NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Sounds and News from Annual Owners Meetings

Episode Date: March 28, 2023

A room filled with some heroes - Dan Hanzus, Marc Sessler and Gregg Rosenthal react to all the news and sounds coming from NFL Owners Meetings at the Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona. John Harbaugh spoke about Lamar Jackson's trade request (04:45), Brian Gutekunst commented on the Aaron Rodgers saga (18:08), Robert Kraft discussed Bill Belichick's job security (22:08), John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan offered thoughts on Brock Purdy, Trey Lance and Sam Darnold (27:26), Ron Rivera feels hamstrung by the Washington ownership situation (31:48), Sean Payton doesn't want to trade Courtland Sutton or Jerry Jeudy (34:33), a number of rule changes were voted into effect (37:35), Bobby Wagner is heading back to Seattle (42:33), and the heroes hit a few other news nuggets (43:30). Note: timecodes approximate.NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. The Around the NFL podcast. Always wear sunscreen outdoors. Got to do it. From the Chris Wesleying podcast studio, it's Around the NFL. I'm Dan Hansis. Greg Rosenthal, Mark Sessler.

I'll do it if I'm on like the golf course. If I'm at the beach, but not everywhere. where I go. I'm not powder. I typically venture outside. No, you're a man who wears his tan if he was out doing some yard work.

That drop is not true. It was not true of our great friend Wes. He often would not put the sunscreen on his dome. We're going to have Daniel Jeremiah in later this week, what on Wednesday? And famously, Wes just burned the hell out of the top of his head when he went to a Padres game. game with Lakeisha a Padres Cardinals game a few years back and yeah I think that's one thing

the guys that shaved their heads or just bald um you know sometimes you have the horseshoe bald guys but you don't see that so much anymore by the way ever notice that human heads are evolving remember it used to be people just shave it down if you want bald you look good you look older oh no yes you're going it's like I'm banging them bald and now I have this like math teacher we clean that ring around which by the way if you're listening and you have that look I'm not taking shots. I'm just saying you don't see it as much anymore. You just say you grow up a little and just shave the rest. You can get with the times. It's not a death sentence being bald. You shave it and like Wes is a perfect example. Nice shaped head. I thought he looked a lot better once he went,

he was fully shorn compared to the photos we saw when he was younger and then losing it. What was up with like friars? Remember their haircuts? They've got a full head of hair and they shave the top of the head. It's a disgrace. I don't know what we're doing there. Is it a disgrace? Is it to make yourself less attractive so you're not tempted if you're in that position, I guess. I mean, if that's the history, it's pretty messed up. But it probably worked. The ladies are into friars?

No, not typically. All right. Where are we? We are not. We're Tuesday. We're Tuesday. We are not at the hotel, the Biltmore in Phoenix, but that's where the NFL annual meetings are this week, also known as the owner's meetings.

And, you know, the timing of the show. And I think I might have said last week that DJ was going to be on our Tuesday show, no, be on the lookout tomorrow when we roll out a DJ special. Today we decided there were so many little nugs big and small that came out of the Monday owners meetings, Gregie. Why don't we just dig through it and kind of cull through the sound? Because I don't know about you, Greg, but as the day went along on Monday into Tuesday, it struck me that it felt a little more newsy than the typical owners meetings.

And we got the rules, although the rules were less newsy, I feel like, than usual. But you're right. They're most playful. There are a number of issues sort of hanging around at this time of year that aren't necessarily that we're waiting for some big ones to drop, but a lot of little nuggets. So these are like my favorite sort of news days. But if you take away the dual quarterback narratives that have been hanging out the Lamar and Aaron Rogers, if you removed all of that. Then it'd be normal, I would say yes. Even less than normal, I think.

I think that's just like these dramas continue. There's little, there's news each day. There's new developments each day. You got Lamar tweeting left and right. You got, you know, dropping his tweets right before John Harbaugh talks. I mean, it was well-played drama. There's transition point right there. Yeah.

Let's get into all the news from Phoenix and beyond. Wow, the organization's worth that much. And, you know, I couldn't get free coffee? that is of course i mean who else could it be but mike mcdaniel head coach of the dolphins who was answering a question about the washington football team uh who he was connected with at a point in his career and i guess he didn't get free coffee when he was there read into that however you want i mean i'm just reading in the facts who doesn't get free coffee at work an NFL team that's about to be sold for billion dollars it's happening

Washington fans you only have to hang on for it sounds like maybe like even only a month more there's reports of two different bids over six billion which is what Snyder was looking for the long rain is almost over so that's the good thing almost I know I know people were hoping it might happen

this week but it doesn't sound like it's going to be this week but it really feels like this off season we'll circle back to Washington just a little bit later but let's start where we have to start which which is Lamar Jackson. So the way this timed up was as the coach has settled in.

And you guys have been at the, Mark, paint a picture, the owner's meetings, and specifically the coach's breakfast as it's known. Yeah, you have the AFC one day and the next day would be the NFC, or they'd flip-flop that. And you've got 16 round tables with chairs around them

so that each of the coaches can sit down for an hour. And a lot of them have come from about three or four hours of sleep after a late night of drinking. That's sort of what happens to these owners' meetings too. And they're barraged by their local beat reporters and national reporters

with questions of the day. And Harbaugh, you know, sat down, literally at the moment, like Lamar Jackson had just sent out this tweet that we'll get into about his whole situation. I think two minutes after Harbaugh set down.

Right. And so it's probably not a coincidence. Not at all. Well planned. But here is the tweet that Lamar sends out just as John Harbaugh sits down. In regards to my future plans

And I set up, I like it Give me some missive music This feels missivey Great set I wish he used a colon after plans though But we won't dock them In regards to my future plans As of March 2nd

I requested a trade from the Ravens organization For which the Ravens Has not been interested In meeting my value Any and everyone that has met me or been around me, I love the game of football and my dream is to help a team.

Win the Super Bowl. There's an extra. There's a little more to that. Okay. Yeah. But you get the gist. Yeah. Gregi. Then, of course, Harbaugh is asked about it. Do we have Harbaugh sound? Here's what Harbaugh had to say on the topic. We made a decision to go with Lamar Jackson

five years ago, right? Why? Because we love him. We love him. We love the way he plays. I love his mindset, his charisma, his style, the way he is in the locker room, everything about him, we love him. I love him personally. I love being the coach of the team that he's playing quarterback for. So that's what you do. You know, you build the team around your players, and that's what I'm excited to do. Lamar is a great guy, and Lamar's doing a nice job with the negotiations, and I think that needs to be said.

People need to understand. He's doing a good job, okay? And Eric's doing a good job. And Eric's getting advice from Ozzy and from Steve, and all those things are being discussed. Yeah, I'm involved in those conversations, too, so I know where we're at. There really is no frustration other than the natural, normal, hey, this is how pro football works, you know. And I think, you know, Lamar believes in us, and we believe in Lamar, and we know where we want to go forward. So it's a monetary thing.

That can be figured out. That can be worked out. That's just a matter of negotiating, and I think we just continue down that road, and eventually it'll get, it'll work out. There's always going to be creative ways to figure that stuff out. Yeah, my takeaway from Harbaugh, the way he approached that was, Even though Lamar's out here saying, trade me, there still does seem a path forward between these two teams. It's still a financial situation.

And quite frankly to me, Greg, the fact that no team has emerged and aggressively sought out Lamar is the best possible situation for Baltimore, who I think do want to stay in business with the quarterback ultimately. Well, they better. What else are they going to do? They don't have anything. They got Snoop Huntley.

Well, I'll tell you what they would do. If he did end up leaving the team, they'd probably take a reset year. and then attack the quarterback position, either this draft or the next. I get it. I get it, but John Harbaugh was close to losing his job when Lamar Jackson showed up and saved it. I believe John Harbaugh wants Lamar Jackson to be there with every fiber of his being. It's not really up to him.

And so I agree with your take, Dan, that he's trying to keep the lights on. But we're all in a hurry because we all cover this each and every week. But there's really nothing other than the draft coming up that's a flashpoint here. for Lamar and Is it a flashpoint? Maybe we should do a flashpoint with both more. However, Flashpoint

should almost lift the veil on something that's about to happen. This is happening. It also said drive through the executive producers of the project, which is you and I. That's also true. I would have liked to hear the Flashpoint theme song there.

Yeah, he kind of missed you. There you go, Justin. I guess My point in raising that with the Ravens, though, is at some point in the draft is kind of the point, if we get past it and he's still on the team. The Ravens are truly, like truly need him more than they, than he needs them. Now, he wants the contract. He wants everything that comes with it.

But I think we've seen with Lamar Jackson, and I think they know this too, that I actually think he would stand on principle and just not play. And they are in a tough spot too. It's been almost talked about that it's like a money thing. They don't want to pay the money. They're not going to pay the money. Lamar's being stupid about the money, but they need him as a player. And so I'm not really sure how that gets worked out here, and we'll see if another team steps up. I'm with you in the sense that there is a storyline here where we get to the summer,

and this is not figured out, and Lamar Jackson does not play the season. I just think it – I don't think you tweet out. I think everyone loses. Let's just be clear. Everyone loses, including Lamar, if that's how this plays out. A great athlete in his prime. A couple months ago, if we had said Lamar Jackson is going to be available in a trade, I think the common understood theory would be that a bunch of teams would come running.

You have instead the opposite, where it's like you have Jim Ursay, who the Colts have been the most logical landing spot, right? Jim Ursay, during these owners meetings, said, I am not interested in this guaranteed money. I'm interested in paying him and we can find a way to make a fair deal, but the guaranteed money is a real sticking point, these teams. They don't want to do it. And, you know, it's funny because it's like Laramie Tunzel signed that contract a couple weeks ago. And to me, he never had an agent, and I never really,

you didn't really even notice that. I'm noticing it with Lamar Jackson. The idea that he is operating agent-free and that he shouldn't have had a deal a year ago, if not two years ago. Josh Allen has made $67 million over the last two years. Lamar Jackson, 25. They were drafted in the same class. Right. Well, Josh Allen made, what, $20 million more often? the top of the, because he was drafted higher. That's fine, but it's because he's got a second deal with an agent. Part of that story, too, is that the Ravens were not giving Lamar Jackson anything close to Josh Allen's contract at the time, which now looks like a great deal for the bills, but that was the whole reporting was that they weren't offering anything

close to the market deal at the time. I mean, I'm with you. It's all a mess. It might be different if he did have an agent, but I think at this point, like... But that he's also got this this is the problem because this Ken Francis figure who emerges from the mist who is contacting teams a week ago on behalf of Lamar Jackson which is against league rules

and ultimately I know the league seems to not be doing too much about that kind of thing but that's the kind of thing that could Nolan void the concept of a deal yeah and that reporting has been questioned too okay but it's I mean teams are concerned about like the fact that Lamar Jackson is being contacted through others by other people

like that's not how he's meant to act on his own behalf. He's the only person who should be talking to these teams. I guess my thing is just like it everyone's in a hurry for all this and like I'm more willing to like see what we're where we're at the after the draft because the reporting in terms of the Colts that they're very open to it like to me sounds like at some point they're going to make an offer. I would think it's more likely than not. To that point transition. So since Lamar dropped that tweet that became obviously a talking point and maybe would have been either way, but especially once Lamar puts himself in a new cycle in a pointed way like that.

So Jim Ursay, the owner of the Colts, he was asked about Lamar. And of course, when you talk about Lamar, it connects immediately to what is said to be. Lamar's ultimate driving goal is to get a fully guaranteed deal. And Ursay had this to say, as an owner, I do not believe in fully guaranteed contracts. I think that a percentage is one thing. But from what I've seen from the NBA and baseball, I don't see it. as a positive competitively. Now I want to play something, Pete Carroll,

who was asked about Lamar Jackson and whether Lamar, former MVP, 26 years old, was ever considered before they made the decision to move forward with Gino Smith. Was Lamar Jackson ever considered an option for you guys? No, I couldn't imagine you would be available, and we couldn't afford him.

Couldn't afford him. And then just because it connects to the other big story, Joe Douglas, GM of the Jets was asked about Lamar. Would he be a fallback? player if the Aaron Rogers negotiations dragged out to a point where the Jets felt like they needed to pivot. Yeah, well, first of all, Lamar Jackson is a fantastic player. But, you know, where we stand is, you know, it would be disingenuous in and operating, negotiating bad faith if we went down that path. So right now we have our plan. We have our process and we're sticking to that.

And finally, I'll read a quote from Jimmy Haslam, the owner of the Browns, because so much of this is the ground zero is what happened a year ago with Deshawn Watson. Jimmy Haslam, you always wonder, I wonder like if the Browns could do it again, would they do it? Like right here. Right. Before we even know if Watson will ever be a player of that level again, would they go through it all again?

Here's what Haslam said about that now infamous decision to give a fully guaranteed contract as it continues to, what was the analogy I made that I was quite proud of myself? Do you remember the email of those But you can have to narrow that down more I'll come to me Jimmy Haslam Every team every business has to look And do what they think

Is in the best interest of their team What did what we did What we thought was in the best interest of our team We still feel that way So we're excited to if you will have that stuff behind us This time last year How many games is he going to play? Is he going to play?

Is he not going to play? He's going to be there the whole season now and barring injury, heaven forbid, he's going to play all 17 games and hopefully more. That I think alone, that I think alone is a bigger leap to the organization, to Deshaun, to all of us. I mean, and Haslam is very comfortable. I just feel like over his entire run in Cleveland playing something of a villain, because at these owners meetings, when you're sitting in these rooms and they're discussing and talking about things that we'll never hear, it's like Haslam has created this problem for the Ravens.

He's created this problem for the rest of the teams around the. the league. And I think other owners are trying to pivot and say, we're not following your lead. We're not, we don't, Jim Mersey's saying he does not feel comfortable with this kind of a deal. But I think it's also the environment that you don't feel comfortable with is 30 plus other owners saying, don't do this. Well, it's clear Lamar Jackson's not getting a fully guaranteed contract and that he's not even going to ask for a fully guaranteed. I think he's looking for something. I think we think about Watson as a thing totally getting in the way.

But Kyler, too. I think he looks at Kyler as a player that he wants to top that contract and it sounds like no one's, you know, stepped up or the Ravens haven't stepped up to that point either. Haslam would be insane, though, to redo that Watson deal right now, knowing what he knows. But he can't say that, though. And they can't even think that way. And I'm sure in their minds, they can't even think that way, at least vocalizing it. Like, they have to be all in and just make it work because you absolutely have to think that

way. But it'd be insane to redo that deal, knowing what we know now. Are you kidding me? Exxon Valdez spill, 89. Oh, that's right. Prince William Sound. Wait, is that, that's the Watson contract? Yeah, it's an oil spill where the ramifications and consequences continue.

You were proud of the analogy because I mispronounced. That made it a double win. Right. Because you stuck your guns on Valdez. Well, I don't know if I stuck to my guns, but it would turn into a thing. Here's the thing about, part of me thinks that you remembered what it was, but you didn't want me to remember because then it would bring up the Valdez. Valdez thing again.

Yeah, but I literally did just bring it up, though. He thinks you did that. I heard from some listeners who said that Valdez Valdez is one of those like tomato, tomato, both pronunciations are acceptable and one is just more common. Well, one's correct and one's wrong. Why have you kept that under your vest until now? Gondola, gondola, like, which one is really right, you know? Gondola.

Gondola is not even a factor. Why does he wait till now to share that information that there's controversy? like say it however you want right graver's on fire right now all right uh do you guys want to throw one out that you were uh you found interesting or do you want me to just kind of roll through it i could go either way well let's let's get the top level stuff right do we have anything else on the lamar situation i feel we covered it pretty well okay we will next show um let's start with goody who uh we heard from and i think gave us more information than frankly i was expecting to get at the owner's meeting from the Packers about the whole Rogers trade talk.

Is there any scenario that you'd be comfortable making a trade without getting a first round pick back? Yeah, I mean, I think, you know, that's not a necessity, but at the same time, you know, the value of the players is a Premier player. You know, so I think getting Premier picks back for that or players is important. They followed up that comment. And actually I think it was noteworthy with some more reporting. And the reporting got specific that it's like,

maybe it'll be a two this year and it'll be a two next year but it can move up to a first potentially depending on what the you know how the jets do and they might be arguing over whether it's stats based or whether rogers is still on the team and it depends on which you're referencing the charles robinson yeah that was robinson it was shockingly specific in terms of what the term right he was very specific but you've also heard some of the insiders at our network speak to it in similar tones but maybe not quite as specific making me think they they had similar information just like this thing's so close and I get while they're fighting over everything and the players might be involved and that that matters but no one's worried about it at all which is why we've been treating it as a non-story I think over the last week and a half because we're going to find out and I think now Dan you kind of know what the terms roughly are going to be which is probably a couple picks that aren't first round picks yeah if they if they're saying that some with some conditions they're not if he's publicly saying in Arizona we're not we're not necessarily looking for a first round pick at this point it's already decided it's not going to be

to me a situation where the heels are so dug in that something truly ugly happens they should be able to figure out nobody's worried yeah and i think i mean the reason i think that the jets also should dig in a little bit and this tells you that you know they're getting into the nitty gritty is that there's no we're going to do this again with erin rogers next off season we don't know that he's going to play for two years and so it needs to be incentive based or i think part of it was like if they reached the a fc title game or hosted a divisional round playoff game certain picks and stuff could change a little bit. And the Jets might want it to be, does he play in 2024? And Judy mentioned the players there. So it's sort of just something to put a pin in and

we'll find out. But I think we learned about that. And Rapsheet mentioned that this, there is a world and it doesn't seem improbable at this point where, yes, it's going to happen. And there's a lot of money tied up into whether it's the post-June first trade and how that all plays out. But this could go right up to draft week is sort of the feeling to some degree that it wouldn't be improbable for that to occur. because being the general manager is such a front-facing job and there's so much

interest in terms of what the packers are going to get from Rogers if Goody is kind of massaging the message a little bit and just letting the fan base know a little bit too like, hey, do not kill me when this trade comes through and it's not a first-round pick. I've already dropped a breadcrumb to be ready for how this goes down

hopefully soon. We'd like to move forward. How about you, Mark? Anything that somebody jumped, something jumped out to you from Arizona. Robert Kraft on a number of topics. Number one, he dropped the nugget that Meek Mill had texted him saying that Lamar Jackson wanted to play for the Patriots. So there's that.

And it's just like you're getting the full Robert Craft experience. But... I mean, come on, man. As my daughter's fifth grade friends said to me as like I sang along to some song on the way to a movie, together is like, that's very cringe. You know, Robert Kraft is cringe sometimes. There's no way that...

with the meek mill references. There's no way that it can't be. Wow, Greg. You've never had anything critical before to say about Bob and his sneakers or anything else. I think you have about the sneakers. There's been a couple things. In fact, I have many times in this show that I don't like it when the three guys were battled. It's like, oh, Belichick, Kraft, and Brady, the three pillars.

And I get it, but like, let's not make his equal. My other side of this was I thought that he was a little, just a little bit chilly on the future of Belichick. because we know that Belichick is 30 wins away from chasing Don Shula's record. And do we have Robert Kraft on that? Look, I'd like him to break Don Shula's record. But I'm not looking for any of our players to get great stats. We're about winning and doing whatever we can to win. That's what our focus is now.

and it's very important to me that we make the playoffs and that's what I hope happens next year. And this married into a lot of flowery comments about Jared Mayo, who they love and who he talked about as someone he hoped might even be a head coach for the team down the road at some point. And then I thought the icing on the cake...

Did that sound like a playoffs or bust mandate? A little bit, I think so. The icing on the cake was they asked, I asked about Matt Patricia on that whole utter debacle from a year ago and listen to what he had to say here. I think he got put in a difficult position, and I think it was sort of an experiment. And he worked very hard at it. And in retrospect, I don't think it was the right thing. And I feel bad for him because he's such a hard worker.

He got put in a difficult position. That is by far, Gregi, and you've been following this team as closely as anyone. The most public in terms of criticism, Belichick has ever gotten from his head coach, right? I mean, certainly since the Brady years started. And it really does feel like Kraft is letting the public know that, yeah, like, Bill doesn't just get... I mean, the way, to me, like, that question, the first question that got set up where it was like, what was it? The Don Shula business. If it happens again, a losing season, could Bill's job be in jeopardy?

Or is he here to break Don Chul's all-time wins record and beyond? Like, the way to easily answer that question is, like, what Bill Belchick is done for our organization, you can't put a price on it, you can't even begin to explain how important he's been for us, and we want Bill to be here for the rest of his career. Like, and you can just leave it there. You didn't hear that. And you don't have headlines. Instead, he made a pointed reference to say, like, listen, records are good, but

that we don't just keep people around just to break records and I want to be in the playoffs next year. This is a big subplot around this team now. Absolutely. It started at the beginning of the off season when they released the statement to explain how Drodmeo is going to stay

and they said what his new title is going to be. I think they might have even mentioned that he got a raise in the statement and just like people covering the team were like, it's amazing. And that was clearly Robert Kraft saying, I don't care how you normally do things. things that they don't have real titles and we don't announce it until four months later and

blah, blah, like, I'm announcing this now and this is what we're going to do. And it felt like a bit of Kraft taking control back of the organization. He's 81 years old, Robert Kraft too. I don't think he wants to stick around at 7 and 9, 7 and 10, all that stuff. And you're absolutely right. I think it might be a playoff or bust scenario. Old BB. One kind of funny, during the setup to that initial question, a reporter said, you know, you guys have posted a losing record in two of the last three seasons. And then Kraft interrupted the reporter. And he goes, we were eight and nine last year.

When was the, and then the reporter's like the Cam Newton year. And Kraft was like, oh, the Cam Newton. Yeah. Like everyone else, Kraft forgot that the Cam Newton year exists in Patriots history post Tom Brady. It was the pandemic year. It was a tough time for everyone. What did they go? They went eight and nine that year.

too i don't even remember that was a seven and nine seven and nine um so yeah that's interesting i thought that was almost like the most fascinating thing that came out of the whole day i'm with you i'm with you and then they asked bill bellichick what what's the reason fan should be optimistic for what's ahead what would you say to them to give them a reason to be optimistic for what's ahead for the patrons the last 25 years He really, you got to watch the YouTube show. He sits there kind of rocking in his chair, staring at the reporter and thinking what he's going to say. And that question is coming from two feet away from Mike Reese, who knows just how to ask it and who has been in Foxborough as long, maybe longer uninterrupted than Bill Belichick actually.

And hearing Tom Kern, who asked another one of these key questions for crap and hearing his interpretation of like, hmm, Belichick's usually. Usually the, like, we're not resting on past history, and we're certainly not worried about individual honors over the team and everything. And that craft is really trying to say, like, look, this has been your rules for 20 years. I'm going to make you play by your rules. Sossy. It's sunny. All right, we've got a lot more to get to, but let's first take a quick break. All right, we're back.

Mark, something else that jumped out to you? I guess you could go to the sort of split response on Brock Purdy from Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch. I thought you would be interested in that. Well, just, I mean, I think that, you know, and they seem to always sort of be on the same page about things. But John Lynch was very optimistic about the concept of Brock Purdy coming back in time for training camp. Probably the leader in the clubhouse at that. You know, like Kyle make those kind of decisions. But I know when we talk, I think Brock's probably earned that right to be the guy if we were to line up.

up. He'd probably take that first snap. And I'm really excited about where Trey is at with his progress from his injury. He's been working really hard and, you know, love the opportunity to be able to bring on Sam Donald and his skill set. We think it's a really good fit. And so we like that room a lot. 49ers fan girl courtesy there. Yeah, I mean, and Shanahan talked about the fact that, you know,

you're not going to have Purdy until maybe even weeks into the season. and even mentioned that Trey Lance, part of it is like, what is the future of Trey Lance? Is he tradable? Is he actually having a chance? Lynch mentioned, you know, there's a chance he could start again. But Brock Purdy is in the flying, the ointment here. And Shanahan mentioned Trey Lance and Sam Darnold even competing for the starting job early on in the season.

Now, we believe Trey can be that. I think he would have done it last year if he stayed healthy. The good thing for him is with Brock being hurt and stuff, he has an opportunity to try to regain that and everything. And that's also what we brought in Sam because we can't be. said for sure on Brock because you never know how the injury will go. We think it will go well and we're optimistic about it. But right now that's on hold.

I mean, Shanahan, it's an early morning. Wouldn't surprise me if he was one of those coaches that was out late. It feels like. Surprise me if he wasn't. He's got a lot of friends there. And it looks like it might have been a late night. But he's like, I'm going to be on camera here. I'm going to put it together.

My hair is going to look good. And you're not going to really know that I was the guy out there late. last thing. You know what I'm saying? Yes, that's important. I would say there's some indication he was one of those guys just based on the, I guess what I'm saying, though, some come in though and they're just, they put the hat on, they're sort of like grumbling, they're haggard.

He's at least trying to put a good face on it, is what I'm sure. I said of hair. How about? By the way, Sam Darnold's starting for this team. There's no question about it. Well, they say, well, there's reports connecting Purdy to like mid-September, maybe. Right. When they say that at this point in the off-season, that's usually like, it's a bad,

sign. But why are you so confident? Is it injury related for Trey Lance or you just think he's going to beat out Trey Lance? I don't, I mean, it's not like it's been a leadership change. I just think they like Sam Darnold and the fact that Trey Lance is going to split reps with him right off the bat. And I know Trey Lance is coming off an injury and that that's part of it too? And there's a little buzz of like, is Trey Lance ever going to take snaps for the 49ers again?

Could this just be Sam Darnold and Brock Purdy this year? I think you can trade Trey Lance. Right, that's what I mean. Like if it starts looking at, I just, I think they're excited about Sam Darnold. and we'll see if they stay excited. If they trade Tray Lance, I mean, his value is higher than Zach Wilson who's taken a pick before him, I would think, but are they that much different in terms of if you put them on the market,

what are you expecting to get back? You're probably going to have to eat salary, right? And maybe a mid-round pick? Maybe you could talk someone into a three. I just don't think he's shown enough in addition to the injury issues to have much trade value. And I mean, I am pro-Brock Purdy to the end of days, but I also would feel like, yes, that was a magical run,

but do you not need to see a little bit more from him post-injury before you move Trey Lance and roll with Sam Darnold and Brock Purdy? Yeah, we'll see. It's a big off-season for Lance. I think, yeah, depending on how he looked in the preseason, if he played and looked good, you make a good point. He would not have amazing trade. I think there'd be a difference.

Zach Wilson, you'd maybe get very little for, and Trey Lance would be like a mid-round pick, but that's pretty disappointing when you traded three first-round picks to go get it. Right, and I'm a Darnold fan, obviously, but if I'm running the Niners, like I am giving Trey Lance a chance. Absolutely. That way I know, like I have this window here where I have Purdy on the shelf and now you could give Lance some run and really know for sure whether or not the guy that you were drafting

is who you thought or hoped he was. Anyway, it's not controversial. Trey Lance actually said a couple a while back that Brock Purdy deserved the starting job, which is a strange thing for him to say. Deserve. All right. Anyway, Washington. I'll circle back real quick to Washington.

Chase Young. They were asked about Chase Young, who obviously was drafted, came into the league as a high first-round pick, a potential generational talent on the edge. His fifth-year option needs to be picked up. And I thought it was interesting hearing this when we talk about what's going on with the sale and ownership and how that affects a team when you're trying to get ready for a new season and build toward the future. Here's what Ron Rivera said. It's one of those things that you've got to really think it through. You've got to be able to plan it out. And with the situation we're in right now waiting on like everybody else to find out you know ownership we you know we got to kind of drag our feet a little bit until we get to that point and find out you know do we have to find out from whoever the new ownership but to be honest if there's a new owner we have to go to them and find out you know what I'm saying it so I don't know at this point I mean when the head coach is saying things like we have to drag our feet feet a little bit and And we have to wait before a deal. And it's the sale of a, it's like an upwards of $10 billion sale.

These things don't happen overnight quickly. The whole organization is in gridlock right now, it feels like. Six billion, right? 10 billion was succession. They got 10. I think literally that's where I came from from the fake CNN. Yeah, I'm trying to think of the name. And by the way, the conservative network is ATN, which is interesting.

Yeah, that's annoying. I think they paid too much. I think they paid too much. I do not care what the Washington Post says. Anyway, so that is interesting. It's crazy. And Rivera, yeah, they asked about this all happening, you know, under his tenure. It's been kind of a wild tenure for Ron Rivera.

And he just said, par for the course. Young, it's like one of the first, like, he's, he was a good hire for a team in chaos because he's Ron Rivera and because he's handled all this so well. This sounds like frustration because it's his family. It's all these other people's families around the building where none of them know if they're going to be employed a year from now. And of any team in the league, they've been let down by their ownership. He also came out publicly and was quoted saying on Tuesday, we do not have this sound, but I do have the quote. That quote, I'm a big bang theory guy. I'm a big bang theory guy.

Like the show? I'm in bang theories too in terms of like when we're discussing people being on the short end of things. But he means the television program. Big, big bang theory guy. You don't know how to say it. It's like rebound. That's what he called it. That's funny.

I don't know what the context was for that. Not necessary. It just works as it is for us. I thought it was interesting that on the same day that Sean Payton and George Payton, not related, not spelled the same, but working together.

Something annoying for both men. Yeah. Spoke about Jerry Judy and Cortland Sutton. and Sean Payton said we are not trading them and George Peyton said we're not interested in trading them and on the very same day there was reporting from Denver media that was like well unless they get like a better offer here's Peyton's exact words

I think it's pretty common every offseason new coach not a real deep receiver draft look I've been you read a bunch of these things that are written now and I would say a number of teams have called early players but I said it yesterday that it's not something we're interested in doing one of the most beautiful hotels I've ever stayed at in my life maybe the nicest I've ever been in and it has pools and various areas huge open green sun sunning areas I believe there's a golf course there is uh bars huge huge

here there and everywhere. In other words, it's a wonderful place to spend a night before the coach's breakfast. Greg and I were there one year and we saw Bill Belichick and Linda Holiday returning from a heated one-on-one tennis battle with each other. Is that where we saw Anderson Cooper as well, Greg? Yes, sweating on a run. We've milked that one pretty hard on the year. If you're a new listener, it's new information. that we incurred, we're so worth it for NFL media just for how many times we've gotten

to use this story. Anyway, I just find it funny that the way Peyton gets around, I mean, it's essentially lying if it was any other business, but he's like, I've read, I've read those things. It's like, we know where they're coming from. Literally the same person that, you know, is quoting Peyton and asking these questions. Mike Cliss from Nine News in Denver said from a source that the Broncos wouldn't deal unless it was a second rounder for Sutton or a first for Judy. So there's a very specific price. They're not getting that price. At this point

they've got to kind of put the toothpaste back into the two. But at some point, I don't know. I'd give up a second. I know he gets a lot of money, so it's a lot. If you're Sean Payton, though, and you've got to try to fix what happened last year on offense, like stripping away wide receivers. He did mention it's not a great draft. They don't have any draft picks. Like, there is a

world where it's like stick with these guys versus emptying the cupboard entirely. Yeah. Just that report just gave me an idea. There's a very specific price for those guys. Don't know if they'll get it. A first for Judy seems unlikely. Second for Sutton. Who is giving a first for Jerry Judy?

Hell no. Probably not. I do like Jerry Judy. Any other soundguess? I have one other bit of news that came out of Arizona. I mean, we've got the proposals. That's what I was talking about. Let's talk about that.

All right. Let's talk about the NFL owners vote in favor of letting players wear number zero. I love this. The league voted Tuesday to allow all players other... This sucks for the big men, though. Yeah. Other than offensive and defensive linemen

to wear the jersey number zero. I always like who submitted the proposal to. The Eagles submitted it. It also allows kickers and punters to use any jersey numeral between zero and 49 and 90 to 99. That bothers me a little bit. Do you want your place kicker out there at number 93?

Maybe. Is he making the fucking kick? I don't know. I kind of like it. It's not making the kick. I'm a little surprised that this playful little rule just swept right through. I'm really happy that it did. I feel for these, the Biameths, though, that they have to have the offensive and defensive linemen.

It's another Sessler word. What? The bohemoths? I say Biameth. Behemeth. Calvin Ridley, by the way, tweeted, excited to be the first Jaguars player to wear zero. Shout out to Jags a quip. Wow, the equipment guys have a Twitter handle.

I love it. We did learn, though, that, like, this was as low octane of rules changes, I feel like. Well, we led number zero. No, no, I like that. Yeah, that was honestly the most interesting thing that actually passed. The other things that passed were quite minor, making tripling penalty, a personal foul. They were, like, tweaking what the definition of launch means. You can't benefit from the extension of the first half as a result of a penalty, basically.

you can't intentionally commit a penalty at the end of the first half, which I did think happened once last year and then get to run another play. But the interesting things didn't happen. Can I have one more that did happen? Sure. Because I think it will come into play

and it will be interesting. The NFL also voted to expand the incidentry play to allow for a review on failed fourth down attempts. So typically... I'd approve of that. That's automatic review then on a failed fourth down attempt that usually is for scoring plays in terms. And I guess a fourth down attempt at fails is a kind of a turnover.

So there's logic to it. That's good. I don't know where that one came from. Submitted by the Texans. They did not approve the punt touchback, which I like that idea. They were going to make a punt if you hit the ball into the end zone or the punt, it goes back to the 25. That didn't happen. They didn't, they tabled once again the rule where you try the fourth and 20.

Yes, the onside kick. handling it though they want to talk about it again i i like that uh but they rejected making uh personal foul penalty in terms of uh hitting the quarterback reviewable which i really thought might happen and they didn't even get close and that's the to me the whole thing's of failure until they finally let common sense prevail that is going to continue not just the quarterback i also think for any type of targeting type foul on these vicious hits that are happening in a game that is moving so fast that can swing a contest in terms of it could be a fourth and 20 and there's a hit over the middle or a quarterback gets taken down and it should be a turnover and instead it's not only not even not only just the first down a 15 yard gain for the offense if it's a play that could be that consequential take a look it doesn't happen all that often where it should really I think maybe the pace of play is something that they're they have an eye on that they're trying to protect as well and that could be coming into play but I think it's too important to ignore. Yeah, I mean, if anything, over the last number of years, they've been reactive to rule changes that, you know, blow up, playoff games, become talking points on Twitter.

And the roughing the passer thing, to me, fell right into that territory. And I think it's a lost opportunity. The Lions had some great ideas. You said you like seeing who. I do. Who proposes it. The Lions were money. They wanted to get more opportunities to get another challenge.

Basically, if you keep getting your challenges right, you get a third. they rejected that you know that's lame and then they also wanted to be able to challenge personal fouls that like you yeah it's similar to the to the quarterback one but basically

any personal foul that you could be able to challenge that since that's such a big penalty and they ended up taking that away they withdrew it because they knew it wasn't going to pass holding down our lines just like you two suppressors are doing don't put me in the anti-lines camp

at first when we were at the season and Jamal Williams was there. We were like, oh, yeah, we're going to run it back. We were talking about running it back that night, you know, at the Packers night. And now it's just falling high. We were right in that moment. What world do you live in, Greg?

It's a beautiful one. Sunny. I should mention as well, not connected to the owner's meetings, the Seahawks reached a one-year $7 million deal to bring back Bobby Wagner coming off a all-pro season with the Rams. This is, I love it. it everyone loves it he'd like to see the homegrown guys that had long careers stay there the whole time he went to l.A. in a weird scenario it's like it's John

Lennon year when he broke up with Yoko and just exactly and I think he was second team all pro but didn't seem to have a huge market so maybe that's a little bit something where you squint like how good was he last year and now he's a year older but if you're a Seattle Seahawks fan you're loving it one year seven million turned into like the kind of Mick contract for like really good, but aging players, especially linebackers, Levanti David, got the same thing. Although there's been some reports questioning how, like, if this was an up to $7 million or guaranteed $7 million, like Seahawks fans were complaining way too much about this.

Just be happy you got Bobby Wagner back. Come on. I like this little nugget. Remember, we talked about the report cards for all these teams and how the Cardinals were absolutely flamed by their own players for everything from the cafeteria. The uneven floors and whatnot. Just a hot mess. But Jonathan Gannon has been working very close.

mostly with Michael Bidwell, the owner, to work on some of that stuff. And he said he's never even read the report card. But he's like, we're doing things differently. He's never read the report card? That's what he said. It's not reactive off the report card. He doesn't care about it, but he already saw things. He even look at it.

I know he wasn't there, so I guess that's not as obnoxious. Wait, for a second, I thought you meant Bidwell. No, no, no. I think Bidwell, if anything, was getting credit from Gannon for proactively wanting to work on things. So that's a pro for, you know, you're... I don't know if they pay for coffee in that building, but it sounded like it. One little thing that did bubble up was the Herbert contract talks have started.

It's like I do like it when they're, like just one day Joe Burrow or Justin Herbert, hopefully just like sign a big contract and it's not this like long running story. Wouldn't it be nice? I have my doubts when it comes to Burrow just because it's the Bengals, but prove me wrong Bengals. It is interesting not to endlessly go in the cycle talking about the Lamar contract. If Herbert or Burrow, and I wonder if some of this is tied into everyone waiting to see how Lamar saga unfolds, if those guys don't get fully guaranteed contracts. But that ship has a sale.

No one thinks he has a chance to get a fully guaranteed contract, Lamar, at this point. Yeah, but I mean, what are these guys? What about these guys? Well, I would assume they won't either, but I would assume they'll get more guaranteed money than Kyler Murray got. feels like the logic at the very little starting point Lamar should be going to the Falcons but the team decided that Desmond Ritter and Tyler Haneyke are their guys

and Arthur Smith said Tuesday that the second year pro Ritter will begin the season as the team's starting quarterback the plan is to start Desmond that's our plan going forward right now from the owner on down too. I'm really looking forward to at some point this off season I got to just watch you we got all, just watch all the Desmond Ritter throws.

I promise you, I must because I feel like I'm going crazy. And then we'll come in with some fiery hot takes. It's going to be an exciting week. It would maybe just make a Desmond Ritter week. His last two games, he did improve, but it's a stretch. This is a disturbing and ominous headline from ESPN. Seahawks' Pete Carroll quashes talk of Jamal Adams' demise. It seems pretty heavy.

Fiery headline. How about just like job security? There were a couple little receiver moves that could matter. DJ Chark got $5 million from the Panthers. I mean, at this point he has a chance at least to be their number one receiver, so at least it's worth noting, or number two, he's going to play. Nelson Aguilar is a member of the Baltimore Ravens. Oh, they are making moves.

Come on back, Lamar. Why did the Raven specialize in signing underwhelming wide receivers? I actually think that's a good contract, one for three and a half for Nelson Aguilar, who's, you know, he's got some juice left. Made a couple amazing plays last year. I mean, I, everyone that was with the Patriots, you almost can throw out that year. I mean, I'd rather have him than Devonty Parker,

who the Patriots are paying like $6 million to. Anything else? Taylor rapped to the bills. We're really. Bang. Will you ever stop talking, Greg? Making sure we're covered. All right, good.

I think we covered it. Let's get this bad boy out to the public. Again, a reminder that Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network, draft guru, they call him. At least that's what the teenagers call him. He'll be on this show tomorrow in a draft special for around the NFL, so be there for that. And then we'll have another show later this week with the great Colleen.

and Wolf because we're getting her every week. Are you noticing that? That's a great trend. The summer of Connie has been compromised. Let's go. That's what we do. We compromise summers. All right.

Until we meet again. Need the call. You know, This is an IHeart podcast.