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Phillies Storylines And A Look At The NFC (PST Episode 571) · The Philadelphia Sports Table | Philly Sports News & Views

0:00
Hey there, everybody, it's Jeff. I wanted to let you know that
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we recorded this podcast episode in both interviews this week on two separate dates.
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The first our Eagles interview was recorded on Friday, June fourteenth, twenty twenty
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four. Our Phillies discussion this week with our guest was recorded on Wednesday,
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June nineteenth, twenty twenty four. So by the time you hear this,
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some things may have changed here or there, but we hope you enjoyed the
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show. All right, folks, welcome to the Philadelphia Sports Table podcast show,
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the longest running weekly Philly sports podcast show in the world. That's right,
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eleven years strong, and we've got two great interviews for you this week
1:00
on the show. But before we get to those interviews, I wanted to
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let you know that in terms of next week, we are going to have
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a table talk interview show and we are gonna have our regular show with Eric
1:12
and myself. There will be no Opposition Territory podcast next week. Actually,
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when you hear next week shows, I will be on vacation with my family.
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We are going to enjoy some time together, some much needed time away
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from work and from the daily riggers of life. So I am very much
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looking forward to that. That being said, we have got a great show
1:34
for you this week here where we have two great interviews. We've got Destiny
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Legardo from Philliesnation dot Com. She's going to be joining us talk about this
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Phillies team and specifically where they're at right now, some ongoing storylines that we
1:48
have been following, and what we can expect from this team down the road.
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And as Destiny and I were talking about, it really is very difficult
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at this point or nitpick with regard to how this Philly season is going here
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in twenty twenty four. There's so many good things from Kyle Schwarber, just
2:07
you know, at this point in his career, being the heart and the
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soul of this Phillies team that has absolutely been dominant here this year. In
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fact, it was interesting how Edmundo Sosa recently said, and it was quoted
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in an Athletic article recently, he said, you look at him and you
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just feel the good vibes and the peace that's around him, again, being
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the soul of this team. We're not gonna get into Kyle Schwarber within the
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context of the discussion with Destiny, however, We're gonna get into guys like
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Nick Castianos, We're gonna get into guys like JT. Real Muto, and
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what's happening with the catcher's position at this point. Also Johann Rojas after being
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sent down to Triple A Lehigh Valley, what's in store for him and what
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does his future look like here in twenty twenty four as he looks to possibly
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get back to the big league team down in Philadelphia, of course. And
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then we have some great, great Eagles talk come in your way, and
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in fact some NFC talk too, more from an NFC based discussion about power
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rankings, and you know who are some surprise teams that we're gonna be looking
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at as the football season is really right around the corner. I mean,
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training camp is gonna be starting for some of these teams in just about a
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month, a little over a month for some teams. But the NFC as
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a powerhouse conference, I think it's it's a very interesting notion when we look
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at where the Eagles are, what their expectations are. We talk about this
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team on paper all the time saying you know what, you know, they
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should go far into the playoffs in twenty twenty four, twenty twenty five.
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Will that actually happen? I've got a great discussion come in your way in
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an interview this week with our guests. So I am looking forward to having
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Johnny Yulecca from the All About the Birds podcast on the show to talk about
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the Eagles and again the NFC in general. So why don't we get started
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right now with these discussions. Let's start off with some Phillies talk. We've
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got Destiny Legardo coming your way. Let's get right to it joining us this
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week. Yes, she is back here at the Philadelphia Sports Table podcast show
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to get into this Philadelphia Phillies team. What we've been seeing from this team
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and organization throughout twenty twenty four. It has certainly been a fun, fun
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season. You can catch all of her work over at Phillies Nation dot com
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and you should follow her on Twitter slash x. If you have not been
4:29
following her as of late, or maybe you just see your tweets here and
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there, make sure you're following her At Destiny Underscore Legardo, we have the
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one and only Destiny Legardo. Destiny, how are you and thanks for jumping
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on the pod this week doing great jests nice to talk to you again.
4:44
It's always great talking to you, my friend. It really is. I
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was saying before we hit the record button, like it's a it's it's one
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of those tough seasons, and I say, a tough season for the Phillies
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where there's there's just not much to complain about. It's pretty it's pretty remarkable.
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But then then again, you know, you have some Philly sports talk
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radio out there that likes to try to, you know, talk, you
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know, talk negatively about certain Philly sports teams and things like that. But
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we're not gonna do it. We're not gonna do that too much here.
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We're not gonna do that too much here on this podcast. But it's been
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a great season so far. Yeah, like I said before, it's really
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hard to nitpick. Must be a very tough season for the negative people that
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kind of just like to complain all the time, exactly, But at some
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point I guess they're gonna they're gonna have their days where they can say whatever
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they want. But most part, it's been a joy to watch the Phillies
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and see them win and see them win in different ways on a consistent base.
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Yeah, absolutely, no, no Problemly, like you, and you
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get to see behind the scenes what this team is like from a personality standpoint.
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You're in the locker room, you know, you are following this team
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at Citizens Bank Park and beyond and getting a chance to see these guys coming
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together in the culture that has actually been bred throughout this organization. That must
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be pretty special for you to sit back and say, you know what,
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I'm able to take this in here in twenty twenty four. Let's enjoy it.
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Yeah. Yeah, I totally agree. It's a little bit weird to
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compare to anything else because I've only really been around the Phillies and I've only
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been around the Phillies extensively for the last two years as far as locker room
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access is concerned. But I could say it's a really good clubhouse. Sometimes.
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What I've heard in other locker rooms is that certain guys will only talk
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to you know, American guys will talk to American guys, and Latin guys
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will talk to lag guys, and there's a pretty like reasonable separation, I
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guess. But everybody talks to everybody. Everybody enjoys each other's company. I
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think Kyle Schuber has a huge role in kind of getting everybody together that started
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a couple of years ago. So yeah, it is like it's nice to
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see like good people have success. And that's what I could say about the
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Phillies club house. Absolutely. All right, well, let's get into this
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team what we're seeing this season in here Destiny, and I wanted to start
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off with the catcher position and what's been happening with that. You recently published
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an article on Philly's Nation about how JT. Real Muto will likely be back
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before the All Star break after he's been rehabbing that knee injury. I was
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hoping you could kind of give us a sense of really the changes that we've
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seen in the catcher position since real Muto has been out. Garrett Stubbs obviously
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has been a contributor as well, and I believe that the backup catchers,
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both of them are hitting well over three hundred at this point and it's pretty
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remarkable. Actually, I'm wondering if you can kind of talk about what we've
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been seeing with the catcher position from your vantage point since JT. Real Muto
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has been out. Yeah, I mean it's hard to replace JT. Obviously,
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he's there one of the best catchers in the game. He's got a
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really good bad for a catcher, and the way people talk about him,
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he's one of the best game callers out there. Behind the scenes, he's
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one of the best as well, So they're missing a little bit of that.
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But I think this may be like a good month for the Phillies to
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evaluate what the backup catcher position looks like next year. It's good to have
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this time. Have JT missed this time because they're in such a good spot
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and because the expectation is that he's going to be healthy once this injury clears
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up. But I do think it'll be interesting to see how Stubbs and Marshawn
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both play, because Marshawn's out of options and Garrett Stubbs has been here for
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a few years and he's he's had a struggle. So I think, like
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what we're seeing are two catchers that are like one, are very competitive,
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both want to win, both kind of really good handling pitching staffs, but
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they both need to battle for a job next year and beyond. So that's
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what I'm excited about the next few weeks, just to kind of see how
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this unfold. I know it's like a kind of a minor storyline, But
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I've enjoyed watching Marshawn behind the plate. I think he's a very strong block,
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He's a very strong receiver. I was wondering if you were going to
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get into that, Yeah, I was wondering if you were going to get
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into this. Yeah. It's it's kind of insane just how Marshawn has struggled
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so much in the marty leagues of the plate, but then somehow he has
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three home runs and what seventy plate appearances of the majors. It's like he
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kind of just he has a knack for these moments. I think Stubbs like
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sometimes it could be a struggle watching him at the plate. Absolutely, I
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do think he He's very valuable, like I said, with JT behind the
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scenes, and he can have some big hits too. So I look forward
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to seeing what this like catching battle over the next month like looks like and
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what it means for the future. It's an underrated storyline for sure, like
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you said, but I think it's an important one as we are looking toward
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the latter part of this season and as we even look toward twenty twenty five,
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and I think another storyline that I wanted to get your thoughts on as
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well, Destiny, and it's one particular player who I think the general consensus
10:01
is that I would say like over fifty percent of the time, the fan
10:07
base has probably been disappointed with him, and that's Nick Castianos, even though
10:11
you know he look, he hit a walk off this past week beat the
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Padres who were in town. I mean, he's had struggles throughout the first
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half of this season and even during his tenure in general in Philadelphia. But
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I don't know, maybe as it pertains to this season, he's perhaps getting
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into the swing of things as of late. That's my hope. I know
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that's the fans hope as well. I'm wondering why has Nick Castianos really been
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struggling this season in your opinion, and do you think he may be getting
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out of that rut, especially after that walk off this past week. Yeah,
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I think Nick is just a streaky hitter and it's something that we've seen
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over the last year and something that we're kind of accepting. Yeah. I
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do think it helps that liamb is there and he's talked about it before.
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He talked about it yesterday that he feels a lot more comfortable when his sun
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is around, and that's very understandable, but I just think Nick kind of
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gets into these slumps where he starts chasing and then it looks really bad.
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Then he makes a few adjustments. I know he's doing a lot of work
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pregame mostly like it's more of a comfort thing for him. But I also
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think he's getting better at, you know, focusing on the zones where he
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does a lot of damage and he drives the ball, and I think that's
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what he's starting to do right now. Early in the season it was more
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about they were trying to get in the chase less and then that was kind
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of getting him out of the rhythm. So I think, you know,
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we always talk about like is Nick turning a corner, and like my answer
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is no, because he's just so streaky, And really with him, it's
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about like is he going to be streaky for the playoffs? And last year
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it was yes during the NBS and no during the NCS. So I think
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it's it's something that we kind of have to accept. Maybe this year the
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hot streak just lasts forever. It's it's hard to say that's going to happen,
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but I think that's something that you have to at least hope happens with
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Nick. I think that's it's just like an acceptance around the club, like
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he's it's going to look bad at some points, but he's going to be
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really hot and he's gonna you know, carry the club at at points,
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kind of like what we talked about with Reese Hoskins. This is probably a
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more extreme example, but that's just kind of who he is. Can we
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just put his son as like the first base coach when he's up the bat
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That's my thought. I'm like, be very cute, that would be I'd
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be great. Maybe give a little motivation for him when he's in the batter's
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box. Let's put his son as the first base coach. Just sub him
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in and out. That's what I'm That's what I'm thinking at this point here.
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But yes, absolutely, yes, Yes, it's fantastic. I love
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it. Well. As we're moving along with a conversation here, Destiny,
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I want to talk about another gentleman who I've just come to root for.
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Even when he was quote down and out over the years, you know,
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I still thought he had a lot in him and had more development and that
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ability to develop within him, and he's proven a lot of detractors wrong.
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That's Alec Bohm. His slash line with runners in scoring position this year is
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crazy three sixty eight, four thirty five, six point fifty eight and one
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point zero nine three. I mean, pretty astonishing numbers when runners are in
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scoring position. And you can remember this too. I mean there were people
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who wanted him off the team in spring training of twenty twenty three. And
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again this is something I've been talking about here every now and again on this
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podcast show. But I love the development insurgence of Alec Bohm. What has
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Alec Boehm meant to this team one in clutch situations? And two what is
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his presence meant to this team overall here in twenty twenty four, Because it's
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it's pretty significant from what I'm seeing. Yeah, I think in clutch situations
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you can't quantify the value of a hitter that could really put the ball in
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play, especially on a team where there's a lot of swing in this So
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there's always confidence that when there are runners in scoring condition and when the Phillies
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badly need hit, that Boam is going to come through. And I do
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think that's huge and I understand a lot of the frustration with al Boam over
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the years. I think the development has taken a little bit longer than people
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anticipated, especially after the big twenty twenty rookie season he had and you know,
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struggling in the minors, like having to go down into the twenty one,
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not even twenty twenty two. But I think we've seen a guy that's
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kind of was at the bottom, like in a really low place, and
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then it's kind of developed in a way that has been like really enjoyable to
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watch. And it's not even just at the plate. It's defensively at this
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point that there was there's a point where this guy was unplayable at third base,
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and I think he at the very least has become a decent third basement.
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He makes a lot of plays he could kind of run around and like
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catch these like bout balls that like I never like think that he can't catch.
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He kind of makes these like he's plays down the line that are that
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always amaze me. I think he's got a really good arm. I think
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his ability to slow down the game has been really apparent, and just with
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the bat, like I think, like like we talked about with Nick,
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it's been a little bit streaky, but I think streakiness doesn't always have to
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be bad, especially when you had like the month he had in April where
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he was just like on fire. And he's put himself to a position where
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he's probably going to start a third base from the National League in the All
15:26
Star Game, and that's pretty incredible. I think he's the first to be
15:31
the first Philly since Scott Rull want to do that. So yeah, I
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mean, like he had a lot of expectations. He was the number three
15:39
overall pick, and I think it's it's taken longer, but now we're kind
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of seeing like the fruits of everything, and it's really exciting to see what
15:46
Alcolm has become. Yeah, and it really is fun to see what he
15:50
has become and what I wanted to now get into something that in an article
15:56
actually that your colleague Tim Kelly put up. You put up a piece on
15:58
Phillies Nation recently about how even though Johann Rojas was optioned, that he's still
16:04
going to be a part of this team moving forward. Essentially, That's what
16:07
I got from the article. I mean, look, Johann Rojas, I
16:11
mean he walked only seven times in one hundred and ninety six played appearances,
16:15
which that's a rather astonishing statistic. Frankly, what should our expectations be of
16:23
Johann Rojas once he does get back to the big club in the foreseeable future.
16:27
We know he's at Triple A right now trying to work on some things,
16:30
But what really should our expectations be for him when he gets back to
16:33
the Phills. Yeah. My thing is that that he'll probably be back up
16:40
once rosters expanded September. And I do believe the Phillies when they say the
16:45
best version of the Phillies is when Rojas is playing center field every day because
16:49
ways at his best defensively, it's it's game changing, but it's just at
16:55
some points the season, like the defense just wasn't quite there. And then
17:00
when you add in like the bets and black walks and like grounding every time.
17:08
I just have two walks yesterday just to point that out. But yeah,
17:15
I mean it's really hard to know, like what the expectations are.
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I think a lot of it will have to do with what they do with
17:22
the deadline, whether they get a center fielder, whether like marsh becomes We're
17:26
the option there, but I just think they need to see a lot more
17:30
offensively out of row host And I think you could live with this in the
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regular season, and Apilles have shown it by the record and just how like
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good the team has been. I think yeah. And I do understand the
17:45
argument that, like it really wasn't his fault, you know, the way
17:48
they lost in the NLC. Yes, because everybody wasn't hitting. But like
17:53
once the playoff comes around, I think every spot in the lineup matters a
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lot. And if they go into October and Rojas is still pretty close to
18:03
an automatic out, I think that's problematic. So he's going to have to
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you know, I think triple A could be really good for him because he
18:11
could take off some pressure. I know he works extremely hard. He worked
18:15
extremely hard during the off season, so maybe they could manage his you know,
18:18
playing time a little bit better, you know, and then maybe a
18:23
good September calms and maybe they feel a little bit more confident to play in
18:29
October. But I really don't know how this is going to go because I
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think they're enamored with the idea of just having Rojas out there defensively, and
18:38
then just like they really hope that the bat shows enough. But I think
18:44
now they're at the point, especially like with the roster crunch they had,
18:47
they just had to do something about that. So I think like they're they're
18:49
hoping and praying that there's some positive developments in the next few months and that
18:55
like the ultimate plan they have for Rojas works out. But you never really
18:59
know. Yeah, you don't ever really know. And again, you know,
19:02
I'm not meaning to like nitpick necessarily with regard to, you know,
19:06
any type of negativity with regard to this Phillies team, but look, the
19:10
reality is is that not every Major League Baseball team is perfect out there.
19:14
The Phillies are certainly not perfect. And again we're not trying to be sports
19:17
talk radio out there where it's just negativity, negativity, But it's an interesting
19:21
storyline to follow as it pertains to the center field position with this Phillies team,
19:26
what the future of that position is going to be. And then you
19:29
know, consequently, as we look to the mound, as we look to
19:32
that pitching mound man, the pitching for the Phillies has been just stellar just
19:36
about all season, you know, even though Tiwan Walker of course has had
19:38
some ups and downs here in twenty twenty four. You know, they're one
19:42
of the best starting rotations in baseball destiny, and it's so hard to complain
19:48
about the pitching that we've seen thus far this year. It's virtually impossible.
19:52
Again, maybe outside of Taiwan Walker, but I'm wondering, how do you
19:55
think the team is managing the workload for the starting pitchers as this team looks
20:00
toward that postseason run, Because that's part of the equation too, as with
20:03
regard to the pitching staff here, stellar pitching thus far coming from the starters
20:08
in general, but you know their workload and how we start to look toward
20:14
the second half of the season, it becomes a storyline for sure. What
20:18
are your thoughts here? Yeah, I think it's an interesting question, and
20:22
I'm sure there are a lot of team in baseball that would kind of see
20:25
the workload of the Floes rotation. Well, first off, they'd be like,
20:27
wow, like we have four really good starters and Semeter Turble in the
20:30
bullpen. They'd be like wow, Like I wish that was the case for
20:34
me. That they would also be like, well, maybe we should kind
20:37
of tone it down a little bit. But I think the mentality of everybody
20:41
in the starting rotation is that they need to go deep every single day,
20:45
and especially Aaron Nola has talked about this a lot, that the bullpen becomes
20:49
so much more important in the postseason, so it's very important that they go
20:53
six seven innings every day just to make sure that they're not overworking the topple
21:00
and arms like strom Kurkering, Alvarado, Hoffman, all those guys. So
21:04
I think for now it's like just trying to go deep every single day.
21:10
I think there will be a point, especially in the summer. It's something
21:12
that they did last year that they'll probably end up going to a six man
21:15
rotation so that guys get a little bit of rest and that just that's dependent
21:21
upon everybody being healthy. But I think the Phillies they have the best of
21:26
both worlds because these guys could go deep their veterans, so a lot of
21:30
these guys have had experience with going deep into October. I think the experience
21:37
matters a lot here, so and you know, Nolan and Wheeler are around
21:41
two hundred innings type of pictures. I think, like Suarez and Sanchez are
21:45
the guys that they need to kind of handle a caution a little bit,
21:51
but I think in general the mentality is that at this point of the season,
21:56
try to pitch as much as you possibly can and then kind of worry
22:00
about that stuff a little bit down the road, because I do think it
22:04
will matter. And obviously starting pitching matters too in the postseason, like getting
22:10
five or six strong innings matters a lot. But I think the bullpen kind
22:17
of becomes like way more important, as you know Aaron Nola said during the
22:22
playoffs, and I think just giving them as much rest and not overworking them
22:27
at this point the season is going to matter a lot and it's going to
22:30
pay off in October. Absolutely. Absolutely. Again, folks, we're talking
22:33
to Destiny Legardo from Phillies Nation dot com. Make sure you're following her on
22:37
x slash Twitter at Destiny Underscore Legardo, And a general question for you here,
22:44
Destiny, as we're closing our conversation out, I'm wondering, how do
22:48
you see things taking shape in the National League in terms of perhaps some sneaky
22:53
teams who may start to break out of their shell as we soon hit that
22:57
halfway point in the sea, And how are you seeing some things in the
23:00
National League take in shape in terms of maybe some sneaky teams here. Yeah,
23:06
it's June nineteenth, and I believe only four teams are over five hundred,
23:11
which is just absolutely insane. I mean, going into this season,
23:15
I thought the National League was going to be pretty strong because they had a
23:18
lot of scrappy young teams and interesting teams. Like I know the Padres are
23:26
getting absolutely crushed by the Phillies right now, but I think they have a
23:30
good chance to be a playoff team. I look at Cincinnati and I love
23:33
their kind of young position player cores and their young starting pitching, and I
23:38
think they added some veterans and it's just like baffling to see, like how
23:42
much they've struggled. I know the Mets are starting to play a little bit
23:47
better. I've always been like a somewhat of a believer in the Mets,
23:49
Like I just I can't really explain why. I feel like I always why.
23:55
Yeah, I don't know, Like they have some good players, Like
23:59
they have players on big contracts, and they're pitching is a little bit better
24:03
than people think. The Nationals have have had really good pitching this year,
24:07
and they also have some guys in the farm system that can contribute at the
24:11
end of the year. It just depends on the call that these teams make
24:15
during the trade deadline. Do you sell or do you try to buy and
24:21
get into that sixth wildcard spot, Because they've had this playoff format the last
24:26
two years and the sixth seed has made the World Series both times. And
24:30
I think that's that's going to be the mentality of a lot of these teams,
24:33
especially the ones that are trying to win. I know Pittsburgh has Schemes
24:38
and Jones and a lot of other exciting young players, so like, it's
24:44
so hard to kind of see how this race plays out. I think it's
24:48
obvious at the top that the Phillies and Dodgers, and you know, even
24:52
the Braves, even though they've struggled a lot, like, they're making the
24:55
playoffs. The Brewers have surprised a lot of people. They're probably a playoff
24:59
team. There's just so many teams that's they're crumbled into this like mediocre middle,
25:07
and I believe in most of them. Like, I think there's an
25:10
argument to be made that a lot of these teams kind of make the playoffs.
25:12
It's just a matter of like who wins enough games. That's like kind
25:17
of a dumb way to say it, but I think there's there's reasons to
25:19
believe that believe that a lot of teams can get it together. It's just
25:25
so hard to say, like which which team that's going to be. Yeah,
25:27
like nobody anticipated the Marlins making the playoffs last year exactly, but I
25:34
don't know. I always like Arizona. I think they're so much better than
25:38
they've played, and they have like a lot of good pitching, and like
25:41
it's kind of bafflaying how Corbyn, how bad Corbyn Carroll has been, Like
25:48
Chicago has been super disappointing, Like I've said, the Reds and like at
25:53
this point, it's just like the Marlins and the Rockies are definitely not making
25:56
it, but everybody else is kind of a like for all, I'm never
26:00
I never believe in the Cardinals. I just think they're so they're too old
26:04
for I just don't like the Cardinals. Same here, same here. It's
26:10
maybe it's an unfair question just because of you know, we're gonna learn more,
26:12
like you said after the trade deadline, We're gonna see what teams have
26:15
a strategy of moving forward. From a short term perspective, which have a
26:19
strategy of moving forward from long term perspective as well. Maybe it was an
26:23
unfair question for you, my friend, but really I enjoyed talking. Yeah,
26:26
it is, it is. I had fun talking to you though,
26:30
I really did. Again, folks, Destiny Legardo from Phillies Nation dot com,
26:33
my friend, join us down the road here. I'd love to have
26:36
you back on the show to get into more Phillies talk. Uh, come
26:38
join us down the road. Thanks, Jeff, I appreciate it. A
26:42
fantastic discussion with Destiny all the time. She is always so very kind to
26:48
come on the PSD podcast show with us. Lots of great talk there.
26:52
If you know anyone who's a Phillies fan who would love to hear that conversation,
26:56
shoot off our podcast to them, let them know about the Philadelphia Sports
27:00
Table podcast show. Have them subscribed to us, we'd appreciate it. If
27:03
you're listening on Apple Podcasts, rate and review the show, we'd appreciate that
27:07
as well. And if anything happens to your podcast feed, you can head
27:10
on over to Philadelphia Sports Table dot com. We've got all of our shows
27:14
over there. I am on Twitter slash X at Jeffrey Underscore Warren and the
27:18
show is on Twitter slash X at Philadelphia PST. And with that being said,
27:25
we're going to take a quick break to pay some bills. We'll be
27:26
back in just a bit. All right, We are back, and now
27:30
we're going to get into some Eagles in NFC talk. It's really really an
27:34
interesting time for the Philadelphia Eagles as we are looking towards training camp, we
27:38
are looking towards this twenty twenty four, twenty twenty five season. Lots of
27:44
high hopes for the Birds, lots of high hopes, folks. But should
27:48
we have a little bit of concern here? There? Should there be a
27:51
little trepidation about what we may see from this team, because like it or
27:55
not, And as Johnny and I are going to get into in just a
27:56
minute here, this Eagles team have new coordinators from defensive standpoint and an offensive
28:03
standpoint, and could be could be a rocky road for them right out of
28:07
the gate. Who knows. We got a great discussion coming your way.
28:11
Let's get right to it. Joining us this week to get into some NFC
28:15
talk, some Eagles talk as well. He's coming to us from the All
28:18
about the Birds podcast platform. They're doing such great work over there. I
28:23
subscribe on Apple Podcasts, and you should subscribe on whatever podcast platform you're listening
28:27
to us on. We have got the one and only Johnny Lecca. How
28:32
you doing, Johnny, Oh, I'm doing great. I'm really happy you
28:34
have me on again. Love joining the show. I love talking about Eagles
28:38
football time. It's a great time, it really is. And I'm eagerly
28:44
anticipating with this season is gonna bring. And I'm really happy again, so
28:48
grateful you're able to join us here this week here on our table talk interview
28:51
because I really wanted to get into the NFC in general this conference here,
28:56
because like you know, we're all we're all getting excited for what this coming
28:59
season is gonna bring to us. And when we look at some of the
29:02
NFC power rankings, Johnny, you know, the top three teams are just
29:04
about all the rankings, the forty nine ers, the Eagles and the Lions,
29:08
and of course you know these teams, you know, I could see
29:12
some of these teams actually having some struggles this season quite frankly, mainly the
29:17
Philadelphia Eagles. To be honest, as much as it pains me to say,
29:19
being a lifelong Eagles fan, where they are right now. Things looking
29:22
fantastic on paper. I mean, there are so many components and new components
29:27
to their defense, including a brand new coordinator, that I just don't think
29:32
we realize what is gonna happen and how relationships are gonna manifest themselves. Yes,
29:36
they've had OTAs mini camps, but I don't necessarily think that those relationships
29:40
have really come together yet. There's a new offensive coordinator as well for this
29:44
Eagles team. I think things could be a little bit rocky for the Birds
29:48
right out of the gate this season. Johnny, I don't know what are
29:51
your thoughts here about these NFC Power rankings that we've seen thus far and even
29:55
how it relates to the Eagles. So, yeah, you know the NFC
29:59
Power rankings you have of course those three teams and then maybe some other teams
30:03
that you know, we'll start talking about a little bit later. But looking
30:07
at the Eagles aspect of it is like I understand, and the new defensive
30:12
coordinator and the new offensive coordinator does throw a little bit of an unknown spectacle
30:18
into what the season is going to be, right, But the way I
30:22
look at it is like with this offense. To me, Kellen Moore can
30:26
be average as a play caller, and the way he structures the offense and
30:30
the offense look leaps and bound better than it did last year. Yeah,
30:34
and I think the big thing with them is if you look at the playmakers
30:37
that they have on offense, and I think offensively, you feel good because
30:41
of who they have, who they added the exactly the talent. Yeah,
30:47
I know you lose Jason Kelce, but the offensive line still is strong.
30:51
You still have, you know, two of the best duo receiver, the
30:55
best duo of ride receivers in the NFL in my opinion, Davante and aj
30:59
And then you have Dallas Gott and you have Saquon now As added there.
31:02
So I think it The offense, to me, I think is going to
31:06
be okay once they get themselves into training camp and everything. The defense is
31:08
the big question mark. But again I think you have to look at it
31:12
as this way. The last couple of years, it's been the defensive had
31:17
a lot of veterans on the team, a lot of older players. It's
31:19
kind of towards the end of the line. And now they've added a lot
31:25
of fresh blood. You have a lot of Listen, we've clamored years and
31:29
years and years, get us corners, draft corners early, we want cornerbacks.
31:33
Now got a ton and that's what they did, and they have a
31:37
surplus, and I think this is one year that you feel very good about
31:41
the depth and the youth. And yeah, they have some guys who are
31:45
older, but it isn't as much as last year when they had they were
31:48
plucking guys off the street who were good maybe three four, five years ago,
31:53
and they just were a shell of themselves in Shaq Leonard and Roby and
31:57
you had all these guys just like it. I think the defense will be
32:01
okay because of who's leading it. You have the guy it isn't a a
32:07
Vic Fangio disciple with his version. You know, last year was almost like
32:13
towards the end after de Sigh and then that whole collapse, it was like
32:16
everyone everybody went rogue. It's just like they did what they wanted and it
32:22
just as we knew, it didn't work out. And I think the team's
32:28
going to be very determined and motivated to be able to take that step and
32:32
to be where you want them to be and where they were in twenty twenty
32:36
two to take that be that contender going into the season and well not going
32:40
into the season that wasn't They weren't expected, but as the season unfolded,
32:45
they were seen as a contender. And I think that's what it's going to
32:47
be. It may be tough, you're right going to Brazil and then playing
32:52
a team like the Green Bay Packers who were no slouch. It may be
32:57
tough to start, but we'll kind of see what they have well. I
33:01
think we'll see in training camp. I think that's what you're really going to
33:04
see is is the offense taken? Are they looking good? How do how
33:07
do they look? So I think that's one big thing that we have to
33:10
kind of keep focus on and just kind of let unravel. But like I
33:16
said, if you have an average offensive game plan this year with Kellen Moore,
33:21
I think you're going to be leaves and bound better than you were last
33:23
year, especially toward the end of the season. The talent is there from
33:27
a wide receiver standpoint, like you mentioned tight end Saquon Barkley coming in.
33:31
The talent certainly is there, and let's not forget Jalen Hurts is a pretty
33:36
damn good quarterback in this league. We have to say that. I mean,
33:40
I think he's up there, probably a top five quarterback. So,
33:45
as we're moving along here with the discussion here, you know, Johnny reflecting
33:49
on last season, as we're preparing for coming into this season, I have
33:53
some categories here for you. I like to do this every now and then
33:57
with certain certain guests here, and I'd like you to tell me which NFC
34:00
team fits this category and why as we're looking at this particular conference here.
34:06
So we have a team that you think are the biggest frauds coming into this
34:13
upcoming twenty twenty four twenty five season. Which team in the NFC It could
34:19
be anybody, could be anybody. Which team would you dub like the biggest
34:22
frauds? And you know, it may it may come back to bite me
34:28
because Egos play this team and they play in the first week of the year,
34:30
and I think it's the Green Bay Packers. Okay, I think I
34:34
think it's fair. Yeah, you know, you can take a look at
34:37
the beginning of the year with the Packers and how they struggling. Yes,
34:39
they played well towards the end of the season, and okay, I get
34:45
that, but their division is going to be tough. It isn't going to
34:49
be a cakewalk. They have the Lions, you know, the Bears have
34:51
gotten better, yep. And the Vikings. Yeah, they have Sam Donald
34:54
as quarterback, but again, Sam Donald's better than what they had and then
34:59
last year made the playoffs, so you know they have some talent there.
35:02
They have a good That division is going to be tough, and I think
35:06
they've relied a lot on Jordan Love and he made a lot of plays.
35:09
You lose Aaron Jones. Aaron Jones to me, is better than Josh Jacobs.
35:14
Josh Jacobs is a good running back, but Aaron Jones could do it
35:16
all. And Aaron Jones is on the Minnesota Vikings now. So you also
35:21
have to look at their offensive line. Their offensive line, they've lost a
35:23
few guys. They're trying to add a rookie. You know, Andre Dillard
35:27
may wind up starting, depending on injuries and stuff. So that'd be nice
35:29
to see week one. Yeah, you know, their defense is changing schemes.
35:32
That's another thing they're they're going. I think Jeff Hathley, the Boston
35:37
College coach, is now the defensive coordinator for them. And they're changing schemes.
35:40
They were a three to four scheme, they're going to a four to
35:44
three. It is a total change of what they've done and the personnel fits
35:49
a three to four. So it's we know how that is. You know,
35:52
I don't want to bring up to remember Billy Davis, all you brought
35:54
in and you know, you're changing different schemes around. It may take a
35:59
time to adjust, and you know, if they getting themselves into a little
36:02
bit of a hole, they could wind up disappointing and not being the team
36:06
that people think they are going to be. Yes, they're a young team.
36:07
Offensively, Yes, they have some talent. Jordan Love showed, you
36:12
know, showed some promise late in the year, especially in the playoff game,
36:15
which hey, you and I probably loved watching against the Eagles arrival of
36:19
the Dallas Cups. Listen, it's to me, I think they're the biggest
36:22
fraud because I think they're being put up so high on a pedestal that listen,
36:28
they I think they have to kind of earn it a little bit more.
36:30
Yeah, just just because you played six seven really good games, you
36:35
know, tend to end the season, doesn't mean you're a top NFC.
36:40
You know, well contends not that deep, but still like you're not a
36:45
part of the top three in my opinion. Yeah, all right, very
36:47
good. Well let's move on to the next category here. I'm wondering,
36:51
who do you think this season is likely to be the comeback team? What
36:55
team do you have in your mind when you hear that phrase the com team
37:00
here in twenty twenty four, twenty twenty five this upcoming season. So the
37:04
reason I'm giving this team a comeback team is because one their division is awful,
37:07
so for them to stack a few wins may be a little easier for
37:10
them. It's the Atlanta Falcons, okay, And as you get Kirk Cousins,
37:15
Now, let's see how healthy he is. That is a big thing.
37:19
How you know he is older coming off of that that injury. But
37:22
they have all the talent on offense, and you know Desmond Ritter as their
37:25
quarterback last year wasn't very beneficial for them, right. You know? Their
37:30
their defense they have they have some weakness, but they have really good corners.
37:36
They have a good defense, and I think that in that division,
37:38
the Panthers aren't very good. What is the Buccaneers. We don't know right
37:45
And then you look at the New Orleans Saints, another team that is a
37:47
question mark. So to me, I think they're going to be a comeback
37:51
team and I expect them to make the playoffs. Right now, I would
37:53
have them coming out of the NFC South as playoff conender. So for me,
37:59
a comeback to team would be there, because they've been ever since Matt
38:01
Ryan left. It's just they've been sitting towards the bottom trying to, you
38:07
know, find their way back yes to the NFC playoffs, and I think
38:10
this year could be the year they win the division. All right, Well,
38:14
our last category here, who do you think the rising team is going
38:16
to be within the NFC itself? That team that we may not necessarily be
38:22
thinking about right now, but they have talent, they have the means,
38:25
the coaching. Who is that rising team that is on your radar this upcoming
38:30
season? So I was thinking about this. You know a lot of people
38:36
want to put like the Chicago Bears because they get the quarterback and the receiver,
38:38
and I'm going a little different. I'm going to Seattle Seahawks. As
38:43
now, I know they were close to making the playoffs last year. Pete
38:45
Carroll's out, you're changing philosophy. McDonald's in, as you know, the
38:51
former defensive coordinator of the Ravens and Michigan and Blitz Happy. You know,
38:54
a tough, tough type of person with the defenses always are tough. They
39:00
have a really good corner group offensively, Gino Smith Yeah, okay, he's
39:05
a more of a dink and dunk type of passer. They do have Sam
39:07
Howell, who listen, he threw the ball over but as we know,
39:10
he did well against the Eagles, yes he did. They have the talent
39:14
there with DK Lockett JSN. They're a very talented team. I think it's
39:20
a tough division for them with the Rams and the forty nine ers in there,
39:22
but I think they're a team that can rise with the new coach,
39:24
new voice in there. I think Pete Carroll's voice got a little stale over
39:29
the years and it was time for a change. Yeah, and I think
39:35
mcdonald'll do a good thing. I expect them to get one of the wildcard
39:37
spots. I think they're gonna have a very solid season this year and be
39:42
a rising team and beyond people's radar. It's an interesting pick for sure.
39:45
Definitely going to be following with that team is doing it again. Folks.
39:49
We're talking to Johnny Leca from the All About the Birds podcast and the pod
39:52
great podcast platform. Johnny, where can everybody follow you on Twitter? Where
39:58
can they follow the show if they want to get in touch with the all
40:00
So you follow me at Johnny you nine three to two to two. You
40:04
can follow the All about the Birds at AA T birds on Instagram, on
40:12
x, Twitter, whatever you want to call it. Now. We are
40:15
actually also on TikTok at at Birds. Uh My buddy Chip runs the TikTok
40:20
puts the videos up there video yeah, where the videos go up. So
40:24
no, that's where you can find us. If you you know, have
40:27
any questions or anything, you know, always send us a message tune in.
40:30
We usually we'll go live on Wednesday nights around nine o'clock area. So
40:36
you can always find us on Facebook, on Instagram, on and YouTube actually
40:42
YouTube as well. Yeah at Birds, So uh check us out, subscribe
40:45
and you know, any content you want to see, hit us up.
40:49
We may be able to you know, if you have any ideas. Yeah,
40:52
you guys are always putting up fun content. Absolutely wanted to give you
40:54
that promo right there. But we've got a few more topics. Sure thing,
40:58
man, We've got a few more topics here, and I'm hoping we
41:00
can get into what the NFC East, of course, may look like this
41:04
year. I truly believe the Dallas Cowboys are going to be taking some steps
41:07
backwards. I mean, even some within their own fan base are seeing what
41:09
this organization has become where they are heading, and it's not in a great
41:15
space at all. I think conventional wisdom says the New York Giants are probably
41:19
going to be a middling team if that, But I think the Washington Commanders,
41:23
quite frankly, Johnny, They've got to be a little bit intrigued.
41:27
I do still think, of course, the Philadelphia Eagles are going to be
41:30
at the top of this division. But the Commanders have spent a lot of
41:34
money, They've done a lot of retooling from a coaching standpoint, key positions
41:38
on that team. Who do you think may surprise us maybe in the NFC
41:43
East this year? Do you think it's the Commanders as well? What are
41:45
your thoughts? So? I think you make great points when you talk about
41:49
the Dallas Cowboys as a team that potentially takes that step back, and they
41:53
didn't do much in free agency. Bill, let some pretty talented players lead,
41:59
Yes, and you're expecting these young guys to step in. Doesn't always
42:02
happen that way, you know, we saw it last year. Look at
42:05
all the freedoms the Eagles lost and then look who they tried to replace with.
42:08
Doesn't always work out. And I think you make a great point when
42:12
you when you take a look at them and who they have to pay and
42:15
how much they're going to have to pay some of these players. Incredible when
42:19
you look at a Dak Prescott, when Trevor Lawrence gets a huge set two
42:23
hundred and seventy five million dollar contract, Jerry Jones, Yeah, his underpants
42:28
it probably got so bunched up after that. Seriously, those old man underpants
42:31
got bunched up. Man, a quarterback that's going to be looking for sixty
42:36
million a year. Now you have linebacker going to probably get thirty four million
42:39
a year around that area. Ceede Lamb probably gonna want thirty one thirty two
42:44
million a year, So a lot of money. And I think you make
42:46
great points when you talk about the giants. We don't know what the giants
42:50
are gonna be What is Daniel Jones going to be? Is ei their quarterback?
42:53
Is it Tommy DeVito? Is it Drew Locke? Well, what are
42:57
they gonna do? Yeah, they got Molik Neighbors. That's at least something,
43:00
you know, a feather in their cap in terms of getting a playmaker
43:04
on the outside instead of having forty seven slot receivers like they did last year.
43:07
Uh, Darren Waller retires and he's always off, off and injured.
43:12
You lose sa Quon, you replace them with you know, I don't even
43:15
I don't remember who they replaced them with. That's how that's how Devin singles
43:20
Devin Singletary. They replaced them and gave him, say Quon's number two.
43:22
So that should be Uh, that should be interesting. But I think you're
43:27
right. I think their their defensive line probably is. I would say it's
43:30
probably one of the best in the NFC East. Their secondary is by far
43:34
the worst. Yep, so listen, they have they have their issues.
43:37
Plus also they changed defensive coordinators. It isn't the Blitz happy Wink Martindale scheme
43:43
scheme. Now it's different, so there's another change. But with the commanders,
43:46
I think I think I have to be a little a little wary of
43:51
it is. Teams that spends so much in free agency doesn't always seem to
43:55
pan out. Remember in the Only two Thousands, yea, the Washington Redskins
44:00
at the time they were called, they spent a lot of money now on
44:04
a lot of days and Smith, Andre Dion Sanders, Mark Carrier. They
44:08
got all these guys who were over the hill, and not that they're doing
44:14
that this year because dan Quinn, They're getting a lot of former cowboy players
44:16
and are they going to take a step up? I think they're gonna be
44:20
a little bit better, But I think it all it all depends on Jalen
44:23
Daniels and what kind of rookie season he is going to have. You know,
44:28
a lot of people think, hey, you know, c J.
44:30
Straud did it? Could Daniels do? It? Doesn't always work that way,
44:32
right right, because it just doesn't happen. I think they're going to
44:37
take a step up. I still think Dallas will finish second, just because
44:40
the talent on the team still is there with the key positions for them.
44:45
But again, don't be surprised if they're like eight to nine, nine and
44:49
eight. Yeah, and you know the other two teams fallen beside that,
44:52
but I think a team like the Commanders are a team headed in the right
44:58
direction. Yeah, and I think, you know, another draft or two,
45:01
adding some more young pieces of free agency, that's where they can get
45:05
themselves back into the playoff positioning and to towards the top of the division.
45:12
Very good points for sure. As we're moving along with the conversation, though,
45:15
really wanted to hone in on an NFC team once again and talk about
45:20
this Philadelphia Eagles team here because you know, as I mentioned during the onset
45:23
of our conversation here, Johnny, the Eagles have a lot of unknowns coming
45:28
in into this season. But I'm wondering what you think is one of the
45:32
most underrated Eagles storylines heading into this season that we really need to keep our
45:37
eyes on. Because, of course, we're talking about the question marks as
45:40
we did earlier, We're talking about how Vic Fangio is going to relate to
45:45
his players and how that's going to inevitably translate onto the field. But I
45:49
think there are some other underrated storylines heading into this season for the Eagles.
45:52
I know, in the offensive line standpoint, you know, we are confident
45:55
that it's going to be a strong offensive line, but the reality is that
46:00
two new positions are going to have two new starters, and this Eagles offensive
46:05
line hasn't had that in quite some time. So I'm just wondering, what
46:08
is the most underrated Eagles storyline that you think we need to really hone in
46:13
on as we're heading into this season. Do you want the storyline that the
46:17
media wants to push out there? Do you want to Actually, I just
46:20
want yours. Yeah, the not the stupid freaking media stuff, you know,
46:24
especially sports talk radio and that that crap nonsense exactly. And to me,
46:30
I think an underrated storyline is the interior defensive line depth. It's great,
46:36
great, I love it. Yeah, you look at Fletcher Cox retires
46:39
yep, and you take a look at the depth. It's one of the
46:44
youngest position groups on the team. And Jordan Davis. You want him to
46:51
stay in shape, not get to the point where last year, like the
46:54
beginning of the season, he flashed. And I think a lot of people
46:57
have to really understand the type of player that Jordan Davis is. Listen,
47:00
this isn't a guy that's supposed to get seven eight, nine ten sacks.
47:04
He is a stuffer. He clogs the middle, kind of like in the
47:07
early two thousands when the Eagles had Hollis Thomas, it was clog blog it
47:12
up and let the guys behind you find those alleys and make those plays the
47:15
Jeremiah Trotters mess up. So that's what Jordan Davis do you want Jordan Davis
47:19
to do? Jalen Carter flashed and I'm very excited to see him in his
47:22
second year with a defensive coordinator and a defensive line coach in Glent Hurt and
47:29
Vic Fangio. To be able to have those two guys helping his development,
47:34
I think is great. And then a guy who I feel has been underrated
47:37
in the aspect of he hasn't been able to play starting role because of the
47:42
other players on the rod, but Milton Williams. And this is a contract
47:45
year for Milton, and if he starts off the season really well, don't
47:49
be surprised if you don't see him signed to a contract extension next So I
47:52
want to really see what those are in those three I'm confident in now behind
47:58
those guys is what really This is where the question marks and the the interesting
48:01
and the fun comes in because this is what I like about preseason in training
48:05
camp is this aspect. And it has to do with these these backup guys.
48:08
You know, you have a guy like Marlon Tui Polotu. What is
48:13
he? You know, we're going to find that out an undrafted rookie and
48:15
Gabe Hall sixty six and ninety five pound defensive lineman who flashed at Baylor but
48:21
got undrafted. Can he wind up becoming something and be able to be molded
48:25
into something a backup nose tackle PJ Mustafer I see the Penn State behind you.
48:30
You know all about PJ Mustaford, So what what can he be?
48:35
You know as a backup potentially to Jordan Davis and you know you have guys
48:40
and the backup of Moro Ojomo. They drafted him last year. He's still
48:45
young, he's very a young player that he's twenty two years old, So
48:50
what do they have in him? So it's going to be interesting to see
48:54
the development because there's no veterans on this defensive line, like there's nobody you
48:59
know the I think the oldest players are Milton and I think Tuipolo two,
49:02
so you know, and a guy like Kalais Campbell, who I kind of
49:07
clamored with, clamored about, Hey, let's ego sign him. Yeah,
49:10
yeah, maybe thirty seven, thirty eight, but he still got juice.
49:14
He played well in Atlanta last year, can play on limitus stats, that
49:15
leader in there. He signed with the Miami Dolphins, so you don't have
49:20
that. Do they go and sign a veteran That could be a potential possibility,
49:25
But I think the interior depth is really big to see what do you
49:30
really have, especially behind those three guys. And it's very interesting. Yeah,
49:36
absolutely, it's it's so interesting that you're talking about this right now because
49:38
about a year ago I was saying, you know what, losing Hassan Ridgeway.
49:44
When this Eagles team lost him, I thought it was going to be
49:47
an underrated storyline for the next you know, you know, a couple seasons,
49:52
because of how important he was to the defensive line and how crucial he
49:55
was knowing the Fletcher Cox was getting up there in age, knowing that Brandon
49:59
Graham is getting up there in age. John he's a free agent? Actually,
50:01
is he really? I didn't even know that, is he really?
50:05
I think he is? My God, he's not on the forty nine ers
50:07
anymore, I don't think so okay, anyway, it is all right.
50:09
So like after after uh, am, I wait, am I speaking about
50:14
the right guy, Hassan Ridgeway? Am I thinking about the right guy?
50:17
No, I'm not thinking about the right guy. No, it wasn't.
50:22
Oh my gosh, it's not Hassan Ridgeway Javon Hargrave. Dear lord, there
50:27
we go. I'm gonna have to freaking edit this for God's sake, I'm
50:30
gonna have to edit this big time. Hassan Ridgeway. Oh, I gonna
50:32
say, like, did he play for them last year? I was on
50:37
a free agent? Yes, yeah, no, I was. I was
50:39
thinking Javon Hargrave when he left for the forty nine ers. That's my thought.
50:44
So I'm gonna start that over if you don't mind, really, no,
50:46
go ahead, So Johnny I, Johnny, I I was thinking,
50:51
you know, at this point last year, what Javon Hargrave and his absence
50:54
was going to mean for this Philadelphia Eagles team and the defensive line. As
50:59
Fletcher Cox was getting older, what was the depth going to be? Like
51:01
you were just talking about Josh Sweat not necessarily coming into his own, yet
51:07
necessarily we had hopes for him dropped off at the end of last season,
51:12
and BG is just getting up there in age two. When Jay Von Hargrave
51:15
left this team, I think a lot of these unknowns and this underrated storyline
51:20
that you've been talking about really started to manifest itself. And I was really
51:22
talking a lot about this last year at this time. So it's a great,
51:27
great topic in terms of the defensive line, specifically the interior what you're
51:31
talking about, and I think there could be some trials and tribulations quite frankly,
51:38
Yeah, and listen, I think there is an avenue where a veteran
51:44
gets signed because there's a few veterans out there right now as free agents who
51:49
played under Clint Hurt defensive line coach, who played under Vic Fangio. So
51:53
you could potentially see a veteran added kind of like you know, last year
51:57
the Eagles kept how many defensive tackles because they had Ta Street, They get
52:00
to think six or seven defensive tackles and Katavia Street was there and they wind
52:05
up trading him at the trade deadline. But I definitely could see that as
52:08
a guy of getting a veteran in here because a guy who's been there before,
52:13
you know, a voice in that locker room. Yeah, they have
52:15
some veterans that are still in there, but you know, you want someone
52:16
who's been there before in the you know, in the the trenches to be
52:22
able to help some of these younger guys. So it's gonna be interesting.
52:24
It's gonna be one position group I'm going to be really focusing on absolutely.
52:29
All right, Well, before I let you go here, buddy, got
52:30
one more topic that I wanted to dive into with you, and it really
52:37
is what Philly sports talk radio has become. And I'm just like, I
52:43
get so tired of it at this point in the year every single year,
52:49
the noise that is the Philly sports talk radio scene, what they dish out.
52:52
Man, they try to start drama on teams when it just doesn't need
52:58
to happen. I mean, just this past week, as we know a
53:00
certain radio station and they're on air talent, we're talking about how Jalen Hurts
53:02
and Nick Sirianni don't get along. In fact, they really don't like each
53:06
other. Jalen Hurts doesn't care for Nick serian This nonsense, this garbage,
53:09
this crap. When there's just not a lot going on to talk about,
53:14
and it really is quite unfortunate, I think for a fan base that is
53:16
very, very passionate about their team. They want to see the team succeed.
53:21
So many Eagles fans like us, you know, we have our podcast
53:23
we talk about the Eagles and and whether it's the Phillies too. I mean,
53:28
this happens with Phillies six ers of course with Joel Embiid and what's going
53:30
on with him flyers as well. Like what should our message to the community
53:37
of podcast listeners out there when it comes to this kind of ridiculous content,
53:40
Like what should our message be to folks out there? Turn it off?
53:45
Right? No, that's true though, right God, but it's funny because
53:49
just wait, remember you're gonna start seeing the ads coming on the commercials,
53:53
the election ads. You're gonna see that. It's like, yes, it's
53:57
like it's almost like the same thing. But in terms of Jailen hurts bad
54:00
for the Eagles, won't support his head coach, what do they do next?
54:07
Like it's like it's it's always it's it's got to be something. And
54:08
the funny thing was today, you know, one of the writers beat Writers
54:14
said on his podcast, Jeff McLane, I call him McLane like everything that
54:21
he brings is negative. Everything has to be Oh, I talk to sources
54:24
inside the Eagles locker room, and key people aren't happy with the way that
54:29
Jalen Hurts answered that. And listen, at my job, I say certain
54:35
things that people probably aren't happy with when I say something, Oh well,
54:38
it happens exactly. Everyone's not happy every single second of every day and every
54:44
single thing, every single thing that you say. Listen, you know you're
54:47
married. I'm married. You know I say things that doesn't make my wife
54:51
happy either, So and you know she's a key person in the family.
54:54
If you want to bring it, like they they have to bring up something
54:59
because right now in June, you know, instead of talking about as you're
55:01
wearing a Philly shirt, you know, the top team in baseball, you
55:06
know, why not bring up more of that? You you hear a little
55:08
bit little excerpts they bring that, but then it's always reverted back to the
55:12
Eagles, and I understand the Eagles football. It trumps everything everything. Yeah,
55:16
sorry not to get political. I don't want to bring up political,
55:22
but people know who I am. On the show too, So no,
55:25
it's just it's just so I don't know, like it's just and that's why
55:30
like for us like me, like Chip and I and we were talking about
55:35
certain things because this is the dead period, so you want to try to
55:37
fill it with with some fun content, some you know, enlightened contexts,
55:42
like something like I do every day, I'll do the countdown, so I'll
55:45
do a play, whether it's eighty four yards or a team that like something
55:47
I'll do and counting down to the Eagle season. But I'm also doing the
55:51
top one hundred Eagles of all time my list, yes, of who I
55:54
picked so far. And it's it's fun because it gets conversation. Not everyone's
56:00
going to agree with with what you have. That's that's with no matter what
56:02
you say in life, sports, politics, grocery store, whatever it is,
56:09
right, it doesn't matter. People are going to disagree with you.
56:14
But it's fun content and I think that is great to have, not the
56:17
negative garbage content that they want to bring up. And I think they just
56:24
it's fueling the fire because I think radio stations are in trouble in terms of
56:30
you know, trying to get sponsorships because that's how they pay everything, and
56:34
you see all the layoffs, you see everything that's that's going on. It's
56:38
evident. But what do they have to do. They have to bring up
56:44
hot takes and you know, you bring in these old guys who you know,
56:49
way past their prime and have to say stupid stuff they're bringing people.
56:52
It's just the lack of accountability is what actually bothers me. And for me,
56:59
I can go, there's none. You're absolutely correct. Let's go back
57:01
to and yes, the Chip Kelly days, you know they were they were
57:05
certainly interesting for sure. But the but one certain reporter I don't care about
57:09
name, and I'm Elliott shore Parks. Yeah. God, did Sean Jackson
57:14
thrown off this team for a BS story that he was a gang and that
57:20
people's lives could be in danger just there was BS. There's no accountability for
57:24
him at all in terms of his reporting and that type of nonsense. Skairt
57:30
by the way, Yeah, I text back and forth, Yeah, and
57:32
I'm like like, we're keeping track until like when that came out. Yeah,
57:37
when when they're when they're Lashawn and Deshaun's podcast came out and when they
57:40
kind of called him out. It's been thirty five days. So uh,
57:44
and nothing's been said, not from w Ip, not from Eliot Sure Parks,
57:47
there's been nothing said. And to me, that is such a bogus,
57:52
cowardly move to not say anything, to even say I'm sorry, like
57:55
maybe it shouldn't happened, and to say absolutely nothing about it. And yet
58:00
Okay, maybe he is. He was fed the story because the Eagles and
58:05
Chip Kelly wanted him gone and he somehow coerced Jeffrey Lourie. And listen,
58:10
chip Kelly may have been very persuasive because he also made how he Jeffrey moved
58:15
Howie Roseman to the back corner office in the laundry room, so listen,
58:20
he was very able to be persuading of Jeffrey Lourie. So I think a
58:27
part of it's the Eagles fault, and I think the Eagles know that.
58:29
And I think the Eagles have kind of made their mends because they brought him
58:31
back in twenty nineteen, so it's not like Deshaun didn't come back on the
58:36
team. I think there was a lot of sorries and stuff that wasn't publicly
58:39
known because he was back on the team. They traded for him back knowing
58:43
they made a mistake. So I think they they know they screwed up.
58:46
I think they already made amends with Deshaun because Jhawn's not bringing up the Eagles
58:52
organization, only Chip Kelly, so you know Elliott and yeah, I know
58:55
there was another editor or whatever on there that isn't as big, but that
59:00
he used that to boost his career. We use your You boost your career
59:06
by doing something that. Really it's pretty sad to booch your career on,
59:13
you know, hoping somebody, you know, abiliating somebody with something. Okay,
59:17
did he associate with people who may not have been real, real good
59:21
and you know bad, a bad person. But listen, throughout life,
59:25
don't we all do that except people in my childhood that that I was friends
59:30
with and stuff like that that aren't great people. You know, everyone associates
59:34
with people maybe they shouldn't have. And listen, he was never arrested.
59:39
You know, it's he was never caught doing anything. And it was a
59:43
bogus thing that was said. I was put out and his name is on
59:46
it. Come out, either apologize, do something, but to just stay
59:52
silent and how long? Because every time he posts something It's funny because I
59:54
go in the comments and I just look at everyone saying Deshaun de Seaum and
1:00:00
I don't know if he just hopes it goes away because it's gone away before,
1:00:02
right, I don't think people are gonna let it go away now.
1:00:05
Like social media now it's it isn't something that's just gonna go away. It's
1:00:09
gonna keep getting brought up. This isn't This isn't nineteen ninety seven. Yep.
1:00:14
When you know, like the social media aspect is there, absolutely well.
1:00:19
This is why people have to keep listening to podcasts, podcasts like All
1:00:22
About the Birds, the PST podcast show, Here and again folks. Johnny
1:00:25
Leka from the All About the Birds podcast at Johnny you nine three to two
1:00:30
two on the Twitter slash x buddy, it was great talking to you.
1:00:34
Seriously enjoyed this tremendously. I'm hoping that we can talk at some point down
1:00:37
the road, my friend. Yeah, I'm gonna have to get you on
1:00:39
our on our show. I got a couple of things I want to sounds
1:00:43
gooding you in especially with these top one hundred eagles of all time. So
1:00:45
maybe in the next couple of weeks have you come on and you know,
1:00:47
give your opinion of our list and see how it matches up and everything some
1:00:52
fun stuff and also, uh, we're also gonna be doing a linebacker episode.
1:00:57
Cool, but not the linebacker episode you think. Cool, We're gonna
1:01:00
be talking about the bad linebackers and he goes aha, there have been plenty.
1:01:05
It should be a fun show to be able to do. But nice.
1:01:07
Definitely want to have you up. It sounds good. I would absolutely
1:01:10
love it. Come back and join us too, Okay, maybe right before
1:01:13
right before the season starts, Buddy Nip, Thank you again, and that's
1:01:17
gonna do it for us this week. Make sure to share the Philadelphia Sports
1:01:22
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1:01:25
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1:01:30
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1:01:35
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1:01:38
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1:01:44
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