The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Colin Cowherd Podcast - Niners Camp Notes, OC Patricia w/ John Middlekauff, Fake Q’s on Jimmy G → Browns (?)

Episode Date: August 12, 2022

First, Fake Questions, Real Answers (3:00), including if Antonio Brown’s latest bizarre statement is his most bizarre yet, which 2 QB/Coach combos are most likely to implode, the biggest mistake football fans make in August, which 2nd year QB will pop, how Trump changed college football for the better, and if Jimmy G to the Browns would be a good fit. Colin and 3 and Out podcast Host John Middlekauff discuss if who’s to blame for the current state of the Giants (11:00), if they should bottom out or sign Jimmy G (14:00), his impressions of Trey Lance at Niners camp (21:00), if Belichick’s weird offseason decisions - including naming Matt Patricia OC - are as bad as they look from the outside (25:00), and which teams John thinks could be the biggest disappointments (32:00). Follow Colin and The Volume on Twitter for the latest content and updates and check out FanDuel for the best wagering and daily fantasy action! #Herd See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On the Look Back at it podcast. For 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it.

With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win.

I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your

podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. The volume. The Colin Coward podcast presented by Fandul Sportsbook, no better place to make every moment more than with Fandul. Basketball, football, they have awesome new and existing user promotions. It's easy to use. safe and secure. You can get your winnings back in two hours. My favorite, the same game parleyes.

You can bet five or ten bucks in one 150 bucks or more. If you are new, just download the Fandul Sportsbook app. Get started now. Sign up promo code Colin so they know we and I sent you. The Colin Coward podcast presented by the Fandul's Sportsbook. All right. We get ready for my buddy, former pro scout, three and out podcast John Middlakov, but at the Niners camp for two weeks. I got questions about Trey Lance. But first, fake questions, real answers. I got stuff I want to talk about, but don't want to wait for you to ask me. Did you see the post from A.B., you know, Antonio Brown saying his biggest regret was that he didn't get to watch himself play football?

What did you make of it? What I make of it is that Mike Tomlin kept him basically inside the rails for his first contract. I mean, the guy's like not all there. There's narcissism and then there's whatever A, B is. I just have respect for Mike Tomlin. I've said this before. Mike is a player's coach. Sometimes the Steelers feel too emotionally.

driven. But when you read that quote, that post from Antonio Brown, he's serious, completely. Can't imagine having to manage that diva. Dear Colin, which head coach quarterback duo concerns you the most this year? Well, first of all, we have a trend for about three years. defensive coaches sometimes struggle to get along with quarterbacks. Belichick Brady at the end, Russell Wilson, Pete Carroll, Mike Zimmer, Kirk Cousins, Brian Flores-Tua. The one I look at is Ron Rivera and Carson Wentz. Ron's a defensive coach.

He tends to be conservative in nature. And Carson Wentz is reckless. That is a really, really bad combination. There's a trend in this league and it's pretty obvious. Coaches and quarterbacks, defensive coaches and quarterbacks as this game in the NFL opens up and pivots to offense, these relationships increasingly are uneven. Zimmer, Cousins, Pete Carroll Russ, Robert Sala, Zach Wilson, Jets, keep your eye on it. Defensive coach and a quarterback who sometimes goes off script.

those two concern me. Dear Colin, what's the biggest mistake that football fans make every year at this time? Excellent question. Fans tend to think even great draft picks, top 10 picks, top five picks will make an immediate impact. Now, there are certain positions like running back or cornerback where it's easier to excel. I mean, you can either find the hole at running back, cover a guy at corner or not. Sauce Gardner for the Jets should play week one and be really, really good. But I covered Warren Sapp, his first year with the Buccaneers in Tampa.

He was a dominant defensive lineman in college. First year, three sacks. Second year, he tripled it to nine. Cooper Cup, four years in with the Rams, with McVeigh, four years in to that offense, had 900 yards receiving. Derek Henry really didn't pop until about year three or four. He only started four games his first year. Derek Henry, as good as he is, in his first two years, started four games for the Titans

offense. It takes a while. There'll be a couple of corners and a running back or two that will pop early. But this game is fast, it's complex, and even great rookies can rarely pop early. Jamar Chase, Bengals, complete outlier. Dear Colin, of the notable quarterbacks in their second year, which one do you think separates? My guess? Trevor Lawrence Jacksonville.

Number one, he's more talented than the rest of them. I think you'll see it this year. Number two, unlike Mack Jones in New England, the Jags have leaned in to Trevor Lawrence. They got him an offensive coach. They got him Christian Kirk, Zay Jones. They got him a tight end, Evan Ingram. And two running backs banged up last year, both returned this year. In every unit offensively, they leaned in.

It's also a weaker than average division. my guess is Trevor Lawrence puts up pretty big numbers in year two for the Jags. Can't wait to watch it. Dear Colin, what's something that sounds political that isn't? I'll give you one. Donald Trump, and I kind of like it, may be responsible for college realignment. He eliminated a tax loophole that allowed college boosters to write off their season ticket purchases. So fans could deduct 8.000.

80% of their donations on their taxes. He eliminated that. I mean, in 2016, Alabama claimed ticket-related donations of up to $25 million, but it's no longer a write-off. Trump eliminated that. So what happened? Well, if I don't get a write-off as a rich guy, why am I going to give you a couple million dollars? You got to make the games better.

Texas said, I keep going to my boosters. USC said, we keep going to our boosters, I can't sell Oregon State, Washington State, Texas, Tech, and Iowa State. Now Texas can go to their boosters, who don't get that right off, and say, we'll give you Georgia, we'll give you Bama, we'll give you LSU,

and we'll give you Oklahoma. All right, I'll sign up, even though I don't get the right off. USC can say, I'll give you Michigan, I'll give you Wisconsin, I'll give you Penn State, I'll give you Ohio State. I don't get the right off, but I want to be at those games.

It's actually a loophole that was eliminated. I think it's been the impetus for Texas, USC to realign to conferences with bigger name brands on Saturday. And I kind of like it. Dear Colin, does Jimmy G. to the Cleveland Browns, Mary Kay Cabot reports it could happen, make sense to you? Yeah, I said this yesterday on Fox. It makes total sense. It is a quarterback friendly offense, not quarterback-centric. Kevin Stefansky has some lineage with Gary Kubiak and the Shanahan's.

This offense for Jimmy G. will be very familiar. Your star is a running back, Nick Chubb. Like the Niners, it's above average offensive line. Jimmy G has played in notable division games. Russ Wilson, Sean McVeigh, Stafford, Kyler Murray. Jimmy G's been in a tough division in big national TV games and big playoff games. Cleveland, Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Steelers, National TV games, tough division. I think Jimmy G to Cleveland, if the suspension is longer than eight games, and I think it will be,

I think it's a natural fit. It's an easy one. All right, John Middlakov, former NFL Scout, host of Three and Out and the Go Low Pod for the Volume Sports Network. So I watched the New York Giants. I wanted to see the first couple of drives. My takeaway is Daniel Jones is just okay. We may get a better version with Brian Dable, the head coach. The O-line appeared overwhelmed as the Patriots blitzed. It felt like on every down. You know, I was saying this that I don't think fans understand sometimes, John,

that owners, more owners than you think metal. Eric Mangini has told me incredible stories from both the Browns and the Jets. And I think the Maras, because they drafted this kid at six, want to see it through this year. And I just don't see it with Daniel Jones. On the first drive, he had a ball out in the flat. Any top 15 quarterback in the league hits that 15 to 15 times, flies it over his head. You know, he can hit a slant. Well, shit, everybody in the league can hit a slant.

Every backup, you know, college guys can hit a slant. I feel like the Giants at this point, and I never thought I'd say this, I think they're being held back by their ownership. I really do. Well, if you think about it, do you remember that moment when Coughlin was fired, retired, and he left the stage and he didn't shake Mara's hand and he stormed out of the room? Well, ever since that moment, they've gone through Pat Schumer, Gettleman, and Joe Judge. It's been an absolute disaster for about four and a half years now.

And that team's terrible. And for as bad as, listen, you and I could be an owner and we'd miss on hiring coaches. That's really hard. But to stick with Dave Gettleman, in that sense. situation over that period of time and let him draft. I mean, when he drafted Daniel Jones, and I knew people that do the SEC and go through Duke, he was well-liked. You know, he was an intriguing prospect.

It's clear, right? He's big. He can move. He's got a live arm. He's not that accurate in terms of his ball over a lot. But take him six overall, you know, even if you're going to take a swing on a project who's got a long way to go, Jordan Love went at the end of the 20s to take the guy six overall, take a running back in a league that, let's face it, is trending away,

hard from that at two overall. These guys are inheriting a dumpster fire. They really are. And this GM had a front row seat at one of the great turnarounds we've seen in recent memory in the bills. I think everyone that knows him in the league thinks highly of them. And Brian Dayball, let's face it, before Josh Allen, and what he did with Josh Allen, he deserves a lot of credit is beyond impressive.

Right. But his resume before that, you know, as an offensive coordinator, wasn't great. So I think the best thing he could ask for is just bottom out. be terrible and be in the position, which what looks like to be a fantastic quarterback draft and draft a guy and kind of start over. And maybe Daniel Jones, you know, Alex was more accurate, but I do think there's some Alex Smith qualities of just there's a lot there. He's a high-level guy.

Maybe someone, maybe get with an Andy Reid, get at a high-level organization, just kind of resurrect your career, even if it takes being a backup. Because there are going to be a lot of people that are just going to blame the Giants. Right, right. You know, he got his ass kick through Shermer and then the Joe Judge situation. but yeah he's as of right now on this team i mean they're not set up me guys dropping balls calling hitting him in their hand i mean it's just it's going to be ugly this year in new york yeah you know i i said this about jimmy garoppolo is i we don't need to go on about what he is but you know it to me

sort of big game jimmy he's often very good in the two minute drill he can be really good sometimes on the road um there's a ceiling but i never worry about him getting tight i just think he's a limited, a limited player who's an accurate thrower. But I said this. If you brought in Jimmy G to like, let's say the Seahawks or the Giants, he's your best quarterback this year. And even if you draft a quarterback top five, he's better than him next year. And then he becomes the third year as you're not paying your quarterback potentially.

You move him or he's a great mentor. I don't get the reluctance with Jimmy Garoppolo. You've seen him throw at practice over the last two weeks. I don't get it. Yeah. Yeah, he looks just the normal Jimmy. I mean, you walk out to practice. It's a normal bizarre situation.

What team transitions to a new quarterback, leaving a guy like Jimmy still around? Because usually that guy creates, you know, if Drew Rosenhouse was his agent or whatever, it would be fireworks, right? Get rid of my guy, release him, let him pick and choose. But from what I've been told is, Jimmy does not want the controversy.

And there's nowhere right now really to go. Because those places like, does he really want to go to Seattle or New York? probably not. I think he's hoping this Cleveland thing, you know, materializes. He goes there, good team kind of resurrects his value and then get some money this offseason as a free agent. I hear you on that one. The only problem is he's good enough to win you some games. And if I'm Seattle and definitely New York, I want to bottom out. Okay. You know, it's like in the NBA. I want to have a chance for that number one overall pick. And we don't quite know who it's going to be. Like there's not like, uh, Andrew Locke or Trevor Lawrence for sure. I mean, there are several guys. I don't

don't think, you know, Bryce is small, right? CJ's a little bigger, but he's not as mobile. It'll be interesting. I mean, this college season is going to play out, and one guy will kind of separate, you think, at the top. But there are several of them. So if I'm those two teams, I'm not messing with it. And Houston, I know they really like Davis Mills, and, you know,

he's drafted in the third round. We have several guys in the league, right? Your guy, Russell, Dick Prescott, Kirk Cousins. Like, we've seen in recent memory some third, fourth, fifth round picks become very, very viable starters, definitely third and fourth. And Davis Mills, big, good arm, Stanford, smart. You know, Seattle's got nobody and obviously the Giants got nobody. But I would, I would head to the cellar if I'm them before I mess with Jimmy. I hear what you're saying. If I was Jimmy, I would not want any part of either of those places, though. Yeah. Big news. Fandul has an all-new mobile

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Fanduil.com, always use the code, Colin. Download the Fandul Face Off app. Get in the game. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all,

embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app. Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying.

Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show.

This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream,

this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross

double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out

on the Look Back at It podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode, with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s.

To be clear, 84 is big to me not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people.

Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Keer Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests.

I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing and we're still chasing it and we don't know when we've done enough because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross

because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing, growth,

fatherhood, pressure, purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the hard way and listen now. Okay, so you've been at Niners practice. You know, I totally understand when fan. Fan is short for Fanatic. Don't want to hear the truth.

But I've got four different sources that Tray Lance struggles with accuracy. You've been at practice. You see it. He has good days and bad days. I think it's going to work mostly because I have such confidence in the roster Kyle Shanahan. I've always said the Niners' offense is not quarterback-centric. It's quarterback friendly.

You don't have to be great. But you've watched, Trey Lance, what do your eyes tell you? Yeah, up until two days ago, I mean, it had been a roller coaster inaccurate. You know,

he's about 50% when even his backups, you know, almost 70%. So that's an issue. The one thing, it is. And to win in this league, even with a coach like Kyle Shanahan

that loves running the bulls, and their defense is going to be fantastic. Jimmy Garoppolo is really good on third down. You know, and what's third down usually? It's third and eighth. It's not third and one, right? So you've got to throw either a longer pass, right? An intermediate route.

And I do think the last two days, he's looked really, really good. Now, what he has going for him, like Mahomes several years ago is he's inheriting a really good team. Yeah. And a really good coach. And unlike even Mahomes, that first year, his defense is going to be fantastic. and offensively. The one thing with practice with his quote unquote inaccuracy is there really him and

Debo are trying to develop down the field. I think they're just trying to see if there's something there. Because you know Debo behind the line of scrimmage, quick screens, hand him the ball. They've really kind of forced that. And that's what training camp's for. The other thing is Kittle and Bosa are on kind of unique training camp packages. It's like, we know what these guys are. We need 17 of these not, they're proving nothing.

So Kittle's not a huge part of practice. And he's going to be like if he had practice and he's a great practice player, clearly the Niners are like, listen, you come in a great shape. We're cool. We'll just ease you in. He's going to add five, six, eight percent to Trey immediately, right? Big target. It's quicker.

Yeah. But ultimately what Kyle, like I worked for Andy Reid. Andy Reid loves throwing the ball. It's why he ultimately needs a throwing quarterback and him in the homes are match made in football heaven. Kyle does not. I mean, his family motto is run the football. And he is going to run the football a lot.

And they have so many running backs and their offensive line can run block at Kittle, use check. I mean, they're one of the only teams that use the fullback. And he's a fantastic player. So they basically have seven offensive linemen. I do think, Trey, he'd have to be pretty bad for them to struggle. Colin, I think they're going to be pretty good, unless he just implows, which is always possible. Football's hard. But he's a high-level guy.

He's going to make some mistakes. I know you and me agree on this. Like, Picks, I can live with Picks. It's just the, as we talked about Daniel Jones, are you air mailing someone on third and eight when the guy's open to keep the sticks moving? Tie game, fourth quarter. It's plays like that that you're going to have to live with him and proving as the season comes on or goes on.

But I do think there's a lot there to be very bullish on as a player. So, listen, I think the Vikings are going to be the most improved team. I think the Patriots have a chance to be. be one of the bigger drop-off teams. I think the Bears are going to implode. Terrible. Yeah, I think they could be the worst team in the league. But it's interesting with New England.

So this was floated to me a few weeks ago. And it's a theory that Belichick looked at the schedule. The last seven games, they play like Pro Bowl quarterbacks. So New England needs to start pretty quick. And by not naming an offensive coordinator and not getting a giving Mac Jones any snaps in the preseason, they will have a September element of surprise. There are no trends. Matt Patricia has never called plays.

And that Belichick knows we got to get off to a fast start. Now, Belichick, September's always been his experimental month. But I think Bill can look at things. I mean, he knows he can't force Josh Allen to punt. There are things he knows. Miami is upgraded significantly on offense with Kyle Shanahan system. So that's the only thing I can, I said the other day. if you were sabotaging the Patriots, you'd do three or four things.

Overspend for mediocre free agents. Cut your best corner in a passing league. Piss off Tom Brady and have a weird draft with players if you leave have no value. Oh, yeah. And make defensive coaches, offensive coaches. It's weird. What do you make of what they're doing? Because I can't figure it out.

Well, why when you flipped on the preseason game, they had a couple guys coming back from injury on defense? And I think it's fair to say, I'll give him the benefit out their defense, even his son coaching the defense and Gerard Mayo the former lineback I think they'll be fine there that they typically always are even though they don't have like this famous of guys as they used to offensively like I think it's pretty embarrassing to do what they're doing I mean do you remember the play last year

with Joe Judge and he technically wasn't the offensive coordinator because he couldn't he didn't know how he ran the ball on like third nine on their pinned back of the three yard line and then like that was I think we late in the season it was basically like you got to fire this guy. He didn't last much longer. And Patricia, I mean, Stafford, who clearly is a really high-level guy and gets along with everyone, despise the guy. Now, that's been the case for a lot of Belichick's coaches.

Wow. Right? Just when they've been the head guy. But I do think that putting a lifetime defensive coach, I mean, he's been coaching defense now for 15 years, position coaches, linebacker, D.Bs, defensive coordinator. He obviously was not the offensive coordinator when he was the coach in Detroit to call place. Like is insane. The only way I can wrap my head around this is he's trying to save his owner and money because both these guys are still getting paid by the Lions and the Giants.

And if you don't put titles on, you don't have to pay him as much. But it's there's no explanation for it, Colin. It's any other coach that did it would get absolutely eviscerated. Now, he's got a little more equity. But I think these two guys, Judge and Patricia, are pretty polarizing names now because we saw like how big they flamed out. I mean, it was really, really bad for both, right? Running out of town, embarrassingly bad, like completely over their head.

Remember Patricia screamed at the reporter for not sitting up straight as he's, you know, listen, I like to eat as much the next guy, but he's just a slob, you know. And let's face it, the other thing is that as a defensive coach, they got dramatically better when Flores jumped in the next year. Wasn't he the defensive coach when, when Nick Foles was slicing and dicing them? It's not like they were as buttoned up on defense. The Patriots have been better post-Patricia on defense with Flores and then Belichick and his kid. They have been much more buttoned down on that side of the ball since Maddie P.

took off the Detroit. Now he's back working on offense and doing Ernie Adams job. Yeah. You can't lose Ernie Adams and Dante's Cardecchio. There are certain people in any company that are just pretty vital. And it's fair to say that those two guys play a role that are just. And I think a lot of people, Patriot guys say Josh was pretty powerful individual in that building.

So in the last three years, they've lost Brady, Josh McDaniels, and Dante Scarnacchio. The best quarterback of all time, the best offensive line coach of all time, and the best coordinator offensively in the league. I mean, I'm sorry. And, you know, I said today on the air, you got to do four things. And the chiefs do all of these well. The Rams do these well. You got to draft well. Patriots don't draft offense well.

You got to develop it. They don't really develop offense well. you either have to buy it well or coach it well. The chiefs do all four of those offensively. They draft it, they develop it, they coach it, or they'll just go buy it. When you look at their free agent, they have the most expensive tight end and wide receiving units. They don't have a single receiver that can separate. Devonte Parker was last in the NFL last year in separation.

Shit, they can't, John, they can't buy offense. Mohamed Sunoon was a bust. It's incredible. They can't even buy it. Yeah. And they are depending on a guy who, obviously Max, an impressive guy,

but he's physically limited. And as the season gets cold, as it does in New England and in Buffalo and the teams that they're going to have to beat late in the season, you know, it's the thing that I would bet against Tua, any cold weather game. Like, I'm out.

You know, it's a thing with Deshawn Watson. I was talking to someone in the NFL. They're like, this guy, Deshawn Watson, who was really good before everything happened, but he was, he probably got slightly above average arm, played at Clemson, South, only warm, and then Houston, Dome, and basically, Indies in a dome, Tennessee's relatively warmer, right? He's not playing freezing cold games.

Now he's going to Cleveland, where it just gets cold the last two months and think of the teams he's playing, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Pittsburgh. Like, there are certain, when I worked in Philly, like, you know, not winning up there with a weak arm quarter. That's kind of the question on Jalen Hertz. Like, can he do it? Well, no one knows. Time will tell. But most times in cold weather, Brady, Eli, right? Some of the guys that are going, like even Burrow, he's got a pretty good arm. You know, you got to have a strong arm to get through the wind and the cold. Like that factors in. And that would be my concern with Mack who, let's face it, down the stretch of the season,

you know, it wasn't that pretty. Well, no, I mean, Jay Cutler had some success in Chicago, strong arm. Aaron Rogers, strong arm. Stafford Northern Division had some success. Strong Arm. Who struggled? Teddy Bridgewater. Donovan McNabb forever. Yeah. Teddy Bridgewater in Minnesota wasn't as effective. Flacco, Big Ben, you know, those guys in that division, strong arm. So I think there's something. I've had, you know, I remember when Josh Rosen was coming out and a guy said, Arizona could work or Miami, you're not putting him in a northern windy city. Like his ball's not going to cut through it. He's slender. It's not going to work. So, final question.

I think Bill just ultimately just ran out of coaches, you know, at 70, 71 years old. He's never been big on like hiring random coordinators to bring in. And this, you know, in a weird way, almost took the easy route for a guy that isn't, you don't think of Bill taking easy routes, but that's kind of what it feels like in this instance for sure. So Minnesota is my most improved team. I thought Cousins and Mike Zimmer last year, I was told in the building was mess. I also think they'll be healthier. I also think Green Bay won't be nearly as dynamic

offensively. Chicago is still a mess. I have the Vikings being my nearly double your win total from like, what were they last year? Eight. I'll put them at like 13. Is there a dramatically better team in this league in your eyes? My issue, my pushback on Minnesota is, you know, I think we just assume all these young coaches are just going to be good. Coaching is hard. And this guy impressive, right, drafted once by Belichick, McVeigh likes him, smart guy clearly. Yeah, I think same thing with Nate Hackett in, like, it's

hard, you know, not all these guys are going to hit. We talk about that a lot with quarterbacks, like only percentage. Some of these new coaches, especially on these talented teams, it just aren't going to work out, but, you know, they obviously have a lot of talent. This, I don't think is a sleeper team, but I do think the Chargers have the best

roster in the league, and they won nine games last year. I don't think it's inconceivable. They win like 13, 14. because they had an elite offense last year in a top five quarterback. I mean, I know multiple teams. You grade every player in the league. Herbert was anywhere between four and five.

Like all the quarterbacks in the league. That's how the league viewed them. But their defense was atrocious. Remember they got the Texans ran it down their throat. The last game, they couldn't stop Derek Carr. And you add Khalil Mack, who's fantastic against the run. You had J.C. Jackson. You add the Rams defensive tackle.

You know, Brandon Staley is a defensive guy who was, I'm not the biggest Brand Staley guy, but he's taught by Vic Fangio. Their defense should be dramatically better. And we know how good their offense is. They're rolling everyone back. So I just think on paper, like if you told me Andy Reid was the coached that team, I'd be like they were winning 15, 16 games. So if Brandon Staley is just solid, I mean, they could, they probably should win the division.

Now, that division is Denver's obviously going to be really good. I mean, the Raiders should be pretty good. Who the hell's betting against Andy and Mahomes? But not all these teams are going to. going to make the playoffs, right? Someone in that division, potentially two, right, depending on how it shakes out in the AFC, could go like nine and eight or eight and nine or whatever and it's going to feel like they won three games. You know, if that happens in Denver Chargers or the Raiders and they miss the playoffs, even if they win nine games, it's going to

feel like a devastating blow because they've all, you had Russell Wilson, you had Khalil Mack, J.C. Jackson, with Herbert. You had Josh McDaniels and Devante Adams. Like, I mean, the pressure on all those. And he kind of gets to fly under the radar. Well, last time I checked, he's won the division six straight years. And I don't think they plan on losing it. So, and they feel pretty confident about their chances when they play these teams. So it's, that division is, that's as good as it gets, right? Because the NFC West was Seattle falling off. I actually, my team to implode, yeah, I know you're New England, mine's Arizona. They got a lot going on there. I mean, their running back coach was just arrested. He's on team leave. Their star, the wide receiver that they traded a first

round pick four was going 500 miles an hour on the way to practice. He went to jail for the day. It's got a lot of moving parts. Now they got midseason hard knocks. Now the pressure, you know, you make the playoffs, you know, can you do it again? It's like, are they just a lock playoff team? You know, that they swept the Niners last year. I don't think that's going to happen. Now they've always played well in the division because Kyler's tough, but I feel they're kind of come back to Earth a little bit. Now, the NFC's pretty crappy, you know, them. And for example, Minnesota, who really were last year. I mean, Minnesota was right there until the end. I mean, they just kind of imploded on D.

So, I mean, they could easily be in the mix. Dallas, too. I mean, Dallas is another team that the Eagles have a better roster. Now, Dallas has the better quarterback, but the Eagles have the better team. I mean, Dallas, how many weapons on offense can you lose? I mean, it's not like Dax, Aaron Rogers here. No, I mean, to be honest with you, Cedric Wilson was one of my favorite threes in the league.

I mean, he's a really good three. Okay, so Amari's your best route runner's gone. Your three's gone. C.D. Lambs fine to a one. Gallup's never proven he can be a dependable two. I mean, they don't have a three. Amari got eight touchdowns last year. Who's replacing the eight touchdowns?

Where are they divvying those up? That's a lot of points. Yep. All right, John Middlakov, three and out. Go low pod. Buddy, this was great on short notice. We'll talk soon. Have a good weekend, Colin.

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