Comeback SZN

of the Around the NFL Podcast. My name is Dan Hantus, and I am coming to you from the city filled with heroes in bunkers. Mark Sessler, Chris Westling, Greg Roselipal, What is up? Boyees? Hey Dan, Hey, let's have live Sessler today based on our pre pre show talk Westling too. We've got a couple of live wires. I don't know, I mean, is anyone else dealing with a home It's like a hundred and seventeen degrees in this room that I'm in, and I mean getting needs to be a

quick episode. We need to get in and we need to get out. Morson whistles and nonsense. Today you're looking a little more Ted Kazinski like as the Beard Grannis. Yeah, yeah, you know, and it's it's not gonna get any better. There's no improving any of this at this point. I mean, I cannot contain the adrenaline pumping through my veins for the schedule release. That's why you get alive Westling today, we're we are twenty four hours of lay. It is. It is the new West of Us until Joe Burrow

gets Cincinnati back into the postseason. Yeah, it's not only are we quarantined and and families stuck together in small spaces. Now the heat is rising in southern California, but you head over to Santa Monica, Greg in Paradise, So Greg, probably another beautiful day for you with the family and quarantine. I mean it's it's not like the weather is that much different here, although it's seven or eight degrees makes it makes a nice difference. Yeah, so peaceful though in

tranquil it's really no one's been sleeping. Um My sun Walker has not been sleeping in neither of eye for now three days. But that's not unique necessarily to the quarantine we've got. We've got again, we've got our we've got our struggles. A lot of reading, a couple of days. It's too deep of a contra it's too long of a conversation. I think where my mind is at. I think this quarantine it like it like you know, I think when we're just floating along doing our jobs, it's like,

what what do you know? What's what's the purpose here? Maybe I struggle with that a little bit normally, like what's the purpose of what we're doing here in this lay? But in the quarantine it kind of focuses your purpose. You gotta take care of your family, you gotta do your stuff, and that gives you a little more me, a little more calm. You know. How about that you sept Us a photo of you sitting in the sunlight on your back porch area with the children playing together,

A man at peace. Well, I thought the photo was funny because I was reading and relaxing and my son, you know, Walker basically had Ellis in a total headlock, smashing her face into like a concrete ground, with me doing like nothing, like two feet away. Did those children often grapple with each other? Um in that way? That kind of surprised me, Yeah, a little bit. I I wrestled with Walker, certainly to try to get the energy out.

He liked the wrestling. I thought about it a little bit, actually, Greg after the show on Monday, like this, for example, right now there he is there, He is the boy who would be King Walker. He just came into the shot. And uh, I think that you are just suited very well to the quarantine, Greg, because if Jack burst into the garage right now, Luke burst into Mark's little recording enclave, we would face anxiety and be worried about what we're

gonna how we're gonna handle a situation. You you're almost like the zen Master. You welcome the child down your lap. Sit boy, be a part of this with me. This looks like Philip Jackson with Robin on his lap. We're talking about wrestling Walker, are you like, what do you think about wrestling lately? Okay? See, so I love that. That's where I have. I have two of that situation. It was a velocit raptor that would send me into a seizure of Jack did that on my lap in

the middle of the podcast. So I just think I think, after thinking about it personally Greg after the show Monday, that maybe just your the way you're hardwired is kind of perfect. For the quarantine and good for you, thank you. Yeah, I'm happy for you. I mean you're also Greg, You're a food a noted foodie. I mean you and you always seem to be um, you know, gallivanting around town going to various eateries. I mean, what is that's been taken away from you? Or or are you uh organizing

four star meals on the home front? This is a lot about me. I'm starting to feel uncomfortable. But well we did I remember anniversary out on Monday, so we did order. Like some of these restaurants are doing these sort of family meals where you can you can get a pretty fancy one. We did that on Monday. But no, for the most part, it's it's home cooked meals. But Emmica, you know, she's a Institute of Culinary Education trained chefs, so those aren't bad. You know what the pieces are

in place to succeed. I think on the in Gregg's house, can we please the longer Callivanti now I'm not feeling now he just calivants through his own house during quarantine. No longer feeling, and he's got a trained chef on site, all right? Coming up on today's show, Uh, Ricky, Hey, Ricky, what's up? You are the resident twenty something of the group you know for a little while longer anyway, and um,

as such, we need to connect with the youth. Now that I've turned forty, it is not a good situation for our show for white guys in our for a middle age, So you need to like help us connect with the youth. You do a great job of the Social Today's segment come back season, we need you to really push that out in the Social Universe Spelling season as z N. You need that. Yeah, that's huge forgetting this show out there to the audience and letting them

know that we have not lost touch. Okay, I mean Erico. One question is is sec N a bit of a tired phrase itself at this point? Are we really on the cutting? I mean, it's on its way out, but I feel yeah, I feel like we're we're right on the cusp where we might be able to get away with it. Yeah, it's pretty late. It's it's kind of an autumn right now. I feel like, as a phrase, it's not as bad as I'm not gonna say. Who.

I did see a beat writer much older than us say that a team's position group was on fleek week like the tight end group was on fleek, or you have to who it was there, we'll bleep it out. Who was it? I'm that s you gotta text us, alright, alright, you can bleep it out. It was. Oh no, well spent it especially does not fit. It's not that's all right. So we're gonna share some players that are coming off

disappointing nineteen seasons. And I don't I don't know who you guys are going with, but I kind of see this as less injury related and more just a disappointing season one where there were a lot of expectations and maybe the person was a little beat up. But I hope nobody has somebody that blew out in a c L in week one. Uh, this is more people who disappointed an hour on the comeback trail. Potentially we all on the same page with us. All right, whatever, I gotta,

I got a lot options. I like come back season. All right, let's do some news. Let us start with my favorite football team, the New York Jets, who have added a running back to their fleet. Their running back group is on fleek after Frank Gore, the Inconvenient Truth was signed to a one year deal on Tuesday. Obviously huge ramifications, Greg, for you and I on this one. Gore, the forever veteran, UH was a big has bounced around forever Adam Gaze, he played under Gaze in Miami. Gaze

was loved him. And in this time when Levy on Bell is coming off a deeply disappointing season and there's been talk that the Jets will like to um maybe make it more closer to a committee situation in the backfield, Frank Or enters the fray thirty seven years old. UH this month, Greg, your thoughts on Frank Gore entering the picture for the New York Jets, Well, I immediately thought, all your little Frank Gore. You know, how's the locker room gonna survive without him? Jokes not so funny? Now?

Is it Hansas room? He's coming to save the Jets locker room? I mean, look, I think it's a It's no matter what you think of Frank Gore, it's incredibly impressive he's been able to keep getting jobs. I mean, thirty seven year old running backs playing well enough that people will keep giving them jobs. I don't think it's going to change the Jet season. I think I think he played like a fine backup last year. I know, uh West thinks I'm just being a homer there, but

I think he's a fine backup. It shows your boy Billy Powell's not coming back. He's This is gonna sound like I'm ripping on Levy on Bell, but Frank Gore had more playmaking ability than Levy on Bell last year. Yeah, I mean, I think the Jet it was the Jets have to make sure they come out of this next season. Whatever you get of this next season. With Levian Bell not being one of the worst free agent signings of the past five years, I mean, it's been a total

I am not knocking. It's not an anti Jets thing. It's just he's one of the more disappointing players league. Stick a pin in that Levan Bell conversation for a little bit later. Right he fits into what where he fits into that? For sure? I I want to say this Greg very Greg centric, Pazza far I'm loving um. Let's just like, let's just go over where we're at

right now. First, the Jets draft your favorite wide receiver prospect, Denzel Mims in this year then they go out and sign your favorite player of all time, practically Um, at a time where it seemed like his career had reached an end. I just want to add one more thing. You know, they also need a backup quarterback. Wait a second, Ricky and now another edition of sipping on Vena checking on Gina. What if bear with me here the Jets bring back ge know as their backup to Donald. At

what point did it just become your favorite team? I mean your time of transition yourself with Tom Brady with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Now, I mean I've got many other candidates of fun teams to root for. First of all, I don't even want Gino coming back to the Jets. They don't deserve him um and Gino deserves better than this segment. If this means that they're this segment is coming back, I don't. I don't like this segment. This

it's disrespectful to Gino. I want him on it. He's a guy who only goes to play goes with playoff teams. And I do worry that Adam Gates has got to ruin some of these players. I like, we gotta, we gotta close that segment. Close the segment, and that was

another edition of si N checking on go ahead. I mean that that was basically I think it's the same thing Jets fans worry about two when when good things seem to happen to them, you just worry is out of gates gonna is gonna be able to capitalize on this? It's fair. He's the one thing for Jets fan and um, it's an optimistic offseason that you feel like they might be going in the right direction. But the one thing for me and millions of other Gang Green supporters is

is the head coach the right guy? Um? And not a lot of positive evidence in year one. I don't, for the record, love the Gore signing. I never played professional football, or college football, or really high school football, so I can't really tell you how important it is to have like a badass veteran in the locker room. Um. But in terms of who they could have had to potentially handcuff with Levy on Bell, I mean I probably

would have rather had Carlos Hide or a younger back. Um. They also, of course have a rookie, uh, Michael p Rhyan at of Florida. I want I don't want him to be buried on the bench this year because the Jets are gonna move on from Levy on Bell next year. So that's um, that's my feeling on that. But you know, he brings a lot to the locker room. We know that he was playing fine. He's a fine backup. It

makes me wonder a little bit as you're talking. I mean, if Bell actually did start out well, would he be a guy that if someone gave him a fifth round pick for him they would just trade him in Week six? You know, in other Jets news, they placed wide receiver Quincy and Nona on the reserve pup list with a neck injury. And this is a sad story because he was the one kind of uh draft hit for John Iszi in the late rounds, back the sixth round pick

who really was developing into a nice player. He's kind of a tweener, but in a good way where he was really big and quarterbacks couldn't handle him, but he was faster than linebackers. He was really developing into a guy. But the neck injury wiped out his twenty seventeen season.

He played well in ten and got a four year contract, and then the neck injury again got him in the first game last season the Jets, by the way opened last season and then lost um C J. Mosley and Quincy Una for the year in that first game against the Bills. Anyway, so noon with twenty seven years old, his career is probably over. And it makes a lot

of sense. Why um, you heard during the ramp up through the off season, Uh, Joe Douglas never committing to a new one because this was never a good situation with the next situation so unfortunate because I think when you look at the way all receivers play, he has one of the most fearless playing styles, like truly a

physical wide receiver. Um. And you just wonder, even if he gets to play again, will will he be able to play with that same style in two thousand one or two thousand twenty two whenever he if he does come back. I mean, we talked about Denzel Mims. He a lot of receivers take a year or two to really become what they are. He doesn't really have the luxury of that with what they're dealing with at that position. Yeah,

that's true. Although if her if Chris Herndon is kind of the forgotten guy feels like he's almost like the key Weird the other than Darnal in that office, because for a minute, I thought like Chris Hernon might be an all pro type of tight end and if he plays, if he plays like that, then the receiver group looks looks a lot better. Herndon is a guy that people close to the team love. They see him as a guy that could be a big star. He, of course,

his entire season was wiped away by injury as well. Uh. Noon, by the way, landed a four year, thirty three point four million dollar contract extension, played one game on that deal, and because Big Mac Mike mccagnan was not very good at his job, there's really no injury protection for the Jets, so he just carried on the roster for another year and all the cap ramifications that go with it. Uh. In other news, Marshawn Lynch remember him, yes, vaguely? What

do you remember about Marshawn Lynch, Mark cecil? I remember the story that I'll remember until I die is him retiring in the middle of the Super Bowl and West having to put down what he was doing and suddenly bang out some absurd Marshawn Lynch retirement story while missing like the second into third quarter of the biggest sporting event we've ever been to the fourth quarter. This was San Francisco, this was it was Panthers. That was kind

of a dud. Anyways, Yeah, I think he did yea well, Lynch retired, he came back, He went to the Raiders, played there a couple of years, wasn't resigned, disappeared again, and then reappeared when Seattle was hit by a ton of injuries late last season and didn't do much to move the needle, but fell into the end zone a few times. Well. According to his agent Doug Hendrickson, he has been in talks to rejoin the Eagles. He's now thirty four years old. Oh, Seahawks, Sorry, he is now

thirty four years old. Chris Carson's got a hip issue or shot Penny towards a c l uh, So there is potentially a window here. They did draft a rookie UH in the fourth round d J Dallas. They also have Travis Homer in the building. So Lynch, have we seen the last of him? Maybe not? Mm? Why why bother? I don't know. I mean, that's a weird one. He I think he averaged under two yards per carry, you know, counting the two playoff games. Just it seems weird. It's

a good guy to have on speed. Now, I guess if if emergency strikes, if Chris Carson is not coming off a fractured hip and Kenny's not coming off the a c L, I doubt they even mess around with Marshawn Lynch. It does make you wonder about the Seahawks offense. So I feel like, just the way there Pete Carroll's wired and Schottenheimer's wired, they shouldn't be so run depending. But they're never gonna stop running no matter who's back there. We saw that with Lynz so he ran a lot

in the in the playoff game, which they won. Well, they'll go eleven and five, I mean with you know eleven Raggedy Ann's on that side of the ball. They always find a way. I mean, playoff team book it it's so hot in this from there's something special about Mark right now. The bed's beard has gone next level and the heat. So there's a little bit of a do do we look special? You know, I'm I am openly struggling right now. I just I need we you know, we we're meandering NonStop and we need to get here

and move forward. This might you might enjoy this. Then. In other Seahawks news, jadeveon Clowney says he quote loves Seattle and isn't ruling out of return. Actually, you know what this is for you? Mark Ricky, do you have a do you have a match? That story was blasted into the sun. Thank you. I have heard enough of Pete Carroll or Jendamon Clowney's people or whoever saying that these sides could sign a deal and get it done and Clowney returns to Seattle. All right, when it happens,

we'll talk about it. That's it. That's enough. Good leadership, thank you. What point? With all due respect to the whole operation up there in the stific northwest, and they do an excellent job. But you know, there's a there's a term. It's called you know, piss or get off the pot? Right? That's fair? I think this is unanimous. Listen, did I have the quote right? There was no if if you're on the pot, you're not going number one.

I mean to be fair, I thought we I thought we deep six this news item, and we're still going on about it. Well, yes, that's not necessarily true. Depending on gender or some weirdos well subsitters out there, the saying would be the alternative to you're right or get off the pot. And that's what's happening in the news. All right, it's come back season. That's how the kids

say it too. They hit the Z. So we're gonna go around the horn once or twice, depending on how long it takes before Mark passes out and has a heat stoke. Um, I'm not doing too well either. I gotta be honest with you. See a little shine on me today. It's getting hot in this non insulated garage. Don't worry. It will be June soon in July, and we will be we will die in our homes. Do you guys remember what it's September is like in southern California.

It's the hottest month of the year. This has to end. We need I know, we don't want to go back to the office for some reasons, but this gotta end. Well, I gotta get an air condition on here, and it could be expensed to Roger. Well, you're out in yeah, your garage, to be clear, not in your house. Yeah, that's that's troubly. All right, let's get to it. Let's come back season. Mark. You're feisty, so before we lose,

you get us going. Well, yeah, I don't want to go injury player, um route, as you suggested, but I'll go David Johnson because I think his name overall has been um soiled because he was attached to one of

the worst trades we've seen in years. And you know, the overall question is is David Johnson even a shell of who he was back in in the in the middle of last decade, and it's really been years and years since he's been productive, essentially benched last year for Kenyan Drake, who the Cardinals went and prioritized and brought back, and Johnson quickly became overly priced and tradeable, um weirdly

when you thought they never would be able to. And he's he's he's basically a centerpiece in that offense at the moment. I mean, they they have moved on from certain running backs. I find it interesting that he would be pairing with Duke Johnson to some degree, but um, I have huge suspicions that David Johnson will be a thing at all, that this was a smart move for the Texans to make, and he has a lot to prove,

so we will see. But I liked it would be interesting if he um thrived because I think that would that would surprise many. M hmm. We're not. You're not too confident it's going to be bounced back. So I'm not confident, but I would. I don't wish ill on the player. I mean, I think he's had a lot of bad luck. He had the broken wrist and never really the same guy after. The idea here is to nominate people who we believe has a have a comeback.

He's not well. I do think he has a chance because he's not buried on the depth chart, he's not in where he's he's a better chance than last year when the Cardinals said he doesn't fit into what we want to do and he essentially his his role diminished. The Texans traded for him to use him a lot um and so I think the comeback factor is real. He was on my list and not for I understand

you could watch the tape by West. I think you've been vocal about this that he didn't look like the same guy, and if you really study his career, He's only had maybe one just outstanding season. His first season, he flashed and he looked like he could could be special. But Bill O'Brien, like Mark said, needs this. He needs David Johnson to step up. And I'm not gonna get back on the Bill O'Brien defense train, but I will just say this. In six seasons, there and there's one

and they went four and twelve. That's when Deshaun Watson took over like in September and then was doing well but then blew out his A C L and they went four and twelve. But outside of that season nine and seven, nine and seven, nine and seven, eleven and five, ten and six, and they've been to the playoffs four times. He does have an ability to it seems to get

the most out of his roster. This is not the star studded roster of the league, and I would not be surprised if David Johnson has a in a feature role ends up putting together a good statistical season. Whether or not he's special anymore, UH is something we'll have to see. But I think he's gonna get every opportunity, which was not the case late in his Arizona tenure. Actually, I didn't think he was washed up last year. I thought he was playing through a back injury, and that

explained everything to me. The same thing is is Alvin Kamara playing through a high ankle. You just you don't expect running backs to do well playing through those kinds of injuries. There's there's levels to it, though, and and Johnson has just been a while. He hasn't been the same guy since his injury, you know, which is now a few years. I think Duke Johnson's got to be sitting there seeing like, what what do I gotta do?

I won you a playoff game. He I mean, Duke Johnson was the second most valuable player on that offense in that playoff game. He was the one making plays at the end when they needed to win the game. And I do think in the end he'll be a factor, just because I guess I have my doubts that that

David Johnson's gonna be back to his own self. I will stick in the running back realm and I'll Since Arety hinted at it Levy on Bell, I think last year was a bit of a perfect storm of poop for Bell, and I agree that he seemed a little bit lethargic and did not have explosion. And I just wonder how much of that had to do with the layoff and if if that is ever gonna come back or if it's gone, but I would like to see it in a situation where he has more of an opportunity.

The Jets famously had a almost historically horrendous offensive line that, in addition to not having any talent, was completely decimated by injuries. So it was really um one of the all time bad situations. From a lot of the season or a portion of the season, you had quarterback play that was, you know, amongst some of the worst quarterback play we've seen in years. Uh there, which does a running back no favors. So now you have him kind of back in the swing of things with a year

under his belt. You have a I'm not gonna say it's gonna be the best offensive line in the league. We're gonna see how if these guys can play together, but on paper and upgraded offensive line, Sam Donald year three, hopefully playing a full season, and uh, I just would not be surprised even with people now kind of um forecasting doom and gloom because Frank Gore signed and all of a sudden, now Frank Gore is going to uh be the leading rusher or close to it. I don't

see that either. I still think we're gonna get a lot of Bell, who had over three under touches last year, and I think we'll get a better Bell. I mean it could be worse three point two yards per carry last year, which for the amount of workload he had

was the worst in Jets history. Um. I just would not be stunned if we see a much better version of him, not elite late Levian Bell of his Steelers heyday, but a guy that is better than an average running back and the Jets then at least get some return

on their investment. Am I being an optimistic Jets man, of course, But I also don't know if it's possible for the guy to go from where he was at that point, uh to where he was last year without other circumstances coming into play, which I think, like I said,

a poop storm for Bell. I mean, my one concern would be, and you know we mentioned him too, is I've just never gotten the sense um that Adam Gaze wanted anything to do with this Levan bell Um price tag or overall, it's not a sense I mean it's but he also gave him like touches, so it's not

like they then didn't use him maybe. I mean, you know, like you mentioned the injuries and you're not gonna lose Sam Donald too, Mono again and all this other stuff that happened, and they just the beginning of their year last year was about as disastrous as you could could dream up. But Levy on bell Um, Adam Gates just to me feels Um tilted towards Machiavellian behavior and if he is out on the whole bell thing, that could be Um, as Greg likes to say, a fly in

the ointment. Potentially. Yeah, I didn't know that, but I like it. I was so wrong about bell. I thought it was a great signing. I didn't think they paid too much like I defended it. I just think he, for a stretch, is one of the best running backs I've I've covered or seen, and I thought you could see the instincts were all there, like he was making some people miss in tight quarters like he would do, and you could see that sort of special ability as but then once he would make a miss, it was

like it would just get tackled two yards later. There was no big plays, and that's tricky. I mean, when you have three touches and there's no big plays. The the offensive line was abysmal, and that's partly why it was three point two yards procared. I don't think he was that bad. I think he was an average running back. He caught sixty six, he was fine, and the old

line was a lot a lot of it. But if you're not making any explosive plays on that many touches, I mean, he had his chances where he could have taken it to the second or third level, and he just couldn't do it like you would. You could see almost the mind was working, but the body wasn't. Wasn't there. I don't know if that comes back or not. I hope it does because I like watching him. When when thirty year old balal Pal comes in and looks more

explosive than the starter, that's a problem. Yeah, well maybe maybe don't go bowling in the middle of the year when you tell everyone you have us he had the flu. I just I mean, but like this bell is he is hew plugged in as this guy will find out. That's fair. That's a fair question. He had the flu and he didn't want to infect any of his teammates, understand, so you go to the lanes. I don't get that as a as a tonic, but he was just clearing

his mind. Everything was above board in my opinion, and he rolled the two fifty that well, I was looking for a guy who has a good bet to bounce back. Was not injured. Access denied. Go to one oh one soundboards dot com to access the sound If you already came from there, please reload the page In business. Wait, I thought that was a great Dan like surprise drop or something. It was like, no, West is out of the show, oh sleeper going for just wow, it is

getting hotter and hotter in here, all right, go ahead West. Well, I was gonna say it. He was a guy who was on a Hall of Fame career track and and may still be. Khalil Mack Um only had eight point five sacks last year. The year before he was in the I mean, nobody was in the defensive Player of the Year conversation except Aaron Donald. But if there, if it was, and Khalil mack would have been one of the guys discussed. Um he was one of the best

defensive players in the league. And then last year he like the second half of the season, he just disappeared and Akeem Hicks was injured. Thank Eddie Goldman missed some time so he didn't have those big bodies up front occupying blockers. Now they bring in Robert Quinn opposite him. Um and Quinn looked fantastic last year. I I I see Cleio mac bouncing back, especially for a guy. I think Dan heard some whispers at the combine. Maybe the

Bears would look into seeing what he's worth around the league. Yeah, I can't. I can't say too much other than someone high ranking within the team was openly asking if he was somebody that you know should be around. That's somebody that if that's a player who should be in the team's futures in the future. M Yeah, there's there's no

reason to think that. He mean more team drinks in during that conversation that happened, right, I know who you were speaking with, And it's one situation where you wouldn't need a triple source it because it was the most um impeccable source you could one could imagine. Let's leave it at that, before it becomes as easy as Wes's neighbors right right, Uh, MACKI is on track to be a Hall of Famer. And I do think like defensive lineman or basically non skill players, like they're allowed to

have down years. I'm saying, like, basically, like when skill players have like an eleven hundred yard year when they're usually getting yard, people like understand that and they're like, Okay, so sometimes guys have bad seasons. It's like that. That happens at every position. And yet but I think when it's like lineman, it's just like what happened? Is Khalil Mack just bad forever? There's no reason or not bad.

But at a different level, there's no reason to think he's anything but one of the best five pass rushers in the league. So you see him west as a guy that easily could be back in the d P o I conversation this year. Absolutely, I see him as a guy who among edge rushers, is there anybody better who needs them back with a strong year? Is that

Chicago's only chance? You know that they you expect them if they're going to be in playoff contention, they have to be dominant on defense like they were in that first MAX season for stretches. Yeah, they seem like a team that and I don't like this dynamic at all. That there were too many games where it's like, unless they pull off a pick six in the final ten minutes, they're not winning the game. I mean it was like

they need they've they've needed their defense to produce points. Alright, Greg, all right, I like this one. Um. Only two receivers in NFL history have gained more yards in there before their age twenty three than Juju Smith Schuster. Those two receivers, by the way, we're Randy Moss and Josh Gordon. What

a what a combo there. I feel like people have given up on Juju as like a difference making receiver a little too Steelers maybe right, including the Steelers maybe, as I'm not saying that he's he's Julio Jones exactly. And uh maybe last here felt like a bit of a bit, a bit of a la reveal that he had so much trouble with the double coverage that he was getting in missing Antonio Brown. But he also had Mason Rudolph as his quarterback. He also had Duck Hodges

as his quarterback. He's a young player who hadn't had a lot of a lot of adversity, and I think what he showed in his couple of seasons to start his career makes some a great candidate. Uh for what Erica was talking about a little early, Come on, Erica, hit it. Let's hear it. Create that d D drama vide he d J Dallas, Yeah that was me. Did you just do that like while we were doing the front half of the show. Wait, you guys are doing a show. Well. I also think is in a good spot. Um.

I think that receiver group in Pittsburgh's pretty good. Uh. You add Claypool, who who they think supposedly he's gonna start Chase Claypool. We'll see. I mean everyone's high on rookies this time of year. He's a six four guy that they say blocks as well as Hines Ward. And you can go deep. You have James Washington, who led their team in receiving last year, who might be their

fourth receiver now. Deonte Johnson was pretty good as a rookie and and suddenly it's kind of back to this whole thing where the Steelers have a nice receiver crew that takes a little pressure after Juju, I think he can be a nice little bounce Pa. I'm with you. I think like he There's a metric out there that the percentage of catchable passages that went towards Juju's direction last season UM compared to the year with Big Ben in the in the lineup dropped like ten percentage points.

I mean, so you know, the the quarterback uh situation falling off a cliff had a huge impact on him. And I think he's got to be motivated to basically turned Antonio Brown into a liar because it was Antonio Brown that went on air UM not too long ago and squawked endlessly about the fact that Juju is not a lead receiver UM and simply you know it made his a off of Antonio Brown pulling the top cornerback

lack Colonels, Farcesler, come back, come back Colinals. Can we just come back with box come back Clonals, come back good. It's the three minute version of this, son. Are we just sitting random buttons now totally off hanging out and hanging out right now? I'm with you guys. By the way, I don't want to put um, you know, a hex on any of these guys. But this, this, this topic is a tough one for me because my fantasy team was Alvin Kamara first and Juju Smith Schuster second. But Juju,

what are you gonna do? Like the quarterback, like we said, was not there and then for you to then think that he's he's peaked or he's not a true number one because the Duke Devon or what what was his name, Dutch Devil, Duck Hodges Duck Hodges likes and Mason Rudolph like these guys, these guys can't play. I mean, we

we learned that. So you're a fresh start. Now. The one caveat I'll add is we'll find out a big Ben can still play, yeah, after a year off, but that could hold back his ceiling as well, if he's even just healthy enough to But I have thought about that, Like I feel like the Steelers are the biggest boomer bust. See if if Ben Roethlisberger is healthy and plays like he did a couple of years ago, it's like they're

a super Bowl contender. But it would it surprise anyone I feel never plays much or plays well again, Like he feels like that's possible. A thirty eight year old coming off elbow surgery. Normally we would say like that kind of guy is done well, you know, we'll have to see and currently looks like a troll living under

a bridge. So no, that would not surprise me. Did anyone else find like when you were doing this exercise, you could point to almost the entire offense for several teams, and the Steelers being one of them, James Conner, but the Eagles Carson wentz Um with health receivers and then Miles Sanders emerging, uh, and the Browns to me or another one where the entire offense could just bounce back. I feel like the Steelers for me, rise above everyone in terms of you have no idea which way they're

going as an organization. They could be playing the NFC title game. They can go six and ten. To me, it's it's really it's really hard. And I think James Conner like on that subject, I have whiplash because I remember the beginning of the season when all anybody in the football Gagna sent. The I had to say was that this guy can play. You'll see he's going to be a stud. And then he had a really nice season and class road to this offseason. It's like, oh,

he can't play, he can't carry the load. And I know the Steelers internally were disappointed about last year too, but last year was pretty messed up. That whole offense got sidetracked by the quarterback injury. I just wonder if he is a guy that could be bouncing back, which you're not hearing a lot of. But I also argue Mike Tomlin, I'll let is played instead. Yes, Mark Well, I was just gonna say I thought that Mike Tomlin was coach of the Year material ten or eleven weeks

until last year. I know other teams would have gone three and thirteen in that situation. I mean, the defense is still arguably maybe top two or three in the league. Well, while we're on the Steelers, Eric Ebron is another guy down year with the Colts last year, signs up the Steelers. Big Ben's always liked a big red zone weapon, and and Abrons proved to be one of the better red zone tight ends in the league over the last couple

of years. All you want to throw out quick ones before we start off, sure, I'll go um back to Chicago, and I think the combination of Matt Nagy and Nick Foles who who both Um, I thought last year very disappointing for both in different ways. Now they're together. I like the fact that Nick Foles knows this coaching off really well. Offensive coordinator, head coach, quarterback, coach has worked with all of them, so you know, it's not like you have to learn a new system. Um, it's a

good fit for Nick Foles. I'm always suspicious of Nick Foles when he is named a starter for the entire season. Can he get through without another? Um? You know, it's one injury after the next. And frankly like was not a good quarterback when he played for the Jaguars last year.

So that both this combination were people not to trust there believing well, So none of these guys are coming someone that well because that you believe in as a comeback Baker Mayfield, Marcus Like, I can't think of anyone other than the Browns I'm gonna pick. Let me throw one other name out who I do think, who I do think could have a comeback season. Who I've also flamed on this show recently. Mike McCarthy. Okay, Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy because him as well. Well, here's what I

think there's a lot of pressure on Mike McCarthy. What I was questioning is if the man himself has gone through this um incredible personal revolution that we were, you know, that has been touted all offseason, that needs a changed person. I don't. I believe people can change. I don't know if all football coaches can to the same degree. And but it would be an incredible disappointment if Mike McCarthy and the combination of what they have on offense don't

go to the playoffs. This was an eight and eight team last season last year. Uh, what's not to like about Mike McCarthy stepping into this role in a NFC East that has two very questionable teams in the Giants and Redskins right in there. So if they're not a wild card team with an extra seventh team added to the NFC, UM it would be a I consider a massive problem for Mike McCarthy to have to deal with. Pr wise, UM, I had Baker Mayfield on my list

as well. He just makes a ton of sense how promising was as a rookie, and the the Browns obviously poured a lot of resources and tender love and care in trying to get things fixed around him, So now he's just gotta do it. And uh, I will throw in one more running back, Todd Gurley, who everyone has essentially written off, and as I've noted on this podcast, the Rams offensive line was kind of crap last year and he still found the end zone a ton last year,

and these professional athletes are are proud dudes. I wonder if a fresh start is exactly what what he needs in Atlanta in a nice set up there, with a good offense around him. Is Todd Gurley ever going to be the guy that exploded on the scene? Uh with the Rams? Probably not? But can he be a Pro Bowl guy total yard, ten touchdown guy this year? Absolutely? And to me that would be comeback season. Yeah. He was on my list too, And it's not something I

feel strongly about because there's still so many questions. But I thought he did run better around Thanksgiving and into December last year. And I don't know, another year removed from a nebulus knee injury that we never really figured out what it was. I guess it's arthritic now, but maybe I don't know. Maybe another year away will help um. But but going a little bit deeper, a guy I thought was the best running back on the forty Niners

entering last season. Matt Breeda now with the Dolphins, and I think it's a better player than Jordan Howard. So if he can stay healthy, which for Matt Brida is a huge if because he never stays healthy, I don't think he's I think he's over five yards per carry for his career. He's a dynamic, playmaking running back when he's healthy. Close out, all right, I'm gonna run through a the speed round. Maybe we'll get to these topics

later in the offseason. Mattie Ice with Todd Gurley. You know he didn't play that great last year or either. I think he can get better. Uh my boy, Phil Rivers, I'm just sensing I'm gonna be into the Colts this year. Yeah. I think I'm with the team of westl this year. It's the Cults, Bronco Colts. Oh, I'm higher on the Cools. Yeah, I'm into the Heart like your hearts with Denver though, no, I think you guys want my heart to be with Denver. Well, I consider that news. So I thought you were all

in on the Broncos. I know you guys did Uh Sean McVeigh, I think is getting back in the lab. He's got some young players. Uh, he's got Cooper cut back. I could see Sean McVeigh coming back and looking a little smarter this year. But I'm gonna wrap up and and be a bit longer and the more surprising deck. How about the Jaguars defense, which you look, you lose Shamble, but you you look at their front seven and you have Josh Allen, who was almost a defensive Rookie of

the Year. You have Unique and Gockway who's back. He has no choice. He's playing. He can make more money by week three than he's made an his entire career. He's not holding out and so they knew that. Um, they're okay. In the middle, you get Joe Schober who was a pretty good pick up, Miles Jack's coming off

a bad year. You draft uh, Collevion Chase On like that's a that's a nice looking h little front seven H for the Jacksonville Jaguars, And I think, I mean they were so bad, they were one of the worst defensive league. It didn't make any sense. Put a button on this by somebody's gotta bring up Cam Newton, and I know he doesn't have a team, but if he if he's when he signs, I just think there's a chance he could not only you know, end up starting games,

depending depending where he goes. But surprise, a lot of people are still just thirty one years old. Hopefully the shoulder is right and uh, I'd like to see it, but he's got a sign to the team, so it's hard to really prognosticate that. But Cam Newton obvious comeback Player of the Year candidate, if he ever got the opportunity this year, where would you want to see him play? If if it was up to Dan Hantis, like you most enjoy it. I already know it. Den. Yeah, I'm

on board with that. And that defense again in my mentions are gonna be attacking me, but you look, he's the next savior. Calm down. Cam Newton would make you a better team. He'd make the Bears better instantly. I know they're tied up in all this money with foals who have just touted us a comeback figure. I mean, it always mystified me that they didn't just go after Cam Newton to begin with. He looked, he looked perfect in the Bear's uniform ian he'd fit everything, He'd fit perfectly.

Got an awesome comeback situation. Your endorsement of nick fools last seconds. Well, I'm just I yeah, I'm seeing those guys need to come Back's important person in your organization is your quarterback. In the second most important person in your organization is your back up quarter back. Go get one. All right, that's it for today's show. Now, very important

that everyone knows this. If you missed the end of last week's show, We have an NFL Network program coming up on Friday, three pm Pacific, six pm Eastern to be around the NFL Show. It is going to be completely fresh content. Nothing that we're really talking about here will be subjects on that program. So it's essentially a brand new episode of the podcast, only it's on TV and you could see our beautiful warrantine beards uh and everyone will be excited. In fact, I see this as

a show of faith from the company. This will air five different times on Friday alone, So if you miss the initial airing, just know that you will have many opportunities on Friday and even into Saturday to watch the premier episode. We hope there's a long run for this one. We don't know yet, but we definitely have a show coming up on Friday, and we will west be touching on the schedule release tomorrow, So get excited for that.

Oh yeah, Edgy, your seat for that one. And I personally and thankful if it's gonna be on five times. I'm not even gonna bother figuring out when it's on in British summertime or Greenwich meantime or whatever. You know. You're yeah, you have, you have if you're out there, no excuse not to track it down at some point. Do our overseas listeners even have the option to watch the program? Well, they're a game pass right International has

NFL network? Yeah, yea. Well, by the way, and when you talk about our mentions, don't tweet at us if you don't have NFL network. That's not something I'm concerned with. Figure it out. I'm not figuring that out for you. I've got enough on my plate right now as it is. We have a lot on our plate. Greg his plate is full and he and he likes it that way at Gregg. He'll help you out with us with the network issues. The man is completely a piece right now.

So that is the guy to go do with any questions about how to catch the Around the NFL Show on NFL Network. Nothing great, I mean I've been distracted here by a child disturbing this piece. Are changing in showtime has taking me out of my piece. Alright. This is Dan Hanson signing off for The Quiet Storm, The Mailman, the Old Boss Walker, Ricky Hollywood. Thank you for watching it or listening and watch us on Friday. Until then, W