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Inside the NFL: Cut Down Day Insights with Zig Fricassi · WGBB Sports Talk New York

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The views expressed in the following program do not necessarily represent those of the staff, management or owners of wgbb.
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Live from the WGBB studios in Merrick, New York, this is SPORTS Talk New York.
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From the crossroads of Merrick Avenue and Sunrise highway in Merrick, Long Island, New York, this is Long Island's WGBB Sports Talk New York.
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I'm your host, Mike Gadone, joined as always by the man we call Cappy, Chris Caputo.
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516-623-1240 is your number.
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If you'd like to join us tonight, we have two special guests going to start off shortly with our friend Zig Verkasi.
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SiriusXM satellite radio does a great job on there.
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Football works with Mad Dog.
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We're going to talk a little NFL with him, Cut Down Day and everything that goes with that.
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And then we'll have AJ Rovener for the second half hour.
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He's going to talk to us, bit a little Giants, which is his specialty.
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But before we get to any of that, Cap, how are you doing tonight?
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Doing well, Mike back in the studio and almost Labor Day.
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So here we go.
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A little changeover from baseball into the football world.
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Amazing how fast this summer has gone, but you know, as the calendar changes and the weather starts to cool down a little bit, nothing better than NFL football.
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And no one we could ask better than our first guest, who is zig Fracassi from SiriusXM radio.
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Zig, Mike and Chris here on Long Island.
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How are you doing tonight, fellows?
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I'm well.
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How are you?
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We're doing great.
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Thanks so much for joining us.
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You know, generally this weekend here as we're getting in, you know, we have one extra week to get ready for NFL, but this is always our big night to talk football and we wanted to get someone on who
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is an expert and that would be yourself for sure.
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Today's cut down Day and we'll get to that in just a minute.
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But if we could, before we get going, could we just, you know, speak to you a little bit about how you got into the business.
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We know you're from Western New York and you know how you started out and your career path to get to Sirius.
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I appreciate you asking.
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Yeah.
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I'm from Niagara Falls, New York, originally.
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And basically it was one of those things where it got really kind of started in high school because two of my friends reactivated.
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The school is called Niagara Catholic High School, the closed circuit television and they wanted to put some programming on there.
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So they asked me if I wanted to do some Sportscasts.
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And I'm like, yeah, why not?
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So it kind of really got my bug going.
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So maybe my junior, senior year, high school.
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So that's circa 1982, 83 around there.
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So it really kind of piqued my interest.
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I ultimately went to a two year community college up in Niagara.
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Community College up near Niagara Falls.
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I did an internship at WJJL radio up there.
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And then I did another one after that just to get, you know, extra experience and everything like that.
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But it really kind of took off when I moved to Las Vegas, 1985.
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My brother who still lives out there, we two friends and I went out there on an Easter vacation and we visited and all that.
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And then I told them I'm coming back here.
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So two months later, June of 1985, I'm back in Vegas.
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Was at the campus station for unlv because I went there for about a year and a half.
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And during that time I had gotten to know a fellow named, and this is real name, Jack Daniels.
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Who was he?
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Yeah, I mean, it's ironic, but turned out to be a boss.
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Yeah, yeah.
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And I had a drink for him now.
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Anyway, so what happened was we, we were working at this place in Vegas where you read the betting lines to customers.
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And he was getting back into radio because he had been a radio veteran.
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And he was going to the station called 1340 K, ran classic country.
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He says, oh, I heard you're going to UNLV and all this study and broadcasting.
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Why don't you come work for me?
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So here I am.
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I know nothing about country music, but ultimately I wind up doing a bunch of different things at the station, DJing and all that.
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It was around that time too that they were starting to implement play by play, like they would pick up Los Angeles Rams games, byu.
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We were the first, the first station west of the Mississippi to air Boston Celtics games.
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This was during the Bird McHale Parish era.
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So I would do scoreboard shows after those games.
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And then ultimately I was let go.
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They changed the format.
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But really 1992, New Year's Eve night.
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A good friend of mine, the late, great sports handicapper Larry Ness, who's from Long island, asked me if I wanted to do his nationally syndicated radio show for Sports Entertainment Network.
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Later became One on One, Yahoo.
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Sports and all that.
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Yep, I did that show New Year's Eve night.
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Worked for that outfit for a couple of years.
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Went to Sports Fan Radio, worked there six and a half.
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Moved back to Buffalo, did talk on the flagship station of the Sabres at the time, WNSA was there for two and a half.
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And then 2004, around October, November, I joined Sirius as update anchor on the, on the NFL side.
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23 years later, guys, I'm still with Sirius.
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And then of course the XM merger in 2009, sports updates.
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And there you go with the announcement with the NFL radio.
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So there's my life, boring as it is in five minutes time.
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So certain, certainly not boring at all.
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It's been a great ride.
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It really has.
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And a lot of it's changed now guys, because, you know, any more with consolidation or whatever, some of those jobs unfortunately aren't open anymore.
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But I'm kind of glad I came along at the time I did because you know, there's people now that their, their first job is maybe it's serious sex ever, whatever and they didn't have to move around like I
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did.
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So.
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Right.
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I came along in a different era where you had to, you know, because I wasn't going to work in Buffalo in my first gig because there were so many radio personalities established there that that's an early lesson.
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He goes, zig, if you want to move around, if you want to have some success in this business, be prepared to move, be prepared to go.
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And I've done that and I've enjoyed every minute of it.
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We're talking with Zig Vergasse who has worked in the business, as he said, for over 30 years.
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Zig, you watched sports radio go from local AM stations to satellite radio, podcast streaming, social media.
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Two part question.
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What's changed the most about the business and is it so far, has sports radio itself kind of lost its way or is there still a piece about it that's still there?
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Great question.
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Yeah, I mean let's face has changed.
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I know when I first started a lot of people thought that it was just going to be a fad that, you know, it just fills a little bit of time and we're the sustained market going to be.
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But I mean as we've seen with the Fan in New York, with WIP in Philadelphia, 153, the fan in Dallas is a format that I think is sustainable because people have that insatiable appetite for to hear sports.
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I think if you air play by play on your station, it probably complements it a little bit more.
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And then you mentioned obviously, you know, not everybody can do the radio or even TV thing.
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So now you've got podcasts and YouTube and everything like that.
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I think it creates a different market.
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And when you've got Brand names doing it, like former coaches or GMs or recognizable, you know, air people.
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Scotty Farrell immediately comes to my longtime friend of mine, so he's got a successful podcast.
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So I think that that has been a big time change and I think if you make some money doing it, your name still stays relevant and I still think there's a market for it.
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I think any more though, it's maybe become a little bit too, you know, hot take, ish.
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You know, I got to get my name out there, I got to have the controversial opinion to get all the clips and everything like that.
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I'm old school, I do my research, I have my opinions, I make them direct.
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But there's, you know, it's never personal and I don't scream doing it.
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So I think that's a part of the business that's still a little bit upsetting.
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But overall I think it's actually in a pretty healthy state in terms of fan interest.
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And because of the expanding media, there's always going to be people who, who want sports information any way they can get it right.
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So Zig Satellite Radio, especially Sirius and xm, as you mentioned, when they merged back many years ago, it was kind of a novelty.
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It was more of no commercials radio.
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They started out adding some sports.
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What's been kind of the special sauce for Sirius XM that's allowed it, besides the obvious, just expanding their channels, what's been the special sauce for them to be able to, you know, grow and thrive in the media?
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Well, I could just say guys, from the sports aspect of it, you know, the fact that we are the official radio channel of the NFL, it's like street creds on.
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I know I've done shows with at least six or seven different hall of Famers.
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So the point being is, you know, it's going to be, it's going to be pretty much straightforward talk, some pointed opinion.
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But you, you're dealing with people that are in, have been or still are in the arena, so to speak.
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So I think that's how our sports channels have been able to make it.
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And of course, Mad Dog coming over from the fan.
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And you know, people wonder, is there going to be a national audience for him?
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Well, I mean, that channel is what, almost 16, 17 years old now, and it's proven that way.
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And again, I think also just from an overall, I would say company standpoint, just offering, you know, different variety.
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Obviously you've got the news talk, you've got Howard, of course, Howard being the way that he is.
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He's a legend of the biz, so commercial, free music and all this.
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I just think it's one of those things where they're always evolving, even get out with more Pandora and everything like that with podcasts.
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So you got to, you got to evolve, you got to change with times.
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And I think that's why the company's been as successful as it has.
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So you've done it, dug into some NFL over the past day or so and obviously teams are getting ready.
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53 man rosters initially being set today.
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First thing is what's one storyline that maybe you're fascinated by going into the 2026 season.
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And, and then a second part would be name me a team that's probably a little overrated at this point.
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Good questions.
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Let's see.
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One that would fascinate me.
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Well, I mean, obviously today and I, and I guess it's not much of a surprise, but the fact that Aaron Donald is officially coming back to the National Football League with the Los Angeles Rams because it's one of
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those things where you could do the workout.
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So we were talking about this today with super bowl champ Robert Turbot and myself on the show.
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You could go through all the workouts, all the, you know, preparation, and then you may think, all right, maybe this is the reason I got out of this in the first place, is because I don't want to deal
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with the grind.
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But, you know, Aaron Donald worked out steadily with the Rams and sure enough, you know, today made the announcement one year deal, $20 million with incentives to be upwards of $30 million.
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And let's face it, if the Rams, who I think may be the most aggressive organization in the National Football League, if they don't go out and trade for Miles Garrett, we're not having this conversation.
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So the fact that they were close last year, they get arguably the biggest game record that there is in Garrett, you re you revamp your secondary with Watson and McDuffie in separate transactions with Kansas City, you've got a
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quarterback who's probably on the back nine.
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If he doesn't, it wouldn't shock me if they won the super bowl this year on their home field if Matthew Stafford walked off into the sunset.
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So to me, they are very, very, very intriguing.
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And then I think you asked if there was a team that maybe is a little bit on the overrated side, you might make an argument for the Houston Texans because let's face it, to me, next to Denver and
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well, obviously now with the Rams, I think the Texans have the absolute best defense of football, maybe the best set of corners in the game and Stingley and Lassiter and obviously will Anderson Jr.
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And they've been a steady playoff team.
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But it's got to come down to CJ Stroud.
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Here's a guy that was taken second overall a few years ago and unfortunately has regressed since his first year in the NFL and they didn't give him that long term contract.
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So I got to think if the Texans have any aspirations to get to their first ever AFC Championship game or even further than that, Stroud has got to start performing more like he did his rookie year.
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And if that doesn't happen, then you got to wonder if the Texans don't look elsewhere for a quarterback.
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So maybe they're being a little bit overvalued, even though that defense is so very good.
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Once again, from Sirius XM NFL Radio, Zig Furkasi joining us tonight.
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Zig, on the flip side, what would be one team that might overachieve this year or is looked at as kind of like, you know what, they're not going to make a move or make that next jump?
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What team might be worth our time to kind of keep an eye on,.
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See, give that a quick thought.
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Maybe a team being undervalued a little bit.
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That's a good one.
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I know it's so tough at this time of year because you don't know how these rosters are going to shake out.
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And you know, well, yeah, let's not forget to bring up a good point here, that even though they're down to 53, like tonight.
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Right.
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That roster may not look that the same three or even four days from now.
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Well, even before, before the season, I might guess Minnesota because I think, I think in their particular case,.
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They got.
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The skilled people right.
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They've also got a pretty darn good defense.
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And I think Flores, Brian Flores, the defensive coordinator, should be a head coach again before too long.
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But he's got that litigation going on against the league where, you know, Kyler Murray, I think the guy that's going to be the, you know, the X factor here if he performs anywhere like he did in the 21
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season when he was really good with the Arizona Cardinals, you think maybe with a better offensive line, arguably the best receiver in the game, and Justin Jefferson and a really good backfield if he performs well.
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The Vikings were 9 and 8 last year.
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They played like three or four different quarterbacks.
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I think they could return to the playoffs.
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Maybe people are sleeping on them just a little bit.
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But that again is a Big variable with Kyler Murray as the quarterback.
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Yeah.
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And they decided to keep, for now, four quarterbacks on their 40, 53 man roster, including Carson Wentz, J.J.
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mcCarthy.
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I'm sure some of that's going to change.
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You know, kind of I'm going to stick within New York, but I'm going to go a little bit different.
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I'm going to go to the Buffalo Bills.
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Josh Allen obviously remains one of the most talented players, I would say.
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But the Bills changed coaches to Joe Brady.
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They brought in DJ Moore to give Allen another weapon.
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Is there one thing that determines whether or not the Bills are going to continue to play in January and possibly into the Super Bowl?
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And how much is that coaching change and wide receiver going to help them?
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Well, the fact is, I mean, he's been in house, so obviously Joe Brady knows the tendencies and the nuances of Josh Allen.
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Well, let's also not forget that when they brought in DJ Moore, Joe Brady was in Carolina when DJ Moore had his best years.
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And from what I've been able to see of the Bills in the preseason, it looks like Josh Allen and DJ Moore played together for 10 years.
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So that's a good sign right there.
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Offensively, I don't think there's going to be much of an issue where I think, obviously the concern.
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And back to Brady, you know, he was everybody's kind of like buddy as a coordinator.
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Now as a head coach, you got to delegate more.
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You got to deal with the media.
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You know, is there still going to be that sort of buddy relationship or, you know, could there be a situation there where Josh Allen realizes, well, hey, I know we're buddies, but I know you got to be the
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coach now.
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So we'll see how that dynamic goes.
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Obviously the defense is going to be the, the area of concern.
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Jim Leonard, who was a safety in the National Football League, played with the Bills, obviously a highly regarded defensive line.
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His defenses at Wisconsin were very, very good.
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But now you're going into the pros, they revamped that side of the ball quite a bit.
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Bradley Chubb was brought in.
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C.J.
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Gardner, Johnson, they made some changes on that side.
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They're hoping the young corner, Hairston stays healthy.
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So that's going to be the key right there.
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If the guys they brought in to be, you know, the key edge rushers that they have, Jackson comes to mind and some other youngsters.
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They have Caleb Ibrahims or is going to be a young man to watch, he may wind up starting right away, believe he's a rookie.
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So that's going to be the key for the Bills right there.
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If that defense buys into what Jim Leonard is doing, then I think they knock heads again with New England and the AFC East.
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All right, let's head south a little bit down to Thruway here for the New York jets.
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Coming off a horrific season last year and wholesale changes made on the coaching staff, obviously with the roster the Zig.
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Do you think Aaron Glenn really gets a legitimate shot here this year to take it all the way through the end of the season to look for some legitimate improvement?
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Or is it another kind of story with Robert Johnson that we'll give him a couple of games and people are going to get upset because the team's not looking that great and he's going to be gone mid season.
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What do you think for the New York jets this year?
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Does he really get a chance and do you think they have a chance to be that much better?
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I certainly hope so.
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You know, I've liked Aaron Glenn.
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I remember obviously when he played for the jets, the guy was, you know, like a thinking man's player then.
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So I thought he would be a decent enough coach.
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And obviously, you know, I think his stock rose big time when he was the defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions.
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So here's, here's, here's what it's got to be though.
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Geno Smith.
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Will we see the Geno Smith we saw last year with the Raiders?
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Well, again, that was a, that may have been a horrific offensive line and some really bad scheme issues there.
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Or will we see the Geno Smith that performed well at a Pro bowl level with the Seattle Seahawks?
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So if you get the latter version of Gino plus a healthy breeze hall, obviously Garrett Wilson is one of the talented young receivers in the game.
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Hopefully Omar Cooper Jr.
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Steps up big time as well.
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If they settle that offensive line, I think they'll be fine defensively.
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I know they changed things around.
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Obviously they made the off season trade.
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They got swept from the Titans in the off season.
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They brought the Mario Davis back.
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That's a big thing in terms of veteran leadership.
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Make it Fitzpatrick the local product, I think mans the three safety well.
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So I think they're still going to be formidable defensively.
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But again it revolves around Geno and if he's the Seattle version, the jets have a fighting chance to maybe contend for wild cards.
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But it's he's the Geno that was originally with the jets or most recently last year with the Raiders.
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This could be tough for any coach,.
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Including Aaron Glenn, to Overcome Zig Fergasse SiriusXM joins us.
21:42
I'm going to stick with the AFC East.
21:45
You mentioned them before the Patriots opened their season.
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They were the super bowl team last year playing the Seahawks.
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They'll open that rematch this year.
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They added A.J.
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Brown.
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Are they the favorites in the AFC east or is there any distraction from the Mike Vrabel Springs saga that maybe carries over to this team starting the season off?
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Or do you think, you know, that stuff kind of made its way out and the leadership in the locker room is okay?
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I would probably say the latter point to that because I've had enough people on from the Patriots media.
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Mike Reese for ESPN does a phenomenal job.
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Christopher Price from the Boston Globe and I've asked them each about that.
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They think it's one of those things where it was a headline but now it's not one.
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So now it's one of those things where like you talked about with AJ Brown, how does he fit in?
22:44
Obviously he and Brable are tight from their time with Tennessee, so that ought to fit extremely well.
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I've been a Romeo Dobbs fan for a while, young man with the Packers.
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I thought that was a really savvy move to bring him in.
22:58
It's going to be interesting though.
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I know.
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Was it last week at one of the practice fields, Trevion Henderson went down, I believe with like a foot or ankle injury and nobody's saying how serious that is, but he and Stevenson were such a great tandem last
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year that would be a concern.
23:19
And then you got the new setter in Wilson because they moved on from Garrett Bradbury.
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They made some changes on the offensive line defensively.
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You know, I think Gonzalez is arguably a top three corner.
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That contract situation tend to be a bit of an issue.
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I know Vrabel is also concerned a little bit about the overall defensive depth on this team.
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So if he's concerned about that, maybe we all should be.
23:47
But I think New England will be a factor in there and they'll definitely be them and Buffalo would be the co favorites of the AFC East.
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Zig one Giants question just before we let you go.
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So obviously very different look to the Giants this year.
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Coach Harbaugh has brought in.
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I think it's up to either seven or eight players that he worked with from the Ravens.
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And you know, interesting point there that had been brought up.
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Is that something that could possibly be an issue with, you know, the new players or the guys that are kind of left over to where, you know, he's bringing in his guys and could that cause a Little bit
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of dissension in the locker room or is it just a matter of hey, he's in charge, he's bringing in who he wants and that's that?
24:40
I would say the latter because all these guys know it's a business.
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And chances are if you are a head coach going elsewhere, you know, obviously you're going to inherit a majority of the previous coach or GMs players.
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So that's just part of the business.
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But if you have a chance to bring in as Harbaugh did, with an Isaiah likely a Ricard players of that ilk, why not do it?
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Because you know that these are guys that could be trusted.
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Sure, they're your guy, they're your guys, if you will.
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You always heard back in the day, you know, the, the Carl Banks is the Harry Carsons and all them, they were parcels guys.
25:23
Well, these guys are Harbaugh guys.
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So I, I think there's some good familiarity to that.
25:30
And quite honestly, Isaiah likely is an upgrade over what the Giants have had a tight end.
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Ricard still remains one of the best fullbacks in the game.
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They are an intriguing team, guys, and especially if they're their version of the triplets all hurt last year or any semblance of health in terms of dart scatter, boo and neighbors, I think that side of the ball will
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be markedly better defensively.
25:56
I mean, I like some of the additions they've made in the off season.
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Obviously readers, a guy I've been a fan of for a long time, you know, a Darius Alexander, Arvell Reese was the first round pick.
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So I think they'll be better coached under John Harbaugh.
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Now.
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Does that mean they win 10 or 11 games this year?
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Maybe not, but I'm looking at, I'm looking at maybe what if you look at seven or eight wins and then you're competitive in most of your losses and then you know, the needle's point in the right direction for
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the New York Giants.
26:29
Yeah, I always find it kind of interesting when players are upset that the new coach brings in his guys.
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There's a reason why he's there and there's a reason why, you know, the players who left, they didn't do a great job the year before.
26:42
So you know, everybody, everybody's job is on the line, correct?
26:46
Oh, absolutely.
26:47
I mean you look at some like when Dabel left the Giants, he's in Tennessee and I think Wondale Robinson, there's like four or five ex Giants players now that followed him.
27:00
He's not even the head coach so, you know, it just is amazing how that works.
27:05
But like I said, it's like anything, even in, like, the radio business, if a friend of yours is going to get the PD job or whatever, chances are he may keep some of his own staff, the old staff.
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But if you're available or I'm available, and I've worked with this guy, and you know you're going to get quality in production, chances are you may be following that boss anywhere.
27:29
So it's not just football, how that works.
27:32
All right, one last question, and probably the most important question that we've asked you tonight.
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You move from Niagara Falls to Las Vegas.
27:40
Was there a place where you could find some wings out there?
27:43
Yeah, great question.
27:47
They weren't as good.
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I got to be honest with you.
27:49
They.
27:49
They really weren't.
27:50
Although there was a place on Eastern Avenue.
27:58
It was past Tropicana.
28:00
Okay.
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It was called.
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Just.
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And it was called Giuseppe's.
28:03
And it turned out that the people who ran that pizzeria, they did have good wings there.
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It turned out they were related to the family that made Sammy's Pizza in Niagara Falls.
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Oh, wow.
28:17
Which was a.
28:18
Almost like a family staple.
28:20
So, yeah, it.
28:21
It was close, but, like, you know, even, you know, some people who know as well because of the water situation and because of the sort of arid climate that there is in Vegas, like the.
28:35
When you bake the pizza, you could almost use the same ingredients, but the.
28:40
But it doesn't rise as well.
28:41
Exactly.
28:42
The dough isn't there.
28:43
So, yeah, that was for the pizza.
28:45
But the.
28:46
The wings, they're fairly good.
28:48
But again, nothing.
28:49
Nothing tops Buffalo wings, guys.
28:51
Believe me.
28:52
Listen, I spent a year at Geneseo State, going to school there, and there's nothing like.
28:57
Nothing like the wings in western New York.
28:59
You just.
29:00
You can't find them any place.
29:02
No, not at all.
29:03
And, you know, I know everybody.
29:05
Everybody talks about the Anchor Bar, but I'll tell you, I.
29:08
I loved.
29:09
I loved Otto's, which is right by the Buffalo Airport.
29:12
Wings to die for.
29:14
You know, Annie's, near the airport, there's another place that had really good wings.
29:20
And then, you know, there's a lot of other places as well around there.
29:24
So it's not.
29:24
It's not just the Anchor Bar.
29:26
Absolutely.
29:26
Well, I'm going to have to find a place on the way home, because talking wings has gotten me hungry.
29:31
Make you hungry?
29:32
Absolutely.
29:33
Zig Farkasi, thank you so much.
29:35
It's been a pleasure having you on.
29:36
Thank you for, you know, all the insights you can catch Zig on Sirius Satellite Radio, XM NFL Radio.
29:44
He's an anchor there, contributes to the Mad Dog Channel.
29:47
Been on there a long time and we wish you the best.
29:50
Enjoy, you know, the rest of this season and beyond.
29:54
And again, thank you so much for being on.
29:56
My pleasure.
29:57
I appreciate the invite.
29:58
We'll do it again.
29:59
Absolutely.
30:00
Thank you very much.
30:00
ZIG verkasi, SIRIUS xm.
30:02
We're going to take a quick break and on the other side we're going to have AJ Rol Rovner talking New York Giants football.
30:29
You're listening to Sports Talk New York.
30:31
Tune in every Sunday night at 8pm on Long Island's WGB broadcasting on 95.99 FM and 12:40am or listen live online at wgbbradio.com stay connected to sports Talk New York on WGBB by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
30:50
@WGBB sports talk.
30:55
You're listening to Sports Talk New York on Long Island's wgpb.
31:00
And now back to the show.
31:05
Welcome back to the second half of WGB Sports Talk New York once again.
31:09
I'm Mike Widone, joined as always by Chris Caputo, the man we call Cappy.
31:13
516-623-1240 is the number if you'd like to join in with us.
31:18
A little bit of a football centric show tonight, we were joined by Sig Verkasi from Sirius xm, a veritable encyclopedia of football knowledge and one of Western New York's finest.
31:30
And now we're going to switch it over.
31:31
We're going to stay in the East Rutherford, New York, area, New Jersey, excuse me, area, and talk a little New York Giants football with our friend AJ Rovener.
31:41
AJ Mike and Chris here.
31:42
How are you doing tonight?
31:44
How are you guys?
31:45
Thank you so much for allowing me to come back on and talk some football.
31:48
Oh, absolutely.
31:49
We're fired up, you know, because it's as we were talking before, cut down day.
31:54
You know, the teams are at the initial 53.
31:57
Some interesting moves made.
31:59
You know, Giants have been a great story in this preseason and I'm sure we're going to hit everything that's been in the news that maybe, you know, you can give us a little bit of extra insight on what's
32:13
your feeling so far as now we're almost completely out of training camp and into approaching week one of this NFL season.
32:22
How are you feeling?
32:23
You know, just overall about the Giants,.
32:26
The first word that comes to mind is excitement.
32:28
With the new regime and hardball and just the winning pedigree that he brings.
32:35
I mean, whenever you think of the Harbaughs, they're always competitive, they're always battling for championships.
32:43
You know, you think of his brother Jim won a national championship at Michigan, then took the 49ers to the super bowl.
32:51
And.
32:52
And you got John, of course, who won a Super bowl for the Ravens.
32:56
So just exciting to have a winning pedigree coming to New York.
33:00
And then when you go down the rock there, I think there's a bunch of different positions that I'm really excited to watch.
33:07
And the first that comes to mind is Odell Beckham Jr.
33:10
I totally think that it was a fact that Beckham's spot was not guaranteed.
33:17
I don't think this was just a cameo or publicity since Calvin Austin going down really helped Beckham's odds.
33:27
And listen, he was playing into the third quarter against the Japs, so it was definitely his spot to have to earn.
33:36
As was Darius Sladen, who I spoke to Chris earlier today, I thought could have been cut as well.
33:43
But the offensive line and drafting Cece, and then you go to the defensive front and you got Kayvon, who did come back despite all the rumors.
33:52
And Reese, there's a lot of enticing, exciting players throughout the roster.
33:58
With Harbaugh, of course.
34:00
Yeah.
34:01
And Odell Beckham Jr.
34:02
You know, this point, we think he's going to be on the roster.
34:05
This is a man that was drafted in 2014 at LSU, was an electric player and there were some injuries and controversies and he was eventually traded to the, to the Cleveland Browns in 2018.
34:17
And here we are eight years later.
34:19
And I guess in a way we could say he kind of earned it.
34:22
He didn't miss practice.
34:24
He showed up to the games and made some catches and running routes.
34:28
So is this kind of the biggest story with the Giants or do you think there's, you know, some other stories that are going to overtake it in the next week or two?
34:38
I think that was the Giants theater from a publicity standpoint because you knew that if Beckham were to be signed, this would be at the forefront of the news for the entire training camp.
34:50
And this isn't the same oldell beckham jr that was having 1500 yards and making ridiculous one hand catches week after week.
34:59
And you know, just talking about, from a world sense, but they wasn't one of the most popular players in the world.
35:07
One of the most popular people, like just.
35:12
Everywhere you looked was Odell, Odell, Odell.
35:15
So I mean, now he's coming back on a veteran minimum deal.
35:18
The guy who was suspended with pds a ton of injuries.
35:22
Remember in that super bowl he blew out his acl.
35:25
So that's definitely one story.
35:28
But listen, he's going to suit up.
35:30
Jalen Hyatt got cut today.
35:31
I assume he's going to take his number 13 back and he'll certainly be out there.
35:36
But there's a lot of other things that you need to look at with the Giants.
35:39
And I once again, as I briefly alluded to with the first question, the offensive and defensive lines are just so important with Shelby Harris and DJ Reader, two veteran guys in the middle of that defensive line.
35:54
Dexter Lawrence is a very difficult piece to replace and those guys are Both, I believe, 10 or more year veteran, 10 plus years experience, excuse me, in the NFL.
36:05
And then the offensive line, John Runyon's back, John Michael Schmidt is back and Andrew Thomas stay healthy.
36:11
So there's a lot of different questions there on both sides of the ball.
36:15
But as you said, Chris Beckham's of course going to be the talk of the town with just, I mean in my lifetime the most popular giant.
36:22
Yeah.
36:23
And let's just stick with with the offense.
36:26
Is there enough there for the Giants to, you know, surprise some people on the offensive side?
36:32
And I think a lot of that falls on how much Harbaugh gives a long leash to Jackson Dart.
36:42
There's no doubt that this is going to be Dart's team.
36:45
I think that was something that was Harbaugh was very adamant about right from the get go in his initial prep conference that was held in the training facility.
36:55
And now it's just time to hopefully find pieces that work right with him.
37:00
So of course Wandell Robinson who winded up going with Gabe to Tennessee, he loved him last year.
37:07
That was his number one guy and that was kind of replaced that slot role now at the receiver more by Zaya likely who's far you know if you read the news and from what I've seen he targets him
37:20
all the time.
37:21
He loves Isaiah Likely then you of course still have Theo Johnson.
37:25
And the biggest question mark with this offense, without a doubt I'm going to end this part is Malik Neighbors.
37:32
What are you going to get I mean explosive rookie two years ago, unbelievable weeks one and two last year and then just ended.
37:43
So the whole question spin is he going to be back for week one?
37:47
Is he going to be back for week one?
37:48
Is he going to be back week one?
37:49
And we still don't know that answer.
37:51
But Dart got What a drive and a half, two drives with Malik Nabors last year.
37:58
And that's just going to be the big question.
38:00
How much can neighbors bring to the table and more so how soon?
38:04
Because I mean, the Giants open up with two primetime games against Dallas and the Rams.
38:10
And now the Rams just got Aaron Donald back, so it's not going to be an easy start.
38:16
516-623-1240 if you want to call in, we're talking with AJ Rovener.
38:20
AJ switching over to the defensive some liabilities on this team.
38:26
What needs to be strengthened up for this team to make a run on the defensive side?
38:32
Well, besides the defensive line, which I briefly mentioned before, the secondary and the linebacking core has a little bit of issues for me.
38:43
So Paulson Adubo, who we got from Miami last offseason, I heard a lot of things about him.
38:49
Not so great.
38:51
Beyonce bank, the Giants are, I mean, I guess, no pun intended, banking on a year from him.
38:59
So.
38:59
And then we drafted Colton Hood from Texas.
39:02
So we're really just playing our chips in a way in the secondary.
39:08
And then when you go back to safeties, Eliza Campbell's new, our Darius Washington is new.
39:14
Jason Pinnock is coming back.
39:16
So a lot of questions there.
39:18
And then linebacker, of course, we signed Tremaine Edmonds.
39:23
I forgot to mention the secondary.
39:25
Greg Newsom, who's very good, obviously, but linebacking wise, Jack Kelly's a rookie.
39:33
Micah McFadden's coming back from injury, Zaire Barnes.
39:37
I'm just kind of reading off the names that made the roster, but there's a lot of question marks besides, you know, Burns, Carter.
39:48
That's really it for me.
39:49
I mean, that's those are the guys who really know what they're going to bring to the table and then everything else.
39:54
I mean, this was a Giant defense.
39:56
I was ranked dead last in many defensive categories last year.
40:00
So and a lot of metrics.
40:03
Let me just add.
40:04
Let me add one more thing, A.J.
40:06
There were some times last year where we didn't know who the Giants kicker was going to be and we were going overseas with guys who, you know, for lack of better terms, weren't on a team anywhere in the
40:18
United States or elsewhere this year.
40:21
Kicker Dominic Zavata, punter Jordan Stout, long snapper Ben Mann.
40:26
Is it better this year or are we still going to be sitting there going, we might miss extra points and lose a game because of it?
40:32
Oh, that's the biggest turnaround of the Giants off season, in my opinion.
40:37
I Was talking to some friends earlier.
40:39
I mean this is the best punt of the Giants had in my lifetime since probably weatherford and the 11 team.
40:46
Doubt I went to Penn State.
40:47
He was not only my punter, but he was also my kickoff guy.
40:51
And I remember sitting in the first row, the student section, he would kick the ball so far it landed the first throw.
40:57
The student section, all the students would try and catch the kickoff.
41:00
But Dykes got a monster leg.
41:02
Had an 81 yard punt against the Jets a couple days ago.
41:06
And then savant is a fun story.
41:08
You know, unironically my sister went to Michigan, so I watched them too.
41:12
He did UDSA out of Michigan, monster leg.
41:16
I think he went 81 for 91 in camp.
41:19
I was reading and saw so he beat out Ben Sols who did nothing wrong.
41:24
Never missed the kick for the Giants.
41:26
Just perfect last year and no high pressure situation.
41:30
Giants are out of it, but still very tough to kick in East Rutherford at that time of year.
41:35
And then the preseason was perfect.
41:37
But I believe they waged last injured him today, which really gave Nevada the line to get the job.
41:43
But a significant improvement over Gillen and Gano.
41:47
I mean both are out of football now.
41:48
So you have an all pro punter who's the highest paid on his position and then hopefully Savado can use his big leg and stay accurate and really help the Giants win games there.
42:00
Once again, AJ Rovener joining us on the program talking about New York Giants football.
42:04
AJ I'm taking a look at the schedule, really just looking at the first six games here and you know, week one, obviously Dallas at home, that's always an exciting game.
42:16
And then week two, they have to travel out to Los Angeles to play one of the best teams in the NFL.
42:20
But really, if you take a look at these first six games, you know, week three home for Tennessee, Week four Arizona, Week five at Washington, Week six home for New Orleans.
42:32
So, you know, there's no reason why, if everything falls right, that the Giants aren't at least looking at, you know, three and three, maybe even four and two.
42:40
I'm being a little pie in the sky there, but certainly a chance to get off to a decent start before we even get into week seven, you know, on the road at Houston and then the bye week.
42:51
So definitely, I think the schedule makers were kind of kind to the, to the Giants this year.
42:56
Would you agree?
43:00
The thing about the NFL is.
43:01
I do agree, but it just.
43:03
There's always so much raster turnover and you just never know what's Going to happen year to year.
43:09
There's no commanders.
43:10
Two years ago, yeah, I mean, who would have thought they were going to make the NFC Championship game?
43:15
And now they come in the last year they got Daniels, they might win the whole thing and then don't make the playoffs.
43:21
You know, it's just.
43:22
It's a league where you never know.
43:24
Like, nobody had the Kansas City Chiefs on their bingo card last year, missing the postseason after making what, nine straight AFC championships or something crazy like that.
43:33
So if you go based on paper.
43:36
And what we've seen, I certainly think it's favorable.
43:40
But it's so important to not get off to that dreaded 02 start.
43:44
And it just always sticks in my head because the percentage is like so catastrophically low to come back from 02 and make.
43:52
I know the 2007 Giants did, but.
43:55
And then they wind up winning it all.
43:58
But all I can think about is Dallas Giants two years ago, very similar amount of height, same game.
44:06
Sunday Night Football sold out.
44:09
I was working it.
44:11
Giants are just driving down the field.
44:14
They stall.
44:14
You know, a steel goal gets blocked.
44:16
And from there on out, it was the season.
44:19
And then everything just went down from there.
44:22
So, I mean, you just really want to start one and on just beat Dallas, like, start off with some energy.
44:28
One and, oh, it's such a last time the Giants started one and all, they made the playoffs and they beat Tennessee and they missed the field goal.
44:34
So it's so important to win the first game.
44:36
In my opinion.
44:37
You just got to get off to a good start, especially with this new regime that has so much weight.
44:43
Like they're just carrying a lot, like they expect winning now.
44:45
And that's what I expect as well.
44:48
So under Harbard, can we expect in this first year based on the roster and based on what he brings in there to be, you know, not an expectation, but a thought process that this team could make the playoffs?
45:05
Well, if you look at Harbaugh's football reference base and his records, I mean, the guy just doesn't lose much.
45:11
I think he had maybe one, two or three losing seasons max in Baltimore.
45:18
So the thing that I've been asked a lot is, do you find the Giants to potentially make the postseason?
45:24
My heart says yes.
45:26
But what I do know is the Giants going to be playing meaningful games in November and December, which is a big thing.
45:31
Step forward for me, of course, someone where I've come on last year and I think even the year before that, and the giants are 2 and 12 or 3 and 11 and we're talking about draft picks.
45:43
Like I think the Giants are going to be 7 and 6, they're going to be 7 and 7.
45:46
They're going to be in that range where they can make a push.
45:51
There's going to be games where there's snow and rain and bad weather and the Giants are going to be playing for something.
45:57
So Harbaugh teams are just never out of it.
46:01
You look at the playoff picture the last 15 years he was in Baltimore, they were never eliminated early.
46:05
They're never a laughing stock.
46:07
They're never in the lottery.
46:08
The Ravens never had a top 10 pick, a top five pick.
46:12
So I expect the Giants to be competitive and I think they're over under it's like eight and a half or seven and a half.
46:20
So the odds makers as well think that they can have a shot too.
46:25
So I mean, just one game at a time, hopefully they can take care of Dallas.
46:32
You know, A.J.
46:32
Another thing I really like about John Harbaugh, obviously his pedigree, but you know, he's the adult in the room this week.
46:40
He was talking, you know, about Cam Scatterboo and his energy and he was saying that, you know, I think I have the quote right in front of me.
46:47
He said, Scott's great, he brings a lot of energy.
46:49
But did you notice he picked up a 15 yard penalty at the end of practice?
46:53
His energy is infectious.
46:54
Well, actually infectious, maybe in a bad way, like an infectious disease type of thing.
46:59
Now I know he wasn't really ripping them there, but it was, the message was sent.
47:04
We love you Cam, but listen, you got to, it's time to be a pro and it's not about you doing backflips and all this other stuff.
47:10
And that's what we've been longing for is to have that kind of leader who has that gravitas behind him to call out these young guys and be like, hey, this is the way we're going to do things now,
47:21
100%.
47:22
And there was a tweet where I believe Brian d.
47:26
Had like 2 or 32 hour practices this year.
47:30
Last year train Kevin harbor like 15 like well into the double digits.
47:35
And even today for cut down day, the Giants had a practice and I'm thinking in my head you got to cut 30 dives today like and they're still practicing before with and tomorrow they're.
47:47
Going to show up, there's going to.
47:48
Be 30 less guys in the facility.
47:50
So you could just tell it's a different, it's a well oiled machine.
47:55
That's how I describe it.
47:56
Just knows what he's doing.
47:59
And it's exciting to have a guy that knows what he's doing.
48:03
The Giants really haven't had that since Tom Coughlin, the Massachusetts Shermers.
48:09
And you go on and on and on.
48:11
There's just been guys I feel like don't have a grip.
48:14
And I think that Harbaugh really does and he's going to know how to turn this thing around.
48:20
And it's exciting for other reasons, like the Giants, you know, from time to time.
48:24
I'm very blessed to be able to work in the facility.
48:26
This is going to be my sixth season.
48:28
Like, they're redoing the facility.
48:29
The cafeteria is beautiful and they're just.
48:33
It just feels like breath of fresh air and just everything's being redone and I'm excited.
48:40
I'm just very hopeful.
48:41
Very hopeful.
48:42
Yeah.
48:43
And positive steps, you know, as you said, playing meaningful games, getting a couple of big wins early would definitely help this team.
48:50
And to have the regime, the people at the top who are making decisions in a way to put this team in a good situation is what you're looking for, which is the opposite of what's going on in Queens.
49:02
You know, as we're watching David Stearns try to make move after move, and the only thing the Mets have going for them in the month of September is the fact that Howie Rose is going to retire on the
49:11
last day of the season and Carlos Beltran is going to have his number retired.
49:15
It's got to be pretty painful for you, A.J.
49:19
I was there today, so I watch and I still root.
49:24
But it's.
49:24
It's a tough watch.
49:26
There's no doubt.
49:27
And most of all, it's disappointing.
49:29
You show up to the ballpark, say, a Sunday.
49:31
I thought to myself as I walked into the park on my resort, this was supposed to be a Sunday night.
49:35
Baseball.
49:36
Like, I had to think to myself, why the mets playing at 3 o' clock like this?
49:40
This wasn't scheduled like this.
49:43
Scheduling.
49:44
Yeah.
49:45
Yeah.
49:45
This was supposed to be a 705 national prime time.
49:49
Like the Met is supposed to be playing now.
49:50
It's supposed to be in the sixth inning now.
49:52
So, you know, getting flexed out of baseball, you know, we see football flexes, but I mean, it's very rarely we see baseball games get flexed out of time.
50:02
At least what I look.
50:04
I mean, guess maybe the Mets aren't on prime time much.
50:06
So I guess they're not really getting flexed out too many times.
50:09
But I mean, you go up and down the lineup.
50:12
It's just very disciplined.
50:13
At least Roberts starting pays on waivers.
50:16
I mean, I mean, he's on waivers.
50:18
We literally, we were literally talking about that as we were coming up the stairs to the studio about how here's a guy starting in left field who's on waivers.
50:28
On waivers.
50:28
And Marcus Simeon, I mean, no good, but be careful.
50:34
Mark Vientos had three homers at AAA today and they pitched a no hitter combined.
50:41
Wow.
50:41
Yes.
50:42
He's the greatest quadruple a player.
50:44
That's right.
50:46
The greatest quadruple a player ever.
50:48
But listen, I'm trying to stay positive.
50:51
I think there is a core which is what you have to build off of.
50:55
And you have Soto and you have Benj.
50:58
And even though Ewing is, and I watch the team day to day, I still think he's making good contact.
51:03
And with the way he plays defense, there's no way he shouldn't be a starting center fielder next year.
51:09
I mean, just, he's unbelievable out there and he plays so hard, like a chicken.
51:14
Win out of tape runs after everything.
51:16
No fear.
51:17
I mean, Jared Young's been a very pleasant surprise.
51:20
I'm just running around the diamond here.
51:23
I mean, he certainly should have a role.
51:25
You have one door.
51:26
I would have to assume Bichette Oxen.
51:28
How's he going to turn down 40 something million?
51:30
He won't get that anywhere else.
51:33
Perenz is the best defensive catcher in baseball.
51:36
So you have guys there.
51:38
That and then the starting pitching, Scott Thornton, McLean.
51:43
So we just got to hope that somehow, some way they could find a way this off season to just make a change.
51:53
And I think that besides what Chris said, Howie and Carlos, I think that home stand against Baltimore, their final home stand, I think that will certainly be an emotional one for net fans.
52:07
It'll be emotional for the guy who played first base, I think all like four or five games.
52:12
I mean, he plays every day.
52:13
I hope he's okay.
52:14
Got hit in the head today, hard, Mr.
52:16
Alonso.
52:17
Like 98 to the head, I think.
52:19
But I mean, that would be an emotional one for sure.
52:23
Yeah.
52:23
And he's trying to go after Jordan Alvarez, who right now is the triple crown leader for the Al Alonso.
52:28
Just a couple of RBIs behind and it just hurts me to then hear, you know, we had Zack Scott, former Mets general manager, on the show and he confirmed that they could have traded Matt Allen, who was a
52:45
pitching project prospect for the Mets, who never made it anywhere to the Cubs, and instead Pete Crowe Armstrong, who is now the mvp, you Know, possible winner this year.
52:56
Could be.
52:57
Could have been in the outfield with some of our young guys or with Soto.
53:00
And it's just these moves that, you know, I understand, like you have to make some of these moves and you have to do this stuff.
53:09
But it just seems like the Mets always make, oh, you know, let's just get rid of this guy instead of that guy.
53:15
They always seem to make the wrong move.
53:18
Right.
53:18
And I was listening to wfa and it's funny you say that, because the Yankees, I feel like it's the complete opposite.
53:26
You never hear about that prospect.
53:28
Oh, that guy was a Yankee.
53:30
You know, like, you just never hear that.
53:32
Like, I remember hearing that on.
53:34
It was Rad and Rose, actually.
53:36
I was listening to one of their.
53:37
Their calls in the car.
53:39
You just, you never.
53:40
Castman is so good at not letting go of the big profit.
53:44
Nothing that any of their prospects have really turned out to be that hot.
53:49
You know, Jones and Dominguez and golfing, we don't, you know, Lombard can't feel the ground ball.
53:54
But, you know, there are guys that you just never hear about their prospects that become big things.
54:00
So.
54:01
And even that guy buy it.
54:03
Not the guy from the Cardinals, but the other guy, he's going off in the minors too.
54:08
Another person, another player at the Giants, the Max.
54:11
Excuse me.
54:12
The Mets traded, but, I mean, Trevor Williams and two months of Javier Baez for thumbs down.
54:19
That's it.
54:20
Thumbs down.
54:21
I mean, he didn't even like playing nearby as they go start a whole thing against the fan base putting their thumbs down because they got food.
54:28
You know, it's like, I mean, we didn't even have Bias playing his natural position either, with Bias playing second.
54:34
I mean, and in the sense, he was a really good match for like 40 and 40 and seven innings.
54:40
40 games and seven innings, whatever.
54:41
But yeah, hey, I think the Cubs won that one.
54:48
Perhaps.
54:49
I mean, I've been a Met fan since before you were alive, you know, 1975, 74.
54:55
So this is to me, I mean, you know, I go all the way back to a lot of.
55:00
A lot of trades that were hard to take, but this one, Holy moly.
55:03
That.
55:03
That pet car Armstrong one is in my opinion, the worst trade in the history of the team.
55:08
Really.
55:09
My dad still thinks the Nolan Ryan.
55:11
Yeah.
55:12
You know, that was actually.
55:15
That was actually a little before my time.
55:16
But I mean, the.
55:18
I remember when Tom Seaver got traded, that.
55:20
That had to be done.
55:21
But the Midnight Massacre, they got rid of everybody.
55:24
But when you have.
55:25
I don't know if anybody ever saw, you know, PCA being a possible MVP candidate but boy, he, you don't trade first round guys.
55:33
You just don't not it.
55:35
Not after, you know, the amount of time that he had in the organization for.
55:39
Yeah.
55:39
For someone who's known for putting his thumb down at the fence.
55:42
Yeah, yeah, 100%.
55:44
And I think it needs to be known that he was still so young.
55:48
Like it wasn't a guy that was in triple.
55:49
Like you didn't even know what you had yet in the first round pick.
55:53
Like you didn't even touch the scene that you dream up on him.
55:57
In a way, if I was pca, I would just motivate like, wow, that's it.
56:03
Like you're gonna take Hobby Bayou for potentially two months in a longer Weaver slash fifth starter for and I get to, you know, get a brand new start.
56:14
I mean I would be motivated to be traded like that.
56:17
Like, okay, you know, like here we go.
56:19
So, I mean even Drew Gilbert's playing good for the Giants, but the Mets traded him too.
56:26
We got the lead off every day for the Giants out there at the Bay Middle home run a couple nights ago.
56:32
So listen, at the end of the day, the Mets really just don't do much.
56:38
Right.
56:38
So that's, that's that.
56:40
That's how I'm going to put it.
56:41
Well, we appreciate your time.
56:43
Thank you for giving us your Insight again tonight, A.J.
56:45
We will be in touch soon.
56:48
Thanks again.
56:48
Absolutely.
56:49
Thanks, A.J.
56:51
Thanks to Zig Frakassi from Sirius XM NFL Report.
56:55
Cap, great stuff tonight.
56:57
A lot of football.
56:57
We'll come back with a little bit of baseball, some US Open tennis in two weeks.
57:02
Good luck with the start of school.
57:03
Let's start of school before Labor Day.
57:05
Yeah, you gotta love it.
57:06
And everybody, thanks for a great summer and welcome to the fall.
57:10
The views expressed in the previous program did not necessarily represent those of the staff, management or owners of WGB.