The Season with Peter Schrager: Downright Scary 49ers, Zach Wilson's Brutal Sunday, and Thanksgiving Games with Kevin Burkhardt

I think the Bears are a fascinating study in the NFL and that there's a team that right now, if the draft was happening today, I think they'd have the second overall pick it. I don't know if there's a fan base more enthused and more optimistic and more into their team right now. And that's the whole point of the season. With Peter Schreger, I'll call myself the third person.

It's like, let's get to know some of the decision makers, let's get to know some of the coaches, and let's kind of get beneath the surface than just hot tay and what you see on TV every day. I'm joined by my wonderful producer, Aaron Wong Kaufman. Aaron, what's up, Bunny? Not too much? It's a pretty cold here in New York where we're not quite six feet of snow in Buffalo. But uh, it's getting winter. No, it's cold as dude. I have stepped outside the apartment today. We're both in Brooklyn.

It is it is cold. It is real, like is it smacked us in the face. And it's one of those deals that like we had really good weather in October and really good weather in early November, and then it's Thanksgiving week. I ask you, it's knuck up on me. I'll possession it this way. I think anyone who watches Good Morning Football knows I've got some thoughts on Thanksgiving. One of my thoughts is that we should not be tied to turkey and mashed potatoes and gravy in the

traditional fair. I don't like that food. I find it dry. I've never had a good piece of turkey. I don't understand. So in recent years, my wife, the lovely Erica, she has either you know, helped prepare or steak or we've done something we get to go to, like a local place that we like, and we bring it in. We

have nice you know, take out whatever it is. But I caught I catch a lot of heat on Good Morning Football from my co hosts, who are like, that's absurd, You're just being You're just being that guy, that contrarian. Aaron I turned to you. You're of a different generation. You're younger than me. Yeah, Thanksgiving food, where are we at with it? I mean growing up, my dad is a very meat and potatoes kind of guy, and he wants gravy and you know, like that's that's part of

the Thanksgiving meal. Um, what lately what my partner and I do. I'm I'm half Chinese and so we do like Chinese food. We really basically just make Chinese because it's like we just want to make the things we want to eat, and it's just a day to like we get to spend it cooking and we get to make a whole bunch of stuff and it's you know more about what are these meals that we want to do,

just like to hang out together? I think, Yeah. But then there's also stuff like I'm gonna I want to love pecan pie, you know, I love yeah, making stuffing, like, so there will be things like that too. So you cook. I have never been I've never been near a stove. I mean I've literally my son is like that, I got mac and cheese and I'm reading the instructions off the back of the box. Had a microwave it. So you guys, you'll cook, She'll get it going. You'll get

it going. You make your own separate dishes whatever. Yeah. Yeah, And we have, um, a slightly larger kitchen than we used to, but in the past it was it was definitely been two people moving throughout a small Brooklyn kitchen trying to find, you know, the space to cook together. Um. But yeah, yeah, I know. It's a it's a fun thing. It's like it's like the ballet. You've got the alpha daily thing going on in there. You open up the grill and suddenly you bang into somebody. Um, I'm all

for Thanksgiving. And they added this night game now, and it's like they've always had the two games when I was growing up. This night game it's a marathon. Um, are you prepared? I know. We had my buddy Deetrouan last week saying you got to prepare for this week. It's a it's an intense sports week, but I think it's an intense food and football viewing day Thanksgiving. Are you prepared? Yeah? So we have I mean this is a little two inside baseball, but I mean the Bills

from my team are playing in the early game. We're watching that, and then we're going to a friends giving and so no, I don't know that term. It's like instead of if you you're not in a place with your family, you spend it with a group of friends. Um. I also know I am the only one in the group that watches football, so I will kind of be off this. They're just hanging out. Just yeah, I'm just hanging yeah yeah. So um yeah, so I figure every person under thirty is just is this scanning TikTok and

playing wordle all day? Is that? Is that a bad characterization? Um? I hope you're not playing wordle all day because there's only one word of a day. So if you're playing, if you're playing it all day, it's taking you too long. All right, do you want to talk a little, Well, let's talk still. Let's go four downs, all right? First down, Zach Wilson, what do you mean? You know we had salo on? What do you make of this whole Zach Wilson's situation? Oh boy, so we're recording this on a Tuesday.

I don't. I don't know if I've seen a coach have a more definitive non statement than Robert Sala did Monday when he said he's still evaluating who's going to be the quarterback. And I think it goes back to not only the performance Sunday. I really think Zach Wilson

screwed the pooch with that press conference afterwards. And I think that goes from to the equipment guys, you know, looking at him saying really dude, to the players obviously, right up to like the ownership where they're saying, wait a second, we say, that's a team that we haven't beaten in years and has owned us, and you're gonna say you can't take any account for it. Let's listen to what Zach Wilson said when reporters asked him if he put the burden on himself as an offense though.

I mean, when you guys are only able to score three once the defense only lets up three points, I mean, do you do you feel like you let the defense down at all? So now what, Well, I'm going to just go through the machinations of all this. You've got this young quarterback and here's what's happening. The Jets are a lot better than they expected to be. I could tell you this from conversations with not only Salo, but

with the front office and the ownership. I don't think they ever expected to be six and four going into Thanksgiving week. Their expectations have exceeded even their wildest dreams. So that's from internally. But with that now suddenly everybody needs to pull their weight. This defense is incredible. This front four is marvelous Mosley, It's playing like an all pro linebacker. Sauce Gardner might be the best corner in football this year. I mean this is not me being

exaggerating or hyperbole. That's how good the Jets defense is. Also, their offensive line is playing well. Their wide receivers are playing well. When you see both Elijah Moore and Garrett Wilson talking a little bit after the game or on social media, this is where my you know, my eyebrows

get raised. And for Wilson to come across as tone deaf, For Wilson to be the weak link right now, even this week of Salah having to debate whether he's the guy or not doing that publicly, I would like to think that would either a light of fire or be bring something out of Zach Wilson that we have not seen at this point. I would say he's, if not the worst, he's the most disappointing quarterback that we have on the field this season. That includes Russell Wilson, Derek Carr,

all the guys that we know. I thought, at the very least we would see some sort of jump. So what now. I think the Jets have a few days as we record this on Tuesday. I don't think they're going to announce anything on Tuesday or Wednesday that gives him no strategic advantage. I wouldn't be shocked if he was benched. I wouldn't be shocked if he was benched,

even for just one week or whatever. That performance and it wasn't just the punt return, and I know, you know, Brent Boyer, the special teams coach, is gonna wear that, and of course Sala's gonna wear that. What are we doing? And you know New York fans remember Matt Dodge kicking it to the Shawn Jackson and I think twenty ten and he returns it and everyone you know, Matt Dodge, I don't think ever punted it again in the NFL after that. I don't blame the Jet Special teams. They've

been good all season. The third and one pass that Wilson had and he had a wide open man over the middle, and that's fine. But to throw a check down behind the sticks on third and one in that situation in the fourth quarter in a three to three game, that to me shows a lack of awareness, a lack of courage, a lot of stuff just and then after the game, the Blase response, I think really rubbed people wrong.

New York's a different media market. You might be able to get away with that stuff, and some of these other markets, not New York. It's been the story all day, all week, and my point about the team being better than they expected to be. At some point the defense says, what the hell like, we're playing our butts off. And I've seen it. The Giants used to have this when Strahan's defense would be so good, and you know, the Giants offense would be an emic, and you'd hear about

these like rifts in the locker room. And then eventually the offense, you know, came alive and this team can flourish. Like That's just one example. There's so many others. But gosh, what conundrum for them for a team that I don't think expected to be going anywhere they're in Thanksgiving week. They're now in last place in the AFC East, when if they had won, they'd be in first place in AFC East and there the true crossroads, and they might

be benching the number two overall pick. And if they do bench them, I don't think it's the worst thing to happen for either the Jets or Zach Wilson. I would also say I don't think it's the last of them if he does get replaced this week. All right? Second down? Last night on Monday Night football, forty nine Ers blew out the Cardinals in Mexico City. Is this the forty nine Ers finally finding their groove? Is this just the Cardinals being a bad team? You know which

trajectory are we're paying attention to here? Yeah? I think the rest of the league took notice that, Oh no, no, no, this is not what we wanted to forty nine ers to get hot again around Thanksgiving and go on there run. This is what they do historically under Kyle Shanahan. They start slow out of the gate, then they start cobbling things together, and then they hit their stride in November December. I remember a couple of years back they started off hot.

They were like, hey, you know, they lost to the

Seahawks on a Monday night game in overtime. They had this like stretch where they had to go to Baltimore in the pouring rain and then go to New Orleans, and I think they lost the Baltimore game, but like played tough, and then they went to New Orleans and Jimmy g a national TV like lit up the Saints defense and he was throwing them all over the yard to everyone and most start was scoring touchdowns and Emmanuel Sanders was scoring touchdowns and it was like, Okay, this

is the team. And that team obviously went on to play in a Super Bowl. Last year, the same kind of thing happened late in the season. They start rattling off wins, they get to the playoffs, and they established themselves as this tough, hard nosed team. This year's identity has taken a few weeks to figure itself out. But last night, I don't care if that's the seventy eight Steelers on the other side of the ball, You've got hit all as tough as nails. You've got a UK

who's throwing blocks but also making plays. You've got Debo everywhere all over the field. You've got used check all over the field. And then you've got the two running backs and all of a sudden, a resurgent Elijah Mitchell. I think everyone dropped them from their fantasy team. We're like, all right, McCaffrey's the guy. And no, no, no. If you know Kyle Shanahan, you know you never dropped those running backs because he's gonna use all of them. And

then of course McCaffrey. And then the biggest story to me, it was Jimmy G. Jimmy G was dialed in four touchdowns, looked good. No, the Cardinals defense is not gonna be mistaken for the two thousand Ravens anytime soon. But the Cardinals defense has won some games. They played well last week, They've played fine. I mean, they're not some total pushover. And to see runs on eight nine yards a clip. That offensive line is no joke. Trent Williams is no joke.

And in a wide open NFC, and I'm talking like Packers lose again, Rams lose again. Vikings after a week of all of us saying the Vikings don't get enough respect to get the doors went off from at home. You go right down the list. Are the Eagles and anything you're scared of right now? Are there the Cowboys? The team that we saw this week or the one that gave him a fourteen point lead? And you go

right down the list of everybody. Is there any team you'd rather face less than the forty nine ers right now? And here, Aaron is the interesting thing because I got tweeted this and I'd love the listeners and I want your thoughts on this too. Jimmy G is the quarterback and they're doing exactly what Jimmy G does. He's gonna, he's gonna make his plays, but he's you know, not gonna. You're not using his legs. And it's all right now.

I got McCaffrey, if you had given trade lance ten weeks like they have right down to kind of get in the groove and get his thing going. If you've given trade lance, Christian McCaffrey, if you're given trade lance, is this offense even more dynamic or are they better off that? Hey, it all worked out right. Jimmy G's the quarterback. They're six and four going into Thanksgiving. What's your thoughts on that, because I personally am like, I

don't know. I just think Trey Lance need to get through September and October and then it would be like,

all right, he's got his confidence. We would know one way or the other, and then you could always bench him for Jimmy g But Trey Lance could run, and they were they were running him, and he was running the wheels off of him in the first couple drives there against the Bears, and like then the injury happens and you're like, ah, but I don't know what this offense would have looked like if Trey Lance was there.

It might have been even scarier. Yeah, I mean I wish I don't remember the exact number, but there's whatever the stat of how many passes he's made in his career Trey Lance, because he didn't even play a ton in college, he's he's got like some of the least experience out of any of the starting quarterbacks. In quotes like depending on whether or not we think he's a starter, but after watching the Bears and seeing Justin Fields elevate the entire offense just purely off his running ability and

like a couple excitement. Yeah yeah, and how like he were saying like that, you know that fan base is energized by justin fields even if they're losing, it'd be pretty amazing. And like, yeah, if if any passer has the safety valve of CMC and then also can go over the top to Kittle or a Uk or Debo. I mean the fact that, like when you were listening off their offensive weapons, you didn't even mention CMC by name. That's how stay Yeah, it's it's and here's the thing.

We're gonna be in the same position this offseason. Now, Jimmy, she's not under contract. He's going to be a free agent. But it's like all those guys are coming back from what I don't have the contracts in front of me, but mcafre, I know is there for at least another year. I know Debo just signed his extension. I think Kittle's there under under contract. I know they signed a new one with him recently. Use check. I think is they're like, I don't know. To me, it's Jimmy Gee's going to

take them wherever he takes him. They might win a Super Bowl and then it's like a decision has to be made. But Trey Lance's conversation is not going away. And I just see them playing against the Cardinals last night, you know, I think it was like so at one point it's just you know, Elijah Mitchell nine yards debo on a pitch eight yards Kittle just it's all right, And now imagine a mobile quarterback who can do that stuff too. It's something to consider, all right, what's the

third down before we leave second down? There's a I saw a tweet the other night from Jay Gray Jets that was Jimmy g had as many touchdown passes last night as Zach Wilson had on the season. Yeah. No, Zach Wilson's stuff is brutal, bro Like, there's no there's no stat that's gonna be the contrarian take on this. And as much as Jets fans, you know, are are beaten up Zach Wilson this week, like there's a tough, tough place to the other side of that aisle and

be like, hey, just be patient. I don't see it yet, and I feel for the kid, but I don't even know, I mean, based on his I don't even know if he's stealing it, like that's the thing. I think that's what that's Jets fans the most. You know, we just want you to wear it. We want you to we want you to feel it like we do. We're fans. We've been watching this for for thirty years. And it's you know, him just being like, all right, I don't

know if that that rough people wrong? All right, third down? Odell? He was watching the Cowboys game. The news now is Cowboys Giants. Maybe what are you hearing about? Odell? It's it's amazing that there are thirty two teams that play football. There are sixty something players on each one of those teams. There's a coaching staff of twenty guys and gals. There's a front office for every team, there's owners for every team. There's there's international games, and O'Dell is still one of

the hottest topics. He hasn't played a single snap this season. It's really an interesting deal. I see Domackinsue joined the Eagles and like just be thrown right into the lineup and play, and it's like, Okay, I guess that might be a new thing here where Odell is not going to sign with the team, till after Thanksgiving. I think he's gonna make a pro rated contract that's pretty good

no matter where he signs. I would think he's gonna make like four or five million dollars for probably six or seven regular season games and then the playoff run, which is incredible coming off his second straight major knee injury. I'm hearing how Boys, Giants, and Bills as still a possibility, as still a possibility that von Miller and him are so tight that they talk, you know, if not daily weekly,

and that still might be in the mix. And Brandon Beans has shown already at the trade deadline and also in free agency that he's not scared to pull the trigger. The Giants thing, I don't get, and I know a lot of Giants fans want it, especially they lost another wide receiver to injury this week. I just are that it's a half deer rental and they decally need a wide receiver, and it would be a great story Odell

coming home based on the way things ended. I don't I don't know if that's what the Giants need to get over the top. I don't know if I see the Giants as a place that he would necessarily want to go based on their offense and how that thing is bill and really their lack of experience in January, I think O'Dell wants to win a ring. He won one rast year. I think he wants to win another one. And to me, Buffalo and Dallas make a lot of sense.

How ironic that the Cowboys are playing the Giants on Thanksgiving and the winner might be the one that O'Dell just says, you know what, I'm hitching my wagon to them. I would also say this, I think I mentioned it earlier. If you watch Michael Gallup this season, if you watch Chris Godwin this season, be patient thinking you're getting Odell Beckham, you know, twenty sixteen. If he gets on the field, he might take a while before he gets going. But that's okay as long as they have him. Buy that

playoff run. My money's on Buffalo or the Cowboys. I'd be shocked if he if he's a Giant. And yet again, shocking has been the theme of the whole season. All right, fourth down, Who do you want to shout out this week? Yeah? I gotta shout out Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelsey. Yeah, Kelsey's thirty three and He's got as good at numbers

as any skill position player in the league. This season may be short of Justin Jefferson, but even then, if you consider what he does with the tight end spot, Kelsey is unbelievable and Mahomes has never lost like a road game in the division. There's crazy stuff, but the two of them. Is there a way to have co

MVPs this season? Like it's funny because we break our backs to be like, well, maybe this is the year Michael Parsons is the MVP, or maybe this is a non quarterback year and Justin Jefferson's r MVP, or you try to make this two a case, which a lot have been making, and we'll see how that goes. But like, what are we doing? Mahomes is the best player every single time he walks on the field, and Travis Kelsey might be the second best player every time he walks

on the field. Those two guys together, it's amazing what they did on Sunday night. I never doubted the Chiefs were winning that game, And I know that sounds arrogant or scubris, but like, as long as there was time left on the clock, Mahomes was finding Kelsey then no Juju. They had no Clyde Edwards. Hilaire hard Man is out, he's gone on. You know, two plays in, Kadarius Tony

does the Kadarius Tony thing. He's out with an injury, and it's like, don't worry, We've got We've got Fortson and Watson and Gray and Skymore made a huge third down conversion and then in the end it's like, gimme Kelsey, gimme Kelsey, gimme Kelsey. I also thought the defense stepped up. Defense had a great day. Willie kay was over the field. My guy Boltland was all over the field. Chiefs are really fun to watch. They're really hard to root against.

And you know, the Chargers were again noble and valiant in a lot of ways and what they were able to do and come back from being down. But like it's just never gonna be enough. If Mahomes is the ball was any time left. I'm gonna make this argument Mahomes is the MVP, and it reminds me of Michael Jordan in the nineties when I specifically recall, you know, Charles Barkley won the ninety three MVP award. I think

Carmelo won the Night seven MVP Award. The league would try they would try to push these other guys and like that's the equivalent of, hey, yeah, but look what two is doing, or hey, maybe we can make a strange argument that a defensive player should be the thing. And this is the year that it's like Lawrence Taylor and eighty six. No no, no, no, right now cast the ballot, it's Mahomes And if it's not Mahomes on I put Kelsey Aaron. I want to give a shout

out to t J. Watt. I talk about it. You know, last week we had the Justin Jefferson catch and you made the argument that that ketch was more in context more important than the OBJ sideline catch and the t J.

Watt interception was not contextually important. The Steelers lost to the Bengals, but I like shrieked when I saw that, Like it's it's third quarter, Burrows trying to hit Tyler Boyd and what like goes side like diagonally, his arms just go up and he knocked the ball down and he's and like you didn't think he had it at first. It was so amazing, And that's one of my favorite things watching football. And like really any pro sport is like, these are people doing physical things I will never be

able to do. And just is also, I mean, like such an incredible player. You know, he was injured for so much of the season. I feel like he kind of lost a little shine. He's not as getting as much hight. Yeah, Parson, he's so good. And that interception, like, if if anyone didn't see it, just go watch it. It's like four seconds and it's It's my favorite thing that's happened this year. I'm glad you mentioned it because it happens in a in a loss, it happens in

a game that most people were watching Vikings Cowboys. It happens in a game for a team that isn't going anywhere this season, and yet you get this incredible feet of athletic strength, and it's like that is the moment why we love football and why t J. Watt is is different than the other guys. Which would be interesting because after our next interview, we're gonna bring in our guy Taylor, who's going to come in and kind of

make the case for another defensive player. But to me, I'm starting a team still Aaron Donald, It's still t j Watt. Those are my two guys on defense. Awesome, All right, should we head into our interview? Yeah, let's go. Our interview this week is a great friend of mine. I've known him for twenty years and he's about to have one of the biggest afternoons of his life. He's the lead play by play voice for Fox Sports, and he is calling the Thanksgiving matchup between the Giants and

the Cowboys, a huge career accomplishment. Can't wait to welcome in my Jersey brother Kevin Burkhart, and now the voice you're gonna hear when the game begins between the Cowboys and the Giants on Fox. It's his first time ever calling a Thanksgiving football game, and I think that's maybe the ultimate honor in play by play calling, and maybe even beyond the Super Bowl. Considering the amount of people are gonna be gathered around watching Cowboys Giants. I couldn't

be happier for him. Ladies and gentlemen, let's introduce Kevin Burkhart. Can't prove what's up, Drakes? Maybe I'm good man, I'm good. How are you doing? I'm good? I think I maybe it just went over my skis and said Thanksgiving as bigger than the super Bowl. You're doing both this season, But as someone who's been hacking away at this career for over twenty years, to be a forty eight hours away from calling Thanksgiving Day football on Fox, what's it

mean to you? Man? No, it's it's real, And I get what you mean, Like, you know, I look, obviously, the whole thing's big, right, I mean, the whole the whole job is big, and we're doing big games every week. But you know, there were a couple on the calendar that I thought that it might like hit me and be like really really cool. One of them was Dallas Green Bay, which turned out to be epic a couple of weeks ago, you know, just because Lambo Cowboys, Packers,

Aaron Rodgers, McCarthy back. And then so that was that was awesome to be a part of. And then yeah, you know, yes, the playoffs and the super Bowl will

be great. But Thanksgiving Day, man, I mean the thing like we you know, growing up in a football family, it was you know, it was kind of eating around both games, right, that's your early game halftime, go through to football in the stre eat, eat the meal between games, you know, and then the Cowboys games on you watch that, you know, maybe halftime you watch or maybe you go throw the football again and then you know, you watch the rest of the game. You have dessert after the game.

That's it, Like that was the day. Um. So I feel like it's it's obvious it is an honor. And because it's like, you know, you're you're in people's homes every week, and a lot of people's homes, but I feel like people you're really in people's homes, you know, because you know Uncle Stevie's over and then at Buba is over, and you know they're all kind of watching and they're all have a glass of wine or a warm glass of milk, whatever it is. You're kind of

like hugging everybody. So I think it's beyond awesome, man, I really do. I'm so trying. I was trying to go back in my head and I'm like, you know, I'm a little younger than you, not much, but I'm trying to think, like when what's my first Thanksgiving football memory?

I have a memory of the Leon Lett in the snow and pize s Dayanovich missing the kick and then you know that that was like early nineties I guess I remember the missed toss with Bettis and Phil Luckett and all that, but like, yeah, it's your earliest Thanksgiving football memory, Earthfoy earliest is a good question. I mean I remember I certainly remember the snow game with Leon Lett of Miami, right, I mean that was I mean, no one in Dallas. That was no sense. Why was

it snowing in Dallas. I still don't have no idea, Like that was like totally beyond wild. I remember Randy Moss against Dallas. That was I remember that. Um, you know, I mostly remember Man and Summer Roll, to be completely honest, and you know John giving out turkey legs and your ducking legs to Emmitt Smith. I mean that's that's the stuff that I remember, maybe more so than the games at some point. You know, it's all the fun stuff

around it, which is why I think it's awesome. It's it's not just the game, it's it's everything around it. And like the holiday that you're doing it on. Let me give you the Bingo board because j m fb our show we did it one year and it was like we clicked it, like perfectly. All right, you get the Madden in summer all highlights, right, so we'll get the target thing. Okay, we'll also get the man tory um shot of the truck and everyone waving, right, we

getting one of the use I have to. I mean, you're you're like you're asking me, like I've done this before.

Butever that's a staple, Like it's like, we got to have the shot of the truck, you know, we gotta have the Zee and Russo over director, producer waving a low though there they are pretending they're working hard, they're pressing something, but you know, the whole thing, you know, get Jacobleman back there in the background, Jake, Joba Fette, waven you get all the job lying like we'll have We'll have Rich Gross will be there, you know, like

the whole the whole crew will be there. So you know, it's which I think is awesome because it's like it's such a big audience. It's nice to stay look at all these people that work hard to make this whole broadcast go, because it's certainly a heck of a lot more people than us. Yeah, and I think that part is really you get one more mandatory thing, and I

think CBS does it. I don't know what Fox does it the ending credits after the game and you've get you get the picture of everyone on the crew with their family, and I always like that. I'm like, that's a nice touch. I used to do that for CBS. I don't know if Fox does it, but would be like here's like Bill and Susie. You know, Bill operates the camera, There's Susie, there's their kid, Jonathan, and there at like Coney Island, and it's like, all right, there

they are. They're on Thanksgiving. Great, good to see them. I just so I don't you know, we haven't gone over a lot of stuff for the Brook Yes yet obviously, but like I like, we played a clip of Madden and Summer on Thanksgiving during our Giant game. It was

the LT Interception return, Yeah, nineteen eighty. I hope we play a ton of Madden clips, Like I just I loved it, Like it's just I eat it up, you know, constantly, and so like I'm hoping, you know, obviously the whole days honoring John, like all the games are on CBS NBC two, But like, give me as many John and Pat clips, you know, as much as I as I love John, I love Pat just as much like it as a play with lay guy, Like I lived from Pat, you know, so like it's I don't know, it's special, man,

It's so cool, and I'm so happy for you. I made it seem like you're hacking away, like you're you know, but your career has been been awesome and you've been rising and rising and you deserved and earned every moment of this. As we check in at week twelve, as the lead announcer on Fox Sports calling the NFC pack, it's like, how's it going, man, And like how what

surprised you the most so far? Because you can always dream of this happening, but then you get in the thick of it and you're like, I didn't expect that to happen. Yeah, you know, it's been awesome, man, I

mean it really has. Like you know, you when you go into a situation like this, I mean it's like, you know, Join Troy were there for two decades, Like that's a long time, right, So people have long standing relationships, and you know, we're even though I've been at Fox for nine years and you know, Greg's was there last year,

like we're the new guys. Essentially, we're like we're the new guys in the office, right, so you walk in, you don't know how they're going to react to you, or you know what they're gonna think of you, and you know, think you're any good and all that stuff. I mean, from day one, it was like welcome to the family, embraced, like we love you, like the whole thing. And I know that sounds kind of cheesy, but dude, it's been awesome. Like it's been it felt like we've

just fit right in. I think there's been some cool symmetry. The fact that Greg and I got to do it together because we have such a bond, as you know, we go back a long time and we did a whole year together. So the fact that we kind of kind of jump in together, I think has kind of been fun and helped helped us both because like he knows me really well and I know him really well, so then it was just getting everybody else to know us and vice versa. So you know, I don't think

there's really anything that's been super surprising. I mean, it's just getting used to different styles of of shows, you know, like the crew that I've been on my whole life with Pete Mitchesky and Artie Kempner like they do a little different show than Z and Russo doing. It's not good, bad or in different, it's just everybody has different viewpoints and creativity. So I think it was just getting a little used to each other in terms of that. But it's felt like it's felt like I worked with him

for twenty five years. I mean it's it's felt seamless, it's felt fun and Tregs here's the reality, right, you know this we've talked about are both of our past and how we kind of journeyed up in this crazy industry. Like I ain't changing, ain't how bad is out of a word, I'm not even I mean as Jersey, I ain't. Ain't I But I'm not gonna I'm not gonna change

like my style or who I am now. I'm not saying I'm not open to critiques and wanting to get better and to get coached, but by the basis of what I do and how I do it, I'm not going to change that now. Because I'm on like the eight crew, I'm gonna like they liked me enough to put me here, So I'm just gonna keep doing what I'm doing, you know, maybe tweaks here and there, but if I'd radically changed now, I'd be a moron. We uh,

we had lunch at the super Bowl. You came all the way to I mean you graced me in downtown Los Angeles at something third rate, very great, very great Mexican place where I like, you know yet the pay extra for quawk and you sat down there and we were talking careers and like this was about to be

announced and we were so excited for you. But you know, you go through all this stuff, like who'd you hear from that when it was announced that you're gonna be the number one guy, that maybe the listener would be like, hey, that's pretty cool that person reached out. I heard from a lot of people. Gosh, I mean I phone with it was the craziest phone dame. And then I actually like came out like that. I've ever had like just a lot of people that, um, you know, I haven't

talked to a lot of people. I mean I heard first I heard from Joe Buck. That was did Buck reached out? Yeah? That was the That was the literally the first person on my list of texts. And I tried to get back to everyone that says a lot about him, but also says a lot about you that you guys had even because even when you're the number one and number two guy, I could imagine you're not you're not crossing paths, you're not necessarily, you know, ever in the same place at the same time. But that's

pretty cool a Joe to do that. Yeah, it was all like we talked to like when we talked when he left, and we talked, you know, solo, but he was he was the first, which I thought was amazing. For so many people, you know, Mike Tarico reached out, I thought, like, you know, like David Wright from the Mets, like you know, like yeah, like really nice, like just people being genuinely happy that I got the opportunity. I

was just so touched by it. Um so and and and then it was just a lot of people that I couldn't um that I hadn't seen or talk to him a while, you know, just friends at maybe you know, life happens, and and he hadn't heard from a long time, people from way back even in high school. So it was cool. Yeah, and then obviously you said you have a connection with Greig Olsen for the listeners, take us back how far that actually goes? When a young Kevin

Burkhart fresh pipes in the booth. Who was he covering back in the late nineties. So my first job out of college was going on high school football game shregs for this little AM one thousand WAT radio station in northern New Jersey. And Greg Olsen was the Gatorade Player of the Year in New Jersey. His dad was the coach for a very long time at Wayne Hills High School, so you know, we I got to know his dad well.

I had like production meetings with his dad. We'd go watch tape with his dad breakdown like the team and the opponent. He would help us out and then you know, I didn't we did different teams, but I did some of Greg's games when he played in high school and interviewed him a ton after games, and it was like, you know, so he was really like the first guy that I that I talked to an interviewed like as a professional out of college. Like that was my first

like real job. So it's just funny, Like it's funny now that the two you know Jersey dudes who are like, you know, back in the day a bunch of knuckleheads. He goes on as full of fame career and then he decides, let me go have another career, and he's paired up with me, of all people. So it's just funny how it's full circle type stuff, right, And he's a trip. I know. Aaron Andrews was on another podcast

talking about just how funny he is. He's got a tough I don't know if he chose it in the booth like quite as much as I almost want him to. But this guy's hilarious. Greg Olsen, like, is he the

best to hang with just socially? And I feel like he's a great hang Coming to one of our Saturday dinners, we have an old fashioned and kick it off and it's just like laughs, it's like non stuff, But that's what builds the chemistry, right, Like maybe it doesn't, you know, you know some of the stuff obviously it's not for TV, but it's I think that stuff builds the chemistry that you have on air with the whole group, not just me, not just he and I, but you know, with Aaron

and with the behind the scenes people, and you get trust builds. So he's a dude. He is a blast. I mean, I know you're flying to the West Coast and doing shows Sunday morning. You're all over the place, but I don't know playoffs. You got to come to one of our dinners. You'd have a love it. I would love it. You guys are great and I look at like, not only you in the football booth, but I think you wear a different hat really well too.

I think you're I'm gonna say it, I think you're the best, if not one of the best studio hosts in all of sports television. And I've told you that before. I think the work you do on Fox during the World Series and during the postseason is marvelous. And the stuff that you guys have done with Big Poppy and a Rod and all guys like that's a really entertaining

studio show. And as someone who's on a studio show both Monday to Friday then also on Sunday, I find it amazing that you just jump right in and you guys pick it up year after year and have this chemistry. You've become especially close to one Alex Rodriguez, who I mean when I say it's not like you know me and Charles Woodson, who hang at the hotel whatever. Like you and a Rod are like socially friends. You guys will go out and hang. Well, what's like being boys

with a Rod? And what's the reception he gets when you guys go out in the town at night. He's he's just a great dude. Man, He's misunderstood. I didn't go a lot. You know, he's got a big heart, and and he's really when it comes down to it, he's he's actually a pretty normal guy. Like he you know, he loves his daughters. He's a great father. He you know, he loves baseball and loves sports. He's he's a really

good dude. And ever since he came to Fox, like he's treated me great and like we just we just had a really really good rap. It's just funny, man. I mean, he's a he is a megastar, like a monster mega star. There's nowhere that he goes that doesn't elicit some kind of emotion for people, whether it's good or bad. But he plays it all like he's really learned. He's really learned to be self deprecating and like how

much fun you could have with that? And I think people have really kind of taken to him because of that. You know, he was such a villain when he played when he wasn't at home. And I think people really seeing what he's about. And he's smartest, Like you know, you can talk to him about baseball, you're talking about business like he knows. He knows his stuff. Man. So yeah, I'm a I'm a big fan. I'm gonna tell a story that I heard from a Fox producer and tell

me if this is possible. This sounds right. Early on, a Rod is working for Fox in the studio, and when you're a big, fancy X player, you and I don't get this treatment. But at Fox is how they treat the X players. We're piance, But the ex players get treated like gold. Okay, I mean gold. If you're an ex player looking for a job, do not consider any other place than Fox. I will tell you that right now. And what they would offer is obviously, you get a hotel room, you get a car service, you

can by the way, I'm kidding. Fox treats Kevin and I very nicely. But you know, a guy like a Rod when he's coming through, or Frank Thomas or a big poppy, it's like you get first class treatment. So he's doing the studio show in Century City at the Fox lot, doing the show whatever, and the show ends and he gets undressed and he's and he's getting ready and he just heads outside and one of the predacers like,

whoa where are you going? And he's like, I just called an uber X back to the hotel, and the producers like, you know, we have a driver ready for you. Or he's like, oh no, I'm good. And he just hopped in like an uper X for seven dollars and went back to his hotel and didn't think twice about it. Tell me if that sounds accurate or if that's just like tall tales, Like Alex Urger is a great guy.

Let me tell you a story. No, I dude, who'll go like you know, like we're in the World series, Like we'll be like I'm like, hey, I'm gonna walk in the stadium and get some French fries or something like that. He's like, oh, I'll come. I'm like what

you can't come? Who gets You'll get destroyed. So it's like, I don't think he realizes like half the time he's just like, hey, I'll come do that, Like no, no, you can't, like you can't bro like that You're gonna get spilled on you and that will inevitably get spilled on me. So he does act like that. He's just

like why, why, what's wrong? You know? It's funny. Um. One of the cool things about being on the number one crew is you get the best game every week, and that means you get to see the top quarterbacks. You always were on the number two crews. It wasn't like you were a stranger to guys like Rogers and guys like Brady and whoever else. But interesting season with Rogers and Brady, and I think both those guys have

really had to overcome some things. And in one case it looks like Brady's on his way, another one it looks like, you know that that ghost might be cooked out there in Green Bay. What has been your impression of Brady and Rogers just from having real, real relationships with them and during these production meetings where they're usually uncut and they're not talking in front of a podium. Yeah, it's we haven't had we haven't had Tom in a while. We had them a bunch early and we haven't had

them in a while. But obviously they've kind of saved their season a little bit here, and you know, look he obviously has been through a lot off the field, right And I don't care how much money you make or what you're doing, like you got that stuff going on that's going to affect you. That's the bottom line. I think the biggest thing you realize is just how competitive these guys are. Like people always ask why are they still how long they're gonna go or why they

still playing? Because their competitive nature like won't allow them to stop. That's really what it comes down to, like you, and and every time you talk to them, you you feel it, you see it, they tell you. You know, we've had air in a ton this year with Green Bay and he's the best. I mean, we'll talk with him for an hour and just shoot the would he be could at this stuff like studio in the booth? Like I know he might not want to do it,

would you? Because I also feel like when I even on just McAfee, when he's just teeing off, it's like it's it's very captivating. He's very engaging with the listener and he is awesome. He's so smart, he's engaging, he's fun to talk to, you know, we bust chops. He's just and he's honest. You know, we always ask what people. We always want athletes to be honest. While I ain't gonna be more honest than him, I could tell you that ever right now. So he would he be great

at this if he wants to do it. Yeah, one hundred percent. He's so freaking smart and he sees everything and he explains it in a way where like he even for the dummies like me, it's like, oh I I understand. You know. It's one thing. He could talk to Greg Olsen and they could go bumbable and back and forth. But if he could explain it, so why get it or anybody gets hit? So I think if

he wants to do it, he'd be amazing. I don't I don't know if that's the way he wants to go, you know, but it's it's a real perkose, you know. And I think that's part of it is you try to bring these guys to life like right, because we get access and quite frankly, we get stuff that no one else gets and a lot of it we can't

even use on TV. But it's good for perspective and like to see, like what the big picture and what's going on, and you know, we're kind of educated, so we don't, you know, so we don't say the wrong thing or you know, say things that aren't true, you know. So it's it's great the rules for the listener at home. I'm saying, what do you mean? You can't say it? Also, you have these production meetings, and it's pretty much understood if it informs the game during the broadcast, you can

say whatever. But there's also an unspoken rule of if there's you know, some injury information or if there was a comment that might be taken out of context, like it's not meant for air. And a lot of times announcers will get caught because they'll say something from the production meeting that probably shouldn't have made air. And then there's this feeling of trust that's been broken. How do you navigate that? And I know you've in your career,

from what I gather, you've never broken that trust. And I guess he's keep in your back pocket and then you can sprinkle lit it and when necessary, right, well, see, I you know, I'm I'm not an insider, right like you are. And I could give a about throwing stuff on Twitter. I don't care, so like you know anything that you know, if you know, just talk to Brian Dable if he tells me injury stuff on the on the Giants. I'm not going to go to Twitter and

put I don't I could care less about that. Like I'm more context of how does that help us prepare for the game. And it's also like it's how do we you know, so we have opinions obviously, and Greg as opinion Greg's Greg's opinions are the most important because

he's the analyst and it revolves around him. But it's also nice to know and these guys know that some context, if something happens, maybe this is why, maybe this is why this person isn't going to play, or maybe this is why we're going to do this, like just have an education. So it's not just why are they doing that?

And you know, yes, part of it is obviously giving their side of the story, but part of it is helpful in terms of preparation and you know, maybe you know, maybe it's a hey, go back and watch this or go look at this as it kind of like it heads up right just so it's there. It's like it's almost in a way. It's almost like a partnership, like they're trusting us um and you know they're also helping us right in a way and hopefully it's it's kind

of reciprocated. They're giving us some information that will help us in the broadcast and help the viewer. But the real nitty gritty stuff, it's just that's that's not for air. That's the bottom line. So it's it's just massaging those you know, massides those relationships. You're talking about stuff on Good Morning Football, You're talking about it educationally because you have a background out. You're not just throwing stuff against

the wall and hoping it sticks. Like you have your opinion, but you're also basing some of those opinions on what you actually know is fact. That's what we're doing. Yeah, it's and you do such a good job at it. My last thing is for all the people who are listening who want to get into our field. A lot of times I have on GMS or coaches and the question is like if you had an elevator speech and you had thirty seconds, and a kid out of college was like, what would be your one piece of advice?

And they've been all over the board like Ryan Bols. This whole thing was like surround yourself, like place yourself in a situation where you're learning from good people and then you know, Joe Shane's thing was like, you know, take every opportunity you can and just dive in and go and then it's like, you know, worry about that later for you. Someone who you know went grew up in Jersey, went to college in Jersey, was selling used cars,

was doing three things at once. I was working for Wfan to now where you're at, a lot of people just look at the finished product. What would be your piece of advice for a young man or woman leaving let's just say college right now with a broadcast journalism degree and someday wants to be a professional play by play announcer. Well, I say it all the time, so it's easy for me. I just just shoot for your

dreams and don't stop. And I'm not saying that every single person is going to be calling a World Series or a Super Bowl or hosting their own show and Good Morning Football, whatever, but it's so important to have your dreams and to be able to go and try and get them and work your tail off to go and try and get them. Don't listen to anybody if they say it's oh, it's impossible, you're not going to get no too hard, you're not gonna make you money,

blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. If you want it and realistically, if you think you're good enough to do it, go for it. Like if you don't have that and the want and the dreaming ability to go and do it, how are you ever gonna? Like I would never be here if I didn't do that. I had so many people support me shrakes obviously, but it's so many people would be like, oh, you're crazy, Like that's a waste of time. Okay, I don't think they're telling me that anymore. So you have to have that

shoot for you. I tell the college kids who I talked all the time, just shoot for your dreams, Like why not? Why would like why wouldn't you right? Like would you agree? I mean, I hear you, and it's like my other thing is always this, And I don't know if they're gonna bleep it out, like just don't be an a leather Like I feel like you've got one hundred percent Q reading I am Eagle as one hundred percent que reading. Anyone who meets Mike Rico's loves in.

Jim Nance loves him, Joe Buck right, like, don't be great, be gracious, be hard working, but also treat people right. Listen, I agree with you. That's how I've always tried to be. You know, I'm sure there's times that people have caught me on bed days. Maybe I haven't been the greatest, but I certainly strive to treat everyone with kindness because that's how I was raised. I don't think it's that hard to say hello, or smile or be nice someone's name.

I just don't think it's that hard. So not everyone's gonna love you, but I think if you treat everyone with respect, hopefully they have the same for you. I I just think that's easy. I'll go back real quick to probably divisional round or wild card round two thousand. In nineteen eighteen, Texans are playing the Bills. I had to be in fox in LA on a Sunday morning. I was invited so graciously by Kevin to hang out with his family and watch the game. We're watching the game.

Do you want to tell the listeners what I was preoccupied with the entire time while we're watching Texans bills. Am I am? I allowed to say this with the phone. Yeah, We're sitting there on the couch watching Texas. Bill can't relax because having snacks. Hey, hold on, what second, gonna be quiet? Phone rings? Wink Martindale's on the hill life. Waitin, Martin now about to interview for the Giants job. Talking to me ironically, it's so great. This is more the

head coaching job. And the next day they hired Joe Judge. But I couldn't watch the game because I had Wink on the phone and we were talking about the Giants job. Meanwhile, I'm about to say it now two years later, Wink is a defensive coordinator of the Giants. He's where he belongs anyway, he's coaching there. He's there. But Kevin was dying because Kevin just watched the game. You're worried about

Rink Martin. Now, I was like, you know, a like we got the game on, you know the sound, I'm turning the sound down and shrikes on the couch like phone like the talking to Wink about his Giants atter. I'm like this, see, like that's why I don't need to tweet or do anything, so I just want to watch the game. You're way too important than me. Yeah right. I probably told say say say this is gonna be lasted ten minutes, and they hired Joe jobs, So I

don't think I helped that anything at all. Oh my gosh. Meanwhile, my wife just loves you. She's like, yeah, went Straker coming over, like I gotta come back. I love her too. Rachel's amazing. All right, last last thing, I'm gonna ask you a favor. When you guys do the the mandatory shot to the truck where you've got Ian Martin and uh, Jake, jall Event and Cody waving to the to the to the camera, and you've got this thing in Jacob Allman's

waving shout out. Can you shout out? You can shout out? Hey, this is for Peter Schreker. Here's this clip right here, here's all our guys in the truck working. Now. If kidding get to do that Happy Thanksgiving shreigs, it'll be great. I'll tell you one day I'm gonna do I'm gonna I'm gonna pee my pants a little bit when it comes out, because I'm gonna think of this conversation. You better believe it better. It's mandatory. I love it and I love all those guys and cows in the truck. Hey,

good luck on Thursday. I have taken enough of your time. What a cool moment in your career. And I bet we're gonna talk to you super Bowl week. We might have to before you call. The first time a Fox super Bowl called by Kevin Burkhardt. I can't. I can't be happier for you. You're the best. You're the nicest dude I know, and you've been really important in my career. My friend, you were the best man. Appreciate you having me.

I we'll do it again. I can't wait to hear Kevin on the call with Greg Olsen, Aaron Andrews, and Tom Rinaldi on Thursday. I couldn't be happier for the guy. Kevin Burkhart's one of the true great men in this industry who's always been good to me, and it's been good to everyone he's ever worked with. Excited for him to have a legendary call in his first Thanksgiving game.

You know earlier in the show, My guy, Aaron and I we have been talking and we were going gaga over t J Watt and earlier this season, I've been going gaga every single week on Micah Parsons. I'm going to bring in our friend Taylor Kyles from the NFL Network Research Group right now because Taylor has a thought and I wanted to give him the platform and I wanted to make I wanted to make me smarter. Taylor, what's up, my man? I'm doing all right? Brother? How

you doing? Happy Thanksgiving week? We were talking earlier, before we get to your take, I am not a traditional Thanksgiving meal guy. In fact, I am anti dry turkey. I am anti candy dams. I am anti the gravy boat being passed around from Grandma Millie to Grandma Rhoda, to everyone and then finally getting to me, and I'm getting the remnants. Let me ask you. We spoke with Aaron Taylor. Are you in on traditional Thanksgiving meal or are you one of these new wave guys like me

and Aaron. We're like, hey, let me just enjoy what I want to enjoy on Thanksgiving. I've been a new wave guy. Man. My mom always knew when I was growing up, we gotta make a hand for Taylor because I do not think turkey should exist in any capacity. That may be blasphemy, but I can't stand it. You gotta get me a little something different. I don't care what the meat is as long as it's not turkey. Yeah, it's dry, it's boring, it's offensive in a lot of ways.

I look at that turkey and I just think, who wants to eat that on any day? And then think you people fake it and they act like, oh if you deep fry it, and no, no, I don't want it. If you got to do that much to it, then there's something wrong. You doesn't have to always be complicated. Just stick with the base. Six. How how did you eat your your ham as a kid? What's the how is that prepared? Because I'm willing to make the shift to him. I've had steak, I've had pizza on Thanksgiving blasphemous.

I know I will have anything but turkey, but I have not done a proper ham. What is the preparation for the ham? Usually it was always honey glaze for me, and that kept little Tay happy. That was what I would usually go with. And then I think we actually went to the Christmas Story round at least one Thanksgiving did Chinese food, so I'm all about switching it up. I'm a guy who likes variety anyway, So it's again as long as it's just not the turkey, give me

the mac and cheese, the coward Greens, you know those conventions. Well, the sides are what you come for, and then you just need a meat that can you know, it doesn't ruin the rest of the meal. And like I said, turkey is it's an infiltrator. We don't need it an infiltrator. I love this, all right. So we had John last week.

You made us smarter talking justin Jefferson. But this week I think everyone was watching the end of that Jets Patriots game and the big storyline is, you know, the Jets inability to move the ball, and even in New England, a big storyline is what's wrong with mac? But I'm gonna have you on right now and make us smarter. We talk so much about Parsons, we talk so much about t J. Watt. Who's the most underappreciated pass rusher

in the NFL today? Ironically, I think it's actually the guy who leads the league in sacks, And I would say that as Matt Judon. Now, I am a Patriots fan, so I got to stand out on the soapbox for my guy. But when you look at next gen's stats, all right, so going back to twenty sixteen, Matt Judon is currently on pace to have the second highest sack

rate behind t J. Watts Ruger tying season. So I think that's a pretty good company to be in, and it's pretty interesting to see how he does it because Judon also has, according to PFF, the most unblocked pressures in the NFL. So conventionally you might think, okay, maybe he's having an easier time than other guys. But the Patriots actually had a really cool adjustment to I don't know if you remember, but Judon kind of slid off at the tail end of last year. He had all

those sacks, all those numbers, and it went down. Team started a chip him more. They started to give extra help to try to take him away. What the Patriots have done a lot this year, and where most of judon sacks had come from, is on line games and stunts. So a defensive tackle sometimes a linebacker in the middle of the defense will occupy the center and the guard

to his side. Now while he's doing that, Judon, the guy who's big and explosive, he's two hundred and sixty pounds and he's shot out of a cannon, gets to loop inside avoid the extra help that team's put on the edges to try to take care of him. And then it's so hard for those bigger interior guys to deal with that big shot out of a cannon when he's coming at you and you're thinking you had to block somebody else, and then he's just really hard to

get away from because he's got the long arms. He's a bigger linebacker, so a lot of his production he can win one on one. He's got a great speed move. He likes to rip around the edge and flatten, which again he's such a big guy, you don't see that very often. But a lot of his production has come thanks to the help of his teammates, but also some

really good scheming from the Patriots. I love Judon. We've had him on Good Morning Football probably a dozen times over the year's raven and then now and it's like, here's what's cool about him. Small school guy, Division two school and a great program there, but a smaller school gets into the league, makes an impact, and then goes to the Patriots in one of their first big free agent signings, like they had Gilmore a couple of years ago,

but like Judan. When they signed Judan, I was like, whoa, They're spending a lot of money on a guy who's not from their team. That's rare. And then he actually has exceeded expectations. Then you add to the fact and this is the stuff that we like. You can talk about the numbers and the inside rush, single digit jersey, red sleeves, cool look, great energy on the sidelines, amazing

press conferences. Always has a personality, a point of view, always looking to bust chops a little bit when necessary. As a Patriots fan, you have to love what he's brought to this team. Oh yeah, and you can't forget the celebration either, Like how many guys are getting a sack in the entire team. The entire fan base is doing the exact same thing in Unison, Like that's pretty awesome as well. And then I remember when we used to play the Ravens, I would always kind of sooner

my breath's that ninety nine that matter? Judhon guy is pretty good He's like one of the biggest dudes on the field and he's running around and even this year a lot of his sacks have also he wrangled Lamar Jackson and Justin Fields and chase those guys down. Like he's just such a fun player to watch. He's also good. You know, talk about the pass rush and that's what gets all the headlines. But there's a run defender. He's not bad either. He uses that size and he can.

There's a big reason the Patriots have really solidified their run defense as long as they're not playing any mobile quarterbacks that I said to be seen six and four going into Thanksgiving. They've got a game Thanksgiving night in Minnesota. Give me the posle, the Patriot fan. I do Bill Simmons's podcast every week. I get his feelings. I know where he's at. But give me your thoughts, Patriots, are we like tentative? Are we feeling good? Does that win feel like he escaped the win or do you feel

like that was a triumphant win against the Jets? Like? Where are we at right now? As a Patriots fan? I think the excitement level for the defense and special teams are at an all time high because I mean they're the ones who kept you in the game and the reason you won the game. The defense has playing some outstanding football, especially considering how much their rookies have been involved. Jack Jones when a PFF's top graded corners came in and he's been really good as a tough,

electric turnover machine. Marcus Jones, who returned the punt, has also had some time on defense, and he's really been able to bring a lot of value. So I don't think anybody's worried about the defense. I think you know, the pass rushes they are, the coverages they're They're in good shape offensively, It's hard not to be skeptical, especially David Andrews might be out for the season. Isaiah Wain's going to be missing time. So everything you know, as

I'm sure you know it starts in the trenches. So that's the quarterback and make a play too though, dude, I mean that's I will say. I was critical of Mac Jones. I think that he was putting a ball up for the opponent way too often. The turnovers were inexcusable. He has gotten better. I thought last week really was his best game, and now I think he completed like twenty two or twenty say, it wasn't like his numbers were bad. Would your percentage was fine? Is you don't

have any fear that he's going to do anything. I don't know, it's windy, but like, at no point in that game, if you're a Jets fan, are you worried about mac Jones beating a deep or doing anything special? Absolutely not. Honestly, I think that beating them deep isn't really even where you want to see the Patriots right now. They came out in the season and we're like, hey, we're gonna try to be like the exactly, and they're throwing the same like three or four concepts Yati and

teams were defending it Max getting sacked. So I think what they really need to get back to was some more of that underneath passing game where you get the ball in Ormondre Stevenson's hands, the guy who turned a third and eighteen into a first down on sheer willpower. You know, they've got the workhorses to dink and dunk underneath and get back to that Patriots offense they've had

success with. So I really think that if they can kind of tone down the aggressiveness, pick their spots better, and just get the ball out of max hands faster. I think we could start seeing him play more point guard and excel within his own skill set. Everybody, if you're watching, you've seen the Patriots play, but number nine with those red sleeves, keep an eye on him Thursday night,

Thanksgiving evening Vikings versus Patriots. And if you are looking for smart, insightful stuff on Twitter, Taylor Kyles, tell us where we can find you once more, you can find me at t k y l e S thirty nine. You're kicking butt too. Thank you so much for joining, and thanks for making me smarter, Thanks for having me brother take care. Taylor's great, and I had to bring back my buddy Detro because last week the feedback was incredible.

People wanted more. He went on a fifteen minute rant about the following ten days of sports, starting with the opening of the World Cup and then taking us right through college football NFL and then this wild week that we're in the midst of right now, where it feels like at any given moment, there's a World Cup goal going on or a football game occurring, and then there's like crazy college basketball going on in Maui. At the

same time, it's almost overwhelming, and yet I'm bringing in Detro. Now, Detro, what's up, buddy. It's Tuesday morning. It's the stretch that you've called the ten day embraced the sports, the monsoon. How are you handling it, Peter? It's great to be back me. Personally, I'm handling it great. But that's because I put a lot of preparation into this. You don't just jump in Saturday morning and start watching like you've never watched before. You had to have a roadmap ready

to go. So I'm feeling real good. I think we're in a great spot. I think if we look back on the past few days, I mean that that Saturday noon slight of college football. I mean I didn't need a TCU Bayler. I didn't need to have heart. You know, my heart's bumping because of TCU Bowler. I'm like, I don't want to spend it all. I've got to have ten days ahead of me. If crazy sports, do I need to give all my energy to TCU Baylor and there I was. The answer to that is yes, because

they're a top five team. There's college football playoff applications if you're going to get a game top five team that comes down to the very last snap of the game after a fire droll running on the field. That's what you're looking for at the noon slate. And then you flip right over to ABC with Michigan Illinois and that goes down to the last snap of the game. That's a heck of a way to start the weekend.

And I tell you, I think I made two grave mistakes about And if you're listening, Eric, what are you guys talking about? Todd laid it out last week. He said, Hey, we've got ten straight days of crazy sports. Don't don't overdo it too early. Prepare yourself and kind of space out your time and be ready for it all and embrace it instead of being just exhausted by it. But

I think I made a grave mistake. I stayed up till one in the morning on Saturday night watching UCLA USC two teams I don't have any connection to and I don't know if it really affects the college football playoff. And then on Monday night, I stayed up to the bitter end of a forty nine Ers at forty nine Ers versus Cardinals game of Mexico City that was decided by the second quarter. Todd, I think I messed up. I think the Monday night game is where you maybe

took a misstep because that UCLA USC game. That game at twelve touchdowns in it. If you're looking to sit down and watch an entertaining game on a Saturday night, and it looked good. The colors, the uniform at the Rose Bowl, I could say the Rose Bowl grass looked pretty crappy. I don't know what happened to at that stadium, but the rest of it, the uniforms look great. And this Caleb Williams, Like, I'm a draft guy. I want to see Caleb Williams, the Oklahoma transfer. I want to

see him on the ground. He looks amazing. So I feel like, hey, that was good. I need to see that. That's exactly where I'm going with that. You get a game where it's two rivals, two old fashioned teams, traditional teams out there you know them well, you get twelve touchdowns right in your face as you're going to sleep.

That's the way to end that Saturday slate of college football. Okay, but I wake up this morning on a Tuesday, and I wake up at a normal hour, and I've got a string of texts from from my group thread, and you're in that group text and you're texting me about Tunisia Denmark. There's no way you were up watching Tunisia Denmark. How how do you have the bandwidth to watch Tunisia Denmark. That was the kind of game that you keep on in the background as you're taking as you're taking care

of you Tuesday morning work responsibilities. Because it is still happening on Tuesday morning work, the out of office messages start coming back to you Tuesday afternoon. That's when the company Thanksgiving, all luncheons are going on. You're starting to get the emails from all companies out there. Hey we'll be closing tomorrow at one o'clock in the afternoon, So everybody's sort of putting it on cruise control at that point. That's how you handle that Tuesday morning. Because you don't

eat soccer. Soccer soccer, Can I just say one quick thing about watching soccer, especially if the team USA. Yeah, let me explain something. I'm not a big soccer guy. You know you're not. I'm shocked I'm in. I'm in on the World Cup because it's compelling to me. But to watch a soccer game, there's nothing easier in the world. That game starts, you get forty five straight minutes of play. They give you a fifteen minute break to maybe grab a snack, whatever you have to do. It comes back on.

You get forty five minutes of play, and then it's over. You're not, you're not. There's no TV timeouts, there's no breaks, there's no instant replays that, there's nothing. You're in it, you're out. The game's over two hours, easy peasy. It's nice and I like having it in the background. Also, it's almost like having golf in the background. It's just kind of like the hum of the crowd. It's a very soothing sound and then you hear the roar and you know there's a goal or you know, some wild

red card or yellow card. Okay, so we're Tuesday before Thanksgiving. We hyped this next ten days up. Lay it out for me. What do we got from here on out? And how am I supposed to budget my time, my stomach, and my heart and soul into sports the next few days? Because I feel like we're about to hit peak sports season. That's a fantastic question. The way that I would look at is this right now, it's Tuesday morning. Me personally, I would recommend take Tuesday night for yourself and your family.

Do what you have to do. You want to go out for dinner, you want to you know, step out, go see a movie or whatever it might be. There's nothing crazy going on in that sports landscape tonight on Tuesday. Wednesday is a little bit different because some of people travel on Wednesday. You're trying to put together your last minute Thanksgiving responsibilities. If you're hosting, there's a lot of things you have to do Wednesday day that Yeah, there'll be some World Cup games in and out and you

can have it on in the background. But from a from a football straight football and NFL college standpoint, there's nothing today or tomorrow. That's absolutely you are nailed to the couch for three hours for However, then you get the Thursday and now this is where it's put your foot on the gas for the next four days. It's not a marathon, it's a spread. Yeah, that's exactly right. You've got to do the first half of these eight nine days that I'm talking about. Now it's Thanksgiving. Now

at twelve thirty. You've got Bills Lions, and these Lions are frisky, they are fighting, They've won three in a row. That's the game you're gonna want to watch. Then you go right into all right, Cowboys Giants. I'm a giant fan the Giants of They've got It's amazing what happens in forty eight hours in the NFL. It's Tuesday morning, forty eight hours ago. We're talking about Brian Dave a winning Coach of the Year, and the Giants hosting and a playoff game. Now I'm sitting here looking at seven

and ten wheels are coming most seasons over. It's unbelievable. And you know you got all day Thursday. You know you're gonna be eating all day long. If you're the type that's gonna pour yourself a little cocktail or whatever between the eating and drinking all day long on Thursday, you go into Thursday night, you get Vikings Pats King Pats Off a big win, Vikings Off a absolutely horrific loss. That game has a little sizzle to it. Get through

that wake up Friday morning, ease into the day. Friday morning. It's the morning after Thanksgiving. There's no reason to be out there running marathon's going crazy because trots. You don't do a turkey trot. I'm not doing a turkey trot Friday morning. Not in the middle, not not in the middle of everything we have going on. It's not gonna happen because I gotta know that on Friday at two o'clock, USA England. I'm in you. You gotta be into that. That is a must win for the USA right there.

Apparently that's what my soccer friends are telling me. Must win for USA through USA England. And then we know Michigan, Ohio stayed on Saturday, USC noted Dame on Saturday, Full Slate Sunday. But here's what my question for you is. And I this is coming from someone who hosts a morning show about NFL football. You know, we have the show, and I checked the Twitter timeline and everyone's tweeting about

Saudi Arabia Argentina during my show. As a football fan, American football, and as someone who's kind of in a conflict here because I also worked for Fox Sports, and I know they paid seventeen billion dollars for the World Cup rights and this is a big moment for them. Is anyone watching Good Morning Football? Is everyone going to start becoming experts in you know, Belgium and their Golden generation and then whatever Uruguays got up their sleeve and

then oh and Bope did this and Littlewandowski did that. Like, should I be nervous that no one's gonna be watching Good Morning Football the next few days? And if not, please tell me what soccer I need to be aware of. Don't don't forget the Denmark six foot six goalie. You know they a legend Schmichael, Yeah, exactly. My opinion on it is that, yes, the World Cup is a fun, compelling, interesting thing to watch. It can be exciting. Like I said, the games are fast, they're they're it. You're in and

out in two hours. But from an American viewer standpoint right now, let's take Friday after Thanksgiving for instance, the USA England don't play it, don't play until two two o'clock in the afternoon. Yeah, you guys are on from seven to ten in the morning. You're fine. That's it. If someone's watching Good Morning Football today and they're watching it tomorrow, they're watching it Friday morning, They're not going to be pulled away to watch a random World Cup game.

That's the average fan that you guys are getting to watch. So I think you're fine. I don't think you lose one set of eyeballs. All right, we're ending this with with your final word. I've spoken with Aaron, my producer. I woking with Taylor. Um. Thanksgiving Turkey in or out? Oh, absolutely, in has to be arcneat has to be smothered and gravy. I'm a thousand percent in. Are you disgusted in that? I went new wave and I will not even look at the damn thing. I am disgusted by turkey. I

think it's dry. I think it's forced underneath a guise of American rhetoric, that we are forced to believe that this is an American thing to do, and it's patriotic to eat this terrible food that has no taste, and that the traditions of the family are somehow tied to some bird, some foul. I am not a fan of turkey, and I will not be told I must have it on Thanksgiving. Look, it's part of the scenery. It's the

main part of the scenery for a Thanksgiving table. I get it, but it's not the main part of the dish that you're going to be having for dinner that you're going to enjoy the most. I think everybody openly agrees with that. Between the mashed potatoes, the stuffing, the potential for macaroni and cheese, the list goes on and on. It's a carb day, it's not a protein day. You want to carve up all day on Thanksgiving. That's how it goes. The turkey's there for the picture for Instagram.

While you're standing there and everything looks beautiful, but at the end of the day, you're going more carved in protein. Love it all right, Good luck, We've got a crazy five days ahead of us. Good luck to your giants. Do you have the feeling I do that this might be like forty one nothing? Now, this is an absolute steamroll job by the cowboys at home the whole country on the couch watching the giants show up, like like everybody's injured. On the giants, we lose everybody. We have

two days to prepare. This is one of those you know, forty two ten type of things, and the wheels just explode off. The Giant's true, though, like last week, we're talking Daniel Jones, who serves a long term extension. This week, it's like, all right, blow the whole thing up. But there one ros If. Forty eight hours ago, I was talking about hoosting the NFC title game, and now I'm wondering what our draft pick will be when we finished seven and ten. That is the classic eight those of

a New York sports fan. And that's not even getting into the Zach Wilson side of things. That's just the Giants fan. The Jets fans are a lot further along than you, my friend. The Jets is a completely different story to talk about if you really wanted to dive into the Jet fan world. Because they think that not only should they be in first place, but that the starting quarterback shouldn't be playing anymore. It's a wild, wild ride to be a Jets fan. Did you say keep

them though? Right? I mean, I went on a whole rant to start the thing. And as someone who I know watches all this stuff, and you've got the thoughts and you say you got a stick with Wilson, I said, benjam I don't think it's the worst thing in the world. I don't think it's some Supreme Court justice job. I think that you have to stay with him from the standpoint that he deserves enough of a leash to say,

all right, is this guy the quarterback over future or not. However, as a fan, if you're telling me that going into last week, if they would have beaten the Patriots, that they have sole possession of first place, I got to do everything that I have to do to win that game. Because we haven't been very good the past five or six years. When I say we, I mean the Jets, and whatever you gotta do to win that team and

gets told possession in first place, you gotta do. I can't worry about where the quarterback position is going to be in twenty twenty three, twenty twenty four. I want to win right now. I do. What do you do this week? You bench him? Where you keep them? I'm standing him out there against the Bears. The Jets will go out they'll beat the Bears. Fields is a little

dinged up. The Jets will go out there. They may not win, you know, the thirty one three, but they'll have one of those you know, seventeen nine kind of wins. They'll win. They'll right the ship, and everybody forget that you want it to bench Jack Wilson. Here's what I would do and watch it happen. And this is not from Salo or anything. I just I have a feeling this is how it's going to go down, and I'll end it on this. They don't say a word, They

let everyone guess and speculate. It becomes a whole storyline over the next four days. They end up starting him on Sunday. He plays well, they win, this thing goes away, But the whole four days of suspense and the heat like it lets a little fire under him. I completely agree with that. And you know, look, you gotta tell him. Everyone wants to know who's starting. Once you know who's starting, that's it. Go out. Play well enough to win. You

don't have to light up the scoreboard. Just win the game. Let's move on and get to next Sunday, and away we go, and away we go. Detro, thank you on behalf of my dear friend right here on behalf of Aaron Kyle's on, behalf of Kevin Burkhart, and on behalf of Aaron Won Kaufman, Jason English, the iHeartMedia team, the NFL Digital team, and of course our music maestro, mister Jack Rudd. I want to say to everybody, thank you for subscribing to this thing, thank you for listening to

this thing. It has been a blast, and have an awesome Thanksgiving. Just don't touch that during Turkey. The Season with Peter Schrager is a production of the NFL and partnership with iHeartRadio. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, is it the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts.