Hour 4: The NFL is back!

0:00This episode is brought to you by Welch's Fruit Snacks. Back to school season can be tough on parents, but choosing a snack you and your kids can both get behind doesn't have to be. Stock up on Welch's Fruit Snacks, made with whole fruit, and now made with no artificial dyes. It's a snack kids already love, and one you can feel good about giving them. Go back to school with Welch's Fruit Snacks, now made with no artificial dyes. This is the DPA TRO and Rothenburg Podcast. Let the wild rumpus begin! Catch us live weekday mornings from 6 to 10 a.m. on ESPN, New York, the MSG network and streaming live on YouTube. This is DPA TRO and Rothenburg. Something amazing just happened. Who is that old dressed up? We're gone! Why? Don't hear! You know why it was his anniversary? He's lighting the legs I can tell. Listen, you guys make fun of my sex life and it's deadly accurate. And that's the thing, I'm trying to get to the quarterback.

1:01Right. It's Alan Zeltic. He's fighting through the running back, he's fighting through the offensive lineman and the tight end to get to the quarterback. Me? I got this pesky little scat back through the glancing blow and I'm down. And I don't get there. That's a shame. This is DPA TRO and Rothenburg. But when I do get there, the quarterback goes down. ESPN New York. The MSG network and streaming live on YouTube. He is one of my favorite people. Didn't that look like it's just wonderful? He really is. Rick? Harvey, can you turn his mic on? Harvey? No, he's not. He's talking and... I'm talking now. Can you hear me now? No, I can't thank him. Because you were busy talking about getting new decks. All that deck talk during the break. I can't help it. They're interested in me as a reader of their spots.

2:02Right. And I was doing some reads. That's not really me. I get a beautiful new deck. I have a great deck now and there's nothing more I would love than a greater looking deck. Yeah. Upgraded. Yeah, upgraded deck. It's nice. I thought those were great reads. I was a lot of them, but it was great. Yeah. So football, it's back. How do you feel the last night when you were watching? I always have the moment of like... I can't... Almost like the way when the next one like, boy, I just... I can't believe it's back. I can't... It almost feels surreal to have football back. It felt good. It felt good. It felt like it gave me something to really look forward to throughout the day. Yes. Right. It was like, okay, this is how... Get the plans and order. Here's what... Baseball practice. We're going to go from baseball practice to dinner. We've got to make sure we're ready. Kick off. Not the matchup I would love to see in the first game, but it is what it is. You know what, we were all right though, because we sat here for weeks and I think we all had said like, do I need to really see this matchup again?

3:02The matchup disappointed so much the first time. I'm sorry. That's just not an attractive matchup. It's just not. The NFL made a mistake. Putting the Patriots in Seattle for week one was... It's just not a great game. You know what? I mean, it also doesn't help that Sam Darrell got hurt when Sam Darrell got hurt. Yeah, but if Sam Darrell didn't get hurt, it might have been a blow out of the game. I don't know if it would have been a blow out. I think that... I don't buy into the whole of the Patriots. It's... Aren't a good football team. I don't think the people... Is that clearly a playoff team to you? I think the Patriots are going to be a playoff team. Playoff team. So right now, when you look at the AFC, you have the bills in. Yeah. You have the North being won by... Are you Cincinnati or Baltimore guy? It sounds like you're Baltimore, right? Probably Baltimore, yeah. Are you Cincinnati gets in? Are you not there? I have to see what the defense looks like. So we're going to get the seven teams, right? And we also got to keep Joe Barrow. It's hard to believe that Joe Barrow being healthy for 17 games. They're not going to be... That Joe Barrow shouldn't be in the playoffs. Unless their defense is just that bad. But you're right. Healthy Joe Barrow would make you lead you to believe that they're going to be...

4:04All right. So you have two teams from the East, right? You have New England, you have Buffalo, you have... Baltimore, are you putting Cincinnati or you're not right now? Currently no, because I mean, I think Pittsburgh... Right, I think Pittsburgh is going to be right there also, because that's just... I don't know if that's just what Tomlin does. But I would imagine that another year away from the Achilles, this being his last season, Mike McCarty offenses are usually pretty good. You got Metcalfe, you got... I mean, they got good weapons. They have good weapons. Like a Metcalf-pittment combination at receivers are legitimate wide receivers. Yeah. Yeah, like, I mean, they give a... Their offense should be pretty good. I mean, they always somewhere around 500. So it's interesting that you bring that up with Pittsburgh, because it feels to me like... And I'm one of these people, people are just... I feel like it's done. I feel like Pittsburgh is going in the wrong... Maybe I'm wrong, because they prove you're wrong every year. But I don't know. Rodgers has seen this better days. The coach, I don't love like I did the other one.

5:05Certainly they have some weapons, their defense is very good, but I just feel like Pittsburgh is not going to be that team. But maybe you're right, maybe they will just... In perpetuity, they're that team. Well, I don't know if they're going to be that team or not, right? We still have to see what it looks like without Mike Tomlin. But I think that... I think that Mike McCarthy, for whatever reason, and maybe it's some of his press conferences, I don't know how he looks, whatever it is, Carpe Diem, all of it. Guy wins a lot of football games. Right? I mean, he has a track record of winning a lot of football games. Now, did he win at a high enough level in Green Bay with Aaron Rodgers' his quarterback? Maybe not, but still. Like, I mean, he wins football games. And they should be a pretty good team, and they've just historically been a team that's right around, you know, five wins. Excuse me, five hundred, so... Right. I would imagine they're there, but you're right, when you look at the entire AFC, yeah, the AFC West. I mean, Jacksonville's good. Houston's good. Denver's good. Charges are good. Kansas City should bounce back. There's definitely more than seven teams

6:05that look like they could be playoff teams in the AFC. Correct. But you could be... You could be a 10-win team and not get in in the AFC. You could... Very easily could be. I mean, I think we all believe that if... Like, if C.J. Stroud can turn himself back into what you saw as Ricky Season. Yep. Houston could be in the Super Bowl. See, I don't even... I look at them as the AFC version, but the opposite of the Cowboys. If their offense is average, there are real problems, because their defense is elite. Elite. Yeah? Like, they're one of the... They're one of the more fun defenses to watch. Well, Will Anderson is... I know Miles Garrett is one of everyone is Gaga over. Will Anderson is awesome and young. I was listening to somebody talk about their defense the other day, and they're like... And it's not... It's not like they're trying to trick you. Like, they run one of the more simple defenses in the NFL, but their guys are such animals. That it's... That was... It was about Josh Allen. They were saying that Josh Allen has historically struggled with that defense.

7:07I think everyone has his story with the first defense. And that's the first matchup. It... Hopefully CJ Stroud went to the lab this offseason, because this is a huge difference. Right? He hasn't got a second deal yet. He's got a... He's got a Super Bowl caliber defense. He looked awful last year in the playoffs. Oh, he's so bad. He was... I mean, he was unwatchable. Remember, they beat Pittsburgh, but no thanks to him. And then he was God awful against New England. A brutal. Like, really... Like, to the point where they thought that you're probably better off pulling him at halftime. That was the thought. Like, I mean, he's gonna... He was that bad. He was that level of awful. So, all right. So continue through with me now. So, where you... From the north, you're putting in just one then for the moment. So you got two in the east and one in the north, right? Okay. So here's the problem. So if I have... If I have Buffalo winning the division. Yep. And I think that New England could be good enough to be a playoff team. That's two. Right. Now I got the North winner, which is three. I got the South winner, which is four. And I got the AFC winner. AFC West winner, which is five. So you got two teams left. Now, now you're talking...

8:08Denver, Kansas City, the chargers, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh. Jacksonville, Houston. I mean, that's... I mean, it's gonna be tough to figure out who's in and who's out. Well, it's a gauntlet there in that AFC. That's why, you know, a Garrett Wilson's like, or even Jets fans like, you're not going to the playoffs. So take that red out of your head. You're setting yourself up for disappointment if that's the... If you think that team is going to the postseason, you're crazy. Crazy. I think in a quiet moment, he probably doesn't believe that, but he wants to believe it. But why would you say that, though? You're trying to talk into it existence. But it's not going to be getting to existence. Not now. It's going to be his either. I mean, even if you win, Tony, you're looking at six wins. Which would be a decent season for the Jets. I don't know what it does for you long-term, but yeah, I mean, it'd be a step in the right direction. It would be a step in the right direction. But the AFC is really, really talented. So who do you have in the in the South, you have Jacksonville? You don't have any. I have Houston in the South. Houston? Okay.

9:08Yeah, I think that defense is too good. I think CJ Strauss is going to bounce back. If he does, they're going to be a real problem. Real problem. If he does, you just said it. I think you're right. If he does, they could go to the Super Bowl. They could because defense goes anywhere. Cold weather, good defense, warm weather, good... Like, it travels. It's good. It's top. Absolutely. The division is not great. No. I think Jacksonville is good. I have questions. They are. Real questions about what Tennessee is. Indies, meh. Like, right. They're fine. I don't know what to expect from it. Because when Daniel Jones was healthy, that offense was cooking. And then he dealt with the broken leg, and then he came back from that, and they tears the kids. I mean, I know medicine is different, and Kills is going to be back. And I mean, it seems, it seems real quick for him to be back from Kills. Who Jones? Yeah. No, it does seem premature. I mean, he's a warrior this guy. He's a tough, well, there's never been a doubt of him being a tough guy. And then Alec Pierce dealing with the yellowies. He is injured. Coming back from his injury. You do have... A lot of pitman. Taylor, right.

10:08You lose pitman. You do have Taylor. He's a workhorse. He had a great year last year. Again, I think they're kind of in that Pittsburgh range for me. They could be seven and ten. They could be nine and eight. They could maybe upside be ten and seven. They were like, they are seven and ten to ten and seven. Indianapolis, Pittsburgh. For me. I think the real interesting division is the AFC West. It's a monster. It's a monster. And I don't feel... I don't feel... The same way about Denver that I get the... I get the sense that some people feel. Well, that's another team that has an elite defense. Right, elite defense, great coach. I mean, you've seen the steady progression. I mean, if... If Bonix is... You may not like Bonix, but if Bonix is healthy. Right, they win that football game. If Bonix is healthy, they're in the Super Bowl. Right, it's not Jared Stinham. It's probably a better Super Bowl. It's probably... It's probably a better Super Bowl. I would definitely would have been a better Super Bowl. And I would be surprised if Denver could have won that game. Denver's defense is right there with Houston.

11:09They're that level. They're really, really good. And I don't love Bonix either. But their offensive line is excellent. And now they add Waddle. They add Waddle into the mix. They already have Courtland Sutton. So that's a real problem team. They're well coached. I mean, nobody has any doubts about the head coach. So I don't love Denver. And they're certainly not a sexy pick. But they're a good football team. They're gonna... They're gonna win double-digit games this year. Yeah, they're a good football team that, oh, by the way, has a really good head coach. Like, I mean, great head coach. And like, as far as units around the NFL are concerned. I mean, you're talking about one of the best defensive units in football. Top... I think you would probably say top two. Right, so, I mean, you may not like Bonix, but guess what? Bonix with... Like, the combination of Bonix in this offense with Sean Payton has been successful. Very much so. Now, I don't know what he looks like mobility-wise now coming back from the injury. Maybe that's a concern. But I... And I know it's Patrick Mahomes. The guys coming back from an ACL and it's like, just a...

12:09Kansas City. Not only an ACL. An ACL, like, at the end of the season. A Kansas City, they're back, baby. It's like, well, we... Okay. Because, you know what? You get this in your mind. Like a team like Kansas City. And until... Like the Patriots were. Until they're dead and buried and you've shoveled dirt on them. You always believe Kansas City is going to find their way back. And then other teams, like Denver, or even in New England, you just... And I think you will see it more, but you kind of need to see it more before you're going to be like, oh yeah, yeah. That Denver team, that's a legitimate Super Bowl caliber football club. I... And I understand that. I mean, I just... Like, when you look at... And it's Andy Reed and it's... It's Patrick Mahomes and I... I get all that. But the team you're high on. The Chargers. I love the Chargers. Right? Justin Herbert has him shoulder under the playoffs. My home's is one three Super Bowls. He's got all these eyes. He's awesome. He's coming back from an ACL. And when you look at, like, just the offensive side of the ball. I know they had a Kenneth Walker. And that was part of the problem last year as they couldn't run the football. And, you know, Patrick got to use his legs more. But, I mean...

13:09What version of Travis Kelsey you're getting? I don't know what Rashee writes is. I mean, Rashee writes had the injury. He's rehabbing the injury in jail. Right? He gets the surgery. Right. And then has to go spend time in jail. Like, they still... It's not like they added a clear cut. Hey, this is a number one guy for Patrick to throw to. They had a Kenneth Walker, which I think is a big addition. That doesn't solve the number one receiver. That doesn't solve the number one... They used to be like, hey, he can live without a number one receiver because, you know, Kelsey's still awesome. No, I mean, at some point, Kelsey's... Well, I think he's already started that real decline, right? And they lost their best corner. I thought they lost two corners. They lost two corners. Right. He's gone. They're gone. I don't know. I just look at the... I mean, I look at those other two teams. You see Ken the City's a playoff team, right? Or are you... Really? So you're... You know, wouldn't even sit here and say, Ken the City's into the postseason. I can... Like, outside of it just being Patrick, my home is in any rig. Can you like... Can you definitively confidently say, after what you saw last year? Mm-hmm. That this is going to be in that division, especially?

14:09No. All right. So here's my question for you. The one you would guarantee is in the playoffs as two. Not winning the whole thing in the playoffs as two. Buffalo. Followed by... Guaranteed in the playoffs. So you guarantee... You would bet $10,000 that this Buffalo and then this team will be in the postseason. You answered the question first before I give you my second one. All right. I agree on Buffalo. So you're going to say the second one would be because I don't... I don't... I don't trust them to go to the Super Bowl, but I think Baltimore is a definitive playoff team. What about your chargers? I love the chargers. But I think the chargers are... I think there's a wider gap of what the chargers can be. If you're saying who has a better chance to go to the Super Bowl, I might take the chargers over the Ravens. I might not even. So you think the ceiling... The ceiling for the chargers is higher floor for the Ravens is... Correct. Higher. Yes. Right.

15:09Like the Ravens are at a minimum a ten win team. I don't love Pittsburgh. Cleveland is a disaster. What concerns you the most? So it's partly division also. I can understand that. What concerns you the most about the chargers outside of the division? Lack of having done it. Like last year, I think they were on their way. You lost. I mean, Rashant Slater is elite. Joe Walt is awesome. You lose your tackles. You saw that game against... Oh, man. It's the Patriots. Their offensive line was as bad as you've ever seen. A Herbert's a tough guy. Hampton goes into his second year. I think he's going to be better. He looks like a beast by the way. He's going to be better. They do have good receivers. I think Harboh is awesome and a winner. And oh, by the way, do I think he's a great head coach? Mike McDaniel? No. Do I think he's an elite offensive mind in this game? Yes. I think he's a huge addition to this offense. Yeah, I couldn't agree with you more. I think you just said it though. We're just talking playoffs.

16:09They were a playoff team and that's dealing with the injuries that they dealt with. They already lost their center. You got two great tackles, but God forbid, you know, get hurt. Now you're in big trouble. But I'm dying to see what Herbert looks like in this offense. I think he could be special. Because you're talking about McDaniel's coming from Tua. Tua's more like... I get to hang out at accuracy, timing, like Herbert's a specimen. Did you see that Herbert? I mean, he's got a cannon too. I never was in on that. Did you see the report last night during the Wednesday night football game that they were saying that they might cut Tua when Panics comes back? Well, also this might be the same. Who the back, Cooper rushes the back up. Cooper rush. So they might go with a Panics Cooper rush combination just to be done with Tua. That's interesting. I think you got to add them to the list though, you know, teams that would be looking for a quarterback in this upcoming draft that the Jets can have to deal with. Atlantic could probably be on that list. Yeah, but Atlantic's not going to be bad. Like, Atlantic should be a seven, eight-win team. Yeah.

17:10I mean, but you're also talking about it. I'm not saying like, you know, Jets fall apart, like, have a terrible season. I'm like, for the optimistic fan. That's like, oh, hey, we win six or seven games. We can still find our guy. Well, I mean, that's if you don't have other teams beside Cleveland, Miami, Arizona looking for quarterback. What if right? What if it will be a team that needs a quarterback? Because Tua's obviously not going to be the answer. No, the Panics that injury still, I think, Panics is always hurt. So you see, there's two strikes against him. Yeah. He's always hurt. And I don't know how good he is anyway. Right. Yeah, so, but that could be one of those teams that's kind of like in the, if you have a successful season for the Jets where it's six or seven wins, you could be, you could be right there in that Atlanta range. Now you have things they don't have, right? I mean, you do have draft equity that can push you ahead of probably a lot of teams. Yeah, it's just I get nervous of what you went through as a Giants fan, where you have three clear cut guys that you love too, especially.

18:11Oh, it's awful. And it's like, I'll give you the next five drafts and the teams like, I don't care how many drafts should give me. But you can't get up. Could you met, and I liked it. The Giants were this close to getting Jaden Daniels or Drake May. Right. How different it would be if that was the case. Yeah, I don't. So that could that could happen also. I just will have to play, you know, play this thing out quick. That's what mostly not emotionally invested the best thing for you is to lose games. I know, of course, you don't want to lose to tennis. No, I'm with you. I don't disagree with you. I just say it's hard to, you try to fight that fight. I get it. People go crazy. No, and you shouldn't try to lose. I mean, unless you're Miami, who's just like, it looks like actively trying to lose. You know, you can't turn on the game one o'clock on Sunday against Tennessee and Robert Sala. And be like, man, I hope we lose. No, I think I can do that. I think what happens though, just in general with these teams. And I'm not just saying the jets because you also have to sprinkle in like the dysfunction that jets deal with is. You'll have certain windows of time where everything seems to come together and you have the talent and everything else. And we thought that was with Aaron.

19:11You know, he blows his Achilles and then probably realized going into year two that he's not not a hundred percent. And he's not at the level that can take all this dysfunction and make it better. But you have done a pretty good job drafting and adding talent to your roster where it feels like, okay, if you could plug the legitimate quarterback, like when we're talking about Baker Mayfield into this group, you could probably compete to be a playoff team. Oh, I think so. Right. But now you're in a year where it's like those things haven't all lined up. You got a 36 year old quarterback and you're going into a draft year. We have three first round picks and potentially a really good quarterback class. If I tell you your quarterback was Baker Mayfield and your head coach was Sean McDermott of the jets fighting for a wildcard spot. Yeah, I agree with that. I think that that's fair. RJ RJ. Hi. How you doing? Good. Did you like that football talk? I like football talk. RJ, if you had to guarantee the two, and the two AFC teams to be in the postseason, who team would seem to like that question? That's a tough question.

20:11It is a tough question because Buffalo is a no-brainer. So for me, I'm higher on Kansas City than you guys seem to be. Tell me why though, because I'm interested. I haven't talked to anyone about this that's real high on Kansas. For what reason? You said it's hard to get past anything beyond the quarterback and the head coach. I have a lot of faith in those two guys. Perhaps it's just too close to me. I've seen them just harm me personally numerous times. The Josh Simmons injury concerns me left tackle. I don't feel great about that. But I do think if Rishi Rice, who, I mean, the jail thing, yes, I agree, but how do you trust Rishi Rice though at this point? I don't trust him, but if he is on the field, I would assume by now he's ready to roll. He's been there for camp. And I think Kenneth Walker will, I mean, he's definitively the best running back that Patrick Holmes ever had. Well, he's never had, yes. So I know that Andy Rishi, this is how to turn around and hand the ball off 25 times kind of team. That's not who Andy Reed is now who he's been even back to the Brian Westbrook, you know.

21:14But I think I'm putting a lot of faith. Perhaps this is where it's unwarranted, I don't know, but in that defense, they had man to her delaying. They have a serious need. I think Chris Jones, they draft a Peter Woods and I think, you know, that's going to light a fire under him. I would assume they need more out of Carl Oftos. I think there's some real pieces there for that defense to kind of reassert themselves. And Holmes doesn't have to be Superman. So all right, give us your two teams. The AFC that you would bet 10 grand would make the postseason. They don't have to win a game. They don't have to do anything next year. Not what they've been. They get in. So I, my answer to this, I would want it to be, I'd actually want it to be the Texans. Wow. But their situation offensively concerns me. Yeah. I think I'd have to go with the Ravens. I mean, listen, Nico Collins is a stud. Yeah, I think times they're going to get tanked out back and they just, they brought in booty.

22:16I want it to be the Texans. Being unsure about the entire West, it concerns me also. But I actually should have a running game also, finally. I did my gummy. I want it to be the Texans. If we were 10 grand, I'd probably go with the Ravens. But I would really want to go on bills, Ravens. I think so. Rick, where did you go? Did you ever answer the second? I went bills for sure. And I was probably, I didn't want to be the same as you, but I probably would. Texans were at the top. I like the Texans a lot. I would probably go rate just if it's my 10 grand, probably Ravens, just because the vision. Ravens bills. By the way, and I can imagine, Lamargan missed the playoffs back to back. Is he, if he's healthy, missing two years in the playoffs? I mean, I mean, Rick and I prime of his career would be awful. Rick and I both talk in Texans. Bill's Texans week one. Yep. Sunday. Tell me, by the way, is that a one o'clock game? Yeah, I want to clock in Houston. Just quickly going through here, the Kansas City schedule, right? They have the, did make the playoffs last year schedule. They had Denver week one. They got Indie week two. Soft spot here now at Miami, Advagus early by week and five.

23:18Then they go on a three game stretch where it's the chargers at home at Seattle, at Denver. Tough. That is jets. Jets at Lynn, Arizona. So chance they're three more. Then at Buffalo, at the Rams, at Cincinnati, hosting the England, the Niners, at the chargers. That's a, that's a tough seven game stretch. Yes. Yeah. And that's after having a week five buy. That's a tough seven game stretch. Now buckle up. My goodness, RJ. Yeah, hi. Hey, doing good. Good. You ready for the, uh, the stuff that we missed? Oh, absolutely. Oh, let's go. No. There it goes. Damn. Jack Fire. Score. Lean since Rosa. And he knocked it down. Jalen puts it on a ridiculous shot. The **** you missed. Oh, so while we're talking a little, uh, little football, I'll throw it through some other news and notes. Obviously, you know that the Sioux Speed the Pats.

24:19I would assume by now 13 to 10 Super Bowl Real Madrid Drake made not a good second half through the ball to the incorrect team three different times. Including the last one was so bad, including as he had a team driving at least for a game time field goal, but instead. What a toe tap that was on the interception to get both feet down. And Drew Lock is the victor. Same darn old. Well, this part you may have missed what happened to him went down on the very first possession of the season hip injury sideline him for the rest of the game. But that defense for Seattle, JSN, score to touchdown. Drew Lock leads the rally Mike McDonald said that same Donald's hip is not broken, but they do not exactly know how long he's going to be out. Who does not sound like he will be out. That's Malik neighbors practiced in full yesterday. Don't ask John Harball though. He might yell at you. If he's going to play or not. Sounds like action. Gen team might play. I think he's on Dave's fantasy team. By the way, she mentioned that also Dave off to a 24 22 week one fantasy football lead over Rick and Rachel. Yeah. We had I would team Rick and Ray had high expectations for AJ Brown.

25:24That's tough. AJ Brown also left that game with an injury. Yeah. Gentie though. Has that anchored working through. He did practice yesterday after not doing so for two weeks. Who will not be practicing or playing that's prock powers on the Raiders in team is gentie. Stop huh? Yeah, it's a meniscus issue. That he's dealt with these injuries man. He's a. He's awesome. It is his first year. It was unbelievable. Yeah, he's out a week maybe two. By the way, I am 62% chance to win that game. Well, Saints defensive on camera Jordan has a hamstring strain going to miss the opener against the lions. Jonathan Bernard line back for the Eagles back at practice. And this was mentioned earlier, but unfortunately for JJ McCarthy, he will be the third string quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. You mentioned that again because that was your hot take and it was it's right. It's good. Now you want to bring it back. It was a hot take at the time. That was that was draft time. Are people paying enough attention to the Eagles or no? I don't think so. You think they're super bowl caliber again? I don't know that they're super bowl caliber. You think I mean, I think the law that hinges on what version of Jalen Hurtz you get this.

26:25I agree with that. That's a big wild card. But they're the wild that there's a guy that's been to two super bowls. And you're just like, I'm not sure for one of the people of the Super Bowl. Yeah, but they're going to run a whole different offense. Things are going to look a little bit different there. Baseball Yankees beat the Rocky 6-1. George Lombard Jr smashed his first grand slam. First grand slam of the season for the Yankees. Wayscar, Cia also homeward sort of Courtney Belinger. Aaron Judd, back, a couple of hits. Yankees take care of business. Prob. I didn't see a Lombard Jr. Anthony Volpe up the middle situation. Well, Anthony Volpe. Anthony Volpe's back. He was called up yesterday. Interesting on Volpe. So when he was sent down, he wasn't playing terrible, but still not great. 292, 10 homeers, OPSing over 1,000 in 28 games. While he was playing short, second and third at Trevley over the last month. So we'll keep an eye on that. Why would you be really playing it short, though? Well, George Lombard Jr. if he keeps doing what he did yesterday, which is become the youngest Yankees hit a grand slam since Mickey Mantle.

27:27I wouldn't imagine you will see him in short. Right. But I'm saying why you going to play him in the minors at short when he's not going to play short in the majors? I maybe need some agreement on such things. Maybe took a minute. Yeah. I'm just keeping happy. Like, hey, what's the sprenky in the short stuff? Yeah, I'm not sure. Uh, Jess Hism Jr. As we thought, goes on the IELTS brain right thumb. Well, what if you want to trade him as a short stuff, though? You don't want to just stop playing him as short stuff? True. Yeah. Good point. Uh, Jess will be shut down for seven or ten days from baseball activities, which means this very well likely could end his regular season. And I don't know what you do after that. Do you ramp him back up? He actually was playing well. It's not been a good season for him, but hitting 391 again, OPSing over 1,000 over the last 15 games. So, uh, Will Warren, second straight could start. Uh, one run for hit six innings and a walk with eight K's. Yankees remain four back in the raise and are now four up on the sock. So Yankees kind of operating in their own zip code right now. Frank Sitzkerland, Darryl and Chriss from Morrell. Two run homer finished a triple shy of this cycle. This was a wild game. Maybe he even start the game.

28:27Yeah. He went in the game when Betty got hurt. Right. This was a wild one. Matt outslug the Marlins 15 to 14. Take the police. Nothing lead. Well, they had a couple of leads. They get interesting. Yeah. Um, Lindor, his 18th home worth of season showing. Tony goes to the I.L. Dodgers calling up their top prospect. And I, I mean, there's no easy way to get into this, but rest in peace. Barry Melrose. Someone that has played a large role at this company in a lot of our lives. My childhood as a hockey fan. I was just so, so bummed when I saw that yesterday. He dies at 70. And we will all miss him dearly. Yeah. I think we're all upset. Did you know him, Rick? Yeah. Work with him. Yeah, he's great, man. I mean, he's sitting on set with him doing, uh, doing games or doing, you know, just NHL, NHL stuff, draft show, whatever we're doing. It's just like the stories. Um, I'm with RJ. Like he's just, he was, like, he was the face of, of hockey on the S.K. And he was one of those guys and not a ton of them around that are just beloved by everyone.

29:30Yeah. So, right. I've really heard a bad word about Barry Melrose. Big zoot suits. The cigar, the whole deal, yeah. Yeah. And, yeah, and I know it here. Uh, Jaylen Brunson going to host Saturday Night Live. I saw that. I think he's doing the first show this season. The premiere. Yeah. Yeah. Sure is. Uh, I mean, by the way, I should tell you also that if, uh, Rangers fans have any, any idea, getting Chris Crider back, sounds like he's going on waivers from the ducks, so I guess you could get him back if you like. That's it. That's nice. Show Hey O'Connor's interpreter was fired today. E.P.A. Nick Zuhara ran up gambling debts to a Southern California bookmaking operation. The inside story of the biggest scandal in modern baseball. He was absolutely bananas. The amount of that he was making. I've never seen him like it. From 30 for 30 podcasts, this is The Betrayal of Show Hey O'Connor. Presented by Gusto, new episodes available now. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. There's nothing worse than waking up sick.

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32:35Kiss the show on demand whenever and wherever you want. You can't keep us up because we're everywhere. Just subscribe to us, wait us and review us wherever you get your podcasts. Who's doing three stars? Are you handling three stars? That's correct. That's correct. You're going to need to potentially make a pick and do three stars in a timely manner. There's a lot to do. Anything else that needs to get done or can we get to the calls a little bit here? We can get to the calls. That's nice. Love calls. Do you? My favorite thing ever. I knew that was coming. What? Do you feel like he loves calls? The tone of his voice would say no. I love the guy. I interact with them more than anyone. I'm very dismissal. I love who would you say is your favorite caller? Ira's up there. You love Ira. Djibouti Dan. You like Dan, huh? I like Dan. You're a big fan of Djibouti Dan. I am. I really am. It works hard. He keeps his sub-data what's going on. You have a nice personal relationship with Dan.

33:36I like the start of his calls or usually the start of a little show. They're like a little show. His calls are like their own little show. That's kind of what he's doing. Yeah. Like practicing. Yeah. So when he's a big superstar in this industry. All right. Let's see if RJ having him at the Matt Rushmore's warranted. Dan and Jersey. Good morning, Dan. How are you? Good morning, Dave. Good morning, Rick. How are you guys today? Well, football's here, which makes us happy. How do you feel that RJ put you on like the Matt Rushmore of his favorite callers? I'm honored because I think that and you guys are great. But I think RJ really puts the show together. Like RJ makes me laugh a considerable amount. So I think RJ is the best producer in the entire country, maybe the world. I think the world. I've said this numerous times, Rick. And I mean this. The show is not what the show is if it's not for RJ. All right. But you know how like sometimes you make like you'll make a statement. It's a compliment. And it goes just a little bit too far. Then you have no choice but to dismiss it. Because now it just feels like he's just.

34:37But I mean genuine. No, I know you have saying Dan. Oh, did he say the whole world? Like he now this just becomes like we know what you're doing. RJ answers the phone like you're just glazing all over him. The power rankings where would I rank? I want to know. World. Number one. The best in the world. Is there an AP poll? I'd like to see. We see the party. As far as small. Like you concerned. You're the best in the business. Oh, that's mean. Why do you have to bring me to me? He has been. Because he has been. I just as way I like to be better. What do you got Dan? Cool. So I'm a little concerned about the Anthony Volpe saying. I think that in terms of like guys, he's a career 660 OPS hitter in 2000. Point appearances. And there are still people come to his defense and say that there's something in there offensively. I don't. I hope he plays better and I hope maybe the switch to second unlocks something for him. But if jazz, she's a junior who I've criticized a lot.

35:38He's played really well as of late is not there starting second baseman on night one of either the wild card series or the division series. I'm very concerned. I don't know that I agree with that. Thanks for the call, Dan. I've been. Listen, when you have Volpe as a guy that you need to produce, that's asking a lot. When this team is healthy and fully put together and you have lumbar, does your shortstop. Anthony Volpe is going to play second base that 8th or 9th and you're not going to need a right. But that's not. I don't. I don't think that was his point though. Right. I think his point was the way jazz is swinging the bat right now. Jazz can be more impactful than hey, put some good second base, but you may not have jazz back into. Well, you're also talking about a situation where if it is, if it ends up being the red socks, like Buster was talking about, and they have all these lefties that they can throw at you. Joe, jazz, a left handed bat as opposed to Volpe is right handed. Right. No, and it sounds like you're a hero there. You have your options. You'd hope that that Chism is back and healthy for the postseason, but there's no guarantee that he's going to be.

36:39And it's also, it's like, so the guys going to have not played for three weeks and you just can be like, all right, game one, red socks, there's second base. It's kind of a big ask. It sounds like it sounds like to his credit, though Volpe is putting real work down in the minors. Right. And like really trying to figure out what was going on with him offensively, using the entire field now. I just got some by me. You saw the home runs come back. I just, it's so hard as a young player, man. Once you go down, like once you start down that, you know, that road of adversity, and not playing well to get yourself out. And then on top of that, he just became like enemy number one. They probably would have been better off like if they had last year or if they had an option to put a short stop to send them down and let them figure it out. It's a lot, man, especially injury. I mean, to be that young and to be handed into, I mean, this team is more pressure on that baseball team than any team in the entire sport. Your short stop, which comes in a lot of expectation. And kind of, you know, they gave the whole hype train to him about how great he's going to be. He wins the gold glove right away.

37:40This is, it's not, it's not easy what he's had to endure so far. No, I think, I mean, at this level, with the expectations that were put on him, plus the expectations of the team, it can be for World Series every single year. It's, and then he's dealing with the injury to try to get out of, you know, the funk that he was in. I don't know how many people could do it. But he was like the only option they kept going, no, he's our short stop. He's our short stop. You probably would have done the kid in the grand scheme of things as much as it would have heard his feelings and maybe they can't, he looks like a step back. It probably would have been his best interest to send him down to let him figure it out as opposed to just consistently fail here and have everybody, you know, look at him the way they used to look at Stan. This guy stinks. We don't want to play in short stop anymore. You like two years ago, you want to go go and you love them. Right. You love them. And he was phenomenal and he's great. Again, you asked a lot of him quickly. Like you know, bat them in the line up, play a goal, goal, goal, goal, short stop. It's the Yankees and a short stop. Go ahead.

38:41You can figure it out and you're 22 years old, 23 years old. Right. I mean, some guys can do it. A lot of the guys, a lot of guys can't out of those circumstances, right? Like usually that learning is done at the lower levels. And then, you know, by the time you get to, you know, this level, you're, you're hopefully ready to deal with all the adversity and the struggle. You have no like, when you get thrust into it, the way that he got thrust into it and you have all the talk about his personality, being like jeaters and then he wins a gold glove, like expectations go through the roof. And you don't have any other great options. So you continue to play him and the wheels fall off. Like it looks easy to a thought easy. Like I mean, George Lombard looked like a, hey, this guy's not going to be great. Six games, six hours. It's like, I mean, it happens fast. Spencer Jones didn't look at when he was first up. Luckily, he got, he'll come back. You know, luckily he got because of injury, the opportunity to come back up. He looked terrible and then given a second chance, he's looked phenomenal. And it's, this isn't even a debate now, right? Like Spencer Jones has to be in your everyday lineup when you get to the postseason. Has to be. And then, but that's another one too, though, like that once you saw him struggle, it was

39:43like you kind of cast him aside. Like the expectations were gone now. And he's figured it out. But that's the expectation though. As sports fans were so immediate with our decision making. This guy's great. I mean, Brian Davis was great, unbelievable. Best coach you've ever seen leads to this mediocre giant scene to the post. And then he couldn't run him out of town quickly enough. Right. So that's, that's the world that we live in right now. People sometimes you're, sometimes you're a victim of your own success. Yes. Yes. Or a victim of expectation too. Well, but because, but that's what I did, but the success led to the expectations. That was fool's gold. You've been out with Jones. Um, with Daniel Jones? No, of course, Spencer. No, no, Spencer Jones. But I mean, Spencer Jones was like one of those untouchable guys and was hyped up. And he was going to be left handed right. And but I think that Yankees fans. Kind of threw that to the side after you saw him come up and he didn't look great. It's like, okay, we've seen this one before. Don't worry about him. He's probably not going to contribute and then comes back up, given the opportunity.

40:45And he's been really, really good. Really, really good, really, really good. Um, and he hits lefties too, which is a huge advantage. By five courts of mobile one full synthetic motor oil and receive two times old rewards points, plus get a $10 gift card and receive a 2311 die cast after rebate terms and conditions apply. Get details at O'Reilly auto parts. As you know, managing maintenance, repair and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Granger has your back. From professional grade products, you can count on to fast, dependable delivery. They're there to help you keep things running smoothly. Plus, their technical product specialists are here to help answer your toughest questions. And because Granger knows safety is always a priority, they're committed to being your partner in protecting both your people and your facilities. Call 1-800-GRANJURE. Click Granger.com or just stop by. This episode is brought to you by Welch's Fruit Snacks. Back to school season can be tough on parents. But choosing a snack you and your kids can both get behind doesn't have to be.

41:48Stock up on Welch's Fruit Snacks made with whole fruit and now made with no artificial dies. It's a snack kids already love and one you can feel good about giving them. Go back to school with Welch's Fruit Snacks. Now made with no artificial dies. Thanks for listening to the D.P. H. Rowan Rothenbrud podcast. Granger, looking for more access to the show. Why? Because you know why. Follow us at PR on ESPN. Every Tuesday Thursday it's Grossa, Karlin. And every Wednesday it's Karlin Gray. Yeah, Maggie said she was the new mad dog. Because mad dog goes on first take on Wednesday so she's that for Karlin show. There you go. And then I guess Monday, Friday, like the reaction in the preview is just going to be Karlin. Just a full three hours of Karlin. Who? I think he said he's going to Vegas this weekend to do the the Raiders dolphins game.

42:48Oh nice. Yeah, he go. That's why he sent himself to he took himself down to Miami to do some Caliphons. I could have given a real quick scouting report. They stink and they're going to be very bad. Yeah, I think that was his takeaway. Yeah, I think so. It's a nice meal. There's definitely interest to you. The biggest question for each NFL team entering the season. Yeah. So new. So let me see. I'm going to say Jets is. See the quarterback or something in the defense. I'm going to say. It doesn't have to be like a player. Could it be around the right you're on the right track. I'll give you that. See, I would say either Geno Smith or the head coach. Oh, would be my I will tell you one of those is correct. Would you care to just to make a final answer? The head coach. Incorrect. Geno Smith bounce back. Says Smith was flat out bad last season. After playing good ball and resurrecting his currency. I don't know how there aren't many quarterbacks who could have functioned in Las Vegas as offense.

43:50The Raiders had the worst run game. Indolee couldn't pass block in a well below average ad receiver. With the Jets, he could have a good offensive line. A good running back in Breeshal. And a fringe elite wide receiver in Garrett Wilson offensive coordinator Frank Reich. Was been the play call from this force. I'm historically bad offenses. Is a concern. But the help Smith will get from his teammates. Will be night and day better than last season. Yeah, I don't think Geno's I for me the biggest Jets concern is the coach. I don't trust him. Not even a little bit. I don't trust him either, but I mean the coach will look better if the offense. Is good. I agree. Of course. Of course. All right, so giants. All right, so concerns for the giants. I don't agree with Don. I don't think running back is a concern. I don't need a great, but I think they're fine. Well, I think that's I would I'm one of the same pages. That was more like they ran the ball well because Jackson. They're can run it and also their offensive line was good. Yeah, offensive line will be better this year. I think I think lack of receiver depth as a concern. But that's not my biggest concern.

44:51My two concerns with the giants would be either stopping the run or secondary play is one of those accurate. No. Nope. And it's also concerned though. What? Also concerns I'm with you and I probably would have mentioned one of those in this article as opposed to what they did go with. Is it receiver? No. Then I don't know what it would be. New York Giants, Ken Jackson, Dart, relearn how to play the position. I'm not concerned about that. After playing almost entire college career in the shotgun, Dart played in an offense that ranked sixth in shotgun usage. 76.5% as a rookie new offensive coordinator at Neguilass going to play under center. A lot more than he has in the preseason, the giants offense was only in shotgun on 46.6% of the snaps indicating they'll be under center more than in the gun. Dart will have to relearn for work in timing in Neguilass offense. Also quarterback option plays are being phased out of the league because teams are just too good at defending them and it's not worth putting the quarterback at risk without getting explosive plays in return. They might be growing pains for Dart, but they'll be necessary for career longevity.

45:55Which I agree with and there could be growing pains he'll be fine. I'm way more concerned with stopping the run in the secondary than him with Jackson Dart. Yeah, but I do think that there's something to be said about now, not having that continuity with Brian Dable having there almost 80% of your snaps in the shotgun which you used to from Ole Miss. So a little bit of timing. Yeah, just a bit. Maybe some growing pains, but I just think that people have themselves so worked up that if it doesn't look great and there looks like, you know, maybe you have some some footwork issues or he doesn't look good under center that is going to be like, this guy's not free. Yeah, he's taking a step back. RJ, you have about 30 seconds before three stars. Did you want to take the game tonight? Well, you offered me 30 seconds. I wouldn't need about three or four of them because I'm taking the Niners. Three and a half points. He's like a guy. He's shocked. I'm taking the three and a half because they're out there. They're going to win the game out, right? Wow. Really? So I'll see you straight up. You want to go straight up? I don't. Why do you want that? Yeah, I don't.

46:56Maybe you give them an extra win if you go straight up. I don't. Oh, would you do that? But I'll see you tomorrow and the Niners will win or no? Wow. We'll be wearing red tomorrow. That's what that's the plan. That's the plan. If I was making picks, I'd want to take the Niners also. But you're not making picks. I'm not making picks. You could. I can't. You're going to jump on. You could. Bylaws say you are not allowed to make it. It's a bylaw. It's a bylaw? Yeah, by my contract. It says, do you not allowed? Oh, I'd love to see that. Uh, RJ, from picks to three stars, you're ready? Okay. Let's go. Today's three stars. Number three. Oh, well, we got things started and, and Dave was hot and heavy, talking giants and visioning them at one to no. Like, I hope my nerves will be. Giant Swin Euphoria. Naked or Gasmic, you name it would be wild. Well, that certainly would be wild. Number two. We lost Rick. There's a chance that Rick is gone. Yep. Well, he actually was because. I slipped off the stubbed bottom stair and went down in the heap. Oh, and then what? Torchy, you don't have to get this guy a life alert.

47:56Well, we do have to take actions to prevent this further. But I mean, the number one start today. Clear and away. Number one. Don LaGrecca's surprise visit. We got talking about his anniversary and the intimacy that comes with it. Alan Zelti, he's fighting through the running back. He's fighting through the offensive lineman and the tight end to get to the quarterback. Me, I got this pesky little scat back throws a glancing blow and I'm down. And I don't get there. That's a shame. But just know this. But when I do get there, the quarterback goes down. Don's a closer when he gets the opportunity. Yeah, but you have to have the lead to be the closer. Alice, and when he gets the opportunity, it's all he can control. A lot of pressures. He's that's clearly a lot of pressures. The sack number's really aren't there. Is it not what they should be? No, no, no. Uh, that's, that's a shame. It's rule 76. No excuses for like the next is DPH or all the burger. I enjoy more football tonight. Right here on ESPN New York YouTube and on MSG. Thanks for listening to the DPH Rowan, Rothenburg podcast.

48:57I'm just trying to have the best possible show. That's what I'm trying to do. What does that start? Catch us live weekday mornings from 6 to 10 AM on ESPN New York, the MSG network and streaming live on YouTube. For a limited time, you can get a big Mac meal for just $8. That's a burger, fries, and a drink. They don't call it an extra value meal for nothing. Get a big Mac meal only at Mac Donald's. Price and participation may vary. Promotion pricing may be lower than meal pricing.