The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Favorites - NFL Training Camp Questions

Episode Date: July 25, 2025

This week across the nation, NFL teams commence a decades old rite of summer: the return to Training Camp. We’ve talked about QBs, playoff teams, fantasy moves… and today Action Network hosts Simon Hunter and Chad Millman talk about the biggest team questions and issues we hope to see resolved by the end of camp. To do this, we are welcoming on one of our oldest, dearest and most respected Action colleagues. Host of both the Action Network Podcast and the Big Bets on Campus podcasts for Action Network, the Prime Minister of Degenerate Nation, the incomparable Stuckey. #VolumeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey guys, it's us The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it.

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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. Winning on Clay is an art. The rallies are relentless, and at the French Open, only the toughest survive.

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Welcome to the favorites, the podcast, part of the volume podcast network. I am Chad Milman of the Action Network. Let's get right to it. We're going to bring in my co-s, my companion, my compadre, my BFF professional bet, are Simon Hunter. Hello, Simon. More football, Chad. Let's get to it, brother.

This week across the nation, Simon, NFL teams commence. commence a decades-old right of summer, the return of training camp. We've talked about quarterbacks on this show recently. Playoff teams, we think, will populate the NFL postseason. Fantasy moves. And today, you and I, we're going to talk about the biggest questions and issues. We hope to see resolved by the end of training camp,

but we can't do it alone. to do this we are welcoming on one of our oldest, dearest, most respected friends in the business, the original, original OG, host of the Action Network podcast and the Big Betts on campus podcasts for the Action Network, the Prime Minister of the Dgenerate Nation. Not going to sleep again until April folks. Welcome back, Stucky. Yo, what's going on? Thanks for having me guys. Good to see you again.

Good to be talking football again. Just recorded the kickoff episode for Big Betts on Campus College Football. It's just an overwhelming, it's just starting out. It's an overwhelming time. I'm like, I have all these college football teams. And then I'm like, then I set aside time for NFL. And then I'm like, wait, am I forgetting this about, have I looked into this? And there's just not enough that you can know this time of the year.

But it's still the combo. before the storm. It's only going to get crazier, so trying to still find some quiet time when I can. But yeah, it'll be here before we know it. Can't wait. The National Football League originated in the 1920s in rural America, then moved to the cities to flourish and prosper. But each summer, the game relives its heritage. Tiny college towns across the country, witness the first bloom of the NFL season, and coaches welcomed back familiar faces. First question, the Dallas Cowboys, who I think will make the playoffs, I think they could contend

for the conference, I'm doing that in spite of their running back situation, in spite of a curious hire, to put it as delicately as possible, in Brian Schottenheimer, running an NFL team stuck. What do you think of questions being answered and will we see questions answered during training camp regarding the Cowboys, the running back situation, and Brian Schaenheimer as a coach? Yeah, not a fan of the hire. Just a curious offseason in a recent few years.

Curious to see how DAC looks. That'll definitely be worth keeping an eye on. But I'm not a fan of either Javante Williams or Miles Sanders. I think they've proven that. I mean, maybe you get a bump from Javante Williams, but the fact that he wasn't able to do anything in that Denver backfield, and just relatively speaking to others, too, that it's not like they were other all-pro running backs in the backfield,

kind of troubling. So I think it's important that they get something from their rookies, Mafa and door blue. So, yeah, that's something I think worth paying attention. to. Now, Sean Imer made some curious comments just about the learning curve of the running backs and how the, you know, the veterans have the advantage. So maybe he's not going to give them a fair shake.

But I think in order for them to have the best, you know, to reach their ceiling to have the best possible offense, it's one or both of those rookies have to give them something, whether it's, you know, blue and passing downs. If it's more mafah early, I don't know if they're going to get the. that real shot, but it's definitely something worth keeping an eye on. Simon, we don't like the Brian Schoenheimer hire. We don't like the running back situation. I don't know that that matters in terms of how we're thinking about betting the Cowboys.

What could you see, what would you like to see during training camp to make you feel better about the position we're taking on them? I don't totally hate the Brian, I mean, my thing with Brian is, like we've talked about. It just felt like so out of left field. where, you know, we talking about if they could have got Vrabel, why would you not go get Brable? Like Jerry Jones has got the money. He can outbid these other owners.

But yeah, it's an interesting move, but at the same time, it's an offense that Dax comfortable. And that's what's key to me. It's like, okay, at least we know the offense won't change that much. You know, Miles Sanders looks like he's in the best ship of his life. We see that this time of year, people will post those type of things. That's shape of life season. Everyone's always in the best shape of their life and turning into a team leader.

in July. Yeah, no idea because it's like, Miles' issue is not being in an incredible shape of being jacked. It's staying healthy and on the field and, you know, hitting the right hole. So there's still, to me, too many questions at the running back position that, yeah, I'm hoping to find out more, but we really won't know until the Bullets start flying. And to me, out the gate,

the fact that they're going to Philadelphia, I love it for this team because it's such a tone center for the rest of their season. If they can go in there, pull up that upset, not just the confidence I'll give to the team, but Brian himself, that's a huge deal. So I don't know how much I'll learn in training camp here, but that week one, I really do feel like it sets the tone for this Dallas team for the rest of season. They get blown out.

Man, did they have a rough road ahead of them? Because the season just keeps getting harder and harder as it goes long for Dallas here. They should have hired Dey. They should have hired Deon. Like, it's already a circus. It's a circus there. Just embrace the full circus. I mean, they brought pickings in, which fits with the circus theme.

We'll see if he's, like, bought in. That's another thing to keep it on. you probably won't know that until until games, but that's something like, how bought in his picket's going to be because it's going to have some opportunities opposite of Lamb,

but it's, Cowboys are always, it's a circus down there right now. Another circus follows him everywhere he goes. Aaron Rogers to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Chris Raybon has written about this for six years. The slow descent into media,

of Aaron Rogers. And the amount of attention that he gets and the amount of expectations that follow because of what kind of career he's had versus how he has actually performed are not in concert. Simon, give me your take on the Steelers. What do we think we will see in training camp to make you feel good? Because I know you like the Steelers to make the playoffs. Yeah. For me, what I'm looking for them training camp is just, you want to hear everything is all good with him that Arthur Smith offense, that he's comfortable in it.

and we need T.J. in camp, right? That's the big deal for the Steelers. This camp, it's just, is there no distractions? Is everyone in there? Because I know I get where Chris was coming from, but he was a little early, right? He won a couple MVP's because they did draft Jordan 11. It sparked a new fire under Rogers.

We've seen that spark with him. And he did feel that doubt last year, and he realized that Achilles, it's a lot different coming back from that injury in your early 30s, late 20s, than it is in your 40s. So to me, we saw that second half, He was so much better than he was early in the season, especially pushing off that leg.

So, yeah, I just, nine and eight with that team, it just feels right, right? That's just another year where Tomlin somehow gets them to nine or ten wins. And, you know, that's, we know the deal. It's an aging team. This feels like the last run for this core. And this could be a rebuild mode for the next three, four years for this Pittsburgh franchise. Stuck, where are you on Aaron Rogers and the Steelers right now? I don't think anyone really knows, like, what level you're going to get.

I think it's, Simon brings up a good point. does he embrace the Arthur Smith offense and he was kind of just doing his own thing. He gets rid of the ball so quick. I'm curious to watch the offensive line there too, though. But I think he could potentially be an upgrade for what they've had in recent years, ever since Big Ben has left. But how much of last year was the injury and how much was his age? And then there's another year.

So how much more will his age impact versus him? being another year free clear of the injury. I don't think anyone knows. So it's definitely one to keep an eye on. Yeah, the Steelers, I mean, the run that Tomlin's on, how does it keep happening? Voodoo, I don't know. I mean, the Steelers, since 2008,

they're 62 and 7 when they win the turnover battle. They win like 90% of their games. The rest of the NFL, when they win the turnover, it's like 70-ish percent. Since 2019, team after Big Ben left, they're plus 50 turnover margin. They're the only team that has a positive turnover margin every single season. The Chiefs, for example, team you think of is usually good.

They're plus 10 over that same span. The studios in one possession games, they're 43, 20, and one since 2019. This is what they do. They win all the close games. They win the turnover battle. That's where I think Rogers fits well. it's a guy one of the lowest interception rates in NFL history

not going to turn the ball over which is good I mean the only team better in one possession games 2019 the chiefs they just passed the Steelers because they went what 11 and 0 in one possession games last year so yeah I don't know I think it's wait and C mode until we get into

the live games but yeah it feels like the Steelers are just inevitably going to be 9 and 8 for eternity where they need to not be for like one year they need to they need to find their solution at quarterback, which they haven't done since Big Ben, up. I mean, like, they're a long-term solution.

They're franchise quarterback, and they need to have just, I think eventually they need to have a bad year or get really lucky and take a stab at a quarterback. I mean, the Ravens got Lamar at 31. That's what I was going to say that that's what Pittsburgh's paying for, that miss on Lamar. Like, he was so Pittsburgh, the fact that the Ravens, Do what they do.

They came in, they got them at the end of that first. I just, I feel like it just changed the scope of that division for the next 10, 15 years. Like the Pittsburgh, Tomlin apparently loved them. The GM didn't. There comes a Ravens swooping down, taking them. That whole storyline to me is so magical where you just see how the two franchises have gone. One team always thinks they're going to Super Bowl. The other team is happy to get 9 and 8.

So it's crazy. Yeah, I mean, go ahead. I was just going to say, I mean, the Ravens haven't won at Super Bowl since since 12 either. But, I mean, they feel they're so much closer. but like if I'm a Steelers fan I don't know that's you could argue both sides like are you just tired of this like Tom one he's so good at what he does

but are you just tired of the Tom and speak tired they haven't want to playoff game in what eight years but like then again you're always Sundays you're like in the mix right so you're Sunday who wants to go through two years where you're not in the mix but it just feels like they just need a they need a reset to get back into that mix

now maybe this is the time right like I don't know. This does feel like the last hurrah, or it should be. There's glory in the legends of this hard muscle life, and there's poetry in each season made of sweat and strife. But now's the time to work and strain at a sport that tests the spirit and challenges the brain. There are four quarterback situations.

They're not even controversies. they're just, what is the worst of a bad situation? The Saints who might have the worst quarterback room in NFL history. No. They're basically deciding between a 25-year-old second-round pick who's a rookie and a not that much younger sixth-round pick second-year player who performed terribly last year in their quarterback room. the Giants drafted a quarterback high in Jackson Dart in the first round,

but really they signed Russell Wilson and James Winston to be the starting quarterback this year. The Browns, we all know what they did with Dylan Gabriel, Shador Sanders, but Joe Flacco might be the starting quarterback. And then in Indy, we've got Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson, Simon. of those four situations, rank them for me from worst to less worst. It all depends what we're looking for you.

Are we doing just this season? I guess, yeah, Saints probably are going to be the worst team. And, you know, they're in a nice spot, though. If this kid starts, he shows nothing, like, you know, Rosen. You get the number one pick. You just take another quarterback. You just keep shooting the shot. So the Saints, if this kid's absolutely terrible, great.

Like, that whole Darekart thing just put them in the hole of holes. So I think everything is kind of graver for them. But yeah, do I think they'll be the worst this year, of course. Giants right there with them. It's, I mean, I know what they're going to do. They'll probably start the vet. I hope Dark comes in and he just lights up in camp, right? I mean, he has so much to work on.

Just, I mean, it's brutal because they're in the probably the toughest division of NFC. But just throw them to the wolves. Just see what the kids made up. We see it time and time again. Either these kids can swim or they sink. And to me, another late first round pick. Let's see what DART has. Yeah, the Browns, I put them below the Colts

just for this upcoming year because of what you talked about, Chad. It's like, is it Flacco? Does he lose out to Chador? Somehow Gabriel beat him out? Like, it's just so many unknowns that they're a team that I'm excited to watch them in the training camp because they're going to be,

in my mind, playing all those guys a lot. and they'll be fun to bet on or bet against depending on how bad these quarterbacks are. But yeah, that's the unknown there is insane where the Colts of all these guys, all these bad teams, we joked about it. There's a world where the Colts can win their division. Like if Daniel Jones comes in to this situation

and makes it work, it could happen. Like we've seen him when he's right, when he can run the ball, he's pretty talented. When he does zero time like he's had with the Giants behind that awful offensive line, he was terrible. So, you know, it's tough, but to me, I don't know how Anthony Richardson beats out Daniel Jones if he's not healthy.

He's not practicing this upcoming training camp. So I just feels like it's going to be Daniel's job to lose. So, yeah, I guess I'll have it right in the order. You put it in there, Chad. Saints, Giants, Browns, Colts. Stuck, which one of these are you going to pay most attention to? And you think we'll have the biggest impact on how you bet this season, both futures and during the regular season. The Steelers go 9 and 8 and Daniel Jones.

We're going to be talking about those two things forever. I mean, the Colts have to start Richardson. I mean, seeing his health, I don't know if they will, but obviously it depends on his health, and that's something to keep an eye on for trading camp. But, like, you got to find out what you have with your high traffic. Like, Daniel Jones is going to win you a Super Bowl. Like, you just got to find out and then figure out if you got to pivot off there. By the way, this is not, the Saints don't have the worst quarterback room of all time.

There's been some bad ones. Maybe it'll end up being that way, but at least there's some uncertainty with Chuck. but I'll just, I'll throw out a couple just for fun. Danny Connell, the 97 Giants, took over for Dave Brown. He averaged 105 yards per game over like 10 games. The 2000 Chiefs, 2007 Chiefs, there was a hard-knocks team. If you want to go back and watch a bad hard-knocks, Brody Croil versus Damon Heuer. That was the quarterbacks that year.

2001 Panthers. You mentioned Chuck's age, Chad. The 2001 Panthers went one in 15. Chris Winky was their quarterback. He was 30 as a rookie, I think. Oh, my God, I remember that. 11 touchdowns, 19 interceptions. They went 1 in 15.

And then you've got to get a Browns team in there. 2,000 Browns, Tim Couch and Doug Peterson. I think Spurgeon Win started the game. They combined nine touchdowns, nine and 19 interceptions. That's as bad as it gets. But I will say from a win totals perspective, it's something you want to keep an eye on or at least just be cognizant of. With the Giants, it's like, I think they're going to start Russ.

But then they have a really hard schedule. So, like, if it goes downhill, but I don't know with, like, Dave on his job, but I don't know, are they then like, all right, let's just throw the kid out there, right? And then you could end up losing more games. Your floor goes down. So with these low wind totals, that's something to keep in mind. NFL teams don't tank. Every once in a while, you have a team.

The Bucks came out. They did this one year. And, like, a week 18, you really want to lose for a draft pick. And even then, teams mess themselves up all the time. Giants did it last year. They don't tank, but you could just make decisions to, like the Browns, for example, very low wind total. I think they're going to start Blacko. I think he's the best option right now.

But if the Brown season goes downhill, is the team that probably wants to get a high draftic. Again, I don't know, but then they traded for two quarterbacks and draft the two quarterbacks. But then you might just throw the kids in there and see what you got, and then it could be really bad, go from bad to worse. So, yeah, keeping an eye on. all of them, but the most interesting to me is probably the Colts. I just, as far as campus concern, want to see, like, where Richardson's at, how healthy it is, and what happens with that situation. But, like, it's definitely something to keep an eye on with the win totals, like, something

that I'm afraid of with the Browns. Like, I showed a little value and they're over, but, like, I'm like, who knows what ends up happening with these quarterbacks, and then their decision, if they're, sitting at three and ten or four and ten what they do in the last couple games it's it's definitely something to keep in mind well look we're talking about quarterbacks and we're talking about what they're going to look like in training camp obviously there's been huge discussion about ben johnson joining the bears stuck you just talked about you know july is the best shape of your life he's going to be a team leader season how do you just talked about you know july is the best shape of your life he's going to be a team

leader season. How do you separate this? We see Caleb, we see Ben Johnson. What can we possibly learn during training camp? As an avid fan and a season better and a veteran

camp watcher who intakes this information for real value, what will you see? What would you like to see that won't just be hyperbole? Yeah, I mean, a lot of it is, first of all, like interceptions in camps can be a good thing. Like, this is when you're like starting to figure out things.

People overreact to that. But with Caleb, it's going to come down to does he understand and is he willing to understand the structure and the logic of the offense and make those easy throws, the quick reads, going through his progressions instead of, you know, he's got to take fewer negative plays. Now, the offensive line is going to help with that. I mean, I think they're probably the most improved offensive. line in the NFL. One of the reasons I'm pretty high on the Bears for maybe the first time since,

like, the 2000s. His deep ball is something that I want to watch, like just the deep ball numbers, accuracy. And that comes down to the footwork, which needs to be worked on the trust of the offensive line. But it's really those eliminating those negative plays. Like, you still want him to have some of that improvisation, which is what, you know, made him great in college. And you don't want him to take that all away.

but just like fully understanding the offense, improving some of that footwork, and then just really buying in. And a lot of that is just what you kind of have to infer from some of the things you watch and read. And you can't, you're not going to figure it all out in camp. And some of it's just going to be like, and there's going to be a learning curve,

which we have to expect with Caleb in this new offense. You're not going to learn at all during camp, but that's definitely what I'm keeping my eye on. deep balls, the footwork, the timing, and then just some of the things I'm hearing. I think there's a lot of potential there, and a lot of it's going to fall on Caleb because they've put everything around them. You give him Ben Johnson. They went out.

They got the offensive line now. You have the weapons on the outside. Now there's really no more excuses. It's time to put up or shut up for Caleb. Hey, it's us, the Jonas brothers. And guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, name?

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I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. 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, S&L'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.

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and listen now. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines.

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I know you don't like the Bears to make the playoffs. But what do you need to see or hear to give you indication there will be success in Chicago with this duo? Honestly, you really just want to see that. He's picking up the offense, Caleb. Like, that's all that matters because I told you this year feels like it's a year for both of them to grow. Right? It's his first year coaching and Ben Johnson. It's Caleb's first year in real offense with a real head coach that's going to have him watch film and go over film with him.

Like it's going to be exactly what he wants and he needs. He wants to be pushed to the highest level. So yeah, for me, there's got, it's going to be tough because it's going to be so much, it's just going to be roses. Like your whole Chicago right now is just so happy and in love with what they have. It's going to be tough to have a real beat writer and give real opinions on what's happening. But if Caleb's just doing awful back-to-back days and camp and it's still happening towards the beginning of the season, that's a big deal.

You want to see, you know, early, early day struggles, no problem, right? I always say up until August, about 25th, I don't really mind if quarterback's like, like, you're talking about if they're throwing picks, if they're pushing the envelope because they're not tuning up for the season. Once after that, once they're trying to get ready for week one in the upcoming season, to me, that's when it's becoming a problem because that really is the offense

they're going to run for those upcoming games. So that's a team where the Bears, I won't be too checking in on them too much early on, but before the season, I'm going to be reading a lot of what their B-writers are saying about how he's looking in the offense and if he's grown throughout you know august in this offense so yeah it's a it's a big deal chad this upcoming sees are caleb williams sometimes no interceptions can be worse than like a than a lot um in like camp in in early days like it's you're not you're not

taking risk you're not kind of pushing the envelope and figuring things out and trying to make throws and seeing like so but the deep ball is really what i'm uh interested in and then just how how he looks like if he's grasping it or not. Simon's not going to be checking on the bears because he's got a bear's, he's got an anti-bear's bias now. I like money. Well, the best way to make money is not to lose money. I'm pro-barris this year, Chad.

What's that? I'm pro-bairs this year. I appreciate that. One of us will be right. Well, two of us are going to be right, stuck. You and I. What is it being right on the bears, though? What are you hoping for, Chad?

Just the playoffs round. playoffs, playoffs. Playoffs. I just want the bears to make the playoffs. I want them to build. I can see it now. Bears going down to Tampa. There you go. Honest to God, that's exactly what it could be. I just want progress and success. I know Brandon Anderson said it best, growth is not linear, but I would like some growth, any kind of growth. Speaking of growth is not linear. I have been on the record and saying that I think the most impactful

off-season addition to any team could be Robert Sala rejoining the San Francisco 49ers when they're coming off a dreadful year with a lot of injuries. But I think his ability to remake that defense could make them the number one seed in the NFC.

Stuck. How much of a difference? difference will Robert Sala really make? I don't know about Will, but he can. Like they've been, since he left, I mean, you even saw when he left the Jets, like their defense fell off. He's a really good defensive coordinator. And the 49ers have kind of been searching for the guy and that identity since he left.

So skim, and they're going to need some schematic help because they lost a lot of talent. They're going to need some young guys to step up. So it's not, Sal's not going to be able to just come in and save the day. They're going to need some, they're going to need to stay healthy too. It's probably, that's what doomed them last year across the board on offense and defense.

But I do think it was a huge hire. They've been searching basically for his replacement and haven't been able to find it. And I think he's one of the best defensive coordinators. Maybe he's just not cut out for being a head coach. Maybe it'll work out again in the future. You know, you learn from things. But I think it was a great hire.

They're going to need some, there's some talent lacking in certain areas if they don't get some young guys to hit but I think it was as good of a higher as they could have made Simon you're not as high in the Niners as I am how come because there's just so many unknowns about the Niners the reason I'm on them in general

the fact I'm betting them to make the playoffs is because there is the talent there and they have the coaching there and the schedule like they have the schedule to make the playoffs Like to me, it lines up really nice for them this upcoming season, this four-in-hires team. And that's my biggest question in training camp is these last two years, the way they've drafted, they have to hit. Like they've been paying such top-heavy guys now at this point. They have to be hitting this draft. And bringing him in it to me is such a key deal.

Like, Sala, the difference he makes in improving guys defensively is massive. And we've seen it time and time again. Like we talk about that drop off after he left the Jets was noticeable right away. So to me, that's, like, we already nailed it, but that could be the biggest add of any defensive team is adding him as a DC to that 49ers team. Like that, to me, all the moves has happened on any teams, like, you know, teams adding different players,

their defense, everything like that, adding the right coach like him to a defense with young talent, if he can build on that and coach him up, it's going to be huge for them because we talked about, like they're another team they're all in, right? Like McCaffrey, everything we've read, he's healthy. So to us, we don't really have questions about their offense so much. The questions for the 49ers right now is just that defense.

So, yeah, big deal getting him back there on the 49ers. And I'm excited to see how they look at the upcoming camp, right? That's going to be pretty telling you to see what they run in camp because they probably won't run much in the games. But seeing what he's going to run, what style he's going to run for that defense, I'm excited to see because obviously Fred Warner, he's the cog in the machine that makes it all go. The Cincinnati Bengals, Joe Burrow, Everyone thinks he's amazing.

Top four quarterback with Lamar, Josh Allen, and Patrick Mahomes, at least according to most. Maybe not Simon Hunter. But they cannot get out of their own way when it comes to contract negotiations. The Trey Hendr's thing has been downright challenging. What they're doing with Shamar Stewart, the first round pick, has been bangle, peak bangles. There's rumors he might go back to A&M and he might challenge like the NCAA came out this morning.

He pangles incompetence. So, Stuck, how does that, like, what does that foretell for you as a Lexington resident, Cincinnati might be the closest NFL team to where you are, as a Midwestern,

Kentuckyan football aficionado, can this team get out of its own fucking way? Yeah, it is. Since he's like an hour and a half from Lexington, the airport I use sometimes. I mean, the Bengals, they're going to, I hope Al Golden comes in

and has a magic wand and schematically because, yeah, they, I don't think they fix the defense. Defense would be bad again. They're going to be in a ton of shootouts. The state of their defense just significantly, lowers their ceiling. I mean, it's what Barrow has done. He's not working with much.

I mean, his offensive line has been bad every year. It's under pressure as much as any quarterback. Their run game is always bad, and their defense now is bad. Like, he has no help. He just as receivers. The other thing is they paid both receivers. He paid Burrow, and they're just a bad, they can't draft. They're so bad at drafting.

Just a poorly run organization that happened to hit on some obvious picks with their receivers and Barrow. But they don't have much else. And now, if you don't have Hendrickson, I mean, without Hendrickson last year, they were dead last in pressure rate, dead last in completion percentage allowed, dead last in success rate, dead last and pass. Dead last across the board. And I mean, he had, what, a third of the team's pressures.

He had 17 and a half sacks back-to-back years. You know, the only two players have ever done that are Reggie White and JJ Watt. Now, he's not to be there. Then you try to draft Stewart, who I even wasn't a fan of him. He might not be there. There's just questions across the board. Well, look, that's the thing, by the way. They draft Stewart, who's a athlete-looking personified and had zero stats.

I spoke to a college, a guy who used to run a scattering department in the NFL. And I said to him before the draft, what do you think of this? He goes, college coaches are trying to win. They don't build schemes to go. go against the best player on the field. If the guy isn't producing and he's their best athlete, there is something else going on there. And yet the Bengals continue to get in their way.

That was the most Bengals pick. Stuck, you're nailing it. Are we all being fooled by the fact? They drafted Joe Burrow and he masks over so many problems. Simon, I know you've got a strong opinion on this. Yeah, I'm appreciating what Stucky's saying. the guy nailing my early picture that I just think they're an easily fatable team because of what we talked about just horrible offensive line and defense to me is only going to get worse

and they've just not addressed in any way in the draft to improve that defense and you know to me Stucky this is your division of your fandom like wouldn't you rather take Pittsburgh at a plus number to make the playoffs and take the Bengals at a plus number to miss the playoffs if you're a bed and man rather than taking them both at minus members, the Pittsburgh to miss the playoffs and bangles to make. I just, I think it's really people flip flopped because of Joe Burrow. Like we talked about, he's just, he's likable. The general public views him as a top five quarterback.

He's a proven winner because of what we saw him do in college, making the Super Bowl in year two. But I've said to Chad, he's not done a single thing since that Super Bowl run, right? And you could say, well, he's at injuries. That's true. And guess what? They just wasted a healthy year of Joe Burrow last year. And that's another thing that just jumps out to me.

It's like they just, they hit on, they hit on it. And they got lucky because he lasted behind that offensive line. Now they have another year with their defense way. It's gotten worse and they didn't improve that offensive line. So, yeah, it's, I'm just so down on this team. It's not a Joe Burrow thing. It's just the team as a whole. I think they're in too tough a division to be this bad throughout, you know,

defensively and offensive line. Yeah, but you have, you have, you have, you, that's when you can go for it as a team like the Bengals. He had them on his rookie contract. you have to pay them. They're not able to address. They're not able to draft. Right. So like these really elite teams that end up having to pay the quarterback, which is something

that I always, I like to watch in camp is in order for these teams to stay elite, like you have an elite quarterback, you're going to be good, like the real lead teams. But the chiefs, the Ravens, the Eagles, right? They're able to draft really well. And that's how they're able to plug some of the holes. Like, look at the Eagles. All the questions. two years ago were about their secondary,

and their secondary fell off a cliff, right? They went in the draft, announced it and hit. Like the Ravens, their secondary can't pay as many guys. We'll see if they do it with Starks, but they've hit on some guys that have just kept their team elevated.

The Bengals aren't able to do that. They're such a bad drafting team, and they're so poorly running. And you look at their roster, top five quarterback, top five receivers. What about the? the rest of the roster. What other group are you like? They might all be bottom 10. The rest,

all their other position groups are bottom 10. And the failures of drafted offensive linemen over the years. I mean, that's going on decade plus. There's just so many holes throughout this roster. Yeah, I mean, if they're going to need the rookie guards to hit, Stewart to want to play, sign Hendrickson, Al Golden does some magic. And then they're just going to need some close game variance. Like, that's the story for the Bengals this year to get to the playoffs. Because they're going to be in shootouts. They're going to be in games with everybody. But it's hard to see that defense and offensive line being good enough to, you know, make a deep run in the playoffs. And that's if like all these other things go right with the offensive line with Stuart Hendrickson

and Golden having a positive impact. So yeah, it's probably another year of Bengaling. last question Matt Mitchell's favorite team the Buffalo Bills are against their will being featured on hard knocks the Bears had that problem last year the Giants had that problem

the Jets were cursed with a hard knocks season Wait is that true they can just force you to do it? Yeah yeah if you've never done it they can force you to do it Wow I didn't know that totally and so the bills are

forced to do it. Should we look at this as a curse for the Buffalo Bills? Stucky. I'm just looking forward to creating, I always love watching Harnox. When's that start? When's episode one? It's usually like, I feel like it's like the first week of August, like August, like August. It could be the first week of August. They got to get some weeks in there. Yeah, it's always like, okay, NFL's right around the corner the first time. Is Shriver still doing? I believe he does, yes. When I hear his voice the first time, I'm like, all right.

By the way, I watched a decent, like, this is a good hotel plane movie with Lid Schreiber. It was called Human Capital. It's pretty good. It's not great, but it was entertaining. Well, I'm getting on a plane at 24 hours, so I'll totally check it out. Human Capital, yeah. But, no, question about the bills. I'm just looking for watching and then getting screenshots and memes of Sean McDermott terrorist means for things that he might say so I can take out of context.

That's really what I'm looking forward to. But the bills, by the way, the bills, talking about turnover regression. They're plus 24 last year. Does that swing back the other way? It was best of any team in 12 years. What I'm watching for the bills, though, everybody eats is their slogan on them. But I'm still curious about the wide receivers. is their secondary, how that comes together with the rookie, how their safetys come together,

does Bishop and how that all works? I think that's probably the two questions you have with the bills this year. Going into this year, and then what happens with Cook, but they're defensive backs and then wide receivers is what I'm interested to watch, but mainly try to get some McDermott memes. Simon, are you concerned for Matt Mitchell and the Buffalo Bills. I mean, what curse? They've never won a Super Bowl. So what is there to curse? I mean, their mindset.

Wow. I'm just saying as a Bill's fan, it can't get any worse. They've been through hell and back. So it's like, you know, I don't think a curse that people bestow from them scares them. They're above a curse at this point. Like they

know the deal. Josh Allen knows the deal. Like we talked about it. He was happy to win the MVP last. year but you can tell he's like I'm sick of going to sports psychologist and talk about Patrick Mahomes I need to conquer this mountain and that's what this season lines up for perfectly they have the easiest schedule I think any professionally talked to you thinks they have the easiest schedule and the AFC you know sure shocked the world New England might do it or Justin Fields in the jet something crazy could

happen but there's a reason they're over minus 200 to win their division right now it's it's the bill's year it's lined up so to me I I am excited to watch it, right? We all love Josh Allen. Excited to see more camera time in because he's kind of like this goofy, weird kind of dude. Like he says some funny shit when he does talk and open up. Like he, to me, he's always been a very funny guy. Even if, you know, if you're an old part of my take fan, they had him on before the draft.

And immediately you're just like, fuck, this dude's really likeable. I hope my team drafts him. Loaded we know he was going to be someday the MVP and the best player ever. So, yeah, I'm excited for hard knocks. I'm happy they pick that franchise like the bills. No disrespect to Chicago or the Giants, but those are organizations that aren't the best run organizations, right? They've both kind of had faltered here these last five, ten years.

But the bills, they're on the up and up. So it would be cool to get a peek behind the curtain to see what kind of team they are in this upcoming season. Yeah, I will say that I just mentioned the drafting. The bills, like, their defense really fell off and has really cost them in playoffs. So what do they do? You know, four of their five free agents signings on the defense. First five picks in the draft on the defensive side of the ball.

Like they have, you have Josh Allen, you have a good offense line. You have the offense figured out. It's all about that defense. Are these draft picks, these free agent signs going to hit? That's something that I'm looking to watch. And you mentioned the bills, yeah, there's a reason they're having these favorites doing the division. The schedule sets up so nice for them. They are, all their hard games are at home.

There's no back-to-back road games. And the bills at home, last three years, they've lost one game at home in regulation. I wonder if our producer Bill's fans can remember the game. They lost to the Broncos. I had 24-22 and like Russell Wilson. You remember this game? I think it was like two years ago, Mitchell.

Well, look, now we got a lot more to look forward to for training camp by hoping to God we can cross our fingers against the Buffalo Bills. Can I get a Raven shout out? One thing I'm watching for the first time and forever? A new kicker. We've got to see this a rookie kicker. Right.

And the new kicker in Baltimore, it's going to be very weird to like, I feel like every other team now, although Tucker had fallen off the last year or two. But for so long, I'm like, oh, Tucker's coming out, automatic. Like, you know you're going to make anything under 50. Now I'm going to a rookie kicker. Like I have the anxiety of every other team, every other fan base that's had for years that I've taken for granted. So I'm looking forward to watching me some loop. Welcome to it. Stuck, it's the age of anxiety.

Listen to Stuck, big bets on campus, the Action Network podcasts, the Thursday, the Wednesday night, Thursday morning episode that Stucky and Raybond do on Action Network podcasts. Much, must, must listen. The favorites will return with our next episode Tuesday on the Action Network YouTube page. We're going to kick off our NFL division betting previews, download us from Spotify. Apple pods, wherever you get your pods, rate, review, subscribe. Leave us five stars, say whatever you want. Feedback is a gift. Until next time, love you.

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