Lucas computer: What's up, guys? Lucas here with the Cleats Courts Podcast. We're gonna do quick preview of the Hall of Fame game that has come up already. happening.

Taylor: Paul's back, baby.

Lucas computer: Yes, football is back. All right, so this Thursday at 8 p.m. Eastern time, we have the Carolina Panthers taking on the Arizona Cardinals. In this game, there's also gonna be, of course, it's the Hall of Fame game, so we're have the Inductees. this year's Inductees, which A lot of people, if you're around our age and have been watching football for the last twenty years, a lot of familiar names coming up. the inductees include Luke Keekly, Larry Fitzgerald, Drew Brees, and Adam Vinateri. And they also have Roger Craig. So those first four are all people who have played within the last twenty years, recently retired NFL players, which is kind of surprising how quickly some these guys have gotten into the Hall Fame. but it's also really cool for us because Taylor and I, we've been watching football for probably about twenty five, thirty years now, and all these guys, these first four guys, all played during that time. So we got to see them as rookies, we got to see them in the prime of their careers, and then finishing up their careers as well. Obviously, Luke Keekly, Carolina Panthers, middle linebacker, just an amazing IQ player on the field. Everybody raves about him, even From when they played against him and even now, they'll still rave about how awesome his IQ was and just how he'd be picking out other teams' plays before they even snap the ball, which is insane to do that week in and week out for sixteen, seventeen different games throughout the season, different teams that you're playing throughout the year. Larry Fitzgerald, receiver for the Cardinals, he was absolute stud. Just s the

Taylor: So good.

Lucas computer: surest hands in the NFL, just never drop passes. and then we have Drew Brees. Obviously New Orleans Saints quarterback won a Super Bowl with them as well. Drew Brees, I can't exactly remember where he is passing yards wise for his career, but one of the top probably top two, I wanna say. Might be Brady at two, do you think T?

Taylor: Think it's Brady then Breeze. I think that's how it goes, yeah.

Lucas computer: That's what I was slinging to. We'll double check that and we'll put that on here. But so Drew Brees threw for a lot of yards. Very accurate passer. Saints, always a threat with him. What was that?

Taylor: Yeah, we were right. It's it's Brady, Breeze, Manning.

Lucas computer: Brady Breeze, Manning on there. Rogers probably creeping up slowly. Probably not going to touch

Taylor: He's fifth.

Lucas computer: any of those guys. What was that?

Taylor: Yes, he's Rogers is fifth right now and he he's like five thousand yards behind Favre, so Rogers is pretty locked into fifth all time, so

Lucas computer: Yeah, that's gonna be a tough, tough year for him to try to get past five thousand yards. but lastly, Adam Venteri kicker, play for the Colts, play for the Patriots. I'm not missing any teams on there, right? Most just those two. Those two, correct. Yeah. So Adam Viteri, awesome kicker. He was he was really fun to watch just because it didn't matter the weather that he had to deal with. There was just plenty of clips out there with him just kicking in the snow and hitting 50 yard field goals like it was nothing. which is actually very difficult to do. But yeah, those first four guys, really awesome players. And then Roger Craig played for the Niners and then once three Super Bowls, I think it was with the Niners. played running back for them. So played correct me if I'm wrong. I want to say in the eighties, Taylor. eighties, yes. All right. so those are your five inductees that will be coming up during this game that you get to see. but yeah, just really cool. Bunch of guys that are very familiar, well known in the NFL from just like if you've been watching the last fifteen, twenty years. Other than that, in the actual game, Taylor, what are some of the guys that could be possibly playing in this game? And then just like who we're kind of looking out for. We don't ever know who's going to play in these games, but who are some guys to kinda keep an eye on possibly for this game?

Taylor: yeah, as you said, there's not much known for sure about who will be playing or not, but the Carolina Panthers announced Kenny Pickett will be starting quarterback for them. He was a new addition for them this offseason, so that could be pretty fun to watch just 'cause he's been around for a little while. He's played a lot of games, so he'll be at least competent looking out there. Nothing special, but he at least he's been there before. And then the Cardinals, they haven't announced who's starting yet for them, but we could imagine it Probably gonna be Carson Beck, I would guess so, because Gardner Minshew is another guy and he's been around for a long time. He knows what he's doing already. And he's like we know what you're gonna get from G Minshew, so you might as well let the rookie get as many reps as you can, and then I'm sure there's fourth string quarterbacks that'll get some action as well. And then just in general, some of these guys will not be playing, but this off season the Cardinals added Tyler Elgier. And Jeremiah Love to the running back room that already has James Conner coming back from major injury. And Trey Benson, who also was hurt last year. I think he might have blew out his knee early in the year, so he was out all year. So they have a lot of running backs to sort through. I don't know who's gonna get action this early on in preseason, but that's one position they definitely need to figure out. And then they added Kendrick Bourne to the wide receiver room as well with Marvin Harrison and Michael Wilson. And I don't think I don't think any of those guys will be playing just 'cause it's so early in the preseason and that that extra preseason game that most people won't be in. And then the Panthers, they have spent big money on the edge rusher Jalen Phillips. They gave him a four year, hundred and twenty million dollar contract, so he will definitely not be playing in the preseason, especially the the extra game. And then they also signed Devin Lloyd and as I said, Kenny Pickett to be their backup quarterback. But we know he'll be getting some actions, so Other than that, I can't really tell you too much about who we'll be playing because there's the we really have no idea. But I do know we have a game to bet on, so I was looking at the line for the game and the spread is Carolina minus one point five. So how do you feel about that, Lucas? I think I'm gonna have to go with the Panthers just 'cause Kenny Pickett, you know she should be playing at least probably the first half. So I like going with the veteran

Lucas computer: Yeah.

Taylor: when I can, so

Lucas computer: Yeah, I'm I'm probably in the same boat. Carolina, especially you got Kenny Pickett starting. He's been a starting quarterback in this league before. So if you have him starting in the Hall the Hall of Fame game, probably have the best odds to win that game. Depends how long he plays too. but if they play him for like a full half at least, I think they could definitely just kinda run away with this one. Would be interesting to see Carson Beck. I'd like to see Carson Beck out there. I don't see why he wouldn't. They haven't announced anything, but if Carson Beck Does play for them. I think he can be I think in this game he could probably shine quite a bit. obviously went to the national championship last year, had some really good years with Georgia as well. So, he's just a well known name out there. So I think it'd be fun for football fans to kind of to stay interest interested in this game. so that'd be kind of fun to watch. I know former Packers running back AJ Dillon is on there and on the roster. So, like you said, they have so many running backs. Maybe he'll make an appearance. believe he got hurt last year too, so he didn't play too much last year. if at all. I can't remember exactly. but

Taylor: He did a neck injury, so that kinda made him out all year long.

Lucas computer: Yeah, so didn't really get any time last year. So it'd be interesting. Maybe they'll get him out there, try to see what he looks like, coming off that injury from last year. other than that, yeah, football is back, so we're gonna be trying to enjoy this game as much as we can. in the past we haven't watched too much of the Hall of Fame games. Usually if someone interesting is gonna be playing on the in the game, then we'll take a look and see what's going on. But other than that, once again this game will be

Taylor: So you just gotta put you s you just gotta put a bet on the game and then that gives you something interesting to watch. So just take the

Lucas computer: Exactly.

Taylor: Panther's spread and then you have something to watch. Or the over under

Lucas computer: Exactly.

Taylor: is only thirty six point five, so that's not too many points. If you wanna just root for points, just take the over and hope it's like twenty to seventeen or something like that, and you're good to go. So

Lucas computer: What did you say was that? Thirty

Taylor: Thirty six and a half.

Lucas computer: Thirty six and a half. yeah. yeah. That could easily easily happen in this game. Yeah.

Taylor: It's it's not many, so yeah.

Lucas computer: So for all you betters out there, we're gonna be hammering home Carolina at one one and a half and then minus one and a half and then probably taking that over in points. I could see them scoring getting thirty seven points in this game. like you said, twenty to seventeen. Pretty realistic number there's even for a Hall of Fame game. and it's a bunch of guys that are trying to make a team right now, so whether it's the team they're on right now or trying to get a spot with somebody else later in training camp or after some cuts later in the year. so yeah, I think it's gonna be interesting interesting game. it gets us kicked off with football this year, gets people excited. especially when you see some legends pop up on your screen again. just kind of brings back old memories, which is really fun as well. But other than that, anything else to add, Taylor, kind of what what we can expect in this game or anything at all for this?

Taylor: Not really. It's pretty much

Lucas computer: No.

Taylor: says it all because who knows what's gonna happen on Thursday night with it being so early

Lucas computer: Yeah, yeah.

Taylor: on. But I'm just ready for some football, so I'm excited.

Lucas computer: Same here. Same here. We get this and then we're about a week and a half away from that first preseason game. actually I think they're starting them earlier in the week again this year. So not even not even that long. But we're excited. Football's back, Hall of Fame time. We get to cheer on football. We're good for football again. just take it all in and get ready for a fun season once again. So other than that, hope you guys enjoyed our little preview of what's going down. Hopefully there was a couple things of information in there that you weren't weren't sure about. but we are recording this a little early, so some other news could pop out. But the biggest news, Kenny Pickett will be at quarterback for the Carolina Panthers. So that's going to be kind of fun to see. Hopefully he's going up against Carson Beck, but we never know with these games. So thank you guys for listening. Thanks for watching. Like, follow, comment, subscribe. We appreciate all the support from you guys. Enjoy the Hall of Fame game. Real football season is about to begin. Enjoy. Take care, guys.