I love the podcast and give it an A plus. It’s great for passionate fans. I have absolutely no problem with the length but to each their own. I like that podcasts can be long form unlike radio where there are hard breaks and so on. I enjoy that you complete your thoughts.
I will say, having known you guys from here for well over a decade, following your draft winds, and listening to your work as a guest on various podcasts (and I even recall your hit on NFLN), you guys are immensely likable. It’s because we all have the same interest. Your nuggets are the exact kinds of things I focus on, so what’s not to like?
I read this thread before I got a chance to listen this week. I sensed no real problem with Simon’s audio at all. I suppose, in theory, it could be clearer, but there’s no strain at all listening to him.
The comments about the intro and the reference to Lebatard’s show are not anything that I’d focus on, but I think this is the trickiest part of the show. I listen often to Lebatard in podcast form. But, he prides himself on being irreverent, developing “characters,” and he hates sports details like the plague, almost like he reluctantly realizes he’s on ESPN. I like his show, and get it. He’s exceptionally bright and has developed a tremendous show (other than its just too long; he has too much time to kill and some of the bits should probably be on the cutting room floor). I suspect he’d agree with me.
No knock on Lebatard, because he’s got a great niche. You see others mimic his routine and it proves how difficult it is to emulate. As an example, Hochman and Crowder’s show tries to balance culture with sports and it’s painful. Hochman, who used to work with Dan, is a nice guy who is well intentioned but he comes across as a nincompoop when he tries to do his Lebatard-Lite musings. It just doesn’t work.
As for this podcast, I could imagine Dan’s people are suggesting you guys be relatable and bring fun into it instead of making Dolphins talk seem grave, monotone, and serious. It’s football, which is fun. I think there’s truth to that, and I think it will work itself out organically. One difference is you guys are a 180 from Dan’s show in the sense that football minutiae may actually be discussed without pretending that’s something to be ashamed of. But, in the end, I find you guys extremely likable and have no doubt this aspect will be fine tuned.