills. Like you have Josh Allen, he's great. But if there's problems with Stefan Diggs, who do you get to eventually replace Stefan Diggs? That wide receiving room is not all that deep.

Defensively, they still have areas that they could grow and improve on. So the prices for quarterbacks and Josh just got paid are only going up and up and up. And they've been there, they've been in the dance the last few years, but they haven't gone home with the prom queen.

So you keep on getting invited to the dance and you don't walk away with the prom queen, maybe then for a few years you don't get invited to the dance. So for the Buffalo Bills, I don't want to hear about Sean McDermott. I don't want to hear about what's going on with Stefan Diggs. Last year was Super Bowl or bust and they failed. This year, guess what? It's Super Bowl or bust. And I believe in the quarterback, but there's no more excuses. You got to get the job done.

Next person, Tuatunga Vailoa. I look around at that Dolphins team, it is loaded. On the offensive side of the ball, and you know on the defensive side of the ball, there's enough. I hate to say it this way because we're talking about concussions, but I got to see Tuatunga Vailoa, even if he gets hurt in the regular season, be available for the postseason. And this is a make or break year for Tua because we talked about a window for the Buffalo Bills. The Dolphins have a window as well, and that roster is talented enough to go make a run for the Lombardi Trophy. But if you can't trust a quarterback after this season, you have to move on. Next up, Aaron Rodgers. We all know Aaron Rodgers, whenever he retires, he will get a gold jacket.

He'll get a bust in Canton, Ohio. But for a lot of years, when he's looking for that second ring, people in Green Bay have said, oh, the general manager doesn't go get him more weapons on the offensive side of the ball. Oh, the defense isn't all that good. Oh, the special teams absolutely stinks.

And some years that criticism is fair. Other performances in the playoffs, like that NFC Championship game against the Tempe Buccaneers, we could talk about the decision by Lafleur all we want. There was multiple instances where Rodgers had the ball after Brady was just giving the football back over and over and over again, and he did nothing with it. And then we all know the 49ers game in the division around where they had that touchdown drive right out of the gate, and they didn't score another touchdown after that. Now, Aaron Rodgers, you have a place you want to be.

You have an organization that you believe in. You have a defense that is a championship caliber defense, and you have enough of your guys with the reigning offensive rookie of the year in Garrett Wilson. No more excuses for Aaron Rodgers. Next up, Lamar Jackson. Lamar, you got your contract. Lamar, you got a new offensive coordinator. Lamar, you want to throw the football more. Lamar, you got Odell Beckham Jr. Lamar, they drafted a wide receiver again in the first round in Zay Flowers.

Last two years, you haven't been able to stay healthy. No more excuses for Lamar Jackson. I believe in Lamar Jackson, but he's got to show it on the field this year and be available come postseason time. Number five, Russell Wilson. Last year, a lot of that was on you if we're being transparent. The guy that lost his job, Nathaniel Hackett. Nathaniel Hackett's now out. They even make it through the entire season.

Totally understood. And now you bring in Sean Payton, who is going to be going to the Hall of Fame one day. No more excuses for Russell Wilson. You need to fix those relationships in that locker room, and you need to ball out this year.

You can't be a reason why this team misses the playoffs. Six, Dak Prescott. Dak's been paid. Dak, unfortunately, had to deal with some injuries.

His turnovers are way up. We've seen Dak Prescott be someone that I refer to as someone that's paid like a great quarterback, but plays more so like a good quarterback. Tony Pollard is still on the team. He signed the franchise tag.

You have CeeDee Lamb, now more experience. They brought in Brandon Cooks. Your offensive line, not as great as it once was, sure. But defensively, the last two years, your defense played championship football in the playoffs. They did enough for you to beat the 49ers, not only once, but twice. And in both moments, you failed to get the snap off. And then last year, that game, you should have been in the NFC Championship game.

But you failed to get the job done. No more excuses for Dak Prescott. And finally, Derek Carr.

You're away from the stench of the Raiders. Now you're with the Saints. You're in a putrid division.

Eight and nine probably wins that division. Carolina doesn't have enough offensive weapons around Bryce Young. Got a good offensive line.

They need more pieces after that. You take a glance at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. No more Tom Brady. Atlanta questions at their quarterback position.

Your team is viewed as the favorite to win this division. If Derek Carr doesn't win this division, I don't want to hear about Dennis Allen. I don't want to hear about injuries. There's not as if there's a team standing in your way that makes you shake in your boots if everything doesn't go perfect.

Bare minimum. I'm not asking you to go win a Super Bowl. I'm not asking you to win even a playoff game.

But bare minimum, you have to win that division this year. So those are seven quarterbacks that I compiled that have no more excuses entering this year. Josh Allen, Tuatunga Vailoa, Aaron Rodgers, Lamar Jackson, Russell Wilson, Dak Prescott, and Derek Carr.

Hot take, Kiki. Anyone that you're questioning or you're just curious why I did not put them in that top seven? A few actually.

Let's start with the men who just got paid this offseason. Daniel Jones. No, and here's why. I don't know if Saquon Barkley is going to be there week one. I think he will.

And I'll give credit to Daniel Jones. He played well enough last year. I'm not saying he's a great quarterback, but he played well enough to get a contract that no one thought he was ever going to get because he did more with less. Now they did bring in Darren Waller this offseason. So if you have Waller and Barkley and they're able to stay healthy, those are some good pieces. But at the wide receiving spot, they don't have a lot of good wide receivers. They don't have a true number one wide receiver on this team. I know Isaiah Hodgins did a nice job last year coming over from Buffalo, but even if they regress this year, or even if the Giants offense isn't a smooth sailing ship, I just kind of look at that offense and I go, are you, and Dabel did a heck of a job last year, so don't get this twisted, but are you putting your young quarterback in the best position to succeed? And I can't say that they definitely are right now. I'm not saying it's a bad spot, but you just look at those wide receivers.

No one really intimidates you all that much. So that's what I think could be used as an excuse to Daniel Jones regresses. Also like nationally, I don't think there's really any big expectations for Daniel Jones because I'm not crushing the Giants for giving that deal to Daniel Jones, but I think a lot of people still don't believe in Danny Dines. Right. But I'm still like, you got paid. I mean, I'm with you.

I don't believe he's going to be the franchise quarterback, but they paid him to be the franchise quarterback. And part of the payment is to make those around you better. Sure. Totally understand that. But once again, the topic is QBs that there's no more excuses for. I look at a pretty obvious excuse. If he does regress, it's that you don't have a number one wide receiver.

All right. Who's the next quarterback? Jared Goff.

Who? That's a good one because he's not someone that a lot of people expect big things out of in terms of individually, but you look at that team, that's a team that's supposed to win the division. And Jared Goff is a great one that I would consider on that list because when the Lions traded for him, it was really two trades in one. You traded for Stafford and then you had to trade Goff just to make the salary work. And you had to give them an extra, like kind of first round pick attached to that. So they would take on the contract of Jared Goff. So I look at that as something that a lot of people didn't expect Goff to really be around that long in Detroit. And you know, maybe Hendon Hooker eventually down the road, even though he's older, turns out to be that guy.

But you know what? I think Jared Goff is definitely someone who is starting to change the conversation a little bit around him. And he played really good football last year and we've seen him at times play good football with the Rams and then bad football.

And you know what, Hickey? I will agree that Jared Goff should be on this list. And he's a quarterback that you could add because I know Jameson Williams won't play because the suspension for the first, what, six games, I believe it is. And you have Amara St. Brown, you drafted a running back in Jamir Gibbs. You got David Montgomery, your offensive line, you got some talent there and there's expectations this year. Yeah, I don't really have an excuse if Jared Goff doesn't play well this year. What about a guy you are high on? Gino Smith.

So here's the tough part. I believe in the Seahawks. And I look around at Seattle. Offensively, they should be really good this year. When you go through the names Metcalf, Lockett, Jackson, Smith and Jigba, you know, just don't do what Addison did today, driving a, what was it, 140 something miles per hour, like an idiot. You have two really good running backs, Kenneth Walker. And then I like Zach Charbonnet coming out of UCLA. And now people have praised Gino Smith for the last time. Gino Smith, right?

People wrote him off, but he didn't write back as he would say, which I always love that line. And not only that, you have a coach in Pete Carroll who believes in you. An NFC that is not loaded with talent in terms of teams.

And they should be the third best team in the NFC behind Philadelphia and the 49ers. So I'm going to say, yes, there's no more excuses for Gino Smith, but no one even imagined that this would be even a conversation because no one could have expected what did transpire last year. Anyone else that you got just wondered on that list?

So these are, I got two more, but they're, I mean. I will say though, the first three names that you gave, you gave Daniel Jones, Jared Goff and Gino Smith. I like the three names that you gave and you went down a different line of thinking because I don't think nationally there's big expectations for any of those three guys, but you made a good case for at least two of them. Baker Mayfield. It's one of those guys, no expectation for him.

Well, I'm saying it's more about no excuses, right? So if he struggles in Tampa, it's only on him. Are you like, isn't that, I guess that's more of the line of thinking I'm looking at, even if they're not good or like the other guy I have, for example, is Ryan Tannehill. I know a lot of people look at Ryan Tannehill as a quarterback and I'm not trying to hype him up, but it's like, if he struggles, if Baker struggles, can't, not that he was doing this a lot, but you can't point the finger anywhere else but them. Put it this way, when Baker was with the Browns after having that really successful season, the next year he got hurt and the question was, does Baker Mayfield just stink or was it the shoulder injury? Then he goes to Carolina and he got to Carolina so late and that was a dysfunctional situation.

So that was used as an excuse. I don't have any high expectations for the Bucks this year, but there is enough there with Mike Evans and Chris Gobbin to at least look competent. So yes, if Baker Mayfield does not look competent this year, then there's no one to blame but himself, even though I'm not a fan of Todd Bowles as a head coach, just love him as a defensive coordinator.

And who was the final name there that you gave me? It was Ryan Tannehill. Yeah, Tannehill's a good one because Derrick Henry's there. You have a good coach in Mike Vrabel. Yes, no more AJ Brown, right? The second year of that, you just added DeAndre Hopkins, as long as he stays off the juice, he'll be on the field and should be really damn good for Tennessee this upcoming year.

So good job out of you. Like some of the names that you brought into the conversation. Let me throw one more at you. What about Justin Herbert? What about Justin Herbert?

I would say yes. I think he's in that category. I know Brandon Stilling, you can have, you know, there's an excuse. He's not a good coach. I think it's fair, but I would agree that I think he has the weapons that there should be no excuses for Herbert. Let's go to Jonathan in Baltimore. He wants to get on the Justin Herbert conversation. Jonathan, go ahead. No question.

My deal is I think it should be evenly spread out. Like you say, Justin Herbert has had everything and his excuses is coach. Lamar has had nothing. Now he's got some help and now there's no more excuses. You know why he's been hurt? Because like Munkin says, I love Munkin.

Like Munkin says, this guy's been doing it by himself. I'm a Ravens fan. You can't, you can't come up, you can't come up with three big plays. You got Bateman's play last year and Mark Andrews. After that, Lamar had to make every play. Oh yeah, there's no question.

Jonathan, you're preaching to the choir here. Like, I love Harbaugh as a coach, but I've said this for years, until they go get a legit number one wide receiver for, for the Baltimore Ravens, that I'm not expecting Lamar to, to get back to what he was just because it's a dangerous formula to put all on one player and eventually, right, not literally the shoulder's going to break, but everything's going to collapse on you. So I don't think they've put Lamar in the best position to succeed. Here's the thing that I'll just say, they made improvements, but we got to see what safe flowers is in the NFL. Cause a few years ago, I thought Rashad Bateman was going to be a stud and he can't stay healthy. Odell, can he get back to good form? I love Mark Andrews.

Can JK Dobbins stay healthy? So there's still some questions around the Ravens, but yeah, in terms of talent, this is the most talent that Lamar's ever had. But like one thing let's make sure we understand those guys don't have to be hall of famous for Lamar to be successful. All they got to do is make a play, make a play when it's time. They don't have to come out here and all those names that you have, they don't have to be hall of famous. They don't have to be all the very goods.

Just be there when he needs you. That's all. Good phone call, Jonathan.

Appreciate the time. Here's what I'll say about Herbert. I understand what you're saying with Herbert and right. You have Austin Eckler, you have Mike Williams, you have Keenan Allen. You just drafted quitting Johnston as well out of TCU. Injuries were used as an excuse last year.

And then also I hate to say it, but if the Los Angeles Chargers crapped the bed this year, you know what the excuse is going to be. It's going to be the coach. As a fan, you could say, Oh, what about Herbert? What about Herbert? I don't think Herbert has done anything like horribly the last three years. Now he's come in and he's played a lot of good football. So eventually when you're that good of a quarterback, you got to get past the bad coaching.

But you all know it that if the Chargers blow a playoff game this year and there's a questionable decision by the coach, everyone's going to be crushing Brandon Staley. It is the Zach Yelp show on CBS Sports Radio. We say goodbye to Sean Marash next. Birddogs.com slash radio to find out for yourself.

They'll even throw in a free tumbler. That's birddogs.com slash radio. You're listening to the Zach Gelb show.

Man, Hickey, stop chopping onions up in the studio. What an emotional next 24 hours this is going to be as the great can't even call morass anymore because management wants to call him by his proper name. Sean Marash is leaving CBS Sports Radio. No, he's not dying. No, he didn't get fired. He got a promotion and he'll just be moving right down the hall. And I think now we'll see even more of him.

And we didn't even know that was possible, but we wanted to bring on morass for the great things that he's done for the network for, I guess a decade now, some may say as he joins us on CBS Sports Radio, Shawnee boy, how you been? I'm good. I was hoping you were gonna allow that to play out. I was going to get a, you know, a little, I was so afraid to love you even more afraid to lose. Love the way that song goes on and on and on.

What's going on? I'll tell you probably my favorite clip from your time on the DA show. And I know this is not popular on social media with some people, but it's you singing Gloria. Oh, that is a huge point of contention amongst DA show and CBS Sports Radio listeners. Yeah.

I mean, that stemmed from the, what, the blues Stanley cup run. I got into it. I thought I had the words, right. I didn't. And I really tried to bellow it out and be not a baritone, what do you call it?

The tenor or something like that. And people cringe when they hear that. And then there's some people who can't get enough of it.

It is a very, maybe that could be the most controversial clip in my history of CBS Sports Radio. But that is you because you're willing to do anything and you don't care and it's entertaining. And that's what makes that show that you've been on in the morning with, with, with DA and Bogus and Bilotti. So fun is that it's just basically a bunch of dudes sitting around at a table and just railing on one another.

That's exactly it, which is why any time we've incorporated other people on CBS Sports Radio through our soundcheck or playing some of the clips and we rail on them as well, you know, it's always with the good, you know, the goodness of intentions, because that's the kind of crew we are. Some in the past have been able to take it, some haven't, including, you know, Hickey's taking it, you know, I mean, with bars of soap in the shower, some haven't. But yeah, no, exactly. And Zach, you grew up on Long Island like I did. Look, I was a fat kid on Long Island, mushroom haircut, acne, all of that. I was not going to survive junior high and high school if I didn't own everything that I was and say everything about me that anybody else could say.

This way, nothing could ever offend me. And as a result, I think that just kind of led me to being kind of Teflon as far as, you know, chopping it up on the radio. And that's the thing, because you had a playbook for a while when I got here, it was death taxes and whatever Zach Gelb says you're going to disagree with, and that was your playbook. And I think with the listening... By the way, by the way, Zachy, Zachy, you feel like the Patriots got a brighter future than the Giants, huh? What do we think?

Oh, yeah, I didn't know you guys were going to get Brian Dabel, a former Patriot. But what I will say is for a while, because of how many shots you would take at me in a fun way, and I'm never afraid to fire back and then just drag you through the mud and one up yet, there was a lot of listeners that thought we hated each other. And even though you're in the mornings and I'm at nights, we became friends. And when we would hang out, people would go, I thought you hate Mraz. Like, why the heck are you hanging out with that guy? It just goes to show you, right, that what you put out on the radio, people take so seriously. It's not that we're not saying what we're not saying is legitimate, but we'd like to have fun with each other. It's just like a way of life.

I guess it's busting balls. And that's what we did. And the first time I met you, it was a couple of years into CBS Sports, right before you came over, you came up to me at Radio Row. You might've been down in South Jersey at the time or whatever, but I had known your father for a long time. So when you came over here and you started doing evenings, I'm like, well, look, I know I could joke around with his dad. We're going to test Zach here.

And if he's either going to hang in there and throw the blows back, which you did, or you're not. And I loved you for it. And yeah, I mean, you have actually been to my house. You might've been to my house more times than DA's been to my house since I bought my house. So that just shows you how close me and you have gotten. And yeah, people think we hate each other.

Well, let's also be real. And there was a time that you thought I'd be at all your family events too, with someone that I was dating as well. Speaking of, I will remember you for sure.

Yes. Sean Marash here with us. I'll tell you the first time I found out about you, because like you said, since my dad, you know, works at WFAN, you know, I would always be following like what happened inside the company at CBS sports radio. I think it was the song. Uh, I got that power. And I remember seeing a video of you.

I had no clue who you were in a Tiki barber Jersey doing some dance. And I thought it was like the funniest thing. Oh yeah. Whatever that stupid thing was. I was like, uh, I forget what it was. I was like, I got that power. And then like you did like a truffle shuffle or something like that.

It was some kind of dance that was going viral at the time. And I totally forgot. Yeah. I was like falling down or whatever.

Yeah. Um, I was never free to do any of that. So there's no reason you should be, by the way, well, what's the worst kind of, you fall down, look like an idiot who cares. I mean, I'm the same guy who's made in my pants on the air. It does not matter.

Nothing matters. Never take yourself too seriously. What is the career highlight for you here at CBS sports radio? Honestly, um, so like I could give you a simple like on the air, like this was really awesome something. Um, but I think my career highlight is actually just the amount of people that I would have no idea connected with if not for social media. Like I say this, not even kidding Zach, like just little things that I wouldn't even remember me saying that made people laugh.

I've had people literally, this is going to sound like this was not, you know, Hey, I was really in a down time, you know, certain things going on in lives where mental health was a problem. And people basically saying that have saved their life and media like that to me above anything else was my career highlight there because you just, you never know when you turn on those microphone, how many people you're connecting with or talking to and had that kind of interaction was unbelievable. Now, as far as the actual career highlight, it's probably Aaron Rogers telling me to get away from him.

Like we're there, we're at the final four. I lose a bet. Thanks to Aaron Rogers. I go up to him at a bar thinking, you know, I'm with some people thinking I'm, you know, I'm on CBS sports radio. He'll, he'll respect me. And he literally told me, get away from me, buddy. I mean, it's one of the great quarterbacks of all time telling me to basically get lost. So that has to be right there, right up there.

That's amazing. Sean Morash here with us tomorrow's his final day at CBS sports radio. Once again, don't worry. He's not dying. He's not getting fired. He got a promotion.

He's going right down the hall. You hear him afternoons. You and Nick, you're going to see way more of me now, which is the ironic part. Yeah. Well, the last person that hosted afternoons, Craig carton.

And let me emphasize that T because I usually say it as if it's, as that's why I have a problem with that. Sean is, has taken many shots at me throughout the years, which I'm fine with over. And I get a bunch of people, my DM for the football teams, Craig used to bring in a ton of food. Are you going to be carrying on that tradition for everyone here at CBS sports radio? So I have made this declaration on the show. I am no longer the food guy. I'm looking forward to not waking up. The best thing I'm looking forward to in all seriousness, like the one positive is not waking up beforehand. I hope with a little more sleep, I could become even healthier.

I have been on the right track over the last year. That being said, I am there going to cross over to meal times now potentially lunch. By the time I get in late lunch, potentially dinner, uh, food will come now come in waves away. Craig brought in food. I don't know, but food will come. I've already put it this way. If you check my Instagram story today, there's already been a couple of test runs of certain salespeople trying to run some food items by me and have me drool over hamburgers.

So, you know, things could happen. I was going to say, if you're no longer the food guy, I was going to say, we'll see you back here at CBS sports radio in two years. But I'm working at the Tiki barber.

How could I shove my face? The guy could be in the hall of fame one day. He said, he's going to have me running marathons by the time I'm done working with it.

Sean, you could use that Peloton every hour. You are no longer, uh, at WFAN, like all the time that you're home, you'll never get in as good a shape as Tiki. Look, at some point he's going to get older and I, you know, I'm a few years behind. You never know.

Never say never. So let me ask you this and then we'll wrap up with Sean Marash here with us. So you were here, DA, did, did he come over here? It was right when the network started and how did you guys link up? So, uh, I was a part-timer at WFAN and we knew that CBS sports radio was launching and I was kind of in this, you know, handful of part-timers that Eric Spitz, the then program directors seem to like and seem to want to be pushing for and bring with him in this launch of the network. I got put in a room with DA, three other people interviewed, uh, as well for his producer job in the overnight. Uh, some might've said I was like the fourth most likely to have gotten the job in all seriousness in terms of like hierarchy of these part-timers. And, um, he and I guess I didn't realize at the time there in the interview just connected. He thought there was something about me. He loved that, you know, I was kind of named after former New York giants.

He took her, took a run, uh, with me and that, you know, we, we hit it off and we never looked back after 10 and a half years. Was it always easy? No. Uh, was I an idiot mid twenties kid trying to learn how to produce on the fly in 2013? Yes. Did you sometimes get sensitive when they were bringing people in, uh, interviewing for your job when you were still on the air with them? Uh, yeah. Yeah. We learned to deal with it, but back and forth, I think over the years, we just became all those things, man.

And then, you know, producer became on air and producer and all those stuff over the years and eventually became, you know, I think a pretty successful boring show. So, um, yeah, it's just kind of incredible. I, you know, I stepped in a room thinking there's no shot.

I'm getting that job specifically. And 10 and a half years later, I'm leaving that job where, you know, it'd be long. If I told you there were points in my time or thought about, you know, do I ever want to leave and, uh, you know, the right opportunity presented itself. Has this been awkward for you because there was a big emotion, right. From everyone involved in the show with how close you guys are, and then you had to stay here. I don't mean that in a bad way for, for the next three weeks, has this been weird for you with everyone kind of a singing your praises?

Yes, because now you're getting a lot of people who are tired of it and understandably. So, uh, a lot of people aren't diehard to listen to show, like we're still doing the goodbyes. How are we doing the goodbyes? And the truth is, yeah, it is a little awkward, but everything happened very suddenly. Uh, also it happens on basically the same weekend that the Bob's bar show happened where you were there a part of it, you know, parking cars and everything. So we just had this huge event where we connect with listeners.

Then we have to come off of that da is on paternity because he just had a baby and it just kind of became this whole whirlwind thing. And we were all kind of emotional because it was just kind of like a, wow, this has happened so suddenly. And then we've still been here for three weeks kind of off and on with days off. So I think a lot of people listen to the show keeps saying, how come nobody's crying? And they're like begging for tears and we've had four days of laughs so far.

So tomorrow morning, the final show we'll see, you know, um, the final goodbyes, if any emotions come of it. But you know, yes, I'd be lying to you if I told you, it hasn't been weird based on the fact that it felt like we said goodbye a month ago. And I'll tell you the person I was surprised the most about, and we talk about right, how you kind of just rag on everyone and that's part of radio and that's what we do. But there have been times where I've been listening or I've been watching it. I've seen you and Pete go at it. I was blown away how emotional Pete was.

Yeah. I mean, it's one of those things like, I love Pete. Pete annoys me to no end. I annoy Pete to no end.

I work three feet from him every single day for the better part of five years. You think we're not going to annoy each other, but in the end, you know, it's just like when you get to a fight at Thanksgiving with your cousin, your brother, you still love them. Uh, and then you realize all that time you shared, Oh my goodness.

We're literally like never going to see Chuck. Like me and Peter basically never got across paths based on our hours. You know, I'm sure here and there, but nothing like the connection we had.

And for him having to go build up a connection with somebody, you know, it takes time. I mean, him at a, had a serious bond, which, you know, it's, it's a radio brother of mine. I will say, um, outside of smack off, I think the best thing that we have going at the network is the Bob's bar show because it kind of shows the power still of national radio, where sometimes you do this show and you know, people are listening cause we're on so many affiliates, but you don't really know who's listening.

And even though I lost that bet, it was great. Cause I got to meet all the listeners right away. Oh yeah. Coming in from Vancouver and Alabama and all over the place. And it just shows kind of the, the family atmosphere that we have around here. It's amazing. And I don't just say this to pump any hot air up, anything. There are a lot of national radio networks.

Okay. And you know, all the big names. It is hard for me to imagine because I've scanned this with doing the Bob's bar show and hearing the smack off cause it is hard for me to imagine that any listener base connects quite the same way. CBS sports radio does as far as the national, the local, uh, and our listeners are nothing short of amazing. I mean, again, I was in my own New York bubble and I got listeners.

I'm going to Boise, uh, you know, Baltimore or all these people from all over Alabama. And you just realize all these next to the woods and we connect with them. It's incredible. So is this bittersweet for you? Cause you gotta be thrilled.

This a promotion. This is a great opportunity for you, but it's got to be weird leaving, leaving a hundred percent. It's weird leaving. Um, Oh, look, it's, it's amazing.

Um, I'm going to a station that got me into radio to begin with one that I started as an intern and part-time with I'm going to a time slot where I'm going to be, you know, I'm, I'm a signed contract at a host on a, a time slot. That's like iconic for Mike Francesca and Medo Russo. Um, it's amazing. And I'm working with Tiki Barber who, I mean, was my favorite player growing up on my favorite team. Um, so all of that is awesome, but like I'm leaving, I don't like change to begin with. I'm leaving a situation.

And especially with DA before we even get the bogus and, and Bilotti where he, I don't have this opportunity without him. Like I could have easily just been a producer, sat there, put up calls or whatever. He gave me the opportunity for all the on air stuff and everything and let my personality grow. Um, and it's weird, man. It's like, it's like moving away from like the family you grew up, you know, you go to college, go away, and then you, you, you'd never go back home.

That's kind of what it feels like. Last thing I'll ask you and I'll save the most controversial question for the end and don't pull a Deebo Samuel and hang up on me. Um, what is the status of the, of the Bob's bar show moving forward?

Cause I think your father and your mother have got to know him pretty well throughout the years, regardless if you're there or not. I think they want to continue the shindig. Well, for sure. And, and look one way or another, there's gotta be a DA show event and I'm not anti the Bob's bar event continuing. I would love to come back and basically have nothing to do, but geez, just give me the keys. I'll park the cars and just hang out and drink. They, you know, they could do the show or whatever. And maybe that's something I keep a day off for.

Uh, I've joked around with PDA, bogus. I said, look, you guys want to do the show. I'm totally fine renting out my parents' house and do the show, bring all the listens.

Let's have a great time again. But I'll tell you one thing, Sean, he's done setting that up and being the last one left standing for Randy in Alabama to stumble back to his hotel. So everybody, everybody better be in lock.

And that's just not me for all that. Or make sure that knockout Neil isn't puking all over the place. Yeah. That's the, yeah.

That's the other thing, too. You can't have a guy passed out behind the pool next year. I love you, Sean. You're my favorite. You're the best. I love you. Maybe next year I'm the guy who deserves to be passed out behind the pool.

We can only hope. Well, I'm happy for you. I'm thrilled for you. I'm glad that we've become good friends throughout the years. And I know that friendship will continue, but we're coming over baby college football. I'm going to go to Spike's office in a few weeks and say, okay, let's, let's get my eyes back in the mornings.

We need them away from, from these afternoon parts. Well, I'll bring the food for you. What the heck was that? That was my life. Gotcha. So that was like, I didn't really tell that good of a joke. So you're just getting, I thought that was a pig squealing. No, my kid, my one kid is, Oh, you're hearing the pig squeal.

That's that's ranger. My puppy in the backyard screaming and jumping at the door right now. Okay. Well, I'll let you run.

It always seems like you have everything in order. Appreciate it. Chaos house.

Take care guys. Marco Valletti. I was like, what the heck was that? I'm in really?

Marco's so disgusted at the end. I mean, what are we doing? I, not only just that, but I mean, I'm a big part of the network. Yeah.

All right. We're taking more bows on this farewell for three weeks more than Derek Jeter took on that year long trip. I mean, geez, he's going down the hall.

You'll see him every day. Calm down. Everybody's got to relax. We just get, we got to remember him. He's passing away.

Yeah. I mean, honestly, I'm happy for the guy too, but let's, let's, let's take it down a notch. Where's the chair made out of wood for Mariano Rivera. This guy's had more accolades in the last, seriously, the last couple of weeks.

Then you can't give him a rise of wooden chair. Let's be real. What are we doing?

I'll tell you that. Do you know his happiest? Who's leaving that my rise is leaving.

One of the happiest is out of everyone at CBS sports radio. What do we got? It's that chair right there that he sits in each and every day. That chair could finally breathe after all these years. Well, you say that, I mean, there's a good chance he just takes the chair and moves it down the hall. I mean, I don't know. I think that chair is like locked in.

Yeah. It's got some, some poop stains on it and all that stuff. So, well then I hope that he takes a chair down the hall. Let's put a new chair in there.

Let's start fresh after 10 years. It's the Zach Gelb show on CBS sports radio. You're listening to the Zach Gelb show.

Alrighty. This is Zach Gelb show on CBS sports radio. Hickey, here comes a big test in our on air relationship. How many years have you been producing our show? Three now? It was November of 2020. So that is going on three, two and a half years. Really? It was November of 2020?

That's right. So Mikey B was here January of 2020, but then he was out by September of 2020. I had a kid, went on paternity leave, enjoyed working from home during the pandemic and found another job. And he left and we that quickly. So he left in September, October.

No. Wow. I'm surprised that we moved that quickly. I remember that search being a whole lot longer than, than what it actually was. I never thought they were going to fill the position for a while. I thought it was just going to be film producer after film producer. They kept on saying, yeah, we're going to replace it. We're going to place to replace it.

And then I was told some people that were applying for it. And then they, they said, would you be fine if it was Hickey? And I said, yeah, it'd be more than fine.

It worked the before, you know, thinking you'd add some things to the show, you know, be a nice little kind of a co-host kind of to the show. So I'm going to just send you a text message here, but this is maybe the biggest text message I've ever sent you in our relationship on the air here at CBS Sports Radio. I know that you don't love bone in wings, traditional wings, and you're more of a boneless wing guy, but let me just know what you think of those wings that a listener just tweeted me. And this is a very big step in our on air relationship.

This is Brian, who has tweeted me a bunch before. And let me know what you think of those bad boys. So you sent a picture of what looks like a dozen wings drowned. And what is that? Buffalo sauce? Barbecue? Close, close, close, close. It's more of a Buffalo sauce, but it's a certain type of Buffalo sauce. And let me just say, you better think very carefully what you're about to say about these wings.

Cuz if you don't say the right answer here, we may be looking for a new producer. So let me like, what, what do you just want when you react to the picture, like give you my thoughts on the picture? They look delicious. I look at that and say, I'm good.

No thanks. Oh, you're an idiot. You are the biggest moron. I would not say the G word ingross. There's too much sauce on that.

You're in a public place. I'm not having basically my entire face filled with Buffalo sauce. Shut up, shut up, shut up.

No way. These are the Johnny hot wings from BVH. I don't know what that means.

We've talked about this numerous times. My favorite wing joint. I know BVH. I don't know what Johnny hot is. Those are the wings. That's the wing, the Johnny hots.

That's the famous sauce. Oh my goodness gracious. You haven't been listening to me for all these years. And a listener, Brian heard me, heard me talking about these wings forever. And he made the trip there before he went about a year ago. He tweeted me and said they were so good.

He would go back next summer. And he just tweeted me those during the break. Those are my favorite wings ever. Those are delicious wings. He's got blue cheese right next to it.

Tremendous stuff. And they are covered in sauce and they're looking oh so good. And I have to host the radio show still for another hour. And you know what?

That's how I know they're good. Because once again, folks, if Hickey says thanks, I'm good. I'll pass when it comes to food.

It shows you why he doesn't have a damn clue what he's talking about in the food world. So even though you just had an embarrassing answer, it was actually the right answer. Because it further validates my opinion that those are great wings.

I'll take the burger. Johnny, I'm sure your wings are great. They're award-winning wings.

He's won awards for those wings. And you know what's crazy? He texted me this morning. Just checking in. How you doing? We've become friendly throughout the years. And then this guy Brian just so happened hours later to go over to BVH and check out the joint. Well, you're going to text your guy now back and say, hey, one of my guys Brian is there.

Take care of him? He knows. Brian introduced himself.

He's like, I heard Zach talk about you throughout the years. So he introduced himself to John. And once you meet John one time, John remembers everybody. Hey, all world bartender. Johnny, like that dude has a memory like I've never seen before.

So tremendous, tremendous, tremendous human being. So anyway, a hickey, man. Can't take you anywhere nice. That's why we leave. Again, you should be thanking me because it's just more for you.

Leave hickey at home for some of the big events. More? There was a wing shortage, what, a year ago?

Two years ago? Like, it's not like it's out of the realm of possibility that another wing shortage happens. If that happens, guess what? I'm your best friend. I am your best friends. I'm not taking your wings out of your mouth. So you should be thankful that I'm around to your baby and only boneless wings. I am more beneficial than I am harmful. So you're welcome for that answer, please.

I wish you would be a man sometimes and actually eat wings, how real men eat wings and not your fugazi way with your boneless wings. It is the Zach Gelb show on CBS Sports Radio. We'll come on back with a news brief. We'll also get some answers on the poll question as well. Still time to vote at Zach Gelb at CBS Sports Radio. Remember, folks, death taxes and never listening to hickey on food opinions. You realize we spend a third of our life sleeping?

I know stuck in traffic was a good guess, too. But now that you know you sleep so much, why aren't you sleeping on the most comfortable mattress arguably made in America? A brand new iComfort Eco by Serta. It's supportive and designed to keep you cool, comfortable and feeling restored. Or check out Serta's perfect sleeper for pressure relieving comfort and support while maintaining a balanced temperature. Serta mattresses made right here in Michigan, and they have been for over 110 years. Go to Serta.com. Find a retailer near you. That's Serta.com.