Transcript
N D: Okay.
Deck: That's what I'm talking about. It's Friday. Here we go. So. Hey, I'm Dak. I'm a lifelong Vikings fan. I've been waiting until next year for as long as I can remember But I do remember the Raiders beating the Vikings in the Super Bowl.
Deck: So. With me. As always. Got Angry Mike, the man. This guy, he turned down managing the New York Yankees. to talk NFC North football with us.
Deck: So apparently...
angrymike: You know, it's it's my... It's my passion.
Deck: Apparently. Losing arguments with us beats losing games in the Bronx. so How are you doing today, Mike?
angrymike: i'm I'm good. I'm getting excited for excited for Sunday. It's getting closer. and you know I love talking about it. So let's do it today.
Deck: Okay. And then we've got our Hall of Fame sportscaster. Mr. Nolan Dix, who is has known for his legendary calls like... Smith up the middle for two yards.
Deck: and the ever -inspiring, huh? So, yeah. And... and And... He's the only guy and podcast history to get our X account. Banned for his takes so Thanks Nolan.
N D: There you go. Oh, we won the appeal, right?
Deck: I appreciate it.
N D: Did we win the appeal?
Deck: We won the appeal and we're back on, so we're good.
N D: Alright. Very good. Well, at least we know what this week is.
Deck: So.
N D: So.
Deck: Yes, it's packer Packer Bear Week. And so a special guest today, we got Easton Butler. And I've been told by Nolan that you are no relation to Easton Stick. Is that true?
Easton Butler: Correct. But there is a clear relation to Leroy Butler, regardless of ah the obvious differences we have.
Deck: that's Okay.
N D: ah
Deck: listen
N D: Yes, there you go, Leroy.
Deck: Right on.
Easton Butler: He is very talented.
angrymike: ah
Easton Butler: I am not.
N D: Okay.
Deck: Okay, very good. so Why don't you give us a little bit about yourself here, Easton, and kind of tell us how you became a Packer fan.
Easton Butler: Yep, so um... You know, born in Green Bay, born and raised, grew up in Green Bay, still living in Green Bay. It's a big enough city, so I'm okay saying that. Don't worry. um But yeah, you know.
Easton Butler: Born around Lambeau, going to Lambeau as a kid. kind of When I got older, I started going to training camp every single year, every day. 2019 just kept going over and over and over.
Easton Butler: um started building relations with more fans and players and then just Continue to where I'm at now.
N D: Did anybody ride your bike?
Deck: Awesome.
N D: During spring training or spring training preseason.
Easton Butler: Yeah. My uh... Yeah.
N D: Yeah.
Easton Butler: um on twitter that's actually my profile picture is uh Corey Hall. I think it was Corey Hall riding my bike when I was very little.
N D: Okay. Nice.
Deck: Very nice. very nice
angrymike: one of the one One of the ultimate fullbacks we had back in the day, right?
N D: Peace. Mm.
angrymike: they did John Kuhn, Corey Hall.
Easton Butler: Back when fullbacks mattered.
angrymike: Yeah. Yeah, that was awesome.
Deck: no I don't know if you guys have ever seen my picture that I made of Nolan in the Chester Markle. uh, Uniform. And he was a Packers quarterback way back when. Have you guys seen that or not?
angrymike: No.
N D: What?
angrymike: yeah i don't i don't go and I don't go through your old Twitter posts.
Easton Butler: I'm not.
Deck: God, I gotta... Okay.
angrymike: but ah But maybe I should.
Deck: Wow.
angrymike: you know.
Deck: I'm gonna send that.
N D: Maybe you should yeah
Deck: i will send that sucker out today it looks pretty good ai does a good job it does a good job so Hey, uh Serious note, Nolan.
N D: Yeah.
angrymike: Do it.
N D: Okay.
Deck: ah R .I .P. to probably your favorite coach. He he told me beforehand as both his daughters reached out to him today to talk about it. So no one will give you about. I don't know, 10 seconds or so to talk about.
N D: 10 seconds. There you go. Well, yeah.
Deck: Yeah.
N D: So I'm sitting around the radio and all of a sudden I get a text from my youngest daughter. It says. sorry for your loss about your favorite coach. And I just kind of went. Wow, she pays attention. It was kind of crazy. So then I also seen I had a missed call from my other daughter. So when I was talking with Chad, I was like, I better call Gabby back.
N D: She said, yeah, that's what I was calling for, but I was also going to tell you something. well We're going to give a little. Kind of a crazy number thing here for you. So Mike Ditka ended up passing away when he was.
N D: 86 years old. They won the Super Bowl January of 1986. And my daughter. Just got an 86 on her test this morning.
N D: How crazy is that? 86 is the number today, I guess. So.
Deck: So that means we're going to 86 you from this podcast.
N D: There you go. There you go.
angrymike: ah
N D: yeah But no, yeah.
Deck: What's that?
angrymike: Yeah. ill
Deck: yeah i
N D: With Ditka going today, I mean, that was, yeah. I mean, he was he was the he was the Chicago Bears. I just watched a couple of his. post -game interviews and you know there was a lot of losses in there and He let the.
N D: You know, the reporters know that. They weren't going to ask him any stupid questions. And when they did. They found out, but. Yeah, it was it was tough to hear Mike Ditka lose, and hopefully they put a little bit of extra energy into Lambeau Field this weekend.
angrymike: Yeah, when when Walter Payton died, i went there was a Bears -Packers game that weekend. like He died, I think, a few days before that game, and I'm like... Oh crap. you know um here we go and it ended up being um you know The Packers marched down the field. It was a really close game.
angrymike: Went to kick the field goal and Brian Robinson blocked the kick. And and i go to I looked over at my dad and I said, dad. You're going to hear. about how Walter Payton lifted Bryan Robinson up to block that kick.
N D: ah You know.
angrymike: And sure as hell.
N D: Yep.
angrymike: That was before Twitter, but but before it sure as hell on the radio. And, you know, Walter Payton helped me. I felt him today. I'm like, oh, my God.
N D: Ugh.
angrymike: So we may have Dick could do something special for the Bears today.
Deck: Wow.
N D: Yeah, what is Dippy going to do this weekend? yeah
angrymike: Yeah, smoke a cigar probably.
Deck: I... Hi, Azam. As a Vikings fan, I always liked Ditka. I thought, you know, I'd like it when guys come on and just say, yeah, I'm pissed off. We lost. You'd be mad too.
angrymike: Yeah.
Deck: You know, I remember that. He was coaching the Saints then, but I mean.
angrymike: Yep.
Deck: just ah Just a good overall guy. Who is better post -game?
angrymike: Yep.
Deck: Mike Ditka or Bobby Knight. I probably i know we're going but basketball here, but Bobby Knight was pretty good too.
N D: Ooh.
Deck: So.
angrymike: Yeah, yeah, I think both of them were. Both pretty good, yeah.
Deck: Good take. All right.
angrymike: So we got Easton here.
Deck: Alright.
angrymike: so let's
Deck: Yeah, sorry, Easton. We started yapping about stuff.
angrymike: Look.
Easton Butler: No, no, you're good. i I fully understand how that is.
Deck: Thanks.
angrymike: Yes.
Deck: not
angrymike: so Yeah, so let's move over to Easton um Easton. First off, why don't you give your... your current state of the Packers. how you're feeling about them.
angrymike: And then. um where do you think they're headed here this Sunday against the Bears? I just kind of want a little bit of your take of. of where you think the current team is at and and where do you think they so they stand on Sunday?
Easton Butler: Yeah, I think they stand with a win on Sunday. um People can say it's biased.
Deck: who
Easton Butler: People can say it's not. Most people that have been watching the Packers this year do realize that the issue has been with the offensive line and love having having roughly about 2 .4 seconds to throw.
Easton Butler: Last week was the best. I think there was only two pressures allowed all game. And people are like, oh, it's you know they're playing against a rookie quarterback. Rookie quarterback has nothing to do with the defense.
Easton Butler: So. They played really well against Tampa last week, the offensive line did, and now with Kevin Zietler with his second week. in Green Bay's system and starting all all week at practice at right guard.
Easton Butler: I'm okay saying that the offensive line will be the best we've had probably since early last year. Um. I do, and I do love the matchup, especially at cornerback, because the Bears' secondary is not the greatest. And when you have Christian Watson, who's playing out of his mind this year.
Easton Butler: And Matthew Golan just having a hell of a year. It's going to be a very pass -heavy game for Green Bay. Because I don't see them getting a solid run game going. um Because it's been very inconsistent with Caleb Johnson. I know you love him a ton, Mike.
Easton Butler: But it's been a little inconsistent with him and then Marshawn Lloyd, the little yeet canyon.
N D: ah
Easton Butler: or canon he is, so.
angrymike: Yep.
Deck: okay
angrymike: Yes. So I think like... like we had a conversation a little bit yesterday about it with believes and uh you know he was He thinks the Bears are going to blow out the Packers. I'm a little more pessimistic than than some. i I think Green Bay is going to have a real problem with that offensive line that the Bears have. But also, I've been around long enough to realize that.
angrymike: Even if things aren't pointed in and your your direction, you can still win a game. um And we saw that last night with Tampa Bay going into Dallas and smoking the Cowboys. No one's. No one feels bad about that.
angrymike: and I know everyone on this.
Deck: right
angrymike: Yeah. yes But, you know, it's any given Sunday with a lot of things. But there is some things tracking in the right spot for Green Bay, and the offensive line is definitely one of them. But I think... Green Bay if they want to catch. the bearers a little bit by surprise they probably need to run them out of um some of their deep safeties that they'll probably be doing just because Green Bay is struggling so bad. And if the offensive line actually is as... good as we think it's going to be.
angrymike: Um, I think they can expose them a little bit early. I don't think they're going to run for 150 yards, but if they can establish some sort of running game, it opens up the past you know it opens up the the play action that that Jordan Love's really good at, and it also keeps the the rushers from...
angrymike: attacking like they did in the second half of that wild card game um But i Nolan, what are your thoughts on the game on Sunday? I know you have probably a different perspective of being a Bears fan than we do. um But what are your thoughts to what? uh You know, I said in east and Easton said, you. You feeling confident in this? Do you think Green Bay has a chance?
N D: Oh, yeah, I think Green Bay has a chance. um You know, Mnangai was just ruled out. They just had a thing on X that Ben Johnson did come out and say Mnangai is not there. We will have Roshon Johnson. to help out with Swift, who is also banged up.
N D: Um, Will that be an excuse? No, I think we'll still run the football. I think we'll still be successful on it. Will it be a blowout? No. Um, Dallas was favored by three and a half last night.
N D: Bears are only favored by one and a half. So... Vegas always knows something. It's a rivalry game. It's it's going to be. You know, some of the Packers and the Bears, we've heard some of their locker room interviews. and They just say it's like a rivalry game. A division game is is so much bigger. You feel. so much worse that next day because there's extra elbows there's extra Heavier hits. um am i Am I worried?
N D: I wouldn't say I'm 100 % worried. I would feel better with Caleb bit back there. But with Bajent. I think we can nickel and dime. we We get the receivers going. I think we get Loveland going. And I think that opens up the run. and um On the other side of the football, yeah. Our defense is a little shaky. Love could end up coming out with a 400 -plus yard game. and Three touchdowns. That's what scares me about Jordan Love.
N D: But.
angrymike: mm -hmm
N D: I don't know, one and a half point favorites in Lambeau. I don't think that means anything in a rivalry game. And we've seen games before where the Packers have been. heads and tails above the bears and it ends up coming down to a field goal for the packers to win so I don't know. I think it's gonna be a coin flip. I think it's gonna be...
N D: Yeah. If the Packers lose, I think it's more devastating. If the Bears lose. Obviously go to three and two. They can still ride the ship going, all right, we're we're still fine. We're three and two. We're getting Caleb back. But if the Packers lose, I think that's more of a devastating blow.
N D: to their organization. than it would be for the Bears to lose.
Deck: Well, i that's I wanted to ask Mike and Easton this.
angrymike: So.
Deck: So is this is this game Sunday? Is this? one of Matt LaFleur's biggest games he's ever coached. Is this the... Tell all, say all, and if he loses...
Deck: You know, is he is he done at the end of the year?
Easton Butler: I definitely say without a doubt, you throw him on the hot seat. um He did just sign an extension. like ah actually in the offseason, so... um As much as I don't want to say it, he will still be around.
Easton Butler: But it. does put his position in question. especially with a loss against Chicago. Everyone knows how important this game is. and it's like he was just saying you know the biggest word that he used was rivalry
Deck: Right.
Easton Butler: And with that, I mean, it's... Betting lines go out the window. It doesn't matter if you're Yeah. FCS. playing FBS or whatever. like Similar to that, it doesn't matter the level of competition. You're going to be trying.
Easton Butler: your absolute hardest, no matter what. And especially with the comments Ben Johnson has said, basically F the Packers all week. Oh.
angrymike: ye
Easton Butler: All the Packers that have replied to that. With the exception of Marshawn Lloyd, because he kind of had a very nonchalant answer. Evan Williams, Siobhan Bullard, they're just like, okay, I'm, you know.
Easton Butler: i'm tired of this i'm tired of you know seeing us lose or in this position We need to smack them in the mouth. and Green Bay has that mindset that they need to go in there and shut up the Bears.
angrymike: Yep. And I think... you know A lot of the team is about what their head coach is. are saying you know what i mean i think what the reason why bearer fans love ben johnson so much He's saying the quiet stuff out loud, I think. and It's always been that way. Lovey Smith took the job.
angrymike: Um, either flus took the job, all of them in their opening press conference that we need to beat the Packers. Every single one of them. ben johnson was another one i love beating metal floor twice a year let's continue to do that And Green Bay has always taken the stance where, you know, if you're a lion, you don't look back at a barking dog.
angrymike: Right. Lions don't have to look back in and answer to that. The problem is. it's it's the bears are becoming a tiger. To the Packers lion, and they're getting real close to each other, I think.
angrymike: um But. What I'm nervous about is if is if Green Bay loses this game, does it spiral out of control? Because for Green Bay to get up for this game. I think. Behind the scenes, Matt LaFleur really wants to win this game, and I think he his team knows that.
angrymike: And he's pushing hard for that. But the problem is when you get a team up. that much for a game and if you end up losing it. it takes a while to gain that edge back. You know what I mean? It's like that emotional clip is is empty.
angrymike: So I think if Green Bay wins this game, I think. I think Le Fleur. I think Green Bay is looked at much differently than they have been to start the season, especially with Micah coming back. But if they lose this game, I think I would. coming schedule, I think it could spiral out of control a little bit, but.
angrymike: Easton, I wanted to ask you, too, what are your thoughts on the rivalry? You know, because we your entire life we've dominated it. you know because you're still a young guy
Easton Butler: Yep.
angrymike: What are your thoughts on the Bears kind of rising up here, and do you think the Packers are taking this rivalry serious?
Easton Butler: I don't think they're taking it as serious, and I think a lot of that has to do with Metal Flur. um It's like we were saying, you know, Ben Johnson, how... He's very brash. He's very open.
Easton Butler: He's very, you know, F the Packers. I like beating him. metal fleur Matt has been very reserved.
angrymike: Mm hmm.
angrymike: Yep.
Easton Butler: And that that does show in his play calling. um especially in game, you know. green bay goes up and then he plays really reserved plays it slow doesn't put his foot on the gas.
angrymike: Yep.
Easton Butler: it's I want to see Matt do that. I want to see him put his foot in the gas. And I was used to Aaron Rodgers doing that with. um with McCarthy his entire career, it was really fun to see, you know, just kick them in the mouth.
Easton Butler: But now it's... It's very different with that culture shift. with Matt LaFleur, you can kind of tell. Roger still had a little bit more control, but Love kind of follows Matt more. instead of kind of doing its own thing it's it's weird how reserved
angrymike: yep
Easton Butler: Like... LeFleur likes to play and I don't like that.
angrymike: No. There's a dip.
Deck: So would you like to see? oh Go ahead, Mike.
angrymike: And it's funny how it's different styles of. play calling changes based on I ran a stat last year Green Bay's like points per game are so much higher. And their chance of winning is so much higher when they are.
angrymike: like slight favorites or. Pick them. compared to when they're heavy favorites. so the bears actually being a one point favorite here or 1 .5 Up against Green Bay, I think that may change how aggressive Matt LaFleur is.
angrymike: Because if he thinks his team... is going to struggle to score or the game's going to be close. he tends to be a lot more aggressive than he is when. you know their favorite favorited to win or on the road.
angrymike: Um, you know, and and have less of a chance to be. be a heavy favorite. so i I think he's going to come out swinging. I think he's going to try to show that he... is the elite play caller.
angrymike: um that his reputation was. um And I think he's going to try to stick it to him. Bye. You know, we'll i'll just have to see how it all plays out.
N D: and And neither team has. The... easiest schedule after this. and And we look at if the Packers lose this weekend, you end up having a home game against Dallas on a Sunday night. Then it's at Detroit. Carolina, New England, Minnesota, Rams.
N D: Um, And I don't think. if Say if they lose the next two. I don't see the Packers. I don't think they've ever fired anybody in season. But. Putting him on the hot seat, does that...
N D: If you start losing a couple games, as you said, spiraling out of control. Do they get rid of them? In season or is kind of the Packers. I don't think they've ever had to fire anybody in mid season.
angrymike: ah
Easton Butler: So a few years ago, they fired ah Mike McCarthy, actually.
angrymike: Well, Easton. Go ahead, Easton. Yep.
Easton Butler: um after that loss and then i think joe filled and took over ended up going two and two
N D: Okay.
Easton Butler: But it is. It's very hard because he did just get that extension. If he didn't have the extension, it's an absolute, you know.
angrymike: Mm hmm.
Easton Butler: lives too. two, three more games right away, you're done. You're gone. But it's very complicated because...
angrymike: Yep.
Easton Butler: The way coaches' salaries are, they're fully guaranteed.
Deck: right
Easton Butler: They're not a year -to -year basis.
N D: Yep.
Easton Butler: so And. I think he's making roughly $15 million. I could be wrong. But if he's getting $15 million a year. You fire him now. and his contract doesn't even kick until next year. That's what is that? 75 million.
Easton Butler: you just going with I know it's not like salary cap.
angrymike: Yeah.
Easton Butler: It takes it out different, but that's still a lot of money just to fire a dude and let him sit on his ass for... five years.
Deck: Well, do they ever do they ever get bought out, though, too?
angrymike: And Green Bay.
Deck: You know what I mean? Like, hey, we're going to we're going to let you go. We're going to give you this. But if it's guaranteed, he can just say, screw you guys.
angrymike: m
Deck: um' Give me the whole. Kitten caboodle, I'm out the door.
Easton Butler: Yeah.
Deck: Right? Okay. Yeah.
N D: Yeah, and there's a lot of coaches still getting paid by their teams.
angrymike: Yeah, that dirt.
N D: Even though they're coaching for somebody else, they're getting, you know.
Easton Butler: Oh yeah.
angrymike: Yeah.
N D: So. It happens, but...
angrymike: Yeah, they're bees. There'd be zero motivation for Matt LaFleur to play ball if he just got an extension in the offseason and they fire him midseason. I just don't see it. I think they're chalking up the injuries again because... ZBB's out. you know parsons is missing half the season a lot more than they thought the josh j jacobs situation Edgerton Cooper, who was a stud they just lost. I think there's a lot of excuses there to bring Matt LaFleur back, even though our spans kind of wanted to get the stench out of the room when they lost to the Bears.
angrymike: Getting that extension, they so I don't even think they still have announced. what they got for years and money. for Le Fleur and Goody because it was going to be so unpopular. I just think they. just extended them and didn't actually release what the the contract terms were.
Deck: ah melt yeah
angrymike: Easton do you know anything about that? I don't think they've ever released. what they got.
Easton Butler: So they just said it was like a multi -year. um deal and i was hurt hearing like it's roughly maybe a four -year extension I did just look it up too.
angrymike: Yeah.
Easton Butler: Um. but lo local and national estimates place a deal around 12 million upwards to 15 to 18 a year.
angrymike: Yeah.
Easton Butler: So.
angrymike: Yep. Yeah, and Green Bay isn't owned by a...
Deck: Are those two guys worth it?
angrymike: Green Bay isn't owned by a billionaire, so they they they don't they can't eat it like Jerry Jones can eat it. You know what I mean? so it's
Easton Butler: Yes.
angrymike: it's it's a lot harder for Green Bay to... to say, hey, you know what, after seven or eight games we're embarrassed here the guy we extended less than a year ago. We're just going to eat that. 50 million dollars i just don't i don't see it we're stuck with them for at least another year or two.
Deck: So from your... saying we're stuck. you're You're not. happy about the investment that your your Packers put into this Mr. LaFleur guy. Is that a correct statement?
Easton Butler: Yeah, there's more fans that are... that were pissed off that he got the extension because most people just want him fired.
Deck: Yeah.
Easton Butler: uh i think the the point boiling point for a lot of people was that eagles game last year and i was always pro matt lafleur you know keep him he's a good coach but after that disaster
angrymike: Yep.
Easton Butler: i kind of shifted sides too and i know so many people just want him fired
Deck: So Nolan always makes a point that some guys are like really good coordinators. Is that what Matt LaFleur is?
angrymike: Yeah.
Deck: When it comes to being a head coach, he just doesn't have it? Because we were kind of just... joking about Josh McDaniels before YouTube came on. you know great coordinator Got to be a head coach. Terrible head coach, terrible head coach. you know.
Deck: I don't know
Easton Butler: Yep. Well, I mean The NFL or... It was the NFL PA. They had those polls for the last two, three years where they rank ranked, you know, how they felt about their head coach, how they felt about training staff, all of that.
angrymike: Yep.
Easton Butler: Matt LaFleur was in the. He wasn't dead last, but he was tied for second to last.
angrymike: okay
Easton Butler: for how you know how people see their head coach and that's not good at all
Deck: Okay, so let's...
angrymike: Yeah, and i think anybody I think anybody under a B got fired in the offseason, and then you have Matt LaFleur. I think it was a C -plus, and he...
Easton Butler: Yep.
angrymike: kept his job and get an extension so that kind of tells you the culture they thought You know, some of the people they let go, they thought the culture would be better.
Easton Butler: Extended.
angrymike: And it may be, you know, we don't we don't have access to the locker room or anything like that. But getting rid of Dobbs, getting rid of Wicks, you know, they let some other. Other folks.
Deck: Whoop -da -ding!
Easton Butler: Take it away, Lou. I think we lose or lost them.
Deck: We lost him there for a second.
N D: Did we lose Mike?
Deck: Yeah I think we lost Mike. hopefully his eye Hopefully his pods didn't go out. That's what he was talking about.
angrymike: Yeah. go
Deck: You back up, Light.
N D: there we are
angrymike: Yeah.
Deck: Kinda sorta.
N D: Going through a tunnel or something.
Deck: Yeah.
N D: i go He's on his way to Lambeau, isn't he? Oh, he's offline now.
Deck: yeah Yeah, now he's offline now, so he's probably trying to get on. so um Yeah, I don't... you know, there's The fans, when the team loses, they always want the coach gone. That's the first person they go after. you know Injuries, I understand injuries. you know we've We've all gone through them. so I...
Deck: For the NFC North fan that I am, I want to see him stick around for a while. because It just doesn't look
Easton Butler: Yeah. Yeah, we were the same way about Lovie and Iver Flus as well.
N D: Yeah.
Deck: Yeah, yeah Well, and see, Nolan made a golan made a point earlier.
N D: yeah
Easton Butler: That.
Deck: Easton, when we were talking, he was ah Eberflus' post -game conference, you know, how how do you? Talk about them, Nolan.
N D: Ours.
Deck: You guys did a super great job, and here's a medal.
N D: Yeah, it was horrible. I mean, they'd go in and compared to what Ben Johnson. it Well, even you go another. I've seen Matt LaFleur's postgame stuff, and it's not as.
N D: as gut -wrenching as some of these other coaches that come in and they're just, you know, not... not Nothing like PJ Flack over in Minnesota.
Deck: Yeah.
N D: But. Um, Yeah, I mean, you've got to have a coach that. you know, guys are going to run through walls for him. Eberflus wasn't one of them. Trestman, all these guys. Lovey Smith was. a hell of a coach and the only guy i think that's ever been fired at it after a 10 and 6 season but um I wish Lovey would have stuck around. we We went. Between GMs and coaches, man. We were set back.
N D: Quite a few years with very poor quality Coaching. Managing. everything else in the organization. and And that showed on the field. We just did we had crappy drafts. we had we just had crap there for many many many years
Deck: There you go. There you go. Well, I don't know. Is he coming back on? Pretty good.
Easton Butler: I just texted him. He said, a sorry, dropped. Go on without him. So.
Deck: but Okay, good.
N D: Oh, okay. All right.
Deck: Okay, well, there you go. so um Easton, for me, you know I hear a lot about Golden. I hear a lot about Watson. You know, Tucker Craft is... I haven't really heard his name a whole lot this year.
Deck: so
Easton Butler: Yeah, he's had drop issues. I believe he has. five drops and that's more than he's had in his entire career
Deck: Does he okay? Yep.
Easton Butler: Definitely hard for him this year. Golden had about a drop a game as well.
Deck: so
Easton Butler: but he's still producing at a solid number.
Deck: So. playing catch up. Is that why these guys are having good seasons? I mean, I, I don't... you know i I only watch the Packers when they're playing the Vikings, and so that's when my nerves get up.
Easton Butler: Yeah.
Deck: but When you're coming from behind, is are these guys getting that stuff in the quote -unquote garbage time?
Easton Butler: No, it's not garbage time at all. Most of it's been like early first or second quarter for them.
Deck: as it Okay. All right. um
N D: And Easton, I look at.
Deck: How'd I end up there?
N D: I mean, I know ah Mike's brought up a couple of times, you know, you guys have. ah with those two, Golden and Watson, in the top. 15 and receiving. um you know, all these fans out on X. And I know I shouldn't listen to all these people out on X because a lot of them. Don't know what the hell they're talking about. but They just mentioned that bears don't have anybody in the top. 15 top 20, but it. Do you think it's more in the lines of...
N D: After Golden and Watson. And, you know, Kraft is there, but. The Bears have. I wouldn't say more weapons, but they've got other guys that have stepped up with Raymond and burden Loveland Swift. You guys don't throw a lot out of the backfield. So a lot of those targets are going to Watson and burden.
N D: compared to the Bears. You know, you're not going to have a top five receiver out of Chicago, I don't think.
Easton Butler: Yeah, it was um it was like that last year at Green Bay. i mean Last year we had Wicks, Dobbs. Now they're gone, obviously. We had Jayden Reed earlier this year.
N D: Yep.
Easton Butler: He took a large amount of them. But Sky Moore has been taking those snaps.
Deck: yeah
Easton Butler: We did. um We did get Sadie and Williams to return to practice this week. It's not known if he is going to be activated for the game, but he would kind of fill in that slot role that Reed has taken.
Easton Butler: But it would be great to have him. We do have solid depth. It's nothing crazy.
N D: Yep.
Easton Butler: it's not It's not like Khalif Raymond or you know Luther Burden that you can be like, okay, you know. Boom, boom, boom. There's a clear drop -off from Matthew Golan to Bo Melton. or you know Christian Watson, the Skymore, but they could still produce.
N D: right
Easton Butler: they have proven it before in the past even though they're more of special teamers
Deck: Yeah.
N D: Yeah, I...
Deck: So do you think it's... Go ahead, Nolan.
N D: No, i'm just I was just going to say I'm excited for Sunday. um you know, a loss would obviously be devastating for a little bit for me, but. You know, it's it's week five. Um, As I said earlier, it's going to be a little bit more devastating if the Packers lose, but if the Bears do lose it. It could be a close game. I'm hoping for Bajent to come out, and and you mentioned Chad, and I think Mike mentioned they're going to come out, and they're going to pass. They're going to try to get things going, and so is... Jordan Love, we could see a...
N D: 24 to 21 ball game at at halftime.
Easton Butler: Yeah, I fully expect both teams to start airing it out pretty early.
N D: Yeah.
Easton Butler: so
Deck: okay all alright well i don't know Is it going to be one of those games where it's the last team that has the ball is going to win the game? Is that what it's going to come down to or is it going to be?
Easton Butler: I hope not because I think the last five games have come down to the very last play.
Deck: Nice. Isn't that what sports is all about is just kind of like, yeah, we're going to.
Easton Butler: Yeah.
Deck: That's it. Watching the Vikings as closely as I've had throughout the years, it always seems like that. even though You know, that first game against the Packers, we had a pretty good lead. right there at the end but i was still nervous like oh god they could come back and You know, you're thinking.
Deck: well, they could kick a field goal and then they come down and get a touchdown and then on tight kick and all that stuff. So I don't know. It's that's.
N D: I hope it doesn't come down to a field goal. I really don't. i I hope it doesn't end on the Bears missing a field goal or the Packers hitting a 65 -yarder. I really don't.
Deck: you don't want You don't want smack to put one out from 65 yards?
N D: but It could. No.
Deck: Is that what you're saying?
N D: I don't want to be smacked on Sunday, no.
Deck: Alright.
N D: so
Deck: Alright.
N D: but All right. Well.
Deck: So.
N D: that's probably I got to get rolling here, but.
Deck: Okay, well, let's...
N D: Thanks for coming on Easton.
Deck: ah
N D: I appreciate it.
Deck: What?
Easton Butler: Yeah.
N D: We appreciate it.
Easton Butler: Of course.
Deck: Well, let's ah let's let's pick.
N D: and um Of course.
Deck: Let's go ahead and pick. What do you got going on? No one.
N D: I got... the I'm going to pick the Vikes. Are we picking the games?
Deck: Yeah, let's pick the games. Eason, you can pick the Vikes game and the Lions game, can't you?
N D: Alright.
Deck: You got enough knowledge of those two teams?
Easton Butler: Oh yeah.
Deck: Okay, all right
N D: Alright. I'm going to go with... ah I'm going to go the upset. I'm going to take the Saints on Sunday. they're Minnesota doesn't like playing in New Orleans, so I'm going to take the Saints. And I'm going to take the Lions by five and a half.
Deck: Okay, Easton, what you got?
Easton Butler: As much as I hate to say it, the Vikings have been playing pretty decent this year.
N D: yeah
Easton Butler: I do have to go with Minnesota on this one. I do think they take a very comfortable at least touchdown.
Deck: Okay. I'm going to go with the Vikings as well. I think this is the week. that the ah the quarterback in New Orleans is going to wake up on Monday morning still seeing Dallas Turner on top of his. on top of his body. So we'll do that. And I think the Lions will handle the the Cardinals down in in Phoenix, but I don't think it's going to be a blowout. So we'll go with that.
Deck: And then, all right. Easton, what's gonna happen Sunday? Give us your score.
Easton Butler: For the Packers or the Lions?
Deck: the Packers Bears game. Or you could tell us the Lions game, too, if you want.
Easton Butler: Hi. Yeah. um So I'll go with the Packers. I do think the Packers are going to win. I think it is going to be kind of more of like a high -scoring game. I'll probably say...
Easton Butler: I'll say like 42 -38 Green Bay.
Deck: wow wow No, man.
N D: Wow. All right. Shootout. Jude out Lambeau.
Deck: Nolan, are you going to?
Easton Butler: Oh yeah.
Deck: I know you said yesterday it was like a 31 -24. Are you sticking with that?
N D: I had a 34 -27, but I'm going to go, yeah, I'm going to go 34 -21 Bears.
Deck: Thank you.
Deck: Okay. okay I don't. Yeah. I keep saying Ty. My heart is saying...
Deck: I think the Bears are the better team. um But. Being in Lambeau, man, I don't know. It's a coin flip for me. I'm glad I don't have to take it and I don't have to. but Um,
Deck: Yeah, I think it'll be a good game. And I'm looking forward to it. I'm kind of. been watching x this morning and it seems like the The Bear fans and the Packer fans are getting a little bit more into it. So I think as as the day goes on here, we're going to see some.
Deck: some fun little. uh X. Tweets going back and forth between Packer and Bears fans. but We'll go with that. so All right. Well.
N D: We'll have to bear down, right?
Deck: Hopefully. hopefully mike is alive and all that sort of stuff but uh so uh Easton, thanks again for coming on.
Easton Butler: ah
N D: Hopefully he has tough downloads, yeah.
Easton Butler: Yeah, of course.
Deck: Yeah. And we will ah will be in touch. Thanks, buddy.
N D: We'll see you on X.
Easton Butler: Of course. Go, Pat, go.
