NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Reasons For NFL Joy in 2025

Episode Date: August 30, 2025

Gregg Rosenthal is joined by Jourdan Rodrigue and Patrick Claybon to tell you what is bring them joy as the 2025 NFL season kicks off. Find out why Travis Hunter (02:05), new stars emerging (08:00), dynamic kick returns (11:15), Cam Little (19:30), Joe Burrow vs. Lamar Jackson (23:15), Brian Daboll (31:10), rivalry games (39:10), the Lions (43:38), great defenses (47:30) and more are brining the crew joy.  Note: time codes approximate. NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Hey, everybody. Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the 6th, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else.

It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sunday. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to NFL Daily, where I'm thrilled to have the original crew back together. I'm Greg Rosenthal here in the Chris Wesleying podcast studio with Patrick Claibon and Jordan Roderig. And when I say the original crew, the very first episode of NFL. Daily was taped with the three of us right here. And it had the same topic we're going to do on today's show, the reasons for joy in this upcoming season. And I love the callback. I love the feeling of deja vu in the topic and being with you guys. And yeah, spoiler alert. This is one of the

things that I enjoy. Yeah. And I love that I'm not going to cry this time. We got a lot of ballgame left, Jordan. In front of thousands and thousands and thousands of people. We're joyful about that. I definitely don't plan to cry either. I definitely am not getting deja vu in the sense that I feel like I'm in a much different place than I was. At that time, we were just launching the show, and it felt very jarring and difficult, but it was a really enjoyable show. And I thought a fun way to start this adventure on NFL Daily, which is, you know, we appreciate the game. and we're focusing on, like, the stuff that it gives us.

And we didn't hit it in the off season. I thought it'd be a perfect, you know, we're doing all these previews, all this stuff, a perfect little thing right before the season starts of the reasons why we are excited about this 2025 season specifically. So it can be bigger picture stuff as well. But I'm looking at, like, what's unique about this season? So no doubling up from last year, Patrick.

I can't bring anything back. No, you could. You could if you want. I couldn't if I tried. Don't remember. I'm getting the tape review, remember. Right, I don't remember what I said either. Yeah, I do know at some point it got emotional.

I don't, I don't expect that. Why don't I kick us off? Because I'm just going to go for like a really simple thing that I've talked about so much on this show that I don't need to repeat it. But it's just, I'm just excited for Travis Hunter. Like, to me, he is joy. He is the only like one player that I picked for this. but he is not only playing on both sides of the ball, and I think is getting not slept on,

but I, for instance, have higher expectations for, like his fantasy potential than I think others, and just his potential in general, just because he had to relatively try it quite training camp, everyone knows what a unique athlete is, but I also think the joy that he brings when you put a microphone in front of his face, and then the joy with which he plays,

which really struck me at Colorado, like people know what, great energy he has to, like, play 125, whatever snaps it is a game. You can kind of see, like, literally on the field the joy that he plays with. So I'm looking to just, like, draft off those fumes all season. And clearly he's a football nerd, right? Spending all this time and enjoying the game. But I think what shines for me is a lot of Travis Hunter's joy for football is his joy for people.

And the people of Jacksonville and the way that he interacts with his teammates and stuff. his joy is our joy. And so it's worth enjoying. And I hope it works out on both sides. There's an element of earnestness to him and pure joy instead of the, like, brand joy or, like, manufacture. You know what I mean? There's like an earnestness to him and it's not cynical. And the NFL hasn't hurt him yet.

And I hope it never does. But I'm just saying it's like, and that's what I got so, I was so fired up. when they made the move to draft him because like I know James Gladstone and I know that Jake Tammy and I know Liam Cohen and I know feeling what that feeling was and how earnest they were about bringing this really special human being into their building and just like turning this sort of cynically gravitating organization into a place of like earnest love of football and that's what he represents to me starting that process over there. And I just, I'm so excited to see what he does this season and beyond. And you know what? I have no expectations. I just want him to go out there and be himself and, and play his game and learn and be one of the best players in the NFL for the long haul. Doesn't necessarily have to do it right away.

And to be clear, we're not brand joy. You know, we're not fake brand joy. We got the real of the game. Unless a dishwashing detergent company would like to make an offer. That's fair. You know what? Also is joyful money. Yes.

So you can be rich. You can be intangibly rich. Hey. Travis Hunter. All right. Give us one. Val. Since we started with Travis Hunter,

I will go. Duval. I will go with a rookie wide receiver. Isaac Tesla hits every bit of my joy, especially on the heels of seeing Ladd-McConkey be six feet tall and run a four,

340 and burn past safeties and still get, this guy is crafty. He's just out there a student of the game with explosiveness. Isaac Tuslaw is 6-4, ran a 4-4-3,

almost a 40-inch vertical. Nobody will be able to deny his explosiveness when he makes a play. And that's why it gives me the joy. It also gives Brad Holmes another I told you so moment where it's like,

I don't know, you're taking this Jamir Gibbs character, oh, you're trading in the third round for this Tusla guy. And, you know, so far, so good. And I'm excited to see it. I have joy for the explosive rookie out of Arkansas. I had joy watching some of the blocks that he was throwing in the preseason.

I was sitting there and I was like, this is it. This guy's got it, not just the explosive playability and the frame and just the, he just fits out there on the field with that offense, with the style of offense they want to play. But also, I mean, he's in there sticking his face into the garbage and digging some stuff out. And it's just really, I love watching that. I stood up out of my seat. It was two weeks ago.

in the second preseason game, he threw a block on a play. I stood up out of my seat. I was like, oh, my God, this is it. Brad Holmes, take a bow. I've tried to check, you know, try to check my biases because, yeah, when I look at him in the preseason, I think of one man and one man only.

And I haven't said it on the show because I'm trying not to do that Ladd-McConkie thing, but I'm just comparing him to the other white guy or, you know, doing helmet scouting. But a completely freaky, oversized athlete from the University of Arkansas. Back in the day, Matt Jones gave me the most joy possible. How fun was freaking Matt Jones? Now, he played quarterback in Arkansas,

but he turned into a wide receiver. And yeah, he could be where Matt Jones, you know, jogged. Isaac to Slok and run. Yeah. If not for Matt Jones, what would we have? Breaking barriers. A world of promise. Wow. I'm so glad you was because this is all I've thought about ever since. And I was like, how is everyone not talking about this? Here's why, because no one in our control room even knows who Matt Jones is.

But he was a first round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguress, who played quarterback in college, who was converted to receiver just because he was so big, strong and freaky athletic. And, yeah, they didn't quite work out. He had some drug issues, but, you know. There's so much Matt Jones lore where you wonder, like,

and I, like, well, Patrick, you're going five minutes. on Matt Jones. He was, he leapt off the screen. He was incredible. Name and some guys. And in 2025, he probably would have got to stay at quarterback and play his career. Maybe things would have come out differently. But man, if you want to get deep into some random name and some guys stuff, go watch some Matt Jones highlights. He was a problem. All right. You're up. That's for it. Okay. One of my most joyful things that happened throughout the course of last season. And really, this happens every season is we get to see somebody that, We were, A, excited about, be on the fence about, see, even unaware about,

breakthrough and just have an entirely refreshing season. I think we knew Jaden Daniels was capable of being good, but he was one of those players that you're just like, man, this is better than we thought it was going to be. Brock Bowers, I would put him in that role as well. If you happen to punish yourself watching any Las Vegas Raiders tape last year, it just was so cool to watch all of the different things he can do. I respect the off-season ascetic decisions he has made.

I respect that for him. And I think that this year, I'm hopeful for a few different guys that I really want to see breakout, and this would bring me joy. And I expect these guys to bring me joy. Trevion Henderson, running back for the Patriots, Josh Simmons, the left tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs, who I've been high on, and Greg, we were high on in our draft process, and Emeka Abuka as the chairperson of the Emeka Abut Club. We're going Emeka.

That's like how we say my wife's name. I said Emeka, right? I don't know. It's a tough one. Is it Emeka? Yeah. I've been saying Emeka, I'm going to need to get deep with him and have this actual conversation because so many

times guys in their rookie year are completely fine with us drop kicking their names and they'll come back, you know, maybe two or three years later or after a nice user on social media mentioned to me that it's Emeka. Emeka. and so I automatically slip and I say Emeka, your wife's name. And then now I think it's, and then I think it's Emeka, a little bit more emphasis on the E. If I'm wrong, someone please reach out.

I don't want me sidetracking this with a name conversation to distract from what a perfect situation he's in to. Right off the bat, I'm not saying it's a good thing that Chris Godwin is hurt, but they need Igbuka to produce right away. And I, that offense. And Jalen McMillan taking a little bit of time, too. And, and they love, um, Tess Johnson. They love this, the back flipping guy into the end zone.

By the way, straight leg backflip, very hard to do. Never attempted it myself. I would probably break every bone in my body. But I, I love this fit for a Bucca. And I love his collaboration with Baker Mayfield already. Baker Mayfield's been really high on him. Um, I, I absolutely love this for Josh Simmons, that he's on the field, the entirety of training camp

that he really looks like he could be the real deal. The thing that also kind of brings me joy is like I'm about to become insufferable about this man if he does turn into the player that we think he could be the downside is that Chiefs fans will also be insufferable about this. I mean, yeah.

But I love all three of these guys. I think Trevion Henderson is so special. I was talking to a coach about him when I was at joint practices and just star potential captain material, somebody who is just, you're always a play away from a big explosive from him. And I just think that it's, he's just special. I love it. I think it's a really, it was a fun draft class. We're going to see a lot of like

instant impact. We're seeing that more, especially on offense lately. I'm going to go more big picture and talk about the kickoff returns. There was so much attention about the new kickoff last year. It was like all we were talking about in August. And it made an impact on the game. games, but maybe not as big of an impact as we expected back in August. Cut to this year, they changed the rules in such a way that I think the impact is going to be a year delayed. It's going to be so much bigger this year. But no one's talking about it because we already sort of already had those sort of conversations and we don't want to talk about it. And one of the thing I love to track in the preseason, Sean Seed over at summer

sports has been tracking the bouncing kickoffs that different teams have been trying like the Carolina Panthers, but others have tried as well. I really think it's going to add a whole different dimension to the game that, number one, a ton more kickoffs, I think are going to be returned this year because I think it's really punitive to have to take out the kickoff another five yards further. I mean, the 35 is just, that's just outrageous to me to have to accept that. And so I think there's going to be more kickoffs, but I think there really is going to be a lot more creativity, not only with how you do the kickoffs and the bouncing kickoffs, which I think will be fun and makes a lot of sense to hit some of those line drives. It's tough to execute,

but it could really create some problems and you could get a big time advantage. But I think we're going to see more creativity on the actual kickoff return. So give me a little more special teams. Yeah. We're back. My hope is we move to a day when that becomes more of a live ball situation to return the onside kick to include the onside kick into this format. to where if you bounce the ball into the landing area, it's a live ball, free for all, everybody goes. Wait, it's not a live ball? Well, if, because they're not bouncing it.

Right. And so it becomes. Yeah, they're clearing the landing area instead of bouncing off the landing area. And so like, yeah, I want to see more innovation in that to maybe try to get some change of possession, get some speed guys in there. But I tell you, I think it's, I don't know if it is it that hard to be able to the line drive it in like they've been doing. I mean, obviously, you've got to practice a lot, and it's been at some of these special teams practice.

And kickers don't like it. Kickers don't like doing that. It's an unnatural thing for them to have to do and not something that they grew up practicing. A lot of guys will, like, change cleats out. I noticed this last year. Guys will change cleats out in practice if they're trying and practicing different kicks, and they don't like doing that either because they're used to like a plant shoe and a kicking shoe. One of them could be a soccer cleat as well.

Here's my thing. Special teams coaches are freaking nuts. We know this. They all are like slightly unhinged as personalities. I want to see this get weird. I want to see it get weirder. It didn't get weird enough for me last year. It would bring me so much joy to see this actually go in truly unhinged directions as people just try to figure this out.

And so far we've seen like a little innovation. We're like, let's get a little weirder. I really think it's going to happen. So this is anticipatory joy, but I've seen it a little bit in the preseason. I just don't think people have really. thought about how crazy it is to bring the ball out to the 35-yard line. Like, it's really far.

It used to be the 20. I mean, that's 15 yards of difference. So it also is going to affect scoring. I'll get to some numbers later. Like, offenses are more efficient than ever, but that's partly because they're just set up to succeed. And I just don't think you can accept putting the ball on the 35. It's just, I think kickoffs are going to explode.

All right, Patrick, you're up. I'll go up and include a rule and process change in mind since we're coming off of the kickoffs where I am 100% in agreeance with you that this will probably have more impact in the future. But the virtual measurement, I think is eventually going to actually change football right now. The referee is still spot. This is a reason for joy, the virtual measurement. This is a reason for joy, Greg, because I think we have made that step. This league is all about incremental change.

And yes, the human being is still being like, oh, it looks like balls about there. And then the Hawkeye system determines where that spot is in relation to where the spot should be. I mean, the first down in relation to where the ball is. But I think eventually we're going to have the ball being spotted automatically. I believe that there is a hope for that. I think right now it's a little fraudulent because we're putting this big show on about where the ball is in the Hawkeye system. And people are going to instantly think tennis, but that's not what happening. meaning Greg's automatically always thinking

like look at his face. Isn't that a tennis face right there? No, because Greg knows how I, and you know, as I have fielded accusations of being a shield robot. Yes. People can call our call to this conversation here because yeah, I don't think it's not a robot here

because we're not, we haven't changed anything. Here's the problem. What it does do, Greg, is it lays the foundation to actually have an official say, balls down right now. Somebody else looks at the time code and says, okay, this is where the ball was, and the ball is spotted. Like that, like the idea of getting to that point, there's going to be a lot of issues with that

of like how far the ball progresses the chip in the ball. That's another conversation. Like that, they finally are putting cameras on every single goal line and sideline, which literally Bill Belichick has been asking for, you know, now he's out of the league, but he used to bring this up as a rules proposal decades ago. and seriously, like 15 years ago,

like how is it that we don't have cameras on every goal? So all that's positive because you need that for this virtual measurement. The execution of the virtual measurement system is a disaster right now. I wonder if the NFL is going to go forward with it because what happened in the preseason to me was not good enough. And I only went to it. I went to some games and I only watched so many games and it was malfunctioning everywhere.

Half the time, they wouldn't even show it because something happened where whatever's happening execution-wise, it's taken too long and it's actually literally not even working. Like sometimes they'll just tell the coaches, oh, yeah, it did happen, but we're not going to show it. So I thought it was a pretty big foul ball in the preseason. And if it's not any better, I'm worried it's not even going to last like a week or two. I would just say you have to start somewhere to try to get this to be as accurate

and perfect. I'm not talking about the accuracy. I'm talking about like the technology of like they couldn't get it to work for some reason. Because the process still involves half of the old process. If you want to actually make it to a point where things work seamlessly, you just need to fully embrace utilizing the technology and come up with something different than somebody standing there and holding the football while the camera and they're in the way and they're doing all this other stuff.

Let's just spot the ball digitally. Sorry, you just hit upon like a rant I've been meaning to have. Watching these games, there was like a Saints. moment over the weekend where they took like four minutes, then didn't announce anything, didn't show the measurement and just move forward. Because there was a, there was a potential challenge in that, right? Right, but there's all these little circumstances that they, they haven't really thought through that happened at the, the Chargers, a different one, another Saints game, but a Charger Saints game went to. So there's all these little particulars with the challenges

and stuff. And it's just like anything that slows the game down is going to drive me crazy. I think what they need to do if they really want to test this out and versus actually saying, let's go for it in real games that count for things. You also need to say, okay, could we get a couple of teams to hold their joint practices at least one day in a stadium? And then we can practice it

in the joint practice setting and not just in this limited sample size of preseason games where the entire world is watching you F up, right? Like I think you just need more reps of the process. I understand we're getting to the end. The process itself, you need more reps of it. I just have like a nightmare thinking about

like it's some big moment of Chiefs Chargers in Brazil and we're all just waiting for like seven minutes for the virtual measurement system. All right, you're up, Jordan. Bathroom break. Okay, I'm going to stay on our special teams here for a second because I had a moment of extreme joy in the preseason that's carrying me just floating into the regular season.

We had, like, let me reiterate, I feel like everybody forgot about this so quickly. We had a kicker hit a 70-yard field goal at near sea level and in dense air, Cam Little, you are a preseason highlight reel and you are a reason for joy and a reason for a really great call, which we have here. We're not joking. This kid can really drill the ball.

Holy smokes. He just kicked a 70-year-old feeling. Are you kidding me? I've never seen that. The NFL record. That would be an NFL record. Holy smokes. That's unbelievable.

17 yards. That's pure joy. That was like one of my most joyful moments of the preseason. That's, I'm floating into the regular season on just like grinning from ear to. Holy smokes. Like Bucky Brooks. Yeah. What a great call by.

It's a great call. Yeah. Shout out to the better half of the Move the Sticks podcast, Bucky Brooks. Love to hear it. Brandon Aubrey hit a 66-yarder in the preseason two. It's happening. Which goes to your starting at the 13th. It's like if you're playing one of these guys, especially on turf, all right, guys, we've got 12 yards.

Right. Exactly. Like, if you're taking out to the 35, you pick like eight yards and you're good. These kickers are fearless now. And for teams, if a team has nothing to lose, like some of these teams will have nothing to lose at any point than just trying it. This was like in humidity. It was like 80% humidity. Thick air, guys. And the, and the football sales, 74 yards in room. I do love that. field goal kicking is one very obvious example that the athletes and our players are just better. And of course they're better. We say that.

They're more athletic. They're always better. But they provide just like a very statistical, you know, proof of it that the kicks keep getting farther and they're like way more accurate. Everyone's mad if like their kicker misses like seven kicks a year. Like, you know,

but in the 90s, you were lucky to have like a 70% field goal kicker and like that's mostly like, inside a 40. Like, we're so much better at field goal kicking than we used to be. You didn't people kicking barefoot down there for, you know, a short while there in the, in the early days when, when Greg was a teenager, you know. I don't, I don't, Tom Dempsey didn't have like a complete foot and he was getting it done. Uh, sorry. A complete foot. That's why, like, the long field goals, even, even more so, or, or a product of joy because you get in a situation

like, where you're watching Jake Moody kick one from 42 and you're like, oh man. Like, this, this may be this kid's last opportunity. But when somebody lines up a long field goal, it's kind of house money. And we can just enjoy it and not feel bad about the results where like Cam Little has got a job for a while now. Yeah. Just because of that moment. Because if he misses one from from 37, like everybody's not going to be like, oh man, it's like, hey, man, Cam's just got too much of a leg, dog. You know, like, he rocketed that thing over the net from 32. A little kicker that could. Shout out to Tom Dempsey, by the way. I wasn't trying to be harsh there. He. Incomplete foot. It sounded rude.

He did not have toes on his right foot. So he had a specially made Klette. They actually outlawed and he held this record that Cam Little in theory broke. I know. I just love how you said it. Tulane grad, by the way, Tom Dempsey.

Shout out to Tom Dempsey. Let's bring it back. Okay. Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson are in the same division. We know this. They get to play twice a year. Hold the phone. I mean, I think because, you know,

back in the day, like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady would play each other twice year when they weren't in the same division after a very brief time together in the old AFCs. You don't think about like Lamar and Joe as maybe the best rivalry or best division rivalry ever, one of them, they're going to become that. I went through it. There really aren't that many examples of two quarterbacks at this level in the same division at their peak. and the two Ravens Bengals games last year, and they've had some very good ones over the years when the two of the guys,

two of the quarterbacks of Healthy, but it went to another level. The two games last year were just absolutely outrageous. So knowing that those two games are coming, like we have a very clear, like best four quarterbacks in the NFL, and these two guys get to play. And I started thinking, like, what other examples are there? Dan Marino, Jim Kelly is probably the number one.

And then after that, like Breeze and Matt Ryan in our era, I would say is probably the best division rivalry. And they really did have a lot of great games and they were, they were rivals. But Matt Ryan's maybe not quite at that, you know, level of a Joe Burrow. Eli and Romo were great. They're not at that level, I think individually, but they had a lot of really great games against each other. Peyton Manning and Steve McNair had a brief, but really good one. But there really aren't that many.

So just a little love for the Lamar, Joe. Joe Burrow rivalry. And they do face each other, even though they're both quarterbacks, Patrick. Yeah. I would push back at the idea. It's like, oh, well,

Joe's he going to be extra good this time. Or maybe you can make the case Jamar Chases against the Baltimore Raven specifically. But it's a joy. I clearly am on one side of it, but to be able to watch them

and, you know, the rings conversation will hound the both of them until one of them does it. But it's stupid. it doesn't make me it's absolutely vapid uh if these if these guys are playing on sunday everybody's watch i just love that it's like these two figures in our sport who are at the extreme top of the sport not just the upper middle but like all the way at the top and they're bonded

um involuntarily and connected by this sort of like demon that shares them both and i think that that's so um there's just like there's something so poetic about the that and I love, I love. Wait, who's the demon? Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs? No, the demon is that they, they haven't won. That's the, in the, in the postseason, and they haven't gotten all the way. And so that's, that's like, this thing that's like, you have to get through each other, but you're also sort of bonded by this darkness, you know?

And they're both, they're both very unique men who kind of approach the quarterback position and relating with the public differently. Yeah. And to watch them both become more comfortable at different aspects of it has really been a joy and it's yeah it's hard to it's hard to look away quarterbacks with personality love that yeah love that for all of us also love just points the two scores last year 41 to 38 that was the overtime game that was wild and in 35 to 34 that's pretty good stafford and far was another one that came up but like the lions didn't hold up their end of the bargain but they had a lot of good matchups and they were i mean stafford and rogers

Yeah, I was going to say. Yeah. Stafford and Aaron Rogers, they're both peaking, essentially at the same time, came into the league near each other. One of them almost replaced the other one. I think Lamar and Borough. Outshines the moment. All right, let's take a quick break. We will have more reasons for joy.

After this, so many reasons. Incomplete foot. probably the last name I need to bring up on the Reasons for Joy, 2025, again, is Tom Dempsey. But I do feel like I need to correct the record. Not a Tulane graduate, but he hit that field goal, 63 yards that held as the record for decades, 50 years, at Tulane Stadium.

Ah, there we go. As a member of the Saints. And I just wanted to correct the record. That's really important that that got into the show before the season starts. That's what you wanted to correct. Yes. Okay. Patrick. You're up. Rest in peace. To a legend, Tom Dempsey. I'll go the sports medicine route.

I am thankful for opportunities for guys like Aidan Hutchinson, Stefan Diggs, Dak Prescott, people who have had success in the league, but injuries derailed their last season, including the entire Lions roster, especially at a time where we got a lot of pseudoscience out there. We got a lot of people grifting and selling wares and snake oils and all these things are going to fix people.

And so, yeah, the industry itself could be seen as under attack. And I know that there's a lot of people just in the medical field that are working to help people. And they bring me joy to see them work. And, yeah, some of these NFL players with opportunities to be a comeback player of the year, I'm joyful to see them in a league where the injury rate's going to be 100%. Like, everybody's going to deal with something. and people are going to put a tag on them and like,

ah, this guy is, it's over, it's a wrap. Somebody's going to win it and somebody's going to have a great season, and I'm excited to see it. I think about this a lot when it's the people that we never really see who are working, first of all, to help heal others, right? But then also when these players do end up getting back into a position where they can rehab and how, like, lonely and isolating, and they're literally on the other side of a glass often from their teammates

and watching everybody enjoy the camaraderie of being on a team. And then they, but they're in physical pain and they're working through actually coming back. Rehab is not easy. It is physically very painful to do because you're rebuilding certain muscles, ligaments, everything around whatever part of your body you injured. And so I think of the people too who go in there every day and talk this player out of his own head who say, we need to get these exercises done today. I think of the people who are out there on the field with them.

putting them through these really, at times, frustrating workouts where maybe your body can't do what you needed or want it to do and how many of those people are all across the league. And they bring me joy. We saw this a couple years ago when the Buffalo Bill's staff sprang into action to save DeMar Hamlin's life and how they just went back to work the next day, totally thankless. They had probably, and I was one of these people who requested them to do a story.

Like they had a million requests from all over the world to come talk about what they did. and they just went back to work. And it's just incredible. And that's really what the league runs on right there. It's like Wednesday for them, you know? Yeah. That's what they do. That is, it's well put, Patrick.

So that wasn't lying specific, right? You're talking about all the, all the people coming back for me. Yeah, no, just everybody, like Christian McCaffrey, in that list as well, where there's so much work that we don't see, like Jordan mentioned, that goes into it. And, and yeah, somebody's going to get a huge reward all for that. And I'm just, I'm glad. And again, a lot. lot of people are going to go through that process of getting hurt and have to deal with that. And fortunately, they have entire staffs and people committed to medicine who are going to help

them. It's a little preview of their sports mortality, which, you know, mortality talk is hot on NFL data. A lot of death talk. It's a lot of mortality talk. But they go through their own, you know, career death in a way that I don't think we can really understand to have that short of a career timeline and to be able to just try to maximize it as much as you can, while you're there. And so they get a little preview of that. And I want to talk about somebody who I feel is pulling his own career death, like inch by inch off of the cliff with this massive rope and like digging his feet into the dirt to try to get his career back on the sledge, back on track. Brian Daibel. I can say. Oh, wow. Not where I was expecting this to go.

I know. Whoa. I think I've been watching his press conference because I told you guys a couple weeks ago. I'm so suspicious. We're going to see this man smile this year. I promise. We're going to see this man smile while speaking at the lectern about Jackson Dart. And I think he's seeing enough and seeing enough from the future of this player that they've invested in. And maybe not, you know, the week one future, but the longer term or even the middle term future, even the in-season term of this guy starting for the New York Giants. And I think Brian Dable is starting to wake up to the fact and like have this, I can, I can actually, it's, he's so close the other day when they were talking about Jackson Darts headset, uh, Mike turning off and him throwing like a 60 yard pass anyway

off the, off the wristband. Like, Brian Dable almost smiled. I haven't, I haven't seen that man smile at the, at the lectern since he got the job. And this is someone who is like resurrecting his own trajectory piece by piece if he can get this quarterback where he needs to be. That brings me joy. I think it would bring him joy. I think it would bring him joy. I think it would bring him a Giants, fans joy, it just makes you wonder like, why delay the joy? You know, let's get to the joy. Sorry, Russ. But the joy is, is the whole thing right now. Like the, the greatest show on turf average 32 points a game. The 2025 New York Giants in the preseason of average 35 to stop. I'm just saying, I was putting it out there, the three headed four headed

quarter. Did you see cutlets? Cutlets was out there dicing them up last. I mean, they're They're buddies. It's like James and Jackson Dart and Tommy Cutlets are all in these like videos that the social team is putting out and they're all having the time of their life down there and playing in the preseason together and like, you know, Russell Wilson's like commenting on the video, you know, he's not in it, but he's commenting on it. He seems very, he's there, he's included guys on the sidelines with Dart. I do buy. He's the team dad. Yeah, he really is. And these are all, you know, he's, he's literally just, I just, I think it's actually pretty good vibes over there right now.

That's what it feels like. Which is such a huge change. That's a good call. And it's one of the stories I'm excited about that. Like, I did not expected to be excited about. I might throw this other one. And by the way, Dable will always be around. You can't get rid of Dable.

If he doesn't, if he's not a head coach again after New York, he's just a guy that I can just imagine is going to have jobs. Offensive coordinator. We're not going to live without Brian Dable is all I'm saying. I was not expecting. Maybe I should have. It seems obvious to you guys that. something I am anticipating, possibly giving me a little bit of joys.

I think I'm kind of sort of back in on the Pats, you know. We didn't know, Greg. Wait, what? This is new. This is brand new information. Let's do that. Oh, my gosh. At least get into it.

Well, I was thinking about week one. And I would have, you know, that's Gino versus the Pats. I got to watch that regardless. But I was thinking, you know, we assign out the games and whatnot. Like, what don't want to watch in the early window. Thank you. Breaking news here on NFL Daily. Greg Rosenthal once again

likes the Patriots. Kind of. Kind of. Yeah. Not as into like the coaches. For the listener, I mean, for the listener,

a little, you know, behind the scenes of the show, he did at one point refer to the Patriots using the W word we. So I don't know if you even caught yourself

doing that, you know? That's, it's worrisome and it's probably not good for the listener. So I'll try to be careful about that. Come on.

If it brings you joy, go for it. we'll see it brings joy you know things bring pain it all comes to get it's all sunshine all together rain Patrick you go I okay so I I know it feels like a circuitous route to talk about the joy so I'll start with the positive guys like James Harrison Johnny unitas Kurt Warner at one point we're all cut and looking back towards the end of the preseason and that Tuesday there are a whole bunch of guys in the NFL that feel like their dream has ended. But I think it's really, there's so many examples that it's just deferred. And this system

is not perfect. And sometimes people fall through the cracks via, you know, GM's having personal connections. They want to keep their job. They want a certain guy to be successful. And I think one guy who's kind of emblematic of this process is Ben Danucci, who just got, just got cut for the seventh time. He went to social media website, Twitter.com. And he's, In the Atlanta airport, Jordan has, knows the exact location. I know the exact location. Where he sent the tweet from. Yeah, I've sat at that bar.

And he, he pins out a tweet with a picture of a beer. It's like, there's, there's not many beers better than the airport. I just got cut from the NFL for the seventh time beer. Trust me, you wouldn't understand. Obviously, he's going through it. It's a rough situation. But there's so many guys that feel like they lost an opportunity. They'll be back in this league and they're going to be successful.

And I can't. And so it feels weird, but it gives me joy that they have that chance. It is crazy to think about, because every NFL player has some sort of example of overcoming someone that didn't believe in them. I mean, that's like the one thing that makes Tom Brady cry, that he had to wait six rounds for it, you know, before he got his name called or whatever. But the Ben Danucci's of the world are the ones who are, I mean, they're, they're, they're, they're, are the toughest ones out there to just like keep putting that uniform on, keep going back year after year. And sometimes you do stick. And sometimes, you know, you're just searching for those moments. And it's tough. I do like the system the NFL has now of expanding practice

squads to the point where it really does, it's not a minor league. They could use a minor league. But if you compare it to 15 years ago, it's literally double the amount of players. And they do make a lot more money for what it's worth on the practice. squad than like 15 years ago, it's like, it was like $50,000 a year, which is, you know, considering how much the NFL makes was outrageous. Now it's like more of an actual living. And so a lot of players are developing that way. You see it a lot where you're a practice squad God for like two years and then you end up getting elevated. Yeah, those are always my favorite stories too when, and it kind of goes back to my first point is like, who are we not expecting

to emerge? Who could just totally emerge and delight all of us? That happens every year. And a lot of that journey has traveled through the practice squad or through players finding new teams last year was like a quarterback renaissance of sorts, players finding new teams the last couple years. Your guy, Gino, obviously a big success story in that regard too. And I just, I love those types of stories when somebody becomes in the place they're supposed to be, right? Like it's the the path wasn't necessarily straightforward, but they ended up exactly where they're supposed to be exactly at the time they're supposed to be in it. And I think what's really cool about

most NFL players and coaches is they're so reflective about that. Like they're so, they can see that it's something to like really process

and internalize in a really cool pure way. Be in the moment. So, you know, where your feet are? You know who got

basically ignored cast aside from, you know, his original team, kind of like you're mentioning was a linebacker by the name of, you know,

Zach Bonn, who helped revolutionize the position, turned into one of the best players at the position. And you know who the man that ignored him and didn't know how to use him for so long in New Orleans, his name, is Dennis Allen. And this year, we get a Dennis Allen versus Saints rivalry game. And that's one of my reasons for Joy is actually some of the hatred games that are going to go on this year. So Allen versus the Saints, that gives me joy. I think Saints fans, they don't want to go one in 16. I can bet if you could pick one game for them to win this year,

if they were to go one in 16, they'd actually take the season sweep against the Falcons and they would beat Dennis Allen's bear's defense like a drum and get a win that day. Like, that gives me joy to think about that. So it's the different rivalries around the NFL. Jim Harbaugh, Pete Carroll. Mm-hmm.

It's bad. We got that back. That's spicy. What's your deal? I don't know if Sean Payton has a rivalry with either Jim Carroll. I mean, Jim Harbaugh or P. Carroll, but I could see one developing. Oh, yeah, I could see him building. Right.

They should have one. And then this one's a little more under the radar, but Dan Campbell and Ben Johnson. And Ben Johnson and Matt LaFleur. Ooh, that's good too. And Ben Johnson and everybody in the Shanahan tree. And. Wait, give us a little more context than that. Because, so, okay, so I, this is one of my, I'm so glad you brought this up.

Because I have so much joy thinking about these types of like interpersonal arrival. And specifically when coaches have rivalries, it is the most fun thing in the world because you get like the subtle digs and the comments and the not so subtle digs like Ben Johnson going up at the podium talking about how much fun it was to, you know, beat the Packers and how he wants to continue to beat the Packers and all this stuff and sort of not so subtly taking a shot at Maliflor. And then he had some comments as well in his opening presser about how he doesn't, he made his way despite the fact that he doesn't have a famous last name and wasn't on these coaching staffs. or forming these coaching staffs where he had a famous family member like the McVeys, like the Kyle Shanahan's of the world. And I think that is so spicy and the fact that the student

and the master will face off against each other, Dan Campbell and Ben Johnson at some point. I love it. I love it. So let's listen to a little bit about Ben Johnson, I mean, from Dan Campbell. And this one's, it's not specifically about Ben Johnson, but I've just been tracking

the increasing amount of Campbell, John's and Heat under the surf. I feel like, you know, collectively across the board, this is, this looks pretty good, you know? And I would say, yeah, year five, this is the best we felt about it, kind of top to bottom. But from where we've come year after year, this is, we've taken in another level, and that's a credit to Brad, you know.

What Brad's done in the personnel department is outstanding, man. You were the best from top to bottom now, you know, who's no longer in the top to bottom, Ben Johnson. I admit, I'm stretching it to include. I'm joking in terms of that quote saying it. But I do think the Lions feel great about where they are. And when I heard Mike Torrico and Chris Collins were talking about it on the Hall of Fame game that he could tell that the Lions coaches,

specifically Dan Campbell, were sick of everyone, you know, just asking them about Ben Johnson. I was like, oh, you know how these things work. Like, that absolutely was Dan Campbell in the room, just talking with Torrico and Collinsworth, like being a little spicy about Ben Johnson. And that was the way that they end up putting it out there. And it makes its way out into the world.

And then you could almost see two players when they're asked about it. They sit and they think about it for like a hot second before they answer. Like they pause for just a second or they make a face. or whatever, and they just sort of figure out. It's like they're very, they're measuring their response. Because clearly someone's been in their ear and being like, hey, man. Having the protege in the same division is fascinating. I know.

I mean, Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVeigh, it's the new Kyle Sean. Because guys, they want you to know. They're cool now. Right. But, you know, it's that. It's this. I love it. Sabin, Belichick was a fun one.

Not for very long, but that was, uh, that was like a fun one back in the day. And while we're on the Lions, that's actually a combination of things that give me joy. So the rivalries, but also the Lions just as, like, an establishment team. Like, just imagine, like, what if the Browns were, like, the best run organization in the NFL over the last four or five years? Can't comprehend it. What if the Jets were? Like, what if the Jets were the best run organization in the NFL over the last four or five years? Like, that's where we are with the Lions.

And we're so used to just, like, adjusting to new realities. But it's insane that these are the lions. And now this is sort of officially the year where they are just that establishment team that's expected to be amazing. Like the assent has essentially stopped as a regular season, win total basis. You can't get any, I mean, you can barely get higher than they've been. But I love that. I love that they're, like, they've been so good that they're the bullies on the block now.

Like, just five years removed from bringing the freaking lions. And that's how Dan Campbell feels. And he's had to answer questions about somebody who's, not there for several months. And, you know, I think to explain away, because we, we, you know, believe in all sorts of things to explain things that break trends. You know, some of it mystical. Maybe it's the location of stars. Maybe it's magical momentum. Right. And, and I think for the lions, it's just real. Oh, there's this, there's this offensive coordinator. He's a genius. He's an absolute genius and he's changed everything. And this has nothing to do with all the work

that everybody that's still, still there has done. This is the reason. And I think maybe that rattles around in Dan Campbell's head. And I, you know, I don't believe the lions are going to try extra hard. I think, you know, just the circumstances of luck and the way things shake out are going to determine how good they are. But yeah, they're just going to be a good team. And that's the world we live in. To your point, Greg, like it's not the lions. It's this edition.

It's Dan Campbell's Lions. And it's fun to be here and live in it. And they're going to play against an offense that looks a lot like their offense. in Chicago and vice versa and how the two defenses, you know, I don't know, I don't know. Just schematically. There was that click clip from Amon Rae St. Brown and Jemir Gibbs on Kay Adams show where, you know, they just, they said, well, we see the same place. You know, like it's weird just seeing them running the same place up in Chicago. They are running the same place.

But I feel like both of those guys, you mentioned, sometimes pitching the ball to each other. Yeah. That's the most unique aspects of that. It's not, it's like, it feels like a different play, right if it's Romo Dunesay and you know there colston Loveland I just think that there's such a long-term potential in the NFC north now it you know Matt LaFleur got there and established himself as a really you know high productive winning coach then you have like Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes building this thing out into something super special something recognized as one of I think America's favorite teams right now, certainly for the last several years,

watching them climb up from nothing, essentially, was such a great story and a feel-good story for a lot of reasons. Then Kevin O'Connell is, like, in himself, kind of the emblematic of the modern coach, right? The quarterback whisper, who also builds a culture, goes out and hires Brian Flores running like the most badass defense. One of the most badass defenses in the NFL. And then now it's like, okay,

the bear's got to start swinging at throwing their weight around a little bit. They got to start swinging up to their weight class a little bit. Because now you, you're behind. The Bears as an organization, you are behind what all of these other groups have built. And so yeah, you better be chippy. I loved his, his chippy comments. I love the fact that there's this tension brewing up there because that is what will get the bears out of the dust, essentially, because they are far behind these other organizations. So maybe the spiciest division league if I had to just pick one division

where I want to watch all the games this year might be NFC North. All right. I'm almost out of there. Is there any other reasons for joy you guys want to throw out? I just want to say I'm going to love watching these specific defenses

that these will bring me joy, the Vikings, the Chargers, the Ravens, the Cardinals, the Broncos, the Eagles, and the Rams. I think these are going to be the most interesting defenses in the NFL. What's cool is it's all for different reasons. It's all slightly different strategies.

It's definitely different schemes. The way they think think about pressure is all different one over another, over another, the way they think about coverage and how they want to shape coverage around the routes that are developing against them. It all is so unique. We're getting so many different fingerprints on defense the same way. We have seen so many different fingerprints on offense. And there's this real individuality happening there from team to team, even within the same coaching trees that I absolutely love. Jesse Minter and Mike McDonald, you're going to see two totally different defenses by those guys this year,

even though they're from the same quote-unquote system, right? Zach Orr with the Ravens, you're going to see totally different stuff than him and Jesse Mentor are running, even though they're from the same, quote-unquote, family. I just, I love that. And nobody can run what Brian Flores is running, right? And so I think that this is so,

the individuality in what has been thought of as such a monolithic side of the ball for so many years. It's really cool, and I think it gives more coaches an opportunity to show who they are. I want to see defense being back. there is this idea that defenses are getting some sort of advantage and then the numbers just don't support it

in any way, form or fashion. Like literally last year was the second highest yards per carry in the history of the NFL. Part of it was a kickoff. A couple teams probably right. Yeah, but that's how these things happen. Like the kickoff return was part of it, but in terms of

like scoring on a percentage of the drives that you had, it was literally the highest in the history of the NFL. So everything is weighted towards the offense and this isn't my reason for joy but I hope we get some big plays there get back bring it back

that is one of my reasons for joy he's not on a Brian Flores defense anymore but Cam Bynum kind of being the celebrations coordinator for that Vikings team I don't know how many celebrations this Colts defense will be able to do but I do think

right because looking back at a league that tried to ban celebrations and it made it a penalty into how far that we've come to like where we could celebrate Cambynum having his team do the entire dance and routine from white chicks like that's that special and so I'm excited it does bring me joy and I hope you know maybe he'll have a chance to dance in and zone for the Colts. Yeah, let's, I can see the Colts being feisty, a little Lou Anaruma Sons. We got the Brandon Anuroma Sons. We got the Brandon Staley Sons. We got a lot of Sons.

The Staley Sons you can stop up. But Anarumo Stans, I'm, we're riding with that the Got some players. Got some players up front. Got our various ward. We could have some fun there. The Colts. They're going to need it. There's more joy on that.

I've been listening to some of the press conference coming out of there lately. And I'm like, oh, my God. Does anyone you're happy? Stike and not giving me many reasons for joy. Not looking too joyful. And yes, as we wrap up here, I, you know, I'm, I'm joyful to be getting to do another spin around this NFL daily regular season. Don't want to be too navel-gazy.

Like, we end the regular season. We look back at what a great time, you know, an accomplishment that was. We did get to the, before the summer started. And, you know, this is what being in the NFL is kind of like. Like, you have these little mileposts of the season. But, man, I feel better about this show and love doing this show on another level compared to when we were doing it to start out. I love that, too.

but there is something about to use the quarterback analogy about going through an entire season of this new show where the game feels like it's coming at us slower and it lets you just enjoy it and freed up and like I'm very excited to be able to do this with you two specifically but everyone who joins our show regularly and I'm really think it's going to be good I think this last month is the best month we've had on NFL Daily too

I mean I've had a blast I could tell you we're feeling good and, like, ready for season two because what brings me joy is that Greg has started to cite specific, like, segment themes as a part of his natural flow of conversation. So, like, you've used, I can fix him in your normal conversation. You've said stand on the tiny table a few times. Obviously, we know of the lore now that is quarterback island. I always think the mark of a really good show is when listeners and the show itself is, is let in on the inside joke, has the callbacks, understands the lore. And I do think that that's what is cool to be a part of building. That brings me a lot of joy. A lot of Jordan this year, too. That's a big part of it. When I heard you say, like on a random show a few weeks ago, standing on the tiny table, you meant to say stand on the table. You said stand on the tiny. I was like, what? I did it on purpose. I did it on purpose. And that was a little note. I never felt

so seen in my life. It was great. It was like, it's like Sean McDermott's. saying Buffalo to a core a million times on the promo for hard knocks and it's like is it at its core or is it to a T but we've combined them we've crossed idioms and poor coach he's had to hear that a billion times like people have heard

my stuff way too much but I'm looking for my second year in the Greg Rosenthal offense I you know I recognize that you know there's only one football but I just want to make plays for my Oh, you'll be there in the big shows, the preview show and the recap show.

There's no bigger moments. He's a big game player. Every down guy. Who takes advantage of momentum. Which is real. And you know how I know I, like, I made it the first show of reasons for joy and we're doing it again here because I did want it to be a, like, we take the job seriously, but it's a sport.

Like if you're not having fun doing it, what really is the point? Usually, and this was a truism with Chris Wesley and I, we would always, always talk about it. August is the hardest month because you're working the hardest and it's going in a million different directions, but the games aren't real. You know what I mean? Like, you're actually working as hard or harder than the regular season, but it's not as, it's not as fun ultimately as the regular season because the games are real. And I feel about as energized and like, like I actually enjoyed this preseason as any I can remember in a long time. So I feel like I got, I got good wind and good energy because you guys are keeping it hot. Let's go. Best shape of its podcast.

That's life, baby. Yes, exactly. Can't wait to disappoint you by week three. I was going to say, like, revisit this in a couple weeks. That's it. Great week on the show. We will be back in the feed, starting to preview actual games, Thursday, Friday night football. But we'll also have a 40s and free agents preview of the season where we go through

and draft our potential Super Bowl champions. It is that time of year. Football's back. Hey everybody, Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Six, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies,

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

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