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Episode 11: NHL Injuries Hit Olympic Hopefuls, Trades Pick Up, Early Super Bowl Reads, and PGA Turmoil
46 Plays3 months ago
NHL injuries could impact the men’s hockey outlook for the Olympics — Sweden takes a major hit, Canada is missing some important pieces, and the U.S. isn’t at full strength either. A couple of trades around the league, our first real swing at the Super Bowl matchup, and two major champions making their way back to the PGA Tour.
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Transcript
Introduction: Topics Overview
00:00:16
Leo Ernewein
Hello everyone, welcome back to the Leo and Lando show. I'm your host Leo Ernewein and as always my co-host Landon Lando Semenok is here with me. Lando, how are you man?
00:00:28
Lando
I'm doing good. How are you, Leo?
00:00:30
Leo Ernewein
Not too bad. Thanks, man. We got a big one today, don't we? Olympic injuries.
00:00:34
Lando
What we do?
00:00:35
Leo Ernewein
Yeah, Olympic injuries piling up. NHL trades heating up. The Super Bowl matchup finally setting some chaos in the golf world that I know you've got thoughts on
Hockey Pool Trade Experience
00:00:44
Leo Ernewein
there, buddy. So we're going to buckle in because, or you better buckle in, I should say, because there's a lot to get into.
00:00:45
Lando
Yeah.
00:00:51
Leo Ernewein
Lando, anything you want to share? Right off the top here before we start, I'm going to jump into the before we get into the sports stuff, I will share the other thing here. But anything you want to mention before?
00:01:04
Lando
No. Well, actually, yes. Let me say that again. So a guy we're going to be talking about in one of our segments. So I'm in a hockey pool amongst 11 of us. And I made an unbelievable trade yesterday. So I had John Tavares.
00:01:24
Lando
I traded him to a gentleman named that probably everybody knows. And if you don't know, he works for CTV Calgary. His name is Tyler Barrow, longtime friend of mine.
00:01:35
Lando
So I trade, he had Artemi Panarin. I trade, I had John Tavares. I traded him. And then I find out today Panarin will no longer be a New York Ranger. So whatever happens in the next couple weeks or next week and a half, uh,
00:01:54
Lando
He won't be playing for the New York Rangers. now he's sitting on my IR and I can't do anything. I can't do anything with him until he gets traded to another team. So he could be traded within the next week and a half or he could be traded after the Olympics. So I was not impressed when I saw that news today as of January 28th.
00:02:15
Leo Ernewein
Yeah, that was pretty unfortunate.
00:02:18
Leo Ernewein
Shout out Tyler Barrow, great guy, super helpful to me since I've joined the industry. Tyler's been in the news and reporting industry for, I don't know.
00:02:29
Leo Ernewein
It's been like three, four, five, six, seven years. Can you speak to that Lando? He's been in long time and, uh, and we've known Tyler a long time.
00:02:34
Lando
Yeah, something like that. Yeah.
00:02:38
Leo Ernewein
He's a long time local in Banff, him and his family. yeah. Upstanding citizens love him and his, and his brother, Ryan, good people and his dad too.
00:02:47
Leo Ernewein
And, uh, yeah, great family.
00:02:47
Lando
Yes. Yep.
00:02:50
Leo Ernewein
Uh, shout out to them. I feel like Tyler maybe, maybe knew a little bit of the rumblings going on of the unrest in the dressing room there with the Rangers, right?
00:02:59
Lando
You have to wonder.
00:03:00
Leo Ernewein
Like,
00:03:01
Leo Ernewein
Do you feel like he stiffed you on that?
00:03:01
Lando
Yeah.
00:03:03
Leo Ernewein
Like love Tyler, great dude. But, uh, don't know, man. Sometimes could, it could end up panning out for you in the long run with Panarin there.
00:03:07
Lando
Yeah.
00:03:12
Leo Ernewein
He couldn't end up on a juggernaut on a top line. Well, he will end up on a top line wherever he goes. the problem is, is that his market value is going be tanked now. And of course they're playing.
00:03:21
Lando
Yeah.
00:03:22
Leo Ernewein
Oh, it's just a mess in New York. Right. And, uh, Yeah.
Guest Appearance on Overheard Podcast
00:03:27
Leo Ernewein
but, uh, before we get into the rest of the sports stuff here to Lando, I got to bring this up. You were on the overheard podcast in Banff episode one Oh three with Daniel Ruto and Maddie rage. Go check those guys out and toss them a follow. I listened to it. It was really good. Great energy, great setup. They give you a really strong intro to 22 years living in Banff, reffing hockey, reffing basketball. They basically gave us the full Lando origin story was, it was really cool.
00:03:52
Leo Ernewein
And that part about you tossing me in the penalty box when we were kids, that killed me. Definitely didn't happen. I was a saint in the ice.
00:03:59
Leo Ernewein
Flawless record. Never committed a crime in my life. Walk me through it, though, Lando. How did the whole thing come together? And what was it like being on the other side of the mic for once?
00:04:09
Lando
Well, it was nice to be a guest, right?
00:04:11
Lando
I mean, we've had two guests on our show, and was just neat to be part of it. I was very honored when they asked. Dan has listened to us...
00:04:22
Lando
uh all the way through and so he him and i connected and uh i just basically said i said i would be neat to come on your show and kind of do a little promo for you and i leo and uh so that's how that came up now that came up and it was neat experience because we're sitting in a room And there's a, if anybody who's watched Overheard, they have it on YouTube. So they have a camera that's facing the three of us. And it's just basically, it's not live, but it is live. So yeah, so it was just, it was really neat to be part of and neat to experience. And we were in the tap room of the brew pub. So if anybody knows where that is, it's at the
00:05:09
Lando
uh bam clock tower mall and so yeah so it was just it was really really cool to be part of like i've like i've said and uh they are very easy going guys had a lot of fun and i was able to share my stories and your story leo And so I had a couple of jokes and stuff. So it was really cool, man. was, when I walked away from that, I was like, you know what?
00:05:33
Lando
I think we just put our podcast on the map a little bit. And, you know, not that I want take, be famous on this, but I just, I wanted to represent you and I Leo in this. And so, yeah, it was just really cool. And,
00:05:49
Lando
The other part that was really neat about it is I got a Shaft energy drink thing for free. That's their sponsor. So, yeah.
00:05:57
Leo Ernewein
Yeah.
00:05:58
Lando
So, it was just, it was really cool. It was really neat to be part of. And I was very honored.
00:06:04
Leo Ernewein
Yeah. I mean, it was, it was a really, really cool list. And that's where I watched, it was on YouTube there. That's where I watched my podcast. So of course I, I tossed him a follow and, and to me as, as a, as a viewer and a listener and as also as someone who's new into the podcast realm, so to speak,
00:06:22
Leo Ernewein
that's what I want to strive to be right like it was cool it was it was well organized you know the visuals were great it and it it really added in a whole new level to the podcast element when you can see that sort of stuff and see people's reactions and and just you know put a face to the listener or put a face to the speaker sorry and
00:06:24
Lando
Yes. Mm-hmm.
00:06:43
Leo Ernewein
And when I first saw that Overheard podcast, I think I was on Facebook or something like that. This was before we started, Landon. And I thought, oh, that's really cool that somebody's doing a podcast in Banff. And that almost sort of fueled, as you mentioned, and my mother also put in the bug in her ear as well.
00:07:01
Leo Ernewein
It also sort of fueled that... instinct to be like, that's cool. Really? Somebody's doing it in Banff. Like I lived there for a long time. Why don't, why don't, and I started to think about it more. Right. And it sort of snowballed. So credit to them for, for inspire inspiration and stuff like that.
00:07:16
Leo Ernewein
Cause, yeah, it was, it was a great job.
00:07:17
Lando
Mm-hmm.
00:07:18
Leo Ernewein
Shout out to, uh, Shout out Daniel Rudel and Matty Rage. Those guys were a phenomenal, phenomenal job. But let's jump into the Olympics here because the injury situation around the NHL has become almost impossible to ignore, right, Landon? A lot of these guys are hitting the top gold medal contender. A lot of these injuries, sorry, are hitting the top gold medal contenders, Canada, Sweden, and the United States.
Olympic Hockey Injuries Discussion
00:07:43
Leo Ernewein
Landon, do you want to list off the injuries list or do you want me to go through it?
00:07:46
Lando
You go ahead, man. Yeah, you're on a roll.
00:07:48
Leo Ernewein
Gotcha. We'll start with Sweden here because I feel like they've taken probably the biggest hit. Victor Hedman. He'll be back. But Gabriel Landeskog out. Jonas Brodine, sorry. May miss the tournament. Leo Carlson out.
00:08:03
Leo Ernewein
That's pretty tough. Then we'll jump into Canada here. Devon Taves still injured. Braden Point. possibly out reports from TSN saying he may make the tournament coming today, but it's still really iffy as of, you know, the 28th and Bo Horvat back skating. So that's good.
00:08:21
Leo Ernewein
And for the United States, they'll be missing Seth Jones, which is a big part of their D of course. he'll be replaced by Brett Seney of Anaheim. Landon, I want to ask you if Taves and Point can't go for Canada, who should be looking to, who should Canada be looking to replace them?
00:08:37
Lando
I think it should be Wyatt Johnston and Jacob Chickren. So for those who don't know, Wyatt Johnston plays for the Dallas Stars and Jacob Chickren plays for the Washington Capitals. So those are my two picks. I don't think there's any other defenseman and forward that you should – to me, it's a no-brainer, I believe.
00:09:01
Leo Ernewein
Yeah, that's fair. I mean, I can't argue with Chickren there. Like, he's a good player. He's been really good this year, too, especially, right?
00:09:08
Lando
Mm-hmm.
00:09:09
Leo Ernewein
And so, it's – yeah, he's been – it's hard to argue with him. So I was going to go with him too. And I, I know I didn't have your response typed out and I didn't have mine either. And that's on purpose, of course, but for the, for the offensive players, you wouldn't think of any guys like maybe Zach Hyman, Mark Shifley, Sam Bennett, of the guys we previously mentioned, or you don't even think maybe Connor Bedard's in the mix. You just go right with the young gun, Wyatt Johnston. Yeah.
00:09:39
Lando
I would because, mean, I don't... Conor Bedard's had a good year, but he also got hurt, right? And then Sam Bennett.
00:09:45
Leo Ernewein
by that shoulder injury.
00:09:46
Lando
Yeah, Sam Bennett. You know what? I thought about him. Him and Wyatt Johnston were kind of my toss-up. But I just thought, if you need a goal, Wyatt Johnston has been on fire this year, right? mean, he really has. And I'm not saying that Sam Bennett hasn't been.
00:10:04
Lando
I just think if you want a centerman that you need some goals from and you need a clutch goal, I should say, that's the guy I would go with. And I don't think – I think Mark Strifele, unfortunately – With the other guys that we just mentioned, I think he's too far down in my opinion. I don't think he's not a good hockey player. I think he really, really is. But I think when you look at the other guys' years and experience, I think that's who I would go with. That's just my personal opinion. So.
00:10:39
Leo Ernewein
Okay, I got two more names for you. Speaking of experience, he's scoring again, and the Olympic medal is one thing missing from his resume. He's 36, Stephen Stankos.
00:10:49
Leo Ernewein
Could he be on the option list?
00:10:52
Lando
Ooh, yeah, I did see that on Sportsnet.
00:10:55
Lando
And, you know, that would be a neat story if he actually made it. I think, you know, if you're looking at for John Cooper familiarity with Stephen Stamkos in the past, I think that would be a perfect, perfect, perfect person to play too, right?
00:11:09
Lando
And I think he could play center as well. So, yeah, you know, there's so many, I'll be honest you, there's so many players that, from Canada that you could easily pick for any of them.
00:11:23
Lando
And you could almost make a second Canada team, right?
00:11:28
Leo Ernewein
Yeah, that's true. You could. Another name I wanted to give you is if point can't go, I think the simplest move might be Zach Hyman. That guy's scoring at an elite pace right now, and he's got the chemistry with McDavid.
00:11:40
Leo Ernewein
It's already there, right? So either that or...
00:11:43
Lando
Yeah. I mean,
00:11:44
Leo Ernewein
Sorry, go ahead.
00:11:45
Lando
I just think that, yeah, I don't disagree with that too. But yeah, boy, oh boy, can you imagine if you're having to make these picks? Like we're tossing this back and forth amongst each other like, what if this, what if that?
00:11:54
Leo Ernewein
Yeah. Yeah.
00:12:00
Lando
But honestly, if you really think about it, like I, I don't know how I would pick any these guys because they're all deserving to be there, but I, I definitely would go.
00:12:10
Lando
I still in my gut and I could be totally wrong by time this happens next week. Once we get into February, If Wyatt Johnson's not on there, I wouldn't be disappointed if they pick somebody else. But I really believe in my heart of heart that I think he should be on this team just based on how good of a year he's had this year.
00:12:30
Leo Ernewein
mean, I agree with you. It's really hard to pick out of any of those guys. And Wyatt Johnston was one of the guys I was arguing for in the past episodes.
00:12:39
Leo Ernewein
Same with Sam Bennett, who I think would give you a good... He's got that playoff style edge, right? He usually gives... I think that would translate well in those short tournament stuff.
00:12:45
Lando
Mm-hmm.
00:12:48
Leo Ernewein
Yeah. Jumping over to Sweden here because, you know, I think they've taken a pretty big hit. How do you rate their chances now with Carlsen out, Landeskog out, and Brodine possibly missing the tournament too?
00:13:02
Lando
Well, there's been reports that Landis Kog hasn't been 100% ruled out. I guess he's been in the gym. He's been starting to skate and stuff. So I wouldn't say that he's 100% ruled out.
00:13:17
Lando
But Jonas Brodine is a big loss too because, I they... When you looked at Sweden's roster when they put it out back before Christmas or around that time, you looked at Sweden, it's like, oh my goodness, Sweden has an opportunity to really push for a gold medal this year just based on amount of depth that they have. And now, don't think the depth is a challenge, but when you have a lot of these names gone off your roster, and I mean...
00:13:48
Lando
Honestly, Sweden is a lot like Canada too. They could have very easily have two teams in the Olympics too. That's just how many players they have to pick from. But it's definitely a hit for sure. Cause I think they'll have to go in their, their depth pool and really find guy that they want to replace for Jonas Brodine. And it sounds like Victor Hedman is going to still be a go for Sweden. So as far as the, the,
00:14:15
Lando
favorite to be the gold medal. I'm not sure about them right now. And right now, and their goaltending has been a little iffy now too with Markstrom and, Wallstead and, Gustafson from Minnesota. So I think, yeah, it's going to I don't know, man, but you know, you never know, right? I mean, you have, uh, you have a couple of games in your pool and then you have the knockout rounds and anything can happen. So yeah, like it's, it's tough to see because I, I remember,
00:14:46
Lando
I remember watching Landis Cog's injury live, actually. And when I was sitting, it was on a Sunday and I was finishing work and I had the game on TV.
00:14:56
Lando
And I just turned it on and Colorado, I think, was 1-1 with them. And I could see Landis Cog going down the ice. And then all of a sudden I just see his leg buckle.
00:15:07
Lando
And my heart just absolutely sank for the guy. And he goes crashing into the post. Yeah. on the side, he goes crashing in the boards. And I thought, oh my goodness, his career is done. But it sounded like it was more of an, a rib injury than, than anything.
00:15:23
Lando
Cause he went in pretty hard. So, but as far back to Landis Cog though, but yeah, I was just, I was devastated to see, him get hurt. And then when you also see his leg, how it buckled,
00:15:35
Lando
I thought it was his surgical knee. And then when you rewatch it a few times, like, no, that was his other leg. So, yeah, it was tough to see. So that's if he can't go, that's a big loss for Sweden because you you need as many leaders as you possibly can. And I know Gabriel Lanneskog really want to go be part Team Sweden and represent his country.
00:15:57
Leo Ernewein
Yeah, to me, it sounds like, you know, every contender's dealing with something right now, which is, you know, normal for hockey as far as that goes. Every contender for the Milano-Cortina Olympics, I should say. When we had an episode a couple weeks ago, you mentioned that Sweden and Canada, I think, were your favorites to make the gold medal game. That sounds like it's changed, I guess, right?
NHL Trade Deadline Moves
00:16:20
Lando
A little bit, yeah, based on the injuries.
00:16:23
Leo Ernewein
Yeah, I can't blame you on that. We'll jump into the NHL here because the trade market finally woken up. We're still a few weeks out from the deadline, but teams are already making moves that feel like they're the early rumblings of something a little bit bigger.
00:16:37
Leo Ernewein
Here's what we've seen over at least the past week. Rasmus Anderson going to Vegas for Zach Whitecloud, Andre Palat being moved, Carson Soucy changing teams, and a handful of depth deals that feel like teams positioning themselves for the next domino.
00:16:51
Leo Ernewein
None of those I would call a blockbuster, but they feel like the appetizer before the main course. Lando, when you look at those moves, what stands out to you, and do you think this is just the start of a bigger wave?
00:17:04
Lando
Well, as far as Rasmus Andersen goes, I'm not surprised that he got traded, but I am surprised the team that he went to. Vegas seems to figure this out year in, year out with big splashes and big trades, don't they? Like, it's really odd how they managed to make all these trades. But as far as for Flame fans, Zach Whitecloud is a very good defenseman.
00:17:28
Lando
I don't know if anybody's actually watched him. live as much as I have because I do watch Vegas quite a bit but Zach Whitecloud is a very good defenseman and Calgary is going to absolutely love him I think he's very excited himself because he said it on an interview that he's a western kid western Canada kid sorry he's from Manitoba he grew up watching the Flames the Oilers the Canucks and even the Jets a little bit so he just said he was
00:17:58
Lando
So excited to be part of a Western Canada team. So, so shout out to him. So I was, again, I was really surprised about Rasmus Anderson being in Vegas, but good on the Vegas. I mean, they're, they're gearing up for another, another push this year. So they're, I think they're,
00:18:15
Lando
They're starting you could kind of start seeing that their team's starting to get older. And I think their window is slowly starting to close because of, know, players' ages and stuff. But I think what the other player that I was surprised to see that the Islanders took was Andre Palat. They took him at a $6 million cap hit. I think it's something around there.
00:18:40
Lando
He has not been the same since he left Tampa Bay. And I think some of that is just different coaching style. And I think he tried to chase for the money instead of staying with Tampa Bay and winning as much as he possibly can. So. he's really struggled since he signed that contract and i think for the new jersey devils they must be clearing cap space so that they can make a move they're going to trade dougie hamilton for like they must be setting up for a blockbuster trade because they wouldn't do that if they they didn't have something the work so and then carson susie went from the new york rangers to the islanders as well as a depth move so I think the Rangers are in full rebuild or retool mode. So I, so anyways, yeah. So those are my reactions to the, to the trades that we've had so far.
00:19:31
Leo Ernewein
Well, I just wanted to say one thing you said. Good on Vegas, which is words I thought no human should ever say. Yeah, no.
00:19:42
Leo Ernewein
Sorry. Yeah, well, the flames are kind of hand strapped or... had their hands tied, I should say, when Rasmus Anderson kind of declined the extension with the Boston Bruins and told Calgary, okay, I'm not signing with anyone until the offseason, trade me as a rental.
00:20:00
Leo Ernewein
So, of course, the value plummets there and somebody stepped in and that was the Vegas Golden Knights because, of course, it's the Vegas Golden Knights.
00:20:10
Leo Ernewein
You know, Calgary moving a top four defenseman tells you the kind of reshaping
00:20:14
Lando
Mm-hmm.
00:20:15
Leo Ernewein
Vegas does what they always do. They upgrade without hesitation. Anderson fits exactly how they want to play. The Palat move is for me, a classic playoff ad, not flashy, but I still think he kind of shows up in big moments.
00:20:27
Leo Ernewein
And, uh, Susie, I'm glad that you've mentioned both the, both of them going to the Islanders. Cause I don't know why I didn't say that in the intro, but that's all right. Susie kind of the opposite though. He's, he's not a playoff ad. He's more of a stability trade, big body penalty kill kind of clears the crease.
00:20:45
Leo Ernewein
I guess those moves still matter in April, so guess it's not that much of an opposite. But what ties all those deals together for me is the timing. They aren't necessarily deadline day scrambles because they probably would have got less for them, I guess, if they were. These teams are getting ahead of the market, so good for them. Usually when that happens, it means big names might be coming next, which I agree with you. Dougie Hamilton's probably out the door in New Jersey.
00:21:09
Leo Ernewein
It feels like we're one major trade away from the whole board shifting, though. Yeah. And then I can't remember what else I wanted to say. We'll jump in. Anything else you want add in here, bud?
00:21:20
Lando
Oh, so we were talking about Panarin, right?
00:21:22
Leo Ernewein
Yeah.
00:21:23
Lando
So Panarin, if anybody had been here as of Wednesday, January 28th, the Rangers told him basically that he's out from their roster spots.
00:21:24
Leo Ernewein
Yeah.
00:21:38
Lando
Possibly that means that in the next week and half or so that he's going to be being traded to somewhere. They can't do anything over the Olympic break from the February 6th to the 24th. So, yeah, basically he's out as a Ranger now. So he won't be back or wearing a Ranger sweater, which is too bad. Because I think in the right – I think if the Rangers actually –
00:22:07
Lando
did things properly, think he could have been a good, could have been still a good addition to the, to the Rangers and they didn't give him a lot to play with over the last number of years too. I mean, he signed that big 10 year contract, which seems to be a while, a while ago or eight years, I can't remember, but it was a long contract. And His contract's up. And so basically, yeah, I just, it's too bad because he's such a good hockey player. And I'm also bummed just from right off the start that I finally get him on my hockey pool and he's not be playing. But I'll be honest with you. I don't know how you feel, Leo. Have you figured out what the Rangers are actually trying to do and be?
00:22:51
Leo Ernewein
don't want to blame JT Miller, but no, I shouldn't because that's are mean and it's not true either.
00:22:58
Leo Ernewein
I don't really know that much about the situation. Of course, I'm not there in person either. So, and I don't know those people. And, it just feels like team in New York should be doing lot better.
00:23:10
Leo Ernewein
Right. You know, and it's not only Artemi Panera, and they got other potential trade trips that they could be using too. Jonathan Quakes might still be worth something.
00:23:21
Leo Ernewein
Alexei Lafreniere, former first overall pick, Vincent Trocek too as well. Yeah. And then they got Connor Shearer, he's a pending UFA. So I still think, I don't think, well, they're definitely not done, obviously, with Panarin still in the books.
00:23:38
Leo Ernewein
Yeah, so it's going to be interesting couple of weeks here. When is the trade deadline coming up? Do you know for the date?
00:23:49
Lando
Uh, I think it's in March. I think it's March 2nd, 3rd, or somewhere 4th, somewhere in there.
00:23:52
Leo Ernewein
March 6th. March 6th.
00:23:55
Lando
It's
00:23:56
Leo Ernewein
We got it on the sixth this year. just pulled it up.
00:23:58
Lando
March 6th. Yeah, I knew it was at the beginning of March, so.
00:24:02
Leo Ernewein
Gotcha. Well, you want to jump into a Super Bowl preview here?
00:24:07
Lando
Let's do it, man. I'm excited.
00:24:09
Leo Ernewein
Yeah. It's football time. Super Bowl is set. And the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots are in San Francisco. Well, technically, Santa Clara because Levi's Stadium is, you know, what, like 40 miles away from San Francisco. I don't know how far it is. I don't if it's 40 miles, but it's quite a maybe 40-minute drive.
00:24:29
Leo Ernewein
I don't know why the reason 40 sticks out. It's not in San Francisco. Let's just say that. Two teams, though, that took completely different paths to get there. Seattle leaned on a veteran quarterback, if you will, who finally found stability in an offense built around Jackson, Smith, and Jigba, the wide receiver. And then New England kind of rode a rookie, well, not really a rookie quarterback, a young quarterback, top-tier defense, and a couple of wild game-swinging plays to survive the AFC. Landon, looking back at the playoff run so far, what stood out for you,
00:25:00
Leo Ernewein
Any surprises since the last time we talked?
00:25:03
Lando
Well, I think one of the surprises that I think happened for me was just how dominant New England was, right? Like, I didn't really pick New England to win the Super Bowl. I mean, they are one of my teams that I cheer for. I didn't really, at the start, I didn't pick them. And I said Jacksonville, and they got beat by Buffalo. So, they're my Super Bowl pick. Good thing I didn't bet on the Jaguars. But,
00:25:29
Lando
I was surprised about how well New England's defense is. Like, they've just smothered every single offense that they've had or that they played against, sorry. And it's just incredible to watch how the Patriots just can continue to win game in, game out. I think what surprised me...
00:25:49
Lando
was just how Buffalo just cannot seem to get over the hump, can they? Like they just, they can't seem to take that next step. And unfortunately, Josh McDaniel, unfortunately got fired from, or not Josh, whoever they're, Sean McDermott, sorry.
00:26:05
Leo Ernewein
Sean McDermott.
00:26:08
Lando
Josh McDaniel, he's the offensive coordinator for the Patriots, sorry. So Sean McDermott got, yeah.
00:26:11
Leo Ernewein
And has been many times.
00:26:13
Lando
Yeah.
00:26:14
Leo Ernewein
He's taken many jobs.
00:26:16
Leo Ernewein
I think he was the head coach for the Raiders at one point.
00:26:18
Lando
He was. Yep, he was.
00:26:20
Leo Ernewein
Yeah. Sorry, go ahead. I didn't mean to take you back there.
00:26:23
Lando
Yeah, that's okay. So, yeah, so I was just – I was stunned to see how Buffalo was just not – just couldn't get over the hump. And I was happy that Denver did beat them.
00:26:33
Lando
But, yeah, Buffalo was a surprise. I think the other team – the team that's – another team that I – was kind shocked to see them push the team as far as they did or their season as far as they did with the Chicago Bears.
00:26:51
Lando
They've got a good young team going there. So, yeah, I think overall the playoffs have been really, really good. We've had a couple overtimes.
00:27:00
Lando
Yeah, it's just been phenomenal football to watch. And I felt bad because not a 49ers fan at all. But I felt bad for the 49ers. I don't think...
00:27:11
Lando
They were able to showcase how good of a team they were, like their record showed, because the injuries just decimated them towards the end of the season. And they've always had injury problems on their team for the last couple
00:27:24
Leo Ernewein
hope they have.
00:27:25
Leo Ernewein
Yes.
00:27:33
Lando
Yeah, I felt bad for the 49ers because I think their record showed better than what their playoffs showed. But the Patriots, I'm excited to see what they're going to showcase at the Super Bowl. It's going to be lot different not seeing Tom Brady there behind center in a Super Bowl. But I have all the faith in the world in Drake May. But I...
00:27:54
Lando
I hope the nerves and the spotlight don't get to him because he's been known this year to fumble the football a lot. So I hope that his nerves doesn't get to the best of him.
00:28:07
Lando
But also I want make a shout out to Sam Darnold. My goodness, what a neat story he's had.
00:28:14
Leo Ernewein
He was seeing ghosts.
00:28:15
Lando
He's bounced Yes, he was, man. Like, it's incredible to see amount of teams that he bounced around. And now he finally has a home. in Seattle and he's just flourished in Seattle, just like he did in Minnesota last year. So I'm excited to see what the Seahawks can do. I do believe the Seahawks are the favorites, which is fine. I mean, New England, New England has been underdogs a few times in their Superbowls and they won. So it's not a surprise, but we'll see, we'll see how, we'll see how this plays out. It's going to exciting Superbowl Sunday. That's for sure. They, they always are, aren't they?
00:28:50
Leo Ernewein
They always are. You're right. And real quick, when you mention that, I want to just Google when the last time the Patriots weren't the favorites in the Super Bowl.
00:29:02
Leo Ernewein
Because I want to see how long ago that was.
00:29:05
Lando
Well, want to think, I want to say at least probably 2003 when they played the Eagles, the Philadelphia Eagles the first time.
00:29:14
Lando
Or 2003.
00:29:14
Leo Ernewein
since the Patriots no. fail to reach a super no no no patriots okay sometimes ai fails you because that clearly didn't answer any other questions i wanted and i don't have time to reprompt that so i'm just uh sorry audience i guess i didn't get the answer there for you But I don't feel bad for the 49ers, not necessarily because I'm a fan of any other team against them or anything like that. I'm just so numb to their injury problems by now.
00:29:46
Leo Ernewein
I'm like, oh, surprise, somebody else has heard, oh, surprise. You know, it's really... It's unfortunate and sucks, and I would really hate it if it was my favorite team. I went to school with a few guys. Shout out Zach Chavarez.
00:30:01
Leo Ernewein
He is a 49ers fan and would not be happy with the continuing injury situation there.
00:30:07
Lando
Thank you.
00:30:08
Leo Ernewein
For... For the Super Bowl side, though, Lando, I'm going start with Seattle. The big thing for me is how balanced they've become. Sam Darnold, of course, he was seeing ghosts when he was drafted by the New York Jets, right? There was a clip of him on the bench saying, oh, I'm seeing ghosts after one play and stuff like that. Now, maybe flash forward, fast forward, sorry, six...
00:30:27
Leo Ernewein
seven years later or like that. And he's in the Super Bowl. He's not putting up crazy numbers, but he's been really efficient. He's protecting the ball and he's let the offense run through Jackson Smith and Jigba and JSN has been on real first in air yard share, first in target share, top two in yards per rote run. And then he drops 153 yards the championship.
00:30:46
Leo Ernewein
in the snow. If Seattle wins, it feels like that Darnold to GSN connection is probably going be the story for me. On the New England side, though, everything comes down to Drake May, and I'll be honest, I'm not fully sold on him there, Lando.
00:30:59
Leo Ernewein
Talent is there, but the sacks, the turnovers, the inconsistency, he's still...
00:30:59
Lando
Mm-hmm.
00:31:04
Leo Ernewein
showing his youth, I should say, or his inexperience is more of a proper term. Just holds onto the ball a little bit too long and it'll definitely, I think, show up and punish him in the playoffs.
00:31:14
Leo Ernewein
When he's clean, though, he looks great. When the pocket's clean and stuff like that, when he's not, the whole offense kind of falls
Super Bowl Matchup Analysis
00:31:19
Leo Ernewein
apart. I think the swing piece for them, though, is on the defense cornerback and punt returner Marcus Jones. He's their all-purpose spark plug. He can score on defense. He can score on special teams. And he's flipped games before with just one touch. So if New England wins, it might be because of the special teams in defense that might be, I shouldn't say led by Jones because there's a lot of good leaders on that team. But Jones definitely stands out for me. I think still Seattle wins through Jackson Smith and Jigma and Darnold's efficiency.
00:31:48
Leo Ernewein
That's my take, though. Any thoughts on what I think about Drake May there, bud?
00:31:54
Lando
No, you know what? I don't blame you because I know you don't like New England.
00:31:59
Leo Ernewein
I don't.
00:31:59
Lando
I'll be... Yeah, you don't. So anybody who knows Leo does not like the New England Patriots. So we're putting that out on...
00:32:06
Leo Ernewein
I'm a Saints fan, and they were better than us.
00:32:07
Lando
Say again, sorry? Yes, that's true. Yeah, so... the the i don't blame you for saying what you're saying about drake me i i think he's got enough of support cast like i i do worry about his fumbling a lot of the times but i like i mean he's he's he's made the plays when he's had to he's ran the ball and used his feet when he's had to so
00:32:25
Leo Ernewein
That's fair.
00:32:45
Lando
I mean, you have your opinion and my opinion is I think he's going to fine. So I was going to, yeah, I was going to throw out.
00:32:51
Lando
So what do you think of Bo Nix being hurt? Because I think that really hurt Denver's chances.
00:32:59
Leo Ernewein
Oh, it killed their Super Bowl chances.
00:33:01
Lando
Yeah.
00:33:02
Leo Ernewein
There's been a few, and I've sort of, I don't want to say adopted Denver as my second team because I've been a fan of second teams in other sports. And for some reason, the NFL, I still can't get a...
00:33:12
Leo Ernewein
grasp that. I don't know why. And it would easily be a second team. They're better than the Saints right now. They have a former Saints head coach who was half the reason I like the Saints. The other half was Drew Brees. Well, Reggie Bush, but Drew Brees kind of replaced him. But, um, But,
00:33:28
Leo Ernewein
Yeah, I don't know. I loved what Sean Payton has done with Bo Nix because Bo Nix was not good at Auburn. And he was still, I think, a highly rated quarterback. I think he was a four or five star. So those guys are predicted to go to the league.
00:33:43
Leo Ernewein
Not often those... I shouldn't say not often those predictions, but there's a great video on YouTube by Michael McKelvey that really goes into depth on that. But anyways... he transferred to Oregon and had a really good year and then got drafted and it's, and probably a great pro day and Sean Payton's done wonders with him to see him break his ankle.
00:34:03
Leo Ernewein
And the divisional round was really tough. And it was on like one of the final plays too, I think, or, So it's just devastating.
00:34:11
Lando
Yeah, was. Yeah.
00:34:12
Leo Ernewein
And I feel like Sean Payton has just had terrible luck when it goes to the Super Bowl. And I feel like that is partly part, probably karma for bounty gate. don't know if you know what that is. That's.
00:34:23
Leo Ernewein
The Saints defensive coordinator, Greg Williams, was posting.
00:34:23
Lando
Yeah.
00:34:28
Leo Ernewein
They had a pool of money that they would collect from fines on players and stuff like that, and they would hand that pool of money to whoever knocked out certain target in a playoff game.
00:34:38
Leo Ernewein
So if you knocked out Brett Favre, if you ended Kurt Warner's career like Greg Williams, quote-unquote, said they should, they were going to get a big... So essentially, it's a pay-for- bounty system. It's a pay for hurt system. It was not, you know, it's illegal in the NFL.
00:34:55
Leo Ernewein
And Sean Payton got suspended for a year and there was, you know, he said he denied it and he denied it. And I don't know what to believe because that's a tough situation. And I still really liked the guy, but I still think karma for bounty gate has definitely bit the saints in the butt because they had that one play in the 20, I want to say 19 Superbowl.
00:35:15
Leo Ernewein
2018 Super Bowl, or sorry, not Super Bowl, NFC Championship against the Rams, where the Rams went to go on to play the Patriots.
00:35:20
Lando
Mm-hmm.
00:35:22
Leo Ernewein
And I totally thought that was the year the Saints could have beat the Patriots. And there was a defensive pass interference not called. It's...
00:35:33
Leo Ernewein
I don't know if it's famous, but it was up there as one of the most egregious calls in a playoff game. And that's certainly... It was towards the end of the game, halting that would have stopped...
00:35:45
Leo Ernewein
The Rams driving and the Saints, I believe, would have gone on to finish that game. But you never know, right? So maybe I'm just a salty Saint.
00:35:50
Lando
Right.
00:35:52
Leo Ernewein
I'm starting to think I really am a salty Saint. So we'll just roll with that. Anything else you want to add to the Super Bowl, bud, before we hop into some golf?
00:36:02
Lando
Well, just enjoy it, guys, or everyone. Just really enjoy it. I think it'll be a good game, and we'll see what offense shows up. We'll show what defense shows up. But my reaction real quick there, Leo, about Denver is that it was so hard. Like you said, it was so hard to watch Bo Nix get hurt at the second-to-last play of the game.
00:36:23
Lando
And it seemed like something so innocent, but yeah, as soon as, as soon as he, I heard he got hurt, I thought, Oh, there goes Denver's chances. And, and I mean, they, they hurt themselves by, by dumb turnovers and, you know, Sean Payton didn't exactly set up Jared Stidham to succeed on one of the plays where they turned the ball over. But I mean, good on Denver. I, I think Denver is going to just fine next year too. I think,
00:36:51
Lando
that they if they can kind keep the same team as they have and I mean, it's always hard to get back to where they need to get or sorry, where they were this year for next year, because everybody's going to get just that much better, depending on how your schedule goes and all that. But I'm not worried about Denver, but it's just bad, bad luck for the Broncos. But for all the Bronco fans, be very patient and be excited, because I think...
00:37:17
Lando
The Broncos will take another step here, if not next year, the year after. So they're on the map for me anyways. But back to your question for the Super Bowl. I don't even know who the halftime show is. Do you?
00:37:29
Leo Ernewein
Bad Bunny.
00:37:32
Lando
I don't even know he is.
00:37:33
Leo Ernewein
You don't know Bad Bunny?
00:37:34
Lando
No. I've never listened to him.
00:37:44
Leo Ernewein
I want to be correct.
00:37:45
Lando
I think he's from Mexico or somewhere down there.
00:37:46
Leo Ernewein
Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico an American rapper, singer.
00:37:47
Lando
Puerto Rico.
00:37:50
Leo Ernewein
I just should say musical artist because he does a lot of stuff. I guess he's dubbed the king of Latin trap. I don't necessarily listen to him. It's not really my language.
00:37:58
Lando
Yeah.
00:37:59
Leo Ernewein
And I don't speak the... I shouldn't say my kind of music and I don't speak the language. So that doesn't help either. I see why they're doing it though. The halftime show isn't necessarily for the people watching the Super Bowl.
00:38:10
Leo Ernewein
They're trying to get... They're trying to expand their viewers. And that's a risky play because...
00:38:14
Lando
It is.
00:38:16
Leo Ernewein
I mean, they're banking on the fact that people will still watch the Super Bowl regardless of who they put in the halftime show instead of trying to make it great for the people that we're going to watch anyways. But it is I can see why they're doing because they're going to get people who are going to watch the Super Bowl that wouldn't have watched anyways or either ways.
00:38:32
Lando
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
00:38:34
Leo Ernewein
Wouldn't have watched otherwise, I should say. Real quick before we jump into golf two here, I'm happy that you mentioned Jarrett Stidham because a cool fact for the listeners, Jarrett Stidham was the starting quarterback at Auburn.
00:38:48
Leo Ernewein
And Bo Nix was his backup or like third or fourth string something like that when he was a freshman. And then funny enough, Jared Stidham goes in to replace him in the NFL and stuff like that. So, yeah, I like college football, too. And hopefully I can get you guys to care about that, too, one day. We'll jump into golf here now. Finally, let's wrap up with the golf. This week has been massive
Golf World Updates
00:39:07
Leo Ernewein
week.
00:39:08
Leo Ernewein
Two major champions, Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed, are officially on their way back to the PGA Tour. Landon, you're the golfer between the two of us. What's your reaction to Koepka coming back at Torrey Pines and Reed announcing he's leaving LIV or Live Golf and aiming for a PGA return later this year?
00:39:27
Lando
Well, I think it just shows you that the grass isn't always greener on the other side, so to speak, right? And I think for both players, I think they're starting to realize that there is not enough golf being played in the lift tour, and there's not enough competition. And I think for Brooks, I think he just felt that I'm not getting myself better being on the lift tour. Yeah, the money's great, and I made my money, but... I think that's their mindset is there's no competition. We're barely playing throughout the year. I'm getting bored. I'm not getting better. And so I think the reality for a lot of these guys is starting to show, especially at their ages, that it's like,
00:40:10
Lando
I thought this was great. I thought this was something that I could make more money playing less. But I think sometimes they like playing more and getting paid for less. And I think for Brooks Kepa, I think that was a smart move. As far as Patrick Reed, I don't like the guy. And I think there's a lot of people that would agree with me that Patrick Reed is a jerk and he doesn't treat his caddy. He doesn't treat the fans very well. But I think Patrick Reed is on the same wavelength as Brooks Koepka. It's like I'm not playing a ton.
00:40:39
Lando
I can't. I'm not getting better. There's not enough competition. And I'm maybe possibly getting bored with the lack of playing. So I want to get my PGA card back and get back on the PGA Tour and get myself better. And yeah, that's just where I'm at with those two. I was kind of shocked that they actually wanted to do that, get back into the PGA Tour. But I guess it just shows you where...
00:41:05
Lando
I guess the PGA is out compared to a couple years ago when all these players left, right?
00:41:11
Leo Ernewein
Yeah, I mean, I agree. The Kebka situation for me is particularly fascinating. It really does feel like the first major shift in this whole thing. had a year left on his live contract, got released, and the moment that happened, he reached out to Tiger Woods, and that alone showed how serious he was about getting back to the PGA Tour, and the Tourer didn't just wave him in. They set up sort of formal return path with the...
00:41:34
Leo Ernewein
Well, real consequences, no equity shares for five years, no FedExCup bonus money this season, and a significant financial commitment tied to his reinstatement as well. That's a big hit for anyone, and he still took it, which tells you how badly he wanted to come back. There's also the personal side of things, too. He talked a little bit about how he wanted to be closer to his family after everything his and his wife went through, and he even admitted how unsure how fans would react. So you don't hear Koepka really opening like that, like opening up like that often.
00:42:03
Lando
No, no.
00:42:04
Leo Ernewein
Right. So yeah.
00:42:06
Lando
Cause he's a, yeah.
00:42:06
Leo Ernewein
Good.
00:42:08
Lando
Because he's a much quieter person, right? I mean, it shows how he is out on the golf course. He's a much quieter person. But, yeah, good for Brooks. I mean, if it's also a family move, too, I don't blame him for doing that, too. Because I think he has one or two kids with his wife. And so, yeah, good on him. And I think probably for Patrick Reed, too, I bet you there's family reasons, too, and just not being around and having Probably traveling all the world has probably been pretty tough on these guys too. I forgot to mention that too. So because Lyft doesn't just play in the United States. They play everywhere where the PGA Tour kind of tends to stay within the North America area.
00:42:50
Lando
You know what I mean? So.
00:42:52
Leo Ernewein
yeah and living in Dubai it's just it's different right like it's For some people, it's not for everyone. I'm sure it's really nice and stuff like that, but sometimes it's just not home, right? So that can be a bit different, and Reid's situation is different, of course.
00:43:03
Lando
Yep.
00:43:06
Leo Ernewein
He's not returning right away. He's playing what looks like to be the full European schedule this year, and he won't be eligible for the PGA Tour until, I think, September. But the timing's pretty wild. He leaves Lyft just days after winning in Dubai.
00:43:19
Leo Ernewein
calls himself kind of a traditionalist, said the PGA Tour is where his career really began, and he wants to go back to those familiar places. And because he resigned his membership when he left, he avoids the extra discipline that other players are facing. So the bigger picture is that landscape clearly shifting. Kepka's already back. Reid is lining up his return, and other players are probably watching it closely to see how this plays out. The PGA Tour is in a stronger position now.
00:43:44
Leo Ernewein
And when these guys left, that's for sure. And it's becoming obvious that the money alone wasn't enough to keep everybody satisfied there long term. Yeah, that's the biggest movement we've seen since the split started. What are your thoughts on that?
00:43:58
Lando
Yeah, like, I agree with you. I think the, I think that it's surprising to see Patrick Reid actually, that he's going to be reinstated in September, right?
00:44:09
Lando
That he's going to play out his final whatever tour that he's doing in. And so, yeah, like, I think that's very fascinating, man.
00:44:17
Lando
So, yeah, it's going to be very interesting to see how fans also going to respond to these two coming back at some point, right?
00:44:28
Leo Ernewein
Do you think anybody else is going to follow suit? Do you have anybody pinned up next?
00:44:33
Lando
I'm trying to think.
00:44:33
Leo Ernewein
Because I don't.
00:44:34
Lando
I, do you, do you know, you think,
00:44:37
Leo Ernewein
No, but I can maybe get somebody right here next.
00:44:40
Lando
well, I think, I, I don't think it'll be Sergio Garcia.
00:44:42
Leo Ernewein
Oh,
00:44:44
Lando
Cause I think he's, he's on the, uh, on that live tour. I think he's pretty satisfied with what he's doing. I think his name is sharp, uh, Charbonneau. I think might possibly he'd be, he'd be the next one.
00:44:56
Leo Ernewein
Bryson DeChambeau?
00:44:58
Lando
Bryson DeChambeau. Yeah.
00:44:59
Leo Ernewein
Yeah. Yeah, I mean, that could be a big one.
00:45:03
Lando
Yeah, because I really big one.
00:45:03
Leo Ernewein
That would be a really big one.
00:45:06
Lando
So if these two are doing it, maybe I will too.
00:45:06
Leo Ernewein
Yeah.
00:45:09
Lando
So we'll see. We'll see what see what he does. All right. I think I think like I said, I think that live tour was great to start with.
00:45:19
Lando
And it showed a lot of promise for a lot of those golfers. But I think, like I said, the grass, the grass is probably a lot more greener in North America than over in the Middle East and Europe and all that stuff.
00:45:31
Leo Ernewein
It isn't always greener on the other side. That's for sure.
00:45:35
Lando
Yep.
00:45:35
Leo Ernewein
Uh, That's going to do it here for episode 11 of the Leo and Lando show. Thanks for hanging out with us today, whether you're listening on the drive or at work or just kicking back. We appreciate you being part of the show. If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to hit follow so you never miss one. We drop a new episodes pretty much every week here and it helps the show grow more than you think.
00:45:56
Leo Ernewein
So we appreciate it. Lando, I know you've got a shout out land up here, man. Take it away.
00:46:00
Lando
All right, man. So I want to dedicate this show to somebody who's not with us anymore. Today would have been my grandma's 98th birthday. She passed away five years ago. And so I don't think she'd be too crazy about me doing something with sports because I think she thinks that I should be doing some other things, maybe more religious stuff, if you want to call it that. But I think she would be proud of me to hear that my voice is being carried out to whoever is listening to us. So I just want to make a special shout out to my grandma. I want to wish her a happy 98th birthday up in heaven. And grandma, I miss you.
00:46:42
Leo Ernewein
Yeah, shout out Landon's grandma. What was her name?
00:46:45
Lando
So her name is, well, her maiden name was Dorothy, but she always went with Grace. That was her name.
00:46:55
Leo Ernewein
Shout out Grandma Grace in your office.
00:46:56
Lando
Yeah.
00:46:59
Leo Ernewein
All right, everyone. Take care. Enjoy the week. We'll see you next time. Thanks for listening the Leo William.
00:47:06
Lando
Thanks for listening, everybody. Take care.
00:47:10
Leo Ernewein
Enjoy.
00:47:21
Leo Ernewein
Nice.