The Dave Pasch Podcast - Marcus Spears

now on ESPN, and he's outstanding. He's fun, he's likable, he's engaging, and hopefully you'll enjoy our conversation with a guy nicknamed the Big Swagoo, who was an excellent college football player at LSU, first round draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys, and now a very accomplished broadcaster for ESPN. That really comes across on the air, and I think it comes across during our conversation here about the Cardinals, about the NFL, and also how Marcus got into this

business to begin with. I thought, getting too what the end of my career stor realizing, like man, I wanted to ready. I have opinion, that was my frain. I thought that. Then my wife was like, no, it's the prior to televison. You got a big personality. People like you. They gravitated you. You really don't hold back. We are presented by bet MGM, the official sports betting partner of the Arizona Cardinals, and by Hila River Hotels and Casinos.

Get ready for a football season like never before with bet MGM, an official partner of the Arizona Cardinals. Sign up today using code cards one thousand and get your first bet risk free up to one thousand dollars. Visit betmgm dot Comference terms and conditions twenty one and over Arizona only. Please gamble responsibly. Gambling problem called one eight hundred. Next step, All right, let's talk about the upcoming Cardinals game with Kansas City as well as the twenty twenty

two NFL regular season. Get some playoff predictions as well. For me, ESPNS Marcus Spears. So, first of all, I don't even know if I call you Marcus Spears, big Swago. I get confused with all the names that everybody calls you by. Marcus. But your your weekly schedule right now is just as crazy. What's it like A day in the life a week in the life of Marcus Spears at ESPN now that football season's about to get going here, man, First of all, thanks for having me, brother. It's crazy, um.

And and and call me whatever you comfortable with DP you you know you've been around your burnday, you got you got a lot of stink in the game, brother boy, than be so whatever you doing fit um. But it's just like I got my schedule, um, actually my actual schedule a couple of days ago, and it was a reminder of how much football is about to happen. Um. But Monday through Friday, I have no time at all anymore.

It's football season, and it's exactly how I would like it, to be honest with you, m I still get a chance to see my kids play. The schedule works out that way without being you know, being too crazy. I'm able to be home two days a week during the week, um to catch what they do on the weekend as well. So but but now it's time, man. I mean I sit around in the off season and I do bolletball, I do travel basketball. Both my girls play volleyball, my

son plays travel basketball. But when football season starts, everybody kind of starts position in themselves because they know I'm going to go into into that mode. My wife already is ready. She got everything severed, UM and and VP. Honestly, man, we've been doing that since I've been playing, since I was playing, Like every I didn't know that this time for the year, which I call a six month holiday for me, it's time for me to lock in and get it going. But you're still busy doing NFL Live.

And then I see on First Take and Sports Center what the relationship with stephen A? Tell me, like how that has evolved into what it is because you can go toe to toe with him now. He may not want to admit that, especially when it comes to Dallas Cowboys talk. Yeah, man, Um, you know stephen A first of all, a ton of respect for him. It's a huge platform. We all know that First Take is a not only a very higher rated show, but a lot

of people watch it from the standpoint of different demographic dynamics. UM. And just to have the opportunity a couple of years ago to be on that platform, UM was was phenomenal. But honestly, past like it's it reminds me a lot of what I did growing up. Man, I do TV just like I did when I was talking about Dad and my uncle's about football, basketball. And I think that's the one thing that First Take and also Get Up allowed me to do was to talk more than just football.

I never wanted to be pigeonholed into not, you know, thinking that this is just a football guy and that's the only thing he does. Football is my passion, is what I love. It's something that I have my ten thousand hours in. I understand the game. I have a ton of respect for the game. I have a lot of relationships in the game. But the NBA as well, I played basketball growing up, was very holly recruited, so I've understand that game at some very high levels as well.

But being on First Take with stephen A just reminds me of what I did with my dad and my uncles and my family members and my best friends. You know, it's a debate show, like we like to call it because we politically correct, but it's really just an argument show, um and and to get your opinion across and you argue like when I was arguing or debating. Actually like to call up with my uncles and with my dad.

Obviously they didn't think I knew anything about what I was talking about, but it got me ready for that arena. But I think it I think it really starts to respect knowing that you're entering it into hit domain. But see when they knows, um, that I'm not afraid to go toe to toe. I'm not afraid to touch every topic. And when we agree, we agree. Um, when we disagree, we disagree. And when it comes to the Cowboys, you know, I tell them all the time, one team out of

all thirty two is gonna win a Super Bowl. Now I have no defense for how long it's been since the Cowboys has at least been back to the Super Bowl. And I have eight years in there where I wasn't able to As a team, we weren't able to get there. So that's hard. That's a hard one for me. And then when they make the mistakes that he predicts, it

puts me in a terrible situation. But more than anything, the hospitality that they show him when he gets here is what rubs me the wrong way more than anything, because of the disrespect that he gives the Cowboys every season. And then when he comes here, Jared rolls out the red carpet boy, he was only helicopter. He gets invited to lunch and all of this. I think that's the ultimate level of disrespect. And I'm actually man than the

Cowboys for that. You know, stephen A has. This is why I think he's different from somebody like Skip Bayliss, where stephen A can say something, he can rip your team, but the way he does it, you take it seriously, but you don't take it personally. And maybe that's why, like it's different with him when it's coming from him. And also if you if you I see you he did is a lot to your expertise, whether you are

a former NBA player or a former NFL player. And I think he never tried to go told as told in football acting and when he comes from actual experience, he goes at it from a reporter standpoint, from from you know, and I say a lot of times even from a fan standpoint, because even as you whether you hate him or you love him, he does give a perspective of a sportswriter and also a fan. Right Like we could grill him about how bad the Knicks have been.

We can talk about the things that have happened in Pittsburgh with holding on to being too long and they haven't wanted to think because those are the teams that he roots for and loves. But ultimately he never like like if you watch when we're on and I'm on Ryan park is All or Damian Woody or Floxworth or Dan or a live speak like he defers to your

football knowledge information as a former player. He never tries to enter into, you know, the nuances of the game that we wouldn't know that somebody that didn't play with another um and that's not a knot, but that's just

you know, we respect him for that guy. I know a lot of guys have mentioned that comedy that actually that work in the businesses that you know, he doesn't try to put himself um kind of act like he knows more about the actual plane of the game, right, like you could speak to the game without ever playing the game. You can give opinions about plays or the game that if you if you've never stepped foot on the field, I'm I'm all for it and you can

do that. That shouldn't be opening anybody with all and willing to study is enough to understand what's happening. But sometimes it's like you get told and told of a guy that's visited the trenches in the fourth quarter when your legs feeling like a thous of pounds, and you can have someone act like they know what that feels like. That's the difference with me of how he comes about it. Well,

you certainly know what it feels like. Marcus. You were a great player at LSU, first round draft pick, and I know injuries you still had a good at NFL career. You mentioned the eight years with Dallas and then finished up with Baltimore. I know injuries hurt you. And we've seen so many guys that have such promising careers. And now I worked with Dusty Dvorchek in college football, and yeah,

injuries killed his career, you know, killed his career. Did you think when you were playing for the Cowboys or maybe even at LSU, did you think that you would get into TV and be talking about sports when you were done? Plan man, You know, Dave, I wanted to do radio. TV came about because of my wife and my sister. Actually, I did a radio show on our old days on two days with a guy in Dallas name Brady Thinker, who helped me tremendously. Ed Werder was

obviously the Cowboys reporter. I would ask ask him about how they worked, how they working for ESPN all the time. Um, and not to mention, you know, playing for the Cowboys you got access to every medium medium in the in the world, not just in America. So I had a lot of that around me. I had the brass shams and the babe offing birds, um, Clarence Hills, the writers

and people that want the television side. And as I got started getting towards the end of my career, I started realizing, like man, I wanted to I wanted to be ready. Though I have opinions, I was one of the guys that you know, I wasn't quote unquote a superstar, but I would always get a lot of media in my locker because they knew it was gonna be some honest assessment of what we were doing while we lost, while we won. Um guys played, how we played, how

I played, UM and just finding that fine lad. But it started to become a thing for me in radio because I thought Ready obviously in all form you get you get to talk about a lot. But ultimately it goes back to what I told you about first SAPE. I knew that I would hate on radio. I would be able to talk about all sports. I knew I would be able to talk about more than just football, even though that would have been my expertise. So that was my friend and thought. And then my wife was like, Nah,

it should try to do television. She was like, you need to be on TV. You got a big personality. People like you. They gravitated you, and you really don't hold back. That was what my wife told me, and then my sister, and it was divine. Man. My sister called me and was like, hey, have you seen that they started up the new SEC network? And I was like, yeah, I've been following it because you know, when you play, you always arguing with guys from other conferences, who the

best conference, who the best schools or whatever? And they need my Really, I was literally man, was like, okay, well let me let me just try it. So I b m Seconi Drooly on Twitter and I was like, um,

I see you know she. I went through the the Google and whatever, and I saw that she was one of the executives that was responsible for getting it started up and running and I d M her and I was like, hey, I want I'm interested in doing TV UM with the NCC network, you know, coming from LSU, just finishing my career and bro, she sent me a DM back and it was like, um, good to good to see that she interested send me some reals. And I was like, man, I'm fishing hunting all the time.

What she wants reals for? Like um? And and had no no clue, bro um, and then I take the back. I mean I d M the back. I was like real. I was like, I don't know. She was like, yeah, send me some TV stuff that you've done, because if anybody knows Stephanie, you don't play around the last. She's like, just if you got them off you're doing TV, just send it to me. So I sent them stuff to

you man and and um. I received a call um to come up in audition in the Austin, Texas at the Long One network because not for a long one that worked. But well actually I went up to Bristol first and when I got that VP, it was six degrees bro, and I was like, well, if I got to work up here, I'm probably not gonna go forward.

With this UM. And then when I got in and I did my UM, I did my interview, my my audition UM with brock Hewer, and we went through some you know, highlight films and broke some stuff down and I felt myself kind of like uptight, and it was like trying to be UM. I guess quote unquote professional or professional sportscaster or whatever. UM. So it went dark.

I didn't hear anything for two weeks and then I got another call and was like, hey, we want you to come the Long one Network in Austin and audition again for SEC Network and I went up man and then the audition was a little bit a lot more possible UM. And two weeks later I got a call and said he was gonna hire you at SEC Network. And I was thinking I was just going through the studio. And then eventually I get a call again about a week later. It was like, Hey, you're gonna put on

SEC Nation. I'll traveling Rod Live Show and bro Literally I take Stephanie. I was like you sure about this? She was like, look, you be yourself. I know you don't know nothing about CB. Be yourself and talk about what you know and everything else will work out. That's how my career started at esp and the rest they say is history, man, because you're great at what you do. You're so engaging. Your big personality off the year comes

through on the air. You're very likable. And you know, Stephanie now doesn't just run the SEC network, she runs ESPN. He's one of the top executives. Yeah. Um, what would be your advice her? Yeah? Absolutely? Uh, you know, so this podcasting mark this is new for me. I think this is episode thirty eight or thirty nine, and I've had you know, other broadcasters on play by play, announcers, analysts.

It's cardinal centric. So you know, cliffs come on a couple of times, Steve Kim, had jj Watt and Zach Ertz and James Connor and Buddha Baker and those guys, those players like we'll talk twenty five thirty minutes. There are some players, some of the younger guys in particular, that are a little bit more shy and they're afraid

to say things. So what would your advice be to a young player about giving the media enough information where it's interesting and entertaining but obviously not damaging the organization In the process. Does that make sense? Yeah, man, I think I think the advice I would get those guys every time you step in front of the camera, partake your teammates more than anything. And when I think particular teammates, you can feel the truth about what's happening within your

organization without being malicious and without naming names. You know, one of those classes that you go through is always uplifts. He may talk about a mental positive light, and I think you should do that, But the reality is in the NFL, you're not always getting along with your teammates. You're not always feeling like you're playing well or your teammates are playing well. And never I my cardinal rule or never make it about me or them make it

about us. So even if you say something that's considered quote unquote negative, but if it's true, most of the time, grown men, teammates organizations will be okay with that. You don't devote sensitive personal information. You don't talk about a guy and what he does preparation wise or in particular those other things that I was felled off players. And then the next thing, man is and something that I've been fortunate enough to be you know, with my mom

and Dad and my family. That always just be authentic, like some people are gonna like you, some people not gonna like you. And once you're okay with that, you can move forward in your career. You could do Uh. It gives you a sense of freedom to be able to speak on things that you want to speak about. Some things you're just not interested in. I feel like you shouldn't speak about um. So that would be my advice, man. And then when it comes to the organization, are um

trying not to say anything next? Look? Man, the reality is this thing is already on display. Like we know when the Cardinals are playing bad or the Cowboys or the Rams, or we know what teammates have issues. We thought Johns and nowl and at the run pain and fight on the sideline. Um, obviously that wasn't good, Like everything wasn't peachy and and and all. Well, but you also, as a teammate or those guys can you were fun of that situation? So what happened on the sideline? All right?

If somebody interviewing me Morgans the run playing Johnson Ala had to fight, what happened on the sidelines? Look? Man, this game is, this game is it's very important to us. This game is critical. We're in the heat of the moment. Our guys are had a disagreement, and sometimes those disagreements go to that point. Now, obviously we wouldn't have liked it to get to that point, but we're gonna sit down on the week, teammates, we've been around each other,

we grown men. We'll figure out how to get it. Get it picked. These guys will be okay. And that's pretty much all I have to say about that, because anything else that you guys are gonna ask you trying to be deeper into relationships and I'm not willing to devose that to you because this is personal to us. That's how I would have those guys answer that question. I've told you that, yeah, there's an issue, but the issue won't linger because leadership of make it happen. We'll talk.

These guys don't hate each other, They had a moment, and we're gonna move all with as a football team. I think that's how you know you can handle things and say the truth without telling people of everything, because everything doesn't need to be known, either within the organization or within the team. But if there is an issue, you can touch on that issue and let them know that it is an issue, but you always can be working towards fixing it because ultimately working towards fixing it

makes you a better team. And that would be the advice I would get those guys ahead. Well, as you're talking, I can't help but think of Kyler Murray, who has embraced exactly what you're saying. You listen to Kyler talk now and how he We had him on our preseason telecast the other night, and he very engaging. The answers were lengthy, they were detailed, as opposed to early on. I think, as any rookie is, you're you're unsure of

where the media is coming from. You don't want to say something it's going to make yourself look bad or your teammates look bad. I just watching that and Kyler and how he's talking to people inside the organization and with the media, and maybe it's wishful thinking you're twenty one with this organization, but I feel like he is poised, along with his ability of course, poised to have a huge year, and that the team's poised to have a huge year. What are your thoughts on Kyler and the Cardinals.

I believe so too. I think obviously we've had a ton of conversations about college maturity, and I've always been one to talk about a young but being young now in twenty twenty two doesn't mean the same thing as a deal when we were young bad like people expect you to be a wrong man. They want you to know how to answer every question, they want you to do things the right way. And obviously the contract situation with the clause didn't help improve it to the general

public that that maturity had already said in. But beyond that, I think sometimes adversity for guys like Kyler Murray is the best thing because if you think that, like I was in Exis when Kyler played at out in high school, I have never heard anyone say anything bad about Kyler Murray. And maybe as a young guy, you start to kind of get in the rule and you start to think that, hey, it's the way things are going. He was drafted to

ten in the major leagues. He got drafted number one overall in the NFL, and maybe that situation was a humbling experience for them, and it did make him dive deeper into like, Okay, how am I managing all of this as opposed to what the media is saying or people around me telling me how good I am. I

just got a new contract. Like handling success, it's harder than handling adversity when you young man, and I tell people that all the time, Like the success part almost put us into a mindset that hey, this is how it's gonna be, Like we know playing bad things are

gonna come along with that. But ultimately, like overall and Lofes, you think about Kyler Murray, he really has been elite number one guy as for the last twelve thirteen years, And with this contract situation, I had to kind of just take a setback and think about like where would where would I be at his age? What would I think? It's something like this transpired in the organization and something like this got out in public perception, how do I

deal with that? Intern and what you're saying, Like the maturity to speaking about it, being upfront is honest about it. I think it's the best foot knock thing I know for me or like I try to tell a lot of it. That's the best way to be man, be upfront, because what do you tell the truth? And you true to your convictions. People don't hate that and some people don't respect it, So you might as well not lie about where you are because people don't hate that, and

some people gonna accept that as well. So I think you just you have an honest approach, and That's what I've been seeing from him moving forward, just kind of honest approach, like, yeah, maybe some of these things are true. Maybe I do need to become a better mean, but maybe I do need to speak more about like what I'm doing in my intentions as opposed to letting the narrative about me continue to circulate and other people kind of put these things on me when it's not entitled

success our title, success of Kyler Murder. These are some of the lumps that you take as a young player. But man, when you the face of a franchise and you the quarterback in the league that people can't get enough of, and you just been rewarded for what you've done, the type of contract you have to you have to start gaining a different perspective, You have to start approaching things differently and not so none chaluant me. That was

one of my things with Kyl. I thought a lot of it just was none chalut like not understanding the gravity of what we're talking about, what you're doing. So I think that just comes with time. Man. So to your point, I think he's pointed to have a really big year, and I think it has more to do what it's mental in its physical at least, because we've always known he's been a hell of a football player.

So spears. Looking at the NFC West, Seattle still has, you know, some pieces on that team that have been part of major success there, but you're starting Gino Smith at quarterback. Gino is a big step back from Russell Wilson, whether it was Gino or Drew Locke. San Francisco. Now with keeping Jimmy g makes you wonder do they really believe in Trey Lance? And then who knows about Matthew Stafford's elbow with LA. So you've got some question marks

at the most important position on the team. In those other three organizations, all the Cardinals have a rising star at quarterback. How do you see the Cardinals finishing in the NFC West? And is the NFC West still the best division in the conference, if not the league? I think it's best division in the offense, I do believe that, and I think Arizona right now they need They are

at a point where they're deciding who they are. Are you going to number one rewards a quarterback with the type of money, but are you going to be able to supplant the San Francisco forty nine ers and what Kyle does over there? Um mass Stafford obviously with the elbow, we got to see what he's going to be, but you still got to descend against the descending champions and understanding what that road is like. And havening't been there twice as a coach who you know with Sean McVay.

So I think the Cardinals, Kyler Murray and Cliff Kingsbury along with everybody else man because I love I love this young team to be honest, which I love Budda Baker. We were high. They gotta send it. They gotta figure out how to sustain it. And usually when you see teams fall off at the end of the year, it is youth. That's we talked about experience so much. That's why everybody is always enamored with hum Brady and how he's able to kind of get going during the play

bro It's experienced. I know how to do this. I know how to prepare my body. I know how to study. I know the level in which the games are gonna be played when you're getting down to the crunch time and you're trying to get a number one seed or you're trying to make ways through the playoffs. So all of those things to me for the Cardinals or what they're going to have to figure out going forward, And

it's gonna start with their head coaching quarterback. And it looks if you don't if you want to hide in the NFL, don't be the head coach and don't be the quarterback. So these two guys, especially Kyler being on the field with the opment out of the first six games, leadership is going to be on the test. How fast can we get it going? Our ability, our ability to play well together, some of that veteran leadership that they're

gonna have. Defensively, like, all of those things have to come together because we know the type of football that Temperances plays. It's hard to defend. That's a hard team to be a lot of the times, especially towards the end of the year, because they have that experience too

of going deep into the playoffs. For me, when it comes to Arizona college, maturity cliffs ability to prepare these guys and get them ready for weeks eleven through seventeen or eighteen, and then once you get into the playoffs to be prepared because past you know this as well as I against the Rams, they were not prepared. It's

just but it was you. There's a there's a playing bad, and then there's an unprepared And to a man and woman, people that I know will know a lot about football, even former coaches that I spoke with about their game, former players, they look unprepared. So that's all maturity. And most of the time we're gonna look at the head coach. We're talking about it here, Dallas bro. You can't leave the league in penalties and then lead the preseason following

that season in penalties. That's coaching. That's being unprepared, that's not making the necessary adjustments to be a better football team. So those are the things that are being on display for the Cardinals. And if with college maturity, we know he can play, we know he's dynamic, and he can do everything you need him to do as a quarterback to win games and win championships. It's the mental piece between him and his head coach down the stretch. Those

are what the two teams. So right now I have them third pass just if you're asking for a ranking right now, third in the division behind the Rams in San Francisco. And they can absolutely supplant one of those teams, but it's all gonna board down the preparation and their ability to down the line. So you have them third, you have them in the playoffs as a wild carter out.

I have them in the playoffs because when I look around the rest of the NFC, man like, I just don't it's it's a it's one of it's tough because their division. But I look around like the rest of the way, like I got the Saints and Tampa, right I got the ram San Francisco and Arizona. So that's five teams. I'm I'm almost I'm about to flip the Philly out of the NFC East. I'm with you, okay, And you know, I'm very interested to see what Dallas

is going to be. Um, I just can't put my trust in Carson Wins, but I know that they have a lot of talent. With the Washington Commanders. I'm just you know, struggling with that quarterback situation and what he's actually going to be um, But right now, like I would have them in the playoffs man like, and and you know Green Bay obviously being that team that the top team, but they I think they're gonna be fighting

to get in there. Because right now, when I look at the NFC, man honestly, like those teams that are indivisions that's tough, or those teams that may be like right there in that six or seven seed for me would be the Cardinals would be Minnesota. Outside of that, man like, I don't see many of these other teams in the NFC making crazy way right. The NFC is not as deep as it's been, while the AFC seems loaded,

particularly the FC West. The Cardinal's first two games are against teams from the FC West versus Kansas City week one and then at the Raiders week two. Are you a believer in the Chiefs returning to Super Bowl form this year or without Tyreek Hill? Are they not as potent offensive even though Patrick Mahomes is their quarterback. I believe they can be potent without Tyreek Hill. I believe you go to more of a golden state, because you know, I love basketball where you do it by movement, you

do it with a lot of guys. You do it with some guys that people don't know their names, that instant livering bills. But I don't think they're gonna I don't think they're gonna miss a beat. I've said that this tall season. The one concern that I have is when it's crunch time and they in critical leverage games. That was always Patrick Mahomes and Tyree Hill, or Patrick

Mahomes and Travis Kelsey. I want to know if they are going to have a guy that he trusts enough to scramble around for ten seconds and hurl that thing because he know he's gonna be behind everybody on the defense and past. You know this man like you, You covered this game, you talk, you know this game inside and out. When we start talking about teams like the Knsas City Chiefs or the AFC West, we're talking about playoffs.

We ain't talking about regular season games. We're talking about high leverage moments when those type of guys, those Tyreek Hill, those defunct a Adams, Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, Kyler Murray are in the those moments to go to the next week and be able to play in the playoffs or secure a top seed and get home filled. Can you depend on the new guys with these different situations and scenarios.

That's what I'm waiting to see with Kansas City. They'll be in the playoffs, They'll be in contention for number one in the division, I believe. But ultimately it's about those high levers moments. And right now I got the Chargers win in that division because of what they did defensively. And if I got any big questions about Kansas City, it's that side of the bass. The homes in this offensive be fine. Last one, Marcus, is there a team NFC or a FC that you see as a major sleeper?

Because this you mentioned the NBA, you pretty much know you could probably name most of the playoff teams before the season even starts. The NFL. That's a feudal attempt. You're going to be wrong on half the teams. So is there a sleeper somebody that no one's talking about. There was a bad team last year or had talent but just had a lot of injuries that you see

getting to the postseason and being a factor Indianapolis coach. Yeah, I think Matt Ryan is going to change not only the mentality, He's gonna make those guys around him better. I don't think Jonathon Teller is gonna have to be the workhouse that he was, but still highly effective. Um. But when I look at that team from an offensive and defensive standpoint now with a veteran quarterback, I mean they almost beat Buffalo two years ago in the playoffs

with Philip rivers Um to to advance. So that that's the one team that I got my eyes on. They got they got big names, they got a lot of talent, They got elite players with the forest up front, you know with with obviously Shaq Leonard now um not Darius Um and then and then you look offensively, man, and we know what we know what Jonathan Teller is, But I think Matt Ryan is gonna bring the best out of Michael Pittman. Paris Campbell stepped up for them last year.

They got a really good offensive line, like this team can be sneaky. And also, man, don't count out of Baltimore. They were riddle by injury last year and still almost you know, made noise, but a healthy Baltimore Ravens with Lamar Jackson, who may be on a mission to get a contract after this year. That could be scary too. But those are the two teams I got my eyes on, and I know they both come from the AFC. In

the NFC, Man, I think it's gonna be. I think it's gonna be straight to the tape, you know what I'm saying. Like, I think the teams that we're gonna have in are gonna be in. I got Silly in, I got Dallas in, I got Green Bay in. I got New Orleans and Tampa in, and I got the Cardinals rams in San Francisco as it stands right now. Well, listen, you know I'm a big fan of years. It's been great to watch, whether it was on Thinking Out Loud on the SEC Network with Greg McElroy or SEC Nation

or NFL Live or First Take. You do such a great job, Marcus. I always enjoy watching and I always feel smarter after I'm done talking with you. So thanks for your time, bro. They appreciate you. Man. Thanks for having me, man, and good luck to you. I know you're about to get going crazy too, man, So thank you. Yep, Life ends for both of us here in about four days. So thanks man, all right, appreciate you, Marcus, thanks again, man, all right, so good to catch up with Marcus. You

see him everywhere. First take with Stephen A. Smith NFL Live with Me, to Kimes and Laura Rutledge and Ryan Clark and dan Orlovsky. He's got the podcast with Kendrick Perkins. Marcus is one of my favorites, So engaging, fun to listen to. Had some great stuff to say about the Cardinals. He's very bullish on Arizona in twenty twenty two. He's

got him in the playoffs. He also says that we're going to see Kyler Murray's maturity off the field and his leadership skills, how they've evolved and grown and matured that translating into more wins and better play and consistency and more victories down the stretch for the Cardinals. Here in twenty twenty two. We are presented by bet MGM, the official sports betting partner of the Arizona Cardinals, and by Hila River Hotels and Casinos. You can follow us

on Twitter at pashpod. You can also go to your podcast platform and rate us. Tell us what you think. There's a guest that you really want to hear from, Tell us who you want. We'll be happy to take your suggestion and try to accommodate. Thanks again to ESPN's Marcus Spears, and thanks to you for listening to another edition of the Dave Pash Podcast