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Football Week in Review. NFL Trade Deadline Grades + NFL Mid-Season Awards
11 Plays7 days ago
Football Week in Review
- Champions League Takeaways
- Is the Premier League the new super league?
- Have Liverpool steadied the ship?
- Who are you more concerned about moving forward - City or Liverpool?
NFL Trade Deadline
- Thoughts on the major NFL Trades
- Sauce to Colts
- Quinnen to Cowboys
- Shaheed to Seahawks
- Jakobi Meyers to Jags
- Jaelin Phillips and Jaire Alexander to the Eagles
NFL Half Season Awards
If the season ended today, who would be your pick for the awards
- Defensive Rookie of the Year
- Offensive Rookie of the Year
- Coach of the Year
- Defensive Player of the Year
- Offensive Player of the Year
- MVP
- Super Bowl Champ
Game of the Week
City vs Liverpool
Recommended
Transcript
00:00:09
Emeka
Welcome, welcome, welcome to episode 39 of Love of the Game podcast. Recording this deep late on a Friday night, November 7th, 2025. As always, I'm joined by the Broski Chukwu. Chukwu, how you living tonight?
00:00:28
Chuku
Yes, sir. Good to be back. Good to be back, you know, here with another banging episode, ready to give the people, you know, what they want. And yeah, I'm pretty sure we're going to be having another, know, another banging episode. So yeah, let's get to it.
00:00:44
Emeka
User, as always, making the magic happen. I'm joined by my man, Chinna. Chinna, how you living, brother?
00:00:51
Chino Onwuka
Yo, like you said, it's Friday night. I mean, what better way to spend it? I mean, some people, what what they do, they clubbing, going to the bar, wasting their time, really. This is where it's at. Let's go.
00:01:03
Emeka
You already know. You already know. And I'm glad you, probably on a Saturday, depending on what you're not turning this around, joining us or wherever you listen to the podcast. I'd be curious. Let me know what times usually you guys listen to the podcast. Maybe it helps us record more pressing podcasts to fit your needs. You never know. We're still learning this out year and a half in.
00:01:23
Emeka
Episode 39, like we said, we had a big week, a lot of NFL topics to cover, the trade deadline, and we're officially at the halfway part of the season, so we're going to give out some awards and tell you some predictions. But, you know, as always, we start off with covering the world of football at large and with the Champions League week.
00:01:42
Emeka
Speaking halfway, also halfway through the Champions League, some banger fixtures. You know, we'll start off open-ended. Juno, I'll start with you. what what What were some of your takeaways from the Champions League this week?
00:01:56
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, for me, I'll just touch you on there were two games that I really wanted to two watch that I was really excited for. And that was the PSG-Bayern game and and the Liverpool-Madrid game. And I'll just start with the PSG-Bayern game because to me, those were sort of, in my eyes, two of of the best teams that in Europe right now. you know, those are two teams in complete form. PSG are defending champions.
00:02:29
Chino Onwuka
Bayern were undefeated, not even just undefeated, had won every single game they've played this season and have been looking really, really good. Vincent Kompany's been doing a ting over there in Germany. And so really excited to watch that game, you know, two attacking teams, you know, with exciting profiles.
00:02:48
Chino Onwuka
So I guess i'll I'll focus on that game and maybe somebody else might focus on the other one. and
00:02:55
Chino Onwuka
Bayern started off just like on fire the way they were pressing PSG came out, Luis Diaz scores two goals. And I was like, it's like, this was a true litmus test for me because, you know, sometimes, you know, the the German league, it's,
00:03:11
Chino Onwuka
it's really the haves and they have nots. When you have a good Bayern team they're well coached, it really isn't a competition for them. So it's like, where do they truly stand? And this is like, okay, yeah, they've got a team. Harry Kane, Luis Diaz has been a revelation from them. Michael Olise is, he is moving.
00:03:31
Chino Onwuka
i don't know where he's at for y'all, but he's in some conversations for top five, top three at his position in the world now. And, To me, they are one of, if not the best team in Europe right now, in my opinion. Very complete team.
00:03:49
Chino Onwuka
And then luz Diaz sort of had a rush of blood and hacked Hakimi's ankle. And so that was unfortunate.
00:03:56
Emeka
Was that a red to you?
00:03:56
Chino Onwuka
and i
00:03:57
Emeka
i wast
00:03:59
Chino Onwuka
It was a yellow slash orange. I think they gave gave him a red be because of the injury.
00:04:02
Emeka
Wow.
00:04:07
Chino Onwuka
i think he went with
00:04:07
Emeka
I thought that was a locked-on red.
00:04:09
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, I thought it was a red initially, but it was like, okay, that was the slow-mo. And I think the the result of the tackle made it a red, but the tackle itself, I've seen those where if the guy hobbles off after, they just give a yellow.
00:04:27
Chino Onwuka
So that's why I said, yeah yeah, you're right.
00:04:28
Emeka
Scissor from behind, though?
00:04:32
Chino Onwuka
You're right. You know what? I vacillate on that one. I don't have any issue with them giving it a red. So that changed the game. But then shout out to Bayern for, a obviously PSG came on strong.
00:04:45
Chino Onwuka
You know, they had the man advantage. Then Bele went off injured, which was a shame to see. He's been struggling with injury. But I think it was impressive how Bayern were able to hold off and, you know, secure the 2-1 victory. So that was really the thing that stood out to me. The other thing that, you know, was interesting was the Liverpool-Madrid game and how,
00:05:04
Chino Onwuka
Good Liverpool looked how mediocre Madrid looked, but I've talked for a bit. So I'll so i'll pause there for now.
00:05:11
Emeka
No, I mean, I think those are two of the biggest games of of the week. I'll just follow up on the Liverpool-Madrid point. Like, I love Vinny Jr. I truly, like, I don't know. I feel like he gets so underrated and so disrespected because he's, quote-unquote, petulant and all that stuff. When he's on, he's on.
00:05:31
Emeka
So seeing him, and he also always coaxed Liverpool. I feel like that's just, you know, as him and Trent were just a joke. He'd always murder him. So seeing him get locked up by Connor Bradley really shook me.
00:05:43
Emeka
He got clamped, essentially. Like, he did nothing. He could not get past him. And i guess I got to, you know, recalibrate how I rate Connor Bradley because I just thought he's always, like, he's all right, you know, decent prospect.
00:05:56
Emeka
But that performance from a right back in a big situation like that is just, wow. It it blew my mind. And it's tough because... He's been playing as a nine now for a season and a half. So I have to, you know, Mbappe is a number nine. Like it is what it is now.
00:06:13
Emeka
But as the biggest Mbappe fan, I know, you know, correct me if I'm wrong here. Do you think he's mastered the number nine position yet? Like a true blooded number nine lead the line guy or is his best position still kind of left wing and they're just making it work because he had Vinny there?
00:06:31
Chino Onwuka
To me, and I think I mentioned this before, his best position, the position I'd like to see him in the most is more central. I think he's a lot more effective that way because he can make his runs from all over the pitch.
00:06:46
Chino Onwuka
And so he he isnt nine like is Can he do every single thing that maybe some of the others can do? No, but in what he does as a nine, there is no one...
00:07:00
Chino Onwuka
better than him, in my opinion. Maybe some Haaland can do some of what he does as a nine, and then there are other things Haaland can do that Mbappe can't do, but then there are things Mbappe can do that Haaland can't do. So I like him as a nine, especially now once you add the construction of the team, it makes a lot of sense for him to be there. And so like you you look look at the production. like The production speaks for itself. He's a nine.
00:07:24
Chino Onwuka
In games like this, it now becomes a thing of is the team... able to do what they need to do to to utilize him in the best way.
00:07:35
Chino Onwuka
Or sometimes you just got to give, you know, liver Liverpool their props. They press like mad. Madrid didn't know how to handle it. You know, one of the things I've seen a little bit more consistently this year, and maybe you'll touch on it later, is in the Prem, every game is a gonglet.
00:07:57
Chino Onwuka
Some of these other teams, you know, this is sort of their they crucible where it's like, oh, okay, like, this is what we got to deal with. And you've seen this with Romero, especially last year. and In the group stage, you know, even Barcelona, they hem and haw and then they they sort of lock it down and sort of know what what peak they need to get to once it comes to the knockout stages.
00:08:19
Emeka
I guess so, but you know I'll pivot to you, Chukwu, as the Halle Madrid guy. I don't want to be your first take TMZ, but watching that game, I i go back to my thought of...
00:08:30
Emeka
You know, you have Vinny, you have Mbappe, two of the, you know, out of whatever you want to say, ten, five best players in the world. But they still like to be in the same type of positions. You know Vinny's being in the news a bit. I'm sure, you know, first beefing with getting subbed and then everything else after. So, you know, not to be all dramatic, but I guess I ask this to you, Chukwu.
00:08:50
Emeka
In two seasons, so not next season, but the season after that. Are Mbappe and Vinny Jr. still both a Real Madrid, in your opinion? Or do you think one of them, most likely Vinny, is going to leave?
00:09:04
Chuku
He's saying two seasons, right?
00:09:06
Emeka
Yeah, so not next season, but the season after.
00:09:09
Chuku
I think one of them is gone. You know? I really do. I think one of them is gone. And I think that's Vinny. I think Vinny's time is coming up, man. I think, yeah, yeah I think Vinny's time is coming up.
00:09:20
Chuku
Because I'm not sure if you see – I'm not sure of two, but definitely within – Two to four, for sure, Vinny is out of there.
00:09:32
Chuku
I see Mbappe being there the the longest between the two. And I no but you asked the earlier question of what do you believe you know is Mbappe's best position.
00:09:42
Chuku
And honestly, i still think, feel like Mbappe is better coming in from the left. and, you know, moving doing the inside forward thing, you know, cutting inside from the left-hand side.
00:09:55
Chuku
I just think he's his pace and his ability to, you know, take on a man and and beat a man with his pace on the on the on the wing and cutting it in is like – is it going to be a lot of teams kryptonite? And like, I just think, you know, if you're able to get a more, a different type of profile type of striker in the middle that can play off of Mbappe, I think that's going to be a better fit than trying to play Mbappe in the, you know, in a solely central position next to Vinny at the moment. It's just...
00:10:32
Chuku
No, again, my my opinion. And, I mean, i was almost not sure if y'all ever was you know, seeing or youre im paying attention to some of the news or rumors that are coming up.
00:10:45
Chuku
But also rehab I was showing a post not too long ago that kind of talked about Madrid's interests in a certain, you know,
00:10:57
Chuku
tall, blonde, Norwegian striker that's been, you know, kind of killing the game for a couple of years. And, I mean, don't know about you all, but, I mean, the thought of having a Haaland-Mbappe combination, I just think that, to me, would be a more frightening and better fit as far as having Mbappe coming off the left and, you know, Haaland, who's more of a, you know,
00:11:26
Chuku
knows the striker position, guess, has been playing it longer. Going playing through the middle and then, you know, whoever you have out there playing on the right wing, I think that's a better combination than, you know, having what we have right now as far as, you know, with Mbappe and Vinny. So I do think for sure that, you know, in next two to three years, it won't shock me if there's a change, different direction.
00:11:50
Chuku
and even if even if it's not you know howland per se again this might be okay sure sure but even if it's not holland so not
00:11:55
Emeka
That is not going to be hard.
00:11:59
Chino Onwuka
Wait, hold on on that. I don't know if you can specifically say because a couple of years ago, before Haaland went to City, they were trying to get both Mbappe and Haaland at the same time.
00:12:12
Chuku
exactly
00:12:12
Chino Onwuka
And Madrid just didn't want to pay his agent fees, which is why he went to City. But you know Perez, you know what he likes. I don't put it past him, especially especially if Vinny leaves.
00:12:24
Emeka
I mean, this is a tangent, and going to go back to your point, Chiku, but Holland signed a 10-year extension, not even or a year ago.
00:12:31
Chuku
I understand.
00:12:32
Emeka
and we're putting him in the team.
00:12:33
Chuku
If there's any team that's willing to break the bank to get what they want, is come on now, it's Real Madrid.
00:12:34
Emeka
Okay. Well, he's not going anywhere. Okay.
00:12:41
Chuku
I don't care if he signed 10-year death row contract. anything can still Money can solve a lot of lot of questions or problems. so
00:12:49
Emeka
okay
00:12:49
Chuku
Look, again, I'm not saying it's 100% going to happen by no means, but I'm just telling no tell me was what I've seen what's out there as far as you know Madrid's interests in player.
00:12:59
Emeka
excuse so I feel like that first, i we're going off the point, but I read that story and my takeaway was, that's why I asked the question actually, is that the media campaign to push Vinny out has started because that article literally says this move happens if Vinny leaves.
00:13:16
Chuku
Oh, that's my point. they they Because I'm saying though the transition of bringing in a a striker of that type of caliber, what that is saying is that you know they want to push Vinny out, like you know and we just talked about, and then put Mbappe more as the, again, left winger, inside forward coming in with a a more traditional type of striker that plays the role.
00:13:32
Emeka
There's
00:13:41
Chuku
and I mean, look, I'm going throw another name And I've been talking about this dude, you know, the season he's had and how proud I've been of him for both club and country. But another name to put out there, you know, again, not saying what will happen, but it would be nice to if there's a connection, if a connection and can formulate would be a Victor Osherman.
00:14:02
Chuku
I'll be interested to see a Victor Osherman next to an Mbappe, you know, in that kind of scenario. But either way, I just think there are strikers out there today that I i just think with the how Madrid play, especially seeing what just took place this past week with the them playing Liverpool, you know, sometimes it's important to have a different type of, you know, of outlet, a different type of, you know, profile when it comes to the striking position, which right now, unfortunately, that's not no that's not the case. Madrid doesn't have that.
00:14:37
Chuku
So I do think there is a world, you know, in the next couple of years where, you know, especially with how a lot of no the attitude Vinny has been showing of late that I think, you know, Madrid might just say, hey, I mean, it's time for a change.
00:14:51
Chuku
I mean, I'm pretty sure they'll get good bucks, you know, if they ever sold Vinny. And, know, being able to bring in
00:14:56
Chino Onwuka
viny's only going only The only place Viennese can go to is is either Citi, PSG, or Saudi.
00:15:02
Chuku
CDPSG. Yeah. It'll be one of those big, in yeah.
00:15:04
Chino Onwuka
And so as I was just going to I find this really funny because I had to check myself on this the other day, is sometimes how like, I was just clocking the way you you said Usiman's name, and I'm like, why is he, like we're all Nigerian here, why are you saying it like that? And I've had to catch myself for doing the same thing before. I i just found it funny.
00:15:24
Chuku
Fair enough, fair enough.
00:15:24
Emeka
My thing is, like first of all, Vinny's contract, i question from usustin I said two years for a specific reason. Vinny's contract expires in two years, and it's been an ongoing thing about will he extend, and he wants to get paid like Mbappe, and hey, that's funny. But anyhow, I find it really fun. I know where Madrid have you, though, the pull. I'm not ever one to besmirch the pull of of Madrid. They get who they want, but...
00:15:50
Emeka
You know, has Perez actually broken the bank and since the Galactical? Honestly, since Ronaldo. Like, I guess Hazard is the last guy. I'm tripping. But look at all the big transfers. Like, they really shifted strategies now. They do the whole, we want you to run your contract down, and then we'll get you for on the low low.
00:16:09
Emeka
i don't That's why i'm I'm seeing these names get tossed out. Like, the Holland story, I laughed at because my brother signed a 10-year. He signed a death row contract. But even a guy like Ossie, man, like, Is Perez going to stump up the 80-something million cost? I don't know. They operate so differently now. Yeah, they get big-name guys, but you're going be looking at guys whose contracts are expiring pretty much because I don't know. like But I'm just fascinated by the strategy too because I truly think There's going to be a breaking point with Vinny and Mbappe in that they both want to play the same position.
00:16:41
Emeka
And they both think that the number one guy, like Vinny can talk all he wants about, hey, Mbappe is the guy, blah, blah, blah. But just last week, they gave him a penalty just to, you know, feed the ego. And he skied it like that stuff like that still existing. like I just i when they signed him at the time, I thought, you know, I get why you want to sign him.
00:17:01
Emeka
But they easily they really should have signed Kane instead. Obviously hindsight is even nice. We'll say at the time but Kane fit the team that he had as a direct Benzema replacement so much more.
00:17:13
Emeka
Then you get Mbappe in there who's fantastic. Quality baller. Like I know I know him. This person's got all. He's a baller. But They have Vinny there. Like, they have two of the guys who play in the same spaces, the same skill set kind of deal. And I don't know. Football is a weird thing, man. That's why last year I picked Barcelona to win. Because literally just off this topic of, like, I didn't think they'd fit well together.
00:17:34
Emeka
They're doing better this year in the league. Like, you know, smacking teams up. Only one loss in the league. But... When you lose a game like this in the Champions League, and the scoreline said 1-0, anyone who watched that game knows that could have easily been 4 or 5. Courtois was in peak Courtois form that game.
00:17:49
Emeka
When you lose and your keeper is man of the match, it says a lot. So I'm really, really curious if they go this year and, you know, listen, it's Madrid for all I can have on this chat. They can win the Champions League again.
00:17:59
Chino Onwuka
I mean, they lost, but did they really lose?
00:18:00
Emeka
mean, they lost, but...
00:18:03
Chino Onwuka
I mean, according to Slott, it was pretty much 0-0 since it was a set piece.
00:18:07
Emeka
i And the set pieces don't count.
00:18:10
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
00:18:10
Emeka
Well, in in the Premier League, they don't count. In Europe, they do count. That's Sloss said.
00:18:13
Chino Onwuka
I guess so.
00:18:13
Emeka
But anyhow.
00:18:13
Chino Onwuka
I guess so.
00:18:14
Emeka
like i They don't
00:18:14
Chino Onwuka
Did you see what he said today?
00:18:19
Emeka
win. To be more specific.
00:18:21
Chino Onwuka
of some of his comments today, man. Like, I don't want to get us off track. We'll come to it later, but... This dude is, I don't even know.
00:18:31
Emeka
Well, that's the tangent. We've never talked to about Madrid enough. Look, they'll be all right, but it's something an on. But big week in the Champions League for England specifically. it's Of the top 12 places, half of them are English teams. That's mind-boggling to me.
00:18:46
Emeka
Everyone won this week except Chelsea, who somehow dropped points against Carabag. But I'd love to make a bunch of Chelsea jokes. What actually want to talk to you guys about is... you know I don't think there's a spoiler to say there's probably the one of the biggest games of the season this week, Man City and Liverpool. Those are two teams now coming in off two back-to-back, or three back-to-back wins.
00:19:07
Emeka
They lost, and then now they've reshaped it a little bit. They're kicking form, one midweek. They're having players who previously were struggling in like a Wurz or Salah and Foden picking up now. Haaland is the most informed player in Europe.
00:19:21
Emeka
No secret in this podcast that we're all Arsenal fans. And those are, i guess, the quote-unquote two rivals we have. So I'll start with you, Chukwu. Of these two teams, projecting forward, what teams cause you more scare? Who do you more think is going to be a bigger threat, City or Liverpool, moving forward?
00:19:41
Chuku
No question. Don't even to even think twice. Holland FC twenty four seven Those guys scare the bejesus out of me right now with how on form they're starting to look.
00:19:56
Chuku
I mean, we can talk about Howland all day, and know just him alone is a scary thought. But when you start adding the auxiliary pieces, man, Phil Foden is starting to pick up form again.
00:20:12
Chuku
know he's been catching a lot strays the last year and quarter. ye not quarter But, yeah, he's starting to look like the the the the player that won that young pi player of the year.
00:20:24
Chuku
And, you know, man, I'm jealous. I mean, look, I'm glad we got our own signings with Eze and we still got Odegaard and Cole. But, man, that boy Ryan Cherky is a problem.
00:20:37
Chuku
And I mean a serious problem. He's looked... phenomenal, like coming into the Man City squad and the creativity he's bringing in and his ability to connect with Haaland is looking peak.
00:20:51
Chuku
And then, you know, he started adding all these other pieces that have been, you know, at the club for a while that, you know, have shown flashes. You know, we talk about players like Doku.
00:21:02
Chuku
He looked really good over the midweek. And, you know, again, when all these players start to connect and start know things start to, you know, again, flow in how they were supposed to be or how they envisioned it to be, you know, it can be a very, very scary yeah very very scary thing to think about.
00:21:22
Chuku
So, I mean, look... Don't get me wrong, Liverpool, I'm sure, you know, they're going to be all right. They're now and they're still going to be somewhere in the top four, top three.
00:21:32
Chuku
But I just think Man City at the moment got more offer at this stage. And it's crazy to say that considering that Liverpool spent the kind of money they did to recruit a title winning side.
00:21:48
Chuku
But, you know, let's not forget, Man City also spent big over the last few years. and they they got some bad boys in their team. So I just think they're the scarier proposition at the moment, in my opinion.
00:22:00
Chino Onwuka
Whichever team is closer to the table to us, that's the story.
00:22:04
Emeka
This guy, you're not tata. Give an answer.
00:22:05
Chino Onwuka
Nah, nah, nah, nah, dead serious. i I'm worried about both because those are both really good teams. Chuka's spoken about Man City, Holland FC. They've got really good players.
00:22:19
Chino Onwuka
They've got the best manager in the world. And then Liverpool, we've seen what they just did to Real Madrid, a really good team. They still play at Anfield. They're still the defending champs.
00:22:30
Chino Onwuka
They've... McAllister's fit. They're going back to a little bit more of the formation they used last year. Chobas Lai's had a great season. You know, Wurtz on the left is looking good.
00:22:42
Chino Onwuka
You know, maybe it's taking them some time, but they seem to be coming up with something. We'll see if it lasts or not. But those are two really good teams. And... I think it's still November. It's still early. I think those are two teams we still have to be worried about. I am massively, this might be a spoiler for what we talk about later, i am massively cheering for a draw this weekend.
00:23:09
Emeka
I mean, I'm cheering for a draw, obviously. But even though I do agree with Juco that I'm scared of City a little bit more. I'll speak up with Liverpool in that. When watching that game...
00:23:22
Emeka
I think there's something with Wurtz on the left. I just think that midfield they have, you know, that one in the league last year, Shabazz Lai, McAllister, and Gravenbach, like, you just can't upset the balance. That's the midfield. They know each other.
00:23:34
Emeka
They play well. They they know each other's tendencies. And I understand the logic behind, you know, wait we bought the hottest wonder kid. We got to put him in there. and build around him, but it's too much too soon. Go back to formula, back to basics. Those three, don't know, go all Arsenal fans, and i the way I think we'd all vote Declan Rice as the best midfielder in the world right now, but...
00:23:55
Emeka
I want to give a shout out to Sean Buslein, man. This guy, this season, has been a revelation, to say the least. He, I know, you know, agree with me, that and football manager, wonder kid from back in the day, back when was in Germany, young kid.
00:24:07
Emeka
To see him grow up to what he is now, has been crazy to watch. And he's took it he took a step forward this year. He's up there. He's elite of the elite now. And They, you know, saw out, showed some flashes. They didn't get any end product, but he was having man's on skates.
00:24:24
Emeka
Warts was showing something on the left. You know, they still have Eketike. They still have Isak. Like, if I'm a Liverpool fan, you know, I was crashing before. Things are starting to make sense now. I'm seeing the vision a little bit more. And, and you know, i as an Arsenal fan watching that game, I was thinking, like, man, like, if they actually do figure it out.
00:24:43
Emeka
That's a scary proposition. And, you know, we made fun of Slott for arresting everybody for the calling cup fixture. We thought they were in a drought. They needed a win. Maybe he was on to something. Maybe he just needed to give a week solid on the training pitch, get these guys back to form because they looked pretty good back-to-back. Obviously, it's just two games, but Villa and Madrid are two pretty nice games to to win in.
00:25:07
Emeka
Big test this weekend, so, you know, I guess we'll get to it now. like the freedom the Fair to say for the past decade, the biggest fixture in English football, which pains me because growing up, it used to be easily Arsenal, Man United. But I got i can't be an old head.
00:25:23
Emeka
I think the last decade has been clearly man City, Liverpool. The biggest rivalry in England and the biggest fixture in England. but Without Klopp there, it kind of loses its sting. It doesn't hit the same when it was Pep and Klopp, but neither here nor there.
00:25:35
Emeka
Match this weekend that we're all invested in. I think it's fair to say we all want to draw. What do you think it's going to be? I guess I'll start, and i was like I said, I agree to my man, Chukwu.
00:25:46
Emeka
I just think City are better right now. I think Liverpool's defense is just a little weaker, and City just, oh, man. Nico Gonzalez, he was getting a lot of crap when he got in January, and now you wouldn't even know Rodri's missing.
00:26:01
Emeka
Foden, I was the only one defending him when he was trash last year, and look with him now. And that robot, that guy, man, Haaland, I hope Madrid gets him because I'm tired of this man in my league, even though I i love watching great players, full play. So, City, man, cook it.
00:26:16
Chuku
Yo, just want to give a shout-out to another guy that, I mean, i don't know if y'all have been watching him previously or knew anything about him because me, I'm not going to lie. I put my hands up. I've only just seen him this year as far as new this last handful of games. But that kid they got, O'Reilly, is it, that's playing left-back whatever? Dude, that kid is a baller, bro. Like, I mean...
00:26:39
Chuku
Yeah, I don't know what City producing these players from, but, bro, City seemed like the they got a serious squad, you know, over there. So, anyways, just wanted to bring his name up. Anyways.
00:26:49
Emeka
i use He's a baller. He broke through last season, and he's kept a left-back spot. They bought Ape Nui. He got injured. He's fit now, but he's holding bench because Nico Riley's that guy. But anyhow, all this to say, man give me Man City 2-1 win against Liverpool. Even though I'm wanting to draw, I just think, oh, they got a little bit more. They got a little bit more juice going. And when you have Haaland, it's automatic 1-0 start to the game. So, yeah, i just give me give me Man City.
00:27:16
Emeka
Chukwu, what do you have for this weekend?
00:27:19
Chuku
Again, I think we all agree we want to draw. I want to draw. But with that being said, I'm sorry. I'm looking at the two teams. I don't care about what Liverpool did in midweek.
00:27:33
Chuku
I don't care what they did against Aston Villa at home. This is my city we're talking about at the Etihad as well.
00:27:44
Chuku
Yeah, no, give me Man City, bro. I think they're going to handle business. And I think this is all but going to confirm Liverpool out of the title race, in my opinion.
00:27:55
Chuku
Because my thoughts going to this is whoever loses this, is you're you're you're out. That's just how I i feel. And I think Man City are just in a better place this moment in time.
00:28:06
Chuku
So they're going catch Liverpool at a good time. And yeah, give me Man City
00:28:12
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, so apparently it all depends on if Man City do exactly what Liverpool expects them to do because, again, those are the comments from Slott this morning.
00:28:23
Chino Onwuka
We've seen him complaining that, oh, teams are playing us differently than they did last year. Like, yeah, they're trying to win. And he literally said today, the reason we beat Aston Villa and Real Madrid is because they did exactly what we expected them to do. Yeah.
00:28:39
Chino Onwuka
I don't know if you should be saying that to Pep. So if Man City does everything they expect Man City to do, then guess it's apparent that Liverpool will win.
00:28:50
Chino Onwuka
If they deviate from some sort of game plan at all, i guess that's too much for for Liverpool and their Galacticos. I want to draw, so I'm going to predict the draw totu draw, hopefully.
00:29:05
Chino Onwuka
One of my predictions for Liverpool will actually come correct.
00:29:09
Emeka
Hey, man, i hope you i hope all always you're right because a draw would be pretty nice. The slop the slot excuses are, oh, my God. I said in previous podcast when he said we've been preparing for Man to start Sesco and they benched him. and That's why we I couldn't believe what I saw. but hey, he's he's smarter than me, so maybe he knows what he's talking about. But, hey, I don't know.
00:29:31
Emeka
Before we move on to the more American football, any thoughts on the Champions League weekend? Random one-offs, you know, Arsenal, just stacking wins. Giving up a shot on target, though, but hey, what can you do?
00:29:43
Emeka
Any other takeaways, Chukwu, from the what you saw in Champions League this week?
00:29:48
Chuku
I mean, I know i've been harping on this player a lot and praising him and bigging him up, but I can't get no can't touch enough about Ocean Man, bro. Hat-trick midweek, what a player. The goal's phenomenal.
00:30:02
Chuku
He's been on crazy form, so shout-out to him. We've seen what totten shit we're up to. I know it's Copenhagen, but, you know, seeing what, know, Van der Van could do as far as that goal was pretty, know, spectacular.
00:30:17
Chuku
And Chinare touched on this, but, yeah, Bayern Munich, man, these guys are serious. I don't know what company got these boys eating or chomping at the training grounds, but these guys are on smoke.
00:30:30
Chuku
And to think Musiala hasn't even had a chance to, you know, really been truly integrated. integrated back to this team and they're just finding ways to just obliterate. Like, it's not even enough to beat teams. is They are beating them, like giving them whoopings. So, yeah, no, it's going to be a crazy, you know, match day when we play them next. I'm looking forward to that. And then, of course, you know, we've got our our club, you know, Arsenal keep doing their thing, finding ways to win, you know, turn the six upside down. It's a nine now. Marino,
00:31:05
Chuku
out here scoring goals for fun and yeah no i mean yeah pretty much it sums up most of it uh you know it's been it's been a good good game week so far but i just wanted to say shout out again to the changing format i've been me personally i've been enjoying this new champions league formats and yeah i mean it's another season of it and i hope i hope it stays because Some of the matchups we get to see is just beautiful.
00:31:31
Chuku
It's a thing of beauty, and we get to see you know the best play the best. So, you know, no complaints so far on that.
00:31:40
Emeka
No complaints at all. My approval rating for the new Champions League format is as high as Barcelona's high line because I watched that game. I still...
00:31:51
Emeka
The only performance I can equate it to is when Chelsea smacked up Spurs and the Spurs were down to like eight men and they still played at the halfway line. It was ridiculous because that's the kind of stubbornness I was seeing Barcelona rock up with when everyone in their team is literally in the opposing half.
00:32:07
Emeka
Just one blob ball up top. It's all it takes to to break them down. Godspeed, Flick. You know, i you're again, all these coaches are smarter than me because I would think if I go up...
00:32:18
Emeka
Jammy goal 3-2. I'm sitting back, but no. Press forward all the time. These are the type of teams I want Arsenal to play, you know. Screw all this sitting in the deep block. Come at us like men.
00:32:29
Emeka
Put up the halfway line and and set up. Let me watch some good football. I'm tired of watching these teams sit back. So I'm just, you know, don't want to make fun of you, Flick. Shouts out Flick, man. He's keeping true football alive. I need more teams to be doing that.
00:32:41
Chuku
Yo, I would love to play Barcelona.
00:32:41
Emeka
oh
00:32:42
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, for me,
00:32:44
Chuku
Oh, sorry. Go ahead, Chouna.
00:32:46
Chino Onwuka
yeah, yeah, go ahead. I guess just on top of everything you said, the highlights for me, that Bandervan goal, if you haven't seen it, search for it on Twitter, YouTube, or for Gen Z on TikTok. I'm sure it's there.
00:33:00
Chino Onwuka
To me, that's my goal of the season so far.
00:33:02
Emeka
All right, I was waiting for someone to say this.
00:33:02
Chino Onwuka
Like,
00:33:04
Emeka
My heart take is that it was impressive, but i think goal the season is a little crazy. That's just me.
00:33:09
Chino Onwuka
Nah, like a defender is running all the way from
00:33:10
Chuku
Yeah, goal of the season is hella crazy. Hella crazy.
00:33:10
Emeka
yeah
00:33:12
Emeka
He ran in a straight line.
00:33:13
Chuku
But fair enough.
00:33:15
Emeka
He ran in a straight line.
00:33:15
Chuku
Look, it's impressive.
00:33:16
Chino Onwuka
from... Beats multiple opposition and then finishes it off. I'm sorry, that's a brilliant goal.
00:33:23
Emeka
If he was giving me a shandalo, would understand.
00:33:23
Chino Onwuka
I'll let... I'll let... That's my opinion, sure. Yeah, yeah. All right, all right. but it's my that's my opinion
00:33:31
Chino Onwuka
sure
00:33:31
Emeka
No, fan, listen, it's a great goal.
00:33:32
Emeka
I just think if he was actually dribbling past guys, I would like it more.
00:33:32
Chino Onwuka
yeah yeah i I'm not saying it's going to finish the season as goal season. what What would you put up there with...
00:33:41
Emeka
All the top my head, like you okay, hot take, I think Dan Byrne's goal is more impressive.
00:33:46
Chino Onwuka
We're just go have to mute you for a couple of minutes.
00:33:48
Emeka
You and me? No.
00:33:50
Chino Onwuka
No, no, no, hold on.
00:33:50
Emeka
Hey,
00:33:51
Chino Onwuka
Just mute yourself for a couple of minutes. I'm sorry. I have to throw something.
00:33:54
Emeka
listen, we...
00:33:55
Chino Onwuka
Let me say the other thing that stood out to me for Champions League. I've been saying it a couple of game weeks in a row. Again, you guys talked about the format. Some of the nice things about this format are some of these Really unheralded clubs from unheralded nations coming out and showing themselves. We have Karabag drawing 2-2 with Chelsea, and they played really well in that game.
00:34:17
Chino Onwuka
Paphos won nothing victory over Villarreal. don't know if anyone saw that coming, so good for them getting three points. and And again, you just touched on it.
00:34:28
Chino Onwuka
Club Bruges, Barcelona Those were some of the upsets we saw this week.
00:34:35
Emeka
I've seen that Van Der Van Gogh before. I've never seen header like that. All I'm gonna say. I've never seen a header like that before. I watched football for 30 years now. I've never seen that before.
00:34:46
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, I've seen that go like like live. So i don't i don't I don't know what you're saying.
00:34:51
Emeka
like Fair enough. haven't seen everything, but I just can't remember a header like that. Man, it's that L1 circle.
00:34:56
Chino Onwuka
was unique. It was unique, but I'm sorry. a defender. Anyway, guys, let us let us know what you think.
00:34:56
Chuku
Look, it was a good goal.
00:35:02
Chuku
the The fact that you have to put context with the defender that was doing it.
00:35:04
Chino Onwuka
Let us know what you think. Chuka, what are you saying?
00:35:06
Chuku
Yeah, fair. No, I'm saying... well look Look, I'm just saying it was a great goal. It was a really good goal. think... the i think A lot of the reason why, again you can correct me if I'm wrong here, but I feel like a lot of the reasons why you will be saying it as goal of the season, and for me, the only reason why I can even like have that opinion of of it being goal of the season is if you're putting strongly the context behind who's scoring the goal.
00:35:34
Chuku
You know what I'm trying to say like The fact that it was a defender who who did that, I'm saying that's the fact that you have to put that context in it To me, at least, is why i don't see it as goal of the season.
00:35:47
Chuku
But I can understand why someone would view it that way because of that context. But if let's just say, for example, it was a player like, I don't know, same team, Kudos, went through defenders like that and scored a similar goal like that.
00:36:01
Chuku
Do you think you'd have the same sort of like opinion of it being a goal of the season? Or do you feel like lot of that comes from it being who it was that scored the goal?
00:36:07
Chino Onwuka
what maybe not right maybe not right and again you have to put it but like I just watched it again this is from your own box he yeah it's a straight line he beats five defenders and not it's not just that he actually finished I don't know if you know how hard it is especially at that level to go all the way from your own box to the other side and then like actually finish it like that's that's crazy
00:36:36
Emeka
See, what I'll say, for the finish more impressive than the run.
00:36:36
Chuku
Hey, look, I'll get it. oh Go ahead, bro.
00:36:40
Emeka
Because I agree. The fact that you can run, just run that much and still finish is incredible. Because if you've ever seen a football pitch live, you realize how big it is.
00:36:50
Emeka
So to do that and finish, I think the finish is incredible.
00:36:50
Chuku
big it is. Yeah, Fox. Yeah, I don't agree.
00:36:55
Emeka
Again, it's a great goal. Great goal. All I'm saying is people have been able to go this season, and I got to be a hater now to say it was a straight line. But that's just me being a hater.
00:37:03
Chuku
it yeah i'm like I'm curious to get Chinon's thought on this. and he's probably gonna do i I'm pretty sure Chinon's going to probably send me to the mute button ASAP when I say this. But for me, give me I'll give you two goals okay so far this season. And they're both in the Premier League.
00:37:21
Chuku
Give me goals like Zubomendi, the volley from the corner...
00:37:26
Chino Onwuka
Yeah. Okay.
00:37:28
Chuku
Goals like that. And don't know if you all were watching the West Ham against Chelsea.
00:37:29
Chino Onwuka
Okay.
00:37:33
Chuku
That was just not too long ago. But Lucas Paqueta, his goal from a shot outside the box, those are the of goals I kind of scream for as, you know, again, it's just my aesthetic, like my type of goal.
00:37:38
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
00:37:44
Chino Onwuka
Sure. very Sure. Sure. again to this stage of the year there's no other goal that like has stuck in my memory like there have been good great goals enough and Dan Burns was a unique goal there's not that many goals that have stuck out in my memory like that like Yamal's goal was great but that's like maybe it's part of like yo we expect him to do things like that that was one of the sickest goals I've seen like that close control in the box but like
00:37:46
Chuku
So anyways, go ahead.
00:38:14
Emeka
I about say, your mouth goes, that was crazy.
00:38:16
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, yeah. That goal stands out to me. Zubo Mendes was nice. We see that goal a lot. It took a deflection. Cool. Paqueta's goal was good, but like like to me, like when there's a goal that lay just sticks in my memory that you say it and I can call it out, like, oh, yeah, that's... And it's still early in the season. I'm sure we'll see goals eclipse that, but for now, that that that's that's an elite for me.
00:38:41
Chino Onwuka
And that's just my opinion, of course.
00:38:43
Emeka
but I'm with you.
00:38:44
Chino Onwuka
Otherwise, that...
00:38:45
Emeka
And funny enough, that's literally why I'm so high on Dan Burns' goal, because our goal will be burning my head forever. I've never seen how to like that before. But, hey, we all, know, it's like women or whatever. all have different tastes.
00:38:57
Emeka
have the beholder. And also, as you know, I'm just being a hater, man. That was a great goal by his first guy. Blah, blah, blah. You know, football, fantastic. We're going towards international break again. i know it's the same schedule every year.
00:39:09
Emeka
i still hate it. But last one, and then we have a good, solid criminal Christmas time stretch, and we talk about footy, plenty of footy as the calendar tolls towards the new year.
00:39:20
Emeka
And finally,
00:39:20
Chino Onwuka
get ready get ready for the Get ready for the, like, double one next year.
00:39:24
Emeka
the crunch time. Oh, yeah. And, yeah.
00:39:28
Chino Onwuka
don't know if you heard about that, but they're going to do like a, there's going be like a three-week international break next year where they just double one.
00:39:33
Emeka
Yeah, I don't know. This is the last season we're doing this BS.
00:39:36
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
00:39:36
Emeka
Stopping the one i hate the most, the one in August, where you just start the season trying to see your transfers. And they go, removing that one. It's just a long one in September, a long one in October. well I'm looking forward to it.
00:39:48
Emeka
But there you Last one. We'll get through it more and all in here when the podcast, as you know. But going from one football to the other. was a big week in the National Football League, the NFL trade deadline.
00:40:03
Emeka
Usually a pretty boring time. i always laugh when people hype up the NFL trade deadline because nothing ever happens. Except this year, a lot happened because one team, the New York Jets, just decided, what's the point?
00:40:15
Emeka
We got our one win. We beat the Bengals. Justin Fields proved the ownership wrong. let's just they start tanking. So immediately shopped off two of the highest paid players, both defenders, sauce Gardner to the Colts for two first round picks.
00:40:30
Emeka
And then Jerry Jones tweeted out he made a big trade after losing on Monday night. We all woke up. We saw Logan Wilson get traded. We're like, man, Jerry's senile. No, he actually was on to something because the Cowboys traded for Quinn and Williams for 2026 and the first.
00:40:47
Emeka
A lot to talk about on this. So I guess I'll just start off by asking Chukwu. We'll start off with the Sauce Gardner trade. do us Does this trade make the Indianapolis Colts a Super Bowl contender?
00:41:06
Chuku
Like, the Colts, i mean, I don't know if they can be considered a a sleeper team anymore, but I just think people aren't truly respecting what the Colts are doing enough, in my opinion. Like, this team, has their defense has been, know, pretty borderline average, but is never you never confuse the Colts with having a poor defense from last year.
00:41:32
Chuku
And their offense, they've had weapons that I feel like people around the league respect, but don't get the kind of recognition.
00:41:44
Chuku
And this is more so I'm pointing towards their wide receiver in Michael Pimmon, who I feel like with people, do the people forget this was a high, highly rated player coming out of college? Like people would not know who this guy is. Like, I feel like Pimmon definitely gets a lot of disrespect as far as, you know, where people have him as far as, uh,
00:42:10
Chuku
ranking-wise amongst his peers in the wide receiver position. Like, in my opinion, he's a top, easily top 15 wide receiver in the league, but doesn't get talked about at all as a top 15 wide receiver.
00:42:23
Chuku
And then you pair that with a guy like Jonathan and Taylor who, I mean, again, fair enough, injuries have played a big part early in his career, but this is, again, someone on who people – know have thought of as a very, very good running back.
00:42:39
Chuku
A lot of people, I venture to say, have him at least in their top five i you know as far as potential and what it could be. And I think this year he's really putting it together. And who would have thought you know Daniel Jones was the missing piece as far as getting getting the offensive ship going you know and and in in the for the Colts.
00:43:03
Chuku
And you go and add a piece like Sauce Gardner to your secondary, that's going to, you know, again, help only do good things as far as, you know, helping you out in coverage and, you know, being an overall better team than what you were before.
00:43:20
Chuku
I just think it just adds up to Super Bowl contending team. And, Yeah, no, the Colts are definitely going in the right direction. no It's come out that you know the organization you know feels very highly about Daniel Jones.
00:43:36
Chuku
That's something that you want probably because you never know what you know other players have done. had seasons like this I'll give an example of Sam Darnold, but for whatever reason, based on where the organization was at,
00:43:49
Chuku
they didn't fully back the the player. And we saw that because he ended up, and referring to Darnold, ended up leaving in the summer to go to Seattle. But you know with the Colts, it's a different story. With the you know with the acquisition of Daniel Jones that they got, they're the organization is willing to, this this is a sign from the organization that they're They're backing their guy. And I think this is only going to do no good no good things. And I really do think the Colts have a good shot of of making it to the Super Bowl.
00:44:20
Chuku
So, yeah, no, Colts are definitely, in my opinion, at least top four teams right now, if I had to rank them. They got to be in that discussion.
00:44:33
Emeka
And I'd say they better be even giving up two firsts. I just... Oh, man. I i don't know. i definitely am one of those who said people don't believe in the Colts. Hi, it's me. I'm people. I don't... I just... Daniel Jones, and he's playing amazingly, but you got to show me something.
00:44:51
Emeka
This is the same thing we saw last year with Darnold and the Vikings. They were fourteen and three Hype everything up. And then when the big, not-crunching time came in the big game in the playoffs, he became a pumpkin.
00:45:02
Emeka
And... Who's to say I worked with Daniel Jones, but I just think going all in on this team like that is, i respect it as an owner. You know, hey, your dad died. You come take the team and you're really going all in. But two firsts for a cornerback, the price they paid for Sauce, who I like, but he's getting paid big money. So get him on a cheap rookie deal.
00:45:27
Emeka
You're giving up two firsts. You're not going to commit to Daniel Jones. This is your team now. And God forbid Daniel Jones, you know, takes a step back or something. And now we're just, we don't have first to replace him with. We just stuck with this team. And yeah, it's a good team, but is it a Superbowl team?
00:45:43
Emeka
Like you telling me in January it's Colts chiefs or it's Colts bills. And we're really going to pick the Colts. Like, I don't know personally. I thought, I just thought the price was, was a little steep to pay. And it's only the price you can pay when you really think your team is one move away from the Superbowl. And,
00:46:00
Emeka
I guess I just don't see the Colts as one move away from the Super Bowl. yeah I know the record isn't what the record is. The Patriots have the exact same record. And I tell you now, if the Patriots traded two firsts for Sauce Gardner, I'd be pretty upset.
00:46:11
Emeka
So, you know, it is what it is. i guess, Chennau, what are your thoughts on this trade for the Colts? Was it worth it? Was it make them a Super Bowl contender? Or are you leaning towards me and it's a little bit of an overpay?
00:46:21
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, it's I think it's it's... I agree with both statements. It definitely makes them, you know, a Super Bowl contender because Sauce Gardner is a good player. He definitely makes their team better.
00:46:35
Chino Onwuka
Now, does this... just is the Is what they paid commensurate enough to the value they're going to get in that? Is that really, what like you said, is that what's going to put them over the top against...
00:46:50
Chino Onwuka
The other teams that they're competing with, I don't know about that. Sauce Gardner is a great player, but he has not been the player that he was during his rookie season. Since his rookie season, he has not played up to that ability. So if he comes in and he and he is the Sauce Gardner of his rookie season, and maybe he just needs a change of environment and to and to get out from from the Jets, then it could be worthwhile. But two first round picks is a heavy price to pay.
00:47:21
Chino Onwuka
you know, coming from a team that received two first round picks for a cornerback, I'm sorry, Sauce Gardner is not what prime Jalen Ramsey was at that time.
00:47:34
Chino Onwuka
And that was a team that You know, it was Jalen Ramsey plus that they needed to take him over the top and it made it all worthwhile in the end. I don't know if that's the case for the Colts, but shout out to them doing what they felt they needed to do to get better. i mean, he's he's signed for a long time. So, you know what, even if it's not this year, you know, maybe they see themselves having a couple of runs at it.
00:48:01
Chino Onwuka
But to me, that's steep. That is that is really steep. Two first round picks. especially especially as one is in 2027 and that 2027 draft is giving up a 2026 pick.
00:48:06
Chuku
Anytime team is giving up... Oh, sorry. Go ahead, you know.
00:48:19
Chino Onwuka
Like you guys probably aren't paying attention to it yet. Like 2026 is looking peak. Obviously there'll be good players, but at 2027, you better hope you're good because that could really come back to bite you in the ass.
00:48:35
Chuku
And look, i hear you I hear the comments, guys. i i understand it. Trust me, giving up those two first-round picks, anytime you're giving up two first-round picks in the NFL, it's a lot.
00:48:47
Chuku
you're You're definitely giving up a lot for sure. My only counter to, want to go back to Emeka's point about the situation with Sam Darnold. We've seen it before with the Vikings. is Respectfully, the Vikings didn't really don't have the the the depth up front as far as what the Colts have with their offensive line, which doesn't get talked enough.
00:49:13
Chuku
Colts have always been known of having like easily top five, top ten best offensive lines in the league. And the kind of rushing game that you have now with Jonathan Taylor, Sam Donald didn't have that, in my opinion.
00:49:28
Chuku
At least, you know, sure, he had some all right, decent backs. no Jordan Macy is no slouch. Aaron Jones, you know, is is is is a somebody.
00:49:40
Chuku
but That ain't Jonathan Taylor. And we're seeing what Jonathan Taylor, like the Colts are seeing what they have right now this year with this team. And in NFL, we all know all it takes is this is a game of margins.
00:49:53
Chuku
And when you see a team hitting, you know, like the way the Colts have been this year, you know, sure, they've had, you know, who was the team that they lost to recently?
00:50:05
Chuku
I believe was the Chiefs or Karen Brew.
00:50:07
Emeka
terms Steelers.
00:50:08
Chuku
or Steelers, sorry, Steelers, Steelers.
00:50:09
Emeka
or still
00:50:10
Chuku
Yeah, that was a bad loss, no doubt. But the thing is, like, when you when you're seeing, the like, the type of performances you're seeing from Daniel Jones playing with this team, you know, again, Chinon talked about it a little bit, but sometimes, like, a change of scenery for a player can be, you know, can make the world of a difference. And, know,
00:50:35
Chuku
like Daniel Jones was someone that we saw in New York. i mean, I don't know about y'all, but I was ready to like write him off completely as like, I don't know he was ever going to be even good enough to even be a backup. like I just thought he was going to be out of the league, to be quite honest with you. And from going to where he was to where he's been now,
00:50:59
Chuku
you know Again, it just goes to show the difference it can make playing in a bad organization and going to a good organization. It can make so much of a difference. And this is what I'm... Again, is what I'm seeing as far as them trading for Sauce Gardner.
00:51:18
Chuku
I can understand. i agree. Giving up two first-round picks for you know a cornerback that... I do agree. Hasn't really, you know, we came in with a lot of hype. Hasn't really, you know, apart from the rookie season, hasn't really been living too much up to the, you know, to that standard or to that hype.
00:51:36
Chuku
But the truth of the matter is, can you blame him? He's been playing for one of the worst organizations in the NFL. I mean, I i think it's fair to say you can't probably name five other organizations right now that are worse than the the New York Jets.
00:51:52
Chuku
They are just a bad, bad, bad organization. And the one thing that they had going for them as an and as a identity, referring to the Jets, has been their defense.
00:52:06
Chuku
And even that has been a problem in the last couple of years because, quite frankly, you can't expect to have a good defense when all your offense does is, you know, basically give the ball back to the to the up the team's opposition.
00:52:20
Chuku
Like, you're not going to have defense Yeah, you're just not going to have a good continuity in terms of your defense playing up to their standards. And I just think we're going to see a better version of Sars Gardner in this Colts team because there he's going to have more chance to make...
00:52:40
Chuku
actual game-winning plays, and he's going to be in a better position to be the player that we all expected and you know thought he's going to be coming into the league. As far as this is someone that was the fourth pick overall. like Clearly, no he he came in with a lot of promise, and what we're not going to say here at act if he's some like old dude. This guy is still, I believe, 25%.
00:53:05
Chuku
So, again, you got him at a good age. you know These type of players don't always come available, especially at this age that they're in. So you're always going to have give up a lot to acquire a talent of that you know of that caliber.
00:53:16
Chuku
And, yeah, I just think we're going to see a better version of him in this organization. thats i just i just think you just have to factor the fact that playing for a bad organization and poorly coached team, you know, it's it can definitely stunt one's growth as far as, you know, what, what the display out there, you know, as far as on on tape. So yeah, I'm very, very intrigued to see it's going to look like, but I definitely do think we're going to get a better version.
00:53:44
Emeka
No, fair enough, fair enough. I guess on that point, you know, the Jets' identity was defensive now anymore because they shipped off Quinny Williams to how about them Cowboys.
00:53:56
Emeka
i guess for me, this trade, the the is the the main question, you see this trade happen, and I think the easy thing to say, and even I said it is, why would you trade Micah Parsons just to make this trade for Quinny Williams two months later?
00:54:11
Emeka
And in fairness, they got more giving away Micah Parsons than they traded for Quentin Williams. so it was a net positive. But the net positive is like instead of a first, they got a high second.
00:54:23
Emeka
So like what do you really get? You know, you you're downgrading from Parsons to Quentin Williams for the cost of a second round pick. Essentially what this trade was. And in fairness, a lot of money.
00:54:33
Chino Onwuka
And the contract.
00:54:34
Emeka
Add the contract. Yeah, and a lot of money. And a lot of money.
00:54:36
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
00:54:36
Emeka
Fair enough. But I guess I'll start with you, Chenault. Like, if you were a Cowboys fan, would you rather have Michael Parsons when plus $20 million or Quentin Williams as second at cap savings?
00:54:52
Chino Onwuka
If you're a Cowboys fan, you're probably trying to, you know, smoke, inhale, inject some copium and tell yourself you're better off with this deal, but probably deep down in your heart, you probably would rather have Micah Parsons. And so, look, they, you know, the deal at the time I thought was horrendous. Now, when you look at it as a full package, it looks a little bit better.
00:55:19
Chino Onwuka
i would still, you know, in any trade, I think this a mantra that I always believe in you know, if you come out with the best player, then then you won. So, so The whole thing with Jones' is thought was, hey, doing this helps make the defense better. They got Kenny Clark.
00:55:42
Chino Onwuka
Their defense has not been better. How much better is it going to get with Quinnen? We will see. There's still a lot that they need to do So, look, it's an upgrade.
00:55:56
Chino Onwuka
Maybe you can say that the the the boat with Parsons has sailed. And so if this is sort of what you do too to to make up for it, it is what it is.
00:56:07
Chino Onwuka
If you trade this great individually, I think it's a decent trade for the Cowboys. If you package it on the whole, looking at Parsons, then it's still a loss in my opinion. I'm just going to comment on the Jets, you know, a big fire sale, you know,
00:56:23
Chino Onwuka
Glenn came in as a defensive coach, and part of the part of the thinking there is he's come he's it's a defensive coach coming in to a team that has a good defense with really good pieces.
00:56:35
Chino Onwuka
So that seems it like it like a good match. you know The offense is what you need to work on. But what has happened is they're losing. Those good defensive pieces haven't contributed to anything substantial on the defensive side anyway. So now you have a defensive coach without his marquee defensive players.
00:56:55
Chino Onwuka
Okay, they have three first-round picks you know over the next couple of drafts. They need to draft well. Now, fun fact. Which team has had multiple high first-round picks in recent years, and how have they done? It's happened two times.
00:57:15
Chino Onwuka
The answer has been the Jets, and the Jets are still where they are right now.
00:57:22
Emeka
didn't happen with the Bears?
00:57:24
Chino Onwuka
Two super high first round picks.
00:57:25
Emeka
to Caleb and Roe.
00:57:29
Chino Onwuka
Okay, so you had that. I was thinking, I saw stat where it was the Jets. Obviously, the last one was Sauce and and Garrett Wilson and two good players, and they haven't made the good players work.
00:57:37
Emeka
Garrett.
00:57:44
Emeka
because need a quarterback. It's just what it comes down in this league. You need a quarterback and I'm high on his trade for the Jets. I have a lot of Jets fans in my life and we had big conversations and.
00:57:55
Chino Onwuka
i I think it's a good trade for them, but but they need to draft well and not just draft well, but build around them because you could say with that the two picks, they they just had, they drafted well.
00:58:00
Emeka
Oh yeah, absolutely. Yeah.
00:58:07
Chino Onwuka
Problem is it was they've drafted.
00:58:07
Emeka
yeah
00:58:08
Chino Onwuka
They've drafted really well, to be honest. But like I guess where where that where they missed is I guess they missed on the most important one, which was the number which was on the quarterback pick.
00:58:19
Chino Onwuka
And honestly, i don't know. what Maybe something different would have happened with development. you know If you look at that quarterback class, You have only one guy who was the one they didn't have a chance of picking who is probably, you know, you'd say is average to maybe above average right now. So maybe it was just an L they had to take anyway.
00:58:40
Emeka
I don't
00:58:40
Chuku
But to your point, sorry, just just quickly, because again, I'll just go on this topic. but Again, asking you, Chinook, because you're the expert when it comes to these prospects coming from college. But from what I hear here, isn't 2026 supposed to be a good year for quarterbacks coming in?
00:59:00
Chuku
Or is it 2027?
00:59:02
Chino Onwuka
It was coming into the season, but it has not panned out that way. Obviously, a lot of it was built around Arch Manning. It looks like he still needs another year.
00:59:12
Chino Onwuka
Some of the other really high guys, Nassim Maier at LSU, Klubnik, they have not had good years, so those guys have fallen off. So there's three guys seen as first-round picks. You have Mendoza Indiana,
00:59:28
Chino Onwuka
Ty Simpson at Alabama and Lenore Sellers at South Carolina. And those guys are all seen at best, like at the Cam Ward tier rather than what people were expecting coming into the season.
00:59:46
Chuku
I see.
00:59:47
Chino Onwuka
Or Dante Moore as well, if he declares he's he's good.
00:59:47
Chuku
OK.
00:59:50
Chino Onwuka
But yeah, you're no one no no one's no one's no one's looking like you're
00:59:51
Chuku
So no difference makers, per se?
00:59:55
Chino Onwuka
There's no one right now putting your Drake May, Caleb Wilson,
01:00:02
Chino Onwuka
Stroud, Lawrence level of quarterback prospect.
01:00:08
Chuku
OK. Oh, I mean, if that's what I'm hearing, then I don't know how I feel about it for the Jets because it feels like it's going to be another year of mediocrity because until they're able to to you know pick out you know that quarterback talent, I mean, to me, this trade only makes sense. Oh, sorry.
01:00:27
Chuku
It's only a win for me if we're saying... this what's going to enable them get that quarterback prospect that they most definitely need.
01:00:37
Chuku
Because, you know, at this point, you have a talent like Garrett Wilson. You've got to be able to maximize that talent on offense. And only way you do that is by, you know, pairing him up with, a you know, a game-changing signal caller.
01:00:50
Chuku
So, yeah, no, I mean, it's just back to my point.
01:00:52
Chino Onwuka
but but but but but should not But to that Shuku, even if they just get like serviceable, again, they have pieces, like maybe that's all they need.
01:00:54
Chuku
Oh, go ahead.
01:01:03
Chino Onwuka
because i mean Fields, I love him, but he's he's he's a top five fullback in the league. and
01:01:14
Chuku
Oh, man.
01:01:14
Chino Onwuka
And so, like, man Mendoza, the comp, has been a Jared Goff type player. Like, if you get someone who we saw, seen how Jared Goff has worked in in a place Aaron Glenn has been at before, if they get a quarterback like that, they were run the ball well, you know, they have Garrett Wilson.
01:01:32
Chino Onwuka
you Honestly, it might not take a lot to upgrade at quarterbacking play. Maybe not talent, but quarterbacking play on the Jets.
01:01:44
Emeka
I just think,
01:01:44
Chuku
Fair enough.
01:01:45
Emeka
the my ado you said the the Jets are a terrible organization. And for me, soon as you make the decision of we're going to cut Aaron Rodgers, then immediately, at to me, you have to start tanking. Because what are we doing then? We're not good.
01:02:01
Emeka
what We were struggling with him, and now we're going to get Fields, and I don't like Fields as a football player. Person, fantastic. As a quarterback, I just, ugh. And so we're going to be trash. why are we paying Sauce and Quentin to be trash?
01:02:16
Emeka
So let's get first-round picks, and... You know, you said the quarterback draft this year isn't great. We got cracks at it next year, too. Like, it's just you want as many swings at pitches when you're a bad team.
01:02:27
Emeka
And this is why I thought the Browns should have traded Miles Garrett. It's just because I know tanking isn't a thing in football, but you got to be realistic. Why are we keeping these high-paid, and that's the key word there, high-paid guys when there's no future?
01:02:44
Emeka
And if you're offering me two first, absolutely. But this is why also, you know, we talked about earlier, the Dallas trade was insane to me because on the opposite end of the spectrum, with Michael Parsons, I'm sorry.
01:02:56
Emeka
We have DAC. We're paying DAC 50, 60 million. We're in now. This is our team. So we can't be trading for the future. We're all we're all in. Whereas with team at the Jets, we got nothing. We cut Rodgers, so that means we're just starting from square one.
01:03:10
Emeka
And if I'm starting from square one, I want as many picks as I can get for high-paid players. That's the key word there. Young, cheap talents, 20%. Keep them up. But when we start talking about Sars Garner making 25, 30 mil, are you going to offer me two firsts for that?
01:03:25
Emeka
i think the Jets made a fantastic decision. Do you have any comments, you know?
01:03:32
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, and it's it's not to to go against anything you're saying. I just wanted to get you guys' his thoughts on what you would do because, you know, we mentioned the Jets, the Browns as well. They have, you know, two first-round picks in this draft and part of it was to take swings at the quarterback position.
01:03:48
Chino Onwuka
What do you guys think these guys do? Because maybe 2027 class better than class better But my question is, can these guys afford to wait? Because if you don't do it in this draft and, you know, usually maybe a quarterback prospect buys you time and you don't you don't draft a quarterback because you're like, maybe no one really fits at the number one overall pick and maybe you can take one with your second pick.
01:04:16
Chino Onwuka
and then you wait for 2027 and in 2020 next season, you're terrible again, you're probably gone. So you're not there to make the decision on on the next guy. So I really wonder how these guys are going approach it or are they going to try and do the the Arizona thing and and take, you know, quarterbacks potentially high back-to-back years?
01:04:40
Emeka
It's hard for me to answer this because I'm going to be honest. i don't know much about college football, so I don't know how these guys are rated. But you're right in that you might suck. You draft a guy high, and you you're going to suck next year.
01:04:54
Emeka
QB gives you hope. So if you're the GM, you're like, I'll just take a guy whatever and buy another time. Blip side, though, nothing gets you fired faster than drafting a bust. So you've got to really weigh it up. like If there's a QB that shows promise,
01:05:08
Emeka
I guess I could take it just with the thought of, like, I have another swing, two swings at the Apple, especially from the Jets next year for the Browns. But you can squint.
01:05:20
Emeka
Then my draft season is every year everyone always makes – QBs start off in June and July, highly rated, and they play college and everyone sees them. And then by January, February, they all have all the million flaws against them.
01:05:34
Emeka
And then somehow, between college season ends and draft season, hype starts building back up. You start looking good in workouts and pro days. And all of a sudden, QBs rise again. So it wouldn't shock me if this draft goes from being, you know, used to be QB high and now everyone's undecided.
01:05:50
Emeka
Wouldn't shock me if by draft day everyone's hype on these QBs again. And you take a one and... Just pray you nailed one. Because even like this year, wasn't a strong QB draft, but look at the Giants. They're happy with Jackson Dart now.
01:06:02
Emeka
And now if you're the organization, you ought to buy yourself some more years. So even in a draft like this, you can nail one, and it just buys so much organizational goodwill when you nail the QB draft pick.
01:06:12
Emeka
So they might have to take one.
01:06:13
Chino Onwuka
de Do you think, and maybe this is derailing sort of what you want us to talk about, but i think this is really interesting because I've really been thinking about it.
01:06:15
Emeka
Do you
01:06:23
Chino Onwuka
Do you think the Giants have nailed their draft pick? Because I think he's good. He's good. He's shown a lot of things. I just feel like next year, unless we see a lot of growth from him, it's one of those things where things catch up to you because there's no way he can keep playing the way he's playing right now because he's going to get destroyed. He's already getting destroyed and maybe he has, you know, vibranium adamantium in his bones and he survives, but like,
01:06:58
Chino Onwuka
I don't see how he can last with his level of quarterback play. Like there's guys that you make work and I look at them and I'm actually like Dart.
01:07:09
Chino Onwuka
I just think like I need to see more as a thrower, but he's got guts. He's a good leader. So he has that going for him. And I think a good coach can make something in that work, but I don't think he's some gem or anything like that.
01:07:22
Chino Onwuka
I think of like the guy the guy I think about a lot is Bo Nix.
01:07:22
Emeka
I think it was like...
01:07:24
Chino Onwuka
I think Bo Nix is so, so mid. They make it work with their system. I know they're seven and two, but look at the teams they've played. And I'm like, Bo Nix is going to keep them from getting a better quarterback for a while. And I just think he's just very, very mid.
01:07:43
Chuku
I think Dart's better than Bo Nix.
01:07:46
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, I agree.
01:07:46
Chuku
Just going to put that out there. So I think Dart is the real deal. Like, I've seen enough. I saw what he did to my Eagles. Him and Skylaboo is a very, very interesting combination for the future.
01:08:01
Chuku
But the one thing want to just point out is, again, not saying that no you disagree or aren't also knows seeing this as well, but...
01:08:13
Chuku
We have to understand, oh Dart is throwing to, like, no one, bro. Like, respectfully, it's Wanda Robinson, Dylan Clayton.
01:08:24
Chino Onwuka
oh well i really i really agree. no I really agree. like I guess what I'm saying is a lot of what we're seeing from Dart right now is coming from his guts and his running. And i am really – I like Dart. I watched him in high school.
01:08:42
Chino Onwuka
I really watched him at Ole Miss. If he keeps playing the way he's playing, he's going to get killed and won't have the time to develop into the court into the quarterback I think he could be.
01:08:53
Chuku
Which is, and again, that's a big if. And the if, again, is if he continues to play like how he know how he's been playing of late, of recent. But my argument to that is going to be that I don't think he's going to need to be.
01:09:04
Chino Onwuka
That's how he's always played. That's how he's always played.
01:09:07
Chuku
I hear you. hear you. I hear you. i hear you
01:09:10
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, that's how he's – and so the court – I know Dable is using that to save his season right now, and it sometimes it's like how do you balance short-term and long-term, but if they don't try – and and it like I agree with you, it's hard with the weapons they have out there.
01:09:25
Chino Onwuka
look like we We see what the history is. it This doesn't last long.
01:09:30
Chuku
But don't you think that, you know, in a – obviously, look, this year is a wash. Like, at this point, you're just trying to see what you have in the player. in my opinion, you you know, if you're the Giants, you've seen enough, this is your guy. He's going to be your franchise guy moving forward.
01:09:47
Chuku
That's why he drafted him in the first round for a reason. And that's that, right? But what I'm saying is, don't you think that when Malik Neighbors comes back next year, that Dart could, you know, again, when he has his weapons, Skadaboo also back in the fold.
01:10:04
Chuku
Like, don't you think that the, again, referring to Dart and the the coaching staff in New York would be smart enough to put him in a better position where he He doesn't necessarily have to play that hero ball per se, you know, as much as he's you know been operating right now.
01:10:22
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
01:10:23
Chuku
Like that's what I'm, that's how look at it.
01:10:24
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
01:10:25
Chuku
I view it like they're going to be smart enough to, know, yeah, go ahead.
01:10:26
Chino Onwuka
Yeah. I hear what you're saying. And i I hear what you're saying. And i agree. I think my concern is a lot of the criticisms with Dart were the offense in which he came from in college.
01:10:40
Chino Onwuka
It was very spread, not a lot of complexity. So there was a concern as to how that would translate into his understanding, reading defenses,
01:10:52
Chino Onwuka
you know, at the NFL level. And so, you know, it's unfortunate with the injuries that they've had. will, what I would have liked to see is him using this first year to sort of come away from that and sort of do more NFL pro game stuff.
01:11:09
Chino Onwuka
And, This is a good as good a time as any. I know you're trying to win. This is as good a time of as any to sort of practice that stuff so that when Neighbors does come back, you can actually utilize him in the passing game so you don't have a situation like Bo Nix where guys are open, but because you can't see it, because you're rushed, because all of a sudden you're trying to run, the passing game doesn't become all that it can be is all I'm trying to say.
01:11:41
Chuku
No, and that's totally fair. And the only thing I would point out too is if you watched the game, the first game of Dart playing the the Eagles, I'm pretty sure we know we kind of all, know again, we're talking about it in the group chat a bit. But for me, I point to that game as to what I saw or what I seen was a an NFL-level quarterback quarterback who has the ability to survey the defense, see what's out there, and still pick no pickled the right path. That game alone was enough for me to say, bro, Dart is going to be a problem.
01:12:23
Chuku
Like, for the first handful of plays, he was dissecting the Philly defense. Like, To the point where, again, we're going to talk about it very shortly here, but though we had to look ourselves in the mirror and like no had to make serious additions as far as to that defense because the way he was able to just dissect us, whether was with with the intermediate throws or with you know running in for a couple yards here, there, you know just the little things.
01:12:56
Chuku
I just think... When the Giants are fully healthy again with their full no roster of of weapons and, you know, who knows what they do in the offseason. know, i if I'm the Giants, I'm trying to get as much offensive talent around, you know, around my young quarterback as I can if possible.
01:13:16
Chuku
But even with what they currently have, neighbors and alone and Scadaboo, you know, to go along what they currently have, I just think, you know, he's going to have a good shot to truly develop into being a real issue, a real problem in the NFL game. And, I mean, look, his legs alone, I mean, he's great, came in, and he probably, I mean, I don't think I can name...
01:13:43
Chuku
10 quarterbacks to have better legs as far as no running and rushing with the ball than darts. Actually, I don't think I can name five, honestly speaking, because what I've seen with from darts, he is a lot.
01:13:55
Chuku
I didn't, I mean, look, I didn't watch enough. I'm going to say like I watched him in high school or, you know watched him heavily and in college or anything like that. But maybe you saw this already previously, but I was kind of taken aback as to just how fast he is.
01:14:11
Chuku
Like, he is, he's darn fast. Like, this guy is, this guy, this guy is moving out there like White Jackson or something.
01:14:17
Chino Onwuka
Oh, yeah.
01:14:18
Chuku
and i'm saying? Like, this crazy what what he's doing.
01:14:19
Chino Onwuka
Oh, yeah. if you look If you look at his, his that that's that's always been a large part of his game. If you look at his buck scores, you know, in college, like 15 rushes a game, that was that was standard for him.
01:14:31
Chuku
Fair enough. Yeah, i was not I was not aware of his game, honestly speaking. I really wasn't because like that – but that was one of the things that stood out to me like right away. The moment he was introduced is his Russian ability. You know, I knew they talked about it, you know, in the in in the draft, but I just didn't understand as to how, you know, like how, like, you know, huge that weapon was for him as as far as, you know, the his Russian ability. So, yeah, no, I just think, you know, he has a chance to be something special for sure.
01:15:01
Chuku
Cause i ain't seen no white quarterback in a minute with the kind of, know, rushing ability that he's shown so far. And then if he can put that together with his throwing, like he would be a you know, a big time dual threat quarterback for a long time if he can put all that together. So, yeah, he's definitely one to watch. no question about it.
01:15:22
Emeka
Yeah, no, it's, uh, Dave was doing him disservice by making him calling on these QB runs, protect the franchise. But I guess to cap the conversation, the question asked at the start about whether he's their guy, it's like you asking me if he's the starting QB there in five seasons, I say, I don't know. But he's going to be the starting QB there next season. And that's half the battle, him knowing who your QB is the next year. And When you've got a a young QB that you know is, all right, going to give him at least two or three years, even someone like Bo Nix, that's hope to the franchise. You can hope that he's going to improve. You hope he's going to be better. Obviously, they don't always pan out. They all can't be Josh Allen or Patrick Mahomes or whatever, but it's nice to have hope because a lot of teams don't have that.
01:16:07
Emeka
They have no clue who they're starting. The Browns don't know if Dylan Gabriel is going to be the guy next year. like That's the difference between hope and not. So shout out Jackson Dart.
01:16:16
Chuku
Forget the Rangers. Geno Smith's going to be their quarterback. Hell, like, yeah. No, I hear you. I hear you on that.
01:16:25
Emeka
I really don't what it comes down to. We talked about the two biggest trades. There were a couple other one-offs that happened. Any other trades catch you guys' eye from trade deadline day?
01:16:37
Chino Onwuka
I mean, the the other trades of note were some of the wide receivers that moved. Jacoby Myers to the Jags. Shahid to the Seattle Seahawks. I think that's a really good trade for the Seahawks in that we've seen Darnold has been a revelation, honestly.
01:16:58
Chino Onwuka
You know, JSN has been a standout. I know they got cupped there, but I think this gives them a little bit more protection, you know, for their wide receiver cores and adds an element of speed to their game. So I think that's a really good move for them. And, you know, for the Jags, like, we were desperate. Like, we had Parker Washington and Austin Trammell.
01:17:21
Chino Onwuka
as our leading wide receivers to end the last game there. So we we just needed a body and somebody that doesn't drop passes. So historically he, he has no drop so far this year. Historically as a, 4.3, you know, drop percent rate over his career. And if you guys don't know the Jags are leading the league in drops, all of the wide receivers have the highest drop rates and it's, and it's been an issue for for a while. So hopefully hopefully that helps because when you look at the stats of who throws the the most catchable balls, Trevor's always ranked high up there, but then his wide receivers can't catch.
01:18:05
Emeka
I mean, Brian Thompson, man. Hey, Brian Thompson. This, he wasn't traded. Interesting, Jacoby Myers ended up in the Jags. I thought he would be, you know, talk about the Giants. I thought he for sure was going to be at the Giants, but...
01:18:17
Emeka
I guess they decided we're we're not going to give Dart any offensive talent. I thought it was Shahid to Seahawks. I like that one a lot. like The Seahawks, I think, are a very, very underrated team.
01:18:31
Emeka
They look phenomenal on defense. they have I think this year the guy playing like the best wide receiver is JSN. The added Shahid, who i really – Shahid is a talent. So, like, that's the kind of trade I thought the Colts would be making.
01:18:46
Emeka
Like, why are we trading two firsts? You can trade, like, a fourth and a fifth, and we can get some talent to improve the team. Those are the kind of moves I like to see teams making around the margins versus taking a giant swing two firsts.
01:18:58
Emeka
Because, you know, like, Sots is better than Shahid. I'm not going to say they're close. But is the difference between them – Too first worthy, essentially? Like, I don't know. But yeah that move I thought was little underrated move that I really did. I really did. a That was great.
01:19:13
Emeka
Duke, any moves caught your eyes from what we talked about or otherwise?
01:19:18
Chuku
Yeah, i definitely like the Shahid move for sure for the Seahawks. I mean, gives Darnold another downfield weapon, you know, to but to throw. And, you know, Darnold has definitely been one of the better, you know, down the field passers, you know. So it definitely gives Seattle a different dynamic for sure.
01:19:38
Chuku
And Jacoby Myers was another one so not been I've been watching are we've all been picked kind kind of paying attention to. took me by surprise he went to the Jags, but, I mean, seeing the situation and hearing Chinna talk about the drop passes, it makes kind of kind of makes sense why they would go for a guy like Myers who's pretty good with his hands and you know doesn't really drop too many passes. So hopefully that should help.
01:20:06
Chuku
you know, help the the offense over there in the in Jacksonville. But I guess the one I want to just, I'm just curious more so to kind of just hear what you all think about it. But, you know, I got to talk about my Eagles, of course. And I did mention about earlier on, you know, the the defense being an an issue as far as, you know, having a guy like a rookie jack Jackson Dart, you know, dissecting us in the first go around, although we did, you know,
01:20:34
Chuku
It was a different story the second time around, but I mean, still, you know, our defense hasn't really been the the best so far this year.
01:20:44
Chuku
But, you know, just talking about the additions of Jalen Phillips, who, again, I'm not sure if he was having us but any spectacular great year for the Dolphins prior, but he's someone that has shown to be a pretty above-average talent in the NFL. And being able to get him for a third-round pick, definitely something I think you know Eagles always find a ways to...
01:21:16
Chuku
acquire talent so that was big and i feel like one that was also kind of you know under the table not really talked about a lot and who i'm curious i want to get y'all y'all guys opinion on was uh jay jay alexander like this was someone that literally just a year or two years ago you know talked about some may even say was probably the best or at least in the conversation, for best cornerbacks in the league.
01:21:45
Chuku
Like, what do y'all think of of him at the moment? Like, is he just, like, washed at this point? Or do you think he's... you know, can be an impact player on a, you know, on a champion, you know, a Super Bowl winning contending team.
01:22:01
Chuku
Because, again, this is someone, again, I was kind of shocked no one wasn't really, didn't really, you know, hear a lot of news about when it came to the acquisition. So, I guess I'm just curious as to what y'all think of the player.
01:22:14
Emeka
There's a reason you didn't hear much news about it because he's washed. No position loses it faster than cornerback. It always blows my mind. The best cornerbacks, and this is another reason why that's soft trade. I didn't really like that much. is Cornerback, I saw happen with Daryl Rivas. One year, he was Rivas the best.
01:22:30
Emeka
Next year, it was... Forget Rivas. Disrespecting. Nandi Asamoah is the one that always blows my mind the most. He, at the time, was 1A1B with Rivas. Gets traded to your Eagles, and then within the next 12 months, he was like off the league, it felt like.
01:22:45
Emeka
Cornerbacks lose it. Fair enough, because it's the hardest position to play. I don't there's any question in my mind, he heart besides quarterback, obviously, is quarterback. You have to mirror a receiver running backwards, and you lose half a step, you're barbecue chicken. and yeah he's It's insane that two years ago,
01:23:05
Emeka
Alexander was making first-team All-Pros, and then now he's getting traded for seventh-round picks. Life comes at you fast in the NFL. and NFL, not for long, really is the truth.
01:23:15
Chino Onwuka
were you looking for me to add anything?
01:23:17
Chuku
you know? Yeah, yeah.
01:23:17
Chino Onwuka
it's, it's, it's the Eagles.
01:23:18
Chuku
just yeah
01:23:19
Chino Onwuka
This is what they do. Harry Roseman doesn't rest on his laurels. They make deals. People trade good players to the Eagles and they revamp. So, I mean, y'all, y'all won the Superbowl.
01:23:32
Chino Onwuka
Yeah. I mean, it's the Eagle. So and I'm sure it's interesting for you, but I honestly don't have too much interest in talking about the Eagles right now, because it's the Eagles. Y'all are good. Y'all will be good.
01:23:46
Chino Onwuka
nothing interesting.
01:23:46
Emeka
It's a great trade, but that's the type of trade they make.
01:23:52
Emeka
scraps yeah just a big name but like it's just it fascinates me how coreja phillips is a much bigger deal and he's actually really good and that was a great trade for the eagles like that was it's a great trade but that's apple trade they made
01:24:03
Chino Onwuka
It's a great trade, but that's that the type of trade they make Every year, either at the trade deadline or in the summer. So I guess that's why it didn't release. Like when I saw it the morning when I woke up, like, oh, yeah, of course, he got traded to the Eagles when there's probably lots of other teams. I know there's lots of other teams that really needed DL help. But, you know, Eagles are the ones that got them.
01:24:24
Chino Onwuka
It's just standard. It's like waking up and seeing the sunrise in the morning.
01:24:29
Chuku
Fair enough.
01:24:30
Emeka
Jalen Phillips is a real big, great trade. Alexander is nothing. And two years ago, that would have been crazy to say. But just, yeah, I guess that's what... blows my mind in the NFL. it' It's really incredible. But yeah, Sean Jalen Phillips, really, really good player.
01:24:43
Emeka
Great pass rusher. And he said, a man with a child, married and a child, said leaving Miami was the best day of his life. I just want to put that out there. He's a married man a kid, but the best deal of life was leaving Miami and going to the Philadelphia Eagles.
01:24:55
Chuku
Hmm.
01:24:59
Emeka
well Makes you think. Makes you think.
01:25:03
Emeka
we've been We've been yapping. I always love yapping my boys. and Like I mentioned earlier, we are at the halfway stage of the NFL season. Originally, were planning on doing all the awards, but you know at some of them are some of them are pretty boring. A select handful of awards right now.
01:25:24
Emeka
I'm going ask my two co-hosts to tell me not who they think will win at the end. I want to make the distinction now. This is not who you think will win at the end of the season.
01:25:34
Emeka
This is season ending right now at the halfway point, and you have to give out this award. Who would you give it out to? And I'll start with, we've talked about one of the leading candidates quite extensively this podcast.
01:25:47
Emeka
I think it's only right to start with...
01:25:48
Chino Onwuka
Hey, just so just just just before you continue, like you said, we're like we better be doing Protector of the Year, right?
01:25:56
Emeka
No.
01:25:57
Chino Onwuka
Wow.
01:26:00
Emeka
Yeah, no.
01:26:01
Chino Onwuka
this this this This is the 2025 NFL. We're not recognizing the real the real stars of the NFL, the guys that protect the franchise, the guys that make the running game work, that keep the jerseys clean.
01:26:12
Emeka
Yeah, they got 30 million a year. They're doing all right.
01:26:17
Emeka
i think I think all the big boys, that they're doing all right. Now they're commercials. That's how Jason Kelsey is getting gay endorsement deals. Back in my day, offensive linemen didn't do commercials.
01:26:27
Emeka
Times have changed now. Game's gone soft. But as we mentioned, we talked about one of the candidates on this award quite extensively. Offensive Rookie of the Year.
01:26:39
Emeka
And I'm just going to start by saying, if it ended today, he kind of lost his momentum a little bit. But I have to big up my namesake, doing the name strong. Emeka Ibuka, who for the first three, four weeks of the season,
01:26:55
Chino Onwuka
Please, I know I said this earlier with Chico, I better say his name properly now so people know how to say his name well.
01:27:00
Emeka
Oh my goodness, this guy.
01:27:02
Chino Onwuka
Say it properly.
01:27:04
Chino Onwuka
Give it to us.
01:27:06
Emeka
How about you give it to us?
01:27:08
Chino Onwuka
If you're listening, that's how you say his name properly. Thank you.
01:27:12
Emeka
Oh, my goodness. Okay. Well, he's my pick for Offensive Rookie of the Year. I think he was started off on fire. It always defaults to a QB, and people will give it to Jackson Dart or even Tyler Warren. But I just think the highest of the highs, no one has reached the heights of Emeka.
01:27:30
Emeka
He slowed down a little bit. hope he picks it up to close the season. But my Offensive Rookie of the Year goes to the wide receiver on the Bucs, Emeka Ebuka, as this nigga says. says. Chukuhu, who you got?
01:27:42
Chuku
Man, I'm sticking strong with the the player that I've been kind impressed with and surprised by. But, yeah, no, Jackson Dart, man, he has to be my offensive rookie of the year.
01:27:56
Chuku
Doing what he's been doing with – little to no talent around him losing all of his pieces basically on you know week to week basis like again you could i could even name you apart from obviously wonder wonder robinson and you know i guess there is later and i couldn't name you up to five of his offensive pieces around him at this moment in time and he's somehow finding ways to I mean, obviously, they're not winning ballgames, but he's still finding ways to produce. So, yeah, I've been impressed. So I'm going to go with with Jackson Dart for my own offensive rookie of the year.
01:28:37
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, I'm going with Emeka Ibuka, apparently, easily, for my rookie of the year.
01:28:44
Emeka
I don't understand.
01:28:47
Chino Onwuka
you sounded like.
01:28:48
Emeka
That's his name. mean when he's on saturday football they'll say what's your name we say ohio state em americaca abu i' understand that's his name
01:28:58
Chino Onwuka
No, yeah, no, like, it's funny how, like, how those guys pronounce it, and I'm like, come on, guys, like. let let let the world know but I'm always just playing because again I've caught myself doing the exact same thing and like dude why am I pronouncing my name that way
01:29:12
Emeka
That's what it is. that's what isarcing Who am I to argue with a man how to pronounce his name? If that's what he wants to say people's name is, that's what his name is.
01:29:20
Emeka
We can.
01:29:20
Chino Onwuka
like tangent tangent like have you heard the way Isaiah said to pronounce his name like it's so weird yeah
01:29:20
Emeka
Yeah,
01:29:26
Emeka
yeah I know. Hey, I know. Everett. You know, it's. Yeah.
01:29:32
Chino Onwuka
It's the essay part that that is, the aberture makes sense.
01:29:32
Emeka
yeah
01:29:35
Chino Onwuka
The essay, the way he says it is is is super weird. I'm like, bro, what?
01:29:41
Emeka
Hey, man, that's probably how his parents pronounced it. So, again, I don't know.
01:29:44
Chino Onwuka
It's not. what I guarantee it's not how his parents pronounced it. It's how he said it to his friends when he was young and how it's become.
01:29:51
Emeka
Maybe. I don't know. I just go off what these men say, and I know what the quote-unquote correct pronunciation is, but if the man wants to say his name is like that, who am I to judge? I judge a little bit, but that's what his name is.
01:30:05
Emeka
Maybe take these men back home. Pilgrimage. See the motherland. And maybe they'll reconnect their roots. But, yeah, who am I to talk as a guy living in Canada? But moving on, we've gone from the Offensive Rookie of the Year, I think.
01:30:19
Emeka
and I'm actually curious on your answer for this question. Defensive Player of the Year. Maybe I'm wrong, but I get the sense it's not really been a standout so far. So I guess I'll start with you. you know Who would you have right now as Defensive Player Year?
01:30:30
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, bro, I ain't got nothing for you, man. I ain't got nothing for you on this one, man. Like, if you made me pick a name, I'm just going to go with Abdul Carter just because I'm sure he's like...
01:30:36
Emeka
It's not really even a standout. That's why of the year, not rookie of the year. There's a reason why.
01:30:45
Chino Onwuka
Oh, defensive player, not rookie?
01:30:49
Emeka
Not rookie.
01:30:50
Chino Onwuka
Oh, Miles Garrett, easy. Oh, I thought you said defensive rookie.
01:30:52
Emeka
Interesting. That was Gary.
01:30:54
Chino Onwuka
Miles Garrett, easily. Oh, my goodness, that guy... Man, I wish he hadn't re-signed that contract because that guy is a beast. he's a he's He's a problem.
01:31:05
Chino Onwuka
Do you see what this guy is doing? I'm sure no one's watching the Browns. Do you see what is doing with all the attention?
01:31:08
Emeka
I will start first turn to answer my team. i was saying it's five sacks. Five sacks.
01:31:15
Chino Onwuka
Oh, my goodness. Miles Garrett, Defensive Player of the Year. Easy.
01:31:20
Emeka
Interesting. Chukwu, who do you have?
01:31:23
Chuku
Bro, like Chinon said, it's not a question. but I thought you were talking about a rookie of the season, but you were talking about just pure defensive player of the year. It's Miles Garrett, bro. This dude is single-hand. Like, bro, I've seen games where there's like three linemen, bro, like three, just all focused on player.
01:31:49
Chuku
One dude, bro. Like, it's it's insane. Like, the defensive attention the the attention that you have to, know, to put towards just locking against a guy like that. Like, it's it's incredible. And there's a reason why the you know, the Browns refused to to to trade him. There's a reason.
01:32:07
Chuku
There's a reason. Because, bro, if Saltz Gardner is going for two first-round picks, but i can't I can't even imagine what Myles Garrett's asking price would be, bro. like At this point, you might as well just say, yeah, you might as well have to just offer five because there's no, like, yeah, no. They don't make guys like Myles Garrett just walking around the streets, bro. it's It's crazy what he's doing. So, yeah, no, Myles Garrett for sure would be my defensive player of the year.
01:32:37
Emeka
Interesting. Hey, look, again I saw him firsthand have one of the most impressive performances i've ever seen an NFL player, not a defensive player, an NFL player have, when five sacks against the Patriots, and again, they lost by double digits, which really says a lot. I know loyalty, we we want to respect loyalty, you signing with your team.
01:32:58
Emeka
he really should have left the Browns, man. Like, i he's too good to be wallowing away in and mediocrities even being generous. It's just garbage. And he doesn't get the respect he deserves, although he does win Defensive Player of the Year lot. So whatever.
01:33:14
Emeka
I guess I'll give a quick shout-out to Nick Benito. The Denver defense has been fantastic. I know they have the quarterback who won Defensive Player of the Year last year. He used to hurt now. But their pass rush, especially anyone who saw the Thursday Night Football game, saw him just beat the hell out of Geno Smith. And Nick Benito...
01:33:34
Emeka
So far, I was leading the league in sacks for a while. He slowed down. Now I think Malz Garrett caught him and Brian Burns. But I'll give him some love. I think he's been very impressive when I've seen the Broncos.
01:33:45
Chino Onwuka
oh Oh, trust me.
01:33:45
Emeka
Oh, trust me.
01:33:47
Chino Onwuka
I have him in in one of my fantasy leagues and he's been, slowed down a little bit last couple of weeks, but he he's been racking up the points for me.
01:33:55
Emeka
I'll give a quick shout out. Nick Benito for me, Defensive Player of the Year. Denver's defense has been the best defense in the league. and I've always liked giving Defensive Player of the Year to someone from the best defense in the league. so We'll do it like that.
01:34:09
Emeka
On the flip side, we have Offensive Player of the Year. and I'm curious if anyone has an answer that is not Jonathan Taylor. cause I think of all the awards, that's the most clear-cut one.
01:34:20
Emeka
Maybe I'm wrong. Chukwu, who do you have for Offensive Player of the Year?
01:34:24
Chuku
Jonathan Taylor, for me, is a no-brainer. What he's been doing on this Colts offense has been like nothing spectacular, not to say the least.
01:34:36
Chuku
Like, yeah, he he's a problem. He's a big problem. And the fact is, you know, he just makes it look easy out there, you know, what is he able to do on the on the field. And, yeah, he just, he he's finally been able to stay healthy.
01:34:56
Chuku
He's finally been able to put, you know, put together, least, you know, again, fingers crossed, whoopinny can do it for the full year, but he's finally able to put consecutive games together.
01:35:07
Chuku
And we're seeing the results. And I just think if you can stay healthy, this is an award you probably have wrapped up, you know, in no time. So, yeah, no.
01:35:18
Chuku
Give me that Jonathan Taylor.
01:35:22
Emeka
Chinna? Two for three?
01:35:24
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, I got Jonathan Taylor and i got him for MVP as well. I know they're going to give it to a quarterback because apparently it's in the rule that MVP has to be a quarterback. But my midseason MVP as well is Jonathan Taylor because he's got the Colts at, what, seven and two.
01:35:43
Chino Onwuka
He's got Daniel Jones looking like Danny Dimes. Yeah, Jonathan Taylor for Offensive Player of the Year and MVP in my book.
01:35:55
Emeka
Before I move on to MVP, I just want to you know give my guy some some flowers here because I don't think it's been known what he's actually doing this season. Saquon Barkley last year had one of the greatest running back seasons I could ever remember.
01:36:09
Emeka
And obviously there's a giant caveat behind this next stat, but he had 15 touchdowns last season. Jonathan Taylor has played nine games. he has 14 touchdowns. It's insane what he's doing.
01:36:22
Emeka
He's going to approach a record that I thought I'd never see touched in my lifetime, which is Daniel Thomas that had 30 touchdowns in the greatest fantasy football season, I think it's clear to say, in history when he broke the touchdown record and had close to 1,000 scrimmage yards through two three touchdowns as well.
01:36:39
Emeka
He's on pace to be touching it. That's insane to me. Jonathan Taylor is going to end the year with close to 2,000 scrimmage yards and above 20 touchdowns. like that's a Some quarterbacks don't throw 20 touchdowns in a season. like He's to have some numbers that I'm very curious to see him him and Dylan Gabriel end of the year, what the stat lines look like. So yeah, that's Dalton Taylor, Offensive Player of the Year.
01:37:02
Emeka
Two-time winner if he wins it and keeps this up. you know Props to him. And then, you know, MVP, like you all mentioned, Jonathan Taylor's up there. i had him pretty high. i get the whole QBs always win for being valuable, but what Jonathan Taylor is doing is its crazy.
01:37:18
Emeka
And that's why i made a distinction at the start of this when I said, this is we're giving it halfway, not who we think is going to win. I want to make that very clear for my next thing because I don't think he's going to win.
01:37:30
Emeka
I still think Josh Allen's going to win MVP. But if I had to give it out right now, You know what? I've i've been holding in being a homer for long enough on this podcast. Let me get on the fun.
01:37:40
Emeka
Drake May is my halfway through the season MVP. No human being could have seen and told me the Patriots would be 7-2 at this time. when there's No way.
01:37:54
Emeka
The over-under was 7.5. They thought they werere going to win seven games all year. They're 7-2, top of the AFC East end. Drake May is looking like, if I start saying things now, I'll get canceled. Because how I'm viewing this guy, the deep ball, the shots he's taken, the runs, everything.
01:38:14
Emeka
Like, he doesn't have that much talent around him. Like, yeah, he has Diggs. Diggs, you know, he's gone dick's got more baby mamas than touchdowns this season. He's got mass like Booty and Pop Douglas and Matt Collins, and he's making them into playmakers because he is just – He's slinging it, and the offense is cooking, and you can't really point out to anybody else who's doing at a high level besides one second, no, third year Drake Mann. Or second year. I can't remember. Second year.
01:38:42
Emeka
I'm crazy. That's how poise he looks. I can't even remember. Again, i don't think he's going to win because I do think this record is very fugazi. They're not a seven-win team. They're going to lose some games. But right now, I prefer seeing the AFC East putting the numbers he's putting up.
01:38:56
Emeka
I would have Drake Mann as my MVP. Chukwu?
01:39:01
Chino Onwuka
Hey, before you before you leave, I'm not surprised. That's my QB, so Drake May, that's my boy. I told you. i told you.
01:39:09
Emeka
You did? Hey! I didn't want to get 100 myself. I need to see it. And boy, have I seen it this year. Have i seen it.
01:39:17
Chino Onwuka
Chuka, you're mute if you're trying to talk.
01:39:20
Chuku
Sorry, yeah. No, I guess, like, so which quarterback were you alluding to specifically?
01:39:28
Emeka
alluded to how you explicitly say Drake May is my MVP right now.
01:39:32
Chuku
Oh, MVP. Okay, so you pick Drake May as MVP.
01:39:37
Emeka
For right now. Yes.
01:39:38
Chuku
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. mean, he's been looking sp spectacular, no question about it. Nah, I think I got a double, yeah. I i got a double back my my guy, Jonathan Taylor, for MVP again.
01:39:53
Chuku
he's He's just been moving moving differently this year. I mean, what is he on? its like what over I know it's double-digit touchdown, isn't it, at this point?
01:40:01
Emeka
14 touchdowns.
01:40:02
Chuku
I'm pretty sure. 14th touchdown.
01:40:04
Chino Onwuka
Well, bro, were you were you listening to what Michael was saying?
01:40:04
Chuku
Holy... li
01:40:08
Chuku
I thought Michael was just picking Drake May for MVP.
01:40:12
Chino Onwuka
Don't worry, you've answered the question.
01:40:14
Chuku
Okay, fair enough. But no, I was just saying, i got yeah Jonathan Taylor as my MVP and offensive player.
01:40:23
Emeka
Hey, I am mad at it. I'll give two quick shout-outs to two LAQBs. Matt Stafford and Justin Herbert, even though I just want the world to know the L.A. Rams are stat-patting the hell out of his numbers with these one-yard touchdowns to Devontae Adams.
01:40:38
Emeka
That's the game. And Herbert, I love Herbert. i don't want to get into litigating Herbert because he's – I've been waiting too many arguments. But, God, the Chargers, for all the injuries they have to offensive line, what he's doing right now is amazing to see.
01:40:53
Emeka
Shout-out Justin Herbert, man. I just want to give you a little bit of a deal.
01:40:54
Chino Onwuka
I told y'all about the curse. i love I love the Chargers. I love Justin. Y'all know that, but it's the Chargers, and they have one of the top top bookend tackles, and they both get hurt for the season. like They lose their two running. They have a nice running back room. They lose their top two running backs. like This is just what happens. I know there was excitement at the end of the season, but i just I just know how it usually ends up.
01:41:22
Chino Onwuka
Shout out Justin for keeping him afloat. Shout out Gladstone for coming out of nowhere. You know, he he was he would have been a good shout for offensive rookie of the year, too. He's been amazing.
01:41:32
Emeka
And that's i want to give a love to Herbert because the Chargers are cursed, but my goodness, he's doing all he can to single-handedly, single-handedly is tough, but to drag them to relevancy because yeah you know it.
01:41:44
Emeka
The offensive line is just getting decimated. Like, from what they started off with to what they are now, Hampton's hurt. Like, he's just out there like a man. Like, I love Jim Harbaugh, and I hope someone of our listeners finds someone who loves you like Jim Harbaugh loved Justin Herbert.
01:42:02
Emeka
I see he's coming from because he sees him go out there and just play his ass off every single week. I love Justin Herbert. I just have to – I'm biased. I have to give him some shout-out. I love Justin Herbert.
01:42:12
Emeka
Shout-out Herbert. We've talked about individuals, but you know it's only right we ended off with team award. Right now, this is actually forward-thinking prediction, but halfway through the season, you had to, aliens got the death beam on you and telling you, give me who's going to win the Super Bowl this year. If not, I'll blow up the earth.
01:42:30
Emeka
Who would you pick to win the Super Bowl right now as we sit here November 7th entering week 10? Chukwu, I'll start with you.
01:42:40
Chuku
I mean, it shouldn't come with no surprise who I'm about to select, but I'm going with the defending champs, my Philadelphia Eagles.
01:42:52
Chuku
I just think, you know, right now we've seen what a rough patch can look at look like. you know It's not been the smoothest ride so far, but second half, I think things are about to start clicking.
01:43:06
Chuku
The defense start to pick up momentum. The addition of a Jalen Phillips, we already talked about, is a big addition to what we already got going on with Carter. And the boys, I just think, you know, the offense is bound to start, you know, picking up here. And, yeah, no, I think we're in a good enough position as any to to routine our to retain to retain the Super Bowl. So, yeah, I'm going with the Eagles.
01:43:35
Emeka
so I feel psychologous is what I'm about to say because they're in my division, but I got to go with the old Buffalo Bills. I think eventually, eventually.
01:43:46
Emeka
I probably prisoned in the moment because I just saw them smack up the Chiefs. But eventually, they have to beat the Chiefs in the playoffs. They have to. Just, they beat them all time the regular season now. So I feel like that carries over.
01:43:58
Emeka
And also what sort of comes down to me is every other team just has such big question marks. Like, I want to pick the Chiefs. I really do. But they just... It just doesn't seem like it's going to be their year. And eventually the record is going to through the world. don't know.
01:44:14
Emeka
the In the NFC, like I also want to pick the Eagles, but the vibes are just so off. And I just default to the best guy on the field. And I think Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson and Patrick Holmes are the three best players in the NFL.
01:44:29
Emeka
And in the playoffs, Obviously, I trust Mahomes the most, but I just don't trust the Chiefs. And I think the Bills, especially with the the step forward James Cook has taken, they have an identity. They're a run-first team.
01:44:43
Emeka
They got the MVP in Josh Allen. You know, the defense is looking a little better. i i don't feel great about it. I really don't feel great about it. But if i have to pick one team right now, I think I'd pick the Buffalo Bills.
01:44:54
Emeka
Take a assumption on who do you got to win the Super Bowl right now if you have to pick one.
01:44:59
Chino Onwuka
If I had to pick one, I think it was my pick the beginning of the season. I think I probably had the Ravens, and that has not aged well. So I think the other most complete team for me is is definitely the Eagles. I mean, they have talent everywhere. they They shored up an area of need really nicely at the trade deadline. You know, I think the Bills are really good.
01:45:22
Chino Onwuka
It would have been nice if they'd found a way to get some pass-catching help, but I know they have issues with the cap. And I don't know if you saw the the comment their GM made where he blamed, he blamed, quote unquote, the the young GMs who grew up playing fantasy football, saying they drove up the prices and things like that. And I'm like, bruh, the guy that was throwing out draft picks like candy was was Jerry Jones, who's 83 years old. So I just, you could tell he was salty that he was probably trying to pick up some of these guys we mentioned for just six round picks. And
01:45:57
Chino Onwuka
You know, guys doing a fourth and and and he lost it. But yeah, I know we're to keep things short. Yeah, i have the Eagles as the favorites for now because I just think they're the most complete team. And like Shuku said, they haven't even been at their best yet, in my opinion.
01:46:12
Emeka
a I mean, roster talent, I think to're the best team. i just The vibes are lives are weird, but hey, vibes are weird the past before, and they've won, so who knows?
01:46:24
Emeka
Well, and NFL, I cannot believe it's halfway through. That's mind-blowing to me, how fast time goes. That's all I got to say. It truly does.
01:46:35
Emeka
I feel like just yesterday we were recording our season preview podcast, and now we're Over the hump. it is It is what it is. love it, though. It's time of year. you know Snow is falling.
01:46:45
Emeka
Days are shorter. Nights are longer. Sports are on TV all the time. i i you know It's nice. It's nice. I can't lie. I wish I could go out more, but it's a nice consolation prize. And I hope as you're watching this in a hopefully warm place and Rocking with us. We go through the season as we enter the dog days of Christmas time in early January.
01:47:06
Emeka
hope you still rock with this podcast because we're going to be here every week. No questionable or doubtful or probables and plain available every single week on this podcast, give or take a couple.
01:47:17
Emeka
But, you know, for my brand Chinoff, my man Shuku, thank you again for listening with us on this another episode of the Love of the Game podcast.