VSiN By The Books | August 6, 2026 | Hour 2

**Dave Ross** (0:12)
Top of the hour, it is VSiN By The Books. Dave Ross is right here at the Mint Gaming Hall in Franklin, Kentucky. Jensen Lewis, our closer is right there in Cleveland, Ohio. We're going to go out to Las Vegas, catch up with the maestro, Mike Palm. A little bit later on this hour, so Jensen, that means be on your toes for what's on the maestro's mind this morning. We're going to have Rob Bradford join us in the next hour talking all things Red Sox, and they are still the hottest team in Major League Baseball. And the great Will Hill is going to join us, I believe, also from Las Vegas out there. We're at Petbash, so it will be great to have Will on the program as well. But we do have breaking news to begin our number two, and that's where we begin our highlights and headlines.

**SPEAKER_1** (0:49)
Help your bottom line with today's highlights and headlines.

**Dave Ross** (0:59)
I mentioned it yesterday on this very program about the running backs now in solidarity. They couldn't get to second contracts, now they're getting thirds. How about this? Remember Jonathan Taylor just a couple of years ago holding out with the Colts to get that new deal? We got that one. He's got another one. This from Adam Schefter, hot off the presses. Another big running back deal, three time Pro Bowler, Jonathan Taylor and the Colts reaching agreement today on a two-year $44 million extension worth up to $47 million that includes 39 guaranteed per rap sheet and me. So Ian Rappaport and Adam Schefter converging on this story. So Jensen, here we go again.
Man, running back's really starting to get the bag and second and third bags like the extension now for JT.

**Jensen Lewis** (1:48)
So if I'm doing the math here, Jonathan Taylor's scheduled to make a base salary of 11.98 million this year, signing bonus 2.56 and then a roster bonus of 1 million. Let me do the quick calculations here. What I'm getting is probably in line with what we're seeing from not only Bijan Robinson here, but what eventually we'll see from Jameer Gibbs. So, if you max out that guarantee or if you max out the potential extension earnings, that would put Jonathan Taylor pretty much right in line with where Bijan Robinson is as far as the total of that contract as far as this year and the two-year extension. Fascinating dynamic now. Good job, Bijan.
A rising tide lifts all boats, and that is a big wave that is coming in here for some of the starbacks in the NFL.

**Dave Ross** (2:50)
Yeah, Jemere Gibbs very happy about what's happening here with the running back brethren across the league here in the NFL. Going to get to the NFL and actual football tonight, because we've got the Hall of Fame game down not too far from your neck of the woods there in Canton, Ohio. It's the Panthers, and they are small favorites, one and a half favorites over the Arizona Cardinals tonight. That total has dropped a little bit as the week is going on, down to 35 and a half. Carson Beck will get to start as the rookie for Arizona, and the veteran, can't believe we're saying that now. Kenny Pickett will be getting to start for Carolina. Jensen, have you made any plays yet on this game?

**Jensen Lewis** (3:24)
I will not yet, and I will probably just kind of wait and see what happens, but if you want to tail blindly, Steve Mackinnon, some great trends that you can follow. Underdog is a winner outright. Five consecutive Hall of Fame games, so if you like Arizona, take the point and a half to be conservative. But if you like that total, how about four consecutive overs when the total is in the mid-30s? That's 35 and a half.
So that is something also to factor in. Nice little par leg piece here. If you are looking to dabble and just take the points and the over tonight, Dave, that would give you a nice little plus 240 on the over 35 and a half and the Cardinals plus one and a half. You want to do that? I'm not advising it. I'm just saying that is the math. That is interesting to see if those trends do continue tonight.

**Dave Ross** (4:15)
Books are so smart too, Jensen, by putting one and a half because you know nobody wants over time. There won't be over time. So let's just go for two, win, lose or draw. Let's get the hell out of here. We don't want to play any extra time tonight when they get to that second half. That would be interesting to see what the second half looks like. Because again, the quote unquote starters that will be out there, at least to start this game, you know they're going to want to protect their assets, specifically their quarterbacks.