Hour 4 - Bad Language

September 17, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Hour 4 - Bad Language

Hall of Famer Andre Johnson—a generically named but genuinely productive wide receiver for the Texans—called out current Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud for a language violation. Not pig Latin or verbal profanity, but body language. Johnson told reporters that Stroud's on-field demeanor is "bad" and that negative body language from the quarterback can "trickle down to teammates during adversity." He also challenged Stroud to deliver in critical moments, something Johnson says Stroud has failed to do so far, pointing to the season-opening loss to Buffalo where Stroud fumbled late while trying to play hero.

The Body Language Critique

Maller rolled with Johnson's take, and emphatically so. He argued that more than half of all human communication is non-verbal (citing a figure of 55 percent), and that Stroud's default reaction when things go wrong is to look like "a five-year-old who got told, hey, we're going to go to Disneyland, psych, it's not open today." The critique is that Stroud goes from on-field general to a "glass case of emotion" when the offense sputters—shoulders down, head down, pouty face. Maller's point is not that Stroud lacks talent, but that he is paid to be a leader of grown men, not to sulk when the restaurant forgot his honey mustard. Johnson's concern, which Maller endorsed, is that visible frustration on the quarterback's face

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What you'll learn

1 (00:00) **Show Intro & Host Banter** - Ben Maller opens the fourth hour with a quick riff on generic names and the importance of nicknames before diving into the night's lead topics.
2 (05:39) **Andre Johnson Calls Out CJ Stroud's "Bad Language"** - Hall of Fame receiver Andre Johnson criticizes Texans QB CJ Stroud for his negative body language, which Maller analyzes and agrees with.
3 (15:27) **George Pickens' Dropped Passes & Nonchalant Response** - Maller examines Cowboys WR George Pickens' two drops in the loss to the Giants and his seemingly unconcerned reaction.
4 (20:07) **Emmitt Smith Says Derrick Henry Could Break His Rushing Record** - The NFL's all-time leading rusher believes Ravens RB Derrick Henry has a legitimate chance to surpass his career yardage mark.
5 (30:44) **Listener Calls & Mailbag Tease** - Maller takes calls from regulars, including Big Daddy in Memphis and Hollering James, who wants to play Fact or Fiction.
6 (36:18) **Bill Belichick's Viral Appearance & Midlife Crisis Talk** - Caller Mike the Leprechaun brings up Bill Belichick's odd appearance at a North Carolina event, where he appeared to have a "large rack."
7 (41:39) **Andy Reid Ran a Play Sent by Chris Berman** - Maller reveals that Chiefs coach Andy Reid used a play idea sent by broadcaster Chris Berman, which originated from a 1936 NFL game.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Ben Maller talks about Hall of Famer Andre Johnson calling out C.J. Stroud's "bad" body language, Cowboys WR George Pickens not sounding too concerned with his dropped passes, Emmitt Smith saying Derrick Henry can break his NFL rushing record, Fact or Fiction, and more!

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