NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - 2021 Around the NFC in 48 Minutes

Episode Date: May 6, 2021

A room filled with heroes - Dan Hanzus, Marc Sessler, Gregg Rosenthal and Steve Wyche go around the entire NFC with 3 minutes per team. We start with the Washington Football team (2:57) and end with the Seattle Seahawks (58:59). There are 3 more timeouts allotted for this show, but did the heroes use them all?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. The Around the NFL podcast. BPA, best podcast available. Welcome to another edition of the Around the NFL podcast. My name is Dan Hanzas. I come to you from a virtual room filled with some heroes, Mark Sassler, Greg Rosenthal. And he's back.

Steve Weish. and it's time to go around the NFC. What's up, Steve? Oh, man, I'm fired up for this. NFC is my second, I mean, first favorite conference. I'm an NFC kid, having been born in Minneapolis, which is why I'm going to be talking about the Vikings today, and I'm real fired up about it.

So I'm just worried to hear, you know, the rest of the heroes great takes on this segment. Well, normally we, if the money drop at the beginning says best podcast available, we wouldn't have someone on that has his own podcast, the huddle and flow, you, you may disagree with that, you know, sentiment there, Steve. Yeah, this is definitely a need pick, Greg. It's not a BPA. It's also, it's not clear who money was referring to.

That's true. So it's really, you could, you could perceive it any way you wish. Huddle and flow, which please check it out with Weiss and Jim Trotter on a hiatus right now. So technically, that's not in the conversation. And that's why we were able to safely use that drop. Ah, okay. We were an opt-out. The gift of the guy going like this.

All right. So, in case you missed it, on Tuesday, the great Claibon was with us. We went around the AFC in exactly 48 minutes. And that's so important, Steve. I think this is the first time you've joined us for this particular exercise. And the discipline required to pull this off, you are a disciplined man. And that's why we feel comfortable that you'll know not to blow through stop signs when it comes to analysis. of each team.

I'm not even going to comment on that because I might be blowing through a stop sign. We'll have sound effects. There will be a sound, you know, a countdown from 10 seconds, so you'll be fair warned. All right. So the setup, easy. Each of us take one team per division

in the NFC. Try to end your analysis quickly with a question and then we talk about that team. Let's have some fun. Ricky, how are you doing, by the way? Uh-oh. Oh, geez. She doesn't realize

I was trying to bring her into the show and then I ask her and then there's like 15 second delay. Yeah, it's so funny because we're not in a studio and I have like a whole computer set up that I have to like get into a virtual studio. It's so seamless, Dan.

You know, you millennial are new excuses. Dead on, dead on analysis. I will destroy you. Have a great show. All right, let's let's kick it off. right now around the NFC we go starting with the NFC East hit hit the horn rickie oh it's like I'm back at DJs on the jersey shore and Belmar there here we go the Washington football team Greg Rosenthal oh we're starting with the the most exciting team in this division I like it

all it's just like a solid football team I I there it's just it's a solid head coach it's Ron Rivera it's a lot of professionals look at this defensive line look at this secondary they quickly rebuilt with William Jackson and Kendall Fuller. Look at their offensive line. They might be bringing in Charles Leno to play left tackle. That was kind of their one hole. I think it's just, I feel a little bit like Washington

fans, which maybe they're looking at this team and they're like, how do we not go 10 and 7 or 11 and 6? And you think back to the last two decades where they have one playoff win, they're one of the least winning teams of the decade. Like, where do you think this team

could have the rug pulled out from me? Because I've watch Washington so long I kind of expect it to implode from within and this one it doesn't look like it's going to happen though this time Steve Steve's making a face you just glossed over the whole quarterback thing man okay you just forgot that's an upgrade it's an upgrade it's an upgrade back yeah I'm not going to blow the time schedule here no we've got three minutes here don't you think Ryan Fitzpatrick is an upgrade from I mean if nothing else from what they were last year Yeah, based off what they had last year. But, I mean, once we go around this whole division,

I mean, is he the best quarterback in the division? No. Definitely not. No. And if you look at the whole NFL, they're really, like, you could look at Houston and Washington is really some of the only teams that haven't, don't have either like a long-term starter at veteran

or like a young quarterback that they've latched on to as their future quarterback of tomorrow. And I mean, I like Fitzpatrick as much. much as anyone else, but if things go awry, you're suddenly like looking at starts by like Kyle Allen or Taylor Heineke. And it's just like that is what sets you apart if things don't go perfectly with Ryan Fitzpatrick. I mean, we all love, we love Ryan Fitzpatrick. And we're all happy that it looks like he's going to get a chance to start. But at the end of the day, there's probably a ceiling here that Fitzpatrick puts on your team. He's a fun quarterback,

but this isn't like a championship caliber quarterback. But in the NFC East, I feel like as long is he doesn't have one of those Fitzpatrick years where he kills you with a ton of turnovers. This defense could be legitimately special. We know what the front four is about and their first round draft pick. Please someone jump in. James Davis.

Yes. That's somebody that addresses a huge need in the middle of their defense. That's where they're going to win games. I just love the weapons. Terry McLaurin, like legit number one. Your boy, you know, Logan Thomas, tight end. Antonio Gibson, one of my favorite running backs to watch in the league. You add Curtis Samuel. You add Diami Brown in the third round who a lot of people like. And then you

have Kelvin Harmon, who was productive, who tore his ACL. Cam Sims, who made a lot of players. I think the way you win with passing games now is to have five or six receivers. It's not about having two or three. Washington has that. It's got the defense. I think there's a lot of reason to believe that this is the playoff team. And don't forget, you got Young Turner calling the plays. Ten, nine. Yeah, you know, you just really sent that segment out with a teeming. Four, three, two, one. Hey, a reminder, we have three timeouts also.

For any reason, Steve, it could be anything. You want to stop the clock, it's collective. All right, let's move on. Young turn. Philadelphia Eagles, Mark Sessler. I feel like the Eagles are a little bit of an eye of the beholder team because it depends on how you want to look at it. To me, they may be they're on a full-on rebuild, okay?

But I also think that there's certainly some weird juju inside the building. You've got Nick Siriani offering rather strange press conferences. You got Howie Roseman getting caught on national TV, getting like Heismund on an awkward fist bump with an agitated coworker. But then at the same time, you can look at this roster. Jalen Hertz, Miles Sanders, Devontas Smith, Jalen Rager, Travis Fulgum, Dallas Goddard, Zach Hertz, if they keep him.

I am just wondering, because you've got some stars on defense too, is this team maybe being looked at a little bit under the radar in a shaky NFC East, or are we like six months away from Siriani, you know, getting agitated with a mouthy radio man, saying this, Ricky. I'm pissed off, Angelo. Where are we?

I think they could be overlooked because I don't think any team is an incredible. favorite in this division. So I did look, now that, like, the NFL's partnering with, you know, Caesars and stuff, like, I think we can talk about this. The Giants and the Eagles are huge underdogs to win this division, plus, you know, four to one, five to one, the two of it. And it's like, I would take those two and give them a chance, take them both to win the division, because I don't think there's that much separating the top team in this division from the bottom. The reason I give the Eagles a chance is the reason they won the Super Bowl. They're still looking pretty good on both lines.

There's a lot of talent on both their offensive and their defensive lines. And this division always comes. I mean, there's rarely, you know, a 13 and 3 or an upcoming year's a 14 and 3 type team that wins this division. It is usually been a 10 and 6 team that's divided, you know, decided on upon the last two weeks of the season. But when it comes to the Eagles, I just can't wait until Jalen Hurts gets in the huddle

and says, okay, guys, rock, paper, scissors. Okay, what are we going to do on this third and one? Right. You know, isn't that the Siriani decision-making thing, the rock paper, scissors thing? So it's, I, I, it just seems internally in that building. We can look at the roster. We can look at the coaching change. But when you saw the chaos that happened this season, that trickles down.

That does trickle down as much as the coaching staff tries to insulate it. So if they can, Jeffrey Lurie some of the decisions he made, if they can isolate this team because there's so many new players on this roster from some of that chaos, then I'm Greg. I think they do have a shot because there's real no decisive team. And whoever is saying that the Giants are extreme underdogs to win this division, I

really want to have with their drink. Save it. Saving. Yeah. We're saving it. The Eagles have struggled to identify wide receiver talent. Devontasmith feels like a no-brainer. And by the way, Landon Dickerson, second round pick, center.

You know, Brian Baldiger called him the best offensive linemen in this class and it's not close. They helped So what I said, the O-Line. Looking good. Stay hell. Up next. The Dallas Cowboys, Steve Wisch.

Oh, yeah. So since we're talking about experts in mediocrity with this division and these teams, let's go to Dallas. Look, Dak is back. He's got his paper, and they were playing well before Dak got hurt. And then it was just a trick. I mean, everybody started getting hurt. So the offensive line, still a little bit of a question mark.

They addressed some of it. the draft, right? We know Dax got the weapons at the skill position. But the Dallas Cowboys last year were the Alice Cowboys because there's no D to be spoken of. Look at that. Right? I mean, think about it. They got no pass rush. Your linebackers

didn't play well. And their secondary, I mean, that's what was a fantasy football quarterback's dream to play against. So they go out and they target some of these players. They get Micah Parsons. And let's not forget that Dan Quinn is now running this defense. So he's got Michael Parsons, kind of his Bobby Wagner. doesn't necessarily have some of the pieces that he did in Seattle.

So this might look a little bit more like Atlanta's defense until you get some of that personnel. But I do think the Cowboys with that back can score enough points and to be enough of a problem offensively, especially in this division, to kind of deal with the defense that's going to be better, not great, but good enough to keep it in every game. I think they were annoyed that one of the top corners didn't fall to them. that they seemed like a rock solid target for a cornerback. But I think Dan Quinn has been put in a better position than last year's

coordinator, Mike Nolan, because they went all defense in this draft. And I think Parsons is, you know, I'm a little concerned that, you know, the report city is starting riots and lunchrooms or whatever that was. But maybe you need a guy that can start a ride on this defense. I mean, Dan Quinn has a chance to be, because I think sometimes you get these head coaches that, you know, that burns out, but you put them back in the course. coordinator spot and they are that much more valuable for the experience they've had. Dan Quinn is a chance to be like a coordinator of the year. And I like Dan Quinn a lot, so maybe I

overthink it, but like this could be a much better defense. Yeah. And by the way, when Wife says Alice Cowboys, it doesn't mean like Alice, the woman's name. He's not saying that. It's Alice A-L-L-A-S. I just want to make that very clear to the audience. I think Alice Cowboys, though, could take off as a brand. I mean, I feel like Eagles fans are already Potentially. Yeah, no, I think with the Cowboys, it does come down to the defense, doesn't? Because they're going to score a lot of points, especially. But will they?

Like, here's the way. And they will. But the one thing we made a mistake with the Lions last year is we were like, ooh, that six games, before Matthew Stafford got hurt, they were like, you know, third in the league. And they're going to be awesome now coming back with the same guys. I do think we should slow expectations a little that they were these insane numbers when their defense couldn't do anything for six games.

games, but now you have DAC Prescott coming off in ACL and just things change year to year. Like, their defense needs to be a lot better because I don't know if they can expect their offense to be that good. You don't think their offense? I'm not sure what your point was there. That, like, expecting a top three offense is expecting too much. A guy coming off a torn ACL. The New York Giants.

Big Blue. They were smart. They made some smart moves. Dave Gettleman. All right. But Ed Gettleman, just when you think he's out, he does something that you feel like might buy him more time. This time, it was trade back in a wise manner, according to all the people that seem to know these things and set themselves up for a couple of years with draft picks. And then they go.

And, of course, they had Cadarius Tony in the first round. That's a wide receiver with a lot of upside. Kenny Galladay got the bag in free agency. Saquan Barkley's back. That's all good. It's all good. And it's like Daniel Jones. this is it. He's about to take off. But this offensive line, we've talked about it on the show. Bad, very bad last year. And Dave Gettleman, when he was questioned about why they didn't really focus on it at all in the draft, he said, well, it wasn't there for us. We didn't like the players, which is all fine and good. But now you just got to hope all these guys you drafted last year, it didn't play a lick in 2020, are much better. Are the Giants still highly vulnerable on offense because they got a fumble prone quarterback that doesn't have anybody that could block?

absolutely i mean they're trusting their evaluations because they you know took andrew thomas over these other three tackles who ended up being awesome last year he's the key to their team and matt pert who's their right tackle they're bringing back knight sold or to maybe be the swing tackle was their third round pick that that's probably the key to their team because i like the defense like i like the weapons i think the weapons are enough for daniel jones like we we talked a lot about patrick graham last year doing a lot with the parts he had he's got more parts on defense this year. So I know I know you're angling for this team, Weiss. You got a little giant fever. I really like, and the main reason why I like what they did, and that you'll love this, Rosie,

being a Patriots fan, is that they didn't make a lot of the dumb mistakes, right? While they were kind of working through some of the things they had to work through, including a fumble prone quarterback, they weren't a team that made a lot of penalties. They weren't a team other than the fumbles that turned the ball over a lot or did things to put their team in a bad situation. They just didn't have the ability to put points on the board. last year. And that's going to help if Saquan comes back and stays healthy and some of the other pieces that they got. I mean, this is all on Daniel Jones. So now if he comes back and he plays fairly well, cuts down on the mistakes, this is enough of a fundamentally solid team since

solid has been the word du jour that, again, can compete in this division that are the master class of mediocrity. I mean, and I would say also that, you know, you're dealing with the New York media. Daniel Jones is not, you know, there aren't going to be kid gloves at this point because the whole narrative is Daniel Jones is being put up, put in a place to succeed as well as almost any quarterback in the league with the weapons they've added. And if it's, if you're four weeks into the campaign and everyone looks solid, but Daniel Jones is, you know, protected or not fumbling the ball left and right. That, you know, the tabloids are going to go utterly nuts. And so it will be entertaining one way or another. Steve, over not over under Giants wins, eight and a half.

Taking you over, my friend. go might win the division all right nfc is down we move to the nfc north and let's start with the detroit where else would we start it's the centerpiece of america detroit what i think it's like this this is where it's like where america was born steel it's like i don't know there's it's hard to get excited about the lions you sound like a kid that didn't do his homework yeah this is like hodd and prepare a question about the lions Jared goff said they had the best offensive line in the league this weekend I thought you know what he might not be far off if panace Sewell is that good taylor decker a guy you trust at left tackle a pro bowler they

just signed in rag now at center and you got jona jackson a recent high pick at one of the two guards but i don't know what else the lion's got but they got a good offensive line and that's like a start that that is where the the dan campbell era starts otherwise like i have no idea what I'm going to see out of this team. Makes sense, too, because they don't know who their quarterback of the future is. They know their future at wide receiver and running back is probably not in the building right now. Carry on Johnson just got the boot, by the way.

Yeah, how about that? But they have the foundation. Everything's built in the trenches and they feel like they have an offensive line and then they can build off that. There's logic again to what the Detroit lines are doing in terms of rebuild. Even if you set an over under for wins for the lines, I would put it around four. it's not going to be a great 2021 season but maybe they're

on the right track here. I don't like this though. Jared Goff, yes, you have an offensive line, but your targets are Breshad Pramon, Tyrell Williams, Khalif Raymond, Quintez, Seifis and rookie Amon Rae St. Brown who probably is going to get a ton of playing time. I just, you know, this is a team.

I'm not going to get open. Well, this is one, exactly. This is one of those teams that passed on Justin Fields and it's like you're going to be viewed on how he succeeds in your own division. So it's like I love making a nice offensive line, but you may be passed over a totally psychotically awesome quarterback. So we'll see.

Yeah, look, this is how Dan Campbell builds it. I mean, look at what the Saints did, that guard to guard, all those years, they built guard to guard. Now they had Penae Soule, and here's a little nugget. They liked him enough to contemplate moving up to four with Atlanta to get him because they thought that Cincinnati might take him at five. So Penae Soule, when they were able to fall to him, that's why you saw those guys doing all the hugging that they did when they got Penae Sule.

So it is all, you know, Dan Campbell, now he's got the kneecap biters, right? So that's how they want to establish it. And then who knows next offseason if Deshawn Watson becomes available? If some of those guys become available, that can be a quick fix if you've got some of the pieces. So again, this is a rebuild. No one's expecting them to win the division, even if Jordan Love is a starting quarterback for the Packers. But they've clearly shown their hand as to how they want to build this team, tough guys, inside out, It's a form, though, that's worked for a lot of teams,

but you've got to have a quarterback to be able to do it. I have no idea. I have a new day, though, in Detroit. Like, Brad Holmes feels organized. Like six or seven of their defensive starters. I don't know who it's going to be. And we don't know who Aaron Glenn is going to be as their coordinator. It's, like, wide open on their team.

Their staff is good. Their staff is very, very good. Up next, the Chicago Bears, it's Mark Sesson. Remember, I got on that lion's bandwagon last year, and the thing fell off the highway, but one year too early. Anyways, the Bears, how about this? The days of killing Ryan Pace, which I have done essentially every episode going back for two or three years, I think they're over because I give the Bears, I feel so differently about them now. They tried for Russell Wilson

that didn't work out. They then, you know, listen, they are the team that went and made the move for Justin Fields. And that started with Matt Nagy having a conversation with Ryan Day, Ohio State coach a year ago where Day said, this is a generational talent. And that's where, the nugget started and Ryan Pace, right, right, Matt Nagy said, I'm in. I'm in on this. So I just wonder, though, here's my question. A week or, you know, these guys, their butts were on fire a week ago. And it's like they were playing for their jobs. And you thought maybe the whole thing gets swept out. At this point, their butts are much cooler. They have bought new life with this quarterback pick. Do you think, though, that Matt Nagy, after all we've seen and Ryan Pace are

the right guys to continue what they're doing? Or is this just preventing the NFL? And inevitable year into Justin Fields' career, you know, he's out. All right. Well, let me say this. All right. Let's see this new quarterback on the field. And I'll have a better idea of this entire regime because we knew the Trubisky move was disastrous for the franchise. And they're very lucky, extremely fortunate pace and naggy to get another bite at the apple here.

I would think if things go sideways this year and Fields' development isn't where people expect it to be, they're out. they might not even make it to week 17 or week 18 but yeah it feels is as good as people think he could be not only was it a brilliant move to breathe some life back into the organization and bring in this guy that could be potentially franchise altering it does for job security was a huge move by both those guys it was a no-brainer all the way around yeah look their their their butts are still very hot I mean people may people may like their smiling faces right now but if it doesn't work they're out and Justin Fields going to be playing for a different coordinator head coach next year. And I like what they, I'm completely with Dan.

My first thought is they may have bought themselves some time if Fields comes out. If they're competitive, he does some things with some of the weapons that he has. I mean, their offensive line is still so-so. They could not run the ball at all for the past two years. I mean, that part of things has to be figured out. But if they could at least show some signs, they may say, okay, we can be. build around Justin Fields. But if it's fits and starts and fits and starts, are they open the season with

Andy Dalton? I mean, this isn't the 2017 Bears, though. That's the problem. It's not Mr. Trubisky's Bears. Like, yes, you're changing people's lives. Our producer on the TV side, Matt Tanton, he had jumped ship from the bears. He's back in now. Like, you're bringing people back in.

But they're offensive line. They're starting a rookie on one side, Jermaine Fetti on the other. It's not the same Khalil Mack. It's not the same McKeon Hicks. Like, unless those guys are as good as they use. used to be it's not going to work you know you just guarantee that this part of the podcast will be on our network program because matt tanton is producing that smooth move up next the minnesota viking steward man well you know mike zimmer and rick beelman guys they they've gone and done it

they've drafted a quarterback and kellen mod even though he's a third round pick it is going to take those three consecutive you know where they're coming below 200 yard passing games by Kirk Cousins where they go one and two before the fan base is play Mond, play Mon. They're not, you know, look, who knows if Mond is going to get ready, he's got a completely different skill set than Kirk Cousins, but they have introduced themselves into the quarterback controversy world. And it is about time because Kurt Cousins, you know he's going to show up every day, you

know some weeks he's going to bring you junk mail, and some days he's going to bring you a nice stimmy check. Okay. But it's, this is a team that is so reliant on Dalvin Cook as well. Now, I like some of the things they did to enhance their offensive line. Okay. They've done some things to get better on the offensive line, which they had to do. Their defense is going to be better. Remember last year they were just decimated by injuries. You get Anthony Barr and Daniel Hunter back. I think Patrick Peterson still got some game left. They're one's mocking that free agency signing. I think he's got some game left. to come out help.

So I think the Vikings are going to contend for the division, okay, even with those three consecutive minus 200-yard passing games and Kirk Cousins, because they've got Dalvin Cook, and even though there's going to be whispers of play Kellyn Maud, especially if he has a good pre-season, the Vikings are going to hold firm on Kirk, and they are going to challenge for the division. I'm with you.

I like that. I think Darisaw, Wyatt Davis, those are the two lines. And here's the thing. This is why I'd be stupid to put in the rookie if Cousins and when, when Cousins goes into one of those three-week funks. He always comes out of it. And then for the next five weeks, he's in like the top three in the league and passerating and he's got an absurd touchdown to interception ratio. That's just the Kirk Cousins experience. So bailing on him when he goes into a slump is just costing yourself down the line. I would worry about this, though, in terms of, you know, Mung becoming like Mr. Excitement. You still have to pay

Kirk Cousins 35 million guaranteed next season. So, you know, he's untradable unless, you know, unless a team is completely out of their minds. And so the controversy will wage on. It's not easy to get rid of Kirk Cousins for next season. So that's... But he's not like an albatross like some other quarterbacks either. No, he's fine.

I mean, he's streaky. It's weird because you think of him as this, like, steady, boring guy. No. He is either on fire, like in a good way or he's, you know, like, you know, lighting your playbook on fire they need those rookies though on the offensive line to like play well everyone always slots in okay well we we signed two good rookies you know and you know we drafted one in the first run that solves that it's like no half the time it's going to be a disaster it's like a bigger problem it's like starting a couple rookies it's on your radar right i like it just say but you're right

there's always the assumption oh we fixed their offensive line well that's it all right The Green Bay Packers. Yikes. I'm gonna, I'm gonna. All right. So Aaron Rogers, obviously, in the conversation, top 10 quarterback all time. Coming off a year in which he won MVP for the third time. He's furious.

He's filled with venom and vengeance. That's venom gents. So perhaps knowing the man and how spiteful he is, and nobody knows him more than the Packers internally, perhaps this is the time. Yeah, he's the Clare Vengeance. Perhaps this is the time to trade a 37-year-old quarterback before he goes and retires on you. And I know it takes you completely out of contention in 2021 and all that and maybe for a couple of years.

But maybe if you truly know the situation, this is the right move. Anybody agree with me? What is the right move? Trading him? If he's telling you and he's telling all free agents, don't come back, I'm leaving. and he's telling you face to face, I'm never playing for you again. Maybe you should listen to him and reset your franchise.

I guess my point would be, unless you're getting established players back right now, let them rot for a year. Because you're only getting drafts. The draft picks are what are helping you. Let him rot, Greg says. I'm not buying that he's going to be out. We're already seeing a little bit of hedging

that this is a solution that could be fixed by former teammates on our network, James Jones, John Cune talking on the radio. So if they think it can be fixed, I think it can be fixed. And if you're only getting draft picks, those draft picks are the exact same getting them next April or next February as they are right now. So you might as well just wait and see.

Well, here's the thing, Greg. I mean, to your point, though, if you're going to trade him, go ahead and trade him before the season because you drafted Jordan Love in the first run. He's going to play at some point. So if you're going to trade him, move them. I don't think the Packers are going to trade him. I think it is you play for us or you play for no one. host Jeopardy or Soul Train, whatever it may be that tickles your fancy, but you are not going

to play for anyone else. If it's not us, you still get Jordan Love reps for the year. You still have the same impact. Tough, tough shoes. They got to draft them in the first round. He's got to play anywhere. I get it, but it's kind of a no win. Like you're taking over for the MVP. It is a tough situation.

But you can spin it saying he's the one who sat out Packers Nation. We didn't trade him. We didn't dump him. he's the one who wanted to go sit in the sandbox. So that's the way they have to spin it because there's no way they're going to win this battle, especially after the same circus that happened with Brett Farb, seems to be to some degree playing out again.

I would be concerned about the Jordan Love angle, though. I mean, all whispers and reports out of Green Bay. It wasn't even the backup last year that he just didn't develop. And they knew, you know, coming out of Utah State that he was going to have to take time. But still, there's no evidence of, there's like, oh, he's blowing up in practice. And he's like a Colin Kaepernick versus Alex Smith type situation. It's like, who is this guy? Is he the starter?

Can he do it? Isn't Matt LaFlor are supposed to be a quarterback whisperer? I'm tired so much of this stuff. These guys are getting hired to quarterback whisper and to coach up. Time out, Ricky. Time out, Ricky. Go on, Steve. Let's just continue the Rogers conversation.

I'm pulling a T.O. Go ahead. No, these guys are getting hired because they're the offensive gurus, right? And they can't develop a quarterback who you took in the first round. Sounds to me like this quarterback whisperer is kind of like a quarterback mumbler. I'm tired. I'm tired of sitting here saying that guys can't develop. Why he's bringing a fire today?

No, I mean, this has been, this has been, you know, in my crow for a while. When all these coaches are getting paid big money, they're leapfrogging other candidates, deserving candidates, because they're great play callers and great play schemers, and they can't develop a guy you draft in the first round? Is that always on the quarterback? You're totally right, but I think part of the issue is that I don't think Matt LaFleflore wanted to move up to draft Jordan Love. And he feels a little powerless in this situation. But you know, everybody's got to grow up a little bit.

Everybody's got to put on their big boy pants, you know? Like Aaron Rogers has got to live with the situation or retire, whatever. Just grow up. If you're still upset that Jordan Loves in the building and you're head coach Matt LaFlofflor, deal with it. That's just the reality. And don't be afraid of it and embrace trying to grow him into a star. Going back to my original point, Greg, was that. if this is really the way this thing is turning out and you and this is not about money and

maybe maybe not mrs miller my social studies teacher in eighth grade said money makes the world go around it's what everything's about and if this is actually deep down just about iron rogers getting a raise pay the man but if you've sensed that this is actually something else something about his personality and a sense of betrayal and all this ugliness and starting to make the brett barb situation look pleasant in comparison cut your losses and set your franchise up for 10 years. Yeah. My point, my thing would be that just do that next year, because what you don't want is Aaron Rogers blazing through the AFC playoffs, especially when you're not getting anything back. I presume that's going to help you this year. Now, if you're telling me,

but that's an assumption, by the way, Greg, that they wouldn't get anything back. Yeah, so I'm saying if it's not just draft picks, if someone is willing to trade you, you know, Bradley Chubb and Cortland Sutton from Denver or Vegas is willing to trade you like all their good players, I just don't see that happening. I see this as a retirement for a year and he comes back and then there's a trade or he's just going to come back, which feels a lot more likely.

I mean, it's not easy time to be Brian Guttenkiss because it's like you're the person who's attached to all this chaos and yeah, you know what? Trade him at some point, whether it's this year or next. Then you've got this quarterback sitting there Jordan Love, who better be really good or the place is going to be set on fire.

Goatee. It's, you know, some storms have hit the shores. of Germany's favorite general manager and Bob McGinn of the Athletic reported that Rogers has mocked Goudicunst in group text messages with teammates referring to Goudicunds as Jerry Krause

and by the way, it's Jerry Krause first of all the most successful GMs of all time he was one of the most successful GEMs of all time because of Michael Jordan and yes, everybody knows the ESPN doc and learned about the Jerry Krauss power struggle within the Chicago Bulls in the 90s. But

the great late Chris Wessling once recommended a book to me that I'm just finishing right now playing for keeps David Halberstam that really gives you an idea of what was going on in Chicago and Jerry Krause and rest in peace was a man that had a lot of demons and a lot of insecurities so if you know the true story of Jerry Kraus it's one of the worst things you could call somebody because you know Kraus he's a hall of fame right he deserved it if gutakins can get six rings in a hall of fame but here's the thing also about Kraus was very, maybe this is the way it is behind the scenes of Green Bay. But Krause was a big thing that he was always trying to take credit. Do you sense that Brian Gutikus is doing that also?

I don't know. Maybe he is. No. And take credit for what? They haven't won anything. I do, I do sense that Mark Murphy is a really important figure here. He's, he's the, essentially the CEO and president. And he was right there saying goodbye to Brett Farr, 15 years ago, too.

So he's, he's been through. this before and they drafted Jordan Love with the intent to say bye-bye Aaron Rogers. It's just, you know, he didn't see that MVP coming. All right. Time in. Let's head to the NFC South, Greg, the New Orleans Saints. This team is not as deep as it used to be. I think their first round pick was surprising because they had so many holes on the roster.

Instead, you're putting like Cam Jordan on notice. That's how I took that Peyton Turner pick because they didn't take any cornerbacks or wide receivers high, really thin at those positions. Their linebacker used to be kind of deep. Now it's to Mario Davis and nothing else. I think very quietly, the depth of this team. You look at their two and three receivers are, you know, Treyquan Smith and Marquez Calloway has been eroded.

So it's not just about the quarterback. It was about what happened when they couldn't spend any money in free agency. I found this draft strange, and I just don't see them as such a built, stacked team for James Winston to take over. I mean, there are scouts calling Peyton Turner. I see what you're doing. Greg, lowering expectations for his boy, James. Weiss is not in his head, though.

This is not as good a roster as it was. It's got some holes for sure. Go ahead, Mark. No, I just, I mean, I think that, you know, they're probably annoyed that people were annoyed by their draft, but someone called Peyton Turner, a scout, called them a severe reach. A lot of people like their second round pick

more than their first round pick in terms of who they got. Just like, I think that they hit the wall. I think you're right, Greg. I mean, we saw the paths get in trouble with that, too. I mean, you can't, there's only so much you can do. And they, you know, you're losing guys like Trey Hendrickson, you know, breezes out the building. And to me, I mean, James Winston is an idea. But it's like, oh, we're going to get this version of James Winston minus the mistakes because

Sean Peyton is the coach TBD. That's just no guarantee of that. Absolutely TBD. And I'm with you, Greg. And no, Cam Jordan's not on notice, Marcus Davenport's on notice. I mean, they just gave him a guaranteed contract for next year in this 50 year deal. They picked up his option. They picked up his option.

That's all he did. So, I mean, he's being put on notice. Plus, you lose Trey Hendrickson in that defense. You've got to have someone who can rush the passers. It's usually, you know, rotational, especially in this division when you got some of the quarterbacks. I mean, look out for Sam Darnold. But it's the roster, they're putting a lot on James. I mean, they really are.

We'll see. I think this is one of those things who will never say it out loud, but organizations do this. If we have to take a year to reset things, this is the year to do it. And I think the Saints are saying, this is our reset year to get the cap right, to try to stay competitive, but to try to figure out who we are for the future. And if we win now, fine and dandy. That makes a lot of sense. I like where you're coming from on that. And I also wonder, because I've kept waiting all throughout this offseason for Sean Payton to pull a rabbit out of the hat and really bring in like a big time successor to Drew Brees and see this is kind of a smokescreen, the Winston Taysam Hill thing.

it hasn't happened and perhaps it's not or like what Steve's saying we're going to see what we got here with these two guys maybe it all connects and we have something big that comes out of it or maybe next year Deshaun Watson's on the Saints you know like uh Russell Wilson or Russell Wilson or somebody else maybe there is a big move coming just not this year that makes sense because and I think when I'm talking about the roster falling you know down a little it's like who is starting a cornerback on this scene I can't figure you are yeah Yeah, like, they are, there are spots here. Who's starting at tight end?

Adam Troutman. Chris Schaher is going to coach up that secondary, my friend. He's back. The defending Super Bowl champion, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Mark Susser. I would just look at, like, how incredible this team was down the stretch. The points they put up over their final eight games, 26 points, 31, 47, 44, 31, 31, 30, 30, 31. Byron Leftwich is like, can we get a little more credit for this guy? I feel like he's completely not mentioned enough for what he's done.

I have a two-part question, though, do you think, just because everyone's come back, the way that offenses work in the NFL, assuming that Brady stays Brady, that they just pick up where they left off on offense and do their old, you know, dropping 40 on the reg from week one through week 18 next year? Or is that just simply not that easy? And secondly, is there a, like, who actually in the NFL? see if Rogers were ever to not be on the Packers to challenge this team. What team stands out is anyone that's going to get in their way?

As a journalism school graduate, Mark, you usually do the double question thing a lot, which they say don't do that because they're usually just going to pick one of your questions. Well, I didn't go to journalism school. So, you know, missed that lesson and also don't care. Plus, you're asking three people. So do you want us each to answer both parts of the question? I mean, you just beat up 26 seconds, Greg, by not doing it. anything productive.

Answer it as you wish, or answer none of it. I forgot them. I think the offense does pick up where it left off. I don't know if they can keep it going the whole season, but I think a lot of times the Patriots would come out of those defending championship in September. They would just like, they would roll. And I don't see any reason not to for this team.

Keeping that motivation, keeping that level of play through 18 weeks, it's going to be a different season. I'm not counting on their defense being as good as it was. Because this was a defensive team, as good as the offense was, at the very end, this was a defensive team. And remember, those points were scored because that defense was giving them short fields. I mean, they were getting takeaways, taking away possessions, and then really put them in a position where left and the areas could call a great place.

You know, I don't like the fact of not changing. I think every team in the NFL is different than the NBA, right? The Spurs can keep their starting five and reel off four or five straight championships just because of the nature of the game and great coaching and things like that. But in the NFL, I think you have got to change parts every now and then because if you hit a slump, guys can get sour or if you start rolling, guys can be like, okay, we got this or we can turn it on.

And you may meet that bus saw one week who you just can't beat because as we know in the NFL is a game of matchups. And so I don't, I like the fact that bringing everyone back. They're an imposing team. A lot of mouth to feed, though, on offense. If ever there was a disease of more type of team, this is it. Doesn't Brady's presence, though, like quell, like what could be turmoil

with a different type of quarterback? I think so. You're a student of the game, Steve. You know, a student of the game, Steve? Do you remember a defending champion ever going this all in on bringing back the same team? No, but you know, most defending champions didn't have quarterbacks who took less

to make sure it happens either. Right. All right. Do what happen? The Atlanta Falcons. fittingly, it's Steve White. You know, the expectations here are completely unknown. You know, look, they clearly committed to Matt Ryan

by not going for a quarterback, even to the point where they signed AJ McCarran as his backup going into the draft. So this is Matt Ryan's team for this year. He has got weapons. They drafted two interior offensive linemen hookah, who are a plug-and-play type of guys. Now can they coach them up to protect Matt Ryan, who has been sacked like crazy over the past,

three years and his tenure with with with dirt cutter is his OC who's no longer there higher interceptions higher sack rate just by whatever's going on right there getting Kyle pits is tight end that's going to help the big question is the Julio Jones factor because we just talked about Aaron Rogers possibly getting moved this is real okay this is very real that Julio Jones could get moved before training camp because their cap is busted right and they figure he's the one high salary guy that teams are calling about they can't take back salary So if they can get future picks, seconds, you know, people are saying got to get two for, he's 32 and he's been nicked up.

His trade value will never be higher than it will be before going into training camp. So they are going to listen. So if you don't have Julio Jones, Matt Ryan's a different quarterback, even with Kyle Pitts, when he doesn't have Julio Jones. And his defense, yeah, they drafted some players, but they still have a ways to go, especially changing defensive fronts. Who knows the Atlanta Falcons guy? I mean, this is a total toss-up type of team.

I think maybe they can win six games. They can win, you know, 10 or 11. You just don't know. These guys are super tired of me bringing this up. But, I mean, they have like 24 less players than other teams in the NFL. And there's six million. They signed like 20 undrafted free agents. So that'll do it.

But that's to the Julio Jones point, it's not like we want to move Julio Jones because of his age or his durability. It's like, we've got to find a way to create cap space. And I just wonder, though, I know there'll be a taker, but is Julio Jones right now someone that another team, I mean, wide receivers have been drafted, like teams have fulfilled those needs. Who's going to come after Julio Jones and give a ton of way?

I think that's tricky. Like the Raiders, the Raiders. They'll be someone. Put them at the top of the list. The Raiders first round pick next year for Julio Joe. I don't know if he keeps to give up a first rounder. I don't know if you don't. I mean, if you don't get a first, then what are we doing here?

Life is too short. Let's just see Julio Jones and Kyle Pitts together then. It's a cap. It's a cap issue. I get it, but for a second round pick, you can always move money around. I mean, I would think there were like 10 teams that could fashion themselves contenders that would see Julio Jones is a guy that could put them over the top. Most of the new got a second.

You're going to send out Julio Jones for a second? That's disrespect. Who did you get that second from there, Greg? Some chumps in Foxborough. It was a bad idea. Just put him. together. Who cares?

Dean Peas will save this defense. The getting rid of quid might be an upgrade. I mean, let's be real. A little bit right now. What's going up? What's going to see them together? Oh, I want to call timeout. I'm going to use the second time.

Remember, we never go into the tunnel without using our timeouts, and I'm not using the third. I can throw that out there. All right. Steve, you've got a gig with the Falcons. Yeah. Congratulations on that. You're a contributor on their website, all sorts.

content and without getting too personal how much are they paying you you just got too personal i'm not going to i'll put it this way i'm not going to bust their salary cap yeah no no i mean the cool part is i'm going to help i'm going to do the mean of kimes and be in the in the preseason booth i mean that's how this all started oh that's awesome yeah that's how it all started something i really wanted to do and so i'm going to be in the booth with coy wire and dj shock the two guys i covered when they were with the Falcons. And so, yeah, I'm going to give that a whirl and everything else just kind of expanded off of that.

All right. Well, start watching your AJ McCarran tape because you're going to be seeing a lot of him in August. I cannot wait. If you're worried, yeah, the reason why the Falcons are in such salary cap hell is that Weiss contract they took out. Oh, it's cumbersome. Are they going to send you to the preseason games?

Is that the plan? Like, where are we at with the COVID preseason landscape here? Hey, guys, I'll give you a tip. And you guys will appreciate this. since we're in timeout, I'm getting paid more than all of us are getting paid for our podcast. You can say that. Too soon? I love that.

Timeout doesn't mean that it's not going to air, Steve. It still will be on the podcast, but I appreciate it. It's all good. Steve, I have a mortgage now, but we'll talk off Mike. Wait, Steve, does this mean that you would potentially relocate to Atlanta down the road if this assignment became bigger and bigger? because you are a, you know, you've got Atlanta roots. Nope. That part of the, no.

Nope. Nope. Love L.A., man. I'm good here. I have friends and I'm all losing Atlanta, but I am here. And only three preseason games, right? We're not waiting to bring out the three preseason game season. That's now.

Let's do it. So many of us. And the good thing is, it's not a team that I really cover. So like when we get to the regular season and stuff, it's not like I'm like on the home team if I were to cover a Falcons game. No, the NFL network requires the Falcons to like be in content. attention for 12 or 13 wins before they start covering them. It's like they're just down there. The whole NFC South, man.

You know, so many of us are Los Angeles transplants, but few have done it better than Steve. Steve is a guy that fits right in. Right in, baby, yes. All right, let us move on. Time in. Carolina Panthers. Okay.

Sam Darnold, let's see where he's at now. Okay. Matt Rule, so he's paired with a competent. respected offensive mind. That's an upgrade over you know who. He's playing now with one of the great running backs to the last decade and CMC. Hopefully McCaffrey's healthy. It's got an old friend and Robbie Anderson, who they made some real nice music together in New York. DJ Moore, like a sneaky kind of rising star at wide receiver. Second round pick, LSU wide out Terts Marshall Jr. Is the Darnold Hive? Fractured as it may be now that he's been traded

but I still don't root for the guy about to be proven right on Sam or will we remember this is another poor investment at QB by the Carolina Panthers? My guess it'll be somewhere in the middle where each hive member like stakes their ground

and doesn't move off of it. That he gives you enough that of course it's going to be better. So like you with Teddy Bridgewater basically. Exactly. Like let's say they have the 19th ranked passing game DVOA like the Panthers did a year ago. Let's say it's about the same

as with Teddy. People will defend Darnold because it'll be a lot better than we've ever seen them. And I do worry about the protection there. They didn't go get a left tackle. Really, the entire offensive line looks like a question, and they're not super deep at wide receiver if

Marshall, the rookie, doesn't pan out. I mean, it sounds a lot like the New York Giants situation with Daniel Jones. I mean, if we don't get the version of Sam Darnold that everyone's been crowing about for three years here, then we know what he is.

But, you know, I don't excuse all his negative plays with the Jets. I understand it was a terrible situation too, but I mean, this is a place to fly. And don't forget Chubba Hubbard at Running Back that you drafted, one of the best names in the draft. Hubba, no, look, I think Donald's going to do okay. I mean, I look, what did we just talk about with the Saints? Who's playing corner?

Right, Falcons. What's their corners aren't going to? He is not coming into a buzzsaw. defenses like he had facing Buffalo, facing Miami, and to some degree facing the Patriots. He's got an opportunity here. Okay, so that's part of it. Now, he

just has to show the acumen to learn an offense. Teddy Bridgewater played well in for a while. He's just got to take some of the opportunities should they surface. That's the one thing Teddy has been kind of averse to in his career. And having Christian McCaffrey back, healthy guys, that will help him.

And the defense could be good. They've gotten really young. Like their front four on paper. I think Gross Motto slipped under the Raider as a player when he was healthy was really good last year. Derek Brown, you know, Shaq Thompson, like they, now you add the J.C. Horn, like, it's a fun-looking defense now. I watched Donald every start, every snap, Donald played. He needs to be rebuilt mechanics-wise. I mean, it's not just that he was in a bad situation. He fell into bad habits and had bad coaching.

Let's see that rule. Huff up here. I'd love to see it. But just don't be too great. All right. NSD West, they close out with starting with the San Francisco 49ers, Greg. You know, we all breathe the sigh relief, at least I did just that they drafted Traylands because I want to watch this team.

You look at the young players in almost every position group, except for maybe the secondary offensive line, and it's as good as any team. I think in the league, are we back to the point now after what happened last year with all the injuries, that we see the 49ers as set up as well as any. the NFL team to contend for titles over the next three or four years. Are we there? Yes. Yeah. I think I told you, you know, a while back, I saw them as like a looming dynasty in the making. And look it, even last year, I'd point to some of their performances with all those injuries. Go watch their two games against the Rams. They took care of business. I mean, they're good inside

their own division. They've got the best play caller in football. I think for me, it's Trey Lance, who is sort of an outlier in the amount of college production and work that he had. versus some of these other guys. I mean, he wasn't used the way that some quarterbacks were. And I think he's a fascinating prospect, but it will be, you know, interesting to see how quickly he develops. Or if he plays, I mean, you've got Jimmy G. Well, they're going to have to develop him, though, because Jimmy G is not durable.

I mean, he has played, he has had 30, played in 30 games in four seasons with the Niners. That's why they had to go get a quarterback for the future, but also in case Jimmy goes down because, to Jimmy's credit, when he's not there, they lose. Right, so he is a good quarterback, but they've got to get Tray Lance ready in that regard. But otherwise, they're solid. I mean, they've got, they're, I'm with you when I say solid. They're set to rip off Super Bowl. They're talking about Tomiko Ryan's is going to be a pretty seamless transition as D.C.

We know Bose is coming back. We know some of those injured players are coming back. If they can get a tackle, de-tackle from last year to step up, that defense is going to be okay. Also, they've just got to get their offense together and they've got to stay healthy. Also, no more excuses. I mean, this is, Shanahan has one winning season there. And now you have, in addition to Garoppolo, you have this fallback plan within the season and slash he's the future potentially and Trey Lance. So one of those guys, whoever's on the field, if Shanahan's as good as everyone says, he should be a functional passer or potentially dynamic.

And then you look at both sides of the ball. There's so many great players and they were so killed by injuries last year, even beyond Garapolo. I have them at number nine in the power rankings. So to me, they're a top 10 team, even coming off the 6 and 10 of last year, just because of the potential. It's just, it's all there. Now they've just got to do it. I think a lot of people would probably have them even higher. I don't even know, like just in terms of talent.

They do have some little areas interior offensive line. They don't really have a third receiver right now, which is surprising because Kyle Shanan is usually all about that. Their secondary has been turned over, and it's a tough division. That's the thing that would worry me if I'm a – They lose a lot to the Cardinals. and so that's been a matchup problem and then you've got a really good division and try to get them.

Four, three, two, one. The Arizona Cardinals with Mark Sesson. All right, I have a four-part question. All right, no, I don't. But our friend, Jason Zumwalt, a master of voice, over-artist, a super Cardinals fan. He sent in the question

where I'm going to ask you. Great writer. All of this work on the first. the defense is great, he says. Getting more physical on both sides of the line is great. But if defenses only need to contain Kyler, then bat down his passes, which is essentially what happened the last seven games of last year, the question needs to be asked, is this offense just too short heightwise? Andy Isabella, Christian Kirk. Now they've taken a 5-7 wide receiver, and of course Kyler himself. Is this basically going to be Pop Warner versus pros? What am I missing here? Zumald

ass. D.K. Metcalf was on the board when we grabbed Isabella. Higher graded and higher stature wide receivers were on the board when we took Ron Dale Moore. What are we doing here? I like this. I just like the, it's like the old playground rules. The bigger kids are going to dominate. The smaller kids are going to have trouble. Now, you also got a factor in Kyler Murray's helmet, which is four feet tall. So that gets into an average height. These are all the things you talk about. But when you imagine all those receivers, they just can't draft wide receivers. I mean, that whole, remember, they drafted three wide outs. You know, two of them don't play, and Isabella is just a spot player.

So that's why they go out and they trade for D. Hop and they signed Reggie Wayne. So, you know, and they're not too short. Let's hope AJ Green has a better time in Arizona than Reggie Wayne did in New England. Right. So, no, but AJ Green, but it's, Kyla Murray's not too short. What they were doing was a lot of college stuff who got Kyla Murray's butt kicked. And that's why he had the shoulder injury was never the same. after that. Defensively, they started to come on last year.

They had a ton of injuries. They're going to have Chandler Jones back. Marcus Golden, you know, you talk about a guy who's not talked about enough as a pass rusher. I think JJ Watt will at least by reputation create a lot of attention to those guys can get free. So I think defensively, they are going to be better. They figure out what to do with Isaiah Simmons.

But here's something to look at. You know, earlier Greg was talking about the Bears' leadership having hot butts. There's some warm butts down. In Arizona, Cliff Kingsbury and Steve Kime are not coming into the season with a free pass. I've been told that the way that they finished last year and the fact that even though they won three more games with, they finished, did not sit well. Did not sit well with bid well. That's right. So we'll see, you know, in the toughest division in football top to bottom, you know, how things play out.

Greg, we have been honking about that. I've been saying, I feel like this is, he's going to be high on the hot butt rankings when they come out for us on August. And you pointed out, they have made progress. They've won more. But it hasn't been, like, the progress isn't really the progress necessarily that impresses you. I don't know. No. They also have Malcolm Butler, Robert Alford, and Byron Murphy as their top of three cornerbacks.

They're going to be targeted. That's not bad, bro. Alfred's played like two games in two years. I know he's an Atlanta guy. AJ Green's 6'4, by the one. amounts I won't. He's tall as hell. Up next.

The Los Angeles Rams, Steve Watch. And they're probably going to be coming in. I'm assuming in the top four of Dan Hanses' group because the Matthew Stafford trade. And this is now, okay, Sean McVeigh, if you are at that dude,

seven. Ooh, okay. Okay. But if you're that dude, and you can stretch the field. Okay. We went on, got you. to Sean Jackson,

stretch the field with him. We've got great underneath the receivers. We've got some talent and running back with Cam Acres and Daryl Henderson. Oh, the offensive line. How good is it? I mean, you're really managing a lot of guys up there. They feel that they can do something.

Remember, Aaron Kromer is gone. They have taken so many hits to great coaches on their staff. Now, I know Raheem Morris replaces Brandon Staley, but losing Arby Pleasant, their defensive backs coach to Detroit. is a major hit. Jalen Ramsey will tell you that. So they're great at developing and procuring players,

maybe the best team in the NFL. So you may see a lot of names on defense that you don't necessarily recognize. They'll coach them up. They are masterful so far at doing that. But again, everything is going to hinge on Matthew Stafford, how quickly he adapts. And if this offense can be new,

I don't want to say it can resemble what they did the Super Bowl years. it has to be different because defenses have caught up right well and they have to be better than it was a year ago by a lot because you can't expect the defense to be where it was that was a special season they and they had Seattle's number like that's not going to repeat in the same way I just like that it's being framed as like well here's the season we finally learn about Matthew Stafford for the ninth straight season like now it's like a new version but next season it'll be well that was his first season adjusting to los and those here's the season we finally find out. Isn't he just like really good? Yeah, he's not necessarily great, but like definitely good enough to be on a title contending? He's got to be better than that to be worth, I think, the trade. He's got to be like a top five or six type of guy. But that would be my question too because like it's a severe upgrade over Jared

Goff. And I love that they were bold and daring and just went for it and they got it done. But Matthew Stafford, a lot of things to like. But is he being a little overrated here that they're just going to plug him into this offense and the Rams are a Super Bowl team? I'm fascinated to see it. I don't know. I really don't know.

I'm excited to see him in a new place, yeah. I think so. They went to the Super Bowl with Jared Gough, a young Jared Gough, who a young Jared Gough that year is not as good as Matthew Stafford in an average year. And you guys can battle me with that. No, I'll give you that. I think people have now almost underrated Gough. Like, I saw someone say, like, you know, he has no arm talent or whatever. It's like, Jared Goff has had some moments, man.

It was the giveaway. That's completely. I think people are so down on Goff that it makes it seem like they have a massive upgrade of epic proportions now. But he was never that bad. Last year, the one thing I really liked, though, was he not figured out last year. One thing I like from Greg, though, is this is his complete dismissal of Jim Bob Cooter's OC skills. He's there? I don't even know. He's their offensive coordinator. He wasn't like Cooper. Oh, in Detroit.

Derek does not like Cooter. All right. Finally, the Seattle Seahawks. Did you know that the Seahawks made just three picks in the entire draft? That's tough. That's a tough one. And there's only been five teams since 1967 that have had that those, that few amount of picks. their first pick, 56th overall. It was a wide receiver, Duane Extridge. And that's good because they were a little thin after D.K. Metcalfe and Tyler Lockett. But Russell Wilson came out and was, you know, honking this offseason. I can't get hit so much.

There was really no true investment in the offensive line that I saw. Is this just setting the stage for more drama around Seattle where the team might not be better? The offensive line might not be better. Wilson's probably not going to change his game, so he'll keep getting hit. And this time next year, they're another, you know, they win 10 or 11 games, don't go to the Super Bowl, and more bad blood bubbles up. I mean, did they get Gabe Jackson? Did they trade for Gabe Jackson?

Yeah, he's on their roster. Yeah, so, I mean, so they did make some events. Gabe Jackson is still a pretty good player at guard. And, you know, they've got to get better at guard so they can run the ball. That's what, you know, everything is going to be set up off the run. And they got some pieces. It's just going to be interesting how their new OC, Shane Waldron

is going to implement an offense. Now you have every OC slash head coach in this division running the same system because Shane Waldron comes from McVeigh. It's weird.

Every head coach OC is going to run the same system. So they're going to be practicing against the same schemes. Nothing is going to look unfamiliar. So now is when the players, the smart players, the tough players

and the guys who can execute under duress are really going to shine. And that's where Russell Wilson gets the nod over any quarterback in this division. But he couldn't figure out the Rams last year. You want to talk to some height truthers. They're out there in Seattle, or at least in this division. The Rams, I think, believe that Wilson's height was a problem going up against their defensive line, that he could not, like that they muddied it up enough with their big front line. And the 49ers have a very similar approach. And so does Arizona. That in this division, Murray and

and Wilson, like, have to be outside of the pocket sometimes to be able to see over the middle. There were times last year where Wilson did not seem like he knew what was going on. It has been totally overlooked how poorly he played the second half of last season. It was, like, all blamed on the offensive line. It was kind of a wild series of games for Russell Wilson, considering the career that he had before that. I mean, D.K. Metcalf basically said that they had figured out their offense. And then so, but you have a new offense now. And it's, I would just, I wonder, I feel like there's so many agitated quarterbacks that it feels like Russell Wilson's agitation was like six months ago and is that gone? Is that solved? I mean, that's what I'm saying. My whole point is that's all still right underneath the circus. It's going to be their quarterback. What happens after another potentially disappointing season? They don't get it. He'll be playing for Sean Payton down in New Orleans in 2020. This is good. Wait, we didn't use the final timeout. I'm just going to use it with one second to go.

No. Well, what are we going to get done during our timeout? We just ran the hurry-up offense. We got to the 37-yard line, triple zero is on the clock, and now we're going to the locker room with a timeout in our back pocket of a bunch of jackasses. I thought we were taking a timeout with two seconds left to let the starters run off the field after two great performances around the AFC and NFC,

and everyone just cheers for us, and we bask in the... I guess you could just do that after the game. I mean, if we're up like 27-0, do we need to be taking a time? I don't think so. No, that's a fair point. I thought Mark's point was well served. We're getting more like the NBA here at the NFL. And next season, it could be Rogers, Wilson, Watson.

Who knows who else could be up for grabs. A bunch of Herm Edwards is up in this podcast. Flummox by the clock. Steve, you've said it all. I'm sorry about asking about your salary with the Falcons. That was out of bounds and untoward, but I was just curious. And I thought maybe... You know, you like the fact that I said, and I'll say it once again,

I'm making more than we all make on our podcasts. Which if you're making $1 is true. So... Steve's smart. He's, you know, he does everything here at the NFL. Now it's time to branch out and do some other things, too. It's all about the side hustle, you know? I want like a Steve wise...

Like, I imagine we haven't been to Steve's house yet. Wonder where that invites been. But, like, I imagine Steve has one of those really nice Southern California backyards where he's got the outdoor. kitchen set up and he's like a grill maestro and maybe there's like an outdoor grilling show on like the home network with steve and his wonderful wife and all the kids and it's just like i don't know just something something else to think of as we continue to diversify um what you're about guys i'm 55 man i am about to age out of this business if if not voluntarily people are gonna think you got to get

gone so i've got to figure something out here i saw that house once because you drove me home from a rams game i wasn't invited and i called an uber from there but it's a nice house had a nice looking backyard and nice everything. I mean, it was good. We talked about getting together as a group, but then, you know, something called a pandemic struck the country and probably put that on ice for a bit. For some reason, I just had this image of like, you know, the soccer practice where one mom or dad forgets to pick up their kid and then the coach has to drive the kid home.

And it's really just kind of sad. That was Steve driving Greg back from some Rams practice. No, no, no. I was being, I was being a teammate. He was being a nice guy. I was being a teammate, help erosia out. Did he help pay for? I'm assuming I would the answer would be yes that he pitched in the answer would be it wasn't asked for mark

I know he should know to do that without asking that Greg that's manners 101 you peel off a Hamilton and that's it my version of that was insisting he not drive me back to work that I can take an Uber from his house but it's going to get me most he was ashamed he was ashamed like hey drop me off three blocks from the office just so nobody sees this happen isn't Greg wearing the same thing he wore last night. All right, Steve, thank you so much, buddy. And yes, make sure

the Huddle and Flow podcast to check that out. Give it a listen. Trotter and Steve, kill it on that and get amazing guests and have really meaningful, interesting, fun conversations. Check it out.

And the Atlanta Falcons gig and everything else. Yeah, top of the world. I'm checking out that preseason. How about that? Appreciate you. guys. All right.

There we go. After another week of podcast on the around the NFL podcast, hope everybody enjoyed it. We love these shows every year. Feel really caught up. Friday, network shows back. Around the NFL broadcast, check that out.

And then next week, another full week of shows. So that's it. This Stan Hansa. signing off for a quiet storm. The old boss, Steve Wise, Ricky Hollywood, behind the glass,

virtual. Until Tuesday, heed the call. Thank you. This is an I-heart podcast.