The communication breakdown of John Harbaugh

It was 18 years of one message and that’s a long time for anyone, anywhere to be in charge of a billion dollar operation. Pikesville native and longtime Tampa sportswriter Joel Poiley joins Nestor in the aftermath of The Harbaugh Era to discuss changes in sports leadership over the years and the Ravens’ future in the hands of new blood.

Nestor Aparicio and Joel Poiley discuss the aftermath of John Harbaugh’s firing as the Ravens’ head coach. They reflect on Harbaugh’s recent struggles, the lack of interaction between Harbaugh and Lamar Jackson, and the potential new coaches like Jim Schwartz and Cliff Kingsbury. They also touch on the Ravens’ defensive issues and the need for a cultural shift. Additionally, they discuss the Orioles’ offseason moves, praising Mike Elias’ depth signings and expressing optimism for the upcoming season. Both agree on the importance of a fresh start for both teams.

• [ ] @Nestor Aparicio – Give away the Maryland Lottery Candy Cane Cash tickets on air and at events (tickets mentioned to be distributed)
• [ ] @Nestor Aparicio – Organize WNST appearances at community events for the Super Bowl period to support the Maryland Food Bank and GBMC (participate and promote community outreach)
• [ ] @Nestor Aparicio – Plan crab cake tour stops and pursue new sponsors for 2026 (identify venues/sponsors and schedule tour stops)
• [ ] @Nestor Aparicio – Have breakfast with Katie at the Connects event on Elvis’s birthday (attend scheduled breakfast meeting)
• [ ] @Nestor Aparicio – Secure Bill Cole as a guest on the show (reach out and schedule appearance)
• [ ] Write and publish history pieces for the University of Tampa Athletics website (ongoing freelance work producing historical articles)
• [ ] Develop and continue work on a new baseball book project (advance manuscript and related project tasks)

Harbaugh’s Firing and Its Implications

• Nestor Aparicio discusses the Ravens’ search for a new head coach and mentions the Maryland Food Bank and GBMC as community partners.
• Nestor introduces Joel Poiley, a longtime sports writer from Baltimore now based in Tampa, and praises his journalistic skills.
• Nestor reflects on the Ravens’ recent performance and the impact of Harbaugh’s firing, comparing it to past coaching changes.
• Joel Poiley shares his perspective on the Ravens’ situation, drawing parallels to past coaching changes and the impact of fractured relationships on coaching decisions.

Historical Context and Coaching Dynamics

• Nestor and Joel discuss the historical context of coaching changes, mentioning Earl Weaver and Andy Reid as examples of second acts in coaching.
• Nestor suggests potential new coaches for the Ravens, including Jim Schwartz and Cliff Kingsbury, and discusses the importance of finding a coach who can work well with Lamar Jackson.
• Joel highlights the lack of interaction between Harbaugh and Lamar during games, which could indicate deeper issues within the team.
• Nestor and Joel discuss the cultural and personal dynamics within the Ravens’ organization, including the influence of players like Lamar Jackson and the impact of past controversies.

Lamar Jackson’s Role and Team Dynamics

• Nestor and Joel delve into the relationship between Lamar Jackson and Harbaugh, noting Lamar’s preference for not attending OTAs and the impact on team dynamics.
• Joel shares an observation from a friend about the lack of interaction between Lamar and Harbaugh during games, which could indicate a fractured relationship.
• Nestor reflects on the broader implications of Lamar’s influence on the team, including the potential for a new coach to mesh well with him.
• Joel and Nestor discuss the importance of having a coach who can manage the team effectively, given the high expectations and financial commitments to Lamar Jackson.

The Impact of Harbaugh’s Departure

• Nestor and Joel discuss the broader implications of Harbaugh’s departure, including the potential impact on fan engagement and community support.
• Joel highlights the importance of a new coach’s ability to manage the team’s culture and address any lingering issues from Harbaugh’s tenure.
• Nestor reflects on the challenges of finding a new coach who can balance the team’s needs with the expectations of Lamar Jackson and the organization.
• Joel and Nestor discuss the potential candidates for the Ravens’ coaching position, including their qualifications and the fit with the team’s current roster.

The Future of the Ravens and the NFL

• Nestor and Joel discuss the potential future directions for the Ravens, including the importance of addressing defensive and offensive line needs.
• Joel highlights the need for a new coach to bring a fresh perspective and energy to the team, given the recent struggles and changes in personnel.
• Nestor reflects on the broader implications of the Ravens’ coaching change for the NFL, including the impact on fan loyalty and the league’s reputation.
• Joel and Nestor discuss the potential for a new coach to bring about a cultural shift within the Ravens’ organization, addressing any lingering issues and improving team dynamics.

The Orioles and Baseball Prospects

• Nestor and Joel shift the conversation to the Orioles, discussing the team’s offseason moves and the potential impact on the upcoming season.
• Joel praises the Orioles’ depth in pitching and the potential for a strong season, given the team’s recent acquisitions and the health of key players.
• Nestor reflects on the importance of the Orioles’ performance in shaping fan enthusiasm and engagement, especially in light of the Ravens’ coaching change.
• Joel and Nestor discuss the potential for the Orioles to surprise fans with a strong season, given the team’s recent investments and the potential for a fresh start.

The Importance of Coaching and Leadership

• Nestor and Joel emphasize the importance of coaching and leadership in shaping the success of both the Ravens and the Orioles.
• Joel highlights the need for a new coach to bring a fresh perspective and energy to the Ravens, addressing any lingering issues and improving team dynamics.
• Nestor reflects on the broader implications of coaching changes for sports teams, including the impact on fan loyalty and the league’s reputation.
• Joel and Nestor discuss the potential for a new coach to bring about a cultural shift within the Ravens’ organization, improving team performance and fan engagement.

The Role of Ownership and Management

• Nestor and Joel discuss the role of ownership and management in shaping the direction of the Ravens and the Orioles.
• Joel highlights the importance of ownership’s involvement in coaching decisions and the need for a new coach to align with the team’s long-term goals.
• Nestor reflects on the challenges of managing a sports team, including the need for effective communication and collaboration between coaches, players, and management.
• Joel and Nestor discuss the potential for a new coach to bring about positive changes within the organization, addressing any lingering issues and improving team performance.

The Impact of Community and Fan Engagement

• Nestor and Joel discuss the importance of community and fan engagement in shaping the success of both the Ravens and the Orioles.
• Joel highlights the need for a new coach to connect with the community and build strong relationships with fans, especially in light of recent changes and challenges.
• Nestor reflects on the broader implications of community engagement for sports teams, including the impact on fan loyalty and the league’s reputation.
• Joel and Nestor discuss the potential for a new coach to bring about positive changes within the community, improving fan engagement and support.

The Potential for a Fresh Start

• Nestor and Joel discuss the potential for a fresh start for both the Ravens and the Orioles, given the recent changes and challenges.
• Joel highlights the importance of a new coach’s ability to bring a fresh perspective and energy to the team, addressing any lingering issues and improving team dynamics.
• Nestor reflects on the broader implications of a fresh start for sports teams, including the impact on fan loyalty and the league’s reputation.
• Joel and Nestor discuss the potential for a new coach to bring about positive changes within the organization, improving team performance and fan engagement.

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

Ravens future, sports leadership, Harbaugh firing, Lamar Jackson, new head coach, Baltimore sports, team culture, defensive issues, offensive line, player interaction, coaching change, fan reaction, Orioles offseason, baseball prospects, community impact.

SPEAKERS

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Nestor Aparicio, Speaker 1, Joel Poiley

Nestor Aparicio  00:01

Welcome home. We are W, N, S, T, am 1570 Towson, Baltimore. We are Baltimore. Positive. Positively into the funky season where we’re looking for a head coach. I’m looking for some crab cake tour stops here later on, as well as some new sponsors in 2026 it’s all brought to you by friends at the Maryland lottery. Candy Cane cash. I have these to give away. Still smell like last year. They smell like peppermints. And who knew that? Christmas and a new year we bring a new head coach around here, and certainly for me, we’re going to be doing the cup Super Bowl in a couple of weeks. Now that we know the Ravens aren’t going to Santa Clara, we will be all over the community for the Maryland Food Bank, as well as with our friends at GBMC. I’m wearing my planet fitness team shirt here that they gave me over at Timonium, so I’m appreciative of that, as well as the black card and me being able to get on that at hydro massage, because I’m I’m going to need some relaxation when this is all over with I did a whole bunch of radio on Tuesday morning. Joe Paul is going to be my guest. He’s down in Tampa. He’s got the Baltimore Colts signed. By damn near came. I almost got a clippers bobble head last week for 80 bucks on the internet, because I’m out of my mind because I wanted it. But Joel is a guy who’s from Baltimore, but made his life as a longtime sports writer in Tampa. And Joe I’m going to pay you one of the higher compliments just coming into this thing here. And you know, I don’t give many of those out. You know, I don’t, in the aftermath of like this firing and baseball season, like I first off as a journalist, I was taken aback by this, and I’m not surprised by much, but Luke and I drove to Pittsburgh together. I sat in the cold. We were together all night. We slept three hours. We did four hours of radio. We drive five hours home, like all of that, I don’t think it it ever literally, because we’re tactical. He’s a school teacher. I’m an entrepreneur, like we would have had a plan that would have been better than him being at his mother’s house at five in the afternoon. But I swear there’s a sixth sense that sports writers have, and my highest praise for you is I don’t really want to talk to people that don’t know what they’re talking about after things like this. And no offense to taking phone calls. I did that when March abroad was out. I did that when Billick was out. I just not like I see it on the internet. And there are people that I want to talk to who’ve been in and around all of this and the business of this, and the personalities and the egos and the billionaires and the millionaires and all of it. And to me, I only really want to talk to people that have been around locker rooms and around teams, because I think there’s a different perspective. And you would agree with this as you were fanboy in Pikesville as a kid running around Memorial Stadium that then became reporter guy all of your life here and then in Tampa, trying to, like, do what I’m doing and what you’re doing right now is get the story right for everybody, right in the aftermath, we’re trying to get the story right about monkey and this that bashati Money, Lamar, his role, and I think, unpeeling it for people like you and me, who are journalists who, like, are trying To scratch beyond you know what the what really happened on 911 or what really happened on January 6? Or, like, taking a deeper dive into these things, I appreciate having guys like, you’re around, you tried to beg off. You’re like, I get a local guy. I’m like, dude, nobody watches more ravens football than you. You haven’t missed a Ravens football game in your life. I don’t

Joel Poiley  03:19

think, right? I mean, I don’t see every game, every play, but hey, it’s good to be back with you, but you make a great point, because the one thing about getting older is it gives you perspective and experience. We have seen these things before, and knowing I was coming on and you know, this just broke yesterday, I started thinking, you can make comparisons. The same kind of thing happened with Shola, when Rosenblum just couldn’t take the fact that, you know, all those near misses in the early 60s, and then he has a bad year in 69 these things add up. I think that the situation with horrible is its recent history. I mean, great record. It’s like Luke was saying yesterday, he’s going to end up in the Ring of Honor up there. Although I, and I have a lot of friends up there and families still watch the games. They don’t think he’s a great in game coach, but that’s that’s a whole other subject. But this is about recent history. They are trending the wrong way, and it was the same thing with Shula, even though he had a tremendous record like John did, and it just reached a point after the 69 season. Okay, Don left, but his relationship was so fractured with Rosenblum that once that offer came through with Miami, he had to leave town. So I think

Nestor Aparicio  04:50

Earl Weaver was the same thing in 82 Earl didn’t really want to leave. He came back and managed again, but new ownership right out to belly all we’ve tried. 79 we had to bet we went through the Strike one 100 games and still didn’t make the playoffs in eight. Like all of that went on, and it was just sort of like time, you know. And second acts, though, with Andy Reid and with what Sean Payton is doing right now, that is there, I don’t say a dime a dozen even, what his brothers there’s brothers coaching, you know, the chargers, and is in the playoffs this weekend. So that opportunity, and that would be the same thing for bashati, that if he wants to go and hire, I’m throwing a note out for Jim Schwartz, because he’s my buddy. But someone like that, whether it’s Cliff Kingsbury, somebody who’s been a coach before, there’s some definite thought about that with Vrabel and with what he missed out on a McDonald but it does open up the whole spectrum of when you’re in the market for a coach, is he going to be as good as our guy? But what good is it? And I said this, Joel, and I’m in Baltimore, and you’re in Tampa, by the way, Joe Pauly is our guest here, if you’re turning it on radio, he lost the city hardball lost the city harbor. Lost me because he didn’t have any integrity. And how hard think about how messed up it is that they lost me, how how much Chad steel I’ve had to deal with to lose me like, you know, especially when you’re winning Super Bowls, you’re in the playoffs every year, like the hardball thing to me, and the culture of the building has evaporated, especially with Sashi brown being around because at least with Dick Cass they had a grown up around there, the perception of one, but Ray Rice, the Wembley knee, the Justin Tucker stuff, the losing, the disappointment, Just all of it all the way around. They haven’t managed anything well there, in that way, in the bishati era, they’ve had a lot of of ish stains in their underwear and not and they brought a Super Bowl in, and that’s great, but there’s been a Super Bowl, and there’s been a lot of disappointment. And quite frankly, Joel, it’s been a lot of shame, you know, like literally, and I’ve worn it front facing, about the way that they operate with these massage ladies, and just being around Ray Rice and women and a glass elevator and lying about it, and then the Wembley knee for the Trumpers, so as well as for anybody whose skin color is a little different, that took a little umbrage to Trump calling people SOPs. So all that being said, it’s, it’s a mess, right? I mean, in that way for them, and there’s a lot of drama going on in there right now, and a lot of personality and a lot of money, and har ball had a $50 million deal, and walked in and Steve’s like, you know, go fish, basically on Tuesday.

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Joel Poiley  07:50

Yeah, I have a good friend up there that follows the team. And, you know, obviously I’m not in the building, so I don’t have that insight, but he was watching games this year, and he made a really good observation the other day, where he doesn’t blame any of this, any of the losing, on Lamar, everything he puts on his defense. But what he said about Lamar, I found really interesting. He said during games, he noticed Lamar and Harbaugh had no interaction, particularly this year, and in the past, he would see a lot of sideline interaction during games. And you know, you wonder about the culture and what went on in the locker room. Now, you and Luke, particularly, Luke would know more about that, but brothers, I

Nestor Aparicio  08:37

know for a fact hardball didn’t like him not coming to OTAs like I have texts from our ball about things that I tweeted out about Lamar. Need to get his ass to OTAs and be a leader if he wants to be a leader. And this is back when he’s 2425 years old, right? So it’s very obvious Steve chose Lamar over John and John’s culture. I don’t know what that means for the next coach, but you and I both know and you’re a little you get a little more salt on the on the mountain than I got, like letting the players run the building. I don’t know the NBA, that’s the way it works, right? And I don’t, but this really sounds like a monk and Lamar and hardball saying, we run the team. We can’t. You can’t run the team. You know what I mean, whereas Aaron Rodgers was on the field the other night running the Steelers offense and pissed off at Arthur Smith and throwing helmets and doing all that. But you know what, he delivered the pass in the end, like the last play when they needed to win. Yeah, he didn’t miss the Extra Point. But like, Lamar is not that like that guy to I’m going to take over everything, but you almost have to let him do that when he’s out there and he has the football. And I think that that was something that Greg Roman tried to neutralize a little bit, and was given great criticism that and Lamar is taking great care of the football, but there is the HEY. We’re drawing up the plays and we’re going to call the plays. And then after the game, where Isaiah likely is yelling at fans, we’re ass basically talking about his offensive coordinator and the game plan. And two weeks later, hardball is getting fired over this with $50 million owed to him and the perception that he lost the building. Yeah, and I know he lost the community. Joel, you know what I mean? Like, it’s very clear in the aftermath, people that may feel nice about his Christianity or his car commercials or whatever, or maybe they don’t know him as intimately as I do, they have a warm fuzzy for him in the aftermath, but there isn’t a lot of that. Even the people that have warm fuzzy on him are also like, it’s been 18 years, man, you know what? I mean, there’s going to come a point where it’s time. And obviously he and Steve were not simpatico anymore. When that happens, there’s got to be change.

Joel Poiley  10:52

Yeah, and look, sometimes the message gets lost with these guys. I mean, I’ve seen it. It happened with Dungey here it happened with Gruden. 18 years is a long time. I mean, how many motivational speeches can you give to get guys moving and just looking at the product on the field this year and even the past couple years? And you’re right, because I know a lot of people up there just didn’t like his game management. It was just very choppy. And for the amount of talent, I know they had issues on the offensive line, if you just want to look at that. And I know they had a lot of defensive issues too. But I mean, Lamar made, what three really great throws in the game Sunday night, the rest of it, you know, they had a lot of three and outs. They had no rhythm. And a lot of that’s coaching, a lot of that is just what’s coming in from the sideline.

Nestor Aparicio  11:49

8

I think some of that was losing one on one battles in regard to Derek, Henry’s effectiveness to get them into a down and distance that’s more manageable. And Lamar strength is his wheels. It’s the threat of his wheels that backs everybody up a yard or two or three, that opens things up for Derek Henry to get a running start. That opens it up for him to get a running start if he chooses to keep the ball, or for zay flowers to run over the top, which he did twice, to beat their ass. Because it only takes that. It only it only takes that. I Joel, I was sitting with the Steelers fans down in the in the in the bowl, where Mike Tomlin left me a ticket, and I had two really nice guys next to me, two really nice guys in front of me, two a holes to my left, right, it’s right, but the nice guys that were around me, I was interacting with them. And I’m not all purple, though, but I said I’m from Baltimore. I said I’m not rooting for or against anybody. I’m I’m a guest of Mike Tomlin, and I’m a journalist. I should be up in the press box like I’ve been for 30 years. Eat Mr. Rooney’s cookies, but I’m with these guys during the game, and obviously they’re behind early in the game. But it was always there’s a lot of energy in the building. It was cold, but it wasn’t windy, it wasn’t nasty cold. It was fun dancing energy. Drink a couple of beers cold. I didn’t drink any beer. I did. I don’t know why. I just maybe because it was expensive, was just cold and I didn’t want to pee more. You know what I mean? Like, I probably should have drank my hands. I had gloves. You know, it’s cold, right? My phone was frozen. I couldn’t tweet. I went into the pisser behind a section, behind section 142 sort of a, like, this was not a, this was not Gucci. This was a Pittsburgh pisser, and I’m in there. It was nice and warm, and I got to do my whole halftime report on my phone, and I’m in there with a purple phone. So, like, guys are walking by, they sort of know what’s up, you know what I mean? So I gave myself away to purple phone. Man told me, told him who I was, but I yeah, I went back down into the bowl. And then the third quarter, you know, the game gets a little more tight fourth quarter, and it feels like the Steelers are going to win right there. We’re up 10 points. Like, do it? Lamar threw that past as a flowers over the top, and the kid next to me just turns to me with, like, the Scott he’s not booing, he just turns to me. He’s like, That’s just Lamar steel our hat on West Virginia visor. That’s just Lamar. You know? What are you gonna do? You just, you just, you witnessed something great. You just tip your cap. You know what? I mean, literally. It’s like a great golf shot or something, right?

Joel Poiley  14:14

I tell you, he’s gotten rid of that label about a choker and big games, although there’s always that one catastrophic mistake, you know, like the interception with white. But other than that, I mean, he kept them in the game. And it’s interesting because I was listening to a talk show, it was probably a couple days ago, before the firing, and it had all these ex NFL jocks on there, and they did not think that hardball should have been let go, because they were saying the team is close. And, you know, Lamar just had an injury prone season. But see, guys like that are not in the building, even though, you know, they’re former players, but their perspective is a wider view. Do. It’s not the tunnel vision that is really going on with the team. You mentioned, culture and through the years, I’ve seen that so many times with teams, a guy could be a decent coach, but once you lose the locker room, especially nowadays, with players making so much money, and it only takes one or two bad apples in the locker room to just bring a whole team down. I mean, I think that’s what happened with the bucks this year.

Nestor Aparicio  15:26

So Well, that’s the amazing thing about Tomlin, to be able to manage the Ben Roethlisberger, you know, rape allegations, the Antonio Brown nonsense in the locker room, the Ryan shazier, you know, tragic. I mean, like, like, losing big games, winning games. He’s won a Super Bowl, lost a Super Bowl. Like, you know, has had to do it without Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh being a black coach. And I looked around and everybody’s white in Pittsburgh, you know, like, literally and like, I it’s, it’s a tough business all the way around. That’s the tip of the cap to John Harbaugh for holding it together. But where I am, Joel, is where you are, which is the building, which is Steve came in there on Tuesday and said, what’s the plan? And John said, the plan is Todd Monckton and getting the quarterback in line, and the plans to reign the quarterback in line, because we got to get him healthy. We got to get him in the building like, all these things that John’s been after. And Steve’s like, John, the building doesn’t like you. You know what I mean, like, you know what like, I like and the fans don’t like you, and I love you. You’re my guy. You’ve been my guy for 18 years, right? Like, there’s a lot of relationship there, but like John, we need to coddle Lamar like we just do. And Lamar doesn’t want monkey. Lamar doesn’t like, like, whatever that would be like, Lamar has won the battle, and Lamar is under contract at a $74 million cap number. It’s only 51 million in cash. Luke corrected me on that, because all the upfront money, but it’s a $74 million cap money cap number. In order to lower the cap number, they’re gonna have to give him cash, and he has no agent, and they’re gonna have to hire a coach he likes, like, literally, if that’s the direction they’re going in, and it that’s the direction they went in, because, as Lucas pointed out, for Todd moncken Monkey put him in a position to be the MVP last year, along with Derek Henry, when he was healthy, and the offensive line was a tad better, maybe. And certainly the position players, whether it was Andrews likely, flowers, you know, Bateman just down the line, D hop, although D hop, I mean, under I’ll always wonder what the hell that was about, like, how underutilized That dude was here this year for monk and for everybody else, but for me, with the Lamar circumstance, right? You know, bashati picked Lamar over the head coach, and it’s basically said, Let’s retool that to win a championship in the next three to five years with Lamar, and John’s going to be gone anyway in three to five years. And if John wants to go run the Giants and fight with his brother and do whatever, go run Michigan. I don’t whatever, go run Notre Dame. When I heard the Notre Dame coach, I probably more up his alley, because everybody would have to listen to him there. Maybe not anymore with the n, i L, I mean, I don’t, I don’t know you listen to college coach anymore, either. Hey, dude, I’ll go play for Baylor, you know, like they’re they have outs in that way. John will have a job by the time this gets on the air, I guess, right? And but for the ravens and for where they are, this is a fascinating thing about wanting to come in and mesh with Lamar, and want to work with Lamar and believe in Lamar and have the Costa oversee this retooling of the offensive and defensive lines, as well as salary cap to get Lamar to buy in. Because to me, Joel, to your point and your friend in the media who noticed the Lamar, John thing, Lamar is not having any fun. Yeah, right, like, and I don’t think anybody in the building’s having any fun, and the fans aren’t having any fun, and Nestor the media guy’s not having any fun, and Nestor the fans not having any fun. So like not having any fun doesn’t mean I want to make it rain and give bashati my credit card. And I think, you know, Luke pointed this out the other day, like March and John moncken or and healthy Lamar back out in spring would be unacceptable here. You know what? I mean, fans were angry. Fans the city quit on John man. I mean, I seen it in the aftermath. I’ve never seen anything like it like I have my own personal issue with John and I, but I’m not like people are really happy. John’s gone. Okay, let’s see who the next coaches, you know, well,

Joel Poiley  19:45

also too, the window with Lamar. I’m not saying it’s shrinking. What is he 29, or 30? I would say it’s shrinking. I would say he’s shrinking. But he’s been banged up, you know, over. Recent years,

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Nestor Aparicio  20:00

so I don’t know that he’s going to have in him to do what he did in Cincinnati eight years ago, breaking three guys ankles and running 80 yards to the end zone, because nobody can catch him. I mean, maybe in the off season. And I don’t doubt that kid at all. Anytime anybody’s ever put his back to the wall, he’s gone back into the laboratory and gotten better, right? Like, so like, I will fully acknowledge that about Lamar Jackson, but I will also acknowledge humanity and saying he’s slower 31 than he is at 21 and that probably isn’t going to play well for his game.

Joel Poiley  20:30

Well, you were talking about horrible in the community too. I mean, bashadi has to look at this from a business perspective too. And if what you’re saying is that true. Where the city is quit on him. Like you pointed out during the year, a lot of empty seats in the stadium. Maybe some corporate sponsorships could be backing out. I mean, I don’t know, but an owner has to look at all those things honestly. I’m very few things shocked me. It’s 68 but I’m shocked that bowls still has a job down here. Because of all that, the fans hate him. The community hate hates him. He’s terrible in game, coach, they’re going backwards. He actually meets with the Blazers today.

Nestor Aparicio  21:17

And the best and the worst of things happened in Tampa, where Brady came down there and for five minutes, it deodorized everything, right, literally, right.

Joel Poiley  21:25

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But once he left the culture and the culture in the building left the accountability of the players left. So, I mean,

Nestor Aparicio  21:33

Arians was also an incredible grown up, right? To bring in at that point,

Joel Poiley  21:38

Arians was great Nestor, because at that point in his career, he was given everybody else credit, but you knew he was the engine behind everything. I mean, he was given Byron, left which credit for running the offense and left which

Nestor Aparicio  21:52

he got run out of Pittsburgh years ago when Tomlin came in, right? So, like, there was a whole power thing when he didn’t get that gig. And there were a couple other people that thought they were going to get that gig in Pittsburgh as well. And as well. Russ was a Russ, the old line, line lineman from the the Redskins. No, he was not ball that he was, he was a Pittsburgh guy, but nonetheless, yeah, the percent, Hey, Jason Garrett was going to have this job, right? And I brought that up with Luke that Jason Garrett would be the guy, because, like, Steve already loved him. Steve offered him the job, and he didn’t take it. Now, Garrett’s interviewing with Tennessee this week, and is back in the loop for that. And I said to Luke, they need to hire a quarterback like they need to hire someone that sees the game like Lamar for the next three to five years. Dude, we’re not in the 18 year quarter head coaching hiring phase. We’re in there. We’re going to give you two or three years to figure it out. You have Lamar. You don’t, you know there’s no runway here. The runways. We’re on the runway. Let’s go take take off. You know you have a quarterback. You have Derek, Henry, allegedly, you know they’re gonna but man, Stanley, Humphrey, roquan, number Linder bombs, a huge number, if they want to keep him. We lost our last center to you guys down to Tampa, you know, with Jensen, and he went, won a couple Super Bowls. So who’s my dude? He’s built a big house out in Colorado. He’s a great guy. I still got the red hair rolling out, but of Jensen, yeah, so for me and well, Thunder bombs gonna get paid, and I don’t know that they’re gonna have the money to pay him here, and I don’t know what his relationship is with Lamar, but we’re peeling back the onion of this offseason here to find out. Things must have been really, really bad, right to be firing the coach on Tuesday afternoon, and and nobody could get along. And there’s no Kumbaya. We can’t go back and run it back. And the owner doesn’t want that, and the fans don’t want that. This is all I know that’s happened in Tampa. You guys were the yuck and ears there for a little while back in the creamsicle days. Sure, dude, we’re not. I mean, this is unfamiliar territory here, in the same way that if Mike Tomlin got fired Pittsburgh, they’d be like, we don’t even remember the last time somebody got fired around here, you know?

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Joel Poiley  24:01

Yeah, no. Aryans changed the whole culture here. I mean, they had had, I think, a dozen losing seasons before he got here, but so

Nestor Aparicio  24:11

our coaches, they had Gruden and then a mess, right, pretty much, right.

Joel Poiley  24:14

Rahim was here for three years, shiano, Dirk, cutter, I mean, it was a mess. Like every two years, the Glazers were just blowing somebody, Mike Smith, they just couldn’t get it right until Arians got here. But, you know, you start looking at the Ravens team, they also need an edge rusher and a lockdown corner. I mean, there are parts that they still need to be competitive, but you made a good point about Rogers on Sunday night. You can say what you want. Lot of people don’t like him, whatever, but he was running that team. I mean, you could see he was making decisions on the field, on the fly. You know, didn’t have his best receiver. It was pretty impressive. I got. You hand Roger’s at. And I’ve seen games where Rogers kind of tanked and you know if he threw an interception early, especially in playoff games.

Nestor Aparicio  25:08

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But you know what I said, driving up the mountain, Joel, I’m with Luke on Sunday morning. We’re driving up by the way, I have the delicious remnant of the Boston Cream I held up the cronut that I had yesterday from bakehouse. This is a Boston Cream Cronut that I bought on Sunday. It’s currently Wednesday, and it’s the most delicious thing. My wife came and says the best. She loves Boston creams, but So it got me to the bake house the other day, driving up, I just want to taste it. And Luke and I are are going up, and I said to him, he said, Who do you think’s gonna he had, he had already when I picked him up in breeze wood. Because we met in breeze wood. I swear we weren’t even going up that ramp where you get the used to get the little ticket. Now you just easy pass up the hill going out of breeze wood. And I had him in the car, and I’m like, you picked, you picked the ravens, didn’t you? You know, like, I just got into him right in the car right away, about 1015 and and he said, What do you think? And I said, I think the Steelers are going to win, and here’s why I’m envisioning a night. And I didn’t say the kicker is going to miss a kick, but my God, the kick a karma. Oh, my God. What the Tucker thing, and what the huge what the people of the community have no idea, what this Tucker thing and the depth of it and the sickness of it, and everything I know and I’ve heard and I’ve read and I people come up to me. It the Tucker thing’s shameful, you know, just in a general sense. But um, I said to him, when this is done tonight, it’s 24 degrees, the game’s in Pittsburgh. They got watt back. Lamar is playing half assed. That’s what I thought. He’s half hurt. You know, he played way better than that, way better than that, right? So, well enough to win. Like everybody over at the fan is saying, you know, so and, like I’ve said, and like, Luke’s, I mean, you know, I’m not anti Lamar, I’m anti losing. I’m anti not coming to OTAs. You know, I’m, you know, I’m anti not having an agent. Just from, like, what are we doing here? Like all the way around, there’s, I’m Anthony running into linebackers, which I was in the beginning, because it gets quarterbacks hurt so but I love Lamar, and I love and I’ve already, I wouldn’t bet against Lamar, and I won’t bet against whoever the next coach is that can get the best out of him, because we’ve seen the best out of him is good for three MVPs. So whatever it takes, if they have to practice at two in the afternoon. He wants to sleep in whatever, whatever he’s going to run the building. Now they’ve Steve made that decision for the next couple of years. The quarterback’s going to be in charge here because he’s making the money and he gives us a better chance to win than the head coach does. Okay, but I said to Luke, am I picturing at the end of the night. Mike Tomlin and Aaron Rodgers walking off that field at the end of tomlin’s career in Pittsburgh, maybe, certainly the end for Aaron Rodgers. Am I picturing that they’re going to have a bad night, or am I picturing the John Harbaugh, who’s had the most blown leads ever with this group, who’s not very good. They don’t rush the passer, so it’s going to give Aaron Rodgers more time than you think, and I think the Steelers are going to run the ball better than you think, because I think the Ravens defense stinks, and I know the Ravens offensive line isn’t going to be great, and I know the Steelers are built to rush the quarterback, and I know that they got run on by Derek Henry, but if they can stop that, right, they’ll have a chance to win tonight. And I thought to myself, I said to Luke, and I didn’t want to be a jerk on the internet, but I’ll be a jerk on the radio in the aftermath, because I did say at halftime in my thing, I thought the Steelers would win the game. Now I did not put a prediction up, because I don’t feel like dealing with all that. I already had to deal with Chad steel. I had to talk to Chad steel for 13 minutes last week and be told that I’m not a professional, when everybody in Pittsburgh knew I was that’s a whole different story. And you know, better than that, the Pittsburgh Steelers knew better than that, and they were apologetic that the Ravens would go through league sources to make sure that I wouldn’t be credentialed and my employee would be. They’re just it’s a sleazy and I leave. We’ve been talking for 40 minutes. That’s 30 seconds on that inside poker from one sports writer to another, but I said, when the game’s over, what do I envision happening that Har ball and gimpy Lamar are going to walk off the field after eight and eight and beat the Steelers and be victorious and march on to your point. You haven’t seen him in the same room together in a while, right? Like, in Pittsburgh, to crush the Steelers season, to end Roger’s career, to put dirt on Tomlin. Like, like, is that what’s in the soul of Lamar and har ball right here, right now, with this team right No, what’s in their soul was losing to Cincinnati and Pittsburgh four weeks ago and being one in five and inevitably, 48 hours later, Steve bashati came in and said, This isn’t working. And it is. It not working because Luke missed the field goal, because that ball could have gone. Through, and we’re playing football this Monday night, right? Like, that’s how close it was. Somebody put a meme up. It was great. I don’t know if you saw it. It was, it was the goal post, and in the middle, it said Tomlin safe, or Tomlin fired if it goes through. And on the both sides, it said Harbaugh fired on both sides well as to where the kick went. Like, literally, horrible. Is still the coach this morning for sure, if the ball goes through, but that didn’t fix the problems that clearly, there’s a lot of there were a lot of problems there. Joel. Joe pointley is my guest, by the way, legend in Tampa’s been a sports writer there for four decades, but he’s a Pikesville Baltimore guy. Go ahead, man, you’re the first guest I’ve had on. And I’m being loquacious, because I haven’t talked about a lot of this stuff the first time I’m talking about it.

Joel Poiley  30:42

You know, no so much was riding on that game, and you and Luke talked about it very well, leading up to the game where careers were at stake. I mean, Tomlin probably would have been out, and yet, I think Mike’s a really good coach. I mean, I know people in Pittsburgh have their issues with them, but I go back with Tomlin when he was a defensive backs coach under Dungey here, and they and learning the Tampa too, baby, yeah. And he was still on the staff when they let Tony go and Gruden came in, so he got a Super Bowl ring down here.

Nestor Aparicio  31:16

Did he work with Monty too? He worked with Monte Kiffin, right? Oh, yeah, yeah.

Joel Poiley  31:20

I mean, that was the whole thing when they let Dungey go because he couldn’t put an offense together, and they brought Gruden in, the team that won the Super Bowl in 2002 was, like, it was grudens offense and Monty’s defense. And, I mean, that’s why they won it. But you know, it’s interesting, because you look at and then

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Nestor Aparicio  31:39

Dungey went on and won after that, right? Yeah, got a Super Bowl, right, right?

Joel Poiley  31:43

And you start mainly because he just let Peyton run the offense in Indy and he took care of the defense. But you look at coaches and the arc of their careers, Dungey comes here, and I think was 96 the yucca nears, they had had 14 consecutive losing seasons. First season they go five and 11, but they win for their last five. Second season they’re in the playoffs. Third season, they regress a little bit. That was Dilfer, right, yeah. And they go eight and eight. You know, young team learning how to win.

Nestor Aparicio  32:17

How about that? Was dope for after Testaverde, right? Like, you know, the Baltimore, Tampa pipeline was a real thing then, right? Yeah.

Joel Poiley  32:23

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I mean, Dilfer, you know, was supposed to get them there. But check this season four was the year they made it to the NFC Championship game. When they played the Rams in St Louis, greatest show on turf, they shut them down. That was the 11 to six loss. I was at that game, by the way. Well, you know. And you remember who was the Bucks quarterback, Sean King, you know? And that was kind of Tony’s problem, and they came within one bad call, maybe winning that game. But here’s what happened the next two years, they get eliminated by McNabb and the Eagles in the first round. Dungey is regressing. He’s sliding backwards. People are hollering, he can’t bring in. An OC he was bringing in has been like Les Steckel and I think Mike Schuler, Dave Schuler, and their whole offense was just based around Dunn and all stat all stop. But the point being that coaches have that arc, and when things begin to slide backwards, and people here still love Tony, it’s time for a change. You know, you just need a different voice, a different spark. But yeah, if that kick had gone through Sunday night, Harbaugh’s still the coach, but to your point, you wonder how much he could have gotten out of Lamar. And it’s a quarterback driven League.

Nestor Aparicio  33:44

We’re playing a home game here on Monday night, and the fans go down there, Lamar throws the ball over Houston, said four times, and they’re playing in Jacksonville the following week. You go down there and it’s 2421 which you know at the end, Lamar is healthy and running around, and they can’t stop Derek Henry down there, like, like, I can play that out. That could have happened. It didn’t because the ball sailed wide like, literally again, and it didn’t because the defense kept allowing Aaron Rodgers to stick it up the rectum, and then Lamar had kept bailing them out again, right? A healthier Lamar than we’ve seen in 15 weeks, right? So there’s a there’s just a lot of meat on the bone, and they’ll continue to be. Joe Paul is here, dude, dude, we, we’re half an hour into this, and we set this whole thing up to talk about the Orioles, right? Like, you, the reason I booked you, when I booked you, John arbaugh was still the coach, like, literally, right? Yeah.

Speaker 1  34:38

But, you know, we can chop it up about the Ravens.

Nestor Aparicio  34:41

Joe Paul is my guest. Tell everybody about your like give the 32nd elevator speech as to why I find you impressive enough to be my guest.

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Joel Poiley  34:50

Well, to you, I’m like one of your old sports editors that I hold you to a higher standard,

Nestor Aparicio  34:57

but that’s why you’re my ombudsman. Me.

Joel Poiley  35:01

That’s why I enjoy listening to you and Luke. I mean, it truly is intelligent conversation, and you’re my connection up there. I mean, I know there’s other shows I could listen to, but you know, you’re my co sell guy. You tell it like it is quick point about the ravens, because you look at their season too. Lot of people aren’t saying much about this. They recovered from the one in five won the five in a row during the week. Cupcake part of their schedule. But like the bucks, who lost seven of their last nine, the Ravens lost for their last six, there was two ugly losses to the bangles on Thanksgiving, and the Patriots, well, the Green

Nestor Aparicio  35:44

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Bay win is he like that saved their season. And Jim Schwartz having a goal line stand with Miles, Garrett and those guys kept the season alive so that they could even go to Pittsburgh on Sunday, and I could freeze and have a wonderful experience. I came home, my wife said, Do you have a good time? I’m like, I had a great time. I like, I just like, I had a great time. I’m not going to go up there and be all somber, but it still doesn’t make any of it right. You know, it’s not right that Luke had to be in one room while hardball is ending his career, and there’s 50 players in the other room, and we’re not getting, you know, we’re not in front of the kicker. You choose to be in front of the kicker, in front of their coach, that’s bullshit, like and I’ll tell anybody with the NFL that. I’ll tell anybody in the media, and I’ll tell any fan that that is not the way it’s done, it’s not the way it’s done, it’s unprofessional. And that speaks to the culture of bashati and the culture that Harbaugh allowed that festers the Tuckers and and the the Ray Rice situation and the lies, and really the discord with communication, because the emotional intelligence in that building reflects bashadi’s emotional intelligence.

Joel Poiley  36:51

I’ll tell you what tip of the cap to the Steelers and Mike for you know, at least giving you a couple of ducats to get in the stadium and treating you with respect.

Nestor Aparicio  37:04

I spent an hour and a half on the phone with their PR Director last week, who I’ve known through my wife’s illness, through his daughter’s had a tragedy she’s bounced back from. I mean, I’ve known Mike for years that. I mean, the Pittsburgh Steelers credential me, and when I call them and they’re like, Well, what’s going on here? And they don’t know, you know, and I’m like, Well, call them and ask them why. And then, of course, that doesn’t happen. And Chad steel refused to get on a three way as I predicted he would, because he never does anything in writing, never does anything out in front. He won’t come on my show and tell my audience. Tell you, let five guys like you ask him about my press credential, or five coaches that I’ve been with ask about my press credentials. It’s insane. It’s insane. And that’s the culture that begats Justin Tucker running around the city saying, Do you know who I am and who I’m with, and I’m protected, and you can’t do anything about who you going to call like, you know, like, literally, it’s insane, but I’m using it to our advantage here. And instead of being at the Super Bowl, like, which I’ve been in Tampa in the good times and the bad times, you know, I’m doing a cup of Super Bowl, and I’m doing what I’m doing, but it speaks to what a mess the place has been, and the empty Stadium and the loss of faith in the coach, and quite frankly, I’ve lost faith in their integrity and in their honesty and in their message because of what I know and how I’ve been treated. And it’s insane. It’s insane that I sat in the cold while my employee was upstairs. I was like his chauffeur. I dropped him off at the door. I sat in the car afterward and watched the press conference on my phone, you know, so like I don’t, I don’t know what to say all these years in Joel, but it’s disgusting, and I know it for old sports writers like you, you don’t dig it. Nobody should dig it. Nobody should dig it.

Joel Poiley  38:53

Think about this too. Nest, whoever they bring in is going to have to deal with that culture in that building. So it’s going to take a special guy. Yeah, he’s going to have to deal with Sashi Brown, he’s going to have to mesh, you know, with Lamar and be some pottico with him. But with all these things going on in the building, and, you know, you know a lot more about that than me, that’s going to be an interesting hire. I mean, obviously it’s a great job. In the last 24 hours has probably become the best coaching job available at this point. Tell you what I mean. I don’t know if Harbaugh would want to come down here. I don’t know that he’s the right fit with this team, because I think they need somebody more like an offensive guy, but that’ll be a very interesting hire up there, because there’s so much more behind the scenes there than just coaching, you know, the X’s and O’s. Well, I mean,

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Nestor Aparicio  39:49

hardball is obviously going to be out doing a tour here this week. His agent Brian Hartman, who I know, got on the horn within an hour. Talk about having an agent Lamar, not having an agent John, having a real. A good agent is, like, they were prepared for this. And I’m a little embarrassed Luke and I, I was not in any way. Looks like I was on it. I had to text out. And I’m like, Yeah, but I wasn’t. We didn’t scrimmage it. I didn’t talk about it. I just didn’t think it was going to happen, like, I literally just didn’t think Steve would feel that way about John, or that they would be as caustic as apparently it was on Tuesday because Joel, nobody knew the players. Didn’t know the coach. This was a shock to probably everybody, other than John’s wife, his daughter, and his agent, to some maybe his brother’s father. But like, I don’t think John went into the I think John thought I’m going to walk out of the building on Tuesday with what I want, which is, you know, let’s I gotta rein this in. I mean, I think John would know that it, it’s not good. John knows what a good relationship and a bad relationship with his quarterback looks like, right? But also, like, hey, he works for us. Like, I can, I can feel your John’s jaw out on that, like I’m in charge here. Nobody’s gonna throw Nestor Aparicio out without a press pass, except me, right? Because that’s the way John is. So that when John denies that stuff like that, that that bird me up, because I know John runs the building. How do I know John runs the building? Joel, I’ve known 15 of his assistants. Yeah, 15 of his assistants. He’s as tyrannical as his brother. He just managed to keep a better reputation for a long time. That’s all.

Joel Poiley  41:26

Who do you think got the bashati that may have changed his mind on this?

Nestor Aparicio  41:32

I don’t you know what? When Brian was fired, I know a lot about that. Steve keeps his own company. Man. You know what I mean? He’s a billionaire. You know what I mean? Like, I don’t know his golf buddies, his Maryland the guys that still call him shots or big shotty. You know all of his Salisbury buddies and his boat buddies and his trump buddies and his Florida buddies and like all of that Gary Williams, you know what I mean? Like, like, Steve prides himself and and I respect this part, nobody is better at personnel, which is why he didn’t want any part of me. Nobody’s better at personnel than him, and this is up his alley. He and di Costa to go out and find the next John Harbaugh that nobody’s heard of. That’s a something, something, something somewhere else, the next diamond in the rough. And Eric loves scouting, loves the science of humans and what makes humans tick? And would like to get a different person to mesh with Lamar, because Eric’s been with so many different humans, black, white, skinny, fat, kickers, punters, linemen, agents, money, rich guys, poor guys, country guys, City guys, like, Eric’s had to play that chameleon, media media guys, former media guys, media guys. He helped get extra you know, like Eric plays, Eric’s one of the smartest humans I’ve ever met. Eric’s a genius. So, like, this is his chance to go put his stamp on this and bring to Steve the right guys, but I think this is where Sashi brown gets involved, and Eric and like, the hell do you know about football? So that’s the culture in the building. When you bring Sashi Brown in, who nobody likes, certainly hasn’t given me any reason to like him or think that he’s competent. I watched his act on stage a couple weeks ago. He said the biggest thing he gets notes from Ravens fans is the concerns about post game traffic. Now, you laughed out loud. I laughed out loud too. People didn’t like that when I thought at that. And he’s sitting next to Katie Griggs, who can’t get anybody to the stadium to have a post game traffic, right? You know? I mean, her thing was concession prices and beer and, you know, like all that. So Joel, pointless here, by the way, I’m having breakfast with Katie on Elvis’s birthday. Thank you. Thank you very much. On Thursday, he’s a, she’s a guest at the connects event where, you know, I’ve seen Ryan Ripken speak at that I’ve seen Ivan Bates. I mean, every month that somebody different, Adam Jones was a guest last year. They’re sponsored by the Orioles, and it’s a wonderful event. And Katie Griggs is going to be the guest. So I would think the hardball thing will be on the tip of everyone’s tongue when I roll in on Thursday morning. Joel, tell me what you do. Do you still blogging and stuff for writing down to Tampa? What are you doing? Man, or

Joel Poiley  44:17

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just basically retired, but I’m doing some freelance work. I’m doing some work, actually, with the University of Tampa Athletics Department website. I write some history pieces. I am working on another book project, but I don’t want to say a whole lot of that.

Nestor Aparicio  44:32

Well, the Tom Maddy book, I haven’t even promoted that, that you’re like, that’s the lead story. You’re the Tom Maddie author. I’m sorry. And like, we talked all this football, like, What the hell is this guy know about football? He knows Tom Matty or new Tom Matty? I should say, there

Joel Poiley  44:43

you go. Yeah, the book’s been out, like a year and a half now, but it’s done very well up there few sales nationally, but yeah, always looking for other freelance projects. I don’t want to say too much about this one, other than it will be. A baseball project that I think will interest a lot of people, but it’s in the discussion stage.

Nestor Aparicio  45:04

All right, listen, before I let you go, then we got to do two minutes on baseball. That’ll turn into 20, especially with you, because you love baseball. You like football, but you love baseball. Am I right?

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Joel Poiley  45:15

True, but I’m going to be honest with you through the years and with the way baseball’s changed. I like football and hockey just as much as baseball.

Nestor Aparicio  45:24

Well, you’re in Tampa too, and hockey, they market hockey down there, and they they give you a reason. The Tampa lightning give you a reason to love them, right? And we’ve talked about this at length. People would never understand it here, and the Tampa rays have not recruited.

Joel Poiley  45:38

Well, you talk about coaches. Cooper just coached his 1,000th game last week down here. John Cooper, the lightning coach,

Nestor Aparicio  45:46

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well, did a Hall of Fame like my buddy, Barry Trotz, right? Yeah, won

Joel Poiley  45:49

two Stanley Cups. They’re in first place again. Okay, real quick on the Orioles, everybody blamed Elias for last off season. And you know, looking back it, Elias is off season cost Hyde his job. Now, Hyde would never tell anybody that, but he just was given a bad roster. I’m going to give Elias a B plus for now, while we’re waiting to see if he brings in the ace. But what I’m going to get at is if the worst things happen pitching injuries, because I love the depth. I know Boz from down here. He’s good pitcher, effin, great depth signing. That’s that’s the kind of thing that Dodgers would do, where you need all these extra pitchers. God forbid Alonzo breaks his ankle like the second week of spring training. You can’t blame Elias. He’s spending Rubenstein and ARA Getty’s money, and he’s filling the holes. So let’s see what he does. He’s, you know, he needs another utility and fielder, but let’s see what he does rest of the off season. But I’d give him a B plus so far. What do you think? Yeah, oh, 100%

Nestor Aparicio  46:56

I mean, they’ve, they’re, they’re all you can ask for. And this, and this would be back to the Ravens while I’m wearing my purple Planet Fitness team shirt. You would hope, whatever the coach is, pick any name, cubia kings, Kingsbury. Wait, whoever, whatever they decide. And I used to say, well, they’ll get in the room and they’ll pick the best guy, because they’re going to do a lot more interviewing. They’re they’re much more concerned about it than you and I are right now as to who their next head coach is going to be. So I’m going to respect whatever they come up with, and then we’re going to say who are the guards, who’s the left tackle, where’s the pass rush coming from? Where’s the secondary? How the draft picks looking? Did we sign Linder bomb? We gave the money to mark Andrews because Lamar likes him, I guess. Right now, Lamar is running the team. Lamar is running the offense. Lamar is going to pick the offensive coordinator. He’s going to have to live with these guys, the quarterback coach, whatever it is, you’re going to have to pacify him. When it’s contract time. We have all that. We have make draft picks. Eric’s going to make them. They’re, you know, they’re picking 14, which is, like, you know, high for them, right? Like, that’s unusual. Maybe they get a Hall of Famer, who knows, right? You can only hope right. They’ve done that in the past, and they’ve had bus but all of that being said, All I want to see, and you’ll be a great barometer, because you’ll be alive and I’ll be alive. We’ll be together here in August, and the Orioles will be independent race, right? You’ll be doing radio with me, and they’ll be kicking off the season against whomever, right? And it’ll be fresh, and it’ll be new, and it’ll be new, and it’ll be different, but it’ll be Lamar, and there’ll be some enthusiasm if Lamar is healthy, and everything’s Pumbaa, and we’ll say are, is the team they’re putting on the field better than the team they put on the field Sunday night in Pittsburgh, right? And it’s going to be a way different team, right? I mean, really is for the amount of change in an 819 with a new coach is going to go through, it’s going to be more change than we’re used to around here. And the Orioles, after a last place here where they dealt off everybody, right? Every Mullins, every haze, every Santander, they’re all gone or given away or whatever, right? And then the broken guys are broken. The means is, and the guys that aren’t coming back, Batista, and then they figure out, well, Bradish is back and Rogers is here. I want to look at this on opening day. I’m going to have a lot of confidence in Rogers and Bradish, as long as their arms don’t fall off in Sarasota. I don’t care what the results look like. They they prove to me at least that I’m going to give them April and May. And think like I’ll be enthusiastic and optimistic about them in April and May. Same thing with Boz, the same thing with effluent. If they’re healthy, I’ll be, you know, hey, there’s potential here for these guys to give you 140 to 190 good innings in different ways, and the bullpen and whatever else he does. Pete Alonso makes the team better already, I’m warmly optimistic that a healthy Westberg would be an all star West bird that a motivated, healthy gunner, Henderson could be an all star MVP, top 10 candidate, top 10 then have to win the MVP. Get a couple of votes be a guy hits 278 this year, with 31 bombs and under 12 RBIs, in a year when the team wins 91 games and that. That’s the gunner Henderson that’s going to get the $400 million he’s looking for, right? So rushman’s got to bounce back. You know, I looked at his numbers, weren’t as bad as I thought they were, like in a general like, you know, maybe he can get back to hitting 252, and being the kind of catcher he needs to be. And the new manager will come in, and Albernaz will do this, and he’ll be healthier, and they’ll get him stronger, and so he won’t break down, and core strength and all the things that Luke talks about. So like Joel, these are all blue chip first round. They’re not Kobe mayo or Heston kerstad who have failed and haven’t figured it out. They’re more of the holidays and the rutsman’s, who have tried it out or working it out right, and they think new coaching, new leadership, fresh start. Bring Richmond back to Sarasota. Let’s, you know, treat him like a one, one instead of like a, you know, a number two, you know. And let’s see if we can one more time we have bisayo. There’s a lot of artillery here, which made last year so disappointing. In the same way that, as we’re sitting here and the head coach got fired on Tuesday afternoon, it’s because he got fired with Ronnie Stanley, Marlon, Humphrey von Smith, Lamar Jackson, Derek, Henry D hop zay flowers, Tyler, Linder, all these Hall of pretty goods, and all of these first round draft picks and all of this we won 15 games two years ago and and when that happens and you don’t perform, you’re Brandon Hyde, you’re John Harbaugh, you get fired. But this fresh start thing, the next one that gets fired, sadly, rushman, the next one that gets fired is Mark Andrews the next one. You know, literally, this is the life cycle of sports, but this time for pay and a time for play, I’m with you, with the Orioles. They are a better team right now than the last time you and I got together, which was before they signed Alonzo.

Joel Poiley  51:55

Right? It’s funny, because I can make a point on Alonzo and the Orioles and have one more point on the Ravens you’re going to love Pete.

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Nestor Aparicio  52:05

I was a tamp again, right? Yeah.

Joel Poiley  52:07

I mean, he played a Tampa plan. He was already, I was already past cover in high schools by then, but great in the community. Rubenstein made the same point at the press conference that I was thinking he could be this era’s Frank Robinson. I mean, that’s what we’re hoping, but you’re going to love him up there. He’s great in the community. He plays every game. So he plays, you know, even when he’s hurt, and he just makes everybody around him in the lineup better. The other thing I wanted to say about the Ravens is, you know, so much of especially with football, is the reputation of a team. And I’m down here, and I’m always thinking of the Ravens as this bunch of dogs on defense. They haven’t been that way for a couple years now. I mean, we all know this. You know, Suggs, Lewis, Reed, Woodson, boware, I mean, you name it. They’re all gone. But I want to see that defense next year play like, as lt would say, a bunch of crazed dogs. They’ve lost that. It’s the same thing down here with Tampa. Everybody still remembers, you know, the four Hall of Famers, you know, SAP Brooks, Lynch Barber, but this defense down here is a joke. I mean, it’s a bunch of guys running around with their like chickens with their heads cut off. So let’s see what goes on with the coach and what they do with the Ravens. That’s going to be very interesting, and I’m sure you’ll be all over it.

Nestor Aparicio  53:39

Ah, he is just this close to Sarasota. He left us from Pikesville for Tampa four decades ago. He’s got all that sun protection going on in his little sun room down there while it’s 28 although, dude, it might hit 60 here this week, so for like, a minute, for just a minute at four in the afternoon. So for that, I am basking in the glow of the sunshine while the Ravens look for a new head coach and we get ready for spring training. Luke is on it. If you’re on the wnsd tech service, quick apology to anybody who’s on the AT and T service. Apparently you got your text way later. It was out that’s outside of my pay grade for the tech service. I got mine at 514, I put it out. We tried, I’m sorry. We’ll do better. And it’s an atnt. It’s a carrier issue. So my friends at Coal roofing and Gordian energy always behind our wnst tech service, and I’ve been trying to drag Bill Cole onto the show back and forth, but we will make that happen, as well as Maryland crab cake Tour presented by our friends at the Maryland lottery have candy cane cash scented tickets to give away. Still smells like the holidays around here, and that’s just not my eggnog for Koco’s as well, which was very spiked. My wife texted me in the middle of the game the other night. She’s home in the war and put the cat on her lap. I’m freezing my ass off, and she’s drinking Hotty Toddy. I’m like, How did I not sneak some eggnog into a crusher stadium, or the hell they’re calling it, it’s been a weird week up to Pittsburgh, back from Pittsburgh, eating pastries from Frederick, eating leftover pizza from Monroeville that Dan Marino’s family made for me up there at the. Denise, coal fire, it’s been a wild, wild week. I’ve done Radio. I’m doing podcasts. We’re here. There’s gonna be some baseball, gonna be some football, and at some point I’m going to exhale from this holiday and say Happy New Year to everybody out there. My thanks to Joel boyley down in Tampa for always being with us. Go buy his book on Tom Matt, he’s a good man on a good foil for me. Maybe get that sponsored. Foy Lee poily, maybe get rentals wrapped to buy that. I’m Nestor. We’re W NST stay with us for Baltimore. Positive. You.