NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Wild Card Weekend Picks and Dolphins Fire Mike McDaniel with Cynthia Frelund

Episode Date: January 9, 2026

Gregg Rosenthal and NFL Network’s Cynthia Frelund share their picks for Wild Card Weekend! They also discuss the news that the Miami Dolphins have fired head coach Mike McDaniel and how the move could impact other NFL teams. They talk Los Angeles Chargers vs. New England Patriots (01:40), Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears (03:39), Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (06:28), Los Angeles Rams vs. Carolina Panthers (12:16), Houston Texans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (15:21), and Miami Dolphins fire Mike McDaniel (18:04). Note: time codes approximate. NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. What's up? It's Cam Jordan. I'm back with season three of your favorite podcast, The Off the Edge with Cam Jordan podcast. It's happening every Wednesday to hear conversations with my friends and stars for the NFL, the sports world in general, and entertainment. About anything from teams and players making waves to pop culture.

And I'll take you inside my journey through my 15th season in the NFL. Looking forward to you joining me this season, the season of more, on The Off The Off The Edge with Cam Joom podcast. Catch new episode. every Wednesday on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Brought to you by Liberty Mutual Insurance. Only pay for what you need. Liberty, Liberty, Liberty, Liberty. Welcome to NFL Daily, where we haven't lost a game in a couple of weeks, trying to keep that streak going.

I'm Greg Rosenthal. Here on Stage 5, if you're watching us on YouTube, Cynthia Freeland and I making our weekly picks against the spread, but on the set of Game Day View, where she's picked a lot of games correct over the last few years. But yes, she is 6 and 0 picking games against the spread over the last two weeks. Are you going to bring that hot streak into the playoffs? I mean, yeah, absolutely. Who would want to lose their heater? No one ever.

We are also going to talk about the firing of Mike McDaniel because get you a podcast that can do both. We appreciate everyone checking in every week to go with our picks. But let's do a little bit of news at the end of the show too. But yes, after that 6-0 streak for the last couple of weeks, Cynthia Freeland's numbers are getting better over the course of the season. I also went 3-0 last week. So I bounced back after my first losing week in a while,

35 and 19. So if you're following us, you are doing well. And this is where I have gone sideways in the last few years because there's just less games to pick from. So there's less odds that you have one that you really feel like is a great number, but I do feel good about my playoff picks. I wrote down four games. Four.

But I'm only going to make three official picks. You get the first overall pick here. And we can have the same picks if we really want, but why don't you go first? Okay. So I'm going to start with the game I'm second most confident with in terms of who the winner is. Okay. I think that the New England Patriots, they win by at least three and a half points. So at least four points.

I love that the Patriots are getting back on both sides of the ball, in the trenches, really integral pieces in Milton Williams and Will Campbell. And I just don't trust or have faith in the Chargers O line. For good reason, Justin Herbert's been under all of the pressure. He's been hit more than any other quarterback. We've detailed this ad nauseum. It's not great for Justin Herbert in terms of what the situation is. This is a Mike Vrable defense that has the principles that I think they get Roberts

Blaine back to, that just stop the types of things that you'd be able to do under a lot of pressure, meaning quick passes. So I'm looking at this one. just thinking I think the paths easily win this one. The injury report has been great for the Patriots. They're getting Spillane back most likely at linebacker, which is a really big addition for them. Stopping the run.

Spillane is so good stopping the run. And even compared to their other linebackers and passes over the middle, which Herbert is great at. Look, they get Harold Landry back this week. He's been out for a month. You mentioned Milton Williams, Will Campbell, and it is the offense that makes me feel better. Maybe it's the Harbaugh and the Herbaugh.

factor in that I'm a fan. I'm afraid of this Chargers team. So you have a hard time. I am more of a fan of the Patriots and I'm afraid of this Chargers team. They also have a good injury. It's going to be cold tonight. Their left tackle, Jamari Sawyer, who I know he was a backup, but when he played left tackle late in the season,

he really improved their offensive line. He missed the last few weeks of the season. He is expected to be back. But I'm glad you're taking that. That would not be one of my more confident picks. That to me was maybe. I think that's your heart talking. Maybe.

That was my toughest pick of the week. I think the one that just felt clearest to me, and it's how I've done well on these against the spread picks all year. It was a lot of that 35 and 19 was just off of, I think this team is going to win, and the numbers like below two and a half or whatever, and it's just picking a winner. I think the Green Bay Packards are going to win.

I know you agree with me on this. Because we already did game day view. And, okay, the vibes, what worries me are a little off in Green Bay. They've lost, what, four straight games here. Well, they weren't really trying the last one. They weren't trying the last one.

The Clayton Tune experiment was... They found ways to lose games that they should have won, including against the Bears. But I think you watched those two games. It took an onside kick. Yes. It took overtime.

It took Malik Willis. I mean, he played well, but it's still not Jordan Love. It took, that took like, that was like a comedy of errors. I agree with you. Ultimately, landed on the fact that I just believe that Green Bay has a better quarterback in Jordan Love,

that Jordan Love, when he is not pressured, is basically Drake Mayor Matthew Stafford. Like, he would be right there in terms of the MVP. And I don't think the Bears are going to be able to pressure. The question, I guess, with the Packers, and I feel good about them. I think LaFleur is a rare coach that can kind of match Ben Johnson. To me, the coaching matchup in this game is even. The head coaches are great. The coordinators are good.

Okay. Where do you think about the coaches? Well, you have to remember there's two sides of the ball, right? So while I know Ben Johnson, he's technically responsible for the defense, I don't think he's really navigating the defense. So you're talking about...

Has he done a pretty good job? Has he done better than Jeff Halfley? I don't know. We'll see. Jeff Hathley, since Michael Parsons got hurt, you know, it hasn't been great. Quietly, they've still used simulated pressures. That's how he manufactures some looks

that does make things... And Caleb Williams is doing it very weirdly. Like you don't have nine wins with a sub-8, a sub-60 completion percentage. You just don't know. No other quarterback has more than three such wins this season. I just think they're relying on very high probability things. So meaning interceptions from their defense or turnovers from their defense and the quarterback not throwing interceptions despite having a despicable completion percentage. Whoa.

It's the lowest among qualified quarterbacks. Yes, I'd say that's pretty not good. Desicable. It's decidedly ungood. Look, my head is always. about the Packers and my pick is the Packers here. I do think that the Bears fat a little special sauce all season, something you can't quite measure.

But the fact that the last two weeks they've lost heartbreakers does make me feel a little more confident that maybe this is a team that's run out of gas. Meanwhile, the Packers, Josh Jacobs should be healthier. Zach Tom, literally their best offensive linemen expected back for this game. I just think they're a better team and I think the Green Bay Packers win. So that is my first pick. I know you agreed. You can take that as one of your picks.

Do you want to, or do you want to make a different second pick? Well, my second, I'll decide if it might be my third pick. But my second pick, I think the bills cover the one-point spread in Jacksonville. I understand this is going to be a very, I think it's going to be a very trendy pick to pick the Jags. They're there on a heater.

They've won eight straight. This would be their ninth. I know what happened in 2017. I watched that game. I remember it. But this is a totally different team. That was a long time ago. I'm looking at the opportunity in this one for Josh Allen to, look, he's looking at the entire picture.

He's saying there is no Patrick Mahomes, there is no Joe Burrow, there is no Lamar Jackson, all of the usual foes are not there. This has to be it. And yes, he didn't play more than one snap last week, understood. But when you're looking at what are the different opportunities? What is going to go on? The defense, we talk about how bad the defense is. Yes, they are second worst against the run.

However, they are best against the pass in terms of yards given up per game. And I think that Trevor Lawrence, I still think that there are ways to beat this team should you lock down some of their past catchers. And I'm not, again, this one is mostly like a Josh Allen pick. He is by far in a way the best quarterback in this matchup, and that really matters. You are convincing me. And by the way, people will tell you the Josh Allen stat that like on the road he's 0.4. Three of those were at Arrowhead.

Right. And one of them was one of the greatest quarterback performances of all time. The overtime game, I will be convinced until the day I die that the bills would have won the Super Bowl if they had won that coin flip. Agreed. The winner of that game was winning in the Super Bowl. I've never seen a quarterback play any better than that. Which is why you've scared me off of the Jags. Okay. If I had to pick all six games, I still would take the Jags plus one and a half.

Sure. I wrote down four. In the end, even before you made that case, I was kind of leaning towards dropping the Jags out of it. One of the things Josh Allen said this week scared me. And I'm very susceptible. It scared you to him losing or winning? It scared me about the Jags team. I kind of like this Jags team.

I just, I would like it. Who doesn't like that? I like them too. I would like forever all of the teams to win. I think they're a great team. I think the winner of this game has a real chance to make the Super Bowl. Okay. But Josh Allen talked about that week off.

all the preparation. They've been getting ready for the playoffs now for a week and a half. And how Josh Allen went over all the tape with Joe Brady, his offensive coordinator, and how he just recognized, I've been trying to play hero ball too much, trying to do too much. There's been a lot of easy, move the chain's receptions that I just haven't been taking because I've sort of felt this pressure to be Superman. And I'm going to start taking those. And for some reason, the experience that Josh Allen has and just his level of talent. And oh, by the way, like in the playoffs, he runs even more. He has the highest success rate of any runner in the history.

He averages the most yards. In the history of the NFL. Running back or a quarterback, he is, like, him running the ball is the most successful. And hearing that, I was like, oh, man, I don't know if I can pick against him this week. You know what's funny. So we're on a pod. It's okay. We're just between us here.

On Game Day View, you showed your argument was about Sean, McDermott for something and I saw you show it. Yeah. And yet you picked the Jags. Yeah. Do you think that that, are you like jingsing it? I mean, I'm not trying to, though. What happens if the Jags win?

Are we sitting here next week and having a dual pot again about another coach that's not there? That could possibly. I mean, I think that's how high the stakes are in this one. I think that's how high the stakes are for shopping. You've been someone that. I haven't asked anyone that's not inside of, this is just purely one of those things where you're opening a new stadium, you have Josh Allen. You know, this is like this is your best chance to win, even though it's been a rough year in many other dimensions. I agree with you.

When I've put that out there and I alluded to it on Twitter, so we're going to get to the Mike McDaniel firing in a minute. But it is crazy that a week ago, all the insiders were saying, well, there might not be that many moves this year because it's not that good of a coaching market. It might be like three, four, five teams max. We're at eight now because of McDaniel. It could be up to 10. The rest of the league is watching this weekend because Mike Tomlin could possibly shake loose or just not coach next year. Matt Lafleur could possibly shake loose because it seems like something's going on with the money. I don't know.

And then Sean McDermott, in your case, and I mentioned that and all the Bills fans are like, you should do some research and ask, there's no way Terry Pagullo is going to do that. You don't know anything about Terry Pagullo. He would never do that. Sean McDermott. He loves it. I don't know. I think it could happen.

I think I don't know who like Bill's fan was but I love like random Bill's fan for you. I love Bill's fans but no look I'm not suggesting that it's something he wants to do

but I do think that he would be motivated to do it it depends on how it looks like it depends on how it looks I don't know and what really? You know who he loves more is Josh Allen and Josh Allen is far more

you know, you know, you know what set off some alarm bells for me? I thought Sean McDermott took a little a couple shots maybe at Brandon being very subtly in the press conference where he talked about how they didn't have enough active cornerbacks so Maxwell Harrison had to play all last week

and then he got hurt at the end of the game, his first round pick because the roster basically doesn't have enough cornerback so they tried to trade for a guy who retired and okay, that was number one. He also kind of pointed out how great Jacoby Myers has been. What a great acquisition that's been when the bills might have wanted Jacoby Myers. Shots fired. It just feels like something's going on there. So actually, I feel good that I'm getting off of the Jags.

Even though I can see either way happen. Okay, so that's your second pick, Bills. You took the Pats. I have the Packers. I'll go with a boring pick. This might be your third pick. It might not be. I will take the Rams minus 10 and a half mentioned on game day view, how, what, there's

272 games this year. So there's been 544 offensive performances. And the Rams running game is number one out of those 544 in terms of success rate. on the ground when they played the Carolina Panthers. They were in a funk from the fourth quarter of Seattle when they blew the one seed all the way until about the fourth quarter against Arizona. Like they didn't look good against Atlanta. And they were trailing Arizona as late as pretty late in the third quarter.

Then they turned it around. They had a big time fourth quarter. Everyone's feeling good. And I think this is just like the perfect matchup for them to feel good about themselves. You're going to protect Matthew Stafford. You run the ball. To me, the over under. team total is about 35 for the Rams offense. I just don't think the Panthers can keep up in a game like

that. Yeah, I'm going to hop on that one with you. It's rare that my model picks like a cover in a situation with a double-digit playoff game. So when it does, I have an 11-point win. I'm going to go with it because I'm typically a little more conservative. Yeah, I wrote down all these numbers and I don't know what they mean anymore. I think it says second pressure, like number two in pressure rate, number two, like against pressure right now. The Rams are like when they're not pressured, they're the number two offense in the league, whereas the Panthers create some of the least amount of pressure.

They create the least. And then on the other side, that's what I was thinking about, was that the Rams are actually creating the second most amount of pressure, especially when they don't blitz. They're great. And then the Panthers on the other side,

not really a great team when Bryce Young is getting pressured. And it's just like, it just feels like a mismass. Yeah, the interesting part there, though, The only thing I do like, there is a fun note you can find somewhere where Tommy Trembled just needs to catch two passes. Okay. I like that. You like a little Tommy Trembal. So random, but I love it.

Side pick. Yeah, we repressure him. What's going to happen? You throw a Tommy Trembal. Here's my thing with this game. Don't think that it's the playoffs. Just imagine it's week 12 and that the Rams, and I know they lost to the Panthers, but. That was week 13.

Totally different. Just imagine they're playing the commanders. or Washington or the Giants because those four teams were the close, the three teams were the closest, somewhere ahead and somewhere behind in total efficiency this year in terms of DVOA. That's the company,

I know they're in the playoffs, but that's the company Carolina was keeping. Like the commanders, Miami, the Giants. They didn't even win half their games. That's the level. Even then they're worse than an eight and nine team. I'm sorry, Panthers. I know.

We're not being mean. We're being a little mean. Not really. All right. They still made the playoffs. Those people get their playoff check. All right, you have your three picks. They're locked in.

You have the bills as a one or one and a half point favorite. It doesn't matter. As a three and a half point favorite. And the Rams as a 10.5 point favorite. I took the Packers. I took the Rams and I need a third pick. And so I feel good about taking the Texans. I know there's a lot of voodoo here.

It's Mike Tomlin. It's this ridiculous home Monday night football winning streak, which goes back to the 90s. does spook me a little bit just because there is something about the Steelers that is greater than the sum of their parts. Their defense could ball out.

They have a lot of talented players and it's a faulty Texans defense. But what have we been talking about all season both? Defense. I mean, if I'm going to put four to five Texans on my first or second team

all pro list on defense between Anderson and Hunter and Al Shaire and Jalen Petrie. It's one of my favorite names too. Aziz. Al-Shayr. Aziz, Al-Shaier. We don't know if Kamari Lassett is going to play in this game,

which does worry me a little bit. It doesn't worry me. I'm not saying it doesn't worry about, but Derek Stingley's still there, yeah? It's got to be a man of conviction, ultimately, right? Like, I've been saying this all season. I've been saying this Steelers team is a little bit of a house of cards. And when the Texans defense is on the field, it should just really be a mismatch. I think this is a potential Super Bowl team.

I think you like them, too, as a dark course. So if you're looking at the futures, odds that the Texans of kind of the lower contenders to either win the Super Bowl, make the Super Bowl. I think the Texans are a pretty good pick. I like it. Okay. They're the rare teams. I don't have much to say about that. Yes.

Yes. I just think that Houston, look, they could score on defense. And ultimately, the Texans offense has been good enough that this Steelers defense. You saw it last week. Been giving up a lot of big plays lately. Texans have kind of been big play merchants on. on often. So I'm taking the Texans to cover those three points. All right, those are our picks in terms of the spread. I feel, I feel good about it. If you're kind of keeping track,

I think the only game we didn't hit was 49ers Eagles, which does feel like the stayaway game to me. Like, I lean Eagles, but I don't, I just. I'm staying away from this one in large part because I, right now, at the time of this recording, I don't know for sure if Lane Johnson's playing. I also don't know for sure if Trent Williams is playing. And you know me, I like the trenches. If I don't really know what's going on in the trenches, I just don't feel good about it. Plus, I just think Shanahan has some sort of like spell over Jalen Hertz.

And there's something weird about this game. I mean, remember Brock Bertie? Like his like, his arm fell off. Well, that was unfortunate. That was unfortunate. But just something happens in this one. If it was the regular season using that test, I would probably actually just take the points. But that's why it's a stayway to me.

Because I don't trust this four-in-hers defense at all. Correct. And yet I don't really trust the Eagles as a, like a heavy favorite. So just stay away. Forget it. What's up? It's Cam Jordan. I'm back with season three of your favorite podcast,

The Off the Edge with Cam Jordan podcast. Tap in every Wednesday to hear conversations with my friends and stars for the NFL, the sports world in general, and entertainment. About anything from teams and players making waves to pop culture. And I'll take you inside my journey through my 15th season in the NFL. Looking forward to you joining me this season, the season of more on The Off The Off The Edge, cam join podcast. Catch new episodes every Wednesday on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever

you get your podcasts. Brought to you by Liberty Mutual Insurance. Only pay for what you need. Liberty, Liberty, Liberty, Liberty. No, absolutely not. Let's talk about Mike McDaniel. Let's do it. So since we last recorded a NFL Daily show, Mike McDaniel has been fired by the Miami Dolphins. I think the timing of it happening late in the week, is as interesting as the fact that it happened at all. What was your reaction, kind of what's your takeaway of how this Mike McDaniel firing went down? You think that Mr. Ross called,

is one of those calls on John Harbaugh? Yes. I mean, because Harbaugh, Michigan, blah, la, la, you know, do the, you know, inceptioning it of it all. I think that what happened was is they had some conversations. I'm sure Tua, we'll probably hear, the plans for what to do at quarterback were probably central to those discussions.

I'm sure their heads start with how they're thinking about their GM strategy, because you know, they've had like a two-month head start, which there's not, you don't have the same restrictions from a timing standpoint for GM as you do for head coach, just so the logistics work out. And looking at all those things together, I think it's a, it's not necessarily that like I do believe that Mr. Ross does love him. I thought that was interesting. I love Mike like in his like, okay. Like why do you, that's just, that was an odd phrase.

But I'm looking at that and I'm thinking he just thought what he could get to make the job attractive having a GM and coach come in together. And they haven't had that in quite some time because remember Chris Greer had been there forever before and making a decision about quarterback and figuring out like to make the job more attractive for everyone. I just think it was kind of one of those things. that he was weighing his options, and he thinks he has a better option. I think he kept Mike dangling.

It's like when someone's dating you, you know? Yes. Like he found another girlfriend before he dumped the last one, you know? He found a better option. And it's known that John Harbaugh and Stephen Ross, like, have a relationship, a close relationship. Doesn't mean he's going to be able to close this deal? You never know. Maybe you don't necessarily want to work for your friend.

Doesn't, like, take a freaking break? Bush was a president. Yeah, sorry. I don't think so. John Harbaugh. I think he was, a Bush was a president the last time he wasn't a head coach. That is a long time. Like, go hang out with your kids. Learn to golf. Hang out with your wife. Go on a break. I mean, he's in a 60s now. His kids are out of the house. I think he has a daughter like in near Tampa. Okay. And like he could go watch her soccer games or lacrosse or whatever sports. She's like, lacrosse. Anyway, my point is like, what? Well, it's not happening. My good man. Why are you? Like, is his heart okay?

NFL media insider Jim Harbaugh already said at his press conference, John will be coaching next year. I'm sure he will. And that seems very clear. So look, we talked about it at length on our show when John Harbaugh got fired. And Jordan Roderig laid out some really interesting breadcums in terms of the GM candidates. And yeah, Chad Alexander. Can somebody do something different, please? Right.

I hate this coaching search. I hate the list of everyone that's interviewing for coaches. I hate the list of everyone who's interviewing for GMs. There's maybe 15% interesting, 85% garbage. It's a lot of the same. It's all garbage. They're all interviewing for the same thing. It's like they have a little caravan.

You on the Zoom call next. You're in the waiting room. You on the, like, I'll see you in the waiting room in the Texas. Like, it's crazy. Okay. So I don't want to go through. Now there's eight vacancies and there's a lot of interviews lined up. I don't want to go through like lists.

listing all of them. It's a lot of Clint Kubiak, it's a lot of Matt Nagy, it's a lot of Vance Joseph, it's a lot of Rahim Morris. I'm a little surprised about that. I would actually think Rahim Moster was more interesting. Rehem Morris. Kevin Stefanski is getting at least a handful of the interview. Somebody tell me something new. Okay. Who's a new thinker? I want to stay with Miami though, because I do find that fascinating that they have Chad Alexander from the Chargers interviewing Jeff Darlington, who is very tied in Miami. Yes. And I think often represents in his reporting kind of the team perspective of Miami, good or bad.

He said that the GM job could be hired as soon as Thursday. And I just wouldn't be surprised if it's setting up the most advantageous and attractive situation specifically for John Harbaugh, which would be Chad Alexander. Of course, Ravens. He worked with in Baltimore for a long time. And then Alexander went to Los Angeles. Jordan got ahead of things and had a great interview with him on Eiffel Daily. And check that out from a few weeks ago.

By the way, I like Chad Alexander. Let me be clear, I think he's done a great job. I have a lot of these candidates, I like them and I think they've done a great job. I just don't think anyone's thinking outside. What the heck is the, the Raiders are going to do the same damn thing over and over. I can't stand this. What if they hired Davis Webb, the 30-year-old quarterbacks coach of the Broncos? He is a little bit of a X-factor here who not only interviewed with the Raiders, which like...

What are we doing? I like Davis Webb, to be clear. He's a nice man. He's actually interviewing with the Ravens as well, which I find interesting. Is this where, is this like when companies have fake interviews to try to steal ideas from other teams? No, but I do have a theory here. So Cliff Kingsbury is reportedly interviewing with the Ravens. I wouldn't be surprised if that both Davis Webb, who is the quarterback's coach of the Broncos right now and Cliff Kingsbury,

were both getting interviewed with Baltimore for the head coaching job, more to get them in the building comfortable, learn as much as they can about him, to potentially offer them the coordinator job when they choose someone else. So like you choose Vance Joseph and he brings Davis Webb along as his OC? Or more specifically, you choose Jesse Minter. Yeah. Okay. And they end up offering him big-time money. Either one of them, I think, would be interesting offensive coordinator choices.

No? I think that could be it. The Ravens list, because the Ravens is the most, to me, that's the best job. It's not even close. They're talking to Brian Flores. They're talking to Vance Joseph. They're talking to Clint Kubiak. Nagy is somehow getting an interview.

Whatever Matt Nagy's agent is doing, congratulations. Can Matt Nagy's agent represent me? Right, Anthony Weaver, who was in the building before. We'll get a head coaching interview there. And so that's what's going on there. Anthony Weaver has extremely talented children at sports. Just so you know, I didn't know I was watching his kid. And he's got like a kid who's, I don't know, middle school age.

And I was like, damn, who is this kid? They're like, Anthony Wheatford's son. I'm like, well, makes sense. So they learn Florida. A lot of Nepo babies in athletics. And it's not because of the genes, although that definitely helps. It's because you have the best. His kid was actually really freaking good.

Yeah, I'm saying you have the best coach. that money can buy. He's like, what am I looking at here? In-house training. The John Harbaugh thing in Miami, I do want to leave on this because I think it's been really interesting the whole New York

and everything's happening. If you're John Harbaugh, why would you go to New York? Tell me the reasons why. Sell me on it. So everyone in New York thinks that it's a way better job because you have a quarterback in Jackson Dart.

You have... The quarterback you didn't pick. Okay. You have Malik Nave. You have Andrew Thomas. You have Abdul Carter. You have Brian Burns. You do have like a decent amount of like real guys that you can see like making pro bowls.

And there's not a lot of, you have Dexter Lawrence. You have some of that. Okay. And then you're also the giants. And this is where I think they're totally off their rocker. They think that it still matters that the giants are like an organization that matters. And they're a respectable organization. and they're a classy organization.

It's like you literally have the worst record of any team in the NFL over the last decade and you've cycled through coaches like you're the Raiders. So I don't think that is an advantage. I have breadcrumbs for you here. Okay, let's hear it. Until you start seeing former players

that aren't named like Eli Manning or like their like absolute premier, premier, premier guys, until you see like them standing on the sideline willing to help out coming to training camp, being involved, wanting to be there, coming back for, what you see for the Broncos how many of the Super Bowl 50 teammates came back for that whatever Bronco day they had.

Until you have, it was actually against the Giants, interestingly. Until you have those kind of guys coming back, something's weird. And it's not, and it ain't the coach. And it ain't the, it ain't the Malik neighbors. And you got to, you got to think, what is it that it could be? Some, it's just, something's up. I, well, the losing has been a problem. And a lot of Giants fans.

It's the other stuff too. A lot of Giants fans think that Joe Shane being there, the general manager, who I thought was going. going to lose his job, did not lose his job, is the thing that's going to lose them John Harbaugh or get in the way. I would say that's not the reason you're not going to get John Harbaugh. That's not the reason you're not going to get John Harbaugh. John Harbaugh is going to get to run that entire building and he's going to get to do whatever he wants. And if he wants to just flat out fire Joe Shane, he could do that. Or if he wants to do what Mike Rable did with

Elliot Wolfe, who's helping to run the front office, he could just keep him and have Elliot Wolf help to execute the vision that he has. Like Mike Rable is running the Patriots. Elliot Wolf is not running the Patriots, but he was there before. And so if John Harbor wanted, he could have Joe Shane help the cause, and he would bring in his own people as well to be part of it. But I don't know what it is. I'm not, I don't know if it's Joe Shane or not. But I'm telling you that when you have a historic team like the Giants

that has Super Bowl victories in this century, I mean, in the past, whatever, 20 years, they have multiple. And you don't see those people on a regular basis down there pounding for them, Like just something's up. Something's up. Something also was up in the first 24, 48 hours. It really hasn't ended after Harbaugh got fired. A lot of back and forth of source-offs of like,

no, John Harbaugh didn't lose the locker room. Like our guy Ian Rappaport reported how he kind of lost the locker room that the offense wasn't really listening to him anymore. And then Adam Schaefter said, nothing could be further from the truth. I was like, oh, God. I was just like. I love a source off.

I'm not gonna lie. A Sorza? A little protesting too much. And that's where I'm getting with. And here's my conspiracy. Let's hear it. All we've heard this whole time is like nine teams are after John Harbaugh, which would mean three teams at the time,

you know, three teams who didn't even have head coaching. Who's his agent? It's Kevin Harlan's brother. I didn't know this until Ollie Connolly pointed out on our show, who's also, you know, Bob Harlan's son, who used to run the Packers for a long time. So you could be connecting a lot of dots if he really wanted to get conspiratorial. Why were my parents born in football?

Okay. So, but here's where I'm getting. I'm like, why is he going so hard in the paint of like, there's so much interest. And the Giants love John Harbaugh, and he's going to be the best guy ever. And I was like, he really is the best coaching candidate in this cycle. Like, you don't have to go so hard. Like, you don't have to be leaking to everyone so hard. If you are the dude, you're going to get.

the job. And here's where my conspiratorial brain gets to. Where's it go? That all along, John Harbaugh's wanted to go to Miami, where his friend is the owner, essentially, that it's Miami. And he just thought it would be a good fit in that making the giants salivate and making it just so obvious how much the giants love John Harbaugh and how popular John Harbaugh is going to be. With just like, hey, let's speed up the process here, Mike. Miami. Let's get rid of Mike McDaniel. Let's get as much money as we possibly can for our client down in Miami, which is our preferred landing spot in the end. And the Giants end up just being kind of a leverage play where they're using the Giants and the market in general to get their clients

the best possible deal as soon as possible. I mean, how bad is that that we were talking about? The way I feel about the Giants, like I have a lot of love for the Giants as an organization. One of my best friends played there, right? So I'm like, and the fact that you could be, the little dangle meat. We'll see. The meat. That could be, I mean, that's a good. But can I say one thing about Mike?

Because they're already starting to spread some breadcrumbs in New York. It's like, well, yeah. In the event that they don't. They still feel good about John Harrow, but in the event that they don't, Kevin Stefanski is a great option. And so Kevin Stefanski might be their backup option. But who knows, Kevin Stefanski could end up in Baltimore.

Kevin Spansky could end up somewhere else. We don't know. I would never want to be someone's backup like that. Well, we wanted John Harbaugh. We sold out for him, but now we're going to settle for you. You know what? Pay me more for that. The checks cash all the same.

No, that's another million a year for me. You know, sometimes it works out even better that way, though. Yeah. Like, look, Lamar Jackson was not the guy that Baltimore necessarily wanted. They drafted Hayden Hurst in the first round over Lamar Jackson. But they ended up with Lamar Jackson. Denver Broncos didn't want Sean Payton. Remember, they wanted Domeco Ryans, and then they wanted Dan Quinn.

And they settled for Sean Payton as their third choice. And they did pay him a lot of money. And that has worked out fantastic. But see, he made them pay. See, that's what you got to do. You got to make them back. I'm sure their agents figure that one out, though. I love this stuff.

Wait, let me tell you the Mike McDaniels. Oh, I love the stuff so much too. Rumor, strong rumor, that he's interviewing or been contacted. I don't know if he's interviewed, but been contacted by the Lions to be their OC. That's been reported now. Dear God, please let that happen. Hello, for Christmas, I would like Mike McDaniel to be the Lions OC, sincerely every Lions fan ever.

Mike McDaniel and possibly Brian Flores could have an interesting decision this offseason, which is either have a real chance, and I don't know if other teams are going to interview Mike Daniel or not. We'll see. He literally just got fired. Right. Would you rather take the Cardinals or, let's say, Titans job as a head coach,

or maybe I don't know, Flores gets a head coach? a head coaching offer. It's very possible he doesn't. Or would you like to... You don't think he goes to the Raiders. Break the salary structure of what a coordinator could make in the league. Because I think there is a very real possibility that Mike McDaniel or Brian Flores could make more as a head coach... 100% than let's say the Cardinals head coach is going to get. The Titans head coach is going to get.

Zach Taylor makes right now. So Brian Flores could make that as the Cowboys defensive coordinator. Or McDaniel could with the line, you know, something like that. All of them need to write Chip Kelly a thank you note. Because Chip Kelly setting the market at $6 million for an offensive coordinator. And by the way, I'm a Northwestern grad. That's the biggest fleece ever because the Raiders are paying him to be the OSTI of my little alma mater, little engine that could there.

But ultimately, I'm looking at this. $6 million for a coordinator. Right. That's the market, baby. If I'm Mike McDaniel and I have a chance to be. If I'm Mike McDaniel, I'm like seven. I have a chance to be either Jared Goff or. Lamar Jackson's offensive coordinator next year versus what's behind door number three with the Cardinals.

It's like, I think I'd rather rehab my value, enjoy coaching football for a year, maybe two, and then get a head coach. I have a number of friends who are former coaches and were position coaches and then became head coaches. Without fail, they all would take the coordinator position for a lot of money. with no, and some of them multiple time head coaches. And that stuff gets really hard. Because now you're not just responsible for yourself, but like the other people you have to bring with you. You know who else is interviewing everywhere in this cycle?

Who? Robert Salah. Like a guy who has clearly been enjoying life far more this season as a coordinator than he was as a Jets head coach. The skill set to be a head coach is not one thing because every team is configured so differently. The skill set to be the Arizona Cardinals head coach and the Baltimore Ravens head coach,

like Ravens, very well-resourced, great front office that is going to, again, the resources they throw out is very, very different than the resources that you get in Arizona. It's just different. So it's not the same job everywhere. Offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, pretty close. Some varying levels of responsibility, but much closer than what head coach means.

Cynthia's cooking. Forget the three. three and no record. I'm just, it's just boring. A couple other, just quick items, and we are going to say goodbye. Mike McCarthy is interviewing with the Giants. I thought that one was interesting.

And then, man, I, I, somebody bring Rex Ryan back. I listened to how he pronounced his name ahead of time to make sure I got it right, and now I forgot it. He's called AD, Addin Dirty, the Seattle defensive coordinator. I don't think I got it right.

I think. There's a, like, Sheal House. That one's all crazy to me, too. That will be the, That's a different name. Shield House will be the OC at Tampa. That's my guess. That's my guess.

I don't know anything, but that's my guess. The other item I wanted to mention is that, yes, Josh, Grisard is out as Buck's offensive coordinator. Are we shocked? Todd Bowles has been confirmed that he is coming back next year. I'm not shocked about Garzard, but Steve Palisolo, who's that the check the mic pod now. Yep. 33rd team, baby. He pointed out.

We love the 33rd team here. Maybe the defining Baker Mayfield stat of his career. which is now that Grazard is out, that Baker, his offensive coordinator, has either gotten a head coaching job, been elevated, or been fired every year of his career, except for 2021 Alex Van Pelt, which to me is sort of the perfect Baker Mayfield,

boom or bust career. He's Barry Bonds. He's either getting people hired or he's getting people fired. It's kind of a crazy... I love it. I don't love it for Josh Gazzard. No, I don't. No, no, no, no.

ever love it for the person who's been fired. But I'm just saying I love that that's for, I don't want anyone to get fired. It's a great. It's a great stat. And that would be fascinating. Yeah, I think the Rams, they're going to lose more talent like they do every off-season. Whichever one of, it's like a lot of AFC teams, right? So if any of them do anything interesting, I'll become a fan. I mean, I'm going to stay a Lions fan too. So that's why I said not an NFC. But if any of them do anything freaking interesting, at least interview interesting people. You're not even interview. Like, go get, if it's me, I'm going to interview some college coaches just to learn something and give them the leverage for

going to make more money in college because that's a crap job. They need more, like having to recruit kids over and over again, your same kids and they can just leave you after committing. That's just awful. But you got to wait out, Cignetti, Sir, Signetia for the full of the week. I think that he's at least interesting. He would be interesting. At least interview these people. The great part is, this isn't over. No, I'm with you. That we will possibly have more, if my Tomlin's gone or if Lafleur is gone or McDermott will obviously be tracking all of that. We will be back in the feed on Saturday night. I am really looking forward to it.

We started this last year, the NFL Daily, in the playoffs, going live after every playoff night. So it'll be me and Bill Barnwell live on YouTube. Come and join us right after Bears and Packers ends on Saturday night. It will be live on YouTube. and then of course it'll be in the feed. Three shows recapping all the fun, best weekend of the year. Thank you, Cynthia, for the picks and the insight.

We will see you Saturday now. What's up? It's Cam Jordan. I'm back with Season 3 of your favorite podcast, The Off the Edge with Cam Jordan podcast. Tap in every Wednesday to hear conversations with my friends and stars for the NFL, the sports world in general, and entertainment. About anything from teams and players making waves to pop culture.

And I'll take you inside my journey through my 15th season in the NFL. Looking forward to you joining me this season, the season of more on the Off the Edge with Cam Joined podcast. Catch new episodes every Wednesday on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Brought to you by Liberty Mutual Insurance. Only pay for what you need. Liberty, Liberty, Liberty, Liberty. This is an IHeart podcast.

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