Transcript
Albert Nava: Hello and welcome to another episode of Hot Takes with Cool Guys with special reoccurring guest Miguel Lopez out of Austin, Texas.
Dad: listen
Albert Nava: Miguel, welcome to the show.
Miguel Lopez: Thank you, thank you.
Albert Nava: Welcome back, I should say.
Dad: I'm good.
Albert Nava: And then Dad, how are you? How are you doing today?
Dad: um' good I'm at the local Chick-fil-A having a wonderful dinner with my 18-year-old son and your mom.
Albert Nava: OK. Even on a flat tire?
Dad: next yeah yeah my the plan was to have lunch dinner earlier as a family and then go do the podcast in person well i didn't work out because my flat tire situation
Albert Nava: Well,
Miguel Lopez: Oh, so you're driving on a flat tire right now?
Dad: no i i replaced it successfully like the man that i am
Miguel Lopez: Okay.
Miguel Lopez: Oh, I heard Sam doesn't know how to replace one.
Dad: go oh miss
Albert Nava: Chad, I do. I've actually replaced like i'm i my i've replaced like five tires. like it's It's insane. like It's happened to be out of town in El Paso. So I'm actually quite versed.
Albert Nava: Thank you very much.
Dad: I really you mean you tried five times or five times or five tires you changed
Albert Nava: Yeah, for real. Remember, every time I do it, I text you like, Dad, I just did it
Albert Nava: oh i've successfully changed five tires i swear i swear like i've even like jumped a couple cars i've you know like fixed an air conditioner changed the light bulb you know the whole nine
Miguel Lopez: I don't know if i believe him on this one.
Dad: no I I think I remember
Miguel Lopez: I can I can see Cathedral's finest education is finally being implemented.
Dad: okay
Albert Nava: this finally finally knowing how to search up on youtube
Albert Nava: But ah let's get back to the sports. Miguel, we're going to start with talk about the Indianapolis Colts today. Before we get into the news new 2026-2027, can you just give us a recap on how you feel on the season?
Miguel Lopez: God.
Miguel Lopez: So, I mean, I went into the season low expectations. Absolutely didn't think we were going sniff the playoffs. We didn't, but I thought Daniel Jones was a horrible signing. One year for 14 mil. It felt like we were bidding against ourselves. No one wanted him.
Miguel Lopez: But he did show up first game. He destroyed the the Dolphins. I mean, it's the Dolphins. And then he won barely against the, I think the Broncos on a bogus, what what what penalty was it when they tried to lift themselves up against the center?
Albert Nava: Oh, the push?
Miguel Lopez: What penalty is that called? No, it's not the touch push.
Dad: No, on a kick, no? On a kick when you use a like leverage.
Miguel Lopez: Yeah, i was on a it was on a field goal. Leverage. Leverage, yeah.
Albert Nava: Oh, leverage. OK, OK, I get you, man.
Miguel Lopez: Yeah. The Colts tried a 60-yard field goal with ah like a rookie kicker, and I was like, oh my god. But the leverage thing came in, hit a 45-er, won that, and then they ripped 7 out of 1.
Miguel Lopez: When they played against the Steelers, that's when I got a little worried because the Daniel Jones of old came back.
Albert Nava: Oh yeah, that that was that was kind of bad.
Miguel Lopez: And then once Daniel Jones got injured again, well, he was playing with the broken fibula.
Dad: okay
Albert Nava: Which is crazy.
Miguel Lopez: And I think that's why he got injured, but i earned my respect.
Albert Nava: I agree. I was very... I think I kind of laughed when the Colts signed... done Well, not not even signed, right? I was like, okay, maybe he'll be the backup. Anthony Richardson, who knows? But when they announced him as a starting quarterback, I was like, this, okay, like, where are they? Are they tanking? like where are they going with this?
Albert Nava: I was genuinely impressed with Shane Steichen and his offense, utilizing Jonathan Taylor in the run game. Jonathan Taylor had a fantastic year. I guess a fantastic calf half season.
Miguel Lopez: First half, yeah, he was great.
Albert Nava: He was electric MVP.
Miguel Lopez: you He was MVP, he was MVP talks.
Albert Nava: Yes, exactly.
Dad: Hold on.
Albert Nava: Yeah.
Dad: I got to ask a question, though. No, no, no. This a serious question.
Miguel Lopez: I'm scared.
Dad: Is it was it Daniel Jones that was successful? Or was it Shane Steichen and Daniel Jones?
Miguel Lopez: I think it was both because like if you if you think of the body of work Shane Steichen has, His first year, Anthony Richardson balled out those two games and they got concussion. And then he ended up tearing it up his shoulder. And we almost went to the playoffs with Gardner Minshew. So the fact that he almost took us to the playoffs shows you that he can call a good game.
Miguel Lopez: And then the following year, Anthony Richardson, I think he's just a bad quarterback. I think he's straight awful. Guy can't read the defense and he can't make it.
Dad: do think it's Did get signed somewhere?
Miguel Lopez: No, he's still with the Colts.
Albert Nava: No, He needs to be traded.
Dad: thank
Miguel Lopez: He needs – well, no one wants – well, there's reports that the Packers, the Vikings, and other people want him.
Albert Nava: Yeah.
Miguel Lopez: But don't know why.
Albert Nava: and not
Miguel Lopez: the guy is just awful. Unless you're going to do goal line situations with him, he's money. But if you need him to be your quarterback, you're screwed.
Albert Nava: Honestly, if I was the Vikings, I would just bite the bullet, trade for Anthony Richardson, and give him J.G. McCarthy. Just a little QB swap.
Miguel Lopez: But we have Daniel Jones.
Albert Nava: No, no, that's fine.
Miguel Lopez: And I think –
Albert Nava: That's fine. keep Keep Daniel Jones. J.G. McCarthy can ride that bench. Hopefully, maybe he can learn a a couple things, but... i I agree with you. i think Shane Steichen is the difference, and he he could elevate a player.
Albert Nava: um i don't know. I just think, obviously, the relationship's broken there, and they should just try something new. I don't know. i don't know. Because I know the Colts traded up for Anthony Richardson.
Miguel Lopez: He's god-awful.
Albert Nava: No?
Miguel Lopez: No, no, we were just that bad. We had the fourth overall pick.
Albert Nava: No.
Miguel Lopez: That was the year that year Matt Ryan was our starting quarterback. God, that guy, he needed to retire.
Albert Nava: Oh my god, Matt Ryan was a horrible.
Miguel Lopez: i was so excited for that for that signing.
Dad: ye
Miguel Lopez: i was like, all right, we finally got our quarterback, someone I believe in. Guy won three games. Jeff Saturday was our head coach. it was a nightmare of a season.
Albert Nava: oh my god, he beat the Raiders.
Dad: I haven't ah have another question. That's a good point about Jeff Saturday.
Miguel Lopez: Go for it.
Dad: That was horrible.
Miguel Lopez: ah
Dad: No, but my question is, Old Man Rivers, what do you think about Old Man Rivers?
Miguel Lopez: I mean, if I'm being honest, the guy only came out of retirement to get health insurance for his kids. That's my take.
Albert Nava: ah How long does it last after you retire? It's like four or five years after.
Miguel Lopez: Five years and this was the fifth year because he last played in 2020.
Albert Nava: hey
Miguel Lopez: I mean, it's a coincidence if you ask me.
Albert Nava: That is hilarious.
Miguel Lopez: But he he he didn't look bad.
Albert Nava: I also saw that. he did That Seahawks game, he did not look bad.
Miguel Lopez: i mean No, I mean, the Seahawks game, Sam Darnold looked terrible. Guy didn't even score a point. the The kicker is the reason why they went. Six field goals, 18 points. That's what it took.
Miguel Lopez: And I mean, if you're playing against the Jaguars and the Texans, there's no there's no way. And the 49ers, there was no way Phillip Rivers was going to win any game.
Albert Nava: um what did what did you think about obviously sad to hear about jim irsay last year the game um for the season what do you think going forward on the ownership of keeping it in the family in that direction like do you do you have the same faith in the team do you think some things should change what do you think
Miguel Lopez: Well, i mean, I'm a fan of Carly, i think Carly Ursi. She's been on the sidelines for what, four or five years, I think, or at least three. She has learned the verbiage. She understands how to run a team. She softened her dad.
Dad: She was a cheerleader?
Miguel Lopez: And, you know, no, she was on the sideline.
Albert Nava: Oh my god, dad.
Dad: Well, that's that's why that's why I asked.
Albert Nava: That's terrible. That is terrible.
Dad: You told me she was she of on the sidelines. So I'm like, oh, she was a cheerleader. That's crazy.
Albert Nava: That's terrible.
Miguel Lopez: She had a headset and everything she was hearing.
Dad: Oh. Oh.
Miguel Lopez: he She was hearing what the plays are being called offense defense. She was fully investing herself in the team.
Albert Nava: My dad, dude.
Miguel Lopez: And you know what they made? I'll give you this. They made a trade that I completely disagree with, but it it was it was something to be bargained with, I guess.
Albert Nava: The sauce gardener. That's right. How many first round picks did you guys give up?
Miguel Lopez: two And I think it's very idiotic if you ask me. and I don't think you give up two first rounders for a corner.
Dad: When he passes physical, that's a good thing.
Miguel Lopez: I mean, I guess, but he got hurt. He tore his Achilles like a game and a half. So it didn't really matter if he passed.
Albert Nava: No, my god, I mean that that the this trade was before Daniel Jones hurt himself But was it was it during the time he had the fractured fibula?
Miguel Lopez: No, so this this happened around when they went to London, or they had a European game, and they played the um the Falcons, yes.
Albert Nava: Is it the pockets
Miguel Lopez: And if I'm being honest, I watched the whole game, Soscar did not look good at all. He was getting burned, you know, not being very physical. it was a very poor first-game performance.
Miguel Lopez: And i Daniel Jones didn't – he didn't hurt his leg yet. It wasn't until the – or I think he actually hurt his leg during that game.
Albert Nava: Okay, okay, okay.
Miguel Lopez: But they balled out. JT had like another 300-yard game, scored touchdown in overtime.
Albert Nava: I think it... Yeah, that game was crazy. It was basically him versus Bajan in that game, huh?
Miguel Lopez: And then pretty much the defenses were useless.
Miguel Lopez: And then that's where you had the the infamous picture of Daniel Jones with the Joker lips because he was bleeding, leading us on a touchdown drive.
Albert Nava: Oh, yeah. Yeah, it looked like lipstick. Yeah, it's hilarious.
Miguel Lopez: But let let me ask you guys this. Do you guys think Daniel Jones did enough to earn the contract that he had or that he got? The two-year $88 million with million incentives?
Albert Nava: <unk> I'll let my dad answer first.
Dad: the need to short answer is no but that's a lot of money i'm not saying he can't be good but and then he's coming off injury right is he gonna be available starting next year
Miguel Lopez: okay
Miguel Lopez: It is.
Miguel Lopez: Correct. the The goal is that he's going to be a available start of week one. That's the goal that they're shooting for. Training cap and OTAs, it's not even going to happen.
Dad: Well, that's what you get when you let a cheerleader run the team.
Miguel Lopez: Oh, my...
Albert Nava: That's terrible. right.
Dad: kidding.
Miguel Lopez: light
Dad: No, I think he's worth some money. I didn't think it was that money.
Dad: The best thing about that deal is the length, two years.
Miguel Lopez: but who
Dad: It's almost like a prove-it deal, but you're giving him a crap load of money.
Dad: But is there opt-outs?
Miguel Lopez: what do you think so i don't think so i think it's he's gonna be there for two how much that is a good question it's indiana jones now it's indiana jones it's a cool nickname
Dad: Is there opt-outs after one year?
Dad: Well, how much of it is guaranteed?
Albert Nava: a
Albert Nava: I think it like 60. I think 60 was guaranteed.
Dad: Geez. Danny Dimes. Gold Dimes. it is It is Indiana Jones. I like the nickname. Yeah, I like it. i mean, i was rooting for the guy.
Miguel Lopez: What do you think, Sam?
Albert Nava: I think...
Dad: The guy the Colts were started off really well, um and he was much maligned. haven't wanted to use that word in a podcast. Much maligned.
Albert Nava: yeah
Miguel Lopez: see...
Dad: In and New York, and they finally got into a good situation. Great head coach, good offensive mind. ah the coats are The Colts are always solid for some reason. They got a lot of shit, but I think for the most part, they're a good, ah well-run organization.
Miguel Lopez: you see
Dad: I'm not going to the cheerleader thing.
Miguel Lopez: I disagree.
Albert Nava: Terrible.
Miguel Lopez: i feel like you need a clean house. I'm sick and tired of the coach. I'm sick and tired of the GM. I want out. I want a fresh start.
Albert Nava: i think I think you will, if if this goes south, if this Daniel Jones doesn't work out, I think this will be the last straw. And I think it'll be pretty simple that there has to be a regime change.
Albert Nava: um i don't I don't know, Miguel. I like Shane Steichen. I think he's been able to get the most out of his quarterbacks he's had. Other than Matt Ryan. Matt Ryan was a lost cause.
Albert Nava: But...
Miguel Lopez: He wasn't the coach for the Matt Ryan.
Albert Nava: Oh, he wasn't?
Miguel Lopez: No, it was Frank frank frank w Reich.
Albert Nava: Frank Reich?
Miguel Lopez: He got fired.
Albert Nava: And then he got Frank.
Miguel Lopez: and then that's And then that's when we hired Jeff Saturday.
Albert Nava: Oh, shit. You're right. Okay. So like it was the following year, right? After the Eagles won the Super Bowl?
Miguel Lopez: Yeah.
Albert Nava: Yeah. Okay. Well, so then...
Miguel Lopez: And then I looked up the contract. It is $50 million guaranteed, and they could get out of it one year. ah They could get away with it with him for one year, but it would cost them some money.
Albert Nava: Okay.
Miguel Lopez: Basically like a buyout.
Dad: Okay.
Albert Nava: but That's not terrible, I guess. Right. Like, it gives them an out after a year. i just...
Miguel Lopez: But then you're in the same situation if it doesn't pan out what you what you've been since Andrew Luck has been retired. We have a different starting quarterback every year. If Daniel Jones starts next year, this will be the first time we have a starting quarterback back-to-back years.
Albert Nava: Back to my ears. I just... Yeah, with with the Colts that they...
Dad: Cry me a river. I'm a Raider fan.
Albert Nava: with the Colts giving away basically their future in the next two first rounds I don't know I just yeah I feel like I don't i don't understand the rush to sign him or to tag him as a what was the tag called the rush the the transition tag I just didn't understand
Miguel Lopez: transitional tag or something like that that hasn't been used since 1999 to jeff george huh
Dad: Transition
Albert Nava: like did was there a market for Daniel Jones I'm confused was there a market for Daniel Jones
Dad: Former Raider. Apparently there wasn't. That's why they did. That's why they use the transition tag because the risk of using the transition tag is he could be picked up.
Miguel Lopez: no one really wanted him
Dad: And I think there's, it's easier to pick up somebody off a transition tag than a franchise tag.
Miguel Lopez: it's not very It's not done very often.
Dad: Right. Yeah.
Albert Nava: Right, which is weird, yeah. But ah I guess...
Miguel Lopez: i don't know. I would love to see him come back, like, I don't know, for less money, less guaranteed,
Albert Nava: Yeah, i think it should have been a more team-friendly deal.
Miguel Lopez: little more
Dad: Thank you.
Miguel Lopez: more incentive-based, if that makes sense. Because, like, this year he had one year $14 million. I don't know how much was guaranteed, but he had the incentive to earn half a mil for every game he won.
Albert Nava: It's pretty good.
Miguel Lopez: And I mean, he cashed out this year, but like in the big games where we needed him most against the chiefs fell short against the Texans.
Albert Nava: Oh my God, that game was brooch-ready.
Miguel Lopez: He was injured, but he fell short again against the Steelers. He completely fell apart with five turnovers, three fumbles or three interceptions, and then two fumbles, two interceptions. It was horrible.
Albert Nava: Yeah, I don't know. I'm sorry, Miguel. I can't say I would be excited for Denim Jones to be my quarterback. But heading into the next season, what do you feel, i guess, going into free agency and draft strategy, what do you think?
Dad: oh wait sorry hold on miguel what do you think of the contract they gave pierce
Miguel Lopez: What's up?
Albert Nava: Oh, my God.
Miguel Lopez: Pierce, it was a very team-friendly deal. I loved it. He was one of the few receivers that had 1,000-yard season, I think under 50 catches. It's very impressive. He's a deep threat.
Miguel Lopez: The New England Patriots offered him way more money, and he chose to stay in Indy.
Albert Nava: I think it was 46 catches. Yeah, that's crazy. That's...
Miguel Lopez: I mean, what's it called? he's It's basically the same deal that T. Higgins got a year like either a year or two years ago. So, I mean, I think it was very team-friendly, the fact that it didn't go up like how it does every other year.
Dad: You like him more than Pittman?
Miguel Lopez: I do. I think Pittman, unfortunately, needs a consistent quarterback in order to be productive. His most productive season was when he had Carson Wentz.
Miguel Lopez: And Alec Pierce was able to ball out with Anthony Richardson, Gardner Minshew, and Daniel Jones.
Dad: Okay. That
Miguel Lopez: So I think he's just more consistent overall.
Dad: tight end.
Albert Nava: which is quarterback proof
Miguel Lopez: And then the Colts, I mean, I feel like Tyler Warren will definitely have a bigger role next year.
Dad: fed tight end
Miguel Lopez: i think he's a jack of all trades. You know, he can he can throw the ball. He can run it. He can obviously catch. He can block. We re-sign Moe Alec.
Albert Nava: I love the formations where they have him. Yeah, they have him in the backfield. They have him blocking. to have him running. Yeah, dude, that guy's awesome. Obviously not as good as the Brock Bowers, but that's another that's that's for another day.
Miguel Lopez: Well, i think the I think the Raiders have the two best tight end combo.
Albert Nava: but we yeah, Michael Mayer.
Dad: he does he he does have more hair than brock bowers
Albert Nava: Oh, he has a lot more hair.
Miguel Lopez: That's all he got. but i think But isn't Brock Bowers bigger? I don't know.
Dad: yeah he's a beast you're
Miguel Lopez: But my favorite tight end for the Raiders is Michael Mayer.
Albert Nava: Brock.
Albert Nava: Your favorite from Notre Dame?
Dad: it was your
Albert Nava: Is that why?
Miguel Lopez: Yeah. Yeah, he was called Baby Gronkin Notre Dame because he's a beast. I just feel like the Raiders don't use him enough.
Albert Nava: I agree with you. We don't do a lot of two-tighten formations, but I think with Clint Kubiak, I think we're going to use more of him this season, hopefully, especially because our wider receiver core isn and isn't great.
Dad: mr
Dad: and need music for so please Well, what's interesting is there's a lot of interest. People wanted to trade for Mayer, and the Raiders have held on to him, even though they have Brock Bowers.
Dad: So I think the plan is to utilize of them.
Miguel Lopez: Because, I mean, if if they can, they should try to recreate what the Patriots had with Hernandez and Gronk. They're both as physical and just as big as those two guys.
Dad: Please don't jinx us, bro.
Miguel Lopez: I'm just saying.
Albert Nava: I know, please, we'll need a murderer.
Miguel Lopez: Okay.
Dad: How about Gronk? Use another tight end. don't know. Gronk.
Miguel Lopez: No.
Dad: okay
Miguel Lopez: ah What do you want me use? Austin Hooper? No.
Dad: There you go' fine
Albert Nava: and or Jane, Jono Smith and Pat Fearmuth like that.
Dad: go. That's
Miguel Lopez: Oh yeah, no. God.
Albert Nava: Except they weren't used at all in the Steelers.
Dad: fine.
Miguel Lopez: God, that's a horrible tandem, too.
Dad: Gronk Hernandez was a killer tandem, let me tell you.
Albert Nava: So now going back to ah ah free, other than obviously that big splash in free agency with Alec Pierce, what other free agency signings did you agree with, didn't agree with, or who are some players that you think the c Colts missed out on?
Miguel Lopez: I was very sad that the, the Colts traded away our, our, our captain linebacker, Zari, Zari Franklin led the league in a couple tackles, led the league in tackles.
Albert Nava: Oh, yeah, i saw that.
Miguel Lopez: I think either last year two years ago, he was a seventh round pick, a gem that Chris Ballard found, but we just, we couldn't afford it. We were so far or we were so above the cap that we had to just let people go.
Miguel Lopez: we only got a seventh rounder for him.
Dad: What can you tell me about the defensive end we got from you guys?
Miguel Lopez: And that's a
Dad: His name is escaping me.
Albert Nava: right here.
Miguel Lopez: Quidipe Quidipe out of Michigan I think he was drafted in 2018 Guy's very talented however just very inconsistent.
Albert Nava: Yeah.
Dad: Yes.
Albert Nava: couldn you pay
Miguel Lopez: That's why the Colts let him go He could be so good, but he just I think I can't even remember He never had double-digit s sacks with the Colts and was just never consistently applying pressure to the quarterback.
Dad: and Okay. Okay.
Albert Nava: well the cool thing is about he's if he's never been consistent he'll be uh consistent loser over here at the raiders so that that's that's we'll fix his consistency
Dad: Yes. all from this don those interesting
Miguel Lopez: What do you mean? You guys draft Heisman Heisdosa or whatever his nickname was?
Albert Nava: his toes ah Fernando Mendoza please
Miguel Lopez: you believe
Dad: is dosa
Albert Nava: Please save us. We need a Latino quarterback on the Las Vegas Raiders.
Miguel Lopez: Mendoza?
Dad: up on you we
Miguel Lopez: do you believe in ah mendosza
Albert Nava: i I think so.
Dad: yes
Albert Nava: I think he's ah he's a great prospect. a lot of people are trying to, um like, they they they the question is, like, where would you rank him in last year's draft, the last two-year drafts with Caleb Williams, Jaden Daniels, Drake May?
Dad: I'm looking at short stories. This is a short story.
Albert Nava: And, I mean, to to Mel Kuyper's rankings, he has him going fourth quarterback in those group of quarterbacks. that's To me, that's not terrible.
Albert Nava: Yeah.
Miguel Lopez: No, it's not.
Albert Nava: Jay Daniels has already gone to an NFC championship game. Drake may win to Super Bowl. Caleb Williams, ah was he lost a game before the um now the conference championship game. I mean, he's in great company.
Albert Nava: And I think the Raiders a lot to assure that his first year as a rookie Las Vegas, he's going be protected. going to have veterans running to help call protection.
Albert Nava: He's a great all-time win for new struggle.
Miguel Lopez: Hold on, Sam. You're going very slow.
Albert Nava: I'm going to stop.
Dad: Are you guys having a stroke?
Albert Nava: Is there a stroke?
Dad: Who's having a stroke over there?
Albert Nava: Is there a stroke? Is there a stroke?
Miguel Lopez: I think it's Sam.
Albert Nava: Is there a stroke?
Miguel Lopez: Okay.
Dad: Yes. Yeah, you sound funny, bro.
Albert Nava: Yes. Yes. Yes.
Albert Nava: thatendimous is your speaker
Dad: this many You sound like you've had a few.
Miguel Lopez: ah
