NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Training Camp Storylines that Matter; Cowboys Deep Dive with Jane Slater

Episode Date: July 25, 2022

A room filled with some heroes - Dan Hanzus, Marc Sessler and Gregg Rosenthal bring you all the latest news around the league as training camps are underway. The 49ers are seemingly all-in on Trey Lance (6:05), the Steelers have one of the few actual quarterback competitions (9:20), the Saints are waiting to find out how long they'll be without Alvin Kamara (14:02), Marcus Mariota could make the Falcons a fun team to watch (18:17), Matthew Stafford's status could be something to monitor after his recent surgery (22:21), there are a number of notable players starting training camp on PUP around the league (24:11), Davis Mills is not getting enough attention in Houston (27:45), the Seahawks might have the most puzzling quarterback situation in the league (31:56), and Roquan Smith is holding out of Bears' training camp over a contract dispute (35:51). Then, Jane Slater joins the show for a deep dive into the Cowboys' outlook for the 2022 season (46:04). 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.

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I'm Dan Hansis, joined in person by Greg Rosenthal and Mark Sessler. Here we go, boys. What up, bitch. All right, Mark. You seem fired up today. Oh, yeah. I'm guessing it's because training camp is truly here for the league of 32.

You're overrating my interest in the whole thing, too. Well, you know, don't you worry that your boss is Could be listening. I feel power. Wow. Hmm. I'll just say this. Yes.

I'm annoyed with Greg. Oh. Greg, I don't know. You answered it. Why did I get us straight here? We've had a month apart and you're bringing up me? I knew. You know, it's good.

I've been very supportive. We're all back together and I just, you know, graver's behind the glass. You had to make sure all the equipment was working. And Mark, I'm sorry if, uh, no, Dee, would you like the non-CGI version of myself to, I'm not annoyed Craig at the moment. No, I think it's good. We're all back together in person. And the AI version of Mark might have to be filling Mark's chair sooner than later.

And we need to make sure it's working. That's true. You know what this is about, Mark. It's just being ready. We don't want to be caught with our pants down to use an expression. Listen, I support the research and the effort. Like, from this from my vantage point. Did you cut that graver?

That was good. Yeah, I got that one. Well, we're back. We're back. I am back from, I got off the plane from JFK yesterday afternoon. So my East Coast sojourn is over. Greg, you're back from Japan, but not wearing Japanese footwear anymore. So I'm connecting some dots there.

Mark, you've been here, I think, the whole time pretty much. Yes, I've been holding down various forts. Various forts been held down. And now with training camp is really now kicking off. We said it last week that some teams, reporting but it was rookies and but now this is it Greg this is where it's all this is the week where it all feels like it's beginning well for the first of actually it's not the first but uh for the next time it's football is back you know that this is a big football is back week I feel like inside training

camp started on Monday on NFL network that's where all the reporters go around they have something called back together Saturday which is kind of when a lot of the teams get into pads and they're like really blowing it out. They're using 50 different NFL media personalities. Oh, what time will we? What's our call time? I haven't heard anything about it. Oh, really?

I haven't heard anything about it. There are 53 media, NFL media personalities. All 32 teams will, many of them reported on Monday. The rest will be reporting Tuesday. I think is the last day. People will be, they'll all be there out by Wednesday at the very latest. This is it. This is our.

It feels like. Training camp together. 10th training camp, 10th season of around the NFL. And, you know, I do like, because we are veterans of the company, I like to help out, and I haven't done it a while. I had some slogans for training camp. Okay. And I always, again, this is a workshop space,

and I'm going to workshop these. Let's start NFL training camp. It all starts here. I feel like they're going to actually use that one. I like to give one that they'll actually use. So I'm just warming up, though. That feels like that's their flavor. I feel like they've probably used that at some point for something.

All right. How about this one? NFL training camp. 75% of you fans are just wasting your time. It's just reality that the season will end poorly for many, many days. I disagree. I think the journey is what you really have to value, not just the outcome. Or else you're just going to be a disappointed, depressed individual.

Some teams open one in six and then they digress from there. And some 9 and 8s are worth the journey, you know. Okay, how about this? NFL training camp. Don't haze me, bro. Also realistic. And remember, don't tase me, bro? Also, like, hazing was more of a, I feel, like, storyline about 15 years ago in the NFL in terms of training camp, they really feel.

Too dangerous. Well, they've gotten rid of the hazing. I don't think they really haze anymore. As far as we know. Right. Well, don't ask. Don't even try to Hayes Kavanaugh, I'll tell you that. It's pretty mild.

It's like, hey, can you sing your fight song? Okay, I hear where you're going. We've got to spin forward the younger generation. Last one, NFL training camp. The perfect setting to record your TikTok videos. Kids. That's it right there. I think you found it.

Nailed it. You found it. All right. Coming up a little bit, in a little bit, we'll have a very special. guest on the Dallas Cowboys, Jane Slater. But first, we need to get caught up. This is a good show, boys, to, I think to help, again, the fan who spent the summer

enjoying themselves, maybe a little unplugged on some level, kind of talking about myself right here, but also the listeners as well. What do you need to know? What do they, you people, what do you need to know as training. camps like what jumps out to you as something that is actually important or noteworthy based on what we've learned over the last you know several several days like basically since our last show oh not very little I would say has come up since our last show but I've because they're just like showing up right all right so since that's not how we pitched it on text so I'm

thinking of it more like okay we're starting training camp like what what are the things that we're actually watching that could be meaningful in the next few weeks. Because I usually feel like the first few weeks of training games have more news in it and more meaningful like takeaways than the previous four or five months combined. One of the teams I'm watching like closely just as a team would be the 49ers. And it's not just because of Trey Lance, although he's one of the guys I want to see in the preseason the most. It's the team.

I think that's like a Super Bowl contender that still has the most open-ended questions that I think will start getting answered in the next couple of weeks. Debo Samuel, we don't know what he's going to do. But I also have no clue who their third receiver is. It is a very thin receiver group. Maybe it's Joanne Jennings. Maybe they get, I don't know, Danny Gray, they're rookie. Maybe they get into the free agent market.

I'm not really sure if Elijah Mitchell is going to be their starting running back. I don't know what they're doing in the secondary. They have a great defensive line. It looks like it's eight or nine deep where a name that other teams would actually want might not even make the team. But I have no idea who's really starting opposite Nick Bosa as their end. So they're one of the teams I feel like there's a lot going on each and every day highlighted by Lance. And I feel like going into it, what we've learned more lately is that this Jimmy G battle is not going to happen. It's just going to be all about Trey Lance's development and watching that.

And I think the landscape for a Jimmy G trade, which is really minuscule right now, will it change because something happens to another team? Where it's like, I mean, you hear about like the Seahawks. Are the Seahawks who have like $16 million in cap space going to actually trade and take on Jimmy G's salary? And if not, are the Niners going to cut them a deal and take on half of Jimmy G's salary to allow a division rival to improve their quarterback situation? I don't really view them as a realistic landing spot. I think something needs to happen somewhere else. And then the Debo chip happens.

I think they've already basically told Debo Samuel, you're getting a deal. Come hang out. Come hang out. Come be part of. Have a little Holden action. Come chill. We're going to probably spend too much time talking about the handful of Holdens around the league. We don't know for sure.

Debo's got to do that. D.K. Meccaf, who has the same agent might do the same. Yeah. It's, yeah, the Jimmy G thing. This is a guy that was a, you know, Super Bowl quarterback. Does he get traded into a straight backup situation or does he end up somewhere where he has a chance? A real battle. You know, I used to do, like, the top 50 training camp battles.

And of all the good teams, I feel like they have the most. Their offensive line is very questionable to me, maybe a couple spots. So if you really want to dork out, I feel like, like, Mac Barrow is on the athletic with his daily updates. I'm going to be dorking out on some 49ers. Dorking out is sort of a gross statement from the 80s. I don't love it. I've actually never heard geeking out. Never heard dorking out.

Yeah, I don't know. It may be a, like, where Greg is it a Massachusetts term. I've heard it like. I get a drink from the bubbler and dark out. I'm not sure that's the activity that goes with it. They should just trade them to the Panthers. I think the Panthers should just keep on collecting castoffs and see what happens there. All right.

You throw one out there, Mark. Well, what I do love about this time is because we are so weather-worn with so many of these topics. And there are real battles that are starting now. And I realize you're a bit away from preseason games. But it's crazy for me to think that Mike Tomlin is in his 16th, season as the Steelers head coach. And that entire landscape of his career there has essentially never had a real mystery at quarterback. I mean, yes, a Big Ben missed time here and there, but it's like he's been cemented at the most important position. Now you actually have one of the few

actual quarterback battles about to unfold. And it's Mitch Trubisky. It's Kenny Pickett. Kenny Pickett, I think this is the problem for Mitch Trubisky because I've never believed in him. And I think even in a preseason game, when he throws some sort of death. strike interception, like midway through his two series, and already in the minds of Steelers fans who have been sold this bill of goods, like Mitch Chubisky is a viable starter who everyone seemed to love coming out of his backup experience with the bills. He's a new guy. No, he's not. Here's the problem. You've got Kenny Pickett, who is a Pittsburgh person, who knows the complex. He knows where the bathroom is in the building. All they're going to, if you're a fan. It feels like

a trope in 2022 alone, this Kenny Pickett knows where the bathroom is. I get that that's People are way plugged in on the fact that he practiced there. Hold on, though. It's not actually that absurd. People make it out, and they do say these sort of things a lot, too, and it's like a familiar. It's like, oh, I know where everyone. It's like, I can figure out where the bathroom is day one. That's not a huge problem.

Like, Greg, you have your own fan base. If he needs to have some private time, he knows where to go. It's the third floor. We moved into this building. Would you say it was that challenging to figure out where the bathroom was? It's right near our dad. What I'm more saying is that person in front of him is Mitch Trubisky. And if you're trying to sell Mitch Trubisky as your starter,

unless you've, like, douse the public water supply with 7% LSD, it's not going to work. Because people from Pittsburgh care that Kenny Pickett is from Pittsburgh. I think they do. The bigger problem is that you've got to, whenever you have a sports fan in general, and you've got a rookie quarterback that has a good story hanging on to him, and you've got a problematic starter. It's not going to take till, I don't want to hear this.

Oh, you know, we've got Mitch Trubisky until week eight or nine. we've been doing this for too long. It's week two, if not injector seat during... Depending how Pickett plays in camp. And that's one where the practice reports will matter, where the reps matter. He was someone Pickett that didn't get any first team reps in OTAs in mini camps. You don't want to look too deeply into reps then.

It's really about what's happening about one week from now. And he's someone that he'll be auditioning in his preseason. No matter how Mitch does, Pickett will play a lot. And if Pickett plays terribly, they're not going to bring him in. in as early in the season as if he plays well in the preseason and and he certainly won't have a chance I pointed to the preseason I mean this is one of the quarterback battles that actually has gravity attached to you if you go back to on this show to the end of the end of June when the athletic had the report that uh cany picket was working exclusively with the third string

offense and all that stuff I didn't buy it then I don't buy it now I think yes it's very much a narrative of the offseason that Mitch trabisky is a figure to treat with respect and view as the favorite. I think this is picket's job unless it's not. And the only way, all he has to do, I think is play well. And I think they'll give him the game. Like you say, Greg, if they tie, if they look even, tie goes to the rookie.

Here's the thing, though, like, I was texting with her friend Nick Wessling yesterday, a little bit about the Bengals. Big Nick. And he's, you know, we're talking about the Bengals prospects. And he's like, well, you got the Browns and Steelers. That's four wins right there. And I'm thinking, well, how quickly this. turns. First of all, I would never say that inside the division. I would never say that about

the Mike Tomlin-Pittsburg freaking Steelers. This defense has a lot of potential to be great. They won eight games with terrible quarterback play a year ago. I would never put that much disrespect on a Mike Tomlin team that, yes, the offensive line has some issues, but whoever's playing quarterback, has Chase Claypool, has Deontay Johnson, has George Pickens, who I really like. Calvin Austin's an interesting rookie, has Najee Harris. Like, I would not look past the Pittsburgh Steelers. This is not like a division where there's any cupcakes, I don't believe. And Bengals fans thinking that they're just going to walk over the Steelers.

It took one year for them to get there. Give you a break. You're going to step into the rake. It's going to hit you in the face. And that break is called Mike Tomlin. Um, sometimes I think this is, uh, the Saints March and In podcast because you guys love them so much. Um, but I want to bring up something that's on the radar, um, Alvin Kamara. What's going on with Kamara? That, you know, you had the, uh, pro football talk report that, um, it's a possible, their Saints are bracing for a suspension of at least six games. That's connected, of course, to a off the field situation involving a, uh, fight and if he misses extended time, that's going to be a huge setback for the Saints. And we're still waiting. Everyone's obviously and rightfully so. Everyone's kind of completely

focused on Deshaun Watson's suspension situation. And when that comes down and God, when is that going to come down? Maybe soon. But the Camaro thing has a big fallout because the NFC South is, I know the Bucks should be seen as the favorite there. But that division, I think, is there for taking for the Saints. A couple of things go their way. And you need to certainly a wild card. But look at their setup right now. This is a team, I would say, be on the lookout for them adding another player to the backfield.

Because right now, Mark Ingram, who, by the way, has been around long enough now that he has, I think he's the active yardage leader and yards rushing in the league right now. I don't know if he's a guy in 2022 that you want to be taking the bulk of your carries. So if this ends up be a significant suspension that takes him into late October, that can have a big, big effect on.

the Saints' chances of going to the playoffs. Yeah, they're loaded. They have a lot more on offense than they did last year, a wide receiver, especially if Michael Thomas is on the PUP right now. But in general, they're a team that I think their identity flows off of defense. And they're a team that is not scared of the Bucks that beat the Bucks and whipped them last year. I think they could win this division, but it requires the Alvin-Kamara thing not to go totally sideways. Right.

The newest reporting was there's no firm timeline on a decision. there was some concern it could be at least six games, which surprised me a little bit. That was from my old boss, Mike Floreo, back in June, just that Camara's bracing for one that big. I had said that in the setup of this, but that's fine. Right. Sometimes when they say that, here's a little inside baseball.

I feel like sometimes when they say that, they actually know and they've appealed and they're waiting for the appeal. And I don't know. You have no idea because the NFL has. hasn't announced it, but that specific, saying it that way was interesting, or that they have some sort of indication. They're one of the teams to watch this month because of Camara, and that's just kind of a news-based thing.

But also, you know, James Winston's coming off at Tornecio, was walking around with a limp. I know he's going to be cleared for camp, but Michael Thomas, as you mentioned, is starting it on PUP. Like, he's someone that you either could be getting a top 10 receiver or he could be getting nothing and watching him over the next month is going to be important. I feel like them more than maybe any team in the league has like a greater chance

to either win 12 games that no one's talking about or stink. They could also stink. Their first six games, the Falcons, not bad. Bucks, problematic. Panthers, not bad. Vikings, Seahawks, Bengals. And if it goes on beyond six games, Cardinals, Raiders. What is our takeaway there? That's a rough schedule.

Is it? Outside of Falcons, you've got the Bucs, Vikings, Seahawks, Bengals, Cardinals, Raiders. I'm definitely a bunch of playoff games. You know what? I'm taking that Saints Falcons, right? You know, we do the draft week one, right? We pick games.

Yeah, we draft which games we're going to watch. Now, you guys could step in front of me, probably and do this. I think I'll have the first overall pick as the reigning champion. It's not going to be my first pick, but I want as my backup 10 a.m. game, Saints Falcons. To me, that's perfect. You're like the bad guy in the movie. I'm loving that.

Week one, Mario-Ota, like, this is the time to watch that game. You never reveal the master plan to the other guy because that will come back to bite you. And now I am locking it away, baby, and I'm going to make you to trade for it, and it's going to be a fiasco like it was last year. Like if you take that, you know, the Herschel Walker train in mid last year.

He'll watch it anyways and talk about it while you're watching it. You won't want to be watching it. I just mean these two teams are going to be weird and interesting, and I kind of want to watch the Falcons before things fall apart. Maybe they won't fall apart. I do not desire it, so I'm not going to get in your way. Actually, the Falcons are another one I'll throw out there because I think Mariotta and Ritter is a real quarterback battle. Oh, you're serious.

Yeah. Well, as a thing now, I, I, Marioitas played one game in the last two years. And I'm, and I'm, I was thinking about him for making the leap. And so I decided to watch that game. And it was an awesome game. It really was one of the top games of his. career. I'm not going to go back and watch all the Titans games, but I just have a hard time believing he had many Titans games where he made six or seven plays, mostly with his arm,

as good as that. Patriots 2018, Cowboys, 2018. He certainly had a few moments. And look, that's why Wes, Wes never gave up the Mario de Torch. He always thought he could be a starter. He has developed, and I'm just, I think there could be something there, but I also think Ritter is the guy out of all the rookies that is most pro-ready and the most heady guy, and I think that's a real battle and that if he ends up having, like, let's say, a great preseason, that it will be

a decision and he'll be at least competing against like the week three version of Mariotto when the Falcons are 0 and 2. Can we bring Ritter in that early? ESPN noted that Mariotta was far ahead of Ritter all through the... I think everything that happened before now does not matter. And they also

other reports say they love Ritter, like you said from the neck up, that he's learning everything quickly. And I think Mariotta's got to be one of the most replaceable current first team starters in the league right now. I get it. I guess I'm at the point where the teams are the most interesting in week one to me. I want to keep as many

teams interesting as possible as long as possible. It's one of the reasons my favorite week is week one. And the only way the Falcons are going to stay interesting this year is if Mario da Gives us a career renaissance, I'm actually like the 17th best quarterback in the league and I make this offense

kind of fun to watch. I'm I'm like investing myself and hoping for a little bit of that, but he's going to have to do it in Canada to start. Yeah, I'm buying into that. In terms of disappointing former first round quarterbacks, I buy into Marriota being interesting this year more than Trubisky. Yes, I would too. It's really that one game.

He plays one game in two years, and you haven't seen him in two years, and it's like, man, that game is good. But he also has gotten hurt, like, as a backup, and that's part of the problem. Ritter's going to play because Mario was probably last. Yes, Justin. I just wanted to say maybe Mariota could have a Ryan Tannahill-like renaissance with the coach that was coordinating when Tannahill had that renaissance. The one that bench Marietta. He did bench Marietta six games into the season.

That's where I was like, oh, there's such tight relationship. I mean, not really. He believes enough to sign him. Then again, they only believe him enough to give him a backup contract. That's one of the thing I think that it was a little under the radar. He's making around the same as Teddy is in Miami. He's not making a real contract. If Marriota starts 17 games, I will do one of these shows, Topless.

Like, he has not happening. Write that down. Write that down. Write it down. Will Ritter get in because the Falcons are not a good team and they want to see what he has? Or will he be forced to come in because Marioita has had trouble staying healthy his whole career? Both. I mean, Drake London's like their first receiver maybe wide out is their number one.

Brian Edwards is there odd. It's asking a lot. That's how their offense. and the team in general, the path to relevance past Thanksgiving is Kyle Pitts becomes All World and Drake London hits the ground running and has one of those big year ones from wide receivers

that we've been seeing. Or they're just in the race for the number one overall draft pick, which that's their relevance. If I had to bet which one's more likely, I would say that. But there is a path, you know. All right, let's take a break and then do one more round through and then, you know, that's how we'll do it. Right back.

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,

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Should we make any... Welcome back. Should we make any... Have any concerns about the reigning Super Bowl champion. quarterback, Matthew Stafford, having an anti-inflammatory shot in his right elbow this offseason. And, you know, he's on a pitch count to open training camp. Should we worry about it at all? Right.

It was technically a surgery, right? I mean, that's, that is a concern a little bit. So, you know, obviously you're doing exactly what you would think any team that knows what it's doing would do is the veteran quarterback who's been through, you know, 13, 14 training camps already. we're not going to have him throwing high velocity missiles, you know, 50 times of practice. But it is notable. It comes off a very long season that ends with the Super Bowl win. Now he has the elbow issue. I just, you know, that you want to say, what's a way that the Rams title defense goes straight to hell is if Stafford's not right physically?

I'm just tracking it. I'm not concerned about it. I don't think Rams fans should be, but just keep an eye on his practice. Does he play it all in the preseason? and how are they using him throughout training camp as we get closer to September. It'll be interesting to see what happens. I think tracking it is the right.

It's a track. The way where I would again, if you live in Los Angeles, you're so distracted by so many other things. I don't think they're probably at home, sweating, you know, body sweating over where Matthew Stafford is with his arm right now. Well, just like the entire body feels hot.

Like I don't think, yeah, full body sweat. I think you just wait and see where we are in a couple weeks. I mean, it makes, of course, they're going to get, they don't need him right now. Right. They're one of those teams. They're not going to be too active in the preseason,

but they'll be out there practicing. We will be heading to Rams camp next week. Yeah, we will. I believe at the end of the week. We'll check that out. Like, Cam Acres is someone I'm kind of watching there a little bit. Their secondary, their cornerback position is very much up in the air, but there's someone they're just going to, like, keep everyone in bubble wrap.

I'm not that concerned. There are some players on the Pupp list that, like, I'm a little more concerned about. Ramsey, I think it's going to be fine. You know, now they're going to let him, like, participate in practice a little bit, but like around the league, like Marcus Peters and Ronnie Stanley and Tyus Bowser, like the Ravens, you know, they have a lot of players they need that are coming off big time injuries. Your guy, Mackay Beckton, is on on PUP. Carl Austin as well. Lyle Collins was a, was a name that was a surprise. He's on

the NFI list for the Bengals. Mackay Bechtim is on like a cruise in the Mediterranean right now. Right. No one knows where he is. Right. And that's like a back injury. So that, you know, that's a concern. Bactiari still hurt for the past. So these are ones where you just, okay, you note it early in July and then you just start tracking it. The last one there is more on my radar than any of the others just because bacteria tried to come back last year and it didn't work out and they shut him back down. And now he went through an entire new offseason and he starts on the Pupless. That said, and for those that don't know, you know, how the Puplist works, there is a window here where they can come off at any time. Oh, yeah, the whole the whole camp, they can come off anytime.

So it doesn't, it's different than being put on some type of restricted list or some, an IR situation. It's just the team, in some cases, just managing the pace of the recovery or how they want to kind of lay these guys out and practice. But it's also, again, like the Matthew Stafford situation, like what I have liked, would have been a better update on Mackay Beckton, who's the last big piece of that Jets offensive line rebuild. And if he comes back and is special, that could be a really good offensive line. And the fact that he's not coming back from the knee injury from week one last year, ready to go for the starting training camp, not ideal. He does have that T-shirt, though, where he noted all the slander he took from, you know. It's like a protective measure the teams takes by putting him on this PUP list because then in theory, if they weren't ready for the season, they could transfer to the actual PUP list and miss six games.

But you're right. With the IR rules, it sort of doesn't matter. It's just like a little early red flag of who's not. Where does waking up in the middle of the night in a full body sweat? That's happened to everybody. Happened to me last night. Did it really? Really?

I'm also up. No, not at all. It's like I'm up like four hours a night and often it's like you're under blankets and comfort. For Mark Cecil, the hours between, let's say, 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. It's just a full on nightmare typically, right? It's just like the sleep lap on your watch and it just is a bizarre sight. It's just like blinking, go to sleep. It's like who I am.

That's tough. I mean, I'm generally a good sleeper. Like, if I maybe have, like, an interpersonal problem, a relationship that's at a crossroads or I'm in it with someone. Well, I've got a few of those, so don't you worry. That's on my mind. That will maybe wake me up in the middle of the night. But that's about it.

Full body sweat? Maybe I'll have the sweat. I think I'll, maybe if I've had a beer or some drinking, I'll have a sweat in the night. A beer, full body sweat. I don't really drink. He rejects it. Mark's got a big list of... All right, let's do a few more, because we've got to get Jane Slater.

It's true. Here's why I also have a surprise, very minisag before the Jane Slater. How about that? All right, let's go. I have two quick ones, and I will state them and you can comment if you wish. I know the one landing spot people have whispered about for Jimmy G. is Houston. I would argue that is one of the dumbest things they can do at this point. Why pay for him?

When you have Davis Mills, if you look at Davis Mills from a year ago, He had two meltdown performances against the Colts and Bills where he threw more interceptions than touchdowns. In his other 11 starts, 16 touchdowns, four interceptions. No one is talking about Davis Mills for the most part. It seems like he doesn't even matter. There is no reason to trade for Jimmy G. I hate that for the Texans when you are essentially a team

finding out floating around this year, waiting for daylight to see who you are. I would find out who Davis Mills is. Number two, will we get? because I just feel this is going to happen everything's too calm right now everything's very it's a very placid lake out there every team's in a no drama scenario

what and when will we get the Antonio Brown level meltdown from some player out there that completely absorbs the next three to five weeks of our lives where like 35% of every show like ours and others has to talk about player X doing something X

that we don't approve of you know he for all is Jackassery. You got to give Antonio Brown credit for being box office when it comes to being a crazy person. It's kind of one of one of one. It's hard to top him. I'm just saying a filling in a fill in the league right now.

Maybe we're in this like in between period where we're waiting for that next like crazy son of a bitch to show up. It just seems like the space is there. That's when the space is occupied by someone. There will be some drama type story that pops that you can't see coming. That's why we show up. I'm with you on Davis Mills, by the way, and I'm interested in that Texans camp, too, because they have so many positions up for grabs.

One of them's receiver, we should mention their second round pick, John Mechie announced over the weekend that he was diagnosed with leukemia. He mentioned it was the most curable type of cancer, and they feel good about his long-term prospects, but that, you know, he will miss this season. and you just feel for the young man who also tore his ACL in his last year at Alabama. Someone they were really excited about someone when you were penciling in, who's going to play for them.

I kind of expected him to have 500, 800 snap. Someone that they, even though he was a second round pick, they were probably county on pretty early because there's not many people. And you just, yeah, you feel for him having to go through this. But it sounded like a good thing long term. That at least he had a pretty good prognosis. Right. He's likely will not be playing football in 2022, but right now it's his health that matters most. So best wishes to John Mechie.

You got another one, Marky? No, no. By the way, Mills did, I'm with you. I'm putting him on making a leap too. He had some. I think he's ignored, essentially. He had some flashy plays. That's the thing.

If you pick the top 20, 25 plays of Davis Mills's seasons, he can throw it. I mean, I think he processed pretty well in terms of going through reeds. I think he moves really well in the pocket. He's a big dude. He's not incredibly athletic or anything, but he moves well in the pocket. I think he has a chance. Like, I don't know where he's going to end up,

but he very much seems like an NFL quarterback. I think the point you're making too there, Mark, is like the Texans are not competing for Super Bowls right now. Jimmy Garapolo is, we've seen enough to know that he's, if he's a bridge quarterback or maybe a little better if he's healthy. You might as well just see if the kid really can play. Give him another full season, Davis Mills and then if he takes off and builds off that rookie year you know you got a guy

when you go into the next draft process and if he doesn't well then you go identify that position isn't there a world where his ceiling is higher than Jimmy G's and you go learn that this year yes I mean I think Jimmy G would be I think we know Jimmy G's ceiling at this point I don't think it's that crazy if Jimmy G's best offer is that he has to take a salary down to eight million dollars and that he was backing up Mills to start the year I don't like I don't totally hate that It's maybe unnecessary for a team like this, though, in this stage of the rebuilding process. But I don't hate it as long as he's the backup going into the year. So the Seahawks are really going to do this, huh?

So that's where I'm going. I mean, we should, we should, like, we've started talked about the Gino thing here and there. Gino Smith and Drew Locke, are they really going to do this? Okay, here's the thing. This is old school in terms of, you know, in Pittsburgh, they're not like splitting up the reps even. I guess they're doing that in Carolina with Darnold and Mayfield. field for now. But here's just two men in the arena. And this is how the Pete Carroll era started. I remembered it well. I guess I don't remember it that well, but it was Matt Flynn. It was Tarvaris,

I think, was still kicking around then. It was a legitimate quarterback competition. The next year, they get Russell Wilson in, and it's a three-quarterback competition, and Russell Wilson goes out and wins it. This time, it's Gino Smith in year 10, getting a real chance to be a week one starter again against Drew Locke. Give me all the practice reports. Give me the preseason where it's like the first week he's starting, but the second week, Drew Locke's starting,

and then we're like over-evaluating it. This is happening for a team that like isn't trying to rebuild. They're trying to win, whether you think they can or not. They're trying to win eight or nine games do something like that. Greg is an imbalanced individual. That is grotesque to large chunks of these populations. This is what we can get at this point. This is exciting.

If you're any NFL front office, the goal should not be to go nine and eight. That shouldn't be the goal. It's like that's purgatory. Yes, Gravedigger. Actually, Matt Flynn joined the Seahawks a few months before they drafted Russell Wolfe. As I've talked about it on the show. There's a huge free agent, science. Look at the Graber can.

Check it out on YouTube. You know, I was pushing for this. From the moment we moved into this damn building, we need a behind the glass. Gas cam, Ricky Hollywood's going to be super annoyed that it didn't show up until she got here. By the way, Ricky Hollywood, shout out to Ricky Hollywood. Check her out all over Instagram and Twitter because she is the newest member of the Rambley and she has hit the ground running with some bangers. Taking photos with Odell Beckham, Matt Stafford, Sean McVeigh.

And, you know, they're the Super Bowl ring ceremony and she was running around with a candy ring. Very Ricky Hollywood. I have talked to. I apologize. I love the, we need you to correct stats and factual. that Matt Hasselbeck was still there in his last year in the first year of Carroll and it was the next year where it was the three-pronged detect.

Flynn, Chas Whitehurst, and Russell Wilson. So I've talked about in the show, they sent me NFL.com years ago, 2012, it would have been to the rooftop of this charity event of the Seahawks and I interviewed Pete Carroll and I had a question to him just kind of more like a leading question like Matt Flynn's your guy and I remember Carol being like, well, you know,

kind of hold up here. We love this. Russell Wilson kid and what was he a third round pick Wilson you take that in June it was like all right whatever everybody loves whatever the mid round quarterback but that turned out to be the guy but that's again but he was electric in the preseason and he was fantastic in practice he was someone where the first 10 days of camp it was like the hype actually ended up being real right and they is the Flynn contract looked really big on paper but it wasn't actually something that they couldn't get out of so it just seemed like that was a team and an era of the Seahawks where there was a plan land in place. And now it seems like just an older coach and a front office that's a little funky now. It's just, I don't give them the benefit of the doubt, I guess is what I'm saying. No, I don't know. I don't know where this is leading.

Their defense, if it all came together, has some potential, like their backfield with Rashad Penny and Kenny Walker. Ken Walker is a guy, one of Wes's big truisms in camp was like running backs is kind of the one position. and you can really watch in these preseason games. And the Seahawks are one of the few teams that still, like, ride their guys in the preseason. Ken Walker is a guy I want to watch Rashad Penny.

But Gino Locker is. This is what we need. This is what we need. You need it. It's something. Rapshie reports that Bears All Pro Lionbacker Roquan Smith will not be participating in training camp when veterans report tomorrow.

Because of his contract situation, Smith is not yet received an offer. he would remotely consider, thus he'll wait. So not the hold in, the hold out. Roquan Smith. I wonder if the All-Pro becomes a saucy trade possibility now for a team that feels like they're a little short in the middle of their defense. Just throwing that out there for a Bears team that obviously is in rebuilding mode.

You know, it's funny, there is a, the Bears have unveiled like 25 other teams. They're one-game alt-uniforms, and it's orange. jerseys and an orange bear's helmet. It looks grotesque. But Roquan Smith was asked to model it. And it's all over Twitter. There's two, you can see his eyes in both of them. In both shots, he looks very discontent with the uniform, but also his situation.

So that happened right before this. Interesting. That's very... When was the photo shoot? Well, I'm not sure when the photo shoot occurred, but the photos were unleashed over the weekends. It's good digging, though. That really surprises me. just because the new collective bargaining agreement

has made it almost impossible to hold out where if the bears want, they can find Roquan Smith an incredible amount, you know, a very costly amount. Now, usually they work these things out and if he thinks he's going to be in long, you know, bears long term, they'll get the contract done.

They'll say don't worry about all the money. But if it, if they want to, they have that hammer where they can just, find him, and he is possibly the best player on their roster right now. I mean, he is one of the premier inside linebackers, I would say, in the league. And in an NFL where you're just hoping to find one of these linebackers that can stay on the field, all three downs and are good on passing downs, too. He's it.

Like, he is one of the prototypes. He's one of their best picks. And it's interesting when you think about Roquan Smith and Robert Quinn, because there's been some buzz that Robert Quinn, who stayed away from offseason work could potentially be a trade candidate and that he might want either more money or want off the team. People just aren't happy with the Bears. So like those two combining that as a story and being their best two defensive players is, is interesting. If you're the Bears where they are, and I'm not demeaning the Bears as a team that shouldn't even be thought of as a team that's existing in 2022. But

Robert Quinn is a guy at 32 years old that you move if you can get any type of good drag back. But Roca and Smith, like, why trade him? That's who you're building around. He's a guy. He's an all-pro young star. You want to keep in the building. But if you sense that, you know, this isn't going to happen, yeah, go see what you can do and really escalate that rebuild. I think Ryan Poles has been given permission to tear it down to the studs, basically. I don't know if Matt

either flus. I get it, but you need to tear it down to the polls. down to the polls. I mean, I don't know that that still would, you'd still have polls involved. You got to find people to spend that cap space on, to spend all your cap that are worth it. You do, but I mean,

it's kind of like the, like the cowboys, we're going to talk with Jane how they just have a $20 million they haven't spent. That's a waste. And Quinn makes sense as a trade. My point is, what are you doing if you're not building around players like Rochuan Smith? That's who you want.

How do you know what we're going to talk about Jane? How do you know what we're going to talk about with you? I just know, I'm going to bring up Cooper. I'm going to bring up Cooper. I think we already recorded it. Damn it. Craig, that's, you know. I think you...

This is Hollywood. This is, this is magic. We didn't need to tell about that. I thought that was intellectually dishonest. You tore down the magic and the illusion. Right. Well, even worse, he did it. We're all back together.

To make you look like it, like you're, right. I know how that interview, I will be the one guiding us through it. Just wait and see how I, we couldn't let that go. You know, it's unrewarding behavior. Bye, Greg. We're back together and you guys have forgotten what it means to put on a show. To be professionals and to put on a show. We're not just analysts.

You've been called out. We're entertainers. And you just have to take the medicine. You're disappointed by what just happened. Okay, I need to change the subject. So I just wanted to say going into our 10th training camp here. I just wanted to throw this idea out here. You brought up Gino Smith a little earlier.

A member of the 2013 draft class, right? second round pick. Of course. So that was our first. Came out in the sweater. So he basically came, you know, he came into the NFL same time as us. And so I was thinking, like, as a podcast, we are entering that 10th season. And I was thinking who, like, you know, we're getting up there.

We've certainly learned a lot. Some people might say our best days behind us. That's going to depend on what we put out on the field this year. But we have to prove it. We're at the age. We need to show it. And I guess I wanted to know who from that 2013 draft class do you think most embodies our podcast. Now, that was famously a terrible class at the top.

Eric Fisher, Derek, Luke Jockel, Dionne Jordan, Lane Johnson, nice picket for. Ziggy Ansah, Barcavius Mingo, Jonathan Cooper, Tavon, Austin, D. Milner, Chance Warmac. That's a rough top 10. But there are other good quality pros that are still hanging around. Sheldon Richardson still in the league. I've got one for you. Maybe we're that guy. There's many good second round picks all in a row.

The top 10 in the second round is actually better. It includes Zacherts, Darius Slay, my guy, Gino, Robert Woods. Maybe we're a Robert Woods, like, solid guy making our mind. Maybe we're Manteo, and we'll have a documentary made about us, and we're like a source of ridicule. How about this? I think we are drafted third round, number six. Overall by the Cardinals. Ooh, what?

Honey Badger. Oh, I like that. We were not believed early on. I like that. We were not believed in. And we all came with a pass, different pass, some of us shady pass. And we're still here. We've proven them wrong.

That's a good one. Kelsey is another third round pick that year. Here's why I don't think that tracks or Kelsey. Because that was notable when it happened. Everybody was wondering, when does Honey Badger come out the board? Because he's very talented, but he had the off-the-field issues. and LSU kicked them off the team. Nobody was talking about around the NFL.

So I'm trying to go, I'm going down. I see as more as like a, you know, a New York Giants pick 253 in round seven. Michael Cox, the running back in Massachusetts. What kind of career as he had? No, we need to have someone that's still in the league. And I think the way you had just explained to actually help me out, because I didn't have a good answer for this. I like Darius Slay.

He's very entertaining. He's made it. He's making money, and he's still at the top of his game. So I like Darius Slayblow. Fourth round pick, 130 overall by the Baltimore Ravens. No one was talking about this guy or this pick. Kyle Hughes-check. That's us.

I was going to throw out another fourth-round pick when Dan did mention that. And because I think as great as Juice is. Or Greg, you know, Kenny Stills, too. I call him Juice. No, we're definitely not doing Kenny Stills. Kenny Stills. He's caused some problems for this podcast. at least for myself in the past.

David Bactiari, again, someone that no one was talking about as a fourth round pick and rose to the very top of his field and dominated. Was the very best at what he did deep in the draft. And yeah, this year, maybe coming off injuries didn't have the greatest off season in the world, but is still making bank. That's David Bacchari, that's us. He's on the PUP right now, and so what does that say about us? It's just looking at this draft class is giving me PTSD around the NFL writing days.

Remember how many articles we had to write about Marcus Latimore coming back from the devastating knee injury? It was a daily coverage. Jamie Collins was in this draft. There was a lot of good second round. Kenan Allen? Yeah. I mean, so I like the idea. In my heart, I would love to be a Robert Woods or a Keenan Allen kind of is just like underrated, you know, keeps, you know, out of the headlines necessarily, but a true pro.

But I don't really think that's us. I don't think that's us. Well, it's a fun exercise you took us through, Greg, and I like Backdiari. I think that's, you know, I think that's a good one. And no, I don't think. Hopefully not Eddie Lacey, where like it becomes like a body, body issue. Speaking of daily write-ups on NFL.com, how many Eddie Lacey.

Maybe we'll ask on a poll on Instagram or something, Justin, or the listeners can let us know. Who are we? Who are we? Hopefully not E.J. Manuel. Who won rookie of the year that year? Because weren't you guys the best new podcast of the year? We were the best new podcast of the year. I mean, you could have looked this up before asking it.

Oh. Justin would have really helped. And then you could have really helped. RG3, no, that was. Sheldon Richardson. Yes, my boy. By it's defensive rookie of the year. Hold on.

Well, that works. Oh, it was Eddie Lacey. He edged out Keenan Allen, which, you know, it's one of those awards. you can be like, well, Eddie Lacey was better that year. Nope. The voters messed it up. They should have gone with Keenan Allen. That doesn't look good.

Well, our success did not come early. So I'm not worried about offensive rookie or defensive rookie. How many articles? How many articles did we have to write, Mark, about Tavon Austin and everyone wanting Tavon Austin? Or Eddie Lacey looking fat in a photo riding a bike to, you know, I mean, there was just too much of this content. A fat bike photo. All right. Let's take a break and Jane will come into the studio.

Greg is ruined the illusion. She already did. You ruined it. The illusion. You ruined it. There's no more. She already did. We'll be right back.

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. Hey, this is Matt Jones. I'm Drew Franklin. And this is NFL Cover Zero.

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Listen 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. 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. 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. Welcome back. Joining us now. And this is one of the great pleasures of being back together in the studios.

You see everybody walking in the hallways? And who's walking the hallways right past the glass of the Chris Wesleyan podcast studio? It's Jane Slater. It covers the Cowboys, the Saints. Good morning football. You see her all over the place. And now she's right here on around the NFL. Welcome back, Jane.

God, it kind of feels like Tom Cruise, Tom Cruise and Top Gun 2. You have that aura about you right now at this moment. I'm coming back in, guys. I'm ready to get my fighter jet. Prove I've still got it. I saw Top Gun 2. In Tokyo with my father-in-law who speaks a small amount of English, which is the place to see Top Gun 2.

What a flex. I would say. Do they change the plot at all? No. There is, Jane remarked as soon as she walked in, She saw the fancy new set here in Englewood and, you know, Jane's been there with us forever. She knows where we were in the old broom closet. Pool side chats.

That's right. So, yes. You guys have come along. Talk about legitimized. What should have been legitimized a long time ago. I've always been pulling for this group. And yet, you're on just because we literally saw you walk by. That's the amount of planning that goes in.

You're the first guest to come on just walking by and we grabbed you. since our friend with the Giants. But that's how good you guys are because a lot of shows can't pivot. Doesn't it say, I mean, people are always railing against cell phones

and cell phone technology. Had this been 1991, we would have lost you into the sea, but I just texted you and you came circling right back around. Technology is a powerful thing.

Hey, when ATN calls, I show up. You answered right away. It went immediate red. It was like a bat call went out. Yeah, on the signal, yeah. You're on Cameo. I just see this.

I'm seeing this. Camio.com slash Jane. Slater on your Twitter account. What's going on in the Jane Slater cameo? Is everything in play? Like what's out of bounds? What kind of request are you getting? What's happening over on the Jane Slater cameo? How much do you charge?

40 bucks, which I feel like is a lot. Honestly, it's good. It's awesome. But I've been really bad. Shout out to the people we've reached on cameo and your request have expired. I do more free cameos because I feel bad that I miss the expires that time out. So I'm like, here's your cameo. But I enjoy

doing it. Somebody actually asked me to tell their husband that they were pregnant. And I felt like that was a really, really big announcement. And it felt too big for me. To come from another woman, that's a strange I would have a strange task. I'm not. Be like that'll cost two-fifty. But Sharon is. Congratulations. What is going on before we get into the Cowboys and maybe a little on the Saints? What is going on with the Dallas Socialite Club? Where are we at right now? You are part of a posse. It is spicy. that rolls through North Texas with great power. How is that going?

You know, it's so funny. I just, I grew up in Dallas, you know? Like, so everyone knew me when I was a traffic reporter working 3 a.m. as a freelancer at CBS 11 or, you know, I'd be out on Sunday, fun day at 11 o'clock and friends me like, don't you have the morning show in the morning to get home to. Oh, yeah, I got to go talk about car wrecks. So they've seen me sort of, you know, work my way up. So it's, I don't know. I just, I feel like I've known.

And even like the socialites that you're referencing my Italian trip, I knew so many of these guys when they were literally sleeping on couches, had big dreams for, you know, their business. It's literally the most positive group of friends who have, you know, just like ATN. I knew you guys went. And so it's fun to be around that energy and those people. But I think some people, you know,

think we have like this mean girls club or, you know, the socialite. That's how I like to imagine it. It feels like a reality show waiting to happen. Not that like you're mean or anything or your mean girls, but I like to imagine that you have to hit a certain level of class standing, success, wealth, physical looks. You have to hit all these check marks, and then you're in. You know what it is about. I don't like this.

We slept on the couch together and we. Right. Have you like, do you weed people out as the years go by if they fall off the map? Salary not high enough. No, it's all about good energy. My friends are literally all over the place. We call ourselves the Gremlin Girl Gang because if you feed us or give us drinks after midnight, we multiply. It's just it's a fun group.

You know, I love my crew. What is going on with the Cowboys on offense? How do you feel about the Cowboys on offense? Because you have DAC now another full year removed from that catastrophic leg injury. We don't know where Zeke's at. The wide receiver group is as thinner now with Amari Cooper in Cleveland. Do you think this is a top seven type offense or do you think we're going to see them take a step back or get better this year? Where do you see this?

I think this is probably the trickiest year to get a sense of what this offense is going to be. Remember when they went at a training camp, and this was after they let Des go, right? And it was, we're going to do a wide receiver by committee. Well, that works so well. They decided at the trade deadline, they were going to go and get Amari Cooper and give up a first round pick, which was a great move on their part, but then you basically shipped them off to Cleveland. Now you have $22 million in cap space. I get why they do it, right?

In other words, they've been in Cap Hill for years. We've given them, you know, so much angst about that. But you just wonder, are they making even some of the right decisions as it even relates to free agents? Like, Vaughn Miller, when I reported that, I always love to wet, I call it wet blanket season. Every free agent will attach their names to the Cowboys to run up whatever another team is going to offer them. But Vaughn Miller was legitimate. Von Miller wanted to come to Dallas. And they, it's my understanding they tried in good faith, but I mean, they were not going to match what Buffalo did.

But in terms of going out and getting a flashy wide receiver, which I know. a lot of people are asking because Michael Gallup's going to likely miss two as he's dealing with the ACL tear. I don't see him doing it. I think they feel good about Jalen Tolbert. James Washington didn't do much with the Steelers, so I don't know what to expect from him. You know, and I will see with Cid Lam. I think there's a lot of pressure on CED to be the guy. I mean, we were talking about a receiving crew that had 3,000 yards, you know, between the three of them.

And when you're focused on Gallup or you're focused on Amari, sure, it's great for CED to have a breakout year or vice versa. And so I think the question is, can CD emerge as that guy? How much faith do you have in this young kid, Jalen Tolbert? But I think for me, the bigger question isn't just the wide receivers, it's the offensive line. I mean, you lost three guys on your offensive line. Lell Collins, Connor Williams, which, I mean, they were kind of moving on from him anyways. And then literally you're looking at possibly a rookie taking over at left guard. So Dack coming back from the injury says it's the healthiest he's best.

but what do you expect from Zeke? So I think there's just a lot of question, Mark. The thing for me, because we just talked about Jerry Jones, who is a bona fide character on many levels and speaks out of school on certain things. We know that he has a fascination with Sean Payton, the other coach that you covered with the Saints a year ago. I mean, it just hangs over the Cowboys

that Mike McCarthy, to me, feels sometimes like a dead man walking. And if this offense that they can talk about any way they want crumbles out of the gate or just isn't what it's supposed to be, Is this like a setup for Mike McCarthy to be ejector seated out of here and Sean Peyton comes rolling in like we thought he would have five other times? To that point, as I said in the setup here, Jane covers both those teams. And I'm just curious to that point, your vibe on the Sean Peyton situation. And like if you had to put a percentage on it, how likely it is that he is in the big chair this time next year.

I don't think the Sean Payton experiment would work in Dallas. And I mean that because Sean was used to. much autonomy in New Orleans. In other words, he stood up on the table and he'll tell you he beat his hand for Alvin Camara. He's the one that decided we're going to draft Tassam Hill and we're going to use him as this, you know, quarterback hybrid Swiss Army knife. I don't see the Cowboys giving him that sort of flexibility.

Didn't Parcells get that, though, when he was there? He is a Parcell's disciple. And I'll tell you, Parcells, he did not enjoy that final chapter of his career. I don't think Jerry did either. And, of course, they all broke bread after. but look at Jimmy Johnson, another strong guy. Think about the guys in Dallas. I mean, you can argue having had success,

but the guys that have worked with the personalities have been, you know, you've got Wade, you got Jason Garrett. These guys weren't pushing the envelope. That intro press conference usually has the coach right next to Jerry, right? But it's Jerry that, like, speaks the whole time. And the coach is just sitting there like a good little soldier sort of.

And you kind of can't imagine Sean Payton in that spot. Not a chance. This guy, his retirement presser went on for like two hours. He's worse than me. I over talk. Everyone knows that. Sean's worse than me at that. And so I even when after the games, like win or lose, you've got Jerry out there, you know, fielding all the questions.

He's giving away, you know, so-and-so's not going to play this weekend on a Wednesday. Sean would lose his mind over that. And I feel for some of these teams, like I saw a, you know, one of the networks had the banner, you know, Sean Payton to Miami. I'm like, Mike McDaniel just got there. Yeah. We all just left. And I don't think Mike's seat is as hot as some of us think it is. In other words, every time I talk to Stephen Jones, you know I love Mike, big fan of Mike.

Okay. And getting to know Mike a little bit more in the last year, especially without COVID, getting him away from the offseason, I find myself cheering for him a little bit because he is kind of this old school guy that I think him and Kellan Moore did things very different offensively. So I think they're evolving and kind of finding their groove. And I think you'll see Mike McCarthy getting a little bit more. involved offensively.

But I think even, and he'll say this to you on record, off record, the media in Dallas is so different than what he was used to in Green Bay and even New Orleans, for that matter. So I think there was a lot of adjustments for everyone involved. But, I mean, we're still talking about a team that went 12 and 5 last year, had a top 5 offense. Defense completely went from the bottom to a little bit over middle of the pack. Oh, they were, they were, I would put them as like a top eight, top five defense a year ago. and at the end, it was really the defense that was carrying the team.

I mean, in going into this season, it's strange because defenses do go up and down. But you have Michael Parsons, who to me is like a generational talent. You have plenty of continuity. I'm not worried about Randy Gregory leaving. I like their young defensive tackles of Diggy Zua and Gallimore. I think you have everything. And you have Dan Quinn in his second year, and he showed he can mix it up. I like that defense.

It's weirdly the offense. that's the concern. And you mentioned that they have $20 million in cap space left over. That Amari Cooper trade, in hindsight, is one of the worst moves of the off season. What is that cap space doing from them? You could have held on to it until another team, if they start making your run, then you could have really gotten something for them. Look at the price of receivers after that Cooper trade in terms of how much receivers got in trades.

And I had to go back and look because I was like, what did Cooper get? I sort of forgot. Was it like a second or was it? It's like a fourth or something. It was like a fifth and sixth. Sixth pick swap. They basically just dumped him. He could be on their team right now, and that's the position I'm shorted.

And then, and yet I look at all this, and that's the focus, and Dak's the main thing. Dak was not Dak after that injury, and maybe it was really all the injury, and I don't really know, but he held on to the ball forever. He was afraid to make quick decisions. His mental aptitude is, to me, his strength, and it was just not there down the stretch. And that's part of, and Kellan Moore couldn't figure it out. And that's, that's the big mystery to me. It was one of the worst stretches, I think, of his career. And if he's back to being normal DAC, then they'll be fine. I think that, you know, he came back. You know, you kind of like

geek yourself out. You're so ready to get back. Like, this is my year. And then things just start going wrong again. It was, I mean, he ended up, if you think about it, he's coming up from the gruesome injury. We all had these questions and he had gotten the big contract, right? He's excited to play. He goes down in that October and then he loses his brother. He has the shoulder injury and then he has the other like what was it the not the quad it was the calf the calf injury and then you've had seven combination line changes on offensive line you've got zeke who's dealing with the PCL that he keeps re-agravating throughout the season I think he was playing a little I think he got in his head I think there was when you have a gruesome injury like that

that playoff game was rough he just was holding the ball forever nasty injury Greg I think in your mind you're thinking that offensive line things aren't clicking could it happen again And I'm not saying that that's true. I haven't had that conversation with them. I don't know if he'd even ever admit that. But I just thought that was interesting. And then Mike McCarthy admitting that the players seemed nervous during the team prayer handing into San Francisco.

I think that's what honestly, that narrative hurt them the most because why would you be nervous heading into a game against the 49ers and Jimmy G at your stadium? They played tight in that game. There's no doubt about it. And I think like, listen, Jerry Jones is going to be 80 in October. And when we talk about to circle back to the Peyton and the drama and the McCarthy of all of this, I does not, you said Stephen Jones said we like Mike. And I get it. They also kept Jason Garrett around for like maybe five years longer than a lot of people thought they should have.

So maybe that's part of the problem here. And that's why I think this is a very important season in Dallas that let's see what happens here with this roster. We know this is a 12 win team last year. But if they have another season where they fall short of their own expectations, at what point do they need to say, man, It's been over a quarter century since we actually had the trophy. Maybe Sean Payton, maybe him or whoever it is. We need to make some shifts how we do business around here because it hasn't worked. I know they've been competitive.

They've had roster building that a lot of teams wish they could do. Jared makes mistakes, but he also, with his team, Stephen and everyone, they also have success building a program out. But I don't know. I feel like this is an important pivot year for the organization. I also feel like every summer we're saying that. about the Cowboys. This is the season where if things don't go right

for Dallas, they're going to have something here and Sean Payton laying in the week. They should be one of the Super Bowl favorites, really. There's really not a huge degree than not to. It's wide open. And even if you look at the NFC South,

you know, before you did have to worry about going through New Orleans and dealing with something. And the NFC in general feels much more wide open to the AMC. Like, of course, every team says Super Bowl, but, you know, winning the NFC East wouldn't tell me that they're, you know,

they're doing something right. They got to win. You got to make a, a run here in the playoffs. At 80, Dan, it's literally winning it all. And I always liken the Cowboys to my alma mater, the University of Texas, right? Like, you've, not only do you have to be a great coach, but you have to be a politician. And I think Mike is learning.

He's got to play with the media a little bit more than what he was doing before because Sean plays with the media and that's why everyone talks about him, right? Like, that's what works for Sean. You even kind of mirror some of the mistakes that Sean has made. But they did make a change at Texas. And look what Sark has done, you know, after Tom Herman, And after Mac, you know, he still doesn't want anything, but there's excitement. Grave digger behind the glass is another UT alum. Hook him, hook him, baby.

So you're probably feeling pretty pumped right now. Oh, yeah, just hearing them mentioned, Arch, we got Arch. Well, hearing them mention sort of in the context of once great franchises who have totally fallen off. They're literally very, they're living off their name. They're living off their name. Texas and the Cowboys are very comparable. All right. Do we have any other more, any other questions for Jane?

She's a very busy woman. I had one question about the Saints. Dennis Allen, when he came out of the Oakland experience, was the thing hanging over was like, players just did not like this guy. And I get people can change. You know, Josh McDaniels is going through the same thing in his world. But where are, I mean, to go from Sean Payton to Dennis Allen, what do the players think about him?

And can he escape the concept of like maybe an image problem there if they struggle? I think because he's been there as long as he has, it just feels like it almost feels like. Seameless? yeah not to someone from our own network you know when our when cue moves on drink has already been in the seat right so for me i kind of feel like that's what what's going on with the saints and little inside baseball there yeah there you go look it up google it everybody I mean, that's fair. There's been a succession plan, right? So it was a succession plan that I don't think anyone was shocked when they moved on. They're all about really kind of keeping continuity there.

And so I don't think it surprises anyone that Dennis is the guy. And I think he's probably changed that image a long time ago. But they do do things very, very differently as it relates to the people aspect of their job. But in terms of what we can expect from them offensively and the way things go, I don't expect a lot of big changes for them. Their issue is going to be personnel at this point, specifically Alvin Camara. we'll see all that thing shakes out. Yeah, that is very much up in the air

as we begin training camp. Jane, you've said it all. And we just want to thank you. I love doing all show. Thanks for having me. Any time. See, there's nobody who's saying, wrap it up.

You got three minutes. I know. I talk so much. I need, like, in life, do this with me. If you just walked by, and I'm not saying what you did was strategic, I wouldn't accuse you of that. You just came off air.

Most likely it was just a coincidence. But if you do walk by right as we're about to start taping the show every time it happens, you'll be on the show quite a bit. I mean, I'm such a fan girl. You guys might get a restraining order. Like, Jane, we can't talk Cowboys and Saints with you or your personal life every time you're at the network. All right. Jane Slater. Thank you very much.

Thanks, Jane. All right, there she goes. Jane Slater. Yep. I'll reiterate it. You're right. It feels like it's always marked the conversation is like, well, this year the Cowboys have to do something.

But it's just like, come on. I'm not getting sucked in with this team, but I also don't get the vibe that this is an NFC Titan. I think this is a team that could win 10 or 11 games in that division, but it doesn't seem like they have enough horses, but... I do believe you uttered the same exact phrase

a year ago around this time. I'm not getting sucked in by... I think it's a mass population drug. And last year, though, they did exceed expectations. They did win 12 games. But sometimes the playoff game wipes away everything. That's one of those cases. And really, their last month offensively.

It wasn't just that game. They came into that game, a offense that against good teams was just one of the worst Cowboys' offenses we've seen under Dak Prescott. It came out of nowhere. And I'm fascinated by Dak more than anything because he just was not the right guy. I shouldn't be so general because I think if you're pointing to one thing that I'm concerned about.

It is DAC last year, maybe not moving as well, not as confident. And now you have Jane who covers that team like a glove on a hand. And she's saying, well, the offensive line is something to watch out for. That's, it will be interesting to see if DAC is the same guy he was before the giant game. Or if this is just a different guy now going forward, that's a major part of this. Because he almost has to be, he has to be a superstar to take things to the next level. I think you're dealing with a severe cast. injury. He's had other injuries last year. I mean, we don't understand what that does to the

neck up of a quarterback. I think that affected him. All he's talked about now is, I'm healthier than ever. I know that's a trope, but it's like, it seems to be true with his body. Like, that adds confidence. And I mean, does he have the right parts around him? Lesser than last year, that's the issue. And he might not need to be as good. If the defense is as good as I think it could be. Like, as good as Parsons was, I feel like he had, he almost should get more pop for what he did. He was probably the most fascinating rookie since we've started. started this podcast. I was looking at like football outsider's numbers.

He was also first in like success rate and yards for pass allowed and coverage on top of what he was doing in run defense and top of being like there literally hasn't ever been an NFL player with the profile to come into the league and do what he did. Do you feel we know Trayvon Diggs had a big breakout year last year, but you know, interceptions that could be there could be regression with that type of playmaking ability. Do you see enough pieces on defense other than obviously the very special? special second-year linebacker? I like the front seven in general, but you're right.

Diggs was a guy they stopped throwing to. He was intercepting so many passes, and the rest of the secondary doesn't get you excited. But man, they were playing well, and Quinn did it. I think the whole Randy Gregory thing ended up working out fine. They have a promising second round pick, Sam Williams. You get a whole season maybe of Lawrence and Parsons together. I think they could be really good, like a top five defense. Most explosive rookie season of the ATN era.

J.J. Watt would be in there. You're talking just defense. Yeah, just defense. Oh, okay. I was going to say O'Dell is the guy to me, but if we're just breaking down defense. Justin Herbert. Right. Herbert was awesome, but like O'Dell changed the temperature.

If you're going to just defense, J.J. Watt has to be in that world. J.J. Y. Y. would be the guy. The only one, but there's, you have to go through. It's like he's not, he's not O. He's not O'Honnie, Michael Parsons. But it's like that whole thing of where you're like, Well, this is a guy who can play multiple positions. Well, okay, tell me who is the guy that actually did what Parsons has done at the NFL level? Because I was kind of thinking about it, and there really isn't someone that was a premier edge rusher and also was playing in coverage a lot of the snaps and was good as an offball linebacker.

Like, I literally can't think of someone who's had that profile and is that good at doing both. And Watt, who's a first bout hall of fame or didn't it become godlike until year two? But he did win rookie. Yeah, he did win rookie of the year, and he seemed special. But you're right, he wasn't as God, like. He had five and a half sacks as a rookie. But obviously he was showing signs that he was a big time player, and then he went off for the next few years.

All right, that was good. Good talk on the Cowboys. That's just the first of three episodes this week. We are rolling. We're back in the Chris Wesleying podcast studio. Hot damn, it feels good. It feels fresh. It does feel like our last episode was riddled with technical issues

from our home. from various home states. Nice. This is nicer. It feels like a fresh, a fresh adult diaper. That's what it feels like to me. I have a lot of experience with that, but I would imagine just, you know, that would feel great.

You haven't had a lot of, you've had some experience with it. Moderate, you know, during the summer, you know, just, but now we're out of the fresh adult diaper. Greg and I need to know more about that off air. I'm just like looking, I have a front row seat to you guys and I think you're closer than normal. You know, you're just, your blue eyes are just like locked in. to each other. You're just staring into the abyss. I mean, when Dan brings up...

And I think you guys just missed each other in person, and it's just like, I can feel that... What a moment. Chemistry. Well, I'm like, I'm like looking down while I speak. No, we missed you too, but Dan brought up the topic of adult diapers and it takes things to another...

I'm just saying I'm picking up the vibe and I'm digging it. And to be clear, I've never worn an adult diaper, but I'm saying if I were to get into that realm, yes, it would probably feel great. The fresh one. That's probably on your horizon. Right, yeah. Dan giving an early preview to like around the NFL year 33.

We're back. The Depends era. We're back and the ad rates are still solid. All right. That's it. Until Wednesday, you know what you need to do. Do I have to tell you? Because I will.

Chris Wessling said it. You better. He the call. You know, Hey everybody, Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Six, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct

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