NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Kickoff Revolution and Sleuthing the Top 10

Episode Date: March 26, 2024

In a room full of heroes - Dan Hanzus, Marc Sessler, and Colleen Wolfe take a deep dive into the top ten picks of the NFL Draft to uncover the truth. Before the the sleuthing begins, the heroes react to news from around the league including the NFL's new hybrid kickoff (08:44), penalties around the hip-drop tackle (17:05), L'Jarius Sneed getting a deal with the Titans (22:45), NFL games being played on Christmas (40:13), and more! Then, the top-ten NFL Draft picks are investigated starting with the Bears (45:08) followed by picks two through ten.  Note: time codes approximate.NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. The Around the NFL podcast. Twitter misses you, Mark. From the Chris Wesleying podcast studio. It's X-Man. It's Around the NFL. I'm Dan Hansis. I got Mark Sessler here.

And here's the thing, everybody, unplug for one moment. Okay? because here's Mark talking into a microphone. You don't need to live on social media. You got the real thing right here. I have found it to be an interesting experiment. I'll still go on as a distant observer because there's news happening and like that's good news.

But what's happened to like, and I know this is already happening with X-Men, but the algorithm of what they're feeding me now has become complete total lunacy. It has nothing to do with anything that I used to like. It's just become more insane. I would like to see what you're getting served. I will show you after the show

For sure Also joining us You heard her there Probably she didn't get introduced She just came in Hey I'm here Great to see you guys

What a day What a day we have in store Oh yes We got a Connie Wolf We got the tiniest of all boxes We got A Tuesday show with Colleen Not Tuesdays with Mori

It's Tuesdays with Connie sitting in the Greg chair. Greg on a well-deserved vacation in the tropics of the Pacific. So he will be back next week. He's actually going to tag each other out. I'm going to head out for the tropics after he returns. I was thinking with Greg not here,

how can we make the most of this? This Greg is an impossible person to replace on the show, is football acumen and his ability to disagree. with everything cannot be replaced. However, how about this, the idea that is he really on a tropical vacation? Do we know, for instance, that Delaware isn't back together? Yeah, we don't know.

Oh, wow. There's conspiracy theories all over the place. And then I actually have a file when Greg brings up Delaware, because you know I want the tapes. Greg's high school band, Delaware. And it says, actually in my notes, cut and paste, Delaware bio. This is all I have right now. but if you're out there

we're looking for the tapes the demos the release of the album How Do You Want It Cooked? It was the name of the album I believe this was a follow-up album or perhaps a single Shiny Man went to Frogtown These are Delaware

This is actual titles The Delaware Material Was it an actual I don't know if they've produced multiple albums But sorry Anyway the drummer Lead singer and keyboards

Greg Rosenthal We're not getting anything off him drummer Jeff Lash that's traditional Jeff spelling Lash L-A-S-H He was the drummer Jeff if you're out there If you were from Western Massachusetts

And you know a Jeff Lash Please reach out to him And have him reach out to us With any potential demos Also there's a guy named Andy in the band Don't have the last name Just Andy Andy from Western Mass

If you're out there We will give you a signed 8 by 10 glossy of Mark Sessler in Levi The Jacket If you reach out to us with the tapes. There's probably only

275,000 Andes in that area. So it's spread a wide net and get to work. I have confidence in the subreddit. I feel like they can mobilize and answer this for us. Also, why hasn't there been like some type of sing-off with Greg?

Like, you have to kind of trick him into singing. And why hasn't there been a segment yet? We have to, he's sheepish about his musical past and I've tried to get that out of him. But I do want to hear

how do you want to cook their debut album? I would love that. There was, there was at one point, one of the band members of someone who knew Greg. Maybe it was Andy. Maybe it was, claim to have, you know, the tapes. So they're out there. And, you know, we're getting to the age where maybe some of these people don't live, they're not on the earth anymore. Let's hope that's not the case. I don't know.

Wow. By the way, if anybody, we just were blown away by the Patrick Claibon, sog submissions. If anybody wants to take a crack on what Delaware might sound like, he said their mid-90s alternative music in the vein of like a flaming lips type artist, that type of

underground alternative band, a little bit of a, he said not Prague rock, but kind of you know, very left of center alternative. It was a little, yeah, it was alt and like Greg had like a part down the middle I believe. Oh, with longish air down both sides. At some part of that. I remember there was

a guy that I had a huge crush on in like fifth grade and he had that haircut and he loved silver chair and I was like yeah well I'm going to get into silver chair too just because he has he likes them the Australian teen silver chair I remember that band I would love if the listeners submitted some songs for Greg and specifically focused on what Greg sounded like on vocals that's that is drilling down correct and we'll give you we'll give you the again the titles of let's use them as songs okay how do you want it cooked and shiny man went to Frogtown

either of those give us a I mean I think Greg would really appreciate starting the show this way and potentially extending this bit that he's been hoping to kill like the Picks competition for years undoubtedly but instead the old Zuzzer is turned

into an opportunity yep that's what host does Mark that's what I do I don't doubt your your abilities to they call me stinky Davis for a reason You know that. Yes.

All right. Let's get into today's show because we got a good one. Coming up a little bit later, we're going to sleuth the top 10 of the NFL draft. Where? How far out are we from the draft? Holy God. We're inside a month now from the 2024 NFL draft. In fact, Connie, I know right before you joined us, you were in hardcore scramble mode

prepping for this show because you were doing a... Just did a mock draft live with Bucke's latest mock. his third one that he dropped. So just analyzing that, Lance Zerline is... And you hosted the proceedings? Yes, I did. Where can people see that, by the way?

That is all... Come on. It's all over the place. It's on the network today. And today is Tuesday, I believe. Today is Tuesday, March 26. Yes. It's on NFL Plus as well.

There you go. So, yeah, just check your local listings, gang. When you stack these assignments, do you feel better beforehand? Or do you feel better when they are... crossed off your list. I always feel better about your personality. After everything has been accomplished.

It is a little bit of a sprint. I was flying back from the East Coast yesterday and I have to fly back there tomorrow. So I'm prepared and I have a lot of information in this old brain. What was your question? Do you like it better when the hard thing is in front of you or behind you?

I mean, I think everyone's going to have this similar. Of course, but I think it's a little more asterisk slash special with Colleen, because I understand where she's coming in my comment the same way, but there was a fair amount of palpable tension

in the room when she was in preparation mode and I was just imagining that her on her drive home is going to be like luxury for her. Oh, I love when it's over. Everything. But my notes that I,

I was preparing for this show while I was hosting the other show and I know that this is not a visual medium but my notes look. Well, we have a YouTube program. Can we get a tight shot on that? scribbled on a cocktail napkin and this is what I'm working with. So, you know, it's, I can't even read what any of these says.

Yeah, it looks kind of. Slightly psychotic. And it's on the back of Bucky's mock. The work of a mad woman. Yeah. Yeah. All right. So that, check that out.

And we're going to do some draft stuff. But we're going to sleuth it like an old friend of ours and we'll get to that a little bit later. But first, we got a lot of news to get to because the NFL owners meetings went down in Orlando and that's always a source of, uh, I don't know. intrigue that's a little strong it's always a source of gruel for the old news machine yeah when you're not when you haven't been sent there which is a pattern of late it's uh less intriguing the good old days they used to send us there

I've never been oh all I do is hear about the swag there's parties and the salad days yeah as they say anyway true back to reality let's hit the news and this is going to be inside the tent and this is dropped picked up by beck back back still going running to the right side beck has some room 25 30 35 40 he's at the 50 he's at the 45 of jacksonville back across the 30 the 20 the 15 10 5 are you kidding rock and roll touchdown Houston my goodness oh my back picked up the ball the earth started shaking in north Florida and he ran to the right side

and found the lane to the end zone Oh man Mark Vandemere with the call KILT that was Andrew Beck fullback, the upback on the kickoff in week three against the Jaguars and impossibly he took it to the house

and why do I play that? Because you'll never see that again in the NFL because everything is different now the NFL. The NFL owners approved a massive, and I mean massive, revamp of the kickoff on Tuesday. After three days of discussions at the league's annual meeting, they passed a proposal 29 to 3 in favor of redoing kickoffs.

And essentially ending the days, and we've talked about this. We even talked about it, I think Super Bowl Sunday night at the stadium in Vegas, like how many times you get all pumped up for the beginning of the game. touchback, touchback, touchback, all throughout the games. And so they finally decide to go with a rule that's very similar, almost identical in fact, but not exactly the same as an

XFL rule. So during the 2004 season, kickers will continue to kick from the 35-yard line, but the other 10 players on the kickoff team will line up at the receiving teams 40. So everyone other than the kicker is now on the same side of the field. At least nine members of the return team will line

up in a set-up zone, it's called, between the 35 and 30-yard lines. up to two returners can line up at a landing zone between the goal line and the 20-yard line and no one other than the kicker and returners can move until the ball either hits the ground or hits a player inside the landing zone. So

touchbacks will be marked at the 30-yard line, by the way. No fair catches allowed, so that lasted, what, one year? Fair catches on kickoffs. And so now there's always going to be a play. And that was kind of the goal. Figure out to make the kickoff a play again. Also,

the idea here is to lower the reason why they put in a lot of the rules, Mark, is to try to lower the instances of head injuries because the big running start down the field. So they try to address it with this. Let's see if it works. It's a huge change in the way football will look and feel.

But one that I think we all agreed was kind of necessary. It's a one year trial. I think from the fan angle, it's going to be visually amazing to experience because it's completely different than anything else. I was trying to think of like, in our lifetime, like a rule change that was as steep as this and as different.

And I would go back to maybe like in in 1994 when the two point conversion was brought in. It's like that, it's that much of a game changer because when you watch this, it does absolutely achieve what you're talking about. Because with these two line up, lines of special teamers, just separated by five yards, they go and they clash and then the runner is close behind them. I just wonder, like, if it's going to take time for, if you're defensive, are offensive to figure out like the tweaks in this because it just seems like you have two guys deep. If you were to take like your fastest defensive lineman and have him blow up one player in that like lineup because you're not they're not it's like it's

it's a line. Like you get like your fastest wide out behind him. He's gone. Like there's it's like I just wonder if it's going to create in a wonderful way I guess like crazy scoring opportunities. But it's also going to separate kickers because the kicker has to literally put it in a 20 yard zone now unless you want to boot it out of the end zone. But it's like you can't just power kick and assume everything is going to be a touchback. It's going to be wild to watch for the first month or two. And when the XFL did this, there were more returns. There were fewer injuries. So that's clearly what the NFL is shooting for in this situation. But it also revalues because we talk about players being devalued. It revalues kick returners. And it's kind of apropos in the year that

Devin Hester is going into the Hall of Fame. Like, we want to see this. We want to be able to see these plays back in the game. We don't want to see people getting hurt, but it makes it more exciting. It also makes it, I would think, and, you know, I didn't watch the XFL, full disclosure show. So I don't know. It feels like it's going to make it more congested and more difficult to run kickoffs back, but maybe not. Maybe there's enough of a buffer zone because they can't move the defenders until the balls reaches the player where you could still effectively

set up the blocking the way special teams coaches do to ensure a high level kickoffs by the way in the event a team wants to tempt an on side kick this is notable as well like for instance saints fans that are listening like arguably you know one of the most important and pivotal plays ever in saints history was the onside kick uh or the surprise onside kick i should say uh by sean peyton that led to the recovery um do i have that right yeah yeah uh in super bowl 44, you cannot surprise the team with an onside kick. So in the event of a team wants to attempt an onside kick,

we'll have to inform officials of its intent, and then they would be allowed to use the NFL's traditional formation. No surprise onside kicks are allowed. Which, by the way, I don't know if that... It's so weird. Now you have to declare it. It takes all the... Well, here's the other thing. Surprise out. Because of... And we've talked

about us on the show. Like, we get it. Like, and everyone gets it. You're trying to make the game safer. But because of some changes they made in the onside kick rules, to protect players, it's almost impossible to recover an onside kick now. So now on top of everything else,

now you've removed this surprise element. So it makes that play that much more difficult to pull off. It's a trade off because obviously, like with the kicker 35, whatever yards behind his other 10 special teamers and onsides kick would be absurd. That play already felt like it was kind of dead over the last couple of years because of the rule change.

I think there's still work to be done to work on that. If this works, let's move to fixing the outside kick. I think that's a broken play. Right. But I think the one thing it shows, because if you're the NFL and you're the king of all leagues, like, it shows a bit of humility to borrow from the XFL. And I think that tells you that the onsides kick, if it remains this sort of dead zone, like they'll address that.

Like, I do give them credit for wanting, because I'll never forget being at the Super Bowl. And while it was a special moment on the opening kickoff, like the last one will ever watch that way, the stadium and Allegiant Stadium went into this hush. It was totally quiet, but then it just resulted in nothing. And it was like, wait a minute. And that was, it was Greg who, after the show said, the kickoff has got to go. And he's in Hawaii and got his wish. Well, he didn't, though.

There's still a kickoff. This is why I like the change. No, the change, the dead way that it was. He was saying, just get rid of it. And I was saying, like, it's football. You still, you have to have to find a way to keep it in there without just turning into, okay, okay, change in position. You get the ball at the 25.

Like, I like it. We'll see if it works. It'd be weird if they take it away after one year. I tend to think like when this happens, unless it's a total colossal failure. It's already proven that you work in another league. You move forward with it. Humility. I don't know if I would put that with our company.

I'm just saying to pull from a. It's kind of easy to pull from the XFL when it's failed 14 times in the last 20 years. So it's like it doesn't. It's not like the AFL in 1969 where it's like you're actually looking at them like, uh-oh. But to the XFL's credit for all their struggles, Connie, when they first came in I think 2000 and then they've rebooted and now I believe they've merged with maybe the AF.

A lot of versions. Yeah. The NFL has not the first time that they, taken elements of what they do. Some of its production and TV production that they kind of said, oh, that's good, we'll take that. But now we have a rule that they've taken as well.

So you could argue, yes, it's good to have competitors, quote unquote, or not a total monopoly on the sport. So then you can learn from others. It's like a test kitchen. We're going to see how it works over here, watch you go through it, figure out the data, and then maybe we'll give it a whirl.

And one last thing before we move on to the other rule changes. Chris used to say this all the time, Wes. The NFL has always been pretty good about messing with the product to try to find the best version, which not all leagues do. This is another example. Like the NFL takes pretty big swings in

missing with the product and I think that's all healthy. On Monday, owners approve three other rule changes. This one's got me a little bit more like, uh-oh, we'll see. Because for all the good, sometimes meddling and messing with rules just leads to a bigger mess. like when they again the saints seem to be at the center of everything after they got robbed of that trip to the super bowl on the missed uh p i call uh against the rams and then i've c title game they put in pass interference as a reviewable play and then that quickly went sideways and they got

rid of it after one year um now they have they're prohibiting the uh swivel hip drop tackle technique so just i just want you i don't want you guys people to dwell on it too much colline i once you put put yourself like as the Eagles fan hat on okay like it's it's third and seven and it's a huge point in the game and your linebacker makes a great open field tackle to get off the field and then out comes the laundry and the officials confer and it's very borderline and it's moving very fast and the tackle happens suddenly they decide that it was a swivel hip drop tackle and not a standard hip drop tackle or just a a a tackle and all of a sudden it's 15 yards in a first down Yeah.

I'm a little worried about trying to legislate what kind of tackle was that. Now, some are obvious, and I think that's what they're trying to enforce here, but I'm just worried about it. I'm just saying it out loud now in March. Am I in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl in this scenario? Probably anywhere you are. Are the Eagles playing the Chiefs in this scenario? A lot of gray area.

Yeah. The players and the former players absolutely hate it. Just doing GMFB last week and talking to Jason McCordy and the, the last time I was in there, it was Kyle Van Nuoy and Cam Jordan and Jason McCordy. And everyone was like, so this is how you're taught to tackle. You're taught to wrap up. It's a fundamental. And yeah, I can see that the data says that it leads to more injuries.

But now you're asking defensive players to relearn how they play the game, which they're going to have to do. But it's also when you think about the rookies that are coming in to the league, And these rookies who a lot of them are not going to be paid a lot of money. And they're also trying to get up to speed with the speed of the NFL and now learn how to tackle completely differently. And the coaches, how much time they're going to have to spend in training camp, looking at tape, trying to figure out how to do this because it's also like a gravity thing with the way, with your body weight in the tackle. So you have to change everything that you're doing.

and I think that that's going to be hard to officiate because of all of the gray area. And I think, you know, that's tough too on everyone because there isn't open tackling in camp and in practice in general. Like there would have been a long time ago. Jeff Miller, the VP of Safety,

noted that there were 230 of these, this version of the hip drop tackle, the swivel that's illegal, that happened last season. And it resulted in 15 players missing time. The Mark Andrew, Mark Andrews was lost because of this. But there was argument initially

that that wasn't even exactly what they're talking about, that particular hip drop. Now they say it is that it's part of the list that would have not, would have been flagged. Don't like it.

I think what it probably will turn out to be because I think it's, fans are going to, it's a lightning rod if it does something in the fourth quarter to a team. Fines change the change the way players tackle it again.

But a lot of this started, it was interesting to hear that like when the Legion of Boom rose up that they were teaching those players to, in some cases, tackle this way to avoid the helmet to helmet. So now this is being taken away. And I couldn't agree more with, just from a physics angle, if you're one of these defensive guys, how do you, what do you do? Other changes. I like this one. This one makes too much sense. This is one of those ones

that never made sense to me that was even the way it was. Now, there's a new rule that allows teams to receive a third challenge after one successful challenge. Previously, the team had to be successful on both challenges to receive a third. this proposal was submitted by the lines good job Detroit makes all the sense of the world you don't just because if the officials got something wrong and you corrected them you shouldn't have to go 100% on your challenges to get that challenge back should never lose a challenge if you want to challenge all right if there is oh another uh in other news da da da da da da the teams voted down the fourth and 20 onside kick alternatives so they've tried out like 12 years ago yeah uh good good news, Colleen, but we'll see in a post-Jason Kelsey world. No ban on the tush push. Not going anywhere. And it's all right.

We'll see. It'll be interesting to see if the Eagles are still using it this year. Yeah. And this one also made sense. I know Greg has honked about this, although I don't think they went far enough. The trade deadline is being moved to the Tuesday after week nine. That's one week difference. So it's usually been right around Halloween, which is week eight.

Now it's the week after, the Tuesday after, you know, the Monday night football of week nine. I'd say pushed even to 10 or even 11. I could see them doing that even like next off season if it seems to benefit everyone. All right. That should have happened like in the 1980s. Yeah. I kind of can't believe that that it took this long. Let's take a quick break here and then get into more news. What's up everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the sticks, we take you inside the game from scouting reports and player development to team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. Every week, we study the tape, talk to decision makers, and share the insights you won't find

anywhere else. It's the kind of conversation that connects the dots, from college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow. We break down the draft, analyze matchups, and evaluate how teams put it all together on game day. Plus, we dig in the coaching strategies, roster construction, and the trends that shape the league year after year. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just love understanding the game on a deeper level, we give you the full picture.

If you want insight that goes beyond the box score, this podcast is for you. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, this is Matt Jones. I'm Drew Franklin. And this is NFL Cover Zero. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit.

different? Did you see the Colts Pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that? Oh, my. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining. And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get. Listen to NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. all right moving on we'll head back to the owner's meetings in a bit but first some news that went down this was a big name that had been hanging out there legarius sneed a super bowl winning cornerback of the chiefs he had been tagged by the chiefs but had been given permission to seek a trade he found

a trade sent to the tennessee titans who then quickly agreed to terms with sneed on a four year 76.4 million dollar deal includes 55 million guaranteed 20 million signing bonus that from rap sheet obviously that was um a contract that tells you that sneed is viewed as a upper end cornerback and and certainly the tennessee titans are counting on them to be that uh connie the deal uh the trade by the way was kansas city accepting a 2025 uh third round pick and a swap of seventh round selections i wasn't blown away by the return but i'm always i always seem to be often on what players can fetch in a contract in a trade.

So they get a day two pick back. The idea that they could, or my original thought that they can maybe pair their top pick this year with the Sneed Hall to move higher up the board. Maybe it still works. But it's something. It's just not a ton for a guy. It was a big time player for them. It's not.

Kansas City, they've been planning, though, for this loss for two years now. When they took Trent McDuffie in the first round, they've selected a couple other quarterbacks before that 2022 draft was. finished, but it's like, I think for the Titans, this is great for them. They've been trying to fix that secondary for so many years. Their past defense hasn't finished in the top half of the league since 2018. And over the last four years, they've used four day one or day two picks on cornerbacks alone. Look at Christian Fulton, Caleb Farley. I could keep going. But Legerius Sneed is an absolute upgrade for them. They also added Chidovia Woosier during the first wave of

free agency. So they have now. a nice little group with Sneed, Ouzier, and Roger McCreary in the slot. Plus, their D.C., Denard Wilson, he was a DB. So you know that the emphasis is going to be on that secondary. And hopefully, after all of these years in purgatory, they'll be able to make some improvements. Yeah, I think you said it. I mean, I would have thought a couple weeks back that it would have been a second,

not a third. Yeah. But if you're the chiefs, you didn't want this salary and you were ready to move on. And so it's acceptable, and I kind of trust the chiefs to make something of it. But I don't know. This franchise and trade thing, like the terms, this was a surprising term to me. I love it for Tennessee, though. Yeah, and the Titans who have been very active of this offseason,

but maybe haven't gotten the best grades overall. This one, I can't quibble of this. They've now addressed another key point part of their team by adding a high-end cornerback. So they're improving, and we'll see what happens next. Maybe what we need to do, because this is. happens to us all the time and we're not alone. We always think a player is going to fetch more. Let's just start, let's get ahead of it now and just, it's attack.

So whatever you think it's going to be, just drop it down around. Right. I think we could have, we could have say that not on the air so that people start to just think that innately we've grown that way, but I'm with you 100%. I'm not going to edit that post. I always feel that way whenever we do, you're the GM and we're trying to figure out trade values. I'm so bad at that.

I wasn't good at math. I'm not great at finances. And then the resource swapping is sort of in that same vein. Sure. So, yeah, I mean, maybe if there was like a class on that, that would be cool. Moving forward, moving forward, we're going to have this nailed. Let's head back to news out of the owners meetings where Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said Russell Wilson has, quote, pole position to open the year as the team's starting quarterback. This is the same team that also now has, of course, Justin Fields, who also we kind of miscalibrated the old trademark.

No, we didn't. Uh, so here we go. Yeah, edit that out and post as well. Here is Mike Tomlin, uh, on the QB, Sitch. Sitch. The term that I've used is Russell has cold position. And, and why do I use that term? Um, because during this time where we're not formally working, man, I just think

it's beneficial, um, his experience, um, international football league, um, his process that's been honed and perfected, talking about over a 12 months. calendar. It's not only good for him, it's good for teams. It's good for receivers, tight-ins, running backs, etc. All the things that people that are really committed to winning do this time of year. Russell has those resources, man, that structure. And so that's why I say he has pole position, man. It just creates a synergy that I think is good for this time of year. When it's time to compete, we get in training camp like settings and going to preseason stadiums and so forth. Obviously, Justin will be given an opportunity to show his capabilities.

Bullies. Preseason stadiums. Wow. All right. I mean, I think we parse that, but it's, yeah, they want Wilson to be the quarterback. And they like that they have someone to be there if Wilson is washed. Well, also, if Justin Fields plays 51% of the snaps, that conditional six-round pick turns into a fourth-round pick. So, of course, Russell Wilson is going to start the season.

Right. Yeah. I mean, in Mike Tomlin, hasn't exactly been like the Washington Post with his quarterback reports and updates to us. Yeah, it's like... Not a total wapo situation. No, so I think like this is true

until it's not true, which is probably as soon as Justin Field starts doing special things. All right, speaking of Mike Tomlin, he was in conversation at, I don't know where it was. I think it was the owner's meetings. Makes sense.

It was. With John Lynch. Oh, no, that might have happened before. Okay. Maybe it was a pro day. You know, these things, a lot of things going on. A lot of great.

area. A lot of gray eye, a lot of who's what's and what haves. Anyway, and Tom was like, hey, man, what's going on with Ayuk? And, uh, what's his sitch? That's his sitch. That's his sitch. What's the wapo wapo? Wapoo. The wapo saying on that. Anyway, uh, John Lynch came out of the owner's meeting and said, no, Brandon Ayuk's not available in a trade.

In fact, uh, you know, my, my coach, shanny. He wants him to stay. We're just using all abbreviations and nicknames. I love that. Nothing's going on there. We're actively talking with Brandon, trying to figure something out. And, you know, I always talk. We have a good history of working with the guys we want to get done to get something done. And it takes two sides.

So can we do that? We'll see. There's a number of different directions, you know, that it could go. But we appreciate the heck out of Brandon and who he is as a player. We want them to be a part of the Niners. so we're going to work towards making that reality. My radar is going off a little bit. Really?

A little bit. A little bit. Now, could by the end of this podcast, could there be a newser that's out that's like, Brandon Ayyuk is now the top five highest paid wide receiver in the league? Certainly possible, but I think there's just enough wiggle room in the way he was talking there that the Niners are always a forward-thinking team

might still be open to moving Ayyuk at the right prices, if it means them being able to reboot and get younger and cheaper at that position rather than have Debo and Iyuk on the books in addition to all the other talented, expensive players they have. I mean, I think anything is possible with anything, any of these people are saying in March. Like, anything is still out there as a possibility.

If someone wants to- But it's our job, Mark Sessler. But I don't, so my response is that I don't think that this is, like, there's some background suspicion here. I think they want to keep them. You're the Niners, like your Super Bowl window, is wide open. Like, I'd say he was more important than Debo Samuel

for large chunks of last year, became a true star, and they waited a long time for that. So now you move on and hope that someone else you fill in the blank with. Because you draft the Brandon Ayuk. You draft the Debo Samuel, right? They,

that's the only thing I'm just, I'm thinking from their perspective in a very rich wide receiver draft if they would ever get a little crazy to make a move. They did say they wanted to resign Debo Samuel. and they did. And even with Jimmy G as messy as that got,

they said we'd like to make this work. And they did until it was completely over and they found another quarterback. But they haven't, if I think of Debo went somewhere else or story, guy A, B, or C didn't, then I would believe them a little less.

I don't believe like Shanahan on half the stuff he says, but I think Shanahan wants to keep his arguably best wide receiver. Yeah. Of course, John Lynch is going to say that he's not available until he is,

but I think that he's going to want to keep him around. I've been in this social media rabbit hole, though, that Brandon Ayyuk, he was real, I think he was on a Twitter break for a little while. And then he got back in, he dipped his toes in the water. And now all of a sudden I'm looking at his IG stories. And if you guys saw it, it's just emojis where there's a cash sign, someone talking.

What looks like the, we got to retire that one. A cow. I think it's a bull. I think it's not to retire. Iyook is on fire. It kind of is. you're not into it It kind of just

It bothers me that one I don't know why What if he was a jet And that was Part of the Jets Situation Because everything would be different Right

It's always different We love it Dan you're so shallow All your criticism Easily diffused By just turning him Into a jet No we could do better

Than Ayuk We could do better for him Let's find a new IUk drop How about that? Yeah subreddit The listeners So I have Delaware

Submissions and IUC submissions coming through. Giving them a little too much homework, maybe? I don't know. I feel like they'll still deliver. I hope it gets traded. That would be exciting. It would be interested to see that move

and the team that brings them in. That would be cool. All right. So what do you think he would net in the trade now that we're in this new world? Ooh, in the new world. Like a low fourth? It would be, I would say he would bring back,

I would think it would be like a first round but then set probably a second. I would say bring back a third round pick. Third. I mean, that is, like, that is... With the tax, with the internal, like, secret we figured out. I would think easily a second. So I should argue it.

I should say, that sounds wise, Dan. Unless it's first round pick, we think, and then it's a second round pick tax. Maybe that's what it is. I think second. I would say second. I guess we might find out. This would be the first big test of this idea if it happens.

Brave New World. All right. Let's see. By the way, thanks to Tracy Sandler on Instagram for that. In other news, Robert Kraft. Oh, by the way. let me frame it this way um i think i know who's the next figure to be found or not found because they're buried under the mass pike there's a couple of them matthew hamichick he was the

director of the ten part documentary series the dynasty on apple tv plus uh oh um you heard like andrew siciliano floated um on the around the afc in 48 minutes that uh he was surprised by how pointed it was at times and what seemed to be criticism of bill belichick who of course is no longer with the team uh that became the only thing people were really were talking about about this documentary was like wow that was a little slanted pro-ownership or anti-bill robert craft uh wants you to know uh that that was not a his intention and he feels like other patriots that were involved with the project uh perhaps duped by uh the nature of the doc short for documentary I felt bad that there was so much emphasis on the more controversial and, let's say, challenging situations over the last 20 years.

I wish they had focused more on our Super Bowl wins, like 21-game win streak. You know, I felt bad. There were players who gave hours and hours of interviews, and they felt only the negativity. So a little disappointed that there wasn't more of a real positive approach, especially for a man. Man, I think Rob is getting in that Jerry Jones flow, where if you're transcribing a Jerry Jones quote, no need to stop the recorder at any point, just just wait and type? Truly. How about this? Don't speak on camera if you don't want it to be

absolutely legally and rightfully used in a documentary. A documentary is not an in-house hype film. It is meant to tell you a story, the good and the bad. And I kind of find this like a billionaire is unhappy with result of something. Well, you can't have your way all the time. Well, Devin McCordy and Rodney Harrison both came out saying that they had done hours and hours and hours of interviews for this documentary, this docu-series, and the only things that were used were the negative things that they said. So yeah, that's how they felt a little dude. I get that, but like, I guess part of it is, like, why are we

talking about it because it was newsy? Like, if it was a bunch of people glowing over the 21-game win streak and the Super Bowls, like, we all lived that. We've been there. I mean, I feel for McCordy, if, like, you've given all this time, I guess. Well, the frustration, but it's like, filmmakers are going to sign up for, do it. This is, and I don't know. I don't know. I don't want to, I'm uneducated on the topic.

So I don't know. So is this, was NFL Films? Is this an NFL Films project at all? I'm building so, I don't know. Yeah, they, so if this was an outside project, in newspaper terms, if it bleeds, it leads. And it's like, that's all I'm saying. It's like, I can see why they were attracted to that part of it.

And we can act like, if we're Robert Kraft, we could act disappointed. that there was too much focus on the the the last three or four years and how bill belchick and craft went from the most powerful duo in football to estranged and separated but that's an important like whether he was i know it's called the dynasty but if you're telling the story you tell the story of how the dynasty ended it too and then kind of becoming no longer on the same page that's a big part of the story like so i don't know i i i didn't love it i've seen one episode and I actually really liked it. So, like, I don't, that's why I don't want to get too deep into it personally,

but you got to expect people to focus on things like that because, I mean, the fact that, and I've been hammering on this for weeks and weeks on the show, the fact that Bill Belichick couldn't get a job, like he's just kind of a figure of fascination at this point. Like, what happened from, is it just because he's older? Or is there, like, what happened with Belichick within the ranks of the NFL to be in this place now where he's,

did you watch the game on Monday? Out of work. Right. And I think, like, news should be something that you don't know versus something that we all know very well. And it should be something that probably is unpleasant to many people. All right. Let's see. Let's see.

Let's see. The Lions, this was a weird story. Cam Sutton, cornerback of the Lions. He has been released from the team after he was involved with some legal trouble. there was a period of time first of all it was domestic battery by strangulation that's the allegation

there was a period of time and this happened like you know going into the weekend and stuff where no one seemed to know where he was and then like the team president of the Lions Rod Wood admitted Monday that the day before the Lions released him that he was inside the team's facility

and so I don't know how all that marries up exactly with the quote wondering where he was but that's why it's a it doesn't look great for the Lions but they've released them and he's gone. He joined the lines as an unrestricted free agent last summer after spending his first six seasons in the NFL with the Steelers. And we touched on this around the NFC, Connie,

that the back end of their defense is a target for improvement and now is setting out of the picture. That becomes even more of a glaring need for them. Yeah. Now that's their hand is forced when the draft comes around and how they're going to kind of play. this and just looking at some of the mock drafts that are out there right now not to because I don't really want to focus too much on Cam Sutton like I don't know I don't know what the details are but they don't sound good whatsoever so for the lions the fact that they're picking as high as they are we

haven't seen that in years and years they have the 29th pick in the upcoming draft and for a lot of them like yeah they they're probably going to end up taking a corner maybe it's Koolaid McKinstree maybe they take an edge, but I think for them it would be really prudent to beef up that secondary now that they lose Cam Sutton. And finally in the news, we're going to do a little speed round, but last item

here, they did it. What happened? The NFL did it. What did they do? I knew they were going to do it, and they've done it. The NFL has defeated days. NFL won, days zero. Game over. You thought

that as big as ratings hit the NFL on Christmas was after they came for the NBA's throat and stumped it that they would say well we got to wait a few years until it sinks up with the

calendar because obviously can't play a football game on Wednesday. Can't play an NFL game in the middle of the week late in the sixth? Of course not that would be oh contraire who year it will continue in 2024 with two matchups on the schedule, despite the holiday falling on a Wednesday. It was announced. Matchups for the games, which will include teams that played on the previous Saturday to account for the recovery window of yet to be determined. I am sure those teams are going to be thrilled to learn they have playing on a Saturday on a short week and then have a turnaround. Enjoy your Christmas. I'll be going for Christmas. No, you won't. No. Anyway, this is all of.

Obviously because the three games played on Christmas Day, 2003, did massive ratings. In fact, ESPN's Ravens-Nin Niners telecast, that gnarly Niners blowout, had over 27 million viewers making it the second highest, second most watched Monday Night Football Game since 1996, almost 30 years, when TV was a totally different thing. Good job, viewers. So there it is. NFL one, days zero. Got them.

It's, well, it's so predictable. I think that here's what the scheduling tick that concerns me because, you know, you get into late December and these four teams that might have looked like we're going to combine them for incredible matchups back in April. Like, you know, three of them could be roadkill by then with like the third quarterback playing, and we have to see them in island games two weeks in a row.

But beyond that, I think we made the prediction that they're going to find a way to have games on like Mayday. And I think we're only a couple weeks from that happening. Or weeks, years, please. Every day of the, week. Why not? It was like during the pandemic, we did it. And what great times they were.

Tuesday night football, Wednesday night football. Let's just keep going. But everyone digs this except people working in football. And so the most people were probably like shut up. I will say like this past year on Christmas Day, I wasn't working because I worked Christmas Eve. And I went

to a friend's house who big Niners fans, the whole family. And we sat at this big long table and they had a projector on the wall and the hearth and every and it was so it felt right like it was nice to sit around and watch the niners lose with niners fans um all right eight o'clock delight it's kind of you connie yeah hope you're invited back uh saints tackle ryan ramcheck has knee issue couldn't miss the entire two thousand twenty four season uh the in season

hard knocks could feature four teams from the same division. Huh. Okay. I'm not sure about that. Yeah. For Ramcheck, I mean, and the Saints, they have so many needs. They've so many holes on that roster. And now they're probably going to have to draft a tackle right away because of Ramcheck.

Damien Harris, the running back, veteran running back retires. He's only 27, I believe. And he had some really nice years with the Pats, went to the bills, suffered a pretty serious injury. And now he steps away from the game. The Browns are looking to extend their GM and head coach, Barry and Stafansky, and maybe be building a dome. Mark, what's going on there? Well, they absolutely want to either take their current stadium and make massive renovations to it.

But the Haslam's talked about a dome, which had been floated in the past. Well, the bills are doing it, right? I don't, as a, you know, a longtime Browns follower, I'd like them to play in the mud and the snow. What else advantage do they have? Mike McDaniel, Miami has made an offer to O'Dell Beckham. Woody Johnson, if we don't trade Zach, we're going to keep them. They're backpedaling on that one. They're eyeing Jadavian Clowny.

And the Bears and Texans will play the Hall of Fame game starting off the season. Connie? I just saw that O'Dell Beckham Jr. And Kim Kardashian broke up. I didn't know they were dating. I didn't know either. I feel like, let's see what Odell has been up to. What is up with that Kim Kardashian?

She's always in the news. She'd like she'd want to go to Miami. Like every aunt. With someone paying her way, although she's probably way richer than him. I think so. Yeah, by 10,000 times. Let's take a break and we'll do some investigating.

What's up, everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Sticks, we take you inside the game from scouting reports and player development to team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters.

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Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. welcome back sometimes getting to the bottom of a mystery requires you to get your hands dirty working in the shadows

turn over rocks but were never meant to be turned over And that's why it's time to go Full Signetti on the top 10 of the NFL draft. Mark, you ask, what is Full Signetti mean? I mean, I can only imagine he's been on some tough cases in the past. He's on earth some problematic human scenarios.

This one seems broad-reaching. I've been wondering where he's been. Frank Signetti. I did a little investigating of old Frank. Frank the Tank Signetti. how long we've been mentioning this man in the show about a decade the offensive coordinator of the

then St. Louis Rams in 2015 he was the OC and then bounced around in different position rooms for the Giants, Packers Boston College

he recently got let go by Pitt in the college so he's you know he's been on a lot of different investigations. It's a hard scrabble detective. We always thought that. Frank Signetti, private eye. So why don't we get our full Signetti on

and figure out this draft, the top of it anyway? I would love that. You know, Signetti, he's been working a lot of cases, a lot of cold cases, and I mean, the nights, the weekends, the hours that he spends and his dedication to his craft is just, I

haven't seen anything like it. So whenever I have an issue, a question. I need a little PI work. I always go straight to the source. I go right to Signetti. I'd say he's pretty Teflon, too, and he's resilient because I'm looking at the most recent headline about him that I can find. What went wrong in the Frank Signetti Jr. era at Pitt? So he's got to lead a double life. He's got to be willing for these things to fail because his time becomes too absorbed in these cases. They pull them in. And they're asking questions in Western PA, but guess what? Frank just slips into

the shadows and he's gone. Who's that guy in the trench coat? Gone. never saw him and the fedora gone all right let's get into it so we're going to get our signetti on here okay we're gonna and what does that mean because it seems pretty nebulous uh what does it mean what does it mean we each split we split up the top 10 of this draft because we can go one through 32 but you can go anywhere for that everyone knows those first 10 picks and just in an in addition to just being the most high profile picks of a draft they kind of set the tone for the rest of draft board so we each split it up and uh based on everything that's out there all the reporting anybody you've talked to any again rocks that were turned over any meetings and diners where you

know the thing you do you one guy sits in the booth one way and the other guys sitting in the other booth and they either slide a bag across the floor and the other guy leaves or they just have full on conversations with the menus in front of them like stuff like that yeah that's stuff we do that's a skill set yeah Parking garages, that's where you meet. Big time parking garage. Exactly. Always not well lit at all.

Subterranean level. Gotta go all the way down. Right. And, you know, cigarette smoking continues to be on the decline. But you have to sometimes pick up the old nicotine stick. Not in this cold this off. Yeah. You need it.

Hack and darts, got a. Hack and darts. So let's get to it. I'll get it going with this investigation doesn't need a signetti. Let's be honest. This is the number one overall pick. This is not. Watergate scenario.

Everyone knows that the bears are going to take Caleb Williams with the number one overall pick. And I should just, so we're not going to dwell on this because we've got the bears coming up later. And I'll do a little deep dive on that, which is certainly more intriguing. But I do think it's just notable that in some teams are like this in these type of drafts where we all know who's going number one. But in many instances, teams are still needlessly cloak and dagger about it. Sure. That's not the bears. They're talking openly about Williams, you know, going to his pro day and and speaking on him and, you know, not even trying to be cute about the Justin Fields thing.

They're like once they, and granted, they didn't maybe get the most value they could with Fields, but they made it a point to clear the path for this rookie to come in and be the guy with no distractions. And of course, build up a real nice infrastructure around him. So Caleb Williams of USC will be the first pick. And I don't really, maybe I failed it in my Signetti test to do any more diving on this one. But sometimes you've got to know when to stop turn it over rocks and just be like it's staring right at me. You don't want to get too cute. But maybe others might not be able to see what you've seen. But Frank Signetti suss this out with no issues and there's not a lot.

Good job, Frank. Yeah, Signetti's time is precious. Right. If he knows the answer, he's moving on to the next case. Colleen, does he know the answer? I like now that we've had a subtle shift in the SEG and now we are Frank Signetti and I like this. Okay.

So Frank, tell us about the Washington commanders at number two. What are you hearing? What have you learned? Well, what I've done here is I put a tail on this Peters guy. Adam Peters, the new GM, his 1989, black Lincoln Continental with the maroon crushed velvet interior, moon roof, eight-track player. It was on my radar immediately. I knew that something was up.

Where was he going in this car? Where was he parking? What was he using it for? And he was using it to check out these quarterbacks because there's no doubt in my mind that the commanders will be taking a quarterback. The question is, which won? Caleb Farley going to be off the board.

That's fine. But this draft, it starts it too with Adam Peters. And he's got to get this right. New organization, new owner. new times, new quarterbacks got to come through. And when they got rid of Sam Howell, I felt like that was a very interesting shift because most mock drafts out there

have the commanders taking Jaden Daniels. Most people right now talking about the commanders and surrounding the commanders' organization seemed pretty, pretty steady on Jaden Daniels, the Heisman winner. That's the most popular pick. and it would go well with their offensive coordinator, their new one there, Cliff Kingsbury,

because it's the same type of quarterback that he had in Arizona with Kyler Murray. However, the Pell Razor, I wouldn't normally out my sources like this, but Pell Razor came right out and said it himself, so I'll let you guys know what he said. And he said that of all of the decision makers he was talking to at the owner's meetings,

they think that Washington will go J.J. McCarthy. Whoa, that would shake it up. Okay, is this legitimate? Is it a smokescreen? It is a classic smokescreen season right now. So you've got to watch your back. You don't know who's giving you bad information. Who's the actual narc?

I mean, you have to really wait what you're hearing and triple source check everything. Every time. But in this line of work, sometimes you don't have that luxury. So when the commanders sent Sam Howell to Seattle, that made me think and made me believe that they will be drafting Drake May because Drake May and Sam Howell were best friends. Former UNC teammates.

Interesting. That was one of May's best friends, his mentor. They obviously played together. So it felt real spicy when the commanders who for all of these years stood by their man, Sam Howell, and then right before the draft, send him pack into Seattle. Got to get him out of the building. Yeah.

That's rich. That's a rich bit of evidence right there. That Jeremiah cat. Yeah, he's. I got some stuff on him. Going to be trusted? I don't know. On the outside, he appears to be of high character.

Squeaky clean. Yeah. They call him the wholesome assassin. He's got Drake May going there as well. And if that is, indeed what happens. And it is Caleb Williams and Drake May 1-2. That takes us to the New England Patriots. And I'm hit to this Mark Sessler cap. He's all over this. This was a fortress for many, many years, New England. And, you know, Bill Belichick was

a person that allowed no other sources in the building because he essentially played all the roles himself. And anyone that did investigate too far into New York, they're gone. Bye-bye. Yep. Were you an innocent little ball boy? Yeah. They even have, this is a true story, at Patriots headquarters, they have a backhoe that has the Pat's logo on it, that they used to break ground and bury people.

Openly. Because that was, again, it was a fortress and like, you know. The Stadies were in their back pocket. There was, there's, I mean. It's tough. Different era. They were bought off many cases. I'd say that directed at that documentary, you'll be another test case of the might of the

Patriot way. Signetti and friends see something different right now, though. What do they see? I see that the walls of the fortress have willingly and openly come down to some degree. And what would have been a monumental investigation, for me, looks to me just to be a situation with multiple unknown final solutions. But I'm going to guide you to what I think will happen here. Okay, take us.

Gerard Mayo has been, we don't need to triple source when Gerard Mayo is telling you things himself. And I think here's the difference between Gerard Mayo and 88% of the coaches out there. He's openly said, I don't know how good of a head. He said, I don't know how good of a head coach I'll be. I don't know if my general manager can do it. We don't know yet. And he said, basically, look, I, we are still a team that needs so many things. They need an offensive tackle, wide receiver, quarterback, running back, defense.

So priority is quarterback to get one. But he has talked highly about Jacoby Brissette. And I think this is a team because they need so much. and he's asked for patience that they want to create the environment where they can grow with maybe multiple draft picks. And I think that because of what happens at number two,

again, the future is somewhat of an unknown element. A beautiful mystery, Aaron Rogers would say. Absolutely. I think that trading down might be their preference because I think then the Patriots, Jacobi Persec can get you through this season and you could acquire multiple draft picks

and start to rebuild a team that lacks weapons, all over the place. And I think he's very open to that. This is not a one-person operation. I'm leaning in that direction right now overtaking the third quarterback in the draft that they may not be in love with.

All right. So, and your study of the reporting around the team indicates a willingness to do that. Now, my question that I'd have for Signetti and his associates, the Patriots have the stomach to potentially pass on an instant game changer at three. when we know, A, moving back, however far you move back, gives you less of a chance of addressing that position effectively.

And B, we already know there's not a lot of hype around the cats at the quarterback position next year. So this, they, it's hard for me to imagine that the pats are going to look this opportunity in the eye and say, we're going to build the roster in a different way. I think they're going to take a swing here. I really feel that. So I think it's not, it's a, possibility, but I do think this, that they just parted ways with a very high, highly drafted

quarterback. And I believe they want to create a better environment for who they bring in. And I'm not worried about next year's draft class, and I don't think they are yet. If it was anyone, it would be Jaden Daniels, but you've got to see who falls to them. I don't think it can be just the third guy they like off the board. Unless it's J.J. McCarthy and they go ahead with that would fit. Michigan quarterback comes in. I don't think he's going to be there. I agree with, I think he may go number two, actually. that factored into my investigation see the Patriots then passing on the presumed number two pick that would be a whole ton of guts and it would leave them wide open for second guessing I'll just say this you mentioned they took a big swing on Mac Jones that was you know it was a first round pick but it was the 15th overall pick so now they're living up in the in the penhouse of the draft at number three and once the last time the Patriots have been up there with a chance to take a quarterback we'll see we'll see I'm not refuted anything signetti and his people i would say unlike the chicago report and maybe even the

washington that the pay the patriots are the first like they could go a or b and we need more time in this investigation to some degree which takes us to the cardinals what are they saying sigs the cardinals control the entire draft in my opinion because we get it like we're running out of quarterbacks at number four and the cardinals i was looking this up and mentioned this before the show. And this is what creates the conundrum in our investigation. They need a wide receiver. They need an edge rusher. They need a cornerback. They need defensive line. They need offensive lines. They need interior offensive line. That's your entire offensive line. They need linebackers, running backs, quarterbacks, a quarterback,

tight end, safety, punter, kicker and long snapper. I agree with everything you just said except for quarterback. That's the crucial. Like a backup quarterback. But that was crucially. That's deep down the list. But crucially, Sigs. that's deep down they don't need a quarterback which is what i think what you're getting at here they don't need a quarterback but look at their wide receiver room right now michael wilson good number two developmental guy maybe 2.3 Greg dorch Zach paskell you have Marvin harrison jrison junior sitting there and i think what cardinals fans want for kailer murray and what they

want for their team after that you know unlike not unlike others they passed on adrian peterson back in the day they passed on terrell suggs back in the day they passed on tarrell suggs back in the day. These are like arrows that stick in Cardinals' psyche going way back. And so now the bloodline of Marvin Harrison is dropping to you at number four, presumably. And yet my investigation tells me that GM Montioleson Fort, just like last year, is very willing for a team with all those needs to trade down. And this is where I think the trade down happens. And this is where I believe that the Denver Broncos, it was Sean Payton, who called Monty Austin Fort

one of the luckiest guys around and realistically saying that this is where someone... Are you stepping on your mock draft, Mark? Be careful here. Stepping on my own mock draft? Yeah. I think this is... That's Frank Signetti. Right.

I think they are... Frank, you stepping on Mark's mock draft? This is where... And I believe, I think trade activity is going to be wild in the first five picks. I think the Patriots could be doing it. But if the Broncos, for instance, can get a better offer from the Cardinals

and don't believe the Patriots would take their quarterback, but that's danger zone. I think the Cardinals are trading the pick down. Okay. And there's a number of people, the Vikings, the Broncos, that could trade up. I really think the Vikings are candidate here. I love it. I love where you're coming from. Yeah. Connie or

Frank, too. Frank, too. What? Frank 3.0. It makes so much sense because that's the point I was trying to make was that if they were a team that needed a quarterback and they're in the top five, take a swing at a quarterback or even move up to get a quarterback you want. But they

have this ability to build the team with high level picks and trading out of that spot to accumulate, they make so much sense. And getting the best wide receiver on the on the board, also you couldn't kill them for it, but they could still get a big time wide receiver in addition to multiple extra first picks, including potential first round picks. But you could kill them for drafting a wide receiver in that spot because this draft is so stacked, so deep with wide receiver. All pointing to it. So with all of those needs that they have trade down,

you're still going to get an incredible wide receiver and some other amazing blue chip players. Unless they see that wide receiver. So we're all like in lockstep that it feels like an offensive skill player here. They're so in love with them. They see him as a Hall of Fame talent. If they see like another Larry Fitzgerald on the board in their opinion, maybe how can you kill them?

If they're that strong and that feeling that they're getting, because that could change that whole organization and give Kyler. Reboot. Interesting. Yep. Colleen Signetti. Here we go. Okay. Another interesting team. I'd love to know what you've seen, what you've heard, who you're talking to,

back-to-back diner stuff, Los Angeles Chargers. So many diners. I've been to so many diners. So many years actually investigating this team, it seems like they always have a nose for trouble. They're always getting themselves. into these situations and following them over the years, it's like they can't get out of their own way. So this time, though, it feels different. It feels like they got to get this draft right with Jim Harbaal there now

because he might have Joe Horitz sleeping with the fishes if this does not pan out correctly. If this first round pick, which, I mean, that is the most crucial one. And I feel like there's been plenty of clues as far as what they might do, but a real breakthrough at the owner's meetings when Jim Harbaugh was talking about that fifth pick and how excited he was to have it and he said hey if four quarterbacks don't go in a row

he said maybe there's still another quarterback where we are when the fifth pick comes around and somebody wants to and then stopped himself said again that'd be like having the number one pick for us but seems like he wants to trade down. And if he does, plenty of options here. You can acquire picks from a quarterback desperate team. You can get a wide receiver because look at their current wide receiver group.

I mean, Quentin Johnson, Josh Palmer, Darius Davis, Bayoko. This is not Keenan Allen and Mike Williams anymore. They're gone. They strip the entire cupboard. That's it. Yeah. So maybe they do end up getting. getting a Marvin Harrison Jr.

If the Cardinals opt to trade out of that spot. I mean, Harbaal knows him well from coaching at Michigan having to face Ohio State so many times and what Marvin Harrison did to him and his teams at Michigan wasn't good. But also, maybe he goes Joe Alt. Maybe he gets the best offensive tackle out there. Give someone that can protect Justin Herbert

after all of the injuries that we've seen from Herbert over the years, plus the run game that Jim Harbaugh is absolutely in love with. Maybe he goes with someone up front. But I could also see them grabbing a tight end this high because Brock Bowers, one of the most talented ever. And in the AFC West, where the Chargers are, and they're constantly playing the Chiefs.

And looking at a guy like Travis Kelsey, you have George Kittle out there who played in the Super Bowl as well. Tight ends are different now. And this guy can catch. He can run block. He can do it all. He's a good route runner as well. So Jim Harbaal loves a good tight end, and that's one right there.

Okay. Interesting. And this is the team with serious history at the tight end position. Kellynne Winslow Sr. Tonyo Gates. That would be a stutter. This one, to me, Signetti, really screams to me. We're drinking bad coffee in a rundown.

Black. There's no cream. There's no sugar. Screams to me, Alt, the tackle that aligns with what Harbaugh is looking to do. Do it, is anything you're reading, seeing anywhere about J.J. McCarthy, the quarterback. No. Harbaugh. No.

Harbaugh has Justin Herbert. I know, but what if? What if? Well, in that case, you, that would break the case wide open. Well, and we've discussed, we've discussed like little whispers. on this front before that or maybe they were self-created whispers on just you know trying to try to see the possibilities that isn't it just weird the timing of it all that you would think harbaugh is kind of an intense dude that just spent all these years at michigan and maybe he

loves that kid i and it just so happens that he's there if that's how you felt i think what you have to do is find a way to make a blockbuster franchise altering trade of justin herbert to one of the teams above you because JJ is not going to be there at number five that all we have every clue in the book is telling us that he is like one of the he is someone that is not going to be available you have a clue book I feel like that would be helpful can I get that can I read the tea leaves are burning and like I jj is long gone by then so that would make the chargers who seem like a trade down candidate have to trade up and I know charges fans are screaming like don't even bring this up it's ridiculous but that's what we got to do because we're we're outside the mainstream right

you have to think we're in the underground and we're just wondering about that that's right so a tight end uh-huh maybe a tackle wide receiver wide receiver maybe the biggest trade of the last 14 years that would shake things up really would let's take a break and we'll hit the rest of the back 10. What's up, everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Sticks, we take you inside the game

from scouting reports and player development to team-building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. Every week, we study the tape, talk to decision-makers, and share the insights you won't find anywhere else. It's the kind of conversation

that connects the dots, from college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow. We break down the draft, analyze matchups, and evaluate how teams put it all together on game day. Plus, we dig in the coaching strategies, roster construction, and the trends that shape the league year after year. Whether you're a diehard fan or just love understanding the game on a deeper level, we give you the full picture. If you want insight that goes beyond the box score, this podcast is for you. Don't miss it.

Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, this is Matt Jones. I'm Drew Franklin. And this is NFL Cover Zero. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different. Did you see the Colts Pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that?

Oh, my. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining. And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get. Listen to NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever. wherever you get your podcast. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. Take that base for a walk.

Hey, Joe, come in slow on the high hat. Billy Bob, tickled their memories. Hey Sam, make that horn sick Okay, we're back Why do I feel uncomfortable? Number six All right Number six

We got the Giants All right I've been up here All over the Jersey Turnpike Up and down That drive It's a lonely drive It's a grueling drive

But it's time to really go over The clues the cold cases, the various hunches you might have. You just got time, time to think to yourself. Sometimes it's the worst thing to do. You're all alone with your own thoughts. But it's all part of the investigation, all part of the job. And part of that was to hear what John Mara had to say about Joe Shane and Brian Dayball

going into year three together at the owner's meetings. That's what I needed to hear. What did the big man say? Well, Don Mara came out and said if Joe Shane and Brian Dayball have conviction on a quarterback at the top of the draft, he supports going in to get him. He's still confident in Daniel Jones but says, why not bring in someone to compete and let the best man win? He also said that it's ridiculous the Giants haven't fixed their offensive line after all these years. So, I don't know, maybe one of these could be a red herring.

You don't know. I thought it was very notable that the big man, Mara, seemingly gave the green light to make a move on QB. Exactly, because one would think, all right, on the surface, you're going to go wide receiver. You don't have any. Maybe go Malik neighbors. Just like Odell, you get a wide receiver one from LSU.

Repeat history a little bit. They haven't had a 1,000-yard receiver since they traded away, Odell. But I just don't, I don't know if that, I don't feel that is the correct way that they're going to go. They could go Joe Walt again there if he's still on the board and fix that offensive line. But that doesn't feel right either. I think what ends up happening, I think the Giants, they don't draft a quarterback where they are. they move up. Another move. Another trade.

We've got five or six teams moving up with this. But I think they move up with the Patriots. And I think that they take Drake May at three. And that's what ends up happening. Oh, I could dig it. That lines up with what I've been feeling and hearing about the Patriots based on the whispers. Really? Well, that's what I'm suggesting.

Two Franks. The Patriots were candidates to trade down. And you've got the Giants. These two Patriots, these two teams feel kind of linked to. And I think Mara is basically saying, I'd be open to it, but anyone wise enough knows that you're not getting that guy at number six. So you've got to do something different. And I think Daniel Jones, no matter what they say with their pretty little words,

is yesterday's news in the Meadowlands. Tennessee Titans. That number seven. I was told by our friend, Chris Wesleyan, that the Tennessee Titans were in the Midwest. As I steered my vehicle down through the country, I don't fly. I just kind of wind the car down to think, to process. Do you have like a Maddenmobile?

It's an old beat-up jalopy, and I switch cars every three months. Smart. And they come from parts unknown. And he got a whole trunk full of license plates. Cell phones. Passports. What's a cell phone? Don't have one.

Tennessee in my world is in the south, so I solve that investigation for myself. Done. You know, Signetti is 58 years old. When we used to talk about him, he was in his late 40s, but he's got a lot on his plate, and he's humble enough to get help sometimes. Because my investigation of the Titans, here's a team that new coaching staff hired a bunch of parts off the free agency list. Calvin Ridley, Tony Pollard They don't blow me away

But they still have one burning knee They were the worst offensive line Arguably in football Over the last two seasons And this is where I believe Because the Giants are going to do What we think before Here sits your left tackle Joe Alt

But I like to lean on Some of my best sources And I had someone who was willing To go on the record Directly And here it is What's up fellas Grave-Digger here.

I want to give my take on what the Titans will do in the top 10 of the draft this year. Look, there is no secret. They need a left tackle. They've addressed many of their needs in free agency. Still have a big hole at inside linebacker. Probably need a safety. Probably need someone else on the D-line.

You're not taking that in the first round, I don't think. If Joe Alt, the tackle out of Notre Dame is on the board, I think you write it in ink. He is the Titans pick. If he's not there, maybe they look to go. Dallas Turner on the edge. Maybe they look at the second best tackle, someone like Olufashanu.

There's reports that they love, J.C. Latham. I think the Titans have to get a tackle here. Rancarthon recently said it's a deep tackle class. There will be guys available throughout the draft, but I don't know if you can risk it. You got to find out if Will Lovis is the guy. They've done a great job surrounding him with pieces and weapons, building up that defense, trading for Legerious need. The last missing piece here is a stalwart left tackle.

If Joe Alt is on the board at 7, I think he is the Titans pick. I'm hip to that cat And I'll tell you one more thing about the grave digger That titan's helmet moves real quick In circles behind him Just spinning around Spinning I mean he's on that beat And he's been on it for a long time

That's the wrong side of the tracks That was a thorough autopsy that he did on the On the Titans He is the grave digger He's doing a lot of different jobs He has his fingerprints on everything The post-mortem side of things Makes a lot of sense

You know what else? makes sense at number eight what the falcons what they have going on one of one of uh our favorite draft tropes teams who draft all on one side of the ball to make a point the falcons could be one of those teams this year on the defensive side the quandary they face and in my uh And my conversations and my research and my fearless ability to just go to places other people fear to tread. Train tracks. You're going across them. Right across those tracks. They're a train coming? Not even checking.

Doesn't matter. Doesn't matter. Not your concern. It kind of would be my concern. It went at the wrong moment. You'd find out a second too late. The train stops for Signetti. Signetti doesn't stop for the train.

I hope it stops. I hope Frank makes... Anyway, the quandary they face is whether to take the sure thing, quote unquote, at number eight. And let's be serious about this. The draft board is set up beautifully for this team because of their needs, which on the other side of the football board, the top of this draft is living. And they are set at quarterback.

And they have the quarterback. They have the wide receiver talent. so do they trade back that makes a lot of sense try to fill multiple holes perhaps more sensible but you really got to trust your football people you're going to move out of the top 10 here but in the end and i'm i'm reading just in the frustration around the organization that i imagine is also happening inside the walls that flowery branch. The curse of John Abraham is strong there.

Oh, and what a curse it is. I think it's going to be too much to ignore for Terry Fonno and Rahim Morris. I pulled up the John Abraham Pro Football reference. You did. There's something smelled rotten. What'd you find?

Well, as we talked about in the show, So John Abraham started his career with the Jets. He left as a free agent after the 2005 season. And the Jets have been looking for an edge rusher really ever since. And now it's the Falcons who saw him leave in free agency after the 2012 season. They've been looking for an edge rusher since it's Abraham that ties the whole conspiracy together. I think the Falcons, with a plethora of power, rushers at their disposal will not move and they're going to say we've had enough of this waiting

game for the next Abraham and we'll take the cat that we like most I'm not even going to tell you they're going to take there a lot of mock drafts out there that have big time edge rushers staring at them so they're going to have their pick of the litter most likely and I think that's what they do they take the best pass rusher could be the first defensive player off the board and that's the move they make and everything I'm reading tells me this team thinks that they could really contend in that conference

if they hit on a big edge rusher use the rest of that draft to continue to build out the defense and then hope Rahim could build it up further once he has a roster I think that's what they... I got a tipster telling me Dallas Turner might be their guy at Alabama that would make that is the guy at edge

and there aren't a lot of them. And that makes sense. And I think if you're Rahim Morris and you're working well with Terry Fanjo, you've come in quickly, you've found the quarterback that they lacked in these frustrating last three years. You're now killing curses

that have plagued the Falcons for a long time. And you give Rahim Morris his guy. Mm-hmm. Which takes us to the ninth pick and we're back with the Chicago Bears. The monsters of that midway. these cats are feeling good about themselves because they took Caleb Williams at number one so now what now we know they got Keenan allen okay at receiver and and talking to some people and reading some things they weren't expecting that they said they're on record Ryan pulls the GM said he didn't all he popped up it wasn't something they had been working on for weeks it wasn't on their radar until the chargers realized they had to move on.

They called it a quote this per the athletic, a really cool opportunity. That's a hard bullet quote from where we are headed, which is going to be, hang on, miss the quote. Called it a really cool opportunity that popped up, they made the move, Keenan Allen. I think wide receiver was it was an option at nine and I think it's more likely they move away at this point from that group even though there's going to potentially be some or there will be still big time names there and then I think about the defense they are

trying to figure out with their defensive line you have Matt Eberflus was on the record saying that you need an interior interior defensive line and an interior defensive lineman that could be a major impact player Irvin Dexter

second year player former second round pick they liked his development but would they look for a hog molly at the top of this round I think that could be it as well I think you look in you look on the defensive side of the ball with this team.

I think you're going to see that's where they end up going. I like it. I like it. A lot of eyewitness accounts have been also saying that they've seen some things that might lead you to believe that that's the direction they're going in, but only Signetti is really truly knowing. I think also Signetti, he's going to a great judge of character and how people transform and change.

and I get the sense that Fluse is going to get his way because this has been in the last couple of weeks and months he's grown a beard and changed his hair a little bit he just looks confident he feels like you know Or he's going to go on the run Well there's that too And we'll hunt him down if that happens Oh yeah

Feels like an odd time to leave the Bears as head coach Compared to other scenarios coaches have been in But we'd be telling him We've got our eye on them Which takes us finally into number 10 The New York Jets and I think the entire football industry was locked in on these cats going for an offensive lineman

after you know the disaster that was their line last season Aaron Rogers's injury which by the way came not to pile on poor Dwayne Brown but came on a missed block on the fourth play of the season that led to the Achilles injury but then they went out and they got Tyron Smith and they added two other starters in addition to Smith

in free agency in one week and now it makes people think oh they're done at offensive line and they could be there's a lot of people connecting to that Bowers kid the tight end I know the Jets have a bit of a cursed history at tight end in the first round

so I'd be a little jumpy about that if I were them if there's a big time wide receiver, Mike Williams. I know they added Mike Williams. That's a one-year deal potentially. I wouldn't rule out them going after a wide receiver here. But I do think they might surprise people and stay with the initial plan and take an

offensive tackle the best guy on the board. They're not going to get Alt. If Alt was still there, they would run up to the podium. But he should be long gone by 10. I think they take the second best lineman on the board, somebody that they like a lot. and it gives you that injury protection on the line and a successor to Tyrant Smith or whomever they decide to kind of plug this guy in.

He'll find a role quickly because guess what? Offensive linemen get injured. You know, who else gets injured? Older offensive lineman. I still think it's a major need for this team and I think they still end up taking Hog-Molly offensive line. I really, I like that. I think that Joe Douglas does not want to mess around

with that entire position group. I do find it interesting, and I know you have a hot and cold relationship with this fellow draft investigator, Daniel Jeremiah. I'm sure he's hearing things, and I can't think of someone that seems more closely kind of linked to Joe Douglas here and there. And this could just be him creating something that's going to get clicks. I don't think so. But he has them trading up in his latest mock to number five with the Chargers to get Marvin Harrison, Jr. I believe that that draft came out the mock draft came out a day before the Mike Williams

trade. I would say that like just because you have Mike Williams Tyron Smith and Mike Williams are both players that you can count on for maybe 10 or 11 games a season and you're going to lose them for some from Strump like if you can do this or even if it's Roma Dunzee I'd just say if it's Marr if you had it if they had it in their head that there's some whisper that we're going to try this

then you have Marvin Harrison Jr. as a Hall of Fame potential talent for the next half decade. It's not even about Aaron Rogers. You just have someone to pair with. You'd have the best wide receiver tandem in the AFC. Well, I have a little bit of a situation that I'm working on right now. A little bit of a lead. Usually my sparrows will sing like canaries when I ask them about what's going on.

These improv classes are really paying off. Oh, God. I haven't done it in 10 years. Get off my back. However, I will say that, From a very reliable source, at the owner's meetings, there was a very heated conversation between Woody and Robert Zala to the point where it was a little awkward. Spicy. What were they arguing about?

Where was this? Tell us more. At the owners meetings? At the party? At the party? Last night. I'm surprised this happened in public. We're developing news here.

Did we just make news? I'm just saying that who, and hey, who knows? Could have been about anything. Maybe they were disagreeing on how they like their steak cooked. Doubt that, though. Probably not anything. Very interesting. So.

So an argument between the head coach and the owner. Wouldn't say argument. Just a heated, passionate exchange. Uh-huh. What were they discussing? That is the latest lead You did your source Set it to the to it reached the point

Where it was almost awkward Little awkward So was it was it around In the midst of a larger group Or was it off to the side Like what made it awkward I think just the body language potentially Or the fact that a coach is arguing

With an owner which I don't think I've ever seen at a bar But were they alone having the argument Or are they part of a I'm not saying it's an argument The heated exchange, a passionate exchange. Yes, a lively conversation Were they kind of on their own having this conversation Or was a part of a large group?

Oh, it's two of them. So, what was that about? That's something that he does. My guess might have been potentially about this very conversation we're having right now. The number 10 overall. Well, the level that's been unearthed going to hop in the Lincoln Continental with the moonroof

drive on down to wherever they are the Lincoln Continent let's take a break and we'll wrap up what's up what's up everybody Daniel Jeremiah here and I'm Bucky Brooks

on Move the Sticks we take you inside the game from scouting reports and player development To team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. Every week, we study the tape, talk to decision makers, and share the insights you won't find anywhere else. It's the kind of conversation that connects the dots, from college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow. We break down the draft, analyze matchups, and evaluate how teams put it all together on game day. Plus, we dig in the coaching strategies, roster construction, and the trends that shape the league year after year. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just love understanding the game on a deeper level,

we give you the full picture. If you want insight that goes beyond the box score, this podcast is for you. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, this is Matt Jones. I'm Drew Franklin. And this is NFL Cover Zero.

We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit. Different? Did you see the Colts Pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that? Oh, my. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining. And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get. Listen to NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. all right we're back the show is continuing for god sakes thank you mark uh all right there we go that was the signetti breakdown of the uh that was absurd the top 10 and uh but i'm still that was a little bit of a bond that was developing news i thought uh and again it wasn't an argument and and let me just

be clear, just heated conversation. And was not last night, was Sunday night. So two nights ago, Sunday night. But just so we have the setting correct, they have the owner's meetings, and then there's, and we've been a part of this party in the past. Right. There's a large party on an open lawn type set up. It was that party, not like a separate bar type laid night out.

It was that party. It was not the big party that was last night. That's like the... Oh, so it wasn't that party? No. Okay. It was Sunday night. and it was, according to my source, super awkward.

So it's observed by many people, then I would assume, or multiple, multiple, like... Well, that is... I mean, that could be anything, obviously. Well, there's smoke, there's fire. I mean, they could have been arguing over, I don't know, like the who versus Led Zeppelin. I don't think I would dismiss things like that, though.

The fruit of the year contest that Dave Damasek used to run. Could have been the fruit of the year. Yeah. I mean, we don't know. When's the last time Woody Johnson, like, went into a grocery store and felt fruit and found out that really come on. He's definitely hit the way room. It looks beefy.

It could have been about that. Uh-huh. You know, could have been about Zach Wilson. Because by the way. And the comments that Woody Johnson made that make no sense for the way that team needs to proceed. Woody had to, as we quickly addressed in the 8 o'clock delight, came out and said a few weeks back that, you know,

our season was ruined because we didn't have a quarterback, making it very clear that they didn't think highly of Zach Wilson and they were moving on and then walked the back at the owner's meetings in a way that was like very obviously transparent saying, oh, we'd have them back, sure. It's like, no, could it be about that? We don't know. That would make some sense, though, because I think that whole thing burned down

everyone quarterback coached GM. It's like you're doing that again. Also owners and head coaches, I'm sure, in every building. heads from time to time, but in a public setting. That's Signetti at his... Now, how public this was, I don't know. But it was seen. Keep sleuthing.

Colleen, what a morning into afternoon for you. I know. You've done it again. You've said it all. Thank you. It's great to be back with you guys. And, yes, we'll be... There she is, the call. And we'll be back on Thursday with the great... Uh-oh.

Oh, man. I always get so excited when I hear it. He lost part of a shirk. It's the one that hits the foot. You know. We're not hard on him about it. We just understand it's a thing that we work with. What's up, Eric?

It was the slow jazz of the whole entire show. Just kind of lulled me to sleep back here. Look on the trigger. I'm looking for the close button and just kind of. I'm sorry we're boring you. I was really relaxed. I wasn't on my toes like I usually am. So I jumped to another folder.

So it had nothing to do with the missing portion of the thumb. No. Good. How was that going on? Like 96% back. No way. That's great. Human body's great.

Human body, ladies and gentlemen. A miracle. Let's go. Yeah, so we'll be back. We have a special guest joining us on Thursday show. Connor Orr. We're going to have some fun with Connor. Oh, yeah.

But until then, thank you, Connie. Thank you for listening. Thank you, Frank Signetti, wherever you are. and heed the call.