NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Beckham to Browns, Joe Thomas joins the Heroes

Episode Date: March 14, 2019

A room filled with heroes - Dan Hanzus, Chris Wesseling, Marc Sessler and Gregg Rosenthal chat on the official open of Free Agency. They discuss Odell Beckham’s trade to Cleveland Browns (:42), Le�...��Veon Bell signing with the New York Jets (16:08), Dee Ford going to the San Francisco 49ers (29:48) and then the Heroes sit down with former Browns OT Joe Thomas (48:36).Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comNFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 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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Starting point is 00:01:01 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. The Around the NFL podcast is king in the north. Welcome to another edition of the Around the NFL podcast. My name is Dan Hansis, and I am joined. in a room filled with heroes. Happy heroes.
Starting point is 00:01:32 Mark Sessler, Chris Wessling, and Greg Rosethal. What is up, boys? Ho! Hey, Dan! Wow. Mark? Yes. Anthony Sessler.
Starting point is 00:01:43 Not my middle name. Mark Edward Sessler. Yes. It is a new day. Because Odell Beckham is a member of the Cleveland. Not only that, Enya is in the studio with us right now.
Starting point is 00:02:05 Come on in, N. Bring your heart, a vibrant Enya knockoff. I would call her ya. Listen, this is a happy day in this studio, especially for the long-suffering brown fan, the long-suffering Jets fan. Let me break it down like this, Mark. 321 days ago, the Browns drafted Baker Mayfield,
Starting point is 00:02:28 field first overall. My Jets took Sam Darnold. Yesterday, Odell Beckham to the Browns, Levy on Bell with the Jets. Something's happening, my friend. Something's happening. I think if you believe in this concept of football gods,
Starting point is 00:02:46 that there's been a shake-up up in the world of football heaven, because for a long-standing time, whoever was running this show had a deep disdain for the two teams you just mentioned, seems to be turning a little bit. The one reaction for me personally is it's, you know, I think it's a nice day in a way where you come to work and everyone's like, hey man, how are you feeling like I'm so happy for you?
Starting point is 00:03:08 And on Twitter, it's like, I get it because you've followed a team for so long and it's been so rough and it's become almost like a part of your whole experience here. But I don't know how to describe it. It's like for me, very bizarre to look at a roster that, you know, we had a free agency show that West just called the Browns roster Super Bowl worthy, which, again, I would feel it'd have to be in the middle of the night in a dream to hear that happening. That's very...
Starting point is 00:03:36 Browns and Super Bowl in the same sentence. It's the thing that's happening now. They are the... You were the ones that broke the news to me that they were the fifth highest-highest-most-likely team to win the Super Bowl in Vegas right now. Desert people are saying that. The desert people, not just the desert people
Starting point is 00:03:49 are getting behind the Browns, this country is. And we've been kind of ahead of the curve on this in the sense that there has been a ground-sweigh. well toward the Browns in this country. And really NFL fans around the world, this idea of getting behind the Browns, a big part of it, I think, was Baker Mayfield. And this idea that this team that went one in 31 and 016 could turn it around.
Starting point is 00:04:14 And I think hard knocks fed into that. And then what happened once a season got going, it bottomed out with Hugh getting fired, with the OC getting fired. And then there's just been this wave that's been building. kind of, to me, crested with this O'Dell Beckham trade in which the Giants and we'll get to the Giants. And this is a big show, by the way. We're going to go through all day three of free agency, but also day one of the new league year. Happy New Year, everybody.
Starting point is 00:04:41 We're going to break down all the news that's going on. And also Joe Thomas, who was on our around the NFL Twitter show. Big fish. Yeah, big fish earlier today. We don't do this often, but when it's something that we like and we want more people to see slash hear. it. We'll add this to the end of the show. Joe Thomas sitting in with Greg, Mark, and myself talking about the Browns and all this. But this idea that the Brown, it seems like it's cresting now where O'Dell Beckham completely changes everything. There's an excitement that goes, has gone next level because that's the type of player O'Dell Beckham is, Wes. He is a transcendent talent. You wrote about it on the dot com and he takes everything to the next level. I think he's the most talented player in the NFL since he entered the NFL. He has more talent than anyone, and I think you're going to see the difference that a quarterback makes.
Starting point is 00:05:34 I think I saw a stat from Pro Football Focus last night that Eli Manning had the worst accuracy on balls on hands and on the body that can be caught easily by a wide receiver. Not a great trade. Baker Mayfield from week 10 on was fourth among quarterbacks in that category, and I think, think you're going to see a Randy Moss-like effect in the Browns offense from the speed and the spacing, the big playability. And if you look at the, last year at this time, Dave Gettleman thought he had a chance to draft Baker Mayfield and pair him with Odell Beckham. Nobody knew the Browns were going to take Baker Mayfield. The Giants were drafted second. Everybody thought Sam Darnold was going to the Browns. Dave Gettman could have paired Baker
Starting point is 00:06:16 Mayfield with Odell Beckham. Now he gets to watch the Browns pair Baker Mayfield with Odell Beckham. The one thing for me that where another source of hope comes versus, hey, look at this is a get-good quick through free agency, is that their past two drafts prove that the core of this team is the young players because John Dorsey brings in Mayfield, it's Denzel Ward, it's Nick Chubb, it's Antonio Calloway, it's Janard Avery, and the year before, Miles Garrett, David Najuku, Larry Okunjobie, and it goes on and on. You've got a young core after honestly what's been 15 plus years of not just bad drafts, but embarrassing and devastating
Starting point is 00:06:58 drafts that netted maybe only one or two star players, one of them being Joe Thomas, but you've got to go back that far. And when you hit on the draft two years in a row like this, and then you use free agency so they have fewer draft picks, but they didn't get fleeced in this. Oh, no, back in trade. They got it for a lot less than I would have thought it would have cost. And to me, I get that Sashi Brown did a lot to put the Browns in great position and will always deserve that credit. But a year ago was kind of like John Dorsey is just this sort of clunky football dude that wears a sweatshirt.
Starting point is 00:07:28 He has done a lot to add talent and self-scout the roster. And that's one of the big reasons why they are where they are. He's a smart guy too, because this is the same situation or a similar situation, I should say, that he inherited in KC, a team that was bereft of talent but had cap space. and he was able to by making the right moves and going after the right players build up the roster quickly
Starting point is 00:07:53 and he's done it again with the Browns and that just to me and we were talking about the Raiders the other day what is their direction these moves they seem like half measures but it is also a reminder that how quickly things can change that Las Vegas again it's the desert
Starting point is 00:08:07 it is what it is but I think it's a good indicator that they have the Browns and the top five teams most likely to win Super Bowl 54 they were 0 and 16 two seasons ago. I mean, that's how quickly things... Well, that's a reflection of the people.
Starting point is 00:08:20 That's a reflection of the people that want to bet on the Browns. That's a reflection of them becoming America's team. But are they one of the best teams in the AFC, potentially? They could be. Potentially, I wouldn't have them
Starting point is 00:08:29 in the top five teams most likely to win the Super Bowl. So I think that's overheated. Not the best thing. But they had... The offensive talent is wild. Putting Sheldon Richardson next to Ogun Joby
Starting point is 00:08:42 and Miles Garrett is wild. Olivia Vernon. A million. things that are coming together for this team. You still have Greg Robinson and Chris Hubbard as your two tackles trying to protect this whole thing. The offseason is far from over, so I don't think we even should put a finish on what they're doing, what anyone else is doing.
Starting point is 00:09:00 But it's the fact that it's Baker. I mean, none of this is happening. It's always the quarterback. It's always Baker. And Baker going into his second year is the thing I'm most excited about in the NFL, even if he didn't have Jarvis Landry. So now you have, I think he can make Jarvis. Landry better. I think he can make Antonio
Starting point is 00:09:18 Calloway better. Odell Beckham is that they all help each other out. You have Kareem Hunt maybe coming later in the year but Nick Chubb and Duke Johnson is a great backfield and the price tag was so small and that's the part that if you're a Giants fan annoys me because
Starting point is 00:09:34 they said we don't need to trade them. We're not looking to trade them and their actions say they were going to trade them. They were just going to take the best offer and maybe they could have waited until April or not and they said they needed to be blown away, and apparently the number 17 overall pick, a mid-level starting safety in Gibral Peppers and the third-round pick was blown away. But for you to put $21 million
Starting point is 00:09:56 in dead cap money, and you can, and Mina Kheim said a good tweet, just thinking of the, if the Giants actually were committed to rebuilding what they could have done a year ago by trading Landon Collins, by trading Odell Beckham before you gave him this contract and took on all that money, like there were other routes they could have gone. They didn't, they looked like they don't know what they're doing, and the Browns are smart enough to be aggressive and see a window of opportunity and go get it. Take a bow John Dorsey, first of all, man of the hour, has built simultaneously two AFC Super Bowl contenders, and for his last flourish in Kansas City outmaneuvered four teams to draft Patrick Mahomes, then went against the grain of everybody in the NFL, assuming
Starting point is 00:10:37 he would take Sam Donald, took Baker Mayfield, and now for his PS to resistance, trades Odell Beckham, and turns his roster into a Super Bowl caliber. Roster. Giants. Bill James in the 1980s said throughout the history of sports in America, bad teams always blame their best players. This is what the Giants are doing. They had leaked to Mike Garifola this morning. We thought the offense could run better without Odell Beckham because Eli Manning concentrated too much on getting the ball to Odell Beckham. This is a laughable evaluation of your own talent in the building. You're moving the wrong player and you've been moving players out of the building and their dead cap money is insane and you can say, oh, listen, none of you can quite understand the Giants' plan.
Starting point is 00:11:22 We have a plan. Really, you think Pat Schumer feels good about what he's going into in this season? That's terrible setup for a coach. Well, if the Shermer family is, you know, metaphorically, you know, he's fine. He's going to have a good life. He's doing what he loves.
Starting point is 00:11:38 Pat Schumer is in our old friend in San Francisco Oh, the mustachioed friend of ours. What was his name again? Oh, Jim Tom Sulla. Oh, the Jettison's Niners coach. That is what... That's where he is now, Pat Shermer. He's rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
Starting point is 00:11:55 And you know what? Dave Gettleman isn't going to be far behind because I think it is going to be a wave of criticism. I don't think the giant, just like they... And this is also... I've got to say it's surprising as a New York, as a New Yorker who always watch the Giants do things right for decades and decades in my lifetime.
Starting point is 00:12:10 to see how they're getting things wrong. When they benched Eli a year ago, they kind of misjudged the swell that would come at them off this. Now to move their most popular player, this transcendent talent in Beckham, they have misjudged this, and I don't think Gettlement survives this.
Starting point is 00:12:28 You can't overcome the chance to build this team. Right. They had a PR disaster when they benched Eli, and the wrong way to handle that is to, I get why they put them back in the lineup. Then you let it die. You don't overcompensate. by committing to a fading quarterback for two more years to a maddening degree
Starting point is 00:12:46 where literally fans, pundits, everyone is looking at the Giants saying, how can you not see what we all said? This all started to what Greg was saying with the Giants. They thought they were going to be good last year. And that was the major miscalculation, I think, what happened. That's why they gave back on the money. When the bottom fell out the way it did, I think they course corrected. And I don't think they course corrected and made the right move.
Starting point is 00:13:10 One last thought on Gettelman. This was sound two weeks ago today at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. We didn't sign Odell to trade him, okay? So I know that's all over the place. So understand that. And that's all I need to say about that. Let me just say this. I understand how the business works to a certain extent.
Starting point is 00:13:33 I've been covering it for long enough. I understand lies of omission are part of the game. but the outright lies a little bit on my radar because there's no way this was not percolating on any level inside the organization. He chose to send a erroneous message out to the public. I guess that's part of the game. I don't like it though.
Starting point is 00:13:54 And I think Giants fans, part of the reason to hurt so much is that when you hear the boss say that, the general managers say that it sets you at ease as a fan. It's like, all right, they're not going to do anything crazy. And then when the rug gets pulled out on you, we got to eat dirt we chase that which retreats from us which is why the best way
Starting point is 00:14:12 to gather trade value for a player is to deny that he's on the trade block well it sounds like maybe the Browns made the first call we don't know that part we don't know but we do know based on various reports that the Giants then shopped the offer around and they tried to see if they could do better
Starting point is 00:14:30 which tells you that they did not get the moon they were asking for if they were shopping that offer around so they tried to so they were called calling people. Do they use the app? I am a GM? Maybe they should have. They should have because I don't know. John Lynch maybe he would have been on the app.
Starting point is 00:14:45 He didn't take the call. And the whole idea of like Odell is a distraction or anything like that. You've heard Jeff Schwartz, who's a former teammate, you know, said he hopes people don't think he's an actual distraction because he's loved in the locker room, that he works his ass off, that he keeps it loose and he's obviously an excellent playmaker, which goes a long way. So if you can't manage great players that are difficult to make, that's on you. And I think the Browns, to their credit, are going to be confident that they can manage it.
Starting point is 00:15:16 And hopefully Freddie Kitchens and everyone there can. Because it's not easy. Talent, you know, it's not that managing O'Dell is hard. It's just managing expectations and feeding the ball to everyone and, like, getting, they're going to be the favorites now in the AFC North. That's not easy. And one last thing, like, you don't, if you're a Giants fan, you're looking, at what the Browns are doing, what the Jets in your own town are doing, and it's not, it's, it's discomforting to look at your regime, your coach and GM, and they look more like Trojan
Starting point is 00:15:45 horses that were sent inside the organization to take it apart from within. Their moves over the last calendar year are unbelievable for the lack of value they could have gotten for the kind of players they gave away. I know, I know we want to move on, but I think the fans would want to know, what was, where were you, Mark, when you found this out and stuff? What was that like? I was out at dinner, actually, and there was, I found out... With who? I will not disclose that. There's a new most fascinating subplot of the podcast.
Starting point is 00:16:16 That was a surprise, the reaction on Mark's face there. So you were out at dinner. With ESPN, I assume, it sounds like. With ESPN, yes, with a job prospect. No, I learned after the fact, and then, you know, as Wes and I know, we were contacted by our supervisor to... way in on our website, and so I was quickly in an Uber back to a computer. Put them on Sunday night football. Worst case scenario, they are one of the teams,
Starting point is 00:16:46 or maybe the team of the 2019 season. Everything is changing. And we're just, like, excited to go watch them. They will get the max number of prime time to talk about them. And this is not the show to bring it up. You made the point. The Giants couldn't decide they couldn't handle Odell Beckham. The Morris and Gettelman, the GM decided.
Starting point is 00:17:03 Can Freddy Kitchens handle it? we don't know. Can the ownership, do we trust the Haslims to be able to handle a mercurial talent like Beckham is, Jarvis Landry is himself. Baker Mayfield is an outspoken type guy. It will be, that is interesting, but that is not the day to doubt. This is not the day to doubt the Browns. It is to celebrate the mark. And while we're out of, why don't we celebrate the Jets getting a deal done? 24 hours, Anthony after Anthony Barr spurned gangrene walking out of a handshake deal and going back to the Vikings. The Jets regroup. They get more aggressive going after Levyon Bell, and they end up landing the former
Starting point is 00:17:40 Pittsburgh Steelers running back four years, $52.5 million. The guarantee money, when he factor it all in, I think he's the third highest paid running back in the league. So he's behind Todd Gurley, which I think he probably was shooting for the most money. I think he is also behind David Johnson or right in that range. Right in the same neighbor. We want to see, this is another one, like a lot of these deals. to see the details. But when it came down to it,
Starting point is 00:18:05 and this was a very stressful evening at Hansus Manor because I was just relentlessly scrolling and refreshing my Twitter feed, it was super annoying. And then you have the Levi-on-Brown-Bel mixtape that drops. And I will say I refrain from clicking into that to see if I could find clues.
Starting point is 00:18:27 And then thankfully, it broke. Mike Garifolo broke the Beckham story, but Schefter got got the Lev Bell to the Jets. So in a long courtship, a lot of, a lot of people connected the Jets and Bell because it always made sense for both sides. And Bell maybe didn't have the market, Greg, that he expected to have. But he ends up getting a nice payday. And he lands in maybe not with a contender, but a team that is showing some promise right now.
Starting point is 00:18:55 Yeah, they should consider themselves playoff contenders. Maybe not Super Bowls. I meant title. Yeah. Maybe Super Bowl is. a little bit much, but why not? I mean, I think with the pieces that they've added with Sam Darnold, Jameson Crowder, Levi-on-Bell, Robbie Anderson,
Starting point is 00:19:10 Big Mac. Chris Herndon, Quentin, Quintia Noon-Wa, you should have a good offense. Come on back, Henry. You have an offensive coach, and if you don't, you know, that comes back to the coaching step, and I think Bell is going to add a lot. This is a guy who's put up, what is it, four seasons or three, where he's had 18, over almost 1,900 yards from scrimmage. He's an unbelievable receiver.
Starting point is 00:19:32 one of the best running back receivers, you know, of the last 10 years. An unbelievable pass protector, a smart guy, a short yardage back. You can leave him on the field all three downs when you go in to hurry up. He can really do anything you want. And I think he gives the Jets a schematic advantage over other teams. And I think we've gone too far in one direction saying running backs aren't worth anything. I would rather have him than C.J. Mosley. And C.J. Mosley is making way more money.
Starting point is 00:19:59 I would rather have him than some of the. guards out here. And Stan, who are you more excited about Lev Bell or C.J. Mosley? Lev Bell. But I'm happy to have them both. Right. But I also think like Bell is going to help them win more. Like I think he's going to help them win more than Roger Saffold's going to help the Titans. And they're going to be making the same, you know, average money per year. So I think Bell is a transcendent player. And as long as he, his body hasn't fallen apart, he's 27 years old. He just had
Starting point is 00:20:25 a year off. He's only had 1,500 touches in his career, which is not that many. I think it's a great signing. Wes, when you have a 21-year-old. old quarterback that you believe in with all your heart is a star. What is the first thing you do when you have the opportunity? Lean on your running game for support. And you just, well, you build around him. You give him weapons. You give him people that you know he could turn to and make the job easier.
Starting point is 00:20:46 And I feel like Labion Bell fits the mold. Absolutely. And I think most NFL teams in today's NFL, this was not true 20 years ago or 30 years ago, view frontline running backs, expensive running backs as luxuries rather than necessities. because they can find running backs anywhere. But the type of team that should go get a luxury is a team with a depleted offensive roster and tons of room under the salary cap.
Starting point is 00:21:10 That's who the Jets were. The Jets have simply not been relevant outside of the Rex Ryan era at all. And they've lacked star players on offense. And I think it goes beyond just adding... Levy on Bell will make Sam Darnold so much better. Yes, but Sam Darnold was also attached to one of the least creative offensive schemes we've seen in a long time.
Starting point is 00:21:34 I thought he was essentially handcuffed from wire to wire. And I think that Sam Darnold is in position to make a leap because of Levi-on-Belop, because you have to trust that Adam Gase is going to do more with him than what he was put into last year. And the line is still an issue. It's not the same offensive line in terms of talent and experience as the Steelers had. but the Colce Ocemole move, which is completely kind of lost in the shuffle now, and it should be.
Starting point is 00:22:02 There are bigger things going on was a really nice trade by Mike McCagnan, who's had a nice week, I think. They lost out on the search to replace their center. I think that's something they're still going to be on the hunt for. But in general, I think this team, and other than the flash in the pan fits magic year in 2015, the Jets have been arguably the least fun offense to watch for a decade. So anybody, when you add a guy like Levion Bell,
Starting point is 00:22:27 a potential Hall of Fame talent, still 27 years old, only 27 years old. You're doing backflips. And, yeah, the whole New York angle, it is weird. And it's not as surreal as where Mark is right now because I think anybody would be envious where Mark you are as a fan right now and you've earned it after all the years of suffering. But if you're a Jets fan, you're so excited to not be the dysfunctional one right now in New York. It is the Giants. And the day that they trade back of them.
Starting point is 00:22:55 The Jets get Bell and the Jets arrows. heading up and the Giants is heading down. That doesn't... That shit don't happen in New York and in New Jersey. I know somebody from New York in New Jersey. He's my old man, Keith Hansis. We haven't heard from him in a while. I wanted to hear his thoughts on Levyon Bell joining Ganga.
Starting point is 00:23:12 His name is Keith. He's dad's dad. No doubt about it. He's a big Jets fan. What is he going to say about the game today? What is he going to say about the game? I think all jet fans have to be excited with the news yesterday, the signing of Levi-on-Bell. He's only 27 years old and he's a four-year contract.
Starting point is 00:23:38 He's a great running back as well as an excellent pass receiver. This should really help the Jets advance this year. Hopefully they can acquire a couple other players to help him on the offensive line. But I think this move is showing the Jets all. showing the Jets are moving forward, and that's the good news for all Jet fans. You can hear it in my dad's voice. You know, there's been a lot of big signings in the past,
Starting point is 00:24:06 a lot of big moves by the Jets, and they always seem to blow up in their face. So there's a little bit of trepidation, a hesitation not to dive in with, you know, two feet. But it's all right to be excited if your Jets fan. Be excited. His analysis is always enjoyable and concise. They did have the highest paid free agent,
Starting point is 00:24:26 last year, too, people for you. Trimane Johnson, impossible. Because I was the only, the reason I remember that was, so we, we, I looked back at our podcast from a year ago, just to see what, you know, we had done. And the, the first day of free agency podcast was named Jets make their move. And I was like, what was the Jets making their move? And I was just like, I guess it wasn't as newsy last year. Tramane Johnson was the best that we had.
Starting point is 00:24:48 Someone was writing about the young, this Jets Corps as they're trying to build. Trimane Johnson wasn't even listed as like, wow, that seemed like a whiff. Anyway, but that's not the day. to talk about that either, Greg. It's a positive day for the Jets as well. Let's move on now. The Ravens. Greg, the Ravens been pilfered in the early part of free agency.
Starting point is 00:25:09 C.J. Mosley, who we mentioned, went to the Jets. Terrell Suggs, defects to the Arizona Cardinals. They part ways with Eric Weddle. They lose. Who else do they lose? Zedarius Smith. Zedarius Smith. I mean, John Brown.
Starting point is 00:25:21 Johnny Brown. Smokey. Ransacked. We need something good to happen if you're a Ravens fan. And so they did. They got busy on Wednesday. Safety Earl Thomas signed a four-year $55 million. Anybody take Earl Thomas in the sandwich?
Starting point is 00:25:34 We did not take the Ravens. No, we went 0 for four. Four years, $55 million. That's how we do. The contract includes $32 million guaranteed. Average is $14.33 million over the first three years per Ian Rappaport. That was the highest player left on Wes and Greg's top 101 free agents. And I'll tell you.
Starting point is 00:25:55 you what, Greg, this feels like a perfect raven signing. Do you agree? I do. I love when teams have a tradition, like at a certain position. And when you go from Ed Reed to a few years with Eric Weddell, who did it up right. Three pro bowl years. Absolutely did it up right. You go from Eric Reed in that deep safety position to Eric Weddle to Earl Thomas. It just feels seamless. And I love when a guy who's a Hall of Famer in my mind, Earl Thomas, at least he's played to that level, has a chance to have two separate chapters that are really memorable and unique.
Starting point is 00:26:34 And I think him joining the Ravens is the perfect continuation of their defensive tradition and gives him a chance at least to have one of those first ballot, really special, memorable types of career because you know they'll know how to use them. Like the concern when you hear this hoopla about, oh, just ticket cleveland. for the AFC North is that there are two teams in that division that have proven no matter
Starting point is 00:26:57 what happens to them offseason to off season, they will find a way to succeed when the games actually happen. And you trust their ownership, their coaching staff, their ability to develop players. The fact that they're almost Patriots like the Ravens where they've had a similar scheme on defense for so long. So you're looking for the right types of players. And they let people leave like the Patriots. Exactly. And Earl Thomas fits perfectly. The minute that, you know, someone else could have overpaid and he might have fit or he might not the minute i heard ravens and earl thomas i thought i can already see him in baltimore this is going to go very well uh yes and also another fit uh another 29 year old turning 30 this year now a member of the ravens
Starting point is 00:27:39 mark ingram you boy mark sessler uh your u s o friend strikes a three year 15 million dollar deal uh with the ravens uh so he enters a backfield um that that looks like with the quarterback, Lamar Jackson and Mark Ingram, that seems like a one-two punch that you can get behind. I think they're going to, they're a strong candidate to lead the AFC and carries again. I mean, I think they want to be a little bit more of a balanced office, but Mark Ingram. Don't forget about the Gus Bus. Gus Edwards.
Starting point is 00:28:12 I mean, Gus Bus was driving late last year. Right. And I don't think it's just, it's not Mark Ingram come in and be the featured back. It's, you're part of a committee again. And it's a good fit. They're just both. great fits, great natural fits. And I think when you see them get poached, ransacked Pilford like they did on defense
Starting point is 00:28:29 and then to see what the Browns did with their moves and everyone's kind of thinking in the back of their minds, I guess the Ravens are taking a little nap here. And it's like, oh, touche. They announced Earl Thomas and Mark Ingram within minutes of each other and they're both great fits. Well, they've got a great secondary. On paper, you know, they've kept Jimmy Smith. They still have Tony Jefferson, Marlon, Humphrey, Brandon Carr, Earl Thomas.
Starting point is 00:28:52 That might be the best secondary in the league. I think they were caught flat-footed by Mosley. I think their number two receiver right now is either... I mean, their number one receiver is Willie Sneed. That's problematic. And their number two receiver is Chris Moore? I don't know. They don't throw a wide receiver.
Starting point is 00:29:07 Right, I get it, but I'm a little concerned about them advancing the football through the air. So that's... It's early in the off season, though. We said that last show. 2019, I feel like that is something you want to be able to do. The forward pass seems important. But I love these sightings. For all the kudos for Baltimore, I cannot think of a team
Starting point is 00:29:23 that's had rougher luck drafting wide receivers if that's what they want to do. Well, luck is one way to put it. If, all right, if you had to pick one team in the AFC North, the Bengals. Least likely, other than Cincinnati, to hit that 10 to 11 win range. Who would it be?
Starting point is 00:29:43 That's a good one. I think I would go the Ravens. I think it's going to be a good division race between all. I think anybody thinks the Browns are going to go 14? teen and two. No. I think it's going to be a dog fight because I think the division is still very strong. We're talking about a team that has not learned how to win inside their own division.
Starting point is 00:30:01 And they're ripe for growing pains. I don't care about the star power that left Pittsburgh. They will find a way to get to 10 or 11 wins. They still have star power. Right. Right. But the Ravens have had, they are a franchise that's had a lot of stability. And now that they have this much change on defense,
Starting point is 00:30:21 defense and this much change on offense and a new quarterback and a new offensive coordinator. I mean, this hasn't exactly been the Patriots over the last six years. I think they've won. I mean, when's the last time they won a playoff game was a Super Bowl, right? So, I mean, I would put them. Well, we had John Harbaugh on the hot seat for various times over the past couple years, but their offense needs to work the way it did down the stretch.
Starting point is 00:30:42 Their own building seems to be putting him on the hot seat. You know, we all kind of like John Arbaugh a lot, it seems. We're Harbaugh guys, right? I feel like Greg mentioned the hot seat scenario. I was just mentioning that it was on the table because they haven't, you know, they were a little up and down. All right. Let's keep moving, boys. We've got a lot to get to the chief.
Starting point is 00:30:58 They did beat the Steelers that one year in the playoffs. I blew that. That's all right. Ouch, Greg. D. Ford is on the move. The chiefs and 49ers have agreed to a trade involving Ford in exchange for a 20-20 second round draft pick. That came from Rapsheet. Ford gets a new contract with the Niners expected to be five years and $87.5 million.
Starting point is 00:31:20 Star money for. a top pass rusher. Do you like this move, Mark, for the Niners? I'll just reiterate what we've talked about with Dee Ford, that you have this peak contract year campaign in a scheme that he
Starting point is 00:31:35 fit in. And again, you hope that he can duplicate that with the Niners. I mean, I like it, but this is not someone that's given you five straight years of this production, and it's a little bit more of a wild card move for me. What I love is the idea that the Niners, with the draft
Starting point is 00:31:51 they have and with the incredible pass rushers hitting us this year in the draft. You could pair him with someone else and suddenly you've got something going on. I have D. Ford with dominant games in two out of the last three season. I think he was a dominant player two out of the last three years. He was unhealthy for part of the season three years ago, but I think he is absolutely not a one-year wonder. I wonder how he fits going from a three-four defense to a four-three. But the 49ers finally have a pass rusher.
Starting point is 00:32:23 And if they pick up Nick Bosa with the number two pick. That would be a defensive line suddenly goes from a liability to a straight. I'm holding out hope Nick Bosa drops the three to the Jets. But it would be, we talked to Daniel Jeremiah earlier today. DJ threw it out there that if you pair Ford and Bosa, you're going to terrorize some very good quarterbacks in that. And DeForest Buckner is like the best, maybe the best player in the league that gets no attention. Now he's kind of, you know, I think Fletcher Cox is kind of,
Starting point is 00:32:50 Now he does get the attention. Tyler Eifford is a little under the radar in a way that isn't fair. That is a ridiculous. It's a move, though, that I feel like John Lynch has made, you know, teams are hesitant to give out a contract that big. I mean, that's the biggest contract in free agency. Am I right? Well, here's another contract. And I want to say just like, that's the biggest contract in free agency.
Starting point is 00:33:12 And you gave up a second round pick. And the way the 49ers been playing lately, that's a high pick. So that is a big time risk that he's taking. and I think John Lynch realized this year three, they need to start showing some results. One little thing that catches me, so if he has this natural talent, maybe he can shift into another scheme.
Starting point is 00:33:31 But the chiefs who've been with him for half a decade say he's not going to fit in this new scheme. The Niners think we can make that work. TBD. Another move by the Niners. Tevin Coleman joins a crowded backfield. He signs a two-year, $10 million contract. Pretty nice value for the Niners,
Starting point is 00:33:47 but it leaves you wondering what happens next because we know that Matt Breda, he really did have a nice season last year after Jarek McKinnon went down with an ACL injury before the season started. McKinnon's getting paid a lot of money. I think he's already made $12 million with the Niners. Is there enough room for all three of these guys? I don't know. I think that's a good question.
Starting point is 00:34:07 Matt Breda, to me, is unquestionably the best runner on this roster. Wow. And I think Tavin Coleman, we've already seen that Kyle Shanahan knows how to get him the ball in space fantastically well. He had an excellent season in their Super Bowl year with Kyle Shanahan. And to me, Jared McKinnon coming off a torn ACL, I would think that Tavon Coleman's going to be the apple of his eye, not Jerich McKinner.
Starting point is 00:34:31 I think they'll keep all three, and Coleman came out a great bargain. I find it very strange. Surprising bargain. I find it very strange and almost uncomfortable when a guy like Tavon Coleman has the same agent as Levi-on-Bell, and I think that's a clear conflict of interest. That makes you uncomfortable? I just think there's something really wrong about that
Starting point is 00:34:51 because while he was waiting for Levy on Bell to go sign, Latavius Murray got more guaranteed money than Tevin Coleman. Something doesn't seem right about that. Like I'm really surprised Latavius Murray got a better contract than Tevin Coleman. And Coleman, I think the way that their season went, they need as many offensive weapons as they can get. Maybe injuries are going to happen. Play them all.
Starting point is 00:35:12 Doubling back to the Chiefs. It's amazing. This is a team, the Chiefs, that came very close to going to the Super Bowl. but the defense obviously disappointed Bob Sutton got fired because of it. D. Ford's gone. Justin Houston's gone. Eric Berry gone as well. The Chiefs on Wednesday announced the release of Barry.
Starting point is 00:35:29 He had been with the team since being the number five pick of the 2010 draft. Of course, Barry has dealt with injuries, cancer, and he hasn't been able to get on the field a lot. But Greg, as you pointed out earlier today, he played a ton in the last Chiefs game. but I guess ultimately they decided they needed to make a move. Yeah, and he's had his physical problems are as serious as it gets, and he was able to play, and there was some questions, should he get more surgery or not? I think they gave him, and they were almost forced, like,
Starting point is 00:36:02 by public pressure to give him that contract, and it turned into a fiasco for them, frankly. I mean, it was just bad luck, but part of the reason they gave him that contract, despite some injury questions, was he's known as one of the leaders, of men, one of the people that is just as tough and loves football about as much as anyone. So I don't think they would dump him, basically, unless they thought he was just done.
Starting point is 00:36:27 There were whispers this morning, unsure how reliable they are, by multiple people that the Browns were making a play for Eric Berry, which makes sense because of John Dorsey there. But ultimately, that must be cheap. I mean, you would think you're not going to cost a lot of money, yeah. Cancer Survivor, I hope he's able to come. back and make a difference. It's time, fellas, to jump into the fish tank. It's been a while.
Starting point is 00:36:54 The organic fish tank. The Dolphins need a quarterback. They're moving on from Ryan Tanna Hill. And Teddy Bridgewater made sense as an option. But then we heard that Teddy Bridgewater was staying with the Saints. Mark took issue with that. He really tore into Teddy. And I think Teddy was listening to the show
Starting point is 00:37:17 because now we have news that Teddy Bridgewater is scheduled to meet with the dolphins in Miami on Wednesday night. We're recording this as we reach Wednesday night. Rap sheet reported. So obviously a turn of events so we don't have anything as of
Starting point is 00:37:33 this discussion. But do not be surprised if Teddy Bridgewater, Mark, is the leader in the clubhouse to be the starter for the dolphins in 2019. Right? Jane Slater was very, adamant that there was an offer from the Saints, there was an agreement. I wonder, I mean,
Starting point is 00:37:52 it's just for the same reasons we brought up yesterday that for me, it's not a Teddy Bridgewater thing because I don't know Teddy Bridgewater the person at all, but if I want to trade an NFL quarterback, it's whatever team you have a chance to start for, if it's your only chance, that you would prefer that over being a backup. Now, I understand the dolphins can seem like a bit of a hot mess, but I'll go back to a year ago when Baker Mayfield was, they asked, do you think you can rescue this Moribun Browns franchise coming off in O'N's 16 year. And he said, absolutely, let's do it. That's what you want from the neck up, from your quarterback to confidence.
Starting point is 00:38:27 I'm not saying Teddy Bridgewater personally doesn't have that viewpoint. But I questioned it a little bit to go become a backup on what seems to be a very short-range deal with the Saints, where are you secure that you're going to be there when Drew Brees is done? What is the plan? So I will want to see what happens here. I would not compare Baker Mayfield to Teddy Bridgewater from any kind of standpoint. I think Baker Mayfield is just so much better, so that's why he was confident. Teddy Bridgewater, to me, there's something to be said for foresight,
Starting point is 00:38:57 and having the foresight to go stay with the Saints to me just was really smart. And we'll see. Versus the dolphins who have no offensive line and one of the worst rosters in the NFL. It does make you wonder if the Dolphins said, hey, actually we'll offer you a little better contract. Mike Garfolo was on with us earlier today on our, was it our Twitter show? Or was it our NFL Free Agency Live show? A loose track because we're so productive. Pay us!
Starting point is 00:39:27 What? That came out of nowhere. We are technically being. It did not know where that came. It was like four years ago. Very unbecoming. Anyway, Mike told us that the Saints deal for Teddy Bridgewater, that they believed it was going to be.
Starting point is 00:39:42 going to be in the $7 million base value range, which is very good money for a backup. And now we're hearing reports that if Teddy ends up going to Miami, guess who ends up going to New Orleans getting that type of money maybe, Ryan Tannahill. And you know what, Wes, to your point. There's a new report that there's no way he's going to New Orleans. All right. Save it for the Friday, pod. Interesting.
Starting point is 00:40:06 It'll be interesting to see whoever ends up being behind Drew Brees. that's a good spot. I maintain that's a good spot. It is, but only if Breeze gets hurt. Here's the whole thing about, like, Teddy Bridger wasn't some heir apparent on a one-year deal. It's like they'll evaluate it when it happens. They will give him a 20-year deal.
Starting point is 00:40:24 I mean, the history of 40-year-old quarterbacks is it goes all at once. Not like, okay, he just declined over a period of three years. So if it goes, you're going to want that guy behind him. But it's confusing, too, because the history of, like, recent 40-year-old quarterbacks is they suddenly get better. Like Drew Breeze gets, like goes for an MVP caliber season and then Tom Brady throws 500 yards in the Super Bowl and then wins it the next year.
Starting point is 00:40:50 I would point you to Peyton Manning's last year and a half. Let's stay in the fish tank, guys. Get back in the fish tank. It's fun swimming in the fish tank. Cameron Wake. He's out. He's not in the tank. He's hopping out of the fish tank.
Starting point is 00:41:02 And he's heading to the Tennessee Titans who agreed on a three-year $23 million deal. This is from Tom. Pelliserro, our own Tom Pelliserro, 10 million guaranteed. Wake, 37 years old, Greg, when he takes the field for Tennessee. So this is not a spring chicken. Where are we at so far with the Titans and the direction they're going and their free agency? Because that's a win now buy right there.
Starting point is 00:41:30 They've been selective, but I like the moves that they made. I think I like Saffel. I like Humphreys. I'm never going to doubt. Wake is a little bit like Breeze or Brady right now. because you just assume he's going to fall off at some point every year. It never happened. I mean, he's had a remarkable career.
Starting point is 00:41:45 He had a great season a year ago to get a $10 million guarantee on a pretty big contract as a 30, what is he? 37-year-old pastor. 46, actually. It's insane. Like, does the Pro Football Hall of Fame is kind of, you know how basketball considers your other leagues? Like, you know, women certainly are in it or international players. I'll answer your question. Yes, because it's not the NFL.
Starting point is 00:42:06 I don't know. Because, like, Wake, I don't know what he did in the CFL. Was he just like the best player? At some point, like, he's building up a case here. I believe that Warren Moon's CFL contributions were considered when he was... He's just building up a case. He's had a very unique career, Cameron Wake. He's pretty amazing.
Starting point is 00:42:24 Totally different player. Every year we end up talking about, wow, Cameron Wake, you got to give him credit. Totally different player. But I remember Brandon Marshall a few years back bringing up the point that he's been so remarkably productive. If you could just hang around for three or four more years and keep putting up the numbers, he'd be hard to keep out. Wake would probably need to have a nice run with the Titans here, but it's not impossible. Oh, I think he would have to go back to being like all pro caliber for three more years. Count those CFL set. Well, they need a pass. They need pass rush. I like it, I guess.
Starting point is 00:42:54 How about a real, a certain Hall of Famer? Sticking in Washington, Adrian Peterson signed a one-year deal with Washington and responded with his eighth 1,000-yard season. Washington decides to keep him around. Even with Darius guys coming back from that ACL. tear they bring them back two-year deal worth eight million rap sheet and garifolo reported i don't know what the guaranteed money is on this one but either way peterson keeping it going at a time when most running backs are in retirement that's tevin coleman money and peterson earned it he was the focal point of that offense and a team that looked to be playoff bound until they lost their starting quarterback and i mean i guess you know you have darius geis coming back as well that can be a very good backfield and for me I just I struggle to generate any excitement about the about the
Starting point is 00:43:45 Redskins when we are going to spend an entire offseason of flowery nonsense about Case Keenum as your starter and you added a safe I don't think there'll be any flowery nonsense I don't think there's a lot of flowers growing around the keynote I think they'll be in like the Detroit Lions club where they just kind of will exist we are like we are two years removed from an entire off season spent on Trevor Simeon and another one of on Tom Savage. Like, believe me, we'll find a way to over-celebrate whoever's starting anywhere.
Starting point is 00:44:15 Are we sure? I'm not saying the four of us, but it's in the water around here. Are we sure he's starting? He and Colt McCoy, the Redskins paid the same amount for those two guys. Colt McCoy's been in this offense for more than four years, and every time Jay Gruden talks about Colt McCoy. Save it for the July podcast. I'm not sure he's starting, but neither was I sure that Trevor Simeon.
Starting point is 00:44:35 We all said all along that Broncos team would have three starters and they did. And we all said Tom Savage is going to last about 14 days, and he did. And it's just that Case Keenham will be talked about incessantly, and I need him out of my life. Here's the, on Friday show, we're going to do some over-unders for all these guys landing in new places. But while we're here, Case Keenum 11 and a half starts. Oh, under. Over the rest of his career?
Starting point is 00:45:00 Under. I'm putting rent on that. I mean, because at this point, I need a way to make a little more income if I'm getting even odds. putting the rent on under the odds are great and they're going to draft someone potentially uh let's move on the raiders make another move tyrell williams uh who had one one thousand yard season and four years of the charges so he's shown he could do it in the past the raiders are banking on he could do it some more rap sheet reported wednesday uh that oakland signs uh williams four years worth 44 million 22 million guaranteed
Starting point is 00:45:31 he ranked number 39 on nfl dot com's list of top one-on-one free agents in 2019 pretty rich money for Tyrol Williams, right? Seems like a pretty nice deal for him. Not a guy I would give that much money to, but I think. Good job, Mr. Agent. Without a doubt, Derek Carr has much better receivers this year than he did last year. I think GM's, I think he had a lot of offer. It sounded like he had a lot more interest and maybe would have ranked a little higher
Starting point is 00:46:00 on the average GM's top 101 list. People were into it. I think because deep speed is just so hard to find. and he has that. Suddenly you have him and Antonio Brown, not better. Right. Now you have a competent collection. I mean, going into free agency.
Starting point is 00:46:12 Jordan Nelson gone? I know. He's there. I don't know. One of the funniest analysis I saw the other night, it was from a good writer. But it was like, you know, you got to really look at the impact that Antonio Brown is going to have on opening up things for Jordy Nelson. I was like, if Jordan Nelson is, if you're thinking that that's a major part of their
Starting point is 00:46:29 offense and that's their number two receiver, that they're going to still stink. Outside of Buffalo, worst group of wide receivers before these two. Two signings. Speaking of the Chargers, they add a name. They lose Tyrell. They get a Tyrod. You better call Tyrod. It just doesn't work.
Starting point is 00:46:46 That's a deep cut. That's like the My Morning Jacket version. Rap sheet reported Wednesday that Tyrod Taylor or Tarad, I don't want to talk about that again, agreed to a two-year contract with the Chargers. The team later made the news official. And I just realized something. Oh, yeah. I assume this is the only reason it was in the show.
Starting point is 00:47:03 Oh, Gerg. Where is Gino? Because Gino couldn't even hold out to a number two job in L.A. He's on the street. He did hold on to it, and he completed the season. He has more playoff victories, you know, than many franchises in the decade. Can I ask a question? Deficoriously.
Starting point is 00:47:24 Have you accepted that this is a bit now, or are you just, like, really still believing in Gino? Gino's in the league. He's going to be back. I think he gets a job. Technically, he's not right now. Not right at the moment. You famously believe he's like a top 30 quarterback. He hasn't had another chance, really, to prove it.
Starting point is 00:47:43 But I do think that people that know quarterbacks well, they keep giving them contracts. He will be seventh in MVP rankings for the XFL in about three years. I'll give you that. I mean, to answer your question, Wes, I did give up on trying to put him into the top 101, I think, even a year ago. Hey, at least you like to defend likable guys. what are the we sometimes we you know life have Tyrod's an upgrade I'll admit it thank you big time Anthony Lynn worked with him in I mean he knows who he is at least life happens and things keep moving and you forget about it but never forget that Gino Smith was a starting quarterback and over a $300 plane ticket one of his own teammates
Starting point is 00:48:23 punched him out in his locker room and broke his jaw that is a thing that happened that's still a thing that happened it will never have not happened that was a remarkable like moment in his career but me it was over the minute that he walked out after being drafted in a white sweater. I'd never really covered. He had to be talking to even stay in the building. He got Rex another year by helping them win those games, including down in Miami
Starting point is 00:48:45 at the end of the end of that four game run. Rex loves that four game run. And this was just for you, Greg. A real grinder, you love it. Darrell Williams sticking around in Carolina. He signs a one year contract worth seven million. So the tackle sticks around in Charlotte to protect
Starting point is 00:49:01 Big Can. Why is this just for me? I don't know. You said you wanted to talk about it. No, I did. I just, that was, I was just literally, I actually said, we don't need to do this in show. Here's just the information for you guys. We're sitting here. It was a top 20 guy in our free agent list. I think teams were a little afraid coming off a big time injury. All right.
Starting point is 00:49:20 That's what's happening in the news. As promised, we had a really nice conversation with a future Hall of Famer. And when we do that, we like to amplify it. That's a term that's used in content generation. Let's hear it right now. One quick note, I mean, this will be thrown out there on video, too. I would click into the video to take a look at where Joe Thomas is at from the physique angle. He was sort of shockingly and ruggedly built.
Starting point is 00:49:44 Am I wrong about that? Now, he's in good shape physically, and you'll have a chance to check it out. Didn't shock me. I always believed in him. All right, let's go to it. There he is. Very excited to be joined by the greatest brown since Jim Brown, Joe Thomas, Ironman left tackle of the Cleveland Brown's an amazing 11-year career, and now you're joining us here. Welcome to the show.
Starting point is 00:50:08 I love the studio, man, and thanks for having me on. This is great. We built this for you, Joe, basically. Yeah, I do appreciate that. Yeah, when we have a future Hallfamer in the building, we build it for you. We were just talking about when you just came on, when you sat down, you're getting used to this body. You're nice and slimmed down now. That's where Dan starts. Totally different dude. Big week, he starts with the body. I fit a little better in these chairs these days. It's kind of nice. Yeah, I'm sure. I did notice the difference, like, when you said hi to all of us, you know, you shake Dan and I's
Starting point is 00:50:35 hand, it's nice to meet you. You had to give Mark Sessler a hug. Like, you have never met, but you know of his Browns fandom just by reputation. We got history. He came on the Tomahawk podcast. We enjoyed ourselves. We, you know, we get to have the mutual Brown's love. So, Browns fans, they get each other, I think. Listen, I mean, I'm just, I'm
Starting point is 00:50:50 trying to breathe here steadily because this has been a long time coming, but we spent that show breaking down other teams in the playoffs. Maybe it'll be different. And it's such a special time. I mean, when's the last time? I mean, the Browns have been trending upward. Let's face it, since the day Baker Mayfield got drafted. And now what happens with the O'Dell Beckham trade, things have gone overdrive now. It went from, you know, the Browns could be frisky. The Browns could be an AFC North contender. Now people are talking them as
Starting point is 00:51:18 an AFC contender. A lot has changed since you stepped off the field, Joe Thomas. That's easy to say. I mean, when I was there my last year, they had Miles Garrett, which is like the cornerstone of that defense, but then the year after to pick up Baker Mayfield and Denzel Ward, and then now OBJ, and just the way John Dorsey has transformed that roster, it's pretty impressive just to look on paper.
Starting point is 00:51:40 Wow, that's a lot of talent, and that's a lot of young talent. Was there a part of you because that news broke as you are on TV? Let's check that out, by the way. Let's see what that looked like when Joe Thomas found out one of the greatest wide receivers
Starting point is 00:51:53 in the last 25 years. It's coming to the Cleveland Browns. I felt like, you know, the ladies when they're in pregnancy and they're giving birth and they give them like the brown paper bag that you have to bleed in so you don't pass out. That's what I felt like because I had just talked that morning to some of the local radio and said, there's no way the Giants are getting rid of OBJ. And I just wouldn't let myself believe it. It was like the kid on Christmas morning. I was trying to manage my expectations, expecting it to be socks under the Christmas tree.
Starting point is 00:52:22 And then I opened it up and it was like the coolest boombox of all time. You're one of the greatest rounds ever. You're not that far removed from the game. Are you plugged in enough where you were maybe hearing things that other people weren't that this could be in play? Not really. And I've got a lot of friends in the organization still, and I chat with those guys all the time.
Starting point is 00:52:38 But I try to keep our relationship mostly friendship-based, so it's not just me trying to pull information from them all the time. You're now in the media. I would get that information and use that. I do wonder because you're run with the Browns. You almost went to the playoffs that first year in 2007. And then there was a long, streak of darkness. Do you ever feel kind of like almost Moses that led this team to what now
Starting point is 00:53:01 seems like the promised land, but you're not able to go with them on the field? Is there a little bit of frustration on that front? Honestly, I haven't let my mind accept the fact yet that I'm not a part of the team anymore. I think I, because I feel like now as a player, you have to be really guarded and you have to manage your expectations and you have to always say the right things, but now I can just be excited and be a fan and just be over the top when something cool like this happens Is there part of you in that moment you're on NFL Network live you're like thinking to
Starting point is 00:53:31 yourself like how much of a media member do I want to be or how much how much excited do I just want to be on it? It's hard when you're in that situation and I don't think the NFL Network would want me to be stone-faced about it because this is an exciting time for the Browns. This is an organization that's had
Starting point is 00:53:47 a lot of hardship since they came back in 99 and they're one of the great franchises in the NFL and finally have that turnaround happening right now and to see it accelerating each off season with these incredible moves that John Dorsey has been making is so cool. Well, with that in mind, let's check out another tweet. This is from our colleague, Antisiciliano. Hey, Joe, how quickly can you put the weight back on? What do you say? I mean, is it even a possibility? It never crossed your mind in the past, you know, 12, 15 months. I would love to
Starting point is 00:54:16 be part of a championship run, but if I had anything left in my knees, I would have played last year. The reason I retired had nothing to do with me being sick of losing or sick of turnover or that I didn't love the game anymore. I love the game just as much when I walked out, if not more than when I first walked into the door in Cleveland
Starting point is 00:54:36 in 2007. I loved the locker room. I love the preparation. Everything about it was great. But when your body gives up on you, there's really nothing left for you to do. Yeah, I mean, it was easy. How surreal is it that the Browns are, in some ways, America's team right now? I mean, the Cowboys still have the title. But people, this country is rooting for Cleveland. They've been rooting for Cleveland when
Starting point is 00:54:57 they were coming off 0 and 16. And now the bandwagon is starting to fill up. Mark seems a little uncomfortable with the people now jumping out. And I get that. Yeah. Listen, if you've been there, you've been there. Now suddenly everyone's a fan please. If the same, if the same thing happened with people jumping on the Jets bandwagon, I'd be like, stay off. You don't deserve this. I earn this. How surreal is it that the Browns get this much love now from the country? They're years of derision. Yeah. I'm excited that the The Browns are sort of the center of the NFL universe right now and hopefully for the future. It's true.
Starting point is 00:55:27 But it is funny because there is going to be some of that amongst fans. Like, whoa, whoa, whoa, I went through the O-N-16. I stuck with the team. All of a sudden, you're coming out of the woodwork now that they're good and they've got this fun team with all these great personalities. So I'm sure that's going to happen. Let's hope it happens because that means they've had a great season. You should be the bouncer. I'll be happy to be the bouncer.
Starting point is 00:55:47 I'll throw a few people out. I've always said that if the Browns in my lifetime ever won the Super Bowl, And there was a period there where I thought, it's not happening, even if I live for another 30 years, it won't. But if it happens, I don't care how old I am, I'm going to systematically burn down like eight cars on my street and just start throwing chairs all over the place. What would your response be? Would it be stoic? Would you go nuts? Would you commit the owners as well, John?
Starting point is 00:56:10 Wow. You know, I haven't let myself put myself into that shoes yet of what it would feel like when the Browns win a Super Bowl. But I remember when I was 12 years old, I was a Packer fan growing up in Wisconsin, and Brett Fav wins their Super Bowl in 96, I think it was. And it was like 10 below zero in Wisconsin. I ran outside. I ripped my shirt off as a 12-year-old kid, and I was running around the street. So I'm sure it would be something like that.
Starting point is 00:56:38 It would be like the J.R. Smith all over again where I wouldn't put my shirt on for a week. And they'd have to give you a rig after all you've done. Well, it makes me, growing up in New York, Don Mattingly of the Yankees. he retired, and then they started Dynasty immediately when Derek Jeter gets there. The fans, though, didn't forget Mattingly. He never got to the World Series. I feel like Browns fan, if a similar situation played out, you'd be just as beloved as all these guys that are winning titles if it ever happened
Starting point is 00:57:02 because you were there. The fans, you're synonymous with the pain that led to the greatness in a way. Yeah, there was a lot of pain, and hopefully there's some greatness coming up. But, you know, Browns fans are the best. No, we're not doing if. It's when they win the Super Bowl. Now, the Browns fans are the best in the country, and they've shown me nothing but love, even through all those really hard times, and I'm forever grateful. It makes a Brown City, because I know what happened with the Cavs, and that was a nice balm during the really dark ages for Cleveland's football team.
Starting point is 00:57:32 But I remember back in the 80s when it was Marty Schottenheimer there and Bernie Cozar, and that stadium was always talked about outside next to the Broncos as the loudest, toughest place to play. Fans were throwing batteries at John Elway. I mean, it has, there's not been an opportunity for that. Last season, they were getting wild. Even when it was three and five early, they were going crazy. Yeah, it's going to be bananas there opening day because they can feel that excitement building in the offseason. Last off season, everyone was excited because of what they did in the draft.
Starting point is 00:58:00 And you have this rookie, but you don't really know when the turnaround is going to happen. You don't know how good the rookie is going to be. And so this year with the excitement building through the off season is going to be crazy. And Odell Beckham is pure electricity. Even on these Moribund Giants teams in recent years, He was the guy that made them prime time TV like he's going to turn the Browns into an offense that we've never seen in Cleveland. Well, he's one of the icons of the NFL probably of all time. And to be able to be part of this Brown's resurgent franchise and when they win the Super Bowl with him.
Starting point is 00:58:32 I mean, can you imagine the legacy that these guys are going to have? The confidence Browns fans. We should do it. Remember when LeBron signed with the heat and he's like, we're not going to win one title? We're not going to win two. Maybe we can get that going to. Just as like a football. Aren't you kind of excited to see what Freddie Kitchens is going to do with all of these pieces?
Starting point is 00:58:49 Because it's not just O'Dell Beckham. It's the running game. It's Jarvis Landry. It's Injoku. Like kind of what are you expecting to see out of this offense? Yeah, well, from an X's and O's standpoint, O'Dell Beckham was sort of the missing link on that offense. Because they had Jarvis Landry, who's more of your possession underneath type guy. He catches a lot of balls, but he's not the down-the-field threat.
Starting point is 00:59:10 But now you have OBJ. Baker can throw it. He's got an arm. So you got OBJ going deep, you got Jarvis underneath. That's really a difficult thing for a defense to handle from a coverage standpoint. How do you cover both of those guys? Because you can't take away both of them at the same time. And now they have some other weapons, too.
Starting point is 00:59:26 Obviously, the addition of Kareem Hunt. You got Nick Chub in the backfield, David Injoku's coming into his own. It's a lot of weapons for a guy like Freddie Kitchens to be able to sit there in the offseason and salivate in those meeting rooms. Marcus B mean. Yeah, before we say goodbye, for a decade, Joe was a beacon of greatness for the Cleveland. and brown so mark you have anything you need to say to joe before he leaves us here on the around the NFL twitter show is this i mean you're you're a future hall of famer uh you you know you went to work every day and missed didn't miss a snap forever and ever this right now though sitting
Starting point is 00:59:57 here with the three of us is this really when you search your heart a high point career wise i would say that if it's not the highest it's definitely tied okay i'll take that like from like tied with that moment where braylon we didn't couldn't get out from underneath the flag yes that moment, that moment of me snapping my triset and laying on the field there for dead. All right. Well, those days are gone. It's a new era. Now when you talk about the Browns, it's all good
Starting point is 01:00:20 things. Joe Thomas, thank you for joining us. And please come back again after the first title, maybe the third title, whatever you have a chance. Yeah, I'll be back after the third or fourth title. It'll be a lot of fun. Thanks guys for having me. Joe Thomas. There you go, Joe Thomas. Mark Sessler, Beaming. I took a photo, Mark,
Starting point is 01:00:38 with you and the spelt Joe Thomas afterwards. I look like a tiny child next to him. As Greg said, that man during his playing days was the prototypical left tackle build. So there's nothing to be ashamed of. He's sick, sick. A giant, a literal guy. But he's in much better shape now, I mean, really in a lot of ways than he was as a player.
Starting point is 01:01:01 There's a part of me that really wanted him to come back to the Browns and play left tackle for 2019. As we heard, his knees are shot. His body would not cooperate. All right. That's it for today's show. Again, Mark, it's a new day. It's a new day. I'm willing to feel happier than in the past. I'm going to give it a try. I know you so well, Mark, that sometimes good things have happened with the Browns. I remember, in fact, draft day. Not the film. You were not happy about that. When Baker Mayfield is drafted, you weren't willing to release yourself in a way.
Starting point is 01:01:36 But I sense with this Becca move that you are embracing the beautiful. of the Browns being reborn as a franchise, not just on the rise, but a franchise that has arrived. Yeah, I have equal concerns that at some point, like in early September, the team bus is going to roll off a bridge and this roster will be lost for all time, but assuming that doesn't happen,
Starting point is 01:01:57 it should be fun times ahead. That's how I think about these things. How did you end up on the Dark Lake? That's how I think about these things. All right, but a good day for the Browns and Jets, Marks, and we deserve those. We'll be back on Friday. Like I said, we'll do some over-unders, how these players will fare in new locations,
Starting point is 01:02:15 some final thoughts on free agency. And then any other news, because there are, Greg, a lot more players, good players, maybe not the top-tier guys, but guys that will make a big difference on teams in 2019 that currently are unemployed. I think where there's 11 of our top 40 are still available. But then you're getting more into the middle tier, the bargains, and this where teams get it done. And I think... This one, it's good to have a good GM.
Starting point is 01:02:39 We've seen in past years, though, you know, we should just be ready for an emergency pod. We've seen in past years in these days, that's where some trades that you just had no idea was coming have happened. I predict a lower octane news lineup. And if something breaks, if news breaks, the heroes will be in the studio, creating more content to amplify on all social media channels. That's it. Get your act together, Instagram. This is Dan Hansus. Sessler's got a picture of Joe Thomas ready to do it.
Starting point is 01:03:09 Change his career. Instagram down for six days. Clyde Storm, the mailman, the old boss, and Kent Brown doing the damn thing behind the glass. Sign him. Till Friday. I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael F. Florio, and together we host the NFL fantasy football podcast.
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Starting point is 01:04:17 Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. 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, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else. It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sunday.
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