Merril Hoge Shakes His Terrible Towel

on where we are there in the NFL. And then we have some exciting surprising news that's at the very end of the show, and that's gonna be a lot of fun. But first, we are coming off another big weekend in sports, from Mike White to Cooper Rush, Genos Myth, P J. Walker, Trevor Simeon, backup quarterbacks galore coming up with big wins and honest, I know you love this. The Steelers one without a kicker. How do you feel about it? I tell you it was a more exciting

game to watch. I mean, the NFL called me up. I got ideas. I just you're so all in on this kicker thing. Please don't ask Meryll Hodge about it. I'm the only thing I'm gonna ask Meryll Hodge about is whether he became a tough football player because he has a named Meryl. That's a woman's name, and I really hope you don't ask him that either. Okay, the Rams are going all in. They traded for former Super Bowl m v P Von Miller. That is just scary dangerous for the Rams. They are so good. I kind

of like the Rams to win it all. Might as well put that in here. Also had some unfortunate news for the Titans. Derrick Henry likely out for the year, and I'm really upset because he was definitely going to set the NFL rushing record with this new seventeen game schedule. It was just a matter of times that it's a major loss. But they bring in Adrian Peterson back in the NFL. We'll get to all that later. I think Joannest thinks that's a good move. I'm not so sure.

So for once, Johannese and I are coming to you from the same city. Now we've done this once before in Las Vegas, but now we are on Janice's turf. We are in New York. Stday a Big Satday. Can you imagine me? Can you imagine little old me from Kansas making it to the big Stay. If you can make it hair, and you can make it anywhere, You're gonna be a big shaw Shure. I'll make you a show. Your name will be up in lights. Oh, hd oh, I'd like my name up in lights. If you can

make it hair, you can make it anywhere. And I've made it here. I jumped on the train and I'm never going back. Mall, you're doing great, You're doing good. Je I'll make you a star. You've got what it takes. Kid. Johannes is probably sick of me because we've been running around New York City together and I've kind of created that a persona and I really am a girl from Kansas, And to be honest, every time I come to New York, I get a little overwhelmed. So I think I just

have tried to keep up with the energy. Everyone loves New York's energy, right, yeah. I mean you're you're worried about walking one block. You were like, can I walk with a person? Will I get robbed and killed and murdered? And everyone told me New York has changed. Everyone told me. You can't walk alone. So I had you. I had John Franklin. You guys are a couple of goons. Your a couple of locals, and I felt very safe walking

to the next game with you. We also went to Jersey City and we preview the Monday night for Giants. Chiefs are two teams. I mean we took you everywhere. This is New York. We took you to Jersey We took you down to Times Square. I got you a slice, I got you a bagel. I mean, you don't I kid, Well, that was very fun. I I really I'm going to Washington, d C. After this, and I feel like I can breathe a little bit the further down south I go.

But I don't know. Hey, we also got to see Peter Andrews building, but we didn't get to see Peter andrew in person. Yeah, Peter Andrews living in Style. What a beautiful building. Peter. Tell them to get us more tickets. Yeah, you were on that one. I could only get us three tickets. We watched the Raptors at next game, Raptors one. Really, it was a bad week for me to be in New York as I was cheering against the Giants and against the Knicks, and both teams that I was rooting

for one So sorry, sports fans, I'll stay home. Yeah we are. We can't wait for you to get on that train fast enough. Get out of town you brought us. I really am taking a train out of here with train out of the mid saday. Yeah, just get out of here. O h D. You've given us horrible. Look. You know someone who did not have as great of a weekend as us is Joey Watson brad be All the week he put his money in Florida State. They didn't cover plus nine because of a meaningless last second

bumble recovering the end zone. Now that's what we call a bad beat. You actually lost twice because of it. So Joey Watson, my man, I'm so sorry, but we're gonna try to make it up for you. We're going to give you a hundred dollars a bet MGM credit so you can try your luck again this week. Man. Florida State, and I know this was just a cover, but they've had a tough season. Yeah. The Notre Dame was at the beginning of the year. You I feel

for you. Joey Watson to make sure you submit your bad beat every week to at bet MGM on Twitter, and we're going to announce the winner on the podcast. You've got to listen to the podcast and you'll get your hando in bet MGM credit. Okay, honest, are you ready to unleash? Let's on. It's time. Now we're gonna do this a little bit different. So Jannie and I we mentioned went to the next game and we had a lot of fun. And here's what I want to

unleash about is sports fans at a game. So we sit down in our seats, right, honest, and there's a couple that gets up and they say, excuse me, we're right over there, and we're saying, okay, yeah, and we do the kind of polite the almost stand up but not full stand up thing, and they get past us. But then they just stand there and we're all kind of looking around. I can't just sit down right, just sit in your seat, and we're looking around. They're not

sitting okay there in the wrong row. Okay, well we can understand that, right, So we do the other kind of yep, sure, here you go, buddy. They moved past us. They come back, they're still confused, and we're like, oh, so was this the right row? Right? They leave again, so these people are all confused. Then they end up in the row in front of us, so our whole row is kind of chuckling, right, and then they end

up coming back with food. They're they're a mess. They keep coming back and forth, and at some point, and I kind of have a mouth on me and I was in a great mood. I didn't say anything. I think, ye, honest, you might have said something to him, did you. Yeah, I know. I tripped them and then I threw water on their head like Jackson Mahomes. That's called pulling to Jackson mole. Yeah. I mean they needed to sit down. I felt like I was at the State of Union address.

They kept standing up, sitting down. I wanted to say, sit the funk down, trying to watch her she's trying to watch her husband celebrate. Yeah. It was just annoyting and just got me thinking there are bad fans out there, and it's just it's whether they're going to the bathroom a lot, or they're going to get a bunch of drinks, and if it's a really good game. I think this applies more in the NFL because there are fewer games.

If it's a really good game and you're really hanging on every play, and there are these people who just aren't paying attention and they're talking and they're drinking and they're messing around taking pictures. Don't you just hate those fans? You're just like, get out of here, go stand around in the concourse if you're going to do this. I hate them. I hate them. Oh h D, I'm with you. I mean, people got to learn how to be fans. Uh,

nobody better to teach them. You can make some side money teaching people how to lambo and teaching people how to be classy fans who have some decorum about them. Yeah, just a little decorns all I'm asking for. And just don't make me stand up a lot. You know, I'm I'm tired, I'm hungry, I'm watching my game. Just don't

make me stand up a lot. Okay, honest, that's your unleash. Well, you know, I got a lot of things on leash, and I want to unleash on those fans too, because you know, I had my guest, my co host, my good friend O h. D in town and you guys were new Yorkers. You made a bad impression, So I'm mad at you. I'm mad about a lot of things. One of the things I'm mad about is Nick fans

right now annoying me with their hyperbole. Okay, the Knicks just started the season, they won a few games, and now Nick's fans are going crazy talking about how they're gonna win the East and there's only one team better than the Bucks. They just lost last night to Sam Decker and the Toronto Raptors. There's only been six. Hey, that was condescending. That was condescending. No, I'm just saying because he's on the team. Can you guys just calm down.

It's the beginning, all right. You're you're you're setting yourself up for major disappointment by going too hard and thinking this is the best thing since Patrick Ewing. Just calmed down. That's my one unleash. My second unleash is can people stop pretending like T shirts are is like free money? I mean those T shirt guns come out and women start taking their tips out and they start offering their firstborn babies. People will do anything for a T shirt.

It's a five dollar T shirt made in China. Who we're supposed to be boycatting right now because we're in a trade war with them. Don't support China. Don't buy the fucking T shirt. They should be throwing something better, Throw me money. I will tackle a pregnant woman for money, but for a T shirt. I am not getting out of my seat for a T shirt. Now. That's just simply not true, because when those T shirt cannons came out.

Ye honest, I've never seen you move so fast. You were out of your seat, you were shaking it, you were dancing. I think your shirt did come up as well, since you brought it up, and I think you were running those T shirts, So I don't know you busted, Okay, busted, damn you. You dropped dime on me. Yeah. I will do anything for a T shirt. I will even suck your for a T shirt. Whoa, whoa, whoa, Now, I will do anything. As we're walking around New York City,

this isn't an unleash, but more of an observation. You were famous, I am I am not famous. Yes, yes you are famous. People are coming up to him in the street. Johannese, it's you, Joannest. I love you. I'm telling you multiple people. I was like, look who I'm with. I suspect they did that because they were too shy to say, oh my god, it's O H D. And so I think that was just a decoy, and because I could tell the whole time they were just looking at you, okay, and did you pay these people? They

did look a lot like you are these cousins. I don't know, or maybe they thought that we were with Yanni the singer, because you know, the guy we were with looks he works for bed MGM, and he looks it was John Taylor Franklin, John Franklin. Sorry, I you know, I had a long weekend of drinks last night. John Franklin looks exactly like the singer Yanni, and it's hilarious. So it looked like we were and you look like you could be you could be Taylor Swift girl. I

mean you got presents, a gravitas, thank you. I'll take the gravitas anyway if it meets it's mine name in the lights. Um. It was a really fun night. Another big hot take. If you go to a NIXT game, if you go to MSG, get Mike's Hot Chicken. This is not an ad. It was just delicious. We both wolfed them down. It was chicken tenders with this hot, spicy chili infused honey. Oh my god. Yeah, Well, you know what I was gonna unleash on you for not sharing any of those with me, So you gotta go

get your right. But now I know why, and that is coming up at the end of the show. So just a lot of fun to get to again. Merril Hodge is coming up, and then Peter Andrew as we look ahead at this weekend slate of NFL games, and then a big surprise at the end of the show. We're gonna have a lot of fun. But honest, thank you again for showing me around New York. Let's get to Meryl Hodge. He's coming up. Merril Hodge is a former NFL running back. You played eight years for both

the Steelers and the Bears. You've also seen him on ESPN as an analyst. He actually used to work with friends of the podcast Ron Jaworski. I'm sure you two had no fun at all, Merrill. How's working with Ron? Let me just tell you this, and I hope this doesn't go anywhere. That guy was the best guy to work with. I haven't worked with. Honestly, he was He's the greatest guy on the planet. If you already worked

with him. You know, I left my first studio show and there was one thing that I confirmed when I left the first show ever did with the our first NFL matchup show. I'm like, I will never ever ever step on set and not be prepared with that dude because he was always prepared, so he was standard. I learned so much from him, and we had a great chemistry. We just had a great chemistry and I loved every

menu to work with. That's awesome. You know, we think of you primarily as a stealer obviously, but you're still very active with the team. So what are your impressions after this big win over the Browns. That's such a fun rivalry. Yeah, well you know that. I mean I experienced that rivalry eighty seven. It was our second game. It was seven. Those people who remember nineteen said we went on strike that year and one thing that we were gonna do as players, I mean, this is gene

upstaws brilliant idea. Obviously, he didn't consult with all the teams, which he didn't. He's like, we're gonna show where unified, which we weren't, and we're gonna shake hands before the game. Well there was only one game and two teams that did not shake hands before the game, and that was Pittsburgh and Cleveland. When we were in Cleveland, it was I mean, that rivalry goes way back. Even after it

went away, it's come back. And now that Cleveland is getting better, which listen, every step a fan wants Cleveland to be good. I mean that just makes the robbery even better. I mean, games like you know we just saw on Sunday are so much better than you blow out somebody. You know by twenty one points. People could sit there and go, oh they like that bowl. You like it when it's it's tied, it's competitive. You know.

That's what makes the rivalry great is when two teams are really good and and for the Steelers to win that one actually speaks volumes too, how far they've come versus where they were on their especially their offensive side, and I think it was lost in that game. Is why Ben will be a Hall of Famer. You know, the touchdown Plass to friar me with everybody that I mean, that was on Sports Center, right. This is why I

say TV lies, highlights truly lie. You can only tell the truth about a tape, about a game and a player, and um is by watching tape, I mean, and to show evidence of that. Why do you think coaches and players watching? I mean, if if you watch, if TV told you the truth and highlights, why didn't Why wouldn't players just watch TV and highlights they tell you nothing.

So in that play, it was interesting Bend moves n Jay Harris over to the left side, and the reason he moves him to the left side was to help block because Myles Garrett's over there and it was a short end, a short corner and he needed time. You know, notice if you watch that play, Ben actually pumped. I'm gonna tell this, Nobody pumps on the two yard line. You don't have time to pump unless you're protected. And there's just little things like that that you get this see.

You know, when you watched Faith, after you watch the game, you go back and look at it. I mean, he played a master game from that perspective of given himself time or getting rid of the football before those d drushers could get there, and for their officers line to play the way they've played trying to play together as a team, the way they've played based on you know, the way they lost their you know, three in a row. It's it just it just speaks the volumes. When I

say teams win championships, you can't. No quarterbacks done it, no defense has done And people that argue that, I'll show me the game or only the defense played, You show me that, then I'll shut up. It showed me to show me to play. The quarterback just played. They're happy teams win championships, so there's a big win for them. I mean, but there's still a lot of football to go, and the good thing for them is they have a

lot of growth still go. And as far as getting better, I agree with you about that that highlights aren't the full story. I feel the same way about movie trailers. You know, you got to see the movie trailer and then you see the movie and it's a piece of crap. So yeah, it's you're right, the truth exactly right. I've seen trailers too, and I'm like, all the funny stuff was in the trailer before. You mentioned the chemistry that you and Ron had, and you're mentioning what makes a

championship team, how important is chemistry? How important is chemistry with that many guys in a game like football? Do guys need to like each other? Does there need to be chemistry for a team to win or can it just be talented guys who work together and then hate each other when they leave. Well, listen to environments, the

most successful environments I've ever been in. Now, I wouldn't say, you know, when you say you know you like one another, you know, that doesn't mean that you go do stuff together when you leave the locker room, you know, but when you enter the locker room, you have a respect and and a love for one another because at the end of the day, okay, we're all Steelers or all Bears, you know, whoever our team is, I mean, and and

we want to play for one another. We want each other to be successful, do whatever we can to help the team. And it really comes down to being selfless at times. And if you have a bunch of those players and understand your role, you embrace your role. And that role might change during you know, during the course of your career, like you know in my case, and

it did. And I've I've always felt that a team that you that liked each other in the locker room just had better chance to be successful during the ad birst times versus dissension, you know, because I've had that too. You know, I've had the locker room wasn't at peace. You know, we had a lot of turmoil, and when things went bad, it got even worse because we didn't rally for each other. So I do believe that there's there is a true benefit to that when you have

that as a team. You know, I've been to Pittsburgh. I've been to Steelers games, and the fans there are die hard. It's black and gold, three sixty five days a year. There's the terrible towels, the whole thing. What were some of your favorite things about playing for such an iconic organization, truly one of the most iconic the world. Yeah, you know, maybe I'll tell you something. It was probably the first time ever walked in that in the in

the three Rivers stadiums. I throwed three Rivers out there living. I'm probably like he tried to remember three River stadium It's like some people might not understanding three River stadiums. That was the original stadium, you know, So when I first walked in was my first coach. I played for you, and I played for Bill Tower for a long time. My roommate was Mike Webster. My locker that I locked in lockered in was actually Donnie I mean Ronnie Franco Harris's.

I locked her next to Donnie Shell. When I stepped into the huddle for the very first time, I looked over. John Stalwart was in the huddle, and Mike Webster so, and Joe Green was our defensive line coach. And then it wasn't two weeks during the season when Mel Blunt

comes walking in or Lynn Swan comes walking in. So now as a kid watching these guys when Super Bowls, you know, I'm in junior high, Um can't wait get back to math class because of Michelle who likes the Cowboys, and I can't wait to rupt their face about this dealers with me, okay, So to just experience that I could stop there and they say that was, you know, tending to see the standard that was set, you know, in the expectations and how they all are not just

as football players, but his people really resonated with me. You know. But when I think of the fans and the reason I truly love the fans, and they listen. Evean rod Orski has admit this too. Here's a lot of people who admit this later on they're like, man, see, the fans are the best. I mean they really all the best because they are. Here's what they He'll never admit admitted to me. He admit it to me. He will never say he's making up stuff. I can hear

him doing it. That mean said, because we talked about, like, you know, like this, if I still I can still walk downtown Pittsburgh and you'll just be walking. And he was, hey, Meryl, you know, I don't think there's anything cooler than that the fan. Here's what the fan appreciates is they appreciate you give everything you got. You know, do they want to win super Bowls? Of course have been. They've been spoiled rotten for that aspect, But then they don't. They're

not losing. They don't lose sight of your your commitment to playing and how hard you play and how you represent yourself, and that is ultimately what they want. You represent yourself even in a loss. They respect that. And I've always loved that about the fans there. They have a real genuine balance and it's still this the only stadium I've ever been to where I mean it's about jerseys and I've ever seen that. I mean, it's like, oh my gosh when I first were pulled in and

it's no different today. They have fun place in my heart. And then playing in Chicago, you know, you got to see another you know, the NFC and Walter Payton was my favorite player. So the experiences that I have there to see their fan base and their fan base, it is very interesting the ownerships, the history, and how the

fan bases are very similar. Speaking of Stealers fans, what do you think they think of Mike Tomlin's fake field goal near the end of the first half that ended up causing Chris Boswell to miss the rest of the game and have the Steelers without kickers this last week. Well, well here's something because they wanted this is not could you imagine they lost unless they lost by let's just say they lost by one point? Yeah, okay, so I even got to tell you what would be happening if

that were to happen. So they want Now, Now that being said, here's the first thing that the first thing that came to my mind was just what you said, how people talk about the coaches and there will be no responsibility to Chris Boswell. I'm gonna tell you this, there's no play that you ever do like this where you don't walk through every scenario known demand kind. And

now it's the player's responsibility. I will promise you this that they told him, if there's nobody open, if there's nowhere to go at the ball, stow it away, stow it away, and then nobody he said, hey, hold it to the very last second so they can pop you. Nobody said that. Nobody coached that way. Not they did. You have to fire that coach. But I can tell you this from doing trick Gadget plays like that, you

walk through every scenario you could possibly. That's why I always used the coach has all the power but no control. Once you walk inside the white lines of that football field, it's all on you. And for Boswell to hold the ball that long, you know, it's really on him. He should have got rid of that ball a long time ago, you know. So that's a lost side in this. A player's responsibility in executing a play or not putting himself

in harm's way. So you know, I don't know that I don't know what his status is for this week, but I would assume that he would be able to play. But if they don't, they'll have somebody off off waivers to kick. At least have somebody to kick, you know. And actually, I didn't realize usually a punter is a fairly good kicker. I didn't realize that they probably even got themselves, like, who, yeah, we don't really have anybody that can kick in, you know, but it's a boss

can hurt his hamstring. You know. There's a lot of things that could happen to the kicker, you know, not just getting be cleaned off of a fake field goal, but that probably makes him think a little more. Yeah. Yeah, so there's something I'm sure I gotta think a little deeper about finding a kicker, you know, that we might need it if something like that happens again in Boswell. Yeah, they could also get injured by getting beat up by the players from missing a field goal. Yeah there, let

me tell you this. Let me give Gary. Remember Gary Anderson, I don't remember Gary Anderson of the greatest kickers really and in football history. I mean, he was there my entire career and I used to stretch I used to go out early, so what I can harass Gary. I would go out there and talk to Gary. Maybe a beautiful day. I go, can you feel the wind, Gary? I feel the wind, Gary, Gary start shanking stuff like that? Gary, you better hope I never play against you because I

get in your head so fast. I go, I just talked to you, and you start missing stuff. And he was one of the greatest kickers ever. But I love kickers. I love I listen. I just spies kickers. I hate kickers until they tell, until until they got until we're down by two and we need them. That I love. And then if they missed it, I'd go right back to Haya. Well, Yanna brings it up almost every week. So you just played right into his game. Merrell, you

just gave him what he wanted. Now your story regarding concussion and brain injury, you spent time in the ICU, ultimately forcing you to retire. Can you walk our listeners through the concussions and the protocol at that time. Overall, the approach to the subject, it's so different now than back in. Yeah. Well, I think the thing is always Minna understood about my career. My career ended because of improper care correct careered in him because of head trauma.

But that would have been the case the Monday night game when I had my first concussion, I never would have played again, but I did, and that was the whole problem. I returned to play too quickly, and this is how I got returned to play. The doctor who evaluated me, now, let me back up with the head trauma had in the Kansas City game. The two sid ends of severity for head trauma is it's cognitive recall and balance. Okay, stability and cognitive recall. It is not

losing consciousness. And if anybody wants to argue that, okay, here's why. Losing consciousness is not a sign of severity. Once you regain consciousness, that is over. Now if you never regained consciousness, that's the only thing that matters. We've got to get that person back to conscious and that's severe. So the other two things don't come into play until you were getting conscious. Once you are, you're you're getting conscious.

You now it's about cognitive recall and stability. That's why they do these series of tests to evaluate you before you return to play. That being said, there was really nobody doing it at that time. But the Steelers, they started doing cognitive testing in the first team in sports history to ever be proactive. So this was being done already in a smaller environment, not the entire NFL. But

the Steelers had already been proactive towards this particular injury. Okay, Joe Maroon, Dr Lovell the first two guys to create a cognitive test for the team, the players. It was voluntary, but almost every player did it. I did it in Chicago. They just weren't doing that. The guy who evaluated me. Keep mind, I couldn't remember what they told me what I was supposed to remember for some twelve hours. That severe. I mean that a severe. If you cannot remember twelve

are that severe? My balance still wasn't that good. I had to get a ride home because we flew back from Kansas City. I got cleared to play five days later over the phone. Over the phone, I was only asked one question, how do you feel? And I felt like, listen, I feel like I feel like dog. I mean I was. I had a headache, but those things weren't torn to

a player at that time. I didn't know those Keep mind that we always have to be where were you in time, because we use what we know now to apply to something in because those things just want to relevant as they are today, which quite honestly, if it's applied, protocols are applied, meaning you identify head trauma and your removal, that's the most important thing. We could do it any

sport at any level. And before I'm gonna just throw you one other thing, just so we understand the level of head trauma and where is Well, what's the leading cause of head trauma in the entire country? You guys know, I don't know. Listen to a politicians speak, Well, that's

probably number two, but number one. Number one is tripping and falling the most the most dangerous environment is the home that exceeds all of sports together times too, So everyone who's also caught up a parent that's might be listening, go, I don't want my kids play because I don't want him to get a concussion. You should be more concerned. First of all, that's a very close minded person and uneducated person. You need to open your mind and understand

where head trauma could happen. Is probably gonna happen. Somebody slipping in your shower, fall down the stairs, you in your backyard way before it's going to have in the sporting environment, and most sporting environments should have a protocol in place, meaning any type of head trauma that we see or since we remove, you don't go back to play, and you evaluated before you do, like okay, that protocol right there, if it's executed and put in place, makes

every sport in every environment that you will play in a safer one if you executed in that manner. I didn't have that. That's why when I went back to play, I took another hit. I went and actually lost I didn't lose conscious on either one of these, but when they took me to the locker room, I went into cardiac arrests and that's when they rested me to the hospital. I stayed there for a couple of days in intensive care and then I had the artist return to recovery

and it took me months. I mean, I went through depression. I was I was an absolute train wreck. So I understand people who have depression. I understand how head trauma and severe it can be. But I'm so should be um an example of how you can and you can recover in the treatments and protocols and care that's available

today there wasn't available back then. But a lot of my rehab self induced, quite honestly, is being my to save my life because it forced me to do cognitive recalls that they actually have treatments and therapies for now, along with physical and nutritional that help you repair quickly so that you can return back safer or they put you in a position where, um, you're not go back into that environment, you know, and save you from you know, further risk. So what exists today is so much better

now than it ever was back in the day. I read that you actually needed to be resuscitated? Did you flatline? And if if you did, is there a God? Should I be worried about my sins? Well, I didn't see the light, but I was. I wanted to cardiac arrest. Yeah, I don't. I don't I know of this. I remember

because nobody remembers when I go into rest. But I do remember just before one of our linebackers had been brought in earlier because of his ankle injury, and I remember he was sitting on the other training training table looking at me, and he's like you all right? And I remember at that moment, I just I didn't feel right. My eyes started to flutter, and that's the last thing I remember, and I guess it was in the process of them resuscitating me. I started breathing and I actually

stood up and walked to the ambulance. I don't remember anything again until it was the next day, which I knocked myself out again because I broke my hand the week before, and so because they knew I wasn't gonna go back to play. They knew my hand and I had been broken, but I would to let him put a cast on it. So I put a cast on it. So when I start, you know, really kind of coming around and realized, I remember I going to scratch my

head with the cast. I have about knocked myself out again, Like, oh my gosh, you're the You're the only person I've ever heard literally walked off death, you know, unless I feel from I remember the doctor came in and he'd been there. I can't remember his name now, but here's the authopedic doctor, been there for like twenty five years. He said, I'd never thought in a million years I'd ever lose a player until I saw what happened to you. You left, I was gonna lose a player and happen.

You know what, Actually, when you go through that, when you don't because of where you are and what's the state you're in, you just don't really remember those things. You don't realize how how grave that situation was because you just don't recall it. And obviously it's probably a good thing, but I don't remember it, you know, I just remember the process coming out of it was a long, argious one. Well, that is really good context for where

concussion protocol was back then and now. As a sideline reporter myself, we take that so seriously before we report on anything, and the severity that you talk about. I always think if I'm reporting on a kid who's going through concussion protocol on the sideline, I think about their mom watching on TV and what report am I going to give to this kid's mom. So it's it should be taken with a lot of seriousness, and I appreciate

you giving that context. That was great. That's smart of you to have that, all of the all the perspectives that one should add. That's why they're checking, you know, their eyes, their balanced, their recall. You know, they're really looking at a lot of things, and those things have to clear you or for you to return, you know, somebody back to play. So that's why they do it. And if they don't let you return to play, there's a reason for that, you know, and it's it's better

for the player long term and short term. Okay, now, we have a little game that we wanted to play with you, mayor al so I hope you are down to play our game. It's a pretty cute we're calling it Hodge your bets. You know, we are a betting show, and you know so much about the NFL and about who's good, who's not good, what teams are getting it together at the right time. So we'd love to play this with you. Are you ready? Okay, I'm gonna read

the first one. It's for NFL m v P. Josh Allen is the favorite at plus two hundred, followed by Tom Brady, Dak Prescott when he gets healthy, Kyler Murray at plus six hundred when he gets healthy, and then he's got Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford in them. What do you think? How's your bet? Who is the m v P? Oh boy, you know, I don't even have

Tom Brady mentioned and there how ridiculous that is. I mean, it's so ridiculous, And honestly, you know, I watched tape all the time, still to this day, because I wanted to stay on top of the league with stuff that I I helped create, the way to play with that we launch with the NFL, and the stuff I do for the Steelers, and he is, I mean, he's playing some ridiculous football that the two intersections that he threw,

you know, everybody's harper on those things. First of all, the first one was one of the most incredible individual play. Guys playing man coverage on somebody else and he just read his eyes, which you know if somebody's playing man quarterback not sensing that. And I think that their splits were too close, which is also became a factor. And then they received the second one. I just think Godwin

was supposed to run a flatter. He threw the ball like you should run a flatter because everybody talks about that safety is death. The reason the safety wasn't deep because the receiver to hit that side ran a crossing round. There's no reason to get Death's not to cover, so anyway, you know it wasn't as as egregious. And you know, oh they all full of Tom Brady is you know everybody's made it out to be. And oh, you know, I see the flaws of Tom Brady now, I mean

he's still incredible. You know. I guess when you come down, you know, I steal as humans voting for this thing. You know, people will go, oh, because you can't give it to Tom Brady has had it for you know, umpteen years. And you know, Josh Allen is a is a unique kid. You know, he's coming from one. I've known him for a long time, and I think the way he plays his game, he puts himself in a

position to keep playing at that level, you know. And I know they stumbled at Tennessee, but that one was you know, a fist pide at the fifty and you know, you you line up like that again. I put money on Josh Allen gets that first down on that fourth down. So I'm gonna lean towards Josh and think he has been you know, I said that, I think consistency. Brady has been consistent, but Josh Allen has been consistent. He'll stay dynamic, and I think those kind of things. You know,

voters looked at. That's how kind of that MBP thing. So I'll keep it on. Josh Allen, Yeah, all right, Speaking of the Bills. Next up, they're obviously the favorite at plus two thirty. Behind them, you've got the Ravens, Chiefs and Titans or could you go with a long shot? What do you think who's taking it all a f C. Well, well, I think the Bills. Well, I can go back to

the mest this earlier teams win championships. Okay, teams, So when you look at all the phases, and that's how I look at a chance for a team to win. If you look at the Ravens at the end of the day, Lamar Jackson has some real liabilities with his ability to throw the ball in pure passing situations, which requires anticipation. Actually it wasn't going to Louisville like that. He struggled in our level with that at a high degree, and eventually that has to be made and you have

to make those throws. I'm defensively, they're not quite the same. The running games not the same. Candida seated the train direct that they're really dealing with their officite lines, not the same. You know, that's why they are such a wreck right now. And had Barry Henry not gone down, you know, Tennessee is in this thing. You know, I'm saying, boy, I would think about moving Tennessee up a little bit. But without him, it's just a different I can't even

tell you what defensive coordinators are doing. They're like, hey, I just celebrate, this is awesome. This is only we gotta deal with this week. That gets everybody's side. You know, I'll thought, I'll though a little, um, well, I didn't. You didn't mention the Colt. I tell the Colts to me are our dangerous team. I still think the boule Bills are the best of all those things teams have mentioned. But you know, the Colts could come. I know they

took a lot. I mean, their loss last wee was devastating, but there's still a lot of football left enough for them to recover. And I just like all the phases they have as a team too. All right, let's move to the NFC. It's a lot tighter here with the Bucks at plus three ten, the Rams are plus three thirty, followed by my Packers, the Cowboys and the Cardinals. So it's time. How'd your bet who's winning the NFC, because

I tell you this the way the Dallas Cowboys. You know, it's hard to ignore the Bucks just because of all of their phases and what I'm about to say. The Bucks can and we'll do this when it's needed. But the Dallas Cowboys, They're running game is a wicked, wicked tool right now. And when you do that, the most important thing to win consistently in our league. I'm gonna taste.

I've had conversations from Chuck Noll to build parcels about this is some of the greatest minds and it is consistent from the day this game was started to today. You have to control the temple in our league to win consistently. Well, that's why everybody there gotta stop the run. I gotta run. They guys kind of throw it out because every week it said so the fan kind of ignores it. But the the importance of it. Cowboys are illustrating it right now. It's permeate not just with their

offense but with their defense. You know, it's control every game they go in and go in the Minnesota. You don't have that, and they really lean on that and because they lean that they have a little more room for air. It's when you don't have that phage and now your quarterback better be spot on. And that's what I killed them last year. They couldn't run the football, so your quarterback was asked to do more and he

wasn't really a guy that could do it. So, um, I put the Cowboys up there against against the Bucks. To be honest with you, I mean, I love what the Bucks are doing, and they're gonna be a hard heart out. But if the teams, I really like the Cowboys. Yeah, all right, Okay, I'm a little disappointed. I thought you were gonna say you like the Packers. You know, I'll

tell you this, I worry a little bit. You say, what if eight got going, if they could get twenty eight away from his fumbles, because that's been that power that they need. He could bring to them, you know, And really they ran the good on the Cardinals the other side. They're gonna be there at the end of the day. But I just those powerful running attacks that can come in and control environment. I just trust I trust them in at home and away. Yeah, you're right, honestly,

you've got the big one. You've got the last one here. It is Hodge your bet? Who is winning it all? Who is our super Bowl winner? I can't believe I'm gonna say this, but you know what, I'll tell you what. I was gonna stay on the cowboy training there for a second, but you know I would tell you this that I need. The Buffalo Bills woke up, you know after the Steelers beat him too, because the bubble Bills had to go back to the tape and go. We didn't run the ball but one time, and we drove

it right down the ball, dark down the field. What are we doing? You know that element and phase has become a bigger part of their offense. There's a history there as we all know, or they've been there, and they get to win it. So I say, the Bills get that huge, massive monkey off their back and they win it. That I like it. I can get behind that. Yeah, well, Meryl,

you were great. Thank you so much. You can follow Merril Hodge on Twitter at Merrill Hodge and for more information on his book, Brainwashed, go to Meryl Hodge dot com. Meryl THNK so much for joining us. You are a wealth of knowledge. Now I hope you get to golfing and hit him straight the straight part. I appreciate. Thank you guys, have a great week. Thank you very thank

you guys. Time to get to this weekend action. Let's bring in bet MGM betting expert Peter Andrew Peter before we get to this weekend because I know we're gonna have some punishment pick games for us to decipher. Last weekend was crazy, big week for the sports book. Huh yeah, record week for US and lots of sports books. Two games that really stood out one Buck Saints. Lots of people whether it was obviously Bucks spread Bucks money line, but lots of people had them in their parlays, so

automatical labor party goes by by there. And then the big surprise one was Mr Mike White former Western Kentucky Hilltop or Beaten the really promising angles. So again it's it's not just about the you know, the straight bets, the money lines, it's about all those parlays that it basically breaks up. So between those two games, record setting week, it was nice to get one back after the customers had us the last the last couple, so really exciting.

And then obviously on top of that, you had you know, the unfortunate news that Derrick Henry going down probably for the year, at least for the regular season. Um so that has big implications for you know, for the tight Super Bowl hopes. But we did have bet MGM customers covered. So if you had offensive player of the Year, rushing leader, touchdown leader, any of those markets, Henry to an m VP as well, we give everybody back that placed that bet a free bet with that steak. So trying to

take care of customers. We know the deal, we know sometimes it stinks, so I want to take care of our customers. There, Hey, who loves you more than MGM baby? I look at that Vick Henry goes down and look at what we do for you. But isn't that the point of betting is that you risk that it is. But sometimes there's those you know, we call him those bad beats. So when the unfortunate news comes like that.

Another example was John rom when he got COVID over the summer and by far going to win the tournament. You know, there's those unfortunate that's that we want to make sure we know, you know, customers are taken care of. I was laughing. My dad had the Jets Bengals game, and I said, oh man, Dad, he got the Jets, and he goes, no, I have the Bengals, like okay, and ended up being this great game. But that was insane,

amazing game. And I mean credit to a guy who's just coming in coming behind a second overall picked I stepping up. I mean he was the the passing yards leader. He had four or five passing yards last week, which incredible in itself, and now he gets the prometime game to place. There's in my football. Let me ask you this question, who is backing up Derrick Henry Because if last week is any indication, backups are killing it right now. So funny you should say that because they made a

big move yesterday and they signed Adrian Peterson. So yeah, so coming he's he's had the last eight nine weeks off. He's been looking for that shot and he gets a shot here, and it looks like they're already gonna elevate him up to the to the main squad. So between him and m Nichols, I think they'll be sharing some carries, but all indications say that it's it's a p that's going to lead the charge. And who knows you could

have a good, good stint there. He's fresh, ready to go, and and that online is good, so he's gonna get some touches. Okay, Now this weekend, there's some good ones. And in my family, when the NFL season comes out, it's kind of like Christmas because we all get out our planners and figure out where we're all going to be and when. And this was a big one. Packers at Chiefs. You know, those are my two teams. I grew up in Kansas City, a little bit in Wisconsin.

I've worked for the Packers. I am much more loyal to the Packers. Let me just say that for the record. But I have family members who are going to be going to this game at Arrowhead. We are in red, I hate to say so. This game is crazy. The line already came out and Chiefs are a one point underdog, which really surprised me because Packers look incredible after beating the Cardinals on Thursday night and the Chiefs have looked horrible. Why is that only at one? It's a funky one.

I think that's just the Mahomes effect. Like he has had some really bad weeks and in my eyes, he might be due for a strong week. But to your point, you look at the Packers without any wide receivers last week. We're able to get it done. Yeah, Randall cob to two or three catches, two touchdowns, But they are going to get Davante Adams back and they might get some other folks back. This is an intriguing one because everything in my head says take the Packers and don't even

think twice about it. But also going to Arrowhead Mahomes to rekill everything there. You never know, So this is an interesting one. So Olivia, maybe start with you on this because I think this is like you said, there's a little bit of a skis and the family had this one pornishment. Yeah, Packers ride the hot hand. Aaron Rodgers said he's never had more fun playing football with the team. He's gonna have some fun in Kansas City this weekend. Yeah, I gotta agree with Olivia. I'm going

my boy John Wick on this. Um. I don't know if you follow him on Instagram, but he was John Wick. I even had the dog so he went full on for the Graham. Listen, I'm a Giants fan. And the Kansas City Chiefs just barely eat by a beaten up, big blue machine baby. So there's no way I'm going against my boy Johnny Wick. So me and Olivia are gonna agree on this one. She's my new friend, more John Wick than actual John Wick based off that costume. So it was incredible. Yes, second game cards minus two

and a half at the Niners. This is an intriguing one because you have Kyler Murray that's a bit shaken up. I think he's a game time decision. I think he will play, but this is an intriguing one. Niners coming off an ice win, brandied against the Bears. What do you guys like here? I still thought this would be bigger than two and a half for Arizona on the road. I guess it all depends on Kyler Murray. And that's the vulnerable part about a team that looks so good,

last undefeated team in the NFL. But it was like, what's going to happen if Kyler Murray gets hurt? That is your gun slinger, that is your guy. He makes up like two thirds of their offense whenever he does anything with the football. So I don't know, maybe if if I'm really putting money on these, I'm staying away from this one to be honest, but for the sake of our punishment picks game, I'm gonna go with Arizona. Still, I feel like I still like them without Kyler Murray

more than San Francisco. Okay, well, here's the deal. I hate to agree again, but that was a very detailed analysis. I loved every moment of it. I'm a little bit more petty, pete. Let me just tell you, I'm a petty I'm petty. I'm jealous. I don't like I don't like his face. Okay, Jimmy G's face is too beautiful. I don't like it. I can't bet on it, I can't support it. I'm going with my blue collar Chicago bars. It's not the Chicago Bay Who are they playing? Oh

the Cardinals. Sorry, I apologize, guys, I apologize. I had my team's mixed up. But whoever Jimmy G is playing against, I'm going with them, and in this one, obviously it's easy. I'm going with the Cardinals. So okay. See, and this makes me so mad as if your honest ultimately wins it and he doesn't even know what teams are talking about. That man they called they call me the Lawrence Taylor of betting. I don't know what team we're playing, but

I always win. Lawrence Taylor used to shove up to the games and he used to ask Phil Simms, where are we and who are we playing? And then he just crushed it. Alright, Pete, what's the third game? I can relate to Anger because anybody with a perfect jawline, I'm I kind of hate him too, even though that. Yeah, and he listened to Olivia. We went out to the next game last night. I had a couple of beers. I'm a little hungover. I also had a lot of

candy on Halloween. Cut me some slack weekend for you. Yeah, this is a This is an intriguing one. If you feel really confident that Kyler is playing, I think you take the Cardinals right now before the spread goes up. If you if you feel like there's a good chance he doesn't and you're taking the Niners. You wait, obviously, see that's what changed. So there's a lot of things to look at here. Last game again, going back to the Derrick Henry News, Titans plus seven and a half

Sunday Night football against the Rams. My opinion, Rams look like the best team in football? What do you guys think here? I totally agree it's Rams all day. For me, this is easier for me. I'm an underdog. I want to make some money. I don't go with the favorites. I like how the backup has been playing. I love Adrian Peterson. Let's go. I disagree. I'm going the other way. I'm going to see a piece twenty twenty plus twenty.

He's fresh though he's had nine weeks off. You know, he's freshets off in professional sports is not a good thing. This is a This game I think comes down to I think that their offense speaks for themselves. Where Titans offense can be good. They have obviously a j Brown, Julio Jones VP, maybe he slots in his nice But I think it comes down to their defense because the

Rams just score at will every game. Cooper Cup seems like he has two touch on every single game, So I think that's the natural you gotta look out for. There are those corners. First Cup woulds be its ter mark my words, Julio Jones gonna have a big game. You're gonna see their passing game really elevate without Derrick Henry because they don't need it. Mark my words. This is a big loss for Olivia, and I will win

next week. Mark my words. Well someone's a little bit better because I won this past weekend and I'm feeling pretty good about it. So thanks so much, Peter. Don't forget to go to bed MGM on Twitter on Monday's to submit your bad beat of the week. Will announce the winning bad beat next week. And don't forget to follow us on Apple, podcast, Spotify, Stitcher or anywhere you find your favorite podcast. And you're honest, go ahead, you lost,

my friend. You have to read the outro that I wrote for you, and you haven't seen until right now. You know, it just keeps getting worse and worse. We filmed yesterday in Jersey City. I saw Peter the building, Peter lives and the guys getting paid big bucks and now I gotta read this outro. I can't win. Bet MGM, get us some more tickets. Okay, here we go. Okay, guys, Well, Olivia won this week's Punishment Picks and she really is

just winning life, isn't she. She carries this entire show, as you know, she's a traveling NBA wife Ruby and soon to be Mom of the Year. She just broke the news on my podcast Long Days that she's in her second trimester. She's doing may listen, guys, I'm talking to my unleashed family. Olivia is pregnant, and Sam is enough to say him, I'm kidding. Sam. Congratulations, there's a new athlete that's being born. Who knows where they'll be Maybe in Turkey, maybe in Toronto, maybe in San Francisco,

wherever he goes, maybe in this apartment. But guys, Maddie Pete, Olivia is pregnant. She fed drinking all those drinks in Las Vegas. She's also a liar. Good job reading the OUTO yes and we can't wait. And if you want to hear more details, make sure to listen to Joanna's podcast Long Days. We really get into it because that's when I surprised my friend Janice with the news. Thanks for listening to everyone, We'll see you next week. Congratulations Olivia,