Hi, this is Dewey Jenkins. When the team that manages our Morris Jenkins website told me the most often asked question is who is Mr Jenkins married too? You could have knocked me over with a feather. I went home and told my wife that I was so surprised that I didn't know what to say. She laughed and said, honey, my name is Renee. So now you know the team at Morris Jenkins and I are here for the Panthers, and we're here for you too, whenever you need us.
It's time for a Happy half Hour with your friends Kristin Balboni, Miles Simmons and Will Bryan. That's right, it's that time of the week. It's the Happy Half Hour podcast presented by Morris Jenkins and Chris and Mr Jenkins told me that the Panthers make him proud and he's honored to support the team. When you were plumbing, your air conditioning is acting up, you call Morrish Jenkins or visit Morrish Jenkins dot com. Beautiful. I was always Miles.
Great to be here with my good buddies, Miles and Will and um guys, you know it's it's different. Usually come in and react to the game that happened on Sunday. But with the Panthers playing on Thursday night and losing to the Falcons, we thought we'd switch it up a little bit for this podcast. We're at the mid season point. There are three and five halfway through the season. So well, we said, you know, let's hand out some mid season awards. A fun little activity to do, A fun little activity.
You make it sound like it's a coloring book or something. I mean, we'll see at the end of little activity that we enjoyed it. Some little diverting distraction that she came up with here, Christen. Not like mid season awards are super original, but I you know, try to go with some fun categories we need on this Wednesday morning. Look, well, I think as we get to the halfway point, what I think is interesting about this team is that it's
kind of been a team of streaks. Right. You go through the first couple of weeks of the season, you're oh, in two. Then Christian McCaffrey goes out, and he's been out for a while now. But it seems if you read What Way the Wind Is Blowing, if you will, if you read Miles articles on Panthers dot Com. It seems like he is going to be back this week against the Chiefs. So now you've gone two and three, excuse me, three and three in the games without him
to get to three and five. So there, it's interesting just where this team is, right you you lose to you win three, you lose three. Well, you know this week is gonna be tough, so we'll see what happens there. But then as you get into the second half of the season, there is uh some reason I think you can say for optimism in terms of what this team can do, but you have to be a little bit
more consistent in certain areas. And Matt Rules said that, he said, that's something that that we identified um at this halfway point, is that we want to be a more consistent team, not a team of streaks. And you know, like everything with this young team and a team that's been dealt injuries and and COVID related issues, just like a lot of other teams, that's all gonna that's all gonna. Um, that's that's what they're working towards. This consistency, experience and
more wins, no doubt. All right, but let's get to it. The happy half hour mid Season Award. I don't know if you could hear that. I was doing a little drum on the table. Was beautiful, Thank you, Thank you were a drum, no the flute in the middle school band. But that's a story for for another podcast. Um. First up in the mid Season Awards, position group, you would most like to hang out with? Will Let's start with you. Yes, I was hoping I get to go first because I
get to steal the good one the defensive line. Oh, come on, that's going to steal that. I thought there was gonna be another one that was going to come to the forefront first, so I thought I was going with a less obvious one. Okay, but we'll go ahead. Sorry, I just jumped. I just like tone your answer. Go ahead. I'm gonna let you finish. I'm gonna let you finish.
But the greatest video Brian Byrne. I mean, we've already seen those guys in our in our video series with them, they're obviously, and then you have like you know, Weatherly, who Who's Who's Who's really different and cool? The most interesting man in football? And then who doesn't want to hang out with a like f A can just I'll go hang out in London with FA for a week and that'll be its own little thing. So yeah, and you're forgetting our guy dB to Derek Brown. Oh yeah,
dere Derek Brown? Who who whose favorite animals a lion? Apparently despite playing in his wife? Alright, I think that's a great choice. Um, that's also mine. But myles, what's yours? I would say the safeties. I want to hang out with the safety. You know, Trey Boston. He's got so much energy. Who doesn't want to hang out with a guy like that? Are you putting Jeremy Chin in that category even though he plays, Yes, well, he's safety, so you know what, I'm putting them in the category. I
want to hang out with Jeremy Chin too. He's fun. He likes to watch a lot of football, so do I. There's not much in my brain, I said this is somebody the other day. There's not much going on in my head ea up for like football and song lyrics. So like Jeremy Chin. Also seems like you know you read vibe on that. Justin Burris also another guy that's pretty cool man, Like they're Sam Franklin. You know. With the more we get to know him. He's tons of energy. Yeah, exactly.
So I would like to hang out with the Safeties. I think they'd be fun or or the offensive lineman because you know what offensive lineman and I was one in my past life in high school. Uh. They know how to love to break that they know, they know how to eat, they know how to drink, they know how to be married. So I would also hang out with the Oils. I like all of those. I really thought the obvious choice would be the wide receiver group. I thought that would be it because they're just cool.
And I would put Frisman Jackson the wide receivers coach and there too. Um. I thought that would be someone's choice for sure. And I gotta tell you guys a funny story. We aired this on the pregame UM Show on Thursday night. I talked to DJ Moore last week and I said, what's that? What's that dynamic like with you and Robbie and Curtis, Because not only are they all having a very good seasons on the field, they're
just always together in practice. You always see ten eleven, twelve, Uh, and you know, walking up to practice all that kind of stuff. And um, he said, you know, it's it's like Robbie's the oldest child and he is super calm, and he makes sure that you know, the two of us are are all good. He's like, and Curtis is the middle child, and he's like, and I'm I'm the youngest. I like to annoy the both of them and that
those are his words, not mine. So I kind of thought that would be And of course, you know, Zilstra seems like a you know, a nice calming presence, a steady guy, seems like he's a fun to be around. Two. So I just think that's a good group. And then I'm putting Frisman Jackson there. I loved getting to talk to him in the off season. Um and anyone that can command that room, I'm like, all right, go for it. So I really thought that would be a group that
someone would pick. But I I went defensive line as well. Like Will said, we did the the teammate test with UM, with Brian Burns and Zacker and then you know, of course he's out for the year, but KK is the best. So umm, I'm gonna go d line too. All right, what's our next what's our next category? Christmas next up? And um, you know, we like to keep it loose and fun here on the Happy Half Hour podcast presented by Morris Jackens. But the team is three and five
right now, and they've had some some close losses. So the next category is most gutting loss, the one where you went, you know, and and Miles, I know you're
a writer. Maybe that doesn't mean the same for you as a as a fan of the team, But the one where you went, oh my gosh, they had this one or they were so close that the loss that you think will stay with the Panthers going forward Week one against honest, because it the way it flipped there in the second half and then in the fourth quarter where you had the lead and then you allowed I keep having to stop myself from saying Oakland, well, you did cover the team. You and I know that this
is a thing that's happening across the league. It's like when the Rams move for St. Louis to l a Like, people keep calling him St. Louis. People are still calling the Chargers San Diego. So it's going to take a little while. But anyway, when the Raiders of Las Vegas went down the field and then they scored and then you had that fourth and one opportunity and Alex Arma
just doesn't get that one yard that you need. Um. I think that that loss was really tough, and you know, it sets you up at Owen one and then you go down to Tampa and you you go into O and two and unfortunately that the Panthers did recover from those things. Um but yeah, I think you as good as the Raiders have been, and they are a good team right now. They look like they could be one of the seven playoff teams in the a f C. That's still a game where you come away thinking, man,
you know, we were we were pretty close there. And that's the thing about this team. You could say that in almost every game they've played, which is what makes uh it fun to watch this team and also makes it a little heartbreaking. You know they're they're right there. Um, So, Will,
what's your most gutting loss of the season. On the one hand, because we all know my feelings about Atlanta like that, you know, obviously there's some there's some recency bias there of wanting you know that that that tastes is still kind of in your mouth at this point because you haven't played another game. But I think the question is, you know what what feels worse, you know, almost beating a good team that's won the division a couple of years in a row, or losing to a
team that's really struggling. You know what we're what feels worse, you know? And so I'll go with New Orleans. You know, you you know, you might say, you know, there's too much time on the clock or what are you gonna do with but you know, all Teddy is just having this incredible game and you're going tote toe with Drew Brees. You're feeling like, here we go, we're in field goal range, We're in your what inches away because of the sack and what would have been an NFL record to tie
the game, and it's just it's that close. Um. I think when when you see it, when it feels like you can literally see the ball that close to the crossbar, um, that that just feels gutting when you're trying to win that game on the road in that place. All right, Well, Will and I are sharing a brain wave because that
was also mine. It's actually what I thought of when I picked the category, and I think it was that it was the Joey Sly field goal, being so close and being so close to to making history and just for him to be able to kick it that far, that straight under that much pressure, UM in a game against the Saints, but it just being just a little bit of something that no one's ever done in the NFL in a game um, and I mean there was a second round was like, oh, it's oh, it's happened.
This is happening, and then just as well said inches. So I'd put that one um at the top for
me as well. Here's what I would say to that, and not to you know, pooh pooh on what you guys are saying, but it sounds like you're about it because even if hits that field goal, the game's only tied and they got and the defense had to stop Drew Brees and they hadn't done it all day that is, that is, and there was plenty of time left on that clock, so in all the if all they needed was a field goal, I don't know how the Panthers would have stopped Drew Brees that day in that offense.
And Alvin Camara like they just they hadn't done it. Let us have this, sorry, let us have this. It's the way. Next one is the biggest surprise or breakout star. So either a surprise moment or a surprise player, however you want to take this. The floor is your mouth.
I'm gonna go with Mike Davis, you know. And despite what everybody said about Mike Davis in training camp, and there was a lot of praise heaped at Mike Davis in training camp, you don't know what you're really going to get from a guy like that when Christian McCaffrey
goes out until he actually starts playing. And so when you saw what he started doing against the Buccaneers um in that fourth quarter, and he's just making catches and it seemed like the Bucks were just kind of letting him do what he was going to do um on the in the flat and on the outside there. Look, it was like, all right, well, Mike Davis can at least catch the ball. We know that, and in the past he's run it well. But then you start to see what he really can do once he gets the
starters reps. And in that three game winning streak, he was a huge integral part of it. You think about the nine yards from scrimmage that he had against Atlanta. I think that's really emblematic of it. So Mike Davis, I think has been a real pleasant surprise. And when Christian McCaffrey comes back and again it seems like it might be as soon as this week, it's gonna be interesting to see how Joe Brady and that offensive staff develop a plan to keep Mike Davis involved. I I agree.
I think that's a great one. And it's it's not just that he's come in and filled in for Christian McCaffrey. It's said, I think we know so much about him in his style now and I don't think we ever saw that at his past stops. And whether that's you know, not being given a chance or um him not having the opportunity, I I don't know. But it's just we know now who Mike Davis is as a running back, who he is as a player and a teammate. And uh,
I think that's great. That's something that we we couldn't have said, even just going into week three, and so I think it's great for for Mike Davis, and certainly the Panthers are happy that they have him here. Uh, well, what about you biggest surprise or breakout start. I think Robbie Anderson has to be mentioned at some point because no one, no one knew this was coming, and there's still obviously half of the season to go, but the Panthers haven't had a top five NFL receiver in a
very long time. It's it's been years since you had a top flight receiver. And that's what Robbie is doing right now in this league is someone that is not just a deep threat, but as an every down receiver, that's a volume receiver, that's a go to guy. Um, he's he's doing that. You know, we'd like to see some more touchdowns from him kind of you know, in these last several games for sure. Um, But I don't think anyone expected that when he was signed last year.
You know. I'll give a little bit of a honorable mention to Curtis as well, because I think there's a lot of talk around the draft about potential trades and all these things, and is you know, you know, where does Curtis really landed in this offense? And I think that he's really shown that, you know, he's he has a very important and specific role, especially with Christian out um. You know, and obviously they missed him when he didn't play, and he stepped up when he has played. But I'll
still go with Robbie Anderson. Yeah, Robby Anderson was my honorable mention, if you will. I'm gonna go with with Jeremy chen because I think it's weird, even now we're eight games in to think the Panthers got them got him where they got him in the draft. It just seems just like an incredible move that all these other
teams passed over him. Um, and the Panthers were able to identify this coming out of Southern Illinois, and you know around the draft, Panthers fans really wanted Isaiah Simmons and and and Jeremy Jenny's what you were hoping Isaiah Simmons could be with that versatility. And they got Dirk Brown in the first round too, um and each our gross mantos in the second as well, which we haven't seen a lot of Dude to Andrew and whatnot, but he has had a couple of places where he's flashed absolutely. Um.
So I gotta go with with Jeremy chinn Um. You know, defensive Rookie of the Month for the month of October. We even saw the the fake punt uh um, so I just um, I think that's my my breakout star, I would say of the first half, But again, it's he's he's been so good since the beginning. It's almost weird to say that, but I think if you think before the season, they were just they were just unknowns about about how he was going to pan out, if he was going to live up to these expectations, live
up to the hype. And I think he's doing it well, especially because there was no off season program there. You know, he didn't get to be in the building until late July, and so when something like that happens, despite what you know about a guy from scouting him and all these different things, you don't necessarily know how it's going to
pan out until he's actually on the field. And you brought up the Isaiah Simmons comp Well, what Jeremy Chin is doing right now, he's playing, You know, you look at what Isaiah Simmons is doing over there in Arizon. He's really not been on the field all that much. And I don't have the numbers up right in front of me at this particular moment, but if you just look at it, from that standpoint, you can see Jeremy Chin really contributing to this defense on a down to
down basis. He's all over the field, he is everywhere. He is exactly what the Panthers wanted when they traded up to draft him. And I think you can't feel anything but encourage about his performance and just to boot just the nicest guy, just hard working, um, just humble. I mean, like you said that he's got like football and music in his brain. It feels like and that's
about it. I had a chance to talk with him and we surprised him with a visit from his mom virtually right before the Thursday night game and just hearing the two of them talk, um how excited she was for him to play in primetime. It was just really cool. And you know, he's someone that has been a surprise throughout his entire football journey to this point, barely had any offers going into T. S I U. At the point where his mom said, you know, I'll help you
pay for your education. I'll do what I can. We can take out student loans and he said, nope, I'm going to get a scholarship. So to go from that, and then um S I U and then not being the the highest touted guy coming right, yes, coming into the draft. Um, although there was buzz, it's just it's just incredible to see what he's doing so far. Alright. Next up, most memorable moment of the first half of the season, Will you want to kick us off? For? For me, it was a moment that was almost disastrous
and then glorious. And that was the last play of the Chargers game because you're going into that and it's like, we really need to win. There's no Christian McCaffrey, and here we have a chance against you know, a team that you know at the time, you know, felt like this could be a really big win. And oh, my goodness, like if you make that hook and ladder pitch, that thing is wide open. And just to watch that thing developed in real time and then oh my god, thank goodness,
you dropped it. Like just that was that was a moment. You know, there aren't that many moments where you really get the literally the game decided on the very final play, and to have that happen was was, you know, heart pounding. So I'll go with that one. That's a good one because I had that on my list too, so I'm glad.
I also put another one on my list, which was a Teddy Bridgewater touchdown run where he was able, you know, shaking bag a little bit, get a couple of guys, you know, to break their ankles as he was running into the end zone. And again it was something where we in the media it maybe made a bit of more of a narrative of it than he did, but I do think that it was representative of something, even if he won't say it, um that now he is
a starting quarterback in the NFL again. Now he is all the way back five years basically after he last was. So I thought that that was really good play and I thought it was really symbolic of what Teddy Bridgewater can do about you. Christen. I'm gonna go not a play in a game, but I'm gonna go back to week one. What's that bear doing. I just think it's I mean, there are plenty of place to choose from.
You guys had two great ones, um and I could go in a number of different directions, but I just think, I don't know, just it's it's such a fun moment. It's been something that has lasted through the entire first
half of the season. And then too, I think you know, it also adds to it because of the way Robbie has played and Will was talking about that or the way that this offense um has looked in most games where and you know, and it's it's that, it's it's Robbie showing his personality, introducing himself to Panthers fans, introducing
himself on the field to Panthers fans. And then also one thing I love about that, Um, it's just that he's with Curtis and DJ which is another thing that we talked about about this this first half of the season, the relationship that those three receivers have together, and that's who he's talking to, and you know, it's love for our guy, surper Um. So that's it's probably my most
memorable moment. It's his name, all right, last one, Um, either something to keep an eye on in the second half of the season or a player to watch in the second half of the season. Will I took this from you when we did our quarter Pole Awards where he said, look, I think we got to talk about what are we looking for going forward. So as we turn the page to the second half of the season. What's uh, what's something that everyone should keep an eye on?
Will I want to see what Teddy Bridgewater can do in the fourth quarter to be able to win in the NFL. I think he would say this. I mean, I think he did say this at the end of the Thursday night game. You have to win in the fourth quarter. You have to win probably on your last drive. You've got to be able to execute in those moments. And we need to see that happen for this team
to start getting wins. They're good enough to win the games, but they're gonna need some big plays from this offense, and they're gonna need it from Teddy especially, I mean everybody. But it gets put on the quarterback, rightly or wrongly, it gets put on the quarterback in the fourth quarter. And I think that that's what I'm looking to see how that will be coming forward. I mean, obviously it's some tough games, but some winnable games too, um, and we need they're all going to be close, and we
need to see how Teddy handles that. I think that's I think that's a good point. Well, I think that you're right and that we've got to see how this offense in particular, Bridgewater can start handling things in the fourth quarter going forward, because look, at the end of these games, there have been interceptions, and that's one place where Bridgewater just has not been able to thrive is at the end of games. So I think that he's
definitely one guy to watch in the second half. One guy I would point out would be Curtis Samuel and that's how does he continue to make himself such a valuable player in this offense. And he's done so well on third down, and that's a critical down, but I think you want to get a little bit more production out of first and second down as well. And yes, they've done that in some ways. Obviously he caught that flee flicker touchdown um in that Thursday night game that
will the first down play. But at the same time, I think he's somebody who has shown that he can be a dynamic offensive player. And a lot of these balls that are going to wide receivers have gone to d J. Moore into Robbie Anderson. Robbie Anderson is having the best season of his career, So that's that's one thing.
And then Christian McCaffrey is going to come back to and there's only one ball that can get thrown around, right, So I think Curtis Samuel is definitely going to be somebody to watch because look, how is he going to really develop as a player in this second half of the season. He's going into a contract here, right that this is a contract here, So how is all that going to turn out? I think it's gonna be interesting
to see. The thing I'll be watching in the second half of the season is the the steps um or or a lack thereof. But I think there will be steps at this defense, this very very young defense can take as they continue to develop. Can they can they get off the field when it matters? Can they improve on third down? Um? Well, it's what was the stat They've only forced one punt in the last two games? Yep, and that was the very last drive of the Atlanta games that will set of the week. But I have
another one. So the only force one point in the in the last two games, you know, And at one point I looked up I told Will this after the game on Thursday, and there were six workies playing on
on defense and that's that's out of necessity. And I think that we'll see that defense improve in the second half of the season, both because those guys are going to get more experience UM and they're going to be put in situations that they can learn from I think they already have been, but but also because other guys will be getting healthy. So Rsul Douglas has been activated off the COVID reserve list for this Kansas City game. UM, justin Burris. We expect to be back from i R shortly,
sooner rather than later. I would think UM and UH and and more of the same there. So I think that it's been a learning curve for this defense, and the rookies have been put in UM in some big situations and and are doing the best they can with a with a lack of experience, and so I think it will only get better from here. I agree with that the best is yet to come for sure. All right, let's take a quick break and we'll be back with
more Hi. This is Dewey Jenkins. When the team that manages our Morris Jenkins website told me the most to often ask question is who is Mr Jenkins married? Too? You could have knocked me over with a feather. I went home and told my wife that I was so surprised that I didn't know what to say. She laughed and said, honey, my name is Renee. So now you know the team at Morris Jenkins and I are here for the Panthers, and we're here for you too whenever you need us. All right, well, you teased it, it's
time for it. What's your stat of the week? Every time of the week. So this one is going to lead into our next little segment here. But Carolina plays the Kansas City Chiefs, the reigning Super Bowl champs this week on the road I've heard of and it marks the twentieth time in what will be the twenty sixth season that Carolina has played the reigning Super Bowl champs. Carolina is eight and eleven in those games, but in the last two at New England in seventeen and at
Philadelphia in both huge dramatic fourth quarter victories. I like where you're going with that stat. Will Great Stats is gonna leave it. I'm gonna leave it right there. I like it. That's a will start of the week on the Happy Half Hour podcast presented by Morris Jenkins, and Mr Jenkins told me that he loves football and he looks forward to this show all week. When you're plumbing or air conditioning is acting up, you call Morris Jenkins
or visit Morris Jenkins dot com. All right, let's uh, let's look ahead to that Kansas City game that's coming up on Sunday. As Well said, if the stats tell us anything, there's a definitely a post ability there for for a Panther's win, but it's it's gonna be tough. Miles. Well, look, I cannot tell you how big it is that Rasul Douglas is back this week, because we saw what happened
with a really good offense in New Orleans. UM when Russeul Douglas is not on the field, and you know something, we don't know how Dante Jackson's toe is going to react because that thing acts up all the time, and it's it's such an unfortunate thing because he is playing really well when he's able to be out there on the field, but with a turf toe injury, it is just so unpredictable and you just you cut the wrong way, you turn the wrong way, and that thing flares up
and it's really really painful, and especially as a cornerback, it's so hard to play through so you know, a lot of respect for Dante Jackson for what he's been able to do when he's been on the field. But I'll tell you this, having Soul Douglas back is, like I said, it's very critical just because of all of the Chiefs weapons that they have. They can go down the field and they can score in so many different ways, whether it's Clyde Edwards, Hilaire, you know, running the ball.
Now they've got Left Bella as well, can run the ball. Those guys can catch the ball out of the backfield. Patrick Mahomes had over four hundred yards and five passing touchdowns last week. They've got Travis Kelsey, They've got Kareem Hunt, They've got Robinson, They've got me, Cole Harman, Sammy Watkins might alright, Miles, Well that's what I'm saying exactly. So when it comes to this like this is if you don't have your secondary guys back there, that makes it really,
really really tough. Yeah. Uh, certainly glad that that Russeul Douglas is back, is healthy, and uh, as far as we know, we'll we'll be playing in this game and will in my mind, you know, I don't think this is saying anything, um, dramatic or anything like that. But you look at the schedule at the beginning of the season, and to me, this is game three of by far, the toughest four games stretch, um that the Panthers have.
So you know, it was Saints, then you turn around and play it was you know, at New Orleans, and you turn around and play on a Thursday night against the Falcons. Then you go to Kansas City, and then the following week, um is against Tom Brady the rematch
with Tampa Bay. Yeah, I mean, obviously this is a tough stretch, but you know, I was looking at Kansas City and they actually, so far they've had the third easiest schedule in the NFL, which isn't to take anything away from how good they are, because they're really good. In these stats are legit, but they've played the third easiest schedule as the reigning Super Bowl champs, and Caroline has played maybe a top ten hard schedule. I mean,
Arizona is good. Last by yeah, Las Vegas. Yeah, but you know, obviously they've already played the Saints, they played the Bucks. They gotta play the Bucks again. Um, you know, they're they've played a tough schedule with a team that's young, and you know, hopefully, as Matt Rule has said, hopefully that they're they're playing their best football in December and that's what they want to do, whether or not that means they have an overall record that puts in playoff contention.
They want to be playing their best football in December, and you want to kind of just you gotta make it through this stretch right now. If you can make it through this stretch, continue to be competitive. You know, obviously you want to win on Sunday, you want to win against the Bucks. But if you can stay together and really really play well and keep getting better, UM, I think that's a huge that's a huge stepping stone. You know, we're we're not the coaches, we're not on
the team. We we get to say things that you know, maybe they wouldn't say or they wouldn't want to admit because it's our own opinion. But you know, I think that's that's where I would assess them. It's a it's a great point. This team has been battle tested and will you brought up a great point with the with the schedule, uh, and they've been in every game and um, I have no reason to believe that that will be different in this one, just because of the fight this
team has UM. So we'll see what happens on Sunday. I think it's gonna be I think it's gonna be a fun game to watch. UM. Now here's a question I have. This is an honest question, and I know that maybe none of us have the answer to this because these are strange times. But Kansas City allows I think sixteen seventeen thousand fans. It's I think capacity, and if I'm not mistaken, they've allowed that many from that first game when they played on Thursday night. I can
hear them. You can hear them, UM, at least coming through the TV. But obviously it's not anywhere near a normal Arrowhead full sounding stadium. Does that affect you this is the biggest crowd that that they will see. UM. Does that come into the way you think about, you know, your communication on offense at this point or are we still okay? Seventeen thousand fans? You know, that's an interesting question.
I don't think it's going to be enough to really make you go silent count as you would have to in a normal day at Arrowhead um. And I've been doing a few games there, you know where it is really really really loud, um, and it doesn't it affects the QB. It affects the way the offense can communicate. So I don't think it will be that. But I think, yeah, you might be able to feel a little bit more energy from the crowd because you have more people there. But I don't know that it will really make you
have to go silent count as you would normally. Yeah, I agree, I just you know, it's just so hard to get a gauge on in this time where there are very little fans or no fans in certain places. When does it, if at all, become a factor. But it is triple the crowd that um that the Panthers have seen at all, So we'll see if that makes any difference at all. Uh. And then something to look forward to in the game after Kansas City when Tampa
Bay comes to town. If the Panthers get a third down stop in the third quarter during a home game, which that will be, one lucky fan will win a smart home smoke and carbon monoxide detector through the Morse Jenkins Protect and Check sweepstakes. If the Panthers get a fourth down stop in the fourth quarter. That same fan will also be going home with a gift cards, so be sure to check out contests dot Panthers dot com for more details on how you can enter. Just want
you to plan ahead for that. All right, it is time for our Weird Question of the week. And look, we know what this one is going to be in honor of the Panther's going to Kansas City. What's the best type of barbecue? Miles, You're on the hot seat for this one. I seriously, I will tell you this. I was walking up the stairs in the parking garage in my apartment complex the other day and I was thinking, Man, for the weird question of the week, we should just go with you know, what is the best type of
barbecue in the United States? And why is it Kansas City? Because it's just like Kansas City kicks everybody's butt in barbecue. I will fight you all on this. I know that the Panthers podcast, but I don't care. I am staunchly in this camp. They do pulled pork better than anybody else. They do uh the burnt ends. Oh my goodness. You go if you go to Q thirty nine or Arthur Bryant's. You get some burnt ends and they just melt in your mouth like meat and marshmallows, Oh my goodness, and
Gates barbecue sauce. Are you kidding me? That extra hot Kansas City hands downru I No, look, no apologies needed except for using the phrase meat marshmallows. It is beautiful, and I again, I will fight you on this. Yeah, you said that two or three times and starting to think like do I need to you know, step away. I'm still just hung up on meat marshmallows. That's the that's the real takeaway from me. Here, will what say you? I mean, I'm not trying to get in a fight
like Miles is ready to go. I will. I will say this. I'm glad that I can at least say that I've had Kansas City barbecue because prior to I think I had it first two years ago, and I did have the burnt ends, and they were different than anything I've ever had. Would you call them meat marshmallows. I would never call anything meet marshmallows. Thank you. I'm just never going to use that that phrase. But no, the burnt ends were very unique, very good I enjoyed them.
That's good. I'm glad I enjoyed them. I still have to wrap South Carolina barbecue like I'm still gonna rep the mustard. I'm gonna rep rep the full the full pork being roasted, the full thing all the way. Well, I don't know what the term they used for it, but you know the pull pork. Uh, you know South Carolina mustard. I was raised on it. I will always
wrap it. That's that's my answer. That's cute. I've never had the Kansas City I've had, you know the style of barbecue, but I've never been to Kansas City and gotten to try the meat marshmallows that melt in your mouth. Um, But I gotta go. I gotta rep you know, my my home region two. And I just I love the vinegar based Eastern North Carolina barbecue. Just the vinegar based is is so much better than the other sauces in my opinion. The thickness, no matt strong opinion from you on.
I haven't had Kansas City barbecue there, so I guess whatever I say there should be an asterix attached to it. But I would say the best barbecue I've ever had is always in Alabama. So I don't know what style that is. I don't know if that's Memphis or Alabama or whatever you want to call it. But um in Tuscaloosa, Alabama is a place called Dreamlane Barbecue. It is easily the best ribs I ever had in my entire life. Yeah,
I've been there too. I'm the only one. You gotta make a trip down to My dad orders and frozen. They're not as good, but hole order I'm frozen from Alabama and we'll eat those on football Saturdays growing up. And then the best barbecue sandwich ever had. I was driving through Greenville, Alabama. We stopped at gas station and it was a half gas station, half cruddy looking barbecue joint, and I didn't want to get it, but I did, and it was the best that I absolutely believe. I
would say Alabama for me. You know, I've had some really good barbecue and mobile as well, So yeah, Alabama is a better entry than Carolina. Sorry, whoa, I do like the Carolina barbecue, but I'm not a vinegar guy. I'm more of a tomato base. I'm sorry for both of you. Uh well, I can't believe the disrespect we're hearing from from these two. But you know, well, I mean if you want, I can. I can jump on and say I hate vinegar based too, want to jump
on Christians? Yeah, well, you're all missing out more for me. All right. That's gonna do it for for this edition of the Happy Half Hour Podcast. You guys are all wrong, I'm right. We'll see you next week.