NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Kyler’s Contract, Julio Jones, and Sounds from Training Camp (with Ian Rapoport)

Episode Date: July 27, 2022

A room filled with some heroes - Dan Hanzus, Marc Sessler, and Gregg Rosenthal discuss all of the latest news as training camp continues. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport (1:59) stops by the show live from Eagles training camp to discuss the Kyler Murray contract situation (and start beef with Dan), Julio Jones signs a 1 year deal with the Buccaneers (21:30), we have an update on the Bears contract situations (25:41), Michael Thomas is back at practice (32:19), and we wrap up the news (34:10). Then, we finish out the show by reacting to sounds from training camp pressers across the league (44:39).  Note: Timecodes approximate.NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael Florio, and together we host the NFL fantasy football podcast. Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season? Then you need the NFL fantasy football podcast, your ultimate source for player news, draft tips, and winning strategies. Whether you're a rookie manager or a fantasy vet,

we've got the insight to help you crush your opponents. Listen to the NFL fantasy football. football podcast on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. Hey, everybody, Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the 6th, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and

NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else. It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sunday. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The Around the NFL podcast is not young anymore. That's sure. From the Chris Westling podcast studio, it's Around the NFL. Wednesday edition. Dan hands us here with some heroes. Mark Sessler, Greg Rosenthal. I mean, the pickup boys of the news and the intensity of the news, we've gone zero to about 660 here in our league.

Dan and I had a chance to go out and have a beer yesterday. And in the course of about an hour, 17 stories broke while we were watching the crawl on the television in the corner of the room. And we're going to get to all of them. Julio Jones' new home, the official start of the trade. Lance era, Michael Thomas is on the field, the saga of Shaq Leonard. Excited about that. But first, right off the bat, and this, again, this tells you how things have changed, how

things have picked up. We have no time for any more just messing around. You know, everyone knows. It's like, hey, how was your weekend? Well, you know the summer and I don't need any of house stuff. I was in Japan. You know, you know, insiders respect insiders. Okay.

And we know what I've done in my. career. I broke the Tom Brady stolen jersey story amongst many things. And that's life as the ATN Media Insider. ATATA. ATA. ADA. Inside inside. Dan. Hands. Hands. For the truth. Go to the students. So when I see someone else that's thriving in this particular sector of sports media, I just respect it. And that's why we're going to bring on right now from Philadelphia Eagles training camp, Ian Rappaport, who had what I like to call just this is again insider respect the insider maximum scoopage this kiler murray story which is just tremendous and we're going to get into it and also

whatever else is going on with ian as he travels the northeast at camps ian what's up buddy how are you because this isn't real tv can i just sit back like this or do i need to know you're good you're good it's going to be on youtube but that's fine the look on ian's face suggests that that's awesome expect may not go back to you dan to equal amounts well that's that's resting Ian face. You have to remember that. Well, he should have seen my face while he was talking. Right. It was not a, it was not resting Ian face. So let's get into it right now, buddy. The, the Kyler story is great because we hear the big contract and finally five years, 230 and a half million and you're thinking, all right, this story is over. But then we learn via rap sheet

that there's a clause in there, an independent study clause, an addendum that basically asks Kyler Murray to work harder, to study harder, to be more focused on the job. Ian, like, we, we like learning how the sausage is made when it comes to sports media. How did this come about and how did it all play out for you here? All right. So, you know, I know a lot of people are kind of wondering, like, and I was on the Dan Patrick show earlier and they said, well, who benefits from this being out? And I'm like, news doesn't really work like that.

Like, I mean, I guess maybe it does sometimes, but not as much as. people think. This was sort of really as simple as I knew there was a baseball clause in Kyle Murray's contract. So as soon as he signs it, it gets put into the NFLPA database and the NFL database. So if you have the right sources, and honestly, it's not that hard, you can get it. So you say, hey, Kyle has signed contract. Let me get a copy of it. And you could take a look at it. And I wanted to see the baseball clause because there is one, is guaranteed money voids if he plays organized baseball for any team. Okay. So that's what I was looking for. And And then I saw this other thing.

And I'm like, I had to call and I actually called Agent Eric Burkhard who did the deal with Kyle or sort of for Kyler Murray to make sure this was right. An independent study clause, which essentially guarantees that he studies four hours a week by himself, at home or whatever, studying the tablet, which teams can track, to make sure that he's doing his homework. And if he doesn't, is guaranteed money voids. And it is true. It is real.

He agreed to it. it was important to owner Michael Bidwell that if they made the commitment to him monetarily he also on paper makes the commitment to them it's just I've never seen it before I just haven't was was he pissed the agent because I I immediately thought when this got out there that if I'm Kyler Murray I'm upset if if I'm the agent I agreed to the terms and maybe you you figure it's going to get out somehow but if I'm the the team I'm upset too because I don't know if you thought this when you put the story out,

but I feel like this story is going to follow Kyler Murray for a long time. It's not going to be one of those two or three days stories. It's going to be something people bring up. Let's say if the Cardinals don't have a playoff win in two years. Like, it's still going to be a topic. I agree with you. This is, you know, every time he struggles, every time he misreads the coverage and it's going to happen to everyone, it's going to be a thing.

And I don't think anybody looks good. in this, honestly. Right, that's what I mean. Were they upset? Were they upset at you? No, because it's going to come out. I mean, that's what, you know, there's stories I find out all the time where, like, people will be like, oh, like, you know, do you have to say this?

And a lot of times the answer is the same. If it's not me, it's going to be someone else. You put something in a contract, one of the most high-profile contracts in the NFL, it's coming out. Yeah. You're going to find out. So it's either me or it's someone else. So I don't think they were, I don't know.

At least they didn't say they were angry at me. It was more like, look, the team went to a place that they weren't previously planning to go to money-wise. So Kyler got the money he wanted. He got the average. He got the guarantee. He got all of that. The team had to get there. So as part of the give and take, the player and the agent had to agree to stuff, they really didn't want in there either.

But one thing that Burkhard was saying was that Kyler studies this much anyway, so really who cares? And if that is true, then yes, who cares? but it just looks bad. But if that's true, because, you know, Kyler last year had a quote on record saying, I'm not one of those guys that's going to sit there and kill myself watching film. And we heard there were whispers about this.

Probably shouldn't have said that. No, it probably shouldn't have that. But the contract also has a specific clause about video games, which we've heard that that's been an issue with Kyler Murray as well. Cliff Kingsbury says, this isn't an issue for him. He had nothing to do with this being in the contract.

And you mentioned that the owner did. How would the owner know that this is an issue? I mean, he's in the building to some degree, but it must have bubbled up from coaching from someone inside the organization saying this is a problem with Kyla Murray. He's not doing the work, whether he says the agent says he is or not. How did it all percolate into such a distinct issue

into the contract over the past couple years? Yeah, I mean, you know, most important position, the owner is involved. I think it makes sense that if there were questions that the owner would know. And, you know, I think the other thing is, this is not my money. And it's not really the Cardinal's money, it's the owner's money.

So if he's going to give this much money, he wants something for himself to say, these are some sort of safeguards. Does it make sense to me? Like, I don't know, but it's not my money, right? So he basically, in his mind, is safeguarding his money by making sure that Kyler is doing the studying he wants. You mentioned the video games. And I was on TA with Mike Yam a couple days ago,

and I mentioned the video game, part of it where he has to be paying attention, he's playing video games. And he goes, well, you know, Kyler's a gamer. And I'm like, well, yes, but that just means he's good at it. Like, it still means he's just playing video games like the rest of us. Right, but how can they... That's why it's an embarrassing clause, because how can they track this anyways? They're saying that he has to do the four hours, which, by the way, is like a pretty low bar here.

Four hours over the course of a week is what... We watched four hours of film a week. I was like to know, like, Tom Brady's reaction to this. Right, it's a low bar, but my point is the reason why it's... I've been at two places the last two days, and this contract has come up. from multiple people, coaches, GMs, players, like, one of the Eagles coaches here was like, Jalen might do that in a day. Right, but it's embarrassing, but it's also, I'm not sure he was.

You, like, can't track it. That's why it's stupid because it's making the Cardinals look like kind of a Mickey Mouse operation. Because even by putting this in there, it's embarrassing him. But you also couldn't follow up on it. He could absolutely be doing something else while he has the iPad on and track. Yeah, what is that? They're not like, they're not, they don't have someone at his house with a camera.

They do, I thought they do track. They can track that, but they were saying that he can't be doing it while watching TV and while gaming. So he could easily just like have two things on at once. Well, that's right and right, and right, it's all bad. But that's why it all feels so petty. Right, that's, that's what I mean.

I mean, and it does feel like if you're from the outside, it feels like the Cardinals, they're like telling us, they're telling everyone, we're a, little conflicted about this contract. We're pretty sure like he's the guy and we know he can be special, but we also have some doubts, so we're going to throw this language in the deal. And even though we can't really enforce what we're saying we want to enforce, it was important to us that it was in the writing so we could potentially come back and use that if

this whole thing goes to hell, it's just sloppy and it does, gets back to this cardinal situation, Ian, that sometimes you wonder how the ship is being run over there. so let me just counter that and I'm not sort of arguing with you but let me offer a counterpoint that's okay it's okay if they aren't a hundred percent on board with paying them all that money and they wanted to create themselves some outs that is okay because reality is if Kyle I don't know maybe he's going to end up studying more than he would maybe it is necessary maybe it is something that benefits them and they say the only way we're going to get our money's worth is if this guy starts studying like a lot of the other quarterbacks, that is okay.

Does it look bad? Yes, it looks ridiculous. But maybe this plays out. And if they are unsure but sort of needed to pay him because that's where we are in this world and he wanted a contract, like, you know, there is a compromise and this was a way they could do it and feel okay with it. I know it looks ridiculous, but I also think that's okay. Has anyone come to you since this story broke and said, by the way, this is

been in another quarterback's contract. Is this the first time this has ever happened, to your knowledge? Yes, first time it has ever happened. I haven't looked at every contract. I've thought about it. I cannot remember it in any other contract. And can you imagine if things do go sideways, the relationship crumbles between the team and the quarterback,

and they actually tried to recoup the salary and try to use this? That's what I mean. It is an atomic bomb. He can just leave that game pass rolling, you know? He'll put up the old condensed version of. Of 49ers Seahawks, and he's loving it. Right, with these contracts, like, they tell you so much about what was happening behind the scene. So, obviously, Ian, it feels like this has been something they've been concerned about for a long time.

And now that it's literally in the contract, it's all laid bare for the rest of us. But it's very unusual that that was not a private conversation. It was something they felt compelled to make a legal part of a document. Well, that's a crazy thing to me is, like, if you put into contract, that thing's getting out. That is public. That's a good point. They thought about that. They weighed the options and they're like, we want that in the contract.

It's crazy. Jay Cutler is somewhere right now being like, oh, I lucked out. Like, glad this wasn't around when I was playing. Oh, man. Well, what about what? What? Why color got to catch a straight? I don't know.

I just had to come up with someone and he was the first one. What about Jamis Russell? Okay. Yeah, that's the famous CD ROM with nothing on it. That was a great story. Ian, you're at Eagles camp today. You were at Jets camp yesterday. Anything saucy to report from either location?

This interview was held up because you were speaking with Howie Roseman. Literally. Oh, Ian's running a little late. He's speaking with the GM of the Eagles. Well, he's an insider. That is true. Yes, that is true. So let's see.

Jets, Hansis, you kind of stole my thunder a little bit. I got to be honest. What? What I do? You mentioned my little Aaron Rogers' Zach Wilson Nugget I saw. Oh, did I? What was it? I thought that was already out there, my friend.

The listeners have no idea what you're talking about, neither do I. Oh, no, did I? Oh. You did. I did. Hansis, explain what happened. Philison? Explain yourself.

So I texted with Ian, you know, checked in about the Kyler story, and Ian's like, I'm a Jets camp, and we were talking a little bit, Zach Wilson, got to make it happen. And, Ian, I'll tee you up. Ian gave me a nugget about Aaron Rogers and Zach Wilson that I thought was already out there, and you were just telling me. And then I was on a Jets podcast. Which was in the hands is put out there. I apologize.

I was on the Badlands podcast, which is a Jets podcast, and I mentioned that. And, you know, I should have checked that first. That's insider stealing from insider. I don't think you can respect that. I think Greg might need to be the peacemaker now. This is where we're at now. Apologies, Ian. So here's the story.

So I was at Jets, and I didn't quite realize how maniacal Zach Wilson is as a worker. I mean, I knew he likes football a lot. Like, he's a real football junkie. Like, he was at that tight ends camp thing. they did and traveled around the country this summer to basically throw with his receivers. Like, he loves football. And he studies all the time. And so there's a story I was told.

And, like, I even think maybe even a little, like, too much, like, it might be, like, overkill. Like, he just, he works, like, crazy. And so he, Aaron Rogers called him a check on him last season, 9 o'clock in a Friday. And Rogers is like, what are you doing? Like, are you at the facility? He's like, yeah, he's like, are you in the tape room right now? He's like, yeah, he's like, dude, go. home and that was sort of instructive because like you need to have some like mental peace as a

player but also he does work incredibly hard do the jets need to put in his contract maybe can you reduce the film watching to some degree to be a more balanced individual that that literally is why I heard this story because that was the joke that was being made literally right because it didn't help too much right in my appearance of the badlands podcast the fact that I cited you directly at least I didn't put it out there as my reporting does that help at all no I like the idea of Aaron Rogers and Zach Wilson as close buddies. I feel like they have some strange relationship things going on this off season. Like they could get into a lot of trouble.

Before we let you go, Greg. I'm just, you know, both of them had different stories about their off-field paramour. I'm not familiar. Separate adventures. What do you mean? Quickly before we let you go, you reported on Julio Jones. He's making $6 million base salary. I'm just curious, is that guaranteed?

I just saw that salary. I actually thought it was surprisingly high. and it made me wonder, like, is he a lot to make the team? Because if he doesn't have a great camp and he's due to make $6 million, they might just kind of be like, sorry, Julio, you know, it's not going to work out. I don't know is the answer. I will find out because it's in a contract, so I'll find out. My assumption is...

Oh, he'll find out if it's in the contract. Oh, yeah. There's a big bulk of that in signing bonus, I would assume. So my guess is a lot of it's guaranteed. a lot of times what happens is there's per game roster bonuses basically like how much you get paid based on if you're healthy per game

included in the base salary so there might be some of that in there but it was a little more than I expected I would say that is definitely the case for me as well all right Ian thank you for the time by the way you're wearing the NFL network polo they don't even send us them that's an issue but I'm not going to dwell on that

well here's the thing I want to say something you are part of the team you're someone that has some sway in the company obviously is as the insider. And don't wear the polo when you're from your personal setup in your home. Like when you're on TA or whatever and it's you, Garifolo and Pellisero and you're all wearing the matching polos in your basements. It's just kind of a weird look. I'd push back on that.

That's just a suggestion. I graciously agreed to come on to your podcast and give you some knowledge and also have some witty banter. And you make fun of my polo in the housework? He's just giving you some. It's not great. When Dave Schott calls me in is like you don't have to wear a tie. It's amazing. Do you wear pants from the home set?

No one would know. I mean, I'm sure you're wearing something down there, but is it a full pants situation? Am I? Currently, I'm sure. I think we could get through an entire conversation without Mark asking about a man's lower half being exposed, but we couldn't do it. Well, here we are. I wear shorts or jeans. So whenever I go to an event and have to wear the suit pants, I'm I was like, this is weird.

Sure. Of course, I don't have a belt with my suit pants. so it does feel a little bit like sweatpants. Humble bragg. All right, Ian, I'm sorry about the Roger Scoopage there. We're going to work that out privately. Thank you for joining us. Have a nice time at Eagles Camp.

I will. Always happy to go on with you guys. Thank you very much for asking hands. Just don't ever text me again. Oh, no, not another. All right, there he goes. We're down to just Mark. Down to Mark Sessler.

Thank you, buddy. All right, there he goes. Rap sheet. Does this feel? I don't know. Does this feel doomed, this whole marriage? Or ultimately, like, Kyler and the Cardinals? Oh, I thought you meant us in Rap Sheet.

No, I feel okay with the status of that relationship. Doesn't this feel like we'll look back at this in five years and be like, from the very beginning, we knew it was over? I just feel the whole, like, the whole concept that five years from now, Kyler Murray and Cliff Kingsbury and Steve Kime are all going to be there, as their contracts suggests. it does feel shaky to me. This feels like an immature sort of strange football team

and organization in general right now. Well, right. The part, the Kyler contract thing is silly. The deal itself made sense. The contracts that bothered me this offseason were resigning Steve Kime and Cliff Kingsbury for five years on top of the year they already had. So they have a six-year contract.

They're not bidding against anyone. That they made as big a commitment in an organization that felt like a little dysfunctional for no reason. And my guess would be Kyler Outlast, those two guys, but we'll see. Interesting. All right. Do I not get any credibility as an insider for unearthing the fact that, you know,

people have watched Ian Rappaport on television for years? And I've discerned and through my questioning what he wears on the lower half of his body. You're thinking he's wearing suit pants, shorts or jeans? That's a media insider thing. It's kind of Mark's beat, though, men's bodies. Men's nudity. This men's bodies, clothes. Well, not nudity.

He's actually wearing, he's wearing garments that are shorts or jeans. Well, yeah, I would have to call it. Yeah, it was a good point. Do I get a large soundbite with the dolphin squealing and all this other business? You actually suggested we're doing a NFL Total Access hit that's going to air Wednesday and Thursday. People should check out Total Access. You suggested for one of the hits we should do it on your upper body, which I, like, what were going to be some of your takes for that hit? Well, I don't know.

I think Total Access, for those that have watched it. Are we still on the air? The vibe of that. That would be a good segment for that. That really fits what Total Access is trying to achieve. That came out of nowhere, though, the upper body. I liked it. It was a good joke.

Lots to explore. All right. We have so much to get to, guys. We've got to keep moving here. We're going to take a break. Then we're going to get everyone caught up with the news. The NFL is flying right now. We are back at it.

So let's get caught up after the break. That's a good point you made, Mark. Yeah, that's a great point, Mark. That's a good point, Mark. feel validated scene 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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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. Now, 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 I Heart 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. I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael Fulrio, and together we host the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast. Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season? Then you need the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast,

your ultimate source for player news, draft tips, and winning strategies. Whether you're a rookie manager or a rookie manager or a football. fantasy vet. We've got the insight to help you crush your opponents. Listen to the NFL fantasy football podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. All right, welcome back. Let's hit the news. I got a question for you guys. Who would win in a fight? A grizzly bear or a silverback gorilla? So I'm pretty sure a grizzly bear is actually way bigger and it has daggers for hands so yeah i'm gonna go with the grizzly bear too so anyone that said

silverback can you leave please 49ers all pro tight end george kiddle and outspoken man one of those dudes one of those guys you know those guys you know the affable nice sometimes you got to go along with this stuff a little bit but everything he means well and he's a nice guy so that's damning with faint praise. I think he's like a WWE character and you got to try out different bits and some fly, some don't the bear thing. I'm not being, I'm not criticizing. I'm just saying I don't really want to have that conversation, but he's since he's such a nice guy, I'll indulge him and we'll be like, oh, well, the gorilla's got. He's tugging you along a little. Incredible strength and it's a very smart. It's a primate. I'm banking on the grill, but I don't really need to talk about this.

Former friend of the show. I mean, a friend of the show has been on with us during Super Bowl week. Let's not disenfranchise our status with another NFL player. Love him as a player. I love the personality. I'm just saying sometimes you got to go along with the guy. Now, I understand what you're saying. You especially. I feel like you would... What? As if... You have to go along with me? No, I'm saying if someone like set you up like that, you

would not want to have that conversation. Well, it's laborious. It's like, I know this is going to take an extra two or three minutes. He felt the bit dying halfway through and didn't like have the confidence to kind of see it all the way. It was tough. Justin Graver did not have the confidence to see it all the way through with Julio Jones

last year. You know, Titans fans, they they really believed that he would be the guy that would be that big one-two punch. Didn't work out. Jones became a free agent this offseason, sat on the, you know, waiting line, as it were, waiting for a gig. And now he's got one. And it's a good one. Because Julio Jones, the Future Hall of Famer, signs a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

So we shall see what Julio Jones at this stage of his career has left. He's dealt with a lot of nagging injuries now, Mark, for several years. But he's playing with Tom Brady, and that's never a bad thing. If he went anywhere else, I would almost not even bat an eye. I think the Bucks thing, just because it is Brady, something about tells me you're going to get this sort of season from who I missed 14 games over the last two years. Let's say he stays healthy. I kind of love the signing. I do question, though, knowing what we know about his durability, what happened with him last year,

Who has a better season? Russell Gage or Julio Jones for the Bucks? Oh, Russell Gage for sure. I think so, too. We'll follow the money. I mean, look who got the big early free agent contract that they're putting to. And then Julio Jones, who gets $6 million, which, as I mentioned, the rap, she was more than I expected. I think he's going to have to have a totally solid month here.

Like, if he's missing half of training camp because he has hamstring issues, which has bothered him and kept him out of practice, mostly for three or four years, I don't know if he even goes into the season. But it's worth a shot. Yeah, I mean, obviously Chris Godwin questionable to start the season. Mike Evans is a rock, obviously, but Gronk is out the door. So they need somebody step up, I think. And he could be that guy. It's just, yes, I think he got to temper expectations.

I think Gage is the easy answer for me as well. Because even if he does get through this training camp in the preseason, not that he'll probably play in the preseason, even if he was healthy. But you've got to set his over under game play at this point. like eight and a half or something. It just, that's the nature of the beast with Julio Jones at this stage. But I like to say it too.

If last two games he played, he went five for 58 in a touchdown and six for 62 in a game where they couldn't get much going offensively. Like, he could be fine. This tells me, though, that Tom Brady, and there's been reports about this, so I'm not just speaking out of school,

that, like, he wasn't totally in love with Tyler Johnson and Jalen Darden and Cyril Grays and Imperman and Scotty Miller. Like he hasn't really seen those guys step up. Well, I feel like we knew that during the playoffs, He wanted Julio. There is an outcome here where this turns into a great veteran signing that he's a nice role player for them. I would like to see that. If only to like, no, actually I feel bad for Falcons fans.

Falcons fans are hating this one. Just like to see him on the rival Bucks, to see him with Tom. To Tom Brady. Julio Jones, who would have gone down in history as one of the best 10 catches, I would say, in Super Bowl history. leading the Falcons to a victory on that sideline grab over Stefan Gilmore that should have set up the game winning points for Atlanta midway through the fourth quarter until Ryan took that sack to took him out of like that he would have gotten down that would have been his moment forever and now it's just sort of like a footnote because of Tom Brady and no player

in the history of the NFL has more. Why bring that up? No because I follow people on Twitter that was their first reaction. You just said you like stopped yourself because you didn't want to like rag on Falcons fans and then you immediately drive it to 283. Well, that is the Greg experience. The duality of man. The duality of me as a man. We've had the fish tank, right? We had, what else did we have?

The Raven's Nest? The Ravens Nest. I want to take us in 2022 to the Bear Cave. Now, a lot of people are going to the Bear Cave. Usually we like to go places where people don't go. Nobody's going to the Bear Cave right now. So we, this year, will occasionally walk gingerly into the darkness of the Bear Cave. He's not going there.

I mean, he's a nice guy. He seems nice. But I just don't need to have the conversation. Correct. In the bear cave, some good news. Roquant Smith is not, it's not so contentious that he's not even in the building. He's in the building, but it's your classic hold-in bear's coach Matt Iberfluse. Did you know that?

Did you know that? Matt Eberfluz is the head coach of the Bears? Did you remember that? I did, yeah. That's why we're in the Bear Cave. Why would that surprise you? Well, some people might not be following the bears very closely in this moment in time. That's sort of bird's eye view.

following the bear, it's just knowing the coach's name. Right. I'm just, listen, there are people out there that are listening that were like, oh. Now, if, if, some casuals. Now, if you didn't know that they're offensive coordinator, and remember, Iberflous is a defensive guy, so this offensive coordinator has a lot of responsibility or just if you didn't know, it was Luke Getsy. I mean, this is why we're in the bear cave. Former Packers assistant, then that is more understandable.

Eber Fluss, you got to know. There's information just flying around the bear cave right now. Anyway, Roquan Smith has been put on the pup list, but he, is still looking for the contract. He's set to make nearly 10 million in the fifth and final year of his rookie deal, but maybe you could take that as a sign of good news. How about Robert Quinn? The veteran passed rusher coming off a big year with Chicago. There's been questions about whether he is part of the team's future. He had not reported to camp, but now he has. He reported to training camp. He had skipped mandatory mini camp in June, and there had been some thoughts that

the veteran could be moved because Chicago is not contending. Well, he does not expect to be traded. He said today, Wednesday. We'll see if that plays out true. 18 and a... Did you know this in the Bear Cave? 18 and a half sacks last year for Robert Quinn. I did. In the three previous seasons, he had an equal 18 and a half. So he had a standout year. And I mean, if you're Matt Iberfluse... This is a very informational cave. It is. You lost Khalil Mack, obviously.

Akeem Hicks out the door. I mean, if you're Matt Eberflus, I get that the bears are rebuilding. And there must be some organizational buy-in that it's going to take a couple years. But on offense, it feels sort of super gloomy. But he's a defensive coach, and he's coming there to put his stamp on. He's got a new scheme. You need Robert Quinn. You need Roquan Smith. So there have to be some buying in the building.

We are getting Roquan Smith a new deal, and it better happen sooner than later. The whole, like, he wasn't going to show up, didn't last too long. It's a classic Holden. Classic. I'm not going to say I. It only existed for three years or so. So it's not, you know, we're already in classic territory. Now, I think it would, it's like one of those terms, Holden, that would have gained popularity eventually anyway.

Like I are a boomerang. Right. But I got to say among the national NFL media, I really kickstarted Holden. Started saying it three years ago, started repeating it over and over. Now it's everywhere. You know, I'm not saying.

Don't dance around and come out and say it. Say it's you. It was me. Well, we could do a deeper linguistic study on that, but that's fine. Let's leave the bear cave, but it won't be the last time. We're going to visit the bear cave periodically.

Everyone else stays away from the cave right now. they're not even going to the forest, we will duck in occasionally. But let's head somewhere else in the NFC North. Little Packers news. Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy is happy to hand out extensions for general manager Brian Goudicantz and head coach Matt Lefleur. These two have not gotten over the hump to Lombardi glory together. But what else can he ask for?

The Packers are year in and year out, a true Super Bowl contender. Lafleur, statistically, numbers-wise, has been one of the most successful head coaches ever in three seasons, three NFC North titles, 39 and 10 record. Packers are in good hands, especially with Aaron Rogers there, so they make sure to get these guys pen to paper with a new extension for years to come. I'm not sure what is the, how many years was it? They didn't say. All right, what's multiple years. What is the whole thing with, like, let's not reveal all the details of coaching and GM contracts? No one was sure, as we talked about, with Jane last episode,

whether Mike McCarthy had an extra year on his contract. This should just be public. Make it public. Sometimes I think it's because if it goes south, the owner is stuck paying Coach X like four more years and they probably don't want the number attached to that. Well, that's true. It's fine.

Just let us know. I mean, this is a no break. I also want the information, Greg. Their roster looks amazing. I think their defensive roster. Goody has really focused on defense quite a bit as a gym. and I think he's done a nice job with it. I think this is a year it should pay off.

Matt LaFloor has come a long way since we were in your garage and your dad, Keith Hansis, called him a little boy with a beard. He called him a bearded boy, right? I thought it was a little boy with the beard. He's like a boy with a beard. Yeah, maybe it was just boy with a beard, but yeah. It was not wrong back then, but now he's not a boy. Packers are still in old Zeus or tugboat timeout

after their playoff performance. I mean, they're in tugbo timeout still, and they're going to be probably till next January, but I will not, you'd be stupid to not respect what they've built organization. What are you going to do when, you know, we're talking Packers every week? I won't be over the moon.

Okay. Because they're in tugboat timeout. Time out normally would be, you just ignore them. You don't even like, let's shoot them into the sun. Yeah, I can't do with that because I'm hosting the podcast. But I'm not going to be over the moon.

And that's going to have to, I have to think about that with power rankings too. need to understand what happened in January. It should not be forgotten the size of the egg that was laid by the Packers and what that means organization. How is that different than every other January? I've been saying this for as long as we've been getting together, every January an egg is laid.

Well, I'm just saying that one. Clockwork. In particular, that was a pretty grisly egg. It was a horrible egg. That was for the team. But the Niners team allowed the Cowboys to do that. They pushed the Cowboys into the same spot previously. that was a lot of it had to do with the Niners

operating as a funky operation It was too cold for the Packers and that's why they lost I was just remember being that's one of the strangest comments I don't remember that I think I was I think I was saying that

yeah the weather hurts their passing attack that happens every year it's an egg where oh there's a little chickadee inside and then you open it and no actually the chickadee is bleeding and dead yeah gross

they've had it's just like a bloody egg to your point since we've been here marks since 2010. They've won the Super Bowl the first year we were here. There have been many eggs since. But that was the first one where it was like, man, these guys are tight. These guys are afraid of the moment.

These guys are better. It's Jimmy Garoppel on it. Listen, I'm going to let it. I'm going to move on. But they're in tugboat. It was a bad egg. In other news. Michael Thomas is practicing.

That is big news for the New Orleans Saints who are hoping their wide receiver can return to, listen, he was on a can'ten path when that ankle. for that ankle gave out in week one of the 2020 season. So getting him off the Pup list, getting him on the practice field this early in training camp, it's just a great sign, Greg. The biggest on-field development, I think, of the first couple of days at training camp.

He was emotional, especially for Michael Thomas. I mean, he's the guy who's like always fired up, but you could see what the day meant to him when he spoke to the media. He gave, I believe, Jeff Duncan, a little grief, which I enjoyed too, about some of it. because he's been really reporting about the divide between Michael Thomas and the organization over the last couple of years.

It's huge. You know, they have such a huge gap between, like, what their best outcome is and their worst outcome. And Michael Thomas, to me, is sort of the embodiment of that. You could get a top 10 receiver out of Michael Thomas. Suddenly Landry's your three, and the lave is your two, and you're on fire, or you might not get anything out of Michael Thomas, and that could be the type of season.

and the Saints have. I think they could be anywhere from like 12 to six wins. I think that's fair. I mean, you're in a division where, you know, you're going to play the Falcons twice. They seem like a dead operation this season. The Panthers are iffy. I mean, that can inflate your win total. They're not scared of the bucks. It's not just their offense. It's their defense, too. I mean, I think Alave is someone who's gotten Calvin Ridley comparisons. Our friend Lance Zeerline compared him to Terry McLaurin. So a good route runner can come in and help them right away. I think he's a chance to be a big contributor. I I think for me, it's like you don't have the Sean Payton factor.

Michael Thomas or not, like, what is that mean for James Winston? What does it mean for the entire? I think he gave them an extra two wins a year. So the Saints, to me, are a real X-factor type team right now. All right. We talked about hold-ins. Here's some real hold-outs. Jesse Bates, the safety of the Bengals.

Unsigned franchise tag. And he has not reported to training camp. There have been some rumors about a potential trade there as well, but also Cincinnati's right in a Super Bowl window. You would think they will do everything to try to keep him on the field or get him on the field. And then also Orlando Brown, very important piece of what the chiefs are doing. The left tackle has not reported a training camp in Kansas City. And Mike Garifolo reported earlier this week that he will not report for some time. So that is another situation to track.

If you're not going to show up for day one, you might as well skip that whole first two and a half weeks where it's technically training camp. it doesn't seem like that much fun. You either have to live in the dorms. Especially if you can get the money wiped away, the fines, which usually happens. It's like August 15th, 17th is around the window where they break from, quote, training camp. It might even be earlier, August 11th. I mean, you can show up a solid three or four weeks, you know, skip this part. I'm with you.

And Andy Reid kind of stuck it to Orlando Brown saying, we know that Joe Tooney can do this in a heartbeat if they need to move into left tackle at some point. So I think their stance is, you look at you. turned down what Mike Garifolo reported was a $91 million deal over five years. I don't know why he did, because I think it's a great organization to be at. You can be the left tackle for Patrick Mahomes, and now you're sitting there in a hold on a situation. He'll be back, I know, but he'll be back.

He knows what his worth is. He just because you think he's worth $91 million. I'm just saying it's a great. He believes he's worth $100. It's a great situation for a left tackle in the NFL if you're good, and he is good. Well, I can't deny that. wouldn't want to play with future Hall of Famer Patrick Mahomes in front of one of the great fan bases in football.

Well, apparently Orlando Brown at the current time. Let the man go through his business process, Mark. Speaking of the Bengals, Joe Burrow. Not an adversary. I don't know what you have against him, but I just felt like I had to say something there. I feel like you're cooking that up out of thin air. That's fine. Yeah, Mark's very much the like, these guys don't make too much money.

No. It's a kids game. I'd be out there for $20. Baseball players make too much money. Joe Burrow also not involved with Cincinnati Vangles practice right now he's going to miss a little bit of time he's having his appendix removed

you know this is another to me a positive sign for Cincinnati because the old bangles appendix this would have happened in week six and he'd be missing like seven games or three games or something but now the things are better in Cincinnati knock on wood

it happens in mid July everything's fine got it taken care of That was a professional take from someone who's done this long time. Because I looked at this story and was like, well, what could we possibly say about this? I wrote non-issue. You came up with one? I'm going to have, the one I'm going to come up with is I like it in cases like this when someone gets their appendix out.

It's like, oh, well, that's nothing. At least that's not a real injury. It's like if I had to go get my appendix out and miss the next thing of work, that would bother me. That's significant in my life. So I feel for Joe Burrow. I hope he's healing one. The only good thing, though, is when your appendix needs to be out. You're in, like, total physical infamy when you need it out.

I looked it up, though, and it said the normal recovery time to typical human activities is two to four weeks. So he's doing something more than just walking around or climbing a ladder or, you know, mowing your lawn. He's going to be taking massive hits. So I wonder if we see him in the preseason. No, I doubt we will. I don't think we would anyways. And, yeah, like, they really is fortunate because obviously he won't be touched from now. until September 11th or whenever the first game is.

But it's a violent sport. I don't know if anybody's paying attention. A news update. Yeah. So the timing worked out. Unfortunately for Chris Carson, his NFL career has come to an end after just five seasons. The Seahawks running back who suffered a neck injury required a surgical fusion. And, you know, you hate to hear any type of surgery for a player.

But when you hear the neck surgery, it always is touch and go at that point. And you hope that the player gets cleared and he can be healthy and safe. But this is the other outcome where the player ends up retiring years, half a decade, maybe more than when he typically would be expected to retire. And unfortunately, Chris Carson has to walk away. It's just not safe to play with this type of issue. So tough because Greg, Chris Carson, when he was healthy, was really a great running back. He was so fun.

When he first popped up, I remember Wes just loving his running thought. How could you not? It was just, like, so aggressive. Unfortunately, it was the kind of running style where you're like, oh, that guy might get hurt sometime playing that way. This was obviously just bad luck. But a couple seasons, over 1,200 yards rushing, made to big plays in the playoffs. I remember against the Vikings where he broke a couple tackles,

scored a long touchdown. Happy trails. That's too bad. There's another retirement in Seattle. Just popped up 10 minutes ago. K.J. Wright is signing a one day. ceremonial contract and is officially retiring as a member of the Seahawks. So Gino Smith and Drew Locke and Rashad Penny is the starting one name?

They've got Kenneth Walker, their second round pick. So that's a great duo. I think they saw. What is Penny done other than that stretch last year to show you that he could be counted on here? That's a great question for the audience. We want to see what, if it's that version going forward, look out. And D.K. McCaff and Tyler Lockett. I mean, they have some high-level player.

That's a nice duo if Penny's healthy. I love Matt Caff and Lockett. And they're going to need to run the ball like 640 times a game at Drew Locker, Gino Smith, are your quarterback. Sorry, Greg. I know you're running that fan club along with 12 others. I mean, it's all managed expectations. I was very rose.

Both of you were very rosy just now. What? I was looking, I was thinking about that, you know, behind the offensive line and like, uh-oh. That's rough. But you guys are higher on the backfield. and maybe the rookie is a big time. We were there for a big Rashad Penny game in person, Dan, against the Rams.

That's right. For five games, he was like Derek Henry, busting open, like 70-yard runs every fourth quarter. What about the multiple years before that? Well, yeah, there was four of those, three of those. We'll consider the entire sample size. All right. And what else we have here?

KJ. Right, but I once wrote a whole feature on NFL.com about the KJ. right Wagner duo. They were sort of after they got to the Super Bowl, that was the core of their team. He was a hell of a linebacker whose career kind of fell off a cliff quickly, but was great when he was great. And finally,

this always messes with my head. We have a name change, especially when it's a prominent player. Darius Leonard has made it be known, the all-pro Colts linebacker, that he now wants to go by the name that many of his family and friends call him. It's his middle name.

Darius Leonard going forward is now Shaquille Leonard Shack Leonard I like but I don't know if he goes by Shaq. I think it's Shaquille Leonard from this point forward respect it or else You wanted to throw this one in there

In fairness he the first thing he said about it was like oh no hard feelings You can call me Darius I know it's hard to get used to Do not do that He's like I know it's hard to get used to But I've been going by Shaquille With everyone I love forever I feel more comfortable

I like it. I think there is a market difference. Mark disagreed. He likes Darius Leonard as a name better. To me, Shaquille Leonard sounds like a Hall of Famer. Darius Leonard was solid. You're not going to honor the Shaquille switch? No, I want him to do what he wants to do.

It's just that I got to know him a certain way. And then suddenly he changes his name. And it goes to the middle name, which is interesting. I guess we could all make that choice at some point. We should do an episode. An episode on our name. I am my middle name. is my father's name, so Keith Hansis,

which would be confusing to the listeners who've listened for a long time. Also confusing if any of your family members listen, because you kind of sound like Keith Hansus. Does he have like a Keith Hansis at gmail.com? Danny, I'm hosting the podcast now. We'd be great. We need an off-season episode

where you speak in that voice the entire episode. What is your middle name, Greg? It's like, hey, I can't do it Keith Hansis, I don't think. My middle name is Michael. My middle name is Michael. Yon. Michael Rosenthal. Mine's Edward after my father, who is also named Edward.

Ed Sessler. Or Ed, but I don't call myself Mark Ed Sessler. It's like, yeah, Greg. Penny was great at the end of the last year, but look at the rest of his career. Barely healthy at all. Carria? Well, you tried. Me and my dad should switch roles for a summer where he hosts the podcast for the summer

and then I just work outside in the yard for the entire summer, like seven hours a day. You go to like a Billy Joel concert with your mom? Go to a Chicago concert, you know, mow the lawn twice a week, just be working constantly outside to the point where I can't even figure out what my dad's doing at this point. But he's really a, he's an outdoor warrior. He's mowing the lawn twice a week? That feels very high octane. I feel like you're on that path, though.

You're very much, you like doing the yard stuff and the outdoor, like being a real homeowner. I do. I enjoy. I enjoy it. I enjoy being a homeowner. You were telling us that you know your neighbors that you're feeding one of your neighbors are two frogs?

It's a zoo basically over there. I'm feeding two giant dogs, a stray cat that they feed, and two frogs. What is it's taking the dogs out? Are you doing that too? I love dogs. That's not a problem.

I get it, but that's a lot of work. The cat is a little touch and go because cats, you know, you know, cats. It's like, come on. What is the frog? What's the diet for the frog? Is it? Cats are easy to take care of if you're a neighbor, though.

Dogs are like, people get paid for that. I'm not saying I would ask for payment, but I would expect a nice thank you gift. All right. That is what's happening in the news. What do you guys think? An animal? No comment. All right, let's take a break, and then a quick game with Grave Digger, and then we're out.

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 in 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,

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Let's do something fun here. Grave-Digger, how are you doing, buddy? Pretty well, thanks for asking. Pretty well. What do you say a second. Okay, how you doing, Grave-Digger? I'm doing well. Thanks for asking. There's the Grave-Digger Cam again.

Our viewers on YouTube can enjoy a great look. of Graver, Christy, Randy. I can't believe Sean Kelly hasn't leaned to show yet. Sean who loves publicity. There is. John is very good to sell publicity. For Kelly to get in the show. We should mention, you know, that we are on YouTube if you prefer that.

I believe we have mentioned that. I'm just saying it, I don't like it. You've often been down on the prod on the YouTube concept. Well, here's why. It looks like the Internet is not the future. No, if we're live on YouTube, then it's like a whole thing. I don't like because we're the biggest NFL-only podcast out there. You know, you don't want to puff your chest out too much,

but just in terms of audience, not fantasy. It's big numbers, big numbers. But on YouTube, there's not big numbers. So that just annoys me. And it's like either we should do it all the way. Yeah, I'm saying either we do it or not. I think it's great if you want to see the visual. Real P.T. Barnum there.

Yeah. If you want to see what the show looks like and see, behind the glass and meet the whole crew. I see Randy Chavez, Chavez Ravine back there. I see he didn't even bother looking up because he's like, I'm busy. I'm a pro. Let's get into it. Let's get into it.

Great. You pulled up some quotes that have popped up over the last 24 hours or so. Do you just want to set them up, tee them up and play them and then we'll react to him? Is that what we're doing here? Yeah, I think that works. Some of them are kind of funny. Some of them maybe like, do you buy what they're saying? But let's start here.

This is Bill Belichek asked if it will be a problem. that they haven't named an offensive coordinator. The Patriots, yeah. I'm a head coach. Ultimately, I'm responsible for everything, so just leave it at that. That's what it is. We're not really big on titles and all that.

So I think everybody, you know, it's important that we all work together and create a good final product. So that's what we're going to try to do. So we've always done. Final product. Stephen, it's such a pull-string doll answer that I respect it.

The final product. Do you want to know what's going on here? Matt Patricia is. going to be the OC, but if they don't want to put it out there like that. If they put the title on him, he doesn't get paid by the Lions. It's just, I think they're just allowing him to double dead. Well, he was calling the plays at practice, according to reporters, on Wednesday, Matt Patricia. But this is not new. It is a way to avoid paying people their full value potentially. But when Josh McDaniels took over for Charlie Weiss, he was not named offensive

coordinator. When Brian Flores took over, I believe it was for Dean Peas. It took him a solid two years of him actually being the coordinator to get the title. So they've done this in the past. And when he says, we're not really into titles, he should say, I'm not into titles. I bet they would be fine with the titles. And also, let's not bury the lead. The bigger question is not like that they don't have the official labels.

It's that Matt Patricia and Joe Judge have vital roles on this coaching staff. It is another great test of Belichick's reach and ability to lead a team, you know, which is purely... It would be one thing if Judge is the special teams coach. and Patricia's helping as a defensive assistant, it's different that they're in charge of Mack Jones's future. That's what I mean. I just assume that that's going to work out.

That often does not. Does that mean that at the end of the day, though, it's actually Bill Belichick that's directly responsible for the development? And if that's the case, like Belichick is in his early 70s now, very late 60s, he's just, I mean, the guy is, he's different. I guess that's all I'll say about it. I respect it. I begrudgingly respect Belichick's great.

He turned 70 in April. All right. What else do you have? All right. Jerry Jones opened training camp with a press conference, and before anyone could even ask him a question, he decided to say this. Probably the one that I have the most sensitivity about, and that is Mike and him coaching.

And I want to be real clear. He wouldn't be sitting here today if I didn't think he was the man to lead this team to a Super Bowl. He would not be, and I have choices. That's my favorite part of that. I have choices. Yeah, there's a lot of pushback. Even Jane pushed back a little bit as the person covering the Cowboys for NFL Network. Like, you know, this narrative about Mike McCarthy and Sean Payton and let's let this play out.

Sure, that's fine. You tell me you love Mike McCarthy, you believe in him. But it doesn't change the fact that that is a very real plotline entering this season. Right. And that most coaches would not be. sitting next to the owner while they're speaking about them just like this as the opening press conference of the season kicks off. That says a lot.

Yeah, but her point was that Peyton would not be comfortable in a Cowboys environment where he doesn't have autonomy and power. I'm not sure that couldn't change a little bit if they wanted to finally make that work. I do love that I've got options, though, because of course every NFL owner has choices, but Jerry was saying, I'm Jerry Fenn Jones. I've got more choices than those other guys. Anything can happen in the Jera zone And that's what's playing out

Every time he speaks You get relegated to such a beta Sitting there next to Jerry Jones As the head coach Where you're just sort of like hands folded Not able to say anything Right That's part of the price you pay

What else? All right, this is Colts GM Chris Ballard What's your favorite type of frog On why they haven't signed a notable wide receiver yet Easy for me to go sign a name For y'all It would be great y'all would write these beautiful stories

and then when that guy didn't play well the flip would be incredible like it would be incredible y'all won't get called on it I will y'all won't get called on it though so I have some patience let us work through it so you're not signing a wide receiver to avoid eventual critique

I like that because he is right about that there were there were points last season just to use the quotes as an example where the local media had said the season was over or so at 2 and 4. And then there was points last season when the local media was thinking this team might make the Super Bowl

and then everyone knows what happened. But the media end up really not taking any grief for being so far off. I think it was interesting though that Matt Ryan didn't want Julio Jones on his team. And that is absolutely how I'm reading the situation, knowing a little bit of behind-the-scenes stuff between Matt Ryan and Julio.

They were not best of friends. I think if Matt Ryan was like, man, and I would do anything to have Julio Jones. I think they would have found room for him. Probably, probably. Or he'd want Julio Jones a four years ago. Do you think we're going to do our hot butt rankings of head coaches on the hot seat? Probably next month.

I wonder, you know, Jim Mersey is a very passionate owner. He's very emotional. We saw how he took the collapse against the Jaguars in Week 18 last year, almost personally, on a biblical level. I wonder if Reich and Ballard are feeling a little heat this season, you know? Well, so we had Zach Kiefer on when you were on the East Coast. Wait, what? Our friend, Zach Kiefer. You did a show?

We did a show without you. And it was very informative. And we asked him that. And he said that they're definitely, you know, it's real because the heat should be there. But I think the thing is, if you're Ursa, you have to say, what better coach you're going to get? What better GM? Because I think Ballad is a very good one. And then on top of it, they had to now.

navigate the retirement of Andrew Luck, which I think was super thorny. And they've gone, it's been difficult since, but you can't just flip. They are floating around. I think they've done fairly well. I mean, part of the critique is what they won 10. That was, they won 10 with luck. They won 10 with luck. I kind of forgot that Reich luck season where luck was really great.

And then seven wins, 11 wins, nine wins. I think it's unfair, but I absolutely think if they didn't make the playoffs, they'd be on the hot seat, and Reich would probably lose his job, even if it was. I don't know. I think if you give up Frank Reich, he has another job in four seconds. But that doesn't mean you wouldn't make the move if you didn't think he was a guy, though, just because somebody else would value. If they didn't make the playoffs this year, I think they would make changes. To do a couple more.

All right. Let's skip down a couple then. Here's Matt Ruel. Look at the graver cam. Now you got Sean Kelly's like, now he's looking directly at the camera, like a psychopath. Sean, do you have any work to do? Go ahead. Here's Matt Rule on naming a starting quarterback for the Panthers.

To me, my job is not to pick the starting quarterback. The players will do that with the way that they play. What? My job is to make sure that we have really good players in the room, which we now, you know, which we do in that room. And make sure that they have opportunities. And so, you know, it'll be a fun ride when we know we know. I like Matt Rule. He's a Jersey guy.

He's cool. What the hell is he talking about? He's pretty loose just the way he talks. Of course he picks. he's going to pick who the quarterback is. I identify with that. I definitely sometimes just say things, and it's like, well, I didn't really mean it in that way.

Yes, you do. And I think that's what he just did. I think he, I mean, he's saying that they'll decide with their own play. Like, I get it, but it's a hundred percent his job. It's one of the most important parts of his job right now. I don't think he's technically saying, I have nothing to do with the process. If they both played equally well, Sam Darnold and Baker-Mayfield, I would have no input. I don't think that's what he's implying.

They'll go out on the field week one holding. hands against the brands. Can't be worse than last year. Anything else? One more? One more and then one quick, fun one. Okay. So one more real one. Kyle Shanahan on Trey Lance, Jimmy Garoppolo, moving on and trying to trade Jimmy G.

I like this sec. But we have moved on to Trey. We're starting camp out this way. We think Jimmy would have been traded if the surgery didn't happen. It did. He needed to do it. So there's no ill will there at all. But he also can't just give one of the better quarterbacks in the league, just make them available for no reason to the whole world.

So, and the good thing is you can have those conversations with Jimmy, and he understands that too. This is Kyle Shanahan crying uncle to the media. And he's like, please just stop asking me about Jimmy Garoppolo in the 2022 season. He's not involved. I can't be any more clear. Please just stop asking me about it. I mean, that's a pretty big change, though, that it's just like we're rolling with Trey.

And I think the only reason they didn't. What's the change? I'm sorry. They never said that before. They were trying to... Well, what's the actual change other than now he's coming out and saying? It's the acknowledging of it. It's just actually saying...

You're right. I think he would have said that in March or February if they weren't trying to hold on to some mythical leverage when it came to Jimmy G. And then Kyle Shannon's funny because he was like, hey, look, there's no ill will about him getting the surgery. And it's just one of those comments where it's like, you should just say less. Because it would have never occurred to me that there would have been ill will. And now I absolutely think they were frustrated by the timing of Jimmy G's surgery, which was early March after they had already put it out there that he was available. And I was like, oh, they probably weren't thrilled about that,

even though it made sense for Jimmy G. Well, legitimately kind of blew up their plans because now they're stuck trading a quarterback that maybe nobody wants. And I think they're going to hold on to him, it sounds like they're not going to cut him. I like the clarity. That part I don't believe. He did say that later, like, we're not going to cut Jimmy G. They are lying.

if for some reason they couldn't get any trade offer for him, they are not going to keep him for $24 million. You have to get rid of him before August 30th because his $24 million-based salary becomes guaranteed if they don't buy that. They're lying about that. Well, to get the Debo deal done, which they sound confident that they can,

this is a huge part of that. Now they're holding. That was the real story. Now, what's the fake one? You've got to watch John Lynch's body language during that press conference. Go back. It's one of the most uncomfortable.

I don't know what's going on there. What are you reading into it? He does the thing where he's like scratches his hair, where you tell his hair is not itchy. He does the thing where he like does this with his nose. And like he looks like he's still fidgeting and sort of annoyed at what Kyle Hans. Kyle Shanan is saying a little bit too much here and there. And Lynch does not seem to like that. It's been dramatic.

And I just wonder if those two are really always on the same page. It's been obviously a stressful situation for the pair. Finally. Finally, Aaron Rogers was asked if it was good having Alan Lazard back after missing all off season. And this is his response. I mean, it's always tough going from Hall of Fame to Hall of Famer. It was good. You know, the Conair entrance for Aaron Rogers and then, I don't know.

He obviously was annoying with the vaccine stuff and some of the comments he makes. But like you said, Greg, we'll miss him when he's gone. Right. And I don't even, I'm not even, I'm not even the big fan of the Conair thing. Like, to me, it sort of seems corny and tried to hard, but I will miss it all because it's a show. Like, he had this line ready, and some people are like, ooh, burn. It's like, calm down.

He's having some fun with his friend, Devante Adams. He's just making a joke. He's been more enjoyable this offseason than, or in recent days than in the last couple years. But I also think when he stops playing, he won't be gone. He's not going to vanish like Andrew Luck into the ether. He tried to become the Jeopardy host, which is like the most popular game show.

in America, so he wants, he is not somebody who's, he's not pulling Andrew Locke. No. Put it that way. He's not growing the bushy beer and disappearing for five years. All right, good stuff. Good job. I like that.

It was a good seg. That's good producer work by Gravedigger. Thanks. So let's. Got you on camera? That's, you know, his idea, yeah? Yeah, his execution of it was flawless and he put in the work and, you know, it made the show better.

So we appreciate you. It's unclear what Sean Kelly is doing, though, professionally behind that. He's supporting. He's supporting him. Yeah, see, two thumbs up. All right. Before we go, there is one more news item that everyone needs to know about. And it's a figure that has a special place in the hearts of this show.

We've been tracking him since his college prospect days. And this gentleman just signed a contract with the same. Francisco 49ers. Maybe that's why John Lynch was scratching his head. He's thinking about this situation. He's got all the tools still just 27 years old. He's hoping to finally break through in the NFL. And let's end today's show by singing literally the praises of a man that we're all rooting for.

Kim D.J., Kim D.J., why you fall out that we. you fell down the draft board and right out of their minds first hit was the cards then the dolphins then Seattle Seahawks now the Niners Kim DJ Kim DJ more than a broken glass pile Kim DJ Kim DJ, Kim Dijie Time to convince Kyle Absolutely worth delaying the show

For 25 minutes Absolutely Not unlike Aaron Rogers You may have another chapter After this show wraps I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael Florio, and together we host the NFL fantasy football podcast. Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season?

Then you need the NFL fantasy football podcast, your ultimate source for player news, draft tips, and winning strategies. Whether you're a rookie manager or a fantasy vet, we've got the insight to help you crush your opponents. Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL, visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. Hey, everybody, Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the 6th, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters.

We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else. It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens. on Sunday. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the IHeart radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast.