Monday Night Games , Time for Tua, and TNF Preview

on that show. He's called himself Money. When I go pick up my child Luke. In the afternoons, I listened to Petros and Money. Um, he's announcing Chargers game. This is the one task that's been going on for a decade that he's not received an American penny for. So I could understand the agitation. Well, you can't. You can't pay for this type of publicity that he's been getting connected to this world renowned podcast. So that's the other way to look at It's almost like an unpaid internship

for a wildly successful sportscaster. Okay, and yes, Money and the Old Zeuser Every Tuesday, three pm Eastern noon Pacific on NFL Network, the Power Ranking show. That's been a lot of fun. Um Boys, it's heating up. The whole season's heating up as long as as long as we can, you know, dodge the rain drops on this COVID stuff.

I'm really starting to enjoy the soap opera that is every NFL season because we've got some real narratives that are are heating up as as we head to the sect toward the second half of the season, and we're gonna get into a bunch of happenings in the league

as we edge closer to Week seven. I know you're excited, Mark, I honestly enjoyed this football season more than in the past because we've to the razor's edge a few times where it felt like with one more game shifting or postponement that the NFL gets into a huge tangled web. I I don't enjoy that tension, but that tension alone makes the games happening, and I you know, we can

talk about obviously the games that happened last night. I don't remember my lifetime watching like a Monday afternoon game um in Los Angeles in this time zone, taking place like in a drizzly western New York Berg. I thought that was sort of a beautiful thing to be able to do at a really weird time in the day, So thumbs up for me. It's also you know, you know, to go into the office, you know, to get all dressed up, the exhaustion factors a little bit lower, the

appreciate ation factors is hiked up a little bit. Well, it's good to be distracted to this, you know. It's like there was that concern I remember from the NBA players when they were going to go into their bubble, are we gonna distract from all the important things going on? And it's like, well, yea, this NFL season is totally distracting me. I am very distracted. I can confirm that.

And you're right. Mark, back when we used to go to the office, when we put on our penguin suits, you know, get the taxes on, and to sit at our cubicles way dressed down. Now compared to them, let's be honest, it wasn't much different in terms of what we're wearing, maybe shorts versus pants, I mean, just the whole process of having to go into the office, and it's like, hey, it's a head hauntcho in the break room. You better get in and get your cool comment in.

It's like, you know, a lot of that's just been removed from the process. Oh, I hated those days, all right. A lot to talk about a quarterback change, internal drama around America's team. Thursday night football game too preview. But first, yes, two football games played on Monday, only one of them actual the broadcast rights of the Monday Night Football brand, So let's start with the other one. I've never seen

Andy that math. He definitely was not happy about what we done down Gerald Williams and Andy Reid is mad no more. That was Joe Buck of course, and Troy Aikman starting out with some comments about Andy. Andy was hot there, but I'm sure he had smiles on his face after the game. Seen a win for the Chiefs in Orchard Park against the Bills a rainy uh day in western New York that did not play into a

positive situation for any either quarterback in this game. But only one team handled it best, and that is the Chiefs. The defending Champs. Clyde Edwards Hilaire goes for one six one uh in leading the way, and the Chiefs are five and one, and all of a sudden, greg the Bills are in a two game losing streak and Josh Allen not looking like the Josh Allen of the first

four weeks of this season. He hasn't and that you know, he missed some throws early because of the rain, and he made some good decisions, and there was a couple of plays that receivers have made in the past. I'm thinking of a third down throw bounces off of receiver's helmet on the first drive. Uh, Stefan Diggs isn't able to take in maybe Alan's best throw of the day in the end zone later in the first up, and

they only got seven drives. So there's this whole strategy. Well, let's make Mahomes earn it, let's keep let's um try to uh make them earn it with all these rushing yards, and that only works if you can get the Chiefs off the field on third down and Mahomes hit a third third end goal I think from the third teen to Kelsey, he hit a third and fifteen, and he hit a third and twelve later in the game. So suddenly you shortened the game, and you just shorten the

time you're about to lose. And so I thought the two um strategies that the Bills had in terms of offense and defense didn't really match up because they weren't sharpen up offensively to go along with that strategy that they had defensively. Yeah, and I think that we're watching in real time a Bill's defense that for years has sort of been the lynch pin of who they are, and uh, could could get them wins when the offense couldn't, you know, do their part um fall apart. I mean

they gave up four d and sixty six yards. And you know, sometimes these games have strange little moments and and my favorite drive of the entire season materialized in the third quarter of this one, a third quarter that you know sometimes we do like these sky Sports hits on Sunday, which would come at the end of the third quarter, and you'd think to yourself, because you might not be watching the game that sky Sports is watching, I could go make a cup of cocoa right now,

I could go take a walk around the block. I've got a solid twenty minutes until you know, you jump on with them. But in this case, the way this quarter, third quarter win it tripped away in like two seconds. Because this drive that Kansas City run, this seven minute forty seven March thirteen, plays eighties seven yards. And I understand that everyone loves the Chiefs because of what Holmes

does acrobatically, artistically, athletically week after week. I love them switching it up in ugly weather in western New York and running the ball right down Buffalo's throat. That game or that tribe ended with that Darryl Williams touchdown that we talked about that you know, was a bomb to Andy Reid, who was ready to flip out on the sideline. It was twenty three. There was plenty of time left. The contest to me, felt entirely over at that point.

I just loved Andy Reid on the eve of the World Series thrown a change up to the Bills thet rushing attempts, which is tied for the most that he's ever called in twenty one years as a head coach, accounting for the two five yards. And sometimes you don't overthink it. I mean Edwards Hilaire, who obviously is going to have company now with Levy on Bell. But you look at what they were able to do um and you wonder whether Bell should be jumping into the mix.

He will be obviously involved in some capacity, but you would think this is a game you want to build off with Edwards Hilaire. And the other thought that I had was, yes, the downside of not turning Patrick Mahomes loose and maybe you couldn't because of the conditions and not letting him be the mad bomber that just destroys teams with deep strikes. The one thing that the negative that is that the game's gonna probably stay closer and

it's gonna stay tight. So when the Bills got that score to get it to six points, Uh, under most circumstances, you might start to get a little bit nervous. You're gonna get this game taken out from under you. But with Patrick Mahomes as your quarterback, everything's fine as long as nobody else messes up. And Edwards Laire nearly did with a fumble that was rightly called back because his knee was down, but Mahomes made the plays. And the

Bills defense is a capital a capital P problem right now. Uh. They can't get a big stop right Their defensive line has been battle year. Really, they have problems everywhere. They miss Matt Milano certainly, but one guy you know at linebacker is not going to change the sole defense. There's no juice in terms of their pass rush pressure, and they're a team that doesn't love to send extra guys. So Jerry Hughes, he's sort of defied um time for years.

Maybe he's getting a little older. You give Trent Murphy. Murphy a healthy scratch last night. He's one of the highest cap numbers on your team at Oliver hasn't totally popped. Their kind of an easy team to run against. And then they're a little thinner in the back end to where I think Norman can be picked on to Ron Johnson, their slot corner can be picked up. That all said, I mean it was it was varsity j V like Steelers Browns to me, even though it didn't show up

that way. It was four dred and sixty six yards and two or six. With that said, I I still think Mahomes gets most of the credit because he's the one and a lot of times calling these play, you know, deciding to run because he looks and he's staying patient. And again like on that game winning field goal drive, it takes him extending the play on third in thirteen and hitting that throw to make that sort of strategy work,

because the Bills did stop um. The Chiefs running the ball on their last two drives and it takes Mahomes kind of bailing them out after two early down runs in the red zone with that beautiful throw to Kelsey. So that's like the start of it all. And then you just play smart and you have a good running game, and you you lose Mitchell Schwartz and you're all uh disco, you know, having new guys in the interior offensive line too, So it's like running the ball is smart, but it

all starts with Mahomes. I think. I think next week, though, it's like the Broncos, they're gonna keep ring. I think teams are gonna keep running the strategy where it's like, okay, run for two hundred yards and we'll take our chances. But it did remind me I like the varsity g v UM comparison there, because like Pittsburgh and Cleveland, I thought that the Chiefs forget the score, as you mentioned in they broke them. I think they tamed them, they

silenced them. You're watching Daniel Kilgore at center just mall whatever Buffalo put up against him. They were running for eight yards per carries. So sometimes it's the matchup two and you trust read too. If there's a soft belly in Buffalo's defense, he just went after it over and over. And the one thing about the Chiefs the Travis Kelsey had a pretty killer fumble at the end of the half. That kind of thing gets in the heads of some teams.

Kelsey was furious about that they mentioned it. That he came out that he was joined on everyone in the in the locker room because he's had some up and down moments in this early season. But by the end of halftime, he's hugging Eric b enemy. They're composed, their back in action and they and totally exert their will. This is a different team. You play the Chiefs and they put you in your tier, and I think they

put Buffalo in their tier. In the a f C. You're not at Kansas City's level on any at any point right now. Offensively, they their team and he needs to score thirty points a week. In the last two weeks, their offense hasn't done it. And yet the Raiders put the Chiefs in their place. In Kansas City's previous game, which just speaks to, you know, the week to week nature of our league. But yeah, the Chiefs are fun to watch their offense, especially just so layered. Okay, let's

get to the late game. Here's first and ten Kyler Murray diep shot cut a man at Christian Kark. How about eighty yards to the house, just like that. ESPN Steve Levy with the call. Are the Cardinals girre the Cowboys? Derrel baby both alright? The Cardinals thirty eight Cowboys Tan Kyler Murray and his homecoming he grew up in North Texas.

Three touchdowns including yes that rainball, beautiful deep strike to Christian Kirk eight yards that effectively settled matters in the second quarter, and Mark the defense took it home from there, befuddling Andy Dalton and Buddha Baker out front with the tremendous game sack, pick, force, bumble two QB. It's total

effort by the Cardinals in the Cowboys that fell a mess. Yeah, I mean, this is another game where I think the matchup just was a disaster for Dallas where they I believe Erica Tamposey had a couple of snaps at right guard. At one point, um Zack Martin went down. There's nothing along the Dallas line. And but yet this is not an Andy. This is not a pick on Andy Dalton game for me, because week after week, why do you assume I'm like an offensive lineman, like I'm that big? Well,

I think they were. They were like a tiny like cornerback. That's well, I think you weren't big enough because super yeah, or like the hot quarterback. I'll rethink. I'll rethink my position um area for you to play when you get into the game, remarks final show. Yes, I'll be seeing

you later. I mean, I watching this Cowboys defense week after week and it's there's a third and tent play and it's like kind of a child knows that at this point, with the Cardinals trying to work them their way out of a little bit of a funk, that you're gonna lean on your on your biggest strength, and its third in tenant, Kyler Murray scrambles for a first down. There's a later play where it's fourth and one and Kyler Murray rushes for eleven yards with literally nobody around

him at all. And to me, that's the Dallas defense. I and we'll get into some of the stuff going on there, but it is adds if they had never perceived of Kyler Murray or never that maybe someone like little Debbie is watching more Kyler Murray tape and more Cardinals tape than Dallas does. They look completely disorganized and it was only a matter of time where once their offense starts creating their own mistakes. And Zeke Elliott and

that's a different type of fumble hit. The look on his face when he had his first fumble was one of dejection and one of this team is lost already. Completely different to what I just mentioned about Kelsey. I think this team was broken early in this game too. Yeah, I think so. And you know from the from the Cardinals side, and like we'll we'll pick on Dalton like you said, this is not a pick on Daltony? Well

why not? I mean he awful? I think I mean he have you have you ever have you seen a guy stare down more open receivers and not let go of the ball. I know that, not alone, I get it. But to me, the the Cowboys defense is only gonna make a handful of stops every game, maybe in a row, and they did that like four drives in a row to start the game. And Zeke has given the ball away,

so you're you're totally done. Then if Zeke is giving the ball away and Dalton was trying to give the ball away and the Cardinals wouldn't take it early, like that's it. You're only gonna get so many stops. Then the defense collapse and it's a total mess. I do think though, with Murray, I give that. I'm not gonna pick on them too much because to me, he's he's

like the fastest, that's like quarterback. And I know Lamar Jackson was just a year ago um and Kyler is similar but just as fast and is better at avoiding hits. Like some of those players are almost unstoppable. And Kyler Murray and their passing game is still a problem, Like he completed less than half his passes and they need to be more consistent. Uh in general, but some of those play calls where like he tosses it to himself on a fake toss, I don't know what. No one's

gonna stop that. Uh, it makes them so dangerous. I'm not sure about their defense and I'm not sure about their their passing offense. Um. But man, they're running games should be good like each week. It didn't show on Monday Night because Dallas has so many issues right now. But Chandler Jones uh not being there is is gonna hurt them. Um. And they have a huge measuring stick game against the Seahawks coming up. So uh, they're gonna enter that game with a lot of confidence because of

how well they played in this game. Uh. And they deserve it on the on the Cowboys side of things. And by the way, I think Kyler's murder. Kyler's helmet is about ten percent smaller this year. It's still there's the proportion is still off where it does still feel like it's like when he's like scattering scampering down the sideline. But I think he has a little list win resistance on that helmet and that's leading to better production with

his legs. That's just the theory. You know, less of a spaceman's helmet than been in previous right, not not not to be a child of the eighties, but you remember in what was it Spaceballs and Rick Moranis had the giant Darth Vader helmet. Still kind of has that that vibe a little bit. But that's what do I need to know more about you? That you saw Spaceballs but have never seen Star Wars. That is like the most clear cut Dan Hans, this like differentiator out there.

I didn't get a lot of the jokes, but it was a great sight gag. The helmet was so big, all right, cowboys, whoa what a mess? And um as bad as they looked and Dalton did look lost and maybe you know, we talked about it. It was the the reckoning for the Dalton scale. But the one thing in West pointed out on Twitter that game was in prime time. Two was his first start in prime time. He always stinks like that. We gotta get him into some early Sunday games and he'll start lightening it up

with c D and Gallop and Cooper. I still think he's gonna have good numbers there. But he was real bad, real bad on Monday. Now to Film Networks, Jane Slater reported on Tuesday, the players are starting to uh speak out about their unhappiness behind the scenes. One player one player told Slater that Mike McCarthy's staff is quote totally unprepared. They don't teach, they don't have any sense of adjusting on the fly. Another Plater player told Slater they just

aren't good at their jobs, and Greg, this does summon memories. Yeah, it's summons memories of that hit piece on McCarthy near the end of his Packers reign, where that thing was winding down and there was some some issues behind the scenes there and there was their port I think was it that Mike McCarthy was getting a full body massage while team meeting was supposed to happen or something like stuff like that, And the players are unhappy the fact

that it's happening this early in the Dallas tenure when they're playing so poorly. Uh, this is not a good sign. Now. My favorite part of that report is, you know the Cowboys players, they had been, you know, all in lockstep at keeping this in house for a while, but you know they couldn't wait anymore. Here we are. We let's

absolutely bury our coaches. Um. It's delightful. I like the theory um proposed by the athletics Bob Sturm, who I like a lot that this is still Jason Garrett's fault, that the country club culture where the players are like the Kings and are always right is still permeating in this franchise, and I would still I would agree on just a little bit with that and give it a little more, uh, you know higher up at Jerry Jones, where I do think, um, the I but that's a

serious theory. Now that was a serious theory. I do think there is something to this team where they are superstars. They believe their own hype, that the players are always prioritize over the coaches. That that's not a that's not a secret since Jimmy Johnson has been there. Um, because the ownership they always have. The ownership's here, and I think they're because of that, they feel emboldened somewhat uh to talk like this about the guys who can bench you.

And so I do think there there's something too. It doesn't mean that the players aren't right, uh, and that the coaches are doing a poor job. I think the worst thing you can do as a coach is try to have your scheme and fit the players that are there into your scheme no matter what, despite what they're good at. And I think that's what we're seeing here.

Like in Nolan scheme, it's like you need these big guys up front to occupy blockers, and it's like they don't have those guys and that's why people are just cutting through them. And you you see the communication breakdowns in the secondary. They've allowed the most points um through six weeks since integration. That that's the way I thought on Twitter last night, that was the way they put it. Yeah,

it was the fourties. I mean, I think that just puts you in a mental space of it was a little bit of a different NFL the last time this many points were given up, and I were just point to like, so Mike McCarthy, it's about a year ago that our reporter NFL Network uh you know star at this point, Tom Pallisero wrote that think piece I guess you would call it on Mike McCarthy about the epiphanies he was havinging that he maybe read a book on analytics and had a whole new, uh window into what

that could offer. And then he goes down and you know, the cowboys don't go and look at out of the box people. Jerry Jones and Mike McCarthy fall in love with each other over the course of a day and drinks at Jerry Jones's house and they hire Mike McCarthy. And then you look at how Jerry Jones started in the NFL by firing Tom Landry Um, which was sacrilegious in Dallas obviously, but to get a totally raw, fresh um NFL face and Jimmy Johnson who comes from Miami,

and it is a culture hammer. He changes things and it isn't players talking over coaches and all that stuff. But ever since then, kind of like you know, when you move away from like we've talked about this before, he went completely other end of the spectrum after the breakup with Jimmy Johnson, and he proceeds to hire Barry Switzer, who just inherits like George seafor did in San Francisco, a good roster, and after being caught eating a hot dog on the sideline during the Pro Bowl, goes and

wins a Super Bowl with Jimmy Johnson's players the next year. Okay, then they hire Chan Gailey, Dave Campo, Bill Parcels, Nice Hire Wade Phillips, Jason Garrett, and now Mike McCarthy. These are all essentially old school veteran coaches that aren't going

to bring something new. And Mike McCarty, after selling I think Jimmy Johnson a bill of goods about being this new coach, and you know time will tell goes and hires Nolan, who couldn't be more of an old school old boys friend of friends pick for your defensive coordinator. I mean, I think some of this, some of these seeds were sown when Jerry Johnson, Jerry Jones refused to broad in a net and look for someone that could

change Cowboy's culture. Jerry Jones turned seventy eight last week, and um, he is not blameless in this, and it's beyond just who he's choosing as the coach, because Mike McCarthy and Mike Nolan will will end up being fall guys. If this thing really goes off the rails, and it might even be a one and done situation, who knows, because like I said, Jarald just turned seventy eight, uh, and the clock's ticking and the heat he wants results.

And if this thing continues to spiral and players are you know, abandoning the ship, it might force the hand of ownership. And I just I think one thing, it's While I don't think McCarthy was a necessarily an exhilarating higher I feel like he is a bit of a scapegoat here because he didn't inherit um a good defense, and he, Mike Nolan, is being asked to make do with a defense that doesn't have a lot of parts.

And then you factor in a ton of injuries that have compounded the situation and put the Cowboys know behind the eight ball. They had a roster that had holes and now would viciously depleted roster because of injuries. So it to me, it's kind of you can't put it on one thing. It's everything that's kind of come together as a poop sandwich in Dallas. And maybe McCarthy and Nolan are the fall guys here, but there's a lot of things that have come into play here. But they

spending a lot of money on defense. I mean, the Everson Griffin signing hasn't worked, but de Marcus Lawrence is one of the highest paid defensive lineman in the league and is is really struggling. Alden Smith has been an amazing signing. Jalen Smith has really struggled as making a lot of money. Vander Rash is a key piece. He's there. I mean, they're not without talent. They have some high draft picks in the secondary. So I think a lot of his coaching, A ton of it is injuries. Of course,

I mean the offensive line is is decimated. Um, but I really was annoyed how often we heard last night how the Cowboys weren't expecting that much of a drop off after going to Dalton. It's like, BS, they pay one guy thirty one million and the other guy three million, and you're not expecting much of a drop off. You should expect a lot of a drop off. You should

know what you have with Dak Prescott. And it was a reminder to all the clowns who are always like, well, you know, well with a lot of this, you know, production is like when they're coming back in games or it's down thirty, it's like playing quarterback and putting up a lot of points. It is hard, no matter what the score is. And I think we were reminded, you know, you see that watching terrible offenses every week that can't do it, and when whether it's garbage time or not.

We saw last date it's like Andy Dalton was bad at every point of the game, Like they didn't start scoring points once they were they were way down, and they shouldn't need a reminder how good Doc is. I I'd actually don't think they really did. I think he'll always be there, but man, this there's no way they'll ever let Doc go. If this season goes how I think it's gonna go, I'd be shocked. Yeah, the like I don't think it creates more indecision about Dak the

s injury. I think it just hammers home the certainty that they're going to give him the world and be like, all right, save us, which maybe isn't the best way to look at it either, because they were having issues when Dak was lighting up the world. They just have so much work to do and probably the biggest like career jolt and we and you know, I know, I think we're all kind of we get where we are

with Andy Dalton. But there's a lot of flowery talk about this is the you know, opportunity for Andy Dalton to show that he should be a starter next season for another team. I mean, that's fine, and he couldn't. I mean, outside of the offensive line, he's never been surrounded with this type of starry weaponry. But it's still Andy Dalton and the team that goes and signs Andy Dalton as their starter next year, is going to get this player, and so I don't that that narrator never

signed it. Last night. Now we have that information, but a week ago it was like, hey, you know, and I was you know, he threw the ball aggressively to Michael Gallup at the end of last game. Maybe this is a new Dalton and he's gonna get you know, great audition. And the whole thing is exactly exactly the story lines become become absurd within he's not going anywhere either he and he's going to continue to be there.

I I still think he's gonna put up numbers. But Andy Dalton primetime order to playoff game has never just annoyed. All their games are gonna matter so much because the NFC East. It's funny because they keep showing the standings

and how embarrassing it is. But I don't think people even understand how embarrassing because most of those wins they have are against each other that the division is to fifteen and one right now outside the division in both those wins, but we're just by the skin of their teeth, including that on site kick recovery two fifteen and one. They're basically the worst team in the NFL as a division.

All Right, stick a pin in that, because we have a great Thursday night football game coming up, and we're gonna preview that at the end of the show. But first there's a little bit more news to get to. It revolves around the Miami Dolphins, who despite coming off two resounding victories that have moved them into the playoff race, into the a FC East Race. How about that? Uh? They make the move to uh is the new quarterback? UH?

Starting quarterback of the team, Ryan Fitzpatrick heads to the bench, and man, it makes too much sense to get the thoughts on the Dolphins straight from the most famous Dolphins fan in Westchester, UH area of Los Angeles. That is the great Henry Hodgson, the vice president of International here in NFL Media and late of the Dave Damashek football program. He's got a mike and he's got a platform, and you know he's gonna deliver. Did you love it, Hank?

Would you think of the decision by the Dolphins? I am super excited. Hello friends, It's nice to see you all. I thought I would hate to talk about Mark Spurring, so I'm not prepared to this, but a mobile ambush interview with We'll try, We'll try and speak about to her instead. No, I look, I'm I'm I'm super excited. From the moment that he threw that two yard dump off to Patrick Laird, it was clear that this was a man who who is who's destined for greatness UM,

and so I'm extremely exciting. But the rollout throw to was left actually was was pretty good. I mean I I immediately thought like, he is quick. And you know what, there's not a there's not a single um. There's not a single NFL player who can make that throw that is starting on Sundays because none of them are left handed like that is there is something too that I

feel like that's literally it's impossible for the others. I do think that, you know that the NFL is a better place when there are left handed quarterbacks in the league. Having a left handed quarterback around is fun. It looks strange people get freaked out by the whole thing, but that's exciting in itself. But I mean, other than that, this is something that Dolphins fans, you know, they started talking about to being a Dolphins player in like eighteen

and it's taken all this time. You took the time, and then they tanked for two or last year apparently, although you didn't really work out the way it did. But then he got injured. Then they managed to be in position to draft him without having to trade up or doing doing anything else. And then there's this feeling of Okay, he's here, now when do we actually get to see him? And the pressure has been building and

building and building over the last few weeks. People were obviously you know, wanted to see him in the in the back half of that UM defeat at the forty nine is a couple of weeks ago, and that didn't happen. So I was kind of I'd counted it out as I was, I think one of the only people in the world watching the Jets Dolphins game rightly, by the way, anyone who decided to choose backpack his Buccaneers instead. Um and uh. And then it happened and it was super exciting.

And now we've got to wait another twelve days to to to see it again. But I think it will be what it's like the twelve Days of Christmas. And you think, do you think that, because there's you know, people out there, like, I get the it's an abrupt switch because Fitzpatrick is Fitzpatrick there, He's got good energy, he's been playing lights out, they've been winning, and so

some thinking, why are you making this switch? I get why a Dolphins fan, Dolphins sneaky gone without a quarterback that really generated like um metropolitan energy in Miami since

Dan Marino. I don't. I'm not putting Ryan Tannehill in that class it all or anyone else on the m v P Ryan tan Well, right, and not in Miami though, please, But do you think that this was the plan in terms of the timing from the very beginning saying no matter what Fitzpatrick's doing, um barring if t of progresses, as we think from the summer on, we're making the switch before the bye week to fully integrate him and give him the best chance to start versus on the fly,

which is you know, this happened at a weird time, but maybe this was the plan all along. Jump in real quick because it turns out that three there's three people in this podcast that watched the Jets Dolphins in real time on Sunday, which you can't find a grouping of three people anywhere else in the world that could say that before you take it, Henry ran this. Patrick didn't play very well on Sunday. I thought that maybe could have been a factor twenty four nothing. He got

papered over and the Jets are miserable. But with the bye week combined with them back that uh, they struggled on third down. He threw some bad as, he had some interceptions. I wonder if that played in it all as well. Yeah, I mean, the Dolphins have had three wins, but in those three wins, fitz has had three good halves and then the second half in each of them

has been a little bit disappointing. Some of that is because they were so far in front against all three clubs, against the Jags and the Jets this week that they you know, they maybe they took their foot off the gas of it. But Fits, I think you're right down

to especially did not look good against the Jets. I think in terms of timing, they moved the bye week, so originally I think the Dolphins had like a week eleven by and then as part of all the reshuffle a couple of weeks ago thereby got moved to week six, so that that may have made them think that this

is the right time to do it. I think overall, though, and this is a point I was making this morning to Dan Chagrin on Twitter, that that is the point that I think when the Dolphins hired Brown Florist, they gave him a five year guaranteed contract, which doesn't typically happen for head coaches. You know, it's guaranteed that you

get all five years. It's often like a three or four year contract with with options, um I think, and then they given permission to make a bunch of trades, or him and Chris Career, the general manager, to make a bunch of trades. Last year. I think the first two years were essentially like write offs. Let's go go build this team and mold. It's the youngest team in the NFL right now, so fits getting to like nine

and seven year. If you leave them in there, you wind up being in the same spot as you were in before, as one of those teams that floats between seven and nine and nine and seven, and you're in that miserable midpack of the NFL. So let's let's let two a go and make the mistakes if if there doesn't matter. It was actually what happened in the first year with Adam Gaze where they accidentally went to the playoffs and then as a result of that, expectations get

reset the whole way through. You might as well, let's let someone learn on the job, let someone potentially fail, find out what you've got in your piece, and then you know, hopefully you know, fingers crossed going to one with a quarterback who can who can you know take you further than nine and seve. I mean, I think they can win with division with Yeah, I think they gotta. I gotta. I think they got a shot. I think

the Bills are the favorites. But seeing that the Dolphins are tenth in d v O A right now, it doesn't surprise me. They've won three games by blowout. They're doing some uh really well coached, exciting things. I think you gotta make the move because the only thing that matters, the thing that matters most this year is developing to a and so they're watching him every day. If they think he's ready to play now and they didn't obviously in Week one, then you play him like, I'm just

gonna trust Brian Flores. He's been a good coach and that's the number one thing. Initially, it reminded me of the Giants. I remember being in New York when they benched Kurt Warner at five and four, I think was the record for Eli. And Eli came in and they were suddenly the worst offense in the league and he was the worst quarterback in the league. But you know what Eli said all throughout his career that that experience made him so much better, and he came into his

year two way better. He took a massive leap, and he said that experience was part of it. So if they think too us ready, you don't want to put him in a bad situation. But I kind of think the fact that they're a decent team around him makes me want to play him even more well. And and the other bit, Greg, Greg and I have a long text chain which focuses solely on the Miami Dolphins offensive line. He has done over the last few weeks is pretty exciting two teams people. He just loves it so much.

But I think that's played into it as well. The Dolphins have three rookies starting on the offensive line, but they have been surprisingly better than than expected, and so I think again with the bye week being moved up, with the offensive line looking certainly a lot better than

a day a year ago. They feel confident that Tour who's now a year removed from that injury, who's obviously had time to pick up the playbook even without training camp and everything that happened, like now is the time and and and Greg's right, you know fits his the twentie best quarterback. I don't I don't know who where the QB index where West has in this week, but he's been floating at you know, somewhere between thirty two

and twenty. Let's say, UM two has the upside. So why not why not put the guy in who could potentially take me further this year but definitely can't do in future years. Here's another theory, Hank, before we say goodbye, because I know you have important vice president of international stuff to tend to. Uh does this announcement go down

or does this report come out today? If the Bills don't lose yesterday, and all of a sudden, they're thinking in Miami, okay, we're three and three, our defense is getting better, we're certified frisky. Over in l A, they get the Herbert lift. What if to Ah is ready. We get the to a lift and we can steal this damn division. I initially didn't like it, and maybe because I like Ryan Fitzpatrick. Uh, but it might as well start the future while also potentially bettering the present

because it it maybe puts the ceiling a little bit higher. Yeah, I mean maybe that plays into it. I definitely think that the division more open than we thought it was two weeks ago before the Bills lost two on the trunk.

So listen to this conversation we're having in weeks. But damn, you know, for you this is you know two years ago, three years ago, you were able to be excited because you had a new young quartaback who'd done nothing, and and you know, three years from now, the chances are as as a broken Dolphins fan, I will I'll probably be sitting feeling the same way about my team as you.

But I'm enjoying today because if you can't enjoy today, then you can't enjoy it Before you go, Henry, I want you to enjoy something else because you know, you're very humble, but you're a key member of this international Pathway program. I feel like it's been a big year for the international players. My lot is in there for

the Eagles, never played before. He's playing left tackle. You got Yakob Johnson, Yeah, you got a Patriots starting offensive linemen with Greg's arm behind his back, and that the Pathway program is taken over him. But Henry, why not why not bring Greg onto your you know, high falutin meeting to pitch what you've What he's just said here, it sounds like he might be promoted. You might be promoted for the eighth time since I've known you, I mean,

you know, everyone wins. Um, Well, yes, thank you much. And then might look, I'm super excited about the player Popey program and that Gregg is exactly right there, you know, jurding my life. I was had never played down of football before he came into the NFL. The first time he went to a football game, he was playing in it. That in itself is is a pretty remarkable thing. Um. And so yeah, super excited for him, for Yakob Johnson. Lots of lots of new things coming from from international players.

And what happens to the international players who don't work out? Do they just are they silently removed from the equation and then never seen from again. Maybe put deep below the earth. No no, no, they go back to their home countries and hone their craft, um to to get better and and if if nothing else, to take the coaching on that they of um that they in the NFL to to bring some new people. Yet. So that's what I'm telling you. One more thing done, because I

know you're a Fits fan. Can I just say this has this for a little a little theory that's coming um Fits the who who you know tour was his apprentice, becomes the apprentice to Chan Gailey, who's I think in his late seventies, to take over as the Dolphins offensive coordinator year from now Kellen Moore style um and goes on to a NFL coaching career. By the time he retires as a as an NFL head coach in thirty years, he hasn't shaved his beard once during that whole time,

and it's down below his knees. I don't know. I see as Fitzpatrick is maybe as a renaissance man that wants to do other things outside the football world. I'm also not convinced he's not going to be still playing when he's fifty. Hey. One more thing, Henry uh since you're the pathway guy. Uh, Ricky hit it and now keeping up? So what do you got I don't have anything on Marrit's right now. I'm afraid, guys. I mean

he he has gone back. You know, the the Schwabish Hall Unicorns will be welcoming back with open arms um to go play wide receiver, tight end and pass on a lot of his experience from the NFL so that young unicorns can can join the player pathway program in the future. Is it, Ricky? And that's keeping up all right? Henry? We love you buddy. It's lovely to see you, guys. Take care, love for you all to west if he's listening as well, and we'll catch up soon. Have fun

at your corporate meeting. Thank you. Mark. If you want to join, you know, feel free to jump in. No, I'm satisfied on that front. There he goes, the King of Britain, the King of the international program, Henry Hodgson, always good to see and here from Hank. All right, before we sign off. As we mentioned earlier, NFC East is a dump. It's like a floating dump. Um off Staten Island right now and everybody is puzzled how it could have gotten this bad. Uh, this is how bad

it's gotten. We'll start it out this way. Mark. The Giants play the Eagles on Thursday night on Fox and NFL Network Pacific A twenty eastern. Both teams are still in good shape and alive. If they lose, even though they only have one win in week seven, it's it's incredibly messy. And I think you know, Greg, you put it well, it's a messy too unprecedented um levels That said, the Eagles, after this Giants game, go play the Cowboys, then have their I then come back from thereby rested

to play the Giants again, potentially healthier. That could get them to four four and one if they took care of business against three bad teams. Suddenly, you know, I'm

not buying into any of these teams. I would like an angry um like alien mothership to come take all four of these college level operations and remove them until But the one element I still want to believe in is Carson Wentz, who has been You know, we we there are a lot of young quarterbacks in bad situations, and I wouldn't call Carson Wentz a young quarterback right now. The same way, but the unprecedented words should be attached

to the injuries that around him the line. It's it's the second year in a row and suddenly, like will Miles Sanders be around? I mean, the team is so banged up that the only thing I can hope for is some sort of Carson Wentz Thursday Night playmaking magic with their fleet of interesting third stringers against the Giants defense that's looked pretty good. Frankly, like I think the Giants,

if I'm not seeing that it's a great defense. It's just improved from their completely identity identity black hole that they operated in for the last seven years. It's it's a recipe for a very unwatchable game. Because I I agree with you, I think the Giants defense should be able to slow down Philadelphia, who's down so many offensive linemen. Since we've last recorded, we learned Zach Ertz is out three to four weeks. I don't even know if that hurts them so much as as ineffective as he was,

but I mean it's not a good thing. Right, Miles Sanders is out this week, um, so they're down to two of their original starters just although actually they might get DeShawn Jackson and alshon Jeffrey back for this game, which is interesting. It'll be a different look. Well, we'll see how much that matters. I mean, DeShawn Jackson is like Amelia Earhart at this point, she might return to society. I don't you know. I don't think he's played in four years. So when this when this NMC east, um?

When the When I was watching the Cowboys last night and they were talking about the NFCS, I suddenly had this weird vision of like Joe Judge celebrating because the six and ten Giants just won the NFC. I don't know, I felt like a Mark Sessler vision because it just like felt like, well, which team is like healthy enough and has like a couple of things I like, like James Bradberry's playing like an All Pro. Darius Slayton is

a legit starting wide receiver. Um, I mean if shepherds probably not good that they had forty six snaps last week and Devonte Freeman was featured on twenty of them. That feels like a ratio you don't want. Although he's looked a little better, but they don't look terribly coached there like mostly in these games and they're just healthier. So maybe I was like, well, maybe the Giants win five or six games and they win this division. Could happen.

I think there's Giants fans are already annoyed and and they want to be in the tank for Trevor conversation. But you know, Jones is just mad. I think he's made eighteen starts and he's got a new coach and the new scheme. You gotta see this whole season through before even beginning to think about rebooting again. So this is a good for the Giants. They're not going to the super Bowl. They're most likely not gonna pull the

Joe Judge Gatoradebeth at six and ten. Uh, but it's still gonna be an important season for them in terms of trying to figure out what what they have on both sides of the ball that I don't this Yeah,

this game though is the Eagles front looks good. I mean, they're their defense is mostly healthy, and they're pretty good, which is why I think it will be so ugly that you figure they would be able to slow down the Giants who are mostly now like they wish Daniel Jones was Lamar Jackson and like his Miles per hour. I saw some next gen thing was like the fastest any quarterbacks run all year, and he is fastest, hell, but he does not have the running instincts as Lamar.

And it's like when Daniel Jones running is the primary thing in your offense, you're probably in trouble. How about this Carson Wentz Thursday night against the putrid Giants team? Is this game's in Philly too, right? I know things are weird this year, but go light up the Giants. You're gonna have the two veterans back. Hopefully Falgam has turned into a guy you could trust. No Earth's um down to their top two tight ends actually right now.

But it's the Giants. Deliver a game where you have four scores, you throw for three yards, you run for thirty, you don't have a turnover, and just like put together that game against this opponent and kind of get people feeling better inside that building about you and the chances in what's been a pretty hellish season so far. I mean, they almost beat Baltimore. I would say one thing from an NFL fan perspective, you know, thirty plus years of watching this game, if a team ever won the Division

A Division at five and eleven. It would be one of the greatest things I've ever witnessed, and I would be all in on that playoff game. I'm not saying time after time, but in one season if that happened. Yes, the Seahawks in two thousand eleven or ten went seven and nine and won a playoff game on the beast quake, right, Remember the Carolina team went what's seven? Eight and one? So just what you know, football is weird. Men, don't be surprised if something crazy happens. But there you go.

Thursday night football. Check out Connie Fox, of course on NFL Network. She hosts, she anchors, in fact coverage, pregame, halftime, post game. About a little Connie Fox. Who do we want Connie Fox sitting down with. I'd like to get to know Daniel Jones to see if he has a little more personality. How about Daniel Jones after a win with Connie Fox and they're just chopping it up and having fun. Connie Fox, the Eagles fan, I would preferably

give her an Eagles player, Carson Wentz. That's a little more entertaining, though, isn't it just to have Connie having a I mean, I see where you're going render teeth. Went's not too entertaining, Daniel Jones, not too entertaining, trying to think of a wacky Don Jackson has a big game. I can see Jackson hamstring. She interviews the hamstrang. How how are you doing? Man? She's like, oh, it's been

a tough thirty one years. But Alison Jeffrey is like, I'm so glad that de Sean Jackson's taking all the heat in this injured Eagles. I haven't done anything since the super Bowl. It was a great super Bowl though. All right, good stuff, good football combo. Yes, we'll be back on Thursday with two shows, the Week seven Preview. That's the big one where we go through every game ahead on the slate in on Sunday and Monday. Hopefully no Tuesday or Wednesday at football right now that is

not the case. And then also we will have a mini pod that goes up late Thursday recapping the Eagles Giants affair. So there you go. All right, how's everybody feeling in general? I feel great, up, doing good. I got this new fan, a water bottle that tells me to drink. It'll be like get started. Remember your goal that tonk a lot of water. The season is a good not distraction, but just like gets us in this mode too much idle time right now, it gets us like, yeah,

the election will just be here before we know. We're cranking through this, uh remote school year. I mean, we just need to get through this as quickly as possible. And exactly, Ricky and you and you're drinking water and you're making the right decisions. You'll never be an offensive lineman like that. So that's good, thank you. Yeah, I'm drinking a gallon of water a day. I'm trying to do it for like a month. Uh, it's hard to get through this whole show without running to the bathroom

thirty times. All right, let's go. This is then the signing off for Ricky Hollywood, Quiet Storm, the Old Bat Boss Handsome Hang. What an appearance by the Handsome until third day