NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Roster Cuts with Nick Shook

Episode Date: August 31, 2021

A room filled with some heroes – Dan Hanzus, Gregg Rosenthal and Nick Shook bring you the latest news in the NFL as they react to cut-down day. All 32 NFL teams were required to trim their rosters to 53 players by 4:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, and the New England Patriots cut Cam Newton while moving Stephon Gilmore to the Physically Unable to Perform list. The New Orleans Saints placed Michael Thomas on PUP, as did the Green Bay Packers with star tackle David Bakhtiari. In other news, the New York Jets traded tight end Chris Herndon to the Minnesota Vikings. The Detroit Lions released two kickers and currently have none on the roster, while the Los Angeles Chargers cut the “Money Badger” Michael Badgley. The Houston Texans say that Deshaun Watson will be on their final roster, and the New Orleans Saints will be temporarily moving their headquarters to Texas due to Hurricane Ida. Finally, the heroes wrap things up with other tidbits that caught their attention. Around the NFL is part of the NFL Podcast Network.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comNFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sunday. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael Florio, and together we host the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast. Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season? Then you need the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast, your ultimate source for player news, draft tips, and winning strategies. Whether you're a rookie manager or a fantasy vet. We've got the insight to help you crush your opponents.

Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. The Around the NFL podcast. The NFL machine doesn't stop. I'm right. Welcome to another edition of the Around the NFL podcast. My name's Dan Hans.

I come to you from a virtual room filled with some heroes, Greg Rosenthal. Gregi, Mr. Dependable. The Iron Horse, they call him. And joining us on a very special cut-down edition, unplanned initially, edition of the Around the NFL podcast. And back, our old friend, The Pipe, Nick Shook. Shooka getting some his pump in before he speaks his first words.

I like the sound of those weights. Those are some old school weights. That's the type of gym I prefer. The old like legitimate metal plates, none of this rubber casing, nothing that protects people. There's no handles on the weights. You can pinch and potentially sever a finger

or at least get a blood blister. You know, the real, the gritty stuff. Wait, did you work out in the Brown's facility? And were there players who either were threatened by you or kind of wanted to show you like, hey, Brown's reporter, like, you're not so tough. You know what I mean? As the legend goes, they used to allow employees

to work out in the same gym. And then I guess somebody had taken food from the cafeteria and left it out and made a mess and just left it there. So they ended up when the Haslams came in, they built a separate employee gym that is literally right next to the team's weight room and attached to the field house. So technically, no, but I was right next door, and I did get some activity on the indoor field houses field.

And they weren't intimidated, but they like to point it out a lot. Yeah, I was going to say, I bet they brought it up a lot. I bet Freddie Kitchens was like, hey, let's get this guy a blocking tight end. Let's see if he can move. You're going to do it for this guy. It basically, like, was the opener for a lot of my conversations I had with players and got to know some of the guys. So I guess it was advantageous in that regard. but ultimately, yeah, it's funny more than anything.

And by the way, I think we have a lead there, Greg, with how did Shook come to leave the Browns very quickly? Maybe Shook left at Applecourt next to the bench press or something. But, you know, Mark's not here, obviously. He's getting better right now. But remember a couple weeks ago we had that discussion about One and Dunn head coaches, and we were going down the list, and we ended up missing Freddie Kitchens,

who's the most recent One and Dun coach, And you know, Sessler. You know Sessler knew it. And he just didn't bring it up. He just didn't want to bring some in those spirits, the spirit of Freddie Kitchen. So whenever Mark comes back, he is that to look forward to.

I will have to bring that up with him. Because, I mean, the integrity of the podcast has to stand above fan leanings ultimately. I got to give Freddie Kitchen some credit, too, because even though he wasn't a very good coach and it's really disorganized more than anything. Awesome guy. Great guy to spend a few hours at a hotel bar on a road trip with.

Although to be, you know, to close that circle, Steve Wilkes, I think is still the answer. Or no way, it was Freddy Kitchens after that. Yeah, Steve was on Freddie's staff. Oh, my God. Oh, Stevie. All right. Anyway, so, yes, we were last with you on Monday and we said we'd be back Thursday. And then I think Greg and I separately, maybe even at the same time, Greg, like ET style, realized, oh, wait a second.

Wait a second. The Tuesday's cut down day. They changed it. The schedule is a little different now. It's not that Labor Day weekend. It is now in the middle of the week. So here it is the old school bunker cast. And we're just going to quickly shoot through the news,

everything that's happened over the last 12 hours or so. So, hey, Grave Digger, how you doing, buddy? Big performance, I thought, on the Monday show. A lot of buzz about Grave Digger and Erica on a tropical vacation right now in the middle of our season. Did you get any feedback, whether internally or outside the building? about your performance? Yeah, I got a couple of people on Twitter

who were excited to hear me on this show. That was cool. Not necessarily expected. My parents were very proud. I love it. The Revolution is here with Justin Graver. The Grave Digger. Let's hit the news.

It lurks in the shuttles. A five-ton red-eyed monster ready to crush its brain. It's Grave Digger. The high-flyan, awe-inspiring, It's a megastard of motorsports. And now all you need, Justin, do now is isolate the Grave Digger vocal there. And there you go.

There's the drop we talked about from earlier this week. All right, good. All right, let's get into it. Oh, that tricky Bill Belichick, he makes a move. Nobody saw it coming. Releasing the Patriots released Cam Newton. Their quarterback. the starter that they re-signed in the off-season.

Then they drafted Mack Jones, of course, in the first round, and the two players are trading first-team reps and going through the whole process through the summer. But at the end of the day, Bill Belichick decides the future is now. Mac Jones will begin the season as the starter. QB1 and Cam Newton, almost unbelievably, only a handful of years removed from being MVP in the league and one of the great dual threat quarterbacks the league has ever seen.

On the eve of week one in 2021, he is out of work. Greg, when you saw this pop up on your phone or wherever, were you shocked? Take me through it as a Pat's fan. I mean, I had mixed feelings. I was surprised he's not on the team. I'm not, I wasn't that surprised that Mack Jones is the starter because I've been believing in Tom Curran, who watched him every day and thought it was decisive in practice. And then I watch the preseason.

It's, you know, it's one of the best rookie quarterback preseason I've ever seen. PFF has it as the best rookie quarterback they've ever, you know, graded. So that part of it where Mack Jones wins the job doesn't shock me. But the fact that Brian Hoyer is now one snap away does a little bit, you know. How's Brian Hoyer still in that building? Isn't he like 50 years old at this point? Like honestly, listen, Shook, another nice bald guy out of Cleveland. But come on, can we calm down a little bit?

Yeah, I was going to say, that's an affront to bald people everywhere, and especially Northeast Ohio natives who are bald. Go ahead, Greg. I think, I think it does fit, though, don't you think, Greg? Like, if you have to go from Mac Jones to somebody else, wouldn't you prefer to go to a bro? I know the skill level is not the same. I don't think that has to do with it.

I think it's just guessing. You know, we're taping this so soon after. My guess is either it was mutual or that Cam Newton gave that, you know, hey, do you want us to cut you now? And that Cam Newton would rather go back up Dak Prescott. maybe Russell Wilson, but I kind of expect Cam Newton to be on the Cowboys because it just makes too much sense for everyone. Then he really wants to go back up a rookie quarterback and that Belichick also might have the feeling that I've been gassing this guy up as one of the great

leaders, you know, I've ever been around. He's got a lot of people who love him on this team that I don't think Cam Newton's going to be a problem, but that it's almost a mixed message here. This guy is our backup, and he has so many people who kind of follow him. Let's make a clean break of it. And oh, by the way, you know, he's not vaccinated. So, all right. Now, let's hit that. I was going to hit that a little later, but since you brought it up,

Bill Belichick is a man, as we know, who he's mercurial. He's someone who doesn't buy into excuses. He's a man who will send you home if you're late for a practice during a blizzard outside. He's done it. That's this type of stuff Bill does. Do you think it is at all? Can we connect the dots here? That in the middle of this heated battle for the job, Cam disappears with the excused absence tied to the coronavirus mix-up,

that Bill Belichick could have said, you know what, that's the straw that breaks the camel's back. I'm moving on. I don't put it past them. Just going to say it. I mean, they've run into the situation a year ago. I mean, they had to go to Brian Hoyer in a key early game that kind of started a slide. Why would they put themselves in a position where they could potentially deal with that again?

is the backup in that proposed scenario, let's say Cammy is your starter and the backup is back. Is he better than Brian Hoyer? Yeah, but ultimately you're still facing the possibility of losing one or multiple quarterbacks to the regular season. Why run through that exercise again, fool me once, shame on me, you know, so on and so forth. So, yeah, I think that has undoubtedly has something to do with it. Even if you could say, well, everything else that Greg just said, which I totally agree with, it's got to play a factor.

It's more about Jones's play. Like, that's the starting point. Like, it wouldn't happen unless Jones didn't exceed some expectations, didn't play great in camp, didn't play great in the preseason. But, yeah, I think it's absolutely possible, Dan, that that was kind of the thing that put it over the top. Because it also gave Mack Jones a number of snaps in those joint practices, which Belichick takes very seriously. Always says that's as important or more important than the preseason game. Everyone said that Mack Jones had the best day of his entire training camp against the Giants in that second day of the or the first day of their joint practices that he just lit it up. And then you look at like the way they were playing time in the games like Mac Jones played a lot.

He didn't play a lot with the starters, but he played a lot and they got to look at him a lot. And if it's that close and if Mac Jones was better in practice for the most part, you know, it does it does make sense. The part just as a fan that bugs me is you had one of the best backup quarterbacks in the league, whether it was Mack Jones or Cam Newton, and now you have one of the worst. So I've heard some buzz that's like, well, they're actually higher on Jarrett Stidham than they used to be and he's going to recover from this back. I think he's going to IR, either short-term IR or PUP list, we haven't heard yet because he's coming off a back surgery too, but that he'll be back at some point and he'll be the backup. But I don't know. The Patriots are better with Cam Newton and to Mack Jones on the roster. I think everybody can agree with that.

So there's more to it. And it, I think, goes back to chemistry and what they want and how they want this kid to go into his rookie season in terms of not having to look over his shoulder. And I get that. So you might be like a leader, right? I mean, it had. And I think Cam might have wanted it too, which makes sense to me. Right. And it doesn't mean Cam is like a cancer or anything like that.

I think it was more just like, all right, we really do believe in this kid. if it ends up hurting us this year by leaving us a little vulnerable behind him, if he gets hurt, in the long run, it will help his development. So I think that's probably where it is, and ESPN is reporting if the Cowboys will, quote, begin exploring free agent, Cam Newton. And it's funny because one of those. He must have known. He must have known. Yeah, like Hard Knocks this season, I was thinking about it because it's airing again tonight, and I have to do the recap. I was thinking of mixing it up a little bit and just writing about Here are some, like, real-life football takeaways from the episode so far.

And their backup quarterback situation has just been horrendous throughout this camp. It's Cooper Rush. It's Cooper Rush. They thought it was going to be Gilbert or Danucci two or three weeks ago. And Cooper Rush is the one that's still on the roster right now. They cut the other two. There's one other team, by the way. The biggest bummer with that is Cooper Rush had a great chance to actually prove something in that battle,

which he took the lead the week prior in this past week. You know, granted, he's playing with the backups against a lot of Jackson. of those starters. He was, I wouldn't say terrible. He didn't even register a blip on anybody's radar. It makes too much sense for everyone. Put Cam Newton in there. If Jack misses some games, you're flying. I also wonder if the Seahawks would think about it because it's like, I don't know if Cam would want to back up Russell Wilson for some reason, but it's like, you know, they could, I love Gino and all, but that that situation could be upgraded for sure. There's also another AFC East team, Greg, that needs a backup quarterback with experience. And

How about the playbook? About learning more about that Patriots operation, the Robert Solid defense. That would bother me. I've had mixed feeling because it's like, that would really bother me. I said mid-season, I wanted Cam to be the starter and for them to roll because I've always been a Cam fan. And it would just shut up all these Patriots fans who hated Cam. I don't know if you remember my team slogan for 2021. Real ones can go back and listen.

But yeah, you could feel that today in Boston. I can't tell you how, like, overly excited everywhere. I had a similar slogan. It was Mack Jones, Cohen. Now that's more like it. Speaking of the Patriots, more big news around that team. They have placed their all-pro cornerback, Stefan Gilmore, the former defensive player of the year on the reserve pup list. And that means he's out the first six weeks of the regular season. It's connected to a quad injury that's been an issue for him since last year and obviously losing Gilmore for any period of time is going to hurt Bill Belichick's defense. But I wonder this, Shook, how much does the injury tie into the

ugly contract situation and vice versa? Yeah, I mean, because, you know, if he's going to be back in supposedly three weeks, PUP gives him a little bit more of a buffer to potentially get back fully healthy but you have to also wonder if this is kind of the response to you know the whole I'm unhappy with my contract either want more money or I want a long-term deal I think it works out for Gilmore because at least it helps him ensure that he's healthy and kind of avoid the risk of a re-injury still get paid there's there's got to be there's got to be some sort of factor into that the fact that they have not been on the same page for this entire summer and he didn't participate in any of camp and isn't going to be able to play for you know the first month plus well he's getting paid but

He's not getting that raise that we thought he might get, at least not yet. It wouldn't shock me. Torn Quad is one of the worst injuries a football player can have. Not many have it, and sometimes it's really hard to come back from. So that's been a little under the radar. He did have surgery on that after the season, and that's a brutal injury. But, you know, putting him on the Pupless feels like kind of kick in the can. Like if you're Stefan Gilmore, you don't want to risk coming back to her.

if they're not going to pay you. And I have asked around about this. And it's both sides seem like they think it's a game of chicken. Like Gilmore doesn't want to go on the field unless he gets his money. And the Patriots don't, they would consider giving him some money, but they don't want to do it until they see him on the field. And even if like putting yourself in Gilmore's shoes, if he's disenfranchised and he feels like he's going to be somewhere else next year

and he's looking to get a, he's going to be 31 or he's entering his age 31 season, If he's looking to get that one last multi-year contract, are you going to go on the field at 75 or 80% to start the season when you feel like there's a chance you could rip that quad up and blow your value? Tough situation there. Things change fast. Their cornerbacks, to me, looks like the biggest weakness

of a otherwise really promising looking defense. Their number two cornerback is Jalen Mills. Their number three outside cornerback. They have a good slot guy in Jonathan Jones. Their number three outside cornerback might not be on. the team like it's a guy that you maybe it's this guy Sean Wade who they just traded for from the Ravens but that that's pretty rough like you know that that is that is where they will be attacked I think from by opposing quarterbacks like Tom Brady by the way you know week four

oh and it does go to show you and this goes across all sports because you remember going into the season it was like now the Patriots going to get back all these guys uh from the COVID opt out and everything is going to be locked and loaded but you know then the season starts to take shape and everything is different every single year. You can never make predictions in March. What's up, everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks.

On Move the Sticks, we take you inside the game from scouting reports and player development to team-building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. Every week, we study the tape, talk to decision-makers, and share the insights you won't find anywhere else. It's the kind of conversation that connects the dots

from college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow. We break down the draft, analyze matchups, and evaluate how teams put it all together on game day. Plus, we dig in the coaching strategies, roster construction, and the trends that shape the league year after year. Whether you're a diehard fan or just love understanding the game on a deeper level,

we give you the full picture. If you want insight that goes beyond the box score, this podcast is for you. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the IHeart Radio app, podcast or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Marcus Grant.

And I'm Michael F. Florio, and together we host the NFL fantasy football podcast. Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season? Then you need the NFL fantasy football podcast, your ultimate source for player news, draft tips, and winning strategies. Whether you're a rookie manager or a fantasy vet. We've got the insight to help you crush your opponents. Listen to the NFL fantasy football podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL.

Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. Hey, this is Matt Jones. I'm Drew Franklin. And this is NFL cover zero. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different. Did you see the Colts pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that?

Oh, my. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining. And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get. Listen to NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. Let's get into more publicist news. Michael Thomas, the superstar wide receiver.

former offensive player of the year, we were reminded on Monday's show. Reportedly, we'll start the season on the PUP list. That will take him out of the first six games of the season. You know, this one surprised me a little bit shooky because I thought it was already kind of like a done deal, just like the way everything had been explained with the late nature of the surgery and Sean Payton being ticked off about it. I kind of, in my mind, it already processed he was going to be on the Pup list, but nothing had been officially announced, well, I still don't know if it's been officially announced, but

Adam Schuster says, okay. So he is out six weeks, at least with his ankle. So it's an injury suffered week one, 2020, and now it's going to eat up a portion of his 2021. Yeah, and this is like an ongoing saga at this point, because he's been displeased with his situation for a while now. And as we all know, he loves the tweet about it, you know, just a bunch of sub-tweets, you know, vague statements that indicates that he's unhappy. And now he, I don't know if you could necessarily say that he botched his whole injury situation, but it's more on him than it is on the Saints at this point, waiting to get that surgery done and even, you know, the way he went about his offseason. So it costs him time. It costs the Saints their best receiver again. And now with

a new quarterback, they're going to be forced to adjust. Luckily, they've had the entire preseason to kind of plan for it because he hasn't been around. But ultimately, when you're looking at them on paper and you're going to the regular season, you obviously would want to have Michael Thomas on your team as opposed to not. It just, like, gives a bigger runway for Marcus Calloway to be the number, to be the new all-pro, uh, I was going to say there's so much hype around Calaway, the last couple weeks, I feel like is, is that going to feel like an August thing that we all kind of smirk at in a couple months, or do you think this guy's going to step in and play like a pro bowler?

I think he'll be solid, but it's a lot to ask. I think he could put up 800, 900 yards, something like that, which is amazing for a second year undrafted guy. I don't know if you can't expect them to be a number, but he's the, he is their number one and they're going to throw the ball. They do have, I think, I haven't checked the Brandon Thorne rankings. He's great on offensive line play. So shook.

They would be my pick as the number one offensive line in football. And Caesar Ruiz, their first round pick, who was kind of their worst player last year on their offensive line. Reportedly looks way better. And so, okay, now you're fitting that the one guy that wasn't that good. Suddenly, like, that is an awesome offensive line. That'll help James out a lot. Yeah, I would definitely put them in at least the top three if not the number one spot. I think those top three teams, some have some questions.

The Patriots are also up there if they can actually get healthy seasons out of guys like Isaiah win. And I also would put the Browns pie in top three, top four, if they can also be healthy all, you know, across the starting line. Of course you would. Yeah, oh, yeah, okay, you know. But Jedrick Will's, he needs to be better. He needs obviously be better. But yeah, I mean, you trot that starting lineup out there in front. They were the best last year.

They were finished with the belt. So I think that's fair. We're about to talk about another good offensive line at Green Bay. But Shook, did you happen to catch my? day show when both Rosenthal and Claibon did not predict the Browns to the playoffs, but I did. Did you happen to catch that show? Wow.

You know, Dan, I got to tell you, if I had to pick anybody on this podcast, and even with the rotating cast of guests, you're the last. You're the last person I would pick to do that. Can't put me in a box. Yeah, good on you. I regret it. This is going to be a whole thing. Mark doesn't need to find something to.

He has sparrows. annoyed with you know by me but now this is this is going to be hanging over he's every time the browns win and they'll probably win like 12 games it'll just be like just to stick it to you i got to tell you guys i'm a little scarred from last year because the jadedness in me and my brain led me to believe that the browns weren't going to beat the Steelers in the playoffs and i picked against them and i had to hear it from browns fans everywhere that was terrible well no but then i'm juxtaposed against Sessler, who's like, fly into the night, Browns all the way, and into the end of the earth and the end of days, they're going to lead us there. So I was the bad guy, no matter

what. So now we're releasing predictions from all the analysts to see where I put the Browns. Yeah, you're going to put them in the Super Bowl. That was part of it is I wanted to sprinkle some wildcard love to some other teams. And it's like, you know, even if you don't totally buy that, it's the most likely thing. Shook, it's ancient history at this point. But did you have the Browns beating the Chiefs in the divisional playoffs? No. No. And they didn't. And I don't feel bad about that. Brain over heart. Packers left tackle David Bactieri, one of the best in the game, shook, maybe the best left tackle in the league. I don't know. You tell me. We'll remain on the physically unable to perform list to start the regular season. If you remember, he tore his ACL

late last season. So he's out the first six weeks. The team was optimistic earlier in the spring that he was going to be ready for week one there was that you know as all players are coming back from acel tears he was ahead of schedule uh but turns out he's more on a typical schedule which means he'll be without uh Aaron Rogers will be without his blind side protector for nearly half the season yeah these in these pop list news I think was ultimately bigger than a lot of the cuts yeah the cuts are interesting but Gilmore and Bakhtiari especially you didn't know what was going to happen with them too, and those are two all pros, first team all pros. You can't replace that. I'm a little anxious about the Packers' offensive line. I think they're fine at left tackle

where Elkton Jenkins seems like he can do anything, and he's moving from center and guard to left tackle, and he's going to make himself a ton of money. I think will one day be one of the highest paid players in the league. But the rest of the guys on that offensive line are just kind of guys. How about this show? They're hoping that they're hoping the scheme makes up for that. What about the track record of the Packers, at least especially recently in developing talent on their offensive line and plug it, finding ways to get by? I think organizationally, maybe they deserve the benefit of the doubt here. Yeah, I mean, developmentally to a degree, also their scheme helps in the fact that they play with Aaron Rogers, who is a master of navigating the pocket. I mean, they don't, they don't set typical pass pockets.

They don't. It's more of a fluid type of thing where Rogers is allowed to feel and maybe escape from time to time and deliver the football. and it helps those guys, I guess, kind of avoid the type of plays that would put them on a highlight for all the wrong reasons, too. We have a trade to talk about and involves my New York Jets who send disappointing tight end Chris Herndon to the Minnesota Vikings for a draft pick to be named later. Herndon, once upon a time, a fourth round pick in 2018 really flashed, and me and many other Jets fans and other football observers saw him as a real hit for my. Mike Tannenbaum, a guy that they were going to build around with Sam Darnold. He had his 2019 season wiped out by a suspension and then an injury. And then he completely bottomed out in 2020 with a ton of drops and just had all sorts of issues.

And he had been behind Tyler Croft on the depth chart this spring and summer. So the writing seemed to be on the wall. And now the Jets move on. The Vikings who just lost Irv Smith Jr. to a knee injury, have another option in that building. Yeah, it's a trade that makes sense because you have to replace him and you replace him with a guy who has been a fantasy darling but hasn't really lived up to those expectations for the majority of his career. I mean, it's one of those things where a guy has a pretty solid rookie year

and then they just expect you to take the next step. So I give him a little bit of the benefit out because he was playing on the Jets the most dysfunctional franchise in the last couple of years. So it's not like he exactly had a tailor-made situation for him to flourish. But I also don't expect him to necessarily follow in the footsteps where Irv Smith was trending toward, which was a potential breakout season before having his knee injury.

It does make sense physically, like the type of player. We'll see how quickly he can get up to speed and play a role. They are very thin in terms of their past catchers. Irv Smith, the big loss, and the more you hear about this injury, it sounds like it could be a while.

No one's put a projected timeline, but now it sounds like it's like, yeah, we don't know if and when Irv Smith is going to be back, which is a bummer. you know, Dan, you kind of get, you know, we've sort of been a little more open with our just, like, rooting against each other's Jets, Patriots, takes and stuff, just, just, you know, let's just be honest. That's fine. But one of the things that you do, you know, but in that situation is like every once in a while you see a guy on the other team, like I loved Herndon and you just give him a lot of pop. It's like, see, I'm not such a unbiased. I'm unbiased. I'm not such a bad guy. And I was like, I was really gassing up Chris Herndon three years ago. And he hurt me.

You were putting diesel fuel into him when he needed super unleaded. That's my theory. Yeah, I don't know. Maybe a fresh start does something for Herndon, because there really was a good skill set there, and he could block, and he made a lot of big plays in 2018. They have one of the Jets' offensive coaches over there. I forget off the top of my head who it was, who it is.

But there is a connection. Let's head over to the kicker club, and this is a story that we don't know how to make sense of it, really, in the kicker club because we always like to have a kicker on every team that's like one of the things that we're into hit it grave digger um dan campbell maybe he's like a john mellon camp guy maybe he's a guy i don't like i don't set foot in the kicker club i don't like that electronic dance music you could totally see that with campbell uh because the lines have released Zane Gonzalez, and Randy Bullock, Big Bone Randy.

So with about 10 days to go before the season starts, the Detroit Lions do not have a kicker. Now, these things could be quickly fixed in the NFL. There's always kickers floating around, including Kai Borbath, and some people might say Kai's Kai. Why don't you go check out that game tape with Dallas a couple years ago. Don't look at the Rams tape from last season. There are kickers out there.

The Lions are going to have one soon. And I would say there are a lot of things if you're a Detroit Lions fan to be concerned about this one, calm down. Everybody's getting their shots in on the Lions because that's fun, but everything's fun. That's coming from the kickers club. They're a little spoiled. They're a little spoiled. You know, they had the strong leg of Matt Prater for a while.

It could be like a next level gaming the system move. Like, no one's going to pick up either one of these guys. So let's just use that roster spot to get players we do want. like picking up, they're going to be high on the waiver wire and they're going to get some veterans and then they'll just like re-add one of them in a couple weeks or in a week or whatever. There's some interesting cut kickers out there. I guess we'll get to that. Maybe the Lions or maybe the Lions will just like have their safety kick the ball like the Texans did over the weekend. I don't know if you saw that one. That was a little disrespect. Yes, that was a

kicking community. They just said Eric Reed be their kicker. They could also go the route and this, a lot of this depends on Jared Goff and I guess, I don't know, T.J. Hawkinson, but they could do what the Packers did last year and just not kick field goals. I read earlier today, I just kind of ran into it that Mason Crosby only had 16 field goal attempts last year. How is that possible? He made them all, by the way. Good for him.

And he also had 63 point after kick attempts, making 59 of 63. 16 field goal attempts. The lines might have 16 field goal attempts by October, right? That would be a fun experiment, though. If ever there was a team to do it, it's the Lions. Let's just play four-down football for a year and see what happens. I mean, we could test. Who is that?

That high school coach, you used to go for it, refused to punt. They'll punt. They'll punt. But, like, we're not going to kick any field goals. Yeah, if you're stuck in like a fourth and 24 at the 20-yard line or 30-yard line or something, then. Go for it, man. What do you got to lose? A draft pick?

All right. Anything else? Some guys getting booted out of the kicker. How about the Money Badger's gone, no more. There's a guy that Lions could pick up. Money Badger. What happened to Money Badger? Bad Camp?

He's got Bad Camp. I forget who beat him out, but he was getting beat all camp. And Nick Folk also got cut. Very surprising. Erica Tamposi's favorite player, new player. Oh my gosh. As my phone goes off, come on. I mean, this is just embarrassing.

That's amateur hour. I mean, and that might be confusing because, like, Erica's only into the guy because he's a hot dude. And you would think that wouldn't matter to an Erica Tamposi. But apparently it did. She got, she fell head over heels. We also missed like five kicks in one of the preseason games. But they said he bounced back well from it. So they got, they got rid of Nick Folk.

And, yeah, Tristan Viskayano, by the way, is the Chargers kicker who beat out. Wait, how about this? Just hear me out on this. Hear me out. What if Bill Belichick's going crazy? And like, nobody knows yet. And he's doing all these different things, like cutting cameras. Newton and getting into fights with the defensive player of the year, Steph

Gilmore and now this situation, what if he's going, he's going mad, it just hasn't leaked yet. Seth Wickersham's not writing the profile until like November. That'd be pretty cool. Like mad in what way, just like he's an old man who just... Just to use some like dated parlance, like he's losing his marbles. Yeah, he's getting up there a little bit. Nobody wants to say anything because he's Bill Belichick. Just is it a possibility? I don't think so. Sean Peyton, finally in the news, Sean Peyton said that it is very possible that the Saints begin their season

on the road in week one. They're supposed to start the season at home, but Peyton said that the Saints are leaning towards staying in doubt the Dallas area for the next several weeks until they are able to return home following the destruction of Hurricane Ida. And there's a good chance they will host their week one game, scheduled for September 12th against the Packers in Dallas or elsewhere if they are unable to get back into the Superdome. So we're continuing to track that.

The Saints influx again with hurricane-related business. I know. It reminds me of 2005 where I always give Jim Haslett a ton of props for how he handled that situation with grace and leadership, like leading that team. I don't think it sounds like the, you know, the Superdome didn't take, um, a lot of damage. But the city, you know, doesn't even have electricity back. You know, my heart kind of breaks for that.

And the Saints thing, it's like, well, what does the Saints really matter in the scheme of things? It's like, it's a bummer. That is about as football mad a place as possible. And what a good, you know, distraction that would be. And Peyton, yeah, seem to use the wording the first quarter of the season that they would stay in Dallas. But they cannot play at Jerry World this Sunday, or in week one, rather, because.

because there's some concert that's a conflict. And the NFL now has a rule that they have to play at an NFL stadium. So they can't do what they did last time and just like play at TCU or play some other. I don't know. So they're looking for. Oh, is it COVID related maybe? Yeah, I have no idea what it is. But it looks like they'll probably play two.

At this point, it looks like they're planning to play two games not in New Orleans. And then they'll hang out. They're going to practice in Dallas. it looks like regardless. Yeah, to talk about adding to, you know, what was already going to be a difficult transition year for them on the field. Now you've got to take them out of, you know,

their home two weeks before the season starts. It's going to be tough. Yeah, they have road games at Carolina and New England and then they're back against the Giants, October 3rd, which is week for another road game and a buy. So I guess they would probably hope to return for a Halloween game. You know, it would be the best case scenario against the bucks.

The only bright side is that'll be a great atmosphere when they do get back. Celebration whenever it does happen. I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael F.Orio, and together we host the NFL fantasy football podcast. Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season? Then you need the NFL fantasy football podcast, your ultimate source for player news, draft tips, and winning strategies. you're a rookie manager or a fantasy vet. We've got the insight to help you crush your opponents.

Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. What's up, everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Sticks, we take you inside the game from scouting reports and player development To team building philosophies, coaching trends in how front offices construct winning rosters.

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Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, this is Matt Jones. Now, I'm Drew Franklin, and this is NFL Cover Zero. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit, Different? Did you see the Colts Pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that? Oh, my. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining. And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get. Listen to NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. You want to throw out some just like random other cuts that cut my head? I wanted to mention one more thing, Greg, before we do that, because we had meant to hit on it. So let's just get caught up with the Deshaun Watson situation. NFL networks. Ian Rappaport reports that Texans are not expected to trade Watson by the league's 4 p.m. Eastern roster cut down deadline.

That has not happened. So he's not moving. And it sounds likely he's going to end up on the 53-man roster, but more than likely be inactive every week of the season, at least until there's any movement on the sexual assault allegations for more than 20 women facing the quarterback. So we hadn't really touched on that, Greg, in a week or two. That's where Watson's at.

There are some reports out there still. It keeps popping up with certain teams that might be interested in a trade for Watson right now, but as it is right now, he is a Houston, Texan. I didn't believe those trade rumors. I really thought people are doing either the Texans or Deshaun, more likely Deshaun Watson's business and making these reports out to be something more than they are. Now, based on everything we know, it sounds like the dolphins had some level of interest at some point. And what I think happened is that now they're pushing these reports out, like trying to push someone

else to top those reports. I just don't believe it. I don't believe a team is going to trade for Deshawn Watson. No matter how much Deshaun Watson wants to get traded, I just don't think as cynical as the NFL can be. I don't think it could be this cynical that they're going to like build, like, it was getting into these weird conditions of like, well, maybe they would make conditional picks based on like how much, you know, jail time, not jail time he gets, but like based on

how much he was punished by the league or by what happens in the case. It's like, come on, man, you don't have to pass these trial balloons on. I just don't buy it. I don't think any other NFL team is considering, would considering it, and they're waiting for the NFL or the legal system to act. Yeah, I think that's the result that we, you know, the solution, the temporary solution that we get from this whole thing is when the NFL acts on it. Until then, we're kind of waiting in this gray area,

which allows for these types of reports to come out and for this conversation to continue when ultimately he probably should just stay where he is off the field until we get some sort of resolution. Right. There's another conversation of like, should he get paid? Should the Texans have him on his roster? This, that, or the other. But the criminal case is like really important here.

There's also a criminal case with 10 women. And it's like, how could I just don't see it. I want to believe it too, Greg. My honest feeling is that there is a team or teams more likely that are monitoring this extremely closely. and the only reason they're probably not waiting into it right now and making an aggressive offer is not the legal situation so much, but the PR hit and the fallout that they would take from that,

so it's scaring them off. I just wonder, and I'll use the dolphins as an example, and I'm not saying the dolphins are seriously considering it, but let's say it's week five and Tua is pass a rating 71. You know, like things like that with that spur action on the trade market, because we know the way the legal system works with this. It's not moving at the same speed as the season is approaching us. So there's a good chance we'll go deep into the season

and Watson will remain in limbo. Is there a team that gets impatient and just says, screw it, let's go for it and deal with the PR fire to come? We'll see. We'll see. Or the NFL gets involved, which is certainly something that could happen or should happen and puts the guy out of the mix for the time being

with an exemplarist designation, and then this isn't floating because this is on some level a self-made story by the NFL, which I think we're all a little bit puzzled about still, but it is what it is. Right. And I still, I guess you're right. That's possible. I guess I still think they're going to wait for the police to act, not even the civil case, but they need to have some sort of clarity.

It just doesn't make sense. All right. Do we want to, now let's get back to football stuff. Anything else you guys wanted to throw out their show? Did you see anything that popped up that interested you, whether it's a pup designation or a cut or signing, anything out there? Fans of the 2018 draft, specifically the 10th pick, will be pleased to know that Josh Rosen made the 53-man roster in Atlanta

after playing all of one game with the Falcons following his move. He got a promotion. He was fourth string in San Francisco. He's the backup now. Although this whole week before the season starts, you do worry if you are a Rosen fan that you could see like a transaction in two days that he was cut because they found an upgrade. But that's why this podcast exists.

So we can talk about it now before he's gone whenever he leaves if it's two days from now or whatever. It's funny. He did play that. And it wasn't like it was the greatest half ever. I think he had a sound fumble on like the first series or whatever. But when I read the next morning, I did not watch the game.

But the next morning when I read what turned into like a flowery profile about the rebirth of Josh Rosen, that was what the gamer was, I believe on ESPN or the Associated Press. I was like, whoa, there's something cooking here. This agent deserves a raise because he went from an total disappearing act in San Francisco to getting a Sunday puff piece written about overcoming the odds here. Last night, I think it was last night, I found myself in a quiet moment thinking about Josh Rosen and thinking about, wow, we've all been there. You know, this could be the situation that he needs to be in. You know, we don't know that Arthur Smith is a great developer of quarterbacks,

but perhaps if he spends enough time learning from Matt Ryan, he can develop into a similar quarterback, and his career could be worth something after all. And then I thought, all right, where am I going? What time is it? I got to get out of it. This is bad. All those chuckleheads like me who, like, gave the bills a bad draft grade

and loved that Cardinals move to cheaply. move up for Joff Rosen. Sorry about that. How about a little punter trade? The whole buzz this preseason was that Johnny Hecker was not going to make the Rams. Makes a lot of money. Was losing a battle to Corey Baroquez, I think, is how you pronounce it. But no, punter trade. They sent Baroquez packing over to the Packers. Conditional late round pick swap, sixth for a seven. This guy has a bomb. I was there for one of the preseason games. I watched some of the Rams preseason. Oh my gosh, he can kick it like 76 yards, but they kept Hecker, which should keep

like the, you know, there's not many like long time Rams favorites. And so it's nice. I'm glad Johnny Hecker is sticking out. Hecker got a good arm on him. Makes you wonder what's going to happen with J.K. Scott and whether his most recent and perhaps most memorable highlight will be getting juked out on a punt return. Ooh, that's right. The Packers.

Like punters matter. I don't know. A good punter can really change your team. That's a nice deal for the, for the. for the Packers. Here's some big names that surprised me so far. Let me just add one thing, by the way. Everybody knows the kicker club, but a reminder that there is the punters punch bowl mixer. It's at the local gymnasium, and they have a bunch of balloons, and yes, a nice punch bowl and a full hoagie. It's a six-foot long hoagie and a dance floor that plays

records, mostly from the 50s, but it's all there for the punters. Go ahead. Heckers got to emcee that thing. He's got a lot of personality. He's been around for, he's one of the all-time greats. Are there cupcakes at this mixer? Yes, yes. There are cupcakes, of course. What else, Greg? How about John Brown didn't make the Raiders?

That surprised me. He still looked like he could play last year. But here's the thing. Sometimes people are like, oh, that's crazy. But sometimes like it's like you said, things change each year. It's like sometimes the guys show up and suddenly they can't play. Can't play the guitar. They're just not.

Because the John Brown, even of 2020, looked like he would be maybe the best or the second best receiver on the entire Raiders team but he didn't make the team uh Jordan Howard got cut and then one thing I just want to point on because we never mentioned it throughout the whole preseason Tyler Huntley won the backup job in Baltimore that's no surprise over trace McSorily who got cut um if you watch them play Tyler Huntley look good he was kind of the preseason MVP I don't know if Lamar jackson got hurt Ravens fans know what I'm talking about they didn't win that they didn't break that record because of Lamar Jackson they broke it because of Tyler Huntley they might have something here with Tyler Huntley maybe a little like you know Tyrod Taylor late

round or undrafted type of guy who ends up carving out you know a nice a nice career like Tyrod did when they when they found him a long time ago any pack 12 fans will remember Tyler Huntley's days at Utah very fondly so you know in case of emergency break glass pull out the former you I'm saying like if there's another Lamar Jackson you know no you better not go on the COVID list again. But if he misses the game and there's like a Wednesday matinee against the Steelers, I think it'll be more watchable this year with Tyler Huntley. Yeah, than R-G-3. Yeah. Anything else, Shuki? No, I think that's it. Greg? Yeah, we handled it. Tavon Austin made the, uh, Oh, yeah. Jaguars. I mean, we're kind of at the end there. But you know, he's, he's hung around

pretty good for a guy that was a first-round bust. The fact that he's still collecting paychecks is pretty good. The reason I mentioned number, yeah, I wrote a debrief, you know, just kind of a quick round-up today of these. And the reason was just like, wow, the names that he made the team over in Jacksonville. I didn't know they were all there. Laquan Treadwell, former first round pick. Philip Dorset, Super Bowl hero and former first round pick. Farrow Cooper, former first team all pro. I don't know if you remember Farrow Cooper. Colin Johnson. There's just like a lot of guys over there in Jacksonville. Tavon beat them all out. Desmond Truffant, cut by the Bears, a very steep decline for him. That was, that was surprising. They are really young at cornerback. Like the Rams have to be.

looking at week one feeling pretty good there and finally this happened actually two days ago but let's make sure we get it in the show the cardinals part ways with safety chris banjo turns out he couldn't play the guitar oh this is like dan's moment that like adam schfter had where people got on him for like fist bumping by breaking a guy getting released and they were like that's insensitive that's insensitive that's son of a bitch but while we're talking cardo secondary my guy malcolm butler may retire we just don't know so it's um a little uh strange timing wise but mike garifola reported that that would that would be a shame or something's going on there that was personal that he didn't want to get into garifola broke this story but they were counting on him

to start and gave him money to start and that he's been away from the team for a minute now and may not be coming back. That would be a sad way to end. I hope he comes back at some point. Come on. The Super Bowl hero. All right. There you go.

That is ATN guest, by the way. I missed the show somehow. But do you remember, you know, you had him in the studio. Who's that? Malcolm Baller. Oh, yeah, yeah, he was good. We had a nice conversation with Malcolm. I interviewed him in that locker room right after the game.

And it was even as a Patriots hater, he was an easy guy to root for. and you could just see the look in his face like he hadn't yet processed what had happened in that game. His legacy is secure. He'll be all right. He's the old, he'll never have to buy another drink again

in that town. All right, but does that actually true? Probably not. All right. I don't know. For some guys that hang around, I feel like...

Hey, hey, hey, you know, you'll never have to buy another meal in that town. It's one of those things everyone says, and does that ever actually Let's test it.

People are resentful of millionaire athletes. They're like, you know, he should be buying me drinks. I will say Sunday night last week after the Brown's preseason game against the Giants, I walked down the street. And who is having dinner outside with a couple of people? Bernie Cozhar cannot confirm whether he paid for it or not. Now, Bernie, beloved. He's the ultimate, don't, and doesn't have to pay for ultimate.

Okay, good. Shook, thank you, buddy. And as a reminder, Nick Shook, not. only hugely personable and in excellent physical condition is a lifeline for us on Sunday nights during the season in our recap of every game that is played during the season. So Shuki, you will be back with us. Hard to believe, Nick, but a week from Sunday, we're back with our Sunday night recaps hitting up every game that was played in the week that was and looking forward to it, Nick. Thank you, buddy. Yeah, of course. You know, it hit me this week with the cuts

that we're basically here. And I'm excited for it because, you know, as much as I know Greg loves watching every player number 88, 89, and 90 on the roster in the fourth quarter of a week two preseason game, come on, just go with it, just go with it. I know we're all excited to watch the actual legitimate players for a full four quarters. And we're expecting you.

We're probably not going to be in the studio. Week one sounds like week two is a more likely target. You know, they are opening up the building. We're expecting you to commute, Nick. I know you're in Cleveland, but just. You know, I'll fly coach. Let's see. Oh, they'll pay.

We're a huge operation now. There's no money is too much to spend on our podcast. Especially in that brand new studio, you know? Yeah. Apparently there is tech that allows that to happen seamlessly. We're being told. So we look, oh, that's all exciting. And I apologize to Chris Banjo and his entire family,

entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2013 and here he is fighting for jobs eight years later yes only I only apologize if you if you cut it for social because like the celebration dance was even even worse than the sounds it's like when John Sina had to apologize in Mandarin for saying something that offended the people of the region all right what okay that's it We'll be back on Thursday unless something else crazy pops up. But thank you for everybody for listening. Until then, heat the call.

Tight 47. We have this meeting in one minute. Hey everybody, Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move to 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 on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael Florio and together we host the NFL fantasy football podcast. Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season? Then you need the NFL fantasy football podcast, your ultimate source for player news, tips and winning strategies. Whether you're a rookie manager or a fantasy vet, we've got the insight to help you crush your opponents. Listen to the NFL fantasy football podcast on the

iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL, visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. This is an IHeart podcast.