DON'T SAY 'SUPER BOWL': Quarterback case files + Tom Brady retires (again)

say super Bowl today. No, we will not, although ironically we're talking about the man who won more of those than anyone else and the challenge more challenge from the Chris Wesling podcast studio. It's around the NFL. I'm Dan danzas Greg Rosenthal. That was Mark Sessler who heard there, and yes that was you know. Two of the actually legends to me anyway of of being a football fan. There's Steve Sable, who really of NFL films, who really taught a whole generation of fans a better way to

watch football interviewing. Of course Tom Brady, who on February one, two thousand twenty three, one year to the day after he made his first retirement announcement, does it again. Here is what Brady had to say uh in an Instagram message that Jim Gray had nothing to do with Good morning, guys. I'll get to the point right away. I'm retiring for good. I know the process was a pretty big deal last time, so when I woke up this morning, I figured I

just pressed record. Let you guys know first, so I won't be long winded, and you only get one super emotional retirement essay, and I used my up last year. So really, thank you guys so much to every single one of you for supporting me, my family, my friends, teammates, my competitors. I could go on forever. There's too many. Um thank you guys for allowing me to live my absolute dream. I wouldn't change the thing. I love you all.

Unbelievable Tom Brady seven suits, seven championships and say it did though, so I don't know if that's a penalty seven championships. But obviously the big storyline coming out of this, Greggy, as we go through this again is if you're not breaking this on the Let's Go podcast with Jim Gray, why does that podcast exist? Now? I throw it to you. I hate to admit that's one of the first things that crossed my mind. Jim Jim grades matter. Although Jim Grade did get some pop on NFL Network as a

guest on NFL Now, I believe. But no matter what Tom Brady uh in the Let's Go podcast, They're they're not going to top us. He's coming after us. I love the way he did this though with no fanfare. You could hear the emotion in his voice after what we went through last year, and you said, Dan, you wanted to make a promise that we won't so if he comes at him again of retirement again, which is by the way, not unheard of. These great players waffle a lot, I don't think it happens. But we're not

doing this again last year. We're doing it this year because he is the goat. But this is it. He's used up his uh right, and we're going to talk to Tom Curran. UH, my old my old colleague over at Pro Football Talking NBC was now at NBC Sports Boston. His chronicle his career, and he he wrote a little

bit about this. But I did think this was kind of the perfect note for a guy who came into the league as unknown as possible for a Michigan quarterback and then turned into one of the most famous people UH in America. And UH, I I enjoyed the simplicity of it as a fan, and as a fan, I have to admit I'm relieved I didn't want to see

him play anymore. The the whole reason why I wanted the Patriots or thought it was a good move to get rid of him back in twenty nineteen was I thought, Man, I just think it'd be depressing to ever see him have a decline. And then what did he do? He went and won a Super Bowl. He I think should have won the m v P just one season ago. We saw that decline start for for only one season, and I'm glad uh for him that that he's moving

on now. Yeah, I think, like I've obviously at like all of us, just been thinking about kind of the impact he's had on not just our careers, but long before I worked here, Tom Brady was sort of just woven into the fabric. Is the heartbeat of so many different football seasons. And it's like if you were thirty years old. If you're thirty, you don't remember the beginning

of his career, probably you were too young. If you're our age, He's been part of football for ever two decades plus, and I just think about the fact that now in that message that I love the way he delivered that um that we're moving into the face of Tom Brady the person beyond Tom Brady the player and Tom Brady the player was always someone who I think

found the found a way. I mean, now we're now we're bathed in this historical view of looking back on what he did and like that come back against the Falcons, we were there in person, to me, signifies who he was. That like being down by that much by twenty points to him was an opportunity to other people would be like we give up, Like he's someone that just never gave up. And I think now I just I've thought about him more than I think about like George Washington,

Like he's a historical figure. He's someone that just has created part of our culture. And before the two thousand draft, you could not get marked the shut up about gw And now it's like, is he even was even a president? I don't know, right, I think with Brady to like, I totally get how he played this um because it was so hard to walk away last year. I think there were obviously outside pressures perhaps playing a role. We know his personal life, the way everything played out on

such a public way. He got divorced during the season, um and at he was coming off a season where he was great and like Greg said, he could have easily been named m v P. He was a top of the leader boarder near the top and every relevant statistical category. He comes back, he finishes out the contract and he clearly wasn't the same guy this year. And he could, yes, he could have absolutely gotten another starting job this offseason. We we connected him to the Raiders

like everyone else. Uh maybe just the most recent show we talked about we'reout the Niners now that brock Party has a serious elbow injury, and it is like, I'm kind of thankful. Um, even as a Jets fan who never liked watching Tom Brady dominate, I a will look back and be grateful that we were in person for this legendary athletes some of his greatest moments and be we don't get the sue burst sad season, because this past season kind of bordered on that, but it didn't

quite get there. But you worry that if you the sad you know, sitting on the bench, head's head down, wearing a Raiders uniform after getting benched we don't have to worry about seeing that. I hope not anyway. Yeah, I mean I think it felt like this was the season where and even against the Cowboys in those final minutes, like Tom Brady was like he probably knew in his heart were that was the end. And he's still just as out there doing Tom Brady stuff no matter that

game being totally over. He seemed to have the joy stripped from from him this season a little bit. It just felt a little different to me. But it's so hard to go out as a quarterback gracefully, and he's done that, right um Tom Tom pointed out this quote he said, back when people thought he was maybe kind of nearing the end, that was that season where they started out slowly, and he said, when I suck, I'll retire, but I don't plan on sucking for a long time.

And he didn't suck this year. He was like a average NFL starting quarterback, but for him, I think that was the definition, and that cow his game was pretty close To me to that moment, as as a fan of Brady, just seeing him in that game was tough. But I was, you know, working out a column yesterday that will come out during the Super Bowl, just like an offseason type of colin what each team needs to do.

And I flip on NFL Network yesterday and they have the Super Bowl against the Rams and I and I happened to turn it on right as that final drive was starting. Uh, you know, shout out to j R. Redmond by the way getting out of battle. Oh. I can't believe it. I haven't. I haven't been punished in this exercise in years. Here is the punishment whenever. Want to know we have yet to make our donation to a local Jackson film. Let's say food bank, but it

could be anything and start the charity. Cause every time you say it, it's five bucks added to yours. Let's go fifty. I mean what you get? I like Greg being punished. Yeah, Saucy, go ahead. So I'm watching that game. I can't believe it. I'm not. I really will do it again, Toman in your head. Um, Yeah, that j R. Redmond getting out of bounce. This this whole thing might not happen. If doesn't happen, Troy Brown route of his life. But just the calm Brady had um in that two

minute drill reminded me a lot of games. This year because that year he was not one of the better quarterbacks in the league. He was maybe not, he was around an average starting quarterback, but when the Chips were down in the big moments at the end of the game, he was so calm and knew how to manage everything around me. And I'm watching this game and it's it's summer All announcing it no longer with us. It's John Madden telling them not to go for it, saying go

for overtime. He's no longer with us. The game's not in hd UM. Paul tag Leabo, who's not our commissioner, is handing the trophy to Robert Kraft, with Myra Kraft right next to her. Unfortunately no longer with us. Steve Belichick is on the the stage there. He's a kid. He's he's a kid. Uh. It's in the months after UH September eleven. They're they're they're in New Orleans and as someone who who had lived there, I'm thinking, like,

this is before Hurricane Katrina even happened. Richard Seymour is their hugging Brady at the end. He's younger than Brady. He was a rookie on that team. He's now like in the Hall of Fame, everything about it. It was just like a completely different era of our lives and of football, and Brady was there for all of it. It was my favorite sports fan experience. I lived out here in l A. I would watch every game with

a couple of buddies. One was a big Patriots fan, and and being out here watching that game and I'm just thinking, like that was just a totally different time. And yet at the end of that game, that same, like the thing that made him special to go win that game was still here at forty six winning these Bucks games. He tied his his all time record for game winning drives in a season this season with five, like that was still there. He's just the He's the

best in her of all time. Yep. Absolutely, And uh yeah, you're mentioning all these people that are no longer with us. I mean it was nearly a quarter century ago, and that that's how long he played at this highest level. Obviously played longer than anyone ever had. That wasn't a kicker. Um, he was at the Janet Jackson halftime fiasco. He's been everywhere. He was there. You know who wasn't there, George Washington exactly. Hack. You know it took no responsibility for any of that.

Justin Timberlake got him. I was gonna say, George Washington. Yeah, all right. You mentioned Tom Curran. He is um Pat's insider for NBC Sports Boston. He's covered the Patriots since nineties seven, so he's been there the whole way through with Tom Brady. Tom Curran, welcome back to around the NFL. How are you, sir? Tremendous? Thanks for having me. How's everybody get to see it good? We used to We used to work together Tom and I back in the day over at NBC. Tom gave me a lot of grief.

He's like the fun ne this guy now in the buzine house, don't you who's your comedian friend. I'm not the funniest guy, you know, I said, Well, in the sports business, it is h it is a common thing. Like our friend Dave Damachek likes to say, everyone thinks they're funny, but no one but Tom Kerran with the one liners. Um, well, now there's a lot of pressure on Tom. You say that after the conversation like this, just once again a reminder of how funny time is.

But now Tom has to performs in a way. Mr Curran, thank you so much for joining us. And uh, you know how what was your first reaction when you you saw you woke up or he saw the Instagram post that he was walking away? First of all, did you buy it this time? And and be did it strike the right notes for you? It? I did buy it. The first reaction was, there goes another day sacrificed at

the author of Tom Brady years. I mean, you know how many times it has happened, whether it's the Wells report, you're on your way to the golf course, whether it name it. I can from cold times in my life when I've been what just happen in two he had a car accident right before the opener. Remember that he's in the midst of a contract negotiation, and Craft immediately ran over to his house and gave him the biggest

contract in the NFL. That was another one, um, But that was my initial reaction, and I really didn't leap

to see what the announcement was. I'm not an early riser, so it was around eight five ago, which is gonna be But it did strike in my estimation the right notes and the column I wrote guys, was basically that this was a spartan announcement that was self aware enough for a guy who seemingly has become less and less self aware as he's embraced his brand and self promotion over the last few years in a way he never

had before. He kind of seemed to realize that I can't make this a brand ploy, I can't make this a marketing ploy. I can't be overwrought with this. Let's just say it what it is and move on. So I thought it was good and struck the right notes in my estimation. I loved what you wrote, and I think that there were obviously a billion columns being produced yesterday about the numbers he compiled and all that jazz.

But you talked about Tom Brady the man, and after that spartan comment, I just want to read something that you that you put in your column, he said. You know, during that announcement, he was just a guy who looks tired and bummed out with a lot in his mind. Undoubted understandably, it's complicated. Brady belongs to America, but he somehow seems to have become a man without a country, Like who is Tom Brady the Man? Going forward. I mean,

you've been around them more than anyone. Like, what's your impression of who he is and who he becomes at this point? I think he's Initially he's a very He's a very closed guy whose family is extremely important to him, and he wants to have an enjoyable experience on the earth and do as many things as he possibly can.

And I think in embracing those things, especially after he left the Patriots, he kind of drank heavy from the chalice of everything, and now he's realized, Okay, I have uh an ex wife in Miami, maybe or maybe not. I'm not sure if his kids are exactly they're specifically or not. I'm guessing they are. Then, he has a son in New York and um parents in San Francisco. He made his mark here in New England, was here for twenty plus years. He probably has property in Tampa,

so he's everywhere, and his family is scattered. His parents were very important approaching there. His kids are into their tweens and all of you guys, I don't know how old you all respective we are, but the ages of thirty five to forty for men can be very challenging because so much is changing so fast, and the milestone portions of your life have kind of passed, and you're trying to find what the hell am I doing now

with my life. I've finished coaching my kids. Uh, I've already gotten married, and looks like I'm just killing time until eighty. This is real time. This is hitting pretty hard right now. Year old. Yeah, so that's why I'm still playing, uh fifty five, I'm still playing men's whoop um on seven and one. You've got to find something, and you're gonna find something fulfilling because and I think that football has filled that void for him, but it's not as fun, and we could see it this year.

I love that, and I did love seeing some of the social posts from from players wives like Logan. Ryan's wife had a great post on Instagram talking about how Brady and her and their two families and their kids and his daughter like we're you can't almost make this up at like a at a dog shelter every single week and there's no cameras, there, there's no people. And it's the thing that Brady did because he knows it's the thing that his daughter loves most in the world.

And you just hear all these stories and and I thought of that tweet Mina Come said yesterday too, just like you don't hear anyone who's had interpersonal relationships with Brady ever say a single bad note, which is pretty rare. And I do think that Antonio Brown, but even he when he tried to like rat him out for like look at this guy, and then they showed the text, it was like, oh, Tom Brady is actually trying to help you, man, Um, He's trying to be a big brother.

So I think I can get lost. It reminds me there was that book by who was it? Um? He now writes, Yeah, Charlie Pierce, and he had a really hard time. He's a great writer making Brady interesting because there wasn't really much more to it. But you were there at the very beginning. So our listeners might not know this time, but you I think we're elevated in some way in the Boston sports scene because you were so early in on Brady. I could be wrong, and

tell me if I am. You were. I feel like the first one to be in on Brady that you said even before he took over for Bled soo, but especially after he took over for Bled so that like this is the guy, This is going to be the guy. They are never going back. You used to call Drew Lets the hood ornament. You made fun of Craft for signing him to the biggest contract in history after two pretty bad years, and you said that was all for

show and that it's gonna be Brady forever. And at the time you were kind of on an island like that seemed crazy and it became a bigger conversation through that Super Bowl year. I guess Tom built a mansion on that island now absolutely like I don't know who said it? Who said it? And I said it again, We're not just say the words of the big game that's gonna be played in a couple of weeks. What did you see back then? Tom um that let you know this like right off the bat and like like that,

how did you how did you see that? Like it was training camp in two thousand one, he was unremarkable. In two thousand he showed up the Patriots where Brian College, which is a small college in Rhode Island. That's where they worked out, and he walked into the cafeteria in two thousand with the backpack on. I'm like, why is that tall kid walking in there? And why is he here in July? Because he absolutely did not look like

a football player. By the next summer two thousand and one, you could see in virtually every training camp practice Brady outperforming bled Cell. This is prior to bled So being injured. Um. You can look at the go to NFL Jesus, look at the playbooks from those preseason games. You can see the numbers Brady performing better than bled So in each one of them. So he was outperforming Bledsow consistently, and bled Cell actually played the entire first half of the

fourth preseason game in two thousand and one. They were so desperately inept with him on the field. Then they go into the season, they lose the Cincinnati, they're horrendous in the game that bled So gets hurt against the Jets. So my peeing on that territory with Brady was more linked. He can't He's not gotten any better. Bled So is getting worse. And Brady is actually very accurate and very competent.

And you talk to more and more people, whether it be Lloyd car or is hece college teammates, UM or people who had grown up around him, and they said he's gonna take over the team. William molloy said he's going to take over the team. These were guys who said, you know, we believe in what Tom can do. So I saw it, but it also was confirmed by many, many, many people around him, even in the weeks that he was taking over the job. Um, the Brady Patriots of

it all. Obviously, during retirement number one, a lot was made that he didn't mention the pads and all that stuff, and I know that was a huge story up around your parts. Um, Now as we spend forward, like, how do you see that relationship? Uh, pat's Brady? Like, is there gonna be a one day retirement contract? Or is is Brady really the type of guy that that was a part of his life. He's moved on and there won't be that type of connection post career as a

Jets fan. That's what he's just hoping for, That's all he has. Here's the interesting thing. I think that that Brady is extremely attuned to symbolic moves meant to leverage his relationship to the betterment of somebody else, And the symbolism of signing a one year, one day contract and retiring as a Patriot. I think we'll probably go sideways

up his chimney. The reason being he had a chance in he begged you from eighteen into nineteen and when you finally sat down and gave him a bogus contract that you announced as a extension and he knew and you knew that it was just on vapor. And then the next year in March, when he gave you one last chance in spite of himself to do something, Belichick says, we can't do two in each fifth. We can't give

that contract. He became a free agent. So for the Patriots to now say, can you come back and sign a contract just so you can No, I'll show up for the red jacket ceremony for the Patriots all of fame, and I'll be there for whatever parade and the statue unveiling. Well, let's not get to the point where you're trying to make me sign something that I wanted to sign and

you wouldn't give to me. Do you think that they do you think that they're going to attempt to do that though, Tom Or do you think they understand that they maybe didn't handle it the way they should have. I think that they would probably send out enough feelers to understand that that would probably be a bad idea. And this is all hypothetical on my part. Guys, I don't know this. I've not asked anybody if Tom would

sign a one day contract. I did speak to people close enough to the situation to say, can you just put this to Benjaby. Tom's not coming to the back of the Patriots right. This was a week or two ago. He said he will never play for the Patriots again. So could you The relationships are fine. I thought it was crazy when people were throwing that out there. I was like you, personally, I think he's fine with Bill. I think he's fine with Robert Kraft. He went to

his wedding. But it's the same thing with people who you work with who you just couldn't work with anymore. If you see him some place for twenty minutes like that was, it's great to see you. I want to work with him. No, could you see him though? Like with Bill Belichi, because I think some of the stuff that drives me nuts is this, do Belichick and Brady like respect each other? Are their careers not the same? Because you know you've got Jimmy Johnson going out on

Bill Belichick's yacht with him and all that. Could you see like the relationship between the two of them turning into something where you look back in a different way beyond the business of the Patriots, where Brady and Belichick are out on that yacht and just enjoying the fact that they changed football history together, or is there something thorny er there? I could absolutely see that, and I could see it in a way that we wouldn't find

out about it until three weeks after it happened. You might, but well I might, But chances are I wouldn't because they know that it would go immediately right to telling everybody, and they would want to be private about it. But I think that they could in the realm of we've shared it so much together, we did so much together, and we've never had a relationship that is away from football.

So Belichick changes drastically. I'm sure you can hear from any number of former Patriots, whether it's been Willie mc guinness or guys who have come through uh NFL media who were with the Patriots. Can you know, have testimony to how much Bill changes after someone is not their employee anymore. And Belichick really did that after that game last year at Tampa. Spent twenty five minutes after a

primetime game in the locker room talking to Brady. So the damn Bluses back to Tampa had to wait, which is probably big foot in the whole situation. But think about that. So, um yeah, I could. I could see it, But I just don't think it's gonna be them sitting down and throwing de ritos at each other and gambling on the couch. I could. I could hear Tom curR and on Tom Brady all daylight. I'm curious how how

your relationship is with time over the years. He was, He's pissed at me for what basketball team is that? To remember before the Bucks game when the Patriots played the Bus. Yes, um, so when they were playing the Bucks and Brady was coming back about a week earlier, I was doing all kinds of pre Brady stuff. Here's the house that he lived in when he was in two thousand and here's this, and I was trying to, you know, do that reporting. So of course for the

million of time, I called Mr Brady. So Mr Brady is on with me and we're talking, and he said something about the Patriots being wrong, and I said, so, do you feel vindicated? Mr Brady? And then I said this, Tom feel vindicated? He said, damn right, And of course it went kind of, you know, viral, because it was the first pop off before the game, and Tom just expressed to be the email. I didn't appreciate you asking

my father to speak me. Um. He took advantage of him, and I was like, I would never do that to the guy. But at this juncture, I think we'd be fine if we talked. But he's not been psyched. And that's the thing that I understand about it. I can have a great relationship with him for twenty five years, but at a point if he feels like you're leveraging a relationship in a way that he's complicating for him, I get it. I do get it. Well, I do hope.

I do hope you get to the point, Tom, or are you in Tom Brady, are thrown deritos at each other? Imagine that Tom about the prof at the Hall of Fame and have him removed. Um, Tom, thank you so much for giving us some time. I know you're the busiest man in sports media around your parts right now, so that is much appreciated. And uh yeah, let us know any updates, any emails you get from the goat. We'd love to keep you guys posted. It's been quiet since. Let me know if he asked about me. If you

see him, alright, than great. Tom Curran never disappoints. Um, good stuff. All right, let's take a break. We'll be right back. H Holly Woold something something something Holly Woold, where your dreams are made and also crushed. It's a tough town. Okay. Um, before we get to some quarterback talk, we just talked Tom Brady. This is something I wanted to do since really I saw the trailer for eighty four Brady for the first time, which, if you're not

aware of eighty four Brady, be what it is. Our producer, Justin Graver, is going to give a very concise summary of what the film is about. Grave Digger. Yes, so the film, Oh, Justin, what's up? Sorry? I thought if you cue me, I don't have to do that. It's it's a little complicated, right, Okay. Anyway, the film is about four women in their older stages who jarinarians. Is

that I think the genius octogenarians? The first time I've heard that term who really want to see Tom Brady play football, so they decide they're going to make a road trip to see him play trip against the Falcons in Super Bowl fifty one to whichever one that was um, which ended up being you said something something again, an old grave diggers in a big heap of mess because not only his grave digger after he gets dinged he says it, he gets thinged if he misses any of

us saying it and doesn't call it out. So right now he's down five bucks, Greg, all the way down to fifty. He's up to fifteen in the hole right now. Graver acknowledged that this will be one of the first episodes in a in a long time that he's actually listening to what we're saying while it's happening. Yeah, yeah, sometimes I two owt you know, I gotta hang on every word here, sometimes, says our producer. You know I learned from the best Ricky Hollywood taught me. Well, um, anyway,

nice breakdown. It's a Legends of the screen Rita Moreno, Sally Field, Jane Fonda, Lily Tom And I'm asking you, folks, how much does this movie make? And its opening weekend? Because I think it's kind of a fascinating test here in Tinseltown because nobody really knows exactly who the movies for. Gregg says it's for his mother and her. Um, I

guess friends or whatever. So if you're if you're a person in New England, um, maybe a woman in New England, baby boom, I don't really have a sound draft for that. So you have that market cornered obviously, people that are born in the maybe early fifties or so, there are women that live in that exact region of the country. How much money will this film make opening weekend closest without going over prices? Right rules, Uh, and we'll figure

out what the winner gets. Great digger, We're gonna let you get in on this as well. Mark you first. I will go eleven point eight million. Eleven point eight million, Okay, I like that. Can I get some some of the Tinseltown music back? Only? Better? Go ahead? Great? Why don't you go next? All right? UM? I did do a little cursory research. I checked in what is a like a football movie? Draft Day came out nine years ago, um,

and that that pulled in nine point eight million. Now you gotta adjust for some that's not a terrible I thought it would have been lower for Draft Day. I think that this movie will do worse than that Factory and Inflict. Yeah, it will make about nine even nine even for for Brady. Okay, well, you are accounting for inflation. I'm gonna account for the pandemic and the decreasing box office very smart, very widely. I'm looking at the last weekend's box office. Left behind colon The Rise of Anti

Christ debuted with two point three million. I feel like Tom Brady is um a christ like figure to some, so he'll do better than that, but not much better. Let's go three million. Potentially way overshot this thing. I mean, I could be wrong. I'm gonna go low. That's an absolute bomb. If that's that's that's a that's an all times Alright. How about you better? This is better. You want something cinematic and big, and I feel like you just stepped onto Hollywood Boulevard right. That other one was

called Hollywood fanfare. But yeah, okay, um, I'm gonna go with four point six million. So you boxed in Greggy, right, That's my whole thing was just like that was the closest I could get to getting a dollar. Basically, I was taking taking low Greggy boxed in a big spot. I think I think Grave Digger is the Vegas favorite in my mind, but obviously not in your. But you know, in most games on the show, the producer loses. We

got a factor that in as well. I mean, I've got to get it between three and four and a half, So that's got Dinny's small window. I'm hating what I did because the last five times I've been to the movie theater, they've been about fifteen people in there. It's eighty for Brady uh In. Eight people that go to this time say yeah, five of the six feels like a nice number. But I was trying to at that one dollar thing in Graver ticket for me. But that's how the games played. Um, and just to put a

button on the Tom current conversation, that was great. Could have done an hour on that. One of the reasons we're not doing an hour on that. This first all Tom want to agree to that, I'm sure, but also or maybe it would it's a good dude, um, But also I know some people are kind of braided out at this point. You're trying to do that, especially now

it's a second retirement. But I think having someone like Tom that really you know, it was boots on the ground and had a relationship with all the people involved. And you know, Greggy, I don't know why I you always think that it's not that question about the Patriots. Wasn't me like hoping for bitterness between the two sides. Yeah, Like, I think I think it's time to I think he's above a one day retirement. I don't think that's something

that's going to happen. But I would be unfortunate if there's a cold war and that's kind of what their situation is moving forward. But it was a great question, and I know that because it inspired surprising and compelling answer. So you did a good a good job. Thank you, Daddy. Hey, let's play a game. Let's well, it's not a game. Let's help people. Let's head into the old. Imagine like a police station. Now we're talking about old Hollywood. Now

imagine an old police station. You walk up the marble steps and you head into the big doors, and here you are inside headquarters. And now we head into like the meeting room. Dragnet style, Dragnet style. I never saw the show, but I think I get the rest. I mean it was not on while you were It was not a vibrant prime time offering during your lifetime or mine.

It wasn't. But what we're gonna, undoubtedly by a few years, we are going to take a look at the remaining or the quarterbacks of note who are in limbo right now. We're gonna it's a case file study. And uh, we're gonna go through the files. We're gonna pull the files on these quarterbacks, these mysteries. We're gonna try to kind of crack the case on where are these quarterbacks? And up Tom Brady, pick up the file, tossing in the garbage. Put in the circular file. Put in the circular file.

What does that mean? Garbage can round, garbage can? So is that what that is? I never knew what the circular file. We're filing that away for good learning so much in this episode today. Um, so let's pull the file open. What do you gotta pull a name full file? Uh, let's let's start with the guy we were just talking

about in the playoffs, Danny Dimes. You're pulling the Dimes file, Daniel Jones, because this young man I think is in line potentially to make more guap than anyone in this this filing cabinet outside of perhaps Lamar Jackson, but Daniel Jones might be a little more motor waited to get that money fast. There are reports in New York people are throwing out like that he could make forty million dollars.

I don't believe that, but I do believe that the Giants will believe his market is strong enough that they're not letting him go, that they're gonna tag him if at all possible, if they can't get a deal done. Yeah, bus there's uh some there's the information coming right out of Giants headquarters that GM Joe, you know, Joe Shane, basically said we want him back. They said they've been consistent about that. It's hard to imagine that they go

nowhere at quarterback. They've got nothing when Daniel Jones, I think over the course of an evaluation season one over the coaching staff, do you think with all this though, there's a little bit of saying something publicly while also examining what the market could be like privately. Now, I don't know who would be in that market for the Giants. It's probably not Lamar Jackson and if it's not Lamar Jackson,

where's the upgrade. But Brian Dable has to be feeling himself a little bit after making Daniel Jones look that good and feel like he could do it with different quarterbacks. I'm not totally ruling out like a tag in trade here or something surprising. I don't know. I don't know. The ownership seems to love Daniel. I find I'm struggling

to find another team that would do that. This is this feels to me like the Giants value Daniel Jones higher than anyone else, and I think they see him as a talent who was making real progress in the first year under Dable, and maybe they can get him under a manageable contract while also maybe he takes the next step. I think that they won't say it. They're not gonna say it, but I think the Giants, some of those people in that build are like, we think

he could be like Josh Allen could be that guy. Yeah, there there are similarities to Josh Allen in terms of the way the table can use them. But their owner absolutely loves Daniel Jones, the person, the guy, everything, and that was a big um influence on Eli Manning staying there as long as he did was ownership and that that could be a factor. But you said who would want him? I mean plenty of teams would want him. I mean you said that they like him more there.

I think teams like the Colts, the Texans, the Panthers, the Bucks. Speaks. You just never know a lot of that speaks the fact that this so called like carousel of quarterbacks gets real stale after two or three names. Yeah, and we and here's the thing, we thought that last year that there actually wouldn't be that much movement. Remember that was the conventional wisdom at the scouting combine that late in the off season, well relatively, I mean it's

still before free agency. And then it ended up going crazy and everyone changed teams. And so I guess I don't put Daniel Jones aheaded so far ahead of these other names that like a surprise couldn't becoming. Some of these teams have high draft picks too. I wonder if that could get involved, Like the Giants are one team and they have a coach, you can develop quarterbacks that they could get creative if they wanted. I think we got this case figured out. Let's close this case he's

going back to the Giants. Let me dig back into the file here. It's a big it's a big case, and it's a tough one because everyone's got their eyes on us on this one. Gotta get this one right. We gotta kind of close this one. Aaron Rodgers. There's so much evidence here pointing to the Jets. There's so much they're the culprit here. We're gonna put the collar on the Jets on this one. I'm gonna give you eight reasons real quick here, eight and tell me disagree

wherever you disagree. Are the Jets openly pining for a veteran quarterback? Would Rogers be by far the best veteran QB on the market? Yes? Is there a connection between Rogers? No? I would say if Lamar is somehow available. Now it's the answer. If we're viewing Lamar is available and would not pull the file if we have to? Okay, Lamar, Shir Rodgers and Nathaniel Hackett. Is there a connection there? The new offensive coordinator? Correct? Are Robert Saloon Joe Douglas

entering playoff for goodbye type seasons for the Jets? Correct? Would the would Rogers give the Jets huge national pop put them back on prime time. Take the headlines from the Giants. Oh yeah, has what he made a big splash since he came back as the acting owner. Nobody's hinted at wanting to do so. Zach Wilson remember him? Does he have a relationship with Rogers that's deemed to be close? Allowing the Jets to sell it is not only getting Aaron Rodgers, but here's a mentor ship for

our young quarterback. We're not giving up on story. That's a yes, But it's like way eight, did Brett Farve come to the Jets via trade? Be the same ownership and the same teams involved. History is instructive. Chris Wesley was known to say, now, is there another team that could come in, swoop in and make a big play for Rodgers? Absolutely, but I don't think any team is a as desperate as the Jets be have the need that the Jets have at this level compared to what

else is going on with their roster. It just would surprise me at this point if it doesn't happen. That's where I stand. Dragnet, Yeah, you can give them You've got the thirteenth overall pick. If you're the Jets. You've got other assets you can move. I I don't feel as certain as you do, because I think if you're a Green Bay you've got to work with Aaron Rodgers on some level. If there's a trade, And I'm not convinced that Aaron Rodgers would see it as a match,

why not? I I just I think the problem and you would understand this better than anyone chief that the Jets have imm No, the Jets have historical issues that I think make them like that override the current bubblingus around some of their roster. Positive players think that though I know we think about it that way, a tortured franchise that is failed. I think that if you're Aaron Rodgers, you're very much about your legacy and this is the

tail end of your career. I mean, he's been wayne retirement year after year and it's like staying in Green Bay from one more year. Fine, you kind of know what you're gonna get there. Potentially, the Jets are an absolute raging X factor wildcard landing spot for someone like Aaron Rodgers. I hear what you're saying, but I hear what Aaron Rodgers has been saying. In Pat mcavie, and I think he went out of his way to complement

the Jets specifically and their talent that they have. And to me, I think he cares more about that who the receivers are, and I think he'd be excited about the receivers there. The money thing is interesting. The Jets would have to cut a lot of players. Uh, you'd have to pay him. I think it's sixty million dollars this year. There are guys like Lawson there, Braxton Barrios if you pop the hood on their on their team, even C. J. Moseley if they had to make something

more portant Whitehead. But those guys are all played like eight hundred snaps. I'm just saying, you know, whether they're saying, I think, I think where they are as a team, they would swallow hard and say we trust Bob Solid to keep the defense where it needs to be and get this guy to save our offense. I think the thing that you have going for you is that Woody Johnson has already said like we're ready to swing hard

for the best possible quarterback. And I don't think that someone else will talk about I don't think Woody Johnson is thinking Derek Carr and nobody else. And when I say this, and as a Jets fan, I'm not saying like, oh, we we're gonna nail this one. This is a home run. There is a lot of risk that comes built in with this because Rogers is kind of a weird guy. He raged about big Pharma. Woody Johnson in case you're

not paying attention, is connected to such a thing. And um, in general, you're gonna give up a lot to get them. You have to leverage assets, pay him a lot of money, make some hard decisions on the rest of the roster. It's a chance that wouldn't work. But I think me and a lot of other Jets fans have come around on the idea of like, but if it did work. But if it did, what has this gone wrong? Of course?

But don't tell me that if the Jets traded for Aaron Rodgers, they wouldn't be one of the big high bunnies of the season. People would be all in on the Jets with that defense and then Aaron Rodgers leading the offense. I love it. I hope it happens. I think it can happen because of what There's one thing that makes me believe it can happen. What about the eight others? I gave you one more circumstantial. Now, I agree with all of that, and that's why I think

the Jets would do it. But I'm thinking I'm more thinking about why the Packers would do it, Like why do the Packers want to do this? And the number one reason would be that they genuinely believe in Jordan loves development, and I do get the feeling over the last year something changed where they believe he improved a lot in the last year specifically, and that when they saw him on the field that he was a different quarterback, and when they saw him in practice and training came,

he was a different quarterback. Because I don't think any of this happens otherwise because they're not trading Aaron Rodgers unless they think they can go win the division with Jordan's love. I don't think you're You're also you're also the front office that historically traded away Aaron Rodgers hoping that fire thing and they feelings, but they made a good decision. My piggyback on that is like I think they might be just a little over it Rogers at

this point too. Yeah, like so it feels like maybe it's just time and you still have this guy that you took in the first round under a rookie contract. It's time. Let's see. The case is still open. But I think I got that one licked. All right, close that file and we're going to open up another one. But after this break, all right, welcome back, Mark Sisler. Well, I think this is this file, this case that I'm about to drop on your table. Here, I'm pulling it.

I'm opening it. Jimmy G. Now we know something that we've we've gotten. You know, when you saw these cases, you just go from tavern to tavern, place to place looking to find and the missing person where he or she might be. And we got held up at the tavern for reasons I have nothing to do with the case.

We're detectives. We learned yesterday that the forty Niners Jimmy G's current residing place, Oh, Kyle Shanhon openly saying he will not be back with us next year, and right yeah, the detectives A will point out he said the exact same thing last year. I believe that I believe at this time the environment is completely different. This time is different It's like I believe this is the way I

believe Tom Brady's retirement this time around. I think the Jimmy G experience in San Francisco UM has run its course, and there is uh from our insider, our our bureau insider, Ian Rappaport has linked Jimmy G to the Raiders and that the Tom Brady is out of the atmosphere. The Josh McDaniels Jimmy garoppolo thing is a possibility, But I see one other possibility here too. I mean, a money or need or desperation by another team could laura him elsewhere.

But something's happened down in Houston, the number one city in the country, according Detective Greg over Here, Damico Ryan's San Francisco's former defensive coordinating It's more the players, my sources within you have playing You've got plenty of sources and their actual human beings. We know about that that case, But I think Damico Ryan's brings suddenly an element where you've got a coach that knows Jimmy G for better

or worse. But I think Jimmy G is really well liked obviously, and it's someone that has a chance to take Houston somewhere for a year or two. You've got nickis Sarrio, New England's old general manager operating the front office in Houston. Who is approach Jimmy G guy. And you've got a chance to I think still make a quarterback pick with that number two pick if you want, but not have to not throw that guy into the fire as an automatic right away. Has to win on

a team that's still building. Detective Cecily, you're played by your own rules. Sometimes you get the job done. I think you've done in here, So I think you're playing too fast and lose hit it Graver. I'm open. I'm cracking this case open. He's pulling the file for these two detectives don't work together. It's not it's good for a television program. I'm opening up a different file. It's probably the man we'd like to call Jake Brisket. And I'd like to slice off a little piece of Jake Brisket.

And that's a dusty file. No one's even bothered as it's been. It's been well traveled, it's been around the NFL.

But I can say with confidence Jake Briskett played as high a level of quarterbacking as Jimmy Garoppolo sic, Jake break this is perfect for it, uh, and I think he might be a better fit as a sort of mentor and guy that you can put with a number two overall pick uh in the draft without having a guy in Jimmy Garoppolo who's maybe a little tired of being in this situation where he's he's mixed and uh, he might not have a job, especially when his old

buddy Josh McDaniels is out there in Las Vegas. I always have believed that Jimmy grand career would have been much better in New England. I think he fits in that offense. He's great at the sort of option routes and the things the Patriots offense asked him to do. I don't think he was ever as good in Kyle Sheanhans often offense as he was h in New England. So to me, this is two cases at once. Jake Briskett makes sense as as the mentor guy and doesn't

even start week one if that rookie is ready. But Jimmy g makes sense as a true starter that he actually gets his own team again in Las Vegas. I don't I just don't project Jacoby Bricet necessarily playing to last year's surprising levels in a new system either, like he he fit perfectly with Stefanski and Stefanski I think the Browns made hard, hard trot like hard effort to try to resign him because as their backup. He called him the best teammate he's ever ever observed, Kevin Steffan.

He earned like that middle type of contract where it's a little better than a backup or it's like extremely high level backup money, and I I think is the way he played. I mean, Jimmy g can't stay on the field. I don't think that would stop the Raiders from going for him, but I think it'd be a weird thing with him in a number two over outpick.

Maybe I'm crazy. I like Jake Brisket the player. He's gonna hang around for a bunch more years, probably, but we needed to be this week one starter for another team. I guess my question would be, has Jimmy and she ever played at a higher level than Jake Briskett played last year? At my answer, Jimmy played well this year before. But to me they're that they're like similar, they're different

types of quarterback. The ceiling is very similar. There's not a lot of people that are looking at Jimmy G other than maybe Josh McDaniels who sees who he was in New England, uh, and think like that's that's a totally different level quarterback or New England's old general manager and a coach that's spent the last number of years with Jimmy G. Relationship. We are still waiting for more information. In Houston, we don't even know who the offensive coach.

I gotta pull up the car file this one is. Everyone's perplexed by this case, and maybe we put our heads together on this one. Um. Now, the the initial thought and perhaps still the overriding thought, is that Derek Carr is a Jet, um because it does make sense, and you could you could connect those dots and I would imagine if um, Aaron Rodgers stays in Green Bay or something else happens, he goes somewhere else, the Jets

would try very hard. But I'll throw another team out there because I do believe Aaron Rodgers will be a Jet. As I said, so where does car go? How about the commanders? I think the commander's obviously looking for an upgrade um on what they had last year. And I know, especially the detective Sessler over there, you're not a Derek Carr guy. I don't think I'm not necessarily necessarily saying that the Commanders are going to get Derek Carr and

be like way better. But I think it's going to be a better quarterback situation than it's been in recent years. And that defense with Car, I think that is a team that can contend for the playoffs. They have weapons for Car to. They're not sending him into a bad situation in that sense either, Um Car to the Commanders is uh some evidence that I'm piecing together your thoughts.

Here's what I like. I'm not a Derek car guy, but Ron Rivera specializes in obtaining veteran quarterbacks who I'm not into year after year, and like, I think that they are looking for something. I don't think you can run back the Carson Wentz experience. Oh no. I think they kind of did Taylor Heineke dirty at the end of the year. And I think he's a free agent. I think he wants out of there. Sam Howell is like I was a spicy season finale start by him,

but like that's a project. Taylor Heineke might be, you know, a little surprised by how cold his cases on the open market. Maybe he shouldn't Lee Washington. Well, I don't think that somewhere it's a starter, But like he just

not part of their future. But I think Ron Rivera is is coaching for his job, and Derek Carr is the There aren't a lot of options out there, Like I don't think Jimmy g goes to the Commanders and and Derek Carr if the Jets thing goes south or if it if it, if it holds up with Aaron Rodgers, which you believe I'm not so strong on that. I

could see Derek Carr winding up with the Commanders. I would introduce the Indianapolis Cults is another option, depending on who winds up there as a coach, supposedly a reportedly according to the Athletic UH they haven't given car permission to seek a trade yet. There's reasons for that, and

I think they make sense. He's not a free agent. Um, he signed for three more years and I actually think his contract and then Ryan Tannehill, if we're gonna talk him, at all our assets like Derek Carr making thirty two million dollars this year, and you don't have to give him any bonuses like great, Like that's actually on the lower end of starting money. Next year it's forty one, which is a lot, but you you aren't guarant you

don't have to guarantee him any money. I think you guarantee them like seven of at which is virtually nothing. So it's just a look. See, I don't think he could be asking for a raise or anything. And it makes me think that he's going to get a better offer in terms of trade what the Raiders are going to get way more than we would expect. If Carson Wentz could get two twos and everyone agrees that they overpaid, I think Car ultimately will get that much or maybe

even more. And people are kind of looking at their car like they're not that excited. Like sure, but you mentioned, uh, the Commanders, I think that makes a lot of sense. You mentioned the Colts, think that makes a lot of sense. How about the Panthers, That makes a lot of sense. With with Frank Craig, how about the Bucks? That makes How about to say, as I was going through this list, even if you take off the teams like the Seahawks and the Giants who kind of have guys now and

are probably keeping them. There are too many teams, not enough quarterbacks, and Car is sort of threading that needle of a guy who's an upgrade and available. I think he's gonna end up. He might, it might cost a first round pick together. But also who is the bigger winner in the Brady retirement because that takes Brady out of the cycle, and I like the Probably what happens is Aaron Rodgers stays in Green Bay. Probably Lamar Jackson stays in Baltimore. I'm just saying, you don't, we don't.

We don't. I didn't um, I didn't close the case, but it is something that I feel like I got. I'm just saying, if we if you want to just say that these guys stay home, that Derek Carr suddenly unless someone has eyes for Jimmy g which is a tier down for a little bit below Derek Carr thinking certain situations, but Derek har to me, becomes the guy that five or six teams are chasing after. Like you mentioned, the Saints, they have literally like they can't stick with

anything they have at quarterback. Feasibly and sell that to the fan base like jamis under contract, Andy Dalton is a free agent. Jameis Winston starting next year after what happened with him and Dennis Allen this year feels absurd to me. Um one note on the timing with Derek Carr. So the Raiders have a deadline here of February either trade car or cut him, and that's connected to a forty million dollar guarantee that locks in at that time, So, um,

you can trade for him. They're not gonna take that guaranteed money on I would imagine, um, the Raiders, so they'll probably what cut him at that point, right, So, I mean, he's not getting cut in any scenario, and I think it's a pretty like I think the guaranteed money they'd have to give him like seven and a half million. Yeah, he was due forty a year from now, and you're right, that would be it would be nice

to do that. But you can also rework all that stuff, like you can work with him to kick that down the can't like to kick that can down the road. I feel like that deadline is started two weeks away from that, that Nebulos deadline, But I could see that happening. Absolutely.

I mean, these these are teams that a lot of these teams also if they've if they've identified Cars the guy they want, and they know there's a hot market for him, like they're gonna want to try to lock him out and then they could proceed with their offseason plan after already happening in back channel by the end of this episode, like Stafford and Alex Smith, he seems

like the guy that should be getting done before that deadline. Anyways, you're right, and that's why that puts oh God, because as a Jets fan, like if you if Car gets traded next week and then you're kind of all in on Rogers and if that doesn't work out, now, what do we do? Jimmy g Mike White, all right, one more Mark Sessler, Detective Cessler. I should say, Lieutenant, congratulations, you've been promoted for my work in this on this that's unfair, boss, you see, I've been working just as

hard as said your time will come. I want to talk Ryan Tannehill pop the file. I think the Titans, Mike Rabel especially understands that Ryan Tannehill is a major asset, especially in an area in an off season where if you get rid of him, you might be stuck with nothing. Just to to reference the Jets situation you just mentioned, it's not an easy or a natural target for free agent quarterbacks because the cupboard has been bar on offense, You've got an aging Derrick Henry, there are issues on

the offensive, coaching staff, vacancies, all sorts of things. So here's the problem. Rabel mentioned that Tannehill's future was sort of just up in the air. He gave it a non that you have got a new GM coming in. You can save twenty seven million with a post June one cut. You move on into the abyss and to avoid But but it just feels like possibly the Titans view the Ryan Tannehill era as ending if they do, there is a landing spot out there that I really

feel strongly about. Talk to me Arthur Smith in the Atlanta Falcons. Arthur Smith's Ryan Tannehill's old offensive coordinator, and you know that's Lieutenant. Yeah. Arthur Smith's the guy that like went back to Marcus Mere Riota like a to an old love and realized for the second time this ain't a match. But Ryan Tannehill and Arthur Smith always were a match. They've got the number eight picked. They could use it on another weapon, and suddenly that offense

starts to look pretty spicy. They can run the ball really well. You've got a lot happening Drake London at wide receiver. The tight end that never fit with Marcus Mariota might with Ryan Tannehill. You can start to see something. And I think that Arthur Smith is under a little bit of pressure where you can't just project or hope

that Desmond Ritter will solve all your problems. I love that, and I love the thinking of him getting traded in general, just because what we talked about with these other teams which we have, we we don't really have a beat on Panthers with Bike Saints with Dennis Allen Bucks with Todd Bowles presumably. I mean, they don't have any quarterbacks right now. Like the market that will be aggressive trying to get Derek Carr. The same would be true for

Ryan Tannehill. And I don't think his contract is a problem. And I look at this Titans file, there's a lot of a lot of dead bodies in there. Thought of dead cap space right now, this uh, this roster is a little bit of a mess. They don't have an offensive line, they don't have any cap space, Like, I don't know what. I don't see a path logically forward for them, And if ever there was a time to blow it up, it would be with a new GM.

And who knows, maybe Derrick Henry's. I mean, we got a detective who's been on this Titans case for a long time, behind the last two. I wonder what he has not been promoted to detective. Not yet. Yeah, he's still cleaning the bathroom. He's on the he's on the police, he's in the seems unfair, yes, cleaning the bathroom. You look at it from the Titan side. General manager Ran Carthon came in his introductory press conference. They said, do

you see Tannehill as your starting quarterback next year? And he said, I'm still evaluating that. Mike Rabel is going to make his decision on that. I'm gonna make my decision on that and will come together and form a consensus and share thoughts. But I think they could get a first for him, and I think they would do it. The fact that he didn't commit to him, I mean, even just like to say it, just to say it the way that Cardinals committed to Josh Rosen before drafting

Kyler Murray. It's interesting. Why not just lie and they not create a story? Here are some other players that might not be on the Titans, but Dupree, Taylor, Luan like this, this could They're a team I'm circling of, just like those guys will not be on the Titans unless they take a pay cut for sure. Very good. All right, let's leave the station, Let's head to the tavern and have a couple of what do they do?

What do like the detections? They like they have their shot at Jamison and then a bud heavy Absolutely yea. I like to be a shot with a glass of milk, go bunk style and just let's just go to the train tracks, right McNalty and buk just getting smashed like just wicked hammered only tracks. Um, all right, let's see, Oh we got something cool coming up by the way, Well we got to where where are we going? Uh?

What's what's happy next? Sunday? Greggy remind the people there is a contest between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Eagles. Thought I had you there. I was trying to get you to an even twenty dollars to the Jacksonville Food Bank. Till but look at us getting out of here, not own a penny. But Grave Digger did five dollars from me. Um, do you want to jump up the penalty? You had said earlier that you wanted to Sure, Okay, so you want to pick? I mean, I'm happy. Let's let's all

donate to the Jacksonville Food Bank. Let's hundred fifty dollars each, alright, so a hundred and fifty per reference, so that that puts greg in the whole four fifty. No, I've been each person each say yeah, why would that? Why would it be even? We could each donate that, but then you donate another more. Um, we got you ready. UM. NFL Plus it's a great um service that was launched

this year. We're gonna be on it. We're doing a Q and A ahead of the Big Game fifty seven, and we're going to answer them um and next week in a Q and A show available exclusively on NFL Plus. It's getting posted on Monday, answering all of your questions. We sent out queries on social media. We we asked you guys to send us your queries. We will now answer many of them, and on Monday, if you check out NFL Plus exclusively on NFL Plus, you can see

our answers. Somebody replied, like, why would anyone want answers from these guys? They never get anything right. It's like, well, you know, that's kind of not totally inaccurate, but are you gonna give you in the lock competition this year? How about that? There you go. Greg brings it back to himself once again. This is a this is a trend, lock it up. This is a trend, a weather Warren trend. About me? What was that seven for four drew in

my ear? Plus dot NFL dot com. If you want to watch it, by the way, and you don't have an NFL Plus subscription, know that right now there is a seven day free trial, so sign up. You can watch it for free. Check out what else is going on in NFL Plus, and you know, stick around if you wish, but free trial available right now. People were also asking it, how do I get it? Plus NFL

dot com? Alright, good stuff, this is our um not our last show from l A. We're gonna do one more show on Monday, and then we are on aeroplanes to Phoenix for the Big Game fifty seven. The Don't Say the Big Game episode comes to a close. Nailed it, Mark you and I, um, good job. Thank you to everybody for listening. Thank you to Tom Curran for that great Tom Brady conversation. And Tom, please, that's it, that's all we can do with you. Walk away. Eat the call.