NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - The NFL Trade Deadline Spooktacular: B-

Episode Date: October 31, 2023

In a virtual room full of heroes - Dan Hanzus, Gregg Rosenthal, and Marc Sessler recap the 2023 NFL trade deadline. The heroes start by discussing the end of the Young and Sweaty Era with the Commanders trading Montez Sweat to the Chicago Bears and Chase Young to the 49ers (02:19). The heroes then talk about the Vikings trading for Josh Dobbs (15:30), Rasul Douglas being traded to the Bills (22:54), and some odd comments from the Jets leadership (28:35). The show is wrapped up with a preview of Thursday Night Football game between the Titans and Steelers (33:30) and another great Mike McDaniel moment (45:37).  Note: time codes approximate. NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and ghouls, gather yourself around the flickering radio dial and be amazed by the terrifying but true tales of the NFL trade deadline. Happy Halloween. Oh, my goodness. Let's hope the Vincent Price estate doesn't come for us. If they do, we will shift them head east to Zumwalt Manor in Connecticut. Dan Hans is here.

Heroes virtually, Mark Sessler, Greg Rosenthal. It is indeed happy Halloween. It is also the trade deadline in the NFL. And we have a bunch to talk about what's going on, boys. get to be back with you. I just feel bad for that, you know, kid at the Halloween parade this morning wearing a Montez Sweat Commander's jersey, like just a big L, right off the bat.

You try to get in. Yes, we are also mourning, and I guess it is Halloween, so morning is part of the whole thing, death, the death of young and sweaty, the Washington nickname that really I thought had some track There was even some fans at the Commander's game on Thursday night against the Bears that had posed for the photo and sent it to us and it's just one more thing that disappears into dust as we all will. Yeah, I don't know if it quite hit the potential that we solve for it as a duo. And I guess, though, you'd have to look at it from another angle.

You know, Josh Harris coming in and saying the branding of Young and Sweaty is too hot for this organization. We've got to totally dissemble the concept. and scatter both of them to the seas. It's funny because I thought you were going to say that the Washington commanders didn't believe that Montez Sweat and Chase Young lived up to the potential of what they could be, which is certainly probably a fair statement.

Young in particular, who came into the league as a potential, you know, generational talent. But let's get into it. Let's start there because I think Washington's decision to not trade one, but both, of their talented young edge rushers tells you a little bit about where the commanders are right now and where they're headed also is interesting. Let's start with Montez Sweat. He goes to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a second round pick. This is a move that the bears desperately need

some more difference makers on that side of the ball. So they come out of this with one in sweat and then Chase Young, he is on the move to the San Francisco 49ers, who goes for a third round compensation pick. So there is two big trades. And the Niners, obviously, true Super Bowl contender add a big piece to the puzzle there. Yeah, I'd love to go through like all three teams and how it impacts it. But I'm going to start with the bears because this was a curious trade, I think, to a lot of people. And I did find it compelling, interesting, a two and six team trading for a guy on the last year of his contract. And trading, you know, a high quality pick. It's their second round pick. So they're expecting that's, that's going to be somewhere

near the top of the second round. It's very similar to the Chase Claypool trade. And, you know, for one, Monta Sweat, a much, much better player than Chase Claypool. So that should make Bears fans feel good. But I think it was a recognition that not just like having a guy locked up long term is valuable, but just control of their contracts is valuable. And I like the move for Chicago because it was what I talked about in the off season that I looked at their entire roster. And I said, everyone's excited about DJ Moore. DJ Moore is a good player. And then I looked up and down the roster and I thought DJ Moore might be the best player on their entire roster. And that was one of the reasons why I wanted to go under seven and a half.

I was like, if DJ Moore is the best player on your entire roster, that's not going anywhere unless you have a genius as a head coach and they clearly don't. Montes Sweat to me is one of the most underrated pass rushers in the NFL. I've loved him. Really strong, long, an incredible first step. Like, he's really got it all except for totally gaudy, you know, sack numbers. But he's in the middle of his prime. I would say he's a top 15 to 20 at the most edge rusher in the entire NFL. He's very consistent year after year.

He's gotten better and better. And Bears fans think, okay, that's great, but we only have him for eight games. It's like, no, you are going to have him long term. You make this trade because you're ready to pay him whatever it costs. And you franchise tag him, if not. And you've got a boatload of cap space. And people say, well, why don't wait until he becomes a free agent? or why not sign the top free agent defense event?

The top free agent defense end last year was Marcus Davenport. Like the year before that, it was Von Miller, who's 33 and was good at the time. I went back and looked at all the edge rushers, like maybe one or two pop up every three years in the middle of their primes. Those guys just don't get to free agency. So they've had a hard time getting good players onto their roster. They did it. I actually, I like the move for Ryan Poles and the Bears. Well, I think that to hinge it off of the fact that they have control of the

player and they'll get to know the player um is absolutely right because the idea that montes sweat would have ever picked the bears and free agency is another like unnecessary we don't know that that's a fill in the blank i mean the only thing i'd say from the chicago side because i think jonathan all on the player is like guaranteed or i'm almost guaranteed to be to be as good as anything you'd get with that pick um unless you got real lucky and it could be a lot worse with what you might have gotten with that sweat yeah so there's that um sweat yeah so they're like why i don't Like, there's so many defensive linemen that Washington talked about moving that I'm like all over the place with this. But I think with sweat, he automatically upgrades a defense that desperately needed pass rush.

At the same time, this is a front office that has a lot of like up and down maneuvers. Like the Chase Claypool thing, we all get it. You gave a second form a year ago, sold him for nothing. You also like tore down the defense and gave away Roquan Smith. And it's like, so I like that you're getting this player, but I find their like team building approach to be a little bit all over the place. well yeah I hear that and until they start to show that they're making progress it's fair to question the decision making but I think it's okay for a team that's out of contention to make a big splash like this because you do have to build you got to get some dogs in that building like Greg you're saying and and this is a dog and you have control over him at least beyond you have the franchise tag here so that makes sense and I think I think it makes sense for everyone because Washington had decided decided internally that I think what the expectation was is that they were going to move one of these guys and then pay the other but they made a decision to go in a different direction entirely

for reasons that they don't have to share with people but obviously they're maybe not as high on sweats upside here and they get a top 40 pick most likely out of it I mean it could be like the chase claypool pick which was I believe 32 it could be you know 33 to 36 I mean this is that really high value pick. And let's move to the Chase Young move because they send him to the Niners for that third round pick. And that is a move, Greg, that the Niners, you know, try to set aside the three game losing streak, but also maybe the timing, if you're going to have a three game losing

streak, have it right before the deadline. So it really gives you a more clear-eyed view of your roster and what your flaws are and where you think you need to get better. So they go and they do get better. and I remember I was talking before the season started that maybe that defensive line wasn't what it used to be under Sala and even D'Amico Rynes. And now you add a guy that has, even though he's never truly met his expectations as a superstar-type talent, he has that ability, especially playing across from Nick Bosa.

And next to Hargrave and Armstead and Kinlaught, and you're right, no one really stepped up in that other spot. They just signed Randy Gregory. He actually played okay in the couple games they had him, but he was just, a bit of an afterthought. They have Drake Jackson, Cleveland, Farrow. And for the price, it's like, why wouldn't you? Why would?

I'm a little surprised he could only get a compensatory third round pick. This is a team in Washington. It will get to the Washington side of it because they must have just decided we're trading him no matter what, no matter what the offer is. Because a high second for sweat, okay, that's one thing. I'm a little surprised you don't want to keep them, but maybe they look at it like they have Duran Payne, they have Jonathan Allen, they already paid those. guys a lot of money it's defensive line we don't want to put it all in the defense line okay you got a

high second what's the point of a compensatory third that's the hundredth pick in the draft it's like that's so low is it even worth it and i think opponents are going to be thinking how did how did we let the 49ers get away with it because jim app right gm app chase young just not to interrupt but yeah no please the point i was making there i it does kind of smell like there's maybe more to it but maybe the relationship or what they you know what they believe uh or the upside or internally what kind of player they think that the guy is what kind of locker room presence is i think there seems to be more to it to make this move now sure sure but he's like only been there like you're only going to have him for eight more games i think there had been questions about his you know approach to the

game and he's been extremely up and down he was the defensive rookie of the year good good rookie season has been injured and disappointing when he's played the last two years. But this year he's top 10 in the league in pressures, Mark. Like he's top 20 in PFF's, you know, pass rush grade. He's incredibly productive. In one more game, he will have more pressures this season than even had during his defensive rookie of the year's season. And I know he's like not as subtle and not as complete as a guy like Joey Bosa or Nick Bosa. But who cares? He's your number two pass rusher. And he's been incredibly productive this year. He's a great case for like, I'm in a contract year. My career is in the balance. I'm going to put it together and have a much better season. And he has so far.

I think it's the Niners are a team that if they only have them for nine games, that's the right team to go do this. And, you know, they have to, they already had two third round comp picks because of Ran Carthon taking over the GM job in Tennessee and Demico Ryan's going to Houston. So this was essentially highway robbery. Yeah. I mean, this is a classic what good teams do. And, you know, there is incredible upside to him. And if it doesn't work out, like, they'll find a way to reload in the off season as they always do. And I think, you know, they saw Seattle make a big move yesterday. Seattle's suddenly sitting on top of the division. It's like, we're not going to be left outside of the Marine. There's a health component to Chase Young as well. He suffered a really bad, bad knee injury in 2021, where he tore his ACL, but also ruptured his Patelor tendon. which is one of the more serious knee injuries a football player can have in terms of that area of the body. So if you're Washington, I'm sure, you know, that plays a factor as well in terms of his durability going down the line.

And then for San Francisco, yes, they have Bosa and he is one of the best ends in the league. But there are other non-BOSA defensive ends, Cleland Farrell, who's gotten talked up as having a bounce back season. but come on uh drake jackson carry hider junior and randy gregory of that group feral has the best pass rush win rate at 17 percent and that all four of those guys have combined this is from ESPN for five and a half sacks and 22 pressures so there was a there was a void there and if he does play his play his butt off here and play at a high level and both of maybe the numbers aren't there but he's still getting to the quarterback himself and the sacks will come uh that could be like a janga piece that falls into place for this team it's crazy he'll i bet he actually will make it to free

agency i said that you the bears made the sweat move because i don't think players like that get to free agency and so i thought it was a creative way to get him into your team young has a pretty good chance because i just think he's going to be set up for success everyone shows up there and has success because of their defensive line coach and in the system that they run and i just don't think San Francisco is going to be in the position to maybe pay market value because it's going to be suddenly really, really high. I just was a little surprised. The commanders were so just eager to get rid of these guys because they have all the cap space in the world. And you've seen a lot of new ownership, Mark, in Cleveland, or when Jimmy Haslin got there and new GMs

and whatnot. And we've all seen it. Like, doesn't this just scream of like the owner came in and told Ron Rivera's like, whatever you do, you just got to go get some picks? I don't care if it's going to make you worse, I don't care if you don't want to do it. Just trade them and get whatever you can. Because what's the point of the hundredth pick in the draft? I barely see a point. I totally agree. I think Josh Harris is going to be seen as a very active owner. I mean, he was involved with the Sixers. You guys know more about that than I do. But they traded James Harden last night. I mean, what a night? What of 24 hours? I think if anything, like you have to look at like what are the fingerprints, the most jarring, you know, jarring noticeable fingerprints of Ron Rivera

was this defensive line. It was like he went out of his way to not go get the quarterback year after year. And it's like this was Ron Rivera's vision and it's being taken apart piece by piece. I think Ron Rivera is probably seen inside the organization as someone that did so much in a really tough time. But ownership changes, trigger coaching changes.

And like what is Ron Rivera done to make an argument for himself? I think this is the argument. We're not into this vision. I just feel like he's got to be realizing it's the end of an era. And I think he probably knew that going into the season. Yeah, he's histal. He's gone. He's gone indeed. Well, unless he does the Ron Rivera thing and like wins five games against bad teams at the end of the season and they get like the seven seed to go nine and eight. But you're also like what you're saying about the owner is so hot in the pants to just have all these draft picks and to start the team over in his own vision.

I would imagine that would come with a coaching change. But Rivera does have sway internally. It feels like he seems to be respected. We'll see. But I would be very surprised. I mean, I know even with the quarterback, Sam, how. and he's coming off a great game. I still stand by what I thought over the summer

that next year you're going to have a new head coach and a new quarterback in Washington. We'll see. They're obviously making moves. Also making moves of the Vikings. We talked about what are they going to do? They reeled off three wins in a row. They're in a very middling conference

where there are a couple superpowers and then a whole bunch of meh. What are they going to do with Kirk Cousins out the year. Are they going to try to trade and give up high value pick to try to get another quarterback that can make them a playoff contender? Do they do nothing and just develop the young guy in the building, Jared Hall? Well, they decide to kind of thread that needle. They pick up Josh Dobbs, who earlier this season, before the season started, was traded from the Browns to the Cardinals, had some success in Arizona before being benched ahead of this weekend's games,

and now they send him to Minnesota. Dobbs on his third team in like three months for a six-round pick. So I think there's reporting out there that Hall, the fifth round pick rookie, will be starting this week against the Browns, I believe. Atlanta. Atlanta, I'm sorry. But Dobbs makes sense as a guy once he gets a little more comfortable,

can take things over if the rookie can't play the guitar. I think if we've seen something, about Josh Dobbs and all these stops, you know, pulled into Tennessee at the 11th hour, looked competent, didn't need two months to pick up the offense. They just trust him to do it. It was not spectacular. He was just Josh Dobbs. Same thing with Arizona, like, looked competent. I mean, the one thing, the one little spicy element that he adds, he's ranked out as PFF's number three quarterback on the ground, and he looked like it. I mean, he added a lot to that part of their offense. And so I think if you're a coaching staff, it's like you could have gone,

you know, maybe thought about James Winston. There were a couple little options, flavorless options out there. Dobbs has been playing. He's been active. It's like maybe they just found it to be the most kind of, it's the middle of the road option, but it's like this guy's proven that he can come in and not embarrass you. It's uncreative is what it is.

He's literally the guy every team goes for when you need a starter next week. It's happened three times in a row. I mean, it worked for Tennessee, and we had barely ever heard of Josh Dobbs at that point. He was like the fourth string. quarterback at one point in Cleveland and worked his way up. And it worked in Tennessee. It essentially worked in Arizona as well as it could have. And now they do it again. Hearing Kevin

O'Connell talk about him, I think he was like a longtime fan. He sees the athleticism. He thinks he's really smart and that he can kind of pick up the scheme. And it gives this team, I believe, a much better chance to make the playoffs. So they did what I was asking, Dan, and they didn't have to give up anything for it. It was a sixth for a seven swap. That was sort of my point was like, well, that was what I was asking too. Right. I said, like, you can go get somebody. Yes.

But because you're kind of internally in mourning, don't give up a second round pick or or something to bring in Ryan Tannahill because what do you with this current roster, what are you trying to do? This is kind of, I think, the sensible move. You give up a day three pick. You get a day three pick back. You get somebody in here. It's not going to embarrass you if he ends up playing.

And you just work your way through a season that, let's face it, was cursed and undone by a brutal injury. Now, could Dobbs get hot and with a good supporting cast and Justin Jefferson gets healthy? Could they sneak in the back door of the playoffs? Sure. It's a weird conference. So, yeah, I think kind of everybody wins here. Are they there right now?

I'm going to go look. They got to be at 500. They are the seven seed because they have the tie break right now over New Orleans. You know, behind them is the other. losing South teams and the Rams and the commanders. I mean, they have a real shot. And Kevin O'Connell, we have him, actually. He talked today about that he would plan to start Jaron Hall this week.

But he sort of left the door open and also spoke very highly of Dobbs and made me think that Jared Hall is going to have a pretty high bar to clear to keep that job if he does start. I know he's excited to get going here. So we'll get him out here and start the preparation of acclimating him and getting him ready to go. you know, potentially on Sunday, you know, in a role, in a supportive role of Jaron. We do plan to start Jaron Hall on Sunday. But as, you know, we work through the week, we'll keep you guys posted on that. Excited to see what Jaron can do.

Mm, I'll have to open a little bit. By the way, did you happen to check out my Twitter account last night? Probably not, Dan. Your Twitter, your personal Twitter account? Well, just like, yeah, it might. I'll see tweets, yeah. But I didn't like kind of, like, kind of scrolled. two on top of it.

You know, when I saw this news, because it had come out from our guys, that Dobbs wasn't going to start for the Cardinals this week, that it was going to be either Clayton Tune, who is expected to start, according to Rapshie, or Kyler Murray, if he's ready to go. And I quickly just tweeted out, Dobbs. I did see this, by the way. QB1. Dobbs QB1 question mark. And we just had this big conversation of, you know, there can only be one.

uh, insider at every organization you're at. So I just want to know if you're feeling the heat. Oh, Greg Rosenthal. Greg. Greg. Greg in the morning. Can I like just ask a question on Dan's behalf? Does an insider, um, put out information with a question mark at the end?

Hey, you just sometimes you can't like, burn your sources. There are so many things wrong about what just happened. I think they're right. I think they're right and I think they're beautiful. No, you're to say, I don't even have to say get off my corner because you're not even in my town. But keep, keep working at it. You got a triple source for starters. Mark's right.

You never, ever use a question mark in your reporting. You don't make it something that's up for interpretation. You give the people the info they need. Like when I, when I have that expose on the on the breakdown of the relationship between Ian Rappaport, and Tom Pellisero and the insider's internal war going on that came from digging and then getting like real answers

from a third party that's boots on the ground I mean that's what it's I mean you got to admit I mean you got to admit Gregi in the morning has just a certain ring to it I mean maybe Gregi on overnights maybe we'll be open to that i don't like this development reggie on the graveyard shift

mark how about your theme oh i'll be preparing one for our next show i'm sure i mean you can imagine the hours and hours of production that went into to that i always yeah that i respect right the fact that you you worked on that behind the scenes that you you definitely have my respect for that and also you're again wearing the uh jerry from succession t-shirt that also you you little Lime puppy. That also checks boxes for me. Let's take a break and then finish the news and TNF preview. All right.

Some more trades. Yes, the trade deadline about 25 minutes ago came and went. And while we don't have, you know, a quarterback or, or, you know, a high profile wide receiver. Poor Devante Adams is still stuck in the desert. There are players on the move. like cornerback Razul Douglas, who is traded from the fading Packers to the Bills. So a third round pick goes to Green Bay and a fifth round pick goes back to the Packers. And that adds some depth for the Bills who could use that as well.

It's really been notable the last few weeks when Kair Yelam, their first round pick from a year ago, It was a healthy scratch. Like they can't even get him on the field. He was their first round pick. And he lost Tredavius White for the season. And you have this kid, Benford, who was taken, I think, in the sixth round of that same draft, who's actually played pretty well.

But that's it. Like, they gave Taran Johnson, who's their slot corner, a lot of money. And he's, to my, you know, amateurish eyes, has been getting cooked every week. And then the other side, they really don't have anyone. So, Razul Douglas was one of those Packers that was getting increasingly frustrated in press conference settings.

of just like what a mess this is and maybe that the offense was a little bit of a mess and they're like, okay, let's get this guy out of here. You say he wasn't a culture fit? I guess. Yeah, I mean, he, no, but you're right because he was like openly speaking about not being a culture fit, I think. And so he gets his wish, but I feel like every time

we'd watch like primetime Packers games last couple of years, like Roswell Douglas is making a huge play. He's got 10 picks over the last couple seasons, two pick sixes, two of the clinch games. He kind of is a, really interesting fit for the bills they needed them um there is though an interesting video out there that i just saw seconds before we did the show um where josh allen you know they're playing the packers

gets into it with razoul douglas and basically says you suck and so there's going to you know he's got to have to go fit that culture now they're going to work on that you'll have been deemed that culture misfit um here is an interesting trade the browns uh they say goodbye to donvin people's Jones, who had, by the way, this surprised me, nearly 900 yards receiving last year for Cleveland, but in the Deshawn Watson era now, had not really found a role or much production. But he goes to the Lions, and the Lions sent back a sixth round pick. So on the surface, it's like, you know, Donovan People's Jones, you know, he's a guy. And you get that back a day three pick and like, that's whatever.

But we just happen to watch the Lions. And we just heard some boo birds out for James and Williams. And the former first round pick, Mark, has not clicked. He's had a suspension for gambling. He's had the knee injury. And you just wonder if this kind of says something about Detroit's patience with a player they invested so much in just last spring. I think it's a combination of that development.

Marvin Jones, who was one of their bigger wideouts, walked away from football for a period of time. They don't have him in the roster. So Donovan People's Jones, he's sort of been such a hot and cold producer. Like you said, he had almost 900 yards a year ago. This year, like, I think he seems to, like, it's funny because Ben Johnson, the Lions OC called him like a high-quality player and like a good teammate, and so he must have some relationship with him.

But on the Brown's coaching staff seemed to let go real hot and cold with him. he had 97 yards on eight catches this season when they could use a wideout help in general that's off a 205 routes so i think there's part of like not working with the sean watson not working with the other quarterback chaos they have there so it's a better landing spot um you know he's i think he's a guy he's just sort of like your third your third or fourth guy right but jameson williams i guess i want to see it'll be he'll be an interesting guy I track his snaps as People's Jones gets ramped up with that team. Finally, finally, oh, little AFC South Guard talk.

Ezra Cleveland, the guard comes over from the Vikings in exchange for a day three pick. And, man, I wish we can go out on something a little stronger than that. But listen, having, you know, players that you can add as depth pieces or potential starters on your internal line surrounding the pivot that matters in pro football he's one of those guys that uh like they were always threatening to you know maybe bench or people who watched the games didn't love him but then pff would have him super high uh like he's always ranked in the top 20 of pf so the jaguars big big pf fans they had just signed dalton riser so they could get rid of him i was almost surprised the jets didn't make a move like this maybe because cleveland's play

If nothing else, he's played a lot, and he's young. There was also a report, by the way, the Jaguars and the Patriots were talking, I think this was from Albert Breer, were talking Josh Uche, but they disagreed over either fourth or fifth round pick compensation. And so it just didn't happen. So at that point, just give them the fourth or give them away. Like, what are we even doing here? I don't know.

Once you're that close, just do it. What does it matter? They were, like, they were targeted as like a pretty solid bet to go get, you know, defense help on the defensive front so i'm with you like what is the difference between those two picks um this helps their offensive line they've had some injuries and they've been banged up a little bit but you know cleveland plays guard he plays tackle he's been a better run blocker than pass blocker except this has been his best year pass blocking so and that's of course according to pf i'm not saying that that's me breaking down his run and pass blocking snaps but um helps them

out um the jets lost their starter and backup center to the i are they're in consecutive quarters this week. And I don't, you know, in general, like, even though it's been a positive season, my, the jury for me is out on Robert Sala and what certain elements of the way he approaches things and his game management. And even the way some of the things he says to the media, like they asked them about as you would think like,

hey, you guys gonna try to make a trade to get some help on the interior line. And he just like, dismissed it at a hand like hey if there were any good players out there uh we would we would try to get them but there's no you know there's no teams that are going to be trading you know good offensive alignment this time of year it's like rob we don't always have to talk so much like we let's let's let's let trader joe see if he could find like an esra cleveland now maybe they didn't like asra cleveland internally but like uh sometimes i just wish rob would like kind of pipe down

a little bit separate conversation part of being the new york uh coach although i like that I don't think he tries too hard to like be something he's not sometimes he tries hard you know it's like when he's he's saying like if they hate and you not pop it I mean that that's you know that that that's trying and right but that's just who he is I think so at least at least I think you get in trouble especially in New York but anywhere where you're trying to be like a little phony like trying to be a tough guy when you're not a tough guy I think he is just is who he is so I respect that at least I liked I liked him you know he puffed out his chest after the Eagles game and said we faced all these great quarterbacks and we embarrassed them all

And it's like, well, Dak Prescott carved you up in week two. I guess we're just not counting certain quarter. I just like sometimes I think he gets a little carried away. Yes. But Dan, one little note, like this Jets magic carpet ride that I keep trying to sell you on. One of the great, like when they, you know, create that three or four hour, um, eight part documentary about this Jets team. One of the features will be that that they got to the playoffs with like an eighth string center.

So that's just something that, you know, embrace that. And I guess part of me sour because I think Sala is part of. of it like the the jet should have absolutely traded for a quarterback um weeks ago but even uh today um and and they are just going to continue to uh talk themselves into zach wilson and and that i believe will be their undoing um this season but that's just the way it goes um all right this breaking jets news but i do think it's it's worthy of uh mentioning in discussing two minutes ago general manager joe douglas said at the podium talking about Aaron Rogers potentially coming back this season. Quote, we're expecting Aaron to be back.

Whoa. It's pretty bold. Hello. Now when he says that, I hope there's a follow-up, like is that regular season or postseason? Because that's the first time a Jets official. Everything had been coming out of the Rogers camp to this point. And by the way, Aaron Rogers runs the Jets. So everything kind of filters through him anyway.

But I'm just curious if they clarified that. I mean, the timeline, if you think of when Cam Acres returned, which was very quick and he was not the same Cam Acres, but he did come back. I got to check. I think it was maybe under five months. Suggs, Terrell Suggs was about five months. And then Acres, you know, played in that Super Bowl run. And he, you know, played really poorly, but he did play. Even that would put them like at the playoffs if it was like four and a half months.

He tore it. I'll never forget it. It was September 11th that evening. so we're talking that's the end of january we're coming up we're not even two months okay so they did follow up and he just said he has no predictions but you just did have a prediction uh you said you expect them to be back i guess that's an expectation i mean maybe the general manager also needs to speak a little less why are we not i don't say that he doesn't speak at all actually like he this is his one press conference he does uh now rap sheet douglas clarified that he meant

quote with the team he's leaving the rest up to the doctors okay enough enough all gas All right, let's That was a tough sit for Greg's Media Insider Run right there I mean, I'm just reading off The most trusted insiders in the game You know, you want to take Oh, that's how you do your reporting?

Yeah, you want to take that at a rap sheet And Zach Rosenblatt Go after it. I trust Zach Indian I think Mark it was important that you pointed that out All right, let's talk Thursday night Greg Rosenthal. Greg.

Greg. Greg in the morning. The gong at the end. The gong, well, the dolphin also is just elite. All right. Thursday night football. And that's it. That's the trade deadline. Yeah.

We got something. I was hoping it wouldn't be a dud. We got stuff. B minus. How about that? title for this podcast. This B minus colon, the 2023 NFL trade deadline. It's very fair. They gave us Leonard Williams for that show yesterday, too.

Like, I'm, I'm happy with them. I'm happy with the football gods. I'm taking it. B. B. No, that's too much. That's an, it's an 81 out of 100. I mean, young and sweaty. They broke up young and sweaty. That saved it from being, you know, a gentleman's F maybe. Like, we needed that. They also kept Jalen Johnson, by the way. That was a very short-lived story, but one of the top-ranked quarterbacks in the league, according to PFF, having a nice contract year.

They let him seek a trade, Jalen Johnson on Chicago, but they never found a deal out there, and it did not happen. This league, go seek your own trade thing. It seems like it takes a really long time, and it seems like they're not very good at it, typically. It seems like a bit of a trick. Yes. We're not going to trade.

You go find your own trade. And then they're like, nah, we're not doing that. Yeah. Like 16 hours before go find that long-term contract. Like, no one's ready for that. It's like sending your dog into the backyard so you could go chase his own tail for a while. All right. Mission accomplished.

Let's head to. We'll get to Mike in a little bit. Week nine, here we go. This is it. This is the true midpoint of the season. Four teams on by, Broncos, Lions, Niners, Jaguars. It all starts Thursday night in Pittsburgh where the four and three Steelers. They know it.

They know if Mark Sessler's 12 win prediction is to come true. they are running out of L's and they're coming off a tough home loss to the Jags and now they get the Titans a team that's winless on the road this year Mark however

Will Levis and I was tweeting a bit with our bud the gravedigger Justin Graver who is in Texas for the World Series with Fox right now

and I said man there's now real juice to your season which I'm sure is great for his podcast and everything. He's going to play again, Will Levis, after throwing four touchdown passes. Ryan Tanna Hill is working his way back from that ankle. So you get Levis with a big, tough assignment here on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

That's pretty nice. Yeah, I think we're gaining, you know, evidence on who Will Levis is. Like the opening chapter of that was jaw dropping. I went and watched that game again today. And it's like, you know, I don't think it's crazy to think that the Titans went from being, you know, surefire sellers to like, hang on here. Everything suddenly changed in this game. And it's going to be, that Falcons defense is not a joke.

And what I loved about watching Will Levis. And what I loved about the Titans coaching staff was like, let's just go let him unfurl some of the most insane passes we've seen this season. He played with total confidence. He's up at the line, you know, making adjustments and checks. And it's like you, I know DeAndre Hopkins had some other good games this season, too. But this offense was an eyesore and impossible to watch. And suddenly he completely helps DeAndre Hopkins morph into what we always thought he could be.

And like the connection right there, I mean, there's a couple throws where it's like the first touchdown where DeAndre Hopkins sort of dozy doze with A.J. Terrell, that was a little strange. But then, you know, tears away. And it's just like, it's DeAndre Hopkins. Just rip the ball to him and have trust that it's going to work out. This stuff was not happening with Tanna Hill. And I really like Tanna Hill overall as a career person. but like you could feel the energy change and everything changed. And it's like the way I saw this game, you know, 10 days ago was like potential snooze fest,

especially when you factor in the Steelers' offense. But now it's like, yes, I'm going to be watching this. Yes, I know exactly who interests me the most. And this team has changed before our eyes in the last, you know, 80, 90 hours. And yes, Derek Henry also remains a member of the Tennessee Titans with the trade deadline having passed. Good point. and nuke and i uh loved in the just in the first quarter of that game like he was getting to his second reeds even on a play where they didn't pick up the first down and they ended up punting

it just like looked like a pro play there was a beautiful throw to trail at burks that the defender broke up at the last second burke's you know struggles to get you know it seems to struggle in general i would say but that was a play where dandre hopkins was the primary receiver and you could see levis look at him and hopkins fell and then Levis has this gear where it's like, oh, okay, are my primary receiver's out? Why do I go throw the ball 55 yards down the field on a dime? So I don't know how this can last. Like, we'll see.

It is just one game when we've been fooled before, but man, it was an intriguing first step. And it's a tough matchup in terms of the Steelers pass rush. We know that. But the Titans offensive line has been closer to average this year. It hasn't been the tire fire. You saw Will Levis get protected pretty well, actually. on Sunday, and it's not a tough matchup throwing on these Steelers' cornerbacks. Pat Peterson getting cooked week after week.

He's bench sometimes. He's not other times. Channing Sullivan's, they're out there, and he's getting cooked quite a bit. Like, they give up a lot of yards through the air, so it could be another fun-levis game. No Minka Fitzpatrick. That's a huge, huge factor right there. There was a point in the game, the Titans game, where it was either James Lofton or maybe Jay Feely piping in, piping in, pipes about Levis.

And he's doing this against a top 10 defense. It's like, all right, first of all, let's seriously calm down about the Falcons, like talking them up like, you know, there's some type of elite defense. No, they're average. But even if there, even if there is reasons to say, oh, there are things to exploit here, putting him on the road in Pittsburgh in a primetime game. And that's one of the reasons T.J. Watt is in that conversation of the greatest defensive players of football is like that guy, he will make an impact play in that game. I mean, maybe two, maybe three. He raises his game. And like, if Levis goes in there and shreds the Steelers, like we have a major development in the NFL to talk about on Thursday night. Or I should say you have to talk about Gregi with your guest to be named later. Yeah, I'm excited about it. It's a good Steelers defense. I think they're ninth in DVOA. That feels that feels that feels. That feels. was about right. Better against the pass. They're average against the run. So you'd like to see Henry and

Tajay Spears. And the Steelers offense, after one promising week against the Rams kind of went back to what they do. I actually thought Pickett played well before he got hurt, even though he didn't quite have the production. There were a few big time drops. He didn't make any bad decisions, some bad protection. But that's endemic of this offense, that they're not playing well. And it does sound like we have Kenny Pickett. He spoke on Tuesday. Let's hear from him. It's frustrating.

It's part of the game, though. I've been doing it for a little bit. It is what it is. You've just got to be available and get ready to go on Thursday night. Kenny, is you playing Thursday conducive to how you feel, or are there clearances you need from doctors, or is it a bit of both?

No, I'm playing for sure. And I think what he's answering initially there is he's been, you know, banged up this year. It feels like every couple of shows we're talking about a picket injury and wondering how serious it might be. So he's expressing frustration there, but he wants to be on the field. And quite frankly, I get it.

He hasn't played well enough to kind of secure himself as the QB1. He doesn't want Chubisky to go in there, again, in an island game and have some success. And then all of a sudden, Mike Tomlin's answering hard questions and having to make decisions. So Pickett's like, no, keep me in the lineup. Let me get this thing figured out.

Yeah, I think also, like, there's a, if I like this about Kenny Pickett, is like, you could question, like, is this going to be a pattern, the durability, because there's been a number of different things, but he kind of fights to get back in there, and I think that resonates with a Steelers team

that needs something, some consistency on offense. Like, I want to see faster starts, especially like in an island game at home on a Thursday night. I don't love the matchup against Tennessee's defense, but last week against Jacksonville, a good defense, like first four drives went for nine yards. Then they stall at the Jacksonville five, you know, squeeze out a field goal,

and then they closed the half. half by missing a field goal. It's like, they're, they're not well-coached. We know that. They're not sexy. You can't have Deonté Johnson, like, not helping your young quarterback out with a bunch of drops and other nonsense. So it's like, when do we get a complete game from this team, like once every four weeks? Right, and let's stop banging our heads against the wall, trying to run Najee Harris or Jalen Warren, for that matter. Titan's second against the run, according to DVOA, and 25th against the pass. So it sets up as like a day you need some picket. Yeah, and you're right, You don't want Trubisci coming in there.

That's the MVP, the Nickelodeon most whatever you call it. I don't know. NMVB. All right. You don't remember the MVP, Mark? It was a magical moment when the... Does he get slimed or something? The fans around America could vote.

I believe it was even a playoff game, and I believe they lost it. But the fans at home voted Trubisky MVP kind of as a joke. And, you know, they just have. to give him the award you know the fans i mean it whenever the entire you know nation can band together for ironical humor that's unusual so i can see value in that thank you for bringing it up because um it brings back one of my favorite media stories in the history of um the world and civilization is that people magazine um had their have their annual 50 most beautiful people um addition i don't know if that still exists.

I might, who knows? It feels like something could have been white. We're all beautiful now. For various reasons. Yeah, but like they, that was a big deal. And then the person, or is it sexiest people, whatever it was. It was like, and then somebody would get the covers, like the sexiest man alive, JFK Jr. or whatever.

So this particular year was about 1995. They sent a photographer to the Kansas City Chiefs training camp because, it had been deemed that Rich Gannon would be one of the most beautiful people for 1995. And Rich Gannon is a very attractive man. I believe it was. Let me just make sure I have this right. I got to admit, I never thought about it before. I mean, I guess a younger Rich Gannon, I can't, like, argue with it.

But it's a little surprising. It's a little surprising. He was the MVP, I suppose, of the NFL. That's pretty good. Okay. So, yes, it was. Rich Gannon, and this is a story that was relayed by Jeff Perlman, who was, like, connected in this world at some point.

Anyway, it was the sexiest athlete of 1998, so they send the photographer to take a photo of Rich Gannon and it can't, but the photographer, through some type of mix-up, asks like, okay, I just got to get a quarterback photo or whatever. And instead, they shoot Elvis Gerbach, who is a very nice man, it seems, but you could look it up. Elvis Gurbach is kind of an everyman. and what doesn't stand out as an overly handsome gentleman. And when they realized their error, they didn't go back.

They said, we can't now, like, tell Elvis we shot the wrong guy. So they just rolled with Elvis Gerbach as the sexiest athlete of 1998. And the photo of him is like him in the locker with his leg up and a pair of like 90s blue jeans and like a big hairy barefoot. And that is that is what I thought of when you started. that's incredible that's a great that's a great story to end i was going to say end our week because it feels like we're out a week's worth of shows but now we'll just say goodbye for what 48 hours here and we'll be back with their preview we will and it is Halloween and uh everybody uh all the parents listening uh you know have a have a great time with the kids i will be um on the road with

the with the children and um as a way of signing off for this very spooky edition of of the NFL trade deadline around the NFL episode. Mike McDaniel has been a popular costume this year for that matching gray sweatsuit that he wears in a very distinct look with the hard part of his hair and the glasses and the headset. It's perfect. I would imagine especially in the Miami-Dade County era. So you're seeing that costume out there, including something went viral of a little child

as Mike McDaniel, perfect with the run after the halftime interview. If we have that, let it rip Eric behind the virtual glass. With his team as well. That's why you've got to watch YouTube if you haven't seen this. Look at the spread. Hustle in there.

You even had the watch. I don't know if you notice. I like the fake watch to put on the kid. It did a great job. I don't think he was probably not real Greg Eval. Okay. That's a fair point. Could be a rich.

could be a rich kid. McDaniel is not even sneaky fast. He just is fast. He's fast. Who? McDaniel. Oh, all right. Oh, because in that run?

Yeah, he seemed like in that clip. I mean, the kid is too, but like McDaniel is like some real acceleration. He was a college wide receiver. Yeah, I know, but that wasn't yesterday. Like he's still, he's maintained his speed. I don't feel like I'm quite as fast as I was in college, you know. He probably hasn't maintained the speed, but he probably moves much better than a typical 36-year-old or whatever. Here's McDaniel.

Right, nothing special then. Here's McDaniel on being a popular costume this Halloween. I've seen a posting on social media kid dressing up as Mike McDaniel. That does not compute. That doesn't make sense. I have the video if you want to see it. They did your run at Monday football.

When kid did the run and then a fan last night. Was it faster than the kid? So I'm just curious. What, as you see, it goes into dressing up like Mike McDaniel? I have no idea. This is, I refuse to accept that as reality. But I guess the knapsack would be essential, or what do you, the glasses, the capris? Probably the essential would be the broad chest, right?

Oh, my God. Oh, that's, you're doing, you're doing a Mike McDaniel. Oh, my God, that is exactly, Mark, how Greg would answer that question. The broad chest, yes, absolutely. that the invisible string. I do not accept that as an answer. I love him. We have to, Eric,

behind the glass. We need to get Mike McDaniel on our show this off-season. Any means necessary. Owners meetings. Let's go back. Remember what you fit right in? That was fun. All right. That's it. We'll be back on Thursday with the preview edition of

week nine and the draft and the Germany game, the first ever game from Frank for Germany. How about that? And it's a dandy. Shout out to Jeremy Bergen, by the way. Feel better. Yes. Thinking of you, bro.

We love you, buddy. Get well soon. See you back of the office. Hopefully. Heat the call. This is an IHeart podcast.