NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - What's Got YOU Jazzed

Episode Date: December 5, 2018

In a room filled with heroes – Dan Hanzus, Gregg Rosenthal, Marc Sessler and Chris Wesseling – react to a swathe of NFL news, including – WR Kelvin Benjamin being cut from the Bills (6:30), Josh Johnson, temporarily, jumps ship from the AAF’s San Diego Fleet to the Washington Redskins (10:10), Bruce Arians is a tad thirsty (15:30), more Kareem Hunt news (20:20), the Injured Reserve claims more poor souls such as Greg Olsen and A.J. Green (22:40). After, ‘What’s Got You Jazzed’ (32:00) heading into the back stretch of the season? The Chargers are surging (34:25), record breakers are…breaking records (39:40), and there’s a triplet that is better than Mahomes/Kelce/Hill and Donald/Gurley/Goff combined (46:20)?Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comNFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. 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 officers. 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. The Around the NFL podcast is just a vessel for Dan's Bits. Welcome back to another edition of the Around the NFL podcast. My name is Dan Hansis. That's not true. And I am joined in a room filled with heroes.

Mark Sessler, Chris Wessling, and Greg Rosenthal. What is up, boys? Hey, Dan. By the way, I would imagine for listeners in... My dog, Mark with a seat. In Britain, a vessel for your bits does not mean what it means here. A comedic forum for you. It means something much less savory.

Oh, right, right. I don't know what the vessel would be, but yeah. A little junk talk. We're starting off the Wednesday show with some junk talk. Starting it off a little bit later than usual because Greg got a ring on the old bat phone, didn't he? Yeah, Charlie Casserly had laryngitis, so they had to go deep into the bullpen.

What is this? I'm really proving that money. Look out. It's NFL Network's Greg Rosenthal. Is that a Zipbit? What would have to happen for NFL Network to dial one of the three of us up to do this? Oh, my God. Probably like, you know how they put the president and the vice president on separate planes?

Right. If they did that with all the NFL media talent, of course, we wouldn't be on either plane. And then both planes went down. Maybe. I still think it's a maybe Several people had to whisper into their ear that, you know, Chris Wesleyan works for you. Mark Sessler works for you.

What if I had Larenda? Then they'd be like, who? Yeah, they'd be like, what? Why would we put them on TV? Good job, though, Greg. What did you talk about? They'd say dial up Peter King. Playoff contenders, buy yourself.

Me and old Tommy Pellisero. Oh, Tommy Pee. Who won the debate? Or was it a debate? I mean, I think there was. There's no scoring system, but I think the viewers decide that I won't. Speaking of debate, if you checked out our most recent Twitter, ATN Twitter show, which you could find on Twitter quite easily.

Don't complain about it. It's kind of easy to find if you follow us on Twitter. We did the latest edition of the ATN debate club with the hot boys, Greg and Reggie Bush, against West and Cess Moving Company, Mark Sessler and Chris Wesley. I won't tell you how it turned out. You've got to tune in. but there were shenanigans. Today's show.

Today's show is a good one. Got a lot to coming to you on a Wednesday. TNF preview. Titoons. Yeah, you heard me. Against the Jaguars in a very important game for one of those teams. Also, with four games remaining in the regular season for every team, we've hit the home stretch.

Hit the home stretch. Boys, what's got you jazzed? They're calling again. scrambled eggs all over my favorite The Frazier intro As a white boy from the suburbs This was my introduction to jazz So this is how I recognize jazz

I've got a nice playlist on Spotify You could subscribe to Mine was like Dennis opposite Kelsey Grammer, he's jazz to me I don't think there's any He's the word about him He's a titan about him of the form.

No, the medium goes beyond Kelsey Grammar, just to let you know. There is some room to explore. I cannot believe, Erica, cut out. We love you, Seattle. I'm devastated about that. He talked over it. Oh, did it? Yeah, it was there.

That's not the first time. Hoisted on your own partard. All right, so, yeah, we're going to talk about that. But before we do that, let's do some news. The only reason I've been playing 19 years is to get to that 1,000 yards. And I did it, so that's it. I'm out. Yeah.

I think he is. What was the back-in music there? I don't know. I think he was getting into his car. Yeah, he's playing some rap music out of his ass and he's a 40-something dad. He's like, I like the hip-hop. What about you? I like that you think that somehow that hip-hop is like not the most, not the dominant, you know,

form of music or pop culture. I mean, that's kind of just going along with the flow here. You're a man who loves popular music. are absolutely right that hip hop is the dominant form in pop culture in terms of pop And I don't think it's a young thing anymore. But for men in their 40s, white men in their 40s, I don't know if it's the dominant form. I think it is, I think it's kind of change. I think that's, well, Greg, I know, I know this probably grates on you because you of your

Greg likes rap knowledge, but I think it's hard to take a white dad in dad clothes in his 40s listening to like the cutting edge music very seriously. I appreciate that they may actually love that music, but it's hard to take them seriously from a distance. Right. I think it's hard, though, to take that musical opinion seriously. If you're so close-minded, you can't open yourself up to all sorts of musical love. It's not close-minded. It's just simply- Like jazz.

I guarantee, Greg, you're not being taken seriously. He heard that Frazier bit, and it just opened up an entire world of jazz to a young Dan Hansis. I think there can be great music of any genre. I think to put a bow on this conversation, because I think we're basically, on the same wavelength I think is that hip hop became the dominant pop culture music in about the early to mid-90s.

While we were young. So now we're all in there. So people that you're at your 39, right? Right. I'm 38. As we enter our 40s, I believe 40-somethings of all colors and creeds, it will be the dominant pop form. You guys are right. I think the dividing line happened between when Mark and I graduated

high school and when you guys graduated. Yeah, I think so. Wow. I listened to Enya, which was And it was hot back in, like, 1991. I know that people don't imagine a time like that. But it's okay for musical taste to evolve as you get older. But the argument is not against that, which I think you're coming at this huge straw man thing. Like, you're the one who's evolving and the rest of us aren't.

That's not the point. It's just hard to take any 40-year-old seriously. You're pulling that guard, honestly. I am not. But it's not the truth. Not at all. Not at all. And I love jazz.

So it's like, I'm a varied personality. I like all sorts of music. No, I mean, Mark's absolutely right. His evolving tastes. I don't walk around pretending that I'm like... I don't walk around acting like I'm some musical giant. None of us do. I have like a hundred songs that I love and listen to all the time

and they don't need to be from 2018 released three weeks ago. Let's start in the news with Kelvin Benjamin. The wide receiver, former first round pick of the Panthers, traded for a couple of draft picks, third in the seven. I believe, from the Panthers to the Bills about a year and a half ago, and that has led to very little in the realm of results. So the bills decide after two unproductive seasons and 18 games in which he scored just two touchdowns. They're letting the wide receiver go. Sean McDermott spoke this week, I believe it was today, in fact, Wednesday on why the bills made the decision

to move on. We stepped up to the plate and you take a swing and some of those are going to work and some are. But the only way you get a hit is if you take a swing. And the important thing just as important for us, I believe, is when things are no longer right for us as our football team and where we are, and the vision we're trying to chase that we move forward, and that's what we did. Coaches love those baseball analogies. Wes, what happened to Kelvin Benjamin? He's slow, which has always been a problem. him. And he doesn't appear to be the most motivated guy. And when you put him on a team in a lost

season, I think that motivation is even easier to question. And before this news even happened, I had watched the Bill's Dolphins game and wondered why he was jogging on his routes. So I'm guessing some of that had something to do with it. It bothers me. If you're a Bill's fan, you'd be a little bit concerned about the self-scouting because the coach and the GM Brandon Bean came from Carolina. They knew inherently who Kelvin Benjamin was because I don't think he fundamentally changed as a person when he went to Buffalo. Carolina was willing to part ways with him. Although some players do go to Buffalo in Western New York and once the winter comes, they fundamentally changed. No doubt. But they gave up a third and a seventh for a player that's

out the door not too long after that. I don't know. I get if you're a different coach and a different GM who didn't have that experience with Kelvin Benjamin previously. He had less than 600 yards and 18 games. He wasn't going to be on the team next year. So this release is more of like a message sender and saying that whatever he's doing recently is not acceptable. They want to play the young guys. Right.

But it's a disastrous trade. I mean, to give up a third round pick for a season of Kelvin Benjamin at that level is a disaster. And I would assume McDermott and the former Panthers brain trust that moved up north, they thought they would maybe get an approximation of the 2014 Benjamin came into the league and went for 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns.

But he never really got close that. He blew his ACL out, came back at a similar season, but not at the same level. He was always jawing with Cam Newton and stuff. It just seems like not a team guy. He has a limited skill set. If he's going to be maximized,

he needs to be on a team that just focuses on that skill set and that's it. He's not a number one receiver. First team I thought of was the Steelers. And don't forget, When they made this trade, they're trying to make their first playoff spot in 17 years, and they did. I don't think it was because of Kelvin Benjamin, but that was why you make kind of an expert type of trade. It was ideally because of him alone that they made that playoffs.

What has Big Ben been asking for ever since Plaxico Burris left? A six-foot-five red zone target. And Justin Hunter, out for the year with a shoulder injury, James Washington has played as poorly as any receiver out there. So why not bringing Kelvin Benjamin as your third guy since you're right? Ryan Switzer's in Concussion Protocol, they're hurting. Unless he's a raging locker room cancer, that would be the only. That's what the Steelers love, though. Put Wesleyan in the Steelers' front office.

That's a good idea. Let's move on. The Washington Redskins are in deep duty. Alex Smith broke his leg. Then Colt McCoy broke his leg. And now they need to make a signing to support Mark Sanchez, who's their starting quarterback. They go with Josh Johnson,

who's been bouncing around. we'll get to his connection to the AAF in a moment. But the comments I want to play here are the most predictable question that Jay Gruden or any team would get when they're signing a Josh Johnson type player to their roster and a very notable player named Colin Kaepernick is either overlooked or bypassed. Jay Gruden was asked why they did not go down the Kaepernick route. This is what he said. No, just football, strictly football.

Like I said, when you're talking about a backup quarterback this late in the game, in the season. You want to have somebody that's a similar skill set than the quarterback that you have. Not that Colin can't do some of the things that I'm talking about, but somebody with a little bit of familiarity.

By underselling, Greg. I'm selling that explanation just because Colt McCoy and Josh Johnson, you know, they were in the same offense that Colin Kaepernick and Alex Smith were back in San Francisco. If anything, you know, I think he could adapt.

But even going into last week's game. They mentioned Mark Sanchez going into that Monday night game had less plays available to him than a third or fourth string quarterback would have had going into the third preseason game. So it's not like Mark Sanchez, you know, had like knew the playbook and knew everything. And I think if you kind of accept that Colin Kaepernick ultimately isn't in the league because of his political stance, that's at least the main reason that it's just annoying to hear the lip service each time this comes up. I mean, you're basically telling Redskins fans with your team still in the mix for a playoff spot

that we prefer Mark Sanchez to Colin Kaepern as a quarterback. Right, which they did a few weeks ago. And we prefer Josh Johnson, who, you know, at the San Diego Fleet from the AAFL or whatever it's called, gave up their first round pick for Josh Johnson. And weeks later, their roster has been scattered to the wind. It's a devastating setback for the fleet who, just last week, in the way that their draft is set up,

it's either protect or pick. so you can protect one of your three quarterbacks on your roster, or you could pick an unprotected quarterback on another of the league's rosters. They say we're going to rally around Josh Johnson. GM of the fleet, Dave Bowler said we watched all the quarterbacks pretty closely. We were paying close attention to some more than others, but some stood out and caught our attention and did some nice things. But ultimately, Josh, both of his decision-making and his roots in San Diego,

he was our guy. No, it's devastating. So where do you go from here, Wes? if you're the fleet. Make a trade for Christian Hakenberg? Why can't the fleet sign? The season doesn't start until February, so they're fine. The Redskins season ends in January.

That's like saying an NFL team losing their first round pick, and then you say, oh, the season's not starting for four months. Yeah, Sam Darnold got yanked into, you know, I mean, the Redskins are starting Mark Sanchez in the middle of a playoff race. I think the fleet can deal with only a month of training for Josh Johnson. If you can get Josh Johnson up to speed in a week on an NFL team, the fleet the fleet can handle it i i think i'm surprised no one's made the argument with i know everyone's like annoyed with the capernick argument like great giving actual analysis there

about the yeah you got i mean you got it's a setback for josh johnson's on his 12th nfl team so he's obviously doing something right like in the locker room he's probably a fun not or he's like a good guy to have as your backup or else teams wouldn't keep signing him i'm surprised no one's sort of made the argument to just sign capernick for the worst reasons possible which is PR is the ultimate PR league it took hold uh because they had a PR driven commissioner and Pete Roselle I think a lot of decisions I don't think this is breaking news are made at the league level for PR and throughout NFL's history ownership has sort of taken one for the team for each other for the greater good of the league and just tried to do something to quiet down an

issue like wouldn't isn't that reason that could be it's the most cynical bad reason possible but That alone should be like a reason. I hear the Redskins take one for the team to, to shut everyone out. I hear you, but when the Ravens came close with Kaepernick, they had sponsors pulling out left and right. That was a year and a half ago, though, and I think people said that, you know, no one's minded Eric Reed. No one cares that Kenny Stills is kneeling before every game's know, right?

All takes, though, is one Donald Trump tweet to fire up the whole country and any scared sponsors, maybe. I don't blame any team for deciding that Colin Kaepernick isn't worth signing, but I just wish we could get some truth instead of, like you said, the lip service. Just don't even say it. Just don't even say anything. Just say, this is what we decide. You know, just, it's ridiculous.

Especially this scheme argument when Josh Johnson literally was Colin Kaepernick's backup in San Francisco. Do you remember that? I'd like to hear, we don't think signing the 35th best quarterback in the world is worth what comes along with him. If that's what, yeah, if you wanted to say it that way. Let's move on Bruce Ariens. A little bit thirsty, Bruce.

He's working for CBS. and he floated it out there either I don't remember if it was Bruce himself or through back channels that he would be open to joining the Browns in a coaching capacity and only the Browns. And then when Mike McCarthy got fired on Sunday, a lot of people connected dots. Well, what about Bruce Ariens with Aaron Rogers? Well, Bruce Ariens is back on the radio and he's speaking to Zach Gelb of CBS Sports. And he said he had no interest in replacing McCarthy. no, not at all, Ariens said. If I ever return to coaching, it will only be in Cleveland.

Gellb noted that Green Bay is one of the more desirable openings for any coach. And Ariens held his stance. Yeah, it is. It's just I have no desire to coach in Green Bay. Mark, this is beyond telegraphing. He's basically begging the Browns to come after him, it seems like. He is. And in 30-something years as a Browns fan, I've never heard any potential coach frame the Brown's job

this way at all. And I really do think that it goes back a little bit. There's a Baker-Mayfield factor in there. There's probably a Freddie Kitchens factor in there. There's a comfort with the idea of Cleveland because his first play-calling job in the NFL was his three-year stint with the Browns. And he talks whenever that subject comes up, he talks very fondly about his experiences there before the whole thing melted down. And Butch Davis essentially went into a he resigned over having a breakdown, basically. And then Arians was out the door. That was their last playoff appearance under Ariens and I think that there's unfinished business there

but I think it's just sort of what Cleveland offers it is an attractive spot right now especially with Baker Mayfield and it's one last run for Ariens in his mind I don't sense as much excitement from the Browns or their fan base as you would think for Bruce Ariens maybe if he teased a little bit added some flirtation

we chase that which retreats from us and he's making himself too available right now he see it's tricky it's a balancing act you don't want to see him as Dan said cat and mouse Too thirsty. He also, you know, is as old, even though he has an aggressive downfield philosophy, he is about as kind of pro-style offense as coaches come. And he's turning 67 next year.

Whereas Baker Mayfield, you would think you would be looking for a coach that would be a little more like college and new innovative offensive. Mayfield today talked up Lincoln Riley as someone who's absolutely ready for the NFL. Kind of reminds me of. Remember in Swingers, Mike, when he's leaving the answering machine messages over and over and over again? Oh, my God. And finally, the girl picks up the phone. She's like, don't ever call me again.

It's like, Bruce, let it breathe a little bit now. The Browns obviously know you're interested. Let them come to you. I mean, we've all had some version of that experience back during the answering machine days. I'll tell you what, Mark. I would be surprised if Bruce Ariens is not the Brown's head. Erica didn't. In a month.

I think this is going to happen. Wow. Because why wouldn't the Brown's want to want. It's a splash hire. it matches the direction the league is in right now a respected offensive mind type guy and if Arients is passionate about the job and we all know he can coach ball

why wouldn't the Browns give him the job? I'd be fine with it. You'd be on fire about it, wouldn't you? I love him, so yes, it'd be good. I think because that's two very strong personalities in him and John Dorsey and I think they want to find a coach in a perfect world that would be, you know,

Baker Mayfield's forever coach. You know, you want a guy that can grow with them and he's someone who openly, had health issues and flirted, you know, flirted with the retirement a couple of times. You're retired, you know, it's not like they fired him. No, Bruce Ariens. On Ariens being the set.

Yeah, please plead me. That's on. All right. We've got a sandwich on it. All right. It's been a while. All right. It's been a while.

I have, you have the next Browns coach. Impromptu sandwich. You have that. You always love in the field on that one. All right. Let's go with the blotter, Brandon Browner. You remember him. He was kind of like the worst guy in the Legion of Boom.

Eventually. in many ways bouncing around the league he's a physical big cornerback and after he left the league he got himself into some quite serious business trouble-wise he's been sentenced to eight years in prison

after pleading no contest to attempted murder and child endangerment Greg you a little surprised this hasn't been a bigger story it just struck me that if he was still in the NFL like he was two years ago it would be a massive story

so it's just interesting to me that this happens, and it was horrific what he said. There's not much we can say about what he is accused to have done and was convicted. I mean, it's obviously horrifying. But it is different that, like, if he was still in the league, people would be going nuts about it, like what's wrong with the NFL? But then when you're out of the league for a year or two, then it's just off the reader.

In other news, Kareem Hunt, who is now unattached, of course, to any NFL team. In fact, Cream Hunt being kind of taken off the map entirely, even the Madden football game is removed him from the game I read today. So Cream Hunt has found himself completely cast out of the NFL and there's more connected to Hunt. The NFL is investigating

the former chief running backs the February altercation with the woman that led to his release, as well as an incident in January and June that involved I suppose some type of violence or an altercation of some kind. So Cream Hunt, who's

certainly going to have a lengthy suspension mark down the line. This stuff could even yield more issues for him beyond that one incident. Well, it's a classic, you know, investigation that's taking place, you know, enigmatically far too later than it should have. And the best, one of the best things that happened this week in the NFL is that no team jumped on trying to grab Kareem Hunt, which would have been a PR disaster and would have revealed one team for its worst, you know, its worst quality. Here's a question.

Wes, I'll pose it to you, if Ruben Foster doesn't get picked up by the Redskins and the Redskins got flamed as they deserve to be, if that never happened, do you think some team jumps on the reigning rushing champion in the NFL? It's a very good question, and it made me think, and my immediate answer was the video makes all the difference, and that's why he would still not have been picked up. The timing, too, that there's no way he's going to be on the field this year or probably for a chunk of last year.

It is just timing, though, because ultimately, do any of us doubt that he's going to be back in the NFL? I mean, I fully... Well, I mean, I'll say this. Ray Rice never came back. But Ray Rice was... Most people thought he couldn't play anymore. Ray Rice was right at the border of where he was about to be, you know, maybe out of the league anyways. I guess I would be stunned.

And I'm not even sure if I have a fleshed out thought on whether that's right, wrong, or whatever. But I'd be stunned if Kreme Hunt's not in the NFL. He is. I mean, Joe Mixon's in the NFL. There's a video tape incident with him. Tyrick Hill. If you got the talent and you're young, someone's going to take a shot most likely.

We'll see how this all plays out. A lot of IR talk. You never liked that. We've had a good season, knock on wood, in terms of major injuries, not affecting the league's best players for the most part. But here are some notable names. Greg Olson today was moved to IR with that foot injury.

He's having foot surgery. And he suffered three major injuries to the foot since the start of last season. This could be the end, Greg. It could. Why are you laughing? Is it funny, like Greg Olson's incredible career. It doesn't seem something totally different. I think Mark and I are both typing at the same time to tell Erica,

and I could be totally wrong, that there's some breaking news in the end of it. Am I wrong? You are, sort of, but I, go for it. ESPN is reporting that Emmanuel Sanders is believed to have torn his Achilles at practice Wednesday, and that he will be out for the season. Further test pending, but that's what the Broncos believe. He and Philip Lindsay have been carrying that offense all year. Man, that's a big injury for them.

They just traded Demarius Thomas, of course. Cortland Sutton stepped up last week and had a nice game, but he's been very hot and cold as a rookie. How does Case Keenam move the football through the air? Greg, you could tell Sunday night when we were doing the recap that Greg had already mentally checked out on the Broncos because of the Chris Harris injury. But I think this injury hurts even more because you can't.

I just think it's a funny way to set up point. No, I mean, like, I noticed when we were talking the recap last week, Greg was already like mentally taking the Broncos out of the pitchers. Like if they had made the playoffs, which because of their schedule, you know, they have two extremely easy games and then they have a Browns game. They could have still made the playoffs, but I guess I was taking them less seriously. If they had snuck in, they'd be one of those Sessler teams that are just kind of sneaking in and then are going to get dropped. And this is going to make it even harder. But they're not out of it. No, I think they're out of it. Emmanuel Sanders was playing at a really

high level this year. He was carrying that passing game. Well, so, Wes, one question. Let's say they have the Niners and the Raiders. I see them getting to eight wins. And then you head into Week 17 against the Chargers who may or may not have something to play for. I think they will. But I don't think the chance to get to nine and seven. That's a good point. The Chargers very well might not. I don't consider at Oakland a gimmie for the Broncos without Emmanuel Sanders and Chris Harris. They're the type of team. I think no game is a gimmie. I even thought that about Jeff Driscoll and the Bengals. And they ended up winning. but that game was tied scoreless late into the second.

They're a team that's overcome a lot of things. Their offensive line is bad. They have some things going for them, obviously, with the running game and some of their pass resters. If it wasn't for the schedule, though, we'd be crossing. They play the Niners. I think their season comes down to that Saturday night against Cleveland. The Panthers, and I never answered your Greg Olson question,

I think are in a similar spot. With that, it's just sometimes you can feel when things are ending. And maybe Ron Rivera will prove us wrong, him and Cam Newton quietly have done kind of the Aaron Rogers, Mike McCarthy thing a few times where they rally at the end of the season. I found some 2012 around the NFL article I wrote that Ron Rivera does not know his job status in going into week 17. Free riverboat. Right. And that was, he's had a few different runs.

And I would never count those two out. But losing Greg Olson on the same day that Tyler Heineke is throwing the final pass because Cam Newton's shoulder so injury a day before you're firing defensive coaches, just feels like the end. doesn't it? The Cam Newton thing, it's not just the Hail Mary. Right, that's a symptom. Go watch that fourth quarter, and he's throwing sideline creepers. The ball is stopping in mid-air. I mean, the arm strength is not there.

Even the throw before the Hail Mary, which I remember commented to you, Greg, while we were watching it live, it didn't seem to come out of his hand right and was not. You don't want those sideline creepers. Are you guys saying that shoulder injuries are a negative factor for an NFL quarterback? They seem to be an issue that can affect performance. And they were shop-level passes. And he struck. The crazy, the week.

The weird thing is, and I think it should be pointing out, though, he made a number of really good throws in that game. So it's a little confusing. Sometimes it looks okay. It doesn't take as much arm strength to throw to the hash as it does to the sideline. Boys, let's get into this more on Thursday when we talk Panthers preview. What about the sideline creepers opening tonight? The AJ Green season's over, re-aggregated that toe injury,

and we don't really have time to talk about it right now, but we'll have the track what happens with him in the offseason, as he enters his age 31 season, one year left on his deal. Landon Collins of the Giants, whose star seems to fade it a little bit after a great start to his career. He is on IR with an injury,

and Christian Kirk, the rookie wide receiver for the Cardinals, busted up his leg, I believe. Landon Collins is a free agent this off season. So I would think they would use the franchise tag on him. I don't have any other other options in front of me. That could be a tricky long-term contract to do because of this injury.

Broken foot for Christian Kirk ends his season. The Cardinals now officially ultra boring. Let's fork them. Still in the hunt, though, I think. Since week one. Let's fork them. Finally in the news. By the way, playoffpicture.com, NFL.

You know, NFL.com. I know you're listening out there, some of the programmers. You've got to take the Raiders and some of these teams out of in the hunt on the playoff picture because some of them are even officially out. But they're still sitting there. Take them out. You heard them. finally in the news

this really annoys me Joe Philman really uh excuse me replaced Mike McCarthy as coached the Packers in an interim capacity on Sunday but more changes came

on Tuesday associate head coach Winston Moss who's been with the team for a long time and he's coached the outside linebackers most recently was let go on Tuesday the decision

it is said came from Philman himself, and although it is not an unusual thing for these type of coaching shakeups to happen, especially when the head coach gets let go, a lot of people are connecting the dots to a tweet from Winston Moss in which he wrote this. Ponder this, what championship teams have are great leadership, period. It's not the offensive guru trend. It's not the safe trend. I don't know what that is. Find somebody that is going to hold number 12 and everybody in the building to a hashtag. Hashtag Lombardi standard, period, exclamation point. The period has an exclamation point. Hashtag losing sucks. Wes, is this a case? I'm going to use a youth term for you here. So, you know, stay with me.

Winston Moss getting canned because he was too online? I don't know what this means. Was he too online? And is that why he's unemployed? Let me take it back to where I'm comfortable, like the 1970s and 80s. This would be like firing Johnny Carson and keeping Ed McMahon around. he was he was top lieutenant to McCarthy for 12 years and obviously was he too online I think I think yes it seems like the tweet is what put it over the top

it is because he would have been fired the other day after he I think he realizes he was too online because he comes back with a second tweet that says the Packers have informed me that they're letting me go wrong version of there but that's okay then hashtag thanks Twitter so he puts the blame on the tweet yeah not on himself but on the forum of Twitter Twitter For amplifying, his message, he sought to be amplified. Twitter's gotten a lot of people hired, and it's gotten a lot of people fired. Giveeth, take it the way. Ian Rapporte said on around the NFL today.

What's that show called? Up to the Minute. That was a show that used to be. Got canceled. Our show did not. They forced us to take on the logo of that show that was, you know, eventually axed. As I was warming up in the bullpen. You know, they're out of pitchers.

I'm in the bullpen. coming in for the 14th, I noticed that Ian mentioned talking about this topic that Moss had kind of been surly and not really communicative and distant throughout the season. That works in a workplace. That's a good quality to have an order. It happens in a workplace. At least we can admit that. It happens to some people in this room, even someone talking right now.

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I don't know I try it I read a you know how the internet does a nice job with this no one ever knew what toss salad and scramble eggs meant in that song

and then the guy who wrote the song was like oh yeah me and the lyricist we worked it out tossed salad and scrambled eggs was supposed to mirror the minds of these people that would call Dr. Frazier Crane

on the radio show that had mixed up heads tossed salad scrambled legs i like it's good now you know the rest of the story all right so let's go around the room and uh and explain what what's got you jazz what's got you excited uh as we look ahead to the final four weeks of the regular season gregg get us how many are we doing here because you know we got a one strategy all right all right well we could be quick we were very very long on news so we could be quick we could be quick and i know i it's a good thing that i could try at least uh it's a good thing I'm going first because I'm taking Leighton Vanderesh before Wes or anyone else can.

You got you? Ouch. I mean, I have a bunch prepared because I'm, you know. Yeah, pro. I'm trying to be a pro. Wes and I were watching the Cowboys game the other night, and we were having a little fun. And he said, he said, why is that a homeowner? He said, you know, late in Vanderex might be like the best player in the NFL right now.

And I tweeted out and people got really worked out. Twitter mad? Worked up. But here's the thing. I'm not saying he's the best player. But if he, for the five games that he's played, the difference that he's make, you can't play linebacker any better than he's playing. And so I don't think it's too soon to say for these five games, and I think he'll keep it up on some level. I don't know if he can stay at this insane level.

He is playing as well as basically anyone, because you can't play any better than Leighton Van deris right now. I had to go back and watch that on coaches because I just wanted to kind of like see it. And it's an amazing thing. And he has great teammates too. Jalen Smith is a lot of fun to watch. but just seeing this kid come in as as good a rookie linebacker as I think we've seen in a long, long time. Which is why it's absurd to hear Jerry Jones come out to say this week that the minute Sean Lee is healthy, he'll be back starting. I know Eric is a big Leighton Van deresh fan.

Oh, yeah, he's awesome. Farm raised. He really is farm raised. For the record, I was joking about him being. I also said he's basically Jim Thorpe and people will tell tall tales about him 100 years from now and he's going to change the game. No, he's just fun to watch because it's like watching a young Brian Erlacker. Right. And it's not that we think he's the bet, but you really can't play it.

Like, I don't think it's crazy to say he's been as good as any defensive player in the league for this four to five weeks span. You know what I mean? To your point, Mark, maybe it's a bad move to take off this guy off the field. But Sean Lee's not like a pile of vomit. He's been the backbone of that D for many years. So I understand why, again, inside the locker room, inside an organization, you don't want to say. No, no doubt. I'm not worried about starts.

I'd be more worried about snaps. Keep them on the field. I bet they won't. They'll, they got to keep them. They'll get rid of it. They'll switch things around. All right. I'll throw it out there.

All right. Okay. I'm excited about the Chargers. I'm very excited about the Chargers. And I usually, I don't get excited about the Chargers often because in the past, I've been kind of annoyed by them. But I feel like I like when Forever Losers find some semblance of peace. You know, one of my favorite sports stories of the decade And a lot of people is when the Cubs finally won

A couple of years back The Eagles one, remember Connie Fox crying on the field We played that during our Super Bowl show When I happened upon Connie Erica crying too, for different reasons that night Erica was literally balled up On the concourse of the stadium Where were we again?

What stadium was it? Minnesota. Minnesota. And just sobbing because the Patriots had lost their It was worse than sobbing. I was like quiet and there were just tears streaming from my face. It was tough, but that's not what this is about. It was like dropping a three-year-old off at preschool on the first day.

So anyway, so you got the Eagles finally won after losing 53 straight or not winning a Super Bowl for 52 straight years. The Browns this year finally found a quarterback and they seemed to be going in the right direction. Now you got the Chargers, a team that's always found a way to lose. And I looked at Sunday night as a major step forward for that. organization. And I'll be very excited to see, although this story will be written in January, hopefully. If they can close strong, maybe catch the Chiefs, maybe have a home game, maybe a buy, and how fascinating it would be to see what that stadium would be like at the

Stubhub Center. If they're 12 and 4, 13 and 3 hosting a playoff game, will they fill it up with their fans or will get invaded? That's all stuff that will play out. But let's see what happens with the chargers. And I'll add one more note, Wes, because I want to hear your thoughts on this as well. There also, there's a flip side to this story. You want to see the charges finish strong because it's been years of disappointment and heartache, but then you got, what about all those poor people in San Diego, which to me, I still think about those fans, and wouldn't it be bittersweet if the charges finally got over the hump two years after they leave San Diego? It would be bittersweet. You're right. And the San Diego fans would obviously be a little

ambivalent about that but i don't know like he phil rivers life is affected too and a lot of these chargers players like you wouldn't wish good things for them yeah so in some some some fans i don't get the sense that a ton but some of the san diego fans have stuck with them i mean they were i've noticed them they've had they've been on the road a little bit i mean there was there was a story about a steelers fan choking a chargers a pregnant chargers fan at that game which is a horrible heartwarming story the the uh the the husband and wife said they had come from san diego though and they had been knew a number of road games this year. So they are out there.

It is a minuscule number. It's about as ugly a split as you could imagine. I was thinking about that. You say a minuscule number, and we're not the people to do because we wouldn't be able to, just quite frankly, we wouldn't be able to write this story

on NFL.com about what's going on in San Diego. But I'm surprised no one's like digging in. Like what happened to the fan base? Are people still supporting this team? There's some of that coverage because the ratings are significantly higher for the Chargers in San Diego. than any other team still.

Now, they're significantly down from where they were, but they're way more popular in San Diego than they are in Los Angeles. It is a shame to what you're saying, though. Like, San Diego would be on fire with the Chargers right now if they were still there. But I'm with you 100% obviously, and it's mostly because of Philip Rivers.

This is like the... Yeah, so you're a Phil. This is the season I wanted. Being in these meaningful games, he's going to be on the Thursday night finale a week from now against the Chiefs. That's going to be a big. time game. It's going to be against the Ravens a couple nights before Christmas.

That's a big time game. And he's going to be in the playoffs. If you don't like Philip Rivers, you simply have issues and you need to examine yourself. Wow. It's got that new haircut, a little bit longer. I like it a little more confident. Yeah. And my final thought is if the chargers get over the hump and the Eagles do it and if the Browns do it. And if the Cubs do it, eventually it's got to get to the Jets. I could see that. Connecting the dots.

I mean, just the process is of elimination. Yeah. All right, Wes, you're up. I think the guys who are getting me excited, can Aaron Donald break the sack record? How many records can Patrick Mahomes break? But it's more than just the record. It's about interrogating limits to the game and watching something we've never seen, changing the sport, giving something new to football, like Randy Moss going over the top of a defender or Barry Sanders,

jukeying his way out of a jam, Lawrence Taylor forcing teams to put a premium on athletic freaks at left tackle. Aaron Donald, who knows what he's going to force team. to do at Guard and Center. What he did in that Lions game might have been the most impressed I've ever been with him. That game was phenomenal, and he just seems to get better and more unstoppable every week. Patrick Mahomes, in a season full of highlight clips where he's the most fun to play player to watch, I thought he was more fun than ever last week against the Raiders. Some of the throws he attempted and tried to pull off.

How do you even imagine that you could make that throw? So to me, watching these two guys who remind me of Hall of Famers in the past, doing things we've never seen and continuing to do them the rest of the year. Is it kind of like the equivalent of an NBA player with a heat check, you know, shooting from 38 feet? Yeah, it's like Steph Curry. We've never seen anybody play the game like Steph Curry.

I don't think we've ever seen anybody play the game like Homes. I meant specifically some of the throws he attempted, but, and I've said that before, I get this like Steph Curry, Patrick Mahomes. I feel like there's some type of connection between those two guys. Two of the time. I think there's three strong candidates for MVP. I think those are two.

Interrogating the limits of the game. I like that. That sounded like a column or a segment. Yes, I do. I think right now there's, yes. I think if people like us need to keep talking about it. I think he's worthy, but I just don't trust that. I don't trust the voters.

I wish, you know what, I wish they actually could vote for three players, that it would be more like the NBA, but it's just one vote. But I think if it was held this week, I think it would go Breeze Mahomes, Donald, in that order. They'd all get some vote.

How do you get a vote? Erica, can you get on that? I think you have to be part of the Pro Football Writers Association in which I've attempted to get involved with them and they said no. Can you ensure that we have a vote in 2019 going forward? You guys specifically? Yeah, we have one group vote. Yeah, group vote. That won't create any.

Can you reach out? I'm not even, I'm being dead serious. Can you reach out to whoever you need to reach out to and pitch our show for a single vote? Absolutely. Okay. I'm not joking, though. This will go undone. I guarantee this goes undone.

No, it's, of course, all. like send an email but it and then see if they if they respond uh you could read the response if they don't respond all right if you can get this done we will all give you money we'll talk about i'll give you money total yes i'm just saying if she can like deal of it a three year old this off let's give her some real motivation see now she's writing things down she's no integrity money talks Greg i mean mark mark mark all right these days when I wake up every morning feeling super luscious. It has everything to do with one human being I can't stop thinking about.

Is it X network news anchor Connie Chung? No, it's not Connie Chung. Is it former White House twin Barbara Brush, the fiery redhead one who was nabbed by cops for underage alcohol possession and then nailed for going like 105 on the highway? It is neither Bush twin. Ooh, is it Hillary Clinton in her little beige pantsuit? Not her.

Wait, it has to be Jane Austen, that little minx, all tucked away in her British cottage, knocking out mega-hit novels, in her fluffy small dress. No, it's not Jane Austen, Erica. You're a brat. Just tell me. Wait, is it Princess Leia when she's in her white, puffy hawth snowsuit? It's not abroad. It's definitely in Mark's like a little back room. Tell me. It's private room.

It's this guy. The snap goes to Duke Johnson, then they flip it around, then they throw it a mess. Mayfield caught it. It's the Philly Special Cleveland style. Mayfield under center, play action fake, Baker back, Baker getting rushed. Baker rolls right, fires Higgins up. Caught in the end zone. Touchdown.

Baker loads, he throws Lattery, got it. He's at the 45, he's at the 48-yard line. Well, Baker Mayfield, here you go. Just the way you like it. Mayfield, a throw on first down, makes the connection. Jarvis Landry the catch across the 45. I honestly wanted to come up with something else, but I was like, what am I truly, truly excited about?

It's because every other December is the most depressing month because you're in a race trying to get the number one overall pick to solve this eternal void at quarterback, and this is one December. They have a primetime game on Saturday night. I can't wait to watch that. I don't really care if they're winning or losing because they have a future where it matters most

and it does have me excited about the Browns for the first time really ever. It's a different type of excitement. I mean, West dialed up the Browns Texans game as his first game pass game last week. And that was a game you knew that Baker was going to struggle in. Two weeks in a row, I dialed up the Browns first. That says a lot. Yeah, Baker is among the most fun guys

in the league to watch right now. Wait, did you say that Jane Austen was a mingstress that was nestled away in her coffin in England? Oh, cottage. Eric has said it. I didn't say it. Cottage. Because I think she's probably in a coffin. There were a couple of her.

In this world. Princess Leia and there was another one I think the Bush daughter. Oh, Barb Bush, the Redhead? I know Mark well what revs his engine and a couple of those things found their way into the script. He definitely likes the mix of politics and women.

And like innocence corrupted. The Barber Bush Like, junior, whatever she is, is far superior to Jenna Bush product. I was once at a... Barber Bush Jr. Well, why don't they do juniors for women? That seems ridiculous to me. You are a younger version of the other Barbara Bush.

You're the junior version. I mean, I get what you're saying. I was once at a party with her. Barbara Bush, too. In Westwood as a 21-year-old, and the Secret Service was there. How about that? Oh, damn. Little Pong action.

What? Wait, what? She was playing. She was playing. Were you interacting with her? No. You're like, that cup doesn't count. Those Secret Services like it counts.

She was in the mix. It counts. Can I have another one? Yeah, I mean, how long do you guys want the show to be? This one's important. I hear a lot of talk about you don't want the show too long. This one's important. Okay, go ahead.

Well, I'm excited to watch the best triplets. And Mahomes, Tyreek and Kelsey are in there. But, you know, Chase Daniel has made the Bears boring. Let's get Trubisky back in there with Killelea and Tariq Cohen on a wheel route against an unsuspecting linebacker. But my favorite triplets are the old Zusser, the Quiet Storm, and Dr. Rainmaker. You guys have sat behind me or sat beside me for 700 shows. You sat beside me for a grueling battle with cancer.

Will you stand beside me on the most important day in my life? Oh, wow. Whoa. I'm glad we did this. My favorite triplets. Oh, my God. What an honor. That's amazing.

I'm almost about to cry. Of course. Can we have to formally accept that we accept? I think I will do that with you. I will accept without any questions. I've just had, Dan was like, got to get the Jags Titan. Wow. Yes.

Well, get up and give him a hug. Yes, yes. A hundred times yes. Get at the hug. Go with the show ends. Of course. It's like, oh no, human contact. No human contact.

Please. Oh, how exciting. Well, you know what that means. Keisha's got to update her website. The three of us get to organize a bachelor party. Oh, it's going to be exactly what West doesn't want. I have some thoughts. This you might.

Paintball? Strip claw. No. No. Poker? Pokers. Yeah, a lot of card games. I thought maybe a trip to Big Bear or something.

That sounds fun. Oh, yeah. Whatever you want. I'll go to the bear. Sorry, Erica, that you were not in the mix on this one. No, it's okay. I felt privy because he texted me a little bit ago, so I knew before you guys. Yeah.

She could go to Big Bear with us? Do we have? Hell yeah. Do we really have to do the preview of Thursday and a football? No. It's a much better way down the show. And the show this way. I think it's fine.

Sorry Titans fans. Win a couple games. Go win a ballgame, Titans. I'm going to get blamed for that. Blame Wes with his big announcement. Sorry, Titans fans. Mark Brady is shadowly league figure behind the glass wondering why he wasn't included in the wedding party.

Just on the fringe there. So is this, I think, wait, now we are close enough to the date, I believe. Those odds for David Ely being best man seem to be ballooning. They might have to take it off the board. I have already answered. Someone to be my best man. So David. Can I guess?

Sure. Is it Nick Wesleyan? It is Nick Wesleyan. It is a quick Nick. I like that too, too, that he's not too tall. Like when the four of us are staying up there, it's not like one giant tall person. No, he's about Dan's height. Nick was at the hospital room, right?

Yeah. I like that he earned this. He said, look, he looked at the seven other Wesleying boys. I'm the best brother. I'm going to earn this spot. Greg, you're already stirring trouble, which is not your role here. Pulled himself up by his business. Bootstraps and earned it.

This is so exciting. And it is in April, right? It's in May. May. Very exciting. Got to book those flights. Yeah. Got to get it going.

I got someone to watch my kids already. Shout out to Dean Rosenthal. Dino. All right. Dino, just leaving mine home alone. We will be back on tomorrow, Thursday night, with a recap of the Titans and Jaguars. So get excited for that. And then we'll preview the rest of the week 14 games.

So make sure you check that out. And Wes, yes, yes, 100 times yes. All right. This is Dan Hansa signing off for Quiet Storm. The mailman, the soon-to-be Mr. Lakeisha Jackson, the old boss, and the loose cannon, Ricky Hollywood behind the glass. Till Thursday night. In the heat of battle, your squad relies on you.

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