Hour 1: Patriots and Jets are Going Opposite Directions, plus Terrell Suggs In-Studio

The Athletic’s Senior NBA Writer Sam Amick and guest host Dan Hellie discuss the Lakers approach at the Trade Deadline in the wake of injuries to LeBron James and Anthony Davis, which difference-makers like Aaron Gordon and Kyle Lowry could be on the move before the deadline, if the Nets are the team to beat for the NBA Title, if the Warriors are likely to land Lonzo Ball, and the growth of the NBA’s G League.    USC Head Basketball Coach Andy Enfield and Dan discuss reaching the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 and if they used some “uncalled for” criticism by a CBS Sports analyst as motivation in the Trojans’ blowout win over Kansas, the challenge of coaching hoops at a football school, and why the Pac 12, 10-1 in this year’s Big Dance, deserves more credit on the national stage. Dan and Brockman wrap up the hour debating if Mike Tyson should have accepted $25 Million to fight Evander Holyfield again and if there really is an audience for long-retired athletes to come out of retirement to compete again.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

23 Mar 202148min

Chris Brockman and guest host Dan Hellie tip off the hour reacting to the Giants latest free agent signing, Adoree Jackson, with Dan saying it’s “put up or shut up time” for New York.  Dan and the guys also debate if the concerns are valid about the weight of Heisman Trophy-winning wide receiver as the NFL Draft approaches. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio and Dan discuss Deshaun Watson’s snowballing legal troubles and what advice he, as a lawyer, would give the Texans QB, what options the NFL has in terms of possible punishment for Watson if the allegations against him prove true, how the Patriots aced and the Giants fumbled their free agent signings, and why there could be at least 5 QBs taken in the first round of the NFL Draft.   Brockman and Hellie wrap up the hour discussing the sudden explosion in basketball card collecting and how it’s changed drastically over these two decades, and the joy and frustration of assembling a piece of Ikea furniture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

23 Mar 202148min

NBC Sports’ Peter King tells guest host Dan Hellie why the Patriots fortunes still depend on the QB position despite their recent free agency spending spree, why the Colts deserve a lot of credit for NOT spending a lot of money on free agents, and how Deshaun Watson’s mounting legal troubles will impact his ability to force a trade from the Texans and could eventually keep him off the field if the civil allegations result in criminal charges.    Ohio University head coach Jeff Boals and Dan discuss the challenges his team faced this season in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, the inspiring story of Bobcats point guard Jason Preston who’s gone from obscurity to rising NBA prospect, and the difference between playing in and coaching in the NCAA Tournament.  The guys wrap up the hour discussing Urban Meyer’s ‘welcome to the NFL’ moment and if the Jaguars have a legitimate chance to win the AFC South next season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

22 Mar 202154min

Guest host Dan Hellie tells Chris Brockman the preparation necessary to be able to call play-by-play for sports ranging from the NFL to MMA.  Brockman runs through the latest news from the world of sports including the NFL Draft being held live in Cleveland this year, the Giants signing of WR Kenny Golladay and if he deserved a huge contract coming on an injury-plagued season. Dan and the guys break down the big changes in the NFC East and which team should be the frontrunner in the wide-open division for the upcoming season. The guys discuss LeBron James’ sprained ankle and what it means for the Lakers’ playoff outlook if L.A. goes an extended time without their two best players. Loyola Chicago head coach Porter Moser tells Dan how this year’s Ramblers compares to his recent Final Four team, how he gets his players to buy in to playing tenacious defense, why 101-year-old Sister Jean is MUCH feistier than she looks (and if you don’t believe it, see what happens when you don’t return one of her emails), and much more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

22 Mar 202156min

Chris Brockman and guest host Dan Hellie tip off the hour breaking down the wild opening weekend in the NCAA Tournament that was chock full of amazing upsets and Cinderella teams crashing the party at the expense of #1 seeds and blue-blood programs. Oral Roberts hoops head coach Paul Mills and Dan discuss the Golden Eagles’ improbable run to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament and how he keeps his players from believing all the hype surrounding them, the surprising way he and his team will be spending their down time this week, and if he could be in for a change of scenery as a result of his Tourney success this year. Dan breaks down the NFL’s announcement that this year’s Draft will take place in Cleveland with fans and players in attendance, and why we’re likely to see 4 quarterbacks go off the board within the first 7 or 8 picks. Brockman and Dan wrap up the hour debating which Cinderella team has the best chance to reach the Elite 8. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

22 Mar 202156min

Rich kicks off the hour breaking down the latest on the NFL Free Agency front including JuJu Smith-Schuster re-signing with the Steelers for one year instead of taking more money to play with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.   Rich dusts off his ‘4 Downs’ segment weighing in on WFT’s reversal of fortune after adding Ryan Fitzpatrick and Curtis Samuel, the Pats not standing pat after missing the playoffs last season, how the Bucs are running it back and how the Chiefs are rebuilding their O-Line, and why Emmanuel Sanders to the Bills might turn out to be the best free agent signing of the off-season. Emmy Award-winning actor Martin Freeman and Rich discuss the news season of his FX comedy ‘Breeders,’ why he, a cast member on the original BBC version of ‘The Office,’ was initially resistant to the idea of an American version of the comedy, what drew him to the first season of the TV version of the classic Coen brothers film ‘Fargo,’ why he was saddened and shocked by the unexpected passing of ‘Black Panther’ co-star Chadwick Boseman, and if there is the sliver of hope for fans that he will re-team with Benedict Cumberbatch for a ‘Sherlock’ revival.  Rich reacts to Carson Wentz opting to wear #2 with the Colts which just happens to be the number of the man who supplanted him in Philadelphia, Jalen Hurts.  The guys wraps up the hour revealing their Final Four picks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

19 Mar 202148min

Rich and the guys revisit TJ’s map-bending sports fandom and get into a heated debate: should you have to root for teams from your hometown or be allowed to adopt teams from other cities?  ESPN College Basketball Analyst and Hall of Fame Sportscaster Dick Vitale and Rich discuss the always-thrilling First Round games of the NCAA Tournament, his incredible journey from failed Pistons head coach to the Basketball Hall of Fame including the great story about how he was hired by ESPN, the Michigan head coach Juwan Howard to the NBA rumors, if a Cinderella team can emerge from this year’s Big Dance field, his DEEP love of the Bucs, Rays and Lighting, and a special birthday message for Mike Del Tufo.   Rich wraps up the hour pointing out the inequities between the NCAA’s treatment of players in the Women’s College Basketball Tournament vs the emphasis placed on the Men’s College Basketball Tournament after an Oregon player posted a Tik Tok video showing the VAST differences between the weight rooms that were made available for them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

19 Mar 202148min

Rich kicks off the hour breaking down the NFL’s new TV and Streaming contacts that will go into effect in the 2023 season. (timestamp).      With Mitchell Trubisky signing with the Bills, Rich revisits the Bears’ decision to draft him in the first place and why the people who made that decision still have jobs.   Super Bowl-winning head coach Doug Pederson and Rich discuss his son’s Pro Day at Louisiana-Monroe and his chances to land with an NFL team as a tight end, the Eagles’ mindset when drafting quarterback Jalen Hurts last year, how things unraveled for Carson Wentz in Philadelphia and if he regrets benching him, why Jalen Hurts has the right mindset to succeed in the NFL, and his surprising exit from Philly just 3 years removed from winning a Super Bowl.      Rich and Brockman wrap up the hour debating which was the more compelling watch on Thursday night: the NCAA Tournament play-in games or LaMelo Ball taking on LeBron James for the first time?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

19 Mar 202148min