NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Hard Knocks New York Jets: Episode 2 Recap

Episode Date: August 16, 2023

On the NFL's Official Hard Knocks Podcast, Dan Hanzus and Colleen Wolfe recap the second episode of the "Hard Knocks Training Camp with the New York Jets". Dan starts off the show by talking about some of his favorite moments of the episode. Such as Coach Jeff Ulbrich's words of praise for star DT Quinnen Williams (5:05) and the world's biggest mentalist paying the team a visit (8:33). After the break, Dan and Colleen give you their votes for Hard Knocks MVP (15:25) and share their stray thoughts (32:32) .  Note: Time codes approximate. NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. We proved last year that we're a 7 and 10 football team with a really good defense and a mediocre offense. That's about what we proved. Flip that. We don't get any more second chances. Go! From the Chris Wesleying podcast studio.

It is the Hard Knocks podcast. Episode two recap, I am Dan Hansis, joined by I'm happy to have you in studio. I'm back. Colleen Wolfe, what's up, Connie? Oh, my gosh, this is wonderful. We're both wearing our crew shirts, our Hard Knocks, Jets' official NFL films, crew shirts. We had nothing to do with the actual making of the episode, but we like to think that we are part of the crew. I mean, there are some questions that need to be asked.

Does it make us look like shills? Are we too close to the operation? We already work for the NFL. But I'm just going to blow through those warning signs and hope the audience understands that when we go into watching these episodes, we do it with an open mind and a critical mind. Yeah, it's a clean slate, and we're here to judge and let you know all of our takes from this episode.

I'm also just so impressed that this shirt was in my size. It's usually I get these shirts and they kind of fit like a dress. Right. But it actually fits like a shirt. It's wonderful. I love it. Unbelievable. So shout out to NFL films

of her hooking us up with the swag. Yes, episode two. I think episode two, Connie, my overall thoughts on the theme. Episode one was about Aaron Rogers, first and foremost, and it had to be. If it wasn't about Aaron Rogers,

then the producers of that show would have been trying too hard because that's what this is. That's what's going on around the Jets. I thought it was a good job, while Rogers remains a major part of episode two, as he should, the focus was on the defense in a lot of ways in episode two, which I think is so

important because as good as the Jets offense can be if Rogers is the Rogers of old and not old Rogers, it's the Devons that was special last year and kind of got screwed over by Zach Wilson and an offense that totally imploded. And what you heard there at the top of the show was after kind of the first joint practice that they had. It turned out to be the only joint practice with the Panthers because of weather in day two. Salah's annoyed. Yeah. The offense got

kind of pushed around first time Aaron Rogers and the offense had been against actual opponents. And here's a little sound from Aaron Rogers, who's even annoyed about a play that had gone awry. We'll learn. That play sucks from that formation. Maybe we're going to learn that after that rep.

Like a dad. And, you know, that led to you saw news stories of Brett. middle of last week about Aaron Rogers upset for the first time. And there it is. And that's one of the great things about Hard Knocks. But they figured it out and culminating with a look at what happened in the preseason game where the Jets defense kicked butt.

Right. Aaron Rogers was not happy with his offensive line that day. And we saw the Jets defense really shine in this. I think at one point in the episode, Dan, you said that this is like defensive porn watching. Like the montages that they put together were really, really, really. special. I absolutely love their defensive coordinator, Jeff Oldbrick. He's so fun to listen to. Like, I wish that I could pay him for a pep talk. Like, maybe there's, like, maybe he should get on cameo, pull like a Scott Hanson and just start doing all sorts of pep talks for everyone

because he has a gift. And it's like, even when he's telling Zach Wilson to smile at one point, and he's fawning all over Rogers. And I love that he had some really great quotes in this entire episode but he just has this like swag about him and so does this entire defensive line you saw quinn williams be a star in this episode and we obviously watched it in that game against the panthers because bryce young had no time the that entire game so this defense is very special yeah the we were trying to like clock it as and it was fun to be able to watch it with you connie and our pretty had a little watch party behind the glass randy shavez uh uh in for eric roberts this week we're trying to like place old brick he's kind of got this vibe the way he was rolling certain words he kind of

had a little bit white boy swag thing going on it's like who does he remind me of who does he sound like it was travis kelsey yeah if you know how travis kelsey uh enunciates and speaks you know what allbrick sounds like and uh i thought it was it was a big focus of the episode of defense quinin williams got a lot of screen time um and i thought it was telling to hear olbrick speak and hush tones about williams almost in the same way he kind of was loose losing it over the greatness of an Aaron Rogers throw the previous week on hard knocks, which I thought was a really interesting moment in that episode. Here is Ulbrick speaking to the team in a defensive meeting about Williams getting to the quarterback.

Q, you don't f*** up because every damn rep today was unbelievable. Damn, that's a big man running. That is awesome. Damn. That is awesome. That is the exact word. words. What was that, Jeff? Damn. I love it. I love it. I love it. I love it. I love it. I love it. That was all that's

what he said about Rogers last week. Anyway, but Quinn and Williams is an unsung hero of that defense in a lot of ways. Even though he just got the big new contract, I think he's been off the radar a little bit in terms of national coverage. So this is a good show for him. You also got a lot of love from Will McDonald's got a lot of screen time. The rookie taken in the first round in the most recent draft. And it's like, you watch this, Connie, and you're watching the spin move. And you're saying, is this the defensive rookie of the year potentially? Oh, my gosh.

Like, that's exactly what I said. I turned to you when we were watching it. It's like back-to-back years, will they end up having the defensive rookie of the year? And, like, just watching Robert Sala, the smile on his face when they were leaving that game because of the way that his defense played. he was beaming ear to ear smile like that was I don't know I think it's really funny that Robert Sala talks about the silent tape in this episode a lot I I didn't really I wasn't keyed in on that before he just like is in a room and there's no other that's what he said

audio to it it's just him in a dark room it's a dark room silent and he watches it to see how the players represent themselves and the units that they play on and that he had said that The defense obviously was great in the silent tape that he had watched, but the offense just wasn't there. There was nothing great about what was happening. Yeah, and that's part of the story of the Jets, if you're following. The team is them figuring out with a new offensive coordinator, new quarterback, trying to get this offensive line healthy and cohesive.

You're seeing some bumps along the way, but it's the defense that if this team is going to finally get back to the Super Bowl for the first time in 55 years, that's going to lead it. But during that joint practice with the Panthers, we see Frank Reich and Sala together, you know, making that small talk that all head coaches do when you watch these NFL films productions. I love to see what the dynamic is. Yeah, it's always fun. And Sala says to Rike, the D-Line, they're our baby. And then Rike says, it's always your baby.

And Rike is alluding to Sala's previous tenure with the Niners when he built up a murderer's row up front when he was there, their D.C. and yeah, there's so much, there's so much promise there. And we talk about the defense in this episode. You barely see Soss Gardner, who's arguably the best player on their defense. He's a cornerback, obviously. And this is the week when Dalvin Cook joins the fray. We don't see him in this episode, but he signed with the team officially this week. It reinforces the reality that this team has so much talent on it.

And as a Jets fan, it excites me, but it scares you a little bit. What could go wrong? Let's talk about some fun stuff. Okay, okay. So that was kind of like the big picture, I thought, in terms of what Hard Knox is going for in this episode, showing both sides of the ball after Rogers got so much pub in episode one. But we got to start at the beginning of the episode.

It was so good. It was so funny. Ladies and gentlemen. Oh, my God. Oz Perlman mentalist. I looked him up. Okay. Let me just read a little bit because everybody needs to know about Oz Perlin.

Oz is a world-class entertainer. Damn right. Hit me with it. Damn. And one of the busiest mentalists in the country. What? Having dazzled audiences with his unique mind-reading ability for over a decade, Oz's client list reads like a who's who of politicians, professional athletes,

A-list celebrities, and Fortune 500 companies, his natural charisma. Hit it. Damn. And charm. Damn. Make him the perfect choice for corporate events and private parties alike. Oz's unique blend of mentalism and mind-reading create an interactive experience that is redefining the very nature of a magic show, one that truly needs to be seen to be believed.

Colleen, the players are losing it. Okay, I was losing it too, because as soon as I see this guy come out, I'm like, okay, what is this going to be? What kind of schick does this guy do? And at one point, he says, while he's doing some type of card trick, he says, I don't deal with cards. I deal with thoughts. I was like, in my mind, I was like, yo, yo, Oz, my wife watches this show. Can we just relax?

Oh, my God. This guy has a gift. Like, when I saw a mentalist, I wasn't really sure what to expect. Is he going to be a magician? Is he going to be a motivational speaker? What is he? There was a CBS program I'm called the Mentalist.

I thought it was boring just by the nature of all CBS programming. Not Oz Perlman. No. He should have been starring in that because this was anything but boring. Michael Carter, his reaction at one point to, I guess it was like number 10 was predicted. He had picked out of any number what his like jersey number would be. And they got, they finally got around to it. And Oz Perlman was like you were thinking of what were you thinking of and had 10 written down already.

Michael Carter's reaction is the perfect gif. Like I need it. I will use it. It was watching McCall Hardman, watching all of the players. I wish I knew who it was. It was a defensive lineman or maybe an old. Lyman. We're a black champion sweatshirt.

Black champion sweatshirt and he jumped up, you saw two reactions from him. He jumped up like he had just seen a witch perform a spell. Yeah. And he just realized that monsters are real and magic is real. And I, man, I got to say, the Aaron, when he does

the trick with Aaron Rogers, Rogers has a look on his face. He's always got that resting Rogers' face where it's like, I'm the smartest guy in the room. If there's one person who's not going to get taken here. You will not outsmart me i'm i'm i'm aaron rogers part of the reason like people don't like them but like um i like i'm back i am so back on board i know it's i feel like a hypocrite we're in a lot of trouble we're

in a lot of trouble this season i feel but anyway rogers has this look on my face like you're not getting me i was perlman mentalist um and he gets him he gets him he gets the card right he gets the the goldfish in the hand oh my god i'm just like is magic real like what's it has to be did you see the look at it down for me did you see the look looks on everyone's faces in that room. Watching the players watch Aaron Rogers during that trick when Rogers was like, yeah, okay, mm-hmm, go ahead, what's next? What do you got for me?

And then seeing his expression change to like absolute, like, just disbelief, really. I don't know how he does it. How intuitive do you have to be? He nailed all three different, I don't even know if you would call them tricks, but whatever he's doing, it's working. He's a world-class entertainer. And one of the busiest mentalists in the country. Yeah.

Like if there's a better mentalist than Oz Perlman, then what are we doing? Can we get Oz Perlman on the show? What can we do? I need to be closer in his orbit because, like, I am the guy in the champion sweatshirt. Like, I'm wondering now, like, if this is something that's another human being can do, how are we not using this to secure world peace? Exactly.

Why aren't we leveraging Oz's game? Or, you know, like not to go full Oppenheimer here or to win wars. Like, if we have this guy in our back pocket. Mm-hmm. What a tool. It's a secret weapon is Oz Perlman. You guys got to look them up. This was the most riveting part of the show.

I still am shook from it. I just, I can't, I can't deal. McCall Hartman predicting that the Jets would beat the Niners 31-21 in the Super Bowl. And Oz already had it written on a board. Am I? How? Like, how is that not? What's going to happen now?

If that happens. And if it does happen, what does that mean for society and the world? I'll tell you what. It means that we need Oz Perlman and Mark Sessler in a room together. Oh, my God. Can you imagine? A lot of energy. A lot of dark energy.

I love it. Damn. Damn. Speaking of Aaron Rogers, while that trick's being done, he's wearing a hat that says, cherish the little things. It's like the most Colleen hat that I've ever seen. I want it so bad. I'm already Googling it.

I need it. I'm a baseball hat, girl. Let's look into that. Okay. Let's see where one could find a cherish the little things hat. Yeah. I'll wear it all season long, through airports, through shows, whatever. I got you.

I will credit whoever needs to be credited. I will pay whatever I need to pay. All right. Geez, we're just getting warmed up here. Yeah. You want to do some MVP talk? I love MVP talk. All right, let's take a break, and we'll be back.

We will hit MVP's and then straight thoughts from episode two of Hard Knocks. All right, we're back. Let's keep rolling here, Connie, because. We hit on the mentalist, and I have to say, I don't have Oz Perlman in my... I wish I did. I just felt like... And you're what? Where?

I don't. But I would, if I could, if you could promise me that he would have shown up again. But I would imagine they can't make this the Oz Perlman show, but HBO, pay attention. He needs a show. I did think about putting him in the MVP rankings, but we can't do it. Yeah. We do a vector scoring system. Long-time listeners know what that means.

We're not entirely sure. But it's a point system. It's cumulative. At the end of the season, we will share with you the Hard Knocks MVP, who gets the most points. Connie, we'll start with you. Your third place vote, episode two, MVP.

Third place goes to Q ball. Quinn and Williams, he was all over this episode, smiling, chirping. At one point he's talking about, we don't hope or believe we know. that feel like you could slap that on a hat as well talking about how he had 10 sacks today alone against the panthers on my life i got 10 sacks today all by myself telling rogers telling sala and then i loved that rogers was keeping score of them too when he got 11 he's like 11 11

um so it's just he was he was so genuine in his press conference too after getting paid talking about how money just makes you more of the person that you actually are if you're a good person, it will amplify it. If you're a bad person, you're going to be even worse. I like that take. I haven't really heard that one. I firmly believe in that take. And he's totally right.

And you can just tell what a great person he is based on the reaction from all of his teammates, how much everyone loves him, how confident he is and how much he's really grown into this team. Because even though he's young and he has his baby face, it almost seems like he's one of the leaders in the room. He's one of the loudest voices. And everyone sort of is drawn to him as well. I loved at one point Nathaniel Hackett yelling for him across the field like QQQ and then he just flips him off like you could just tell that this team has such a fun vibe around them.

By the way, that's officially a thing because Hackett was flipping off Aaron Rogers, I believe for a play working last week. I can't wait to do that to you guys. I always welcome. I also had Q ball as my third place vote. I just, I dig his vibe. like you said he's kind of happy go lucky and then he's this dominant force on the defensive line

he didn't realize when he's telling Rogers I got 10 sacks today is against the Panthers in the joint practice not realizing and he should have known I mean geez it's Aaron Rogers that he was miced up and he gets a little like sheepish like oh it's going to make me look like but it's like something my over-excited

nine-year-old would say to me like I got 10 practice I got 10 sacks today on my life I got 10 sacks today He's like, all right, he's like a kid. He's like a big kid, exactly. So I really enjoyed him, and like we played earlier, Ulbrick, reminding us, wow, that's a special talent on that line. Leading into number, my second plays vote.

Okay. Aaron Rogers. Oh. I thought, like, in an episode where he wasn't truly the focal point, he kind of still is, I mean, like, that's just the nature of the Jets. He is the son. that everything orbits around. And I just, even with less of him, which I think is a good idea,

because I think if NFL films at Hard Knocks just said, you know what, everyone knows what this is, this is Aaron Rogers's show. So this is going to be Hard Knocks Aaron Rogers. I think everybody would have gotten a little burned out on it. So I think it's smart to have him a little bit in the background. But again, like, this is a guy that's a polarizing individual, you know? I feel like he's becoming less polarizing, though.

Well, that's the thing. Like, this is great for him. This show has been awesome for his whole image. I feel like I'm too close to it with the Roger stuff because on around the NFL, I've gotten after Rogers for stuff he's done off the field things he's said, whether it's comments about COVID or, you know, various things were, you know, the whole thing with the darkness retreat. And sometimes it was just like, why doesn't this guy just keep some things to himself?

Well, that would be bad for business for us too, Dave. right well that's fair damn and damn and and now i can't now come to you and say iron rogers is amazing just because he's on the jets because again i'd feel like a a big fat hypocrite um but at the same time it's hard not to see him as a likable like elder statesman guy who loves the game and loves being part of a team and you see that throughout this episode i mean the way he um kind of interacts not just with his own team but with the panthers whether It's a former coach that he's busting his chops about being over 270 pounds to going up to, you know, Bryce Young and giving him encouragement. I was thinking about that.

Just being the calm voice of reason, too, he's kind of grown into that role. Even with the chippy practices, you saw him talking to defensive linemen Al Woods. And he's like, have you been in those fights before? Like, it kind of felt almost like a therapist a little bit. Like, how do you feel when these things happen? Like, have you done this in the past? Like, and then when he was talking to one of the other guys that was in the middle of the scrum, he's like, you didn't worry about your hand at all? Right, like punching a helmet.

Right, which is subtly being like, dude, be smart. Come on. But the way that he approached it, the calmness that he had, and then kind of dapping up all of the Panthers, talking to Brian Burns, congratulating him on the deal that he got. And the way that he was with Bryce Young talking about Andy Dalton, like, hey, has this guy been. helping you like it just seems like he's now in this part of his life where he's like becoming a coach almost you could tell that he knows how much it means to all these people for him to give them those little moments yeah because he's viewed as like this living legend and i thought the interaction from a jets fan perspective that was the most interesting and the one i imagine the beat

reporters will kind of dig into a little bit is mackay beckton the 2021 um what was a 2020 first round pick tackle who's had a very up and down, mostly down in the last two years, career with the Jets and they really need Beckton to be a thing on either left or right tackle to give them some upside on the only position group that's a red flag. And late in that

game, a game in which Beckton played the most snaps he's played in a couple of years, even though his knee is still not right. You see him kind of come up next to Beckton, and Beckton's huge, one of the biggest football players on Earth and kind of put his arm around him and congratulate him. I'm working through and say, let's get together and have some lunch this week and talk.

And it's just like, oh, wow. So, I mean, this is, you see the way he still looks great on the field. But when he's this invested, I mean, he's transformed everything. And that's why he gets my second place for it. He knows how important it is to foster those relationships and to be a people person and to have that chemistry on the team because we saw it last week when he was talking about Hackett and Hackett's involvement with the players in Green Bay when one of the offensive of Lyman wasn't taking part in, like, the celebrations after a touchdown.

He sees how important that is for a team's success. Also, I loved that we learned a little bit more about that relationship between the quarterback and the center. And you're okay? Yeah. I'm in there, I'm in there a little bit deeper than some of the other guys. So, yeah, they are, they're just, they're really close. Did he say, I'm in there deeper a little bit?

Than some of the other guys. Yeah. the other guys. He did say that. That makes him different than previous partners at the centers of that. That's interesting. Right. But to that point, though, I think that this episode, as you mentioned, it was largely

about the defense, but specifically, I think, about the defensive line and also the offensive line when you take a step back because the offensive line, their struggles were weaved kind of subtly throughout it, too. So just both those lines up front kind of for me to center stage. So, okay, that was your number two MVP. Yes, who's your second place vote for MVP? Mine goes to Will McDonald. He gets my second place here.

He really captured my heart when he went on this excursion. So I want to get like a pissing. I had a piss in here, but it had fell out. So I want to get my eyebrows and then whatever else I decide I want, I'm going to get. Whatever else I decide I want, I'm going to get. Okay. So he is a man. after my own heart because, as you know, Dan,

I all last season just kept getting different piercings in my ear. I've always wanted to get... We were concerned about you at a certain point, whether you'd be able to hear it. Like, at what point does it affect your ability to... It's called a constellation piercing, Dan. You should look into it. It is too late for the old zooser to get an earring.

Maybe not. A midlife crisis of the highest level. Is that what it's signaling for me? No. No, it's different. You're a stylish young woman, but if I showed up with like a hoop earring, you know that I'm living like in recita by myself and have a red sports car. You know, my dad, when he turned 50, he bought a red corvette. There you go. I'm sure your mom was thrilled about that. Oh, yeah, yeah. That was a really interesting.

As she was drawing up the divorce papers. Pretty much. Pretty much. There were a lot of other things that needed. money at that point. Not that. But Will McDonald, he just, like, he was wearing this fun blue earring when we saw him on the side of the field. He was talking about how he doesn't want to be normal and that you only get one life, don't think too much about it, do what you want. Also, like a low-key gymnast, maybe, because he was super acrobatic the way that he got up. It was a little extra, but I kind of like that from him. He's got personality and he seems to absolutely not care at all what anyone thinks about him.

He just kind of like does his own thing. You be you. This is why Hard Knocks is great because I'm a diehard Jets fan. I didn't realize he was such a character and a personality and someone that kind of stands out from the crowd.

It's funny, our old buddy, Dave Damashek, had a great take that whenever someone is described as, it might have been a Carolla take, but Dave used to share it. If someone describes like, oh, Will McDonald's,

Oh, Will's Will. Oh, yeah. Will's Will. It's usually code for like, he sucks or like he's, you know, a guy that's kind of annoying to deal with. I'm not saying people are saying Will's will in this episode, but when he did say, I always thought another one, like an addendum to that, someone is like a little bit problematic in some other behavior

or a little bit boorish and like, yeah, but you know what? Will, he'd give you the shirt off of his back if it's the last one he had. It was like, why are you trying so hard to make it seem like he's actually a good guy? Right. His life motto that he shares in this, you only get one life. Don't think about it too much. Do whatever you want to do. Every person I've ever known in my life that goes by that kind of motto usually is terrible.

And I'm hoping that Will is an outlier. Usually he's like a selfish person who's kind of in their own world and plan. I'm not going to lie, that's kind of the motto of Summer of Connie a bit. You can get away for a season. Right. Yeah. And the offseason of the NFL is different. But if you were in summer of Connie mode, 365, including the football season, some people would start to be like, you know, is she okay?

Yeah, how about, not just is she okay? How about she work with us, Connie? We're trying to be professional over here. Yeah. Like bringing in six packs, like doing whatever. You can't do that all the time. I also like that he said he doesn't really have a style. His style is just unpredictable.

Right. I'm just saying, I'm just saying I'm a little concerned there's some red flags. No way. I want, see, listen, the NFL, they want conformity. So I am in no way saying I don't want Will to be on his own little island. I like Will Island. I just hope this, we're not talking in a couple of years about like, oh, you kind of nailed this. No, no, no, no, no.

For me, it's all green flags. No red flags. I love Will McDonald. I don't want him to change. And, I mean, I almost feel like I should move him up to number one in my rankings for MVP. But I won't. I won't do that. All right.

Who is number one for you? For me, it's Aaron Rogers. And we covered him a little bit, a lot of bit, because it's Aaron Rogers. But I did enjoy the whole thing about him picking up the grass. Like, why is he always picking up the grass? What's the deal with that? And him talking about it started in Green Bay. You kind of get a better grip on the ball, checking the wind.

But really, essentially, it's just a tick that he has at this point, that now I don't think he can stop. He says that it's his way of meditating with the field, maybe being one with everything that's out there. And the receivers are kind of like, yeah, like, knock yourself out, do whatever you got to do as long as you're throwing me the ball. Yeah, no, I think that's well said. And I think he's some type of, it was to test the win, but also what was the grip? Like he said to.

What did he used the interesting way? I don't remember anymore. But it was like dexterity or something like that. I think he did say it was very, it was very Aaron Rogers. I think, yeah. And you could obviously say Rogers is the MVP. piece of this episode too. He placed for me, but I went with somebody that

I should have, I was mad at myself last week for not giving him not placing him. Oh, this is a good one. I know where you're going. Defensive coordinator, Jeff Albrecht. And I should have brought it up last week that I loved

last week. Obviously, his Aaron Rogers conversation he had. And then I loved one thing I didn't mention when he got after the Do Your Job Complex, which started in New England, of course, and it's a Patriot thing. And he said, do my job, is that good enough? No, that's the rest of the NFL, isn't it?

Do your job, fuck that. Do your job then. Now what? If we all do our job a little bit more, that's 22 players playing. You guys feel it? Think about this. That's 22 on the field. So then the question goes to the offense.

Now what? He was just kind of going off, and as Greg Rosenthal pointed out on ATN, the, I don't know why he said his last name, that's definitely going to be on Belichick's radar. I just like that. Just kind of go after the Patriots who are still, maybe not bullies to the rest of the league, but still to the Jets. And then he has this great line to Quinn and Williams before the joint practice with the Panthers. Hey, Q, hey, sometimes you just got to lift your leg and mark it. your territory you know what i'm saying yeah we're in their back yard gonna piss on the corner on the on the tree on the porch on the kids toys no not the kids

toys not the kids i know if you can piss on their toys not the kids jeff walk up back a little where are we going with this jeff and again quinn william shout out he's too much of a nice guy like he'll sack you 11 times right but i'm yeah i'm not going to urinate on the children's outdoor, like, play things. I mean, let's... Not the kids. So good. He, like, he walked all the way up with Jeff to that point.

And then he's like, I got to leave you there, Jeff, at that point. But... Ulbrick and Hackett are the two coordinators in the league that I would like to have a beer with. Yes. That seems like the most fun coaching staff. And we talked about leading into the season, is it Hackett who's going to be the coach on the staff that really jumps out the way, like, do Staley? Uh-huh.

Last year, or the Lions Hard Knock season, right now, Ulrich, to me, is the clear leader and a real dark horse to take this whole thing, this MVP. Do you think we like him because we're from the Northeast and that he kind of just reminds us of our family and our friends and everyone that we grew up around? Because when I hear him talk, it just makes me feel like I'm home. Which is funny because he was born in San Jose. What?

Yeah, he's a California guy. That's not on brand. I feel like he is born and bred Northeast. Look at him in 2002. according to his Wikipedia page. Well, you guys could look this up. He looks much different. We're all getting older.

He played for 10 years in the league. Wow, San Jose Kid who played nine years for the Niners, 10 years of the Niners. Really? And now... What position did he play? Jeff Oldbrick was... Real deep dive on Ulbrook.

I know. Third round pick in the 2000 draft, former linebacker. Okay. Huh. Play college football. Hawaii and like I said 10 year career anyway okay so we got our Seattle where Salah was then they hooked up again I was assume in San Francisco you

know how this goes I know it I know it well so there you go vector voting system Randy Chavez the Funkmaster himself will tabulate that and connect with Eric Roberts at the end of the season of Hard Knocks we will crown the MVP big reveal should we send them something whoever wins that's a great idea. All right. We'll figure out what it is. That's a great idea. Quote of the week we hit. The quote of the week has to be, I think, Rogers talking to his center. We could have going a lot of directions.

That's right. Let's give him a quote of the week. Let's hit some stray thoughts. We are in the credits. We did it. We did it. We made it. Mom, Dad. I know you're proud. What a moment for the Hard Knocks podcast. What a moment for around the NFL. What a moment for Connie. And Dan.

And tugboat. Like we are at the last credit at the end of the episode says, listen. to the Hard Knocks podcast from around the NFL? Very exciting. Very cool. The next goal is to get Leif Schreiber saying that. Speaking of Leif Schreiber,

he has scored some, here's the industry term that I want to share with. Kyron Love. Oh, you want to you big Kairon guy now. And I wasn't sure, I was like, what is it? Because for the first time ever this season, you see narrated by Leav Schreiber in the

opening theme for the show. And I touch base with NFL films, Puba, Ken Rogers, who, you know, is leading the charge for Hard Knocks forever. We love Ken. Love Ken. Shout out to Ken. And he confirmed that that was the first time Leav's been in the opening credits in terms of, you know, text on the screen. They added some minor flourishes to help build the cinematic flavor of the show.

And I say, well done. And speaking of Leav Schreiber, we would love, we have a thing here, we always share the Leav Schreiber line of the week. But according to law, like federal law, it's law of the land. We are unable to actually use Leif Schreiber's voice. So we have a workaround. We have a workaround. It is our good friend, voice artist, voice of God, for around the NFL Jason Zumwalt, who will now share with you the Leav Schreiber line of the week.

The man they call Q ball has a habit of keeping offense on the eight ball, even his own. I think he got that wrong Wait, that's definitely not it Behind the eight ball I was supposed to be behind the eight ball I was like, wait What is he doing talking about an eight ball? Let me see if I got that wrong

Or if he got that wrong, okay? Does it stay in? No, he got it wrong. Ooh. Zummy. And I was just about to pay him Such a compliment about his rich voice. There was three takes.

Let me see. The man they call Q ball has a habit of keeping offense on the eight ball, even his own. Okay, okay. What happened? Wait, there's a few more takes. Okay. The man they call Q ball has a habit of keeping offense on the eight ball, even his own. And the take after that's the one that I chose, because I thought it sounded the best.

Right, but it's not the quote. And the quote, the quote is. The man they call cue ball has a habit of putting offense behind the eight ball, even his own. Yeah. Well, there's some key words there. All right, next week, Jay. I was like he's behind the eight ball. Cue ball, of course, being Quinn and Williams.

Correct. Hey, yo. What else? You got to takeaways? The rookie show could not have been more of a mess, a spectacular disaster. They should have brought back Oz Perlman. I don't know. They needed him in a big spot there.

He did not deliver. McColl Hardman was hilarious. First of all, wearing these mirrored shades inside in the dark, watching the rookie show, heckling them, saying, I thought I was going to be laughing. Is this a dance off? What is this? And you hear everyone booing,

everyone throwing stuff at these poor guys. Like, what is this supposed to be? And it was like a test of some sort where I guess they were trying to rag on guys on the team, but like all the players had to be on their phones and submitting answers and there was no multiple choice. It was great. It was by far as someone who's watched every season of Hard Knocks since 2001, the most disastrous rookie show all time. But I have to say in defense of the Jets rookies, it's not for lack of effort. Like it was just overly ambitious and they had big concepts. I mean, Christ, they had interactive elements that they were trying to get the

veterans to, like, use their phones to, like, key in choices of things? You can't make the veterans work. It's like, no. Like, that's just the number one thing. And I think it was the, the tight end who went on to make a touchdown catch against the Panthers, even though we ran the wrong route. I think. I think Coons might have been the ringleader on it. And it's so bad that C.J. Mosley, the veteran linebacker, sent him to summer school and said, this is not the rookie show. You guys have to redo this and do it right. And can you imagine how stressful it must be for rookies in the NFL and now they have this hanging over them when hard knocks is there no i hate it for them my heart was breaking for them they looked so devastated because i think they thought that it would be a hit

and they clearly had put so much work into it so now we get to see what they'll do you know what just keep it simple play the hits sing some songs show show your talents it's the rookie talent show yeah that was a tough one uh let's see let's see uh the fun game with the quarterbacks i like that when they were in the meeting room and they had all the quarterbacks in there and they were showing up on the screen a freeze frame and asking is a run play or a pass play?

And everyone was going around guessing and then like Aaron Rogers and Zach Wilson were giving each other heat about it. That was awesome. I loved it. I love this journey that we're on with Zach Wilson. Everyone, including Elbrick, is like, hey man, just have fun now.

There's no pressure on you. There was that nice moment on the field with Adam Thielen. who took Wilson aside and said, you know, basically saying, hey, this is a fresh start and make the most of it and be ready. It's, again, we don't have to hit it hard because we hit it in episode one, but it's very unique. Wilson being on this show and his backstory and the fact that he is the number two

quarterback and he's getting all this time in the preseason games, it's pretty wild. That was sweet. I thought the Thielen being like, don't let anyone tell you who you are. You dictate that. And Thielen and Rogers are examples of veterans. that do it the right way. That's how it's supposed to be.

They say it's a brotherhood. That's what you're supposed to do when you're like a decorated guy that's been in the league for a while. Acronym check. Yes. Big deal. Big deal in the Jets building acronym.

So I know, I think the number one is A-G-N-B. All-gas, no break. That's Sala's slogan. There was another one, though, that I could, I did not know. D-R-L. That was, I think, on a wall maybe in the meeting. What is D-R-L?

Do write longer. Apparently, it was on a bunch of shirts. It's one of Sala's favorite mottos. Oh, you know what it is? It's tied in to do your job. Oh, so do your job longer and better. Well, that's kind of what he said. He said, don't just do your job, do your job, and then more.

Oh, okay, all right. Almost another little zing. I like that. At the Patriot Way. I love it. When do they first play each other? I'm excited for that game. Pretty soon, actually, the Jets have a really tough opening schedule, and the soft

spot. The soft spot is Patriots, I believe, in week three. Oh, damn. Who they haven't beaten in years and years and years. Well, and speaking of which, the Patriots, you flagged this. Both of us looked at each other at the same time when we saw the Kairon on the bottom of the screen, Skarnakia as an assistant coach. And we both were like, oh my God, is that Dante's son? Yes. Dante Scarnacia famed offensive line coach, forever offensive line coach now retired of the Patriots, who has been often credited as being kind of a glue guy for that coaching staff during their glory run up in New England.

And as is so often the case, like as soon as we saw Steve Skarnakia is like, oh, is that his son? Yeah. Just the way this league is. Not his uncle, you know, not a distant nephew. No, it's his son, Steve Skarnacki.

He's the chief of staff of the Jets. I don't know what that is, but it sounds like a vital role. Yeah, it sounds like a good job if he can get it. Soundtrack check-in? Oh, yeah. Shag. I thought we heard Shaggy, right? Yeah, you called that.

But then I always check the credits at the end, and he was not credited. No? No, but that was unmistakably shaggy, right? Yeah, because I looked it up, and the song is called O'Carolina, and that was for them going down to the Panthers. So it sounded like him. It was like this nice, fun kind of like reggae vibe. Look for Shaggy. Yeah.

Shaggy, that's the third good Shaggy song. Shaggy, still got it. A trilogy. And then we got the, I can't stand the rain, the OG from the 70s. Yes. That was nice. Yep, Missy Elliott turned it to a huge hit in the 90s, but it had its start, I guess, is a 70s song. Let's see, I also want to throw out there, I got to say, and this is my last one.

Okay. Because it's important to me. A formative film in my life is Naked Gun. Oh, yeah. from the files of police squad, 1988, Leslie Nielsen, George Kennedy. A movie that I've watched, honestly, and I'm not even joking, a thousand times. Okay. It's probably, whether you like my personality or not, or my sense of humor, 31% of the entire sense of humor and personality was based off watching that movie from age nine to present.

So to see, and this is my special notice for MVP, to see passing game coordinator Todd Downing set up an entire quarterback's room meeting around Leslie Nielsen and his works. Rest in peace, Leslie. Here's what he had to say. We've been trying our best to get you guys educated on everything football, right?

The biggest problem I have, Aaron, is we have not done a good job about teaching them about movies. Welcome to Cinema Sunday. educating an underprivileged generation in the art of moving pictures you guys need to know who Leslie Nielsen is and yes and that's true Airplane, Naked Gun 1,

naked gun 2 and a half the smell of fear and naked gun 33 and a third the final insult watch them all. Airplane airplane for me that's like one of the top movies ever I love it so much and you know what

it's just like they're having all of these teaching moments for the Jets and it's better for these players to be well-rounded and I love that this is part of the curriculum. Isn't it weird when it happens like this where something you love in pop culture swerves even closer to you and you're like it almost feels like it's talking to you

watching the Jets. Felt personal. On hard knocks and then having a coach go into a deep dive on Leslie Nielsen was like, what is happening here? How are you doing right now? I'm flying. Are you still reeling? I'm flying. Yeah, you are.

I'm happy about this team. I'm excited about this team. And I think season, I don't know, 17 of Hard Knocks is off to a great start. Two good episodes already. I can't wait for the third. All right. We will be back a week from tonight, as we always are. As soon as the airing of Hard Knocks is complete on the West Coast, you will get this podcast dropped in your feed.

So keep following along. Hit us up on social. Let us know what you like, what you don't like. I mean, let us know if you can find that hat. Cherish the little things. That would be great. Send me a link. There you go.

Until next week, heed the call. The man they call. The man they call cue ball has a habit of keeping offense behind the eight ball, even his own. This is an I-heart podcast.