Chapter 1: What will Mitch Marner's return to Toronto look like?
I'm curious, Hazy B, with you being on the panel for the Marner game in Vegas, do you have an early lean or are you going to save it for the panel on your thoughts on the Marner tenure in Toronto? Well, I got a lot of leans in terms of... I don't want you to kind of give too much away, but do you think it's going to be positive energy, Hazy B, or damn you, Marner, Hazy B?
Well, when he's in Toronto, I lean towards negative. I lean towards negative. Really? Yes. Why, is that surprising to you? You think it'll be positive?
I don't lean negative on it.
You think he's going to get a standing ovation and they're going to show the video and a tribute and he's going to do the wave and tears in his eyes? You think that's coming?
I do not know. All I do as an analyst is watch them play, and I watched every shift, and he's one of the best players the franchise ever had. Yeah, sure. There's stuff that went on behind closed doors that I have no idea about. They gave him... When you get a no-trade clause, it's your right to exercise it and say, don't even ask me about that. I have a no-trade clause.
So I don't get into the... They asked him to waive. He didn't do it. Could he have done it? Yes, but it's not his obligation. You gave it to him. So...
Well, that's true. That's on management. It was poorly negotiated. It was poorly handled. Well, sure, you're right. Absolutely one of the best players. You know who's one of the greatest Islanders of all time?
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Chapter 2: Does Mitch Marner regret leaving Toronto?
John Tavares. What happened when he went back? Were they like, hey, thanks so much. Outside of Trottier and Bossy and Podfans, it's you, John.
I gotta give you full props.
It doesn't matter how great you were. It's about the exit. It's about the way it went out. It's the way he handled it. I don't know. People are conflicted on him. Like in the... It's unfortunate it got to that point. It's unfortunate that the story couldn't be written differently. Honestly, I think if they won a few Game 7s, one or two Game 7s, it would be totally different.
Chapter 3: How will Mike Tomlin's exit impact the Steelers?
Obviously, the contract negotiation was crazy. The fact that it felt like when he left that he was planning on leaving and going to Vegas for a long time, that didn't help. But... I will say this. I think the fact that he left the conference and is about as far out of sight and out of mind as you can get probably benefits him because not many people in Toronto are focused on Vegas.
Not a lot of people see him play because he's on the West Coast. He's a centerman now. Yeah, he's playing up the middle of the ice. They've tested him out multiple times up the middle of the ice, which is pretty incredible. That's a conversation I'm sure a lot of Leaf fans wanted to have. I know they did.
But if he left and went to Montreal or something like that or was playing for a New York team, I think it would be different. I think the fact that he's in Vegas... It'll be more muted, and it's Toronto. The fans just don't... That building doesn't react the way the average building would.
Chapter 4: What is Joe Thomas's perspective on Aaron Rodgers's future?
So do you think it's in the Toronto fans to give Mitch Marner a John Tavares-type welcome back? No, I don't think... You don't think that's in the Toronto fan DNA?
I will say that they have... The Leafs are different. They did it for Vince. They did it for Tracy McGrady. When Tracy McGrady came back for the first time, when Vince Carter came back, it was vicious. It was just as bad, if not worse, than the Tavares back to the Islanders. It was crazy. The buildup, how much vitriol was in that building.
Mitch doesn't deserve, in my opinion, the same treatment as those two guys. I guess I say that because he was here longer and he left as a free agent. Now, TMAC did too. McGrady left as a free agent, but the way it opted out, the way he left, how good they were.
Where did T-Mac sign in Houston?
He went to Orlando.
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Chapter 5: What are the implications of Josh Allen's recent performances?
Orlando first, and then he went to Houston?
And then eventually he was in Houston, yes, and he kind of jumped around, but he was in Orlando. Vince was a totally different situation because he wanted out in the trade. That made it much more complicated, much more scathing, and Vince was the man. Marner was never the man here. Matthews has always been the man, and Mitch was kind of his sidekick. So do sidekicks get the same level?
Like, that's the thing. Tavares was the man. Tavares was the first overall pick. He was the captain. He was the guy. Marner wasn't. So I'm not sure the level of reaction would reach the same height. But I am very curious.
Chapter 6: What stories are featured in Confirm or Deny?
Like, I'm looking forward to it. I'm going to go down. It's next Friday. He's in town. It's kind of wild that they play Thursday Vegas 49ers. Friday, Vegas at home, and that's it. Over the course of eight days, you're going to see him twice, and then that'll be that. But Vegas is a good team, and I don't know.
I'd be curious to just get an honest answer out of him, something you're never going to get on the record, because he was never comfortable with the media. I don't know if he's any better or more comfortable in Vegas. I wouldn't be surprised if he was. Different spotlight, different market.
Different focus.
Different focus, different fan base, different history, different role on the team, right? That's Eichel's team, it's Stone's team, it's Theodore's team. But do you think there's any percentage of him that regrets it? Like if you had to place a percentage, a Jerry's percentage on Mitch Marner wishing he actually just stayed, what would you put that number at?
I don't know if regret's the right term, but I guarantee... Playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs when you're a Toronto kid and you're one of the best players in the world, it's... I mean, I know we talked about the fans with the outrageous behavior, throwing stuff on his lawn and all that stuff and getting security, but I don't know if there's a better thing for a kid in Canada.
When you're a fan of the Leafs, you love the Leafs, and you play for the Leafs and you're a star player, I think he might miss it once in a while. Being a Toronto Maple Leaf is as good as it gets. It's as good as it gets. The way people treat you in the city, obviously it can go sideways if it's a mess. I don't know. I just think it's the best gig in pro sports for a Canadian kid, a Toronto kid.
So I don't know if there's regret involved. I would say to a certain extent he might miss it. Yeah. You might miss... It's an ego boost when you go out and everyone's like, hey, man, like, I don't know. You're not getting asked for any... As much as athletes say, and Joe can chime in on it, they say it bothers them when people bug them in public. It also pumps your ego, too.
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Chapter 7: What are Bryan's FanDuel Best Bets for the upcoming games?
You're like... I'm kind of famous, man. People recognize me.
And I'm sure it would be strange to go the other way if you don't get noticed.
Yeah.
And you're like, wait a minute, do you know who I am? You know, it's a Ron Burgundy line. Like, I'm kind of a big deal. You're supposed to know me. Where in Toronto, there isn't one person that doesn't know him. And in Vegas, I don't know what that number is like. And I'm sure that's refreshing in some ways, but you're right.
Look at the transformation you made. You were a monster that just loved pizzas, and you lost a bunch of weight, and you're one of the most famous people in Canada.
That's a nice transition.
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Chapter 8: How does the episode wrap up with final thoughts?
Thank you. Yes. I don't know where the weight comes into play on fame and what we do, but I appreciate that. Here is longtime NFL analyst, NFL network analyst. There he is. Joe Thomas joining us back on Overdrive. How are you doing, Joe? I'm doing great, guys. Thanks for having me on. Yeah, thank you for doing this. We really appreciate it. How about the AFC North?
Only Cincinnati has a coach that's coming back. I mean, can you imagine this? Tomlin's out. Stefanski's out. Harbaugh's out. What do you make of the division that you called home for so long?
It's crazy. This is kind of what I called at the end of the season when I was doing some Browns radio because I just was reading the tea leaves. It's interesting. Football is so fickle and fans of professional teams, they always want what they don't have. And you don't realize what you have until it's gone.
And I was feeling that the Steelers were getting tired of Tomlin, even though he's had such great success there throughout the years. Same thing with Harbaugh. That was a little bit more surprising, but obviously happened sooner. And even in Cleveland, you know, Kevin Stavansky, two-time coach of the year, and they get rid of him because they're looking for somebody new.
And it's funny, as soon as those guys hit the market, every other team that's looking for a coach wants that guy that they don't have.
Joe, do you think they went to Tomlin and said, we're basically firing you, but we're giving you the opportunity to just go to the press and say you're stepping down? Or do you truly believe it was his decision?
I do think it was his decision. I think he was tired of being underappreciated in Pittsburgh. He's done nothing but great things there. Sure, they haven't had as many championships as they've wanted, but he's given them sustained success.
And I'm sure it was a conversation where they were talking after the season and he was feeling a little bit underappreciated by the fan base, certainly, but then maybe even from ownership. And I think they probably mutually talked about it. And he said, you know what?
I got plenty of people that are going to want my services, and I'm going to have a chance to have a fresh start with a fan base that is excited to have me and just rejuvenate and reenergize his career as a head coach. And so I do think it was definitely a mutual stepping down. I don't think they would have fired him unless he was willing to step down and potentially go somewhere else.
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