NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Comeback SZN

Episode Date: May 6, 2020

A bunker filled with heroes - Dan Hanzus, Chris Wesseling, Marc Sessler and Gregg Rosenthal are in PARADISE - well, Gregg is. Frank Gore has a new home and life is easy at home. The heroes break down what players are ready for a COMEBACK SZN.Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comNFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Hey, everybody. Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the 6th, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else.

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. Hey, everybody, before we get to today's show, just want to remind you that on Friday, the Around the NFL TV show on NFL Network returns Friday, 6 p.m. Eastern, 3 p.m. Pacific. Set your DVRs. Give us a watch. Support the show. We love you. You love us. Let's just make this happen together. Around the NFL, on NFL Network, Friday. check it out onto the show the around the NFL podcast not bad one star welcome to another edition of the around the NFL podcast my name is Dan Hansis and I am coming to you from the city filled with heroes in bunkers Mark Sessler Chris Wessling Greg Rosenthal what is up boys

hey Dan hey oh We've got a live Sessler today based on our pre-show talk. Wesleying, too. We've got a couple live wires. I don't know. I mean, is anyone else dealing with a home? It's like 117 degrees in this room that I'm in. And I mean, this needs to be a quick episode.

We need to get in and we need to get out. You are looking a lot of bells and whistles and nonsense today. You're looking a little more Ted Kaczynski like as the beard grows. Yeah, I am. You know, and it's not going to get any better. There's no improving any of this at this point. I mean, go ahead, Wes. I cannot contain the adrenaline pumping through my veins for the schedule release.

That's why you get a live Wesleyan today. We are 24 hours away. It is the new West of us until Joe Burrow gets Cincinnati back into the postseason. Yeah, it's not only are we quarantined and families stuck together in small spaces. Now the heat is rising in Southern California, but you head over to Santa Monica, Greg, in paradise. So, Greg, probably another beautiful day for you with the family in quarantine. I mean, it's not like the weather is that much different here. Although, you know, seven or eight degrees makes a nice difference.

Yeah. So peaceful, though, and tranquil. It's really nice for that. No, no one's been sleeping. My son Walker has not been sleeping in neither of I for now, three days. But that's not unique necessarily to the quarantine. We've got our, we've got our struggles. A lot of reading?

For the last couple days? It's too long of a conversation, I think, where my mind is at. I think this quarantine, it like, you know, I think when we're just floating along doing our jobs, it's like, what are, you know, what's the purpose here? Maybe I struggle with that a little bit normally. Like, what's the purpose of what we're doing here in this life? But in the quarantine, it kind of focuses your purpose. You've got to take care of your family.

You've got to do your stuff that gives you a little more, me a little more calm, you know? how about that you sent us a photo of you sitting in the sunlight on your back porch area with the children playing together a man at peace well I thought the photo was funny because I was reading and relaxing and my son you know Walker basically had Ellis in a total headlock smashing her face into like a concrete ground with me doing like nothing like two feet of way. Do those children often grapple with each other in that way? That kind of surprised me. Yeah, a little bit. I wrestle with Walker, certainly, too. Try to get the energy out. He likes the wrestling. I thought about it a little bit, actually, Greg, after the show on Monday. Like this,

for example, right now, there he is. There he is. The boy who would be king, Walker, he just came into the shot. And I think you are just suited very well to the quarantine, Greg. Because if Jack burst into the garage right now. Luke burst into Mark's little recording enclave. We would face anxiety and be worried about how we're going to handle a situation. You're almost like the Zen Master. You welcome the child on your lap. Sit boy. Be a part of this with me.

This looks like Phil Jackson with Rodman on his lap. We were talking about wrestling, Walker. What do you think about wrestling lately? Okay, see, so I love that. That's what I have, I have two of that situation happening. There goes to Zend. That was a Velociraptor. That would send me into a seizure of Jack did that on my lap in the middle of the podcast.

So I just think, I think after thinking about it personally, Greg, after the show Monday, that maybe just your, the way you're hardwired is kind of perfect for the quarantine. And good for you. Thank you. Yeah. I'm happy for you. I mean, you're also, Greg, you're a noted foodie. I mean, you always seem to be, you know, gallivanting around town, going to various eateries. I mean, what is that's been taken away from you?

Or are you organizing four-star meals on the home front? This is a lot about me. I'm starting to feel uncomfortable. But, well, we did our anniversary on Monday. So we did order, like, some of these restaurants are doing these sort of family meals where you can get a pretty fancy one. We did that on Monday. But no, for the most part, it's home-cooked meals. But Emeka, you know, she's a institute of culinary education trained chef, so those aren't bad.

What a life. The pieces are in place to succeed, I think, in Greg's house. Can we please change this subject? No longer a gallivanty now I'm not feeling to. Now he just gallivance through his own house during quarantine. No longer feeling. And he's got a trained chef. On site.

All right. Coming up on today's show, Ricky, hey Ricky, what's up? You are the resident 20-something of the group, you know, for a little while longer anyway. Yikes. And as such, we need to connect with the youth. Now that I've turned 40, it is not a good situation for our show for white guys in our, for a middle age. So you need to like help us connect with the youth. You do a great job at the social.

Today's segment, comeback season. we need you to really push that out in the social universe spelling season as ZN all caps you need that yeah that's huge for getting this show out there to the audience and letting them know that we have not lost touch okay I mean Erica one question is is SZN a bit of a tired phrase itself at this point are we really on the cutting edge?

I mean it's on its way out but I feel yeah I feel like we're we're right on the cusp where we might be able to get away with it. Once we use it, it's over. We're pretty late. It's kind of in autumn right now, I feel like as a phrase. It's not as bad as, I'm not going to say who, but I did see a beat writer much older than us

say that a team's position group was on fleek. Last week, like the tight end group was on fleek or something. Who was it? You have to tell us who it was. Yeah, we'll bleep it out. Who was it? I'm not saying. Which team?

You've got to text us. I'll text you. All right. You can bleep it out. It was. Oh, no. Well, it especially does not fit. No, no.

No, it's not. All right. So we're going to share some players that are coming off disappointing 2019 seasons. And I don't know who you guys are going with, but I kind of see this as less injury-related and more just a disappointing season. one where there were a lot of expectations and maybe the person was a little beat up, but I hope nobody has somebody that blew out an ACL in week one.

This is more people who disappointed and now are on the comeback trail, potentially. Are we all on the same page with us? I am. I can go either way. All right. I got a lot of options. I like comeback season.

All right, let's do some news. Let us start with my favorite football team, the New York Jets, who have, added a running back to their fleet. Their running back group is on fleek after Frank Gore, the inconvenient truth was signed to a one-year deal on Tuesday. Obviously, huge ramifications, Greg, for you and I on this one.

Gore, the Forever veteran, was a big, has bounced around Forever. Adam Gase, he played under Gase in Miami. Gase loved him. And in this time when Lavian Bell is coming off a deeply disappointing season, and there's been talk that the Jets will like to maybe make it more of closer to a committee situation in the backfield. Frank Gore enters the fray 37 years old this month. Greg, your thoughts on Frank Gore entering the picture for the New York Jets? Well, I immediately thought all your little Frank Gore, you know,

How's the locker room going to survive without him jokes? Not so funny now, is it? Hansis. Well, he's in my locker room. He's coming to save the Jets locker room. I mean, look, I think it's, no matter what you think of Frank Gore, it's incredibly impressive. He's been able to keep getting jobs. I mean, 37-year-old running backs playing well enough that people will keep giving him jobs.

I don't think it's going to change the Jets season. I think he played like a fine backup last year. I know Wes thinks him just being a home. Homer there, but I think he's a fine backup. It shows your boy, Billy Powell's not coming back. He's out. This is going to sound like I'm ripping on Levi-on-Bell, but Frank Gore had more playmaking ability than Levi-on-Bel last year.

Yeah, I mean, I think the Jets... It was a bad year for Bell. It was. The Jets have to make sure they come out of this next season, whatever we get of this next season, with Levion Bell not being one of the worst free agent signings of the past five years. I mean, it's been a total... I am not knocking...

It's not an anti-Jets thing. It's just he's one of the more disappointing players in the league. Stick a pin in that Levi-on-Bel conversation for a little bit later. Right. He fits into what, where he fits into that for sure. I want to say this, Greg. Very Greg-centric pot so far, I'm loving. Let's just like, let's just go over where we're at right now.

First, the Jets draft your favorite wide receiver prospect, Denzel Mims. Then they go out and sign your favorite player of all time, practically. at a time where it seemed like his career had reached an end, I just want to add one more thing. You know, they also need a backup quarterback. Wait a second, Ricky. And now another edition of Sipping on Vino, checking on Gino.

What if? Bear with me here. The Jets bring back Gino as their backup to Darnold. At what point do the Jets become your favorite team? I mean, you're in time of transition yourself with Tom Brady with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers now. I mean, I've got many other candidates of fun teams to root for.

First of all, I don't even want Gino coming back to the Jets. They don't deserve them. And Gino deserves better than this second. If this means that this segment's coming back, I don't like this segment. It's disrespectful to Gino. I want him on it.

He's a guy who only goes to play goes with playoff teams. And I do worry that Adam Gase has got to ruin some of these players. Before we do that, we got to close that segment. Close the segment. And that was. was another edition of

Sipping on Vino, checking on Gino. Go ahead. I mean, that was basically it. I think it's the same thing Jets fans worry about, too. When good things seem to happen to them, you just worry, is Adam Gase going to be able to capitalize on this? It's fair.

He's the one thing for Jets fans. It's an optimistic off-season that you feel like they might be going in the right direction. but the one thing for me and millions of other gangrene supporters is the head coach, the right guy, and not a lot of positive evidence in year one. I don't, for the record, love the Gore signing. I never played professional football or college football or really high school football. So I can't really tell you how important it is to have like a badass veteran in the locker room. But in terms of who they could have had to potentially handle.

handcuff with Levi-on-Bell, I mean, I probably would have rather had Carlos Hyde or a younger back. They also, of course, have a rookie Le Michael P. Rine out of Florida. I don't want him to be buried on the bench this year because the Jets are going to move on from Levy on Bell next year. So that's my feeling on that. But, you know, he brings a lot to the locker room. We know that. He was still playing fine. He's a fine backup. It makes me wonder a little bit as you're talking. I mean, if Bell actually did start out well, would he be a guy that if someone gave him a fifth round pick for him, they would just trade him in week six, you know? In other Jets news, they placed wide receiver Quincy and Noonwa on the reserve pup list with a neck injury. And this is a sad story because he was the one kind of draft hit for John Idzik in the late rounds back in 2014, a six-round pick, who really was developing.

into a nice player. He's kind of a tweener, but in a good way, where he was really big and cornerbacks couldn't handle him, but he was faster than linebackers. He was really developing into a guy, but the neck injury wiped out his 2017 season. He played well in 2018 and got a four-year contract, and then the neck injury again got him in the first game last season. Jets, by the way, opened last season and then lost CJ Mosley and Quincy and Noonua for the year in that first game against the bills. Anyway, so Noonua, 27 years old, his career is probably over and it makes a lot of sense why um you heard during the ramp up through the offseason uh joe douglas never committing to a new because this was never a good situation with the

next situation it's so unfortunate because i think when you look at the way all receivers play he has one of the most fearless playing styles like truly a physical wide receiver um and you just wonder even if he gets to play again will will he be able to play with that same style in two 2021 or 2022 whenever he, if he does come back. I mean, we talked about Denzel Mims. A lot of receivers take a year or two to really become what they are. He doesn't really have the luxury of that with what they're dealing with at that position. Yeah, that's true.

Although if Chris Herndon's kind of the forgotten guy, feels like he's almost like the key weirdly other than darn him that offense. Because for a minute, I thought like Chris Erndon might be an all-pro type of tight end. And if he plays like that, then the receiver group looks a lot better. Herndon is a guy that people close to the team love. They see him as a guy that could be a big star. He, of course, his entire season was wiped away by injury as well. Anunwa, by the way, landed a four-year, $33.4 million contract extension in 2018,

played one game on that deal. And because Big Mac, Mike McCagnan, was not very good at his job. There's really no injury protection for the Jets. So he just was carried on the roster for another year and all the cap ramifications that go with it. In other news. Marshawn Lynch remember him yes vaguely what do you remember about Marshaun Lynch Mark Sessler I remember the the story that I'll remember until I die is him retiring in the middle of the Super Bowl and Wes having to put down what he was doing and suddenly bang out some

absurd Marshawn Lynch retirement story while missing like the second into third quarter of the biggest sporting event we'd ever been to you guys Patriots Balkans which game was it like the fourth quarter Which game was it? This was San Francisco. It was Panthers. Oh, my bad. That was kind of a dead anyways. Yeah, I think he did me a favor.

Yep. Well, Lynch retired. He came back. He went to the Raiders, played there a couple of years, wasn't resigned, disappeared again, and then reappeared when Seattle was hit by a ton of injuries late last season and didn't do much to move the needle but fell into the end zone a few times. Well, according to his agent, Doug Hendry, He has been in talks to rejoin the Eagles.

He's now 34 years old. Seahawk. Oh, Seahawks, sorry. He is now 34 years old. Chris Carson's got a hip issue, Rashad Penny, Torres ACL. So there is potentially a window here. They did draft a rookie in the fourth round, DJ Dallas.

They also have Travis Homer in the building. So Lynch, have we seen the last of him? Maybe not. Why? Why, Bob? mother. I don't know. I mean, uh, weird one. He, I think he averaged under two yards per carry, you know, counting the two playoff games. Just, it seems weird. It's a good guy to have on speed doll, I guess, if, if emergency strikes. If Chris Carson's not coming off a fractured hip and Penny's not

coming off the ACL, I doubt they even mess around with Marshawn Lynch. It does make you wonder about the Seahawks offense, so I feel like, of course, just the way they're Pete Carroll's wired and Schottenheimer's wired, they shouldn't be so run dependent, but they're never going to stop running no matter who's back there. We saw that with Lynch. You ran a lot in the playoff game, which they won. Well, they'll go 11 and 5, I mean, with

11 raggedy annes on that side of the ball. They always find a way. I mean, playoff team, book it. It's so hot in this room. There is something special about Mark right now. The beard is working. It's just too hot. The beard has gone

next level and the heat. So there's a little bit of a do-do-y look. It's special. You know, I am openly struggling right now. I just, I need, we, you know, we are meandering nonstop and we need to get on point here and move forward. This might, you might enjoy this then. In other Seahawks news, Judevian Clowny says he, quote, loves Seattle and isn't ruling out a return. Actually, you know what?

This is for you, Mark. Ricky, do you have a match? That story was blasted into the sun. Thank you. I have heard enough of Pete Carroll or Janemian Clowney's people or whoever saying that these sides could sign a deal and get it done and Clowney returns to Seattle. All right. When it happens, we'll talk about it. That's it.

That's enough. Good leadership. Thank you, Dan. I mean, at what point? With all due respect to the whole operation up there. in the Pacific Northwest. And they do an excellent job. But, you know, there's a term.

It's called, you know, piss or get off the pot. Right? That's fair. Something like that. That's fair. I think this is unanimous. Let's do it. Did I have the quote right there, Wes?

No, if you're on the pot, you're not going number one. I mean, to be fair, I thought we deep-six this news item and we're still going on about it. Well, Wes, that's not necessarily true, depending on gender or some weirdos. Well, I'll do some sitters out there. The saying would be the alternative to pissy. You're right. Or get off the pot. There you go.

And that's what's happening in the news. All right. It's comeback season. That's how the kids say it too. They hit the Z. So we're going to go around the horn once or twice, depending on how long it takes before Mark passes out and has a heat stroke. I'm not doing too well either.

I've got to be honest with you. See a little shine on me today? Yeah. It's getting hot in this non-insulated garage. Don't worry. It will be June soon in July and we will be, we will die in our homes. You guys remember what September is like in Southern California? It's the hottest month of the year.

This has to end. We need, I know we don't want to go back to the office for some reasons. But this got to end. Or I got to get an air conditioner on here and it could be expensed to Roger. Well, you're out in your garage, to be clear, not in your house. Yeah, that's, that's troubling. All right, let's get to it. Let's come back season.

Mark, you're feisty. So before we lose you, get us going. Well, yeah, I don't want to go injury player route, as you suggested. But I'll go David Johnson because I think his name overall has been soiled because he was attached to one of the worst trades we've seen in years. and, you know, the overall question is, is David Johnson even a shell of who he was back in the middle of last decade? And it's really been years and years since he's been productive, essentially benched last year for Kenyon Drake, who the Cardinals went and prioritized and brought back. And Johnson quickly became

overly priced and tradable weirdly when you thought they never would be able to. And he's basically a centerpiece in that offense at the moment. I mean, they have moved. moved on from certain running backs. I find it interesting that he would be pairing with Duke Johnson to some degree. But I have huge suspicions that David Johnson will be a thing at all, that this was a smart move for the Texans to make. And he has a lot to prove. So we will see. But it would be interesting if he thrived, because I think that would, that would surprise many. You're not, you're not too confident it's going to be bounced back. I'm not confident, but I don't wish ill on the player. I mean, I think he's had a lot of

bad luck. He had the broken wrist and never really was the same guy after that. Well, the idea here is to nominate people who we believe have a comeback season. Not simply guys that had bad years last year. Well, I do think he has a chance because he's not buried on the depth chart. He's not in where he's, he's a better chance than last year when the Cardinals said he doesn't fit into what we want to do. And he essentially his role diminished. The Texans traded for him to use him a lot. And so I think the comeback factor is real. He was on my list. And not for, I understand. I understand you could watch the tape at west i think you've been vocal about this that he didn't look like the same guy and if you really study his career he's only had maybe one just outstanding season

his first season he flashed and he looked like he could could be special but bill o'brien like morgue said needs this he needs david johnson to step up and i'm not going to get back on the bill o'brien defense train but i will just say this in six seasons there and there's one 2017 they went four and 12. That's when Deshawn Watson took over, like in September and then was doing well, but then blew out his ACL and they went four and 12. But outside of that season, nine and seven, nine and seven, nine and seven, 11 and five, 10 and six, and they've been to the playoffs four times. He does have an ability to, it seems, to get the most out of his roster. This is not the star-studded roster of the league. And I would not be surprised if David Johnson

in a feature role ends up putting together a good statistical season, whether or not he's special anymore is something we'll have to see. But I think he's going to get every opportunity, which was not the case late in his Arizona tenure. I actually didn't think he was washed up last year. I thought he was playing through a back injury and that explained everything to me. Same thing is Alvin Kamara playing through a high ankle. You just, you don't expect running backs to do well playing through those kinds of injuries. There's levels to it though. And Johnson it's just been a while. He hasn't been the same guy since his injury,

which is now a few years. I think Duke Johnson's got to be sitting there saying like, what do I got to do? I've won you a playoff game. I mean, Duke Johnson was the second most valuable player on that offense in that playoff game. He was the one making plays at the end when they needed to win the game.

And I do think in the end he'll be a factor just because I guess I have my doubts that David Johnson's going to be back to his own self. I will stick in the running back realm, and I'll, since I already hinted at it. Lavian Bell, I think last year was a bit of a perfect storm of poop for Bell. And I agree that he seemed a little bit lethargic and did not have explosion. And I just wonder how much of that had to do with the layoff and if that is ever going to come back or if it's gone.

But I would like to see it in a situation where he has more of an opportunity. the Jets famously had a almost historically horrendous offensive line that in addition to not having any talent was completely decimated by injuries. So it was really one of the all-time bad situations from a lot of the season or a portion of the season, you had quarterback play that was, you know, amongst some of the worst quarterback play we've seen in years there, which does a running back no favor. So now you have him kind of back in the swing of things with a year. under his belt, you have a, I'm not going to say it's going to be the best offensive line

in the league. We're going to see if these guys can play together. But on paper, an upgraded offensive line. Sam Darnold, year three, hopefully playing a full season. And I just would not be surprised, even with people now kind of forecasting doom and gloom because Frank Gore signed and all of a sudden now Frank Gore is going to be the leading rusher or close to it, I don't see that either. I still think we're going to get a lot of Bell who had over 300 touches last year, and I think we'll get a better bell. I mean, it couldn't be worse, 3.2 yards per carry last year, which for the amount of workload he had was the worst in Jets history. I just would not be stunned if we see a much better version of him, not elite

levy on Bell of a Steelers heyday, but a guy that is better than an average running back and the Jets then at least get some return on their investment. Am I being an optimistic Jets, man? Of course, but I also don't know if it's possible for the guy to go from more. where he was at that point, uh, to where he was last year without other circumstances coming into play, which I think, like I said, a poop storm for Bell. I mean, my one concern would be, and you know, we mentioned him too, is I've just never gotten the sense, um, that Adam Gase wanted anything to do with this levy on Bell, um, price tag or overall, it's not a sense. I mean, it's been reported. Right. But he also gave him like

three hundred fifteen touches. So it's not like they well, then didn't use him. Maybe I mean, you know, You mentioned the injuries, and you're not going to lose Sam Darnold to Mono again and all this other stuff that happened. And they just, the beginning of their year last year was about as disastrous as you could dream up. But Levy on Bell, Adam Gage just to me feels tilted towards Machiavellian behavior. And if he is out on the whole Bell thing, that could be, as Greg likes to say, a fly in the ointment potentially. That's a Gregism? Yeah, I didn't know that, but I like it. I was so wrong about Bell.

it was a great signing. I didn't think they paid too much. Like I defended it. I just think he, for a stretch, is one of the best running backs I've covered or seen. And I thought you could see the instincts were all there. Like he was making some people miss in tight quarters like he would do. And you could see that sort of special ability as. But then once he would make a miss, it was like it would just get tackled two yards later. There was no big plays. And that's tricky. I mean, when you have 350 touches and there's no big plays, the offensive line was. abysmal. And that's partly why it was 3.2 yards per carry. I don't think he was that bad. I think he was an average running back. He caught 66 passes. He was fine. And the O line was a lot of it. But if you're not making any explosive plays on that many touches, I mean, he had his chances where he could have taken it to the second or third level. And he just couldn't do it. Like you could see almost the mind was working, but the body wasn't there. I don't know if that comes back or not. I hope it does, because I like watching him. When 30-year-old Balau-Pow comes in and looks more explosive than the starter, that's a problem.

Yeah. Well, and maybe don't go bowling in the middle of the year when you tell everyone you have a... Mark, he had the flu. I just, I mean, but like, does Bell, is he, is how plugged in is this guy? We'll find out. That's fair. That's a fair question. He had the flu, and he didn't want to infect any of his teammates.

Understand? So you go to the lanes? I don't get that as a tonic, but... He was just... clearing his mind. Everything was above board, in my opinion. And he rolled a 250. That creep can roll.

He's close. That creep can roll. Well, I was looking for a guy who has a good bet to bounce back, was not injured. Access denied. Go to 101 soundboards.com to access the sound. If you already came from there, please reload the page. That got meant business. Wait, I thought that was a great, Dan, like, surprise drop or something.

No, it wasn't. That was terrible. He was just like, nope, Wes is out of the show. That's back season. Oh, that's what you were going for. I just denied. Wow. It is getting hotter and hotter in here.

All right, go ahead, Wes. Well, I was going to say a guy who was on a Hall of Fame career track and may still be Khalil Mack only had 8.5 sacks last year the year before he was in the I mean nobody was in the defensive player of the year conversation except Aaron Donald

but if it was open Khalil Mack would have been one of the guys discussed he was one of the best defensive players in the league and then last year he like the second half of the season he just disappeared and Akeem Hicks was injured thank Eddie Goldman missed some time so he didn't have those big bodies up front

occupying blockers now they bring in Robert Quinn opposite him, and Quinn looked fantastic last year. I see Cleo Mac bouncing back, especially for a guy. I think Dan heard some whispers at the Combine. Maybe the Bears would look into seeing what he's worth around the league. Yeah, I can't say too much other than someone high ranking within the team was openly asking if he was somebody that, you know, should be around. That's somebody that, if that's a player who should be in the team's future, in the future.

yeah there's there's no reason to think that he i was 14 drinks in during that conversation but i will tell you that i remember it and it happened right i know who you were speaking with and it's one situation where you wouldn't need to triple source it because it was the most impeccable source you could one could imagine let's leave it at that before it becomes as easy as west's neighbor right right uh mac mac is on track to be a hall of famer and i do think like defensive linemen are basically non-skill players like they're allowed to have down years i'm saying like basically like when skill players have like an 1100 yard year when they're usually getting 1,500 yard people like understand that and they're like oh okay so sometimes guys have bad seasons it's

like that that happens at every position and yet but i think when it's like linemen it's just like what happened is calil mac just bad forever there's no reason or not bad but at a different level there's no reason to think he's anything but one of the best five pass rushers in the league. So you see him, Wes, as a guy that easily could be back in the DPOI conversation this year. Absolutely. I see him as a guy who among edge rushers, is there anybody better? Is that Chicago's any chance? Bob Miller could be another guy who needs to come back with a strong year. Is that Chicago's only chance, you know?

You expect them if they're going to be in playoff contention, they have to be dominant on defense like they were in that first max season for stretches. Yeah, they seem like a team that, and I don't like this dynamic at all, that there were too many games where it's like unless they pull off a pick six in the final 10 minutes, they're not winning the game. I mean, it was like they need, they've needed their defense to produce points. All right, Greg. All right. I like this one. Only two receivers in NFL history have gained more yards before their age 23 than Juju Smith-Schuster. Those two receivers, By the way, were Randy Moss and Josh Gordon. What a, what a combo there.

I feel like people have given up on juju as like a difference-making receiver a little too quick. Including the Steelers, maybe. Right, including the Steelers maybe. I'm not saying that he's Julio Jones exactly. And maybe last year felt like a bit of a la reveal that he had so much trouble with the double coverage that he was getting and missing Antonio Brown.

But he also had Mason Rudolph as his quarterback. He also had Duck Hodges as his quarterback. He's a young player who hadn't had a lot of adversity. And I think what he showed in his couple of seasons to start his career makes him a great candidate for what Erica was talking about a little early. Come on, Erica. Hit it. Let's hear it. Bouch back.

Eric, did you create that? DJ drama vibe here. DJ Dallas. Yeah, that was me. Did you just do that while we were doing the front half of the show? Wait, you guys are doing a show? Well, I also think, uh, do, uh, is in a good spot. I think that receiver group in Pittsburgh is pretty good.

Uh, you add Claypool, who they think supposedly is going to start, Chase Claypool. We'll see. I mean, everyone's high on rookies this time of year. He's a six four guy that block. They say blocks as well as Heinz Ward. And he can go deep. You have James Washington who led their team in receiving last year, who might be their fourth receiver now.

Deonti Johnson was pretty good as a rookie. And suddenly it's kind of back to this whole thing where the Steelers have a nice receiver crew that takes a little pressure off, Juju. I think he can be a nice little bounce back. I'm with you. I think, like, there's a metric out there that the percentage of catchable passes that went towards Juju's direction last season compared to the year

with Big Ben in the lineup dropped like 10 percentage points. I mean, so, you know, the quarterback, situation falling off a cliff had a huge impact on him. And I think he's got to be motivated to basically turn Antonio Brown into a liar because it was Antonio Brown that went on air not too long ago and squawked endlessly about the fact that Juju is not a lead receiver and simply made his hay off of Antonio Brown pulling the top cornerback way. Come back, colonels with Mark Sessler.

Come back, colonels with Mark Sessler. Come back, colonels with Mark Sessler. Come back, colonel. Good. It's the three-minute version of this song. Stop. Are we just hitting random buttons now? Totally off the rails. Fifting it out.

Fiting it out right now. I'm with you guys, by the way. I don't want to put, you know, a hex on any of these guys. but this this topic is a tough one for me because my fantasy team was alvin kamara first and juju smith schuster second but juju what are you going to do like the quarterback like we said was not there and then for you to then think that he's he's peaked or he's not a true number one because you know the duke devlin or what was his name dutch devlin duck hodges like duck hodges and that's a porn star and nason rudoff like these guys these guys can't play i mean we we learn that

So give a fresh start now. The one caveat I'll add is we'll find out if Big Ben can still play at 38 after a year off. But that could hold back his ceiling as well. If he's even just healthy enough to play. I have thought about that. Like I feel like the Steelers are the biggest boomer busts. If Ben Rathesberger is healthy and plays like he did a couple years ago, it's like they're a Super Bowl contender. But would it surprise anyone if he never plays much or plays well again?

Like he feels like that's possible. A 38-year-old coming off elbow surgery, Normally we would say, like, that kind of guy is done. You know, we'll have to see. And currently looks like a troll living under a bridge. So, no, that would not surprise me. Did anyone else find, like, when you were doing this exercise, you could point to almost the entire offense for several teams.

The Steelers being one of them, James Connor, but the Eagles, Carson Wentz, with healthy receivers, and then Miles Sanders emerging. And the Browns, to me, are another one where the entire offense could just bounce back. I feel like the Steelers, for me, rise above everyone in terms of you have no idea which way they're going as an organization. They can be playing the AFC title game. They can go six and ten to me. It's really hard.

And I think James Connor, like on that subject, I have whiplash because I remember the beginning of the 2018 season when all anybody in the football cognizanti had to say was that this guy can play. You'll see he's going to be a stud. and then he had a really nice season. And fast forward to this offseason, it's like, oh, he can't play. He can't carry the load. And I know the Steelers internally were disappointed about last year, too.

But last year was pretty messed up. That whole offense got sidetracked by the quarterback injury. I just wonder if he is a guy that could be bouncing back, which you're not hearing a lot of. But I'd also argue Mike Tomlin was, I'll let this play instead.

Yes, Mark? Well, I was just going to say, I thought that Mike Tomlin was Coach of the Year material 10 or 11 weeks into last year. I mean, other teams would have gone 3 and 13 in that situation. I mean, the defense is still arguably maybe top two or three in the league. Well, while we're on the Steelers, Eric Ebron's another guy. Down year with the Colts last year, signs with the Steelers. Big Ben's always liked a big.

red zone weapon and ebrons proved to be one of the better red zone tight ends in the league over the last couple of years. All right, you want to throw out quick ones before we sign off? Yeah. Sure, I'll go back to Chicago and I think the combination of Matt Nagy and Nick Foles who both, I thought last year, very disappointing for both in different ways. Now they're together. I like the fact that Nick Foles knows this coaching staff really well, offensive coordinator, head coach, quarterback coach has worked with all of them. So, you know, it's not like you have to learn a new system. It's a good fit for Nick Foles.

I'm always suspicious of Nick Foles when he is named a starter for the entire season. Can he get through without another? You know, it's one injury after the next. And frankly, like, was not a good quarterback when he played for the Jaguars last year. Well, didn't you on the last show say that both this combination were people not to trust or believe in? Well, so none of these guys. Who is someone that, Mark, who is someone that you believe in as a comeback candidate? Baker-Makefield.

Okay. Mark was like, I can't think of anyone other than the Brown, so I'm going to pick people that I usually buried. Let me throw one other name out, who I do think could have a comeback season, who I've also flamed on this show recently. Mike McCarthy. Okay. Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy. You weren't doubting him last week as well.

Well, here's what I think there's a lot of pressure on Mike McCarthy. What I was questioning is if the man himself. has gone through this incredible personal revolution that has been touted all offseason, that he's a changed person. I don't, I believe people can change. I don't know if all football coaches can to the same degree. But it would be an incredible disappointment if Mike McCarthy and the combination of what they have on offense, don't go to the playoffs. This was an 8 and 18 last year. What's not to like about Mike McCarthy stepping into this role in a NFC East that has two very questionable teams and the Giants and Redskins right in there. So if they're not a wildcard

team with an extra seventh team added to the NFC, it would be a, I consider a massive problem for Mike McCarthy to have to deal with PR-wise. I had Baker Mayfield on my list as well. He just makes a ton of sense, how promising was as a rookie. And the Browns obviously poured a lot of resources and tender-loving care in trying to get things fixed around him. So now he's just got to do it. And I will throw in one more running back, Todd Gurley, who everyone is essentially written off. And as I've noted on this podcast, the Rams Offense Line was kind of crap last year. And he still found the end zone a ton last year. And these professional athletes are proud dudes. I wonder if a fresh start is exactly what he needs in Atlanta and a nice setup there with a good offense around

him. Is Todd Gurley ever going to be the guy that exploded on the scene with the Rams? Probably not. But can he be a pro ball guy, a 1,300 total yard 10 touchdown guy this year? Absolutely. And to me, that would be comeback season. Yeah, he was on my list too. And it's not something I feel strongly about because there's still so many questions. But I thought he did run better around Thanksgiving and into December last year. And I don't know, another year removed from a nebulous, knee injury that we never really figured out what it was. I guess it's arthritic now, but maybe, I don't know, maybe another year away will help. But going a little bit deeper, a guy I thought was the best running back on the 49ers entering last season, Matt Breedah, now with the

Dolphins, and I think it's a better player than Jordan Howard. So if he can stay healthy, which for Matt Breeda is a huge if, because he never stays healthy, I don't think he's, I think he's over five yards per carry for his career. He's a dynamic playmaking running back when he's healthy. Close it out, Greg. All right. I'm going to run through a speed round. Maybe we'll get to these topics later in the Aussie.

Maddie Ice with Todd Gurley. He didn't play that great last year either. I think he can get better. My boy, Phil Rivers, I'm just sensing I'm going to be into the Colts this year. I want this for, I mean, I think I'm with the team of West TL this year. It's the Colts. Wait, is it Broncos or Colts? Oh, I'm higher on the Colts.

Ooh, yeah, I'm into that. Your heart, I feel like your heart's with Denver, though. No, I think you guys want my heart to be with Denver. Well, I consider that news. I thought you were all in on the Broncos. I know you guys did. Sean McVeigh, I think,'s getting back in the lab. He's got some young players.

He's got Cooper Cup back. I could see Sean McVeigh coming back and looking a little smarter this year. But I'm going to wrap up and be a bit longer on a more surprising pick. How about the Jaguars defense, which you lose Clay and Campbell. but you look at their front seven and you have Josh Allen who is almost a defensive rookie of the year you have Unique In Gokwee who's back

he has no choice he's playing he can make more money by week three than he's made in his entire career he's not holding out and so they knew that they're okay in the middle you get Joe Schobert who is a pretty good pickup Miles Jack's coming off a bad year you draft Calavian Chase on like that's a nice

looking little front seven for the Jacksonville Jaguars and I think I mean they were so bad they were one of the worst defense in league it didn't make any sense i'll put a button on this by somebody's got to bring up cam newton and i know he doesn't have a team but if he if he when he signs i just think there's a chance he could not only you know end up starting games depends depending where he goes but surprise a lot of people still just 31 years old hopefully the shoulder is right and uh i'd like to see it but he's got a sign of the team so it's hard to

really prognosticate that. But Cam Newton, obvious comeback player of the year candidate if he ever got the opportunity this year. Where would you want to see him play? If it was up to Dan Hantis, like, your most enjoyable team. I already know it. I already know it. Denver Broncos?

Yeah. I'm on board with that. And now the Broncos fans, again in my mentions, are going to be attacking me. But you luck, he's the next savior. Calm down. Cam Newton would make you a better team. Something to be said for that. He'd make the Bears better instantly.

I know they're tied up in all this money with Foles, who I've just touted as a comeback figure. But, I mean, it always mystified me that they didn't just go after Cam Newton to begin with. He'd look perfect in a Bears uniform. And he'd fit everything. He'd fit perfectly in. But they got an awesome comeback situation.

Your endorsement of Nick Foles lasted 48 seconds. Well, I'm just, I'm saying those guys need a comeback. Bounce back season. I know the most important person in your organization is your quarterback, And the second most important person in your organization is your backup quarterback. Go get one. All right. That's it for today's show.

Now, very important that everyone knows this. If you missed the end of last week's show, we have an NFL network program coming up on Friday, 3 p.m. Pacific, 6 p.m. Eastern. It's to be around the NFL show. It is going to be completely fresh content. Nothing that we're really talking about here will be subjects on that. program. So it's essentially a brand new episode of the podcast, only it's on TV. And you can see our beautiful quarantine beards and everyone will be excited. In fact, I see this as a show of faith from the company. This will air five different times on Friday alone. Wow. So if you miss

the initial airing, just know that you will have many opportunities on Friday and even into Saturday to watch the premiere episode. We hope there's a long run for this one. We don't know yet, but We definitely have a show coming up on Friday, and we will, Wes, be touching on the schedule release tomorrow. So get excited for that. Oh, yeah, edgy, your seat for that one. And I personally am thankful, if it's going to be on five times, I'm not even going to bother figuring out when it's on in British summertime

or Greenwich Mean Time or whatever. You know, you'll find it. Yeah, you have, if you're out there, no excuse not to track it down at some point. Do our overseas listeners even have the option to watch the program if it's on that? I guess they have game paths, right? International has NFL network. Yes. Yes.

Okay. So they're all set. Well, by the way, when you talk about our mentions, don't tweet at us if you don't have NFL network. That's not something I'm concerned with. Figure it out. I'm not figuring that out for you. I've got enough on my plate right now as it is.

We have a lot on our plate. Greg, his plate is full and he likes it that way. At Greg. He'll help you out with us with the network issues. The man is completely at peace right now. So that is the guy to go to with any questions about how to catch the Around the NFL show on NFL network. Nothing great. I mean, I've been distracted here by a child disturbing this piece.

Our change in showtime has taken me out of my piece. All right. This is Dan Hansa signing off for The Quiet Storm, The Mailman, the old boss Walker, Ricky Hollywood. Thank you for watching for listening. and watch us on Friday. Till then. 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. This is an IHeart podcast.