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[Assistant] Yes. But back to Afeti real quick, having a guy with that versatility on the line, and I'm, let's just say for the sake of this, he ends up making a 53 man roster.


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[Assistant] Between him and Michael Dunn, you have two guys you feel pretty confident plugging and placing along any of the offensive line positions. And we know Antonio's getting older. We know Pochich has dealt with some injuries. Wyatt Teller's a warrior, but he had the calf injury last year. You have three tackles who aren't pillars of elite health.


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[Assistant] Well, yeah. Nick Harris is gone. Did they bring back James Hudson or did they let James Hudson walk? Was he even a free agent? That's a good question.


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[Assistant] It gives you the versatility to mix and match. James Hudson does have one more year on his deal, so he is back as one of the Browns extra tackles, but a Fedia guy with veteran experience, he's familiar with Andy Dickerson.


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[Assistant] Comes into the Browns now. You hope can learn something from a Betonio, from a Teller, from a Pochich, from a Conklin, the other guys that are on this roster. And I think it's a low risk, I don't want to say high reward, but low risk move that makes a lot of sense for the team.


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[Assistant] Alright, let's get a read and then we'll get to our first planned topic of the day.


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[Assistant] Nice, hell of a win for Bobby Rhodes. I think that was the Adam the Bull special, by the way, that he hit on. Bull gave out a pick on his podcast, Bobby bet it.


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[Assistant] Hit it, so congratulations to Bobby Rhodes for winning a fan duel bet. Make sure you send us your fan duel bets and we'll get them involved in the show in the coming days. Tyvis, let's start with some words that Denzel Ward had on Tuesday when he was speaking to the media at the second day of OTAs. He was asked about the importance of keeping the DB Trio


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[Assistant] Of Denzel, Greg Newsome, and Martin Emerson Jr. together. And why, in his opinion, the Browns should prioritize keeping those three intact. Anthony, do we have the quote from Denzel on that?


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[Assistant] Should the Browns try and do everything in their power to keep that DB Trio together for the long term future?


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[Assistant] It's just funny to me. It's very ironic. We have spent a ton of time talking about Greg Newsom, but I think that's almost a testament to how good and secure the rest of the roster is. There are only so many guys who really have long term questions that we spoke to at JOK on Tuesday, whether or not the Browns will extend him. I think in a perfect world, of course you keep this trio together. There's three really good cornerbacks.


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[Assistant] The reality is at some point you have to pick and choose which guys you can and can't pay because you can't pay everybody. And if you're gonna pay Newsom, they're gonna pick up the 50 year option. I'm not worried about that. And if they do, both Emerson and Newsom's contracts would expire after the 2025 season. So they'd both be due at the same time. Do you give one early? Do you give Emerson the extension early? Well, if you do,


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[Assistant] Alright, that Newsom money is either for Newsom or J.O.K. Or is it for bringing back a Nick Chubb, or re-signing Ethan Poachers, or where'd you get that money from? And if there's one thing we learned about Andrew Berry during his time as the Browns GM...


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[Assistant] He's really good at evaluating and identifying talent in the defensive backroom.


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[Assistant] Whether it's Ben Newsome, or Emerson, or Cam Mitchell, who we all really like. Hell, they found Ronnie Hickman as an undrafted free agent who came in, and was able to succeed.


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[Assistant] If there's any position group I'm comfortable with Andrew Berry trying to replace via draft picks, especially in the later rounds, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th.


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[Assistant] It is that defensive back corner back position because his hit right there has been so good. So I would love to keep Greg Newsom in a perfect world. I would love to keep all three of them together. I just don't know if it's financially realistic to do so when everyone else needs to get paid too. And if there's a position I think they can replenish via the draft. It is that DB room type.


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[Assistant] A guy like Denzel, who's so good on the outside.


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[Assistant] Would you want to transition into the slot or do you feel so comfortable in what you have in a guy like Denzel who's a legitimate lockdown, put him on an island, you feel good about it? Like would you want to sacrifice that for a potential rookie?


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[Assistant] I'd be surprised if they moved Newsom at this point of the season, I'll be honest. Now we saw Cam Mitchell play, and especially against Chicago, I thought he played very well. He showed out when he had an opportunity, made the big tackle on Justin Fields on 4th down, but I'm not sure we saw enough from the coverage standpoint in Cam Mitchell.


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[Assistant] To feel confident that he could step in and replace Greg Newsom in this defensive scheme where you need those guys to cover one on one. I agree. Man coverage.


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[Assistant] To allow the defensive front to get the pressure that Jim Schwartz needs. So, it's definitely a risky preposition moving on for him. He is probably their most valuable trade asset. That's a realistic piece. But I'm not quite sure that I'm willing to cup bait on that yet.


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[Assistant] So Denzel Ward talked about keeping the DB Trio together, he also


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[Assistant] Talked about the new Cleveland Brown Stadium plans and what he hopes to see when Jimmy Haslam unveils the final reconstruction of whatever is going to happen. And do we have a quote for that too or do you want me to just paraphrase what you said?


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[Assistant] So Deshaun Watson a couple weeks ago on his podcast that he prefers a dome.


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[Assistant] And we had the discussion of, should players have any say in the future plans for the stadium? Yes or no? And we talked about that from a Sean standpoint.


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[Assistant] From a Cleveland guy like Denzel saying he thinks it should stay downtown, Tyvis. I guess we're bringing up the question again.


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[Assistant] Do players and should players have any say in what the Browns do with their new stadium?


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[Assistant] So we've heard Denzel talk about it. We've heard Deshaun talk about it.


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[Assistant] So if you added Nick Chubb, Myles Garrett, Joel Blantonio, Wyatt Teller, let's bring back Bernie, let's bring back, uh, Joe Thomas, you get every former Browns player to come in and say, we want this to stay downtown.


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[Assistant] And it's gonna happen fast. Am I crazy for thinking it has to happen like, not tomorrow?


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[Assistant] And for anyone who doesn't know, Kansas City had a vote.


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[Assistant] Well, we had Zach in here yesterday, your colleagues, Zach Jackson with The Athletic. And he said it, in his opinion, if it was up to the Haslams.


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[Assistant] They would build a dome downtown. Oh, downtown? Downtown? Am I remembering what he said correctly?


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[Assistant] Off the top of my head, I believe so, yes. Yeah, he said if it was up to them, they'd build a dome downtown.


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[Assistant] I, I hope I'm not misquoting Zack on that.


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[Assistant] It'll be all built up, and it's by where the Clippers are building their stadium, right?


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[Assistant] I knew that they were talking about it, but I haven't kept up with it. I'll make sure I send it to you. They're building it straight up.


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[Assistant] 1.8 billion dollars, by the way. And it is going in Englewood. I was right. Englewood? Yea.


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[Assistant] Let's do a read and we'll talk a little Cavs speaking of basketball.


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[Assistant] We did this last year before the Cavs Knicks playoff series.


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[Assistant] Who do you trust and why? Heading into that series, the rosters for the Cleveland Cavaliers look much different this time around than it did last season. There's no Danny Green's, there's no Jetty Osmond's.


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[Assistant] A lot more guys we would hope we trust, but we're gonna find out if Tyvis, Jason, and myself have faith in some of the Cavs big time players to come through when it matters most. And, lead us through this.


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[Assistant] What are, what are, what's the criteria? Do you trust Player X in a postseason series?


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[Assistant] If you look at his playoff career, last year's playoff series against the Knicks was the anomaly. That was not the regular for his postseason career. Over his course of his playoff sex, uh, playoff tenure, he's averaging 27-7-7. He's averaged over 30 points per game in two separate playoff runs that lasted at least seven games. What happened against New York last year,


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[Assistant] Starts with Donovan because he was the leader of that team, but it was not just a Donovan Mitchell problem. That whole team collapsed. And heading into the postseason.


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[Assistant] He was 75, 80ish percent. He said yesterday he feels 100% healthy. I'm not sure I'm fully buying that, but with 10 days off between his last game against Indiana and we'll see him against Orlando, I do think he'll be healthy enough. If he was what he was against Indiana against Orlando, he's going to be able to score 20, 25 points a game. Is he full peaked on of it? I'm not sure.


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[Assistant] But I do trust the fact that Donovan will show up in this postseason series in a way he did not last year against New York.


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[Assistant] I think Isaac has the quickest ability for me to change my...


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[Assistant] Heading into the Sears opinion. Because defensively, it's a giant diss. Oh yea, nobody, yea. Defensively, it's a giant diss.


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[Assistant] As Jason mentioned with last year's Knicks series, I have to see him take


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[Assistant] And make a few threes in the postseason before I can fully trust him. He shot 45% from beyond the arc in February. That number dropped to 36% in March. You want to be trending upwards to the postseason, not downwards. Attempts relatively the same, but he had his best shooting season of his career this year.


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[Assistant] None of that matters if he's not confident enough to take those shots in the postseason. I just have to see it first. Very easily, by game three, could be this. I just have to see it first before I change my don't trust to trust.


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[Assistant] Part of the reason he fell off was the amount of open looks he was getting dropped when Donovan's hurt. He's at his best when he's playing with Donovan who draws. Defenders come in, he kicks out to the corner.


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[Assistant] I did mention the shooting numbers dropped. That's partly because Donovan wasn't on the court to get him those open looks. Donovan's back. You hope he's healthy enough to create those open looks.


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[Assistant] But Isaac has to hit them first before I think anyone can feel confident he's capable of doing that in a postseason series.


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[Assistant] He's getting a 5 year 80 million dollar contract. If he doesn't, it's 35, 40 million.


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[Assistant] Or on the flip side, if he's not 100%, you blitz him with Suggs and Isaac. And good luck trying to break that, so. Yeah, yeah, yeah, too.


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[Assistant] That just depends on who's uh, if Isaac of Cora's on the court, Isaac's gonna check Palo. Mobile will probably start.


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[Assistant] Here's what I do trust about Evan Mobley. His defensive ability. His ability to get decent looks if he has to drive from the wing.


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[Assistant] What I'm not sure I trust about Evan Mobley in this series is the viability of playing two bigs together. I think spacing is going to be huge against this Orlando defense. In the half court set, we mentioned it yesterday, the third best defensive rating, they are long, they are athletic, their wingspan stretched side to side.


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[Assistant] I think spacing is going to be crucial to allow Donovan and Darius to pick their spots in the pick and roll, get in, create chaos, and then kick out to the corners. So I'm not sure I trust Evan Mobley's long-term viability in this series alongside Jared Allen, but as the one big, I actually do think I trust Evan Mobley to get his in the series.


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[Assistant] I went back and forth on this one and it pains me to say, I'm a no.


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[Assistant] As soon as Earl took him off his parlay list when he got put on the no parlay and Lil Titty came on and told us he can't bet on him, we couldn't trust Darius Garland to be consistent on a game in game out basis in the regular season against an elite defense with two elite defensive players in Jonathan Isaac and Jalen Suggs going against him on a night to night basis. I trust him to have a couple of big games in the series. I don't trust him for seven games. Does that make sense?


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[Assistant] I trust him in spurts, I just don't trust him overall. He's just been too consistent all year.


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[Assistant] He's done everything in his power capable of redeeming himself from last season's postseason collapse up until the point where we're at now. He can't erase it till he shows it in the playoffs, but he has done literally every single thing right.


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[Assistant] From where he was last year at the lowest of lows to now entering the posting at the highest of highs, I have no reason not to trust him other than last year's playoffs was a collapse.


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[Assistant] Up next, Max Truce. Big time yes.


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[Assistant] One sentence, we have to see Isaac hit those shots before we can believe it. We've seen Max hits those shots, not just in the first round of the playoffs, but in the second round, third round, and the NBA finals. Next up, Ant.


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[Assistant] I hope so. Good cares. Great. Bad cares. Yikes. And who's next?


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[Assistant] He's made shots in big time playoff moments, and two, I cannot emphasize enough.


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[Assistant] I think spacing in this series is going to be so crucial to what the Cavs do if they're going to have any success against this Magic Defense. And I don't think the two big lineups, if JB wants to do it, fine, he's going to start with it. We're going to see that first rotation come in. They have to make shots. And if Dean Wade's not healthy, and I...


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[Assistant] It sucked. This series was exactly when they needed Dean Wade. Yes. They missed Dean Wade. For this series in specific.


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[Assistant] He is such a big loss for them because he's not there. George is going to get minutes and it may be three minutes. You miss two shots. George, you don't play again.


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[Assistant] But you need that spacing from a 4, and I just like his playoff experience. Maybe I'm a little, uh, not biased, but a little...


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[Assistant] Biased. Optimist. I do like George. Optimistic because of the playoff experience, but I just think he's gonna play a crucial part in this series and I like the fact he's been in these moments before.


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[Assistant] His role is to be a great locker room guy and provide toughness. It's not to make free throws late in the game. So for that, I do trust Tristan Thompson to do exactly that.


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[Assistant] And with that, let's welcome in Kendra Douglas. She is a team reporter for the Orlando Magic. Kendra, thanks so much for joining us today. I really appreciate you taking some time to join the show. How you doing today?


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[Assistant] Said it was part of their plan, some people interpreted that differently to...


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[Assistant] Play four bigs and Imani Bates in the fourth quarter of their last regular season game to avoid a potential matchup with Philly or Miami. That set up the magic in their first round series. So I'm curious from the magic standpoint, are they taking that as a personal


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[Assistant] Shot at them as the team the Cavs wanted to play in the first round.


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[Assistant] Yeah, he guards one through five. It's incredible what he's done over the last couple of weeks. He might be the most dangerous defensive weapon in all of basketball when he's healthy, which is crazy for a guy who plays 20-ish minutes a game. I wanted to ask about another Magic player though, Kendra. Franz Wagner was a guy who came into this season with a ton of expectations.


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[Assistant] He still scored about 20 points per game, but his three points shooting over the last couple of months has kind of gone MIA. He shot just 18% from beyond the arc in the month of March. So.


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[Assistant] Are you guys confident or the magic confident he'll refine that shooting stroke or is at this point kind of just a lost cause for Franz Wagner from three in this season?


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[Assistant] We talked about Jalen Suggs and Jonathan Isaac and how good Orlando's half court defense is a little bit earlier and


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[Assistant] We kind of assume when we get to the playoffs, opposing defenses, they'll try to blitz off pick and rolls, get the ball out of the other team's best player's hands. But between Jalen Suggs and Jonathan Isaac and Gary Harris and Wagner, Orlando has a bunch of different weapons they can kind of guard Donovan Mitchell or Darius Garland with.


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[Assistant] Off a pick and roll situation. I know you're not in the coaching room, but you know Orlando much better than we do. Would you anticipate


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[Assistant] Coach Mosley and that staff trying to play pick and rolls more straight up and letting Suggs just kind of hound Donovan as opposed to switching and allowing Cleveland to attack the mismatch they want.


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[Assistant] I had to try. I had to try. Uhm, Kendra, other question than this one, I feel like you could answer in a little more depth without giving away secrets, but this is Orlando's first time, outside of Joe Ingalls, really the first time that any of these guys have had a playoff experience. Do they expect to win this series? I know we saw Cleveland coming last against New York and then


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[Assistant] Collapsed in epic fashion and Jared Allen said, well the lights were too bright. They weren't ready for that moment. Do you get the sense that this young Orlando squad is ready for this stage?


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[Assistant] Orlando's tough. Orlando's tough and a lot of this comes down to guys' first playoff experience. Are they ready for the moment? Cleveland learned the hard way last year. You know, these Orlando guys have to prove they can make shots in the postseason before you can fully buy in. Jason?


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[Assistant] Get your last question, we'll get you out of here. Thanks again for joining us today. We're going to do a topic tomorrow. What concerns us most about the Magic? So I'm curious from your standpoint, what about the Cavaliers should concern the Orlando team most?


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[Assistant] Awesome. Kendra, very much appreciate you making some time to join us today. We will see you at game one up here in Cleveland Saturday, one o'clock tip. That is Kendra Douglas. Cavs and six.


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[Assistant] She picked the Magic, she's a Magic team reporter. But Kendra, thank you so much. Alright, thank you guys. Have a good one. Awesome. Well, game one. One o'clock.


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[Assistant] One o'clock Saturday. ESPN. Kaz Magic. It's not True TV. How about that? Well, it's the one o'clock ESPN slot.


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[Assistant] Sam Merrill made 11 threes this season against the Orlando Magic. He had his best game of the season against the Orlando Magic.


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[Assistant] He has been a roller coaster ride of minutes for JB Bickerstaff this season coming off the bench, playing 20, 25 minutes a game, then having four or five DMPs back to back to back to back. Jason, I stress this during the segment we did before Kendra joined us, spacing, spacing, spacing is key against the Orlando Magic. So I will ask you this question.


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[Assistant] Does Sam Merrill have a role in his gas rotation or against Orlando in the first round?


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[Assistant] Let me tell you, I actually think I have more faith in Sam Mero this series than I probably should A, and then B, you guys for sure.


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[Assistant] He was 11 and 19 from three against Orlando in two games this season. We just showed the highlights. He had six threes in one game at 26 points. Absolutely cooked them.


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[Assistant] That was the first game I can remember where they ran a Donovan Mitchell Sam Merrill little pick and roll against Jalen Suggs, and it had him in hell. He didn't know what to do. He took one half baby step to the left, Sam Merrill slid out for a little pop up three, and he was too late to recover because Sam Merrill's triggers so quick. I think JB, and I'm serious about this,


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[Assistant] I think he has to find minutes for Sam Merrill in the first or second quarter just to see how he's shooting. If he makes one or two, you let him play more. If he misses the first two, not his day, take him out. But unlike some other matchups Cleveland could have had in the first round, if Sam's on the court, the opponent is going to isolate him out defensively. However,


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[Assistant] I don't think there's anyone in Orlando's back court that I'm particularly worried about Sam Merrill trying to stay in front of him. You're telling me he has to guard Gary Harris? Like, I'm okay with that. If he's guarding...


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[Assistant] Even Jalen sucks to an extent, like Jalen's a good offensive player, but


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[Assistant] If Jalen wants to go one on one all game, I think you live with that from the Cavalier's standpoint, so.


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[Assistant] I think his offense and his ability to stretch the floor and space the court to allow Darius and Donovan to do more is crucial. He has to prove he can make those shots granted.


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[Assistant] But I don't think teams can take advantage of him like a New York could, like an Indiana could, like even a Milwaukee could, or Boston definitely could take advantage of Sam on the other end of the court. So I'm a little more inclined to give him a little longer leash early in the game to see if he can have one of those flamethrower nights where he goes 6 of 10 for 3 in 12 minutes of game action.


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[Assistant] Jason's mentioned this a few times, if you missed the old cafe show from Tuesday, go back. We went way more in depth than we kind of have on any specific game this season.


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[Assistant] I appreciate that, but go check it out on Tuesday. One thing and it's bringing back this conversation.


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[Assistant] And I'm gonna mention Palo to bring back to what we were talking about with Sam Mero. And what Kendra mentioned.


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[Assistant] Palo is their best offensive player by far. It's not really close. He has 23 points a game. He's the best player, best offensive player, all the above.


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[Assistant] He takes a ton of long twos. That's kind of his game. He's not really a three point shooter. He wants to get to the cup. If he's driving right, if he's dribbling with his right hand, he's going to the cup. He wants to drive every time. If he has it in the left hand, he wants to do a little step back jumper. It's not crazy rocket science. That's just kind of how Palo attacks.


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[Assistant] And I mentioned adjacent, there's a little tiny shade of LeBron and Palo, a tiny little shade.


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[Assistant] You can't let the other guys on Orlando beat you. If Palo wants to make 15 step back 2s...


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[Assistant] Throw your hand up, tip your cap, Palo, congratulations. But you can't let Gary Harris and Jalen Suggs and Caleb Houston and Wendell Carter and Franz Wagner and Joe Ingalls get open looks on the perimeter that end up killing you. And we, and we looked at their numbers. They don't have a single player on the roster shooting over 40% that takes at least three a game.


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[Assistant] Who takes at least three threes per game? If Palo wants to get his, fine, so be it.


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[Assistant] The other guys aren't the ones that can beat you in my opinion. They can only make so many long 2's. That's not gonna beat you. The other guys can't be the ones to do it.


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[Assistant] And I also want to see him run, push the pace. Gotta get out in transition. That half court defense for Orlando is very difficult to match up with. And speaking of matchups, Ant, this next clip from LeBron, it's going to be a hell of a tease, was all about one specific matchup. Give us a read, I'll tell you what happened.


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[Assistant] So if you guys haven't seen the LeBron James J.J. Reddick podcast, I would highly recommend it. It is basketball X's and O's to the top to the T. They are phenomenal at it. Jason, have you seen this clip about LeBron breaking down? We'll show it in a sec.


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[Assistant] They drew up a play for LeBron. He ends up hitting the game winner, but the play did not go as designed.


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[Assistant] But here's LeBron describing that play, and then Jason, you were there, so I'm curious to see what you remember versus how LeBron remembers, and then we'll talk about it for a sec.


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[Assistant] On the fly to read the defense, readjust, and make a shot like that. Jason, you were there.


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[Assistant] That was the first legit dominant like LeBron buzzer beater we had seen up to that point on a stage of that caliber. Is what he described ring home the same way you remember it?


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[Assistant] They were down one, which does make a difference. They were down one, they only needed two.


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[Assistant] Well, it's the funniest thing to me watching LeBron and JJ break that down was hearing the other four guys on the court. Like, there was no other option. It was LeBron.


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[Assistant] LeBron carried those teams. Making the finals at 0-7. I know it was a sweep, they lost.


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[Assistant] That might be the most impressive feat of his career in all honesty, like that and beating the 17 warriors. Incredible.


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[Assistant] That wasn't the se- that was the first time around! Yea, KG wasn't on the Celtics in 16 or 17. No.


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[Assistant] That clip was from 16 seasons ago. Think about that. 15 seasons ago. That was 09. 08, 09.


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[Assistant] So we started the show an hour and 35 minutes ago, Jason. If we were the Boston Red Sox Cleveland Guardians game from yesterday, we would be in the bottom of the 9th inning. That's crazy. That game took an hour and 47 minutes. It was a 2-0 shutout. Tanner, is it pronounced Hawk? Is that how you pronounce his last name?


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[Assistant] Three hits shut out. Nine strikeouts against the Guardians. He was absolutely dealing yesterday. He was tremendous. And one of the runs that Boston scored him on a balk. Ben Lively made a spot start for the Guardians. He also pitched very well. We'll talk about him in a sec. From an offensive standpoint, Jason, we'll get to the balk and the other side in a sec.


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[Assistant] They're coming off a great extra innings win on Tuesday to come back and get three hit on Wednesday. You chalk it up to that just being baseball, facing a great pitcher or anything bigger at play.


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[Assistant] Well, let's talk about from the flip side then. Ben Live, we got the spot start for the Guardians. Five innings, gave up two runs, three hits, seven strikeouts, but the real thing we need some clarification on, Jason, was the first run he allowed, which came via a balk. And I think it was the fifth inning. And...


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[Assistant] Steven Vogt spoke about it after the game. We have the video of it. But Jason, will you explain to people who may not understand the exact rule why what Ben Lively did yesterday was actually a balk, even though it looks not that bad in the grand scheme of things?


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[Assistant] Well, it's- Wow, man, I mean- And he'll pull it up in a sec, yeah. The one he did against Cleveland over the weekend was by far the craziest. He literally threw a fake pitch, which, that- That's not a pocket!


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[Assistant] So, lively box and a run, then the catcher wong hits a home run. There's your two runs. The game was over. Lightning speed. It was actually very comical. Me and Amp this morning went through and watched Major League Baseball's recap on YouTube to put that little recap together.


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[Assistant] Like the routine for the pitcher to second base to first, there was no action in the game. It was over before it even started. And I don't mean that in a bad way. I mean, it's just, there was very little offense from either side. Both pitchers pitched well. But Jason, we've now seen Zaveon Curry, Tanner Bybee,


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[Assistant] Ben Lively back to back to back put together three quality starts in a row. And we had talked beforehand how this pitching rotation had struggled kind of to a bit of our surprise, but you're going to go up against Boston and get


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[Assistant] Five innings of no run ball from Curry, five innings of two run ball from Lively, and five innings of one run ball from Bybee. Maybe the Pages started to turn on this starting rotation for the guards.


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[Assistant] McKenzie stuff is fascinating though because he is such a key cog in what you would hope would be the rotation this year. You lose your fever.


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[Assistant] So, okay, you're down one. Gavin Williams, he'll be back at some point, but we haven't seen him yet. Bybie and Allen haven't been as you would expect so far.


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[Assistant] Frankly. Well I can assure you it's not Curry and Lively. Right. It's not paper. Right. And you got two wins in a series with those two pitched too. And you got Carlos Carrasco being as your. We don't know. We don't know.


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[Assistant] That's very solid. I guess you're right, we don't know it to be true.


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[Assistant] This bullpen, which had a ton of question marks coming into the season, has been really, really, really reliable.


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[Assistant] I did have one more question about the Guardians. They played Arius. He's starting at third base today. He's played shortstop and he's played center field in the series.


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[Assistant] Were you aware he had this kind of position on defensive versatility?


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[Assistant] What have you seen over the last four or five games in his approach? Have you seen anything that has, kind of led to these significant improvement in results?


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[Assistant] We saw Florio after the big hit on Tuesday over three, three strikeouts yesterday.


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[Assistant] Of course the next year they just start. That's just how it works. And first pitch today is 1-30 against the Red Sox. An afternoon game to end that series. Next up for the Guardians, they're back in Cleveland for three games against the Oakland Athletics who are surprisingly 6-4 in the X-10. So, playing a little better baseball. And we got some super chats.


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[Assistant] Well we didn't ask this when we did the happy face sad face for the calves.


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[Assistant] I know we got a minute left, so quick question, but how much of a factor do you think


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[Assistant] JB's relationship with Jamal Mosley actually is in this sense. The fact that they know each other. They know each other really well. So well, does that benefit the new guy or the old guy?


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[Assistant] Dives, have you ever played against a coach who was a former assistant of Urban, or one of your head coaches in the NFL?


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[Assistant] And if so, did you approach that game any differently from a game plan standpoint in 20 seconds?


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[Assistant] We'll find out if Donovan, Darius, Evan, Jared, and the Cavs are better athletes than the Magic. We heard from Kenyon Douglas today. Appreciate you all tuning in. And what's in overtime?


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[Assistant] Every time you eat a fish, the fish is dead.


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[Assistant] Jamar Chase, yes. Don't even know. Why would you even ask that? I'm just, I'm gonna go through the obvious yeses. Okay.


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[Assistant] Michael Parsons, yes. Yeah, of course. Rashawn Slater.


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[Assistant] He's an offensive lineman. I just don't know how good he is. I have no, I can't say. I don't know the answer to that one. I don't know.


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[Assistant] Uh, Elijah Vera Tucker, another offensive lineman. Don't know. I don't know. Is he with the Jets? He is with the Jets. He was. He not with the Jets no more?


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[Assistant] Uh, we'll keep going down. Elijah Moore. Who? You're in the second round now. Or third round. That's what I'm saying. Yeah, he was at twenty-three.


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[Assistant] Patriots, Defensive, Lyman, they suck! Nico Collins is better. Nico Collins is better, I agree.


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[Assistant] I'm going to give you a couple of free agents that the brown should still go after.


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[Assistant] Well, Baltimore lost a lot defensively. You know, they still have Assange and Davion Clowning. Uh, they lost Geno Stone. They lost Patrick Queen. You know, they lost some pieces. Now. Two offensive linemen. Historically, they're, you never worried about Baltimore's defense. They're always good.


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[Assistant] Obviously getting Derrick Henry is going to make things better, but they still need to add another wire receiver to be good to me. So I really wouldn't put them at one right now. Uhm, for Cleveland,


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[Assistant] Yeah, so that is hard to put them there. So I see why they have them third. I probably would put Cincinnati one, uh, Browns would probably still be third, but I wouldn't make their odds plus five.


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[Assistant] They probably take that in the draft. Yeaah. I don't think they, but they don't historically draft receivers in the first round, right? Uh, when did they draft the second round?


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[Assistant] But I also like the fact that they got more tackle help.


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[Assistant] You know, they did a better job of protecting because since Joe Burrows been in the league, you know, his offensive line hasn't been great.


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[Assistant] You know, obviously they hit with Orlando Brown, now you go get Trent Brown to go get the other side. Who I played with in San Francisco, really good player. So I think Joe Burrow now had that protection, which allowed him to be comfortable in the pocket. Now your playmakers can get open, you can buy yourself more time to let these deeper developing routes actually happen.


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[Assistant] I mean, Deshaun and Nick, for that, I mean, that's the thing, that two of the key players are coming back from injury and you don't know what they're gonna be.


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[Assistant] I do got a couple of guys, uhm, the first one I was thinking about the, the tight end position. You know, all those names on there is good, but.


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[Assistant] For the one time in my life as being a Browns fan, I'm actually cool with...


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[Assistant] The positions that's on there, like Justin Simmons, love Justin Simmons, like a brother to me.


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[Assistant] But I'm cool with Juan Thornhill and Grant Dillpitt and Ronnie Hickman and, uh, D'Anthony Bell and all of those guys. I'm good at that spot.


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[Assistant] But I thought about tight end outside of Najoku because Ken Dorsey and Kevin Stefanski love those two tight end sets. So if you're going to get another tight end in there, I was thinking of a guy that I played with in San Francisco. He's not a big name guy, but he's very, he was productive when he got his moment. His name was Ross Dwelley.


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[Assistant] Bam! Ross Dwelley, if he came in here, I think that...


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[Assistant] It's a similar offense from towards what Kevin Stefanski ran and what Kyle Shanahan runs.


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[Assistant] So I think he will be able to pick up right away what Kevin Stefanski wants to do or Kitten Dorsey. He has shown in San Francisco that he can be a reliable target. So I think he can be very productive as a second tight end. Plus, Harrison Bryant, even if you didn't like him or even if you hated him,


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[Assistant] So he was a guy, and then another guy that I was thinking about is Linebacker.


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[Assistant] I know we got Jordan Hicks, and I know we got J.O.K., but I just don't think we have enough depth at that position. A linebacker is such a violent position that people get banged up all the time.


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[Assistant] So I was thinking maybe getting, bringing a guy back like, uh, Jacob Phillips. You know, Jacob Phillips, he's the youngest, uh, free agent linebacker out there. He's 24. Um, he's not going to break the bank, obviously.


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[Assistant] But I think he's had moments with the Cleveland Browns where he had some good games. It's just always been a health thing with him. And if he's coming in as a third linebacker, just in case somebody gets injured.


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[Assistant] He'll be able to be serviceable and still allow you to be productive at the linebacker position.


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[Assistant] He gon' be a third receiver here. But they ran, but they also ran 11 personnel a lot. Oh, but you think they gon' run here? No, but I'm sayin'. Elijah Moore, Jerry, Judy, and Amari Cooper.


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[Assistant] I know a dude, I know a guy that catches everything. He got, he got some injury problems, but if you throw him that ball, he gonna catch it. His name is Mike Thomas. Go Bucks.


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[Assistant] I could make a case for either one of the ones y'all just said. I know Karis.


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[Assistant] Karras has been incredible these last couple of games coming off the bench. Just from last year we knew Karras to be a really good scorer, but he's taken his game and leveled it more. Now he's getting more guys involved.


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[Assistant] And to do that as the sixth man, usually when you hear about a sixth man coming off the bench, it's just the guy that can score a ton of points. You know, you think about, you know, James Harden or Jamal Crawford or all these other guys that want, that was these all time great sixth men of the years.


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[Assistant] But they never really had to assist like he's been having lately. I mean, he's had double doubles and stuff like that. So, Karras would be my vote, but I can make the case for Isaac Okoro as well because coming into the league, everybody knew he could play defense. He's the guy that everybody would leave open for threes and this season,


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[Assistant] More times than not, he's been knocking him down. I think McNuggets told me he's their best corner spot shooter or something like that. He has been this season, that's correct. From the three. So that right there alone has shown that he's upped his game. I remember when he got drafted, his coach said that if he ever gets an offensive game, he'd be


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[Assistant] He's hands down one of the best players to play, and he seems like he's taken that seriously this year. I know last year before he got hurt, he was actually starting to have some good offensive outputs. Seems like he's really picked up where he left off from last year.


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[Assistant] People are going to be critical of you and that's cool. You know, if you watch the taping, you got a totally different opinion about somebody. Alright, that's fine. But if you take it, make it personal, that's where it's like, alright, I got a problem with that as a former, as a player.


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[Assistant] I never really, I don't go back and forth with fans, like that wasn't my thing. I don't do that at all. The only opinion that mattered to me was my teammates and my coaches. But I have no problem with Jerry Judy doing what he did because he's probably tired of that narrative. Everybody's been saying the same thing. Now I will say,


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[Assistant] You being an OG and you being what's supposed to be a big brother, that's not the way to do that. Like you don't go on social media and do something like that. If you have a problem with somebody, it's so easy for you to reach out to them.


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[Assistant] Pup, uh, privately and then discuss how you feel privately. Right. So I think that he should have handled it totally different.


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[Assistant] Hey Mike, I got a question for you. What's up? Cause outside of myself, I know you really love this women's game. In your opinion, we talking about the expansion of the WNBA.


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[Assistant] Uh, it's a blessed dog, no lie. Uhm, couldn't, you know.


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[Assistant] You can't, you know, you can't make it up. You know, you know, like I said, just coming from Cleveland, which you know, uh, being a Cleveland Brown fan my whole life, you know, uh, I forgot I was just telling somebody this, you know, we don't,


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[Assistant] We don't have as much in Cleveland. We have the, you know, three major sports and, uhm, we take those very seriously. You know, we, uhm, so.


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[Assistant] Yeah, yeah, so they reached out to me. Uh, I was in talks with a few teams, but uhm, Cleveland made the most sense to me. Uhm, you know.


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[Assistant] Um, you know, as far as like the time they wanted me, uh, the situation I was in coming off of injury.


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[Assistant] You know, uhm, so that, uh, you know, affected a lot of my, you know, contract status. So I feel like this is a great situation for me. One year deal with my hometown team. Uh, you know, what, what better year to be, you know, with Cleveland.


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[Assistant] Uh, you know, Deshaun Watson, a lot of the offensive lineman guys, Nick Chubb. So just to be around that type of stuff, man, especially cause I, you know, I root for the Browns every single week, no matter where.


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[Assistant] Who I'm playing for, I'm always rooting for the Browns just because I'm a hometown kid other than obviously when I'm playing against them.


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[Assistant] So just to be able to be on the other side is, you know, like a dream come true.


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[Assistant] He was an OG to my OG when I got to New Orleans.


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[Assistant] So once I did, once I got the call and once it all came out that I was gonna be, you know, playing with Bubba.


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[Assistant] You know, he's going to be my coach, man, my, my boy, Craig Robertson, who actually played for the Browns for like 45 years, um, about 10 years ago.


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[Assistant] So they said Bubba was, you know, a big fan of mine. So, you know, when you, you go into a situation like that, when you want it, you know, and, uhm,


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[Assistant] It's just, it's just a blessing and it just makes you feel that much more confident in what you do and it makes you want to go hard for that coach because that you know that that coach, you know, he wants you, he wants to coach you, he wants to, you know, be around you and all that kind of stuff, man. So I'm, I'm very excited to work with Bubba.


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[Assistant] Yeah, uhm, you know, each year is different, uh, each day is different.


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[Assistant] This is, this is having a mindset. I feel like a lot of this stuff is like a mindset type of thing. Uhm, I never get too high or too low. I'm always, you know, coming to, uh, coming to work day in, day out. This is because, you know, you can never take this type of stuff for granted. And, uhm, you know, you...


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[Assistant] You know, you gotta stay humble through it all just because God can easily take it away.


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[Assistant] Uh, you know, like I was coming off the Pro Bowl in the 2022 season, I was on my high. You know, God humbled me and, you know, I was hurt in 2023. And, uh, you know, just to, I would, I would say be able to, uhm,


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[Assistant] You know, reflect on that time. It was definitely a humbling experience, but you know, it made me a better person. It made me a better person mentally. And like even in this situation, I'm not in, you know, the perfect scenario situation that I thought I was going to be in. You know, this is.


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[Assistant] More of one of those times where I gotta get it out the mud. Like I'm not going into, you know, like I know I'm gonna make this team, like this different situation.


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[Assistant] Well, uhm, you know, I was with, you know, New York Jets for the past three years and we really didn't kick off much. Like we really didn't, uh, you know, it was a lot of touchbacks. So that was, you know,


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[Assistant] Uhm, who are just willing to just, you know, kick it to opponents like that. Like it just, you know, uhm, not sure why, but you know, that is what it is. I'm in a new situation now. I'm in Cleveland now and I feel like with this new kickoff rule, I'm going to dominate and I can't wait to, you know, make it happen. I can't wait to, you know.


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[Assistant] Nah, man, my boy, my boy Ty was him and Vaughn Bill was nice back there. You know, I, I can't lie. I feel like they was probably one of the better duos in Ohio State history. Obviously they're national champions. So that's something that you can, you know, you can't make, make up. Like, you know, numbers lie.


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[Assistant] You know, I'm a defensive guy now and I embrace that to the ultimate fullest and you know, I don't make up any excuses. So uhm, just any means necessary.


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[Assistant] Uhm, you know, I mean, you can't make it up. Like, you know, I didn't talk to him. I didn't know that that was going to happen.


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[Assistant] You know, like I said, man, that type of stuff, you just can't make up. That's just the character.


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[Assistant] My type of guy, man, and uh, all the coaches, man, like my, my, my cornerback coach, man, remind me of my old cornerback coach with the Jets, like.


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[Assistant] Yeah, that's fair. I will get to it, but that's, that's a fair, and I don't use that term lightly that the building is on fire, but it's April. Yeah, I know.


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[Assistant] What's interesting is Mike set this up specifically for G.


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[Assistant] And he's not here. And she called off. And now, I guarantee you, I will give you a far different answer. I will too! That Derek Q. Bush would give you on this topic. This is gonna be fun.


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[Assistant] Okay, so I slept like crap last night. Did you really? Oh, I didn't fall asleep till 5 in the morning. Oh my god. I just laid there staring at the wall, thinking about the cows. Oh yeaah, that's top of mind.


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[Assistant] And I finally fell asleep around five, got up and like ate a cheese stick. Like, you know, all these things you try and do to try and fall asleep. And then my daughter was asleep over my mom's last night. So she came home at eight. So I got up with her for a minute and I'm like, I'm going back to bed.


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[Assistant] So Mike's call woke me up at 9.30. And he's like, can you be here? I was like,


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[Assistant] Guys, these might be worse than they were last year based on what we saw that weekend. I could buy that. It's like they can't feel the ball. No, they're shortstop. They're missing cut off man. Yes.


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[Assistant] Yeah, and it's a great fan base. It's devastating what's happened to that side.


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[Assistant] It looked like it. I can buy that. The second game, I think the announced attendance was 3,000. That's crazy. Oh my goodness. It's a joke.


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[Assistant] There's more people in the parking lot than there were. We talked about that on Friday. They protest.


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[Assistant] I like that he plays a lot of players. I like that. I like and he's like, they're going to keep doing this. They're, you know, my cardio back in the day said our starters are starters for a reason. And if you were a starter, you played 155 games. Like you didn't get the day off.


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[Assistant] And, and the game has changed and you're going to see guys, you're going to see Gabi Arias in different spots and different guys getting days off. But I really like Tyler Freeman center field. I hope that continues. It looks like it will. It looks like he's won that job for now. Estevan Florial, you have to see what you have in him, right? They're going to have to take a look at him.


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[Assistant] But, it looks like Freeman is the guy there, and eventually you're gonna get Manzardo up, uh, and, and maybe, maybe you get chased a lotter up if you move on from Florial, but you have to give Florial at least a month, at least, if not probably longer than that. Uh, but I, you know, those are the things I like.


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[Assistant] Earl, I hear you, but when you go from Oakland pitching to Seattle pitching, it's like going from the Mahoney Valley Scrappers to the actual major leagues, like Seattle's rotation is legit. This is a protein. Yes. We will, we'll get a little bit better barometer of how good they really are. And again, it's one series, it's April.


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[Assistant] But this is tremendous pitching that they're about to see this week in Seattle, Oakland.


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[Assistant] It's impossible to make any sort of judgments based off, off of that team. But I will, I do want to give one little shout out. Their fifth starter, who we didn't get a chance to see, Joe Boyle actually worked out in Cleveland. Joe.


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[Assistant] No one pays attention to the ace. He's the ace fifth starter. He throws literally 101 and he has no idea where it's going most of the time. But he worked out with my son.


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[Assistant] Better hitters higher in the order, getting them more at bats. I like that.


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[Assistant] I do think Tyler Freeman could make a good two hole hitter, possibly. He's got great barrel control. First of all, he has to prove he can stick in the majors. This is his first extended. And if he proves he can handle it, he can handle center field. His bat can play, and I think his bat can play. I think he can roll out of bed and hit 280 in the majors.


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[Assistant] I agree with you on Jimenez. They have been hesitant. We saw it a little bit this weekend. They've been hesitant to move him up in the order. He's always been a lower the order hitter. I don't know if it's a confidence thing with him, if it's a mental thing with him.


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[Assistant] Yes. But I also think Freeman could be a really good two hoiter. Kwan Freeman back to back. I like that. There's a lot of hit and run potential with Kwan on first.


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[Assistant] You're a major league player, you ought to be able to get a bunt down. Put the ball out of the ball. So I'm kind of torn on that because I can think of a lot of guys I'd really have in that position to put that play on with and I know a lot of


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[Assistant] They, they used to practice it. I know. In batting practice, your first few swings used to be once. Always. Lay two down. One down the left field line, one down the right.


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[Assistant] Stephen's out for the year and I think somebody else has got a game. I mean, Karen Cech has got the shoulder. He's on the 60 day, I think. Yeaah, so. They need some new faces on the back end because the guys you're used to seeing aren't going to be there. They're not going to be there.


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[Assistant] Barlow was a wild pick. I shouldn't say wild. It was an interesting pick up to me. For a team that cuts every corner. I thought so too. Cuts every dollar. Suspends 7 million on him.


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[Assistant] It's sort of a little bit of a reclamation project. And then when the Closet trade rumors surfaced, I thought, well, okay, I guess that's why they went and got Barlow. Yeah. And one of the Ruben Diablo left the Guardians and went to the Padres and Barlow was with him in San Diego.


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[Assistant] And they did something, and I wish I had the whole story. Zach Meisel was telling me this. They had him more upright in his, in his delivery. And the results were instantaneous. And it really sort of turned him back because he was really good for a while in Kansas City.


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[Assistant] I'm not surprised. I've been talking to Bull. I'm big on the Tigers this year. I think they're good. And the White Sox are trash.


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[Assistant] And I mean they've got some veterans now and I mean one of their top prospects they put back in AAA who was


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[Assistant] Major League pitcher Matt Manning had success last year. Wow. And they're so deep now in their rotation. He's back in AAA and not happy about it. So I, I think they're legit. I think Kansas City is going to be better than people think. This division isn't great. We know it's not a great division. I do think it's going to be better than people think.


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[Assistant] Makes me feel better cause I was like, what are you doing? Like this is a huge risk, not having the surgery, but the fact that he made it all the way through spring training.


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[Assistant] I mean, he's not out of the woods, but he feels like he's got the compass in the right direction and you can see the city. You know, you're getting


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[Assistant] He doesn't have big money yet. I know. And I don't know who's going to pay him. And maybe I'm wrong. Like maybe this is nothing. He's gonna go out and have a great year this year and a great year next year and everything's gonna be fine.


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[Assistant] But if I'm a major league team, do you really want to invest big dollars in a guy that has that tear? You know it's lurking. You would think that as a young guy, you would just get it taken care of. Everybody has Tommy John surgery.


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[Assistant] I feel like most guys though, Johan Santana was the one that was never the same. Never the same, but wasn't he a little bit older too when he had it? No, I think he was young. He was in Minnesota. He was pretty young. Yea, boy, he was so good early on. And he was never the same pitcher after that. But for the most part, I think most guys come back just as good. It's a gamble either way.


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[Assistant] When you hear a tear though, and the pitcher opts against, and I, and I, the one that comes to mind is, uh, the Tanaka.


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[Assistant] Yeaah, not a great staff. I don't think they're going to be top half of the league in home runs. I think that's...


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[Assistant] high in the sky, but they should, they certainly should be better than they were last year. And it's one thing that Quan worked on. Steven Quan worked on intentionally missing baseballs. He's so programmed to hit the baseball. He had to all winter.


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[Assistant] Work on intentionally swinging so early that he missed just to get used to the feeling of swinging and missing that it's okay. And they do think that there's more power in Quan. He's not going to hit 20, 25.


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[Assistant] Double digits probably isn't out of the question for you. Yea, I think you can get the double digits. Yea, I do.


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[Assistant] Well what's the other thing you said? You, cause I thought the most interesting thing you said was you felt like Don was more important than you.


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[Assistant] And to what I would say to that is every superstar is more important than their coach in the NBA. And you see that with the Spurs.


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[Assistant] Greg Popovich has hailed as one of the greatest basketball minds in the game. The Spurs have been awful for years because they haven't had the players. Like it's always the players are more important. Lebron Belichick in the NFL with Brady's absence. The Cavs went to the NBA finals with David Blatt is their head coach.


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[Assistant] It's always the players. And so I agree with that. And I do think the JB that you see


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[Assistant] At the podium is probably different than the JB they see in the locker room. There are some guys and JB clearly is one of these guys that you're just not going to throw your players under the bus.


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[Assistant] Publicly and there's just coaches that that doesn't end well in today's NBA.


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[Assistant] That's fine. All of that is fair. Here's the thing that concerns me the most about the calves. Donovan Mitchell is hurt.


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[Assistant] And I've talked about all year long, play left handed, figure out a play left handed, don't wait on Donovan to bail you out all the time. Well, it is what it is at this point, and this is how they're conditioned to play, and it has to be the Donovan Show. And now he's hurt.


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[Assistant] And he's not going to be better, magically, in the next seven games. And I don't know.


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[Assistant] I, I don't know enough about his injury to know if he just kept rushing back and making it worse or if it was, this is as good as it's gonna get, I have to, I have to suck it up and fight through this. I tend to believe it's probably more that than they kept rushing him back and, and citing him back.


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[Assistant] That's not gonna happen. No. And, and we've seen Cavs, we've seen dysfunctional marches in Cleveland many, many, many times before and we always think it's the end of the world and they always figured it out. But that was when they had a transcendental best of all time player. They don't have that. Donovan is not that guy.


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[Assistant] So it, this is a problem. And I, I, I am very concerned. Donovan's right when he says it's April.


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[Assistant] And like, this is not good. This, you would hope, and we knew March was going to be bad. We knew the March schedule was bad, and it was. And it did chew them out. And then they had injuries on top of that.


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[Assistant] So they're still banged up. They're still in a bad spot. And I think the Eagles comparison is apt. I think that it's a team that probably hit its stride too soon.


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[Assistant] Schedule related to a lot of it. They took advantage of opponents. You can only play the guys that are on your schedule when they're there. Right. So they didn't do anything wrong from that sense, but there's a beat up team right now.


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[Assistant] You know, I talked about the importance of Dean Wade. Now here he is hurt again coming into the playoffs. You don't know. Last year he was hurt. It didn't go well for him. He's very, very important to what they do. And if he's still beat up and banged up in two weeks from now,


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[Assistant] No, I honestly think that he just doesn't want to talk about this right now. Okay. And because of everything, like there are far more important issues right now to this team than Donovan's contract.


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[Assistant] And it, I mean, he was, that was after Friday's win. That was after the Philly game, after they won. But he knows the situation and this team is not in good spirits right now. It's not in good shape right now.


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[Assistant] And that, what's going on in the court is far more important than what his summer's gonna be and what happens on the court probably will dictate what happens this summer. So I have my, you know,


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[Assistant] I think I know how this is going to go, just based on conversations I've had for two years with people. But I don't, but what benefit is it for him? He's not going to come out and say, yep, they're right, I'm signing. And he's not going to come out and say,


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[Assistant] I'm on the first train out of town. Like, I can't wait for this to be over. He's not gonna say that. No. So of course, like, everybody played the role they were supposed to play.


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[Assistant] And the one that kind of surprised me a little bit was George Nian going on Ryan Roscillo's podcast. Yeah, that was really strong. In saying that he thought he was going to come back. It's like, okay, well, hey, he's entitled to his opinion.


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[Assistant] I've said this before, this isn't anything revelatory. I've been trying to write for weeks that it's in his best interest to sign the extension, but I can't get to that point because they haven't, they haven't


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[Assistant] Well it is. I mean, this is still a talented young roster. And...


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[Assistant] If he signs the extension, it gives them another year. It gives them one more year. It doesn't mean he has to play out his whole career here. It means it gives them one more year. He gets all the money just like he did in Utah. Right. And it gives them next year.


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[Assistant] And they would make whatever changes he would want made probably to the coaching staff. I don't know necessarily the roster that they're going to tear everything down, but they would probably make changes to the coaching staff if that's what he wanted.


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[Assistant] But they would give them one more year to see what this team can do.


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[Assistant] The problem is the calves truly don't know.


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[Assistant] I've talked to a couple of people in the organization who are like, we don't know. We don't know what the guy wants. Like, we'll find out this summer. You don't know what a guy truly wants until the opportunity is presented to him. And I've had people in the organization bring up Kawhi Leonard. Kawhi won a championship in Toronto and left anyway.


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[Assistant] Because he wanted to go to LA, he wanted to go home. Donovan has made very clear he thought he was going to New York when he came here. The problem there is I don't know that New York wants him. Like the Knicks don't really have...


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[Assistant] Jalen Brunson and the move that, and I don't know that Jalen and Donovan really fit well together and they-


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[Assistant] No, I don't think they do either, but. And they made their big move, like they don't have the pieces to go get them. Brooklyn does, to Mike's point. Brooklyn has the pieces to go get them. And Donovan probably would accept Brooklyn from, you know, I mean.


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[Assistant] And, and, but we're, we're, I'm trying not to get too far ahead of myself because every time I go down this road, people freak out and lose their minds and say, why are you doing this to us? But, but like, that's just the reality of, of the playing field of, of where we're at.


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[Assistant] We deserve the truth. Yeaah. I mean, those are the players that you would, I would look at if something was going to happen this summer. Those are the...


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[Assistant] That's why I'm saying the wind vane goes in all directions. But you know, if they, if they do pull this out and go on a, on a run and win a series, you can make a compelling case. Donovan Mitchell has played the best basketball of his career in Cleveland. That is indisputable. I agree. Look at the numbers. He's played his best here with these guys and this is a talented young roster. And if you can just give them one more year, they've had a lot of bad luck.


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[Assistant] And with the injury front this year, they've been shredded with injuries all year. They're still not healthy. It's April. Darius has had a terrible year. I can't explain it. I can't explain it like.


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[Assistant] And part of that is just how volatile coaching is in professional sports.


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[Assistant] You know what? I was, I was checking on that after that game. I did wonder if something's going to happen after that. No, it's not going to happen. And I think it would look like a panic move. You can't do it now.


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[Assistant] I just, I've used this comparison a number of times and I think it's accurate. There are two trains running on parallel tracks with the Cavs right now.


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[Assistant] There's the growth train of Darius' development, Evan's development, a young roster that's trying to find its way in the NBA, learn as it goes and gets better.


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[Assistant] And then there's the Donovan contract. And the Donovan player and the Donovan contract. And the trains are not running at the same speed. I think they're going in the other direction. Well, but, but this, this is, if, if they never make the trade for Donovan, okay, if this is a young roster with, that they lost to the playing two years ago,


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[Assistant] And they make it to the playoffs last year, and they lose in the first round. People would be, you'd be upset, you'd be pissed. But it wouldn't be this. No. And if this team was having the problems that they're having now, you'd be upset.


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[Assistant] But it wouldn't be this. The Donovan situation is what cranks everything up 10 levels. Because you went all in on him, now you're facing the possibility of having to lose him, and that's what speeds everything up.


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[Assistant] And, and, you know what, and I'm with you, but yet Mike made a great point that when you're, when you are, when you're that dude,


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[Assistant] You figure it out and you flourish anyway. Like you, you just, you have the talent that just brings you to that level. And he showed, like I want to be clear, Evan Mobley's had a really good year. He's had, he's had a


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[Assistant] No, because of it's the shooting. It's the three point shooting is like the one component to me that has kept him from being that unicorn.


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[Assistant] Yeaah. Yeaah. And, and we've seen glimpses. We saw it Friday night. We've seen glimpses with the, with the shooting coming around. I'd like, I want to see more. I want to see more of it. Uh, when he came back healthy from the previous injury, I wanted him shooting three, four game, not six or eight, three or four.


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[Assistant] Yeah, well it does, but I still think that he's passing up opportunities. There's still more opportunities for him to shoot. I agree, I'll forget if you said or Mike said it, the fact that he didn't hesitate Friday, like it was the catch and shoot, it was that this is going up, that's what you need to see out of him. That's great. But one more thing on the Donovan thing, I should have mentioned this earlier, the pressure is on Donovan in this post-season series.


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[Assistant] And if, if this is a first round burnout.


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[Assistant] I mean, yes, realistically, yes, but do you think that's gonna matter? No, probably not.


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[Assistant] So, and that's why, that's why he makes the comments that he made.


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[Assistant] Like it's April, like we gotta go. It's time to go. Of course he feels it. He hasn't been out of the second round and he knows that and he knows he had a first round burnout two years ago in Utah to Jalen Brunson.


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[Assistant] And he had a first round burnout last year to the Knicks and Jalen Brunson. He knows that. He is more aware, he is as aware as any superstar of what his...


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[Assistant] Legacy narrative is he is fully engaged in that stuff. He knows. And if that happens again, he knows it's on him.


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[Assistant] And, and that's a big thing. I'm sure that's like fuel. He's never going to admit that, but of course it's driving him and fueling him. And if it happens again, I think we all know how it's going to end. That's why there's so much pressure on this. Yeah. Well, hopefully it works out. Who's next and when is it?


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[Assistant] And that's a tough place to play. They haven't had a ton of success there historically. This is a bad trip. And the reason it's so late.


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[Assistant] So it's irrelevant. Of course, I found it funny the one thing he said about guys hate coming here and playing in Cleveland on the lake. Like, you're one of them! That's the reason you told him no!


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[Assistant] Because his only time here was the 2020 COVID year and the weather was horrendous. He played terrible.


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[Assistant] It's far more about the 176 acres or whatever it is on that lot. I agree. Than it is any player on this roster. I completely agree. It's about everything else that the Haslund can do with that land. It's about... They can build Brown's World. Oh yea. And that's what they're going to do. It's about the mixed use development that they can do out there. They will own it all and they will just print the money.


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[Assistant] But I don't see how they come up with that money. They can't because they don't have 176 acres. It's about that. More than anything else.


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[Assistant] It's not the same. But here's the thing. Here's what's going to determine it. I tweeted this when they were at the owner's meeting to talk about this. If they can get the funding, it comes down to


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[Assistant] If they can get something on the ballot and they're going to have to get funding. If they can get the funding, it doesn't matter what Cleveland tells you at one o'clock today, at one o'clock tomorrow, at one o'clock. It doesn't matter. They are leaving. If they can get the funding, they are going to Brooke Park.


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[Assistant] But I don't know that they can get something passed on the ballot. That's what it comes down to. It has nothing to do. But that's a huge ask. It is a huge ask. And if there's a way that they can do this without getting it on the ballot, it is a million percent happening.


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[Assistant] No, I don't know what that is. I'm sure that someone could come, and who knows how accurate it is. I'm sure that number exists or someone could get it, but I don't know what that number is.


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[Assistant] From the team being in the city. Sure. Uh, there's, there's financial advantages. I, I don't think it's as much as we make it to be at times. And maybe I'm wrong. I don't think with football it's as much. Well, the parking part of it is massive. Oh yeah, sure. Massive.


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[Assistant] Yeah, but to your point about all it is is conversations, it's because there's no money here.


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[Assistant] Like the teams in town will tell you Cleveland's poverty rates and how hard it is to get


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[Assistant] With ticket sales and anything like that because there's just no money here. So where is this money going to come from? And that's one of the questions I have if the Browns don't even go to Brook Park.


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[Assistant] Is the state still going to invest the money for the footbridge connecting downtown to the lake? That's a great question. And I don't know that we have the answer to that because I do think I said it, I'm on record. I've said it multiple times on this show, go to Brook Park, do more with the lakefront than, than put a friggin football stadium there. There's so many more opportunities for that. And I do think


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[Assistant] I don't know where all the money is going to come from because there's not a lot of money here. But I think that Cleveland is on the verge, I absolutely believe, of some sort of renaissance. When you talk about what Dan Gilbert and the clinic is doing


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[Assistant] With the, with the river, with the Cuyahoga River and that land down there that is just, it's blight right now. There's nothing there and they're gonna put,


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[Assistant] This hundreds of millions of dollars practice facility on the water down there.


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[Assistant] And which will have public use, which will have public use. And if they can do something, if the Browns go to Brook Park and fix that area, if you can redo the waterfront, uh, into something more than just a stupid stadium that's only used 10 times a year.


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[Assistant] And then there's this other component in the calves, in, in this, not the calves, but the, the press practice facility is also connected to this push to bring


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[Assistant] This women's soccer stadium here, and I don't know where they're gonna get the funding for that, but that is a real push right now. Yeah, there's a real push right now, and it's not just for women's soccer. It's more about the use of a 10,000 seat outdoor venue and what David Gilbert


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[Assistant] And his team can do with a venue like that in terms of.


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[Assistant] They could fill that thing up. I've heard from so many people they could really fill it up. The soccer team would be the anchor, but there's other things you can do with that. I don't know where they're going to put that. That's a long ways from happening, but you see in the footprint of the current stadium. Maybe, but again, I don't know what you want to use up the lakefront, although this would be smaller, but it's, I don't know.


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[Assistant] But when you talk about these different projects going on, I do think that there's an opportunity. And the Haslums are committed to Cleveland. Dan Gilbert is committed to Cleveland.


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[Assistant] There's a lot of billions of dollars between those two families that are committed to revitalizing this thing. And the only other point, and I mentioned this last week, but I think it's worth repeating, when you talk about funding, when you talk about


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[Assistant] And Dave Yost, the Attorney General of Ohio, is in charge of uh, uh, charitable gambling.


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[Assistant] That falls under his department. He is running for governor in two years and he is behind in the polls. What better way to make a name for yourself and to drive a campaign for yourself than to get something done for all of the sports, not just Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Toledo.


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[Assistant] Cleveland, all these facilities, these sports facilities, what better way than to say, I got all of this money for these facilities without touching general fund dollars.


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[Assistant] But here's the thing, if you go to dinner with another couple and you guys are sitting there at dinner, or if you go out with buddies to get beers and there's a game there, would you grab the game and play it? I would. I know I would.


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[Assistant] And it's not necessarily the, they're not necessarily targeting the clientele of the Jack Casino. And they're not necessarily targeting the people that are taking the over and the calves in Utah.


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[Assistant] But if it doesn't work here, then what? Yeaah. And that's the question that they have to answer is the then what.


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[Assistant] How much and from where? Whether it's marijuana.


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[Assistant] So why can't that be, that should be the model. And I have asked that multiple times and that's the way that he did it. I forgot his name now. Is it Spanos?


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[Assistant] Cranky, thank you. And there are some guys, and actually I think prior to the stroke, Dan Gilbert was one of these guys.


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[Assistant] Does not want any sort of government interference. Does not want anyone telling him what he can and can't do. So I'm gonna do this myself.


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[Assistant] It's not so much, and the trend has become, if you want to pay for yourself, but a lot of them do still have public influence. Atlanta.


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[Assistant] But the Guardians have wanted a dome for years.


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[Assistant] Have they really? Oh yea. The Guardians have wanted the Dome for a long long time. Wow. But that was a non-starter. Like you never heard when they just went through this renovations, you never heard from them.


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[Assistant] Because they knew that was a non-starter. Because first of all, ownership doesn't have the funds to put up half of what it would cost. So it was...


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[Assistant] This year? There's a presidential election in the fall. I think you have to have something on the fall ballot. If you're going to


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[Assistant] If you want to optimize voter turnout. If that's what you want. And I guess it depends on which way you think this is going to go. If you want to optimize voter turnout or not. Right. You know, school levies try to sneak under the radar.


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[Assistant] To funding, to construction, you need a good four years. So I, I think


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[Assistant] Personally, and I'm not an expert in this, but from enough people that I've talked to on this, because I'm invested in this now, like I'm fascinated by how this is going to go, I think they need to have something on the fall ballot if you want a new stadium in Brook Park. Real quick.


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[Assistant] I want you to entertain me. That's all I want you to do. So if you think that way, if you're one of those people that think that way.


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[Assistant] And I feel emotionally detached from this team now. I just can't get there. I can't get there. I've heard, I've heard that a lot too. Yeah. And I don't, I don't, I don't blame you. Like you're, you're entitled to that. Like it's, I don't hold anyone against again. Like there's some rough stuff.


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[Assistant] Yeah, I think that's fair. It's hard to gauge not as much.


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[Assistant] Remember, he was for a minute blackballed. And he wasn't out for very long. It's not like he was out long enough to learn any lessons or make any sort of...


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[Assistant] That's really interesting that you put it that way, because I, I...


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[Assistant] It's like you can't talk someone out of what they like and don't like. But it's funny you put it that way because one day, because we all know Garrett was so, just so defensive over to Sean and one day we were having a similar conversation and I said, gee, do you ever, do you think he did anything wrong? Cause I don't know if I've ever heard you answer that. And he said, yeah, I think he did. And so it's exactly what you just said. We're not saying he's innocent or he's not guilty of anything.


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[Assistant] Yes, the judicial system determines whether you're guilty or innocent or whether you're, you know, you're cleared or you're not.


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[Assistant] Yes. I shouldn't say this. Guilty or not guilty. But there's still, there's still gray. There's still gray area. And we all just said, do you think Deshaun Watson did anything wrong?


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[Assistant] But here's the last thing I guess I would say on it is you guys have met my middle son AJ. He is a massive Browns fan. He's 13, he's almost 14 years old. Massive Browns fan, like was emotionally distraught after the Houston game. And I'm like, buddy, you got to get a handle on this.


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[Assistant] My wife was texting me because I was in Houston saying he's losing his mind. He has a closet full of Brown's jerseys. You name it, he's got their jersey. Except, I won't buy him a Deshawn jersey. I can't get there. You've made that decision as a parent. I've made that decision as a parent. I will not buy him a Deshawn jersey. I can't get there. Interesting. Would you wear one?


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[Assistant] He's old enough, he knows what's up. He and I have had conversations about girls and about you gotta have permission and you can't just go around grabbing girls and kissing girls and all and you know.


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[Assistant] That's the decision that I have made personally is, and my wife's in agreement with me on this, we aren't buying them a Deshawn jersey. There's plenty of other jerseys for them to wear.


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[Assistant] You can't sleep walks to a title. That's it. I like NC State because I was in Pittsburgh for their first game. Uh, DJ is fun to watch. The crowd was going crazy when every time he touched the ball. It was great. They're a great story. I'm rooting for NC State, but I'm rooting for them, but I'm with you. I think it's you.


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[Assistant] Alright, we're gonna get into topics. We got a lot to get to today. Very excited. But first, a word from a fan. You can say goodbye to busted brackets because...


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[Assistant] On America's number one sports book. And right now new customers get $200 in bonus bets. If their first $5 bet wins, that's $200 to use on point spreads, money lines. You can even pick who's going to win it all. Just visit FanDuel.com.


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[Assistant] And today's winning ticket comes from our guy Lamontno Sanford who's on a heater.


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[Assistant] Tyvis Huntley's career record is 3 and 6. PJ Walker's career record is 5 and 4, 6 and 4 if you include the Indianapolis game. However, he's thrown 6 touchdowns to Tyvis and has 16 interceptions.


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[Assistant] Let me ask y'all one question, we'll move on to Mike Grable in a sec, but assuming Jameis is part of this quarterback room, is there a more talented quarterback room in the NFL? Oh my god.


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[Assistant] If you're trying to go to the Cavs game on Wednesday, they're playing the Miami Heat. A big time Eastern Conference playoff preview potentially. If you're ever using Game Time to buy your tickets, download the Game Time app.


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[Assistant] Create an account, use promo code locked on for $20 off.


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[Assistant] Last minute tickets, lowest prices, guaranteed on Game Time.


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[Assistant] UCSS. We finished the TV show. We finished posting our clips. We were walking out the studio and we see this bombshell of announcement. The Browns had hired Mike Vrabel as a consultant. What were your thoughts to the Browns hiring the 2021 NFL Coach of the Year as a coaching and personnel consultant?


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[Assistant] You're saying that if the schedule comes out and the Browns in the first four weeks of the season play the Chiefs, the Eagles, the Ravens and the Bengals and somehow go 1 and 3. Right. The calls, and you know it's gonna happen, regardless of whether they're losing 58 to 52 or 13 to 10.


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[Assistant] There's gonna be a fraction of the fanbase that starts calling for Braybolt. Right or wrong?


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[Assistant] Gee, I'm just, I don't want to put words in your mouth, but is that what you're trying to get at?


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[Assistant] And it was a fascinating social experience looking at the chat. Because the chat is exactly what this is right here. Half the chat goes, great football move, helps the team.


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[Assistant] No issue to Stefanski, no distraction. From a football standpoint, this is brilliant, which I agree with. From a pure football standpoint, it's a brilliant move. You get another genius head coach, alright, a proven winner in the NFL.


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[Assistant] Alright guys, if you want more Browns content, make sure you check out The Ultimate Brown Show with G. Bush every Monday and Friday at 5 o'clock. G, what's in the docket tonight?


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[Assistant] Alright guys, over the weekend, also from Friday, Deshaun Watson put out his weekly podcast, and he had an interesting quote that I thought we could discuss. This is Deshaun on his podcast, QB Unplugged with Quincy Avery, and we will discuss what to say afterwards. And Thief, you can play.


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[Assistant] I mean, they won 10 games with Mason Rudolph, Kenny Pickett and Mitch Trubisky. You would think Justin Fields and Russell Wilson. Yeah.


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[Assistant] Okay, Najee had 1035 yards and 8 touchdowns on 255 attempts. Derrick Henry had...


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[Assistant] So it's a giant jambalaya. We'll do a little more in depth on that coming up in a few weeks. But real quick, before we move on to the Russell Wilson, Justin Fields pairing in Pittsburgh, Deshaun said they have the pieces to win a Superbowl. Yes or no? Do you guys agree with Deshaun Watson?


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[Assistant] We'll talk that at another point. Speaking of quarterback play though, Tyvis, the Steelers made another move and we'll tell you about it in one sec. Let's say goodbye to your busting brackets because FanDuel lets you bet on every game of the NCAA tournament. Whether you're betting on a big upset or a one seed, it's time to go dancing on America's number one sports book.


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[Assistant] Okay, uh, you can even kill his mic. Yeah, you can even pick who's going to win it all. Just visit FanDuel.com slash UCSS and bet on college.


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[Assistant] Uh, yeah, GZ needs a bathroom while he comes back from the bathroom. Let's talk real quick. The Steelers, we had done the topic. Would you be more afraid of the Steelers with Russell Wilson or Justin Fields? Well, they got both. They traded a conditional six round pick for Justin Fields. How do you guys look at that move? How it changes how you view the Pittsburgh Steelers?


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[Assistant] Let me ask you guys this. I put this in a poll. When I heard the news, I was like, oh, it's a good move for the Steelers, but they still have the worst quarterback room in the AFC North.


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[Assistant] Well, I asked the chat, and I asked the chat simply, do the Steelers still have the worst quarterback room in the AFC North? 49% says yes, 51% now says no. Actually, it's this poll still going on, it's a dead even 50-50 split.


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[Assistant] All things Cleveland in the NCAA tournament, but if you want to get tickets to a Cavs game, an upcoming Guardians game, even a Browns game next season, there's no reason you should be buying those tickets online anywhere besides game time with killer last minute deals, all in prices, views from your seat and their best price guarantee. Game time takes all the guesswork out of buying tickets.


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[Assistant] The best part is you can see the view from your seat before you buy. So you know exactly what to expect when you arrive. Just download the game time app, create an account and use promo code locked on for $20 off your first purchase. Once again, create an account, redeem promo code locked on for $20 off.


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[Assistant] Game time, last minute tickets, lowest prices, guaranteed.


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[Assistant] On Saturday, the Cleveland Cavaliers played the Houston Rockets in a 5 o'clock tip-off. Gee, you snoozed through it, you were taking a nap.


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[Assistant] That's disappointing to me. That's affecting me. I'm probably not playing next game to be completely honest with you. It has been confirmed he will not play tonight against Indiana.


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[Assistant] Kind of just take some rest and get it right. I thought I was ready, but I'm not and it sucks and I want to be out there, but it's clear as day. Even to myself, I can't fool myself. I'll get it right and be ready when the time comes. He's given us no timetable. He's missed seven games total after missing two weeks with the PRP shot in his knee.


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[Assistant] Game, yes? They can win a game, absolutely. Y'all are sick, man. No change, no matter who they play, right? Says it'll have to be, no, if they end up playing Orlando in the first round, without Donovan, if, uh, Darius gets hot and they- You think they can win a series?


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[Assistant] We're going to break down here. I got to do a read first and because G Bush got up during the last fan door read, we got to do it again. So G please sit still.


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[Assistant] Hold it until after the interview here. Say goodbye though to Busted Brackets, because FanDuel lets you bet on every game of the NCAA tournament. Whether you're betting on a big upset or a one seed, it's time to go dancing on America's number one sportsbook. And right now, new customers get $200 in bonus bets.


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[Assistant] He was on part of my take last week. Phenomenal interview with John Fanta and part of my take. Check it out if you didn't listen. But he told the story that I know none of you guys have heard. So John.


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[Assistant] Will you do us the kind favor of telling us the story of how you went from a football player to a football broadcaster? A broadcaster in general.


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[Assistant] We are, we are a FanDuel partner. So if you want to bet on this, use John's advice and bet it with FanDuel, America's number one sport.


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[Assistant] By the way, if you're filling out a bracket, we have a UCSS Bracket Challenge group on ESPN. The link is in our YouTube comments. It's pinned. It'll be on our community tab. We'll tweet it out as well, so if you want to participate. John, if you want to be a part of this, I'll send you the link too. Feel free to submit your picks there. I do have a question for you though, John. I agree with what you said earlier about the committee.


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[Assistant] Just kind of being on acid this week and picking teams in certain seedings, but it felt like they were a little diabolical. Like they picked A&M to play Nebraska and both the men's and women's side right after A&M poached Nebraska's general, uh, athletic director, excuse me. They had the PMT connection, James Madison.


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[Assistant] Versus Wisconsin in two different situations. It felt like there was a couple of these.


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[Assistant] That were very selectively picked. Do you think the committee actually takes any of those outside factors into consideration when making these first round matchups?