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0:30

Hi, hello! Good Friday morning

0:32

everyone. Welcome to the first take. Christine Williamson

0:34

here for Molly. We got Harry Douglas, Monica

0:37

McNutt, and Kendrick Perkins all here. Starting off

0:39

the morning with a bang. H.J., I did

0:41

want you to say the quote that you

0:43

were going to start the show with. Yeah, with

0:45

the cast of characters that we have on first

0:47

take today, it's Love Friday in my opinion.

0:49

And when you custom made, baby, you

0:52

don't have to fit in. Come on, H.J.! Come on! I

0:57

love it. Good to see you, Monica. Obviously,

0:59

let's start things off in the association. Last

1:01

night, my cousin Zion Williamson and C.J. McCollum

1:04

each scored 31 points as New Orleans

1:07

beat Sacramento 135 to 123, completing

1:09

a five-game season sweep of the

1:11

Kings. The Pelicans improved to 27

1:14

and 14 on the road, which is a

1:16

franchise record for wins. And it's tied for,

1:18

with the best mark in the NBA, with

1:20

the Celtics. Now, following their loss to

1:23

the Pelicans, the Kings are now locked into

1:25

a playing game and find themselves in a

1:27

three-way tie with the Lakers and Warriors, with

1:29

two games remaining in the regular season. Sacramento

1:32

holds the tiebreaker amongst those three teams. All

1:34

right, Monica, I'm going to start with you.

1:37

Which team needs the eighth seed? Is it the

1:39

Kings, the Warriors, or the Lakers? I

1:42

think it's the Warriors, y'all. I mean, the

1:44

Warriors, to me, you

1:46

even heard it in the sound we just ran. Steve Carson,

1:48

we need a little help. I think for them to

1:50

be in a position to only have to play one

1:53

game in the play-in is most beneficial. I

1:55

love the way that they've been able to bring their rookies

1:57

along. Trace Jackson Davis, Brandon Przyński, the...

2:00

on set of Jonathan Kominga this year, but we've seen

2:02

a level of exacerbation from Steph Curry that I'm not

2:04

sure we've seen in the past. Right. And so I

2:06

think every little bit that they can get to make

2:08

a little bit noise, a little bit of noise benefits

2:10

them. So of those three teams, I think the Warriors

2:12

needed the most. Yeah. I'm going to go with the

2:15

Golden State Warriors as well. And Monica, I love that

2:17

you pointed out those young guys for this team, especially

2:19

those Rooks being able to do what they they've been

2:21

able to do for this team, but you know, Steph

2:23

Curry is going to be Steph Curry. But

2:25

I think also with Clay Thompson not being at

2:28

the heights of his game that we saw are

2:30

accustomed to seeing from him. I think the Warriors

2:32

being able to play one game, right,

2:34

to get into the playoffs is easy than having to

2:36

play two. I'm

2:40

going to go with the Sacramento Kings. And

2:42

this is why I don't, I don't necessarily

2:44

have to have, we don't have to have

2:47

the Golden State Warriors in the eighth spot

2:49

because look, when you talk about

2:51

one offs, right, the teams that are going

2:53

to be in the ninth and 10 spot,

2:55

I trust Golden State and Steph Curry to

2:58

be able to handle their business with one

3:00

game. I don't trust the Sacramento Kings. So

3:02

with that being said, without Malik Monk, they

3:04

need two bites at the apples. So if

3:06

they happen to happen to lose the first,

3:09

you know, play in game against the seven

3:11

seed, if they get the eight seed, then

3:13

all of a sudden they get another opportunity

3:15

at home to face the winner out of

3:18

the ninth and 10 spot. They need as

3:20

many opportunities as possible. They've been

3:22

playing some horrible basketball since the

3:24

all-star break. So bonus, yes, he's

3:27

been getting his individual numbers, but

3:29

we really haven't seen that the

3:32

arrow Fox, we was expecting to see to

3:34

take that leap and to be in the

3:36

conversation with the likes of Luca, uh,

3:38

the likes of SGA Anthony Edwards. And so

3:41

when I look at them missing Malik, Mark,

3:43

who's a huge piece arguably could have won

3:45

six men of the year, he still might

3:47

win it. I think they need the H

3:50

five more than any other team that we're

3:52

talking about right now. The,

3:54

I think the difference though, is that you

3:57

trust the warriors to win out of that

3:59

nine, 10. I just think if the 910 holds

4:02

and it's the Lakers Warriors, I don't

4:04

trust that perk. No,

4:07

but what I'm saying is Monica, look, at

4:09

the end of the day, the West is

4:11

so stacked, right? We can't really, like, all

4:14

these teams are good. They're just in a

4:16

great conference. But

4:18

when I'm looking at the Sacramento Kings, well,

4:20

my point is they need two bites at

4:22

the apple. Having that eighth spot,

4:25

having that eighth seed guarantees you two

4:27

bites at the apple, right? Now, they

4:29

could win the 7-8 matchup right in

4:31

the play and turn. But if they

4:33

lose it, then they got another shot

4:35

and they got it at the crew. OK,

4:38

Perk, you mentioned the fact that you trust

4:40

the Warriors if they end up at a 9 or 10

4:42

situation. Do you

4:44

trust the Lakers? How do you feel about the Lakers? Nobody

4:46

cares if they make it into the playoffs this season? Hello,

4:51

Christine. I trusted the Warriors out of

4:53

those three teams, right? When I was,

4:55

you know, just going back at Monica

4:57

and Harris. Now, when it comes

4:59

to who do I trust more out of the Lakers

5:01

than the Warriors, I'm going with King

5:03

James and AD. I mean, listen,

5:06

when it comes to the size,

5:08

the athleticism, at

5:10

the wing position and, you know,

5:12

around the perimeter, the Lakers have

5:15

that, especially since they put Rudy

5:17

Hachimari in the starting lineup. I

5:19

love what he's been bringing to

5:21

the table. Anthony Davis is a

5:23

one-man show when he's healthy. He's

5:25

been reliable this whole postseason. And

5:27

arguably, one of the best two-way

5:29

players when it comes down to

5:31

the big position of how he's

5:33

embraced that center role. So me

5:36

watching LeBron and know what he's

5:38

capable of doing, especially in the

5:40

one-game series, to either get to

5:42

the playoffs, I trust the Lakers

5:44

more. Anthony Davis has been amazing,

5:46

especially since the All-Star break. DeAngelo

5:48

Russell has been balling. The defense

5:50

have turned it up a notch.

5:52

So when I think about the

5:54

Lakers, I'm like, man, they have

5:56

to decide something that the Warriors

5:58

are lacking. and something that you need

6:01

in the Western Conference in order to make

6:03

it, in order to make any type of

6:05

noise. So, Perk, I get what you're doing.

6:07

Perk is answering the questions in isolation, which

6:09

I understand, right? Because am I hearing you

6:11

right that no matter who ends up in

6:13

the ninth, nine, 10, if the Lakers are

6:16

in it, of the three teams that we

6:18

just mentioned, you still taking the Lakers? Yeah,

6:21

of all the teams that are in the play-in,

6:24

I'm going with the Lakers, yeah, absolutely. I get

6:26

what you're saying, but my, because of what your

6:28

second statement was, to me, it's imperative that the

6:30

Warriors get out of that match-up if they can,

6:32

but I got where you coming from. To me,

6:34

I'm different. Okay. I'm going with the

6:36

Golden State Warriors, right? In the same reason that you talked about King.

6:39

In nine, 10? Yes, I'm going with

6:41

the nine, 10. I'm going with the Lakers, excuse me,

6:43

I'm going with the Warriors for the AC. AC,

6:45

yeah, okay, got it, okay. Right, because a

6:48

guy named Steph Curry, and

6:50

the ability to wait, the way he shoots the

6:52

basketball, I just love that, but also, I like

6:54

the way the rookies are coming along and with

6:56

the murders of Jonathan Chukaminga, what he's been able

6:58

to do, trace Jackson Davis, the son of Dale

7:00

Davis, I think a lot of people even know

7:02

that too. I think he's been playing good basketball

7:04

for this team. I think the

7:07

shuffling of the line-ups can see the Golden State,

7:09

I think a lot more guys have been able to

7:11

show Steve Curry they can count on him. And

7:13

I just, moving forward, I just like the Golden

7:15

State Warriors. I do. Okay, Monica, I'm going

7:18

to ask you this question. What do you think should be

7:20

feared the most, the Warriors or the Lakers? I

7:23

feel like Perk kind of answered this in

7:25

a roundabout. Yeah, listen, for me, and look,

7:28

I am not taken away from the Warriors

7:30

ability to rebound this year, right? And I

7:32

think rebounding as the only indicator of size

7:34

is just very surface level, right? But the

7:36

Lakers ability to defend and their size at

7:39

multiple positions, and as Perk just pointed out,

7:42

if, and Anthony Davis has had a solid season, he's

7:44

been available, we should give him credit for that. If

7:46

Anthony Davis continues to play high level basketball,

7:49

their size at multiple positions, LeBron James, Anthony Davis,

7:51

the emergence of Rui Hachimura, DeAngelo Russell playing

7:53

solid basketball, to me, it's the Lakers team,

7:55

other teammates you got to work out for.

7:58

Now, granted, we're talking about nine, 10. and

8:00

potentially run into the Nuggets, like it stopped there

8:02

for a lot of rain. But I think the

8:04

Lakers are the most dangerous. Now we do gotta

8:06

give Anthony Davis credit because he's played majority of

8:08

this season. He's out right now. I

8:11

would recommend some rec specs for those of you who

8:13

don't know what rec specs are. I'll

8:16

go back and look at him more in strength.

8:20

And when he played for the Bulls, he had on the rec specs,

8:22

you know what I mean? But my thing

8:24

is for all it takes for AD is one

8:26

swipe, right? And he could

8:28

be out. I don't think that's favorable for the

8:30

Lakers. What they did last season, making a Western

8:32

Conference Finals, it was all about match ups, right?

8:34

They had the favorable match ups. They went against

8:37

Memphis where they didn't have Adams, right, didn't have

8:39

size. They went against the Golden State Warriors at

8:41

that time, didn't have size. And then they ran

8:43

into size with Nicole Jokic and they got swept

8:45

in the Western Conference Finals. So I

8:48

don't think we're gonna be able to see that

8:50

again from the Los Angeles Lakers because match ups,

8:52

in my opinion, was everything on their run last

8:54

year to the Western Conference Finals. Resweet. I

8:57

agree. And who

8:59

was the reason that they got to the

9:01

Western Conference Finals, Harry? Do

9:06

you know? Shut up, Perk. What

9:09

was the reason, what

9:11

was the reason why they got to the

9:13

Western Conference Finals? Do we remember last year?

9:16

Okay, do we remember that LeBron James

9:19

was out for majority of

9:21

the games after the All-Star break, that

9:23

Anthony Davis was arguably the best player

9:25

in the league the way he was

9:28

dominating. And then he come back this

9:30

season, not only has he been available,

9:32

but he's been flying under the radar

9:34

for the number of season

9:37

putting up on both ends of the floor.

9:39

And when I look at LeBron, LeBron, look,

9:42

for the time or whatever you wanna

9:44

call it, the man's been standing on

9:46

business, all right? He's been playing at

9:49

an extremely high level. Look, the

9:51

deciding factors when it comes down

9:54

to the Lakers is, what are you gonna get out

9:57

of D'Angelo Russell? Because we saw him take

9:59

a step back. back last year in

10:01

the postseason. And this Austin Reeves going

10:03

to be Austin Hemme Reeves when they

10:05

need him to be the most. That's

10:08

the thing. And also, Darvin Ham. Darvin

10:10

Ham walking up and down that sideline.

10:13

He's had some, we have some questions

10:15

about him, his rotations this

10:17

season. Some of the things,

10:19

his game calling, things

10:21

of that nature. He has to elevate

10:24

his game as well, because a

10:26

lot of times we don't, we forget to

10:28

look at the matchup of the

10:30

coaches, right? That matters a lot in

10:33

today's game. And so Darvin Ham, I'm

10:35

watching him. He has to elevate his

10:37

game as well. Y'all

10:39

remember when A.D. used to wear glasses

10:41

in middle school? No.

10:43

No. I don't

10:46

remember. I don't remember. Perk knows. It looked great. Okay,

10:48

just go to the west. No, I wasn't trying to

10:50

be funny. No, no, he's got those odd issues. You

10:52

got to throw them to Rex's next. That's our big-time

10:54

branding opportunity, okay? Listen, Horace Grant did his thing. And

10:56

there's elevated Rex specs now. Yeah, they look better

10:58

than they used to. But he used to do it

11:00

in middle school. That's what I'm saying. Hey,

11:03

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12:25

Alright, let's go to the east. The Knicks fans

12:27

are very happy. Last night, Dalen Brunson, 4'39", and

12:29

three quarters is New York. Beat the Boston Celtics

12:32

118-109 and catch up their quest

12:35

to finish with a number two seed in

12:37

the Eastern Conference. The Knicks pulled within a

12:39

game of the books for second, with each

12:41

team having two games remaining. Dalen Brown gave

12:43

his thoughts on what went wrong for the

12:45

Celtics. Take a listen. What

12:48

I would say is that we just got out of

12:50

touch the last two games. We haven't

12:52

played to our standard. I turned to

12:54

physicality. The game has shifted a little bit and

12:56

it's going to shift even more in the playoffs. Alright,

13:01

Perk, I'm going to start with you on this one. Do you

13:03

have any concern about the Celtics toughness?

13:08

Hell yeah, I do. Hell yeah,

13:10

I do. And look, Joe Missoula, he can

13:12

go into post-game interviews and he could try

13:14

to downplay it as much as he want,

13:16

but the concern level is high. Okay. The

13:20

word is out about the Boston Celtics.

13:22

You get into them, you make them

13:24

uncomfortable, you close out, you pound the

13:26

offensive glass, you're going to have a

13:28

shot at beating them. And look, again,

13:31

the Celtics season start April the 20th.

13:33

No one is watching the Celtics right

13:35

now, although they have the best record

13:37

in the league. They have 60 plus wins,

13:40

but we want to see what they do when

13:42

it matters the most. And I'm going to go

13:44

down and I'm going to point at one particular

13:46

individual when it comes to the Celtics. Christoph

13:49

Przyzynas. And Yes, I

13:51

Understand he's been phenomenal this season. He's

13:53

number one in the league in post-ups.

13:55

I Get that. He's done an excellent

13:58

job of protecting the basket. Day

14:00

but can he all the Water Bowl

14:02

Season Two four seven game series a

14:05

health facility playing under the banner those

14:07

are the question was these gonna have

14:09

is matters whether that's a good job

14:12

will the be if John is comes

14:14

back like a day when you move

14:16

on to the west the com as

14:19

know we we predict and it may

14:21

be joke is gonna say like can

14:23

presupposing is be healthy and four seven

14:25

game series but right now the word

14:28

is out about the Celtics. That

14:30

all you have to do with getting so

14:32

all you have to do was make the

14:34

game coast old and I'm run away with

14:37

the gave because we know how horrible day

14:39

been in late game moments. Especially Jason say

14:41

don't one of the worst in fourth close

14:44

enough games. one of the worst of was

14:46

game time or game winning field goals so

14:48

at the end of a date they have

14:50

a lot of question was understand they've been

14:53

run into the east and com they had

14:55

the best record in the east village be

14:57

ruled the east is no is no comparison

14:59

to with the with the caucuses. Suffered.

15:03

I think you're right the been concerned.

15:05

My level of concern is not as

15:07

high when it comes to the Celtics

15:09

are ads. Been in the arena last

15:11

night. The. Sentiment wise.

15:14

Same. Class. They've been comfortable for a while.

15:16

They were due for this sort of performance.

15:18

and the New York Knicks? that's three. The

15:20

three wins plan. Really good basketball. When first

15:22

Milwaukee Chicago they were sort of and rhythm

15:24

and that's something that they're focused on here

15:27

and up for the playoff. I agree with

15:29

you and sounds of the for think it's

15:31

assessment but I think this year same the

15:33

additional Drew Holiday who just signed a four

15:35

year ideal and is gonna be and boss

15:37

and for the foreseeable future give. Them a

15:39

level of sadness and finally bird

15:41

and when we have a conversation

15:43

about revving up and the opportunity

15:45

to start the season strong. on

15:47

April twentieth, they somehow run into

15:50

Miami. I think that's the biggest.

15:52

Opportunity for them to think revenge and want to

15:54

get back on what happened last year. And so.

15:57

I will say that last night was not a

15:59

game and. They were

16:01

intentionally. Wrestling Guys they started their started, them

16:03

started, played Botswana half quarters. I would say. I

16:05

think when I couldn't close the gap and that

16:08

third quarter then Germans would have waived the white

16:10

flag so to speak and a second unit came

16:12

in and made a push versus the next second

16:14

units. I'm. The. Best indicator of future

16:16

success is path access and so I understand.

16:18

That hesitancy, my level of concern is not

16:20

as high. Because I just think these guys

16:23

are grown and are really really like the addition

16:25

of Raw They and then Super Dared White who

16:27

was a guy that I know you called a

16:29

very sneaky addition as a trade them on years

16:31

ago has come a long for this group as

16:33

well. Mother. Says when it comes to

16:35

the Boston Celtics store with shots unless especially when

16:37

you're playing against teams that give equal out against

16:39

you know it's not many of those right now.

16:42

the and be able will you do one of

16:44

the get one shot selection has sealed his team

16:46

idiot against the different nuggets when they play them

16:48

twice. This season it happened last in the playoffs

16:51

because the best shot selection least easy poised for

16:53

your opponent or for it then also ball movement

16:55

right when the ball gets stagnated one person's has

16:57

in their goal one a was so much I

16:59

really don't like that when the when it comes

17:02

the ball since they live bottom three. Da

17:04

ba to three a been lastly late

17:06

game situations is that gonna come up

17:08

the creek? Creep creep up on them

17:10

as some point. That. Doesn't allow

17:12

them to advance in a series or they is

17:15

in a minute of they want to make an

17:17

Mp a championship because meet for me but a

17:19

Celtic is super simple. Bus is no we got

17:21

to the N B A finals or we lost

17:23

it may we got along so they've already been

17:25

there they'd big they they was up to the

17:27

first the builders they warned as they did not

17:30

witness series they been knocking on door. For

17:33

a long time is how know. But that

17:35

bad boy and a tough to bring a

17:37

title back to Boston lessen the happens. Tasty,

17:39

Was on the staffing pairs meal. Nothing. seemed

17:43

a prominent i have a zeus

17:45

wrote even about the game last

17:47

night oh they already clear skies

17:49

guys probably wouldn't fully engaged they

17:51

go tournedos you know everyone is

17:53

my youth excuses more excuses put

17:55

a celtic them a brother going

17:57

to do and that's a problem

17:59

for At the end of the

18:01

day, this is not a team that

18:03

is based on winning the Eastern Conference.

18:06

Harris just talked about this, the

18:08

Celtics, it's championship of bus. It's

18:10

no other team in the league

18:13

that is under the pressure of

18:15

the boss, like the Boston Celtics.

18:17

When it comes down to Jason

18:19

Tatum, he's under probably

18:21

the most pressure, in my opinion.

18:24

Him and Giannis are neck to neck,

18:26

but when it comes down to the

18:28

front office and the ownership of the

18:30

Celtics, they have done everything and more

18:32

to make sure every single year that

18:35

Jason Tatum have the necessary pieces around

18:37

them. We talk about when they went

18:39

and got Derrick White, what about two

18:41

years ago. We talk about when they

18:43

traded for Drew Holliday this year, traded

18:45

for Christophe Hrazinkis. Now all of a

18:47

sudden, everyone has been saying all year

18:49

long that the Celtics have the best

18:51

starting five in basketball. But that being

18:54

said, it's no, oh, you're going to

18:56

get out of, when they get to

18:58

the Eastern Conference. No, no, no, no,

19:00

no. We're talking about them completing a

19:02

mission. And then right now, if you're

19:04

asking me if they face up with

19:06

the Denver Nuggets in the finals, which

19:09

possibly could happen, most likely is going

19:11

to happen, I don't have

19:13

trust in the Celtics, all faith in the

19:15

Celtics, that they could beat the Nuggets in

19:17

the seven-game series. Because

19:20

just of their temperament? Because

19:25

they have, it's

19:27

everything Monica. People

19:29

been saying that the Celtics, look, a

19:32

lot of people, a lot of our colleagues

19:34

have been saying the Celtics have the best

19:36

starting five in basketball. But

19:38

in reality, you know who has the best starting

19:40

five in basketball? It's the Denver Nuggets. You

19:42

know who is, you know who is, you know who

19:44

is on to right now against the

19:47

Nuggets, the Boston Celtics. I mean,

19:49

when you talk about your kids and you

19:51

talk about stopping him, the best player in

19:53

the league, it's a concern level there. When

19:55

you look at the physicality that the Nuggets

19:57

play with, it's a level of concern. When

20:00

you look at Jamal Murray in the two-man

20:02

game and what they're capable of doing, it's

20:04

a level of concern. And when

20:07

it comes down to being in the

20:09

clutch, do you trust Jason Tatum and

20:11

Jalen Brown or do you trust Jamal

20:13

Murray and Yoakich as they match up

20:15

in the finals? Damn it,

20:17

I'm going with Big Feli and Murray. Okay,

20:20

that loss snapped a 13-game win streak

20:22

at home for the Boston Celtics, by

20:24

the way. The Boston

20:26

Celtics last home loss to an Eastern Conference team in the regular

20:28

season, was March 5th, 2023. Do

20:32

you know who they lost to, Monica? In

20:34

the regular season? Uh-uh, no. It

20:36

was the Knicks. I was like, I

20:38

don't know. I

20:41

don't know what you're saying. Monica,

20:43

I'm going to ask you this. Are Brunson

20:45

and the Knicks a legit threat to Boston

20:47

and the East? Yes, they are. Of

20:50

course, I think he's going to eye out for Philadelphia

20:52

if Joel and Bea is healthy. But

20:55

what Jalen Brunson has been able to do, y'all, it

20:58

has flown a little bit under the

21:00

radar since Julius Randall has gone down.

21:03

And remember, O'Janinobie is recently back, relatively

21:05

so. But Jalen Brunson kicking it up

21:07

to averaging 37 points a game when Julius Randall went

21:09

down. The way that he is

21:11

able to pace this team, get

21:14

to his spot, despite seeing

21:16

taller defenders with tremendous length, quick

21:19

feet, double teams, he is in such

21:21

control. And then,

21:23

right, while I know people might look at this

21:25

roster and say, oh, there's no other star, the

21:28

guys that he is playing with are

21:30

absolute stars in their roles, which

21:32

is essential to any team's success. Dante Di Vincenzo

21:34

is shooting a basketball at Steph Curry levels this

21:37

season. Josh Hart, no matter where this team goes,

21:39

despite being a guy who you can't always anticipate

21:41

or predict what the stat line might look like,

21:44

you know what's going to basically say energy in a guy that was all over the floor,

21:47

willing to defend, willing to rebound, and making the right pass.

21:50

The emergence of Isaiah Hardstein as someone who's now looking

21:52

at the rim that you have to play honestly in

21:54

the two-man game where Jalen Brunson has

21:56

been an addition that has helped this team grow. And, of course, OGM

21:58

has been a part of the team. and OB 18 and

22:01

three when he's on the floor, plus minus

22:03

is all over the place. And so the

22:05

guys around Jalen Brunson, while

22:07

they may not be tremendous shock

22:09

creators for themselves or others, they

22:11

are stars in their roles and

22:13

they play alongside him so well. And

22:15

so to me in an Eastern

22:18

conference where everybody's navigating something, whether it's

22:20

injuries, um, team chemistry, whatever you want

22:22

to put it on the next, when they say

22:24

find a way, they've got guys that are all pulling

22:26

in the same direction and I think it's showing. So

22:29

yes, they are a legitimate threat to the Celtics. Monica,

22:31

I think one of the things a lot of people

22:33

underestimate when it comes to the New York Knicks, Perk

22:35

you as well, um, is the

22:37

fact that you have a Jalen Brunson,

22:40

a divan, Tinsil a Josh Hart that

22:42

played together in college in

22:44

their chemistry and how close

22:46

they are with one another. I think

22:48

it's really affected this basketball team in

22:50

a massive way. But now when

22:52

you talk about a Jalen Brunson, the guy that's six

22:54

two and under playing amongst

22:56

trees, but every time them lights turn on,

22:58

he has never let you down. Yeah. I'm

23:00

talking about six March, the multiple 30 point

23:02

game, that part of point game, 60 point

23:05

games, being able to live up to the

23:07

bill, live up to the billing, being in

23:09

New York, being in the spotlight. But when

23:12

the lights shine in the biggest match ups,

23:14

Jalen Brunson is going to give you everything that

23:16

you can handle. And then we see how they

23:18

all on the defensive side of the ball. It

23:21

was inexcusable in my opinion for the, for the

23:23

Celtics last night to let them out, rebound them

23:25

and outscore them in the paint. That also lets

23:27

me know the Boston Celtics, they rely too much

23:29

on three pointers. When you have guys that can

23:32

create mismatches and you're just constantly shooting these threes,

23:34

but for the New York Knicks, you better bring

23:36

your hard hat and your lunch pill. They're going

23:38

to give you minutes of hell every time that

23:41

you out there on the basketball. Come on now.

23:44

You know what's crazy is about three

23:46

weeks ago I was on this show

23:48

and I said that Jalen Brunson is

23:50

the best point guard in the league.

23:53

And I was called everything but a

23:55

child of God for saying that. And

23:57

then all of a sudden he started

24:00

taking. his game to another level. And

24:02

all I keep hearing, whether it's on

24:04

this network or that network is that,

24:06

you know, Jason Brunson, he would never

24:09

be the, he's not, you know, the

24:11

Knicks never have the first or second

24:13

best player on the floor. And every

24:15

time he goes against another person, favorite

24:17

player, he comes out victorious in great

24:20

fashion. So when I'm looking at this

24:22

Knicks team, what do they have? They

24:24

have culture and they have an identity

24:26

on both ends of the floor. When

24:29

it comes to being a game

24:31

changer and a game manager, Jayna

24:33

Brunson is both of those. Whatever you

24:36

want, he's a closer. Now, when you

24:38

look at the inside with Mitchell Robinson

24:40

coming in off the bench, I tell

24:42

Hardstuy what he's able to do, even

24:45

when they try to trap Jayna Brunson and

24:47

he's getting to that short row, being able

24:49

to spray out the corners for

24:51

the shooters or get that little float action

24:54

in the middle of the paint. And I

24:56

can't sing enough praises about O.G. Anna, no.

24:59

He's probably the most disrespected player in

25:01

the game. Matter of fact, he's

25:03

the best role player in the

25:06

league. F3 and D, God,

25:08

what he brings to the table, you cannot

25:10

replace. It's a reason why Toronto set the

25:12

bar so high for us what they wanted

25:14

for O.G. And we're seeing it right now

25:17

with the effect that he has had on

25:19

the Knicks since he put on the Knicks

25:21

uniform. And I am with this. For me,

25:24

Jayna Brunson has been the best player

25:26

in the Eastern Conference this season. Yeah,

25:30

he's averaging 38 and a half points

25:32

in his last eight games, which is

25:34

the second most in native three trailing

25:36

only Bernard King. Hey,

25:38

I'm Molly Karam and thanks so much for listening

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items only, exclusions apply. Russell

27:30

Wilson is making a new home in Pittsburgh

27:32

after he signed a one year deal last month

27:34

with the Steelers coming off of a tough two

27:36

year stint in Denver. He spent 13 seasons in

27:38

the NFL and was the second black quarterback to

27:40

win a Super Bowl when he and the Seahawks

27:43

defeated the Broncos in Super Bowl 48. Now

27:46

he sat down with essence.com and spoke

27:48

on the evolution of black quarterbacks in

27:50

the NFL. He said, quote, I think

27:52

about those guys before me, but when

27:54

I came into the lead, there were

27:56

only a few of us. It was

27:58

Cam Newton, Robert Griffin III. Colin

28:00

Kaepernick, myself, and a couple others for

28:02

me to be able to go back to

28:04

back Super Bowls and when one of them

28:06

I think opened up a lot of doors.

28:09

Now you see guys like Patrick Mahomes who

28:11

want it, it's really just us so far

28:13

but there's more to come. I think one

28:15

of the biggest blessings of my career so

28:17

far is that I've been fortunate to be

28:19

able to open up doors for others because

28:21

of what others did for me. All

28:24

right we got Sam Ocho joining the play now.

28:26

Sam I'm gonna start with you on this one.

28:28

Do you think that Russ should be considered a

28:30

Trailblazer for Black quarterbacks in the NFL? I

28:34

absolutely do think he should be considered a

28:36

Trailblazer for a couple reasons. Number one when

28:38

I first heard this question I said okay

28:40

Russell Wilson he's definitely on the line of

28:42

Black quarterbacks who have been Trailblazers right the

28:44

first to do many things. Then

28:46

you go and look up the actual definition

28:48

of Trailblazer. It means the first person to

28:51

do something, someone who did something first and

28:53

Russell Wilson you talked about being the second

28:55

Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl but

28:57

he's the first to appear in multiple Super

28:59

Bowls. The first Black quarterback to appear in

29:02

multiple Super Bowls for him it was back

29:04

to back and all of a sudden I think

29:06

the point he's making is man look I did

29:09

that and other guys around me were having success

29:11

then a guy behind me right around the same

29:13

time that I'm coming in Patrick Mahomes he asked

29:15

success now he's the second quarterback one of only

29:18

two to appear in multiple Super Bowls. I think

29:20

Russell Wilson did pave away and continue to open

29:23

up a path for a lot of Black quarterbacks

29:25

success in the NFL. Yeah

29:27

for me I don't view Russell

29:29

Wilson as a Trailblazer though. For me that's

29:31

Doug Williams right the first Black quarterback to

29:33

win a Super Bowl. Also when

29:35

I look at a guy like Patrick Mahomes

29:37

he's the first Black quarterback to win multiple

29:39

Super Bowls and I understand Russell Wilson was

29:41

able to go to back to back but

29:44

when I view the definition of Trailblazer like

29:46

you just mentioned, Acho is the first to

29:48

do something and I understand he went to

29:51

back to back but he didn't

29:53

win back to back. When you look at

29:55

Patrick Mahomes going back to back this season winning three

29:57

of the last five Super Bowls, that

30:00

is something that's trailblazing in my opinion

30:02

because now we view patrick mohomes as

30:04

being the standard in the

30:06

national football league but when you think about

30:08

historical black quarterbacks and you have the random

30:10

Cunningham the Warren moles the Steve Mcneer the

30:13

Cam Newton's the Colin Kaepernick's what he was

30:15

able to stand up for the whole nine

30:17

I looked at those guys Michael Vick I

30:19

remember growing up in the on the south

30:22

side of the land even to this day

30:24

man you look at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and people

30:26

walking to that stadium with Michael Vick jerseys

30:28

when I played with Matt Ryan in Atlanta

30:31

people walked in the stadium with Michael Vick

30:33

jerseys on because it was a part of

30:35

the culture and it Michael Vick meant

30:37

a lot to the black community so that's

30:39

why I am on the subject is nothing

30:41

against Russell Wilson he had a phenomenal career

30:43

or has had a phenomenal career but I

30:46

think when you look at other guys in

30:48

particular when you look at Doug Williams and

30:50

Patrick Mahomes those guys stick out to me

30:52

more so when we talk about trailblazing yeah

30:56

I think about this all the names that

30:58

you mentioned I think there they are trailblazers

31:00

in their own right either got like Warren

31:03

Moon first black quarterback to be in shrine

31:05

into Canton that's trailblazing Michael Vick the first

31:07

black quarterback to be drafted first overall all

31:09

those names you're mentioning these are all trailblazers

31:11

and I think that Russell Wilson is included

31:13

in that list of names because once again

31:15

the trailblazers the person who was the first

31:17

to do something right Russell Wilson was the

31:19

first black quarterback to appear not even say

31:21

to win even to appear in multiple Super

31:24

Bowls not even back-to-back but also not only

31:26

did he appear in multiple he won one and

31:28

then went to another one and then the only

31:30

other quarterback only other black quarterback to appear in

31:32

multiple why does that even that what does that

31:34

even matter just talk about appearing in multiple Super

31:36

Bowls or winning it means that okay I can

31:38

actually I can actually have success

31:40

with your leadership right like because you

31:42

are leading the helm leading the way that's why he's in

31:44

Pittsburgh right now I believe I can have

31:46

success with you and not only do I believe it

31:49

but now I've seen it I've got a chance to

31:51

see it firsthand oh wow because you were part of

31:53

this team where this Legion of Boom, Markzow Lynch you

31:55

were part of the team a huge reason the integral

31:58

reason and why not only did we appear in that

32:00

game, but we won it. And then

32:02

we did it again. Forget back to back. We

32:04

did it again. No other black quarterback had done

32:06

that to that time. So he did that. Then

32:08

fast forward. Now Patrick Mahomes has not only appeared

32:11

in multiple, but he also has won multiples. He's

32:13

a, he's a trailblazer as well. But I think,

32:15

because when I think about it, this, I think

32:17

about Harry, like there's, there's like this lineage, right?

32:19

There's a long lineage of black

32:21

quarterbacks who have had success, even at the college

32:23

level, maybe guys who didn't get their opportunity, right?

32:25

Because of, oh, you got it. You're not certain

32:28

people wouldn't speak. NFL was like, you're not going to go play

32:30

quarterback. We think you should go play a different position,

32:32

right? Whether it was owners or whoever it

32:35

was. And all of a sudden you start

32:37

seeing guys, like you talked about the Warren

32:39

moons, the Steven McNair's, the Michael Vicks guys

32:41

have success. And then you start seeing guys

32:44

appear and win Super Bowls. All of a

32:46

sudden, I think that opens up multiple doors

32:48

and multiple avenues for NFL ownership, for, for,

32:50

for team GMs, for people who might've been

32:53

like, man, can a black quarterback have success?

32:55

I think all those names that we've mentioned,

32:57

even Kaepernick, right? He appeared in a Super

32:59

Bowl. All those things that we mentioned are

33:02

saying, oh, wow, a black quarterback can have

33:04

success in the NFL and he can do

33:06

it multiple times. And Russell Wilson to the

33:08

term of trailblazing did it was the

33:10

first to do something. And that's something was to appear

33:12

in multiple Super Bowls, not only just to win one.

33:14

Good point. I also want to give a shout out

33:16

to my guy, Warren Moore, right? We, I went, I

33:19

went to the Kentucky Derby last year and we happened

33:21

to, you know, be able to talk for a while,

33:23

see them a couple other times. He's come on my

33:25

radio show, Freddie and Harry. That's 3 p.m. 7 p.m.

33:28

Eastern time. So that's the one that, man, I grew

33:30

up watching. I have a lot of cards in

33:32

my, in vaults right now with Warren Moon and a lot

33:34

of historical people. So I wanted to give Warren Moon a

33:36

shout out, man. He meant a lot to the game. Love

33:39

that. Yes. Ultimately, it's great to see black quarterbacks

33:41

thrive in the NFL. Okay. Let's talk a little

33:43

bit about the Steelers. Ocho, how do you feel

33:45

about Russ in the Steelers? Are they a legit

33:47

threat in the FC this season? Absolutely.

33:51

I think, I think even before. So let's

33:53

think about Pittsburgh last year, right? With Kenny

33:55

Pickett and Mason Rudolph and trying to figure

33:57

it out at quarterback, they still got a

34:00

chance to with my common and that

34:02

defense be a formidable team. Like that's

34:04

who Pittsburgh is with question marks. At

34:06

least who they have been since Ben

34:09

Raffensperger left with question marks, a quarterback,

34:11

all of a sudden, let's say you get a

34:13

Russell Wilson who has been like the first one,

34:16

the first nine years of his career, right? Outside

34:18

of Denver. Let's say you get even the Russell

34:20

Wilson that you saw at a good chunk of

34:22

last season, right? The success you saw in that,

34:24

let's say you get a taste of that, a

34:26

piece of that, and Iota of that, all of

34:28

a sudden you have that Russell Wilson with

34:30

that defense, with that coach. I think there's definitely

34:32

a threat in the AFC. Pittsburgh has been a

34:35

threat before Russell Wilson was their quarterback. And if

34:37

you get a Russell Wilson who I think has

34:40

the potential of being what he was before and

34:42

what he was, I mean, you don't have to

34:44

be like I said, you don't have to be

34:46

an MVP caliber per se, but lean on that

34:49

defense. Be a smart decision maker. Lead your team.

34:51

Help guys like George Pickens get them back into

34:53

the fold. And if you have that, all of

34:55

a sudden you have a team that because of

34:57

their defense already was a threat. Now they're even

35:00

more of a threat because of their quarterback playing.

35:02

I think that's the reason why Mike Tomlin said,

35:04

hey, let's go get Russell Wilson sitting down with

35:06

him, knowing that he's been in multiple Super Bowls.

35:08

He's won one before. He knows what it takes.

35:11

Yes, let's get this guy on our team to

35:13

make us not only a threat to win, but

35:15

even a better chance to win. Yeah,

35:17

the stills of football team that went 10 and seven

35:19

last year and their quarterbacks through 13 touchdowns

35:22

to nine interceptions. I don't

35:24

even know how that's possible, but their defense

35:26

is one of the main reasons why they were

35:28

able to do so. Now I think they made

35:30

a trade and train Deontay Johnson and they got

35:32

Dontay Jackson back. I thought that was a big

35:35

move for Pittsburgh because that was an integral need

35:37

in my opinion when it came to their defense,

35:39

having someone opposite of Joey Porter who had a

35:41

solid rookie season last year. But when

35:43

you have a TJ Watt that's healthy, you

35:46

definitely have a chance. You're always gonna have a

35:48

chance, but I think for Russell Wilson, Justin

35:51

Fields, whoever the quarterback is moving forward for

35:53

this team, I think it's imperative that they

35:55

take care of the football, right?

35:57

It's imperative that they don't take unnecessary play.

36:00

have the negative plays amongst your offense that

36:02

we've seen both Justin Fields and

36:04

Russell Wilson have throughout the

36:06

last few years. That's one of the main reasons

36:08

why I think Mike Tomlin brought him in is

36:11

because hey we've seen these guys be able to

36:13

do this somewhere else but we haven't got our

36:15

hands on them now and I think Arthur Smith

36:17

who I'm very very high on, I

36:19

played for art when I was in Tennessee and

36:21

I think he's just a mastermind when it comes

36:23

to offensive things, I think

36:25

Arthur Smith is going to be able to unlock

36:28

this offense too. I think they're going to be

36:30

more predicated on the run game in which late

36:32

in the season last year we've seen Pittsburgh mean

36:34

a lot more on. I think that's going to

36:36

be the precipice of their offense. They will draft

36:38

another receiver, one thing that they've never struggled doing

36:40

is finding receivers in the draft whether it be

36:42

early in the draft or late in the draft

36:44

they've always had those. George Pickens I'm expecting him

36:46

to have a phenomenal season way

36:49

better year than he's had in any year

36:51

he's been in the NFL moving forward but

36:53

the tight ends, Friar Moore and also you

36:55

know the big boy that they got from

36:57

Georgia, those guys are going to have to play integral

37:00

roles because I know Arthur Smith loves his tight ends.

37:02

They're going to add more pieces on the offensive line

37:04

but a team under Mike Tumlin that's never had a

37:06

losing season with 10-7 with incompetent play at the quarterback

37:08

position last year, I don't see them

37:11

not being better and being a threat in the AFC.

37:14

Answer your point even being one of the

37:16

most complete more complete teams when it comes

37:18

to offense defense special teams in the NFL

37:20

right now so you think about this like

37:22

even think about killer brew on special teams

37:24

one of the best special teams players in

37:26

the NFL then go to defense we already

37:28

talked about TJ Watt haven't mentioned guys like

37:30

Mika Fitzpatrick some of the additions they've gotten

37:32

in free agency as well and all of

37:34

a sudden you plug in that quarterback and

37:36

then you already have the head coach it

37:38

definitely makes Pittsburgh an absolute threat in the

37:40

AFC because of all of the pieces they

37:42

have when it comes to being a complete

37:44

team offense defense special teams.

37:47

Yeah TBD to see if Russell ends

37:49

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choice pockets. Thanks so much for listening

39:07

to the First Take Podcast. Have a

39:09

fabulous day. Tom

39:12

Brady hinting at the possibility of returning to

39:14

the NFL after his second retirement announcement in

39:16

2023. Harry, how do you feel about that?

39:18

Yeah, Tom Brady enjoy retirement. You gave 23 years

39:20

to this game and there

39:22

were 23 amazing years. You

39:25

had an extreme amount of ups, you had

39:27

a tiny bit of downs, you

39:29

are the goat right now. Enjoy retirement, man. Enjoy

39:31

your kids, enjoy your family, travel the world. There's

39:33

no need to come back. You don't have anything

39:36

else to prove to you anymore. He's also letting

39:38

the grave kind of come out on the side

39:40

there. I feel like he used to dye his

39:42

hair. It's a little, a little gravy. That's what

39:45

they use. All right. Buffalo

39:48

made some huge off season caps

39:50

saving moves last month, including releasing

39:52

Tredavius White, Jordan Poyer and Mitch

39:55

Moore. Three players who are cornerstones

39:57

of the bills starting lineup, bringing up roughly four.

40:00

$26 million in cap space. Of course, last season

40:02

in Buffalo, it ended with a heartbreaking

40:04

loss in the divisional round to the

40:06

Super Bowl winning Chiefs. Now, several notable

40:09

quarterbacks remain in search of their first

40:11

Super Bowl championship this upcoming season, including

40:13

the reigning MVP, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow,

40:15

who will be returning to an injury,

40:17

back Prescott in the final year of

40:19

his current Dallas contract, and Josh Allen

40:21

coming off of his fourth consecutive 40,000

40:24

yard passing season. Tom Brady had some

40:26

thoughts on the Bills quarterback. Next

40:30

quarterback to win a Super Bowl that hasn't

40:32

won yet. I

40:38

like Josh Allen a lot. I think he's,

40:41

I picked Josh. Josh? Yeah. I like Josh

40:43

a lot as a guy, as a leader,

40:46

but you know, he's got to get past the Chiefs, and that's hard

40:49

because Patrick's incredible and the way he leads that team. All

40:53

right, Sam Ocho also here with us. Sam, I'm

40:55

gonna start with you on this one. Do you

40:57

agree with Tom Brady? I

41:00

do, I do. I rock with

41:02

Tom Brady on this one as far as

41:04

the notable quarterbacks who are next in line

41:06

to win. Josh Allen statistically over the last

41:08

six years, this six years in the NFL

41:10

has been outstanding. You think about the records

41:12

that he set when it comes even in

41:14

the playoffs, statistically that's who he's been. Now

41:17

I think about, okay, what's in front of him,

41:19

what stands in his way, and number one, it

41:21

is Patrick Mahomes. Number two, you could say, man,

41:23

it seems as if like this team has lost

41:25

a lot of weapons, defensively lost a lot of

41:27

foundational pieces, even offensively, you lose Stephon Diggs. But

41:31

some of that I think can be replaced

41:33

in certain ways, especially through the draft. Think

41:35

about how deep of a wide receiver draft

41:37

class this is. That's maybe available

41:39

late in the draft. Guys like Xavier Worthy ran

41:41

a 4-2-1. Guys

41:44

like Lad McConkie from Georgia,

41:46

I mean, there are places and pieces that can

41:48

help fill in. And then also I think about

41:50

Joe Brady as offensive coordinator. He's who got their

41:52

offense going again late last season and Stephon Diggs

41:54

wasn't as huge a part of that offense late

41:56

in the season when they got on their winning

41:59

streak. And so. I do think that

42:01

Josh Allen has the potential to be that next

42:03

quarterback outside of a guy like Patrick Mahomes who's

42:05

going to be next in line and win a

42:07

Super Bowl. Now ironically, it's

42:09

not by surprise, Tom Brady in that

42:11

piece, he brought up that

42:13

you have a guy in Patrick Mahomes. And what

42:15

the last six years have told us is that

42:17

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, they're going

42:19

to be in the AFC championship game. So we

42:21

take away one slot. You have an immense amount of

42:24

number of quarterbacks that are going

42:26

to be competing for that one other spot. But

42:28

if I had to pick a guy, I'm going

42:30

to pick Joe Burrow because that's the guy that

42:32

I've seen, Tom Brady being one guy that has

42:35

beaten Patrick Mahomes, the other guy being Joe Burrow.

42:38

And I just think Joe Burrow coming back this

42:40

year is going to be phenomenal. T Higgins is

42:42

on the contract, well, franchise tag, he still has

42:44

to sign that or whatnot. But I

42:46

just believe in Joe Burrow. I believe in Jamar

42:49

Chase. I like their underrated signing with Tynan Wise

42:51

and Mike Kasecki. I think that defense is going

42:53

to be better this season than they were last year,

42:55

another year of growth that they had in 2023. But

42:58

Joe Burrow is a guy actually seen it

43:00

happen, right? I've seen him beat Patrick Mahomes

43:02

in the AFC championship game before they failed

43:04

to Matthew Staff in the Rams in the

43:06

Super Bowl. I haven't seen that when it

43:09

comes to Josh Allen. When it comes to

43:11

Josh Allen, I've seen Joe Burrow go to

43:13

Buffalo and beat him. I see Josh Allen

43:15

have the best opportunity to dethrone the Patrick

43:17

Mahomes last season at home when they had

43:19

that playoff game that I actually attended. And

43:21

just hearing those Buffalo fans and how deflated

43:23

they were, understanding that that was their greatest

43:25

chance and not coming away with a victory

43:27

to play in another AFC championship

43:29

game. That was pretty sad to see for

43:31

that fan base. So I'm going to go

43:33

with Joe Burrow. Yeah,

43:36

I think two things. One, I think about you

43:39

talking about that was their greatest opportunity. I don't

43:41

know if that was a Bill's greatest opportunity. I

43:44

think Josh Allen, you talk about people in Super

43:46

Bowl windows. I feel like he is the Super

43:48

Bowl window when you have someone as talented as

43:50

him. We've seen other quarterbacks lose receivers and still

43:52

have success. I mean, we've seen that happen. Okay.

43:55

You say Patrick Mahomes, he's the guy who did it, but it's

43:58

happened before. And Josh Allen does have that caliber of. talent

44:00

number one and number two, the only reason I

44:02

would argue against Joe Burrow, Joe Burrow definitely talented

44:04

and one of the top quarterbacks as well, but

44:06

that injury history is one thing that you have

44:08

to kind of account for. Right, when you think

44:10

about, okay, who can do it? Last

44:12

year Joe Burrow missed time, rookie year Joe Burrow missed

44:14

time. When he's healthy, boom, no question, but that's the

44:16

one thing you have to figure out. I was talking

44:18

to guys who play with Joe Burrow, it's like, man,

44:21

the one thing he's got to get is got to

44:23

figure out that injury deal. And

44:25

so for me, I think that's the only deterrent of

44:27

saying, okay, will Joe Burrow be the next guy to

44:29

win? He's got to be healthy. When he's not

44:31

healthy, the Bengals don't have an opportunity. Well,

44:33

here's what I do know. Are

44:36

the four times that Josh Allen has played

44:38

either Patrick Mahomes or Joe Burrow? He's

44:40

0-1-4. He has

44:42

that goose egg in the win column. Okay,

44:44

HG, you said that the Bills greatest opportunity

44:46

to win the Super Bowl was last season.

44:48

Do you feel like the championship window for Allen

44:51

in the Super Bowl is close? Well, as long as

44:53

Josh Allen is there, it's going to be open in

44:56

my opinion. Now, it's holding on by shoestring. It's

44:58

very, very thin because of you have

45:01

the arrival of a CJ Stroud. We

45:03

don't know in this quarterback class who's going to

45:05

come out and be a, you know, a threat

45:07

for their team moving forward as well. I just

45:09

think you have Aaron Rodgers coming back. It's so

45:11

much competitive now, but I do believe when it

45:13

comes to the Buffalo Bills and their football team,

45:15

they're going to draft a receiver, y'all, and let's

45:18

not get gung-ho over the first round. I think

45:20

they're going to take a guy in the first

45:22

round, but when you have a Pooh's and the

45:24

cool who did what he did last year and

45:26

was taken in the fifth round, you have a

45:28

tank Dale that was taken in the third round and

45:30

what he meant to the Houston Texans. That AJ Brown, a

45:32

lot of people don't even remember, AJ Brown was taken by

45:34

the Tennessee Titans in the second round. You're going

45:36

to be able to find wide receivers and I think the

45:38

Bills are going to draft two of those, but also we've

45:41

seen Buffalo under Joe Brady as an

45:43

offensive coordinator. We've seen that offense have

45:45

an identity shift, right? Under

45:49

their previous offensive coordinator, they were

45:51

averaging 116 rushing yards per

45:53

game with Joe Brady, 156.

45:56

They also rushed the ball, ball 10 more times

45:58

per game under Joe Brady's So I think you're

46:00

going to see a lot more 12 personnel, one

46:03

bag, two tight ends. I think Dalton King gate

46:05

is going to be a huge part of their

46:07

offense, but also James cook, not just rushing the

46:09

football, but in the past game and whatever rookie

46:11

or rookies that they take in the draft at

46:14

the wide receiver position, they're going to act, acclimate

46:16

those guys and get them up to speed very,

46:18

very quickly. And

46:20

to your point, you talked about Joe Brady

46:22

and his importance to this team. That's when

46:24

they went on there. What is it? A

46:26

six, seven game winning streak to end the

46:28

season. They were on the fringes of maybe

46:31

making the playoffs, maybe not making the playoffs.

46:33

They make that offensive coordinator switch, right? Ken

46:35

Dorsey gets relieved of his duties. Joe Brady

46:37

comes in all of a sudden the offensive

46:39

identity changes and they start seeing success. Well,

46:41

now Joe Brady is no longer the interim

46:43

offensive coordinator. He's the full time offensive coordinator,

46:45

got the promotion. And so that kind of

46:47

success that you saw late in the season,

46:49

I think another year in that offense, understanding

46:51

Joe Brady and what he's trying to do, and

46:53

he understands his players more, that'll actually give the,

46:55

the, this team, the bills, a, a, an even

46:57

better opportunity of saying, Hey, let's dial in on

46:59

who we are, figure out who we have to

47:01

beat. I get we're O and four against Joe

47:03

burrow and Patrick Mahomes. A lot of people are

47:06

O and whatever against Patrick Mahomes. But I think

47:08

that that's going to give them even a greater

47:10

opportunity with this draft class, with Joe Brady, with

47:12

Josh Allen, talk about those rushing yards, taking some

47:14

of the pressure off of him. All of a

47:16

sudden the defense is now, I would say the

47:18

only question, but all of a sudden now they'll

47:20

have this success you're looking for offensively. Yeah.

47:23

Just a reminder that the bill is lost

47:25

to the chief three of the last four

47:27

playoffs, the 2024 NFL draft has

47:29

to Detroit and it's time to

47:31

see who gets the draft. All

47:34

of it is unique in special talent

47:36

throwing the football and the heightened

47:39

trophy winner is Jayden Daniels.

47:42

All of the greats were hired here. Who

47:47

gets the job? NFL

47:51

draft. Begin Thursday, April 25th

47:53

on ESPN, ADC at NFL

47:56

network.