Announcer Power Rankings & Coach Openings with Peter Schrager

talk about your beautiful Christmas present. You're wearing Mark a nice Star Trek Star Wars shirt. WHOA, I am getting in trouble there. It's okay. You were the one who it's a millennium Falcon shirt. Um got it from the family, and you were the one that famously claimed to not know what the millennium Falcon was when I had in previous Millennium Falcon shirt show. I don't, I mean, you got as close as I could expect right there, and

I don't. I don't like to like come after you with this stuff, Mark, because it's not your fault that it's such a saturated cultural force, but like, is there a separate type of Twitter where you guys could talk about the Mandalarian, because I don't think I've tweeted about that once, so I don't know if that's what I'm saying.

It's like, it's like Parlor. You guys know about Parlor the new Uh social media would be like that, but for people to talk about the Mandalorian and really any Star Wars stuff, right, it's like, look, um, and I saw your baby, Now let's talk about it now. I saw your comment that you, um, you jumped out of Star Wars after seeing only the Phantom Menace. Can I just let you know that, like, if that was all that I saw, I would never watch another minute of it.

That was not only the most disappointing film from that franchise, I think it is one of the most disappointing films ever made Top five. So you know, if I ever get the invite to your new house and I understand there's some pandemic issues going on right now, I have on more than one occasion, uh laid out the situation

if it interests you. And I said this to Jason Zumalta as well, a Star Wars nerd in his own right, I would definitely sit down and watch, uh these other star wars that you guys are so fond of, because I haven't seen them. And I do have as someone that likes to consider myself somewhat plugged in on pop culture, although it's starting to fade as I get older. I want to have these contexts and these context touchstones, and

I've been making an effort of it recently. If you follow me on social media, I somehow had missed die Hard. I checked I checked out Planes, Trains and Automobiles, one of the big comedy hits of the late eighties. I have some blind spots in the film world, strangely, I don't know why, just the way it was when I was a kid, and I'm trying to fill in those gaps. But sci fi in general has always been something that I've not been into, and that's, I think, more than

any other reason why I haven't got into your realm. Well, I don't like this on ride there outside of those films, and I saw them when I was a child. I think if I saw if all this bum rush of content came at me now, I'd ignore it. So I get where you're where you're coming from. You're working very

hard to work on these blind spots. We're talking about Star Wars again on this show, Um and other Mark Sessler news that came down Officially, Mason Rudolph will start at quarterback for Pittsburgh in Week seventeen against the Browns. Mike Tomlin opts to sit many of his key starters.

It looks like they're they're not locked into their spot in the on the postseason, but they can't get the bye, and after a long season without a without having a natural bye week, they're going to use this for their key guys. Can't blame Tomlin will get into really the flip side of that argument maybe a little bit later on the Thursday show when we preview all the week seventeen. But I just want to check it. Check the temperature of Sessler obviously, uh bitterly disappointing the loss of the

Jets on Sunday. How are you nervous that Mason Rudolph is the picture here right now with the season on the line, potentially? Of course? I mean, where's your pea scale let? It's totally dry, ten soaked, gotta run home to mommy, soaked, running home to mommy. I mean I I I there's nothing about any of this that makes me confident, and I don't want to hear about numbers

and stats and analytics. This is no different than UM coming into this year, a team like Buffalo figuring out how can they could possibly um slay the ghosts of New England. I mean, if you go over to the a f C North, there are a lot of parallels here, and I don't care. It's like Big Ben has been lighting the world on fire. And part of me would rather actually um, as a Browns fan, face their entire

starting lineup and get into the playoffs because you earned it. Um. I think that this is a team that's still doubted by plenty of people, and like people have already forgot the circumstances around the Jets game. Now it's just the Brown's loss to the Jets, which is utter madness. UM. I'm not listening to a word of that. But pea scale raging, pea scale raging. Um, I there's no reason to be comfortable. I do think they'll be prepared, but

I don't. I'm not comfortable. Mason Rudolph's peace scale should be raging. With Myles Garrett coming off a nice game coming around the corner. That's all nice, Mark, I I I would feel the same way that like, it feels weird to go against their backups, and it would be especially heartbreaking if they lose the Steelers backups, which is certainly possible. That said, I like your chance is much

better with Mason Rudolph out there. So ultimately, if I were you, I think that's a good thing, right, And that's yeah, it's just the just the teaser will check in on the peace scale on Thursday. Maybe we'll be a little better off, but I kind of doubt it. We have a big show today. Uh, we will have the great Peter Schrager joining us with black Mondays. That's

known in the NFL. Coming up. That is the day after the regular season when the axe falls on head coaches, and we could, you know, we could try to U sing Dixie and and pretend like something bad is not going to happen on Monday, but coaches will lose their jobs. Entire staffs will be scattered to the wind. It happens every year. We talked about it a few weeks back

when I did the Hot Bunt Hot but tiers. Uh. There's usually about five to eight openings right now we have three officially, and there will be more to come. So Pete, who's plugged in as anybody, is going to talk to us about what he's hearing, both, who could be going, who could be coming, Hot names on the market, all that good stuff. UH looking at as a primer for Black Monday. UM. Also, I like this one. This

one has been percolating for a few weeks. I kind of had to like draw it at a Rosenthal because I think I think he worries about you know what happened with the previous play by play guy for Monday Night Football and in a certain attack that went down at a coach's breakfast. Uh the play by play power rankings going through uh Greg's interpretation of the best to the worst or the worst to the best play by play guys. And you know, Cessler gonna throw Sessler. He's

in the dog pound, throw him a bone too. Mark is gonna give us his own interpretation, UH color guys, top ten, whatever Mark came up with, and I will just be here to enjoy it all. But before any of that, we wrap up Week sixteen with a glorious edition of Monday Night Football. Alan he does, he throws able to complete its ticks and tell like it's time. Takes is looking back, touched down and he stumbles into the end zone. It's a fifty yard pass play from

Josh Allen for the Buffalo Bills. Oh my goodness, Steffa, and nobody cares about your fantasy team. But I will tell a real quick story here. Forty point lead last night I had in my championship league. My opponent has Stefon Diggs. He gets thirty nine points before they sit in to the balance of the fourth quarter. As close as you can come to one of the great Monday night collapses in a fantasy championship. Thank you, Sean McDermott,

you are a special man. Stefan Diggs three touchdowns, Josh Allen four touchdown throws again, the Bills raging out of control thirty eight to nine over the Patriots in Foxboro. In Foxboro, it is the changing of the guard. There's no question anymore, Greg Rose at all, not that there was entering this game, but it did feel like a coronation. The Patriots now a losing record for the first time in twenty years, first time they get swept by a

division opponent in twenty years. It's all the new world now and one that Pats fans like you are not too familiar with. No, it's it's reminiscent of the early nineties or late late eighties, because that was when the Bills were great too. Uh, you know, once you got into the nineties. This offense and Josh Allen, you can't say enough that right now they're playing better than any

team in the NFL. I don't. I don't think that's I mean, it's almost too obvious to say in terms of consistently doing it week to week that Josh Allen has had a better December I would say than Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes. Now that's just December. Alan had I think too many off weeks in the middle of the season to be uh the m v P. But he would be my QB three for the year after

those two, which is amazing. And some of the throws that he makes where he has to place the ball above the linebacker but in front of the safety or cornerback are just amazing. UM to see him with that sort of touch and accuracy while he also is using his arm strength on those throats. The reason Dig said such a big day. Partly was because he's not gonna get a man coverage many weeks, but this this time he did against j. C. Jackson, who's, you know, one

of the best cornerbacks in league. But there's no one that can cover a perfect throw from Josh Allen and a perfect you know route from Diggs and then you I'm buying that with a defense in Buffalo that is six in d v o A since Week eight. So that is the biggest change, and it's why they should be viewed as, you know, the top Super Bowl contender behind the Chiefs. And if they were in the NFC, I might say they're the favorites in the NFC. That's how good they are. I'm with you, I think they

could beat the Chiefs. Um, I really I don't think that. I think that feels like an obvious thing to say that that that there, it would be a great game. I mean, Alan his fourth appearance with three plus yards, four plus touchdown passes and a skyrocketing passer rating. Only Tom Brady has done that since nineteen fifty back in two thousand seven in a single season. So I mean, it's real, Um, this team is real, that there's something

beyond the game itself, because the game was largely non competitive. Um, the Patriots ended the game was six punts. I mean they were they were a fizzled mess, and it to me was kind of like, and I'm not equating it historically, but from a football angle, like watching the Berlin Wall come down. Um, back when I was in middle school and not quite knowing what that was, and a younger fan,

UM might say, well, what's the big deal? The Bills are great, but it's been so long and the Patriots have been in their way for so for the entire century. I mean, this is changing the face of the NFL right now. Um, they were terrible house guests. I thought you. I was great to hear Jerry Hughes say, I've never had this feeling at Foxboro. Sean McDermott is the only Bills coach since two thousand who has not only beaten the Patriots twice in one season, but twice at all

in in his coaching running Buffalo. It's been that dominant. I mean, it's just incredible what Bills fans have gone through against this team. And Dan, you know it well as a Jets fan. There's gonna come a day when they drop a bomb on this team too, and it's just we're watching the a f C change before our eyes. It's been happening all year, and last night was a

beautiful exclamation point. Yeah, I thought. You know, as a Jets fan, I've said on this podcast, my favorite victory really and maybe any sport, but certainly NFL is when the Jets knocked off the Patriots in the two thousand ten playoffs in Foxboro. And it wasn't just because it got them to they AFC title game and and and

all that. It was because it was in Foxborough, was against Brady, it was against Belichick, and it was just that's become a house of horrors for all a f C East teams and really the a f C in general for twenty years. So to see this new reality that we're living in, um, if you have been following the sport for decades, it is striking. Even though none of this is surprising, because we knew entering the season

that the Patriots were no longer an elite team. They just didn't have the parts and maybe they will after whatever they do, whether it's a reload or rebuild, but in the here and now, they are not a very good team and the Bills. I mean it's talked about

catching a team at the wrong time. It's the Patriots kind of limping to the finish line and the Bills just achieving this level right now where you know, if they would have left in Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs in addition to me losing my fantasy title, that's a

fifty burger. So Sean McDermand actually showed a restraint, but not too much restraint, Greg because even when they were in full control of the game, I think thirty one nine, he's thrown an eighty yard bomb downfield that doesn't complete. There was a sense of not that Sean McDermott has bad blood for Belichick in the pages, but this idea like this is over, Like this era of New England Patriots domination is over. This is the new reality. That was a message game. I mean, it's it's been over

this season. And uh, I think they were just doing what the Patriots would have done and have done. And I think Belichick totally respects it. He went out of his way to and I do I don't think it's performative, um, but I think he pulls he picks the spots to do it, to have that sort of long hug and talk with McDermott right at the end, kind of telling telling him how impressed he is in everything, and like

he gets it. They're thrown deep when they're up fifty two to seven on the Titans and the snow like you know, back again, you know, years and years ago. Like that, that's what they do. I think they know they're bad that. The Patriots are a walking example of how little the running game matters in the NFL. I I always think about that watching their offense. It's like everyone who talks about how important the running game is, like, yeah, as a compliment, because you know who's great at running

the ball this year? The Patriots. You know who has the third fewest touchdowns this year, The Patriots, Only the Jets and the Giants have fewer touchdowns this year than Like, the running game just doesn't do that much for you if it's this passing game. I mean the running game work, That's what I mean. Like it's actually possible they have a top five running game to have that good of a running game without a passing game, and it doesn't matter.

You're the worst offense in the league despite that, Whereas if you like flip it and you have a terrible running game like you can in the Patriots, you know you can still be great. And their defense is bad and and who knows, like they they're gonna be a very very different team next year. All these teams are and the Bills should get their eating while while it's good, but there's no reason to think this Bill's team in

particular is UH is gonna be going anywhere. And by the way, they get to add John Smokey Brown, their best deep threat to this offense in the playoffs. It's pretty amazing. And if I'm a Browns fan and that's the slated matchup right now, that is not who I would want to see in the first round or a Ravens fan. UH Bills rate like the Bills are the team you do not want to be facing if you're a wild card in the A. Well, they're not pulling a Texans flop this time around. They're not losing whatever

team they face. And to your point, the Patriots had a two passing yard differential last night UM two hundred and eighty eight yards differential, the worst in franchise history. They can't throw the ball. They're in nept And one last little thing. When we sat with Sean McDermott at the owner's meeting two years ago, and you know, we had a lot of We had a nice time with him, and he seemed like a guy we liked. We liked

him as a good coach. But when we asked him about the Patriots and this obstacle in the way, he sounded like every other coach. You know, Listen, we get it, We're gonna have to. You are thinking, get get, get them out of the way, and I and part of me is like, cool, I don't. I simply don't believe it will happen anytime soon. And it's happened very quickly. And it has to do with Tom Brady being out of the mix. I get all that, But the Patriots have one of the biggest rebuilding jobs to do in

the league this offseason. It's pretty crazy. I imagine Tom Brady is enjoying this as well, not just because, um, maybe there's bad blood, although I know Greg you don't think there is, but there is this whole chicken in the egg thing with Bell Chick and Brady. And this does not mean that Belichick is not the greatest coach ever, but it does not I'm sure it's a little annoying

to Belichick. He'd never tell you that Brady is again playing great and surging back into the playoffs while the Patriots now going to this deep abyss and rebuild in the first year that Brady is out of town. I think that's been another kind of element of this season that's been interesting to watch, Brady continuing to stay at that you know, high end level. Well, the Patriots crumble, He well, he's not going to be viewing it as

an abyss. I'm sure that he. They're gonna be planning to compete next year, whether they can figure out a way to do that, because this is a team that I think was lucky to get to six wins seven If they can beat the Jets, Jets might be favored in that game. At this point, Um, you know they're they're gonna be looking to compete right away. But but

good luck with that. I mean, it's tough. I like the moment when Brady Belichick got bad advice from upstairs on the Challenge and then of course, uh, ESPN and ABC cameras capture him screaming at some poor bastards on the phone and slamming it down. And then uh, there was a reporter and you could hear in the voice a fear to ask the question, but as a reporter, you had to do it. Let's listen to Belichick being

asked about that incident on the sideline. There was a shot of you throwing the phone on the sideline challenge Star. I'm assuming you didn't see the play before the challenge, but uh, what went on on that play? Yeah, but uh, you know, obviously he made the couch. It was a good coach. Maybe that yeah, you already actually you know he comported himself fairly well there Actually, well that's the

right question at least. Yeah, yeah he did. He asked the question and a better loss seven hundred thousand on the Patriots last night, went all in on two wagers at the MGM. And I just have to ask Greg. I know they're your favorite team, but you can't be reckless with money like that. You have a family like that was just the bad as true. Um, I was more confident, I'll just say, and this bill's you know, winning this game by a lot than any any pick

I made all week in game debut. So I will tell you I I felt like a bad fan kind of rooting um for that to be correct last night. Well, it's a better draft pick, and that's a short and I would think that there's really no reason for Kim New to start Week seventeen. You think it should be Jard Stidham against the Jets, But who knows what bellchick. You just never know of the decision he's gonna make.

It's not gonna come from any outside influence. Um. All right, So the Bills, by the way, Bills number two in the power rankings. I actually gave it a little bit of thought, should I could I the Chiefs kind of sleepwalking their way to the playoffs. The Bills are just not just a good team. This is a great team. And when you look at the Bills, the Chiefs, and I'm gonna throw the Ravens in there, personally, like those three teams all in the playoffs together. You can make

a case for any of them right now. If you ask me, it's gonna be at Ravens. Got a lot of holes there. But you're right, the Bills are actually ahead of the Chiefs and waited d v O a. I think the Saints are too for that, um you know, but like waiting at the end of the season a little heavier than the very beginning. So I don't think it's crazy. I think they're the two best teams in the league, the Bills and the Chiefs. I put the Ravens right there. If they continue to play this man,

you guys are buying into the I'm beaten. Some I love the Ravens, and many they have. They've had a lot of injuries that those guys aren't coming back, That's all I'm saying. And they haven't played, that's all I'm saying. We will track, and of course it must be said that they haven't had a very good performance is the last two januaries. We're gonna get to all that. We got so much uh coverage of the playoffs coming up, both on this podcast and on NFL Network. It's gonna

be good, all right. That is Monday Night Football. Alright. Let's now get to our special guest, and we are a big fan of this man. He is the co host of Good Morning Football program that I am lucky enough to have a weekly guest spot on. He is the senior national writer for Fox Sports dot Com and g Q and of course the co author of the New York Times bestseller out of the Blue? Do you not have out of the Blue yet? Let's bring up on he is the great Peter Schrager. Well, what's up?

What is up? Guys? Thanks for having me on. I was on over the summer, had a blast of the US and who we are to end the season Week seventeen? Nothing better? And uh not to take the show by storm here, but I gotta tell you Greg Mark Dan is great on our show. We have the best time with him on the power ranking segment. I think we need a Sessler and a Rosenthal segment. If you guys are willing to get up so early in the morning next season, listen. I mean the answer is yes, I'll

get up at any time. I don't, I won't go to sleep. I want to just do like a dramatic reading of Out of the Blue by Victor, you know, by you and Victor Cruz. I actually I have it, and I have like a little football library, all my football books back there. It's back there, and just like each each week I read a couple more pages. Great TV. I was gonna say, just because you have the book. It was in the newsroom and you grab it. That doesn't mean that you get credit for it. You have

to read it and you know, pay for it. I know Pete Traeger from back. It was directly to sent directly to my apartment in New York. I remember this, this quarantine. There have been some books that I like, I really want to read Loan, some Dove like it's this long, like I really at some point when I read Dune, like the original Dune. Now they're making the movie um out of the Blue, though should be number one on everyone's list. I think it's exacting. So we're

having Peen on Comspetes is plugged in as anybody. And now as we enter week seventeen, here it's time to take close to look at what's happening with these job openings. And we have obviously open gigs in Detroit, Atlanta, and Houston, and then there are some jobs that should be opening up. But let's start. We know what we know with those three teams. What are the teams that you feel very confident about. We'll be searching for a new coach affected

Black Monday. I don't I don't like doing this before Black Monday, and and black Monday is uh is not a great day for a lot of coaches because it's not only the coaches, but there's like assistant coaches, and these families basically are told you're out of work. Now you gotta go hustle scramble for another job. So it's I'd never like doing this. And and I think a couple of years ago, um, I didn't say it on air, but a lot of people did. They fired Truck Pogano.

They said he's gonna be done in Indianapolis, and then Pogano one week seventeen kept his job for one more year. And here so like, I don't like saying, here's the things that here are the three teams we know about. And then I would say, with a strong conviction, I think the Jets and Jacksonville most likely will be and then there's always a wild I don't know on the Chargers right now, I really don't know all the charges.

I think Anthony Lynn has done a lot to help his case, and I think, um, they liked the locker room, the feeling right there, So I'd rather not go down that road. But Atlanta, Houston, Detroit probably, Jacksonville probably the Jets. That's what I would say at the moment, and there's usually one or two others that wedn't be coming. And again, you're right, this is not a celebration. What's gonna happen

to some of these guys in their staffs. But are you saying there's a chance the Gates can hold on to his job? Let's say, all right, let's just say because the Jets are locked in now number now. You've got Dan Panics, got me, they're locked in at number two now even if they beat the Patriots. Um and normally I was thinking about this last night while the Patriots are getting destroyed. Since I'm not getting Trevor Lawrence, let's kill the Patriots in week seventeen and go out

with three straight wins. But that is like, do I trust this ownership to not put too much stock into a three game winning streak after an oh and thirteen start? I don't trust them, Pete. Should I be worried that there could be a way that they could sway Adam Gaze can sway ownership with a third straight win? I would say this. I know the guys in that building fairly well. They at no point in this season. We're tanking that no point wanted to lose. They've been wanting

to win every single game. Coaches, players, and I assume the owner and of course the general manager Joe Douglas. No one ever thought about the draft pick the way that you Dan, or some of the other Jets fans, or at least the local market that I'm in, we're thinking about it. I would say this, Adam Gates can finish the season with three wins. I would assume that there's going to be a long conversation about his future. And I would assume that there might be some decks

and chairs being removed on the deck. As far as the coaching staff goes for the New York Jets, there we go. UM, I don't fire anybody. I don't do it. It's I hear you and I um, I have a

few things I wanna ask you about. But you you mentioned Lynn, and I read something that made some sense to me that one reporticlest the team thought they're gonna look for any reason to keep him because they like them and because this year was weird, and it's like they have Justin Herbert playing so well that there's actually kind of a thought which I think makes some sense that you at least have to consider the fact do you want to change his offense after uh he plays

so well? I also thought like Tom Talsco, who's you know, in terms of drafting Pro Bowlers, has done as well as any general manager in the league practically, But doesn't you know, have a lot of winds and sometimes you know, they don't let the GM you know, fire multiple coaches. And he's already fired Mike McCoy there too, so like so if they changed the Lynn, it could be I don't know, like would you keep to let's go and change another coach and let to let's go pick again?

Do you think like the Chargers, especially with the stadium and knowing their ownership history, I think makes a difference to me too, Like knowing if they're an ownership they might just lay back or if they're gonna be super active, whether that would factor in, especially if they go ahead and win this game here at the end, and like feel like they have uh like a nice winning streak

to close the season. They had a brutal loss a couple of weeks ago where they called the audible on fourth on fourth down and the running team was out there, but remember that play, and I think everyone thought Anthony lynnmight get fired then. And then you know, I got folks in Los Angeles I spoke with and they said, we're not making any changes this week, like and that was the key thing this week. And I was pushing back with my folks that I know there, and I'm like, okay,

this week, but does that mean next week? Does that mean the week I after? Does that mean that he's safe for the off season? And I couldn't get a straight answer. They love Anthony Lynn. They love him and like you said, Greg, great guy. The players love him. And the only issue they haven't won many games. They did win a playoff game in Baltimore a couple of years ago. But then you start trying to make justifications in your head, you say, okay, well, look, Derwin James

was injured before the season started. It's COVID. It's a weird deal. They have played in front of an empty stadium. They even got a chance to open that new stadium that really haven't even got their footprints settled. And Herberts had such a such great leaps of the last two He's gonna be offensive rookie the Year you're really bringing a new offensive coach. I'd be really interested to see what they do, because there's a lot of reasons you can justify it. Now. I always get get into like

the coaching stuff, and it's all right. If Anthony Lynn were to be fired, is there a line of teams looking to bring him in next year? I always think about the market place and the value of the coach. So if Matt Naggie was fired, I think there there might be a line of team to say, hey, bringing Matt Naggie for an interview. You know, like my McCarthy was fired, teams are all right, let's bring him in. Didn't get the job right away, but let's bring him in. Um.

Of course, Adam Gaze was fired by the Dolphins. Jets were like, let's hire Adam Gaze. I don't sure, but at the time it wasn't loops. Everyone was like, all right, there's a there's an established coach. Um, Anthony, I'm not sure. And that's what I think is going through a lot of people's heads right now. I wouldn't be shocked if

Anthony Lynn kept his job. I'll just say that I would look at you know, if you go beyond the NFL and kind of like what David Tepper did last year, going out and you know, meeting Matt Rule and becoming enamored with him and signing into that kind of a contract, which you know for a college coaches, that's a little that's unusual in the NFL. There's the Matt Campbell's out there, Um Lincoln Riley, Jim Harbaugh's name has comed out, Urban Meyer, Urban Meyer, I think of, you know, David Sweeney and

the Jaguars, who are gonna get Trevor Lawrence. Do you see um college coaches having a chance to crack in this year or is it more we're exploring these guys, but we're probably gonna go with the old, the old NFL club. We're gonna pull someone that we know and

have more familiar information on. All Right, The word I got this year is that college coaches might be more willing now to make the leap than ever before because of just how screwy the n c A is, how uncertain things are, how there was such a lack of leadership across the board as far as conference colleague college football right now is the great abyss. No one knows what the future is if it's ever gonna get back

on track. What's going on with amateurism in sports in general, and after the way the COVID situation handled was handled by a lot of these schools and conferences with no real direction, I think guys that forever have never listened might be willing to listen. And you know, I mentioned the name m David Shaw to a source because three years we've heard David Shaw will never leave Stanford. David the PAC twelve was was weird this year and Stanford has not been good to last two years. Is this

the year David Shaw listens? The word I got back was not probably not, But for the first time it wasn't a slam dunk. No. Pat Fitzgerald and Northwestern who you guys didn't mention who might be the number one college candidate right now? He's got kids at are both I think in high school at the moment. I think the word I got was that he's gonna wait until

they're out of high school before he leaps. But like when the Bears had or the packers of the vacancy two years ago, in the hired of the floor, I was told straight up no, like he will not leave Northwestern. He's got a great situation there, so I think things are opening him up. Matt Campbell not short horriball. I don't know if there's a market for horriball right now. After the season Michigan's had and the third name was Dabos Swete, I don't think he's leaving or Lincoln Riley

coworker Urban, Urban's fascinating. Urban's fascinating. He's been out of this for a while. Um, you know you've been hearing the Chargers for a couple of years now and there, and then recently Jacksonville has been coming up a bunch. He's got a very good situation at Fox. I know he's very happy there. They love him, and they they believe their show is up there, if not better than the one on ESPN. So like Urban is a huge key cog to that and he's got a long future

with them. Question is the shot Khan or in this case, the Spano's family, or one of these teams or even the Jets hand him the keys and say you're the personnel guy, you're the coach, You hire whoever you want, You've got unlimited budget, go for it, and does it tickle Urban enough? To say, I gotta get one more

shot at this. I think Trevor Lawrence might play a bigger role than any of these guys um as far as the owners and everything, like, maybe Urban is tempted by that and saying, all right, shot Khan, here's an unlimited check, here's the freedom to bring in my own staff, and I get the first overall pick. That might excite me, But I will tell you he is happy at Fox and they love him over there. I don't know if Fox could pay him with the Jacksonville Jaguars or the

Jets of the Chargers can. But it's a much easier life for Urban Meyer doing those Saturday hits and getting pep talks into a computer screen worker. I think that's a huge plus. That's a great I mean, that's probably the biggest Perkal. Yeah, is there any coaches that are back to the kind of the recycled ranks um in the NFL Jim Caldwell, Bill Cowery than any of these guys, uh that might pop up and have a serious chance to get a job. The one name and you know,

I thought maybe Bill O'Brien would get another look. I haven't heard much on him. Marvin Lewis apparently has a lot more love in the league than has he already interviewed with Houston was right. I believe he did. I

believe Ian and Mike reported that this weekend. Um and it's not just hey, Marvin Lewis deserves an interview, has been a coach for like things are beginning to reveal themselves that gosh, Marvin Lewis took that team to the playoffs with that limited budget, scouting staff and some of the things that plague the Bengals historically to the playoffs five years in a row and built a winner. And yeah, they didn't win games, but like, there's a lot of

lessons to be learned from this season. And I think having a leader of men, and that's such a roll my eyes, because I think all these guys are leaders of men, they wouldn't be getting where they are and that they weren't. But like an authoritative voice with someone with the skins on the wall, some of these teams, after what has been going on over the last eighteen months, might say, let's just hand over the keys to Marvin

because he can only can only coach football. But that's an adult in the roof right, and he can hire a good staff a lot of it to be excited about that though lewis no, and I I don't feel like it's an upbell battle. But you look around the league and you see a lot of his assistants, you know, with coaching jobs and that that's that's part of it too, that he he like has this for long. Rollodex, you mentioned the thing about Foxes College show is maybe better

than ESPN. You know, you worked for Fox and and it has gotten a lot of buzz this year that and Reggie Bush is part of that show, and it just occurred to me, how much do you think that show doing well, um is directly related to the lessons Reggie Bush learned while he did our digital show last year, the Around the NFL type digital. Yeah, I think those

I think those moments were memorable. And I think you know, when he was lulling the opportunity to leave NFL Network and to go to do Foxes Thursday night NFL coverage and there Saturday UM football main show, I think it was it was probably a difficult decision for him, UM, but he certainly he certainly learned a lot from from you guys. I mean the intriguing aspect of that, as

he said goodbye to none of us. But I just think I think there was a lot of one day that he was like one day he just wasn't there for the show, but that wasn't totally out of character, so it was like we didn't even know that he was out of the company. I guess it is a little weird for us to be expecting a Dear John letter from Reggie Bush to two more things from me before we say goodbye, and boys, feel free to try. I want to go through my list. I want to

go through my names for you. You got more, let's hear more. Let me rattle them off for you, because here's what I've got. Honestly, this is my favorite thing to do. Is supposed in addition to the draft, is get the gossip on the coaching stuff, because I feel like I'm as plugged in as anybody with this stuff. And I talked to all the teams and a lot of the agents of the country and it's sounded chest I'm pound of my chest. But it's this is like the one niche like, I don't do injuries, well, I

don't do free agent signings. That well, but like the coaching stuff. I love the machinations behind it. And I talked to all the presidents and g ms, and you

know it's gonna be really interesting. So I want to go through some of the names and some of the processes that are at stake here because I think this is the most unique year that there is no slam dunk candidate, Like I don't see that Josh m Josh McDaniels in recent years when they're coming off another thing, you know, playoff things like oh, McDaniels is the hot name, or Kyle Shanahan took this team to the super Bowl,

like the enemy is he the hot name? I feel like he was around last year and I was gonna get another opportunity, and I do believe he will get one of these jobs. But I don't see teams jumping up and down or fan bases jumping up and down saying gosh, even as good as they've been, I just don't feel the buzz around the Enemy this year as I did last year. I think Eric's gonna be a premier candidate. I think Robert Sala the defensive corona for

the forty niners. Everyone is linking him to Detroit because he's got Detroit connections and he went to Michigan State or he got a graduates degree from Michigan State, and he grew up two miles from the Lions facility, and both his parents still live in that town, which is I believe, dear Field, Michigan. And so there's a lot of like local routs there. But I think Sale could get some offers from other teams, and then it's his

decision what he wants to do. So Sala b Enemy are two big names they blew up in Buffalo is a big name. Arthur Smith, the offensive coordinator for the Titans, is getting a lot of buzz right now. And those are like the main guys. And I don't know if any fan base is doing flip, Like if you're a Jets fan, are you like, oh my god, we have

a chance to get Arthur Smith. Nothing against Arthur Smith, but like it doesn't feel like there's that home run And I don't even know if Urban Meyer does it for fansies like Meyer's many years removed from college football, let alone never done it in the pros. Like, I don't know if there's that home run pick that everyone is like, oh, we got the guy. Yeah, it doesn't seem like there's that the high sex appeal guy. I

don't know if that it makes sense. Like if Dennis Allen is the head coach of say the Chargers next year, like our Chargers fans like, oh my god, let's go that Dennis Allen era, you know what I mean, Like there's nothing against these guys. Allen could get hired, then Sala could get hired defensive coordinator, the same. They had a great year this year, look like Sean McDermott and

the Bills last year. I think a lot of people thought that was a solid higher when it happened, and now you look at it four years later, it's like, oh my god, what a home run. So I think if you're if your team is looking for a head coach, don't give up hope because there isn't that slam dunk guy. And maybe I'm talking to myself as much as I'm talking to me. I'll give you a name. I'll give you a name because Dan, I know you're invested in one team, um specifically, and I think they're gonna be

a really interesting situation. They probably don't have Trevor Lawrence. Let's just assume they don't. So there's not that giant carrot there. Um, they've had years of you know, just unsuccessful no playoffs in aptitude if you want whatever it is. Does a name like Wink Martindale, the defensive coordinator of the Ravens, who's in his sixties or late fifties, but it's like a super high energy beloved guy, Like does that get you? Like I don't know what the Jets

fan even wants at this point. Yeah, that no, I like Wink Martindale, that would be a shrug your shoulders higher, Marvin Lewis would be a panic higher at least the fan base would look at it that way. Um, yeah, I don't. I don't see it. Jim Harbor like there are as you know, Pete, the the Johnson family has danced around Jim in the past, and I just wonder if they're gonna want to make a splash higher and go after Harbaugh and that I feel like has a

boom bust reward at a high level. Yeah, the the wild card like dazzling, like oh, higher might be if someone was to actually bring in Joe Brady who's thirty years old. Um, but I don't think the Panthers did enough for me to be like, yes, that's the guy you all like. And then the other one is the defensive coordinator out in Los Angeles, Brandon Stanley, who's thirty eight. He's not thirty, but last year he was an outside linebackers coach, and now you're saying, okay, well he ran

the best defense in the league with the Rams. It's such an interesting year. And we didn't even start talking about the gm S, which well, I want to yet tell me about Riddick if nothing else, like how I'm just fascinated that, And they didn't mention it once on the broad even when the team's come up. You gotta mention it. Interview today, we asked him, were like, Scott, you interviewed for the Lions job. What was it like? Like you have to ask what do you he He's

interviewed for at least two jobs? Was it three? I don't know? Um, do you think he has a legit shot to get one of these? Yes? It was an interesting deal this year because they're doing it over zoom, so like you know, you come in and you're sitting on a zoom for several hours and you know, take

the Detroit one for example. He's got the owner in one box, he's got Chris Spielman in another box, and he's like, you know, it's tough, like it's on zoom or you're really good at presenting over zoom and you can do it and you've had practice at it. It's really weird, and it's you know, it's a difference between being, in some guys cases, making six figures to making you know, mid seven figures in some of these GM positions. So it's a huge life opportunity and a huge, huge leap

for some of these GM candidates. Back to Ridick, though, I've heard he interviewed really well at a couple of places. Um, I think he's got a good shot this year. There's gonna be six seven openings. I think he's got a good shot this year. Um. And it's as good as shot he's had this year than he's had in any of the years prior. How long till Daniel Jeremiah is a general manager? I mean his name has been thrown around here and there. I mean, is it it seems

like star rising on that front? You laugh? I mean absolutely, If DJ wanted one of these jobs. He would be a top candidate because he exemplifies it every day and he lives and breeds it, and he's actually plugged into the NFL. He's more than just a guy who does the draft. The fact he does those Chargers games might seem like a nothing Sunday thing, but like he's he's the league. He's the league in person, like he gets it,

and he's got a great track record. If Daniel wanted to leave the NFL network to do that, I think there would be a lot of teams willing to listen. So far, all the things that I've heard, and he actually came out last year, I think it was, like I'm staying, like there's been rumors, but I'm staying. I think it was to be an assistant to Joe Douglas in the Jets. That's when he came out and said that. Um, I think he's made it pretty clear he's happy with

where he is at the moment. At the very least, he should leverage all this knowledge into starting a podcast or something. I think he right again, you ever tried that? Any other names you want to throw out there people before bringing in for a landing here? Yeah, GM is gonna be really interesting and the team I would circle, Um, that could be fascinating for for this group of specifically.

You know, for years, the GM position is the best scout in the building, or the best player personnel guy, or the guy who just you know, grinds on the college tape. There was no real traveling for college football for any of these there the pastor yeah you gotta get him in there. Yeah, but um, he's not the GM by the way, I actually I actually want to do a great defense of Jack Easterby. I feel like

someone brought his name up and just interrupted. You just got buried by everybody, and it was like poor Easterby. I don't know at all. I don't even know. I never met him personally, but it's like you found your whipping boy media and it's like, all right, let's go. Um right, it's says player that you know, have you been by someone in our company to stop discussing him? So I've been silence, so he you know there's someone somewhere sensitive about it. Yeah, I'm not sure. I mean

that guy. Whatever, Um, I would look I don't know. I would look to the Carolina Panthers and just the way Tepper does business. You mentioned, I don't think you're gonna get a run in the mill Higher, And if you do, it's because that run of the mill Higher. And I don't mean to dismiss whoever they end up do hiring um if it is because he impressed Tepper and blew him away in the interview. I just think the way David Tepper does business, and I've got to

know him fairly well. Not we haven't talked about like the general manager position or anything, but like he views this as as as a competitive environment where he is. I don't want to he's a killer. I mean he's a killer on Wall Street. This is a guy who looks at things and says, how's everyone else doing it? How can they disrupt there? How can I be asymmetric? I'm gonna get it done with the rule Higher. Everyone

thought he was going to the giants. He's like, he's not leaving the house that he lives in if I get there first, and he didn't. He paid him the most and convinced him to bring all his staff, and you have it. The GM higher is not gonna be all right. Here's the best player personnel guy, the GM higher for the Carolina Panthers is going to be very well vetted and is going to have to earn that position.

And I wouldn't be shocked if they did something that is a little bit spin this league on its head because new CB a lower salary cap and the draft is a crap shoot anyway. And this guy, he he's not doing this because his family's family's family has passed this onto him, and he doesn't want to upset the fan base. He's already fired Ron Rivera and cut Cam Newton. I think the Panthers fans are like, whatever this guy does, I guess at the time being, we'll have to believe

in it. And so far, I think that Matt rule Hire was the right call. So I'm fascinated. Is the first non you know, football coach higher for for David Tepper, and I'm really interested to see who he picks to run this organization as far as rosters go. Awesome insight as always from the great Peter Schraeger. And before you go, Pete, it was about eighteen months ago. I'm gonna say that you made I think it was your first appearance on the show, but the first one where we were all together.

The pool side pod at the NFL Media Talent Summit. Has anything changed on this front? You can keep it to one word. When you look around the circle here at the four of us, which one do you respect the US? Greg? Which one do you respect them? Us? Which one do you respect the most? Greg? Greg? I love all you guys equally. I love Wes, I love love Ricky Hollywood. I love all you guys equally. You're

all You're all equal to me. Only one of you, though, was on the weakest link that I happened to be fun. I didn't even know what was happening, was watching the television, showed up and then a day later it's like, here's Mina Kimes winning someone a million bucks. I'm like, I don't Mina Kimes needs more love. Let's give Erica some love. Here. She was on actual show. It was great. Thanks Pete means a lot. You've got a supreme hoodie on. You're like you got swag. Yeah, I love you. Yeah, you know.

I'm glad you said that, because it wasn't just that Mina who Who's great? Uh? It wasn't just that she um was honest another game show, it was responsible for the million dollar winner. And then for Ricky Hollywood, she's doing her best, she gets savaged by I thought unfair questions allowing the worst player in their history, the weakest link, to be victorious. It just it just it didn't feel fair ultimately for Ricky. And it's like Jane Lynch was

not all that warm or nice. Like there was a lot of things that I had problems with, um Mina Kimes helping out millions of small restaurants and maybe keeping hundreds of small businesses alive. That might be for some people, that might be some people's thing. I was more into the weakest link. And uh, what we saw from our friend who works on this show awesome unders animal did it? Pete?

Thank you for giving us your time. You're very busy man, and congratulations every Thursday night football telecast this year Hackman singing your praises you and the entire show that is a thrill as well. Can I make a request for tomorrow when you're on Good Morning Football? And this be like, can I get a Can I get an album cover from you? Can I? If I have it, you have to have it. I was gonna request the Cars, Rico

Kersik and the Boys, anything from the cars. Okay, maybe not tomorrow, but I am absolutely gonna work on that. Let me know which album you're thinking of as well. Okay, I can go rushwork. Could you replace it with the Hanson brother Hans is great, Yes, the middle middle of nowhere. The middle of nowhere, I believe, Oh there he goes shrag bomb. Great guest. He's one of our best guests because Pete here, I think, you know, we'll get ten twelve minutes with Peter. He's the dig in. He wants

to go deeper. I try to bring it in for a landing, and he said, oh no, no, no, I got a lot more to get to. And uh, I feel like we're all smarter and more prepared for Black Monday as a result. Yeah. I also thought that it was It's pretty clear that I'm not gonna say that Greg's lost esteem in in Peter's eyes, but the rest of us um have clearly been raised up to some degree. He I thought his answer that he respects us equally

was honest and use when he gave it. It's when he gave an actually honest answer before he's gotten in trouble for it, he's gotten grief. You guys can it's eighteen months ago. The world was a totally different place. It would be easier to respect Greg eighteen months ago. Things have changed, you know. It is there are parallels to the chiefs and the bills. Greg's the chiefs with

Sreegor and who he respects. But here we are just firing up the power rensings and now the gap has been narrowed, it seems, and perhaps Greg will get overtaken. Just keep an eye on it, all right, all right, things have changed since we were pool side at that villa. That's for sure. And that's for sure. Um, alright. I also after that day, had like thirty five days off. UM. I run by there fairly often. And do think of that moment where Straeger was wrapping a towel around the microphone.

If we ever done an unsolved mystery, uh, you know with this show, I wanted to be about Traeger wrapping the microphone with the towel. I remember after it ended, I said, Erica, what why? What was happening with that? And uh, it was just a total mystery, total mystery. All right, here we go. I'm excited, No, I'm excited. I love power rankings. I love ranking things. I love when Greg gets passionate about the booth and who he likes and who he doesn't like. It's a major topic offline,

on text and in conversation. And uh, you know Sessler, you know he's he's got his sardonic wit. And when you could weaponize that into a listical excited me. I'm just gonna I just made a tactical decision here not to have my own list. I don't have to worry about anybody coming up to me at a coach's breakfast. I prefer to sit back and just watch the inferno. Man, I just want to watch the world. But it's not an I see what you've done here. No, in all seriousness,

this is all done with respect. We're not trying to destroy people here, of course. Right, Well, that's the thing. The other week we're arguing about, you know, the the booth and thinking about play by play, and it's part of that. It was more talking about, like, this is the hardest job in sports being play by play guy. I think on an NFL game, play by playing in general, But you know, NFL is our area. I'm totally with you. In fact, we are, I guess on some level quote

unquote broadcasters. We're talking to a mic for a living, and I marvel at how these guys do with the play by play. Dudes to be just the reek call to know who just fell down in pursuit on the defensive line, who came out of nowhere to make the tackle? Which slot receiver or wait a second, was that the guy on the outside who came across the middle and made that catch. The guys that are really good. The way they can do it without missing a beat is something that is I mean, I would be in a

nervous panic. I love football a whole bunch, but if it was like we've got a thorny like rough situation with eighteen seconds left to go and people all over, I would run out of the booth and I would run to my car and drive home. I'd love I'd love to see. So yeah, we're we're like understand, we're

understanding that. But then again you think about it and you're like, well, you're stepping into the arena and these guys are are talking about who's a better quarterback, who's the better wide receiver, They're criticizing the head coach at times. Maybe that's not play by play guy as much. But it's like, if you're gonna step into the arena, you

you gotta it's a high standard. And when we were arguing in particular, you know, about Monday night and I and I would and I've got my opinions, and I thought, well, it'll only be fair, you know, if you're gonna say this, like, all right, let's actually rank them. Let's let's make a list of the play by play guys. And we watch a lot of game pass or you do it on shortcuts, I know, Mark, And so it's like I'm hearing these

guys every week, and so you you form opinions. And I decided, okay, I put it on paper about fifty. I just looked, who are the fifteen play by play guys the previous weekend? And I just you know, put them down one to fifteen for my for myself, I did not think this is gonna be a you know, a pod bit, but I just wanted to see how, I how it s took up. I think it makes for good conversation. If it makes for good conversation, then

why not say it on the show. But I don't understand why you need to take a shot at Mark there and say he takes shortcuts that I mean this guy he puts in the work. You could hear when he analyzes football. It's called the direct TV shortcuts. Just that Mark prefers that over the game pass version. Well we could get into that another time. I will not beliebor it, but they do something that game pass editors have chosen not to do often. Let's put it okay,

here we go to sight down. Let's start with the play by play guys. Then we're gonna move to the Sessler list, And how do you want to do? Greg, Maybe it would be better to start with the when So this you're essentially basing this off Week sixteen. Who we saw, who we heard? I want to start at the bottom list or make our way up. Um no, let's start at the top. I don't know because I

don't want to. Like you heard Straeger being diplomatic on the last segment and you're like, wait a second, I need because the top is the top is more interesting to me. And frankly, more people are gonna know who we're talking about their or have opinions, and and after the top six or so, there was a lot of blending blending in. But I had I had to go Joe Buck number one, Mike Tarico number two, and Kevin Harland three, al Michael's for I mean, I'm just good.

I want to break. This is the top teen. I in Eagle five and Nance six, and to me, those are the big six and I've got You know, they're all great, and you could argue any one of them should be higher or lower. Right, that is my six have one. Yeah, Tariko would be one if he had more starts. But availability, you know, it's not his fault, um, but availability is a trait here, and he's not giving me. He's not out there enough. I'm getting bucked twice a week.

I'm getting Tariko, you know, a handful of times every year. So he would have been one because he's got the he does the things that bother me the most in the ones that are towards the bottom of the list, Tarrico. A command of the rules. A command of the rules is very important to me. And you don't think Rico has that as much. No, I think he does. I

think he's number one. That's what I'm saying. Is like the command of the rules, a command of the players and the coaches, the personnel, like knowing everything and being able to paint that picture. And of course all these guys at the top have a sense of the moment, you know, they have a sense of what matters and painting the picture and all that stuff. But that's where Tariko is amazing. But yeah, Joe, Joe, Buck and Troy,

I think they'd be my number one group right now. Yeah, so you got bucket number one, which is I think how to deny five years ago? Even I feel like there would be a lot of pushback on that because there's people didn't always like Buck and thought he maybe come off, came off as a little smug um. But I think there has been a general greater appreciation for him. I have no problem with that. Tariko too well. We

love Trico on the show. Harlan I like a lot, not just because he's a pro and he's been on our show and he's a great dude, but to be able to do TV and radio and do it as well as he does, that's that's something. What do you think, mark Um? I mean, my list is very close to Greg's with one major oldio. I was asking because I want to hear more about No No, I'm talking about play by play. I'm talking about Greg's list, my my

play My number one play guy is Kevin Harland. I put Harland like squarely number one for me because I think because number one you mentioned it doing radio, I was just counting. I'm counting TV. But that's fair. I mean you could you could tell Harland has maybe more fun than anyone else. I did rank Color guys, but I have an opinion on play by Are you asking

for that? Are you? I asked, Okay, I do want to hear your opinion on everything, Mark, But are you saying that you made a list for play by play guys, because I did on my own, but I did the presentations of the color commentators. The list of record for today's podcast is Greg's play by play your Color. So I just I want those segments to be able to be clear and concise to the listener. If you also have a play by playlist, I just need to know

that as host, and then I'll adapt that way. I am simply saying that I thought Greg's list was pristine, minus one change that I would pack. You'd put harlet Chard stuff. Well, we've we've we've we've blown past concise um and look Al's in all time great uh He's in an interesting spot with another all time great in the same building as Uh Tariko, so he you know, I still love listening to an eagle, very underrated and nance like, you know, it's not my like favorite flavor

of tea. You know, you've got your different flavors, but then your vineyard but tops man, but top self. You know, a quality you feel like you're watching a big game. He spent a lot of time with him. It's all good. M That's why al Michael's for me is still um number one. Even though he is up there in age. I haven't seen a slippage that maybe you guys see. And when I hear Al Michael's on the mic and this goes back to being a man of a certain

age now, it's like, Okay, this is good. That's why I love you know, even though we're at the game's not a humble brag, just the truth. So we're not hearing the super Bowl telecasts like most people like. If I know that Al, Chris and Michelle are on the game, it's like, oh, that's the number one super Bowl team I want. But opinions very obviously with Al at this state of his career and he and he loves it.

He loves I think he loves all sports. But that is that's a big part of sort of separating out this top tier. Like Harlan, you can just Harlan, you can just tell love sports. That goes along along with me. Tariko. Beneath all the intelligence and like knowledge, you can out how much he loves it. He's just like a sports junkie totally. Alright, what let's sear the bottom half of I want to share with us Greg, and then I

want to hear Mark's Color guys list. All right, I'm just gonna I'm gonna go go through it this middle tiers. You know, it's hard to separate them all, but I'm going the next time going Kenny Albert, Kevin Coogler, I mean on Adam Amina on Fox all really good. Joe Davis is good, Andrew Catalan, We're getting to Steve Levy Monday Night, Spirit Adidas, Greg Gumbles, and Chris Myers rounds out the list right there. I want to see I got it out of you. That's good. He got Myers

buried in last place. You got Steve Levy way too low. Steve should be higher. In my opinion, the rising star for me is Kevin Coogler. I thought he did great work uh this past week. I I texted you guys about it. He was as sharp as sharp as attack. In fact, that was when I was just saying why I admire good play by play so much? I was I was really impressed by how quick he was UH and being spot on every time there was um a play happening, or a skirmish or a guy missed the tackle.

He knew every time in the moment who it was. Coogler a rising star for me. Your thoughts, UM, I I'm very I know Greg and I've talked about UM these things so much that I have some shared UM. I have shared feelings about who's near the bottom, and I think the lack of There are people that are into football and there's some that I think are just play by play people on a contract, and there is

a difference between these types. I have no argument. I would put Steve Levy a little bit higher because I thought, you know, put into a challenging position, he's gotten better, UM, but I wouldn't put him a lot higher. I think that your your list is is cool with me. Well, here's the thing. Yeah, a lot of the other guys are played by play guys for everything. You know, That's what they've been doing their whole life. That's what they've

been trained to do. And there are, I think are some technical parts of the job that it has to do with rules and and knowing the player and everything that part of your mind. Some guys like Joe Davis, who's getting a lot of popping at Fox, is the MLB number two guy behind Joe Duck. He's definite at Joe Buck. He's definitely a rising star at Fox, can just slide into football, which is maybe not even his main sport, and they just like they got a handle

on it, you know, they gotta hand. Yeah. I like him a lot of think he's got a lot of ability. And Greg, maybe you will tell us at some point what happened with you and Steve Levy. Maybe he goes back to your p f T. Was there something you wrote a p f T that has created this issue. It feels personal, It feels like a little score settling. Man, I just want to watch. It's not it's respect for all these other guys doing it, and that he's in

a big that's where I'm talking about the spotlight. It's you know, he's on that Monday night football game, and so you know the rules, the rules. I keep handing hammering that, like the situation that two minute like promptier guy to talk about the like this fourth down call that's coming up instead of like with three seconds before it happens to be like, oh and they're going for it on fourth. You know, those are the little things that I noticed. All right, that's fair. Let's now move

to the color side of things. Mark, give us a let's start with your top three. Give us your top three, my top three. And I think that this job is a little bit different obviously than play by play, and I don't think there's many good ones. I'll start there, but um, top three, Troy Aikman, Uh. Second to Troy Aikman, Tony Romo, Chris collins Worth number three for me, okay, this is a good This is a good start because right off the bat, I knew you would have Troy first.

I know you love Aikman. Um, I think Romo is the best personally, but Aikman is very close to one B. So I'm cool with your list. And Collinsworth geez. I love collins Worth too. Just going back to my original thoughts about it's a big game with Alan Chris or behind the mic. But I can't really quibble too much of your list. That's a nice start, I was. I'm with you too, And I think Aikman is uh Tony Romo is my like he's my Patrick Mahome is where

he he is the best. But for this season, this is like Troy Aikman's you know, rich gannon m v P year or yeah, I should think of someone even better than that, you know, like Russell, like like I take I take Romo to build the franchise. But I think Aikman is the m v P this year. What a year alright? So that that feels like mark the clear like top three guys, who's in the who's in that middle tier? For me? I I go number four. I had Charles Davis. Um. There's something that I really

like about Charles Davis. I think that he has um. He kind of knows where every player went to high school and college, has a lot of added extra um.

I think information that other guys don't. I think he's technically good, like he's good observations and I you know, we know him personally, and I think he's he's someone that puts in a ton of work, so I and for me, that's for this thing gets messy for me because I don't have a like a huge fascination and some of these other guys, but this guys barely appeared. But I think Nate Burlison could be better than almost anyone on this list based on the few games I've

seen him do. UM. I had him as like a potential number five. I go and Dan, this is I'm not doing this to serve you. Um at number six a dish that you will like. But I think Brian Greasy has improved over the course of the season tremendously and there's something else that that three man booth is not.

I don't think three man booths really work. I think that they keep trying to recreate magic from the past, and I think it drowns out Lewis Riddick a little bit, who I think could be great if the table is set for him. Um. He may be not a booth guy as much, but Greasy has worked really hard to build chemistry in that booth, and I think he's shaken off a little bit of his inability to critique last night,

I thought he critiqued. Um. You know, in the last couple of games, he's been a little a little bit of a heavier hammer on things which I needed from him. M Yeah, I think he has had a nice season. Oh we're all I thought, you know, I think he speaks with confidence and I was admiring his work yesterday as well. I think he's good. Um, I think Moose Johnson is still should be in that second here. I kind of like the Moose. What I think Burkhard and Moose with Pam Oliver is a really solid team. I

think he should be in that. That's my list. This is reminding me of Dr Z Paul Zimmerman. I used to do a yearly rankings of all the broadcast teams, and like they all hated him because of it basically like you know, I mean the ones that he liked, Like he always was big on Ron Pitts, so like Ron Pitts loved him. Um, but like yeah, he would like he would give them like zero out of five stars and pretty I think he hated the early like Bucking Akevid like he would bury them with like one star.

I mean that's what I want to get to and as I keep getting um, keep getting older. Is really not care when these people hate you because they because

everyone cares. They don't. There isn't a lot of criticism of these guys because everyone's like not criticism, but there's not a lot of ranking of these guys because everyone works with them and you don't want to deal with But you know what, Greg, I think one way to look at is like we take criticism too, not on the scale of these guys, but on social media and things of that nature. I mean, what we do for

a living. So but I will say that Trent Green, having Trent Green and rich Gannon in our lives feels duplicative. I think I'm gonna you know, Gannon is much higher for me. I think Gannon's fine. I kind of like rich Gannon, He's fine. Just what do you think, Mark, anybody else you want to talk about? Is there somebody that you really don't need to hear? You don't want on a Browns game just say that the next little

quick tire was Darryl Johnston, rich Gannon. Um, And for me, it moves into you know, for me, it's it's like I need to feel the chemistry between the play by playing the color commentator and in a lot of the lower groupings, to me are just still early slate games that don't UM change my feeling one way or the other. Games Loft in Trent Green are probably rounding out my list. I'm sure they put in a ton of work. I think that part of describing football, what we've learned through

some of these teams is just because you played. UM. The ability to communicate what is happening UM and and to teach fans who are savvier than ever UM is a skill. And I think some of the guys that are lower on the list they're developing these skills, but um, you can't. I don't know. I just feel like there's there's some of these people that feel a little folksy, a little basic, and um, I need to be delighted,

I said. I think I think like and then from the bottom of my list, like I did, like you know, Mark Slayreth, James lofton Trent Green, they know more than I do about football, But um, I'm not learning from them the same way on Sundays and I don't need to know that on third and eleven. You need twelve yards. That part I get, well that you know that that's really um yeah, just saying thing is that like are are? But that's it's just their person you know. Sometimes it's

just the personality. It's one. It's one reason why I love the Vilma Jonathan Vilma and Kenny Albert Booth. Jonathan Vilma like he's not as technically polished. I think it was his first full year, but he loves it and he loves defensive football in such a way that most of the color guys I think are offensive and it's almost all he talks about his defense. And he's just so fired up and it's so excited when things happen

that that carries me. I love that booth. I love the Charles Davis and I an Eagle booth, and that's kind of the that's maybe one of the problems, and it's unfair, but it's like Monday night football, you're out an island and stuff. If I'm thinking of that, other networks have better, Uh, their number two booth is better than than your prime time booth, like an Ian Eagle Charles Davis booth, which is pristine. And then then you know, I like that like four times a telecast, Jonathan Vilma

says something that makes Kenny Albert deeply uncomfortable. Like I give bonus points for that. Like he's a little loose with his lips, Jonathan Vilma, and he'll he'll say certain things that you don't hear, and I think that's good to keep to leave. He he is a guy that got a lot of buzz both ways on social media. He's kind of a prospect to watch. And a little shout out to Kurt Warner, who does really good stuff of when Warner and Tariko are together. That's that's another one.

I love Kurt Warner on games. He is one. And it's not because we work with him. I mean he is so he is. That's another one. It's like, Okay, put that one in print. I kind of I kind of forgot about that because he's he's strictly radio, but um, it's fit funny to me because I think he shines, absolutely shines on radio as a color commentator and then you put these guys on on sets to talk generally about games, and it was a little bit less of Kurt Warner for me, Like he's so much better analyzing

the game as it's happening. It's a really special skill and you have to have the right personality and flair all right. Now, again, if anyone is listening to the show that is directly connected to today's analysis, Uh, it came from Greg Rosenthal and Mark Sessler and you can reach out to them on Twitter. And also they are once we get out of this pandemic. Uh, they are at most of the tent Pole League events at well

as well. Feel free to address any concerns. And ultimately, small men compared to the average I mean, especially especially me physically physically. Yes, they may think it's the other way as well, based on some of the shooting behind bulletproof glass. But listen, it's it's just part of the gig. Well, I don't need to be, you know, at the top of their podcast sidecar rankings either. So can you tell the Greg? Can you tell the story? Have we ever

talked about this stuff? Now? And now you've been weird. You are asking for a lot today, Dan, in terms of you know, Greg and Mark burning every bridge surrounding them off the island. We can't talk about the breakfast story. You already have done enough alright, listen, I just had to ask like as as a JOURNALI you know, when you want to get you do not leave until Chambers. And that's for that's for our behind the music that we're gonna do the podcast in five years. I understand that. Okay, Erica,

how you doing doing? Great? Erica cannot be more bored of us by us, like breaking down the difference between that Joe Davis and Kevin Coogler here less version of the Mandalorian. You're saying it's so weird. Yeah, you do say why do you say it weird? Are you intentionally?

I guarantee you. I don't know. I have no idea, Erica, Do you have a favorite play by play color team or is and I say this like not mocking or in anyway or do you just watch the game and not plug in on that way because that's the way most people are? UM, A little bit of both. I do like Tony Romo um and nance. But I do think Kevin Harlan's the best. He's awesome and he was

a great guest on this exactly. He was not nice and remember remember he said he'd sit in his hotel room like in Green Bay in Blast NFL Films music to get ready for that that kind of stuff. Like, I also think he's creative. He's not just a technical dude. Like he'll go into these poem poems and poetics that no one else can do. So he's basket to right, he's like he's a big And then radio and yet you're yet CBS is sometimes sticking him on like the

fourth game, come on, CBS. Well, he's out of position. He should be doing the best of the best, very good. I mean, it's an interesting who they paired him with. But I'll I'll stop speaking. Aman bugs me. Oh please, you don't like Aman. It's fine. He's uncut this year. I think I think it's partly because he's doing it twice a week and they and he said something about they told him make the Thursday nights a little like more punchy, a little moreever, and now you're traveling around

during a pandemic. It's like, I'm out here sweating for you, flying all over the country during pandemic. What the fike care if the special teams coaching doesn't like me? And he's just flying off the buying off the hint. You know, there has been moments this season where like Jarra's yelling at the screen, well what do you do? And Troy I thought we had an understanding he was. He was burying Jared Goff the other day and to the point where Jared Goff's had some you know people media support

is being like, why is choice? Why is choice of being so hard on him? It's like, comes him. It's funny. Those two guys, Goff and Wentz, who went at the top of their draft class together, are punching bags this year. Everybody getting there getting their chance to tee off on those two struggling qbs um all right, well they earned it, but it just feels like there's been some extra zest in the criticism towards those two guys this year my opinion. All right, that's the only opinion I shared today. I

let everyone else handle the heavy lifting. I appreciate it. Boys. Um. Thank you again to Peter Schrager, who's a stud Watch him on Good Morning Football five days a week and uh on Fox where he does great work as well. And we will be back on Thursday when we will preview yes weeks seventeen, and that is the biggest preview episode of the year for us in terms of pure gamage because there will be seventeen excuse me, six sixteen

teams times two. That's how many teams are. There will be sixteen games to preview on Sunday, so make sure you tune in for that. And as a little tease Dan for that. Obviously, we've got some news around golf. But another star from the RAMS placed on the COVID list that you're gonna wanna you know, hear about? Are you teasing that for Thursday? So don't check your phone. You probably know this if you're a big enough fan to listen to our show by now. Anyways, don't check

your phone, don't check the news. There is a RAMS star associate, big star associated with Third Down that is has now gone onto the COVID list. So just wait until Thursday to find out. Okay, that's a that's an industry term known as a cliffhanger. You will find out which RAMS star went to the COVID list in two full days, all right, Mrs an has a signing off for five cents or the old boss Ricky Hollywood behind the virtual last untiled Thursday set