Julio Jones to the Titans

How about that? Why a little bit of news went down in the NFL news that involves a future Hall of Fame wide receiver sess Dog feels like something we should move up the clock on and have a conversation, right, yeah, you know, the news broke on Sunday, you know, late morning California time, and um, soon after the texts arrived, Like, I think we need to move the show up to Monday, and you know Mondays in general, I think, are we've

we've agreed. Um, we're a little little bit maybe not high motor um, but we're having to be this morning. And there's there's a reason for it. Big news like that, Like it's June, and you know what, I remember some dunes were like you're in a you're sort of you know, and you could be sleeping in the back of your car. Not nothing but happen for two weeks. I mean it has just been day after day of like NFL drama

and stuff. So here we go. One worst most like wives are significant others would be like, hey, where's my husband? But actually, in in Mark's case, smone and he's just like, Oh, it's just Mark. She's like, maybe he's maybe he's in the car somewhere. Maybe not, but he'll come back eventually. Eventually, he always comes home. Yes, Julio Jones, he's been moved in a trade and thinking about this or you know, And that's going to be kind of the focus of

the show. We're gonna hit some news, but we're gonna have a nice conversation about Julio. And it's like I think about It's like, what are we here for? If you're an NFL team, what are you here for? What? What are you trying to win the game? Yes? Yes, what are you trying to do? Like what's the point of seven three enterprise? That is running? You play to win? Yes, herm, but it's not just win the game, it's win the super Bowl. Win the damn super Bowl, get to the

big game, win that one Herm. Maybe that's why the Jets didn't win with you, although I did enjoy the Herm Edwards experience on balance um. And that's why I love what the Tennessee Titans did. They acquire Julio Jones um in exchange for a likely late second round pick. They also get a fourth round pick. A sixth round pick goes back to the Titans as well from the Falcons. The Falcons take all that money that they oh Julio, send it over to Nashville. It's now the Titans business

and business is booming. Greg. When you have Julio Jones and now a j Brown together, that's nice and that's a team great that says we're there, we're there. There's not many a f C teams that are in Super Bowl contention when you look at it on paper, the Titans say we're right there, We're going for it. Gotta

love the move. I do, and I especially like it in this weekend a f C South that we've talked about this offseason, where every team you can maybe make the argument took a step back, and if the Titans can go ahead and win this division, I think this move is a nice step toward doing it. Then you have a home game to start the playoffs, and the Titans have already shown us, like what what can happen when you get there? Bravels had a winning record every year.

He's not about like taking a step back. He's nine and seven, nine and seven, eleven and five last year. I think their defense on paper, uh, looks pretty good. Like they haven't been able to transition to it on the field. But the moves they made on paper on defensive offseason made sense. Moves on offense didn't make any sense. Uh, they looked worse on offense. But suddenly you put Julio

Jones and A. G. Brown together. They are two of the top five receivers in each of the last two years in terms of UH yards per route run, so basically two of the most efficient receivers in the entire NFL. And suddenly Josh Reynolds, who the Titans were trying to talk us up as like, hey, we got him from the Rams, we kind of like him as a start, Hey Anthony Firks or he's actually played pretty well when

he's given the chance at tight end. They each moved down in the pecking order, and then when when you're trying to sell Josh Reynolds to me as number three. Okay, I'm buying that when you're trying to sell Firks or matching up against some inside linebacker because you're so worried about a J. Brown and Julio Jones on the outside, Okay, I can buy that. And suddenly I do like this team because I like Julio so much and think he's still playing at such a high level as the favor

in the a f C South. Yeah, I mean, and and and also you know, arrow up on Derrick Henry because the way the offense looked twenty four hours ago before this trade, we were concerned. I mean we mentioned, like you said, Greggy in your projected Starters piece, like they had lost Corey Davis John hu Smith who combined

for about a hundred catches and fourteen hundred yards last year. Well, I mean that's what essentially Julio Jones and Yard has has averaged every year outside of last season, and what team faced more doing around the around the horn right now, reality would would give you a couple of you go get a little point there, replaced the whole statistics like smooth, like yeah, I mean I mean I think also we were probably concerned about Derrick Henry, you know, in terms

of overall his workload. It's like when is that going to come back to haunt him at some point? But the way that you attack the Titans was just basically like, go up against go up against Derrick Henry, and if you stopped him when he ran for like less than a hundred and fifteen yards last year, they were three and five, so it looked like that was more that was there was more of an an avenue to do

that now. But now if you're gonna go stack the box against Derrick Henry, what are you doing with A. J. Brown? What are you doing with Julio Jones? I mean, it just becomes an absolute nightmare. And I do love this about the Titans. Some teams sort of say we are this, and maybe you are, but it doesn't show up on paper. The Titans basically say we want to be huge, physical and destroy you. Julio Jones is six three two twenty A G. Brown is six one, Derrick Henry six and

coming out you ten thousand miles an hour. I mean, this is who the Titans are. And now suddenly we have no concerns about their offense. It turns them into a legit Super Bowl threat in in a division that I think they can probably have the record elevated because there's a bunch of trash bags in there. There. There is, of course the concern you need Julio Jones to stay healthy. He did not stay healthy last year, But Gregg, as you pointed out last week, that was the first year

he's missed extensive action in years and years. But he's also a year older, So it's not like a from the standpoint of, well, the Titans definitely be better, I don't. I don't know if I'd go that far, because you still lost Arthur Smith. Um, you still lost John U. Smith. Obviously, Corey Davis is not close to Julio Jones um when

Julio Jones is on the field. But to me, that's what it comes down to, because I think even if the offensive scheme maybe isn't as explosive as it was, or or the mind cooking it up isn't at Smith's level, You're still gonna now have this awesome talent here and the dynamic duo that you could put up against anyway. But it's one of those things like in June, this is the perfect trade and the fact that you didn't

have to give a first rounder. And I guess that report that that surface last weekend that they had a first round pick trade offer in hand the Falcons was all maloney. Um, but we'll see. Maybe maybe someone was saying they would give up a first and but you have to send a second back, which would be a bad job withholding that from the first report. But that's what I'm guessing, and probably and probably pay for part

of Julio Jones contract. Or it was just or it was just since there's no GM app, they just floated that out in the wind, hoping another team would get sucked into it and get into the derby and surrender a first round pick. But that's that's my only kind of hesitation. Like the yellow light, it's a great move. I love that they went for it and are aggressive here Tennessee. Uh, but will he be that guy? Will

we see them on the field? These two tight and wide receivers I meant tightened like great players, but they're a Titans, yes, Um, so I hope we get seventeen games of that. That's where you just got across your fingers and hope for some luck. There is some concern that Julio Jones has rarely practiced them in the last three years, so it's a fair point like he has shown up on Sundays, he's always questionable. He never practices. I don't know if these NFL teams are at all

concerned about. He's been quoted in the past being like, I'm not really an offseason waits guy. You know, I only lift weights when they make me too during the season. He obviously is a well conditioned athlete that works out and is ready to play football at an extremely high level because that's all he's ever done. But for him, you know, he hasn't been like Tom Brady TV twelve. He basically says he only lifts weights when they make them too. I don't know if there's some concern that

he's not going to age well. I do think there has to be just inherently a human motivation to make this work when you get to Tennessee. Not that he wouldn't be motivated in Atlanta, but is in a new spot. Uh A. G. Brown pushed to get him there, and he has to be thinking like I want to set up the next contract. Because there's a couple of more things I do want to talk about with Julia, but

one of them is the money. And I think it's been misunderstood that like, oh, you gotta take on Julio's contract, Okay, you gotta have the room to take it on this year. But everyone should understand Julio Jones has an incredibly good contract to take on. Now he might want more money. That's I think gonna be a problem down the line and is probably why some teams were hesitant. But for this year, unless he's insisting on new money this year,

He's do fifteen million dollars this year. That's it. Like you look around the league and who's making fifteen dollars million dollars or more at wide receiver. Julio Jones is better than most of them. Like, that's the type of money Sammy Watkins was making on the open market. That's not much more than Corey Davis and Nelson Agilar. We're making on the open markets a little more. And then in the two years after this one, he's making significantly less.

And that contract looks amazing. So worst case, if you're the Titans, you either have to pay him more money when the cap goes up or it doesn't work out and he'll he's very easy to get rid of, or he's possibly tradeable again. And I don't think the money part of it, if you can absorb him this year was and it should be a negative at all. That

was part of the discussion. I didn't totally understand unless you're Atlanta, who had kind of boxed themselves in a corner and and we're in a bad spot, right because I think it's correct, like what you know, I guess the premise of our show a lot of times is cap space, let's not over worry about it. But Atlanta was one of the premise of me. You can go against that, well know, because I think I think that you claim has missed their cap space. No, it's just not,

it's just not. It's not like all teams. Atlanta absolutely was in a terrible situation. And you know, Arthur Smith, who shares the same agent as Julio Jones, I would imagine new to some degree what he was dealing with when he came into this situation, or maybe he didn't, but it shouldn't have been a huge surprise that Julio Jones probably wasn't totally happy with the Falcons. That was a big part of the reason he got moved. But they were the one team that absolutely could not hold

on to his contract. And that's mismanagement, and that to me, says the Falcons like, you know, look at this should not have happened this way. I mean, they get they get an F grade for me, if you need to move on from a player at some point. They were in a tough spot this new regime. But to get here and to have them inherent this um to me,

it's just a disastrous exit for Julio Jones. I don't think if it were if it worked out and Julio Jones helped the Titans get to the a f C Championship of the Super Bowl, it's not that different than the Raiders trading Randy Moss to the Patriots for a fourth rounder. It just isn't. I mean, to me, like the regret for the Falcons, if you're a Falcons fan, is like, it's not like it didn't have to happen.

Like I remember reading the article that they could have made some other roster moves and down the way right there you go Grady Jarrett and just maybe worked out an extension with him that spread out his cap and then all of a sudden, you you can survive, and then you get this opportunity to have your own big two with Calvin Riddle and Julio Jones and of course the Kyle Pitts, the dynamic rookie tight end nobody can't

stop talking about. So they had that option. But like when Steve Wise, who obviously you know, covers the Falcons, so he's plugged in on this, it wasn't just about money. It just seemed like a marriage that had run its course and he was there at at a time Julio wanted out, So there were there were kind of layers to this. My other thought like, again, it's a slam dunk for the Titans, but when I do when you look at his contract, this is his final year that deal,

the extension he signed in two thousand nineteen. Is that correct? Yeah? Okay, so this could be if you're a Titans van and you're pinching yourself and you can't wait to see him on the field, there is a there's a chance this is a one year rental situation too, Like if if he because if for a wide receiver that's gonna be thirty three next February. Um, if he has a huge season,

I guess you you're gonna hold on to him. If he's kind of in between, they're in a situation where they might think, Okay, this isn't somebody what we want to do more business with, and you either move on or maybe you tag and trade. I don't know, but I think there is to me, like a coin flip chance that he's a one year tight. I think that's

in play here too. It's possible. Even that possibility I think is worth the risk, and it's one of the reasons why I think trading for these veterans is is a different way to team build that I think is still undervalued in today's NFL because the Titans weren't the only team that could have done it. The Ravens could have found a way. The Patriots could have found a way. They reportedly just didn't want to pay the money. Um, the forty Niners could have found a way if they want.

And I think there's this idea on draft Day that these picks aren't that valuable. Teams will just give up whatever whatever for these picks. When it's for a rookie, but when it gets into the off season they go crazy. I you know, I tweeted about the Jets how they traded two thirds to move up nine spots for Elijah Verett Sucker. Jets fans got it twisted that I was picking on them. He just was like the latest in example.

I was thinking of using Javonte Williams, which the Broncos, uh, you know, traded a fourth to move up five spots in the second round. Or you could use the Eagles who traded a third to the Cowboys to move up two spots in the first round. You could go a million different examples. Marcus Davenport when the Saints moved up you know, to first, to go up thirteen spots, like people do remember that one, and yet you no one wants to give up a late first for Julio Joe.

It's group think and it's it's the off season too. It's like they have these rookies that they fall in love with on Draft Day, but when it gets to the off season, they just don't want to give it up. I view I viewed like the draft sort of as like when you um, when you're just roaming around town, you'd spend like six dollars on a beer, but when you're stuck in an airport, you'll happily play fourteen dollars for a beer because that's the only way to get it.

And it's like the draft, the draft circle like puts people into a frenzy and a little bit of a draft note. I mean, Peter King talked that the Patriots did not really have serious interest in Julio Jones. But this is the same team where in April Albert Bereer reported that Bill Belichick ig Nord team scouts who wanted to take a j Brown and Deebo Samuel and took nickil Harry instead. So, I mean, I don't quite know

what is going on with the Patriots. What did the Patriots give up for most new second round pick was the top of So he's got he's got a little bit of a blind spot here at wide receiver. There was the report years ago that he didn't love Julio Jones as a prospect coming into the league either. Uh yeah, I think like I was listening to a podcast recently and there it was Barack Obama was talking about how he had ascended to the highest office in the land, he was the leader of the free world. Now he

was the president. He figured as he went up the ladder of life and and achieved this great position, he was going to get and find smarter people and people that were like dynamic at all levels. And what he found was that like, no, that's not really how it works. People move up the ladder, but you're still you're not dealing with just because you're at the top of your field or the top of the world and this global

politics game, you're not gonna be surrounded by genius. And I'm not like taking taking the piss out of the g ms of the world. But like some of these guys just like, no, we were not gonna do this because nobody else does this. And I think there's some group think that kind of invades the way these organizations run their operation and it ends up killing them. Because I think in three or four months, if Julio stays healthy and he's Julio, and I think, you know, here's

a chance this is gonna happen. He's gonna have a big year here. Teams are gonna be kicking themselves. The teams like the Ravens, the teams like the Rams, Jalen Ramsey had this. He tweeted this, this is all it took for a generational guy, and we were out of the Julio sweepstakes. Uh. He tweeted on Sunday, Wow, we would have been unstoppable for real with all them weapons. L O L. There's gonna be a lot of teams that are gonna be thinking that if Jones is a

superstar this year. That's why it reminds me of Randy Moss a little bit too, because his stock was really low because it was stuck on a bad Raiders team. And I think there was a lot of like all these teams are so concerned. I get look at number one. This offseason cap scenario was tougher for some teams, but anyone can make it work out of slight out of like outside of like maybe five or six teams if they really wanted to. And on top of it, there

was this over concern about Julio Jones's health. I mean last year, yes, he missed a bunch of games. When he played, he was excellent, and if you really go back, as we've mentioned, you go back through the years, he hasn't missed as much time as sort of general perception seemed to suggest, I mean, he's one of the toughest, grittiest, most badass guys out there, and like he kind of fits perfectly with the Titans. And I think that's why it's the Super Bowl. And that's what don't worry about

two years down line, three years down line. You just added this guy who could win you a Super Bowl, and other teams should have been harder in on this. I would have given if I was a team that figured I'm gonna have a late first round pick. Uh, if you're the Rams, well, no, the Rams never have first round picks. And that's I think Daleen Ramsey picking on the Rams. I mean they've traded that. It gets a little tricky for the Rams. They're they're bad example.

But maybe, uh, I don't know, throw a team out there that should have been in this. Ravens don't think they should have done it, pulled the trigger. The AFC feels and the Chiefs. Maybe it came have come down a little bit here. The AFC feels especially wide open right now. And uh, the Titans got a lot better

they did and the Ram. It's funny Ramsey brings up the Rams because I think the Rams are a little bit at the forefront of thinking about these issues of like what's worth more a late first round pick or a veteran hand in the bush. I like the Stefon Diggs trade has sort of slipped under the radar as an unbelievable transaction, which really is similar to the Julio Jones and no one picks on the Vikings for it. And it's it's not about picking on the Vikings because

they drafted justin Jefferson. It's more just like they knew how good Stefan Diggs when they traded for That's the whole thing of trading for the veterans. That's why I think the Rams, the Eagles, the Patriots have have traded more for veterans. In general, you should have less risk. And I think about the Brandon Cooks trades, which you

could say worked out okay for both the Patriots. I know that's the thing, but that that almost I think proves the wisdom of doing them, because maybe they weren't total home runs, but Cooks helped both the teams he landed on make a Super Bowl. Patriots Rams, you know, and play well, and they still got in in. But it wasn't like a thing where you felt like you

wanted to keep them forever. And you know what, they both got a pretty good draft pick when they traded them away, so it's like they they both ended up recouping some of that loss. They got a lot of value out of Cooks, you know, and they and you

move on. Whereas these late first round picks, I keep quoting at Mike Sando did the research of them don't get their fifth round option, which is about what we would think like a late first round pick, you're gonna you're gonna miss about half the time, and so you fall in love with these guys, um, but you're gonna miss half the time. And a year or two of Julio Jones, to me, is worth more than the chance

that you're missing half the time on these pits. Yeah, it does put a little bit of pressure because it's Todd Downing taking over the offense. He was with the Titans, you know, the last two seasons, and he sort of said, look, I'm not looking to recreate something different than what Arthur Smith has done. But his one year as an offensive coordinator was with the coming off of the playoffs Raiders in seventeen under Jack del Rio. They finished twenty third

offense and the entire staff got fired. So I'm not saying that's on Todd Downing, but it's gonna be. You know, look at you have to like the one thing in my memory I did not, I cannot. I cannot remember what happened, and that too, I guess Derek, Well, yeah, they were six and ten and they were a hot mess. Nobody remember, were inflated all off season and then they

were a complete hot mess. And it's like, I'm not saying that that Todd Downing can't do it, but it's interesting me that Arthur Smith, of all people, shift Julio Jones back to the Titans where Arthur's where where there's an Arthur Smith's is void calling plays. So we'll we'll see how that works out. I'm looking at like the Raiders, like from it was more that that Downing was like

calling the plays. I guess del Rio, Yeah, I mean, I just I don't really remember like a lot of around the NFL discussion being like, hey, what's Downing doing the wide receiver sets? Not a lot of Downing talk that it wasn't the whole tune kind of just combusted. And sometimes you forget that Jack del Rio, you know, presided over a twelve and four Raiders team into me as um everyone in a while, I feel like someone

associated with del Rio or something. He points out that, like his record was better with the Raiders than you know Gruden's was, so was not crazy? Well, well he had the twelve and four with then the sandwich it was seven, nine and six and ten, and then it was like and now the Jon Gruden erro what is what was seen? All right? Anyway, forget about that. There you go. Titans fans are excited. The Tytoons long gone long gun. Well there they're gonna be in prime time.

More so I do like it for the average fan. I did look at this the Falcons were buried anyways, that they weren't getting any uh any pop this season with Julio. So now if the Titans are gonna be in prime time, which they are a little more okay, Now, it's I like the fact we get the Julio instead of about your quiet not so quiet doubts about Ryan

Tannehill true star? Is that is this? Now? Somewhat does that put on the back the way I have those yeah, you have a you have some quibble about should we actually a view Towne Hill as a guy to trust a year after year at this point we have this conversation a couple of weeks ago. This helps. I mean, there are there are like the QB gurus, like Nate Tyson we've had on I would love to get a little more thoughts on this that he thinks he kind

of thinks Tannehill is still like one read. Uh, maybe I'll get to my second read or I'll freak out. And it's very you know, it's very steam and like calling dependent. But you know what, it's worked incredibly well so that you can't argue with the results. And this will help. I mean, it is interesting that Julio Jones basically there was the whispers that he wants to go somewhere where the quarterback is want of the established you know, top five deep pastors in the league, and Tannehill is

the middle of the pack. He's not you know, nightmare and he's not the best. I mean, he's reminding me that really well too. This reminds me. I had Erica cut a clip of a J. Brown who was showing a personality I really hadn't seen before speaking this Julio Jones trade into existence weeks and weeks ago. Let's let's listen to a j then me I'm up and coming

Pro Bowl YouTube. Not a big deal. Kind of a big deal, but not really Okay, excratch that anyway, whatever, you the goal of our error, the of our receivers, help me, help you come home, Julio, come home. I mean, you know they're texting, come on. That was like they're

close friends. That was you know, I cut off part of the because it didn't make sense out of context, but it was him standing in front of also like or city in front of us a fan made uh image of Tannehill and he starts like pumping up Tannehill as the man and a leader and that you don't even need to talk about Derrick Henry because he's got the meanest face ever. And you add Julio to that mix and they're the meanest, like four pack in the league. I like that. I like a little a j Brown,

uh puffing his chest out and making it happen. Yeah, I like that with some good personality there from a j all right, Uh, that's that. Let's hit the rest of the news hit it Ricky simple, Well, what a great time had by all at handsas manner on Sunday, a little bit belated because the great Lakisha Jackson Westling have been traveling, but we celebrated links first birthday with

a surprise party. Lakisha thought she was just coming over for a swim at the pad here and instead it was a full on party for you know, it was it was tight. It was everybody a t N podcast, everybody connected to the show, um and we're obviously like a family brought closer by the tragedy with west and to have us all together and to celebrate Link and Lakisha, that was nice. That was a nice Sunday. Well, still recovering. Let's not drop the ball on um Dan's new place,

which is sort of out of a Californian dream. I mean, I you know, our kids, like I don't know about you, Greg, but our kids don't have a like a lot of pool time. And You've got a wonderful pool and like they just had the time of the life. And I'm looking over and like Jack and Harry are like wrestling in the pool, like to uh w WF like youngsters and like Luke and Colton sitting next to them, and Ellis and I just Walker. I just thought like that watching the six of them together was kind of cool,

Like they're interacting all day long. I mean it was a lot of there was a lot of parental supervision going on as well, but um, it was a fantastic time. No, they were in the pool the whole time. You say you're feeling it today, Dan Walker's feeling it today. I think it's like four hours in the pool and the sun. I don't know. He hasn't been the same great since, but uh, he had a blast. I'm glad you mentioned Harry and Jack. You know, we we can get to some other issues if you want. But I did love

this moment where we saw them. I mean, they get after each other, and you guys just you allow it because you trust them. And that's great because it seems like they take care of themselves. But yeah, there was a a sequence where one of them was choking the other and then they kissed on the lips, like very shortly thereafter, because that was the brotherhood. It was azing.

You were sitting there and we're talking and Colleen was talking about something else and she goes boys kissing the and they were like strangling each other and then it was very very sweet. I mean they are I I grew up. I was a middle child and I'm almost six years older than my my brother Kevin Danger, so there wasn't that type of closeness. I mean my brother and I are very close, but it's different when they're Jack is my oldest is six and Harrison is four,

so like they really are. Um, they're almost like they they're like twins. I know, Mark, you know, you know it's a similar thing with Luke and Colton. Uh So yes, the whole thing is you watch over them. You make sure it's not turning to a place where they're actually mad at each other, because you don't want wrestling in water at any time when there's actual fearsomeness. But it's just like two bros just going at it, enjoying their company. And I I give them a little bit of rope

for that reason. Yeah, and so you know, sooner than later, link will be uh we'll be jumping in that pool. Because I've never seen a one year old with the dexterity, the ability to move dance moves he's got. He can run around. He's very like with it, doesn't is very chill, so I he's a very advanced one year old Lincoln wrestling good appetite, two eating like slices of pizza. You know, it was awesome. It was awesome, and I am recovering, but it was very nice um to get everyone together

and celebrate the Westlings. Okay, let's hit the rest of the news before we say goodbye. The Green Bay Packers they're dealing with it. It's been a rough offseason for this organization. And Mark Murphy, who's the team president. Remember there's no owner, it's a team that is, there's shareholders. And then you could actually even buy a frame with a certificate that says you're a part owner of the team.

That's a nice little thing. Uh what Mark would definitely do if it was the Browns, who would absolutely have one that was still available. I feel like that was like a one a one time thing valuable. Think about this, Greg Packers fans, and I know many of them are willing to pay three hundred bucks or whatever it is. They're gonna keep offering it. Okay, would be wrong, but yeah.

We worked with Jim Reinican at NFL dot com Rhino who was a Packers fan, and he had a he had a shareholders certificate in a frame and that was less than that wasn't too many years ago. So I think it's it's a money maker. Remember that the Celtics he used to legitimately be publicly traded company, which is which is a bar to thinking about on the head, that's that's not true anymore. That would be fun to just like half stock in your favorite team, so like

within their structure, team president, that's where it's at. Mark Murphy, he has a monthly mail bag column on the Packers website, which yes, is on my radar. I don't like when people try to roll into the business with relevant mail bags that break news. I don't like that because it's coming in on my turf. I'm battling an internal war when I when I asked for mail bag questions and everyone's like, what do you think about Mark's thoughts about UFOs? Do you think he's for real? Do you think he

would follow the aliens? Like no asked me about the Julio Jones trade. It's affecting my mail bag. I have a bit of a mail bag crisis going on right now. Um even on the same level of breaking news. Were you to expound on that, But Murph, over here in Green Bay, you are on an island and there's CDs there. But you could kill Mark, Which would you say, Adam? It's like, whyere should the next NFL team move if they want to leave America? It's like, all right, sorry,

I love you guys anyway, all right, Murphy. He addressed the situation with Aaron Rodgers, who obviously is unhappy. Nobody knows if he's gonna turn up at O T A s Man mandatory camp. I should say so. Here's what he said in his mail bag. The situation we faced with Aaron Rodgers has divided our fan base. The emails and letters that I've received reflect this fact. Now. Murphy also added that you know they still believe that Aaron

Rodgers and the Packers have a future together. Greg. I know how these things get as we all do, how these things get twisted around. You could read that line that he's divided our fan base and be like, oh man, it's the divorce. It's it's happening. But it's really just speaking. It's just a fact, like the fans have to that's all it is right. Is there anything to it feels like a nothing burger? It maybe is. First of all,

they don't see that divide. I think most of them are on the Aaron Rodgers side, although I'm sure a lot of them are upset. They well, they well, they want they want the team to work it out and for Rogers to stay, whether they're happy with Maybe they are divided in terms of like their happiness, but it's not. No one is saying let's trade him, let's get rid

of this bum that. That's a pretty small segment. But I'm glad I wanted to do this because not only did it come from a mailbag, which it would seem like this was very purposeful. He hasn't said anything publicly about it much, and he was just like he had the choice to mention it. I want to read you the quote unquote question. Daddy answered, um, this too. His name was Ken and this is the entire quote. You have done a great job. Don't let the bastards drag

you down. Washington needs a name, I suggested generals what he had nothing to do with Aaron Rodgers at all. I think he was responding to the part where it was like don't let the haters drag you down, and that he assumed it is about Rogers and and that's fine, but it was a weird spot that he was like looking for this from from Ken to go in on

this Rogers thing. And then this is where, um, I appreciate Mike Florio taking the time to go through the whole mail bag, um, because I hadn't and he did know. And I think it was a good point, my old boss, he did know. How Also in that mail bag he really pumped up Uh Jordan's love and really mentioned what a great relationship um, Matt Lafleur and Brian Gooda con

set and really pumped up Brian Gooda cut. So I think if you kind of add all those answers together, it does become a little bit of newsworthy to me that he's trying to like put this pr spin out there. Well, here is the line that he had on good I must tell you, I have tremendous confidence in Goody. That's me using Goody in his relatively short tenures are GM. He has completely turned around the fortunes of our team. That's in the state, that's Graphs. After the situation we

faced with Aaron Rodgers has divided our fan base. It sounds they've got their backup a little bit. They've ben back up a little bit to the national criticism. Right, But Dancy, maybe that's what you should do with your mail bag. You get a question that's just about something totally arcane that you're not into, and just answer it the way you want to. That's what he did. And I think that's the next level mail bagging. Um No, he's Murphy is putting everybody in the mail bag industry

on notice. And I honestly that's that's iron sharpened iron, that whole thing. Um. I Ultimately I respect him for what he's done here. Yeah, and good for Mark Murr. So basically, he's going out there and he's saying he's letting people know. He's using this mail bag as the method to let the fans know, I'm not gonna be bullied by the superstar quarterback. We're not gonna fire the GM to make this guy happy. We're digging our heels

in a little bit. And there again, it just seems like they're daring Rogers to retire and and I don't think they do that. If they don't buy it, they think he's gonna play and this has all just been um, you know, kind of ugly theater. If you're a Packers fan or in the organization, it's uncomfortable. But I don't think they're gonna they think that Roger's gonna call their bluff and not show up. I think. And he's not coming in mini camp this week, by the way, we

need to stop these like breathless reportrait. Is he gonna come? You know, I know we need to fill time. He's not coming this week. Apparently the receivers are, so that's that's nice for for Jordan's love. And we'll we'll find

out somewhere as we get closer to the training. And it's just a couple of people tweeted at me and I think you guys too, that we're talking about the money lost that could all be gained back in um, I guess negotiations and people said it with under the terms of the new cb A, there's no way to get out of the fines you pay. I guess there's still At the same time, it's still it's sorry, it's Penny's. It's Penny's when you talk about Aaron Rodgers. It's not

gonna be. It is interesting. It's like Peter King suggested. Number one. He basically said in his column this morning that he would bet Rogers today is solid on never

playing for the Packers again. Um. He also talked about the idea that there could be a scenario, because of the six point eight million dollar roster bonus that he got in March and not having to give that back or whatever fight over that and his salary and everything else, that maybe the Packers would come up with a scenario where both sides agree that Rogers would play this season under the you know, the concept that he would be openly traded next year to a team of his choice,

that they play good for one year and gives sort of a more a little bit more of a runway for Jordan of to become the starter, um and play him as much as they could when they had big leads or if they were getting buried in the game. I mean, that feels a little too friendly for what's going on here. But it's one possibility. Yeah, that seems it seems like a bad idea, and it doesn't seem

like the energy around that would be awful. It wouldn't satisfy anyone everyone would be a little unhappy, I feel like with that compromises, especially the fans if they knew about it. In other news, Juwan James is not happy with the Denver Broncos. The offensive tackle has filed a fifteen million grievance against this former team, the Broncos um At the same time, he has also agreed to a

new contract with the Baltimore Ravens. The twenty nine year old suffered a season ending achilles injury and the workout away from the facility last month. He had been guaranteed ten million for one season, but because the injury took place off site, it was designated a non football injury. That means that Broncos could say we're not paying his salary. They then released him. Now, in this grievance, Gregg James wants the ten million and he wants five million for

two season. Um, so there you go, a little bit ugly the way these things turned out for James. Yeah, it'll be a precedent for players working out off site in the off season in general. He's also saying that the Broncos maybe didn't have the right COVID protocols and that was a reason and that you're only working out off site because you're doing what you were told to do when you were on site. We'll see. It just could have some impact on how these off seasons go.

It's not like a hugely fascinating story. I was shocked though, that the Ravens um signed him. That was really interesting. They decided to pay him half a million dollars this year that they didn't have to um to basically rehab at their facility, and so that they could have him under contract for next year for eight million dollars, had

almost no risk to them. So I think it was kind of a creative, clever move by them because now they have him next year and if he if he doesn't look great in the next offseason, they'll probably just cut him anyways. But now they have a tackle, they're a place Orlando Brown potentially on top of Ali Villanueva. I think UM like, to me, the most impressive athlete in football right now is Mark's boy, Miles Miles Garrett.

I mean, the guy is just a freak. He's he's a Martian and when you see him doing those like three sixty windmill jams and pick up games, it's like if I don't know about you, Mark, but like, let's take it easy on the court there, buddy. You worry about what these guys are doing when they're working out on their own time, because you know the effect last year he was last week he was essentially told by the coaching staff, you're your basketball career is over for

this offseason at least. Um. And you know, Myles Garrett, for as good as he looked at times last year, said he was never really better than about health wise after that COVID thing, which I know that you know that was totally uh pooh pooed on this show, but I mean some players never really took that seriously. He was draggling to breathe. He's said, I don't this is totally separate, But how much would you pay watching that? You know, those Miles Garrett basketball clips are great? Um,

how much how much pay? No? I was gonna say, to watch like I like or how much would you need to just like take a charge from Miles Garrett? You would like to like watching I would like to watch basically a video of me but not have to go through it, or a video of Mark just like kind of like standing underneath and take a charge from a you know, a bullying Miles Garrett running down the floor.

You just gotta take it in the chest like I do it for very low money, just to have the video of it and be able to tell people what happened to me. No, I need just that at least. Well, let's put this. Let's see if I were severely injured that he would pay for, you know, for me to be fixed on whatever level I need to be fixed. That's not part of the deal. That's not part of it. You got that, that's not I'm not entering that situation. Then that doesn't feel good. That would go fly and

it would be fun um all right. In other news, the New York Jets are gonna have a new look on offense with Michael la Fleur at the controls. UH they made some moves in the draft and free agency to better that positional group. Elijah Moore, added in the draft in the second round, um a notable one because he plays a similar position to Jamison Crowder, who has been there and been a good soldier for the Jets for the last couple of years on some wretched teams.

Uh s n Y reported that the Jets are trying to get Crowder in his contract year to take a quote significant pay cut from his ten million dollar salary. Of course Corey Davis is there as well, Mark, so it's not It's never a bad thing to have extra wide receivers. I think the Jets are a better team, even if you can't like figure out who's starting and Gregg and your projected starter series. I don't know if

he had Crowder in the starting lineup. I think he did, maybe more being worked in as the season goes along. But they're kind of putting his feet to the fire here asking him to take a pay cut. I mean, more has has been getting glowing reports at their mini camps. I mean there's people going off about how explosive he looks. So he's a slot guy. Um. I think they're looking at the ten million million dollar salary for Crowder and saying, you're not getting this somewhere else. If we were to

cut you or whatever, You're not getting somewhere else. He has no guaranteed money, So can we find like a middle ground where we want you you get it, we get it. Um, it would be a fair asking price. But I'm with you, Dan, I look at the if like Corey Davis stays healthy, if Denzel Mims takes another step, if Elijah More becomes what they say you can be. Um, you've got a really interesting group of wide receivers. Uh this team, I mean for for this new coaching staff

to work with. So I think Crowder is basically on the way out. Can you keep him for one year on a reduced salary? Yeah, but you're you're much better with Crowder. I like having four instead of three, and he is. He's kind of the safest among them, just because Davis is on a new team. More is a rookie. Mims, we gotta see you gotta know what you have. And Crowder, Uh, he has a tough decision to me because they said it's a significant pay cup and maybe his agent is

testing the market. I think you could get a decent contract elsewhere. I mean they also paid Keeling Cole six million dollars, which that move slipped under the radar, and that is the reason I would guess they feel comfortable getting rid of Crowder. My guess is he's gonna get cut and he's not at He's not at the facility now, and unless he finds that no one wants to pay him with I guess that's possible. Uh, there's a good chance he's gone. He would be an interesting pickup that

are desperate. They're like million under the cap, like what what? They just don't think he's that good. I guess, um, yeah, it's as purely it sounds like just like a business financial decision. But I think they're a better team with him there. And I'm thinking this is he's not close obviously to Julio Jones, but he would help a team. I don't know if that if other teams are kind of monitoring the situation and they're they're thinking he's gonna get cut, so why offer you know, um round draft

pick or whatever it would take to get him. But Crowder has been one of the only guys that was could make plays for the Jets the last couple of years. He's been been a little banged up, but I always liked him a lot. I think he's a good player. Um And other news, you know, we have the Kicker Club and it's wild in the Kicker Club. Um. So this podcast is celebrated kickers, and it's been really a nice run for kickers on the Around the NFL podcast.

You know, the punters. You know, we don't talk about them as much, and maybe we should, maybe we should, but they don't have a club. Unfortunately, they have like it's like the punters punch Mixer I call it. That's a little bit I'll get together. Where is that Hell's I get the local gymnas Gymnasium a little lower octane. There's some there's some streamers and some balloons, and there's a big bowl of punch and some finger foods, and there's a bunch of like people are doing the twist

annals school. It's a middle school damp, except just like mid twenties punters exactly. So maybe they need somebody to come in and kind of reinvigorate the thing. But you look at what that's going on in the club with the kickers, and it's a total party. Uh. And then you look at what's going on here at the Punter's

Punch Mixer room for growing. Yeah, I mean that's why I threw it out there, because I just thought, look if if one of the top five punters and the kickers in the league, we're getting a big, you know, market setting contract. We talked about it, but the punters get forgotten I mean, who had more hype as a rookie punter than Michael Dixon. Nobody, and he's lived up to it. Uh. I don't remember having a ton of hype, but I'm sure he did crazy spin. He has a

crazy spin and he kicked. He punchs at like seventy yards there. I saw stat they were showing like e p a per play by punters over the last three years. I think Dixon was fourth, so that shows he's a hunter. But you know who was number one in that list? Who's that it was the best player on the Patriots last year. Left footed punter Jake Bailey was number one. I mean, who, Now, that's all we gotta take Bailey now, Jake Bailey. They're like, all right, everybody clear on the flossy.

Jake Bailey has taken. He's gonna do the swish there is trying to bring his name awareness. I don't think he's really caught on nationwide as as such a great punter, but he really is. Jake. Michael Dixon was a West was a big fan of Michael Dixon, and Michael Dixon is um also quite a marketer. He has a line of clothing products out there called Big Dixon energy so and then those So I don't know about this like

sixth grade punch bowl business. Like he seems like he's ready to, you know, confront the world as a man and take his position and take take it with pride. I mean, if he's really an enterprising young gentleman. And just to make it clear, because I don't think it was made, it's been noted here his name has been

brought up. There's an extension. It's a four year contract extension signed on Friday, Um, if you want any They used the two thousand eighteen draft pick to select the Australian punter out of you two, but they traded up to fifth round to get him. So there you go, Greg, you're nailing that. You were all over this. Um. Maybe if he's really an enterprising young man, maybe build up the punters punch mixer. That's it. Maybe that's where he should think him. Probably he has to be the most

famous punter right now. I don't think there's anyone that tops him. So it's it's kind of a low it's like a it's a low mark right now for a Punter's not a lot of pop. Yeah, And uh so there you go. Congratulations buddy. Finally in the news, Uh, Chad Johnson boxes now and he went the distance in a four round exhibition on Sunday night. He was the opening fight of the Floyd Mayweather Logan Paul undercard. And I just this is just an excuse to say, what

what happened in boxing? What's going on? I mean, well, the fact that this was a pay per view event on a Sunday night, By the way, what's that all about? Um? With a YouTube star logan Paul and a forty four year old retired Floyd Mayweather? Like we had our we had our old buddy Mike Coppinger um who used to work for NFL media. Now, is you know doing very well for himself covering boxing. I'm wondering, like if you're a boxing purist like somebody, and I grew up like

you guys did late eighties and it was awesome. Mike Tyson was coming up and it was a great heavyweight division. You have this phenomen that you could build the sport around in the heavyweight division. Um. But I'm no expert, and I fall and I wonder if, like the boxing purists out there, when this is the biggest story around the sport. That's gotta hurt. I mean, that's gotta hurt anyway.

But Chad Johnson is one of these guys on the car and it's just like, not only do you have YouTubers against retired guys that have fought like once in five years, and that's Floyd Mayweather and even that his last match was against the m M A guy um the irishman what's his name Connor McGregor here, and we paid for that. I remember we all watched that together,

that that fight. But I don't know. I'm not bagging on another sports and I know there's lovers out there, but it's crazy to me that Chad Johnson is on the undercard of this biggest match of the year. My only my only note though would be I do think with boxing because it's accessible to anyone. I mean all sorts of people get into fights outside of bars and taverns, like anyone could box that they wanted to, So there is if you're gonna be like a professional boxing circuit,

stay away from this. But in general, like would I pay fifty dollars to see like greg and dan Um spar for I don't know how many rounds that would last maybe one too. But like, I mean, I think that there is something about like you know, pairing wacky um, you know, individuals against each other in the ring. I like the idea that when Eric comes in and like hits Dan with a chair something, you know, it's somewhere

between w w E and an actual sport. And they're so in Floyd Maywether Pablo Tory made a great point of like he sort of was a YouTube star before YouTube stars. Is like he's getting people to pay money even though they're always like disappointed by his fights, by doing all this crazy stuff off the you know, out of the ring, and then people pay their money and they're they're a little dissatisfied. But it's like that's that That's what he's been doing his entire career. It's very strange.

The most interesting part of the Chad Johnson thing was though not only was it against Nate Robinson, you know, and he got up or not not against Nate Robinson, rather um it was some m M A guy. It was supposed to be against pac Man Jones, but pac Man Chad Ocho Sinko wouldn't do it. He wouldn't do it. Against pac Man. He wasn't confident enough against pac Man. I wouldn't want to get in there against pac Man either.

I mean, I guess if you want to turn into like pro wrestling spectacle, it's fine that this is the direction, but this is the sweet science. Whether they're not going for belts, there's somewhere in between. Because I think there's an idea that you know, Bloyd Mayweather is trying to help Logan Paul look good here and then like sign him to his company and they might do it again. And it's like all this sort of for fun, said Chad Chad Johnson after the fight. I lost my virginity

tonight and it was fun. I think I'm ready for McGregor. Okay, that's enough. That's what's happening in the news. I got him one like old guys shaking hands and shouting at the clouds about this. But you know, better sports is as a sports fan like all encompassing. Um, I enjoy sports more when there's like a fun boxing vibe going on.

And it's been a while. Um, all right, before we go, h our friend friend of the show, Kyle Brant, is in Australia right now, and we talk about our our fans all over the world, and although a kid about some of the mail bag questions, I tend to get Um, we absolutely love and appreciate our overseas fans because they're everywhere, including Australia. So Kyle is there because Kyle's career is blown up and he's got it's a little bit I think the project is a little mysterious what it is exactly,

but he's he's in Australia. He's been quarantining for two weeks, staying in a hotel. Um. He had to do that to satisfy the COVID nineteen protocols down there where. Australia, if I'm not mistaken, has really done well in that realm with COVID. It has not been anything like it's been in a lot of other places in the world. Um and uh. He is doing Kyle Good Morning Football from Australia this week with tapings for him at like eleven pm, six am in New York with the rest

of the gang. Anyway, this is a clip from that show that was sent my way when Kyle was talking about once he was allowed back into society in Australia. This is what happened he might, and I turned it's just some guy. It's an Australian guy returning home and he goes, I like your show mate, and I was like, oh, wow, you watched a Good Morning Football. I'm so flattered. That's incredible that I mean, that's I didn't know you guys

haven't done. It's really great. And he goes, I you want to know my favorite talk and I go, yeah, I'm wondering is it like, you know, one of our like wacky segments or is it like the banter at the table? Like what is this Australian man about to say? Is his favorite part of Good Morning Football? And he goes, hey, I like Dan Hanzas and I go, oh, yeah, you like Dan Hens That's that's that's cool. Dan's great on

the show, like you to say. But he does come out a lot during see yeah, I'll walk around the NFL mate, and I was like, wow, what an incredible I'm sorry, I'm not Gregg Rosenthal. I wish I could be. He started to disappoint you, dude, but anyway, Dan, Greg, all the guys, You've got a huge fan down here, some bloke and all. He loves Dan hanzas the best. That's my story. Wow, what was that? Mark, Dan Gregg and all the guys. I knew that was gonna happen. The look on Mark's face right now, he is, Uh,

he's furious. He's not happy that around the NFL got some nice good morning football pop um that the fans are that are are more excited about us. Think thinks Kyle is on our show or something. Who knows. Uh, he's just mad he didn't get mentioned there. I'm not mad at all. Like one of the three of us actually like left college, his second college that he transferred to to go to Australia for six months. You know, I feel a special connection to the country. But this,

this bloke down there apparently could care less. So you spent some time in us, Joey, I've never heard about this. Let's well, you know for new listeners that you born in England. No like if you missed, if you missed the eleven shows until now, you're just joining now. I want to see what he's up to down there. I think it's interesting and mysterious. And if we have a random dude and whoever you are, dude, wait a gay, good job. Thanks for supporting us UM all these years.

I mean, we're trying to get back to London. We want to go to Germany. There's a lot of talk about games being played in Germany this year. Man, let's just go for it. Let's go down to Australia and get loose. Who's paying for this? I don't know. You know. The beer is like much more potent and powerful down there. It's not this like grocery store like American beer with like a lower alcohol percentage. It is high octane and it leaves you wondering where you are. Trust me, I'm going.

I'm I I have like that's the number one place I want to go with my family. Uh, in the summer will probably be more of this our summertime, their winter. Go check out some koalas Walker super Into once they open the restrictions. I'm thinking next summer. But just like, let's go as an NFL team. To my totally like shaded American viewpoint of Australia is that if you go on the ocean, there's a one and two chances are eaten by a shark. That's like what I know about Australia.

But I don't think that's right. But I think it was pretty prevalent. Will under sharks kill under ten people globally throughout year, I think people a day in Australia. No, it's sharks getting such a bad rap. They're not gonna bug you if you don't bug them. There's a lot more animals that are a lot more. There's a there's a check it out in the Los Angeles Times last month to your point, Greg, because sharks are endangered because of a lot of misconceptions that I am also now spewing.

But what we're learning now drone technology. They're sending drones over the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Los Angeles, and we're learning that great whites are everywhere, like sharks are everywhere like and we never knew because and most importantly, they're not attacking you, Like if you watch Jaws too many times, as I did as a kid, you just assume that to be the case. Anyway, thank you to Australia. Thank you to Kyle bren who has always been so

cool to us and to this show. And I'm sorry Mark that he didn't bring you up, but you know he did. I it's all. I'm all. I'm the all the other guys. So he did name drop me in the sense we're good. This one's gonna be with you for the rest of the day. I'm sorry, perfect way to end. They gotta be the year. We'll bring it up when Kyle's on the show next. I mean, this is yeah, the best parties. Probably was like searching for the name of the third guy. He's like, I can't

remember that guy's name. That is not true. All right, good stuff, Mark, You know this, this podcast does not exist without a Mark Sessler. Well, we could find out, but I so far it doesn't. But that we don't know what's down the road. Um, all right, good stuff. We'll be back on Thursday. We have something cooking Thursday, Ricky. We don't want to reveal it, right because for you

it's just gonna happen to be a surprise. But Ricky's um recipe here that we're going to be following, right, So you know that's a little bit scary in a way, but that's it's the off season. This is where you you know, you you follow Ricky's path and you see where it takes you, uh, and it might even take us, you know, out of the virtual reality that we live in right now. I'm looking forward to that UM and

no NFL Network show this week. We're on a two week hiatus from that, so if you want your around the NFL fix after today's show, Thursday's pop, that's where you get it. All right, good stuff, Dan hands As signing off for Quiet Storm. Mark Sessler is the name, learn it uh, and the old boss of course, Ricky Hollywood until Thursday. Keep the call. S