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A Clippers Rebrand, an NFL Mini-Mailbag, and Best MLB Story Lines With Rob Mahoney, Anthony Dabbundo, and Billy Gil
Briefed in the Sports Talk edition of Wednesday, 16 September 2026
What was discussed
Clippers rebrand and franchise penalties2:54
- Bill Simmonsopinion
The Clippers should consider a rebrand to reset their image after decades of scandals and poor performance.
- Rob Mahoneyopinion
A rebrand might be the only option left given the penalties, but it's unclear if it would actually work for a sports franchise.
Kawhi Leonard trade return5:32
- Bill Simmonsopinion
The Clippers got a surprisingly good return for Kawhi Leonard, considering his age, injury history, and the scandal.
- Rob Mahoneyopinion
The trade was a coup for the Clippers given the circumstances, though both teams had reasons to back out.
Clippers roster and future outlook8:43
- Bill Simmonsopinion
The Garland-Ingram duo is not among the league's best and leaves the Clippers in a bleak position.
- Rob Mahoneyopinion
Keaton Wogler is more of a found-money opportunity than a burden, given the franchise's accepted decline.
Worst NBA rosters and standings22:06
- Rob Mahoneyopinion
Milwaukee is likely the worst team in the league, with Sacramento close behind in the West.
- Bill Simmonsopinion
The Clippers' roster is among the league's worst, with the Kings also lacking a clear path to improvement.
Most exciting NBA teams for the season23:06
- Rob Mahoneyopinion
Philadelphia is the most exciting team to watch due to its star power and supporting cast.
- Bill Simmonsopinion
Minnesota's pairing of LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards is the most compelling storyline in the West.
LaMelo Ball as the NBA's nerd king30:10
- Bill Simmonsopinion
LaMelo Ball is a candidate for the NBA's nerd king due to his advanced stats despite lacking playoff success.
- Rob Mahoneyopinion
Derrick White is a better fit for the nerd king title because he has won a title using undervalued skills.
Cleveland Browns stadium and playoff drought39:07
- Bill Simmonsopinion
It is unbelievable that the Browns' stadium has never hosted a playoff game in nearly three decades.
NFL Week 1 liar liar games43:03
- Bill Simmonsopinion
The Chiefs-Broncos game is the most likely liar liar game due to officiating and Denver's poor performance.
Patrick Mahomes injury conspiracy45:45
- Bill Simmonsopinion
The conspiracy theory about Mahomes faking his injury is unfounded, as his performance was not impressive.
Taysom Hill Award for fantasy football46:41
- Bill Simmonsopinion
Dontayvion Wicks is the likely winner of the Taysom Hill Award due to his waiver wire volatility.
Drake Maye as the next Tony Romo47:29
- Bill Simmonsopinion
The Drake Maye-Tony Romo comparison is premature, and Maye's upcoming game will provide more clarity.
Mike Tomlin's media role48:25
- Bill Simmonsopinion
Mike Tomlin's media role is a major upgrade for NBC's coverage, and his communication skills are highly valuable.
New York sports city karma shift50:45
- Bill Simmonsopinion
A New York sports karma shift is possible, but a loss by the Yankees or Giants could break the momentum.
John Harbaugh's Giants coaching impact51:13
- Bill Simmonsopinion
John Harbaugh has given the Giants a clear identity and improved discipline, proving his coaching value.
Tom Cruise and Taylor Swift conversation53:07
- Bill Simmonsspeculation
Tom Cruise was likely telling Taylor Swift about the plot of "All the Right Moves" during their conversation.
Wingrow Award for NFL craziness53:43
- Bill Simmonsopinion
Saquon Barkley is the current nominee for the Wingrow Award due to his unpredictable behavior.
Caleb Williams and Caleb Wilson naming confusion56:25
- Bill Simmonsopinion
Caleb Wilson should adopt "CW" or "C Dub" to avoid confusion with Caleb Williams.
Justin Herbert as Drew Bledsoe 2.057:42
- Bill Simmonsopinion
Drew Bledsoe was a better player than Justin Herbert in their first seven years, making the comparison inaccurate.
Red Zone channel feature request58:44
- Bill Simmonsopinion
A third Red Zone channel focusing on the best five games would improve the viewing experience.
Arch Manning draft concerns59:28
- Bill Simmonsopinion
Arch Manning may be reluctant to join certain teams, with Atlanta being the most logical destination.
Sam Darnold fumbling Super Bowl ring1:00:37
- Bill Simmonsopinion
Sam Darnold fumbling his Super Bowl ring was an ominous sign for the Seahawks' season.
Celebrity integration in sports broadcasts1:01:12
- Bill Simmonsopinion
Celebrity integrations in sports broadcasts are a lazy gimmick driven by insecure TV executives.
Rescue dog social credit system1:03:02
- Bill Simmonsopinion
The rescue dog social credit system is a humorous idea that reflects the podcast's audience.
Pete Crow-Armstrong historic season1:05:36
- Anthony Dabbundoassertion
Pete Crow-Armstrong's season is one of the best of the century, with only 13 players reaching 10 WAR since 2000.
Automated Ball-Strike system impact1:10:11
- Billy Gilopinion
The ABS system has added excitement and strategy, though it has led to spite umpiring after failed challenges.
AL West division struggles1:13:23
- Bill Simmonsopinion
The AL West is historically bad, with no team above .500 and widespread organizational failures.
- Anthony Dabbundoopinion
The division's struggles are case-by-case, with the Mariners' fan anger and the Angels' dysfunction standing out.
Jordan Alvarez Triple Crown chase1:18:12
- Anthony Dabbundoopinion
Jordan Alvarez is the clear MVP favorite due to his elite plate performance, even without a Triple Crown.
Joe Adell three-homer robbery1:21:13
- Billy Gilopinion
Joe Adell's three-homer robbery is a defining moment of the season, with the Angels still promoting it despite trading him.
Freddy Peralta as must-watch pitcher1:24:09
- Bill Simmonsopinion
Freddy Peralta may have replaced Ohtani as baseball's must-watch player, though his impact is playoff-dependent.
- Anthony Dabbundoopinion
Peralta needs a dominant playoff performance to cement his status as a must-watch player.
Knuckleball revival possibility1:26:47
- Bill Simmonsspeculation
A knuckleball revival is possible because modern hitters are conditioned for high velocity and would struggle with slower pitches.
- Anthony Dabbundoopinion
The knuckleball is too difficult to teach and lacks the infrastructure for a modern revival.
Dodgers super villain status1:32:03
- Bill Simmonsopinion
The Dodgers have become super villains due to their controversial spending and back-to-back titles.
- Billy Gilopinion
The Dodgers' roster is flawed, and their ownership drama adds to their villain status.
- Anthony Dabbundoopinion
The Dodgers' inevitability is overstated, and they are vulnerable in a short playoff series.
Kyle Tucker's Dodgers struggles1:38:17
- Bill Simmonsopinion
Kyle Tucker's poor performance and attitude have led to fan backlash, questioning his massive contract.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. power decline1:39:10
- Bill Simmonsopinion
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s power decline is confusing, with only one home run despite a massive extension.
Sacramento stadium model1:41:24
- Billy Gilopinion
The Sacramento stadium's intimate atmosphere could be a model for future venues, with a relegation system for low-attendance teams.
Angels ownership and spending1:43:28
- Anthony Dabbundoopinion
The Angels' ownership has been cheap and poorly constructed, with the Cronkies facing a difficult rebuild.
Padres bullpen and playoff chances1:46:20
- Bill Simmonsopinion
The Padres' bullpen makes them a playoff sleeper, but their lack of home run power is a concern.
- Anthony Dabbundoopinion
The Padres' bullpen is strong enough to carry them in the playoffs, despite their offensive limitations.
Rays and Brewers smart team finals1:47:41
- Bill Simmonsopinion
A Rays-Brewers World Series would be unappealing, as neither team has proven they can win a championship.
Yordan Alvarez trade history1:50:34
- Anthony Dabbundoassertion
Yordan Alvarez was originally drafted by the Dodgers and traded to the Astros, a common miss in baseball.
Yankees-Red Sox playoff matchup1:51:46
- Billy Gilopinion
A Yankees-Red Sox playoff series would be exciting, with the Red Sox's pitching giving them a chance despite batting concerns.
Red Sox playoff optimism1:55:01
- Bill Simmonsopinion
The Red Sox's playoff chances hinge on their pitching, which could overcome offensive inconsistencies.
Kyle Schwarber strikeout record2:00:06
- Anthony Dabbundoassertion
Kyle Schwarber is 14 strikeouts away from breaking the single-season strikeout record.
World Series predictions2:01:22
- Billy Gilopinion
The Cubs and Yankees will meet in the World Series, with the Yankees' pitching and offense giving them an edge.
- Anthony Dabbundoopinion
The Dodgers and Rays will meet in the World Series, with the Dodgers' star power overcoming the Rays' analytics.
- Bill Simmonsopinion
The Yankees and Phillies will meet in the World Series, with the Yankees' firepower and the Phillies' pitching carrying them.
Marlins season and future2:05:35
- Billy Gilopinion
The Marlins have an exciting young core and potential for improvement, but the next season's uncertainty remains.
Every episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, briefed the morning after, with up to nine more shows in one daily email.
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