Deepest & Thinnest Position Groups

in a conference room on the NFL media compound? It is? It is? Yeah, wow, so make the most of it. What an experience it's been. This would be where the montage comes in and it's just us talking like shlubs for like five different like camera shots and me lugging equipment back and forth by myself, plugging in all this stuff. Yeah, you got the worst of it. You don't have anybody? What about it, Eddie Spaghetti? Yeah, not scrapping young man. He can't be helping you. Yeah. I'm an independent woman

who don't need no man. I believe it, Ricky. Uh. This is the Thursday edition of the Round the NFL podcast. Um, this is the final week of the summer where we just have two shows. That's it. Summer vacation is over for the boys. Greg Rosenthal back Monday, uh and all four of us heroes will be together three times a week starting next week when all the training camps open.

In fact, we were talking about on Monday West. Some camps have indeed opened this week, including the Denver Broncos, your boys West, and don't think I'm not noticing West. I don't think I didn't notice this. They got to camp early. Oh yeah, it all is checking out on on your ledger in terms of you believe them to be a powerhouse and he was already practicing there. Try Hard has has gotten my attention because that's a try

hard move. Let's just get there before everyone else. Newer people, newer listeners of the show might not be aware that our podcast have been way ahead of the curve, tracking teams that report to whether it's organized team activities in the spring or training cape in August, the teams are report earlier, or almost always the true powerhouses of football

the teams are report later. Cough cough two thousand seventeen Lions cough cough usually fall by the wayside, I think, and in Detroit's work speaks for itself up late and you, you know, you spit out another hideously dull season. Speaking of which, the Seattle Seahawks saw this report. They've decided to come to camp a week earlier this year. But it's just the rookies right still. It's it's never done that under a pet Carell before. And this is a playoff team last year. I don't have to ask you

to connect the dots. You're on the case. Uh, coming up on today's the mail bag is back. I forget have j Glazer or whatever competition is out there. I don't even track the competition. It's one of those things. There's no side view mirror, there's no rear view mirror.

Glazer feels the same way. Um My mail bag is going up on NFL dot com on Friday, and we will discuss some of the questions that we're in said mail bag and perhaps a couple that were not a little later in the show, also wes he's back to grinding summer breaks over that that is using the word grinding liberally. All I see is two pieces on his um archive have been added in the last several days. Uh so West, as you know a man that knows the rosters of the NFL. He shared his thinnest and

deepest position groups as we enter twenty and nineteen. So we'll take a look at that and talk about some of the teams and units that jump out to us. But before that, let us do some news. But all of them were sharp and right where he wanted to draw you do you know that? And warm ups if you're gonna have it. They like that, like a starting pitching or something. Uh warm ups, not really, But then when I woke up this morning, I was feeling pretty dangerous.

Listen to that kid, Mark Settler, That's what I call him. The kid. Well, I don't think it's an act with him. I mean he is just he is who he is. So I'm on board. Great piece on ESPN this week, um a long form or feature on Baker Mayfield by the great Mina Kimes And guess what Mark little early birthday present for me to you or late depending how you look at it. On our show next Wednesday, Mina Kimes to talk about her up close and personal look

at your hero. I love it, she wrote, I would just say, go read this thing, because I learned a lot about Baker Mayfield, and I think that has a lot to do with the way that she gets to know her subjects, frames her questions. So and all Star guests, No, that Mina did fine, But what about me? Oh you? I mean I was saving that part for now. What you've done is the Lord's work, Dan, And again it's just for you, buddy. I appreciate it to no end.

Let's get going with the news. The Falcons doing business again, but not with Julio Jones. Dion Jones, the playmaking linebacker, had been set to enter the final season of his rookie deal for Atlanta. Well, they like him. They're keeping him around. The inc Jones to a four year, fifty seven million dollar extension thirty four million guaranteed that is confirmed by the team turning twenty November. This is one of the top linebackers in the game when it comes

to past garbage. And I don't need to tell you modern football fan that you need your coverage linebackers to succeed on defense in the modern NFL West. The foul Cans we know they can score, maybe not as pro pro prolifically as they had a couple of years ago, but they can always put up points. It's the defense that you want, So you want to keep a guy like this in the building, and they do well. You mentioned it's he's sort of the new breed of linebacker.

This is what defensive coordinators want. It's what a lot of people are calling a money backer, where you are a linebacker with safety level speed, uh probably closer to safety level level size, and you can cover tight ends out of the backfield. They don't have to hide you too much in the run game. And I think that this is where linebackers are going in the NFL. Dion Jones, it's and we saw the difference on that defense when they lost him for a big portion of last year

along with their other entries. This is the Falcons to me, is this is the team that is set up for a major bounce back. I mean they I just I try. I picked him for the Super Bowl last year and that obviously went completely south. I wouldn't hesitate to think about doing that again. It feels like it's one of those teams that everybody is sleeping on just because of

the injuries last year. And then I guess the everybody's got questions, and they're One question to me is can those rookie offensive linemen step in and not be liabilities right off the bat? And I think if that's the case, there's no reason this cannot be a playoff. If that works out. They have a deep line if that works out. And yes, Grady Jarrett, that deal got done on Monday. As we said, Julio Jones, they're looking to get a long term deal done there with the greatest wide receiver

in their franchise history. So this team remains um kind of a model of stability in the NFC, and let's see if they can get back to the playoffs. Uh this season. In other news, West, you and I we got a sandwich proposition locked in. And you know Nick Fortier, he does the damn thing. I'd go get my lunch dot org tracking every wager that we make on this show. Uh, and I already have as they look at it. First of all, of course, Nick has it updated, because that's

what Nick does. I'm already locked into two bets. Excuse me, sandwich props already. I got one mark when you and I were going at it a few weeks ago. Apparently Jets will beat Browns in Week two. That's out there as a sandwich prop. I don't remember that. Which which side did I come down on that one? I mean, you have you took me on it, so I guess we we have a sandwich on that. I don't remember that at all. I don't either, but that was a heated um back and forth. It was a blur at

that point. Also, Rob Gronkowski, I have a wager with West is is playing for the Patriots by December. Mike Florio Pro Football Talk reported this week that a source close to Gronk pegs his potential for a first annual unretirement at forty percent. Oh s, you are so banged. It's July six, and there's already sources putting it at and you could point to, oh, he's down fifteen pounds. All he has to do is gain like seven to

ten pounds and he's fine. You banged and you know it. West, I'll let you get out of the prop right now. Here's why I'm not worried. You want to get out of the prop right now. Here's what I'm not worried. If I'm Rob Ronkowski, I'm not dialing up my good buddy Mike Florio to tell him how what percentage chance I might play in December? How does Mike Florio I know this? Gronk has an entourage. It's a leaky enterage.

Ron doesn't even know what percentage chance he's playing. A weird thing to put a number to gros Yeah, that's unpleasant. Why did you look at me? You have a leaky entourage and when that becomes grosser when you put it and that and that's you. Guys are my entourage and we are leaky. Absolutely so. West I I'm giving you the chance to get out now, put your tail between your legs and just acknowledge that you were wrong. Who am I talking to you? First of all, I can't

be wrong before it happens. I mean, we don't even know what's going to happen here. That's what we do. We look into the future as analysts and we predict things. Right, I'm sticking. I have it just as much confidence now as I did before. Rob Gronkowski told Mike Florio that he might play. I mean, at the core of this, are you concerned about your side of the bet and you're try and to you know, put this on West to get him to get out of a bet that

you don't want to be a part of. I'm I'm resigned to it because as a Jets fan who perhaps delusionally is harboring thoughts of competing in the division this year, I don't want this guy coming back. Even if he's not the same guy who once was. You know he would he would provide a spark to the team if they if they had him. I just I just acknowledge

it will happen. The first thing that concerns me, though, is player X retires then immediately lose his I know it's not he could gain some of it back, but the mentality behind that tells me you're not thinking about coming back a month from now just to skip training camp. I mean, he's gronk. You know, he's in the gym seven hours a day and then partying the next nine hours after that, then sleeping and then repeating, I mean what,

he's not reading books. You know, that's a wine country, you know, just smelling it and doing the thing where you sip the wine and then spit it into the metal thing. None of that's happening. He's not enjoying retirement. He's not traveling. You know, well he's Gronk. Anybody else want to take me up on it. I'll take you up on it. He'll be back. You believe it will be. And wait, what is the parimeters? By December? December one, December, by December, by the first minute of December. It needs

to happen. Get I'm signed by December seven. That doesn't mean it happened. It happens in December. It could happen in November twelve, just as long as it happens before the calendar flips to December. I'll take you up on that. He'll be back, Okay, and I don't mean back on the field, signed with the team practicing. Don't try to catch me in any type of loophole there. I know how you people operate on the other side of the table.

Why how we operate. Why would be he's either playing for the Patriots or no. It can't be like, well, he didn't play though until just you know, signed, signed, signed. No, that's fine, all right, moving on. Yes, the Broncos began training camp and already there was an injury gere. Multiple reporters at the practice reported that linebacker Todd Davis had to be carted off with lower body injury. James Palmer

of NFL Media reports that Davis injured his calf. He'll have an MRI I, but the initial feeling is that he avoided a serious injury. UM. With that in mind, I'd like to perform right here in the beast Quake conference room. I wish we could lower the lights, but

join join me in a seance. Deer football gods, great, mighty and powerful football gods, please bestow your mercy on the players of the National Football League this summer, these young men who represent the apex the human body is capable of how cruel it is for us mortals to see these fine specimens struck down. They're prime. If you must injure, please focus on petty thieves, Bagel Bosco, certain political leaders, the devisive ones for homes. Show your greatest mercy.

Two men in green and play in New Jersey and say it's New York the Browns team. Thank you all, great and merciful football gods. We put our faith and trust in ye. We're about specs of matter. Don't contendue to notice that I would get a mad if he said something. I think a football out masts we are pawns in your one dress game show Mercy Show Mercy, Yes, West your on. What are the odds would have a seance on this podcast and it's not led by Mark Sessler.

I think Marks rubbed off that was powerful. I mean, I you know, I'm sure that will go according to plan, no injuries all season long. Just it doesn't have to be on these men, these these young men, these specimens I'm gonna vote for. Also save that for the religious podcast, the theology pod Theology coming up later this summer, perhaps finally in the news, Mark, I wanted to get your thoughts on this. Have you heard about this Area fifty one thing? I have the Internet going nuts. Uh, they're

talking about a mass invasion of Area fifty one. More than one million people have signed up on Facebook um with the plan to breach the gates of the famous and some people a lot of people that listen to this podcasts are not from this country. Maybe they don't

know what Area fifty one is. A famous, top secret government facility perhaps in the world, and there's you know, for decades and decades, there is the general belief that, in addition to military testing of various warcraft etcetera, etcetera. If you believe on I believe in life beyond this planet, that there might be spacecraft, alien space craft that is being housed and studied at Area Roswell, New Mexico. Of course back in yes, correct. Anyway, the event called storm

Area fifty one, they can't stop us. All is set to go down on September mark and I ask you specifically, are you in. I don't know if I'd be allowed time off from work to go to I think it's gonna lead to it is a little bit of a rough time schedule wise. I think it would lead to um many deaths if they attempt this. The military is not going to fold the tent and just allow people

to roll in off a Facebook campaign. I think it would um being an ultra tragedy if they if they attempt this, This is just a joke, right, I don't. I think it started that way and then it stocked up a lot of kind of as a joke, and now it's got some heat to it. A million people. No, this is this is totally a joke and this isn't like that's never gonna happen. I predict that not one person will march on Area fifty one on that day. No, but take them crazy. I bet there will will be

some idiots that do it. But the government has contracted out um defense forces that roam the grounds in big like white like Dodge trucks and um like submachine guns and things of that kind of hell escape is that, and they're allowed to shoot on site because you're not just a rolling up federal to the front door of this place and catching them by surprise. It's it's viewed as it is viewed as essentially a fortified military complex

of the US government. So you kind of forfeit, forfeit your right to live if you choose to quote unquote invade it. Yeah, I would. Here's what I would do as a side mission to this is get a large group of people to storm Antarctic up because I believe that the the number one hot spot for alien technology is underneath the ground in Antarctica, in the Arctic territory. Forget this, this is a diversion. Forget Area fifty one.

We all know that there's probably something going on there, but this is what This is the part of the Earth that no one's investigating. Global warming could affect whatever is going on, not by sept That's what's happening in the news. Remember, go ahead, now you go no, I'm just gonna say, you seem to know a lot of people that are a little bit out there. What do

you have anybody that signed up? But remember those kids and like middle school that they'd be like at you know, eleven fifty five when the clock strikes, we're going to start a food fight. And then rolls around and then like everyone's sort of like tense and like look and the teachers like heard about it, so they're kind of on watch. And then like one like jackass stands up and throws like a bag of chips and then he just gets in trouble. That's what's gonna happen one dumb person.

You're not But instead of getting sent to the principal office, that person will be shot seventeen times. They will be scattered by multiple gunfire. Face. I can't put them back together again. All right, that's what's happening in the news. Let's get to Yes West Road. A double banger. I mean, you want to talk about a guy putting in the work. Let's let's calm down on that. This dude gets it, Uh, West Road two pieces thinnest position groups and deepest position groups.

I read it. Of course, it's it's the stuff that makes West one of the top NFL writers. Trademark to West content exactly. Um, I'm gonna start with you, Mark, Why didn't get us going? Why don't we pick out some things? Uh? Some teams, some units that kind of jumped out to you? And of course West pipe in wherever. I like the the deep thin um aspect of this.

I like to call it thicker thin like th h I c C. Some of these teams have a lot of a lot of juice here, I come away with further, I know everyone thinks that the Denver Broncos are your ride or die. It's just West. Oh you're saying. I think the West has been been pushing hard for the Broncos. It's been a themed But I don't think nearly as much as your belief in the Dallas Cowboys, because they

show up twice on the thick list. I think a part of that is I can't believe that somebody as smart as Greg or anyone else following the NFL does not see that the Cowboys are an absolutely loaded team and they're a playoff team, Like, I just don't see why people expect them to come back to the pack. Well, so you have their linebacker crew, which we are not surprised at either because this should be evident, but also

their offensive line. Yeah, like the linebackers. To me, just think of how much more successful Jason Garrett would have been if he had depth at linebacker behind Sean Lee. For the decade he's been in charge. Every time Sean Lee went down during the prime of Sean Lee's career, the defense fell apart. And now he's a luxury, not

a necessity. In fact, they're better off when he doesn't play because then you've got Layton Vanderess and Jalen Smith out there, so you have if one of those guys go down, you've got Sean Lee you plug in there.

I think that's a great insurance policy offensive line. I like this one because if you remember back to Zeke Elliott's rookie year, a big part of um the discussion there was not only did they do the move which a lot of teams are afraid of, which is take a running back early in the draft, uh, they then put that player with an a lead offensive line We didn't hear that as much last year, and I think a part of that was what was going on with

ballpro center Travis Frederick. That is, I think people are sleeping on that a little bit west, which you're not obviously that if Frederick comes back and he's strong, uh, and these other pieces, Tyrann Smith, if he's healthy and is who Tyron Smith is, and these other strong players.

Of course, Zack Martin that the idea that this offensive line can be dominant in addition to having of a dominant running back, and that's scary stuff, especially when the factor in that they went and they got a premier wide receiver on the outside. Now and Dak Prescott is fine, good, two, very good. Perhaps that's a great offense, and I don't think also it helps that the emergence of Kellen Moore

as their offensive coordinator. They talked about this team um entering modern football after not really having one of the more imaginative attacks in recent years. The prediction from our last show, the one that I was wavering on doing instead of the last one I did when I went super negative, was that the Eagles and the Cowboys at that date, what was it October or so will both be six and oh and prepare for a Sunday night

football showdown in week seven. And I think that you cannot sleep on the Cowboys with all the changes they've had and and and the better drafting this team has put forward in the last couple of years. What I like about their line is even when two years ago they were celebrated as one of the greatest offensive lines of all time, the best position group in the NFL, and they didn't rest on their laurels. They went out and drafted Connor Williams in the second round. Then they

went out and drafted Connor McGovern in the third round. Um, and they've got Joe Luney, a guy who played sixteen games at center last year. Now he's just valuable insurance. UM. And for what it's worth, mark um. This is the week every every summer where a Sports and Madden drop all their ratings and people pay it a surprising amount of attention, attention, a lot of annoyed people. The Cowboys and Eagles ranked one two in terms of overall team

strength by Madden. So they're with you. And by the way, You're Brownie is just five points away. That was when minus the offensive line strength. There's some issues there. Well, I'm just talking about the Madden rating. But when I was a kid, the Jets were always crumby typically, but whenever they had a decent team, that's always when I would get the video game, uh, because then I could

play with the decent Jets team. If you ever mark where to go back and return to your roots as a video game football video game player, this is the year. What a low did Brown's team to play as a video game? How much does all that cost? If I were just to go out and splur you have assistant, you don't have an Xbox or p S four ne presume all right, so that's you know, about three hundred bucks. I'd say the game. Maybe you can get some type

of code or something because you're in the industry. Get that game on the arm as the kind of thing. I let's go throw on the wife's credit card and will pick up the pieces. Don't your sons like use your credit card to get three d dollars worth? They have attempted that and they were successful, and we we returned those funds. Um, I'll throw one out there on West on your thinnest list. Um. The packers running backs

and that that gets as it gets again. Many of us mark not you as much, but many don't want to see Aaron Rodgers return to glory just because it's football is more fun. But there is a lot to be nervous about right west about this offense. We've talked about whether there's enough around Davante Adam when it terms to terms of skill players on the outside uh and in the passing game, but the running back situation is

hardly settled. I think fantasy football players have been arguing for Aaron Jones to get more playing time for a while, and I've made the same argument. But he he really hasn't done himself favors by playing at a bigger weight than he should have been playing, and he hasn't been in the greatest shape he's at an m c l

sprains in both of his first two years. The coach and you can rip on Mark Mike McCarthy all you want, but he knows Aaron Jones strength and weakness is better than we do and decided not to play him much on passing downs because that's not his strength. On the other hand, they're passing specialist Jamal Williams just isn't a good runner. He's averaged almost two yards per carry less than Aaron Jones, so if he if Jones goes down, you're left with a very pedestrian um rushing attack and

not much depth behind the two of them. I think another concern is that when you read about Jamal Williams and how he would fit into a Matt Lafleur offense, that Matt Lafleur is a zone run scheme type coach and Jamal Williams is not a perfect fit for that on any level. Your biggest concern on your thinnest list is the Giants. And while we've talked endlessly on this podcast about the relative worth of Eli Manning, Uh, what you're talking about here is their defense. And it's hard

to disagree. After you get rid of Olivier Vernon and Landon Collins, what's left here West? How are they gonna stop anyone? Forget about who's playing quarterback? How are they gonna not be giving up twenty eight points a game? Well, this is what happens when you rebuild. I mean, I

guess you could say it's a necessary evil. Some teams don't believe that you have to rebuild all the time, but the Giants tore it down, and you're hoping that the young guys can eventually be as good as Snax Harrison and Olivier Vernon and Landon Collins and the guys who've been playing at near a pro bowl level for a few years. You hope that the young guys eventually get to that place. But I would be shocked if it's this year that all those young guys started playing well.

Another case for uh Daniel Jones entering the lineup sooner rather than later is that eventually gentleman is gonna have to put something on the field to convince Giants brass that he should be around beyond two thousand nineteen. And if the defense and is in a full blown rebuild and the old quarterback is obviously not the future, Jones has to play the showed management that this guy is

doing something right, like what I mean? Otherwise, what are we staring down the barrel of three and thirteen and no hope and I mean and gentlemen created for obvious reasons, a bit of a radioactive situation for himself. But it's almost like the defensive side of the ball has been not noticed or talked about as much because it's all about Eli Manning all the time. But then suddenly you're gonna put a lot of pressure on a broken down Eli Manning or a rookie quarterback to probably score a

lot of points to win games. West During this exercise, when you're you know, going through the rosters and doing your process, which on either side of this thinnest, deepest, what surprised you, What team surprised you? What unit you know what? And some of this doesn't even make the list, um just because something There might be some deeper or or thinner units than I wrote about, But some of it is what what's compelling to write about. So that's

how you end up making the choices. But I'd say the Ravens, how they are so stark, they have a the deep I think the deepest position group in the NFL might be their secondary. They are just absolutely loaded there number one on your list. But then they lost Um Thick, they their pass rushers, They lose Sugs Zadarius Smith, um Urban from upfront, and those guys have more sacks, hits and hurries than the rest of their defense combined. So you're asking a lot of unproven guys to do

work there. And I really thought about having their wide receivers on this list for Thinness too, because they're they're only proven guy. Really is Willie Snead, who's a slot receiver? Seth Roberts, I'd guess another slot receiver. I just don't see the depth there. So you're talking about a team that has some very strong strong points and some very weak weak points. When you went number seven on the thin list Chicago Bears kicker, was that sort of a little bit of a tidbit for Dan? Oh? Yeah, I

gotta keep Dan oriented and just gets it. That's why you gotta keep the kicker fans interested. West totally gets it. And people shouldn't sleep on how important it is to have a solid kicking foundation on you just ask twenty million dollar man Robbie Gold how important kicking. But well, Ricky, you were a little young when Adam Vinetieri was a hero. But in New England, no, he was. He was the best. Why it was still kicking almost unbelieved that. You know

he's still the later. Yeah, but he's you know, not my problem. He's regarded as the best. So I don't know if you got I did not involve myself in it. And now there's talk that Russia is stealing everyone's faces. This this face app that everybody went crazy putting. Uh, I did your picture though, that was actually very tedious four hours on Twitter, but a screenshot of your Instagram just to see what total violation like that. Uh, now I'm in the system as well as well. But uh,

kudos to the Colts who did a nice job. And they did like a a four screen of like luck whomever, whoever. And then the last one there was no face app done. It was just him with the white beard. The stunning lack of that was a good one, but a stunning lack of creativity by all thirty two team Twitter accounts by doing the exact same social media post with their

players turning old. What would you have done if you were in that, I'd be the one team that said we're not going to do what every other everyone else is doing. By the way, all in the course of fifteen or twenty minutes, they all dropped the same tweet. I mean it's slightly ponderous. I mean it is, but I mean I have issues with that too. Anything else, Mark West, anything that jumped out to you and you good again. Check this out nfl dot com slash westling.

The archive is bustling. I don't want to I don't want to throw too. I don't get up and go read it. But the Patriots being on the thin list, and for at this point in the off season, that wide receiver group with your your kind of praying if you're a Patriots fan, that Josh Gordon is brought back into the mix because there's not a lot going on there. I mean, we've seen Brady carry offenses with the releading leading receiver is Jabbar Gaffney or Danny Ammondola or Malcolm

Mitchell as a playoff hero. That's a lot to ask of a thirty nine year old beating father time. It's a lot more to ask of a forty two year old who showed actual signs of decline last year. Very fair, All right there, you gonna check it out. West is back. Yes, the the Infinity Stones put him into the big power glove explosions. Everyone dies, lives. Do you live or die when there's these stones are collected? I mean there's MALTI I don't I'm not the expert on this. It's your thing.

I mean, live or die when the bad guy or the good guy gets the stones in the power clove. I don't watch that they have and they make the decision. The bad guy war wiped out, like I believe it was like Earth? What about the other planets? Aren't there like other stars and stuff involved? Then we're going beyond. We're going beyond what I know about at that point. But yes, the mail Bag live NFL dot Com Friday Morning. Check it out. It's the only mail bag that matters.

And Jay Glazer knows it. He knows Mark. Oh, I think he's it's it's on his radar. There's no doubt about that. Um. A bunch of questions. You guys are great. Um, you always do annoy me listeners, no matter how much I try to make it clear that these this this prompt I do on Twitter is for my column, the mail Bag. And then I get and inevitably fourteen questions about which one of us would survive in an island or is Mark happy? Or is Erica like you know

on bumble or whatever? Like it's just you know, I it's not always about the podcast. But since we're here, I'll go through some of the questions that I I mean, what you endured Dan is just uh, you know, remarkable to us. I appreciate their interest in our show and and and my social media account. Has there ever been a mailbag without that? Who would win on a deserted island? Never? It's a lue Garrick streak. Well, Wes, it's interesting West.

I noticed that my mentions like favorite when someone said West would would prevent And I really, honestly, you just just you know, you caught me on a day where I really like waffled on whether to click like on this or not. I'm like, no, because I don't want to encourage the narrative that that that this is what I would be like. We don't like to talk about these things. But I clicked like just because it was somebody trying to connect with our show. And I was like,

all right, now you threw a bone. Yeah, I saw it. And of course what I'm going to see is Wes is agreeing with this person. And perhaps you do believe that you would survive, does it? I don't think it's I don't think it's ever been a part of me, even before cancer, to be a divide and conquered person. That's what that that I don't play politics enough to do this. Yeah, Like, I'm not Richard Hatch. It's not happening. Oh, I know I would not be the one to like

post cancer like strength, strength for sure. Did you see me trying to run around the basis last to division champions? Baby? We Yeah, we came to it. We knocked off a team that was in first place all year, and now we have the best team that the Shield has ever had. Going into is a juggernaut. We go into the ship. What some people we heard through a source that some members of the opposing team believe that the first basement of the Shield number twenty three, Dan Hansas, was taking

the game too seriously in what manner were you? I mean, oh, is that because you argue with the umpire? You literally were like, who can say it better? Rough me? Are you blue probab? It was it was a it was a blown call by the umpire. Let him know about it, And I'm never gonna apologize for being competitive. Yeah, but you were like, I'm right so still, but it was like it was it was like it went on for a little while and then Dan was like, bro, I'm

right on top of it. Who can see better? Me or you, and the ref was like your two seconds from being out of here. The best part was the best part was and I'm never that guy, but I was very frustrated that moment of the game. Um, I said, that's bad, that's bad, and he goes, you're bad. Yeah, all right, we're mixing it up. Um. Anyway, we're tendant to we won the division. One more win for glory. Well, we're streaking. As you pointed out last night, we have

played well now. They're the second and third place teams in the league in the last few weeks and we beat them by a combined thirty seven to nine. Yeah, we've been rolling through some good teams. You don't want to look past anyone, especially in the playoffs. But um, this has like an eight five Bears feel to it. There was a time with a previous team where I thought you had an eighty nine Niners five, but maybe we didn't even realize how good you could be. You're

peaking now. This feels eighty five Niners thirteen Seahawks. Well, our girls have never girls are carrying the guys now sometimes and that has not happened off And I didn't get mad at you when you had that embarrassing base. Yeah, I really did screw up last night. I was just standing on first and I like hit a really nice like a slammer right down past the third basement, and

so like ran it out. It was so good, and I was like yes, And then something happened where the next person hit the ball and I like just like stood there, like I didn't move. I don't know what happened. I was like often thought, but I was paying attention. I don't know you were like just daydreaming about your hit. The pre I hit a slammer. Understand the total slammer? UM? Anyway to use that during next week's hit a slammer? Uh?

In the mailbag, I I opened mail bag with a question I do get every year around this time, but I always answer it because to me, there's no better way to end an NFL season, UM, besides the Jets championship UH than a team winning a Super Bowl for the first time. And the way history has it, it's been happening now going back to the beginning of this century, like every three to four years a team is winning a Super Bowl for the first time. So you go back to UH, of course you have the Pats in

OH one. Uh, and then you have the Bucks in O two than the Colts and OH six, the Saints in O nine, the Seahawks and thirteen the Eagles and seventeen. Okay, all right, Ravens fans, I remember you you were in two thousand two. But anyway, so that tells us that it's gonna happen again. Maybe not this year, but soon. So there are twelve teams that have never won the Super Bowl. I put them in order of Super Bowl

win probability this year. Tell if you have any disagreement. Cardinals, Bills, Lions, Bengals, Titans, Panthers, Browns, and now the top five. It's pretty good list. There's some real contenders Jags, Falcons, Texans, Vikings, Chargers, and I think those top three teams are actual legit title contenders. I think the Falcons and Jaguars, if a couple of things to go the right way, are absolute title contenders.

And even the Browns, with all the talent they have, if they get on a crazy run, you never know. I think that Titans, Panthers, and Browns have better rosters than the Jaguars. In Texans, Yeah, the Jaguars are the ones that stood out to me too. I I know that your stance on the Titans in general is not favorable, but I might put them ahead of the Titans. On the Panthers, depending on quarterback place you could flip flopped him. I bet I think they're kind of in the same window.

I think only Cincinnati, Detroit, Buffalo, and Arizona are kind of completely out of the conversation, at least winning this year. I am just like, I'm not convinced that the Nick Foles experience as much as I like the person is going to translate. I don't like doubting him. I just I don't want to see it. I don't like anything about their offense really, Like what what excites you other than if you believe that Nick Foles is going to

really turn that offense? Other than the quarterback, what excites you about about the Vikings of two? They're kind of after all the hype going to last year, you almost hear nothing about them right now, which I think is a good thing. And it's good for Kirk Cousins. Uh, this is still I think a loaded team, and if Cousins can just play at a high level, why am I doing too much hand stuff. No, Kirk Cousins just

is just going to hand off the ball every time. Well, one of the biggest throws he's not gone on this year. We don't talk about assistant coaches enough except Mark he does. But I thought Kubiak was one of the biggest editions of any coaching them all year. And I really like the Vikings issue. I mean, that line needs to be better. Chargers everybody agrees the most likely team to break the Super Bowl jinks of this group it doesn't agree would put them in the in the driver's seat. I'd agree

with that. I mean, it's, if anything, they've not lived up to their talent. They find a way to crumble in January. I also think we've been talking about their offense for the last few years and their defense is probably better than their offense right now. Um here's one from Justin Brill. He asks, if you could choose any team from any year to be on Hard Knocks, which team would you choose? I'll tell you who. I went with, The eight five Bears, all time great team of course,

eighteen and one arguably the best defense ever. He had a ton of interesting personalities. McMahon, the fridge Singletary, Buddy Ryan, Walter Payton, and then you have Peaked Ditka And I think the cheat code for Hard Knocks is if you can get any like an engaging, interesting, funny um personality a head coach, the series is gonna fly. And Ditta in nine was one of the more famous sports figures

in the country. And UH with his mix of you know, very confident man, a huge ego, a big star, I feel like that would have been a great like centerpiece of the show to have. I like that a lot. I The one the name that came to me was the Oilers, the ninety three Oilers, the team where Buddy Ryan and Kelvin Gilbride had a punch out situation. The only reason though I'd go with maybe even an earlier Oilers team is because you lose Jerry Glanville because the

head coach was Jack Party. I would love to see Jerry Glanville as much as I despised him because as a young Browns fan, the Oilers who were always an annoying UH team to deal with, but I would love to see them on Hard Knocks. They had a lot of characters too. You would have warn Moo in the whole crew, go love you blue oilers, get some bum Phillips action in there. Um, I would. I would look for the seventies as a sweet spot because the NFL hasn't gone so overly corporate. The money is not as

much of a factor. It's more personalities involved, as more people being themselves, less political correctness, and I think you'd have a lot more interesting stories. I would choose, like the John Madden era Raiders when they're just full of like, oh, Al Davis would be all I want Al Davis coverage that we do. I mean, we get Mark Davis this year? Is that an interest in his own right? Um? A

gentleman from Los Angeles named that's his name. Mark Sessler asks Will Brown's Jets Week two national television and our and during friendship you know, no, it won't end it, but it will get dicey if they both become contenders legitimately. I mean about I think the one time that we really um hit on this topic in our studio it went very poorly explosive it is it is an explosive topic.

I mean, it would be a great problem market. I think he'll be fine if Cleveland we're to win I'm much more concerned about um if it doesn't go well what it was going to happen to Dan. I mean I I could throw it the other way. I believe that you would potentially not do well. If I were crowing about the Jets beating the Browns in the f C title game. I don't think I would do well at all. I'd be probably steaming about it at I

know I want to do well with it. I mean, I believe maybe you should admit to the same though. I I think that at least half the problem is me, So that's too much now, It's it's probably a sixty five issue on my I mean, I think I can go back and forth. I can easily become the sixty. I just want one of those teams to be good for the first time in our podcast. The problem isn't need never hand in hand situation. They almost need to be duplicates of each other in terms of their success.

If one of them were to totally take a dirt nap, that then we're in, We're in. We're in bad territory. But it wouldn't that at least keep them off each other's radar. With steaks being high and no, because if it's if Cleveland went three and thirteen and became one of these like worst teams money can buy Bobby Manilla Mets type situation, it's gonna be awful. I would run. I'd rather be on a deserted island and not to talk about it three times, four times, twenty five times

a week. Negative. Uh, let's see, let's see a couple more and then we'll get out of here. Uh. Area fifty one question. We hit area fifty one pretty hard today. UM. I mean, this is what I'm talking about. This guy in missour who of the four is most likely not to help someone in need? I believe we all help someone in need. I don't think there's a standout candidate answer to that one. I think we're all unbalanced, decent people. I don't know about Ricky. Ricky might run the other way. Well,

she wasn't. I mean, if you want to expand it to five, I think she's it's You've got a candidate right there. Would you help somebody in need? Are you kidding me? Of course not? Uh? Dumpster gets lit on fire. Uh. This from Doc west is for you. Since Chris Westling is a recovering Bengals fan. What what miraculous event would have to occur to get him to join Bill's mafia. I feel like that's a team that maybe you could fall in love with Wes. I like their fan base

quite a bit. Um, what about their quarterback? You like him? I don't know yet. He I like watching him because I don't know what he's gonna do, and he's pretty fun to see run around. He's a dynamic athlete. But no, I I just don't see like I'm one of those people if you're a fan, that has to happen organically as you're growing up, as you're a child, And I don't think anyone would ever replace like the late seventies and eighties Bengals for me Mark Um Benedict Morton asks

how does Mark's family cope with him being vegetarian? Are they also off meat? If yes, have your kids ever tried it and liked disliked it? Mark? They eat um anything. I mean, they they have a very My kids are not I don't restrict them in any way with what they eat, and quite appalled by their diet on some levels. So it's like I'm not, you know, lording my waves over anyone. Uh, Tyler asks, do you guys still talk to k Rich? Also, when is spice Rack coming back? No?

And uh soon enough maybe draft time. I'll hear from k Rich every once in a while. She sent me some some very positive messages when I was going through cancer. She's been she's been nice. Like a definitive no makes it sound like we've decisively shut her out of that. We're not interacting. We had a former producer, Erica. I was gonna ask she's in Philadelphia now, Yes, very success, seems to be doing well. Um, all right, that's about it. What were the question from that person? I don't know

the other question behind the k Rich question? There were two questions. The meat thing. Have your kids ever tried not eating meat? That wasn't the same tweet spice Rack. Spice Rack, Oh, spice Rack, When is he gonna be on the show again? Didn't we try to have him on and just didn't work out? Time? He wise timing, He got caught up with something with work and it was around the draft. So yeah, he he kind of missed his window as annual window. But it doesn't change

anything or feelings about spice Rack. We love spicy Yeah, exactly. Um, all right, that's it. Summer breaks over back on Monday. Yes, me and a Times of ESPN will join us on Wednesday. We also, it appears to be on track to happen a visit to a NFL camp coming up that we'll do a show from said headquarters. We look forward to that and all the other stuff that you have come

to expect from the Around the NFL podcast. As we head toward our seventh season together on the show, how about that We started in the July of two thou and here we are. I didn't think we'd get to seven episodes and and Ricky, um, is that true? Yeah? I worried. I worried at the beginning that would be terrible. I mean I thought my voice coming from Tybee was like, nobody's gonna want to listen to this idiot? Um, Ricky Uh. I've asked you also to track when or one thousandth

episode happens. That's coming up. It's coming up, So we wanna celebrate that in some way, maybe with a live show. Who knows. We're trying to do some different things this year, maybe our Sunday night show. We might have some fun A new wrinkle to that as well. So behind the scenes, you know we're cranking Mark especial. Oh. I mean, I have been about as lazy as can be the last couple of weeks. But back now. Flip the switch, baby, all right, let's go do His dad had the signing

off for Quiet Storm. The mailman, Ricky Hollywood at the table. We're back in the studio next week. Three times here it comes until Monday,