9-14-26 Full Show

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2:01Nothing ever goes right for this franchise. And Lana, what's going on? It's Duke Simbell on Sports Radio 92 9-The-Game. We start off every day and every hour by saying, hey, man, we now know who's going to start in Pittsburgh and it is not Michael Pinnick. So it is not to a tongue of I-Lowell. Nope, it is not even Jack Strand. Nope, it is Cooper Rush. But it was named today by chemistry fan ski after two of her to Zobleek yesterday at practice. This is already a mess and the season hasn't even started yet. I'm so at my wits in, Mike, and I gotta tell you, look, I blame the front office for this because they had an opportunity to either make a trade or bring in somebody else if they knew and had talked to Michael Pinnick about where he is. But I'm starting to believe, Mike, they didn't,

3:02because it's almost like, well, you just tell us what's going on. And then when he said, I'm not ready, they went, oh crap. Well, that's just it. I mean, I've had all these guys tell me, you can't rush Pinnick. This is his career year. He's not going to have a career. He wasn't going to get out on the field. So I know, don't project your life into Michael Pinnick's life if you're a quiet quitter. Okay, Michael Pinnick's junior has got to impress GM's around the league. Right now we're going, how is this guy clear to not playing? Okay, that's reality. There's nothing to do with just Atlanta. If Michael Pinnick's future lies somewhere else, other GM's are questioning the same things I'm questioning. Regardless, Carl, they had two options. He was either Kyler Murray or two at Tongue of Bailowell. That's not true, Mike. They could have made a trade. They could have gone out and acquired a quarterback. If they really thought our quarterback room is going to be crap. Not to paraphrase you. Who? Who? Well, look, Cooper Rush was sitting at home not doing a damn thing, waiting on a phone call all off season. They didn't call him until we acquired him on the 29th of July. Okay? So he was like last minute after thought, just in case we need another guy.

4:06And now, all of a sudden, he's starting on Sunday. I'm just saying a front office worth its salt. Does its research and says, hey, we got to bring in more qualified people in here because we may be without Michael Pinnick's a lot longer than we think. They didn't do that. Well, again, I thought they figured two at Tongue of Bailowell was looking to reinvent himself because he liked to continue to get paid other than what the dolphins still pay him for not being a dolphin. But I will say that two of us injury to start the camp was kind of maybe a harbinger of what's going on with this guy. We think about the concussion. We worry about that. Turns out to be my aching back. So today, I mean, yesterday he literally is like that scene in the royal tenon bombs when Jean Hackman goes, oh, I remember he lays down slowly and they put the spoon in his mouth pretending like he's had a stroke or something. And that's the way he went down. So guys, it's just very frustrating that yes, we didn't have a better option. But the one thing I'm excited about is maybe we see Jack Strand. The good news bad news on that is if you see Jack Strand on Sunday in Pittsburgh, we're probably down by 25, 30 points. Correct. You know, and a lot of fans will be curious to see how he responds.

5:07But this is going to be Cooper Rush who's been there, done that. Has a bunch of starts, high pressure, you know, being in there for the Cowboys years ago. But it's just so uncompelling as a Falcon fan. I want to see Michael Pettich Jr. You don't get that. All right, we'll give me two. I don't even get that. So you're right. Sometimes and I hate to play that Atlanta. I discard you feel like you're cursed. 404-726-0929. I told you guys yesterday, nobody. And I mean, nobody is giving us a chance to go up to Pittsburgh and win. That was prior to this decision. What is Cooper Rush? Cooper Rush is a 32-year-old backup quarterback in the National Football League who has played 42 games and is 9-7 as a starter. He was 0-2 for the Ravens last year. That's what he is. So if you're asking, hey, what are we getting on Sunday? I really don't know a whole lot about Cooper Rush. For those Cowboy fans, you might remember him as the backup. He had moments, okay? But at the end of the day, this is a tough way to start the season. And again, when you acquired the guy on the first day of training camp,

6:08just because, and now, you know, yesterday was his first real first team snaps. He said it yesterday after practice. He said, ah, you know, it's good to get out there because if I have to play, at least I have a feel for what's going on. Fowke and fans, where are you at with this? Because it really feels like this sets the season and the tone for the opposite direction of what we thought might, what this might look like. I heard Rusty Mansell the other day say, it's a long season. Yeah, it's a long season. But every year, our seasons come down to one game, one or two games, and we win the division. So we're just going to say, oh, yeah, it's a 17-week season. But, you know, week one is an extension of the preseason. Carl, I can't wrap with that. That's a bunch of nonsense. You're the kind of... I mean, these games matter, okay? Now, if you're the Rams and you look like Sturfried, blank last night down under, you can always come back and get it right. Because you're the Rams. You've got better talent than we do. Yes. You know, but if you're the Falcons, we got no margin for error. Where you just say, I can seed week one. That's why I was so irked about Panic's not being willing to go when he was cleared. All right, man. We got a lot to chop up today.

7:09It certainly changes the direction of what we thought we'd be talking about. And that is, hey, all right. Two has gotten all these reps. They got a game plan in for two, and by the way, the game plan was specifically centered around what two of does best. That's now been tweaked. And the time is ticking until kickoff on Sunday. And so I'm not telling you again, Falcon fans, that Cooper Rush won't step in and do the best job that he can. Of course he is. But it just diminishes our chances when you know you're going into a game with a guy who really gives you, you know, a 50% or less chance to win this game. I'm just being honest with you guys. That's that's how I feel about this. Now, if you pulled off a miracle mic and Monday we roll into the studio and we're talking about what a win for the Falcons. Great. But I just don't feel like that. No, you need the offense to really be trucking because your defense has now what loss. We did the math. Half of those sacks. It made us the second best pass rushing team in the league last year. Those those sacks are out of the building right now. You know, at least until James Pierce Jr. comes back 10 and a half,

8:09whatever he can do in a half a season, come back. Joe Su Mendoza hits us up on the X. He goes, I don't know what panics putting on the Cape even means. He goes for and eight as a starter. Literally, it's not shown once that he can play at an elite level. I said, and my argument is with a better head coach, a better offensive coordinator, a real game plan, not that crap that Zach Robinson was in over his head with. That's what I want. That's why I can't wait to see Michael Pentax in this sample size. That's what I mean by give him a shot to come out there and be the hero. All right. Look, we have no choice. We got to get behind Cooper. Right. You'll see what this looks like. I hope he plays well. By the way, speaking of Jack Strand, Frost is the backup. So to Mike's point, now we're talking about him being a playaway. And I've been saying this all off season. Either one of these guys are a playaway. Whether it was going to be Pinnix or Tua. And you guys laugh when I said, Jack Strand can be a playaway. Literally on Sunday, he is a playaway. When now they've talking about they're going to be, they'll be an emergency quarterback. Who's that? Well, is it going to be Michael Pentax Jr. or Lama-Dezzekeas? Who played quarterback in Pop Warner or in junior college that can play quarterback in a pinch?

9:11Right. Everybody's got one. You know, this we're bringing Heinz Ward back. Or Matt Ryan is going to come out. Matt Ryan has signed a one-day contract to be an emergency quarterback. Oh. You know, I'd be down with that. I mean, bro, this is so falcony. It's just so falcony. It's what unfortunately, and I hate to tie in previous seasons with a fresh start. But the fresh start just feels like more of the same. Well, this is why Mike, and I know again, we hadn't played it down, but this is why I'm looking at the front office. What are we doing? It's almost like, what's the plan? And the most important plan going into the season, this all season was what? You guys know, it was quarterback. It was the number one thing we talked about. Pinnix coming off of this injury and everybody just assumed, dude was going to be fine. How many of you guys told us he'll be ready for the season? He's not. Did the falcon's front office not realize that and say, you know what? We really need to kind of double down on this and be prepared. So look, the two of thing is what it is, but many of you thought he was injury prone anyway. You thought he was injury prone anyway? I was never really sold. I mean, the one thing we can talk about,

10:13now they're not going to start him. And by the way, you and I were talking at the end of the show, guys who missed it about, you know, how does the NFL work week, you know, work because they're traveling up to Pittsburgh on Saturday morning. He's talking with Archie last night on the way home, be a text. And Dave was saying there's some seven on seven, some red zone today, but it's not like your full day of practice that you was here earlier in the weekend, was they do the installs. So it's not like Cooper Rush is going to be beating out, Jack Strand. It's all Cooper Rush. And Jack Strand won't have that opportunity. But Jack Strand is on this roster for a reason. Somebody in that building carl up, Stairer says, I believe enough about Jack Strand to take away a vital 53 man roster spot. So as much as I argued with you that he's not ready, or you can't throw him up there against Pittsburgh, I think every Falcon fan listening would rather see Jack Strand out there than Cooper Rush, just to at least see what this kid's about, you know, in the ultimate trial by fire. That's where I've been. And I said, if Tuikin play a two-inch start, obviously that's not who they're starting. Today, Kevin Stofansky, when he addressed the media, was not upset. He was not red in the face.

11:15He simply delivered the information. And I've said this about him. I do like this aspect. Even when we're kind of freaking out about stuff, he is right here all the time. And so he said that they have always had a plan. I'm not sure if that's true. I think this is reaction. Okay, I don't think this was part of the plan. Action reaction. Okay. But he said, hey, we've always had a plan. But he'd be carrying four quarterbacks. Isn't that, doesn't that mean you anticipated some stuff? I think the four quarterbacks was, we know Pinnix now is not ready. So at least we've got three. Okay. That's what I said. They weren't expecting two of them to go, ah, my back. Are you know, Carl, we're live at Twin Peaks here in Buckhead. Can I give a shout out real quick to start the show? Absolutely. Carl, I believe that children are our future. And you and I have talked about Gen Z being soft. Randy Watson said that. Being weak. Having no balls. That's not what's happening right here. Three young men from the University of Georgia. Hardworking guys, Duke's and Bill listeners, Carl. They only got to see national championships with Kirby. A young man right there just got certified as an agent.

12:17As a like a professional sports agent. How cool is that? One guy's in banking. One guy's in real estate. They're here to bird dog chicks. Let's give it up for these. You know what? Gen Z. They're not all worthless. Oh, that's good. That's good. Way to go Gen Z. All right. Too bad. It's a room full of dudes right now. I know. Yes, you're exactly right. And then once you hit 25 to 54, you help Carl and I hit our bonuses. So you get you guys get that birthday soon. All right, man. Good to have you guys in the building. Appreciate you guys coming out. You can come out here and hang out with us. The drinks, the eats, the scenic. Views as we like to say here at Twin Peaks. All right, we got a lot to get to. We're going to talk to our man B. Mac Bryant McFadden two time Super Bowl champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was already leaning Pittsburgh. He was already killing us. We said this today on the pre show on Twitch and YouTube. He's going to be chirping like there's no business. I mean, he's you know how much he's going to be chirping today. All right, we'll talk to him. And last night all that Rams hype. Come down. We're live at Twin Peaks on a Friday in Stukson, Bill. News Shoes, new clothes, brand new grade.

13:19Switched a Verizon to make sure their tech keeps up. This back to school season buy or bring any Android phone and get a Samsung Galaxy tablet on us. Get your kids ready for the school year without breaking the bank. Visit Verizon.com or your local store today. Bring an Android phone or purchase a new phone with device payment on post-paid service plan required. $3.99, tablet device payment purchase with new line on $20 per month tablet plan for 36 months required. Less $330 tablet per month credit applied over 36 months additional taxes fees in terms of apply. Hey, all right. It's almost here. Are you ready? Just grabbing my shoes. That's what you said 10 minutes ago. I just wrapped the video call, uploading this giant file on my tablet, looking at my watch group and Nana's with the group chat, and of course still lining up tonight's playlist on my phone. All at once? Yep, story of my life. That's why I switched to T-Mobile. They have the fastest 5G network. Okay, multi-tasker. I see you. Honestly, I never imagined I could do all this at once. It's awesome. Say no more, I'm totally switching.

14:20My post is taking way too long to upload. That's a sign you've got to get T-Mobile. So many reasons to join T-Mobile. Find yours at T-Mobile.com. Fastest based on analysis by Uglospeed Distant Intelligence data of national speed score results in cooperating 5G download and upload speeds for the first half of 2026. What if the thing you're listening to right now never got interrupted? What if it could play uninterrupted from room to room on Sonos? What if you start with two Sonos speakers just to see how it feels? What if you really like how it feels and you become a Sonos person who can't stop saying to their friends, what if you start with two Sonos speakers just to see how it feels? Because it's not magic, but it's not not magic. Do we have to do this interview? It's Duke Symbel, Sports Radio 92 9 the game.

15:21I don't want to hear about it. Because you don't want to hear about it. No, he's just sitting there laughing right now. We love him though. Bryant makes fattening. Two times. Super Bowl champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers, which ironically is where our Falcons start. Listen to him. He's already laughing. Start the season on Sunday and he is a CBS NFL analyst guys, by the way, check him out. But this news, I think, is rock Falcon fans world today that Cooper Rush is the starter because in a short period of time, six weeks we've gone from Pinnix to Tua to Neither to this love fest with Jack Strand. And now it is Cooper Rush, who by the way again, I repeat, was at camp July 29th. That was the first day of camp is when he showed up. What are your thoughts, B? What are you thinking about this? Because that's the starter for Sunday for the Falcons. Man, I'm surprised. I'm surprised just like you guys are. Two of us just named the starting quarterback a few days ago.

16:22Right? Has it been a year? I know, man. I know. I know. He just was named the starting quarterback. And now he's already in Grady and hand played once now. Again, it was a back spasit prime, please. It's an old plea. It's not getting crazy. Already in Grady. Man, he knows how to become a Grady baby already. Already. I will say this, he may never play a down that counts for the Falcons because at some point, Michael will get to 100 percent. But Michael Pettics Jr. will be really to play. And two of might not get on the field. We got more guys talking about Jack Strand, our fourth string quarterback right now. So B, the question is going to be without having the guys that created all those sacks last year on this roster. Do we just have to blitz? Are you thinking some of the OGs we brought in can actually get after Aaron Rogers? I mean, I think being able to dial up pressure with scheme would be very, very important because you're two best individual pass rushes like you said or not in the lineup.

17:22But you know, the thing about the game of the NFL, right? When you think you know, you don't know. That's the unique thing about the sport. That's why we love the sport. That's why it's the best sport in our country because when you think you know, you don't know, you know what I mean? So any thinking happened? Who would have thought Drew Lockwood come into the ball game in the second drive with the first quarter and lead the Seahawks to a victory against Drake May? Right? Who would have thought San Francisco would just dominate the Rams in the fashion in which they did last night? So I understand there's some quarterback concerns for Atlanta. There's some defensive concerns for Atlanta, but you just don't know. So if I'm the Pittsburgh Steelers, you applaud the problems for Atlanta with their top pass rushes being out one suspended, one injured. You applaud the issues with the quarterback position, but you don't overlook them. You cannot overlook them. That I agree with and that's the wackiness of week one. I think it's the wackiness of the month of September.

18:23Be to be honest with you because we're still trying to figure out these teams. But here's the thing we can't debate. I don't think we can deny. If you don't have a quarterback, you trust, you're already behind it. And that's part of our problem going into week one. I know Cooper's played a lot of football. I get it. But the confidence level right now is not what it would have been. Maybe even if Michael Pinnix was healthy, certainly to a, and I just feel like that, that is like where we are as a fan base right now going into week one. We can't debate that, right? Now you can't debate that. I mean, for Atlanta Falcon fans, week one is that week where all fan bases are optimistic. But for a Falcon fans, you took a blow knowing that Cooper Rush is going to be a starting quarterback, even though you didn't have a lot of belief. And to you believe more and to it just from the experience factor than anything. But, but I'll say this for Cooper Rush, if you just go manage the system, make timely plays and don't. Turn the football over.

19:24Allow your playmakers to do what they've been paid to do all three high level playmakers in the offense, Kyle Pist, Drake London, B. John Robinson have been paid, deservedly so. They are really, really good at what they do. And the cupboard isn't there when it comes to the skill positions on the offense. And I do like the office align as well. So yeah, you might have major concerns at the quarterback position in which you should. But everything else is intact. So if you're Cooper Rush, who's been in a lead for quite some time, I know you guys said he just got to Atlanta, the end of July. But he's been around the game of football in the NFL quite some time. He's experienced guy. Man, just don't trick it off. Protect the football and get the football onto the hands of your play, man. Hey, crossing routes, slants, boom, boom, boom, ball's got to be accurate. But then a ball comes out. B. John get the ball. I think the number we came up with 25 touches. I know I don't want to run this guy in the ground. We're not talking about abusing him like, say, one, Barclay with the Eagles. But they're going to. But B. John has to be the guy you lean into. Of other way, Cooper Rush, nine and seven as a starting quarterback, nine and five is time with Dallas.

20:28But B. Mac, the thing that we keep coming back to is Carl brought up early in a week. Still a team is pretty mediocre on offense themselves. I mean, DK Metcalf, Pittman. I know that that's an elite defense from Houston last year, but they look pretty awful on offense down the stretch last year. Maybe it. They're going to be a little bit old. I'll see here you go. There's the first shot. We need objective analysis and you have objective analysis. It is. You right. They look horrible in that playoff game against Houston. And this is a new year. I think the offensive line is going to be better. And I'm going to tell you this much. And this is a guy you guys are familiar with based on 2025. Rico Dotto is going to be a huge asset to the offensive. Rico Dotto. Yeah, Rico is going to be a huge asset to the running game. And yeah, you remember he ran exceptionally well for Carolina last year. Right. So the addition of Rico, you know, Michael Pittman Jr. is another, you know, big big body.

21:30Why receive that can move the chain. The most important thing for Atlanta is get impression on air. Rogers because if you do not, I understand he's in his 40s. But the above the shoulder game is still intact in terms of dissecting you up. He's going to carve you like a Thanksgiving turkey. If you don't put pressure on it. So that's the biggest thing for Atlanta. Can they put pressure on air? Rogers light what we saw from Houston and make him uncomfortable because he can't, if he sits in that pocket and go through his progression, he knows exactly where to go to football. Yeah, that's, it's my number one concern. And it was prior to this whole quarterback thing. We're talking to B-Mac guys, Brian to McFatin here on Sports Radio 92 9 the game will live at Twin Peaks and Buckhead. If you're just joining us, Cooper Russia, officially named the starter for Sunday. It is not Pennix. He's out in active. It is not to and as Mike said, the emergency quarterback still yet to be named, but they said they've got a plan there. Um, I want to ask you about the hype on the Rams because, you know, I know it's all Australian. Everybody's talking about and criticizing the plan and how they got there with the Rams. And then I saw Miles Garrett say, look, I just didn't play well.

22:31Man, I'm not 100%. Okay. So is this team over a hype? What are your thoughts after this, this matchup with the 49ers who they owned them yet last night? But and that's the thing about these two teams, they go back and forth. You know, if you look at the history between Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVey, you know, it's always a split in the series series, the season series with these teams in years past. I just didn't expect to see San Francisco dominate in the fashion in which they did. And for the Rams, the Rams looked like they were sluggish. They looked like, obviously they had no chemistry, no rhythm. And a lot of that have to do with them not participating at all in anything and preseason related. Remember Brock 40 played in preseason, right? He got out there with the guys and he was able to orchestrate a few drives. And he looked to be extremely precise in that ballgame. Matthew Stafford looked to be off. Even when his wide receivers had created separation, the ball placement wasn't there. So it just, it seemed like the rhythm was never there. He talked about Miles Garrett. Remember, Miles Garrett missed a lot of time in training camp because of injuries.

23:33They would say it was giving him rest days and things like that. He checked engine like came on in the first quarter. I mean, he was, he was on fumes in the first quarter. He had no gas. He had no legs. And the thing about Miles Garrett, you would never question his ability to be at a elite, in an elite task Russia. But there's one area concerned in this game is, is, is stopping the run. Jerry versus the better run stopper than Miles Garrett. And they missed that element from Jerry versus when you look at the down here running game, that San Francisco was implementing in the offense. So is it, do you still believe the Rams, you know, can get to a solo vote? I do. Yes, I still believe they can be a high level team, but clearly didn't, they didn't perform to the level of expectations that we have for them, especially with all the additions. I mean, week one can be a fake out because some teams just come, just come back and not, not to mention being a, we spent a lot of time last week. 49ers got there. They had a week to get ready. The fly in the night before the sleep experts, I think blew this one,

24:35because they literally look like they were sleepwalking, including Matthew Stafford. It's our man B-Mac, Brian McFadden, guys, two time Super Bowl winners rely from Twin Peaks here in Bucket. The Patriots and a Drake May guys, and you, you agree when it comes to teams of the winning record, at last year in the regular season in playoffs, 11 touchdowns and 11 picks. So it, and the, and the C-Hawks had the same formula. They got after that butt, man, police and everybody and he couldn't handle it. Yeah, and that's the thing for Drake, mate. If he just protect the football, they probably win the ball game. That's it. And he started to press. He was pressing in a, in a, in a moment where he didn't need to press, you know, just understand when the defenses were kind of dictating the flow of the ball game. It's okay to take what they're giving you and also, too, you have to understand. And those type of ball games was a close net situation. Feel goes like touchdowns. Feel goes, they, they feel like touchdowns because it's hard to drive the length of the football field when defense is a dominated.

25:35And for him, he just reverted to a rookie Drake May when he was trying to press to make things happen. And they weren't there. If you look at all three in the sections, all three in the sections were bad decisions. All three, especially the last one when you're already in field goal range. So worst case scenario, you keep a field goal. You go in the overtime. Best case you scored touchdown, but you don't turn the football over. Not there. And for him to be in his, in year three to have the MVP caliber year last year, you would think he wouldn't make that type of decision. Totally agree. All right, B. Close game. You said it. Handle, you know, long down situations, put yourself in, you know, third and short. Make the, the short passes. Give the ball to your playmakers. Falcons keep this close. What are your thoughts on the, the game Sunday? We covered it three and a half. Well, it's up to five now. It's up to five now, Joe. These two news.

26:35Well, well, I hope, y'all got it at three and a half. I got it at three and a half. And I'm happy. I'm elated that that three and a half is where I got it at. But we covered. So I'm just talking about the initial spread. We covered it three and a half. All right. But like I said, and no one might McCarthy and no one the veteran coach that he is, which I love him in this spot. He will make sure the guys in the locker room that will be wearing that stealers helmet, helmet, they're not overlooking that lamp. Check that extremely serious. This is weak one. This is the week of unknowns. Yes, because you don't know exactly what you're going to get from Atlanta. Defensively or offensively. So don't don't overlook them because Cooper Rush is lining up in the heart. You know what I mean? Go hunt Cooper Rush like you will hunt to a tongue of our Lord. Go hunt them, but don't take them for granted. And also to another name I forgot to highlight Zachariah Branch that he got some juice to him. He got some ish to him. Either God, that can be a difference maker alone with the other guys that we highlight it. So the offense for Atlanta can score points. They just got to get the quarterback situation right. And I hope they don't get it right on Sunday.

27:37Right. He's listening with a hamster. So I'm going to cut you off. And I said, check that up to six now on draft Kings MGM six Carl. That's a promise. We're we're now we're a touchdown dog on the road in Pittsburgh. It's a quarterback league. And fans, it's just what it is. Whether he's crap or not fans know the brand of two and when you're Cooper Rush, they that Vegas jumps the numbers. All right. Be appreciate you as always, man. Enjoy the games and we will talk to you next week as we head towards. We joy him that much. Well, you know, as a football fan, look at this. Be get out of here, man. All right. We're done with you. No, are we doing the steak dinner? Are we doing the steak dinner? Rush Jersey. Yeah. No one. You can't you can't fire one. You got to order that online NFL. That comp playboy. All right. All right. We do is a steak. That comp. How are we going to do the steak dinner with this one or not? For what? This guy's got to cover six. You got to cover six. I'm out on this game. Well, you see this isn't this wasn't I signed up for. I'll slap rock over here. I didn't sign up for this. Huh? That was me. The bet was me. We know we were going to have a quarterback circus going on. You know, he doesn't drink. We get off easy on this.

28:38Just pay for the stipulation to the bed. Fine. Fine. Fine. Yes. Unless you orders bananas foster or something. Okay. We're good with this. I don't like that on fire. All right. Right at the table. Fine. The bet is on all right. Steak dinner. We choose. Yeah. Sounds like pick it. You pick it. I'll eat cafeteria. Your car. Brian, we'll talk to you next week, man. Yeah. Brian McFadden and look, why wouldn't you feel good if you're thinking about being, you know, on the Steelers? I get it. I just feel for us, guys. Brian made a valid point. We'll get into this on the other side. And I'm going to let you hear from Cooper Rush. I'm going to let you hear from Coach Daphanski as well. And Mike, a quote that I've got to read from coach that just says everything you've been saying all week long. It's next on sports radio, 92 9 the game. Heading back to campus, timed web grade, your entire text setup, switch to Verizon, buy or bring a qualifying smartphone and get a smartwatch and a tablet on us.

29:39That's all your essential gear for zero extra dollars. Ace your classes, track your fitness and stream your favorite shows. Visit Verizon.com or your local store today. Bring an eligible phone to purchase a new phone with device payment on post-paid service plan required up to $649.99 watching tablet device payment purchase with new line on $20 per month tablet plan and $50 per month watch plan for 36 months required. Less up to $650 promo credit applied over 36 months per device. Additional taxes fees in terms of apply. Hey, our rides almost here. Are you ready? Just grabbing my shoes. That's what you said 10 minutes ago. I just wrapped the video call uploading this giant file on my tablet. Looking at my watch group and Nana's with the group chat and of course still lining up tonight's playlist on my phone. All at once? Yep, story of my life. That's why I switched to D-Mobile. They have the fastest 5G network. Okay, multi-tasker. I see you. Honestly, I never imagined I could do all this at once. It's awesome. Say no more. I'm totally switching. My post is taking way too long to upload. That's a sign you've got to get to mobile.

30:42So many reasons to join T-Mobile. Find yours at T-Mobile.com. Fastest based on analysis by Uclav Speed Test Intelligence data of National Speed Score results in cooperating 5G download and upload speeds for the first half of 2026. I'm Jennifer Fisher and I'm Angela Kinsey and we're the office ladies. We're still talking about all the hilarious behind the scenes details from the office with icons from the show like Rain Wilson, Greg Daniels, Malora Harden, and so many more. And we can't forget our two conversations with office ladies, superfan Billy Eilish. Hello. So join us for brand new episodes every Wednesday and revisit the office rewatch every Monday. Follow and listen to office ladies wherever you get your podcasts. So Cooper Rush is the starter.

31:43We're live at Twin Peaks in Buckhead for week one, one o'clock kickoff, 11 o'clock pregame here on sports radio, 92 9 the game. That announcement coming from Kevin Stofansky today. I want to read you a quote before we let you hear what's the fancy had to say. And also Cooper Rush because he spoke to the media yesterday, right after practice. And it was really the first time we've had a chance to hear from him because there's been no reason. I mean, he was literally the third string guy. You know, and was perceived to be that with pinnocks and two, but Kevin Stofansky today, Mike, when asked about Michael pinnocks, Mike will be ready. When he's ready, I trust in this process. I'm not going to get into next week. And the reason he said that is because people said, Hey, well, you know, I'm all open. Are you guys? Caroline, how about that one? Our situation right now, coach, I'm not going to get into next week. Like Mike told you he's getting very, very close. Okay. Cooper Rush, Jack Strand with the quarterback's present for the main drill,

32:44according to our buddy, Mark Ramande from ESPN.com. When the media got to see practice, Cooper was throwing primarily Michael Pennick's junior was across the field with the reserves. Okay. I'm not surprised. No, I mean, like I'm not going to, it is, it is what it is. I'm not arguing about this anymore. I think it's, I think to some fans, if it comes sort of, maybe you didn't agree with me at first, but you're coming around because the situation now has changed. And the circumstances have changed. And sometimes requires a little, you know, deeper dive into where you're at. You know, but that's, that's his style. And again, hopefully someday we'll get a chance to catch up with him. Yeah. After he's established himself as keeping people talking about what happened these last few weeks. Let me say this though, Mike. And look, I'm, I'm with you as the fan in me wants to see the urgency of him wanting to come back as soon as possible. The other side of this is, and I had a friend say this to me and I said, okay, you're right. If you were advising him and we're not, we are cheering for this football team and

33:44want them to do as well as possible. The advice you would give him is do not get out there until you give yourself a real chance to get a bag. And his next bag, not this rookie bag, the next bag is what he's, he's trying to get to already got his, by the way, to a guy he's in Miami, right? We're talking about 200 plus million dollars, 150, 180 million guaranteed, whatever it's going to be. Don't know what the contract look like, but those are the numbers when you start talking about these quarterback contracts. And he said, if you were advising him, you would say that, right? And I said, probably, but that's not where I'm at. I'm on the other side of that where I go, this is probably the best option for us to win. And I need him and he's been medically cleared. So look, there are two sides to that, right? And I get it, but I'm as frustrated as, as Mike is and certainly as many of you are with the whole idea that now we're in this quarterback, predicting minute quarterback chaos. And his, his mindset is not changing. I said to Mike yesterday, because Mike said, maybe he comes to the rescue.

34:45Mentally, he's checked out right now. He is, he's already told you I'm not playing this right. So there's no way that that was going to play out where all of a sudden yesterday that goes down with two and he comes to coach and says, Hey, by the way, I'm ready to go. This is where we thought it would be. He's inactive for week one. I'm just curious to know who the hell the emergency quarterback is. And again, I don't think it's like we're writing a script for a Disney movie. You know, that like, we joked around about this earlier this summer, like all Tom Cruise movies. I'm the man I doubt myself. I get my confidence back. I win the day. Thought that might happen. Not happening yet. And look, I'm a different generation than some of our younger audience. And I don't, I just think it's most guys who've competed in their lives, understand what I'm talking about. Some guys don't. Some guys say, look, it's about self preservation and the Falcons, you know, because they didn't draft and they don't owe him anything and he doesn't owe anything to the Falcons. He doesn't. I don't think that necessarily though that helps you around the national football. Yeah. Look, that's what I'm saying. That because I mean, there'll be personnel guys around the league that look at this and go, what the blank is he doing? That conversation is, is valid.

35:46If you're advising him, if that is your son, you're telling him, you don't get on the field until you can give yourself a chance to, to secure this back. And that is the problem. And, and we want him out there. And so Mike, it'll happen, but I thought that was interesting that's Kevin's defense key. And again, I read that in a way where he didn't deliver it that way, but that's what it sounds like. He's not ready. He told you he's not ready. Like that's what it feels like. Hey, I'm reinforcing what you, what you guys already know. Let me hear Cooper rush because this is the first time again. We hadn't really, you know, camp, we talked about him, but Cooper rush was asked if he's getting ready to be the starter. This was before the announcement was made literally about an hour or so ago. Yeah, not sure what happened. But you know, it's Thursday practice practice has to go on and so you're up next. And that was a good day. It's good to get out there and get some real wraps of that group and it will say happens. And what's going to happen is he's under center on Sunday. Rush also said he feels ready to be the quarterback if he got the call. And now that's the case. Yeah, I feel the camp was camp was good.

36:47Got caught up to speak pretty quickly. I think to test me to the staff, how well it's coached that you can fall along and pick it up pretty quickly in terms of how it's organized the systematic, systematic stuff of it. And so that's been that's been really helpful. And I think kind of everyone being the first year together definitely helps it too. The interesting thing is Andy and Randy asked coach to fanski yesterday. Is there too much be John? Is there such a thing? And I don't care who the starter was going to be this year. I already felt like they were going to try to run him into the ground. That's just me. I may be wrong about this, but I think at the end of the season, when we look at carries attempts, that he's going to be right up there as either the league leader or second, depending on how things shake out. And it's putting a lot of pressure on Bejon. Not that, you know, he doesn't, he doesn't want it. But Mike, that's part of the, the thing that I think most teams are going to play us, understand. Right. Take him out, take him away. And now how does this offense look? But Kevin's to fanski was asked that question.

37:47Here was his response about is there such thing as too much be John? Yeah, listen, he's a great player. He's a great player for us. I love the person and the player. And then we'll have a plan as each game rolls around. Can he get every rep? No. You know, but we feel really good about the plan for Bejon. If we're really good about the plan for Brian Robinson, we'll mix and match as the game calls for it. I do think you have to get into games and there's a little bit of riding the hot hand at times. So I feel really confident in coach Reese, coach Petrie. We'll go into it with a plan ready to adjust. But I think it's important for us to have a plan for our guys in week one, recognizing that it's could be an 80 play game, right? And it could be a X number game season. So you have to always take that into account as you're putting these plans in. Okay. Bejon with Brian Robinson. Remember we were kind of eyebrow raised by the two running backs. Not a third, but two and Brian Robinson dealt with a lot of like, sort of nagging little injuries, but he stayed out there.

38:48You know, he's tough. So B B and B, but B John, as we said, can't give enough touches. And it's going to be interesting to see how Zachariah branch gets involved in this. We just talked about that with branch McFadden from the Steelers. By the way, full participation today from Zachariah branch, dealing with hamstring. Okay. Kendall Daniels got a little nervous when I saw he had a kill ease. Don't mess with that. Doerless with the garoing as you say in Texas. Yes, sir. To Sean Hand with the knee, but these guys all participated as did Michael Pennix with his knee. Cedaria Smith with a shoulder, Joanne Taylor, the knee, but he got the day off yesterday. As a veteran and Jake Matthews got the older guy day off today. All right. And of course, two of did not participate with the oblique. Yeah. Of course. Well, again, it's affecting his throwing. I don't know. That's the other part about. We never get it. Guys, news flash. That's another thing. We're never going to see two of us talking about low and starting game for the Falcons this year. I mean, realistically, because it takes a few weeks for this to heal. And it's either going to be Michael Pennix, you and you will eventually look at the man in the mirror and say, are we ready? And then he'll go, but I don't think we see two. Yeah. The oblique thing is it's a throwing motion,

39:51doesn't matter right left side. And if you're feeling discomfort there, it's what it is. Didn't you try to drink balls and have that at some point? He did. He did. He did. Yeah. Let's, uh, let's hear Jeff Olbrick, Mike, because as much as we're talking about the quarterback. And yes, it's a big deal. I've been saying to you guys, if we let Anne Rogers pat the ball all day, it's going to be along the Sunday afternoon. And Jeff is the defensive coordinator for our Falcons. He is tasked with how do you face this dude who's seen every coverage in the book? You're not going to do anything sunny to him. He hasn't seen. Okay. 20 years in the league, guys, he's seen it all. So our DC talked about the challenge of facing Rogers and this offense. Yeah. He is, obviously, he's one of the best quarterbacks that has ever played this game. Still playing at a very high level. And on top of all of that, like, I think he's got a, he's got an arsenal of weapons at his disposal as well. So receiving core, the tight end group, the two running backs. So and then the way that historically coach McCarthy has featured guys with very specific roles and skill sets.

40:59It's going to be a great challenge. And from a defensive perspective, these are the games, you know, I'd like to say every game is the same. And it is, but at the same time to go up against a player of Aaron's magnitude and the players around him from an offensive perspective. It's a, it's a great challenge. It's one that they're all super excited about. I'm excited about as well. He has a lot more respect, I think, than most because he was there when Aaron went to the jets. He was their defensive coordinator and saw Aaron Rogers every day leading up to him running out on the field with that damn flag and injuring his Achilles. I think he knows he's seen him at practice way more than most. And he understands what they're up against. And you know, the respect thing is that's just NFL conversation there. But Mike Jeff Olberg's got to be thinking, I don't have my two big guns on the outside. I don't, I don't have all the things I need to slow this dude down. No. And as we said, I mean, you've just got guys that you're hoping will bring some heat.

42:00But it's just, it's kind of old timers day. You know, I mean, and guys coming off of injuries. I mean, we talked about, you know, Samson Epicom. Yeah, he is three years removed from nine and a half sacks, uh, Mr. season in between, uh, loves it. Areas Smith, he brought some great energy. Like maybe he brings him that Kaleas Campbell type juice, right? Uh, we know the story. It's a, it's a personal story losing his mom stepping away from football, but that's a 34 year old guy. You know, that you're hoping can, can, can bring some heat. That's why you got to blitz a little bit more. Now, if you're starting to bring some of the corners or safes, then that's high risk, high ultimate. I'd love to see him do some of the things he did with Cadenellus, but in the form of Cadenellus, because I love his game. You know, but again, underneath step will go for a big play if Aaron Rogers gets the ball out. If you don't get home, it's going to be interesting. It really is. We'd love to hear from you. You can text us 4047260929 follow Mike ATL Bell 929 and follow me and put them up. See, dukes. And of course, this radio station in 929 the game follow us at Dukeson Bell 929. You agree, though, if we see Cooper Rush, things are going horribly wrong.

43:01Cooper, I mean, check that Jack Strang Cooper Rush will start Jack Strang. We'll be the backup. I mean, for those that want to see Jack Strang in a real environment, NFL environment. Yes. That could be, well, I don't want to wish ill will. That would either be an injury or the game is out of hand. I was going to say Mike Cooper Rush is one TJ watt off the edge play from being out of this game. Like that's the reality of this. So yeah, man, look, I hope that's not the case, but we'll see what happens. Right. We'll continue to talk about it with you. When we come back, Bravest Order Big Series. This news with the quarterback thing is front and center, but big series at truest. Also, the SEC is not issuing punishment to LSU. We'll dive into that Georgia hosting Western Kentucky tomorrow and Georgia tech. It's Tennessee scary. Yeah, we'll get into all of this stuff, man. Stay there with Dukeson Bell. We're live between peaks and bucket. Heading back to campus, timed web.

44:29Almost here. Are you ready? Just grabbing my shoes. That's what you said 10 minutes ago. I just wrapped the video call, uploading this giant file on my tablet, looking at my watch group and Nana's with the group chat. And of course, still lining up tonight's playlist on my phone. All at once? Yep. Story of my life. That's why I switched to T-Mobile. They have the fastest 5G network. Okay, multi-tasker. I see you. Honestly, I never imagined I could do all this at once. It's awesome. Say no more. I'm totally switching. My post is taking way too long to upload. That's a sign you've got to get T-Mobile. So many reasons to join T-Mobile. Find yours at T-Mobile.com. Fastest based on analysis by Uglospeed Test Intelligence data of National Speed Score results in incorporating 5G download and upload speeds for the first half of 2026. How We Made Your Mother is a rewatch podcast that looks back episode by episode

45:32of the hit TV show How I Met Your Mother. It's hosted by me, Josh Radner, along with series co-creator Craig Thomas. In seasons one and two, we were joined by Neil Patrick Harris, Kobe Smolders, Brian Cranston, Ashley Williams, Wayne Brady, Jennifer Siren Angela Kinsey, Joe Manganello, and my brilliant co-creator Carter Bayes. And now we are diving into season three. So whether it's your 50th rewatch or your first time through, follow How We Made Your Mother, wherever you get your podcasts. Happy Friday, everybody. We're live at Twin Peaks in Buckhead. It is Duke's in Bell. And our Friday has taken a turn just a little bit because of the news coming out of flowery branch. Cooper Rush is going to be your starter on Sunday. It is not too over the oblique. And we've been discussing this and what it means for not only the game plan, but the Falcons opportunity and chances to go up to Pittsburgh. And when Mike, you said the line has moved, right? Yes. On some sports books, it's up to six, which has had us talking about. Now, this is still the Pittsburgh Steelers. This is a very anemic offense, you know, and we're still, you know, wondering where the past rush comes from, but six seems a bit rich.

46:34You know, I'm not saying how that's how we're going to play it, but the picture coming up and it's intriguing. It is. It is. We'll continue to discuss all that that entails, guys. And again, so many different comments from you guys coming in on the text line and certainly on our social media about how you're feeling about this, how you're feeling about Michael Pinnix. Again, inactive, that has not changed. We will have an emergency third string quarterback, but Jack Strand is your backup. Who is this emergency third string quarterback? I don't know. And the jokes are endless. I mean, you know, guys are sending memes of Matt Ryan running out there. They're working with top men. Who? Top men. Yeah. I mean, nobody knows who this is. And again, Matt Ryan, I wouldn't, you know what? I'd like to see Matt Ryan sign a one day contract and just get out there and do it. But either way, yeah, that's the thing. And it's fun. A lot of guys, it's funny. A couple guys sent me up on the text line saying that you know, they were, you know, very angry at me for like, you know, questioning Pinnix and it's just toughness and all this. And I never got never questioned his physical toughness. This is metal top. This we're talking about now. It's getting your head right. But they're feeling like, yeah, this was kind of an opportunity here for Pinnix.

47:38But again, what maybe next week, maybe the third week, maybe October, maybe in Spain soon. Maybe in Spain, Michael Pinnix feels right. What have been that? Isn't that November? Oh, come on. Don't know. Okay. I can't rush it, Carl. Yeah. Look, I say, I'm Newton says you don't know anything to the man. Don't get hassled by the man. Yeah. Well, look, I will. The man is going to put you down, Carl. You know, the man, nothing. I will say and the man is the NFL because the NFL throws guys out every year. Correct. And they don't think twice about him. So he's not wrong about that. That's why I'm always happy when guys do get their bag. Get your money. We always agree about that because this, this doesn't last long. But you know, and it's tough as sport. Next, maybe hockey and the NFL and you can never make enough. You can't because your career can be over like that. The only thing guaranteed is your signing bonus. I, my confidence level, though, is down. It was, it was dwindling to begin with, to be quite honest with you. Because I just know. And again, I'm just looking at the defensive side of things.

48:40It is going to be hard to get the kind of pressure we had last year with two major pieces out. So this just adds to my anxiety about this game. But, but let me ask you just a hypothetical question before we get into some other stuff because again, the Braves do play play tonight. Chris sale on the hill and no, a great Friday night matchup as the Phillies are in here for four, four games set. We lead or three games should I say and we lead them by four games in the NL East. Let me ask you a hypothetical. Where would this franchise be and what would we look like if Kyle Shanahan remained here and was our coach? And the reason I ask you that is because he is now in his 10th season leading the Niners. They've already had Super Bowl appearances. They were on the verge last year of possibly getting back and they were decimated by injuries. Last night they beat the Rams, the most hyped team in the off season. And Shanahan, who is now just 46 by the way, gets a deal in the off season, Mike, to extend him with the 49ers and nobody even really knew about.

49:41Tom Pelicero said this announcement or this, this actually happened during the off season. Nobody knew it. And then last night, it kind of got revealed. And I'm sitting there thinking, the what if game? What if he had stayed and there was vision with ownership to say, you know what? This is really, as you used to say, the brains of the operation. Right. What would this look like? It would have been completely different than us going through three or four different coaches. I mean, Shanahan was never going to say no to the 49ers, but then the old argument was Dan, Dan Quinn just bringing Matt LaFlaur. Matt LaFlaur knows the system. Shanahan system. You know, same thing that happened to Alabama, the National Championship game against Clemson happened with us and Sarkeesian, even though Sarkeesian was part of that process, thrown in as an OC, it was Lane Kiffin's offense. And this was Shanahan's offense. And he had never coached that version of a West Coast offense. And it showed we, you guys, you realize we went into LA, beat the Rams. And that was a high powered offense in that time. We go into Philly, keep them under 21 points and we don't go to the next round. We could, we should have been in the NFC championship.

50:42We could have actually called flip the ultimate script from that choke job of the Super Bowl. But again, Shanahan, and again, we all know what should have happened, but Dan Quinn had autonomy with his OC and no one had the presence of mind, the situational awareness to look at what we should have been doing that final drive before overtime. But last night, if you watched the game on Netflix, they did a hell of a job. I mean, the Rams, they do that whole celebration where they're napping in the end zone, being Netflix, of course, you didn't get to see the whole thing because they didn't have a camera guy in the end zone. Netflix is awful. Brock Purti, though, regroups three touchdowns, one pick, McCaffrey, they grind at the average six point eight, just 10 carries and some hard runs. But the big story for me, I think you and I talked about this off the air. Tom Arcus Robinson and Mike Evans, you know, Dibo, all three of those guys, Dibo back doing what he needs to do, but the way that Shanahan skimmed and also hats off, didn't work out as a head coach on two occasions, but hats off to coach Rahim Morris with a really great defensive plan, especially Carl losing two of his defensive linemen. He has been, and I said this when he got here, he is a Super Bowl winning coordinator.

51:46Say what you want about Rah, he is a very good defensive mind. Right. And he's just not ahead coach. And so what that said, you know, he helped his boy across the road there in Sean McVeigh, when a Super Bowl, I think he may be trying to help his other buddy here in Kyle Shanahan get there as well. And there's no reason, guys, if they stay healthy, the thing about them is they're old. They got a lot of old pieces and they're broken down as the seasons early. When you get late in the season, look at their roster and see how many guys are injured or banked up because they have paid all their stars. Right. Matthew Stafford made some bad decisions. One ball was picked. One should have been picked. You know, and you look at the run again, they tried to use they get the smaller running backs and Cormin Williams, Carl. Yep. And they just, they weren't getting the traction. Uh, they ran at 29 times. I mean, there's a lot of running by the Rams, but they just blew it. And I just felt the Rams and everyone's talking about how do you prepare for this kind of game? First off, can we never do this again? You, you feel me on this with the Australian experience? I don't like international games. I don't like them. Melburn, I'm lucky to have been there twice. It's an amazing city. I've been there for Formula One. Great sports fan, great people.

52:47But imagine, and I told you yesterday in Guy talk, you said 165 feet from the sideline. You had some poor slubs who bought tickets from America who thought, I got, I got front row. You might as well have a telescope. And you know, I love the spectacle. It looked great as far as visually, but it's just we shouldn't be doing this. This is a divisional game with two teams that have super well aspirations to put them into this meat grinder. And again, the Rams, I think in hindsight, maybe don't talk to the, I guess the sleep experts. Yeah. And just get your ass down there for a week and get acclimated. You're going to have nine days till your next game. I just don't like these international games. And, well, this is the extreme. Going to Europe is one thing. That's, that's, that's, that's an LA trip plus two hours. Yeah. This is insane. It is, but they all suck. And here's the other thing is someone pointed out to me. You know, you're going to another country to give them our best sport. And then you put it on a pay service, you know, for NFL fans, right? The people who are that, the most loyal to you in FL. Oh, we got to pay extra for this.

53:49I mean, like there's so many levels and elements to this, Mike, but I'm just not a huge fan of, we asked you this yesterday about the our home game. Are we losing a home game? We go to Madrid, you know, like all these things, man, they add up, but this is the greed of, of where the NFL is. And that's just guys, that's not going to change. You're, they're not doing this to cut less international opportunities. It's a, it is a home game for us against the Bengals in Madrid. So I can sell Joe Burrell down here. I know, but that's it. Guys, it's the hubris of Roger, good day. We just got to raise into contract extension because the NFL is printing money. But this Australian game is literally jumping the shark from the crappy sight lines to Netflix, being absolutely horrible at broadcasting the NFL. And that's not a reflection on L Duncan, good friend of ours. But I mean, they've got production issues with that broadcast. It's just not good. You know, I mean, how about last night talking about Terry McCauley? Well, Terry, why don't you give him a microphone? Right there. Little. Do you see that? I didn't. I didn't. I mean, literally you've got the, they're talking about a play and what do they think about it?

54:53And they go, Terry McCauley is nodding. OK, great. How about you give a microphone to the former NFL referee to speak? I mean, Netflix is horrible. And you're right. You're a, you're a die hard fan. If you're our generation or you guys are younger in your 20s, the NFL success is built on our parents to your generation for being loyal NFL fans. And now they screw you with this crap with having to watch five different pay services to watch a full season. Cost a lot. And it costs a lot. Let's hear from last night speaking of last night. Shinnahann, this is Kyle Shinnahann talking about the game plan. They were brilliant. I always knew what day it was. I was trying to show how confusing it was comparing it to people at home. But I learned the days when we got here. We're one ahead now. I'm ready to go back back into the future. I think it's Thursday at home and it's Friday here. My son plays on Friday. So somehow I'm going to land over a day later, but still be able to make his game on Friday. So it's pretty cool. It works. It's tradition works. I mean, the game worked.

55:54You know, I mean, when are those? I knew everyone was going to make a big deal about that for either team. You never know how much that factors into it. You just try to do the best prepare for three and a half hours. I like how we prepared. But more important than I like how we played. Yeah, and people gave him crap because he was laying out, you know, I'm a day behind and I'm looking at my watch and I don't know what day it is. And so he clarified that and then obviously talking about the game plan worked. And that he did. Here's Shinnahann also talking about no air in Donald's plan because air in Donald was not there last night. Just smiled and said that's good. So we're going to have to see him eventually. We play them twice. But it's I was hoping he won it. I was preparing for the worst. And glad that we don't have to see him this week. So Mike, we saw Mike Evans in our division all these years. He became a Hall of Fame wide receiver in this division with the bucks. Last night he looked like he hadn't lost anything. And his buddy George Kiddell said as much after the game about how impressed he was with Mike Evans. One day I've really enjoyed about Mike Evans and being out of practice with him. Like we call these plays for him. And let's just say he has like some type of widened posts and the coaching points are,

56:57hey, you have to be the bottom edge of the numbers by 15 to 20 yards. And you have to keep it high in inside. It takes a lot of receivers a lot of time to try to do that. Like young receivers take some of the reps. Like my guy was gets told what play is and then he just does it. And he just like no coaching points. It's just fun to be around somebody who knows that. Yeah, he was great. You said that receiving core man. Yeah. But Shanahan, I mean, it was, it was masterful. It's the stuff. You know, you and I, for guys don't remember we used to lie from broke back mountain after the Super Bowl. Which Shanahan left us. I can't quit you because he's one of the best play callers in the game. And then you heard Sean McVeigh. Of course, this is on me. I got to do a better job. It's on me. Yeah, no blank Sherlock, but Matthew Stafford was not good. No. And I know a lot has been made about it. And he owned it. Miles Garrett said he's not a hundred percent. But Miles Garrett, I mean, you look at him and he's like an X band. And he had no impact on that game. Yeah, but he also was going up against another all pro and triple. Right. Give Trent his due. Like Trent, Trent's old too. You can move him around, you know, if you're, if you're Shula, the DC, you're right. But I'm saying like he wasn't going up against some buster.

57:59Like Trent Williams has been in this league a long time and gotten a lot of money as well. He did a hell of a job. Zero pressures from Miles Garrett. Like I said, not existed. And that truly was that's that's pro baller, pro baller, Hall of Famer Hall of Famer. All right, man, we're at advantage. Niners. Yeah, we're coming back. What about the Falcons? Daniel Flick who writes for the AJC. Com covers the Falcons is going to join us next. We'll get the latest from flowery guys. Cooper rushers, your starter. Stukes and Bill heading back to campus. Timed Web Grage, your entire tech setup switched a Verizon buyer, bring a qualifying smartphone and get a smart watch and a tablet on us. That's all your essential gear for zero extra dollars. Ace your classes, track your fitness and stream your favorite shows. Visit Verizon.com or your local store today. Bring an eligible phone to purchase a new phone with device payment on post-paid service plan required. The $649.99 watch and tablet device payment purchased with new mine on $20 per month, tablet plan and $15 per month watch plan for 36 months required. Lest up to $650 per month credit applied over 36 months per device. Additional taxes fees in terms of apply. Hey, all rides almost here. Are you ready? Just grabbing my shoes. That's what you said 10 minutes ago.

59:00I just wrapped a video call, uploading this giant file on my tablet, looking at my watch group and Nana's with the group chat, and of course, still lining up tonight's playlist on my phone. All at once? Yep, story of my life. That's why I switched to T-Mobile. They have the fastest 5G network. Okay, multitasker. I see you. Honestly, I never imagined I could do all this at once. It's awesome. Say no more, I'm totally switching. My post is taking way too long to upload. That's a sign you've got to get T-Mobile. So many reasons to join T-Mobile. Find yours at T-Mobile.com. Fastest based on analysis by Uglospeed Test Intelligence data of national speed score results in cooperating 5G download and upload speeds for the first half of 2026. Hey there, it's Jill Slesinger. I'm launching a brand new show. It's called Money Moves. Follow and listen wherever you get your podcasts.

1:00:06It is Duke's in Belwe live at Twin Peaks and Buckhead hanging out on a Friday. The news around the NFL is Falcon news. And that is Cooper Rush is your starter. We want to talk to Daniel Flick. He covers the Falcons for the AJC and AJC.com. And Daniel, appreciate the time as always, man. The vibe at flowery. That's start there because Kevin's the fanski address to you guys again. You heard from Cooper Rush yesterday. What's your take on how this is going up there? Because everybody feels like, oh, it's no big deal. We're calm. We're confident. But are they really? This is a really bizarre situation, man. I ask Kevin today, like, have you ever in your coaching career? Have you ever had your quarterback one get hurt late in the week? You can have to pretty much figure out how you're going to piece it together. Lean back in his chair. He thought about it. That's a good question. I don't know. And I'm going to guess the answer is probably no. And I asked a lot of his a key is very similar deal guys in year seven as a pro. And you know, throughout his entire playing, where have you ever experienced it?

1:01:09He's like, no, I really, I'm pretty sure I haven't. It's uncharted territory. And the hardest part about this, I think, if you're Cooper Rush, you go into this. Apart from a two minute drive, you know, early in training camp, like the opening week of camp, late July, early August, he hadn't taken a snap with the one since then, prior to yesterday. So now you've got two days in a walk through tomorrow to try to create chemistry, create timing, make sure everybody knows your cadence and all that stuff. It's just a really hard situation, a really bizarre, really, really bizarre times is probably how I would describe it. Yeah, I know that fans are excited about Jack Strand. So he'd be the backup. Does anyone know who the emergency quarterback is because Petics is an active. So it won't be a quarterback. So by declaring to her and Petics out today, they cannot play on Sunday. And so in turn, but you also cannot label a non quarterback as your emergency quarterback. So in that case, what Kevin said, we got clarified this after the fact,

1:02:10what Kevin said about them having a plan, it was not that they have a quarterback, necessarily planned as their emergency quarterback. It would in that case be we have, you know, wide receiver or whoever else has played quarterback in his past, he would be our QB three. That's their approach to it. It's not it won't be to it. It won't be Petics. It won't be any either of those guys. As Kevin said, hopefully it doesn't happen. And hopefully it's not a problem. But yeah, no, so in the event that it does, it wouldn't be a quarterback. Wait a minute. There's a rustling in the crowd. Matt Ryan is making his way from the owner's box. But no, I mean, and by the way, they kept Jack Strand on this roster for a reason. They see something in Jack Strand or they just envisioned there was going to be so much turnover. I mean, I can't imagine them ever anticipating this. What happened to two? Yeah, no, I think what they envisioned a little bit, I think envisioning and having an insurance policy is why Cooper rush made the team. I think long term intrigue is why Jack made the team. Like from what what I've heard and from what Ian told us last week is that they're,

1:03:11they're very high on on on Jack's upside. And so I think they've you Jack is more of an intriguing long term option and kind of see how much how how large of strides he can make this year as a prospect. And an ideal world he's not playing right like an ideal world he's not going to play a game this year. He didn't take a single rep and even like a scout team rep from the end of, you know, preseason up until yesterday. He hadn't done a single rep. He'd done walk through and that's it. So collectively Jack really has a, and even harder job than Rush does in the sense that he's taken even fewer snaps. So it'll be interesting to watch that goes, but I really think Jack is primarily this year as a long term guy. And they're not really somebody who is, you know, has a chance to start unless Cooper rush gets hurt. Frost, let's get away from the game for a second. I found the article that you wrote about Kyle Pits very interesting. He's been somewhat of an enigma since he's been here, soft spoken. Mike and I have had him on the show numerous times. You he's got a great personality, but he really is very careful and calculated about what he says.

1:04:15What did you learn about Kyle Pits? Cause I love the line. You know the unicorn, but you don't know Kyle Pits. Yeah, I really appreciate the question. I had a lot of fun writing that, you know, I talked to a lot of people. I talked to his high school coach, his high school trainer, college tight end coach, a variety of coaches here. I talked to Kyle for 25 minutes and we got into some some really cool conversations about his life as a dad. What he enjoys being as you know, how much he enjoys being a dad and how much that's matured him. And you know, kind of here in him talk about like, you know, I don't really read much online. He seemed like he sees bad comments. He doesn't really care too much about him. And you can tell he's somebody who's just incredibly smart, but the lines I like the most is one of his trainers. Nowadays who's in the Bahamas who trained Julio Jones. And that's that's how he met Kyle was through Julio. And he said Kyle Pits is the the humblest person I know. This is a guy who has been around, you know, pro he trains pro athletes for a living like this is his job is livelihood.

1:05:18He's trained numerous Atlanta players in the past present and you know, players from around the league. And I thought it was it really carried weight that you hear things of that from guys who are around pro athletes all the time. We're talking about a Kyle will come in and have a conversation with even like the normal people in their gym because they have a private section or gym and a public section and Kyle will go into the public and just talk to people. So I learned a lot about Kyle in that sense because you know, you you you land this job and you read comments online about. He's not a hard worker. He's lazy. Whatever. There's a big misconception about Kyle Pits, I think. And so what I really learned about this and that a lot of those people were wrong. He does work hard. He cares. And he's a really good dude. So he expressed a lot of appreciation to me for writing it. And I really enjoyed that aspect of it as well. No, he's a fun guy to talk to his Carl mentioned. We've always felt as we're talking with Daniel flick our man flick from the AJC who's up at Falcons every day. You know, just a lot of this was unfortunately that injury, which kind of lingered from 22 into 23. And then we see you know against Tampa. He can look like one of the best players in the league.

1:06:20You know, just got to hopefully that with this offense. It's sustainable. Our brother with the game this weekend. What about the past rush to this all break half the dial up blitzes or can I've been saying all week to Carl the OG's. The guys that we've assembled in lieu of Jalen Walker and certainly without Pearson the suspension. Are we going to be able to have past rush without a blitz? I really don't think so. I asked Rick about that yesterday. What's your plan for it? He said that they're hoping they don't have to blitz. He's hoping they could, but obviously you always hope that. And he said, you know, last year they went in and they were incredibly blitz every the first half of the year. And then some of their younger guys came on late and it allowed them to, you know, rush more with a more, you know, usual rush package and not have to blitz as much so they're rate drop. I think they're going to have to come out and be very blitzed. This year and I'm sure you guys saw a little bit out at camp Q like they they've put their, you know, off ball linebackers on the ball. They've let them down. I think we'll see their linebackers rush and blitz quite a bit and line up in a lot of spots. I think they'll bring corner pressure a couple times. I think they'll I think they'll be aggressive with it. So I think it's a past rush collectively that'll be similar to last year where especially when Pierce comes back.

1:07:26You'll be able to see the unit jelly. You'll see them get more pressure as a group. This is a lot of new faces. I mean, they, you know, you, you only bring back 28% of your sacks from last year. You sign a ton of new guys trade for a couple. They're going to, it's going to take time to get forward or rush as one. So I think you're going to have to bring more. I think you got to also lean into the fact that your back end is really, really good. That's kind of the strength of your team, really. So you've got to trust those guys to win one on one matchups and say, hey, I'm not sure about our past rush. But if we light them up and we bring, you know, pretty heavy pressures that that might be a way that you can kind of, you know, have a little bit of an edge. How do the Falcons win this game? Run on the football. You don't have to, right? You can't go into this now and say we're going to pass our way to a win. You just can't do it. Not with who per rush, not with a guy that through four picks and two starts last year. You can't do it. So they're going to have to run the ball while they're going to have to control the line of scrimmage. Time and risk and have to have a have a heck of a game calling it. And they're going to have to find ways they've talked a lot this off season about.

1:08:29Hey, we think we've got run beaters for every defensive concept. You can throw it as well. You're going to get a whole lot of heavy boxes this week. So you got to go prove it. So I think you got to run the ball while you got to control line of scrimmage and you have to figure out a way to make Aaron Rogers a little bit uncomfortable. However, that can be. All right, man. Always a pleasure. Daniel, enjoy as much as we can. You know, a great job, man. And we will certainly get a chance to catch up with you as this season moves forward. What's the phrase you used weird as we started this conversation with the school? It is the most used. Yes, bizarre. It's a great word to state what's going on. And Dan, just as we're saying goodbye, give me odds on Michael Peneck's starting next week against Carolina. Oh, goodness. 25 to one. I'll go for much. OK, out of 100, I'll put out a percentage rate, Mike. I'll go 45%. OK, all right, gives me hope. That's more than what I expected. More talk about the man in the mirror, Carl. I'm talking to the man.

1:09:30Come on, Mikey. Get out there. Daniel, thank you. Take care, bro. Absolutely, guys. I appreciate you too. No doubt. There it is at flowery. And again, Kevin's the fanski talking to the media today saying, hey, we got a plan. Boy, let's hope so. I'm with him with the time he reached play calling thing. And look again, it's not that Cooper Rush can't win games. Everybody's like, oh, I've watched Cooper Rush. I've watched the Cowboys. I know what this is about, but Mike, you got to put him in positive situations. My buddy coach Jimmy goes, come on, you guys, buck up. We steal his world beaters. It's just it's so disappointing. I mean, I'm beyond the, you know, the fact that Mike can't go. I knew there was a level of competency with Pettics, but again, Cooper is nine and seven as a starter. It's just you heard from Daniel Flick. He got no reps. Yeah. Oh, and two last year with the Ravens, right? The starter when Lamar was out, right? OK, I mean, like with some weapons, correct. All right, we're coming back. We got to get to the picks of the week. Oh, what's it going to look like?

1:10:31What games on tap? Find out who Mike likes, find out who day day likes, find out who O likes coming up on sports radio. 92 9 the game is new shoes, new clothes, brand new grade switched of a rise and to make sure their tech keeps up. This back to school season buy or bring any Android phone and get a Samsung Galaxy tablet on us. Get your kids ready for the school year without breaking the bank. Visit Verizon.com or your local store today. Bring an Android phone or purchase a new phone with device payment on post paid service plan required. 329 99 tablet device payment purchase with new mine on $20 per month tablet plan for 36 months required. Less $330 tablet per month credit applied over 36 months additional taxes fees in terms of apply. Hey, all right. Almost here. Are you ready? Just grabbing my shoes. That's what you said 10 minutes ago. I just wrapped a video call uploading this giant file on my tablet, looking at my watch group and Nana's with the group chat, and of course still lining up tonight's playlist on my phone. All at once? Yep, story of my life. That's why I switched to T-Mobile.

1:11:32They have the fastest 5G network. Okay, multitasker. I see you. Honestly, I never imagined I could do all this at once. It's awesome. Say no more. I'm totally switching. My post is taking way too long to upload. That's a sign you've got to get T-Mobile. So many reasons to join T-Mobile. Find yours at T-Mobile.com. Fastest based on analysis by Uglospeed Distant Intelligence data of national speed school results in cooperating 5G download and upload speeds for the first half of 2026. History that doesn't suck is a legit, hard-hitting American history podcast fold through entertaining stories. History that doesn't suck and Odyssey podcast available wherever you get your podcasts. Time for the picks of the week. It is Duke's in power live at Twin Peaks in Buckhead. And we do this every week.

1:12:33During the football season where we give you the picks we like, we pick three games against the spread over under. It can be college football. It can be NFL season. And right now according to Day J, I'm one and two after week one, Mike is two and one orange two and one. Day is two and one after last week's games. Did you pick Florida State? I'm trying to remember doing. No, I did tell you to take take take Florida State or the and take SMU. That's right. That's right. So we are now in week two, obviously the NFL. It's really week one for us here with the NFL. So we've got NFL games we can get after you can put me on the board right now for Alabama over Florida State next week. Right. You want to you want to jump the car? Yeah, we're calling this the Mike Norville buy out weekend. A lot of Florida State fans are going to be dancing around. I run a car all the fire like Indians. If a Norville gets got people are over him. All right. Look, you guys are better than I am in week one. I'm going to go first then we'll go to Mike. Oh, and then day day will do you last since you guys are all two and one.

1:13:36It starts and ends with Austin this week for me. It is payback. And this is the best team. Sarc has had win and since he's been at the University of Texas. But he also has a very secret weapon. And that is the defensive coordinator that he hired this all season. Maybe Georgia fans might be familiar with him. Mike, what's his name? Oh, I'm trying to remember. Oh, will must champ coach boom bringing the heat. Texas is only a one and a half point favorite in this game. They think it's a field goal game. Rightfully so both teams are loaded. But I'm taking the horns to cover the one and a half at home. Archmaning plays well. The defense holds up and they hold Ohio state down and get the victory. I also like Oregon. Oh, I'm going to stay. I'm going to stay. Oh, Ohio, excuse me, Oklahoma state. You guys realize they had like 90 new players, a new coach. And last week, do you know who beat him?

1:14:37Tulsa. I am rolling with Oregon, even though they look like they struggled against boysy last week. Don't discount boysy. I think they may be the best non power for school out there. Boysies better than what you know, you give them credit for. But Oregon is a 23 and a half point favorite. Day day. That's what I have them down for. Double check all of this. I'm taking Oregon on the road to cover that. And then I keep debating Mike. Should I go NFL or should I stay college? And I told you I like these college games this week. I may stay all college, but there is one game that I do think has upset potential, at least cover potential. And that is the panthers taken on the bears this week. Chicago travels to Carolina. Now you guys know, I don't like the fact that we've been talking about Carolina and that this ascension. But everybody's on the bears. Everybody's on Caleb Williams. Everybody thinks the bears are going to lead the NFL and scoring, which they might Roman Dunes a banged up a little bit for this game. Correct. Luther Burton watch him out. I think I want to go there.

1:15:38Day day. Put me down for the panthers that cover the three. Oh my goodness. At home. Oh my goodness. The bears. Wow. This could be the crazy pit for me, but that's what I'm going to do in the NFL. It's the one game I really like. I've got three more college games I could have gone. But give me Texas covered in the one and a half organ on the road, 23 and a half and give me the panthers. Carolina plus three at home against the bears. You like San Francisco. That's that, but you didn't put your money where your mouth was. I told you I really liked them going into this game. It had nothing to do with the whole flight thing. I just I felt like Mike, no one raw. They were going to have a really good game plan. And they did. Guys, Matthew Stafford only passed for 155 yards last night. Right. So what that said, those are my three on the board. Mike Bells, two and one. What do you got? Hey, man, I'm going to go with the game, which is not about Michigan looking so awful and stealing a game from Western Michigan. Has nothing to do, Carl, with the bad karma that Michigan has incurred the last couple of years. Terrible. This is simply that Oklahoma shut down their quarterback last year that material is healthy. Oklahoma has got that deep as it's beenables.

1:16:40And there's going to be apparently 30,000 Oklahoma fans invading the big house true or more. Right now, day day, I've got it at five. I'm going to take the Sooners minus five at the big house over Michigan. I like it. It's that Fox noon game. I like it. And I think honestly, Kyle Winningham is a great winning coach. To me, he reminds me of John Fox at the end of his career, thinking about the beach, sitting on the beach, I mean, 20%. This is not going to happen for Michigan. And they deserve it too because they're just awful people like Dave Portney. All right, man, the other one I'm going to go with Mike. Real quick. I do see it at five and a half. So where are you? What are you guys? I'll let you guys. What's going on? Are we going to get laid? I'm going to lay it. I'll lay the hook. I'm with you. I'll lay the hook. I'm with Michael on this by the way. You went by five and went by six. Yes. I totally agree. All right. So lay it up five and a half. Joe. All right. I got you. I'm going to go college for my second pick. Tough, miserable game last week. Got really punched in the stomach. The run game was abysmal.

1:17:40Georgia Tech couldn't stop Colorado. 15 run plays in a row at one point. This is an up tempo offense. Josh Hype was going to lean into their run game. But I think the Brent key challenges the manhood. Oh, of his guys. You're going there. It's going up to 12 and a half. I've got a biggest insider day day. So take a look. But I like Georgia Tech getting now 12 and a half. Not saying Georgia Tech and win. But I don't think Brent key less than gets humiliated at Bobby Dodd. A lot of orange, by the way. Can they block these guys? We're going to find out. Some would say Mike you're too close to it with my buddy, George God see and Brent key Mike you're too close to it. I just I cannot see Georgia Tech starting. I mean, oh, in two in the seasons over. They've been mad all week. I will say that. They've been mad all week. Mike, if they come into this game that way, maybe you see that energy. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. And then you then you brought in the wrong, you spent the wrong money on the wrong guys on defense because they ran through you like poop through a goose. What about the coordinators, right? Well, I mean, but the Georgia Tech defense couldn't do jack and like, the reps got involved too. There was some crappy calls. Sorry, goose, but when you can't run the ball and they say stubborn,

1:18:42let Mendoza cook. Okay, let Alberto Mendoza, right? Is that the right Mendoza? It is. Let that Mendoza brother cook. Georgia Tech getting 12 and a half. And finally, go with the national football league. I believe that CJ Stroud turns it around this year. I think to Miko Ryan's and that defense gets after Josh Allen and Buffalo in H town, I've taken the Texans getting a point and a half. I like it. So the Texans plus one and a half Georgia Tech getting 12 and a half and Oklahoma now five and a half laying the points. Those are my three week one is hard to predict in the NFL, but I've told you. I think Houston and I only want to say sleep or super bowl possibility. They got a team that could get there. All right, let's continue to move. Mike was two and one last week. Day day was two and one. So it was on and on. What are your picks this week? All right, here we go. I'm going to reverse that to a yours, Carl. Okay. I'm going to take the day time out. Orin, what did we say about energy? Speak with your chest. I thought I thought that was energetic when I told Carl.

1:19:42I was feeling it. Sorry again. I got a yeah. I'm going to reverse out doing your picks. Is that okay? There we go. That's what you got. What you got me. I felt so inauthentic. Oh my gosh. It's still the fourth. It felt forced. Really forced like this Falcon quarterback situation. That's not so much force as it is real, but we'll get to that. Oh, no, it is. We got forced into this. I am. We didn't land on two of pineapple boy landed on us. We got this. Go ahead. I'm sorry. I like the bears minus three over the panthers. I wrote my dunes a is going to be healthy this week. And then the I just got to do contracts. So we did some juice. Yeah, give me the bears minus three and I like that pick. I don't think your boys are going to do it this weekend, Carl. Give me the bus minus the one and a half versus the table. Whoo. So this respect music to ask a lot of this. Very so high on the list right now. Yeah, there's too much of an offense right now for a high stay for Texas. So give me that one. Okay, play a I know who's calling the place.

1:20:43Good luck. All right. Arthur Smith. He's the thing of the score more. First is Steve Sarkeesian. Good luck. You could argue if either one of these guys won the lottery ticket. They'd lose it. All I know is we might see tight in three throwing the tight in one. All right. Oh, sorry, Falcon fans didn't want to bring back bad memories. Now, Carl, just realize you can lose this game, but still win the national championships. There's no doubt neither both of these teams can lose this game and win the national championship. That's the beauty of having these games. That's why I want more of this, Mike. Let's not do less of these big games. It's a really hard. This is this be Sarke's biggest win. Um, well, they have been in the playoffs, but still, I mean, like, I don't want to go that far. I don't want to go that far. I mean, you guys look so shaky in the fourth quarter. Sometimes, but they've been in the playoffs. I wouldn't go that far. Go ahead. Oh, and then my last one to Michigan look got off the last week. And the suitors look really good. So that last got up a couple points. But I'll take it a five and a half. So give me the suitors. Five and a half versus Michigan.

1:21:44Jump on the sooner train. What it sounds like to me is that, oh, listen to our picks and just jumped on the opposite side. But that's what it sounds like. He's with me. He is with boomers sooner. He's with Benables. Yeah. You know, the get back coach will be grabbing him. I like that. I like that. Hey, Georgia better watch out when they come to Athens. That's a dangerous game. All right, day day two and one last week. Your picks of the week, sir. Well, I'm going to start with and I hate to do this. I should have known there would be two more of you, but I too, like Oklahoma. Oh, kiss it. Yeah, we're done. Good luck, guys. Good luck, guys. Oh, that's a kiss. Listen, I think this may be the one time that we can all like feel good and sigh, sigh of relief on this. Famous last words. I'm sorry. They just they did not look like a team. Guys, they're not even in the top 25, even after a win that that that was really a loss. Like there was nothing that they showed on the field last week that convinces me they can handle with no with Oklahoma. Well, word on the word on the street day day is the signs have already been stolen by them.

1:22:48They know exactly what Oklahoma will be. Connor stallions 2.0. He's back. Remember, guys, the clock you see on television doesn't matter. It's the super secret clock that matters most. All right, my next one. I'm going to be very interesting match up. Duke and Illinois. They both come off wins last week. I'm going with over on this one. Is that 51 and a half? Both these teams last week put up some points. Offensively, they both can move the ball, you know, or again coming off of two matchups that they were highly favored in. But I feel like this one's going to probably be high scoring. So give me Duke Illinois over 51 and a half. And then my third one, Carl, I was kind of like you originally. I was really leaning at staying away from the NFL. And I was looking at that. Boyz, he stayed Memphis game. Oh, that's going to be a big one by the way. It's going to be a very good game, but they got poisey things as a eight and a half favorites. And that just that line is a little scary for me because Memphis.

1:23:50They wrote I think Memphis. I think a lot of people thought, what is it? Some wrong, right? The coach or John some wrong. That's right. Now that he's gone, I think a lot of people thought they make there may be a serious fall off, but they did not. I mean, they dominated last week. So I was really leaning towards Memphis covering, but you know, boy, you stay, but then again, boy, you stay almost ticket to Oregon, right? So I was just like, you know what? Let's just stay away from that one off again. And I'm going to go to the NFL. Yep. I'm not afraid to say it. And I'm going to go to the Raiders. There are three point favorite over the dolphins. The dolphins are just got off. I know that it's my amy on the air. That's bad team, bad team. Yeah, well, listen, I think I think they have enough veteran leadership in court and in court, cousins, obviously, I asked in jitry at running backs. Like I still like what you got on the Raiders side a lot more than what you got on the dolphins off side.

1:24:50So give me the Raiders at three over the dolphins. Day day, how much are you putting on that? Cause you can just hand it to me now if you want. Actually, I like to pick two. Look, the dolphins should be bad. This is this is you talk about teams tanking Mike. Uh, purposely dolphins. It's going to be a long. Well, I mean, you know, Malik Willis is going to try to show he's got something in the tank and he's worth, you know, the contract they gave him, which was on the biggest, but wasn't the smallest either. I know. By the way, just for extra curricular activity, Brandon Lang was on the stay couch today. The guy that to two for the money was based on long time prognosticated Carl. He loves the Vikings this week against green Bay. And it's a close spread to by the way. It's just one and a half points. He also likes Minnesota to go on the over under total seven and a half. He likes over. Yeah. Look, you're underestimating Calamari. I get it. He's a small dude, but he makes place. And this is his opportunity. I'm about revitalizing yourself with that wide receiving core. I really like Oklahoma until everybody jumped on Oklahoma.

1:25:50You like that's screwed down. Good job, that a alright. Oh, Pixar in the books. We'll see how we do and we'll be talking about it next week. But when we come back, the latest from flowery guys, Cooper rush will be the man under center to lead the Falcons against the Steelers on Sunday. We'll tell you our thoughts and we come back on sports radio, 92 9 the game. New shoes, new clothes, brand new grade switched a Verizon to make sure their tech keeps up. This back to school season by or bring any Android phone and get a Samsung Galaxy tablet on us. Get your kids ready for the school year without breaking the bank. Visit Verizon.com or your local store today. Bring an Android phone or purchase a new phone with device payment on post paid service plan required. 329 99 tablet device payment purchase with new mine on 20 dollars per month tablet plan for 36 months required. Less $330 tablet per month credit applied over 36 months additional taxes fees in terms of apply.

1:26:54Hey, all right almost here. Are you ready? Just grabbing my shoes. That's what you said 10 minutes ago. I just wrapped a video call uploading this giant file on my tablet, looking at my watch group and Nana's with the group chat and of course still lining up tonight's playlist on my phone. All at once? Yep, story of my life. That's why I switched to T-Mobile. They have the fastest 5G network. Okay, multitasker. I see you. Honestly, I never imagined I could do all this at once. It's awesome. Say no more. I'm totally switching. My post is taking way too long to upload. That's a sign you've got to get T-Mobile. So many reasons to join T-Mobile. Find yours at T-Mobile.com. Fastest based on analysis by Uglos Speed Distant Intelligence, the data of national speed score results in cooperating 5G download and upload speeds for the first half of 2026. Are you looking for a football podcast that doesn't put you to sleep with a fog of analytics or insult your fandom with phony hot takes?

1:27:59I'm Dan Hanses and I'm Mark Sessler and we're the host of He the Call. The NFL podcast you've been waiting for. He the call covers the entire NFL not just the same five or six teams you're sick of delivering news weekly power rankings plus previews and recaps of every matchup. Yes, we cover your team and we do it with a touch of Murth because football is fun. Why shouldn't your football podcast be the same? Follow and listen to He the Call NFL podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Hang it on a Twin Peaks and Bughead just ran into a Buckeye fan. That's not the word he used by the way. I can't say what he said. Herelus not know what's worse than that because I walked up and he goes I'm a blinker a blank guy fan. I went oh okay and we had a great discussion about the game this weekend and his buddy is from Wisconsin and he's a packer fan. So he said, hey, yeah, I've been a ton of your best and he said I'm going up to see the you know Falcon Packer game. We just had a great football conversation with those guys. But as we talk about the Falcons guys, we just tune in and join us today. The news news is that Cooper Rush has been elevated to your starter. Tuah is been ruled out.

1:29:00Pinnix was inactive to start the week. We knew that and remember go back to the beginning of this week. This is why you always have to tune in Monday, right? We come in and it was like, oh, okay. Well, they're practicing and Tuah's been named the starter. That actually happened Sunday to be honest with you, but Monday we talked about it. And then we're like, okay, let's get him ready. And I'll be damned yesterday, Mike. This so bleak thing happens and all of a sudden he's out of the mix. He's ruled out and now you're counting on a guy again who got here day one. First day of camp and really hadn't gotten any reps Daniel Flick said it. He hadn't gotten any reps with the ones. So the good news is if you didn't like Tuah, if you didn't believe in Tuah, this guy is probably about the same level as Tuah, where Tuah is in his career. I mean, more experience for Tuah, more starts, obviously, bigger contract. But this guy is not in seven as a starter, handle the pressure of being with the Cowboys organization. Last two though with the Ravens, he's only two as you pointed out earlier in the hour. But if it's the same game plan, he can he process it quick releases because if you saw Cooper Rush in the preseason, you're going up against a vanilla defense car.

1:30:04So you really can't gauge that. No. So and all they do today is they work on a lot of red zone, talked to Arch about that yesterday, some seven on seven. So can Cooper Rush do the things that Tuah will be asked to do? Short passes. Now, it's can't just be all short passes, right? Right. And you will see them. I would imagine tried to bunch the line and try to stop B-Jon or at least limit B-Jon from the explosive play. But this is where you and I talked about yesterday, Zachariah Branch, Kyle Pits, Jahan Dodson, Drake London. You know, where do we create the mismatches against an aggressive defense? You know, I mean, and the offensive line now, if you worried about, uh, uh, Joanne Taylor, the blind side goes back to its traditional, that's Jake Matthews and left tackle. The quarterback doesn't scare anybody though. No, but it wouldn't have scared you if it was to it. Would have scared you if it was Michael Pinnix. At least I thought Michael Pinnix, it's what you think. What he's done. I know that Michael Pinnix's effort is incomplete. What he's done. No, this would be a high look. This would be a high pressure situation.

1:31:04The perfect situation for him to go in and show he can handle or not and keep waiting until you're 110%. I just I just thought I was going to be a tough task regardless of who the start. The road game in the NFL against a good defense. And and that's why, you know, like what I'm telling you is, and I've said this all week long, do any of these quarterbacks if we need it, put this game on there back and go, don't worry. I got it. Take it over. Throw ten times, Michael. And in a, on a fourth, you know, fourth quarter drive and you go make it happen. Pinnix has not yet shown that he has the ability to consistently do that. He's not even have 15 come back from from behind wins in the fourth quarter. So that's why I say that. It's not me being biased. I'm just saying like that's part of this is you go into this game. You go, yes, we got a serviceable quarterback, but I would have felt that way coming off of this injury with Michael with three days. But what they're asking him to do is probably I guess the point a lot of guys are brought up is the same thing that you be asking to end or Michael. Look, Michael's never thrown the deep ball with the Falcons. The things we saw it wash it and never happened last year.

1:32:05I mean, you could argue with his best game against Carolina. You're in a half ago at the end of last season, the 24 season. So look, I just want to see what this guy can do in a high pressure situation. So we can for once and for all blank or get off the pot. Eventually, he'll get out there. He'll be right and he'll be right with his head and hopefully it'll work out. But right now guys lean on the defense. You can't expect anything of this defense in Pittsburgh, even though it's a pretty mediocre offense. Yeah, you every time I bring every time I've asked the guest of ours about are we going to try to create pass rusher to the blist. You shake your head because you know what that entails. Yeah, I just it's the number one issue man, especially against a veteran quarterback. If this is a rookie, I might feel a little bit better. This is a dude's been around 20 years over on Ron Sacks. One one. You know what? Because I think Aaron's going to throw the ball into the ground if you get close to him. He's not going to take punishment at this age. Let's like, I don't want to say that I got tunnel vision with Kendall Daniels, but he's been my favorite player from this camp. I'd love to see him walk up to the line like they did with Kate Nellis and spring a sack on somebody. I would love it too.

1:33:06I just think like he's going to see with our limited edge rush. He's going to see those situations arise as you're trying to maneuver and disguise things in there. But this is this becomes tougher. What we're telling you guys, we can might going to go back and forth all the time on and off the air. We go on and off the you know back and forth of you guys. This task has become tougher because of the quarterback situation. And again, I don't give a damn what you thought about to a Mike's right 78 starts. This guy was drafted high in the draft for a reason regardless of what you think about him. It's why they named him the starter. They couldn't name Cooper rush the starter. They didn't. So now you're going up against it on the road with a guy who's had limited reps with the number ones. And you go, all right, how much are we going to lean into be Jean probably a lot. But here's where I do agree with Mike and we've said this. I still think in the NFL and you guys saw it last night. Weird things happen. And sometimes Mike, you know, when everything is against you and you go, well, there's no way in hell they're going to go up there and do anything. If Cooper rush is in short, third down situations, manageable.

1:34:09Right. And he's not asked to throw, you know, third nine, third and 11, third and 50. That helps us. And now maybe this offense can manage it in a different way. So I'm not completely saying this is a lost cause. I'm just frustrated as hell, but we're in this this quarterback predicament that we've been in. And again, I get back to like, okay, Matt Ian, we could have did something some other things here, but we this is where we find ourselves. Remember guys, Joey Porter has a back issue. He's questionable. We're going to see if that, you know, maybe opens things up creates some mismatches if we can get that at second level on the defense. But that also means the offensive line's got a hold. Yes. Yeah. 4047260929. Want to hear from you? You're more than welcome to chime in on this. So to a ruled out, Billy Bowman, Michael Pinnix, Cam Williams also are out. So they will not be playing. We know Billy Bowman's very close. We know Michael Pinnix is very close, but they're not playing this week. And then Zadaria Smith is questionable. Is that just getting him acclimated? Is that just still trying to get him up to speed ready to play?

1:35:10I mean, Billy, you know, it was an Achilles, right? With Billy Bowman. So it's more that one takes a little bit longer. It was funny speaking of injuries. I saw a video today where Patrick Mahomes is talking with the media yesterday. He goes, I think we're done with the questions about my leg. And then he limps off to stay. I mean, Patrick Mahomes literally, I'm not saying he looked like fastest of guns. I'll get a Marshall Dylan Marshall Dylan, but it didn't look right. You know, I mean, that's why I wonder, you know, we always have it lean into your run game. Well, the defense has a plan to. So we've had a different starter every year. This decade so far. Yes, it's correct. So Matt Ryan. Well, Matt would have been 2020 and 21. Okay. And then and Torit Mario, right? Mario, the Ritter, Ritter, Kurt Cousins, Penox Hennings and now Cooper Rush. Unbelievable. It's unbelievable. 4047260929 and that is our problem. Like say everything else about this organization. That is fundamentally the problem.

1:36:12We have not been able to figure this out since Matt at the end. And Mike, you've been saying this for years now. Matt, I think he thought he's going to get a few more years here. Arthur Smith thought he was going to have a few more years with a veteran quarterback to build these guys around, which is why he drafted the way he did. And it didn't play out that way. The one argument we're getting from a lot of folks today is why didn't we just sign because the price was basically the same. Both to a tongue of I lower and Kyler Murray. We're getting paid by the dolphins and the Cardinals to not play for the dolphins and Cardinals. So why not go with Kyler Murray or was that seen and this is where we get into what's the mindset of the front office if you bring in Kyler Murray. Is that more of a threat to Michael Pentax Jr. Which again, I could care less if Kyler Murray can have a chance to rebuild and repackage his image because he took a lot of hits in Arizona about work ethic and results. There's a lot of stuff off the field about him. But yeah, a lot of guys are saying why didn't we go with Kyler Murray because you got a really a brilliant coach in Minnesota. And they're expecting maybe some big things to happen because again that receiver core, Jefferson, everybody else and Kyler Murray with a maybe a better coach.

1:37:17Yeah, I know when he's got a prove it. Look, he makes me laugh because his improvisation is amazing. It has been half the stuff that he does is not in the playbook. It's just Kyler Murray making plays. It's the Sui's been since high school. But I do think Mike that what they're going to have in Minnesota, it gives him a hell of a shot to revitalize himself. And so, you know, look, hindsight's 2020, but don't think that we didn't get here and they didn't have other choices. That's my thing. Like as much as we're banging on these quarterbacks and banging on what you guys think this quarterback isn't it isn't. For an office that opportunity to do different things and they chose not to. And so this is where we find ourselves. Yeah, man, it's just as we said, it's so frustrating for me. Number one is started with Michael Panic starts the off season talking to John Groot. I'll be ready by week one. He did say that. You know, he talked to our buddy Zach Clapham channel to be ready for week one. He did say that. Then he said I talked to my doctor. It's a magic knee. My knee might maybe better than it ever has been before. He said that. Dr. And that's why I mean, again, it wasn't like I'm just sitting to be a jerk.

1:38:19I mean, I just thought he might be able to pull it out. And he may still have an amazing year. It's just going to be short of a full season. You know, and now it's like, okay, if we're can I ask you something? If we look like Krapid Pittsburgh and he doesn't start against Carolina, people like me, they'll be now it's okay. Now I'm angry about this. He might not be ready. He might not be ready. Let me ask you this though. Are you looking for him to be the savior? Because I think that's unfair. I just want to see what he looks like with competent coaching. Okay. The one thing for guys who feel that an in curl, I think we've been in lock step on this. I want to speak for you, but we've always felt that Pennage Jr had, there were things last year that he did well and there are things that just looked awful play action looked awful. He looks so uncomfortable on the pocket. He had a hesitancy to just take what the defense gave him if there was four or five yards and that and he was always looking to push it down the field. And it wasn't there. I just felt was some good coaching. And by the way, Mark my words. I'll say week five Baker made fields complaining about Zach. Robins. What's the price? I'm going to say week five. I'm just telling you guys by week five, that's going to be my number that

1:39:20Baker starts doing passive aggressive about play calling in Tampa. Stay tuned. But as far as this group, I just think it's a better group. That's why I'm so excited about seeing how he works with a better group. You know, they can probably get the most out of and play to his strengths. I use the word savior because I think a lot of people feel like no matter what the record is or where we're at when he returns. That we're going to go on this amazing win streak and he's going to put up incredible numbers. That's unrealistic. It's unrealistic. And I think that's on speaking to be an unfair to the kid. That's what I think is unfair. Mike's right. We need to see him. Right. But I'm not expecting to come in and save the season. And guys, what if it is four more weeks, Mike and we're one and four by the end of September? That's not fair to say, well, here comes pinnocks and he better. He better do this. So he's a bum. And that's the other thing. Does panic get the full audition because you know fans, if Michael panics for argument say finally gets out there and struggles, Jack strand time. You know, folks have been screaming for Jack strand. I mean, that's why at that point you have nothing to lose. I know. And then that's then has become the gap year, which I, which I'm not that I'm hoping to predict, but feel it might be trending that way.

1:40:20All right, man, we got more to get to Mike. We got guy talked and Steve Koonen's going to join us. Right. We're live between peaks. What are you guys coming up? Hey, man, we got to talk about today. Today is 9 11, but we've also got some stuff on the lighter side to dive into, including that train wreck down in Australia. A lot of folks say that the NFL has truly gone a bridge too far or jumped into shark by putting teams in that environment and everyone saying that whoever the Rams consulted about their strategy for flying to Australia. Your fired. We'll get to all that guys coming up next guide talk live, Twin peaks in Bucket, great crowd down to join the party. Carl Dukes live from Twin peaks here in Bucket. Yes, sir, what looks to be maybe a rainy afternoon for some of the Metro today. And again, I never thought I'd be that guy that goes, yeah, I could use the rain. But we could use the rain. Drive, bro, save my grass. Carl Dukes, Big Texas fan, it went there. It's a school. You're not going to believe what's going on in Austin, Texas. What's going on in Austin? They've got a buck guy's bar on six street.

1:41:23Uh oh, and Rio Grande and the heart of the shenanigans. Yeah. Yeah, it's called Buperts and they've got a giant, you know, Bruce the Buck guy right there with a Ohio state logo and everything. And the heart of Austin, what in the words of Sheriff Bupert, he just what is this world copied to? They, uh, they've come in and taken it over for the weekend. Is that what the deal is? Well, according to multiple reports that I'm reading this from this is from some Texas longhorn fan site saying what the blank is going on here. There's a whole lot of Ohio state fans now. They travel, man. It's a legacy team. And when Georgia went to Austin, those who don't remember, it was also formula one weekend. So hotel rooms were at a premium. They were averaging out like $1,500 a room. Yep. Some folks had to stay as far as San Antonio because you couldn't get a room. But that's not a formula one weekend this weekend Austin and Ohio state. Apparently the buck guys have invaded Austin. Well, they don't, you know, again, you got to go back. These games don't happen every year. It was a home and home, right? So last year was there this year's day at home in Austin.

1:42:25And, you know, first of all, I said this, Mike, I want to see more of these games. It's on with Jerry. Me too. I want to see more of these games. Whether it's Georgia, Alabama, it doesn't matter. And with this new playoff, we now know you're going to lose two or three games and still be in the playoff, right? Right. It's just not, you don't have to be perfect anymore. So either team loses, yeah, it's going to suck this week and there'll be a lot of chatter. But it doesn't mean the ultimate goal can't be reached. But I'll just say this, man, the, the, the, the, when you don't play these schools every year and they're not on your schedule and you know, we're seeing in the SEC now where Georgia's like, oh, no Tennessee this year. It's weird. Right. But I think that's that it creates an urgency for fans to go to those cities because they don't play all the time. Right. And it becomes a destination. So, you know, Columbus last year were plenty of longhorn fans like, we don't go up there that often. Let's go. And so I think that's what you're seeing. But we can handle it. We got a hundred thousand plus stadium. They'll pay the freight. Don't don't yell at me, man. I'm right here. They'll pay the freight. Again, don't discriminate me. I'm right here, Carl.

1:43:26You're taking this very personal. Is it just I brought it up? I'm just saying the fuck guys have invaded your eye. I never thought I'd see a bar. A fuck guy is bar and Austin for the weekend. I mean, have you no shame bar owner? But I believe that happens. I move that. Yeah, I believe that happens in these kind of weekends where you can come in and do that. And you got enough coin. You know, we want to rip this place. Right. You know, I'm with you. Hey, man. Well, everybody kind of agrees that nobody likes the way football on Netflix works. Did here the way the announcer was pronouncing Melbourne? I did not. Who was the announcer? Melbourne. It was one of the Eagles. I guess it's I always his son. It was his son. No, no, I'm starting to put you on short notice or I just saw the story. But I heard him say it a few times. I've been to Melbourne and I mean, they say Melbourne, but I think they say Mel bin. It's like peach Melba. It's Mel. He kept saying Mel bin. I didn't really. And a lot of the inner web is like, what's he doing? A lot of folks also felt that him and Luke Keekley. It almost looked like it was a ventriloquist act. Like you got it, Lauren.

1:44:26Take a listen. Here's our announcer Noah Eagle. San Francisco, two time outs. And what the goes. He yards down the field of building. Oh, that's a correct. Melbin. I've been to Melbourne. Melbourne. Yeah, not Mel bin. Yeah. But anyway, the internet is divided. Some Australians say now you say, Mel. Yeah, but it's Melbourne B.U.H.N. Not Mel bin like bin like a trash bin. So I'll make you down to Melbourne. Is he just a syllable off in? I don't know what he's people saying they don't know what he's doing. But that son of Ion that is Noah Eagle family business. Lot of nepotism and television, but he doesn't go job. He does. But and it was funny last night. Everyone was joking. I said this to Carl earlier because I don't want to just criticize everything. I want to be positive. Try to be as positive as I can on social media is enough negativity. But I was laughing because it's Noah talking with Luke and they look at least that's something and it's like, Hey, what about that play? And they go in that right Terry McCauley.

1:45:27Terry McCauley's not in everybody. This is a major television broadcast Netflix spent Zillions of the they don't have a microphone or a headset or even a three shot to get Terry McCauley's take who's the referee expert. Wow. I think it was 50 was it 50 million for this game or something about nature? Whatever they're paying because for the Christmas games, I know it's ridiculous. But yeah, you would think they'd have all of this covered. But you feel me on that? It's like, well, Terry McCauley's not in here. Greasy. Well, by the way, you ever probably with the way Michael Irving's wearing his hair. People are killing Michael Irving. Have some cool, like little dread things going. Yeah, I think he's been wearing it like that for a while now. I saw him spanking something on the sideline after Miami's last win. I always get the belt out. He was break out the bell. He was spanking the water bucket Mike. Right. Talking about how they were spanking people. But by the way, some folks have felt that there it was a little interesting to see Tennessee States coach giving a little lip. And again, if you didn't see it, Miami blew out. If you didn't see the game last night, 77, 6. Yeah, again, let me again, or who they playing, I said Tennessee State.

1:46:27That was George's opponent. Sorry about that. But they win big 77 to 7 and they actually shorten the fourth quarter to 10 minutes. Similar sort of like a high school. Against the ratlers. It was fam you. I said Tennessee State. Like a high school game where they both coach the greatest shortener having a the clock run. But it was interesting. Like Miami is loaded. And yes, they rolled to Stanford and obviously fam you is not at their level. Not yet. But Miami's got so many skill position players. Men still looks like a rock star. I mean, you can start to pencil in a couple of teams in your mind's eye. This playoff can't you? I, I think they are head and shoulders above everybody else in the ACC right now. And again, that's why I asked Wes early this week about Virginia because they got a much older team. They're scheduled favorable. I mean, you know, we'll see how that shakes out. But Mike that the Clemson game in a couple of weeks. That could get ugly. Now people are saying Clemson, you know, Wes said his Clemson really that bad, you know, or it was LSU just that good. A bit of both or maybe. I mean, there's nothing. It's funny. There's a Clemson fan at the end of the bar.

1:47:27And misery loves companies. And what are you going to do with Davo? And I pointed to I got a nose hat on. I said, you know, we're in the same boat with Norvell. You know, these are these are the joke last week about if they're really going to call your bluff on the SCC. They were going to kick LSU out. Who you going to bring in? Well, about five years ago, it was a no brainer. It was Clemson or Florida State. They're not hot brands right now. I mean, they're legacy teams. But you got to figure it some point. Are they going to get it right? Clemson is still a small school in upstate South Carolina. And Florida State doesn't have that kind of money to kick around or even buy out their current coaches under performance. Yeah, I just think, you know, when we talk about college football though, the equal playing field. All you got to do is look at SMU. Nobody wanted SMU in the ACC. They thought it was a joke. SMU's come in and established themselves as one of the best programs in that conference. And so that has to do with, you know, the where college football is if you spend the right money, Mike. And I do like their coach, but I just think like we go back a few years ago and we were like SMU. That's a good fit for the ACC. They wanted to be there because they wanted this challenge.

1:48:28But I just think like that's the example when you start talking about who can we add and who adds value. Hey, man, I saw the story last night when I got home from work. And I was like, dang channel two had the story on a chef who worked at a restaurant off camp Creek. Rhymes with strong horn. And apparently there was some things going on in the kitchen. Have you seen you can go on channel two's website, the stories till up. Was he doing bad? No, but he was saying like this is not the way a restaurant should work. Not the way a kitchen should look. I mean, there was a lot of stuff going on. I don't want to like for people are eating here at the restaurant. I'll pass on some of the glory details. But Jerry Hasselhoff saw it. It was pretty it's pretty bad. And it was like first when I heard the story, I'm like, well, this is obviously some guy got fired with an accident. No, he's a guy who actually did the right thing because you can't serve food in this environment. And apparently the management team got fired that was running that store and they changed it back. But it was like, you know, but so did they pass their yes, apparently so. But it was I mean, stakes are laying around.

1:49:29Critters, there's a lot of stuff going on. It was Jerry C Jerry's facial expression. Jerry's making prune face bitter beer face guys. I can share it with you. Hey guys, it is 9 11 today, the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the US of A. And like we all know where we were and we're not going to go down that road because it's a special time and a terrible time. Obviously in so many of our lives. But I do think Carl and you and I talked about this last year. We always have the same I think strike the same cord. I just we all first of I get angry when I think about 25 years ago. They were so unprepared and it happened and you know, I grew up there. And then I and then I think about also I get angry because think about how we came together. And I'm not and again guys, I'm just saying think about how if you were at like Walmart or Costco and you were fighting over the same parking space. You know, you did. Hey man, you got it. You know, somebody's merging that day getting on the highway, take it. We stopped with the petty BS that crept back into our lives 25 years later. You know, we were so good to each other.

1:50:30Everybody in this country, any walk of life, there was a true love. And it just seems like it's so gone. I mean, I'm trying to get on a soap box. I'm just saying it's a thing that I take. You know, from where we are 25 years later, can we ever get back to everything so divisive? You know, culture, politics, et cetera. But you know what I'm saying, brother, it just felt like we all came together and we had a genuine love for our country and each other that lasted at least a year or two. And then it slowly eroded. We were scared. We had to come together because it was us against the world. We never thought that something like that would happen on our homeland. So yeah, I totally remember and I totally agree. I don't know if it was you or maybe some friends over the last weekend. We were talking about kids are not even being taught about 9 11. And for those and for those of you who are old enough again, it's only 25 years. It sounds like forever. It's not. It's not a long time ago. Like it sounds me because we were having this conversation. I'll just say this Mike, you know, you're right. A bunch of emotions go through me every year because I immediately wake up and I, you know, you start to see things and it just takes you right back to where you were.

1:51:40And the thing that I was and I'm not afraid to say it. I've said it for 20 years. I was scared. I think most Americans were. You didn't know what was next. You didn't know what city was next. You didn't know if we had the ability to defend ourselves. People forget George Bush was on a plane for damn their eight hours. Are they flying around worried about where is correct? The threats. So it wasn't like, Hey, we got this under control. They were trying to figure out what the hell was going on. So yes, right. It is a weird, eerie day that still lives very vividly in my memory. And I think for most people who lived it, fun. The good news is, man, I hope that we are more prepared now 25 years later. And certainly we don't ever want to forget the souls we lost on that day. It's want to give a shout out personal note. Gary Sinney. You and I both interviewed him over the years. He has Lieutenant Dan band. He's got the nonprofits. He's involved with wounded warrior and first responders. My high school, we lost 12 people from my hometown of Wanch, New York and Long Island. And Gary Sinney since some other groups got involved and put together a monument outside the high school with the twin towers.

1:52:40Did you see the drones amazing other night? I mean, guys, they had the amount the same number of victims of the attacks. That was the drones that basically simulated the world trade center. It was goosebumps city. But again, guys, I know that it's a tough day for a lot of folks, but we'd be remiss if we didn't talk about it. Because as I said, I wish we could get some of that love back. But either way, that's guy talk guys on the anniversary of 9-11. All right, coming up guys, we're live at Twin Peaks. Steve Koonens going to join us. Hawks CEO, where are the hawks going for training camp? Something a little different this year. Also, we'll talk about some other things with Steve obviously as we kind of go all around with him. Falcon report is on the way. We'll give you the latest as we get ready for Sunday's match up in Pittsburgh. And we're going to talk about what we want to see from a Kyle pits or Jahan Dotson or Neveon to real. Or even Tommy Reese are offensive coordinator because how much has he had to adjust here this last? Let's be honest, when we all heard Tommy Reese was going to go see how many guys rolled their eyes. Big test coming up. Stay there. It's Duke's in Bell.

1:53:41He is the CEO of our Atlanta Hawks. His name is Steve Koonens. And he joins us here on Sports Radio 92 9 the game on a weekly basis. And Steve, first and foremost, how you doing? How's your how's your week been? Been a busy week. Been a very busy week. Lots of good stuff going on. How's yours? Pretty good. I mean, considering the Falcon situation. It was good Monday because we felt like we had a hold of things and then two was named the starter. Then two gets an oblique injury. And now we're down to our third quarterback, which is obviously Cooper Rush. So yeah, I mean, considering it's not been a great week, Steve. It's not been a great week. Well, you know what the game hadn't been played yet. Stranger things have happened. So let's not see the victory to Pittsburgh who has a quarterback. I think about four months younger than me. Yes, it's I mean, that's the things that we and I always go back. The Rant of the Texas. I've got a lights out defense. But the Steelers could not have looked more anemic than they did that final game the last year. So there's always a plus week one is always such a fugacy.

1:54:43You never know what you're going to get. Some teams look like garbage and come back the next week and they're in form. Let's switch it off a bit. What do you think of Wednesday night football? I don't like it, but the NFL does it because they can. I'm more about I'm more about not liking last night. We'll start with Wednesday. I mean, a rematch of the of the Super Bowl is great, but I mean, I don't know. It's so strange, Steve. And it's almost like the NFL is overflexing. Yeah, I had two dinners the last two nights and it's like, wow, I got to hurry up. I'm missing football. It's like the Zarr on Wednesday Thursday. I like I really do. You know, and I wish there were better games on tonight. There's really, you know, there's not high quality games on, but the Wednesday night games. See, you know, the game, the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving. It's a little strange. I'm with you. Is Australia a bridge too far? I know again, 49ers handle the travel. The Rams right now everyone says they didn't Steve. It just I felt bad for those fans who paid good money for those seats on a cricket pitch.

1:55:46You're literally like a mile from the field. Yeah, we I mean, we went to Abu Dhabi a couple of years ago. And it was a fabulous experience for the players and team. We took nine days. It was season. You know, we enjoyed, you know, connecting with the team and having the same quality for the players with us. But that's a pretty aggressive trip to start a season, especially with two of your projected top teams in the league. But you know, everybody wants to make it a global game and the NBA. We're fortunate that you know, a third of our players are from there and the NFL and major league baseball. Far less, but you know, I think that is what our world look is going to look like is more games where there's less competition. David Stern was way ahead of the game though, wasn't he? When you start talking about this international thing. I mean, like I think, you know, for the NBA, some people realize he was way ahead of this.

1:56:47And at the time, I remember the pushback like, well, we want to be there. And he was trying to explain like we've got more people playing basketball. Now, it's a different world, right? And Steve, that's my issue. Football is our thing. I'm talking about American football. It's our thing. We love it. And this idea we have to take it abroad and it's just like and now I got to pay extra money to see this home game. And you lose the home game like there's so many other elements to this, but the NBA has always kind of been ahead of this. Yeah, I think so, you know, look, I think we're going to see in a couple of years. Every Sunday morning at nine o'clock or nine thirty, we're going to have an international game to watch for a full season. I think that with the, I mean, 30 million people aren't wrong in tuning in. And we both watched it. I found a way, you know. So I just think things are going to evolve. And I think that sports are going to continue to be the primary thing people consume through their television screen.

1:57:49Steve, let's talk about the Hawks real quick. We get word that I don't know how long it's been since we've gone out of the state to have training camp. Okay, so 1999 our producer just told us in our ear, we're going to Nashville. Is that right? What's behind this? I think a deep love of country music by everyone in the Ross and expanding the Hawks brand. Isn't that right, Steve? I think it's a bit of that. I mean, you know, I think one of the brilliance of Quinn is when you go out of town as a group, you get closer, you get more connected. Okay. You're away from your family. You're not necessarily at home. We gone, we've gone to Athens. I think like eight out of the last ten years and obviously they've done University of Georgia's been credible host. But it was, you know, how do we continue to team build? Because chemistry means so much. We saw that with the nicks last year.

1:58:51So let's go create an environment that's something new and different for the guys. And it's exciting and it should be a lot of fun. Our man, Steve Koonan, when he's in Nashville, Carl, by the way, he's Garth Koonan. Garth Koonan. There you go. There you go. That's his aliens. His head has friends and love for Garth. And I'm talking about you, Mike. Or maybe he's hyphenated like Steve Strand Koonan. Anyway, he joins us right now live from Twin Peaks in Buckhead. Duke's in Bell hanging out with our man. Yes, Steve, like that's cool. I like that idea because, you know, I mean, this is a team which we have a high aspirations for. I don't know how the coach is going to play and get the rookies involved because I know you'll get mad when I say this. But we went back and looked at it. There is kind of a time on our tradition of rookies struggling for minutes with the hawks going all the back to letty Wilkins. So can you give me some kind of guarantee that we're going to see some of these young guys we've we picked up this year? I think we will. If they've, you know, if they're going to make us better.

1:59:54And one of the ways they make us better is by getting them playing time. So, you know, I have huge trust in Quinn and Kingston. We had much higher on our board than even where it was drafted at eight. So I think he's going to have plenty of opportunity. And hopefully they can rise to the occasion, but you don't expect to get a ton from your rookies. But we had this nice balance. You know, you saw what team candidates been able to do. And it's been Nikhil Alexander Walker and Lou Dort leading that team. So it's exciting. It's real exciting. I think we're going to be tough. I think we're going to be a very, very fun watch. And I think the league itself, you see these new stars emerging, which is also makes it fun. So I'm excited. I can't believe, you know, it's weeks away from starting literally weeks. It is. It's Steve Cunning. Guys, before we let you go, Jalen Brunson is going to host Saturday Night Live.

2:00:55And it's going to be the first episode this season. I just think, you know, we forget how many great sports figures have hosted. And that crossover of, you know, Deon Sanders, Derek Geter, Michael Jordan was on there. Joe Montana Walter Page Charles, I was fortunate to go when Charles Barkley's hosted a couple of times when Barkley was hosting. And, you know, the best part is the after party. It starts at one. You get home about 430 and you went, did I really get to do that? How lucky am I? That's cool. And I just love how, you know, again, with the writers get creative. I always think of like the Peyton Manning sketch carol with the kids. He's playing pick up football. I'm not saying I'd kill a snitch. Oh, yeah. It drops one of the greatest. It is. It was even the Porta John. Get back in there. It's completely opposite of Manning's personality. That's what makes it so great. But yes, so Jalen Brunson is going to, and I'm just, I guess the question for me though is what does it do for the NBA?

2:01:59I mean, they're all, it's New York. They won the championship again. We saw him firsthand, you know, first up close and personal, but for the NBA. What's it do? It's part of, you know, with everything we have at our disposal to be connected and entertained with having something that surprises and delights you, Jalen Brunson. Well, no matter how bad he is, he'll be great because the fans in New York and that and the studio only see like 300 people. I mean, but they'll be, they'll be cheering for him and it'll be Rockus and I hope he's funny. That's my favorite show of all time I could talk to you for hours about that show. But athlete, you know, Tom Brady wasn't exactly a riveting guest. Charles Parkley dresses as a woman, kind of interesting and oddly appealing. The funny scene for those that remember we're doing like SNL memory lane, but the one with Brady. It was a skit. I want to say it was either John Loves or the character Carl where Brady comes in the office and he's got a dresser on it.

2:03:02No pants on and and and the women are of course, he's so good looking. The women don't care. So there's no claims of sexual harassment. Yeah, it being inappropriate. That's our man Steve Coon and guys hanging out. He's a big shot because hang out at SNL rap parties. Joint is here live from a twin peaks. Oh, be nice. I'm kidding. I got to go with Charles. Somebody needed to drive him. Right. By the way, you think Charles does. You think Charles does step away with Ernie? They've kind of said like it's a package deal. One more year for these guys in the US. Panthers are going to walk away. What are you here with Charles starting in 2000 when he started retiring? Yeah. So it's just 26 year. But I do believe Ernie will be 70. Charles doesn't want to be tied to work. He wants to play golf and fish and do what he has to do. But I don't know man. I don't know. He is such a public figure and to go away from that. So I'm sure there'll be some kind of reduced schedule.

2:04:03Where you know, maybe Charles just come to our all star and play off. And at all start, he can lose his voice. Which if you remember, it should have been a Saturday night lives. Get the first year at TNT. We have all star game. We're so excited and Charles shows up for work. He was out partying the entire night and with had Laren Chaita. It could speak. No, it's true. That takes me back man. I was at that all star game. That's crazy. Yes, Steve, we got to get out of here real quick dogs this weekend. Look, the handle business last week and I expect we're doing the same. And then you're told to my I must of my prediction last week. I had them winning by 72. They only won by 60. So I'll say it'll be no win in the mid 40s. Okay. All right. They did cover and final thing thoughts on Falcons. Falcons first weekend. Pittsburgh on the road. I am carrying loudly for our home team, but it's it's going to be a challenge to open the season with a third string quarterback who is experienced who's played for seven years.

2:05:06Yeah. And you know, we'll see. This is why we play the games, gentlemen. This is why we play the games. Look, if we go up there and win, find a way to get it done. It'll be the biggest shocker week one. It's going to pans down. Hands down. So Steve, thank you. Have a great weekend. We appreciate you as always and Hawks guys right around the corner as they're going to be having training camp up in Nashville before. And by the way, their media day will be here and then they'll head up to Nashville. Right. Good stuff. Steve, thanks again. See you guys. Take care. All right. And by the way, was it 45 with Western Kentucky? Hilltowers are really good. Was it other guy conference school? They're pretty solid. They played in post seasons. They've won games against big teams. So this might get back to the Kirby not covering the big number. Although some would feel that dog bands look at that Georgia team and say the players heard all this stuff. They're frustrated about how the last two seasons have ended. So they want to play in with a chip. I hope so. Well, if they are Mike, then they've got a chance to achieve their goals. Hey guys, we're coming back. The latest update on the Falcons, the injury report.

2:06:09It's Friday. Nothing's changing between now and Sunday. If you're not playing, you're not playing. And what do we want to see from some of our key guys? Mike and I'll break that down for you next live from Twin Peaks on sports radio. 92 9 the game. We are Duke Symbel. We start off every day and every hour by saying, Hey man, happy Friday. Guys were live at Twin Peaks and Buckhead. And Mike and I have been discussing all day with many of you, maybe just getting wind of. And that is what's this team going to look like on Sunday now with Cooper Rush under center. If you're just tuning in, that decision was made and announced today by Kevin Stofansky. We're going to let you hear from coach coming up. But as we thought at the beginning of this week, okay, it's going to be to a, they'll get the game plan ready. They'll do some things that benefit him and certainly, you know, play to his strengths. And now, Mike, you've had to switch that up. We're going to talk about things that we expect from some of these guys in the first week of the season. But just your initial thoughts, man, because today I got to tell you when this news came down, I was a little upset. But then I was a little like, damn, okay, what's this mean?

2:07:10And like now the result with me, like I've gotten to the place, Mike, where I go. Cooper's the guy. Let's just go try to win this game. Well, it's funny because on Wednesday night on NBC and football night in America, Mike Floreo said of two of struggles, he'll be cut. And like, well, he might not even get on the field. You know what I mean? I never thought we were going to carry four quarterbacks all season. Cooper rushes a competent, you know, backup quarterback. You know, he's, he's that guy, you know, he's older, what early 30s, right 32? 32. You know, he had some, some starts with the Cowboys. He's nine and seven as a starter in the NFL. But he's not sexy. He's not exciting. And look, I know we've trying to make the Steelers. If the Steelers were that good, then why did they go to the Super Bowl last year? Yes, they've got TJ what? Yes, they've got a good defense. I've also got some injuries. And they've got an Aaron Rodgers who looked really old at times last year. And an offense and even former Steeler Brian McFenne said, look dysfunctional. Sure. At times last year. But it's just, you know, Tua was the guy that got the most reps. Now here's a guy that literally gets shoehorned into start Carl. And today they work on Red Zone.

2:08:12You know, they do some seven on seven as Dave Archer told us. So he's just got a cram it. Hopefully he's spongeed it up and he gets what's the fans he's asking about him. Some guys say there's no difference whether it was Tua or Cooper Rush going out there. I disagree. I think the game plan for Tua was based on certain things that they had saw. I can't because he was getting the number one snaps. You this guy hadn't gotten any of those snaps until yesterday. So you can't say that, hey, everything is the same. I do think they'll be certain play calls run plays or run plays. I'm talking from a passing perspective. But there's the ball come out quickly, whether it's Michael Penox, Tua or Cooper Rush. Well, you would hold the Steelers. I mean, you want to three slant, one, two, three, you know, screen pass, bubble screen, things like that. I think those things are very similar. But I just think like Mike, you've been putting a plan together probably for two weeks to be honest with you. I think they've known that pinnocks wasn't going to be available. And you've been putting this plan together slowly. And then all of a sudden yesterday, what the hell do you mean is, is oblique is hurt. So now say what you want. I'm not telling you they're scrapping it, but it changes a little bit.

2:09:12And also you go from a left hand to a right hand guy. Okay, we flip information. There's Drake on the right side now. There's there little things that go into these these play calls with all of that said. Here's the thing for me with Cooper Rush and again, Falcons by the way, oh, seven and one in Pittsburgh. Oh, seven and one in Pittsburgh, two and 16 and one versus the Steelers. And their last win, I believe when you talk about playing the Steelers, you got to go back. To oh six Mike and a game at the Georgia dump. We've not had a lot of success against these dudes. So now you throw this monkey rich into the equation and it just makes you wonder, right? What are we getting? Falcon fans, can we go in a football game? Yes, because anything can happen, but it now puts a little bit more pressure on guys to execute. Mike, let's talk about this for a second before we hear from Kevin Stafansky. Who in your opinion needs to really like have the kind of game we've been talking about? Because look, if guys know and everybody's talking about B. John, look, you don't think the Steelers know we're going to get B.

2:10:13John 25 carries. But how do they get him the ball? Is he going to have swing passes? You're going to get the ball on a screen. How do you get him in open fields where you can make again, B. John's got to make one man miss in the play design, which I'll trust 99.9% of the time. B. John's got to have at least 25 touches, either through the air on the ground. Brian Robertson's the backup and he's a solid physical running back to. But yeah, it's number one B. John and then I'll say Kyle Pits because we expect the ball to come out quicker. The routes won't be as longer perhaps again. We're going to see what's the fans and Tommy Reese do. And the other thing is would you feel worse if this was freaking Zach Robinson having to deal with this on the fly? I mean, all off season you and I have said adults in the room adults in the room. Guys that have a plan. Well, we're going to see it. And by the way, what's the fanski is dealing with this week? It's called a Thursday in Cleveland, right? From Baker Mayfield to the Sean Watson to Joe Flacco to James Winston, this should hurt centers. He's he's dealt with a lot of this kind of nonsense. Like a brew right? So yeah, but let's see what the adults in the room come up with to help Cooper rush be successful.

2:11:14What can I say this to? You're right, but they didn't win a lot of games. No. And so that's the other side. I mean, it's also again, it's a matter of this to build or lack of stability in that organization. And this goes back to you were saying earlier in the guys. It's not unfair. It's not unfair to say it as a falcon fan. Sometimes you feel like you're cursed or were cursed within competent management. Why didn't we go get Kyler Murray instead of to a tongue of ILOA when both guys are basically available at the same price. And to is known as having injury now Kyler had his own injuries and off the field concerns about dedication and Arizona as was reported. But why not Kyler over to well, I just feel like we can't talk about this situation without pointing the finger at the front office and saying the decisions that were made have also put us here. They brought these guys here guys. It's not like we sign Cooper rush in March. We signed him July 29th. The first day of camp. Oh, because well, we got a guy we need to release because of injury. Okay, well, we need another arm. Trevor Simmy and got hurt in the arm and here and then to miss the first four four and a half days because he wasn't.

2:12:18He couldn't do anything really in practice. But Mike, but Mike, you had options and that that part of it goes along with why we are here now. Regardless of what you think about these guys in quarterback. So you know, guys said to me, I thought Matt Rhymes is going to make a difference. Look, Matt's on the clock. He hasn't yet, but I can't judge him because we haven't played a game yet. The personnel hopefully gets better. We draft better. But this gets back and Mike, we spend money next year. You keep talking about the cap goal. You know, we're going to have more cap space. But he's on the clock. Let's not. But this is also like, but this goes back to the gap. You're they inherited a bit of a mess. There are guys they believe in and they gave money to because you don't throw away a beach on Robinson. We believe in Drake. They believe in like they believe more in pits and I did I would let pits play the season out on the tag. But they gave pits the confidence and a great interview. We talked about Daniel Flick. Did a really nice piece by the way in the AJC on Kyle Pits checking out. But they've invested in their future locked up burgeon on it left guard, restructured, Linström. There's some pieces that are there. But we don't have a quarterback yet. We're going to find out if Mike's the guy because we don't know.

2:13:19And the defense, look, once you lost, once you lost Pierce Junior in the suspension and Jalen Walker. But wasn't there intentions? The expectations certainly are realistic in that front off. Well, that's my issue. But look Mike, don't bad to mediocre teams and new regimes inherit bad situations all the time. Sometimes in this division you go from worse to first. You know, we've seen it a million times. But I think there's some fundamental flaws on this team right now is presently constructed. I don't disagree. The defense is a number one concern. Where's the pass rush? I it's certainly mine 4047 260929. I just think like when you're a five hundred team for the last five hundred five years or six years, whatever the hell it's been, there are things that no matter what it was Matt Ryan or if it was any other executive, you're you are taking on a task that you know may take a while. But that's just part of the game. Let's hear from our coach because he did speak today. What about starting Cooper this week? This is what he said. Yes, Cooper will start. And Jackson to correct with Cooper. He said yesterday that other than like a two-minute drill, the first week of camp,

2:14:22he hadn't taken any reps of the ones until yesterday. Do you believe that he can get up to speed with them, get in sync with the guys that he needs to be in sync with between yesterday and now? I guess we'll walk through tomorrow. I do. That's the short answer as I do. The long answer is that's the life of a backup quarterback and there's been great guys over the course of history that do an excellent job of staying ready so they don't have to get ready and step in. And the reason you're able to do that is because you work so hard in the meeting room and on the practice field to stay up to speed. Okay, so coach believes he'll be ready. He's stay ready to be ready. Be ready. Stay ready. Okay, two days Mike. He's going to throw a couple of bad passes and we're going to just have to live with it. I mean, like, I think the notion has been that at least two has been working with these guys. And you felt a little bit better about, okay, this rhythm that we're talking about and having the timing down. Regardless of what you think of it, you felt better because he had been working with these guys.

2:15:24You're doing this dude in the mix for two days and going, all right, we'll be fine. But this is it. I mean, that's why I was, I mean, I didn't, obviously I had no idea. This was going to happen, but I was always lukewarm about two of just, you know, from the way things ended in Miami in an offense that was really geared towards his strengths. And they had to bench him. I'm just, I never expected to do anything other than be a placeholder until Penox was ready. I thought there was a good chance Penox could start week one. I don't know. Now we wait and see when Penox gets there, but right now it's Cooper Rush. And the thing is the oblique. And by the way, Mark Ramondi from ESPN.com Carl tweets out this oblique tweak has nothing to do with the back injury. Separate that caused him to miss the first couple of days of practice. But again, if Michael Penox Jr. could find a way to start next week, then two is never getting on the field. I mean, that was it. I mean, it's a tool was a great big nothing, but we don't know. I don't know, but I don't have any, I never had any expectations in the guy in the first place, but I can't predict what Michael Penox is going to do this year. You say that that's the assumption that he's going to throw for 3500 yards and 30 touchdowns. I don't know that.

2:16:25Well, I do think they want to get the sample size. And that's why it's important every game counts to give us the biggest breadth and volume. Yeah. Of game experience, as you can say, Hey, Penox is the guy I believe in. Let's give him the option and when it comes to the draft, we'll go draft the air apparent to Jake Matthews or another edge russier and we won't go quarterback. That's that's why it's so important. That's why I've been railing about Penox and just look at the man in the mirror and get your butt out there. There's a lot of things that play and oh, by the way, for guys who say one game early in the season. Every year, the last three years, it's come down to one game from keeping us from winning this division. That's very true. Let me hear coach real quick as we're talking about Kevin's defense key, but the order by the way is Cooper Rush. It is too is inactive to he's not going to play. Okay. So he's on the he's on the men. Uh, it is Cooper Rush. It is Jack Strand as the backup technically guys. He's one play away frost and the emergency quarterback. As we've talked today with Daniel Flick, you can't declare to a or Penox as the emergency guy. Once you said they are inactive. So, um, we talked about that a little bit earlier today, but that's kind of the picking order.

2:17:29Let me hear what coach had to say about putting in a new offense and starting a new quarterback. In week one, you know, when you're in year one of a system. And while there's a bunch of stuff that we've done in the past that are the same, uh, you're one of any system for coaches and players. You get to know where the bones are buried on all these plays and you know why you spend more time talking about the why and the intent of the play. Sometimes you get to year two and three and everybody. You're you kind of breeze past that. So I do think that there's an advantage to having a bunch of new guys in that room that have asked really good questions so that we can all, you know, figuratively get on the same page. That's an interesting comment and I agree with him on that. One last thing, Mike, you talk about Penox. I do want you to hear what coach said in regards to Michael Penox return. This was today. It's Friday. We know he's not playing Sunday. Mike said is he playing in week two against Caroline at home? Coach, is he when is he going to be ready? Mike will be ready when he's ready. You know, I, again, like I told you guys, whatever day we talked was. Uh, I trust in this process. I trust in what we're doing medically and I trust Mike.

2:18:33Okay. Already that he'll be ready when he's ready. Now another thing guys and some folks don't catch this. Sometimes coaches say things they don't necessarily believe. So we'll see where this goes. They might feel that they're quarterback lies in the draft. They might be, there might be some guys in the organization who feel his woman fuzzy about Jack Strand as you do. Yeah, frost. Hey, my only thing is he's the back. I'm going into this game now and here's what's crazy. Somebody said to me, Duke, he can really end up playing at some point this season. Yeah, the way this is going. Hey, now the good news bad news. If you really want to see Jack Strand, that's good news. But the bad news is if he's in the game, it's going horribly wrong. I agree. I agree. Look, I said to you, all this, this conversation, it's not an ideal situation to throw an undrafted free agent rookie with no experience into a into a game like this. It's almost unfair. But this is our lot right now. We hope that Cooper can go up there and keep us in the game who had Cooper rushes.

2:19:34You're starting quarterback week one on your gringo card. Nobody nobody. All right, man, we're going to talk to Grant. There is a big series at truest park that starts tonight with the Phillies. We'll get the latest from Grant McCauley coming up on sports radio 92 9 the game. This is the final three games between the Phillies and the Braves tonight over at truest park. It starts tonight. It's Duke's and Belle. We alive at Twin Peaks guys in Buckhead. Grant McCauley joins us to talk about the Braves. Mike and I were just talking about the weather before we get into the game itself. What's it look like over there truest? Well, it's very overcast. I can tell you that it's not really rained all together that much, but the radar looks like it could be a problem sometime within the next two to three hours, which is really great when you're trying to plan how to start a baseball game and keep it going with no interruptions. But I am currently staring at the tarp right now. So we're in the holding pattern and hopefully this will blow over and be one of those things that does not make this the longest night of the season. The truest park, but those might be my famous last words. They do have the tie breaker with the Phillies, but of course Phillies can win more games and win the division.

2:20:36Massive pitching dual. They haven't really given the run support to sail. You know, I mean, I was telling Carl yesterday is it like three or four games on the top of my head, Grant. Is that like psychological? I don't know if we got the ace out there. Can these guys get out there and rig tonight against Aaron Nolan and by his standards as struggle for the Phillies? Yeah, he has struggled, but he has pitched really well in the second half. And I think he had made some mechanical adjustments that we got a first hand look at it in the series over the weekend when he went seven strong innings. And then the braze rally against the Phillies bullpen. So there are a number of different ways to win on the days that the good starting pitch. Sure, or a starting pitcher who has a great day is out there, but the braze to your point have been having a lot of trouble scoring run. Less than four per game in the month of August now into September. This has been going on for a while. I think I may have even told you guys about it. I know I talked about it on from the diamond, but Chris sale has nine losses in two no decisions this year. He has a 2.95 ERA in those 11 starts. So even on days that the braze aren't winning or he's taking a loss at top luck when at that. He's still giving you ace level production.

2:21:38It just speaks to how good Chris sale is. And that's the kind of performance they're going to need from him tonight to set the tone for this series. Yeah, and that's what it's about setting the tone now when we went up there. Grant, if I remember correctly, they kind of set their rotation up to be, you know, what they wanted to go up against this. Obviously, we end up splitting that series. It's a little different this time around. Yeah, a little bit because you are still going to see, I mean, you've got the matchup tonight with Nola who pitched well against them. You guys who's Luzardo tomorrow. I don't know if I need to remind anybody what the finale and Philly looked like, but it was a very fast game and very little offense to the braves. And then you're going to see Andrew Painter in the finale. He's been pitching better, but he's obviously not in the sack Wheeler or Christopher Sanchez. So you are missing those guys in this series. However, again, for the braze lineup, it's really been a struggle no matter who's out there to really get some big innings rolling and get some things going offensively speaking. But if you do look at, even though there's only three games between these two teams remaining important. Obviously for both teams to win this series and do as much as they can to either gain ground in the case of the Phillies or distance themselves in the case of the braves.

2:22:42If you look at the finale or the final couple of weeks of the season, I think the braves can go seven and six. And the Phillies would have to go something like 13 and two to be able to be able to, or excuse me, 12 and two to even try to catch the braves. So there's basically no margin for air left for the Philadelphia Phillies when it comes to winning this division. The braves had the lead. They have that tiebreaker. They essentially could play 500 or better ball for the remainder of the season and be almost mathematically impossible to catch. And again, I know I'm wandering into the area where it's like these could be famous last words, but you just hope that things work out well enough that there's just not enough time and not enough games left for the Phillies to catch them. Grant McColle is with us guys who are live here at Twin Peaks in Bucket. He's up at the stadium more on the quarterback conundrum with the Falcons up in Pittsburgh coming up. So Lane Thomas, inner coastal strain. He's out for like the rest of the season. Maybe some of the postseason. So I mean, I guess the platoon thing never really happened, but the good news is Kim seems to be hitting. So down the stretch to Bosn and left and Kimson short, right?

2:23:45Yeah, that's kind of what it's going to be looking like against left handers anyway. And you have gotten some production out of Hassan Kim and knock on wood that can continue. Or maybe there's even an uptick there where he could be a little bit more valuable. Mauricio DeBon, I know you talk about most valuable player for the braves. Maybe he's not necessarily that by the numbers, but what he's meant to the club for versatility's sake and for the clutch hitting and all the other things that he's done and being pretty much a glue guy in that clubhouse. I don't know if there's been a more quote unquote important brave than Mauricio DeBon from the overall team dynamic perspective. So you're going to ask him again to just move around and help the club where he can best. But for the lane Thomas acquisition, you were hoping to get some guy who was going to be able to come in and really match up well against tough left handers and the braves essentially got what about a month or so out of them. He didn't play a ton and really I was kind of surprised that he didn't get more playing time with that intercostal issue. That's the cartilage between your ribs. That's what he's trained. So very little you can do others in the wait for it to heal and that's based on the time of year we are. If it's going to take you a month to get back, you could very well have a tough time playing again this year if you're lane Thomas, which is a real shame for him and for the braves.

2:24:53He man also has what 37 38 home runs I believe it is somewhere around there. Yeah, and I'm just asking you from the standpoint of like how does he need to finish this season to have any momentum whatsoever to get the recognition of having the kind of season he's had. I know he's cooled off, but you know, if he goes on a tear here these last few weeks, what do you think that's enough of a pusher? No. I mean, the last couple of weeks can certainly close out what has been overall a great season for him and I am starting to see some swings here over the past few games through the race series, especially where you're starting to see him square the ball up more. There's been some bad luck for him in some of those, but when you start seeing a hundred five, a hundred six miles an hour off the bat, hit on a line, even if it's at somebody, you certainly liked out a lot more than kind of the, I don't know, just feeling like he was just kind of guessing at best, which I guess hitting kind of is the guessing game in a lot of ways. But he just felt like he had kind of lost it there for a couple of weeks and was really grinding to try to get it back. So, you know, as far as MVP's are concerned, he's definitely the braze MVP as far as the MVP of the National League.

2:25:57I think at this point, it is the P Crow Armstrong show and he has even pushed himself away from show, hey, O'Tani, who is now dealing with some health issues that could put some serious question as to his availability for the Dodgers down the stretch. It's not beyond. I get down the micro level grant tonight with the Phillies. Do you try to think about maybe you get away from Schwarber, not Chris sale, but if you get in the bullpen in this series, stay away from Schwarber, just, you know, just seems to be on a roll. Yeah, and there's certain guys that it's no secret, you know, teams will look at it and say, don't let this guy beat you. And I think Cal Schwarber is kind of that guy, you know, whether or not you want to look at all, you struck out 200 times or, you know, he's only hit in 220 or 225 or whatever it is. Like that does not tell the whole story of Cal Schwarber. And we've seen it first and too many times. So I think to your point, even though he does have a lot of strikeout in his profile, he typically worked at bats and he is zoned in and able to catch up with anything. Did your Fuentes wasn't looking to throw a hundred miles an hour right down the middle, but Cal Schwarber is one of those guys that can punish you if you make that kind of mistake.

2:26:57And so, yeah, I do think even with your best arms with the best stuff, Cal Schwarber is up to the challenge. So if there's one guy I can look at, and this is a lineup that has a few guys that you want to be careful with, Cal Schwarber is probably the one that's just a little bit more of a higher profile for me for a risk management standpoint. Where when are you on this weekend, Grant? So I'll be on tomorrow from 12 to 2. So we'll have a couple of hours to talk about in advance of game two of this series. We'll unpack whatever happens here tonight and however long it takes. I'll have Brandon Godden, the voice of the braze for braze nation on the show with me. And I also got to catch up with Drake Baldwin and with Ray Kerr, who's trying to carve out a spot in the braze bullpen. He's looked very good and it took him nearly two years to get back from Tommy John surgery. Really, really great guy. I had him on the show a couple of years ago when he first came over and so a really fun conversation. But all of that plenty of braze and baseball talk and hopefully something good to be speaking about once we're done with this opener against the Phillies from the diamond tomorrow 12 to 2 right here on 99 to 9 to game. Wherever you get your podcast and on the audacity app. Good stuff. Grant McCauley. I have a great weekend. We'll talk to you next week. Hopefully we handle these these Phillies again, man. Appreciate you. Hopefully so. Thanks guys.

2:28:03Alright, that's Grant McCauley. He's on tomorrow. Mike, we're going to talk Falcons when we come back because we got to give our final thoughts in the week one. But earlier this week, NHL deputy commissioner Bill daily told ESPN that Hansen Carter, a former league star, TNT analyst and a metro Atlanta resident. So four people, right. They don't know who those guys are is spearheading a new franchise expansion bid. So now we're talking about having three different bids in the Atlanta area for NHL team. Because last time I checked, he was part of the group that was involved with the gladiators. Yeah. And so now it's three and we did hear that Vernon Kraus's group apparently has to wear with all to at least pass that information on the NHL. They come up with whatever ridiculous $2 billion plus expansion fee. You're going to throw at us. We're keep to hearing it's Houston for the next expansion team. But the question will be how long before Atlanta proves it deserves another shot. I just feel Atlanta spirit LLC and that trasher experience put us so far behind the eight ball.

2:29:07But the city is also grown since those knitwits blew out the hockey team. I'd like to think we can support it. And the fact the brave showed you as much as it is that the cigarette people on the south side. The fan base is up there in the northern burbs. If that's where the stadium, the arena is. But I still wonder if the NHL feels that the Kraus offering is too far north would answer Carter. Pal up with Tony wrestler. I don't know, but now this is this is interesting a third in HL expansion bid in the Atlanta area. And that's separate from the North point. Correct. Right. All right. Just want to put that out there. All right. We got to talk some football because it's front and center. Falcon Steelers Georgia playing Georgia Tech skits gets Tennessee will lay out what we think as we head towards the weekend next on sports radio 92 9 to game. It is all about the Falcons week one in Pittsburgh Sunday coverage starts at 11 right here on sports radio 92 9 to game kickoff is it one. And it's funny because guys are like now would do you expect dooks. I don't know. I didn't know when it was to I didn't know if it was going to be pinnocks. I still don't know.

2:30:11I have concerns about certain areas of our football team, but you know, this is what the seasons for will try to figure it out. But Mike with Cooper rush under center. As I said, you know, this has been a roller coaster for me today of emotions like, oh, here we go again. Look, got to get behind it. And hopefully he's able to do enough to possibly put us in a position to win. And that's how I'm looking at this. I don't expect me to go up there and dominate if he does. He's going to surprise me out of everybody. But keep us in. I mean, down in distance. Get get easy first downs and move the chains. We've got to use. They're going to try to stop. Beige and everybody tries to stop. Beige. I don't think times beige on got stopped twice last year. Best job against Beige on was Robert Salas defense for the San Francisco 49ers. But you've got to get beige on the ball. And again, whether it's in the passing game this, you know, how many time you're going to swing pass wheel route. You know, it's like that stuff works. But the Steelers again, it's a good football team. Nobody thinks the Steelers are winning the Super Bowl. We talked to the beat writer and the athletic. They're realistic expectations. Aaron Rogers that will pick you apart.

2:31:15If you can't get the pass Russian, that's where my biggest concern is how does Ulbrich get heat on Aaron Rogers? If your blitzin are you thinkin' to make you, you know, make your pay? Or are we going to see Kendall Daniels use that super athleticism? Yeah. And maybe he's the X factor, man. By the way, for what it's worth, Dan Orlovsky, the see today, not ESPN says, quote, if Cooper Rush plays well, Atlanta's not going to put two back on the field. Okay. Just to put him back on the field. I would agree with that. Can I say what Cooper Rush did last year? 52 passes, zero touchdowns for the Ravens. Right. Four in exceptions. Let's hope he plays well. We don't know what we're getting. Like that's a bold thing to say for more. I mean, that's what he did. But at the end of the day, this dude hadn't played well enough to be anywhere for any amount of time. That's what the concern is. So he's got the ability. He wouldn't be here and wouldn't be in the league if he didn't. But I also think guys, I think the Falcons, when they called him, were like, we need another arm in camp.

2:32:17They did not envision him starting week one. Look, a lot of guys picked up on our conversation at the top of the hour. When I said, why didn't we reach out for Kyler Murray? I mean, was that in deference to Michael Penex Jr.? Like you didn't really feel like Michael couldn't win the job against Kyler Murray? And with a guy with potentially two or three more years here, if you pick up the fifth or option. Like either way, that gets back to that's why if you pick up to it, then this isn't gap year. Then you don't have any expectations. You're brought into guy who's on the downside now, trying to reinvent himself. Then you may get to see what Penex does at some point. And I hate saying that, but I popped that on you one day on the podcast. And I was starting to really feel this is the gap year. And Penex gets out there when he gets out there. I've still fans he's like, hey, we got great communication. Everything's fine. Okay. Yeah. All right. I don't know if that's the case only because and again, I'm not questioning his relationship because I don't have intimate knowledge of that. All I would tell you is I think the team and the organization should have known way before we did where Penex was with this.

2:33:22And when you know that Mike, you prepare differently and you go out and acquire different players. And I don't know if they were in tune with, all right, man, just tell us when you're ready or we don't think you're going to be ready and have a real conversation because it was almost like when he said what he said that day. Now I'm going back with two weeks when he said, you know, oh man, I ain't ready. And we tripped off of it. We went crazy because he's like, I've been on three practices 11 on 11. I ain't ready yet. I think Mike that may have been a little bit surprising to them, but who knows at this point, this is a lot. We got to we got to roll with what we roll with. I do think we still have a chance. It's the NFL. You saw it last night. Now the 49ers are different animal because they're certainly one of the most talented teams in the league. But I don't think people thought they beat the Rams like they did last night. So you can go make a few plays, stay close. And then all of a sudden, you know, hopefully you can pull this out. And that's kind of how I'm looking at Sunday. And then we hopefully get to next Sunday. But man, can we be one and oh after week one. That's the goal and how you do it. Who cares if Cooper rush those if he throws for 75 yards, which again, understatement, but Matt Mike, Matt, Matthew Stafford through for 155 last night.

2:34:30He's the he's the raining MVP. This idea like Cooper rush is going to come in against Pittsburgh and throw for 350. I just don't see it. Conservative game plan, but one that puts your quarterback in positions to be successful. Look, man, this season is not up to start. We expected. You know, I had this family called a fantasy that you know, what was your fantasy that Michael Patissier is going to start the freaking season. Yeah, that he was going to do what he told everybody he interviewed with that's fantasy. I'm going to be ready for week one. John Groot. Hey, what are they telling you? You get me ready to go. You can be your wild man. You be ready week one. Yeah, I'll be ready. Zach Klein, you be ready week one. I'll be ready week one. Hey, it's week one. You're cleared by the doctors. I'm not ready. You know, and that's facts guys. And if you want to get mad at me for that, knock yourself out. And again, eventually he will have a chance to show what he has. But as I said to Carl earlier, this might not matter to you. And it probably doesn't. But there are other personnel people and guys in front offices around the NFL going, really?

2:35:31He's clear. He's not he's not playing. Okay. It's something guys will be talking about. Can we hear coach one more time about what he said about pinnocks to Mike's point before we move to college football here before we get out of here in Twin Peaks. This was Kevin's defense get a day. And again, he said Cooper's the starter. He's not worried about putting in a new plan with a new quarterback week one. He said, we're fine. We'll work around that. But here's what he said about my co-pinnocks. Mike will be ready when he's ready. You know, I again, like I told you guys, whatever day we talked was. I trust in this process. I trust in what we're doing medically. And I trust Mike. Now, to be honest, when he is ready, we do need him to play really well. This just isn't just isn't about him coming back and playing average. I want to make that clear. Correct. This isn't about him just being out there. He's got to come back and play really well. He has established nothing. So I mean, guys, and I've given, if you listen to the show on a regular basis, I've given him the benefit of the doubt because of Zach Robinson.

2:36:35I mean, I don't know. You and I went round and round earlier in the show. And I said, I bet you bet you're bigger. Maybe feel to be complaining by week five. Maybe laugh. There were some stuff that came out. This is just in preseason doubted Tampa. Now, how much of that was fined or oriented as opposed to player will find out. But I just think just because you come from a great organization, you're not the brains of that operation. Sean McFae for better for worse is the brains of the Rams. The last night of bad night in Australia. He is. But Zach Robinson, he's over his head here. He is quite clearly. So shenanigans. And Raheem Morris, by the way, in a great spot last night, does a hell of a job down a couple of defensive linemen. And Raheem Morris in his perfect. Some guys are offensive court. And he's an defensive court. Some guys are not head coaches. He's great. I mean, in this role, he is. And I think he's proven that I mean, again, again, I think some people overstated, you know, well, he had a great team with the Rams. Well, the Rams are loaded again. Right. So I, but yeah, man, I thought it was a great game plan for the sidebar from Australia.

2:37:38I mean, I know it's the travel and everybody's making excuses, but Miles Garrett. I mean, I didn't expect to hear Miles Garrett really near Aaron planned to be up. Well, you know, the thing for me was after the game Aaron Donald, I just said Aaron Donald, but the thing for me with Miles Garrett was after the game when he was like, yeah, I'm not 100%. Bro, don't tell me that after the game. You know what? That's what we're talking about with pinnocks. I don't want to hear that. Once you're out there, you're out there. But either way, it's going to be both of those teams will be play off viable teams. I just think shenanigans brilliance Mike last year. 12 and 5 and Mac Jones. Who? Mac Jones started eight games for them and went five and three. That's the brilliance of shenanigans. For me, we can talk about all this other stuff, but yeah, they're going to be in the playoff mix. We'll we, we have a chance to win this division. That's really what this start, you know, this question starts and next week we got a big divisional matchup, but in Pittsburgh and we've gotten all these different comments today. A lot of Falcon fans like my hands going up and down. They're like, oh, we're about to get embarrassed and then other people like, you know what? Cooper Russia's proven he can win in this league. He'll go win a game for us. By the way, we did have a Mac Jones tweet. We always have a Mac Jones tweet with things that go on south. We should be trading from Mac Jones. They're not trading anymore picks. Okay. They want to use those picks. They want to build this thing the right way. A combination of the draft and then augmented with free agency just because you have the most free agent. I should say cap space to use on free agents next year means they're going to do it. I mean, we talked about this earlier this summer. Jets had more cap.

2:39:06I mean, Jack, you know, but I do, I do think that there is a plan here. I do think this is a bit of a curve ball, but I also think they see something in Jack strand and they had him on the roster for a reason. And now the question is going to be, you know, does he get a chance? You know, it would be something I never thought I'd have a bet with you, Carl. Will we see strand on the field before we see panic on the field? Right. That's crazy. Now that's that's that's absolutely not out of the realm of the impossible. Uh, before we go to the next round, I'm going to say, uh, I'm going to say, uh, I'm going to say, uh, I'm going to say, uh, I'm going to say, uh, I'm going to say, uh, I'm going to say, uh, I'm going to say, uh, I'm going to say, uh, I'm going to say, uh, ã. Uh, uh, leaving out of here, man. Georgia Tech handle business. I took tech getting 12 and a half. And by the way, Oklahoma's dropped down to 4.5. A lot of Michigan money, coming okay, but we day, day if he's, so last week was the flute for Michigan. Well, that's what, you know, oh, it just, yeah, apparently, just she wiz but he knows I guess the Michigan fans are rich. They're all about. This is jerks but there's a lot of money. That's true. And they're spending it, but no, I, that was interesting. I just, I just think Brent key won't let this

2:40:06think this team is what we think it is won't let this happen again. And it's a shame what happened against Colorado. That was that was pitiful. Colorado just said, Hey, I got an OC from Sacramento State Carl says we think they can't stop us. They're running run it again. Run it again. And that's how they beat Georgia Tech. Yeah. And Tennessee's got better athletes can do it at a faster tempo. But I just I'm just betting maybe with my heart that that Brent King will not let his team get humiliated. That's exactly what you're doing. By the way, I asked by day is here. If you guys want to ask about the four and a half now, I think you need clarification on that. Well, since all three of us except for you, Arado, Oklahoma, because you hate Oklahoma, day day is down to four and a half. Are we going to make an executive decision? I do hate. And drop at a point because right now we're laying five and a half. You know, guys, I don't want to set precedence. I really feel like if I was to do this, then you know, we would be looking at situations moving. I mean, I remember where there was one lonely time where I wanted to take a line early in the week. Thank you, day day. Thank you. But didn't you bend the rules last year to let Carl get back in the betting game? There was no beating the rules. And 500 actually,

2:41:06so the rules are flexible. They're valuable. The NCAA has just shown us and the big tennis show is the rules are really not the rules. The rules are not flexible. The clock is not really the clock. There's a super secret clock. You don't know. There's another clock. So data, you're saying the five and a half stays. I mean, it would only be right, guys. This is all right. I totally agree with you because if we start this, then it's going to happen because you know, this is going to happen all throughout the year. This is what happens when you go to the sports book and the number changes, guys. I'm sorry. Yeah, you can't take your ticket back and say Michigan is moving the number. Michigan money is moving the number, but it's, I think I'll go to one of my two scores. I do too. I think they're a better team. All right. Last but not least, Georgia cover, Georgia cover. No, I don't know. Maybe where should Kentucky's a better team than your usual second week opponent in the SEC? And you know, you rested all the starters. You just you out the Tennessee state was out man. I think this is a bit closer. I didn't touch it. I didn't bet it. No, no, no, but I heard running a ball, Zion with Andy Randy earlier today. And he was saying there's a chip on the shoulder because they feel they've left.

2:42:09And they have Georgia has left stuff on the table. The last two sugar balls and feel like they're not getting respected right now, which is always a from pop water to the NFL. You can play that card all season. All right. Great games this weekend. We're all about it with you Monday, Falcon Monday. We're talking about the Falcons. Let's just go and see where this game goes. That's that's my philosophy heading in the Sunday with the Steelers. All right. We got to get out of here, man. Oh, hey, man. Thanks to all of our guests. They're online at Odyssey.com, Commissioner Gordon, our on-site engineer. Brother, appreciate you as always back at the studio. Big O, handling everything. And yeah, y'all got some work to do. And, uh, and of course, uh, day day executive producer. Hey, thank you guys for listening and always checking us out, making us at land as number one sports station, it's number one sports show. We're back at you Monday. Should be an exciting weekend, man. Braves, Phillies. And now, obviously we got all this football action.

2:43:10It's here, guys. We finally have made it to the NFL. Let's hope we have a good showing up there in Pittsburgh. Mike Bell, let's get out of here, man. Clear throw. Hey, man. Let's hope the Braves don't monkey around with the Phillies. Don't give them a sign of life. Be nice to not just, you know, win the division, keep them out of the playoffs. You know, I talked about it with grandma call about Shorber and Bryce. They got guys that can do it and their pitching is unbelievable. That's the pitching staff. You got to worry about a short series, best of five, et cetera. So, hey, man, let's not screw around. Hope the bats come alive because Matt Olson, talking to you, brother, need you to not be slumping right now. I think I got that big pinch hit yesterday. Yes, he did. Hopefully that's a sign of something, but those two combined, not hitting very well. Let's dial it up tonight against Aaron Nolan. Mike brought it up in Guy talk today is the 25th anniversary of 9-11. President Bush gave a four minute speech at 830 that night. After flying around the country because they wouldn't take him back to Washington, they thought the country is under siege and there was supposed to be in the second wave

2:44:10of terrorism. But in that speech, Mike, he said, terrorist attacks can shake the foundation of our biggest buildings, but it cannot touch the foundation of America. We are still the greatest country in the world. Hey, if you love the show, you tell your friends. Eve, you don't. You owe Jerry his drink, tap. Oh, man, what? Newshoes, new clothes, brand new grade switched a Verizon to make sure their tech keeps up. This back to school season by or bring any Android phone and get a Samsung Galaxy tablet on us. Get your kids ready for the school year without breaking the bank. Visit Verizon.com or your local store today. Bring an Android phone or purchase a new phone with device payment on post paid service plan required $3.29.99 tablet device payment purchase with new mine on $20 per month tablet plan for 36 months required. Less $330 tablet per month credit applied over 36 months additional taxes fees in terms apply. Hey, all right. Almost here. Are you ready? Just grabbing my shoes.

2:45:11That's what you said 10 minutes ago. I just wrapped a video call uploading this giant file on my tablet, looking at my watch gopananas with the group chat and of course still lining up tonight's playlist on my phone. All at once? Yep, story of my life. That's why I switched to D-Mobile. They have the fastest 5G network. Okay, multi-tasker. I see you. Honestly, I never imagined I could do all this at once. It's awesome. Say no more. I'm totally switching. My post is taking way too long to upload. That's a sign you've got to get T-Mobile. So many reasons to join T-Mobile. Find yours at T-Mobile.com. Fastest based on analysis by Uglos Speed Test Intelligence data of National Speed School results in cooperating 5G download and upload speeds for the first half of 2026. For years, Gond South has been a podcast about crime in the American South.

2:46:12But for our new season, we're widening the lens through deeply reported narrative driven stories. We're digging into the myths, scandals and power structures that still shape the South. And in a lot of ways, the country itself. Follow and listen to Gond South season 5, an Odyssey podcast available now on Apple podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your shows.