NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Terry McLaurin Extension; AFC West Deep Dive with Matt Money Smith

Episode Date: June 30, 2022

A virtual room filled some heroes - Dan Hanzus, Marc Sessler and Matt Money Smith bring you all the latest news from around the league, starting with the heroes hosting a press conference as a response to Monday's podcast (6:00). Then, we cover Terry McLaurin's contract extension in Washington (16:00), the latest with Deshaun Watson's disciplinary hearing and how that impacts Baker Mayfield (22:00). After that, we dive deep into the AFC West, closely analyzing the Chargers (26:00), the Chiefs (38:00), the Broncos (43:30), and the Raiders (49:30) before giving predictions on how the division will shake out this season (56:00). Note: timecodes approximate.NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sunday. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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. Be around the NFL podcast. Thinks they can sign new deals and still expect me to do this shi pro bono. No more free lunch, yuccoes. the rare live read from that money smith the voice of god for around the NFL the podcast

listening to right now i'm dan hanses joined by mark sessler as always gregg still in mother japan but yes joining us from his palatial estate by the beach it is matt money smith welcome back to the show bud thanks for having me i've been listening to the pods on my day commute as I go from my, as you described it, which it is not palatial estate, up to Burbank for my radio show daily. I've been keeping up with the happenings and certainly something we're going to who up. Whoa. I just saw that for the first time. The old Zeuser and neon. Check it out. Because I have been an audio listener only. I don't get the visual component and a remote. Is that listener provided? This was a gift from my brother, Kevin Danger Hansis. And

And, you know, at first I was sheepish about putting it up behind me. And I was like, you know what? Sometimes you just got to lean in. It's very intense when you put it on full glow, the light behind you. It is. I'm enjoying it. And by the way, because my narcissism cannot be contained, I ask again, because he could have gone Danzoos, the name that the great Pat McAfee gave you.

Right. But he went old Zeus. Is that, and I know I've asked this before, but I'm old and my memory is not very clear. Has that been your nickname for a long time, or was that something that I can take credit for and calling you the old Zusser? That predated you money. Okay. Yes, I, so, you know, no hard feelings.

So that's kind of been your nickname. Yeah. Yeah, for, I don't know who gave it to me. Somebody along the line gave me that name mark. I don't know who it was. Well, I mean, if we're going to follow the typical pattern, I would think that you potentially gave it to yourself. Yeah.

I mean, there's been at least eight or nine self-enointed. Nick names for you. How cute is it, by the way, that money is keeping up on this show. And then Sessler, every day in that car is following everything. Money, of course, with Petro and Money, drive time, studs of Southern California and beyond. What a relationship going back and forth. Yeah, the Sess Dog will text me during the show. If he gets excited about something, he'll want some clarity.

He's revisiting a particular topic. so I certainly appreciate it. You know, we've got to come up with another three hours today and with the big break in news this morning from John Wilner, the Pope of the PAC who's been covering the Pa is the dean of Pac-12 reporters that UCLA and USC are going to be leaving for the Big Ten as soon as 2024. Holy cow, what a charged TMS we're going to have this afternoon with the captain of the worst USC football team in history.

Petros, my partner, getting into that. You love it. Mark, can I just, I have. to ask, like, would you be okay if, say, a David Ely, for instance, was texting you in the middle of our broadcast when you're trying to deliver content? Well, I'm not texting money asking for an immediate response. It's more just, you know, it's on the mind, and maybe he'd read it during a commercial break. I do acknowledge that sometimes when I'm listening to the show, I kind of forget that I know money. You're just in a different

headspace where it's like, I've been listening to these two guys. for ages well before I met him and I kind of you know having never met Petros you know I mean money's been demystified to me for to some degree because we've we've hung out in person and I I'm totally impressed with him but a week and wispy man I am well no but I mean Petros I kind of would fan out if I saw Petros in person because I there's something about his personality and then you know 90% of people listening to this in Scotland and stuff have no idea who we're talking about but I find him an engaging personality money it even gets the compliment is even higher than you even realize, because Mark hates sports for the most part.

So the fact that he's listening to a daily sports show on the radio. Mark, why don't you go ahead and blow it because clearly Dan doesn't listen to the show. You could probably share with Dan. Would you describe Petros and Money as a sports show? I think it veer, it almost just maybe by definition veers into sports occasionally, but there will be 35 to 40 minutes where there's literally no talk of any athletic competition at all. And that, for me, is when it soars. All right, so check out Petros and money.

Money, before we get into things, you mentioned something that was on your mind, Mark. Something that's been on our minds collectively is we got to pull back the curtain. We got to open up the kimono. We heard from our producer, Graver, minutes almost after we put up our last podcast that the feedback for our Kavon-Tibodeau interview on Monday, not great, I would say. So I think this is a good opportunity, Mark. I think just to show that we are stand-up individuals, we're not going to slink out of the back of the locker room and get into our waiting cars and get out of the building.

I think maybe we should face the music and hold a press conference to address what went down on Monday afternoon. Your thoughts? I think that, you know, to be accountable to what we believe is the best sports podcast around, it would be weird just to ignore it. We should be responsible and answer any questions

that the people have. And money in your role, uh, sitting in for Greg, it would be great if you could serve as the pool reporter, uh, representing the media. Uh, so let's, uh, Graver, let's open up the presser right now. What do we got? What we got? Oh, you guys don't want to have an opening statement first. Normally when we have a press conference, you have an open statement. Yeah. I think that was it. That was it. Go ahead. So now we're open for questions. Uh, all right, I'll start with this. We're new to this. Why are you two freaking out? over this. Everybody has bad interviews. So what? Why are you freaking out? I do a bad interview at least once a week. Or, you know, as Mark can probably attest you, there's maybe one awkward conversation we have

because we're such idiots on our radio show and we do interviews every day. Now, podcasts are different because there aren't a lot of interviews. Typically, you're just doing your pod and every now and then you'll have someone show. So is this, are you nervous about your relationship with Kavan that you want him to be irregular and now you're worried that that relationship is fractured somehow? I would say our relationship with Kvon probably is fractured at this point. But no, is it a concern you want to do the best show possible money? We felt like coming out of the interview immediately. It did not go well, but we didn't want to pull it from the show.

And then sure enough, I think in the reason why we're holding this press conference is our listeners are nothing, if not extremely passionate and sometimes very critical. And the criticism was withering, Mark, I would say, toward us. And it's just something it felt like we should man up to. Yeah, I would just add that we were, you know, money, in terms of interviews, we probably do a lot less percentage than you guys do. And I would say that Dan and I were a tad shaken for the rest of the episode because I think there was maybe just a little bit too much markish nonsense in that Q&A.

That said, I also appreciate what you're saying because we've got to let it sail down the river. Now, we'll Cave on B on the show multiple more times. my guess would be absolutely not. I don't think we won him over with our performance, but that's fine. All right. Next question. Oh, yeah, it's a pool reporter. Yeah.

So money, once again. Dan, this one's for you. Yeah. You want to just put this one on Mark? Are you willing to go down with the ship? Because certainly it was the line of questioning from Mark that kind of got Kvon. Well, actually, you know what? That's not true.

Because he was already upset with your line of fan questioning. He's like, what the hell is this? I'm a player. I don't give a damn about the fans. Why do you keep asking me about all that? So let me withdraw that. And now I'm going to insert this. You are the pool reporter, by the way.

There's a certain decoron that it's expected from you. All right. So this one now goes to you, Mark. After the reaction that he had based on the line of questioning from Dan's fan questions, did you at any point rethink your line of questions that you were going to submit to him? No. I'll say I did not because I went and asked them. I'd only prepared a certain amount of questions.

I didn't have like a, if things are going really poorly, here's the other eight questions I'm going to ask. I was also genuinely curious about the Brian Dayball subject. And that landed like a rock in water. I mean, obviously. But the way we do our show, my thought, to be honest, was we do our show a certain way. It's not going to be everyone's cup of tea.

Every NFL player's cup of tea. And I was like, I'm going to forge on with what I know we do well. listen ultimately it is on us we are the ones doing the show i'm not putting this on the guest money but i will say this we thought we had established something of a rapport with mr tibodeau after the two interviews we did pre-draft and then draft night so when the interview began and all of a sudden we realized we were kind of back at zero um that was a bit stunning to us and uh yes the questions could have been better could the answers have been better could he've been playing along a little bit more. Yeah, sure. But ultimately, it's on us. We failed. Wait a second.

Actually, I think, let's take another question. I think that's, is that my mom? Debbie Hansis. Hello, son. I just want you to know that you were perfect and I thought you looked very handsome. Love you, honey. See you soon. She's the best. She's the best. Thanks, ma'am. I will note that I got no message from my mom. So I do think maybe this issue is more on me than you Dan. All right, we got time for two more, uh, money. Um, Mark, I guess, you know, if you kind of, what I, what are you getting at? Like, what is it that you were, did you have an experience with

Kavana those first two that led you to, to think that like the spooning question was going to go over well or that there was like, was there some, was it tied to something else? Like kind of why that particular line of, of questioning? The wrestling. and the spooning and kind of how that all got put together. And let me just jump in. For those that might have missed the episode, this was the reaction to the spooning question from Tibido. I don't answer those type of questions.

That's a tough one. Look at Dan trying to save it. That's a tough one. I ask questions. When I come up with questions, it's not like I want to just carbon copy what like a beat reporter would ask about his experience with Brian Dayball.

I was genuinely curious. Is to whether or not he spoons front or back? Yeah, whether he's the front or back spoon, the bigger small spoon. Or his impression of what he would think based on his time with Brian Dable, he's spent a lot more time with him than I have. I've only met Dable for a couple minutes at a Super Bowl week. So it was genuinely something that I wanted to know. It was perhaps the wrong person to inquire of. Can I ask a follow up, please?

One more. We got one more for Dan and Mark. Just real quick. do um do either of you know anyone that is a front spoon well i think that's like that's like honestly do you know anyone that is a front spoon because i don't and i i don't i would say in you know romantic relationships in my past the the partner has been the front spoon right i just yes yes i'd say 97% of the time but you can switch it up if you want here and there i just to see what it's like.

There's a part of me, Mark, that now I'm picturing, Simone and your wife's a very slender, pretty woman. But I'm picturing if you had married a woman that was about six foot four and 280 pounds and just was wrapped around your cute little body. And Mark just cuddling and just smiling. You're so safe in that blanket.

I'd be front 24-7 in that scenario. I second Mark's thought that you can switch it up sometimes. You don't always have to be. Who's this guy? Who are you? What are you doing in the press conference? I played the drop. And then he jumps out. I appreciate the Grave Digger. Look, he's answering my question. I mean, he is part of the question. I said, do either of you? I should say, do any of you.

Not just either, but do any to invite Grave Digger back in. If he knows someone or a bit, he does. And if Rosenthal's here, he would love it too. Grave Digger, despite telling us privately that he doesn't want us to get into his personal life too much with his Paramore, he always finds a way to kind of insert her via some comment he makes about his personal life. So just, I see what you're doing, Grave-Degger. I'm okay with it, but just letting you know I see it. As long as you're okay with it, I'm okay with it. Is she okay with it? A little snarky response there. Look at it. And we specialize us in that. Yeah. All right. Good stuff. Sorry to anybody that was offended. And by the way, if you really were, do calm down. Come back to us.

Hey, and let me just say this again, as someone. who unlike a I've said this and yes I'll be I'll play my role I embrace it I lean into it all right if I'm the villainous member uh guest member of a not member if I'm the villainous guest invitee of around the NFL then so be it podcasts or not radio shows radio shows you got to do three to four hours every single day all right so I'm doing we are doing interviews every single day three hours you know maybe one or two they go wrong you have people come up We interviewed Zach Granky once. He showed up.

He was an a-hole for the first two minutes. And I don't remember if it was me. I think it might have, I don't remember if it was me or Petros, but one of us said, hey, you really don't want to do this, do you? And he said, absolutely not. We said, great, goodbye. We'll never talk to you again. And we hung up the phone.

And that was it. And that's okay. And in the meantime, we'll have Don McLean on once a week. We'll have, you know, you find, you find that sweet spot. And you know what? And here's my opinion. And the people may not like this, especially the New York giant fans. I don't buy Kavon.

I don't buy him as a sincere individual. I listen to him talk about your contract extensions and how popular your podcast. He's using you guys. It's all he's doing. He recognizes the reach and the power of the Around the NFL podcast, and he's using it for his own brand. He's not a real friend. He's not an ancillary member of Around the NFL.

The heck with that guy. You don't need him. He needs you. And if anybody should be having an apology press conference right now, it should be that guy. So the hell of him. I don't think he's thought about it since. You know, I thought that was beautifully said money. And you actually did make me feel better about it.

So thank you. I think Mark and myself and Greg in absentia thought that maybe he could be a Don McLean-type figure to our show. That ship has sailed. Yes. That ship has sunk. It hasn't sailed. It is at the bottom of the ocean. Let's do some news.

Okay, once again, nothing is happening on Homeland, but over on Masters of Sex, Lizzie Kaplan is hooked up to electrodes and getting it from a guy who sounds American, but probably isn't. Well done. Matt Money Smith, so many talents, including voiceover work on the family guy. What was the name of that episode again, or that scene? That scene was the Bone Zone. Bone Zone, a take on Red Zone.

Yeah, take on Red Zone. you would cut to a live television where there was nudity and that was the anchor that would cut to all the different nude scenes that were going on. I mean, that entire scene and look it up on YouTube because it's there is golden. That was the only portion that I felt like we could get away with on the show and without telling on anyone because, you know, I can see both sides of it. You told a great story money that that was offered to another NFL media personality. Too hot for them, but not too hot for money.

Not too hot for me. I say no to nothing. And yes, that's intended to be a double negative. All right, let's get into a little bit of news. Not too much going on, obviously, here on June 30th, but we'll keep you caught up to date here on around the NFL. Washington commanders have signed a three-year extension worth up to $71 million in new money with Terry McLaren.

That makes them one of the highest paid wide receivers in football. It includes $28 million signing bonus. That's the largest given to any wide receiver. And McLaurin at 26 years old is now tied to Washington through the 2025 season. Mark, this feels like great timing. I feel like the commanders haven't done a lot of things right in the last, I don't know, 20 years or so. And you could even magnify that with everything that's going on behind the scenes in Washington. So this is a blip on the radar, a roster move ultimately in what's going on around that team.

However, it does, it does seem like some much needed positive vibes around this team and what's been a difficult offseason. Yeah, I'm with you. And like he's, you know, speaking of commanders in Washington, D.C. in the Pentagon. He is one of them. He is one of them. He, I think he's the best wide receiver they've had in 20 plus years. So the wording around this for months from Ron Rivera on down was like this was always a lock to happen. There was very little drama around this.

And in an offseason where nine different receivers have signed deals for 20 plus million per year, he's just the latest. There's still D.K. Metcalf out there, Debo Samuel, Deonte Johnson. But this is a player who has come in and produced what he's done, two back-to-back thousand-yard seasons after being in Ohio State. He's done it with Taylor Heineke, a diminished Alex Smith, Dwayne Haskins, Kyle Allen, Case Keenham, Colt McCoy, and Garrett Gilbert. So, you know, I know that the Carson Wentz situation there makes maybe his fantasy stock not the shiniest, but I think it's actually the best situation he's been in if Carson Wentz can be a little bit better than he's been. Or, I mean, I think that it's the most stable quarterback situation they've had outside of Alex Smith when he was healthy. Yeah, you know, I was at the game, the opener last year where he made that incredible catch through the hands of Nas Aterly on the sideline.

I thought it was an interception. Somehow it wasn't. It went through the breadbasket of Nas Aterly and somehow McClorum was able to track it. I just bring that out because it's one of the most incredible catches I've ever seen. And that's one of the things that McLaurin does, is he catches everything. And I think it's a widely underrated trait that you want from your wide receiver is there's not a lot of quarterbacks that can put it exactly where you want it, exactly in stride, you know, without having to compete for a football. So when you have someone that can come up with the catch, when things aren't lined up perfectly, it's incredibly valuable. And like you said, you know, look, the commanders have not done a lot of things well. We think about the run they made a

couple years ago, how dominant that defensive front was, and I'd like to think, can get back to being that, you know, walking on the field that day and looking at that defensive line, work out, go through their warmups with Duran Payne and Jonathan Allen and Chase Young, and especially Montes Sweat, who was an absolute freak of nature physically. To have like a healthy, happy, not hold out, I'm pissed off Terry McLaren, but to have a healthy McLaren, first round pick, Jahan Dotson, Curtis Samuel, you mentioned Diamie Brown. That's, at Loga Thomas, that's a legit freaking receiving court that can cause some problems.

So, you know, McLaren's the centerpiece of it. And off of that, everything else functions. So look, we don't have to belabor the point. They had to get it done and good on them for getting it done. Yeah, and Wenz does have, I know he's not a very popular. well-regarded quarterback at this stage in his career. But this is, to Money's point, a much better receiving group that he had in Indianapolis. And that's something when I think about Matt Ryan making the move from Atlanta to Indy.

Yes, his offensive line is better, but who's he throwing to now? So we'll see with McLaurin leading away if Washington score points. One quick, like kind of above the treetops. Look at this. This wide receiver payday offseason has been wild. Devante Adams, Tyreek Hill, A.J. Brown, Stefan Diggs. Cooper Cup, Mike Williams, Chris Godwin. And I look at what we got, what McLaurin got,

three for 71 was the extension. So Cooper Cup just signed three for 80. And then Mike Williams, speaking of Mike Williams and the Chargers, we're going to dig into the AFC West after the news and talk about that exciting division. Mike Williams got three for 60, Chris Godwin, three for 60. So you slot in McLaurin between Cooper Cup and Mike Williams and Godwin? Okay, that makes sense to me.

He's that level. He's awesome. All right. In other news, Deshaun Watson's hearing before the NFL and the NFL Players Association's jointly appointed disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson continues as we record today's show. And while that saga continues to play out, Baker Mayfield continues to be a member of the Cleveland Browns. And the idea, obviously, here is that Mayfield will eventually be traded, may be released, but there's a financial. side of this, any deal that needs to be worked out. Carolina has been connected to Mayfield, Seattle has been connected to Mayfield. But there is this one thing hanging out there, which is the Browns have a very solid roster. They view themselves as a playoff contender. Baker Mayfield, probably an upgrade, in my opinion, definitely upgrade over Jake Brisket, Jacoby Brissette, if Deshaun Watson indeed is out of the picture this year. Is there any chance that he could return to Cleveland in?

in the short term. Here is Baker Mayfield speaking at his camp in Norman, Oklahoma, this week. I think it's been pretty obvious. The mutual decision on both sides is to move on. There's no resentment towards the city of Cleveland by any means. But I think a lot of people think if they didn't have a quarterback for the next year, would there be any chance of reconciliation there? No, I think for that to happen, there would have to be some reaching out. But we're ready to move on, I think, on both sides. all right so baker money says it with a smile and and when you watch it it looks like a guy that just for one seems to be saying the right things and just checking boxes i was is there any reason to parse words there i think for that to happen there would have to be some reaching out is the door

even slightly ajar in your mind between baker and the browns on his end anyway uh me first no i'll just leave it that there's no chance i don't i don't even think i need to expound or expand upon it. It's a 0.0% chance. It's not a position you can do that with. Leadership, guys going to the Bahamas with Deshaun, guys getting excited about Deshaun. Now Baker's coming, but, you know, people kind of indirectly, subtly, you know, taking shots at them. Like, you just, you can't bring that back in. It's too much of a leadership position. And just it's going to be Jacoby Berset and that's that. Or whoever else is, it's Dobbs there, I think. So it's one of those two guys. I could not agree more.

Oh, slides me off a piece of that, Jake Briskey. I don't think we want too many pieces of that, but that probably is what they're getting. There's absolutely no way that Baker Mayfield plays another snap for the Cleveland Browns. I think what he's doing here, you know, for them saying they wanted an adult in the room, first of all, and then you go get to Sean Watson. That exemplifies how messy this process has been handled by the Cleveland Browns. They put Baker Mayfield into a terrible position. there's no way that he's going to come back and do a single thing for them.

He is, if anything, been the bigger person in all of this. And that press conference to me is just him simply not wanting to use that opportunity to take a shot on the city of Cleveland on the team at all. He took the high road. There's no way he plays again. Yeah. And you know what? Just real quick, Dan, he's able to play, I don't want to say the victim, but the sympathetic

figure. Absolutely. So why get chappy and red ass now? You know, just keep playing the sympathetic figure and it'll work out for you. You're going to get another. He's going to get another shot. He knows that. Somewhere, someone will give him a chance at being a starting quarterback.

So he does not need to grovel to get back to Cleveland in order to have that opportunity. Absolutely. He doesn't have to say anything else. And if I was his agent, I would say, okay, you're at your youth football camp. You're going to have a little bit of availability. Say exactly what you said there. Do not do any podcast. Don't do I am athlete.

Don't do this. Don't do that. Just let this play out. because right now you're actually in a little bit of a better spot in terms of public sentiment. All right, that's what's happening in the news. All right, let's take a break, and then we go deep diving in the AFC West. 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. 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, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael Lev 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. Rolling to his right as Herbert sets his feet, takes a shot downfield, has Guyton.

Caught. Touchdown, Chargers. 59 yards. Herbert to Guyton, and it makes no sense. No sense. That's the greatest throw I've ever seen. I'm not kidding you. That is the greatest throw I've ever seen while he's getting hit.

Oh, what a call by the voice of the Chargers. Matt Money Smith with that other guy, Daniel Jeremiah, mixed in. Justin Herbert made a whole lot of amazing throws. That might have been the most exciting. In fact, I'm working on, you know, we're going to take a little break around the July 4th holiday. And when we come back, Mark, we're going to check back in with the Superstar Club. I hate when I'm a year late on the Superstar Club. Obviously, I should have just put in Justin.

And before year two, he's going in this year. And as part of like my writing process, I was watching some of his highlights. The guy, what he did last year alone, so exciting. So we're, Justin Herbert, just one of the shining stars of the AFC West, the best division in football. Money's going to have a front row seat for it all fall and winter. So let's kind of go through these teams and have a little bit of a conversation. And I think this is going to be kind of a giveaway based on our opening. but I want to kind of share a quote about different players, connected, important players in this division.

And here's my quote, and you could connect it to the team. Sorry, I don't like to be a bother, but am I the best quarterback in this division now? Let's talk Chargers. Is he? Well, I mean, it's so hard. Yeah, it's so hard. to take that away from the homes, considering the guys, you know, won the division every single year he's been the starter, has made it to, what, three, four AFC championship games, two Super Bowls,

one Super Bowl victory. I think it's, I think it's very hard. However, I think when you say that he's doing it with Andy Reed is his play caller, Tyree Kill, the scariest offensive weapon, non-quarterback in the NFL and Travis Kelsey, who's got a shot to become the greatest tight end in the history of the NFL when it's all said and done. You know, I think you can make a case that Herbert has perhaps, you know, has this year Herbert's got a chance to eclipse that. You know, there's no Tyree Kill. Herbert's got, you know, the second year in a system, which is the first time in seven years that he will be with the same offensive system and coordinator, you know, a follow-up year. So to be able to see him just be able to build on what he had already learned

instead of having to learn a relationship and terminology and verbiage of a new system year after year after year, I think the opportunity is presented for him to ascend to that throne, even though Pat Mahomes hasn't even perhaps entered his prime. I mean, he's entered his prime, but he's smack in the middle of it. It ain't like he's falling off anytime soon. And they're, and they could be one and they are one and two in the NFL, I think. So it's like if it's, if he's number two, Herbert at the moment there's no complaint there I mean there's their styles are different but if you look at Herbert and what he offers from a tools angle you're set for the next 15 years and that's Aaron Rogers Josh Allen I would put I would I put Herbert over all of them maybe I'm overvaluing

that but I just I think Herbert's the second best quarterback on this program that that is for sure yeah I think just being in the conversation you know like that's that's always to me you can take your Josh Allen or your Joe Burrow or your Herbert or your to me, it's like, are you in that conversation? And if you are, then, man, you're feeling pretty darn good. I mean, you must be feeling good money because, you know, this is a big gig for you calling the Chargers games. There's only 32 of these jobs. And if they would have taken the guy that went before, went at number five in the 2020 draft, you're calling Tua games. And I'm not saying two is a bust or anything like that. We're going to see. But incredible, like a Chargers team that has

been so snake bit over the years, the way things worked out. And to their credit, they targeted him as the guy, and he's certainly become that. I think the thing about the Chargers also money is like their offensive line, and we know their defense, and we'll get to their defense, because that's the thing that you just wonder. And it's always every time in the summer, it's like, all right, this is the year the Chargers are going to put it all together and then something bad happens. But that offensive line, what they were able to do so quickly rebuilding it in the past two off seasons. Roshan Slater, Matt Fieler, and Corey Lindley,

Filer, and Corey Lindley were all top six graded players at their positions in 2021. That's a huge shift. Is there a concern in that line? Maybe a right tackle for you? Right. Tackles, I think, the only concern on the roster. I think of the entire roster after kind of the holes. The holes they filled in the offseason on the defensive front, getting J.C.

Jackson at corner. you know, what they were able to draft in terms of Zion Johnson is going to be, you know, reportedly plug and play, right guard. Right tackle. Right tackle would be interesting because Matt Filer played right tackle for Bittsburg played very well at right tackle. They put him at left guard because they wanted them next to the rookie Slater at left tackle just to kind of help out, solidify that left side, make sure it wasn't too much of a baptism by fire. And he didn't need him. I mean, Slater was one of the three best left tackles in football, his rookie year last year. So I wonder if they solve the right tackle question mark by moving Filer back to right tackle

to help out Zion Johnson in his rookie year. So now he's sandwiched between two. That's one who's in the conversation is the best center in football and Corey Linsley, the other who certainly performed at a high level now for five, six years in Matt Filer. And then that would solve their right tackle issue. And you can plug, you know, if someone raises his hand in training camp, whether it's Brandon Hymas from last year, their fourth round pick out of Nebraska, or it's their sixth round pick, Jamari Salier, who did it for Georgia at both left tackle,

left guard, right guard, guy played all over the line, and Georgia ends up winning a national championship with him as their best offensive lineman. I think that's how they might be able to solve it. But like that's the only question mark, I think that really is universal going into the season, who's going to play right tackle? Because last year, you know, our lasting impression was Storm Norton getting absolutely ravaged by Max Crosby in that Sunday night football game. They're in the playoffs that that doesn't happen.

I mean, I had to ask you one trackback question. Had they drafted Tua, how annoying for you as a radio man having to say his last name, you know, 60, 70 times a game versus Justin Herbert? Tungo of Lua. Well, it's funny. So I really was hoping they were going to draft Tua. As a college football fan, I loved Tua as a college football quarterback. he was incredible, just the suddenness of his movement, the explosiveness, when he made a decision,

the ball was gone, how quickly he was able to make those decisions. And, you know, selfishly, being the voice, uh, that I hate saying that, being a guy that works for the team in a town, lean into it, money. That's your wrong. The voice. Where they're trying to get traction and build a fan base. You know, I've lived here for 30 years. So I know how, you know, what the Polynesian community, the Samoan community means. It's very under. rated how important that community is here in Los Angeles. It is a giant, I mean, massive community. So to have a quarterback that would tap, you're talking about a million people that you're tapping into with a quarterback, you know, like Tua. So selfishly, I was like,

oh, man, if two would just fall in. And look, you can, you can take, and I know Greg likes taking shots at D.J because of, you know, how he had Herbert rated. It's not on DJ. That's on Mario Cristobal. That's on Oregon for, for, for, for, for, for, for, for, for, for, for, for, for, for, for, for, for, for, for, for, for, for scared to cut loose and let Herbert get after it. They did not allow him to play the way he's playing in the NFL. It was a one read. If it ain't there, make the checkdown or take off and run under no circumstances are you to turn the ball over. And that's just how Cristobal operated and look at work. They won a Rose Bowl and they perform well in the Pac-12. But, you know, so just to kind of make sure, I don't want anyone being like, he was all about Tua when they were coming out. Yeah,

because Tua was incredible in college. And Herbert, you know, had a lot of question marks because of the style offense that they played. But to answer your question in a very circuitous way, Mark, it's much easier saying touchdown Justin Herbert than to a tungo of my law. That seems to be. Let's move to the Chiefs because, yeah,

I think they have gone to the AFC title game four years in a row. They won a Super Bowl, nearly got back to the Super Bowl last year, had that baffling fourth quarter meltdown. and absolutely would have won that Super Bowl against that Rams team. I 100% believe that. Listen, I understand you're Los Angeles, you're a Chargers guy. You don't have to take shots. I just look at the way the Rams played in that game.

If you don't like J.B. Long, just say it, the voice of the Rams. Just come out and say it that way. I love JV. I love MJD. I got no issues with the Rams whatsoever. A lot of friends over there in that organization. But all I kept thinking is I was watching that Super Bowl. And I don't know if you guys felt the same way as, man,

The Bills, the Chiefs, the Chargers, they are all sitting at home going, are you kidding me right now? Like, we are not in this game and this is what we're watching. This is how this offense is operating against a, you know, good, a good, you know, Cincinnati defense and a good with an exceptional pair of players, Cincinnati offense. And just to think of what, you know, Joe Burrow and Jamar Chase were able to do and Joe Mixing, man, thinking of what Patrick Mahalo's entire. killing Trappist Kelsey would have done in that game.

I'm sorry. I'm now fixated on the idea of like a anchorman style alley battle between voices of the AFC West. So let's say, all right, Mark, money and DJ, which is pretty good. Money's in great shape. He's a surfer. Wispy man, he moves quickly. DJ former D1 athlete.

J.B. Long, another guy in good shape. And then MJD, he's a bowling ball who's. He's one of the best running backs of his... MJD is going to wreck some shop. And then I don't know what's going. I kind of forgot what the Denver situation is. Denver is, oh, geez, Dave Logan, right?

I think it's Logan, who's on the call, who's a big dude and obviously former professional D-1. I don't think it matters, though, because my choice in this, Mark, is just Brent Musburger solo, doesn't even need anybody walks in. He puts up his Duke's 1930 styles

and just cleans house. Right, Brent Musper, he'll put a cigarette out on someone's forehead. I don't like your chances money and DJ. You're both wonderful announcers, but from a menacing physical standpoint, I think MJD would be a problem for you, not to mention Logan and Musburger. How about this, by the way? Sorry. Because this is insane. Dave Logan, for people that don't know. He's the play-by-play voice of the Broncos, right? He was drafted out of high school by the Cincinnati Reds. He goes to the University of Colorado

where he is a preseason All-American basketball player drafted by the Kansas City Kings and drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round where he plays in the NFL for seven years. That's like you want to talk about a freaking athlete you're drafted by the Reds, the Kings,

and the Browns. You got drafted into all three major sports in America. I call that pull in a Dave Winfield. Right? Born, yeah, born 1954. All right, yeah, okay. Yeah, I think you guys are in trouble, but it's okay.

Yeah. Let's talk chiefs, though. Let's get through this, these teams. I think everyone's asking the same question about take Tyreek Hill out of the mix and you add in Juju Smith-Schuster and you add in Marquez Valda Scantling. And Mark, that, you, what that's, In theory, the idea is that these different pieces will mitigate the loss because they'll do some of the things that Tyrick Hill did. But that's not really how it works because Tyreek Hill is a generational player.

And I don't put it past Mahomes to have another big season. And then you look at the standings last year and a year where people like didn't get too crazy about the Chief's offense. They still scored 480 points, which is basically the same amount as the bills. are you concerned seriously about this? Or is Mahomes so great is that he's that he's going to make it work? I think the offseason is so long that I've heard a strong, like, cry it from certain people that they're going to be fine. They don't miss Tyree Kill.

It's like you're going to miss Tyree Kill in various situations. Your best target right now is obviously Travis Kelsey. You're going to need Sky Moore to step up and do something. Juju Smith-Schuster and MVS do not equal Tyree Kill. I like the fact that, you know, three of the three teams of four in this division. have either a first-year coaching staff or a second-year coaching staff. With Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes, you trust that they're going to come up with enough to make the offense work. They might be a little more ground-heavy, but I think that with Mahomes,

there is a foolproof element to this, but I don't think that, I think it's been underrated, that Tyree Kill is going to be gone, and they're just going to glide right on the way that they have in the past. The one thing about them last year, though, is that their offense looks so sluggish to us. They were still second in the NFL in EPA per play, behind only the Rams. I mean, they did round into shape. So I think that this is one very resilient team that can overcome losses and players, but this is a special player they lost. So I'm suspicious at best. Yeah, like my big issue is, I shouldn't say my big issue. Like my main concern last year was the offensive line. And I think that bore itself out through the first six weeks. There were issues.

There were turnovers. There was pressure. It did not look like the offense that we were used to seen, right? Patrick Holmes led the league in interceptions. He was not able to. to buy that time to let those plays develop downfield because of all the pressure he was under. But what happened was Trey Smith and Creed Humphrey really got better as this season progressed. And the interior of that line was able to hold by the back half of that season. Like I thought you could make a case. And I know a lot of this is dependent upon Orlando Browns on an island. The other guys aren't.

But like Orlando Brown was one of the weaker links on that offensive line with how good that interior three. started to play as it coalesced and those guys got their experience and their legs under him. So like to me, that's a huge win for them going into this season, is that you've got these young cost-controlled interior linemen. Can you help out Orlando Brown? Wiley's a huge concern on the other side as well. So, and I know we're going to get into it. I think we are at least. Like that's the thing that's being overlooked is everybody's excited about these quarterbacks and all these weapons. But man, you look across the line. And I'm a huge Karloftis fan out of Purdue to pair him up with Chris Jones and Frank Clark.

And then you go to Denver and you got Bradley Chubb and they sign Randy Gregory if he's healthy. And then you got Chandler Jones, who's a big upgrade, I think, over in Gokwey, who played very well opposite of Max Crosby. And then the best of them all, Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa, like that's, to me, that's where this division is going to be one. is how healthy is your defensive line and how effective are they going to be at slowing down these four incredible quarterbacks when it comes to playing them? You know, like to me, that's where it's going to be won and lost. So I think the one thing just to kind of get to the trap, the Tyree Kill point real quick, Tyree Kill just scared the hell out of defenses and defensive coordinators.

Like every single snap you had to account for him and adjust your defense for him. So now that you don't have to do that, I think that's where that impact, will be felt the most. And I trust your college football player judgment for sure. George Karloftus is a big part of they need more pass rush this year. So if he steps in and has an impact. But still he's a rookie. And same thing with Sky Moore.

Second round pick they like a lot who's entering that mixed. I feel like Kansas City kind of needs one, if not both of those guys, to be instant difference makers. Or I see them taking that step back and opening the door for the Chargers or say maybe the Broncos, so we're going to get into right after this break. 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 I Heart 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. 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.

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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 fan. 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. All right, let's talk Broncos. Listen, is it this simple? Is it this simple money?

Because I think it kind of is in football, which is not a simple sport, but you see, see it time and time again most recently in Tampa Bay where they hosted a hoisted a Lombardi because they had a good roster and all they needed was a great quarterback here comes Tom Brady and the rest is history is Russell Wilson Tom Brady no but is Russell Wilson a truly great quarterback in my opinion yes and the opinion of many out there is it as simple as Russell Wilson is there now so now the Denver Broncos are a legit Super Bowl threat and perhaps the best team in the AFC West does that all check out to you yeah I think it I think it does, you know, when you look at Drew Locke and he was regularly, if not the worst,

in that 30 to 30, you know, I think the highest he was ranked in any major category was 30th. So when you replace that with the weapons they have, you know, and I'm a big believer in their weapons, and Tim Patrick and Cortland Sutton and Jerry Judy, I mean, that is scary. I love Giovante Williams, and I know I'm doing the name salad thing right now. But yeah, when it's not Drew Locke and it's Russell, my God, that is a gigantic. upgrade. I do think there's still questions. You know, Mike Munchack is gone. He's arguably the best offensive line coach in the league. And when he got to Denver is when that offensive line finally started playing well. They were a huge liability prior to his arrival. Garrett Bulls was terrible,

led the league in holding penalties regularly and then ends up getting with Munchack and, you know, gets a giant contract, becomes a solid left tackle. I don't know whether that's going to carry over. but to me, I don't see how it's not a huge upgrade just because, I mean, that is such a giant leap from Locke to Wilson. That is just massive. And you're pairing Wilson finally with an offensive-minded coach. I think that matters a lot. I mean, the X factor for the Broncos is I just generally concerned about teams that we just ticket for like the AFC title game, you know, because of what they've done at,

quarterback. And I know that he has nice weapons around him. I'd say the right side of the line is a major question. There's a battle at every one of those positions. Another X factor for me is like, I like Bradley Chubb. Can you stay healthy? I like Randy Gregory. Can he stay healthy? Can Nathaniel Hackett, Russell Wilson and all these pieces with a shaky offensive line get their act together in time for the regular season? If you're slow out of the gate in this division, I think you're in a little bit of trouble. And I look at the end of their schedule. And this is kind of like what happened with the Rams with Matthew Stafford last year where they started to find their sea legs down the stretch. This team closes with the Ravens, the Chiefs, the

Cardinals, the Rams, the Chiefs again, and then the Chargers. That is a brutal six-week finish. So if they don't have cohesion by that point, this is a team that I think could disappoint record-wise and be much better the second year under Nathaniel Hackett. Yeah, that is a good conversation to have. Maybe we'll do it. We still have plenty of time before week one. Teams bound to disappoint this season. I think you mentioned Chubb. He kind of as the old Dave Damashchak janga piece. He lingers to me as a janga piece on this team because, you know, they thought they were getting a truly great pass rusher when they drafted him in the top five a few years back and injuries have held him back. But he's also had moments where he's looked like that guy.

If you get the real pass rush from him where he leads that unit and then you have that great secondary, that's another major part of this with all these great quarterbacks in the division. If they have a pass rush and a lockdown secondary, they could figure some things out and you add in Russell Wilson. I'm buying on the Broncos. I understand that there could be some pessimism around him. I know Greg is not as high in Russell Wilson, for instance, as others, but I'm in on them. I think this is an 11, 12 win team. I also think, well, like on defense, you know, I know Vic Fangio is gone, but their new defensive coordinator is a Fangio. from a Fangio system.

I mean, so it's like a lot of these players versus like, oh, we had a great players for the last system. Now we're starting over. It's like you're sliding them back into something very familiar and their secondary is among the best in the league. Yeah, I think that's the key, you know, is, you know, just quickly on that mark. You know, some teams are built forward back. You know, the front gets after it and you can have average defensive backs that don't

have to hold coverage as long. You know, this is the best secondary in the league. And so they can hold and get a little bit more sticky coverage. to get you a couple more second, you know, to get you an extra half second, three quarters of a second for Chubb and Gregory to get to the quarterback because maybe those windows aren't open as quickly. And so, you know, to your point, Dan, where they thought Bradley Chub was going to be this, hey, we're pairing Von Miller with Bradley Chub and just go ahead and pick your poison and it didn't turn out to be that.

But I think now that this, you know, with Simmons and Jackson and Pat Sertan and K1, like, it's such a good secondary that. you don't have to be von Miller. You can be that Bradley Chubbs, secondary rusher, and end up being elite because of how sticky to secondary is. Let me take a look. As of May, just checking it with Draft Kings.

I'm curious because I said I see the Broncos as 11 or 12. The desert has them at 10. The Chargers also at 10. The Chiefs, this is a crazy division, really is. Chiefs at 10 and a half. and the Raiders. Let's get to the Raiders at eight and a half. So the desert sees the Raiders as a tick below.

I have another quote here, money, that I was able to procure as the ATN media insider. Maybe you could put it together. Who gave me this quote just based on context? Money thinks I suck. Well, he sucks. Listen, I don't think Derek Carr sucks. I just understand.

I've been calling Chargers games. This will be my sixth year. And in those six years, I have had a chance to see Derrick Carr twice a season. And much to what Joey Bosa spoke to after that first meeting that got Derek Car upset, that's what I saw. I would see Bosa destroy Colton Miller or whatever plug and play right tackle they had, get into Derek Carr's lap.

and he just didn't want to stand in the pocket. And look, that's what's so weird about. People think you're automatically calling a guy soft or something. That's not the point. The point is, are you comfortable standing in there? Know when it's coming. And when you're taking shot after shot after shot, I totally understand getting rid of the ball

because my offensive line can't, they can't protect me. I can't hold the ball that long. I'm going to get drilled in the back. And I can't do that every player. I'm going to be broken in half and standing on the sideline. So I think what Bosa spoke to and what I saw repeatedly was a guy that just wasn't comfortable holding the football. But that changed last year. Like that did change.

And I think that's a huge development for the Raiders, especially with the arrival of Devante Adams. I still thought their offensive line was not good. But for whatever reason, Derek Carr was just more willing to stand in there and let plays develop downfield. And they were effective. So, like, to me, Derek Carr took a huge step last year. I thought he was, take him or leave him. You can probably find someone else to plug in there that can do very similar things. And I thought last year he ascended to something more than that because of his willingness to take shots downfield to rugs, you know.

And now with Devante Adams there, and Hunter Renfro is as nasty a weapon as there is out there. He, like that, that threesome Renfro, Waller, Adams is going to be a nightmare. I think on third down especially, but to your point about the line, and that's why two teams in this division are suspect to me is the offensive line scenario. Their right guard and right tackle combo last season allowed more pressures than any guard tackle combo on the right side in the league. And so Carr's going to be dealing with that again as they did not fix that. It's nice to add Devante Adams. I mean, Devante Adams is not, I don't think, going to produce the way that he did where he was sort of a one-man show in Green Bay with Aaron Rogers throwing the ball. And I think

this is, you know, Josh McDaniels is going to run a little bit of a different type of offense that might have a little bit more balance. I mean, Josh McDaniels is also the kind of coach. Maybe this won't apply in Las Vegas the way it did in New England, especially with Tom Brady, where you're so fluid and so high level, where they ran a different offense every week based on the opponent. Josh McDaniels will go quarter after quarter where he runs the ball 20 times in a row if he needs to. I don't know how that works with the attack they have because their strength is their weapons in the passing game. It's such a tough division for this team. to be. And if they were in a different division, I would feel better than that eight and a half

over under, which sounds about right to me. And like, it's not car, you know, a guy that hears the criticism. You know, it's the fact that he's the fourth best quarterback in this division. That's not his fault. He's just in a division with great quarterbacks. And I think the Raiders, that's kind of the position there in right now. And Alex Leatherwood, he's one of those issues on the right side of the line, their first round pick last year. I think it's kind of remarkable that they're even a team that you could credibly talk about as a playoff team both last year when they made it and again this season considering how many misses they had at the top of the draft in the last few years they've hit on other elements of team building but leatherwood

and not to mark them down as a bust it's only one year is just another example of that the one thing i'll i'll add is you know again defensively max crosbie's as good as there is in the league there was a hit right there's rusher so to and like like i said i think i said it earlier year. But Chandler Jones is an upgrade. In Gakway was good last year. Chandler Jones is an upgrade. And I think, you know, it's going to be interesting because Gus, you know, having worked with Gus for all those years, I got to see just how good of a communicator he is, how much the defense loves him, how there's a reason why he's been employed as long as he has, even though schemes have changed and a lot of people think what he does is outdated. But his defense has performed, you know, and he doesn't

always have the best personnel to work with. That Raiders defense played league average last year. And they had no business playing league average with that secondary. You know, he brought in some guys that were practice squad guys on the chargers that were castoffs from the chargers because they knew the system and he wanted them to be comfortable. And they played well. But Patrick Graham, I'll see how complicated is it. Is it the same as last year? But to me, like, that's the one benefit they're going to have is that pass rush is going to create

turnovers. It's going to give the offense extra opportunities in games. And I think that's how that eight and a half comes into play. And maybe it becomes a nine. you know, and maybe it becomes a 10, and now they're the team that's in third place and making the playoffs. And one of the other three ends up falling into that basement and doesn't get into the tournament. But the most important takeaway from this entire conversation, to me, again, money. I don't think Derek Carr sucks. When 87-year-old Brent Musburger, give or take a couple

years, is standing over you with brass knuckles on his right hand and you're laid out with a sore jaw. my forehead bleeding from your ear even and he's saying jackpot baby what do you do next i guess i just say yeah baby jackpot baby raiders baby you know brent is gone you know brent is no longer they're play-by-playman no yeah well that that renders this exercise totally no one boy he retired this year yeah he did oh i never i missed that that's heartbreaking yeah i enjoyed i was like eight him every Sunday night. I know. I guess it had to happen.

All right. Well, Brent, thank you for the several hundred years of great broadcasting. We really thank you for it. Money, we do thank you for coming on the show. I would like to know as we close the book

on this conversation, how many teams come out of this division and are playing in January in the post season to you? And who's coming in first? I know this is a tough one. It's such a gauntlet. Their schedule's tough, man.

it's uh because it's nfc west so you got the rams and you got the cardinals you got to deal with kailer murray and you got the 49ers you know you got the um i think it's a fc south so you'll have to contend with the physicality of tennessee you know the matt ryan and frank rike led cold like it's a tough schedule um for all these teams i believe uh i believe i believe I'm going to go two come out. I know everyone's talking three or four. I'm going to go two teams come out of here. Yeah, just like it did last year.

I think that's the same. I think the north, I believe the, you know, I believe in the Bengals and I believe in the Ravens. You know what? No, I think it's three now that I'm working through it. Because I don't think there's more than one in the east. Oh, well, it could be four or two. It could be.

It could be. Who's playing the home game in mid-January? I know who it is. Who is it? Mark? Well, I'll tell you real quick, here are my standings from the bottom up. Raiders, eight and nine. Broncos and chiefs, both 10 and 7. Only the Chiefs make the playoffs.

The Chargers win the division at 11 and 6. I think your order is probably what most people are coming down with. Not to say you're a basic man, Mark, because you certainly are now. Well, I think a lot of people would put Kansas City number one still. but it's charge of season it's the middle of the summer right it is it is but there's a reason for it I mean their roster is as talented as it's been yeah but their quarterback is a higher argument for me than late late stage philip rivers and this year I think is different I don't think we got into it did we like to me the thing that people are overlooking is Khalil Mac and Bosa like I just I don't

think anybody is putting enough into that Joey Bosa is so regularly overlooked he's so good against the run and he is a wrecking machine against the pass. And he's always double teamed because they've never had somebody opposite. Even when Melvin Ingram was opposite him, he was always single covered. He was always single man. It was always supposed to get in the double team.

So now that you have Khalil Mack and go look at his numbers when he didn't have that foot injury, look what he was doing. You think it's not a coincidence that Robert Quinn had a career year last year because most of those sacks came early on when Khalil Mack was opposite him.

So now you've got Bosa paired with that. And you're rotating in Kyle Van Nuoy, who's always got a floor of five to six sacks, you know, per season. And then you had J.C. Jackson on the back end. They've always had issues with their secondary and lack of depth. And now, you know, one of their starters for the last two years is going to be their fourth cornerback. Like it just feels a lot different this year defensively.

I would say also if you, like outside of the Broncos offense with Russell Wilson plugged in, what Brandon Staley will do with this defense with the people they added in another year. Like they've talked all's offseason that they're so much more comfortable. I think he's probably peoed about. the way last season ended on defense for them. It will be the second most improved unit in the entire AFC West, and that makes them extremely dangerous.

Let's see. It's also when we do the hot butt rankings a little later in the summer. I think Brandon Staley's going to be high up on that list because he needs performance. He needs his team to take the next step. In my opinion, we shall see if it happens. We shall see.

Hey, football got. How about 17 weeks? I got it. Sometimes you got to hit him with the we shall see. That's right. in weeks. Hey, it's good job, Mikey. Yo, we'll see. Good job by you. What are you got for me, Dan? What do you got? What do you got? What do you got? What do you got? What do you got? What are you? What do you got on your shirt? What does it say? What do you got? Everybody else can turn it off now. It's just going to be

me and money doing Chris Russo now for about 12 minutes. I had it's a good job by you. This one we are. So then I come to the 12th hole and I pull out seven wood. I mean, he came on our show and when he, I think he gave me a that's a good job by you. And I was like essentially just right done for the last of the episode when he first came on and chris was still with us at radio row a few years back after he wrapped he's like oh this for you wow that's tough it's a good job by you guys floor huh so i have uh petro some money huh supposed to be what how many is uh 16 16 in a market like los angeles that's you guys are incredible oh good job by you that's incredible. I didn't know that. My God, I'm with royalty. 16 years in Los Angeles.

You've got to be kidding. Huh. What a job. What a life. You're just like, yeah. Yeah, bad dog. All right. We're going to, we're going to take a little break here, as we said, going, take the week off, spend time with family and friends. We'll be back on the other side of the July 4th week. Money. Thank you for joining us, baby. Baby, jackpot, baby. Check out Petros and Money on NFL Network. And hopefully. money, me and you on Power Rankings come early September. One of us has a contract. And, well, we hope you're here. If not, Mark will just slide right in as the Power Rankings co-host. And speaking of Mark, we have done a deep dive into the AFC West. Now Mark is going to dive deep within his own mind and offer some, what would you call

Mark a, Mark, a meditation on the American Football Conference West? Yes, an AFC West based meditation to take us into our break. So as we head into our break, head into the mind's eye of the quiet storm. It is time now to let go. To relinquish concerns over career, status, money, money's contract, hidden second families, etc., etc. Close your eyes and allow you. yourself to be guided by your inner being. That voice within that has always led you. That voice that wishes to tell you about a disturbing future development in the AFC West.

Please remember that in ancient Peruvian shamanistic practices, the leader of the tribe would kick off Peru's new year by sending one male infant down the river in a small dinghy made out of sticks, clay, and other business. You can bet your bottom dollar, that male baby was never seen again. The parallel here is the much-Ballyhoo Denver Broncos. Instead of waltzing into Super Bowl 57, their season ends abruptly in week 11, when the team playing vanishes into thin air, somewhere over the rocky mountains. Three days later, Roger Goodell receives the following text from Nathaniel Hackett. Just want to let you know, we're fine,

but the aircraft was apparently sucked into some sort of time-space vortex for lack of a better definition. I can't say for sure, but we appear to be in a version of Colorado from the very deep past. We've encountered a small tribe of mostly friendly non-English-speaking natives

who seem to believe that special teams coordinator, Dwayne Stokes, is some sort of deity. We are subsisting primarily off these huge, luscious apples that fall like candy from the trees. Anyway, totally unsure

if and when we'll cycle back around to our threat of existence. Kind of a stupid situation, to be honest. Chow. Broncos finish, 6 and 4. See you in a couple weeks. Hey, everybody, Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks.

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