The Fumblerooski Podcast - Hard Knock Life -Ep 84 The Fumblerooski Podcast

Episode Date: May 25, 2022

Would the NFL be right to eliminate the Pro Bowl? Are the Arizona Cardinals worthy of being on this season's Hard Knocks? Adam Wright, CJ Medieros, and Justin Hill debate these topics and more on Episode 84 of The Fumblerooski Podcast!

Here's Edelman broken up and the pass is no sign yet. Edelman comes down with a football. They're saying it's a catch. It's a catch. Oh! To Gates! Sideline! Touchdown! Unbelievable!

Swings it way down the field. The walkout! Sammy Watkins for the touchdown! Good evening, you are listening to the Fumble Rooski podcast by Power 88 and Fans Only Sports Network. I'm Adam Wright with CJ Medeiros and Justin Hill. We're here to talk some pro football with you tonight. And we have a couple things to talk about, starting with the Pro Bowl, which might be eliminated entirely. So imagine that. You are going to be the only sport out of the top four sports in the U.S. to not play some form of

an all-star game. They're thinking of replacing it with some sort of skills challenges, which would be fun, but they're not going to be playing in any sort of pro ball. They're thinking instead of improving it, we're just going to scrap the whole thing entirely. But what do you guys think of that idea that they might actually just take away the pro ball completely? Well, let me tell you something madam i like this idea i think the pro bowl and all our star and all all star games are moronic and i mean it's just they make a selection in every sport this is not just limited to the nfl it's it's every sport they just they make a whole show out of like oh look at how many pro

bowl or all-star appearances he has the voting is stupid all right it's like big names having awful seasons get it like rightful or players that should rightfully be there get snubbed and it's just no like and furthermore the pro bowl in the nfl sucks but then again i think all-star games suck because there's no defense looking at you nba but oh my god but honestly i would rather watch the skills challenges and i feel like a lot of americans would agree like the skills challenges get infinitely more views than the actual pro bowl does it's because it's basically touch football. Now, I mean, maybe if you get rid of the Pro Bowl, do like skills challenges or something, or maybe if you must, you know, have your grand roster unveiling,

you know, just to keep, you know, just to keep people like Brady happy who have like umpteen Pro Bowls. You know, you can do that. But no, should there be a game? Probably not. No one gives 100% in those, and rightfully so, because, you know, you do that but no should there be a game probably not no one gives a hundred percent in those and rightfully so because you know you might get hurt but if you like beefed up the skills challenges and stuff that would be great there's so many and they should bring back some of the

old ones i remember uh my dad like this is like when i was young my dad was telling me they would like dip the front of the football and chalk huck it down the field on a giant target see how accurate they could be. Heck, there used to be a competition where it was a lot of the bigger arms in the league. In the 90s, it was like Favre, Manning, and Bledsoe would just huck it deep so you could throw it the furthest. See that? Stuff like that's interesting.

The actual game, not so much. What do you think, J-Hill? You make a great point, CJ. When you look at the Pro Bowl situation, I've said it for years, it needs to be gone. Look at the Pro Bowl. The Pro Bowl is basically a vacation for players who didn't even make the Super Bowl

or the playoffs in some cases. For instance, with the Pro Bowl this year, you had the two-hand touch. Referees just calling ridiculous stuff. It's not even a game anymore.'s basically like a vacation place where you just like play touch football you know what i mean you know like the touch football you and i were playing

back in september cj yeah it's basically like something like that but but at the same time these are national football players and i understand, you don't want to get hurt before offseason workouts or before you hang out with your family and do your winter routine, basically. But at the exact same time, they need to just stick to, like, the events, what they do before the game, like what you're saying, CJ, like the throwing contest, the running, all types of things with that. For instance, if you get rid of this, if you get rid of the pole bowl, like it will be a great tool for fans.

But you can definitely make changes. You look in the NBA, not to get off topic, you look in the NBA, they did make a change towards the All-Star game to be competitive in the last quarter. You look in the MLB, the MLB All-Star game is always competitive every single year. But to get on track with this here, if you want this to still be a thing you have to change some rules to it all right if no one else is going to defend the pro bowl then i will look you are you are the

national football league like you are the most popular of the, of the big four main sports. You supplanted baseball as America's pastime in the nineties. And now, and now, and by the way, the MLB has a better, has a better all-star game than you do. And instead, and instead of turning around and saying, and saying, what can we do to improve it? You're just going to scrap it entirely. I really don't like that. See, being an all-star or a pro bowler, especially representing your team, is a great honor to the league and to your team. when i used to watch the all-star game i used to love watching xander bogarts and mookie bets play and what the pro bowl has turned into is just this big is this thing where you know like the our patriots don't even play it's that it's really just that

irrelevant so like what i think they should do is find a way to make it work. Make it work. You could put it during the season. You could make it after the season when players are all recovered or something like that, but to just scrap it entirely, I just hate it. I don't like it. You've got to find a way to make it work because you are the NFL. You cannot be the only league out of the big four sports to not have any form of an all-star game. Because it's actually, it is a good statistical measure as well

to look at and see, oh, he's a four-time pro bowler. This is great. Now they won't have that. They'll have skills competitions, but that's not really, it's just not the same. And those will be fun. And I used to like all the ideas that they had, but it's just not.

You need a Pro Bowl. Well, Adam, first of all, let me just say this. You say the people like watching it. Well, last Pro Bowl got in about, we'll call it, 6.7 million viewers. That figure is the lowest since 2006. And it's a 70% drop since 2019. What?

I didn't say people. I didn't say people. You said people like watching it, but apparently, no, no, they don't. And let me tell you something. The people might like it, be that as it may. But the players sure don't. The players don't care. But I do agree with you that it should be after the season.

That way some of the big names who went to the Super Bowl could play. At least make it during the season when players are playing it uh are playing anyways but why would they do that i never i never said why would they do that i just i just said in other i just said in other sports team player uh fans love seeing that they're one of their the players on their favorite team is is nominated to see them represent their team i didn't say that in this sport that people you know they love the nominations they love seeing oh yeah you know no one watches it but in other sports they watch it the pro bowl is like one of the least popular like all-star games for lack of

a better term in the u.s but if i may i have some thoughts i've spoken with to you know some people that uh you know, peer-reviewed, if you will, that I think could help. First of all, put it after the season so that some of the really big names that make it to the Super Bowl, you know, can play. But for God's sakes, this is going to make me sound horrible, get it out of the U.S. Because now it's in, like, Florida, or I think it's going to be in Vegas

or something, or it would have been, I don't know. But, like, no. Like, players, you used to be in hawaii and players more enthusiastic it's not every day you go to hawaii put it like i don't know the nfl wants to expand maybe have it in munich or mexico city or england or wherever else you want to maybe maybe in japan like wherever else you want to expand because not only would the players care more because you know you're in a new city and you got impressed that foreign audience it could line the nfl's pockets as well it's just

you know location is everything and if you could bring that the pro bowl overseas where it should be you know it was just that's more money for everyone and on top of that you would get a better product because the players would care about playing in front of a foreign audience you know make a good first impression that's what yeah that's what i'm saying figure something out and i i mentioned changing the dates changing locations a good thing too because you said you know they've been they've gotten a little lazy they've got they've started just putting it in the u.s which is where you know players players travel all the time to go all over the country. Go somewhere else.

Go somewhere else. That's a good idea. I like that. I don't like scrapping it entirely. It's stupid. You can't be the only sport out of the big four major sports in the U.S. to not have a Pro Bowl, especially since you are the NFL. I mean, the NHL has kind of figured it out.

The MLB has figured it out. Their all-star game is infamous. It's well-known, and people actually view that. Why can't you figure something out? When you look at the NFL, Adam and CJ, if you want to make the game, meaning the Pro Bowl, a better way, talk to your players. We've seen this so many times in the nfl what what can like what could be better done such as like you know like regarding rules and

like different other things if you are like a player like for example i remember alvin camaro or whoever it was after one pro bowl they need to make a change or something like that like listen to your players and and also expand like we were saying before, CJ, maybe play in California. Maybe play in Italy. Play in California. Well, look at SoFi Stadium. If I've got the stadium name wrong, that can hold almost 75,000 seats. Anyone in LA can go to the game.

But most said and done, they definitely need to expand. And if you want this to continue, you have to come up with a change because we're seeing it all in sports. They're definitely making changes, but the NFL has refused to do something. I think the last good Pro Bowl I saw, I think it was 2006 or 2007 when Shawtail did the big hit, but there needs to definitely be a change. We have a couple of comments, starting with Jeff Medeiros, who said, players can still be named to the pro bowl and the game not played. So the stat can still be on

the resume. That's a good point. I understand that. I also think there's, there's also an honor to it of being able to play in the game. And I think that, I think they've, they've kind of walked in to say that they don't care about that. They don't care about the game itself, that is true nowadays, but I think that's because the league has watered the game down to the point where it's just not even – nobody cares anymore. It's just like, eh, yeah, it's great being named as a pro bowler. That's what it is now, and especially when you're an all-pro, that's awesome. People love that.

And when we, when, and I was really paying attention to see whether or not it would be Aaron Rogers or Tom Brady would be nominated for the all pro. And it was, it was Rogers. I still think, I still think Brady should have been MVP. That's neither here nor there, but yeah, I mean, that, that is correct. That sentiment is right. But I mean, it's just, I, I blame it on the league. The fact that playing in the game, the players don't care anymore. I blame that on the league because you, you really, because there was a point where the pro bowl actually mattered and people actually tuned in and players actually tried. Now they're not trying at all and nobody cares.

And that was back when I believe they they were what were they doing the pro bowl after the season back then i don't know but i know it was in like hawaii and they and players cared you know but now they're doing it in florida they're doing like the gator stadium it's like oh yeah florida's so special to the nfl yeah yeah they got they got three football teams down in florida yeah that's like no no i'm just saying a location moving the location would help so much and that's why i say leo if you want to test the waters like germany heck have it in munich and like i said also do it after the season let me ask you a silly question guys do you think the nfl such as roger goodell beg players for example you had travis kelsey and patrick mahomes at the

pro bowl this year do you think the nfl beg some of these star players to show up to the Pro Bowl? Because I personally think so. I don't know. Maybe. I don't know. It's possible. I mean, I'm sure the players still want to be there just to be with all the players. And I'm sure that they're friends with a lot of the players

around the league, and they'll just go just for the fun of it. But nobody really wants to actually try in the actual game. And get hurt. Yeah, yeah. And we all know why they go to the Pro Bowl. Not to say, like, beg, but, like, you know, there's some cases where they ask, like, please, like, not saying please, like, just come for the organization.

You know what I mean? Now, the way I see it, and plus we all know a real reason, if there's a big-name upcoming free agent, like, you know what i mean now the way i see him plus we all know a real reason if there's a big name upcoming free agent like you know like in the pro bowl you know they're gonna get swarmed by like all the players like hey come to my team no come to my team that's like one of the real reasons why the players go that's neither here nor there it's kind of more the way it works in the nba where players you know no no i'm sorry did you see jc jackson this offseason and taran matthew where they were like players coming like hey man like there were so many pictures i'm sure it does but not to the not to the extent that it happens in the nba i mean it's basically turned into an

aau league where just players just want to play with their friends and just hang out and be all buddy buddy and it takes away from all the you know it takes it takes away from all yeah i agree i'm just worried i've seen that in the nfl and now it's like yeah i hear you but i'm worried the nfl is going down that route too i'm sure there is a correlation there because you know we are i'm i'm sure it's not a coincidence that the league has that this offseason and last offseason as well if you guys remember. The player movement has just been crazy. But we do need to move on. And next we are going to talk about the new nomination

for this season of the HBO football reality documentary of Hard Knocks. It's going to be the Arizona Cardinals. We're going to talk about some of the storylines that could be featured from this team. It's a very intriguing pick. We'll get to that next some of the storylines that could be featured from this team. It's a very intriguing pick. We'll get to that next. This is the Fumble Rooski podcast. Here's Edelman broken up and the pass is no sign yet. Edelman comes down with a football and they're saying it's a catch. It's a catch. Oh!

Jinx! Startline! Touchdown! Unbelievable! Swings it way down the field to Watkins! Sammy Watkins for the touchdown! Welcome back. This is the Fumble Rooski Podcast by Power 88 and Fans Only Sports Network. I'm Adam Wright, CJ Medero's justin hill with you and so the font

the nomination for the hard knocks documentary has come out and it will be the arizona cardinals so this is an interesting one a lot of a lot of different storylines from this off season the team overall has improved a little bit and they, you know, it was an, it was kind of a dramatic season for them. They had a great start to the year and then they sort of fell off a little bit. So this upcoming season is going to be an, it's going to be an interesting one. There was the contract dispute with Kyler Murray and there was also, there's also Deandre Hopkins for game, excuse me,

six game suspension along with Marquise Brown being traded to the team. So there's also DeAndre Hopkins, six-game suspension, along with Marquise Brown being traded to the team and being a former teammate in college of Kyler Murray. So that's going to be interesting. Plenty of storylines with this team. But what do you guys think of this new team being on hard knocks? First, I got a question. Did the Cardinals get on the hard knocks? Oh, no i got a question did the cardinals like get on

like the hard knocks or oh no no never mind i just saw the headline it's the in-season hard knocks and honestly i don't know if i were a team i would not want to be on the i mean hard knocks during training camps fine but in season i would not want that i really wouldn't that's just an unnecessary distraction and you know, I'm just I'm not, I mean, hard knocks by itself is fine. I think the in-season one's ridiculous. Just another shameless cash grab by the NFL. But, I will

say this. I do think it's going to be very interesting. And maybe there could be a bit of a hard knocks curse. You never know. Because the Colts were really good. Then they flamed out at the end of the season to Jacksonville. And so people are like're like oh is the hard knocks a bad influence all the cardinals have a history of flaming out the end of these seasons so you know let's uh let's see if that happens but more on the cardinals though i just i'm trying to think of like how to put this they

um i want to see like what goes on there because you know kyler murray's unhappy's unhappy and he hasn't even signed his deal yet. I think at that time Hopkins might be back, so it's going to be interesting to see how they gel. But I'm really interested in Cliff Kingsbury because as I alluded to earlier, Kingsbury and the Cardinals always start out hot and then all of a sudden the clock strikes 12, they turn back into a pumpkin,

and then they can't move the ball to save their life i mean like what was like the past two years they started out so good and then they fell apart so i i'm hoping hard knocks can maybe capture some of that like what's really going on behind the scenes why do they completely flame that at the end those are the real questions with this decision here with um hard knocks choosing the arizona cardinals it's really going to be very interesting what i really want to see with the cardinals such as the issue with kyler murray the dion of deandre um hopkins and what the team is going to do without christian kirk if that if i'm missing his name and like just regarding with their defense because the cardinals they had a great season they began the year they began last season a and o and all of

a sudden they just went on a losing spree, and then they wound up losing to the L.A. Rams in the wild card game. If you look at this here, you guys, it's going to be a very interesting show. If you look at, you know, I'm not going to be calling names, but I'm calling by, well, you know, my name for Kyler Murray, Kyler the Wimp Murray. I would like to see what he's going to do in this series throughout the whole season. I would like to see what his attitude brings. You've heard a lot of rumors

this offseason how he could be a little... Kyler and Chua, you just straight up hate, don't you? No, I'm not hating. I'm just saying. Oh, you definitely are. No, no. He's a complete wimp, but... In my opinion... I mean, is he really wrong? I really want to see maybe two teams

in hard knocks here in the season. It could have been maybe the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the loss or the, I was going to say the LA Rams, but no, the LA Chargers. I may want to see maybe those two teams. For example, with Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they have an all-black coaching staff, a black head coach, a black defensive coach, a black offensive coach. I would love to see what are they going to do to help out Tom Brady and his potential maybe last season, which it could. Maybe with the L.A. Chargers, look at what they've done, traumatic moves this offseason, what the team is going to bring.

But it's going to be really fun toseason, what the team is going to bring. But it's going to be really fun to see what the Cardinals are going to do in this hard knock series. I will definitely. All right, so I love this pick. I really do love this pick for hard knocks. And I don't want to pick the team that's just the best team or the worst team. I want the team for hard knocks to be the most intriguing one,

the one with the most headlines, the one with the most, you know, it's TV, it's television. I want to see some stuff. And what I particularly want to see is the contract dispute between Kyler Murray and the team. I want to see how this relationship shapes up and how everything mends together when we when we get into the season with kyler murray and his team because it's clear that it that things were not

good over this offseason and i want to see how this shapes out during the course of this season will will they will the arizona cardinals be uh rise above it and be a good team and will will they will kyler murray and his team make up or will things just go to crap and just stuff hits the fan. I want to see that. I want to see how things go and I want to see tensions really just fly. I think that's a great thing to show.

And I also want to see the relationship between Kyler Murray and Marquise Brown. I think Kyler Murray is a player who likes to throw the ball a lot more than Lamar Jackson. And Marquise Brown is kind of a bit of a fish out of water in Baltimore. I know he put up better statistics this past season, and he had a better rapport with Lamar Jackson in the passing game. But he still wasn't quite a fit in Baltimore. They were more of a run-first offense, and he couldn't really fit there. And I know our pal Justin Tucker, who is not on the show with us tonight,

I know he has some strong feelings against the Marquise Brown trade, but I think it worked out for the Cardinals because it just seems like he fits that scheme a lot better. Kyler Murray and Marquise Brown, they were teammates back in college, which is why both players were first-round picks. They helped each other out a lot, and now they're going to be teammates. I want to see how that goes because I think that could work out low-key better than how DeAndre Hopkins and Kyler Murray worked out.

I know DeAndre Hopkins is a better player than Marquise Brown. That's hard to dispute. However, I think, I think, I think the relationship between the two is going to produce better numbers and it might make for a better team. It'll be a more fun offense to look at. Uh, and I think it'll be a little more, uh, I it'll be less, uh, uh, dysfunctional. I think, I think it'll be less uh uh dysfunctional i think i think it'll function a lot better so i i really do like this pick there's a lot there's plenty of headlines uh going around through this arizona cardinals team and i really want to see it i mean uh yeah yeah i guess it's just like i said um you know yeah i mean you know what i'm interested in. I want to see why they implode.

But honestly, it's just, like I said, the thing with Kyler, like you said, is it's extremely interesting, truly. I mean, that's really all I got. I mean, the whole thing was just childish. I'm not taking either side. I'll take the Cardinals. But then I get criticized for calling him a wimp. I'm not criticizing you for calling him a wimp.

Just call it as it is. You're hating on him. You're hating him. That's not hating. That's just calling him a nickname. I have plenty of nicknames. That nickname is hating. I call Mike Williams a fantasy curse.

I call Tua no-throw Tua. And for this guy here, I call call Tua no throw Tua. Right. I'm not saying whether or not it's justified or unjustified, but that's what it is. No. It is. It is. If Kyler Murray

was on the show tonight, and you said, stop being a wimp, how do you think he would respond to it? He's not hating. I i'm not gonna call the man a wimp i'm just gonna i'm gonna question his ability of how of a teammate he is and the way he associates things i'm not gonna call a grown man a wimp like like you won't do it to his face you'll just do it behind his back well well i'm not i'm not i'm not i'm not a coward at the same time. So will you or will you not call him a wimp?

I'm going to call him Kyler Murray, and we're going to try and have him on the show. We'll see how you react. I will criticize him for what he does, but I'm not going to call him a man. How can I say? I'm not going to be a coward. I'm going to definitely say, yes, I did say that you are a wimp, but why do you act like this way? So you're going to ask, why are you a wimp?

Not calling him a wimp. Hey, you know, that might be the best answer to take, honestly. At the exact same time, he's going to leave the show right away. No, he won't even answer that. You know, these players are all self-entitled and all that. The reason why I call him what he is is because the amount of controversy and it was during this whole off season we we talked on podcasts in february through march about this guy and it got to the point where you hear his name too much

that's when the nickname came up for him if he was to come on this show i would i would criticize him and ask him why were you acting like this way? And if he has a problem with what I said, I can accept his hate. I can accept it. But at the same time, I'm going to talk to you as a man because we're all human at the end of the day. So wouldn't you rather not, I mean, I wouldn't say, why are you a wimp or just ask why did you, why did your agent come out and make this statement say about saying that you want to be paid like you like you are that uh you know come out and say that uh why you know why did you unfollow your all of your team's social media on on instagram

either way he wouldn't answer that like because you know players you know can't dare tip their hand because because they're aware that they're being petty that's the thing they they know they are and but you know they're not going to be caught dead saying that i mean look with all due respect that's just not a question you ask someone because i mean even if you did you know they're not going to answer it because they're like oh my god how dare you call me out well that's my that's kind of my point there's really no way like this is criticism and it is hate just criticizing him and saying i like you're a wimp you it's not okay to unfollow your all your team and social media and just i mean that's basically taking everything out and taking it

making it public why can't you just do this behind closed doors? I'm not saying that what you're saying is unjustified, J-Hill. I'm just saying that it is criticism and it is hate. I'm not saying it's unjustified. I agree with you. Let me give you an example here. This is football talk. This is based on what we're talking about. Do you remember when Skip Bayless criticized T.O.

a couple years back of what he called him? And he went on his show and asked him, why'd you call me that? And Skip explained why. The same way Skip Bayless explained to T.O. what he called him, I forgot what the word was at the time. You can look it up,

because this did happen. I will do the same thing with Skip Bayless to explain my reason to why I called him that name and criticized him to what was going on at the time. You know what I'm saying? But Skip Bayless, whether it was on Undisputed or First Take, that's not real sports television. It's more so entertainment. I guarantee you a lot of the opinions that you hear,

Skip Bayless or Stephen A. Smith or Shannon Sharp or Max Kellerman, if you hear them off camera, they probably have completely different opinions. Because, you know, sometimes they're not allowed to agree or they have to be out there. They have to be entertaining. It's all an entertainment factor, which is why I kind of don't really take ESPN seriously. i'm starting to trend that way towards fox sports as well their their sports shows are just their sports shows are complete jokes and you and like us like sometimes sometimes

on our show we do we will get a little i mean we we like to we'd like to have focus on the on the entertainment factor a little bit because we want this to be a fun show for you guys, but we also want to tell things how it is. We don't want to sort of censor anything. We don't want to just be too afraid to agree on things. We'll give our takes and we'll be as fun with it as we can. But at the end of the day, we're not going to compromise uh our integrity with our in sports in just because

we want this to be fun to fun to watch this is journalistic integrity and careful those words are foreign to espn yep and fox sports and cnn and yeah like it's just i just don't don't take a lot of what you hear on fox on you know espn seriously just i don't i talk i talk my own meanings you get what i'm saying adam i don't copy of no one so i speak to what i speak on but like i get what you're coming from all right well we do have to get going on uh and we're going to move on to the fan box. We're going to talk about which team that you believe is the most underrated team going into the season. A lot of changes, a lot of player movement over this offseason. We want to know what team you guys like going into this season. I'm excited for all these responses and you're not going to want to miss this. This is the Fumble Rooski podcast. We'll be right back. That gets for the touchdown! You are listening to the Fumble Rooski Podcast by Power 88 and the Friends Only Sports Network. Adam Wright, CJ Medeiros, Justin Hill with you. And we have reached the end of our show, and you know what that means. That means we are on to the Fumble Rooski Fan Box.

So what that is is we post a question filter on our episode every Monday, and you can respond with hot takes, questions, and more, and we will discuss it and give you a shout-out on our podcast. Respond to next week's Fan Box question to be featured on our show. Now, the question of the week was, what is the most underrated team going into this 2022 NFL season? So our first response was from Diego Huertas, who said either the Eagles or the Saints.

So these are two teams that we've talked up a little bit in recent weeks as they have made some sort of late offseason additions, if you will. The Saints were very active during the draft. They had two first round picks. They traded to get one from the Eagles. They got a wide receiver, Chris Olave, who I believe was a reach, but still highly touted wide receiver, first round pick either way. They also got a

tackle to replace Taron Armstead, who was a big loss for them. So it is certainly important to keep your quarterback, Jameis Winston, upright. The Eagles, that's an interesting one. So we did talk this one up. I wasn't on wasn't on the show this past Thursday, but we talked about the Eagles after they got James Bradbury. That in and of itself, the addition of James Bradbury to combine with Darius Slay, vicious, vicious combo. And if both of those players play up to their potential, that's potentially the best secondary in the league.

They improved up front with the addition of Jordan Davis on that front seven. That's going to help their run defense. Hassan Redick, a defensive end who is a great pass rusher. That's a very good signing for them. They still have Devontae Smith along with A.J. Brown, who is one of the better wide receivers in this game, one of the more underrated wide receivers, to tell you the truth. And they still have Miles Sanders on that team for Jalen Hurts.

So it's either Jalen Hurts can play or not. And if not, they do have two first round picks in next year's draft. But I think either way, this team is a playoff team, regardless of whether or not Jalen Hurts can play. So I like that one. What do you guys think of it? Oh, yeah, I definitely agree. You know, the, you know, the, you know, the, the, sorry, you know, I agree with i agree with philly we we spoke about philly and uh the saints like i said uh getting jamis back i think was key because you know jamis was pretty good before he tore his acl and i wasn't crazy about the alave pick but it

works and they just got jarvis landry so you know that's going to help a lot and their offense should pick up a lot. And, you know, I feel like both of them you could say are most improved. I, of course, lean to Philly because, you know, the Bradbury and Brown signings. Yeah. With the team you just mentioned, you guys, the Eagles, they definitely made a great push in the draft when they required A.J.

Brown. You've heard a lot of things regarding what they're going to do this offseason. I think the Eagles have definitely improved regarding their whole line and regarding their receiving core. You look at the Cleveland Browns. The Cleveland Browns, they spent the most money out of any team this offseason, if I'm not mistaken. But at the same time, they got their quarterback, Deshaun. And you look at the Saints as well. They re-sign jamis there's rumors that breeze might return which i doubt but at the same time no he's

not coming back that's not a rumor at the exact same time the saints they definitely make great moves this this offseason as well yeah all right so jack, he said jets or Eagles. So we already discussed the Eagles a little bit. If there's anything you guys want to add on feel, feel free, but jets, I want to address the jets here. They still have Corey Davis. Who's an underrated wide receiver in himself. And you have Elijah Moore who came out and showed some, showed some promise. He showed some real flashes this season. I believe he had an 800-plus yard year for him. You have Michael Carter in that backfield who's being joined by, what's his name, Brees?

Brees Hall. Brees Hall. It looks like that's going to be a one-two punch in that backfield. That defense looks a lot better. That Ahmad Gardner pick at number four was a slam dunk, like I said. The only thing they could have messed up with that pick is not picking him. If he's there, you take him. Just anybody else.

It doesn't work. Then they got Garrett Wilson, and you have a, you have a rookie quarterback who's going into his second year. I really like the position the New York jets are in. This is probably the best position they've been in probably since the early, uh, the late, the late two thousands, early 2010s, when they, they went to back-to-back, uh, AFC championships. And I say this half-joking. I can't wait until next year's draft when they mess up

other top prospects' careers. But in all seriousness, this is a great – they had a great draft. They brought in – I'm forgetting the Bengals tight end they brought in. Uzama? CJ Uzama. But great all-around talent. All three of their first-round picks were slam dunks. But anything you guys want to say about that?

Yeah, I guess. First of all, they're slam dunks on paper. Let's see how it plays out. This is the Jets, after all. That's what I'm saying. I mean, they are improved. And this is something, especially with the Jets, after all. That's what I mean. They are improved. But and this is something, especially with the Jets, that I want to say. When we say most improved, we mean most improved on paper.

Your offseason and the regular season are two completely different things. And the Jets, Zach Wilson has no excuse not to suck next year. He has to take a step up. He really does. You look at the receiver core. You look at all the weapons they gave year. He has to take a step up. He really does. Look at the receiver, Corey. Look at all the weapons they gave him. His O-line is getting better, and the defense is starting to become a little bit scary.

He has no excuse not to suck. I'm tired of everyone saying, oh, he had flashes. There was a lot to like in his rookie season. Yeah, I'm sorry. No, there wasn't. So you mean he just needs to take a step a couple steps forward yeah he does and i mean and i truly believe if zach wilson does not take the next step next season this incoming season it's all for not i truly believe it when you look at the new york jets like

they they did a terrific job in in the draft year. And you have to give credit to Joe Douglas, their general manager. Their GM, my fault. Their GM. That's what general manager means, man. Yeah, I know. My fault. I mispronounced it. General manager.

Off day. But at the same time, they did everything regarding their draft lines. They drafted the receivers. They drafted the defense. They've done a lot of things. Now it's all up to Zach Wilson, their future quarterback or what is he going to do like what you just said CJ is he going to be the same Zach Wilson of last season get hurt all to me I think Zach Wilson is going to have definitely a great season maybe hopefully

be in the wild card game but I want to see what you have to say, Adam. Well, yeah, I've kind of given my opinion on it. But overall, this is a good – they've set themselves up very well. And I don't think Zach Wilson's under too much pressure because he's only going into his second year. And usually you want to make an accurate assumption on your quarterback about three years in. That's usually the timetable that you give. That's kind of the standard when it comes to quarterbacks who come into the league. And I would like to see him take a step forward.

Obviously, if he's still what he was last year, then that's a problem. But give him a couple of years. I think if he has a positive touchdown to interception ratio, then that's a, then that's good. If he throws for at least let's say more than 2,500 yards, then I'll be, then I'll be like, okay, you, you guys might have something give him another year. Add some more.

No, no. Over 3000. Come on. Let's not, let's not do that. I'm just trying. He's going into his, he's only going into his second year. Okay, yeah. I mean, Mac Jones already has more expectations,

and so does Trevor Lawrence. Okay. Well, Mac Jones was in a much better position, better coach, better organization. You need more pieces, and i think we're just too spoiled with seeing some of the quarter some of the truly elite quarterbacks around the league what about josh allen remember josh allen he didn't have he didn't have a stellar second year he wasn't very mad but yeah exactly

huh then he took that jump you know his second year was but i mean. Huh? Then he took that jump. His second year was. His second year. Yeah. His third year, he took the real jump, which is what I'm saying. Just give it some time with these young quarterbacks. What was crazy with Josh Allen was that he started off as a backup. Let's not forget about that. Man.

I even saw Trevor Lawrence also was higher expectations. I gave him his number one overall pick, but it's just like, I really think all their success hinges on zach wilson that is all i know i know i agree it all it he's he has the keys to the kingdom uh so uh cj said vikings they fixed most of their problems and green bay took a massive step back so do you want to elaborate any further on that as a matter of fact i do now if you look at the draft they got safety lewis seen or seen it however you pronounce it when the first round and then in the second round somehow andrew booth fell to them i'm not happy about that as a pats

fan but you know what you're gonna do and uh and like i said they've seemed to have addressed their secondary patrick peterson is there He's not what he once was. He could be a great veteran leader for all those youngsters. Yeah. And scene should come right in and produce off the bat, I would expect. And, you know, their O-line has gotten a little bit better. You know, you still have Kirk. You got Dalvin Cook.

You know, you have my man Jay Jettas and who could forget Adam Thielen. And their real tight end, Irv Smith Jr., is coming back, and who could forget Adam Thielen. And they're in their real tight end. Irv Smith Jr. is coming back, and that's going to help immensely. Not to mention Daniil Hunter on the D-line is coming back from injury, also great. And when I see the Vikings, I'm not saying they're going to win the Super Bowl, but they've improved quite a bit. They're already a good team.

But what they did in the secondary I think would really help especially since green bay got really weak no more davante adams you know that that really hurts and uh no more uh zadarius smith either and and you know they lost other receivers like geronimo allison equinemius saint, and their wide receiver core is not very good. You're going to need second-round pick Christian Watson to come out. Valdez Scantling, too. Oh, yeah, Valdez Scantling. I knew I was forgetting one. Thank you. Did you say Al Lazard?

Or you said Randall Cobb. No, I'm getting there. I said I'm talking about who they do have right now. Yeah, they have Lazard, Christian Watson, and... Randall Cob do have right now. Yeah, they have Lazard, Christian Watson, and... Randall Cobb, old man. Yeah, I'd mention Watkins before him, but Cobb is there. Watkins is just something, I guess.

But yeah, long story short, Vikings addressed their biggest weakness, which was the secondary, and they could really contend the afc north out of green bay like i said it's taking a step back it's their move now right uh yeah the vikings i have that there i've so i've mentioned this plenty of times on our show that uh this off season they're my favorite to win the a the nfc north they just they've improved in the places they needed to improve in and teams around them have gotten worse. The lions have gotten better, but they're a couple

of years away from, uh, from contention. And we did have one of our, one of our listeners mentioned him and we'll get to that, but Ian Malern and, uh, Ian, let me know if, uh, if I have your, uh, if I have your pronunciation correct for your, for your last name, but he said the Colts. So I do like this team because the Colts, low-key, might be better than Tennessee now. Now that they lost A.J. Brown, we'll see how Traylon Burks is in Tennessee in his rookie year. He is physically a clone of A.J. Brown,

but physicality is much different than actual skill and hard-nosed toughness. So, yeah, and I think all around that team is really good. The defense, they fix things up in the secondary. They have a great offensive line, and they upgraded that quarterback, which was their main issue for a team that barely missed the playoffs, by the way. If they didn't have a slow start to that season, start gelling with a new quarterback, they would be in the playoffs. But they're not because Carson Wentz falls apart when it matters most.

And not to say that Matt Ryan won't, but Matt Ryan will fall apart in the playoffs. He won't fall apart at the end of the season. So I think this is a good team. I think this is a good team, and I really like the Colts. I mean, I do, but I'm sorry. I still view Matt Ryan as a bridge quarterback. I really do. And, I mean, I disagree with the Colts being most improved

because their biggest addition was Matt Ryan. And they entered the year with so much cap space, and they only used it to absorb his massive contract. They got Rakia Sin for Yannick Ngakwe. I mean, no, they gave up Rakia Sin for Yannick Ngakwe, who's not really what he was. Like, congratulations, I guess. And you got Mo'Ally Cox back.

It's just, I mean, I don't know. I just don't think Matt Ryan's like the long-term answer. Oh, yeah. Oh, right. And Gilmore, Gilmore, Gilmore. Yeah. That's why I said they really improved that secondary. And they still have Kenny Moore to be their number two receiver.

Their number two corner. Yeah, they got – I'm sorry. They might be a little thin at wide receiver but i think they'll be i think they'll i think uh michael pitman will definitely be elevated by the upgrade and quarterback plus they got alec pierce i think in the second round the wide receiver from cincinnati that's pretty good but i just i'm not entirely sold on that ryan but I'll hold my official judgment until later. So I mentioned before one of our fans and it was Tyson Tate who mentioned the lions division rivals of mine. And he is a Vikings fan.

Detroit lions can take second in the North behind the Vikings. So he's not underrating the Vikings. He's, he's at the point where he's he's not underrating the Vikings. He's at the point where he's expecting a division victory for the Vikings. And that's my expectations for them as well. I think they should have that division. That's theirs to lose at this point. I think Green Bay is going to be competitive. And they're my pick to be second.

I just think the Lions, maybe they'll be a 500 or better. They can't be 500 because of the new record, the new expanded season. They'll be maybe above 500. That's my prediction for that team. I just think the Detroit Lions aren't there yet. And Green Bay will take second place. They have a solid scheme in place. The team looks like it's built for defense and running the ball. They still have A.J. Dillon and Aaron Jones in that backfield to hand off to. They have a serviceable offensive line, and they have a quarterback who can game manage. I'm sure he won't be happy about it, because we know how Rodgers loves his statistics but it looks like

it's a defense and running the ball team their secondary is deep and awesome and their front seven has improved a little bit they've taken a half step back in their in their uh pass rush but i i like uh i like the the packers over the lions but the lions have improved i i'll give them credit where it's due yeah uh i mean i like the lions thought they had a good draft especially in the first round where you nabbed hutchinson and uh williams but i don't know i just i'm not sold on golf and i think off if they had like a matt ryan if the lions had a matt ryan i would definitely say they could definitely contend for second place but right now with golf i just i don't see it i like golf i think golf is a i don't i think he's not the number one overall pick that

he should be but i but yeah i i like i i like golf he's a he's more of a bridge quarterback but if you put a good team around him like the ramp like he had on the rams then he can take you to to the playoffs and he's been to a super bowl so yeah i mean he doesn't have the rams around him he really doesn't i mean look i just and that jared golf had amazing stats that year and like for example you know this is gonna bother me let me let me uh pull this up real quick you want to pull up the stats of yeah yeah so what year was that 2018 2018 4,688 yards 32 touchdowns 12 picks 101.1 passer rating last season in detroit 3245 yards 19 touchdowns only eight picks and the 91.5 passer rating i don't i don't hate him but it's just i don't think he's a quarterback that can get you second place he's good as a bridge but we're gonna need to see some

real answers at qb for detroit all right we, we can agree to disagree there, but I really love, I, uh, I really like what the, what the lions are doing. And if they build, if they build a good enough team around him, I think they can, uh, they can certainly finish a second and maybe first, if they can really build this team up eventually I'm talking in a couple of years from now. Yeah, that's true. I also don't buy into their defense. That's a story for another day. Yeah. But yeah. So Tyson Tate, your lions, I just disagree with you.

Sorry, man. Love you to death. But Patrick Williver said Cardinals. So we did talk up the Cardinals a little bit on their nomination to be the next team for the in-season hard knocks. Uh, yeah, that is a team that I think the offense can low key, slow bet, uh, uh, play better because they, that rapport between, uh, Kyler Murray and, uh, between Kyler Murray and, uh, uh, uh, Marquise Brown. I think that's going to be a good, I think that's going to be a good connection. I really, I really like that connection. And I think

it'll produce better than Deandre Hopkins with Kyler Murray. And that might seem like a cold take now, but just wait until the season starts because that season, because the season's going to heat up and what it's going to come down to is the relationship between the players and the fact that these two were college teammates and they're buddy-buddy because they used to play together. That's going to be a big factor. And not to say that DeAndre Hopkins and Kyler Murray didn't have a solid relationship.

They probably did, but not as good as Marquise Brown. And I think Marquise Brown is also a fishy out of water in baltimore um but yeah what do you guys think of the cardinals as a underrated team underrated i i definitely feel exactly the same way uh nice i like the hollywood ad i know they made like this is i hate this because i can't put my finger on it but i know they made like i this is i hate this because i can't put my finger on it but i know they made like some improvements the secondary maybe you guys could help me out but uh but overall yeah they they certainly helped i mean it certainly helped but i mean i don't know if i'd say the most improved but yeah they definitely improved quite a bit right regarding resigning zach or

zach earths and also James Conner. They definitely have much more. Yeah, so it was James Conner. No, no, no. They didn't re-sign. So they re-signed James Conner. So I thought you said James Cook. No, no, no.

It was a different team. Yeah, but regarding re-signing James Conner, they definitely have much more to prove knowing that DeAndre Hopkins, he's not going to come back until week six, I think, or week eight. But let's see what the time will tell for the Cardinals because they definitely have a lot to improve regarding the tremendous upset they had last season. All right.

Well, Nick Norman had two responses. So his first response was, I'll go Jets. This will be the most fun jets offense in years. So we talked about that a little bit. Um, I'm not sure if I had any, have anything to add for the jets. I mean, the jets, they, they have a, they have a nice young core built up and it's going to come down to whether or not Zach Wilson can play on whether or not this, this jets team can, uh, can, can become competitive again in the next coming years I don't

think it's going to be this year they could be solid but I think they they're they're very close uh but his other response was the Chargers so this is an interesting one so they were projected third in their division and had a great off season with a top five quarterback. Two things. One, CJ, you and I were talking a little bit about this before the episode. I'm not sold. I'm not completely sold on Justin Herbert being a number one, a top five quarterback in this league just yet. He's shown all of the tools. Just he hasn't proven to be able to win yet it's not like he hasn't had

and he's made better he's made big bigger strides than most young quarterbacks and at this point in his career we were just talking about zach wilson going into his second year we remembered rookie justin herbert and he we were looking at him as becoming a future Hall of Famer. Zach Wilson's not that. Not yet, at least. But Justin Herbert, not sure about him. I know he's going to figure it out because he's just too talented of a quarterback not to. And he has a good hat on his shoulders. But with the talent he's had.

And also, the Chargers, I'm not sure if I have... I don't have them third in, in their division. I just, I think I have the chargers first. I think that's the most improved roster. That's a team that's that's that really the only chink in their armor is in the run defense everywhere else. Their, their pass rush is awesome with Khalil Mack now added to the mix. Their secondary is awesome. Now with JC Jackson added to the mix. Their secondary is awesome now with J.C. Jackson added to the mix. And I'm forgetting the rookie corner that they also have. Asante Samuel Jr.

He's not a rookie. I don't know why. Well, he's – I mean going into his second year. Yeah, yeah, I know. He was a rookie last year. That's what I meant. Yeah, and he got hurt. So, you know, basically it might be considered his rookie year.

They do that in the NBA. Yeah, and he got hurt. So, you know, basically it might be considered his rookie year. They do that in the NBA. Yeah, I do like him that – I do like this Chargers team. I don't know if I would call them underrated. I think that's my favorite to finish first in the AFC West, which says a lot because that division is crazy competitive. Oh, yeah. I'm sorry. Continue.

Go ahead. Thank you. I was just kind of – I mean, honestly, I wouldn't call them underrated, but there's definitely a case to make for the most improved. They got Mike Williams back. They got a good guard in the draft to shore up that o-line and you know they got cleo mack and jc jackson the chargers are playing madden with a

salary cap turned off let's be honest and uh but yeah there's definitely a case to be made and they're certainly one of if not the most improved all right well jack Hartman said Cleveland Browns, they improved at the biggest positions they needed. They did improve at the biggest position, which is quarterback and best of luck to Baker Mayfield finding a job. I'm sure he'll find a way to start somewhere in the league as long as he can get off that Cleveland Browns roster somehow, who still hasn't been traded by the way. But i they they did improve at the wide receiver position with their top receiver being amari cooper but past him they don't they're a little thin there everywhere else they have a great defense that's only going to

get better excuse me from uh from last season and they they have a great rushing, rushing attack headed with, uh, with, uh, Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb. Uh, they're just a little thin at the wide, at the wide receiver position. And we're still not sure on whether or not Deshaun Watson will face his suspension to start the year. Uh, and we all love that phrase innocent until proven guilty, but we all also know that the NFL does not see it that way sometimes. And they love to, like, for example, Deflategate, very little evidence. Ezekiel Elliott, very little evidence. Both quarterback Tom Brady and Ezekiel Elliott face dispensions. So we could easily see this going somewhere.

But I do like the Browns. I like the Browns coming into this season. I'm not sure if they'll be division winners because that division is very, very competitive, just like the AFC West. But any other thoughts about this team? With the Cleveland Browns, they have many stars in their team. They just recently re-signed Clowney. They've got Amari Cooper in the trade and also Deshaun Watts.

I would really like to definitely see what the ball club can definitely do with Deshaun Watts at QB when he plays. I definitely want to see how the coach is going to operate in the system as well. I also love to see the running game be much better, knowing that Nick Chubb, he had a couple injuries last season, but him being healthy this year. I'm really glad to see what the time brings towards the football club. Any other things, CJ?

No, you guys hit the nail right on the head. I mean, I was going to talk about I don't like their receivers, but Adam got that. Yeah, well, yeah. you guys hit the nail right on the head i mean i was gonna talk about i don't like their receivers but adam got that yeah well yeah that's basically the the only the only problem i have with that roster they have a good team but uh other otherwise like that's you know they they really need i thought they were going to try and get jarvis landry but the saints snagged him they could this is an interesting one they could go and and get Will Fuller because you know whose quarterback who had a great relationship with Kyle Fuller during Fuller's Houston days is Deshaun Watson, who is now a Cleveland Brown.

So for him to be your number two receiver, barring any injuries because he does have a lot of them. That could be a good spot for Kyle Fuller. I keep saying Kyle Fuller, uh, Will Fuller. It's just that you hear Kyle Fuller more nowadays because Kyle Fuller has been a very good corner. He did fall off a little bit during his Broncos days, but he became a damn good corner for Chicago before they cut him. And then they decided, and then he went to the Broncos. He's a Raven now, but that's, that's why I keep on saying Kyle Fuller. So apologies there, but Will Fuller, that's a good spot. And I think they need each other. Uh, but any other thoughts before we end the show tonight? All right. We went a little long with our, our fan

box responses, but we wanted to go more thorough, uh, in, in discussing what you guys said, because we love getting your responses and again, make sure you guys respond to our fan box. We love hearing what you guys have to say, and we would love to have you guys on the show at some point to be a guest. And we want to hear you guys talk about this stuff in person. But that'll do it for us tonight. Thank you for listening to us. Be sure to listen to us live Tuesdays and Thursdays at 730 on Twitter and Facebook through Fans Only Sports Network.

Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel. We also have all our episodes available on Spotify, Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and so much more. Also be sure to follow our Instagram at FumbleRooski underscore podcast to keep up with our podcasts and the latest coverage on the NFL.

Otherwise, we'll see you next week. Over and out.