Dukes & Bell

The full 8-17-26 Dukes and Bell

In the opening hour of tonight's show, Dukes and Bell critique the Atlanta Falcons' frustrating preseason performance, emphasizing the lack of execution and depth on both sides of the ball. They evaluate the quarterback situation involving Michael Penix Jr. and discuss Matt Olson's impressive season for the Braves. Additionally, they touch on the NBA's investigation into Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. 01:50 - Falcons Preseason Reaction 05:10 - Offensive Line Struggles 10:18 - Michael Penix Jr. Evaluation 15:45 - Matt Olson MVP Discussion 19:13 - Franchise Building Discussion 23:58 - Injury and Depth Concerns 30:35 - James Pearce Jr. Controversy 36:40 - Backup Quarterback Evaluation 40:28 - Steve Ballmer NBA Investigation

In the 2nd hour of tonight's show, Dukes and Bell analyze the Atlanta Falcons' rough preseason start against the Broncos and the ongoing concerns with offensive execution. They discuss the Michael Penix Jr. sideline meme, the Braves' pitching rotation struggles with Grant Holmes, and the high-energy WNBA matchup between the Dream and the Fever. The conversation concludes with reactions to the Lakers' ownership sale and new trailer reveals from Disney's D23. 02:00 - Falcons Preseason Struggles 07:00 - NFL Training Camp News 11:30 - Deshaun Watson Analysis 15:45 - Playing Starters Debate 21:45 - Falcons Offensive Concerns 28:30 - Braves Rotation Issues 36:30 - WNBA Rivalry Matchup 40:55 - Lakers Sale Reaction

In the 3rd hour of today's show, Carl and Mike evaluate the Falcons' preseason struggles and the debate over team patience after a decade of missing the playoffs. They discuss the intensity of Kirby Smart's Georgia Bulldogs scrimmage and the historic shift in the AP Poll that left Alabama outside the top ten for the first time in nearly two decades. The segment also pays tribute to the legendary Tommy John and recounts a bizarre equipment malfunction at Citi Field. 01:50 - Falcons Preseason Letdown 05:35 - Georgia Scrimmage Analysis 07:40 - AP Poll Rankings 12:40 - Fan Feedback Debate 18:36 - Quarterback Evaluation 26:05 - Guy Talk Highlights 35:30 - Tommy John Tribute

In the final hour of tonight's show, Carl and Mike analyze the Falcons' disappointing preseason opener and discuss the development plan for Michael Penix Jr. They are joined by Grant McAuley to evaluate Matt Olson's surge in the MVP race and the Braves' upcoming road trip. They also explore potential roster additions like Za'Darius Smith to bolster the defense. 02:14 - Falcons Preseason Philosophy 05:20 - Michael Penix Jr. Plan 06:33 - Defensive Roster Concerns 10:59 - Quarterback Performance Evaluation 16:17 - Braves Analyst Grant McAuley 21:13 - Matt Olson MVP Discussion 24:11 - Braves Quirky Road Trip 29:20 - Falcons Pursue Za'Darius Smith 43:25 - NBA Clippers Investigation

Carl and Mike close out the show with thoughts on reports of the Falcons having worked out edge Za'Darius Smith, who at 34 years old, they believe would be more of a situational player should they sign him. 

Carl and Mike are joined by Grant McAuley as they discuss the latest on the Braves including their series with the Diamondbacks over the weekend.

Carl and Mike continue with more Falcons talk as they react to the team's to loss to the Broncos on Friday and agree that despite having a philosophy of typically playing starters in Week 1 and 3 of preseason, Kevin Stefanski needs to "run the starters back out there" in the second preseason game against the Colts.

Carl and Mike continue to share thoughts on Falcons and how fans are reacting to Friday's preseason loss to which some fans believe some people are over-reacting, while others believe the fact the team has missed the playoffs for the past eight season is reason enough to be disappointed about how the team played on Friday, even if it was a preseason game.

Carl and Mike share a few more thoughts on the Falcons' first preseason game which they describe as a "very disappointing outing," and the team did nothing to leave fans excited about what may come this season. They then get into some Georgia Bulldogs talk as they react to reports the Bulldogs offense did not have a good day while the defense reportedly got the best of their counterparts.

Carl and Mike get into some brief Braves talk as Carl share thoughts on why he believes Grant Holmes "has to go" after his outing on Saturday in which he gave up six ER runs on six hits. They then get into What's On DA-DA's Mind.

Carl and Mike get back into Falcons as they share thoughts on whether or not Kevin Stefanski should change his philospphy in regards to how he typically handles getting starters reps during preseason games (Week 1 and Week 3) after the poor performance in their preseason opener on Friday and have starters get reps on Saturday against the Colts on Saturday.

Carl and Mike get back into some Falcons talk as they discuss why they believe that 'we are three weeks into training camp and we haven't learned anything about the Falcons' in areas we need to see improvement in. They then get into other NFL headlines including Aaron Darnold once again showing up on the Rams workout list on the NFL transaction wire and Rams rookie QB, Ty Simpson impressing in his preseason debut.

Carl and Mike get back into Falcons talk and agree the team's offense as a whole was bad as they discuss some of the stats which included them only having two drives which lasted more than 5 plays. They also share thoughts on why they do not anticipate the team allowing James Pearce Jr. to speak to the media anytime soon now that his suspension has been handed out, however they do share thoughts on why they believe it could be beneficial for the Falcons to allow him to address the matter now versus later when he returns.

Carl and Mike get into some Braves talk as they give props to Matt Olson and agree his numbers all across the board are worthy of MVP considerations and his play is what the Braves need from other players as well to get to the World Series. They then get back to Falcons talk and agree that there was nothing worth feeling positive about in regards to the product the team put on the field in their preseason opener against the Broncos.

Carl and Mike open the show with Falcons talk as they agree that it was hard to watch the team's first preseason game in which they lost to the Broncos as they believe the execution by players was embarrassing and while Kevin Stefanski says the starters will not play on Saturday against the Colts, the believe the starters should take reps because they looked unprepared.

Special Postgame Episode | Joe Patrick on Football The Atlanta Falcons started its preseason schedule on the wrong foot with a 27-7 loss to the Denver Broncos at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Tua Tagovailoa and the first team offense looked sloppy and ineffective. On the other side of the ball, the Broncos starters pummeled the Falcons en route to a 24-0 halftime lead in what was ultimately an ugly way to start the preseason for Kevin Stefanski.

The full 8-14-26 Dukes and Bell

In the first hour of today's show, Dukes and Bell preview the Falcons' preseason opener, highlighting the physical culture head coach Kevin Stefanski has established during training camp. They evaluate the quarterback dynamic between Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. with Joe Patrick, while Grant McAuley provides updates on the Braves' rotation and Austin Riley's recent resurgence. 01:20 - Preseason Quarterback Performance 03:30 - Raheem Morris' Physical Culture 04:33 - NFL Disciplinary Consistency Issues 07:20 - Kyle Pitts on Falcons QBs 13:30 - Grant McAuley Braves Analysis 18:22 - Austin Riley Finding Rhythm 23:13 - MLB All-Star Game News 29:45 - Joe Patrick Falcons Update 36:00 - Special Teams Roster Battles

In the 2nd hour of today's show, Dukes and Bell break down the news that Falcons pass rusher James Pearce Jr. will serve an eight-game suspension to start the 2026 season. They analyze the significant impact on the team's defensive pass rush and discuss why the NFLPA negotiated a deal with no option for appeal. 01:50 - Preseason QB Narratives 03:23 - Pearce Suspension News 07:10 - Pass Rush Impact 11:13 - Fan Reaction Segment 17:28 - Suspension Eligibility Rules 25:15 - No Appeal Confirmed 30:40 - Player Accountability Discussion 35:13 - Drafting Character Risks 40:50 - League News Dump

In the final hour of today's show, Carl and Mike react to the news of James Pearce Jr.’s eight-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. They discuss the impact on the Falcons' defensive rotation before being joined by Hawks CEO Steve Koonin to break down the newly released NBA schedule and MLK Day matchup. Dave Logan also provides a preview of the upcoming preseason game against the Denver Broncos. 01:50 - Pearce Suspended Eight Games 07:15 - Player Character and Redemption 11:40 - Replacing Defensive Sack Production 17:10 - Steve Koonin Hawks Interview 29:05 - Dave Logan Broncos Preview 38:20 - Final Pearce Suspension Recap

Carl and Mike are joined by Dave Logan as they preview tonight's Falcons/Broncos preseason game

Carl and Mike are joined by Steve Koonin as they discuss the Hawks schedule release and why starting with so many games on the road is good for team comradery with there being so many new players.

Carl and Mike get back into Falcons talk as they continue to react to the NFL suspending James Pearce Jr. eight games and discuss why they believe Kevin Stefanski will more than likely not address the situation if questioned following tonight's preseason game and will probably wait until some time next week.

Carl and Mike get back into Falcons talk as they continue to react to James Pearce Jr. being suspended eight games by the NFL and they take calls from listeners to allow then to share their thoughts on the matter.

Carl and Mike continue to react news of James Pearce Jr. being suspended eight games and share thoughts on why they believe the suspension is justified and Pearce Jr. may be in a situation where he should "just take his medicine and accept," and not appeal the suspension due to the optics in regards to the video evidence against the Falcons second-year player.

Carl and Mike get back into football headlines as they react to reports from Adam Schefter in which he states sources tell him James Pearce Jr. will be suspended eight games for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, which they agree no one should be surprised and there is the chance Pearce Jr.'s team will likely submit an appeal to get the penalty reduced.

Carl and Mike are joined by Joe Patrick as they discuss the Falcons and what to expect to see in their preseason opener against the Broncos.

Carl and Mike are joined by Grant McAuley as they discuss the latest on the Braves as they get set to begin a series with the Diamondbacks.

Carl and Mike open the show with some Falcons talk as they share thoughts on what they would like to see in the first preseason game and agree the biggest thing is players, especially rookies, showing they have the ability to make plays while they are on the field. They also discuss Cam Newton's interview with Kyle Pitts and agree the former NFL QB was wrong for his click bait questions to the Falcons tight end in regards to Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa.

The full 8-13-26 Dukes and Bell

In the first hour of today's show, Dukes and Bell broadcast live from Mercedes-Benz Stadium to cover the Corky Kell Classic and provide updates on the Atlanta Braves' hot streak. They analyze Michael Penix Jr.'s comments regarding his knee recovery and the psychological aspect of returning to the field. Bryant McFadden joins to discuss NFL training camp intensity and the latest quarterback battles across the league. 01:20 - Corky Kell Classic Analysis 02:43 - Braves Trade Market Reactions 05:15 - Ronald Acuña Jr. Returns 09:02 - Walt Weiss On Pitching 14:42 - Falcons NFL Preseason Slate 16:30 - Penix Jr. Knee Confidence 20:09 - Kevin Stefanski Depth Charts 23:33 - Jaden Daniels Number Dispute 27:10 - Bryant McFadden Interview

In the 2nd hour of today's show, Carl Dukes and Mike Bell discuss the controversy surrounding Jayden Daniels’ jersey number at LSU and the perceived involvement of his mother in the dispute. They break down the Atlanta Hawks' regular-season schedule and examine the evaluation process for Michael Penix Jr. during the preseason. The duo also reacts to Joe Montana’s record-breaking jersey sale and the unique alcohol branding partnership at the University of Iowa. 03:06 - Jayden Daniels LSU Controversy 15:13 - Hawks Schedule Analysis 19:07 - Falcons Preseason QB Evaluation 30:12 - Joe Montana Jersey Record 34:07 - Hawkeyes Spirits Partnership 38:04 - Georgia Bulldogs Rankings Snub

In the 3rd hour of today's show, Mike Griffith joins the program to discuss the Georgia Bulldogs' training camp, focusing on Mike Bobo's aggressive offensive plans and the development of the secondary. Discussion explores the controversy surrounding Jayden Daniels' jersey number at LSU and reports regarding Tony Romo's future with CBS Sports. Analysis of the Falcons' preseason opener includes updates on Michael Penix Jr. and the challenges of facing Tua Tagovailoa. 01:50 - Mike Griffith on UGA 06:20 - Georgia Defense and Sacks 10:00 - Jayden Daniels LSU Dispute 14:00 - Retired Jersey Numbers Debate 19:30 - Tony Romo's CBS Future 23:42 - Bears Potential Indiana Move 27:40 - Freddie Freeman's Dugout Fall 33:01 - Michael Penix Jr. Update 37:00 - Braves Trade Deadline Review

Carl and Mike close out the show with thoughts on the Falcons as they discuss what they expect to see in the first preseason game against the Broncos. They then get back to discussing Michael Penix Jr.'s comments when he stated he wants to make sure he is mentally comfortable to be a full participant in team activities.

Carl and Mike are joined by Mike Griffith as they discuss the latest on the Georgia Bulldogs

Carl and Mike get into some Hawks talk as they react to the release of the 2026-2027 schedule and share some thoughts on some of the matchups. They then get back to Falcons talk as they share some thoughts on how much time Michael Penix Jr. may have before his window closes in regards to being cleared to be a full participant and compete for the starting QB role.

Carl and Mike get into some more football talk as they react to the reports of Jayden Daniels and his team sending a cease and disist to LSU in regards to the use of his name, image and likeness due to the program allowing a new player wear his number five jersey, which had not been retired.

Carl and Mike are joined by Bryant McFadden as they discuss the latest NFL headlines icluding the latest comments from Michael Penix Jr. in regards to being mentally ready to test his knee.

Carl and Mike get into some NFL talk as they share thoughts on Kevin Stefanski's comments in regards to the preseason depth chart, in which he alluded that what was recently put out by the PR team does not necessarily mean that will be how the team lines up in their preseason opener against the Broncos. They then get back to discussing Michael Penix Jr. and how he has become the center of national conversation following his comments in which he stated he wanted to make sure he was mentally prepared to trust his knee before being cleared.

Carl and Mike open up the show with some Braves talk as they react to the team's win over the Mets behind a solid outing from recently acquired pitcher, Tyler Mahle and as they discuss, they agree in saying that it maybe time to stop second guessing Alex Anthopoulos and the moves he has made.

The full 8-12-26 Dukes and Bell

In the opening hour of today's show, Dukes and Bell broadcast live from Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and analyze Michael Penix Jr.'s recent admission regarding his mental hurdles after knee surgeries. They also discuss Martín Pérez’s impact on the Atlanta Braves' pitching rotation. The segment wraps up with news on the sale of the Lakers and Russell Westbrook’s retirement. 02:15 - Michael Penix Jr. Psychology 08:28 - Penix Interview Audio Analysis 16:52 - Braves Pitching Rotation Update 20:38 - Ozzie Albies Contract Future 30:40 - Falcons Preseason Playing Time 41:20 - Russell Westbrook Announces Retirement

In the 2nd hour of today's show, Carl and Mike broadcast live from the Corky Kell Classic at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to kick off the high school football season. They weigh in on Michael Penix Jr.'s recent comments about his injury recovery and the competition for the starting quarterback role. The conversation also touches on the NBA’s MLK Day schedule and stadium renovations at Northwestern. 02:10 - Corky Kell Classic Preview 06:15 - NFL Training Camp Injuries 09:30 - NFL Quarterback Room Analysis 12:50 - Cowboys Defensive Standards Debate 17:40 - Michael Penix Injury Confidence 21:55 - Falcons Quarterback Battle Debate 26:00 - High School Football Atmosphere 32:55 - NBA MLK Day Schedule 36:10 - Northwestern Football Donation News 39:40 - Senior Season Player Emotions

In the final hour of today's show, Dukes and Bell analyze Michael Penix Jr.'s candid admission regarding the mental hurdles of his ACL recovery and how it affects the Falcons' quarterback competition. They also breakdown the preseason college football rankings and provide updates from the Braves' rotation as they prepare for the Mets. 01:50 - Mercedes-Benz Stadium Review 04:35 - College Football Ranking Debate 09:38 - Georgia Tech Season Outlook 12:45 - Penix Jr. Recovery Update 16:05 - Guy Talk Sports Culture 21:45 - Chick-fil-A Waffle Sandwich 25:45 - Conor McGregor Career Outlook 32:40 - Falcons Training Camp News 40:58 - Atlanta Braves Pitching Updates

Carl and Mike close out the show with final thoughts on Kevin Stefanski announcing starters will play on Friday, including Tua Tagovailoa and agree it is good news to hear the Falcons starters will be playing. They then share a few more thoughts on Michael Penix Jr. telling Cam Newton he needs to be mentally 100 percent ready to go out and play.

Carl and Mike get into some Georgia Bulldogs talk as they react to a recent preseason poll by CBS Sports in which the Bulldogs are ranked the No. 5 team and share their thoughts on why no one should take issue with where the Bulldogs start the season ranked as long as they can finish the season as the number one team in the country.

Carl and Mike get into What's On DA-DA's Mind as they discuss why they hope to see the full potential of Michael Penix Jr. in a Falcons uniform, which they agree they want to see.

Carl and Mike react to comments from Michael Penix Jr. in which he told the media his doctor said to him he will likely never have problems with his knee again and as they discuss, they agree in hoping the third-year QB is able to remain healthy the remainder of his career, however agree the reality is there is always going to be the chance of suffering another injury.

Carl and Mike get into some of the latest NFL headlines including there being some concern in regards to Bucs wide receiver Emeka Egbuka having to leave the practice field after being rolled up on but reportedly ok, Puka Nacua reportedly facing a possible and Kevin O'Connell making it official that Kyler Murray will be the Vikings starting quarterback.