Thursday Night Tailgate

On this week's show, we're joined by former Titans Pro Bowl DB Blaine Bishop, former Patriots Pro Bowl RB Tony Collins, Sirius/XM NFL Radio Host Zig Fracassi, and former Chiefs & Bucs DB Charles Mincy. We start our time with Blaine Bishop talking about his early playing days in high school at Cathedral High in Indianapolis. Blaine then shares why he started his college days at St. Joseph's College but transferred to Ball State a year later to fulfill his dream of playing Division 1 college football. He played so well there that he's now in their Sports Hall of Fame. We talk about his rookie season with the then Houston Oilers including his first career interception off Steve Young and then playing against Joe Montana and the Chiefs in the playoffs. We also get his memories of the rivalry between the Oilers and the Steelers. Tony Collins leads us through our 5 Star Picks of the Week for the Wildcard Round of the playoffs. Zig Fracassi shares his thoughts on what we saw in the National Championship game between Georgia and TCU. We also get his thoughts on the Cowboys/Bucs upcoming playoff game, if San Francisco would consider going back to Jimmy G. if he's healthy, and the incredible start by the Boston Bruins in the NHL. Charles Mincy shares stories from his college days at the University of Washington and their win over Iowa in the 1990 Rose Bowl. We got his thoughts on USC and UCLA leaving the PAC-12 for the BIG-10. We moved on to his days playing for the Chiefs and what it was like having a coaching staff that included Bill Cowher, Tony Dungy, Herm Edwards, Bruce Arians, and Marty Schottenheimer. We also discussed their 4 consecutive appearances in the playoffs in the early to mid-90s and why they came up short.

NFL Legends Leonard Wheeler & Tony Collins Plus the Dean of Atlanta Sports Talk Radio Beau Bock & Pittsburgh Broadcast Legend John Steigerwald Join Us... Beau Bock shares his thoughts on the Falcons season and shares why he believes they are going in the right direction. He also talks Hawks, Braves, and the need for better sports media in Atlanta. Tony Collins leads us through our 5 Star Picks of the Week for Week 18 in the NFL. Leonard Wheeler played in the NFL from 1992 to 1999 for the Bengals, Vikings, and Panthers. He shares his thoughts on all 3 of those teams. He tells us why the Bengals are going to be tough to beat in the playoffs. He talks about the enigma that is the Vikings and the situation going on in Carolina with their QBs and the vacancy at Head Coach. Leonard is one of our all-time favorites and you'll hear why. John Steigerwald is a media legend in Pittsburgh. He's from Pittsburgh and has been covering sports there for over 45 years. He talks about witnessing Roberto Clemente do something in 1956 that hadn't been done before or since. He talks about walking out on Bob Gibson's no-hitter that he pitched in against the Pirates in 1971 and why Bob Nutting isn't to blame for the state of Pirates, Major League Baseball is.

In this episode, we're joined by baseball legend Fred Lynn, former Patriots Pro Bowl RB Tony Collins, former Dodgers GM Fred Claire, and former Lions & Cowboys Kicker Eddie Murray. Fred Lynn shares stories from his college days at USC, winning 3 straight College World Series, and the day they came back from 7-0 down in the bottom of the 9th to beat the University of Minnesota who had Dave Winfield on the mound. We also get his thoughts on what the Red Sox need to do in order to get back into the AL East race next season, and the state of today's HR or strikeout game. Tony Collins leads us through our 5 Star Picks of the Week... Former Dodgers GM Fred Claire shares his thoughts as well on the game today. We get Fred's thoughts on player salaries, ticket prices, and the game pricing the average family out of being about to attend live games. We also go back to the origin of Dodger Blue, opening day in 1977, finally beating the Yankees in the 1981 World Series, and his battle with cancer.  Eddie Murray shares his excitement about the Lions surging toward the playoffs. Eddie talks about playing with 2 of the premier RBs in League history, Billy Sims and Barry Sanders, plus what he's doing now with the Hope Network. 

Off the microphone, Christine Lisi is a huge Buffalo sports fan and a tremendous baker. She shares her thoughts on the Sabres season so far and their emerging young star Tage Thompson. We also get her thoughts on the Bills, RB Devin Singletary, the big home-field advantage they have in January, and not being able to watch the Super Bowl highlight films that ESPN replays every year during Super Bowl week. Tony Collins leads us through our 5 Star Picks of the Week for Week 15. Gus Frerotte talks about his new venture with the NFL Alumni. We get his thoughts on two of his former teams, the Commanders and the Vikings. Plus we get his thoughts on Keny Pickett and whether is it better for a rookie QB to sit and learn his first year versus learning on the job. Jim Everett joins us and shares his insights on how Baker Mayfield was able to sign with the Rams on Monday, arrive in LA on Tuesday, and start on Thursday. He tells how the Coaches and Baker found a play scheme he was familiar with and played the game in the 2-minute offense. Jim also shares his thoughts on whether it was worth it for the Rams to mortgage the future to win it all last year and the extent of the injury to Matthew Stafford. Plus, could we see Jim Everett with a headset on pacing the sidelines one day soon?

NFL Legends OJ McDuffie, Tony Collins, Don Beebe, & Mark Collins Join Us...

In this week's episode we are joined by former Pitt and Chiefs Pro Bowl DT Bill Maas, Indiana State Hall of Famer and former Chargers, Saints, Vikings, & Giants FS Vencie Glenn, and former UNC and Dolphins LB Dwight Holler. Plus, former Patriots Pro Bowl RB Tony Collins leads us through our 5 Star Picks of the Week and check out our Spotlight on the Positive segment to hear 2 more great stories of players making a positive impact in their communities.

In this episode, we're joined by Pittsburgh Sports Talk Radio Host Paul Alexander, former Patriots Pro Bowl RB Tony Collins, FAMU Head Coach Willie Simmons, & former Dolphins Pro Bowl LT Richmond Webb. Paul Alexander shares his insights on the Steelers coaching staff, how much longer OC Matt Canada is likely to be around, Kenny Pickett's development, how important TJ Watt is to the defense, and the surprising lack of targets George Pickens receives. Tony Collins leads us through our 5 Star Picks for Week 11 in the NFL. We go through: Jets at Patriots, Cowboys at Vikings, Bengals at Steelers, Chiefs at Chargers, and 49ers at Cardinals. Florida A&M Head Coach Willie Simmons is back and we talk through the great season they're having. They've won 8 in a row and are currently ranked #24 in the FCS. We hear about their big rivalry with Bethune Cookman and their upcoming match-up in the Florida Classic. We also talk about recruiting against Deion Sanders, what it means to put on the FAMU uniform, and his passion for developing great young men who are positive influences in their communities. Richmond Webb shares his insights into this year's Dolphins team. We talk about the great WRs he played with and what he's seeing from Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. We talk about the growth he's seeing from Tua. We also talk about the pressure he was under being a 1st round draft pick expected to not only start right away but also protect Dan Marino's blindside.

NFL Legends Greg Lloyd and Delvin Williams, Plus Guardian Caps Founders Lee & Erin Hanson Join Us... Greg Lloyd shares his disdain for "this game you call football now." We also get his thoughts on the current state of the Steelers, plus we get the story behind his now famous "I wasn't hired for my disposition" t-shirt.  Delvin Williams talks about his college career at the University of Kansas and talking with the 2 star RBs that came before him, Gale Sayers and John Riggins. We hear about what it was like growing up poor in Houston's 5th Ward, being drafted by the 49ers, the hurt feelings when they traded him to Miami so San Francisco could trade for OJ, and the difficulty of being suddenly retired when you're cut and the phone doesn't ring again. Lee & Erin Hanson take us back to when and why they designed Guardian Caps which you see now on every helmet during training camp and practice. We hear about the long journey to getting their device approved by the colleges and the NFL, plus other safety-related products they're working on.

Leonard Marshall, Tony Collins, Mike Pritchard, Mark Collins, & Vance McDonald Join Us... Leonard Marshall started off talking about his admiration of former AFL star DT Ernie Ladd, who it turns out was married to Leonard's second cousin. We also get his thoughts on the Giants hiring Bryan Cox as a new Assistant Defensive Line Coach, what the Giants need to do in order to compete for an NFC East Division title, why LSU had to fire Head Coach Ed Orgeron, and why Leonard isn't in the Giants Ring of Honor. We wrapped up our season Prognostication Championship with Tony Collins this week. Tony fell just short, being caught from behind by Bob for this year's title after Tony went with the Bengals in the Super Bowl. Mike Pritchard shared his thoughts on the Super Bowl and what makes Cooper Kupp such a great WR. He also shares his insights on the Raiders season, and how fragile success is in the NFL. Mark Collins talked about his memories of winning 2 Super Bowls with the Giants in 1986 & 1990. Mark also talked about what it was like dealing with the extended half-times in Super Bowls, what has driven him to be successful in college, the NFL, and broadcasting. We also get some happy memories of his block that sprung George Martin's 75 yard pick-six against Denver and his own 78 yard pick-six against former teammate Jeff Hostetler when Mark was in Kansas City and Jeff was with the Raiders. Vance McDonald rounded out the show. We talked with Vance about how he ended up playing his college ball at Rice. We also hear about his day as a long snapper, and what it was like being drafted by the 49ers as they were coming off the loss to the Ravens in the Super Bowl. Vance also the story of when he found out he was traded to the Steelers, the Steelers/Ravens rivalry, his legendary stiff arm on the Bucs Chris Conte, and why he walked away from the game at age 31.

Singer/Song Writer Kevin Chalfant, former Patriots Pro Bowl RB Tony Collins, Yale Head Coach Tony Reno, and Steelers Legend Rocky Bleier join us. Kevin Chalfant is the former Lead Singer of the Journey spin-off band The Storm. Kevin is currently touring with The Voices of Rock Radio and took time from that to join us. Kevin is a Chicago native and we get his thoughts on the Bears season, his admiration for Tom Brady, and the Cubs who broke his heart growing up. We also learn about his relationship with several members of Journey and my hope that one day he's fronting the band. Tony Collins shares memories from his experience playing in Super Bowl XX against the Bears plus leads us through our picks for the Super Bowl.  Yale Head Coach Tony Reno shares his thoughts on last season and what it will take to win the Ivy League title in '22. We hear his thoughts on the privilege of not only playing for Yale but going to school there as well. We also hear how he recruits athletes with a passion for football who also meet the school's educational qualifications. Finally, we discuss how he teaches his players to represent the University and themselves when they're away from the football field. Rocky Bleier talks about rekindling the Super Bowl memories every year at this time. We hear about the miserable weather conditions when they beat the Houston Oilers in the 1979 AFC Championship. We talk about how the Rams in '79 were actually the first team to have a Super Bowl home game. They played in the LA Colisseum which was 30 minutes from the Rose Bowl, the site of Super Bowl XIV. In that game, the Rams not only had home-field advantage, they also had 3 former Steelers coaches on their staff. Rocky talks about having to face the coaches that knew them. We also hear about the TD he scored in Super Bowl XIII that came on a broken play, plus Bradshaw's disdain for short passes.

NFL Legends Shawn Wooden, Tony Collins, Ed Marinaro, & Blaine Bishop Join Us... Shawn Wooden played his college ball at Notre Dame and he shares the story of how Joe Paterno actually helped him get attention from several Division 1 schools but resulted in him accepting a scholarship to Notre Dame over Penn State. We also hear about: his big play that saved the game against #1 Florida State, how he played the latter part of that game with a torn ACL, the nastiness that goes on at the bottom of the pile when you recover a fumble, his 2 interceptions off Jim Harbaugh in a game against the Colts in 1997, and what it was like playing alongside Dolphins legends like Louis Oliver and Zach Thomas. Former Patriots Pro Bowl RB Tony Collins shares memories from his Pro Bowl experience in 1983. We hear about legends like Tony Dorsett, Earl Campbell, Jack Lambert, and others he played with or got to spend time with that week. Plus, how his Patriots Head Coach Raymond Berry, kept them away from the media as they prepared for the 1985 AFC Championship game. Ed Marinaro talked about his college days playing at Cornell, breaking the college all-time rushing record, playing in Super Bowls 8 & 9 with the Vikings, going against the Purple People Eaters in practice, going home to New York to play for the Jets alongside Joe Namath, and his transition to acting. Blaine Bishop talked about how he ended up playing his college ball at Ball State, what the transition was like going from there to playing for the Houston Oilers and Defensive Coordinator Buddy Ryan, trying to make a name for himself as a rookie going against Warren Moon, Ernest Givings, Haywood Jeffires, and Webster Slaughter at practice, and what it was like facing Joe Montana and the Chiefs in the playoff during his rookie year.

What a fun showing getting to spend time with Chris Miller, Tony Collins, Trai Essex, & Russell Baxter. Chris Miller shares his thoughts on the Rams/49ers game, rookie QBs starting right away versus sitting for a season or two learning from a veteran QB, and the differences in the game from the 80s & 90s to today. Tony Collins leads us through our 5 Star Picks of the Week plus shares memories from the Patriots 1985 season including their 17-year drought of losing to the Dolphins in Miami which ended with the '85 AFC Championship game. Former Northwestern and Steelers Offensive Lineman Trai Essex made his TNT debut. Trai shared the funny story of why he was transitioned from playing TE to Tackle at Northwestern following his affinity for the chicken sandwiches in their cafeteria. He also talks about playing alongside Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh and Ben's retirement announcement this week. We also got his memories of Super Bowl 43 and his lone game playing Center in 2011 which earned him a game ball from Mike Tomin. NFL Stats Guru Russell Baxter shared the facts and numbers behind both Conference Championship games and the final 4 teams. We also talked about comparing QBs from different eras and what the Steelers need to do over the offseason.  

NFL Legends Marco Coleman, Tony Collins, Rick Upchurch, & Kerry Glenn Join Us... Marco Coleman talks about his time playing at Georgia Tech for Bobby Ross and their 1990 National Championship. We also get his thoughts on the Dolphins firing Brian Flores, why college coaches have a hard time making the transition to the NFL, and a look ahead to the new defensive recruits he has coming in as the D-Line Coach at Georgia Tech. Tony Collins leads us through our 5 Star Picks of the Week for the Division Round of the playoffs. Rick Upchurch shares his thoughts on the Broncos firing their Head Coach Vic Fangio. We also hear about how he was able to be so successful as a Punt and Kick Returner, the first TD pass he caught as a Bronco in his very first game, and the pain the WRs endured trying to catch passes from John Elway during Elway's rookie season. Kerry Glenn shares his thoughts on the Dolphins firing Brian Flores, what it was like playing on both sides of the Dolphins/Jets rivalry in the 80s, and the pick he had against Bernie Kosar and the Browns in 1990.

Former Steelers, Jaguars, Browns RB George Jones, former Patriots RB Tony Collins, former Steelers TE/FB Matt Cushing, & Rams Legend LeRoy Irvin Join Us... George Jones shares his story of growing up without a father or any parental guidance, being adopted by a friend's parents, going from Greenville, South Carolina to playing Junior College football all the way across the country at Bakersfield College in California, then on to breaking Marshall Faulk's records at San Diego State, and finally being drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tony Collins leads us through our 5 Star Picks of the Week for the Wild Card round of the playoffs. Matt Cushing talks about his college days playing at the University of Illinois. He shares stories from the 6 times the Pittsburgh Steelers cut him, brought him back due to his willingness to learn multiple positions, and his thoughts on the Steelers/Chiefs playoff game. LeRoy Irvin talks about what it was like being drafted by the Rams following their appearance in the 1979 Super Bowl, what it was like trying to make it on a defense featuring multiple future Hall of Famers, what it was like covering Jerry Rice for a decade, and how their DBs recognized QB & WR tendencies, formations, and play calls.

NFL Legends Don Beebe, Tony Collins, Randy Cross, and Todd Steussie join us on this episode of Thursday Night Tailgate. Don Beebe is now the Head Coach at Aurora University outside of Chicago. He led them to an (8-2) regular season and a berth in the D3 playoffs. They finished the season ranked #22. He talks about their success this season and being on the verge of doing something really special. We also hear about his time playing with the Bills, what made Marv Levy such a special coach, the prank they pull on WR Russell Copeland, and his prediction for this year's Super Bowl. Tony Collins leads us through our 5 Star Picks of the Week for Week 18. Randy Cross shares his memories from his college playing days at UCLA and their improbable wins over USC in 1975 and beating undefeated and #1 ranked Ohio State in the 1976 Rose Bowl. We also hear about his draft day experience, how Bill Walsh was able to turn them around from a team that won a total of 8 games in 1979 & '80 into a Super Bowl Champion in 1981. Todd Steussie talks to us about life after football, the depression he and many of his peers go through when their time in the game is over, and how going back to school and earning multiple Masters degrees took that away. We also hear about what it's like playing a Super Bowl if it turns into just another game once the ball is kicked off, and the lasting emotional impact losing it has had including never wanting to wear or look at the NFC Champions ring he got while playing with the Carolina Panthers. 

Multi Time Emmy Award Winner Ross Greenburg, former Patriots RB Tony Collins, College Football Hall of Famer E.J. Junior, & former University of Illinois star QB Johnny Johnson Jr. join us...

NFL Legends Levon Kirkland & Burt Grossman + Sirius/XM Host Zig Fracassi Join Us. Levon Kirkland shares his thoughts on the Steelers defense, their Inside LB Devon Bush, the 90s defense he was a part of, and why teams use a prevent defense late in games. Burt Grossman shares his thoughts on his alma the University of Pittsburgh and their ACC Championship season. We also hear about some of the great players he played with at Pitt like Tony Siragusa and Steelers DB Coach Teryl Austin and his relationship with Leslie O'Neal in San Diego. Sirius/XM Host Zig Fracassi shares his insights on the Cowboys, Bills, Bengals, Browns, Patriots, & Chiefs.

This week our guests are NFL Legends Tony Collins, Greg Lloyd, Vencie Glenn, plus Florida A&M Head Coach Willie Simmons... Florida A&M Head Coach Willie Simmons talks about their successful season finishing in the Top 25 of the FCS Division 1-AA plus his real purpose of coaching young kids and molding them into responsible, successful men. Former Patriots RB Tony Collins leads us through our 5 Star Picks of the Week. Steelers Legend Greg Lloyd joins us in this segment. Greg shares his thoughts on players wearing his number, this year's Steelers defense, and Chase Claypool saying what the Steelers need to do is play music at practice to make it more fun. Greg's response: "WRs don't get to talk." At the next practice, the rest of the defense would be telling him, "Don't do it G...don't do it." Vencie Glenn picked up right where Greg Lloyd left off telling like it is. Hear his insights on the brand of football players now, what allowed him to make 37 career interceptions, and what it was like for him to get an INT against the Chargers, the season after they let him go.

NFL Legends Tony Collins, Wendell Davis, and Jeff Reed plus the Dean of Atlanta Sports Talk Radio Beau Bock join us...

We celebrate the 10th anniversary of the show by inducting 3 more great guests into our Guest Hall of Fame: former Steelers DB Randy Fuller, former Jets Safety Victor Green, and Pro Football Hall of Fame Board Member James Allen. Plus former Patriots RB Tony Collins joins us for our 5 Star Picks of the Week and long time friends Levon Kirkland and Jim Everett stop by to help us celebrate.

NFL Legends Randy Minniear, Tony Collins, and Richmond Webb Plus Pittsburgh Sports Talk Radio Host Paul Alexander Join Us... Randy Minniear shares his memories of playing alongside great QBs like Bob Griese, Fran Tarkenton, and Earl Morrall. We also hear the incredible story of Purdue QB Mike Phipps who was drafted in the first round by the Miami Dolphins in 1970, then traded to Cleveland for Hall of Fame WR Paul Warfield. After several less than stellar seasons, Cleveland traded him to Chicago for their #1 pick in 1977 which they used to draft Ozzie Newsome. Tony Collins leads us through our 5 Star Picks of the Week for Week 8. Paul Alexander, Pittsburgh Sports Talk Radio Host, shares his insights on the Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins. Richmond Webb shares his thoughts on his alma mater Texas A&M and his expectations for the rest of their season. We also hear about his years playing Left Tackle for the Miami Dolphins, in particular, pass protecting for Dan Marino, and how frequently they faced the blitz because the defense knew Marino wasn't a mobile QB.

What a HUGE thrill getting to talk with Frank Jasper who played Brian Shute in one of my all-time favorite movies Vision Quest. Frank takes us inside the movie and what it was like being a part of something that has inspired people for generations now. He talks about how well the movie has stood the test of time, what it was like doing that famous scene of him climbing the bleachers holding the log behind his neck and filming the final wrestling scene with Matthew Modine. We also talked about the positive impact he continues to have on the lives of others teaching them proper diet and holistic medicine, plus the influence his father and Arnold Schwarzenegger had on his life. I had so much fun talking with Frank. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did.

What a HUGE thrill getting to talk with Frank Jasper who played Brian Shute in one of my all-time favorite movies Vision Quest. Frank takes us inside the movie and what it was like being a part of something that has inspired people for generations now. He talks about how well the movie has stood the test of time, what it was like doing that famous scene of him climbing the bleachers holding the log behind his neck and filming the final wrestling scene with Matthew Modine. We also talked about the positive impact he continues to have on the lives of others teaching them proper diet and holistic medicine, plus the influence his father and Arnold Schwarzenegger had on his life. I had so much fun talking with Frank. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did.

Hear Wendell Davis sharing his insights on his alma mater LSU plus what it was like being a member of the late 80s Bears. Former Steelers DB Randy Fuller takes us inside the mid-90s Steelers, and former MLB Infielder Kurt Bevacqua talks about today's game vs. the game in the 70s and 80s.

Former Stanford, Chargers, Dolphins, Vikings, and Saints WR Greg Camarillo joins us. Hear Greg sharing what it was like for him when he was cut and the phone didn't ring again. He was retired from the game, not because he had a tearful press conference and walked away, but because the game left him. Hear about the mental void the game leaves, the physical injuries left to deal with, plus pain killer addiction, and the rush from performing that is no longer is a part of your life...all at the age of 30.

Super Bowl 25 MVP Ottis Anderson shares stories from his college days at the University of Miami, the early days of his NFL career with the Cardinals, memories from Super Bowls 21 & 25, where he was when Scott Norwood attempted the game-winning FG, being surprised he was named MVP of the Super Bowl, and why we think he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.

On this episode of Thursday Night Tailgate we're joined by former Steelers and Jaguars Tackle Leon Searcy, former Patriots RB Tony Collins, and former Steelers Safety Lee Flowers. Hear Leon Searcy sharing his draft day story about a Cowboys representative showing up at his house, letting himself in, contract in hand, the Steelers drafting him ahead of the Cowboys, and the guy tearing up the contract and then walking out. Leon also talks about going against Kevin Greene every day at practice, what it was like playing for Bill Cowher ("the spit was flying"), plus a whole lot more. Tony Collins joins us and shares his stories from playing in Super Bowl XX, what it was like on the plane ride home and the reception from the fans in Boston when they landed. Lee Flowers made his TNT debut and told great stories from his college career at Georgia Tech, what it was like when he showed up at training camp with the Steelers in 1995 and trying to make a name for himself, the advice Rod Woodson gave him, and how he earned Bill Cowher's trust.

We'll look ahead to the Super Bowl with former Chiefs Kicker Nick Lowery, former Chargers DB Vencie Glenn, and former Patriots RB Tony Collins. Pro Football Hall of Fame Board Member James Allen will join us and we'll ahead to the 2021 Hall of Fame induction ceremony plus we'll hear what's new in Canton.

NFL Legends Don Beebe, Tony Collins, and Rocky Bleier talk NFL Playoffs, their Super Bowl experiences, plus look ahead to the year's game on this edition of Thursday Night Tailgate...

Steelers Legend Greg Lloyd shares his thoughts on the Steelers collapse, the state of tackling in the NFL, losing Kevin Greene and Tim Lester, and why he's not coaching.

This week we're joined by Steelers legend Greg Lloyd, Sirius/XM NFL Channel Host Zig Fracassi, and the Dean of Atlanta Sports Talk Radio Beau Bock. Plus former Patriots RB Tony Collins leads us through our 5 Star Picks of the Week for the Conference Championship games.  Greg Lloyd tells it like it is. He shares his unfiltered thoughts on the Steelers late-season collapse, calling their tackling "garbage". He also reacted to the passing of Kevin Greene and Tim Lester, plus talked about how the mindset of their 90's defense was to make guys want to quit playing football after having played them. Zig Fracassi shared his insights on where the Cowboys go from here plus whether Ben Roethlisberger and Drew Brees should follow Phillip Rivers into retirement and his thoughts on the AFC and NFC Championship games. Beau Bock shared his thoughts on all of the Atlanta sports franchises. He talked about being optimistic about the Falcons' new Head Coach and GM, why the Braves and the University of Georgia never seem to be able to get over the hump plus his outlook on the Hawks season.

Former Bills, Steelers, Cardinals LB, and newly inducted James Madison University Athletics Hall of Famers Arthur Moats joins us. Arthur talks about being inducted into the JMU Hall of Fame, what it was like playing for two of the most passionate fan bases in the NFL in Pittsburgh and Buffalo. He shares his insights into the Steelers end of season collapse, and looks ahead to the Bills/Ravens matchup.

Former Top Heavyweight Contender Gerry Cooney joins us. Gerry talks about his struggle growing up in an abusive household with his alcoholic father, how boxing was his way out, why he never got a rematch with Larry Holmes, their friendship that developed post-fight, and his book: "Gentleman Gerry...A Contender in the Ring...A Champion in Recovery".

NFL Legends Arthur Moats and Tony Collins Plus Colts Defensive Line Coach Brian Baker and former Top Heavyweight Contender Gerry Cooney join us. Arthur Moats talks about his alma mater James Madison University and being inducted into their Athletics Hall of Fame. He also shares his thoughts on the Steelers debacle against the Browns and his book, Moats Theory of Life which you can buy at www.moatstheory.com. Gerry Cooney talks about surviving his childhood with an abusive alcoholic father and why he and Larry Holmes never had a rematch. Brian Baker talks about his last 3 years coaching the Defensive Lines for Mississippi State, Alabama, and this season with the Colts. We also get his perspective on what makes Nick Saban such a successful coach and his life coming full circle from watching the Baltimore Colts leave his hometown to being part of the organization now.

This week in our Thursday Night Tailgate Spotlight on the Positive segment, hear about the great things Titans Safety Kevin Byard & Vikings QB Kirk Cousins are doing in their communities...

Victor Green, Jets All-Time Great, Shares His Thoughts on the Season, Adam Gase, & More...

We'll talk about the future of the Jets, the Eagles throwing the game, the chances for the Washington Football team, and a whole lot more with former Jets Safety Victor Green, Jets fan, and former Storage Wars Auctioneer John Luke, and former Washington QB Gus Frerotte.

This week we are joined by former Dolphins Pro Bowl Tackle Richmond Webb, former Patriots Pro Bowl RB Tony Collins, ESPN Legend Linda Cohn, and Pittsburgh Sports Radio Host Paul Alexander.  Richmond shares his thoughts on the Dolphins season so far plus if his Texas A&M Aggies belong in the college football playoffs. Tony Collins leads us through our 5 Star Picks of the Week in the NFL. Linda Cohn talks about playing goalie on the boy's hockey team in high school and the women's team at SUNY Oswego college. She also talks about which This is SportsCenter commercial was more fun the one with New York Rangers legends Henrik Lundquist and Mike Richter or the romance with Mr. Met. Finally, she shares her insights on the Giants and if they win this year's wacky NFC East.  Paul Alexander shares his insights on the Steelers including the gap created by Bud DuPree's injury and why it's Ben Roethlisberger and not Randy Fichtner to blame for the Steelers offensive woes. Finally in our Spotlight on the Positive segment hear about the great things Jonathan Allen and JuJu Smith-Schuster are doing to make a positive impact in their communities.

In this episode of Thursday Night Tailgate, we celebrate our 9th Anniversary by inducting 4 great guests and Legends into our Guest Hall of Fame: former Cowboys RB and Head Coach of the Broncos, Giants, and Falcons Dan Reeves, former Bucs Offensive Lineman and current Jets Offensive Line Coach Todd Washington, former Dolphins, Rams, and Chargers TE Randy McMichael, and former B.C. Lions WR Marco Iannuzzi. Hear them sharing stories from their careers plus insights into what's going on around the League.

We're talking Patriots, Falcons, Hockey, Miracle on Ice 40th Anniversary and much more with former Patriots RB Tony Collins, former USC, Falcons, and Rams RB Lynn Cain, and Sirius/XM Host Zig Fracassi, on this Edition of Thursday Night Tailgate.

Jim Craig, Goalie for the 1980 US Hockey team, best remembered for the Miracle on Ice victory over the then Soviet Union joins Thursday Night Tailgate. We talk with Jim about the games and moments leading up to the game against the Soviet Union. Bill Baker's goal to tie Sweden which changed everything. The wins over the Czech Republic, Norway, Romania and West Germany. The night of doing Herbies that was depicted in the movie Miracle. The final 10 minutes of the Soviet game after the US took the 4-3 lead and the gold medal game against Finland which if they hadn't won, they wouldn't have won, the Soviet Union still would have won the gold medal based on goal differential.

We look back at Super Bowl 54, plus talk Panthers, Bears, Falcons, Patriots and the Start of XFL 2.0 with former Panthers DB and current Head Coach of Campbell University Mike Minter, former Patriots RB Tony Collins, former Notre Dame and Bears LB Chris Zorich, and former Falcons and Rams QB and now Offensive Coordinator for the Houston Roughnecks Chris Miller.

This week on Thursday Night Tailgate we talk: Super Bowls past and present, prop bets for the game, LSU and the National Championship, Steelers, Bill Cowher getting into the Hall of Fame, and Chad Brown answers the Brady or Belichick question. In our Spotlight on the Positive segment hear about the great things Packer LB Blake Martinez is doing plus the Chiefs effort to help feed the hungry during the Souper Bowl Week of Caring benefiting Harvester.org.

We talk Chargers in LA, where do the Patriots and Tom Brady go from here, what do the Vikings and Broncos need to get over the hump, and what went wrong with XFL the first time around and can they avoid it this time with former Chargers DE Burt Grossman, former Patriots RB Tony Collins, former Vikings DT Keith Millard, and former Falcons, Broncos, and Seahawks WR Mike Pritchard. 

This week on the Thursday Night Tailgate we talk Steelers, Bears & the AFC & NFC Championship games with Curt Wootton (Pittsburgh Dad), Lead Singer of The Storm Kevin Chalfant, and AT&T Sports Net Pittsburgh Host Paul Alexander.

On this episode of Thursday Night Tailgate we'll hear what former DB J.T. Thomas thinks needs to happen with the Steelers this offseason. We'll go behind the camera with multi Emmy Award winning Producer and former President of HBO Sports Ross Greenburg. We'll hear about former Bills & Packers WR Don Beebe's first season as Head Coach of Aurora University plus get his playoff thoughts for both of his former teams. Former Patriots RB Tony Collins will lead us through our 5 Star Picks of the Week plus hear two more stories of players doing great things in their communities in our Spotlight on the Positive segment.

This week we're joined by former Falcons & Bengals TE Reggie Kelly, Super Agent Leigh Steinberg, and former Pirates 1B/OF Al Oliver. Plus, former Patriots Pro Bowl RB Tony Collins leads us through our 5 Star Picks of the Week for Week 16 in the NFL and in our Spotlight on the Positive segment hear about the great things that Travis Frederick of the Cowboys and Chiefs Tackle Greg Senat and our friend Mark Collins are doing in their communities.

We go deep inside the Falcons, Patriots, and Steelers with former Head Coach Dan Reeves, former Pro Bowl RB Tony Collins and 4 time Super Bowl Champion Rocky Bleier. Plus we'll cross over into boxing with former Heavyweight Contender Gerry Cooney and hear the heartbreaking story of a kid who hid in his own house from his abusive, alcholic father and rose up to fight for the Heavyweight Championship.

We talk about the state of the Falcons and go back to the glory days of the 1980s with former Pro Bowl QB Steve Bartkowski, we get insights into what's going on around the League with NFL Stats Guru Russell Baxter, and former Ohio State & Texans RB Jonathan Wells give us his thoughts on Ohio State opportunity to win a National Championship plus what it's like during Ohio State/Michigan week. Plus, former Patriots Pro Bowl RB Tony Collins leads us through our 5 Star Picks of the Week for Week 14 in the NFL.

We're talking Dolphins, Patriots, Steelers, and Pro Football Hall of Fame with former Dolphins Pro Bowl LT Richmond Webb, former Patriots Pro Bowl RB Tony Collins, AT&T Sports Net Pittsburgh Host Paul Alexander, and Pro Football Hall of Fame Board Member James Allen.

Yale Head Coach Tony Reno talks about their thrilling last minute comeback vs. Richmond, the play of their QB Kurt Rawlings, how they focus on players being true student athletes, and educating them on making smart decisions in life and with using social media. Tony Collins leads us through our 5 Star Picks of the Week for Week 8 in the NFL. Dennis McKinnon gets down and dirty about the '85 Bears. They were more than the 46 Defense. They had the same personnel, running the same defense before and after 1985, he tells us what the difference was that season. He also talks about blocking for Walter Payton and how protected Willie Gault was being a 1st round pick vs. players like him who rose up from being undrafted free agents. Drew Bledsoe shares his insights on his alma mater Washington State, how different the NFL is now vs. when he played, and why the Patriots are so good year after year regardless of the personnel. Also check out our Unsung Hero of the Week awards plus our Spotlight on the Positive segment to hear two more great stories of players making a positive impact in their communities.