Skip to content
TrackPodcasts
sportsMar 4, 202647:57

Hour 4: Are you a believer in the Knicks' defense?

About this episode

The Knicks have played better defense as of late. Is it built to last? Plus, some mock draft analysis & Jordan Raanan returns! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get every episode summarized

Each time DiPietro & Rothenberg publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.

Email me new episodes

Free for 3 shows. No card needed.

Hosts & guests

Transcript ready

613 searchable segments. Every word is indexed and playable.

Hour 4: Are you a believer in the Knicks' defense?

DiPietro & Rothenberg

0:00
47:57

Full transcript

DiPietro & RothenbergHour 4: Are you a believer in the Knicks' defense?. Machine-transcribed; use the interactive transcript above to jump the player to any line.

America leads the world in medicine development. It matters. We get new medicines first nearly three years faster. Five million Americans go to work because we make medicines here at home and not relying on other countries keeps us safe. But China is racing to overtake us. Will we let them or will we choose to stay ahead? When America leads, America cures. Let's tell Washington to keep us in the lead. Learn how at americacures.com. Pay for it by pharma. This is the D.P. H. Rowan and Rothenburg podcast. Let the wild rump is begin. Listen live, weekday mornings from 6 to 10 a.m. on 880 ESPN in New York. The ESPN New York app and on YouTube by subscribing to the ESPN New York YouTube channel. This is D.P. H. Rowan, Rothenburg. Call him very expert quarterback though. What's a Pittsburgh quarterback these days? A little quarterback on R.J. has no chance to Pittsburgh. I would think R.J. is the Steelers quarterback highly unlikely. Can you throw the ball 50 yards? That's good football,

it's fine now. We just can't throw the ball 50 yards. They've teamed up against you. Did I miss when R.J. was like this high-end big-pitching prospect or something? Who would fight you to the studio? This is D.P. H. Rowan, Rothenburg. I know we bust on each other all the time and give it up. And streaming live on YouTube. I just did a little big conduit. How'd that go? I think that's pretty good, but the funny thing is I went out to see somebody specifically that person wasn't there and then I was like lumped into, all right, now I'm walking by all these other people. Now I kind of have to talk to them. Right, right. So I ran into our pickleball opponent for next week, Jordan. She's back finally. She made it back and by the way, no one that walks the planet has a nicer, deeper, richer tan than she does right now. Yeah, there's a lot of talk. I mean, that she's an excellent Tanner, but she looks great, but it's like all these people that have this, I was trapped in Florida for, she was, she was

supposed to go for four days and she was trapped in Florida for 10 days and give me a break. I know. What are you doing? Hey, trapped in Florida. Stop. And by the way, you know what she did as she was trapped in Florida for 10 days. I went to the beach and played pickleball. Nonstop. Right. Of course she did. Yeah. Yeah. She's the one I'm worried about. She has the chance to be like, well, she's a good athlete to growing up. Yeah, softball player. I mean, she's, she's kind of the quiet one, like she's not really as outwardly aggressive. Well, no, she's like, she's got like the, the, the quiet confidence that scares me a little bit. But what's happening now is it feels like the office is really starting to take to them. That's like, I don't know. They might, they might beat you guys. I mean, that's good for us. Yeah. I actually prefer that because the, I think the office was saying kind of the same things. Well, I need to have everyone believe in that they were going to walk right through us. I believe my quote was we're going to, we're going to ruin an entire generation of people now that are, that are rooting for you guys. And they're like, a whole generous, like a whole generation. That's what we do. That's what we do. We ruin hopes and dreams. I career some would say. Yeah.

All right. So hold on one second. Yeah. I got a little thing because as you, as you, as you plan out, the, the route of the nine o'clock hour, as the expert driver that you are, right? I do have a, a mock draft, if you're interested. Who, who has a mock draft now? I have a Dane Brugler from the athletic. He's very good. Yes. Has just come back from the combine and felt like he wanted to put on paper what he heard, single round mock draft. I got a single rounder, single rounder. Yep. Okay. I'm, listen, you know what the weird thing is with the mock draft? It could be anybody. It could be like the, the guy that, that, you know, has the bagel shop around the corner. And you see a mock draft online. Oh, who's it? Like, come on, man. How could you have the giants take and love it? And I got to say, it's like, no, no, it's, it's no one you've ever heard of. I got a, sorry, I got a two rounder. A, a Brugler two rounder. A Brugler two rounder. Uh-huh. Oh, yeah. All right. You know, I, I would like to hear this in a little bit. Okay. For now, I think we,

we get to the nicks again. This is where we started the show and we're going to get back there again. I think you expected the nicks to win last night. The nicks, it was closed down the stretch. They closed it out. They were dominant on the glass. They dished out well more, sit many more assistant Toronto. And in the end, I, I feel like the better team one, that will last for a couple more hours until they take on the big boy, the real in mist test. And that is Oklahoma City tonight at the garden. Right. I think the only thought maybe last night was after a, a nice one against San Antonio, knowing you're playing OKC tonight, is there, is there a little bit of a letdown in between like the sandwich game. Right. Like, I mean, a, like, we're looking ahead to a big matchup. Right. And I don't know if that's even who the nicks are. Right. Like, I mean, there've been plenty of opportunities this season where you've kind of lit mist test games that they just really haven't shown up for. But I mean, last night's a team that was 11 in row now. It's 12 in a row. And you mentioned it. Five minutes left. It's a two point game. And then it's like, OK,

enough playing around. Let's step on, you know, let's step on the gas here. And that's exactly what they did. But trying to send a bad basketball team. No, Toronto's not a bad basketball team, but all. I mean, you own them, but they're not a bad basketball team. The thing you take away from last night and what you've taken away over the last, however many games, I saw Alan's suite. Alan actually had a nice tweet about this was the defense. It's holding another team under 100 points. So Alan's tweet is this. Here's a next stat. So the nicks have allowed 100 points or fewer in 16 games this season, tied with a thunder and hornets for the second most games in the NBA. Only the Celtics was 17 have more. Alan's follow up to that tweet was an 11 of an 11 of those games have come over the last 19 games. Right. And the other day against San Antonio, who was red hot. You allowed the least amount of points you've allowed all season. And then last night you held Toronto to what 90 five points. So you clearly you're trending in the right direction defensively. And that's what I think these final right like like what do they have 19 games left 20 20 games left.

That's what I think is final 20 games are you want to try to get the two. You want to get the rotation set and you want your defense to be the best version. So you go in on a real high with the best chance you can possibly have to make a real run in the post season. Right. So currently right now. I mean, I think the thing that we keep talking about because we know the offense can be really, really good as the defense. So right now looking at the ratings. You have the nicks are the third best as far as offensive rating is concerned. It's nugget Celtics, nicks, thunder, calves, those are your top five. And then defensive rating, the nicks are ninth. A piston's problem is two. So you I don't maybe I'm wrong. I don't look at the nicks and think of of them as like a really good defensive team. I but the metrics are saying otherwise. Right. So I mean, they're the best they they have the fifth best net rating in the NBA currently. It's OKC Boston Detroit, San Antonio, and then the nicks. Right. So you're up there with teams.

You look at like, you know, spurs, right, Boston as really, really good. Right. Those are teams. I mean, those that OKC and the spurs are two of the teams that you think come out of the West. I mean, the case is defending champion. And then I mean, now according to I got it right here, according to draft, according to draft Kings, Celtics right now have the best odds to in the Eastern Conference. So that's that's flip then. Right. Followed by Cleveland, the pistons and just three, huh? So you know what that's telling you. That is telling you, they believe the Tatum will be back and will be a real factor in the postseason. That's right. Yeah. And Jay Lambrow's playing an MVP level. And he is. Carlin Thinny Towns nicks radio why the defense is playing so well lately. I just think we're executing, you know, and we're doing a good job of utilizing our dog in the town. You know, I think we've done a great job of getting steals and utilizing that to start our offense. And you know, when you start the game defensively on a good rhythm, it translates to a lot of the game and a lot of the game opens up. You would think that hitting some shots opens up the basket for us on offense. I think it's actually the defense.

Getting those stops and putting some pace and flow into the game. It allows us to do a lot more and feel good about what we're doing, more confident what we're doing. So you hear that and you just think to yourself, the defense is so much about want and effort and and maybe they're just deciding they made it like a group decision of guys. It's time to turn on the way we play defense because that's really all it's about. Well, I think, I mean, for me, first and foremost, like listening to him talk about defense for whatever reason, they aggravates me. I don't know why. I know if it's just me like of all people, what aggravates you? Like him talking about defense. Like yeah, well, can't we know? Like we understand that good defense is going to lead to easy offense. I like, we all understand that. But you like you're one of the players that doesn't consistently give the best effort on defense. So like that just would I mean, that just bothered for. But I don't think there's a team that they and again, I know it's a long season. There's a lot of games you kind of mail it in. So it does make sense. But I don't I don't think it's a team. They always give 100% effort on defense. Well, I think it's hard. You always hear about any any basketball expert that

breaks down defense in the NBA talks about guys being on a string right five guys on a string. So that's all make that's all five guys working at a certain level like effort wise and also like executing whatever your defense is going to be. The problem is with the like if one of those guys isn't working hard for one of those guys isn't getting back in transition. The whole defense is screwed up. And the one guy that take the one. He's not the only guy, but the one guy that you would consistently point to as being that guy like Blake Griffin talk about it the other day is cat. Right. He's well, it's not bridges. It's not OG. It's not Josh. It's not Josh. It's not Robinson. Brunson's not a great defensive player, but he but it feels like he does. Right. It's not out of our own. Right. It's not Alvarado. I mean, you don't question Jalen's like to go on to. But that's it. No, Jalen's not a great defensive player. But you think he tries. The guy that we're talking about with the defense and the next is Carlisle that he towns. Right, which is why when he talks about defense and how important it is at frustrated. Yeah, we know it's important. Like, of course, it's important. It's like you need to know like you need to accept the fact that it's that important

and then do it all the time. Well, to that point, Mike Brown, after the game last night, discussed how cat has really stepped up his defense lately. Oh, it's been huge. Again, I see this all the time. One guy can't guard one other guy in the league. It's almost impossible, especially when they do call fouls in the way the floor spaced. It's tough to do that. So you have to have five guys on a string and the game right now is space and pace and everybody looks at cat and like, oh, he can't do it. Well, he can do it and he's showing. He can do it. And we need him to continue to do it, whether it's in the pick and roll, getting back and transition, you know, coming over to help from the weak side or guarding his guy in a one-on-one situation. He's been fantastic, but he's also been really good at communicating out on the floor. I can hear him talking very loud and early and continuous with the carriages because usually you're big. It sees everything because he's on the back side. So you've got a lot of credit for stepping up his game on that end of the floor as well as the rest of the team. Okay, so here's what I would say from that. And maybe this is a bad take. I find that to be frustrating. Like, what why now 60 games

into the season are with 10 games ago, 50 games into the season. This guy decide he's going to opt a level of his defense. And then you have the coach and you're saying, well, hopefully this will continue. Of course, this has to continue to have any chance to get to where you want to get to. You need offensively, and maybe more importantly defensively, Carl and Thinny Towns to be Carl and Thinny Towns. Right. But I swear to you, I didn't even hear that clip before you just played it. That's for all the reasons that he just talked about is why when Carl and Thinny talks about it, it frustrates me because I'm sure these are the same, these are the same conversations that are being had in the locker room, like trying to convince him how important, like all the things that he just mentioned, the communication, like all those things. Like, how many times do we need to tell you before it sinks in? Hopefully it's now. Hopefully it's like, we've done 60. And now in the last 22, we wrap this thing up because I until I see it in those moments, I'm just not going to believe it because I've seen so many times where you're like, all right, here it is. Now it's different. Now it's changed. And then you revert back. I can't be there yet.

I want to be there. Okay. You go there. You go there. You live there and you let me know what it's like there. And I'll try to get there. Well, look, listen, I will get there together. I think I'm probably closer. I want to like just emotionally want to be closer because I want to believe that this is going to lead to a chance, a trip to the NBA finals, but like he's the one that's going to be under the most pressure. I mean, I think that goes without saying. Like he cat has the cat has the dot. I don't even think there is like a second. Like it's, it's, it's, it's right, but it's going to be the three. We always talk about it. It's going to be brown. It's going to be bridges. It's going to be, but it's going to be cat. Yes. Like like bridges might frustrate you, but they can win if bridges is fine. Like, you know, bridges are going to be okay. He's not bad. Like there's times where Carlisth and he towns who supposed to be a 25 and 12 guy is nowhere near that. Right. You saw him, but you also saw it. See, that's the thing though. I think that's your, I think that's the, I think that's the impediment for you right now to get where I'm headed is just like you. We had this, we had this exact same conversation and we had, and then it took like

four shots in a game. It took, yeah, he took one shot and then he took one shot in the last three quarters. Right. Right. He took five shots in a game. He went five for five from the floor. Right. So it's like, well, okay, well, what just happened? I thought we were like, I thought we were headed down the road and there in lies my hesitation to just jump on this and be like, okay, this is going to be great. Because yes, and that was a game against Cleveland, but the thing that's so frustrating is he can be great. Yes. He's capable of being great. Like you wouldn't, we wouldn't be talking about it. We wouldn't be as frustrated about it as if you realize that like Abdul Carter, like you watch this guy. Everyone that he's going to be great. He's going to be great. He's so good. He's so talented. You know, the band, the edge, the whole, oh, it's so, and you watch him and you're like, no, I'm not impressed with this guy. Why? And then you get to the second half of the season and he finally turns out, that's why. Because it's there. It's in there. And when you have wasted talent and you're the guy who has the potential to be so good, not live up to that potential, it's so frustrating. Well, but especially when it feels like it's more like a want to effort thing. Yeah. That's the worst. Right. It's not like you're not capable of doing it. Especially when you show us that you can. I just hope that this is they they're starting

to figure it out. I mean, the idea that, you know, 11 of these games have happened in the last 19. I think it's a positive sign. I agree with that. But you do realize like tonight you get blown out of the building and defensively allow 127 points and that go that all like you now you start back at square one. Right. I would keep talking. We keep telling ourselves that we're not going to be like this roller coaster remote. I'm not going to I'm not going to be a roller coaster remote. I know, but it's just like belief and then you don't believe then you believe then you don't. But that's what I'm talking about. It's not like it's not going crazy. But I think I know where they are. Like I think they're good. I think they're at Eastern conference finals team. I I right now think it probably ends there. Anything more than that, I would be highly impressed. Anything less than that, I would be highly disappointed. Right. But I mean, I think most people feel that way. Okay. Do you feel like that? They have to get to the Eastern conference finals at the very worst. Right. I mean, next go Eastern conference finals losing six games to Detroit and and you say, well, they're they're flawed. Detroit's tougher, more physical, a little better team. Is that the worst thing in the world? It's not the worst thing in the world, but it makes it bad that it's Detroit. Yes. Right.

Because you keep, we always try to play these games where it's like, okay, you know, no Halliburden in Indy and you got no Tatum in Boston. So we thought right. So now all of a sudden, it looks like Tatum could be back. Jalen Brown's planted an MVP level and now, you know, we went from Detroit just getting a taste of the postseason where we beat them and it's a close series and it's a tough series to all of a sudden. Now we're the best, they're the best team in the East and they beat us in the Eastern conference finals. Right. Yeah. And where would that whole like progression be, right? Well, you go to the first round then you go to the second round and you go to like if they go to the NBA finals this year. I know. And then look behind you. Look what's coming. Right. Right. Orlando's on the way and yeah. I mean, Atlanta's going to want to show it right now. Charlottes. Yeah. They're one of those teams. They have to be concerned about. So this is definitely for this group at least. I mean, it's very important. I agree. I agree. RJ RJ. Hi. How you doing? Pretty good. How you feeling? The show's been going today. Excellent. Excellent. Hot hot like top shelf. I think you guys have been great. You're always great.

No, they can't always be great. Anyway, sometimes that are lesser so that there are the great moments. I suppose, but it could still fall in the great in the great range. You know what I mean? Like there's days you might look at. Have we laughed? Yeah. Have we talked sports? Of course. Have we busted on each other? We did do that. Like there's there's games. I mean, that's a day. There's there's games that bills lose, but Josh down still great. I'm twisted version of the Jim Ralph. I know. So if you laugh, you cry. And you would whatever it like reflect, you've had a full day. And you busted each other. That's our version. Pew, pew, pew, pew, pew. There we go. Workplace. Oh, uncomfortable. Apparently, he said something. The workplace is meant to be uncomfortable. Grab at some point, Raymond. What did I say? No, I'll tell Raymond. And then we'll bring it back to you. You got your secret. You got your secret moles in your little. That's right. But I wouldn't use the moles if I wasn't pushed into this area. You shouldn't say what you said. Okay. But you said it. I didn't say it. Well, you said something,

which we'll revisit. Okay. All right. I look forward to it. Good. I look forward to it too. RJ. Hi. How you doing? Good. That's nice. You're ready for the stuff that you or other people may have missed. That was your. Let's go. No. Walk up three pointer. We got it. See you. The **** you missed. Oh, yeah. Sure. Nick's 13 in the East reach 40 wins. You mentioned it. They're behind Detroit. They're behind Boston. The ladder of which they throw by one and a half games and standings. I would say it about this. Do you think the rest of the East fan bases of these other teams are nervous about the pistons or just us here are nervous about us more here. Yeah. Because I think you guys can correct with you believe I'm wrong. We look at that as the hurdle. And they kind of have the kryptonite to what we're trying to do. Like they play a style of game that the nicks just don't play all that well. I am interested to see them once they get in

and play off series. I can test like a back and forth series. Do they have a second get a bucket guy beat beyond Cade that you trust? Well, you know what? Do the nicks? I'd like to think that could be I would like to think that as well. I'd like to think so. But yeah, we'll see. Next 40 and 22. They take on the Thunder this evening. That is 630 coverage right here on ESPN here. And you mentioned the stat about holding opponents under 100. That is the third straight game. The next is done so. Bam out of bio 23 points. I rebound six steals the heat beat the Brooklyn. That's 124 to 98. Nets have not wanted and they won back to back games almost a month ago. Have not won since. So things are not going great. Same two teams again tomorrow night in Miami. Same chance. Tight win. I'll give you credit. Tight win. I know you're not in the moral victory. I'm not in any victory with you. No, you're really nice. But they only lost by three to a ranked opponent.

That was up by 13 in the second half. That's the downside of this. Yeah. I was giving you the positive. Downside is blown to 13 point lead. It's not ideal for anybody. I'm sorry. This happened to you. Sorry. All of it's happening. RJ, are you, um, any chance you've been paying attention to your boy, Mac Jones on his offseason? He is lighting. He's having a time. What's he doing? He's having fun. He's having his best life. Really? Yeah. RJ Jets off for, because this was another thing that John was bringing up on his show yesterday. He first taking the second round. Yeah, first pick the second and you taking it back. It's been fun. Yeah. And running with it, right? I think Mac brings more. That's how it seems like the Niners are always good. No, here's the thing. Mac Jones for nothing. And then you trade him for like the 33rd pick in the trap. Here's the thing though. I don't think that would happen. Second, I think Mac Jones brings more value to the 49ers and any other team. Correct. I think probably, right? So if I actually, pardon me, I actually hope he's on the roster because I think they're going to need him. If you got offered the 33rd pick, you'd have to, you'd have to deal with it. You'd have to do it. But to what Jordan was saying, I think Trent's going to

get done. Trent Williams is going to get a raise. John Jennings is gone. So he's in play for the Jets or whomever, you know, what's your receiving or looking like now? Not great. I mean, piercels never healthy, right? DeMarcus Robinson, Jordan Watkins and young guys, yeah, they got to address it. They got problems. You went from Jennings and Debo and Iyuk to now a tricky piercels. What about what about a Mike Evans in San Francisco? I've been reading there some, there's some, some contact. If I have to do with Mike Evans on the Eagles, I also saw Mike Evans maybe Buffalo. That would make sense. That would make a ton of sense. Before we get to football, Miami of Ohio, maybe Toledo there are 30 and O. By the way, you see who's been getting absolutely destroyed. Bruce Pearl. But if Miami loses one game, Bruce Pearl thinks they're out of the tournament. Do you hear Joe Lennarty? He was like, allow the people that do this for a living to do this, please. I mean, he's not saying it from a biased position either at all, right? Because his kid has Auburn right on the bubble for the job

that he went right before the season. Yeah, where you have no choice to get anyone to be the coach of Auburn, except for my son. So enjoy Steven Pearl. Steven Paul. Uh, some football. So, tomorrow morning, Bobby, okay, I'm going to be released by the Giants. You know that Bruce Hall's been franchise tagged by the jets. By the way, I'm interested in that's the non-exclusive. So a team would have to give a two first round or should we not go in anywhere? But we're not just making official. Seems like they're going to work on a long-term deal they have until July 15th. Well, it sounds like what happened is they were going to go transition tag, but at the combine, they realize that the 11 million was going to be less than teams were going to offer. And I guess the way the teams could structure that deal could make it harder for the jets to resign him. So they just went with the 14 and the regular franchise tag. Yeah, that is 14.293 million dollars. 14.293. Yeah, 14.3 to be a new. This is my stapler. Yeah. Uh, trenders and not tagged and posted a goodbye to Cincinnati. So that is over. The colts did

use the transition tag. They used an undeniable Jones. The Rams say they're having great dialogue. Is there their words they use with Matthew Stafford on a new deal? The Minnesota Vikings are mulling a possible trade of linebacker Jonathan Renard. And the Bears, they lost their center. He retired. Drew Dolman retiring at age 27 so that revamped offensive line takes a little bit of ahead. You see that you see that? Like every like a guy in the prime of his career is like I'm done. The Niners had didn't the Niners have a linebacker a couple years ago that did that? Oh, I also don't I also don't think you recognize or people recognize I shouldn't say you because you know this just because of the conversations that we've had. The amount of brain trauma. No, I do that offensive and defensive line. No, I just the I really do. But I think people are always surprised by it. What Borechard was Chris Borland. Borland. Yeah. And he retired not that long after Patrick Wilson retired. Not Patrick Wilson. It was more due to the toe injury. But Borland where I was like, oh, wow. We plugged that whole quickly and then he retired. Yeah. But I mean, they

always talk about like every place like a car crash. So you're going through 70 car crashes a week. Well, but it's more like the it's more the the repeated hands to your head. Yeah, it's terrible. Yeah. By the way, the focus they will play a game at the Bernabou. That is where Real Madrid plays. So they will have an international game was not announced if they're the home or the away team. We're they're playing it. But keep them on coming. The international games. I mentioned earlier. Colossum knows the signal McLean is who's battling Vertigo. He seems like he's going to throw today on one of the backfields. And if that all goes well, he will report to TVS say where he will pitch enough. I have heard Vertigo is supposed to be absolutely horrible. My mother had it. Yeah, she was a mess. Right. Like you have to lie down and just close your eyes and try to rest as best you can. And by the way, when he reports to TV, I say they had a tune up yesterday. They played the San Francisco Giants. Didn't go off of the smash the Giants. Yeah, 15 to one. But of course they did. Of course they did. I and judge went two for two with two ribs. Has it been announced yet that the

Lions are going to play the the Giants in the Lions are going to play. We don't know who they're going to play it. But wasn't the report from Gary that the Giants are going to play in Germany? The report. Was it Germany or is it they were going to play people are saying the Giants going to yeah, I think it might be the job, but it's not officially yet. Okay. Yeah. Jerkson Pro far, by the way, 162 game band. Second positive. He was just suspended. Yeah, well, now he's not a girl for those season. That might that might just do it for him. And Smoky Rangers. They put JT Miller on. I are the upper body injury. Doug Hamilton, a goal in six Devils five and win against the Panthers who seem like they are sunk in the wild. They land center Michael McCarran for a second round pick. That's it. That's nice. You do a nice job. You know that? I'll let anybody tell you differently, RJ. That tells me you've heard differently. Sabers are active, RJ. Sabers are active. A little Robert Thomas action. I'm I'm reading. That's how I can see they're going to get them, but to try and Rick, you want to hear what you said earlier today in the show? I do. All right.

Raymond, if you hold on with second, yeah, I got a little thing. That's not nearly as bad as busting on each other. Ray again, please hold on with second. Yeah. I got a little thing. Yeah. Maybe I was talking about RJ. No, you weren't. That's what Gabby calls them. The little thing. No, no, don't deflect. Watching someone close go through loss really changes your perspective. You see, how quickly grief can turn into financial stress and it's something no family should have to deal with during an already difficult time. Experiences like that make people think differently about planning ahead and protecting the people they love. Life insurance isn't about expecting the worst. It's about being prepared and knowing your family will be supported if something unexpected happens. That's why life insurance through ethos is worth considering. They make the process fast and easy. Everything is 100% online so you can get a quote in seconds, apply in minutes and even get same day coverage. There's no medical exam, just a few simple health questions. You can get up to $3 million in coverage and some policy start as low as $30 a month. As of March 2025,

business insider named ethos, the number one no medical exam instant life insurance provider. And ethos has 4.8 out of five stars and trust pilot with over 3000 reviews. Protect your family with life insurance from ethos now by going to ethos.com slash sports. In as little as 10 minutes, you can get your free quote and up to $3 million in coverage at ethos.com slash sports. That's ETHOS.com slash sports ethos.com slash sports application times and rates may vary. If you've shopped online, chances are you've bought from a business powered by Shopify. You know that purple shop pay button, you see it check out. The one that makes buying so incredibly easy? That's Shopify. And there's a reason so many businesses sell with it because Shopify makes it incredibly easy to start and run your business. Shopify is the commerce platform behind 10% of all e-commerce in the US, from household names like Mattel and Jim Shark to brands

just getting started. Shopify gives you a leg up with hundreds of beautiful, ready-to-go templates to express your brand style and forget about the code. Tackle all those important tasks in one place from inventory to payments to analytics and more. Spread your brand's word with built-in marketing and email tools to find and keep new customers. And did I mention that iconic purple shop pay button that's used by millions of businesses around the world? It's why Shopify has the best converting checkout on the planet. Your customers already love it. If you want to see less carts being abandoned, it's time for you to head over to Shopify. Sign up for your $1 per month trial and start selling today at shopify.com slash network. Go to shopify.com slash network shopify.com slash network. When was the last time you felt in control of your business finances? Expenses tracked invoices sent taxes ready. That's where found comes in. Found brings your banking, bookkeeping,

invoicing and taxes together in one simple app. Manage expenses, invoice clients, send payments and prep for tax time right where you bank. Join the hundreds of thousands who have already streamlined their finances with found. Open a found account for free at found.com. That's f-o-u-n-d.com. Found is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Lead Bank Number FDIC. Seven o'clock tip off at the very same time. The devil's welcomed the leafs to the rock. And then 10 o'clock late night. I'm sure you'll stay up for it. The islanders out west to take on the are they still the mighty ducks? Are they just the ducks now? Just the ducks. They're no longer mighty.

I think once Disney sold them, they've stopped. They lost the money. Okay. Well, the islanders take on the ducks at 10 o'clock tonight. That's game time brought to you by Tell them or do the original triple the steel triple blended and triple cask matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tell them or do or try the new Tell them or do honey during today's action. Glasses up to enjoying Tell them or do respond. Very nice. Um, all right. So I of all the people. Dane Brugler is one of the best. You have his newest mock draft in front of you. Yes. I do. I do. Yeah. All right. So what, uh, walk me through. Give me some music. Would you, right? Little NFL theme. And I get crazy. We just finally got music back. Okay. Well, then we might as well take advantage because you don't know how long it'll last for. So all right. Go ahead. So this is what Dane has to say. So obviously for the agency is still going to be a major domino in the process. Right. But the combine gives us bread crumbs to how teams are thinking. He gathered plenty of NFL feedback during the combine week and now he wants to include some in this newest mock draft. So let's not delay the inevitable

Raiders Fernando Mendoza. That's what New York Chets number two. Any guesses? Uh, I'm going to say I think they should take Bailey. I think he's going to have Reese. He's got Arville Reese said Reese had one of the most impressive workouts at this year's Combife full stop is athletic testing was outstanding as expected. But his on field performance is even more remarkable. His blend of speed, explosion, and violence separates him in this class. Dude stole the freaking show. An NFL scout set. Wow. Okay. So they have Arville Reese two. They have what were we now? Let me, let me, let me walk through it here. So you got Mendoza one Reese two. Now we got the Cardinals up at three. Cardinals three. So I saw something yesterday, which I thought was interesting that that Jeremiah love. But I just can't think they're going to take a running back three. I'm going to say Bailey goes three. Incorrect. They have them taking Francis Mauinoa. Wow. Offensive tackle Miami in terms of NFL ceiling. Mauinoa might be might not be on the level of past number three picks. But this is a

different draft. And he brings a high floor. One which would immediately upgrade the Cardinals right tackles. And they could use offensive lines. Certainly there. All right. So now I have Tennessee. They got Tennessee. Like a Bailey. I got love. I got styles. I got downs. I got a lot, a lot of real talent there. I think they want to make, I think their goal is to make Cam Ward as good as humanly possible. I think there's a lack of weaponry there. I'm going to say love it for. Oh my good. Give them the ding Jeremiah. Number four. Good for you. All right. So they had with money to spend a free agency. Tennessee should be in a much more stable place before before we get to April. An AFC scout for team that already has an established running back. Call Jeremiah love the best player in the draft. There you go. All right. So now the giants have styles and downs available. That's right. Oh, dear. Their trades involved in this for him or no. There are no just later in the draft. Okay. As we get through it. All right. I'm going to say he has the giants taking. All right. I want styles. He has downs. Oh, he's so close. He has styles.

Yeah. Good. Well, good. I'm glad. All right. So okay. You're going to love this. You're going to be a favorite part of this whole, this whole little breakdown. Read it to me slowly. Okay. For much of the season and pre-draft process, I felt like I had to convince elders of why styles deserve to be a top 10 pick. After his workout in Indianapolis, the skeptics have disappeared. But it wasn't just what styles did on the field. His interviews with NFL teams were phenomenal, according to a team source, with one team even giving him a standing ovation at the end of a session. Can I tell you something right now? It moved. That's exactly the phrase I was going to use. Not a ton, but a little bit. Yeah. It was a little peekaloo. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So they got Cleveland at six. I don't even care now. I'm done. They got Fano going at six. Commanders taking David Bailey at seven. Saints taking Karnel Tate at eight. Chiefs get Rubin Bane at nine. Wow. And the Bengals get Caleb Downs at ten. Wait, the Bengals, that'd be a home run. Home run. Bane is going nine. Yep. So I think what's happened now is what Dane has in the top of the draft is really going to put very talented guys into that like seventh

to ten range. Right. In the short arms for Bane, clearly are going to be, well, who knows. But I think that's a concern. I do. I mean, it's really a non-existent problem. I think it's the first time that they talk about a top 100 player with arms that are going to be less than 31 inches long. Yeah, but he's got to take. I mean, he does, but you know, he heard someone the other day, he said, you know, when he goes up against like the Trent Williams of the world, he's not going to be able to compete at that level. Yeah, you're going up against that. You saw Will Campbell. Yeah. And that was the knock on him, short arms. And he struggled at times this year. All right. Here's another chick. Can you imagine? This is he's got Tampa getting Kenyans to dig with the 15th pick. I love him just to add to their weaponry RJ. I think thinks he's more of a RJ. You can correct me if I want wrong. Like more of a workout warrior than going to be a massive productive NFL player. Sadeek. I like I like Sadeek. I just wonder if it scares me when tight ends pop at the combine.

And he's a really good player. I like watching him at Oregon. But there's other talented players around there in theory. He would have had the, but second, maybe first and some eyes, best quarterback of this draft. And I wonder what it looks like outside that system. But he's, I mean, he got himself paid. He's a monster. He's a monster. Yeah. I heard him connected to like the Rams. That's scary. Well, that's how this all came up yesterday. That was scary. Is is I was looking at Jordan Reed's mock draft. And Jordan Reed had Sadeek to the Rams at 13. And RJ's like, yeah, I think he might, you know, might be one of those like workout warriors more than someone I, if he went to the Rams RJ, I don't think that'd be good for your life. No, I work out warrior. I just mean I saw him for a long time hovering around like a back half, maybe back third of round one. And when a guy goes from that point, he runs like that. When you start talking about like a top 10 player, I wonder if he led. He had such a good combine because I do not want him to land in Philadelphia. I actually think that his aunt Anita Sadeek was a,

I'm being preemptive. Stop it. Stop it. I don't even really understand what you're better off. You're better off. That honestly went right over my head. But there were reports yesterday that Goddard is gone. Right. That's over. Right. So. So if Sadeek is there for the Eagles at 25, I think he's a really, really good player. But I worry that when you start moving up like 20 draft spots because of the combine. I don't think it'd be 20. I think they figured out who needs Sadeek. So he's relentless. He's still going. Yeah. Is there another player with you? Here's the thing I will say. Yeah. I think it's all like great. I try it. Yeah. It's a stretch. It's kind of falling under here. Let's get back to the draft. New York Jets. Any clue at 16. So Sadeek goes 15. Jets now have 16. Is McIntyre lemon on the board? McIntyre lemon is in fact on the board. I'm going to go McIntyre lemon at 6. That is 100% correct. What? I mean, I am named Brooklyn. You are good. Yes. It said maybe the Jets will opt for more size of receiver to compliment Garrett Wilson, but lemon has the competitive DNA that should speak to head coach Aaron Glenn in general manager

Darren Moosie. And apparently he's great in the interview room. Oh, come on. Maybe in a jerk. What do you mean? He knew he was not. He was terrible. Oh, he's that. Yes. Sorry. And the only trade he has on the in the first round is he's got Arizona coming back up to 28. Get the quarterback and taking Thai Simpson. And then second round, he has the Jets taking C.J. Allen linebacker from Georgia. And he has the Giants taking Jeremy Bernard, White receiver Alabama. Well, I can. And then how does he have the Jets second of 44 at 44. He has the Jets taking Chris Johnson corner from San Diego State. How would you feel about that a few of the Jets? How about that draft the way the way he draws it? I would I would feel good about that. Yeah. You get you get lemon. You get Reese. Who do you get in the second round? You got lemon. You get Reese. You get a linebacker C.J. Allen from Georgia at 33. And then you get a corner at 44. I don't know how you couldn't like that

a few of the Jets. Well, this is what they have to do though. This is why I like the whole idea of do we, you know, do we, you know, trade all these picks that would take to get the first overall pick the Carlos Mendoza. I think is a little bit premature. I think it's I think it's very premature because if you looked at Mendoza and thought shorefire can't miss elite NFL quarterback. You give up anything for him. I don't I don't feel like that at all. I like him. I'm if I'm the raiders, I'd be happy to get him, but I'm like an amortgage. Everything I have of them, the Jets to go get that. I know you like him when it's your pick. Right. Exactly. If the Jets took him a two, I'd like that. I'm not giving up two, three first round picks for to move up one spot to get Mendoza. I wouldn't do that. Yeah. So that, I mean, that's again, it's a it's a it's a fun call you have to make. I'm sure you'll make the phone call, but it doesn't sound like you, I mean, unless you offer something crazy that Vegas is moving off the first pick. Quick time out. Some breakfast until you want to know about Kodiak, frozen power waffles and flap jacks are built for busy mornings. Heat it, eat it, and you're out the door. No long prep,

no complicated game plan. They're packed with 12 to 14 grams of protein per serving a good source of fiber and crafted with 100 percent whole grains, not refined white flour. So you're getting something that actually fuels you and there's depth on the roster. Buttermilk and vanilla, blueberry, chocolate chip, even gluten free options. Breakfast that delivers, snack that delivers, find Kodiak, frozen waffles, and flap jacks in the frozen aisle at your local grocery store. They're the ones with the bear on the box. Rich eyes in here, the tax deadline will be here before you know it, and you just want to know your taxes are actually being handled. But the old way, you hand everything off and then silence. Days pass, weeks pass, you start wondering, should I send another follow up email? It feels like you're chasing updates and getting nowhere. But now, taxes are different because your taxes are done for you by a turbo tax full service expert. With into a turbo tax, you can match with your dedicated tax expert and hand off everything

right in the app. And while your expert checks for every deduction, you'll see real time updates on your phone so you always know exactly where things stand. Suddenly you're not refreshing your inbox, you're going for a run, grabbing a coffee, scrolling anything other than a just checking in message. Because your turbo tax expert is handling it and keeping you in the loop. So this tax season, get your best possible outcome and every dollar you deserve without the guesswork. Visit TurboTax.com today to learn more. Real time updates only in iOS mobile app, only available with TurboTax full service experts. If you're ready for an oil change, trust the professional parts people at O'Reilly Auto Parts to recommend the best products for your vehicle. Right now, get five courts of valveline full synthetic motor oil and a Wix filter for $35.99 and receive a $15 O'Reilly gift card after rebate. Upgrade to a Wix XP oil filter for just $2.00 more. Limits apply. See store for details. Stop by your local O'Reilly Auto Parts store or shop online

at O'Reilly Auto.com. Thanks for listening to the DP-8 Rowan, Rothenberg podcast. Looking for more access to the show. Why? Because you know why. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at DR on ESPN. Like an ice macha something looking thing. Let me see what he's drinking. He's green. It was green. I just finished it. So over at the building they had it called sipper sips and so they had pictures of smoothies. So I'm like, oh, I'll go get the berry one and then I get to the front of the line. We don't have the berry one. So you either get some green one or a breakfast sipper. This was a breakfast sipper which also happened to be green. What's in a breakfast sipper? You don't even know what you just drank. What happens if you're allergic to it? Well, I've read it. It's like oats and oats. Yeah. Oats and oats. Did you almost die here once on this show? I did. Yeah. Well, that's some trying to be healthier. That was that was like we're this close from the end of you, right? I had like seven steaks and Indian apples. So yeah.

I'll pour some water down your throat. Okay. You got those guys have. No, this is not really concerned right now. It's not good. That's when you decided to eat a giant bowl of fruit on the air. No, I drank the like the milling juice. Whereas when you have Justin Fields with the who probably isn't even in that category, then on top of that, you're right. Yeah, I might die here. That's great. I don't know. I know you drink. You drank the juice to get yourself back to life, but initially you ate the whole bowl of fruit, which is probably what you ended up choking on. On the air, you're eating fruit. No. I ate it during the break earlier. I don't understand why people eat food during the breaks here. Why not? Because he's supposed to be like dialed in on the show six to 10 a.m. You got to eat breakfast. Sometimes I don't even your fruit bowl. I will pour water in the fruit bowl. You can drink it out of it. No. No. All right. We are a station that believes in properly being nourished at all times. I mean, the fruit juice is brought me back to life. No one is part. Part will consume like a full meal during the show.

Courses. He definitely seems like the seven meals a day kind of like course. 100%. Yeah. Right. But it's not like a quick easy snack. He's bringing in pork chops. Right. Pork chops, breaded chicken breasts, like, like, like, sides, like, like, do you, hey, sausage, rice, rice or or quinoa on the side? Rick has to be doing some crazy stuff now. No. Rick thinks his supplements and Rick will lead a bar here and there. But Rick is not, it's not out of control. Rick will have to after the show. We're here for work four hours. Like a human being. A little fruit. Is that bad? Well, you know, with your track record, risking to eat during what track record? I mean, I didn't, the only time I almost died eating was that time. Yeah, but you stroked out on national television. That's the, that's bad. I didn't do it around it. Did I have anything to do with fruit? Did we ever line that up? Did we know that you didn't have fruit within like two to four hours before that hit? Maybe you have a fruit algae. We didn't know about it. Yeah. Your sugar spikes and you can't get in. All right. You just go. You need an insulin. I don't know. I don't know what, what it is exactly that you need. How's your son? Hey, at least at least Rick, uh, let's you forget about, you know, your bad moments, you know?

Oh, yeah. Really? Yeah. Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? There's a heart on it too much. How's your son? There's non sports. Hey, you know what? So we've been playing basketball lately. Okay. Yeah. We got upcoming. We got him signed up for, uh, flag football and, right? And baseball. Rodi? Yeah. Might be coming around. I love it. Yeah. He told me the other day that he, because you know, it's kind of like warm out. So we were shooting the baskets in the drive basketball and the driveway. And, uh, he's like, that was a lot of fun. It's a lot more fun when I make the shots. Yeah. Right. Uh, it's not that easy though. You got to practice in order to make the shots. No. I don't want to do that. So he doesn't want to put the time in. No. He just wants to make every shot. Uh-huh. It's kind of tough. So he wants to run the marathon from mile 25 on. Right. It doesn't want the work that goes into it. He just wants the rewards. It doesn't sound like he'd love fish and either Jordan. No, we're not a fishing family. No, it's, yeah. That sound like his work ethic is all that good. Oh, God. What? I mean, am I wrong? He's six years old. Well, six years old. Okay.

He's, I mean, he's an excellent, he's an excellent reader. He's a good reader. He's a tremendous work ethic. Is he in a book? Is he in a book club? He's six years old. Come on. They have children's book clubs. Get them into their club. They're learning. What do you mean? I'm got him. I'm getting into all these sports. Yo, so I have a buddy. Yeah. He gave me jerseys. So okay, the sun out grew them, right? And so, I mean, Brody has, I'm not even joking. My buddy dropped off a bag. It's like 40 or 50 jerseys of every sport. Brody has a lot of 40 or 50 jerseys. He's got like sauce gardeners, like all kinds of crazy stuff in there. So your, your buddies gave you thousands of dollars of jerseys. But most half of the guys got traded. Was this Gary? No, I wasn't carrying. So he gave you all, and, and Brody, like intrigued by all these new jerseys now to his club. He likes them. They're just a little big. We got to wait. That's nice though. The problem is that they all outdated by the time he gets to them. And he's bills, right? That's his number one favorite team. Like he has a bill jersey. It's stiff dick, so.

Oh, so that's a little outdated. So you're a, you're a Yankees fan. Yeah. If Brody were to show up one day, like that, I love the meds. How would that fly? Like I told him he can't be a mess fan. And you Nick. He's got to be a Nick fan. But you desperately want him to be a sports fan. So would you take Mets over nothing? Or does it have to be a mess, man? No. No. That's the one I can't, I can't, I can't. What if he, what if he walked in with the Roman Anthony jerseys? Like, I love the red socks. Roman Anthony's sister's so hot. He, you know, he'd have good taste. I mean, that's, I mean, that, I feel like a best of both worlds. Mets will bother me more than that at this point. That is the dumbest thing you've ever said. Don't comment out loud about 20 year olds. Okay. And that is wild. I know, I know. My hatred for the, the red socks has kind of dissipated. I mean, it's no, no sense. It's just, in recent years, it just has. It makes no sense. The rivalry to me is kind of lost some of its lust. Hey, Jordan, did you hear what we do on the show? What's that? Play, play, play to Jordan. What we do on the show here? Oh, no. Which one do you want? You know, you know exactly this one.

Yeah, right. Hang on. I know we bust on each other all the time. I mean, three stars was coming, but, you know, tell me that's not alarming, Jordan. Yeah, I probably wouldn't want to be involved in that. Right. That's just me. I mean, sometimes you're lucky. You're lucky. You ducked out for a few minutes. I might have to leave here. Yeah. Sometimes three is too many. If you, if you didn't realize, you're, you're talking to like Benny Hill here on the other end of the microphone. I would be in trouble because I find myself saying, compromising things and like not realizing what we all do. The problem is most people hear them. And even if they internally like chuckle for a moment, they don't make a thing about it. Luckily, we get to work with someone that every time that happens, they bring it to everyone's attention. Hi, welcome to the show. Right. Welcome. Welcome to the show. Jordan, you want to throw it to Raymond for three stars? Sure. It wasn't a trick question. Hi. Hi, Jordan. How are you doing today? Fantastic. All right. You ready for three stars? I am. What do you got? A lot. Today's three stars. Number three. I mean, we'll start right there with myself because Dave,

so now that I think about it, the farther we get away from it, it's kind of a shot. Should I be honest or should I not? Raymond looks tired today. No matter. I didn't think I felt that tired, but he's looking at my eyes. Now I've got to get injections. Do I need to get a Botox injection or something? Do you know a guy? Maybe I can talk to you? Number two. I know a guy who wants to talk. Is Carlos Mendoza? Is Carlos Mendoza? Is this Fernando Mendoza? So the other things you do on this show? Hold on a second. Yeah. I got a little thing, but honestly, the winner in the clubhouse today, I know we bossed on each other all the time and give it a call. It's the truth. Number one. No, Jordan, your number one starts today because you surprised everybody. Wow. My mind just got completely blown. You know, just busted through the doors, Rick. I'm going to I'm going to assume it's Jordan or not. Not only did he, but he actually terrified me. And I mean, I could talk to Jordan about the giants for the next 42 hours. He really could. You're right. That's an obvious move and more money and money, right? And, and, but you're going to spend it on regal. That'll then you're just basically trading money. Yeah. Yeah. Steve is very excited about the giant's money. You think because I asked about three

free agents that now we're going to want to material. There's a lot of material, but yeah, you could run out. The combine. The organization has completely had an upheaval and you're concerned because I have to buy a quarter of a fly. Guys could leave. It's concerning. You could run new offences. What do you think they do with schmitz if they sign lender bomb? I don't know what they'll do. Maybe they run a two-setter offense. What do they call that? I mean, you go to RJ for help. RJ. I know that you are in Rick's pocket, but, but please. There are the shots. Highly marries at Pittsburgh quarterback, though. What's a Pittsburgh quarterback these days? Little quarterback. RJ has no chance of Pittsburgh. Did I miss when RJ was like this high-end big pitching prospect or something? Who invited you to the studio? It's all RJ. RJ gets all to credit. Great jobs today, boys. Oh, great job. Wonderful job from everyone around. Ray, you look like a million bucks. It's rule 76. No excuses like a champion is D.P. H.L. Rutherburg, Rennon, and everybody 65 or sooner. Right here in ESPN, New York, and on YouTube.

I know we post on each other all the time and give it a call. N-A-M on A-A-D-E-S-P-N in New York, the ESPN New York app, and on YouTube by subscribing to the ESPN New York YouTube channel. He died. He was on a phone arguing what's about. This might be a hit. You want the truth. Biggest way to conviction. In place of your rest. We had a killer amongst us. Murder at the U. Listen now.

More episodes

More from DiPietro & Rothenberg

View all episodes →