Gold Standard: George Kittle gives good news + New bracket changes this year!

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1:03Helping you quickly write, analyze, create, and summarize. So you can cut through clutter and clear path to your best work. Learn more at Microsoft.com slash M365 co-pilot. Start your day with quicker protein instant oatmeal. The instant oatmeal ready to help you tackle whatever your day brings. Like wrinkling your toddler into their car seat. That was fun. Coaching your six-graders soccer team. Double girls! And carrying all the groceries in one trip. Try Quaker Protein, Instant oatmeal, granola, and bars. Great taste and a good source of protein. Quaker, bring out the good. What is good? Everybody, welcome to another gold standard podcast. Part of the pro football insiders. I'm Rob Statz Carrera. That man is Levin Black.

2:04Levin, March 18th, we're posted. Week one of free agency. We're post St. Patrick's Day. We're just getting into draft countdown now. Wow. I mean, full disclosure, full stop. No, we're in the March madness. This is one of the few periods of the year that football takes a back seat. Not for me, never, baby. In fact, speaking of brackets, we're going to have an announcement towards the end of the show that people are going to want to stay tuned for. Our bracket is Quinnipack. Well, Quinnipack is not a school. So Quinnipiac is a school that I went to. I assume they're in the hockey tournament. They lost their conference tournament in hockey. I don't know if they made the NCAA tournament or not. It did win the national championship in hockey like two or three years ago, though. So, you know, it's not, it's not bang on my bobcats. Thank you very much. All right, bobcats, super original. I didn't make the name. What do you want? They were the, they were the braves the year before I got there.

3:07Then they changed it to the bobcats. Oh, so they had time to decide. We're like, let's go with the most vanilla possible. We are a team in Connecticut. What do you want? Let's get right to it on today's show. We're going to talk about George kiddos interview on bus and with the boys. Weird things happening with Brandon IU Quinn, are they not? Trent Williams looming contract deadline and much more. If you didn't hear George on bus and with the boys, here is what he said about his rehab and where he is and more importantly, where he can be soon. I'm on and off of crutches. I got out of a boot like two weeks ago, which was thrilling. Because being in a boot is horrible. I'm in these awesome dad shoes with heel lifts in. And I'm like, I can kind of, I can function on my house without crutches. So I just can't, you know, be on my feet all day. But, you know, it's coming along. The rehab is going great. My trajectory is fantastic. I think I get off of crutches in like a week or two. It was actually cool. My surgeon, Ella Trosh flew to see me in Nashville. He was at my barn for 45 minutes. That I was exactly where I wanted he wanted me to be.

4:09And so we're trending in the right direction. Obviously, that's all good news. I would like to one day be able to afford the level of healthcare where the surgeon flies to see you. That sounds pretty great. But obviously, that's good news with Kettle. Have we ever gotten like the full story of what made him settle on Nashville for where he like is every all season? And I'm assuming we'll end up retiring too. I don't know off the top of my head. It's not from that area. So it's kind of like where did that come from? I don't know. I can't think of it off the top of my head. But yeah, that's where he is. He's got the barn. He's got the whole set up there. I guess he lives close to Brock. Okay, like, right. It's like, where did that come from? Because like, this isn't the only team that has athletes living in Nashville on the off season. But like, how did that develop? Completely off topic, I know. But yeah, I thought the most interesting part of the Kettle

5:10interview was how it got injured. Okay, so we can talk about that. If you didn't listen to the interview, or you didn't listen to 49ers and 5 this morning, I will just tell you, he, when he was hip-drop tackled against the Colts, tore two ligaments in his ankle, continued playing obviously, re-injured it. And he thinks that that led to him over-compensating on the opposite leg. Well, he said it was. He said he was running with, he learned to run with all his weight on one leg to compensate for that. Like, he changed the way in which he ran. He wasn't feeling any Achilles pain before that. I mean, so it was just him speculating, but that's what he said he thinks caused the injury. A lot of people took that as a reason to bang on the 49ers training staff. I don't, Levin, first of all, dudes play injured all the time in the NFL. It's not like George Kiddles, the first guy to play hurt. He's running a ligament, so that's...

6:13Guys have played with broken arms. Terrell Owens played with an ankle. That's not broken arm. You don't have to change the way in which you move from a ball. Terrell Owens played with an ankle that was so bad, he had to sign a waver saying he wouldn't stew. For a single game. Yeah, look, Jack Youngblog played a Super Bowl with a broken leg. Guys play hurt all the time. If you think there was a chance that George Kiddles was missing a playoff game against the Eagles for an ankle injury. No, there's no... Well, no, I'm not saying he should have sat out, but it is interesting that, ah, the reason he admitted that he had already had some ankle or Achilles issues and then, like, right, he had had, basically an Achilles that was weakened at some point. And then doing this caused the full injury. I just think that's interesting. I'm not saying anything's right or wrong about it. I think it's interesting that he was that hurt. He tore ligaments and he was out there playing. And you couldn't even really tell, like, when we said, like,

7:14he doesn't look quite right, but it wasn't like his run was so weird. You're like, dude, that guy is limping out there. What the heck is he playing for? No, like, he was running mostly normally. You just could kind of tell, like, well, it's not quite right, but it wasn't like a limp. You know, you've seen people out there where they're trying to drag a leg, and you can tell, like, what is this guy doing on the field? Now, he did miss the next game after the Colts game. And then he came back against Seattle. Five catches, 29 yards against Seattle. Like, it was a chance for the number one seed. Of course, George Kittle came back. Look, I have banged on the 49ers training staff plenty. And I criticized them when I think that they deserve it. To me, in this case, I don't think they deserve it. If he didn't tear his Achilles, nobody would have been like, why did you let him play on the ink? I just think it's cool. I'm not criticizing. I just, that's a very interesting fact to it. You know, that's one of those things that you go, you know, when somebody asks, what was George Kittle like?

8:15Which is going to come all too soon that people won't remember him. A decade from now, there's going to be like a segment of fans that aren't, remember, like, that are around, that weren't there for Kittle. And you have to say, well, this guy was so tough, he played through torn ligaments in his ankle and it caused an Achilles rupture. And he came back from that. He's fantastic. There's nothing not to like about George Kittle, but at least that news was good. He also talked about Brandon IU, in that situation. And there wasn't anything super interesting there, although I did think it was hilarious that he kind of blew up 49er spot a little bit because he said, Brandon IU wasn't coming to meetings. If you wanted to see Brandon IU, the only place you could see him was the weight room. He wasn't going to the training room or anything. And so he said he went to the weight room to talk to Brandon. IU can offer his support and all that stuff, but it is hilarious, Levin, because it directly contradicts what the 49ers were trying to sell us.

9:17If you remember in June, the 49ers coach is Leonard Hankerson, the wide receiver coach is talking about, oh, you know, Brandon IU, he's so, he's a coach in the meeting rooms. Oh, no, where did it go? I just had it. He's been in meetings and catching up on the mental part as far as seeing it on film, Hankerson said. He's also been doing a great job in meetings, having an extra set of eyes for myself. I ask him questions and have him coach up the guides. But Leide, Hector said that was a lie. Well, I don't necessarily believe that. I think both of what they said can be true, because you're picking June. Maybe he was there in the off season. And then when he came for training camp, maybe he knew this isn't gonna heal in time. It's best for me to not try to come back early. Best case scenario, I'm back very late in the season. I would rather just sit out and force my way out.

10:18And so he didn't show up for things after the off season when he thought there was a chance he would be back. I mean, it's season once it became apparent to him that that wasn't gonna happen. And he was like, peace out. I know you don't want me here. Anyways, you know, both those can be true. He could have been there for the off season program and then stopped showing up. Well, they've voided his money in July. So part of the reason they voided the money is because he wasn't going to meetings, which I assume those would have been in June. Obviously, like, you can't just, if he misses one meeting, you can't void his money. So to me, it seems like he was not going to meetings and then finally in July, they were like, all right, we've had enough of this. We're voiding your money. I just think they were trying to trade him and they were trying to pump up his value in any way possible. I'm not bang, teams lie all the time. Sometimes teams have to lie. I, it's not like all the 49ers lied gasp, you know, my virgin ears. No, like teams lie all the time. I get it. I just think this is a case where they were trying

11:18to pump up his trade value and they couldn't get rid of him. And it's just fun. I do think that the team did not expect to have the season that they had. I mean, they expected this to be a kind of a struggle season. And I do wonder if the Niners were thinking, get this guy healthy, get him on the field for a game or two, trade him up the deadline. I'm sure they would love that. Maybe he got wind of that. And he was like, if you, I'm just not going to show up. I do think part, I mean, this is all just theory, right? But I do think part of what happened is like, he withdrew himself. And what happens to most people is when you withdraw, it's like a cascading effect, it's snowballs. The more you withdraw, the more you feel you want to withdraw more. And I feel like when he stopped showing up to the team, taking that step back, being removed from being around the team atmosphere, he became isolated and he's kind of lost sight of reality right now.

12:22Just the fact that he didn't fight the 49ers taking his money is just. Well, the fact that TJ Hushman's out is essentially out, I mean, his biggest defender is out there saying, I have no off and clue what that guy's doing right now. But I know he still has something left, you know, I know he's still good, you know, but like he literally said, I have not talked to him in a while. Well, that's his biggest, that's his personal coach leader. His personal coach and his biggest cheerleader. To me, if TJ Hushman Zada hasn't talked to him in a while, I wonder if the guy is even training, you know. I have no idea. I mean, how are we supposed to get together? I'm not sure anybody has any idea, like literally anybody. I'm not sure his agent knows. The team doesn't know, because I think he's not going to tell them anything. So like his own team doesn't even know if he's like staying in shape. Maybe I shouldn't not even close to in shape right now. It just seems like he withdrew. And once he withdrew, it was like it just snowballed

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15:28Will we let them or will we choose to stay ahead? When America leads, America cures. Let's tell Washington to keep us in the lead. Learn how at americacures.com. Pay for by Farma. Gabe Garoni, YouTube channel member for 30 months. Thank you so much, Gabe. I appreciate that support. It says therapy talk with the wet blanket, hashtag offseason. Look, we admitted this is all speculation. We're just trying to piece together what happened and what could be happening now. It is amazing that the 49ers have found these guys that ghost them in the offseason. First, it was Jimmy Garoppolo. Now it's Brandon. Well, Brandon and I got guest ghost them in season and offseason. It is, I said, I did a video on this earlier today. And it's just everybody lost in this situation. The 49ers were supposed to have Brandon, I you can Ricky pierce all two guys that could eat man coverage for launch, can work against zone, run after the catch, get open. Like, and that was a good plan by the 49ers. And a 9ers bungled the relationship with him.

16:30And he lost $30 million that he'll never get back. No matter what he does, no matter how long he plays, he will never get that money that he was supposed to earn back. Everybody lost in this situation. And it's a shame, including his agent, right? That nobody said before they negotiated that contract. Clearly, you don't want to be in business with each other. His agent couldn't get it through his head. And nobody could get it through Kyle Shanahan's head. But hey, this clearly, if there's this much reservation now, this is not going to last going forward. Nobody drilled that message through. And so everybody lost. Yeah, including the Steelers, because they ended up with DK Metcalfe, right? And yeah, the 9ers had a decent offer on the table or the Steelers had a decent offer on the table from everything that we've kind of heard through some rumblings, but not to beat. Yeah, it's, we're trying to make sense of nonsense.

17:32It could be something that none of us know that makes no sense. It could be the 9ers didn't even do him wrong. And he just lost it. You've heard plenty of players talk about how hard the rehab is. And then you start to feel isolated because you can't be there at practice and things. It could be the 9ers flat told him, even if you get healthy, we're not going to have you play with us. If you get healthy, we're going to trade you. And that's, that's what causes like, there's so many different possibilities. And it might be something that makes absolutely no sense to anybody and you just, and the truth is, we'll probably never know. Like I seriously question whether he's ever going to play again. If I was a team, I'm not signing them for anything. Well, the commanders may be the ultimate winners out of this because they may be able to sign them for super cheap. And if he's anything close to what he was, that's going to be a huge bargain for them. That's the only way somebody can win in this scenario. I mean, name me a player that lost a bigger bag.

18:36I mean, I know Levy. I'm Bell lost out on some money when he said, he lost out on a good bit of money, but he had no right. I mean, he did end up getting paid a good bit. It's he, he kind of more lost out and he lost his career because he went from me and arguably the best running back in the league to never being the same. B.A. Jones Jr. says 49ers deserve almost as much blame as B.A. does after he tours ACL. All you hear is Niners regret signing him right after the season. They, you heard about regret after like even before that, like before the injury that season when he wasn't off to as good a star as he's had, you, you were hearing rumblings of it. 49ers are not blame us at all. Both sides are our fault in this. Everybody screwed it up. They all did. And that's the most annoying part of all this. We went from Kyle Shanahan drafting him in 2020, like pumping his fists. Remember that because that was the draft. Everybody was on the zoom and he was all super excited. And then bam, he was in the dog house. And then which I think is part of it too.

19:38I think B.A. never really got over that. I feel like he never really, he was never the, like, D.B.O. was the it guy. He was never embraced in a way that others were, like you said. And I think he always felt it. And then I think it just kept snowballing. It's no balling. And then when that article came out in November, where it was like that, Niners are done with Brandon IU. He was like, oh, yeah, well guess what? Now I'm done with you. Peace out. I'm not even showing up to the weight room anymore. I'm speeding by Levi's. Good night. A minute's weird. It's going to come to an end soon. And to me, it's like, I give what the Niners are doing, but good Lord read the room. If the guy was a free agent, he probably wouldn't have interest, except for maybe one team and they would make him do a workout before they would sign up. That would be interesting. I mean, if he were to get traded, which I think is highly unlikely, but if he were, he would have to pass physical, obviously,

20:40as we saw with Max Crosby be a fascinating thing to see ultimately one way or another that's going to end. And I hope he plays again. He's a good player. He's a very good player. Yeah, I got, I don't have, I don't have ill will towards him, but that way. Like I'm disappointed in him. I think he's been pretty dumb in this scenario. But in the end, like if he's not happy, he doesn't need to be here. You know, so I don't necessarily blame him, but he could have handled this a lot better so that he would have a team willing to trade form. He could have handled this a lot better as the overriding tagline of this whole scenario and not just from the IU side, from the Niners side as well. Another thing that George Kitto said, I thought was interesting was they were talking to him about like everything that he does to keep his body in shape. And you know, he was saying, I've got this machine and that machine and I've got the whole barn in Tennessee and I'm doing all this stuff.

21:41And then they were like, what does Trent Williams do to stay in shape? And George's response was, sleep. And he said he works, when he works out, he works out hard, but it just illustrated to me how much of a freaking unicorn Trent Williams is. Like the man is so physically talented and physically gifted. Number one, he said he didn't start really taking care of himself with his diet until like a couple of years ago. Number two, he didn't watch film in college because he was so good and so much better than everybody else, it didn't matter. He was like, I don't care what moves you have. I'm blocking you and there's nothing you can do about it. That man is just, there are physical freaks out there that are just unicorns and he is the definition of a unicorn. I don't think he's quite at this level but he's the closest to Larry Allen, believe it's him. Larry Allen was the guy he didn't take care of himself but he was the biggest freak.

22:42I think the league has ever seen. He should definitely be in that conversation and I think he does not get to be in that conversation as much as he should like. People think Calvin Johnson was a freak. No, Larry Allen was bigger than Trent Williams if I'm not mistaken, faster than Trent Williams and is the strongest player to ever play in the NFL. If you Google it, you can see Larry Allen track down, run down a linebacker from behind on an interception and the announcer, one of the fastest linebackers in the league. And the announcers are jumping. They don't even talk about the interception. They're like, look at Larry Allen, this man. You see him passing like DBs and stuff like avoiding their blocks as he's running, yeah. And he was really good with the 49ers too. All pro at guard and tackle. The man was a freak. But Trent Williams, he's do a bonus, oh, $10 bonus, a $10 million bonus. Let me throw that 10. I'm renegotiating my contract, Rob.

23:43Yeah, before that $10 bonus. $10 million bonus on Friday. Niners have been trying to work it out with him. I continue to maintain that they're going to. It might take a while. It might even be that Trent holds out right up until the season starts, but the Niners know they don't have any recourse. He's really damn good. He'll eventually get his money because the Niners always cave. It's what they do. And I still, I'm not worried about the situation, but this deadline on Friday could spur a little bit of action. You're speaking of things that don't make sense to me that this, this side of it, the Trent Williams side of it, doesn't make sense to me. You can go to the side, which I think is more of a fan side, but some players have done it. He has made, I think, $210 million in his career. Like, hey, how about take a team discount? You're trying to win a Super Bowl before you retire, right? Like I'm not going for $20 million, but how about you not hold out every freaking year?

24:44You know what I mean? So I kind of get that side, but even if you don't want to go to that, which I think is more of kind of like a fan perspective of, hey, dude, you've made enough to be quiet. He's going to be compensated as well as anybody at his position this season. This is not a situation of, he has a massive cap hit, but in terms of actual cash he's due, he's not getting it. He's due to get paid almost $32 million of cash this season. What the hell are you complaining about? This should be 100% be the Niners desperate to get him into a new contract to save that cap space and still only pay him, you know, the $32 million. That's a very real situation for the Niners that they can give him, sorry, I have a little bit of a cold, so I'm struggling right now. But they can give him, you know, $32 million this year and cash. So he doesn't lose any cash this year and get him reupped

25:45and save a ton of money in cap space. It's Trent Williams that I just don't understand. What are you complaining about? You're well compensated even if you don't get a new contract. Why are you complaining? Trent Williams is a businessman and I'm sure he's saying, look, if you want something from me, I want something from you. And what I want, I think, is he wants his money for next year guaranteed. He doesn't have that right now. And I think the Niners are like, dude, you're 38 years old. We don't know that we want to guarantee your money for next year. And he's like, well, then what in play out then? That's what I don't understand. Like, okay, tell him, all right, cool. Well, let's you play out this contract and we'll revisit it after the off season. Well, after the season. The Niners like to roll over as much cap room as possible. So I think their thinking is like, hey, if we can lower the cap number this year, we can roll that over. We'll be good. But Trent is like, I'm not doing something for nothing. Now, at least the good news for the 49ers is they could just leave the contract as it is.

26:48They don't have to do it. We'll see ultimately how it turns out. But, you know, deadlines spur action as the saying goes. And there is a deadline, so to speak on Friday. So we could get some movement there. I actually texted you today like, hey, this, this might happen just because of that deadline. I was thinking we might get news, no news as of yet. But we will keep our ear to the, your to the ground, I should say, about Trent Williams. So good, so good, so good. Spring styles are at Nordstrom Rack stores now and they're up to 60% off. Stock up and save on rag and bone made well. Vince, all scenes and more of your favorites. How did I let no rack as the deed is? Why do we rack for the hottest deal? There's so many good brands. Join the Nordy Club to unlock exclusive discounts, shop new arrivals first and more. Plus, buy online and pick up at your favorite rack store for free. Great brands, great prices. That's why you rack. Get in the game with the college branded Venmo debit card.

27:49Record your team with every tap and earn up to 5% cash back with Venmo stash. A new rewards program from Venmo. No monthly fee, no minimum balance. Just school pride and spending power. Get in the game and sign up for the Venmo debit card at Venmo.com slash college card. The Venmo master card is issued by the bank court bank NA select schools available. Venmo stash terms and exclusions apply at Venmo.me slash stash terms max $100 cash back per month. The other thing I texted you about today 11 was the Drey Greenlock contract. We got a little more details on it. I think I could be wrong, but I think Aaron Wilson. Had the details first. I always want to give credit to people think it was Aaron Wilson who tweeted out. Drey Greenlock one year deal six million fully guaranteed two and a half million dollar signing bonus 2.6 million dollar salary. Voidable years 2027 to 2030 any issues with the green law contract. No, I mean, so to break it down the 2.5 million signing bonus is getting spread out over five years.

28:56This year and four void years. So it's 500,000 cap this year the salary makes it 3.1 million cap this year. And he must have 900,000 in some kind of roster bonus, you know, total game roster bonuses would be my guess. So that he's going to end up having at the end of the season a 4 million cap hit this year with 2 million hitting next year. In the void year dead cap when he's done on the roster anymore. That's what this contract is 4 million to take a role on the dice of a potential sec like upside is second team all pro level linebacker like. I don't care if it was somebody that came from the team or not, I would take that chance. The details seem it seems like a fine contract to me. Great good job all around. I like the offseason that the 49ers have had. Jay on Tuesday, we talked about whether this is the best free agency period of the Shanahan era and there's a good argument to be made that it is.

30:05Yeah, well, I listen to that part of it and I got to say like. I don't know how you have that conversation yet because you're judging all previous classes in hindsight and this one has so few signings. There's a very real possibility I like the offseason, but there's a very real possibility Mike Evans plays five games Kirk is toasted and doesn't even make the roster and you're sitting there going well that year suck and it ends up being one of the worst like yes, it could end up being the best, but there's also a realistic outlook to look and say well, it can also be the worst. It could if you're a wet blanket, you could think that I'm March 18, I'm you know trying to think positive, I'm just saying like they have made some good signings, but they are risky signings of older players and there's so few of them it doesn't take much there's not that many rules of the dice that they've taken right there's essentially three four if you want to count the trade like this could end up being a really bad offseason in hindsight, which is how you judge all the other.

31:17Once so yes, you can you guys talking about how this could be the best that's true, but then you also have to talk about this could also be the worst it's a very interesting swing kind of year. The potential is there for sure here's the part that sort of I think it's worth discussing let's just look on the bright side for now, which I know is difficult for you to do but brace yourself here. Let's say Evans plays and plays well let's say he has you know 1100 yards 10 touchdowns great let's say oh so diggy Zua is you know as disruptive as we hope he is let's say Christian Kirk completely replaces Juwanda like best case scenario for the 49ers now I'm not saying super bomb just saying in terms of individual production. Other than O diggy Zua this is all one year stuff Kirk so one year deal Mike Evans is a one year deal so I know we're skipping ahead here, but we're looking at a 2027 offseason where it's like holy hell we got a lot of needs because they're going to have needs from free agents leaving plus all the needs from all these one year contracts that are expiring it is a very short term fix for the 49ers right now.

32:36I mean Mike Evans has a three year deal although if he has an injury prone here it might turn into a one year deal yeah because that's how it's kind of worked out. In terms of structure but it is a year. I don't know if this is going to be the way that they go for the next few years where they're kind of doing these. They're making bets and they're making one year bets so that if this is the year where it becomes apparent trend has gone kiddos not. The same anymore Warner's not the same anymore time to hit reset they're capable of making that swap really quickly like that that's the thing that I wonder in the back of my mind is are they doing these kind of shorter term deals that they can get out of. Because it's less risk or they doing it because it allows them to flip into trying to rebuild that much faster. It makes sense right maybe that's something that the 49ers should be doing they are still held up largely by the draft successes of a few years ago and Christian McCaffrey I have up on the screen now if you're an audio listener what it would cost to get out of the contracts of Kittle McCaffrey Warner Bosa trend is sort of an outlier because they're going to redo something with his deal so that could change drastically based on what they do but they are.

34:00It could reasonably there is not other than other than Bosa there's they could get out of any of the deals Kittle McCaffrey Warner they could get out of it especially if they do a post June one cut I mean hell the dolphins this year are going to play with like $196 million a deadcap money the Niners played with a hundred million of deadcap last year. So if they wanted to do it they could do it now maybe they don't do all of them in one off season that would be a hell of a band-aid to rip off I think the big one is is Bosa if he doesn't come back and have a double digit sack season if they don't get rid of them there are in their fuels at that point like the guys. Been declining ever since he got that that contract he's coming off a major injury if he comes back and he is not the dominant guy double digit sack guy you can't afford to keep a guy with the cap hits that he has come in and his cap hits are hitting quarterback clubs so you you got to move on at that point and and take the dead cap it he's the one that I look at Christian McCaffrey he may retire Trent Williams he.

35:14May retire Kittle and Warner I feel like they've kind of earned the right and they're also I don't think they're going to decline so far that they can't finish out their contracts well we kiddo with the killies we don't know but I still think a decline to George Kittle is still just like a regular starting NFL tight end so I think right like look at what Kelsey sign first one year deal this year Kittle's not far off. And Kelsey sucks you know he's like a very he's a very average tight end is the best way to put it he's above average not good anymore but above average receiving tight end and a below average blocking tight end that's where he's at he's very average these days and he's still getting what was a 14 million or something like that on the one year deal so it's like you can kiddle sign for what was it 18 million.

36:14And I think was his average something around there like you can finish out his contract even if he ends up coming back and he's just you know he's a guy that's going to get you a 500 receiving yards as a tight end. Kittle has a cap number this year of 14.1 next year it is 16 million year after that it is 17 million and then in 2029 it balloons all the way up to 34.4 but I'm sure it'll never actually get to that point and even then he might retire before that anyway who knows he would be 36 years old at that point Kittle's contract is utterly reasonable the contract is not going to be the reason that they get rid of him and same with Fred Warner like it's two positions that they don't have these 25 plus million dollar year contracts to where when you get to the end of them and they're back loaded you're looking at 30 35 even 40 million dollar capits they're not there they're affordable even when you're overpaying. Because it's a position that's just not paid well and also to like a 30 million dollar cap it four years from now it's going to look so different because the cap is going to go way up the NFL is negotiating with CBS right now on a contract that could pay three to four billion dollars every year that's just one deal so well I mean CBS cannot afford to lose the NFL because right now assuming the government allows it.

37:43They're going to be getting close to monopoly level I mean they're going to own paramount it is CBS's parent company that's the main movie studio they're buying time Warner that's the other main movie studio so they're going to own like all of the media rights their paramount is already number one in terms of TV shows and they're buying one of the biggest ones and gaining HBO with it. So they're going to be massive they can't afford to lose the NFL you know I mean that's there we can dominate live to not just the TV and movie. And that's just one contract that doesn't include the Amazon the first and ideal that they have with Amazon the deal that they have with Fox the deal that they have with Netflix now to have a couple of games now they're talking about adding a Thanksgiving Wednesday game. I was going to say well look at Netflix they were going to buy time Warner and paramount swooped in and out did them but in order to break that deal Netflix is getting a two billion dollar cash for doing nothing and they were about to do I forget what they were going to buy it for but they were about to pony up a ton of money to buy time Warner well now they have all this money that they were allocating for that to spend on something else.

39:09Like I would not be surprised if we see Netflix trying to get Sunday rights it'd be fascinating if it happens but the point is the NFL is about to make a hell of a lot more money which means the salary cap is going to go way way up so when we see some of these numbers and we clutch our pearls just know we might be living in a very very different world by the time we get to that point so that's something to keep in mind. As well. Spring starts at the Home Depot and we are bringing the heat to your backyard this season fire up the flavor with our wide variety of grills for under $300 like the next grill for burner gas grill that's perfect for hosting your spring cookout then set the scene and turn your outdoor space into the go to spot the patio sets for every budget bring it this season with grills that deliver flavor and patios that set the vibe from the Home Depot start your spring with low prices guarantee at the Home Depot exclusive pricey Home Depot dot com slash price match for details on March 27th the time traveling comedy movie of the year arrives Mike and Nick and Nick

40:16and Alice only on Hulu the film stars Vince Vaughn James Marsden and Ace of Gonzalez in a wild action comedy about one disastrous night that spirals at a control and here's the twist there are two Vince Vaughn's don't miss Mike and Nick and Nick and Alice written and directed by Ben David Grubinski streaming March 27th only on Hulu rated R all right Levin let's get to the big announcement this year we do the bracket every year we've done it for multiple years now I don't know if anybody remembers last year we had a little bit of controversy where there were some questions about the voting and all of that and as Levin and I were discussing things and what we were going to do this year we just got to a point and mostly it was me where I was like look we all know this thing is going to come down to like Lombardi Brad Croc like the same people every year and so is there something else we could do something different something more creative something more

41:19engaging for people than what we've done year after year we don't have to do the same thing year after year we could do whatever the hell we want so talking about March media madness right I decided to change it up a little bit this year and instead of just picking your favorite 49ers personality that covers it we're going to do a different bracket this year because this is going to be your 10 of Shanahan I thought let's look back and let's try and pick our favorite game of the Kyle Shanahan era and favorite not biggest not most important just your favorite game of the Kyle Shanahan era so I have the bracket here I will throw it up on the screen there you go we will have the voting with the way we've done the voting the past couple of years so don't worry you'll be able to go and vote on it but when you look back at the Shanahan era I think there's some very interesting games and I will just run through quickly what I put up there the game against the Saints in 2019 right with the

42:21Emanuel Sanders touchdown pass and all that Jimmy Garoppolo against the Bears in 2021 where he is just about benched for Trey Lance and then the Niners come back and win and that starts their run and that come back in that season the NFC championship game against the Packers in 2019 with the Rahim Mostert running for a billion yards the playoff game against the Eagles this year that ranks up there for me the playoff or the game in 2023 the regular season game when the Niners went into Philly and stomped them the playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys in 2022 the snow game against the Packers in the playoffs in 2021 where Robbie Gold kicked it and Jimmy Garoppolo offered the famous F the Packers on the field after the game Brock Purdy's first start against Tom Brady in the Buccaneers the NFC championship game against the Lions Jimmy Garoppolo's first start in 2017 and don't let what happened with Jimmy Cloud your

43:22judgment that was a big one for us the week 18 game against the Rams in 2021 where the Niners came back down 17 nothing on the road to win and make the playoffs Mac Jones against the Rams this past season where there were no other starters basically except Christian McCaffrey the game in 2019 and week 18 against the Seahawks that determined the number one seed Brock Purdy against the Packers in 2023 in the playoffs where Greenlaw has the interception at the end the game against the Cowboys at Levi's in 2023 where the Niners just smoked them and announced to the world in front of a national audience that we're the best damn team and we're going to the Super Bowl and the 2021 game against the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs those are all the games that is the bracket 11 first of all what do you think of the idea and do you think the game did I leave any games off that you would have included nothing immediately jumps to mind for leaving off I mean I like the idea I think it was time to change the media madness

44:30for reasons like you said we had the same results and then you know last year yeah we had somebody that was getting you know five sometimes the votes have anybody else that had ever gotten them and isn't somebody that you'd probably recognize the name of for most 49er fans so it was kind of okay people are starting to game this system let's let's change it up in terms of my opinion here I find it it's really hard because I go back and forth what game did I just like revel in the most did I enjoy the most you know that's probably the Philly game in 23 right there was that yeah go after yourselves you know like it was just so much fun and it destroyed them so like the aftertaste of that game lasted months because they fell apart after that game

45:32but in turn but then like part of my brain goes yeah but that game didn't that big of a true like meaning like to me the the Rams week 18 the green while you know saving the the the game you know that that's kind of like maybe that one but then I also remember how I felt I don't like it was this first start though so I will say that one's maybe a little off but when when Jimmy G 49ers beat Jacksonville the year the Jacksonville had that done that was when everybody went hold on here we have our franchise quarterback which that didn't exactly work out but that was the moment where I was like hey it's year one we stocked all year but look at us yeah so like it's weird like there's there's there's the coming out of the holy hell

46:32what did I just go through the last five years Jimmy G emergence that gave us hope for the first time in a very long time there's the games with the big stakes and then there was the game that was just so sweet to say F beautifully yeah I think that you have to go back and put yourself in the shoes that you were in at the time that's why I put some of the Jimmy Garoppolo games on there because it was a huge do you remember before the Jimmy's first start he comes in against I think it was against the Seahawks at the end of the game because Arthur was hurt and he throws the touchdown pass on the last play of the game and you're like yes we got our guy there was all this hype when he got traded to the Niners dad the big press conference and the red carpet but then he wasn't playing right Kyle didn't throw him into the fire right away so we're just waiting and we're watching the 49ers offense with these dud quarterbacks and we're like can we finally put this guy in he got forced to put him in and he immediately throws a touchdown pass and then the next week he starts any wins and we're like oh my god like you really felt

47:37like the train was going on the tracks there and that's why it's not best game it's favorite game yeah and I did mess up that it's not Rams week 18 a Seahawks one seed 19 talking about with the green lost stop like it's tough I mean part of me also always has a special place for beating the Packers and the playoffs because my first years of truly watching the Niners was the three years on a road that they played the Packers and the Packers beat them twice in a row and I'm going to say it and you're going to have to do some extra work I've been hated bread farm and I still hate them and now I have legitimate reasons for that hate but back then I didn't really yeah I agree and I was convinced because they had lost to the Cowboys twice in a row and then beat them the third time but there was no way they were going to lose to the Packers three times in a row and then they did and I was like wait that can happen and it was it was miserable so I hated bread farm I agree with you there 100%

48:37um the Seahawks game in 19 felt different too because it was like I really didn't believe that the Niners could be good unless they could beat Seattle in Seattle because even when the Niners were really good with Harbaugh they always got their clock cleaned in Seattle so to go there and to not only win the game but for for it to look like Russell Wilson was going to pull a rabbit out of his head again at the end again and break our hearts and they get down to the ins line and Dre Greenlock goes what and Stonewalls the guy and the Niners not only win the game and sort of break that hole that the Seattle had over them but they also get the number one seed in the playoffs they get the by-week which the team desperately needed at that point that was a huge game it was like oh my god we might have something here with this team yeah and that game it might end up getting my vote just because the deja vu aspect of it

49:41it connects me to the other similar era being the Bowman game when he made the stop at the goal line with that fumble that just fell into his hands at the same time destroying his career you know like it connects you to another era in recent history that was a lot of fun and so it's got like a weird feeling to it because it's not just about 2018 the way it happened the second linebacker the guy that's in the shadow of the guy that's considered the best in the league makes this crazy play right on the goal line to save the day when you thought mother effort Seattle is going to do it to us again Brett Davis, YouTube channel member says I love the 2019 NFC championship game just running it down the Packers throat and there was nothing Aaron Rogers can do about it that was one of the most satisfying wins for sure because I remember watching the game and at one point if you go back and watch the call

50:43they hand off to most there he runs for like 12 yards and Joe Buck just says they cannot stop the run and you're like yeah like this is just it it got to a point where it was utterly demoralizing it was like playing against your little brother and he could not figure out what you were doing he could not stop you when you were just spamming plays over and over again it was as dominating a win as I can remember in my entire NFL fandom yeah I mean it was I don't know that one it was a lot of fun in the immediate moments of watching the game but in the immediate aftermath it didn't last long I feel like because immediately after it was like well hold on here they clearly don't trust Jimmy Garoppolo that's what it turned into because that was the only real talking point from the game because it was like what else were you going to say

51:43the Niners destroyed them Raheem Oster 29 carries 220 yards in the game 4 touchdowns he ran for 7.6 yards per carry Jimmy Garoppolo through only 8 passes only 6 passes for 77 yards and the Niners scored 37 points and won the game by 3 scores yeah a boiler up Raheem Oster oh god I think it was like this was it the second most yards anybody's ever run for in a playoff game it was something like that it was some just it was unbelievable and you could tell right from jump because I believe on the first possession it was like third and 10 and the Niners ran a draw to most and he ran it like 36 yards for a touchdown and I was like oh Kyle's in his bag today and man were we right yeah I mean I keep leaning towards that

52:45C.O.X game because that's the one that when you think of a core like memory of Niners fandom you have a singular play it kind of takes a singular play to drive it home you know like I have core memories of being a Niners fan you know the catch two was you know in my starting to truly watch the Niners era the over time run by Garrison Hurst that's why he's right there with Frank Gore for my favorite 49er running back of all time because that one play I remember watching it in the back room of my grandparents on the second era TV was and going crazy during that play like it's like plays give you that like singular moment of memory of like the high of highs and that's the only one of these that has a singular play that sticks out

53:45You don't have the d-bow play against the Eagles in 23 where he catches the pass over the middle, balances where Kittles said F.U. to four defenders. That was pretty good. I walked that game. My wife's family had my wife has a huge family. So we have to split holidays so like we'll go to my family and for one. And then we have to go to her family for the other one. And they had to like rent out a hall because her family is so big. We can't fit at somebody's house. And so we were in this hall. And I'm literally watching the game on my phone. The family is off like exchanging gifts and doing that. And I'm sitting at the table on my phone. And people realize what I had on my phone. And all her male cousins are like crowding around me. All huddling over watching my phone. As George Kittles catches that fourth down pass and just gallops down the field. Like a drunken rhinoceros carrying the 49ers to victory. You know, it's really weird about all this. What? There is only one of these games that we did not know each other yet.

54:49And we're not doing a podcast during. Well, that would have to be. Was it Jimmy's first start? Yeah, because we started doing a podcast in 2019. Yeah, geez. So like all these other games. We were likely texting each other during. Probably. Yeah, that's that's crazy. It's also crazy that there's two games from 2025 on here. The Eagles playoff game with the trick pass from to want to McCaffrey. And the Matt. I think the Mac Jones game against the Rams this year is an all-timer. Like no one. That one's at the bottom to me. But I couldn't. Like when you sent me this. I mean, I'm not going to lie. I didn't go through the schedules to see who's there's something I missed. But like, I was like, oh, that one doesn't fit. And then I was like, well, what one would I replace it with? There's none that spring to mine. Just because there was no Brock party.

55:50There was no brand and I you. There were so many games this year. There was like the night he's like, they got no shot in this game. And then they want it. That only did they win it. They came out of the gate and put it on the Rams. They jumped out to a 14, nothing lead. They went right down the field on the first two possessions and stuck it in the end zone. Like that Rams defense wasn't even there. I thought they had no shot to win that game. And then you when you zoom out and look at how good the Rams ended up being this season. For the 49ers to win that game is unbelievable. To me, it had to make the list, especially with the way it ended with the Alfred Collins, where he punches Kyron Williams so hard. You can hear it. If you watch the play, you can hear when he punches him and he hits him in the face. And he fumbles at the one yard line. It was an all time game. And if Al Michaels wasn't on the call, people would think it was. But because he butchered every call in the game, we don't think of it that way.

56:51God, you're talking about. You know, all time great players that just hang on too long. Al Michaels was in my top three all time play by play. Guys, it was. Pat some are all Brent Musburger. And now Michaels were my top three. His last 10 years. It's like, good God. You've destroyed. The memory like when I hear out Michaels now. I'm not going to have. A singular thought of that guy called more big moments in sports than anybody else has ever done in history. Because that's the truth. Out Michaels is called more big moments in sports than anybody else in history. I'm going to have that thought immediately company and buy. God, I freaking hate it. Listen to that guy for the last decade of his career. I acknowledge that he has a legend in the business. He's never been one of my favorites in these last years have not been kind to Al Michaels.

57:52I would just put it that way. Frisbee life on Twitch. Shout out to the Twitch fam says the pump lock in Green Bay was memorable. Absolutely was a memory. They didn't score an offensive touchdown. And they went into Green Bay and beat Aaron Rogers in Lambo in the snow. It was unbelievable game. They did everything they could offensively to lose that game and the defense and the special team said. Hell no. We're going on after this. Robbie Gold kicks the field goal to walk off. And Jimmy G. Just the F the Packers. Awesome. Now if we were to reverse this. What's the most memorable. Games that you wish you could forget. Well, that's easy. I mean, I mean, I mean, there's another one that. It's the one that jumps into my mind first. How could it not be the two super balls? It's the question. Tarte dropping the mother. Interception. That is the moment to me. That play sums up this era.

58:54So close and they let it slip through their fingers. Like no, it's not the Super Bowl play. I mean, but this era right now is. This is the uncrowned champion. Here. That is. The way this caution and era will be defined unless he gets a Super Bowl. They were a champion caliber team for almost a decade. And never one one. And that play is the perfect. Summary of it in a singular moment. That was obviously frustrating. Clearly no doubt about it. But. There was a decent amount of time left at that point. But to me, as damaging as that was, the two Super Bowl, especially like twenty twenty twenty three. It was such a close game. They got beat in the end. Bummer. And the chain of hand coin. That one might anger when I think of that game. I don't get angry about losing. I get angry at the freaking rest cheating them out of the game.

59:54In twenty twenty three. Yes. And I know twenty twenty or twenty I guess twenty twenty twenty nineteen season. I also arrive at the rest, but it's not immediate. Because it's the boat. There's both a hold on the long pass that allowed them to go down and change the game. Yes, like Bosa got. It's the worst roughing ever when it comes to a singular player being held. He was literally headlocked every single play and they never called it. But that twenty twenty three game. Just the moment I think of that game. I'm immediately enraged at the rest again. Because it. To me. And I made the argument then and I still think it today. Those restaurants out of bias. I'm not willing to say that. But when I think of twenty twenty three, the chiefs. Just executed at the end of the niners didn't and they won. Now the Shanahan coin toss decision is an all time bonehead move in my opinion.

1:00:572019 they were up 10 with five minutes to go in the game. Like you can't lose that game if they had just gained one first down. They probably win it to lose that one. That to me is worse than twenty twenty three. I've always said that people like all the niners choked in twenty twenty three. I don't look at twenty twenty three as a choke job. For the last nine 19 was an utter choke. An all time. Chuck your up 10 with five minutes to go. And they lost the game by double digits. I mean, Let's just call out what it is. If the holding that singular rule was right fairly for both sides, the Niners want both super balls. Well, I don't know. Yeah, it's true. Yes, I do. I think both of us held on that play. I do. But also that play didn't result in any points. They still had to give no, but that was the back breaking play. Why is that a back breaking play when there was so much of the game left to go?

1:02:00That's when the chiefs win. Hey, we can play back here at football, win this. That's when the chief started to believe, hey, we're going to win this game. They don't get that. It's over. Yes, I agree with that. I don't think the chiefs come back and win without that play, but also like, how about you get your stuff together? They had chances to still win the game. Yes, but that is the play. The broke the nighters. That is the play where the chiefs actually started to believe we are going to win this game even though we're down 10. And if the hold is called the game is all but guaranteed to be over because what would have been like third and 27 or something. It would have been insane. And if they don't get it, the nighters are getting the ball with under five minutes and they're already up 10. Like they're going to get it down to at least what two, three minutes left in the game. It would have been game over. So like that singular play changed everything. And that's not always true.

1:03:07But that's the first training part of the zero is it is true that there are certain there's like a handful of plays that changed everything. You start dropping the ball, changed everything. You have that whole changing everything. In the other one, you have the fact that the rest wouldn't call a hold on the chiefs, but then immediately called one on the 49ers first chance they got and that that is. And the fact that it happened in overtime, that's, that's why I fall in line with not F you, you had a bias here because you waited until you could decide the game and you clearly decided it. I think that the call that you're forgetting in 2019 was the offensive pass interference on George Kittle at the end of the first half. It's a four yard completion that it's the best throw Jimmy Garoppolo ever makes as a 49er is that throw in that spot.

1:04:09And it is a 42 yard gain that would have put them at the Kansas City 13 yard line with six seconds to go. So maybe they take a shot at one shot at the end zone. They kick a field goal there that would have put them up 13 to 10 at that point in the game. Now Kansas City could have still won after that. But not just getting the air taken out of your sales at that point, you know, you talk about the third and 17 play, turning things for the chiefs. Maybe that play would have turned it for the 49ers. And that got called back to it is just been a, oh, the pain to quote one of my all time. I'm going to have a whole bracket on what play makes you a career. I want to play that makes you the most angry of the shenanigans era. I wanted positivity and happiness. I know that's a different thing for you. But why shouldn't we try to be happy in the office? I'm saying that you should have done that. I'm saying like we could have a whole bracket on that. And that bracket might actually get people get people's blood boiling and arguing even more.

1:05:19Oh, I'm sure what 100% but I'm trying to live in our successes that they have had. Look, next year we can do the failure. If you want to we're going to have a bracket next year. So we can do the failures next year just to make you happy. I have the voting. That voting will start tomorrow. I'll tweet out the links. We'll make sure all the links get out there. But wanted to switch it up this year. Leave a comment. Do you like the new idea? Do you hate the new idea? We can always change it and go back. Leave a comment below. Let us know what you think. Obviously we are always open to feedback here on the show. That's going to do it for this edition of the gold standard podcast. Please like this video. Subscribe to the channel. If you are not watching live, swipe left and hype the video. Don't like it. Hype it. That's like a certain turbocharged like it really, really helps us. It sends us out. The algorithm loves when you hype the video. It puts us out to more people. Please if you could do that. It costs you nothing. It makes a big, big difference for us. Yeah. To the millennials out there, the gen Xers act like a gen Z or a gen alpha and hype it.

1:06:24I don't even know what some of the things in that sentence are. But sure, listen to 11. Enjoy the rest of your Wednesday, everybody. We'll talk next week. Monster Energy. Everybody knows why monster zero ultra. That's the OG. It kicked off this whole zero sugar energy drink thing. But ultra is a whole line. I'm now you've got strawberry dreams blue Hawaiian sunrise in vice guava. And they all bring the monster energy punch. So if you've been living in the white can branch out. Ultras got a flavor for every five. And every single one is zero sugar. Tap the banner to learn more. Two teams. One cup. The prime time stage is set for the TGL presented by so five finals Los Angeles golf club versus Tiger's Jupiter links. Keep up. It's playoffs tune in Monday, March 23rd, 9 p.m. Eastern on ESPN 2 and Tuesday, March 24th, 7 p.m. Eastern on ESPN and on the ESPN app.

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