NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Preseason Week 2 Notes; Flashpoint Focus Returns!

Episode Date: August 22, 2022

A room filled with some heroes - Dan Hanzus, Marc Sessler, and Gregg Rosenthal react to Week 2 of the preseason, starting with Dan’s top three questions that matter when it comes to evaluating preseason action (1:48). Baker Mayfield was named the starting quarterback in Carolina (9:30), Kenny Pickett had another good game and could be in the running to start Week 1 for Pittsburgh (17:26), Antonio Gibson’s RB1 role with the Commanders is in jeopardy (20:26), and a handful of rookies are dealing with significant injuries (24:28). After the break, the Flashpoint Focus series returns with Scott Reynolds of PewterReport.com as we turn our attention to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. We discuss Tom Brady’s return to practice (32:25), the vibes around the building (36:30), Julio’s anticipated role in the offense (38:07), the expected improvements to the run game this year (40:01), and potential pitfalls this Bucs team could encounter (42:15) before we sign off with a tease for Wednesday’s show (52:22).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. It's sick of football a little earlier each year. From the Chris Wesleying podcast studio. That's not a good sign. It's around the NFL, and it's untrue. It's cynical for some of us. I'm Dan Hansis, joined by some heroes, Greg Rosenthal, Mark Sessler.

The drop actually reminds me of a very, funny tweet we got last week, I believe, which had said, Mark is always, like, hoping for the season to speed up, but he's also hoping for the offseason to speed up. So it was saying, like, does Mark just have a problem with the concept of time? Right. It's becoming more of just a thing. The idea of time is becoming a greater issue to Mark. It's a fair critique, but I do think, and I'm not just saying this, like this time around, I am excited for football. And I don't feel like I'm attached team fan-wise to a, you know, a 2,022 version of the Titanic for once. Although you weren't tweeting out Deerness Johnson.

I saw that. Like when he decided to throw on the game pass of a preseason game, went immediately to Deerness. I covered them all 32 teams equally in profession. I didn't see any on Rashad White of the Bucks or anything. It also didn't seem overly cesslery. Did you, did you guys notice that? Did you notice that, Greg? Dearnis Johnson.

is on track to flat out start somewhere in the NFL down the line. That's a little hot takey from Mark. I think it can't. Like, I really thought that last year. I think that happens when he's watching. He had to have been watching him, though. I was. Yeah, to get that.

Mark will do that. He's a tape dog. On the subject of preseason games, I want to share with you my three things that I care about with the preseason, which is mercifully over next weekend. one did anyone substantial get injured two did a rookie or maybe a making the leap type guy blow up in some way three did the ravens win but can you guys answer me how week two went for the preseason any of those things did anybody substantial like a starting level big time guy get hurt well that's coming

up in the news somewhat but not not a ton i would say all right it's not massive we'll get to that But, like, some development players. Did a rookie are making the leap dude blow up? I would say yes. Oh, certainly. There's some examples of that. You can find it on the 68 things that takeaways from preseason week two. There's only one takeaway left that I care about.

Most of them weren't from the games. Did the Ravens win? Hell yeah. The haze of the barn! Yes. What are we up to? 22 games in a row? Yeah.

It is, forget about. And they're not even trying this year. They're not playing any starters. What are the great streaks? I mean, none of them, to me, measure up to what we're seeing. This is bigger than Cal Ripkin. DiMaggio, whatever. 22 straight preseason wins now.

Couldn't you argue this is what they've done because the preseason has so many X factors and bizarre variables that this outshines the Cal Ripkin streak? Yeah. Well, it might be more improbable. What did Cal Ripkin do? He got up in the morning and played baseball. Went to work like a couple thousand times in a row.

They haven't played their starters either. I mean, I guess they've been playing teams that haven't played their starters, so it's even. But it's not like Lamar's out there. It's not like any of these starters around there, but it's in the culture. That's why it's a total flex.

It's the biggest story, it's the biggest sports story nobody talks about. Fox tried to make it a thing last night. It was on, I was writing my article while I had it on in the background. And they were mentioned how Trace McSorily, who of course contributed to a few of those wins with the Ravens,

now starting for the Cardinals. And he's like, look, I know how much it means over there. Like, they take it serious. If we don't, if we're not on our P's and Q's, we're going to be in trouble. And you know what he was? They were down 24 to 3 until Kyler Morrow came in as a play caller, the next Mike Martz. I think that it's a great move by the Cardinals, by the way. That is a sneaky, high-level PR move.

Tell me why. Because, by the way, the story was 10 days ago, Kyler Murray, like, is, it just wants to sit around and play, like, he wants the game all day long. But now he just steps in. and calls a pristine crisp half of football. What is your quarterback to me? I saw Zumalt went on tech. Zumal was getting pumped about that too.

And it just made me think of like, yeah, he's probably calling the same three plays he calls in Madden. You know, the guy that runs three Madden plays over and over again. He's like, whatever he does in his gaming life, he just transferred over. I would hope that he was mixing it up, too. McSorley got down to the one, almost scored. And then it's third in goal.

You just need like a foot. And he called like a read option with McSorley going over. I was land-based on the show last Monday, by the way, for bringing up Trace McSorley as a spicy August performer. This was more on the Kyler-Codding. Cliff went 0-4-6, scoring touchdowns as the play caller. Kyler comes in two-for-two when his first two-driver. It doesn't matter.

Although there was what you looked for, the rookie sort of breakout. Isaiah likely is a thing, six for 100 in the first half of that game. I didn't even throw it in the column at this point because we talked too much about Isaiah likely. He is like a rookie tight end who is probably. their third best receiver right now. Sounds like he's likely to come up often this season around the NFL.

Good job. Nice. Transition. Sean Peyton tried to do that too. Coming up on today's show. It, listen, the people wanted it, but you can't rush some things.

You have to wait for the right moment. Nay, the flashpoint. Oh, yeah, flashpoint. Focus. Flash point. Flash point. Flash point. It's about getting in front of the story, not reacting to the story.

The Flashpoint series is back. Tata, Tustimonial. Flashpoint is simply awesome. What an ongoing series. It's perfectly time. We can dig it. Greg's a jerk. These guys get it.

That's what the Flashpoint's about. Oh yeah. Now we know why it's back. I recognize some voices in that. Just for that 30 seconds of Dan finally just feeling pure joy listening to his creation. It's good. You didn't rush it. Was that a testimonial section within that?

There was. It was very rich. Wow. So what else do you need, Greg? I was expecting you to find the clips of us, you know, talking Baker, talking Carson Wentz, like right before they truly reached the last point. It stands on its own. Yeah. stands on the sun.

And also, you should know many, many people reached out to me for the Greg's a jerk sound drop. And I was like, just all different directions. I was like, guys, no, no, no, no. Back off. Just a title way. Like you sent a group email said who wants to take it. And that was how it was. It was like me, me, me.

Settling scores all over the place. All right. So that's coming up. Flashpoint series, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. we have been patient it's been a long time it's like uh you think about terence malick the director he directed in 1978 days of heaven and then he waited 22 years sat on it to drop the thin red line sat on it 20 years and i think there's a parallel here he's a master class director and flashpoints is something that we hold in such high esteem that we're not

going to rush it although after that he just started churning him out so is that what we're going to do are we going to wait well we No, we'll go our own way. Right. We're following the Malick model. Yes, Justin. Fun fact, my very first internship ever was for Terrence Malick as an office intern back in Austin, Texas. Was he nice?

Wow. He was really nice. Mark's finally going to like you now. I actually would like to speak with you after the show. He writes his scripts on a typewriter still, and it's interesting. Isn't it nice that also you finally now have found it in-road with Mark? Yeah, we've had a little tension on the show. But now it's organic.

We didn't force it. It's organic. Mike. It all fits. Kind of like today's flashpoint. Very well done. And we have a special guest coming on to talk. It is Scott Reynolds from pewterreport.com.

The Bucks and Tom Brady, who returned to practice today after his mysterious absence that maybe was connected to a really goofy Fox reality show. Maybe. According to rumors. You know, I have connection just like you guys do to people in the business of show living here in Los Angeles. I got a text on good authority. It was like, buy in.

It's real. He's going to be on the Masked singer. I mean, I'll believe you, but I find that to be. Don't believe me. I'm just saying this is somebody that's in the business of show. If it were a personal matter, like they called it, but if he stepped away to do the Masked Singer, I do think that Tom Brady has departed mentally.

I got a source that said the opposite. I did also. not doing the messer yes this is a source off isn't it now this isn't my reporting site triple sources everyone knows um but this is just one source that it told me that hello oh well i mean it there are it does line up and very that's a compelling conspiracy theory all right let's before we get to flashpoint let's get to the news now everyone get out your popcorn because the panthers announced baker mayfield as their starting quarterback which means he's going to be facing the very same team that drafted him number one overall.

Drama. No drama. Yes, many of us saw it coming, and now it's official. Baker Mayfield will be the week one starting quarterback for the Carolina Panthers when they face Baker McPhil's former team, the Browns in Charlotte. Head coach Matt Ruhl announced the decision Monday. Here is his statement that was released by the website or his quote. When we started this process, we were looking at three things.

Number one, mastery of the offense. Number two, situational football excellence. And number three, moving the ball and getting guys involved. That's been our focus all along. Baker has made a lot of improvement, a lot of growth in all three areas in a short amount of time. So it's Sam Darnold. Last year started, we'll back up. Baker Mayfield, and we will see if Mayfield, Gregi, can basically resurrect his career after a very

tough ending in Cleveland. Well, I do want to thank Matt Ruhl and Scott Fitter and everyone who saved us from Sam Darnold being a weak one starter in the NFL. Makes this organization more entertaining, makes that game against the Browns more entertaining. I mean, they might be favored. I got questions about the Browns roster, certainly. it's certainly spicier. And I think there's a chance here

that Matt Rule's offense helps them out. Like even if he put up Teddy Bridgewater's numbers from two years ago for the Panthers this year, like the Panthers would just be a much better, more watchable team. He'll do it in a much more entertaining different way. I feel like they wasted a little too much time pretending this was a battle, but it's fine.

It ended here. I mean, they could have brought him in earlier too after all this, but it's funny to me that Cleveland will be paying Baker Mayfield $10.5 million to potentially start their season off on a low note. That's such a Brown's thing. It really is. I mean, this year especially. It's for Sam Darnold, I think your days as even competing to be a starting quarterback in the NFL based outside of some sort of truly chaotic scenario down the line, it's over. And it's kind of depressing a little bit on the Darnold front because in theory, he should have been the heavy favorite for someone who knew the office.

for someone that had the entire bulk of the offseason, he's just not a better quarterback. I think Baker Mayfield, for all the... You'd think that Sam Darnel is a better quarterback than Baker Mayfield? I just want to see both of them play on the same team. I'm looking forward to the season. That's fine. It's very possible both will play,

but I really genuinely think that from the very beginning... Well, Baker is way more accomplished, obviously. And if we want, yeah, we could use this to write the eulogy of Sam Donald's career. But I just would not be shocked if you end up seeing... both of these quarterbacks. Baker, from the moment he got there, even though they did present it, almost out of it seemed like respect for Darnold, who had been in the building for over a year, they made it look like it was a competition, but it never was. This was Baker's job to win. And he, I'm happy that he's doing against the Browns in week one. That's just fun.

But this will be something I'll be interested to see where things are at at this position by October. I'm just not as high on Mayfield, I know. I know you're not. But I'm not either. He was bad last year. Sad moments. I get it. Everybody's hurt. I get it. But Donald is among the biggest busts in NFL history to me.

Like, I really would put that for a top. Dude, are you kidding me? One of the biggest bus in NFL history? I think if you just look at the number. He got a longer timeline, but if you just look at the numbers of quarterbacks who have started that amount of games over like a four-year period, it's there with anyone in the last 20 years,

basically any numbers-wise. guys. And those guys usually don't get as many chances as he did. So it's a little different than like an Achilles Smith or guys like that who only got one year or two years. It doesn't matter. Maybe he'll end up playing. I'm sure he will again as a backup somewhere. He'll get another chance. And you're right, Dan. It'll probably be like one this year. But this gives him a shot. It's a weak division. We'll talk about that later with Scott Reynolds. But there's some there's some possibility here. Because I think Baker, in light of everything that's happened with Cleveland this year, I think it would be kind of a little bit delicious if Mayfield had a big season. So I'm okay with being wrong with this one. If what you say will happen happens and Baker Mayfield is missing starts because he's been benched, his career is also in a very dark place. He's a backup too.

I think, yeah, I think Donald with this is heading into that. He's a number two guy and probably can hang around for a few years. I think he's scouting tells you a lot. And it's telling, like, this is it for Rat Rule. He's got to win with Baker Bayfield. I think there's a chance he could. But Matt Corral's injury over the weekend, he's going to miss the season. Remember, that's the third round pick that they took in the draft.

To me, it's very, like, typical of everything with this Matt Rule area. If he goes, I think he, if Matt Rule doesn't survive this year, I think he's going to really look back and hate the half measures he took. It all was half measures. Teddy was a half measure that they gave two years guaranteed. He was okay, not great. They wanted to upgrade. Darnold ended up being a half measure too early. Like, they could have gotten a draft pick last year.

They could have gotten Mack Jones. They could have gotten Justin Fields. They could have gotten bigger at the position. And Baker was kind of a last-minute half measure. And Matt Corral was kind of a half-measure. Like, we're not going to go all the way in for our rookie quarterbacks this year. But we are going to give up a third-round pick to move up. For next year, for whoever's running this team next year,

they don't have their third round pick. The Patriots have it and a fourth round pick to go get corral. So you hate to see him get injured. But just like it was a lot of like we didn't ever want to go all in and then suddenly you might be gone. They lack identity and I think, you know, I look at the GM too. I mean, it's not been, it's for a team that came in under their ownership with such urgency when attached to Matt Rule, we're in year three.

And I see no distinct characteristics about who the Panthers are right now. Maybe big. I guess to be fair, they tried. They just swung and missed. They wanted Stafford. They wanted Watson. They just didn't get her. And I could hear it now, so I just want to get out in front of this.

I am not saying that Sam Darnold has a career ahead of him that's going to be shining. But when you say he's one of the biggest bust in the history of the NFL. Give him me quarterback specifically. He was never in position to be successful in the league. And there are guys like Jamarcus Russell and Ryan Leif and Vernon Goldston who are outright disasters, who are next level type bus. I'm thinking of a quarterback category to me.

Yeah, I guess would give me the quarterbacks that you would put in a different category than him that have played. I guess Russell is your example. Russell, if you wanted to go look, had some moments.

Now, he wasn't good. Even in the top 10, even in the top 10 of that draft, I think you could look at the guy that was taken by the Arizona Cardinals as a bigger bus than Donald. Sure. And where is that guy?

He's on the Browns. Probably will not be in the next. month, but he is on the Browns right now. I'm calling him that guy because his name has escaped to me. Josh Rosen, that is a raging bust. Sure. And that's not to pile on Josh Rosen, I'm just saying.

I guess like people, like, and I hope he can have like a Gabbert-like career. But to me, like, that, that's where you're at. I'm not arguing that. Lower than a Gabbard and Achilles Smith. Yeah. Those top picks who got a little. Achilles Smith. Yeah.

All right. He didn't last long. Let's pause right here and take a break. We'll be right back. another former first round pick current first round pick when you become a former first round pick next year i guess i don't know kenny pick it i think he's just the first round pick he's just the first round pick he's just the first round pick he's he's balling out in the preseason six of seven 76 yards touchdown against the jaguars this weekend and uh you know Kenny picket mark there have been um positive comments about him there there was criticism about

how he started his camp and he looked very green and like a rookie. But now when he's starting to stack up these preseason performances, it goes back to what I was saying a few weeks ago. Like we need to see how he performs in these games before we decide or before we are sure that somebody like a Mason Rudolph or anyone else is starting quarterback for this team. I still tend to think that they would like to roll Mitch Trubisky out there early because their offensive line, according to,

I think Mark Koboli is one of the best Steelers reporters out there and has said that on a day-to-day basis, the line has looked more fractured and messy than a year ago, which is a big problem. That was a problem for Big Ben. That said, when you watch Kenny Pickett, it's just like in these games. And I think that's an argument for the preseason.

I'm not a big preseason fan at all, but the chance that we've had to experience Kenny Pickett in game situations. And he was playing the starters against the Jaguars in this recent affair. He's played with starters against starters. Right. And he's looked fifted. fantastic. And I think he's sort of everything that Mike Tomlin said he wanted post Big Ben,

a mobile quarterback. He could throw on the run really well. He does well off script. I just, I think this is the problem here for a little bit, if you're Mitchribiske or anyone else, is that this is a special situation where this is someone who Pittsburgh already loves because where he went to school and who he is. And he's showing up really well in these games. I don't know how you fend him off for more than a week or two. And Mike Tomlin loves him. I mean, he was at. Tomlin said on the draft, the night of the draft, they asked, would you be open to starting Kenny Pickett week one? And go look at his words.

He said yes. I think he's got a shot. We're taping this on Monday, so it's kind of an awkward time. We'll see what they do with their practice reps. But after the game, Tomlin said, just that's who he is. Pick it because he let a two-minute drive. And his numbers are great, but actually, Trubisky's numbers are quite good. And Mason-Rudoff's numbers are great, too.

And none of them have been protected well. Trubisky especially against other starters has had no protection and he survived pretty well but what Tomlin said after the game to me was very telling he said that's who he is in terms of Pickett's ability to come up in the clutch he did it next door

he probably did it in high school he probably did it in Little League some things people are born with like he's not talking about that about Trubisky or Rudolph and I tend to think you're right I think Trubisky probably gets week one but we might find out by Wednesday

day that that's wrong and that the leash now is extremely short because of Pickett's preseason. In other news, the Washington commanders, this Antonio Gibson situation is getting dicey. The running back served as Washington's kick returner in their preseason game against the Chiefs. He's playing behind Brian Robinson. And Greg, this was not the game plan. This is not how Washington saw their offensive maturing with Carson Wentz. And they thought Gibson was a major guy, but maybe he's not. because the team and the coaching staff

has not seemed to be very excited right now. It could be Ron Rivera sending a message, but Brian Robinson just is a kind of straight ahead. I'm going to try to get the yards that are there, a guy. And Ron Rivera literally said last week, Antonio Gibson needs to run harder. And I don't think that means their roles are flipped

and that Gibson's definitely the backup, but it's going to be a three-person committee. This is a guy that was getting taken Gibson in the very high reaches of fantasy drafts while Robinson was barely getting drafted at all. And it feels like a three-man committee at best for Gibson with J.D. McKissick also being a big, big factor. It's a rough tumble because it's not like a new regime came in

and just saw Antonio Gibson differently than the past. I mean, Scott Turner knows him really well. But he's had the fumbling issues. He had a terrible fumble against the Panthers in that first preseason game, which just was thematically what one of the things I think around. He'll get his chances, too. I don't think he's just going to be buried. They'll both play.

But I mean, I think if you're in fantasy world, and we'll talk about that on Wednesday, Suddenly it's a clown car. Why did you throw your hands up like that? See, that's a fourth. You're not looking forward to the fantasy. No, I totally am. I just meant like I, why should I dig?

We were not, you know, talk about that on Wednesday. Why should I dig on it now when we're going to go into such depth on Wednesday? We took you off Fantasy Corner last year, remember? And you were in studio and a major part. I thought you would have enthusiasm, not to throwing up the arms. Well, I have, I actually have a very special update to come on Wednesday. Oh. Just to let you know.

I just think like. Interesting. Nice tease. Like this, this wasn't, maybe a four. thing that you can learn from. Okay, I'm open to... Position battles. Okay.

I got to admit, though, you're right. What McVeigh did in terms of sitting his starters a few years ago, that was like the canary and the coal mine, and more than ever, most teams are doing that, and it's increased each and every year. So I would say the vast majority of my 68 things we learned from this last week was not from the games. Is that the second plug of that art? Yeah.

I mean, I believe in it. I'm putting too much work in it. Rule three. Need another one before the end of the show. But I think for you, Mark, you know, when you think about the first. fantasy element of this week and you think about how important you are to this show. I think you should

listen to what Carson Wentz has been trying to tell us all offseason. As we all know, I'm excited to really go ahead and start to take command. It's a take command scenario with the fantasy extravaganza. You want me to start to do that? Well, it's all hands on deck. You know, we need... When did I suggest I was not going to

be a part of it or put up a YouTube show? Can we have an instant replay of Mark throwing up his hands like, we'll talk about that on Wednesday. Well, that's not the way I said it, but I don't think. Sure. Rookie injuries to talk about. Here we go. That's one of the big three.

Greg, I have thought it over, and positional battles, do not make my top three. Okay. But if you, it doesn't mean like, it's definitive, it's not definitive, like, my top three has to be everybody's top three. It's just mine, yours might have more than three or four or five or six, and positional battles could be used. kind of love this time of year because we've spent a lot of time talking about not knowing much in terms of like how is it all going to happen. And I think you get into it with the Jets. You want to know like who's having good camps, who's having who's up, who's down.

Just expand that out by 32 teams because all these like questions of these teams, like they're being answered quietly. If only I could I could expand myself out to 32 teams the way Greg just does effortlessly. Right. Yes. No, that's good. I'm happy that it makes you that. It's sort of a holden for you in terms of coverage and content. Yeah, I'm just running out the clock a little bit and getting excited for next week. I think it's an honest answer for you.

Rookie injuries, Giants first round pick. Outside Russia, Kavon, Tibido, our friend, out three to four weeks with a sprained MCL, got taken out by a low block that led to a lot of internet discussion and consternation. Not everybody has to have takes on everything. Guys, you know, apparently they do. This world, you know, every world. fighting about stuff. Do we need to be fighting about everything? How about we just say, bummer that the rookie, that kid hurt his knee. I hope he's going to be okay. Not like I know

what block should be legal and illegal. You don't know the game. You never play the game. You're not a good guy because you see things differently. Enough of that. That's when I switch over to TikTok. Seattle running back Kenneth Walker dealing with a hernia and he's had, he has surgery. So I'm not sure how long they're going to be without. They're running back, but there's always an injured running back when we're talking about the Seahawks. It seems hopefully he gets better soon enough. And Patriots wide receiver, Tyquan, Thornton out eight weeks.

That's a toughie. I think a broken collarbone? Yeah. Well, a collarbone injury, yeah. But there's different types of broken collarbones that he could still return this season. But I do think that could impact a potential trade because it felt like either Kendrick-Born or maybe Nelson Aguilar was going to get traded. At first I thought it was Aguilar,

but then Boren is having a bizarre camp where Belichick yelled at him. He got kicked out for fighting. Coach Bill yelled at me. Yeah, people saw Belichick yelling at him. Then he was benched in the preseason game, even though he was healthy. There was some stuff going on there.

And he hasn't been targeted much, but apparently. Thornton was their best receiver this summer. Potentially. That might be bold. But yeah, I like that. I don't know. Like that, a smaller, he's the only one on the team that is fast. So I would have liked him to be healthy.

He'll be a little slower for the next eight weeks at least. If the Patriots come out and score like 35 points a game over the first month of season, then I'm with you, Dan. I will never pay attention to anything that happens in the summer ever again. Because it just seems so gloomy. Yeah, I mean, we'll see. I'm really looking forward to September 11th. Well, 2022.

Finally in the news, Dana White is. the grand poohba of UFC like he's the guy he runs the whole show and they had one of their events I'm not really a big fan I don't follow up but I know millions of people

love UFC so whatever the big UFC event was this past weekend he was speaking as part of some type of roundtable of I don't know pre-fight or post-fight discussion

and he had this to say with Rob Grunkowski in studio about a potential sliding door scenario Never saw the movie involving Tom Brady and Gromk and the Las Vegas Raiders. So I want to bet. I'm the one.

I work to put that deal together for Brady and Gronk to come to the Raiders. And it was almost a done deal. And at the last minute, Bruton blew the deal up and said that he didn't want him. And all hell broke loose, man. And it was crazy, and Brady was already looking at houses, and it wasn't being said yet that Gronk was coming. So Las Vegas would have had Brady and Gromk the year that the Bucks won the Super Bowl, except Gruden blew the deal up. And there's so much story that goes along with this behind the scenes. And I was never going to tell that story until Gronk just said it.

And, yeah. And Dana? That is exactly what happened. And you just told the story. And I'm glad it did not go through. Really? Yes, I am glad it did not go. Unbelievable.

That was Gronk, you heard, at the end there. And, you know, Mark, you brought up, and it was a good point, that now that we have this information and you have one of the principles tied to it directly confirming it, which was Gronk, Brady's commentary shortly after when he was on the shop, the NFL show or the HBO show with LeBron James, This comment he made, you could start to, you know, connect the red strings. There was a story in Free Agency. One of the teams, they were interested, and all of a sudden, they weren't interested at the very end. I was sitting there thinking, you're sticking with that motherfucker?

Are you serious? So that motherfucker is Derek Carr, right? You think so. I mean, just because of what we've learned from this, where it was this 11th hour, Gruden, for whatever reason, deciding, I don't want Tom Brady and Gronk. I don't know what the mentality was there. I have a guess, by the way, but go on. This is an 18 investigation.

I guess it is. Here we go. No, go finish your point. Well, no, it could have been Mitch Trubisky because the bears were in the mix. There was just sort of like a couple of quarterbacks out there where you like the slanderous nature of it. Everyone thought it was Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick. As in February, because he was trying to get to the dolphins based on that florist thing. But the way Brady positioned it that it was a last. The second, it certainly seems to be this story. And my theory is that Gruden, who's a control freak with a huge ego, I can imagine he didn't want, Tom Brady's the boss wherever he is now. And that is not the situation. Gruden, he wanted that to be his team and his team alone.

And Derrick Carr is someone that, I'm not saying Derek Carr is a puppet on the strings, but he's somebody that Gruden is a player. He's a player. Ego, get it in the way. That's original. Right. Worked out well for John, overall, I would say. and Gronk's like

I'm glad that didn't happen and it's like yeah and people were like really what do you mean really you just won a Super Bowl with the bucks Yeah but if Gronko's all You could have been partying in Vegas

for two straight years That would have been cool too for him Grank was sneaky great Those two years But that is It is amazing And it is a life lesson I think that it's true

And a lot of walks of life More people than you would think Are just kind of worried about protecting their turf and keeping their gig versus, like, trying to do a good job or, like, succeeding. Yeah, I think that's a sad but true commentary on the world, Greg. We'll have more on Tom Brady and the box and maybe even Gronk after this break when we, oh, the return of the signature series of around the NFL.

Signature. It's time. We'll be right back. The Flashpoint series is back, studying the 2022 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. What comes next for Tom Brady's team. And to help us navigate this conversation is a man who's in his 27th year covering the bucks. Currently with pewter report.com. And Scott Reynolds, you, sir, welcome to ATN. You, sir, predate the pewter.

And that shows everyone that this dude knows his buck's history, the present, and what we need to know from you, the future. Yeah, I do go back to the cream sickles. We're supposed to see those this year. But supposedly supply chain issues have caused problems. But we'll see the cream sickles for a throwback game next year. You know what that means? Tom Brady said, no, I'm not wearing those.

Essentially. And they're like, oh, well, supply, supply. But before we get into what's going around the bucks, because Scott, this is an interesting moment in time for 10. because they make sense as a favorite in the NFC, but then you start to look closer at the roster and what's going on around the team and you wonder if this could be a little more

of a bumpy ride than some people expect. At least that's kind of where I am right now at the Bucks. Tom Brady returned to the facility from his absence. He practiced with the team in some capacity today. Is everything on the Brady side of things now put to bed? It's going to be more like a Tom Brady buck season going forward, or do you imagine anything, any other unforeseen absences or anything like that moving on? We hope so, but we're not sure. This has been the most un-Bradie-like year

for a guy that is so meticulous when it comes to preparation and details and planning. Remember, there was the awkward retirement, right, where some NFL reporters beat him to the punch and then he plumsily retired. And then he unretired, 41 days later at the blue on the eve of free agency. So now all of a sudden, you know, it was an excused absence and then two and then Willits his birthday. Then he's not going to be here for the Tennessee week. So this has been a very un Brady-like year in Tampa Bay. And listen, the bucks are just happy to have him because the quarterbacks for this team were going to be Blaine Gabbard and Kyle Trask if it wasn't Brady. So they want one more year of Brady, even if the guy just shows up on Sundays and plays.

Why do you think in terms of how this was handled? Because I think if Tom Brady, you know, a month and a half ago, they made it clear there was this scheduled time away. The team knew about it, but we're just going to drop this on all of you, football fans and reporters, out of thin air. I think that made it into so much more that it needed to be. Why would the Bucks, if you're the front office, the coaches, certainly your PR staff, why stir things up that way? That's sort of what just threw me about this whole situation. Sure. And I think it was at Tom Brady's request. I think that's why they did it. Here's the thing, whether this was a pre-planned vacation, whether there is some type of medical issue surrounding a family member. Tom Brady is a player that goes beyond the coverage of pewterreport.com or the Tampa Bay Times, for example. I mean, he's an icon. He is a national figure. So when you're talking about covering this guy, I mean, you're talking about paparazzi. type coverage. I mean, he is a Michael Jordan, LeBron, James. He's an icon. And so imagine if Brady

said, I'm going to go vacation, I'm going to take a couple days off where I've got a family medical issue to attend to. You're just alerting the paparazzi to stake out certain places, right? Whether it's hospitals in California, if something happened to his parents or, you know, the hot spots Brady likes to go, just so you get a picture of Tom, not at Buck's practice, right? So I can see why he did it. And I do know that he's a public. figure. He is a worldwide icon. At the same time, I still believe everybody deserves some level of privacy. And yes, we'd like to know, but I'm fine with knowing after the fact. He's back, and I think that's all Buccaneer fans really care about right now. And if you're going to vacation,

if you're going to take some time away to see maybe an ailing family member, and I don't know what the reason is. It's just speculation. The time to do it is in training camp in August, because once the season comes, Brady will be locked in. He didn't come back for a 23rd year in the league at age 45 to mess around. He's coming back to win another Super Bowl. Right. I wouldn't be surprised if he had some sports science data that actually says a time of rest right a month before the season is actually optimal for his body at his age. And he's at the point of his career.

Right. Where he's just saying like, okay, I'm going to do this. And this is part of me coming back. He makes the rules now. Right. He's like, I already booked the hotel room. I can't cancel it. to come back.

I love having you on Scott because when I started at Rotter World in 2003, like Pewter Report was around then. Like that was one of the sites then that like we had in our RSS feeds to get the latest news. And I'm still looking at your site and using it. You had a headline, I think that said the Kyle Trask experiment is all but over from the weekend. I used that in my column on Monday because Blaine Gabbard looks like he's going to be the backup. I am curious though with everything that's gone around with Brady this offseason. and this vibe that they changed the coaching staff,

but not really, and that Brady hasn't been able to practice with Evans and Godwin and Gage because they've had their injuries, and they lost Aaron Steny over the weekend, and of course they lost Ryan Jensen. Like, just what's the vibe of this offense not having gotten in the work that usually is so important to Tom Brady and just everything around this team,

kind of compared to what it was like the last couple years with Ariens? I'm going to use a visual aid for the vibe. The vibe is this. Okay. Fingers crossed. For our audio list. Thank you. Yes.

It's fingers crossed. And keep in mind, I will say this. There was a little bit of a, you know, magic in the bottle in 2020. Remember, there was no preseason. There was a truncated training camp because of COVID-19. There was no preseason games. So the very first time that Tom Brady wore a Buccaneer uniform was in the week one season opener at in New Orleans, and that's the first time he threw to Mike Evans and Chris Gobbin in a game.

So this is year three. He's two years ahead of that. He almost threw for, well, he threw for over 4,500 yards in his first year, over 5,000 yards last year, 40 touchdowns two years ago winning the Super Bowl in the regular season and then 43 last year. So I feel good about where Tom's at in terms of knowing this offense and knowing the majority of the pieces. Now, there are a couple new offensive weapons. He's got to get some continuity with Russell Gage, Julio Jones, Kyle Rudolph on the offensive side, Kate out.

How's Julio look? Is the hype real on Julio? You've been at practices. Yeah, and I think they're doing a really good job of managing him. I mean, it sounds crazy, but he went to Tennessee last year. And I was talking to some of the Tennessee folks last week at the practices, the joint practices in Nashville. He went there to be the number two receiver. I think at this stage of the game with the injuries, he just came.

his body's not going to hold up to be that guy. But you know what? He can be the league's best, fourth wide receiver. And I think that's what he's going to be. He's going to be a player that every once in a while, he's going to get featured and he'll get 100 yards a game, but maybe that happens once or twice this year. There's just so many weapons to throw to.

But they really don't need Julio Jones so much in September as they're going to need him in January. And if you go back and look at the three years that the Bruce Ariens coaching staff, Let's call it that because Todd Bowles has been here since 2019. In 2019, and then last year, they just ran out of wide receivers at the end of the season due to injury. And this is a wide receiver-driven offense. The only year where they had everybody healthy was in 2020. And look what happened.

They won the Super Bowl. They brought an Antonio Brown, and he added to that mix along with Scotty Miller, who was having a good year. And of course, Evans and Godwin were a thousand-yard receiver. So I like what the bucks have done, being proactive and getting not just a Russell Gage to replace Antonio Brown, but getting a Galliculio Jones so he can be here and learn this offense and be a factor as a role player throughout the year. And Mike Evans is obviously a rock, but we know Chris Godwin is coming off the ACL. And, you know, as a Jets fan, I remember the Todd Bowles teams when he was at the lead. That was they ran the ball a lot.

They ran the ball early. on downs. And I'm just curious if you see a 5,000-yard season for Brady or anything close to it. I know Fournette's coming back. They invested a high draft pick in Rashad White. Do you think this team turns into a more of a running-oriented team? Or do you see them continue to play through Brady and the passing game, regardless of who's on the field? Kind of both. And I don't mean to ride the fence there, but I see this being a pass-first offense still. And why, Wouldn't it be right, with Tom Brady and Evans and Godwin and Russell Gage and Julio Jones. But as you mentioned, Leonard Fournett, he got paid $7 million a year, so he might as well use him. The good thing with Leonard is he can play on all three downs.

He's a great receiver out of the back field. He's one of those guys that Tom Brady stood on the table for and said, I want Lenny back. If I'm coming back, I want Lenny back. And then Rashad White is, I think, going to be a star in this league. Maybe not a, you know, a perennial pro bowl guy, but I think he can be a player that can run and catch the ball, have one of those 1,200, maybe 1,500-yard combined seasons in time. Leonard's going to be the guy this year, but Rashad White's going to be a nice addition. I think where they're trying to run the ball better is if you look at those losses to the

Rams, now it's three losses in a row dating back to 2020. They played the Rams twice last year in the regular season and, of course, the playoffs. And then the Saints, they've lost seven straight regular season games to the Saints. If you take away that playoff win in 2020, the last quarterback to beat the Saints was Ryan Fitzpatrick in the season opener in 2018. The Bucks have struggled running the ball against the Saints and against the Rams. Both those teams have pretty good pass rushes and they've got good players that can cover receivers in the secondary. So I think what Todd Bowles wants is he wants to be able to run the ball when they want or need to run the ball. And if you have a little bit more balance in those games against the Rams and Saints, and guess what?

they're on the schedule again this year, then I think you're not subjecting Tom Brady in that offensive line to as many sacks and hits. And you stand a little bit better chance to win the game with the more balanced offense. So I think it's going to be passed first against other teams, but against the heavyweight contenders and the NFC, I think they want to be able to be a little bit more balanced. And speaking of the offensive line, obviously, I mean, if there's some weird vibes around the team, I mean, we saw when the line was banged up at the end of last year, Tom Brady was not looking like Tom Brady in some of those moments and it was definitely

a compromised attack and he was extremely frustrated. Aaron Stinney goes down. Ryan Jensen's out of the mix. I mean, you're already at the point where you're testing your depth. This is all or nothing for the bucks. It's like this season and then we go into an abyss after this season. So I mean, are they, they've got 10 million

in cash space. They've got a full complement of draft picks for next April. Would they are they looking to maybe make a move? There's J.C. Tredder sitting out there. there's other guys, or is it we're just going to stick with our dudes and hope this thing works? Like you said, you know, fingers crossed. I think that they're going to probably get a veteran guard, maybe a guy that can play

guardian center because right now Nick Leverett is in the mix for that starting left guard job, along with Lou Gettoke, who got the start Saturday night in his first start in the NFL against the Tennessee Titans. He's making the transition from right tackle to left guard. So that's the right to the left, tackle to guard. That's already two hurdles. you have Central Michigan, which is the Mac, to the NFL. That's a big leap, too.

And you look at Tristan Wharps, you can say, okay, we started him as a rookie, but Tristan Warps is just a freak. I mean, he was the first round pick to begin with. Plus, he's played so many big games in Iowa, you know, Power 5 school. So they like what they have there, but I think the loss of Steny is going to force this team to go out and get a veteran to throw in that mix, too, and compete at the left guard spot. They expect Tristan Worf's to be back from his strained oblique. He missed the game on Saturday night, but they're hopeful he returns by the Dallas Cowboys season opener. But you know, it is a little

alarming what's happening along the offensive line right now. And if, listen, you mentioned that 27 years covering this team. The Bucks have won two Super Bowls. They've been to two. The only times they've been and won those games is when they were extremely healthy. And that usually goes, It's usually part for the course rate for Super Bowl winners, but the Buccaneers only had one starter on injured reserve in 2002. That was nose tackle, Bougar McFarland. They only had one starter on injured reserve in 2020. That was right guard Alex Kappa.

Aaron Stinney was the player that filled in for Kappa in the postseason and the Super Bowl. So right now, they're already missing Ryan Jensen. He's the Pro Bowl center. And the guy that you didn't mention was Pro Bowl left guard, Allie Marpet, who suddenly retired. at age 29 this year. So it does seem a little shaky up front right now for the Buccaneers' offensive line. And that might be why they wanted to lean on the running game a little bit more.

So Brady's not subjected to dropping back 35, 45 times a game and getting hit. And we just shared a look over here when you said worst might be a little up in the air for week one. You're looking at their cowboys too. That's a tough schedule for the Bucks. We talked about this on the show a couple weeks ago. Coming out of the gate, when you factor in that Brady missed a portion of training, camp and the offensive line is dealing with injury and missing guys and then you put in the schedule that's where I start to get nervous about this team I mean I wonder how they come out of the gate and

what they're looking like when the calendar turns over to say October Scott you don't know this but Dan has been predicting Tom Brady's demise for eight straight seasons and he's it's going to happen he's ready for it to happen the gradual decline is that's that's a deep oversimplication from Greg I don't think Brady's going to be the problem but I'm speaking more to what's around him. Right. It's got their, I,

I do wonder what kind of like in his heart of hearts what Jason light and the ownership and different people in this organization sometimes think, because they experience what the post Brady era was like for a little bit. I guess they were trying to get him back probably the whole time. Yeah. Because it's, cause it's weird. Tom Brady's a free agent after this season.

We talked about earlier the report or the comment from Dana White that he was trying to get to the Raiders. John Gruden should put him up in the ring of honor again in Tampa. He got you another Super Bowl. He got you another Super Bowl. Like he tried to get to the Dolphins. He loves the Niners. Two different times.

I don't know. Is there like a little bit of like, hmm, this really might be our last year with Brady here because whether he leaves to play football again or what. Like it's a lot. I want you, Scott, to be the guy asking the hard questions if this thing goes south. Just take it to Brady. Okay. I'll do that.

I'll say this, though, if you look at the state of the NFC South and things can change quickly, right? I mean, nobody saw the Cincinnati Bengals going to the Super Bowl last year, but things can change quickly. So we'll see how the rest of the South develops and comes around. But right now, I still like the Buccaneers, especially with what they have going on defense and Todd Bowles being a defensive-minded head coach. If they can figure out the Saints in the regular season and at least split with them, I think that, that the post Brady era can still be a fruitful one for the Buccaneers. It's not going to be good. It's not going to, I shouldn't say it's not going to be good.

It's not going to be great, but it can be good, meaning that I still think there's a path to the playoffs for the Buccaneers, even after Brady, because they've got enough weapons on offense to plug a quarterback in, as long as you don't get a guy that's a turnover machine like James Winston was, because that was the real difference. In 2019, you had a quarterback. throw 33 touchdowns and 30 interceptions, including an NFL record seven pick sixes, and you go seven and nine.

The team's pretty much the same the next year. Tom Brady comes and you flip out the quarterbacks, you go 11 and 5 when a Super Bowl. So if they can find a quarterback who's not a turnover machine, they can be kind of a caretaker, another Brad Johnson, if you will. A lot of time. A guy that can come in, and I think this Todd Bulls defense is going to continue to be very good, you can win the South. And if you win the South, you get the automatic pipeline to the playoffs.

And then who knows, anything can happen in the playoffs and it's all about, you know, the double H's, right, how hot you are and how healthy you are in January. And I think that there's a pathway to the playoffs for the Buccaneers after Brady's gone just because the NFC South is not what it used to be. And we'll see how the Saints fare with James Winston or whatever quarterback they choose in the years to come. But I think the Buccaneers can be good and still rule the roost in the NFC South for a couple of years after Brady. Check out Scott Reynolds' latest article on pewterreport.com. It's a Bucks Monday mailbag.

I love writing mailbags. Mailbags are fun. So check out. It's great mailbags. Check out Scott's. I haven't done one in like two years. But, and also, Scott, before we say goodbye to you, real quick answers, first thing that comes to your mind, was Brady on the masked singer?

No. Okay. And is Gronk on this team by Thanksgiving? By Thanksgiving? I'd say by the playoffs. How about that? I think he comes back. All right.

I think he comes back in maybe December, maybe not by Thanksgiving, but, but, you know, because he's got to eat, right? He's got to get, it's going to get the whole mortgage board for Thanksgiving. Right. I don't think he wants to be out there running, wind sprints and trying to get in football shape until after he has Thanksgiving. So that's my answer. I like that.

By like 2007, he'll be like, Gronk, he'll commit to playing for the Super Bowl specifically. Right. With Tom Brady, quarterback, of course. All right. Thank you very much, Scott. Thanks, Scott. Thank you. That's it.

the flashpoint. I mean, I feel like we're ahead of the story now, Mark, as we always are with the Flashpoint series. I've always believed in the series. We birthed the concept of it at the Combine, which was a rich time to come up with new ideas. And it was like, oh, oh, you guys are going to talk about Baker Mayfield and the Browns, like, dead weight. And then, like, literally within a 48-hour cycle after we did Flashpoint, all chaos and hell breaks loose in Cleveland. Same thing happened with Matt Ryan, right? Or was it Carson Wentz? Carson Wentz.

Two for two. But you've set such a high standard here. We have, I should say. Maybe not the Royal Wee. Maybe me and Mark. I'm just saying something big has to happen. If they just are like 13 and 4 and have a normal season. What we're telling you, and what the audience understands by now,

because they trust the instincts of Mark and I, something this will be a jumping off point to something else where people, everyone's going to be talking Tampa. Well, who suggested the Bucks as a potential flashpoint team? I believe I did. Dan did. So the series. Did Dan Hanses, shout out.

Thank you, Paul Rudd? What were you thinking the answer to that question? I thought it was me. I don't remember. I thought I threw out the Bucks and the Ravens as two possibilities. I did. I don't know. We don't have to litigate that right now.

I'm checking the text. I recall it being Dan. I threw out those two texts. I don't know about that. Here it is. No, I think you're trying to backdoor your way into this segment is a part of your brainchild, but sometimes you just got to, I think,

take the L a little bit. I think it's a huge hit the segment. There's more integrity around just taking the L on something like this. There's no L to be taken. I think it was a wonderful conversation. And I'm with them. They still are like the favorites. They still are,

but to be clear, I don't, I think it's weird and it could go crazy, but their defense is loaded. Their offense is loaded. I think they probably have the best roster in the NFL right now. And I'm right there. we did team slogans a couple weeks ago,

like another one that pops in my head with the Bucks, like it's going to be tricky. I think it's fingers crossed. Fingers crossed is another good one. Dan asks, is there a sexy storyline or topic out there? We can tackle with a deeper dive and a guess. My answer. I'm stupid.

Bucks lost another O.L for the year and Brady returns, period. Steelers question marks. I threw out two teams. And then you said Bucks are interesting to me. Yeah. You muddled the waters with the Steelers. So Zusser had to come in and Tugboat had to clear the water. Yeah.

Why don't know you like to pick it, you know? That's enough. That's enough. You've taken it too far. All right. That's it. So we'll be back. Yes.

With, and I was pulling your leg a little bit there, Mark. The fantasy extravaganza. I could tell just by looking at you, you are excited and pumped for the 48th annual ATN fantasy extravaganza. Why would I miss the first? 48th incarnation of it. I mean, the guest list is spicy. Are we sharing the guest list? Are we going to hold?

Wait. You want to wait? I mean, I tease that other thing. I mean, you're a tease master. So let's just stay where we are with that. You're a big tease. Then I'll see you on Wednesday. There's those eyes between you two again.

And Greg, I think you can honestly now, again, acknowledge Flashpoint Series not going away and has just a lot of juice. It's a lot of juice. I think the main reason why it's a lot of juice. I think the main reason why it's, back is this manufactured narrative that I'm not in favor of it. So there's really no way out of this. Greg's a jerk.

Greg's a jerk. Greg's a jerk. Greg is a jerk. Greg's a jerk. Greg's a jerk. Greg's a jerk. Can you send that to me, please? That was nine different women, by the way.

Of course. Good stuff. We have fun. Love you, Greg. You're fine. You're a good sport. That is a nice callback, by the way. All right.

Till Wednesday. To the fantasy extravaganza. Who! 48 already, Greg. 49 now. 50th. Till Wednesday. Heath a call.

This is an I-heart podcast.