The Expansion Buddies Podcast

The guys are back after their time off (sort of). With Justin gone to Texas, Jared and longtime friend of the show Kyle Mitchell (@KyMitch83) sit down to talk college football. They preview the upcoming season and make their picks on who they think will be in the College Football Playoff and win the national championship in 2022. Jared thinks what's happening with teams like USC and UCLA is bad for the sport while Kyle doesn't think Georgia will make it back.

The guys are back to wrap up the "Sacksonville" series by taking a look at where the Jags stand now and discussing the fallout of the team's total collapse. They explore the failed Urban Meyer experiment and postulate on what could potentially lie ahead for new coach Doug Peterson and QB Trevor Lawrence as he enters his second year with the team.

The guys return with Part 3 of their mini series to discuss the 2017 Jags and how they crumbled apart following a collapse in the AFC Championship against New England. They break down all the offseason drama that ensued the following summer and how, one by one, Jacksonville lost the core group of guys that was part of the magical run.

The guys are back with Part 2 of their mini series on the 2017 Jaguars to talk about just how dominant Jacksonville was during that season. They discuss the wild road that resulted in the team's second ever appearance in the AFC Championship and break down the team's crowning achievement; an impressive, shootout upset victory over the Steelers in the playoffs.

The guys introduce their first ever summer series, a four part dive into the rise and fall of the greatest Jaguars team to ever play in the NFL. In Part 1 they introduce all the relevant players and coaches that made the 2017 Jags as good as they were, including guys like Jalen Ramsey, Blake Bortles and Leonard Fournette.

The guys talk about the Avalanche winning the Stanley Cup over the Lightning and whether or not this is the end of Tampa Bay's run. They also try and break down the benches-clearing brawl between the Angels and the Mariners from last weekend and decide who's at fault. Jared calls out Angels manager Phil Nevin while Justin doesn't think the Lightning's reign is over just yet.

The guys are back to discuss all things currently going on in the sports world including the Warriors win over the Celtics in the NBA Finals and the new Saudi-backed LIV Golf league that has been poaching PGA players. Justin encourages everyone to see the new move "Hustle" while Jared ponders whether or not it's worth it for guys like Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka to leave the PGA for LIV.

The guys are joined by guests Daniel Friedman (resident Colorado enthusiast) and Kyle Mitchell to discuss the Avalanche reaching the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 2001. Daniel is thrilled that Colorado swept Edmonton but is concerned that they may have too much time off before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Kyle is begrudgingly rooting for Boston in the NBA Finals while Justin is hopeful the Lightning can turn things around.

The guys continue to discuss both the NBA and Stanley Cup Playoffs. They talk about the Celtics impressive Game 7 win over Miami in the conference finals as well as the Rangers' Game 7 blowout over the 'Canes. Justin educates everyone about athlete-branded shoes while Jared refuses to make any more picks because of how badly it's gone up to this point.

The guys are back and this time they're talking baseball. They discuss the low attendance numbers for the Athletics this season and ponder on what the franchise's future in Oakland is. They also discuss Washington Commanders owner Dan Schneider and how the NFL may leave his fate up to the league's other 31 owners. Jared doesn't see a future in which the A's remain in Oakland while Justin thinks Schneider could be gone by the start of the NFL season.

The guys sit down to discuss the Mavericks' dominant Game 7 victory over the Suns in the Western Conference semifinals and how they may be the team of destiny heading into the conference finals. They also talk about the reports of Lionel Messi possibly joining Inter Miami as an owner/player. Justin doesn't think Steph Curry can topple Luka while Jared think that if Messi buys stake in Inter Miami and joins the club it would be excellent for the MLS and soccer in America.

The guys talk about everything from the Stanley Cup Playoffs to the leaked NFL schedule. They discuss how hard it is for any team in any sport to win multiple championships in a row and how the Tampa Bay Lightning could win a third straight title. They also talk about why Dallas has been so fun to watch in the NBA playoffs. Justin reminds Jared of payment for a long overdue bet while Jared tries to plan another wager.

The guys do their best to recap the 2022 NFL Draft and talk about how they think their teams as well as others did. They also discuss DeAndre Hopkins being suspended for PED use and Ryan Tannehill's comments about the Titans drafting Malik Willis. Jared is happy to see the Seahawks take running back Kenneth Walker out of Michigan State while Justin was okay with the Bucs trading out of the first round,

The guys break down the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft and give their picks for the top 10 selections. They also discuss who they think might try and make a move for Deebo Samuel on or before draft night. Justin talks about what he thinks the Buccaneers should do with the 27th overall pick while Jared is unsure of what the Seahawks will do at #9.

With the NBA play-in tournament set to begin before the playoffs this week, the guys debate whether or not this new playoff format is good or bad for the NBA and whether or not expanded playoff formats are helping or hurting sports in general. They also talk about the recent and sudden passing of quarterback Dwayne Haskins as well LeBron choosing to sit out the remainder of the Lakers regular season. Justin has some harsh words for LeBron while Jared thinks expanded playoffs will end up watering down leagues like the NBA and NFL.

The guys talk about the upcoming 2022 MLB season and how there may actually be some legitimate hype around the Mariners this year. They talk about which teams disappointed and surprised them most from last season and how it may spill over into this year. They also discuss Frank Gore announcing his retirement from football as well as Washington Commanders' owner Dan Schneider being in trouble with the league again. Jared thinks its time NFL owners make Schneider sell the team while Justin talks about how the Padres disappointed him last season.

The guys talk about the newly minted overtime rules in the NFL playoffs and how this has been a long time coming for the league. They also discuss the new stadium that Buffalo plans to build in the near future for the Bills as well as give some some reviews of the new MLB "city connect" jerseys. Justin is a huge fan of the Nationals' special uniforms that they'll be wearing this year while Jared is against sports franchises building new stadiums in this day and age.

The guys try and tackle all the moves of NFL free agency (so far). They speculate on whether or not Matt Ryan is a good fit in Indianapolis, where Baker Mayfield will end up and why Kansas City decided to trade Tyreek Hill to Miami. Jared thinks that the Dolphins getting Hill will show us once and for all what kind of QB Tua is. Justin is very critical of how the Browns handled things with Baker Mayfield and Deshaun Watson.

The guys are joined by Kyle Mitchell (@KyMitch83) to talk about this year's March Madness bracket and who they think is winning it all this year as well as who they think you should watch for potential upsets. The highly-anticipated mascot portion features a huge argument over whether or not a Devil could beat a tropical storm, whether a Dragon can defeat a Lancer and much. much more.

The guys are joined by Daniel Friedman (resident Broncos fan) to discuss the blockbuster trade that sent Russell Wilson to Denver. Jared doesn't know what the Seahawks should do with their 9th overall pick in the draft now while Daniel is sad to see tight end Noah Fant go. Justin says that we need to wait and see before we can really declare who won this trade.

The guys are back to talk about the reprisal of the USFL and the XFL getting back in business this spring and summer and what they think of the logos, uniforms and teams. They also discuss whether or not the idea of all-star games in the sports world is outdated. Jared thinks that baseball has the best all-star game format while Justin, as the resident "drip aficionado", grades the USFL uniforms.

The guys are back to discuss the Super Bowl and the Rams' close championship victory over the Bengals. They speculate on whether or not Aaron Donald will actually retire and what that could mean for the NFC West moving forward. Justin gives his thoughts on the new movie "Home Team" starring Kevin James as Saints head coach Sean Payton. Jared isn't too thrilled with the Trail Blazers trading CJ McCollum.

They guys are back after an unexpected week off to talk about all the happenings in the NFL including the new name for Washington, the lawsuit filed against the league by Brain Flores and of course the Super Bowl! Jared thinks Cincinnati has a real shot to upset the Rams while Justin has some choice words for Washington and their new-look uniforms.

The guys break down all four results from the divisional round of the NFL playoffs and talk about all the wild upsets we saw this past weekend. They speculate on what's ahead for teams like Tennessee and Green Bay following their surprising losses as well as what the future could hold for Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. Justin is concerned for the Buccaneers as they move into the offseason while Jared thinks the situation is dire with the Titans.

The guys are back to try and make sense of all the officiating craziness from the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs. They look at the instances in Dallas and Cincinnati and how the referee blunders may have impacted the games. Justin is surprised to learn that NFL refs are not full time employees while Jared doesn't think the officials are entirely to blame for what happened with the Cowboys.

The guys are joined by Kyle Mitchell (@KyMitch83) to break down all six matchups for this year's Wild Card weekend. They also discuss why the firing of Brain Flores was a mistake by Miami. Jared and Justin have a disagreement with how they think the 49ers-Cowboys game is going to play out while Kyle has faith that his Patriots can upset the Bills,

The guys try and make sense of Antonio Brown's antics against the Jets this last weekend and where they think both he and the Bucs need to go from here. They also predict the Black Monday fate of every current NFL head coach and try and guess whether they will be fired or not come next week. Justin thinks the Bucs need to be completely done with AB while Jared guesses a very surprising firing in the AFC.

The guys get together for the last episode of 2021 to discuss the amazing turnaround the Dolphins have had how their journey to the NFL playoffs would be one of the greatest in league history if they complete it. They also talk about the recent debate sparked by Joe Burrow and the Bengals after Cincinnati ran up the score on Baltimore last week. They play tribute to the late John Madden as well.

The guys try and tackle all the drama going on in Jacksonville right now including the recent reports that Urban Meyer forced his assistant coaches to defend their resumes and called them "losers". They also congratulate New York City FC on winning their first ever MLS Cup. Justin goes off on Meyer while Jared details out just how incredible NYCFC's run to a championship really was.

The guys discuss the recent coaching moves in college football and whether or not its right that coaches are allowed to leave and accept other job offers before the season is over. They also talk about New England's return to the top spot in the AFC and whether or not they think it will last. Jared is against what's been going in college and cites Lincoln Riley and Brian Kelly as examples. Justin thinks Mac Jones is shaping up to be the best QB in the 2021 draft class.

The guys talk about Seattle's ugly game against Washington on Monday night Jared has finally had enough. He explains why he thinks it's time for the Seahawks to move on from Pete Carroll as head coach and who some potential replacements could be. Justin says Seattle needs to blow it up and start a complete rebuild.

This week the guys discuss the Panthers shocking beatdown win over the Cardinals and how much they think Cam Newton's return to Carolina played a part. They try and think of other superstar athletes that returned to their former teams before retirement. Justin doesn't think the new-look Panthers will see this sort of sustained success while Jared isn't concerned with this loss for Arizona in the long run.

The guys try and break down all the questionable officiating that went down during the Bears and Steelers game on Monday night and discuss how the new "taunting" rules are making the game less fun to watch. They also update their Super Bowl picks now that the NFL is halfway through its regular season. Justin is all on in the Cardinals and Titans while Jared is sticking with the Bills.

The guys talk about everything going on in the NFL leading up to the trade deadline including the news about former Las Vegas receiver Henry Ruggs and the foolishness of his actions earlier this week. They also discuss the injury to Derek Henry and how it will affect the Titans moving forward as well as the trade that sent Von Miller to the Rams. Jared thinks LA is masterful at getting the better of other teams in trades lately while Justin has some harsh words for Ruggs.

The guys reconvene after a week off to discuss this year's World Series matchup between the Astros and the Braves. They speculate on what Houston's legacy will be if they win this championship four years after their massive cheating scandal. They also talk about all the current happenings in the NFL via a new game Justin invented. The guys attempt to facilitate a fantasy trade live on the show.

The guys sit down to talk about the whirlwind news that went down on Monday night that resulted in Jon Gruden resigning as head coach of the Raiders. Justin believes this was the right thing to happen in light of everything that came out and understands why the Buccaneers decided to remove him from their ring of honor, Jared likens the situation to that of former broadcaster Thom Brennaman.

The guys are back to talk about baseball (along with their usual football talk). They discuss who they're excited to watch in this year's MLB Playoffs since, yet again, their beloved Mariners failed to make the postseason. They also talk about the recent controversial video that surfaced of Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer and what this means for the team moving forward. Justin thinks the Jags need to fire Meyer immediately while Jared is rooting for the White Sox to win it all.

The guys are here to talk about the grudge match of the century and preview the huge game between the Bucs and the Patriots on SNF. They break down all the matchups, beef and bad feelings that will go down in Foxborough. Jared thinks Bill Belichick is going to draw up his wildest defensive schemes yet for Brady while Justin has reservations about the Bucs own defense, Justin also tries to convince Jared to watch Ted Lasso.

The guys talk about another exciting week in the NFL and break down the state of all the 0-2 and 2-0 teams. They discuss which ones are pretenders and contenders so far this season as well as which ones are right where they belong. Jared believes the Colts can right the ship while Justin is very scared of the Rams.

The guys recap Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season and try to make heads or tails of all the crazy things that went down. They debate whether or not Pittsburgh is a pretender after their win over Buffalo and discuss Green Bay's embarrassing loss to the Saints. Jared is scared of both the Cardinals and the Rams in the NFC West despite Seattle's strong performance while Justin thinks Sam Darnold has found a good fit in Carolina.

This week the guys break down Tampa Bay's season opener with Dallas and how they think the Cowboys will do with both Dak Prescott and Cee Dee Lamb cleared to play on Thursday. They also discuss the Ravens' recent decision to sign Le'Veon Bell and whether or not they think it will work out. Jared understands why Baltimore felt the need to bring on the RB but is cautious of the antics while Justin thinks Dallas will have a difficult time running the ball against the Bucs defense.

The guys get together with guest and longtime friend of the show Kyle Mitchell (@KyMitch83) to talk about the fantasy outlook for the 2021 NFL season. They discuss who they drafted and why as well as who they think is over and underrated going into this year. Justin and Kyle rip ESPN for their huge broadcasting blunder over the weekend while Jared gives love to state of Louisiana.

The guys sit down to deliver Part 2 of their 2021 NFL season preview by talking about the NFC. They detail how they think each division will shake out and give some hot takes as far as the playoffs are concerned. Justin thinks this is finally the year the Buccaneers win the NFC South while Jared says the West could send all four teams to the playoffs.

The guys are back after a week off to look ahead to the 2021 NFL season. This week they focus on the AFC and break down how they think each of the 16 teams in the conference will do both within their respective divisions and in the playoff picture as a whole. Jared thinks Jacksonville is still a mess because of Urban Meyer while Justin is confident that Tennessee's new-look offense with Julio Jones will be one of the toughest to deal with in the conference.

The guys talk about the start of the 2021 CFL season and Jared teaches Justin the major rule differences between Canadian football and American football. They also discuss the recent injury to Colts QB Carson Wentz and what that means for Indianapolis heading into this season. Jared thinks Gardner Minshew is the answer while Justin is picking the Cowboys to win this year's Hall of Fame Game against the Steelers.

The guys are re-joined by Jared's brother Jacob to discuss the Milwaukee Bucks winning the NBA championship. Jake breaks down what made this year's Bucks team so special and what the mantra "Bucks in Six" was all about during the playoffs. They also discuss the Aaron Rodgers situation in Green Bay and the recent news that Texas and Oklahoma plan on leaving the Big 12 for the SEC. Justin criticizes the Packers for their handling of the whole situation while Jared thinks the Longhorns and Sooners are making a big mistake.

The guys talk about the wild news cycle that has hit the NFL over the last week. They discuss Rams running back Cam Akers whose recently torn ACL will most likely keep him sidelined for the upcoming season, the retirement of Ted Ginn Jr. and the troubling arrest of cornerback Richard Sherman. Jared is sad to see what's become of the Legion of Boom while Justin is concerned with the lack of fun being had in New England.

The guys discuss the upcoming NHL Expansion Draft involving the Seattle Kraken. They break down how the draft will work, who they think Seattle will take and who the other 30 teams in the league will protect before the July 17 deadline. Justin also has to rub in the fact that the Lightning took home the Stanley Cup again while Jared has to wallow in losing the jersey bet.

The guys are back to talk about the 2021 NBA Finals matchup between the Suns and the Bucks. They break down who they think has the edge in terms of superstar talent, home court advantage and even meme-wrorthy fans. Jared thinks Phoenix wins the series in six while Justin likes Milwaukee in seven. They also briefly discuss the Stanley Cup Finals, the woes of the Mariners and even the CFL starting in August.

The guys are together (in person) to make a big time bet on this year's Stanley Cup Finals. Jared has all his confidence in the Canadiens while Justin once again backs his Lightning. They also discuss the recent change to the NFL uniform rules which allow teams to add another helmet design to their possible uniform combinations starting in 2022.