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Lima presses Lance on why he refuses to just hand the starting job to the younger Shedeur Sanders, and Lance argues that judging Deshaun Watson based on his past struggles ignores that he's never taken a live snap in Todd Monken's new scheme, calling it confirmation bias in action. They debate whether draft status should earn a quarterback more leash, with Lance insisting Monken only cares about winning games in Jacksonville, not protecting a former first-round investment or appeasing a front office. Caller Chuck defends Shedeur's rough rookie stats by pointing to a shredded offensive line and a nonexistent receiving corps, and Lance agrees, saying he's not writing Shedeur off based on seven ugly games and expects him to take a real step forward this year. The two also praise Monken as an uncompromising, non-puppet coach who won't let front-office politics dictate who starts.
Lima and Lance riff on Deshaun Watson's hype video before Reisland breaks down what he's actually seen from Watson in camp: clean movement, extending plays, and a noticeably different spin on the ball, though he cautions none of it matters until there's live contact. They debate whether Shedeur Sanders "earned" his starts last year given he only played due to a chain of injuries and trades up the depth chart, with Lance grading his rocky, gutsy, inconsistent 2024 tape. Reisland explains Todd Monken's new offense is player-driven rather than system-driven, favoring both quarterbacks' ability to extend plays and get the ball to Judkins and Fannin.
Lima and Lance debate a Ross Tucker take suggesting Deshaun Watson should start the year with a short leash before handing the job to Shedeur Sanders, with Lima admitting he's already bracing for a wave of excuses if Shedeur struggles behind a rebuilt offensive line. Lance calls that thinking confirmation bias, insisting good coaches don't assume injury or failure and that whoever plays best wins the job, full stop, regardless of past baggage. Lima presses on whether any real Browns fan wants Watson to play well enough to earn a contract extension, and Lance admits it wouldn't bother him personally since he only cares about wins. A caller suggests intentionally starting Watson to "get his butt kicked" so Shedeur can take over on a settled line, which Lance rejects outright before breaking down how Todd Monken's run-first, man-versus-zone approach could help Shedeur take his next developmental step.
Coach Rizzo and the team explore the brewing quarterback controversy in Cleveland, debating whether Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders gives the franchise the best chance to win now. They evaluate Todd Monken's influence on the offense and reflect on Kevin Stefanski's track record with quarterbacks. The conversation concludes with an investigation into the Guardians' failure to sign second-round draft pick Logan Schmidt. 02:51 - Browns Quarterback Competition 06:45 - Deshaun Watson's Baggage 10:01 - Monken's Coaching Philosophy 12:35 - Stefanski's System Success 17:15 - Carson Wentz's Career 20:15 - Ross Tucker's Take 24:23 - Watson's Trade History 30:03 - Analyzing Offensive Schemes 35:44 - Logan Schmidt Draft Scandal
Anthony Lima is joined by Lance Riseland to analyze the Cleveland Browns' quarterback situation as training camp approaches. They discuss the potential for cap circumvention involving LeBron James' move to the Philadelphia 76ers. The discussion explores how Todd Monken's offensive philosophy might cater to the strengths of both Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. 03:13 - Coach Riz Introduction 09:06 - LeBron To The Sixers 13:14 - Alleged NBA Cap Circumvention 21:11 - Browns Quarterback Battle Begins 25:15 - Ross Tucker On Browns 32:52 - Watson Training Camp Hype 41:31 - Monken's Player Led Offense
Anthony Lima and Lance Reisland dig into how Reisland will actually cover Browns training camp, with Reisland arguing that stat-line graphics and charted throws mean nothing without practice context, since scripted reps, defensive coverage, and drill type all skew the numbers. They warn against confirmation bias shaping the Shedeur Sanders vs. Deshaun Watson quarterback battle before pivoting to a Ross Tucker soundbite calling the Browns' young core promising but still unproven at quarterback. Reisland pushes back on "future is bright" framing, insisting Todd Monken's only real focus is winning in Jacksonville, not age, draft capital, or 2027 quarterback prospects.
Lima and Daryl examine LeBron James' decision to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers and why the fit might turn into a disaster for the veteran superstar. They also preview Browns training camp in Berea, focusing on new offensive coordinator Todd Monken's intense coaching style. Finally, they discuss the Cavaliers' roster construction challenges under the new CBA and recent social media posts from current players. 02:10 - LeBron's Philadelphia Move 05:54 - LeBron's Knicks Plan A 09:14 - Cleveland's Post-LeBron Future 16:08 - Browns Training Camp Preview 19:25 - Todd Monken's Coaching Style 24:55 - Cavs' Offseason Trade Rumors 34:31 - Mocking Cavs Reunion Photos 39:45 - Comparing Altman and Gansey
Lima and Daryl Ruiter pivot from previewing Todd Monken's blunt, no-filter coaching style in Browns training camp to breaking down why the Cavs' offseason has stalled, explaining that the new CBA's second apron makes signing Jonathan Kuminga to the money he wants nearly impossible without a sign-and-trade. They debate whether trading away Max Strus, whom Lima compares to a young Matthew Dellavedova and Anderson Varejao, is worth it to get a needed athletic upgrade, while acknowledging the roster desperately lacks explosiveness and defensive versatility. The two also work through their complicated feelings on Donovan Mitchell's max contract, agreeing he's a needed scorer but not a true number one, and lean on the idea that 41-year-old LeBron and 37-year-old James Harden wouldn't have solved the team's youth and athleticism problem anyway.
The hosts on 92.3 The Fan preview the upcoming Cleveland Browns training camp and the fierce quarterback battle between veteran Deshaun Watson and rookie Shedeur Sanders. They debate how head coach Todd Monken will handle the decision and examine how fans might react depending on who gets the Week 1 nod.
Ken Carman and Anthony Lima analyze Shedeur Sanders' potential fit in Todd Monken's offense and whether he or Deshaun Watson is the better long-term choice. They debate the feasibility of LeBron James returning to the Cavaliers and potentially recruiting stars like Anthony Davis or Kyrie Irving. The conversation also covers a wild travel story involving a rental car ride from Detroit and recent NCAA eligibility decisions. 02:14 - Steven Kwan and Shedeur Sanders 07:05 - Shedeur Sanders and Todd Monken 10:53 - Adapting Systems to Players 14:00 - NCAA Eligibility and Personal History 19:12 - Chasing LeBron and Star Teammates 25:49 - LeBron James Decision Speculation 34:55 - Hitching Rides with Strangers
Ken and Anthony revisit their QB tiers bit, placing Jackson Dart alongside Shedeur Sanders in the unproven rookie category while pushing back on accusations that Ken is trolling Shedeur's fanbase by grouping him with unestablished names. They play cuts of Brady Quinn on Afternoon Drive arguing Watson is a better scheme fit for Todd Monken's offense than he was for Kevin Stefanski's, and that financial investment and experience make Watson the likely Week 1 starter, though Quinn leaves the door open for Shedeur if things go sideways. The hosts riff on the history of teams trying to fit a system to a player versus a player to a system, citing Tom Landry's two-quarterback experiment and Pat Shurmur's West Coast scheme as cautionary tales, and conclude Monken bears real responsibility for putting either quarterback in position to succeed.
Ken defends dropping Joe Burrow from his elite quarterback tier after years of inclusion, arguing that injuries and a 9-8 season with the Bengals show he can no longer single-handedly carry the team, even while acknowledging Burrow's talent and blaming some of Cincinnati's struggles on Zac Taylor's coaching. He and Anthony then dig into the Browns' quarterback competition, placing Shedeur Sanders in the unproven bottom tier while praising his toughness in a rough rookie situation and keeping Deshaun Watson in the journeyman category. Both hosts admit they expect Watson to open the season as starter based on insider reporting and new head coach Todd Monken's likely preference for a veteran, even though they'd rather see Sanders get the job.
Mary Kay Cabot joins Ken Carman and Anthony Lima to discuss the intense quarterback competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. They analyze the fan base's divide, Watson's off-season preparation, and the impact of offensive coordinator Todd Monken. The conversation concludes with a heated debate regarding the validity of charting pass statistics during training camp practices. 02:14 - QB Focus vs. Branding 08:44 - Monster Trucks Contest Update 13:11 - Mary Kay Cabot Interview 19:18 - Watson vs. Shedeur Debate 24:12 - Browns Young Defensive Talent 31:14 - Value of Training Camp Stats
Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot joins the show and lays out how Deshaun Watson has spent the offseason proving he's serious, from working out at the facility during his break to organizing a Miami passing camp, while cautioning that Shedeur Sanders' strong OTAs and minicamp performance is making the decision genuinely difficult for Todd Monken. She pushes back on the claim that fans overwhelmingly want Sanders to start, arguing the vitriol toward Watson is louder online than it is in the community, and predicts Watson will need strong early road games to build goodwill if he wins the job. Cabot also breaks down the Browns' young core, ranked fourth in the NFL for under-25 talent, and how the defense plans to distribute pass-rush production now that Myles Garrett is gone.
Ken and Lima break down a viral clip of new Giants head coach John Harbaugh's underwhelming first speech to his team, questioning why players showed so little visible enthusiasm for a Super Bowl-winning coach and debating whether it's a generational trust issue or just a rough speech. That leads into a callback to earlier caller Nick's claim that Ken has never said he'd bench Watson even if Watson were better, with Ken playing an old clip of himself to argue his position (kick the tires on Sanders, but defer to whoever's actually playing better) hasn't really changed, even as a colleague pushes back that his tone has shifted since OTAs. Ken lays out the one scenario that would make him truly turn on Todd Monken as an evaluator: benching a struggling Watson only to have Sanders come in and immediately look great
Brian Baldinger joins Ken and Lima to analyze the upcoming Cleveland Browns training camp and the quarterback competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. They also weigh in on the impact of offensive coordinator Todd Monken and the addition of rookie Jared Verse to the defense. Additionally, there is a debate regarding LeBron James' free agency delay and whether Jake Paul could actually compete in the NFL. 01:50 - LeBron James Free Agency Delay 13:21 - Baldinger Analyzes Browns Quarterbacks 20:51 - Shedeur Sanders Off-Field Branding 27:30 - Evaluation Of Browns Receiver Depth 34:13 - Jose Ramirez Returns To Guardians 38:05 - Jake Paul Proposes Joining Browns 42:15 - Debating Most Overrated Sports Movies
Ken and Lima debate whether Todd Monken would face Kevin Stefanski-level backlash if he names Deshaun Watson the Week 1 starter over Shedeur Sanders, agreeing he'd get "a nasty reaction" but noting Watson would actually get first-team reps this time, unlike last year's setup. They revisit Brian Baldinger's take that coaches want 24/7 football from their quarterbacks and wrestle with how fair it is to hold Sanders' outside interests against him if he struggles, drawing a comparison to how Myles Garrett's hobbies were scrutinized before the draft. There's also a debunking tangent on the Keanu Reeves-Ravens tryout rumor, plus a preview of camp's pass-charting culture, where fans will grade throws without knowing what the actual play call was.
Ken Carman and Anthony Lima analyze the Miami Heat's technical gaffe involving a LeBron James press conference link and its impact on the NBA landscape. They dive into a heated debate regarding whether the Cleveland Browns should start veteran Deshaun Watson or rookie Shedeur Sanders under head coach Todd Monken. The conversation also highlights the Cleveland Guardians' resilience and recent shifts in national sports media at ESPN. 02:00 - Cleveland Sports Roundup 08:45 - LeBron Heat Leak Reaction 17:10 - Broadcast Boot Camp Stories 26:40 - Browns QB Battle Analysis 35:20 - Guardians Season Trajectory 46:40 - Todd Monken Coaching Logic 56:10 - Shedeur Sanders Growth Potential 01:05:30 - Deshaun Watson Loyalty Debate 01:17:20 - ESPN Media News 01:26:15 - Ravens Training Camp Preview 01:36:30 - Bengals Joe Burrow Update 01:47:10 - AFC North Quarterback Tiers 01:55:40 - Media Leak Conspiracy Theories 02:06:30 - Nathan Zegura Browns Interview 02:15:20 - Browns Offensive Strategy Talk 02:26:10 - Fan Sentiment QB Poll 02:35:30 - Ken Panel Conduct Apology
Nathan Zegura joins Ken to break down the Cleveland Browns' training camp battle between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. They explore Todd Monken's influence on the offense and why the veteran might have the edge in a close competition. Ken also shares a story from a recent broadcasting boot camp and addresses social media backlash. 01:50 - Emotional Investment In LeBron 05:11 - Nathan Zegura On Browns 09:00 - Watson And Monken Offense 12:45 - Browns Wide Receiver Battle 18:42 - Quarterbacks Netflix Series Talk 22:10 - Deshaun Watson Starting Odds 27:30 - Fans Backing Shedeur Sanders 33:26 - Broadcasting Boot Camp Story 38:30 - Final Champions Pose Segment
Ken doubles down on his belief that most Browns fans want Shedeur Sanders under center, defending himself against critics who came after him for saying he'd put Deshaun Watson on a franchise tag even if he leads the team to the playoffs. He argues Watson is a "bridge" no matter what happens this season, pointing to the Browns' two first-round picks as proof the front office is already planning to draft a quarterback regardless of how this year goes. Ken also lays out why he thinks a head coach in Todd Monken's position would naturally give the tie to the veteran in a close quarterback competition, even as he insists he won't turn on Monken if Watson gets the nod.
Browns radio analyst Nathan Zegura joins the show and gives Deshaun Watson a slight edge over Shedeur Sanders heading into training camp, though he's careful to note both quarterbacks have shown real improvement and it will come down to live reps once pads go on. Zegura breaks down why Todd Monken brought in Watson specifically, praises the revamped wide receiver room, and names Denzel Boston as the most impressive playmaker of the offseason. Ken also opens the segment defending himself against critics who say he's not emotionally invested enough in the LeBron saga anymore, arguing there's only so long anyone can stay fired up without a resolution.
Ken admits he's mentally preparing for Deshaun Watson to win the Browns' starting quarterback job over Shedeur Sanders, walking back some of his earlier optimism for the rookie after hearing from insiders like Albert Breer that no one is running away with the competition. He and Anthony debate whether an older head coach like Todd Monken naturally leans toward the veteran, and second-guess whether Cleveland made the right call passing on younger coaching candidates during the search. The two also touch on LeBron's ongoing free agency saga now stretching past three weeks, with the Heat's accidental press conference leak still the biggest "update."
A caller rips into Ken for supposedly being a secret Deshaun Watson guy, and Ken fires back with receipts on where he's really stood since the draft. He and Anthony get into whether Todd Monken will actually let the QB battle play out or default to the veteran no matter what, and Shedeur's toughness comes up as a point in his favor. Things veer off into a Carson Wentz "champions pose" flashback and a recap of John Fanta's broadcasting boot camp before they wrap.
Ken and Lima dig into Rex Ryan's criticism of Shedeur Sanders' off-field content (photoshoots, music, a short film), framing it as a generational divide—guys in Ryan's era don't get why every young quarterback with a fan base now runs a personal brand. They point out Todd Monken, despite being around Ryan's age, seems far more attuned to modern NIL-era players, while contrasting Shedeur with Arch Manning, who's deliberately avoided this kind of exposure. The two debate whether Shedeur's business ventures are actually costing him on the field, invoking Baker Mayfield's similar media-obligations criticism early in his Browns tenure as a precedent that ultimately proved irrelevant to his play. They close split on whether Shedeur is genuinely distracted or just an easy target because of his historically rough rookie season and fifth-round slide.
Nick Wilson and Jonathan Peterlin examine the media scrutiny surrounding Shedeur Sanders and his fit within the Cleveland Browns organization. They debate the feasibility of transitioning from Deshaun Watson to a younger starter while analyzing the impact of Todd Monken on the team's coaching structure. A caller joins to discuss defensive depth and the leadership qualities required for the upcoming season. 01:00 - Shedeur Sanders Business Perspective 02:55 - Deshaun Watson Versus Sanders 11:16 - Roster Moves And Leadership
The hosts analyze the Cleveland Browns' quarterback battle between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, focusing on how head coach Todd Monken will navigate their competitive dynamic. Additionally, they react to Miles Garrett's recent ESPY wins and reflect on the Browns' decision to trade him to the Rams for the future of the franchise.
The hosts analyze the Cleveland Browns' quarterback battle between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, focusing on how head coach Todd Monken will navigate their competitive dynamic. Additionally, they react to Miles Garrett's recent ESPY wins and reflect on the Browns' decision to trade him to the Rams for the future of the franchise.
The hosts analyze the Cleveland Browns' quarterback battle between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, focusing on how head coach Todd Monken will navigate their competitive dynamic. Additionally, they react to Miles Garrett's recent ESPY wins and reflect on the Browns' decision to trade him to the Rams for the future of the franchise.
The third hour of "Afternoon Drive on The Fan" for Friday, July 17, 2026.
Nick Wilson and Jonathan Peterlin's conversation covers the Cleveland Guardians game postponement due to poor air quality and the contrasting intensity of Todd Monken and Kevin Stefanski's training camps. Additionally, news surfaces regarding Ethan Pocic signing with the Ravens and Deshaun Watson's training camp with Shedeur Sanders. 01:43 - Guardians Game Postponed 04:27 - Monken Versus Stefanski Camps 08:59 - Pocic And Watson Updates
Nick and JP dive into how difficult it will be for Todd Monken to name a starting QB in Training Camp.
Nick and Jonathan preview what the Browns quarterback competition will look like in training camp. Then, they're joined by Sean Deveney, NBA Insider for Heavy.com, and they speculate about how many more seasons LeBron James will play.
Ken Carman and Anthony Lima analyze the prospect of LeBron James joining the Philadelphia 76ers and how it affects his standing in Cleveland. They are joined by Mike Sielski to rank Philadelphia sports legends and discuss the city's potential to embrace the King. The conversation also explores the ongoing debate between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders and the high expectations for quarterback performance under Todd Monken.
They examine the fan discourse surrounding Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson while questioning why the debate remains so heated in July. The discussion also touches on Malik Thomas' Summer League performance and the role Todd Monken will play in evaluating the quarterback room.
Nick Wilson and Jonathan Peterlin analyze Albert Breer's take on the potential for separate off-season passing camps between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. The discussion explores whether Watson will embrace a mentorship role or if a competitive dynamic will create tension within the locker room. 01:00 - Dueling Quarterback Camps 04:12 - Teammates or Competitors 08:44 - Todd Monken's Leadership
Lance Riseland joins the program to discuss the quarterback competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders within a Todd Monken-style offensive system. They evaluate how defensive leadership from players like Jared Verse impacts a roster and predict breakout production for stars like KC Concepcion and Quinshon Judkins.
Ken and Anthony poke fun at the summer flood of Browns quarterback workout videos, joking that Shedeur Sanders is out-hustling Deshaun Watson with multiple daily sessions and even throws with his eyes closed. They argue the whole "competition" playing out on social media is meaningless since it's not a public vote and Todd Monken won't decide the job based on Instagram clips. The hosts note Shedeur would win any fan popularity contest in a landslide, but stress that conducting the offense, teammate confidence, and actually completing passes in practice are what will really decide the starter.
Ken Carman and Anthony Lima break down social media workout videos from Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, questioning if Todd Monken values brand-building "grind" over practice tape. They talk with Justin Lada about Steven Kwan's trade value and a potential Francisco Lindor return. Additionally, they react to a bizarre gambling controversy involving Bryce Harper and FanDuel. 01:50 - Guardians And Quarterback Workouts 06:15 - Evaluating Monken's QB Competition 10:35 - The New Media Athlete 16:12 - Justin Lada On Guardians 21:50 - Fixing The Cleveland Bullpen 27:07 - Lindor Return Trade Rumors 35:10 - Bryce Harper Gambling Controversy 39:46 - Broadcaster Scandals
Nick Wilson and Jonathan Peterlin's discussion evaluates the Cleveland Cavaliers' standing in the Eastern Conference and the impact of a potential LeBron James return. Analysis turns to the Kansas City Chiefs as the group debates the level of scrutiny surrounding Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. Conversations conclude with a look at NFL coaching job security, specifically focusing on Todd Monken and Jerod Mayo. 01:00 - Cavaliers NBA East Outlook 04:49 - Mahomes Scrutiny Debate 11:47 - Monken Job Security Talk 14:44 - Jerod Mayo Expectations
Ken and Anthony react to a wild Seth Wickersham report claiming Sean Payton once considered a plan to hire Bill Belichick as Broncos head coach until he broke Don Shula's all-time wins record, with Payton stepping down to offensive coordinator and reclaiming the job afterward. The hosts call the idea "lunacy" and question how a proud, established coach could ever hand over the keys to his franchise, drawing comparisons to the messy Parcells-to-Belichick Jets transition years ago. Despite the absurdity, Ken admits he still trusts Payton given his rapid turnaround of the Broncos from cap hell to a 14-3 season, saying he'd take him over Todd Monken in Cleveland in a heartbeat, while Anthony pushes back hard on the entire premise as pure carnival sideshow.
Ken breaks down ESPN's rankings of every NFL team's starting lineup, where the Rams take the top spot behind Myles Garrett and Matt Stafford while the Browns land 31st, ahead of only the Dolphins, with quarterback flagged as the glaring weakness. Anthony argues there's a silver lining since young, talented teams often lose games they're not ready for, setting up a strong draft position, but Ken pushes back that this reflects poorly on both Todd Monken and Andrew Berry regardless of spin. The two debate whether Deshaun Watson's ongoing presence even matters if the team is projected to finish near the bottom anyway, and question the legitimacy of the insurance payout tied to his latest injury. A caller named Joe also weighs in earlier on LeBron's calculated decision-making and Dan Gilbert's willingness to spend big to compete for a championship.
Ken Carman and Anthony Lima analyze reports regarding LeBron James' free agency and the possibility of a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers. They also tackle a controversial NFL ranking that places the Browns' roster 31st in the league and discuss how the new CBA impacted the Jalen Brown trade. 02:15 - LeBron James Free Agency Reports 06:05 - Ric Bucher's NBA Insights 09:25 - Evaluating Potential Cavaliers Lineups 13:35 - Caller Joe on LeBron's Legacy 19:30 - Browns 31st in NFL Lineups 24:50 - Todd Monken and Andrew Barry 33:20 - Team USA and Jalen Brown Trade
In this compilation clip from during the past week, the hosts of 92.3 The Fan discuss a potentially misleading statistic from ESPN about Browns QB Shedeur Sanders and why stats don't yet paint the full picture on Shedeur. Plus, looking at every possible QB scenario for the Browns, and what new head coach Todd Monken can do to avoid the one-and-done trap with the franchise.
In this compilation clip from during the past week, the hosts of 92.3 The Fan discuss a potentially misleading statistic from ESPN about Browns QB Shedeur Sanders and why stats don't yet paint the full picture on Shedeur. Plus, looking at every possible QB scenario for the Browns, and what new head coach Todd Monken can do to avoid the one-and-done trap with the franchise.
In this compilation clip from during the past week, the hosts of 92.3 The Fan discuss a potentially misleading statistic from ESPN about Browns QB Shedeur Sanders and why stats don't yet paint the full picture on Shedeur. Plus, looking at every possible QB scenario for the Browns, and what new head coach Todd Monken can do to avoid the one-and-done trap with the franchise.
Ken Carman and Anthony Lima break down body cam footage of NFL reporter Diana Russini getting pulled over in New Jersey, where she namedrops Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell to the trooper to get out of a distracted driving ticket. The tactic works, with the officer fanboying over the Vikings instead of writing her up. Ken and Anthony riff on whether other Browns figures like Joe Thomas or Todd Monken could pull off the same move, before circling back to discuss the ongoing Watson versus Sanders quarterback competition and the East 9th Street closure wreaking havoc on their commutes.
Joe Thomas breaks down the quarterback battle, comparing the experience of Deshaun Watson to the developmental potential of Shedeur Sanders. He identifies the defensive transition following the Myles Garrett trade as a primary hurdle for Todd Monken's leadership. The discussion explores offensive line adjustments under George Warhop and reacts to statistical comparisons of young quarterbacks. 02:41 - Joe Thomas Interview Begins 06:55 - Watson vs Sanders Experience 11:40 - George Warhop's Coaching Style 17:26 - Meeting With The President 22:12 - Analyzing Myles Garrett's Impact 27:39 - Shedeur Sanders Statistical Comparison 42:05 - Fan Debate On Stefanski
Ken Carman and Anthony Lima open by mocking the messy KIND bar breakfast situation before getting back into the Shedeur Sanders defense, with Ken arguing he is more open minded about Sanders' future than Deshaun Watson's because the upside of a young quarterback outweighs the fool's gold of a Watson led playoff run. Caller Chuck from Cleveland Heights pushes back on the idea that Shedeur's rookie struggles were his fault, blaming poor offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and a lack of reps, while pointing out that Todd Monken recruited Sanders twice in college and the team cleared the runway by moving on from Jameis Winston and Joe Flacco. Ken largely agrees with Chuck but pushes back on the idea that Andrew Berry views Sanders as a guaranteed franchise quarterback, noting the Myles Garrett trade suggests the front office is not fully committed yet. They close by teasing Justin Termini's segment on NBA free agency, Thomas Bryant, James Harden's contract situation, and Cavs LeBron James reunion speculation.
Ken Carman and Anthony Lima react to Joe Thomas naming the defense, not the offense, as Todd Monken's biggest challenge this season, agreeing that losing the best pass rusher in football history makes Mason Graham and the rest of the defensive line much harder to evaluate going forward. They debate whether Jared Verse's leadership can offset losing Myles Garrett's pure sack production, while questioning how much the locker room actually misses Garrett emotionally given his more reserved personality. The conversation shifts to a viral graphic comparing Shedeur Sanders' rough rookie stats to Hall of Fame quarterbacks like Peyton Manning and Troy Aikman, with Ken arguing the comparison is silly but not worth getting mad about since fans made similar reaches for Baker Mayfield and Evan Mobley in the past. They close by previewing Justin Termini's 9 o'clock segment on the worsening sports gambling scandal landscape.
Hall of Famer Joe Thomas joins Ken Carman and Anthony Lima to discuss the Browns' quarterback competition, explaining that Deshaun Watson's experience navigating new offenses and big games gives him an edge over Shedeur Sanders heading into camp, while cautioning that trading Sanders for anything less than a first round pick would be premature given how little the team actually knows about his ceiling. Thomas identifies the defense, not the offensive line, as Todd Monken's biggest challenge as a first year head coach, pointing to the loss of Myles Garrett and a new defensive coordinator as reasons the unit could take a step back even as the offensive line improves with veteran additions and position coach George Warhop. He also defends Warhop against analytics based criticism, details his Hall of Fame Farms Wagyu beef promotion ahead of July 4th, and shares the story of representing American agriculture at a White House roundtable. The segment wraps with a lighthearted bit about whether Browns swag could help the hosts talk their way out of a speeding ticket.