The Kevin Sheehan Show - WR Options Dwindling + Logan Paulsen

Episode Date: August 1, 2026

Kevin opened with Deebo Samuel's inexpensive deal with the 49ers. Logan Paulsen jumped on with his early training camp thoughts and insight. Kevin also talked Nats, Tony Romo, and Jayden Daniels very ...possibly being left off the "players" NFL Top 100 list.   For all your football betting needs: DCRELOAD at MyBookie for a 50% Deposit Match   So if you are looking to make Mother’s Day perfect, or just want to impress your friends and family with an epic meal next time you host, go to www.GOLDBELLY.com and get free shipping and 20% off your first order with promo code sheehan.   Air conditioning stops at your waistband. Stay fresh all day with TUSHY. For a limited time, our listeners get 10% off their first bidet order when you use code Sheehan at checkout. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:02 You don't want it. You don't need it. But you're going to get it anyway. The Kevin Cheon Show. He is Kevin. Logan Paulson will join me on today's show. Always one of my favorite conversations. He is so smart, so insightful, he'll jump on next segment.
Starting point is 00:00:21 The show's presenting sponsor is always, Windonation, 86690 Nation or Windonation.com. If you need new windows, please mention my name. I've been with Windonation for 18 years. They'll take really good care of you, I promise. This from Lang to open up today's show, Lang writes, Kevin, only $7 million for Debo for one year. Adam Peters is cheap. If the wide receivers hold the team back, he's gone.
Starting point is 00:00:54 Yes, Debo Samuel signed a one-year $7 million deal to return to the 49ers. Not a lot of money. I agree with the Lange on that. It's like 50th among receivers in average annual salary. I'll add to that Lange. I think that Dibbeau had interest in returning to Washington. I just don't think the team had much interest in bringing him back. Now, on one hand, I do get it. Debo played well last year, but he's not a true stretch the field wide receiver. I think that's really what they're looking for. He's more of a weapon. And don't get me wrong, the team needs weapons. And in his role last year, he was a weapon. He had a good season, you know, especially considering, you know, he wasn't able to play much with the starting quarterback in Jaden or the number one wide receiver in Terry. He led the team in receptions with 72, led the team in receiving yardage with 727 yards. It was actually his best season in four years.
Starting point is 00:01:57 He led the team in receiving touchdowns, with just five, but still, he was an excellent kickoff returner as well before they switched to Luke McCaffrey, because remember, Debo ended up with some heel issues. You know, that was a conversation about Debo a year ago, if you recall it was he gets injured, but he always plays. Like he's on the injury report a lot, but he also always plays. And that's what happened here. That was the case. in 2025. He was banged up, had a heel issue, but he played through it most of the year, played 16 out of the 17 games. And I thought with Terry McClure and Jaden Daniels, he would have been a plus plus last year. He just didn't have the same opportunities, obviously,
Starting point is 00:02:49 without the starters on the field around him. I think the team was looking for, and still is looking for, you know, a more true wide receiver, not just a weapon, a true outside wide receiver that can stretch the field with vertical speed. I wasn't against bringing Debo back. In fact, I talked about that early in the free agent cycle that, you know, if it wasn't going to be a lot of money, why not? his availability also tells you, and the contract obviously, tells you that there wasn't a big market for him. The 49ers got desperate here the last few days. Pearsall injured, Christian Kirk, who they signed, injured, no Iyuk, obviously. So they made the move yesterday because they needed another professional receiver in their building.
Starting point is 00:03:44 And in the case of Debo, he's one familiar with their system. The bigger picture, though, of Lang's email about Adam Peters and if the wide receiver room holds the team back, he's gone. I don't really agree with that. But if the wide receiver room holds the team back in 2026. And by holding it back, I would say that, you know, it's very obvious to all of us that the team doesn't have wide receiver speed, you know, game changing speed. game-changing playmaking ability. And the offense, even if Jaden plays at a high level, even if the running backs are solid,
Starting point is 00:04:26 even if Chigacanquo, their tight end is performing. But if it's obvious that the defensive teams they face don't respect the wide receivers, and that puts a crunch on the field. And because of it, the offense is limited. you know, Adam Peters will indeed feel the fans fury over it. I don't think it'll cost Peters his job. It'll take a lot more than that because, look, they focused on defense more than anything else.
Starting point is 00:05:01 You know, the defensive additions will be just as important to the evaluation of Adam Peters after this upcoming season as anything else, including the wide receiver room. and I know I'm on repeat when it comes to him and when it comes to the wide receiver situation, but they did try, you know, and I know that trying isn't necessarily succeeding or producing, but they were interested in Alec Pierce, he stayed in Indy. They were interested in Romeo Dobbs. He signed in New England. We'll never know what would have happened had Carnell Tate fallen to seven, but it would have been a possibility.
Starting point is 00:05:41 and look, the free agent wide receiver classes, the last two years, have not been filled with like a lot of options. You know, and next year, by the way, and I looked ahead, George Pickens, that's basically going to be it in free agency next year. They've drafted three receivers over Adam Peters first three drafts. One of them is more of a punt returner, really, than a receiver in Jalen Lane. But McCaffrey hasn't really worked out yet. he's a good kickoff returner, that's for sure.
Starting point is 00:06:13 We'll see what Antonio Williams provides this year as a rookie. The additions they did make during this past off season after missing on Pierce and missing on Dobbs, Diami Brown comes back, Van Jefferson signed. Don't sleep on Van Jefferson. I know I've said that before, but I've heard that they have been impressed. He is a professional. He is a route runner. He has excellent hands.
Starting point is 00:06:43 Just don't sleep on the possibility that he not only makes the team, but is active and a contributor. I think they're going to be looking for, I said this about Diggs, that early on in that schedule, at Philly, at Dallas, Seattle at home, you don't want to be out there with guys that haven't done it and haven't been in those environments. before. But anyway, Diami Brown, Van Jefferson bringing back Traylon Burks. They did do those things
Starting point is 00:07:15 after they missed on Pierce and Dobbs. Actually, I think they re-signed Berks even before that. And keep in mind, you know, their feeling on Chigacanquo is that they added, you know, a pass catcher, not, you know, that he's a true pass catching tight end built very much like a receiver. That addition has a ton of promise in the past catching. area for this team. Diggs is still out there. He's the only one left. You know, Keenan Allen isn't coming here more likely than not. And he isn't really what they need. I think he'll end up back in Los Angeles with the Chargers. Diggs would be an excellent addition and would take some of the heat off of Peters when it comes to, you know, the wide receiver
Starting point is 00:08:01 room, which is right now a vulnerable spot for him. Now, they may be soon. confident in what they have. And by the way, the opportunity exists for this team. If, you know, Jalen Lane and Traylon Burks and Van Jefferson and Diami Brown and Luke McCaffrey, if they get a couple of those guys, Antonio Williams, to really emerge and the wide receiver room is solid, he's going to get a lot of credit for that. Uh, Ayuk obviously was a possibility until the last two months. So what's left is Diggs. And if he makes the Diggs signing, it will, it will, I think, create a different feel about what was invested in that room. Anyway, if the wide receiver room doesn't provide enough this year, there's no doubt the perception will be that Adam Peters has not
Starting point is 00:09:02 done enough for Jaden Daniels in his first three years on a rookie contract. You know, the other 2024 quarterbacks just have had much better pass-catching personnel. I mean, Drake May had Diggs last year, and he's got A.J. Brown this year. You know, Bo Nix, you know, add Jalen Waddle to Cortland Sutton. Caleb Williams had DJ Moore, not anymore, but Adunze and Luther Burden and the tight ends that they have there. Pennix Jr., Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Bejohn, obviously. Yes. And I'm not going to really count J.J. McCarthy because he hasn't been, you know, a starter, really a consistent starter. But obviously with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, there are weapons. Yeah, Jaden's had the worst skill position supporting cast of any of the 2024 first round quarterbacks in his first three years. know, the cupboard was bare when Adam Peters arrived. He has invested in the offensive line, which is an investment in his quarterback, trading for Tunsel, giving Tunsel the big contract
Starting point is 00:10:13 extension, drafting a tackle in Josh Connerly, Jr. in the first round last year. And I've said this all off season because Adam Peters led with it back in January, but helping the offense and helping Jaden with this roster, the way it last year ended, starts with getting better on defense. They had to get better on defense, and they've invested a lot into their defense. But yes, Lang, not much money for Debo. One year, $7 million. I can't imagine that money was the issue. I just don't think they were interested.
Starting point is 00:10:55 I think he could have helped. I mean, look at the room as it is now. Debo is a pro receiver. He's a pro weapon. Speaking of wide receivers in contracts, how about the deal Chris Alave got in New Orleans? Four years, $132 million in an extension, $90 million guaranteed for Chris Alave. I'm a fan of Alave.
Starting point is 00:11:21 He was there on the board for Washington at 11, but Washington in the 2022 draft, as we all know, traded back and picked up Jahan Dotson and Sam Howl and Brian Robinson, Jr. And I think it was Yankoff, the tight end, who's still on the roster and who, by the way, is quite the athlete. You know, that was, that's another example of, I know that there's always this thought. Trade back, trade back, trade back, get more swings, get more swings, get more swings, get more swings. And more times than not, it is the right thing to do. But it's not always the right thing to do. Drake London would have been the pick for Washington had he fallen in that draft, but he didn't.
Starting point is 00:12:08 Scott Turner confirmed that with us when he was on recently. But I knew that at the time that they really liked Drake London. And when they got to 11, they traded back. So they obviously didn't like a lave enough. And they thought there wasn't much difference between Alave and Jahan. John Dotson, Scott Turner still thinks is going to eventually become a really good player. But Chris Olive just got paid big time. Man, you think about the drafts and the wide receiver opportunities.
Starting point is 00:12:40 We've talked about, you know, the Kyle Hamilton's, et cetera, when Washington decided on other players and other ways to go, like the 22 draft, trading back and not taking Hamilton. But, you know, Alave instead of Dotson certainly would have worked out. In 23, how about Jackson Smith Najigba instead of Emmanuel Forbes? J.S.N. was a first rounder. Last year, I was a big fan of Luther Burden. They went with Connerly Jr. instead. Burden went early in the second round.
Starting point is 00:13:12 But they've had opportunities. Now, only one of those drafts was the draft with Adam Peters at the helm. Last year, you could have taken Luther Brutton. He was certainly one of those guys considered to be worthy of a late first round selection, but they went with a big investment at tackle with Connerley Jr. By the way, the $90 million guaranteed for Chris Halape, right? Just go back a year ago when Terry signed his deal and got $44 million guaranteed. I mean, Alave a year later, actually less than a year later because Terry didn't sign his deal
Starting point is 00:13:48 until towards the end of August. but Alave basically got more than two times what Terry got in guaranteed money. That's why Terry was not happy with the deal. He really thought that there was a $70 to $80 million guaranteed money opportunity. And there wasn't. Look, Alave's younger. Alave is really good too, and he's younger. Terry is going to be a 31-year-old wide receiver.
Starting point is 00:14:16 But he's got an opportunity, man. He's got an opportunity. you know, the contract that he signed goes beyond this year if they want it to go beyond this year. And if he goes out and balls out, even though he'd be 31 going on 32, you know, look at next year right now. If Terry doesn't play well this year, and it ends with Terry after this year, what will they have next year at wide receiver? I've already mentioned Pickens is like the only guy in free agency. this would be a much lesser wide receiver room potentially in 27 without Terry. I think he's going to have a good season.
Starting point is 00:14:57 I do. Tough loss for the Nats last night in Atlanta. Man, they had a chance. They had a 3-0 lead in the game. Luis Garcia literally almost hit for the cycle. He had a triple that drove in a run in the 7th that made it 5 to 4. And then the Nats couldn't get him home. So they lost the game 5 to 4.
Starting point is 00:15:17 They're going to need a couple of wins over the weekend. They're going to need tonight, Saturday, Sunday, two of three, you know, to be right there at a game above 500, staying in that game and a half to two and a half game, out of the wild card situation. Foster Griffin pitches tonight. And then I think Cavali pitches on Sunday. And so they'll have two of their best.
Starting point is 00:15:47 well, their two best starting pitchers pitching against the Braves this weekend. Yes, Cavali pitches in the Sunday finale in Atlanta at 135. But last night would have been a good one to get. They had a 3-0 lead. Dylan Cruz really struggled last night, especially in two different opportunities with runners in scoring position. But they need a couple of them here.
Starting point is 00:16:13 Lyle last night, two homers, Garcia, a homer. that gave them the three to nothing lead that they gave up. All right, let's get to Logan Paulson. We'll do that after these words from a few of our sponsors. Hey, guys, in admission, I love Goldbelly. I've been telling you about Goldbelly for three years now. If you're a food guy and you haven't been to goldbelly.com, you are missing out.
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Starting point is 00:18:25 Of course, Logan does a great job on the commander's YouTube shows where you can catch him there. He's also got a podcast called Take Command. That is very well done. He is on social media at Logan underscore Palson 82 on Instagram on Instagram. and on X at Logan Paulson and FL. So we're underway here. And look, I'll acknowledge before any of the things that I ask you that we're six weeks away from an actual real game, the opener in Philadelphia. And I personally think this time of year it's really hard to kind of figure things out.
Starting point is 00:19:10 I think you've got to see them in real games. but I'll start with this. Like what part or which parts of the team do you feel most confident in? Like you feel like when we get to Philly on September 13th, that's going to be a strength of the football team. Yeah, I think offensively I'm probably most jacked about the offensive line. I think they're just in a really good spot with Puntil, Cosme, Connerally, I think it's going to take an attention.
Starting point is 00:19:38 Obviously, I'll agree to get snicked in practice yesterday, but I think in a way that's going to be kind of a sneaky upgrade, maybe not physically, but I think just from like a mental acuity standpoint, like everybody's talking about how smart that dude is. And then I think the other group would have to be like the defensive front, specifically the edge rushers. I just have a lot of confidence in the guys they've brought in, how they've looked over the last couple of days, how they looked at minicamp and OTAs, and I think they're going to be maximized
Starting point is 00:20:04 by this defense. Yeah, so I think they're going to be maximized by this defense. So I think, you know, kind of the edge rushers, and then I've looked at least, and then I would say the offensive line or other of the two groups that stick out to me. So you feel like what, I mean, I thought Adam Peters and Dan Quinn the other night, the answer they gave in which they had the most conviction about, and it was the last question in the press conference. It was about Nick Allegretti, and you could just tell, like the transcript,
Starting point is 00:20:30 it was the longest answer by far, that they aren't worried at all about Nick Allegrety. It doesn't mean they'll be right, but you agree with them that this, is the guy, and this is why they felt comfortable letting Tyler Beaudish walk. Yeah, and I've said this other places. And, you know, talking with offensive line coaches, schemes that I've been a part of, it just is that position is not physically not as important, right? Because if you're in an even spacing, right, you've got like the four defensive linemen, you're uncovered if you're the center, like pretty much the whole game, right?
Starting point is 00:21:08 third down passing opportunities, you're uncovered, right? And you just don't need to have like this horse. And obviously, if, you know, you go out and sign, you know, Linderbaum or Humphrey or whoever the leading center is, that's great because that's a plus value at the position and that's a special player. But I think most times you just need a guy who's really, really smart. Like, I think about Will Montgomery, who was on the verge of being out of the league
Starting point is 00:21:32 when I was here in 2010, and he was the starting center, and he moved to a center and became really, really, really. effective because he was super smart, he understood angles really well, and was able to put the five guys, six guys counting myself and the rest of the blocking surface in the best position to be successful. And I really think that's what you're looking for. And I also think, like, with his level of experience, the stuff he's going to add in past protection in terms of calls, tools he's going to bring, is going to be really big. So I think it's more of a mental position anyway. And if you're worried about somebody who's lacking the mental acuity for the
Starting point is 00:22:06 position, and I think you're kind of going the wrong direction. So I think, again, smart guy, I like the way he plays, I like the intelligence that he plays with. And I think you're taking a rotational guard and moving in the center is a great move for him in his career, but also a great move for this team. You know, you've said that to me before, and I've had other people say that to me before. I think it's actually something that I've learned more recently. I don't think that I ever really knew, as much of a fan of the sport that I am, I don't really think I ever thought of the center position being less significant than the way you've described it. And I understand the mental part is a big part of that position. I've always understood that. But I would ask you,
Starting point is 00:22:52 if you're playing a lot of teams, which this team is lined up to play, at least on paper, a number of teams with really strong interior defensive lines. I mean, even in their division, Philly and even Dallas with Quinn and Williams, etc. I mean, Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter, the Rams, the Seahawks, the teams that they have on their schedule, and even some three, four teams with strong nose tackles, does it matter more when you're lined up against teams that are loaded at those interior defensive lines? position. I mean, obviously it matters more because they're better players potentially.
Starting point is 00:23:33 But, again, I think, like, one of the things that, as a tight end, for example, like, you know, you got like a wide nine technique. So someone who's on your outside shoulder, like, I get nervous because that's a one-on-one block with me and a really good football player, right? But if I get a six technique, I have a nice little double team, I got the tackles help there. It's not all on me to make that thing go. I think when you go through a game tape, right, with a center, for example, pass protection, first and second down runs.
Starting point is 00:24:02 You are in combination the majority of the time. Now there are certain exceptions, like you said, the odd front, I think it's a really good call out. Like when you get a true nose, like that can be really challenging, right? Like, you know, Jordan Davis, old Vince Wolf Fork, right? But the other thing people sleep on with that is like if I know that that's the strength of the other team is this really powerful nose guard, shoot, man, like we're going to stay in 11 personnel.
Starting point is 00:24:24 We're going to get out of base offense, right, into 11 person. You're going to match with a four-down structure. We're going to be insulate the player that way. So it really just depends on, like, how you want to insulate that position, because you can. You can't insulate it in a way that you can't insulate a tackle. You can't insulate a guard. And I think that's what, it's a great point. Like, you've got to always consider the personnel you're playing against.
Starting point is 00:24:45 But, like, I look at Travis Kelsey, who's one of the better centers over the last couple of years, he always played with tremendous guards. And those guards, you know, there are bunch of guys that maybe people, yeah, Jason Kelsey. sorry. Maybe people don't remember or no, but they were able to win one-on-ones, win double teams for him, and let him kind of use his athleticism at a really high level. Like if he had
Starting point is 00:25:06 to play guard, for example, I think he'd struggle, right? And again, like, that so when you have, when you look at the environment, Allegheny's going into, like, I think Cosby's a borderline pro bowl guard. I think Chris Paul or, you know, Brandon Coleman are going to be fine
Starting point is 00:25:22 at the left guard spot there, but they're big, powerful bodies that can win physical one-on-one matchups. And I think if you have that, you can kind of, again, offset some of that risk associated with a move like this going from Beattish to Allegrety at center. Question, I have no idea what the answer is to regarding the center position. Is it easier to snap to a quarterback under center or shotgun? And I'm talking about post-snap. Obviously, the shotgun snap has more risk to it.
Starting point is 00:25:52 but I'm talking about post-snap, which is usually the preference for a center? Yeah, I mean, I think it depends. You know, like now there's so many colleges that are in gun all the time. So moving from a gun environment to under center is more difficult, right? But there are guys that, you know, obviously when I was playing, preferred under center because the hand is right there. You can feel where the ball is going to go and you can be really aggressive, snapping that thing in there to the quarterback.
Starting point is 00:26:20 back. And again, like, the other thing that people sleep on with the center position, this goes back to inflating is I played with a bunch of guys, you know, Coralick-Licked Stager, who's kind of an undersized guy, Casey Rybock, and they had a bunch of little tricks, like when they were going against these big mammoth noseguards like you're talking about, is they would actually jump the cadence for the offense, right? So, like, whether it's under center or in the gun, you know, the quarterback, like, White 80, white 80, and then they'd snap it on like the S of set. So they would be a little bit early to the block, and they could kind of, you know,
Starting point is 00:26:50 cover up some of their physical limitations by getting on the block quicker. But in terms of under center gun, to me it's a personal preference, and you're going to get a different answer depending on the people you talk to. And as you were answering it, I was reminded as something that I think you'll appreciate because you're a coach and you coach younger players. But one of my sons played for, and this was Pee-Wee, this was whatever grade that is, fourth, fifth grade, whatever it was. And the coach, who was a great dude, he played at Wake,
Starting point is 00:27:20 Forrest. He played in the CFL for a while. But at that age, he put in a single wing offense, which required a snap from the center to the single wing back. And I'm telling you, I remember showing up at one of the first practices, and they couldn't snap the ball. Like literally, there was no snap that actually got converted. And I thought to myself, I don't know what I'm doing. I'm much more of a basketball person than I am a football person. I'm like, why? would you do that with kids? I'm telling you by like the second or third game, there wasn't one drop snap and they had, you know, 11 on 11 in the run game and it worked beautifully. But I just remember, and he was a friend of mine and I just said, man, single wing, can they get that snap right?
Starting point is 00:28:08 He goes, they will, they will. I got a good center. He's smart. But that's a tough, that's a tougher offense for kids for sure. All right. You mentioned defense, edge rusher specifically as the area that you're most confident in. Again, it's early, but who's going to lead the team in Sacks this year? I mean, I think it's going to be a D'Aouet-O-A. I mean, like, you know, when you look at him over the first couple OTAs, mini-camp, obviously the first couple days in training camp, like, he just, he's got all those qualities that, you know, people talked about when he was coming out in the draft, you know, the 4-3 speed, the height, the length, like, it shows up in practice. And then, you know, you go back and you.
Starting point is 00:28:50 You watch them with the Chargers in L.A. And he's got, he was, to me, showing flashes being a true one in a way that we haven't had a true one here in a very long time. And what I mean by that is, like, you know, he's got a multitude of moves. He can win with speed. He can win with power. He's got kind of a refined bag. Like, you know, when you think about Montes' sweat, Chase Young, they were kind of very specifically power rushers. And they kind of lacked some of that craft because they were such kind of physical freaks.
Starting point is 00:29:19 and so now I look at him and I say he's a little bit of a different kind of animal that we've had here for a couple years. That's good to hear. And I mean, his physical prowess, his height in particular and his length are noticeable right from the jump, right? Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, absolutely. Like, there was a play, I want to say it was on Monday where they're kind of running like a boot, you know, like him to his side and his ability to like kind of work down on the action, sprint down. is Jane Daniels.
Starting point is 00:29:49 You know, Jane Daniels is going to flouch in terms of speed. He'd able to run down, Jane Daniels, get his hands up, jump at the ball down. I was like, I don't know. We've had anybody here who could move like that with those long arms with that tall frame. Sweat. Sweat could a little bit. But so that's the thing. I'm really glad you're making the comparison because sweat was a very linear kind of like, you know, he's
Starting point is 00:30:10 265 pounds. He's 6'6, and he said, hey, running a straight line. I can do that a high level of these long arms. I can hit that long arm on you all the time. but the thing about Adafé is there's a little bit of basketball player, too, in terms of the change of direction, suddenness, which, again, it's a slight distinction in terms of the athlete compared to Montez. So, again, I think Montez is special, you know, obviously doing a great job for the Bears, but the kind of lateral agility, the subtle kind of Euro step, the fluidity,
Starting point is 00:30:40 just a little bit turned up with Adafi, I think. I think that's such a great distinction because I know exactly what you're talking about. talking about. It's the basketball ability with the vision and the anticipation and just yes, versus the straight line guy. There's a big difference in a lot of sports
Starting point is 00:31:00 and certainly at a lot of positions in football. All right. So O-line and edge rusher is what you're most confident in as of now. What area or areas of the team do you worry about the most?
Starting point is 00:31:16 Do I worry about the most? obviously I'm going to caveat this. I would say just because it's hard is defensive back and then I would say like that second receiver pass catcher. So the thing with the defensive backs,
Starting point is 00:31:32 like I have a lot of faith in what I saw from Brian Flores in Minnesota and Durante Jones is obviously bringing that here. Over the first couple of days they've looked really, really good. But if that scheme doesn't cook the way it needs to cook, like if you don't get the pass rush,
Starting point is 00:31:47 if you don't get the exotic pressures, if you don't get these kind of favorable matchups for the defensive backs in the back end of the defense, like with some of the pressure you're able to cultivate, I get worried about it. I get worried about the type of players you have there, because they do need to be elevated by scheme. So that's one.
Starting point is 00:32:08 And then I think the two receivers spots, just because I don't, not that there isn't talent there, but I do think you need guys to kind of take a step forward. You kind of say, oh, you know, like if Trailerbanks can say, healthy, could it be a two, Diami in a specific role, can he kind of fill that two role in certain situations? Can Luke take a step? And again, I think they have enough talent here. Like, when you watch practice, I'm not like, oh my gosh, they really absolutely need a second pass catcher and go out and sign someone right now because there are talented pieces there. Just all of those guys have to
Starting point is 00:32:37 kind of move forward into a larger role, which you've covered this team for a long time. You know that that's possible, but you also know that sometimes they don't quite hit the way they need to. So if I told you that it hit, because this is an area of a lot of conversation among all of us, you know, the receiver room in general, if I told you that it hit without any additions, like as Stefan Diggs or somebody that gets cut late in the summer, why did it hit? Who really emerged? Yeah, so I think right now the guy that's kind of on my radar, probably because he had an awesome first day of training camp, but I know he's hurt now, is trailing Berks, like just his ability, the thigh,
Starting point is 00:33:17 the frame, and then it's him and Antonio Williams. I think if both those guys kind of take a step forward, you get a third down piece, a guy that can run that choice route, work underneath, great route running feeling Antonio Williams, and you get a more physical kind of, you know, win at the rim type of receiver with Birx, I think you're in a really good spot. And then the other thing, too, to kind of compound on that is if David Blow knows how to maximize those skill sets. I think that's the other thing that I want to point out here, too, because when you look at,
Starting point is 00:33:47 you know, Kevin O'Connell, Ben Johnson. The thing they do a really good job of is they say, hey, we know who our number one target is, and we're going to find ways to get him 10 to 15 touches in the game. And if Terry's getting that kind of touches, it's going to offload some of the responsibility from the number two, number three receiver, and their opportunities are going to be better.
Starting point is 00:34:06 And so I think it's the scheme elevation of Terry and then the scheme elevation of those subsequent two and three receivers, and I think it's the physical maturation of guys like Birx and Williams. All right, I want to gauge your interest in Stefan Diggs, who's still out there. I will get to that with Logan and a lot more after these words from a few of our sponsors. Hey, guys, I want to welcome a new sponsor to the podcast. The name of the product is Tushy, as in, yes, that Tushy, your backside. And many of you should listen closely because I think this is something that will really help you.
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Starting point is 00:37:06 We continue with Logan Paulson. So, Stefan Diggs, yes or no? Yeah, I mean, I like Stefan. I think he goes back and watch what he did with New England last year. He's a good football player. I know there's some legal stuff. I'm not super familiar with all that stuff that's going on, which is the only thing that gives me pause.
Starting point is 00:37:24 But I think of the people available, like he's the name that is at the top of my list, barring that all that legal stuff is okay. But I think he still can do it at a high level. And again, he's not the true perimeter player that he once was, but he knows that a win versus man coverage. and I think he did a great job mentoring Drake May, from what I understand. I coach a couple people or consult with a couple people that play there,
Starting point is 00:37:48 and they had nothing but fantastic things to say about him. So, you know, the guy in the locker room sounds like a great guy, the guy on the field in terms of the tape, I think it was performing at a high level. So, yeah, of the guys available, he's the guy that would sign. You talked about, you know, the back end if the front seven doesn't materialize as a much better pass rushing group. Who are you excited about, if anybody, at corner or at safety? Is there a player that you're thinking is, you know, a given to be a good, solid contributor?
Starting point is 00:38:22 I mean, the guy that I'm probably, two names of the cheat, is the guy that I'm most excited to see in this defense is probably Mikey Sanders still. Like, I look at, again, where Durante Jones is coming from in Minnesota, and how those defensive backs are able to play with their eyes. kind of through their responsibilities to the quarterback. And I say to myself, like, that's Mikey 1,000 percent. And Mikey's ball skills are excellent. Mikey's anticipation is excellent. His click and close is excellent. Like, he's going to turn, I think he's going to turn the football over a ton in this defense.
Starting point is 00:38:56 And so he's won, and again, like, there's a little bit of a projection there. The pass rush has to hit, the pressure package has to hit, the kind of the disguises all has to work. But I think he's a perfect fit for that. And the other one is Nick Cross. obviously, Nick Cross is, you know, I think he's on a one-year deal, something like that, but in terms of what they did in Indianapolis, like, you reminds me a little bit of, like, what Harrison Smith was for Minnesota.
Starting point is 00:39:19 Like, I can blitz, I can play like an off-ball linebacker position, I can play safety. It gives you so much more flexibility having a player like that at near and around the line of scrimmage, who can also cover a little bit. So I think that's why I'm probably pretty stoked about both those guys and what their potential roles could be in this defense. Yeah, I'm excited about Nick Cross, too. I think, first of all, he's available. He's high IQ.
Starting point is 00:39:42 He's a great tackler, and just the obvious idea of the way the Brian Flores defense works, it just seems like a perfect fit. And with Sanra still, you know, as you were talking, obviously they're different positions, but in the same way Adafo'i O'A has great feel for the game, Sanra still is that. You know, Sanra still has that anticipation. It's why he made so many big plays. As a college player, he just kind of sees it as well, don't you think? I think that's 100% right.
Starting point is 00:40:15 And like, it's so funny going back and like watching him play the nickel last year and watched him play in the perimeter. And he just does have a football play in Johnny kind of element to him, which I can't get past and I love. You know, he's a good tackler. He's physical. He's aggressive. He's willing to take chances, which a lot of guys aren't super willing to do.
Starting point is 00:40:35 So I love him. And again, I want him to have more responsibility and more opportunity to show what he can be. Because last year, I think, you know, everyone was going to test anybody to watch games last year. It was a tough sweating for every level of that defense. And hopefully it'll be a little bit of a better environment for him this year. Which of the two new coordinators, David Blow and Durante Jones, do you think will hit the ground running faster than the other? You know, of the two, which is most, which of the two is most ready to be in the same? spotlight for the first time, coming up with good game plans, and then excelling when
Starting point is 00:41:13 their, you know, when the game kicks off and they've got a call place. Kevin, that is a fantastic question. So obviously, Durante Jones on paper is the obvious one, because he has, his background is so comprehensive, he's developed his own game plan. But, you know, I've had a couple conversations with David Blow, and I think there's, and again, they're not long conversations, but there's just kind of a twinkle in his eye that reminds me a little bit of like, kind of like the Sean McVeigh thing. And he just, he says the right things. He's acknowledging the right things.
Starting point is 00:41:44 He's critically thinking about the offense in the right way. So my brain is saying Durante Jones, but my heart is saying, David Wow, man, because again, like, in the limited interactions and, like, what we've seen from him in training camp and OTAs and his off season, like, there's something cool about the way he's constructed this thing now. He's got to build a game plan that's a different. animal entirely, but I think there's a little bit of magic there, or at least
Starting point is 00:42:11 I'm hoping there is. You know, just tell me something about David Blow because it's not the first time he's been mentioned in the same sentence with Sean McVeigh. We both know Sean was an extrovert. Sean was a phenomenal communicator, a great
Starting point is 00:42:27 motivator. I like just, I mean, I've told you this before. Cooley, when he was the tight ends coach, essentially said he, if he were owning the team, he'd elevate him right away to head coach because the first interview he goes on, he's going to get the job. I mean, this was three years before, you know, Sean became a head coach. Blau seems less extroverted in terms of his personality.
Starting point is 00:42:51 Is that correct or not? I think, like, outwardly facing with the media, but like when you watch him at practice, there's some juice there. You know, like, you don't play quarterback in the NFL for, like, the way he did. and like with like kind of a limited physical skill set and not have some kind of leadership intangibles. So again, like he's got to work and grow and find his voice and he's definitely not a finished product.
Starting point is 00:43:18 But like, again, in these brief conversations I've had with him, I've just been like, man, like, I want to play football for this guy, you know, and I'm older than him.
Starting point is 00:43:26 So like, that's the thing that I, it's this weird kind of magnetism. And it's hard to explain and you've been around people like this. But, you know, it's not like, it's not the same as Shaw.
Starting point is 00:43:36 It's not the same as Kyle. It's not the same as Mike McDaniel, but there's this football psychopath in there that knows how to communicate his ideas. And I think that's the thing that I like about it. So what's his offense going to look like? I mean, I think it's going to be fun from what I've seen so far. I think, like, the thing that stuck out to me over the first couple of days,
Starting point is 00:43:58 you know, OTA's mini camp, and then obviously the first couple days of training camp, is it is diverse. Man, it is diverse. So, like, I think it's going to feel a lot like what you guys, from Ben Johnson, there's elements of like Kevin O'Connell. And then there's certain things like college principals you see sprinkled in there too. And the fact that this is the second day of training camp or they just have the second day of training camp,
Starting point is 00:44:17 and they have so much variety, formational variety in, like the type of plays they have in are so vastly different. I'm just like, man, they have a lot to pull from here. And it's pretty sharp, like the way they're using cadence, like it's, to me, it's going to be what we're seeing in kind of like this modern West Coast. the Ben Johnson's, the Kyle Shanahan, the hands of Sean McVeigh's, like that's the principles they're bringing. We're going to use every tool at our disposal, cadence,
Starting point is 00:44:44 formation, motions, shifts, backfield set to put ourselves in an advantageous situation over the defense, and we're going to construct similar looks and run and pass so that we're not giving you a tell as to what we're trying to do based on formation.
Starting point is 00:44:59 And I think that's the way modern NFL offenses are going, and I think he's bringing a lot of those principles here, from what we've seen so far. It's seemed to me, and you can correct me if you think I'm wrong, that the most obvious difference, in addition to being under center more for Jaden,
Starting point is 00:45:17 is that there will be many, many more play action pass attempts than there have been in the first two seasons of Dan Quinn, Jaden, Daniels, Cliff Kingsbury. Is that fair to say? I mean, I would say, yes, absolutely. I think that's 100% right. I think, you know, one of the things, like, one of the easy buttons in the NFL, you know, is that, like, you have this ability to affect the defense with play action pass, with boot game,
Starting point is 00:45:47 with backfield set, making sure the formation looks like the run. And that just hasn't been here, I mean, it hasn't been here for a couple of years, man. Even Scott Turner, there was a little bit of a distinction between running sets and passing sets. And obviously, for Cliff, it was very obvious. But so I think it'll be very new, and I think it'll be very good. And I think that feature will be a nice addition to help Jay and Daniels development. We haven't talked about Jayden Daniels yet. Will the changes offensively be something that are seamless, that it'll look like he's done it forever, or will it take time?
Starting point is 00:46:22 You know, he's such a unique athlete, and he has such a unique approach. Like, you know, watching him over the last two days, I know people were like, oh, he didn't look that amazing. or there were some ups and downs to practice. And I thought, I came away thinking like the complete opposite. I think, you know, like he's just so talented. Like, you know, his ability to accelerate his feet in his drops and kind of do different things with, again, in terms of backfield set, ball action, play action fake.
Starting point is 00:46:51 Like, it looks like he's been doing it for a long time, and we're still so early in the training camp process. So there's going to be ebbs and flows and ups and downs, but I just think he's a unique guy, you know, in terms of his ability, his athletic ability, his accuracy. Like, he hit a throw the other day in practice. And I was like, oh, my goodness, man.
Starting point is 00:47:07 Like, the way that he got to the top of his drop, he's able to kind of accelerate his kind of one, two at the top, get the ball turned over and get it out into that tight window. Like, that's going to be a problem for NFL defenses. So, yes, was it perfect? No. But I think for a guy who's learning a completely new offensive system, it looks pretty darn good. I'll just, I'll talk about the first half of the season because there might be a difference in the way it plays out.
Starting point is 00:47:34 But during the first half of the season, which running back gets the most snaps? Ooh, that is the million-dollar question there, Kevin. Oh, man, like, it's so hard because I came out of practice the other day. I think it was that two days ago, thinking, like, man, like Bill looks really good. He's explosive.
Starting point is 00:47:52 He's got great agility. But, you know, he's a couple reps where the ball's a little loose balls on the ground one time and you're kind of like, does that hold him back? So if you want to be safe and kind of get on base, I think you probably go with White as the guy is going to be getting the carries at the beginning of the season. But it's going to be hard to keep Bill out of some type of role in this offense, I think, because of how dynamic he is with the football. He just got to protect that thing.
Starting point is 00:48:19 Again, it's early, but rookies sometimes look overwhelmed early, and others just look like they were born for day one of the jump from college to the NFL level. level. Do you have early impressions of Sunny Stiles and Antonio Williams? I think Sunny Stiles, you know, man, he's just such, like, so physically unique. Like, the way he runs around on the grass. And, like, he's also very patient. Like, he kind of walks this really fine line of being urgent, but also kind of knowing when to be urgent. And I think that's really hard for young linebackers to learn. Like, there was a play the other day where they were kind of, like, working to stretch, the defense horizontally, like with formation and with the backfield action.
Starting point is 00:49:06 And he did a great job of just kind of being impatient with his feet. And he's kind of playing in like a pseudo-nickel spot. And just came down hill and fit that big gap. And I was like, if he could do that for this team, this defense is going to be a problem. And obviously, there's a lot of growing that still needs to happen. But I think he's poised for, like, I think, to have a very solid opening day one kind of appearance on team, which makes sense because he's, you know, one of the best defensive players in the draft, one of the best
Starting point is 00:49:35 defensive players have ever evaluated. Antonio Williams, I think it'll be interesting to see how that continues to progress. Like, there's times we're like, yes, the fluidity, the way you catch the football, the route running nuances there. Get a drop earlier like on Monday, I want to say, but like I think it's still, like you said,
Starting point is 00:49:51 I'm very confident Sonny Stiles is going to get there. Antonio Williams, I think we'll get there at some point this year. It just depends on like, is your role initially as a third down kind of situational guy, or can you eventually work your way into that number two spot because of how you run routes and how you see the game. I think we learned something from something Dan Quinn said the other day that the green dot A is going to be worn by a linebacker, and B, it's probably Stiles or Louvre.
Starting point is 00:50:17 Am I missing somebody else who's a possibility or not? I mean, I guess it could also be Leo Cheneal. He's on the grass quite a bit. I mean, right now it seems to me like Frankie would be the guy, but again, like, Like you said, what are we, two days in, you know, for three, four hours into, you know, the 2020-season in terms of time on the grass. So we'll see. But I think Frankie probably, to me, as the inside track, like, seems like just from a leadership standpoint, the way he's kind of communicating the defense.
Starting point is 00:50:47 And I think at some point, yeah, one of those other guys could step into that role, depending on utilization. But I would say Frankie to me as the inside track. You know, I kind of think that many have sort of forgotten him. I also feel that way about Dorrance Armstrong with all the additions, and yet he was arguably their best defensive player last year before getting hurt. But Louvoo, let's not forget, was a second team, all-pro player in 2024. And I don't know, he seems like a perfect fit for a Brian Flores-style defense.
Starting point is 00:51:19 I think so. I think he's just like when you look at what they ask the linebackers to do in Minnesota, like his ability to blitz. from that off-ball position or like work a game with the defensive tackle, or work a game with the defensive end, and his ability to get downhill violently and, like, beat a back when I want to pass pro. Like, if I'm, if I'm Dronthe Jones, I'm like, I want to get that going as much as we can because that's, like, his superpower, in my opinion.
Starting point is 00:51:45 And last year, obviously, didn't get to do that. Didn't get to show that as much because he's playing, like, true defensive end, which is a tough transition. That's not really who he is as a pass rusher and kind of played out of position a lot of the year last year. So I really, in terms of guys that I think could be really, really dynamic, I think Frankie's very, very high on the list because of, again, his ability to pressure and get downhill aggressively and violently. As a former tight end, you and I talked about him when they signed him,
Starting point is 00:52:15 but what do you think Chig Ongo is going to mean to the offense? Yeah, Chig is going to be really interesting because I think, you know, just over the offseason, like his utilization, the flexibility, brings to the offense, I think, is his unique superpower, right? He's not bad in line, and he's plus as a pass catcher, so you can kind of line him up all over, you can have him run a myriad of routes, and so to me, like, talk about a guy like that needs to take a step and could kind of step into that second pass catcher role for this team.
Starting point is 00:52:46 Like, if he can do that, catch the football just a little bit more consistency, with more consistency, run routes with a little bit more detail, because, again, like you're going from a 50-catch guy to... maybe a 75-80-catch guy, like there's details that need to be refined, and I think he can definitely do it. But, like, it's going to be, if you can do that,
Starting point is 00:53:06 the offense is going to be very, very healthy, very, very productive. It's just, like, can you, again, take some of those steps and mature as a player with a, you know, a bigger opportunity with a new team? All right, two more. Give me a player or players
Starting point is 00:53:21 that you think are going to surprise fans in terms of, becoming a contributor or becoming a much bigger contributor or even just making the team. Give me a player or two that you're actually a lot higher on than perhaps Most are at this point. The first one that comes to mind when you said that, Kevin, is Luke McCaffrey. I just, I think, I don't know what it was about the spring. I watched, you know, most of the spring I missed a couple of practice. But every practice I was out there, like, I just thought like Luke seems to have taken a step
Starting point is 00:53:54 with some of his route running nuance and some of that receiver feel. And I'm not sure what his role will be, but I went back and watched a lot of his targets from last year. I'm like, man, he had a lot of explosive opportunities for this offense, even though there were some struggles. And I think like he's maybe ready for more responsibility, bigger role. I'm not saying he'll be like the three, but maybe he's the fourth option and gets kind of some good matchups,
Starting point is 00:54:20 and he's kind of a big slot in certain situations, but can also kind of more. Moonlight as a Z, when we've got to work our blocking kind of surface. So he's one to me that on offense that I'm pretty excited about. And then I think the other one that I probably got a little bit of a man crush on is Joshua Joseph's, the fifth round pick from Tennessee because of everything I saw from the Tennessee. Like, I think there's an explosive, long athlete in there who can be very disruptive in passing situation, and he's got to earn that role.
Starting point is 00:54:51 He's got to show Durante Jones to the defensive staff that he deserves some of those passers. opportunities. But I think when you look at kind of the shape and frame of him, like he could do some damage in certain situations because of his physical tools. And now he's got to kind of, you know, get that honed in and get that focus. But again, like he's a guy that I think is very, very compelling. Two good ones. All right. Final question. This team will be a playoff team in 2026 if finish the sentence. If the coordinators hit, like really, it's the big one for me. Like, if Durante Jones brings some of that diversity,
Starting point is 00:55:32 aggressiveness, novelty to the defense, I think we're going to be in a pretty good spot. We're going to get more turnovers. We're going to create more ball production. I think all that stuff heads in the right direction. And if David Blow can do what, you know, this offense has shown it can do other places and he can show a mastery and a command of, you know,
Starting point is 00:55:51 calling a game and developing a game plan, like, you know, this offense doesn't need to be the number one offense in the league. But if it's, you know, 15th and the defense is 14th, like, I think we got a shot at a playoff run here. But again, that's a big lift by both of those guys to get to those positions because, again, it's new for both of them. So, again, they have to hit.
Starting point is 00:56:11 They have to develop quickly and show a good maturation for this team to make a playoff run here. You know, in a lot of your answers today, you didn't give me the obvious answers that I would have guessed to be obvious. in this case in particular. What's the obvious answer there, yeah. But I've loved the answers because I think they're really good answers, and they're your answers, and it's a subjective thing anyway, especially at this time of year.
Starting point is 00:56:37 Right. But to me, number one, more than anything else, this team in 2026 and beyond is, it hinges on five being upright and healthy for 17 games. Because without that, you don't have a chance. No, I think that's why I said the coordinators, right? Because like, really, you know, everyone says, like, who's the most important person in the building? And I have a lot of people who say Jane Daniels? To me, it's David Blow and Durante Jones.
Starting point is 00:57:09 Why? Because of the scaffolding and the support system they're creating for Jayden Daniels, right? Like if David Blow is able to work the play action, work the keeper, work the boots, work the protection rules, become more efficient running the football. Who does that help? Yeah. And helps Jane Daniels. if the defense is able to keep you out of, you know, 35-point games and get you more
Starting point is 00:57:30 turnovers and win the field position battle and kind of do all of those crazy, high-analytical stuff where it's like, hey, you know, we're getting a punt. We're forcing a punt here at the 45-yard line instead of, you know, them kicking a field goal. Like, those are big deals, and I think it all comes back to the environment that it's creating for five. So maybe five is the most important person in the building, but I think those guys' jobs are extremely important because of, again, if they can just make it, I don't know what,
Starting point is 00:57:56 30% easier for him, like think about what he was doing in 2024, like an historic rookie season, and with better X's and O's and kind of more easy opportunities. Like, look at Caleb Williams, right, in Chicago. Like, I wasn't sure if he could figure it out. Ben Johnson comes in, new system,
Starting point is 00:58:15 and he looks like the guy that we thought he was going to be. And think about Jane Daniels. He exceeded all expectations. and now we're going to put him in a better system. That's why, to me, the coordinators are so incredibly important this year for him and for this team because it's going to make an environment for him where he can be Superman, be the guy that we all know him, know he's capable of being. Well, and to add to that, Chicago led the league in takeaways last year, 33 takeaways by the defense,
Starting point is 00:58:44 and Washington was next to last with just 10. So if you just move up defensively into the middle of the pack with 20-21 takeaways on the season, imagine field position, you know, stopping the other team, getting the other team off the field, but then starting field position. And maybe, by the way, a couple of scores or returns into the red zone, those things would help out a lot, no doubt. Thank you for doing this as always. It's really enjoyable. Hopefully we'll do it again soon.
Starting point is 00:59:17 Kevin, thanks, man. Always a blast talking to you. Logan Paulson, everybody. A couple of things to finish up with, including the latest on Tony Romo, after these words from a few of our sponsors. If you want to bet football, NFL or college, my bookie is the place to do it. Four weeks from today could be
Starting point is 00:59:41 the first smell test of the 2026, 2027 season. Last year went pretty well, 62% for the year. But yeah, four weeks from tomorrow, the first college football Saturday of the year, they call it week zero. They're only about seven or eight games. But right now at my bookie, TCU is a six and a half point favorite over North Carolina. That game's in Dublin.
Starting point is 01:00:07 Virginia is a five and a half point favorite in Charlottesville against NC State. And then let's see what are some of the other key games. Stanford's at home laying four to Hawaii. By the way, that'll be the first game for Tevita Pritchard as the Stanford coach. Memphis and UNLV play that night. UNLV is a five and a half point favorite. And then the first full college football weekend of the year gets underway the following Thursday night, September 3rd.
Starting point is 01:00:39 Remember Labor Day is late this year. So that weekend starts on September 3rd, games on Friday night, September 3rd. games on Friday night, September 4th, and then Saturday gives you that first full Saturday of the year. And then there's a Sunday game that weekend as well. A couple of games actually Sunday. And I'm going to tell you right now, I don't know why college football did this, but you've got on Sunday, September 6th, at the exact same starting time, 7.30 p.m. Louisville at Ole Miss. Ole Miss is a six and a half point favorite.
Starting point is 01:01:15 And then Wisconsin and Notre Dame from Lambeau Field. Notre Dame's a 21 point favorite over the Badgers. And then there's a Monday night game, Florida State and SMU. So we're four weeks away from potentially a smell test pick or two, five weeks away from 100%, the first full smell test of the year as it relates to college football. Cannot wait for that. By the way, I saw something the other day, I'm going to share with you in a moment. But some of the early information on where the NFL week one games action is going right now in terms of public action, it is out.
Starting point is 01:02:00 Washington is a four-point underdog at Philadelphia at my bookie. I've got some numbers. The public's going to be playing Philadelphia more likely than not. biggest public play right now for week one of the NFL season. So even if it changes, and we've got a lot of time for things to turn around, but I have a feeling it's not going to turn around that much. But the Tennessee Titans are two and a half point favorites at home against the Jets. The Titans are being played massively already by the public. Yeah, you get people that bet this early on week one. The Jets are supposed to be terrible. They're
Starting point is 01:02:41 getting less than a field goal. I give out bad teams. You guys realize that. 62% last year. Just a reminder. Wouldn't be surprised if I have the Jets in week one. Wouldn't be surprised at all if I've got the Panthers at home getting less than a field goal to the Bears.
Starting point is 01:03:02 Wouldn't be surprised if I have the Saints getting a touchdown at Detroit. I like the Saints this year. they're really a team that I think has a chance to win double-digit games and win the NFC South. I really do. That team really came on last year. They are well-coached. Kellen Moore does a great job on offense. Brandon Staley is not a head coach, but a really good defensive coordinator.
Starting point is 01:03:30 They got players, too, in New Orleans. And they're in a division that, you know, doesn't look great. Tampa should be decent. Carolina should be decent. Atlanta's got quarterback. issues for sure. MyBooky's the place to do all of this though and they've got plenty of futures and prop bet opportunities already up. Go to mybooky.com, mybooky.ag. Use my promo code Kevin, D.C. Tony Romo was charged with OWI operating while intoxicated in the state of Wisconsin the other day.
Starting point is 01:04:06 I'm sure many of you have seen some of the video of the tests that he was supposed to be doing. He was obviously under the influence. I mean, I don't think there's anything, you know, that I can't imagine anybody looked at that and said he's totally sober. There was an open bottle of alcohol there as well. Andrew Marchand from The Athletic wrote a story today because I'm actually really curious about this. because Romo signed a 10-year $180 million contract in 2020. So he still has several years of that deal left and still a lot of money left on that deal. And there has been a discussion about Tony Romo in recent years that CBS and even Jim Nance not as enthralled with him as they were at the beginning.
Starting point is 01:05:00 And Andrew Marchand writes about that. First of all, real quickly, if you didn't know this, and it was a story today, CBS has put Tony Romo on leave. He's on leave following the arrest. J.J. Watt will join Jim Nance as that number one crew until Romo is allowed to come back. But that's where things get interesting. So Marchanne writes that Romo's contract, you know, right now still $72 million left on it over four years. And he was supposed to be involved in some big events for CBS.
Starting point is 01:05:41 There's some huge event with their on-air talent production staff that was going to take place two weeks from now at an NFL seminar. He's not going to be at that. He was going to call the opening Packers Vikings game on CBS on Sunday, September 13th. He's got a court date in Wisconsin on the 21st. He was going to do the Brazil game on September 27th between the Cowboys and the Ravens. More likely than not, you know, with the court date on the 21st, he may not do that. Here's the thing about the Romo situation.
Starting point is 01:06:16 What if CBS decides we don't want him anymore? We want to get out of this deal. There's a morals contract. There's a personal conduct part of the contract. Did he do enough? where they could terminate him with cause? Marshaun writes the following. If he misses the first month of the season,
Starting point is 01:06:41 when does he return? How does he return? CBS is slated to air a Super Bowl in February of 2028. Would he have a chance then? His poor performance in recent seasons is a factor here. Rommel comes across as a very affable guy, and many have described him to me, to me, meaning Andrew Marshall, over the years as a big kid, but he is not known as a hard worker and it is shown on the year. Prior to his massive new deal, Nancy and Romo were welcoming comparisons to Pat Summerall
Starting point is 01:07:13 and John Madden. Since then, the duo has regressed and Romo has often sounded unprepared saying odd things. Last January, the higher-seated Jacksonville Jaguars were at home to face the Buffalo Bills in the wild card round, and Romo appealed. on the pregame show. When the camera found him, he said the Jags, I'm telling you, they can win this game today. The remark drew almost immediate scorn on social media for its vacuity because, of course, the higher-seated team with the home field advantage, of course they can win. The bills needed a late touchdown from Josh Allen to be victorious.
Starting point is 01:07:51 That was the best playoff game of the postseason last year, that Jacksonville Buffalo game. Marshan continues, like all on-air TV contracts, Romo's deal in includes a morals clause, one that networks can challenge if a star is unable to represent their brand in a positive fashion after a public embarrassment. He then gets into could he return as a number two crew guy with Iron Eagle? Could they push him further down to see if he would, you know, quit? I wonder whether or not they're going to use this opportunity to go after his remaining contract. I think any attorney that handles employer-employee issues would tell you it's really hard to get termination with cause to void the rest of a contract or to void a severance package or whatever it would be.
Starting point is 01:08:47 In Ramos case, another $72 million. It's not always the easiest thing to do. But the more interesting thing would be if CBS tries to do it. if they've, you know, felt like the deal that they struck with Romo back in 2020 was a bad deal. I think many have viewed it as a terrible deal, a way overpayment and a too quick on the trigger reaction to those first years or the first year. And Romo was a novelty that first year, predicting plays before they would happen, you know, his enthusiasm. but it's been clear in watching him in recent years. He's not a guy that is prepared enough,
Starting point is 01:09:31 and they have apparently over the years expressed their frustration with that. We'll see what happens. Hey, one more thing before I wrap it up for the day. You know that NFL Top 100 list, the one voted on by the players that appears on the NFL network and on NFL.com? So they are down to number 41. So they've now done 50 through 41 or 100 through 41.
Starting point is 01:10:02 So they've got 40 more players to go. And I thought there was a pretty good chance that Washington would have two players on the list, Laramie Tunsell and Jaden Daniels. Jaden was number 21 on last year's list. And as this list sort of started, I was like, yeah, Jaden's going to be on the list. He didn't come in in the 90s or the 80s or the 70s, but Bryce Young came in at 98. Brock Purdy came in at 85. Baker Mayfield at 77, Jordan Love at 72.
Starting point is 01:10:39 The Lamar Jackson thing was crazy that he went from number two to 69. It doesn't even make sense. Trevor Lawrence at 62. And then when I saw Bow Nix at 59 and even Jalen Hertz at 50, I'm like, Jaden's obviously going to be ahead of Bo Nix. Caleb Williams came in at 51. Well, Joe Burrow just came in at 44, which makes me believe there's a pretty good chance that Jaden is not going to be in the top 100. I mean, ahead of Caleb Williams and Jalen Hertz and Bo Nix and, you know, Baker, Mayfield and Purdy and Young, I mean, the Lamar,
Starting point is 01:11:22 thing seems off. Yeah, but ahead of Joe Burrow, really? So it's very possible that Jaden isn't going to be in the top 100 and quarterbacks like Bryce Young and Brock Purdy are going to be ahead of them on this list, as voted by the players. In terms of offensive tackles, Tunsell's going to be on this list. the tackles that have been listed so far are Dion Dawkins in Buffalo and Tristan Worf's at 52 from Tampa. Worf's is great. Tunsel's going to be ahead of those guys.
Starting point is 01:12:01 I'm actually surprised Tunsel hasn't been listed already, but it looks like he's going to be in the top 40 players in the NFL. But I am really surprised that Jaden isn't on this list already, and now it's looking like, he won't be on the list. I don't know. Is he going to be in front of Joe Burrow?
Starting point is 01:12:23 We'll see.

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