First Things First - Shedeur 3rd on QB depth chart, AFC West Predictions, Hurts properly rated #19 on NFL Top 100?

Episode Date: August 26, 2025

(00:00) What does the Kenny Pickett trade mean for Shedeur? (27:54) Should Brou buy into the Steelers? (40:08) Brou predicts AFC West standings (1:05:52) Any reason for Dak Prescott to be confident? (1:14:57) Jalen Hurts ranked 19th best player in NFL Top 100 (1:25:20) Weird and Wonderful (1:30:19) Like Arch Manning’s quote having a target on how back? (1:33:49) Expect Steelers to exceed expectations? (1:55:48) Danny’s top 10 teams into Week 1  (2:06:00) What’s Detroit ceiling this season? (2:15:53) FTF predicts the catch of the year Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Live from New York, it's a show that is congratulating Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey. And Brew, did you hear this? No. I knew it. Well, you don't care about the news at all? I did on Taylor Swift. Brew is the only man in America that doesn't know this yet. That's the only thing it can be, right?

It's the best. Can you believe this? I'm a grown. Give me the camera. I'm a grown man. All right. I'm not getting excited about celebrities. He's getting engaged.

I'm a grown man. I'm just saying. Well, I'm a grown man. I got worked. So they engaged? Is that what? That's not what if I was to you up for. I knew he wasn't going to know.

Travis is from Cleveland. I like Travis. Congratulations. That's great. I knew he wasn't going to know, bro. I had a whole not. I was going to say, did you hear that Nick wants to get invited to the wedding? No, I'm not.

I'm sure that too. That's what? That's Travis's business. Who they invite to their wedding? If Patrick were to like renew his vows, I'd be invited to them. Travis getting married to tell us. Why didn't you invite Travis to your wedding? We were in Kansas.

Right, we were there. You know, that was a controversial decision by me because my wife wanted me to. You should have. It felt like an overstep. It was like you said yesterday. What? Let's hang out. No, that's why I might have cut him up.

No, no, that's not what. See, that's not what happened at all. On either instance, that's not what happened. That's not what happened. But congrats. Congratulations. I'm very happy for you. I'm literally, I had no idea.

We know, Bru, you're not that good of the background. Despite the Irontony. First hour, first things for us today. How did he not know? Is Brock a lock for a bounceback? And does Brew owe someone here an apology? We discuss. Meanwhile, who will win the first things first coveted catch of the year jacket?

Did Gary, he got it last year? He got it last year. He sent him a jacket. I thought about going for him, too. Again. Back-to-back jacket. I just think there's going to be a lot of throws that he has to stretch out. Well, that's the thing.

That's a sneaky quarterback dish. Yeah. Like catch of the year is not going to come from typically a great throw. Right. Yeah. That is good point. Yeah. Didn't think about that.

I didn't go with him, but I thought about it. And finally, it's predictions week. We are doing the. AFC and NFC West, one of our, spoiler, one of our best segments and literally our worst. What do you mean? You're talking about the bits? I saw one of the bits, one of the props for one of the bits, and I shuddered. I said, goodness gracious, I hope those are for Taylor Swift.

Oh, wow. It'll be great. I'm not down there. Yeah. It'll be great like. It'll be great. Let's just start the show. Bloopers of people playing like slip and slide kickball.

Okay. It's like, wow, that looks weird. We start with Purdy's lessons. 2024 was a disappointing year, even though his passer reading was solid. Can that even go together? Disappointing and solid passer ring. Why? Just do the rea.

I mean, it's in the reed. I get added to it. I will later, but. Purdy explaining his flawed thought process that sent him down the wrong path to Albert Breer in Sports Illustrated. I was trying to do too much. I felt this pressure on myself that I need to be this Superman type guy, not superman himself, just a Superman type guy. Both from Iowa. One was an alien, but still.

There are some moments when I was like, dude, you've got to go back to the basics. It doesn't matter who's out there, Loki diss. The way Kyle calls plays, you run. It's right just like your rookie year and it works. Stick to that and be consistent. Wow. A classic two, if there was ever a classic two. Thank you, K.W.

Brew, do you owe anyone here an apology? Well, Nick Wright, I will give you props because you did say you didn't fear it, but you said Brock is going to try to do too much because he was talking about Tom Brady and all that. And he admitted it. All right. So I'll give you props. Thanks. But the real winner here.

This could break the show. This could break the show. Wild. This could break the show. What did I say all last year going into the season? What was my mantra? Never wavered. He will be better.

But maybe the record won't be as good. Thank you. Never wavered. The stats will drop. He won't be as productive. But he will be a better quarterback. And Brock Purdy today, August 25th, I think. Fifth, sixth, 19, 2012, 25.

I was a day off. It's a better quarterback today than he was a year ago because he had this experience. Okay. No, no, no, no. I got a long way to go. Classic question. I got a long way to go. He had to have, Nick, he had to go out there.

without his Avengers and see what he could do and what he couldn't do. Now he knows. And so now Brock Purdy going forward will be even better. And what I say even better. Maybe the past reading will be 75 now.

Yeah. Here's why I said even better. Because look at these numbers. This is what he was. Rock Purdy was far from the problem. So this is where I'm losing. Hold on. Yards per path, which you really respect.

I do. Third in the league. Yards per game, fifth in the league. Obviously, pass a rating 13th, but ahead of greats like Mahomes, C.J. Stroud, Matthew Stafford. Rush from yards among quarterbacks, 11th and then six. Those are both career highs. He became better with his feet. Which he said in adjusted, which I know this another thing, Nick respects.

Adjusted EPA. I don't actually respect that. Okay, you should. Because adjusted, expected points. Yeah, expected points at it. But adjusted means you take away all the things. So now you can focus on the quarterback. Guess what he was?

Like he's all, he's super high. He's top four, I would imagine. Maybe number one. He was four. Okay. Now you might say, yeah, of course, with McCaffrey. No, I might not. I might say that I think.

But without, well, here, this, this, this lends credence to the adjusted EPA. Oh, my God. Number one was Joe Burrow. Yeah. Number two was Jaden Daniels. Number three was Josh Allen. Wow. Number five was Lamar Jackson.

Can I say something? So I'm just saying it's a legit stat. Can I go, please? Yeah, you can go because there it is. We don't. But props. We don't want to be an adjusted EPA show. No, but it's a legitimate statistic.

So here's the deal, if I may now go for a moment. Yeah, we're in seven. You always get to go. Don't act like you don't get to talk on this show. I mean, my goodness. Literally. everything I've said about Purdy has been proven correct

and validated by his own words and you two have and I hesitate to use this word but I will gaslit the audience by accusing me of moving the goalposts when it has been all that you two have done

kill predictions KW you There's something down there. I might still trade at the altar of what? Of quarterback wins. Yeah, I'm not. And then, and then when they win six games, you then come at me like,

there's nothing he can do to prove it right when the opposite is true for you. It means even when they win six games, you still think he's fine, even though all you care about is quarterback wins. Chris Broussard, you have gone from, yes, he's. He has Drew Breeze potential to being. I'm still there. Drew Breeze had three straight seven wins season. I mean, it happens.

What was his EPA? I said, I said he was a product of the stars in the system. We saw him without the stars. And he just credited the system. I said, I told him not to do it. Brew, let me finish if you would. Go ahead, go ahead. I said that the Tom Brady quote last off season was

concerning. That was good. And you both said I was making a mountain out of a molehill, that I was being unfair. And I said last year's training camp interceptions that we were tracking thanks to our friend Grant Cohn might have been a sign of things

to come. And you all said I was being unfair. And then Brew all offseason has, in my opinion, relied on the audience. You keep saying that. What? That I'm backing away from purd? No, that's what I'm about to say. at all. I mean, I think it's quite the opposite.

Said that all of my skepticism is about QB wins. You've just said, oh, you're a QB wins guy. You've become a big QB wins guy. But I'm not, though. It's that I remember the games. I remember the losses. I remember week two. Yes, they lost.

When they scored 17 points, he had multiple turnovers, and he said to Brian Flores, that scheme is crazy. I remember. That's true. I mean, but that was true. Okay, but that was. I wouldn't lead with that.

Brian Flores' scheme is crazy. If I may, I'm just going to lead in the chronological. I'm telling you, don't say that it's Brian Flores' defense is good is like the black mark on Brock Purdy's performance. I'm saying that's an unwise thing to lead with. Okay, I disagree. Pick the something else. Okay, week five. Give me a bad team that he lost to.

That would have been good. Week five in Arizona when he blew the game at midfield with a minute left. Perfect. Week seven against the Chiefs when he had. three turnovers and a 37 rating. Week 11 when he threw for 150 in a loss where they scored 17 against Seattle. Week 13 when they didn't throw for 100 yards

and they scored 10 points against Buffalo. And then despite all that, in week 15 when they controlled their own destiny despite having that bad of a year. And he threw the season away in a three-point game against the Rams, the interception. I remember how they lost those games. It's not that they lost.

those games. It's that the offense didn't work. He turned the ball over and he looked like a worst player. The offense was 13th in the league. Right. Hold on. In points per game. The defense was 29th. All right. They averaged 23 points a game. I think that's more than the chiefs. All right. But the defense gave up 29. That or 25 points a game. The defense was 29th in the league. That was a bigger problem. So they were five and five until Trent Williams got hurt, his great left tackle. That was a bigger problem. Special teams was bad. Like, Purdy

wasn't what he was two years ago as far as statistics and production, but he was the least of their problems. And that's the point that I'm making that I fundamentally disagree. I don't think when you look at those games were his turnovers.

Oh, he had some games like that. Of course. It can be the least of his problems. But, Brew, it is far from me believing you're out on the Niners. I think you're likely, it's predictions week, we'll see in an hour. I think you're all in on the Niners. I think that it is over. Oh, no. No one wants this. Literally no one wants to do this. No one wants to come here and argue and then have hubs bring out flowers. This is to you. Do you want to read it? I don't know. I think you should probably read it. It's too brew.

Oh, it's two brew. Uh-huh. From, okay, go ahead. This is not, this is not, I do like to do. This is not how the show is supposed to work. What do you mean? You can't just go making bits for other people.

This is, I don't know what you're talking about. You need your glasses? I just hope there's no lip-stained. I brought my glasses because I knew we were going to do these stupid bits. I had no idea. I guarantee you this lipstick on here. I guarantee there's lipstick on here. I told you guys.

Someone's up in the office, kissing the metal envelopes. All right, let me hear this. I don't want to do this. I haven't made my pick yet, so maybe... Also, I think it's inappropriate for the start. Oh, guys, a man of faith. Get letters that say, hey there with a wig. I am a merry man.

It seems we've both been admirers of each other. each other for a while now. So it being predictions week and all, I figured I shoot my shot and see if you consider making it official by making me an honest take and committing to the 49ers winning the NFC West and the entire NFC. Can't wait to hear from you. You are. That's a bridge too far. We can go out on a date. You are the only cowboy I've ever liked. What?

Lovingly, the 49ers to the Super Bowl take. And yes, again, there are lips there. And it's always funny how these love letters are so huge. So, Brew, the 49ers have written the show a letter and you, and they want you to choose them to go to the Super Bowl. if you so passionately defend. Well, we're about, we're gonna pick the NFC West. The West at least today.

In an hour or so, whatever it is. It was nice for someone else to get flowers. We will see, but I appreciate the flowers. Yeah, I thought it was very nice. Wilds doesn't like it. I think it's delightful. I'm taking those home. You're taking them home to your wife?

To my wife. Who are these from? From the 49ers. Meanwhile, in Cleveland. Flat brim hat there. What the heck? Shador moving up, Kenny Pickett moving out. Pickett traded to the Raiders to back up, Gino.

Brown's now rolling with Flacco, Gabriel, and Shadour after they released Tyler Huntley. So what does this mean for Shador in his really future with the team? Well, I did see this coming. Pickett said yesterday he was getting traded for a late round pick. But it really, it means he's third string,

which is what he was yesterday at this time before the trade. But it does mean he's going to get a look this year. We've talked about their schedule. We can throw it up, the Brown schedule. They could start over. You think they're benching multiple quarterbacks is what you're saying. Well, the only way, well, let me go through it. You got the Bengals, the Ravens, the Packers, the Lions, the Vikings.

I mean, they could be 0 in six in short order. Then they got the dolphins and the Patriots if they're as good as you think that. there'll be maybe one in seven, if not 0 and 8. Wow. Maybe 2 and 6, but somewhere between 2 and 6 and 0 and 8, I think. The projected win total is 4 and 1 half for the year. So 2 and 6 feels fair. So I think that by week, and possibly sooner, if they're getting blasted in these games,

they're going to go first to Dylan Gabriel. I think he would, yeah, he would go first to him, his second string. Obviously, he had the turnovers in his first preseason game, but he looked sharp, you know, and the turnovers were. were or weren't his fault. So he looked fairly good in the preseason. I think you can put him in there first. And unless Nick he is lighting it up

and they're winning, then I think Shadur will ultimately get a shot over multiple games. If Gabriel doesn't look great. And so for Shadur, what this means is you will get a shot and you've got to make sure you're ready. Make sure you know the offense, the operations, all that is under control.

And when you get your shot as a fifth string or fifth round pick, you got to go out there and deliver and there'll be no excuses. Because he's playing not only for the Browns who might get the top pick in next year's draft and select the quarterback, he's playing for all these other teams too. You want to go, K.O. Yeah. Well, look, Flacco hasn't played a full season since 2017. So he's one of you. I mean, it's 20. I know, I know Brew's a little shaky on this.

It is 2025. It's a long time. It's a long time. Since that, he started a total of 52 games. for five teams over seven years. So you don't want to say there's a chance that guy might get injured, but if you're an older quarterback and you haven't played

even then he was playing 16, now he has to play 17. Yeah. How about the fact the Browns just haven't had the same guy start all 17 games in the decade? That being said, I kind of went through and I was like, can we just pull some notable third string quarterbacks to get a good run?

Purdy's the only one. And he was second string by week Because remember it was Trey, Jimmy, Purdy, Trey broke his leg in week two. So if it runs normal, like I don't know if you make another move. It's just like Tommy DeVito last year, he was third string. He threw for 260 yards. Carr, Spencer Rattler, Jake Hainer was third string. He threw for 250 yards.

So I feel like we're building up this like, oh, and here comes Chador where we are, it's, you don't get a lot of runway. I agree with that. Listen, but what those guys didn't have was a month for the start of the season, the owner say publicly they both have to play. That's true. That's what it is. That is the only reason he's probably on the team. Let's keep it real.

Even though he looked pretty good, they traded for Pickett in March. They traded for Pickett and then somehow got a fifth back for him. Like, I don't think there was a league-wide conspiracy against Kenny Pickett. There might be a league-wide conspiracy of whichever owners, the rudest, to trade for Kenny Pickett. Like, I don't understand. He just keeps getting a fifth round pick for him. But to me, what this means is,

I actually find this to be a kind of bittersweet day for Shador. Because he really was just competing with Dylan Gabriel because they were never going to keep two bets. It was what we talked about before the year. Flacco and Pickett are competing to be the starter. We have now drafted the two young developmental guys. Whichever of those two guys doesn't become the starter, we're going to flip.

You know what I mean? And so he just needed to beat out Dylan Gabriel, and he would have a real chance to be by week. So do you think he won't get us out again? I think now it goes similar to how you said, which is a weird shot. It's when the team is totally let go of the rope. They are on their third quarterback. They are 2 and 11.

You know what I mean? Something like that. But it was he had, the door had opened, Gabriel's injury plus his struggles in practice plus Shador's week one preseason performance opened the door. He then gets hurt. Gabriel then in week two preseason

it again depends on I of the Beholder game. The stats are ugly. The Brown seemed to be okay with it. They didn't blame him for the pick six. Like you know what I mean? We didn't freak out about his fumbled exchange like Caleb's. It was different. You know what I mean?

And then, but still, If in week three of the preseason, Gabriel had looked like Chador and Chador had looked like Gabriel. Shador Sanders would be the backup quarterback for a team right now that had just traded Kenny Pickett and has the second oldest starting quarterback in the league. And so it was there for him. And this is, you know, he wasn't able to take full advantage.

Now, he is, it doesn't, it's not a death knell at all. Like you said, he'll get another opportunity. But that's what it signaled to me. kept all four, I would have gone into it thinking, all right, he never really had a chance to become the Brown starting quarterback for a real part of the season. Now that they, I believe Dylan Gabriel will start more games with the Browns this year than any other quarterback. You know what I mean?

Because like that's, because I think they're going to have to move off Flacco, he'll get a long runway and then at some point they go to Shador. See, I think when they move off Flacco, Dylan will be first. But I feel like once they move off flacko, they'll be like, okay, we're going to give both of them a shot. Unless Gabriel goes out there and is excellent from the get-go. Weirdly, this is just unlike my Joe Milton Patriots Week 18 win against the bills. Bills are trying to lose. Joe Milton was the third best quarterback or third string quarterback.

Bills are trying to lose. Patriots trying to win. Joe Millen will play one game. Like, this guy's pretty good and go to be the backup. I don't know if like five games is the best case scenario. you might want one great game, you know, week 18. One great game. Like, Chador's got it.

Maybe look for a new spot. Yeah, and then oddly. Five games, some good, some bad. What backs that up is Joe Milton's stock has plummeted since we've seen him in Dallas with more games. Oh, yes. Yeah, you know what I mean? The more you saw him, the more people were like, oh, that wasn't as good. Like, and I was, I'm not.

I still believe in them. I know, of course. Once a patriot, always patriot. Are we doing Stafford here? Yeah, of course. We got more flowers coming. Stafford's back from his bad back. Camp, his camp was hampered.

But over our vacation, got healthy again. Sean McVeigh feeling very good. Take a listen. He's doing great. He's 100% participant. He's doing a heck of a job, you know, taking care of himself with a lot of different things. As soon as we get off the grass, he and Reggie have a great plan.

But, you know, I can't see into the future. But I certainly, you know, if you look at what the last week is entailed, feel really good. And there's nothing that would lead me to believe. unless we have an unforeseen setback that he's not going to be ready role against the Texans. Okay. Do you believe the ramps are contenders? Stafford's back.

They're absolutely top-flight NFC contenders. And I thought they were by the end of last year I thought they were. And I thought they, again, what do you take into a playoff loss? I think more considering the team they lost to, you know, 13 yards away from beating, then annihilated the commanders and the Chiefs. And they had beat the Packers pretty soundly the week before. and I also am now a more, a bigger believer of the theory that I posited that Stafford's back did hurt and he also had, they had an agreement.

Wow. That come back and we will, preseason for you will be very truncated. Can't throw the ball around to DeVante? Well, again, the timing, then it's very, very serendipat. his timing. He's healthy just in time to get the full regular work for to be ready for week one. And so I, listen, I, with a healthy Matt Stafford, yes, they're definitely contenders. And I don't think at his age, he's ever fully healthy. You know what I mean? He wasn't fully healthy last year. But I felt they were contenders by the end of last year, as evidenced by the

many flowers that they sent me. No, they are not contenders. All right. And I, this is why I don't agree with your theory that they're just giving him a rest. They, I would want to see. him throwing with Devante Adams to get that timing. Right. So I think he was legitimately hurt. McVeigh had expected him to be ready for the beginning of training camp, at least according to McVe himself. And then the second week, and then it just dragged out.

He's 37 years old. And I emphasize old because he's in old 37. I think he will play. I think he may miss some games, but I think his play will be hindered by his. age and the injury. And here's why I bring it up. Even Matthew Stafford healthy, I see everybody putting him in the top five and this

and that. He hasn't been that guy since the Super Bowl. Their records in the last three seasons is 22 and 18 with Matthew Stafford's fight. Do you buy big game quarterback, though? He's been good at some big games, but I don't, I mean, I don't buy this that he was cooking at the end of the last year. Oh, not at the end of the year. Because going into the last three, his last three games, they clinched so he set out the last

game. His last three games that they needed to win, which they did, they failed to score 20 points in any of the games. He failed to have a passer rating even as high as 84 in any of the games. He failed to throw for 200 yards in any of the games. He threw one touchdown, one pick. So I just think that you look at his numbers, look at his production, he has to have big games. Don't get me wrong. But overall, I don't think he's that same guy that led them to the Super Bowl a few years ago. So I don't have them. I don't want to see. It's a little This is going to sound crazy. Little LeBron-esque.

Way older. Past your prime. Don't want to see you in the playoffs. That's what I meant by big game. He was, though, after being bad the last month of the season, he was awesome those two playoffs. Yeah, he came through in the playoffs. And so, yeah.

I don't want to see him. That's why, to me, they're real. So you're saying they're not consumers? I don't like older quarterbacks. Here are the older. Rogers Flacco, Dalton, Kurt Cousin, Stafford. Yeah, but that's, but there's a big, Stafford just turned 37, right?

He's old 37. Okay. He's literally a young. You would admit. He's an older quarterback. I'm saying I think Flacco and Rogers are old. I think Stafford's at the tail end of quarterback middle age. Two guys had bad Achilles.

One guy had a bad back. They had to bring in some futuristic chamber for him. Predictions week rolls on. Last year, Garrett Wilson won the coveted first thing's first catch of the year belt. Barely edging out Xavier worthy Super Bowl touchdown that cut the Eagles. to 18 with under two minutes to go. That way he came in second. We don't have a lot of time.

We're way late. Let Brew give his pick. Catch of the year, bro. Malie, I'm staying in New York. Malik neighbors. Oh, with the moon balls, he's going to get a lot of opportunities. Jackson Dart will take some chances. And like we said, there'll be some throws that are off target,

so he'll have a chance to go up and do something spectacular. I think this is already locked up. I think it's done. Travis, earlier today. Puns. Come on, come on. Brew, that's the engagement photo. This is what you missed by not being on the internet today.

That's great. I'm very happy. I know you don't like me giving you your tapes. You yell that me about Brian for us. If we do it again, you should like, Taylor got the catch of the air? I get it, but she's not, she doesn't play in the NFL. Got you.

Coming up next, we are discussing. Trey Hendrickson, obviously, and his rule riding with Aaron Rogers. Next on first thing's first and Fox Sports Radio on Series XM. That handwriting looks a lot like yours, KW. Have you been riding these? How do we get that? It's not from the mid.

There's no posted on it. Courier. Welcome back to the show. Greg Jennings. Super Bowl champion is here. Aaron Rogers joined friend of the show, Adam Shine, on Mad Dog Sports Radio, said he was indifferent towards the Steelers

eight and a half wind projection. Here was Aaron Rogers. Take a listen. I don't really care about any of those prognostications there, Mr. Shine. Sometimes it's easier when there's low expectations, and people are not talking about you. I feel like we came together as a group in La Trobe, and now can we put it together and then sustain it? Every team every year has periods of adversity that they have to overcome.

and kind of go through it like the, you know, like the bison running toward the storm. You got to kind of run through it and embrace it. Now, we did research this, that bison do run towards storms to get through them faster. You knew it off the top. You knew it off the top. I did research it just to double check before I went on air with it. Brew, you've been on a journey with the Steelers and your projections for them. this latest quote swayed.

Gentlemen, a brother is torn. I mean, look, a week ago, maybe it was a month ago, I thought Steelers in the second best team in the AFC North making the playoffs. A week ago, I was out on them. I was thinking more Bengals. But now I am feeling better about the Steelers.

Now I agree with Rogers where he said, it's nice to have no pressure. Because I think the last two seasons he's played, he has played his best football when there was no pressure. In Green Bay is last year, once they were, basically out of it. Whatever it was, but they were essentially out of the play,

not two and seven. They were four and eight. Yeah, they were basically out of it. Then they make a run. Last year when the Jets, right, it got bad and then he comes on. So I do think at this stage of his career, he's thriving with no expectations.

but it's not even about Rogers for me. It's about Tomlin. And I keep looking at it like he has won 10 games and made the playoffs the last two years with Kenny Pickett, Justin Fields, and old Russell Wilson as his quarterbacks. I do think Rogers is an upgrade over those three. And so that's what's got me torn. We make our pick tomorrow. Yeah.

So, you don't have to make it yet. But did it do it move you a little more? Where are you at percentage-wise? Yeah, that's what I was trying to. 50-50. Okay. So it brought you back to 50-50. It brought me back to 50-50.

Perfectly torn. Look, it doesn't sway me. There is some truth to what he's saying about not having the expectations and not being viewed as a team that is going to exceed the expectations or whatever. But in every locker room, whether they're talking great about you or not, you're going to give the same message. We're not listening to everything that everybody's saying outside of his locker room. We're just going to keep our head down.

We're going to work. The part that stands out to me that was, I don't think it was a shot at the Jets, but it's truth as well, was when he spoke about the organizational structure here gives you a chance. That's what you're talking about. Yeah, yeah.

And I do agree that Mike Tomlin has always been able to find a way to somehow level it out and get into the postseason or get that winning record. However, you are Aaron Rogers. And your resume, when we look at it, it is great. Filled with all the accolades, you have to have some type of pride about yourself,

which I know he does. I just don't think the game can match that pride. Well, and so I think this is, you and I think are actually in the same place, but I'm going to say it a little differently. Do we think that Pittsburgh Steelers very clearly have a playoff caliber defense? Yes. Yes.

Do we think Mike Tomlin's a playoff caliber coach? Yep. Yeah. And Vegas thinks they're probably not going to make the playoffs. So why? Why are the expectations only eight and a half wins? They don't have a league average, you know, middle of the pack defense. I don't think it's necessarily top five, but it's above average.

They don't have the best coach in football, but he's, future Hall of Fame coach stopped in. And so I don't think, I think it's probably and understandably tough for Aaron to take a step back and accept, oh, wait a minute. Wait a minute here. The expectations are low

because people don't believe in me. You think you thought about that? I don't know. I mean, I mean, and again, I shouldn't say Aaron's, specifically just him, but it's the Steelers' offense that there is a concern about. And for most people, most of our analysis on the offense starts with the quarterback and how good the quarterback is. I think we feel like, okay, the wide receivers aren't great. You have D.K.

Metcalf should be, you know, should be decent. The running game should be fine. The offensive line is fine. It's the question is the quarterback. And so I think for, and I, by the way, am a skeptic, a skeptic of the Steelers this year. I'm a skeptic of how Aaron is going to deal with if the relationship between he and Tomlin changes, as I think it likely will during the season from, you know what I mean? Aaron talked about how, you know, Mike was calling me,

wasn't even talking about work. You know what is, how are you doing, all these things? Okay, you're three and five now. And, you know what I mean? And now like that, you know, like that. I was working. How's it called? And so, like, I think there's a lot of things that can come into it.

And I don't believe in the Steelers because I think Aaron Rogers hasn't been a high-level quarterback in almost at this point a half decade. But Aaron doesn't believe that. And so he's giving, I think, a smart, thoughtful answer that also has a little, gives him some distance to accepting why the expectations are low. Because the expectations are low because people don't believe in the office. Yeah, but when you're part of that organization, The expectations outside of that organization can be low. That's not the expectation of Steelers Nation. That's not the expectation of the guys in that locker room.

So there's a feeling that you can have, and that's great. You know, they don't believe in us or whatever. But everybody in that locker room is expecting the resume version of Aaron Rogers. Right. Bring this, which match what we see here and your performance on the field. And he just, to your point, that's not who he is any longer. Would you guys agree that, let's say his performance remains kind of what it's been, but he's no, in fact, he's a joy with Tomlin in the locker room.

Like he's, there's no attitude issues, no bad body language, any of that. That's what I'm worried about mostly, is the body language maybe, like you said, if he falls out with time. Even though he's not what he used to be, if he just plays at that level, but there's no issues, I think that could get them in the point. I agree with you, but I think that is an insane, I'm not, I think that is an irrational thing to expect. I think it is more likely. I think you are, there is a greater likelihood Aaron Rogers, a la Brett Farr of his first season in Minnesota, can channel athletic greatness than there is, he can change who he is as a person.

But if he's winning, we're not going to get grumpy Aaron Rogers. I don't know that that's true at all. I think there's a lot. I don't think it's just the winning thing. So I just don't think you're going to get all of a sudden, great teammate, great leader, Aaron Rogers. Yes. Yes. Breaking news from Trey Hendrickson, News desk.

Dusty was in my ear. We have to get to Trey Anderson. We continue to be the nation's number one, Trey Hendrickson resource. Yesterday our news desk heard from another news desk. Trey is getting a one-year bump going from 16 to 30 million. But he will be a nice bump. a great ball. That's a heck of a bum.

You've been on a journey with the Bengals as well. You talked about it on your journey with the Steelers. Where are you with Cincinnati? Now that Trey Hendrickson signed sealed and delivered. Gentlemen, a brother is torn. I'm serious, like, I'm glad they got Trey. That made me rethink. I'm going to be honest with you.

Two days ago, I was like, you are. I'm going with Pittsburgh as that second team in the AMC. I really was. And not just, now, Tray is nice to have him back. But Tray was there last year when that defense was getting stomped. But they looked so bad in the pre-season. They looked like they didn't know what they were doing defensively. I mean, guys were just running with nobody within 10 yards of them.

I do think Trey and Shamar Stewart together, maybe that strengthens the defense. So that's what I'm mulling over tonight. That's why I'm still 50-50. 50, 50, right. Griding tape still? I'm still grinding tape, all that. I'm looking at the deep analytics that Nick does like. Advanced CPA play, yeah, all of it.

Nick alluded to this part earlier. Like, when we look at teams and we look at contenders, the first measuring individual in position that we go to is, who's playing quarterback? If you get one of the best quarterbacks in the National Football League, odds are you got a chance. Now, all we're going to do now is, with the Bengals is talk about, well, they had one of the best quarterbacks in the game last year.

They had one of better offenses in the game last year. But defense, I just, I guess I'm going to be optimistic and believe they're not going to be this bad defensively this year. Because of what they have in signing Trey Henderson, when you have, when you put your best available guys on the field, it at least gives you a chance. Well, you got a new coordinator, the back end, hopefully DJ Turner and support. sporting cat genos to all those guys they step up. We'll see what it looks like. I just don't believe that they'll be as bad as they were defensively. I understand that.

The problem is it's very hard for them to be as good as they were offensively. I don't think they need to be as good. Well, I mean, it depends on how much the defense. Correct. Defense raises. I think they could be as good offensively. Man, so I think one of the more. He didn't even throw for five grand.

So I think one of the more under-discussed units this off-season is the Bengals' offensive line, and I think that that is a potential weak spot. You didn't think that's what I was going to say. No, because we've talked a lot of it. No, we've talked a lot of defensive line. We spent maybe too much time on the defensive line, not enough on the offensive line. And so I, we did spend a lot of time being like, man, Bengals sure can't afford more slow starts. And then they're like, we're going to play in the pre-season.

season, but then they didn't play well in the preseason. And so I personally, Brew, would not be swayed on either of these teams. There's no rule that says multiple AFC North teams have to make the playoffs. And I know that we're used to multiple teams making the playoffs, and we've seen three teams from the AFC North make the playoffs. I think Cincinnati is going to have a very similar year to last year, except the offensive tick better, the defensive tick worse, but still, A. level offense, D level defense.

Trey, that concludes our Trey Hendrickson coverage. Went from 16 to 30. Did we help? You be the judge. We're first things for a separate. Live from New York, it's the show that is still congratulating, Taylor,

and, yes, Kelsey. It's a big deal. It's a really big deal. Real debate about whether we should just talk about it for 20 minutes for ratings. Is that not to? For ratings purposes, it would be the right decision.

But even a conversation about talking about it might be good. Second hour, first things for us. Today, Ben Johnson has something planned for the Lions. He didn't really respond to me. Yes, he did. Danny was nice enough to ask him about the tush bush. He said it's not his cup of tea. But Danny asked him.

Such an effective way, they banned it. Danny said, quote, this show's host Kevin Wilde. He did. I mean, he has. I asked him about you. Meanwhile, Ohio State, Texas. That's where. Is Arch Manning, the hunter or the hunted?

Oh, my. But right now, predictions week is here. And we're starting with the home of the AFC champions, the AFC West. Nine straight AFC West titles. And since the merger, they've got the third most 10-win seasons and second-most conference championship appearances. They can tie...

Since the merger? Yeah, since the merger. They can tie the record this year. That's consecutive conference champs appearance, right? Oh, consecutive. Consecutive. Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah. Obviously if the Patriots are...

Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, no, okay, yeah. Nick, you're up first. It says streaks. It says streaks. That's why I was... I was confused. No, you got it right. I screwed it up.

That's why I was amazed by it. I was like, I know we've been good the last decade, but the merger's a long time. Yes, sorry. Okay. The street, yeah. All right. It'd be good for them.

So here's, a lot of people think there's the best division in football this year. What's up, KW? I think I'm just looking at. We've got stuff in the end. Oh, I don't know what she's talking about. A lot of people think there's the best division in football this year. I understand that. One of the reasons people think it's the best division in football is because they think the Denver Broncos is going to be really good.

I don't understand that. Number four in the AFC West. No way. Wow. No one has that. No way. No, oh my gosh, did you see all the starting quarterbacks they beat last year? Two.

Two. They beat two quarterbacks all last year who are still starters. Baker is really good and Aaron who's really old. They played seven games against teams that were either AFC playoff teams or the Bengals who were right there for it. Oh, and seven. We now one in seven if you include beating the Chiefs backups, which they beat them so soundly that all of a sudden, their point differential number. They're like, oh, wow, look at how dominant the Broncos were.

That 38 to nothing victory is doing a lot of work. But they were peaking at the end of the year, right? Well, the very end of the year, they got absolutely curbstomped by a real contender that I'm now told they're on par with this year in the Buffalo Bills. I think the Denver Broncos are a 7 and 10 team and in a very competitive AFC West. Someone's got to finish last. That is last. Third in the AFC West, the one team whose offseason injury took,

them from in to out of the playoffs for me. The Los Angeles Chargers, they are not a playoff. I think the Slater injury is, it is, I feel sick for him and for the Chargers. It's a testament to how thus far lucky we've been as NFL fans this preseason, that it's the only like superstar loss for the year injury. Obviously, no solace for them. But it stands out because it's been a pretty clean. preseason for star front line players.

I also don't love the weapons. Listen, I think Ladd McConkey is an excellent player. If you guys remember, I liked him a lot of going into the draft. And Herbert's obviously a good quarterback. But I don't know if the defense is going to have some of the same

production is the wrong word. They were the number one scoring defense in football last year, but a lot of those advanced numbers that all of a sudden we love on this show don't, don't, didn't say that's the caliber they were. I think they are a good team. I do not think they are a playoff team. I actually think they might be better than the second place team, but they have a far tougher

schedule in the second place team. The Las Vegas Raiders who are in the playoffs. Wow. Gino Smith, you go from Aidan O'Connell to a guy who is consistently an above-average NFL quarterback. I don't even say top 10, above average. You go from Antonio Pierce to a future a Hall of Fame coach. You add Ashton Gentie. You have year two Brock Bowers. I think this is an offense that can cook. Now, they're going to need to because defensively, they are going to struggle. They also get what is a huge benefit. They are the team that gets to play the Chiefs in Week 18 when they've got their feet kicked up because the Chiefs in Week 8, come on. We've actually drew. We don't, I mean, that is. When you're in the AFC, we're in the AFC,

You're going to schedule. You train one of your two Chiefs games is Week 18. And the Chiefs, of course, are the number one seed for the 10th straight year. Nobody is surprised by it. Everybody understands it. They're going to keep winning this division. 10 straight division titles, one off your guy's record of 11 straight. That is Greg Jennings, my AFC West.

And I'm not surprised. You've been ranting about the Raiders this entire offseason. But I disagree, man. The Denver Broncos will not finish last because of, yes, their quarterback. Wow. Absolutely. I was out on Bo. I shouldn't say I was out on Bo Nix.

You weren't in. I wasn't in. Yeah. And then I saw what he was able to do. And when you look at the numbers of Bo Nicks last year, this isn't, like, they don't jump out off the page. But when you look at the last 13 games, all you tend to see is improvement, like growth. When you have a rookie at quarterback, all you want to consistently see is growth.

He didn't get out the blocks blazing. He just continued to get better and better and better. And you talk about the lack of weapons that the chargers, they don't have a tremendous amount of weapons either. Yeah. However, they have a really good overall team. They're not going to finish last. Well, so can I just push back just for a moment for you go, Drew?

Yep. Do they have the worst quarterback in the division? I think so. Now, some would say, you know, I understand there's an argument. You're all good. I also, again, if we're just, I didn't say they're going to be four and 13. No, you did. But someone has to finish last.

I also think, and that people get very mad about this, they might all be future Hall of Famers. If I, if I were picking the coaches in the division, they have the last coach I would take in the division. Now, again, it's the best, might be the best division of coaches in NFL history. So that's a weird thing. But again, that's who you're competing with within the division. I don't like the Chargers weapons. I think I like the Broncos weapons less.

So, again, they have an excellent defense, an excellent defense, and we'll see somebody's got to finish last. Everyone's going to pick the Raiders, not me. Greg and I were pretty much in lockstep last or yesterday, and that is the case, at least with this division, I believe. At least I got the Raiders fourth. I got the Raiders for. I don't know how you're shocked by this.

Gino is good. And look, all four quarterbacks are good quarterbacks. So whether you want to say Bo Nix is the worst or Gino's the worst, whoever it is, they're still a very capable quarterback. But I just think you mentioned the defense is going to be bad. We know that. I don't, I like Pete Carroll, obviously going to be a Hall of Fame coach. But I don't think he's like just the magic elixir.

He's had losing seasons, obviously, before he went to Seattle and got Russell. Wilson. So I think they're going to struggle. I don't, you talk about weapons. Yeah, Brock Bowers, Ashton Genty, I think is good. The O-line will be okay, but I don't think it's going to be good enough for Genty to light the league on fire, especially when I don't think they have the weapons outside. Marie Cooper back. Well, yeah, you got Cooper. We'll see. I mean, he's up there and age, but he is back. Wiles, do you know what's happening? Well, it sounded like, and we talked about this a few weeks ago, that there was, people were saying, brew was sleeping on the Raiders.

Comatose. This comatose on Gino and the Raiders is what he said. I actually like that. It's accurate. But when we put you in pajamas for that photo, you should have something was up. That's one of the first banners I'm like, it's dropped.

Sorry, Bruce. Yeah, I'm there. I'm there. I'm comatose on the ratings. If I end up being wrong, I'm wrong. The candle is absurd. How'd y'all get my pajamas? That is exactly what I look like when I sleep.

Believe it. All right, sorry, bro. All right. You probably got another book of room. Candle. I have got, and I know I said, I've said throughout the summer, I thought the Chargers were going to challenge the Chiefs

for the division title. the injury to Slater does drop that for me. However, so I got them finishing third, but I got them making the playoffs. Look, I trust this happened last year.

I think Marbaugh is a very good coach. I mean, we know the stuff in Michigan, but I think he's a very good coach. And I think he'll do what he has whether there's ball control like he did last year. But I think he wants to get,

I think they're going to throw it a little more and Herbert wants to, I think, look, Herbert, the pressure's on him to have a good year, regardless of who's injured on the offensive line, whatever. And the defense, I don't think it'll be number one scoring defense, but I think it'll still be like a top 10 scoring defense. So I think they can still get in even though that injury hurts them with Slater.

I got Denver number two, Nick. Look, I believe they are a good team. I do like Bow Nicks. Look, he had a ton of experience in college, came out last year, looking very experienced. He's just an on-scheduled guy who can do a little more than that with Peyton. I agree. I don't think they have the greatest weapons, but I think they're good enough, you know. I think the rookie running back might show them something.

And then defensively, they're going to be monsters. They led the league in Sachs last year. They got all those guys back. They added the two guys from San Francisco. So I think Denver's defense is going to be tough. But I still have the Chiefs winning the division, no surprise. Greg, you like that better? across the hall from one another.

And I just, I felt this, this vibe, vibing from across the hall. And I was like, you know what? I'm going to put up a full screen that supports Brew because I got a feeling he probably going to think the same way I think. And I thought about this and I was like, you know what? This is why the Raiders are going to finish last in this division.

Luckily they got Gino. I mean, but will it be enough? Because you got to play defense. You got to do something defensively. And what's the first thing that Nick says? Defensively, I mean, they got some problems. They got some problems. I don't have to prep across some Brue to know that.

They got a lot of problems. They got a lot of problems. And I just don't think that they will be able to overcome this with the success of a great offense. Like the Bengals, we talk about the Bengals in their defense. That's not what they're going to look like offensively with Gino Smith. I'm sorry. I like Gentie. I don't think their offensive line is going to protect that well either.

They're going to have problems this year. So, Brew, but you obviously. Obviously, you have the chiefs running the division. Yeah. I know you're not doing yours. Do you have the chiefs one in the division? They do. They have a great show.

I obviously do. We know Wilds who's been mocking them all year. I love to Kansas City. Everybody knows that. Oh, really? Does Vinnie Pasquantino, the Pasquatch, know that? Kevin Wilds, you are no longer beloved in Kansas City. Oh, that's interesting.

What's the population in Kansas City? One? The, well, no. I mean, I don't know. The AL player of the week. I like Vinny Pasquantino a lot, the Pasquatch. That's not the longer beloved you can't say. That's not true.

The passports is the A.O. Player of the Week just told you. Okay. That's not true. I'll call the mayor. He excommunicated. I'm just letting you. He's beloved. Regardless.

Also, who gave you license to do all this stuff? What do you mean? Just like make funny things. The brew room was pretty. You love the brew one. You like this. I like the brew. You don't like just a logo.

That's just a logo. That's, you didn't know. Greg, be careful. You've got some bodybuilding photos out there. New banners and it's just going crazy. We got to get rid of. Like a kid and a candy. Oh, they just got to go.

Oh, they just got to go to the NFC West. That actually is cool. That is pretty good. New system is awesome. Turning our attention to the NFC West, Kyler, Stafford, Purdy, and Sam Darnold, who did win 14 games while throwing for 4,300 yards last year. No, we do.

Last five years, Seahawks, Rams, back-to-back 49ers, then the Rams again. Now, interesting note, the NFC West is the only division with no worst to first teams, but maybe Brock Purdy changes that, Brew. Do you want to start us off in the NFC West? I think this is going to be a very competitive division, all right? Very competitive.

So I think this team has been moving in the right direction, but like Nick said earlier, somebody's got to finish last. and I don't trust Kyler Murray. He's been up and down, and he's had great ups and great downs. I got to see him play a 17-game season and play well the entire season. So I'm not, I got to see that happen before I give him the blessing. So I got them fourth.

Thirds, similar here. Seattle, third. All right, I like them. I thought, I like McDonald, the head coach. But new, new quarterback. Obviously, in Sam Darnel and Wiles, I know he's your guy. But I'm just like, I have to see it without Kevin. He's no, Gino.

I mean, you know that. I don't think he's Gino. I don't think he's Gino. I got to see him do it without Kevin O'Connell and Justin Jefferson. They got a bunch of new receivers. I know they got some, you know, some decent weapons. So I got them third or third. They're not making the playoffs.

I'm sorry. The L.A. Rams. I don't trust. Stafford to be healthy. Look, I don't wish injury on anybody, but I think he's going to be bothered by that back at least some of the season. And then when he plays,

I don't think he's going to be asper. Now, they got a lot around him, on both sides of the ball. So maybe I'll end up being wrong on this, but I got them second. And this was tough. I debated. I almost put him in the playoffs,

but not in. And so the division winner, the San Francisco 49. However, I have not, I know they sent me a nice love letter, a bunch of roses. I'm not. What? Go ahead. We don't.

I'm, oh, I guess we'll save it. We'll save it later than we'll save it later than we. We don't have them going to the Super Bowl. We don't know. He's a flip flop. Oh, wow. New data. The journalist.

Right. New data, I'm objective. Yes, exactly. I got the Niners. Look, the injuries obviously receiver, but they'll, those guys will be back at some. point. They got a good run game. Purdy, you know, going to play within the system. And I think the defense

is going to be better with solid back. And they still got some big names on that defense, even though they have a lot of young guys. Can I ask you Niners question? I know we're not doing records. But do you feel like this is more of like they win the division because they're the only team that gets to 10 wins

or like they could be having an old Niners like 12 win type of season? I'm thinking more 11ish. Okay. And their schedule is is like they just I think they have three proven quarterbacks CJ Stroud that they're facing outside of the division. Yeah, CJ Stroud, Baker, Mayfield, and Stafford.

No, period. On the schedule. Like, those are the only three that are proven commodities that we know are really good. So their schedule is very well. Look, man, you got the Cardinals finishing fourth. I actually believe in the Cardinals. The one thing that you did say about this division

that's going to be tight. I do believe that and I do believe that the Cardinals actually are going to win this division. Wow. Wow. This is the first. I am high on, I am high on the cardinals. There's, there's a feeling that I just have about this team. They went from not being able to stop a nosebleed in the running game, not getting off the field and third down. In the draft, you can look and see what they did. They went defense. It was all about the defense. Six of their seven picks was on the defense aside. Clearly you get Josh wet. Callias Campbell. come back one year deal. Like when you put an emphasis and you're Jonathan Gannon and you are defensive-minded coach, you are going to make a point of it's not going to be my side of the

ball. So Kyler does have to step up and make plays. But there's a name on here that I want everybody to pay attention to. And that's their second round draft pick. Will Johnson. University of Michigan, he was hurt. Everybody talked about Travis Hunter and how he's in top DB and all this. Will Johnson marked my word. He's. He is going to be one of the reasons why this defense, when they stop that run and get after the pass, Will Johnson going to be picking everything. I like that. I like that.

Listen, Greg's the only one last year who had the Niners missing the playoffs. He did nail that. I'm a little more bullish on the Cardinals than Brew, not quite as bullish as you. I have in the last place the Seattle Seahawks. I think opting to go from Gino to Darnold is a mistake. I also don't like their offensive weapons or their offensive line. I like Injigba. And that's, you know, that's kind of where that ends.

Now, listen, they should have a very good defense. And to your point, Mike McDonald, that's what he wants to, you know, how he wants to build. And so I respect that piece of it. But I think they are the last place team in that division. In third is the Cardinals who I kind of believe in. And I fear, however, given their schedule and their history, that they are primed to start off really strong and then fade because that's what they've done, but that is also how their schedule is set up, where it is, it's backloaded.

You know what I mean? And so that part does worry me. Kyler doesn't get the Tua. He can't win in the cold treatment because it's not usually that cold, but it's that time of year he has fallen off as a player kind of throughout his career. So I think most people, Greg, is the exception, are going to have those two teams, you know, third and fourth. The question is who wins and who makes the playoffs. In second, I have the Niners.

However, I do not think they will make the postseason. I think they'll be fine. I'm surprised you on the second. Yeah, well, listen, because I really believe in the coach. I think they have a fine quarterback, and I think they will be coached well on defense as well. I think the defense is too young, however, like that. And, you know, Purdy in the article that we talked about to start the show said, we have enough to win at all.

The coach said a couple days ago, like, we're retooling, which, you know, maybe it's somewhere in the middle. I think, I don't think they're going to be, I want to be clear. As long as Christian McCaffrey's out there for even most of the season, George Kittle and those star players, I don't think they're going to have the same win-lost record they had last year. I just think the NFC might be top to bottom a little tougher than it has been in years past. And to no surprise, I am going to roll with the Los Angeles Ranch, much like I rolled with them last year, a team that with a match that, with a match that with a match. Healthy Matt Stafford I consistently believe in,

and I think Stafford was always fine. So that is my... Oh, no. What that bell means. Time for the worst bit on sports television. Where Nick pretends to have a romantic relationship. I'm not doing anything. See, what do you want me to do?

A team pretends to have a romantic relationship with you. And... You didn't get mad when someone sent brew flowers. It's the 90s. Here we go again. To my one and only from, you know who. It's gonna be the Rams again. We've done this bit a few times.

Every time I open up this envelope, I say a quiet prayer. Say, dear God, please don't have there be red lips on this. Oh, wow. O for 10 for me. What? It doesn't need to be this. You put me in a bad spot. What's the problem?

I have to talk to my report. It's a little bit more rainy than my. Because I'm going to give it my all. What's the problem? Hey there, stranger. I haven't stopped thinking about you since our last evening together in the snow in Philadelphia. That game. Yes.

Yeah, that game. I hope so. Exactly. What else are we talking about? I don't know. I don't know. You said it weird. I was hoping you might stop by the amoral chamber.

Oh, a mortal. I assume that's what they were. Sorry. I was waiting for you. I was waiting for you inside. I never saw you. Were you there for this? It is a weird futureistic.

That's what got him. At Ramscapt, the Astral Van type thing that's silver. I almost gave him. up on us, but today's big engagement remind me you can never give up on true love. Travis and Taylor got engaged. We didn't know. I know what we had

and more importantly, what we will have if you come back to me, trust your heart. No way, dude. It's too much. Trust your heart. Talk soon. Rams to the Super Bowl take. Are you willing to

take the Rams to the Super Bowl? That's what they're asking. I'm certainly not going to dismiss them the way Brew did the Niners, they're certainly high on the list. This helps. I'm not going to lie. Unbelievable. I'm with one. I didn't even read the real letter.

I'm not in charge any of this because he didn't leave out of line, I think. Yeah, I got off to see that line. I can't do it. Can't read it on. It's a daytime TV. Okay, what are we doing now? I think we're moving on. Oh, Greg, you're, oh, yeah,

the dusty guy in my ear. Now Greg needs to respond to that. No, Greg can't respond. Sorry, Greg. It's your time to respond to this. I guess the question is. As a Super Bowl champion, this is where your life has delivered you.

Respond to this. I have no response to that. Okay. Yeah, I don't have the Rams winning this division. I will like to say this about the Seattle Seahawks. Okay. I'm not saying that they're going to, have great success this year. But I will say this. Sam Donald is not going to be the issue.

I know there has been a lot of, I don't like the getting rid of Gino Smith for Sam Donald. Look, sometimes you got to deal with what's in front of you. Sam Donald had a great year last year. I think he's going to continue to build on that. They're going to build around him. Like, this is who he is now. And so we're going to all have to embrace this. I understand what he had at his disposal around him in Minnesota, but he was a reason why those guys were all able to be successful. We didn't expect it from him then. And I don't think we are expecting a lot from him this year, but I think he's going to deliver not enough, not enough to win that division, but he's going to be right there. All right. Um, quickly, Greg, just before we go to break,

the DK Metcalf, we always talk about DK McCeth with the Steelers. Are they going to miss DK Metcalf a ton? Yeah. Anytime you have a, a player that's that big of an impact on your in your offense, yeah, you're going to miss them a lot, but that's why you got other guys. I just worry about Cooper Cups staying healthy. Yeah, and I, that's, you know what I. That's getting, when you get a guy like Cooper Cupp, you are mindful of that, but if you run the risk and if he stays healthy, yeah, then you got two good receivers.

Yeah. All right. That was, that was something. Is Jalen Hertz being disrespected? We go through several polls. The answer is obviously yes. Next. This bit needs to go away.

We got to do something else. We got to do something else. IndyCar Nashville season finale. Alex Below, look at a win again. Sunday to Eastern on Fox. Wonderful episode of Weird and Wonderful Star with the wonderful early Orioles Red Sox just starting. Roman Anthony leading off.

How's this one go? Out of the ballpark, Camden Yards, they call that. youngest Red Sox to ever hit. Well, there's not open seats there. Why don't you make fun of them? Baltimore? Yeah. Well, I'm curious.

Because I like the Orioles. Red Sox win. Weird. Pirates up one on the Cardinals in the bottom of the seven. Ramirez strikes out Petreras, who takes a second. He's like, you know what? I'm going to talk to the umpire about this. He ends up getting tossed.

Now, he's got his bat here. This is unwise. Yeah, let the bat go. Well, he takes his helmet. off. There's the high choose. Eventually he tosses his bat and he hits his coach a little bit. That wasn't great either. Some other stuff made it to the field. Not great. Carls do end up winning seven to six. More wonderful. We're doing a little Liverpool, Newcastle. Is this a 16-year-old? Yes. Tied at two, Rio scores the game winner. This makes me feel not great for the U.S. chances.

England has 16-year-olds scoring against Newcastle. We've got someone playing. in a club game. Is he, he's on the English national? I don't know. He's British. Oh, he is British. Yes, but he's on Liverpool. So, you know, we've got guys playing.

Yeah. It's not going to. I mean, we're underdogs. Yeah. Wonderful, Padres Mariners in the first, Cal Raleigh. Whole run number 50. First catcher to hit 50. Only a mantle has more switch hit home runs.

You know who's? MVP. MVP. He's going to beat him. You know whose record he broke? Most home runs by a catcher. Yogi? Nope.

Mike Giazza. Future All the Famer. Salvi Perez? Salvatorez. Speaking of. I know. Gosh, it was, come on. We've been playing so well we don't make the show.

We have one bad game against them. Mariners win. They are now four games up on the Royals who almost got no hit. We had a bad game. By the White Sox. We had a bad game last night. It wasn't great. Afternoon headlines sponsored by Ramtrucks.

They are built to serve. Mike's pockets are light and his back is hurt. One might solve the other. Dack signed his contract hours before kickoff last year, and he's confident that Micah will play in Philly in nine days. Take a listen. I've got confidence. I've told you all that well way back when,

and I'm just going off of experience, honestly. No different than mine, so I've got confidence in that. Just hoping, which I know he is, he's ready to play. Nick, is there any reason for Dack to be confident that Mike is going to play? No, maybe, but I don't, that's to me not the story. I don't, I, I, Dak is a really good guy and I think that worked against him here. Because if you're a really good guy,

I don't think you know how like schemes and lies work. Ah. But a key part of that is everyone getting their story straight. And the company line by every player on the Dallas Cowboys when asked out Michael Parsons is, man, I don't know, he keeps talking about how much his back hurts. And because this could, the rubber can absolutely meet the road on. The Cowboys say you are cleared.

You need to play. And then Micah is allowed to go get a second opinion and that can delay it a bit. And then that's, whatever it is. But if this is really going, if Jerry is like, we got you for three years, buddy, Micah's only leverage is my back is hard. I know the timing's crazy, everybody, but I'm telling you, it's hurt. I work out a lot. I lift the weights.

My back is hurt. And Trayvon got the message. My guess is Trayvon's, you know, don't a little scheming in his life. I would have like, Trayvon, no, sometimes you've got to cover for your buddy. Dak didn't get the memo. Dak needs to say, I don't know, it depends on how his back feels. I saw him on the medical table. Yeah, I said, like, I'm dead serious about this.

Like, and I'm not attacking deck. I just think it needs to be understood in the locker room. Guys, we are united. The owner is trying to undercut all of us. He wants to cut all our agents out and deal with just us. We need to be a united front. Micah's back is hurt. It needs to be what they say.

No, look, that's interesting. I just think Dak really believes what he said in that, man, they do the same exact thing with me. Yeah. And I think the fact that Terry McLaurin, now Trey Hendrickson, those looked really bad. Like, man, are they going to get this done? And now is the season near as they get them done.

So there's probably a feeling of, optimism in the air that this is going to happen. My thing is this. If they come to an agreement today, I really don't think the cow, forget Micah, I don't think the Cowboys should put him out there in game one. I mean,

I think he, I think there is a great chance of him getting injured. He's not like Dak, who's a quarterback sitting out. So you think he could play some snaps? Yeah, maybe a few. Okay, maybe a few, but I mean, he's Micah Parsons.

I need him more than 10 snaps, 15 snaps, whatever. So I just think there's a big, like they've screwed this up. If Jerry and deed is going to sign him, he has screwed this up because he's hurt their chances of winning game one because Mike is not going to be himself. So I'm going to give you this little story. I just thought about this. When I was in Green Bay and I was entering in the year seven, the Packers had a history of guys get the year seven. they're gone. I saw it with Scott Wells,

Cullen Jenkins, and then, so I saw it. As a player, I saw this trend. And so when it was my turn, you know what I expected to happen? That same trend.

I was preparing myself. This is what Dak is alluding to. Like, look, I personally experienced this. Like, we all, I think you thought Dak was going to get taken care of. No, I was the one that thought Jerry was going to,

hold the line. Everyone else thought they were going to pay him. C.D. Lamb, this is what this organization does. This is what Jerry Jones does. And when you have a personal experience of going to the brink of the season, missing all the training camp, it being the talk of training camp off season, is it going to be done? He's our only offensive weapon in C.D. Lamb. He's our quarterback. Is he really your quarterback? He's the only player we got on defense that really it's a no-brainer. This is what they do. And so I just believe that they're going to get something done

because he understands this is our player. This is how we do business. However, I will say this, as when you mention him not playing and Dallas shouldn't bring, you got to put him out there. Like, he is going to want to go out there. Do you think the chances are enhanced to him getting up? You probably want to monitor his snap counts

because he's the type of individual that look, if you told Micah, the game is tomorrow, can we get this done? We get this done? Okay, I'm playing. Like, he's going to want to play. No, I agree he's going to want to play. I just think it's a good chance he could get injured.

I hope not, but he hadn't been playing all training camp. Yeah, if there's any consolation, it's not going to be that competitive right away. So maybe first quarter, he can play a lot, and then by the time it's like 14, 21-0, things. He's off a little bit. Historical reference, jokes aside, each of the last three-season kickoff games

spread less than four points. This one is seven. So there's an element of cowboys are acting like they're the main character. This is the Eagles show that the cowboys are going to be there. It's a KC. Baltimore, KC. Baltimore, KC. Detroit, Rams, Buffalo. Those felt big. Cowboys are big, a big time,

but it's a seven-point spread. This is an eagle's coronation that they are invited to. And you said that yesterday, and I wanted to come. I agree with that. Obviously, the Eagles are the far better team. But the Cowboys are the Cowboys. I do think they're co-stars, especially with this Micah situation.

Well, I mean, they got, they weren't randomly picked out of the hat. You know what I mean? Like, they are being treated. They are, their celebrity is elevating them to the status of this game. Yeah, it's like a Mike Tyson exhibition. Those other teams, which was Ravens, Lions, Bill. the team that got invited to the season opener, their play earned it. Yeah.

You know what I mean? For the Cowboys, this is a reputational. The soap opera, all that. So Jerry does know what he's doing. It's like, we're not going to, we're not contending for the Super Bowl, but we're opening up the season. Besides Mike. A new team atop the AFC West. Stop it.

Nobody's going to be that silly. A lot of people are saying that, though. Yeah, a lot of people are saying that. All I'm saying, it's just not my cup of tea, and that's fine. The Phillies got it. They can trademark that play, and that's all good. They can have that one. There's a couple of plays that I feel strongly about that I'd like to trademark for us.

Okay, so this was, Danny brought this up because I was accused of turning on Ben Johnson. Not accused. Just because he was asked about the Tushbush, and he said he was fond of explosive plays. And dismissed a play. so efficient and effective that the league got together and tried to unsuccessfully ban it, which the Bears voted to ban. Now, the Lions didn't. The Lions were the one team that is on the schedule to play the Eagles that did not vote to ban the Tush Bush, which I thought was brave and honorable. Hold on. Can I ask this question real quick? Yeah, sure. Are you now claiming

you didn't turn on Ben Johnson because of this? Because you obviously did. It's fine, but but don't act like, you're like, people are saying. You loved Ben Johnson. You loved his, is his crazy bravado and crazy plays. Right. You were, you thought he was the right hire for the Bears. Yeah, perfect. You had nothing negative to say about him.

Since he gave that one quote, all you've done is poke at him. Was there something else that happened that we didn't know? No, I just didn't like that. Okay, yeah. So that, I mean, it's. So you're now back to being a Ben Johnson guy? Of course. I've always liked Ben Johnson.

I just really disliked the quote. But you, his, his, to use Nick's phrase, the cut of his jib rubbed you the wrong way? No, I hope that he liked it. No, but you thought he had a little, you know, arrogance about him, snarking. I mean a little bit, but I want him to succeed, obviously. Wow.

But dissing the tush push and then voting against it. But can't get, 21. other teams voted against it. Yeah. And I also think it's fair to say, I don't know that it is totally accurate to say they tried to outlaw it purely because it's so affected. Why were they trying outlaw it?

Because, well, Goodell's, I mean, Goodell's reasoning was because of the aesthetics of it. Well, they said safety, but also the aesthetics of it. I don't think it was just that it's so good. It was also that it is unlike any other play you see in the game, right? Like, it wasn't just that they're really good. I disagree. Like the Brady quarterback sneak was, as a percentage-wise, more effective than this. They never once tried to outlaw that because it was a regular football play, right?

I mean, I think it's odd that every team that is playing the Eagles voted to Outlaw, except one, and the teams that didn't vote, aren't playing the Eagles, were like, yeah, you can keep it. But that's, I don't think it's an aesthetics thing. Okay, but a lot of the teams that didn't. are like, you know what, this is bad for rating. They're trying to win games, and they'd rather Jalen Hertz not do it. So a lot of teams that aren't playing the Eagles and are in the AFC voted to ban it as well.

They're wimps too. Okay. I don't know what you say. The Patriots didn't do it. I think they feel like it's a cheat code, but it's only a cheat code for the Eagles. Thank you. That leads us to the NFL 100. They ranked Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hertz as the 19th best player in the league.

He falls four spots from where he was last year, but the voting was done before the playoffs. Here are the QBs who have been revealed so far. Jaden C.J. Big Show, Herbert, Stafford, Bow, Nix, Jordan Love, Sam Dahl and Dach, and Tua. He's actually a pretty solid list. We're still expecting, obviously, the big four of Mahomes, Burrell, Lamar, and Josh. And then you mentioned on the call, Jared Gough. Yeah, Goff's going to be on there. I mean, I just think it would be, especially if voting took place before the playoffs, he's not going to be outside of, I wouldn't have guessed he would be that high.

But he's certainly not going to be outside the top 100. So, Jayland, too high, too low, or just right? I think, listen, I understand your frustration that it's odd that he dropped from last year. He's gone from 3 to 15 to 19 over the last three years. I think it is a testament to the respect he has that he stayed as high as he did since the voting took place before the postseason. when the voting was taking place and you know what I mean?

His numbers were his numbers. The team right around the time of the vote was when A.J. Brown was like, we need to get better at passing. And this is why I feel like that Jalen Hertz's disrespected thing has become not a full straw man, but straw-ish.

Here's the full list of guys who have been top 20 the last three years on this poll. That's where he lives. That's not disrespect. And by the way, that assumes all those guys are going to be in this year. Which I would, none of them won't be. Even Lamar has.

No. No, because Lamar two years ago, you know, was coming off the injury year. Like, so I, the, I don't, I don't think that is, I, in honestly, that, that, that, I don't think he's necessarily in that neighborhood. I mean, that neighborhood is six sure fire, no doubt, Hall of Famers. And I don't think he's that yet. You know what I mean? Like the, I guess Justin Jefferson technically isn't that yet either,

but he'd have to quit football. He pretty much will be. Yeah. And so like the, and so I just, I think this is fine. Like, I think this is, you know, the neighborhood that he lives in. This will make him the sixth right now. They would have him as six quarterback. Assuming golfs on that.

I don't have a problem with that ranking, and I'm not trying to be funny, it's fluid in that area, right? But I do have a problem, and I understand if the vote was in December, I understand them having golf ahead of him because golf was lighting it up and all that stuff. Hadn't had the three interception playoff game yet. But, like, I can't stomach him being behind golf because Jalen is at his best on the biggest stage. at his best, right? His, like, not he still plays well. He plays better than he does during the regular season in the Super Bowls.

Obviously, golf is kind of the opposite. You know, he hadn't been bad in all his playoff games, but he doesn't, like, rise to the occasion. Doesn't have his best games, yeah. Yeah, and last year, of course, they lose their first playoff game as the number one seed, and he throws three picks, one touchdown. So I think if golf and I would assume, too, Nick, that he'll be on this list,

I don't think he should be ahead of Jalen. Yeah, well, based on, obviously, the vote came before this, but based on his accomplishment, what he was able to do last year and how they were able to finish the season, yeah, this is too low. I think a lot of it has to do with,

kind of like that the Brock Purdy-type feeling of having so much around him to where we undervalue to a degree the impact of Jalen Hertz. We know he's impactful. We know he's valuable. But when we look at him in comparison to a Patrick Mahomes,

a Lamar Jackson, a Josh Allen, we see those guys and we if we were to. Absolutely. And I don't care how you look at the Eagles. You know how valuable Jalen Hertz is, but nobody just says, yeah, you take Jalen Hertz off that team.

It's over. Right. You just don't have that sense. And I think that's why there's this feeling of disrespect. And I don't know if that's disrespectful to Jalen. It might feel like that, but I think it's just a respectful way of saying, you guys have a really good team and this is where we get you. Go, Wiles.

I think, unfortunately, and we get a lot of content out of this, and I understand that NFL players have a busy schedule. But doing this poll before the playoffs and then revealing it in late August is fundamentally flawed. And it's just kind of like we're living with it and we get a lot of, and we appreciate all the work. But it's a little bit of like, you know, best pumpkin patch. Hey, when did you do the poll? April. Like, well, I don't know.

Were there pumpkins out there? It would be much different if they did it happen. But here's, just give us 30 seconds to us. Here's my question. If we assume he is behind those five guys, Mahomes, Allen, Lamar, Burrow, golf. If it were done right now, I think you would only move him up one spot.

I just want him in top five. Okay, so that's just the golf, like, you know what I mean? Because you wouldn't, you, you're fine with the other four being ahead of them. Of course. Yes. But even the order of those four. Those order, no. Miniaturely fluid.

Can I have one more thing? It's, I'm not. Now, the ESPN poll. That's a projection. So that one was the one that we just did, and I thought that was taken too early. This is for this upcoming year. And this one is weird.

So this did take into account the Super Bowl, but we're expecting Jalen Hertz to regress a little bit because last year he was 32, one Super Bowl MVP. Now this year he's 38. I did think this was a little bit off, and I tweeted one more Super Bowl, he'll be. in the 40.

Unlike. Now, this is too soon and the other one's too late. They don't think the Eagles are going to win the Super Bowl again. But I understand, but he won the Super Bowl and he dropped because we did it before the playoffs. Then he won the Super Bowl. He dropped in this one because it's a projection. Right. I just want one to be like.

Unlike your other Jalen Hertz tweet, that's a good one. That was a good one. That was a good. I liked that one. All my Jailen Hurts tweet. That was succinct. No, the one that you send out every time, we've argued a lot. Oh, yeah?

On and off the air. Well, I'm beloved to Philadelphia. There you go. There you go. If we have a Super Bowl rematch. You know what? You should have time. Beloved everywhere.

You should get some type of like a Liberty Bell. You know what? I was going to get the Philly Fanatic on my tummy. Predictions Week rolls on tomorrow. Wow. The Monsters of the Midway. AFC North. This is going to be an interesting.

And it's sandwiched it is. Yeah. We have some special guests. And believe it or not, I know what you're thinking. You're just going to recycle the same old bits? No. New bits coming. tomorrow. Wonderful episode of Weird and Wonderful. Bits or new bit? Do we have two new bits?

I don't know. World Red Sox, Roman Anthony gone. Youngest Red Sox to ever hit a lead off on run. Breaking Bobby Doors record. Interesting Wild's trivia. Bobby Doer's number was retired in the first game I ever went to at Fenway Park. Is that interesting? No. But it was interesting. No, that's cool. I like that. I like learning more about Young Wilds. Red Sox now rolling in the wild car. We're good. Weird. Pirates up one on the Cardinals in the bottom of the seventh.

Ramirez strikes out Wilson Contreras, who then takes a second. He's like, you know, I don't want to give this umpire, a piece of my mind. Now, he's got his bat here, Brew. Watch this. This is unwise. Yeah, drop the bat. You don't want to have that. Well, he kind of spans.

He takes a second. Oops. Coach, what the heck? I got a Cardinals jersey on. That's not great. That's too far. In general, I like baseball ejections, particularly with the men. It's just entertaining.

And then the high chutes. If he doesn't have the... Are you ever have a high chute? They're awful. No. What? Worst take of the day. My daughter, I thought my daughter gave me one.

I thought it was gum. It is, it's gum. No, but it dissolves. It's like a gum meets a starburst. If you're having, no, you don't know. Again, I'm not trying. Greg needs two things. Greg is sorry to even asked.

We don't have to talk about it. Right. And chicken. Hichu's are good. Greg, if you ever, you know. I didn't know they were, I didn't know Hichus were a major league baseball state. I didn't know either until they. You got a bucket of them.

Wow. Conspiracy theory. This whole thing was just a Hichu ad? Wow. Good take. Wonderful. Padres Mariners in the first cow rally. Oh, I'm sorry.

Al-Carras. I'm sorry. Al-Cra's got a new haircut and some great plays here. Ooh. I'm seeing him Wednesday night. Are you? Of course. Oh, you're going?

Yeah. Do you like his new haircut? Not really, but he doesn't either. It was an accident. Oh, is that the story? I thought he didn't hurt. He was asking the fans about it. And then Royal Macri was there. No, his brother was supposed to, his brother, I've done this to a buddy once. His brother didn't hit the guard right. Oh, and it came. And he came and then the king, boom. And then he's like, all right, you got to go all the way.

Carlos, who hasn't been there? He's like his brother. His brother. It's like Brew. Brew cuts his own hair. Yeah, I've been there too. Yeah. Yeah. We did that there's several brothers. You cut your own hair too?

I do. What? Dustin. Dusty cuts his own hair, but Dusty doesn't have hair. Dusty doesn't have hair. No one has a barber here? I mean, I have a barber too. I thought you had a barber that you're friends with.

You always talking about it? I do. But I cut my own hair. And he's not upset with that? No. My barber gets upset. No, your barber gets upset if you go to a different barber. Yeah.

Not if you do it yourself. He would. You want me to teach you how to cut air? Kind of. It saves a lot of money. I'll tell you that. We got to move on. Patrick's Mariners, Count Riley.

Home run number 50. He's the first catcher to hit 50. Only Mantle has more switch hit home runs. Can you name the only Mariners with 50 home runs? Ken Griffey Jr. Correct. He's got to be MVP, right? You said that earlier, and I...

Yeah, I didn't get a real. I mean, it... Yes right now, no, when the Royals run them down for the wild card. What do you mean? Okay, so that's a yes. No, there's three back. He's the first catcher ever to hit 50. He might, he, judges.

No, what I'm saying, what I'm saying is that wasn't really a royals take. My point is, if they missed the playoffs, I think Judge will win it. Yes, I don't think you're giving them. Really? Yeah, I think it's, listen, the MVP obviously, Trout won a bunch of them. them without the team being good. Yeah, in baseball is a little different. Yeah, I think first catcher ever, second switch hitter ever to hit 50.

Right now, for whatever it's worth, he's not the favorite. He's not the favorite. Yeah. But, I mean, he wouldn't be a bad pick. I'm not even saying it would be, I'm just. I'm just thinking with the hit-off. I think the Mariners have to also make the playoffs for him to lock it up. They're third in the wild card.

It goes Red Sox, Yankees, Mariners, and then four back after almost being no hit. It's the Royals. Archie Manning coming up. We're going to see his debut this year against Ohio State. How's he going to do? Is he talking trash? I'm not sure. No, I don't think it's trashed off.

That's how you could. It's something, though. Everyone has had this matchup circle. The Arch Manning era kicks off with a playoff rematch for the ages. Number one, Texas takes on the defending national champion. Number three, Ohio State Parkouts. Big Noon Saturday, coverage begins with Big Noon kick. off live from Columbus at 9 a.m. Eastern this Saturday, 9 a.m.

I can't wait. Here's Arch Manning on Texas being targeted. Take a listen. I think that's all of us at Texas, and I think we kind of try to shift the narrative. We're going for everyone else. Target's not on our back. We have the red dot on everyone else. That's a good, that's a good line. Oh, do you like this? Oh, I like it a lot. I also find Arch Manning to be the most fascinating person in college football this year. because he has every checkmark, obviously, of the no doubt number one pick, franchise superstar quarterback, except we haven't really seen him. Yeah.

You know what I? And so he is barely, his first year, he basically didn't play. It's actually went down like that. Last year he didn't play that much. It's rare these days for a prospect of his caliber to not just immediately play, particularly his pedigree. And so I'm fascinated by him and I'm fascinated by the fact

that despite he's on the number one team of the nation, he could play, he's the quarterback for the number one team of the nation who could play great his first game of the year and they could start O and one one. You know what I mean? Like that never happens because the number one team of the nation

never is in this type of spot on the road. And so, yeah, I like the competent. I also feel like he is going to be scrutinized in a way we haven't had a college quarterback scrutinized from the start of the year in a very long time, more than Shador, more than anything like that. I agree with him being the most intriguing college player. We all want to see what he can do. I think this game is a product of largely a product of the playoff now, because the loser

of this game is fine. It's not out of the running and all that stuff, which is great. So maybe we see more games like this at the beginning of the year. I love this comment. It's a defense mechanism against the pressure that he's under. Because notice he said he was asked about the pressure on him. He said, well, it's all of us. So he's saying it's not just me, it's the team.

Then he says, we're putting the target on, or we got the red dot on other teams. So he's saying we're not the hunted, which is more pressure, we're the hunter. Now that's some people like being the hunted. Some like being the hunter. I think growing up as a manning with all this pressure on him to be a great quarterback, He has learned what defense mechanism is best for me to stay even killed under all this pressure. So I like it. It's smart and I think it'll be fine.

You have a prediction for this one yet? Wow. You don't have to. It's predictions week, but we have until Friday. I'll give you one before the first. I'll give you mine right now. Okay. I think Ohio State wins this game.

I do not think I, but they cover. I mean, so by at least three. I mean, I just, I do not think the defending national champion is going to open up the year at home, having an all off season to prepare for that game and lose. And Texas might end up winning the national title at the end of the year. But Ohio State this Saturday, I like Ohio State. More first things first coming up at 5 o'clock. Predictions.

He rolls on. A new topic. I'm from New York. It's a show that is open to being invited to Taylor and Travis's wedding. That's a real thing to put out there, bro. Well, I'm open to it. Listen, can I say something without revealing to a lot? much. Someone in your family might be, I would highly doubt it's you. The person who knows the people

way better than you. Wow. I don't know who that is. Your, okay. Your wife? How's my wife? And I get to be invited. Well, I mean, you could be her plus one. You could be her plus one. You're not anymore. You're not anymore. I'm invited to the steakhouse. Can I ask you a quick question. You're not invited to the steakhouse. Ceremony at the steak. Invited the Steakhouse. Reception at the Steakhouse. Can I answer you a question? Danny, who makes fun of the Royals more than anyone on national TV?

Who owns part of the Royals? Mahomes. Who's Kelsey's best friend? Mahomes. You're out, buddy. Your Royals mocking is costing you an invite to the wedding of the year. Sorry, I'm giving the Royals a little publicity. Good section.

It's a little bit. Today, what are the chances Shador, starts sooner than we think. Officially now, QB3, we kick it around now that pickets been traded. Meanwhile, is Jalen Hertz being disrespected in the latest rankings? There's a video of Patrick Mahomes, who Jalen Hertz? There is. There is.

You're talking about disrespect. They just assumed when you bring up Jailen Hertz that you're going to say, who he beat in a mom. I didn't know what it was. But right now we're talking about Aaron Rogers, another great all-time. time quarterback. He joined friend of the show Adam Schein on Mad Dog Sports Radio and Rogers said he was indifferent. Didn't really care about the Steelers having, being projected to have only eight and a half wins. Take a listen.

I don't really care about any of those prognostications there, Mr. Schein. Sometimes it's easier when there's low expectations and people are not talking about you. I feel like we came together as a group in La Trobe, and now can we put it together and then sustain it? Every team every year has periods of adversity that they have to overcome and kind of go through it, like the bison running toward the storm. You've got to kind of run to it and embrace it. Danny, your reaction.

I'm ashamed. to say I kind of missed hearing from Aaron Rogers the last like four to six weeks. The bison towards the story. Well, we fact-checked that. That actually is true. We found out. Yeah, it's what they do. Did you know that?

As of this morning when I heard that with Adam Scho. Oh, you do that before. Big bison guy. I love a bill. A long time, well-known bison guy. Yeah, he's just like a wonderfully weird brand of weirdness that when he's just talking about bison, I'm here for. And I'll say this. I don't know what world he's lived in where he says there's no expectations

and that people aren't talking about him. They're the Pittsburgh Steelers. He's Aaron Rogers. He's about to start his weekly appearances on one of the biggest shows in the world, and he is going to bring with him controversy and all that. A win total of eight and a half is not low. It's not high. Or a guy that the coach that wins has a winning record every year.

It's been eight and a half three of the last four years in Pittsburgh. So there's not a tremendous amount of new expectation with him there, but they are 50-50 to make the playoffs in Vegas. That's not low. That's a middle-of-the-packed team. And what I would say is, I like they're over. I actually do think it makes sense to say that if Mike Tomlin can have a winning record with Mitch Tribusky and Duck Hodges

and Justin Fields and on down line, Kenny Pickett, we know the numbers, if you gave him league average offensive production, they'd be really good. Because we actually have the data to show that if Mike Tomlin just gets 21 points per game, 20 plus, they win 86% of the time. League average is scoring 23 points per game.

The problem is that they don't do it that often, right? Well, right. But so there's only going to be 17 games this year. So if Aaron Rogers can score, 23, 24 points per game with a defense that absolutely could be top five in the NFL, they can win 10 games. And as soon as Aaron Rogers, get some special teams. Yeah, fine.

But as soon as the Pittsburgh Steelers are on the way to winning 10 games with Aaron Rogers as their quarterback and Mike Tomlin as their coach, expectations will follow. Oh, if they make the playoffs, people will convince themselves that they can go to the Super Bowl. That part, I totally agree. And so as they start to win games. But I don't think they're going, listen, Brew is, I'm curious because Brew is, yeah, Brew is on a nice edge and now has added information.

I don't know if this has moved you at all. That was good info for my studying tonight, Danny. You hit it on the head. See, you're saying there are expectations. Yes, and there are. Certainly in Pittsburgh, we've heard teammates, Cam Hayward say, okay, we got this guy. You know, some people have talked about how goodies look. others have said the opposite, but someone said how good he's looked in training camp and all that.

So the pressure is or the expectations are there. But Rogers saying they aren't there, that's to me, that's what Rogers loves. He is, he wants there to be no expectations because the last two seasons he's played the full season, he played his best football when the expectations were gone. Green Bay is last year. people expect a good season. They start out badly. They're basically out of the playoffs, and here comes Aaron Rogers and the Packers playing well.

Then the last game where they actually have a chance to win it, he doesn't play well if they lose. Same thing with the Jets last year. He played well toward the end of the season once everything, you know, they were out of the playoff race and all that. But do you really believe that Aaron Rogers Super Bowl champion four-time MVP? Yeah, because I've seen him struggle badly in all of his. his NFC championship games. You think it's because of the pressure?

I think it's gotten worse to when his skills have diminished now. I think he, I don't think he wants the pressure. That's why I actually liked him with the Jets initially, because he went there talking everything up. Super Bowl trophy looks lonely. He put the pressure on himself, and then we saw what happened.

So I think he realized, he can't sit here and think there's no pressure because all of Pittsburgh is expecting him to do something with this team for the reasons you said and I've said it they win 10 games with Justin Fields they can't win 12 or even 11 with Aaron Rogers I'm I'm interested in what you disagreed with him about you don't you think Aaron Rogers is big game quarterback I think that listen you and I've talked about that NFC championship game against Seattle that one was on Mike McCarthy stop taking field goals inside five yard line okay that's that's fine that's fine that's I

Yes, and the NFC championship game against Atlanta, they were down 21-0 when he had touched the ball barely at all. I understand that piece of it. I also understand that it does, where I agree with Brew is, Aaron Rogers, when things are going well, feels like, is that the best quarterback I've ever seen? You know what I mean? And has put up numbers that support that.

And Aaron Rogers, when there is a tough, A touch of adversity. This is not across the board, obviously. I'm not acting like the Dax's first playoff game ever, 2016. That was a back and forth game. He's on the road. He was great. He's an all-time great player.

But I don't look at him. There's playoff risers. There's playoff stay the same. And there's playoff, you know, dropers to varying degrees. To me, he is close to a playoff dropper than a playoff riser. And I think the numbers back that up. And I think Bruce's point that it is, he has, he has, tended to as of late play his best ball when there is not a belief that the games matter as much

as they did before. Like, I do think that's a thing, at least for older Aaron Rogers, than the opposite. Well, I think he's playing at this point in his career, at least if you believe what he says, and I don't often, but he seems to be playing with house money. I'm playing for the love of the game. I just want to end my career, playing for a great franchise, doing all of the right things. We would agree that the Steelers are more stable than the Jets. Yes, of course. They a better defense than the Jets. They're better coach than the Jets. Everyone is convinced that this offense is going to be bad.

D.K. Metcalf is excellent. They added Janoos Smith to go with Pat Fryermuth. That's 15 touchdowns combined last year from the tight end spot. I would think for a guy like Aaron Rogers, having two tight ends to help block would be good who also can catch the ball. Jalen Warren, I thought he was better than Najee Harris. And then they drafted the kid Caleb Johnson, who's a very talented running back, who's had a good preseason. The running game should be better. Their tight end production should be better.

Their wide receiver 1 production should be at least the same. Yeah, I don't know if their quarterback play is going to be better, though. I don't know. You don't think Aaron Rogers is better than Justin Fields? He wasn't better than Zach Wilson? We did this last year. All we just like all we needs to do is be better than Zach Wilson, and we didn't get it. But everything else about the Steelers is better than everything else about the Jets.

Hold on. I don't know that we. That Jets defense thought was going to say the Jets, what we thought about the Jets defense going in the last year and their coaching. again, Sala is not Tomlin, but we all respected the Salah's defensive acumen and the defensive talent. I just

I think that the, so yes, to answer your question, I don't think the Packers are, sorry, the Steelers are going to have a good offense. I don't. I think that the reason their win total is at eight and a half and they're a coin flip to make the playoffs when we all agree,

they have a playoff caliber coach, they have a playoff caliber defense is because they might not, and I think they don't, have a off-caliber offense. I think Rogers is answering the question about the expectations in a very interesting way. And you're right. When Rogers is talking sports or about unimportant things, it can be a fun listen. When he talks about real life stuff, it can be grading. I think it's hard for him to recognize, wait a minute, why are the expectations low? Like nobody doubts Tomlin. nobody's doubting the defense, and the expectations are low,

it's because people think he's washed. And there is overwhelming evidence he is, at least to my eye. I think that he is, is he better than Justin Fields? Sure. Is he going, are the Pittsburgh Steelers going to have better quarterback playover 17 games this year than than they had last year? I don't know that. I don't know that they are.

And so. I'd say that's a pretty comfortable bet, yes, that they're. Well, then they should make the playoffs. Correct. Right, yeah. Aaron Rogers thrown for 300 yards once in his last 40 games. 40? 40?

40 games. And that dates back now years and years and years. Yes, it's been years. Yeah. Predictions week. AFC West. Now, granted, the Chiefs have won the division nine straight times. But we're in Danny Parkins world now.

That's right. Justin Herbert's number of one advocate. So, Danny, is your time to showcase your faith in the United States? in Herbert and Harbaugh, please reveal your predictions for the AFC West. I'd be happy to. And yes, this is very exciting for me to be able to bring on this great platform all of the great Justin Herbert love. But we'll get there because we're going four to one.

Yeah, of course. It'll be a while before we talk about it. It's going to take some time to get there. Maybe the best last place team in the division, Knicks, Las Vegas Raiders. No team upgraded at coach and quarterback more this off season. Unfortunately, in this division, I don't believe that to be enough. Gino Smith is better. Pete Carroll is better.

Ashton Genty is great. The rest of the team. Sounds like a good team. It's an improved team that can win seven games. And as you said about the Broncos, someone has to finish in the last place. Not the Raiders. This start. Third place.

Blue loves it. Thank you, Brew. Third place would be the Denver Broncos. Two and six against playoff teams last year. This is where you and I are more aligned. Their defense is very good. I think that if Jade and Daniels did not exist, we'd be talking about Bo Nix's 29 touchdowns as a rookie a lot more,

second most for a rookie in NFL history. But ultimately... Behind. Thank you, Wild. Wow. Wow. It's only day two. Behind it doesn't hurt.

So now here's the thing, though, can I do it? What? Just do it. Well, can I do it? It would be great for your brand. So, and that's the thing. I was thinking about it, but I try to be right. I care more about being right.

He told me this is going to be a big problem for me in the world of TV. So the second place team in the AFC West is... Yeah, that graphic, baby. Justin Herbert. The greatest graphic in the history of FS1, he is on pace to be Peyton Manning through five years. On pace to be Peyton Manning. He's on pace to be Peyton Manning. He's on a.mast to be Peyton Manning.

What did they go in the regular season? 12 and 4. 12 and 4. So the chart is going... So we reveal the second place team, which is, yes, the Chargers. I can't do it. I can't go all the way there. Here's the thing. Justin Herbert could win league MVP and they not win the division.

I'm like, Dwayne Wade on that bounce pass. And you'd... I couldn't do it. I think the division is catching up to the Chiefs, but what people do not fully realize is that the Chiefs, they've won the Division one, nine straight years. In the last six, they've won it by multiple games. They've won it by an average of four games the last six years.

It is such a huge gap between the DHS. Chiefs and everyone else in this division, even with Peyton Manning 2.0 and Harbaugh and the best scoring defense in the NFL and a first round and second round pick on offense. Chargers are better, just not quite as good as the Chief. Okay. If I may. You may. I respect your self-control and not just... Listen, we know what Wilds would have done.

Wilds would have suggested you go Chargers won, but you... KW. What? But you also enjoy being correct. I like being incorrect, but I like being interesting. I will say this, if you cannot be the Justin Herbert guy. If you don't have them coming out of the AFC West. So if they do win, the Justin Herbert guy mantle is up for grass.

Whoa. It has to be. Yeah, I had them in the playoffs too. If we're doing, we're doing AFC North tomorrow. If Brew Comps is like, and finally, you know what it is, purple hat, shoes on the desk, and you're like, Joe Burrow and the Bengals. What are we doing? Who is the best quarterback?

I don't know you. About the Patriots era? The Peyton Manning era. The Peyton Manning era? Yeah. Tom Brady? Tom Brady. There you go.

It's the same thing. That's what he's saying. He's saying they're just in the same. That is such a misleading. Patrick Mahomes is Tom Ray. And he's saying, but so more importantly, not bad, I guess.

Hold on. So, but your, more importantly is this, and this is what I'm actually trying to focus on, because I respect the fact that you're not in the Legion of Dopes picking the Chiefs to lose the division, despite the fact that Patrick Wohmonds is 35 and 5 in the division in his crew.

It's tough to overlook about that. So the Chargers have enough to be really good, correct? Oh, yeah. With the Slater injury. So we're not going to get the man, Herbert was great. Unfortunately, his coach or the injuries or this or that undercut him. Listen, he has to finally win a game that matters. This is the year that he finally has to win a game.

Now, with his luck, week one, it's going to be Ladd-McConkey, week four, it's going to be someone else. That's how to charge this thing goes. But for now, yes, he has to win a big game. NSC. West predictions week. Brew has the 49ers. He's on the record. Nick, unfortunately, has the Rams after one of the most inappropriate

segments we've ever done on the show. Danny, your NFC West prediction. Who gets to bring home the flowers to their significant other, by the way? Well, some were sent to Brew, so those belong to Brew. The other ones, the Rams colors. The Rams colors ones, yeah, exactly. Yeah, I love those. They're up for grabs.

bright blue carnage. They're beautiful. The fourth place team in this division, I feel like until proven otherwise, everyone should agree. It's the Arizona Cardinals. They're a theoretically interesting team. We know their names.

They can make exciting. Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride and Kyler. They have one winning season since Kyler Murray's been the starter of the Cardinals. He's 14 and 22 as a starter. He gets hurt. He doesn't win big games.

Really fun player to watch on a highlight tape, but not particularly. The winning season led to one of the worst playoff games I've ever seen in my life. Correct. Yes, absolutely. Tough to have faith on them before the season. Talk to me in week eight. We'll see.

This is a very trendy team that I'm just not there with everybody on in Seattle. I think Sam Darnold is going to have a real rude awakening going from Kevin O'Connell and Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison and T.J. Hawkinson to the Seahawks offensive line, a defensive-minded coach. Gino Smith snapped in throat. He got that ball out. Last year for Darnold, he took 11 sacks in the last two games, fell apart at the end of the year. I think this is going to be he got his $100 million, and he's going to have a lot of losses.

Hold on. Before you go on, I have a question. I know you reveal yours on Friday. Are you going to have the Seahawks winning the division? Maybe. But if not, are you no longer, is the Darnold guy up for grabs? I'm not a Darnold guy. Oh, you.

I've never been a Darnold guy. What? Go through my guy files. I'm not a Darnold guy. He is, you are the You're going to bat for him more than anyone on national television. I'm just saying 14 wins and 4,300 yards

is nothing to shake a stick at. You just can't go and just replace that. So are you going to be the JJ and Parky guy? They think you can in Minnesota. He's anti that. I'm not. I just think it's a little bit of hubris out of Minnesota. Okay. Don't get wrong. Everybody's

a genius. Luce to Daniel Jones, but did it with Cousins. Did it with Darnold. We'll see what he does with McCarthy. So this team, It wasn't a question if they were going to be second or first. I had no problem putting them second. It was a question if they were going to be in the playoffs.

And I ultimately decided I like the coaching quarterback too much, the Rams. Fair. Matt Stafford is amazing. When he plays 15 games or more, which is three of the four years since he's been a ram, they make the playoffs and they win double-digit games. But he's coming into the year hurt, and their offensive line is bad. It is not. So a bad offensive line in front of an immobile old.

quarterback is a serious concern, but it's a great organization that crushes the draft, that has a great young defense. Nakuwa and Devante Adams with Stafford and McVeigh. Second best coach in football. They're the seven seed in my NFC. Behind the Niners. The Niners. Oh, you're very well done. The other than putting the Rams in the playoffs, you nailed it. What? It just because it's yours? Yeah, exactly. All right. Right. Right minds. 27 and 10, the Niners are when Christian McCaffrey plays football for them. 27 and 10. So it's not about Purdy.

It's not about Trump. Nick did not know that stat. I do know that stat. I'm the McCaffrey guy. Well, why? You don't have him in the playoffs. Yeah, because the running backs can only do so much. I said he's a top three running back through and you got mad at it.

Top three? Go ahead. No, listen, Niners easiest schedule in the NFL and they were the most injured team in the NFL last year. So you get McCaffrey back. You have an easy schedule. They're in. Can I ask a quick question before we go about the Niners' schedule? Easy.

Here's the only thing. Here's what I've heard from every single person on this desk. NFC West is going to be tougher than you think. More competitive. The Cardinals are interesting. Greg thinks they can win it. Seattle, you said they're a trendy team. The Rams, whatever it is.

So I feel like some of the Niners have the easiest schedule as people are like, Cardinals and Seahawks. Nobody made the playoffs. That's the problem. There's only Texans made the playoffs, Bucks made the playoffs. Sam Darno's first game as a Seahawk. It's a four-n-no start for the Niners. Just for a four-no.

Christina's in my year. Danny, we are introducing a new element of predictions week. Debuting it now. Okay. You've played a fan of Vegas. You can get insurance, right? Do you have an insurance? Is there any pick that you were like, you know what?

I just put this one in pencil instead of permanent markers or anything in the rounds. I need to see staff to be healthy. I'm trying. I'm trying about that. I'm trying about that. I go. Welcome back to first things first. I'm Danny Parkins, a long time alongside a couple of Super Bowl champions here, Greg Jennings and Willie Colon.

Time for the most self-explained segment in all television. Top 10 Tuesday. It's where we list in the top 10 list on a Tuesday. Top 10 teams heading in to week one. And we begin with number 10, the Pittsburgh Steelers. This is not just an Aaron Rogers thing, though. I think you are contractually obligated to say every year, Mike Tomlin has been the coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He has never finished with the record below 500. And he's done it with Kenny Pickett and Duck Hodges. And now you give him Aaron Rogers. If they just are average offensively, they are going to win double-digit games. And I think that Aaron Rogers, with Friar Muth and John Huss Smith and a better running game and D.K. Metcalf can be average. Number nine, I know people say this is just my bias about Justin Herbert, and they're correct. But also, Jim Harbaugh, 11 plus wins in four of five seasons when he's a coach in the NFL. He said the rest of the team needs to catch up to Justin Herbert.

Their defense was the number one scoring defense in the NFL. Then they used their top two picks on offensive players to try to help out Justin Herbert. I think the offense is better. They're going to be a top 10 team this year. Number eight, the commanders, They had Laramie Tunsell and Debo Samuel to an electric offense that I think has the potential to actually be the number one offense in the NFL this season if Jaden Daniels continues to get better as I would think he did. Nine one score wins last year. My only concern about Washington. Can they keep that up? The seventh best team in the NFL, the San Francisco 49ers.

Easeiest schedule in the league, most injured team in football last year. And again, they're dominant when Christian McCaffrey plays. and 10. You give Kyle Shanahan any running back they produce. You give him one of the best running backs in NFL history. They are truly an elite team. San Francisco, the seventh best team in the NFL heading into week one. Number six, the Cincinnati Bengals. Now, this team has the offense to be the best team in the NFL. Three of the top four picks on the defensive side of the ball, new defensive coordinator. They got Trey Hendrickson, signed, sealed, and delivered. They somehow had a losing record last year in games where they scored 30 or more points. They went three in

in games where they scored 30 or more points. That is remarkable. Just be the 22nd best defense in the NFL, and they're back to winning 10, 11 or 12 games this season. And now we get to the real cream of the crop here. The Detroit Lions, they have been my Super Bowl pick from the NFC. Each of the last two years, we'll save it for the Super Bowl pick for this year, but it might be a three-peat.

They had one of the best point differentials in NFL history last year for a team to not reach a Super Bowl. They outscored their opponents by 222 points, and that's with all of the injuries on the defensive side of the ball. Just have a little bit of positive regression for health. I know the interior of the offensive line is a question. I know replacing coordinators is a question, but that offense is so good. If the defense can just be average with health, they're going to be a juggernaut again in the NFC. And now it gets tough, and I think there's going to a lot of reasonable lines can disagree on these top four teams.

The Baltimore Ravens, though, come in for me at number four. They maybe have the best roster in the NFL. They were a historic offense last season. Lamar Jackson is absolutely ridiculous. I do have the lingering issue of can they get it done in January. It's always something with them. It's turnovers, it's drops, it's execution, it's coaching decisions, it's readiness. Baltimore is great.

Maybe this is their year. There's an argument for them at one for me because of January. They have to start in the four spot. Number three, Buffalo has just proven that they are more trustworthy late, even though they also haven't gotten it done on the ultimate stage for them. But they have been the best regular season team in football for five straight years. They lead the NFL in point differential, points per game, yards per game, and opponents points per game, the last five years.

They're the best regular season team in football with the MVP of the league in Josh Allen. Number two, the Kansas City Chiefs. It was a down year, guys. This is down here. They won 15 games, won the AFC. And it was like, oh, they got blown out in the Super Bowl. Is the dynasty over? I don't know.

They upgraded it, left tackle, and their wide receivers of Worthy and Hollywood Brown and Rishi Rice played zero snaps together last year. All facts. So at least to the start of the year, they'll be out there. And number one, they lost a ton on defense, but they also have a ton of talent on defense. It's the youngest defense in the NFL. Their first five draft picks were on defense. the Philadelphia Eagles, they deserve it.

You know, the Super Bowl champs, you blew out the Chiefs. While I have questions about if they need Jalen Hertz to throw the ball 30 times, is that a recipe for success? Can they be as healthy as they were last year on offense? Four now heading into week one, the Philadelphia Eagles deserve to be the number one team in the NFL. I assume we're just moving on because that's a perfect list. No, no, no, because I was trying to look while you were talking. I was looking like, where the rest of his note?

What do I leave out? What I leave out? Like one through five, one through five, you can shake it up however you want to shake it up, whoever want to dispense their list, whatever. One through five, I give you that. I don't know if I have it exactly the same. But there's a team that's not even on here. And I mean, I'm not, I'm not a homer.

I've never been a homer guy. Oh, here we go. But to not have the Packers on here when you look and see what they. I thought you were going to say the Vikings. The other team are home for. No, no, no, because with a quarterback, the quarterback position is very important. You lose a quarterback that performed the way that Sam Donald did, you're probably going to drop a notch.

So I don't knock you for that. But to have your Steelers on here. Here we go. The Chargers in front of the Green Bay Packers with Jordan Love, a healthy Jordan Love, a Jordan Love that they finally drafted in Green Bay, a receiver in the first round, Matthew God, and just in case you weren't paying attention. I hear a good thing.

With a running game that was extremely effective, one of the better running games in all of football, a defense that was awesome last year. I'm trying to wrap my head around the idea of why they're not your preseason top 10. Well, other than the fact that I don't like them. There we go. Everyone has bias. You don't have to say anything else. Everyone has biases. The only people you can trust are the ones who admit them to you.

Their defense was a little bit too turnover dependent last year. Turnover regret. I mean, McKinney had an interception in, what, the first six games that he was a Packer last year. You're knocking them because they created its turnovers? That is something that fluctuates greatly. George Love gave it right back. Well, that tends to be more consistent. If you are a team that gives it away, that tends to be more consistent year-of-year.

And still no pass rush for Green Bay. I got more questions about their defense. Yeah, the team that I'm scratching my head at is where's the L.A. Rams. And this is what makes me annoyed about you and critics like yourself is they like to remember the first half of last season, instead of remember what happened at the back end of last season, where this team really excelled. And so when you talk about Matthew Stafford, going to Philly, cold weather, snow, turning into John Wick in the fourth quarter, laying Eagles down. He was electric. The man threw for over 300 yards, two touchdowns.

what's crazy about that the defense doesn't get enough love because in that playoff game, they had seven sacks against the big time bad Eagles. So I'm looking at the Rams and saying, why aren't they getting enough credit in love? Because if it's prediction week, I have them winning in the division. So I'm a little disappointed in you. Why? What position did you play, sir? Off as a line.

You like the Rams offensive line? Alex. You like Colton Shelton blocking the interior? He was a backup in Chicago when they gave up 68 sacks last year. Mind you, their quarterback is entering into the season. already with issues. I'm not worried about Matthew Stafford's injuries. He's going to be fine.

The office line will work yourself out. Their left tackle, Alerick Jackson will be back. Spoken by true offensive. Yeah, they work itself out. My point is, why don't we respect the Rams right now for everything they acquired last season and the way they're going to play this season? They're going to be done.

They got DeVontay Adams, Pooka, Nukua, talking about Karen Williams. They're going to be big time. We got to respect them. In prediction week, I had him as the seventh seat in the NFC. If you told me right now Matt Stafford's playing 17 games, I'd be with you. It's tough for me with his age, the back injury, and the offensive line.

But they already proved they can excel with him being in and out of lineup. You forget that he beat up on Josh Allen last year. We forget about that. So, Sean McVeigh is an incredible coach. And I love Devante there. You've got to love Devon. Yeah, I love all of that. But when we talk about teams that are going to be top 10 or literally supervolous out,

somebody's going to be left out, somebody's going to be left out, shouldn't be the package. When we talk about the Rams for me, like I see this, they're a really good team. Everything coming together all health-wise, but when I look at the Rams, I look at them limping into the season with the quarterback that's already harboring an injury. With an offensive line, an all due respect, that struggles to protect the quarterback that's already walking into the season with an injury. We proved that they can get by that. The defense has carried the load, especially towards the back in the last season. Outside of week 8, 10, four out of their five games, they held opponents under 10 points. The Fiskinverse looked awesome by the end of the league.

It did. Well, all this is true. They held the Vikings to nine points. So, like, we can talk about Stafford as injury rolls. The defense has arrived. That's why they're a legit contended. Man, I thought my top 10 was perfect. No, the top five.

The top five is perfect. All right. We're halfway there. You're honest. I don't like none of it. None of it. On top 10 Tuesday, we'll do better next week. Coming up next, there's news out of Cleveland, and unfortunately, Shador Sanders is shockingly not the starting quarterback for the Browns.

We'll discuss. Welcome back to first things first. It's time for a little no huddle, starting with breaking news out of Cleveland. Dylan Gabriel was named QB2 for the Browns. Shocking. After they traded Kenny Pickett to the Raiders. Here's head coach Kevin Stefansky. Dylan will be the backup.

It's such a all-encompassing evaluation, so. Everything the guys did in the games was important. We also saw a lot of them out here in practice and how they are at their craft. And he's certainly somebody that we think is getting better and better. RIP to Shador Sanders topics everywhere. Games are going to start. He's going to be inactive. And listen, I'm rooting for him.

He has done nothing wrong. This has been such a collective media failure. Like, I am embarrassed for the industry at large. You're like, how was the third round pick ahead of the fifth round pick on the depth chart? I don't know. Maybe it's because they think the third round pick is better. It's revolutionary stuff, Greg. Yeah, this is, look, what's going on in Cleveland is simple.

You got a fifth round pick that has made a team that has an opportunity to continue to grow. That's what this is what should do. He is in a position where, like, in the preseason, we saw the cards kind of fall in his hands where he could play. If that does happen, which I think a lot of people looking at their roster at quarterback, Joe Flacco, I don't think anybody truly believes with what's going on in Cleveland that Joe Flackle will play 17 games and be healthy for all 17, and you're not going to need one of these two guys, if not all three. I'm not, I haven't seen, I don't know what they've been doing in practice. I only can go off what I've seen on film when they're, when they've gotten into the preseason games.

You didn't like the five sacks. No, I didn't like that. I didn't like what I saw at Dylan Gabriel. So that was his first start. I understand, I get all of that. So they're, they're in a tough situation. But he is in a, he's still in a spot where he's on a team. He has a chance to develop and learn.

And we'll see what happens in the regular season. I just hope he understands the show. The work behind the curtain is what makes the show possible. And you got to understand, this man's never been in this position. Everywhere as Chador has gone, Elaine has been a card from. When he landed at Jackson State, Dion said, you're the quarterback. When he took his talents to Boulder, you're our quarterback. He's never had to earn a position.

So this is the first time he's going to be in this position. I want him to continue to work and show up to Cleveland like he's to continue to do. Be gritty, work, be humble, show humility, be on time, be a professional. If he continues those things, then we can continue to root for him. Hopefully he understands this is how the NFL is. You got to own your spot. You can't just be handed your position. So we'll see what happens.

You're talking college, prediction week, prediction. Shudor Sanders, redshirt year. Doesn't play, doesn't play. We'll not play one snap. But the team is expected to win five games. Yeah, I know. They'll go to Dylan Gabriel after Joe Flacko. And we will go to the NFC as we know huddle in Detroit.

A rocky preseason for the Lions. That, though, does not, of course, define the way Dan Campbell feels about his team. Here's Dan Campbell on how he sees the state of his roster heading into the year. Year five, this is the best we felt about it, kind of top the bottom. We know the ceiling, well, we don't even really know the ceiling. There's still so many of these players that are continuing to get better and better that are really good players. But by doing that, the floor has, man, has really raised. So to me, this one is pretty easy.

People talk about a brain drain. Like they lost Aaron Glenn. They lost Aaron Glenn, they lost Ben Johnson. They still have an offense that I expect to be top five. And they have a healthy defense and they were the most injured defense I've ever seen in the NFL last year and arguably in NFL history by the numbers. The ceiling for the Lions this year is the Super Bowl. I don't know if they'll make it, but they are still clearly a Super Bowl caliber tier one NFL team.

Yeah, that is definitely the ceiling. I don't want to discount the loss of those coordinators in the point. a plethora of other coaches that they lost as well. Obviously, the players are what drives a team because you need great talent, great guys on the field to get wins, which is hard to do. But when you have coordinators like Ben Johnson and defensive coordinators like Aaron Glenn that you lose and are great men and great mentors to the guys that are on that team, how is the message going to be conveyed?

that's going to be something that they're going to have to deal with throughout the course of the season. The reason why I believe that the ceiling is still Super Bowl for this team is because the guy who's driving the vehicle. Dan Campbell. Well, to your point, this is why this is the most pivotal season of his career, right, because he's going to have to make up for some of them deficiencies when you lose master barns like that.

Overall, the ceiling, to me, it's still 15 and 2 like they were last year. Right. They have a shot to do it. But recognize that the division is going to be better. Yes. Green Bay is going to be better. the Bears will be better. Well, hopefully Ben Johnson delivers, and I pray for you there, Danny.

Thank you. But overall, man, I think we as Americans who follow football, we've brought into the Detroit Lion brand. Happy Thanksgiving. Sure. But overall, what I'm saying is this thing can't dip because they don't have the coaches. This thing can't dip. Like, there's no more excuses. There's a brand of football that they've been playing for so long that we can't see a backstep in culture and resilience and grit, right?

Because that lands on Dan Campbell. time he stands up in front of a presser, we're going through the meat grinder. We're buying kneecaps. We're punching people, right? That can't fall backwards. So if I'm Dan Campbell, this is all on you now. You can't rest on your laurels and your coaching staff. You're going to have to be the mastermind of the captain of the ship. And we're going to see if you can deliver it. And Super Bowl is the end game. Well, it's at the no huddle here in Philadelphia with the top 100 list. Raining Super Bowl MVP, Jalen Hertz, has come in at number 19. Four spots lower than last year. But of course, the vote was done before the playoffs. If this mattered at all,

I guess you can make a disrespected argument. But the Jalen Hertz disrespect conversation. So he's going to be behind Mahomes, Allen, Lamar, Burrow, and Gough. So he's going to be the sixth ranked quarterback in the NFL, according to his peers. Yeah, this is not a quarterback ranking. But wait a minute. But the only quarterbacks ahead of him are those guys. And look at how Jalen Hertz has compared to those guys. He is objectively not as good of a passer as the players that are in front of him. How is he being disrespected by his peers before he won Super Bowl MVP saying he was a top 20 player when he was 22nd in pass attempts last year? This is not disrespect.

You're punishing the man because he chose, he's putting his team before his stats, right? The strength of that team is what? His team is putting the team before throwing the ball. The strength of that team last year was the office of line. to Sequan Barkley. He understood if I want to win football games and I want to make the run, I got to lean on this office line. I got to lean on this run game. How can we not applaud that? That list you just showed, there's only one guy on that list that has a Super Bowl outside of him. And that's Patrick Mahomes. By the way, let's keep it a buck. Played them twice. What happened?

Walk the dog on him. You know what I mean? So like, what are we doing here? Like, I don't understand. Wait, wait. So are you saying that Jalen hurts is better than Patrick Mahomes? Of course you're not. If we're in a heavyweight fight and I knocked you out and I knocked you out and I get the belt. Don't that make me the champ? Yes, he is the champ. So what are we talking? But it's a top 100 list of who the best player is.

And the list is dumb. Because how are we, how are we taking a, making a Super Bowl quarterback, ranked number six out of guys. One of those guys that didn't even make the playoffs in Joe Burrow. Who is the better player? So it's, oh, that's what the list is. And Jalen Hurst proved he was in this year's Super Bowl. Like, Jalen Hertz is falling victim to just being on a really good team. That shouldn't be a knock on with his ability.

It should not. And I don't think that it is. It is. I think if this were done after the accomplishment of winning the Super Bowl and all the things, I think he would be slightly higher. Sure. However, this is not a quarterback ranking. What is it?

It's about the value of how we see that player with that team. And you can't compare Jalen Hertz to Patrick Mahomes. I think that's unfair because you clearly would say if Patrick Mahomes was removed from the Kansas team. Chiefs, up, they're done. Would you say that? Yeah, sure. Absolutely.

If you saw Josh Allen, if you removed him from the Buffalo Bills, would you say they were done? Yeah. Exactly. If you removed all these other quarter, this is why you can't just compare it about, compare quarterback to quarterback to quarterback. It's about the other players too. This team that he's on has a lot more players on this list than most other teams.

Yeah. And so he is, he was not, it's not that he's not valued. It's not that he doesn't have a great level of importance. But in terms of, in respect to his team, it's different. Ray, you can say he's not valued. The man's been to two Super Bowls in the last five years. What are we talking about right now? That's a team thing, though.

No, it's just how we look at it. He's driving the offense. Willie, what I'm saying is when you look at the Philadelphia Eagles, you don't automatically say, we got to stop Jalen Hertz. We got to take him away. And you know what? I'm glad you said that. You understand how important he is.

I know. I know he's giving up a lot. They lost the Kansas City Chief. They put all their energy on stop for Saquant, and they didn't expect that man to show up. And he shows up and showed up and showed out. And now we got him ranked six behind Joe Burrow, who didn't make the damn players.

My homes are at first. Who's the better? I'm boss right now. Continuing predictions week, catch of the year. A lot of candidates last year. There were a lot of catches. Garrett Wilson won the voting. So who's going to get it this year?

And I got to say, an offensive line on first thing's first. Dionne Dawkins. He was convincing. He said he had never seen a player take as much of a jump as my guy. Keon Coleman is my pick for this year's catch of the year winner. Because Josh Allen and MVP, and it reminded me of this play against my alma mater, circus. Look at this catch.

Behind his head, one hand and grab over the middle. I was like, drafting number one overall. It's all genetics right there. That was ridiculous. So now you got Josh Allen throwing that dude the ball? Catch of the year. Well, Dak Prescott got a couple of guys. to throw to. And one in particular just came from your, your Steelers. George Pickens.

Yes, sir. He is just absolutely one of those guys that just, he always is making some type of crazy ridiculous catch. Give him an opportunity, put the ball up. Look at what he does. All day long, it's going to be George Pickens. He's always open. Always when he's covered. Yeah, he's not a big time name, but he's a guy I fall in love with this preseason. That's Ted Johnson from the Bucks. We talk about an athlete. That's who that man is. I can see. see him, especially with Chris Godwin being, not coming back to October. He's going to get his fair share of the ball. But this guy is special, man. So I like him. Anytime you got to receive you, you have a few handsstands and backflips and all that nonsense, something, something special

is bound to happen. A lot of weapons in Tampa. A lot of weapons. Evans, Godwin, Abuka, Tess Johnson. There's going to be a lot of candidates for a catch of the year. Name them all? One ball. Oh, one ball. Yeah, yeah. I just went four deep. Four deep feels like enough. Greg Jennings, Willie Cologne. I'm Danny Parkins. Rolls on tomorrow.