Bunkercast XXII: Andrew Marchand and Christian McCaffrey Inks Deal

from a city bailed with heroes in Monkers. Mark Sessler, Chris Westling, Great Rosenthal. What is up voids? Hey Dan? Hey, hope everybody enjoyed holiday weekend, Easter passover? Everybody fly. Very nice Sunday Easter in the Sessler household. UM, you know, a little bit different than the other uh wall to wall seven um exposure that I have with my family, NonStop, never ending, don't get one second to myself scenario. It

was quite peaceful and enjoyable. We fast tracked. Jack Is doesn't have his own bike or he didn't, and we were gonna give give him one with the training wheels and everything for his birthday in August. But given the situation fast track that he got it from the Easter Bunny yesterday morning, he was on fire. He couldn't believe it, um because he was just talking about how he wanted a bike, and bang Easter Bunny and you know it hits it out of the park. Who's plugged in the

Easter Bunny. Who's Who's a great dad? The Easter Bunny? Uh, and the mommy. Anyway, so I get to go driving around. I have a bike. I forgot about it. It was the one mark we come from such humble beginnings mark with this company that I didn't even have a car when we started at the NFL, and I used to have to uh ride my bike to get to work. Uh. That thing was in the back of the garage. Brought it out, dusted it off, got the tarantula's off. It pumped up the tires of some are and we're riding

around the neighborhood and it feels good. It feels like that. Yeah, I feel like that bike on. My earlier memories of that of that bike would be that we'd occasionally um with the when we were on the edit desk, go down to uh the Irish Times or we'd go down to Jocks or Daily's after work, and you know, it would stretch onto seven or eight at night. And one night Dan was singing um karaoke with a big black backpack and then left into the middle of the night

to drive his bike home. But you know, he had a few I would say, a few beers would go safe, and uh, you know, about forty five minutes later, I got a You know, I didn't know Emily, his wife, very well at all, and she texted me very concerned about Dan's whereabouts because he hadn't arrived back home yet. So I don't know what happened in the interim there, Dan, or if if you were just lagging, I think, yeah, I think I just wasn't in touch the way I

needed to be on that night. And when I got back home, it was like I was sixteen again and the parents had caught me coming home from a party. Now, and I you know, that's funny. That's one thing that bonds us in our time. Mark, I have I have gotten messages from your wife as well. Where is Mark? Is he okay? I need your help, so I would I'd prefer we don't dig too deep into the topic not necessary, but it just goes to show we got each other's backs and that's a good thing. Um. All right,

guys and gal, how are you Ricky doing? Wow? How are you guys? Good? You look fresh faced? You Did you get a nice relaxing weekend? I did? Yeah, felt good. I can't believe it's already Monday again. Though. On Friday, we had the first round the NFL Twitter Show from

the Bunker, and I thought it went really well. If and if you didn't check it out, you should because essentially is us, you know, not being rained in by any of the corporate giant We were able to talk west your you could speak on this because I know you air that frustration sometimes when we do some other stuff on network and whatnot. The Twitter show is very close, uh,

almost an identical twin brother to the audio show. Yes, I felt like for the first time since we've been on like kind of a strictly run camera operation, we were allowed to approach it the same way we do the podcast, which is, you know, we like to say we've got good chemistry, but that chemistry isn't there. If everyone is on que and scripted. That has to happen, that has to flow, uh naturally organically, and and I felt like that happened on the Twitter Show. And here's

the good news. The show is coming back uh every Friday through the draft, So make sure you check it out on Friday and we'll we'll be promoting that and it's a run by the NFL handles tweeting it out. So that's got that's the reach, Greg, that's the reach you're looking for on social adding the social master. It's

really all I care about these days. And just on the Graham checking out, you know, and that's just I love those rap battles, hey, you know, the constant presence on Instagram and maybe maybe to the point where I'd ask you to tone it down just a little bit. I'm like sometimes like, hey, West off TikTok already, bro, I've never been on TikTok. It wasn't until I think a month or two ago that I heard of TikTok. Mark and I were way into vine back in the day. Oh well, we had a few a few accounts that

we tracked very closely. Let's put it that way. All right, today's show, I'm excited we got Andrew Martin's coming on from the New York Post. He is the sports media reporter slash watchdog. Uh. He has been taking us every step of the way through the maschinations connected to this great drama at ESPN with Monday Night Football. So we're gonna talk to Andrew about what's going on with that booth, who's gonna be in it, in who's not in the booth?

And why aren't they looking forward to talking to Andrew. But before we do that, let us get caught up with some news. Now that I wake up, we're out of here at our house and thinking about what's happening and what's going to happen. And it's harder. It's a little harder every day because I think, what's about myself than the people I care for? And um my hair, my hair was kicking my hair cutting the start. Stop

cutting my hair maybe. But anyway, speaking of social media and Instagram, Mark, you've been way plugged in on Alec Baldwin's ongoing meltdown connected to COVID nineteen. Yeah. I mean again, it's another thing that I'm invested in because I think that you Dan are interested in it too, because it was another text that I sent un replied to yesterday to our group where and I get it. It's the middle of Easter morning, and I was I found time

to proves Um. Alec Baldwin's rather sort of daily um I g TV deep Dive where he seems to be claims to be in a bathroom. It looks like any bigger than any room in my house. Um. And he just goes on these dizzy and rants and like the one you heard, he had a very um nice thought about the people around him, and then he cannot help but fade into what seems like an internal thought or two about his hair. And uh, that's sort of the

vibe of the overall production. I enjoy them. His his ego is immense and um, he brings a lot to the table that and like the blanket of depression, if you just want you want to just like put that over you for the rest of the day. Like, here's a Alec Baldwin's depression. He's trying to get rid of it. I've said on the show in the past that I've always viewed alcohol that is my celebrity spirit animal. And I'm rewatching Dirty Rock right now and it all checks out.

I think his behavior might be similar to what mine would be if I were extremely rich and had a big mansion and nothing to do. So I don't have any of those things, but if I did, I could see my behavior being very similar to current day Baldwin. All right, let's get into it. Let's do the news. Keep us Baldwin newsdrops coming because I feel like he speaks for all of us in a lot of ways, no doubt. Alright, Christian McCaffrey got paid. This is um

Adam Schefter of ESPN had it. It is a four year contract extension worth sixteen million a year, so four for sixty four. I don't know if that is the actual value of the deal. Probably isn't, but he gets paid.

And it's very interesting with timing here, Greg, because as we all know, running backs that get paid typically haven't been working out Todd Gurley Levy on Bell, it goes on, uh And yet the Panthers decide after an offseason where we're hearing some whispers that they might even move McCaffrey, instead they lock him down. Your thoughts, and there's no point making a comment on the money because the details

are now. It's a four year extension, which means he still has the year of his rookie deal still to tack onto that. But he's no average running back like great players, if you have a top five player at the position, it gives you an advantage. I don't care what position you're playing. People are gonna make all these opinions. It was sixteen million dollars a year. Let's see what

the guaranteed money is. I suspect it's not like outrageous and that it's more like a to maybe a three year deal where you still have some of his rookie contract. Why not he he has a huge advantage in the passing game. The first thing I thought of was that little skit we did a couple of years ago. Can Christian McCaffrey run through the Uh? Was it run through

tackles or run up between? Yeah? Well he's answered that one, and I don't even know if that matters as much as it did ten or fifteen years ago, whether you can run between the tackles. He's the prototype for where the position is going in the future, where he's just like a rocked up slot receiver who can also play running back. And uh, that probably will go great with the new head coach, Matt Rule in his offense with Joe Brady there, So to me, he's the new face

of the franchise. Luke Kikley's retired. Cam Newton is out of there and this is Christian McCaffrey's team. Yeah. I think it's interesting just to kind of monitor every transaction that comes out of Carolina because it's another puzzle piece. And what Matt Rule, who I think is gonna be a different thinking type of head coach, wants to do

with his roster. And there were whispers um about basically anyone being available in Carolina and that you know, there was some little chatow that maybe even Christian McCaffrey could be moved. And this is a decisive um slap down to that development. And it's he's part of the East twenty three. I I get that you want you. These running back contracts are gonna be looked at sideways, but he's not twenty six or twenty seven. I mean, I

I don't have a problem with the deal. Listeners may or may not be aware that Teddy Bridgewater averaged less than six air yards per attempt last season in his time with the Saints, which included a handful of starts. Well, you know, it helps when you have the best receiving running back in the league. There for a guy that might I'd like to check it down a lot and

keep it a little more conservative. So if you're a little nervous about Teddy and whether it's able to open it up on offense and and drive the ball and really move it off as well. If he's going to be conservative by nature, he has the best guy possible. Is a kind of safety valve uh in Christian McCaffrey. He also might not be the quarterback and almost certainly won't be the quarterback by the time Christian McCaffrey's contract

is up. I mean, it's still very much feels like okay quarterback this year though right he will be, but he might be battling, you know, to a or Justin Herbert or Love or who knows. I I think the Panthers are a reasonable uh possibility to take a quarterback early. All right. Another news, the NFL Draft. We already know it's gonna be a much different affair. Originally supposed to was be going to be filled with glitz and glamor in Las Vegas, all wiped away by the dreaded COVID

nineteen um, so what is it? Instead? We knew it was gonna be a quote unquote virtual affair had Esques Headgear mid nineties, Skinner Max Fair, No, a little bit different. It's gonna be done in the homes of the various decision makers across the league. Roger Goodell is going to be stationed in the basement, and I bet it's a nice basement, by the way, It's not like your basement in his Westchester County home outside of New York City. And it's going to be an ESPN and NFL network

joint affair across both networks. So it's gonna be different, Uh, Mark Sessler, much different. And because of the nature and the limitations ESPN and NFL are working together as supposed to having two separate broadcasts, they're gonna combine the UH telecasts. I don't know if you remember this, Mark, maybe you were a little older because you were a little older

than me. But the cartoon All Stars Against Drugs, Uh, in the early nineties, they simulcast a cartoon half hour special or an hour long special in about two or so, and that it sounds like a nice show. Greg's in my age range, but I know he wasn't around in nine two. Um they combined all the top cartoon stars of the day into one show and then told everybody not to smoke um weed. Basically, you're talking about the laugh Olympics, not the left different feel like they're all

stars to the rescue. I think if their message was largely ignored by most of the country. Yeah, I don't think the really Rottens were on board with that message. Greg, Yeah, the Laft Olympics is great. I was a big fan. Anyway, we're all whipping on our pop culture references right now, but let's just say that it is going to look and sound a lot different. The NFL announced those details,

so get ready, people, It's just amazing it's happening. I mean, the NFL is lucky how the whole schedule played out, and people were upset that they did free agency at the time, and I know we're only a month removed, not even I think it makes sense now in retrospect, because who because no one knows when when anything's going to be close to back to normal, And now then fall draft is literally the only meaningful sporting event I guess outside of WrestleMania. If you want to count that.

But that's entertainment that's gonna take place for a matter of three or four months in you know, it's given people something to look forward to. We were only ten days away and no reason you can't do. I mean, the draft essentially has been a remote operation for thirty two teams. Anyways, you go to when we used to go to Radio City Music Hall, there'll be like two jabronies from each club sitting there with a phone taking a phone call from the war room. So I it

should go off without a hitch mostly. I mean, I I feel bad a little bit for some of the people that spent, like a guy like Charles Davis, who spent you know, a year studying prospects and is no longer part of the production. But that's just the cost of trying to mash two groups together. I like the idea that all these gms have one I T person

in their houses, in their home, you know. You know, during the live Twitter show, we've got a dog barking coming from our producer's apartment, and now we have a live you know, an on air sneeze there. But I guess I was muted, and so I clicked it and clicked it, but I A muted myself, so you'd probably be tested. Yeah, go ahead, West finished that point. Sorry.

I like the idea that all these gms have an I T person in their house, and I'm reading in Peter King column about Thomas Demitro's making sure this guy only uses the exit is in no other rooms of the house. They're treating them like it's an espionage like they they're in undercover. These I T. Guys just put them in like pasmat suits. Uh, you know they're not gonna be about to see anything. They all get head to tell yellow with the big the big headpiece and

the mask of the plastic mask in the front. Just go for it, and I get blindfold. I get people are all worried about like the cameras and how the production is gonna be or whatever, But like every pick as always been made, as Mark said, by telephone. Anyways, if if they want to call, it's not like they were doing it on slack in the past. It's like Thomas to mitrofl called Bill Belichick and they'll work out of trade. Like what it really isn't that different than

than it is normally. I will be tracking one thing I mean, if you're a Goodell, you know that you're gonna get highly uh you know, scrutinized for the backgrounds, Like we've all got these backgrounds behind us, and if you're in your Gooddell basement, what's it gonna look like? He's he gonna go out of his way to remove maybe extremely expensive basis and things that people would that would get on people's radar, like an old like rush

concert poster, anything that might have people turned sideways. I just I want to know the process. I I have to say this. I mean, we've worked at NFL that for a long time and it's a bummer. From the vantage point of we have all these great people that put together the draft coverage and can execute it, from the research team to our our talent people. That's gonna

be different this year. But as a purely as a fan, it will be kind of an interesting show to watch just how it unfolds and kind of the mystery of what can happen, what can go wrong? That kind of end of it is something that will make it a little bit more intriguing than other drafts. Well, and more than that, it's a show to watch, it's a live show.

To watch. You know, I know, like people are like watching NBA players play horse from their basement, but there there's like a level of desperation there I'm not ready for. Like this is an actual, big time live television event that's actually gonna happen all right. In other news, uh, as happens every time every time around this year, the

Competition Committee UM works together on potential rule changes. So each team has the opportunity to make proposals that they sent to the Competition Committee, and then the committee works together on whether or not to implement that rule into the book for the new season. And we can go through a few of them right now. One that's kind of a highlight for me. Here is a potential quote

unquote Bill Belichick rule West. I know you love this stuff. Uh, they could look to close a loophole uh that Belichick first used against the Jets and that grizzly Monday night blowout um by New England in weeks six. I want to say where they took multiple procedure penalties in a row to just wind down clock time, uh, to to end that ugly affair and then that was a great night. Yeah,

I want to talk about my favorite game. Another great night was the Saturday night of the wild card playoffs when Mike Brable of the Titans used that against Belichick when it really counted and he needed those seconds. Uh, and used it against Bill, his old protege. So uh, the league, that's one of the rule proposals to change that situation. So you can't run off double the time on audit penalties you're committing on purpose. That seems like

a no brainer. Well it failed two rules. It failed to him in sense rule it should it just by common sense, it shouldn't be allowed in the game. And the second rule is the sport better for it or worse. The sport is worse for it, so take it out. Uh. It's no surprise that Belichick was looking for a loophole. His his one idol in the NFL is Paul Brown, who spent most of his career thinking up new ways to get around rules. Ben rules. I mean, that's the

history of sports in this country. Really, farewell time chewing loophole that's gone. But the probably the biggest news for me out of this was they didn't even the Competition Committee didn't even bring back the pass interference replay for a vote. So it's just gone. It was back for It was on for one year on the books. It was a trial basis, and they're not even gonna have the owners vote on it when they meet again, which is scheduled for mid to late May. It's just off

the bucks. I mean, it's unofficial. I but that that has gone well. That was the one smart thing that they did when they when they instant who to the rule was, they gave themselves that out was like, it is not forever rule. It's a one year trial run. And obviously it did not work out well. So I don't think anybody's really crying about that. Common sense wins again. Here's a few other ones are out there. The Eagles, Uh, they've made quite a few proposals. Here's they want to

modify the blindside block rule to prevent unnecessary fouls. That that popped up a couple of times, and most notably, UH, Cody Ford of the Bills was called for an illegal blindside block on a third and nine when the Bills had the ball in Texans territory and overtime of that crazy wild card game. Uh. The fifteen yard penalty knocked the Bills at a field goal range and UH effectively that was their last best chance to win the game.

So a lot of these times, same thing with the Nickel Robie Coleman UH non p I phantom p I call that led to the p I rule. Sometimes it's a high visibility play in the playoffs that leads to these things. The Eagles also want to make permanent the expansion of automatic replay reviews to include scoring plays and turnovers negated by a foul, as well as any successful

or unsuccessful try attempt. UH. They also want to we talked about the onside kick rule that the Eagles proposed that would allow a team who's trailing in the game an opportunity to maintain possession after scoring. For example, the team trailing could attempt a fourth and fifteen from their own twenty five yard line. UH. We saw that used in the Pro Bowl. Any thoughts on that stuff, guys, No, No, Philly.

What also wants to bring back over time is a fifteen minute affair back in The owners approved shortening it down to ten minutes, but Philly saying it was better the old way. The Dolphins also proposed an option for the defense UH for the game UH clocks to start on the referee signal to defense the clients and offensive penalty that occurs late in either half. Uh. That is the Belichick rule, right? Is that what that is? Then?

Now it's it's kind of like a close cousin to it that that you're getting an advantage by having having a penalty. I don't think that Eagles overtime rule and less I'm crazy. I feel like the overtime rule is popular, um inside the league and out, and I feel like they're on an island. They're trying to go back to the old overtime at least I hope there. And finally, the Ravens and Chargers have proposed to add a quote booth umpires an eighth game official uh to the officiating

crew at a senior technology advisor. Seems like always good to have a senior technology advisor in modern times to the referee to assist the officiating crew. So all those are up for a vote. Uh. The owners meetings, which were supposed to happen uh last month, are now pushed and scheduled for what next month? There's yeah, there's one scheduled for May, you know, mid May, and Marina del Rey. We will see if that happens, or if they try to do it by phone, or what they decided to

do right. Uh, finally in the news, yes, whenever, whenever remember the Graveyards comes off the roster. It's you know, it's like the with a teacher. Uh. They could say all the kids are the same, but they're not all the same. Some some you love and that you stay stick with you. And for me that was Roosevelt Knicks the fullback, the only fullback. In fact, on NFL dot COM's own website for top available free agents, it was

just Roosevelt Knicks under the fullback category. So I knew it was only a matter of time before uh he went elsewhere, and he does go to the Indianapolis Cults on a one year deal. So Rosie Nick, I mean, you're it's someone who's functioning high up in the you're actually created the team. Doesn't change the way you run your offense. You're you're pulling a fullback out. If you have a fullback, it tells us something about your your playbook. But you're gont he's out. Well, as I've said that,

once a gray beard, always a gray beard. So it doesn't change this roster. But I guess it's just a little a ping of oh wow, he's he's moving on in another way as well, to a real team. So that's just the way it is, and again very different this offseason. Nix is one of the only guys on this entire roster of really quality players still without a job. One of these with a job, one of these guys gonna sign. What's gonna happen? I guess we gotta wait for COVID nineteen to go away. A lot of big

names still have to find. You have to find someone else to take those four imaginary fullback snaps away from your roster. Anyway, good good, good for you, Rosie Nicks, get that, get that real money. That's what's happening in the news, or is it? Do we have a little breaking news? Tom Placeero reports the NFL and NFL p A have reached agreement that a voluntary off season program, including some virtual training and virtual practices, is gonna start

in April, a couple of weeks. But probably the key item here is that no team will be allowed to go back onto the field until all thirty two facilities are able to be opened. So it's it's a notable Yeah, it's a good rule, but basically, no one is allowed to practice until all thirty two states or our thirty two teams rather like back on the field. And why is that notable? Name an area of the country that

has not been hit hard by COVID nineteen. If that country, the area of the country has a football team there, they can't get a jump star. While the Jets and Giants is an example, are still completely uh, you know, dealing with all the mayhem that COVID nineteen is presenting.

So that makes a lot of sense. I mean, I don't know what virtual training is that that seems, I mean classrooms stuff, Like basically they're doing the classroom stuff that they would do in the facility where they're meeting with their position coach and going over some playbook stuff.

It winks the NFL um into political circles as much as it's ever been because you're gonna have certain governors, I mean, for very good reasons, simply refusing to open anything up in certain states where others are gonna push and you're gonna have there will be you know, the NFL is not gonna be able to control that at all.

I think it's it's it's a fascinating time. And I just the idea that they're going to like open things up in a couple of months to me seems does does anyone to feel that that's just wildly well, I don't think only impossible right now. I don't think there's any expectation that anyone's practicing before training camp. So yes, they're they're not going to announce, and this is about the off season program, to be clear, this is only

about the O T A mini camp period. Uh. And yeah, to answer your question, mark, it would be shocking if, um, to me, if if anyone is practicing any O T S or mini camps, If the NFL p A is like the rest of society, they're gonna point out after this is over, see, we can virtually do all this stuff. We don't have to be We don't have to gather each April to do this. Fair point, fair point. Same thing about going into the office. Let's just you know, ye my kids have to go back to day you know, daycare,

but that part is essential. Get the kids. Yeah, back to the PoCA. The podcast, use uh you could use a little in person. Uh, we can we can stand to be together. I still adults stay out of pants, kids go back to school. Yeah, Daniel being Westchester, New York in six months a dis continued. Um, all right, let us move on. All right, it's the man, really, the greatest journalist in the history of the Around the

NFL Podcast. I feel like that's the way we got to step this up because we talked about almost every article that rolls out from the New York Post sports media guy Andrew Marshan. First of all, let's start right there off the New York Post. Uh, Andrew Marshawan. Now, I I thought it was marching initially, and as a New York guy had for years thought it was marching, west pypedon and said no, he thought it would have been Marshaan. You might have heard it. Please settle it

right now on the Around the NFL podcast. Well, I know this. This has been a huge debate on the podcast. My brother Mike, he's a huge fan of your podcast, so he's been giving me the updates of how to say our last name. My brothers one of the UH. He's like the George Steinbrenner fantasy football players. He will you know, he'll spend to anybody. So he's been updating me. He keeps. He listens to you guys religiously, like literally, he listens every week so he knows every joke, sandwich jokes.

He he updated me. I'm ready for this podcast. It's more shand is how you say our lives and it's I guess you're over four. Uh, you know, I don't even know. I'm like, I don't know. I'm flustered right now. That was somehow we still got it wrong. You know what, it really shouldn't be like March and it really should be s h. I'll give you that. The French is more Shawn. We have French cousin so uh, if you said it like more Shawn, you'll give you that. But

people are getting it wrong forever. Alright, Well we have that fair enough settled at least, so Andrew. Um, like I said, we there's one thing about and your brother knows this. Um. We are obsessed with the soap opera around Monday night football and what's going on in that booth. And you're reporting has been stellar, um for a long

time now. I mean I feel like you've been ahead of the curve on this and people are kind of following your reporting to find out what's going on the latest, of course, was Drew Brees that ESPN had an eye on him for after his retirement, that he would slide in, uh to the booth. But it turns out, based on your reporting late last week, that he is actually going now to NBC after his retirement, maybe setting up with Notre Dame, getting some reps there and then maybe replacing

Chris collins Worth down down the road. So, just in terms of an overview in the saga of Monday Night Football, what what has made this so interesting to you and something that is uh important to report on in this media sphere as you've gone along through the weeks and months of this. Well, first of let me just correct you. Well, none of this is important and so no, obviously you guys like it a lot. I love it as well.

Uh you know, listen, when you look at Monday Night Football, it's been around for half a century and that booth is one of the historic booths in the history of sportscasting, which is a big deal. And I mean when people you know, I'm joking about it not being important, but you know, these esk M pay is nearly two billion dollars to broadcast the games each season, uh, and these announce just make millions of dollars and people have a

lot of opinions on it. So it is interesting especially to an audience like yours football audience, especially for Monday Night, because even though the ESPN hasn't getting the best games, uh, that booth is the most scrutinized and largely I think because if you look at like a Sunday afternoon in your local market, a lot of times you like the local team, or you have red Zone or have a Sunday package where you can watch your team, so you're

focused on that. On Monday's at the end of the fantasy weekend, you might have that still in play, but then you're really into the game and maybe you haven't been on it, but the amount and then if it's at that game, the announcer has become more to the forefront. So I think for that reason, guys like Joe Tests and Booger McFarlane, Uh, you know, there's a lot of pressure on that booth, even the games aren't as big.

So I think you look at the history and the I think they've really lacked some success in the Boogermobile. A couple of years ago. It was one of the little worst ideas history of ideas um and so uh, you know, so that's what made it really a fascinating and Peyton Manning was also a part of this that My favorite twist so far, by the way, was Romo re ops with CBS and ESPN was hot for Romo, but CBS did what they had to do to keep them.

They pivot at the dream Peyton Manning al Michael's pairing. Uh, is what ESPN, according to reports, they had their eye on. They got turned down twice. They're right, Like was with the al Michael situation, was that ever, something I was close to happening where he would jump ship from Sunday Night Football too and jump networks from NBC to ESPN.

And this Peyton Manning thing. At what point does someone in your position, uh, Andrew, get to stop reporting about Peyton Manning being in the booth because Peyton Manning doesn't want to be in the booth. It's a couple of things there. So ESPN did think there was a path

to Peyton and al as a combination. I think that two al Michael's likely wouldn't go to ESPN unless there was a marquee guy next to him, and Payton Manning is about as big as you can get, uh in terms of names and and potentially you know, developing into a big booth. Uh. So the way it could have possibly worked is that you know, Al only has two more years left on his contract. Mike Terkos already signed there. You know, Al Michael is a legend in the in

the booth. He's gone. He'll be seventy seven after these two years, which includes Super Bowl two years from now. Uh, he doesn't have any plans to retire. So you know, could there be something worked out where he went to ESPN if they had the right analysts. I think that's possible history there, you know, of course he was at Monday Night Football forever and then as part Peyton Manning is concerned. Yeah, you're understanding right, like until proven otherwise

he doesn't want to do it. Uh. The money money, I don't think they offered him from what I was

told money, but it was ten plus million dollars. And again Peyton Manning doesn't have to do what He's made more than a quarter billion on the field and who knows how much off of it, so he doesn't need to broadcast, and it is a time commitment for a guy like him, you know, for normal people who work four months, five months, three days a week, you know, including travel and then just doing three r again that's

not a lot, but that disrupts his life. They can't really tell him who the play by play guy is, and you guys know the Mannings want everything perfect, and so uh, it's hard to believe he's gonna do it any point, but he's only gonna do it if it's the right thing, Like exactly everything is exactly lines up you reported on Breathe and I wonder like, have sp I mean, NBC or ESPN when they were involved, been given any idea that it's just going to be year

until he's in the booth because Sean Payton kind of hinted maybe he's only back for one year, but the contracts for two years. And it's almost like this broadcast deal almost makes it seem like they're announcing Drew Brees retirement for Drew Brees. Yeah, most people feel like it's gonna be one year. And I saw it, Chomp Payton said, and that's what kind of to be exacts think. But then, like you just said, he has a two year contract they do well, or he wants to play with the year.

I mean, I don't think there's anything, um precluding him from doing that. So I think this contract will be waiting for him whenever he retires from football. So um, it's interesting. I do think Drew was smart to make the deal now because see, the thing is about Tony Roman that people maybe don't understand this hundred million dollars. It's a ridiculous sum. And however you look at it, even after I explain all this, you're gonna say, yeah,

that's ridiculous sum. So I'm not trying to convince you a hundred eighty million dollars makes sense. But the reason it happens because everything broke right for Tony Romo, especially the fact that number one CBS is a Super Bowl the year, so it's important to have your booth correct go into that. But more importantly, number two is which I probably should have put number two number one if

it is more important. But anyway, um, the huh more more is that the NFL deals are up, and so uh going into those contract negotiations, all these companies, uh, their television is built around the NFL. It's you're looking at the top fifty programs, almost every single one of them are NFL games, and so they want to have the best chance to to to uh continue with the NFL. And so that's why Romo everything went exactly right. I don't think people are gonna be making eighteen million dollars,

you know, will they go up a little bit? You know, Troy makes about six and a half and seven and a half. Will he get the ten eventually, maybe, but he's not getting eighteen. I really really don't. ESPN seems to be throwing some big numbers around at unproven guys. Do you sense this is more about the fact that they are not impressed with anybody currently analyzing games on Sundays or is it more about just needing the big name. Yeah?

I think that's a little bit of a misnomer because I think when you look at the role negotiations now, they were prepared to all from a hundred forty million dollars over ten years, which is a crazy amount. And obviously they got uh CBS how higher offered eighty million for Manning. I don't you know, I know there's a report saying that they're gonna from twenty million. I that's from everything I've reported upon, that's not true that they were only gonna go maybe twelve to fourteen. I say only,

but that's still a lot of money. Don't get me wrong for Drew Brees. Now you understand what the Brees ESPN could have had. Drew Brees. He they his side presented ESPN with a contract offer that I believe was for ten plus million dollars and they said no because Drew Brees is unproven UM and so they were in the six and a half million dollar range. So they could have this um wrapped up. But you know, we're

in the middle pandemic I just reported today. You know ESPN has some guys like Stephen A. Smith and Scott vamp help there, some of their highest earners. They've asked them to take pay cuts for the next three months, and so you add all that up, and uh, you know they're gonna be They're gonna try to be smart about it. And I think when you look at it, yeah, it looks like ESPN has gone over four But if you look at each circumstance, you can understand why they

can't get each guy. The only guy you could say no, they could have had him was Drew Brees. And again to me, yeah, Drew Brees, um could be really good, but he's never done it. Uh, And you know, I'm not sure. And I've talked to a lot of people in TV, you know, do the producers, broadcasters, and some think he'll be really good. Some aren't as shure. I do think NBC has given him a good game plan. Do not what your dame. Do the pregame show. That's

a big I put on the video. You can't see it on the podcast, but um, I'm just putting it right in front of the camera right here. Um is that? Uh? You that it's it's a it's a nice ramp they've given him that he can improve and notre dame and then also do the pregame show and then possibly be ready to do Sunday night football and potentially a Super Bowl.

I was doing a little bit of homework on you, Andrew and um, uh, not that you would remember this, but we crossed paths briefly at Ithaca College in when I was there for three months at the Park School. And um, that's journalism school if you're wondering. And my lack of ability to stay there for more than three months. Definitely shows on on this show itself. But uh, I would ask you this because like, looking at what you've been through in your own career, what Dan would love this.

You've had uh minor run ins with Don Imus, who called you a moron and a mental patient. You've clashed with Mike and the Mad Dog, and in speaking of al Michael's, I read that you were in a bit of a feud with al Michael's for a bit there. You're a man after our own heart. Yeah, those are all true. Although I likes me now, I just it's kind of funny. Uh yeah, there was a long time where I really apparently now apparently like we gotta face

to face, did not like me. I report a lot about when he was going when he first went to NBC contract of Monday and Football he kind of backed out of and then you want to pipe a jet Yeah, yeah, we don't know, should keep it so anyways, recently I just did a big article about the forty anniversary of Doublie Miracles and now it was nice enough to give me an hour and fifteen minutes of a time, And afterward he sent me an email saying he's never gotten

such a great reaction to a story and his daughter was crying, and I emailed him back, become a long way uh back on the good list, and then you know we Yeah, no, I was just gonna say that me being on this podcast, and I think Mark same thing. Mike and the Mad Dog were so important growing up

in the Northeast. To us, it was I felt like, um, I don't know, I was torn in two directions when you were reporting on Francessa's failed app and you're hitting all the beats on the reporting and you were accurate in it. And then you were clearly hurting the big man and you were you were taking him down. It was like watching Godzilla get shot down at the end

of the movie. Um So I want to commend you for the reporting on Francessa despite him getting upset, but also it does hurt because was something of an idol growing up. Mixed emotions on this side of the mic. Well, you and I listened to Mike and Chris grown up too.

You know, my brother, who I mentioned earlier, was a college and my dad would be working and come me and my mom and I would have dinner and I put w F A n on and we listened it to it till the whole time, and then I'd say to my mom, oh, nice conversation we had so so Mike and the Run and I had. I was a very dunge guy when that happened. I was like, and they got a basically at Sam beg me um kind of it worked out. I really wish I had a

tape of that. Honestly, that would have been because I think I held my own but like I was like twenty three year old in the middle of the New York Post newsroom and They're like screaming at me, and I'm pretty sure I kept my composure pretty well, but like someone like one of the women moving from the entertainment section like came over, what are you doing? And then like this guy Anthony usta Bel was a big track guy. I was like he thought Mike and the

Mad Dog. So it was it was fun. I think it's an honor though you know I has called me a more on a mental patient. I mean, come on, that's Is there a higher honor radio than that? I don't think so. Finally, before we say goodbye, uh Andrew marsh end Martian okay, um, how do you think this

ends up week one. That's a week one. Let's let's all hope and pray that football and life is returning to normal by September and we're playing what is the booth for Monday night football when they have their first game, that double header, customary double header on the first Monday of the season. Yeah, I want to give you one booth because that's second booth. I mean, come on, forget about the second booth. Maybe to bring back Greeny and goal like which I'm sure you guys love. That was

another one actually chro I loved when I was a kid. Um, But uh well, anyway, I'm not a bad guy, I don't think. But I'll go with Steve Levy, Dan Orlovsky and Lewis Riddick. I'd probably go just to man booth personally, because you keep it simple. I think you're getting a mistake of trying to break in a three man crew, especially on national TV with the trudy they have, and I think two is easier. That's what I would say.

They're looking at Kurt Warner as well, Nate Burrelson. Uh, I think they're looking at but I doubt you guess would let him out of his deal, and I'm not sure he wants to be like an entertainment guy. I don't know if he wants a job. Um, so that's where I'll go with all right, but I think the shoot one or the other. I think you go, Rick, Yeah, what do you guys got? You guys, you know you're along with you and we just whatever you right, we believe.

I like the idea of Lewis Riddeck. I also like hearing these weird like packages that they're the NBC or ESPN or maybe going for and it's like a new package in two and then and then then just get with some wild booths there, just like throw anyone out there, stephen A. Smith? Why not? Oh yeah, if it switches, we have it switches like network CBS loses it, it goes somebody's else. Are they only have one game? And that would be fun. I'd be probably give you guys

some fodder for me to report on. And you guys have talked about I guess my one take then would be you as you reported that they had a chance to counter offer and get breeze in their building. How much money. I know. These are very strange times right now, but how much money the difference was compared to what ESPN is as this, you know, giant of the industry. Um, just do the deal, That's what I'm thinking. And then you have your guy and you roll the dice and maybe you get a Romo Romo s guy. But I

understand the other side of two west. I think you disagree with me. That you may be throwing just a ton of money at a completely unproven guy is a recipe for disaster. Well, I was more like thrown off by Greg Saint Stephen A. Smith? Why not? How many? Why not do you want? I could give you like

eight one. Don't put Stephen A. Smith in a foot all booth first of all, don't put him in any booth ever, but definitely not football sport, which he doesn't know and thinks Hunter Henry plays a totally different sport. Is out of the league or whatever. Give me a break on Stephen A. Smith, All right, Andrew, isn't that what it's all about? Entertainment At the end. You can follow him on Twitter. Get he writes for the New York Post, and he's been doing great reporting in this field,

which we are fascinated by. His friends call him clicker. That's interesting and um, if you do follow him on Twitter, I just want to mention something. This coronavirus UM tragedy is touching. Everybody had hit the New York Post in a in a terrible way over the weekend with one of your great photographers, Anthony Cauzy, who passed away, uh and just tragic as a family. And I saw that you had pointed to a go fund me page to help support his family, uh, which is obviously a very

good cause. Uh. Sounds like a really sad moment forevery it was one of those guys that seems like Andrew that everybody loved. Makes it already even more. Yeah, it's been a heartbreaking day for us. Uh, you know, started late last night or early last night. And yeah, Anthony, you know what he's if you have that friend who kind of always makes you smile, always trying to um do something good. He's a photographer. And uh, not only with like celebrities like Derek Jeter, which he had great

relationships with. But you know, we're hearing stories about so many people that you know, there's one story about this these uh, this couple that got engaged in Central Park and he was just walking in there. Sure of them

took their naves down. I'm not special and he's much too young, forty eight with two young children, so it's very sad um and you know, like everyone's telling I'm sure you guys have been preaching this, stay inside because you know there are a lot of numbers out there and when it doesn't hit home, but this one, obviously for all of us, really hits home. Even though New

York and Tristarium and really hit hard. Uh, you know, this one for us as a piercing So I appreciate you doing on anybody out there and can contribute to appreciate it by everybody. Yeah, head over, we'll we'll retweet it from the around the NFL handle and you could check out Andrew if you want to spot there they

go fund me link. Thank you for coming on, Andrew, is great, have you on, and maybe we could do this again as as the world turns now that soap operas are drying up, this is like the new one that I enjoyed the most. This is my all my children, and you are like the you're the script doctor behind the scenes in a lot of ways, not that you're making up the stories. You're just digging them up. I appreciate it, Thank you very much. I appreciate Maybe I'll

make up a couple to make more interesting. Alright, cool, say how do your brother for us? Andrew marchin thank you, thank you? All right, there he goes Andrew marchand I'm just gonna say his name quickly because I still don't really know it for sure. Marchand there you go. So, uh, that was interesting and enlightening. I'm excited to see what what happens next in the booth. Uh. We have more guests coming up, by the way, later this week. I'm

very excited about this. Kyle Brandt is making his Around the NFL Podcast debut, the great Good Morning Football host. I think we all have a lot of respect for Kyle. So he's gonna come on the show and that will be fun, and we might even have another guest. It's gonna be a big week, another big week for the Around the NFL Podcast. In the bunkers, you guys excited. Yeah, it feels like we should have maybe had Kyle Brandt on seven or eight times by now. So, Uh, the

box needs to be thoroughly checked here. Yeah, I agree with you. He is. He's a very busy man, but he's made time for us. His day usually starts before the COVID sheltering at what two in the morning our time or midnight our time? Yeah, well they've been, uh they've been. They're still shut down. Good Morning Football right now. But yeah, that he's one of those that doing those morning shows is absurd the hours. Is that what we want? We want a morning show one day? No, we should

do a late night Joe right. What would our choice be but Shift seven at this point, I mean, we were doing three episodes a couple of months ago. We're now doing five or six. Let's just go when you you know, if you have to step out and tend to a child for five minutes, that's fine. Just the screen stays on. I don't think you should say that out loud. You just put the idea into the air,

all right? Does Dan had to signing off for the Quiet Storm, the mail Man, the old Boss Rick Hollywood in her apartment on who Who's that