Eventually, the bill always comes due.

In this episode of Just Wondering with Norm Hitzges, Norm Hitzges and Mary Hitzges walk through two modern sports realities that look very different — but are built on the same idea: pushing limits until something breaks.

Norm begins with the Dallas Cowboys’ looming 2026 salary-cap crisis. With the projected cap sitting just over $300 million, the Cowboys are already $30 million over, before accounting for key free agents they want to keep. Norm explains how Dallas has once again boxed itself into a corner by restructuring contracts, pushing money into the future, and concentrating massive cap hits among a small group of stars. The discussion centers on the uncomfortable math surrounding Kenny Clark’s $21 million cap hit, the franchise’s reliance on “robbing Peter to pay Paul,” and why restructuring deals feels easy now — and painful later.

From there, the episode shifts to college football, where the definition of “career” is quietly being rewritten. Norm breaks down the unusual case of Miami linebacker Mohammad Ture, who is returning for an eighth season of college football at age 25. Thanks to redshirts, injury waivers, COVID eligibility, and NIL money, Norm explains why staying in college can now be more financially rewarding — and less risky — than going pro for some players.

It’s an episode about consequences, incentives, and systems stretched well beyond what they were designed to handle — whether it’s an NFL salary cap or the idea that college football is still just for college kids.

Chapters

00:00:00 – Just wondering about another Cowboys cap problem

00:01:27 – The 2026 NFL salary cap: $300 million — and Dallas is over

00:02:08 – Who still needs to be paid

00:02:34 – “Robbing Peter to pay Paul” explained

00:03:23 – Cutting contracts to create cap space

00:04:12 – Kenny Clark’s $21 million problem

00:04:56 – Why letting Clark walk creates backlash

00:05:37 – Nine players taking up $259 million

00:06:26 – Doing the math — and realizing it doesn’t work

00:06:43 – The March 11 free-agency deadline

00:07:23 – Pushing Dak’s money down the road

00:08:08 – Zach Martin’s retirement and dead money reality

00:09:01 – Can “busting the budget” actually lead to a Super Bowl?

00:09:48 – Sponsor break: Bob’s Steak & Chop House

00:10:14 – Full Moon Healing Balm

00:11:26 – College football’s newest oddity

00:12:19 – Mohammad Ture returns for his eighth season

00:13:18 – How eligibility rules made this possible

00:13:56 – Why the NFL isn’t as attractive anymore

00:14:14 – Making a career out of college football

00:14:55 – Sponsors and closing thoughts

00:15:36 – Final sign-off

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Every decision has a cost. Some just make that cost easier to see.

In this episode of Just Wondering with Norm Hitzges, Norm Hitzges takes on two issues that reveal how the NFL really works when money and principles collide.

Norm begins with what may be Jerry Jones’ biggest offseason headache: George Pickens. The Cowboys’ most explosive receiver is now a free agent, coming off his best season and expecting elite money — money that would further tilt Dallas’ budget toward the offense while the defense remains thin. Norm breaks down Pickens’ complicated history, the franchise-tag math, and why committing long-term dollars to another receiver could once again leave the Cowboys patching together the other side of the ball. History, Norm reminds us, still favors defense — even if Dallas keeps betting the other way.

The episode then pivots to something bigger than football strategy: free speech in the NFL. Norm reacts to the league fining Houston linebacker Aziz Al-Shaair for writing “stop the genocide” on his eye black during a playoff game. The fine raises uncomfortable questions about where the league draws its lines, what kinds of expression are encouraged, and which ones come with a price tag. Norm contrasts the NFL’s celebration of charitable causes with its punishment of political expression — and wonders aloud what freedom of speech actually costs inside a multibillion-dollar league.

It’s an episode about choices — who gets paid, who gets fined, and how often the league’s priorities are revealed not by words, but by numbers.

Chapters

00:00:00 – Jerry Jones’ offseason problems and today’s questions

00:01:29 – The George Pickens dilemma begins

00:02:22 – From troubled talent to elite production

00:03:47 – Pickens’ market value and CD Lamb comparisons

00:04:33 – Franchise tag vs. long-term commitment

00:05:30 – Offensive spending and defensive consequences

00:06:15 – Kicking the salary cap down the road

00:07:05 – “Busting the budget” — again

00:07:52 – Why Super Bowl history still favors defense

00:08:59 – Sponsor break and Full Moon Healing Balm

00:10:18 – Freedom of speech in the NFL takes another hit

00:11:10 – Aziz Al-Shaair fined for his message

00:12:07 – NFL Rule 5 and restricted expression

00:13:00 – The cost of saying the wrong thing

00:13:58 – Sponsor break and closing acknowledgments

00:14:19 – Final thoughts and sign-off

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What happens when college sports operate without anyone truly in charge?

Exactly what you’re seeing now.

In this episode of Just Wondering with Norm Hitzges, Norm Hitzges takes on two developments that point to a looming breakdown in college athletics — and neither one has a clean solution.

Norm begins with a court ruling involving former Alabama basketball player Charles Bediako, who declared for the NBA Draft, went undrafted, played professionally, and is now seeking to return to college basketball. A judge has temporarily ruled that the NCAA cannot stop him. Norm explains why this isn’t just about one player — it’s about the precedent. If this door stays open, what stops waves of undrafted football and basketball players from attempting pro careers, failing, and then pouring back into college sports with eligibility intact?

From there, Norm pivots to college football’s playoff mess. Despite widespread agreement that a 16-team playoff would have fixed most of this year’s problems, the SEC and Big Ten failed — again — to reach consensus. Instead, financial motivations, conference power plays, and a proposed 24-team playoff loaded with byes killed progress. The result: a flawed 12-team system that left deserving programs out while frustrating fans who just want fairness and clarity.

Throughout the episode, Norm returns to one central theme: the NCAA is powerless, university presidents won’t act, and conferences are chasing money at the expense of the sport itself. When no one’s willing to lead, chaos isn’t a surprise — it’s the outcome.

Chapters

00:00:00 – Just wondering about chaos coming to college sports

00:01:38 – The Charles Bediako case and a dangerous precedent

00:02:23 – Declaring for the NBA too early — and wanting back in

00:03:12 – A judge says the NCAA can’t stop it

00:04:00 – What happens if this ruling holds

00:05:00 – Undrafted players returning to college football

00:05:58 – “We are talking chaos here”

00:06:57 – The NCAA as a toothless tiger

00:07:48 – Sponsor break: Bob’s Steak & Chop House

00:08:25 – Full Moon Healing Balm and aging realities

00:09:10 – Why this year’s College Football Playoff failed

00:10:11 – Why a 16-team playoff made sense

00:11:20 – The Big Ten’s 24-team proposal and money motives

00:12:20 – Why 24 teams is “way too clumsy”

00:13:16 – Deadlines missed and progress stalled

00:14:03 – Remembering the four-team playoff disaster

00:14:52 – Power brokers vs. fans and the sport itself

00:15:16 – Sponsors and closing thoughts

00:16:08 – Final sign-off

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Sometimes a sports day doesn’t feel loud — it just feels important.

In this episode of Just Wondering with Norm Hitzges, Norm Hitzges breaks down two significant moves by Dallas teams that signal intention, urgency, and calculated risk.

First, Norm dives into the Cowboys’ hiring of Christian Parker as defensive coordinator. At just 34 years old, Parker arrives with one of the most important credentials in the NFL: five years working under Vic Fangio. Norm explains why Fangio’s defensive philosophy — hybrid fronts, disguised coverages, and confusion by design — could be exactly what Dallas needs, and why the current roster actually fits a transition to a 3–4 defense better than many realize. The challenge now becomes roster construction: linebackers, secondary help, and tough contract decisions that will determine whether the scheme can truly take hold.

Then the focus shifts to baseball, where the Texas Rangers make a bold trade to acquire Mackenzie Gore, a former top prospect and All-Star starter with undeniable talent — and a troubling pattern. Norm walks through Gore’s career arc, from elite first halves to second-half swoons, and asks the central question: can the Rangers unlock consistency where others couldn’t? The cost was steep, including top prospects and further damage to an already thin farm system, but the need was undeniable. With an aging rotation, the Rangers are betting upside matters more than depth.

It’s not optimism or pessimism — it’s realism. Two big swings by two franchises trying to solve real problems, knowing full well that neither move comes with guarantees.

Chapters

00:00:00 – Two major moves in Dallas sports

00:01:28 – The Cowboys hire Christian Parker

00:02:19 – Why Vic Fangio’s influence matters

00:02:55 – The Fangio defensive blueprint explained

00:03:44 – Why the Cowboys’ roster fits a 3–4 defense

00:04:28 – Kenny Clark’s contract and tough cap decisions

00:05:18 – The linebacker problem Dallas must solve

00:06:35 – Draft targets and Sonny Styles’ potential fit

00:07:27 – Why this is a genuinely good day for the Cowboys

00:07:49 – Turning to the Rangers and their pitching need

00:10:11 – Remembering Mackenzie Gore as a top prospect

00:10:52 – How Gore ended up available

00:11:22 – Why the Rangers desperately needed a starter

00:12:10 – Evaluating the current rotation honestly

00:12:47 – Gore’s troubling second-half struggles

00:13:25 – Can the Rangers fix the inconsistency?

00:14:14 – What Dallas gave up in the trade

00:15:43 – The prospects involved and long-term cost

00:18:01 – Why Washington made the deal now

00:18:46 – Gore’s role in the Rangers’ rotation

00:19:27 – The farm system fallout

00:19:48 – Why the risk still makes sense

00:20:42 – Sponsors and closing thoughts

00:21:23 – Final sign-off

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Imagine leaving Earth for two years… and coming back to find Indiana football sitting on top of the college football world.

In this episode of Just Wondering with Norm Hitzges, Norm Hitzges takes listeners through one of the most astonishing transformations the sport has ever seen: the Indiana Hoosiers playing for a national championship. A program long defined by losses, obscurity, and broken coaching careers is now on the brink of an undefeated season — something no team in college football history has ever achieved at this scale.

Norm breaks down how head coach Kurt Signetti engineered the turnaround, from importing winning culture and key players from James Madison to convincing quarterback Fernando Mendoza to transfer — a move that resulted in a Heisman Trophy winner and a projected No. 1 NFL draft pick. The episode dives deep into the numbers behind Indiana’s dominance, including defensive performances that have held every opponent under 24 points and statistical margins usually reserved for dynasties.

Norm also offers context for just how absurd this rise is, comparing Indiana’s long history of losses to its sudden place among college football’s elite. Along the way, Mary Hitzges joins with sponsor messages and reflections, grounding the episode in the familiar rhythm of Just Wondering while the story itself remains anything but familiar.

This isn’t hype. It’s perspective — and a reminder that sometimes sports still manage to surprise us.

Chapters

00:00:00 – Just wondering about Indiana playing for a national title

00:01:22 – Has college football ever seen anything like this?

00:02:09 – Indiana’s history as a program where careers went to die

00:03:10 – Kurt Signetti arrives and brings a winning blueprint

00:04:04 – From 713 losses to Big Ten dominance

00:05:10 – The numbers that make this season unbelievable

00:06:31 – No opponent scores more than 24 points

00:07:17 – The astronaut analogy: disbelief in real time

00:08:04 – Miami’s puncher’s chance and final test

00:09:01 – Bob’s Steak & Chop House sponsor break

00:09:38 – Full Moon Healing Balm and personal fixes

00:10:16 – Fluent Financial and closing reflections

00:10:38 – Why this story may never be repeated

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How much can one move really fix?

In this episode of Just Wondering, Norm Hitzges walks through the cold math of the Cowboys’ offseason and arrives at an uncomfortable conclusion: Dallas likely has enough money to make one meaningful defensive free-agent signing — and that’s it. Even with difficult decisions looming around George Pickens and the franchise tag, the Cowboys’ financial flexibility is minimal, forcing them to be precise instead of hopeful.

Norm lays out five realistic defensive targets who could fit Dallas’ needs and budget, including Jacksonville linebacker Devin Lloyd, Seattle safety Kobe Bryant, edge rusher Boye Mafe, and the high-risk, high-reward possibility of injured linebacker Nakobe Dean. It’s a conversation rooted in value, age, availability, and the reality that the Cowboys can’t afford to miss — not financially and not competitively.

The episode then zooms out to the bigger picture: a 30-year playoff drought that looks worse the deeper you dig. Norm breaks down just how rarely the Cowboys have even reached the quarterfinals — and how consistently they’ve lost once they got there. Add in bad luck on the draft front, with quarterback Dante Moore choosing to stay in college and shrinking the pool of players who might slide to pick No. 12, and the margin for error grows even thinner.

Norm closes with a look at an unusual NFL playoff weekend, where home-field advantage barely matters and parity reigns — a reminder of how far Dallas still is from being part of the real conversation.

It’s not angry. It’s not dramatic. It’s just honest.

Chapters

00:00:00 – Free agency reality: the Cowboys can afford one move

00:01:29 – The George Pickens franchise-tag dilemma

00:02:12 – Why elite free agents are out of Dallas’ price range

00:02:50 – Focusing on defense and realistic targets

00:03:30 – Devin Lloyd: breakout year, real value

00:04:03 – Can Lloyd blitz and cover? Yes

00:04:53 – Kobe Bryant and fixing safety coverage

00:05:44 – Boye Mafe: affordable edge-rush upside

00:06:27 – Nakobe Dean: talent vs. availability

00:07:59 – Nayshaun Wright and why change matters

00:08:41 – Bob’s Steak & Chop House sponsor break

00:09:27 – Full Moon Healing Balm and personal fixes

00:10:04 – Cowboys playoff history nobody likes to revisit

00:10:46 – Seven quarterfinals, seven losses, thirty years

00:11:42 – Draft hopes hinge on players sliding

00:12:25 – Dante Moore stays in school — and that hurts

00:13:06 – Why the Cowboys’ draft board just got tighter

00:13:54 – An unusual NFL quarterfinal weekend

00:14:54 – Betting lines reveal league parity

00:15:59 – Final thoughts and sign-off

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The Cowboys don’t have many chances — and that’s exactly the problem.

In this episode of Just Wondering, Norm Hitzges breaks down the Dallas Cowboys’ upcoming draft and explains why the pressure on their two first-round picks couldn’t be higher. With no selections in the second or third rounds, Dallas must hit on picks 12 and 20 to begin fixing a defense that simply wasn’t good enough last season. Norm walks through realistic draft scenarios, evaluates defensive targets like Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs, Harold Baines, and Jermod McCoy, and explains how quarterback movement at the top of the draft could quietly help — or hurt — the Cowboys’ plans.

Norm also explores trade-down possibilities at pick 20, outlining how Dallas might regain badly needed draft capital without sacrificing defensive help. The bottom line is blunt: the Cowboys cannot afford another draft miss. There’s no cushion, no waiting around, and no easy fix if they get this wrong.

Then the conversation turns to college football — and how the transfer portal has pushed the sport into complete chaos. Norm lays out eye-opening transfer numbers, including massive roster migrations following new coaches, and explains why the system has become unsustainable. The episode culminates with the story of Kansas State head coach Chris Kleiman, a wildly successful coach who retired early, citing the lack of guardrails, agent influence, and constant compensation demands as reasons he simply couldn’t continue.

It’s a sobering look at two football worlds — one fighting to rebuild carefully, the other spinning faster than anyone can control.

Chapters

00:00:00 – Today’s questions: the Cowboys draft and college football chaos

00:01:29 – Why the Cowboys must fix the defense through the draft

00:02:10 – The massive pressure on picks 12 and 20

00:03:01 – Why missing on these picks isn’t an option

00:03:53 – Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs: ideal defensive targets

00:04:40 – What happens if top targets are gone

00:05:23 – How quarterback movement could help Dallas

00:06:07 – Dante Moore’s draft uncertainty

00:07:02 – Cornerback options at pick 20

00:07:40 – Jermod McCoy and betting on recovery

00:08:18 – Defensive back depth in the mid-first round

00:09:16 – Trade-down scenarios to regain draft capital

00:10:08 – Why Dallas can’t afford another draft mistake

00:11:05 – Transition to college football’s transfer chaos

00:13:58 – Transfer portal numbers that don’t feel real

00:15:26 – Coaches bringing entire rosters with them

00:16:09 – Oklahoma State and Penn State transfer explosions

00:16:59 – Chris Kleiman’s retirement and warning signs

00:17:47 – Kleiman’s coaching resume and success

00:18:44 – Why the stress finally won

00:20:12 – “No one’s minding the store anymore”

00:21:36 – Agents, money, and the future of the sport

00:22:00 – Sponsors and closing thoughts

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Is being likable enough to lead an NFL team?

In this episode of Just Wondering, Norm Hitzges takes a thoughtful look at Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer and asks a question many fans are quietly wondering: can a “Mr. Nice Guy” succeed long-term in the NFL? Norm breaks down coaching styles from Tom Landry to Bill Belichick, and introduces the idea of the “thundering velvet hand” — leadership that blends discipline with care — while questioning whether Schottenheimer strikes the balance players need to win.

Then the focus shifts to the Dallas Mavericks, where injuries to Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving force a hard reset. Norm lays out a blunt plan: forget the playoffs, invest in young players, and start building for the future. From developing Ryan Nemhard and Brandon Williams to eyeing draft position and long-term roster construction around Cooper Flagg, Norm explains why patience now could pay off later — even if it’s not the plan fans hoped for.

It’s a candid, realistic look at leadership, culture, and decision-making in Dallas sports — the kind of thinking that doesn’t chase headlines, but might just point the way forward.

Chapters

00:00:00 – Opening thoughts and today’s big questions

00:01:27 – Is Brian Schottenheimer simply too nice?

00:02:53 – Coaching styles: fear, respect, and leadership

00:04:21 – The “thundering velvet hand” explained

00:05:14 – Why likability may not equal long-term success

00:05:14 – Transition to the Mavericks and roster reality

00:07:46 – Anthony Davis injured again and plans unravel

00:08:29 – Forget the playoffs: time to invest in youth

00:09:30 – Building next year’s lineup around Cooper Flagg

00:10:16 – Trade flexibility and long-term roster vision

00:11:02 – Why this plan offers a real future

00:11:13 – Sponsors and closing reflections

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