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00:00Run for your lives. There's an extra-large ram siding in L.A.'s football camp.
00:06Aaron Donald works out. Is he ready to come back?
00:09Sean McVay was asked. We're going to answer.
00:12Plus, PCA or Shohei? Who's going to win the NL MVP?
00:16We're going to handicap that race.
00:18And we're fired up for football.
00:20I spent all night into the wee hours of the morning
00:23working on a shy nine, ranking the best running backs for 2026.
00:28Who's number one? Who made the list?
00:30Find out now on Shine Time.
00:47Rams camp, baby.
00:48There was a large human sighting on Wednesday.
00:52Three-time Defensive Player of the Year.
00:54My guy, the great Aaron Donald, worked out at Rams camp.
00:59My guy, former Shine Time guest, Greg Rosenthal, caught up with the Rams head coach,
01:04our guy, Sean McVay, and asked him exactly what the hell is going on.
01:09The NFL transaction wire had Aaron Donald working out with the Rams today,
01:14which I guess...
01:14Did it come across as a tryout?
01:15It did come across as a tryout.
01:16Best tryout that we've ever had.
01:18Okay.
01:19You think he could make the team?
01:21Phenomenal.
01:21I think he could make the team.
01:23The kid's got a shot.
01:24Yeah.
01:24No, that was honestly our way of being able to get a workout with him
01:27within the parameters of what's necessary.
01:30But Giff Smith said it's the greatest tryout he's ever had.
01:34Great football coach.
01:35I don't know if Sean would be the best poker player in the world.
01:38I'd be terrible at that.
01:39He's talking about Aaron Donald, but...
01:40Yeah.
01:40You know what?
01:41I've never claimed to be a good poker player either.
01:45Sean McVay is the best.
01:46By the way, I'm with Sean.
01:48I've never played poker.
01:49I don't want to play poker.
01:50I don't have a poker face.
01:51I do think Lady Gaga is great.
01:53And I think Aaron Donald has a goat case.
01:56I've made this case before, right?
01:58Look, and if you want to fight me and say,
02:00well, Lawrence Taylor was better, or this guy's better, or the other guy's better,
02:03Aaron Donald is either the best player in the history of the NFL on defense
02:07or, worst case scenario, top five.
02:11And that's what we're talking about.
02:13And this is why the California Post absolutely nailed it
02:18in terms of having some fun here with the tryouts for Aaron Donald.
02:24And Greg Rosenthal and Jordan Ron Reek did a great job with that interview
02:27with Sean McVay.
02:29And, yeah, it's officially a workout.
02:33They have to put it in the transaction file as a tryout.
02:37And let me tell you why I'm actually comfortable and cool with the words tryout
02:41because I have said this consistently here on Shine Time.
02:44Aaron Donald is only coming back to the Rams if he could be Aaron Donald,
02:49if he could perform at that goat status.
02:53Aaron Donald is not coming back to be a situational pass rusher.
02:57Look, we had Les Snead exclusively here on Shine Time, the general manager for the L.A. Rams,
03:02and he went into great detail and depth with us on what they're looking for,
03:08what Donald's looking for.
03:10And, you know, basically, and I got so much feedback from you guys on YouTube
03:14and people on social media, on X and on Instagram,
03:18that after the interview with Les Snead, more convinced than ever that Donald was going to come back
03:24because of when Les Snead said for the first time since he retired,
03:28he was thinking about, Donald was thinking about scratching that itch and calling it a comeback.
03:32And, listen, I think that if you're Aaron Donald, look, he called it a career in his prime.
03:39And there's a lot going on with Aaron Donald, and, you know, he's obviously playing defensive tackle,
03:44getting doubled, getting tripled.
03:46He's, you know, for a guy who's so physically fit and so absolutely jacked up,
03:52he's relatively small.
03:53I mean, he took a beating constantly in his career
03:56and still was able to put up ridiculous numbers,
03:59which is why I do think he is the greatest defensive player in the history of the NFL.
04:03Not throwing any shade at Lawrence Taylor or anyone else.
04:05To me, it's Aaron Donald.
04:07Aaron Donald is only coming back to be Aaron Donald.
04:10He's only coming back to be an important cog on a championship wheel.
04:14The Rams are putting together the Monstars.
04:17You know, I think that when you look at it from an Aaron Donald perspective,
04:20and I think that he called it a career when it was all said and done
04:24because he felt like it was time,
04:26but he was still playing at that Hall of Fame legendary level.
04:29So the Rams are that close to making the Super Bowl last year
04:33and they lose and defense is a problem.
04:34Bam!
04:35Here's Trent McDuffie and three other starters in the defensive backfield.
04:39Bam!
04:40Here's Miles Garrett.
04:41This in addition to, obviously, Matthew Stafford and Puka Nakua and Devontae Adams
04:45and Sean McVay is one of the best coaches in the business
04:48and an all-star staff, and McVay is incredible.
04:51His X's and O's, his game management, getting people together.
04:55He is just an absolute gem when it comes to something like that.
04:59So I think this is going to happen.
05:02I have felt Aaron Donald was coming back ever since we did that interview with Les Snead.
05:08Aaron Donald has a chance to come back and continue to build his GOAT case, his GOAT legacy.
05:15The best player on the defense this year will be Miles Garrett.
05:19The attention on the defensive line, and this is important, won't go to Aaron Donald.
05:26It'll go to Miles Garrett, who was the unanimous defensive player of the year last year.
05:33Got every first-place vote.
05:34He was unbelievable, and he's the ultimate sack artist.
05:37And what did Les Snead say on Shine Time?
05:39He's a dominant starting pitcher and a closer rolled into one.
05:43Attacks a game early getting to the quarterback.
05:45Rams take the lead, and bam, you hope someone like Miles Garrett has the ability to close it out,
05:49which is absolutely incredible.
05:51So I think it's going to happen.
05:53I think the Rams have the best talent in the NFL.
05:55I think the Rams are the team to beat for the Super Bowl.
05:58I think the Rams are going to be ridiculously amazing this year.
06:01And I think everything right now is lining up.
06:05I mean, this is California dreaming.
06:08It's going to be superstars, big-name players.
06:11It's a Hollywood script.
06:13The Super Bowl is in L.A.
06:15Donald can dominate coming out of retirement.
06:19Donald can win another championship.
06:21This would take his already lofty status to a different level.
06:26I am rooting for it.
06:28I want to see it.
06:29Aaron Donald is one of the all-time great players in the Big Four North American sports in the last
06:3440 years.
06:36He deserves to be recognized as such.
06:38I am just absolutely positively obsessed with this story.
06:43This would be amazing for the Rams and the NFL and for everyone in Los Angeles.
06:49Football is back tonight.
06:51The long, beautiful journey of the NFL season starts with the Hall of Fame game.
06:58Now, let me just say this.
06:59Football is back.
07:00We love it.
07:01Can't get enough.
07:03I'm not watching preseason football.
07:06You can drive yourself bonkers watching preseason football unless, you know, you're a sick freak.
07:12And listen, I am a sick freak.
07:15You know, Carson Beck going up against Kenny Pickett.
07:17Kenny Pickett, by the way, is playing quarterback tonight for the Carolina Panthers.
07:21What a time to be alive.
07:23Carson Beck actually interests me.
07:25I remember we liked him in the draft process.
07:27You know, I do think Carson Beck can eventually be the guy in Arizona this year, next year, behind Jacoby
07:33Brissett.
07:33I think that could be a lot of fun eventually moving it forward here for the Arizona Cardinals.
07:38Or they have a top two pick in the draft.
07:40And here's Arch Manning.
07:42Here's Dante Moore.
07:43Here's someone else in the first round.
07:45I think Carolina this year is going to take a step back.
07:48Remember, they won the division last year.
07:51And they almost beat the Rams in the playoffs last year.
07:55Love Dan Morgan, their outstanding general manager.
07:57He had a great offseason.
07:59I just can't bank at the end of the day on Bryce Young taking his game to another level.
08:05I always give Bryce Young credit for this.
08:07It's very rare in sports when you're a first overall pick in a draft.
08:10I think about someone like Markel Fultz.
08:13You don't go from you're the number one pick to being an absolute boss and then finding a way to
08:19be good.
08:20You know, Bryce Young got his name back, his game back.
08:23He's solid.
08:24He's just not spectacular, which is why Carolina is not locking themselves into everything
08:31when it comes to giving him a long-term contract.
08:33So, I'm fired up football's back.
08:36I mean, there's nothing like football season.
08:39Football season on Shine Time is going to be off the charts.
08:42Make sure you subscribe to the YouTube page at Shine Time because, my goodness,
08:48I mean, the content that we're going to have, the shows we're going to have,
08:51the brainstorming sessions that we're having as a team,
08:54I mean, for this football season, whoo, I can't wait.
08:58This is going to be the greatest football season in the history of YouTube and digital media.
09:03At Shine Time, we can't wait for it.
09:05Football is back.
09:07Now, when it comes to the Arizona Cardinals, I'll tell you what gets me going.
09:10It's Jeremiah Love.
09:11And you know we talked about it.
09:12Jeremiah Love is going to be an absolute superstar.
09:16And, you know, Jeremiah Love, third overall pick.
09:19First of all, I always agree with taking a star weapon running back early in the draft.
09:25Always agree with that if it fits the team.
09:27And Jeremiah Love's not just a running back.
09:29He's a megastar.
09:30And he's fast.
09:30And he's speedy.
09:31And he has great hands.
09:32And he runs great routes.
09:33And he's super smart.
09:34And he's team-oriented.
09:35He's not going to play tonight in the Hall of Fame game.
09:38But I think it's a good time to strike on a conversation when it comes to the Offensive Rookie of
09:45the Year.
09:45Because we're getting ready to start talking about picks and awards.
09:50And we're going to have them all for you here on Shine Time.
09:53I think that the smartest pick for Rookie of the Year on offense will be Jeremiah Love.
10:00Because he's going to get opportunity.
10:04Now, the only negative, I think, is rushing yards.
10:07Because Arizona is going to be bad this year.
10:10They're going to be trailing in a lot of games.
10:11Also, it's not like it's a singular focus on love.
10:15Trey McBride is unbelievable.
10:17He's got a great rapport with Jacoby Brissett.
10:19Hopefully, Marvin Harrison Jr. takes a step forward.
10:22You look at it.
10:24And they have some big-time weapons on offense.
10:27Great players at the skilled position.
10:29But I think Jeremiah Love is going to be absolutely special.
10:33So, he is, and I'm still fleshing this out,
10:35the conventional wisdom pick for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
10:40But there are a couple of names I want to just draw your attention to when it comes to betting.
10:48And that's Fernando Mendoza, and that's Jordan Tyson.
10:52And I think, and first of all, I actually think Jadarian Price loves team at Notre Dame.
10:58You know, he might end up being the bell cow for the Seattle Seahawks if you're looking for a juicy
11:04flyer.
11:04That's not a bad one when it comes to preseason NFL awards and sports betting.
11:11But to me, my big debate, when I'm picking the Offensive Rookie of the Year,
11:16number one right now for me is Jeremiah Love.
11:18Number two, and I'm a voter, it oftentimes becomes a quarterback award.
11:22Not all the time.
11:23Listen, last year I voted for an offensive guard, Gray Zabel, for a Rookie of the Year on offense.
11:27So, I'm not one of those where it's all quarterback or bust.
11:31Jordan Tyson, though, I want to focus on him for a second.
11:35I think Jordan Tyson is going to have a monster season.
11:40And I just talked to Kellen Moore, the outstanding head coach of the New Orleans Saints on my SiriusXM radio
11:45show,
11:46and I asked him to go through the process of why they drafted Tyson.
11:50Remember, there were a couple of medical issues, but not a chronic injury.
11:55There was a big difference, and, you know, everything was, you know, they checked him out, and he's good to
12:00go,
12:01and he's having a terrific camp.
12:02And the thing that Kellen Moore said that I found fascinating, one of the reasons why he fell in love
12:08with him
12:08is because he played his best in the biggest games, biggest moments.
12:12You remember, Tyson's brother plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers, great family,
12:16understands what it means to be a professional athlete.
12:19I just think that Jordan Tyson is going to have a monster season for a team in New Orleans
12:27that I think is going to be sneaky good.
12:30And today, if we were locking in our picks, I would take the Saints to make the playoffs.
12:34Now, the fly in the ointment on that is Chris Olave is still the number one wide receiver.
12:40And, you know, obviously, you know, they got Travis Achan in the mix.
12:44So it's a numbers award often, but Tyson could be making big plays, clutch plays, and big-time splash plays
12:53that'll, you know, help you in fantasy football or daily fantasy and put up big-time numbers and help the
12:59Saints win.
13:00That's why I reference the big moments and the big games for Tyson as a rookie.
13:05But I think that Vegas has this right in terms of Jeremiah Love,
13:09who I am obsessed with when you look at it at the running back position.
13:13He's not just a running back.
13:16He is a weapon.
13:17He's the prototypical back right now that's in vogue.
13:20Plus, you factor in the LaFleur offense.
13:23I think he's going to be featured.
13:25I think he's going to be sensational.
13:27So I would rank it right now.
13:31Love, Mendoza, Tyson.
13:34Look, if I knew Mendoza was going to play sooner than later, Fernando Mendoza would be my pick.
13:39I think Fernando Mendoza is going to have a great rookie season.
13:42The problem is, Kirk Cousins is on track to start week one.
13:46I have no idea what my guy, Clint Kubiak, is doing and thinking about.
13:50Not a clue.
13:51So if I had confidence that Mendoza would get enough time.
13:54But again, there was that brief moment before he got hurt.
13:57Jackson Dart was making a run.
13:59Tyler Shook couldn't play the whole year last year.
14:01He made a push for the Rookie of the Year.
14:04He was on my ballot.
14:05He was the only quarterback that was in my top five.
14:08So I think Jeremiah Love is the sexiest and the safest pick when it comes to NFL Offensive Rookie of
14:15the Year.
14:15Coming up on Shine Time, the NL MVP race is heating up.
14:19Who you got, PCA or Shohei?
14:21Speaking of hardware, could Sonny Gray be on the Cy Young path for the Red Hot Red Sox?
14:29The 1-1.
14:31High fly ball, right field.
14:34That's back on its way.
14:36And they're here.
14:37Off the big board in right.
14:40Second of the day, PCA.
14:44No, there's absolutely some truth to that.
14:46I would be crazy to say that I don't want to win an MVP.
14:52But if we're talking about having priorities straight, I think mine are pretty straight.
14:57It's not on the forefront of my mind.
15:00It's fun to joke about and it's fun to acknowledge.
15:03And I think it's absolutely okay to pay attention to.
15:06But, again, it's not like following me up to the plate.
15:09And, yeah, I mean, I think if you guys want to talk about all this back and forth, like, I
15:18really should go get in the lab and start pitching.
15:20Like, I really should.
15:22Man, I love that answer from our guy, PCA.
15:25And if you remember, two weeks ago on Shine Time, I said to you that if I had to vote,
15:32I would vote for PCA for the NL MVP.
15:35And take a look at the new odds as we speak, waking up this morning, and DraftKings now lists Pete
15:44Crowe Armstrong as the favorite for NL MVP as opposed to Shohei Ohtani.
15:52That is the first time this year in the betting markets that there's someone other than Shohei as the favorite.
15:59That includes the offseason, early season, and literally yesterday at this time.
16:06And Pete Crowe Armstrong, to me, is absolutely the MVP.
16:10And understand, I'm a Shohei Ohtani apologist, right?
16:15Historical perspective, greatest player I've ever seen.
16:18What Shohei Ohtani does on offense and in the batter's box and Ohtani's power and Ohtani's speed and Ohtani's pitching.
16:26Shohei Ohtani's not pitching!
16:28So as a result, you can now open it up and have a legit conversation in terms of who else
16:36should be in the mix when it comes to the MVP.
16:39And look, when we showed you those odds, there were some other great names.
16:42We talked about it earlier in the year when it was Shohei Ohtani, clearly number one, and Kyle Schwarber could
16:49be number two.
16:50But PCA has been absolutely sensational.
16:54And here's the thing about PCA, and I'm more of an old-school baseball guy than I am new school
17:00with analytics.
17:02PCA is the dream for the eyeball test, the scouts, the old-school baseball people, and the analytics community.
17:09He checks every box.
17:11He's number one when it comes to war.
17:14War.
17:14What is it good for?
17:16Well, it's good for stressing the argument on why PCA should, in fact, be at the top of the list
17:21for the MVP.
17:22You'll watch PCA play.
17:25He's phenomenal in the outfield for the Cubs.
17:29His offense is unbelievable.
17:31His power is sensational.
17:33He'll double you to death.
17:34His prowess and execution and speed on the bases, incredible.
17:39He's the best signature player, the straw that stirs the drink, on a Cubs team that's headed to the playoffs.
17:47And by any metric you want to throw at me, we're going to start talking about, you know, great offenses
17:53in baseball.
17:54We're talking about a top three, four, five offense in the game.
17:59And PCA is the best player on a juggernaut offense.
18:03And we're talking about a team, and this is a reference point at some point when the wheels stop spinning
18:10at the end of the season.
18:11We're talking about a team that just swept the L.A. Dodgers.
18:14The Chicago Cubs absolutely have a real shot here to go to the World Series.
18:20And remember, it's a regular season award.
18:22So, I think when you start talking about Ohtani not pitching, defense, offense, the ability to run, everything that goes
18:30into the mix, achievement, overachievement, this is not Ohtani fatigue.
18:35Everyone knows I'm obsessed.
18:36If he was currently pitching and dominating, like he was in the beginning of the season, we're not having this
18:43conversation.
18:44But because there's a pause on Shohei taking his turn in the rotation, we're having it.
18:50And because PCA has been that great and that valuable, we're having it.
18:55Yesterday was just all sorts of fun, though.
18:57Ohtani hit a couple homers.
18:59PCA hit a couple homers.
19:01Takes this conversation that we started here on Shine Time to a fevered pitch.
19:06I'm obsessed with this MVP race.
19:08I'm obsessed with PCA.
19:10I just think he's an unbelievable player.
19:12I think that he's everything right with baseball in terms of multifaceted, all the different tools, compete in so many
19:19different ways.
19:20He's a pain in the ass for the opposition.
19:23The Cubs and their fans absolutely love him.
19:25Plays the game with a little swagger.
19:28And listen, he also was quoted as saying, we talked about it on Shine Time the other day, that Babe
19:31Ruth doesn't exist.
19:32And the fact that there's an Ohtani tie-in there, I'm all for it.
19:36By the way, the Cubs swept the Dodgers.
19:41Are we allowed to have this conversation about the Dodgers?
19:43If the season ended today, and it doesn't, the Dodgers would be the third best team in the National League.
19:52I want you to look at this, because you see a couple of nuggets of futility here on the screen.
19:59The Dodgers have been swept in consecutive series.
20:03They lost three straight to Boston.
20:04They lost three straight to Chicago.
20:06Two teams that have World Series kind of vibes.
20:10They've lost eight of their last ten.
20:12They've lost 13 of their last 21.
20:15Now, I love the way we're asking this question about worrying about the Dodgers.
20:22And I'm going to say supremely consistent here.
20:25Of the three years, 2024, 2025, won the World Series of both those years,
20:30easily could have lost it four different times against the Blue Jays in Game 7.
20:35Could have lost it in Game 6 as well.
20:36Let's be crystal clear about that.
20:38But I think this version of the Dodgers, the most vulnerable.
20:44Injuries to the rotation.
20:45They literally don't have a catcher right now.
20:48I mean, guys are injured left and right.
20:50Mookie Betts hasn't hit.
20:52Teoscar Hernandez doesn't look the same.
20:54Pajes doesn't look the same.
20:56Now, I will always pick the Dodgers.
20:59As long as they make the playoffs.
21:01I'd rather have them get the one seed, rather have them not get the fluky wildcard series, two out of
21:07three.
21:08I would much rather have them get a bye.
21:10But as long as they're healthy, they make the school bull trade.
21:13You know, obviously, you look at Yamamoto.
21:15If Otani comes back and pitches, Snell pitched in the minors on a rehab assignment.
21:20Glasnow pitched in the minors on a rehab assignment.
21:22As long as those guys are ready.
21:24And this is what Derek Jeter talked to me about on my SiriusXM radio show.
21:27And the Yankees were like this, where you know how to get to October.
21:33Jeter's Yankees were like that.
21:34There's a method to it, right?
21:36In terms of, and it's more than just the proverbial switch that goes on.
21:41It's conserving energy and arms.
21:44And now, here's the rub when you look at it.
21:47And I don't consider the Brewers a threat because they're not in the business of winning.
21:51They didn't trade for Scoble.
21:52They're just, I don't take them seriously.
21:54The Cubs are a terrific team.
21:56They just traded for Gossman and Holmes, who could easily be the top two pitchers in a playoff rotation.
22:01The Phillies, the Arise trade, to me, changes everything.
22:05And Philadelphia has great top-end pitching.
22:09They absolutely could be a threat to the Dodgers.
22:11The Braves have won seven straight games.
22:15I thought they might regress a little bit in the month of July.
22:18I've been wrong.
22:19So, they're piping hot.
22:21And I'll give you one other team.
22:23And I'm not saying that, you know, they would ever beat the Dodgers.
22:26It's a little brother kind of quotient.
22:28If the Padres make the playoffs, I just love what they did, getting Mize and getting Robbie
22:32Ray at the trade deadline.
22:34The Padres, if they make it and they're currently not in, that insinuates that they were hot and,
22:39you know, they finished the regular season with a bang and survived the August and September.
22:44I think the Padres would be capable of making some noise.
22:48We put noise in air quotes.
22:50So, yeah, we're allowed to worry about the Dodgers.
22:53They are still my pick, just so we're clear.
22:56I am not wavering.
22:57I am not waffling.
22:59But I am watching.
23:00And the Dodgers have looked like a bad baseball team for more than a minute now.
23:06So, I am not going to sit here and tell you that this is going to be a harbinger of
23:09things
23:09to come for October.
23:11But especially when they get swept in Chicago at Wrigley Field by PCA and the Cubbies,
23:18my antenna is officially up.
23:20We just got done talking about the NL MVP.
23:23How about the reigning AL MVP, Aaron Judge?
23:27The Yankees can assure you he uses bats and Judge gave us an update when he might be back.
23:32Aaron, we'd be remiss if we didn't ask you if they gave you, like, a realistic target date after this.
23:37No, I got nothing for you on that, yeah.
23:39I just got this game yesterday and the minute they said, all right, we're going to start running,
23:42I said, okay, I'll see you outside.
23:43So, I'm going to force him on that one.
23:46But, no, hopefully whenever we get a game in, you guys will be somewhere on the list.
23:52I'll let you guys go.
23:54Not the top of the list.
23:55Not the top.
23:56Aaron Judge outside cleared for light action, getting ready to start playing.
24:02He's laughing.
24:03Judge saying, I'll be back.
24:06Man, I can't get enough.
24:08Look, if you're a Yankee fan like me, you're taking anything you can get that's positive.
24:14Anything on Judge.
24:15I see that sound bite and I'm ready to run through a wall because I'm ready to pull my hair
24:21out
24:21when I watch the Yankees on offense.
24:22I see that.
24:24I hear that.
24:24It's a far cry from Brian Cashman saying absolutely nothing when he was talking to the press on Monday.
24:30This after, of course, he woke up from his nap, known as the baseball trade deadline,
24:34and embarrassed himself and destroyed all Yankee dreams.
24:36But this, to me, gets me going.
24:41So I hear that sound bite.
24:43Is it, can I say, September 15th?
24:46Like, I don't need Aaron Judge back before then.
24:50I mean, there were some thoughts that he might not be back this season, okay?
24:54And again, we still need to see it.
24:56But when Judge, first of all, Yankee's public relations staff is fantastic.
25:01So if he's going to speak to the press, that means it's going to be happy news, positive thoughts,
25:08something the Yankees want outs in the universe.
25:11So, and it also is going to be fact.
25:14I'll be back this season?
25:16Great.
25:17And he better be.
25:18Because the Yankees are an eyesore.
25:20I mean, just absolutely atrocious.
25:23And watching the Yankees, it's just, look at these nuggets of futility.
25:28The Yankees' offense over the past couple of series, they've scored two runs or fewer in five of the past
25:35six games.
25:36What a disgraceful, embarrassing statistic.
25:40They have a team batting average in the past two series of 2-0-1.
25:47And if you've been watching, and I have, I don't even know how it's that high.
25:52A team OPS of under 600.
25:54They've struck out 50 times.
25:570 for 10 with runners in scoring position Wednesday against the Cardinals.
26:01And, I mean, Spencer Jones is an automatic swing and a miss.
26:04McMahon can't make contact.
26:06Trent Grisham, what a waste that was by Brian Cashman.
26:09First guess, bringing him back.
26:11That was just an absolute, for that money, that was just absolutely awful.
26:16Go look at the Yankees' batting order and the on-base percentage for the guys who were in the batting
26:21order last night.
26:22I mean, it's disgusting.
26:24It's a disgrace.
26:26It's embarrassing.
26:27It's worthless.
26:29And it's brutal.
26:31Absolutely, positively brutal.
26:33So, and we'll get into it more tomorrow.
26:36But the Braves come to town.
26:39The reason for hope is, and the Braves are piping hot, the Yankees will have Freed, Cole, Schlittler scheduled to
26:48pitch in the Bronx this weekend.
26:50That makes you fired up as a Yankee fan.
26:52That lets you know you can compete with anyone.
26:55And the American League is wide open and weak.
26:57But if you don't have Aaron Judge in the lineup, they can't win big.
27:02So, hearing Judge say, I'll be back, changes the math on everything when you look at it for the New
27:09York Yankees.
27:10Now, hitting's obviously an issue, but their defense got into an upgrade of George Lombard Jr. at short.
27:15Take a look at this breakdown from John Boy's Joseph Solano.
27:19This is us looking at the same play, same positioning.
27:24This is Volpe and Lombard.
27:27Look at this.
27:29Smoked.
27:30Lombard.
27:31Boom.
27:32Quick hands.
27:33One away.
27:34All right.
27:35Volpe.
27:35Line drive.
27:36Oh, he made up Volpe.
27:38Here comes Jose.
27:40He will score.
27:41The Guardians are on the board.
27:43It's 2-1.
27:43Same play, same positioning, and different result.
27:51Absolutely brilliant breakdown.
27:53And it's just, it's the difference, right?
27:55And, you know, I love Lombard.
27:57I love watching him play.
27:59You know, obviously, he was incredible.
28:01He hit a home run, hang him and bang him, 0-2 curveball on his first Major League, you know,
28:07hit.
28:07He was able to hit a home run, first Major League game, able to hit a home run.
28:11That was on Tuesday.
28:12It was the defense that got me going.
28:14And that's, that's what matters.
28:16And also, it pisses me off simultaneously.
28:20Because Volpe sticks.
28:21And he's been awful for a couple of years now.
28:24And Brian Cashman continued to double down on stupidity and his own ego and hubris and everything that goes into
28:30the equation.
28:31So, Lombard has been sensational.
28:35Absolutely phenomenal.
28:36And, listen, he's an, no matter what he hits, and he's still young, and he's going to be a stud.
28:41And I think he's going to hit over the August and September and into October months.
28:46I just think he's a fantastic young ball player.
28:50But it's the defense.
28:52And for a team that's going to have to because they can't hit, win games on pitching, defense, and timely
28:57hitting, the defense is a central part of that.
29:01Which is why I'll never forgive Brian Cashman for trotting out Volpe for as long as he did.
29:05So, what an upgrade, what an energizing situation for the Yankees, but also a friendly reminder of just how Brian
29:13Cashman screwed over all the fans of the New York Yankees.
29:17How about the Boston Red Sox?
29:19And it's kind of amazing here when you look at the Boston Red Sox.
29:22I want you to take a look at this incredible nugget of domination board, right?
29:29The Boston Red Sox have a seven-game winning streak.
29:33I mean, all they do is win.
29:35They are 30-5 in their last 35 games.
29:41They are absolutely positively off the charts.
29:45They have won, and this is my personal favorite stat, nine straight series.
29:53Nine.
29:55That's how you make the playoffs in Major League Baseball.
29:58You take series.
30:00You win two out of three.
30:01You take three out of four.
30:02It's how you make sure, if you're the Sox and you were such an embarrassment and chaotic and awful, you
30:07fired the manager early, how you dig out of a hole that seemingly was unfathomable.
30:12And right now, we're at a stage where the Boston Red Sox, who are beating playoff teams, great teams, the
30:20White Sox, they're beating, they beat the Dodgers, swept them over the weekend.
30:23I mean, it's unreal.
30:26Sonny Gray, during this winning streak, has been majestic.
30:29And let me just tell you something.
30:31Sonny Gray is going to win the Cy Young.
30:33He's going to snatch it from Cam Schlittler.
30:36And Sonny Gray is now tied for the Major League lead of wins with 14.
30:43He's 14-2.
30:46Listen, when Brian Cashman made the Sonny Gray trade years ago, I loved it.
30:51I had no idea that Sonny Gray just admitted it, that he lied to his agent, his agent lied to
30:56the Yankees, saying he wanted to be there, never had any interest in being in New York, hated New York.
31:01They did it to ultimately make more money in France, and Sonny Gray was a bad Yankee.
31:06New York was too much, but also he's been a star everywhere else he's been.
31:11St. Louis, the A's before he was a Yankee, Minnesota, the Reds, and he's been phenomenal for the Boston Red
31:19Sox.
31:20Phenomenal.
31:21It's kind of crazy when you look at that, Mark.
31:2414-2.
31:25And I'll say it again, I think the Red Sox are going to finish higher in the standings than the
31:30Yankees.
31:31I think the Red Sox, for them, it was amazing going forward at the trade deadline.
31:35Phenomenal job getting Rushman.
31:38Phenomenal job getting the best reliever on the open market.
31:41And all this team does, win.
31:44So on a night where the Yankees can't hit water if they fell out of a boat, Boston gets another
31:50victory, more nuggets of domination,
31:52and of course, the cherry on top if you're a Yankee fan, Sonny Gray somehow continues to make the Yankees
32:01look like buffoons.
32:02Up next, the moment you've all been waiting for.
32:06Shine nine running backs.
32:08I'm ranking them.
32:09It wasn't easy.
32:10Who's in?
32:11Who's out?
32:12My list.
32:14Next.
32:16I mean, I'm just letting my agent and Brad and I do all that right now.
32:20I'm just worried about the team involved.
32:22I'm trying to hoop right now.
32:23The first for you.
32:25The smile and the laugh from Jameer Gibbs is great because he's going to get the bag at some point.
32:30Could be today, could be tomorrow, but it's going to happen.
32:34Just like today, Jonathan Taylor got the bag, two years, 44 mil, because he's sensational.
32:40This was on the heels of B. John Robinson getting the bag because he's electrifying and he's unbelievable.
32:46And the running back is back.
32:49And I'm obsessed with it.
32:50And I was ahead of the curve on this, even with the quarterbacks and the receivers.
32:55And it's a passing league.
32:57I think once Saquon Barkley got that contract, leaving the Giants, going to Philadelphia a couple of years ago,
33:02having the greatest single season, regular season, postseason ever in the history of the NFL at the running back position,
33:09you had to zig.
33:11You had to zag.
33:12And Howie Roseman did that brilliantly on Saquon a couple of years ago.
33:15And I think it changed the game.
33:17We just saw Jeremiah Love go third overall in the draft, right?
33:21You can always, when you look at running backs to win, weapons at the running back position.
33:27Drafting a running back who's out on third down that doesn't exist anymore.
33:31The running back is better and hotter than ever.
33:36So it got us thinking.
33:38Let's rank the running backs.
33:40Nice, easy assignment.
33:412026, who's the best running back?
33:44You could make the case for about five different guys, six different guys, as the best running back.
33:51There is a surefire future Hall of Famer who I believe is going to have a brilliant year,
33:55who doesn't crack my list, and I'll explain it at the end,
33:59for nine best running backs in the National Football League.
34:03Again, here's the criteria.
34:05Best running backs for 2026.
34:07So we could talk history, but it's what I think they're going to do and bring to the table
34:11and where they are right now for the 2026 season.
34:15My number one running back is B. John Robinson.
34:17I think B. John Robinson is absolutely sensational.
34:21He's electrifying.
34:22He's dominant.
34:23He has unbelievable hands.
34:25He is a weapon.
34:26He just got paid, and rightly so.
34:29He's a touchdown machine.
34:31He's a defense's nightmare.
34:33And I want to make sure we stress this now on B. John, because you can make a case.
34:38The Falcons have the worst quarterback situation in the NFL going into the season.
34:44If not the worst, one of the worst.
34:46So maybe teams might, you know, play B. John differently.
34:50I don't care.
34:51B. John Robinson is going to do everything and anything for the Atlanta Falcons
34:57and be all about the sizzle and domination for Atlanta.
35:00He's the best running back in the NFL 2026.
35:02Number two, and I thought about him for number one, Jonathan Taylor.
35:07Jonathan Taylor was the best running back in the NFL last year
35:10before Daniel Jones got hurt.
35:11Riley Leonard became the quarterback,
35:13and the teams would ultimately know that there's only one person to stop
35:17on the Indianapolis Colts.
35:19Jonathan Taylor, I think, gets lost sometimes in the court of public opinion
35:22because he's a little bit of a throwback, right?
35:25And he has great hands, catches out on the backfield,
35:28makes plays in the passing attack,
35:29but he's a little bit more old-school compare and contrast to guys like Gibbs
35:34and CMC and James Cook and B. John Robinson.
35:38But don't get it twisted.
35:40He got my vote last year, first-team All-Pro at the running back position.
35:44Now that he got paid today, he's going to have a monster season.
35:48He's everything for the Indianapolis Colts.
35:50Daniel Jones on track to play.
35:52Jonathan Taylor, second-best running back in the NFL for 2026.
35:56Number three, Christian McCaffrey, CMC.
35:58Don't sleep on him.
35:59Christian McCaffrey is the most valuable, dominant, best player
36:04on a loaded San Francisco 49ers team.
36:07And he's healthy.
36:08I know injuries could always be a risk with him,
36:10but in Kyle Shanahan's offense, he is a dream.
36:14Hands, speed, grit, determination, athleticism, power, intelligence.
36:22He's got the whole thing.
36:23CMC is the third-best back, and I know I'm going to get some pushback from Lions fans
36:28and some fantasy football players, but I put CMC ahead of Jameer Gibbs.
36:33And I think Gibbs is going to have a monster season, and I think Jameer Gibbs now,
36:38as the unequivocally, the number-one running back, and getting all the carries with David
36:43Montgomery left in the offseason, got that free agent deal in Houston.
36:46Look, you can make a case for Gibbs at number one.
36:50That's how close and that's how competitive this thing is, right?
36:54I mean, I wouldn't fight you.
36:56It's that close.
36:58I do kind of need to see Gibbs as that carry-the-mail guy now with Montgomery in Houston.
37:05I need to see him do it for a full season.
37:07You know, I think that CMC is just a little bit more valuable to his team.
37:12So, I'm going to put Gibbs at number four, and at number five, and I consider him as
37:17high as number two, Saquon Barkley.
37:19You know, Jeff Stoutland is no longer coaching the offensive line, and that's a thing in
37:23Philly, but now the offensive line is healthy, something that was not the case for the Philadelphia
37:28Eagles last year.
37:29Look, maybe Saquon Barkley doesn't get the numbers that we saw a couple of years ago
37:35when they won the Super Bowl.
37:36Obviously, they have some new weapons on offense.
37:39There are concerns about Jalen Hurts.
37:41Saquon Barkley is always a superstar superstar.
37:45I think he's the fifth-best running back in the NFL for this year.
37:48Number six, James Cook.
37:51Jimbo, as I like to call him in Buffalo.
37:53James Cook, let him cook.
37:55He does everything.
37:56And when you start talking about weapons for Josh Allen, you know, I really think that
38:01James Cook is the number one weapon.
38:02Not DJ Moore, who you know I'm obsessed with.
38:04Not Dalton Kincaid, who I'm obsessed with, or anyone else.
38:07Listen, I think sometimes James Cook can get lost in the sauce because you can make the
38:11case that the best runner on the Buffalo Bills is Josh Allen.
38:15I love that we have the still shot of him catching it out of the backfield.
38:18He's fantastic.
38:19Hard-nosed runner.
38:21He's a throwback in a lot of ways.
38:23James Cook, number six.
38:25Number seven, Devon A. Chan.
38:27And you could make the case he's too low.
38:30Like, this doesn't even feel right to me.
38:32He shows you the depth and the talent here at the running back position.
38:35I think there's a shot because they got rid of Waddle.
38:39New, great running quarterback, smart quarterback in Malik Willis.
38:43He might, you know, not have the numbers this year because teams are going to just be geared
38:47up to stop the run.
38:49But it went noted that the new brass in Miami, they're top priority.
38:54And they're breaking it down to build it back up smart in Miami.
38:58They made sure Devon A. Chan got paid.
39:01Devon A. Chan is an absolute, just a rock'em, sock'em, home run hitter at the running back
39:07position.
39:08Seventh best running back in the NFL for 2026.
39:11Number eight, Brees Hall.
39:13I think Brees Hall is fantastic.
39:16And I think the Jets deserve a lot of credit for getting ahead of the curve and all these
39:21other running backs getting paid.
39:22The Jets paid Brees Hall because they know what they have.
39:25And Brees Hall is tough as nails.
39:28The offensive line for the Jets is very underrated and very good.
39:32Brees Hall has really great hands.
39:34Last year, what could go wrong went wrong for the Jets.
39:37Don't forget about Brees Hall, who he is, and what he brings to the table as a versatile,
39:42dominant back at the running back position.
39:45Number nine, this might be controversial, Ashton Genthy.
39:49I think Ashton Genthy got screwed last year by Pete Carroll.
39:54Pete Carroll's kid was coached in the offensive line.
39:57The quarterback play was atrocious.
39:59He had nowhere to run.
40:01I know it's training camp, but everyone is raving about how Genthy looks.
40:05They signed Linderbaum, the best center in the NFL, in the offseason.
40:09They now have a real head coach and play caller in Clint Kubiak.
40:13Brock Bowers is back.
40:15Kirk Cousins is the quarterback for now.
40:17It'll be Mendoza.
40:18It's going to let Ashton Genthy just absolutely pop off.
40:22I loved when they picked him fifth overall.
40:24I loved him at Boise State.
40:25I think he is going to have a monster season.
40:28Now, that's my shine nine.
40:31If my last name rhymed with ten, you would see Derrick Henry.
40:36And I want to sit here and stress this.
40:39I think Derrick Henry is a first ballot Hall of Famer.
40:42And I'm sure he would take this list and he would stiff arm it, right?
40:46And he's still tough and he's still powerful and he's still physical.
40:50He's also getting a little bit long in the tooth.
40:54So, I still think he's going to have a monster year.
40:57But I do want to acknowledge that Derrick Henry would have been next on the list.
41:02Listen, I have quipped on numerous occasions that I feel like I loved Kenneth Walker more than the Seahawks loved
41:07Kenneth Walker.
41:08And, you know, he was the Super Bowl MVP.
41:10And, obviously, he goes to Kansas City in the offseason.
41:13I think Kenneth Walker is going to be awesome.
41:16Absolutely terrific.
41:17I think that Patrick Mahomes being healthy changes everything.
41:19I think that you look at the offensive line, it's very underrated in Kansas City.
41:24Walker was very close to making the list.
41:26And if I had guts, and I mean real guts, and I don't, I'm a weak human being.
41:33If I had guts, Jeremiah Love would have been on my list.
41:36Because I think Jeremiah Love, Offensive Rookie of the Year vibes.
41:40I think third overall pick.
41:41Again, you start talking about what he did in your name, how it translates to the pros.
41:46I think he's going to be sensational.
41:48But, listen, I'm sure there will be no debate about this.
41:52The Shine 9 for the official list.
41:552026.
41:55The NFL running backs ranked.
41:59I can't wait for your thoughts on this.
42:01Make sure you comment on the YouTube page at Shine Time.
42:04We're going to read them all.
42:05We're going to react to them.
42:06I can't wait for your feedback.
42:08I'm sure everyone's going to be in complete lockstep agreement with my list here on Shine Time.
42:14So, ahead.
42:15New segment alert.
42:16Shine Time's beautiful were Bush League debuts.
42:21Where will Jeffrey Yan land after this celebration last night?
42:25Looks like me after yesterday's show.
42:31Quick check of the NLE standings.
42:34The Mets still suck.
42:35But wait, there's more.
42:37You're to my right, so it's just not going to work.
42:40And there's a strikeout, and he leaps in the air and celebrates as only Jeffrey Yan can.
42:47That's going to get the crowd aroused.
42:49Well, that will happen everywhere he goes.
42:55Oh, he's got good stuff.
42:56What I've seen so far in these first five pitches.
43:01And as Andy Green said, he can jump high as well.
43:09Ah, yes, Jeffrey Yan, his celebration for a strikeout brings us to beautiful or Bush League.
43:17Let me tell you something.
43:19I am a huge believer in this.
43:21I think that was absolutely beautiful.
43:23That was sensational.
43:25I am a big believer in professional sports, and specifically for baseball, celebrates, validates.
43:32I never mind when you see a batter take the bat and chuck it.
43:39I want a home run that's going to absolutely be a towering bomb and no doubt about it go over
43:44the wall.
43:45I don't have an issue with a slow trot around the bases.
43:48I don't have an issue when a pitcher at the end of the game pumps his fist like no other.
43:53I have no issue with that.
43:55None.
43:55When Jose Bautista hit that homer, Blue Jays, Rangers, a lifetime ago, and took that bat and chucked it like
44:01a sphere,
44:01I thought it was the greatest thing ever.
44:03I mean, celebrate, stamp it.
44:05I mean, it's energy.
44:07You work your ass off for it.
44:09That's great.
44:09I love celebrations in the NFL.
44:12A sack dance.
44:14I love a coordinated touchdown celebration.
44:17The fun bunch was unbelievable.
44:19And look, it's not for everyone.
44:21If your favorite celebration was Barry Sanders taking the football and handing it to the ref, great.
44:27That's fine.
44:28You know, Joe Horn with hiding a phone in the goalpost, you know, can't use props.
44:33That's too much.
44:35You know, the Vikings always have coordinated dances.
44:38Sensational.
44:39Can't get enough of it.
44:41The only issue I have with the celebration, guys, if we could show that one more time,
44:45I just don't want Yan to get hurt.
44:49I'm okay with the celebration over the top.
44:52It's meaningful grade.
44:54I'm just worried about where he lands and how he lands.
44:57I mean, look at this.
44:59So he gets a strikeout, leaps in the air.
45:01Look at both of his feet.
45:03I mean, that's not normal and natural.
45:06I just don't want him getting injured.
45:08So as long as the Mets are okay with it, I'm okay with it.
45:13I'm not worried about someone getting drilled in the head or showing up the opposition.
45:18That doesn't bother me in any way, shape, or form.
45:20I am a glass half full guy.
45:22Hell, my cup is overflowing.
45:25I love life.
45:26I love sports.
45:28Celebrate.
45:28Validate.
45:29I can't get enough.
45:30Second topic for Beautiful or Bush League.
45:33The Akron Zips are letting a fan call a play for the first game at home.
45:39This is Bush League.
45:40This is amateur hour.
45:41This is pathetic.
45:43Honestly, just get out of the football league.
45:45Just get out of college football.
45:47The fact that you're going to have – you want to honor a season ticket holder,
45:52let them walk to the middle of the fields, celebrate a flip of the coin,
45:57you know, put their name up on a big board, let them sit in great seats,
46:04put them in a box, call a play?
46:07I mean, you have coaches who are toiling all year.
46:11I mean, I'm serious.
46:13You know, you have coaches, high school coaches who want to coach in college.
46:17You know, you have graduate assistants who are grinding like no other,
46:21and you're going to let a dopey fan call a play?
46:26You have players who have worked their ass off, offensive linemen,
46:31and you're going to have a fan call a play?
46:36This is not what sport's all about.
46:38You want to say, thank you, fans?
46:41Thank you, NIL donors?
46:43Great.
46:43Figure out any other way.
46:45Then let – why don't you just, at the end of the day,
46:47have, you know, a season ticket holder play quarterback?
46:50Whoever donates the most money, you get to play left guard.
46:54What a joke.
46:56Amateur hour.
46:56This is everything wrong with sports.
46:59Hey, Akron, zips.
47:00Fold the franchise.
47:02Embarrassing.
47:05Pathetic.
47:06That's the show.
47:07If you miss any portion of the show, just do what I do.
47:08We watch the show over and over again.
47:10Our new YouTube page, my goodness.
47:13It's amazing.
47:14At Shine Time.
47:16Make sure you go subscribe and like.
47:18It's always up for debate.
47:19If you like first and subscribe, subscribe, and then like.
47:23I'm usually a subscribe first, then like second, but you do you.
47:27I want you to be happy.
47:29Just not calling plays with the Akron zips.
47:31See you tomorrow on Shine Time.
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