First Things First - Richard Seymour joins show, Dion Dawkins: “There’s never Super Bowl or bust”, What can Bengals starters prove tonight?

Episode Date: August 7, 2025

Watch clips on YouTube! Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FIRST THINGS FIRST YOUTUBE CHANNEL⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (00:00) Dion Dawkins: “There’s never Super Bowl or bust” / Is there a chance the Chiefs have a Super Bowl hangover? / Caleb Williams in year 2 (25:30) What can the Bengals convince you of tonight? / Who should be QB1 for the Colts? (42:00) Mike Vrabel breaks up training camp fight (46:46) BUD List (1:02:56) Richard Seymour joins show (1:15:18) Is Nick ready to say Trevor Lawrence is back? (1:23:35) Final thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Live from New York, it's all hopped up on Werther's originals. This guy got a packet of Worther's Originals. I'm like, I just have one. You know, did you catch that? What? You know what the show is, whatever he's doing. I know, exactly. The show, I haven't seen any Wothers Originals for like decades.

But the show, the show. I told you, did you get that? Of course. I gave one to Duff. I doubt Nick E's Werther's. Well, Dutty's behind the scenes. He had one. Does that count?

No. It's why he's always trying to pit us against each other. Because he thinks if we weaken each other, his star rises. Have a winners. If he wants it eventually be a solo show. Exactly. First things first today.

News out of Buffalo. Uh-oh. But the bills are rejecting Brew's Super Bowl or bust label. We get Bruce reaction. Meanwhile, preseason preview tonight, Bengals, Eagles, Colts, Ravens, Raiders, Seahawks. All in action. And Greg is back to supporting Daniel Jones. Stay tuned.

And finally, a special edition of the most motivational segment in all of sports. Mahomes better not be on there, bro. This will have props. It's motivational, too. You lose a Super Bowl, you need the life. It is motivation. It really has turned to almost strictly motivation. In the beginning, it was a lot of an indictment.

Yes. But now. Probably more so. I hate to say this wild. I don't want to be mean. You're not on it. But you were almost on it. You almost were on that?

You were, you know, what do you say? Anybody. We're free. Bubble. This bubble. After that goose egg you produced yesterday, you almost were on it. I'm just saying, I saw the box score. Yesterday, Gianna made a box score that was less reliable than ESPN Cleveland's training.

No one in double. checked it. Oh, for a host show press conference? Yes. I thought it was right on the money. Personally. Yeah, where Brew had four mic drops and you had zero good points. You can't have four mic drop. Okay. The mic drop you drop the mic. We do eight segments. You leave eight segments, half of them. I was just back. I agreed, Brew. I thought it was great. First hour, first things first. We're starting with the bills. Now, Deion Dachan sat down with Kevin Clark, who asked him about the bills being S-Bob, which knows is Super Bowl or bust. I don't think he used those words. He said Super Bowl. He's actually

said Super Bowl or Bus. Yes, just to clarify it. Most people know what S. Bob is, but just to drive it home. Some reason. So what Dionne Dawkins said. There's one winner every year. There's 31 losers. And we just got to play football. We just have to have a chance to play football. And I don't believe in the Super Bowl or Bus because does that mean that all? if we don't win the Super Bowl, all of our contracts just expire, and we just go home. Right now. So, like, there's never Super Bowl or bust.

Like, that's, like, that's not a thing. That's kind of devastating. Your reaction, not a thing. I like Dionne Dawkins a lot. He's a great player. We all know that. Yes. He's great in front of the camera.

I like the way he carries himself, what he stands for. But I don't like this. Really? I don't like this. I hate this, in fact. Oh, my God, that's a new bitch. You never know what I'm going. He just released his version of the gyro ball.

I never saw that one coming. I'm serious, though. I don't. I think Nick and I are going to be a lockstep on this. I don't like, I actually hate it. Okay. Because he played the semantics card or the literal. card. Of course

we know that if the bills or the Ravens or whoever else is S. Bob doesn't win the Super Bowl. Everyone's not getting cut, kicked out of the NFL, and the team's bringing back 53 new players.

I mean, he answered that like if you were heading into a game seven of an NBA playoff game and somebody asked you a reporter, is it a must win? And you said, well, I mean, my contract is not going to get canceled if we don't win, you know, they're

not closing down the franchise. You're taking it literally. Right, right. Is it do or die? And what the reason he when you say that, when you play the literal card, it's a way of avoiding the elephant in the room.

It's a way of avoiding the pressure that we all know is there. Everybody knows that they are S-Bob, Super Bowl or bust. Yes, Dion and Josh will be back next year if they don't win it. Coach might not be. Coach might not be.

But this is Super Bowl bus. And Nick, and I'm going to leave this to you, but especially, you can't avoid the Super Bowl or bus tag when you go in March after the Super Bowl and say, we would have put on a better show than Patrick Mahomes and the Patriots and the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. So, yeah. Yeah. I don't like that's a good sign. When you started saying that, I didn't mean to look away from you, but I looked there because that's where the bulletin board sometimes is.

We don't have it out today, but I was thinking that exact thing. I was like, Dion's on the bulletin board saying, we would have done better in the Super Bowl, which maybe they would have. Sad for them they don't ever get there. Lucky for them, he's fine with it. So listen, fine with it. It's unfair. And the thing is, I understand his point because for most teams, even though, you know, you're not. You know, of course, no one's getting cut.

You know, there is the element of making the conference championship game. Yes, we would be disappointed if we made the conference championship game and lost the day after. But a week later, we'd be like, what a year. Yeah, right. You know what I mean? And the majority of teams, that would be the case. The vast majority of teams making the Super Bowl is a successful season, even if you get cracked in the Super Bowl. It doesn't feel like it in the days after its successful season.

There's just a select handful of teams that truly are, how about this, Super Bowl or failure. Yes. And the bills are near the – they're there. They're there. No, I was going to say they might be at the very top. I'm saying they might – Spoff doesn't work so well. I agree. And it is because their future –

and now that he has a MVP, I feel it's comfortable saying it, future Hall of Fame quarterback who has been an excellent statistical playoff performer is all of a sudden in a weird category, which is I couldn't believe it. I looked it up this morning. Josh then double-checked it for me. 30 quarterbacks have won six or more playoff games. Josh Allen's won seven.

Here's the full list of them that haven't been to a Super Bowl. Just him. Wow. That's interesting. So all the other 29 quarterbacks who've won six or more playoff games. They all have been to a super. They haven't all won it, obviously. Yeah.

They've all been there. Huh. But he's safe, obviously. But all his playoff wins, and like I said, he has seven. I expanded it to six because he got captured five more quarterbacks. There's been 32 coaches to win seven or more playoff games. Two have not been to a Super Bowl. Chuck Knox, Sean McDermott, and that's it.

The other 30 all have. And so that is odd company, particularly for Josh. Now, Josh is as safe as a player can get. I don't know that Sean McDermott is. And I don't know that that's fair, but I, let me rephrase it. Fair is not the right word. I think John McDermott's a good coach. But if I were running the bills and we got cracked by the,

in crack just beaten by the Chiefs again this year, I got to change something. But if they go 12 and 5 and losing the AFC championship to change the Chiefs, I have to change something. I have to. Why else would my team believe it's going to be different? I don't know. Because, you know, you lose 32, 30. Well, that's how they've been losing. Right.

32, 29. A special team touchdown. It's like you got to go. But there is, I mean, look, I know the Knicks haven't been as good as the bills for this long, but they made a change. We saw the Golden State Warriors. when Mark Jackson had a 50-win team, they made a change in the rest of the city. Like, we've seen this happen plenty of times before in sports.

You can't, like Nick said, you've got to change something. We're not changing the quarterback. You're not changing certain players. If you don't get over the hump, you have to change something. And I'll just, the reason I said I tried to pull back the, I don't think it's fair, is if you're a defensive-minded head coach, they're not losing these playoff games 12 to 9. No.

It's not because, you know, they lost, there was the one against Cincinnati when Josh didn't play well and they didn't score. But all their other playoff losses. They still 10 to 27. Right. They still allowed 27. And all the other playoff losses, the offense has produced and the defense has just gotten exposed as a regular season. And remember last year, I know the Chiefs stepping up in the playoffs, but that was the first game all year. They scored more than 30 points.

I want to hear wild take that I firmly believe. That is ridiculous. I love it. I think because they're getting a new stadium, that's enough of a change. Oh, maybe. Weird, but like, what are we going to do? It's like new stadium. Except the games typically aren't in their stadium.

I know, but it just feels like turning a page versus we got the, we have to let go with the coach. Okay. I won't be clamoring. No, I'm not. I'm not either. I just, like, you all know he's a good coach, but sometimes you need a new. Change the logo. But I do, when Dion Dawkins says, like, what's going to have?

happen if we don't win the Super Bowl. The answer is you might have a new head coach. That is certainly like that's the what are going to tear down our stadium? They open up against the Ravens. Right now talking about Super Bowl hangover for Kansas City. Now Travis Kelsey is not dwelling on the Super Bowl route putting the memory of a catchless first half into 34 nothing destruction of their dynasty before it even got worse. Then eventually the offense kind of came to life. Siriani. It's not getting you back

on the Chiefs Kingdom list or whatever it is. This is bad. All right, so here's Travis Kelsey on the Super Bowl loss. No, man. I've thrown that thing in the trash. I moved on. When did that moment sort of occur for you?

I don't know. I thought it would happen sooner than you can imagine. I was pretty focused on this year in the offseason. Yeah, about third quarter. It might have happened during. in the game. Yeah. Four scored or like, all right, whatever.

Is there any chance of a Super Bowl hang? Oh, do you want to see the historical stats on Super Bowl hangout? Here's the historical stats on the Super Bowl hangover, Josh has. Only 5% of teams have won the Super Bowl after losing the Super Bowl. 9% lost the Super Bowl. They go all the way down on the bottom. 31% have missed the playoffs. This is big off.

This is you tried to sell me this bill of goods a few years ago in the Chiefs found themselves in the conference championship game with 12 ones once again after when they lost to the bucks. Now, they didn't make or win the Super Bowl that year. 12%. No, right. They had the worst season of the entire Patrick Mahomes here. It was kind of embarrassing.

They won 12 games and lost an overtime. The AFC title game, totally unacceptable. I am, I find the casual flippant in places other than here disrespect and just moving past the Chiefs dynasty inexplicable because there was no point

in Peyton Manning's heyday that people were like, you know what? This is the Titans year. This is the Texans year. And there was good reason for that. Just for the division. Yeah, I'm telling me, but that's where it's starting with Kansas City is a lot of people have them

as a wild card team this year. Where the cults from 0.3 to 2010 when after that Peyton got hurt they won the division every year except one they actually didn't do it once but they won 12 games that year it was just the Titans had a sixth season the Patriots from 03 to 19 won the division literally every year except the year Brady blue as ACL and so the idea that the chiefs we have reason to believe we are in a different phase of the chiefs when all of these active streaks are active Division titles. It's the Chiefs, and this is also kind of a Bill's stat to the previous conversation,

but we can show it to you. Division titles, longest active streak, Chiefs have nine, bills have five. It's the second longest of all time to the Patriots. What about 11 plus win seasons? All right, the Chiefs have seven, the Bills have five. It's the second longest of all time. What about years where you win at least one playoff game? The Bills have seven, the Bills have one. That's one behind the Patriots. And then the crazy one, what about seasons where you win multiple playoff games? The Chiefs have one, no, or six, no one else in the league has more than one, and it's the longest streak of all time.

We are in the midst of literal unprecedented greatness. We are in the midst of the greatest three-year stretch tied for the greatest three-year stretch in the history of football, and people are just convinced, yeah, but have you seen Bo Nix? And I just, I find it embarrassing for a lot of sports media. Look, I think of a Super Bowl hangover as a mental or emotional letdown, right? Where, like you said it, you could theoretically, I guess, or literally say, well, the only time they didn't reach the Super Bowl since Patrick Mahomes, you know, after his second season,

is after they lost the Super Bowl. Like you said, so was that a hangar? I don't think that was a hangover. I think they, you know, they just got beat. 18-point lead at half from the AFC title game played a bad half of them. So I just think that, no, I don't think a hang. They're too experienced. Kelsey's absolutely right.

I love that answer, and he didn't give the reporter any, like, room. Like, you know, he didn't play along with him. Well, you know, it was a few months. No, I don't even know. But I'm not even thinking about that. I like that. But that's the strong mentality that the Chiefs have. Now, I'm not saying that definitely means there,

getting to the Super Bowl. Sure. I am saying if they don't win the AFC, I don't think it'll be a Super Bowl hangover. I think it'll be Baltimore, Lamar, Josh with Buffalo, finally got over the hump. And if, like, Kelsey is older and we see it,

you know, well, he's just not the same player. Rishie Rice doesn't return the form. Patrick doesn't have the light show. And now we're really wondering, okay, what's going on with Mahon's? Like, I think it'll be that the chiefs just aren't as good as they used to be, but not a supernatural funk or something like that. Okay. Go ahead.

I have two reasons. One, to your previous graphic about the Patriots. And we've done this exercise before about how Tom Brady and Bill Belichick were great, obviously, but they also feasted on the incompetence of the Bill's jets and dolphins. And I don't think the chiefs have that anymore. Well, I just, I think that's true. So I agree, obviously, those teams are not as incompetent as the ones you're talking about. But I would like to see the Broncos or the Chargers or the Raiders win a single solitary playoff game.

I think that's fair. Against the Chiefs. But those teams literally, that Brady was being up, I literally didn't have a franchise quarterback. Like these guys, these teams have franchise quarterbacks, have coaches that have won Super Bowl. So it's just the resumes are better. I get that, but the entire AFC West hasn't won a playoff game since Mones has been there. So I just, I want to see them do it. And then the other thing is this, this margin for victory.

And there's two ways that you can look at it. It's like one of the, it's like that picture of the old lady and the young woman. Yeah. If you look at it one way, the chiefs, all they do is win close games. If you look at it another way. So this is 17. This is straight. This is nuts.

17 straight wins. games? Yes. Well, no, 17 straight. Yes. So, no, it's not 17 straight games. It is, they have not lost at their last 17 one score games, they're 17 and up. They won.

So, because the only times they've lost, they got beat by more than one score. So the question is when you look, that's a very impressive stat and they've got what it takes and they need to make the players that keep them in contention and keep the games close. And then when you look at it through the other blends, it's Isaiah likely's toe, which could have gone another way. It's Aidan O'Connell botching the snaps that the chiefs have to recover. It's Leo Chanel's blocked kick.

It's, was it a Bucker or somebody else bounce it off? Hold on, but none of those games. Close stuff. But I guess, right. So turn a couple of those into losses. And does last season in differently? Because the playoff games, they handled the Texans start to finish.

And the Bill's game, Josh Allen had the ball, down three with three and a half minutes left, and he got 17 years. And that was not a muff. And the Chiefs won the conference by a lot. Not actually because they gave up on the last year, but I'm saying they could have the last game. So I just think that I never, ever, ever heard Super Bowl hangover with Peyton Manning Tom Brady.

And you know what we shouldn't have? Because Peyton, Tom Brady lost his Super Bowl. He lost in 07 and then had his knee blown out in week one of 08. So obviously you throw that out. In 2011, he lost. The next year they were 12 and 4 and in the AFC title game. In 2017, they lost the next year they were 11 and 5 and won the Super Bowl. Peyton lost in 2010.

The next year, he was 10 and 6, and they did lose in the wild card round. They got back to playoffs. And in 13, he lost the Super Bowl, and they went 12 and 4 and went to the divisional round. Like, I don't think teams with top five all-time quarterbacks have Super Bowl hangovers, especially when you have a great head coach. So I just think that part's silly. Sure. Next up.

Caleb. Speaking of top five whole time quarterbacks. I don't know what this. Is it time to worry about Caleb Williams? Courtney Cronin gave a balanced look at the QB coach combo. Now, some concerns were that the offense is too complicated and Caleb couldn't process everything yet. While some of the optimistic points, brew, were that the installs were now established and Caleb continues to improve. So I know you read the entire article.

Yes. Would you be surprised if Caleb's struggles again this year? First, let me say this. And I would guess you guys are thinking the same things when you read this stuff or listen to these stuff. And I get, I've often said, look, football players are way smarter than a lot of them get credit for it. Because knowing the playbook, how complex things are is a lot. But when you read this stuff about what Ben Johnson wants to do and what Caleb has to pick up, I mean, they're writing it like it's rocket science.

You know, like he's going to get four plays in the in the, in the, in the, that's he'll go to the front line of scrimmage, look at the, I mean, but it just does show how much he has to grow. So I would, I definitely expect him to struggle at times in the beginning of the year. Look, last year he has some moments. He had some real moments, right? Where he looked great. A lot of 300 plus yard games. So I expect to see some of that.

struggles, but I have to say, Nick, I am not, like, he was on my making the leap list last week. I do expect him the second half of the season, last two thirds or whatever the season, really start improving and playing really well. But I am not at the point where I will be surprised if he struggles. The whole year? Yeah, like, you know, like, it's up and down and you're not sure what he is. Like, when I say Victor Wimbunyama is going to be great.

there's not an inkling of doubt in my mind. Last year when I said Mahomes is going to be great last season, win the MVP, there was not an inkling of doubt. Now I was wrong, but there wasn't any doubt. Now, when I say that about Caleb, I have some questions. I think he'll be really good, but I do have some questions. And, Nick, part of me feels like are we patronizing Caleb? because any other first, you know, number one pick,

second year in the league, good team around you, really good offensive mind, like I feel like we would be like, he's got to be great. It was the expectations. I know you guys. You know what I'm saying?

Like, I don't think that's the case right now. It was the expectation for Trevor in year two. And he delivered in year two. It went, no, he did in year two. I mean, he was fine. I mean. Yeah, you act like he wasn't like great. I mean, he was seventh in MVP voting.

So I don't know. Maybe there's six guys better than him. I'm just telling you what he was. They won. I bet he was in the top. Right, exactly. And Sam Darnold was great last year. He was.

He was great last year. Again, we can relitigate what it's been for Trevor since then. But year or two went the way it was supposed to for a number one pick. It was exactly what you were striving with Caleb. He was good. Yeah, where it was a little. He went from three and 14 to the playoffs. Yeah.

It was a little rocky early. on with Doug and then you guys don't like when I split the season but then he took off the second half of the year and they won a playoff game like and you felt great about it then went sideways after they didn't have that cart to take him off the field and you worry that his body's never been the same um but I have a prediction and I think I think brew is going to be open to this okay you're not going to predict it like I will but you're not going to say it's off the board by the end of this season Caleb Williams will be by many considered the best quarterback in his division.

That I don't, I think Jared Goff is going to suffer a bit from the lack of Ben Johnson. As much as you don't like Ben Johnson the head coach, you loved Ben Johnson, the coordinator. And the early reports out of that training camp are that transition's been a little rocky. And I don't, I think we're going to see a fair amount of Jay No to go along with Jay Lowe. And so not that he's going to have the best stats over the course, but because of how he finishes the season, because of how he looks over the final six weeks. Correct.

Exactly right. Like how we felt Jordan Love after his first year as the starter, a lot of people were like, I think he's the best quarterback in that division right now. Open to that. I think you're open to it? If golf slides, if golf slides, I don't expect him to slide as much as you do.

I think there's more continuity there than just been. Johnson leaving. But golf slides a bit. J.Lo stays kind of static to where he was last year. And Caleb, by the end of the year, takes a big league. So you're predicting it. Yeah, I'm predicting. And you're not saying he's going to have the best season in a division.

No, because I agree with you that I think the first month could be rocky. I think the first month, there's going to be some tough shows for me. Because I think I think that there is, I think there could be some growing pains early. But much like the Prince, I think he's going to come on strong. Was he going to have one of the greatest playoff comebacks ever? When you read this article, did you ever think, hmm, that's exactly what Wilde was talking about. Ben Johnson wants to let everybody know he's a genius

and his offensive schemes are so complex. Oh, he's like, Magnus Carlson out there. Right. It doesn't read like that. Yeah, yeah. He's like, this is way more complex. He's not the only coach doing that stuff. Oh, he is mine.

He's out there like Magnus Carlson, dude. He's just running circles around other overseas. You mean the best in the world but a little arrogant? Sure. They'll take that. Preseason bro. You're going to get to see him tonight. That's next on FS1, the Fox Sports Channel.

Serious X-Ammy. I got it in my car. Quick update. I've been lying to you. We do not have the number one podcast and number one YouTube channel. I was getting bad intel. Oh, yeah. The podcast hovering around 50 in sports,

and the YouTube channel, once I looked at it, is nowhere close to being number one. Yeah. We tried to tell you. Last time I looked at the podcast ranking, so it was higher than that. How about you two? We are hundreds of millions behind it. So I'm sorry, subscribe if you to get a chance, but some bad, some bad facts there.

Preseason preview. First up, tonight, Sincey in Philadelphia, Zach Taylor, changing his preseason philosophy for the slow starting bengals saying that Joe and the stars will play, quote, several series, okay? Brew, you've got the bengals on the outside looking in on the playoffs, but it's not predictions week. in pencil. Anything they can do to move you one way or the other tonight. Yeah, look, I'm, I think there's going to be two playoff teams, at least right now, out of the AFC North.

That's how I feel. And it's going to be them or the Steelers for that second spot. I'm pretty close on both right now. But look, Burrow, I'm just glad he's playing. I'm glad he's healthy in training camp. I'm not going to read too much into the preseason games. But I just, I'm glad that they're playing doing something different. than they have the past several years when they've started off slowly.

And if he stays healthy, I know he's going to be good if he's healthy and the offense in general. I'm really looking at the defense. And I get it. Again, it's a preseason game. Who knows how long the starters will even be out there. But if I can see their defense when both teams have first, second teams in there and the Bengals aren't getting demolished, then that'll, honestly, I think that'll be a good sign for Cincinnati. Yeah, for me, it's all about the defense.

We know who they are offensively. I don't think there's a lot of questions surrounding them is the only thing that really surrounds them is health because that's where the injuries typically happen on that side of the ball with their marquee players. But defensively, like, let's face it, they were terrible last year. This is a team out of the top 10 teams in scoring, like they were the team, they were the team, the only team that did not make the postseason last year because of this. Because of these numbers defensively, and I get it. You get a new voice in the room as a defensive coordinator, which I believe was necessary. And I'm sure that was a hard decision for Zach Taylor to get rid of a friend and a coach, obviously, and Lou Anarumo. But that has to change.

And so for me, when I watch them play tonight, like what I want to see is them flying around. I want to see them making those tackles that they missed last year because that was another thing that hampered them as well. And I just want to feel like this team is excited to play defense. Their assignment sound, the same way we look at quarterbacks and we want them to manage the offense, defenses have have it easier to get off to great starts as it pertains to preseason and seasons, like regular season games, because it's like see ball, hit ball, make play. And if they are out there doing that, screaming to the ball, seeing four, five, six hats, at a tackler, that will give me great signs that this was a point of emphasis, and we have

been working on it all training season, all training camp, all offseason, and it's showing up on tape. So I think that the reason we were excited and even talking about this is because they get off to these slow starts. And Brew has said a bunch of times correctly, if they, you know, butterfly flaps, its wings, things are different. But if they had, you just switch week one from a loss to a win, they make the playoffs. And that's true.

But had they made the playoffs last year, they would have won the same amount of playoff games they won last year, which is zero, which is why I'm not, I don't think it's going to be different. That Bengals team last year, everybody acts like, oh, man, they were the team nobody wanted to play if they got in. They were not playing some great ball at the end of the year? You guys remember their winning streak at the end? One game, the Cowboys with Cooper Rush, have them beat.

And then there is just a comedy of errors that leaves Micah beside himself, and they escape. They didn't play a Broncos team second last week of the year that how good was the Broncos? Good enough to get beat by 24 in the playoffs. They go to overtime. The final game of the year against a limping

Steelers team that the Bengals have to win to have a chance. The Steelers have the ball at midfield down two with a minute left. And so this idea that Cincinnati oh man, if they had gotten in, if the Chief's backups had

beaten Denver and Cincinnati had taken Denver's playoff spot. You know what Cincinnati would have done in the playoffs? The exact same thing Denver did. Get mollywopped by a real contender in Buffalo. And I would have scored more than what they, would Bo Nix were seven points? Well, we say that. Man, they scored, they had a

must win. Theoretical, when in your in game, in week 17 against a Steelers team that hadn't won in a month, they scored 19. Like the, like I just what did they do the last time they went to Buffalo in the playoff game? Well, that was, that was Three years ago.

Why? Because of that guy that's right behind the house. Listen, I think Burroughs great. I think he is a great player. But the idea that firing Luanna Rumo and hit the mark, not having Drake Hendrickson is all of a sudden

now we're going to outscore people even more. I just don't buy it. Well, look, they need their new defensive coordinator our goal in the pull of Vic Fangio. Remember that, two years ago, we thought the Philadelphia defense was horrific. Now, they had some good draft picks, but Fan Gio turned them around immediately. That's what has to happen.

At least not to the top of the league, but not half of the league. Philly went from best defense in the league to one of the worst, back to the best. Because when Philly made the Super Bowl two years ago, they were the number one defense. So at least they had the bones of it. Like Cincinnati, I just don't think, has the personnel. I don't think Luan Arumo was the problem. Bengals open up their real season in Cleveland. Colts Ravens tonight at Cincinnati.

LeMarr not playing, Derek Henry not playing, but Indies starting quarterback will be playing. Now, who that is, we don't 100% know. Both Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones will see some action with AR starting and playing a quarter and a half. Greg, this is one of your adoptive teams, oddly. Who should Indies QB1B. Well, clearly they wanted to be Anthony Richardson. And I'll cut straight through the gray area. Like you can put or Daniel Jones in your depth chart as it pertains to starting quarterbacks and depth charts and all of that.

But the first person that steps on that field is typically who you want running that team and that offense. You're saying the starter for week one. The person that we see that is getting the, if practice starts or if that preseason game starts and we see Anthony Richardson take that field first, even though next week coach says, Shane Starkin says, you know what, Daniel Jones is going to then start. But he's starting your first preseason game. He's getting the first initial snaps. He was our fourth round or our fourth overall pick a couple of years ago. You naturally want to build around Anthony Richardson.

The skill set, the potential is greater. Now, the reality of this is the better quarterback should play. And if Anthony Richardson is in, well, he's in the. position to where if it's his job to lose. Daniel Jones is going to know the offense. He's going to be able to run the offense. He just has this past history of, yeah, we kind of know who he is. But do we?

Yes. Do we? Bro, yes. Do we in this system with this coach? Do we really know? I don't think he's totally like, Nick apparently is totally written him off, which is fair. I would not go that far. It's a saying now he's a different type of player.

But I wouldn't be shocked if a couple years from now he's, he's, like not the same type of player, but has resurrected his career like a Gino Smith or a Sam Barnum. Because he did show some, obviously some moments in New York, and he had a ton of head coaches and offensive coordinators. Go ahead. Sorry. Well, to Greg's point, if it's close or Daniel's a little better but it's still not huge, they got to go

with Anthony Richardson. I get it. Jones may look like the better quarterback, but if he doesn't put a huge gap between him and Anthony Richardson in the training camp, you got to go with Anthony Richardson. Of course. Because he's more,

a better chance of being your future than Daniel Jones. So, Josh, tell me in my ear who the Titans backup quarterback is unless someone of the table knows. I don't remember. There's a reasonable, I ask for that. The Titans current backup quarterback? Yeah.

Oh, I don't know. Yeah, I know. Yeah, I know. That without like, first, great. Everybody knows who it is it, Kyle Allen? Brandon Allen. Okay, so there's a reason I'm asking that. I'll explain you a second.

Daniel Jones is the same age as Lamar Jackson. Daniel Jones has post-Rookie year, has not had a 16 touchdown or 3,250-yard season. I am confident in who Daniel Jones is. I also, maybe more than most, care about quarterback age. Anthony Richardson was born three days before Cam Ward

he is three years younger than the Saints rookie Shuck he's two years younger than Nixon Pinnocks he barely played in college he has 15 career NFL starts and by the way for your quarterback wins

he's eight and seven now completion percentage not good but if you have a 23 the reason I ask is this. How bad does Cam Ward have to be for them to be like, you know what, buddy? Cam Ward? What? Hold on. I know he's the number one pick and it's so different because this guy was number four pick. He's 23 though, so he's going to have a long leash. Now I am not, let me make it

very clear what I'm saying here. I am saying when you draft a 21-year-old with one year of starting experience. If 15 starts into his whole career, you pull the rip cord for the league's 29th best quarterback, that is organizational insanity.

Am I betting a lot of money on Anthony Richardson? I'm not. But when you drafted him, you said, it's all project, athleticism, combine stuff, but man, oh man, is he raw? To then jump out of the ship when somehow, you,

give stiking the credit, you've been able to win with him. And when the alternative is Daniel Jones would be insanity. Can Daniel Jones get you to the playoffs? Anthony Richardson, if he was healthy, they had the, eight and seven is how you, they got to the playoffs. 40, less than 48% of his battle. There in lies the problem. You can't do that.

Of course, he has to be better than he would. He was better as a rookie than he was as a sophomore. So like it's not like he was 48% both years. I agree. If he goes out there and through half the season, he's completing 48% of his passes, then he's not going to be your guy. But I don't understand the rationale of drafting a super young prospect, not playing him a lot, and then getting rid of him for a guy who we all know is not good. So you don't think they should even brought Daniel Jones in? I don't mind him as a backup because the kid might get hurt.

The kid might tap out. The kid might complete 48% of his passes. Mike. I think what we're seeing with Richardson is beyond the low completion percentage. I think it's, is he picking up the things he needs to as a quarterback? Does he have a grasp of it? Like, I think it's, I think they really have questions are, is he going to be able to run the offense and everything like every? Is that even a part of who he is?

I agree, but we have the answer of what it's going to look like if you hand the range over to in a conference. Of winning a playoff, a road playoff game. I completely did. disagree with you. You have Daniel Jones in this idea of like he had all these, look at the weapons that this Colts roster and this coach's offense have right now. You got a great running back. You got an offensive line, something Daniel Jones has never had. You got extensive weapons outside into perimeter. Is he year younger than Patrick Mahomes? He hasn't thrown for 16 touchdowns in six years. I totally get that. But he can go through an offense. He can manage an offense. He can go through reads. He can be accurate with the football.

All these things. He should have been doing that. With Anthony Richardson, if you're on that offense, not only, forget the, he quit on us. Forget that because I think the guys in the locker room have moved on from that. If he gets in the huddle and you need a play that you need a guy to make, do they believe that he can make a play? Yes. more importantly, how does that play

play out? Probably with his legs, if we truly believe he can make that play. Daniel Jones, if you call the play, you feel both ways. You feel, you know what? He can get the ball there. He can be accurate. He can put the ball where he needs to be. He can go through the progression. Anthony Richardson, there's question there, especially when you got young receivers.

Daniel Jones can run. I know it doesn't look like he can't. No, for both of them, thing they do right now best is wrong. The difference is one guy is throwing 348 passes, and the other guy is 28 years old, and we know who he is. We don't know who he is. How do you know who Anthony Richardson is, but you don't know who Daniel Jones is?

I don't know who Anthony Richardson is. Correct. I'm saying he's raw, but you're saying we know who he, like, he went into Minnesota won a playoff game. It was similar to why you believed in Baker so much. Baker took a team that was not good, won a playoff game. Then he was discarded. Baker that year,

set the all-time at the time rookie record for passing touchdowns. The great year we talk about with Daniel Jones, he had 15 passing touchdowns and threw for 3,000 yards. But his rookie year, he should have won. Who was his receivers? Do you remember his receivers?

I know his running back was a guy named Sequin, who everybody loves. I know that. That's basically all they can do. They leaned into his running ability. This is where I think you just want to, you just want to argue with me. You don't think Daniel Jones is good.

I don't think he's good, but I don't just haven't taken it off the board. I'm not taking up the board. I didn't take Baker off the board. Didn't take Sam Darn. We're in the, with the era of quarterback renaissance. Yes. So the idea, the quote was, was it this offseason?

Like Patrick Mahomes couldn't win on the Giants. And it wasn't like, of course he could have. That Giants team was a disaster. So to put it all on Daniel Jones, I think it's unfair. I'm not putting, I, at 28 years old, I think you typically, you've had fair opportunities. But Darno. But we would have said to say anything about. But those guys, here's where we wouldn't.

I know we're late. Those guys, we could pull it up. Those guys got benched and cast off. Daniel Jones was the day one starter every year, except for his rookie year when he came in in week two. Gino was never going to be the starter, was going to be the starter, got his jaw broken and was behind. Philip Rivers, other great quarterbacks.

Baker got cast off by a lunatic franchise. Darnold got a couple of three years' opportunities, and then was a backup. We have seen him year after year after year. Again, I know this is going to be castes now I'm the Anthony Richardson guy. All I'm saying is one guy is you knew how raw he was. He has gotten less than one season. Like there is no level of how bad Cam Ward could be this year,

where you wouldn't argue that next year he should be their starter over Daniel Jones. They're the same age. I don't care. I think that's where it comes down to. I don't care they're the same age. 15 starts in the same age, doesn't that? Head to Foxborough where the Patriots joint practice with the commanders got a little rough. Bit of a scrum here.

When head coach Mike Vrable dives into the pile reportedly came up bloody. And he's got a towel on his face. The players loved it. Take a listen. That's what we're trying to build, I think. And it starts with the coach, starts with the head coach, the intensity, bringing it every day. You know, taking no crap. He's right there with this, man.

I think that player comes out in him a little bit too. But you got to love a coach that loves to compete. I said, oh, Coach, what's wrong with you, man? He said, hey, you should see the other guy. So you know, you know, I laughed. We were joking about training camp fights. And when the coach was here, he's like, it's a waste of time and people can get injured in these.

So when I saw this, I didn't like it. I loved it! I adored it! That's how you do it. You got me, Wiles. I could not like it anymore. You got me. I could not like it anymore.

And there are, I hate to say it. If this happened to any other team, I'd be like, that is a joke. Yeah, outside of maybe a handful of guys, they'd be like, yeah, that's Ken. Yeah. But if Ben Johnson is diving into the hog on, if Pete Carroll is diving in, I'm like, what is going on here? But I hate to say it. It's very. Kind of like it.

Can I interest you guys on a list? The players really like Rable. Yeah, of course. And he still like gets involved in the drills and like in the pre-draft. He like hits. It feels kind of Dan Campbelly without. All right. You guys want to know the top 10 coaches who would want to fight?

This is an absurd. That you wouldn't want to fight. Wouldn't want to fight. Yeah. I would have listed in order for. Yeah, Dan Nguyen. Ten to one. Coming in at number 10.

Nick Siriani. Now I know what you're thinking. He's not that big. I'm telling you right now and I know from experience. You can't walk around that annoying for 40 years and not know how to fight. Tell you guys that right now, he's number 10. Number nine, I know he's the oldest coach in the league. That guy knows how to fight. He's got endless energy. He's still rustling around with the players. Pete Carroll's number nine. You guys might not disagree

with the bottom of the list. You're going to agree with the top. Number eight, he was ready to throw down with Travis Kelsey. He's a big man. It's going to be hard to take down low center of gravity. He's good to go. Number seven. Now we're to really, Mike Tom. Yeah, I can believe Mike Tomlin. Not quite as big as you'd think, but feels like he's, you know, dealt with Levy on Bell and Antonio Brown and Big Ben. All right. And now the real contenders. Okay.

Number six, Todd Bulls. Quiet, gruff, looks like, and sounds like a man who has seen some things. He's number six. I probably have time then ahead of him, but you switch those. Okay. Number five, he'll bite you. Like he, I believe this one. He used to fight with his brother.

Now the list is getting rid. Yeah. He is categorically. insane. And yeah, Jim Harbaal will find a way. Yeah. Number four. Oh, boy. Dan Quinn. Dan Quinn's good to go. I'd have a hard time with that. He looks like an NBA guy. You have a hard time with Dan Quinn? No, he's saying he's saying if they fought nothing down a hard time. And then a big three, much like the quarterback big three, you might disagree on the order, but you won't disagree on who it is. Number three, Dan the man Campbell.

At three? At three? I'm thinking number one. Okay. Oh, really? Number one? No, I'll take the linebackers over him. Number two, you see this guy play football?

Yes. DiMico is getting you on the ground and ground and pound MMA style. Damn, man. Brable's out here actually doing it. I know. Show me Brable. He's living that life. Dan Campbell's got so much caffeine.

Went to his press conference and said he's biting kneecaps. And when you get back up, we're going to go. going to do it again. What? Yeah, Campbell got to be won. He was a tight-in. They're linebackers. They hit for a living.

No Aaron Glenn, no, Rahim. Yeah, I think Aaron Glenn. Morris, like, well, listen, I had to get to. Yeah, the bottom three is. What do you mean? Sirianney, I think he's all those guys. The top three, top four. They've got nothing to lose.

You fought an old man? He probably had. Remember when his arm was broken for no reason? Yeah, yeah, I know what happened. And he's like, you ever fought an old man at a altar table like what no I haven't I'm treating Andy Reid like they they did baby oh Andy Andy's got to be waving a burger in for our bud list is coming up 70 something you go it should or top of the bud list we'll find out in a second next that was good

live from New York the show that was up all night preparing for the bud list it's the second first. Today, who says they are back and feeling healthy. He says he is. He says he is. He said he feels healthy. So we'll see. I mean, for a guy whose body betrayed him, it's the only reason he hasn't been to the playoffs last couple of years. Sounds good. Meanwhile, coming up in about 22 minutes, Hallfamer and all-time great patriot Richard Seymour will join the show who talk a little football, talk a little cards. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Great. Great poker. player. Great poker player. Legitimately great poker. Time now for the most motivational segment in all of sports. We're at 2025. We get tons of letters. I read the letters and we

answer your questions and concerns. We're a little bit rushed. Dear Wiles, love the show. I heard you're going to three hours. Who is going to be on the show now that it's three hours? Thanks, Ryan and Briar. That's a great question because a lot of it's like, are you going to do first things first and friends? We've read the little news release about Danny Park. So that is true. We will be expanding the show and expanding the people who are on the show. It's a lot of course familiar faces. So we'll be there and then Greg and Coach Manjini and Danny Parkins. And then of course we have some other additions. We have the Trumpers will be making appearances. Anytime we talk about the dolphins of course, brew, we'll have the break dancers.

Who else is involved in the third hour dust? Oh yes, the F-games crew. That's fantastic. Any championship hopes we will have the marching band. Anytime we talk about the Ravens, of course. We'll put in a call down to our friend Snoop. It's been excellent. And, of course, although we try our best to retire in it. Yeah. There you go.

We're waiting for. I knew it. I knew it. Thanks goodness. All right. I like it. I like that. All right.

Here we go. Pure motivation. Pure motivation. Number three, this is my team. John Harbaugh. All right. Now, coach, I got nothing but respect for Harbaugh as a coach, as a person, all that. But he's in his 17th year with the Ravens.

Only player, only coach in the league who's had a longer tenure is Mike Tomlin with 18. And that like by a mile, those two are the most, you know, tenured. Andy Reid's third, but just 12 years with the Chiefs. And Tomlin's not on the hot seat, but it's a little, look, there are questions. Right? little job, insecurity, if they don't have a good season. And I'm not saying Harbaugh should be on the hot seat, but I am saying you're S-Bob. And he has talked about and others have said they got the best roster in football or the

AFC at the very least. They got a quarterback that Harbaugh has said is right up there at the top with anybody that's played the game. We know they have an all-time great running back. Like they have it all. And I'm just saying this. When I look at the Ravens and I say they don't play their best in the postseason. They crumble in the postseason.

And it's not just the play, but we know two years ago it was kind of forgetting their identity and start, stop running the ball. We know they've had, they've lost their composure. They lose their cool. They make silly, you know, mistakes and penalties and all that. I look at the coach. Part of that is it's your job to fix that. It's your job to make sure your team plays its best in the biggest moments. Your team can keep its composure.

So that's all I'm saying. That's what I want to see from Harbaugh this year. Because if I was convinced that they would play their A game in the playoffs, then I would, I mean, I'll probably pick them this year anyway to win the Super Bowl. But I would definitely, you know, think they're the best team in the AFC and in the the whole league. So Coach Harbaugh, I believe in you. This is motivation.

Go get it done. All right. At number two, Jaden Daniels. Wow. Now, Greg came into my office with all the screens where I'm studying and breaking everything down. He was a little bit overwhelmed by the number of televisions in there and all that stuff.

But he came into the lab and kind of dressed me down for, you know, Jayden Daniels being on it a little bit. But I'll let him get to that later. But here's the deal. Jane Daniels had the best rookie season ever, ever for a quarterback. What that does is put pressure on you. The only way, Nick, it doesn't, like, put a ton of pressure on you is if you win the Super Bowl's rookie.

And now you got that monkey off your back. But that means he has got to come out and have a great year this year. We know they've upgraded the offensive line. They add Debo Samuel. You expect Dan Quinn in his second year there to upgrade the day. defense. They also made a few additions there. I get it. You don't have Terry McLaren right now. I think you'll get that done.

But even if you don't, nobody's going to give him an excuse for that. Like if Terry McLaren is not there, then people still are going to believe Jaden Daniels has to play great football. And I don't think he has to get him to the NFC title game. I just think he

has to get them to the playoffs, play well individually. Like his numbers are very good individually. And they're a contender. If they lose in the playoffs, he's good. But he does have to come out and avoid the sophomore slump. Jaden, I believe in you. And at number one, this is the most obvious number one on the butt list in a while.

Shadur D Sanders. We all get it. I'm not going to be too long-winded here. But this is your chance, Shadur. This is it. Like, this is your chance to erase the past four, five months, whatever it's been, where you have taken some shots. You have taken some blows, some real blow.

Some real blows from thinking you were going to be possibly the number one pick, certainly a first round pick. You go in the fifth round. You're the second rookie drafted by your team. And you're not even getting first team reps yet. You have a chance to end all of that against some guys that won't even, a lot of won't even be in the NFL a month from now. So you have to, I know it's a tall order,

but you have to go out and get it done. I believe you got the ability, and I believe in you should do her. That's the buddress. Solid buddress. Great bubbles. Thank you. It's a good buttless.

You wasn't saying that two hours ago. He's overwhelmed. It was my office. He was shocked at all I do. He was like, no. There's no wonder your takes. I'm going to add to the quarterback, so I'm going to go, I'm going to throw J.J. McCarthy up here.

Wow. Wiles likes this. And this is, this is true. Again, it's the bud list. It's true motivation. And JJ, like, what a lot of people don't understand as players is when you get, when you suffer an injury, we all focus on the injury and the rehab and what it's going to take for you to get back and overcome that and get back to being the right player, the player that that you once were. However, we overlook the mental toe that it takes on you, especially when

the team that you were hoping to leave. has the type of success, not only as a team, but at the position that they were hoping you were going to be filling the shoes in. And that was Sam Darnel. You watching, being injured, as a rookie, a guy who hadn't had this type of success, be as successful as he was, and yes, were you excited for him, of course. But what that allows is for us to kind of question ourselves, kind of allows self-doubt to enter in. And, And it's been a long off season because all we want when we're injured is to get through that injury and get back on the field so we can almost reestablish to everyone who we are, but

no one more important than ourselves. And so I just encourage you because I'm in Minnesota. I understand from the outside, there's a lot of excitement. There's a lot of talk of, man, JJ's been great. But being in that building, it's been a roller coaster. And personally for you, I know you've been dealing with a lot of just the mental aspect of things, but sometimes we got to remind ourselves of who we are. You got great guys in that locker room. You got a great guy in your coaching room with Josh McCown.

Obviously, Kevin O'Connell, they're going to support you. But turn on that tape. And I know it's Michigan tape. I know it's national championship tape. But turn that tape on and remind yourself of who you are and what you've done and the success that you've had and bring. bring that JJ to the table starting week one. I believe in you. You have to believe in yourself and remind yourself of who you are.

You got the supporting staff around you and the skill guys around you. Sometimes it can be a blessing. Sometimes it can be a curse. I believe in you go make it happen this year. Yeah, look, there's a lot of pressure. If he doesn't play well and Darnell plays great in Seattle, like say Donald does similar to what he did last year, now there's real pressure. So that's a very sincere buddless.

It was really good. It was really nice. All right. Well, it's 410. Hard fill. Almost on the dot. Whether you like it or not, it's time for the media ombudsman. Again, whether you like or not is on this one.

And it's the sports media ombudsman. We're not out of here talking about it. Whether you like it or not, it is the sports media umboots. Indeed it is. And Dust, way to beat to put the bar on there, if you would. So here's the deal. Here's the deal. There is a reality, Greg, in shows like this.

There are certain things that people in your role are going to be able to talk about with authority that people in my role simply never can't. What it's like to go through two a days, as we talked about off the air yesterday. You know what I mean? Your release point. All the things that you actually had to play the games to experience, and we, those of us that didn't play, try to add to a... our expertise in other ways.

Understanding, never going to be able to play in an NFL game. And something very interesting happened this week, where NFL players, it seems like erroneously found out, smelling salts banned. And they're not actually banned. The team just can't provide them to you anymore. You got to bring your own, you know, like going to a sushi joint that doesn't have its liquor license yet.

You can drink there. You just got to bring yourself. But these guys freaked out. George Kittles, like I might retire. Like I've used them every drive my career. And I realized us in the sports media have an important opportunity this week. You can pop the bar now dust and Christina the salts.

If these are so important to everybody, I feel like we should find out why. So I've got smelling salts for all of us. You're gonna, I don't know, Greg, if you would like to partake. I'm sure you've had plenty of brew. I'm not sure if it's safe for your air. your age, but go ahead.

KW, you doing it? I'll watch this. Please. I do it. Brew doesn't want to do it just you and me? Or just me? No, I need, Drew, you got to do it. I feel like you should do one at a time.

One at a time? All right, you guys, all right. So let's see. Are we doing it together? All right. Oh my. Whoa! Let's go, baby.

What are we doing? Oh, it's still going. This thing is still ripping, man. Yeah. I don't know if I want to do that. That yeah, that's enough. You just crack it. Oh, this might be part of the dealing with you.

You're doing it, KW? Just crack it on the dot. Oh, yeah, there? This way. Yeah, now, now, now hard a huff. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Come on, brew.

Brue, come on, guys. Come on, Brew. So you just. There you go. Woo. It does get you going a little bit. I'm right. I'm going to go in for another.

That's like, you know, it's like diving into a pool and getting water. I was going to say, I hate to say it. I have done these before. I probably had above ground pool. That's what I say. Oh, my. It's like diving into a pool and getting watered. I don't think it's that.

Like, I don't know if I would retire if I was George Kiddler. I don't know, man. I could see how you get hooked on these. This is pretty good. You get a nice shot in your little. It wake you up a little bit. Holy moly. Wow.

I had no idea. Wow. I got you a little bit. I don't know. You okay? You're okay? You didn't love it, to be honest. I did it twice.

I did it twice. I might do the rest of it. How long before it goes away? It should be gone already. Because I still feel it up in my eye back. Seriously. At that point, it should be gone. I feel it up in here.

It's a big hit, man. This is the closest thing. It should be able to move forward. I know. And I watched them. You went specifically to one nostril. one nostril. I did go right here.

You got to put it in the middle. Yeah. Oh, boy. Don't do any more. Yeah, no. Oh, my goodness. All right. We have time to do mine dust.

It definitely has time to do yours. All right. I should have. I should have. What a, what an unbundzy. Oh, my goodness. All right. I'm back.

Woo. That's serious. Oh, okay. I'm putting the Colorado Rockies on the fun of this. I don't know if you guys stayed up to watch some Blue Jays Rockies. But things are not. not going well. Everyone knows I've been sounding the alarm all year about this rocky season.

But instead of getting better, it seems like they're getting worse. On this three-game series here, they were outscored by 39 runs. It's the second worst run differential since the Brooklyn Superbos beat the Reds in 1901. What? And that was memorable. This is three games. I just read that this is three games. They had 63 hits.

It's the most since 1900. 63 hits since. It hasn't been good. Now, especially because the Red Sox are in second place and we're trying to gain some ground, but you're smashing the Toronto Blue Jays are out there smashing the Rockies. Now, how about the Rockies historically? Well, we are now flirting with, flirting with worst team of all time, the 62 Mets. Oh, there's those old three tigers I was talking.

Oh, they are. They work. But final pep talk. Rockies. What's past is the past, right? This has been a sincere bud list with a little bit of drugs in it. Pass about, you got a three-game series. You know where they're headed?

Arizona, taking on the snakes. Snakes also aren't trying to compete this year. Get a win or two from the snakes. Get everybody up. I tried to watch the poor manager's press conference, try to make fun of him like trying to say. And I felt so bad. I didn't include.

So Rockies, it's getting late early. It's time to turn your season around. And if anybody would like to pick another hit. One more. Don't do another one. Don't do one more. Come on, Greg. One more.

Don't do another one. There's plenty where these come from. Ready? How many we're supposed to do? Two. Oh! Look at this. It's ready to go.

Okay. Ready to go. Put me here, Coke. Oh, good descriptions. We're brave away. It's not. I'm on my way. Richard Seymour joins the show next.

The one not. I did do it. What's that? I kind of spread it out. Oh, my God. Welcome back to first things first. Joining us now. Oh, Super Bowl champion three times over for the New England Patriots, five time all

For all Richard Seymour, Richard. Thank you for joining the show. We want to apologize in advance if we're not totally on our A game since we just inhaled some smelling salts, which is supposed to make you more locked in. So Nick and I are locked in, but Brew may have overdone it a bit. Well, I did it in one nostril. So I really, I still feel it up here in my forehead somewhere. It takes a little getting used to for sure.

Man. I totally understand. Was that like a regular? How often did you? you do that during your career? Yeah, so I would do it for sure. So I would do it maybe about two or three times like pregame and then maybe about four or five times throughout the game. So like different series and that sort of thing coming out for the halftime or what. Wow. I was certainly a smelling salt guy. Just before Nick derails the conversation and

talks about interesting poker hands that you guys have seen on the internet. So what I will say, Before you even get started, I did not know that Nick is a high-stakes crusher in poker. He's a crusher. He crushed all of the guys who were in the tournament this weekend and nothing but high praise for Mr. Nick. Right. Wow. I try to keep, you know, listen, the thing is this, Gruen Wilde's try to minimize my trips to Vegas as Nick's out there playing cards. And I, it's fine, you know, we don't, everybody can't have multiple talents.

obviously did. You're an all-time great poker player and a Hall of Fame football player. You know, I'm doing my best in a couple of areas, but I do want to talk to you about another place that you and I have a commonality, which is, I imagine, belief in the 2025, I can't believe I'm saying this, Las Vegas Raiders. And so, you listen, I think the Raiders have a chance to be really good this year because of the upgraded coach and quarterback, I think Gentie, all of it. Like what is, for you as someone with the, you know, history with the team and a real investment in the team, what would you consider successful Raiders season? Well, you know, I'll say this. So obviously I played under the late grade Al Davis and, you know, kept a really good relationship with his son, Mark. And, you know, now being a co-owner with the Raiders. You know, first and foremost to me is about the legacy and the rich history of the Raiders and what they really represent.

And so we always want to put a product on the field that our fans can be proud of. And I think, you know, obviously bringing in Coach Pete Carroll, I think he's a great culture builder. And even if you look at the assistant coaches, because even when I was in New England, obviously it was Bill Belichick. But if you look, you know, we had Charlie Wise, Romeo Cornell, a lot of really good assistant coaches that can also help, you know, develop the talent that. on the field. So it's not just one guy, but but to that point, I think, you know, we have the right coaches in place that can really develop the talent that we have. Week one. Raiders in Foxborough. Righters in Foxborough. So what do you think about the Patriots season and do you have a take on Vrabel recently jumping into the practice training camp fight with the commanders?

Yeah, you know what? So if I did, if you just told me, It was a coach that had that jumped into a fight. You know, one, I would have said it was Vrable. Two, I probably would have went Dan Campbell, right? And then maybe Sean McVeigh. I could see him being getting in there and being energetic, but I'm certainly not surprised at Vrable and I'll have to call him and give him a hard time after I watch the footage.

Up there in New England, they obviously have high hopes for Drake May. you expected from him in this second season? Yeah, you know, well, what I will say is he can have a great season after the first game, you know, so because it's the Raiders and the patience week one. So after that, but, you know, I think, you know, I think most quarterbacks will tell you that it's not just, you know, what they do on the field. It's also, you know, you want to be surrounded by a great talent. And you know, you want to have a good defense.

You want to have, you know, the right coaching staff, the right play caller. And I think Josh McDaniels, being back in New England is going to be great for Drake May. And obviously, Brable, you know, as a coach, I think he'll push the right buttons to get him to go. And he's going to, you know, have that region excited again about putting some wins on the board. I wonder, Richard, if you have an interesting insight, not. to Micah's specific situation, but to, if people don't know your, you know, your history, your top 10 pick with the Patriots, as soon as you get there, start winning Super Bowls, you're a great player, you're an all pro, and then abruptly you're traded right before

the start of a season. And the, you know, it was, I don't want to say it was over money, but it was probably, you know, money had to do with it. And so that happens. And you, you felt on the front end, how cold and calculating a team can be even if you do nothing but produce. How does that inform your opinion of Micah's approach and his situation right now with the Cowboys, either generally or specifically? No, that's a great, you know, I think you laid that up the right way, you know, because I have a unique perspective, obviously being a former player who's, you know, been at the top. and I've also held out a time or two in my career.

And so I can understand the dynamics. I think he's earned the right to be one of the top paid players in the league. You know, and I'm all about players understanding and knowing their value and what he brings to the table. And then I also now, you know, being on the other side of it, have a pretty unique perspective. and, you know, being a co-owner of the Raiders. And I think you always want to keep your best players in-house. It didn't always work that way. But I'd be shocked if Micah, you know, leaves Dallas.

I think, you know, it's kind of far for the course for Dallas. It's happened, even going back to, you know, Emmett Smith, you know, Dion Sanders and all of the guys. And so, you know, you think about Ezekiel and that. you know, even the receiver, CD. CD Lamb as well. And so, you know, I think it's part for the course. I think Jerry enjoys it as well. And but I think Micah is going about it the right way.

And, you know, he should be paid, you know, one of the top defenders in the league, if not deep. Now, Richard, you missed games when you held out, right? It wasn't just training kicks. I know you had a few different sort of bumpy roads, right? Yeah, did I miss any games? I'm not sure if I missed any games or not. I think most of my, yeah, I think most of my stuff was in the offseason.

No, but the Raiders sent you that infamous five-day letter I'm always. He's one of the only guys, that letter I'm always talking about. He's one of the only guys to actually get sent it. Because if Michael were to leave, remember the AWOL, the A-WOL thing, the five-day letter, when he got traded, he didn't immediately report to the Raiders, and they sent him the letter. But there's only like three guys ever that have been sent that letter. And he won his appeal. So you've never missed a game.

Do you think that Micah missing games is on the board? And what do you think that does to a team's kind of, I don't know, for lack of a better word, vibe if your best defensive player isn't on the field? Yeah, well, I think the goal is to hammer something out here in the all season. You know, obviously training cap is important. You know, I think, you know, you build a lot of camaraderie with your guys. You know, you get the repetitions. But I also remember, too, I maybe miss, you know, a couple weeks of training camp until my deal got done. But I do think he'll eventually come into camp and hopefully, you know, this is just a big thing of the past.

And, you know, it'll be a win-win for both sides. And I think any time you get a deal done in the National Football League, it's going to be a lot of money, you know. and you want to do a deal where obviously you get, you know, your guarantees, you have the structure right, you know, you well compensated, but you also look on the other side too and say, well, from a team friendly standpoint, how can I be of assistance to get, you know, more players as well, you know, under the cap? And so I was all about doing a deal where it will be a win-win and, you know, do the right thing on both sides. And so I think, you know, when you have the right representation and obviously I did in Eugene Parker.

And so I feel like firmly, if you're one of the best players at your position, you also need to have representation at an agent that really understands the dynamics of football and, you know, is responsible in getting the deal done the right way. And so, you know, now being on and I can see it from both sides, but I do think he'll he'll be there for week one. I think what did they go to Philly? Yeah. I think he'll be there.

He'll be there. Richard, one of the other huge storylines going into this season is Travis Hunter going both ways full time. Right. I know it's obviously very different position than you play, but I'm skeptical as to whether somebody can do that at the NFL level. Where are you at on that?

Yeah, well, it's funny. So I've been knowing Travis since high school here in Georgia. He's been a rival high school kid. And, you know, know his family, very well from that standpoint. He's always been a tremendous happily and a really good kid. So I'll say that first and foremost. And you know, just in terms of, you know, playing both sides of the ball, I mean, he has

the ability to do it, but you also think about the wear and tear over the course of a career. So I think I'd probably stick on one side of the ball and maybe in critical situations, you know, flip sides or something like that. But I'm sure his coaching staff, I think it needs to be monitored how much wear and tear that he can get. And so that's kind of where I stand on it. But he's certainly an athlete that can, you know, play on either side of the ball at a very high level. But I see him more as a receiver. And then in critical situations, maybe third down, you know, a guy to have it situations, he can go in on defense as well.

All right, real quick for you go. When you and I talked in Vegas on Friday, one of the first people that came out, came up is our mutual dear friend, Coach Eric Mangini. Now, I texted Eric saying you were going to be on the show. And to be fair, he did say, quote, he is a great guy who's crazy talented and made coaching fun. He also said that your rookie year, you guys had regular friendly wagers about whether or not you would get two sacks in a game.

And I quote, that was a very nice supplement to my salary while it lasted. So knowing, here's what I say about that. So he was smart. So he would call a defense where he knew I wasn't going to be rushing on a two-way. So I do got some bones to pick with that. Richard, thank you so much. Best of luck with the Raiders ownership outside of week one. Thanks for joining the show.

Thanks, Richard. Thank you, guys. See in Vegas soon, bro. Indeed. Let's head down to Jacksonville, where Trevor Lawrence feels ready and raring to go. Now, Granted, his body did betray him, but he's feeling great, yeah. Take a listen. It feels good to be, you know, it's the first time I've been healthy in a long time.

Obviously, recovering from the surgery. This off-season, trying to get, you know, back in that playing, game shape. Finally, feeling like myself, feeling like I'm back to ripping it. And I feel really good. I'm starting to feel a lot more comfortable in the system. too. You know, you see it coming together. Guys are playing faster. I feel like I'm seeing it faster.

Not in charge of music. Are they coming up? Are you ready to guarantee that Trevor is back? Yeah. I mean, I don't even really, to be honest, it's understand the question. Like, he's obviously back. He's going to be

playing. Am I ready to guarantee the prince is back? That's what I should have said. Yeah. Sorry. Oh, okay. Yeah, I'm ready to guarantee that too, buddy. Here's the deal. You guys don't like the facts on this. You guys say they're manicured. You say you don't like arbitrary end point. You're going to break the show. I'm not going to do an arbitrary end point. I'm just going to show you.

The best four weeks of each season. No. Look at this. Don't do it. No. Can we just listen. Josh, can you just please have them put on the screen Trevor's last healthy season? Oh, okay, it's pretty good. Seventh and MVP voting. Seven. Seventh and MVP voting. Seventh. What do you mean? What do you? I don't have a vote. So it's not for me. He's a pro bowler. 4400 yards, 30 touchdowns, a 95 rating. I'm not even going to mention the bottom line, third greatest playoff comeback ever. It just is what it is.

And then what happened? The next year, they were 8 and 3 until he got hurt, and he valiantly fought through the injury, played through it but didn't play well. And last year, he was banged up and didn't play well. Whoa, whoa, whoa. So, yeah, he's healthy. He's got Travis.

Brian Thomas Jr. is awesome. I'm going to believe in Liam Cohen. I think it was important. They got Trent Balkey out of the building. I like all of it. So yeah, do I think that the Jags can compete for the AFC South? Of course I can. Do I think that Trevor?

I just heard Greg talk about, you know what J.J. McCarthy should do? I was hoping to give Trevor the same advice. Throwing some college film. What? Yeah, buddy. Watch that national championship season. He's got one of those. Yeah, he can go back to high school too, do whatever he wants.

Raid players. Exactly. Or just 2022. Or just, you know, so long ago, January of 2020. Feels long. When we were out here, you guys were watching Trevor execute a playoff comeback for the ages. So, yeah, I'm ready to guarantee it. Well, I don't know what you're so mad about.

Two things. One, it's the smelling salts. For real. Now it's getting me. It's like now it's living in, like, the front of my hand. It is a little bit in the front of my hand. I saw something. Yeah.

Just horrible. What? Is this the side by side? No. All right. Thank God. I said, Josh, what is this? A stat.

Uh-oh. And Josh says, ooh, opta stats. This is big in the soccer world. These are Super Bowl odds according to, wow. What? Bill's Chiefs, Eagles. What's this from? And the JIS stats.

Even Nick doesn't like that. He said, they're big in the soccer world. I said, is this something? And Josh said, listen, it's something. it's big in the soccer world. So it's just, it's not nothing. Wow, buddy.

He don't believe in the Jags. Well, I'm up to stat. Yo, it's big in the soccer world? Yes. So like in the English premier league? Like in London? I mean, that makes a little bit of sense. That is the only concrete, and by concrete I mean kind of fuzzy, but it's big in the soccer world.

That I could find to believe in Trevor. You don't believe in Travis Hunter? I believe in Travis Hunter. and Brian Thomas Jr. Big time. He was catching pillowy balls from Knight Jones.

Exactly. Well, here's the thing, Nick. If the prince isn't back with Travis Hunter, Brian Thomas Jr., and Liam Cohen,

then something's wrong. Yeah. Then he's not the prince. But he needs to be hit. We're going to strip him with us. And I will quickly say this. I might be overreacting.

Let's take that too far. I didn't love, maybe I'm going overboard. I didn't love him playing the health the injury card. He wasn't asked. As I watched it to see,

was he asked about his health? He was asked, you know, how you feel the first question, you're ready and the first thing he went to is, well, yeah, I feel good. I'm healthy. Like, he was making excuses. That's not making excuses.

Grant, am I tripping, Greg? You're barking up the right. Thank you. Really? That's all I'm saying. Oh, wow. I didn't care for that. I will say this, though.

I am, I'm not going to guarantee it. Definitely not going to guarantee it, but it will be, it would be great if Trevor gets back to playing the way he did in that 2022 season. Yeah. Just for that division when you think about, because now you not only got CJ, you got the little. Daniel Jones and obviously Anthony Richardson, little quarterback race. right there and you got Cam and that we're seeing war down there like Trevor could he he's not the the worst quarterback in that division no or is he no we oh wow we will see we will find out but he you mentioned the weapons he has everything you can't you can't continue it's kind

like what we've done with Justin Herbert who he'd beat in a playoff game he did but we would give him a pass and we would always talk about oh, it's the coach, or is the defense, oh, is this. Well, now at this point, all the changes that have taken place around them. Are you giving them any grace for, like, new quarterback, excuse me, new coach, another new system? He's talking about the instill. He's a veteran talking about installs. So I'm not.

Okay. I'm not because he's a veteran. And this one is like the last one was for you. Right. It didn't work. The last one was for you. And, like, I put zero accountability on Trevor for Urban Meyer not working, getting fired. Absolutely.

But one of the reasons Doug Peterson didn't work was because Trevor wasn't, didn't play well enough. Correct. Now, again, body riddled with injury, but he didn't play well enough. It just is what it is. But it just fair, it's fair. And so, like, he has been a party to the coach turnover this time. Yes. And he's in year five.

So, no, I agree. Like there is no excuses in that regard. And I just, you guys talk, seem to think my belief in Trevor is blindly based on everything that happened up until the day he was drafted. Because he's one of the greatest high school and collegiate players ever. I understand that's true. But it is also true that his, after an awful rookie year, his career was going to be. exactly the way it was supposed to. They win the division. He has a monster

season. And we're in November of the next year, and they're 8 and 3. And his numbers weren't great, but they weren't, you know what I mean? They're winning. Nobody thought that was like some monstrous team. He was playing well. And then since then, it's a real sample of football since then as well. It's a year and a half since then

he's been bad. There's no denying it. But I have now, there is almost a big of a sample of him playing really well in them playing winning football as there is him playing bad and then losing football. So I believe in it. I believe he can do it in the league. It's not just based on Clemson. It's not. That's there it was. It is. Yes. It's a little nice hole to it. Congratulations to the Kansas City Royals. They did not get swept. Still one game

under 500, four games out of the wild card. Red Sox up two and a half. Royals headed to Minnesota. Red Sox headed to San Diego to play the Padres. First things first, headed to a wonderful luncheon, courtesy of Nick Wright for losing this bet. What are we getting here? What do you think? Amazing barbecue. Are you getting amazing barbecue flown in from Kansas City? Or Dinosaurbecue barbecue for the staff?

Man, good on you, Nick. You should really thank me. Red Sox. No, no. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Good on you too.

Wow. And congrats to you guys. This is the first time you guys, won a series against the playoff team in years, I imagine. I just imagine. I will see you tomorrow at 3 o'clock. Only a one hour show, so tune in.