NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Free Agency Extravaganza, Day 1

Episode Date: March 11, 2019

A room filled with heroes - Dan Hanzus, Chris Wesseling, Marc Sessler and Gregg Rosenthal cover the latest in free agency breaking news (2:30), including Landon Collins, Nick Foles, DeSean Jackson & Terrell Suggs. The heroes then react to Antonio Brown ending up a Raider (20:55), Trey Flowers to Detroit (32:45), Michael Bennett to the Patriots (47:00), and Justin Houston released by the Chiefs (53:25). To close the show, the guys debate Gregg’s future Patriots fandom once Belichick retires (1:04:10).Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comNFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. The Around the NFL podcast will only answer to Mr. Big Chest. Welcome to another edition of the Around the NFL podcast. My name is Dan Hansis, and I'm Joe. Joined in a room filled with heroes, Mark Sessler, Chris Wessling, and Greg Rosethall. What is up, boys?

Hey, Dan. Free agency week is here. It's here, boys. And you know how I know it's an important week? Because Mark's got a sport coat on. You nailed it. Got a text message at 842, group text message labeled under ATN boys. That's how I, that's a subhead for the group.

Boys with a Z with a Z. 842 from Mark Sessler wearing a sports coat today. that's how you know this is a big week a lot of times I try to get certain amounts of laundry done during the weekend

and I'm not saying it's only for that reason but I'm at the point where all I had left were shirts I hadn't really worn since like 2014 so I thought I'm going to go up

the ladder now let's be honest though there's a little bit of ambition bleeding out of the pores here sweating out of the pores you want to kill it this week you know the eyes of the world football of the world

inside this building What are the ATN guys going to say? Oh, we have NFL.com shows, video shows going up. We got our Twitter show coming up. We got four pods coming up this week. It's your time to shine. It's Mark's time. Well, I mean, none of that is so entirely wrong

that I have no problem showing up in a sports code this specific week. But the idea that you would put it as personal ambition is misdiagnosed. Wes brought up Big Velvet. So, yes, this is a big week. We're in a place where we're competing, with Wes's wardrobe at this point, too. I mean, where he was two years ago, three years ago with his clothing, he'd be wearing, like, an NFL network, one of those, like, summery little short-sleeved shirts

that they give you like eight of. Something you got at the NFL shop. That was an old West move. And Wes likes to say it has nothing to do with the paramour coming. That's not what I say. Everything changed. My style definitely changed. She brought it out of me, but a lot of what I pick out and wear gets credited to her.

And you're wearing velvet today. Who would have thought two years ago? I view it kind of like, you're a defensive-minded head coach that hired a great offensive coordinator. You're not really happy that he's getting, or she in this case, is getting all the pop for scoring so many points. In no way, shape, or form, am I a defensive-minded head coach? I am all offense, baby. All right. So, yes.

It's a busy week. Should we just start this show with some breaking news? Let's do it. I mean, it better not be about Paul Reiser or anything. Is it a real breaking news? Sources, according to Ian Rappaport, former giant star Landon Collins is signing with the Washington Redskins for $84 million over six seasons.

Interesting. As we start the show that literally drops on Twitter. So the Giants made the decision that they could not, at least what it seemed from the outside, they couldn't decide if Landon Collins was worth star money. But Wes, the Redskins, the Washington Football Organization, They have no qualms. They have zero qualms.

Played against him twice a year every year and saw how much of a difference maker he is, saw how much of a playmaker he is, and they seem to be really reshaping their defense. Word around the campfires they're in on CJ Mosley too and are willing to trade Mason Foster and Zach Brown, their inside linebackers. So this could be a totally different defense next year.

I essentially do not trust the Redskins front office to do much of anything right. I mean, that just seems to be an ongoing theme for them. but who isn't under intense pressure to produce immediately this season? And their defense has been an issue for a long time. Well, that includes their defensive coordinator who they kept Greg Minoski, even though they literally interviewed people for his job and then didn't hire them. And this is a team we've talked about it here that's desperate.

And I think people have looked at the Alex Smith contract and thought, okay, well, this team isn't going to be able to spend. But they have some cap space. And I think they're approaching the Alex Smith situation, especially after getting Case Keenum, the only way they can, which is just it's a sunk cost, and you just have to ignore that it happens. I mean, Pittsburgh is paying as much for Antonio Brown on the cap as Washington is paying for Alex Smith, and they're still going to try to do business, and this is aggressive. I want to see the guaranteed money, but it certainly is good news, I think, for all the safeties out there trying to make some money this year. because no matter what it is in the first two or three years and the guaranteed money,

it's going to be a lot and he's going to be the highest paid. Rapsheet has $45 million guaranteed and paid out over the first three years. There you go. All right, a lot of big names. On the move, another one is Nick Foles. It's been speculated for weeks and weeks that he would end up with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and that's exactly where Nick Foles ended up.

He signs a deal, a saucy deal, Mark Sessler, with the Jaguars that goes, goes four years, or 88 million includes 50 million in guaranteed money. And Mark, we'll start with you on this one. So Foles, despite the fact that there weren't a lot of teams that were connected to him, maybe just one team. And it was the Jacksonville Jaguards. He still gets big-time starter money or competitive starter money.

Yeah, I think when the numbers came out, there was a lot of, like, wait, of course, you're this, you know, been talked about you're a team competing against no one. Why wouldn't you try to bargain basement, the quarterback position? and Mike Arafolo said it perfectly on NFL Network that their viewpoint was, what are you telling the rest of your locker room if you bring in Nick Folls at a discount rate? You want to make it clear that he's your starter for now.

He's your starting quarterback. You pay him like one. You start that relationship off well versus something more in the cantankerous region. And for me, this is like about what other quarterback were you going to go get that you could be secure in as a week-to-week starter? There just weren't that many out there

unless you want to go in the draft. And I don't think that this regime has enough time on their hands to convince a Jaguars public that we're going to slow cook a quarterback for two or three years. This is about Nick Foles, too. This is a guy who I think his leadership and what we hear about Nick Foles has been growing and positive and he's a bit of a transformed person along with player. I think he had plenty of leverage. Blake Bortles and Teddy Bridgewater were his leverage.

And John D. Filippo, the offensive coordinator, they brought in, who has worked with Nick Fools in the past. This is his leverage. You don't want to go back to Bortles. You don't want to pay for Bridgewater, who you weren't interested in last year, has one start in three years and was outplayed by an undrafted rookie in that start. Go get the best quarterback available. That's Nick Ful's leverage.

Right. And you don't know what a ceiling is. I like it because it's worth. I think they should keep taking shots. They should try to develop a quarterback. They probably won't because teams never do this. But they should still draft a quarterback. Maybe even in the first round.

I don't care. oh, what's the big problem that you're running to? You have too many great quarterbacks? It's like, wow. Well, they have needs. They have a lot of needs. I know they do, and so it's probably not going to happen in the first round, but I don't think you close your mind to developing quarterbacks because you sign Nick Ful's.

I also want to see the specifics on the deal, how much is guaranteed into the second year. My guess is it's basically a two-year contract, and then they'll see what he looks like. But, like, he could get better. I mean, quarterbacks do get better throughout their career, and he has been not just visibly better, And with the ceiling of the greatest performance, I think, in Super Bowl history by a quarterback. But he's talked about how he looks at the sport differently and how he looks at the position differently in terms of how he interacts with his teammates and everything like that. You're getting a different Nick Foles than the guy that went to Kansas City so many years ago. 50 million guaranteed or whatever it ends up being is a big investment.

It could end up being an overpay, but I agree with everything you guys are saying that this is a team that made its bed. when they gave Blake Bortals that unnecessary extension, they ate it this year and they needed to move forward of the position. They needed to make a splash. And Foles is, to me, an efficient, effective splash to make. And now we'll find out with the Jaguars if that defense can now turn back to 2017 status because it wasn't all Bortles last year.

There were other problems with this team. They need to have a much better year in 2019. That's fair. The offensive line was so banged up and so awful last year. they need better receiver core was awful better running back there was a there was a lot going on but to me it's not it's not nick foals or any of these mid-level

starting quarterbacks like cousins that's overpaid i mean under you know overpaid it's just like tom brady and aaron rogers and those guys are like crazy underpaid it's it does sort of make no sense that all quarterbacks just make the same amount of money all right good chatter liked it we're going to keep moving though there's so much to talk about

very exciting how about the shot jackson let's throw his name out there two years in Tampa didn't really take off didn't work he had some moments early on in 2018 especially when Fitzmagic took hold for a few weeks there but it didn't work out with the bucks we thought maybe he could be released instead a trade he's going back to the Eagles a 2020 7th round pick and Jackson from the Bucks in exchange for a 2019 sixth round pick the Eagles also sign Deshawn Jackson to a new three-year, $27 million deal.

So Jackson, who's been around a while, he's 32 years old, will turn 33 during the 2019 season. But, Wes, we saw last year that he could still tear the top off a defense and the Eagles want that element in their offense. We have to worry about a player who's going to be 33 years old and his game is built on speed and nothing else, just speed. and he's taught us something about quarterbacks in Tampa that he was on fire last year with Ryan Fitzpatrick who has a weak arm but throws a pretty deep ball and now he's going to Philadelphia where Nick Fools doesn't have the strongest arm in the world but throws a pretty deep ball Carson Wentz has a strong arm and doesn't put enough loft on the ball so I'm wondering how that connection will work it's definitely filling a need Mike Wallace didn't work out in Philadelphia they need

that speed guy to stretch the field it can't work out worse than Mike Wallace but they do keep getting older aging deep threats. And at some point, if this doesn't work out again, you've got to look at a younger person for that fit. But what I love about this is it just shows you that these NFL feuds die so hard. This felt to me like one final, Howie Roseman, FU to Chip Kelly.

He's had a few. I mean, I'm curious if they're going to keep Nelson Aguilar, who's due $9.5 million. I have a feeling they might cut or trade him later in this week. He's not really a deep threat anyways. And I hear you long-term, Wes, on Deshaun Jackson. But for 2019, I think that's really all they're thinking about in the short term. He led the league in yards per reception.

I mean, so he's built on speed, and he still totally has it, at least in 2018. It's not going to last forever, but he has shown no signs of really dropping off. Carson Wentz had a lost year in 2018. You want to give him a good team around him to really try to bounce back. He is your guy, after all, you chose him over Nick Foles. Well, now you have a guy to add. He got Zach Ertz there, Alshon Jeffrey. Not a bad offense.

Nelson Aguilar, they need a running back. They look a lot more loaded in the passing game than they did last year. Let's talk about an old face, Mark, Antonio Brown, who we're going to get to in a minute. He left the AFC north. He is now out west, also joining him in the Pacific time zone. Terrell Suggs. He leaves the Ravens after 16 years. is in Baltimore, and he's going to agree, he has agreed to terms with the Cardinals.

He will be an outside linebacker. He's working under Vance Joseph, a three-four system. He still seems to have it. He's an old man now. Maybe slowed a little bit, but still can get to the rusher, still a beast. Your thoughts on that move, Mark? Someone to pair with Chandler Jones. It's one of those signings, though, where looking at him in a different uniform,

I think the weirdest one for me ever was Peyton Manning suddenly in a Broncos uniform took me months to warm up to... That's not anyone else is concerned. That's my issue. Have you recovered? I mean, no, by the end of the preseason, it was like, okay, I get it.

But this guy is going to be weird to see in anything other than purple and white. And I find him to be, from a personal experience of him on the field after the Ravens won the Super Bowl, a less than delightful character, but I wish him well. Do you, though?

Huh? Do you though? I mean... Would you be totally cool? And you could say yes, by the way, because Terrell Suggs, God knows. Not the best person. You'd be fine if he didn't have a single sack in Arizona.

Nobody would fault you for it. I'm not going to spend a lot of time with that as my major concern, but, you know, he's had a fine career at this point. And he was still playing at a high level last year. He was solid. I mean, he was. He's one of those signings, and look, he went to high school in Arizona. He went to Arizona State.

So, you know, that's great for him. It's nice and warm. But there's always these guys every year that it's like, well, we're going to sign him to kind of be an example to the young guys and bring kind of the work hard, like, culture. And like, so we're going to give him a little extra money to kind of be the guy who sets the program. And it's like, I don't know. I've never been an NFL. Maybe that is totally worth it.

I have no idea if that's worth it or not. But there's always a couple of those. It's like, well, we got to bring in Sugs to show all the young guys. I'm not sure he's the first guy. I put into the mentor category, but... Put it this way. He knows how to play in the NFL. He knows how to be a professional player

at a high level year after year after year. Like, he's done it for, what, 18 years? He was like 20 years old when he came in the NFL. He was going to enroll a lot of these young men in Ball So Hard University, and they will excel, Mark. Not just... I want to see the teaching credential, but fair enough. Not just football lessons, life lessons.

Ball so hard? At BSU. Well, good riddance. Wait, ball, B, S, H, you. Ball so hard, you know. Now that. Moving on, we have some slot receivers coming off the market. Let's start with Adam Humphreys, who signs or will sign.

I kind of catch myself there. League year does not start. No. Until Wednesday. Be official. Adam Humphreys to sign with the Tennessee Titans, the former Buck slot guy, gets a four-year-36 million-dollar deal. Wes, you like yourself some Adam Humphreys

and the Titans, they need some weapons around that quarterback who throws about 12 touchdowns a year. How about a guy he can trust in the slot? That's a nice shot at Mario, I like that. This is a little bittersweet for me because... What? Adam Humphreys is one of my guys. He is what you want in a slot.

He's like in your wedding party at this point. Right. I mean, doesn't this already clinch the team of Westiel? It's the Titans again. I wanted him for the cults. I wanted Andrew Luck to be throwing. to Adam Humphreys because they could really enhance each other and I just don't have that faith in Marcus

Mariotta anymore. It's definitely a need for the Titans. They've needed a slot receiver for a few years now and they got a good one. This is what you want in a slot receiver. Do you just kind of worry that he could disappear in all of this? Yes. Yeah. Titans wide receivers always disappear. So you're sticking with the Colts for longer than you

stuck with the Titan. No, this is about wanting to see a player going to where he will succeed and do his best and help the quarterback seceded and do his best. And the Colts, I felt really confident that they could really make each other as good as they could possibly be. Colts have $100 million in Caprum. Now, they don't have to spend all that.

But to Wes's point, this seems like one of those useful players that could have had 110 catches with Andrew Luck. Instead, he's going to have 54 catches with the Titans in 2012 yards. Slotka's getting paid, though. I mean, James and Crowder. James and Crowder, he signs with the Jets, the former Redskins, signs a three-year, 28 and a half, million dollar contract with $17 million guaranteed. So kind of in that same group. Crowd, I like this signing so far.

I like what Big Mac's doing right now last few days. He's 26 years old. Bad year last year, but he was beat up. So you kind of wipe it out, Alex Smith. It wasn't working. The whole thing was a mess in Washington. So you take a slot receiver, you pair him with the kid and Sam Darnold, the guy you can trust and maybe develop a rapport with.

And we are flying towards 10 and 6. And you aren't paying that Antonio Brown money. I couldn't think the Jets have something. going at wide receiver. They might need another. They could use another body or two, but this is not the worst wide receiver room in that division. And both Crowder and Humphreys,

the original reports on their salaries, is under $10 million a year. And I actually think slot receivers, you know, it's catching up. But compared to other free agent positions, I think they're worth it. I mean, I don't think $9 million is outrageous for James and Crowder at all.

I think it's $17 million over the next two years. I really like him. He was my favorite of kind of this crop of slot receivers. I think he's going to make life easier for Sam Darnold. Like Kirk Cousins won't stop talking about Jameson Crowder. Just like what a nice mind meld they have. And just the type of guy that can get open quickly, just make everything a little easier.

And so to me, this is a great move. Like we've moved into a time where you need four wide receivers. You need five or six defensive backs. And so to your point, they're going to get paid that way. A little return value, you know. I think a lot of... Nice name. A lot of teams with the defensive backs.

Developing quarterbacks looked at what happened with Jared Gough once Cooper Cup went down. His safety blanket there at slot receiver. And now, you know, if you're Sam Darnold, that's a great thing to have James and Crowder there. Crowder, Robbie Anderson, Quincy Anunua, and Chris Herndon at tight end. Add Lev Bell in there and continue to improve the line. We're cooking a little bit. Let's see how it plays out. I like how they've started.

Kent Brown behind the glass today, filling in for Erica, who took a hilariously mistimed vacation. I mean, let's just, let's keep it honest. The fact that we like Erica so much, Ricky Hollywood, really shields the fact that in our past, other producers, we'd probably be furious about this, that she's going across Europe having a great time. What I admire, though. We let her off the hook.

She's digging in on the fact that she could care less about the free agency or most off-season, off-calendar NFL events. She openly just asked what free agency was last week. She does it with Panache. You're right, though. It does fit into the near, like, it's not surprising that she didn't know which week. week free agency was and make her vacation.

She's like the only daughter, daddy's little girl who gets away with murder. That's what's going on with the situation right now is she goes across Europe. Kent Brown filling in behind the glass. Kent, thank you first of all for being here. Yeah, of course. It's a lot of fun. I'm happy to fill in free agency frenzy and talk a little Antonio Brown leaving the Steelers. Kent's more like the son that gets blamed for everything, even if it's not his fault.

Oh, yeah, because I'm the middle child. And I had an identical twin that was eight minutes younger than me. and he might as well have been 20 years younger than me. But, well, listen, we love you, Kent. Thank you for being here. Of course. There's two of you. With that breaking news drop.

Because as the show goes along, things can happen. Because, yes, while Free Agency starts officially at Wednesday, Wednesday at 4 p.m. Eastern, I believe it is? Yeah, that's right. I mean, who cares what the time is. That's when the deal, that's the new league year when it begins. But Free Agency for all intents and purposes is happening right now, as you just saw. I was reminded of that, by the way, the Combine, just a quick point, that the Broncos and the Ravens were afraid to talk about

the Joe Flacco trade, because actually trades aren't even allowed to happen until Wednesday. Like, that's such a like under the radar thing. And I applaud the NFL for not caring about it, but just change the rules. Well, aren't we, we're probably a year away from all of these bizarre soft rules, just vanishing. You know what I'm not hearing? We're going to start time on NFL. No one complains about it anymore. I haven't heard, and I was a little out of pocket this past week with the fan,

But what I haven't heard a lot of from today, watching NFL Network and on Twitter and all that, I haven't heard a lot of legal tampering, period. I think we're as a society and the NFL to the Shields credit is like, let's just keep it real here. The free agency is on right now. It just is like if you woke up on Christmas morning, if you celebrate Christmas, and your kids had been up all night opening all the gifts before this so-called official start time when mom and dad wake up. Forget about it. Open them up, start playing with them.

So a bunch of stuff has happened over the weekend. and today, and we're going to talk about it, but we have to hit Antonio Brown. Oh, your children out the window? No, the toys. It's open the door on December. I don't like this one. Sorry, Dan.

Sorry, Dan. Okay. Antonio Brown, we got to talk about it because it went down over the weekend, finally. And it was the team that we were told early last week about the one horse race. The Oakland Raiders were going to get Antonio Brown. And then, of course, the Bills report that turned out to be not come through.

And Antonio Brown was not going to the Buffalo Bills. Well, he goes to the, Oakland Raiders. And it comes on a great bargain for John Gruden and Mike Mayock and company. One of the best receivers in the league goes to Oakland in exchange for a third round pick and a fifth round pick in next month's draft. And Brown then turns around and gets that contract that he wanted. The man is getting everything he wanted. He gets a three-year deal worth 50.1 million maxes out just under 55, roughly 12 million more than his old contract, 30 million guaranteed. Greg, you wrote about this on the dot com and your lead. Nice way to get

into the piece. I enjoy it as a reader of sports content. It worked. I mean, it did. Everything Antonio Brown did, whether you like it or not, and who would really like, you know, just enjoy everything that's gone on since December. Ultimately, he believed he had the leverage to get out of Pittsburgh and to get more money. And I'm a little surprised that he was able to pull it all off and it shows how desperate the Steelers were to get rid of him that they took virtually nothing in return.

I mean, a third-and-fifth-round pick is fine, but that's what they traded. They traded a third-round pick for Antonio Brown last year. That's $0.25 on the dollar. for a guy of this ability. It is. And Brown gets the money that he wants. I mean, he was probably one of the best values in the league for much of his career.

And now he has made sure to earn, to maximize his earnings because he also got paid about $18, $19 million a year over the last two years. I don't know if I'd say this if he had gone to say Tennessee or something, but it was a move that the minute it became Oakland's new player that immediately shifted for me where we are with a couple of NFL franchises, those that didn't go get Antonio Brown, but the Raiders who, I mean, were essentially in many ways last year the most disappointing team in the league for all the hype and hoopla all last offseason about Gruden and the way that they tore the roster down. And now that the way they're building up, the Raiders are interesting again, I guess.

I could find myself being tired of them quickly. But if they go out and they make a play for Levyon Bell or whoever else it is, like this was the aggressive signpost of how they're going to try a team build with Gruden veterans and big pricey pieces. I don't see anything resembling a plan there unless it's, okay, last year we were too far away to worry about building a team. Now we're close to moving to Vegas, so we want some names and headlines on our team? I don't think there is like an overarching plan. It's just reacting to whatever happens in the moment.

And we can talk about Trent Brown in a minute, but the fact that they draft two tackles with their first three picks of the John Grunera and then they pay a huge amount of money to Trent Brown tells me they're just kind of reacting. Now, when you look at the Amari Cooper and Antonio Brown deal separately, and even Cleo Mac, they're all very different. I mean, this Antonio Brown is short-term money.

I would personally rather have Antonio Brown by a decent amount compared to Amari Cooper over the next couple of years, and I would not necessarily be comfortable giving a huge long-term contract to Amari Cooper, and you got a first-round picking the deal. So if you're just looking at what they did in terms of the wide receiver position, I love it.

Because I agree that maybe the plan isn't crystal clear, but the other thing could have happened. They could have been fleeced in this trade. And they absolutely got him for less than most people would have predicted. But salary cap space and cash is as valuable as draft picks. So they didn't give up the draft picks, but they're giving up a ton of cash. And Antonio Brown did not get everything he wanted.

He wanted to play for a Super Bowl contender and he's joining the worst team in the AFC along with the Jets over the last year. You just got the sense that that was not, that was lower on his priority. But it's not everything he wanted. He did want to play for a contender. Now he's playing for a team that's not really relevant. I see a little bit more vision to the Gruden move in the sense that I think he got there and his number first objective was to tear it all down, strip it down for parts

because, and a lot of these guys, Parcells was another guy. If you're at a certain level, the ego, whatever, or the, the past success. You wanted to make it your team. I am going to build this thing from the ground up. And anything I inherit doesn't mean you stay. Even a guy's great as Khalil Mack. I mean, that's what Grude wanted to do.

But does that make sense? I mean, just because you didn't draft Khalil Mack doesn't mean that he's not one of the two best players on defense. Oh, I'm not saying that was the right move. But I'm saying he's entitled to that. And when he gets the 10-year deal, that's the organization making the commitment to you. Do what you want to make us a contender. And I think, you know, and yes, we'll bring up that Trent Brown just got one of the biggest contracts ever to play left tackle for the Raiders, leaving the Patriots after one good season.

I don't think that's a good signing, but it's a sign that he is looking now to build this team in his vision and we'll see how it works out. I'm interested to see how it plays. I wonder if Gruden too, because, again, I go back to the combine, he just seemed like a different John Gruden to me. And I wonder if last year took a bigger toll where if it was going to be a two or three year tear down. The PR hit was far greater than it would have been 20 years ago when there's just less media coverage of the NFL in general and maybe whatever the plan was shifted midstream. Well, and it had been a while since he had lost games as a coach

and he hadn't been through a season like that ever. Is that safe to say? And going through a miserable season like that is going to change how you think. And the key thing to me is Antonio Brown is awesome. Matt Harmon. Was. I think he's still. The Raiders are paying big money for his decline.

phase. It's really a two-year contract. The third year, they'll decide when they get there. And he's paying, they're paying a lot. They're paying what the chiefs, they're paying as if he was a free agent, which seems kind of unnecessary. But it's ultimately a three, four million dollar raised than what he was getting. But they're paying them what Sammy Watkins got last year. I mean, let's not get carried away. It's just sort of like a mid, you know, it's a free agent wide receiver pay. If you look at Matt Harmon's reception, our old friend, he had Antonio Brown getting open on a higher percentage of snaps than basically any receiver in the league still last year.

And that over the last four years, his numbers are actually better than any wide receiver. And I think when you watched Brown last year and the attention that he got, to me, he just looked like peak Antonio Brown. So I think you're getting a, you better get another year too. He lost 23 yards per game on his 2017. I hear you. But he scored a lot of touchdowns. He looked great and he's getting a lot of attention.

He still looked like a really, really great player. Two last quick points for me. One, what better way to know for sure whether or not Derek Carr is your guy than bringing in arguably the best receiver in the league? And I think that's what we'll see. Could be surprised. Maybe Kyler Murray ends up being their quarterback in week one or somebody else. But I think maybe Gruden now sees if put him with a true number one, what happens.

Also, your winners and losers. One that I did not see in the winner category, which I think should have been there. the rest of the AFC North, including Marks, Cleveland Browns, because I'm not saying the Steelers are done, you know. I'm not saying the Steelers are done, but now we officially know for sure that that kind of era, that book is closed with the Killer B's, and I don't think the Steelers will be a favorite in that division at this point. Perhaps they win 12 games next year.

But I think it's a great news, great day for the rest of the AFC North. My one question, because we heard up until the end that the Eagles, the Titans and Jets were put into this mix at one point. We're all in on Antonio Brown and making some sort of a push for him. Were they all outbid by this hyper low offer or did they jump out because for... Nobody else wanted to pay him what the Raiders were going to pay.

I think that's it. I think... The one thing is this is still a great player to me. Are you just... You're saying they're going to get... It's going to have... His numbers will be down. I'm saying I find the Raiders to be a directionless team organization.

And you look at a team like the Patriots who are, you know, as Evan Silva always says, running laps around the rest of the league. They watch the Giants go out and make Nate Solder the highest paid left tackle in the league, get a third-round pick, compensation-wise for that. Trade a third for Trent Brown and a fifth-round pick. Move him from right-tackle to left-tackle to fill that hole. Now they're going to collect a third-round pick.

The Raiders make him the highest-paid offensive tackle in the league annually. They drafted Colton Miller to play lack-tackle. Now they're putting him at right-tackle to take the guy who was a career round. right tackle only to be used as a left, like, where's the direction? That, that, the move is to get these guys before their big money, what the Patriots do. What the Raiders do is throw way more money than anybody else in the league would at two different players. Bad teams get stuck doing that, I hear you, but I just am not ready to call this like Antonio

Brown's decline phase yet, although I think his numbers will be vastly down potentially. Everything but basically Jerry Rice in history says that this is his decline. I do think we should, we should say that the Steelers, however they handled it, they lost. I mean, it failed. I mean, Kevin Colbert, this whole thing of trying to set a deadline and there's all these teams interested. I don't know what the option was because in the end and hammer the Steelers for dealing with a crazy person. It's just an ugly precedent because what three players could do this next offseason.

Yeah, it's unique the Antonio Brown situation because there's not many Antonio Browns. But you're right. Antonio Brown put them in such a tough spot. And I think you're right, Wes. We may never really get the answer. But I think the Raiders, who apparently offered that third and fifth early in the process, and they just sat on it. And they were willing to pay Antonio Brown, but they weren't willing to give up much draft capital. And I think there were other teams like the Bills, maybe the Titans, who knows,

that were willing to give up more draft picks, but weren't into the money. And when I watched Joey Rosenhaus's interview on NFL Network with Andrewsaciliano, you definitely got the sense that, like, the Raiders were fine changing the money. and I think ultimately it's like Antonio Brown made that happen and the Steelers are losers and it is Colbert's fault on some level because they are eating 21 million in dead cap money largely because they should have foreseen his wide receiver quitting on his team ahead of time. How is that Colbert's fault? Because he didn't manage the cap well

throughout the last three, four years and every year they have to keep doing these things where they move their base salary into a guaranteed bonus for Rathlisberger, for a lot of the offensive linement, and they did that for Antonio Brown last year. You can blame Kevin Colbert for not foreseeing Antonio Brown doing this, but I can't blame him for that. No, I'm saying most teams are not in such cap problem that they had to guarantee Antonio Brown all this money last year.

That's a big reason why, is because they had to change all of his money around. You're right, they didn't see it coming. As of right now, like the other option would be to hold him hostage, even if he's not going to play and not trade him at all and just keep them stuck, your career stuck. That was found out to be phony. He kept saying we'll keep them if we can

And they obviously weren't going to keep no matter what West before we move on You know What would have helped What would have helped him? The GM app Yeah Hey we have a team interested

Willing to give up a third and a fifth And give a $30 million guaranteed contract At me Oh I think they essentially had that already The GM app removes any question Whether or not everyone is plugged in that's fair moving on los angeles rams more breaking news more breaking news from adam shefter patriots the entree flowers yes intends to sign with the detroit lions and a five-year deal

wow kent just jumping right in there look at kent frown all right now kent typically you will slack me i did but you didn't respond it's breaking you got to jump on it i mean technically this show this show doesn't go up till hours later but yeah all right can thank you very much for that i love it tray flowers does leave new england patriots glad we didn't tape the show any early uh to go to the lions do we have any contract details there kent at this point it's a five-year deal should be but according to rap sheet more than 16 or 17 okay so the lions who really do need to make a splash uh make a big one and grabbing Greg the best all-round player on the Patriots defense.

Yeah, once they didn't think it was worth franchise tagging Trey Flowers, I assumed that he was going to get a deal elsewhere, whether it was in the AFC East or now it makes sense, you know, Patriots Midwest in terms of Detroit. The Lions have already brought in, signed Danny Amandola. They've already signed. They're not going to the playoffs at McIllola.

Justin Coleman. They've also signed Justin Coleman, who's really a Seahawks. product because the Patriots basically gave him away to the Seahawks, but Matt Patricia knows him well after his two years of quiet play in New England, and then he really played well in Seattle. But this is the biggest move. And I think it's a good signing. I know Wes, maybe you don't think he's worth that sort of money. But to me, he's like a top, I would have to put the list in front of me. But to me, he's a top 10 to 12, you know, defensive linemen or

top 15 defensive lineman, and I don't put, he's not exactly interior, he's not exactly an edge rusher, but he's perfect for this type of defense that wants to be able to change what they do week to week. Okay, you want a two-man front one week, you want a three, you want a four, you want a five, Trey Flowers can do it all, he can set the edge, he's smart, and he really does disrupt plays, and he's in the middle of his prime, and that's just how much people cost in free agency. If Olivier Vernon was worth 17 a year, three years ago, I think he's a better player than Olivia Vernon. Which is why you see a lot of bad teams making moves right now,

because that's when players get extremely overpaid. And how many times have we seen a coach go to a new spot, then way overpaid to bring in his guys, get rid of the last guy's guys, and then he's fired within three years, and, you know, Trey Flowers is released right when Matt Patricia gets fired from the Lions. I mean, to me, it's a lot like Malik Jackson.

I know we compared him to Michael Bennett. Yeah. But it reminds me a lot of Malik Jackson going to the Jaguars, and he had Calais, Camacquay and Marcel Darius there to help him out. Who's helping Dre Flores? You got snacks there, Deshawn Hand? I mean, it's a reminder. But I think the Jackson signing was something that Jaguars would do over again.

And Flowers, too, he just got released. Plays about 300, 400 more snaps and release. He's going to be on the field. I went back and listened to a portion of our, I guess you would call it, the opening free agency bonanza, you know, sum up scenario from a couple years ago. And like, 80% of the people that we talked about, are either on their way out or already gone from the team.

So there is a like a lingering buzzkill to all this like, you know, manufactured excitement over all these signings. I totally agree. And yet I think Flowers is really safe. I just don't like what's like the worst case scenario to me with him is he's solid and he gives you 10 to $12 million in value. And yes, you're better off if you're the Patriots

and you're drafting guys like that. And they certainly had a price for him. And it wasn't this high. and that's unfortunate because I loved watching him play. But like, he's not going to turn into a bum. He's a good player. And the flip side to the coach going to from A to B and bringing in his guys is Matt Patricia.

I like the idea of Matt Patricia knowing exactly who Trey Flowers is, using the right scheme and putting something unknown quality into Detroit's defense. Then Trey Flowers going to a group of coaches that have never worked with him and have no idea if he'll work out. Bob Quinn's been there since 2016.

So even though it's only... How's his team looking? Right. No, not good. Even though it's Patricia's second year, Quinn is under some pressure to make some magic. I mean, they paid a Zigianza, $17 million. I mean, I'd settle for even vaguely exciting instead of magic. Let's move on.

So much to get to. The Rams, Eric Weddle, they're in business. The Rams agreed to terms on a two-year deal with Weddell that is worth up to $12.5 million. Weddle had, according to Weddell, 11 offers, narrowed that list down to five, chose the Rams. Sowettle, the 34-year-old veteran safety, who was cut by the Ravens last week, lands with the Rams team with that Super Bowl window wide open. Also, staying with the Rams. Dante Fowler, who came over in that mid-season trade from the Jaguars, made an impact, especially down the stretch. Well, he sticks around.

He is off the open market. And at one year and 14 million rap sheet reports, feels like a pretty good deal. for the Rams who don't have to make a big commitment really to either player and have two pieces in place. Weddle got what I've never seen before, the palindrome contract. Every figure in the contract reads the same forwards and backwards.

Ooh. Signing bonus, the actual money. Bizarre. I've never seen that before. I think the agent did it just to be fun. It was cute. Fowler especially surprised me

because especially edge rusher and all that, I feel like he could have gotten a better contract than the open market. 14 million? For one year, though? I don't know, maybe... That's a lot of bucks for one year. I think that that's a...

Usually I am skeptical when you give teams too much credit for attracting free agents in terms of like how they sold themselves or it's an attractive place to play or the coaching staff. But I would tend to give the Rams staff a little bit of credit that I think they convinced Dante Fowler based on his experience with them, look how great that just worked out for you for eight or nine weeks.

We're going to pay you what you would have made, if not more, on an average salary. But we're going to make you look so great again for another year that you can go be a free agent and make even more money a year from now. Because I agree, Wes, I think he would have done better guarantees and a long-term deal, but the long-term potential is maybe even better if he gets paid a lot this year and then teams aren't worried that it was just a fluke. I don't think he was going to make

Trey Flowers money as a free agent by any means this office. I mean, I don't know if his agent would agree with that strategy necessarily. What happens if you tear your ACL in early December? Well, he agreed to the deal. Well, the one thing I like is the RAM. These feel like more honest contracts to me. I can trust that Weddell will be there for two seasons

and we know foul will be there for one. Don't lace this up with these, you know, these phony four-year deals, blah, blah, blah. And they're not there. Right. The Landon Collins deal is already, there's no way he's getting to the end of that six year deal. You see a lot of prove it contracts that are for one year five million. You don't see one year 14 million prove it. Exactly. That's what I mean. What was the Nodomican Sue contract? Almost identical. So they took basically that Sue money and gave it to Fowler. But Sue wasn't proving everything. He was already, he's a three-time, four-time all-pro.

He's not, he wasn't trying to prove anything. You're right. I think it's, it really is a case of betting on himself if you're Fowler. I think it's a belief that he is a, he must believe that he's going to do even better this season. Eddresher and Wade Phillips defense is a good place to be in Los Angeles. Right. He had a, he had as good a contract push, I think, after a pretty stark cross career as any player in recent memory. Don't.

Yeah. We should not discount how inviting and alluring it is to be playing for the Rams right now. Yeah, that's what I mean. I think he probably had an unbelievable time playing for them. He loves it here. The media's here. The clubs are here. I was going to say the fans.

They had a lobotomy to remove the Super Bowl experience from his members. He played great, though. It's a legit Super Bowl contender. So maybe he is willing. Wade's chill. I mean, Wade's not going to be like having you running gassers and yelling at you. It's going to be a club, Club Wade. Here's another big contract.

Juan Alexander, who missed most of last season after suffering a torn ACL with the Buccaneers, the former fourth round pick. He had become an important player on that defense. Well, forget about the ACL, you know? Forget about everything because the 49ers say, we want this man and we're going to pay him big money. He's signed, according to Rapsheet. He's expected to sign, excuse me, a four-year, $54 million deal with, 27 million. That's, again, the important number in guarantees. A big payday, West, for the 24-year-old,

13 and a half million average tops. Luke Keeckley. Is this crazy money? This is crazy money, and it's all because the 49ers drafted the wrong guy in Ruben Foster. Their linebacker core is depleted. They need it desperately to pay for linebackers. They get a guy who's a bit bit like Alec Ogletrie, physical, athletic, makes big plays, but also misses a lot of tackles, is not always where he needs to be. And I would question, outside of picking up the phone when Bill Belichick wanted to unload Jimmy Garoppolo on Kyle Shanahan, what has John Lynch done well in San Francisco? I agree with you.

Including the Malcolm Smith signing two years ago, which is another linebacker. Jerich McKinnon. He's going to state, Derek McKinnon was bad luck, but it was a curious signing. You know, Malcolm Smith is going to stay on a pay cut. Kwan Alexander's coming off a torn ACL. Like, I always, I've been thinking for a few years that there's a market there for value in terms of guys coming off torn ACLs or big injuries that they almost seem to get undervalued sometimes as free agents, but maybe that's out the window.

Because, I mean, he's supposedly three, four, five months from football activities. He might not be, you know, hopefully he's ready for the start of the season. but he was an up and down player who made a lot of big plays, but I think Bucks fans would tell you he was so aggressive, he gave up a lot of big plays. You almost have to look at that front office and say they've gotten lucky in one sense where the late season trade two seasons ago for Jimmy G

brought so much optimism that you covered all the sins in the rest of the team building. And then the early season injury to Jimmy G. Last year gave everyone this mulligan, like, well, of course we aren't seeing the real Niners without Jeremy Kinnick. Now this time around, you can't go six and ten. without some heads roll.

This is one, though, we're taping it pretty soon after it was first reported. I would be curious to see the guaranteed money. There's some, they're now, like, the insiders are, they're getting smart, Dan. You know, we've been getting on them for, like, saying guaranteed money. This show, you know, guaranteed money is not really guaranteed. Now, he apparently has $27 million in rolling guarantees. I don't know. What's a rolling guarantee?

Whatever that means. So maybe it's like a one-year contract for all we really know at this point. let's move on a trade trade trade tsunami it's coming ready it's been here it's been coming here it is trade trade tsunami talked about the raiders earlier they also made a meal made a deal this weekend sending calce a semile the left guard a two-time pro bowler who suffered a down season in 2018 so gruden ships them out of town along with a sixth round pick to the jets who get offensive line help, which they need. It's a 29-year-old player who, if he stays healthy,

if he's in good shape and all that, represents a huge upgrade for the Jets in the middle of their line. And like I talked about this last week, as important as bringing in somebody like Levyon Bell is, fixing that line in front of Darnold is equally important. And I think this is a good step in that direction. Your thoughts, gentlemen. It seems to me that the Raiders, there are reports from ESPN specifically that they are cash poor after paying for Antonio Brown and Trent Brown.

Trent Brown deferred most of his big money into the second year after they get to Vegas. In theory, because there's no income tax there, but maybe it's, you know. So they're helping the Jets build their offensive line because they can't afford Coletchi Assembly. I'm sure they also think that assembly is a bit in decline from where they signed him three years ago. Yeah, he was one of those guys that Mark, I think if you listened to the show three years ago, we would have been talking off the top. He was a top five free agent. We love their whole line.

And he was on the potential cuts list because Mayock, especially, and then after at the Combine, Mayock kind of said O'Semble he thought was up and down a year ago, which, you know, was maybe telegraphing it. But for the Jets, it seems like a very, I mean, at worst, he's a competent starting guard, which is like. Better than Jake Carpenter. It's impossible to get. I think these veteran pick swap deals are like, you know, they're the new money ball.

And Matt Paradis is the big center on the market. There's a report out there that it's between the jets and the bills in terms of the fight to get. So that would be a nice upgrade to the middle of that line. So we'll see how it all plays out. Another trade, the Patriots in business. They acquire Michael Bennett and a 2027 round pick from the Eagles in exchange for a 2020 fifth round pick. Bennett, we had heard he was, his salary was a little bit restricting for the Eagles. They were going to potentially release them.

Instead, they move them in a deal. Bennett, Mark, still, even at age 33, makes an impact on a defense, made the Patriots a little bit better, it sounds like. I mean, I guess to Wes's point, you look at this, Michael Bennett, a guy who systematically knows he's going to play into deep January every year he's in the NFL. He's proven he can do it. you're not one of these teams blowing the bank for someone coming off a big season.

He fits with the Patriots, and I'm sort of over-douting anything they do at this point until they prove that they can't operate a football team better than anyone else in the league. Michael Bennett, you've already had the other Bennett brother there. Why not just go full house? Well, Martellis wants to come back now. Martellis says he wants to play again. I have a feeling the Patriots aren't going to go along with that. I think they'd feel one Bennett is enough.

I think people have been waiting for Michael Bennett to fall off, and it hasn't really happened. I mean, he's still a very solid starter, if not better, at a cheap price. But the Eagles, to the credit, I think they think a little more like some baseball teams do. They looked at Malik Jackson out there and thought, well, we'd rather have Malik Jackson for a few extra million dollars more than Michael Bennett. And we'll just move on from Michael Bennett. Expected to sign a three or $30 million deal according to rap sheet, Malik Jackson. How about Wes pointing out that Trey Flowers was kind of the Michael Bennett of the Patriots defense last week? I think the Patriots were listening.

I don't know. And they were just like, let's get the original for way cheaper. There have been post-released whispers in Seattle and Philadelphia that Michael Bennett cares about rushing the passer to the extent that he no longer plays great run defense. Now, I don't think PFF's grades reflect that, but both of those teams apparently thought that. Patriots do need an edge rusher, and he does play sort of the same position as Trey Flowers where he can go inside or out. And we saw down the stretch last year, he can definitely still.

get to the quarter. And he never stops playing. He plays a lot of snaps and they just, they're going to need some talent on the defensive line. It is not a good defensive line without Trey Flowers there. It also might be a guy, you know, this, he's been in the NFL a long time. I mean, you don't want to cast a Spurgeon. You know, he might just be like, after a year of Michael Bennett, you just been like, okay, that was, that was good, but maybe that's. Get a ring and get out. Let's move on. Greg, does this up your Patriots fandom again? You've recently noted that you're not really a Patriots fan anymore and you're just waiting for I mean, that's been blown out of proportion.

It's actually not been focused on enough, but. Is that true? I raised the possibility. Oh, yeah, Dan, you would have loved it. We talked about that. That when Belichick retires, am I really going to be as invested in it? No, he's out. I have not decided.

I'm just saying like that, I think it's not going to feel. No, I'm talking through it on the podcast. Okay. All right. But, yeah, I am, is it possible that I'm not going to be as emotionally invested? I mean, are the Dolphins as emotionally invested after Don Chula left? Yeah, probably not. It's like, come on.

You got to watch. I mean, a few assumptions being thrown around. You know, you got to watch Cam Cameron running the show and be like, oh, yep, I'm just as into it. Ask Henry how he feels. He seems like a pretty diehard dolphins fan all through the bad years. I have thoughts on that, by the way. Oh, I tell you what. Do you want my theory on it?

I mean, sure. It's not cutting or anything, but it's my opinion that you've enjoyed this amazing run with the Patriots, the team that you grew up following and you've had this Brady Belichick ride. But also now, listen, you're getting a little bit older. You're making waves in NFL media. Maybe you don't want to be attached to a team as a fan anymore. So this gives you, in your mind, this could be my clean out. So no longer will I be a fan of a team. I could be Greg Rosenthal NFL insider. No, I don't want to be an insider. I'm a fan of a lot of teams. and I think the Patriots will no matter what will always be 1A,

and you guys seem to be confused when I'm, like, rooting for other teams. By the way, that was a Springsteenian beatwriter trope right there. But it's true, though. Do you think it's phony? No, I just think it's interesting that the minute the Patriots, like, lose their Hall of Fame coach, you're out. You're not naturally a fan of things. I also, I've kind of given up on other sports. You're right.

There is a point in getting older that I don't like. giving up like my emotional well-being or stability to anything like I mean but you also haven't had to outside of myself what do you mean I mean try being a Jets fan for 20 years you've essentially just like this magic carpets floating around from season to season every autumn you're sort of a thousand feet above everyone else trying to convince us I may still be a Patriots fan please that's why gambling was invented because as you grow older adults have very little reason for a stake in games that 18 and 25 years there's a little there's a little bit of bit of cognitive disson. It's happened to all my other sports. I mean, I've kind of given up

being a real. I mean, I'm with you there. Red Sox and Celtics fan too. Like, I hope put a gun to my head to watch college basketball. I'm not emotionally invested in the Yukon Huskies anymore. The Springsteenian trope, a sports writer trope that you might be drifting toward in your 40s is, I don't road for teams. I root for good stories. I don't root for good stories. But they all like hate football. And like, I love football more than I ever have. And but part of, I love it a little less when, like, the team you're rooting for is making you miserable. I think we've spent enough time on this topic. The Chiefs move on from Justin Houston.

This is a good one. I think it's a good one. I think you guys should think about it. Think how miserable you guys are on Sundays. Maybe you could get that love of the sport back. Wait. So now after you're saying I should now jump out when things finally might be in with the misery. I have enough fists with the jets.

They don't ruin my life. And unless it's like a rare thing like when Ryan Fitzpatrick throws three, three interceptions in week 17 in Buffalo. But usually I have enough distance where they don't destroy my life. I enjoy rooting for the Jets. Me and Keith, we like it. My brother, Kevin.

It's a family thing. You don't have to, it doesn't have to ruin your life or overpower your entire existence. That's all. By the way, Greg, look into your right pocket. I put a little present into your right pocket. That was you.

I was like so confused. There was a random slim gym in my zipped up pocket. I like to call it. And I was like, and I was like, That's great. Well, but I totally assumed it was me because I'm someone that's, you know, occasionally at the end of the day, I'll, like, empty my pockets.

There'll be some strange things. A little nash. No, but there'll be, like, some strange things that I have no recollection, you know, taking. The Chiefs. Cut ties with Justin Houston. Not a huge surprise. This happened on Sunday. It's a natural, I mean, it's an old Wisconsin.

It's a knockoff slim gym. Yeah, that's not the real deal. It's not the real deal, Holyfield. Brett Veach, you know, the Combine did not deny reports that a trade could be possible for the veteran linebacker. Apparently no suitors were found. So they decide to cut ties with Justin Houston. Wes 30 years old, still can get to the quarterback, but maybe not at the same level as a few years back. Nine sacks last year.

I had two sacks in the postseason. A guy I feel like should have a market, right? I think he's going to have a market just not at $15 million. Can still get to the quarterback like you said. And I think we've said on this podcast, last year the only two teammates to be in the top 10 and pressure percentage were Justin Houston and D. Ford. He can still get it done. I could see a smart team going out and signing him.

I think if he played anywhere but Kansas City, he'd be seen as one of the best pass rushes of the last half day. Five years removed from the 22-sack season, which a lot of people forget. I had nine and a half in 2017 and nine last year in 12 games. I mean, nine and 12 games. But a ton of pressure, like a ton of pressure and sets the edge, does it all really well. It's interesting that they're going to move on from their best two defensive linemen if they do trade D. Ford. There's some talk that the Packers and the Niners were maybe interested in trading for D. Ford.

And, man, I think that would be a... I tried to send them there last week. I mean, that would be a fun one. Could have, like, Chris Jones as a one-man defensive line. He made it into the top 10 of our top 101 pre-agents, which is continuing to be updated. I got the sense. That's a living, breathing document. Wes was gone this weekend.

He was in St. Louis at the baby shower. How was the baby shower? It was a lot of fun. Baby shower. It's a little strange. Wedding shower. What are you doing there? Baby shower, the man should be there.

I explain this on our last podcast. My family is also throwing a wedding shower in Cincinnati next month, and I'm not even allowed to go to that one because I'm a guy. I'm making up an event. It's like a party, party for you the wedding. Yeah, what the,

I'm making up a work event was in that situation. You're a good man, so you went. But I'm making up, actually we have this big podcast meeting like I can't, I can't miss. So I have to,

I can't be at the wedding shower. Could not. St. Louis. I can't make it. It's a new, it's a new owner's meeting to discuss the 2022 collective bargaining. You could say anything and that's perfect. And she'd be like,

oh, damn it. All right, well, I'll let you know how it is. I'll send photos. And you're like, Please do. It ended up being a good time. It's definitely not my scene, but her friends are very cool.

I only brought that up, by the way, to say, I get the sense you think Justin Houston, I overrated him a little bit, putting him on this top tip. I am a big Justin Houston time. Okay, good. Good, good, good. Number nine. Same page, scientists, good.

Denzel Perryman, staying in L.A. The Chargers agreed to terms of the linebacker on a two-year, $12 million extension. Rapsheet reported on Friday. second round pick in the 2015 draft. Nice move by your bolts, Greg. Yeah, I like it. I mean, Wes always points out, and he's right, they're a bad run defense in general,

and they're much better when Denzel Perriman is in the lineup. They also got rid of Jaliel Dye. The Chargers are not that far away. I mean, they're a 13-wing team that does not get a lot of respect. I feel like I want to see them make some moves to get excited about this. He's got to stay healthier, though. Yeah, I missed a ton of games. old school he's a throwback player like a thumper of a linebacker which sort of reminds me of

Brandon Spikes when he played for the Patriots your only goal is to stop the run and I might as well just tee you up on this one as well Greg because I know where it's going Sean Lee will stay with the Cowboys he gets a haircut so he will make haircut where is it going reduction in salary I think this is a West bit if it no no no no well he's a Garrett guy I mean you can't They can't quit their guys. Can't get rid of Garrett guy. I mean, I think. Go ahead.

Claibon put it well on Twitter, something to the effect, you know, Jason Witten, Sean Lee, making $8 million or whatever it is combined this year. But hundreds of million dollars in leadership value. I mean, just these guys. Millions. The biggest problem with this move is that the Cowboys typically play two linebackers on most of their downs. And Jalen Smith and Layton Vanderes are just. simply way better than Sean Lee right now.

Don't you have to... Depth, though? Like, not if the depth doesn't play special teams. It's expensive depth, you know, because it's a sentimental. But there can't be any Jerry Jones, like, oh, we're going to make sure Sean Lee's got a big part of this team. It's just enough with that drama. Oh, I think they're going to say stuff.

That's annoying to me. Get Sean Lee and Witton back. I mean, get Romo up the team. Get Romo back. Get Janovic back in the building. Turn the page, Cowboys. Des was on to something. Get Des back.

Garrett guys. Danny Playoff Amandolo We mentioned that, didn't we? He signed a... I appreciate it, by the way, Dak Prescott, braving the cold in Southern California in the desert to watch Serena Williams Friday night.

Maybe the match of the year, Serena versus Victoria Azarenka. He was out there. At first he was... Were you there? I wasn't, but I was watching on TV. At first he was trying to look all tough like wearing a t-shirt.

I was like, oh, man, it's got to be cold there and he had like a little blanket over his thing. Later on, he's got a hoodie and a blanket over his whole thing. Don't try to be too manly. He had like an FDR blanket. He put a blanket like over his head later, yes. Wow.

I don't want my quarterback wearing an FDR blanket. I feel like it shows weakness. That's what he was trying to. At first he was trying to be cool. I don't, I mean, I'm trying to keep it real here. I think that was a fair point. What a match, though. I want Sam Donald sitting there in a pair of shorts,

cut thigh high, and a nice sleeveless t-shirt, and just take in the old tennis. People want to pretend it's not cold in Southern California. It's 53 degrees and windy, that's cold. Well, I mean, come on. It's all relative. How soft do you want to be? Sam Darnolden, like a nice USC-flavored romper with some little mittens.

Now you're speaking my life. Move back to Massachusetts or New York for a winter and see if you think 53 in windy is cold. That's fair. That's fair, dog. Yeah, Danny Amadola reunites with Patricia as well. So Patriots Midwest. Is that?

I mean, I would much rather have Sean Lee for three and a half million than Danny and Mendoza for four and a half at this stage in his career. I'm a little... Why do non-playoff teams keep signing Danny Mendola who's usually injured and ineffective during the regular season and only turns into a great player in the playoffs? It seems logical unless you want to spin him to a playoff team near the deadline. Nobody wins here.

I think it does point out like how difficult it is going to be. I don't know. I don't know why I say this. The Patriots win no matter what. But like as more and more of their guys go to other plays, places, like the dolphins and lions seem like they're going to compete for every Patriots free agent out there. I mean, you don't want to pay for depth.

He's 34. Like, spending a lot of money for backups, he's literally never had a season over 660 yards in his entire career. He's under 10 yards for catch. I think there is a thing where we know this guy is from the whole idea of calling anything anywhere, Patriots Midwest or Patriots West or South. You better be mimicking even a breadcrumb of the success. of the team we're calling you

located somewhere else in the United States. Is Michigan the Midwest? Yes. I feel like we're a little... We've had this conversation, I think. Oh, we get a little... Patriots North, they're North. Overly cute with what Midwest is.

No, Ohio is right under Michigan. And growing up in Ohio, we were only ever referred to... It is the Midwest. I know... Wait, Geograph... Matt Brown just got my ear and said Pittsburgh's the Midwest, too? Is everything the Midwest? I consider Pittsburgh way more Midwest than East Coast.

There's a lot of conversation, especially, like, Yeah, is Pittsburgh. It's certainly westly-Towne East. It just seems like it's becoming a catch-all. Well, no, so there's a map here. Fly-over country. It extends far west of Michigan and east of Michigan. The Midwest sort of begins with Ohio and Michigan.

I mean, I know Pittsburgh's on the west side of the state. Right. But the east side of the state is damn near at the Atlantic Ocean. Yeah, but here's a long state. Pittsburgh is not included in this map, by the way. It's way more similar to Detroit. Cincinnati Cleveland. But I get it.

It feels Midwest. My friends came back from college in Pittsburgh, and they like NASCAR suddenly. So that's, you know. Yeah, but I never got into that. Just because we draw lines to make states doesn't mean that everybody in those lines acts like the rest of the state. Yes, it does. All right. Now, Mark has a map up here.

And this is now, okay. Name these states, by, well, this is not good audio program. Not at all. So Pennsylvania, according to this map, is not the Midwest, thank God. But Ohio is. Okay. That's fine. Well, I think Pittsburgh shares much more DNA with Ohio than it does Philadelphia.

Yes, for sure. Glad we figured that out. Finally. Wes is pro cut Pennsylvania down the middle. I think that we pay too much attention to borders. Ouch, big statement there. The Lions agreed the terms. Did we mention this?

Justin Coleman. We did. We did. Good. Highest paid nickel back in the NFL. This is the year that nickel players start getting paid. Slot receivers and slot corners are getting paid. corners are getting paid like wide receiver twos and cornerback twos.

Is this the year that Nickelbacked the band gets the respect that they've craved? Finally. Their entire career. I'm going to go with no. Kent Brown, the greatest rock artist of all time is? Rock artist, Mick Jagger. Okay. Okay.

That's a safe answer. I mean, the Rolling Stones. As the band, but yes, okay. I'll give you Jagger, unless you're referred to his solo stuff. Well, I'm just saying you said artists, so I didn't want to say. They banned, so I just went with the best singer. I mean, I would maybe go with someone that, like, played music as, at least as part of his arsenal. Mick Jagger from Kent England.

There we go. Chuck Barry. Don't you dare say Kent Brown is not bringing the heat to the around the NFL podcast. Did we say Jason Peters is back to Eagles on a one-year deal? We did not. Did not. That's big. Future Hallfamer hanging around.

That's big. Useful. They figured it out. Not Jason Peters anymore, but he can still play. I think there was some doubt about that one. and they figured it out. He's way better than Vaitai. Right.

I mean, it's funny to think about because, like, how much better is he than Trent Brown right now? He's so much better than Trent Brown. And he's so much less expensive. Greg, I will, I honestly, you're going to be surprised by this, but I will support you if you attempt to distance yourself

from the throne of slees. It's just more of an intellectual... But you've got to promise me that I'll never, let's say, 20 years down the line, maybe we're all in different parts of the country, maybe we're all together. Who knows? that I'm not listening to an interviewer or a podcast with you

as the guest and someone asks you, well, what do you root for? Who do you root for it, Greg? I know you're from New England. I root for good stories. Just promise me you'll never say that. That's fine. Well, you would never listen to that podcast again.

That's true. I mean, that's fair, but I won't say that. And this whole time, I've said they'd be 1A. It'd just be a little, like, different. It's just going to be different. That's it. They're 1A. It's like I was there at the old world series.

this year, rooting on the Red Sox. Am I living and dying emotionally like I used to? No, because you're not putting in the sweat equity of watching them every time. That doesn't mean you're rooting against them. You got your family. Well, this is dressed up in a lot of nice words. I just, something about it feels wrong to me. But I'll also do the work to try to figure out what on earth you're doing.

I am worried. You know, you never want to like, if you have something that you do, you don't want to just do it but worse at any point. And the Patriots, whatever they're, you know, being a fan of them, it's going to be, you're going to do it. worse. Retroactively, it would, well, I don't, listen, we don't have time. Retroactively, it might affect, not that it matters to you, just like you're saying,

I wouldn't listen to your podcast. It doesn't matter to you. What do I think of you as a fan? But I would think somebody that quit on the team as soon as they weren't good anymore. It's like a Bulls fan getting out on Chicago after Jordan retired. I would think, oh, you were never a real fan to start with. Well, I think that's fair. In Greg's defense, so I've considered myself a San Antonio Spurs fan from the moment they drafted

Tim Duncan. Right. And as much as I want the love to be there still, now that Duncan and Kawhi Leonard are gone, it's just like, okay, what am I really rooting? Well, add you to the list. Of course I'll be rooting for him, and especially if we're still doing this podcast when Belichick leaves,

you know, I'll be, you know. You will outlive this podcast. I'll be rooting for him. But in your heart, is it going to mean as much to you? No, I'm just being honest. Probably not. Am I still a Knicks fan if I haven't watched a Knicks game in 10 years? I don't think anybody's still in Nixon.

It's also more like what do you want out of, out of being a sports fan. It's like if you've gotten everything you want, if you've gotten the best that there could ever be, it's like, and asking for anything more is greedy. This is a nice PR job, but I think more where some of us are getting to, from another angle,

is as soon as it becomes a struggle, I'm out. You want the ease and the joy. I know that's not what you're saying, because you're talking about it is an intellectual, curious exercise, but on the surface level from another angle, It's like, when this isn't like pleasurable to me, I'm not going to ride with this entity, whether it be a team or something else through the tough times, too. It better not bleed over into the way you do other things.

That's all. This is exactly what I was talking about the other day when there's an inverse relationship between toughness and quality of life. You don't want to endure the bad times. And what that doesn't mean, that means you're not going to be tough. I'm more open-minded on this, but they're making great points, you have to say, the kissing cousins. Sometimes you have to endure the bad times. I think it's more just getting old and, like, wondering. You know, when you go down to those super,

the Super Bowls have changed it a little bit for me being there in person. Like going down to the locker room, like when they've won and lost or whatever. And it's just like, oh, here are all these guys. But it's like there's not really any difference between the Patriots guys and the Rams guys or the Eagles guys. And it's like they're all just these like millionaire athletes that wear this uniform for a short time in their life. It's just laundry.

They don't really have as much. Just laundry. And then you're just like, okay. Well, it's a little different. Wes, I know what you're talking about, the toughness, the battle. The Yankees had like 3, 85 win seasons in a row. Oh, man. In the earlier this decade.

You stuck with them through that? But were you as into them, those seasons? I was. That's why, and again, I'm not judging, but I love the Yankees as much, probably more now than I did 10 years ago, just because they were released from anything NFL related. That's part of it, too, is we do this for our jobs. Absolutely agree with that All right

Good talk Big week coming up So we're going to have a show An NFL.com Free Agency What's the name of the program Free Agency Live? Frenzy?

No, I think they dropped French. No, we're not included with Frenzy for the most part Free Agency Live is the hashtag Okay, so we're doing a show today Is that correct? It'll already have aired by the time anyone listened to

But it will be on NFL.com afterwards Yes, so we're doing 2 NFL.com video shows. shows. And you could get the links from our Twitter pages or hopefully the around the NFL Twitter handle. But this podcast, if you're just a, if you're all about purity, oh, I just listen to the pot and we don't judge you. You got a show Tuesday, Wednesday when the official league year begins, the new league year begins. And then Thursday, we should have a show as well. So a lot of content coming your way in addition to our Wednesday, Twitter show. We are productive.

That's it Mrs. Dan Hansa signing off For Quiet Storm The Melman The old boss Kent Brown

Coming in with the breaking news It's the first for everything And we loved it See you tomorrow Kenny Till Tuesday 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

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