NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Brandon Aiyuk Requests Trade, Colleen Wolfe is Judge Connie

Episode Date: July 17, 2024

Gregg Rosenthal is joined by Patrick Claybon, Steve Wyche and making her first NFL Daily appearance, Colleen Wolfe! As they get you up to speed on the latest news from around the league. First they take a look at the ongoing situation developing in San Francisco surrounding Brandon Aiyuk (3:26). Next, we debut Judge Connie, as she hears our plaintiff's cases and gives out her rulings (12:41). Finally, we go over some final news headlines (38:24) and hear from some listeners (41:22). Note: time codes approximate. NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an IHeart podcast. Welcome to NFL Daily, where we feel guilty that the first PUP designation of the year gave me a little Joel. I'm Greg Rosenthal and be unlucky today to have a house full of stars, Patrick Claibon, Steve Weish, and for the first time, Colleen Wolfe I'm back Wolfie I'm back oh my gosh

I haven't been in this studio for like two months I think it was the end of May so now a little over I guess like what

a month and a half or so it was May 23rd I will remember that right yep so I'm back and many things

have changed and it's great to see all of your faces in this new chapter but I'm excited to see what NFL Daily is going to be I know it's going to be great and Greg

I'm excited to still be working together I think that that's exciting and Weich I haven't seen you in it feels like forever and Patrick too I mean gosh this is great it's it is it's different to not be here all the time guys

unplugging and then plugging back in well you're struggling a little bit let's be honest you've spent the last you know 15 minutes trying to figure out the internet Okay. It's a work computer. And as it turns out, when you haven't been physically at work for a minute, things just, you know, aren't working as they normally do. So I have no internet. That's fine. We're just going to ride it out. As long as the key fob works to get you in the building. I was worried about that. I was like, oh, my God, where is my past? I don't even know where that is. Yeah, it is, it's been a transition. But we are, we are here. We're in the Chris Wesleying podcast studio. It means something to me. We had, we had Nick Wesleyan on yesterday. I heard. Check.

Check that out. And yeah, it means a lot to me. You're going to be part of the show. We got you weekly moving forward. And in the season, I'm excited about what you're going to do then. And in the meantime, we'll talk football. And you have a new jacket. I do.

I really like this one. I just, I did. Thank you. They all kind of look alike, but didn't have this color at all. And I did, yeah, I did get on Emeka. Just like, can you help me? I just feel like I need, it's a new season. We need some things.

She's got a great eye, Emika. Like this is, you're going to get a lot of use out of this. It's a versatile color. I'm excited for you, the show, and the jacket. I am also excited for today's show because we're debuting a new segment. Every segment's new at this point. Yeah. Judge Connie.

I don't know why, but just. Oh, boy, Patrick. Colleen just feels like a person that should be in charge of facts. Telling us. Courtrooms. What's the truth? What's not?

Judging people? Yes. So we're going to argue. In my natural state. We're going to argue some NFL topics, some opinions, and we'll have two different sides, and Connie will decide who's right, who's wrong, and maybe dole out some punishment. We haven't really set parameters, but we will find out too. At least it's not guilty or guilty, you know, at least we're there.

No, we're not going anywhere. This is more of like a civil suit. No. I mean, I can be guilty. I'll be guilty. Sentence me. The only place you're coming is right back here pretty often throughout the course of the season. but we've got some news before we get to that.

Thank you to Brandon Ayyuk for giving us a little news today. A fax machine? None of it really makes sense. No, that's the internet. Oh, dial up. Dial-up. Right. Just me.

Right. Brandon Ayuk. Here's a judge. Wait, real quick. Yes. That exact sound, one time, this is an honest, this happened. I called my parents' house and instead of them picking up, that noise picked up. And I was like, Dad, what are you doing at the house? He has all sorts of like fax machines and dial-ups and things happening there. So if that ever happens, you might be calling the wolves. Wait, what year was it? It was like last year. I know what that is. He plugged the fax machine into his regular phone. The fact that he even has a regular phone, but yeah, he unpluggs the phone, puts the fax machine in there that answers it. That's very, it's very old school.

And, uh, okay, not as old school trade requests, but I, I like them. I like when it happens in the NBA, they, they have podcasts around them for months. Like that's, it floats their whole industry. And then the trades actually happened. Doesn't always happen in the NFL, but Brandon Ayuk did request the trade on Tuesday, NFL, NFL network insider, Mike Garifolo, believe he had this first reported. Yeah, it's goopage. Isn't he on vacation?

Well, he got this one. He got a phone call. Look at him. Nice job. by Mike G, who we hope to have on here as well throughout the course of the season. We do have an insider later in the week. Ian Rapport joining us. Iyuk's request came after an offseason filled with unsuccessful attempts to reach an extension with the 49ers.

Mike reported that they have been unwilling to negotiate since May the 49ers. No negotiations here. I'll start with you, Steve. How realistic is this for Iyuk to actually get dealt? I don't think it'll happen. You know, the Niners have already come out and said they have no intention of doing that. But I remember covering the Falcons and Bobby Petrino had no intention of going to Coach University of Arkansas. And then the next day, he took the job.

So if somebody sweetens the pot enough, I mean, I think they consider it. But here's why I don't think it happens is because that is Brock Purdy's guy. I mean, you look at their numbers since Brock Purdy has started. Brandon Ayuk is the guy. When you talk to people who cover the Niners, Ayuk is the route runner. Debo is the chess piece. Kettle is the dual threat as is Christian McCaffrey, but I yuk is the guy who guys have to really cover

and set things up. So I don't think it happens, but you know, when I look at some of the teams, too, who could possibly be interested, you know, he's going to want to go to Washington, and that's not going to happen. They're not going to trade. When was the last time we heard that about an NFL player? It is a new era there that people want to go to Washington. Yeah, well, that is absolutely new era, but I mean, the quarterback there too.

Jay and Danos, of course, they play together to Arizona State. But, I mean, see teams like the Steelers, you know, the Colts, the Raiders, Denver. Look, if they trade them, it might be to Siberia. And I'm watching the receiver series. I'm seeing Devante Adam, but the Raiders, like, get me out of here. Let's actually listen to Ayuk. This was the sound we played on the first show that you were on Weish when we talked with

Shook, but I think it's germane to the conversation here. This was Ayuk on the pivot podcast talking about where he could possibly go this offseason, what uniform he expects to wear. If I were to take a guess. probably a nineer uniform probably a nineer uniform I mean if not a nineer's uniform

probably a Washington commander uniform if not a Washington commander uniform probably a Steelers uniform from your lips to God's ears that's Ryan Clark they're excited it's pretty notable that he just threw those names in there that was not by mistake well and I think

in that and you can hear it is the the building frustration where there is this uncertainty from the standpoint of he knows that the 49ers don't want to make him the deal that he would like. And so then it's, well, these are the teams that might do that, but he's kind of resigned

in the fact that his control over this is pretty limited. And all you can do at this point is officially requested, which like, shout out to Mike, shout out to the guys. I always wonder, like, does it come on papyrus at the third point? What's the difference between of requesting a trade and officially doing it? But it

does take it up to the level of okay i don't want to be here anymore right and you mentioned maybe they trade him to siberia i mean the patriots there it actually be a viable option there they have the money there would be obviously the opportunities with the wide receivers that they have there now he could be the guy we don't know about drake may or anything like that but there would be balls going his way and then also you just think about that the niners they this is their window right now This is their Super Bowl window. Why would they trade him away because he would be a pivotal part of them winning that Super Bowl?

So I don't know what Brandon Ayuk, what type of leverage he has in this situation because holding out, like, that's not going to help him financially. No, it'll cost him a good find. Exactly. And it just, it doesn't really behoove him to do so because of where he is just in this whole situation. I think, like, it's so expensive, and they can tag him in year six, too. So, and the 49ers, like, I guess, yeah, if they get an incredible offer, like, they're saying that they have no intention, which, yeah, I mean, that leaves some wiggle room in it of itself. But I just can't see them doing that, because what is the point for them? The draft picks are the same in February as they are now.

So why would you miss out on that year of Brandon Ayyuk? there is no reason. Like if the Steelers are serious about it and there's been reporting around the Steelers, like, they're going to add someone. Watch, I know that receiver depth chart doesn't look good, but they're definitely adding. Someone's like, where are these receivers coming from?

And if you really mean it, look at what Tyreek Hill got in terms of a trade. Not only did he got to the top of the market, which if you're going to trade for Ayuk, you got to put him close to it. He doesn't need to be Jefferson, but he needs to be somewhere close. Right, he needs to be close. But you also got to give up a first.

a second, maybe some more. If you want to be that serious about it, yeah, maybe you would get the 49ers to listen, but I even think it would have to be such an overpay because of what I said about them trying to win the Super Bowl this year. And they can still get those draft picks for Brandon Ayuk or more likely Debo Samuel in February. And again, there is no draft between now and February.

They are in this window of trying to win. It's kind of like the Bengals with T. Higgins, like they know, they can't keep all these guys together, but they have them this year. I did reach out about this and asked around. I think a Holden is going to be his move, which we've seen that he shows up and maybe doesn't do anything. I think they'd be fine with that.

Like, whatever gets him to week one, not incredibly unhappy. I think Nick Boso was considered a Holden last year. Correct. That's a good call. Bosa has done this as well. The Niners have gotten several of these contracts done in training camp. It's been at Bosa.

They got Debo. I think the day before camp started. I think Kittle was right around there as well. so this is kind of how they operate. But I thought what was interesting was the Mike said there had been no negotiation since May. I, that's, ooh. I mean, the Niners, you know,

historically have not necessarily done business like that. They've been on the up and up. Maybe they don't like all these podcast appearances or whatever because that sounds like getting in your feelings. They should be getting this deal done and to have no conversations. There was a report. It was from Diana Rossini of the Athletic

that it was in the $26-27 million range. Who knows? they can fudge those numbers, too, in terms of how it's presented, whether that's new money, whether that's tacked on. We don't know fully. Yeah, Josina Anderson reported, yeah, the Patriots did make an offer or reached out a couple weeks ago and that where they were just shut down. I just don't see it.

Like, it's the number one offense in the league. I think they know exactly where their window is. And Debo Samuel, to me, is a lot more likely to get traded. I just love this time of year, too, because you get all of these stories right before. camp. And literally five days ago, there was a story that George Kittle was certain, very confident that the Niners would come to an extension with Brandon Ayuk. Kyle Yushek said it as well. Yeah. Kyle Yushek had to take a pay cut. He definitely won't ask Iyuk to do that, but he is making $14 million this year, which is very underpaid for the level that he is at. The receiver market

has exploded. Something will be watching. But yeah, I wouldn't hold your breath for a trade. Even though it's disappointing, I want to be more like the NBA. But yeah, Debo held out, like gold held out. And they got their deals in the end. Let's take a quick break, actually, because I'm so excited. I want to get to this segment and leave as much time as possible to enter the court. A recess, if you will. Everyone is talking about the Honorable Colleen Woolf, the go-to voice for everything, football.

Real cases, real solution. I don't know. She's Judge Connie. All rise for the Honorable Judge Colleen Wolf, aka Connie Fox, aka the Tiny Box. This court with the Honorable Judge Colling Wolf, aka Connie Fox, aka the tiny box presiding is now in session please be seated and come to order thank you thank you good afternoon everybody my name is justice wolf it is a pleasure to be here with all of you in my courtroom if council could please introduce themselves uh yeah i am uh gregg rosenthal spent years at toulane law

nice to meet you judge uh patrick claybon i attended uh troy university i do not have a formal law agree, but I've elected to represent myself. All right, I'm Esquire, Steve Whitech, from the law firm of Whitech and formerly Palmer. And I will be stating my cases today to prove my clients worthy of your proper ruling. Okay. Counsel, nice to see you all today. I expect everyone to respect my courtroom, respect each other, and, of course, follow the letter of the law in these proceedings.

All right. So with that, let's get started. Mr. Rosenthal, would you like to take the floor here? Yes, I will be making an argument that I believe is irrefutable today. And that is the argument that the Chiefs will not make the Super Bowl this year. Just look at history. The last time a team won back-to-back Super Bowls, Tom Brady, one of the greatest ever. year after that, 10 and 6, plus 41 point differential,

the worst that he would have for the entire rest of their career. Cowboys, when they were back-to-back champions, next year after that, 10 and 6 point differential fell. The 49ers came the closest way back in the day. They got to the NFC championship game. They lost it in the fourth quarter to a good Giants team, but that's the point. It is so hard to repeat.

It is a single elimination league. I don't care how good you are just to even reach the Super Bowl is an incredible achievement in any one given season and has made that much harder because of human nature. Human nature has that changed in the history of humanity. And human nature tells us week after week they are the targets. They are the ones that everyone is going after and they aren't having quite as much fun as they used to because they've already climbed to the top of the mountain and they're feeling the pressure and champion after champion after champion talk about it.

You know who talked about it last year and didn't play their best for most of last season? And felt that weight, the Kansas City Chiefs. And it gets even bigger when it's year three. The AFC is deep as hell. When we talk about the best quarterbacks in league, we talk about Lamar, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, C.J. Stroud.

I could throw in, you know, the Steelers are frisky. The Jaguars. Who knows? Someone is going to pick this team off. And it is because of history, is because of human nature has nothing to do with Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid,

their greatness is assured, but they are not going back to the Super Bowl. Okay. Mr. Weich. Well, I'm going to comment that first off to say that human nature hasn't changed is...

In the history of humanity. The history of humanity is absolutely insane because the folks who believe in Adam and Eve believe they wore fig leaves now. They were Tom Ford. But I'm going to dispute that because last year, What they had Kansas City Chiefs have to do for the first time

in Patrick Mahomes' playoff history. They went on the road. Right? They went on the road and they handled business. What was the first time since Patrick Mahomes hasn't been there? This has been a defensive team. Mm-hmm. Okay?

They walked it all the way through. They knocked off a team like the Baltimore Ravens, which was winning by an average of 17 points of games that you want to throw analytics and numbers in there, and they held them to 10. Right? Yes, there are plenty of CJ Strouds on the come-up. There's a lot of teams on the come-up.

But as we have learned from the wire and from the new series that Patrick and I were talking about Supercell. Objection. Nobody has watched Supercell. Patrick. Nobody even knows what it is. Overruled. When you come for the king, thank you, your honor.

When you come for the king, you best not miss. And Patrick Mahomes makes a miss. And they've got more talent on offense than they had last year as well. Okay. I know we have time limits here. We do. If I could just retort.

Yes. Just a little. Look, they had to win on the road. That's helping to prove my point. Like so many things have to come together to get back to that point. Stefan Diggs had to drop a deep pass in a game that they very well could have lost in Buffalo.

So many different things have to happen in a single elimination tournament. I think that's a good example of why it's going to get tougher and tougher and tougher. And at some point, their luck runs out. I find it interesting that my esteemed colleague to my right says that it's very difficult to repeat in terms of history,

but then uses the past as evidence for that. I don't think the past is proper evidence for the future when the 2024 Chiefs will play in 2024. It doesn't have anything to do with what a Dallas team did in the 90s or what the Patriots didn't do in the 2000. The fact

that it's going to be difficult to win a Super Bowl doesn't change, but to say that the Chiefs won't do it, I don't see the improvement in the rest of the AFC that can't be applied to the Kansas How many Super Bowls have there? Objection, Your Honor. Objection, Your Honor. He is trying to lead and persuade the jury without

proper protocol. Sustained. Thank you. I think the chiefs were a good football team, Judge Gowler. Okay. How many civil rules do we have?

We never had a three-time champion. Never once happened. There's a reason for that. Your Honor, he buried the lead. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. He did. He did.

Okay. Well, thank you, counsel, for these arguments. I'm going to take a quick break to go over the evidence here and consider the arguments. and I will return with a decision. All right, I'm back.

I'd like to thank everyone for their patience. I'm really glad we didn't talk about this ahead of time. These arguments have been meticulously laid out. Greg arguing about past precedent, history is made all the time in the league. Every week, history is made, records are broken. That's why we love this game. but I do think that it is difficult for the chiefs to get back to where they were these past two years

because of the departures that they've had, Legerius Sneed, that's going to be a big one for Spags and the defense. The defense was the unit that ended up holding up this team and getting them to the promise land. the thin receiver situation that always seems to be an issue ever since Tyree Kill left but never really has been an issue at all and now they've drafted and who knows what happens

with Rishi Rice that's an omnipresent thing that's going to be following them all season long it doesn't I don't even take that into account anymore because they've proved everyone wrong over and over again however I do think that they have a lot of competition in the AFC.

And because it's so difficult to do something like this, three times in a row, everything has to go right. The stars absolutely have to align with injuries, with schedule, with team chemistry, with all of it happening at once and everything going right for them. It just seems more likely than not that they will not reach the Super Bowl for a third straight year. That is how the court rules in favor of Mr. Rosenthal.

Let's go. Thank you. Mr. Brady for funding this trial with dark money. Patrick, we're not... No one's taking away your record. We have to file an appeal. The burden of proof now is more doubtful, more likely than that. I trust, I trust this court, and I'd say that because

it has nothing to do with the fact that there's still cases to try. I trust this. Next case on the docket, Zach Wilson versus the people of Denver. All right. Order, order. Thank you, everyone, for coming back here today in this gorgeous courtroom. It's been outfitted in green colors, and we love that.

But that has nothing to do with what we were about to talk about, other than the fact that this player did come from a team that wore green. Yes, Your Honor, and I would like to start this off since we're talking about colors that he left there feeling blue, but things are about to change yellow. Things are about to be more sunny. And I'm going to argue the fact that Zach Wilson will emerge as the Denver Broncos starter and possibly under Sean Peyton have a Gino-Smith-Baker-Mayfield type of resurgence. And I say this because, one, his competition is rookie Bo Nix and veteran Jared Stidham.

And people are saying, oh, okay, Jared Stidham has got the edge when it comes to a veteran thing because he knows the system. But Terrence Stidham has not had to endure what Zach Wilson has had to endure, right? He's getting a new fresh start. He's going out to the mountain air where he's from. He's from Utah. So he's from here in Colorado. He's going out to a fresh air.

But here is why he is going to end up as the starter and have a resurgence under Sean Peyton. And it doesn't have as much to do with Zach Wilson as it does with Sean Peyton. First off, the first five games at Seattle, at Pittsburgh, at Tampa, at the Jets, the Nathaniel Hackett game. And the Raiders, those are five very stop. defenses. Do you want to throw Bo Nix into that situation? No. But here's the bigger deal. Sean Payton has to win. No, not that he's going to lose his

job, but soon we're going to start talking about him the way we talked about Bill Belichick. Was it Brady or Belichick? Oh, was it Breeze or was it Peyton? Because Sean Peyton has not won without Drew Breeze. And that is why he's going to give Zach Wilson the opportunity. Zach Wilson, who had the

best camp according to some observers there of all the quarterbacks. He's going to give him the opportunity to get through that gauntlet and stake his case to be the next gino smith and earn a contract elsewhere post 2024 your honor i am finished with that argument okay uh let's go counter here that's a very very strong argument yeah your honor um i'd like to good luck approach the court and present some evidence for you you may um i'd like to provide you tape of uh zach wilson's first start in the NFL against the Panthers.

I would like to present you tape of Zach Wilson's second start in the NFL against the Patriots. I would like to continue and present every single start that he's had in the entire NFL because at no point in that time has he ever looked like a winning quarterback. He hasn't been a winning quarterback. And I hear you that Sean Peyton's ego might be so large that he would want to be the guy who fixes Zach Wilson. Mr. Rosenthal, let me.

step in here. I'm not sure the court has this much time to watch all of the tape that you are suggesting. Okay, because I kind of wanted to throw in the Gino Smith Jets tape too, because that was actually pretty good. And, you know, there was a sign there that he was going to be good. But if you don't have time for that, I just want to present the fact that he brought up fresh mountain air as like one of the top reasons why Zach Wilson could win this thing. Can I redirect your honor? Oh, no, I'm sorry, Mr. Claibon, your turn to make your argument. Well, my argument is very similar to Mr. Rosenthal's. I would also like to present Tim Boyle's opportunities to play for the

2023 New York Jets and say that it's a similar situation. I realize that people feel that the island and its adjacent locales have this sort of ethereal ability to make things pressure and more hard as if football is somehow different there because people eat pizza, I guess, with certain water. I don't know, nor care. I just look at the actual material that's put out on the field. And I feel that Trevor

Simeon and Tim Boyle might have had a case over Zach Wilson last year and I don't know that Trevor Simeon or Tim Boyle maybe Trev could come back to Mile High I'm just not sold yet Steve. Okay to redirect your honor Okay so are you the council was argued

that especially Patrick that Tim Boyle and Trevor Simeon could have put better evidence on tape where's Jeddiss did him and Bo Nix's tape? Right where is their tape to argue against Zach Wilson? It was good enough Sean Payton to draft him 12th overall

Again, breaking protocol may object your honor. Sustainant. Okay, thank you. I don't know what sustained. I don't know if you think this correctly. At least it wasn't overruled. So thank you very much, Your Honor. That's all I know.

I've seen the TV shows all the time. I have no idea. I am not arguing that the Denver Broncos are going to be a playoff team. I am arguing that Zach Wilson is going to show enough on said tape to put himself in position to get through these first five games to as a gauntlet for the Broncos, help Sean Payton be more creative to win ball games or at least be competitive in ball games.

And for Zach Wilson, come after the 2024 season to be in a situation where he is better and more desire than Jimmy Garapolo. Wow. And players of such ilk. Wow. Just before we move on just for the court,

I do want to put it on the record that Jarrett Stidim is far more likely to have this little come up that Steve Weish is mentioning than any Zach Wilson. But it's going to be but a mix. Counsel, this has nothing to do with the... I mean, if it's Jared Stidham, it's throwing that out. It's not

Zach Wilson. Look at the money. This is one of the most insane arguments I've ever heard. Well, the court really is just going to keep this simple and quick. We don't need much time to come up with a decision here. My mind has already been

made up. I think that Mr. Weich put together a fabulous argument the schedule being such a gauntlet with those first five games but more so that Sean Payton needs this for his legacy and at this point in time he's going to get the absolute best out of Zach Wilson if it kills him and I think if anything

the fact that Steve Weich is arguing that Zach Wilson can become the next Gino Smith to Greg Rosenthal right now is such beautiful poetry that I cannot rule against it. So I'm ruling in favor of Steve White. This is an outrage, Your Honor. Thank you, Your Honor. Let's ride.

Let's ride. Thank you, Your Honor. Two great decisions by our esteemed judge today. Thank you, Patrick Claibon. Are you next, sir? I believe so. The bailiff. The court will now hear the case of rookie QBs versus the bench.

Representing the plaintiff is Patrick Claibon and representing the defendant is the bench. Got it. And a shout out to the bench. I appreciate all the support over the years. I would like to say that there has been a lot of conversation about J.J. McCarthy and what he should do. And a lot of that harkens to the other quarterback on the roster in Sam Darnold, who was the youngest quarterback to start in the NFL by a few months in a very long time.

If J.J. McCarthy starts, he'll be the youngest since Sam Darnold. And people say that he shouldn't because it will ruin him, because it will make him bad and he'll be sad. won't be good at football anymore. And they'll point to any number of quarterbacks, including one that we just discussed in Zach Wilson and say, well, if you come out and you have a bad performance, then you ultimately will lose confidence and you won't be good. I am making the case that if somebody is not good at football, it is not because they played football. I would like to say that to play football and play football well, playing football is a part of that. And you would have robbed so many great quarterback seasons. We would have sat there. No,

nothing about C.J. Stroud. And the Texans would have been an absolute complete mystery. We would have missed out on one of Greg's Super Bowls. We would have missed out on so many spectacular seasons because, oh, we can't play the rookie because they're mentally weak. Stop projecting your own insecurity and inability to handle failure on professional athletes. I think good football players are good at football. That is my case. That's amazing. Okay. The court would like to hear the counter argument. I got to admit, Your Honor, you're looking great today, by the way. I thought I'd throw that out there.

I've been a... Counsel, that's inappropriate. A lawyer for years, just stating the facts. Was part of the mock law crew at Minichag Regional High School in 1996, 97, president of model Congress. That was a little different. I've never heard such a convincing argument here. I have a hard time being on the side of the Sam Darnold Hive. And just human nature and the projecting, he got me there.

Again? I agree with him. So I'm with Patrick Claibon. Are there any counter arguments here? Why are we in court? I will make a counter argument even though that was a freaking great argument. If we're going to enter evidence on human nature again, your honor, I really hope next time you take counsel into chambers and tell him to expand his vocabulary. The human nature argument is a little played.

It is. But again, well done. Thank you. Counsel. I will say this. In defense of Sam Darnold, possibly given nothing against J.G. and McCarthy, but the one thing his head coach, Kevin O'Connell showed during the Josh Dobbs era, during the Jaron Hall era of last season, is he can get guys ready, right? This is a talented quarterback who he knows something about from his coaching colleague, Kyle Shanahan, last year, very talented player. coming in with a good offensive line,

things that J.J. McCarthy would have, the best wide receiver in the game, player that J.J. McCarthy would have, but then there is experience. That is the only thing Sam Darnold is really wielding right here is the experience and a head coach who can get him ready.

Other than that, I will rest. I believe that rookies should play when they're ready. We don't know if J.J. McCarthy is ready. So he has to go out there and prove it. He was good in college. He was solid. He hasn't seen the pass rush coming at him.

If Drake May is ready to play, he should play. But there are circumstances where they're just not good enough soon enough. And maybe that will be the case. That's human nature. That's human nature. It is. How would you, how could you know when a rookie is ready to play if they've never played? How would a rookie know this information?

Because I've been in football my whole life. I'm a coach. I'm watching them each and every day. And then they play in the preseason with the live pass rush coming at them. You put them in as many circumstances and the joint practices. as you can and you make an evaluation. That's what you do. It also depends in your ownership.

Okay. If your ownership says, play the guy, play him. Right. And as much as I appreciate how counsel has put forth that argument,

if the coach is telling me, right, that somebody is not ready, then they need to be telling me that they're not good. If you're talking about mental, your job is to coach football. Your job is X's and O's

and gaps and responsibilities and all that. You are not a shrink. This is not your, this is not your capacity. If they are good enough at football, if J.J. McCarthy is in practice showing he has the ability that Sam Darnold doesn't, then he should absolutely play. And we shouldn't try to protect him from failure.

It's football. It's sports. Like, you're going to miss shots, but how do you respond? That's what we got to. A quick sidebar to that. Yes. And I think this goes into the whole essence of the quarterback whisper. There's a whole lot of quarterback mumblers out there, too,

are hiding behind that. Because if it is their job to develop quarterbacks, And we've seen some who are supposed to have that Who have not made it happen Kevin O'Connell's not one of those guys He's a quarterback whisperer He is clearly the guy We've seen it with the Adam Gases of the world

We've seen it. It's a tale as old as time. Yes. So the court has made a decision here. Again, this feels very clear cut So I don't want to waste anyone's time But especially my own. The court is ruling in favor

of council Claibon because the sheer argument of stop projecting your own insecurities onto athletes

was so beautifully done and it just it was a gorgeous way to put it because that's what we see so much and these coaches they cannot change

the mental makeup of these players they can try they can do everything in their power to set them up for success, but they cannot change their actual abilities. And that is, I think, something that is very important to take into consideration here. So J.J. McCarthy will be set up well, as you outlined, Mr. Weich, but I am ruling in favor of

Mr. Claibon here. Play them. I love it. Thank you. Thank you. And Greg, Mr. Rosenthal, kind of helped out in that decision by deferring to you immediately and crumbling with no counter argument. So, yeah, as you guys know, I've had a lot of legal troubles in my life despite my career

as a lawyer. And I'm hiring Patrick next to him. Strange development. Well, to lead an argument versus the bench is absolutely a key. That was the hook. I was done right there. Has anyone as a sidebar been in court any time, like recently? Oh, yeah.

I won a case. I had charges dropped last year. What? Yeah. Really? It was great. It was a red light camera. I stopped at the red light, and they came in,

they came and talked to everybody. Wasn't that one in Culver City near work? No, because I got. This was over on Venice Boulevard, either way. But yeah, they came in, they're like, hey, everybody here for a red light, your cases were all dismissed. No way.

And so, including the people that blew through the red light, I was the only person that actually didn't run it. So everybody got their cases dismissed. Wow. So we did it. One and O. I love it. You're fighting the good fight.

Well, two and O, if we count today. Yeah, exactly. I was on a jury. We awarded somebody. A whole lot of money. Really? A whole lot of money. I had jury duty over July 4th, and that was basically just me calling to see if I needed to come in and then saying no all week long.

And then I completed my jury duty. That is the dream. I'm supposed to be in jury duty right now. Really? We're trying to launch a show here. And I put it off until November. We'll see if that's any better. But Steve, I know you need to leave this courtroom right now.

We've totally broken the fourth wall. I've got to go. I'm being page. This is now a running bin. I'm going to NFL insiders in a big time interview with a Hall of Famer that you can check out. It's going to be Dwight Freeney and Steve. Thank you, Steve.

Steve, you're the best. Everybody wants to be working with Steve right now. We are going to take a quick break and come back with a little more. Little news happened while we were. Oh, really? Yeah. Colleen has just broken to tackle

spun out of the arms of a safety She's in the open field That's it The Raiders aren't going to catch her We're back on NFL Daily That was fun I want to do that again Yep, it's coming back.

I have ideas. I have ideas. I had some arguments that we're really going to blow people's mind. But we're going to wrap up this show with a little bit of news that happened. Proven. While we were in the courtroom, Caleb Williams, the number one overall pick of the Chicago Bears, officially signed his rookie contract. This was like a thing because people noticed that the rookies are reporting this week.

It was just about to happen. He might have missed the day of the rookies reporting. I don't care about the rookies signing. It never matters. Roma Dunez also signed. There was a little bit more drama to this because Caleb Williams does not have an agent. He had a lawyer working on it for him.

But nothing is getting in the way of Caleb Williams being on that first episode of Hard Knocks, carrying his bag in for the rookies reporting. And I frankly am excited. No agent to take a cut of this fully guaranteed deal is pretty amazing for him. And then also for the Bears, now they'll have essentially three years with him on a rookie deal to evaluate if he, I mean, if he ends up being what everyone thinks that he can be, they can build around him on that rookie deal and bring in pay other players. And I love that we've come a long way in the conversation about players and their representation because I feel like a few years ago, it was like, well, you know, Lamar doesn't have anything.

Mar was, like, the first big name to do that. And it's like, well, what's going to happen? Like, teams are, how are they going to contact him on the phone? Oh, my God. Two MVP's later. Now Caleb Williams goes one overall, and it's kind of an afterthought. Like, I didn't even know because Caleb had said, well, somebody else is, you know, is handling. He said his lawyers and his attorney, whereas technically, the NFLPA says he does not have an agent.

He's representing himself. But obviously, he has someone helping with the paperwork. So you got to give a little fee there, Connie? Sure. You don't have to give up 5%. three percent three to five percent in perpetuity in a game that you don't get to play forever you know so and it's locked in anyways who knows if he'll get one for next time right but that's a great point you make uh colin about the three years it's one of the reasons why teams want to have

first round quarterbacks because it's not just a four-year contract uh it's really a five-year contract with that fifth year option if you're a first round pick and so you can give Caleb Williams, life-changing money, not that this isn't life-changing money, but even more life-changing money next time around after just three years and save a little bit on the back end like they do when you do a contract like two years early. And so that'll be the point. I have no doubts about this kid. I'm always waiting at the end of the first round to see what teams are going to trade in

to take a quarterback just to be in that situation. Love that. Those extra little bit of control. Yeah. And it also gives you leeway as the decision maker where a lot of these GMs and people in front office, their job is to keep their job. Yeah, those teams that are like positioned, even at like the top of the second, like, that's just, it's so good for them.

They're in such a great position every year at the draft. So I am really looking forward on a show later this week. I'm going to draft quarterbacks just for this season only with the Daniel Jeremiah. So I'm curious if I'm the one who ends up with Caleb Williams or if he's the one that ends up with Caleb Williams because I got to say he's fairly high on my board after seeing what Stroud and Herbert and some of these rookies do. It's like, rookies can be great quarterbacks too. And

there is just nothing I have seen out of this kid that would lead me to believe he is not going to come out of the gate swinging and be like at least an above average starter. It's just about 2024. We're going to draft it. Just this season. But even just this season, wouldn't you take them over? Let's get frisky.

Aaron Rogers? I would. I mean, now that I know that. To a tongue of I low, like team independent. I wouldn't take him over to it. Now that I know that Zach Wilson is going to revolutionize things. Yeah, exactly. Jared Goff, I'm just saying. This is a fun exercise.

I like that. I still would take them because I know it's a rookie, so it's a huge risk. And I wouldn't put May quite that high. But he's, Gail Williams, is different. All right. All right. Our after dinnerment today, Colleen, we've just kind of been wrapping up the show with something that just gives a, leaves a nice taste in the mat. And we had mentioned to the listeners, we have an email address out there.

It's an NFL Daily podcast at gmail.com. Everyone lock it in your phones right now. Which, by the way, I just want to say, too, real quick, that I got so many messages, tweets, direct messages on Instagram, on X all over the place from listeners from ATN. And it was really overwhelming because all of the messages were so nice. And I got to a point where I was in such an emotional place that I couldn't even, like, read them all. I was very much there. I just want to say that how much I appreciate all every single person who sent me a message and said something so nice and thoughtful. And if I didn't read it yet, I will eventually read it.

But it's just like it's hard for me to do it because it's sad and I don't like sad things. But I don't want you to think that I'm ignoring you or don't have time or the care to respond to you because it's sad. It's the exact opposite. I have big feelings. Like, my dog has big feelings. And whenever I come home, Dasher has to grab a toy to put in his mouth to parade around because, like, he has such big feelings. And I am basically Dasher.

So I just want to say how much I appreciate the listeners because they've always been the absolute nicest and sweetest and most respectful out of any show I've ever done. So thank you. man double everything calling man it is good to have Colleen back in the studio we've been through a lot it's been it's been an off season and it's been a lot but everything Colleen said I echo too and I get it like from the listeners perspective that it's a lot it's a lot it's a lot for us to believe me and and everything you said is I live I live that too and I now is not the time for me to see everything, although I see the nice stuff. And we have seen a lot of really

nice emails. Let's throw up actually the tweet first, Randy, if you can. This was from Tom Marshall. I recognize a longtime list. He said with the around the NFL podcast tattooed on my eardrums. I've tried hard not to like the NFL Daily podcast, but my ears don't lie. I really like it. Good luck, Greg. And, you know, got a lot of messages kind of like that where it's, It's mixed feelings. Let's go to another email. This one is from Sid. This is more just like factual question.

Do you have any plans for fantasy football-related content on the new pod? Nothing crazy like a whole episode. I do think a segment here or there wouldn't be a bad idea. Wishing you all well, excited to see where it goes from here. I mean, why not in a whole episode? That's not crazy, Sid. Yeah. Why dismiss it?

But I'm glad you mentioned that. We are going to do some fantasy, throw some segments in, maybe a little more regularly next week. we're definitely going to have a fantasy segment. Heck, maybe the whole show. I don't know. The sky is the limit. We can do whatever we want.

Ceilings the roof. All right. Last email, we'll go from Rainier, and he says he's a long time ATN and J.RVP listener. Wow. Shout out to the Justin Lick and Rosenthal Vanity Project. A lifer. I like it. J.RVP.

We'll be back, too, by the way, in October. Anthony right now is in Asia. Never emailed before to any podcast. Wanted to reach out and say Love in the New Show and will be a daily listener and download her on Spotify and loves the release schedule. We've heard a lot about that. We're trying to keep it consistent, keep it daily.

Also interested in an informative show, they'll give me the news, make me a little smarter. Love the music as well. Although I'm with you, Colleen, I think we can do tweaks. We can do tweaks. I have a lot of notes here. Rainer occasionally like creeps through a crowded warehouse of bad guys with a crossbow

because that's what one of the tracks sounds like. You're not wrong. You're not wrong. This is why I needed you here. Colleen, I need you here and now you're here. We're going to have to fix some of this music.

I'm not going to lie. And if any of the listeners have anything that they would like to submit, I will just throw that out there because, you know, I think that there's some really creative people that listen to the show. We've heard it in the past,

some of those examples. That is absolutely true. And also, for those of you who are saying that, you know, you've been so used to ATN and you, like, our first listener, who was that, it wasn't Tom, who said that he didn't want to like NFL daily. He wanted to hate it. He wanted to hate it. Just want to let you know that, like, look, flowers, they don't compete with each other.

They all bloom and shine together. So different isn't necessarily a bad thing. And there can be many things that you like at once. Yeah. If your timeline to enjoy things is very limited and you only have an hour a day, I guess that's the case, but I don't know how many people that applies to.

Right. I am now at the point where I don't do anything without listening to a podcast while I'm doing it. 1,000%. So I got room for a lot of podcasts. I'm putting them at 1.5 speed for the most part. I got to admit now. And yeah, I got to catch myself sometimes

because I'll be like, flossing walkers messed up braces teeth and I you know I got Zach low in my ear or whatever I'm not really paying attention to the to the beautiful child in front of me so sometimes it's too much podcast maybe that's too much information to share well it's never too much it felt you know for those of us who came from the braces community yeah it's a struggle it was weird it was weird because you know by the age of nine like your kids on your own you're not yeah brushing your your kids teeth you haven't for years but then the brace is their back and they need a little bit of help.

I needed a little bit of help getting through this show. So Connie, you did it. Patrick, you did it. I'm really excited about that quarterback show that we are going to be putting up on Thursday. So that is tomorrow. And so you can look forward to that. The quarterback rankings show with me and Daniel Jeremiah.

Patrick's actually sneaking into that one. Ooh. I can't be stopped. I love it. I don't want to leave because I might not get back here. Wait, I can't believe I'm still here. Until Thursday, see you next time.