NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Hall of Fame Locks, Players Suddenly Important at Work and the Preseason Begins!

Episode Date: August 7, 2026

Gregg Rosenthal and Jourdan Rodrigue react to the 2026 Hall of Fame Class and game. Also, Gregg and Jourdan discuss Jahmyr Gibbs and Jonathan Taylor getting new contracts, Jalon Walker's injury, Stefon Diggs signing with the Commanders and take a look ahead at who currently in the NFL could make an easier case at a spot in the Hall of Fame than others. NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed human. Get Bell Pure Fiber Internet with Crave, Netflix, and Disney Plus from $94 a month. Price guaranteed for two years on Internet with a two-year term and auto pay credit. Visit bell.ca for details and to check availability. Bell, connection is everything. Welcome to NFL Daily, where we have a real football game, sort of to talk about tonight. I'm Greg Rosenthal in Los Angeles talking to my friend.

across town, Jordan Rodrig, trying something a little different. Thank you to everyone joining us on YouTube. Thank you to everyone listening to us as a daily podcast. This is our last one of the week. We're going to hit some Camp News, Jordan. We're going to talk some Hall of Fame with a big Hall of Fame weekend coming up. We're going to talk about some people like yourself who have become suddenly important at work. Although you've been important at work for a little while.

And we're going to watch this Hall of Fame game as it starts. because we just decided why not, have a little fun and watch along while we're talking to football. Thank you, Jordan. Again, live. I know. I'm so happy to be here. I've got one eye on my TV, and I'm watching this intro, and it's great. You see Al and Chris and, excuse me, Mike and Chris in the booth, and you see the players,

Luke Keakley and Larry Fitzgerald walking out to the field in front of these. I'm stoked, Greg. I like the bottom crawl. That was a nice touch. Football is back. Yes. Football has been back a little bit, but preseason football, it's really back. And I do eat up this first game of the year, and I'm looking forward to watching the rest of it once we're off.

Because it's the NBC production. And we had like Matt Lafleur, surprising Mike LaFleur, who has a live mic and is just chatting with the studio before the game. And you have all the Hall of Famers around. And it's just a good back-to-football vibe in a way. that by the second or third week of the preseason, we're just sick of preseason football. But tonight is not about the football exactly. It's just sort of about the pomp and the circumstance.

Yes, the thought that counts. And we've only got a month left until the Rio football starts. And so we're going to keep an eye. And if you are watching along live, we love you. Put some questions in the chat. And we'll watch this game along with you and answer your questions about the 2026 season. But let's start with a little bit of news. Let's line this up.

Let's do a little bit of news with the running backs. Let's talk about some players related to the news that are suddenly important at work. And then we'll get into some Hall of Fame talk to wrap the show. We'll be out of here in less than an hour. Now I put it on camera. It's a promise, Georg. Yeah. How many times have you said that today, Greg?

More than, more than I care to admit. Jamir Gibbs is under contract. They looked at the Bejan Robinson contract, and they just said, I'll have one of those. It is $67.5 million over three years. The deal is up to $75 million. So he has some incentives in there. It's $51.5 million guaranteed. And if you look at the Bajon Robinson contract,

it's essentially that plus a little extra. And that's about it. It's not too complicated. These running back salaries annoy me a little bit, Jordan. They said that they were going to. going to reset the market. It's not resetting the market when you just go up a million or two. To me, actually, these two young men who are so good in the top of the position had a chance to just like go crazy and make their teams feel pain. I kind of wanted them to make the teams feel

pain. Yes. And also, sometimes when you say things, Greg, like it's not that hard to win an NFL game or two. And in this case, I really, you know, it's only a million or two. Sometimes when you say things. I just take a minute and I think, you know, what a world we are in right now with football being back, of course. But yes, I think that there was a lot of excitement a couple of years ago about the running backs maybe coming together and getting their agents involved and doing something like this. I think that realistically, the teams flexed their collective muscle a little bit as they are want to do. And, and, um, I'm always pro player, like squeezing the corporation for everything they've got. But I feel like this is, it was supposed to happen like this.

Dan Campbell even said, he all, he all, but admitted, like having Bejan Robinson done was going to actually help the Lions get their contract with Jamir Gibbs done. This was an expectation. Jamir Gibbs, one of those exciting players in football. I love, I can't wait to see what he does with this offense with Drew Petting coordinating over there. this is going to be fun. And it was always going to get done. I don't even think he was that concerned about it. It didn't seem like it.

So, yeah, this is pretty much what we all expected to have happen. It is. My larger point was these two guys, and I went and counted it up, are not among the top 100 players in average salary. Which is crazy to me. It's so stupid. Here are some recent contracts of players making more money per year than these two running backs. Christian Watson.

Essentially, he's been like a third. receiver who's been heard a lot. Brian O'Neill, who is a very good right tackle of the Minnesota Vikings, but is in his 30s. This is like his third or fourth contract, maybe not at his very peak, making more money than these guys. Alec Pierce, not only making more money, but like $8 million a year more. Andrew Van Ginkle is making more money than these two guys. So I just, it's like, you just can't tell me there's any world where these players not only are just better. We know they're better. They're going to be in like the top 10 of the overall

player, you know, when the top 100 comes out. But also they're more valuable. Like they just are more valuable than those players. So it's a little bit annoying how it all works. And I won't tell you that because they are. They're incredibly valuable players and they're not being paid accordingly. That is a fact. Yes. Yes. Jonathan Taylor, I think he's being paid fairly.

He got $39 million guaranteed on a two-year $44 million extension. So that extension comes in just below the Bajan and Gibbs extensions. He had one year left on his deal. I think once you peek under the hood, this is essentially a two-year deal in terms of guaranteed money. So it rewards a veteran. You know, there's a chance. He's an aging guy who counts on his speed that a year from now, you're like, hmm, we have a lot of guaranteed money left in Jonathan Taylor. You're kind of paying for past performance. But considering everything he's done for the Colts, that one extra year, I don't have a problem with it. that, that's giving like a little extra for a guy who's been great for their organization.

Well, and in terms of, you know, it being that essentially the amount of time that it is in totality for the contract with the guarantees, it's just another sign that points to me how important this year is for the Colts, for the specifically the front office of the Colts, and we've talked about this a bunch, Greg, but I mean, this year for this team, the moves that they've made, some of it with the long term in mind, or longer term in mind, at least with Alec Pierce and Daniel Jones, those extensions getting done. I mean, this is not necessarily that. This is let's try to go and push as hard as we can this year and see where this

offense can go and what this will be. And I think that for a franchise that has said very clearly, it wants to be bolder and really not be afraid to take risks. It feels like a lot of these in tandem and conjunction are essentially show us what you got this year. And then we'll see after that. Sneaky, one of the biggest win now teams in the NFL and a very talented team. We previewed them this week. And I said they might be the highest variance team in the entire NFL. I'm going to keep looking. But right now, of all the teams we've previewed, I feel like they could be either a two or a three seed or the season could go

all wrong. So good on the Colts for getting that deal done. As we're taping, preseason football has officially started. If you're listening on a podcast, that is very old news at this point. It is absolutely happening. Okay. So, we got a comment here that's pointing out that Jordan and I were on first take this morning looking good. Shout out to our social crew

and NFL Daily, the producers who cut up that clip of us talking to Sean McVeigh. And apparently, they used it right away like first block of first take today. So it's our first take debut. It was also on GetUp on ESPN and our listener, Jelly Bean here, also shouting out JRVP as always. So thank you to everyone watching right now. Yeah, that was probably the first and, you know, I hope it's different, but probably the last time we'll ever be on first take, too. Let's talk about some players suddenly important at work. I thought about this, Jordan,

just because of some of the injuries this week that we haven't had a chance to hit on the show, Jalen Walker, the edge for the Falcons is the first one that comes to mind. But also this game, Hall of Fame game, that happens every year and suddenly places players that are just trying to make the team on a national audience unit. Like tens of millions of people watch this game. Like more people will watch the Hall of Fame game than almost all like the NBA playoff games and major league. Like people watch this game.

And suddenly like Carson Beck, for instance, who is starting this game and Kenny Pickett, is at quarterback and just got sacked on the first third down of the year. Oh, I'm behind you. Yeah. Damn it. It's okay. It's okay. It's all going to be old anyways. Can he pick it? You know, like Carson Beck's a guy. Man, I didn't think he had an NFL future, for instance, like as a potential starter. And the fact that he got drafted by the Cardinals was like, oh, he's going to get a chance to play this year. It all depends on where you go. And oh, he's going to be starting for tens of millions of people to be. Wow. So maybe we'll talk about Beck in a second and see how he's doing.

But Jalen Walker was the injury that really bummed me out this week. It was confirmed since we've last taped that he has a torn ACL. This was a pass rush, a defense. I had a lot of questions about even before this injury. He was a really exciting young player for them. I think one of their most important players on the roster. Yeah. And if you think about this too, from the Falcons perspective,

they've invested so much into this pass rush, into this edge group. and the two first round picks, but not just that, trading up as well. And now in the space of six months and inclusive to James Pierce Jr.'s very, very, very serious off the field stuff going. It's still kind of ongoing. And then this with Jalen Walker, a freak thing, a horrible injury, this is tough because in the span of six months, all of those, all of that capital that the team pushed in just for these two edge rushers to make sure that they could try to sort of maybe re-execor. reset the foundation of this position and then getting rid of Grady Jarrett.

So then their past rushing interior guy, like really saying we're going to restart our build on this off, excuse me, on this defensive line. And now it's everything's up in the air for them all over again. Yeah, it's, it's really disappointing. And when you look at their roster, the guys that are suddenly important at work, I mean, Samson, Ebecom is. Hey, now, don't hate on Samson Ebecon. But just like a journeyman.

Yeah. a journeyman. Yeah, a journeyman. Azez Ojalari, who the last couple of seasons, just teams have given a shot at, like he's potentially starting. And then James Pierce, who you mentioned, who is expected to be suspended for his domestic violence charges and arrests that happened this off season, they've been playing him with like the third team at practice, basically because they don't expect him to be available

early in the season. And I'm just thinking, this is rough. So also very important at work is going to be Jeff Obrick. And obviously he's overcoming his own personal tragedy. But he has been back at practice. And this is a team that's really going to need to scheme up some big time first downs. Like Carson Beck just picked up on the ground for the Arizona Cardinals. It's all happening here.

Let's talk about Stefan Diggs. He's helping to fix the commanders. Receiver room. This is a deal that's up to $12 million. He immediately becomes very important at work. For a guy that was not on a team a week ago, he is clearly going to be the number two receiver for a team that I thought was just absolutely screaming. And you don't want to count on a guy that you sign in the first week of August

to be a core player. I think Stefan Diggs needs to be a core player for this offense to be good. Well, yeah, because they got about a billion slot receivers and Terry McLaurans. So this is now, Stefan Diggs, who obviously could play really well out of the slot. He could play the Z as well, which I think is good. But in this case, he really does, his presence and his addition to this roster really helps all the rest of the, you know, past catching, you know, positions fall into place with Terry

McClor and obviously still being the dominant person there. And so I think this makes a lot of sense, you know, I don't know if this was Adam Peters waiting out to see if anything was going to come up again with Diggs. and some of the off-season situations he's been in, or if this was just them, because I got the impression that at the start of free agency and then deep into free agency, including like into what start of training camp,

that they were trying to avoid maybe continuing to resign, maybe the more veteran players. You know, we saw them really make an effort trying to get younger on defense. Certainly thought he was trying to maybe avoid that pattern again, but they didn't have the guys. They just didn't. in their room and you can probably tell very quickly into training camp where your deficiency

still are. And also, it just obviously rules out the Brandon I mean, we've known for a while that is most likely being ruled out. I mean, it's not like it's been reported, but the way that that's been going to, you know, this really makes a lot of, puts a lot of things into clarity for the commanders that were maybe a little more up in the air. Yeah, I think Brandon Ayukes offseason in which through his social media posts have shown a level of uncertainty, I would put it, that teams I just didn't think we're going to want to deal with, frankly. And yeah, we have a comment that every single 49er is now suddenly important at work with 20 out of the players injured.

Yeah, I didn't mean to laugh at that very serious comment you were making, but that's a really, really good. That's a good comment. We're going to get to that in a second. When it comes to Diggs, like, multiple things can be true. The allegations against him from people that have worked with him, you know, different ex-girlfriends, like even the video that popped up when he first signed with the Patriots, like, it's a lot. And it's not necessarily something, right, like, not necessarily something you want to deal with.

On the other hand, I actually do believe. believe everything that his Patriots teammates and coaches said too that like within that building when he was there, they actually thought he was like a leader and they enjoyed the experience. And he made so many important catches. He's a good football player. But even like better than right. Like I saw some people thinking, well, why would you do this over IUC? Like the IUC stuff like yeah, he's flaming out, but he's younger.

He's like, I would, if you just stripped everything else away, I would take Stefan Diggs as a football player right now over Brandon Iyuk. just because of we haven't seen IUC in so long. And Diggs, like, he was kind of awesome for them last year, especially if he's in a number two role, which he will be behind Terry McLaurin. Well, that's a great situation for him, too. This offense is going under David Blow,

their first-time play caller up there and former backup quarterback, who might have, I don't know, has he ever played in this game before? I don't know. David Blow. It does feel like the Hall of Fame game would be a David Blow type of game.

I feel like that would be an extravaganza for him. And I, I, but, you know, it's going to be a very much a Shanahan system type of offense. They're going to distribute the ball. The player who's in the slot is going to be what they call an F. When you're an 11 personnel, the F becomes more of a decision-making player, meaning where he's at in the formation dictates some of the play strength and what the concept is going to be. And so that means that if that's stuff on digs, okay, fine, that's fine that it's a veteran player who is doing that for this type of offense. and then also, like, he's going to have volume.

This is great for Stefan Diggs. Like, he's going to have volume. And Jaden Daniels, who's expected to bounce back in a big way this year. I can't think of almost a better scenario to go be the two, frankly. Absolutely. And yet there is some thought,

what I'm thinking through, like, what they want to do on this offense. There are two, you know, smaller wide receivers that aren't known for their blocking in Terry McLaren and Stefan Diggs. So how, you know, Terry McLaren's not leaving the field. So how flexible, you know, is Diggs? going to be. Like, he is not the guy that they're asking to dig out the tight end or anything.

That part of the system will probably not be there. Yes. We are often punting in the Hall of Fame game here, two possessions in about five minutes. So getting back to that 49ers comment. And I see another 49ers, you know, fan on the chat that's pointing out, you know, only 16 of the players are now injured because a lot of it is, yes, the day-to-day soreness. They're not serious injuries. But I decided to choose Jordan Watkins as the guy who's kind of suddenly important at work because, yeah, most of the injuries aren't that series. Mike Evans is going to be back quickly. Dejaun Stribling is one of the players that returned. That was really good news on Thursday. So his hamstring injury kept him out, what, four or five, six days. It wasn't that

series. Hope the important thing is that he just stays at training camp and practicing because Christian Kirk, you can't count on Christian Kirk. So you're basically counting on Mike Evans and a rookie project who's looked really good in Dejohn Stribbling as like your top two guys. And then, yeah, this kid, Jordan Watkins, who maybe is gonna sound pretty good. Chris Forster, by the way, is their guy that had the comment, you know,

that they're very healthy despite having to play, you know, football on a day-to-day basis. We actually have Chris Forster sound live here on a Thursday night during training camp. Are you guys anywhere near? a decision whether they're going to be healthy enough for these joint practices? Yeah, I think, I mean, it seems like we're very healthy. I don't, I mean, we have injuries. We have dings and bumps and bruises and guys are missing practices.

It's yet to come up in anything I've heard. Doesn't mean it hasn't been discussed, but shoot, I think it will be plenty. If you have too deep at every position, you can practice. You know, you can always adjust with the threes, one, two, threes. Threes are hard to stay healthy through the course of training camp. If you're, if you're practicing football hard, you know, if you're not practicing football hard, you can get through camp easily without injuries, a couple of times. muscles here and there. But if you're practicing hitting, contact, you know, style of football, whatever it is. So yeah, that's not come up at this point. This is what he's saying. This is what he's actually saying. We were never going to give our threes any snaps anyway. So now they're going to be

our twos and now they're going to get reps. That's what I was going to say. It's not the threes that are the problem. I'm worried about all the starters. Shout out to Chris Forster. Talk about a guy who's made an NFL comeback. Once suspended, fired from the the Miami Dolphins, if you know, you know, just Google it. But a man who I would have never guessed would have been in the position to be kind of an acting interim head coach for the 49ers, although it is worth pointing out all the people there say Kyle Shanahan is doing more and more each day. Yeah, he was sort of the start of the season suddenly more important at work guy.

Yes, yes. And like I said, you know, good couple. comeback from him. I'll be quick on this, but I did want to say Stetson Bennett's right now very important at work. You mentioned how he's right now the clear backup for the Rams, you know, they're not really rolling in Ty Simpson. And so he's because Matthew Stafford is not practicing every other day, it's him against this really great first team.

And I made a quick rankings, Jordan, of the worst training camp practices I've ever seen from a quarterback offensive perspective. I'm sorry to do this. I know, you know, I would go, 24. Were you with me, Aidan O'Connell, Gardner, Minchew for the Raiders. They just could not get a pass completed. We went down there for NFL Daily. That would be number three on my list.

Number two was our experience with the Rams. It was just tough to watch. I think that Ty Simpson, like, they just couldn't operate the offense. That's the one where, like, it's a little bit cringeworthy to watch. There was just, like, penalties, and he's, you know, he's super late, and he's holding onto the ball, and the only things that you could complete are checkdowns. And just, like, they were giving him hell. The defense was giving that second team offensive line, hell.

And I know it's not an easy spot, but, like, they just couldn't operate. Stetson Bennett was more, like, normal struggles. He actually had, you know, a handful of, like, decent throws, but he had a couple crazy groaner interceptions and near interceptions where he got a little over him. So that's number two on my list. And then number one, I know people are really curious about this,

was the 2019 Colts, I believe, 2019, 2018. It was Scott Tolzeen versus Stephen Morris versus PJ Walker. And I think we counted three for 28 at like a practice that I went to. That was actually number one. So that was worse than the Rams. And so Stetson Bennett, very important at work. Yeah, I would say I've been to quite a few of those practices, especially so far as training camps started. It's interesting, this was the first one, I think, where I've seen that Stafford's

not in, that Miles Garrett's actually there. And so obviously, and he's been taking, you know, they're giving him a vet plan as well. And so that was an interesting wrinkle to me because, you know, Kevin Dotson was talking to us, you know, during our show when we were there. And he was mentioning, you know, how much they still slide to miles in practice, even though he can't hit the quarterback and all of that. So I think that probably was a wrinkle for Stetson Bennett that was definitely probably new for him. The other thing, though, I do want to point out is that, I mean, I've, I watched Setzen Bennett when he first started playing football for the Rams.

And I just have to say I'm really impressed with how far he's come. Like, I mean, you know, I know you didn't. see those practices, Greg, but my God, he's come so far. And like, he's looked really good for most of training camp. Like he's, when he's really running the, the backups and doing the thing that, you know, he's going to be doing either in the preseason or, um, you hope, you know, not in the regular season. But he has looked confident. He showed command. It's not like he's out there, you know, lighting up on go balls or anything or like those deep digs or anything like that. But he is operating the offense. It is, I will say, too, so much notably slower of a practice when Matthew Stafford is not out there.

Just because, in part, I think it's an extra check to make sure everyone's getting the right amount of work in, including the defense and the offense. And your backup quarterback in a practice like that, that's their job, is to make sure that all other, what, 21 players are the ones that are actually getting the work they need and you're just there to distribute kind of a thing. but it's slow. It's really, really slow. And the difference between when Stafford is out there playing and throwing it around, and the defense is still giving them all they got. And then this, what we saw is dramatic. And that's just a fact.

So I'm interested to see how that continues. But I do have to say, don't be too hard on Stetson Bennett here, because your day of data versus the four or five that I've seen couldn't have been more different, I think. Yeah, they said it was the last couple days, and I think one of them was with Stafford was the first ones that the defense is really just like dominated. So the first team. And he's got Puka out there. Puka, it was outrageous. Puka pretty much caught everything, but Puka had like two just jaw dropping catches. No surprise there. Some other players suddenly important at work include Jashon Barham of the Dallas Cowboys, who I think is growing into a bigger role. But he actually got banged up at practice on. Thursday. So we'll follow up with that, but he's a rookie, a third round pick that I think is going to matter for them.

A lot of puns so far in the Hall of Fame game. We're not missing too much. Big JJ Jansen pop, you know? Yes. J.J. Jansen, getting watched on a national stage. Appreciate the questions. Three AFC South

playoff teams this year. That is from a Jags fan named Donovan. I think it's possible. The out of division schedule for the AFC South is tough. And if you do that, you just have to cross off, you know, multiple teams here. Only one of the following, if all three AFC South teams make it. Okay, Jordan, only one of the following teams, let's say, let's give the AFC West to the

Broncos and let's give the AFC east to the Bills and let's give the AFC north to the Ravens. Then only one of the following teams can make the playoffs if all three teams go from the AFC South. Only one of these following teams. The Patriots, the Chargers, the Chiefs, the Steelers, the Bengals, like, that's a long list. We're only one of those teams. Did I say the Chargers? I don't even know if I said the Chargers in there.

So it's like, yeah, it's possible. But man, the AFC is deep and loaded and going to be really fun to watch. Jags fan, Donovan, 5261. Congrats to you. I saw John Shipley, who we love on this show. John Shipley posts today that this might be the most, the best team he's ever seen in training camp. So that's pretty exciting.

It's that time of year. I love that. When I'm watching like the Hard Knocks clips so far and, you know, that Seahawks team coming back and just like, I know. I feel like I got to catch up on Hard Knocks. It seems like it's actually good this year.

I've skipped it for the most part for a couple years because I found it a little boring, but they got right into it this year. So I am recommending it highly. That first episode was like the most. exciting, really hardcore football episode I've seen in a while, like meetings, good access, McDonald's interesting. They didn't waste any time off the field. They just like started rolling. One of my takeaways is a guy that's important at work is Judarian Price.

Like who knows where he could have gotten drafted, but Mike McDonald said no one is covering him yet and even just watching hard knocks. Like they are so high on him. Some other players, there's injuries for the bears in the secondary. Kyler Gordon has not come back. Kobe Bryant at safety is going to be out a while. So they've got fill-ins there, Jalen Jones, Cam Lewis. There's a guy Charles Demings, who's been taking starters reps, who's a rookie day three pick for the Vikings. Just someone to watch. They're calling him Chuck D right now.

He's playing really well. We'll see if that's just a camp story or not, but they've had some injuries. And then let's wrap this suddenly important at work segment talking Packers. You were at the Packers. Yes. And I wanted to throw in Baron Sorrel is a name that not many people know. Pick six the other day. Yeah, Micah Parsons talked him up as a guy that's really popping and could be starting

edge for them. Lucas Banness is going to be another guy that is probably starting, man, they need help at the edge. So I point those two guys out just to give you just some thoughts. You were watching this team for a couple days and just didn't know if you had any on the ground takeaways. Yeah, totally. I think that this pressure package early on is going to be a large percentage dependent on the corners and the safeties. And when I was at camp, there was an injury. sis, shoot, first name is escaping me right now,

but C-I-S-E is his last name, C-S-S-E. Brandon, yes, I was going to say Benjamin, but that's St. Ju-S-E-S-A. Yeah, C-S-A. Yeah, he was like, he looked great. He looked awesome. He was filling in. The thing with this Packers defense

is that it's safety's group is, you know, Evan Williams, Xavier McKinney, and Javon Bullard. It's like one of the best in the NFL, and I'd stand on that, and I do stand on that, and watching them play. in Jonathan Gannon's scheme,

as it really lifted off the ground and out of the install portions because they put pads on for the first time when I was out there. It just was cool. I love safety play. I think it's magical. When it looks good and you're standing behind the defense,

you can watch them all orbit around each other in a system like this. I think it's awesome. And I think Javon Bullard is going to be a player who is involved in a lot of these pressure packages because they're going to be so scheme dependent without Micah Parsons there. And as I said in my athletic article,

I do think this will be two different defenses with like a Venn diagram in the middle. Oh, hey, that's so nice of you guys to put my article up on the screen. That's cool. Thank you for doing that. Yeah, it really is going to be a two, sort of a two-system. I mean, you guys, you know who's putting it up.

It's our producer Eric Roberts. He's got a name, you know. Thank you, Eric. Well, I know he doesn't like to always be on the show. So I appreciate that, Eric. That's really nice of you. it's you know at least someone on this show is nice you know no but I I think it was really interesting to watch because what I'm watching here obviously Michael Parsons is not on the field so I'm watching

what I think the first few weeks of this defense is going to be and it is very blitz heavy it is very design and scheme heavy it's the combination of three safety looks which they're going to really really amplify this year and a lot of big safety in the nickel position. I was talking to Matt LaFleur about this, and he was very adamant that they just call it a nickel. They will not call it a star because he doesn't like, you know, to get too crazy with it. But yeah, that is what a player like Javon Bullard.

But then also X and Evan Williams can rotate into that position too. There's a lot of pressure designed in that way that is not super characteristic of Jonathan Gannon in previous stops, but something that he's shown the ability to do and especially kind of pick his spots in a cool way. And he did that a lot with Buda Baker. And I think I could tell this story now that a couple of days have passed. But like Sky Moore's on this team. And Sky Moors actually looks pretty solid. And I think he's going to be a lot of their like motions and sweeps player. And I think he could factor in for this, for this offense in that way with Matthew Golden playing more of a pure sort of X and Z position, which transfers pretty equally in this

offense. And Sky Moore was talking to one of the backup receivers who thought he had space on a play when it was it was twos versus one's defense. He thought he had space on a play into the flat. And all of a sudden, Jvonne Bullard's there. And Sky Moore pulls this guy aside. He's talking to him on the sideline. And he's like, that's exactly what J.G did with Buda Baker, man. They want you to think that he's flipping his flipping his hips around and he doesn't see you coming in the flat. He's baiting the flat. He really. wants you to think that you have it and you don't have it. Just don't, don't think that you have it because you don't. And so for me, it's sort of got the synapses firing, right? Of like, this could be

really cool what Jonathan Gannon does with these safeties early on it. And they're counting on it, because I was not super impressed with the pure edge rush, with the pure rush. The interior defensive line, they got in their hands on some passes, which I think was cool. And then obviously with Sorrel, there was a pick six. But it also is like, you know, they know. They know. They know. know that they're going to have to count on a lot of this scheme and a lot of this extra design pressure until Michael Parsons comes back. And that's just kind of the way it's going to have to be. But then I think a lot of those elements work when Michael Parsons is on the field because they were also experimenting with Edge Cooper out there as sort of their standup extra rusher as well. And he's a linebacker and seeing what he can do in tandem with some of these extra safeties looks.

I don't know if you're, I don't know if you're texting me right now, Greg. No, I'm just rambling. I'm trying to like send the show out for a second, but I, which is very hard to do. I don't know if you were just texting me. Shut up. Shut up.

Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. For everyone to come, come join us. No, Jonathan Gannon, and that's, it's all really well said that like the safeties,

the scheme is going to have to make up for a lack of talent. So Jonathan Gannon, who's the new Packers defensive coordinator, he's been important the whole time. He's not suddenly important, but he might be even more important. It sounds crazy to say, but I don't think they have any more talent

without Michael Parsons on the Packers defense than the Cardinals defense had a year ago. I got some breaking news, though. As we're talking, Carson Beck is dotting people going up and down the field. We have a potential Hall of Fame game MVP performance. Long throw 35 yards to Jalen Brooks, you know, another like third and long

into tight coverage where he catches is a contested pass. They pick up a third down. They get to the goal line. A very grown man. I'm going to get the fan base way too excited about my rookie quarterback performance here so far in the first quarter on the drive by Carson Beck. Shout out to him for giving everyone a little bit of entertainment.

Okay. Let's break up the rest of the show this way, Jordan. We'll do a little bit of news. We'll fly through that. And then we'll talk about just some like Hall of Fame thoughts as we enter Hall of Fame weekend, like what current players could possibly make it, maybe some thoughts about the guys that are in there now. There was a Bears player, Braxton Jones, their left tackle, who was carted off on Thursday,

who's really important for them. It does not sound like it's going to be serious, but sometimes when they say that, it's still multiple week injury. So we'll keep an eye on that. Kieran Amagede is their next guy up, who was kind of an afterthought as a late round pick who was hurt last year next up at left tackle for them. so that's really important to watch. Darnell Wright, since we last tape,

signed a four-year $116 million extension. Darno Wright is freaking awesome. He's a mauler. He got $93 million guaranteed. I think he's worth a lot, but this is, again, sort of what I was getting at. He gets almost doubled the amount of guarantees as Bajon Robinson and Jamir Gibbs.

I'm just like, let's equal it out a little bit. But he has been a terrific development story, and another player who's really benefited from Ben Johnson landing there because he's a perfect fit for their system. Eating well shouldn't be complicated, but somehow it turns into recipes, prep, cleanup, and half your Sunday gone. Factor solves all that.

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They just quickly just announced like a week and a half in. Oh, actually, Tyler Guyton for the. The Cowboys is playing awesome and there's not going to be a battle. It's over. Tyler Guyton is your left tackle. We're keeping all our Tyler's in their original spot. Tyler Booker, right guard. Tyler Smith, left guard.

Tyler Guyton left tackle. The Tyler's are intact and they're not changing positions for 2026. Like an early camp battle decided. Just cross that one off. The Tyler's are intact, I think, has got to be a drop or some sort of Cowboys slogan that we use all year. you know, it's basically like the way, I mean, I heard some of that, you know, they were talking about it in, with media and all that stuff. And basically exactly how all of the Tyler's predicted that this would turn out is exactly how it turned out. So, you know, no more, no more confusion. You start getting that offense going. I, uh, I like it. And I like Brian Schottanoheimer as a coach. I think he doesn't like mess around too much with like the media games of it all. It's like if the, if the battle's over, just to say it. I think that I will. I think that I will. look really, really good by the end of this year for my Brian Schottenheimer coach draft selection where a lot of our listeners were like, you know, or probably not our listeners. I like to think

our listeners are like ride with us, but so, you know, when graphics are shared out on social media or whatever and the people are like, oh my God, that was a quick poll. Are you kidding me, Eric? Disagreement can still be loved, but yes, me, you and Ali Connolly drafted our coach. I have him at 14. I think he's low. That's not too high at all. I love that. I think that's great. If it's not too high, someone else should have picked him, you know. But it was me. Well, I still like my picks there.

Look, if we're patting ourselves on the back for, you know, takes that age well, which is we're known to do on this show. We love to do it on the show. Immediately after hiring Brian Schottenheimer, I said, I think he could be better as a head coach than he is as a coordinator. Let's, let's see. You're right, Greg. Your takes are always the best takes. Good point. Henry Tooto is the linebacker for the Texans

who signed a two-year $16 million extension. It's hard to find linebackers you like. So that is their fourth defensive kind of core piece that they've re-signed this off-season. Both linebackers, Al-Shaire and To-O-Toh. So if Domingo-Rey-Rions loves you and you're a linebacker, why not keep them? And then both Edge guys got extensions this off-season to.

Will Anderson, a multi-year extension. And then DeNeil Hunter got one year. Jalen Waddle for the Broncos. a little bit of concern that he left practice with like a pulled muscle. They say it's going to be four to five days, so no panic there. Jalen McMillan for the Bucks, who's a key receiver. We're going to keep an eye on that one because the way Todd Bulls spoke about him and Jalen McMillan is their third receiver.

It sounds like it might be sometime before he's back. We will see Kenyon Sadiq, the first round pick of the Jets at tight end. It's going to be out at least a couple weeks, which is bad news. In good news, Chauncey Gardner Johnson is already back on the field. We've been in camp so long, Jordan. We're now getting guys returning, which is great. We're getting good news that Rishie Rice is now in team drills. And then finally, what a relief.

The Chiefs took G-E-H-A off Arrowhead Stadium. I don't even know if you knew that was the sponsor name. They still are like the sponsor, but like no one ever called it that. So now it's not going to be an eyesore when they have the CBS Chiefs games that you have to hear in an ear so. I don't know if that's a word, but Jim Nance would have to be. We're here. G-A-E-H-A-H-A-H-A-H-A-H-A-H-A-H-A-H-A-H-A. That's gone. We're just back to Arrowhead Stadium.

I actually never knew either what the correct AP style was. Like, is it a... Is it a... Is it an acronym? Do you say it like a word? I don't know. We don't need to know anymore. It's fine.

We don't need to care anymore. It doesn't matter. That was the off-season ride-along presented by Toyota. Because when people are the destination, your ride is important. Learn more at Toyota.com and find the vehicle that fits your people. Okay, we're here. it's Hall of Fame game weekend.

If you're joining us live, you're watching like Drew Breez getting interviewed. I love this NBC tradition that they end up talking to all the Hall of Famers at some point. And they're all kind of teary, which is nice. Yeah, it's nice. It's great. They had Larry Fitzgerald on the pregame.

This is an awesome class. Every Hall of Fame class, they deserve to be there. It's great. But some years just have a little more pop. And I like the diversity of this class in terms of the different types of players. You have Drew Bree. who, along with Fitzgerald, to me, like, defines his team in a way that is really special.

I mean, Breeze is another level of that just because of the history of the Saints and what he helped at that time in New Orleans history, but also just being as freaking amazing as he is. So there's Drew Breeze. There's Larry Fitzgerald who really represents that for the Cardinals of just, like, individual greatness for that team and meaning so much the consistency. You have, like, the better. Committee guy and Roger Craig who gets his just due and a guy who is kind of a preview of the

types of running backs that were going to be great pass catchers to come in the league. You have Luke Keeckley with the Panthers who, pure brilliance, the second youngest guy ever to get into the Hall of Fame because his career ended so short, but it was at the very tippity top. You knew he was a Hall of Famer like three or four years in. We're going to get to some of those guys. And then Adam Vinatieri, who I thought it was interesting. Had an interview. I didn't know this with NBC. Carly Ursay Gordon as his presenter, which is fascinating because, you know, the daughter of Jim Ursay. And he said it was an easy decision for him. Even though he said he loved both organizations, he loved his experience with the Patriots and the Colts, I'm taking that just a little bit as a

slight to the Patriots. But what he said was it was really all about his love for Jim Ursay and what Jim Erse meant to him and his family. He still lives in Indianapolis. And it is easy to forget, look, it's the all-time, you know, scorer that so much of that was with Indianapolis. He's a Super Bowl champion with Indianapolis. And, you know, I'll just throw it to you. That's a really, you know, cool honor that he's bestowing upon Carly Erse-Gordon. And just a really great class. And we'll have some thoughts on Sunday about their speeches and everything and reflect a little deeper on them then.

We're not going to do that too much here. But that's a cool moment out of Vinicier. Yes, I think so, too. I know I'm often the like big feelings person on this show, but I think that this is this is just one of those that made my heart smile, honestly, because it was, there's a history,

there's a really rich tradition and a history of players who identified Jim Mersey as somebody who they wanted very much involved in their Hall of Fame process because of how close he was with players. And as I know our listeners know, and I know you know, Greg, like I spent a lot of time in Indianapolis last year trying to get to know what Carly or say Gordon was all about in a feature I wrote for the athletic. And the thing that just came through over and over and over again in a genuinely authentic way was the level of care and consideration and attention to life detail and true earnest

consideration for the players that Carly, Ursa, Gordon and her sisters. and Kalin Jackson, who is on site there working with her, that they have. And so I think for me, this is a two-sided thing from Adam Vinatieri and a very, very cool gesture with multiple layers to it, which is, I think the Patriots thing is notable, too. That is one thing I am hashtag noticing. But also the Adam Vinatieri paying tribute to Jim Mersey by doing this, but then also saying, you are carrying this part of his legacy forward. by specifically choosing Carly or say Gordon to do this, I think is, it's powerful. It really is.

It's badass. And yeah, look, it makes sense on a human level. The Patriots at that time did not want to pay him, like, top tier money. Yeah. And the Colts did, and it was some of the best money that they ever spent. And the Patriots drafted his replacement and all that. And he ends up staying there. And so we'll get into some of these guys more after the induction ceremony on. Sunday. We are going live Sunday evening. It's going to be 5 p.m. Pacific, 8 p.m. Eastern. We are going to do some early winners and losers, big takeaways from training camp, and then we'll also hit the Hall of Fame news. But I wanted to just do like kind of a speed round of a reaction to current players that could be Hall of Fame or someday. It's going to be really cool. And I'm starting to see that because I've covered the league so long. Jordan, that like players now that I covered from

the beginning or close to it like Drew Breeze. I was covering him quote unquote, you know, Rodo World when he was still on the Chargers when he had that huge comeback season to play better and then he heard his shoulder and like writing posts about like no one wanted to sign him and all that and here he is

all those years later. So I was thinking like who are we going to be talking about in similar ways? And I'm going to do it framed with the help of our friend Bill Barnwell. He had an article on ESPN.com and he categorized all the players that he he thought were worthy of these categories in the NFL in a bunch of different buckets.

Guys that were already in the Hall of Fame, guys that were on the cusp, guys that had to keep it up, but they're kind of on track, guys that had some work to do. And then guys he just thought, like, aren't going to make it. So I'm going to go through these and just ones that stuck out to me the most. Let's start with Stafford. I don't want to spend too much time on Stafford, but he put Stafford as totally in, which actually surprised me because I do feel like Stafford is going to be one of those guys. if nothing more happened from here,

like that was great, like that people would nitpick, including me, the rest of his career, where I don't think you could look at too many seasons that he would be in the top five quarterbacks in league, like maybe three, four max. And like those guys have had to wait, like guys that haven't had many all pros or pro bowls

and he hasn't until last year. But Bill makes a good point like that voters might not get too much more complicated than he won a Super Bowl and then he won an MVP. and like, are we really got to keep that guy out? Even if, you know, naysayers like me are like, yeah, but during like most of his career, Tony Romo was like a better quarterback than Matthew Stafford and Philip Rivers, guys like that,

who are definitely guys that are going to have to wait if they even ever do get in. Yeah, I mean, I really disagree with you on this one. Yes. I know you're shocked. That's why I wanted to bring it up. Yeah, I saw you put him first in the rundown also. So I know you're totally shocked by my response. I agree with Bill.

I don't think this is one that's going to be complicated. I think that I know we don't often talk about like the age factor when we're thinking about Hall of Fame and all of that. But to do the things he did and the armed talent only getting better and better as he ages, I think that's significant. I think that we don't, he will represent the last of a certain era as well of, of, you know, quarterbacks that just, that the last versions of these quarterbacks that played, you know, all at the same time, the river.

the mannings, you know, it's like he's, he's of a different generation than a lot of the really exciting quarterbacks that are coming up. I think the poetry of that voters will be into as well. And I think that, you know, this is a, this is a guy who I do already think is a gold jacket. And I, that's when I, when I, even when I go back and I am sick in the head. And so, yes, I have gone back. And even when I go back and I watch some of the early, the early seasons, I'm like, how did this guy? And I know why, nobody needs to explain this to me. I, I know how and why. I'm sitting there thinking, like, how did most people never watch this guy? You know? And it just, and it's just remarkable. And the fact that it's getting better,

I mean, to me, it's a no-brainer to me. To me, I at least feel that I can have an informed opinion because I was assigned by myself essentially to watch every single game. Because you watched it live and not having to go back and like rent VHS tapes from Blockbuster. And to me, he was so up and down during the weeks. But it actually reminds me, me of your Cardinals hero here, Kurt Warner. When he had that run with the Cardinals, I remember saying in a similar exercise at the time, you know what? I think this is actually going to spike the football and he's going to make the Hall of Fame. This is the type of thing that changes it. And at the time, the thought was like, Kurt Warner did not have a long enough peak. He did

not have a long enough career. Like, he probably isn't going to make the Hall of Fame. And he did have to wait whatever it was a handful of years, but not that long. And he did make it. And so Stafford is kind of at that level, maybe even a little higher. We have some important breaking news sound to play for you. We have the first touchdown of the NFL 2026 season. Preseason, season. Let's go, Eric. Carson Beck on his second drive here with the Cardinals, Chris, six for six,

72 yards, and taken him from the shadow of their own goalpost to the one-yard line. Twelve plays already and really in total control of this offense. A couple receivers out wide. one comes back to the corner of the decided run. Pulled Corey Kainer to the end zone. And the first touchdown in this NFL season. Okay. I mean, that was really impressive.

Michael Flore, too. His first as a head coach. That's cool. Okay. Football is so freaking back. Corey Kiner, a person I was definitely familiar with until five seconds ago with the first touchdown of this season. And you know what? Kenny Pickett doesn't take that, you know, lying down.

He drives him right back down the field on a 10-play drive to answer. We've got all sorts of action in the Hall of Fame game. Kenny Pickett's 8 for 11. And A.J. Dillon, who I did know was on the Panthers and fighting for a roster spot, possibly with Trevor E. It was like a mid-round pick, the brother of Travis. Etienne, I guess we're going now with both brothers. It's not just, you know, Trevor, that changed this. It's exciting.

Okay. This is fun. Okay. I'll rattle through the other guys he had in that I just thought were interesting. It doesn't mean I disagree, agree, or anything, but I just thought, you know, fans might find that interesting. Christian McCaffrey he had in. Yeah, the more I think about it, I think that's probably right that he's already in. Because the peaks are so high.

Like three different seasons where he's the absolute best. And so he'd have my vote as well. Chris Jones, like, he's in, which I just think throughout his career, I'm not sure people thought of him as like, yeah, he's going to get in early into the Hall of Fame. Kaleo Mack, I think, has built up the resume to make it. Quentin Nelson is a guy. The all pros are just undeniable. He is a Hall of Famer.

Lamar Jackson is in. Like if Matthew Stafford's in, of course, Lamar Jackson. It is weird to think about at this point. But, like, of course, Lamar Jackson is in, and Derek Henry is in. Don't really have any quibbles with any of those. I just like, it's interesting to think about those players. Let's go to the on the cusp list, which to me is just as interesting. He had George Kittle and Fred Warner at the top of this list.

And I thought about those two guys quickly. And I thought, I think Kittles in actually already when I went through it. And Fred Warner, I think on the cusp is perfect, but it is fun to think about Fred Warner. Basically, if a guy is either the best at his position or, like, second, like pretty definitively for at least three-year period, like a three-to-four-year period, like you generally make the Hall of Fame. And those two guys would qualify on those grounds to be.

Well, then why would Fred Warner still be on the cusp then? Yeah, probably because when I went, look through it, like there's only so many healthy seasons. But you're right. Like, he right now, he's going to achieve more, but he is coming off of an injury. He right now, for some reason, it didn't happen for him. His peak, I don't think, has been as good as Patrick Willis.

And so then he just turns out to be one of those guys that might end up waiting like six, seven, eight years. but gets in. So it depends how you want to like interpret on the cusp. If that's on the cusp, then that's sort of on the cusp. In line. You know,

not the guy that's like getting rubber stamped right away. He just needs to be healthier. Justin Jefferson, to me he's in already. He put him on the cusp. Like I would just stamp him. It sounds crazy to say, but it's like, yeah,

a guy with that many all pros at this point, like he's in. The ones that I found fastened, he put Buda Baker on the cusp. I think that's a stretch. Like ball knowers love him, love Buda Baker. I don't know if he has,

that great a chance. Danielle Hunter, to me, was an interesting guy to think about. Cam Hayward and Jalen Ramsey, he also put on the cusp.

Jalen Ramsey, to me is a little bit like the defensive back CMC. I kind of think he's in. Because the three pop-up seasons that he had were so extraordinary, even if it wasn't as consistent

as some other, like, all-time grades. And I think Cam Hayward is in, too. So those are the ones I just want to shout out on the on the custom. Yeah, I've already said I've said, I already think Ramsey's a Hall of Famer.

I think Cam Hayward's, got, you know, as good of a shot as Kittle and Warner and you think they're in eventually. I think Cam Hayward is in too. And it's easy for us to be like, okay, they're all in, but then you get to like the voting and you have to say some people are out. And that's why I try to be careful. I've really studied and watched this over the years. And like Ramsey and Hayward seem like guys that are going to get in. If they don't do that much more like in their fourth year, in their third year, in their fifth year, but they will definitely get in. We have a hot take here from Dwayne. And yeah, as we're wrapping up any final questions,

Brandon Aubrey's already earned the jacket. The only question is how quickly he will eventually get it. I disagree with that. But he's on his way. He's on his way. Kickers, it's a tough road. How many kickers are in the Hall of Fame? Two?

Three? Is it Stennerud, Morton Anderson, and Adventenary? I think that's it. I was going to say there's going to be three. I think there's about to be three. By this weekend. It's pretty tough. Carson Beck, by the way, just absolutely.

lighting it up. It's official. It's a quarterback battle and absolutely fantastic touchdown pass to I think it's semi Pahiko. Love it.

Bahoko. Yeah. Bahoko. In all seriousness, it's just the first time of four times that Carson Beck is likely to play in the preseason.

But with rookie quarterbacks, they're playing against the version of the quarterback that they're battling against and how they play in the regular season. So right now, this version of Carson Beck is battling against whatever Jacoby Brissette is doing in like week five.

And that might be pretty intriguing for Michael Fleur. I got a question. I got some confidence in Jacoby Berset. Okay. We got a question. Carson Beck, QB1, when? What is your answer to that one? Well, you just said what you think.

I mean, I think, you know, I think you probably, unless Jacoby Brissette, like, really, really tanks it. Like, I think you've got to roll with Jacoby Brissette. You paid him. And it's not like you're trying. I don't know. I just, I think, I'm probably higher on Jacoby Brissette as a distributor of the ball. I love Jacob. I know you're high on him, too.

I'm just saying then I think consensus. What they are looking for here is developing Carson Beck in the sort of, of security of what this is right now, and also distributing the football around to the many great skill players, the one who's going to be able to distribute the ball around is Jacoby percent. By week is week 14, and then they finish. So they have the last by week possible, and they finished with Jet Saints, Raiders, 49ers. To me, that is the latest possible answer to QB1 Carson Beck. I tend to think it's harder for first time head coaches to stick to that plan. so let's say Jacoby actually plays pretty well.

Then I'm going to go week 12 and a half as my over under. Hall of Fame on the cusp we handled. He also had some players that they just got to keep it up and keep going. He writes down Joe Tunney, which I just thought was an interesting one to think about. I think Joe Tuny has a really strong chance to make the Hall of Fame already. He could retire right now, and I think he'll have like a case that at some point maybe gets him in,

just winning titles with multiple teams. teams, all pros with multiple teams, popping up late in his career. I think he's got a chance. I like that he, Bill Barnwell, put the Lions four pack of young players on this Keep It Up. It's crazy to think about. It's possible right now, Jordan. The Lions are starting four Hall of Famers in the middle of their prime. Amon Rae St. Brown, Jamir Gibbs, Panei Sewell, and Aidan Hutchinson, which at first I was like, whoa, Bill. That's a little crazy. But the way they've started their careers, if they go on a normal trajectory of players their age who have made all pros that early and establish a baseline of consistency that they have, it's actually not that crazy.

Gibbs probably has like the most to do and they all have a lot to do, but it's not that crazy. We could be watching a team with four Hall of Famers. They should be winning a lot of games that they got four Hall of Famers in the middle of their prime. My favorite thing is that you're saying that Fred Warner is on the cusp because he might just have to wait. And then you're like, Yes. But we should definitely wait for all of these guys to do this much more in their career. And then they're definitely making the... No, so I think...

Different careers, but they've already almost matched Warner with some of their peaks right now. I think that they are... This quadfecta is placed exactly in the right place. And I love the idea here on this. I think it's great. That's what I mean. Keep it up means you have a ways to go, but it's cool to think about them on that track. Kyle Hamilton was the other guy that stuck out to me.

It was just like, oh, yeah, that guy. could be a Hall of Fame or someday. He had AJ Brown in the work to do category, which hurt my feelings, because that's a long way to go. I would put it at the keep it up. I feel like AJ Brown has been a top five wide receiver for long enough for most of his career

that I think he has a really strong chance. And then missing out, he has Cooper Cup and Derwin James just like, no. Cooper Cup probably when you dig down, like it hasn't been consistent enough at the highest of levels, but he'll get a lot of credit for that 2021 season.

And then Derwin James, I absolutely think should be at a higher list. I think he has a real chance. I would put him closer to, like, work to do or keep it up. So just bumping them up a little level. But good job by Bill Barnwell. There's a lot of work that goes into that.

And I'm just pointing out the ones that I thought were kind of conversation starters and interesting. Yeah, well, I think Cooper is going to have a good argument when it comes time for it because I understand there's a huge backlog of receivers and it gets tougher. year. And I think about like the Tory Holtz of the world who I think should be in, but the logistics of what the

hall is right now and the backlog of players. But I think when you think about, I would have put him and keep it up. I know that's crazy because of his age, although he's not really that much older. I don't think that A.J. Brown, but obviously there's a, you know, so I think that he could go and keep it up because it's like people really forgot that triple crown season that quickly, first of all. I mean, that was he was the best receiver we'd seen in a while in football that season. And I think he'll have a compelling case because of the two Super Bowls as well. People will, will argue on his behalf for that. And then I think he'll have an argument too for all the things he did and has done away from the ball that helped usher in a new way that we're looking at football in this era. So I,

I don't, I'm not necessarily making this argument. I'm just giving people some, some material when they do make the argument. But I think that that's, I think he will have a very, like a, a truly fascinating argument when it does come time. He feels like a guy that will be brought up by the Veterans Committee someday when he's like 70 years old, which is really weird to think about as we're talking about, as one of those guys that strikes out for 15 years and then you bring up because the high was so high. But the numbers are tough to ignore, which is only two seasons over 1,000 yards. One Pro Bowl, which was that magical season, one all pro.

And so it's like a really great player, like a Rams Ring of Ones. guy for sure and a guy that might like be tough to put in over those Tori Holtz, over those Derwin James, other than those AJ Brown types of players. All right. We totally went over an hour. You were right. I owe you, I don't know, a bottled water. I owe you a free apple from the NFL snack. I mean the NFL, you can say what you want about the NFL. The Snacks at the NFL offices are outrageous and they're everywhere and they're plentiful. We love them, including the fresh fruit. Because we're not trying to finish the show now in double digits,

our producer Eric Roberts is begging to finish this show with a Carson Beck back-to-back highlights sequence. Let's listen to the big bomb. Carson Beck's big arm, center stage at the Hall of Fame game. That shot down FIntyre Let's go That hit That was outrageous

Moves his feet A little bit in the pocket As the pressure's coming left Delivers it at the perfect time Hits Brooks in stride Who's by the way Three catches for 99 yards Already we have two strong candidates

Between Jalen Brooks Former cowboy Is that right? Yeah Former cowboy Preseason MVP is not necessarily a fair award. A lot comes down to how many games do you play?

They get an extra game in Arizona. And are you in big time spots like NBC? Carson Beck and Jalen Brooks delivering. But the big time hit after he gets the catch, football is totally back, including this dime by Beck following that up. Carson Beck in the cards, midside the five. He'll say, help go in the end drive.

He's on Stanford. And Beck with a nice touch. Cardinals come down the field and score. When you're making goal line fades work, the hardest play in football, you know something's happening. I'm in. I'm in on Carson Beck being like the next Mike Lennon.

Mark it down. One and a half or one and a third quarters into the very first preseason game of the NFL season against the Panthers third string defense. Greg Rosenthal is all the way in. on Carson Beck. I'm not all the way in, but it is fun. It's fun to watch it.

I love it. I mean, this is making me, all this makes me really happy. The NBC, when you get on NBC, you get sick graphics, by the way. Yes, I've been loving. Yeah, you get the whole thing. It's great. Shout out to my buddy, Matt Casey, producing his first football night in America of the season tonight. And yes, they're going back and forth.

It is now a couple touchdowns apiece. We're not going to hang and watch this game, but the rest of it. I'm going to watch it. Offline, Jordan. We do exist offline. And you're going to be traveling around, but you're going to be on our show as well coming up. As I mentioned earlier, we are going to do a Sunday night show. This is going to be more about the whole league. We're going to dig deep into all the notes, all the work that you don't want to do as fans of who's winning, who's losing in training camp, just like players that are getting more playing time players who are not. There are wins and losses in training camp. I don't know if you knew that, Jordan. He's like, he's winning. after. We're going to go exactly as long as I predicted we would go. 8 o'clock Eastern, 5 o'clock Pacific. That's Sunday night.

Thank you for everyone for joining us this week. It was really fun with the Rams. And tonight, of course, with the Hall of Fame game. We've got to end the show the same way. Football's back. This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed human.