LA 1000E !!! LES SAINTS À PARIS ET TOUTES VOS QUESTIONS

This special 1000th episode of the TDA podcast, hosted by Alain and Raphaël Masmejean, marks a significant milestone for the show, which began on September 6, 2011. To celebrate, two special episodes are planned, with the first being this broadcast and a live event scheduled for Saturday, September 5th, at the Belushi’s in Paris. The live event will feature a quiz, public interaction, a dinner, and discussions about the past 15 years of the podcast. Reservations will be mandatory but free, primarily to manage attendance and venue size. Reflecting on 2011, the hosts humorously recall a very different world: Nicolas Sarkozy was president of France, Barack Obama led the US, the French football team had only one star, and the New York Jets had just played in an NFL conference final. They also revisited the 2011 NFL draft, highlighting top picks like Cam Newton and Von Miller, as well as less successful quarterbacks like Jake Locker and Blaine Gabbert. Despite some disappointing quarterback selections, the draft also produced notable talents like J.J. Watt, Patrick Peterson, Julio Jones, and later-round steals like Richard Sherman and Jason Kelce, making it a strong draft overall. A major topic of discussion was the recent announcement of the New Orleans Saints playing a game in France. This news, which coincided perfectly with the 1000th episode, was described as an early Christmas gift. Raphaël noted that while an NFL game in France seemed distant in 2011, the increasing number of international games in London and Germany made it seem more plausible over time. Alain expressed his personal belief in the possibility after a Saints event at the US Embassy last year. The hosts shared details about the Saints' visit to Paris, which included fan meetings, private tours of the Stade de France and Parc des Princes, and a press conference. Alain was particularly honored to moderate the press conference and interview the players, Tyler Shock and Taliese Fuaga, finding them to be very friendly and curious about French culture. The Saints' commitment to France is not a "one-shot" event; they aim to become "the franchise of France," indicating a long-term strategy that includes year-round engagement, flag football tournaments, and opening an NFL office in France. This commitment is seen as a significant recognition of the podcast's 15 years of work. The podcast then transitioned to answering listener questions. Regarding playing football, several TDA team members have played in clubs, including Raoul, Medhi, Antonin, and Marco. Alain would have liked to play tight end, while Raphaël, seeing himself as a strategic mind, would prefer to be an offensive coordinator. When watching live games, Raphaël focuses on the quarterback and defensive line movements, acknowledging that it's impossible to see everything in real-time. Alain admitted to mostly following the ball, emphasizing that he doesn't claim to be an expert and is often impressed by what his more knowledgeable colleagues observe. Both agreed that Anthony Dablé, a former player on their team, highlighted how much insight is only available from within a team's game plan. For current recommendations, Raphaël enjoys "Shrinking" on Apple TV, while Alain is using "Narcos" in Spanish to improve his language skills and recommended the book "Killing Pablo." The hosts discussed how TDA has grown over the years, attributing its success to sincerity, the quality of content, and the passion of its contributors, many of whom have had opportunities like attending the Super Bowl or London games through the site. Alain acknowledged that the podcast's success has sometimes made other projects frustrating due to the high listenership TDA achieved. He manages the podcast schedule with a large Excel file, balancing regular pairings for listener familiarity with the availability of team members. Alain also reflected on his own role, admitting to daily changes of heart about being on air versus managing the behind-the-scenes work. A recurring question was about Alain's favorite NFL team, which he hinted at during the Saints discussion but kept ambiguous. Raphaël shared that his worst Giants moment was hard to pinpoint, as good memories tend to overshadow bad ones. Regarding the funniest podcast moment, they recalled being more sarcastic and incisive in early episodes, often using humorous sound effects, which might not fly in today's social media climate. They specifically remembered the "butt fumble" incident and the "Hard Knocks" season featuring the Jets under Rex Ryan as particularly memorable and comical. On future NFL plans, the hosts were asked about a potential team in Paris ("Paris Baguettes"), but they preferred the idea of the Saints becoming "France's team." They believe a French player will eventually make it to a regular-season NFL game, citing promising young talents like Ismaël Camara and Jeffrey Mbappé. For an all-time TDA team, they quickly named Tom Brady and Jerry Rice for offense, and Aaron Donald and J.J. Watt for defense, noting that Watt was drafted the same year the podcast started. Alain addressed the frequent question about why TDA commentators don't cover the Super Bowl for M6. He explained that their contract with M6 is clear: they cover regular season and playoff games, but not the Super Bowl. While they would love the opportunity, it was never part of the agreement, so there's no frustration. Raphaël confirmed his complete disengagement from the Giants, focusing his emotional investment on his favorite Italian football club. The idea of a "Week 1 abroad" with all 16 international games simultaneously was deemed logistically complex for the NFL and potentially problematic for TV broadcasters due to varying time zones and the need to "eventualize" each game. They noted the NFL's plan to open an office in France as a sign of concrete international expansion. Regarding the scarcity of top-tier quarterbacks, they suggested the issue might lie more in player development post-draft than in scouting, pointing out that many talented athletes emerge from college but struggle to transition to the NFL. They also discussed the influence of money, especially before the rookie salary scale, on young players' careers. For a fantasy flag football team, Raphaël would pick Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen for quarterback, and Jamar Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Bijan Robinson for other offensive positions, emphasizing speed and versatility. Alain discovered the NFL through video games and friends, while Raphaël's first exposure was a re-broadcast of the Buccaneers-Raiders Super Bowl on French TV, which captivated him despite the game's lopsided score. He later became a consistent viewer when France 2 started broadcasting games, particularly remembering the Steelers-Seahawks Super Bowl. On the question of why some NFL teams remain bad for so long, both hosts agreed with the adage "the fish rots from the head," suggesting that poor management and coaching decisions at the top are the primary culprits, rather than a lack of talent coming from college. Reflecting on their evolution, Alain felt he had become a more well-rounded and knowledgeable commentator over 15 years, still finding himself surprised by the unpredictable nature of American football games. Raphaël appreciated the NFL's playoff format, where the outcome feels genuinely open, unlike many other sports. They both noted that despite some changes like an extra regular season game and playoff team, the NFL has largely maintained a good balance, avoiding the excessive commercialization seen in other sports. The discussion touched upon the evolution of recording equipment, from bulky mixing tables in Alain's apartment to the current remote setup, which became the norm after the COVID-19 pandemic. They confirmed that Sean McVay remains the youngest Super Bowl-winning coach at 36. Alain shared that the most memorable negative event was the Aaron Hernandez case, while Raphaël recalled the tragic suicide of Chiefs player Jovan Belcher. For humorous moments, they highlighted the "Tim Tebow mania" and the "Johnny Manziel draft buzz" as particularly entertaining. Alain's most cherished personal memory was experiencing the Patriots' 28-3 Super Bowl comeback live in the stadium, calling it a piece of history. Regarding team allegiances within the TDA team, they noted a lack of Cowboys fans and a surprisingly low number of Chiefs and Ravens supporters, with many favoring the 49ers and Seahawks. Looking ahead 20 years, they predict more international games and an 18-game regular season, but were less certain about a Super Bowl being played abroad due to logistical and broadcasting challenges. They also questioned whether any quarterback could match Tom Brady's seven Super Bowl titles, given the alignment of factors required, comparing it to Bill Russell's 11 NBA titles. The episode concluded with thanks to the listeners and contributors, and a reminder about the 1000th episode celebration event in September. They joked about their longevity, calling themselves "the Tom Bradys of podcasts" and "the Michel Druckers of podcasts," acknowledging the rarity of an independent podcast lasting so long.