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Big TV Contracts…Big Endorsements…Big Bucks… How about we dial it back to where it all began?  The Sports Zone with Patrick Highland. Call in Live, Sundays from 11 am - 12 pm on AM 860 The Answer. The number is 877-969-8600, and Patrick, Scott and Josh are ALWAYS down to talk high school, college and pro sports!

Patrick Highland is a patriot and lover of sports - particularly Florida generally and Tampa specifically.  Originally from the Miami area, Patrick played semi-pro football in New York state and garnered interest at the quarterback position for the Hamilton Tigercats of the Canadian Football League, as well as the Tampa Bay Storm and Tampa Bay Bandits.  Patrick blends his years of intense sports interest with irreverent humor to form a great Sunday morning sports show to get you ready for all the games coming up! 

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Enter the Zone: Common Sense, Coaching Chaos, and Why We Can't Have Nice Things

Sunday, January 25, 2026

Buckle up for The Sports Zone with Patrick Hyland—Sundays on AM 860 The Answer, where common sense collides with football frenzy! Patrick, Scott, and Josh break down the wildest NFL playoffs, roast bad kickoff rules, debate if Scottie Scheffler can catch Tiger, and wonder why billionaires need your tax dollars for stadiums (again). Callers like Vito (golf scores and bold picks) and Robbie (Steelers drama) keep it real, while Patrick drops truth bombs on education, lawfulness, and why throwing frozen water bottles is never okay. From prop bets to Tampa Bay stadium shakedowns, it's sports talk with zero filters, maximum rants, and just enough humor to survive another Monday. Call in live: 877-969-8600. Because in the Zone, common sense isn't optional—it's the MVP.

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Patrick Hyland Unfiltered: Billionaires vs. Taxpayers, Bad Refs, & Why Sports Got Too Expensive

Sunday, January 18, 2026

Join Patrick Hyland and Scott in the Sports Zone for a fiery Sunday morning straight from Tampa Bay! Rain or shine, we're diving deep into what's wrong with pro sports: skyrocketing ticket prices making games unaffordable for families, MLB's wild spending (Dodgers splashing cash like water while small-market teams struggle), the Rays' new ownership and stadium drama (taxpayer-funded deals without votes?), NFL referee blunders, quarterback "protection" rules gone too far, and why public fields sit empty while locals get shut out. We preview wild NFL playoff matchups (Bears vs. Rams in the cold, Texans' defense vs. Patriots), reminisce on classic games, shout out first responders & military, and keep it real with laughs, listener calls, and that classic Tampa passion. Call in next time at 877-969-8600! Watch/listen on YouTube @SportsZoneTampa. #TampaBaySports #SportsZone

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Game Day Breakdown: Hurricanes, NFL Matchups & Sunday Predictions with Patrick Highland

Sunday, January 11, 2026

On today’s episode of The Sports Zone, Patrick Highland and the crew dive deep into all the biggest football storylines you need to know. The show kicks off with a breakdown of the Hurricanes and their latest performance, followed by in-depth discussion of key NFL teams — including the Chicago Bears — and analysis of all the teams that took the field on Saturday. As game day excitement builds, Patrick Highland and The Sports Zone team share their bold predictions for today’s matchups, revealing who they believe will come out on top and which teams may fall short. Fans are encouraged to join the conversation by calling in live at 877-969-8600, tuning in on YouTube at The Sports Zone Tampa, or listening anytime on the Omny page for The Sports Zone. Don’t miss the insight, debate, and expert football talk leading you into today’s

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New Year, High Stakes: Buccaneers’ Big Win, Saints–Falcons Showdown, and Full NFL & College Football Breakdown

Sunday, January 4, 2026

It’s a brand-new year, and Patrick Highland and Sports Zone are starting it off with an in-depth football discussion that fans won’t want to miss. The show will take a close look at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ impressive and timely win, breaking down the key plays, standout performances, and how that victory has kept their playoff hopes alive heading into the final stretch of the season. With postseason implications on the line, attention then shifts to today’s critical matchup between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons. This game could decide everything—if the Saints fall to the Falcons, the door opens for the Buccaneers to secure a spot in the playoffs, but if the Saints come away with a win, Tampa Bay will be left on the outside looking in. Patrick Highland and Sports Zone will analyze every possible scenario, what it means for each team, and how the pressure could impact performance on the field. In addition to the NFL playoff race, the show will also recap the college football action from Saturday, highlighting major results, surprise outcomes, and standout players who made an impact. To round out the episode, Patrick will share predictions for today’s slate of NFL games, offering insight, analysis, and bold takes as the new year begins and the road to the playoffs becomes clearer.

 

 

 

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Sports Zone Tampa Shenanigans: Baker Drama, Pickleball Dogs & Fantasy Championship Tips

Sunday, December 28, 2025

Strap in, sports degenerates—welcome to the Sports Zone with Patrick Hyland, where we rant about Baker Mayfield's "magic" (or lack thereof), debate if the Bucs can sneak into the playoffs at 8-9, uncover the shocking truth that pickleball is named after a ball-chasing dog named Pickle 🥒🐶, and drop championship-week fantasy football tips to help you snag that league trophy!

Host Patrick Hyland (rocking his classic “All right, all right, all right!”) teams up with the Levinson bros and producer AJ (secret 4.9 forty guy) to break down Bucs vs. Dolphins chaos, college playoff madness, NFL motivation drama, and why running the ball 30 times feels so 1985. We’ll hit heartfelt random acts of kindness, insurance wisdom, and meat market shoutouts—because balance.

Fantasy Championship Tips from the Zone (Week 17 Edition):

  • Fire Up Trey McBride (Cardinals TE) – Bengals give up the most TE yards/TDs; he's due for a multi-TD explosion after a clunker.
  • Start Rhamondre Stevenson (Patriots RB) – TreVeyon Henderson likely out; Jets allow top-10 RB points—volume king for your title run.
  • Stream Bucs DST – Rookie QB Quinn Ewers making his second start for eliminated Dolphins? Expect sacks, turnovers, and spoiler vibes.
  • Trevor Lawrence is a must-start QB on his heater—Jags motivated, Colts matchup juicy.
  • Watch injuries: George Kittle (ankle) unlikely; monitor Lamar Jackson (doubtful). Prioritize motivated teams over tankers!

Passionate about sports (or fantasy domination)? Call in and tell Patrick how you see it. Just don’t blame us if your 8-9 Bucs (or fantasy team) pulls it off. Go Bucs… or Dolphins… or whoever helps your lineup! 🤷‍♂️🏆

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Patrick Highland in the Sport Zone: Predictions, College Highlights, and NFL Showdowns

Sunday, December 21, 2025

The week before Christmas heats up in the Sport Zone as Patrick Highland takes center stage for a packed show full of bold predictions and game-day insight. Patrick breaks down his confident prediction that the Buccaneers will come up short in today’s matchup, explaining the key factors, trends, and matchups that shaped his take. The conversation then shifts to college football, recapping yesterday’s games with a close look at standout stats, pivotal plays, and performances that turned heads across the scoreboard. To wrap it all up, Patrick and the Sport Zone crew look ahead to today’s slate of NFL games, sharing their picks, reasoning, and expectations as teams fight for playoff positioning. It’s a fast-paced, analysis-driven episode that blends informed opinions with the excitement of a holiday week full of must-watch football.

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This Week on The Sports Zone with Patrick Highland: College Football Classics & NFL Talk

Sunday, December 14, 2025

On this week’s episode of The Sports Zone with Patrick Highland, the show delivers an in-depth and energetic breakdown of the latest action across both college football and the NFL. The conversation begins with a detailed recap of the iconic Army–Navy game, highlighting the emotion, pageantry, and physical style of play that makes the rivalry one of the most respected traditions in sports. The panel examines what went wrong for Army in the loss, key turning points in the game, and how the outcome impacts both programs moving forward. From there, the discussion transitions into the ever-changing picture of the College Football Playoffs, with analysis of the current contenders, playoff implications, standout performances, and debates surrounding rankings and potential matchups as the postseason approaches. To close out the show, the crew goes around the room to break down the latest NFL games from across the league, sharing reactions, takeaways, and opinions on teams trending up or down, with special emphasis on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their recent performances. Packed with insight, analysis, and spirited conversation, this episode of The Sports Zone gives football fans a comprehensive look at the biggest storylines from the gridiron.

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"Opportunity Knocks Meats, Two Lane Controversy, Bama Hate & Bears-Packers Rivalry – The Sports Zone Full Show Preview!"

Sunday, December 7, 2025

Tune in today for another can’t-miss episode of The Sports Zone with Patrick Highland and the full crew! We’re kicking things off with an exclusive deep dive into Scott’s brand-new restaurant, Opportunity Knocks – the hot new spot that’s already getting rave reviews for serving some of the highest-quality, juiciest meats in town (think prime cuts, perfect seasoning, and portions that’ll make any carnivore weak in the knees). From there, the debate heats up: does Two Lane actually deserve to be ranked the 12th-best team in the country, or is the committee completely out of touch? Scott drops his unfiltered take on Alabama football, explaining exactly why he believes the Crimson Tide are overrated and who they’re NOT better than this season. We’ll break down the entire college football slate for this weekend – marquee matchups, playoff implications, upset alerts, and bold predictions. Then, it’s rivalry week vibes as the Chicago Bears head to Lambeau to take on the Green Bay Packers in a game that never fails to deliver drama. Finally, Patrick and the guys run through every single NFL game on the Sunday docket with official picks, survivor pool advice, fantasy implications, and a few guaranteed-to-go-viral hot takes. Food, football, and zero filter – only on The Sports Zone!

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College Football Recap + NFL Buzz: Buccaneers Outlook & Playoff Picture | The Sports Zone with Patrick Highland

Sunday, November 30, 2025

Kick off your week with The Sports Zone! Host Patrick Highland breaks down all the wildest moments from this weekend’s college football slate, shares instant reactions, and previews the must-watch matchups coming next week. Then we shift to the NFL — deep dive on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ rollercoaster season, the biggest takeaways from Sunday’s action, and a full rundown of which teams still control their playoff destiny with only a few weeks left in the regular season. If you live for football, this is the episode you don’t want to miss!

 

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