NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - NFL ATL: Super Bowl non-contenders

Episode Date: June 16, 2014

A room full of heroes -- Dan Hanzus, Gregg Rosenthal, Chris Wesseling and Marc Sessler -- react to the latest NFL news including cornerback Brandon Flowers' release from the Kansas City Chiefs, Vernon Davis' plan to hold out and more. Plus, the guys decide which teams realistically have no shot at winning the Super Bowl next season.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 gets baited into interceptions. Welcome back to another edition of the Around League podcast. My name is Dan Hanson, I'm joined by a room filled with heroes. Mark Sessler, Chris Wessling, and Greg Rosenthal. What up, boys? Hey, Dan. I like this new pointing routine you have when you announce our names.

Well, a couple things to play. First of all, I almost always say, or always say Chris Wessling first. But this is a different setup. We're in the round. The Studio 66 is under construction. TD behind the glass is nodding his head because he knows all the inside info on the process. So they've now kicked us downstairs to the main studio where NFL Network films or shoots Total Access, among many other programs. And we're in a round table.

And I just went right around the room, right around the table. right around the table. Mark, Wes, Greg. The TD is not behind the glass. There is no glass. There is no glass. He is on a fold-out table, and we appear to be in what looks like a low-level Death Star third-level set. What is this place? I don't know. If it sounds a little weird, just bear with us for the next month or so, I think. It's going to be a construction process, and then we're going to get back to Studio 66. And also, keep in mind, any other production flaws today, we have Nigeria,

playing in the World Cup, which is TD's native land, or I guess you were born in Atlanta, but you grew up in Nigeria. After that, directly after that, the good old USA are playing against Ghana. Cessler and I are going to sneak out of here and catch that game at a local

bar. So TD, the two nations that you're closest to are playing soccer today. We can't expect a lot out of you, I would assume. Not really, no. I mean, we started off the day with Cristiano Ronaldo playing in Portugal, even though they had a bad game. So I've just been all soccer today. No, that's understandable.

I mean, we, so we are completely understanding whatever happens. We're not even sure anybody will ever actually hear this because TD might just get tied up with the beautiful game, as they call it. Once every four years, man. Give me a break. My takeaway being that Greg and Wes not patriotic enough to sneak out to watch the USA play. Hey, someone's got to work. Someone's got to watch the shop.

Nation first. All right, big show today. I always say it's a big show, but I actually mean at this time, a very big show today. We're going to talk more Making the Leaf stuff. We're going to do Marcus Wheaton of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ziggy Ansah. And not only are we going to talk about Ziggy Ansah. We're going to get our good friend, ATL Chicago correspondent, Kevin Patrick on the line.

And he's going to tell us about Ziggy Onse. He wrote the piece up on our website where you could read about all the Making of the Leap candidates at Greg. NFL.com's backslash making the leap. Bang. We're going to also talk about, we'll tie this back to soccer and forgive for all of our ignorance, the U.S. soccer coach, Juergen Klinsman. Is that correct, Judy? Close, close. Juergen Klinsman made some interesting comments before the start of the World Cup about the U.S.'s chances to win.

Some honest comments. Some honest comments. So we're going to kind of apply that to the NFL a little later and talk about some teams that really maybe it's not quite realistic for them to think about the super. Super Bowl, do that later, but before any of that, we're going to start with the man that's usually behind the glass, TD. Can we do some news, buddy? Let's do it. We start with some sad news from over the weekend. Chuck Knoll, the four-time Super Bowl winning coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, passed away at the age of 82.

Noel died at his home in Allegheny County. The Hall of Famer guided the Steelers from Laughingstock. to one of the sports great dynasties. He coached the team from 1969 through 1991. I mean, the guy is an icon in this league, and he will be remembered as such as one of the great coaches of all time. Chris Wesleyan, you are the resident historian of the Around the League group. Your thoughts?

I think the one thing that stands out to me is I don't know that most NFL fans realize the Pittsburgh Steelers were the NFL's laughing stock for 1930s, 40s, 50s, and 60s. Their entire franchise was just basically the worst team in the NFL until Chuck Noel arrived in 1969. And then they became the NFL's premier franchise, and they've been one of the premier franchises since then. So he is the turning point in that franchise. You want to talk about a culture in creating a culture. This is ground zero when you're talking about that. The Steelers stunk for decades.

And now, as someone my age, for instance, there's very rarely that you remember a period where their Steelers weren't good. Noel certainly deserves some credit for kind of changing the way people looked at the Steelers and how the organization operated. Art Rooney, the son of Art Rooney, the team's founder, had a quote which I used in the first write-up we have of Noel. It said Chuck Knowles is the best thing that happened to the Rooney's since they got on the boat in Ireland. And he's right. The Roonies, you think of them now as these patriarchs of the sport, of these guys that are untouchable. They were a laughing stock in Pittsburgh. People joked about them.

The Steelers were just thought of as these second-class citizens. It was a town that wanted to love football, and yet they had this franchise that had been to one playoff appearance in 34 years. Of course, they lost that one game. Noel comes in, and he doesn't really get mentioned when you think of the greatest coaches of all time. You think of Lombardi, you think of Paul Brown, you think of Bill Walsh. Noel doesn't really get that love, maybe because he wasn't as X as a nose, maybe because he didn't self-promote, but if you just look at the track record and what he did,

he coached the most dominant team in NFL history, and that was the 70s Steelers. And the thing about Pittsburgh coming out of that awful error that Chris mentioned, and we wouldn't see this today because there's zero patience with quarterbacks and coaches, but especially coaches that get shuffled out so quickly. He won one game, his first year in Pittsburgh, followed by two more losing seasons. When losing teams get a new coach that does something like that, they just keep shuffling and turning and getting the next guy in. That started a long tradition of the Roonies sticking with their coaches for eras and ages.

They've been one of the most consistent teams, and that lack of turnover is one of the reasons that Pittsburgh is in the picture every season. He got hired on January 27, 1969. The next day he drafts me and Joe Green. How about that for a second day on the job? Bang, home run. One of the best draft picks ever. They take Terry Bradshaw.

And part of Noel's genius or whatever you want to call it is his evaluation of players. He was a big part in taking guys. And then he's known as a teacher. And maybe that's not as, it's kind of harder to quantify. But everyone that's ever played for him talks about his teaching skills and the fundamentals. And that's why the Steelers were so good there. And by the way, I worked a Saturday morning shift for ATL. And I reached out to Damashak.

I said, Dave, would you care? to write anything up under the ATL banner. And Dave wrote a really nice, nuanced piece about what Noel meant to Pittsburgh in that organization. You should read it. Dave damaged a bit of a writer, a little sneaky. I know. I mean, the guy gets a little bit of a, he always gives us credit for our ability to write things. Dave can write a little bit.

Let's get him on Around the League more. I'd love to have him writing all the time. People just tweet at him, say, we loved your piece. Keep writing for Around the League. TD's watching the TV's behind him, really. He's not really paying attention, but it didn't seem like he was that plugged in when we were pipping Dave's writing skills. Well, I mean, Shaq is actually a good writer, you know? Actually, yeah.

That's one of the things that bothers me. Good idea, man, too, that's Shaq guy. Beautiful. All right, let's move on. Brandon Flowers has been released by it. This is also news we're just catching up from over the weekend. Brandon Flowers was released by the Kansas City Chiefs. He confirmed that Friday on his Twitter page.

Just curious what you guys thought about, thoughts were about this. Obviously, not a huge surprise. he'd been dangled in trade rumors or talks for some time, but they decided to move on without Flowers, who was due $5.25 million this season. What ended the love affair between Kansas City and Brennan Flowers? He had a bad season. Didn't seem to be a good fit for Bob Sutton's defense

where they want physical press corners. Breyer & Flowers is a little undersized and not quite as speedy as the top cornerbacks. You know, just a couple of years ago, he was one of those few cornerbacks that would shadow receivers around the field played at a pro bowl level but it'll be interesting to see how much money he gets because he's now he's brushing up against age 30 and like I said undersized so I kind of wonder how much interest is who are we talking about again you want to make flowers today oh brand of flowers

yes your thoughts mark uh Chris not sure if you were finished there before that outrageous We're all just here to set up Dan's little games that he has. The rest of the show is basically just a preamble to whatever little drops you got. Hit him again. Hit him again, Tini. You want to make flowers for that? Any true detective fans will know that. Well, as a number of people pointed out that he also shares the same name with the lead singer of the killers,

who back on a very old debate club podcast, we debated who would have a tougher time. The singer coming onto the field and doing the cornerback's job Or Brandon Flowers the cornerback having to host a killer's concert And before you just one thought on that Hold up one second Why does it sound like Mark Sessler? Yeah, why do I? He's in a helicopter flying over Vietnam

I know it's not your fault you need But I hope it sounds like we're in a chopper It's a new set of guys We're working out the kinks right now Wow, it's disturbing Well I think what did we decide with that by the way It would be harder. Brandon Flowers, the diminutive killers lead singer would be a lot harder. You believe Singer would be tougher initially, but I went cornerback.

One thing, Ian Rappaport noted that he played 56% of his plays in the slot last year, and that he didn't like that role. So I don't know if that means the team that decides to sign him has to think about that pretty hard before they put him back into that role as a third cornerback. Well, you know when guys get cut this time of year, and every team, every fan roots for them to sign that player, and usually it's kind of a junkie player, it's someone you shouldn't be excited about. Brandon Flowers is a guy you should be excited about. He's a guy, if he had been a free agent going into the offseason, I think he would have been in our top 25 free agents available. He's been a good starter for a long time.

He's really a Pro Bowl level type of starter a couple years ago. He's only 28 years old. He's someone that can go in and actually make a difference. I mean, he's the best free agent out there. I guess you're Michael Finley, if he's healthy. But other than that, he's the best one. Has the carrier pigeon, this happened on Friday? Has it reached John Idzik yet?

John Is he plugged in that Brandon Flowers is there for the taking. You want to make flowers today? I just feel like Greg, you wrote the piece about seven landing spots. You had the Jets at number five. The Falcons and Texans is the ones that made the most sense. But just as Jetsman, like Demetri Patterson and D. Milner. But isn't the whole issue that he doesn't want to be in a press man scenario where he's got to do that all the time?

And isn't that a big situation in New York? If he didn't fit Bob Sutton's defense, he's not going to fit Rex Ryan's because Bob Sutton used to be Rex Ryan's assistant coach. Yeah, that's a good point. And he's known for being better. He makes a lot of sense in Atlanta, where Scott Pioly is, who signed flowers to that big contract just a few years. years ago when they were both in Kansas City together. Romeo Cornell, who's in Houston,

coached him. So I think he'll get a good contract, but I don't think he's a guy that's going to get signed right away. You can kind of see his agents are not very happy with the market that's shaping up for him. All right. Any other thoughts on flowers? Well, I feel like... You want to make flowers today? Yes, Craig. You just wanted to set that up again. Well, I feel like the killers and Brandon flowers. Maybe not the best band of the 2000s, but an underrated band to run to, or, you know, if you don't run, maybe work out to. Right. They got that anthemic lift. Got the pep, you know what I mean? The beat. And like, if I was struggling at the end of a run,

you know, you throw on a little killer shuffle, four or five songs, that'll get you home. I used to have a workout playlist on Spotify, and I think Smile Like You Mean, it was on there. There you go. Any enia on that list? No, no enia. That's the only way Sasso can. Or a no-go-flow. No, uh, Tripp Spear, what was that? Trips Shakespeare, thank you.

A lot of listeners chimed in saying they liked that reference because that is an under the radar solid selection. We almost just lost Dan here. Dan just tripped over. Well, Marco almost blew me off the table. His microphone is very powerful. Technical difficulties on Model 2104. Model 210. All right.

You want to talk about some mandatory minicamp heat? some holdouts you want to talk about a holdout fund nothing i like better than holdouts let's start with san francisco 49ers tight end bernan davis who uh on peter king's monday morning quarterback explained why he has decided to hold out a direct quote from the piece it's all about getting paid what you deserve it's not that complicated NFL media insider ian rapporte reported monday that davis will indeed be absent from camp when it opens tuesday per source with knowledge of the player's plans Davis has two years remaining on a six-year $42.7 million deal. He believes that he's playing at a higher level than ever

and believes he should be compensated for it. What do you think, guys? That is a man of the people, Vernon Davis. That's his new name. Wait, why do you say that? Because he said a couple of weeks ago that he was going to hold out so he could establish his brand. What does that even mean?

That's disturbing. Well, I would say to Vernon Davis, Don't sign six-year contracts in the middle of your career. Sign a shorter deal. Don't have an agent that is all aboard the six-year extension express because that's what happens. By the end of the six years, you get underpaid. That's how the market moves.

And whenever they talk about how much money he's making this year, for instance, he's underpaid. He's 4.7. That does seem underpaid for Vernon Davis. You don't count the signing bonus that he got when he signed. I mean, you got $10 million to sign. That should count somewhere in the equation. it's really on the agent to me and the player more than the team. He feels like he has too many people in his year right now because his messaging has been so

convoluted. It's, I might go to minicamp. I might not. I'll definitely be there. Now he had a Monday morning quarterback piece with a subtitle, why I'm holding out. Yet doesn't clarify if he is or isn't. It sounds like there's too many cooks in the kitchen trying to steer this guy around. And I have a bit of an issue because it's the same thing that Revis did with the Jets where you can't be holding out.

when you have multiple years left on a deal. It's like, all right, if you really want to make a stick, maybe when you're heading into the last year and let's work something out, but you're in the middle of it. Let's roll with it and just deal with the fact that that's what you agreed to. And if you're the 49ers, who cares if he, you're not going to get your attention by skipping mandatory minicamp. Is it really that big a deal?

No. I don't know what he could do that would be a big deal. Skip a chunk of training camp, but I don't think he's going to get paid any extra. I don't think you can hold a team like the 49ers hostage. I'm not sure they're going to respond to this because you've got a lot of players up for contracts. You can't tell Michael Crabtree, you go do this next and you'll get the money you want. It'd be illegal, too, holding a whole team hostage. I just feel like that would be a bad move. That's a felony. That would be bad for the brand.

Andre Johnson, the Houston Texans wide receiver. As we know, he hasn't been at voluntary workouts. There had been rumors or reports that he would sit out mandatory workouts as well, and it seems like that's where it's heading. Johnson's uncle and advisor, Andre Melton, told the Houston Chronicle on Monday that Johnson would not be at minicamp this week. Coach Bill O'Brien said last week he wasn't sure whether Johnson would show up, but here's a quote from Melton. Right now, that's all he can do. We've done what we can do, so we're just sitting there waiting.

Once you get to the point now, it's past OTAs, this seems like an actual issue now for the Texans. Did Uncle Melton enlighten us as to what Andre Johnson actually wants from the Texans? I don't know. A quarterback, I guess, but he says it's not a quarterback. I'm going to hold out until you get a quarterback. Right, but I mean, that's obviously what he's, well, he said that's not why he's upset. But I guess it's if you're not going to get the quarterback and you're not going to spend money to bring someone in, then you better pay me more.

I mean, the whole message, what kind of message is that even sent? He's getting paid pretty well. It's definitely the most confusing holdout. You're not really sure what it's all about, and I can't see it going to. I'm going to challenge you on that. Here's a more confusing one. Kyle Orton. What is going on with Kyle Orton?

The man has yet to decide NFL, the Dallas Cowboys quarterback Kyle Orton, NFL media insider Ian Rappaport reports that the Cowboys are confident that Orton will show up because they will go after part of his signing bonus if he doesn't. Orton privately continues to weigh his office. Like, I mean, at one point, are you going to make a decision? He wants to retire, but he doesn't want to pay the Cowboys for that privilege. All right, well, you know what? It seems pretty cut and dry.

Why do you need months to make such a decision? $3 million is what the Cowboys could go after. of Kyle Orton if he just retires now. There will be lawyers. I mean, that's a lot. It reminds me of another ex Broncos quarterback who retired in the seeming

strong side of his career, Jake Plummer, who still had $7 million coming to him, or he had signed for a signing bonus, and the bucks and the Broncos went after that money, and they got half of it, they got $3.5 million from him. That's a big cost to pay, to not only decide, you can stop paying me

this unbelievable salary, but I'm actually going to have to go into my bank out and give you $3.5 billion to not show up. It seems insane. It is absurd. They should go after every cent if this guy doesn't show up. What other job... Should take his dog. Well, what other job can you say, I'm not going to show up to work today or all summer as I hold out for more money or get what I want in the out of the arrangement?

Get rid of this guy. You guys could try it. Yeah, we could try it. And about a week in, we'd find out the paycheck doesn't hit the direct deposit. and there's troubles. Cessler. Oh, I'm touching Cessler. Sheldon.

Because we have increased, it's more physical. Greg and I are standing as we're talking. I'm touching Mark because I'm making a point. You obviously are not on board with Kyle Orton, nor am I. I don't know about Tony Romo either. There's a question in Dallas. Greg, you brought this up.

A good point in your ATL post. There's a question was raised whether Romo and Orton like each other. Romo was asked recently whether he wanted to see more commitment out of Orden. Here's Romo's quote. Yeah, I don't have any comment on that. That question is only asked if the reporter essentially knows the answer. But, I mean, there's no way, a veteran reporter like Calvin Watkins who asked that question, he knows there's something between those two, so he put him on the spot.

And by the way, any commitment at all would be more commitment. I never realized how much Mark truly despises Kyle Orton. When he came up this morning, it was about 8 in the morning, we started talking a little Orton, that's a great way to start today. And you can tell, Mark is very anti-Oarton. I didn't dislike him at all early on in the career where he was making starts, contributing, drinking boatloads of beer outside of work. I can roll with the whole thing.

At this point, it just seems it's disrupted to the team. You can go find an equal backup who actually wants to be there and learn during the off-season. You've got to get someone better than Whedon. You've got to do something here. Make a move. Let's try and connect the dots of why Sessler feels this way. Mark used to live in a farmhouse outside Denver. Kyle Orton used to play quarterback for the Denver Broncos.

Okay. Shared timeline potentially. Took your girlfriend. In play. Not even close to being an actual narrative, but I like it. Mark's ex-girlfriend wanted guy with a neck beard? Well, listen, neckbeard. Some girls like neckbeards.

I don't know about that. I probably offered equally, like, low characteristics at the time. Orden, here's a boo from Mark Sessler. All right, let's move forward. More funny quarterback quotes from quarterbacks that are connected to the state of Texas. Vince Young might have retired. That's the headline we're going to go with here. On Saturday, the free agent quarterback told Brent Carney of KXA on TV in Austin that he's

intending to retire from the NFL. This is one month after the Browns released him after a. a 12-day stint. Here's the quote from Young, and this is where it gets a little confusing. It's definitely official, I think, in my book, unless we get a great opportunity, something guaranteed.

Other than that, I've started moving forward in some things. I don't know what any of that meant. The NFL retired Vince Young two years ago. Can you retire from something that you don't actually partake in? That does come up

every off season where a guy that's been out of the league for an entire year, then retires. It happened recently with, who was it? It was like a Texans linebacker or something. I was like, you can't retire now. You've been out for a year. It's too late.

Right. And I think what Vince Young intends to retire from is signing with a team for two weeks. And he's sick of not getting a payday. A guy needs money. We know that. And he keeps on, he's this roller coaster or a carousel where he's basically just coming on a team and getting dumped. I guess I would understand why that's tiresome. Ian Rappaport reported over the weekend

that this is kind of heading toward him taking some type of position with UT where of course he had his glory days. Well, you know it's the low season in the NFL when Brent Carney and Andre Melton are beating Ian Rappaport to scoops on these players. Brent Carney, see, with the big scoop

out of Texas. I guess I could probably give up on Vince Young at this point. Remember we were just talking about it. He was on your Browns just a couple weeks ago. Well, and it's another sign. that they are correctly evaluating players to have quickly dispatched with him. Quick note, while we're talking about players

that were retired by society, Dallas Clark is retired. A long time, tight end. Biggest years, of course, with Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. Most recently, he was with the Baltimore Ravens where clearly he was no longer truly Dallas Clark, and now his career's over.

He's announced he's retiring. Another sign how old I'm getting. I drafted Dallas Clark in a rookie draft of a dynasty league fantasy football league one year and now he's retired nice uh little career 11 years made a pro bowl one year somehow was the first team all pro that is an upset of all upsets in the prime of tony gonzalez and Antonio gates his career one year and it was the year as dan pointed out before the show that Peyton manning went crazy and threw 49 touchdowns Dallas Clark beats out those two

Future Hall of Famers. That was Dallas Clark's outlier year. He had 100 receptions, 1,106 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. He only had three seasons in his 13 seasons with 50 receptions or 500 yards. That's why he was mentioned sixth in the news,

read that, but a good player. Underrated mustache as well. Give him some love. All right, gentlemen, moving on, the Making the Leap series, continues. I was going to say the gold standard, but the gold standard is no longer here.

That is TD behind the glass, only there's no glass. We're all sharing a room. TD, what's up, buddy? What's going on, guys? I don't know what's going on right now. No, Zach. You're off the game. New studio. Who says we're off our game? Dan is. He almost called me the gold standard, which I love Zach, by the way.

You guys, well, there's a resemblance. I'm sure you've heard that before. A little bit. And by the way, here's some more good news. I am again touching Mark. It's creeping me out. Right there. You're not the only one. Well, we're all standing up now.

That's excited. And that's what's called a little bit of leadership. You saw us. You saw that we were performing so well, Mark and Chris. And, bam. TD behind the glass, not blind the glass. Can we get Kevin Patrick on the phone to talk about his making the leap candidate, number 22, Ziggy Ansah? See, what had happened was.

Oh, no. Again, new studio, new setup. We're working on a few kinks. And this actually is in a studio fault. There was a big shutdown here at NFL Network Studios. and some things are still yet to be up and working, and let's just say the phone might be one of those things. Well, the good news is that Kevin Patra is watching good old USA somewhere at a bar

taping on Monday, probably maybe not have been in the best shape to talk NFL football anyway. By the way, we recorded a Super Bowl podcast, you'll remember, in a dank room full of crates. Who knows what was in those crates? We thought possibly weaponry, That's set up preferable to this one. Wow. All right.

So let's, listen, let's stay on our feet. We're on our feet, literally. Let's keep moving. Why do we go, let's move on to number, who do we want to talk about? Marcus Wheaton. All right. Let's talk about Marcus Wheaton, number 20 on the list. Typically, I set up you, gentlemen, as the writers of the content for this Making

Leap series. This one I wrote, Marcus Wheaton, Pittsburgh Steelers, wide receiver, entering his second year, a third round pick of a year ago, entered the league and looked like somebody that was going to make an instant impact and find a role on the Pittsburgh offense. It didn't quite work out that way. In fact, Wheaton suffered a hand injury, broke fingers, missed four games of that. He didn't play on the field that much. He only had 161 snaps. So a positive preseason gave way to a disappointing regular season. But now he's back. He's healthy. He's still in great position to take that ex-receiver spot that Mike Wallace vacated and you know everything

we're hearing in camp is that that this guy is playing at a high level he has all the skill set he's got speed he ran a 4-4 at the combine in 2013 he's got pretty good size strong hands a good football IQ everything's in place and he's got a great quarterback obviously and Ben Rathosberger to make the leap and become somebody that is a playmaker at this level so gentlemen I throw it to you what do you think about this I think he's the reason why the Steelers were willing to let Emmanuel Sanders walk out the door I think Marcus Wheaton is can be a better receiver he can actually be an improvement on Sanders opposite Brown I think he's a better downfield target he's a better boundary receiver offers more

size and more playmaking ability than Emmanuel Sanders what are you basing all this Wheaton love in terms of being better than Sanders because we just haven't seen much last year's preseason yeah yeah he only had six catches during the regular season, but he made some plays in the free season, and that's why I guess it was particularly disappointing for that team for him then to have really no presence

during the regular season. Having been in the office at six this morning when Dan strolled in and discovered that he had to write this piece that was actually due last night, I am wholly impressed with your ability, no, I'm wholly

impressed with your ability to get this together so quickly. First of all, lower your voice, the mic is hot. I can't help it. As am I, if you continue to come after me in such way, I'm touching you again, and now it's a firmer grasp. My point being very impressed with what you put on paper in a quick time. Listen, first of all, snitches get snitches, number one. Number two, I was all in the head.

I did research on it. I just had to puke it out, if you will. I feel confident that Wheaton's going to be somebody that makes an impact this year. And the question is, is how much is he going to be able to, is it going to be the mental end of it, could be the hardest thing. Rathlisberger said

last month that a big part of what made the Steelers so dynamic down the stretch was their ability to operate in the no huddle. And he singled out, Rafflesberger singled out Wheaton and Lance Moore, who most likely will slide into Cottry's old role

as the slot guy, the big challenge for them will be picking up the aspects of the no huddle that they run. So he has challenges. He's still a very young guy. But if he can put that end of it together and he could stay healthy, he's going to do some things. This is a great spot to be in. This is why Emmanuel Sanders is not on our making the leap list because I don't think

he took advantage enough of the opportunity he had last year. You're opposite Antonio Brown. You got Ben Rathesberger at quarterback. This is a passing offense. I think they're going to be aggressive. it's a great spot. We don't know if Wheaton is going to be as good as we hope, but it makes a lot of sense that he could have a lot of numbers right away.

What do you think about Martavis Bryant? He seems to be a prototypical size speed freak. Some people in Clemson called him kind of a poor man's Randy Moss. They said he was faster than Sammy Watkins. But I think the scouting report on him was it was going to take him a little while to develop as an NFL player. But what I find interesting about the Steelers, a candidate for, team of ATL 2014

They've got an impressive draft class where a guy like Ryan Shazir is going to start right away Stefan Tewitt might start right away but they also have three guys from last year's draft that were candidates for this making the lead list. Labion Bell, Marcus Wheaton and Jarvis Jones

they're getting an infusion of two drafts worth of talent in the starting lineup. And how about David DeCastro? A fully healthy season maybe stepping up to his Steelers are all of a sudden becoming a young team. They're young and cool, Mark. I can feel Mark, maybe he's coming around to the Steelers as Team of ATL.

Mark Sessler, I feel like he is in. Yes or no? I have told you many times. You are more than welcome to select this team as your team, and you can send me a postcard from hell. I am not going to sell myself down a river and act in week one when they're taking on Cleveland and Johnny Mansell that I'm all, excited to see Pittsburgh stomping them 30 to nothing. You don't have to root for them when they're playing Cleveland. It's just the rest of the time.

Again, more than welcome to diverge on this topic. And by the way, too. I'll have my own team of ATL. How about that? Well, we all. That seems like it would be the team of Mark Sessler. Well, I'll add some context to it to maybe listeners that aren't aware. We are picking a team collectively and unanimously as the team of ATL this year, a team that

we will get behind and follow perhaps more closely than even the other 31 teams. and they will be the team that we believe in. And we are going to figure this out at some point during the summer into the fall and make the grand announcement very early in the 2014 season. Who is that team? I still think we should get some guts and do it before the season starts, but I was voted down on that. So we're going to do it.

We're going to wait for the regular season to get shaken a little bit, and then we're going to settle on a team. And the Pittsburgh Steelers potentially nominated. But as I said, Mark, since it has to be unanimous, can shoot it down. I don't like where this is going because it puts inordinate pressure on me to just agree with you guys that, yes, this is such an intriguing thing. The reason I have a problem with is because I love Andrew Luck and the Colts. That was my initial argument. Well, let's not get away who our nominations are because we're going to at least nominate one team each down the line.

So be ready for that. Well, that's a real under the radar team right there, the EFC South champion from a year ago. I believe when we did this on an episode. What a playoff game. Someone picked the Green Bay Packers. Well, that's not a lot. I mean, if we're going for under the radar team, I'm not sure the Packers. No one's picked anything.

No one's picked anything. I did nominate the Packers. They were 8, 7, and 1 last year, weren't they? I mean, none of us are going total shot in the dark. I'm just trying to get Cessler worked up. It's more key. The Super Bowl twice under Big Ben. I mean, this is not a hidden squad.

Do you see what's going on with Cecil right now? He seems to be on fire. A lot of heat. It's emanating from his body. He's rob. Walking back and forth, hands on his hips. I'm going to see this. I will not be strong-armed into waving around pom-poms for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

How about this team, guys? Redskins. No. I've thrown them out. I like them this year. I'm more open to that. No. Pretty sexy this year.

I like that. No. They've got the comeback player for the year. You got my year on that today. Okay. I'm just saying, just throwing it out there. All right. So before we go, we wanted to, I guess, a.

somewhat ties into what we're talking about. These are the team that will definitely not be the teams of ATL. Jurgon-Kleinsman, who is apparently the coach of the USA soccer team, had this quote to say before, very unusual that this would ever happen. I can't imagine ever happening in the NFL or any other U.S. professional sport, but this is what he had to say about his own team, Yurgon Kinsman, once again. For us now talking about winning a World Cup, it's just not realistic. If it is America or not, you can correct me.

So basically saying, you know, our team's pretty good. Tidie, is this correct? Our team's pretty good. Is it fair? It is fair. I mean, you've got his, Yorgon-Klysmund. He was a German striker for a couple years, obviously. You're going to Cleansmont.

Great career. Now was the coach. He's telling them, as it is, a little bit too honest with some, understandably, especially in the media that we live in today. If an NFL coach or an NBA coach, NHL coach came on and said that, you know, he would get a lot of heat like Mark Sess is bringing right now. But, I mean, I mean, I mean, it is, from the most part, true.

It's a tough, I mean, to win the World Cup, you're talking about beating out of Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Spain. Yeah, it's... It would be the most surprising thing to ever happen in World Cup history, by far. By far. Would it be like the U.S. hockey team beating Russia in 1980? I kind of get that reference, but not enough to make sense of it. But, I mean, it would be like if the bills won the Super Bowl.

All right, well, that's a good segue into what we're getting. into right now which is we're going to go through the teams and we're going to make a decision we're going to go all yurgon kinesvon and decide ourselves what teams it's unrealistic to expect the super bowl okay super bowl victory and this doesn't mean that we hate your team if your team is brought up in this group or in some cases it might in some cases of course or if you know you have no chance to contend for a playoff spot or even maybe perhaps even make the playoffs as a as a lower seed we're just saying to win the super bowl it's not realistic folks so this The segment's called Yirgon Cleans Vons picks for the Super Bowl.

Good timing because I just had a Twitter follower asked me this morning, who would be my team this year that I would bet wouldn't win six games like I did last year at the Oakland Raiders and put my softball pants on the line. And I said there really are no teams that are as talent poor as the Raiders and Jaguars were entering last season. Will Chris Wesleying eat his softball pads? We're downstairs in a faux studio right now. And somehow that sound effect, our worst sound.

effect by by far made it into the pot and you got to like that that's TD sounds beautiful let's hear it again it is by far our cheesiest sound effect will Chris Wesley he his softball pads junior high production that's an interesting point though that you don't think any team is that bad I'm trying to come up with a counter but yeah I think you're right let's go through the list and I guess maybe speak up if you realistically feel it is not realistic for this team to win the Super Bowl. That was way more complicated than it had to be.

The Buffalo Bills. Oh, they're number one. They're on the list. Not realistic. They're number one? Well, I don't know if they're number one, but they're a slam dunk. They have no chance. I would say every team that we nominate, well, you can point to the quarterback position

and say that's a giant question mark. Okay. Miami Dolphins. I wouldn't say that about them. I think they have a little chance. They're close. New England Patriots. All right?

Come. The New York Jets. They've got a chance. Yeah, Wes? Yeah, Wes coming around on the Jets. Yeah, I'm looking at this, like, a team that has no chance. Yeah. Like, close to 0.0%.

The Bills would be the only one so far that would make it for me. Baltimore Ravens. Yeah, come on. Cincinnati Bengals. Cincinnati Bengals. Yeah, of course, they could learn how to win a playoff game. Yeah. I was more asking Wes.

It's possible. I thought good things can happen. Yeah. All right, the Cleveland Browns. I think it's a question mark until we know what we have in the rookie quarterback. Oh, I could see it happening. Yeah. Winning the Super Bowl.

Yes, certainly. Suddenly, the cynic of the ATL podcast is the most positive man in the room. I love this. Chris West. Johnny football has a way of galvanizing fan bases and teams. You never know. They have something. They have a great-looking defense and a great-looking defensive-minded head coach.

They got some weapons, and if Mansell's good, I wouldn't feel comfortable putting on this list with no chance. I would say that the bills have a roster that might be as talented as Cleveland's, minus the fact that they don't have a quarterback. That's fair. All right. The Pittsburgh Steelers. Of course. The Houston Texans.

Ooh, what was that? Keep going. Changing the game. I like that. The Houston Texans. All we have Case Keenham is quarterback. That's an interesting one. Could a team piloted by a team piloted by.

I don't think they have any chance. Put them on the list. It is not realistic. There we go. Look at TV on fire. The Indianapolis cults. Of course, they have a chance. The Jacksonville Jaguars.

No chance. I didn't even wait for you guys to respond. You know what, though? But I understand why that fan base gets agitated because no matter what, it's immediately the Jaguars. And yes, this season they don't, but they're building something. I'm talking about this year. Look, we didn't decide that Chad Hennie should be their starting quarterback for the 2014. And neither have they long term.

We know that Boyliss will play. Right, but they said he's not going to play, and that Chad Hennie's their guy. And I don't believe a word of that. That precludes them from being in the Super Bowl. Could they realistically win nine games? Yeah. Sure. But I don't think they could realistically have any chance for the Super Bowl, so they're on the list.

The Tennessee. Yes. The Tennessee Titans. This was the first team I thought of. Yeah. Uh-huh. Really? Really? Jake Locker.

What are you playing 19 games going on in the house? All right. Who are their standout players? You guys are right. I think I just had the whole Justin Hunter fascination in my head. Viciously non-descript. They have your two favorite players, Bishop Sainty and Justin Hunter. Well, if they're so bad, why don't you think they're going to win six games?

You know, you wouldn't feel comfortable putting your softball pants up for them. I think they're way more talented than the Raiders were entering last season. Okay. Okay. The Denver Broncos I think they got a chance Kansas City Chiefs I don't know

Oh hang on Chris Wesley All right They got a chance The Oakland Raiders No chance There's a good one Maybe even the

World Cup equivalent of the USA San Diego Chargers Oh It's a good parallel Is it Although the Chargers Didn't hire someone from Germany To Coach 13

Chargers have a chance. Chargers have a great quarterback. Chargers have a quarterback that you could see getting MVP votes. They have a chance. He almost did last year. So, there you go. Well, yeah, USA soccer team has, insert, great player here, just like the Chargers have Billet Rivers.

Michael Bradley is the name you're looking for. Yeah, Clint Debsie. Tony Miola. I like my name. You got me on that one. Howard, is he still the goalkeeper? He is still a goalkeeper. Oh, yeah.

Plugged it. What do we like about San Diego's defense? I don't remember. Not much, but would it be crazier? This is what I'm comparing it to. The 99 Rams and the Titans. There's some crazy teams that have made the Super Bowl. Their defense did play the Broncos as well as anyone except the Seahawks.

The Cardinals, when they made the Super Bowl? I mean, let's move on to the NFC, the Dallas Cowboys. I don't think it's realistic. Hey, you got Romo. Come on. Is that good or best? I would say there's a chance. I think there's a much better chance that they have the worst defense in the NFL.

Well, they're going to be in a lot of shootouts. Greg, you decide. I think they have a chance. I'm not putting on a list. New York Giants. I'm never counting out of Eli. I am. Hey, you've done it in past.

I won't count the Giants out. Yeah, you can't. I don't think you can count the bout. Tom Coughlin. The master, Chip Kelly and the Philadelphia Eagles. Well, obviously, yes. Anybody else want to say I can't happen? It's realistic.

I'll give them that. Here's a good one. The Washington Redskins. Better chance than the Cowboys. Why not Washington? I mean, potential. Because they were one of the worst teams in the league last year. That would be the answer.

Because their defense is still helmed by Jim Haslett, who's overseen one of the worst defenses in the league for five or six years. Not on a list of teams, I'd say absolutely no way. When you've got Griffin coming back and you've got a wide receiver group that's completely different than what we saw last. Susan? Can you, T.D., can you do a ding followed by an as close together as possible?

That's the Redskins. No, they're, I'm not. They belong on the list closer than the Cowboys. Okay. I'm not going to rain them down. Lame division, too. Chicago Bears. They got a chance.

Detroit Lions. They got a chance. Green Bay Packers. Of course. Favorite. Minnesota Vikings. Come on. They don't have a chance until the Super Bowl is in Minnesota.

They're a long way away. They would have to have Teddy Bridgewater play lights out. Again, everyone, don't take this personally. It doesn't mean we dislike your team. What do you say? Except in some cases. Now, West of the list so far, are there any cases where you genuinely dislike a team?

Well, I really love the Raiders organization of the 70s and 80s, and I have a fondness for their history, but I have really started loathing them lately. All right. Confirming it. There you go. A little analysis there. The Atlanta Falcons.

Oh, that's an interesting one. They definitely have a chance. They have a chance. All right. All right. Talk about a team getting players back from injury, too. Yeah, they definitely have a chance. The 2013 team of ATL, I think you get grandfathered into realistic possibility

if you're the team of ATL, the Carolina Panthers. They've got a chance. No, Mark? I'll give them a chance. I mean, again, you've got a quarterback. They're not the same team they were last year, but that front seven hasn't changed much. The New Orleans Saints? Definitely.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Well, if Josh McCown is half as good as Chris Wesley seems to think he is. Making the leap. Johnny Unitist. Hey, Brad Johnson can take the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl title, so can. I don't think Brad Johnson. Wesleyan spent the weekend carving out the bust for Josh McCown and Canton. He's such a big thing.

That's fair. Making the leaf Number 25, Josh McCann. Wait, does that mean I think I'm not going to write them down. Yeah, I got a shot. They got a shot. They got a quarterback.

They got a shot. They do have a great defense. They do? Great defensive coach. I think they will. Oh, okay. All right, we got to get out of here. I don't need you guys a little bit more bowl than that.

The bucks have a chance to be in the Super Bowl? Sure. Okay. They have a quarterback. All right. Did we set the Arizona Cardinals? Yeah. I think that whole division has a chance.

Yeah, so St. Louis Rams, San Francisco 49ers, and, of course, the Seattle Seahawks. All right, folks. So this is going to be pretty much a fork power rankings. I didn't even think of that. We're sticking a fork in them before the season starts. I'm going to read this list, not in order of the teams how forked they are, but they're all totally forked in the end. These are teams that realistically, it's unrealistic to think that they will win the Super Bowl, the Houston Texans. Jacksonville Jaguars

Tennessee Titans the Buffalo Bills the Oakland Raiders and the Minnesota Vikings What do all those teams haven't come? Quarterback questions quarterback question

Other than the Vikings they're all in the AFC So that's good news for the rest of the AFC Very true All right that's it gentlemen For Monday's edition of the Around the League podcast

We will be back on Wednesday for another show I'm touching Mark as we get ready to sign off We will be back Wednesday, talk more. Football goodness. Maybe we'll even talk to Kevin Patra just to confirm he's alive. Until then, this is Dan Hansa signing up.

Signing off for the Sizzler, the mailman, the boss. Take a date behind the glass. Until once. We're in Germany's heat, and we have a German coaching the states. Oh, Germany's group. That's what you've met. Gotcha. We said that we will not win. Does that sound at all controversial?

Oh, that's, that's problem. This is an IHeart podcast.