Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Welcome to our number two live right here on this Friday on the early line on
00:05Sports grid. He is Donnie right side
00:07I am Ben Stevens as we have shared from the very start you have heard of a football Friday
00:12This is really a college basketball Friday. We continue our previews all around
00:18conference tournament week
00:20Entering semifinal Friday in some spots
00:23Quarterfinal Friday in a few others with plenty of great action
00:28This is our final time speaking to you before the bracket is unveiled on
00:34Selection Sunday now just two days away everything at stake all those big dance
00:40Implications with tournament titles on the line this weekend. We will get you ready for but Donnie. It's also a football Friday
00:48I guess there was always NFL headlines to break down
00:51We will do that here to start off this second of three hours on TEL
00:56Yes, and I'm just looking at my schedule for the next coming week
00:59So on the road again by Willie Nelson is gonna be what your boy DRS will be doing which includes an early
01:05Monday morning start up at home Dell with my good friend Ben Scott Stevens
01:10But there's a lot before we get to that Monday show which is gonna be exciting because you just go
01:14Bracket by bracket let it sink in you're starting to fill out your brackets for the tournament making those educated decisions
01:21So much more has to be up in the air Friday Saturday and Sunday until we get there and by the way
01:27I didn't look at the Sunday schedule Ben who who's the latest like power five
01:31Is it still the big ten like who plays that?
01:32Yeah, right before the big ten and then it's still one of those things where the committee comes on
01:37It's like it didn't really matter who won that game
01:39We already have it slotted out and never ceases to hit home when I continue to hear that where it's like
01:43We couldn't wait for the big ten to get over. So we just slotted them as we thought that game should play out fantastic stuff
01:49There there are times the RS where big ten powers-that-be are like is it worth us to have this tournament title game here?
01:57Because of all the attention and the eyeballs that we can have kind of as that lead-in to the selection show
02:04Because the tournament committee basically has their bracket ready to go. Does the winner get a bump up a seed line?
02:11I guess we shall see some around the tournament committee selection
02:15The selection committee will tell you most of that bracket is already kind of ironed out a couple of moving pieces
02:21Maybe up or down a seed line here a team that could play their way in if they steal an automatic bid
02:27But a lot of it is already figured out by the time we reach
02:30Friday evening into Saturday and Sunday
02:33you would hope they keep an open mind and open eyes and ears to take in all the action that we are going to see and
02:41How impactful it should be over the next 72 hours Donnie
02:46Let's start in the NFL with some big headlines
02:48Of course made official on Wednesday afternoon the Rams unable to find a trade partner for Cooper Cup
02:55So they release Cooper Cup at the end of eight years in
02:59Los Angeles one of the great wide receiver seasons we had ever seen back in 2021 helping guide LA
03:06To a Super Bowl championship inside their own hate home stadium
03:10But at the age of 31 turning 32 before the start of next season
03:15What exactly is the market for cup interesting report early this morning from ESPN's Adam Schefter?
03:23developing a
03:24Sleeper team that has emerged and is now making a push to sign former Rams free agent wide receiver Cooper Cup is
03:32Dot-dot-dot the Dallas Cowboys per league sources Cubs decision on where to sign could come as early as today
03:40That was always the thought DRS that cup would not prolong his stay in free agency and would make his next destination known
03:49Rather shortly, but then this also from Adam Schefter within the last 25 minutes
03:55While the Cowboys made what one source described as a quote push for Cooper Cup
04:02They still are not considered the likely landing spot for the former Rams wide receiver per source
04:09So Schefter basically started a report and then ended his own report in contradiction
04:15Not entirely sure if the Dallas Cowboys are going to acquire Cooper Cup
04:19That's cuz he's got the three phones out at this point the agents going like boy
04:22I'm not drumming up enough business here for my client put the Dallas Cowboys in there and watch everybody go nuts
04:28Oh look Cowboys ran on it
04:29Oh, no said team better up their offer because the Cowboys got money to spend stop the madness at this point
04:34You look at Cooper Cup four to five years ago
04:36Fantastic wide receiver one of the best in the NFL now Cooper Cup just a name Cooper Cup at this point
04:42Does he move the needle is he the missing piece for a franchise organization like the Dallas Cowboys and also his asking price?
04:48Let's just say he wants over ten million dollars a year
04:50That's not money spent wisely when you're gonna have to pay about 50 million dollars a year to a non quarterback named Micah Parsons here
04:57So when you're trying to go battle for battle and he goes, you know what you get him cheap for a year or two
05:01Yeah, you might take it
05:02But if Cooper Cup is looking to ring that cash register anywhere near what he was making in Los Angeles
05:06That's not happening in the will is like to say buyer beware the Rams love this guy and go
05:11You know what? You're on the trade block. Ooh, no takers, which should tell you something
05:15We'll just cut you and there is an immediate signing back for big money on another football team that lets you know
05:21What the NFL actually thinks of Cooper Cup right now
05:24And that's the story to RS right to get Cooper Cup to help your wide receiver room to see if he has something left in
05:31The tank that makes a lot of sense for a team contending and might need an additional weapon on the outside
05:37I still believe if healthy because really injuries have more to three years for Cooper Cup since that
05:43Sensational and almost record-setting season in
05:462021 he can still make an impact for a team
05:50It's either number one wide receiver is he a top five wideout as he was at the end of 2021?
05:56Perhaps not an impact. I still think that is there but at the right price at fair market value
06:02Is he going to get in the double digits of million dollars?
06:05I'm not sure if you got him for five six seven million dollars. Would that make sense?
06:11Possibly the Andre Hopkins one-year six million dollar deal Devante Adams two-year
06:1746 million dollar deal for Los Angeles is Cooper Cup asking for something kind of smack-dab in the middle of that
06:24Maybe is he worth it?
06:26I think that's what NFL franchises are trying to figure out right now a couple of teams to keep an eye on
06:31The Broncos and the Dolphins were rumored right away to try to get Cooper Cup as a part of their team
06:37We'll see even with this push from the Dallas Cowboys
06:41Yeah, exactly
06:42You want him to go to a football team where he's not going to be the focus of the offense?
06:46Which means you shouldn't be commanding top dollar if that's not the case and the reason I brought up the Dolphins yesterday's works
06:52Perfectly really good wide at one side really good on the other. You're not getting the team's best cornerback in the slot
06:57Maybe you can earn your keep there and work over some of those slot cornerbacks
07:00But at the same time he's not going to be the go-to guy where you're shattering coverage over to so he's not gonna make an impact
07:05Oh, this is the missing piece. We needed we're looking for wide receivers. Let's go out and get Cooper Cup
07:10He's a piece of the puzzle if he can stay healthy
07:12He's a veteran guy that's had a past of getting open and making big catches in his career
07:17Let's just say he goes to the Dolphins and catches 35 to 40 passes next year
07:20That's probably a job well done
07:22Just keeping the chains moving not being the 13 targets 9 catches 110 yards and 2 touchdown guy that he was just a few short years
07:29ago
07:30Yeah, I don't think that will be what his production level is either DRS
07:34But yeah again if it makes sense at a fair price, I still think Cooper Cup could be a great
07:41Acquisition the Cowboys got their own issues like Donnie said paying Micah Parsons who got into a rather social media spat last night
07:49With his now former teammate along the d-line that being DeMarcus Lawrence who leaves Dallas after 11 years in four Pro Bowl seasons
07:57To go join the Seattle Seahawks yesterday in the Northwest
08:01Speaking with media there in Seattle said Dallas is my home. This is from DeMarcus Lawrence
08:07Dallas is my home, but I know for sure
08:10I'm not gonna win a Super Bowl there which led to Micah Parsons quote tweeting that of course
08:16Parsons very online as every good podcast host is saying this what rejection in
08:23Envy look like this some clown, you know, what stuff is what he called it and then DeMarcus Lawrence
08:31Responded to Parsons response calling me a clown won't change the fact that I told the truth
08:37Maybe if you spent less time tweeting and more time winning I wouldn't have left
08:43Awesome good offseason drama out of Big D
08:47Yeah, I think they're both right at that point, right?
08:49Rejection you're angry you left because you probably want to stay in Dallas because you live there but also being truthful going like yeah
08:54I can make good money somewhere else and not win Super Bowls like I'm doing in Dallas
08:58and by the way
08:58One of the best viral memes that went live last week was that dust storm or that sandstorm that caught caught up in, Texas?
09:04And somebody quote tweeting goes. Hey, it looks like the Dallas Cowboys opened up their trophy case
09:08Here is what the cause of that dust form was
09:12What a tweet people
09:14Could it be the Eagles to Lombardi's more on the other line?
09:18More NFL headlines from Thursday again
09:22We are early in the offseason free agency began on Monday officially in the league year
09:28As of Wednesday afternoon at 4 p.m. Eastern most of the big moves the RS that will move the needle
09:34Happened early on Monday afternoon, but still some pieces to figure out teams adding some reserves
09:39And of course, we wait on Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson who did interview yesterday with the Cleveland Browns
09:46They're in Berea, Ohio. How about some backup quarterbacks potentially backup quarterbacks finding a new home?
09:53For sure a backup in Kansas City Gardner Minshew signing with the Chiefs
09:58He will be the backup for Mahomes in KC
10:01This is an interesting one Mason Rudolph back with the Steelers where of course
10:06He spent six seasons from 2018 to 2023
10:10Started 13 games in total including a playoff game just two NFL seasons ago in the Steel City
10:18He's now back in Pittsburgh and Donnie frankly, he's the only quarterback they currently have
10:24Yeah, I think the other ones what Skylar Thompson just looking at the the Ross here
10:27So basically, yeah, he is the only quarterback they have you need backups because you're waiting who that starting quarterback is going to be
10:34He came cheaply right around what a backup typically costs, but we're waiting for the other shoe to drop
10:38Does that mean that Mason Rudolph is the guy in the room where?
10:41He's gonna start maybe early in the season if you draft a rookie or he's gonna be the backup
10:45That's not gonna challenge the rookie or is it Aaron Rodgers who knows he's not gonna get a challenge from Mason Rudolph
10:50There's a lot left to be decided in Pittsburgh
10:52But the one thing you understand is you need some quarterbacks
10:55So Rudolph comes to town is what looks like probably to be the backup. We're just waiting to see who's the actual starter now
11:01Yes, we will see and of course Aaron Rodgers is still out there and logically would make some sense
11:08For the Steelers the IRS you were saying you were reading reports
11:11That Rogers is upping his asking price as he feels as though he is significant enough to do that at this stage of his career
11:19And I guess he is because there's quarterbacks that are factoring on that
11:23He probably want to play for him and you're supposed to play two teams off
11:26But when you're a quarterback that detonated an entire franchise with an opportunity to actually get on a team with maybe playoff
11:33Aspirations and you're saying I want a little bit more money as the route
11:36I would have taken get me in there Pittsburgh sign me to a vet minimum when we're six and two
11:41I expect the bag to come my way if we're two and six cut me
11:44I'll retire and I'll walk on the beach in sweatshirts and you know
11:49Afghans and you know headphones and I'll be done with my career at this point now, that's what I would have done
11:54So the fact that we're out here negotiating on I went more of a salary Aaron based on what do you want a new salary?
12:00How about that? I don't know
12:03It's not the same Aaron Rodgers folks after 20 NFL seasons at the age of
12:0941 years old the Raiders add the veteran running back in Raheem. Ostert a good signing
12:14I guess in Vegas if that really does much for you
12:18But here's the question Donnie for teams like the Steelers right Pittsburgh is a playoff team
12:23We know the story under Mike Tomlin 18 NFL seasons as the head coach in the Steel City
12:28Never a losing record never fewer than eight wins and even with
12:32Questionable QB play the last half decade including the final few years of Big Ben's tenure
12:38Pittsburgh has been a playoff team four of the last five seasons, but that's not good enough anymore in Pittsburgh
12:45Probably was never good enough
12:46They want to contend for championships either in the AFC or for a Super Bowl overall
12:53New conference odds available on the FanDuel Sportsbook the Steelers a
12:5826 to 1 price with the addition of Aaron Rodgers even move that number up
13:03Maybe a tad I wouldn't bet it and Donnie not a surprise to see those three teams at the top
13:08The Chiefs would not be a reigning Super Bowl champ
13:11They will still be the reigning AFC champ for a third consecutive season plus
13:16330 the Ravens and the Bills just behind plus 350 price
13:20Yeah, it should be interesting to see where the Chiefs end up
13:23But they should be the favorites starting out and if we are healthy at the wide receiver position next year
13:27I do like that weaponry here. You also get another year out of Kelsey
13:30Maybe he comes back more reinvigorated based off that terrible Super Bowl performance
13:34But as you go down that list you are looking at an interesting number on the Steelers at 26 to 1 and then gets getting
13:39Back to who that quarterback is going to be. It's not gonna shift all that much
13:42I think it's baked in as we probably think Steelers are already getting, you know
13:46Their quarterback in Aaron Rodgers should they want him?
13:49But the funny part about it is like is Aaron what I don't know what the details are right now
13:53But let's just say the franchises are two million dollars apart
13:57Like Aaron Rodgers gonna choose the Giants for two million dollars more knowing his or no shot to do anything there and all the money
14:04Has not like hey, man, let's get back. I lost all my money in terrible investments
14:08I need to make every bit of dollars I can make that's not the case
14:10At least we don't think it's the case with Aaron Rodgers right now
14:13So I think that 26 to 1 is baked in there the Texans sort of a rebrand on their offensive line the Bengals at plus 850
14:19I want nothing to do with that franchise whatsoever, but the Chiefs Ravens Bills they should be up there all close to each other. I agree
14:26Donnie that was the story last year right the tier of three as it emerged throughout the NFL
14:31Season after the Bengals fell off and we were kind of figuring out who would be those wild-card teams around this conference
14:38It was the tier of three
14:40Closely separated throughout the entirety of the regular season and certainly into the playoffs in my opinion
14:46KC should always have the edge
14:48Until they are proven not to be the top team in the AFC the Ravens still have plenty of
14:54postseason questions to be figured out and until Buffalo slays their
14:58Postseason nemesis and that dragon in KC the Chiefs should be in front. I would love to bet the Bengals
15:05I would but now they're apparently asking too much for Trey Hendrickson
15:10So they can't even trade him away to get value if they are not going to extend him
15:15Until I see what the Bengals are going to be come late August early September. I think it's an unbettable price
15:22Yeah, let's just say Hendrickson is gone and they do re-sign T Hagan. So I don't think they will end Jamar chase
15:27I'm not betting the plus 850. What did they get better? The defense is an absolute sieve at this point
15:31So nowhere near going through that. How about the Buffalo Bills though?
15:34I do like the fact that they added the extra pass rusher Josh Allen got that comfort of the long-term deal
15:38They should be obviously major players
15:40But you know what?
15:41I saw a podcast going around with Keon Coleman yesterday or we know I don't know if it was actually yesterday the day before but
15:46I saw the videos yesterday where he was unhappy with the combine. So what do you want to change about it?
15:52Well, you know the certain interviews and one of the main points was it's in Indy
15:56I mean at least put it in Texas. Oh man new fan of Keon Coleman the guy gets it man
16:01He absolutely gets it had no idea where that was going
16:05Keon Coleman got in trouble at the combine for eating fruit snacks. Shut out Keon Coleman great sense of humor
16:11Now Keon Coleman is a boy from the South
16:13But I would expect more from a man that also played at Michigan State to start off his career
16:19Even on MSU's basketball team probably even suited up for Izzo and a Big Ten tourney in
16:26Indianapolis Keon you should know better
16:29Really really should all right DRS now we get to the NFC side of things and those conference title odds up next on TEL
16:37New conference odds available around the National Football League on this Friday. We bring it to you here on the early line
16:45We looked at the AFC title odds. No real surprises same kind of story
16:49I think you could say in the NFC the reigning Super Bowl champs who have won
16:54Two NFC championships in the last three seasons the Philadelphia Eagles a three-to-one price to Detroit Lions
17:01second best number at plus 480 but a dollar and 80 cent gap in the
17:06AFC three teams the Chiefs Bills and Ravens all separated by just
17:1120 cents and then even a steeper drop-off following Detroit to the 49ers at a plus
17:17650 number commanders plus 850 Rams 10 to 1 Packers 11 to 1 as well
17:23Donnie frankly when you look at those places, they're not a ton of surprises again from our playoff teams a year ago
17:30The team that is not featured the Minnesota Vikings now a new era with JJ McCarthy
17:36Undercenter and the team that has risen back up the ranks as the odds makers have loved the last half decade around the NFC
17:43That would be the San Francisco 49ers at a plus 650 number
17:47Yes, San Francisco's misplaced for me to this the Eagles Lions fine
17:50One-two punch there argue me that you could say the Lions are really talented as well
17:54And they are the Eagles just have the pedigree the quarterback coming back the offense intact
17:58They should get the nod and I do agree with that the commanders on the come up here improving their team at a plus 850
18:03Price keep in mind, even though they got waxed in the NFC championship game
18:06They still made it to the NFC championship game
18:09Which is something the Lions didn't have the Rams making those moves a talented front seven now bringing Devante Adams
18:14You're bringing Matthew Stafford back another year with Puka Nikola
18:17That team is on the come up as well. And then the Packers had an 11 to 1 price
18:20Well, I do think or a very good team all the way
18:23Let's just see who they try to you know, go through the draft or make some of those changes
18:26So for me I go like not in the particular order, but it would be Eagles Lions
18:30Commanders Rams Packers then the 49ers plus 650 price. Look I understand the talent is there
18:37But the argument I was trying to make yesterday where the the evolution of the Niners franchise has always been great play caller
18:43Unbelievable talent on both sides. I look at the defense now I go
18:48Okay, there's they're still good
18:50and I look at the offense and go is
18:51Christian McCaffrey with a big question mark gonna be that back of the future that we thought he was just two years ago and if
18:57He's not where does that leave this team Debo?
19:00Sammy was a great product at wide receiver who's fell off a cliff
19:03He's not even there anymore and brand now you're coming off a knee injury
19:06He's supposed to just go back to be a 13 or 1400 yard wide receiver on the one side
19:10I'm just not buying it for the 49ers a lot of respect in the market that right now. I just don't see
19:16You know Donny it is really fascinating because the oddsmakers have loved San Francisco
19:21I said that so many times and I think at first it was justified
19:24They had played in four or five
19:26NFC championship games with two Super Bowl appearances to show for it in the five NFL seasons
19:32Prior to last year even coming up short against the Chiefs for a second year in that five-year window in the biggest of all
19:39football games in a Super Bowl
19:41They started last offseason as the Super Bowl favorites in front of Kansas City. I thought that was flawed
19:49They ended up being co-favorites by the time
19:512024 did get underway, but it was a precarious offseason last year for San Francisco. It feels a little bit more
20:00Precarious this time around shaky if you would use that word. I am NOT
20:05Entirely sure why San Francisco is where they are
20:10Except the oddsmakers power ratings that have followed Sam Fran for the last three to four seasons
20:16I don't think that's a bettable price. I don't think the 49ers are the best team in their own division
20:21I would give the Rams certainly that advantage and Donnie. I really do wonder about Detroit. I
20:29Really wonder about the Lions because the Lions players are
20:33Largely the same from a season ago in the past two years that have been historic and overwhelmingly successful
20:39For this Detroit franchise, but the Lions coordinators are very very different and two very talented coordinators
20:47Of course that have now taken on head coaching endeavors
20:50If there is not that coordinator drop-off the Lions will be right there and I think they present value
20:55I'm not sure I would bet it right now
20:57But there is a chance if the Lions start off September 3 and 0 4 and 0 5 and 0 that number is gone in
21:04an instant
21:06Yeah, that team looks tremendous on paper and it does and for me last year early in the season September October November before the injuries
21:12Really started to pile up
21:13I thought this was a team that was going to get to the Super Bowl out of the NFC even over my favorite team the
21:18Philadelphia Eagles and even into the playoffs catching a break where Washington goes in that absolutely lays the wood
21:23To the Detroit Lions which allowed the Eagles to have home field advantage in the NFC Championship game against, Washington
21:29Those were big steps here
21:30So when you look at on paper just getting those healthy players back Detroit should be a menace, but you're right
21:35Yeah, the best play caller in the NFL is no longer there
21:38You might just see these guys are used to the system and they'll be just fine at this point
21:42But when you're making those big-time calls when you need to stay aggressive and those plays have to work
21:46Ben Johnson 9 out of 10 times came up with a dime play. Maybe that's not there this year