NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Which team can win their first Super Bowl in 2016?

Episode Date: June 22, 2016

A room full of heroes -- Dan Hanzus, Gregg Rosenthal and Chris Wesseling – break down the latest NFL news including Marshawn Lynch’s comments on what made him a great running back and if Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff is really on the hot seat as he suggests. Then the Heroes are joined by fellow Around the NFL writer Kevin Patra to discuss which team could win their first Super Bowl in 2016. Plus, which team has the best wide receiver group in the NFL?Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comNFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Hi and hello. Check out the new episode of the Dave Damishik football program. Dan Hansu's Patrick Claibon and I are debating who has the best collection of wide receivers in the NFL. Best TV dads, best comebacks and sports histories. Check it out. NFL.com slash podcasts. The Around the NFL podcast.

Can't get enough. Bruno Mars. Welcome back to another edition of The Around the Around the World. the NFL podcast. My name is Dan Hansis and I am joined by a room filled with some heroes, Chris Wessling and Greg Rosenthal. What's up, boys? Hey, Dan.

Hey, Greg, you ready to rock? No. I was trying to get the boys hyped up for today's three-man weave. Well, we each got to pick up the slack when there's only three of us here. That means Wes, you have to talk more. I didn't get the rundown until a half a minute before the show. So I was trying to cram in some. prep time oh no he's oh well you know west you could have at some point in the hour before

the show been like hey dan did you ever send out a rundown and i would have been like oh maybe i forgot to put your name on it here let me forward this to you bra would you like to hear my point of view on that sure go ahead well you were over there working away i figured i didn't want to interrupt your concentration oh plus if you have room to breathe over there plus you know basing it on prior uh run done sending you could have thought maybe it's just going to be a last minute be a late one Sometimes that happens. Trust the system. Trust the system.

All right. You know what? Here's the thing, though. I believe you are such a talent, Wes, that even with this minimal amount of prep time, you're going to hit it out of the park. Thank you. That's a different story than before the show when you were trying to replace me. But now you're doing inside jokes. And now the real question, though, just to bring this home, hey, Greg, you ready to rock?

I'm not ready to rock. Greg's not a rock guy. No, he's not. He likes some rock music. He likes a lot of rock music. But he doesn't. What do you mean? You're more of a hip hop guy.

No, that's a misnomer. I mean, I love rock, too. Or I love a lot of misconceptions. Singer songwriters. You're right. Maybe it's a little softer stuff. In general, I find there to be a lot of misconceptions around Greg. Like on Twitter the other day, somebody was like, oh, Dan and Wes are so funny.

Even Greg was kind of funny on this show. I was like, whoa, Rosie Slays. Yeah, that's unfair. Your guys' response was almost more insulting than that guy. What did I say? I complimented you. Yeah, it was like, you didn't even need to respond. I said the boss has been a bit machine lately.

See, that was a little backhanded. He has been a bit machine. Mine, Greg, I believe I deserve an apology. Mine was Greg Slays. That's a comedy term for someone that's doing well in the world of comedy. I got you. I think you should be happy that your friends are, friends have your back. I am.

I'm happy. I bet if your boy, Jezzanek would have been like, oh, Greg Slays, you would have been like, oh, that's a big compliment, but coming from the old Zusser, it's like, you think I'm taking shots. It always comes back to RGVP. I don't know what that is.

It's such ancient history at this point. Welcome to the around the NFL podcast, sponsored by no one, loved by tens of thousands, beholden, Wes. To no one. To no one. I stuck it to Damashek.

I was on his show yesterday. check it out the Dave Damshack football program after I beat him in trivia becoming the latest guest on enemy turf to take down Shaq in his own trivia game this time naming 40 or naming quarterbacks who through touchdown passes to Jerry Rice I said deal with it McDonald's I'm all Burger King I heard that that should that was a shot across the bow of a check's major sponsorship so you guys proud of me more of an in and out guy uh yeah mark's not here mark's on vacation uh we've been checking in with there was a little discussion do we want to give mark a call and just to see where he is

because he was doing some time in manhattan and then all the sudden time yeah then uh well no he is having the time of his life i should say in manhattan and then he was in massachusetts and we saw some photos of um carowax grave so mark was doing that thing and now he's hanging out with his old camp buddies you'll call him tomorrow Maybe we'll check in with them. Didn't Natalie Merchant or the 10,000 Maniacs have a Jack Kerouac song? I'm not familiar with their catalog. I mean, I like a lot of non-hip-hop, but I wouldn't throw 10,000 maniacs into that.

Yeah. And speaking of Mark and photos and Instagram, some unexpected and frankly delightful heat between the Kiss and Cousins popped up before the show. Chris Wessling, just like he gets upset that his bits are. underappreciated on the show, upset that Mark gets adulation for his Instagram feed, his artistic merits as a photographer. And this is a direct quote from Wes. Wes says I'm a great photographer too. Check out my sunsets.

Well, that's not a direct quote. No, here's the direct quote from West, though. Because Greg asks, oh, do people actually like Mark's photos? They think he does like a nice job, artistic. I didn't say it. Now you're paraphrasing. You're not saying. That's the basic gist of what you said.

That's not true. now you're making me sound bad no you said oh people are you know like he was saying people were really super complimentary of his yes photography to the point where I was annoying him and I was like I didn't say it annoyed me here is this is a lot of mischaracterization going on here's west's exact quote mark quote tries to do LA empty streets that's not much to read into that I mean it's pretty much black and white that's not what did you say it's black and white like most of his photos. Did you say it? Shot right there, too. Good joke.

Did you say it? Now we're in on all your jokes. This is a bit that's going to have to do. I'm not a big pun humor guy, so maybe that's part of the reason. I'm not into it. I don't like puns. I don't like puns. You're a big pun guy. No, I'm not. I hate puns. Most of you are

bits that we miss are puns. No, they're not. How would you know if you miss them or not because you never hear them? Because the listener is always, you know, snitch. They're not puns. It is there in your Twitter bio. you know, like pun, pun expert. That is Twitter by a pun-heavy football analyst. All right, today's show.

Oh, yeah. Can I clarify a lot? You're right. You're right. Go ahead. I'm not annoyed at that. Mark's Instagram feed is one of my favorites that I have. I really enjoy it.

I just use it as a little motivation, just like you assume that the minor league baseball player was going to out hit me in softball, and that race was called months ago. Wait a second. Now you're taking shot. at our shortstop, Tony Garcia? No, he's our second best hitter on the team.

Wow. Is he our second best player? He might be a better all-around player than me. Well, there you go. Wes has been an excellent hitter and a great teammate, but a little, he's really, he needs that pat on the head. He likes that fire. Yeah.

He's like a David Ortiz type, a great hitter, but his feet are burning every time he has to run around the base. That's not true. And that's not even close to true. First and third last week. We go first a third on this team. On today's show, we have a little bit of news to get to quiet time of the year. We will talk about, based off something James and Crowder said of the Redskins,

he believes Washington has the best wide receiver group in the NFL. We'll talk about if that is even remotely accurate. And if not, who does have the best wide receivers? Greg, you wrote a banger along those same lines, correct? It's a mid-banger, you know, not. peak form, but I tried. Not a hard banger. Late June.

Medium banger. It's like a soft banging. Yeah, okay. We will get our old friend, Kevin Pachra, coming at you on the phone where we'll talk to him about his personal life. That's an important thing to talk about. But also, we'll talk about what teams that have never won a Super Bowl have the best chance this year to win a Super Bowl,

and we bring that up because the Cleveland Cavaliers, of course, won their first NBA title in team history on Sunday. So a lot to get to. And before we do that, we'll check with Irish behind the glass. What's up, buddy? Nothing much. I do have to back up Wesso on the leadership on the softball team. Nothing fueled me more than last week when he yelled at me, you don't mean anything.

And that was, that really fueled me. That was taken out of context. Well, out of context moments. We were down by four runs and he had a lead-off single in the, last inning, so it's not an existential statement. You just don't mean anything as a base runner at that point in the game. I know, no, I knew what you meant. But, you know, I'm going to take it as fuel like any great athlete would.

How about some more fuel? How about if you bet lead off for us tomorrow night? You know what, coach? Tell me where to hit, and I'm going to hit. Well, you'll find out tomorrow. But we're leaning toward that direction. That's fine. Speaking of Irish, Ireland is playing in the Euro Cup,

and I have it on a TV in the studio right now. Now, no score, 81st minute, and the Irish are eliminated from cup contention if it stays this way or if they lose. So, you know, Irish. I know you're watching this closely. I have it on in here as well on my little room, so I've got to keep an eye on it. Greg being dismissive, sneaky anti-Irish in a big spot here. Well, you're the biggest turncoat since the Verizon guy switched to sprint here. You know, whatever happened to the old US of A.

Well, they're rooting on them last night. Okay, let's just go root for another country. What's wrong with that? They're two separate tournaments, number one. What's we're out? Number two, this is America. All of us have come from other places. That's one of the things about...

I'm not rooting for Germany, I'll tell you that. Well, you might have other issues, but I have Irish blood and, you know, I'm going to support the Irish. Now, the U.S. was playing Ireland or the World Cup. Okay. USA, these colors don't run. Okay. But right now, these colors don't run. All right, let's do some news.

Oh, man. Oh, man. Now what? All right. Colleen asked for it. And there it was. That was the clown. Ooh, we should check on the poll real quick.

I threw up a poll. What was the best? Now what? Intro. And the winner is with almost 560 votes cast. The clown does win. 35% of the vote beating out the panicked coward. the gay German disco in 2138

and dramatic actor Let's give the clown it's due Uh-oh, now what And Greg, you're upset Because you loved the panic coward Oh man Now what Yeah, I disagree with the premise

That it has to go by a Twitter poll I think we should just decide You know, trusting the people to decide things That's not always the best way to do things That's how two and a half men becomes the most popular show in America. Fair enough. But this also, once again, shows your anti-fanling.

Let's go Irish, put it in! Oh! Get in! Oh, he blew it! You'll blow it. Great podcasting there. Yelling and screaming about a game that ended hours ago by the time people listen to this.

All right. You know, Craig, write down with your pessimism online. Come on, Captain, no fun. General. All right, start with some news. Actually, let's start with talk about hot butts. We'll hear that? That's a butt roasting.

That's flesh. Thomas Dimitrov enters his ninth season. Nine seasons is the GM of the Atlanta Falcons. They've missed the playoffs in three straight years. He lost some of his poll in the organization last year to Scott Pioli, the team's GM. Irish! The Irish put one in, baby, Brady! Brady with the header!

Throne of ease. All right, I can get behind that. Okay. All right. We're at a throne of ease with a bloke named Brady. Oh, that's beautiful. Look at those flags.

All right. Awesome. All right. Now, hold on to it, Irish, six minutes. Anyway, so Dmitroff understands he's under the microscope. Here's what he had to say. Of course, I'm on the hot seat. Every year I'm on the hot seat,

he told the Talk of Fame Network, which is apparently a thing. I believe that 100%. I believe anyone who doesn't think they are maybe just and doesn't think they are, maybe just won a Super Bowl, but I think most of us know it's a very urgent league now. Dmitroff, yeah, I think that's pretty obvious. He's on the hot seat.

Let me ask you this. I'll start with Greg on this one. Is there anybody or who are the other coaches, or excuse me, GMs or front office figures like Dmitroff who are maybe even have warmer butts than Dmitroff right now or close to it? Well, I think you'd start in Buffalo. Oh, yeah.

Doug Whaley, Teflon Doug. That would be one. I don't know if it's hotter than Demetroff, but it's... It's got to be close. He's beloved by the Pagoulas. Seems to be, but they also had to release a statement at the end of last year that they were keeping him, which is never a good sign. So he comes to mind quickly.

I think Dave Caldwell, people don't want to hear it here, and the plan seems to be working in Jacksonville. And yet, if they go 3 and 13, 4 and 12, there's got to be a chance that they would change things. I don't think Caldwell's on the hot seat at all. I think Gus Bradley might be. That's more likely. Dmitroft's an interesting one too

because, I mean, this is a guy who brought about the greatest era in Atlanta Falcons history for what it's worth. I mean, the second he came in there, they've started winning immediately and consistently for the first time ever. And yet the last three years, four wins, six wins, eight wins.

And if they go back under 500, I wouldn't be surprised if they blow that whole thing up. Well, I mean, just look at this podcast. It's anathema to talk about the Atlanta Falcons because they're that boring. that's the roster that Dimitrov has put together. There must be a thought, too, moving into a new stadium. You kind of want to have, like, they're not going to want to move into a new stadium

with the stink of a group that hasn't won in four or five straight years. They're going to want to give someone else a crack with Matt Ryan. Have we said Les Sneed? Less Need? I don't know if he's on, I don't know. I think Jeff, I think it's the same thing where I think Jeff Fisher might lose his job before Les Needs. Oh, I don't know.

How about Jerry, Jerry Reese? Reese is definitely. that's a hot butt but but back to sneed like i think that sneed and fisher crazy have been so so hot i mean so hot butts so closely tied together i mean they they've been arm and arm more than really any other pairing in the league i feel like so for one to get get thrown out the other not to one thing that could be working in fisher and sneed's favor is that their stadium is an opening until 2019 and that might even buy them that extra year in jared goff in theory depending on how he looks could buy them an extra year um what about jerry jones

a hundred years and now jones won't be on this earth and he'll still be the gm of the cowboys mark my words uh all right anything else on that guys that's it let's move on uh all right pete carroll believes that Russell Wilson, who is entering his fifth season, I believe, is under the impression that Russell Wilson is now a, quote, true veteran, his ability to move defenders with his eyes. That's what Carol had to say, to set up some things. He's consistently doing that almost unconsciously. He's so clued in. We saw him throw the ball all over the field throughout the offseason.

He's been strong and accurate and really precise about this stuff. He has had a great offseason. This is year five. it has taken all of this time to get to this point and he'll improve, but you can really see him as a real true vet now. Wes, what does that mean? Because obviously Russell Wilson, two times Super Bowl, or it was one to two Super Bowls, one, one.

He's obviously a true veteran at this point, but what is Carol saying to us? This quote got raised my eyebrows a little bit because it is true that even though he's had success, they were a run first team. And young quarterbacks, it does take a half a decade. We saw that when Matt Ryan was about in his fifth year, the coaching staff was like, all right, this guy can finally bring the team to the line of scrimmage, look across the line, get them in the right play, find a weak spot on the defense and pick on it. All the things that Tom Brady and Peyton Manning do, he's not on their level now, but Russell Wilson was the best quarterback in the NFL in the second half of the season, along with Cam Newton last year. and I think that's probably when it started clicking for him

and now it doesn't surprise me that Pete Carroll is talking about him becoming a veteran at, you know, I think setting up defenses, poking holes in it, getting his teammates in the right spot, looking at the matchups, I think that's all part of it. Well, it's an easy narrative because Marshawn Lynch is gone, but it's overdue to turn the team over to Russell Wilson. He played so unbelievably well down the stretch,

and the Seahawks have always been hesitant, to be a past first team because that's just not how Pete Carroll is wired. But I think for fantasy leaguers and for everyone else out there, I would expect this team to operate differently this year. They not only have a shaky backfield in terms of their running backs, but they have great continuity and better talent at wide receiver than they've had throughout the Russell Wilson area. You have Doug Baldwin, who's about to get his third contract with the Seahawks,

who has coming off his best year. Tyler Lockett, who looks like a star in waiting. You have Paul Richardson coming back who has some potential, and you have Jermaine Curse as your third or fourth. That's a good group that's been together with Wilson, and they're going to all start growing up together. This is a guy who's never thrown the ball more than 500 times. He's not even gotten to 500.

And Ryan Tanil's out there throwing 600 times. I'd love to see that offense revolve around Wilson to see how good he can really be. I mean, people don't really talk about it. He almost gets overlooked a little bit because his defense is so great, but he was the best quarterback in the league for the last two months of the season. And if you look at the numbers, I'm sure Cam was probably. Cam was right there. That's right there.

But he was throwing four touchdowns a game and not turning the ball over for two straight months down the stretch of last season. I think he could be a guy and we'll talk about it down the line when we have a fantasy football week. I think he's a guy that could end up being the next big quarterback in terms of the number one stats guy, the number one production guy, and you want him on your roster above anybody else. It wouldn't surprise me at all. And he's a guy who's the first one in the building, last one to leave. smart high football IQ and it's still according to Pete Carroll took him five years to get to the veteran quarterback spot took Cam Newton five years to become MVP what does that say for

quarterbacks who aren't quite as good young quarterbacks it just takes a long time in the NFL his numbers though are crazy for his career 106 touchdowns 34 interceptions and I never would have thought going into last year wow that going into 2016 who do you trust more to have a great season. Russell Wilson or Andrew Luck. And I think, I'm not saying I would rather have Russell Wilson than Andrew Luck, but I think there's at least a better chance

that luck has some struggles than Russell Wilson. I completely trust Russell Wilson to have that sort of season. You're making a face, Wes. I don't, I'm not playing your game. I don't think I have to choose between the two. Well, why not? Because they're both, neither one of them is going to struggle.

That's fair. I agree. I don't think either one struggles. And yet if I believe, Out of that 2012 class, which has obviously lost some people along the way in terms of RG3 and Tannhill's kind of in the middle. But Wilson is almost the surest bet right now, is all I'm saying. That's your opinion. I say I'm raising my hands in victory. You guys are watching the Ireland game.

No, I have nothing but supreme confidence in Andrew Luck. That's fair. The Irish just advanced, by the way. Good job Irish. Speaking of the Seattle Seahawks, Marshawn Lynch, who is, you know, retired, we believe. He says he is. He'll take him out his word.

Old teammate of Russell Wilson. He was on 60 Minutes Sports recently, and he had this to say about what made him a success, what was the secret to his success as a running back. I think that's when it just clicked on my mind that if you just run through somebody's face, a lot of people ain't going to be able to take that. over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again they're just not going to want that and then as a follow-up the interviewer had this to ask

think there's a deeper metaphor there run through a motherfucker face I'm gonna miss that guy he's the best you know we don't say it in this era anymore but football is still about hitting people. Yeah, and nobody did it better. I mean, that guy, no wonder he got out at 30. We don't know. We were reading about Big Poppy at the Red Sox. He can't even move anywhere. His feet hurt so much.

I can't even imagine. And Marshawn Lynch is not the type of guy to talk about it. But he's got to be sore when he gets up in the morning. The amount of abuse that he doled out to defenders for a decade in the NFL, some of that comes back on himself. So, you know, maybe we shouldn't have been so surprised that he was a guy that got earlier rather than later. Not surprised at all.

Any time to do well with getting the guaranteed money. I'm fired up after listening to that speech. You can apply that to other things in life for sure. Right. And I want to go knock Wes over like I once did over at the NFL Now Studios. That's why I'm kind of fired up. I just want to. Irish, what's my favorite softball cheer when you're up to bat?

Hit it in the face. Yeah. Hit the ball in the face. That's what you do when you're hitting. And finally in the news, JJ Watt, the Houston Texans, Dynamo, got into a little Twitter feud with Mike Floreo of PFT, and, you know, to me it was sad. It was all over a tweet that J.J. Watts sent out of himself in a very tight USA soccer jersey.

And I'm saying Jersey, because by the way, not for nothing. I'm trying to get more and more into soccer, and I'm very happy about the Republic of Ireland. And I'll go along with you when you talk about, you know, oh, we're on the pitch. And, you know, it's not a game. It's a match. But I can't come with you on kit. I'm with you on that. I'm not calling a grown man a kit or whatever he's wearing a kid.

Well, you're not calling him a kit. I'm not calling his outfit. But that's it. It's his uniform. It's a jersey. I don't think they're making a judgment. First of all, it's very big of you to adopt the vocabulary of the word. I'm coming at it from a person that watches.

Wait, you're coming at it from the other side of the... No, I'm coming at someone that watches tennis, and they call that kits, because it's like it's the whole uniform. It's not just... Does it come in a kit? It's not just the jersey. As opposed to the NFL? It's the shirts and shorts.

Everybody's got a full uniform. Right, so that's fair. That's called the uniform, I guess. The kit, I think, is to, you know, say the whole thing. Anyway. I like kit. Okay. So anyway, so JJ Watson out of tweet, he's in a skin-tight USA kit.

It's signed by, I guess, the entire team. and he writes, of course he writes it, Kit is a bit snug but ready if called upon, hashtag USA versus Argentina, it did not go well for the U.S. We're still working on that. But again, West, these colors, they do not run. What are you at walking

Toby Keith's song? I don't know. But then pro football talk replied, and that is Mike Floreo who runs that account, correct, Greg? I mean, other people can send out the links, yes, but if it's just someone tweeting out some opinions, it's Mike. Greg used to work for that company.

in fact, very close with Mike Floreo at some point. That's why we're going to get his opinions on this in a second. Floreo countered by quote retweeting Watt's tweet and then said, why does everyone want to talk about me? I'm just minding my own business and seeking no attention at all. An old Watt quote. And what he's doing, he's getting on Watt for bringing attention to himself and being a guy that doesn't have a lot of, I guess, modesty about himself,

which is something we've been talking about forever. both on this podcast and in written form on the end around in other places. And now PFT ruined it. For you? For me, once Florio's involved and he's the one slinging the arrows, I no longer feel like it's cool to get on Watts back

because now I don't know who to root for. The waters have been muddied and I'm getting out here. So, all right, Pete, what exactly are we? we resting in peace here j j wat criticism i'm no longer february 2016 through june 2016 it's been longer than that i mean it went back all the way but even before hard knocks remember when he was rapping that's a good point that's last that was like kind of peak false humility for jay wott um i don't follow pro football talk on twitter because i don't need to know when the 53rd guy on the roster got released or signed to a minimum contract or whatever don't we do that on our account too though that's fair

Do you follow around the NFL? I do, but we don't, we tweet more meaningful things. I like that, a little heat there, to PFT and around the NFL. That's not true at all. No? Okay. You were saying you agree with the, essentially. I agree with it.

You agree with his point. But I've been on record the whole time about Watt with this stuff. But, you know, but then Floreo doubled down and he wrote a 671 word post where he, you know, explained his side of this. This is the stuff that happens in the end of June. Watt went after. You know, Watt went after him. He said to take his saltiness elsewhere. And do you know why, J.J. Watt went after him.

It's because he feels like this when people tear him up. It hits me right in the heart. It hits him right there. Like he's just trying to be himself and people are just coming at him like that. It's not cool. You know, this is where I would then say, no, he's a phony, but that's it. No, you're done with it. I'm out of it.

If you said that, then he would be like. All I know is, you mess with me, you got a problem. That's all I know Listen that That's he's dynamic I like it This says remind me of The song from the new movie

Which quickly left theaters Pop Star Never Stopping I believe About what is it called I'm the most humble Which is a great great song I'm so humble

I'm so humble Yeah that movie did not do well I was one of seven people To see it in theaters I believe The song is unbelievable That's what's happening in the news I'm out JJ Watt do whatever you want buddy

you won't see any heat coming from nfl.com anymore an end around staple no longer going to either can't do it anymore the the funds been taking out of it taken out of it all right let's talk about it jamison crowder is a wide receiver for the washington redskins he's a slot receiver had a nice nice rookie season 59 for 604 so he's a part of the future there in Washington now they've added josh dotson of course course, and you already had Deshaun Jackson in the building. Pierre Garsohn is in the building.

You have Jordan Reed, lining up a tight end. Might be the best player out of that whole group. Might be. And he was asked on ESPN 980 if he believed that the Redskins have the best receivers in the league. And he had this to say, yeah, yeah, we do. We think that, you know, we're the best in the league, knowing that we've got guys like D. Jacks, Pierre Garsohn, like you said, Jordan Reid he had a great season last year we even added Vernon Davis a tight end let's slow down there but he's still another weapon that we can really can really help us out in the passing game

and he goes on and on and on do the Redskins have the best wide receivers in the league west or just receiving core they have the best wide they have the best receiver core in the trainers room okay how can you count on Jordan Reed and Deshawn Jackson to stay healthy all year I mean it sounds great in June to say they have the best wide receiver core I wouldn't put them over the Cardinals by any stretch it is on paper and that's a fair point garson also uh played through some injuries last year and for what it's worth josh thawson didn't practice for most of this off season while he's struggling with an injury so that's that's a good

point but that is the deepest group in the league i mean that is five i would take the cardinals as a much deeper group throw in j j nelson and david johnson and darren fels and andre ellington well for the purpose of this from the exercise I wrote about, I only counted receivers in tight ends. I didn't throw in running backs into the receiver group, which definitely would help the Cardinals out and hurt the Redskins. But that's five deep in quality. You're going J.J. Nelson as what, your fifth? So you have Fitzgerald, Brown, Floyd, Nelson, and then Geron Brown would be your fifth. Darren Fells, who's gotten rave reviews all offseason from Ariens and Palmer. They have not used the tight end a ton.

Although Phelis has looked good in spurts for them, especially late last year. Redskins are taking you out there in the four and five spot. So just in terms of depth, I would go Washington. But I did rank, to your point, Cardinals were my number one, because I think they're better in terms of quality. I think you got an all-time great coming off an all-time game in Fitzgerald. You have a great deep threat in Floyd. You have Brown, who is incredible.

And I think Nelson, and who knows what we'll see out of the rest of that team. I think we'll see a better John Brown than last year, by the way, who had a nice season, no doubt, but he could have been better. He left some yards on the field. If he takes the next step, even if Fitz comes down a little bit, which we talked about, the superstar club, that there's some belief, at least in this room, that not by Wes, of course,

that he could take a step back in his age 32 season. If Brown takes a step up, they're going to stay right at that elite level at the wide receiver position. I would take all three of those Cardinals wide receivers over any Redskins wide receiver. Huh. I would not, well, that's interesting. They are better at the top. Garsohn is a guy who I've always thought is almost underrated.

Drops some passes, but physical, great after the catch. Deshawn Jackson, I don't know if he's underrated, but he's got a unique skill set. It's not like these guys are lousy. And Crowder had a great, I think Crowder is a good player. Crowder, Crowder, Dotson, and Reed. Even if Garcone and Jackson are gone after this year, that's a nice one, two, three. Crowder looks like kind of what you're looking for in a slack guy. And Wes is right.

D. Jack's always hurt. But he's given no indication that when he is healthy, he's still the best deep guy in the league. It's a nice-looking group. Would you put them second, Wes? No, I would take the Patriots. Well, on Greg's list, Greg has... Give me the team with Grunk over the team with all the guys who are always injured. Greg has Arizona 1, Washington 2, and you have the Pats 3.

Well, Gronk, to me, is so much better than anyone else at tight end. And one of the all-time best players at the position, that's a huge edge. right there. I think Julian Edelman is obviously a very good receiver, and now you have Martellus Bennett would be the number three, and you've got some decent depth in Amandola and Hogan back in those guys. The more I look at this, I'm just not as impressed with the Redskins as everyone else's. Really?

I think I'd take, give me Demerius, Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, and any two or three bombs over the Redskins collection. Really? I disagree, because Reed, first of all, is a top, we think he's a top five receiving. When he plays. Okay. which is very rarely.

Garsohn, Jackson, and Crowder to me are all starters. And Dotson, a lot of people thought as the most pro-ready guy of any of these rookies. So these are quality starters. If you're going five-deep with quality starters, that's pretty good. Redskins have a very high ceiling, but also a very low floor as a group if they all get hurt, of course. Here's one group.

The Jaguars, you have, Greg, you have them as your fourth best wide-out or a receiver group. that seems about right on the Sheck show yesterday I mentioned them when talking about the best wide receiver groups especially if Julius Thomas Let's see is he a little is he trimmed down Have we seen anything in the OTA write-ups or minicamp He's a little peepy last year

Yes we have seen a few things that he's trimmed down And that you know he's picking up the offense better We'll see the problem with the Jets Let's just let's just bring this up No you're not allowed to bring it up because you once again As is usual whether it's a scientist or Mark, you know, I'm always on the defense of the Jets. It doesn't matter what they do because the best one-two combination in football last year at

wide receiver, you would think they would crack a top four on a list like this. Well, Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker were fabulous as a tandem last year. And then you go arbitrary, Greg, because you say, oh, well, include tight ends in this. But even though it's 2016 and teams spread out their offenses, I won't allow any receiving. That's not a receiver group. That's not what we're counting. or two years removed from a 100 catch season. He will be a huge part of the passing game for the Jets this year.

So I include Matt Forte. So then you got Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker, and Matt Forte all on the same offense. That is, to me, a top three receiver group. Well, if you're adding running backs in, it changes the whole equation, yes. It's just funny that you'll find a way to eliminate the position group that will keep the Jets off.

I like that you think that the whole strategy behind it was to eliminate the Jets. I see you. There were many teams, like the Broncos that you mentioned, Demarius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, West, where the falloff after the top two was immense. Not only did a team not have a third receiver like the Broncos, but they don't have a tight end like the Broncos. The Jets, for instance, do not really have a third receiver. I can't answer that.

And do not really have a tight end right now. The Bucks have Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson. We'll see if your boy Cameron Bray or Austin Severeon Jekin step up. I'm not nominating the Bucs. Right. And the one team that almost made it that I felt the worst about were the Bengals. Because to me, A.J. Green, Tyler Eifert, and whoever else he can find. Theo Bernard.

Is it a great group. But Eiffert also an injury-prone type of guy. Absolutely. That's a good conversation. You called it a soft banger, Greg. I thought it was pretty hard. It was a medium level. I did pick a couple teams likely to rise.

I love that Devante Parker Jarvis Land. combination you really love the dolphins man yeah are all in who are we just talking about the other day the dolphins well a lot of these receivers yes i got a hard banger for you okay why don't you rank from one to 32 each starting quarterback according to the weapons they have at their disposal so that that would include the running backs and whatnot yes does that include the offensive yes it's interesting i like that i like the west giving some love to the line too because they don't get called weapons a lot you never hear a left tackle called a weapon but they certainly are you're telling me joe thomas the best pass blocking uh tackle in the game

is not a weapon keeping heat off you i'm stepping up i'm stepping up to the plate for uh connor war who loves offensive linemen he is he he does he's annually the only person that nominates an offensive lineman for making the leap so i appreciate that just for diversity who's his nominee this year. Jake Matthews. Jake the snake. Finished off last year pretty well. By the way, the Steelers,

if they had Martavis Bryant, would have been one or two. I'm not totally... And by the way, that's the answer to the best wide receiver duo in the league last year, Antonio Brown and Martavis Brian. That's true.

I think I would take them over the Jets. Maybe not total production. I don't know if the numbers... Well, Brian sat out the first six games of the year, and then he came back and they were unstoppable. Well, I'm just saying the Jets, I'll use that in their defense as well. there was no other options on that offense besides those two guys,

and they had a top 10 offense. They were great. The Steelers, I am not going to fight you on that. I mean, those guys are both incredibly explosive. So, yeah, that's cool. The Steelers can go ahead of the Jets. But the Jets should be in the top four. I'm sorry.

All right, so who are you taking out? The Jags. Maybe the skins. Wes has got me thinking now. A lot of things have to go right for the skins to have a great offense this year. Quincy and Nunwa. No, I'm telling you, that's not a good situation. All right, moving on.

Oh, can we Irishman, can we get a good friend, a local tough from the city of Chicago? But one of the last guys you want to encounter in an alley when the chips are down. The resident tough guy of around the NFL. A warrior in the streets A gentleman in the bedroom A man that steps down steps back from no challenge Our own John Snow

Covered in blood Gasping for air But never giving up eventually Brandon will get him on the line I want the rest of the show To be Dan stretching out the intro I want it to be for 10 more minutes and we never even get Patra on the phone The show just ends like that

A guy with a 6 o'clock shadow Is it 5 o'clock shadow? 5 o'clock shadow That's like Hello Kevin Patrick What's up buddy Welcome back to the Around the NFL podcast

We were just speaking of your glory Before this My glory Yeah just in general If you want to listen to three minutes of an uncomfortable pumping up of Kevin Patra as we waited to get you on the phone. Just listen to today's podcast. I'll remember to skip that part.

We have a lot to get to with Kev about what's going on in his life and what's going on in his weight room and what's going on outside the window as he looks down upon the city of Chicago while lifting stark naked. But before we get to that, we want to talk some football with Kev. Does that sound cool? That sounds great. Dan, can I tell you something real quick? Sure, go ahead.

I just, I wanted to vocally congratulate you on your new child. I'm not usually pro-human procreation, but you seem like you got it under control. I like, I really appreciate that. I know what you're saying. Some people, they're either not responsible enough to bring a child into the world or not, you know, don't have the financial wherewithal. I know what you're saying, bud. That could be your Twitter bio, Kevin, not you.

usually in favor of human procreation. How do you feel about young children on airplanes, Patrick? Oh, I know the worst. You can get into that in the airplane pot. Patchwell will learn that. The soft version of Kevin Patcher will soon learn that that's something that a young parent can't really avoid, especially if your family lives in different parts of the country.

But that will save that for another conversation. Let's start right now, and what we're going to talk about is which team will win its first Super Bowl in 2017 when the trophy is handed off at Reliance Stadium in Houston, get excited, everybody. There's 13 teams, which is surprising. You would think there would be less than 13 out of the 32 NFL teams that have won the Super Bowl.

But here's the list. And it doesn't count AFL titles, obviously. Bills, Bengals, Browns, Texans, Jaguars, Titans, Cardinals, Falcons, Panthers, lions, Vikings, Eagles, and the San Diego Superchargers. And for the purpose of this exercise, and we'll start with Kevin Patrick here,

let's kind of stay away from the Cardinals and Panthers because I think everyone is kind of, you know, has a feeling that these are two of the top six to eight teams in the league. So you're not really hanging on you to say that those are... Much like the Cavs were the favorites in the NBA East this season. I, well, I don't know, what does that have to do with anything? Oh, I thought we were, I thought this was inspired by the Cavs winning their first time. Yeah, the Cavs won.

Oh, okay. If we did that same exercise before that season started, we wouldn't talk about the Cavs because they'd be the heavy favorite. But we can, we can acknowledge. You know what? I'm going to step back. Now Greg and Wes will listen to themselves talk about how the Panthers and Cardinals could win the Super Bowl this year. Go ahead, guys. And then let me know when I can get in.

Go ahead. Teach us something about these two teams. they're the favorites to win the Super Bowl. Ooh, that's fascinating. What else? Well, just you have to acknowledge off the top. If the whole idea is which teams are most likely to win their first Super Bowl, then you point those teams out for.

That's what I just did. Yeah. Well, you could pick one over the other. I think the Cardinals are more likely than the Panthers. If you've got to pick one, I would go Cardinals. Cool. Maybe the Browns? All right, so we can, all right, I'm jumping back in.

All right, great. The Cardinals and Panthers are. the teams that are most likely. Now, Patrick, get us going. Besides those two teams, which team in that list of those remaining 11 do you think has the most realistic chance here? I think I would go with the Minnesota Vikings. I think on the strength of their defense. With Mike Zimmer, I think they could pull off sort of what we saw the last couple years with the Panthers, getting into the playoffs, getting deep into the playoffs on the strength of their defense. I mean, I know you guys in that room are a huge Teddy

Bridgewater fans, but we've seen much worse quarterback. next win Super Bowl. I think with you got some young core, young front seven in the defense, Anthony Barr, Eric Kendrick coming into their own. I think this could be a team that is going to fight with the attackers for the NFC North. They'll get into the playoffs as a wild card. They should have beat the Seahawks last year. They almost beat the Cardinals in the regular season on a primetime game.

And if Teddy Bridger-out and screwed up, they probably could have won that game. So I think this is a young team that's blossoming, and they got added some new pieces in Laquan Treadwell. I think that they're the team out of the other 11 that I would go with. I think Teddy Bridgewater would need to be better. You said we've seen a lot of teams win Super Bowls with quarterbacks worse than Teddy. There haven't been that many. I didn't say a lot.

I didn't say a lot. I said we've seen teams with worse quarterbacks. Yeah, it's happened. But I think he would need to. We saw it last year. Yeah, I think you just would need to take that next step, whether it's to 2015 Andy Dalton or even, you know, just a bordering on a top 10,

quarterback. I think you need a guy that's willing to go down the field a little more or able to go down the field a little more. But I think you're right. I think this is a team that's set up to win now. It's a young team, but they've been together a little while now. And you have Adrian Peterson still kind of at the tail end of his prime, but you got to do it before that ends. There's an AFC version of the Vikings. Yes. The Houston, Texas. Okay. With a very good defense. You could even argue the best in the league or can be the best in the league. And then the major question mark is the quarterback. Is Brock Osweiler in the same neighborhood as Teddy Bridgewater?

He is, yeah. I mean, he could be. Is there a situation where if you, we've talked about it, that Osweiler is a huge question mark. Nobody really, he didn't get paid like he's a question mark, but he is. But if you really had to, you know, make a prediction, would he be about as good as Teddy Bridgewater?

That wouldn't be a crazy prediction. So they would be in a very same boat. But what if he actually turned out to be a good player? Then they would be an AFC, a real AFC. team to worry about, I would think, if you're the Patriots or anyone else. The key there would be that Dan's boy, Lamar Miller, would have to come down and become the Adrian Peterson of that team. Something about the Texans.

Yeah, they seem like a team in the mix. But I think the obvious one that we haven't mentioned is the Cincinnati Bengals. And that would be my choice for sure, because they've got the best roster of any of these teams. And you could make a strong argument that they have fewer weaknesses than the Cardinals or the Panthers. So I don't think it's crazy to even put the Bengals close to their level in terms of a team that should be expecting to make the playoffs or else it'll be a huge disappointment, a team that does not have any big-time weaknesses right now.

And a team that has shown they can make the playoffs at least. They just got to start figuring out how to win some games there. Also, similar to Cleveland, it's a team that needs to get the monkey off their back after a lot of years of postseason futility. Yeah, you can't discount the demons. And there's no way after, especially after what happened this past. January that any no matter what they do in the regular season that's going to be something that's

on the that team's mind there's going to be some tightness you have to assume that but maybe if Andy Dalton is healthy this time around and he's able to build off or have a similar season to last season they they have everything there that would that would be my pick as well Greg but I am wary probably more than other people of the demons factor and that's why Minnesota is a team that really spooks me if you want to get excited about it because so many bad things happen to the Vikings when you get to January, and Cincinnati is obviously, it's well documented, their inability to put a game together when it counts. There's some obstacles there.

But that's going to be true for all these teams. The Bills, the Browns, you know, obviously no one thinks the Browns are going to win the Super Bowl this year, the Chargers. I mean, each one of these teams can look at some postseason heartbreak, that's why they're on this list. If everything goes perfectly this year, couldn't you see the Chargers winning the Super Bowl? That would have been my dark horse pick Everything went right

For sure That would probably be like fifth or six on my way I say Gordon becomes who they thought they were drafting The offensive line stays healthy Keenan Allen's the number one Gates has one more Indian summer year Rivers plays like an MVP The young defense has started to play well

Last year Denzel Perriman's an all pro That's a lot Joey Bosa's rookie of the year Potential making the leave candidate Denzel Perriman by the way It's throwing that out there I don't know The Chargers have some

upside. I like this. The headline for this podcast, Wesleyan Patra says Chargers could win the Super Bowl. If everything breaks, yeah, if everything breaks right. I like it. I don't think it's that crazy. The Jaguars still seem like they could be a year or two away, but they're a very interesting team if they take the next step on both sides of the ball. But I mean, asking them to do it in 2016, that might be a lot. The Brown's got a lot of work to do, obviously, the bills. I think we've all been pretty up front about. We don't think they have their act together. I don't think if we're making a list, for instance,

and I know we did this last year, teams that have no chance to win the Super Bowl, which is kind of a mean list to put together. But, you know, this is a league where everyone feels like you have some. I think the bills are not on that. I think the bills are a team that could win the Super Bowl if everything broke. They're in the Chargers Club. They're in the Chargers Club, yeah.

And I would put them even a little below that, but it's not an untalented team. You've got some track record with the coaching staff. It's not that crazy. Wes, who's the best young quarterback on this list? We haven't talked about them yet. Marcus Marioo? Yeah.

Oh, I thought you meant St. Bradford. Are they on the list, Wes? If everything clicks with a young Marriota, a young Montana at the controls, could they shock the world this year? Here's what I would say. If everything clicks, the Titans can win the AFC South. I'm not willing to say that they can win the Super Bowl. Mike Marquis cannot win the Super Bowl.

You're okay. Well, we haven't mentioned the elephant. in the room here. You're Detroit Lions, Kevin Patrick, potentially with a Ewing effect. No Megatron, and then they win the Super Bowl. About a little Ewing theory in Motown, Patrick. No, the Ewing theory would have been with Sue last year.

That would have been what it was. So you can't lose your two best players back-to-back-back years and do anything. And how about the theory floated a little while back, and I forgot about it because it's a one-two punch, but Sue and Megatron gone back-to-back-eard. is that when you guys got robbed in Dallas, the window closed, didn't it? Oh, it got slammed shut, yeah.

That sucks. I don't think the, well, I don't know what to think. The lines placed in the pain rankings and safe. The Eagles? The Eagles. Do you trust San Bradford? I think the Eagles can make the playoffs. In fact, I'm probably going to predict,

I think they're going to predict them to win the end. If you got them going to the dance, you've got to say they're pretty high on this list. He just said the Titans could we win. the AFC South. No, I think there is a difference. The Eagles are a great example of making the playoffs does not mean you are a Super Bowl contender

because they made the playoffs under Chip Kelly and there was no scenario if they played that playoffs out a hundred times that that team was going to win the Super Bowl. There's always the 9th, 10th, 11th teams and every once in a while someone makes a run or whatever. But I think in a best case scenario, that's where they're at. Okay. Losing first round.

And it is not, I don't think it's a coincidence with the only team we haven't talked about. yet is the Atlanta Falcons. Patra, say something nice about the Falcons about how they could be Destiny's darling in 2016. Well, maybe if Julio Jones catches like 30 touchdown passes.

I would have put a pass. Which would be a record? That would be a record. But you have a quarterback, you have maybe the number one receiver in the NFL, and you have a defense that was somehow average last year despite very below average talent, so maybe that indicates Dan Quinn's a pretty good coach

and could get him going. All right. Not winning the Super Bowl. Good talk, guys. Patra, now let's touch on a couple more things before you go, because it has been a while. First thing up, let's check in on the PBR. On the PBR.

Yes, the Patra Body Report. What's going on with your body? Is it hot? I mean, it's summer, so it's a little bit more core work. I try to cut in the summer, bulk in the winter. That's my usual thing. I just started a new workout program. It's a bunch of Aussies, essentially, yelling at you, kickboxing, and highlando sort of stuff.

You also said you have a special breakfast program you've been in for a year where you don't eat a normal breakfast. Yeah, it's just a shake-ology thing. It's just a shake every morning. Shake-ology. Shake-ology. And, you know, you said it's summertime and you're cutting now, cutting weight at this time of year. And you say summer, is it kind of like?

not as much folk right is it is it kind of the thing that bill part the old bill parcelsism it's like this is why you lift all them weights because you're thinking about being on the beach uh with your lady and it's time to have uh nice pecks and uh nice tries and a nice flat belly well that and i i i'm beer drinker so you know where that goes right to the guts you got you got to pick some time off and you know concentrate on that part of the part of the body and now let's talk about your girlfriend because without it getting into specifics Keep pushing this one, Dan Yeah, no, just

Because number one Have you found Once you get into a committed relationship Is it harder to Or is there still the same drive To stay in peak physical shape? No, for me it's a routine thing So that I don't think she cares much

I mean she cares clearly But no, no, I don't think that had anything to do with it Or does have anything to do with it for me personally I don't know. I couldn't tell you about ask the rest of the guys in the room. Have you ever put any of her quotes on your motivational quote board? Good question, Mark. Greg. No, absolutely not.

Because then she'd see it. And then finally, I just, I want to touch base about how has love changed your philosophy on life? And I point to your Facebook profile photo, which is an adorable photo of you and your love on a bed. It's a selfie shot. And it's a soft side of Kevin Patcher that we, frankly, West, never get to see. It's a beautiful photo. Is this a sign that love has changed you, that you're perhaps less cynical, more in love with the world, if you will?

You know what? I'll let others be the judge of that. I don't know. The hardest thing to do is judge yourself, right? I guess I'm happier if that helps you. well yeah that does help me I like that you're happier but do you think you're a little softer

a little soft in the edge a little bit yeah except for now I have to watch a lot more reality or a lot more reality shows yeah that's part of the deal that's true are you how old are you know 30 now you're at that number now

is there a little pressure to move this thing along no we just moved in together a couple months ago It's moving along. It's just as in the pace it needs to move along. She moved into the Patrick Jim? No, no, God, no. So you don't have the apartment that's looking down on the projects anymore?

That is correct. Oh, I missed that place. Never was there. I never saw foot in it, but I already missed it. North Chicago, the project, Janien. But you brought your quote board with you to the new place, right? Would you like me to help you add some new material to your whiteboard? Yeah, let's hear it.

Uh-oh. I like it when it becomes more natural, but, you know, I had something natural for when you told me you were dropping weight this summer. Okay. Well, let's hear it. Let's hear it. Are you back down to Greg's size again? Oh, no. There you go.

Whoa. Kevin Patcher. All right. Your thoughts, Kevin? No comment. That's going on the board, though, right? We'll see. We'll see.

I don't listen to the rest of the pot, so I don't know what he said earlier. By the way, you can ask David Ely, who runs our news desk here and anyone else that's on the message client around 5 a.m. in the morning out here in the Pacific time zone if it's a softer Kevin Patrick. Because I haven't found any softer Kevin Patrick in there. He's got some sharp elbows early in the morning. Sharp teeth, too. 5 a.

Well, we don't want you to get too soft. I guess that's part of the reason I was asking those questions. I like Kev just the way he is. Kevin Patra, thank you for joining us, checking in on you. Everything seems to be in order. And as always, the football takes come hot and heavy. NFL.com slash Patra for his rather large volume of write-ups. He is the number one content deliverer on NFL.com.

That is a true fact. We all play our role. We all play our role. I think Conororor and Kevin Patra produced 80% of the content now on NFL. Thank you for directing that. on NFL.com. I believe it. All right, Kevin Patrick, coming at you.

See you, bud. Have good one, fellas. Appreciate it. Okay. That's it. Tomorrow, Colleen Wolf back again in the studio. Her second show, the week, that's always fun. I have no idea what we're going to talk about.

Running out of stuff to talk about it. Next week's definitely going to be a two-show week. Although it's been fun. It's just fun talking about me. I'm happy for Kevin Patrick. Yeah, that's the way I love supposed to work. She's supposed to soften your heart edge. You're looking for somebody to soften your hard edges.

Of course. You need phrasing. We all need a compliment, don't we? Absolutely. My wife may be a better man. I'm sure Emeka did the same for you. Sure. It was hard to get much better, but yeah.

Amico, a woman of Japan. Famously. All right. We'll be back on Thursday. I think she has never listened to this podcast. Colleen Wolf, of course, will be with us. But until then, this is Dan Hansis. Signing off for the mailman, the boss, Kevin Patrick coming at you, the Irishman, go Irish, till Thursday.

I can fly, I can fly, I'm dead inside, I'm dead inside. This is an I-Heart podcast.