VSiN By The Books | August 4, 2026 | Hour 2

**SPEAKER_1** (0:00)
This is VSiN By The Books on VSiN, the eSports betting network.

**Dave Ross** (0:12)
Top of the hour, it is VSiN by the books, Dave Ross right here at the Mid-Gaming Hall, in Franklin, Kentucky. There's our closer Jensen Lewis back home in Cleveland, Ohio. Greg Peterson is gonna join the program a little bit later on in this very hour, get his best bets in Major League Baseball. Levi Weaver is gonna join the program. Now that the dust has settled in hour number three, coming up here, talking all things MLB trade deadline and beyond. But before we get there, Jensen, we do have breaking news in to begin this hour, and that's where we begin, our highlights and headlines.

**SPEAKER_1** (0:43)
Help your bottom line with today's highlights and headlines.

**Dave Ross** (0:51)
And it comes to us from the NFL, and I guess this sit-in's work, we'll see what's going to happen in Detroit with Jamir Gibbs, but how about this? One half of that sit-in was Bijan Robinson down in the ATL. Remember that last week, people? He was going there, but he wasn't practicing, right? Well, the Falcons have reached agreement, this per Adam Schefter, three-year extension worth up to $75 million. That's going to make him the highest paid running back in NFL history. It's a record $51 million guaranteed, $37 million right there, Jensen, with one stroke of the pen.
I don't think we're surprised. We talked about this a little bit last week with the sit-ins. And again, this is going to have some domino effects now with Jameer Gibbs in Detroit and beyond. What do you make of the ATL locking up Bijon?

**Jensen Lewis** (1:37)
This is pretty significant, right? Devon H-Han, as far as total value of a contract was at $64 million. So not only does it make him the highest paid, it is by a wide margin, $11 million higher now in total value at $75 million. This is big, right? Because he's age 24 season at signing. H-Han was four years, 64 You're looking at Breece Hall at age 24, was three years for 43.5. Jonathan Taylor, three years at $42 million. And now we shall see what happens in Motown with Jameer Gibbs. But this is a big one. You got the guy. And now that's one big distraction that Kevin Stefanski and the entire organization don't have to worry about anymore.

**Dave Ross** (2:19)
Yeah, it's interesting, because again, we talked about those things. That's kind of the new way you do it now. You show up at the facility. You don't practice until you get that deal, because you don't want to get hurt. We talk about injuries all the time here. I love this as a Falcons backer this year. I hope the quarterback room gets healthy here. But that is a key linchpin to this offense and maybe the most dynamic running back you have in the game today. You can make that argument. That's for sure. Major League trade deadline has come and gone. We talked a lot about it in our number one. Things like subscribe to VSiN By The Books podcast. It is fascinating because I think people are making different declarations now that it's over. Sure, the Dodgers are clearly the team to beat as they go for three-peat this year as they get Tarek Schubel. But other teams like the Cubs, like the Rays, certainly the Guardians, I think their fans can wake up and say, at least we made moves in the Red Sox. They're all making some inroads here, Jensen, to be heard from in this iteration of the postseason in October.

**Jensen Lewis** (3:15)
Big deadline and a really great job by a lot of different teams being involved. And I think that was the thing I took away most is that when you've got the amount of teams that are alive within, you know, three, four games of a playoff spot. I mean, you're, you're talking about the twins went out and bought the Mariners did the Orioles do a little buying and selling the Tigers. Obviously we know sold the biggest piece with Tarek Schubel. The Blue Jays already did their off season shopping and still have a shot. I mean, the Jose Suriano acquisition for Toronto is very big news because of what they'll be able to have at least at the beginning of next year with Dylan Cease, with Treya Savage, with Jose Suriano. They got Jameson Tyone. I mean, that was a really bang up job.
I think by the front office there in Toronto to be able to kind of thread the needle a little bit. And they're still alive. That rotation is still going to keep you in the fight here, Dave, the final two months of the year. And then on the flip side, San Diego, one of the bigger winners there on the National League side, getting both Casey Mize and Robbie Ray.