2021 Around the NFC in 48 Minutes

mean first favorite conference. I'm an NFC kid. Haven't been born in Minneapolis, which is why I'm gonna be talking about the vikings today and I'm real fired up about it. So I'm just glad to hear. You know. The rest of the hero's great takes on this segment. Well, normally we if the money drop at the beginning says best podcast available, we wouldn't have someone on that that has

his own podcast, The Huddle and Flow. You you may disagree with that, you know sentiment there, Steve, Yeah, this is definitely a need pick for It's not clear of who money was referring to, so it's really you could you could proceed an you wish Huddle and Flow which police check it out with Ysan Jim Trotter on a hiatus right now, So technically that's not in the conversation and that's why we were able to safely use that drop. Ah okay, we were an opt out the gift of

the guy going like this. Um, all right, so if you can in case you missed it. On Tuesday, the great Clay Bonn was with us. We went around the a f C in exactly forty eight minutes. And that's so important, Steve. I think this is the first time you've joined us for this particular exercise and the discipline required to pull this off. You are a disciplined man, and that's why we feel comfortable that you'll know not to blow through stop signs when it comes to analysis

of each team. I'm not even gonna comment on that because I might be blowing through. We'll have sound effects. There will be a sound, you know, a countdown from ten seconds, so you'll be fair warmed. Um alright. So the set up easy. Each of us take one team per division in the NFC. Try to end your analysis quickly with a question, and then we talk about that team. Let's have some fun. Ricky, how are you doing? By the way she does trying to bring her into the show.

And then I asked her and then there's like fifteen seconds away. Yeah, it's so funny because we're not in a studio and I have like a whole computer setup that I have to like get into a virtual studio. It's so seamless. Dan, you you know, millennial analysis, I will destroy you have a great shop. All right, let's let's kick it off right now around the NFC we go, starting with the NFC East. Hit hit the horn, ricky Um, I'm back at DJs on the Jersey Shore and Belmar there.

Here we go the Washington football team. Greg Rosenthal. Oh, we're starting with the most exciting team in this division. I like it all. It's just like a solid football team. I there. It's just it's a solid head coach, it's Ron Rivera, it's a lot of professionals. Look at this defensive line. Look at this secondary they quickly rebuilt with William Jackson and Kendall Fuller. Look at their offensive line. They might be bringing in Charles Leno to play left tackle.

That was kind of their one hole. I think it's says I feel a little bit like Washington fans, which maybe they're looking at this team and they're like, how do we not go ten and seven or eleven and six? And you think back to the last two decades where they have one playoff win, they're one of the you know, least winning teams of the decade. Like, where do you think this team could have the rug pulled out from me?

Because I've watched Washington so long, I kind of expect it to implode from within and this one it doesn't look like it's gonna happen though this time Steve, Steve is making a face. You just glossed over the whole quarterback thing. Man, We've covered that. That's an upgrade. It's an upgrade back then. I'm not gonna blow the times the time schedule here. Now we've got three minutes here. Don't you think Ryan Fitzpatrick is an upgrade from I mean,

if nothing else, from what where they were last year. Yeah, based off what they what they had last year. But I mean, once you go around this whole division, I mean, is he the best quarterback in the division? No, definitely not no. And I like, if you look at the whole NFL, they're really like you could look at Houston and Washington is really some of the only teams that haven't don't have either like a long term starter at veteran or like a young quarterback that they've latched onto

as their future quarterback of tomorrow. And I mean I like Fitzpatrick as much as anyone else, but if things go awry, you're suddenly like looking at starts by like Kyle Allen or Taylor Heineke, and it's just like the that is what sets you apart if things don't gofically with Ryan Fitzpatrick. I mean, we all love we love Ryan Fitzpatrick, and we're all happy that it looks like he's going to get a chance to start, But at the end of the day, there's probably a ceiling here

that Fitzpatrick puts on your team. He's a fun quarterback, but this isn't like a championship caliber quarterback. But in the NFC East, I feel like, as long as he doesn't have one of those Fitzpatrick gears where he kills you with a ton of turnovers, this defense could be legitimately special. Um, we know what the front four is about, and their their first round draft pick. Uh, please someone jump in, yes that that's somebody that that addresses a

huge need in the middle of their defense. That could that's where they're gonna win games. I just love the weapons. Terry McLaurin, like legit number one, Uh, your boy, you know, Logan Thomas at tight end, Antonio Gibson one of my favorite running backs to watch in the league. You add Curtis Samuel, you add the Dammy Brown uh in the third round, who a lot of people but like. And then you have Kelvin Harman who is productive towards n CL, Cam Sims who made a lot of players just like.

I think the way you win with passing games now is to have five or six receivers. It's not about having two or three. Washington has that. It's got the defense. I think there's a lot of reason, uh to believe that this is the playoff team. And don't forget that Young Turner calling the plays. Yeah, you know you just you just really sent that. That's that segment out with three two. Hey, reminder we have three time outs also or any reason, Steve, it could be anything you want

to stop the clock. It's collective, all right, let's move up, Young Turner. Bildelphia Eagles Mark Sessler. I feel like the Eagles are a little bit of an eye of the beholder team because it depends on how you want to look at it. To me, they may be they're on a full on rebuild, okay, but I also think that there's something certainly some weird juju inside the building. You've

got Nick syrian The offering rather strange press conferences. You got Howie roseman Um getting caught on national TV getting like Heisman on an awkward fist bump with an an agitated coworker. So but then at the same time, you can look at this roster Jalen Hurts, Miles Sanders, DeVonta Smith, Jalen Rigor, Travis Fulgum, Dallas Goddard, Zaccherates if they keep him. I am just wondering, because you've got some stars on

defense too. Is this team maybe being looked at a little bit under the radar in a shaky NFC East, Or are we like six months away from Syrianni Um, you know, getting agitated with a mouthy radio man saying this Ricky christ Angelo. I think they could be overlooked because I don't think any team is an incredible favorite in this division. So I did look not now that like the NFL's partnering with you know, Caesar's and stuff like. I think we can talk about this. The Giants and

the Eagles are huge underdogs to win this division. Put you know, four to one, five to one to two that, and it's like I would take those two and give them a chance and take them both to win the division because I don't think there's that much separating the top team in this division from the bottom. The reason I give the Eagles a chance is the reason they won the Super Bowl. They're still looking pretty good on both lines. There's a lot on both their offensive and

their defensive lines. And this division always comes I mean there's never there's rarely, you know, a thirteen and three or and upcoming, here's a fourteen and three type team that wins this division. It is usually been a ten and six team that's divided, you know, decided on upon the last two weeks of the season. But but when it comes to the Eagles, and I just can't wait. So Jalen Hurt gets in the huddle and says, okay, guys, rock paper scissors. Okay, what are we gonna do on

their third and one? Right? You know that's isn't that the Syrianni decision making things, the rock paper scissors thing. So it's I it just seems internally in that building. We can look at the roster, we can look at the coaching change, but when you saw the chaos that up in the season, that that trickles down, that does trickle down as much as the coaching staff tries to

insulate it. So if they can Jeoffrey Laurie some of the decisions he may, if they can isolate this team because there's so many new players on this roster from some of that chaos, then I'm with Greg. I think they do have a shot because there's real no decisive team and whoever is saying that the Giants are exchange underdogs to win this division, I really want to have with their drink an savan. The Eagles have struggled to identify wide receiver talents. About the Smith feels like a

no brainer. And by the way, Lend Dickerson second pick center. You know, Brian Baldiger called him the best offensive lineman in this class. And it's not close. They helped itself and I said, oh line looking good. They help up next the Dallas Cowboys Steve Watch. Oh yeah, So since we're talking about experts in mediocrity with the divisi, shouldn

end these teams. Let's go to Dallas. Look, Dak is back, he's got his paper and they were playing well before Dad got hurt, and then it was just a trick. I mean, everybody started getting hurt. So the offensive line still a little bit of a question mark. They addressed some of it in the draft, right, we know DA's got the weapons at the skill position. But the Dallas Cowboys last year where the Alice Cowboys because there's no d to right. I mean, think about they got they

got no pass for us. Their linebackers didn't play well in their secondary. I mean that's that's what was a fantasy football quarterback stream to play against. So they go out and they target some of these players. They get Micah Parsons. And let's not forget that Dan Quinn is now running his defense, so he's got Michael Parsons gonna be his Bobby Wagner doesn't necessarily have some of the pieces that he did in Seattle, so this might look a little bit more like Atlanta's defense until you get

some of the personnel. But I do think the Cowboys with that back can score enough points and to be enough of a problem offensive, especially in this division, to kind of deal with the defense that's going to be better, not great, but good enough to keep it in every game. I think they were annoyed that one of the top corners didn't fall to them, um that they seemed like

a rock solid um target for a cornerback. But I think dan Quinn has been put in a better position than last year's coordinator Mike Nolan, because they went all defense in this draft, and I think Parsons is you know, I'm a little concerned that, um, you know the reports that he is starting riots and lunch rooms or whatever that was. But maybe you need a guy that can

start arriving on this defense. I mean they dan Quinn has a chance to be because I think sometimes you get these head coaches that you know that burns out, but you put them back in the coordinator spot and they are that much more valuable for the experience they've had. Dan Quinn is a chance to be like coordinator of the year. And I like dan Quinn a lot, so maybe I overthink it, but like this could be a much better defense. Yeah. And by the way, when White

says Alice Cowboys. It doesn't mean like Alice the woman's name. He's not saying that it's Alice A L L A s. That's I just literally that very clear, uh to the audience, Like Alice. Cowboys still could take off as a brands. I mean, I feel like Eagles fans are already you know, um yeah, No. I think with the Cowboys it does come down to the defense, doesn't because they're gonna score a lot of points, especially, but will they like that

here's the the will. But but the one thing we made a mistake with the Lions last year is we were like, oh, that's six games before Matthew Stafford got hurt. They were like, you know, third in the league, and they're gonna be awesome. Now coming back with the same guys, I do think we should slow expectations a little that they were these insane numbers when their defense couldn't do

anything for six games. But now you have Dak Pressitt coming off in a cl and just things change year to year, Like their defense needs to be a lot better because I don't know if they can expect their offense to be that game. You don't think they're offense I'm not sure what your point was that, like expecting the top three offense is expecting too much a guy coming off with torn a cd L. The New York Giants, Big Blue, they were smart, they made some smart moves.

They have Gentleman, all right, they have Gentleman, and just when you think he's out, he does something that you feel like you might buy him more time. Uh. This time it was trade back in a wise manner according to all the people that uh seemed to know these things and set themselves up for a couple of years with draft picks um and then they go and of course they had Cadarius Tony in the first round. That's

a wide receiver with a lot of upside. Kenny Golladay got the got the bag in free agency, se Kwon Barkley's back. That's all good, it's all good. And it's like Daniel Jones, this is it, he's about to take off. But this offensive line, UH, we've talked about on the show bad, very bad last year. And Dave Gentleman, when he was questioned about why they didn't really focus on it at all in the draft, he said, well, it

wasn't there for us. We didn't like the players, which is all fine and good, but now you just got to hope all these guys you drafted last year, it didn't play a lick uh in are much better? Are the Giants still highly vulnerable on offense because they got a fumble prone quarterback that doesn't have anybody could block. Absolutely. I mean they're trusting their evaluations because they you know, took Andrew Thomas over these other three tackles who ended

up being awesome last year. He's the key to their team. And Matt Pert, who was their right tackle. They they're bringing back Nate Soldier to maybe be the swink tackle was their third round pick. That that's probably the key to their team. Because I like the defense, like I like the weapons. I think the weapons are enough for Daniel Jones. Like we we talked a lot about Patrick Graham last year doing a lot with the parts he had. He's got more parts on defense this year. So I know,

I know you're your Angland for this team. Wise, you've got a little Giants fever. I really like. And the main reason why I like what they did and that you'll love this, Rosie being a Patriots fan, is that they didn't make a lot of the dumb mistakes right while they were kind of working through some of the things you had to work through, including a fumble prone quarterback. They weren't a team that may a lot of penalty.

They weren't a team other than the fumbles, that turned the ball over a lot or did things to put their team in a bad situation. They just didn't have the ability to put points on the board last year. And that's that's gonna help. Say Kwan comes back and stays healthy and some of the other pieces that they got.

I mean, this is all on Daniel Jones. So now if he comes back and he plays fairly well, cuts down on the mistakes, this is enough of a fundamentally solid team, since solid has been the word to your that again can compete in this division, that are the

master class of mediocrity. Yeah, I mean, and I would say also that you know you're dealing with the New York media, Daniel Jones is not you know, there aren't gonna be kid gloves at this point, because the whole narrative is Daniel Jones is being put up, put in a place to succeed as well as unless any quarterback in the league with the weapons they've added, and if it's if you're four weeks into the campaign and everyone looks solid, but Daniel Jones is you know, protective or

not fumbling the ball left and right? Um that you know, the tabloid's gonna go utterly nuts. And so it will be entertaining one way. Steve over under Giants wins eight and a half, taking you over, my friend, there we go, might win the division. Alright, NFCS down, we moved to the NFC North, and let's start with the Detroit Lion. Where else would we start? It's the centerpiece of America, Detroit. What I think this is where this is like where

America was born. Steel It's like, I don't know, there's it's hard to get the Lions. Jared Goff said they had the best offensive line in the league. Um this weekend, I thought, you know what, he might not be far off if Pine Sewell is that good. Taylor Decker a guy you trust at left tackle, a pro bowler. They just signed in ragg now at center, and you got Jonah Jackson, a recent high pick at one of the

two guard spots. Like, I don't know what else the Lions got, but they got a good offensive line, and that's like a start that that is where the Dan Campbell era starts. Otherwise, like I have no idea what I'm going to see out of this team. Makes makes sense too because they don't know who their quarterback of the future it is. They know their future at wide receiver uh, and running back is probably not in the building right now. Carry on. Johnson just got the boot,

by the way, but they have the foundation. Everything is built in the trenches, and they feel like they have an offensive line and then they can build off that that. There's logic again to what the Detroit lines are doing in terms of rebuild. Even if if you set it over under for wins for the lines, I would put it around four. Uh. It's not gonna be a great season,

but maybe they're on the right track here. I don't like this though, Jared Goff, Yes, you have an offensive line, but your targets are Bristad Perriman, Tyrolle Williams, Calif Raymond Quintez ce Fast and rookie Alman Ross st Brown, who probably gonna get a ton of plane time. I just you know this is a team I'm not going to get open. Well, this is one exactly. This is one of those teams that passed on justin fields and it's like you're gonna be viewed um on how how he

seeds in your own division. And so it's like I love making a nice offensive line, but uh, you may be passed over a totally psychotically awesome quarterbacks. So we'll see. Yeah, look, this is how Dan Campbell builds it. I mean you look at what the Saints did that guard to guard all those years they built guard to guard. Now they

had Pennay Sewell, and here's a little nugget. They liked him enough to to contemplate moving up to four with Atlanta to get him because they thought that Cincinnati might take him at five. So Panay Sewell when they were they were able to fall to him. That's why you saw those guys doing all the hugging that they did when they got Penay school. So it is all you know, Dan Campbell now he's got the kneecap fighters right, So

that's how they want to establish it. And then who knows next offseason, if DeShawn Watson becomes available, if some of those guys become available, that can be a quick fix. If you've got some of the pieces. So again, this is a rebuild. No one's expecting them to win the division, even if Jordan's loves a starting quarterback for the Packers. But they've clearly shown their hand as to how they want to build this team. Tough guys, inside out and guys.

It's a formula that's worked for a lot of teams. But you got to have a quarterback to be able to do it. It didn't feel like a new day thought like the Brad Homes feels organized like six or seven other defensive starters. I don't know who it's gonna be, and we don't know who Aaron Glenn is going to be as their coordinator. It's like wide open. Their staff is good. Their staff is very very good. Up next

the Chicago Bears, Mark seton. Remember I got on that Lion's bandwagon last year and the thing fell off the highway. But one year, two early. Anyways, the Bears, how about this the days of killing Ryan Pace, which I have, you know, done essentially every episode going back for two or three years. I think they're over because I give the Bears, um, I feel so differently about them now. They tried for Russell Wilson that didn't work out. They then you know, listen, they are the team that went

and make a move for Justin Fields. And that started with Matt and Agy having a conversation with Ryan Day, Ohio state coach a year ago where Day said this is a generation old talent and that's where the Nuggets started in Ryan Pace right right right, Mattnegy said, I'm in, I'm in on this. So I just wonder, though, here's my question. A week or you know, these guys, their butts were on fire a week ago, and it's like they were playing for their jobs and you thought maybe

the whole thing gets swept out. At this point, their butts are much cooler. They have bought new life with this quarterback pick. Do you think though, that Matt nig after all we've seen and Ryan Pace are the right guys to continue what they're doing or or is this

just preventing the inevitable year into Justin Field's career. You know he's out, all right, Let me let me say this, all right, Let's see this new quarterback on the field, and I'll have a better idea of this entire regime because we knew the Trabsky move was disastrous for the franchise, and they're very lucky, extremely fortunate Pace and Naggy to

get another bite at the apple here. Um, I would think if things go sideways this year and fields development isn't where uh people expect it to be, they're out. They might not even make it to week seventeen or week eighteen. But yeah, it Fields is as good as people think he could be. Not only was it a brilliant move to bringe some life back into the organization, and bringing this guy that could be potentially franchise altering it does for job security was a huge move by

both those guys. It was a no brainer all the way around. M Yeah, look, they're they're their butts are still very hot. I mean people people may like they're smile and faces right now, but if it doesn't work, they're out and Justin Field is gonna be playing for a different coordinator head coach next year. And I like what they I'm completely with. Damn. My first thought is they may have bought themselves some time. If Fields comes out, if they're competitive, he does some things with some of

the weapons that he has. I mean, their offensive line is still so so they could not run the ball at all for the past two years. I mean that that part of things has to figure it out. But if they could at least show some signs and may say, okay, we can build are round justin fields. But if it's if it's fits and starts and fits and starts, are they open the season with Andy Dalton? I mean, this isn't the Bears though, that's the problem. It's not Mr

Drobiskie's Bears. Like, yes, you're changing people's lives. Our producer on the TV side, Matt Taitton, he had jumped shipped from the Bears. He's back in now, Like you're bringing people back in, but their offensive line, they're starting a rookie at one side, Germaine Effetti on the other, it's not the same Khalio Mack. It's not the same Achem Hicks. Like, unless those guys are as good as they used to be,

it's not gonna work. You know, you just guarantee that this part of the podcast will be on our network program mat Ting up next the Minnesota Vikings. Man, Well, you know Mike Zimmer and Rick Bielmant guys, they've they've

gone and done it. They've drafted a quarterback and Kellen Mond, even though he's a third round pick, it is gonna take those three consecutive you know where they're coming below two hundred yard passing games by Kirk, Where they where they go one and two before the fan base is Playmont, Playmond, they're not. You know, look who knows if min is gonna get ready. He's got a completely different skill set

than Kirk Cousins. But they have introduced themselves into the quarterback controversy world, and it is about time because Kirk Cousins, you know, he's gonna show up every day. You know, some weeks he's gonna bring you a junk mail and some days he's gonna bring you a nice STIMMI check. Okay, but it's this is a team that is so reliant on Dalvin Cook as well. Now I like some of the things they did to enhance their offensive line. Okay, they've they've done some things to get better on the

offensive line, which they had to do. Their defense is gonna be better. Remember last year they were just destimated by injuries. You get Anthony Barr and Daniel Hunter back. I think Patrick Peterson still got some game left there once mocking that free signing. I think he's got some game left to come out help. So I think the

Vikings are going to contend for the division. M Okay, even with those three consecutive minus two yard passing games and Kirk Cousins, because they've got Dalvin Cook, and even though there's gonna be whispers of play Kellen Mond, especially if he has a good preseason, the Vikings are gonna hold firm on Kirk and they are going to challenge for the division. I'm with you. I like that. I think that Daris saw Wyatt Davis is of the two linemen. And here's the thing, this is why I would be

stupid to put in the rookie uh If Cousins. And when when Cousins goes into one of those three week funks, he always comes out of it and then for the next five weeks he's in like the top three in the league and passer rating, and he's got an absurd touchdown to interception ratio. That's just the Kirk Cousins experience. So bailing on him when he goes into a slump is just costing yourself down the line. I would worry about this though, in terms of you know, Monds becoming

like Mr Excitement. You still have to pay Kirk Cousins thirty five million guaranteed next season, so you know, he's untradeable um lets, you know, unless the team is completely out of their minds and so you're you're the controversy will wage on. It's not easy to get rid of Kirk Cousins for for next season. So nuts. But he's not like an albatross like some other quarterbacks either. He's I mean, he's streaky. It's weird because you think of

him as this like steady, boring guy. No, he is either on fire, like in a good way, or he's you know, like you know, lighting your playbook on fire. They need those rookies though, on the offensive line to like play well, everyone always like slots in. Okay, well we we signed two good rookies, you know, and you know we drafted one in the first round. That solves that. It's like, no, half the time, it's gonna be a disaster.

It's like a bigger problem. It's like starting it's on your radar, right like it just say so, you're right, there's always the aception. Oh we fixed their offensive one. Well, all right, the Green Bay Packers. You alright, So Aaron Rodgers obviously in the conversation top ten quarterback all time, coming off a year in which you want m v P for the third time, he's furious. He's filled with

venom and vengeance. That's venom. Jin's so perhaps, knowing the man and how spiteful he is, and nobody knows him more than the Packers internally, perhaps this is the time. Yeah, he's the Claire vengeance. Perhaps this is the time to trade a thirty seven year old quarterback before he goes and retires on you. Um, And I know it's it takes you completely out of contention in one and all that and maybe for next couple of years. But maybe if you truly know the situation, this is the right move.

Anybody agree with me? What is the right move trading? Um? If he if he's telling you, and he's telling all free agents don't come back, I'm leaving, and he's telling you face to face, I'm never playing for you for you again, maybe you should listen to reset your franchise. I guess my point would be, unless you're getting established players back right now, let him rot for a year because you're only getting drafts. The draft picks are I'm

not buying that he's gonna be out. We're already seeing a little bit of um hedging that this is a solution that could be fixed by former teammates on our network, James Jones, you know John Quin talking on the radio. So if they think it can be fixed, I think it can be fixed. And if you're only getting draft picks, those draft picks are the exact same getting him next April or next February as they are right now, So

you might as well just wait and see. Well, here's the thing, Greg, I mean to your point though, if you're going to trade and go ahead and trade him before the season, because you drafted Jordan's Love in the first round, He's going to play at some point. So if you're gonna trade him, move him. I don't think the Packers are going to trade him. I think it's you played for us, or you play for No One.

Go host Jeopardy or soul Train, whatever it may be that tickles your fancy, but you are not going to play for anyone else. If it's not us. You still get Jordan's Love reps for the year. You still have the tough, tough shoes. This is like he's got to play anywhere. I get it, But it's kind of a no win, like you're taking over for the m v P the But you can spin it saying he's the one who sat out Packers Nation. We didn't trade him, we didn't dump him. He's the one who wanted to

go sit in the sandbox. So that's the way they have to spend it, because there's no way they're gonna win this battle, especially after the same circus that happened with Brett Farve seems to be to some degree playing out again. I would be concerned about the Jordan Love angle though, I mean all whispers and reports out of Green Bay wasn't even the backup last year that he just didn't develop and they knew, you know, coming out of Utah State that he was going to have to

take time. Um, but still there's no evidence. There's like, oh, he's blowing up in practice and he's like Colin Kaepernick versu. Alex Smith type situation. It's like, who is this guy? Is he the starter? Can you do it? Isn't mattle withth floor supposed to be a quarterback whisper so much of this stuff. You're these guys are getting high outer whisper into. Go on, Steve, let's just continue the Roger's conversation.

I'm pulling a t o. Go ahead. No, these guys are getting hired because they're they're the offensive gurus, right, and they can't develop a quarterback who you took in the first round. Sounds to me like this quarterback whisperer's kind of like a quarterback mumbler. I'm tired. I'm tired of sitting You're saying that guys fired today. No, I mean this is this has been a this has been

you know, in my crow for a while. When all these quarters, all these quoaches are getting paid big money, they're they're leap frogging other candidates, deserving candidates, because they're great play callers and plates, great play schemers, and they can't develop a guy you draft in the first round. Always on the quarterback, totally right. But I think part of the issue is that I don't think Matt Laflor wanted to move up to draft Jordan Love and he

feels a little powerless in this situation. You know what, everybody's got to grow up a little bit. Everybody's gotta put on their big boy pants. You know. Aaron Rodgers has got to live with the situation or retire or whatever. Just grow up. If you're still upset that Jordan loves in the building and you're a head coach Matt with floor, deal with it. That's just the reality, and don't be afraid of it and embrace trying to grow him into

a star. That going back to my original point, Greg was that if this is really the way this thing is turning out, and you and this is not about money, and and maybe maybe not Mrs Miller, my social studies teacher in eighth grade, said money makes the world go around. It's what everything's about. And if this is actually, deep down just about Aaron Rodgers getting a raise, pay the man.

But if you've sensed that this is actually something else, something about his personality and a sense of betrayal and all this ugliness, it's starting to make the Brett Farve situation look pleasant in comparison. Cut your losses and set your franchise up for ten years. Yeah, my point, my thing would be that just do that next year, because what you don't want is Aaron Rodgers blazing through the a f C playoffs, especially when you're not getting anything back.

I presume that is gonna help you this year. Now if you're telling me, by the way, yeah, I'm saying, if it's not just draft picks, if someone is willing to trade you, you know, Bradley Chubb and Courtland Sutton from Denver or Vegas is willing to trade you, like all, they're good players. I just don't see that happening. I see this as as a retirement for a year and he comes back, or and then then there's a trade, or he's just gonna come back, which feels a lot

more likely. I mean, it's not easy time to be Brian Goodencost because it's like you're the person who's attached to all this chaos and yeah, you know what, trade him at some point, whether it's this year or next. Then you've got this quarterback sitting there Jordan loved would better be really good or the place is going to

be set on fire. It's you know, some storms of hit the shores of Germany's favorite general manager, and Bob McGinn of The Athletic reported that Rogers has mocked Douda Kunst in group text messages with teammates referring to Gouda Kunst as Jerry Krauss. And by the way, it's Jerry krous Um. First of all, one of the most successful

gems of all time. He was one of the most successful gems of all time because of Michael Jordan's and yes, everybody knows the ESPN doc uh and learned about the Jerry Krause power struggle within the Chicago Bulls in the nineties. But the great lad Chris Wesling once recommended a book to me that I just finishing right now, Playing for Keeps, David Halbert stand On. That really gives you an idea of what was going on in Chicago. And Jerry Krouse and rest rest in Peace was a man that had

a lot of demons and a lot of insecurities. So if you know the true story of Jerry Krass, it's one of the worst things you could call somebody, because you know Krause's he deserved it. If goodakuts can get six rings in the Hall of Fame. But here's the thing also about Krouse, like Kraus was very maybe this is the way it is behind the scenes in Green Bay, but Kraus was. It was a big thing that he was always trying to take credit. The sense of Brian

Goodacuts is doing that also. I don't know, maybe it is, but what I haven't want anything I do. I do sense that Mark Murphy uh is a really important figure here. He's he's the essentially the CEO and president. And he was right there saying goodbye to Brett farve H fifteen years ago too, so he's he's been through this before. And they drafted Jordan's Love with the intent to say bye bye Aaron Rodgers. It just you know, you didn't see that m v P coming. All right, let's head

to the NFC South Greg the New Orleans States. This team is not as deep as it used to be. I think their first round pick was surprising because they had so many holes on the roster. Instead, you're putting like Cam Jordans on. Notice that that's how I took that Peyton Turner pick, because they didn't take any cornerbacks or wide receivers. High really thin at those positions. Their linebacker used to be kind of deep. Now it's to Mario Davis and nothing else. I think very quietly the

depth of this team. You look at their two and three receivers, are you know Trae Kwan, Sith Smith and Marcus Callaway has been eroded. So it's not just about the quarterback. It was about what happened when they couldn't spend any money in free agency. I found this draft strange and I just don't see them as such a built stacked team for Jamis Winston to take over, because I mean there are scouts calling Patent Turner lowering expectations

for his head. Though this is not as good a roster as it was, it's got some goals, no, I just I mean I think that you know, they're probably annoyed that people were annoyed by their draft. But someone called Peyton Turner, a scout called them a severe reach. A lot of people like their second round pick more than the first round pick in terms of where who they got. Just like I I think that they hit

the wall that you're I think you're right, Greg. I mean we saw the Paths get in trouble with that too. I mean, you can there's only so much you can do, and they you know, you're losing guys like Trey Hendrickson. Uh, you know, Breezes out the building. And to me, I mean, Jamis Winston is is an idea, um, but it's like, oh, we're gonna get this version of Jamis Winston minus the mistakes because Sean Payton is the coach tb D. That's just no guarantee of that, absolutely TVD. And and I'm

went to Greg and Cam Jordan's not un noticed. Marcus Davenports on notice. I mean they gave him a guaranteed contract for next year, they picked up his option, They picked up his option, that's all he did. So I mean he's being put on notice. Plus you lose Trey Hendrickson in that defense, you've got to have someone who can rush rush the pastor it's usually you know, rotational, especially in this division when you got some of the quarterbacks. I mean, look out for Sam Donald, but it's the

roster that they're putting a lot on Jamis. I mean they really are. We'll see. I think this is one of those things. They'll never say it out loud, but organizations do this. If we have to take a year to reset things, this is the year to do it. And I think the Saints are saying this is our reset year to get the cap right to try to stay competitive, but to try to figure out who we are for the future. And if we win now, fine and dandy. That makes a lot of sense. I like

where you're coming from on that. And I also wonder because I've kept waiting all throughout this offseason for Sean Payton to pull a rabbit out of the hat and really bring in like a big time successor to Drew Brees. And see this is kind of a smoke screen, the Winston Taysom Hill thing. It hasn't happened. And perhaps it's not. Or like what Steve saying, We're gonna see what we got here with these two guys. Maybe it all connects and and we we have something big that comes out

of it. Or maybe next year Deshaun Watson's on the Saints, you know, like Us Wilson or Russell Wilson or somebody else. Maybe there is a big move coming, just not this year. That makes sense because and I think when I'm talking about the rafter falling, you know, down a lot, it's like, who is starting a cornerback on this scene. I can't figure you are, Yeah, like they they are, there are spots here. Who's starting at tight end Adam Troutman like

Christian shar is gonna coach up that secondary. My friend, he's back the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mark Sister, I would just look at like, how incredible this team was down the at the points they put up over their final eight games twenty six points thirty one, thirty one, thirty thirty one thirty one Byron Leftwich is like, can we have a little more credit for this guy? I feel like he's completely not mentioned enough for what

he's done. I have a two part question, though, do you think just because everyone's come back the way that offenses work in the NFL, um assuming that Brady stays Brady, that they just pick up where they left off on offense and do their old you know, dropping forty on the reg um from week one through week eighteen next year? Or is or? Is? Or? Is that just simply not that easy? And secondly, is there a like who actually in the NFC if Rogers were ever to not be

on the Packers to challenge this team? What team stands out is anyone that's gonna get in their way? I as a journalism school graduate, Mark, you usually you do the double question thing a lot, which they say, don't do that because they're usually just gonna pick one of your questions. Well, I didn't go to journalism school, so you know, miss that less and also clussy. You're asking three people, so do you want us each to answer both parts of the question, answer it as you wish,

or to orients or none of it. I think the offense does pick up where it left off. I don't know if they can keep it going the whole season, but I think a lot of times the Patriots would come out of those defending championship in September, they would just like they would roll. And I don't see any reason not to uh for this team, keeping that motivation, keeping that level of play through eight team, it's gonna

be a different season. I'm not counting on their defense being as good as it was because this was a defensive team as good as the offense was. At the very end, this was a defensive team. And remember those points we scored because the defense has given them short fields. I mean they were getting takeaways, taking away possessions and then really put in a position where left in areas should call a great place. You know, I don't like the fact of not changing. I think every team in

the NFL is different than the NBA. Right the Spurs can up they're starting five and real off four or five, you know, straight championships just because of nature of the

game and great coaching and things like that. But in the NFL, I think you have got to change parts every now and then, because if you hit a slump, guys can get sour, or if you start rolling, guys can be like, okay, we got this, or we can turn it on and you may meet that bus all one week who you just can't beat, because, as we know, in the NFL, game of matchups and so I don't I like the fact of bringing everyone back during an

imposing team, there's a lot of mouth to feed. Though on offense, if ever, there was a lot of more type of team this is. It presents though like quell, like what could be turmoil and with a different type of quarterback. I think you're a student of the game,

Steve student. Do you remember a defending champion ever going this all in and bringing back the same team But you never, But you mean most offending champions and have quarterbacks who took less to make sure it happens, you right, right, do what happens the Atlanta Falcons' Steve and you know the expectations here are completely unknown. Um. You know, look, they clearly committed to Matt Ryan by not going for a quarterback, even to the point where they signed Asian

McCarron's his backup going into the draft. So this is Matt Ryan's team for this year. He has got weapons they drafted to interior offensive lineman who could who are plugging play type of guys? Now can they coach them up to protect Matt Ryan who has been sacked like crazy over the past three years and his tenure with with their cutters is oct who's no longer. They're higher interceptions, higher sack rate. Just by whatever is going on right there,

getting Kyle Pitts's tight end, that's gonna help. The big question is the Julio Jones factor, because we just talked about Aaron Rodgers possibly getting moved. This is real, Okay, this is very real that Julio Jones could get moved before training camp because there is busted right and they figure he's the one high salary guy that teams are calling about. They can't take back salary so they can

get future picks seconds. You know, people thinking gotta get too for he's thirty two and he's been nicked up. His trade value will never be higher than it will be before going into training camp. So they are gonna listen. So if you don't have Julio Jones, Matt Ryan's a different quarterback even with Kyle Pitts when he doesn't have Julio Jones and his defense. Yeah, they drafted some players, but they still have a ways to go, especially changing

defensive fronts. Um who knows the Atlanta Falcons guy. I mean, this is a total toss up the type of team I think maybe they can they can win six games, they can win you know, ten or eleven. You just don't know. These guys are super tired of me bringing this up. But I mean they have like twenty four less players than other teams in the NFL, and there's six undrafted free agents. So that that But that's the Jones point. It's not like we want to move Julio

Jones because of his age or his or abilities. Like we've got to find a way to create cap space. And I just wonder though I know they'll be a taker, but is Julio Jones right now? Someone that another team? I mean, the wide receivers have been drafted like teams have fulfilled those needs. Who's going to come after Julio Jones and give a ton away? I think that's tricky. Like the Raiders. The Raiders, they'll put them at the top of the list. Raiders first round pick next year

for Julio. I don't know up a first rounder. I mean, if you don't get a first then what are we doing here? Life is two shorts. Just to see Julio Jones and Kyle Picks together? I get it. But for a second round pick, you can always move money around like ten teams that can fashion themselves contenders that would see Julio Jones is a guy that could put them over the top. Most the new got a second. You're gonna send out Julio Jones for a second? That's disrespect.

Who do you get that second? From? There? Greg? At some chumps in the in box ground it was a bad idea. Just put them together. Who cares? D and p S will save this defense there? Getting rid of quick might be an upgrade. I mean, let's a little bit right now, what's going up the same. Let's see them together. Oh I want to call time out. I'm gonna use the second time. Remember we never go into the tunnel without using our time out, and I'm not using the third. You can throw that out there, Steve,

you got a gig with the Falcons. Congratulations on that, your bank contributor on their website, all sorts of content and without getting too personal, how much are they paying you? You just got two personal I'm not gonna I'll put it this way where I'm not gonna bust their salary gap. Yeah, no, no, I mean the cool part is I'm gonna help. I'm gonna do the mina times to be in the in the preseason booth. I mean that's how this all star. That's fine, that's awesome. Yeah, that's how it all started.

Something I really wanted to do. And so I'm gonna be in the booth with Core Wire and DJ Show with two guys that covered when they were with the Falcons, and so yeah, I'm gonna I'm gonna give that a whirl, and and everything else just kind of expanded off of that. So all right, we'll start watching your A J. McCain tape because you're gonna be seeing a lot. I cannot wait. If you're worried. Yeah, the reason why the Falcons are in such salary cap hell is that Weiss contract they

took out. Are they going to send you to the preseason games? Is that the plan? Like where with the COVID preseason landscape? Here, Hey, guys, I'll give you a tip and you guys will appreciate this. Since we're in time out, I'm getting paid more than all of us are getting paid for our podcast. Time out doesn't mean that it's not gonna air, Steve. It still will be on the podcast. But I okay, it's all good, Steve.

I have a mortgage now, but we'll talk off Mike. Wait, Steve, does this mean that you would um potentially relocate to Atlanta down the road if this if this assignment became bigger and bigger, because you are you know you got Atlanta roots that part of the Nope, Nope, love lay Man. I'm good here. I have friends and I'm only loving Atlanta. But I am here and only three preseason games, right, we're not waiting to bring out the three preseason game season.

That's now, let's do it. So many good thing is and the good thing is it's not a team that I really cover, so like when we get to the regular season and stuff, it's not like I'm I'm like on the home team. If I were to cover Falcons game, because the NFL network requires the Falcons to like be in contention for twelve before they start covering them. It's like they're just don't Lenc south Man. You know, so many of us are Los Angeles transplants, but few have

done it better than Steve. Steve is a guy that fits right, all right, let us move on time in Carolina Panthers. Okay, Sam Donald, let's see where he's at now. Okay, Matt Rule. So he's paired with the competent, respected offense of mine. That's an upgrade over you know who. He's playing now with one of the great running backs for the last decade and CMC hopefully McCaffrey's healthy. He's got an old friend and Robbie Anderson, who they made some

real nice music together in New York. D J. Moore like a sneaky kind of rising start wide receiver, second round pick L s U wid White out charts. Marshall Jr. Is the Donald Hive. Fractured, isn't it Maybe now that he's been traded, but I still look route for the guy about to be proven right on Sam or will we remember this as another poor investment at QB by the Carolina Panthers. My guess it will be somewhere in the middle where each hive member like stakes their ground

and doesn't move off of it. That he gives you enough that of course it's going to be better. So like you with Teddy Bridgewater basically exactly like let's say they have the nineteenth ranked passing game d v O A, like the Panthers did a year ago. Let's say it's about the same as with Teddy. People will defend Donald because it'll be a lot better than we've ever seen him. And I do worry about the protection there. They didn't

go get a left tackle. Really, the the entire offensive line looks like a question and they're they're not super deep. If at wide receiver, if Marshall Uh, the rookie doesn't pan out. So I mean, it sounds a lot of challenge of New York Giants situation with Daniel Jones. I mean, if we don't get the version of Sam Donald that everyone's been crowing about for three years here. Uh, then we know what he is. But you know, I don't

excuse all his negative plays with the Jets. Um, I understand him was a terrible situation too, but I mean, this is a place to fly. And don't forget Chubba Hubbard and running back that you drafted one of the best names in the draft. No, look, I I think I think Donald's gonna do. Okay, I mean, I look, we what what did we just talk about with the Saints? Who's playing corner? Right? Falcon's what's their their corners are?

He is not coming into a buzz off of defenses like he had facing Buffalo, facing Miami and to some degree facing the Patriots. He's got an opportunity here. Okay, so that's part of it. Now. He just has to show the acumen to learn an offense. And Teddy Bridgewater played well in for a while. He's just got to take some of the opportunities should they surface. That's the one thing Teddy has been, you know, kind of a

verse two in his career. And Christy having Christian McCaffrey back, healthy guys that would help him and the defense could be good. They've gotten really young, like their front four on paper. I think Gross Motto slipped under the radar as a player when he was healthy, was really good last year. Derek Brown, you know, Shack Thompson like they Now you add the Jacy Horn like it's a fun looking defense. Now. I watched Donald every start, every snap

Donald played. He needs to be rebuilt mechanics wise. I mean, it's not just that he was in a bad situation. He fell into bad habits and had bad coaching. Let's see that rule stuff up here. I'd love to see it, but just don't be two great all right? The NFC West they close out with starting with the San Francisco Bourda Niners. Broad You know, we all breathe the Syra leaf. At least I did. Just that they drafted Tree Lance

because I want to watch this team. You look at the young players in almost every position group except for maybe the secondary offensive line, and it's as good as any team I think in the league. Are we back to the point now after what happened last year with all the injuries, that we see the forty Niners as set up as well as any NFL team to contend for titles over the next three or four years. Are we there? Yeah? I think I told you, you know, a while back, I saw them as like a looming

dynasty in the making. And look at even last year I'd point to some of their performances with all those injuries. There, go watch the two games against the Rams. They took care of business. I mean, they're they're good inside their own division. They've got the best play caller in football. I think for me, it's Trey Lance, who is sort of an outlier in the amount of college production and work that he had versus some of these other guys. I mean, he wasn't use the way that some quarterbacks were,

and I think he's a fascinating prospect. But it's it will be, you know, interesting to see how quickly he develops or if he pays well. They're gonna have to develop him though, because Jimmy g is not durable. I mean, he has played, he has had thirty played in thirty games in four seasons with the Niners. That's why they had to go get a quarterback for the future. But also in case Jimmy goes down because to Jimmy's credit, well he's not there. They lose, right, so he is

a good quarterback. But they've got to get Trey Lance already in that regard. But otherwise they're they're solid. I mean they've got there there. I'm with you when I say solid. They're they're set to rip off super Bowls. They're talking about Tamiko Ryan's is going to be a pretty seamless transition as d C. We know Boss is coming back. You know some of those injured players are coming back. Um, if they can get a tackle d tackle from last year to step up, that defense is

gonna be okay. They've just got to get their offense together and they've got to stay healthy. I mean, this is Shanahan has one winning season air and uh now you have an addition to Garoppolo, you have this fallback um plan within the season and Slash he's the future potentially and Trey Lance. So one of those guys whoever's on the field. If Shanahan's as good as as everyone says,

he should be a functional passer or potentially dynamic. And then you look at both sides of the ball, there's so many great players and they were so killed by injuries last year. Even beyond Garoppolo, I have them at number nine uh in the Power rankings. So to me, they're a top ten team even coming off the six and ten of last year, just because of the potential. It's just it's all there now. They just gotta do it. I think a lot of people would probably have him

even higher. I don't even know, like just in terms of talent. They do have some little areas interior offensive line. They don't really have a third receiver right now, which is surprising because Kyle Shannon is usually all about that. Their secondary has been turned over and it's a tough division. That's the thing that would worry me if I'm they lose a lots of the Cardinals who and so that's that's been a matchup problem, and then you've got a

really good division to try to get there. Four three two the Arizona Cardinals with marks. Alright, I have a four part question. Alright, I don't um, but our friend Jason zumwal Okay of Masters Over Artist, a super Cardinals fan, he sent in the question We're I'm gonna ask you. All of this work on the defense is great, he says, getting more physical on both sides of the line is great. But if defenses only need to contain Kyler and back down his passes, which is essentially what happened the last

seven games of last year. The question needs to be asked, is this offense just too short height wise? Andy Isabella, Christian Kirk. Now they've taken a five seven wide receiver and of course Kyler himself. Is this basically going to be Pop Warner versus pros? What am I missing here? Zamwald asked, dk metcalf was on the board and we grabbed Isabella. Higher graded and higher stature wide receivers were on the board and we took n Deal Moore. What are we doing here like this? I just like it's

like the old playground rules. The bigger kids are gonna dominate, the smaller kids are gonna have trouble. Now you also got a factor in Kyler Murray's helmet, which is four ft tall, so that gets into an average height. These all the things you talked about. But when you mention all those receivers, they just can't draft wide receivers. I mean that will remember they drafted three wideouts. You know,

two of them don't play in. Isabella is just a spot player, So that's why they go out and they signed They trade for de Hop and they signed Reggie Wayne, so you know, and they're not too short. Green has a better time in a New England. Right, So no but a J. Green. But it's Kyler Murray's not too short. What they were doing was a lot of college stuff. Who got Kyler Murray's butt kicked and that's why he

had the shoulder and she was never the same after that. Defensively, they started to come on last year that had a ton of injuries. Look at you, they're gonna have Chandler Jones back. Marcus Golden on you know, you talked about a guy who's not talked about enough as a pass rusher. I think J. J. Watt Well, at least by reputation, create a lot of attention to those guys can get free. So I think defensively they're gonna be better to figure out what do I say A Simmons. But here's something

to look at. You know, earlier Greg was talking about the Bears, you know, leadership having hot buds. There's some warm butts down in Arizona. Lift Kingsbury and Steve Kim are not coming into the season, uh with a free pass. I haven't told that the way that they finished last year and the fact that even though they won three more games with they finished did not sit well. That's right. So so we'll see, um, you know, in the toughest division in football, top to bottom, you know how things

play out. Greg, we have been hawking about that. I've been saying, I feel like this is he's gonna be high on the hot butt rankings. When when they come out for us on August and you pointed out they have made progress, hasn't been like the progress isn't really the progress necessarily that it impresses you. Now they also have Malcolm Butler, Robert Alfred and Byron Murphy as their top three cornerback. They're gonna be targeting. That's not bad.

Bro Alfred's played like two games in two years. They know he's in Atlantic A J Green six four by one months of yess. Hell up next the Los Angeles Rams, Steve Watch and they're probably gonna be coming in and I'm assuming in the top four of Dan Handess group because the Matthew Stafford trade. And this is now, okay, Sean McVeigh, if you are that dude seven who okay, Okay, you're that dude, and you can stretch the field. Okay, we went on, got you too, Sean Jackson stretched the

field with him. We've got great underneath receivers. We've got some talented running back with with Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson. The offense of line, how good is it? I mean, you're really managing a lot of guys up there. They feel that they can do something. Aaron Krohmer is gone. They have taken so many hits to great coaches on their staff. Now I overhearm Morris replaces Brandon Staley, but losing rby Pleasant, their defensive backs coach to Detroit is

a major hit. Jalen Ramsey will tell you that. So they're great a developing and procuring players, maybe the best team in the NFL. So you may see a lot of names on defense that you don't necessarily recognize. They't coach them up. They are masterful so far doing that. But again, everything is gonna hande on Matthew Stafford how quickly he adapts. And if this offense can be new, I don't want to say it can it can resemble

what they did the Super Bowl years. It has to be different because defenses have caught up right well, and they have to be better than it was a year ago by a lot because the d you can't expect the defense to be where it was. That was a special C sason. They and they and they had Seattle's number, Like that's not gonna repeat in the same way. I just like that that it's being framed as like, well, here's the season we finally learned about Matthew Stafford for

the ninth straight season. Like it's like now it's like a new version of it. Next season, it'll be wow. That was his first season adjusting to Los Angeles. Here's this season we finally find that, Yeah, he's not necessarily great, but like definitely good enough to be on a title content. He's gotta be better than that to be worth I

think the trade. He's got to be like a top five or six type of That would be my question too, because like it's a severe upgrade over Jared Goff and I love that they were bold and daring and just went for it and they got it done. But Matthew Stafford a lot of things to like, But is he being a little overrated here that they're just gonna plug him into this offense and the Rams are a super Bowl team. I'm fascinated to see it. I don't know, I really don't know. I'm excited to see him in

a new place. Yeah, I think so. They went to the Super Bowl. Jared Goff a young Jared Goff who a young jear golf that year. It is not as good as Matthew Stafford in an average year. And you guys can battle me with that, but I'll give you that. I think people have now almost underrated golf. Like I saw someone say like, like, you know, he has no

armed talent or whatever. It's like Jared Goff has had s crazy It was the giveaways that it was completely I think people are so down on golf that it makes it seem like they have a massive upgrade of epic proportions now. But he was never that last one thing I like from Greg though, is this just complete dismissal Jim Bob Cooter's skills. Jim Bob Cooter, he's there. I didn't even know he's there off coordinator. He wasn't does not like Cooter? All right? Um, finally, the Seattle Seahawks.

Did you know that the Seahawks made just three picks in the entire or draft. That that's that's tough. That's a tough one, um And there's only been five teams since nineteen sixty seven that have had that those a few amount of picks. UH their first pick fifty six overall, it was a wide receiver, Dwayne Extridge. And that's good because they were a little they were a little thin after DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. But Russell Wilson came out and was, you know, hawking this offseason. I can't

get hit so much. There was really no true investment in the offensive line that I saw. Is this just setting the stage for more drama around Seattle where the team might not be better, the offensive line might not be better. Wilson's probably not gonna change his game so to keep getting hit, and this time next year there are another you know, they win ten or eleven games, don't go to the super Bowl, and more bad blood bubbles up. M hm, did they get Gabe Jackson? Did

they trade? Did they trade for Gabe Jackson? Yeah? He's on there raft there? Yeah, so, I mean so so they didn't make some avout gave Jackson still a pretty good player, of cards, and you know they've got to get better at guards so they can run the ball. That's what um. You know everything is gonna be set up off the run and they got some pieces. It's just gonna be insing how their new OC Shane Waldron,

it's gonna implement an offense. Now you have every O C slash head coach in this division running the same system. Because Shane Walton comes from McVeigh, right comes every head coach O C is gonna run the same system. So they're gonna be practicing against the same schemes. Nothing is gonna look unfamiliar. So now is when the players, the smart players, are tough players, and the guys who can

execute under duress are really gonna shine. And that's where Russell Wilson gets the nod over any quarterback in this division. But they couldn't figure out the Rams last day. You and I want to talk to some hight truth. There's they're out there in Seattle, or at least in this division. The Rams, i think, believe that Wilson's height was a problem going up against their defensive line, that he could

not like that. They muddied it up enough with their big front line and the forty Niners have a very similar approach, and so does Arizona. That in this division, Murray and Wilson like have to be outside of the pocket sometimes to be able to see over the middle. There there were times last year where you where Wilson did not seem like he knew what was going on. It has been totally overlooked how poorly he played the second half of last season. It was like all blamed

on the offensive line. It was kind of a wild a series of games for Russell Wilson considering the career that he had before that. I mean, DK Metcalf basically said that they had figured out their offense and then so but you have a new offense now, and it's I would just I wonder. I feel like there's so many agitated quarterbacks that it feels like Russell Wilson's agitation was like six months ago. And is that gone? Is that solved? I mean, That's what I'm saying. My whole

point is that's all still right underneath the surface. Is going to be their quarterback? What happens after another potentially disappointed season, They don't well be playing for Sean Payton down in the near is good. Wait, we didn't use the final time out. I'm just gonna use it with one second to go, because uh, well, what are we

going to get? We just ran that, We ran the hurry up offense, we got to the thirty seven yard line, triple zeros on the clock, and now we're going to the locker room with a time out of our back pocket. A bunch of jackasses. I thought we were taking a time out with two seconds left to let the starters run after off the field after two great performances around the a f C and NFC and everyone just cheers for us, and we we basking in the I guess

you could just do that after the game. I mean, if it s nothing, do we need to be taking a time out? And I don't think so. Now that's a fair point. I thought Mark's point was was well served. We're getting more like the NBA here at the NFL, and next season it could be Rogers, Wilson, Watson, who knows who else could be up for in this podcast plum X by the Clock. Yeah, Steve, you've said it all. I'm sorry about asking about your salary with the Falcons.

That was out of bounds. And untoward. But I was just curious and I thought, maybe, no, you like the fact that I said, and I'll say it once again, I'm making more than we all make on our podcasts, which if you're making one dollar, is true. So Steve, Steve is smart, he's you know, he does everything here at the NFL. Now it's time to branch out and do some other things too. It's all about the side hustle,

you know. I like Steve Wise, Like I imagine we haven't been to Steve's house yet, wonder where that invites spen, But like I imagine Steve has one of those really nice southern California backyards where he's got the outdoor kitchen set up and he's like a grill maestro. And maybe there's like an outdoor grilling show and like the Home Network with Steve and his wonderful wife and all the kids. And it's just like, I don't know, just something, something

else to think about as we continue to diversify. Um, what you're about, guys, I'm fifty five, man, I am about the age out of this business. If if not voluntearily, people get you gotta get gone. So I've got to figure something out here. I saw that house once because he drove me home from a RAMS game. I wasn't invited, and then I called an uber from there. But it's a nice house, had a nice looking backyard and nice everything.

It was. We talked about getting together as a group, but then you know, it's something called a pandemic struck the country and probably put that on ice for a bit. For some reason, I just had this image of, like, you know the soccer practice where one mom or dad forgets to pick up their kid and then the coach has to drive the kid home and it's really just kind of sad. That was Steve driving Greg back from some RAMS practice. No, no, no, I was being I

was being was being a teammate. Help Rosia. Did he help pay for gas? And I'm assuming I would The answer would be yes, that he pitched in. The answer would be it wasn't asked for Mark. He shouldn't want to do that without asking that Greg. That's manners one off a Hamilton's, and that's it. My version of that was insisting he not drive me back to work, that I can take an uber from his house, but it's

gonna get me. He was ashamed. He was ashamed, like, hey, drop me three blocks from from the office, just so nobody isn't Greig wearing the same thing he wore last night. All right, Steve, thank you so much, buddy, and uh yes, make sure the Huddle and Flow podcast to check that out, give it a listen, Trotter and Steve kill it on that and get amazing guests, um and have really meaningful, interesting fun conversations. Check it out. And the Atlanta Falcons

gig and everything else. Yeah, top of checking out that preseason how about that. I appreciate you guys. All Right, and there we go, after another week of podcasts on the Round the NFL podcast. Hope everybody enjoyed it. We love these shows every year. Uh feel really caught up Friday Network shows back Throround the NFL broadcast. Check that out and then next week and other full week of shows.

So that's it. This is Dan Hanson signing off for a quiet storm the old Boss, Steve Wise, Ricky Hollywood behind the glass for until today to beat the car