NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Better bounceback: Cowboys or Colts?

Episode Date: June 3, 2016

A room full of heroes -- Dan Hanzus, Gregg Rosenthal, Chris Wesseling and Marc Sessler – discuss the latest NFL news, including Dez Bryant’s return from injury and the Broncos going to visit the White House. Then the heroes play another edition of “What’s more likely?” before wrapping the podcast talking with NFL.com Editor David Ely about his ATN softball suspension.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 does not cowtow to sponsors. You can say that again. Welcome back to another edition of the Around the NFL podcast. My name is Dan Hansis and I am joined by a room filled with heroes, Mark Sessler, Chris Wessling, and Greg Rosenthal. What's up, boys? Hey, Dan.

Yeah, we are unsponsored. um unbeholden but beloved throughout the NFL podcast by dozens unbeholden is that a word yeah

that means we're just going to take shots at yeah all show we're not in anybody's pocket uh Greg I thought you had a really let's talk a deflate gate

right off the top Roger Goodell shooting from behind bulletproof glass right here I thought you had a nice couple tweets Greg even banged off a little retweet

yesterday This, we are now, the OTAs are in full swing, and Greg had a real, what I call clear-eyed look at what's going on in the, what did you say on Twitter that I really agreed with? I think I said, you know, we all love football. We all like to follow it closely, but, you know, OTA season has no real predictive value. You're better off. I was thinking of my days back at Roto World when we would do the rankings. And I was saying some of my mistakes doing rankings, you'd be better off if you just took a nap from May to August. Sign me up.

I'm not going to really learn anything. May through July. This is coming from the bus. You're basically saying it would be fine for us, and, you know, it'd be a time to recharge our batteries, just basically not be at the workplace. There's some nuance to this. Yes. I'm saying it's not predictive.

I don't think it should change your opinions on things. There's still news. I think it's a good time to prepare for the season and inform yourself of what's going on and position battles. It's good to know who's injured or who's not. But I don't think it should be changing your idea of who's good or bad. I think that's well said. It's not predictive.

but it is helpful to store those names in your head. Yes. And factor all the depth chart changes going on, rookies standing out. But until you see these people play. Well, they're not playing football. They're playing touch football. Which is a different sport.

Which with no real pass rush. And like the Eagles, there's a perfect example. I found a column that said in the Philadelphia Enquirer, Sam Bradford has been the best player on the Eagles this offseason. Come down. I found another art. article by the Philly Media where it said there's been no difference between the three quarterbacks. And I found another one that thought Carson Wentz is mentally ahead of Sam Bradford learning the

offense. So this is like, what are we talking about? Part of the issue is that beat riders, as much as they're the lifeblood of what we do, how well do they really know the sport? They take, they took a look at a practice and they're like, oh, this receiver dropped two passes, bad practice. Well, that doesn't take any of the nuances of the game into effect. Drops are overrated. Or, you know, Carson Wentz badly overthrew a receiver. How do you know if the receiver ran the right route? People are just figuring out what they're doing right now.

It is May after all. Excuse me. June. Come on, Dan. Yes, nice show today. I'm going to, listen, call me crazy. I'm going to give this a pre-grade show of an A. Wow.

Put a little pressure on you guys. That's a lot of pressure, especially for, you know, middle of May, Thursday. Or early June. Five words. I've been in meetings all day. I feel like I have it. Why does half the room think it's still May? Five words, guys.

And it could have been taken right out of an RG3 tweet from 2013. Don't afraid to be great. Don't afraid to be great. Whoops. Don't be afraid to be great. Six words. Two of which are 33% of that sentence is occupied by the word B. Yeah.

Anyway, here we go. We got a lot to get to. We're going to bring back one of our favorite games. What's More Likely? What's More Likely? Gotta love what's more likely. I think it was the counting the numbers of the words that tripped you up. Well, you know.

That was five words. Don't afraid be great. Famously, I got a 39 on a state-mandated math test. So I was so busy cooking up the number of words that the language tripped me up. Usually it's the other way around. You're a pro. It's understandable. But you're not, you know, you are human.

Once in a blue moon, an arrow will creep across. Thank you, Mark. Thank you. I'm pointing that out. And some news to get to from around the NFL, which is how we got our name, by the way. And also we're going to have, we're going to get somebody on the phone because of a big, a big bombshell that dropped in the newsroom regarding the Shield, our company softball team, which continues our season tonight against one of our big rivals, Wes.

We haven't even played them yet, and they're a big rival. Yeah, they're a three and two team. The name of the team escapes me right now. Do you remember? Barney's. No. The flying sheep. Flying sheep, the Irishman chimes in with the Irishman,

our third baseman tonight. And speaking of the Irishman, what's up, buddy? I'm so ready for this game tonight. I know you are. You're one of my warriors. You're like my Paul O'Neill. I'm ready to go. All right, baby.

Let's do some news. Be sure and tell them large Marge sent you. That's the woman that Mark picked up last week. Not accurate. she was of middle size Large Marge Middle age You said she was a

Middle size She wasn't especially big or small It wasn't a characteristic that stood out You're talking about the hitchhiker you picked up But she's an older lady I wouldn't say she was a hitchhiker She wasn't I'm not going to get back into this She was walking down the street

She wasn't actively looking for someone to pick her up And she's been maligned on Twitter And I don't appreciate it Well, so the way you tell it, she almost should have been a little wary of you. She wasn't even looking for hiding. Some guy just pulls up, hey, hey, lady. Let's not forget about this. This was a roll of the dice on both sides of the fence.

No, no, no. I didn't roll up, Greg. Thanks for telling me how it went. I was there, and, you know, she and I saw each other from three, 400 yards away. She saw I was not. So it was Kisman. I wasn't some, like, you know, hooligan driving 600 miles a road down the state. I stopped and said, you know, would you like a ride?

enough when you saw it like case closed subject done did that the music start coming off in your head not even remotely birds tweeting not at all we'll start with the san francisco 49ers who are going to have a little camp battle between blaine gabbert and uh colin capernick to be the team's starting quarterback yikes uh but at the same time where is colin capernick at health wise the team's offensive coordinator offensive coordinator mark who is the offensive coordinator of the niners you are an expert in this category. This one I forgot. He was trending on Twitter too. Anybody? Old Curtis Modkins. Good job, buddy. Mockins said Thursday if the team is waiting for Kaepernick to get healthy before a full-fledged competition with Gabbard begins. And when will he be

healthy? Here's what Mockens say. I have no idea. We as coaches, our jobs are to coach who's out there on the field practicing whenever they say they say Collins healthy I'm sure he'll be there he's around us he's in the meetings he's doing a great job it's not up to me when he's released so we'll see interesting choice of words uh Greg your thoughts I wonder if there's more going on here the timing is interesting because they were hopeful that he would be back on the field around the start of June or maybe mini camp if he misses all of OTAs in mini camp I don't think Again, you don't want to overrate May in June, but it definitely gives Gabbard a leg up. There's no doubt about that.

Well, the fact that the 49ers and Colin Kaepernick hate each other also gives Gabbard. Well, right. And when I say there's maybe more to the story, I don't know. I want to see what happens here. Maybe Kaepernick's not rushing back to get on the field right away. Who knows? Is he in all the meetings? He's doing all that, though, right?

So as long, I mean, I think the problem is you're installing a new offense, too, and it gives Gabbard. Yes, these months don't mean much, but Gabbard rolls into the later phases of the offseason with a clear advantage over Kaepernick. Moving on. Mark, your greatest offensive threat out there in Cleveland last season, Gary Bonnage has a sports hernia surgery.

He underwent that surgery recently. He's going to miss some time. He's going to miss the rest of the offseason program. And he will be back. for the start of training camp, or so we hope. Barnage signed a four-year $13.5 million extension this offseason. 79 catches for 1,043 yards and nine touchdowns last season. Mark, was that the most productive brown season this side of Josh Gordon since, what,

Braylon Edwards? Well, Kellynne Winslow from a tight-end angle. But yeah, I mean, it comes, it came during a season that couldn't have been more forgettable or meaningless, but, you know, it helped him. He got a new contract off it. Not worried about a sports hernia in early June. I think he'll be fine. Do you want to hear from Gary?

Please. I'm gutted, mate. Absolutely got it. Guy Bonner's here. I picked up a knock near me the kibbles and bits. They say I'll be ready for training camp. That's a bit of a trope, eh? You know what I mean?

I'm got it, mate. This is not mega. Not mega at all. Quids out. Gary Bodge out. That is probably the worst British accent I've ever heard. You know what, Gary? I don't need to hear that.

I mean, you know, it's up there among the worst. And for new listeners, Gary Barnage, quote, unquote, is not British, but his name dictates otherwise. Just the sound of it. Everybody knows. Guy Barnish. Whatever. But he'll be back. Mark, you're right.

Not a big deal. Oh, yeah. Sportsernia. That's never been a lingering problem. Well, I like that, you know, we can brush it off. I can say it's not a big deal. Not a big deal to me. It might be a big deal to the person that just had a knife put into the lower part of it.

Right, yeah, someone was at Claibon, Patrick Claibon, our friend, you know, as he put it, talking about a, quote unquote, minor of Sean Lees surgery. Oh, yeah, minor. They just, you know, knocked you out with anesthetics, cut open your body. And in this case, you know, change things around in your groin area for something called this sports hernia. I mean, that sounds fair. I think half of our softball team has sports hernia right now.

We're really beat up. I'm returning to the field, by the way, tonight. We'll see if the hammy holds up. And by the way, yeah, to Greg's point, you heard the disappointment in Gary's voice. So hopefully everything goes well. And he is back by training camp. Let's move on.

Mark, I thought you'd be interested in this. You're fascinated by diets and things of that nature. Aaron Rogers, for years, played by something that he called, when it came to his eating, he called it his 80-20 rule, which meant 80% of the time he would eat a health. healthy diet. But then he left that last 20% to eat whatever he wanted. And he found, and obviously he's one of the best quarterbacks of all time, that that worked for him. However, that is now changing a little bit. And you know who helped him get more serious

about his nutrition and throwing away the 80-20 rule? Tom Brady, of course. This is what Aaron Rogers had to say via ESPN.com. To be honest, Tom Brady is an influencer there because of the stuff he talks about and how healthy he is. So this is more about it. working with the Packers team trainer or director of performance nutrition, the guy named Adam Corson, a more scientific approach to what he puts in his body. This has lowered Aaron Rogers' body percentage, a fat body percentage, and has him feeling like he's in the best shape of his life, Mark. I mean, I like it.

I think if you, even I was, I never watched golf, for instance, but I was watching it over the weekend. And I remember growing up, there were like. We always can assume that you don't really watch any other sports. You don't even have to give it. Right. It just happened to be on. But remember in the old days,

there were always two or three giant tubby, junksters. Fat guys on the tour. And, like, I asked my dad, because he watches it, and I said, what happened with golf? And it's like every other sport.

These guys get in the best shape of their lives. The money. It's the money. And if you're Aaron Rogers, if you can extend your career into your late 30s, early 40s, potentially like Brady wants to do, there's millions of dollars attached to it.

And why not? I mean, you have the ability as a quarterback to have a nutritionist, to be in the best shape of your life. I don't want to have a quarterback that doesn't want to do that. If you read some of these long-form articles about Brady and his nutritionists, there's been a couple of them the last couple of years, you walk away from reading them with the inescapable fact that he has a competitive advantage because of how much he and his wife make

and what they're able to do scientifically with his body. And it's no surprise that he's moving better in the pocket now than he was five or six years ago. So if you're Aaron Rogers, who's probably making the second most money in the NFL household combined. Yeah, right. He has the means and the pathological desire. Let's face it. We have in our house some Himalayan Pink Salt, and I bought that directly off. I have some, too.

It's excellent. You know what? I heard Rogers talking up, you know, in that Pete Holmes podcast he did with he was talking about his diet and that one too. He said Crossroads, Vegan Place on Melrose Ave here in L.A. I don't know if you've been there, but he was a big fan of that. Maybe Sessler's on to something. Fake burger. And the many, you know, in the whole thing, the Rosenthal diet is going to be looked back upon at some point.

And humans are just going to say what happened to the Rosenthal family line. Yes. Human history will look back on that, you know, 50 billion year era where we ate meat as a mistake. Oh, yeah. Humans are getting it right all the time. By the way, Tom Brady is currently hawking a $200, quote, nutritional manual. translation, cookbook that has sold out multiple pressings on his website. I actually took a look at it on his site yesterday, and it looks every bit the $200. It's like a rich man's cookbook. Mark, you're a wealthy man.

Are you going to purchase that? We don't even have $200 worth of food in our house right now. What are you talking about? Do you know how I know it's sold out? How? Connor Ord tried to buy it. Yeah, months ago. Ouch.

I think this might have been a topic on the podcast unless I'm crazy. I think it was a private conversation amongst. It was on our Instant Messenger client, which is full of garbage people. He wants to buy it, and I support him in that. I'd buy it. $200. That's a little ridiculous. Just to clarify it to the listeners, the people on the Instant Messenger client that we speak with, they are not the garbage people, is the people that created the client itself. Well, it does apply occasionally to the people chatting.

Oh, that's true, too. The name of the I.M. client, I should say it, of course, out of respect for their company. company is that will be bleeped out. Let's take a quick interlude on the news, a little break. I want to touch it, touch it, or check in with a friend of the show. His name is Vinny Houseplan. Is that correct, Wes? Yes, he's one of our favorite listeners, Keith, who goes by Vinny Houseplant on Twitter.

And he wrote the Hare Zeus. Remember that song? I think he wrote a banger about you, Wes. He did. It couldn't be played on the air because it's got some blue language. Anyway, so every once in a while he'll send us a YouTube video that's entertaining and a little bit disturbing. He was upset when he heard the news. I can't believe the news today that Wes went down in Cornhole to the old Zusser.

And here's what Vinny had to say. I'm informed. By the way, can you pause one second? I just want to paint a picture for the audience and we'll send a link out. He's in a shed alone with an overgrown beard and his hair is crazy and he's smoking. I like this guy. Okay. I'm informed that Christopher Wesley,

mailman, the great Christopher Wesley, was outbagged by the molded one, Dan Haerzeus. The molded one. That's how that got on the show. I like this guy.

That was the key. Do you want to hear more from him? Sure. Outbagged. Out Cornhold. by Dan Hazus, making deliveries of his own, throwing bags into holes, dropping packages where they go.

They all have New Jersey and New York zip codes and area codes on them. Wesley, what's happened? My world's falling apart. I'm living in a shed. I'm living in a shed. Just living in a shed, bro. That guy's great.

What, what, how about, how you, you know, how about that, though? I mean, the cornhole stuff, you're in a bit of a slub. Let's be fair. Not in a slump. There's one-on-one and you lost? No, it wasn't one-on-one, but I would invite Dan to play one-on-one any time for the high-stakes of high-octane sandwich. I honestly, I don't fear you anymore, Wes, although I respect you. We were playing against two of Connie Fox's friends, two girls, and they were not very proficient in the game.

So it was essentially a one-on-one matchup. I would not deny that in this particular game, Dan out through me and your grandma, who had known, ever seen Cornhole play before would admit that Dan out through me. I mean, by the way, it's... Wes is still a better player than me, but I'm continuing to tightly got. I'm thinking about buying the shed now. Well, it's like a Wesleyan coaching tree to some degree. There's no shame in developing players who, you know, the only way they learn is by watching

you. I am proud of Dan's accomplishments in this area, unlike our friend Ali Bomburi, who refuses to do the spin and is as good now as he was three years ago. Got to learn the spin, everybody. has gotten incrementally better every week. There has to be some risk, though, that in this tree, Wesseling is Bill Parcells, a legend, highly respected, a Hall of Famer,

but that Dan could one day be Bill Belichick. I like that. Pass him up. Or I'm Paul Brown, and Dan is Blanton Collier. You're such a Collier. Brandon has breaking news. Breaking news into the around the NFL newsroom. Alan Hearns has signed a four-year,

$40 million contract extension with the Jacksonville Jaguars. One of the top 90 players in the NFL, according to the other players. Hmm. Interesting timing. Why is that? Got a lot of young players. They chose to re-sign him. Because he was undrafted, he's up for an extension a year before most young players would be up. I have no problem keeping around for a long time. that they're building one of the offenses that will be one of the greats.

Two years from now, we'll be talking about that. Whoa. Easy there, Sussler. One of the greats. I think so. Well, he and on that Blake Bordel's train again, you know, he led the league in interceptions last year, right? I'm not getting into that with you again.

He and Alan Robinson are in the discussion for best wide receiver tandem, certainly best young wide receiver. They got to start making some of those old school, like, you know, posters, like the Allen wrench, Allen wrench, and it's got like the two judges. Jaguars receivers holding up a ramps or something. Like a blasted out smoky background. Yeah, something like that. The two Allens.

I mean, we've got to see the fine print on this. All in with the Allens. He's a solid number. He's a very good number two receiver. That's essentially what he's going to be for. Got some weapons. Yeah, so we'll maybe get into that down the line when we have more details, but let's move forward.

Hey, Wes, this one I want to bring up just for you. The Denver Broncos, the two, the Super Bowl 50 champions will visit Barack Obama at the White House, the final visit to the White House for an NFL team to Barack Obama. So this came up in the newsroom. It's like, oh, what a cool thing. And Wes kind of went. You didn't think it was a cool thing.

No, it was like, you know, it was a cool thing. Obviously, if you win the Super Bowl, you get to go to the White House. What do you mean get to? What? You get to go to the White House. No, you don't. As we know, Brock Oswald. is my point is

West pulled like a get off my lawn moment is like, I don't want to go down to the White House, what do I have to do with that man? It struck me as un-American Wes. I said I'd rather fly across the country to Washington, D.C. to hang out with Dan Hanses, which was a nice senator. Than to meet Barack Obama. I don't know that guy.

What do I want to hang out with Barack Obama for? But you said that it was basically about any president, any president you felt that way. I like the way. You said it was like an interesting cadence. Like Barack Obama. I would rather hang out with Mark Sessler than Barack Obama. But it wasn't a But you've already done that a million times.

I would love to meet the president. Of course. And you get to go to the White House. You go, you walk in the White House. You live, you see it. You see it once. You have a couple jokes with the president. That would be great.

Whatever. Maybe bring your girlfriend to the Lincoln bedroom and close the door. Well, it doesn't work that way. You have some fun. You would be quickly taken down by the secrets. My point is, the White House, as of I, it's a historic place, the most famous residential home in America in the world, perhaps. I would love to go there.

I love history as much as anyone, but I don't really care much for monuments and markers. I don't know. But this is a living human president. So? Go meet him. Well, I find your, I find your bit on.

How has it changed our world for the better? Oh. Well, that's up, I mean, that's for the politics. Yeah, that's the policy spot. I mean, I'm just saying,

we're not talking about Abraham Lincoln here. Right, but I would have, like, I would have been happy to meet any president. Why not? It's just, it's an interesting experience.

I certainly don't want to meet George W. Bush. You know, I was going to say, Well, now I'm a little more. I thought this was all heading towards West making a formal declaration to get behind Trump in this upcoming. I think we know. Is that what this is?

I believe I've made my point clear on this subject. Are your politics? My only goal is to play defense against Trump in this election. You're a big factor in this election. So that's my whole goal. Are you guys while we're talking, you know, Tuesday, got a little election out here coming up in California. Are you guys going to go vote, registered to vote? and whatnot.

What are we voting for? Oh, Greg. That's personal, Greg. Whether you're voting or not, I'm not saying who you're voting for. I'm saying, are you guys planning to vote? I would not say that I am deeply involved in California politics.

I would ask you whether we were on the air or not. I'll be voting for the president. I was just curious. You're going to pass. Greg, would you okay? It's not easy to get around L.A. To get to the voting booth, there's long lines. Would you okay an open three-hour window

to allow the three of us to, we're not going to tell you where we voted or who we voted for or if we vote, but can we just have that time to carry out our duty? Well, it's a lot. You don't have to ask Greg. It's literally, if you go in our break room and you look on one of those boards.

You have to go. But you have to go to do it. You're allowed to step away. There are a lot of HR imposed rules that Greg has swatted down over the years, so I do want to ask Greg. Please, please. Yeah, you can go, but you can't go to not vote

and then you do not need to know what I did during that window. for you to have the time off. You're not to be asking me what I did during that. I'll just leave and come back when the window closes. We've got a whistleblower. All right. Finally. I'm taking some time off.

Go sit in a little. Was this all just a humble bag that you're a good amount of? No. I think it was. No, I'm saying you guys can take the time now that he brought it up. Of course you can. Why not? I like how the podcast is doubling as a company departmental meeting.

My voting district is actually at the cozy end. I live close to you. Mine probably is too. Didn't they outlaw that kind of stuff about 100 years ago? I don't know. All right. Before we move on, time to check in. Trojanet.

Trojanet. Trooper nat. Trooper nat. To Greg's point, you've got to be able to see through all the BS, so let's do it. Coach Jeff Fisher, Rams coach Jeff Fisher, believes that Tavon Austin can, quote, double his 52 catches from last season. And man, that's 104 catches. I don't even know if Jared Guff will have 104 completions next season.

What's the record for most bubble screens in a season? I mean, how many other pass routes is to Tavon Austin running? You know, you tweeted that yesterday, and then I replied he's going to lead the league in yuck. And then, you know, not my greatest bit. But then I got into like a seven part back and forth with some person on Twitter that didn't understand the joke. There was a lot of handholding going to. He's kind of helping him through it. You can come around.

You can figure this out. Come on, bro. Trojanat. Troopanat. Troopanat. Jordy Nelson, who's coming back from a tour in ACL, has declared himself ready to go at Packers OTAs. Here's this quote, if there was a game on Sunday, I'm playing. What's not to believe here?

Didn't he tear his ACL in August? He should be ready to. It was the preseason game. He should be ready to go by now. There is a lot of. the well if there was a game there's also a lot of players where if they're missing back well if there was if it was a game

week I'd be playing that's a big one that is one of them that's maybe my favorite one if there was a game tomorrow there was a game Sunday if there was a game today it's your favorite one because it means nothing absolutely that's what makes it a trooperable a trooperate

troplanet troplanet troplanet tropean hey guys Jim Brown has a title with the Cleveland Brown's he's the team's consultant he's been in communication with Josh Gordon the suspended wide receiver and Brown believes that Gordon is quote ready to take responsibility for himself heard this one before I think it's a trope because the last time well I think you know Brown is

giving us the information that he has but that comes down to I don't think we can trust any of this until A the league brings them back and B Gordon actually stays you know out of trouble long enough to be in a game until it happens. I don't think we really, he just doesn't deserve our trust. I don't even think that's the main trope in this trope alert. To me, where Jim Brown stands with the Browns

is an annual trope that Cleveland writers have been doing since 2002. It's always, does the ownership group or the new GM get along with Jim Brown or not and what his situation is. This is one of my biggest pet peeves among writers. Who cares what Joe Namath thinks about the Jets quarterback situation? Who cares

Joe Thaisman thinks about the Redskins. Well, he is on their payroll. Right, he is now. But then there's been times... It was last year, too. There's been times when Mike Holmgren didn't embrace him. That was a big problem. Right, but there were other former coaches, like the Mangini area, didn't embrace him.

And so that was a problem. So it's kind of the where Jim Brown's... Jim Brown's... Bad organizations do a bad job with their alumni, and that had been the case for a long time with the Browns. And Jim Browns, to his credit, he nailed that Trent Richardson was a bust. Oh, yeah. Well, he called him. He was not as impressed with him.

He said there was nothing special about ordinary. I mean, look. Look, to be clear, Jim Brown, probably the best football player of all time and one of, if not the most important football players of all time for lots of reasons. So if anyone deserves the attention. Well, we're to believe Josh Gore.

I mean, until he stops hanging out with Johnny Mansell, I'm not going to believe that anything is cool. Absolutely. Speaking of Cleveland sports, I just want to touch on this because I find this kind of an entertaining little subplot in my circle of friends. The NBA finals starts tonight.

The Cleveland Cavaliers go back to the finals for the second year in a row under LeBron. They're facing off against the Golden State Warriors, of course, who are heavy favorites. And, Mark, you're now plugged in to the NBA. And you're saying that you're rooting for the Browns and you're picking the Brown, or excuse me, you're rooting for the Cavs and you're picking the Cavs in seven. Let's be honest. You're rooting against them sneaky because you want the Browns to break that believe land titleless streak. Admit it.

Just admit it. No, no, no, no, no. Hold on. Admit it. You don't want anything else to do it for the Brown. Because any good thing that happens to Cleveland, I'm completely for, honestly. And I'm not- I don't buy it.

Well, you don't have to, but I'm not from Cleveland. We watched at the garage last year quite a few of these finals games, and you were wearing Cleveland shirts. You were supporting them and saying the exact same thing. Because it's Cleveland, they've suffered so much. You just want to see them. If I could have my way, I'm only, I'm a Browns fan. I would have the Browns win.

But if that's not the way it's to be, if it's going to be the calves, that city deserves it. In your hearts, you don't really, you're not living and dying on the calves. No, I'm open about that. I wouldn't expect you to. But I think the city of Cleveland

is really now buying into the romanticism of Believe land and woe is us and blah, blah, blah. And you want, it's with like the Red Sox, it's how Bill Simmons became a millionaire. I don't want my daddy to die without ever seeing a title. You want the Browns to be the one that ends all the suffering and they become just the absolute legendary team.

Ideally, but I'm not, I'm not stubborn about that. If that's not how it happens, if it happens another way, good for them. I don't buy it if it's a, like, a UFC fighter, whoever that guy who won that thing. I'm not, that's not it. I mean, before BelieveLand was a 30 for 30. It was a legendary NFL.com article by Mark Sessler. Well, I did not coin the phrase, just to be clear about that.

You started Believe Leland, but you were ahead of the curve. It's been around for years and years. All right. That's what's happening in the news. I mean, it's, you know, not a serious topic, but. I know you, Mark. Let's play one of our favorite games. What's More Likely?

Let's go around the horn here once. Maybe if somebody else has another one, we can throw out another after the horn roundage. What's More Likely? Mark, get us going, baby. All right, what is more likely? Frank Gore rushes for 1,000 yards, the aging Frank Gore or Greg Rosenthal gets fed up enough with his off-complaining hirelings to ditch the NFL. This summer, for the shores of Massachusetts

where he authors a long-awaited sequel to his 1994 three-act play, The Winds of Edgar Town of Martha's Vineyard Love Saga, as seen through the eyes of Billingsley, Xavier Rosenthal, the fourth. Isn't this the exact same thing you did with the last What's More Likely? No. Except it was writing a tennis blog. That comes up later. What's More Likely?

Sessler comes up with a new bit for What's More Likely? Or the, you know, Browns, I don't know, that's all I got. I don't, I'm not buying Frank Gore. I'm not buying into Frank Gore in that backfield. That's the gist. Oh, now you're going to make it a serious conversation about football? That's my gist. Wait, wasn't your other one had to do with Frank Gore as well, I think?

You've really had a great Frank Gore. I will get my message across. Frank Gore could run for 1,000 yards. That's not that much of an achievement. That's 60 yards a game if he stays healthy. Greg will never go back to New England. He doesn't necessarily really identify with the region. He views himself as kind of a New Yorker because he lived there for 10 years.

We know his feelings about New Orleans. Jesus. He loves that place. And now he likes it out here in L.A. So I would see that it wouldn't even get a medal. Wouldn't even get the bronze if it were a place. That's fair. Dan has lived in Massachusetts much, you know, not much more.

But he's more recently than me. I haven't been back, you know, living since I was in. I didn't get the sense you were anti-Massachusetts. No, I love Massachusetts. I didn't say anti, but he's, I think you're done. It's not like I don't see you. There doesn't seem like a big point in moving back there. So Frank Gore by my answer.

Well, I do think that Greg might be getting sick of his hirelings, but Massachusetts might be the wrong place to move to. Maybe it's New Orleans. What do you think? If you change it to New Orleans, then we might be on to something. So we're not into Frank Gore, though. No, I think Frank Gore could get over 1,000 yards. He's all with that.

Nice player, though. Might go to the Hall of Fame. Probably not, though. Good career. Less. Time will tell, Tim. I'll go with the football heavy one and save the other one. Okay.

What's more likely? Andrew Luck recaptures 2014 form. Ryan Kelly holds that O line together. Philip Dorset and Dante Moncrief make the leap. And the Colts boast the NFL's highest octane offense in 2016. Or Tony Roma and Des Bryant recapture 2014 form with Ezekiel, Elliot, joined at DeMarco Murray 2014 in pressing, and the Cowboys become the NFL's highest octane offense.

I am bullish on the Colts winning that division and rebounding this year, and yet I'm still going to take the Cowboys, because that is a nice-looking offensive roster, and I still believe in Tony Romo, a healthy Tony Romo being a top-level quarterback. So I think that is more likely, but it wouldn't shock me if both of them, those teams are top five offenses this year. I think it's certainly possible. I agree.

The question marks are a little bigger with Dallas. Is Des going to come back and still be Des? I have some concern. And he, you know, there was a report out yesterday that he's getting closer to being cleared. But he strikes me as a guy and I, this is a fear of mine, because he's one of my favorite players to watch, that he might have, be one of those guys that has a truncated prime between the foot injuries and the back issues. We'll see how he bounces back from last season, which was basically a lost year. we know Tony Romo's one hit away from his career being over, I think the Colts are the safer bet. I'm going Cowboys because we've seen them come very close to what you just

discussed. They basically were that team in 2014. The offensive line's still intact, and that's a huge reason for that. I know injuries aren't predictive, but man, I think it's a tough sell that Tony Romo gets through 16 games. If he does, they can be great. Mine was kind of Des related, so I will skip my turn. Greg, you're up. Wow. What's more likely? What's more likely?

Tavon Austin actually does catch 100 passes this year. Or... The other one. Rob and Rex Ryan lead a resurgent Bill's offense back into the top five. Defense. Defense rather, sorry. A.K. Mark Sessler's worst nightmare. Or Mark Sessler writes an overly on.

optimistic Brown's article between now and the season. Well, the last time I did that, Greg, I was at the Hall of Fame event, and it went into Cleveland and came back later and never was reimbursed by the league for my travels. So that's not going to be happening again. You're settling old scores like Rob Ryan right now. It's not going to be happening again. You act like that was my fault.

It's not your fault at all. I blame the robots running whatever's happening inside the NFL's payroll system. No, to be clear, I'm just trying to get back at you for your what's more likely. I'm not sure if that was. I forgot what the first two were. Robin Rex leading the top. Let's make it three bills defense or 100 catches from Tavon Austin. I'm going to go with the 100 catches because I think in today's NFL,

coaches can manufacture 100 catches for a wide receiver whenever they want. Look at the way the dolphins have manufactured 100 catches for Jarvis Landry. I feel like the Rams have tried to manufacture 100. He's not a great player. He's a pretty good wide receiver who has 100 catches because they throw him short passes on. But he's great after the cat. The reason they do that is because the rest of their team, not a lot of great weapons.

Right. One out of every four times, she does something special. The Rams should have done that with Tavon Austin last year. What am I missing, by the way? Tavon Austin's been in the league for four years now. They traded up to get him and saw him as the centerpiece of their offense. They've been trying to make him a superstar for years, and they can't see to do it.

What you're missing is he was a really good player last year. Yeah, but I mean, how close did he come to 100 catches? What do you have 50, 60? Two different offensive coordinators, neither of which we would call creative. Jeff Fish is still there. true that i know i would go uh with rex and rob that i will say like they probably won't have a top three defense uh but if rex had a nice back but bounce back season rob has had some nice scenes maybe they are a good team together and they make magic and poor dennis thurman is left hold on the bag

and kicked out the door in january i mean it's we i think almost we're forgetting how much talent is still there stephan gilmore and ronaldarby is the best young cornerback duo in the league you still have jerry hues you still have defensive line is a shadow of what it was two years ago. But even on, even though that's true, you still have Marcel Darius, Jerry Hughes, Kyle Williams coming back. I mean, compare that. Kyle Williams, who's what, now in his mid-30s and coming off a series. That's fine. I'm just saying compare it to the other defensive lines in the league. It's not like it's a bad, bad defense. I'm going bills. And I don't buy into either of these scenarios on any level. I'm with you. Not even close. But the idea that Jeff Fisher is going

to manufacture with a rookie quarterback and a run heavy offense, a 100 catch receiver. I don't see it happening. Or Mike Petten getting back into the news because he was surreptitiously taping Brown's practices from that house that he bought right next to training camp. That would be awesome. Sending it to other teams. Oh, no.

Is he still live there? Oh, that would be so sad. No, I think it's team housing. I don't think that they're still having the coach. Wouldn't it be so sad, though? It would be very sad. I think he's more resilient than that. All right, I'll throw one of them out there now.

What's more likely? What's more likely? You pick up a deranged female hitchhiker. Be sure and tell them large marg sent you. Who turns you into a skin lamp or the Niners post a combined quarterback passer rating of 87 this season. Which is kind of close to the league average. Maybe a take above, but. I feel like skin lamp, 50% chance somebody's turning you into a.

skim lamp when you pitch up a hitchhiker. Wait, so this is saying if you pitch up a hitchhiker, the odds on this happening. Not that I will pitch up, pick up a hitchhiker. It's pick up. If you pick up a deranged female, it's a female hitchhiker, that she turned

you into a skin lamp. Yeah, it's like today's squeaky from. You never know what you're going to get. The Niners post pass rating of 87. I'm going to go Niners because, I mean, we've seen the Chip Kelly is not a popular. guy right now, but we've seen a guy like Nick Foles produce a pretty

statistically pristine campaign. 122, I think, was his pastime. So I have no problem with, honestly, in Blaine Gabbert, if he can run that system even pretty well, an 87 quarterback rating is not that, it's not that good these days. Right, it's not.

We were talking about it. It's below ever. Ryan Tannaho has better, you know, career numbers, you know, per year than Terry Bradshaw and Joe Nameth and Hall of Famers. Numbers are easy. to get these days.

That's why I'm going with the Niners. We've given up on all this Chip Kelly love. Blaine Gabbard did pretty well with your boy Jim Tom Sula, Chris Wesleyan. And the problem with this is you were too specific with the old, what is it called, the skin lamp? Yeah. I mean, that takes a lot of work. Right, exactly.

She could do a lot of different things with your dead body after she's done with you. Skin lamp's just one option. Niners. I will say, let me just throw this out of here, Blaine Gabbard in 35. career starts 8 and 27 record with a pass rating of 71.9. Well, that's, you're talking. Frankly seems a little high. You're talking Jagbert, though, too.

That was a disaster. Not this new Blaine Gabbardt. I understand. We're not calling him Joe Montana's cousin, but it's like he's. Carl Montana. He's operable. Yeah, being related to Joe Montana does not guarantee a great quarterback play. As Terry Montana, he's terrible.

As Tulane learned when they started his son for a year. By the way, Colin Kaepernick's career QB rating, 88.4. pass a rating just saying who's Colin cap oh yeah well he's on the team I mean he was awesome when he started he walked on water asked Joe Thaisman uh we one more who wants to throw it out who's got one got all right queen city oh do we need to do the what's more likely drop of course oh what's more likely queen city anti heroes Andy Dalton and Marvin Lewis lead the bangles to a victory in January ending the NFL's longest playoff victory drought at 25 years.

It's due. Or Cincinnati native and recovered Bengals fan, Chris Wesleying, finds his one true love, that one winsome tulip, nestled in the elusive sweet spot between slightly flawed and broken beyond repair, ending his 25-year marriage drought. You were married? You were married at age 17? Well, since I started dating. Okay.

Okay. That's a good one. I will say that Wes has made a tremendous gains, really an effort more than anything else, getting out there and meeting women. And I know he's met some women that he enjoys their company. But is Wes going to find the one? Is Wes ready to settle down? Truly, I'm going to go with the Bengals.

I think it's more likely that the Bengals winning playoff games. They're due. They really do. I think both things will happen within the next couple of years, but I think the Bengals are going to do it in January. You might do it in March. The Bengals. The Bengals.

You might do it in March. I think they're going to be just a step ahead of you. Let's see both things happen. Wes, unlike Dan, I believe in you, and I believe in your quest for a true love. And there's some, you know, like Dan said, there's been some good prospects here lately. The hit rate is rising, and I think you can do it. And the Bengals, as you've said, Bengals fans, they don't deserve, they don't get things.

They can't have nice things. I'd like to think I can have nice things. I think it's time for the Bengals in their little, pretty little playoff streak to end. That thing is over. And I see, no, I see Wes putting in the effort that he was not putting in

or willing to embrace about a year ago. So these two things coming together, I'm pro-West in this one. But you're saying the Bengals streak's going to end as well. You're saying Wes is more likely. Wes is going to find love. You're saying the Bengals won't even making the playoffs. They're not

even in the equation. I see. It's dirt nap time and since it. Wait, I want to hear Mark's other what's more likely. You have another one? Yeah. I like how he turned. All right. We're returning though to a very damaging future. I like that you've turned around your white collar upbringing and now

turning it around on me. Greg wanted to keep the show going just a little bit longer. It was worth a hit. What's more likely? It's 2036. A war-torn America 3 is just beginning to embrace its newfound freedom after two civil wars and a military invasion from angry humanoid who came from below the sea. What's more likely?

One, Greg and Wes reunited after years apart are living together in a ramshackle, Iowa, Lop House where Greg, with Wesleyan as his lead analyst, serves as editor-in-chief for Around the Battlefront, a review of weekly military movements in Apocalyptic U.S. Or, in this same bleak world, Colleen Wolfe, and Lindsay Rhodes become gun-for-hire bounty hunters in a matriarchal society, traveling from town to town, exacting revenge to keep bread on the table, while laughing to themselves over shots of whiskey about the fact that Daily Fantasy Football was actually a thing. We almost missed out on that.

I am going that it's more likely Colleen and Lindsay would be vigilantes. And it's even more likely that Mark ripped that what's more likely straight from his dreams last night. From the dreams to the page. Came up with it at the desk. So kind of like a Charlize Theron

in Mad Max type scenario it would be in that world I see I like that Colleen and Lindsay Rhodes is two undaunted women who could take on the bounty hunter rule

and I think it's exceptionally likely that in 2036 many people will be looking back and shaking their heads at Daily Fantasy Football that's true and I you know I love writing but I don't know if blogging about around the battlefront

sounds like a lot of fun it's kind of clickbait if you have to me I'm with the Connie Fox. Top 10 questionable decisions by the latest general. We're all going to die, five reasons why. All right. That's it for what's more likely. Before we go, I do want to, I know we get a lot of people that are interested in it in our softball team,

the Shield, now two and two after a blowout victory over our rival other NFL media franchise, the media mashers, big 23 to 3 victory. last Thursday. Now we're back on the field against the flying sheep. But unfortunately, in my role as both a manager and the, you know, I guess the owner, some type of high ranking official in the front office. Added title. Had to make, I had to make an announcement. And the announcement is as follows for immediate release June 2nd, 2016.

The Shield make roster move. The Shield announced today that outfielder slash DH David Ely has been suspended for two games for conduct, conduct detrimental to the team. Here's a statement from manager Dan Hansus. We value what David brings to our organization but believe his absence for the next two weeks is the most prudent move for all parties involved. David must decide if his priorities are with the shield going forward on Thursday nights.

And, Wes, there was some digging done on the reporting front about why Italy was suspended, correct? I wasn't sure of the rules until I read NFL media softball insider Kevin Patra. disclosed through sources close to the situation that David Ely had planned to skip the softball game tonight to watch Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers not even his teams. That's disappointing.

So he was suspended for a game that he was going to skip anyways. Yes, but it's more about the shame. And he suspended next week. I sent a message. So I figured Irishman, if we could get Ely on the phone, I know he's not in the office anymore, so let's get his cell phone. and really talk to him because I think

and the official stance from the shield is no comment on Patch's reporting but you could read between the lines let's now see if we can get Ely on the phone to answer to his behavior and now his suspension Dan I have our teammate David Ely right here for you. Okay good David Ely

Skip what's up? Listen Dave I got you on the line here because it's important that we clear the air on what happened here the suspension. I know you appealed the suspension. Unfortunately for you, the appeal is being heard by Mark Sessler, who was privately telling me that you should be released outright from the team. So I don't think that the suspension is going to get overturned. I mean, that's troubling to hear because

I know that I felt that I had a good chance with Mark hearing my appeal, but sometimes, if it's not going to happen, it's not going to happen. I'm willing to sit out of my suspension if that's what the case is. Dave, I am willing to listen objectively, but yes, it is true that when I found out that, you know, this team is at a crossroads, and I'm not saying that you're the, you know, the Reggie Jackson of this group,

but anyone that says, hey, I'm just going to go sit on my couch with my bros and watch like an NBA game over being. He said it defiantly. Yeah, I just, it's the, it's sort of, do we, or does the team need a locker room cancer right now, or do they not need that? I just want to say, first of all, I was blindsided by the suspension. I thought I did an upstanding move by walking over to Dan this morning and informing him

of my intentions to watch said basketball game so he could make the lined-up adjustments as necessary. So I thought that that was the right thing to do. Let me... Total millennial move. Yeah, it is a bit of a millennial move. And let me just say that the suspension came down because while I was preparing for an NFL now hit, I was made aware because I have birds all around me that you said that you

didn't care about the team. And that's when I knew a message had to be sent, because I have teammates sitting in your area. It's very important that everybody is invested in the team, and when I have one bad apple running his mouth, he's got to get shut down. Now, I mean, I don't want to speak for your sources, but that's a load of BS.

I love this team. I brought Capri's Sun and Orange Fices for this team. I'm the one that's trying to bring this team some unity. and some nostalgia back to when we play Lully. Right. Well, you're not bringing them base hits. I mean, from what I heard... Oh, Barrow!

What do you think about the source, David Ely, that says there's a double standard here that if you were a little more effective in the field, then you might not be getting a suspension here. Well, yes, I've struggled the plate of late. I saw a sports psychologist over the last week to try to tackle those demons. But I can't speak from my playing the field

because I've been allowed to play in the field. But that's a topic for another day. I've seen you play in the field. Our official stance on whether we have a double standard is no comment. I would like to vouch for David Ely that he did. He has supported the team. He has played the role of the team mom. He brought oranges.

I think that should be fact. I'll take that into account. Absolutely in the appeal. How about this? How about this, Mark? Well, let me first ask you this, Ely. in terms of your disappointment level up right now, where does it rank like this suspension

and the embarrassment that comes with this and, you know, what happened with your college girlfriend and how that didn't work out of it? Because that really killed you, I know. That one stuck to the ribs a little bit. She gave me the courtesy of breaking up with me face to face other than an email. Wow.

It was a press release. And, okay. And finally, Mark, I think now that we're here and everybody's involved, Maybe this can serve as the appeal process. You could either overturn the appeal, cut it. You could cut it down to one games. You could wipe it out entirely.

Do you want to maybe give your ruling right now? I don't want to put any rush. No, no, I have a decision. And I think I want to say, number one, I recognize that you did bring Capri's son, Dave, to the last game, and orange slices as well. And that you have shown effort. You saw a sports psychologist.

But I'm not going to reverse or change the ruling at all. And it's not negative on you, but I'm not going to undermine Dan's decision because I think then suddenly you have a team that's floating with a manager that looks powerless. So I want to keep Dan in full power. I respect his decision. And you've got the rest of the season, David Ely,

to show that you do care. This can be quite the redemption story. I think so too. That's fair. That's fair. I'm not happy about it, but I respect your decision. And I'm going to leave it at that.

I'm not going to pull a Brady move and try to appeal to the Supreme Court or anything. like that. Why would you? You don't really care about being on the field, so I mean, that makes sense. Well, that's certainly very classy of you, Dave, and I appreciate you getting on the phone

with us, even though the appeal didn't work out. We look forward to seeing you in three weeks, and I think we could really finish strongly together. I have a question. Yes. Is a win-one for Dave going to be a part of the strategy tonight? The answer's

probably not. Don't just being honest with you. Fair enough. We're probably going to forget about this within five seconds of you hanging up the phone. Sounds good. All right. Go get him. Go get him tonight. David Ely, a talented desk editor for NFL.com. Also,

you know, now suspended for two games. It's official. The appeal was denied by Merton Hanks, I mean Mark Sessler, and we move forward as a team. So that's it. Good show, guys. Fun show. We'll be back on Monday.

Post-show grade? I don't make the post-show grade. That's up for the audience to decide. But I thought you guys, and I can only speak for both the three of you, and, of course, the Irishman behind the glass. I think you guys all did A-plus work. Good job, Aeley, too. Yeah, and good job, Aeley.

We'll be back Monday. Another full week of shows, and I think we have to, while we're facing controversies, we're going to have to touch base with Dave Damasek, who's been in possession of Chris Wessling's toaster for way too long. So we've got to bring that to the forefront next. but that's for another week. For now, we say so long. This is Dan Hanzas, signing off for Quiet Storm.

The mailman, the boss. Big Irish, find the glass. Keep raking, Big Irish. Keep raking. Until Monday. Originality is burn a reminder of the darkest timeline, my heart aches for Dwenbo. This is sentient. Don't forget Jersey.

Yes, your love is a surperseal hardship. Because we'll be a slap, I have to look over at a chair, this is an I-Heart podcast.