NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - 2016 Preseason Power Poll

Episode Date: September 1, 2016

A room filled with heroes -- Dan Hanzus, Gregg Rosenthal, Chris Wesseling and Colleen Wolfe – discuss the latest NFL news including Teddy Bridgewater’s statement after his gruesome injury and the newest wrinkle in the Colin Kaepernick situation. Then, the heroes dive into their annual Preseason Power Poll and break down where teams rank and which teams have the best chance to make it to Super Bowl LI.Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comNFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Hey, everybody. Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the 6th, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else.

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Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. What's up, everybody? DJ here from Move the Sticks, along with Bucky Brooks, our podcast, we look at the NFL through a player personnel perspective, looking at teams, looking at matchups, looking at the NFL draft. Catch us on Move the Six NFL.com slash podcast as well as iTunes. The Around the NFL podcast have never, ever turn down a free drink. Welcome back to another edition of the Around the NFL podcast. My name is Dan Hanses and I am joined by a room filled with heroes.

Colleen Wolf, Chris Wessling and Greg Rosethul. What's up, boys? and woman. Hey, Dan. Hey, hey, hey. Hey now. What's up? Connie Fox.

Yo, it's great to be back. Yeah, always good. In the Sessler chair. Yeah. Did you hear a yesterday's show, by any chance? I am like 10 minutes in. Okay. Sounds like a lie.

Yeah. It is. Mark, okay. You're fitting right in with that chair. No, but Mark, Mark. Let us know yesterday that he was going to let himself go physically and give his life over to Cool Ranch Doritos and what was it? Who knows?

Yeah, illness. White bread was probably. White bread and Doritos. French fries. I haven't always been like this. So he's going full Gilbert Great Mom. Wow. He doesn't even like food, though.

How is this going to work out? I don't know. We're starting the podcast right after 2 o'clock. At 201, we all get a text from Mark. Is this breaking news? Exciting news, Colin. Just weighed myself and I've gained six pounds this week alone. Oh!

I told Mark I believed in him. I believe in you, buddy. I don't even believe that text. I support this. I'm also going to let myself go. It's not a good idea. Let's all just put on 80 pounds each this season. I like how great, you support him in this and believe in him in this.

You never believed in him on P90X. That's not true. You always just made a point that you believed in him extra. I never believed in the P90X. I sat back there and watched, you know. You like him going up in flames here physically. I do. Well, I think it's a funny bit.

All right. The whole life is a funny bit. Well, now we have Colleen here who has dedicated her life to fitness. So it's like almost the opposite situation. Yeah. Yeah, it's, I've been working out a lot, eaten right, not drinking, just really taking care of myself. Connie claims she never goes to the gym, like Greg claims he's never lifted a weight. Oh, please, Connie.

Well, mine seems more easily verifiable. You're one of those people, Connie. I guess, but not for long. It's all coming to an end soon. Well, even if it turns tomorrow. Yeah. That's a pretty nice run. I mean, if you haven't had to stay fit or you're, you're not going to.

or you haven't had to try to stay fit. Right. Yeah, no, I mean, it's great. Thanks. I hate you, girl. I come in here today with my hair half done. One side's curled. One's not.

This is how I roll here. Well, we love having you here, Connie Fox. So today's show, we're going to keep it simple. It's going to be a fun show. This is the last show before the next show, first of all. But the next show is a show that takes place in the week where there's a real football game. Oh, yeah.

One week away from football is what I'm trying to say. Well, we'll be predicting the season with one of our most popular shows every year, right? Oh, yeah. Some sandwich props. Yeah, go get my lunch. You broken toilet. Well, that's a new one. Yeah.

I think I owe you guys sandwiches still. That'll be a Tuesday show. We'll even be previewing the opening night game, kickoff special. That's true. It's going to be great. Don't worry about a call anybody, and this includes Mr. Anti-Lanister, Dave Damashek. Anyone who ever loses a sandwich prop to the four people usually on the podcast, never pay. It's basically just something the way it works out.

They want to be paid out if they beat us, but they never pay. Which reminds of we owe the Irishman sandwiches. The gold standard pay, but he's the exception. Yeah, he's the exception. The proves the rule. All right, today's show, the preseason power pole. Oh, yeah, we're going to do it at the quarter point. I don't know.

We tried to do this last year. I don't know. We kind of forgot about it by the end of the season. I think we did it. I don't think we did the quarter at the midseason. Once you get to the third quarter, it's like who needs the Mickey Mouse around with power poles. Okay. I agree.

Okay, we'll do it for half the season again. That's fine. I don't care. You've got your data, but. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. You kind of know. Okay. But right now, this is the preseason power pole.

And how we did this was, well, we'll get into that later when we get to it. Basically, we're treating the NFL like it's college football. Yeah, have some fun. Have some fun. I like it. So we'll go through our own, this is a collective ranking of 1 through 32, and we'll get to that in a little bit. But before that, we're going to do some news, and to do that,

we check in with the Irishman. What's up, buddy? I just have to say, the only real way that I can, like, get myself in with the gold standard is either on Mount Rushmore. But the other way was to actually repay you guys for the sandwiches that I lost because the injury-riddled Tony Romo screwed me over last year, and he got hurt again this year. So I just want to let you guys know.

I did pay you guys up. It was my honor. We owe you. I feel bad. I have a half-eaten burrito that I, you know, I ate most of it during lunch. What kind was it? I kept some more for later down in the fridge.

I'll consider it. Let's do some news. I'd get in on that. It's fine. Whatever thought five years ago when I was on ESPN every weekend drunk, that I would be accepting this award. If you're a reader of the end-round, you know, that's Rob Gronkowski, who accepted a community service award from the Patriots this week

and acknowledged that I guess his partying days have been toned down. That was the implication. No way. I doubt it. It seems like he parties just as much, but he was implying that he's toned his ways down a little bit. We don't want that. We want Gronk to party forever, right?

I don't even believe. that maybe he's just partying different you know maybe he's not a wise he's scaling back on his Vegas trips and well I will say yeah dots and stuff he is less public about his drunkenness now he used to not care maybe that's what he's referring to he'd walk the SB SB's red carpet and stumble around and dance after a Super Bowl loss now he kind of is a little more private about it which is smart you know what I like about like Grunk has his own rules no one even mentions the fact that he has never played in the preseason like they just keep keep him under wraps.

He's fully healthy. They just were like, no, you're too important for the preseason. It's smart. Everybody should do it. Why is Tom Brady playing on Thursday night? Because he's a maniacal mess. I mean, Tom Brady's might be the most competitive person in the NFL. Yeah, that explains it.

All right. We'll start with Teddy Bridgewater, who has spoken out now after that gruesome dislocated knee, torn ACL, other damage in that knee in a practice, a non-contact drill still can't make sense of one. happened to poor Teddy. But he did speak out, had this to say, in order to have a testimony, you have to have a test. I come from amazing DNA. I watch my mom fight and win against breast cancer. We will, as a team, attack my rehab with the same vigor and energy. My faith is strong, my faith is unwavering, and my vision is clear. My purpose will not be denied. Nice statement, strong statement, and you hope he gets back and we'll see if it happens. Colleen.

I mean, how shocked were you when the news came down? And do you think the Vikings still have a shot this year? Well, when it happened, I was actually at Tim Tebow's baseball workout. Humble brag. Not really, though. Let's touch on that at the end of these days. All right, yeah. So I was so shocked by it.

And I think the thing that was really scary about it was it felt different than other injuries because you were seeing stuff about the ambulance rushing there and that players were praying and that I think even Mark Sessler said on one of the pods recently, maybe that was yesterday's pot that, or the other days. Well, you didn't listen to yesterday's. No, maybe I didn't. I just forgot about it. That is possible, everybody.

We are that memorable. That players were throwing up on the sidelines around it, but it was so disheartening when it happened because this was a team that I really believed in. I thought that they had a lot of talent and the fact that they won the division last year and they had a really good young defense and different playmakers that they really could make a run again. That's a good kind of tease as we look ahead to the power pole later today. So I'm curious where we all come down and where the Vikings stand right now.

They had a bigger range of predictions than I think any other team in the league. That was really hard for me. Yeah. I like that you're in the power pole vote as well, Connie, which speaks to how you are a certified member of the around the NFL podcast. Thank you. Really? Well, we've talked about that before. Well, let's just record the time down.

Let's move on and talk about Bear with me Computer just betrayed me in a big spot Kick him out of the circle Out of the circle you go Let's talk about Wes get excited There's more Colin Kaepernick Controversy

Apparently he had before this controversy broke He had been working out with the Niners wearing a pair of black dress socks or athletic socks that had an image of pigs, a cartoon image of pigs wearing police hats. And this started to gain traction on social media. And Kaepernick released a statement. I don't really need to read the statement, but the gist of it.

I have two uncles and friends who are police officers and work to protect and serve all people. So before these socks, which were worn before I took my public stance, are used to distract from the real issues. I wanted to address this immediately. This is when the story hit the tipping point for me, when there's a statement out on socks. I'm out on this story. Good luck to you, Colin, and your political aspirations.

I am out. I'm moving on to football. We're on to Cincinnati. He knows it's going to be a distraction. He even mentions it. Yeah, but it points out that this issue is so much bigger than football, that people are digging through old photos to find things to pretend that he's wearing afterwards and like use it in a weird way.

It's not even pretending. It's just bad like news gathering because no one's checking more than anything else, I would guess. Right. But whoever put it out there in the first place knew that he wasn't wearing it this week and they put it out there and whatever it is. People just using things for different politics. It's on both sides. He has a big campaign with hashtag like Veterans for Kaepernick that a lot of veterans are on Twitter,

you know, showing their support for Kaepernick. I mean, it's far beyond football at this point. I think it's worth noting the national anthem, he did not seek out the publicity. Yeah, he did it for two weeks. He did it for two weeks. In this issue, he had been wearing the socks and did not seek out the publicity.

I just think that should be noted. But when you wear the socks, aren't you sort of some type of attention? Aren't you laughing at your own joke? I guess so. I mean, to me, it's like I'm amusing myself by wearing these socks. It's something I believe in. It's something he believes in. Well, is it a joke or something you believe in?

I don't think it's a joke in any way. I think he clearly, and I think with this statement, it was good. It shuts down what's a stupid narrative that's being used against him. And if nothing else, I think he has been very prepared and is ready to follow through with this to whatever the end is. Like some people I don't think would have. It's not like this is something he's taken lightly. From a straight football standpoint, I'm just curious. Greg, I'll ask you, will Colin Kaepernick ever play another down for the 49ers?

Yeah, I think he's going to make the team if I had to guess. When Chip Kelly said he's one of the best two quarterbacks on the roster, I thought that put him, now Chip Kelly's lied a lot before to the media. I think that put him in a spot where they're not going to cut him unless they can trade him. I don't think anyone's going to trade for him, and I think he's going to be their backup, which means eventually he'll play. I don't think he's going to play another snap for the 49ers, and I don't think he's going to play a snap of football in the NFL

this year. Yeah, and there was that, and these reports are always, you should take it a little bit with a grain of salt, but I believe it was Mike Freeman put out a report on Thursday that's unnamed front office officials and NFL officials just teeing off on Kaepernick. Some of the guys, I don't want anything to do with that guy. One guy went as far as to say, again, without putting his name on it, that he would quit if an owner forced him to sign Colin Kaepernick. So the sentiment is out there.

Well, the same reporter had. the same unnamed executives that said Sheldon Richardson's career might be over early last season when he got caught for speeding. So I think that should be taken into account. Are you saying that there is a little bit of sensationalism going on? I'm saying I don't even necessarily believe people are saying this necessarily. And if they are, like, it doesn't mean anything. It's just people talking.

Nebulos. Talk. All right, let's move on. Yeah, Connie, tell us a little. a little bit about your visit to USC for the Tim Tevo Showcase. What, yeah, what a weird scene. First of all, I've never been to a workout or any type of press availability where you check in and there's bagels and donuts and refreshments. So that was weird for right off the back.

CIA, his agency put the whole thing on. What a show. So you get these like cards that are all like really nice and thick and laminate and it's like the Tim Tebow showcase. Did Tebow have one of those chairs with his name on the back and he's getting makeup done? Like a director's chair? No, he did not. But he did all the networks. He did ESPN.

He did. Nice one-on-one with Connie Fox. Yeah, that was nice of him. But he, when he came out to run, I don't know if you guys saw, but he was like in this white, like, super tight spandex shirt. And he has so, like he's huge. His muscles have muscles. Like he is massive, but he's so big that it's like, he can't really move that well. Bigger.

Not flexible. He doesn't have a baseball body. Is he bigger than Wes? That's how I measure manliness. He also, correct me if I'm wrong, had a outfit change. Like he was Madonna, wardrobe train, like he was Madonna on the breathless tour. Yeah. So after he ran, then he went and changed and he fielded some fly balls.

That was, he struggled a little bit. I talked to Tony Garcia. Our shortstop, who gave a nice rundown of how poor he was in the outfield, and he couldn't throw, which, I mean, if we ever wondered why he didn't make it in the NFL, the guy can't even throw a baseball with any type of authority. It's odd for a quarterback, right? But it's totally different motion when Adam Dunn came up with the red. He didn't throw it that well as a quarterback.

I mean, that's not why he made the NFL. It wasn't his throwing. It really looked like he struggled. Like, he just wasn't getting a crowhop going at all. And he... Nice ref. Yeah, thanks. Just dropping different terms here.

You used to cover the Phillies, Colleen, by the way. Yeah, and you know what? Ben Francisco was there. Oh, yeah? Yeah, so I used to cover Ben when he was with the Phillies, and he's a scout now. And Tony, you know, who you talk to? Tony Garcia, shortstop, he grew up and played with Ben Francisco. So we all sort of like scouted Tim Debo, and when I say we, Tony and Ben.

But, yeah, it was a very interesting scene. And I guess my last question would be when you're actually. face to face or I should say face to like nipple or no I was standing on a box you're on a box I was wondering why you're almost as tall as Tim well that's what I said I'm like I'm eye to eye right now with him um was there anything emanating off him anything wholly what was he like um well I thought it was interesting when I asked him you know if the door was closed on football and he said yes and I said well was that a difficult decision and he said his decision he said we decided which was interesting, but also he said, I just really love hitting baseballs.

Yeah. And I sort of had a hard time keeping it together at that point because he was very serious when he said that. And it just sounded like such a jock, like, thing to say. Well, he said when you mentioned changing, you know, potentially. Changing position. He said he mentioned that he had interest from teams to play other positions still. But he was just like, that's not what I love to do.

I want to show the kids out there, do what you love. I love hitting baseball. Yeah, and that his goal wasn't to make. It's not to make the big leagues, but to have a career in the big leagues. Good luck. I mean, he's going to show kids what it takes to get the single A ball. Oh. Well, Wes is right.

That's probably not going to even happen. That's an uphill battle, I think, by the sound of it. You strip everything away, and Tim Tebow is just another 20-something guy that's trying to figure it out. He doesn't know what he's doing right now. He's a baseball player. I mean, none of us do. Next year, he'll be doing something else. I know exactly what I'm doing.

Okay. I got two kids. I'm pretty locked in at this point. That's what I mean. It's like, it is what it is now. Wes, it's coming for you, too, buddy. When I was too, age, I had no idea what I was going to do with my life. It's coming for Wes.

What's coming? Structure. Real structure. Wow. What are you trying to say? Like a freight train. What are you trying to say? Parame more into something more.

You've got more faith in him than his brothers. What are you trying to say, Ann? You've got more faith in me than I do. About structure. Give him a break, Nick. At this point in your life. Nick. Listen, you are.

Should we dig in a little bit on this? Listen, I don't know what you're trying to say. Are you referring to yourself right now? Not at all. We're talking about you, Dan. Don't try and pivot on me. Daddy's got structure. Daddy's got a kid.

Daddy's got another one on the way. Daddy's got a wife and a rent. Well, congratulations. Look at you. Daddy's in the third person. All show. All right. Let's go.

Let's move on. That's what's happening in the news. Drafts in Philadelphia, by the way. It is in Philly. I'm so excited about this. Someone on Twitter asked me to ask you. I don't know why they didn't just ask you. Weird.

What is the kind of bar to go to if you're in Philly for the draft? New Wave Tavern. Early planning. It's the best. I like a tavern. Wave. That was my neighborhood bar. Is that like an 80s kits type?

It is. It's so awesome. And they have like pool and darts and the bartenders are awesome. Yeah. It's a great spot. New Wave Tavern. Like the Huckapoo's of Philadelphia? Yeah.

It's just like it's a little divey, but it's a cool place. All right. That's where you go. I mean, we won't be there. We don't really go to the draft. Well, if you do, we can kick out the renters that are in my house right now, and then we can just all stay there and have house parties. Brilliant.

Savage. Yeah, how we will go. All right, let's do it. Our preseason power pole. Do you have any big announcement, celebration, something? Our drop board has been taking a hard hit lately. Should we just clap? Yeah.

We can all clap if you guys want to do that. It's too late. The enthusiasm is gone. All right, so this is how we did it. Greg, please explain to the audience how we came up with our list of 32 teams. Well, we sent out an email with a lot of instructions, a lot going on to it, to seven of the smartest football minds in this company. Greg, speaking in the Royal We, by the way.

The four people in this room, also Kevin Patrick, Connor, Orr, and Mark Sessler, the other three valuable members. Mark, in between meals. the around the NFL team. And they were all off today, too, right? Yeah, Connor was on. But yeah, Patra, Cessler, you know, chiming in on their off days. They just couldn't, they couldn't help themselves.

We put it all into a blender from our mathematician, Mark Ortega, really did the hard work here. And then spits out a powerful, complicated formula. I'm not sure how it all works. So Tago did it. Well, hopefully he added up right. No one backed him up or anything. This could be totally wrong. I don't know why you didn't do it.

Well, I definitely wouldn't do. We wouldn't even have 32 teams in the final list. We ended up with like 24 teams. So anyway, so we came up with the list. So why don't we break it down into tears? And Greg, the way it broke out, well, what is the process? You didn't really explain it. How did the numbers, how does it work?

I think it's better to just keep it a secret. It's like, you know, you know, the site 538 with politics? I don't need to know how the sausages made. Just give me the numbers. I trust. You should have just went with a FACC. The magic, the chicken recipe. That's all you had to say.

Why don't you think of that? That makes sense. Although the recipe got out recently. It did? No. Very recently. Are they going to be done for? I don't know.

Google it. Anyway, so no one has any idea how this worked, but this is how we came up with. We all picked the teams one to 32. This must be accurate. It must be. And it was average. The way it broke out, the man behind the curtain, Greg Rosenthal, said that nine teams were kind of separated from the rest of the pack

in the sense that you could read into that through the tally that these are the teams we think are real contenders for playing in Houston on February 6th. And that was a guess as far as the day goes. But the Super Bowl 51 will be in February. This is where the Irishman's got to be furiously Googling to make sure I have the date right.

This could get him on Rushmore if he gets it in five. I'm not going to lie. I was something the KFC recipe. Put down the chisels. Well, he was looking. Not going to lie. Looking for something.

February 5th? February 5th? I do have an update though. KFC says that leaked recipe is not original. Of course they would say that. I just wanted to show their standpoint. Conspiracy. Anyway, in Houston, there is the Super Bowl in February.

And these are the nine teams according to our tally have the best chance of getting there. Number one. Drum roll? Got a drum roll? Awkward, no. Okay. Is anything on that board?

Did you bring the iPad today? Oh, no, Irishman. Do you usually start out with the drum roll? We got that one at least. Number nine, we'll go the other way. Okay. There should be the timpany or the drum roll on there, Irish. We'll do it like for some vacation does before they light up the house.

Number nine. The Denver Bronner. Broncos, number nine. So compelling right off the bat, the defending Super Bowl champion at number nine. And I'm just curious in this room. I had a ton of respect. Where did you guys have the Broncos? And I'll start with you, Colleen.

I had them at eight. All right. Right there. Wes. I have to look through my scent items to see where I had them. I had, you had them at 10, Wes. And I had them. I was like Wes's inner monologue for some reason.

We were told what he was. Westman had him at 10th. I had him at 10th. And what I found was interesting, that three AFC West teams are high up. And in general, I think I had three, all four AFC West teams I put in my top 12 teams in the league. I think that's how good this division is.

Anyway, it's going to be tough for that. Where did you have them? I had 10th. I had them out of the playoffs, but 10th in the NFL. I had them 11. I had them 10th. You had them 10th? Yes.

And you had them 10th? So I guess that. That means that the rest of the group pump them up maybe a little bit. But we're all kind of in lockstep on this, that that kind of what we were talking about yesterday, it's going to be tough for them to repeat, especially if they have problems at the quarterback position. Number. Well, especially with the Raiders and the Chiefs and the Chargers are all in that division. Here's the rest of six through nine through six.

Chiefs at eight, bangles at seven, Steelers at six. And there was a little cutoff there. So this group, Steelers, Bengals, Chiefs, Broncos is kind of in that secondary, like we, you know, definitely look like playoff type teams, but not quite in that upper echelon, those two AFC North teams and the two AFC West teams. All right, here's nine through six. The Broncos, Chiefs, Bengals, and Steelers. And Greg, that's another neat cutoff point, isn't it? It is. That's kind of the group, I guess if we're breaking it out.

We had these, like, top five power teams that were one spot, and then these other four teams, the two AFC North. two AFC West teams that we see as playoff type of teams, but not quite, you know, the elite. West, do you disagree with any of those teams being that high? Do you have any of those that you dropped away lower? No, this list is going almost identical to my own list. The top five, I agree. I feel like there are five superpowers in the NFL right now. The four teams in the NFC, Cahawks, Cardinals, Panthers, Packers,

and the Patriots are alone at the top in the AFC. I do feel like it's a little weighted right now towards the NFC. I think the better rosters are in the NFC. Yeah, I thought the same thing when I was doing this exercise. Here is now that top five counting down. The Packers at five. The Panthers, the defending NFC champions, a team that won 17 games last year, at number four.

We have the Cardinals at three, the Patriots at two, which can leave only one team. If you haven't figured it out, probably haven't been following the NFL very closely in the last few years. Our number one team of the preseason poll is the Seattle Seahawks. So give me a little...

Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm. Oh. No, I hate it. Do you have... Well, that's face when that plays. I hate it. You have asthma, too, don't you? Yes, it sounds like my lungs at night.

Wait, people with asthma when you hear someone else wheezing or gregers? can't breathe it has that effect on you like when you when people hear other people sneeze it's contagious like you sneeze when i hear people struggle to breathe i can't breathe so this side of the table doesn't like that so we should probably take that drop out of that's what i was asking you yesterday how i feel like i'm having trouble breathing thank you so it's some type of uh psychological yeah well let's play it again just a weapon no no it's like the equivalent of using a dog whistle It's like sympathy pains Yeah, the Seahawks are number one

And if I look, let's see Five of us have the Seahawks first Patra Cessler Rosenthal Connor Orr All number one And then the old Zeuser

Me had him at two Colleen has them all the way down at four Yeah Why four? Why did three teams get ahead of the Seahawks What's so funny? No, when I was doing this I actually sent Greg the email and said that this is an irresponsible list, but I'm hungry now. That's not irresponsible.

That's not, it's not like it's a crazy thing that they would be fourth. They weren't even in the top four at the end of last year. Please make a note to remove Colleen from the calculations. No, I just think that that division is really tough. And for the Seahawks, I think that everything is going so well for them right now. And I think that hopes are so high for them that it almost scares me away. Arizona ahead of them. So you're saying because the NFC West is tough and the Cardinals are there,

that could lead to them having a nice season, obviously, because you have them for, but because you don't see them winning the division, which means they'll have to go on the road, no buys, that they'll get clipped because that and it will make them a lesser team. There's logic there. Exactly. Hey, listen.

Why did you doubt yourself? I don't. I'm not. You were hungry. That's all. I was really hungry and I needed to eat. It's crazy that we all agree so much about everything here in the top five. The only person that had any one of these teams outside of the top five was Dan Hansis.

You happened to have the Steelers at four and the Patriots at six, which is nothing crazy. I don't think. Oh, it's also like a deep-seated hatred of the Patriots. That's true. Well, if I'm going to, no, it's all rooted in a logic. In a shocking fashion, Dan had a small gap seven and nine between the Patriots and Jets. I don't think anyone else's Patriots gap was so tight. May I remind everyone that you guys laughed at me in the same exercise when I had the Jets

in the top 10, and I think the Jets are better this year than they were last year. The Patriots are there only because they're getting a four-game hole without Brady. That could be bad. And slight regression with Tom Brady this year, as I've noted many times, will lead them to be, surprisingly to many people, the football cognizanty, a little bit worse than we expected. I'm still, I think they'll still win about 11 games or so. But between... That's the drop-off? Garap...

Yeah, well, from 13 to 11 and not winning a Super Bowl or getting to the Super Bowl. I think Garapolo and a lesser Brady equals a weaker Patriots. It's called being ahead of the curve. Well, I don't think that's crazy. It's going to happen.

As a Patriots fan, I've been waiting for it to happen. It's insane. No team in the NFL history has ever had more than four buys in a row. The Patriots have had... I think they're going for seven. I think they've had five or six. It has to stop sometime.

Maybe it won't be this year. Can't we just, replay yours and Dan's comments from last summer? That's a fair point. So true. I didn't say, I didn't say Brady was going to regress last year. We all, not say that. I like, we all like, we all think the Packers. Can I just say one more thing about the Pats? The fact that they're still

top six right now, that's just me doing this. Put some respect when you mention my name. I guess I respect the Patriots. I hate that he's starting this fourth preseason game. I think that's the worst idea ever. Well, we'll see what happens. Anyway, I'd be a little more worried about their backfield. opinions on the fourth preseason game from coming i don't know i could just see something bad happening

so we all we all like the seahawks a lot this year and uh we'll see how it plays out but i've noted one thing i've thought about with the nfl it has been more there's been less parity and there has been more continuity among the power teams this decade than there had been the previous decade i think that is very fair to say that the seahawks have been the number one team in football outsiders four straight years. The Patriots have gotten a buy every year. The Broncos have won 12 games for four straight years. At this point

the Packers are basically in the playoffs seven straight years. There's so many teams that are good year after year. We're kind of back to the early 90s. It's a good point because the NFL gets a lot of pub for being this league of parity, but it isn't really a league of parity. Maybe I feel like we're due for a year

where it all blows up and half of these teams don't do well, but it hasn't happened in a while. Right. So those those nine teams and especially those first five teams we would all be surprised that they weren't real players in the season now let's go kind of to the middle portion when we talk about teams that are good to average and we'll start with 10 through 15

the Raiders at 10 which is a little bit high I thought especially after our conversation on this pod the day before but and none of us really had them in the playoffs but we still I think they'll be competitive and decent. The Texans, who, of course, won their division last year at 11, the Cowboys at 12, the Ravens at 13, the Jets at 14, and the Jaggars at 15. Greg, what is you saying, wow, too? The Texans, I guess, because, you know, I was the one.

I didn't even have them in my top 20. Connor Orr is a big Texans fan this year, has them at 9. Dan, you've got them at 10 or 11 or something. So, you know, you didn't number it. It's problematic. Good of a shot. I don't know. I don't see them in that same group, but reasonable minds could disagree.

Their defense could certainly be a top five defense. I had them at 11, so I was right up there too. I mean, if you have, I think according to this list, West, correct me if I'm wrong. But if we're putting these teams in that 10 to 15 range, we have them as like kind of an 8 to 10 win outfit. Yeah. For the most part. Yeah, I think that's fair. I think that those are teams that could sneak into the playoffs in a while.

card type of way. The Texans, I think, are interesting. I had a lot of these divisions like Chiefs, Broncos, Raiders. I had eight, nine, and ten. Yeah. And I think I had the NFC South, Titans, Jags, Texans as like 11, 12, 13. And this speaks to, it could speak to one of two things. One, that the Cowboys got lucky and hit the jackpot with Dak Prescott, or we'll look

stupid in two months from now when we look at this list again or a month from now, whenever. because the Cowboys we have them at number 12, which is a pretty nice place to be, considering Tony Romo just broke his back. I mean, in the past, any other year in the past five or six years, if that happened, they'd be way in the 20s, I would think. To me, I wouldn't put the Cowboys as the 12th best team if Tony Romo was healthy.

So I'm really surprised to see him in a couple people's top 10 teams. Wow, you have them down at 25. Marron. I think it's not a good defense, and you have a rookie quarterback. quarterback. I'm not putting that much in the precinct. Like, I like Dak Prescott, but to me, what is the, what is your best case scenario for Dak Prescott, that he's a Marriota or Winston type guy as a rookie that's a good, that's a good player? Obviously, he'll be supported more than those two guys are. Best case scenario is

Cowboys go 6 and O and then get Romo back. Yeah, and he's going to be. I mean, by definition, that's the best case scenario. Sure, sure, that's the best case scenario. But to me. Wes was just sending you a message that had nothing to do with football. I'm saying, is he going to be a better than average starting quarterback? see it right away. That seems, that seems expecting too much. The quarterbacks they had last year. With a bad defense, yes, I think so. Quarterbacks they had last year were the worst quarterbacks in the NFL, Matt Castle and

Kellan Moore. And those guys, well, actually, Brandon Whedon, too. So those guys didn't have Des Bryant. Yeah. They didn't have Ezekiel Elliott. That's true. I think those are two difference making talents. He set up well just to be a manager, too. If he can do that, if he can just like get through and not make too many mistakes, that's asking a lot of a rookie. But if he's set up. can behind that offensive line. He has Dez. He has Ezekiel Elliott. Well, they're on prime time a lot. And it's funny that losing Romo does not make them less watchable. Like, I am not annoyed that they're in prime time a lot early in the season because of Ellie, because of DAC, if nothing else, they're interesting.

Mark had the Cowboys in the top 10 at number 9. Patra had them at 10. Wes, you had them at 11. I had them at 14. Only Colleen and Greg really had them buried in the standing. So. That's right. Interesting. Great minds. We tight. Connor and I both 14, which I think is appropriate. I think, you know.

Okay. You guys are being a little. You're the Eagles girls. I know. You're burying them. Yeah, of course. So you think they're winning the division still with Tony Romo's injured. I think they're still going to do it.

But I also could see it going to hell, but that's just the Cowboys every year. To me, it's like I put almost the entire NFC South and the AFC West ahead of the entire NFC East. Yeah, me too. I would rather take the Falcons. or saints even over that entire division. Colleen's got to go. I got to get out of here. I don't want to leave.

Believe me. You got duties. I know. Got to go over the NFL now side. Yeah. I got to finish curling the side of my hair. Yeah. I would have never have noticed, by them.

I would not have noticed. I wouldn't have noticed. Connie Fox is off. I'm out of here, guys. We knew. We knew Colleen's time was short. And we thought, hey, we'd rather get six innings out of Colleen than nothing. Bring in the pen.

Still a quality start. But it's the equivalent of getting six innings out of a starter and then not having another reliever to come in the game. The game's just over. That's where the analogy falls apart. Sorry. Rain delay. She still gets the win.

That's true. Later, boys. All right, here we go. Number 16 through 20. And there's the answer right there. The Vikings come in right at 16 at the Dalton line. Chargers 17, Titans 18. Redskins 19 and the Saints at 20.

And let's see. Let's break down the Vikings a little bit. amongst the group, Wes, you have them down at 24. Patra has them at 13. Colleen had them. Does Colleen have them? 23. Mark had them at...

Mark loves the Vikings at 11. That makes sense. Greg at 13. Zusser at 13. And Connor at 17. So none of us were being bullish. The most dramatic against him. Let's hear why.

Quarterback. There you go. You mentioned Sean Hill might not be the same player at age 36 that he was. The last time we saw him when he was physically diminished and not really a great backup quarterback. I think he's probably about the 50th best quarterback in the league right now. And if he gets injured, which he should. Old quarterbacks are known to get injured. And the last time he started, he got injured.

They go with Joel Stave? Or Brad Sorens. They're going to have a dead. Those aren't real people. I think we should talk about their quarterback situation. Randy Moss of NFL Network. Not that Randy Moss. The other Randy Moss, the horse racing one from NBC.

White Ranch. His whole life. I mean, how annoyed was he when the other Randy Moss popped up? That's killer. It's a killer development that you never recover of him. It's like when the guy that called. I mean, it's not as bad as the Ravens broadcast. Yeah, Jerry Sandusky.

That's what I was saying. Nothing will ever beat that. Poor guy. Yeah, got off track. He reported, you know, the Vikings do not expect John Hill to be able to last 16 games. So he is saying, he is saying, Jerry Sandusky said that? Randy Moss said that. Oh, I'm better about my pick now.

NFL, yeah, you should. There's going to be another player that has some potential that's a quarterback for that team. That's either started games before or from the sound of it, they almost are looking for it to me, like a Mike Glennon type. and I think they're going to be ready to give up a draft pick to get someone that they think have like a little bit of a potential. I don't know if it's Mike Glennon, but just someone. If they go out and get Mike Glennon, I'm moving them down to 27. I mean, you know what I'm saying?

They're going to get someone that's going to start a lot of games for them. By the next time we tape a podcast, I think we'll know who they're. Can you hear that over the hills through the air? Gino. I like that. I don't think Gino's going there. I like that. Give Gino a chance.

Wait a second. Why doesn't that make sense, before we move on, why doesn't that make sense? If Bryce Petty plays well on Thursday and the Jets are feeling bullish. Norve Turner would have to watch Geno Smith. Why doesn't it make sense? Because there's a reason why you don't want him in a Jets uniform. Why would the Vikings want your trash? They have 36-year-old Sean Hill trying to save their season.

So why not go get a better guy than Gina who's not been well-liked in the locker room? Who hasn't played well in the field? Who's a better option than Gino-Smith right now? Just about anyone? No, but who? Seriously, it is hard to come up with. Unless you like Colin Kaepard. Mark Sanchez?

You think Sanchez is better than Gino? I think Gino comes with some other complications. That's fair. It's interesting that you have the Vikings down that part. So you would say you'd rather have the Cowboys. Let's say that just for the sake of argument, let's ignore the quarterback position. Which roster would you rather have Dallas or Minnesota?

Dallas. I've seen in my years watching football, and this is a very, it was a very promising Vikings team with a great roster. I've seen better teams get cut down by a quarter of a devastating injury to a quarterback or a running back or something like that. And it's just, that's why. But it's a lot on Adrian Peterson. He is going to have to be Adrian Peterson.

Greg, you're very down on the Cowboys yet. We were way more down on their defense two years ago when they won the division than we are this year. Yeah, but I don't buy that argument. just because they made it, they made it by with a bad defense a couple years ago, it doesn't mean you're going to be able to do it again. They did it by holding the ball and being as unbelievably efficient, like one of the best third down teams in NFL. I think their offense can be even better this year than it was that year.

Without Romo, though. For six games, not for 16 games. The only, I'm a little surprised that for a team of ATL finalists, the Tennessee Titans that are not higher, I gave them respect, so I'm not the culprit here. Who buried the Titans to make the drop? I had that whole division pretty low. I had them 23rd.

Okay. It must have been somebody else as well. Yeah. You had him 24th. A lot of people had him high. You know, Dan, you had him 11th. Mark had him 13th. Wes.

You've got him 12th. So look, that middle of the NFL is always hard to predict. I always think one of the most overrated things in football is there's not a big difference between 6 and 10 and 10. and six. I just don't believe there is. There's not a big difference between the 12th best team and the 25th best team. I can't, I'm more, I get what you're coming from?

I'm more like a... I think you get a couple breaks and you get a schedule and then you make the narrative around that. I think eight and eight and ten and six is almost a coin flip in the NFL. Six and ten teams is kind of a bad team. It's kind of a crummy team. There are some bad teams that are lucky to get the six and ten, and there are some good teams who are unlucky to be only ten. Texans made the playoffs last year.

But not every ten and six team has created this. That's true. The Saints right at 20, which feels about right. I'm trying to see if there's anything else that's surprising. The Jaguars ahead of the Titans on our list, but that kind of, that checks out. Me and you like the Saints. We have them in the middle of the pack. I think they'll be better this year.

I think they're a nine-win team. All right, here we go. 21 through 27, and then now we're starting to get into the dregs a little bit. Now we're getting into the – these aren't terrible teams, but these are teams that if things break poorly, they could be terrible. But as we see them right now, they are not really in the mix, but not dead in the water. That's how I describe this. Colts and Falcons both tied for 21st, the Buffalo Bills at 23rd, the New York Giants at 24, and the Tampa Bay Bucks at 25.

What surprises you there, Wes, anything? I like the Falcons and Bucks more than other people do, and I have the Falcons as a wildcard team. I like that, Wes. Interesting. Wes and I, I had the Falcons a lot higher than that, too. I had them 17th. I had the Bucks 12th. I, in the end, moved the Bucks up to my last wildcard spot.

I like that division in general. I think, I don't think. You are their spokesperson, basically. I just think they're a fun division. You're on that hill. James Winston, well, I've said it. I think he can make, I think he can make that leap. You think so?

You think he's going to be, you know, a top 30. 14 quarterback for this year? Yeah, definitely. He's going to bump out Tony Romo? Tony Romo might not play. He's going. Well, somebody's got to go, I'm saying. Like, Tony Romo's going to get another MRI this weekend.

Like, it wouldn't surprise. If you were saying which would you think is more likely, Tony Romo starts another playoff game, or Tony Romo doesn't play in the NFL again, I'd probably take option two. Wow. Coming from the guy who wrote a love letter to Tony Romo. I just think he's got multiple broken backs.

Things change, and that was. That's a dramatic change. What happened last week was not a good sign. I'm a huge Tony Romo fan, obviously, but this is a health issue. You may not have a choice. It was like a black cat walking under a ladder what happened last week in terms of looking ahead to Tony Romo's future. Not good stuff. All right.

The Giants are there at 24. I mean, Wes, let's look at it this way. They put a lot of money into that defense. And I know we're low to talk about the Giants in this room. put a lot of money to that day. We are low, too. And you, my friend, Christopher, are very high and bullish on their offense. You think that Eli could have his best season ever, like a 40 touchdown type season.

O'Dell Beckham is unstoppable. If the defense is even okay and not bottom eight defense, they're going to win some games of that offense, right? Yeah, is that how you build great defenses, just go out and sign free agents? No, no. I get that. Throw money at problems. I don't feel like they fix their defense. So you're saying the defense will fall and it's fair.

despite all those, and that will hold them back. Okay, I mean, that's fair. Here's where the parody thing does hold up for the NFL. I don't see any teams in this group, though, that would be shocking if they make the playoffs, really. I mean, the entire NFC is. I don't think you can say anyone would be shocking to win that. Okay.

I have the Giants buried, and it wouldn't be that surprising. Can I amend your statement on my opinion of the Giants? Oh, yeah, go ahead. I feel like Odell Beckham will drive a pretty good passing offense. They'll have touchdowns. The running game is terrible, and their offensive line is horrid. I just feel like O'Dell Beckham's great. That's basically how much, how I appreciate the Giants roster.

We'll be the record this year. Seven and nine. Okay. And hold that thought. You hit on something good, Greg, there. And I want to get back to it once we finish. A lot of good points, Greg. Let's finish the list now.

Now we're going to move. This is going to be 26 through 32. Now we're in the drugs. If any of these teams has a nice season, we blew it because we all basically thought they were bad. Unless there's, Greg, and you could check our breakdown if there's anyone that really differed with these. But being weighed down this low means the majority agreed big time

that these teams are going to be bad. The Eagles at 26. Colleen might have them higher. That's my guess. The dolphins at 27. The lions at 28. The Rams at 29. The Bears at 30.

The Browns at 31. Can you get a little timpani here? Is it a tympani? How come I can't get that right? Is it tympani? I thought it was timpony. Is it ephemeral? The worst team in the NFL, according to our preseason poll, the Niners.

I think that's a good pick. I think the Browns are in the mix. They were pretty consistently the bottom two teams. I thought about putting the bears that low, too. Why did you react? I have the Chargers in the AFC Championship game, so I certainly disagree with them being in the dregs of the NFL. Who?

Did you see the charges down there? I was looking at the wrong list. Dolphins, I said. Are you talking about the Dolphins? I think. I also had the Eagles winning the NFC East. Okay. I have them as, but the thing is my number for them didn't even bring them up.

I think I still had them as the 19th best team in the league. I just someone's got to win the division. Yeah, I think 18, I believe. Out of those seven dregs, the dolphins are the most likely to make us look bad. I was going to say that was the point I was getting to. Of those last 10-11 teams that we went through, who is the most likely to make us look bad, you say the dolphins. Out of that seven.

Because I think they have a bad secondary. Their offensive line could be an issue. Their defensive line could be overpriced and old. But outside of the secondary, I think all that stuff could be turned around. I think the Eagles could be average, but I don't think even in a best case scenario, they're not going to be great. You know, what were the Rams again? 29?

Yeah. It wouldn't surprise me if they finish with the worst record in the NFL. Really? You're talking about a Case Keenham-led team here. Exactly. I'm just saying. And it's not like the rookie's going to come in and save it. Okay. That's what I was going to say.

Robert Quinn, Robert Quinn won defensive player of the year, right? Right. Aaron Donald should have won defensive player of the year or could have won. How good are they a passing of football? Alex Ogletree looks pretty good. How good are they passing a football? Just saying, good defensive coach. You got Todd Gurley, a transformative type of running back.

They win seven games usually anyways before Gurley really was in the mix that much. This is the first time. I have some respect for seven win teams. Is that what I'm hearing? This is the first time I've watched a team on hard knocks and came out of the season thinking they'd be worse than most people believe. That's a great point. I totally agree with you.

I always kind of think, oh, they're going to be better. And with the Rams, I generally thought they're. And I agree with West because Keenham, it's not going to work out because we know who Kay's Keenham is. And what they're going to do, even though they're trying to be smart about this, they're going to put this kid in before week six or around there or maybe after week three, you never know. and everything we see is that he's going to take a beating and be terrible.

I'm rooting for Jared Gough. I want him to be the answer for the Rams. I hope it works out, but I don't think that 2016 is the Rams season. Right. The hope, I think, for them is, and their talent has never really matched up with great numbers. Their hope is that Front Seven is one of the best Front Sevens, because on paper it absolutely is. And that Todd Gurley is young career Adrian Peterson, that he's that dominant.

Those two things are reasonable. That's their hope. And then even then, you're probably only winning nine games. Of the bottom three teams. And then you're winning seven. Stop. Since when do the Rams win more than seven games, please? I will say the Bears here.

John Fox teams are always better in year two historically. Yeah. Played well, played above their weight last year. Nobody likes Jay Cutler, but he's not the worst quarterback in the league. They could, and they have Kevin Whiteback. There is a chance that they surprise. I was going to say, of the bottom three teams, who's the most likely, to surprise us and win eight or nine games.

The bottom three? Yeah, I would definitely take the bears of that three. Sure, of that three. But you're comparing them to the nine or the rounds. I'd even go bottom five. I'd think I'd a group the lions and Rams. I would give the lions a chance. I think with the bears, we might be a little guilty of putting way too much stock in the preseason.

Yeah. And they look really bad in the preseason. And maybe the fact that Doral Lagwans is involved. Doral Gluggins. Like even... That's the pronunciation, by the way. Bluggins. Everyone can even say his name.

You have to have a certain ability with your vocal cords and tongue. You're not one of them. No, listen. Brantwongens. You can't do it. I think it's Dole Loggins. I can't do that. That's how most people pronounce.

I spent time in the South, so I have an advantage there. He was not, yeah, but he was born in another planet. He was born on Krypton, this offensive coordinator. Krypton now on actual planet. So the Bears are probably going to suck, but they're not. They could, you know, surprise people. That's what I think. And you think the Lions could be that team.

I don't. No, I don't. But I wouldn't blame Lions fans. That's a good thing about the NFL. And like I said, not a big difference between 6 and 10 and 10. If everything goes absolutely right for the Lions, like, I can see their fans squinting at that roster and making the case that they win 10 games. It's not that crazy.

Crazier things happen every year. That's fair. There we go. That's our, I don't buy that. Preseason PowerPoll after week four. And Greg Rosal is going to run. write a banger off this, I believe. We'll update this at week four and then at the season's midway point.

And then it'll probably disappear until next August or September. But there you go. Good show, guys. Thanks for Connie Fox. We're dropping by. We'll be back on Tuesday. We have just one more, two shows before the next Sunday's game. So we'll have a show on Tuesday.

We'll talk about our sandwich props. And then we'll have our big kick. off preview show on Thursday with reaction to Thursday night opener. Right, so it really goes up almost early Friday morning on the East Coast. Yeah, so Panthers and Broncos play on Thursday night. We'll have all the preview.

Then we'll come back to the studio after the game, talk about that game, and then send it out to the masses. Football's back, baby, or just about. Until then. Will Anguels. This is Dan Hansis, signing on. For the mailman, Connie Fox, the boss. And the Irish from behind the glass.

One out games. Hey, everybody, Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Six, we take you inside the game. from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team-building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape,

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