Around the AFC with Wess

I think only two more weeks of chemo, but now we're talking about doing clinical trials, which is like experimental treatment after those two weeks are up. Um, because the back pain is still there and that leads me to believe the cancer is still gonna be there when they run the scans at the end of these two weeks. So we'll just taking a day by day. Came back. Yeah,

this is a big one, you know. In fact, it kind of informs how we want to build out our lead up to week one because there's a lot of fun stuff we go through on this show as we approach week one, and it's getting there. It's a week from Thursday right now, it just doesn't we say it, then it'll become real, but it's still doesn't really real.

It's not real in this house, I can tell you that where it's chaos at all times and the season hasn't started yet, it's uh, my body clock is telling me it's like June nine, and so I things are very odd internal. The difference though, between now and like a month ago, when when camp quote in quotes was in theory starting and now camps are basically over already it was like we barely knew we had yet, is that there's no doubt that the season is starting, at least you know in my like that was a real

doubt four or five weeks ago. It's like, wow, how is this all gonna work? Like I don't know exactly how it's gonna work, but they're playing that game. It's gonna be sixteen thousand people apparently in the crowd, and like, um, like I don't have much doubt anymore because the COVID ninety team list is so sparse that that football is happening. I just can't quite believe it's in a week and a half and that it feels like there's been no building.

This is a it's a blind spot for Greg because he fails to realize that like the moon is going to crash into the Indian Ocean four days from now, so you know, just let's not get too cocky here. As my mother has said to me many times, don't spit in the scar Let's just hope we get there. Things are going in the right direction, and yes, Monday's knowing that we have wes, we want to do our best stuff. And one of our favorite segments we do every year around this is Around the NFL podcast Around

the a f C in forty eight minutes. We'll hit the NFC later this week, but we got West locked and loaded as our number four to hit it. So we're gonna go through each team in the four divisions and everybody gets three minutes no complaining in the mentions

about your team not getting an up. But we still get complaints, as it turns out West because people then complain, Oh, those bozos went down some wormhole and they talked about my team for thirty seconds and talked about I don't know Drew Lock's grandmother that was on Twitter for the other two and a half minutes. That we're always gonna get like paying on something. Well, that's that goes with the territory. But I maintain I've always said, hey, put

the blame on your team, not us. Your team could be a lot more interesting and then we'd find lots of things to talk about for three minutes. Cast the blame at your team like a critical thinking fans dropping the hammer in a big spot as strong as ever. Um all right, so we're gonna go through it all, and I don't think we should even waste time. You know, there's some big news that happened in the league, and will fold that into uh, the a f C South talk. But let's get going. Let's start in the a f

C East. And oh, before we do, I just want to welcome in um Our Juna Rango Paul. He's he's filling in for Ricky Hollywood, who's got something cooking that I don't want to talk about yet on the podcast. But she's out, uh for a reason that's very kind of fun and interesting and potentially embarrassing for us. So there's a lot of a lot of things in play. Maybe great glory for Ricky comes out of this, maybe something horrific that changes the trajectory of her life forever.

That's a little easier to you, But h Our Juna is filling in for Ricky and and we just want to apologize as a podcast to get thrown into the fire for the first time. I'll be doing a around the A F C and forty eight. Man. That's a lot of responsibility on your plate. Man, And I'm sorry that I'm under brush. You know, having worked with our Juna, I few does just it doesn't really matter what's got,

what's what's flying around him. That was a real uh, that was a real no pressure, no diamonds response from our junior. And I'm good, I'm ready, and you keep us in line, our Juna. And if anybody goes over the three minutes, uh, we have those. We have a ton of We actually about weight too many tranquilizer dot dots darts when we were uh putting the Bengals into the Bengal sanctuary. So if you want to offload those, uh, just firing right into Greg's carotid artery. There you go ahead,

do a target. You can do a little target practice right here before we get gone. You've been practicing with that uh that weapon there. Yeah, water space all right. Once Greg comes comes to we're gonna get going because he's starting us off an f C East. Let's do it right now, are you know? Around the a f C forty eight minutes, we begin with the New England Patriots. Go. Greg.

We have talked so much about Cam Newton and the quarterback situation and the offense in general that I think we we've done a disservice to the problems on the rest of the Patriots roster. And I think Bill Belichick can figure things out because he's Bill Belichick as the season goes on. But even if prime Tom Brady was there, I think you look at the rest of this team and you see more holes than you've seen in a

little while. At tight end, they're really county on these two rookie tight ends, Devon Asciosity who got hurt um in camp, Dalton King, we'll see their their entire pass rushes really built on his chase Winoviitch gonna somehow break out. Maybe he will. He's had a good camp. Dietrich Why is a guy who's been there forever. They kind of like right now, they're county on two rookies at inside linebacker and Fredy Jennings and Josh who cha uh You look at their right tackle as a guy who's barely

started or played in the league. And I just think other than the secondary, other than cornerback, you have more question marks outside of just quarterback and just the lack of speed at wide receiver than you've had in a while. Belichick turned the roster over a couple of times, especially every ten years. It was similar in two thousand and ten, and a lot of young players played a lot better than anyone expected, and they were head of I think

they could do it again. But I think we've maybe undersold how difficult a coaching job this is gonna be, including on defense. For Belichick, his two sons and like two other guys. I mean, they basically have less coaches on that staff in any defensive staff in the league. That's a fact that a lot of bel a lot of other coaches. That's it. That's it. Well, I don't know if you might be over selling the defense. You're gonna have a hard time getting me to be too

concerned about that side of the ball. But when I'm reading the Gunner Olszewski is the number two receivers that in training camp. That's a problem. Um, Like, what, as a Patriots fan, what are your thoughts on Nikil Harry at this moment. He's been super up and down in camp. They say some great days, some bad days. That sounds familiar,

similar to him last year. Has to stay healthy. I mean, I'm honestly more hoping that Mohammed Sanu shows up as like um of what Mohammed Sannu used to be, because that's the is more realistic and Harry is just contributing. But but the defense, I am concerned about these defensive tackles. Another position where you know they were gonna have bo

Allen start, He's gone that. You know that it's a bunch of guys and they always figure out a way, and I think they will because Belichick is a good coach, but I think just talent wise, it's less than they've been in a while. Yeah, I feel like the best coach in the history of the NFL is uh. You know, he's not saying much, but he's pretty amped up to kick people's asses. And I got two other words for you.

It's called Ernie Adams and he's hidden away in this little laboratory and like they could wheel out the lollipop kids at wide receiver and still they're gonna be fine. I I don't even think this is zigging when others are sagging. I see New England as a playoff team, and I just I trust them to adjust during the weirdest year in football history as well as anyone. Mm hmm.

Greg Rosenthal, well done, Mark Sessler. Buffalo Bills. You know, I pretty blindly adore the Bills, and I realized that, and I think it's based on on some absurdities such as like I just like Western and Upstate New York and the and the trees and the farms up there, and you know, we sat down with Sean McDermott and he was really nice to us, and that's all it takes. Like I'm on love Island with the Bills. But there's a lot to like. I love how they've rebuilt the

entire offense and just a couple off seasons. I mean, I think this is one of the better, more reliable wide receiving corps in the a f C. You've added someone that can be legit deep threat in digs, and it's up to Josh Allen to improve, you know, his drastically horrific deep uh ball throwing skills. But I think that you know, he's gonna help Digs is gonna help a lot. I love their backfield right now with Devin Singletary and Zack Moss. I can't wait to see what

Zack Moss does. This might be a top three defense, So you know, I do think though in the a f C East, you have to be a better coach than Bill Belichick over the course of the season to win that division. I just have that much respect for the Patriots. But I think that Sean McDermott, here's my question for you. I think you know, I get I know, I get fascinated with these guys, and you probably think I'm a bit of a bit of a rube on that front. But I think this is one of the

a f c's next great coaches. Am I overrating what Sean McDermott, the Sean McDermott factor can mean for Buffalo in a weird AFC East. He's proven himself over the past two years, certainly three years, that he's a guy that's a long term answer. That's why he got an extension. I do disagree with the notion that to to beat the Patriots you have to be a better head coach than Bill Belichick, because that's just not gonna happen. But what the Bills have in their favor is a huge

talent gap between them and the Patriots. And that's kind of my feeling on it. You mentioned the Patriots mark that you haven't ticketed for the playoffs just because they're the Patriots and it's Bill Belichick and Ernie Adams, but I can't get past the fact that the Bills are just so much more talented. And then when you factor in the fact that they have a young, rising head coach.

I'm not ready to put him in like the upper echelon yet, but a guy that's really got them going to the right direction, and the entire organization that's going in the right direction. I think this is the heavy favorite to be a playoff team coming out of the division. I'm so impressed with Brandon Bean in their front office, and that started after they made the playoffs and they said the next offseason, we're not a playoff team, we're rebuilding.

We're in salary cap hell. So they didn't rush things. They went about it the right way and every year, look at how they've built that offense around Josh Allen. To the point is rookie year, he had met very little around him, maybe the worst wide receiver corps in the NFL. And then this year, who's got I mean, how many teams you can probably count on one hand better wide receiver corps step Big School Beasley, John Brown and their rookie fourth rounder Gabriel Davis is getting a

lot of love in training camp as well. And then you get you add Zack Moss to Devin Singletary at running back. I just I just really love the way they've built this off round. Josh Allen, Tyler Croft love too, and they got them all every year. Have no excuses for Josh Allen. True those chimes are for the people

that complained about the air horn. We listened. New York Jets Adam Gates might be coaching for his career in his reputation as one of the league's bright young coaching minds was damaged in Miami, pretty much obliterated in the past twenty months since he took the Jets job, and he got ripped by Jamal Adams on his way out the door. Lead Bell couldn't wait to put him on blast on Twitter over the hamstring practice thing last week, and it's just telling and given the injuries, illnesses, and

roster deficiencies last year. I thought it was a bit lazy for everyone to say, oh, the Jets weren't good last year because Adam Gates is the head coach and that's why their offense stunck. There were a lot of reasons why they stunk, and Gates had a role in it, but he's not the only reason. However, I don't think there will be any excuses for Gaze if Sam Donald and company can't take the next step in and oh, by the way, there's still a limited roster. Gaze still

doesn't have a lot to work with. So my question is, is is there any way Gaye gets out of this alive? And I forget about just holding onto the Jets job because maybe that's just doomed. But where he becomes one of those guys that goes from hot shot offense coordator head coach and then all of a sudden he's like, where where is Adam Gaze? Is he even the league right now? Is that if this year goes sideways, well, I think I think him maybe never being a play

caller again. You know, forget head coach. If things go sideways is absolutely in play because you know when you fail in New York, like the whole world knows about it. And he doesn't seem the trend of the coaches like your Sean mcveigh's and others who relate to today's players. And you just watch Hard Knocks and see that Sean McVeigh is so much more than just a brilliant play caller. He creates a culture, and Adam Gates does that in reverse on you know, And I'm at the point where

the Jets jokes just aren't even funny, they're bleak. And I can't think of a quarterback outside of Sam Donald who's been put into a first round quarterback who's been put into a worse situation over his career. I mean, it's just like, come on, the only way they save it is Sam Donald making a huge leap and Gaze maybe taking the credit for it. I think Gates can get jobs because he seems to have so many friends in the media, in front office, and people believe in him.

I mean that that's why we heard he was so great for year after year. It's amazing he got this job so quick. I don't think he'll get another head coaching job if this doesn't go well, I think they were set up for a decline anyways, because I think this division is bad. I just I think, um that the schedule is so easy last year, and the talent is so poor on defense for the Jets, And yeah, Greg Williams can coach him up, but he needs Quinn and Williams to show up. He needs Marcus May, who

everyone says looks amazing. Camp took Jamal Adams role to be kind of an all pro type of guy. They haven't had, you know, much of a pass Russian camp. They're they're saying, Okay, well, that's a good sign for the offensive line, like we'll we'll see on paper. I think, what what paper? I think this is one of the two or three worst rosters in the league. I think the Dolphins are another one in this division. That's why. And I don't think the Bills and Patriots and necessarily

rack up wins either. I think nine wins could win this division. I think I'm ready for a blowback against leaders who so discord chaos and negativity. And Adam Gates is one of those m the Miami Dolphins. Chris Wesley, Well, I'm catching up on the Dolphins news and a couple of things stood out to me. Preston Williams, who towards a c L and the second half of last season and was arguably the best skill position player as a rookie before tearing that a c L seems to be

doing really well in camp and coming back strong. That's something to keep an eye on. But I've been surprised by and I guess my question do you guys, is how big of a surprise is that the camp battle is not two of versus Fitzpatrick, it's two of versus Josh Rosen for the number two jobs. I am surprised. Maybe we shouldn't be, because two is coming off a major injury in the shortened time, but they didn't make it any um, any effort at giving to a first

team reps. And now Ryan Fitzpatrick missed some time his mother unfortunately passed away. But he's back with the team. Now he's gonna be starting the two of practice. Reports have been pretty up and down. I don't think he's wowed anyone. He's going to be the backup, he'll be the guy to replace Fitzpatrick at some point, but it doesn't sound like he was particularly close And I think they know it's a tough spot, especially early in this

season with this offensive line. I know they have a lot of new players, so hopefully the line is better, but it was maybe the worst line in the league last year. Totally new group. I think the defense is professional though. I think the defense is a lot more talented than it was a year ago, especially in the secondary. Yeah, I think they put They put a lot of money

into the defense and they had to. I mean, they're Their inability to rush the passer and protect their own passer was a death knel and I think that Brian Flores did a great job down the stretch. But it almost puts you don't want to be overly optimistic about the Dolphins because of what we saw down you know, at the end of the year knocking off New England and stuff. I mean to me, I look at the offense of roster, and there's some parts there, but it's

one of the weirder offensive rosters around, right. It's just really Parker has been out of practice, DeVante Parker, and so it's like you look at that receiver corps and there Flores is in a very tough situation and look Ryan Fitzpatrick let's start there. I mean, how many times has the Ryan Fitzpatrick gone well in year two? And

I know he was awesome. As Mark Marcus pointed out, many times you let the team in rossing in addition to happening and just being a guy that you just love to root for, but it usually doesn't get so good after that. Uh So, to me, it becomes just this like internal battle in the organization about tah and whether they can make the right decision with him, both healthwise and for the good of the franchise. That I think that's the big storyline to take out of their season.

Winning five games, to me, would be an accomplishment to match that I feel, and I don't think Dolphins fans feel that way, but just the way last season fell, um, I think they got a little lucky with the schedule again, you know with the a f C East that if they can repeat that, that's good. You just want to know that toa is okay and promising, and that Florists continues being a promising young coach. I think that's fair

and and it's down to quarterback. Fitzpatrick, like Dan said, does not have a record of doing it two months in a row much less two years in a row and then two is probably not ready to come in and be a stud just yet. We closed the book on the a f C East. Well done, very disciplined boys. Let's move now to the a f C North and Chris start us off again, this time with the Ravens.

You look at this team and record setting offense last year, but I think what a lot of people failed to see about the Ravens is also one of the youngest offenses in the NFL. Look at their skill position players and everything has been the last three drafts. They're so deep now, especially maybe the deepest backfield in the NFL. Their wide receiver, a position that in that franchise's history has given them all kinds of problems, is now probably

a position of strength. Guys like rookies like Devin de n A and j K. Dobbins and even James Pross, who's been getting some love in the in the training camp. How much of an impact do you see those guys having considering the depth they have at those positions. Not much. I mean Dobbins might be the exception. Everyone says he looks great and came. I'm having a hard time not getting really excited about him. Yeah, and I was excited.

That's one guy our our friends Spice Rack was huge on thinking he's like the next And because this was the most run heavy team since the Tim Tebow Broncos, and Lamar Jackson had three times the rushing value compared to any other quarterback in the league according to Football Outside. Is that sustainable? I think so. But you gotta put some new twists on it, you know, I think you

have to. You want to throw the ball a little more, you want to use your receivers a little more, and you hope the defense is good from the start of the season on. Because the defense really came on strong late for the Ravens, not so much in the playoffs, but on paper, um, they should be pretty good. Like it should be a balancing They shouldn't have to be best rushing team in the league to be one of

the top two uh A f C teams. I mean I I we did our picks for NFL dot Com and you know, last year I picked the Browns to go the Super Bowl and that acid trip wore off. And I am picking the Ravens this time around. And I don't think they are gonna be fourteen and two, because that just doesn't happen two years in a row. But you know, they were not the same team at the end of last year when Mark Andrews got injured and when Mark Ingram got injured, they just really weren't

the same crew. And I think that the Dobbins pick, he's the kind of guy that might Maybe it's it's not early on to answer your question, Chris, but I could see Dobbins becoming the guy down the stretch and uh, you know, changing everything for Baltimore. I love that they have there. It tells me we're not going to try to be that different than we were last year. That is what we want to do, and we're gonna you know, that's what we're gonna do, and it's gonna be us

first you. I love that they signed Class Campbell. I think Mark Ingham was the best free agent signing of a year ago in the NFL, and Class Campbell will have a huge impact on that defense, which is improved. And I really just don't see a big weakness on this team other than maybe depth at wide receiver. I don't love I wanted them to get Emmanuel Sanders or someone at white up back to Jackson and running the football.

In his first two seasons. This from ESPN, he has two sixty design runs a hundred and fifty nine more than any other quarterback, Josh Allen second with one oh six. That doesn't feel sustainable to me in the long term. I know he's been durable so far, but I'll be careful. This is your franchise now, right agreed? Stainable for one more year? Hack that away and what do you have? The Pittsburgh Steelers. Has a sense of urgency in Pittsburgh ever been higher in the Tomlin era than right now?

Or should it be a big bend thirty eight years old? We know his whole situation. The Patriots, we know they're not special anymore, so you don't have to worry about them anymore. Being the fly in the ointment. The rosters loaded with free agents, uh, many of whom could be playing elsewhere with the uncertainty around the salary cap right now, championship roster great skill pieces on both sides of the ball.

The defense could be the best in the league. Put Big Ben back in for Rudolph and Duck Hodges and that could be a huge upgrade. Uh is it now? Or never for the Black and Gold. I think so because Ben either is gonna make it through and still be Ben. I guess then it wouldn't be not You know, then then you think, okay, maybe you have one more year,

but how many more can you count on. I think they've had one of the most positive training camps of any team, not just because they haven't had any major injuries, but Roethlisberger has made it through and everyone there same. His arm looks good. I know there were some reports early he's like short arming things or whatever, but he's out there every day he's practicing. They say he's he's throwing the ball well and he's getting through this. Will

it last when he's getting tackled. I don't know, but I think it was a fair question to even wonder how it was gonna look in August, and he's throwing fine against there. They have to be fired up to have him on the field at the same time of this defense, which it took a long time to come together, but there's a lot of great players on this defense

at every level. I think it's you know, we forget that they were eight and five a year ago with an absolute nightmare roster and I think that there are a little bit of a revenge tour team and we we cited them correctly. Is maybe one being overlooked a little bit? I mean the next factor is, is Juju Smith Schuster gonna be who he was two years ago? Um? Is Antonio Brown correct and saying that he's not a true number one? I think he was in a terrible

situation a year ago. I mean I would also look yeh, I mean it just it was not a good It's not shocking why he wasn't himself. I think this is also possibly beg big bends last year in Pittsburgh. I honestly have I have this returning vision of him being Gruden's quarterback with the Raiders next year for one year. So I think the urgency is there and that like this isn't you know, it's now or never for Pittsburgh A hundred hunt. Yeah, the favorite in the division. I

really do go ahead over Baltimore. Yep, I I I disagree with that, but I think they'll be right there, you know, very close. Juju is still younger than some of the guys who were drafted this year. I mean

that he's still developing. He still got room to grow and a guy that Greg has liked for the past few months, Chase Claypool, was getting all kinds of positive pub coming out of camp, which is so interesting watching draft season and seeing like the Bob McGann articles where he's like graded as a tight end because they don't think he can stay a wide receiver, and now he's blowing the doors off a training camp. Well, that's a monster that looks like a tight end actually can be

good for a wide receiver in the red zone. One zero, alright, Sessler, make it count the Cleveland Browns. All right. Well, I think we've talked about this team a lot, and we know the offensive talent is there. And I've been watching They've been putting these two hour long camp practices on YouTube every day. I've been taped dog in this stuff West Okay. And here's my big concern comment. I don't see here's my this is a legit concern. I'm not

trying to be freaked out about it. I don't see in these practices a drop off from Baker Mayfield to case keenom I know the case keenom Is is comfortable in this Stefanski system, and Baker has had to learn a lot of third system in three years. I don't like that. It's not easy. I give Mayfield credit for getting his body right. He has been all focused on football. Um, but here's my issue, and this is a little bit

more of an esoteric Brown's issue. We can get into the other stuff, this whole Baker being silent and Baker you know, uh, you know, just quietly working. Baker Mayfield is like that cocky cowboy who you love or hate based on your own p O V. And the NFL quarterbacks are a different deal. I don't really want a quieter Baker Mayfield. I wanted to be who he is, and I don't think the Browns maximize who they are if he is muted or overly humbled in that position

where he's still coming off of last year's disaster. And you can tell me, have I fallen down in other one of these sort of Brown's mental wormholes, or is there something to the fact that Look at if you're if you want to be the quiet leader, be it. But if you're Baker Mayfield, your soul is something entirely different. Be who you are and don't apologize for it. That goes for everything everybody in life, but mostly for quarterbacks. You have to be genuine, you have to be true

to yourself. And we're not gonna have answers to Baker Mayfield in August. We're not gonna know until October and November how he's doing. But but the best sports stories are about overcoming adversity, and after what what last season was for him, this is overcoming adversity. He's got a show that there's more more fiber to him than what he showed last year, that he's got some some willpower because the personality he's putting out there, you gotta put

out more effort than you put out last year. He played incredibly well as a rookie, ran his mouth that summer leading up to last year, played poorly and it looked bad. So now he's moving in silence. If he plays well in September, he'll be talking again. I think I don't buy it. I don't buy the moving in silence thing. I think he's doing it because he's smart and people told him to be this way right now, but we know who he is by now. He's a charismatic guy. He's a cocky kid, and I expect that

to come out. I'm already cringing by everyone like applying like if he does bad, it's because he was quiet. If he does well, it's he was quiet. And it's like, no, he was. I think he was humbled by defenses. You know, he was hum He he is a gamer and I hate that phrase, but he created a lot after the snap without exactly knowing what he was seen as a rookie, and he was awesome. I think he's still throw the

ball pretty well at times. Last year, he just made a lot of bad mistakes and um, he realized he needs, as West said, he needs to get in the playbook more. He needs to like learn what he doesn't know more. Go ahead and Mark, you got three seconds, two words, Harrison Brant future star. This guy is gonna be awesome. That's a lot of two tight end sets. Hit me with that dark gun. It's like I want it. Give

it to him. Feels good. The kard Artery Payne alright, moving on closing out the division, West, I mean Greg, excuse me, the Cincinnati Bengals. Let's head to the sanctuary. It is so strange to be coming off off season where we have talked about the Bengals a ton as a fun team. One thing to keep an eye on. Joe Mixon hasn't been practicing for more than a week because of quote unquote Migraines might have a contract. I

mean before the season. I think that ends up. It sounds like it's it's gonna be handled perfectly well, like Melvin Ingram situation. But but keep an eye out for that. I think they've had a really good camp because A. J. Green is helped again. Tee Higgins is out there, and they are the team that had three receivers on the field more than almost any team other than Arizona last year with these trashy receivers. Now you've got a nice group.

Jonah Williams has looked good at left tackle during camp. Joe Burrow is out there making team statements on social justice in front of fifty veterans, and they tell him to be the guy to lead him like. I love that that. He's already kind of impressed the people around him. Are you now that we're right here, Wes, are you feeling it? Are you getting back into I'm not coming home? But this might be the most encouraged I've been four Bengals fans since the eighties. Yeah, I mean Joe Burrow.

To me, I've been saying this all along. The natural leadership qualities are there. And then to see J Morrison, who writes for The Athletic in Cincinnati, said he was easily the m v P of training camp, your rookie quarterback drafted number one overall. I mean, sure, it's only August. Take it with a grain of salt, but if you're a Bengals fan, nothing is putting a bouncing your step like Joe Burrow, like actually putting forth on the field

in training camp that he is that guy. Yeah, I feel like it came out of Central Casting as like the perfect quarterback. I mean, he's smoking cigars in the locker room, he's got awesome hair. And Zach Taylor on NFL dot Com is my doing those picks again. He's my coach of the year, dude. Because they're gonna go two and fourteen last year. I think they're gonna go nine and seven. They're gonna wax the Browns in week two. I've already texted you with those fears. I think the

Bengals are gonna be super fun. I'm not kidding. I think they're gonna be this awesome story this year, and as much as I don't love that, I'm really happy for Bengals fans because it has been a dark winner for decades. M M. I don't want to take this off topic, but if you have the Bengals as one of the fund stories in the NFL and the Ravens as like a super Bowl team and the Steelers right there,

you must not be very high Brown. No. I think they're the fourth place team because I think they were affected by anyone by injuries in camp and also an impossible transition, A tough ask other teams in that division are are are steady, steady steady? The Eagles would like to have to have a word to you on those injuries. I mean, well, they're up there different like an outside

linebacker is like, let's get back to the sanctuary. Yeah, let's give the Let's give the Bengals defensive little attention because they were terrible last year. But I think they don't be terrible again. Dunlap was good. If Geno Atkins can be a little more like there on the back nine of their career, we can't expect improvement. It's fair Dunlap at the end of last year was as good as he's ever played the last five or six just saying, good guy. All right, before we close out the a

f C South, let's pause. Here are Juna Uh to break down the big news coming out of Jacksonville this weekend, and then we'll we'll dovetail right into West setting up that team for three minutes. But yes, the big news. The Jaguars traded Uh franchise tag defensive then Yannick and got Way to the Vikings for second round pick and a conditional fifth round pick of the Vikings announced Monday and got Way and this one, this blew my mind.

And I've seen a lot in football and guys unhappy about contracts and unhappy with their team, but I've never seen a guy take a cut like this. And Gockway has agreed to a one year, twelve million dollar deal with the Vikings instead of playing out the franchise tender of close to eighteen million with the Jaguars. That's what it took to get the trade done the Vikings that limited cap space. Let's start within Gockway, Greg, your thoughts

on the deal? Did they promise him that they're gonna pay him a specific amount under you know, under the table the Vikings. I mean to make this trade because you're right, I mean, and I wouldn't shock me. No one would ever be able to find out about it. They said they're confident they can resign them. They can't do that right now because of the rules having to do with franchise tags. Because to take a six million dollar pay cut just because you want out of Jacksonville

so much is um is fascinating. I mean, he he certainly did not like that organization. It's an awesome trade for the Vikings, I think because, uh, his speed plays well. I love him on the indoor track opposite the Neil Hunter. I mean, I really think it solves one of the big question marks for the Vikings, is you yeah, I think like Also, the other thing about in got Way is despite the clashing with the Jaguars, everyone sort of says, this guy works hard and he's not a problem at all.

It's the opposite. And if you want to look back a year ago, it was Jalen Ramsey who went, you know, the trades of the Rams did not require him signing a new contract right away. He also wanted to get out of there so bad that it was just like there was a culture issue, and I can't I can't remember a more dead you know, like floating dead duck uh coach in NFL in the NFL than Doug Marone right now. I mean, it's like what on earth with

Doug Moron after? I mean, they'll probably keep them anyways, but I mean, how many rebuilding jobs is David Caldwell going to oversee oversee at this point? I mean, we all see the numbers of the first rounders that have not gotten to second contracts and gotten out of there and produced eltswhere or just been you know, bus, I just what's going on here. The loyalty to these guys is surprising to me. It reminds me of the nineties Bengals, where David Caldwell is going to rebuild for what the

third time? I mean, and what's he done with his high draft picks so far? You've got guys scratching at the walls to get out of there. That's that's not healthy. They have one winning season since two thousand eight. Caldwell got there. In two thousand thirteen, shot Con got there inn and I mean they took the longest victory lap ever for that one winning season and resigned Bordles and didn't draft you know, some of the better pastors we've

seen in decades. So the other move, Leonard Fournette has been cut loose. The Jaguars tried and tried and tried to move the number four and former number four overall pick in seventeen on a trade. Doug Morone told the media that as much on Monday, saying they could not find anything. Sixth round pick, seventh round pick. There was just no market for Leonard four Nette West A little listen. I know people, nobody likes Leonard Fournette as a player

right now. I was surprised when I was looking at his numbers that he did have fifteen hundred total yards last year a lot of you know, and he didn't find the end zone a lot. But this wasn't a guy that was a total disaster for them last year. And now they move, they dump him, and I get why people are saying this is a tank for Trevor's situation, because he's he was He made their roster more talented, right.

I know he's not stud but he made the better I think for net is one of the he might be exhibit A for why you need to watch the games in football. His numbers are so different from what you're getting for him that it's volume. Pure volume is what it is. Like. You can stick a lot of guys in there and make on the three down back and they're gonna get total yards. I mean, that's just the way it works, especially if you force feed him check downs and dump off passes, and he's the exact

wrong guy to be getting that stuff. You want to hit Leonard four Nette with room to run as a big guy, he should be making guys miss and running over people. But most of his big players come from getting to the second level of defense and just out running everyone because for the first few yards he's not going anywhere, and he's just a really inefficient running back. I think he could do a lot better in a

different offense. He's probably ill suited for what Jake Gruden's gonna want to come in and do, and that's why they're getting rid of him. Um. I thought he was much better in two thousand nineteen than he was in two thousand eighteen, and I think he can help a team. But if you're just looking at numbers, you're gonna drastically overrate the guy. I would say you go read West's game notes on four Net that he tweeted out before the show today in which he gives him the nickname

battleship for Net. Maybe you can explain West why he earned that nickname. Well, you know, it has to do it. It's like imagine him turning around with his back to a defender in the passing game and trying to make a move on a guy is like a battleship turning around in the Panama Canal. There's just no agility there, like you're not gonna you're not gonna make anyone miss. You know. It's it's a tight space with a guy who's just gonna take an hour to unwind and go

around him. Just how does not go for overall? How does he go ahead of Patrick? Yeah, to be to be fair to the Jaguars, um I thought that they were crazy to double down on boardles that year, and and we we were on the record then saying that because he was coming off a bad year. But everyone had for Net ahead of McCaffrey. Not to mention Mixing

and Camara and all the other people. Guy who runs four people were just in love with with that tape of like people they thought because defenders in the SEC that he was too much for them, uh, that that he was somehow going to overpower NFL defenders. And that just aren't many guys like that that come up, come along that are so physically dominant. Derrick Henry's one. I mean, Derrick Henry's kind of done it um, but there there

just aren't many guys like that. It's also the NFL and so much that is dependent upon scheme, coaches and teammates. And if you put this guy in the right offense, surrounded by the right people, and call the right place for him, it wouldn't surprise me if people start seeing him as a Pro Bowl kind of runner instead of a guy where he's being used wrong, he's getting the wrong touches, and he's and he's behind the bad offensive

line with a rookie quarterback. You can't put it all in called because there's the Tom Coughlin factor, who wanted to build a team that got shotguns out of nineteen thirty six based around you know, a big body back where it's like that can work, but you also have Blake Bordles at quarterback and they're always blaming in someone though, it's like they blamed the previous GM at first, then

they blamed well, it wasn't our fault we brought in cop. Well, you were there, you were the one that brought it. You know, you're part of that group that brought in cough. I guess he can blame the owner if you really want, not called well, but it's they're always always pushed it around the blame. It's like, no, marone is nobody's fault that we're just the worst organization in the league when

it comes to winning games. Well, I was gonna say, yesterday and my sideyard, the bottom of like the wooden gate was blown to Smitherens because there was my two sons in the house and then um my friend Bob's two sons and the four of them just going a and slamming in this batmobile into the bottom. And then when I went for answers, I wanted accountability, it was just everybody pointing fingers at the at each other for

the blame. Nobody wanted to take the accountability. So when you're being likened to a let's say, a six year old, a three year old, a four year old, and an eight year old. Maybe your organization needs to clean things up a little bit. Maybe look at all the talent they've had come through there. And you know, Greg has pointed out in the past that defenses are unreliable from year to year. When you build your team around defense,

you can't count on it. Like two years from now, they're you're gonna be great, and Class Campbell's gone, Dexter Fowler has gone, Jalen Ramsey's gone, Telvin Smith, Malik Jackson. I mean, this was a Super Bowl caliber roster except that quarterback. And it reminds me of an article I wrote like five years ago where Mike Holmgren says, you draft a guy, and here's the very important part. No

matter what happens, you stand by him. You stand by him in public, you stand by him in prior of it, no matter what happens on the field, you stand by him. At what point are you doing yourself a disservice to the point where you ruin your franchise by standing by the guy? You miss your Super Bowl window because you stood by the guy. All right, let's now get into uh the around the A f C format once again. West Let's hit the Jaguars now suddenly without any of

their well known guys from the past. I don't think it's an apples to apples comparison, because the Jaguars have tried to strengthen their roster um. They've gone out and signed some veterans to fill some holes. But this is the closest thing this year, obviously to the two thousand nineteen Dolphins, where we're unloading our veterans who we don't see could have a future with us. They won't be

a part of our next winning team. So my question is what constitutes a success for the two thousand twenty Jaguars. I would say this real quick because it's west. It's funny. I wrote the words organic jag tank because I feel the same way that that they they are. They're running that that going down that road right now. I think you need to because you're probably gonna be the number one or two pick, right, you have to uh find out what you had in Gardner Minshew, and to to

the point of sticking with the wrong quarterback. If Gardner Minshew is just a really serviceable fun um back up, you need to know that by the end of the year and not make the mistake of not getting the best quarterback out there and staying in the same uh, you know, dark territory that they've been for so long. I think you have to evaluate the most important position on your roster and aggressively go fix it next off season. I think you hit on some picks and uh and

your young players play better. I don't you know. I think they could be a little feist the on offense. Minshew at his moments. I think the receivers are are pretty good, the offensive line is stable, and um, they have that hasn't been the case. I mean, they have their starters back. I think it's having those young players Will Josh Allen, Um, you know, the first round pick

this year? What was it chasing c. J. Henderson. I mean they had a couple of first round picks this year, those guys playing, I mean Miles Jack was a guy they thought they were going to build around coming off a pretty rough year. So it's like some of these young guys stepping up and the offense being feisty. I

don't necessarily think they're the number one pick. It wouldn't It wouldn't surprise me if they have a Dolphins like season where you know they're fifth or sixth in the draft, and there are certainly rosters out there I think that are just as bad or worse. I just say on paper door and like they I get concerned about. If you want to talk about like a Corona Risk team, one of these teams where the coach is not part of the future, he's losing the players. They start one

and eight, You're in Florida. People are out partying saying forget this whole thing. I mean that is when you get into you step into a stick your scenario. It feels like Gardner Minshew is in an impossible spot because even if he is, I mean I don't I have a different view on his ceiling than other people on

the show. But even if he's pretty good, if you're running this organization, you're probably gonna want to do the Bengals thing here or what teams have been doing forever is like we need to reboot, we need a new face of the franchise. And as cute as Gardener is with his floppy hair and his social media stuff, like, you probably want to get the number one hot shot out there and say this is our guy. We're starting over, and he's the face of it, I feel like that's

where this is all headed. Maybe he'll be the Brown's quarterback next year. Mark, you know, as long as he keeps that floppy hair, all right, all right, let's continue now to roll through the a f C South Greg Houston Texans. The Texans gave Zack Conningham, their inside linebacker, a big contract over the weekend and and it got me thinking's heard about this roster and I like Coney Ammy is one of the best run stoppers in the league.

Although they have too highly paid inside linebackers, which is this weird two twenty probably get rid of Bernardic McKinney. I think it's a fine signing, but it reminds me this is not a young team, partly because they haven't had draft picks, partly because they haven't hit on their draft picks like their hope this year. And this is it's a dangerous spot to be. It is just like the veterans they have have to be available and better. It's like because because those veterans are pretty good. J. J.

Watt is number one among them. I mean, they're a totally different team when he's out there. But Whitney merciless is another guy, Bill O'Brien. The GM gave a huge contract to late last season after one of his worst seasons, and he was not a good pass rusher. Last year, they gave Laramie Tunseil a huge contract. Smart people say he's one of the best in the league. I guess he is. He also had the most penalties of any left tackling the league. So you you want him to

be even better, to be to be dominant. You want Will Fuller to be healthy to be dominant. You want to Shaun Watson if it's possible to go up another tier, because that is possible. I mean, he's he's only entering what year four or five, a couple now away from a c L. Justin Reid played through an injury. I

think he's a really impressive player at safety. So it's a bunch of guys who are veterans who are just saying, you're already really good if these guys are all better, Like those guys are Pro bowlers, and this team is a lot to deal with it in a division where there's really no big favorite. Well, they they have been and they continue to be a particularly shallow team that wins a week division because they have stars at the top, and it reminds me of like the Cowboys ten years

ago when they had the star power names. But if they have an injury or two, then you're in trouble, and you know, on top of it, to your point that the veterans need to show up and be great now. Next year is another year where they don't have a first or second round pick. You don't pick till the third. It's like there isn't You're not really there's not a real easy way to add an injection and of of young talent and build the way good teams do, which

is through the draft. I mean it. It's an interesting team because of because of Bob's unpredictability around the trade deadline. I still think that they will do some freaky stuff this here, but there's no proof that this plan works. Yeah, and O'Brien got killed obviously this offseason, and I, even

as a long time Bob defender, I couldn't. But I also think it's premature, especially we're talking about a division that feels wide open, to think that this team won't be right back there will fuller to me is the Janka piece, the damnoshetic Jenka Pees, because he's so talented and so good. If his body just held up, he could end up putting up numbers that eclipse what DeAndre Hopkins did last year. I think he has that level ceiling.

Every wide receiver on their team is like if his body just holds up, Brandon Cooks Randall Cob Brandon Cooks, Key Couta. Along those same lines, let's talk about the cults, because I understand why the contingent of cults, cults, hyper optimists out there exists. Um Philip Rivers is the old

star QB with something to prove. You have a smart, proven offensive mind, head coach, a dominant offensive line, and intriguing, intriguing rookie running back, a veteran number one wide out who still has juice and untested but promising second round pick at number two, one number three wide out spots,

and Michael Pittman and Paris Campbell. The ceiling here for the Colts is as high as any team outside the Chiefs on offense for me, But how often to teams with that many factors that need to go right, does it actually all click. That's where I'm skeptical that everything clicks for the Cults if it all does look out, they're gonna go twelve and four this year, but a lot has to go right. Well, here's what they have going for them. Even if things don't go right, they

have depth because they've drafted and signed really well. The organization is so sound, the structure is sound um to me. Outside of Philip Rivers disappointing, you can get by with the rest of that, with any other position disappointing. I mean, if Marlon Mack doesn't do well, Jonathan Taylor is there, Michael Pittman that isn't there, Zach Pascal, who had a pretty good year, is there. I mean, they've got options if if guys don't pan out. I don't think it's

like an entirely hinging on Philip Rivers too. I mean, I think if he's just not a turnover, it's a lot of different things, right, a lot of things that hinges on for this offense. The max out I hear real quickly. I think that like this is another team where Frank Reich Chris Ballard, the pairing of them is is just very uh, they're in unison. It's very hopeful, and you have you can't really look past the human side of football and how they overcame what happened with

Andrew Lucky year ago. I mean, it's like this, this is a tough this is a tough organization. I like this. I like the kind of style of football. I think they're gonna they're gonna run on offense and with a seventh playoff spot if they're not a playoff team, Indianapolis got hit by an asteroid. I have them, I have

we sent in those picks. I had the Colts winning the Super Bowl just because I wanted to pick something that would be fun to route for, like uh and I think they're they're one of those teams outside like the top five most likely that that have a shot. A lot of things have to go right is as Dan mentioned, but rivers is camp has had positive reviews that it's like he looks like a guy who's been in that offense before. It's mostly short, it's not a

surprise he has been in that offense. That's what I mean. And t Y Hilton, He's he to me is the Jena p I mean, because when he's right, he's a top five type of receiver and right now their connection you can see that working like him and Keeenanan Allen Rivers and Keenan Allen back in the day. But Hilton's got to stay right, and uh, I think I think the upside is there. The downside is eight and eight, and I get that, But I think they could be

a three seed that has the magical run. They go through bucket board Kansas City on the road of the playoffs because there's no crowd. What if they're three and five? Do you think the backup gets back in? No? H really yeah, supposedly he doesn't looked good and the week to week league all right close it out in Division.

Mark Sessler Tennessee Titans, I think, you know, speaking of you know, going into Baltimore and going into Kansas City, Tennessee's playoff, you know, magic from a year ago fell a little bit short, but was one of the more enjoyable developments that I can recall in a long time. And I think the question for me, I feel like, with as much as any team in the a f C, we almost have to look at the Titans and say,

here's how they get back. They get back by the masterful Arthur Smith, um Needing his two dudes, Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill, and we spent weeks wondering which what which one will they keep? They kept both, and they have to almost mirror I think last year's success. I don't feel like this offense is built in a way to suddenly, hey, let's shift gears and be like an air raid offense or roll out like the running shoot

with Molese Davis. Like they are who they are, and we're asking Henry and Tanna Hill to kind of duplicate, and that to me feels very difficult for both of those guys. It's just a lot to ask. In their defense always to me, Um, they were feisty, but they feel a little anonymous on that side of the ball. Still Um Titans to me right in the mix. But I last year was sort of magical. It can magic duplicate itself. I think that's a fair question. I don't

think you can count on everything going so perfectly. On offense. For instance, there's no way their play action attack is going to be as effective as it was last year. It was just it was abnormally effective. So to me, the improvement has to come on the other side of the ball, and that two thousand, seventeen eighteen and nineteen first round picks. You needed Dorey Jackson to be a

Pro Bowl cornerback. You need Rashaan Evans at inside linebacker to be a tackling machine, and he had one of the most impressive goal line stands I've ever seen last year in the playoffs. And you need Jeffrey simmons um to make Jorell Casey an afterthought, and Jeffrey simmons is talented enough to do it. To me, those guys have to be absolute stars, not just solid starters. It's a fair point because when you look at the names, there is a chance this defense gets better. They lost Dnps,

their defensive coordinator. It's a little unclear how they're gonna call plays, whether it be very able or what they're gonna do. But Malcolm Butler actually played better for them last year. Like he's not a bad starting corner. You have Kenny Vaccaro, as said, you have Kevin Byard in the secondary, like you're needing a little more pass rush from Harold Landry or Vic Beasley. But add up all those names you said with the young guys, like there

is a top ten defense upside. We haven't seen it since verybel has been there, and I agree that's what they need because Tannehill it's gonna slide back. It's just like, how much is he sliding back to like a solid above average starter. I think he can do that. He's not going to be a top five starter again, it's just too crazy to expect. Derrick Henry's last let's call it twenty twenty three games have been as good as any running backs we've seen in sometime. Is that sustainable?

I mean the abuse he takes to what they ask of him. Maybe he's still young, he's maybe he still has another two, three, four years in the tank. But that's another question mark. Will he be able to sustain that? The masterful Arthur Smith underwell Arthur Smith. I think he's an underrated OC A great job last year. He's the FedEx the FedEx air righton? Who that's pretty you know? And who who tried to kneecap the Washington football team helped change their team name his dad? I guess. So

it's all it's all weirdly connected, are Junah? Don't be shy with that tranquilizer gun? Now? Oh yeah, I forgot it. Let's close it out. The a f C West, the great mailman will deliver on the defending champs, the Chiefs. So I was going through Leonard four Nette landing spots and the one that intrigued me the most, I think

was Kansas City. So if you have the rookie what's name Edwards A Layer Clyde the glide, So you have him in the old c J two k get the lead role with a playmaker, play him the first half, get the league, let him make plays, and then bring in Leonard Fournette and to keep the league clock killing rule in the fourth quarter, the old Lendale White rule.

We you need Lendale White to be humble enough to accept that role and the paycheck that comes with it, and it would mean he has to go through the waiver wire probably maybe sit out for a few days, nobody picks him up, and then he's like, well, maybe my best bet is go win a Super Bowl with the Chiefs and then try to get a contract off of that. To me, that that's intriguing because I don't like the death behind Edwards a laire. You know, it's so fortune smiles on the Chiefs and ways that it's

never done before. Because you draft Edwards Hilaire. Let's say they hadn't, and then Damian Williams, you know that wouldn't change. He'd still opt out, I think. And then you're asking about maybe Leonard Fournette being your feature back, and nobody likes the idea of that. I mean, they've got a few other guys there, but that would be messy. Instead, I think they're one of these teams they mind me a little bit of like the Packer some two thousand eleven.

You're gonna go fifteen and one and you just got to look out to not get waxed in January and one of these sort of more stunning playoff losses. Uh. It comes to mind what a place to be as a franchise. I uh. I think also, if for Net doesn't want to take that role, maybe call up the real Lendale White. I love that. I think he's that was a fun group Johnson and White for like one or two years there. They were good. I I do

think you can find flaws in this Chiefs team. I mean they the defense was bad enough to give up twenty four points right off the bat to the Texans in the playoffs, which could have ended their season for the second straight year. And then we would have just talked about how disappointing their defense was all all off season. They're starting cornerback I think right now is gonna be Legarious Need a rookie fourth round pick or Rashad Fenton Brelan who suspended for a month and so he'll be back.

Is their best cornerback. It's like, okay, they're second best pass rusher is either Alex Okaffer you know I'm talking about on the edge Brian speaks. It looks like it's gonna be uh who's that passing young I can never say his name is probably starting there. But you know those are questions. You know, those are key spots cornerback, pass rusher. But I mean, I think they might be a very average defense in their in their hopes. I guess the worst case scenario is that they're they're back

to being a bad defense. It's scary to think about Patrick Mahomes being injured for much of last year and what they were still able to pull up. But there has not been a repeat champion since like two thousand three. It's hard to do. I wouldn't pencil it. Pencil knet mark he took the Ravens have Well, that's right, devor Broncos. All right, consider the current state of the Broncos on offense, new offensive corner in place. It's Pat Shermer, by the way,

new QB coach. They got a couple of new offensive linemen, two new wide receivers, both rookies in a pandemic year. Drew Lock, as has been documented often here, remains a third theoretical answer at quarterback rather than an actual one at this point. The offense, I don't put too much of this. I'll say it. The offense really struggled in a scrimmage this past weekend. So I'm just gonna ask, is it's fair to wonder if the Denver offense is a prime under performer candidate, at least in the early

part of the season. It is fair to ask for all the reasons you outlined, but you're not gonna reign on my parade, Dan Hansen, plenty of faith, look I mean, and most of it stems from Jerry Juty, who has been, as advertised in camp Um, already seen as one of the best route runners in the NFL. And it's been phenomenal in camp Um. Albert Oh another rookie, the rookie tight end looks really good. This team, the depth in their skill position talent compared to where they were two

years ago is astonishing. And if they're a little a bit of a freestyle team with Lock, it's like he makes guys better freestyling uh and to the point where maybe their defense can carry him. I mean, no, Afan was better once Lock got out there. Philip Lindsay was better. Like there, Their receivers were better once Lock got out there because he can make some He can make some plays even if it was out of structure, whereas their

previous quarterbacks. God in your county. On the defense to carry this team, I think when the defense gets more than four games this year from Bradley Chubb and I like that a lot. And I think Vic Fangio is quietly one of the best defensive coaches around, you know, I mean in ages. My thing is like you talk about luck, he is masterful. You talk about like I'll tell you, I don't think it's masterful as Pat Schremer and I don't. I don't Pat Schermer and like Drew Lock,

freestyling don't fit together to me. I mean, I think he did a nice job with the Vikings okay, but I still remember Pat Schremer being pinged by Michael Lombardi for like people calling up Lombardi saying, whenever I watch, you know Pat Schirmer's offenses, I know what's happening by looking at the formation one second. So is this can he do? I think what you want with all this talent and the question mark is he's the right guy? I don't know. I think they'll start slow because of

what Dan said to I think they are. They could be particularly hurt by the pandemic. But the offensive line, especially on the end here, does look better. It's always been a weakness. They don't really have a right tackle after Jown James opted out, but that's always been a pretty big weakness for this team, and on paper they look like they could be a lot better. Dalton Risinger

looked great as a rookie. Um. You know, they brought in a quality starter in Glasgow, and they have a rookie center Cushion Berry that people seem to love, So they could be better upfront. One concern with Bradley Chubb, just keep an eye on it. He left the scrimmage early. When that's surgically repaired. Me acted up. He said he didn't feel right. All right, they said it's not serious, but not good Oakland excuse me, the last Vegas a

right as Mark Sessler. That kind of remind me a little bit of the Broncos because I look at the Raiders, I'm like, I can talk myself into seeing them as a wild card team if things went right. I think Rooten and you know is fine. Mike Mayok has just kicked some butt, is GM. You got Henry Ruggs, you got Darren Waller, Josh Jacobs, So you can kind of see it coming together as a a frisky a f

C entry. But then I also look at like the games that they totally blew last season, like when I went up, you know, in to watch them play the Jaguars and a historically important final game in Oakland, and they totally blew it by being way too safe and conservative and not seizing the moment. And I got screwed by the officials in that game. We all know it. Oh well, it is the quarterback in the way of

his style of play. I'm sorry. That capped a four game losing streak down the stretch where they were outscored a hundred and thirty six to forty nine. So I just don't think they're all there yet. I mean, I they they just as easily feel like an eight and eight side piece to me. But I think Greg thinks they're a little frisky. Does anyone see them as a sleeping giant what they need piece? Yeah, side of the NFL kind of like you kind of keep that keep

them hidden, you know you don't. You don't ask the team you take out on Saturday night. Keep them a little you keep them in the shadows. I think you're right Mark that they were like a five and eleven team that won a couple of extra games more than they should. Last year. They really weren't a good team. But they're a very different team now. I mean, whether these transactions work or not, this is a very young team. They're having their rookies play a lot. They're having their

second year players play a lot. The free agent pickups that they had, like Trayvon Mullen is their number one cornerback right now. After they cut a Mukamara on Monday, they're counting on these free agent linebackers they picked up. It's just a totally different team. It's a good looking offensive line, I kind of want to believe in this tight end crew and the running backs. They're gonna have a lot of heavy sets. They're just gonna be zig

while everyone zagging. And I at least like that for a little diversity on my on my Sunday view eat. But do you believe in the quarterback? No? I believe he's like an eight and eight side piece. I guess there you go. Basically eight made by the way, with an extra playoff spot might actually gets you into January. And I think they're nine win type of team though.

I I because I do think that there's so much room to improve on defense that they should that even if they're like the twentieth best defense man, that would be a big improvement for them. And I do think their offense can be pretty good. They're powny on their offense. To be a top ten offense anything lass would be a disappointment. What linebacking crew improved more than than the Las Vegas one? I mean, Corey Littleton and Greg west Is you know, man crush, that's a good little pairing

right there. Quick. Yeah, the first team, we've run out of things to say. Hey, we're just an awe and a board, there's no there's more meat on that Derek Carr side piece bone, but we don't have time. So I'm just gonna say I think he'll be okay. I'm gonna get blocked again. Finally, Greg closed it out the Los Angeles Chargers. Yeah, we mentioned um like the the injuries, like Nick Chubb for instance. It I mean, Bradley Chubb

is such a mystery right now. There's more mysterious injury situations around the league then I think we know because there's less reporting. But Derwin James's injury on Sunday, we know, we don't know the extent to it, but I know that it's the most caught. I think it's the most costly, big time injury that there's been since camp started. It's crushing because I think he brings out the best in the coaching staff, getting to be more creative. This is

a bad defense with a lot of talent. Last year they weren't in the top twenty most efficient defenses, a lot of good players. I know they didn't have Derwin James, but that's pretty disappointed. He unlocks the cornerbacks, you know, he he unlocks his tag team partner Racheion Jenkins, who played really well. Um, I just think he's such a

unique special talent. Losing Derwin James is devastating for this defense, and it's gonna put a little more pressure on their offense in Tyrod to score some points because I don't think you can count on them being a top five upside defense when Derwin James is not on the fact. I don't like that term more pressure on Tyrod Taylor

to score points. I know that everyone is fascinated with Tyrod Taylor right now and it's it's playing out and it's not fair to him, but it's almost exactly well, No, I think it's like a little bit of the hard knocks after It's just that that's what happened in Cleveland. What a leader like, what a guy? And I think he is And I think the coaching staff really loves Anthony Lynne, loves Tyrod Taylor the person and wants Tim

to be functional. But the problem is Tyrod Taylor stops being fun about three weeks from now, and then you got a rookie quarterback that comes into coaching him. He did, he had some moments to be fair when when he was in Buffalo. In Buffalo yes, not in Cleveland, And I mean I just think that there was. I don't know, come on, I mean, Austin Ekeler to me is the centerpiece on that offense, I believe in until the end. But their wide receiver position he's not. But look at

their wide receiver positions. So what how do you you want to talk about scaring the defense with a mobile quarterback but they can't do anything they have to. They're gonna they're immobilized. How how versatile they can be through the air. I think it's a rough place for Justin Herbert to get starts early too. I don't like that at all. Receiver with Mike Williams injured, is jailing guiton good luck like um seems to me like a Leonard

Fournett possibility for a landing spot. But Joshua Kelly, the fourth round rookie, is getting as much hype out of that camp as anybody on the team, So maybe they don't need Leonard Fournette there. This feels like one of those eternally snake bitten franchises. Remember writing about Durwin James

earlier this summer. If the people that track these guys say Derwin James as special as anybody that's come out of that position in decades, and now for back to back years before the season starts, he's getting ripped up by injured leader too huge, right, hopefully he's back midway through. I took him as my number seven seat. I believe in you, Tyrode. What a way to go out a masterful performance, you know what, Just unleash one more dark please, just for the heck of it. He likes it. He's

actually into the tranquilizer juice. Finally, that was that was good? All right? We just went around the a f C and forty eight minutes and we will, we promised before a kickoff Chiefs Texans a week from Thursday. Hit the NFC as well. And you know, if you're a long time listener that this is UM a fun time of the year on the podcast where we really ramp up UH in terms of season preview and looking ahead and

making predictions, all good stuff. So make sure you check in Wednesday with our show or a rundown show our NFL Network program that we tape UH and airs on Saturday morning, and UH West We're just happy to have you for another Monday with Wes session. Well, if the time he works out, excuse me, I want in on that NFC forty eight minutes and we do have a little bit of breaking news. Time for breaking news. Yeah, hit it. Logan Ryan as a home former Tennessee plays

New England. Paid billion dollars five million from the Giants. Pretty good at this point. They needed him, they need him. That is a huge pickup for them. We were just talking about how their defense, which is not good looking even before DeAndre Baker and these injuries. Uh, they needed somebody. Can Logan Ryan play the guitar the way they need him to? Maybe not? Uh, Logan Ryan, guy that had big numbers that Tom Brady picks six at the end

of the playoffs. But some people say he's a little limited. I guess it depends on how you use them. Hopefully you won't get exposed. He's a solid guy. He's he's immediately the best player in that in that secondary and he's a grown up there that can play. They just they just didn't have. They didn't have guys that you could just put out there that you could feel comfortable. Weren't gonna just get fill aid. I mean, I still

think there they were a defense. If you're a fantasy guy's going up against the giants, you're gonna be everyone you're selling James Bradberry short. Oh that's true. I take it back. I'm blanking on Bradberry. What better way to do it than, you know, take the entire offseason as your personal vacation and cash a seven point five million dollar check. Uh, you know at the eve of September, you can make it happen. All right, that's it. Thank you,

our Junifer stepping into Ricky's shoes. You killed it under difficult circumstances. No pressure, O, Diamonds. I did my best. I did my best and it was good enough. All right. This is Dan Hanson signing off for the Mailman, the Quiet Storm, the Old Boss, and Diamonds behind the glass. I mean that's a good anybody. Anybody would be happy to be Diamonds. It sounds like a prepper. Two Wednesday,