Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre

Latest Episodes:

The Colts' Carson Wentz Succession Plan + Author Jeff Pearlman Mar 10, 2022

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a deep dive on the Indianapolis Colts' decision to trade quarterback Carson Wentz to the Washington Commanders. It's clear that Wentz had worn out his welcome in Indy (even his buddy Frank Reich soured on him), but it's unclear whether or not the Colts have a succession plan in place. Will they make a trade for a veteran like Jimmy Garoppolo, Derek Carr or Baker Mayfield? Do they kick the tires on a high-upside youngster like Gardner Minshew? Either way, they have plenty of money and a playoff-ready roster, and we should trust that front office to make the right decision. For Washington, we all knew that they were desperate for a quarterback, but are we sure that Wentz is that much of an upgrade over incumbent starter Taylor Heinicke? It definitely feels like a panic move in DC. Later, author Jeff Pearlman swings by to discuss how his book 'Showtime' on the Magic Johnson/Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Era Los Angeles Lakers served as the basis for the ‘Winning Time’ mini-series on HBO, how much of the television show is factual and how much is clearly dramatized, why role players and staff members were so vital in the overall information gathering for his book, if we can expect a future ‘Winning Time’ season to focus on the Shaquille O'Neal/Kobe Bryant Era Lakers, and much more!

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All About Russell Wilson: The Seahawks Got Fleeced, the Broncos are Contenders & the AFC West is Brutal Mar 09, 2022

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason brings you wall-to-wall analysis of the blockbuster trade that saw the Seattle Seahawks send star quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos. Once the terms of the deal were released, it became abundantly clear that the Seahawks got fleeced in this one. Denver got the franchise quarterback they've desperately needed in exchange for two firsts, two seconds and some change. That's it. Seattle is officially in full-blown rebuilding mode after this one. For the Broncos, the arrival of Wilson instantly makes them Super Bowl contenders. We said last season that Denver had arguably the most talented roster in the NFL outside of the quarterback position, and now they've got one of the best QBs in all of football on their roster. The only downside in this whole thing is that the Broncos play in the brutal AFC West; This division was already one of the best last year, and now they just added a future Hall of Famer to this mix. The Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers all have legitimate Super Bowl aspirations, and the Las Vegas Raiders were a playoff team themselves last season. Were it not for guys like Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Derek Carr, the Broncos would be considered a shoo-in for the AFC Championship game.

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They Threw the Book at Calvin Ridley, The NFL's Complicated Relationship with Gambling & Luka Doncic for MVP Mar 08, 2022

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason goes deep into the NFL's decision to suspend Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley for the entire 2022-23 season after he was caught gambling on games last season. The punishment was excessive, but it's understandable why the NFL felt like they had to make an example of Ridley. You'd have to be pretty naive to believe that Ridley is the only player in the League betting on games, so it makes a ton of sense why the NFL decided that the best way to cut the water off on the whole thing would be to throw the book at him in hopes of scaring off the other players. Having said that, Producer Rob G believes that since it's painfully obvious that players bet on games in some form or fashion (including fantasy football), maybe the NFL would be better served by just allowing the players to bet through a League-sanctioned betting app. At least this way everything would be above board and you want have to worry about players using proxies to get their wagers on. No matter which way you believe on this whole ordeal, it's pretty clear that the NFL's incestuous relationship with various betting shops makes the whole thing pretty complicated. Finally, Jason closes the show with a quick homage to Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic. J-Mac tried to tell you a few weeks ago that Luka should be in the running for NBA MVP, and his play as of late has only cemented that. Don't be surprised if Luka leads the Mavs to an NBA Finals berth.

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Greatest Scorers in NBA History, Packers Are Starting to Panic & the Cowboys Window is Closing Mar 07, 2022

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off by taking a small verbal victory lap on the heels of Jayson Tatum's 54-point explosion on Sunday against the Brooklyn Nets. J-Mac tried to tell y'all last week that Tatum was the best one-on-one scorer in the NBA since Kobe Bryant and the fans were outraged, so it's safe to say that our fearless leader is feeling pretty good about himself today. Plus, Producer Rob G joins the show to help discuss the notion that LeBron James (who will likely already be the NBA's all-time leading scorer this time next season) is not one of the great scorers in NBA history. Just because LeBron's bag isn't as deep as someone like Tatum or Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving doesn't necessarily mean that he shouldn't be viewed as a great scorer. LeBron puts the ball in the basket, period. Having a Swiss Army knife is great but that doesn't mean it's always more effective than a hammer. Later, the guys take a few minutes to discuss the latest scuttlebutt surrounding Aaron Rodgers and his future in Green Bay. It appears the Packers are starting to doubt whether or not Rodgers really wants to remain with the club. Quite honesty, who could blame him? The Packers haven't made a Super Bowl in over a decade. Maybe Rodgers thinks a change of scenery is exactly what he needs to get over the hump. Finally, Jason and Rob G close the show with a few thoughts on the reports that the Dallas Cowboys could lose both Amari Cooper and Demarcus Lawrence this offseason. J-Mac tried to warn us last year when Dak Prescott signed his big deal that the Cowboys would only able to keep the team together for a year or two before the salary cap came back to bite them. It's pretty safe to say that the Cowboys championship window is already closed.

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Lakers Lose Again, KD Can't Do it All + Former NFL OL and 'Bel-Air' writer Ephraim Salaam Mar 04, 2022

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few quick thoughts on the Los Angeles Lakers' latest blowout loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. LeBron James and the fellas don't play a lick of defense, and their offense isn't good enough to make up for it. They desperately need Anthony Davis back. In the Eastern Conference, the Brooklyn Nets lost to the short-handed Miami Heat in Kevin Durant's return to the court. KD was mostly good in his first game back, but it's clear that he needs a co-star (either Kyrie Irving or Ben Simmons) to help carry the load against good teams. Later, former NFL offensive lineman, FOX Sports Radio Weekend host Ephraim Salaam swings by to discuss his transition from playing in the NFL to becoming a staff writer for the show 'Bel-Air' on Peacock, why they felt it was so important to do a reimagining of 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' and not a remake, how the dramatic approach to the story complete changes the on-screen dynamic between the Will Smith and Carlton Banks characters, why they decided to do a show 'For the Culture', how being a member of television writer's room compares to being a player in an NFL locker room, which additional shows from the past have a reboot potential, and much more!

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The Nets - Not the Sixers - Are the Beasts in the East + 3x Super Bowl champion LeGarrette Blount Mar 03, 2022

Show notes

On today’s episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on the Philadelphia 76ers’ latest blowout victory of the James Harden-Joel Embiid Era. We all knew the Sixers would be dynamite in the regular season; the big question was always whether or not Harden and Embiid would be able to co-exist in the postseason when the game slows down. It’s why the oddsmakers in Las Vegas still have the Brooklyn Nets as the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference. Kevin Durant is coming back tonight, Kyrie Irving will become a full-time player before the playoffs start and Ben Simmons (hopefully) will be on the floor in a couple weeks. The Nets, not the Sixers, are the team to beat in the East. Later, 3x Super Bowl champion LeGarrette Blount swings by to discuss his unusual path to the NFL, how an incident in college helped shaped the man he is today, his experiences at the NFL Scouting Combine, what it was like playing for Bill Belichick and alongside Tom Brady in New England, his new CBD product line 'LG's Feel Good', and much more!

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Luka Doncic the King Slayer + FS1 College Basketball analyst Casey Jacobsen Mar 02, 2022

Show notes

On today’s episode, Jason kicks things off with a quick note on the Dallas Mavericks’ win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night. Luka Doncic put the NBA world on notice once again that he’s the best young player in the League, and the way he took it to LeBron James down the stretch had the building (and social media) buzzing. That said, J-Mac still maintains that if the Lakers have a healthy LeBron and Anthony Davis heading into the play-in tournament, they're going to make a deep run in the postseason. Guess only time will tell on that one. Later, FS1 college basketball analyst Casey Jacobsen swings by to discuss why this has been the busiest season of his broadcasting career so far, how the Iowa Hawkeyes were able to rebound this season despite losing star big man Luka Garza to graduation, why he believes the Duke Blue Devils have what it takes to send Coach Mike Krzyzewski into a retirement with a national championship, if Gonzaga can finally breakthrough and win a national championship after getting so close the past few years, how Chet Holmgren has elevated himself into contention for the top overall pick in the upcoming 2022 NBA Draft, whether or not the Baylor Bears have what it takes to repeat as champions, which mid-majors could shock the world during March Madness, and much more!

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Kyler Murray Wants to Get PAID & LeBron's Plan to Own an NBA Team Mar 01, 2022

Show notes

On today’s episode, Jason and Producer Rob G kick things off with a deep dive into Kyler Murray’s decision to try and strong-arm the Arizona Cardinals into offering a lucrative contract extension after just his third NFL season. Kyler has gotten better every single season, and given the dearth of legitimate quarterback options in the League as a whole, he seems to have a ton of leverage here. Can you imagine how much money Kyler could fetch on the open market if he were a free agent right now? Heck, he could even threaten to go play professional baseball if the Cardinals decided not to pay him. However, given that the recent track record of first round quarterbacks getting massive extensions following their third year is really hit (Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes & Deshaun Watson) or miss (Jared Goff, Carson Wentz & Ryan Tannehill), would it behoove the Cardinals to put off any serious negotiations for at least one more season? Jason and Rob don't full even see eye-to-eye on this one, so you know there's some dissension in the Cardinals front office about it. Later, the guys close the show with a few thoughts on the reports that LeBron James is zeroing in on becoming a minority owner of the soon-to-be Las Vegas expansion team in the NBA. LeBron has openly discussed wanting to own an NBA team for years and Vegas seems like an ideal spot for him. The only problem is - would LeBron the Owner be as flippant about the luxury tax and draft picks as LeBron the Player is?

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Joel Embiid and James Harden Aren't a Top-5 Duo in the NBA Feb 28, 2022

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason and Producer Rob G hit you with a deep dive into the first few days of the James Harden-Joel Embiid Era in Philadelphia. Harden and Embiid have been putting up astronomical numbers together, prompting many Sixers fans to dub them this generation's Kobe and Shaq. Wait, what?! They're not even a top-5 NBA duo right now (LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, Devin Booker and Chris Paul, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are all definitively better). In fact, you could make a legit argument that Harden and Embiid might not crack the top-10. Duos like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, and Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray might not have the same level of individual talent as Harden and Embiid, but they all seem to fit together better than the Sixers' tandem. The Beard and The Process are otherworldly talents, but history tells us that neither player can perform like the best version of themselves alongside the other given where and how each guy likes to operate on the floor. Sixers fans can bask in the hot start all they want, but until Harden and Embiid prove they can dominate at the same time in the postseason, you can't call them a top-5 dynamic duo in the NBA.

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The DeMar DeRozan Revenge Tour, the Lakers Gotta Keep LeBron & the Pelicans Should Trade Zion Feb 25, 2022

Show notes

On today’s episode, Jason gets the party started by paying homage to Chicago Bulls guard DeMar DeRozan. DeRozan has been on absolute tear as of late; He’s literally put the Chicago Bulls on his back and carried them to the top of the Eastern Conference. DeRozan’s All-NBA caliber play has to make LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers absolutely sick. If you believe the reports, LeBron chose Russell Westbrook over DeRozan in the offseason. It’s entirely possible DeRozan used that perceived slight by LeBron to take his game to another level in Chicago. Speaking of LeBron, can you believe the LA Times is suggesting that the Lakers trade The King this offseason? I know that Lakers have struggled mightily this season, but let’s not get crazy. The Lakers with a healthy LeBron and a healthy Anthony Davis are still a tough out for anybody in the postseason. Finally, Jason closes the show with a word on the rumors swirling around Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans. It's become abundantly clear that Zion wants out of town, so why would the Pelicans cut the chord and trade him? Holding on to a disgruntled star is never good for anyone, and history says the longer you wait to make a deal the worse the trade offers get.

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