NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Preseason Roster Updates; "What's More Likely"

Episode Date: August 26, 2022

A room filled with some heroes - Dan Hanzus, Marc Sessler, and Gregg Rosenthal break down all the latest news around the NFL. First, we react to Tyron Smith's injury (6:01), players on the trade block (10:44), and we pay homage to the late great Len Dawson (17:45). After the break, the heroes bring back America’s favorite game show: "What's More Likely??" (28:55), covering the season projections for the Commanders’ top receivers (31:20), how rookie receivers will stack up against one another (37:20), where Dak Prescott and Matt Stafford will end up in Marc's QB Index this year (43:06), and who will have a better second year between Mac Jones and Trevor Lawrence (58:25).    Note: Timecodes Approximate.NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. The Around the NFL podcast. We know Ireland isn't the UK. Well, we do now. From the Chris Wesleying podcast studio. It's Around the NFL. I'm Dan Hansis. Got some heroes here.

Greg Rosenthal. Mark Sessler. Of course we know. Ireland is not part of the United Kingdom. Shame on you. If anything, they've often clashed. Often, yes. I'm randomly just finishing an audio book called Say Nothing,

which was like a bestseller on the troubles, intrigue, espionage, and lots of violence. How is that random, like you chose to listen to it? Well, I mean, just that this happened to come up today just as I'm finishing it. Well, the world is extremely unique. It's electric. We are, yes, we have learned much about the United Kingdom,

through our travels and we are really excited to let you know that we are going back we are going back to London for the big showdown between the Vikings and Saints I think October 2nd Rematch to the Minneapolis Miracle

and sort of don't want to get ahead of ourselves here but there have been in our trips to London and we always do a live show. And usually it's a small room

and we're very lucky where it just instantly sells out. And everyone's like, I wish I had a chance to go. We're working on the chance for more people to go. And it's exciting, a little nervous, but maybe a bigger room for the ATN live show that will be coming up.

We're not sure because of, you know, we got to cross the T's dot the eyes. Got to dot the eyes, too. But let's just say it rhymes with Bembley Stadium. No, I'm just, that's a joke. It was a good one, too. This is the Thursday show.

A lot of content coming your way. We hope you're enjoying it. Of course, Wednesday was the 58th annual fantasy extravaganza. So dig into that. Be sure to dig into that if you want to win the whole effing thing. Draft style, also the hard knocks. Recap is up with me and Connie. and for you UK and surrounding territories

and down in Oz and Australia that have access to Hard Knocks as of Friday, there you go. That's perfect. You watch Hard Knocks, you pour yourself a pint, you listen to Connie and I, chop it up. It's perfect. Today, Mark, how are you?

There's a tension with Mark right now. This happens once every 15 shows or so. What's that? Where I just was watching YouTube do the show like I was a viewer. I forgot that I literally just sort of forgot that I was part of the show. I've enjoyed what you two have produced.

There are Mark Energy days, and I feel the energy. Is it because it's a little bit of a late start? Is that what this is about? I have a place to be after, which I announced to the crew this morning. There is always a place to be, it seems, with you right now, Mark. That's not untrue. It's like the computer goes, do-d-n-no. No, I mean, I'm here to do this part of this.

We have to do the job. Well, I'm not against that. I'm not arguing against that. I think you entering a little later every once. in a while has like a Kramer-like vibe. Maybe we can make a wacky song that comes with you. It's like, you know, when you enter the room. Round of applause.

Everyone cheers. That was a little bit of a jump the shark moment for some with Seinfeld when they started giving a crowd pop when Kramer came into Jerry's apartment. So, but maybe, you know, we're at the stage where we may be jumping the shark. So maybe Mark gets the applause. Have jumped. Maybe. Maybe this is the time.

Let's work on that. 10th season of the around the NFL podcast. What a celebration. Unbelievable coming up. It will be our 10th season doing this show. Thank you to everybody that's been along for the ride coming up on today's show, which I'm almost certain Mark will be around for the entire episode. But we're not sure.

That's the hope. Yes or no? Absolutely. I think the thing that you're missing is I'm fully committed to the project at hand, the task at hand. It's just that there are other life issues and pressing issues on the other end of this. I understand that. going to, you know, we haven't done it in a while, what's more likely?

That's one of our favorite games. What's more likely? Sound drop? A staple of the early days of around the NFL and we're going to bring it back. We had, like I said, the fantasy extravaganza. You know, we're going to do as a supplement

to that a little spin-off. It's not necessarily hardcore fantasy, but just offensive players and some either oars. What's more likely? I mean, that's one of the best things about what's more likely. You immediately understand the premise. But just three words.

Yep. Before that, let's hit the news. But I went back to work, got up on Monday morning, and there it was. Glory Hope. What? He did it again? What was the context? It doesn't matter.

I want it. There's only one owner that would say such a. a thing. And I don't, I wouldn't assume that the context is too far off of what other people would think the context is with Jerry Jones. Is there a longer, not the context or yeah, if you have the context, but Gravedigger? Unaware of the context.

Okay, we'll just hear it again then. We'll just hear it again. This was on Twitter, so we pulled it off Twitter. But I went back to work, got up on Monday morning, and there was. Glory Hope. Well, it was on first take. I know that. on ESPN show, he was with Michael Irvin.

But I don't know what prefaced that. That's what makes it great. I mean, it's just left to the imagination. Do you know it's not great? What? The Cowboys offensive line without Tyrant Smith. NFL networks Ian Rappaport reports that Smith suffered an evulsion fracture. There it is again.

My boy, Mackay Beckton, same thing. Avulsion fracture in his knee, and he will be out until at least December. And I guess, of course, with injuries, there's varying levels. but when we learned that Beckton had the same injury, it was immediately he's done with the Cowboys. They are holding out hope that he could return, but the idea is that it would be a stretch run return at best. And Mark, this is a Cowboys line that is no longer, you know,

considered one of the mightiest in the league. And if you take Tyron Smith out of the mix, especially in late August, that's a major issue for this team. Well, it shoves Tyler Smith, who, you know, into a different position to play left tackle, which he did play in college, but he's extremely raw, what, the same last name?

Especially, I feel bad for the beat guys, because now you've got to write the full names whenever you're talking about the subject. It's confusing. And it just looks clunky. Right. When you get stuck writing a sports story about a father and son, for instance, you've got to keep doing the full name over and over, and this is the same situation.

I think Smith in general, we need to, if anyone with the last name, Smith, we need to re-engineer some of the Smiths, maybe 50%, so that we have more variety because it's happening too often. But he is now, you know, potentially going to have to go do left tackle. And I just think, you know, Jerry Jones said, oh, we'll have Tyron Smith back for the playoffs. That was another quote he had. It's like, okay, that's presumptive. I get that you're Jerry Jones, so you're going to say that.

But this is a team that if you look at their offseason, I think it was one of the less, least productive, more hazardous off seasons around. Because they let Lyle Collins go. Who they could use right now. They have a lack of tackle depth in general. And so now they've got this problem because, by the way, Tyrone Smith, they would have known over the past two years that durability has been a major issue for him no matter what. At some point, you just have to factor in that maybe he doesn't finish games and maybe he misses games. But then on top of it, their other big issue is that they let Abari Cooper go for one of the worst trades of the entire offseason.

They're wicked thin at wide receiver. And that's why you're getting Jerry Jones. And a third quote saying, Ezekiel Elliott will be the engine of this offense because you're a limited offense right now on the line at wide receiver. I knew you were on one today, Cecil, and then you dropped Wicked, and I'm like, all right, this is going to be a nice show. Wicked is, yeah, a Western Massachusetts slash Connecticut type of thing, or not just Western Mass, really all of Mass. I think more mass than Connecticut, but I have a lot of Massachusetts friends.

It's a killer. You know, they did draft Tyler Smith, you're right? It's bothering me. With the idea that he was going to be the left tackle long term, he's been playing left guard. It sounds like they're not so sure. at least the reporters who cover the team the most closely aren't sure whether they think they can trust him.

They have Terrence Steele who was there, but he was a swing tackle before, and you were hoping he was going to be a starter. And there are potentially some players available. Isaiah Wynn is a guy on the Patriots who was drafted in the first round who's played pretty well that supposedly might be available. And you mentioned that Cooper trade, they have among the most amount of cap space in the league,

the Cowboys, which is bizarre, because they could absolutely fit Amari Cooper in, but they could afford to give up a real draft pick for a guy like Isaiah win, and I think the Patriots would probably take it. And if you're the, especially the Eagles, but also the Giants, and you're getting ready to take command in Washington, you see it. It is there. That division is. As we all know, I decided to really go ahead and start to take command.

Wide open. And the Cowboys, I won't write the Cowboys off. I think it would be fools to do that but it's absolutely now within the range of outcomes for them to really take a big step back when you now factor in the Tyrant Smith issue. It's there.

And I know he missed a decent amount of games but the people that are really into covering line play said it was a return to form for him last year. He ended up being second ranked according to PFF, Brandon Thorne Mike Golick Jr., all the guys who love him and see him rightly as a future

Hall of Famer. That's what Tyrant Smith is. And I think he have to worry, unfortunately, for his career, just such a bigger man who was getting up there and you're an injury like this, you have to worry about that. But he was playing very well last year. Well, when they were at their best, their offensive line was their strength. And there were a couple years where we just assumed it was still their strength. And it wasn't and they were injury battered two seasons ago. And now they're shattered. Now it's like Zach Martin and a bunch of questions. And it might be that Andy Dalton year, except Dak Prescott back there. All right. Fantasy heads also plug in on that for Zeke and Dak. All right. In other news,

You mentioned that Isaiah Wynn is on the trade block. Albert Breer of SI reports that the Patriots have talked with other teams about trading the offensive tackle, who was the number 23-year overall pick in the 2018 draft. He's entering the final year of his deal. Also on the block, according to sources, is Mike Jaseki, the Dolphins tight end, who doesn't seem to have a natural position as being put in a situation this summer where he's more in a block. role, which is not what Mike Gazzicki is a lot about. So the idea here, Mark, is that the dolphins could move him, get some value because

he is a guy that produces. Well, they can get value. I think that there's a handful of teams that, I don't know who they're talking to yet, but I think that if he's available, this is someone, you know, he's going to come with a $10 million cap hit, fully guaranteed because he's tagged. But I think there's a bunch of teams would say we can use them. I'm a little surprised that Mike McDaniels wouldn't want to find a way to use him. too, but this is the Mike McDaniel system, the Shanahan system,

where blocking as a tight end is a massive priority. And they've been trying to, you know, Mike McDaniels also downgraded the concert of this trade happening right away, which is just coach talk potentially. But he has, like, Gassiki's been good in practice. I think it's the blocking part where he's still in development. It's not a strength. Right, but I was really surprised when they gave him the franchise act

because of his system because they really... Well, why do that then? Right. That maybe they thought that he could work. It seems a little sloppy. Like, honestly, it just, this feels like such a Dolphins thing. Because he's, I think, if I wanted to be a little more generous, because he's really talented.

And he's just a wide receiver. I mean, to me, he's very similar to a poor man's Kyle Pitts or what we think Kyle Pitts is going to be. Literally, if you watch what Gassiki dead, and he said it. He's like, look, I haven't played tight end. He is playing as a slot or sometimes even out wide, 75% of the time. There's not much difference between him. a Cooper Cup.

But that's a notable name, I think, here is because, like, Cooper Cup kind of plays tight end for the Rams. You don't have to be some monster guy. You just have to be willing and understand how to do it. Like, Cooper Cup kind of is a tight end. They ask him to block. He plays that role for them in some ways. But if Gassiki can't do it and you just look at him, he's like a tall, he's a lanky, really fast

guy, maybe go get a third round pick. This is one of those trades where I think you could actually get a nice looking pick. kind of a tight end. I mean, I know what you're saying, but like a lot of wide receivers block. Oh, not, not. I don't, I don't think like they do in like the most hardcore that system where there are a lot of times it's him and another tight end on the field

and they're asking him to block down. And not that many do at that sort of level. I threw out the Browns as another team I think could could use them or as a team. The Packers, I think could use them. They have cap space. The Panthers. If the Cowboys wanted to get weird and have two franchise tag tight ends on the same team, they could use the receiver all right the chargers they need some things to break their way you know

it can't be another year where the bolts get talked up in the summer and then come down in the fall and they have a little challenge in front of themselves right now because j c jackson their big signing uh to secure their secondary in free agency he had ankle surgery on tuesday uh the timeline is two to four weeks which is not the end of the world here mark but also not ideal and you just have have to wonder where his health is out after the four weeks, where his conditioning is at, and all that. So it's just not the best way to get off on a new contract. And we're at the point now because we know what these teams look like,

that it's okay to mention what games he might miss. And it's the Raiders and Chiefs. I don't love that at all because it's like someone's got to cover Devante Adams right out of the gate. And it sounds like Michael Davis might be the one that gets pushed up into the starting rotation here along with Bryce Callahan, Asante Samuel Jr. But the whole plan here, J.C. Jackson, you know, pro bowler, second team, all pro, ballhawk was the perfect addition for the secondary, which, I mean, there's talent there.

And there's a lot of new faces on this defense in general. So you're missing reps. You're missing a chance to kind of just be in the mix with this with Brandon's daily defense. And so I don't love it, but two to four weeks is better than 12 to 14. Who has a bigger first five games of the season than the Chargers with the two division rivals in five days? and you did see one of their beat reporters, I think it was the athletic guy, Daniel Popper, but I could be wrong,

which kind of suggested that, like, him playing two games in five days was a lot and that almost out of the gate, the team might be kind of circling that Thursday night opener as his hopeful return, gives him five extra days and not asking him to play twice so quickly. Other injury news, Chase Young,

the Star Edge for the Commanders, was put on the reserve Pup list. He tore his ACL in week 10, last season. So he's out for at least the four games, first four games of this season. Kenyon Drake has been released by the Raiders or they plan to release him if they can't find a trade partner. So that is another Gruden Mayak move that did not work out. So we'll see if he officially released. He's officially released. Okay. So he will land somewhere. But the Raiders move on. And finally, in transaction news, Shaquim Griffin announced his retirement from the NFL.

He played 50 games in the league, mostly with the Seahawks. You know, a real inspirational story. He was born with a condition that eventually led to the amputation of part of one arm. And yet he had a star career in college and played in the NFL. It's one of the great underdog stories in the league's history. It's an interesting player, too, because he was with the Seahawks with his brother, went to the Dolphins in 2021 and basically had a chance to sign a car. couple of other contracts in another place, and he only wanted to go to the Jaguars where it didn't

work out because he wanted to play with his brother. He said that's what gave him the joy, which I think is, you know, certainly there aren't a lot of brothers in the league, but I can see why you'd want to be doing that. And he's going to be doing stuff with NFL legends now to help the community in Chicago. One thing on Kenyon Drake, I thought Greg, you had a great tweet, that John Gruden in the end did not want Tom Brady or Rob Grunkowski, but he did want Kenyon Drake. Yeah, it felt almost like kicking a man when it's down. but I guess Gruden at this point no one's feeling too bad

the whole Brady thing that that really bothered me and you're right the Shaquim Griffin story as much of a big deal that the NFL rightly made of it and I think all the attention he got it is it is truly remarkable like that is a groundbreaking player I can't think of a similar

example at least in other American sports so kudos to him he said Jim Abbott he said football that's a good good call no hitter He said football was always Plan B that he didn't really think that that was going to be his life's mission, and so now he's on to Plan A.

It's a good quote. I like that quote. And finally, in the news. And now the show The Pros Watch, inside the NFL, with your host, Landdarson, Nick Bonacotti, and Chris Collinsworth. Hello, everybody. Welcome to the longest running show in cable history. This begins our 17th season.

happy to be joined with my co-host, to my right. Mr. Chris Collins, we're starting his fourth year and to my left, the one and only. Mr. Nick Lonekani starting his 15th season. This is my 16th. There it is. That is the voice of Len Dawson, who led the Chiefs to victories in Super Bowl 4, went to the pro football Hall of Fame as a player and a broadcaster, had probably the most iconic photo or one of the most iconic photos in NFL history,

the shot of him working on a cigarette at halftime of, I believe, Bowl one with a fresca, bottle of fresca by his side. He died at the age of 87 this week, and I play that because inside the NFL comes up a lot. I bring it up a lot because it was my gateway to the NFL. I was already, by the time I was 10, 11, even like 9, I was already following the Jets, but it was inside the NFL that really got me into the league at large and studying the plot And I've always said that the show, our show, I tried to kind of pattern it after that, how we study every team. We make sure to get everybody in there just like they used to do on that program.

So, Len Dawson, 87 years old, rest in peace, friend. We got cable late in our household compared to other, you know, neighbors in their houses. So I missed chunks of things like this. But when it did arrive and I started to plug into that, A, they had chemistry. but like pre-world of PFF and analytics-driven nonsense and people didn't have coaches film back then. If you were a beat reporter, you basically were out of luck to try to review a lot of those games afterwards.

But inside the NFL would go deeper than almost any other pre-game show. It wasn't just topical moments. It was like breaking down games. And you're right. You learned about every team. And I thought it was extremely educational, but also because of Lenn Dawson and the rest of them, like it was, I wonder if that kind of led Chris Collins were to go PFF down the road.

guys. Nick and all the guys. I mean, in an all-time great. He, Super Bowl 4 MVP, two-time all-pro, seven pro bowlers. And I was just, as you were talking, and I love hearing that, because I didn't really have a history with that show. It's cool to hear from back then. I was just thinking.

Dan and I were like real tapeheads. I don't know what you were up to you back then. That was the season career, 1990. I didn't have HBO, but like, I was thinking as you were talking, too, I'd love to hear what Chris would say because he'd bring a different perspective and it's, I don't know. He still lives on in this show so much

and he lives on like online so I just immediately like searched Chris Wesleyan Len Dawson and of course Chris has like a couple great tweets about it pointing out that both Len Dawson and Johnny Unitas were similar in that they both were cut early in their careers

and ended up being MVP's and that Hank Stram who of course coach Len Dawson actually told Len Dawson, get out of that contract for whatever team he was in. He was with the Steelers and then the Browns first. Get out of your contract. You are wasting

your talents and then he ended up becoming a great player. Yeah, it was a crazy draft. So Len Dawson is taken fifth by the Steelers who needed a quarterback big time and that doesn't work out. Next draft pick by the Browns, Jim Brown. And the Browns were interested in Len Dawson in that draft. So had the Steelers not taken them, they might have gone

in a different direction. In NFL history, it looks very different. And just to like underline what I was saying about inside the NFL and how it was important and how I think it affected in my viewpoint this show is if you were a fan of a team that wasn't relevant in the early 90s and I was a Jets fan so that's irrelevant, they would always play the Jets highlight from NFL films and whoever they played and they played every highlight and Harry Callis narrated it. And it was just like you didn't get lost in the mix, and I think as sports media evolved, it became more and more just studying the same eight teams, no matter what, whereas that show made a pointed effort to make sure everyone

got coverage. So it's kind of like I find it to be a guiding light. Just like our Sunday night recap. I know people get mad at us. So I go, you cover more teams than others. You talk about the Jets too much, whatever and all that. Yes, that's naturally part of it. But we make a big effort to make sure every team gets coverage. I think you're making up for those many decades of Jets irrelevance on this show. So you're giving them kind of that what they, I hear that. Speaking of all 32 teams, we're doing a little around the AFC and NFC next week, Monday Wednesday. I like it.

I like it. Good shows. All right, let's take a break. And then we're going to do a little what's more likely. Welcome back. We will be getting to what's more likely in a moment, but I just want to share something with you. 22 to 19.

19 to 18. 30 to 9. 23 to 14. 23 to 3. 31 to 7, 13 9, 14, 13, 13, 17, 16, 13, 337, 2019, 27, 10, 30, 30, 20, 10, 20, 10, 20, 0, 26, 13, 26, 15, 20 to 7, 17, 17, 17, 23 373 and this year 2002 Ravens 23 Titans 10 Ravens 24 Cardinal 17

Ravens 17 weekend. The record books are being written every week. Ravens fly, fly. Fly! It's a lot of flare. It's the greatest streak in sports. Yeah, you'd like to see the commanders wait another week to take command as they're being tasked to do in general. Great opponent because... Regional. Are the Ravens playing their starters? I don't know.

I don't think Lomar is expected to play at all this preseason. Doesn't matter. Tyler Huntley has like had three in completions the entire month of August or something like that. So, yeah, I think we're going to be good either way. We? Yeah, we. I mean, I think this is, to me, the team of around the NFL is, pre-season Ravens.

Okay. Like, you know, get to the regular season, maybe not. But I don't see how anyone could not respect what they've done. Do we have sound? I believe there's a commander's player who was asked about ending the streak. And it's even the way he was answering like he didn't even know about it. And then he was just trying to placate the reporter. Let's listen in on that.

This is Cornelius Lucas on how they would celebrate if they ended the Ravens preseason winning street. Thank you. Oh, maybe a dance or two. Maybe, I don't know, some celebratory chicken wings. I don't know. I mean, I love chicken wings, so, you know, I get it. That's funny that was what popped in his head, though.

I mean, that's a great way to celebrate. Maybe not. I can't imagine Mark really digging into the bone, you know, and ripping the meat off the bone. They do have that, like, that show hot ones on. on YouTube they'll, when a vegetarian celebrity comes on, they'll eat the faux wings. Which I don't know, like, as a vegetarian, I don't long for that stuff. I do find it interesting.

I actually went out to lunch with Greg, not too long ago, way back, you know, a couple of months. Greg, who? Rosenthal. And, like, he was. You guys went out to lunch? His first thing was, at the draft before the draft. And, like, he was looking at the menu, simply looking for what I would order. Like, he was like a father looking for, like, his child's picky eating habits.

So, you know, I guess that's endearing. Yeah. Is this not? Well, you do always think of Mark in an eating situation. If we're at a league event or whatever, you just start thinking about it. I figure it out, though. I typically figure it out.

He's in a tough spot. He's always in a tough spot. I reached out to our research department for some more Ravens info, some historical context, but then they didn't get a response. Maybe not everyone cares as much? Is this not in a way?

And I do think this is the best hard-knock season. And for me, I've had the most fun watching the lions of anyone I can remember. But why not plug in on the Ravens during this streak? This would have been incredible to watch, you know, behind the scenes, how they emphasize it. You know it's important to them no matter what they say. I think it's a good point because I was thinking about that. You know it's something. That's a constant talking point in that building now.

Yeah, you just catch these other teams off guard. What I would say if you're, if you, this is what they should do with preseason games in general, is you start the game with the worst players and you add better players as, the game goes on. So you stick around for the... Everyone bails on these games like 12 minutes in. By the fourth quarter, you've got Lamar Jackson going against Carson Wentz tonight.

But in general, why not if you're the Ravens? If things on the edge here, you just insert the entire first team in the third quarter quarter. I think it's... If they win this game and they get through another year, I think they're going to start changing their strategy to really see... It's going to become a harbaw thing like when he thinks about his legacy.

I think he's thinking about it already. Although not that he's going to play his starters or play different players. No, that's what's happening next year. I think they're playing less than ever right now, just because he's kind of following. So is the rest of the NFL. Yeah, they had all those injuries last year.

He said that was his main goal, was just not getting hurt. All right, so good luck to the Ravens. I just want to see it go on forever. Let's hit it. Let's do it. One of our favorite games. One of the flagship SEGs of ATN.

Live from the Chris Wessling podcast, studio in Inglewood, California. It's America's favorite game show. What's More Likely? Beautiful. That's good, Graver. Nice work. Graver, you know, I got to give Graver props here because I asked him to dig out the old

drop that our old friend, the Gold Standard, had recorded once upon a time, but he said live from Culver City. I had it updated. No, I think we need to be refreshing, you know, things as we go. Can I also? I also offer a quick update to something earlier in the show because Sean Kelly did something

pretty masterful behind the scenes as well and I realize it's not related to the segment but I think people are curious. The context of the Jerry Jones glory hole quote was too late for this. Was that he was comparing how hard he works in life

to reaching what he called in quotes, ever elusive glory hole. Okay? Which apparently means a period of bliss in life following years of hard work. I'd maybe alter this.

I'd maybe go with a new catchphrase for that period. in life at this point? I thought it was maybe if we were looking for an alternate definition, maybe it was the sun coming through that open hole in the stadium. Yeah, open hole for sure. I think... That's a nice way to look at it, Greg.

I think if you're not around your children and you're not sure what it is, if you type it in and just click into the Wikipedia page. I'll tell you everything you know how most people see that term. Not at work, please not at work either. All right. Now, let's get into it. What's more likely it is. You should understand what it means.

We're going to lay out two options here, and the rest of the room is going to say, you know, their opinion. And because we just had our fantasy extravaganza, let's keep it in the realm of fantasy talking about those players that are going to be taken in drafts over the next week or two. Greg, get us going. Okay. Well, this is a number of players, two of which are.

on the commanders. We'll be catching passes from Carson Wentz. I do feel like commanders have gotten a lot of pop this off season. A lot of commanders in Washington, D.C. Oh, that's why. That's why. That was, they thought that out, and they were like, listen, we know not everyone likes the Pentagon, but some people see it as a pillar of strength in the nation and defense. All right. Terry McCorrin and Jehan Dodson, the first round rookie,

receiver that I don't think's gotten enough pop here on this show. Very little, yes. Both go over 1,000 yards this season, or Michael Thomas and Chris Olave of the Saints both go over 1,000 yards. In each case, we've got Ohio State and a rookie teammate, What's More Likely? Wait, wait, wait. Oh, yeah, that's right.

Yeah, we're a little rusty. It's been a while. What's more likely? This is easy for me. Okay. I mean, neither. No, but that's the whole thing. It could be 20% versus 10, but it's possible.

They're not both. They're not likely either. But I would say, so Terry McLaurin had over 1,000 last year. The way that offense was structured, it's a little different now. The next guy had under 400, and then it was a bunch of garbage after that. But they didn't have any good players. No, I mean, so I hear you, but I don't trust. anything about the commanders to produce 2,000-yard receivers.

I could see Jahan Dotson, 650 yards, and McClure in 1,000. So I'm going to go with, I think Alave is going to be a special player. Michael Thomas is set to do all that. And James Winston, for all his foibles, throws for a lot of yardage. I see what you're doing, Rosenthal. You're always looking for a way to hype up your saints. So this allows us to speak positively about their offense in the ceiling. Is he that Machiavellian?

No, I was more like I want to talk a little Dotson, but go on. But you know what the answer was going to be. You thought this room was going to say Carson Wentz is going to fire off 2,000-yard receivers this year? I didn't think it through that much, but I think it's close, and I think I would go with McLaren and Dotson. Well, you do like McLaren. I'm a little higher on Jahan Dotson, who's getting buried in these fantasy drafts. And I know you shouldn't trust everything in these practice reports and preseason and stuff.

But among all these rookie receivers, I think some are struggling to adapt from day one. It looks like he's the dude. And some people I respect really believe like he's the dude. And if these two guys are the best two receivers on the team by far, I think they got a real chance. And to me, Thomas is a risk. And Alave, you know, it might be the third receiver there. I think it's close. I mean, Alave has had a great camp too and looked sensational.

That's fair. The Thomas injury risk is probably the part of it. Yeah. I'm interested to see Winston in a full season. He's a guy that's thrown for 5,000 yards before. So if they feel comfortable letting him sling it, that's obviously going to open up a lot of targets and abilities. So I think that to me is more likely.

Fairness. So that's where I'll go. On that note, since you mentioned the Saints, I wanted to play into that excitement around New Orleans and their offense. And I also wanted to talk about the cults. Carson wants his former team. You had mentioned that I had taken Matt Ryan in fantasy drafts before and I always lamented that...

Well, you mentioned it probably 40 to 50 times. Yeah, like the idea that like, you know, unless it was like our entire 2017 or whatever year that was. Unless it was that one season with Shanahan where they almost won the Super Bowl, I felt like every year Matt Ryan was thrown 26 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. So let me ask you this. What's more likely? Matt Ryan throws more than 26 touchdown passes with the cults this season. Or James Winston throws more than 20 interceptions.

What's more likely? I'm going to go Matt Ryan because, you know, I don't want to slam on my guy, James here. And to be fair, he's played many seasons in the NFL. What was the number, 26? 26 touchdown. 20 interceptions. He needs to throw 27 touchdowns, Ryan. Ryan.

If Winston throws 21, yeah. Which he's done six times. Six? He's thrown over 20. I thought he said Winston is thrown. No, that was where it was going. It's like everyone only remembers that one season. Not that James Winston, I would say, was careful and was like had a low number of intercept.

But he only went over 21st. 15, 18. He was suspended that one year, had 11, 14, and then 30. I think it's a conservative offense Also his last full season He has to stay healthy Right, he has to stay healthy for it You got the Daltonissance there

This doesn't come off the tongue great But I think Matt Ryan with Frank Wright could do it I'd agree I think he maybe tops it by one though Like I don't see Matt Ryan throwing 34 touchdowns with the way their offense is structured And I know that they've talked about Jonathan Taylor Not being used as much as he was last year

Or Frank Reich would rather they be more balanced but I think you're just going to lean on your strength and hope that Matt Ryan does what you'd hope he would do, which probably is throw about 27 touchdowns. Speaking of Renaissance, let's have a Frank Reich in the Red Zone Renaissance. This guy dials up plays to me as well near the goal line as anyone, and I think these two are going to be a beautiful marriage.

He's got five full seasons of play, Matt Ryan, since that MVP season in 2016. He's never missed one game in that time. Touchdown passes 20, 35. 26, 26, 20. On bad falcons' offenses. I mean, they weren't, you know. But they had some weapons up until last year.

You know. What do you think would happen? Are you allowed to answer your own? I could. Well, the reason why I presented it because it's very tough. If I had to, I would say Winston's more likely. Okay. That would be my guess.

All right. You're up, Mark. All right. Here we go. Steelers rookie wide out, George Pickens. compiles more fantasy points than Chase Claypool there are reports that he's been in on two wide receiver sets where Claypool is not so I think he's going to play

it's a possibility or Falcons rookie Drake London sports a higher fantasy output than either of those players or Traylon Burks winds up flatlining all season long coming in under what Anthony Schwartz did a year ago as a rookie in Cleveland a 10-135 one line a meltdown that leads Gravedigger to throw himself into a crumpled ball on his carpeted apartment floor leaving Jessica

to sit behind him, petting his forehead and feeding him spoonful of Chinese takeout General Sal's chicken and sips a PBR out of a can. I think, go ahead. What's more likely? I guess, Justin, you should maybe start with this one. well the trail on burke's scenario seems very far-fetched to me parts of it where are we now with i've lost track ever since i was like uh the the fan base came after me uh where is burke's right now what is the

vibe around him late now at the end of training camp as we get to the last preseason game well there's been some reports and mike rable said this that he was running so late into those preseason games because they want to like test his conditioning and make sure he's in shape to play a full NFL game as opposed to just like playing with third and fourth stringers and that indicating his position on the depth chart. But he did leave practice early on Wednesday this week and then he didn't

practice today Thursday. So this was the last game. They could say that all they want. He's out on the field and they're taking other rookies. We mentioned Kyle Phillips who looks like their slot receiver a fifth rounder off the field. I appreciate that they're supporting him publicly.

They should and they should be getting him ready for the season. But it'd be a surprise if he starting to start the season at this point. He won't, he most likely won't start. I mean, it's going to be Robert Woods and Nick Westbrook. It's not, it's not the end of the world. But 10 for 145 on the season, I think, is pretty low. Yeah, that's ridiculous.

Plus, Mark, he does this in his sandwich props, gets so specific. I mean, if it ends up being beef and broccoli that she's spooning into his mouth instead of General Sous, or if it's like, you know, I'd order the dinner. Like an import, it's like a Kieran beer instead of PBR, then it doesn't count like everything's wrong well there were three options and i'm going i'm going pickings because that one seemed likely quite likely to me once we hit the third one my head explodes right and i like chase claypool better than other people though i think claypool could be a breakout guy with better quarter made a big play last week too so you're basically being asked to choose between drake london pickens and

claypool and i'm going to give the slight edge of that three to pickens just because uh i honked about him before the draft and so you root for your own takes. So, Berks is the most likely, he just has to clear 10 for 145? No, but then... And eat chicken or something? No, he would do that under. He would be under or under. It's ridiculous.

10-135 or 1. That's ridiculous. It's not if he, A, like, cannot play. I guess I'll go with Pickens. I'll go with Pickens. Okay. So the initial... But it could be low main.

It could be Bud Light and then it's over. I prefer orange chicken, to be honest. Greg, Greg, it's just a game. It's just a, we're just passing the time. I'm just saying that's how I'm going to answer it. So the initial. reporting that was out there that led to

Zuser in the power rankings putting it out there that maybe he was a little behind where they'd want him to be and it's not the end of the world but it doesn't seem like he's blowing the world up and then the entire Titans fan base it seemed came at me for saying that reporter was lazy and stupid and didn't know what was going on

that reporting doesn't seem so bad about three or four weeks later well so shout out to my buddy Mike Herndon who had the initial tweet that Burks ran a a route, like didn't finish a route and was being coached up to run through the whole route and then like had to be

adjusted where he was lining up on one snap. Roto World turns that into a blurb that Burks is running with the like second and third string and doesn't know how to run plays and then it took off from there. Although your friend has to realize each tweet

is sort of taken as its own universe. So if he's going to just put that he needs to be corrected on routes, he has to understand that that might get reported as a thing. Gravedigger, what is, what is the slick, like, thing you're wearing on your, on your right arm there, if we can go back to the shot of you? Oh, gosh.

Oh, this is just like a little ice pack slash padding for my, I have some nerve issues. It's nothing really worth. Maybe too personal of the question. Yeah, very personal. But is he playing mostly with the second and third team offenses or mostly with the first? He's been playing with all the quarterbacks. I don't know. I think Dan is in the, Dan's fine with what he put in there.

We had like 80 preseason snaps with like two targets. So, you know, something is going on. First sentence of Power Rankings entry, ranked 16, your Titans. The Titans use the first round pick on wide receiver, Traylon Berg's, but don't pencil him in for a huge role in the offense to start the season. That's perfectly accurate. Right. Who's penciling him in for a huge role right now?

That person's got to question themselves. I don't even think the writers over at Broadway Sports Media, the Titans site that Justin, runs what like i was i found out a titan that Justin helps run an entire no i used to and then when i got this job i had to stop doing that conflict of interest stuff but yeah i did build that entire i didn't realize that corporation i didn't know this you got another one gregg sure i've got a few um let's go let's go real simple at the end of the season in mark sess that's such a gregg trope of this podcast by the way i ask what else you

got oh i got a bunch well i don't know i'm answering you the question it's good i love I got to cross out the Drake London one. I have two more as well. We've spent Drake London. This one's simple. At the end of the year, QB Index now being authored by Mark Sessler will include either Dak Prescott

in the top three quarterbacks at the end of the entire season or Matthew Stafford as one of the top three quarterbacks at the end of the entire season. What's more likely? Well, I hesitate to answer, because it sounds like I could just make this happen. No, you couldn't.

I mean, it's just Dak versus Stafford. Who is more likely to have an MVP candidate type of season, essentially? To get into your, that high in the QB index, you're one of the best? How high in the index? Top three. Top three. It's a March column, so I want him to start. I would say that would be the highest, maybe either one of them has ever finished. Maybe Dak got there once. I don't think so. Yeah, I'm looking right now at, this annoyed me actually.

Matt Stafford's ADP is. way down there at 90, behind a bunch of quarterbacks. I think for me, it's very clearly Stafford because I just don't really, we're really talked about what's going on in Dallas. You've got a lack of wide receiver talent right now, and an injury could crush them. Your offensive line is a couple injuries away from being substandard. The owner's obsessed with Zeke Elliott being a focal point of the offense.

I'm just at where we are right now. And I know, listen, Stafford has the elbow thing, but I'm not overly concerned with that at the moment about missing games or really even affecting his play. And the Rams' offense, I think, passing-wise, you've added Allen Robinson, and you've got Cooper Cup, and just you've got a coach that knows how to do what he's doing. And Sean McVeigh, I'm going Stafford.

I think he was... Dang, did I make a bad choice? This was too obvious. I think it's an easy Stafford for me, too. But do you... But if Stafford's going to throw a ton of interceptions like he did last year, do you factor that in? I didn't really...

They had a long losing streak last week. He had an okay regular season. A good, not great regular season. It was pretty streaky. I remember when they went down for that bit, a lot of his bad numbers came from that stretch. I think that Stafford, as long as that elbow is sound, and it's something definitely keep an eye on to at least think about on draft day

if you're caught between two guys. But DAC, this is where it's a little bit different with the QB index, if I'm not mistaken, having been the only around the NFL cast member now never to write the column. Well, what if like a brick falls out of building it lands on my head? I wouldn't write one either. If I did Powering and QB Index, my head would explain. But I'll say that, like,

DAC could put up bigger numbers than anybody this year if the season goes a certain way. And you're evaluating, like, who's played better. No, it's evaluating who's playing the best. So it's not just numbers. Stafford, I think, is going to be lights out in this offense this year. Yeah. I think it's a good one, two punch, though,

because there's a, maybe it should have been Burrow, Burrough. Burroughs Stafford. Hmm. All right. He's a top 10 football insider. I do think there's like at least a chance. Chance Stafford is, like, is consistently better than he was a year ago, which hasn't, I feel

like hasn't gotten, he hasn't gotten a lot of hype for that where he could have a year two under McVeigh and it's even better. And that would be scary. He got better and better in that offense. And now he's grasped it on a full off season. Let me ask you a question, Mark, on a professional level. What will you bring to the QB index that will improve it from where Greg, like, where was Greg's index lacking?

What are you going to address to improve them? product in your mind. Good question. I think a very tough question because first of all, Wes had it before Greg. So I think, you know, we're talking about two icons. Sure. I had it before West too.

Right. So you, it's very confusing. Yes. I mean, I, I'm going to view it as an experiment to put my own. This is like a house on the shore. It's a beautiful house on the shore that keeps on getting sold. And it's just like, why is this house keep getting flipped? It's a lot of work.

And it's like, okay, did my best. I just hope I can do a better job than David Ely does next year with it. So, you know, I'm, can I answer this question? As a former editor of Mark, like the type of advice I would give to Mark if we said, you know, I would say Mark brings a certain flare, there's certain writerly ability and ability to see sort of things in a different way that is absolutely good to lean into. It doesn't all have to be like, you know, his third down percentage is this or like the tape shows this. I think you're stronger than me certainly at seeing things in kind of an off-color, entertaining way

and, like, include a lot of Mark in there would be my editing. We'll take this off, Mike. Can you guys get another lunch together to, you know, chop this up? Don't you think that was, I'm just saying. All you have to do with Dan is tell him that we went and did anything

without Dan and Dan is going to be. Well, I just, I don't know, I don't remember you guys have a lot of lunches together. That's why I haven't been a lot. It's not a consistent thing. Maybe it's time for another one. It was at the draft.

We would like you. I was like, we'd like you to come together, but now I do remember. I will throw us to break now. But before we do that, you mentioned Ely, the Flashpoint series that included, which I thought was just Gangbusters work by whoever was behind it, the testimonials to the product, a Flashpoint product, I reached out to certain people in the newsroom, and Ely really respected the process of booking the role.

I just want to play this for you. All right, this is David Ely, reading for the role of Around the NFL podcast drop. These guys get it. These guys get it. The guys that get it, get it. And these guys get it. These guys get it. These guys get it.

And one more as a throwaway. These guys get it. That's a real voice actor. He's giving you a lot to work with. Although the throwaway was exactly like the rest of them. That was a little more playful. The middle one was the one where he did a little. He played with the dialogue a little bit.

He did, I was, you know, at, in the office when you were filling that. Did you use them? Did he use any? I hope so. Sure. He booked it. He came. He came bouncing into the newsroom after recording that and let me know that he had taped something. I said, I'm assuming this is some sort of segment destroying me that's going to be. He's like, no, actually, it's like, you're on the right side of history. And then he went bouncing back to his desk. He had a fun time. His Instagram stories are often, like, travel logs where he's, like, pretending to be a travel host. So check that out. You're into his work as a voice act.

Do you guys want to hear something else insane? I reached out to five different people at the company to record a line, including Sean Kelly, who we love behind the glass. Sean Kelly is the only one that took that to mean for him to dig out some AI voice modulator to create a fake voice. And I thought. Flash point is simply awesome. And I said to Kelly, after we were doing the Hard Knocks podcast,

I was like, wow, that was actually pretty cool. It didn't even sound like you. He was like, oh, I got, I used an AI bot. I was like, what? How is that possible? You didn't take that as just record something and send it. But, Sean, I just want to say, you did go the extra mile, so I do appreciate it. But that was kind of insane.

I really appreciate it, Dan. When you said that, I thought I was like, you know, oh, he wants, like, he's going to get a bunch of generated voices. Randy Chavez, behind the scenes, who also has a lot of great social for the pod, does a lot of generated voices. So I'm just like, oh, I'll get a generated voice, and I did. And you wanted a real one, and that's it. You know, on like Instagram or TikTok when they got the generated voices. Justin's trying to make me like finish up, so I'm sorry. All right, that's it.

Go back to the podcast. You said it's so fast. No one could possibly. If you're listening to this podcast on 1.5 speed, good. It's over. All right. Thank you, Sean. I appreciate your effort always.

Let's take a break and do a little bit more. All right. We're back. Let's finish this off. Do I have another one? Did I go yet? No. It's my turn.

Is it? Yeah. No, you went third, didn't you? Yeah, I'd go second. Oh. Nice try. Well, you're asking if you even have one. I do.

I could have given you space to create one. Well, this, that last 20 seconds is where you hope to be on 1.5 speed to get through it a little quicker. That's true. How about this? A lot of Kyle Pitts love in the fantasy community. Obviously, he jumps off the page. He jumps off the screen. He went through year one as a rookie.

So now he's comfortable in the game. And he still put up, I think, close to 1,000 yards. This could be the year they think, depending on quarterback. play, of course. It's always depending on that, that he could become a monster because he has that ceiling. Now, Kyle Pitts, TE3 in fantasy. And remember who we're talking about. There's some giants in there. There's Travis Kelsey, Mark Andrews, Darren Waller. But he breaks into that group, that top three, and displaces someone. Or my boy, Elijah Moore, becomes the first one year

receiver for the Jets since 2015. So two second year players with a lot of upside, what's more likely? What's more likely? That's really tough

because I think both of these are very likely. Like I am very bullish on both of these things happening. I think Kyle Pitts could go for like $1,400 this year and be an all pro.

Yet I am picking Elijah Moore because I think the bar is just lower there for him. feel really good about both of them. I think Elijah Moore just, you can't teach how he gets open. I think he's going to end up being the clear number one there,

at least in terms of production, in terms of consistency, week after week. And I feel like that's a pretty low bar here with 17 games that he's going to safely clear. And with Pitts, you just never know if Andrews and Kittle and like three of those guys have monster seasons, even if Pitts was good, maybe he could be T.E.4, so I'm going more. Yeah, I think it's like the other tight ends make it tougher on Pitts. It's also, I mean, you know, Marcus Marriota, Desmond Ritter. I think there's going to be a lot of, like, weirdness where they're running the ball a ton. And I'm not sure that he's set up for that monster season.

But being a tight end, like, and being who he is, I don't think that's improbable. I'm going to go Elijah Moore, though, because they have quarterback issues as well, potentially. We just don't know who Zach Wilson is. It may be better if Joe Flacco's in there for Elijah Moore for a while. But, you know, he had 538 yards last year playing only in 11 games. It just sort of the math tells you if he plays a full season. I ticket him for a thousand. You know, Matt Harmon called him a star in the making based on everything he's seen from

and watched from. And I think that last year it was a tough offense to be in for every one of those guys. More organized this year round. Elijah Moore has it. I think Garrett Wilson's not – has not been one of the rookies that have blown up in camp. It's not been that journey for him. And so you wonder if Elijah Moore absolutely is just the guy for the first half of the season and beyond.

So that's my dude. I think he's electric. I can't remember, you know, you had Brandon Marshall that one year, but a guy that was really, maybe Santana Moss where it was like, okay, this guy is... Yeah, he was good early. Can make those defenses look silly with how quick he moves. And he had, you know, he had an 8-for-141 game last season

against the Dolphins, and I think he was already blowing up when he got injured. He might have been with Flacco. I remember when I did make and leave, and that's why I'm so high on him as I went back to watch him, and I was just like, man, this guy's sudden. And he had some of his biggest games with Mollok. Mike White and Flacko. He did, but he also had a big ending to the season when Wilson came back, too. So it wasn't all just with those guys.

All right. One more. One more? I mean, we could stay here all day. No, no, no. I think that's going to go. I think that's one that he's pumped about. I'll do it.

Let's just keep it simple. Second year quarterback. It's actually my turn, though, Greg. So you're going to keep it simple by listening to this. I wanted to see, you shouldn't have said anything. I wanted to see how far we could have taken. that one. This is about someone that you like, though, sort of for you.

Tom Brady. That guy. Notches 40 plus touchdowns for the third straight season in Tampa Bay operating as a fantasy god and sticking the landing on a high-octane January playoff spot, or Tom Brady nestled inside a depressing autumn struggles behind a rough and tumble offensive line and pumps out a sub-30 touchdowns and 15 plus interceptions. Wow. the bucks hold on

you think I'm just going to end it there the bucks finish nine and eight gets slammed in a 35 to seven wildcard loss to the saints in which Brady throws a disastrous pick six before the half that sees Marshawn Lattimore dance 98 yards down the sideline to carve out a 21-0 lead well the other one hold on

video captures Giselle in a luxury suite hammering rum and coax and telling a gal pal I told Tommy not to do this for another year but instead be home and play Lego bricks with the kids, Brady retires one week later. Wow. What's more likely? I'm going to make a request.

You're getting a big pop in the back room, a lot of laughs. Can you take us the... Bringing Giselle back took the house down. Can you take the spirit of the second one? Where we're talking like, I'm not calling it Brett Farr of year two with the Vikings, but a darker ending. And maybe, Dan, finally, what you had thought of so long ago, the gradual, now actual decline. Right.

I'll take it as like a mediocre-ish season where they made the playoffs and maybe he's. he's like the 13th best quarter. Basically his 2019 season. We've seen the season out of Tom Brady before. I'm still going to go that the first one is more likely because this offense is loaded at receiver and humming and I haven't seen any reason not to believe in it. All right.

Yeah. Yeah, even it's funny perspective, how things get warped. Even that bad Tom Brady season at the end of New England when they went 12 and 4 and he threw for 4,000 yards, 24 touchdowns and just eight interceptions. He's never even thrown 15 interceptions in a season once his entire career. He's never done it. This is his 23rd season.

So I don't think he's getting old. I don't think he's like other people. And I think he'll have another big year. Could there be some bumps along the road? We'll see. And the start of the season. But I think by the time we get to December, the Bucks will be a player and he'll be carving up defenses. They were a team we were almost bored by this offseason because there wasn't anything

left to say and now with all the suddenly there is right with all the obstacles they have in their way they're weirdly more interesting all right do you want to throw one more out there it's up to you you seem like you're ready to go mine was mine was simple

sure do it what's happening this episode started with you targeting me as someone to need to hit the door and now you feel like you're it just feels like time but I agree I agree I agree it feels like time no I do want to hear it now I got to hear it's so basic though it's it's um

which second year quarterback, shoot, I framed it wrong here. Mack Jones ends up being the most productive second year quarterback this season or Trevor Lawrence ends up being this. What's more likely? There's no other second year quarterback that could even be a possibility. Those are the two that I'm giving you. Oh, you've annoyed, Dan. Basically, who's going to have a better season if you want to just take out the second year quarterback?

Yeah, there's a little. I think they're the heavy favorites personally over, over fields or over Zach Wilson or Davis Mills. One development in the preseason. Or Trey Lance, for that matter, is the play of Trevor Lawrence. I think Trevor Lawrence is going to have a big, huge jump, and he's got the right coach, and he's got a couple weapons around him. Travis E.T.N. looks good. Christian Kirk's looked really good. I just kind of think that he's going to make that leap, and Mack Jones, I think probably will more stay where he was.

a year ago, unless that offense is a complete disaster. Yeah, I had a backup what's more likely that contended the possibility of Trevor Lawrence being a QB12 this year. Wow. So that's where I'm at. I'm putting it out on record. He reminds me a little bit of Josh Allen maybe coming into a second year. They're very different players in that.

He just misses a lot of throws, and that always bothers me as someone that got super into the QB index. And Lawrence is still missing those throws. And I think that it's going to come. He does the hard stuff really well, and he's so athletic. But I still think it might be more gradual, where he's like a mid-level quarterback. Even in the last game, he had an overthrow in the end zone. He had a bad misfire along the sideline.

But I do think his athletic isn't the way he runs, too. There's a lot to like if he can shore some of that out. I should have thrown Trey Lance in there, by the way. I mean, people were drafting Trey Lance, by the way, like in the eighth round last year as a backup. Now no one even wants him this year. It's not just the Zach Wilson thing. Okay. No, I think you're right.

You can go a lot of different directions. Developing news before we say goodbye. I turn my computer off, so now I'll fire it back up. There goes Mark. Did you really turn the computer off before we ended the show? I thought we were. I didn't need a computer to speak with you about the end of the show. Can we get a camera on Mark from the moment we sign off

to see how quickly he gets out the door today? That's not where I'm coming from. This from our friend Jordan Rodriguez at the athletic. Sean McVeigh has hired Jay Gruden as a consultant. That's... Okay. Well, I mean, you know, Jay Gruden, where has he been? We know where John is.

John's in exile. But Jay, I guess, was out on the streets, too. And now he's, now he has a home in Southern California like us. I, the last I saw him, he was, like, smoking a heater outside of, like, a club in some video at like one in the morning looking like having a good time and nothing wrong with that I've always thought

Jay Gruden is very underrated I think both him and John Gruden are like a minus play caller slash game designers and that everything else kind of that comes along with the Gruden packages is what ruins them that if they could just call plays they're great at that

whenever I hear about these sort of consultant type jobs overpaid. Whatever he's doing, he's not doing enough. My very unmarked are guys who make too much money not working hard. Well, it's like, who's doing more work, him or Bruce Ariens? I'd love to track that. Let's put a camera on that during the course of the year.

Do you know the NFL Top 100? They have their list that's wrapping up. There's 20 more spots. Mack Jones is 85 on the list. What is it the voting at this thing? Well, that's like when Baker Mayfield came in at like what member that means someone put him as a top 20 player. Right.

And people get mad at the NFL network. so we'll make our yearly announcement. Not only is it the players who decide, and it's just tallying players' votes, they only pick a top 20, and then it's like a point system. So for someone to even get on the list, that means like multiple people,

probably as teammates put Mack Jones in the top 20. There was like one year where the Seahawks were dominating out of nowhere in like 2019. It was like, it was clear just like a more Seahawks filled out the form than other teams. So someone put David Montgomery as a top 20 player in the NFL? I would say for him to land, yeah. And enough people, enough people did for him to get even into 98.

Kyle's, Kyle Eusechak, the fullback for the Niners, made number 100. Like, he's showing up on a bunch of lists. I think they tried to pick someone interesting at 100. Yeah, it's like, Debo filled it out, and he's like, I love Kyle, man. I'm putting him five. That's just how it works. Yeah, you're just all your own teammates. There were some weird ones, you know, Trevon Diggs and Bobby Wagner, both in the top of 30.

I guess Trayvon Diggs did have a great year. How about the disrespect for your boy, Lamar? 36. That's a former MVP. It was formerly number one on this list. But this is why this exercise. And now he's below Kevin Byard. Right. Yeah.

When Kevin Byard comes up 34, great player. But that just makes me think, like, someone put him number one. That's great bigger stuff in the box. Right. His teammate or a lot of Titans filled him out that day. Or someone put him one because they just freaking love Kevin Byard. Someone's trying to tell me that Corey Lindley is more valuable than Russell Wilson, according to this list. Well, that's just better, better.

Yeah. Doesn't make sense. Zach Martin is always buried in, like, the 70s, even though he's like a first time, a first ballot-type Hall of Fame guy, and he's, like, never in the top 50. We have nothing to do with it. All right.

Wait, really quick. I just want to say I'm disappointed that we got through a whole segment called What's More Likely, and nobody mentioned Ravens' rookie tight end, Isaiah Likely. It's just so easy. Maybe that's why we didn't do it.

Maybe we all thought of it, and we're like, too easy. Too easy. I mean, also, as a producer, you could have potentially thrown that out. before the show if someone wanted to weave it in it if it was so valuable. I tried slacking it to Greg, but I don't think he saw it. You could have done.

I wouldn't have done it. Likely, and you could have found a guy, you know, Ron Del Moore. Yeah. I mean, you had an opportunity. Oh, that's good. Yeah. You had an opportunity, Justin, to ride in under the steed. Ron Dale Moore, Isaiah, likely.

You know, see, it just doesn't make any sense, but I missed it. Elijah Moore also, but whatever. Sean Payton, by the way, doing his first work for Fox I saw over the weekend and did the halftime show. And he went and he went hard on this joke in the way that he said it twice. He's like, I think he's likely to make the roster, which was not only like a bad dad joke, but kind of showed that he wasn't totally locked into what was going on because like he was locked to make the roster like a long time ago. So you're saying that Sean Payton is not doing his homework in this broadcasting gig. That clearly is just a way to make $9 million before he becomes a coach next year.

He looked youthful, I thought. More youthful than he did on the sidelines a year ago. Jay Glazer is one of his best friends in the world, and they're just paling around up there. All right, we're heading into the weekend, Mark. Anything you want to share about your plans? Not really. Why would I share them?

I don't think it's a good idea to tell people where I'll be or what I'll be doing. You don't have to give specifics, but a few. I mean, I also, I don't know. It's what I like about a stretch like that. You go find out on your own. Absolutely. Adventure.

Good stuff. Thank you, everybody, for listening. we'll be back next week we're getting closer we're inside two weeks kickoff 10 years that'll be the end of our weekends need the call This is an eye-hundred. Heart Podcasts.