Arizona Set To Join The Big 12 (Hour 3)

Alrighty, hour number three of our radio program. That's right, it is the Zach Gelb show coast to coast on CBS Sports Radio. Panthers fans, coming up, hour 40 from now, Panther safety Xavier Woods.

You will hear our conversation with him. Some excitement with the Panthers, new head football coach in Frank Reich. You have a defense that has a lot of talent. Panthers won five out of their last eight games down the stretch a season ago, and now they embark on a brand new quarterback.

The former quarterback at Alabama, who was dominant the last two years, the number one overall pick in the draft in Bryce Young. And Hickey, before we get to onside's offside, you look at that one division in the NFC South. You go around every other division and you tell me in the AFC East, the Dolphins win the division, or the Jets, or the Bills win the division.

No one would be surprised by that, and also you would have a legit claim. You take a glance at a division like the AFC North. You pretty much expect the Bengals to win that division.

You look at a division like the AFC South, everyone's going to go with the Jaguars. The AFC West, I know people like the Chargers, everyone's going to take the Chiefs. The NFC East, okay. Eagles, sure. Definitely, some people make the case for the Cowboys, I won't, but the Cowboys, we haven't had a repeat winner in the NFC East in the longest of time. And the Cowboys last two years have had two seasons of 12 wins. You look at the NFC North, it seems like it's a two team race right now between the Vikings and the Lions. You look at the NFC West, until San Francisco loses it, it's their division. You look at the NFC South, I don't have a damn clue on this division. The Saints, on paper, sure. I don't trust Eric Carr. Falcons, I like their roster.

Can Desmond Ritter be a game manager? You ask Arthur Blank, they have their next franchise quarterback. You go through the rest of that division, you see the Carolina Panthers, that was a team that had seven wins last year, they were playing for a playoff spot. And they choked that lead up to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but now Tom Brady's on the division.

You look at the Bucks, I don't love this Bucks team, I don't love Todd Bowles. The defense has lost some names, they still have some serious pieces though. And you look at the offensive side of the ball, you have Mike Evans, you have Chris Goblin, but Baker Mayfield, we think. Because it seems as if that quarterback battle is heating up, which is bad news for Baker Mayfield, I ultimately think he will be the starter. But I guess Kyle Trask has given everything he has trying to win that starting job. The NFC South, it's tough for me to say it's the most intriguing division, because do you really care who wins that division nationally?

Probably not. But this is a division where if you tell me at the end of the season any of those four teams end up winning the division, it can't surprise you. Where in every other division, there's a team that if you told me they won the division, it would surprise you. Like in the AFC East, surprise if the Patriots win the division.

And that's coming from a Patriot fan. In the AFC North, Steelers could be tough, they're not going to win that division. You look at the South, you want to make the case for the Texans or the Colts?

I'm sure Hickey would love to, but it ain't going to happen. NFC West, the Raiders ain't winning that division. AFC West, the Raiders ain't winning that division. You look at the NFC East, Giants and Commanders could be good teams, they're not winning the division. NFC North, Bears ain't winning that division. NFC West, Cardinals not winning that division. So you look at that NFC South, would you agree Hickey? It's weird to say that it's intriguing, because intriguing usually makes you think, oh you're curious and you're jumping up and down and you're waiting to see what's going to happen. But the race to see who wins that division is in some weird twisted way, actually like interesting and exciting, but it's not interesting like yeah, yeah, yeah. I can't wait to see who wins this division, it's yeah, it's interesting is the way I would say it. Almost identical to last year, right? Where, what was it, week 15? And that was with Brady!

Right, every team, all four teams had a chance to take a hold and win the division with like two games left, and we eventually saw the Buccaneers at eight and nine win it, but I'm with you where it should be exactly a repetition of last year where we should have all four teams in it late in the season where we could be looking at two, three, four games to go and it's truly anyone's division. Yes, I do some weekly hits in football season with some of our affiliates. I'm pretty sure I'm doing one this year with WQAM with Hochman and crowd, I'm on with those guys all the time. And last year, I did one on WFNZ in Charlotte with Mac and Bone, my guys love them. They're hysterical and flounder as well.

Tremendous radio crew morning drive on one of our great affiliates WFNZ. And like in that stretch of the Panthers getting hot with Steve Wilks, Mac, it doesn't take much for him to get excited. You think you are someone that is the most optimistic person on the planet, Hickey? You pale in comparison compared to Mac. It does not take much for Mac to get excited. And Mac was really buying in and I kept on saying to him, there's no way the Buccaneers don't win this division. There's no way Tom Brady doesn't win this division. When you have all the other dreadful teams, even though his team was dreadful a year ago with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the offensive line was an emic. And even I got worried at one point that I was going to look like a fool because I kept on poo pooing the entire time Mac's theory that the Panthers are going to win the division. Because of the fact that Brady was in that division and then they had that big lead up against Tampa Bay and then they weren't able to hold on to it. Mike Evans I'm pretty sure went off in that game and Tampa Bay ends up winning that game and they go on to win the division. But this year, even with the Saints being quote unquote the favorite, you can't feel good about the Saints entering the season because the Saints are one of those teams.

We're sure on paper you would think they'd be able to be the sharpest tool in the shed, I guess is the best way to say it here. But they're always injured. And when you have a team that is notoriously known the last few years for getting injured, why should this year be any different? Mike Evans Yeah, it's also hard to believe in a team with Derek Carr as the favorite in division win. A lot of question marks about him, the health of the Saints, Dennis Allen.

They are easily, and that's the reason we're talking about it, easily the shakiest division projected winner of the eight. You better be careful here. You're going after Derek Carr. He's going to block you on social media.

His brother's going to block you on social media as well. They're going to be like the Okich Brothers. The Carr Brothers are going to show up right outside the 345 Hudson Street Studios, Hickey. And they're going to beat you up.

They're going to absolutely destroy you. Hickey Maybe we'll relax on giving out the address just in case, you know. I don't need anyone waiting downstairs for me. Mike Evans What was that?

Sorry, you're breaking up. I think you said you wanted me to give out the address again, 345 Hudson Street, the studios? New York, New York? Hickey I don't want to have to go crazy on the Carr Brothers, but I guess I might have to in self-defense. Mike Evans And folks, if you can't see the building, just if Derek or David Carr are listening and they want to come pay out, take Hickey a visit to the studio, there's some construction going on in front of the building. And some scaffolding.

Just ignore that. You'll know when you get to the building, there's a homeless person sitting out in front. You'll definitely see him.

You can't miss him. And that guy sitting out in front of the building, Hickey, have you seen his feet when you walk out each and every night? Hickey Unfortunately, yes. Mike Evans Not to be like a Rex Ryan guy here, but you walk right out of the studio and that guy sits there and he picks at his feet and his feet are absolutely disgusting looking. Like Rex Ryan would see those feet and he would run in the other direction.

And that's Rex Ryan. Hickey Yeah, I mean, not surprising, but yeah, honestly, my whole philosophy is just look straight ahead, don't get distracted, pretend like I'm on my phone and just keep on walking. And you know what I do better than anyone, I think?

Mind my own business. Mike Evans You really see some disgusting things when you walk to the subway and get also on the subway. Like for the most part, I try to walk home. And once I get past our building at 345 Hudson Street, just in case if you missed that address, I have a straight shoot and you get to see the Freedom Tower. And it's a nice, enjoyable walk home.

You don't see too many disgusting things. But you're going from outside of our building, two blocks to the subway, where a bunch of crazy things happen. It must be a rough commute for you each and every night on your way home because you probably won't leave the studio after you do some post show work at like 1030 p.m. Eastern. That's gonna be a rough commute home.

Sometimes. I mean, there's a nice new restaurant. So when I walk by, there's a lot of young people like myself out. A lot of very packed, good vibes.

So that kind of helps basically make that very short walk enjoyable. Two weeks ago, if that? Because last night, last night I took the subway because I'm doing the show on Long Island, so I had to carry all this equipment home. And I said, you know what?

I'm not going to walk home because I have all this equipment. And I got in the subway and I'm walking past that bar and restaurant in the corner and I go, when the heck did this happen? That place was packed. I don't know what food they serve. I don't know what kind of place it is, but that place was packed.

You did not have an inch to yourself. That was a real bump in the crowd there. Maybe we should go there one night after the show. I wonder if people are paid to go.

One of those things where they made this big discount. What do you mean? I suppose when you open, you want to make it seem like this is the new hot spot. It sold obviously me and you. And so I'm sure there's some sort of deal going on why every single night on like a Tuesday at 1030 it is jam packed with people just out and about having a good time. So maybe we wait like two months, wait until October and let's see what the vibes are like in October. And if it's still good, maybe we go there after the show.

Alrighty. Five questions, five answers. Let's get to a little Onside Offside Hot Take Hickey.

Hit it! Zach's taking on the most polarizing issues in sports. Which side of the line of scrimmage will he end up on? Offside, defense number 69.

It's Onside Offside with Zach Gelb on CBS Sports Radio. Alrighty Z-man Oregon and Washington are the two biggest names remaining in what is currently called the Pac-12. Both though could be on the move shortly. The question is should the Big Ten want two more Pac-12 schools added to their conference?

Remember, let's go back a few weeks ago and looking for a new TV deal. The Pac-12 conference was not really getting any good offers whatsoever. And that was with the assumption that both Oregon and Washington would be in the conference now moving forward. So if they weren't bringing much value to the conference, then how much value would they bring to the Big Ten now?

So I ask you this. Onsides or offsides? The Big Ten shouldn't want Oregon and Washington to join their conference. I will go offside on that one.

Offside! And here is the reason why. I think it's slim pickings for the SEC and the Big Ten moving forward. They have the two power conferences. They're going to eventually make more moves. Not as many as what people think, but they will make some moves and add more teams. Notre Dame right now is saying regardless of what the Big Ten does, that's not going to change their view right now in joining a conference. That's been out there today.

So that's the biggest fish. So after that, you're looking at a few schools where already USC and UCLA are coming to the Big Ten. Oklahoma and Texas, two enormous brands, are going to the SEC. So no one else really in the Pac-12 is a must have.

That's why Utah and Arizona and Arizona State are trying like crazy to go to the Big 12. In the ACC, sure Clemson, attractive. Florida State, attractive. Miami, attractive. UNC and Duke for football, not really attractive even though UNC this year does have Drake May. But for basketball, those brands are attractive.

And really outside of that, Hickey, there's not a ton. So you look at Oregon and Washington, I'm not saying they're the smoke show ten, but they're still attractive. And if you feel as if eventually you're going to add a few more schools, you better strike now instead of waiting and waiting and waiting. Because as we've seen in the reverse way, when you wait and wait and wait to respond to what happens, you get burned here where no one would have thought a year and a half, two years ago that the Big 12 was going to outlive the Pac-12.

But it looks like we are one or two decisions away from that being reality. So I do think the Big 10 should strike while it's hot right now and not just take any school, because you don't just take someone into the Cool Kid Club if they're not cool, Oregon and Washington are cool enough. You mentioned Notre Dame before, let's talk about them because the Irish right now are by far the biggest brand in college football that's not in the Big 10 or in the SEC.

Now according to ESPN's Pete Vamel, the Irish won't be swayed by the recent movements and their independence is expected to remain. Now Notre Dame does have a five-game contract with the ACC, but they are technically independent fully here in football. Onside or offside, Zach, Notre Dame should want to join the Big 10. Hickey, you would agree sometimes in life that if you're at a job and you're happy and you're satisfied with the money that you're making, just because another company comes calling and they offer you more money does not mean that you have to take the job, right?

Correct. So I look at Notre Dame and I say to myself, they are that school that are a great company, they make a ton of money, and they could go to another company, they could make more money, but their job may be tougher. And I think Notre Dame clearly really enjoys being an independent and their TV contract is enormous. Now they could make more money, absolutely, and a lot more money when they go to the Big 10 if they did go to the Big 10. But you look at where the future of college football is going to the 12-team college football playoff, it's going to be tougher if Notre Dame has to play a Big 10 schedule, even though they're going to be, I think, a really good team this year, and they do have a tough schedule this year, for them to get into the, not to get into the college football playoff, but be a shoe-in is what I'm saying, where if you're an independent, you could create your own schedule, you'll make a ton of money, and yes, going to 12-teens, it should be easier for Notre Dame to make the playoff, but there are like a lot if you just only have two losses on your resume because people would want the brand of Notre Dame in the playoffs. So, you say to me Notre Dame should want to join the Big 10, I'll actually go offside on this one, because I think they're happy where they are right now, operating with no one else telling them what to do, and they have a big enough brand where you don't need to just go to a bigger company and get more money here. Let's chat, Zach, a little NFL here.

Zach Wilson- I have a feeling you really disagree with what I just said, by the way. No, I think honestly, the perfect fit is the Big 10 if you're Notre Dame. You have natural rivalries already with USC that would continue, with Purdue that would continue, you could still play Navy and Stanford. You make a lot more money, you have great access to the playoff anyway, if I'm Notre Dame, I would do it. That's me, unbiased, I guess if you will, but hey, they're still killing it, they're still making the college world playoff, and now we're going to 12, they really don't have to worry too much about getting squeezed out. Where if you go to the Big 10, you could get squeezed out, where if you get to control your schedule, and you get to operate as an independent, it's going to be tough for Notre Dame to miss the playoff.

That is true, that is true. Let's talk about NFL, Zach Wilson, we know his fall from grace has been pretty obvious and pretty public, and it does continue tonight. You know what, it's actually a good thing that Aaron Rodgers doesn't really talk to his family, because he's getting too close to Zach Wilson, you may be concerned that Zach Wilson would start maybe romancing with certain members of the Rodgers family. That would not be well for the QB chemistry.

That would not go too well for sure. So tonight is the Hall of Fame game, Jets, Browns, mostly Scrubs playing this game, which means Zach Wilson is getting the start. Scrubs, you're such a jerk.

Am I wrong? I'm just saying, I would like to be a scrub in the NFL, I'll tell you that. I'm not saying I'm a better athlete than them, or I wouldn't want to be a scrub, don't get me wrong, I'm just trying to speak the truth here. A lot of guys playing tonight that won't make the roster or won't be relied on too much in the regular season, that's for sure. And Zach Wilson is going to be now one of those guys with Aaron Rodgers coming to town. In his short two year career so far for the Jets, Wilson has completed 55% of his passes, throwing a combined 15 touchdowns to 18 interceptions. Now, the good news for Zach Wilson is this, we know in the NFL, you're a top 10 pick, tons of teams will give you second, third, and fourth chances, just like a Josh Rosen. So I will ask you this, Zach, onsides or offsides? Or Sam Darnold. Or Sam Darnold, another perfect example. Zach Wilson will again be a week one starter in the NFL. Offside.

Offside. Because I questioned the attitude. And I defended people that were questioning, I defended Zach Wilson when people were questioning his attitude with some of the inconsistencies leading up to the draft with some of the bullcrap you were reading. But you look at last year, when he lost to the Patriots, he just needed to take that accountability. And he needed to just wear his incompetence.

But he wouldn't do that. And I think people could tolerate when you're playing bad if you just own it, and it seems like Zach Wilson refused to do that, and that concerns me. And I think as a quarterback, you've got to be a leader of men, and I don't like the leadership skills that I saw last year from Zach Wilson. So I could see a team bringing him in and him being a second string quarterback, but if you're going into it thinking that Zach Wilson is going to be your week one NFL starter, anywhere in the next two to three years, yeah, your team stinks.

You're trying to tank. The XFL could be coming to the NFL. Here's what I mean. The NFL is considering adopting the XFL-style kickoff where the kicker stands at the opposite 30-yard line. You have the other 10 guys in kickoff coverage starting at the opponent's 35-yard line, lined up just five yards away from the receiving team.

So I don't watch the XFL. So let me just get this right. The kicker's at his own 30-yard line is what you're saying? Normal kickoff spot. And everyone else, the other 10 guys are at the opponent's 35-yard line. Yes, sir. Okay, so now I could just vision that.

So go ahead. And then the receiving team, they have their 10 guys lined up at the 30-yard line. So there's only a five-yard difference between the coverage team and the kickoff team. This is supposed to help players from getting hurt because now you're not running down the field, full head of steam, running into each other. The collision should be less violent and therefore less injuries, especially on the kickoff, which also could mean more opportunities for a kickoff return and not as many touchbacks as we've been seeing.

When can you go, just wondering? Do you have to wait for the ball to be caught to go? You have to wait for either the player to catch it or when the ball is kicked, one of the two.

Okay. You would think it's when the player catches it would be my guess because if it's just off the ball being kicked and you're five yards away, that seems dangerous. Well, yeah. I mean, you have the kick returner obviously further back, closer to the goal line, so you still have some room.

But yes, you're right. It's probably when he catches it, then you could start running there. But there is a chance for bigger gains and bigger returns because now you break one tackle, there's a line of not many waves of guys after you're tackling you.

So I'll ask you this, Zach. Onsides or offsides, the NFL should adopt the XFL-styled kickoff. Now, do all 10 guys have to be at the 35-yard line? Yes.

Okay. So if it is when the ball is right kicked, I would run backwards to try to save if the returner gets past them. I also think that would just increase touchbacks as well, which is probably what they would want. I don't like that whatsoever. If you really want to do that, just get rid of the kickoff. So the NFL should adopt the XFL-styled kickoff offside only.

Offside! And finally, Jim Merse did a good thing in donating $20 million to help with the transportation of Lolita, who is an 8,000-pound orca that's been in a small enclosure in Miami for a very long time. He is helping move her back to her native home up in the Pacific Northwest. Now, Lolita has been away from her family for 53 years.

And now, with the help of Jim Merse, will be reunited with her pod up in the Puget Sound in Seattle, Washington. Now, why $20 million is a very interesting number? That's also the same amount of money right now the Colts have free in their cap space to possibly pay a disgruntled running back who thinks he's worth it. And the owner, along with the GM, say, no, you are not.

So I'll ask you this, Zach. Onsides or offsides? Jonathan Taylor should feel disrespected that Jim Merse spent $20 million to save an orca and not him. Is there a salary cap in saving whales?

No, sir. As much money as you want to save the whales, you can do. So Jonathan Taylor should feel disrespected that Jim Merse spent $20 million to save an orca and not him. This is offside.

Offside! And the reason is because there's no salary cap here. That's why. That's why Jonathan Taylor ain't getting paid because they don't think he's worth that when you're trying to fit everybody under the salary cap in a position that teams that win in the last decade are more so running back by committee and dividing up that money than just investing it in one player. It's like when Steve Cohen would spend $145 million on that statue. And I know Steve Cohen pays everybody and there's no salary cap in baseball, but there's a luxury tax and all that. And people go, oh, yeah, players are going to get offended if they don't pay him because he spent $145 million on a statue or a painting. Like, you can't compare that stuff.

What someone does in hobby and then business is totally different. So I don't think Jonathan Taylor should feel bad about this. How about yourself, Mr. Kolfin? No, I mean, just a coincidence that that's the amount of money that they have now. Again, I would pay Jonathan Taylor, but nonetheless, the two are not not related whatsoever. Now, you got to be careful here because you don't want to get involved in criticizing someone for doing something good. But if I'm Jonathan Taylor, I'm sending out a tweet tonight, a whale's worth $20 million. But I'm not Jim.

What are we doing? I would stir up the drama. Jim Irsay, you want to stir up the drama?

I'd fight you right back if I was Jonathan Taylor. Coming on back. You're listening to the Zach Gelb Show.

All right. Zach Gelb Show, CBS Sports Radio. So I'm reading this on NFL on CBS. Dave Canales, the new offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are no longer the Tampa Bay nor Champa Bay Buccaneers. So on Tuesday, he addressed reporters and he was asked if the quarterback competition is tightened since the start of training camp.

And he said, oh, yeah, absolutely. Per the Tampa Bay Times, you also go on to say first couple of days. I think the experience that Baker brings just playing in games, being in camps, going through installs, you could see where the offense was gelling really well, Canales said. The timing of the snaps and all that is really critical for us. So probably a little bit of an edge for Baker to start off just in terms of smoothness in the offense. But it just took a couple of days for Kyle to really settle in. And then what we saw is the last two practices Kyle really showed what he could do, stretching the field with his arm, getting the ball out quickly, making decisions. So I'm really excited about both of those guys and the progressions that have been made throughout the last couple of days.

So here's what I don't get about this, Hickey. He's praising, right, the veteran leadership and the experience of Baker. And I know it is a new coach and it is a new system, but Kyle Trask knows those teammates better. He's been there the last two years. So I look at that and I go, OK, the compliment is more so all Baker's just naturally going to be ahead. And Kyle Trask has been there since twenty twenty one, so he's there for two seasons. And now quickly, Kyle Trask is starting to impress the new offensive coordinator.

If I don't know if this is just so you want to go kind of all Belichickian and praise everybody and make everything seem like it's actual competition. And Baker shouldn't just be handed the job. But you got to still think that Baker Mayfield is going to be starting week one.

I'll be shocked if he's not shocked. And not just because of the Bucks win the division and Baker, I think it's kind of a bounce back year. He's not going to lose to Kyle Trask.

No disrespect to Trask and his family, but Baker's better. Here's the thing, though, usually when you're this adamant, you end up being wrong. Now, I tend to agree with you, so I get worried about this. But I know that you're in the line of thinking that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going to the playoffs this year. And hey, the NFC South is wide open, so I guess anything can happen. I'm not believing in the Bucks because I don't believe in Baker Mayfield.

And I know you'll disagree with this, but I'll just say this. I don't think Baker's going to make it through the entirety of the season. Because I think the Buccaneers are going to struggle. I think Baker Mayfield is going to play poorly at times. And eventually you're going to say, OK, Baker's not going to work here for the entirety of the season. We did use a second-round draft pick back in 2021, and Jason Light is still the general manager there. So it's not as if just because you have a coach now who's in year two, he had no attachment to Baker Mayfield. And he's not willing, or to Kyle Trask, he's not willing to give Kyle Trask a chance.

You have a coach that's been there, and then you also had a general manager that's been there for a while. I do think you'll see at some point Kyle Trask get on the field, but I will agree with you it won't be week one. I hope not. I mean, I really hope not.

I've got a lot of eggs in the Baker basket here. I can't have a week 14 benching. Not good. You think it's going to get to week 14? I think it's going to get to week 17, or week 18. He's going to play the whole year, no benching, and he's going to, again, lead them to the playoffs.

So I don't see a benching in sight. Now you know they have a first-place schedule, too, right? Because they won that division. And they lost Tom Brady.

So you play, I say you as if you're a Tampa Bay Buccaneer, but you're pulling for the Bucks this year. They play Minnesota. They play Philadelphia. They play Buffalo. They play the Lions. They play the 49ers. Heck, even Tennessee will throw in there. They have those six games, which are really tough games for them.

Jacksonville, too? That's seven games that are really, really tough. And the division, everyone's just going to beat up on one another because it's impossible to determine who's going to win that division. So that also could screw them in terms of, sure, there's no great team in that division, but they're going to take a step back for two reasons. One, they don't have Tom Brady.

And two, they are playing a first-place schedule without the great TB12. Who, by the way, it is his birthday today. So happy birthday to Tom Brady.

I don't know about you, Hickey. It is weird that we're entering a football season as Tom Brady turns 46 today on August 3rd. So happy birthday to the greatest quarterback of all time. And this is the first time we are entering an NFL season where Tom Brady is not going to be a part of the league. The last time that happened was 1999. Now, Brady was a rookie in 2000, but unless you were a big-time Michigan football fan, no one really knew who he was. Long time.

Hopefully he knew what to do with himself when he's not at training camp for his birthday for the first time in 23 years. Oh, I'll tell you what he's doing. You saw who he's dating, right, now? Yes. New supermodels. That's right.

Not Kim K, thankfully. I think he's enjoying some time with his children, and then probably at night the kids may be hearing a little squeaking going on in the bedroom from upstairs with Brady. I think he's watching soccer film. Didn't he buy some soccer team? He invested.

He might be Mr. Football now, so you know what, I bet you he's watching. Where is that, by the way? Do we know? Which is in London, right, Dex? Where is it?

You guys just stopped talking. North England. In Birmingham.

He's in Birmingham City. Oh, are you a big soccer fan, Dexter Henry? I am a big Liverpool fan, actually. Huge Liverpool fan.

So enlighten on me here, what Brady did today, because I have no clue. I don't care about soccer. He invested in a team that's in the second division, so not in the Premier League, so just the division below, so it's a smaller team. They have been in the Premier League before, so they've been up, but yeah, they're a second division team.

And what's their name? Birmingham City. Birmingham City. So I have to now become a Birmingham City fan, so the... No, you don't. You don't have to do that.

The FC Barcelona hat that I bought, I believe that's the team name, when I was in Barcelona. I guess I have to throw it out, and also the scarf, because I wanted to be a tourist. No, I think you should stick with Barcelona, or you can come root for Liverpool with me, you can do that. Yeah, it takes too much work. Too much work, okay. I see all these soccer fans, they get up, they go to the bar, they're there at like seven in the morning, they're screaming, they're hugging people, they're chanting. I don't really need to do that.

It's not for you, okay. Football Sunday, the real football. That's what I'll be going nuts and going crazy, not football. The soccer fans are gonna disagree with you, they call that the real football. Well, that's fine.

They could do that. People have opinions, and they speak adamantly, and they're usually wrong, so that's alright. It's true.

I'll be in the... I don't know if I'm in the majority here, but I'll be in the correct line of thinking on this one. This is the Zach Gelb show on CBS. Have you watched Messi, by the way? I will say, even though I'm not a soccer guy, in the MLS, it seems like Messi scores a goal each and every night, or like seven goals each and every night in the MLS.

I'm gonna be honest with you, Zach. I'm a big soccer guy, but you know, the MLS is so far below in level of talent in the world. It's like LeBron going to the G League. No, the MLS is worse than the G League, right? G League is actually somewhat closer in talent to the NBA. Right, it's still not the NBA, but the gap's not that big. The gap between the Premier League or La Liga and the MLS is huge. So, I will watch the highlights, but I'm not turning it into an inter-Miami game right now.

Now, I don't want to sound like a fraud here, so I'm gonna be fully transparent. I have not watched, really, any of the games. I've just seen the highlights on social media, but that Apple TV broadcast where Messi had the, I think it was the free kick, if my terminology is right.

That is correct. And he had the game winner, and you had LeBron, and I think Kim Kardashian was there in the stands. That was pretty cool, and it looked like it was a pack house, and I've seen that their followers have just gone up through the roof on Instagram and all that stuff. So, I'm assuming that fans are still going and packing that stadium because it's just Messi, and you want to see a glimpse of the great Messi, but you are probably right. If you are a true hardcore soccer fan, you'll pay attention to it, but I don't think you're going out of your way to watch the MLS. Yeah, I'm not doing that, but I'll tell you this. If somebody said to me, you know, Messi's coming to play NYCFC or the Red Bulls, and hey, you'll take a ticket.

Yeah, I'll check it out for Messi, but I'm not gonna watch any other random game, and yeah, just not doing that. The last time I fell in love with a soccer player was Freddie Adue. Just because I was a kid, he was a kid, right? And they were like, oh, you have this 14-year-old star. He's gonna be the next Pele.

And then he ended up just being like a Jamarcus Russell type of boss, so it was just brutal. And who was the, um, oh, who's the soccer, Carly Lloyd? I know she made some comments this week.

I actually got honored once at a Philadelphia Sports Writers Association banquet with Carly Lloyd, and I did like Carly Lloyd. Very nice lady, even though she caught herself, what, in hot water for basically saying that the best player for the United States women's team was the crossbar, right? That was the comment? That was the comment, and she didn't like that they were celebrating after the game, after the draw. Why are people freaking out about that?

Yeah, you know why? Because people have to have a reason to be mad. I mean, she wasn't wrong about that part. I didn't agree with her on the players. They want to hug or be happy because they advance. I know it wasn't the most oppressive performance in group play for the U.S. women. I wasn't mad at that part.

Her point about the crossbar, she's absolutely right about that. They were lucky and were saved about that, and the team knows that. They didn't play well. They haven't played well in the group state.

They have not. I mean, it's just facts. You know what I've realized? If you are a former athlete, you could say something that is right, but the moment you say it about, I guess in this case, you know, her former team is the country, right, United States. But when I was in Philadelphia, Donovan McNabb criticized Carson Wentz. And at the time, people liked Carson Wentz, but he ended up being right. But because it was Donovan McNabb, a former eagle, right, a guy that is a borderline hall of famer, won a lot of games in Philadelphia. But since he said it about Carson Wentz, it was like, oh, big deal.

And Donovan McNabb is a hater, and he ended up being right. And I think that's similar here with Karlie Lloyd, where she's probably not in the wrong in the main meat and potatoes of the analysis, but it's a former player saying it about a team and a country that she used to represent. And that's what usually gets people going. It's one of those things of, you know, we could say it, but the moment one of the former athletes say it, oh, we're going to be up in arms and freaking out. And I don't agree with that. I mean, I'm not saying I don't disagree with you. I don't agree with the sense that the former athlete can't say it. Look, we can have nuance to this and understand that she's now on the other side with the media and she is paid to voice her opinion. And she did that.

I don't think it was that scathing of a critique in terms of them not playing well. The celebration stuff, I personally don't really care, but I understand for her as a player that's won multiple World Cups, why that might have rubbed her the wrong way. She's like, look, this is a draw. You've been playing below your standard and there's nothing to be happy about. I understand where she's, it's not that crazy.

That's all I'm saying. And I understand why ties are beneficial here and all that stuff, but that's when I really lost it with soccer, when it was the United States against England. And remember when the ball went through Rob Greenlegs and we ended up tying and everyone's going, oh, we tied, we tied. I go, I just watched that entire game.

And I see a tie and I'm supposed to act as if my team just won the Super Bowl. That's why I freak out. You know what's funny, Zach?

You know what's funny about that? After that match, I did an appearance on BBC over there, right? And I was I was talking about it and they were asking me, like, what the reaction was over here.

And I'm like, it's huge. But in England, that was like a loss for them. Yeah, it was a loss for them to draw with the Americans, the Americans to draw with them.

It was like a win. So I got it. But I get why you couldn't get into it either. I get that. Discover credit cards automatically double all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year, which means, wait, wait, wait, hold up.

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See terms and learn more at discover dot com slash match. You're listening to the Zach Gelb show. We have breaking news on the Zach Gelb show on CBS Sports Radio. I have two different pieces of news here. Hickey, do you want what's behind Door A or Door B first? Let's go Door B. Let's change it up.

OK. Door B is from college football and college insider for ESPN, Pete Thamel. Arizona is in deep discussions with the Big 12 about joining the league. Some finality is expected in the near future as there is an Arizona Board of Regents meeting scheduled for later tonight.

So that is behind Door B, behind Door A from the Swame show breaking have to report the news that I'm hearing, even if it's not good news. And the Utes have an invite from your mark. That's the commissioner of the Big 12 and will commit to the Big 12.

So can I ask just one question here? So this is one report that Utah is going to the Big 12. And then you have another report that Arizona is in deep discussions with the Big 12 to join the league. Do we have anything on Arizona State? Because we started off the show talking about how it seems like it's a package deal here for Utah, Arizona and Arizona State to eventually make the switch, which will really just fold the Pac-12 and have them jump ship and go to the Big 12.

We should get an answer, maybe not in minutes, but close to it. Arizona and Arizona State combined as one having a joint Board of Regents meeting starting at the top of the hour. So I'm going to assume even though we've not heard the name Arizona State yet, I would say maybe by the end of the show, definitely by the time this day ends, their name will be floated out and we will see a report similar to what we just saw from Utah and Arizona. They have an invite and they will accept a Big 12 invitation. And also for people that have not been paying attention today, there is a lot of momentum for Washington and Oregon joining the Big 10 that they're just trying to figure out the finances.

I read from Brett McMurphy and it looks like that's going to eventually happen as well. And now Hickey right with it looking like we're at the five yard line and it's like third and goal and they're about to go get a touchdown for Utah, Arizona and Arizona State going to the Big 12. This would make you think even more that, as you know, the Big 10 is going to say yes, I would think that Washington and also Oregon are going to be on their way to a new conference, too. Especially now if they're looking around kind of 16s total.

Yeah, they have no other option. You know what Brett Yourmark is hoping for? He's hoping that Brett Yourmark, that Washington and Oregon just aren't wanted by the Big 10. Because if that's the case, wouldn't you just swoop in and have them go join the Big 12 as well if you already got, let's just say by the end of today, Arizona, Arizona State and Utah. So he could be a big fan of Washington and Oregon and you pretty much just have the Pac-12 on steroids turning into the Big 12, but let's not be crazy here. If you've been following this, it just seems inevitable by at some point you'll have Washington and Oregon going to the Big 10 and then Utah, Arizona and Arizona State going to the Big 12. I know we just touched on that briefly. We'll have more on the other side. We'll get into all the Florida State stuff and it looks like it's going to be good news if you're a fan of Utah, Arizona and Arizona State with the change of conference coming and Washington and Oregon, we feel like, is going to be going to the Big 10.