NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - NFL ATL: 'Hard Knocks' reaction & rookie whispers

Episode Date: June 13, 2014

A room full of heroes -- Dan Hanzus, Gregg Rosenthal, Chris Wesseling and Marc Sessler -- react to the Atlanta Falcons being tabbed for the upcoming season of "Hard Knocks" and delve into a fresh new batch of rookie whispers on Johnny Manziel and others. Plus, a Tennessee Titan appears on "Making the Leap" and the guys introduce the show's new producer.Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comNFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. The Around the League podcast. Loves Priyanka. Welcome back to another edition of the Around the League podcast. My name is Dan Hansis, and I'm joined by a room filled with heroes. Chris Wessling, Mark Sessler, and Greg Rosenthal. What up, boys? Hey, Dan.

Just listening to you dance on the Gold Standards Grave over here. What are you being? Goldstander's grave. You deleted him from instant messaging. Yeah, it was shame. It was shameful. You forgot his name. Talking about our dearly departed producer.

Yeah, no, that's not true at all. I was, that's called having fun. Again, this is the second time today that I'm having to explain this to my colleagues. That is absurdist humor that I'm working with. That maybe he's not connecting with the guys I work with. I like to call it subhuman behavior. All right. So, welcome to Friday's show, the Around the League podcast.

World Cup has begun. People are excited. Gold Standard, our now former erstwhile producer. Obviously, I connected the dots. His last day was the day before the World Cup began. So we understand why he ended the way he ended. We will always remember Zach Goldman, but we have to move forward. Three of us will always remember. And we will. Well, the three of you will. So we got a nice show today. The World Cup's going on, but we're still about the American football first. First and foremost, although we respect the, quote, beautiful game. We do, because we have so many international listeners.

We've received some crazy numbers of the people that listen to us overseas. Yes, and thank you so much. Thank you, Denmark. Denmark's a big one. Yeah. Thank you, Denmark. 40, over 40% of our listeners overseas. And the seven guys listening in China for some reason?

Well, you know, that's a pretty nice thing that you did. Well, we were thinking this links nicely with the potential that we might have to go to of these NFL games in London this season. Right. 15, 16% of the people listening to this are from the UK. So we got to start up a movement to go cover those. Usually we're trying to watch out for the shadowy league figures, but I want announcement for the shadowy league figures. Listen, we have a great reach into other nations.

We can be your ambassadors if you let us. Send us to Europe. Send us to Australia. Denmark would be. Send us to Denmark. We will make the game bigger, and we will make it truly the beautiful game in the NFL. I would love to go to Denmark.

I've read like a couple of Bill Bryson books where he spends time to Denmark. They just seem like very nice people. Who wouldn't want to go? They have their priorities. Sounds great. What is the... Sweden is big. I love to see the Swedish people.

What is Denmark? What do you call them? They're Danish. Danish? Oh, that's great. You are starting from scratch. Hell, yeah. If you're drunk in Denmark and out of order, the police don't harass you.

They help you back into your home. By the way, I grew up in Waybridge in Surrey, England. Crickey. And I have not been back since. So shadowy leave figure, per diem, full-paid flight. Let's go. All right.

It's on Greg, the boss, to figure this out. Big show today. Big show, folks. You're going to enjoy it. We're going to do more talk about our Making the Leap series on NFL. Do we have a vanity URL? We do. A little insider talk.

It is NFL.com, backslad. Making the leap. Makes a lot of sense. We're going to get into it, a F.C. Southwide receiver that we're going to get into a little later in the show. We're going to do our segment that we started, I guess it was earlier this week or maybe last week. I can't remember anything anymore. Rookie whispers. We'll talk about some rookies that I got some things going on.

They're doing some work in OTAs and mini camps, and that's something to keep an eye on who can make instant impacts in 2014. but before we do that we're going to do the news and before we get to the news we're going to meet our new producer he is a man that if you listen to NFL dot com podcast you are

already aware of his name and who he is behind the glass now and hopefully forever ending the curse of the producer for the ATL podcast we go through more than spinal tap tap goes through drummers

he is TD What's going on, guys? TD, of course. Sounds good. And we have a lot of shared listenership between our show and the Dave Damashek football program, known, better known as Black Tie on DDFP. TD is going to be our new producer.

So take it away, TD. What do you think, buddy? What's going on, guys? I got to say, I'm excited to take this new project on. Obviously, with the international goals you guys have, that's right up my alley. World domination. We're working on it. That's awesome.

But I'll finally get to find out if, you know, Rosie actually stands when you guys say he stands. Of course. So see if that happens. And this isn't truly your, I was going to say, virgin voyage. Let's go with Maiden Voyage. Yeah. You're Maiden Voyage for the ATL podcast. You've guest produced a couple times before filling in, but now you're our full-time guy.

And I will say one thing, TD. And beware on social media. A lot of people grew attached to the gold standard. So it's probably going to be some period where you're going to have to win them over. But people said the same thing about the gold standard. One of your place, K. Rich. Yeah. So I remember that.

I got a lot of faith in TD. I will say this. A couple of people in here that were a little bit, you know, a little bit worried when that gold standard first took over. But, yeah, definitely. You know, the PR side of me says, you know, I can't, you know, I'm not even going to try to fill the cleats. You know, the gold standard's cleats. But on the flip side of things, I almost feel like how JJ Abrams was to feel. about having to deal with both Star Trek and Star Wars.

Okay. I'm ready to go, guys. You are definitely the first producer to refer to your PR angle. Also, that... I have a PR voice and, you know, that whole demeanor. I got it ready to go. That will be just about enough Star Trek references on this podcast. Take that to Ellen Harris's podcast in the future.

12th time is a charm from the producer front. So, yes, you're probably in great danger, just a heads up, because of what's happened to every one of our producers. but we hope this is a long and fruitful partnership. And why don't we get it going, T.D., let's do some news. We talked about on Wednesday's podcast, Kristen Michael, potentially eating into Marshall and Lynch's workload. And we wondered, you know, how that potentially would sit with Lynch if that were to happen. Now, some interesting news from NFL Media Insider Ian Rappaport, who reported Thursday that Lynch has quietly been seeking a new contract.

According to sources, informed of the situation. And he could stay away from mandatory minicamp in Seattle next week, which is very interesting. Obviously, he's stayed away from OTAs this year. Not unusual for Lynch. That's kind of been his MO. But if he's missing minicamp, something's up. And according to Mr. Rappaport, it is going back to money, as most things in life do. Yeah, good luck with that.

He has no leverage. He signed a contract only two years ago, and it pays a moment. almost $8 million a year, which is pretty good for a running back. And they don't want to set the precedent of paying guys halfway into the contract. And, oh, by the way, three months after he signed that last contract, he got a DUI. I don't think they're going to want to step back up to the plate to just give him more money. I think he has no leverage in this. It's pretty telling that a guy that has averaged 300 carries a year for the past three years

and certainly is the centerpiece of that offense last season that helped them win a Super Bowl at that position has no leverage. Can't blame him for trying, if he is trying to cash in one more time, he's entering the decline phase, entering his age 28 season, which is when running back start to decline. Can't blame him for trying, but it really doesn't mean anything if he's absent from a minicamp. Well, you can find him so you lose a little money. In the end, in these cases, they wind up not finding the guy.

They don't want to get Marshaun Lynch mad over $70,000, which is roughly what they can find him. You know, what I'm interested in, is this going to be? be just one of those disposable summer stories that we forget about quickly? Or could we be sitting in the studio, you know, a couple weeks into August and still talking about this, that he hasn't showed up to training camp and it's becoming a bit of a distraction or whatever you want to call a drain on them and something that we continue to talk about? It's not the worst thing for the Seahawks, frankly, because this is a guy that you don't want

to overwork at any point up before week one anyways. So if he misses some training camp or even a preseason game or two. He's a running back. As long as he's there week one, he's fine. Plus, we got Kristen Michael. Sessler's making the leap boy. Forget that 100-carry projection. Let's throw that up to 150.

Maybe Lynch better watch out. Might have to go republish that article. Doesn't get his job back. How about Kristen Michael takes advantage of what looks like an opportunity here with Lynch potentially sitting out? Now you drop the teen in the spelling of his name. Go to Chris Michael while the starter sitting out. Now you've got all the momentum surging towards a 300-carry season.

That's what it's all based around in. Yes. Changing the name. Two first names, though. You never really trust those guys either. So that's a problem. Never trust the two-first-name guy. I agree.

Moving forward, the book is now closed on Colin Kaepernick's Miami investigation from an alleged April incident involving the Niners quarterback, the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office announced Thursday that prosecutors will not bring charges against Kaepernick. Niners-wide receiver, Quinton Patton, or Seattle Seahawks receiver, Ricardo Lockett, who were all named in the incident report filed April 4th. A spokesman for the Miami-Dade PD made it very clear as well that the case was not dropped.

There was never a case to start with. This was always just an investigation. Obviously, there wasn't enough fire to go with the smoke. Kaepernick is cleared, and we move on. We move on. If you're someone who covers football, you are praying as we move into what is the dark period before the season and training camp begins, that every one of these players stays out of law's way.

Just go and read books, be quiet, sit underneath trees, please stay out of the news. More than any other... Reading books is a great way to relax. Sitting underneath trees, that's a legend of an NFL players off season. Go into the forest. Moving on, gentlemen, one half of the famed Williams Wall in Minnesota is moving to Seattle. NFL media insider Ian Rappaport reports defensive tackle

Kevin Williams has agreed to turns with the Seahawks on a one-year deal according to a source informed of his plans. He chose the Seahawks, the defending Super Bowl champions over the Patriots and a return to the Vikings. Williams obviously was, he's a veteran now.

He's been in the game for over a decade I'd say, right? Yes. 12 years. But still an effective starter last year, getting a little long in the tooth, but this could be a nice spargant signing by the Seahawks, though, reminiscent of two guys last year, Carlos Dansby and Daryl Smith, who didn't sign until very late in the offseason and had Pro Bowl caliber seasons. That's a really good comparison, and it also reminded me of some of the Seahawks signings from last season. Even though Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett are much younger in their careers, the Seahawks saw value in them sitting out on the open market.

I think they made signings at a lowered rate that they didn't expect to. And that's what happened with Williams. He sat out there long enough. They thought he can help them. He should be able to really improve their defensive tackle rotation. They probably won't have to start. That's a tough team up front. This is a team that when they watched Red Bryant walk out the door too.

Everyone we talked to at the Super Bowl mentioned him and a few others as one of the leaders in that locker room. So you're adding a veteran presence, which is not a team that's desperate for leaders, but he adds that angle. But what does long in the tooth mean? I don't understand what that means. That was reverberating through my mind. As you age. Really?

Or do your gums just recede? I always found it weird that your fingernails grow when you're dead. That always freaked me out. Maybe it's tied in something. I like that your face stays the same, but your ears and nose grow throughout your life. It's very disheartening. Bad stuff is going to happen to all this.

That's basically the end game here. Good news, gentlemen. we have a hard knocks team for 2014 announced Thursday the Atlanta Falcons get excited folks they have agreed to take part in the ninth season of the acclaimed HBO documentary series this will be the Falcons first appearance on the show and the first NFC team since 2008 also interesting NFL put in new rules last year where you were able to duck the show and not been forced to be on the show they Falcons were a team that could have avoided the show because they were on they were in the playoffs in one of the last two years but they chose to be on the show so the falcons wanted to be a part of the project and now they are goes back to ownership arthur blank wanted to be on the show they're on the show i doubt thomas demitroff or mike smith were jumping up and down hey let's do some hard knocks but you know they got us new they want to sell a new stadium in atlanta they want to sell a few more tickets

team that surprisingly has struggled to sell tickets at times, despite winning a lot of games lately? This is one of those issues where you can see people who follow football versus the older out-of-touch columnists who are calling this the Falcons signed up for a circus. Like it really kept the Bengals from getting to the playoffs last year. Nothing embarrassed the Bengals out of last year's show. And by the way, while we're on the subject of just people that are out of touch that work in the sports media, We were talking about this downstairs. If you do not know soccer and you're just checking in for the World Cup, which I think all of us are.

We're kind of just casual fans. T-D. Behind the Glass is a legit soccer fan. But don't pretend you're an expert now for the next month. Very tedious. Act like all of a sudden, oh, a brilliant header by Maradonna. It's like you don't know what's happening. So just enjoy it. But don't pontificate on something you don't know about.

Thank you, generic NFL scribe for your penetrating analysis of that own goal. You don't have to share every thought. Keep some thoughts to yourself. That's a more a societal problem in general you bring up, Greg. You're not to share everything. Okay. Of course, this comes from the guy that was tweeting about Alan Thick's infomercials earlier today. So I guess we're just an oversharing society.

Or the guy that boldly without asking anyone around him, if this would be the case announced Croatia as ATL's. team of the year. Question mark. Don't agree. Question mark. But they're losers. They lost. Assertist humor.

Slightly sexier. Thank you. Slightly sexier than Croatia, I think, are the Atlanta Falcons. But, you know, a lot of the knock on the Falcons is that they're boring, right? They play in a boring stadium, blah, blah, blah. That's your knock on you. I'm not the only one that feels that way. The knock from the people.

I hate the dome. I think they are regarded as a bit of a dull outfit. But what HBO is. series does every year is it can take a team that you feel one way about and completely flip it and I think that's the benefit

for the Falcons is I don't know I guess out of the gate I'm not that interested in Mike Smith Matt Ryan or really a lot of players on this team

but I know that HBO is going to make me see some of the assistance and some of these guys a different way who's more interesting than Thomas Dimitroff among NFL executives

I like Dimitroff but I didn't name him but yeah I agree he's he's vegan he's intriguing he's different You know, rides a motorcycle

We know all that though, don't we? And his hair Not the rest of the country Who knows general managers It's pointed up towards the middle His hair The hair is definitely You know, dad trying to hard

Situation going on Why are we leading? I saw Greg, you wrote about it I liked you did your points Of excitement about the show But you did something That I've also seen In other places

Where it's like One of the things That makes Demitra If an interesting guy Is that he's a vegan? Like, how does that play For the cameras? It doesn't...

In the football world. Nice, vegetable. All I mean is... No, but it's an interesting dichotomy with football guys. That's right. Most guys are, you know, meat-eating cavemen. He sticks out in an NFL of group-think and boring soundbites.

He's always interesting. And he's not afraid to be a little different. Mark Sessler. So back off. Mark Sessler, former vegan, you get the final word. I think it's interesting, the two guys, him and along with Scott Peele that came from a Patriots organization that wouldn't do this in 10,000 years. are, I think that's your point.

They were signed up for this because the owner wanted to do it back in, what, 2008, and that coaching staff won the argument it didn't happen. The owner's getting his way this time around. And it'll be great. It'll be fine. It's always a great show. Four of the last eight teams. I know you said last word.

I know. Who am I to listen? You try to give somebody the last word. Rosenthal can't let it happen. Four of the last eight teams have been on the show, made the playoffs. That means nothing. I think we've got to send these cameras to the nightlife in Atlanta, some of the strip clubs

see what's going on there and then we get a little Brian Cox and Mike Tice action in this the most entertaining assistant coaches in the league true last word here yes Dimitrov and Scott Pioli

stars of one of my favorite NFL books War Room by Michael Holly which Greg did not like as much but I thought was a fascinating look into that front office that all those guys that came out of the Belichick tree Mark the last word

let's just move on Okay, there you go. All right, let's move on. Can I chime in with the last word? Yeah, go ahead. There you go. All right. Just a pet people of mine because I was.

I was an adult standard, by the way. Go ahead, TD. I was at NFL films where I started my NFL career doing the first Bengals run. And a lot of people say HBO show. Granted, it is on HBO, but it's good folks in NFL films that are in those camps, like NFL players, and they make it happen. Okay. There's a little production note.

Checks and bounces there with TV. A pound cake from NFL films will show up at his. store next week. T.D. Company Schill. Now, that's good. It is fair to say because they are the ones that are, you know, HBO gets the glory. It's not right. Which is why people criticizing

the circus coming to town. It is made by the promotional arm of the NFL. It is basically Pravda of the NFL. I mean, I love NFL films. Nice reference. But I mean, it's, we're not going to put them in a bad light. Mark, the final word. Again, can we

please wage on to the next segment of show. Thank you. Our next Making the Leap candidate number 21 on this list, the wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans, Justin Hunter. This one is a little different because we did the write-up. We had the two scientists, Chris Wessling and Greg Rosenthal, going back and forth. You could read it right now on the Around the League page on Thursday. Once again, this sometimes happens. It's like two kids caught in the middle of a marriage that is dissolving. Mark Sessler and I just watching the scientist bicker about this player.

So now we're going to open up the floor, let him get it out there. Justin Hunter, ready to make the leap, or is he? Go ahead, John. I think we agree that he's ready to make the leap. It's got your byline on it, Chris Wesleyan. We disagree maybe on the level of belief, but to me, Hunter fits perfectly the profile of a guy that struggled at points as a rookie, was very unrefined, and is ready to see a huge uptick in stats, much like Michael Floyd, who we had on our list last year, much like

Alshund Jeffrey, who was on our list last year. He reminds me of those guys in that he's not as polished as he is just physically talented, and I think he's going to have a great opportunity there. What I find the most interesting about Justin Hunter is that he fits two profiles, the successful one that you mentioned, and the Darius Haywood Bay, a Mohamed Massacquah, Jerome Simpson profile, where he has highlight real plays interspersed with six or seven drops in a row. Simpson didn't play for four years

in the NFL practically, his first three or four years. Right. He showed enough talent that he's already making plays as a rookie, Justin Hunter. Game winning plays, big touchdowns. I know you watched them too, Mark. Yeah, I'm not a scientist. You know, I'm maybe...

You are. I'm like a, you know, maybe a student that walks in with a lab coat and refills your supplies in the lab. But I watched him. because you guys were, the bickering didn't start on Thursday. The bickering began last weekend. I was roving around the city, and I'm watching Twitter,

and Greg and West are going back and forth. I got home, I said, I'm just going to watch this guy's plays to get my own take, because I can't figure out what's going on with this guy. I like to look at making the leap guys where they're sealing plays to begin with, and I think he is far more interesting than Muhammad Massacqua. But you're right, the lower plays and the drops, There's just inconsistency. Quarters would go by where he would baffle you.

But some of the acrobatic catches he made were fascinating. And his position coach said that if the Titans were to ever have the chance to make the playoffs, he's the reason we'd get there. And the same conversation, the position coach said, Nate Washington is a pro's pro, a stud, and the leader of our wide receiver corps. So I don't think, I think, you know, Kenny Britt spent five years trying to knock Nate Washington off, I don't know that Justin Hunter's going to be able to do it.

He doesn't necessarily need to because most teams play three wide receivers most of the time. That's one of the reasons I felt so strong about Hunter is that he played 350 snaps last year. It's guaranteed he's going to double that. If he's lucky, he might almost triple that. He had

pretty good production for that little time on the field last year. And yes, he's going to drop some passes. Dwayne Broke-Bow drops a lot of passes. T.O. drops a lot of passes. Brandon Marshall's dropped a lot of passes. his whole career. I'm not putting Justin Hunter there, but I'm saying that doesn't necessarily stop you from producing. He might

be a little better fantasy player than he is in reality, but that talent that he has, when he makes those plays, jumps off the screen. There's no doubt he's a stud talent. He drew comparisons to A.J. Green and Randy Moss at Tennessee. I guess my issue is those

guys you mentioned Brandon Marshall with drops Terell Owens, they make plays too on balls that are difficult catches. and Justin Hunter can high point a ball if he's jumping he's making a play but a lot of plays where he has to reach down to get the ball or reach to the side

or there's a defender in the area I watched and more often than not Justin Hunter gets his hands on a ball and he just doesn't reel it in he struggled coming back to make catches I saw that over and over but he struggled with drops in college as well do you feel like that issue

can't be taught off that can't be corrected it's a good question because I don't always think drop rate is something that's predictable. You know, Roddy White a couple of years ago led the NFL in drops. The next year had just one. But then you have guys like Troy Williamson, who was drafted number

seven overall, couldn't catch. He just couldn't catch, and if you're a wide receiver, you have to be able to do it. Let me throw out a few over-unders here. Let me see what your gentleman think. Justin Hunter, 70 receptions 2014. Way under. Yeah, I'd go under. He's just not that kind of receiver.

He's not a possession guy. Even at his best, he's going to be just catching long, long passes. 800 yards, over under. That's a good spot to pick him, but I'm definitely going over if I'm going making the lead. He better be, yeah, I was going to say. I think he'll be a 900,000-yard type of receiver. I'm going under.

Six TDs. Over. I might go over for that one. Yeah, he got four last year and 350 snaps. So I put it through the machine, 47 catches, 814 yards, and seven touchdowns. I'll give you a good comparison. A guy who was never... an absolute stud

but the analyst didn't like it. The metrics crowd didn't like him as much. Chris Chambers made a lot of spectacular catches but always had a catch rate like below 55, 50%. It sounds like your suggestion that he'll be a better fantasy guy than he is maybe an actual player this season

will meet out. Yeah, and it's part of this situation. Tennessee, even bad offenses find 3,500 yards of passing. And I just don't see where else it's coming from. The Browns passed for more than 4,000 yards last year with three different quarterback. What happens when Bishop Sanky steps on Hunter's ankle in week three? Oh, no. We've got a Sessler. We got a Sessler. I'm just, thrown it out there. Situationally,

you never know. What's wrong with you? I'm just, listen, I am just asking a question. Yeah, but when you doom players to serious injury. Did I do? I didn't say this will happen. It just, listen. It's weird, because you're such an optimist. mystic guy, nicest guy in the office, all this stuff. And then when we put on the headphones, you just are wishing doom on half the NFL. He can't control the feelings that bubble up from inside of him. Thank you. TD, do you see that the man is difficult to read, Mark Sessler, always has been.

He's an injury geyser. I might have to turn my body language gaze on him. Oh, that's one of TD's great talents from over on the DDFP. He's able to read body language. What are you seeing right now, by the way? right now what i'm seeing from mark and what i'm seeing from the guys i'm seeing guys are into the show it's it's weird actually being here doing the production you know and i see greg's looking up google or some stuff i don't know what he's really doing on there i can see his screen and uh dan you're

uh same old guy that's good all right cool nice good uh body language uh analysis analysis from tv uh all right gentlemen so let's let's move on so o t-a's and minicamp going on right now what is it seven teams this week had mandatory minicamp and OTAs are continuing. Let's go through, go through some teams, go through some cities, and we'll pick out some rookies and that are making some waves,

I guess, good or bad, in a segment we like to call rookie whispers. It's kind of creepy. Yeah, a little bit creepy. A little creepy. People have let us know that keeps them up at night, the whispers.

We like to keep our listeners on their toes, and also up at night. We like to just, like, just a terrible experience for the people listening to the show. That's what we go for. Anyway, why do we go around the room a little bit? We're all, you know, surfing the web all day.

I sound like a 64-year-old grandfather. Surfing the web. The world. The world is going to the web. The internet. Surfing the web. On your Google machine. Looking for.

Riding on the old information in Super Highway. You've got mail. We are, you know, we're doing our research, so we're coming across some interesting nuggets. Who wants to jump in with something that they've seen or read in the past few days? Chris Wessling raises his hand like a good boy. D. Ford, Chiefs Outside Linebacker. Drafted 23rd overall, it's beginning to look like he should have been drafted in the top 10. Drawing comparisons to Von Miller and Hall of Famer Derek Thomas,

A first step that has been described as scary. So this is one of those shorts and t-shirt stories. It's tough to get Wes to buy in. We're sitting downstairs, and he's like a fly swatter, just knocking down everyone's ideas for a post because he's not buying the summer hype. And I'm with you for the most part. But this time you're buying.

What's the difference with this story? I think when you see it from all corners of the organization, He's getting hype from the general manager, the coach, teammates. Multiple teammates are just, you know, guys like Tom Bali. He's a threat to Tom Bali snaps, and Ali's comparing him to Derek Thomas. And it's interesting. This was a team that a lot of us pegged would go after a wide receiver. They really need one, and that offense needs a game changer.

And yet they went out and drafted a position that is relatively stocked with talent. So you're right, from head to toe, the team and the whole front office must have said, we can't pass on this guy. It should be a fun pass rush to watch. They fell off at the end of last year. That's one of the big questions for me about that division. Which Chief's defense is it? The one from the first half or the second half?

Because if those three guys, Justin Houston, Tomah Lee, and D. Ford are all rolling at the same time, that's about as good a group as there is in the NFL. For a top three? Yeah. Yeah, that's crazy. Let's throw out another name. Whispers.

I'm going to go to Arizona. pick out John Brown, wide receiver out of Pittsburgh State. Well, Pittsburgh State drops the H at the end. A weird move. Right, because it's not necessarily the one you're thinking of. Yeah, come on, you agree, though. It threw me for a loop when I saw it in the post later on. Certain that I had made a spelling mistake, but I had not.

Another guy drawing favorable comparisons to an established starter, this time to T.Y. Hilton. because their dimensions are exactly the same, and they both have identical 4-34 speed, and they have the same coach in Bruce Ariens, in terms of a guy that set Hilton free. They are lining him up, and people are saying that he's just been blowing the doors off. That team, for me, I am excited to watch them

because you've got Ellington out of the backfield, a really fast guy. Then they've added Tedgin. You've got John Brown here, I think he's going to see snaps. And, oh, by the way, Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd. Interesting team in the NFC West. It's not your fault, Mark.

But this has Peter King stink all over it. Why is that? Why is that? Peter King touted him as a guy you have to drafting your late rounds of your fantasy draft. And we know the Peter King stink. I mean, he's got Jabar Gaffney, Eddie Royal, Danny Worfell. I mean, if Peter King advises you to draft him, he's not going to be good. A time will come where Chris Wesley and Peter King will be on a big mountaintop with Game

of throne swords just going at each other. I'll be there. You're going to want to put your money on me. I got a feeling I would. You know, Peter King's not a fantasy guy when he's touting a number four wide receiver or number three, who at his best, if John Brown exceeds all expectations, he's getting, what, 650 yards? I mean, he's not a guy you're starting in your fantasy league. He's going to be an interesting guy to help the Cardinals have one of the best receiver

groups in the league, but... Mark, do you really... Don't draft him, please. Do you really think he's getting more snaps than Ted Ginn? I think that's the obstacle to him, but I guess I'm not looking just this season. Down the road, he is absolutely Ginn's replacement if he is what they think he is.

And then if you're the number three receiver in a passing offense, I don't have a problem with that. They have four wide receivers on the field a lot, and I don't know if Ginn's going to be on the field every snap. I mean, they don't use their tight ends to catch passes. They like spreading it out. It's not like Ginn is Victor Cruz standing in his way. And keep that window open for my boy, Carson Palmer.

And Greg, I think after their last season, Ted Gets, Ginn did some things. You gained a little bit of begrudging respect for Mr. Ging. Oh, I loved Ginn last year. Yeah, I think we all did. Let me throw a name out there. Whispers. I have a feeling I know which team is going to play for.

I think you guys know that I am a New York Jets fan, and I am excited about what's going on in the secondary. For years, this team has struggled to identify strong safety play. They've had great cornerbacks in recent years, or maybe last year is not a good example. They've failed to address safety. It really, ever since Jim Leonard broke his leg a couple of years back. Now they got Calvin Pryor.

And Calvin Pryor, of course, was taken with their first pick in 19th overall. And we have ESPN's Lewis Riddick heard, is hearing, what did you say? Lewis Riddick said that the, and this is Mark Sessler's writing, you know, this is Sessler Pros. The hammer-dropping run stuffer has been, quote, special. And, you know, now we're going to get this to see him in pads next month. and you're going to see how he really hits. This guy's an enforcer. Rex Ryan is going to fall in love with him,

and this could be the guy that finally gives a new identity to the secondary post-Rivas, and I'm all in. I was on the Dave Damashek football program yesterday, and we dropped our all-AFC East team. TD's first love, Damashik, but you already like us better, right? Come on. I wouldn't say Damasek was the first love. The pod, you know what I mean.

First job. That's fair. We were looking around for the all AFC East team at safety. We had no other choices but to go with Calvin Pryor, partly because of the summer hype, largely because there wasn't many options after Devin McCordy. But the reason I love this choice, Dan, is Rex Ryan's great with safeties. I mean, if you just look at his history, he's done a great job coaching up safety. Anyone that coaches up Jim Leonard enough to the point that you actually think that was a change in the organization when he left, that's pretty good.

Yeah, and Rich Samini reported, I think it was Samini that reported that when the Ravens, who picked directly before the Jets passed on prior, the Jets' war room just exploded because they had fallen in love with him prior to the draft. He was the guy that they had targeted if they were going to pick a defender, and now they have him, and we get to see what Rex can do with a guy that could be a stud talent. Speaking of war rooms exploding, whispers. When the Eagles traded up to draft Jordan Matthews in the second round, there were high-fives exchanged up and down the hallways. Wow. You're falling for Matthews, too, this summer. I am.

I am falling for Jordan Matthews. Let's hear. Let's hear, well, you know, go out of order. Well, they, you know. No, I like it. There's no order. It's a free-flowing conversations. One of the local writers tweeted early this week that Jordan Matthews has been the most

impressive wide receiver in Eagles off-season practices, which says a lot of. about him, but also isn't surprising in the fact that Macklin's coming back from ACL surgery. Riley Cooper's talent is... He's Riley Cooper. He's a little bit underwhelming as far as your best wide receiver. But I think, you know, Jordan Matthews

also a film junkie, weight room junkie, and holds the SEC record for receptions and receiving yards. He has just about everything you want. Size, speed, production. And he'll be playing out of the slot, which is a nice little spot to be in that offense. those are the guys just seem maybe it just seems that way seems like rookies have a better time breaking into the league right away if they're playing on the inside not the outside you also have to

keep in mind what matthews has going for him which is remote controlled cars zipping all over the field uh really getting ahead of the game while everyone else is basically in the caveman stages chip kelly has revolutionized the game with a couple you know see batteries congratulations buddy dan has gone to full troll movie wow with the eagle fan base. He hates you all and hates your team. Not you guys. Can I drop one last name? Yeah. I think we know Ryan Chazir is making

Pittsburgh's defense faster. We've gone down that road. But on offense, little five foot seven, three quarters Drie Archer. Wesleyan and I... Cessler's a hawk. He is a hunky dumpy. The Cessler's

making a little motion here. I do not buy this business about him being a miniature Jamal Charles because he hadn't, he didn't have a college season where he had more than 14 touches on offense, but we did, Chris and I watch some of his kick return action downstairs and this guy can fly. Pittsburgh hasn't had that absolute electric gadget type player in a while and I think that he... He might see one or two offensive touches a game, but I think special teams though, special teams. You know, the fantasy guys have been kind of saying this guy's not that

big of a deal and that's true. He's not going to be a big fantasy thing, but the comparison to Mel Gray, one of the most exciting football players of the early to mid-90s. Great kickoff return. I like an NFL player that is shorter than I am. Wes and Sessler, is it okay if Greg chimes in with a name? Oh, I do not pick one yet at all. That's all right. Hey, I'm enjoying the show.

We're going to hear about this. That's great. Please, roll off a couple names. No, I just have one. While you're talking about all the big names, John Brown and Drey Archer, why don't we talk about a little guy named Johnny Mansell at some point, wrapped up his off season this week? at mandatory minning camp so he's done what do we take from his first off season when i listen

to the reports out of cleveland seems like you know struggled a little bit in the ways that you expect rookies to struggle going through his reads was kind of locked in on his first read and brian hoyer still ahead are you at all worried for instance uh chris wesseling that hoyer could still keep that lead no of course chris wessling has put a pair of softball pants on the the line. That goes nylon, that is rubber, that is composite parts, that is metal zipper, all going into Wessling's digestive track if Brian Hoyer is starting week one. Will Chris Wessling eat his softball paths?

Yeah, it doesn't surprise me that Brian Hoyer goes through his progressions faster than Johnny Mansell. I agree. That's a June story. Wait till August when the live bullets are flying. Johnny Mansell's escaping sacks while Hoyer is a sitting duck back there. And Petton, by the way, laid it out there as clear as possible that he said that Hoyer's ahead. But the exact wording was insurmountable.

This is not an insurmountable situation for Mansell. So it's still wide open. He's not even taking 11-on-11 snaps. I mean, Brian Hoyer is coming back from ACL surgery, which Chris always points out, and it's a great point. I mean, he's not even taking the first-team snaps because he's not healthy enough. I like that the Browns are manufacturing drama to a situation that really doesn't have much. Mark, I know you went back this week and had a loyal Hoyer party in the office.

Well, no, I want it just to watch his stuff and I think that it's easy to forget that he himself is a project with not a lot of starts under his belt on any level and he is a smarter player than any quarterback they had last season. I think that's why he stuck out where you, when you're competing

for the heart of the fan base against Brandon Whedon and Jason Campbell, it's not hard. He moved the ball. He does go through his reads. That's something that's the positive, but there's nothing special about Brian Hoyer necessarily on tape. Johnny Mansell, as soon as he starts making those plays, I don't care what he does in practice, to be honest. This is a guy that I think when you put him out in the field. We're just going to see what he does. And it's like the fans are never going to settle

for Brian Hoyer being the quarterback for the first eight weeks of the season. What about, Mark, your thoughts and the rest of the gentlemen in the room on my observation earlier today that Brian Hoyer is a dead ringer for alt rock star live lead singer Ed Colalcheck That's fair Like I you know

If you were to put Your references They're getting almost as old as Wessling That is an aged reference I was a big live fan Yeah I was I got into live as well Throwing copper

Throwing copper was an excellent out My brother Nick That was like that's his favorite band Of all time Live toured with Counting Crows For I think two summers and did They packed it in

That's a loathsome That's a loathsome Back when I were You know much younger Much younger They rocked it at Jones Beach in New York And keep in mind People still talk about that show

This was during my mailman era So my taste in music Might not have been Evolutionary When When Adam Durrance And County Crows Came out on stage

When Live was playing The Dolphins Cry I don't think anybody There was not dry eye in the house. I could be... Live is one step above the band that did Closing Time. That will be fine.

That's another good band. Come on, Craig. He said that will be fine. By the way, that lead singer came from a great band called Trip Shakespeare. That's very true. Closing time, by the way, and this is apt for you, Dan, is about a woman giving birth. It's about a baby leaving the womb, and it's called closing time on that experience. Which is also what Lightning Crashers was about.

out and we tie it all together on the around the league podcast that's it we got to get out on that it's a good thing they don't track listenership throughout the podcast because everyone has turned it off by now no way 90s alt rock was the best all right that's it lessons that's it for today's show t-d welcome aboard we're very happy to have you and we don't want you to go away so please don't go i'm here guys i'm here for the long call that is so good to hear actually uh that's it for friday show we will be back on monday so uh hang in there enjoy your weekends everybody watch plenty of football and whatever you want to do

I don't care what you do stay out of trouble that's it for today's show signing up for the mailman the sizzler the boss and T-Date behind the glass until Monday all right how about like a sensitive one it's still got to be a whisper

it's still got to be a whisper whisper whisper This is an IHeart podcast.