Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre

Latest Episodes:

Cowboys are Contenders, the Bills Look Busted & Lamar Jackson's Contract Conundrum Dec 13, 2021

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a deep dive into the Buffalo Bills' gut-punch loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tom Brady has the look of the presumptive MVP, but this was a game that the Bills desperately needed to keep pace in the AFC. Last season, Josh Allen and the Bills looked they had 'next' in the AFC. Now? They might miss the playoffs altogether. In the NFC, it's hard not be impressed by the Dallas Cowboys defense these days. With Demarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory finally back healthy, the Cowboys suddenly boast one of the most well-rounded defenses in all of football. If Dak Prescott and the offense can get back on track, Dallas should make some serious noise in the postseason. By the way, have you been paying attention to what the San Francisco 49ers have doing as of late? Jimmy Garoppolo has been rock-solid under center the last few weeks, and now the thought of a quarterback controversy in 2022 doesn't seem so farfetched anymore. Speaking of quarterback controversies, the Baltimore Ravens are in a tough spot when it comes to Lamar Jackson's contract extension. On one hand, a former MVP should be able to set the market on his next deal. On the other, Jackson still has room to grow as a pocket passer and it's hard to assume that teams would be falling over themselves to break the bank for him if he were to hit free agency. Finally, Jason closes the show with a very special Monday Night Football Arizona Cardinals vs Los Angeles Rams edition of the Best Bet.

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The Vikings Went Full 'Vikings', NFL Week 14 Best Bets + Former NFL Scout Chris Landry Dec 10, 2021

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few quick thoughts on the Minnesota Vikings wild victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Night Football. Minnesota raced out to a 29-0 lead in the third quarter… and nearly gave it all back. Had Pat Freiermuth been able to hold on to the ball in the end zone on the last play of the game, Pittsburgh might have been able to steal this one in overtime. It was the most ‘Vikings’ game of all-time. The one positive that Minnesota can take from this game, though, is that Dalvin Cook looked great in his first game back from injury. The Vikings should be able to lean on Cook here down the home stretch. Later, former NFL Scout Chris Landry swings by to discuss what it was like working with Bill Belichick and Nick Saban on the Cleveland Browns staff back in the day, how Belichick and Saban's style of evaluating players differs, why so many NFL scouts - including himself - missed on Tom Brady coming out of college, why both the Bengals with Joe Burrow and the Chargers with Justin Herbert feel as though they got the best quarterback in the 2020 NFL Draft, how University of Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett has elevated his draft stock this past season, why he doesn't expect any of the draft-eligible quarterbacks to have a first round grade this Spring, why Mac Jones has enjoyed more success as a rookie than guys like Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson, why he would be hesitant to give Baker Mayfield a big contract extension, and much more! Finally, Jason closes the show with a full NFL Week 14 edition of the Best Bet

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COVID Hits the Chargers + Former Pro Bowl linebacker Ryan Shazier Dec 09, 2021

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on the report that the Los Angeles Chargers could be without their two top wide receivers - Keenan Allen and Mike Williams - due to COVID. The Chargers were already one of the toughest teams to get a crack on this season, but this news makes it almost impossible. Even without Allen and Williams, Los Angeles should be able to beat a New York Giants squad down to their third-string quarterback... but we still can't recommend picking them in any Survivor pools this Sunday. Later, former Pro Bowl linebacker Ryan Shazier swings by to discuss the inspiration and writing process behind his new book 'Walking Miracle', why had no issue at all with the Baltimore Ravens decision to Go for 2 late in their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, why he views the Cincinnati Bengals as the best team in the AFC North right now and has Joe Burrow - not Lamar Jackson - as the best quarterback in the division, what's next for Ben Roethlisberger after this season in Pittsburgh, why he believes that Michigan has a great chance to upset Georgia in the College Football Playoff, and much more! Finally, Jason closes the show with a Thursday Night Football Steelers vs Vikings edition of the Best Bet.

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Let the Lakers Live, Charles Barkley is a Hater & It's Time to Trade Damian Lillard Dec 08, 2021

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with lengthy discussion on the heels of the Los Angeles Lakers' primetime win over the Boston Celtics. Coming in to the game, the running narrative in basketball circles was that the Lakers' Big 3 of LeBron-AD-Westbrook was a bust and it would lead to Frank Vogel getting fired. Wait, what?! Did they forget that almost the entire Lakers roster is new? Or that we still haven't even seen a fully healthy roster? Or that LeBron has already missed half the games? Let them build a little continuity before you have an opinion. This rush to judgment about the Purple and Gold is laughable, and there may not be a bigger culprit in the national media than Charles Barkley. Chuck openly admits that he doesn't really watch the games or follow today's players, but even still he has no problem firing off wildly inaccurate hot takes on a weekly basis. Barkley is a hater, and he's only embarrassing himself here. Later, Jason does a deep dive into the ongoing soap opera between Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers. Earlier this summer the prevailing thought was that Lillard would force a trade out of town at some point this season. Now? According to reports, not only does Dame want to stay in Portland, he wants a massive contract extension and for the team to trade for Ben Simmons. Look, Lillard is a fantastic player, but the reality is that he's on the wrong side of 30 and he's shown nothing in his NBA career that would make you think he's capable of leading a team to a championship. It's why the Trail Blazers need to bite the bullet and explore trading Dame right now. Portland probably won't get a James Harden-level deal for Lillard, but they can absolutely get a collection of young talent and draft picks to start their rebuild. Finally, Jason closes the show with a few thoughts on the impending sale of the Denver Broncos. Rumor has it they'll fetch around $4 billion a sale; Not bad for a team who still doesn't have a quarterback!

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Patriots Bludgeon the Bills, Brady and Belichick are Both Winning the Break Up & Cristobal Picks the Canes Dec 07, 2021

Show notes

On today’s episode, Jason dives deep into the New England Patriots’ methodical demolition of the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football. The game itself probably set the sport of football back 50 years as the Pats won the game despite only attempting three passes. However, there's something you have to appreciate about what Bill Belichick has been able to do with this roster. He's rebuilt on the fly around a rookie quarterback in Mac Jones, a fantastic running game and a stout defense; In many ways, this team is almost a mirror image of the Patriots Super Bowl teams during the early Tom Brady days. You can actually make an argument right now that Belichick's Patriots and Brady's Bucs are the two best teams in the NFL. On the flip side, nobody comes out of this game looking worse than the Bills. Even a blind man could see that New England was going to run the ball every play - and Buffalo still couldn't stop it. What's more, quarterback Josh Allen has seemed to regress following his MVP-caliber season in 2020. The Bills were the chic pick to win the Super Bowl this season. Now? They might miss the playoffs altogether. Later, Jason closes the show with a few thoughts on Miami's decision to hire Mario Cristobal as their next head football coach. It's a big loss for Oregon, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's a slam dunk for the Hurricanes. Moreover, with Oregon headed for something of a rebuild, what are the chances that USC tries to defect from the conference and go independent? Stranger things have happened in the world of college football, just sayin'.

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When Going For 2 Goes Wrong, Can't Stop the Arizona Cardinals & a College Football Playoff Preview Dec 06, 2021

Show notes

On today’s episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on the Baltimore Ravens' controversial decision to 'go for 2' late in their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. John Harbaugh can try to justify the decision all he wants but the fact remains that he made a bad call. The inexplicable loss dropped Lamar Jackson and the Ravens from the #1 to the #3 seed in the AFC... and you can still make case for them being the class of the conference. The AFC is a jumbled mess. The Kansas City Chiefs proved on Sunday Night Football that they aren't 'back' no matter how much we all want them to be, the Tennessee Titans have been frauds for weeks, and as much as we like Mac Jones the New England Patriots are still handicapped by their rookie quarterback. Shifting over to the NFC, Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals may have had the least impressive double-digit road win of the season... and in doing so proved once again just how good they are. Few teams have been as consistently great as the Cardinals. If we had any faith at all in Kliff Kingsbury as a big-game coach, they would be the favorites to make the Super Bowl. Later, Jason and Producer Rob G share a few thoughts on the College Football Playoff field. We didn't know exactly how things would shake out, but we all kind of figured that Nick Saban and Alabama would find their way into the final four. However, are we sure that the committee got it right putting the Crimson Tide at #1? Finally, Jason closes the show with the Monday Night Football Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots edition of the Best Bet.

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Cowboys Win Ugly, More Bad News for Zion + College Football Championship Weekend and NFL Best Bets Dec 03, 2021

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on the Dallas Cowboys ugly win over the New Orleans Saints. Had Taysom Hill (and his jacked up finger) not thrown 4 interceptions, Dallas may have loss this one. The high-flying Cowboys we saw early in the season are nowhere to be found; Ezekiel Elliott looks like he's running with a piano on his back and the offense goes through stretches where they can't buy a first down. But, as they say, a win is a win. Later, Jason pours one out for New Orleans Pelicans following the latest reports that Zion Williamson's return to action was being delayed yet again due to injury. Zion is a massive draw for the NBA but he's missed more games than he's actually played during his professional career. What's more, Zion's refusal to stay in basketball shape makes it feel like he's deliberately throwing in the towel on the Pelicans already. This is a situation that definitely bears monitoring. Finally, Jason closes the show with a very special College Football Championship Weekend and NFL Week 13 edition of the Best Bet.

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A New Era at Notre Dame + Dallas Cowboys beat writer Clarence Hill Jr Dec 02, 2021

Show notes

On today’s episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on Notre Dame’s decision to promote defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman to head football coach. The up-and-coming Freeman had been expected to follow Brian Kelly to LSU so the fact that the Fighting Irish were able to keep him - and decided to elevate him to the top spot - shows that they think very highly of him. Later, Ft Worth Star-Telegram Dallas Cowboys beat writer Clarence Hill Jr swings by to discuss Amari Cooper's expected return to action off the COVID list, how much blame Mike McCarthy is getting around town for the team's recent swoon, how Ezekiel Elliott's injuries are taking a toll on his effectiveness as a runner, why he believes the Cowboys still have more than enough to win the NFC East, why on-field chemistry is just as important as health for this team, how offensive coordinator Kellen Moore has become Jerry Jones' new version of Jason Garrett, and much more! Finally, Jason closes the show with a Thursday Night Football Dallas Cowboys-New Orleans Saints edition of the Best Bet.

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The Golden State Warriors' Kryptonite + USA Today Sports national columnist Dan Wolken Dec 01, 2021

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a quick thought on the big Phoenix Suns-Golden State Warriors showdown on Tuesday night. Phoenix put the game away late for their 17th consecutive win - and did so without Devin Booker for most of the game. Steph Curry had a rough shooting night for Golden State, but the bigger story was the way Deandre Ayton absolutely manhandled the Warriors front line. Even with the loss, Golden State still has a case for being the best team in the NBA, but their lack of size in the front court got exposed in a big way. If Ayton can have his way inside, what do you think guys like Anthony Davis, Nikola Jokic and LeBron James are going to do in the playoffs? It's definitely something to monitor. Later, USA Today Sports national columnist Dan Wolken swings by to discuss how the College Football Playoff has changed the perception that anybody can win the national title, why Lincoln Riley left to USC rather than stick with Oklahoma in the SEC, why he believes Brian Kelly ultimately decided to leave Notre Dame for LSU, why he expects that the UCLA Bruins will be stuck with Chip Kelly for at least one more season, why it's hard to envision Urban Meyer moving back to college given all the added drama that seems to follow him, why he expects Georgia to put a hurting on Alabama in the SEC championship game, why Cincinnati still isn't a lock to make the College Football Playoff - even if they win their conference championship game and finish the regular season undefeated, who might be the next head coach at Notre Dame, and much more!

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Russell Wilson's Next Team, Brian Kelly Cashes In & Lincoln Riley Was Right Nov 30, 2021

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a deep dive into Russell Wilson's future on the heels of the Seattle Seahawks' Monday Night Football loss to the Washington Football Team. This has been a lost season in Seattle, and all signs point to Wilson continuing his football career elsewhere in 2022. If we assume that none of the teams on his original 'list' are no longer ideal landing spots (New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys, Las Vegas Raiders and Chicago Bears), then all eyes should turn to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos. Both teams have Super Bowl-ready rosters who just need a strong quarterback to push the club over the top. It's going to be fascinating to see how this one plays out. Later, Jason explains how Mel Tucker getting a ginormous contract extension from Michigan State actually played a role in Brian Kelly's decision to leave Notre Dame for LSU. If the wildly mediocre Tucker can get $95 million off the strength of one good season at MSU, it should come as no surprise then that Kelly was able to parlay a decade's worth of high-end football with the Fighting Irish into $15 million a year from LSU. College football is big business, and everyone is winning right now. Finally, Jason closes the show with a quick thought on Lincoln Riley's move to USC. Look, I know all of you Sooners fans are upset about his decision, but please stop calling Riley a 'traitor'. He did the exact same thing to Oklahoma that they did to the Big 12 - he just did it better.

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