NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Opening Night Takeaways and What You People Don't Realize from Radio Row

Episode Date: January 30, 2019

From atop a stage on Radio Row – Dan Hanzus, Gregg Rosenthal, Marc Sessler, Chris Wesseling and Colleen Wolfe – react to Super Bowl Opening Night (9:00)! The heroes share their observations from the vivacious evening, including - Tom Brady appearing relaxed (12:10), Nickell Robey-Coleman backtracks on his TB12 comments (18:50) and New England forms a new Super Bowl slogan (23:35). After, Colleen sings the heroes into Odds and Ends (35:20), as Wess reveals his HOF power rankings (36:15), what direction will Washington take with Alex Smith expected to be out in 2019 (37:30) and Gorgg gives an update on Pat Patriot’s health (40:10). Lastly, ‘What You People Don’t Realize’ (44:45) is James Devlin is the most important backfield player in the Super Bowl (47:40) and do the Patriots run every time Sony Michel is on the field (51:30)?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. Hey, everybody. Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the 6th, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else.

It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sunday. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The Around the NFL podcast is the Scott Zolak of Podcasts. Welcome to another edition of the Around the NFL podcast. My name is Dan Hans, as I'm joined in a convention hall filled with heroes. Mark Sessler, Chris Wesley, Holly, Wolf, and Frank Rose. Hello, what is other people? I'm back. Connie!

In a total rapport shredding moment, as Connie was introducing yourself, Greg just stood up on a stool in the middle of that announcement of our show to do something that... This is an audio program. You don't have to explain everything. I wanted to see if Zolak was back there. Because, yeah, they're going to cut it up for social, whatever. It's a podcast. People are listening to Danarch.

People are listening to it in their ears, you know. And I wanted to see if Zolak was over there because it's the rare time where we can make a Zolak joke and be in. Craig, you're right. We don't have to explain everything. We are about, and Colleen, we're going to get to because you haven't been on the show in a long time. But Greg, how to make some comments. A big guy. We had about, we're about 30 yards or so away from 985, the sports hub.

And Zolak is doing a show all week from there. I don't know. He just left. If it's time to... We're stalking him. I don't know. But, yes, we're here at what they call the Super Bowl Media Center, which used to be known in the old days as Radio Row.

I still call it Radio Row. But I'm an old time. I think everyone does. I didn't realize the name changed. Yeah, a few years back, they branded it as the NFL brands everything. Colleen Wolfe, we talked about this on text. We don't like to talk on the phone. Right.

A lot of texting, though. And this is your first pod appearance. proper since when? Since I think August. That's too long. Like where I've been sitting with you guys, which is crazy. Wow. I know.

I don't think I've even seen you since August. I mean, outside of like on screen doing screen things. You're right. On screen doing screen things. I live on a screen now. It's so weird. There was the night out with Reggie Bush. Oh, that's right.

The Thanksgiving Eve. But yeah. It wasn't there. Oh, you're right. Well, I haven't had weekends in Los Angeles since August. So it's all about to change. Look at this. We're back together, gang.

There's nothing quite like off-season Connie Fox because they really, your career has taken off. You've kind of surpassed us, which explains a lot of why you're not on the show anymore. I mean, you started ahead of us, too, but yeah. She started ahead and then we kind of were catching up. And then out of nowhere, there was this rocket ride where she's now one of the top network talent. We're very proud of you, Connie. But, you know, what happens with Colleen.

Wolf is they get they get a lot of use out of the Fox from let's say what August through January but Connie Fox offseason it is a party from about February through July and there are multiple trips around the world it cannot be contained by the 50s so no gonzo your husband has a job in theory although it seems to be a lot of just hanging out at home he gets so angry at me because he has a podcast that he does every Monday and every Monday I forget that he's hosting the podcast and I'm always like wait what are you doing where are you going and he's like I have a job calling you're not the only one who hosts shows so we're about we're heading into connie season so that's exciting so we're getting you right at the end of that and so the whole gang's back together we're here in

atlanta Super Bowl 53 is five days away the uh los angeles rams and new england patriots and let's just set the scene. First of all, coming up today, we're going to go through all the news and then we're going to a return of a segment we debuted over the summer what you people don't realize.

I'm excited about that to see, you know, in Super Bowl week, it's like what has not been covered at this point? Well, we're about to uncover some things that people just aren't talking about. Dan told me the delivery

is very important with that segment. Maximum, maximum condescending attitude. is what you're looking for. But this week, we're going to have our live show from City Winery here in Atlanta, Thursday night. I think we're just about sold out. But check out the website, see if you're in the area, if you want to travel, see if you can snag a ticket.

Otherwise, you can go outside and scalp it an insane price. Greg, I know you like to live in the realm of kind of underground, seedy business dealings. That's what the scalping industry is essentially The move is to wait until the last minute If you're going to scalp I did that with the World Series You just show up there and have confidence That you're going to get it last minute

I did have a friend that said they were looking For concert tickets on ticket masks Or on some ticket site For this week and we showed up on the list So that's like We've made it We've made it Take that NFL now

And weirdly he said there were hundreds And hundreds of tickets still available Well, that makes sense, too. Starting Wednesday through Friday, it is our, God, I'm going to get this wrong. Super Bowl live show? No. Mark Brady. Shaddy League figure says no.

Super Bowl today is the name of the show. If you go, is that going to be on NFL.com, the homepage? Yeah, thumbs up. I don't know what's going on. So at noon, Eastern, thumbs up again. I'm learning in real time about our shows. That's perfect for everyone age 50 to. 60 attached home to a desktop computer.

I know your career has taken off, but if you want to learn anything about hosting, just, thank you. Wednesday through Friday, Super Bowl now. At noon Eastern on NFL.com, we'll be doing interviews with a ton of stars, including Mark. My stars, my wood. Sometimes you get the vapors, Mark Sessla.

Baker Mayfield is on the docket. Oh, you're going to have the vapors. I normally do not sleep well in general, but I've just honestly been feeling a little nervous about this and hot at all times, so I'm not sure how we'll go. Really? I had an idea, by the way. Are you going to bring him cake?

What if when Baker... He's like half your age. That doesn't matter. He saved my team. What about when Baker comes onto the set? What if wordless, we all, Wes, Greg, and myself just stand up and walk away. And it's just the two of you. Please do it, please.

What would your P-scale be right then? Would you want us to do that? Yes, I would. I actually would like to talk to him and have all of you far away. I just want them to myself. I think that could be arranged. I don't want to hear about everyone else's stuff. I want to sit down with Baker Mayfield for like two or three hours

and just process the entire movement. I mean, I think that can be arranged. We have plenty of guests, Juju, Smith, Schuster, Jamal, Adams. I'll sit out with Juju. Tons of guests all week. So I would be happy to have all of us sit out in the bakery and have a one-on-one. Are you kidding me? it would be terrible.

We all need to be there. Another funny move would be to have Baker and then cut Mark's mic. That would also be funny. What would you rather have happened? I would take people out if that happened. So anyway, that's just one of many guests. We have a ton of big-time guests on the dot-com show. Then I said the city winery.

And then, of course, Sunday night, we have Super Bowl Sunday coverage. Hopefully a Patriots defeat to discuss for the second straight year. Hopefully. hey you got to make the game to lose that is what they say that is true all right you're ready to get into the news though there's a lot to talk about i can't wait uh so let's do it ricky hollywood she's she's sitting crisscross applesauce is what they say now at schools politically correct that's how she's sitting right in front of us with a computer throw us into the news hey julian have you ever heard of the around the nfl podcast have you ever heard about the around the nfl podcast have you ever heard about the around the NFL podcast i have not okay well they're just really big fans to you and i wanted to let you know what is it called around the NFL around the NFL yeah appreciate it let's go i'm going to check it

out you've got a fan that's fantastic julian edelman who has never heard of our show and yet his representatives desperately trying to offload overstock of their ridiculous t-shirts did you get a shirt no they took a bath on those t-shirts they're trying to offload it all and he doesn't know the show, but his agent does, apparently. I thought you didn't even want a shirt anyway. I don't. I told you, I would burn it

and put it on Instagram if I ended up on that show. I mean, how many t-shirts would you have to buy for a guy who's made tens of millions of dollars to take a bath on the product? Rich people could take a bath on a business deal, you know, at any point. I want one. I'm going to put it in my garage.

I'm going to hang it up. Yeah, my kids are excited. My son loves the walk. They will disappear systematically from each of your homes if you accept them. That was Julian Edelman at opening night. That was Erica Tamposi. She doesn't have a mic. I would like to talk about how she felt talking to Julian, but maybe we'll do that.

She loved it. Her heart was pounding. She's pounding night takeaways. She's pounding her shirt from the Charlie Brown collection. Oh, no, she is going to come after you. She doesn't have a mic. She's saying that's not fair. That's actually great.

She, Erica, before the show started, buried Greg saying his shirt was from Hot Topic, which was a nice dig, and Greg was silent for about a minute and a half afterwards. He's like, I don't even know what Hot Topic is. If you come after Greg, a very common move with Greg is if you go after him, he goes quiet, he starts thinking. He's pensive.

And then he goes through the robot brain and figures out how to deliver the return fire. And then he zaps you. and Erica, he went after the woman without a mic, which in today's times, oh, a woman can't speak for herself, Greg? That feels dodgy, Greg. Very dodgy territory for you to wait into. She speaks plenty. Wow.

Wow. The heat between you guys. That is ridiculous. Opening night, Greg, you were in attendance. Mark, you were there for a brief time. I heard you made a cameo. I made a cameo. That's the best way to handle that event.

Henry Hodgson, NFL, UK, Hank told me last night that he was entering the facility just as it was kicking off and you were already heading back to the hotel. Well, I was like 14 minutes on foot removed from the event when I saw Henry. And honestly, I feel like it's three years away from becoming the fire festival. And it added probably, I think it honestly added two years to my, I don't mean Super Bowl livelihood, but my human life to leave when I did. Wait, I would love a little bit more of an explanation. Why is it the fire fest?

Why, oh, yeah. I think it is ripe for at some point, it just keeps getting bigger. and more chaotic. It is ripe for something that goes totally over peak threshold and has a total meltdown thing where everyone's sort of locked in. Probably it'll be next year at like the Marlin Stadium. Everyone locked in and they can't get out. And you got all these like hot people and athletes like loafing around

eating each other by the end of the night. Is it? It's very bad. It was very. It was very unique and very marked that he showed up like an hour and a half early to stand on. And I wasn't there. I got there really late to stand on the floor and then left a meal. immediately after it started.

I didn't know how to get back to the hotel. And I knew if I went back to the hotel, I would never make it back to media night. So I checked the box as lightly as possible and danced out of there before it got overly tedious. Well, let's get into it. Greg, you're working on some written pieces, I believe, and you talked with some lesser stars.

You didn't really hang out around the risers where the big names were, but what were like some takeaways you had from the night? Well, from watching, you know, the coverage of it, just how relaxed Tom Brady. is. And this extends from last week, and really the Saturday press conference he had in Foxborough, it really struck me how contemplative he was and philosophical and enjoying the moment. Damashek and I've talked about it beforehand, but he really does seem about as relaxed and happy. And maybe it's just because this season doesn't have anything heavy attached to it.

There's no drama about a gate, or there's no him and Belichick warring, or it's just he knows how improbable it is that he got back after a tough season to vindicate what happened last year at this stage. But he seems thrilled and about as confident as can be. I mean, it's routine for him. Right, but often he's the Super Bowl every year. But he's very edgy, very often in these settings. I don't find him to, I feel like if Brady's mastered anything at these events that can

sweep other players away, that he has seen pretty common on top of it to me. This is going to sound like just Dan being bitter about the Patriots, but I honestly do believe why Brady might seem so laid back is what are like what are the stakes for tom Brady and the Patriots obviously winning the Super Bowl yes but if they win does it teach us anything we didn't already know about the quarterback the coach the team it's the greatest quarterback and the greatest coach arguably the greatest team ever if they lose well well they made it back to another Super Bowl he doesn't really have anything he needs to prove to anybody anymore And I feel like that's different from even the Atlanta sewer.

I feel like that was maybe when they had a great comeback against Atlanta, to me that kind of settled any lingering doubt about anything about Belichick or Brady. Where are we at now in terms of stakes for the Patriots? I hear what you're saying, and that seems fair. But I think he would look at it like I'm a lifestyle pioneer and I'm trying to prove you can do something at almost 42 years old. I hate the way to say that. You're probably right, but is he looking at it from a brand standpoint?

No, I think he really thinks I'm doing something that's going to help other athletes in 20 years do this. And then even when you're watching Bill Belichick there, he looks so, he looks genuinely happy, which is weird. Unsettling. Yeah, and you see him at every other press conference during the entire year so annoyed at every single question. And then at this event, like, he actually does smile. And I know that that's like a, that's an annoying thing that people keep track of how many times he smiled. But some of those smiles are actually genuine, which is strange to me. And Gronk's like breaking down insane dance moves just makes me feel like he's feeling good.

His body feels good. And to answer your thing on Brady, to use his words, he's saying now like he realized just like life isn't about piling up those Super Bowls or proving where you are in history, I guess. But that it's just the experience, that your life is an accumulation of experience. and that's really all that matters to it. Hold on though. Are those moments and what is a greater experience for him than the one like he experienced in Kansas City? And you saw him act like a kid in that moment.

And I think to share that with this particular team, he's going to enjoy that experience and it's going to be a rough one if they lose it, but he's going to enjoy it all the way there. I got to stop you with one thing. I hear you. He has been reflective and showing all those qualities, but what a way to slow play everyone,

including the Rams, to act. like it doesn't matter to Tom Brady. That doesn't mean it doesn't matter. I can't think of anyone who has a bitter, more bitter pill in their mouth from last year's game less than a year ago than Tom Brady and the way that went down. I think he absolutely wants this as much as any other game he's ever played.

But both of those things can be true. Well, then they're both true. But, I mean, you've got to be giving me a break with this. He's someone looking back on his life. He's three days away from the biggest game of his career. I mean, I think that's how I think about my life now is that, like, the only thing to me that really matters is like accumulating those 30 seconds or maybe it's a day those moments that

mean something to you and he knows enough about himself that he's in that position we're talking about a quarterback who has described losing as a quality of life issue he really believes that that his life is worse if he loses and his life is i mean he's married to a supermodel it makes together what a hundred million how does that make him unique by the way that for a professional athlete that losing is a quality of life issue i don't think everyone thinks of it like that way it doesn't make him anybody i don't know i know i know this is hero worship week for brady and legend worship week well here but he's not that different than here's why because he's he's he's he is because he's experienced things no football player has ever come so how about ever somebody else gets

to experience it right i mean i'm just saying christ no one's the best no one's ever been to their ninth super bowl at 41 year no one's had all those wins no one's had all those losses like he's doing a path that's going to be a long he's been able to have this experience in so many different ways for himself. And so it's nice, I'm sure, for him to be able to have that luxury. And now a quick word from our sponsor, guys, God, you know it. You're terrible taking care of your health, whether it's a knee injury, bad back, or something worse.

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because we didn't watch our help because you didn't go to the doctor yeah see that's what we're getting at here made and you know what transition into erectile dysfunction study shows 70% of guys in a seamless transition we were we were we were so baited into this by Dan you act like I read this copy before studies show 70% of guys who experience ED they don't get treated for it Thankfully, Roman created an easy way to get checked out by a doctor and get treated for ED online. Roman is a one-stop shop where licensed U.S. physicians can diagnose ED and ship medication right to your door with Roman. There are no waiting rooms, awkward face-to-face conversations, or uncomfortable trips to the pharmacy.

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but with Roman, it's easy to take care of. For a free online visit, go to getRoman.com slash around. That's getRoman.com slash around. For a free online visit, getRoman.com slash around. All right, and... We should talk the Rams a little. Nicole Roby Coleman, who, of course,

was involved in one of the most... famous plays of the decade, the non-call. He got fined, not only to not get called for, you know, past interference, he also got fined for unnecessary roughness, Wes, on the play that cost the Saints, essentially a shot at the Super Bowl. And then he gets to Super Bowl week, and he's the guy that gets roped into making the first controversial statement, quote unquote, about Tom Brady, saying that age is, quote, taking a toll on the quarterback.

If you watch the tape, he's not the same guy that he was earlier in his career. And then something interesting at opening night happened, which was I was watching the telecast, and Les Need is at the dais for NFL Network. And clearly Les is a little annoyed. They're talking about Coleman's comments. And they're like, well, now we have Dion with Nicole Roby Coleman. Let's listen.

So Les Need is his boss is listening to him to say, don't say anything stupid. and this is how Coleman walked back those comments. The only thing I said was his age is the only thing that changed from now to here, and I feel like his skills and his arm is still strong. He's still a goat. He's still a legend. That's what I want to get across. Elsewhere in Media Night.

Anybody have anything else? Yeah, I thought he nailed it. Like his analysis was the best analysis I've heard from anyone on Tom Brady all year, and then he had to walk back because he's afraid of Tom Brady. Yeah. Like Michael Brocker said the same thing last night. We're afraid to being the story, which the team, obviously, the Rams probably pulled them aside.

He's like, bro, pipe down. We don't need that on the bulletin board. Michael Brocker said the same thing last night. He said he's not the same at 42. He added a year to his age as he has at 24. It's like that's just obvious. Or that's a great prediction he's talking about next year. Gronk had his own riser.

It's a cast system opening night where your human value is kind of, to judge by whether or not they give you the riser. Granc gets a riser. He's a future hallfamer. He's a legend. We have this sound from Gronk. He didn't want to talk about retirement. There's a lot of speculation that this is going to be his final game on Sunday. He didn't want to talk about that, but he is still a guy.

Gronk likes to party. Oh, yeah, we got Shaq's fun house Friday night, and who says I'm not going to his party? Hit up Shaq, tell him I'll be there, baby. I bet you he'll get a little crazy, a little excited. We had a good time together. I'll probably be on his shoulders again. I mean, it's just two days before the Super Bowl. I'll probably be there until 5 a.m.

Speaking of Shaq, he's going to be on Super Bowl today Thursday, scheduled guest. We're going to talk to Shaquille O'Neal. Ooh, that's exciting. What's Super Bowl today? I don't know. It's starting tomorrow. Hypothetically, that we're involved with. Brady, by the way, circling back to Brady,

he told Jeff Darlington, our former NFL media colleague, that there is zero. chance that he retires after the Super Bowl. Speaking of overplayed media stories and things getting hammered into the ground mark, Sean McVeigh made the mistake of telling Peter King what? Yeah, the little nugget that, you know, oh, Belichick and I, we've exchanged texts. And then by the time, you know, which that happened. And it's kind of intriguing yet not shocking because they're in a small fraternity

of people that respect each other. And he watched the Rams Vikings game from earlier in the year. Belichick and said, hey, think your team's explosive. But it turns into this thing where everyone's saying, oh, you guys are best friends, and they're up on the stage together. And even the look on Belichick's face is like, he probably doesn't text anyone more than like twice a month or something.

Like, are you suddenly pen pals from 1986? McVeigh was so embarrassed. Yeah, he wanted it gone. That was a rookie mistake, a Super Bowl rookie mistake. You don't tell anybody anything interesting, especially early in the week. I liked his bomber jacket, though, by the way, which was amazing to see him in the bomber jacket and jeans next to Belichick.

in the white sneakers. Yeah, exactly. I don't get that at Hot Topic. Hey, did you guys know that Sean McVeigh is 33? I hadn't heard that, but how old is Bill Belichick? 66. He's half the age.

Oh, my God. We should talk about that. Tom Brady's 41, not 42. And as we know, the hashtag bet against us, slogan got thrown back in the throne of Sleez's face, and people rejected it. So they had to cook up

new slogan ahead of the Super Bowl, Greg, and Tom Brady in the going away party before they got on the plane to Atlanta was happy to try to get a new viral marketing scheme off the ground after the horrendous embarrassment of that against us. We're excited. I hope you guys are excited. And as Des said, let's let him hear it all the way down in Atlanta. We're still here. We're still here.

We're still here. We're still here. We're still here. We're still here! All right. Oh, yeah. Brady, to paint a picture, after he finishes this chant, he tosses the mic to Zolak, who drops it. But Zolak is so smitten by the We're Still Here chant that he goes, oh yeah.

You could probably hear us right now. Scott's bigger than me. You could fit, like, I think Greg, Wes, Mark, and Colleen inside of Zolak's body. So I don't want to egg him on too much. them on too much um so they go we're still here which is almost gregg a ton let's just be honest the people all the people that the millions of people that don't want the patriots here it goes beyond like some type of like mobilizing battle cry and more just like f you guys yeah i think that's what they've that's nice that's where we're at now like but that is i mean

listen to this entire you know preamble and podcast everyone is so tired of them being here because they're past the expiration of what everyone expected every every Everyone really thought all season that they were finally gone. And we talked about it a million times. So the fact they're here is like the annoyance level is at an all-time high, I feel like. Yeah, I think you're right about that. Yeah, it's Patriot season. Greg, you are, you like to go to some of the fancy pants media events and rub elbows with the Peter Kings of the world.

Will you be at the Roger Goodell press conference tomorrow? When is that? I don't know. But that's when they're going to address. If we don't have anything to do at the time, I'll go. It's right in this building. I feel like that's right up Rosenthal's alley. That's when the NFL will finally at last potentially address the blown call from the NFC championship game,

which is this is a story, Greg, that's been picking up traction that the NFL, obviously Sean Payton immediately after the game had stated that he had made a call to Ron Riveron, the VP of officiating, who said they blew the call. But we have not heard anything from the league. and Benjamin Watson on Twitter expressed frustration with that, and you've seen that pop up in different places. The expectation is that Goodell will address it on Wednesday. What's he going to say? That's what I mean.

It's not to mulls over. I think it's stale by now. By Tuesday of Super Bowl week, I think it's stale. According to who is a Patriots fan, I'm sure. No, Patriots have nothing to do with it. I would say two days ago, it sort of started getting stale. And, yeah, people have moved on because it's already had kind of the counter argument,

which is like, wait, the NFL admits that they're wrong all the time. What is that going to make any difference? They've said that a million different times. And of course he's going to say it tomorrow. It's one of the more boring controversies because it's not like anyone is denied. But no one's denied. It's such an obvious call. There's nothing to say about it.

Like, of course, of course, they called the coach. before he even got to the press conference and said it was the wrong call and then he announced that they said it. So what does it matter? I don't know who you're pre. You're not preaching to me. I'm saying if you read people around the game

are surprised and annoyed that the NFL has not publicly owned up to this. Yeah, I would say at the end of last week into the weekend, but it's kind of passed. And they'll ask about it and he'll say it was the wrong call. And what is it going to help anyway? It's not going to change anything right now, but I guess going forward it will.

Everything that he says carries more weight when he says it. I will be interested to hear what he says about what they're going to do in terms of changing replay. I mean, that's absolutely on the table and that's like the conversation. I think that's going to dominate the owners meetings when we're there. And in other news, Seth Wickersham of ESPN dropped a long, long, long, long feature on the inside story

of the Cleveland Browns over the last few years. It's centered mostly Mark Sessler around, well, a couple of them. covered a lot of things. But kind of the bigger picture was the Haslums, Jimmy and D. Haslam, what their effect has been on the organization and their inability to kind of get out of their way. I figured you read that with a lot of interest. What were your thoughts about the piece from Wickersham? First on tone, because I think Wickersham specializes, and every time he writes something, it's like you have to click into it and cancel your morning plans to check it out. he drops A-bombs and they're long-researched, you know, slow-brewing reports with lots of sourcing,

and they are almost like as fetching as like a short detective novel because you're going to get facts and stuff that you've never thought you'd get. And I thought he delivered on some accounts with the Brown's one, but in contrast to the Patriots one that came out a season ago, that seemed almost perfectly timed to amp up the controversy around the Patriots and tweak them just in time for. their stretch run. With the Browns one to me, and I'm not saying this just as a Browns fan, it felt a little bit ill-timed. Like it could have been something that would have been a total heat seeker that came out before the season. It didn't really capture, I thought, some of the changes that have happened when you get a franchise quarterback. It effectively put you ill at ease if you're a Browns fan around Brown's ownership. But I don't think that's a, there were details

that were new. I don't think it was a tremendous revelation that owner. even by their own words have been an issue in Cleveland. There is one tangible difference that they did mention at the end of the article that for the first time ever you don't have a coach and GM both reporting to Haslam, at least in terms of the org chart. It's the first time the GM is hired a coach. It's the first time the team seems to have buy-in with the coach from inside, and the coach will be reporting to John Dorsey.

So I guess coming out of this season, there's a lot to cling on to and be hopeful if you're supporting a supporter of the Browns. And this article in the past would have sent me into a dark mood. And I kind of just said, fine, I'm moving on. So like kind of dark, but not as. Not really. It honestly, like, I thought there was really good research in it, but it's like you can't.

It was all this stuff. Right, it just felt a little. A lot of it was pre-John Dorsey. Right, it was sort of pre-all last season. And you can't really wipe away, I think, the momentum going forward. They still have to be better than seven, eight, and one. This is one of the best reporters in the business. Like you said, he's very well-sourced.

I just thought most of the article was like 2017, 2018. It didn't bring much new to me. And I think they played up the pot shots and the sensationalism a little bit, too. Like, I don't think we needed the hashtag about the porn accident or whatever. Like, that was solely in there just to take a shot at the Browns. I did feel bad. I mean, it's too good of a detail. Well, what is out?

I mean, what's the detail? It was a hashtag DP for Dog Pound, and they projected it on a screen in the room. And it was up for like... At the complet at the Brown's headquarters on a big wall. It was up for like 20 minutes, and, you know, everybody apparently got a big kick out of it, and you've got to put it in a 2019 article now, I guess. I would argue bad hashtag. It was...

It was... Just a little more clarity. The hashtag led to videos and photos being projected on this giant wall in the Brown's facility of an X-rated nature. Which is, I think it's a funny little flavor color. You do the math. Yeah, and I don't know. What I took away from the article was, the timing of it's perfect because it's like of all these, the terrible things that have happened with the Browns,

well, where the story ends is, and it might be okay now. Because now you have Dorsey who's done a nice job so far. You obviously have the young star quarterback, and maybe, just maybe the Haslums are getting out of the way now. So that's the positive spin of it. If I was a Brown fan, the one thing that I'd take away is, God, hope things are okay now because there's a lot of evidence that he might not be able to stay out of the way that's fair because we don't have there's always in the next chapter and if the next chapter doesn't continue to build off this brief positive one year you know buffeted by 20

awful years before he's hands on right he's not involved with the flying pilot jane the way he used to be so the browns are his baby yeah they're his baby and will he be able to stay out of the way ultimately yeah it's the question it felt like the whole thing was just about the Haslam's being new to ownership and all of the mistakes that they sort of made along the way. Two things kind of stood out to me in this one. One that I kind of felt bad for Ray Farmer in this piece, just listening to the fact that, yeah, he didn't even interview for the GM job. And after Joe Banner and Michael Lombardi were out, it was just like, Jimmy Haslam was like,

hey, you're hired. And so he kind of knew from the jump that he was going to be, him and Petten were going to be the ones kind of blamed for everything. going wrong. That and then also on top of it that Jimmy Haslam seems so impulsive with his decisions and he doesn't have a whole lot of patience at all, but he did have the patience to watch Hugh Jackson go one and 31 like that. Well, the fact there were pretty interesting details and it wasn't as salient because they finished the season strong, but if they had finished three and 13, then it would have felt better timing. The fact that he was the only one that wanted Hugh Jackson

and four other people in the front office wanted Sean McDermott. That was a new fact and really throughout the article that Haslam was really the one guiding all of these hirings and firings that the GM didn't have much say to me was telling and it does would worry me about the future that pattern cannot continue and you have to wonder if there if there is a growth pattern to becoming an owner where you hit a point where you say it's time to listen to football people and football people alone we'll see that's that's my point we've been talking about that very thing on our podcast for three or four years. But it was even worse.

The one driving them. Yeah, and it was maybe even a little worse than you would have thought just because you got some of the details of like the capricious nature of the, you know, the way it happened with Farmer or even Joe Banner, like the way they were fired

just kind of blindsided, showing up to dinner and having just the whole thing. I talked to Wickersham last night, actually, and there is a very high temperature jets piece coming out next week, so get ready for that. I'm excited about that, I'm sure it would be great. And now a word from our sponsor. Stand out at your event for the right reasons with the black tucks.com.

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Odds and ends. Hey, everybody, tell your friends, because it's time for odds and ends. Now, shoot. I gave you, that's a 7.8 out of 10. Wow, you're a good, that's a great grade. Am I on a curve? It was a half a beat behind at the end there.

Much better. How about the tone of it? How about the tone was good? The singing tone. The tone was fine. I can tell you've been doing a lot of live television work because here in this chaotic setting that we're in, you did one of your best performances yet.

I performed really well under pressure and under the lights. Now remember. Like gronk, half a beat behind, but then you find it by the end. And then I got there. Yeah, you're right. Remember, you get one more chance at the end of the segment. Odds and ends. Here we go.

Real quick, let's spin through this. Greg. Hall of Fame, the voting. The announcement comes at the end of this week. You love that. that event who's going into the hall you think oh i have no idea i'm i've i've done a power rankings all right let's hear it ed reed number one uh-huh great call tony gonzalez number two no brainer and i've got to be right one of the defining corners of those are those are the three

no brainers who's who would be somebody that you know could sneak in somebody that's been about isaac bruce isaac bruce and i thought steve hutchinson former seahawks and viking's guard It's a Patriots week here. Tileau and Richard Seymour in the final 15. Seymour might be tough. Tony Bisselli maybe. But Thai law, I think, could have a chance. I feel like Jets' legend.

It's not fair, but they feel like the Patriots are underrepresented. Our co-worker. Had that big moment in the first Rams Patriots. How about Gil Brands, our coworker? Well, he's definitely in. So I got that correct. No, they have to. I'm out.

We already knew that. No, they have to approve it. Oh, you're right. Yeah. And one. I'm right again. Wait, who would say, actually, no, Gil. we've changed our mind.

We will not approve it. They have this Veterans Committee thing, and you have to get 80% of the vote, I believe, on Saturday when they vote. And there is one, and it's only been this process for five years, and there is one guy who made it this far and then got shut down.

Wow. Paul Tagliabu? Two guys, then, I think. You're right. I think Tagliabu did make it this far one time. Pat Bowlin's in that same. It's not a total lock. All right.

Also, Ian Rappapaport reports that the Redskins are planning to be without Alex Smith in 2019. Connie, give me something quick there. Oh, hey, I don't know what they're going to do. What are they going to do? I don't know, because it's like, I got to draft somebody, right? I saw that brace too, and I know you were talking about it on the podcast,

and that looks horrendous just to see it in person like that or just, you know, a picture of it. But you don't even know if he's going to play next year, so you kind of have to plan and maybe draft a prospect and bring somebody else in. Maybe Joe Flacco is there. there maybe i mean i know you've mentioned nick full so many times but that's the same division as the eagles i i can't imagine that that would end up happening all right andtonio brown has not

closed the door on a return to the steelers that a call also according to rap sheet mark you want him out of the division right get him out of here sure i mean it's the second year in a row that the steelers have laced us with an offseason storyline based around a star player that's going to have four to five hundred articles written and we're like there really is a time that we can just find out what will happen here. Why do we need to mix up with this until we just know? It's going to happen at some point. Oh, man.

Cam Newton. Cam Newton undergoes shoulder surgery, maybe not as serious as was initially feared. Do we have any updates on Cam Newton? Are they going to be able to start the season with their franchise passer? They say he'll be ready for OTAs, but these off-season timetables are always overly optimistic, including the one that Cam Newton had just. two years ago for a similar surgery. But this doesn't seem like an Andrew Luck situation, which...

It doesn't, but it's a human body. You don't know what's going to happen. I do, actually. Human body. It'll be a human body, and he'll be okay. Great. Nick Folk signs with the Arizona hotshots of the AAF. It's happening.

It's coming. Saucy. Connie, what if somebody offered you half your current salary, so something in the seven-figure range? Yeah, okay. To jump no summer. of Connie to jump right into lead anchor coverage of the AAF, would you take the gig? No.

You don't have to leave this job, though. You can keep this job and just... But I don't get the summer of Connie? No, you lose the summer of Connie. Think about it. Well, either you're not materialistic or you don't need the money. I would love the money. The money would be great, but I like the summer of Connie a lot better than money.

How about Gonsa host two podcasts a week instead of one? Yeah. How about that? The money might not be the same. And finally, Greg, I know you are plugged in on this. Please give us an update on the health of Patriot, who was senselessly cut down in his prime by Jets Star. Nay, legend, Jamal Adams,

who tackled him from behind, leading to reports that Pat patriot, the mascot, was hospitalized, which was clearly floated by the Patriots to make it a more serious-minded story, as they are wont to do. It turned out he just got checked out, but his neck hurts and his back hoids. Oh, and he's so sore. I hope he's okay.

Any updates on Patriot? I mean, no updates on that, but he's in better shape than the Pro Bowl trophy that Jason Witton took apart. That was one of the defining moments of the 2018 season, and one of the things that has made me most happy in this calendar year. It was an amazing moment. It was such a perfect bow on,

what was an S sandwich of a year for Witten. So you don't, I don't, I'm not happy that it happened to him, but it is kind of perfect. The trophy part you can be happy for it. That was just a funny moment. The fact that he didn't know like what team Eric Ebron was on is a little. It's on his helmet. He knows.

The logo was on his helmet. Poor Witton, you feel bad for him because he just, it clearly gets a little scrambled. And what Greg's referring to is Ebram catches a touchdown in the Pro Bowl, which by the way, I don't, did anybody watch a game? I watched about a half of it in the airport. I was glued to it. Yeah, it didn't seem.

like anybody was really running. I would say that like the negative. It was in the rain. It's the first NFL game I've seen where the line play between like eight or nine, ten beefy men basically reminded me of when you're like in high school trying in between classes just to get from one class to the next. Just sort of slowly dodging people, no major issues.

I think it's time. Are we allowed to talk about that? It's probably time to make this game go away. Mark, is it okay? Mark Brady, shadow league figure. Can we say that it's okay to make the Pro Bowl go away forever? I think that we should keep the, I think the pro pole is great.

I love the skills competition. I love like the obstacle course. I love like dodge ball. The game is like less fun. Von Miller fired. They used him as a quarterback and his skills challenge. That I enjoyed. I would like to see more defensive linemen playing quarterback in situations.

So Whitten, yeah, Patrick Mahomes threw a touchdown to Eric Ebron and Witton said, you know, that was a connection that worked all year. That's been his guy all year. This isn't a position I usually take, but isn't this. It's one of those things where we just say, hey, it's meant for 12-year-olds, not adults, and maybe we can just look the other way. Eight million people still watched it, yeah. It's fine with me. Let's do that.

Yeah. It's for 12-year-olds. I realize there are movies that aren't meant for me, and people watch them. That's what's happening in news. In fact, that's the end of odds and ends. Hit it. Odds and ends. Hey, everybody, tell your friends.

Odds and ends. Oh, see, you didn't account that you started about. beat later. So you didn't make up that time. It's timed weird. I think it's an oddly timed song and that's really the root of the issue. A carpenter doesn't blame his tools. That piano, it's the same every time. I don't know. I think you guys might be changing it. That would be diabolical if we change it by like a second, like four tenths of a second every time you did it. And now, Mark, more words from our sponsor. More words. Clean up your remote control clutter in time for the Super Bowl and control center by Kavo. Plug in your steamer.

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your off av duty and bring the joy back to watching tv please talk about your personal experience i think it's great to use that i use it all the time at my house shop now just in time for Super Bowl Sunday and get 40% off control center with promo cold around that's 59.95 40% off regular pricing of 9995 control center is available at ca avo.com and best buy control center by cavo one remote that does it all all right that's what's happening in the news all right now it's time to talk about subplots that people aren't talking about we call this seg what you people don't realize, and this is where we try to be as humanly unlikable as possible, in getting across a football point that perhaps others haven't spoke of.

That's just a normal segment for me. That's true. That is true, Greg. So why don't you get us going and let the master teach the rest of us? What you clowns haven't thought about when looking at this game. is that Jared Goff has not faced a defense that gets multiple for quite a while, that he hasn't had to solve the types of problems that the Patriots defense is going to present to him on Super Bowl Sunday for quite a while. And the last few times that he did against Detroit, who really did a nice job mixing up things,

certainly Chicago, where New England doesn't have the same personnel, but also Philadelphia, who did some similar aspects with their defense in terms of movement before the snap and the way they were blitzing. This is a very creative, crazy Patriots defense up front where you don't know where the pass rush is going to come from. Dallas didn't do that at all, and Goff didn't have to do much in that game, period. He did it well what he had to do. And I was surprised when I look back at New Orleans was a very basic pass defense where you pretty much knew what they were going to do. Snap after snap. I need you to be more condescending, I think.

Wrap it up. You guys look at the Patriots defense. Like, this is somehow going to be an easier test in New Orleans. But Bill Belichick with a week off, forget about it. You clowns don't understand. Good idea by the Saints to not employ any multiple elements to their defense in the most critical franchise history in years. Yeah, I mean, to that point.

I mean, it's not like other teams haven't tried that. I just feel like in these playoffs, this last little run that Goff has had, where he's played well, San Francisco, Arizona, Dallas, and to a lesser extent, New Orleans, which did a good job against him overall. But it was basically they lined up and you knew what they were doing. They didn't present as many things that Goff had to solve before and after the snap that the Patriots will. And I think if that's an area, there's an area the Patriots want to attack, that's it, Goff's brain. Goff's brain.

They're attacking his brain. I mean, he's a 24-year-old, dude, hasn't played that much NFL. Got a lot to prepare for it there. Three years ago did not know that the sun rose in the east. So there may be ample ground to work with here. Colleen, your turn. What you people do not realize. That look on your face, that's unfriendly.

You know what? I'm channeling my mom because she calls us you people all the time. What you people don't realize is James Devlin is the most important running back in this game he's the most important back this again in this game oh oh what you don't think bullbacks are important look at look at what you people are thinking right now judgey right now uh-uh it's not about sony michel or james white or todd girlie all right it's not about cj anderson it's about james devlin because without him the patriots do not run the ball anywhere near as effective that's they've been doing the last four games they're averaging over a hundred

and 80 rushing yards per game. And that is because of James Devlin's amazing ability to block, to open running holes for whoever's on the field with him, for mostly Sony Michelle. And look, you might be thinking, okay, but teams know that they are going to run the ball when Sony Michelle and James Devlin are on the field together. It doesn't even matter.

They still can run the ball. They're still effective running the ball when that happens. Look, the Patriots, they kept the ball away from the Chiefs for 23 minutes longer than the Chiefs had the ball. Look, that is all they had to do to keep Patrick Mahomes off the field, was run the ball effectively, and that's exactly what they're going to do in this game, too. It's, you know, compelling. It's cute, Colleen, that you think you've figured out why the Patriots offense works so well on the ground. But what you don't realize is.

Tell me, tell me. What don't I realize, Dan? You people, but specifically, Colleen, don't realize that it is reductive to just say James Devlin is the guy. Because what you don't realize is that this offensive line, do you understand how absurd? It is the biggest miracle of the Patriots, not the 40,000-year-old quarterback or the mean old grump wizard coach or any of the other greatness around the Patriots in this dynasty? Did you know that this offensive line? No, you don't know. I know, you don't.

Do you realize that their cap hit is less than $15 million? The entire line! That's absurd. That's insane that they are this good. And it's a collection of mid and late round picks. And, you know, you know who gets a lot of love for the offensive line. Dante Scarnacia. We hear that all the time.

How of fame. And that's great. That's really great. He's coming back next year. They announced the 44th season. That's great that Dante will continue to coach forever. But that is the miracle of this team that they collected. Trent Brown is a former seventh round pick.

Joe, is it Tune or Thuni? Tune. That's what I thought. You should know that, Dan. Third round pick. Shack Mason, a fourth round pick. An opera. Marcus Cannon, a fifth round pick.

They have a cap charge that is equal to Russell O'Koon. Period. And that is the secret that they've been able to bury put all this money elsewhere on this team and still have a top flight offense line. But you people don't realize this. This game is won in the trenches. You guys don't know that. I do. But now I'm teaching you that.

You people don't have our research notes. James Devlin's an extension of that. You people don't know. That was great. You guys have been dancing all around this. Yeah. But what Colleen especially doesn't know. And what the rest of you naive little Jack Keynes don't understand.

Colleen doesn't know anything. Why is this all of a sudden an attack on me? You people, I'm done with you people. Welcome back. What you clowns, what you naive little rapscalions don't realize is the Patriots have a tell. If this was poker, they have a dead giveaway. Every time Sony Michelle is on the field, they run the ball. He played 34 snaps in the last game and ran the ball,

29 times this is a giveaway and just because the last two defenses weren't good enough to take advantage of it way phillips one of the best defensive coordinators at all the time this team is going to be prepared they already know they're gearing up for the run the rams are going to stuff this running game i love what's coming i mean i had no idea i didn't realize that but i'm i feel enriched having known that now the patriots will be one-dimensional and easily combust it and there's no So there's no other group like Michael Brockers, Indomac and Sue and Aaron Donald. That is the best beefy group in the league. And what you people don't realize, they're playing a little differently in the playoffs.

Because Indomac and Sue and Donald aren't trying to make as many big plays, they're staying in their lane and stopping the run. Did you realize that, colleague? Yeah, I did realize that. That's new to me. Mark? You little nerds, five deep on a football opinion show. I'm not going to even go there because all these topics are so weather-worn at this point.

So much erosion around this little rock formation of your little football opinions, you high-faluting nerds. I want to talk about the city that we're in Atlanta, that we've only been here for a couple of days. Where am I going to eat dinner? Where am I going to drink beers? Where is my materialism going to be shown in high ribbons all over the sky as I spend the company's money left and right? Do you know that just miles from here? In 1969, Samuel Jackson, the renowned actor held the father of Martin Luther King hostage. Do you mean Samuel L. Jackson?

Samuel L. Jackson. You're the first person not to use the initial ever. Samuel L. Jackson held the father of Martin Luther King hostage at Morehouse College as a student because he wanted a better curriculum. And then he was kicked out of the school for two years because they held a bunch of people hostage in this building for hours on end. And then two years later, they let him come back and finish his college education. All's fair there. But then also, just a couple more miles from here, way back in the day, a sports nugget,

Babe Ruth hit a home run in a place called Ponzi Lawn Park, Old Ponzi, which now is inhabited by a Whole Foods. Where there is now a Whole Foods, you can go buy your expensive dishes. Babe Ruth once hit a home run. I knew that none of you were going to come up with that because I was going to go offensive line, and I was not, I had nothing left offensive line. Wow, I had no idea. What you don't realize is a baseball naive.

Yes, I am. Hey, who worked at Baseball Weekly? It wasn't you, Wes. Babe Ruth finished his career with the Braves. The Boston Braves. Well enough. Do you know the name he was the team he faced when he was here in Atlanta hitting that home run?

I don't. What you people don't realize is what, Mark. What you little clowns don't realize was that that minor, that minor league team was the home. Was the home of the Atlanta crackers. Really? Yeah. It's problematic.

Wow. I don't know if it referred. It might have referred to an edible, an edible product, a snack product. Yeah, it was a tough, it was a tough, you know, a couple hundred years there for America. Yep. You people don't realize that. What you don't realize is that Greg has a deep well of knowledge of American history. Well, there you go.

The segment was fine. It was good. We had fun. solid I would have gotten pro rams with mine if I knew it was all coming if I thought we were maybe going again I think we were all sort of on the same wave like with that I would say what would be a good challenge for you Greg the rest of the week is just to only talk about the rams if you want to really stretch your legs a little right that's what I'm writing about I didn't want to cover the page I'm I would you know give a little Dante Fowler love the bellhop at the hotel broke down the game for me what did what he had a Caribbean accent came into my room put down my food and said said, oh, I'm a big Falcon fans. Patriots are in trouble. This game has played indoors, not in their home field where they beat up on everyone.

He thinks that the home field is a big factor here and that the Rams are going to win. Now, what we're going to make, I like where he's coming from as well. We are going to save our predictions for our Thursday night show. That will be the proper Super Bowl preview episode with a twist because it will be, yes, at City Winery here in Atlanta, a live show. We're really excited to connect with the fans here, stateside, and then that show will go up probably, Erica, what, like late Thursday,

early Friday, something like that. So look for that. That will be the next podcast you get. And again, Super Bowl now? Tomorrow. Super Bowl tomorrow. Super Bowl today is you can catch us on NFL.com 12 Eastern the next three days, Wednesday through Friday.

and then, of course, Sunday night our Super Bowl recap episode. I think the sixth that we've done together is a show, so that's always fun as well. And the last. This is it. Do you have breaking news? What you people don't realize is that this podcast is almost done.

Is that what you're saying? I said the last. I said and the last. That could mean a lot of things. All right. Final thoughts, Colleen. You came back. You've once again proved that you're not only intelligent

and football savvy but you're a charmer and that takes you a long way in life what what are you saying that it's just on charm that I've built my career I mean I said two things directly before that that's all I heard though Dan great to be back you're you're gonna be with us for the Super Bowl now I yeah Super Bowl today Super Bowl today is the actual name of the show yeah I'm gonna hang out tomorrow what you kind of know they're gonna rename it to Super Bowl wow Wednesday through Friday. Erica, any final thoughts about Greg's attack of you earlier in the show? Thumbs down.

Just the thumbs down. It's all love. And pound in her fist. That would be a good fight. Come get your whoop and Rosenthal. Ricky against Greg. Scrappy. We can brutally take each other down with words because we know we mean none of it.

Oh, you too. Way to amp up the drama for the show, Greg. Yeah. And apparently there's some football. uprights downstairs. Wes and I were kicking around the idea of kicking around the ball. Let's see who could kick the longest field goal. And I'm going to take down West because cancer, it really took a pounding to his musculature.

And I think that's going to allow me to defeat him in a field goal contest. And you're wearing sneakers. And I don't know what. Well, it doesn't have to be today. At some point this week, we're going to get out on the old football field. And Mark, you'll join us with you guys. Those are really nice shoes. You're going to want to turn on your Dr. Rainmaker for this.

I want to see it. I'm not even going to participate. Like, if it was a wrestling match, I would take my chances against West, but kicking a ball, no way. All right. Well, there you go. I love being the other one.

Hey, hashtag, bet against us. Yeah, bet against me, Greg. I'm not. I'm with you, buddy. This is Dan Hansis. Signing off. Four, Quiet Storm, the mailman, Connie Fox, the old boss,

Ricky Hollywood, sitting criss-cross episodes. Until Thursday night at City, Hey! you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies coaching trends and how front offices

construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else. It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sunday. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the IHeart

radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Thank you.