The Fumblerooski Podcast - Safeguard -Ep 362 The Fumblerooski Podcast

Episode Date: May 13, 2025

In tonight's episode, Derek Carr announces his retirement over the weekend. A review of his 11-year career and reminiscing about the good times. Now that we're fully into our offseason schedule, we start by previewing the AFC East and talk about the top safeties going into 2025. Minkah Fitzpatrick not top 5? Bills at the top again? Chris Costich and CJ Medeiros talk all of this and more!

On this Tuesday episode of the Fumbaruski podcast Derek Carr Announces his retirement after 11 seasons and we take a look at the AFC East as well as giving our top Five safeties as we begin our off season here on the Fumbaruski podcast It may not have always showed it in the staff sheet But you can see him making throws when he needs to make the throws. Back to back games where he has three touchdowns. Someone's got to get that six or seven spot.

He's an elite wide receiver as a rookie. Truly a lose-lose scenario for both sides. Welcome to the Fumbarusky podcast by Poweradee18 radio and secret weapon consulting. He's CJ Medeiros I'm Chris Kostich Got a good one lined up for you as we are fully into the offseason at this point as we are now a couple weeks out from the draft happening I Gonna be a bit of a slower burn at this point, but did have some breaking news from this past weekend. Derek Carr, quarterback of the Saints, now former quarterback of the Saints, announcing his retirement after 11 seasons in the league,

unfortunately, was set to have season ending shoulder surgery during the offseason. So he would have missed the 2025 season anyways. Um, so now it's up to towel shock and Spencer Radler and Jake Hayner. Uh, that is your quarterback room now for the saints, but you know, Derek Carr, not, not a bad career. I have to say, and give us some props. Being the brother of David Carr, who was the number one overall pick for the Houston Texans way back when, back in 2002. And so obviously, you look at Derek Carr, and he had a lot of questions on if he was going to end up like his brother. And I think it's safe to say that he has surpassed it and then some.

Yeah, Derek Carr, obviously, you know, you knew what you were expecting out of Derek Carr. You know what you're expecting. He wasn't going to be top five quarterback of all time. He was going to give you a lot of bright spots. He was also going to give you a lot of bright spots. He was also going to give you a lot of dark spots. But at that point, he was a fun quarterback to watch. At least up until his tenure with the Saints. Yeah, I feel like Derek Carr surpassing his brother. That's not a respectfully to David

Carr. I do not believe that's a high bar he's considered one of the more well-known draft bus in our time but then again that was just Houston screwing him over I'll I will tell you that wasn't entirely his fault I thought I do something for myself but yeah Derek Carr many people view him him as just the poster child for just average QB play. He was never going to wow you, but he could win you some games. Kind of fell off towards the end of his career, but hey, the real folks out there

will forever remember and the Wilder. They're either, they're either Connor Cook, because their other backup, Matt McGloy, and I believe got her. That went 12 and three, had a 63.8% complete percentage,

3,900 yards, 28 touchdown, six interceptions. Even as he's before that, though the Raiders were seven and nine, he was still pretty solid. It's just, he really just was not the same after that injury.

He had like one good year for the that then Vegas Raiders in 2020 where he had 4100 yards, 27 touchdowns and nine picks but that was as close to his old form but then he did throw for 4800 yards in 2021 but his touchdown reception ratio was just not that good but as a whole he was solid. I mean definitely if you've been watching the NFL you know and if you start in the 2010s you obviously know who Derek Carr is. I won't say oh just another player from our childhood but yeah kind of he is. I mean he was a solid starter in the league for 2014 up to 2023. So hey, tipped the cat to him. A lot of money. And I hope he has a nice retirement. And she's also helping the Saints out as well in terms

of his contract. They're freeing up cap space by also getting rid of his guaranteed money already. I'm pretty sure he deferred the guaranteed money now or am I? Talking out of my ass right now I'm not certain I didn't hear anything about it because I know that there was Something that happened in terms of the money that helped the Saints be a little lesson cap Hell which isn't saying much because they're deep in it Yeah, I mean this Let's just say that is true. This is really only going to be a drop in the bucket for them

They're still going to be firmly mired in cap. Hell. Yeah It was 30 million in salary was the recent contract and It was a fully guaranteed contract and basically was just forfeiting that so that's why So that's why that the Saints are saving money in that regard They don't have to pay him the rest basically don't have to pay him the rest of the contract. That's all it is Yeah, yeah, all right, let's move on to our AFC East preview Should be a more competitive if C East this season than last season that's for certain I Would could I would probably compare this to?

maybe 21. Potentially. Yeah, I would say so. I think that's a pretty safe comparison, but we'll get to that after the break. You're listening to the Full Maroushka Podcast. It may not have always showed it in the staff sheet, but you can see him making throws when he needs to make the throws. Back to back games where he has three touchdowns. Someone's got to get that six or seven spot.

He's an elite wide receiver as a rookie, truly a lose lose scenario for both sides. Welcome back to the Fulmaruzki podcast. He's CJ Medeiros. I'm Chris Kostich. Looking at the AFC East, a lot of changes, a lot of changes, obviously, but. Let's start at the bottom first. What's the earth at the bottom? at least in terms of this past seasons AFC standings

Yeah, okay. Let's look at the Patriots first which Hand up a little bit biased on that part, but that's just how that's just how the cards play out at that point Patriots pick top four and back-to-back drafts. I think it's Potentially potentially safe to say that they may have nailed it on both Obviously Drake may go in number three to the Patriots Two weeks ago, Will Campbell goes number four to the Patriots to the Patriots. Uh two weeks goes number four to the Patriots. Yeah, that that is

true. Uh this off season especially. Yeah, I do think that this is the first time that I also as a fan once again, I'll expose the bias right now can tell you that they actually took a step forward like the roster got better.

I would argue this is the first seat off season, the 2025 off season, since 2021, where the team improved, roster got better. Since then, they just, they gave some quick fixes to it. And then it just completely deteriorated, completely fell apart. You know, in the draft you had swing and miss after swing and miss. You, oh my goodness, you also had just boneheaded trades letting star free agents walk like and these real band-aid solutions

in free agency if you did anything at all. And now for the first time, I can actually say and believe it that the team improved. And you have to look at free agency too. They had a complete and total overhaul by bringing in guys like Stephon Diggs, Morgan Moses, Carlton Davis, Robert Spillane, and Milton Williams Morgan Moses, Carlton Davis, Robert Spillane, and Milton Williams, if I said that already. Yeah.

May have, but I don't know. It's worth mentioning again. Ronan was a whole bunch of people, including other guys too, like Garrett Bradbury, Mac Hollins, Jack Gibbons, Harold Landry. They went out there and they actually spent money, which if you're a Pats fan, you know, Jack Gibbons Harold Landry like they they went out there and they actually Spent money which if you're a patsy fan, you're like, oh, hey, this is weird Not something we you see very often and then in the draft now for the past decade or so

the NFL draft was always something New England struggled in but They thus far I mean on paper alone, it looks promising, which once again as a Pats fan, we can say is weird because after every draft, we're used to it being panned, you know, oh reaches, oh another trayback, why they do this but honestly, Will Campbell was I I think, a good pick fourth overall. Trevion Henderson from Ohio State was a nice pick up. Gravite guys like Kyle Williams and Jared

Wilson also developed to help out the offense. And they got some two steals in the fourth and fifth rounds with Joshua Farmer and Braden Swinson. So honestly, you can't even be mad. And you upgraded the wide receiver room a little bit as well. I'm sorry, I don't know if you mentioned it, but Stefan Diggs, Mac Hollings. And I did. Okay, sorry. But obviously you upgrade that. You look at the way Drake May played last year as well.

And if you're just watching the box score, you're an idiot because Drake May was basically the only thing that was keeping the offense going last year, but barely. Um, his stats were not great and it was because of the team around him. Like, you know, just from watching the games, he is going to be good. Um, and that was, I think the, like the biggest thing too, sorry again, if you've already mentioned it, but the biggest thing with the Patriots was fixing up

the O line and they had basically already gotten that done through free agency. They just need one last piece. And that was Will Campbell. Yeah. I mean, they did a lot in free agency too. They grabbed Brad Berry and Morgan Moses. Cause honestly with Cole Strange and Mike Almanu, you're fine at Garner. Awonu is really good. Strange, he's fine when he's healthy. And he was still you have City Salad as a backup and that's that's fine. But it was tackles and

center after David Andrews left. So now what it is is is that, as you said, you got your primary from the Vikings, and you drafted Jared Wilson out of Georgia, who really has some promise, you grabbed a sturdy, reliable veteran and Morgan Moses at right tackle, and you drafted a stud and Will Campbell at left. And like, wide receiver room. Now the wide receiver rooms just, it's not terrible. It's just very bleh. Like there's nobody like obscenely terrible.

Okay, outside of Jalen Polk, but the guys you do have like Demarrior Douglas and Kaishan Buti, they can be two and threes on other teams. Low end, it was two, especially for Douglas, but still. But now you brought in Stefan Diggs You have a solid deep threat with Matt Collins and you drafted Kyle Wilson Who's one of the better pure separators in the draft? So Williams he's attempting to solve their problems Which is actually even an attempt is more what they've done in recent years. Yeah

my favorite video right now in terms of the surrounding the Patriots is Scott Zolak on 98.5 and Bertrand's like, all right, I'm going to go through the list of opponents that the Patriots have. And he's like, Oh, that's very doable. When when like he was, he had, he had basically given like the Patriots all of their home games at that point. So honestly, when it comes to the Patriots, I can very much see that happening. I could see this being a 10 win team. I've been, I've been making the joke, obviously that their ceiling is the Lombardi trophy and their floor is 17 and out. But, um, obviously jokes. I could still, I could make this a funny.

Yeah. Thanks for laughing. Now. Fuck you. I get there very much. See this being a whatever, not very cash money. You did not to not laugh at me. Sorry, Chris. My heart goes out to you, bud. Yeah, whatever. Patriots, I could see them very much being a 10 win team, depending on how the bill shape out, then maybe even competing for the top spot in the AFC East, which kind of goes with what I was with my comparison to the 21 season and how I think this is gonna shape out Which also leads me to believe that the Patriots will most likely finish in second place

in the AFC East this year Yeah, I feel like it's New England or Miami it's gonna finish because Miami like I keep saying all flash No substance flash does win games, but it's not sustainable and They're kind of on the backslide. I would argue but as a whole if Drake may develops that could be a scary team because New England does have the second easiest schedule in the league and Well on the road, they're gonna face some tough teams like I believe the Buccaneers the Ravens the Bengals among others But New England at home with the crowd behind them

I think you're gonna face like what like the Giants that the Steelers like that they could have Considerably easier time at home and then they're obviously gonna swipe a few on the road I could see them becoming at least a ten-win team. Well happy enough for the playoffs I don't know what if Drake may develops they could be one of those Scarior teams that you know, they're not gonna win the Super Bowl But you know that they're going to that they could probably upset you if you're not careful I would say your toughest away games as you mentioned Tampa Bay I'll throw Baltimore in there

Buffalo of course Miami just because for some reason the Patriots Only in Miami Yeah, it's they always lose in Miami Moving on to the jets. Boy, what a dumpster fire this team was, uh, and still kind of seems that way. They did hire Aaron Glenn, former defensive coordinator of the Detroit lions. That's probably the best positive you can really think of about this team.

Best Positive you can really think of about this team Really the only thing that The Jets have I guess It's Garrett Wilson Breeze Hall and sauce Gardner. That's like like you said That's the best you can really come up with in terms of who to talk about on the Jets Unless you want to throw in Justin Fields, of course, because that's always a name to talk about. Jets finished five and 12 last year. Most notable departure is Aaron Rodgers, who's still currently a free agent, who, according to sources, may sign with the Steelers once this schedule release comes out tomorrow.

But yeah, I see this being an incredibly and a year of incredible suck for the Jets. Like you see the graphic there Jets longest active playoff drought in the NFL, 14 consecutive seasons. It's going to be 15 and then it's gonna be 16. That's how the Jets are gonna be the next couple of years. They are going to suck. And it's not like, it's not even gonna be the fault of Aaron Glenn.

Obviously we're gonna see in certain close games how Aaron Glenn is gonna be as a head coach or just in some of these games in general. Actually longest playoff drought in professional sports, not even just football, just professional sports. And last playoff appearance being 2010, where they made a run at the AFC championship with freaking Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez. Who the Patriots embarrassingly lost to, of course.

Yeah. I'm going to say that with the Jets. I feel they need to do more. I just feel like the Jets needed to do more in free agency because, you know, they're already Crumbling they you know, they gave a few quick fixes that team and now they're just crumbling Hey, you know, it's bad when the biggest difference makers you sign were Brandon Stevens from the Ravens and Justin Fields from Pittsburgh like fields a solid but I don't know also You know, I mean, look, it's just like, I like they resigned Jamie and Sherwood. I thought that resigning some of those lower key guys

like Jamie Davis, Isaiah Oliver are good for the locker room, but I don't know, they just, they needed to actually fix the holes but I don't know. They just they needed to actually fix the holes on their roster and they just didn't their draft. I'm not going to lie to you. I didn't really do it for

me. Armand Memboo is a good right tackle. Mason Taylor was good in round two but Azariah Thomas in round three was a bit of a reach. Arian Smith, round four, real big boomer bus guy. I liked Malachi Moore also in round four, but then there were fifth round picks. Francisco Mabagola and Tyler Barron, I didn't even think would get drafted.

So I just, the Jets were kind of in the same situation as the Patriots where they need to absolutely crush the off season. And at the end of the day, they just didn't. Yeah. I think just going from Aaron Rodgers to Justin Fields in general is just, you already know you're in for a very, very, very, very,

very tough season. Well, consider this, at like their best case scenario, it's a lateral move. That is best case scenario. I would say best case. Yeah. It's a lateral. That's it. Yeah.

I would say best case scenario for this team is that they finish with five wins, just like they did last year. Yeah. And I am going to have them finishing in the last year. Yeah. And fit it. And I am going to have them finishing in the last place. In the East. Potentially shit. I mean, potentially top five picks. Well, most likely top five pick Miami Dolphins. Man, this team is really just

It's really just a matter of if to it can stay healthy Because what they only have they have one win when to is as to a Not being in a healthy available when to it does not play the Dolphins only have one win Yeah, it's true and The Dolphins only have one win. Yeah, it's true. And the Dolphins are just so underwhelming, I guess, just as a team. They have all that flash, all these stats, like all those funny social media posts. You know, you have the head coach,

you know, chirping fans and spouting zingers at press conferences. And for what? I mean, the Dolphins absolute ceiling, if everything goes right for them, is you're the sixth or seventh seed in the playoffs and you get bounced around one. Because you can't beat teams above 500,

you can't play in the cold. And guess what? Playoffs are in January, so unless you somehow secure the one seed, I don't see you winning. And the Dolphins are just another team the playoffs are in January Larry Baram from the Bears who should not start at all. They gave a two year deal to Nick Westbrook, a Kene and an already crowded wide receiver room.

Ashton Davis from the Jets. They brought back Tyrell Dodson. I just, I don't see anyone there who's really gonna move the needle. Alexander Madison, I doubt it. Pharaoh Brown, Patriots legend by the way, unlikely. Willie Gay Jr., nah, like you need someone to move the needle especially because even at your best, you're still living in Buffalo's shadow. And then

there's their draft which I think was one of the more underwhelming in the league. So, round one, they went Kenneth Grant, the big defensive tackle out of Michigan, who I like fine, but not at 13. Like, you need offensive line help and you need a corner to replace Jalen Ramsey, who will inevitably be traded, I might add. And you didn't address that till round five. So, then you have Jonah Savanaya, the guard from Arizona at, in the second round, 32nd or 37th overall. I'm not gonna lie I think that was a solid pick and then they didn't have any picks until round five where they got defensive tackle Jordan Phillips Now probably not gonna do anything cornered Jason Marshall jr. I don't think he was supposed to be drafted and

Safety Dante Trader jr. Who has some upside, but don't count on it. They got Ollie Gordon, the running back from Oklahoma State in the sixth round, who could be a really nice steal. Then the seventh round, they got Texas QB Quint Ewers, obviously insurance for when Tua's brain goes full slushy. And then Zeke Biggers from Georgia Tech. Ooh, I'm not gonna lie to you. I didn't even, I've never heard of him.

Yeah. That's pretty much it. Like, and they just- I think another thing that- At this point, I'm sorry. Another thing that also needs to be said is that there's gonna be no Jalen Ramsey for them as well because he's gonna get traded before this season starts. I just want to make sure that was clear. Oh no no it is it is we've made between you and I we've made this abundantly clear.

I guess at best the same thing for the Jets like best case scenario You've just made a lateral moving or just stuck treading water. Yeah Best case scenario I'd say probably seven wins. I'm just gonna look at their schedule right now. It's really eight or nine Yeah, maybe let's look at their schedule and see what we're looking at. Let's let's get look I know there's schedules on the easier side. That's kind of like the AFC East kind of break this season, but yeah Yeah Patriots. I think the Patriots had like second easiest maybe Yeah, I paid you to have the second easiest but I feel like we should probably move on to Buffalo. Yeah, I guess so But yet I got Dolphins finishing third Yeah, second or third leaning third. Yeah

So the bills obviouslyigning AFC's champions, lost in the AFC championship game to the Chiefs, because Chiefs are the Daddies. This is a team that had Josh Allen, of course winning MVP. This was a team that was Absolutely hot ever since week five or whenever they lost the Texans They just went on an absolute Tare winning ten of their last twelve games Of course beating Broncos and the Ravens in the playoffs, both at home and as mentioned, going to Kansas City and losing to the Sheeves. Finished 13-4, a team that a lot of people had hopes for making at the Super Bowl, but especially a year where they were one year off of, removed from Stephon Diggs and everyone was like, geez, Josh Allen's going to have no one to throw to this and that,

which still somewhat true. But we saw the emergence of Khalil Shakur. Kion Coleman was good here and there, not great. James Cook really, really popped off this season. Defense had a lot of issues. There was also a lot of times where the Bills defense really stepped up, but there was also games where they're putting letting up 40 plus to the Lions 40 plus to the Rams, stuff like that.

Although that Lions game they did come away with a win. So it had its moments. Bills I could see this year still Winning the division. I don't know about 13 wins mainly because now you have the Patriots Being really good. You never know Patriots could get both but I highly doubt it. Um They could get all four against the Jets and the Dolphins maybe max three against those two teams Yeah But either way I see this team being at least an 11 win team this yeah, I

Do feel I don't see them going below double digits. I do think 11 is their floor now I've love hate relationship with the bills offseason because They did get some solid players like Kendrick Green, Dane Jackson, Larry Ogunjobi, Joey Bosa on a one-year deal. But some of the other better players they brought in like Joshua Palmer and Michael Hecht were grossly overpaid, both of them getting a three-year deal. And on top of that, they paid Khalil Shakir borderline wide receiver one high-end wide receiver two money and I feel it's a little much for him

Because I'm just I'm not afraid of Shakir like at all But what saves the bills off season for me was their draft Maxwell Hairston in round one draft. Maxwell Hairston in round one. Speedy corner. You need him. Then they retooled the defense getting TJ Sanders from South Carolina, Landon Jackson from Arkansas, and Dale Walker from Kentucky. Those are great picks. And then you have some of those later round dart throws like Jordan Hancock, Jackson Hawes in the fifth round. Two guys I really liked in the sixth round with Dorian Strong and and chase Lunt and then another dart throw with Kate and Prather in round seven

Overall, I did like their draft The free to see not so much. I do think that they're gonna be the same but they do have room to improve. I'll give them that Yeah apologies for my dog barking in the background, but it's a good time for a break anyways, unless you want to keep going with the bills. But bills didn't have a pass catcher with over a hundred eight hundred twenty one yards. Uh, this past season, of course, as we mentioned, when you're removed from Stefan digs, uh, who ended up being on the Texans last year now, obviously the Patriots. Those, those are going to be some fun ones.

Uh, Pat's bills, uh, with digs playing against the bills again, that those are going to be some fun ones. But yeah. Yeah. We're going to take a quick break. Sorry. As many, you want to send us out? Maybe I'm joking.

Oh, that'd be, that'd be cool. Let's, let's just, let's just, let's just, let's just, let's just, let's just, We're gonna take a quick break. Sorry. I was gonna you want to send us out maybe I'm joking. Oh That'd be that'd be cool Let's let's travel to Buffalo Let's travel to Buffalo. It's a good time up there Try the wings Go to a game now No, I'm not going to a game man. They're gonna like you will get attacked there

And careful I'll be nice with you Yeah, you know they'll chunk out some ice at you and they'll be like, oh We but we donate to charity right after they send t higgins a mountain of death threats I'm still not over that bills fans, but whatever I was up. I was up there for the 2021 wild-car game that's Good for you. You're one of the lucky ones. Anyway, Chris quick final verdict. I do want to ask you since you're the host

What do you what's your final verdict for the AFC East for me? Yes bills pats Dolphins, Jets. Same. Yeah, I like it. All right, we're gonna take a quick break when we come back. We're gonna take a look at the safety position preview, the safety position CJ and I are gonna give our top five safeties coming into the 2025 season.

This is the Fumbler's podcast. It may not have always showed it in the staff sheet, but you can see him making throws when he needs to make the throws back to back games where he has three touchdowns. Someone's got to get that six or seven spot. He's an elite wide receiver as a rookie, truly a lose lose scenario for both sides. Welcome back to the Full Moon Rescue podcast by PowerD8, Dean Radio and Secret Weapon Consulting. He's CJ Madero, Sam Kreskostich. Take a look at our top five safeties going into the 2025 season. I can imagine CJ and I are gonna have some similarities of at least who's in the top

five. Maybe the same order. We'll see. But CJ, I'll leave the floor to you to start. Thank you. You're very generous. So kicking us off at number five, I'm going to warn you, if you don't know ball, this is going to terrify you but if you act because for a position as weird and vague

as safety right you're going to have to value what or i mean you're gonna have to talk about what you value more is it names or production because i'm gonna tell you this is gonna rub some feathers right away He used to be top three, but now at number five Derwin James from the LA Chargers 93 tackles last year five and a half sacks seven passes broken up and a pick I Can't hate it. I really can't especially only allowed a 62% completion percentage of the strong safety that's pretty good and only a 3.1% missed tackle percentage. I really do like that. That's great. But the thing

is as he gets up there in age he's becoming more and more of a uh, Jamal Adams type, if that makes sense to you. He's really starting to be, uh, I mean, I'm not going to call him, you know, Oh, he's so old. I don't know. It's not like that. Don't mistake that. I'm just saying he's just, I don't know how to put this, just like he's just I don't know how to put this just like he's they're starting to use him less in coverage and more to like stack the box you know which kind of happens to say if he's as they get older like they bring him closer to the line so they can hit more so they don't kind of get burned in coverage but still

he is worth being in the top five now Now my number four, kind of a similar model, but much younger, Kyle Hamilton of the Baltimore Ravens. Now this man right here, 107 tackles, two sacks, nine passes broken up, two forced fumbles and a pick. This man just flies around the field. Only gave up 326 yards last year. Only one touchdown and two passes batted away. He's even managed to hurry the quarterback a few times. Less than 10% of his tackle percentage. I believe he

was a second team all-pro and a pro bowler as well. So honestly, tipping the hat to him. Ravens got a good one, I was always a fan. And the top three might get a little scary for some people. So kicking us off, number three, Xavier McKinney of the Green Bay Packers. 88 tackles, a sack, eight interceptions, and 11 passes broken up. Pro bowler, first team all pro from last year. They're AP first team, you know, AP one as it's also known. I'm gonna be honest with you. I think it was a great season for him. My only issue is his stats are overly inflated

because he got off hot to start out last season. He had like a pick like the first five or six games or whatever. And then especially towards the back end of the year, he really started to fade away like almost entirely. But still he did pick it up at like the tail end especially for the playoffs So on so I really can't hate Him at all, but at least he did come back. He didn't just go quietly

So honestly, I feel like number three is a good spot for him Now little disclaimer here, okay? I think you can put these next two in any, you can flip them. My number two is Kirby Joseph of the Detroit Lions. 83 tackles last season, 58 solo, nine interceptions, which I believe led the league, 12 passes defended, and they even got a tackle for loss. That's nice. And he allowed a 44.2% complete percentage along

with only allowing 330 yards and one touchdown. Kirby Joseph is a guy who keep taking leap after leap every year he's in the league and he is rewarded with a first-team All-Pro and I believe came in sixth place for defensive player of the year. A lot of our fans don't like him but hey you gotta love just the fight and the hustle that he brings. That's that's just great but for me me, maybe I'm biased my number one is I mean biased towards the name Jesse Bates from the Falcons Jesse Bates the third as it were 102 tackles 62 of them being slow All with two tackles for loss for interceptions isn't as crazy as eight or nine

But you got to look past that. 10 passes broken up, but here's the thing. Four forced fumbles and a sack. And only allowed 345 yards. And you know, sub 10%, missed tackle percentage. And just another one, you have a player, especially a defensive back and triple digit tackles, you can line up everywhere, who picks the ball off,

who's always there and can force fumbles, that's huge. I just feel like the versatility really can get you there. But he's not a one trick pony. Like I won't say he's a one trick pony, but I was gonna mention Derwin James, kind of where he's now, he's almost forced to rely on one thing But Jesse Bates

Now this man, I think he's still got the crown there But you could depending on the day convince me for Kirby Joseph. I think there it's a 1a 1b kind of thing. I Like it Good list CJ. Thank you. You're very generous But unfortunately, here's why you're wrong. I'm kidding I'm kidding. I was gonna say all right I'd say like I think that you could in terms of the top ten like if we were to do a top ten safeties I think you could really interchange a lot of them through the top five interchange a lot of them through the top five.

Um, but we'll start off with a bang. To drill pepper safety for the new England Patriots going number five. Look, I think of Jabril peppers is that hard hitting safety that you want on a team, kind of like a Ed Reed hybrid, someone that can really come across the middle and lay someone out if need be but that's not their main game. That's not their main game it's coverage and very smart you're built peppers shut the fuck up Adam in my ear talking about assaulting people he charges were dropped yeah charges were dropped his girl lied yeah no one's here, but seriously like guys look into it like she actually did lie Anyways, anyways, we're not we're not here to talk about that. We're talking about two real peppers as a football player He's a damn good football player This is a guy that Is an absolute ballhawk?

Guy that can punch the ball out when need be also it it just feels like when I watched a Brill peppers He's in the right spot at the right time That's one of the biggest things for me Looking at number four read blank and ship Everyone thinks of him as a corner. He's actually listed as a safety And he had a fantastic rookie season. I see him making that jump as being at the very least He top five guy. Yeah. Pardon.

I'm thinking of Cooper Dejean for some reason, but you know what I mean? Reed Blanketchip had a spectacular season. He's going to end up elevating to be that top five guy. Cooper Dejean. Shit. Cooper Dejean could be the same exact thing for all we know. They basically already unloaded half of the secondary leaves room for guys like Reid and Goubert de Jean to be top five guys. Alright, enough of the

enough of the exciting whites. Let's head on to my number three, Jesse Bates. Now, I think that in terms of the top three, I'm just going to get out of the way. Top three, CJ and I have the same guys, just different order. And in my opinion, you can intertwine each of these three. Yeah. Here's my reasoning for Jesse Bates not being number one. It's the importance of the pass game now With that being said, yeah, you only had four interceptions but here as you mentioned CJ also had 102 tackles, which in

My eyes how I see that is him being able to fill the alley Beautifully. You also mentioned the missed tackle rate, extremely fucking low. He's a great he's a great safety to have. He's one of the few bright spots that that Falcons defense had this season for a defense that was underwhelming, to say the least. Looking at number two, Xavier McKinney. And now we're starting to get into more of why the top two the way it is. Xavier McKinney had a huge breakout season, ended up having eight interceptions, had a

couple tackles for loss, one sack to his line, 88 total tackles. Very, very, very good player. 11 past affected, past offended, I should say, is the actual stat line, stat name. This is another guy that just can cover an entire field and really elevated the Packers defense, along with Gier Alexander, of course, but Xavier McKinney really picked up the slack when Alexander got hurt. And finally, Kirby Joseph. I think he's easily the top safety going into this year, another ballhacking safety that came away with nine interceptions. It's. Along with what you said, CJ, I don't think there's really much else more to say about the top three.

Yeah, I do want to point out that the reason why I had Jesse Bates or McKinney and Kirby Joseph is that it's not so much about who was the best last year, but who we think is going to be the best this year, right? Yeah. And I feel more confident with Jesse Bates going on the trajectory that he's going and still playing at this high level.

Then Xavier McKinney and even Kirby Joseph, uh, replicating career years because they really just burst onto the scene. They really just became that top tier. I'm going to need to see him do it again. Yeah. And I think one, sorry, you can go. There was one thing I want to say to the viewers that you may have noticed. Minka Fitzpatrick was on either of our top fives. And, you know, I guess last year would have made sense considering the fact he only played nine games and he was coming off an injury. But this year, he was healthy, but he just didn't do anything.

I won't say he looked like a shell of himself, but he didn't look like his normal self. He just, he got burned repeatedly He wasn't as explosive. There were no splash plays. No impact plays really no nothing. So Unfortunately We kind of leave him off and He's 28. I believe so it's not like he's hit the football version of bunk status. He's not 30 so he is trying to turn it around but An injured season than a season where he just doesn't produce

That's not a good sign and he's gonna have to earn his way back to the top five at least for me And I feel like you're probably feel the same way Chris. Yeah, I mean you go from 64 tackles in 10 games played to 96 tackles in 17 games played only. I mean, like you've played the full 17 game season. You only came away with one interception for pass defended. I did have a couple of run stuffs here and there. But like, just if you if you take like, even if you take like the tackles themselves and just average that, then it just automatically feels like down here at that point anyways.

And like everything about Minkifits, as you mentioned, everything about Minkifits Patrick has felt off. Like yeah, he's only 28. So he's still got at least a couple of years of prime still left. If we want to consider this still as prime, but like it's far from the early days of when he was in Pittsburgh, where he was getting where he ended up having a total of 11 interceptions in the first three years. three years. Yeah, Chris, you have a point. But once again, I do think that we are in that same sphere of agreement. Yes, you guys are on your way into the top five. Yeah, no, I'm sorry. I was just I was more building off of what you're saying. But it sounded like I was trying to prove you wrong. No, no, no. You know, you're right. You're right

about him. It's just I said an injury riddled year followed by a down year. That's usually not a good trend. No Um, but yeah, that's all the scheduled content that we have for you today I guess the one other bit of news that did come out yesterday was uh, trey hendrickson, uh revealing that there's been no communication on either his side nor the Cincinnati side about a contract a new contract And that he also said that he's not willing to play in this upcoming season if a contract isn't done Oh, that's a Cincinnati bangles everyone they're doing it again

They're literally just the great value Dallas Cowboys when it comes to resign their players the Let's see if they're gonna suck this year and then we can low ball them and then they don't suck and then they try To low ball them and it's like the fuck are you doing? Yeah, I don't know It's it's just stupid. You're trying you're trying to pay a guy like an average salary when he's really like top five at his position Yeah, the gems got to go but then again at this point. We're almost at 50 minutes. So do we yeah So that's why we're gonna go Thank you for tuning in for another episode of the phone Bruce Kee podcast new episode coming out at 730 next week Not doing any more Friday episodes unless we let some breaking news happens. We'll throw out an episode out there Talk about the breaking news such as jailalen Ramsey maybe going to get signed

somewhere or traded. I mean, who knows, but thank you for tuning in. Of course, new episode coming out on next Tuesday, 730 PM Eastern Standard Time. Have all of our episodes available on Spotify, Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRead Radio, Google Podcasts, and so much more. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow our Instagram full moose key underscore podcast to keep up with the pod In the latest coverage on the NFL otherwise CC J. Medeiros from Chris caustic. We'll see you next Tuesday over now