The Ringer NFL Show - ‘GM Street’ — Saturday Sit-down Week 13 (Ep. 195)

Episode Date: December 2, 2017

The Ringer’s Michael Lombardi and Tate Frazier are joined by Ringer video writer Joel Solomon to run through their picks of the week: Minnesota Vikings at Atlanta Falcons (2:43), Detroit Lions at Baltimore Ravens (3:50), Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals (5:51), Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints (7:27), and Philadelphia Eagles at Seattle Seahawks (8:56). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to GM Street, part of the Ringer Podcast Network. I am Tate Fraser. This is the Saturday Sit Down and sitting across from me is Mr. Mike Lombardi. Lombardi, how you doing? I'm great, Tate Frazier. You're going to introduce our distinguished guest here? Absolutely. Next up, we have the co-star of No Bull.

Great writer, great comedian, great performer, great everything. Joel Solomon is here. Pittsburgh Steelers fan. First guest on GM Street, by the way. Wow. Are you impressed by that? Are you proud of that? I don't do many podcasts here, but for you guys.

I feel like I'm. sitting with my two dads right now, my real dad and my stepdad, my younger. I'm the Shawlick Bay of stepdad. You know, it's amazing. This man, I love this man. He's done a tremendous job on No Bull. He's the reason, no bull. He's really, co-star of No Bull. He is the, he is No Bull. He makes it happen. I mean, him and Richie make it happen. No disrespect to Jackson or Tanya, but they make it happen. I tried to give Michael Lombardi, a nickname today. He did not like it. I want to run it by Tate. Yes. We want to call you the fire alarm.

Because the takes are that hot. They're not hot. They're just my opinions. They're just not that hot. We're going to find out. And speaking of fire alarm, my man does not know he lives in Los Angeles. He dresses flannel shirt. You look good, Joe.

He looks great. But, I mean, like, you. Yankee cap. You think he lives in North Jersey. I mean, like, it's unbelievable. To be honest, it keeps me humble. It makes me feel like I'm connected to the East Coast. It's my security blanket.

I need lots of layers, especially. around you the takes are that hot. It's a fire-retarding get-up that you have here. Thank you. See how he's such a good take? He, like, played it right into it. He's a wordsmith. This man's a wordsmith.

I wonder why he was brought out here to write first. Because I went to Hofstra. That is ultimately why. That's how it all comes together. Lombardi was on BS this morning. You guys just finished no BS. Now we're here to do Saturday Sit Down GM Street. We have five games that we pick each week.

Lombardi puts it out there. Out to the world, out to the gamblers, out to the people that care about football. Before we start, did you watch the game last night, I did and I didn't. Did you watch the game last night? Of course. That's a little disappointed.

Didn't see enough claps last night. Well, I'm going to tell you this right now. I think the clapper has gotten back to Jason Garrett and to the Dallas Cowboys because I had a friend of mine that is in Dallas and he works for SMU and he told me that the clapper had been spreading around Dallas. So I think he's heard the news so he doesn't want to clap as much. The message got down from the front office. I think Jerry told him, hey, let's settle down on the claps.

Let's chew some gum. I just like, I mean, look, anybody listen to this podcast. If you think it was a normal clapping day, let me know on Twitter. But if not, I just didn't feel, I didn't feel the claps. I think he's holding back. I thought he was. All right, continued. You got in his head.

Well, first game this week, we have the Minnesota Vikings going on the road to the Atlantic Falcons. Vikings are four and one on the road this season. Case Keenham looks like a legitimate quarterback right now. Who do you have in this one, Lombardi? I like Atlanta here. Not that I don't like Minnesota as a football team, but I just think there's certain situations that you go into that are hard.

December's football is really about conditioning, pad level, and fundamentals. I love, that's what I like about Minnesota's team, but I think Atlanta's team has done the same thing. I think they'll play well here. This is a big game for Matt Ryan. They've got to be able to make some plays in the passing game. And I think you can make some on Minnesota. If Minnesota loses, I'm not going to be disappointed at them as a team and say, oh, my God, they lost. But I like Atlanta here because it's a must win for Atlanta, and they've been playing really well Lave late. Joel? I'm on board with Atlanta, too. Julio Jones got going last week. That is a guy you definitely don't want to wake up.

And I think the Vikings are, they're built for the playoffs, for sure. But against the team in Atlanta that could put up like 30 points, I'm not sure that's the best matchup. I like it. But yeah, I'm with the Falcons. All right, Xavier Rhodes, Julio Jones. That'll be a good one to watch. Next time we have the Detroit Lions going to the Baltimore Ravens.

The Ravens, a team that used to own the home field advantage. But now with Joe Flacco, AKA DB Flacco, aka ran away with all your money. Ozzie Newsom. He is now taking other lines. You like DB Flacco is a nickname for Joe Flacco? I think we could do better. No. I think we could do better.

DB Flacco is, all right, all right. He dropped the money over. I mean, it's perfect. I love it. D.B. Flacco. Yes. Yeah. Think about it.

You ponder it. All right, here's where I think, this is an interesting game because Terl Austin is the defensive coordinator of the Lions. He used to be a coach in Baltimore. Knows the offense really well, knows the team really well. Look, I think Detroit's bad offensive line can get better. They've got their left tackle back now.

Stafford's had 10 days to rest. I think his ankle should be better. They can move the ball. You can throw the ball on Baltimore. Even though they've had three shutouts, some DVOA says, according to Bill Simmons, that they're high rating. What did you think about that?

It was an insult. It was an insult. He was like, you don't like analytics. You don't care about that stuff. I was like, Mike Lombardi, he's in the, you're with all the numbers. You're looking at all the numbers. I look at everything.

I'm not against it, but I will say that I think you can throw the ball on Baltimore. And Detroit likes to get behind in a game. They like to throw it. And Baltimore can't, make any explosive plays. I don't know how Baltimore's going to score 20 points that I think the lions can. I like the lions here to pull an upset. Joel, before you jump in, I'm going to

throw this at you. Ravens. Number two pass defense in all the NFL. Well, that stops Stafford this week. Are you going to side with Lombardi and be a coward? I don't care how good the defense is. Baltimore still has to score. You're right. And with D.B. Flacco, here's the number. D.B. Flacco has got nine TD passes this season. You know how many guys that no longer are the starting quarterback for their team have nine TV passes? James Winston has 10. Trevor Simeon has 11. Andy Dalton somehow, who is the quarterback, has 18.

Alex Smith has 19. It's just Joe Flacco at some point. You're going to have to put some numbers up, especially against Stafford. That's why he's D.B. Flacco, he's disappeared. That's why it all checks out. Next up, Lombardi, are you excited about this one? Get the Los Angeles Rams.

Go into Arizona to take on Blaine Gabbard and the rejuvenated Cardinals. This should be a fun one. Yeah, I think Blaine Gabbard has played better than I expected him to play. But the Rams, they shut them out the first game 33 to nothing. The Rams are good road team. They typically play well away from home. And they have a way of moving the football more effectively in this game

than I think Blaine Gabbard's going to be able to do that. Even though I think early in this game, it'll be a close game. But I think as the game wears on, the Rams offense will take over and they'll be able to make plays down the field. I think that McVeigh done such a good job with Jared Gough, even though people now think maybe that 15-second play differentiation could cause them some problems. I don't. I think this is an important game.

I think the Rams can win this. I like the Rams here. I'm going to go the other way. Cardinals. I'm shockingly going to go Cardinals. Brouserians is the quarterback guru that everyone else thinks they are. Everywhere he's gone, he gets quarterbacks to play better. And Arizona is a team that at the end of the season, no, they're not going to make a run in the playoffs,

but they throw monkey wrenches in you. And Carson Palmer, I think, is one of these kind of. of Patrick Ewing theory guys where when he's not playing, Gabbard can do more. He's not going to give up 10 sacks a game and he's going to get rid of the ball. He can run. And I just think that's a better look right now for the Arizona Cardinals. For people that don't remember, the Cardinals did take on the Rams in London. They lost 33 to zero. Thanks for that's two months ago, though. In London, yes. There's a big difference. I believe it. I believe it. We'll see what happens this time around. Next up, we have the Carolina Panthers taking on the New Orleans Saints.

Your Carolina Panthers, too, pleasure. In New Orleans, I was at the first meeting this season, week three, in North Carolina, in Charlotte. The Saints came into town and roughed up the Panthers pretty bad. This will be a nice revenge game for the Panthers, I believe, personally. Lombardi, what do you think? I've gone back and forth on this game. I actually like Carolina here.

I think Carolina can move the ball on them. I'm disappointed they're losing Charles Johnson. McCaffrey, they say he could be hurt, may not play. I think he probably will play. I like the Panthers. I think they're defensive. If Kikley's on the field, they're a good defense. They're not going to be able to run the ball effectively against the Panther defense.

And Breeze, to me, they haven't shown that they can just flat out come out and throw the football. If you stop their running game, I think you can. The corner situation in New Orleans is still hurting. Lattimore's not going to play this week. It's hard to beat a team twice in the NFL. I know I just predicted the Rams to beat the Cardinals twice. But I think it's hard to beat a team twice. And that's why I like Carolina, although to me, the Charles Johnson thing really has me worried.

but I like Carolina here. Joel? What did Steph Curry say? Have you talked to Steph, Tate, about this game? I have not. No. You're not? All right.

Well, the good news is bang the drum or whatever the Panthers do. Keep pounding. Keep pounding. And that's what they do. Bing the drum rolls right out the tongue. Yeah. Well, they're a physical team. And, you know, I think that's kind of the saints a little bit,

their Achilles heel is, you know, when they get into big physical matchups. And, yeah, I think the Panthers. Panthers are hot right now, buddy. Yeah, they're going for five straight. We'll see if it happens. This is the biggest game of the weekend. And it's a game that I think everyone's pretty excited to see because the Philadelphia Eagles, I know,

Pittsburgh fan here, New England affiliate here. We have some people that have talked down on the Eagles. They've turned on us in GM Street. But now we're seeing where they're playing the parade. Yeah, they've planned the parade. They're 10 and 1 right now. They're going to go to Seattle. This is a big road game for them.

Obviously, the secondary for Seattle is decimated to say the least. But we're going to see if they're a real legitimate team this weekend this Sunday night. You know, the Legion of Doom, they've won a couple games up there. They've been three points. They beat the Colts. They were behind at halftime in that game. They beat the 49ers by three. They beat the Texans barely by three.

They're resilient. I mean, this is a tough-minded team. I think this is the perfect challenge for the Eagles. They need to play against a really tough-minded team and against a good quarterback. Because if you look at their 11 games, list the quarterbacks that they faced. It's hard to find a great quarterback.

That doesn't mean they're not a great team. It just means they haven't played one yet. They're going to need to play one before they get to the playoffs. They're going to need to have, be punched in the mouth and come back and show that they've got resiliency and mental toughness. And I think this is a great challenge for Philly. I like Philly in this game.

This is exactly what Philly needs at this time of the year to prepare them for the playoffs. It's a little bit like when your North Carolina team plays those tournaments. Cupcakes? No, no. It's when they play those tournaments in the... Oh, the preseason tournament.

Yeah, they play them, they get their team ready. Maui, Atlanta, whatever it is. This to me is exactly what the Eagles need. This is the right time and the right place. I like the Eagles to win. I think it'll be a close game. I think the Eagles, Carson Wince, is by far for me, the MVP of the league.

I think what he's done on third. down is historic. I've been waiting for it to come back to the mean. It hasn't, but I think it's really impressive. Are you going to have a hard time rooting for another team in Pennsylvania being such a Steeler fan, Joel? They've wanted a Pennsylvania Super Bowl there forever, and it will like never happen. But no, I think the Eagles, Peterson, like, he won't take his foot off the gas. I like that they know that division's in sight. They're running away with it. And I love the Seahawks. I love that Russell Wilson is such a gamer. He keeps every game close, and especially in Seattle on a prime time game, but yeah, the Eagles are too much.

And I do worry, this is one of those teams now as they get to like week 16, 17, do you take your foot finally off the gas and we'll see what happens in the playoffs? But for now, yeah, the Eagles. They could easily go 15 to 1. I mean, they have this week and then they have the Rams next weekend. I'm more concerned about Fletcher Cox. Have you guys heard this story? Have you seen this?

Go ahead. Tell her. This will be right up Joel Zahley. Fletcher Cox was that he was accused by a man in North Carolina, in Huntersville, North Carolina of seducing his wife. wife. Do you know this man? Do you know the family?

I do not know the family. You're from Carolina. I thought maybe you might know him. I tried to check and see if I knew him, but no, I did not. But basically his wife was seduced by Fletcher Cox when she was on a trip up in Philadelphia. And the man is suing Fletcher Cox because in North Carolina, when your, you know, your wife is seduced in some way, you can sue for damages. If you're Fletcher Cox, I mean, you're going to deal, this is a sideshow right now.

How do you deal with this? Let me look at Fletcher Cox. Yes. That's why you have lawyers. $50,000 in damages. Obviously, his wife, this is the first time she thought about doing anything wrong. It was completely seduced. So that's why it happened.

He can't go on the next road trip to Carolina. That's for sure. If they have to hold, if they play Carolina again, that's not going to be a good thing for him. That's an interesting law in Carolina. I never thought, I never knew that. Is that just part of the state? Did you know that law? They love marriage.

No, I honestly did not know that. But as soon as I saw it, I was like, that's good to have in your back pocket. If Fletcher comes down. Hopefully he has a good attorney. Do you know any good attorneys in Carolina? Oh, they're all good attorneys. My brother. Yeah.

Call them up. Gil Frasier. Gilfraiser. He'll take care of you, Fletcher. Anything else around the NFL? Obviously, we got the Jimbo Fisher News. He's going to leave Florida State to go to Texas, San Nand, L'Lmartie. That was the worst kept secret ever, right?

Money Talks. I mean, you had to go there. That's such an incredible place. How about the Tennessee saga? I mean, really, we have Joel here, who's a writer. This is a 30-for-30 documentary waiting to happen. They fire the athletic director today, Joel. No one wants this job.

No, well, it's like everybody's controlling the job. It's hilarious. Next week on GM Street, we need to bring in a Tennessee expert. to talk about this. I think I have just the guy. T. Martin? T. Martin's really upset they haven't called. The rumor tells me, it's reliably reported to me that T. Martin's very upset they haven't called. I'd be upset, too. And Peyton, Peyton, that no one wants to consult with him. What about Eric Aange? Is anyone called him?

Yeah. I like that Lane Kiffin thinks it's the funniest thing, though. That's what I love. He's just like, like, anyone else about their old job, like hoping they fail. Lane Kiffin's like, this is just sitting back laughing. He should be. He should be. We're all Lane Kiffin in this situation. Lombardi, anything else before we get out of here? I'm good. Tate Frazier looking forward to the weekend. Big game on Sunday night. Absolutely. We'll be back. Joel Solomon. If you want to watch the game with us on Sunday, you can. I need the name of your cousin again, the attorney. It's my brother. Your brother. Gil. G-I-L. 2 L's. Like a fish. Shout out to Gil Frazier.

Yep. And shout out to all the listeners out there, GM Street. This has been Saturday, sit-down. Part of the Ringar Podcast Network. We will be back Sunday night.