The Bill Simmons Podcast

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by comedian and fellow Bostonian Bill Burr to discuss the joys of parenthood (6:00), Wayne Gretzky's interview style (11:00), the "Big Bad Bruins" (15:00), NBA rivalries (20:00), the Mount Rushmore of TV actors (25:00), Lakers fans claiming Minneapolis titles (33:00), the Belichick-Brady era (37:00), Michael Jackson's impact on the Pats' ownership (45:00), PED usage in sports (49:00), Super Bowl LI (54:00), and Derek Jeter's majesty (1:02:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons calls on Cousin Sal to discuss the Pats-Falcons Super Bowl matchup (5:00), the disappointing NFL playoffs (13:00), whether Tom Brady is the best QB ever (18:00), Tony Romo's trade value (20:20), the Pats' continuity (25:00), Matt Ryan's MVP candidacy (28:00), the Super Bowl LI line (30:00), and Kansas-Kentucky this weekend (33:00). Then, Wesley Morris of The New York Times joins to discuss his Oscar nominations (40:25), the Best Picture buzz surrounding 'Deadpool' (53:50), Tom Ford's directorial taste (58:00), the category fallacies (1:01:00), O.J.'s best movie bid (1:05:00), subplots of the Oscars (1:14:00), and whether weird movies are on the way (1:17:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by ‘Late Night’ host Seth Meyers and ‘Good Place’ creator Michael Schur to discuss this weekend's AFC championship game between the Patriots and Steelers (3:00), the baseball Hall of Fame and MVP award debates (33:48), and working with Lorne Michaels on 'SNL' (42:20). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Mike Lombardi to discuss Antonio Brown's locker-room video (6:00), Will Fuller's inopportune drops (10:00), the Chiefs' defensive miscues (13:00), Le'Veon Bell vs. Bill Belichick (16:00), Falcons-Packers (21:00), Steelers-Pats (28:00), and Jimmy Garoppolo's trade value (30:00). Then, comedian Sarah Tiana joins to discuss her Falcons fandom (36:00), Arthur Blank's mustache (41:00), problems with 'The Bachelor' (44:00), and betting on 'Roast Battle' (52:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Cousin Sal to discuss the Cowboys' devastating loss (5:00), the other Round 2 games (10:00), Denzel's Oscars odds (24:00), Packers-Falcons (29:00), Steelers-Pats (33:00), and Superfly Jimmy Snuka's passing (36:00). Then, director Peter Berg talks about 'Patriots Day' (46:00), Garry Shandling (65:00), and whether 'Friday Night Lights' will ever return (76:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on FS1's Mike Lombardi to discuss the NFL playoff divisional-round matchups (6:00) and designate a corresponding character from 'The Wire' for each remaining team. Then, comedian Jeff Ross joins to discuss 'Roast Battle' (33:00), his relationship with Ralphie May (38:00), Jamie Foxx's roast-hosting skills (46:00), the best roast joke of his career (58:00), Pete Davidson’s 9/11 jokes (66:00), beefing with Robert De Niro (71:00), seeing Trump on the golf course (76:00), and brainstorming his next comedy special (84:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Cousin Sal to discuss the not-so-wild NFL wild-card weekend (6:00), Aaron Rodgers's ridiculous Hail Mary streak (8:00), Matt Moore's concussion protocol (15:00), Big Ben's bad throws (21:00), the divisional-round lines (27:00), Pats-Texans (32:00), Steelers-Chiefs (37:00), and Alabama-Clemson national title picks (44:00). Then Fox's Joe Buck joins to give his thoughts on calling Packers-Giants (52:00), fandom in the TV booth (58:00), the Yankees–Red Sox rivalry (1:06:00), Jerry Jones's impressive work with the Cowboys (1:15:00), and the best possible Super Bowl matchup (1:20:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by FS1's Mike Lombardi to discuss Brock Osweiler vs. Connor Cook (5:00), Atlanta's occasionally great offense (14:00), Eli Manning's mistakes (18:00), cold-weather cough-ups (21:00), Dolphins-Steelers (25:00), and Matt Moore's starting QB potential (30:00). Then, The Ringer's Mallory Rubin joins to offer up her thoughts on why announcers call Roethlisberger by his first name (37:00), Terrell Davis in the Hall of Fame (43:00), QB cluster theories in the draft (49:00), and Alabama vs. Clemson (53:00). Finally, House hops on the line to explain why Washington sports teams continue to suffer (1:01:00) and to discuss Kyle Korver to the Cavs (1:04:00), Eric Gordon's All-Star-caliber play with Houston (1:08:00), the increased talent level in the NBA (1:10:00), and ending the NFL stink streak of 2016 (1:15:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss Week 17 (1:22), the NFL MVP odds (9:43), who should be coach of the year (15:35), and the new coaching vacancies (17:22).They also cover this weekend's playoff matchups: Texans-Raiders (26:45), Lions-Seahawks (34:09), Dolphins-Steelers (40:15), and Giants-Packers (49:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Bill Simmons and Joe House discuss George Karl's controversial new NBA book (and the anecdotes that surprised Bill the most when he read it) (2:35). Then they rattle off their NBA power rankings for December (33:50), measure Cleveland against Golden State (1:10:50), and pick Week 17's big Lions-Packers game (1:10:18). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices