NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Carson Wentz Foot Surgery & Training Camp Whispers

Episode Date: August 2, 2021

A room filled with some heroes - Dan Hanzus, Marc Sessler and Gregg Rosenthal bring you all of the latest news in the NFL including Carson Wentz potentially out for 5-12 weeks (9:23) and Nick Chubb getting an extension (18:18). Jamal Adams is doing a "hold in" (22:20) and Kirk Cousins is on the Covid list. We spin through some of our favorite trading camp "whispers" (31:50). 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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Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. The Around the NFL podcast is ready for Hollywood, baby. Hollywood Park. Oh, a little different. Welcome to another edition of the Around the NFL podcast.

My name is Dan Hansis. Come to you from a virtual room filled with a couple of heroes. Greg Rosenthal, Mark Sessler. We just had back together Saturday over on NFL Network. We weren't really involved with the programming. But it also reminded me that we never left. We've been back together for about nine straight years. So while everyone else was hugging and making pleasantries after long vacations to the south of France and the like,

we've been together, joined at the hip, forever and ever. Virtually. We are, I think, looking forward to being back together in a studio, though. I think at least I've reached that point. I don't want to speak for you guys. I think Sessler's in a different place. Maybe Mark isn't. But I've done enough stuff from home.

I feel like I'm ready to reenter Hollywood Park. We don't know if we're going to be there for week one, but that is our hope. That is our hope. I would say I would be ready to. be back in a studio setting with you guys. Absolutely. It's the, you know, pepping your step walking around the office and, like, chit-chatting with people that I know, but I know that I can see Greg's intense zeal to be back in that environment. That's the stuff that I'm just going to, I'm going to reiterate. I don't find authentic or pleasant for me.

Greg is, Greg is the corporate schmoozer of the group. That is true. Please. Well, then you definitely are. Dan is, I feel like of anyone. I don't know. I am not a schmoozer. I'm not a smoozer. I do feel like though we are in different wavelengths like back together Saturday would have been great to be asked to be a part of. It was a big event. It was very cool. They were in 32 teams inside training camp live. It's there. That said, I didn't mind that the second we were done with our show on Friday, it was like, I'm home. Vacate, you know, weekend starts now. I went to the beach on Sunday. I bought a tortoise this weekend while everyone is, you know, in Cincinnati talking about the offensive line over guys stretching.

I was fine with that. If they don't want us, so be it. I felt a little left out. But I will say our producer, Ricky Hollywood, did an incredible Instagram live on NFL up. And I actually joined that for roughly 28 seconds. So I was grinding on Saturday for about half a minute. So another thing that I wasn't invited to this weekend by NFL media,

Ricky. And Ricky, by the way, as we bring her into the conversation, she has a new, and it looks very expensive. She has a brand, brand new sign. behind her right over her back and you would think oh she is the producer of this world known NFL podcast I mean it's a really good position it's set her up well in a lot of ways she must have it around the NFL podcast behind her no it's her vanity podcast the broadcast podcast yeah that's on my radar too a little cranky on this Monday yeah you are make sure you

check it out you guys the broadcast podcast available wherever you get your podcast no it was cool I did like 10, 9 or 10 NFL up lives. So I was in Detroit virtually, talked with Cynthia at the Rams, talked with Colleen, at the Eagles. Like, we were all over the place. But David Blow, you know, the Blauards, his wife qualified for, or won. What happened with the Olympics? It was the 400-meter hurdles that she qualified for the semis.

Really showing your respect for her right here. I had so much going on I truthfully wasn't paying attention and that's why I called in Mark to handle the blowhards developing news I thought I handled it very well by the way I mean I looked back at the footage that I provided

and it was professional I was concise and it was exactly what people were asking for in your garage showing your kids toys on the Instagram well that too I can't help the setting we're in a time of pandemic so Melissa Gonzalez his high school sweetheart who qualified in like the 400 meter high school sweet art that's a thing huh i guess i was just

confused about the wording because i'm uneducated but like if you're qualifying does that mean you're not running that race in the olympics obviously right you're moving on you're moving on to the next version of the race you you can just like look these things up in about 30 seconds but yeah they they um you know they have three races to get to the finals it's sort of like quarter final semifinals, finals, the fastest people in each, then advanced to the last one. It's all the Olympics at this point. She's in Tokyo. Sort of just a basic sporting theory and, you know, it's a fundamental, but yes.

I'm just making conversation and I'm asking for the listeners out there because not everyone might know this. Okay, that was good. So check out the broadcast podcast. J.RVP, that podcast comes up a lot on the show. I bring up, I bring up my that one actually. She says, Erica, so she should, like, you know, promote that too, you know. Well, so does this one, Greg.

Oh, that's true. But she's sort of sown for, she's been consistent in showing that this is, like, the least important job she has for a while. This is my favorite job. Stop it. That I expect. Don't play with your tortoise. I bring up the throwback podcast with such a little frequency on this program that my partner on the show, Bob, is what got so mad about it that he stopped listening to this show to get revenge on me, which was really some. petty stuff is that working like this is that form of revenge like inflicting you or hurting you

or do you it doesn't hurt me at all i told him that but that was his it was his way of getting back at me i guess but check out the throwback pod sounds like you wanted an excuse to stop listening we don't need you about um indeed all right big show coming up training camp full swing everyone underway this weekend and now this week uh we're starting with uh the pads are on and there it's taking the next step and we are all in now so we're very excited to dig into that and what better way to dig in uh to training camp's true beginning then with another edition of training camp whispers but before that let's do some news right so we wanted to present you You've got a good car.

No way. 2021 NFL Network Best Hair. That's right. You got yours. Look at that. I tell you what, man. You're the best. You're the best.

This thing. So now we're giving out trophies for Best Hair. At NFL. So not only this weekend, we're on the sidelines. We're giving an award, an actual trophy. David Carr for having the best hair at NFL media and first of all the United Hair Federation doesn't recognize the trophy so keep that in mind to listen I love David Carr nice guy really good guy handsome dude former number one

overall pick college legend but does he need a trophy does David Carr need a trophy and does David Carr on that note when we're talking about his hair does it have the volume that we're looking for? Does it have the kind of pizzazz? Does it have the personality? Or is it just a nice mop of black hair? That's, that's, I knew this would be on your radar. I saw like a poll where it was like, who has the best hair? And there was only two option. It was Carr or Burleson. And I'm just thinking, what is that? Hansis is out here. He's not pleased. This is on his race. If it was best facial hair, you clearly would not have talked about this award on the, around the NFL podcast. And here's the thing.

GMFB did some FACTA poll, and then we had the network doing their things. Groover, who does awesome. We like Groover down in the newsroom. Heaps set up some type of thing, who has the best hair and put some handles on it? Mine wasn't there. Your name was not even included. It wasn't even. I think that's when you checked out of, yeah, you can say you weren't into.

Neither were mine or Marks, so what are you saying, Dan? Well, I'm not within a thousand meters of that. Let me tell you that. It's nice and think. It's good. Go to the mentions. All these cute little tweets sent out by the various program arms of the media here at NFL and see what's in the mentions, what the fans think, who the fan champ is.

The people's champ. It's tugbo. You're the people's champ. You're the people's champ. It's the old zooser. It's the new old blue eyes with the best hair. You know who we think has the best hair, Dan. And I would say this.

Like, it kind of reminded me that Saturday of that episode of the office where Jim, for whatever reason was locked away in like a distant closed office on his own and he wasn't with all his friends and it was just sort of a quiet episode where he wandered around lonely here's dan not asked to do anything on air not even invited to erika's live instagram and not part of the hair pull i think the hair pole would have been a tipping point moment for you we just turn off NFL never can say smell you later no well listen you you you know me very well mark and you nailed that all exactly dead on sizzler let's get into the news unbelievable Colts head coach Frank Reich said Tuesday

that Carson Wentz will undergo foot surgery It's happening And we'll be out five to 12 weeks Over on the athletic Stephen Holder reported that Wentz This is an injury I suffered way back in the day Maybe even as early as high school And over time according to Holder

The broken bone became loose And caused pain This was Greg a tough decision for the Colts They apparently really struggled with the decision. Do you have them play through a chronic foot injury or do you get it fixed before it gets worse and ruins the season? Well, five to

12 weeks potentially can ruin the cold season. It could if the Titans weren't already the favorites in the AFC South. I think they already were. They are now. Reich actually said it wasn't a tough decision. I think the problem was that

Wence was pushing, reading between the lines to try to play through it. He said the doctors were very clear on it and you know they they almost seem to be responding to reports that wentz was going to try to play through it that it was stuff he said it was it was absolutely crystal clear and i just think like okay that's good but you know it's better than being in uncertainty but if the solution here is that jacobeson is their starter and that's what frank rake says in the meantime and that carson went who it seems like wanted to try to push through this thing is going to be pushing to make the you know the early

part of that five to 12 week timeline, you have to be a little worried that, A, Wentz comes back quickly, B, he doesn't practice training, you know, he hasn't been in training camp at all. C, like, he is nothing without his athleticism, and D, he was one of the worst quarterbacks in the league anyways last year. So to me, it's like I was already looking for reasons to not quite believe in this Colts team because of Carson Wentz, and this just adds a lot to it. I mean, the whole idea of Wentz having, you know, a comeback season, a bounce back campaign was that he would be in this marriage with Frank Reich. But it would also include, you know, chemistry with his wide receivers, getting to know a new offense. I mean, one that he did know essentially with the Eagles to some degree, but it's a new environment.

You're completely wiped away. And something that we mentioned on our network show on Friday was that, you know, schedules are schedules. But we're getting closer now where we look at teams and we know what they are. And let's say that he misses those 12 weeks. he doesn't come back until essentially the Monday before their week eight contest with the Titans. The games he could be missing are against the Seahawks, the Rams, the Titans, the Dolphins, the Ravens, the Texans. We could probably potentially beat the Texans as a starting quarterback. And the 49ers, that is a rough road.

That first month is brutal. Really brutal. So even if it's, you know, if it's five weeks, though, if it ever were and he were healthy, that's before the start of the season. But it's going to be somewhere in between there, I would imagine. And maybe the surgery works out where he ends up on the better side of the timetable. But to your point, you're right. I mean, this is a guy that needed a total reboot on his career. He got it.

But part of getting a total reboot is you need that kind of fresh start. You need that foundation that comes with a full training camp and a preseason and working with these new guys and getting accustomed to this new world you're in. Now he's going to get dropped into this world of regular season football. And let's face it, most likely be in a position where the cults need to win. To imagine them coming out of September, anything better than 500, it feels like generous to me. We don't know. You never know how this stuff plays out with the schedule.

But very tough break. And I was on this podcast anyway, I saw Wentz's, I was buying into that hype that he could bounce back this season. But now he's so behind the eight ball in addition to all the concerns that you laid out, Greg, that it just feels like this is heading down a bad path for the 2021 calls. One other thing I note, though, is that Carson Wentz last year, you see. started to see a quarterback that I think had lost his confidence, had lost that thing that can make quarterbacks believe in themselves. And he kind of lost that belief. And so the whole Reich thing was rebuilding him mentally. I think the situation, the timeline makes that part of it even

tougher for a guy that probably needed to come in feeling extremely prepared, extremely confident, knowing the people around him. And he was off to a good start for a couple days, but the train is completely off the tracks. And honestly, signing Nick Foles, which felt like a joke a couple days ago, becomes more and more real. Because Nick Foles today basically said to the media, Frank Reich is, if not one of the best coaches I've ever been around, one of my favorite coaches of all time. I mean, that relationship exists there too. He's still with the bear, so they would have to work out of trade on that, on that front. But yeah, that feels like, like, why wouldn't you do that at this point? Because of Wence. I think because people are concerned with Wence's

feelings think of all the decisions the eagles made being afraid of wence's feelings and i i think that might be part of it i get the colts wanting to see what easton looks like for a week or something like that there's no huge hurry um supposedly it hasn't looked good i remember being there in 2017 when scott toll zine and philip walker and there was another one that i'm forgetting about right now stephen morris was there and they couldn't complete a pass and supposedly that's what colts practice has looked like for the first four or five days or so and it's like you're not getting much done uh your center ryan kelly who has a big contract is out for a couple of weeks you have eric fisher at left tackle coming off of the torn ACL uh we don't know if he's going to be ready for

the start of the season and like again like you said mark like even if he was back week one is he going to be making quick decisions that's not when he holds onto the ball so to me Scote Toysia. Yes. I totally forgot that about that. That's amazing. That dude. I think you got to trade for someone because you can't count on when staying healthy.

So if it's not Foles, then it should be Marioada or it should be Jacoby Brissette, who they did trade for back in 2017. Not sure the dolphins would have any interest in dealing. I'm kind of think they wouldn't. I don't know. Cam Newton maybe right before week one, would he ever be available? I'm just like throwing out names here. some sort of backup that isn't going to ruin your season. They did sign Brett Hunley, by the way.

But Brett Humley is probably the best quarterback on that roster right now. That's crazy. The one thing I'll add before we move on, Greg, the dynamic between the Colts-Went's marriage is totally different than the Eagles' Wentz dynamic, which was a marriage that had a lot of backstory to it and a lot of it was like a married couple with a lot of layers to what's going on behind the scenes.

And it became really, you know, naughty. gnaughty a situation for them and now it's kind of a fresh start right double meaning of naughty there i feel like yeah a little bit of a double meaning and uh so if i'm the cults i can't worry about hurting carson wince's feelings i'm trying to save the season here tough stage all right in other news the ravens they might have gotten better on defense after signing just in houston to a one year four million dollar contract houston had other offers uh for a gig In fact, better offers than Baltimore had out there, but he took it to come to Baltimore. Probably a good idea because he feels like a Ravens guy that could thrive at 32 years old,

a nice situational pass rusher at this state of the game. And Mark, do you think this is something that will lift Baltimore or they seem to need it here? Oh, you know, this reminds me of when the Steelers picked up a veteran pass rusher a couple, Ingram a couple weeks ago where you just think it's going to work. I think it's going to work out fine. I don't think Justin Houston last year was the same guy, but he still had eight sacks. And like, you look at who Baltimore had. Pernel McPhee, Tias Bowser and Jalen Ferguson combined last year for seven sacks.

So, you know, they have a first round rookie as well, but they needed help. And I think Houston's like the perfect kind of guy to come in to Baltimore. He obviously wanted to be there. He took less money to go there. That's unusual. So yes, I like the fit. Yeah, it was just $2 million guaranteed. So he did not have a strong market, even if he turned down a better.

Deal. They always figure it out. I have big questions. The offensive line in Baltimore is totally different quietly. It could be better, but it's Kevin Zitler. It's Villeneueva. It's a new center, Bozeman. The defensive line, they're going to count on this rookie, Odafe, 08, for a lot of snaps. Good. Having Houston out, though, to me, is big. They always figured out, like, this second year guy, Madabuque, their defensive tackle. It's like, they just have, like, guys coming out of their pockets that end up working out way way. better than you expect. And I'm sure for the Ravens, this feels nice because you remember in the offseason when they were trying to get another wide receiver, everybody kept on telling them no. And they were signing elsewhere for lower money amount. Juju Smith-Schuster comes to mind as one of those guys. And somebody wants to come to the Ravens.

And I think it's a smart move by Justin Houston. In other AFC North News, Markey, the Cleveland Browns got a deal done with a star on their offense. But an A. Baker and Mayfield, it is Nick Chubb, the star running back and team agreed on a new contract extension that covers three years, 36.6 million, 20 of that guaranteed. And while people, Mark, can debate whether to do a deal with Baker right now or to wait, this one feels like a no-brainer. Nick Chubb is a certified badass. keep him in the building, keep him happy, give him the money that he's deserved. It feels like a no-brainer to me.

And you know, you certainly see the debate on Twitter over paying a running back, even this much money. And it's not, it is not the most, he's not the highest paid running back by any stretch at this point. He's well paid. But I look at him, what he, I cannot think of a Cleveland Brown in years and years that I've enjoyed watching more than Nick Chub. I just think he, he rumbles like a train through the valley.

He's beyond delusive. He's a total home. run hitter. He never speaks out of anything negative. He barely smiles. I think his career right now, if you look at the numbers, align with like Jim Brown. Sounds like a patriot. Well, you know what? Honestly, I think he is like, he is someone also. When you pay him, he's not going to go soft or change anything he does. I really think this is like one of the last real men. What ever happened to Gary Cooper, the strong silent type? On the earth. And I don't care about running back money. I think you pay the people on your team

who are the most important, and Nick Chubb is honestly the heart and soul of that offense. And I think that, by the way, he's going to be a good running back by the end of this contract still. I don't think this is, not every running back is going to fall off the earth four years into the career. I mean, he just seems different to me. I take offense to that. I mean, I consider myself a real man. I'm sure a lot of Nick Chub's professional football teammates consider themselves real men, and yet Chubb is like one of the last ones on earth, apparently. Well, you know what? It's because when's the last time you saw him like posting selfies and you know doing like tic-tok dances like the guy is just a different type of

dude kareem hunt was asked like oh have you have you seen chub you know this offseason you hung out with him and he was like no man all that that guy does is eat and work out like he doesn't want to see anyone he's not hanging out with anyone uh i i found it fascinating they gave him this contract on the same day owner jimmy haslin um revealed that they just resigned paul de pedesta their chief strategy officer to a contract extension. They didn't make a big deal, but he went out of his way to say this happened a while ago. Deep Podesta didn't want to announce because that's been such an argument in analytic circles. I mean, Deep Pedesta was literally played by Jonah Hill and Moneyball.

He is like one of the guys and the Browns are one of the teams at the forefront of this movement. And it's this whole argument, don't pay running backs money. It's like, no, that's not the argument. I think we've now gotten to a point with some of these contracts that it's sort of what the analytics are saying, which is, of course, you pay the Nick Chubbs. I would take Nick Chub personally over any running back in the entire NFL to give a long-term contract. He would be number one. But if you look at his contract, look at Derek Henry's contract, mix into a lesser degree, but similar, the guaranteed money is all in the first two years. It's really just a two-year

contract. Chubb could have been a pain and pushed for more. It's basically a two-year, 20 million guaranteed, three for 36. That's very reasonable. It is not the Todd Gurley, Zecchio Elliott, give him quarterback money with guaranteed money into the fourth-year contract. And I do think that is the impact somewhat of analytics in the front office. It's like it's sort of a happy medium. Of course, great running backs are worth money,

but maybe just not Zicchio Elliott money. So, you know, it's almost a reward to the guy that is just the grinder that does his work behind the scenes, delivers on the field, doesn't give anybody any trouble, doesn't go to Cabo and alert the media about a contract holdout. And I just like, good job, Mark.

The Browns rewarded a guy that deserved a reward. When he took it, like Levyon Bell would have never taken this contract. Zicchio Elliott would have never taken this contract. They would have probably played out the final year of their rookie deal and made some noise. Yeah. In other news, Seattle Seahawks, Jamal Adams, he wants to be the highest paid safety in NFL history. He's been wanting that for a long time, dating back to his jet stays. when he forced to trade out of New York.

Now he's in Seattle about to enter a second season after a strong debut. But he's not practicing yet. He's missing practices with his team, although he's at the facility. He's staging essentially a sit-in, a hold-in, as they call it. As he waits to get the contract, so he'll be happy with his team again. Love it.

The minute I saw this, I was like, Dan is just, he is doing a jig around his home because it's so predictable. You have to say that it is so predictable. And it's almost like the Jets were ensnared in this, you know, call it a naughty, K-N-O-T-Y issue with Jamal Adams. And they just handed her way to Seattle. And now Seattle's dealing with it. And Pete Carroll called the talks amicable.

And the suggestion is it probably will get worked out. But I would just say like in 2021, who wants to be the team that's gearing up to like to pay the most expensive safety? It just doesn't feel like the thing everyone's galvanized. to do especially an in-the-box safety i'm with you that isn't known you know that if if you're going to pay someone the ghost of earl thomas would be the guy who by the way i think staged the first ever holden i i'm need to copyright that i think i i came up with the holden that's pretty good melvin ingrab did it last year i remember he was just hanging out for a couple weeks the fact that

they don't seem to be sweating it suggests to me it's probably a deal is probably coming dwayne brown also may be uh doing a holden in seattle it's a little unclear if it's in but he definitely wants a new contract and he's definitely not practicing and that seems also so they might have dueling holdings right now and relax seahawks fans I'm not real I'm not like I'm not truly doing a jig because I agree with what Greg saying deal's probably going to get done but I will say this from experience be very careful this is a temperamental personality you're dealing with here and if your contract hits a snag and you bad blood starts to build he is not someone that ever holds his tongue, and it can cause issues, as we know. So I'm all for Jamal Adams getting the money's

worth. I know that he's a box safety, but he's also something that he offers something that really no one ever has done at his position at this level, which is his past rushing ability, and his ability to sack the quarterback, which has huge value as well. So I think he should get the contract. I just wonder also from a bigger picture with the Seahawks, this is such an important season in their trajectory, like going forward. We know all the Russell Wilson drama from earlier in the offseason, we know where Pete Carroll stands. He's the oldest coach in the league. And, you know, it's been a while now since they've been a true force in the NFC.

If things go south after the season and the Russell Wilson relationship sours further and maybe he's not even in the picture, are you building around a safety that's being paid more than it? I don't know. Is it makes sense to hold off on Adams, but will Adams allow that without things getting ugly? It's tricky, tricky business. But remember, the, the term. In terms of that trade, when they sent two first-round picks to New York to get Jamal Adams when he wanted a new contract, it gives Adams all the leverage in the world.

Seahawks have to pony up or it becomes one of the worst trades in a very long time. You raise great points. Seattle, to me, could be anywhere. You know, they could make the Super Bowl. They have enough talent. But it could also fall apart. Like, their number one cornerback right now is a Keller-Weather spoon. Number two is DJ Reed. Like, it is a long way from the Legion of Boom.

you have to have things come together. And I saw this, the whole, like, are we going to run the ball a lot again? Like, talk is starting up again in Seattle, like, because ultimately that's what Pete Carroll wants to do, but it doesn't want to, like, say it out loud because he knows everyone gets fired up. But every time I kind of doubt the Seahawks, they end up winning, like, 11 games. It's really hard. They're going 11 and 5. I mean, but I do think that there are, 11 and 6, there are potential rumblings on the horizon.

If Russell Wilson, despite his tweets saying how thrilled and how. happy is right now. All that could bubble back up, you know, come late January when they've been knocked out of the playoffs again. To Dan's point, I think it's Russ or Carol 2022 unless they go to the Super Bowl. But I do think it could be. I feel like a no-brainer who the organization should pick. Yeah, I agree. But yeah, the Seahawks have been good for so long. And even even though I'm using good and not necessarily positive right now, because they're kind of stuck in this good cul-de-sac. And being in the good cul-de-sac, it keeps certain people happy and paid and employed, but it doesn't necessarily lead to the Lombardis, that just winning

double-digit games is not going to be enough for this team. They're going to have to make a substantial playoff run, or I really do see changes coming. Changes in the depth chart of the Minnesota Vikings, a quarterback in training camp, Kirk Cousins and Kellynmond, the 66th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, were among the Vikings placed on the reserve COVID-19 list on Monday. that's a problem because Kellenman is the guy waiting in the wings of quarterback. Kirk Cousins is the starter entering, I believe, is a fourth season in Minnesota. He's the locked and loaded starter for the Vikings.

And this is also the same Kirk Cousins. And here we are talking about COVID-19 again because you cannot avoid it. Famously, last year said, if I die, I die. A little, a minor tweak of the famous Evandrago, if he dies, he dies. referring to himself when he was talking about precautions to slow the spread of COVID-19. So I don't know. Does that sound like a guy that's vaccinated?

Not particularly. Right? And the fact that he's out of practice tells us he's not because that's why Jake Browning, do I have the name right? Yeah, Jake Browning. Jake the Snake Browning. Can't see I'm overly familiar with Browning's work.

You could have Googled that in 30 seconds. I got it right. That's fair. That's fair. Browning threw over 100 passes, according to reporters in Saturday and Sunday's practice each. He was literally the only quarterback because he was vaccinated. And so Kirk Cousins, even though he didn't test positive, as far as we know, because of the rules, because he's a close contact in that quarterback room, you know, he and their fourth string rookie are out, you know, can't practice at all.

And they actually had to, you know, sign Cookess today. they worked out our old friend, old McDonald. So at least it's getting our old friend of Bright, Spice racks, Cole McDonald. You got to go with the full name. A.k.a. old McDonald's, yeah. Not even Cole McDonald. I'm talking about Case, Cookess. Case Cookess. That's awesome.

That feels like when you buy like a football video game and they don't have NFL licensing, like that would be one of the quarterbacks. Case Cookess, it's hard to believe that's a real human, but he is. I will say Zimmer seems steamed. And he's not alone. He's in that Ron Rivera. territory and they've got a bunch of stuff going on in Washington too. I think Zimmer has basically said like they asked why certain players were not vaccinated. He said they are reading some stuff

and they're involved in certain types of information campaigns that to him are just like, what are these people talking about? So I think he's just beyond, I think these coaches are trying to like counsel these guys to get it up to the 85, 90 plus percent range. And some of these teams are some of these coaching staffs are having a really rugged time convincing aspects of the team. Right, when he said some guys are stanchly against it, I think he was talking about Cousins. I mean, because Cousins, you know, is making the choice, even if you don't test positive, that you're risking an example like this. How about this quote from Zimmer, referring to our friend Jake Browning, Jake is really smart. He's vaccinated.

He's out there. He's available. It's important to be available in a team sport. And this is a big year for Mike Zimmer, by the way. you think he's pissed because there's bullshit and let's be honest that's what this is well to me and I think we're all in agreement these guys that aren't getting vaccinated

they put their team in a tough spot and Zimmer is just trying to put out the best team possible here and he's dealing with something that he has no control over and you see the frustration boiling over when it's wasted practices and like look at I mean people want to have their own opinions

on the whole vaccination thing I'm all about like that debate that's cool Like, I'm vaccinated personally, but, like, if you're going to be part of a football team, like, the whole point is you are wasting practices. You're, like, what's happening in Washington, they have like seven guys on the list right now. I mean, it's just these things matter. These days matter. And when this branches into week one through week five, week six, and it's going to for some teams, it's a mess. You almost seemed in tears because he was kind of, he was just saying, do it for me.

You know, I'm scared. I have immunocompromise. And right after that, five or six of his guys tested positive. So that's not working because he's trying to say it's not about you. It's about other people. That's generally this whole argument. But that's not going to work with everyone. That's what's happening in the news.

What's up, everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Sticks, we take you inside the game from scouting reports and player development to team-building philosophies. Coaching trends and how front offices construct winning rosters. Every week, we study the tape, talk to decision makers, and share the insights you won't find anywhere else. It's the kind of conversation that connects the dots, from college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow.

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Listen, I really like David Carr. He's a friend of the show. I remember a few years back, he came on our program, brokered a piece between Greg and I and Derek Carr over some blocking that had been done on social media. David was instrumental, as was Lindsay Rhodes in making that happen. And the only thing, David did nothing wrong other than accept the trophy. Would I

liked him to abdicate the trophy? Does that work? In real time just say, you know what? Thank you, Derek, my brother, but I can't accept this because this is the tugboat's property. Would I have liked that? Sure. But did I expect it happen? No. Is it too late

for it to happen? No. So in this fantasy land, he is aware of your self-appointed nickname Tugboat. Right. I mean, I think the first question... By the way, you know tugboat's, like, going off right now, so don't act like it's not something that's caught fire. Unlike all your other self-appointed nicknames, I like this one.

I'm all for tugboat. Don't put that self-appointed tag in front of it. Tugboat has an interesting origin story, too. I think Tugboat is an interesting origin story. It's attached to weather, a real weather event that happened on a very special weekend when we were together. So I think there's a little bit more to it than the other eight or nine nicknames that you've attempted to attach yourselves to.

I like some of them, Big Daddy Rich or whatever, that one, that was nice. Old Daddy Rich. That was a Chris Wesleyaned joint. Well? West Likened it to Chuck Daly, the former Pistons coach, and his love of his own hair. All right. Let's get to it. It's that time of year.

Training camps in full swing. Let's do some whispers. Why do you seem so scared? All I wanted to do is play with you. Whispies. Oh, jeez. That's a thing. I don't know what that's all about.

That's a thing. Let's get into it. Things that we're hearing, things that we're reading. They might not be the top headline over on NFL.com. Or over on the quote-unquote worldwide leader. Or over on PFT, Greg's old place of business. Maybe they're not top of the stack. But there's stuff that's going on behind the scenes that are going to have huge ramifications

in the short term and potentially the long term for teams. So, Greg, get us going with a whisper that you've heard or care to report on or analyze. I don't know whether to go with like the bigger story. When you described it to me, pumping up like the white slot receiver in the first few days of camp feels more like the classic whisper. And that's what's happening here with Adam Humphreys in Washington. I usually don't buy this stuff.

Oh, okay, like the nifty slot receiver is getting. getting open when there's no tackling. A shocker here, but hearing how Humphreys is Ryan Fitzpatrick's number one target day after day actually is meaningful to me because you look at what Humphreys did with Ryan Fitzpatrick, getting 100 targets per season back-to-back years when they were with the Bucks. Kind of forgot those Fitzpatrick Bucks days already. And you think this guy's only 28 years old. He got paid because of Ryan Fitzpatrick.

He was injured in Tennessee. and if nothing else, I'm not saying he's going to catch 100 passes. To me, he is a guy to be aware of, and it's another sort of stack here that I'm building in the case of the Washington football team being the most entertaining version of the Washington team that we've seen this century. And Humphrey's now added to the mix with McLaurin

and Logan Thomas, who just got paid, and Samuel and Gibson, I just think he's there. Whisper. That's the Whisper. I'm buying this whisper. I'm buying it. This ain't Chris Hogan on Hard Knocks. Four years, $36 million he got from the Titans off that run with the bucks.

And it did not happen. It didn't work out. And the Patriot supposedly tried to give him more money up front. Stunner. They got lucky. They got lucky they didn't in that scenario. And it just didn't work out in Tennessee. And that was a nice setup.

It seemed for him in Tennessee. So I guess I temper that. Where is he at age-wise at this point? He's 28. That's the thing. He's 28 and he was injured. He was injured the whole time. He tried to play through it.

He did not look good. He just turned 28. So, yeah, I mean, it feels like a nice, it could be a nice move. I'm with you on that. I mean, I think, like, we all love Ryan Fitzpatrick, but there is a scenario where he turns evil at some point and we get the lesser version of Ryan Fitzpatrick and you, and suddenly we have problems there.

But he won't turn evil. His game. Yeah, his play. I'm not saying his, the character. I'm just saying, you know, the film. Another whisper out of Washington there just in that relation is that Heineke has come out not playing well this camp, that even though they're splitting reps a little bit, Heineckee. Wisper. You know, it's interesting, and this is, I think, yeah, we're all happy that Ryan Fitzpatrick, he's going to get a chance to be a starter and who would have guessed it in 2021.

but it is also another cautionary tale of what happens when you blow a first round pick a quarterback and the ripple effect it has because I'm not totally buying this setup as much as I'd like Ryan Fitzpatrick to put together a great 17 game campaign. I think the role that he's been in the last few years is perfect for him as a relief man off the bench who can help you out in spurts. But when Dwayne Haskins bottoms out the way he did, you're kind of left scrambling and now they have this defense. this playoff ready defense, and they have some pieces on offense,

and you're just putting a lot on Ryan Fitzpatrick. We'll see. I don't know. I don't want to be negative about Ryan Fitzpatrick. Let me throw out another wide receiver. The whispers are getting louder out in Florin Park for Elijah Moore. The second round pick out of Ole Miss. I'm not going to say, and listen, Homer, obviously.

But I'm not going to say that this is going to be the Justin Jefferson of 2021, the rookie wide receiver who immediately goes off and becomes a big time star. But I would be very surprised, based on what we've heard through OTAs in the early portion of camp, if Elijah Moore does not have a significant role and isn't a playmaker out of the gate for the Jets. And a lot of that, of course, goes back to how Zach Wilson develops at quarterback. But as an example, in both the practices over the weekend, they started with long touchdown catches by more. And again, there's no pads on over the weekend and you can't really grab the receiver. So you don't want to get too caught up in these practices. But at the same time, he cannot be covered.

And the Jets don't have a great secondary. But just everything you're hearing is that this guy is different. He looks different. He plays different. And if he turns into a star, that is a huge hit for Joe Douglas to get in the second round in a draft that had several wide receivers taken in the first round. But this last note from Robert Mays over at the athletic, based on what we saw Saturday,

Moore isn't just going to be a slot option for the Jets. He's going to have the multifaceted role of a top shelf receiver, which is what they need because they have a lot of good guys in that group, including Corey Davis. Corey Davis is a perfect two. If Moore develops into a one quickly, the Jets are set up really well at wide receiver. I'd say the other whispers that Denzel Minn,

so we were so high on is, like, practicing with the third team. Part of that is because Elijah Moore has evolved so quickly. I mean, I don't, it's almost hard to call it a whisper because I feel like I've been hearing about Elijah Moore trumpeted from the New York press all spring into summer. And it is super. How about some? Whispers.

It is extremely enticing for the Jets, Dan. I hope so. I hope so, Mark. That was the rare sound draft, but it sounded like you were saying it live. Can we just hear that one again? I want to hear that one again. How about some? Whisper.

That guy's annoying You know, and Proud of me now, Dad? No. Actually, yes. Whisper. It's just a, that's a father who's not giving his son what he deserves,

which is to be told that he's loved and respected. Affirmation. But deep down does. Affirmation. Tough six. I want to see, like, look, last year was maybe the greatest rookie receiver class of all time. Maybe this is a trend.

Jefferson, Lamb. Claypool, Higgins, Judy, Ayuk, they all put up big numbers. So now we're like expecting a rookie receiver to put up some numbers. It doesn't seem so crazy. It used to be a position that you kind of waited a little bit until they got. I mean, that feels like anti-Jets propaganda, Greg. You're like what you're already looking at Elijah Moore no matter what he does. It's just a run-of-the-mill, 1,400-yard receiver as a rookie or something.

He could put up over it. If these guys can all go over 900, what's wrong with Moore going over 1,000, too? Like that it's not so unprecedented. I think for a Jets fan, though, you'd be peeing your pants because it's been like decades since anything like that's occurred. They haven't had an 1,000-yard receiver in six years, which is absurd in modern football. Mark, how about you? I'm going to go to Las Vegas. Hey, me, Mark.

I will allow you. How about some? Yes, be ours. Do all your things. Tell me when you're ready. Tell me when you're ready. Yes, be ours. Do you know, Mark, do you know in sitcoms when there's a laugh track?

And you can even watch it on YouTube. a friend's episode right when they take out the laugh track and how weird it is and it's almost like you're on acid when you're watching it when when the drops of this quality are being just just filtered into the program like a david swimmer you just give a slight pause let the drop breathe then take off in fairness though whispers in the past would always include us just going whisper so you know he didn't know this was the plan it's tough it's tough to adapt on the fly i mean the drop comes when i'm like two-thirds through a sentence how about some well that's listen not not not when you're not when you're two-thirds through a sentence how about some

so it's just like i'll i will i will take a pause it'll be a 20-minute pause until the show ends how about that all right mark you've made your point no more fun everybody go ahead mark um okay out to las Vegas i'm just i'm waiting for her to drop it again, I think there's a little whisper about a guy that was chuckled at during draft day. Alex Leatherwood, why did the Raiders pick this guy? His name is funny. He is a total reach. We had our fun with him, as did everyone. But the reports coming out of Las Vegas are that he has been, he's settled in very quickly at right tackle. He's looked great. They say good feet, his hands, he's fluid, and he's got good size. And the Raiders basically have installed more

than 400 plays on offense, and he hasn't really skipped a beat. And so, you know, Mike Mayock, I think needs a win. If you look at actually like Jonathan Abram, like some of these guys that have been drafted that were meant to come in and be stars, simply have not been at all. And like, this was the one where everyone thought, Mayok, you think differently, but are you actually capable of picking players for the Raiders that can turn this team around? If Leatherwood clicks, it does wipe away some of the nonsense that happened with their offensive line. Yeah, I think that Mayok's done. if they don't show progress as a team and these draft picks, either from the last couple of classes or you make a good point.

If Leatherwood has a really good first year, I think that helps a lot. We don't know what is the true reporting structure and who's actually making the picks. Maybe it's actually John Gruden, but Mayock in his role is the GM obviously has a voice in the room, if not the biggest voice. And I think there's going to, someone who's going to have to pay for it if they have another bad season.

I would also add quickly that like Henry Ruggs, who was another disappointment, they noted that he added 13 pounds because he was getting pushed around as a run blocker last year, and he said he wanted to basically not have that happen again, and he looks completely different. I do think it's worth noting

that the Raiders big changes on the offensive line other than Leatherwood was like self-scouting. Like, they're replacing one of the best centers of the last 10 years in Rodney Hudson, but they did it because there was a guy in-house in Andre James that they really believed in. like that's been there for a couple years. It wasn't necessary.

Denzel Good is also playing that guard that they're replacing. Like it's a couple in-house guys. I think Gruden loves having Mayak there because I think finding the right GM for Gruden where Gruden's really in charge is tricky. Someone that he can work with well, but is ultimately subservient in many ways. I think that's like a...

There's no shortage of those guys looking to be a GM though, Greg. And you know, Gruden has a lot of relationships over the last 25 years, 30 years. I just think maybe there's going to be a point with this quote-unquote rebuild where there might need to be a sacrifice if the fan base is on fire if things go sideways again. That's true. And they have a lot of guys in their secondary.

They need their safety morgue to work out. Maybe Trayvon Mullen steps it up a little bit this year. Like they've made a lot of moves. All right. You're up, Greg. Whisper. Waspers. Well done.

See, the slight pause, the little swimmer pause there, Mark. Thanks, Dan. I understand how that works technically, too. That's not what was happening with me. Let's go to the most predictable whisper of all time. Shocker, and this is really being positioned this way, Trey Lance actually looks so good that even though you would have never guessed it in OTAs in minicamp, maybe has a shot to start week one.

We should have, why is that shocking? Maybe it's, to the guys who are there covering it every day, they like, knowing more doesn't help because the coaches are saying it. They're watching it. And yeah, of course, Jimmy G looks better in OTAs or whatever. But if you take a step back, this job is going to be Trey Lance if Trey Lance balls out. And through four or five games, four or five practices, again, non-padded, it sounds like he's playing quite well and that he's going to have a chance.

And to me, this is a rocket ship taking off. And if he keeps it up and plays well, on the preseason, he is their week one starter. I don't know if Jimmy G stays on that team or not, but people are loving the deep throws that Trey Lance is trying that Jimmy G doesn't even attempt. So again, if they're like even, it goes to the rookie. Like if it's close to a tie, it goes to the rookie.

And right now they're saying like if you just watch the two quarterbacks, it's close to a tie and Lance offers something Jimmy G. obviously does. I mean, come on. I mean, this is the handpicked. rookie that everyone's in love with in that building. If he's showing that he is able to play the guitar right off the bat, why hesitate? Pull the trigger.

And if you could trade Garapolo, who knows? Yeah, it's very early. And things, again, change a lot starting this week once the pads are on and things get more difficult for the offensive side of the ball because the defense is no longer playing with one hand behind his back. Maybe Lance totally is flustered once that happens. but if he's not, what's the case for staying with Jimmy G

other than just, oh, well, he was on our team that went to the Super Bowl. Like, you've got to play the best guy, right? I think of anything, you want to put a lot of Jimmy G. out there during the summer to, as we've talked about, he's trade bait at this point. Another quarterback goes down. Suddenly he becomes very tradable,

and they get a high price for him if he looks good in the preseason. Or they get a high price form anyways. But here's the thing about Trey Lance. Even if they stick to the script and start the season with Jimmy G, I still think you're going to get a sub-package with Lance that's just going to grow by the week. He is the same height and one pound heavier than Colin Kaepernick and can do things that Colin Kaepernick could not. And everything they say about him is just that he's pure electricity.

If you go watch his college film, there is something about him that you just cannot keep off the field. So I think you're just going to get a bigger and bigger dose until he just naturally takes over the role if he doesn't take it right away. I think there's a case to be made to keep Jimmy G as a $26 million backup. I know you want to avoid that. But if you're not getting any real exciting offers for Jimmy G, I'd rather have those two than counting on Trey Lance to stay healthy and great for 16 games when you have a Super Bowl ready roster. I would just keep Jimmy G.

See if he'll try to take a pick, try to force him to take a paycheck, but that would be difficult. But I think if you're a fan... Just pay him as the backup. You want Nate Sudfeld as your backup this year, 49ers fans? No. But if you're a fan, though, like who cares about Jimmy G? G's contract for this year if he's not the better quarterback.

Like, that's stuff that we can all get in the weeds about. But, like, at this point, you put the better player in, and they have invested a lot more in Trey Lance, if you think about it than just the money to Jimmy G. Jimmy G is a more tradable asset than I would have thought before you do a little bit of digging. He's under contract only through 2022. So this year and next.

The salary is, you know, pretty high. But if you can factor in a way to work things out financially to maybe take on some of that. I wonder if you took on a portion of his salary, what Jimmy G would fetch in a trade. If you didn't take on any of the salary for the Niners, maybe it's a mid-round pick, but maybe you get a second round pick for him if you eat some of the salary. I'd rather keep them. I'd rather keep them. I'm with you. Because I don't want a losing record for what, the fourth time in five years. Quarterback's so important. It's a weird situation they're in, but I still just keep them and pay them. I think that does give you some cover too, because this is

a team with Super Bowl aspirations and you're all in in 2021. So if you can, if you can afford to have a backup that's making $25 million. It's a little weird. I mean, it's, but the payroll is set at this point. Like I, you know, just go go to work. No, it is. It is. All right. In other quarterback news, this headline from Denver 7, ABC, so much for steady teddy, period, the rare period, in the headline. Bridgewater craters as defense dominates. Where's that headline from? Denver 7, ABC.

Troy Rank with the report. Also in the lead, Steady Teddy had more interceptions than gloves. Oh! Oh, no. In an otherwise accurate training camp, Bridgewater cratered on day four, picked off three times

as the Broncos gnarly defense dropped its fangs. Drew Locke played well. during the same time. And according to Mr. Rank, by his count, through four practices, Locke leads the QB Derby 2-1-1 as the team returns to practice Monday and puts on pads for the first time on Tuesday. My point here is not to get into another Teddy Bridgewater debate, but to kind of put it out there that there is a pretty decent chance.

True Locke somehow ends up being the starting quarterback for the Broncos in 2021, something that I thought would never, could never be the case by the end of last year. And it just seemed like they knew, everyone knew that they needed to get better at that position. But when you bring in, and this I guess is where the Teddy Talk comes in a little bit, when you bring in someone like Teddy Bridgewater where the ceiling maybe isn't as high as you want it to be, you might end up in a situation where you're going back to the lock well. And that might not turn out well for this Broncos team that is otherwise ready to make a run. Won't this be like the fifth time in six or seven years that we'll see two, if not three, Broncos starting quarterbacks?

And I predict that we will see whoever starts week one, fine. We'll see the other quarterback by the end of week two. Well, Fangio today, Monday pointed out, Teddy Bridgewater bounced back huge. So it's two, two to one. Here's a tweet. Teddy Bridgewater pushing the ball down the field today, hits on a, 40 yard. Bob, oh my gosh, Cortland's Sutton Deep. It's a whole new Teddy. I'm with you, Mark. We'll probably see both. We'll probably see both. I think the only chance that we see one is

if Teddy gets week one, and I would give him a slight edge to get that, and they just start winning. But other than that, you're right. I think we'll see both eventually. All right, Mark, you're up. All right, let's go to Arizona where our friend Peter Schrager noted that someone that I've been down on, this signing, the whole concept of the Cardinals going after A.J. Green and putting them on tickets and, you know, all this other business. It's like, are we really talking about A.J. Green this way? But according to Schrager, said that he has looked incredible out there at Cardinals' practice. And not just A.J. Green, but rookie Rondale Moore also looked fantastic. Dominant showing today, he said by both of the wide receivers. Number three point, Colt McCoy, a quiet, great signing,

according to Peter Schrager. So we're hitting aces across the board here. Well, that actually makes me feel more suspect about the first two nuggets. Well, it's a great quality signing because he brings not just his, you know, limited athletic ability, but his, I would say, high character and ability to teach younger players. Teach your children well. There you go. Cosby Stills, Nash, and McCoy. Not sure I quite buying the AJ Green hype yet.

It'd be nice to see. It came from our colleague, Greg. Well, I'm just saying. One hoogs claimed he respected you highly. So if anything, you could return the respect. It's not that I doubt that he's been looking good. I have some doubts whether he keeps it going in the season. But I was expecting him to be fine last year, and it did not happen.

The shocking thing to me is that Larry Fitzgerald might still be on this team. This isn't a whisper, but we haven't talked about it here. Cliff Kingsbury said that it was up to Larry Fitzgerald. And some teammates have talked about it. So it indicates they've offered Larry Fitzgerald a contract, in that Larry Fitzgerald has some interest in playing. I kind of thought Larry Fitzgerald was retired or that he was being forcibly retired. Well, it's been very quietly open-ended, for sure.

It's been, I think, I thought he was getting forcibly retired, but the way that the Cardinals have publicly talked about it makes me think almost for sure that they offered him a contract. Like, like, there's not a lot of room for him on the field. That it's up to him to go, like, earn a spot on the team, essentially. They offered him one of those types of contracts, probably close to the minimum. And if he wants to play for that, he can play. And if not, see ya.

but they actually are leaving that open. Do you remember, Mark, like the last three or four seasons of the office? I was kind of depressing. I try not to some degree, but yes. It's a long timeline there. And the show, the show was so tremendous seasons one through about four that what happened starting really in about season six through eight or nine, it started to almost remove some of the shine off the show.

and you kind of wish they would have ended it sooner, like when Michael left, for instance. That's kind of how I feel about Larry Fitzgerald's career. He is the office of wide receivers to me in the 2000s, and to see him have who is the Spader, James Spader. I don't need like a James Spader era of Larry Fitzgerald in the NFL. I think last year we saw a lot to give us a clue that maybe he wasn't the guy anymore. to be playing a wide receiver in the NFL. But, hey, he's also inclined to do whatever he wants.

It's an app comparison. So when does he just, does he decide, like on September 8th, I'm going to show up and play? I mean, this would be the time to maybe show up if you're going to do it. Might be a sign he is going to retire. I mean, we saw Jerry Rice, you know, get cut by a few teams. It's hard to keep track which one was the last one. The Seahawks?

Was that? That was Spader-esque. Yeah, you would think Fitzgerald's trying to avoid that But maybe he won't even Maybe he won't even show up The offense, the quote unquote air raid offense in Arizona A lot of volume Tons of plays

They led the league and you're like Oh cool, they're explosive But all they did last year Especially as things cratered down the stretch Is just throw short, short, short, short short, short and Larry Fitzgerald That's kind of what his thing is They need AJ Green

Or at least the modern day version of Larry Fitzgerald What they need is A.J. Green to be the old AJ Green but he might just be old AJ Green. Not according to Schrager so we'll track that.

All right. Let's do one more quick round. Greg. I got a few. Waspers. Well, you got stepped on that time didn't you, David Swimmer.

I do not want to be the Shwimmy. I do not want to be the swimmer. Let me be Joey, I guess. I'll be Phoebe. That's who I. Joey. You're not a Phoebe, Greg. You're not a Phoebe.

Come on now. You're not a Joey. We're struggling to find your character here. So I'm going to grab Chandler. Mark, it's been established a swimmer. I'm going to be that the guy who owned the coffee place. He just passed away. I think it's a little too soon.

Could you be any more insensitive? See, I'm Chandler. I'm going to go, because it's all been Sunshine and Roses. I'm going to go negative here. Adam Beasley, long time reporter for the dolphin, covering the dolphins. now works for Pro Football Network, PFN. It says there's concerns about Jalen Waddle,

you know, their number six overall pick. Oh. That he has not fully recovered from the ankle injury that he played through in the National Championship. You'll remember that he is limping, that there is concern within the building. He has not regained his same explosiveness. He did not have surgery, I don't believe.

And it seemed like he went the rehab route and that, like, they're trying to sell it as, like, 90% of Waddle is still faster than plenty of people, and he's out there, he's practicing. But when they asked Waddle about it, his answer was, well, I'm out here practicing, and that's all that matters. So that it kind of indicates he knows exactly what he's talking about here, that ankle is taped, and that that's a concern because you, you, you went all out to get this kid and you want him to make a fact, be a factor right away. Also, if you're less than 100% on August 1st, when you start getting your ass kicked in the NFL, it's, it's probably something that could get worse. Ah, that's, you hate to hear that. That's a tough situation.

Think about the fact they traded up to get him. I mean, they gave away draft assets to get this guy. In other wide receiver injury news, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said that Marquis Brown suffered a hamstring injury that's actually more significant than originally believed that's going to lead to Rashad Bateman, their rookie first-round pick, and also Sammy Watkins to get more opportunities. But Sammy Watkins, of course, is always hurt. And there's always an injury right around the corner.

With that former first round pick and Bateman, it's, you know, you could go Justin Jefferson or you could go Jalen Rager or any other insert rookie that doesn't really break out here. That's putting a lot on his plate if Marquis Brown is dealing with injuries. And that comes in the same time, Lamar Jackson. He's not going to be back at practice until Friday at the earliest. We don't need to belabor this, but we just talked about it with Kirk Cousins because he's not vaccinated. His timetable is different. and he's going to be out now

the first two weeks of camp at least because of his latest bout with COVID with no guarantee that he doesn't catch it again so put it all together this is a raven scene that needs to take a step forward on offense and this thing's a little jumbled here in the summer anyway again no panic

it's just a whisper Bateman though has been getting rave reports and actually so is Sammy Watkins and I understand like we can pump the brakes on him at any moment but and I know it's Greg Roman who is, you know, he was with him in Buffalo, but said he's just been by far the best wide receiver at camp.

So at least, you know, the guys on the field looking pretty good. He said he was one of the best receivers in all of football. That actually was so outlandish that I thought, he is the one calling the plays. And Sammy Watkins has not entered a training camp healthy in a while. So you're right, Dan. I have, we've been burned so many times. It might end any second now.

But if you want to tell me Watkins, Wally stays healthy as their number one receiver, I would totally believe that. Yeah. Yeah. Agreed. Mark. I will go to the New York Giants training camp,

and the athletics, Dan Dugan mentioned that the G men, and I'm just going to read what he wrote, I love this paragraph. The G men have thrown an excessive number of fades into the end zone with little success. Quarterback Daniel Jones and new big money receiver, Kenny Goladay, have struggled to get into rhythm on the timing throws, so they've stayed after some practices to get extra reps.

Jones was intercepted by safety Logan Ryan on an overthrown fade to tighten Evan Ingram on Friday's practice, And it just sounds like last year's 31st ranked offense is struggling at the moment. That was my end quote. It is, I don't think it's Daniel Jones or Kenny Galladay's fault that stupid offensive play callers are still calling for the end zone fade. Horrible play. Never works.

It works like once every, you know, 75 plays, it's the hardest throw to make in the entire world. Can we stop attempting it? Right. I don't think that's the only play that's not working for them, but you are right about that particular play call. That is, it is a reminder, too. They were like one of the worst teams inside the 10-yard line ever.

That's how you have a quarterback end up with 11 touchdowns. That's like, you think of how many throws Daniel Jones threw inside the 10-yard line that weren't complete last year. I'm not going to go too crazy. Think how much better you'll do inside the 10 with Saquan Barkley there, who's, quote, making tangible progress toward returning to practice. But, you know, the longer it takes them to return to practice, the more you're concerned about

what kind of Sequin Barclay you get and if he's going to be ready week one, hopefully he's there because the offense will be a lot better with Barclay. Let's, we haven't really, it's weird, and this isn't just our show. In general, the Jaguars and Trevor Lawrence

aren't getting a ton of pop because, I don't know, there's just no buzz and sexiness to a guy that's the number one pick six months before the draft and you just assume certain things. But interesting stuff going on in Jacksonville where Trevor Lawrence has alternated repetitions with the first team offense

through the first four days of training camp. He's done very well. But C.J. Bethard and Gardner Meenchu also getting plenty of work here. And new head coach Urban Meyer, you know, he's out there. He's, you know, of course, a legendary college coach. And he's giving you the rah-rah stuff with,

hey, the best man, may the best man win. But can we cut it out? I mean, let the best man. start the best man is of course Trevor Lawrence who's the generational type prospect of quarterback so I say give him every single rep give him every rep and get this kid ready for week one and stop playing this game this college game because you're not in college anymore this is where the big boys put on the big boy pants Mr. Meyer give Trevor Lawrence the gig I agree with that and give a gardener minchu to the Colts for for like nothing just for my own

enjoyment. I want to see that. That would be a spicy trade. You have to wonder if the Jacksonville Jaguars would be so self-confident to do like what Bill Belichick did, you know, trading Drew Bledsoe in the division to the bills way back when. I mean, would the Jaguars consider that a tradable spot? I don't know. Look at Mark comparing Minchu to who, you know, the guy who had the biggest contract in NFL history at that time.

I mean, the cults would still go one and four with Minchu, but think of all the cool mustache is in the crowd at Lucasoe Stadium. No, they probably go four and one, to be honest. Here's why the Jags aren't getting much buzz, by the way. The athletic doesn't have a Jaguars writer right now. I need that. Rely on you, athletic for all the teams. Florida Times Union totally understand the economic model for newspapers.

Not sustainable. Can't get those articles. There's nothing coming out of Jaguars practice right now. It's already like the smallest market. Big Cat Country, you know, I see you. But that's more aggregation. We need, there's no reporting. It's like a black hole right now.

We need more. Media blackout in Duval. If you're out there, Jags fans, and you have a trusted source that you believe in for reporting out of Duval County, please hit up at Greg Rosenthal.

Right. I'm doing the debrief. Check it out. It's up on Mondays. It's like all the notes, what we learn from around the league. And it's just tough. There's a couple black holes,

but Jacksonville, it's tough to find any information out of there. All right. Anybody else have anything? I think we hit it How about this? I feel bad for the Cowboys No, don't feel bad for the Cowboys.

What? You know, I've been kind of like bringing up all the bad stuff for DAC and, you know, Dak not throwing, like, that is significant. And Lawrence is coming up back surgery and Cooper's been out seven months. Those are all significant.

So is the fact that Tyron Smith and Leighton Van deresh who have not been healthy in years have showed up looking about as good as they have in years and are two of the truly elite athletic players at their respective positions. If those two guys were actually at their best this year, like that, that changes the Cowboys. So there's a little positive news for the Cowboys. 8 and 9 or 9 and 8, Mark? 8 and 9.

I'm not getting sucked in this year, Greg. It's happened to me too many times in the past. So we're what? We're rolling Washington? I don't know. That is an absolutely absurd division of football. In fact, coming up soon, we're going to do our division power rankings. I call them the overly esoteric division power rankings.

That's coming up soon. The O-E-D-P-R. O'Dipur. See, who's the guy that was on our show, Aaron Chats? Right. If he can just come up with DV-O-A and that becomes industry standard, Oedipur. Yeah, people.

Overly esoteric division power rankings. The people whispered, you know, they thought this was only like kind of an offseason, dead of the offseason type of content, but the division power rig, it's coming right back in the middle of August. People are surprised. If only I would have thought of it in June, but I didn't. I thought of it in August. I like it.

That's coming up soon. We'll figure out what's the best division, what's the worst division. I don't know what to think about. I mean, who is the, in the desert, Greg, who's the recognized division favorite? Is it the Cowboys? I think so, but I don't know off the top of my head. I think what I noticed was the Cowboys in Washington were way ahead of the other two. And to me, you could shake up all four of those, and I feel like they all have a chance.

And even the Eagles. We'll find out during five long hours of Hard Knocks with Jerry Jones, waxing poetic nonstop from wire to wire. Listen, I'm the only one that has to watch it, Mark. You do not have to watch it. Well, I've actually really, I've enjoyed them. You know, I'm not a cynic against Hard Knocks, but I mean, you know, if you're going cowboys, You are. You're like the definition of a cynic against hard knocks.

If anyone in the country is a cynic of hard knocks, it is... You literally just said, Mark, during five long hours of hard knocks. Like, that is the definition of being cynical about it. It is an opportunity to do something special and teach us things we don't know. So if you're going cowboys, it's just like... Tell me that I have a little bit of a reason to be on edge about that as the chosen team. Mark, do you know how much, like, battery power I could say? or like usage I could save on my cell phone

if I just deleted the hundreds of tweet texts that you've spent over the years about how much you don't like Hard Knocks while it's happening. Like that's taking up huge... Except for the Brown season. The Brown season was like transcendent on every level. That was excellent television.

Beautiful television. Greg, by the way, some of the things that I text you are not to be announced on the podcast in front of, you know, however large the audience is, just an FYI. Trillions. All right. Good app.

We'll be back Thursday with another edition of the show. I think we might have a guest sitting in. We're working on it. And the around the NFL broadcast and NFL network. Also back on Friday. Also big things cooking over on that front with a reboot coming for week one of the season. We'll get you more info on that soon.

Head on over if you can to iTunes and rate and review this fair podcast. It makes a difference. We won Best New Podcast 2013. Apple distowed that upon us, and we are looking for more hardware. It's officially, it has come to the point where we need to ramp up the awareness of this podcast for the award-giving cognizanti. We won the Stitcher in 2014, right? Best podcast, the sports podcast. We were nominated for some.

We've been nominated a bunch. Last year, but we forgot. It's Susan Lucci-esque. We've been nominated a bunch, but I think if our fans help raise the profile via iTunes, I think if I had to guess, and I don't want to be cynical here, but in the absurd world that is giving away trophies to podcasts, that is a substantial thing that happens in the world now, if I had to guess, I bet a bunch of these gibronies,

just go over to the podcast, the Apple Podcasts, and they see who has the highest stars, and who has the most comments, and then they say, all right, give these Gibrones a trofe in a big spot. Well, I'd say real talk. It's been a dry spell, and I don't see it ending any time soon with the way these things work. Just that, you know, do we deserve it? Absolutely. Will we get it?

Absolutely not. I like to think that they're doing a lot of research, that they're going back to the August 2nd episode, and they're like, well, Mark did talk through that sound drop. I guess we'll go with the fantasy football. this year for our award. Pin it on me, that's fine. I can take it. Can you clean that up with the talking over my drops?

Because I put a lot of work into that. I think I've explained why that happened and how it happened. And I think the finger points to someone else. All right. Good stuff. Ricky's just sitting it out. That's fine. We'll be back again on Thursday.

All right. Till Thursday, heed the call. We're going to be able to be. Hey, everybody, Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move to Six, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective,

You won't find anywhere else. It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sunday. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael Florio, and together we host the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast. Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season? Then you need the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast, your ultimate source for player

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