The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima

Latest Episodes:

Hour 3: Ben Axelrod on Watson’s Perception and Romo’s Future at CBS Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

Ken Carman and Anthony Lima welcome Ben Axelrod to discuss the disconnect between national and local perceptions of Deshaun Watson's performance and character. They also explore the uncertainty surrounding Tony Romo’s contract at CBS and the fallout from Bill Simmons’ proxy betting admission.

(00:01:40) Axelrod on Watson Coverage

(00:07:17) Romo and JJ Watt

(00:14:20) Simmons Proxy Betting Controversy

(00:17:35) Media Shedeur Sanders Coverage

(00:23:38) Shedeur Sanders vs Watson

(00:32:35) Neutral Zone Football Segment

Hour 4: Sam Monson Labels Deshaun Watson Broken, Evaluates Shedeur Sanders Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

Sam Monson joins the program to break down the struggles of Deshaun Watson and why he believes the quarterback appears broken in the Browns' offensive system. They also explore the development of Shedeur Sanders and the potential for a new quarterback in the 2027 draft. Additionally, the conversation shifts to the new Cleveland Cavaliers broadcast deal with DAZN and its impact on local sports fans.

(00:01:50) Cleveland Oktoberfest Contest

(00:02:18) Deshaun Watson Performance Analysis

(00:07:34) Shedeur Sanders Future Evaluation

(00:13:28) Browns Long-Term Quarterback Plan

(00:18:36) Arch Manning Ranking Debate

(00:22:10) Cavaliers DAZN Broadcast Deal

(00:27:45) NBA Media Consumption Trends

(00:36:51) Sports Streaming Accessibility Issues

Ken Longs for the Days When Sports Just Felt Free to Watch Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

Ken and Anthony continue the DAZN streaming debate, taking listener calls and reminiscing about growing up when cable made every game feel effortlessly accessible, contrasting it with today's fractured landscape where NBA playoff games can jump between four or five different streaming platforms. A caller named Patrick argues the constant platform-hopping is going to cost leagues casual fans, and Ken agrees, noting that unlike football's tightly packaged schedule, sports like basketball and baseball rely on that "click in and get hooked" accessibility that paywalls are eroding. The segment wraps the show with Ken reflecting on how younger viewers, already used to streaming everything, may adapt more easily than older fans.

Would You Pay $19.99 a Month Just to Watch the Cavs? Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

Ken and Anthony break down the Cavaliers' new streaming deal with DAZN, walking through the various monthly and season pass price tiers, and debate whether football-first Cleveland fans will actually pay for it given how disappointing last season's playoff exit felt. Ken argues sports should feel accessible and worries fragmented streaming deals are pushing fans toward highlight culture instead of full-game viewing, while Anthony pushes back by pointing to the NBA's surprisingly strong ratings and health despite predictions of its demise. They close wondering whether local interest in the Cavs will pick back up once football season disappoints, as it often does.

Sam Monson: Deshaun Watson Is "Broken" and Playing Him Is Pointless Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

The 33rd Team's Sam Monson joins Ken and Anthony to argue there's no upside to starting Deshaun Watson this season, calling him a broken quarterback whose scheme fit, injury history, and layoff away from football have made his limitations worse, not better. Monson makes the case for giving Shedeur Sanders the year instead, explaining he's neither a bust nor a savior but a talented, inconsistent young passer who needs reps to find where he lands, while Ken pushes back that Sanders' current struggle for the job isn't necessarily an indictment. The conversation closes with Monson praising Todd Monken's offensive talent around whoever plays quarterback, and weighing in on Arch Manning's shaky case for the top 2027 draft spot.

The Neutral Zone: Should the NFL Just Kill the Preseason Already? Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

In this week's Neutral Zone, John, Ken, and Anthony debate USC's shrinking attendance numbers, whether the NFL preseason is on its way out given 12 star quarterbacks sat out entirely, and question why fans pay for tickets to games coaches openly admit don't matter. They also weigh whether they'd rather have cut quarterbacks Will Levis or Joe Milton over Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, and dig into the Rams' bizarre decision to name 11 team captains after Aaron Donald's return. The segment wraps with the hosts admitting the star-studded Rams will be must-watch TV, even if some of it is hate-watching Myles Garrett.

Would Fans Forgive Deshaun Watson's Past If He Just Won Games? Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

Building off Ben Axelrod's earlier point, Ken and Anthony wrestle with the uncomfortable truth that fans only still care about Deshaun Watson's off-field allegations because he's played poorly, contrasting it with how other quarterbacks with troubled pasts got a pass once they started winning. Ken gets reflective about his own past willingness to overlook draft prospects' allegations and admits the Browns lost the moral high ground the moment Watson underperformed, while both hosts push back on afternoon co-hosts Nick and Jonathan's claim that national excitement around the Browns hinges entirely on the quarterback. They close by acknowledging real optimism still exists around the young core (Fano, Concepcion, Fannin, Boston, Graham) even as the Watson cloud looms over the season.

Ben Axelrod: Amazon's Deshaun Watson Puff Piece Didn't Fit Cleveland's Mood Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

Front Office Sports' Ben Axelrod joins Ken and Anthony to unpack Amazon's oddly glowing Deshaun Watson coverage during Thursday Night Football, arguing the segment felt disconnected from how Browns fans actually feel and tracing it back to Kirk Herbstreit's Clemson ties, while noting Watson's off-field story would be a non-issue if he simply played well. The conversation moves through Tony Romo's murky future at CBS amid his DUI arrest and the rise of JJ Watt, the NFL's quiet cancellation of the Pro Bowl, and Bill Simmons admitting to proxy betting through his daughter's boyfriend. Axelrod closes by praising the show's balanced Shedeur Sanders coverage compared to the local beat media.

About Last Night: KC's Training Camp Award & Sark's Moral Obligation Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

Ken, Anthony, and producer John break down Casey Concepcion winning the Maurice Bassett Award before debating which rookie wide receiver, Concepcion or Denzel Boston, will have the better season, with Ken flip-flopping between Boston's yardage upside and Concepcion's big-play ability. They also weigh whether Harold Fannin Jr. can crack 1,000 receiving yards in a crowded quarterback room, landing closer to 900. The segment closes on the LSU-Ohio State controversy over NFL training camp players returning to college football, with the group debating Steve Sarkisian's moral objection against the reality that college football has already changed.

Should the Guardians Have Called Up Ralphy Velazquez? Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

Producer John makes an impassioned case that the Guardians should call up power prospect Ralphy Velazquez immediately and let him play everyday over Nathaniel Lowe at first base, while Ken and Anthony push back that a looming 2026 labor lockout makes it smarter to protect his service time and keep him in Triple-A. The debate spirals into questions about scouting, whether hot minor-league streaks translate to the majors, and Ken's prediction that games won't resume until midseason if a lockout hits. It closes with Ken conceding that if the Guardians' lineup struggles in October, John will get to say "I told you so."

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