The Facility XX
[0] Hey, we in a new facility.
[1] We in a new locker room, but it's the same squad.
[2] Y 'all see the vibes.
[3] Hey, one card, high card, James.
[4] One card, high card.
[5] I feel like I'm going to win.
[6] It's real simple.
[7] Queen.
[8] Oh, my goodness.
[9] I got the low car wash. You can't touch my car.
[10] You won.
[11] I don't even care.
[12] Hey, look, if you've never been in the locker room, allow us to welcome you.
[13] into ours.
[14] Things in Dallas are a little chaotic for the Cowboys.
[15] Future Hall of Famer, I would suggest Zach Martin.
[16] He announces his retirement.
[17] Shadi, a new head coach is in town replacing Mike McCarthy.
[18] So not only do you have a new head coach, but your seven -time All -Pro right guard retires after 11 seasons.
[19] Bring us on camera, please.
[20] Here is why, 2 -5, Chase, Jay, I'm already feeling like Cowboys.
[21] I feel sick for y 'all.
[22] One.
[23] I hated that Zach Martin retired because he's one of the last of the old guard that's gone.
[24] That's my first thing.
[25] Second thing that hit me 2 -5, I was like, y 'all realize, Cowboys, you got nothing out of Tyron Smith, Zach Martin, Travis Frederick.
[26] The Eagles got three Super Bowl appearances out of their Hall of Fame right tackle, Lane Johnson.
[27] They got two Super Bowl appearances out of their duo in Jason Kelsey and Lane Johnson.
[28] They got...
[29] A Super Bowl appearance out of Lane Johnson and Jason Peters and Cowboys.
[30] You have Tyron Smith, Hall of Famer.
[31] Zach Martin, Hall of Famer.
[32] Travis Frederick, Ring of Honor player.
[33] And you don't even get a championship game appearance out of that.
[34] So the starting macro.
[35] We can't say nothing, though.
[36] James.
[37] They got good players.
[38] You got, I mean, you got good players.
[39] What'd they get?
[40] But think about it, like, Eagles have a Hall of Famer in Lane Johnson and a Hall of Famer in Jason Kelsey.
[41] They got two Super Bowl appearances out of that.
[42] Out of lane alone, you got three Super Bowl appearances and two wins.
[43] Cowboys, you got a Hall of Fame right guard.
[44] The Eagles will run so much better than the Cowboys.
[45] And the Cowboys, you don't win Super Bowls with O 'Lyman.
[46] Whoa.
[47] You win them with it.
[48] You think three O -line...
[49] You win them in the trenches, O -line, D -line.
[50] No, I get that.
[51] What I'm saying is that the overall franchise of the Philadelphia Eagles, every single aspect of it has run better than the Cowboys.
[52] Of course.
[53] And so you can't just have three Hall of Fame O -linemen or two Hall of Fame and one Ring of Honor and expect to win because they have so many other issues.
[54] It's just depressing to me as somebody born in Dallas who's like, like you know, Jay, and like you know is a cute, like...
[55] You build it in the trenches.
[56] Yeah.
[57] And you got some of the greatest players to ever play the position for that franchise at the same time.
[58] Back -to -back draft classes.
[59] I think Tyron Smith was 2010.
[60] Then I think Zach Martin was like 2011.
[61] A bunch of years ago.
[62] Back -to -back draft classes and you get nothing from it.
[63] That's just what hurts me. I think Zach Martin closer to 2013.
[64] But anyway, Chase, looking at the whole Cowboys offseason, you think they're in trouble already?
[65] Look, I...
[66] Trouble is a very difficult word.
[67] It's like, how do you describe trouble?
[68] For me, it's like if you don't have a quarterback.
[69] At least for me, the Cowboys have a top 10 quarterback in the NFL.
[70] Do they?
[71] Yes, they do.
[72] He's shown last year he can play healthy at an MVP type level.
[73] He was second in MVP voting.
[74] Now, I don't love that they have no cap space.
[75] I don't love that Zach Martin, who will walk into the Hall of Fame as one of the greatest guards of all time.
[76] Dude had more all pros than holding penalties in his career.
[77] more all pros than holding penalties, which is crazy to me, right?
[78] That sounds stupid.
[79] And then you might have three guys, which has never been done, making over $30 million a year if Micah Parson gets a new deal.
[80] Do you trade him?
[81] Do you not?
[82] Look, I didn't love the head coaching hire with Brian Schottenheimer.
[83] I think I've made that abundantly clear.
[84] But when you're not even the second best team in your own division, you have...
[85] the Eagles, and you have the Commanders, and then you have the Cowboys.
[86] You're going to have to win 12 games to make a wild card, and you won't even win your division based on how this thing went this year.
[87] So I wouldn't go as far as saying they're in trouble because they do have a quarterback.
[88] I think with Dak, and I think Brian Schottenheimer is going to get the best out of him because he's been with Dak. I think that's going to be good, but you got to pay.
[89] Micah, and then you don't have cap space.
[90] You got to knock free agency in the draft out of the park.
[91] If they don't, and if they sit back and do nothing in free agency, and if they draft another offensive lineman who's just going to plug and play, they need playmakers right now.
[92] If they don't do that, then come season, I'll say they're in trouble.
[93] That's how I like trouble.
[94] I'm sitting here like, I'm sitting here like thinking, trouble's a big one.
[95] He said they weren't in trouble.
[96] Then he gave you all the reasons why they weren't in trouble.
[97] Listen, I'm just keeping an eye on the show.
[98] They got to knock it out of the park.
[99] That sounds like trouble, y 'all.
[100] Listen, they in big trouble, right?
[101] Man, they in the offseason, right?
[102] They didn't sign Michael Parsons.
[103] They talking about they might trade him, which sounds crazy.
[104] Then we got the quarterback, because you think he's pretty good.
[105] I do.
[106] And the regular season is great.
[107] Right.
[108] But they get in the playoffs, you can't find him.
[109] And he's up there talking about the Eagles and all this craziness.
[110] When we won the Super Bowl.
[111] You know, I'm going to give you this real quick, man. Don't look it over here.
[112] Don't look it over here.
[113] Just hold it.
[114] Right now, I gave y 'all these cards, right?
[115] Y 'all keep talking about all the other reasons why they in trouble.
[116] They not in trouble.
[117] This is the main reason why they in trouble.
[118] Show the camera, please.
[119] What number is this?
[120] Can you see?
[121] Can y 'all see?
[122] A little higher.
[123] I don't know if you can see.
[124] That's number four.
[125] Now, who got number four in the Cowboys?
[126] Dak Prescott.
[127] Huh?
[128] Dak Prescott.
[129] As long as Dak Prescott is the quarterback.
[130] You can't say that.
[131] There's no way.
[132] Do you watch him in the playoffs?
[133] You think if they go and get another quarterback that this quarterback is going to be the answer for the Cowboys?
[134] Yo.
[135] Now, that's something I can't answer because I don't know that.
[136] I don't know that.
[137] But what I do know, what we all do know is in the playoffs, when we watch number four, the cards that have y 'all hands, what's he do, Chase?
[138] I get that.
[139] But would you rather have a quarterback play at an MVP level?
[140] This your show?
[141] He did not answer the question.
[142] He threw two interceptions in the biggest game of his career.
[143] Which time?
[144] Green Bay Packers game.
[145] Oh, I thought you were going back to the game when they played the Niners.
[146] That's out of my memory.
[147] I'm talking about the Green Bay Packers.
[148] So every time they go to the playoffs, right, no matter how good he plays in the regular season, He always chokes up in the big games.
[149] What about the defense?
[150] Hold up.
[151] I watch when, because everybody's saying, what about their roster?
[152] Well, hold up.
[153] Let's talk about it.
[154] The two times they were really, really good, they lost to the Packers, a super inexperienced Packers team, at home, when it was like a 14 -game winning streak at home.
[155] Okay, got smoked.
[156] He threw picks and pick six all the time the whole game.
[157] Then the year before that, against the Niners, when the Niners was big and bad, and so was the Cowboys that was big and bad.
[158] They could.
[159] They was averaging 30 points a game, the Niners was.
[160] They played the Cowboys to shut them down.
[161] The only time they got points was when Dak was throwing picks.
[162] So when I talk about this thing, it's not even against Dak Prescott, but as I watch these games, it's like playing the game with him, and I won't even get to talk to his teammates about it, but playing the game, I watch the regular season, he plays very well.
[163] And then we get to the playoffs, it's like he's not even the same guy.
[164] If you take Dak Prescott off the Cowboys, who are you going to plug in there to even get to the playoffs?
[165] No, no, who?
[166] Because we have a quarterback problem in the league.
[167] Who else are you going to plug in?
[168] Every other good quarterback's taken.
[169] You're going to go and sign Sam Darnold?
[170] But I'm just saying, like...
[171] It's been quarterbacks.
[172] Baker Mayfield has took his team to the playoffs.
[173] In a horrible division.
[174] Sam Darnold has took his team to the playoffs.
[175] One year.
[176] It's been quarterbacks that has not...
[177] Jordan Love, he's taken the playoffs after Aaron Rodgers leaves.
[178] It's been quarterbacks that's not as good as Dak Prescott take their teams to the playoffs.
[179] The Cowboys is in big trouble.
[180] Big trouble.
[181] I'm just saying, let's just sit here and talk about it, right?
[182] You believe in the head coach?
[183] No. No, so we got a head coach that we don't believe in going into the offseason, right?
[184] I don't know the head coach.
[185] We don't know, but...
[186] Going off of him not being proven, we don't believe in the head coach.
[187] We got a quarterback in the biggest moments we don't believe in coming off of injury, and you just lost a Hall of Fame guard.
[188] that we got to replace.
[189] We have zero run game.
[190] We have zero number two receiver.
[191] We talking about trading our best player on our football team in Micah Parsons.
[192] If we do keep him, he going to make $40 million.
[193] So we probably going to have to release some other dudes that's going to help us either on defense or offense.
[194] Our defense wasn't good last year.
[195] DeMarcus Lawrence is not there.
[196] He's hurt.
[197] We talking about not in trouble.
[198] If I'm a Cowboys fan or a Cowboys player, I'm not walking into the locker room as a player saying this is our chance to go win a Super Bowl.
[199] Last couple years with our rosters and all that, hey, we got a chance.
[200] I'm not walking in there saying we got a chance this year.
[201] As a fan, I'm not excited knowing we got all these problems going on.
[202] What's the ceiling for the Cowboys for you?
[203] The ceiling for the Cowboys to me is eight, nine games.
[204] Wow.
[205] Eight, nine games.
[206] Where are you getting the wins from?
[207] You got to play the Commanders twice.
[208] You got to play the Eagles twice.
[209] Where's the wins coming from?
[210] Why did you hire Brian Schottenheimer?
[211] Maybe the hiring of the coach.
[212] It's bigger than him, though.
[213] Because one thing about him is...
[214] No coach has been able to win a championship since...
[215] One thing about the coach, though, because we keep talking about him because he's not a big name, but...
[216] We don't know what he could be.
[217] We don't know.
[218] When Nick Sirianni came to the Eagles, I was like, oh, my God, we got this.
[219] Correct.
[220] We didn't know.
[221] And now we.
[222] He was a young dude with a lot.
[223] What's the difference?
[224] He's been there forever.
[225] But we didn't know.
[226] He wasn't.
[227] He didn't know.
[228] But what we do know is that the quarterback for the Cowboys, when the game was on the line and we in the playoffs, what's he do, Chase?
[229] Choke.
[230] Choke.
[231] That's what we do know.
[232] So when we talk about this issue, let's start with him.
[233] I don't want to talk about all these other pieces.
[234] We don't know about them.
[235] What we do know is that the quarterback can't get it done.
[236] And why do we keep going back?
[237] That's my thing.
[238] He shows you over and over again that he can't get it done, and we just can keep going back to him.
[239] But that's why it's trouble, too, because he couldn't get it done with a bunch of talent.
[240] Yeah, yeah.
[241] So now it's lesser talent, not an offensive -minded guru head coach that he's having out there to design a bunch of stuff.
[242] At least we don't know yet, because we don't know what he's going to bring.
[243] We can't expect him to go out there and do it if you can't do it with a bunch of talent.
[244] I think they're closer to a rebuild than a Super Bowl.
[245] I know we talked about this on Valentine's Day, but it's true.
[246] Like, at what point...
[247] And it sounds crazy you might have to trade Micah, but are you going to pay him $100 million over?
[248] Micah Parsons.
[249] But I'm just saying that's why they're floating it because, like, maybe you can go get three or four other, like, legitimate, not star players, obviously, but, like, legit players in skill positions that you might go.
[250] And it's like your hamstring.
[251] Between Micah, between Dak, and between CeeDee, you're going to be paying those three guys, if they extend Micah, 50 % almost of the salary cap.
[252] 50%.
[253] Their three salaries alone is 50%.
[254] How do you build a team like that?
[255] Well, they do draft well.
[256] They do, but how many rookies can come in and be impact players right away?
[257] There's a few, but golly.
[258] Well, speaking of rookie impact players, the Rams had all of them.
[259] Shout out to Jared Burst.
[260] Shout out to Braden Fisk.
[261] But now the question is, is their quarterback, Matthew Stafford, is he going to be on the move?
[262] Word on the street, the Rams might trade Stafford.
[263] That is pure chaos.
[264] We'll talk about it after the break.
[265] The facility.
[266] Welcome back to the facility.
[267] New home, same squad.
[268] But speaking of new homes, Matthew Stafford, he might be looking for one word on the street.
[269] The Rams could move him.
[270] So now the question is the Steelers, they're looking for a quarterback potentially.
[271] Justin Fields, Russell Wilson might not be the guys.
[272] So should the Steelers' James Jones go all in on Matthew Stafford?
[273] No. They shouldn't go all in on Matthew Stafford, and I love Matthew Stafford, but they should not go all in.
[274] It is so many holes on that Steelers roster that they got to fill.
[275] Yes, it is.
[276] You got offensive linemen.
[277] You don't know what the running back situation is going to look like.
[278] Your number two wide receiver situation is a little shaky, too.
[279] I think if you, because not only that, if they go all in on Matthew Stafford, it means you're probably going to have to give up some players, probably going to have to give up some picks.
[280] You're probably going to have to give up a lot.
[281] I think if you do that, I think you are setting yourself back from competing for a championship, giving up some players and some picks.
[282] I do not think they should go all in on Matthew Stafford.
[283] Matthew Stafford is a Hall of Fame player, a heck of a football player, but all in on Matthew Stafford right now at this age and having to pay him a contract at the price he wants.
[284] I do not think the Pittsburgh Steelers could do that.
[285] Either sign Russell Wilson, see if you want Aaron Rodgers, get a quarterback like that that's in free agency already that you can get at a good price and build this football.
[286] Yeah, people don't realize, like, with Stafford, not only do you have to trade for him and give up trade compensation, you have to give him a legitimate deal.
[287] Three -year, $150 million, something like that, $50 million a year is about what he, I mean, he's probably worth more than I think he's a top -five quarterback in the league.
[288] Should the Steelers do it?
[289] No. Two reasons.
[290] The dude needs protection to be really good.
[291] The Steelers' offensive line is not that.
[292] That's the reason why they started Justin Fields while Russell Wilson's ankle was hurt.
[293] So he can run around, so he can buy time in the pocket.
[294] And even Russ was getting out of pocket.
[295] Stafford is a true pocket passer.
[296] Now he's a gunslinger.
[297] He's tough as nails.
[298] But I feel like he might get hurt behind that offensive line.
[299] And the other thing, what's crazy, and I didn't really realize it because I played with Stafford in 2020 when he was with Detroit.
[300] In his entire career, he's never, ever played on an outdoor team.
[301] Lions and Rams, both indoor teams.
[302] I think he needs to go to another indoor team.
[303] And who is the other indoor team out there?
[304] Minnesota.
[305] The Minnesota Vikings.
[306] KOC, Kevin O 'Connell, the coach of the year, was his offensive coordinator during the year that the Rams won the Super Bowl.
[307] So I would not put it past Kevin O 'Connell and the Vikings, one of the best receivers, if not the best receiver in the game, Justin Jefferson, is there.
[308] I would not put it past him.
[309] Look, Stafford's 37 years old.
[310] You can get two or three more years at them if you don't love what J .J. McCarthy is.
[311] I don't know about their cap situation.
[312] If the Steelers do it, I think it's ridiculous.
[313] If the Vikings do it, I think it's awesome.
[314] I think it's going to come down a two -team race for Stafford.
[315] I think it's the Vikings, and I think it's the Rams going back there.
[316] And the reason why the Rams are doing this right, they're offending Matthew Stafford a little bit is what I'm hearing because they're shopping him around.
[317] They're trying to gauge his value.
[318] Stafford was pissed last year that he didn't even get a deal until training camp was done.
[319] So the relationship isn't all hunky -dory like some people think it is.
[320] So there's a reason, right?
[321] And what Shady always says, where there's smoke, there's fire.
[322] So to me, the Vikings make a lot of sense.
[323] To me, going back to the Rams make a lot of sense.
[324] But could you imagine the Vikings?
[325] If Kevin O 'Connell can take Sam Darnold and do what he did, I think they won 14 games or 14 -3 this year.
[326] Think about what he can do with Matthew Stafford.
[327] Stafford can play till he's 40, man. He's got two or three more good years left.
[328] I know this topic is about the Steelers, but real quick, what about J .J. McCarthy, though?
[329] Yeah, you draft him.
[330] You know, it's like you draft the first rounder, and he gets hurt.
[331] And he looks good.
[332] And then, listen, man. Do you trust him?
[333] If Kevin O 'Connell could change Sam Darnold, I mean, God.
[334] God.
[335] You can do that.
[336] You can't do this with a rookie quarterback?
[337] Yeah.
[338] That shows some good flashes?
[339] I hate that for him.
[340] Anyway, the topic is...
[341] Steelers.
[342] No. He shouldn't go to Steelers.
[343] We all can say that.
[344] No Steelers, right?
[345] Yeah.
[346] There's no way...
[347] Don't.
[348] I have no. I have no 2 -5.
[349] But after listening to everybody, James, let me get a rock.
[350] Let me get a rock.
[351] Let me get a rock, big dog.
[352] After listening to everybody, I got to change my answer.
[353] The best kept secret, maybe in all of the NFL, is Mike Tomlin's inability to identify...
[354] or develop a quality quarterback.
[355] The best kept secret in the NFL.
[356] Because we praise Mike Tomlin, and rightfully so, I think 17 consecutive seasons without a losing record.
[357] But Mike Tomlin cannot develop a quarterback, and Mike Tomlin cannot identify a quality quarterback.
[358] So Mike Tomlin, if you cannot develop or identify a quality quarterback because Ben Roethlisberger was not yours, he was Bill Cowher, if I'm not mistaken, then what you have to do is acquire a quarterback that's already a future Hall of Famer.
[359] Because that's what you did with Big Ben.
[360] Hence two Super Bowl appearances and one Super Bowl win.
[361] So where I'm at, even though I have no on my paper after listening to Shady, listening to Chase, listening to James, the only way the Steelers can get where they want to go, I believe, is if they do in fact get Matthew Stafford unless, unless you suggest Russell Wilson can win you a Super Bowl.
[362] Russell Wilson was not the issue with the Steelers last year.
[363] At all.
[364] Russell Wilson was not the difference between the Steelers winning a Super Bowl and losing a Super Bowl.
[365] But I do believe that Matthew Stafford is probably a more talented quarterback if you're disregarding running.
[366] And I don't think Russ can run with the same proficiency without getting hurt.
[367] At least that's not what we see as of late.
[368] So, Tomlin, if you can't develop a quarterback, which you can't because you saw the Mason Rudolphs and the Devlin Duck Hodges and all those quarterbacks, you're not pulling Kevin O 'Connell with them.
[369] You're not pulling Kevin Stefanski's with them.
[370] You're not doing that.
[371] If you can't develop one, and if you can't identify one, then your hands are kind of stuck.
[372] You have to go get you a Matthew Stafford or like you did.
[373] Can I get that rock back?
[374] Can I get that rock back?
[375] Here, take that.
[376] Oh, you want that?
[377] Now, are we...
[378] Did we listen to what James said?
[379] Are we not forgetting the teams Big Ben was on?
[380] Not taking nothing away from Big Ben.
[381] Big Ben is a two -time Super Bowl champion, Hall of Fame quarterback.
[382] But are we not forgetting those teams?
[383] Great team.
[384] Do we remember the James Harrison touchdown against the Cardinals and the way that defense?
[385] Do we not remember that?
[386] All right.
[387] The defense that they took into Detroit with the bus and all.
[388] Are we not forgetting those teams?
[389] The bus.
[390] Like, you're not going to build them teams if you give all this stuff up for...
[391] for Matthew Stafford.
[392] That's my only thing.
[393] Matthew Stafford is not walking into one of those Steelers team if you go trade for him and give up picks and players.
[394] They need too much.
[395] They need too much.
[396] So that's what I'm saying.
[397] I don't think trading for Matthew Stafford is the quarterback that's just going to change all that with not a lot of talent around him.
[398] I think it would set their franchise back.
[399] That line is real, real bad.
[400] The line is weak.
[401] If you're getting a super pocket quarterback that's really, really smart, reads well, throws the ball phenomenal.
[402] But he ain't really running nowhere.
[403] They need some help.
[404] That line was awful.
[405] The question for me, I'm not disagreeing with y 'all at all, but the question for me is this.
[406] If I'm Mike Tomlin, I can turn, and he has turned, undrafted players on defense into Super Bowl champs on defense.
[407] James Harrison, Ryan Clarks.
[408] He has turned undrafted players into like five, ten -year starters on the defense.
[409] But what he has never done, Shady McCoy, ever done.
[410] is taking an undrafted quarterback or a mid -drafted quarterback and made him into a good quarterback.
[411] So, James, where I'm at is this.
[412] Like, if I got to make a miracle on a team, Tomlin can make a miracle on defense 2 -5.
[413] But what Tomlin can't do is make a miracle that the quarterback...
[414] What does it take?
[415] To get staffed?
[416] To get staffed.
[417] What is it going to take?
[418] It's probably going to take...
[419] I don't know if he fetches a one.
[420] Two twos?
[421] Yeah, it's going to take multiple twos.
[422] Probably multiple twos.
[423] No players, just multiple twos.
[424] The Rams is going to say take multiple.
[425] Yeah, because they want the bread, too.
[426] He's got to get $150 million.
[427] Exactly.
[428] So the Rams are like, not only are we going to get some, we don't want to pace that.
[429] Exactly right.
[430] So make some sense for me. You just told me he's a top five quarterback and you're telling me two twos.
[431] Yeah.
[432] So give me a top five quarterback in the National Football League that's going to go for $10 million.
[433] You're forgetting that they got to pay him $150 million.
[434] They do got to pay.
[435] So they're not going to give up more than that and then pay them.
[436] That's a key.
[437] That's really what it is.
[438] My thing is, if I'm a Steelers, though, even if I do that, I don't think he's comfortable with the Steelers.
[439] They need help offensive line, and they need some running backs.
[440] They need some skill points.
[441] And then another thing is, we keep acting like the Steelers' defense is the old defense.
[442] They're not.
[443] They're not.
[444] If you really watch them games, they was getting ran through.
[445] Choo -choo!
[446] So it's like, we need way more help than Stafford.
[447] We need some help on defense.
[448] We need some help on the offensive line.
[449] A lot of help over there.
[450] That's all true.
[451] We need some more weapons.
[452] Stafford is, in my opinion, Stafford is a top six quarterback in this league.
[453] Phenomenal.
[454] He took the Eagles down to the wire.
[455] But he needs some help, man. Answer this, though.
[456] Answer this.
[457] Because what I'm trying to convey to you two five and really y 'all at home is Mike Tomlin, Antonio Brown, was he a six -round pick?
[458] Y 'all know better than that.
[459] Antonio Brown, Mike Tomlin, he can develop receivers.
[460] Mike Wallace, he can develop receivers.
[461] No doubt.
[462] Juju Smith had 1 ,400 goals.
[463] Where I'm going is this.
[464] Mike Tomlin can figure out the other positions.
[465] The position he's proven over 17 years to not be able to figure out is the one position he needs to acquire.
[466] Where you're right at 2 -5 is he needs some linemen.
[467] But Mike Tomlin has shown you, I can get you a Gilbert.
[468] I can get you a Pouncey.
[469] I can get you linemen.
[470] The one thing he can't do is cue.
[471] So, Acho, if that's the case, because I think Mike Tomlin's still a great coach, right?
[472] No doubt.
[473] But all this stuff that you said he can do, why they ain't do it?
[474] I ain't seen no good linemen over there in a long time.
[475] Why he ain't doing that?
[476] If he can do all this, and then on the defensive side.
[477] That's why I say I think it's time for my time to leave Pittsburgh because I think he's such a great coach.
[478] I don't want this to diminish the great things he is and the great coach he is.
[479] Because when I watch the Steelers, I don't see none of that dog defense they used to have.
[480] James was talking about all them guys on defense.
[481] I went to school in Pittsburgh when they was popping, when they was like that.
[482] And they were scary, okay?
[483] They're not scary no more.
[484] Every other team is going up and down the field on them.
[485] Then for the offensive line, man, they can't block a soul.
[486] They need more help.
[487] That's why when people say anything about Russ, you know what I say to them?
[488] Oh, you didn't watch no tape on the Steelers.
[489] Oh, you didn't watch no film on the Steelers.
[490] What do you mean?
[491] Because if the first thing you're saying is Russell, you didn't watch the games.
[492] If you watch the games, Russell played well.
[493] They can't protect.
[494] It's easy to point the finger at Russell the last game.
[495] Can't protect.
[496] Turnovers, but he couldn't protect, and that defense was giving up.
[497] And then real quick, Stafford, right, he can't scramble.
[498] He started getting hit a couple times.
[499] What you think he going to start doing?
[500] I know.
[501] Oh, oh, oh, oh.
[502] They call it the chucking duck.
[503] And I think y 'all are trying.
[504] I don't think the Rams give him up for two twos.
[505] That might be fair.
[506] They're not getting a one.
[507] This man has took really two average Rams teams to the playoffs the last two years playing at a high level.
[508] Y 'all talking about two twos?
[509] With all the type of injuries.
[510] He carried them.
[511] Hey, well, speaking of being carried, the Lakers have been carried as of late by LeBron James and the Mavericks were carried by Luka Doncic.
[512] But now you've got Luka and LeBron on the same goddarn team.
[513] Are they the best duo in the NBA?
[514] They're looking like it.
[515] We got to talk about it.
[516] That's next.
[517] That's the same goddarn time.
[518] What LeBron James doesn't take for granted right now 2 -5 is Luka Doncic because what I would suggest is they are playing like two of the best individuals in basketball right now.
[519] LeBron drops 40 against the Blazers on Thursday.
[520] Luka against the Nuggets on Saturday drops 32, 10, and 7.
[521] So as individuals 2 -5, they are playing on another level.
[522] But now my question is this, as I'm thinking about ball, and I'm curious if y 'all stops at home.
[523] Luka LeBron, better than Murray Jokic?
[524] Luka LeBron, better than Dame Giannis?
[525] Luka LeBron, better than Steph Jimmy?
[526] Luka LeBron.
[527] better than Tatum and JB.
[528] Like, Luke and LeBron.
[529] You should start with them first.
[530] No, no disrespect.
[531] No disrespect.
[532] Doing it off the top of my head.
[533] Shady, are Luke and LeBron proving they're the best duo in the NBA?
[534] Why?
[535] Because they both got big names and superstars?
[536] Why, why?
[537] The best duo?
[538] No, they're not.
[539] No. Not yet.
[540] Not yet, though, right?
[541] They got some chemistry to get together.
[542] But how can you skip over Boston, though?
[543] Tatum and Brown, that's what they do.
[544] And they both play defense.
[545] They do.
[546] And they both.
[547] are champions.
[548] See, I'm all about that championship thing, right?
[549] I don't even, listen, nowadays with certain conversations with quarterbacks and all this and that, I don't even talk to you about it because my boy's a champion, Jalen Hurts.
[550] When we talk about Tatum, we talk about Brandon Lewis is champions, right?
[551] Winning together.
[552] A, B, B, A, however you want to put it, they get it done.
[553] I think Luke and LeBron is a great matchup.
[554] I love to see it.
[555] When the trade happened, I said, oh my God.
[556] You tell me in my lifetime I get to see LeBron James and Luka Thaustis play together?
[557] Yeah, so they have a potential to be that.
[558] But today, right now, in February?
[559] No. Not y 'all.
[560] The hell is wrong.
[561] You tell me you think they are the best.
[562] I think they're the best individuals.
[563] Like, I put it like this.
[564] If you were, you would draft Luka and LeBron.
[565] What does that even mean?
[566] Break it down.
[567] You would draft Luka and LeBron before you drafted JT and JB.
[568] Absolutely.
[569] You would draft Luka and LeBron before you drafted Dame and Giannis.
[570] You might take Giannis, then LeBron, Luka, and then Dame, but you'll take Luka and LeBron before you take them both.
[571] You'll take Luka and LeBron before you take Murray and Jokic.
[572] You might take Jokic first, but then you're going to take...
[573] Luka, LeBron.
[574] LeBron, Luka.
[575] You're saying as a duo.
[576] Like, if you're just taking individuals.
[577] If he said what he's saying about who you draft first, Luka and LeBron's going before anybody.
[578] Correct.
[579] Let's get that straight.
[580] So that's what I'm saying.
[581] You need to be honest.
[582] Yes.
[583] You would take Luka and LeBron as individuals before you take any other two teams' individuals in a draft.
[584] Okay.
[585] The dilemma I'm with and where I'm with Shady, because literally my first note on my line is...
[586] We've seen JT and JV win a chip with the Celtics.
[587] So I can't say that they're the best duo, but James, the reason I'm asking the question is like, yo, you would draft them before you draft the other two players.
[588] Wait, wait, you know what I will say to help them out a little bit?
[589] If you're just saying, hey, if I had to draft just two players, right, right now, instantly, no gel, no chemistry.
[590] That's a totally different question.
[591] I would take LeBron and Luka.
[592] Yeah.
[593] Because I watched JV get better.
[594] And better and better.
[595] He did so well.
[596] And he got so much better and improved so much that we argue, well, who's really the number one?
[597] But we're just talking about this out the water, right?
[598] No stretching who I want?
[599] That's a totally good question.
[600] Luke and LeBron is definitely, of course.
[601] That's not the question.
[602] The question is, they're the best duo in the NBA.
[603] No, not yet.
[604] It's like, I got my stats right.
[605] I got my stats.
[606] You can't be switching up the damn question again.
[607] And show this dang graphic because I got some NBA duos right here that I feel like are really good.
[608] Like, you got, obviously, at the top.
[609] in an order, but JT and JB, for me, win a championship.
[610] Steph and Jimmy could be up there.
[611] For real, how many duos are you taking above Luke and LeBron?
[612] This is for you guys, too, because I want y 'all to know.
[613] There's like three?
[614] Check and Shea should not be on there together.
[615] But when Check is playing, SGA, to me right now, he's the MVP.
[616] But Check...
[617] But, like, is there a three?
[618] And if it is, who?
[619] So maybe I made the graphic now that they are the duo.
[620] To me, it's Joker and Murray, I think, above them.
[621] But it is too early to tell.
[622] But, like, who do you guys think?
[623] I'm that teacher, though.
[624] You know what I mean?
[625] You can be a test and you get good.
[626] Oh, hold up now.
[627] Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[628] Kevin Durant's one of the greatest of all time and Booker, but they ain't doing nothing yet.
[629] They've been in there for almost three years.
[630] Not yet.
[631] Check on it.
[632] You got check on it.
[633] Who else you got?
[634] The only two.
[635] Jamal Murray.
[636] I don't know if he should.
[637] I mean, because I like Jamal.
[638] They got a chip.
[639] Western championship.
[640] Okay.
[641] So maybe two because they got chip?
[642] And over the last couple of years, they have won a lot of basketball games together.
[643] A lot of games together.
[644] And they've grown together.
[645] So I would give them that because of the chemistry that they have with each other.
[646] And then obviously Tatum and Brown.
[647] Yeah.
[648] But Luka and LeBron.
[649] Your list made me change my answer.
[650] No, but...
[651] To a yes?
[652] I don't know if it's a duo like them.
[653] You know what I'm saying?
[654] Like, I don't know if it's a duo like them that makes everybody around them better.
[655] You know what I'm saying?
[656] I don't know if it's a duo like them.
[657] Like, when that person ain't playing, we still gonna dominate a basketball game.
[658] Like, Luka and LeBron together, bruh, and it's early in this duo.
[659] Like...
[660] If they gel together, which is looking like they are because they're looking like they are playing really well together, I don't know when it's all said and done that any of these duos is going to be better than them.
[661] Yeah.
[662] Hold on.
[663] I mean, hold on.
[664] I'm dead serious.
[665] I don't know how long they're playing.
[666] So, wait, wait, wait.
[667] So, hold on.
[668] Let's see.
[669] This is the argument, though.
[670] That's what I'm saying, Shady.
[671] When JT and Jalen Brown got together, though.
[672] They got better.
[673] You forget, when they were young, even when Kyrie Irving was the star, they still was winning games.
[674] Then they got all the way to the finals.
[675] They lost.
[676] Then they get back again and they winning.
[677] And now when you watch them, I don't even see no deficiencies in any game.
[678] If I ask you...
[679] I got one for you.
[680] What?
[681] Killer.
[682] For JT.
[683] But that's why they're together, though.
[684] So now when JT ain't really...
[685] You got JB.
[686] They both can guard.
[687] Oh, we switching?
[688] Cool.
[689] They both can score.
[690] They both can shoot the tray, but they can do everything.
[691] No doubt.
[692] And they make everybody on their team better.
[693] I feel like the LeBron -Luca duo, though, I think offensively they can be as good as anyone.
[694] Like, I agree with you there.
[695] Better than anyone.
[696] I got one for y 'all.
[697] But defensively, to me, that's why I can't put them up there.
[698] Because Luka don't play defense.
[699] Wait, wait.
[700] Let me ask Chase this real quick.
[701] So if we're in the finals, we're in the finals, right?
[702] Yeah.
[703] You got the Luka and LeBron and the Lakers.
[704] And you got the Celtics and JT and J Brown?
[705] Who y 'all got?
[706] Who y 'all got?
[707] I want Luke and LeBron.
[708] In the finals, I want Luke and LeBron.
[709] Here's why.
[710] What we forget about, again, the Celtics, shout out.
[711] Celtics team.
[712] They do got a better team.
[713] But that's what I wanted to say.
[714] Because what we forget about with that Celtics team is, remember, they got Derek White, who's a great piece.
[715] They had Holiday, who was a great piece.
[716] They had Horford, who was a great piece.
[717] Kristaps ain't even really play when down the stretch, but he's also a great piece.
[718] Like, if you're just talking the two.
[719] Luka and LeBron.
[720] Give me the two that could have a 30 -point triple -double when they sleep.
[721] What about when they got a guard, though?
[722] What about foul trouble?
[723] What about all these things, though?
[724] What about when, because I see.
[725] Luka don't guard.
[726] See, hold up.
[727] Now, I love what Luka's doing with the Lakers.
[728] I love it, right?
[729] They win streak.
[730] I get all that.
[731] Let's just go back a little couple months ago in the finals.
[732] Go back a couple games ago with the Lakers.
[733] Tired, right?
[734] Playing defense.
[735] We all going.
[736] He reaching, he grabbing.
[737] He doing stuff you're doing in training camp in the finals.
[738] Think about this for a second.
[739] So when you talk about, I hear what you're saying.
[740] I guess the name is getting to y 'all.
[741] I get that.
[742] When you watch basketball, because now they're not going to make every shot.
[743] So now when you're going to play some defense, though, then what happens?
[744] So really quick, though, because this is a really good conversation because we're talking to two.
[745] We're talking to duos.
[746] Not team.
[747] No, no, no. So let's switch them.
[748] Brian Luka on the Celtics.
[749] Way better.
[750] They're unbeatable.
[751] No, no, no. I'm not going to do that because that's flag fantasy football.
[752] No, but what I'm saying is the duo.
[753] So if you switch that duo.
[754] I'm not doing that.
[755] Because it's never going to happen.
[756] It ain't going to happen.
[757] But what I'm saying, when you talk about better duels.
[758] I don't want you to confuse the people out there.
[759] We ain't confused.
[760] We're never going to see JB or JT in Laker.
[761] It's not going to happen.
[762] They're going to be in green.
[763] They're going to be in green.
[764] And Luka's going to be in purple.
[765] All right.
[766] Let's go there with it.
[767] Let's go there with it.
[768] So in the finals, you're thinking JT and JB.
[769] They've been playing together.
[770] They know each other.
[771] Correct.
[772] No egos?
[773] The chemistry is bad.
[774] We keep talking about, man, when the game's online, who's the ball going to?
[775] We haven't really seen it yet.
[776] It's not like a meaningful game, like playoffs.
[777] We haven't seen it.
[778] But we've seen in big games, okay, JT, look, you need to play some defense more, which we're used to scoring.
[779] JB, you score.
[780] We've seen it happen.
[781] Yeah.
[782] So, really quick, though, because rank the four.
[783] Let's rank the four real quick.
[784] Is Brown one?
[785] I'll take Brown one.
[786] And then who would go second?
[787] I'm going to look.
[788] It's got to be Luka, right?
[789] Luka would go second.
[790] Yo, and then Tatum.
[791] I don't know.
[792] I probably would have taken Tatum second.
[793] Oh, no. Really?
[794] Luka?
[795] And then Luka's three and JB would be four.
[796] The reason why I don't is because, like, I would say Luka won.
[797] I would say Luka won.
[798] He's younger.
[799] He's been great.
[800] I mean, LeBron's older now.
[801] LeBron's still great, but he's still older.
[802] And I'll watch Luka, though, take some of them teams.
[803] to the Western Conference Finals in 2022.
[804] I can believe it.
[805] I can believe it.
[806] Then I want him to go to the finals.
[807] So Luka does carry a squad.
[808] He does.
[809] I don't think another player right now can carry a squad like Luka can by himself.
[810] I would say that.
[811] I agree with that.
[812] But if we talk about team base, about, okay, who you taking, the Tatum's, I got to go with JB and Tatum because I watch them do both sides of the court.
[813] I watched JB score the most points in the game, and I watched JB guard the best player.
[814] I watched that.
[815] You get what I'm saying?
[816] They're younger, and they know each other.
[817] Not one time did we even talk about, well, man, JT didn't win the finals MVP.
[818] Is he upset?
[819] They didn't even care.
[820] If LeBron and Luka, we don't have some conversation about that.
[821] I'm the king.
[822] The only reason why I'm leaning towards the Lakers is because those are the two better players.
[823] Yeah.
[824] And I think once those two better players gel together, why ain't they going to be the best duo?
[825] It's early for them right now.
[826] It's not a lot of basketball games.
[827] JB and Tatum have been playing together for you.
[828] But if you're taking Luka Braun or Braun Luka and then Tatum -JB when you're ranking them, how are they not the best duo?
[829] The other thing is, though, 2 -5, they're not just the better players.
[830] They're the significantly better players.
[831] Who, too?
[832] LeBron?
[833] Yeah, that's true.
[834] It is not true.
[835] Shout out to what JB has done ascending over the course of his career.
[836] But if you've been watching JB dating back to 16, 17, 17, 18...
[837] LeBron and Luka are significantly better.
[838] They are.
[839] They are.
[840] But JB and JT, they're humble.
[841] They work hard.
[842] And they got a really good team around.
[843] And they got a team around.
[844] But y 'all talking like it's two -on -two basketball.
[845] It's not at all.
[846] It's not at all.
[847] It's a team.
[848] It's not at all.
[849] And last thing before we get out of here, man, they did dominate last year in the playoffs.
[850] Did y 'all forget?
[851] And they dominated this year.
[852] You get what I'm saying?
[853] That matters.
[854] What are you talking about here?
[855] This is not two -on -two basketball.