Hooked on Sports

This week's episode revolves around a few major stories in sports, from San Diego Padres star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. receiving a 14 year, $340 million contract extension, the Philadelphia Eagles trading quarterback Carson Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts, and rumors that the Jets will consider all options for their quarterback situation going forward. There are also 18 days left until Selection Sunday in college basketball. Which conferences are impressing? John has big takes on everything this week so stay tuned!!

On this week's podcast, John believes there are two obvious teams that J.J. Watt should sign with if he wants to win a Super Bowl next season. This comes after his release from the Houston Texans last week after playing the last decade there. Plus, with Anthony Davis re-aggravating a lower leg injury on Sunday, is there reason to worry for the Los Angeles Lakers going forward, even when he returns from injury? And pitchers and catchers formally reported today in Arizona and Florida across Major League Baseball, so John gives his takes on the Top 10 teams in the league with Opening Day 43 days away.

Tom Brady earned his seventh Super Bowl ring on Sunday night as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 in Super Bowl LV. John tells you why this one was the hardest and the sweetest of Brady's seven championships and why the AFC power realignment is complete. Also, Major League Baseball has their health and safety, as well as gameplay protocols set for this season, and two major free agent signings took place in the last week, but John explains why the Dodgers were the only team that could have possibly met Trevor Bauer's demands and signed him. Also, the NBA season gets deeper and the elite teams are beginning to separate themselves from the rest of the league. So can the Utah Jazz replicate their recent success in the playoffs (16-1 record in their last 17 games dating back to early January)? Can the Brooklyn Nets figure out their defensive woes?

Super Bowl LV was merely an afterthought six months ago, but here we are. Who will Flynn pick in one of the most highly anticipated Super Bowl matchups ever!

Follow Hooked on Sports on Twitter & on Instagram @hooked_onsports

Follow Flynn on Twitter @JohnFlynn97 and on Instagram @jayflizzie

This week's sports news was higlighted by two blockbuster trades, one in football, and in baseball. The Lions sent QB Matthew Stafford to the L.A. Rams in exchange for QB Jared Goff, a 2021 third round pick, and first round picks in 2022 and 2023. Meanwhile, the Colorado Rockies dealt All-Star 3B Nolan Arenado (and $50 million to pay off his contract) to the St. Louis Cardinals for prospects. Who won those trades? Plus, is there any reason for Lakers' fans to panic about their games last week? Who should get the most credit for the Philadelphia 76ers' tremendous start? And have the Capitals played like best team in the NHL through January?

Since it is Pro Bowl Weekend (and that it is virtual this year anyway with the pandmic), John will instead use this week's NFL special to go over how this season went for each team and to project what they'll need to accomplish this offseason to compete for the playoffs in 2021.

Super Bowl LV is now set: It'll be the Kansas City Chiefs against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers playing for the Lombardi Trophy on February 7th in Tampa, FL. John goes over what went right for both teams on Championship Sunday to get to the big game. Plus, John details why Matt LeFleur's decision making in key situations in the NFC Championship Game was the downfall of the Packers' chances of ending a decade-long drought. 

Plus, John goes over the numbers behind the Nets' slow start with the newly formed trio of Kevin Durant, James Harden, & Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn and why the team will likely need to score 125 points a game to win. Plus, is Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets the leader in the NBA MVP race? And finally, will anyone be announced as a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame when the vote is announced?

TIMESTAMPS:

NFC Championship Game: (0:50)

AFC Championship Game: (7:21)

Nets' early returns for big three: (11:21)

NBA MVP talk: (18:53)

Baseball Hall of Fame: (22:12)

Pirates sell: (25:55)

Twitter: @JohnFlynn97; @hooked_onsports

Instagram: @jayflizzie; @hooked_onsports

In this week's NFL-oriented podcast episode, John looks at the legacies of Phillip Rivers and Drew Brees as well as the impending trade market with disgruntled Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson and where he might go. Also, he runs through all the up-to-date NFL head coaching hires, including a curious hire by the Philadelphia Eagles and a slam dunk hire by the New York Jets. 

Finally, we are down to just four teams vying for a Super Bowl, as we look forward to two highly-anticipated conference championship matchups. Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visiting Lambeau Field to take on Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game, while Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes go head-to-head again as the Chiefs host the Bills at Arrowhead Stadium. Who will John pick to go to the Super Bowl? Find out in this podcast!

This week, John goes over some of the big stories in sports, including James Harden being traded to the Brooklyn Nets in a blockbuster trade that shook the NBA, newly hired Mets general manager Jared Porter axed after an off-the field incident in which he sent explicit text messages to a female reporter, and a recap of the four NFL Divisional Playoff games that took place over the weekend.

It's Divisional Weekend in the NFL Playoffs, and John is so excited about the matchups in the NFL this weekend, and John will look forward to the matchups, and he will predict all of them this weekend, but before he does that, there were a few NFL storylines from the past couple of days to catch up on, including the decision that the Chicago Bears will retain head coach Matt Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace for the 2021 season. John details what course of action the Bears should take following this news. 

Rundown & TIMESTAMPS:

Bears retain Matt Nagy & Ryan Pace (01:17)

Rumors of Urban Meyer coaching the Jaguars are intensifying (07:48)

Seahawks fire offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer (11:23)

Broncos hire George Paton to be next general manager and agree to six-year contract (14:32)

Top five players remaining in playoffs that aren't quarterbacks (17:11)

NFL Divisional Weekend Picks & Predictions Against the Spread (24:12)