NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - EMERGENCY Free Agency Podcast!

Episode Date: March 13, 2018

A room filled with heroes- Dan Hanzus, Gregg Rosenthal, Chris Wesseling & Marc Sessler- hold an emergency podcast to recap all of the breaking free agency news. The heroes discuss all of the big QB moves, including Kirk Cousins agreeing to terms with the Vikings (2:20), Drew Brees getting it done with the Saints (9:00), Case Keenum finding a new home in Denver (12:00) and Sam Bradford heading to Arizona (15:00). Other major moves discussed include Sammy Watkins to the Chiefs (18:00), Josh McCown returning to the Jets (34:00), Danny Amendola heading to Miami (37:00) and a few big moves for the Super Bowl Champion Eagles (43:00).Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comNFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. The Around the NFL podcast has 99 problems, but free agency ain't one. Welcome back to another edition of the Around the NFL podcast. My name is Dan Hansis, and I am joined by a room filled with heroes. Mark Sessler, Chris Wessling, and Greg Rosethal. What's up, boys? Hey, Dan. Uh-oh.

Emergency podcast. Emergency podcast. Why? Because we were supposed to come back Wednesday because we did a show yesterday. I hope you listened to it. Very important that you listen to it. But then like 90% of the essential free agent, Greg, would you mind sitting down? You know, you can... Making us all uncomfortable. You can continue with the show and not even alert the listeners to me putting on the television.

Well, Mark was definitely stunned by it and that caught my attention. Greg standing up, walking around. It was a real rapport builder. Wednesday at 1 p.m. As we said, and as you probably know, is the official start of free agency. But everybody's coming off the board unofficially unofficially official. And that's why even though this was supposed to be a day off for the podcast. No days off.

No days off. No days off. No days off. No days off. No days off. Weirdly, one of the low. moments of the Patriots dynasty even though it came during a celebration.

So what is today's show? Today's emergency podcast. Figure it out. I mean, what are you dense, bro? We're going to go through all the signings, including the quarterback market, which has fallen,

the dominoes fell quickly. And maybe not the first domino you expected to fall, but everything is pretty much coming into focus now. So let's get into it. Let's go. We'll just call it the best. Big news rundown. Big old news rundown.

You good, Greg? I'm hoping we get some more breaking news during the show. Maybe. I mean, I would assume we do get it. Things are we taping again tomorrow? Of course. Big week. Tomorrow is the so-called free agency frenzy.

They're only off by roughly 45, 50 hours. So let's start with quarterbacks because it is good to be a quarterback, especially one that's like top 15, top 16 in the league. Kirk Cousins. signs or is likely to sign or has agreed to sign with the Minnesota Vikings. The favorite going into this week is the team that comes out with Kirk Cousins, a deal worth three years that includes approximately $86 million, and this is what makes it a historic deal in the NFL.

All of that money guaranteed. And his per year average salary of 27,000, 0.5 million, just tops Jimmy Gropolo, making Kirk Cousins the most, the highest paid player in the history of the NFL for the time being. Mark, we'll start with you on this. You were up early before the sun rose writing about Kirk Cousins picking his new home. I think the unprecedented nature of the contract mirrors the unprecedented nature of the situation that it's so rare that you get this type of player that goes to market that it was

the only way to compete for him. whether you were the Vikings or the Jets with the most money. And they talked about the Jets offering more. So Kirk Cousins had obviously a preference here. And it started out as, hey, we don't know this might be what happens. And then an hour later, as every other team circles the wagons, and we'll get to it, starts finding out other quarterback situations. Barring something stunning, Kirk Cousins has essentially been handed to the Vikings.

And we talked about this yesterday, Dan, we didn't know who he was going to visit first. But had he gone to the Jets, they could not let him out of the building. and that's essentially what the Vikings were given that privilege to go first and to lower him in and to keep him. What if he changed his mind? He could. I'm just saying it, but it's not leaning in that direction. But he has nowhere left to go because every other team is basically starting to move on

unless the Jets did it because he keeps, he's made it clear to the reporters at least that he wants to get the feel of it and have dinner and do the whole thing and feel good about it. But all the other teams have essentially said, well, we can't wait around for that. seems like nonsense. Do you think there's any chance, though, that the, do you feel like the Jets acted too quickly in finding plan B? Or is it just that this is your only option? Well, they haven't officially done anything either,

so they could always be there. And in theory, before Wednesday, and it's worth noting, it's not going to happen with cousins, I don't think, but it's worth noting that multiple times in this free agency era, we have reported on agreed contracts, and in that time before free agency actually starts, another team says, actually will you take way more money please come with us and the guy changes his mind it's happened

but it would be insane if it's probably not going to happen because Ian Rappaport's reporting now that the Jets who are the only logical team left in the race are negotiating with Teddy Bridgewater and Wes I know you are a big Kirk Cousins fan I immediately pivoted I had my premonition about hugging Kirk Cousins apparently that doesn't always check out but I immediately pivoted into a conversation with Keith Hansis about how this is we dodged a bullet here and now what we're going to do is we're going to take all this money, put it elsewhere and go get a quarterback that will be a star for 15 years. Are the Vikings going to, are they a better team though, in your opinion?

Yes, absolutely. I think Kirk Cousins, over what he's, the improvement he's shown over the last couple of years has really impressed me. I've changed my opinion on him and Sam Bradford as much as any two quarterbacks in the league. and it's both of their ability to stand in in the face of pressure and make throws. And Kirk Cousins did that last year with some pretty poor surrounding talent. I love the fit. He's durable.

He's productive. This team is ready to go. And by the way, Greg, as if this deal wasn't already arranged three weeks ago. When Mike Zimmer is up in front of everybody at the combine throwing Case Keenham under the bus saying, oh, he's never had a year like this before or saying we don't really, you know, Sam Bradford this and that, Teddy. Like, they didn't know this deal was already going to happen. But then do we have to suppose that the Jets knew this was in place, too?

Because the Jets, I mean, whether it came from inside the team or not, sure made it sound like they wanted Kirk Cousins more than three weeks ago. The Cardinals were hopeful as of 24 hours ago, so they didn't know. The Broncos, Ian and Mike Garifolo reported, they wanted Kirk Cousins. They never seemed like they were all in. They realized it wasn't going to be at their price and that the Broncos weren't necessarily their first choice. And that's why that's great John Elway can, you know, convince a Hall of Famer like Peyton Manning. But ultimately it's up to the players and there's a million factors.

It's a lot of pressure on John Di Filippo, I think, to construct the right offense around Kirk Cousins. He's got two great receivers, a good offensive line, a good running back. There's a lot to work with. But I think Cousins had good coordinators in Washington that helped hide some of his flaws because he's not a totally complete quarterback. He's not great improvising after a play breaks down. He doesn't have a monster army. He can certainly get it down the field.

And so it's on D. Filippo and kind of a new group to make an offense around Cousins. And the expectations will be that they need to go to the Super Bowl this. They are, but they would have been a bigger challenge to construct an offense around lesser. Absolutely. And that's why it makes sense for Cousins. It just is crazy to me. It's not crazy to me, but a top 10 quarter, not necessarily a top 10 quarterback. I thought he might get even more money than this.

And it does. It makes sense for Cousins. He's 30 years old, three-year deal with a team that's ready to win in the Vikings. He could have went to the Jets for more money, but the Jets are probably a three-year project. And then it just lined up well. So it all makes sense. But we'll see now because I was texting with a Vikings fan buddy who said, well, we'll see if they're actually better because it's going to be hard for Cousins to have the year Case Keenham had last year.

That was a special season in Minnesota and they couldn't get over the hump. Cousins has to be at least that good, you'd think, for them to take the next step. So there's a lot of pressure on him, too. My God, it's a lot of money. And it does, it should be pointed out before we move on, because we've got to keep moving, that a fully guaranteed deal can change the landscape in the NFL, potentially for players, quarterbacks especially.

I heard someone say out there that watch Aaron Rogers get three for 100 guaranteed. This is baseball stuff now that never was connected to the NFL. So Cousins, and I'm trying to think there was a player in the NFL. I mean, Doug Baldwin Jr. said, Kurt Cousins is a hero for what he did. He sat it out for, he waited it out. two years and then did something that no one ever did before and it could open the gates for other people. I don't think other positions are going to have that kind of leverage. Really the leverage is that it's only three years and he gets to max out his money and go back into free agency again

in three years. Because Indomac and Sue just got $60 million guaranteed over three years and then you get cut. Now the team has no option to keep him after three years and he can go, he'll get paid a bigger contract in three years. Kirk has explaining to do though because his sister who lives in Arizona in the Phoenix area. Didn't choose to go. When you're getting paid almost 30 million a year, you can probably fly your sister, wherever she'd like. And buy her a house in Minnesota.

And buy her a jet to fly to Minnesota. Moving on, Drew Brees, not going anywhere. Despite the report on Monday that the Vikings were kicking the tires on the 39-year-old Future Hall of Famer, the Saints and Breeze do what everyone expected, which was sit down and get it done. The team on Tuesday struck a two-year deal with the quarterback worth.

50 million. This one includes 27 million in guarantees. I guess when you're almost 40, you can't pull that same type of leverage. The 30-year-old is, does, but still Drew Breeze did very well for himself. Breeze was number two on our top 101 list.

Chris Wesley. Rough, rough 24 hours for the corner of Twitter who insists that NFL players will never take less than maximum value on a contract. Drew Breeze reportedly by Mike Triplit of ESPN.com, head another offer that was more than $60 million guaranteed over two years.

I want to know who that is. It's either the Jets or the Vikings. I would go Vikings. So he took 33 less million guaranteed. 33. He got 27 million guaranteed, and he was offered 60 million guaranteed, according to this report. So that is a whopping $33 million he's passing up in guaranteed according to the reports. Yeah, and to that report, Breeze, unlike, you know, calling Kirk Cousins a hero for his action,

Breeze outwardly apologized to other players for accepting this deal. And he apologized to his agent because as an NFLPA, you know, voice. Spin, baby, spin. No, I'm not spanish. He basically told his agent, sit this one out, buddy. This was not how you do it. So that's a very different deal. They still use the agent who's Tom Condon, who got Sam Bradford paid,

gotten Peyton Manning, Matthew Stafford, all these quarterbacks paid. They still used every leverage possible to get the Saints to pay more money than they were willing to pay initially. The Saints were reportedly steadfast and not paying Breeze more money than he made last year, where it was $24.5 million. And they got him over that that hurdle. That seemed crazy that that was their opinion. We heard all these reports he's going to take 20 to 25. He gets more.

Start building the statue now. I mean, you know, why even wait? Why wait? And by the way, and Drew Breeze knows exactly what he's doing. He knows how to massage the message. Drew just wants to make sure he has the biggest statue outside the Superdome. Oh, I left 33 mil on the table. because I lock it down by the bayou

and I'm just a normal guy I'm cool that's what it's all about he wants a bigger statue than his buddy he wants to win a Super Bowl go win another Super Bowl well he could have went to Minnesota hypothetically and had just as good a chance

what about the Kobe Fleener statue that's going to be sizey that's going to get torn down like the Confederate statues in New Orleans okay whoa so they're going to build it erect it and then Terry these are facts that happened in the news guys

no it did but you're presupposing that a Case Keenum or a Kobe Fleener statue will be erected. And you're equated Kobe Fleener to a historical wrong. So, okay. I mean, it's definitely not at the same level, but signing Kobe Fleener was a historical wrong. Moving on another quarterback move. This was actually, well, that's fair. The first quarterback, Domino to fall, and it happened in the middle of the night,

Case Keenum is going to sign with the Denver Broncos. So John Elway, who in the very beginning, everyone connected. the Broncos and Kirk Cousins, but it became very clear that the Broncos were just another player, not the lead dog. So what does he do? He pivots, and instead of waiting around, goes and gets Case Keenham, and Keenham was number eight on our top 101 list, and he also was coming off a career year. But, Greg, do you think Case Keenum will be able to match what he did last year in Denver?

No, because the offensive line's going to be worse. The running game will probably be worse. the receivers are certainly talented in Denver and the defense is fine, but I don't really expect Case Keenham to play that well maybe ever again because I think that was a magical season where a lot of things came together. He makes the Broncos better, but I don't think it's going to prevent them from going after a quarterback, maybe with the fifth overall pick.

It shouldn't at least. That would give him he would be playing in front of two first round picks, which is unusual. I think he might have been plan C in Denver. I think, according to Garifolo, Tyraud Taylor might have. have been plan B, and the Browns jumped in on that, and Cousins was plan A, and they wanted to make sure at least they got a guy they were comfortable with that was with Gary Kubiak. I don't love this deal for- No, this is a rough day for Broncos fans.

When you spent all off-season hearing your team's players pitch woo at Kirk Cousins, from Von Miller to Akeeb Taleb to Brandon Marshall, all these guys publicly saying how much they want Kirk Cousins, who would have been an upgrade. Now, maybe Case Keenum is more reliable than Trevor Simeon, more healthy than Trevor Simeon. Nobody at this time last year was saying Case Keynham's a better quarterback than Trevor Simeon. No, and we spent all last off season hearing a lot of hot air out of that organization about how much confidence there was in Trevor Simeon. And to the point where it was just becoming a little absurd on our network, and we're about to enter into that with Case Keenham almost seamlessly. And it's not to take anything away from what Keenham did last year,

but Greg is right. The idea you're going to step in and duplicate that campaign two years in a row? No. He's the one contract that hasn't been reported, though, and that usually means it's not very good for the player. So, ultimately, they couldn't get Kirk Cousins because they didn't want to pay that or Cousins didn't want to go there. And we find out this deal is pretty low, and it's just a one-year deal, which is basically what I expect, maybe anywhere from 14 to 17 million. I mean, it's fine. They had to do something. You know what I mean? I can't kill them for that.

It's just not exciting. The first thing I thought when I heard this deal was they're obviously going to. quarterback at number five overall now because you don't have luxury of going offensive line with that pick because Case Keenham is not a reliable franchise quarterback. The top of this quarterback of this draft class, it's going to be crazy now because the Broncos are still going to be players. The Jets now are going to be something close to a desperate player at this point. Big Mac now needs to get a young quarterback. And the bills are trying to trade in front of both of them. And the bills now have moved to 12. I can see the bills getting to number three. Someone's going to trade with

the Colts is my guess, because someone is going to blow the Colts away unless the Colts are absolutely in love with this Chub guy or somebody else that they won't move. And not to come back to the Jets, Dan, I don't mean to, but the one thing that some of these other teams have done who need quarterbacks is over the past couple seasons, effectively stockpile draft picks, and the Jets do not have that ammunition. They had money. Right. They don't have ammunition.

And that's why, yeah, I think that's why their plan A was cousins because it's set up better for where they were. but they're still at six, which is not a terrible place to me. They could, if you're the Browns at four or if you're the Colts at three, if you have a chance to trade back with the Jets, you're still sitting at six and you can still get somebody you really want. If you trade back with the bills, you might get a little bit more of a haul, but you've got to wait.

So it's going to be fascinating how it plays out. It's going to be a game of musical chairs. There's four top names in the quarterback market in the draft, and there are what, five teams that really need a quarterback. Somebody screwed. Probably will be the Jets. That's my prediction, by the way. I don't know.

I can give you another contender. I know how this S works. Moving on. The Browns cannot screw themselves. They might. Well, they have to really try hard to do it. They'll take a running back and then trade down to 12, and even Lamar Jackson will get picked ahead of them,

and they'll wind up with a right tackle. And cut to the Hugh Jackson press conference saying that Tyrod Taylor is moving the ground beneath his feet. Don't think it will happen. Another quarterback comes off the board and another sandwich prop victory for the old Zucer. Sam Bradford will sign with the Arizona Cardinals, a one-year, $20 million deal.

And I'm not saying that's a bad contract for the Cardinals. And I understand why Bradford can command that. But has any player in the history of the NFL made more money for doing less than Sam Bradford? And I like Sam Bradford as a player. But this guy is making bank his whole career. What has he done? I think this is going to turn out to be one of those phony deals where it's really one for 15 because that's what's guaranteed. And then he's getting.

And that's a lot of money. That's a lot. What are your alternative? That's the price. I think that's about what Keenham will get. That's kind of the price for the quarterback that's a short-term solution. And to me, he's the biggest boom or bust guy of all these quarterback because... Or the teddy?

Yes, because I think if he's actually healthy, he's ready to go, and he could be an average to above-average starter right now. But there's absolutely no way to tell what his degenerative knee is going to do. I can't disagree with that, but... If your alternatives are Mike Glennon and A.J. McCarron, pay him as much as it takes to get him in there, especially when this is allegedly Larry Fitzgerald's swan song. You're not going to want to watch Larry Fitzgerald catching passes from Mike Glennon for an entire season. And they're not done. They've said for months, we're going to get quarterbacks in multiple ways.

There are another one of those draft eligibles. Just a note, Dan, you did get your proposition right, the sandwich prop, which said that the Cardinals would sign a 2017 Vikings quarterback. However, it did not entice anyone to take you up on it. Oh, really? I didn't make sandwiches, but I have a chance to get three props right. We will get to that a little later, which is unprecedented. It's kind of like getting all guaranteed money. One last thing on this deal, the Cardinals can't be done yet.

Their offensive line was terrible last year. Beyond Larry Fitzgerald, all they have is question marks at wide receiver. He's not exactly set up for success there. No, not at all. I mean, putting Bradford behind that line is going to be trouble. Whoever, put it this way, whoever else gets signed, Whether it's Mike Lennon or a quarterback that gets drafted in the first or second round or whatever they do, it's probably going to see some time next season.

Josh Allen's starting by week five in Arizona. That's your quarterback update, the musical chairs. Let's move on now to the Kansas City Chiefs who continue to act aggressively following their one and done playoff ouster. They have a new quarterback, of course, in Patrick Mahomes. And now they add another weapon in the name of Sammy Watkins, heading to the Chiefs on a three-year deal. This is a big one.

This is a whopper. We talked about this coming into a heading into Free Agency, Mark. Would Sammy clean up again, despite another guy that doesn't have a huge track record production? But he got a monster deal, expected to be worth up to $48 million with $30 million guaranteed at signing per rap sheet. You like this move, Mark? Well, I mean, I like the idea of the Chiefs. The Chiefs telecast this at the Combine, that they were absolutely all in. adding starting wide receiver talent to pair with Tyreek Hill.

They, the rap sheet had an interesting report how at the Combine, people were coming up to me like, have you watched like this film that Chiefs officials are showing of Patrick Mahomes, various practice stuff that they've seen behind it? They are all in on Patrick Mahomes. And they are, I like teams when you were, whether it's Trubisky in Chicago or whether it's Mahomes in Kansas City where you're going to give like they did to Carson once last year, everything you possibly can to make them successful. And they pride them away from the ring.

Sam's, why not? And to me, Sammy Watkins is a guy who's now making money. And he's on his third team in 12 months. He's not my favorite receiver on the planet, but if he stays healthy, why not? I like the fact that despite the money, he's part of a greater hole. He's not the focus of the offense. When you have Tyreek Hill and Kareem Hunt and Travis Kelsey, you're only going to produce so much and you're only going to be counted on

to get eight or nine targets in a game so often. and it's not going to be every game. So that's a great fit for him. And there are a lot of people that say he was open all the time last year and the Rams couldn't get him the ball. He's obviously talented. And now this is a team in the Chiefs that a year ago at this time, we were annoyed how much they were in prime time.

And we ended up being a little wrong because they were very entertaining, I would say, in their games. But now put them on all the prime time. Mahomes and this crew sign me up. I mean, I'm looking forward to this Chief's team. It was just a few years ago. We were bemoaning the lack of play. They kept hearing that stat about the chiefs-wide receivers and no touchdowns.

I never heard that, actually. Yeah. Zero touchdowns. It's like, yeah, the Fitzpatrick Harvard thing of that year. And now look at the speed they have. Hill, Watkins, Chris Conley, Kelsey's one of the fastest tight ends. It's a lot to deal with. And Andy Reed calling the shots.

Their offense will look much different this year. They are a very exciting team. I was going to say they could be a Buzzy Super Bowl team, but you have no idea how the quarterback is going to perform. We just know that everyone thinks the world. of them. I also don't have much faith in their defense as it stands, and I don't know if they're going to spend on their defense. They don't have any players. Right. Anthony Hitchens has joined the defense. The chief's plan to sign the former Cowboys linebacker to a deal worth $9 million per season per

rap sheet in Tom Pelliserro. That was the number 50 player in your free agency top 101. So you guys obviously are not in love with him down in the lab. But it's another name in that D. Well, they've now got two inside linebackers who are prototypical. run stuffers and have questionable pass coverage skills and him and reggie ragland so i don't know how great a fit it is i guess bob sutton knows a lot more about that than i do moving on the chicago bears have had a hole at wide receiver since alshan geoffrey uh left town they have now filled that hole with alan robinson who signs a three-year deal worth 42 million roughly 25 million guaranteed good money uh that from rap sheet uh for the man that was number three in the top

101 and Greg Alan Robinson Tours ACL in the first game of the season in 2017 did not have a good 2016 statistically so to get a multi-year contract with 25 million guaranteed that's a pretty good business for him. The receivers got paid in this market even if you are coming off a down year like Watkins or an ACL like Robinson and suddenly Mitchell Trubisky looks like he has a fun group of weapons.

You add tight end Trey Burton. Okay, that's fun. You have Robinson in place, and then we also have some breaking news in the mix. And the Bears agree to terms with Taylor Gabriel, live on the show. Wow. At least the Bears will be a little more watchable.

They got Matt and Aggie. They'll get three primetime games before October. Three to six primetime games, sure. 2018's Jared Goff. Mitch Trubisky's the big winner of free agency here. Get Alan Robinson. Taylor Gabriel now in the hands of an offensive mind who knows how to use him after Steve Sarkeesian went a whole year without getting him the ball.

I like this game. I like this the way this team is shaping up. It's interesting how they really have followed this Rams model. They got rid of the older coach that was defensive-minded. They brought in an offensive-minded guy. Now they're building around the quarterback. Why not? It's a sensical model.

You had to. I mean, their offense, and they were injured last year, too, but they were impossible to watch outside of the running back group. And Chubisky was held hostage by that group of skill position players. So what else do you do with the second year quarterback? And I think the Rams and the Chiefs are having an impact on the league and the Eagles. Like these are all spread them out, fast players in space, ball down the field, just in shotgun, throw the ball.

You'd suddenly look at the bears. They're a lot like the Chiefs last year. You have Gabriel and Robinson as the speed guys on the outside. And Burton has the move to the end. You have Tarek Cohen who can do some similar things as Tyreek Hill and also is a very dynamic running back. And you have a running back and Jordan Howard. I mean, this is going to be a fun team to watch.

Another team that will be fun to watch always are with Aaron Rogers involved. But they continue to look for a long-term solution at tight end. And Jimmy Graham, formerly of the Seahawks, is now a Packer. He agreed to a three-year contract to join Green Bay. A bit of a surprise because earlier Tuesday, it seemed like the reunion with the Saints was going to happen, but apparently those talks broke down. And Green Bay and Goody, man, glit canst, pounced,

bringing in Graham, 31 years old. We've talked about him a lot on the show, how he's not the same guy anymore, but perhaps, Wes, he gives them obviously a big red zone threat now, a guy that still finds the end zone, but maybe don't expect him to. average 15 yards of catch this year. Yeah, Mike McCarthy has spoken several times in the last couple of years about the need

on that team for a seam stretching tight end and a red zone threat. They never really had one. They tried to get that with Martellus Bennett. I think Jimmy Graham still has enough left in a tank to play that role. And I'd love to see Aaron Rogers and Jimmy Graham on the same page. That would be nice. Well, if he ever is going to do it, it's going to be with Aaron Rogers. Or Drew Brees, where the Saints were reportedly interested, and now the St.

Saints don't end up getting Jimmy Graham back. I mean, I'm kind of glad he's not going back to the Saints. Yeah, me too. I didn't need to see that. It didn't end. It ended a little bit ugly and like, let's put him in Green Bay and let's have one of these tight ends work out in Green Bay and give Aaron Rogers something that, you know, 20 other quarterbacks have.

It's true. When you can finally, you know, get Graham to the offensive fire show that Joe Philbin brings, you got to do it. Are we down on the Packers offense now? No, I love Aaron Rogers. I mean, by the way, Philbin was part of the. that offense for years before he played out in Miami. And I'm still down on their coaching.

I saw Joey Phibbs in the hallway at the Combine. Electricity. And I got to say, I just like, after he walked by and I looked down in his shoes and I got perfectly tied, I smiled because Joe Feldman just is kind of funny to me. Survivor. So Jimmy Graham. And yeah, it's weird. Aaron Rogers, who's one of the greatest quarterbacks ever.

I feel like he's been dancing around like a tight end he could count on for years. Jared Cook was almost that guy Martell's Bennett should have been that guy he's not that guy now Jimmy Graham is potentially a guy now Packers had to make a move they decided and this one surprised me Jordy Nelson

Jordy Nelson has been shown the door Nelson who of course for years was a stud Aaron Rogers' favorite target a guy that won a Super Bowl with Aaron Rogers but he started to slow down Wes it seemed that he had slowed down

but at the same time he didn't really crater until Aaron Rogers exited the team last year to injury I thought we're going to get a chance to see if they get the magic back but the Packers decide they got to move yeah it's amazing how fast things changing the NFL was just two years ago 2016 he led to the NFL and touchdowns that was coming off the ACL injury he wasn't you could tell he wasn't as fast anymore even though they had a nice connection in the red zone and that caught up to him last year when it was easy to see early in the season that Devante Adams had already replaced him as the number one receiver.

I think choosing Randall Cobb over Jordy Nelson makes sense to me. Choosing Brian Bulaga, who was reportedly, you know, could be asked to take a pay cut over Jordan Nelson makes sense to me. Like there are tough decisions, but I don't think Aaron Rogers is going to be happy. Aaron Rogers has kind of become a little surly about things going on in Green Bay. And I like hearing his voice. I mean, you could even see it today on Twitter. he essentially congratulated Casey Hayward, the cornerback who left town, almost calling out the Packers previous regime who just thought he was a nickel guy.

And then retweeted his teammate David Bactiari, who said loyalty is in your actions, not in your rhetoric. And I think that's about, you know, the Packers being able to keep the players that Aaron Rogers likes. And I'm sure cutting Jordie Nelson is not going to be a popular move. Sounds like a healthy stew. So there you go Jordy Nelson Arrow is over Just out of curiosity boys Scientists I'm down in the lap too

I move some beakers around Yeah Bunsen burner turns on everyone so while Remember that thing Remember that thing that you go To light the Bunsen burner It'd be like that Yeah

Oh yeah With the spark Yeah I help you guys We appreciated the flavored water That you brought down today I mean that's always a good way To ingratiate yourself

I put saline drops in it for you again to make you have diarrhea. Okay. That was weird. I wish the listeners could have seen the strange face Dan was making that I tried to avoid. So, yeah, Jordan Nelson. Oh, yeah, my question was,

where would he fall in your top 101 entering this week? I'm currently looking at our list. He's got to be like three or four at this point. Yeah, like as a scrap. We're not taking players off. So we're just updating it with the signings. What a scrap. I would put him above Mike Wallace.

So that's what we're talking. So in the early 60s. Yeah, I was thinking a little lower but not much, probably around 70. So the happy medium might be in the... Still, it feels like the name alone will get people to come after him. Times a b***ch mark. I think he's fine. Why are you directing that at Mark specifically?

Wow. Oh, well, you're the one that he's trying to make a... You were not pointing that at me, Dan. I didn't take it that way. Nice try, Greg. Greg is rabble-rousing. Drink some left-langered-water. Slug that down.

Oh, Mark knows. Time's a B. For you, too, buddy. It's coming for you as well. Andrew Norwell. Let's move on. Cute boy. When did he just...

Andrew, he said, time's coming for you, too, big boy. He's saying you're going to die. Cute boy. Cute boy. A little cute boy and his little blazer over here. Cute boy. That's what I thought he's... Cute boy.

I'll take that. It's a relative of fallout boy. Greg is wearing a suit. I mean, whenever I can get Sessler to call me something and my mom probably did what I was for, I'm all in. That was the effect. I was going for that. Greg wearing a suit, he did a network hit that caused us to have to wait to start the show.

Thank you very much here with NFL.com's Greg Rosenthalton. The Annabelle.com. The NFL.com. The NFL.com's Greg. Ambrithel Harris. You guys making fun of me? She came after me in the makeup studio. And then I had to explain it to her.

She's doing a great job this week. on air for our... A lot of network content. I can't wait till Greg has handlers. Is it coming? How close are we to handlers for Greg? I mean, I'm at NFL.com's Greg Rosenthal. That's a long way.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have targeted and successfully targeted a big piece in the middle of their offensive line. Andrew Norwell expected to sign with the Jags, according to sources, informed to the deal. That from Rapsheet. The deal five years and 66.5 million. 30 million guaranteed. That is the leader in the clubhouse along with Sammy Watkins for most guaranteed money.

That is the trifecta for the zooster in his prediction. Do you get it if it's a tie? Yeah, so it's a tie works here? Well, is it the most? No, not technically because Sammy Watkins says the most then. No, they both have the most. No one has more than them, which means they have the most. Right.

Wes, thank you for bringing some... It feels like a semantics heavy argument, but we know better not to argue with Dan. You always have to specify, yeah, ahead of time. Now, if he had 29 million guarantees. Greg's digging in. And Stunner.

Drink some of that's water, Greg. If he had 29 and Watkins had 30, yeah. So if eight players have 30, do you feel like in the spirit of your, you're, okay. Is it the most? Okay. I mean, you guys are barking up the wrong tree on this one. That's all I'm going to say. I agree with.

Yeah, I don't. I'm not going to fight it because it's bad podcast. I think it's over. Moving on. So Norwell gets that money as it made sense that he would. Interior alignment, any lineman gets paid. And the Jags, though, kind of a surprise team of the Giants and some other teams were rumored to be getting Norwell, but he goes to the Jags.

I find it really interesting. They did not pay Alan Robinson, but they decided to pay Andrew Norwell kind of doubling down on the we're a tough running team, Leonard Fournett. That's our MO. But they also give Marquise Lee a very attractive. contract four years 38 million including 18 million guaranteed my guess is they didn't expect the the secondary wide receiver market to be as good as it was because that's a lot of money for marquise lee when you're letting alan robinson walk the one thing they keep i've heard this now on network two

over and over oh now the jags are like dug in on being a ground oriented team well okay not surprising to begin with but isn't a good guard a good guard for the most part isn't this player i mean he helps them in the passing game as much as he helps them as a as a run team i don't think I don't think people are paying any guard that much money for pass protection. I think they're paying them for the running. I don't think it means that they're simply a one-dimensional football team based on getting offensive line help. Moving on, another quarterback, a bit of quarterback news. Josh McCown is back with the Jets.

Agrees to a one-year deal with the team. So that makes a lot of sense for both sides. He had a great year in New York before suffering that thumb injury that ended his season in December. But he is a perfect bridge-slash-mentor guy. So don't expect, don't take that to me and Teddy Bridgewater is no longer in the picture. They could end up with both those guys and draft the quarterback. They're doing a complete reboot at quarterback McCown back with the Jets. This feels like a move to allow the Jets a lot more options in the draft when I was writing up the Teddy Bridgewater piece.

I said, don't be surprised since he's only 25 years old in an injury risk. If they still sign McCown to go with him, and McCown probably enters week one as a starter, well, they figure out who Teddy Bridgewater is. Like, I like that trifecta compared to some others, but it's still a little confusing in New York and just with a new offensive coordinator to deal with Teddy Bridgewater, McCown, and a number five overall pick. That's a lot. Just not what they geared up for from PRN. I think when you sign Bridgewater to go with McCown, to me, Bridgewater looks like the quarterback of the future and they don't have to go first round quarterback. And it should be stated if they end up getting Bridgewater as well and as expected potentially take a quarterback, it looks like.

the end for Christian Hakenberg now officially if they add another quarterback after McCown before the draft. Moving on, Paul Richardson. He is a nice player coming out of the Seahawks, a nice downfield threat. He signs a deal with the Washington Redskins.

A nice deal for him, five for 40 with 20 and guarantees, according to Mike Garifolo. And Richardson was ranked number 41. In our top 101, Greg, didn't work out with Terrell prior last year. Now they're going to try it with

Richardson stretching that field. Interesting offense with Alex Smith throwing to him and Josh Dotson. Paul Richardson could be the third Seattle receiver to do better away from the Seahawks than they were in Seattle. Golden Tate really has had a nice career leaving Seattle. Germain Curse suddenly became more productive. I think Richardson has a lot of talent and maybe they can untape it in Washington. Moving on, the Buffalo Bills are making moves.

First of all, Kyle Williams is staying. making around a one year $6 million deal, originally selected in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL draft. He is a beloved figure in Western New York. So he comes back for another year. Last year was the first year he ever made the playoffs. You may remember that Mark heartwarming video after the Andy Dalton touchdown pass of Kyle Williams, hugging his son, a nice little moment in Bill's history, and he's back for at least one more year. It was.

I mean, I think they weren't sure they were going to get him back. Star Lutaleli is also there as well. They've brought him on. Lutalala. However you say his name. I don't know. I think that this is one of the free agency fun fits star to the bills that Greg and I

and our quarter bangers that we combined on to write an half-banger was we nailed it. We nailed it in that because of the Sean McDermott Carolina Panthers Buffalo bills. Forget we. That was you. I like to give team credit.

Start to Lala. What was all Mark? Five-year deal. with the bills. So they look pretty good up front. If I'm a Bill's fan, I'm a little annoyed about their team right now. They have a lot else to do.

Let's see what they, if they come out of it with a quarterback, everybody's obsessed with it will look a lot better in the draft. But we'll see. Danny Amandola. Ooh, Greg, it's over for Danny playoff Amandola. He's expected to sign a deal with the Miami Dolphins. NFL Network's Dan Helly reports.

What? Oh, yeah. Breaking news. Helly reports that Amindola is expected. to sign with the Dolph per source informed with the situation Schragbaum

over a GMF as of the deals for two years and worth 12 million 8.25 million guaranteed Amadella's 32 years old

never a guy that was piling up stats in New England but when the lights came on in January that bro was nails the Patriot just got worse. You seem only

slightly stunned that Dan Helly broke accurate news. I'm also wondering how many listeners were able to translate what Shreigbaum at GMF means. Yeah, Thomas from Good Morning Football.

Oh, yeah. Anybody know what the dolphins are doing with their team? I know you're impressed. Hey, they also got Albert Wilson. Good thing, Nate, got rid of Jarvis and Landry and Domican Sue to bring on board Albert Wilson and Danny Amandola, who doesn't show up until January when the dolphins are sitting at home. Don't get on Albert Wilson just because he has his name is Albert.

It's not exactly day one of free agency. kind of... Matt Harmon, one of his favorite players, Albert Wilson. I kind of like Albert Wilson, but that was one of the most surprising deals that he got $24 million over three years. And shout out to Danny Mendoza and Erica Tamposi, tough day for her, her favorite player. But what memories we had. 13 playoff games over 700 yards for Danny and Mendoza. Always better in the playoffs than the regular season. I don't know if they win those two Super Bowls without day.

So thank you. And go get your money. And this is going to seem like I'm trolling, but in no way should you be. be worried that when the pocket's collapsing in a big playoff game next year, and Tommy Boy looks up, he's going to be looking for Kenny Britt to have separation, not damn. Good luck with that. Oh, yeah, you're right. I mean, they're really going to be hurting with Julian Edelman, Gruncowski, Malcolm Mitchell,

Brandon Cooks, and whoever else. I mean, come on. Nail. He was Danny Playoff Amandola. And now he's got. Albert Wilson's the guy you sign as an undrafted free agent, not the guy you give $20 million to. It's fair. So you're okay?

Oh, for Danny? I don't know if Eric is okay, but... What's this? Oh, no. Yeah, it was the drop you were manically calling for for the last minute. We've been waiting for it. Why are the inhabitants so pleased with them so? They are known as the people of the Zolak.

Their loutish behavior is indigenous to the region. I see. I command you to destroy them all. As you wish, Lord. Lord? Yes. Great work. How about them apples?

I don't get your rep. Ah, goodwill hunting. Oh, okay. Yup. Ha, ha. Ha ha. Now destroy them. No, I get it.

As you wish, Lord. Drop, sir. I love top break. No, that's what she said. No, that's what she said. I love top break. That's what she said. It does feel like the end of an error.

I know Erica has sent out a number of the, you know, the wine-drinking gifts. And so she's probably, she is down. But a lot of her into Amandola-ness was based on him being hot. And he's still hot. He'll be in Miami. He'll have a tan year round. That's a great point. I didn't really think about it.

That doesn't really change. So there you go. The dolphins add some weapons with Jarvis Landry out the door. Let's see if it works out for him. And Trey Burton, who, of course, was involved. with the immortal, not quite helmet-catch immortal in terms of known quantity,

but the Philly Special... What if it was equally immortal? Would that count? I think he said better, didn't you? The more. I'll have to go back, look. I think he said more. If it were equally impactful.

If the language was equal... I'm sure it would go my way. Trey Burton is a young and upcoming tight end. He signs with the bears. So they add another weapon there. Not a bad deal, Greg, right? I don't know the money. Let's see.

It's three for 24. Yeah, it was part of that hole. He's there Travis Kelsey in theory. I mean, he's not going to be Travis Kelsey. But we like trade. A move, tight end? That's why we... More of an H-back.

Yeah. We talked about him a little bit ago. Let's get current and let's get some more breaking news. Uh-oh. Uh-oh. Bashad Breeland is signing with the Carolina Panthers are top 20 cornerback, top 20 overall player on this list and one of our highest ranked quarterback. Three years, $24 million, $11 million in guarantees, according to Mike Garifolo.

I like that move. Well, they just traded a cornerback, so. You can tell Dave Gettelman is no longer running this team with the trade that they made sending Worley away, with giving up a lot of money for a cornerback like this in Breeland. But I do like the move. I think he's got a high ceiling. Greg is all in on Marty Herney Malcolm Butler's still waiting to get paid

As of A target for your Jets potentially Malcolm Butler and Dionne Lewis Are the types of free agent stories That I'm always a little worried about Whenever you read those stories That there are eight teams interested in Dionne Lewis Like that's always a sign

That actually he's not getting as much interest Maybe as they were hoping Because he would have signed by now And finally in the news What is eight going to do for you? The Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, wow, they keep on adding to that defensive line. Holodi Naga, Nata, no, it's Nata. See, the spelling will throw you off, but it's nada, right?

You're dead on. One year deal, 34 years old now, but obviously a nice rotational player that they can add to the mix, gives them a little bit more depth, and the end of an era at the tight end position for the Eagles. Trey Burton left, and that's not much of an end. of an hour, four-year, and he moved on. It's typical football stuff. But Brent Selick was a tight end there for 11 years, and he never missed the game, and he got old, though. We talked about that earlier in the show.

Time waits for no one. 33 years old, and after winning a Super Bowl, a nice way to go out, a great career, Brent Seleck with Philly, they cut him. So Seleck is out the door in Philly after 11 years. Cincinnati Boy, maybe he'll go close out his career with the Bengals. said he wants to keep playing not i mean i'm looking forward to this new eagles defense that they revolutionize offense but next year they revolutionized defense just 11 defensive linemen on the field at once what are you going to do to that um lindsay bro right over their heads before we go let's

let's let's get erika temposi on the phone and see how she's doing now that uh danny amadola is gone because uh no joke uh we didn't we didn't make light of it at the time because she works so hard and we love Erica. But when we went to record our post-Super Bowl show in Minnesota, Erica was sobbing. That's how emotional Erica gets when talking about her beloved patrons. So what we're going to do now is get Erica on the phone. And hopefully, maybe she'll be crying.

That's what I'm going for here. Hello? Hey, Erica. Dan Hansesley around the NFL podcast. How you do? What's this? Dan Hansus, Around the NFL podcast. Very popular. Oh, never heard of you guys. I find it weird Dan introduces himself to you every time he sees you as Dan Hansis from the Around the NFL podcast. I know. Every single time.

Erica, call you the loose cannon, but I don't think you're going to be whiling out, as the kids say. You're millennials today because Danny Playoff Amandola is no longer a member of the Patriots. You're very emotional, I imagine right now. Take us through your thought process. I mean, okay, so as you liked on Twitter within 20 seconds, so I know you know, Eddie took a picture of me at my desk crying. Eddie Murphy, Eddie Spaghetti. Yeah.

Producer here. Oh, my God, this music, this is tough. Okay, so he's getting to that point, like coming off one of his best seasons, but this is the last time he'll be able to make a contract like that before the end of his career. So I'm happy for him in that sense. And he's in Miami, which is great. A lot of women in Miami, huh? Yeah.

Hello. I mean, we did a really good job of managing him and keeping him healthy until playoff. We? I don't know if the dolphins can do that. Yes. You and Alex Carrero? Yeah, I liked your contributions in keeping him healthy, Erica. Thank you.

I do what I can. I'm just really sad. Yeah, because you're never. Think about this. You'll never, ever watch a Patriots game and have that gorgeous hunk pulling in catches when it matters most for the Patriots. It's really, being a Patriots fan will really never be the same. Is that fair to say? Do you have a soul?

I mean, you still have Julian Edelman, Erica. And I do have a question because I thought that we asked this before that... He's the rich man's Danny Amandola. Sure. And like a large part of your into Danny Amandola scenario had to do with, like, his... hotness factor and he's still like ragingly hot in Miami. Okay, he's

going to be hot in Miami but I can't look at him the same like I can't like I'm very I understand that he needed to take you know he couldn't keep taking pay cut after pay cut but he's leaving the Patriots as a fan favorite. I hate him. I'm really upset now

and I want my space from him Edelman can come back which he is going to come back is he going to be right out the gate as strong as and if he goes down, like, who's our backup? I'm, like, kind of a panicle. Sounds like Erica thinks the Patriots sort of mismanaged this. Erica, just, this should make you feel better.

You root for the team that signs Wes Welker away from Miami in his mid-20s. Dolphins fans root for the team that signs Amandola away from the Patriots in his mid-30s. That's the right thing. They're not just transactions, Greg. These are people and a man that Eric had fallen in love with. And now, you know, he's going to get tan down in Miami. He's going to actually get hotter. if you're into a dude with a bit of a tan let's just put it out let's just call spade it's out there

you also root for a team that just cost itself a Super Bowl for benching its best cornerback ooh yeah yeah yeah my life my life kind of sucks well that's that's not true Erica thank you is that what you wanted to hear Dan yeah kind of actually but then once you said it I felt a little yeah I do have a soul because I didn't want to hear that from you yeah no I'm very sad it's he's been a major part of my football fandom and I've always been team Dola and he's always been so for the Patriots even though he takes pay cut after pay cut you know he was like a team player we got it we got it we got yeah thanks you're gonna miss him all right yeah I'm very sad okay

Erica Tamposi very upset about Danny Amadol's exit uh hang in Erica uh we'll see you around soon thanks guys there she goes and we got to go you want to just throw that out there Greg, real quick. A little breaking news to end the show here. Jaguar's not done at receiver signing former Colts wide out Dante Moncrief. Ouch, Ravens going at, wanted him. Instead of going, Robinson, you bring back Moncrief and Lee. There's a lot going on with the Jaguars.

Ravens were respectfully waiting until Wednesday to transact with any players or discuss anything having to do with. Hey, got to play by the rules. There you go. All right. We will be back tomorrow, Wednesday. later in the day to go over the official start of free agency. But, yeah, no days off here.

We needed to get in here and give you the update on the league. So there it is. Thank you to everyone for listening. This is Dan Hansis signing off. For Quiet Storm, The Mailman, the old boss, Lindsay Bolton behind the glass. Oh, boy. Tamper, baby. Until Wednesday.

This is an I-heart podcast.