NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Bunkercast IX: Panthers Release Cam Newton

Episode Date: March 24, 2020

A webcast filled with heroes - Dan Hanzus, Chris Wesseling, Marc Sessler and Gregg Rosenthal bring you all of the latest news around the NFL including the Panthers releasing Cam Newton and Trent Williams asking for a trade. Dan reveals some of his power rankings and Marc's son, Luke joins the show.Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comNFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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I'm coming to you from a city filled with heroes in bunkers. Mark Sessler, Chris Wessling, and Greg Rosenthal. What is up, boys? Hey, Dan. Hey, buddies. How are you doing, Dan? Reports that you've filed to us throughout the day sound like things are on the edge to some degree. I have for reasons not necessarily.

to dig in too much. I've taken on all parent-bearing, child-rearing responsibilities here in the home as of about 7 p.m. last night. And it's interesting. I have a monitor set up right now to keep my eye on my children while my wife sleeps. She has come down with an illness, not the illness, but a different one. So things are pretty terrible here at the old zeus or manner as it's known by nobody this is where the real challenge is coming in now here we are global pandemic nowhere to run nowhere to hide and if dad gets put in a spot where he's got to do it all and then dad doesn't even have things like you know run to the grocery store to get a like a quick dinner or even really feel comfortable

with a delivery situation for the kids and food's running out in the house and the grocery store has a line out the door going down the sidewalk and the children just never never anybody with young children especially young boys they never stop eating they are sharks they just keep moving and they keep eating and they always want to be entertained so when you throw in hosting a popular NFL podcast in the middle of that day it's been it's been quite a run for the old zeuser here at zooser manor well we can take this off line later but i got a freezer full of like pastas and chilies i can make you like a santa claus drop down your chimney i mean that is a very nice thought and uh offer west and if if it comes to a situation where the

the cupboard is bare and the children are in danger i might hit you up on that we are not that far off things are unstable at zeuser manor i'm ready to break into west's house to steal any sort of of paper toiletry items that he has without him knowing. That's where I'm at at this point. I mean, I hear you, there is, like yesterday felt like an upbeat day. I felt, I think that our show kind of portrayed some of that. I woke up this morning just feeling like, I don't know why, but things feel weird and depressing today. Then you get out of it, but our house has hit various elements of breaking point tension. And then you've got to somehow grasp on a reality and get out of that. But it has been a weird couple of weeks.

It's a great call. There is a sense I've been on a bit of an emotional roller coaster with this as well, where you kind of look at the bright side of it one day and then the next day. It just seems like there's no light at the end of the tunnel. This is one of those days for me. But then tomorrow, you know, maybe Emily's feeling better. Maybe the kids are a little calmed down and I have a little extra time. And all of a sudden, I'd be like, well, I like being at home and I like spending time with my children and all that stuff.

It is kind of like this push and pull to be in the middle of this. scenario. Yeah, this feels like a universal thing where some days you feel bright and sunny and other days it's like anything can set you off. You know, when I hear somebody's not taking this seriously, it really depresses me when I hear things coming from our leaders that they're not taking it seriously. It really depresses me. And then you wake up another day and the neighbors are great. You walk out and get around the neighborhood. Everybody's treating each other exceptionally friendly and everybody's getting along well. So I think we're all just on that same ride where Every day is a little bit different.

My strategy with my son has been to just do anything possible to tire him out because that will just leave him easier to handle. But then that just tires you out. It's not necessarily a full-proof strategy. But we have been those people that I think other Angelinos have been annoyed at. I have been to the beach, I think five out of the last six days. Here's the thing, though. Here's the thing.

We're never anywhere near anyone. I mean, we go to a remote part. We're walking by ourselves. So it's like we walk around our neighborhood a lot, like quite a bit. And our neighborhood is more crowded with people walking around than the beach area ever is. We're very careful and safe about. What about Greg germs in the, you know, the sea breeze air? What am I touching?

We're taking a walk. We don't know what you're touching. We're taking walks. We don't know. we're touching a hermit crab we brought a hermit crab home for a couple days then brought it back to the ocean today and walker sadly cried when he said you got to let him you got to let him be home well have you heard that the the COVID-19 can be transmitted through canines as well how do you know that hermit crabs are not also prone to it and then you dump that into the sea feel like Greg didn't research that our turtle is pretty lethargic these days and we're a little worried I think that this is a good lesson for you men to just be appreciative of how much your wives do, Dan. I mean, I think right now you help out a lot, of course. But when, you know, the maternal role is normally in most families, the main role.

And I think it's good that you acknowledge that. And I hope you treat Emily with a bunch of hugs and kisses when she's feeling better. It is a very nice thought. And I agree with you. I sometimes cringe when 28-year-old single people tell me how I should be dealing with my family situation, which is a fairly complex scenario. But I do at the same time, absolutely agree with you. Emily runs the home very well, and it doesn't really, it doesn't hum too efficiently without her. So it's just kind of like a stay-alive scenario for the children and myself right now.

Meanwhile, Eric is like virtual rave kicks off at 3.35. It's kind of my boy. Well, no, that doesn't mean that I don't know what it's like. No, you don't. I mean, yeah, I don't have kids. Thor only has his heartworm medication. He's down to seven pills.

He might run out by the end of August. My favorite thing is when dog owners talk about, well, it's like having a kid. It's nothing like having a kid. Well, you have good perspective. There are people out there, Colleen Wolf, who do think it's like having a kid. Oh, yeah, for sure.

For sure. But you also, I mean, I went to school to be a teacher for the longest time. So I was in a preschool all day, five days a week, taking care of three- and four-year-olds, like 15 of them. And I had my own third grade class, my senior year of high school, that I was a student teacher. So I don't live with them. I get to drop them off. But I do feel like I'm very versed in the world of children. I think you'd be a good teacher.

I could see that. Yeah. I could see that. You're going to be a great mother one day, Erica. I hope so. Yeah, I could see that. All right. Today's show is a good one, because we're going to hit a lot of news.

There is a solid amount of news that has come in over the last 24 hours. So we're going to hit all of that, including the official end of the Cam Newton era in Charlotte and some movements on the before Tuesday, stagnant wide receiver market. So let's get into all that. Also a little bit later, I have a new power rankings up. I was asked by our editor, Phil Spector, to put together a post first wave of free agency power rankings, which I have a bit of a fundamental issue with. But listen, it's my job. So I do it. And I don't want to go through the numbers because I don't think the numbers mean anything at all on March 24th.

But some things in doing research on 32 teams that jumped out to me that just wanted to share with you. So we'll hit that at the end of the show. But first, let's do some news. It's funny to hear female talk about routes. All right, like I said, Cam Newton is officially unattached, the number one overall pick of the 2000 NFL draft. The most successful quarterback in the history of the Carolina Panthers is no longer part of the team.

They make it official releasing the former MVP. after trying to get a trade done with multiple teams, it just was not happening. So the Panthers felt their hands were tied. They had to move on. They didn't want it to get any messier than it already was. And as we know, as has been made very clear by what we've seen in the actions of the new management and head coach, they are looking for a fresh start that does not include Cam Newton. So he is now a free agent, according to ESPN, Newton took and passed a physical on Monday.

which is good news, Greg Rosenthal, as he now hits the open market. And now the question begins, how long does he stay on the open market? Yeah, the fact there was no trade market for him makes me think he could be out there in free agency for a while until players and life at, in general, starts going back to normal and they can, like a team can visit with him. Because the fact that Kyle Allen had more trade value than Cam Newton among Panthers. Santhers quarterback is one of the most surprising things like I think that's happened since we've started doing this show. And maybe I'm an optimist, but I do believe there's a real chance for Cam Newton to have a good second act of his career. I think a lot of the things that are happening in the NFL in terms of scheme and the way offense is played fits Cam Newton's strength. He's

only 30 years old. The shoulder injury is is the bigger concern. It's two years ago now, though. And like I can imagine him having a totally resurgent act on a different. team in 2020 I found the semantics of this whole exercise a little baffling he was given permission to seek a trade he did not want he didn't want a trade but you know and then he had no interest there he was unable to drive interest because of the uncertainty nobody wanted to pay 1920 million for him at a time when he hasn't played well since his arm since his shoulder injury, shoulder surgery, then he had the foot surgery. So there's so much uncertainty there. And to me, the charges make so much sense, but they seem to be fine with

Tyrod Taylor. So I think unless the charges go get him, he's going to be a guy who's fighting for a job in training camp. Wes, to your point, and you said the mechanics of the trade were a little or the mechanics of the situation were a little odd. I agree. When Cam Newton gets permission to seek a trade, is that how this works? I thought the teams work with other teams for a trade. Cam Newton was what? His management was going to be reaching out to other teams saying, hey, trade for me?

I don't quite even understand that. That's an olive branch. They would allow Cam Newton to go somewhere that he wanted to go. I mean, that does happen pretty frequently versus them shipping Cam Newton to, you know, another world like situation that he'd hate. I guess my point, maybe it's just a matter of just parsing of words, but wouldn't you work with your current team and then that team would reach out to a team you were interested in.

Just the whole thing felt like a farce from the start. And Cam was obviously angry about it because he had no interest in doing any of that. Sometimes, you know, an agent does drive the entire trade process and then they bring it to the team that they have and here's, you know, and they work together. Sometimes it's the other way. I heard before the scouting combine that the, that the Panthers were trying to trade Cam Newton way before they ever put this statement out there and that they had no bites. And when they put this statement out there, to me, it was an admission that we're probably going to cut him.

We know no one really wants them. This is our last Hail Mary as free agency starts to see if we can scare up any interest when the market might be changing a little bit and that we can get something for it. They didn't play it well, but ultimately no other teams, I believe them that no other teams wanted him or else we would have seen a trade. Like every team out there just wanted him to be a free agent and deal with him then. I mean, again, I feel like the bears have selected a lesser starter with way more injury mystery like scenarios in Nick Foles than Cam Newton.

And at this point of Cam Newton, because there's too many quarterbacks, has to look for a backup job. I think he's just a tough guy to have as a backup because your average NFL fan is going to want to see the minute trouble strikes Cam Newton on the field. And if that weren't the case, if there weren't a lot of that kind of potential tug, drama tug on Cam Newton to put them out there. I could look at a team like the Bills where you have Sean McDermott who knows Cam Newton, right? They've got Matt Barkley behind a guy and Josh Allen who is still a bit of a wild card. Cam Newton is not Josh Allen, but they have some similar traits and

do some similar things on offense. I mean, there are landing spots, but I just think it's a lot for a coaching staff to handle if he's your number two because he's still, to Greg's point, I think has a whole second part of his career and is an alluring athlete, how do you hold them down if you're in trouble in week six? Do it, John Elway. Do it. You're the team. This is it.

I'm totally with you guys. In fact, in the latest power rings, I'm getting killed in my mentions by Broncos fans. I had them a little low in the mid-20s. And it's because I just quite simply don't like their QB set up right now. And I think it could lead to ruin potentially for that team. They need a little more insurance at the game's most. important position. In other news, Trent Williams. Oh, you know, they set cam free in Charlotte. Now, do the same for Trent Williams, Williams, and Landover. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that

Williams's agent, Vincent Taylor, told the Redskids, it's in, quote, the best interest to trade or release him. Here's more of the quote. The relationship between the Redskins and Trent Williams has reached a point where it's in the best interest that the Redskins trader release him and it is time to move on. So is it going to happen? Is this going to do anything to push the Redskins and nudge them forward? So far it's been a total stalemate. I feel like this happens every Tuesday, right? The weekly Trent Williams Trader release request happens every Tuesday. Hasn't happened yet. We'll see. I think it's interesting that now it's with this new regime where there was this initial sense that Ron Rivera is going to come in and do what the totally ridiculous Redskins front office could not do for years, which is, you know, keep veteran players from wanting to Exodus.

I mean, Quentin Dunbar is another guy that basically said, get me out of here. And so, you know, it's Trent Williams, to me, the one thing I find interesting is that some of these teams that have been just pen, not penciled, but like permanent markered in to take a tackle in the first round, if you gave up a second rounder and got Trent Williams, Williams, you maybe can go find someone else in the draft. That's some of these teams that are slotted, I think of Cleveland, the Jets, others that are like, we just say you're going to take a tackle no matter what. What if you give a second for Trent Williams, who's there for two or three years, probably, and you go get a different type of player, but no one's biting on that. And to that point, what you're making, Mark, that there are teams in the first round, in the first 10, 12, 15 picks that are all thought to be heavily in the market for

alignment there's there according to draft knicks out there there are three and perhaps four real blue chip tackle prospects and there is a chance that they're all off the board before let's say the jets pick at 11 the the browns are picking a 10 and a lot of people have circled them in permanent mark or mark mark like you're saying and it makes me think that the redskins might be better off and this isn't probably great news to Trent Williams or his agent to kind of wait this out. And if one of those teams that are in desperate need of line help end up getting banged by the draft process where they don't have the guy they were hoping was sitting there, maybe Trent Williams becomes the plan B that they make somewhat of a panic transaction

for. And you do end up getting the higher end draft pick that the Redskins obviously want out of this. This is the longest standstill I can remember in in terms of a player team like fighting each other. Vincent Jackson, I feel like way back in the day. It felt like 14, 15. 15 years that was going on. Took forever back with the San Diego Chargers. But man, this thing needs to end, if only for our rundown. We don't need another Tuesday, Trent Williams. Just put them on another team.

In other NFC East offensive line news, the Cowboys lose Travis Frederick, who announced his retirement from the NFL after seven seasons, just 29 years old, turned 29 last week. He missed all the 2018 season with Gillian Bar syndrome. He started last season. He came back, started 16 games, went to the Pro Bowl, but this is a type of affliction that lingers from what I understand. Wes, I read an old-timey Chris Wessling piece when this first went down that, you know, Frederick is something he perhaps was dealing with for the rest of his life.

And maybe that's what's behind this. Maybe there's something else. But Frederick is done with the NFL and the Cowboys have a hole in the middle of their offensive line. Yeah, that had to be part of the factoring in, and he joins a list of Luke Keakley, Andrew Luck, Gronk, Calvin Johnson, Patrick Willis, Chris Borland, guys who all retired at 30 or underage 30 in the last half decade or so. The Cowboys did draft Conor McGovern, and what are the odds that there are two Conor McGoverns in the NFL at the same time playing the same position? Wow. He sat out all of last year with a torn pectoral muscle,

but they drafted him in third round, and he was a pretty good prospect. So they've got a plan there. They played Joe Looney at Center in 2018, and Zeke Elliott actually had a better year with Joe Looney at Center in 2018 than he did with Travis Frederick last year. So I don't think this is some dire situation for the Cowboys.

Frederick, go ahead, Greg. It's massive, though, just because you never got. and Frederick thought he played at a diminished level last year, and he said he did say battling the illness, it was really hard to get to his full strength and he didn't want to play at this level. Like you're never getting that Travis Frederick back, which like Patrick Willis and Gronk

and some of the people you mentioned on that list, was on a Hall of Fame trajectory. I mean, he was the best center in the league for much of his time in the league. So the whole reputation of the Cowboys as this great offensive line, and they still probably were last year at a top five or six offensive line.

they're going to have some work to do now to keep up that reputation. I think it's interesting that, like, you know, I would imagine that 99% of people covering the NFL have no concept of what Gillian Barr syndrome does to your body. And Frederick has gone out of his way multiple times to try to explain what that is. And I, how can anyone, no one's critiquing him. But, like, he just simply talked about facing a struggle every single day, a struggle that no one else from the outside really saw. And so it's too bad because he was an incredible, you know, part of a line that was the best in the NFL. But this is happening to more and more

players. And we're seeing more and more saying if there's any health issues, I'm not going to continue to toil like it's 1948. And in the offseason, I work at a meatpacking plant. It's like, no, they've built their wealth and you have to consider your future. Who else is in the same name, different dude club? There's famously, uh, Adrian Peterson, the bear is the Offensive back. Cam Newton. The Vikings running back. He was a,

wasn't Adrian Peterson a running back? Yeah. Yeah, from number two running backs. Oh, wow. I thought he was a DB. Yeah, he was like a third down back. So he's on Mount Rushmore, those guys. But there's Cam Newton, the quarterback, and Cam Newton.

I think what was it like a, a pudgy right guard or something. Yeah. The problem with. Tom Brady, our former NFL colleague. Yeah, it was problematic. NFL media executive and the quarterback, exactly. The problem with the same. name, different dude, Mount Rushmore is you can only put two sets on.

That's true. And then you're done. Well, we've got our two. Yeah. So we're said. I love it. Tom Brady, the NFL media, Tom Brady, was one of my favorite guys that worked with at this company.

So I'm going to like push hard to have him on there. Some people are going to be confused, but you put TB12, the goat, Tom Brady, NFL network. And then what do we want to throw on? Newton, Peterson, or McGovern? Not McGovern I don't think McGovern is Well Peterson and Newton

Have similar strengths Both very attractive young men I think Adrian Peterson The fact they were both running backs For a while when you were in fantasy drafts Like you did not want to be the person That drafted the wrong Adrian Peterson by mistake Which definitely happened

That happened All right moving On the wide receiver market is finally moving So let's go through it We mentioned the Panthers moving on from Cam Newton. Well, they welcome former Jet Robbie Anderson on a two-year, 20 million contract. Schaefter had it is 12 million in 2020. He reunites with Matt Rule, which a little bit of connected dots that nobody else really had done.

At least I hadn't seen it. Anderson was undrafted at a temple, but his coach at Temple was Matt Rule. So this is a, I think, a quality signing for any team, especially at that price. The word throughout December and into January and then leading up to free agency was that Robbie Anderson thought he could get anywhere from 13 to 15 million. He doesn't really come close to that. But the Teddy Bridgewater led Panthers now have a deep threat who could do some damage. I think Panthers fans are confused about like what's going on here because like a lot of fans. fans out there. They're for some reason obsessed with the idea of tanking as if that really

works in the NFL. They want their team to be bad. And they're like, why are we even bothering to sign like Teddy Bridgewater right now or Robbie Anderson? That's just not how the NFL works. And I'm intrigued to see what Matt Rule does with his offense in his first year. I'm not expecting them to go to the Super Bowl or anything. But you should be trying to win some games and see who you're going to have long term. And for that money and the familiarity that he ads. And I think that receiving group needed one more player to really make it dynamic. I think they're going to want to have four receivers on the field, a lot of snaps. I think it's a great pickup. I'll tell you one person who did connect the dots between Matt Rule and

Robbie Anderson. That was Peter Schrager, who put out a very effective information-laden tweet the minute this move went down. And a part B to that is that when we were at the Combine, Dan, you and I had that. Wait, did the, but wait, did the Nuggets? could come out after the move went down or in the weeks leading up to the move? Well, that's important after the move came down. That's fair, but I'm going to give Peter Schroger points here because he, you know, maybe he was sitting on that. It was too explosive.

You're trying to get back in good graces after your famous Stregnob too explosive. I'm not, I am an open-minded person so I can see the incredible skills that Peter Schroger brings to the table. Part B to this, Dan. You and I had a very, I would label it, excessive night at the combine. Erica was part of that early on in the evening. And we actually, I don't know if you were in the room when we were around a square-shaped bar

when none other than Matt Rule, I was by myself. Matt Rule walked up to me and just said, you know, I've seen your show. I just think you guys do good stuff. I'm Matt Rule. I'm the coach of the Panthers. I was like, yeah, I am familiar with who you are. Why are you walking? I'm thinking, like, this is the coolest thing any coach has ever done.

So he could go and burn down the city of Carolina. And I would say, good move, Matt Rule. The city of Carolina. Well, fair enough. The region, Carolina. Just say Charlotte. All right, the region. He burnt the whole region down.

See you, Charlotte, bye-bye, Carolina. I'd say this coach has a plan. Well, look at their skill position talent. There aren't many teams who have more interesting skill position talent than Christian McCaffrey, DJ Moore, Curtis Samuel, Robbie Anderson, Ian Thomas. I think, look at that whole division. Let's play a game of Would You Rather? Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, Hayden Hurst, Jared Cook, Emmanuel Sanders, Michael Thomas, the Panthers group, and who's the other team?

Mike Evans, Chris Gobwin, O.J. Howard, Cameron, Brate? Mmm, saucy division. Goes back to the Dirty South. Always, uh, in the tricky. Yeah, Greg's NFC South fascination is suddenly looking right on point. It is. And for the Teddy Bridgewater fans out there, man, he could not have fallen into a better situation. I mean, I don't know if it was all by like his excellent play, but this is his chance. I mean, If he's ever going to have a chance, this is it with all these weapons around him in an offense, I think that's going to be a little different than some others. With a guy with a limited route tree, but ability to make downfield plays, you definitely

want to pair him with a quarterback who averages six yards per attempt. I think it's going to go great. Six air yards per attempt. Used to throw great. Air yards. Used to throw great. So we all love Teddy. We all want him to do well.

And I've been on record on this podcast that I wanted Anderson back with the Jets. and I think a lot of Jets fans are disappointed about it. But I do take a little bit of solace in that Joe Douglas, the general manager, he's exercising some prudence and he's doing it a little differently than past GMs of the Jets have done where they just bomb the draft and then try to make big splashes and free agency or overpay to keep a guy or get a guy they used to have like a Derell Revis or in this case, Robbie Anderson. They set a price tag on Robbie. It turned out that that was just not going to happen and that's it.

So I'm putting my faith in big Joe D and I think Jets Van should do the same. It's time for it to be done differently in Florin Park, the state of Florin Park. Other wide receiver news, Philip Dorsey, he leaves the Patriots for the Seattle Seahawks. Last year, he had nearly 400 yards receiving. The Patriots couldn't move the ball through the air for much of the season, especially as it went down the stretch. Dorset never really emerged, Greg. Will he emerge with Russell Wilson and Brian Schottenheimer? Probably not, but he's a nice, like, fourth receiver role player.

I'll always have a lot of appreciation for the catch Philip Dorset made in the AFC championship against the Chiefs. That is one of the great Patriots catches of this, of their run that they had. Snort. Come on. Snobloor. It's like a lot of time I see a lot of people. like honking about that Tom Brady didn't have to do anything in the Super Bowl to beat the

Rams. It's like, oh, they dragged them to that Super Bowl. It's like, go watch the game where he put up four touchdowns in a row to get them to the Super Bowl with Philip Dorset stepping up big. Good job by you, taking the attention off of that game and putting it on another one. There you go. How about the game before that where they put up 40 points? I mean, they were doing all right. It's all over now. You ain't special no more, Rosenthal. It's like, curtains. I'll be it does it does change the bar like it will be a lot more exciting when they go 10 and 6 and the Jets roster that is like among the least talented in the league goes 5 and 11 like it'll be way

more satisfying than a normal 10 and 6th. The Jets have three starting players on their roster right exactly I can't say anything until things change so but just no you ain't special in other middling wide receiver news Travis Benjamin formerly of the charges he's now a member of the 40. Niners, now 30 years old. Funny how it sneaks up on you. So he enters that wide receiver room the day after Emmanuel Sanders exits. Well, I think it's easy to draw the connection between him and Taylor Gabriel and the old Falcons offense, that speed guy, just have him run those go routes and beat people deep, especially on play action passes. That's what I would see Kyle Shanahan doing with

him. I think Shanahan worked with Benjamin in Cleveland in 2014. I'd have to, I think he was still there at that point. So I believe he knows him and you're right. He plays that similar role. Uh-oh, we got a dispatch. Oh, from the Players Tribune. Oh, that newsroom is going wild right now. Are they even allowed to be together, please? Jeter just swung the door open with a big cigar in his mouth and he said, Devin McCordy, you're on deadline. Give me something about Tom Brady and the fallout on Patriot way. I want it 10 minutes ago. And then McCordy wrote a post on the Players Tribune and part of it read like this.

People are going to say that because Tom's gone, the dynasty is over. They are already burying us far as I can tell. And that's fine. He listens to the show. This is how he talks? We've never listened to the noise and we're not about to start now. But the task is definitely taller. coming year than it has been in years past.

There's more work to do, and it's not going to be so easy this time around. That's where the new challenge comes in. I mean, I think Devin McCordy might command a room a little bit more than you portrayed in there. No, that was actually Ricky played the sound bite. That was the audio. I want Ricky to send that just those 20 seconds out as a social video. That's it. We don't need any context, nothing else.

I just read the quote. I just read the quote. But anyway, so I'm already tired of this storyline and it's mid-March. Devin McCordy thinks the Patriots are still special. I disagree. Isn't that the flip side, though, that like their motivation is we can, even if they're all love Tom Brady to show that they can still go 12 and 4. The biggest thing about the, about Devin McCordy is these are, he has a twin.

We all get that. They are twins with a shared Twitter account. There's more to unpack in this situation. but that to me feels like it's not a bit but it's certainly it's I'm not a huge fan of it but you guys can hit the more I think it was originally like their charity foundation it was the McCordy Foundation well I'm sure that's then I can't say anything about it because it was for a nice cause but I just you know it from a Twitter angle it kind of bugs me if they're sharing a social media account what's happening with the DMs by the way it's like Siamese Twitter yeah what else is being shared

Ricky do that we don't know I think that's Erica I don't know, food, maybe. Maybe they share roommates. They both have big families, and they're getting to now grow up next to each other in the cold state of Massachusetts. Twins have that special connection, so I'm not going to try to tear that down any further. Other news, Quentin Dunbar traded to the Seahawks from the Redskins in exchange for a fifth round pick. Veteran defensive back. Jimmy Smith signs a new one-year deal to stay with the Ravens.

And running back Peyton Barber, formerly of the Buccaneers, signs of the Redskins' two years, $3 million contract. Anyone else have anything to add on those players? Well, I think Seahawks fans are excited about Dunbar. PFF graded him number two among cornerbacks last year in coverage. And I think he allowed under a 60% passer rating. He's a big corner, 6-2. Pete Carroll loves them. but the Redskins are, Ron Rivera and Jack Del Rio are his own coaches,

so they're not going to have as much use for Dunbar there. Makes a little sense for everyone involved. Someone explained to me how the Redskins have gotten any better under Ron Rivera at this point. I see players wanting out. You know, it's going to take time, but this was maybe the most low wattage team in all of sports a year ago, other than the fact that I love the fact that they finished games in about one hour and 58 minutes. pleasant but I mean what's what's the sea change so far they've added Peyton barber ah it was that

they have a Kendall fuller I do love me some Kendall fuller they added him that was a good bargain so in free agency but yeah they uh losing out on Amari cooper I think's that's gonna be the defining moment of their off season that that Amari Cooper took less money from the cowboys to stick it to the old red smarts it's smarts uh and finally in the news an interesting wrinkle to the Marcus Marriota signing by the Raiders. It's a two-year $17.6 million contract with the Raiders. However, there's kind of more heat to it than what we originally thought because he'll get $7.5 million guaranteed in 2020, which is, Greg, you're the source in this things,

but that's pretty good backup quarterback money, correct? Yeah, that's good. It's pretty good. I thought he might do better. And with a lot of money. And with incentives, and this is what really jumps out to me anyway, Marietta could net over $47 million. So a good job by his agent that gave him not some bum.

I lost my job and I have to reset my whole career deal where I'm signing for two years and $7 million or something. He has a deal that really does give him an opportunity to get some guap if he does overtake the quarterback. And I would imagine if this worked out for him, other guys like him would try to get the same deal in the future. it's a deal that got some criticism though i know um i think agents and reporters were surprised he did anything more than a year basically that if that they they thought the raiders really got him

under control in a way that like the titans didn't with tannihill because if mariotta does come in and is a standout for half a season he's still not getting many incentives and then they have them for very cheap next year when if it's a one year deal you can go back in the market you get the franchise tag. So it got some criticism. I thought it was fine. I didn't have a big take on it either way. I think Mario da had a pretty good market.

That's why he got some money. Haven't we also learned, though, that if he has a great year this year, players have leverage and he's not locked in forever to that second year or whatever it would end up being. That's not backup quarterback contract. That's a we expect you to play at some point contract. And you'll see bridge quarterbacks get something like them. But there are no backups making 7.3. million guaranteed on their base salary in their first year.

You might see that once in a blue moon. Teddy last year was pretty similar, but you're right. It's pretty rare. If we travel through next season and Marcus Marriota is starting 10, 11 games for whatever reason, and Cam Newton is sitting on the bench, I don't know what's happened here. And if I'm Carr, I'm a little bit annoyed by the specifics of the contract because, again, it fuels that feeling that my team secretly doubts me or not so secretly doubts me. However, I still am very happy with how it turned out.

I have a middling in-house competition in my building. If I play well, I should be okay. I mean, he himself is middling. So it's, I don't, you know, I don't know, I'm not sure. I find, see, well, that's a, I have a moderate disagreement. I think he is a step above middling, not that high up. But I think he's better than Marietta and his numbers over his career. I just think the Gruden is the X factor there because, you know, you're going,

At some point, Gruden is going to be frustrated with Carr, and it may not be an injury. It may be just flat out. I'm done with this situation. If he throws some killer pick at the end of a game and let's see what we have with Mario. I mean, Gruden just seems like, again, endless wandering eye with the quarterback hand. I don't like it at all. Enjoy that. Yeah, turn to Marioo to enjoy those lawn darts.

I mean, none of us are huge Marioita guys, so I, you know, fair, but that's what's happening in the news. Hey, Ricky, for this. where I'm just going to kind of go through some things that I, Colonels that I came across, could go with comeback kernels with Mark Sessler, but let's actually go with essentially like, I'm going to leave this up to you, your ability to find like a springtime walk.

It's early spring now. Okay. So I'm taking a walk through the 32 teams of the NFL while I was putting together the power rankings. So here are some tidbits that I came across. Let's begin our walk, Ricky. We'll start right at number, one on the list with the Kansas City Chiefs. Sammy Watkins still in the building.

And he's scheduled almost 14 million in salary this year. Brett Veach, the GM, is already on the record that they're probably going to have to, you know, correct that for him to remain a part of the team. And you wonder when that's happening. And you would think perhaps Watkins, although typically a player, when he's asked to take a haircut, industry jargo, is going to say, F.U. Cut me. I'll go get money elsewhere. But given the market of veteran-wide receivers in that second tier, which, let's be honest, despite how he's been paid in his career, he's in a second-tier place, he might be better off getting the haircut and sticking around. Maybe that's why nothing's happened here. Yeah, it reminds me a little bit of the Cowboys with Amari Cooper where

both sides want each other. You just have to find that middle ground. You have to find that money that works. I don't see him making $14 million. Greg might have a better on that. I think maybe the Chiefs thought that what, to your point, Dan, the timing of it, keep that they didn't need to cut him. They want to keep them. And they're kind of making it to a point where at some point, there's no way he's going to want to be a free agent in August.

You wouldn't think so. And that they'll just work it out, which makes sense for a guy that put up almost 500 yards in the last, or almost 600 yards in the last two playoffs. Like that should count for something. I mean, that guy, if he never signs another half decent deal, did very well in this league when you correlate his overall production. He's kind of like the Gidevian Clowny of wide receivers. Right, but if another position stepped up as much as he's stepped up in the playoffs in two

straight years, like we would give that guy a lot of credit for being clutch, whatever that means. Like, he was their best receiver in multiple big games, two AFC championships and he played well in the Super Bowl. He ripped a huge fart on Richard Sherman in a big spot in the Super Bowl. Is that more industry That's how we got so open? That's scout talk.

That's scout talk. Why is ESPN not talking to you about this, the Monday night football spot? I don't know. I don't know. Let's keep going on this stroll. Oh, smell that fresh air. That's that COVID-19 air quality here in Los Angeles. I love it.

Let's check in with the Eagles, who by the way, hey, what's going on with the offense? Everyone agrees they need to do better. I had written in my notes earlier this morning. Robbie Anderson, question mark, went to Temple. You know, sometimes you try to connect dots. That's not happening, obviously. But here we are.

Carson Went still has Alshan Jeffrey and Deshawn Jackson as guys that he needs to count on. I guess it's most likely, given the state of the market at this point, after today, going to be something Howie Roseman addresses in the draft, hopefully he addresses in the draft. Go ahead, Wes. Well, no, I was going to say, I'm being told that they've signed B.M. with Javon Hargraves, so they're going to go 15 and 1. That's the word on the street. Number 9 feels a little high.

I know you want to give the numbers, but the Javon Hargrave has gotten on your radar that we like that side. No, I mean, I just, you know, I think, you know, there is a, he's out there as a talking point. But I don't see the Eagles as the ninth best team in the league. I know your numbers are not meant to be exact. act right now, but I see a few teams should be, that should be on their radar, I think, a little bit. It's so low on my priority list right now, I can't begin to tell you. I mean, it is the assignment.

The assignment is ranking these teams, so it can't be too low. They're fine. It's a little surprising Jeffrey's still there. Yeah, he's hanging around. Yeah, he wanted out. He's hanging around. All right, let's keep strolling. Oh, look, I'm passing Mark's Airbnb.

There's a SWAT team outside, and everyone has their guns drawn on the sidewalk. I guess they want you to come out, buddy. I mean, I'm not there at the moment, so I don't feel guilty of anything. Let's check in with the Rams. This is something we've kind of touched on, but kind of hits home when I was going through the additions and departures. Five of their, five members of their starting 11 defense, gone. They're gone. They're just gone.

Half the defense, basically, is out the door. And it's just a reminder of that windows closed, and now it's on. Sneed and McVeigh to find a way to reopen it and retool this whole roster. And Wade Phillips. Look, they'll tell you that they have Aaron Donald, one of the greatest defensive players of all time, Jalen Ramsey, and some other players, and a coach that now, in Brandon Staley, that is kind of one of the big X factors of the 2020 season. Like, if he's bringing something to the table, like, could they be average defense?

Sure, why now? You'd think the Rams would ever, ever, ever again if they could dial back. in a time machine, do that Jalen Ramsey deal again? I just, I mean, I like Jailen. You think they would give two first round picks for Jailen Ramsey again? I do, I do, because I think they saw that as a long-term move, and I don't see why their evaluation would have changed between now and then. I think they were happy with what he gave them.

I don't think it was a move to save last season. I think it was a move to have Jalen Ramsey a ram for a long time. They just feel a little top-heavy to me, where it's like, to Dan's point, there's a lot of supporting cast, not around. Let's dip into the cul-de-sac here of Believe Land, Mark, and do not think I am trolling you, Mark, in any way. It's just something, again, that caught my eye. I don't buy into anything.

Anybody that's trying to do talking head things about Baker-Mayfield's job security. But Case Keenham got more money than I realized. Three years, 18 million, including 10 million, guaranteed. And in the building, Kevin Stefanski, was the same guy. was in the building in Minnesota when Keenham had his best year for the Vikings. Just jumped out to me a little. I'll give you this. I think that it is coming off of last year's ultra-disaster.

Baker Mayfield is not someone with a lot of excuses around him right now. And I think it starts with Baker-Mayfield, how much do you want to be Cleveland's franchise quarterback in a top-10 quarterback in the NFL? If not more, that's what people thought he'd be a year ago. I think he has all the talent to do it. but it is a huge year for him. And I think that what was going on in that quarterback room a year ago, the coaching,

the coaching on that offensive side of the ball was not strong. In Case Keenham, I would imagine another team or two were interested in bringing someone like Case Keenum into the building, so I don't have a big problem with the contract. But no way does any front office worth or salt to think that Case Keenum is a better option than Baker-Mayfield long-term.

But Baker-Mayfield is under as much pressure as any quarterback in the league because you also wrote, and I think you're right, they've shored up some of their issues roster-wise. And, you know, he really does have, he has no excuses with the pieces around him not to have a major comeback season. The guy they draft at tackle, if that's indeed what ends up happening at number 10, if he can play, they did a good job. In fact, they could turn the offensive line into a position of strength.

Quickly. Because they have. They take three years to do that. They got to like. Who's the guy on the interior that's a really good player? They have the right. Joe Betonio. Betonio they got Conklin obviously now, Treader.

And now if you can get a left tackle who can play, there's no excuses anymore because all the playmaker talent, obviously, on the, that could be a great offense if the quarterback can play. We'll see. Finally, Wes, your former team. It's the west side of Cincinnati. Look, everyone waving so friendly with their little barbecue grills and. Cornhole.

playing their transistor radios. Playing softball five nights a week. Listen to Don McLean. Not anymore. And wondering why West keeps burying them on a very popular global podcast. Well, this is interesting, Wes. None of those people, by the way, on the west side of Cincinnati are actually Bengals fans. Okay.

Defensive tackle, DJ Reader, cornerback, Trey Wayans, big money deals to the Bengals. We all know, they never do big money deals. 95 million committed to the two veterans now. Well, they actually get 95 million. But just stick with me. According to ESPN, stats and information research, Cincinnati had not committed more than 26 million to a single free agent since 2015. So, yes, the numbers back it up.

They have not spent like this in half a decade. So Joe Burrow, yes, pay attention. They're trying, maybe just a little. Yeah, I'd go, Wes. Sorry. They had to. This is a team that since the creation of NFL free agency in 1993, they are the team that drives up the price for another team to sign a free agent.

They don't actually sign the free agents. They sign their own, but this is a deviation, as you said. All right, I'm back in front of my home, my children are staring at me, wanting me to play with them for nine straight hours and feed them and bathe them and put them to sleep, so I'll end my walk here. I do have one, uh, someone that wants to say something about the saints being at number four here. Oh, yes.

Luke! This is our house's saints fan. Luke, I am your real father. How do you feel about Dan, Hansis, Uncle Dan, putting the saints as the fourth best team in the NFL? You like that? No. What do you want them to be?

They're number one. Oh. We'll see if they're number one. Well, that's fair. That's pretty good, actually, to be here at number four. But you are a huge Saints fan and you love Drew Reeves, right? All right. Well, good luck to you.

You have a better team than your dad. Who's better at the power rankings? Dan Hansis or Elliott Harrison? Dan. All right. That's my boy. You did a good job. Thank you.

A plus for you, sir. Good job, Luke. Yeah, you're good. Thank you. Bye. All right. That was nice. I feel like a tradition's coming on.

I got to get the boys in here soon. Yeah, where are they? I don't know. That's why we've got to end the show. They could be anywhere. Was not expecting any Luke Sessler, Elliot Harrison, Heat. No, he doesn't know what he's been pulled into there. These are crazy times.

They didn't always see eye to eye. I know that. That's why I talked during the Bengals question that you threw at West because Luke was about to come charging into the scene and I was trying to slow him down there. But there we go. Well, good effort there. We will be back tomorrow with another show.

So make sure you check that out. Everybody stay healthy, stay clean, stay distant. For now, anyway. Listen to Gail Gadda. Imagine. No. Imagine no possessions. It's easy if you can.

Thanks for listening to the Around the NFL podcast presented by Intuit QuickBooks, official sponsor of the NFL. This is Dan Hansa signing off for The Quiet Storm, the mailman, the old boss, Rick Hollywood, behind the glass. Boys? Boys! Boys! Oh, my God.

Until Wednesday! Hey, everybody, Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the 6, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else. It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sunday. Don't miss it.

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