Ladies and gentlemen, boys and ghouls, gather yourself around in the flickering radio dial and be amazed by the terrifying but true tales of the NFL trade deadline. Happy Halloween, now, oh.
My goodness, let's hope the Vincent Price estate doesn't come for us.
If they do, we.
Will shift them head east to Zumwalt Manor in Connecticut. Dan Hans is here, Heroes virtually, Mark Sessler, Greg Rosenthal.
It is indeed happy Halloween.
It is also the trade deadline in the NFL, and we have a bunch to talk about what's going on.
Boys, get to be back with you.
I just feel bad for that, you know, kid at the Halloween parade this morning wearing a Montees Sweat Commander's jersey like just a big al right off.
The bat he tried to get in.
Yes, we are awesome mourning and I guess it is Halloween, so.
Mourning is part of the whole thing.
Death, the death of young and Sweaty, the Washington nickname that really I thought had some traction Mark Sessler. There was even some fans at the Commander's game on Thursday night against the Bears that had posed for the photo and sent it to us, and it's just one more thing that disappears into dust as we all will.
Yeah, I don't know if it quite hit the potential that we solve for it as a duo. And I guess though, you'd have to look at it from another angle, you know. Josh Harris come in saying the branding of Young and Sweaty is too hot for this organization. We've got to totally dissemble the concept and scatter both of them to the seas.
It's funny because I thought you were going to say that the Washington commanders didn't believe that Montes Sweat and Chase Young lived up to the potential of what they could be, which is certainly probably a fair statement, Young in particular, who came into the league as a potential
generational talent. But let's get into it. Let's start there, because I think Washington's decision to not trade one but both of their talented young edge rushers tells you a little bit about where the commanders are right now and where they're headed also is interesting. Let's start with Montes Sweat. He goes to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a
second round pick. This is a move that the Bears desperately need some more difference makers on that side of the ball, so they come out of this with one in Sweat, and then Chase Young he is on the move to the San Francisco forty nine ers, who goes for a third round compensation pick. So there is two big trades, and the Niners, obviously a true Super Bowl contender, add a big piece to the puzzle there.
Yeah, I'd love to go through like all three teams and how it impacts it, but I'm going to start with the Bears because this was a curious trade, I think to a lot of people, and I did find it compelling interesting a two and six team trading for a guy on the last year of his contract. In trading, you know, a high quality pick. It's their second round pick, so they're expecting that's going to be somewhere near the top of the second round. It's very similar to the
Chase Claypool trade. And you know, for one, Monte Sweat a much much better player than Chase Claypool. So that should make Bears fans feel good. But I think it was a recognition that not just like having a guy locked up long term is valuable, but just control of their contracts is valuable. And I like the move for Chicago because it was what I talked about in the offseason that I looked at their entire roster and I said, everyone's excited about DJ Moore. DJ Moore is a good player.
And then I looked up and down the roster and I thought DJ Moore might be the best player on their entire roster. And that was one of the reasons why I wanted to go under seven and a half. I was like, if DJ Moore is the best player on your entire roster, that's not going anywhere unless you have a genius as a head coach, and they clearly don't. Montes Sweat, to me is one of the most underrated pass rushers in the NFL.
I've loved him.
Really strong, long, and incredible first step, like he's he's really got it all except for totally gaudy, you know, sac numbers.
But he's in the middle of his prime.
I would say he's a top fifteen to twenty at the most edge rusher in the entire NFL. He's very consistent. Year after year, He's gotten better and better and Bears fans think, Okay, that's great, but we only have him for eight games.
It's like, no, you are going to have him long term.
You make this trade because you're ready to pay him whatever it costs, and you franchise tag him if not, and you've got a boatload a cap space, and people say, well, why not wait till he becomes a free agent, or why not sign the top free agent defensive end. The top free agent defensive end last year was Marcus Davenport like the year, but before that it was Von Miller,
who's thirty three and was good at the time. I went back and looked at all the edge rushers, like maybe one or two pop up every three years in the middle of their primes. Those guys just don't get to free agency, so they've had a hard time getting good players onto their roster.
They did it. I actually I like the move for Ryan Pouls and the Bears.
Well, I think to hinge it off of the fact that they have control of the player and they'll get get to know the player is absolutely right, because the idea that Montez Sweat would have ever picked the Bears in free agency is another unnecessary We don't know that
that's a fill in the blank. I mean, the only thing I'd say from the Chicago side, because I think Jonathan now and the player is like guaranteed, are almost guaranteed to be as good as anything you get with that pick, unless you got real lucky, and it could be a lot worse with what you might have gotten with that.
Pick in the draft.
Yeah, so there's that sweat. Yeah, so they're like, why don't know, there's there's so many defensive linemen that Washington talked about moving that I'm like all over the place with this, But I think with sweat, he automatically upgrades a defense that desperately needed pass rush. At the same time, this is a front office that has a lot of like up and down maneuvers, like the Chase Claypool thing. We all get it. You gave a second form a
year ago, sold them for nothing. You also like tore down the defense and gave away Roquan Smith, And it's like, so, I like that you're getting this player, but I find their like team building approach to be a little bit all over the place.
Well yeah, I hear that, And until they start to show that they're making progress, it's fair to question the decision making, but I think it's okay for a team that's out of contention to make a big splash like this because you do have to build. You got to get some dogs in that building, like Greg, you're saying, and this is a dog, and you have control over him at least beyond you have the franchise tag gear.
So that makes sense, and I think I think it makes sense for everyone because Washington had decided internally, I think what the expectation was is that they were going to move one of these guys and then pay the other. But they made a decision to go in a different direction entirely for reasons that they don't have to share with people. But obviously they're maybe not as high on a sweat's upside here, and they get a top forty
pick most likely out of it. I mean, it could be like the Chase Claypool pick, which was I believe thirty two. It could be, you know, thirty three to thirty six. I mean, this is a really high value pick, and let's move to the Chase Young move because they send him to the Niners for that third round pick, and that is a move, Greg that the the Niners. You know, try to set aside the three game losing streak,
but also maybe the timing. If you're you're gonna have a three game losing streak, have it right before the deadline. So it really gives you a more clear eyed view of your roster and what your flaws are and where you think you need to get better. So they go and they do get better. And I remember talking before the season started that maybe that defensive line wasn't what it used to be under Salah and even Demico Ryans.
And now you add a guy that has, even though he's never truly met his expectations as a superstar type talent, he has that ability, especially playing across from Nick Bosa.
And next to Hargrave in Armstead and kin Law. And you're right, no one really stepped up in that other spot. They just signed Randy Gregory. He actually played okay in a couple of games they had him, but he was just a bit of an afterthought. They have Drake Jackson, Cleveland Pharaoh, and for the price, it's like, why wouldn't you? Why would I'm a little surprised he could only get a compensatory third round pick.
This is a team.
In Washington, and we'll get to the Washington side of it, because they must just decided we're trading him no matter what, no matter what the offer is, because a high second for sweat. Okay, that's one thing. I'm a little surprised. You don't want to keep them. But maybe they look at it like they have Deron Payn, they have Jonathan Allen. They already paid those guys a lot of money's defensive line. We don't want to put it all on the defense line. Okay,
you got a high second. What's the point of a compensatory third. That's the one hundredth pick in the draft. It's like, that's so low is it even worth it? And I think opponents are going to be thinking, how did how did we let the forty nine ers get away with it?
Because gm app right, right? Gm App Chase youngis just not to interrupt at yeah, please the point I was making there. It does kind of smell like there's maybe more to it. But maybe the relationship or what they you know, what they believe, or the upside or internally what kind of player they think that the guy is, what kind of.
Locker room presences. I think there seems to be more to it to make this move now.
Sure is sure, but he's like only been there, Like you're only going to have him for eight more games. I think there had been questions about his you know, approach to the game, and he's been extremely up and down. He was the defensive Rookie of the year, good good rookie season. Has been injured and disappointing when he's played the last two years. But this year's top ten in the league in pressures mark like, he's top twenty in PFFS,
you know, pass rust grade. He's incredibly productive. In one more game, he will have more pressures this season than even even had during his defensive Rookie of the Year season. And I know he's like not as subtle and not as complete as a guy like Joey Bosa or Nick Bosa, but who cares. He's your number two pass thrusher and he's been incredibly productive this year. He's like he's a great case for like I'm in a contract year, my
career is in the balance. I'm gonna put it together and have a much better season, and he has so far.
I think it's the Niners are a team that if they only have him for nine games, that's the right team to go do this, and you know they have to. They already had two third round comp picks because of ran kart On taking over the GM job in Tennessee and Demiko Ryan's going to Houston. So this was essentially highway robbery. Yeah, I mean, this is a classic what
good teams do. And you know, there is incredible upside to him, and if it doesn't work out, like they'll find a way to reload in the off season as they always do. And I think you know they saw Seattle make a big move yesterday, Seattle suddenly sitting on top of the division. It's like, we're not going to be left outside the Marine.
There's a health component to Chase Young as well. He suffered a really bad, bad knee injury in twenty twenty one where he tore his ACL but also ruptured as pteller tendon, which is one of the more serious knee injuries a football player can have in terms of that area of the body. So if you're Washington, I'm sure you know that plays a factor as well in terms
of his durability going down the line. And then for San Francisco, yes, they have Bosa and he is one of the best ends in the league, but there are other non Bosa defensive ends. Cleveland Farrell, who's gotten talked up, is having a bounce back season, but come on, Drake Jackson, Kerrie Hyder Junior, and Randy Gregory. Of that group, Farrell has the best pass rush win rate at seventeen percent, and that all four of those guys have combined. This is from ESPN for five and a half sacks and
twenty two pressures. So there was a void there. And if he does play his butt off here and play at a high level and Bosa, maybe the numbers aren't there, but he's still getting to the quarterback himself and the sacks will come. That could be like a janga piece that falls into plays for this team.
It's crazy. I bet he actually will make it to free agency. I said that the Bears made the sweat move because I don't think players like that get to free agency, and so I thought it was a creative way to get.
Him onto your team.
Young has a pretty good chance because I just think he's going to be set up for success. Everyone shows up there and has success because of their defensive line. Coach in the system that they run, and I just don't think San Francisco is gonna be in the position to maybe pay market value because it's gonna be suddenly.
Really really high.
I just was a little surprised the Commanders were so just eager to get rid of these guys because they have all the cap space in the world. And you've seen a lot of new ownership mark in Cleveland or when Jimmy hasn't got there in new gms and what on, and we've all seen it, Like, doesn't this just scream of Like the owner came in and told Ron Rivera, it's like, whatever you do, you just gotta go get some picks. I don't care if it's gonna make you worse. I don't care if you don't want to do it.
Just just trade them and get whatever you can. Because what's the point of the hundredth pick in the draft? I barely see a point.
I totally agree. I think Josh Harris is gonna be seen as a very active owner. I mean, he you know, he was involved with the Sixers. You guys know more about that than I do.
But they traded James Harden last night. I mean, yeah, I mean, what of twenty four hours.
I think, if anything, like you have to look at like what is what are the fingerprints the most you know, jarring noticeable fingerprints of Ron Rivera. What's this defensive line? It was like he went out of his way to not go get the quarterback year after year. And it's like this was Ron Rivera's vision and it's being taken apart piece by piece. I think Ron Rivera is probably seen inside the organization as someone that did so much
in a really tough time. But ownership changes trigger coaching changes, and like, what has Ron Rivera done to make an argument for himself? I think this is the argument. We're not into this vision. I just feel like he's got to be realizing it's the end of an era. And I think he probably knew that going into the season.
Yeah, he's history.
He gone indeed, well unless he does the Ron Rivera thing and like wins five games against bad teams at the end of the season, but like like the seventh seed to go nine to eight.
But you're also like what.
You're saying about the owner is so hot in the pants to just have all these draft picks and to start the team over in his own vision. I would imagine that would come with a coaching change. But Rivera does have sway internally. It feels like he seems to be respected. We'll see, but I would be very surprised.
I mean, I know, even with the quarterback Sam Hall, and he's coming off a great game, I still stand by what I thought over the summer that next year you're gonna have a new head coach and a new quarterback in Washington.
We'll see.
They're obviously making moves, also making moves. The Vikings we talked about what are they gonna do? They reeled off three wins in a row. They're in a very middling conference where there are a couple superpowers and then a whole bunch of meh, What are they gonna do with Kirk Cousins out for the year. Are they going to try to trade and give up high value pick to try to get another quarterback that can make them a playoff contender. Do they do nothing and just develop the
young guy in the building, Jared Hall. Well, they decide to kind of thread that needle and they pick up Josh Dobbs, who earlier this season, before the season started, was traded from the Browns to the Cardinals, had some success in Arizona before being benched ahead of this weekend's games, and now they send him to Minnesota, Dobs on his
third team three months for a sixth round pick. So I think there's reporting out there that Hall, the fifth round pick rookie will be starting this week against the Browns.
I believe Atlanta, Atlanta.
I'm sorry, and but Dobbs makes sense as a guy once he gets, you know, a little more comfortable, can take things over if the rookie can't play the guitar.
I think if we've seen something about Josh Dobbs in all these stops, you know, pulled into Tennessee at the eleventh hour, looked competent, didn't need two months to pick up the offense. They just trust him to do it. It was not spectacular, It's just Josh Dobbs. Same thing with Arizona, Like looked competent. I mean the one thing, the one little spicy element that he adds. He's ranked out his PFF's number three quarterback on the ground and he looked like it. I mean, he added a lot
to that part of their offense. And so I think if you're a coaching staff. It's like you could have gone, you could have you know, maybe thought about Jamis Winston. There were a couple of little options, flavorless options out there. Dobbs has been playing, he's been active. It's like maybe they just found it to be the most kind of it's the middle of the road option. But it's like, this guy's proven that he can come in and not embarrass you.
It's uncreative, is what it is. He's literally the guy every team goes for when you need a starter next week. It's happened three times in a row. I mean it worked for Tennessee and we had barely ever heard of Josh Dobbs at that point. He was like the fourth string quarterback at one point in Cleveland and worked his way up, and it worked in Tennessee. It essentially worked in Arizona as well as it could have. And now they do it again here and Kevin O'Connell talk about him.
I think he was like a longtime fan. He sees the athleticism, he thinks he's really smart and that he can kind of pick up this scheme and it gives this team, I believe, a much better chance to make the playoffs. So they did what I was asking Dan, and they didn't have to give up anything for it was a sixth for a seven swap.
That was sort of my point was, well, that was what I.
Was asking too, right, go get somebody.
Yes, but because you're kind of internally in mourning, don't give up a second round pick or something to bring in Ryan Tannehill, because what do you with this current roster? What are you trying to do? This is kind of I think the sensible move. You give up a Day three pick, you get a Day three pick back, you get somebody in here. It's not going to embarrass you if he if he ends up playing, and you just work your way through a season that, let's face it was cursed and undone by a brutal injury.
Now, could Dobbs.
Get hot and with a good supporting cast and Justin Jefferson gets healthy, could they sneak in the back.
Door of the playoffs. Sure? It's a weird conference. So yeah, I think kind of everybody wins.
Here are they there right now? I'm gonna go look, but.
They gotta be They gotta be a five hundred day.
They are the seventh seed because they have the tie break right now over New Orleans.
You know behind them is the other losing South teams and the Rams and the Commanders.
I mean, they have a real shot. And Kevin O'Connell we have him.
Actually, he talked today about that he would plan to start Jaren Hall this week, but he sort of left the door open and also spoke very highly of Dobbs and made me think that Jared Hall's gonna have a pretty high bar to clear to keep that job if he If he does start, I.
Know he's excited to get going here. So we'll get him out here and start the preparation of acclimating him and getting him ready to go, you know, potentially on Sunday, you know, in a role, in a supportive role of Jared. We do plan to start Jaron Hall on Sunday, but as you know, we work through the week. We'll keep you guys posting on that excited to see what Jared can do.
M left it open a little bit. By the way, did you happen to check out my Twitter account last night?
Probably? Not Dan, your Twitter? Your personal Twitter account?
Well, just like yeah, it might seek.
Tweet at you. Yeah, but I didn't like kind of.
Like that too.
On top of it, you know, when I saw this news, because it had come out from our guys that Dobbs wasn't going to start for the Cardinals this week, that it was going to be either Clayton Tune, who is expected to start according to rap she or Kyler Murray if if he's ready to go, And I quickly just tweeted out, I did see this, by the way, QB one Dobbs, QB one question mark, And we just had this big conversation of you know, there can only be one insider at every organization you're at, So I just
want to know if you're feeling the.
Heat, Oh, Greg Rosenthal, Greg Gregg in the morning, can I just ask a question on Dan's behalf?
Does an insider put out information with a question mark at the end?
Hey, you just sometimes you can't like burn your source.
There's so many things wrong about what just happened.
I think they're right. I think they're right, and I think they're beautiful.
No, you're to say I wouldn't. I don't even say get off my corner because you're not even in my town. But keep keep working at it. You got a triple source for starters.
Mark's right.
You never ever use a question mark and you're reporting, you don't make it something that's up for interpretation. Give the people the info they need, Like when I when I had that expose on the on the breakdown of the relationship between Ian Rappaport and Tom Pellisero on the Insiders internal war going on, that was that came from digging and then getting like real answers from a third party that's boots on the ground.
I mean, that's that's what it's.
I mean, you gotta admit, GREGI in the Morning has just a certain ring to it.
Yeah, I mean maybe Greggy on overnights, maybe we'll be open to that.
I don't like this development, Reggie on the Graveyard shift, Mark, how about your theme?
Oh, I'll be preparing one for our next show. I'm sure.
I mean you can imagine the hours and hours of production that went into the.
Well that I always yeah that I respect rank the fact that you worked on that behind the scenes.
That you definitely have my respect for that.
And also you're again wearing the Jerry from Succession T shirt that.
Also you you little slim puppy.
That also checks boxes for me. Let's take a break and then finish the news and TNF preview. All right, some more trades. Yes, the trade deadline about twenty five minutes ago came and went.
And while we don't have.
You know, a quarterback or you know, a high profile wide receiver, port Devonte Adams is still stuck in the desert, there are players on the move, like cornerback Rozuell Douglas who is traded from the fading Packers to the Bills. So a third round pick goes to Green Bay and a fifth round pick pick goes back to the Packers, and that adds some depth for the Bills who could use that as well.
It's really been notable the last few weeks when Kyrie Elam, their first round pick from a year ago, is a healthy scratch, Like they can't even get him on the field. He was their first round pick and he lost to Davious White for the season. And you have this kid Benford who was taken i think in the sixth round of that same draft, who's actually played pretty well, but
that's it. Like they gave Toron Johnson, who's their slot corner, a lot of money and he's to my you know, amateur sizes is been getting cooked every week and then the other side they really don't have anyone. So Ruzull Douglas was one of those Packers that was getting increasingly frustrated in press conference settings of just like what a mess this is, and maybe that the offense was a little bit of a mess, and they're like, Okay, let's get this guy out of here.
A culture fit, I guess yeah, I mean he no, but you're right because he was like openly speaking about not being a culture fit, I think, and so he gets his wish. But I feel like every time we'd watch like primetime Packers games last couple of years, like Roswell Douglas is making a huge play. He's got ten picks over the last couple of seasons, two pick six's to the clinch games. He kind of is a really
interesting fit for the Bills. They needed him. There is though, an interesting video out there that I just saw seconds before we did the show where Josh Allen, you know they're playing the Packers, gets into it with Rozuwell Douglas and basically says you suck, And so there's gonna you know, he's gotta have to go fit that culture now they've got to work on that.
You'll have been deemed a culture misfit. Here's an interesting trade. The Browns. They say goodbye to Donovan People's Jones, who had, by the way, this surprised me, nearly nine hundred yards receiving last year for Cleveland, but in the Deshaun Watson era now had not really found role or much production. But he goes to the Lions and the line sent
back a sixth round pick. So on the surface, it's like, you know, Donovan People's Jones, you know he's a guy, and you get that back a Day three pick, and like that's whatever. But we just happened to watch the Lions and we just heard some boo birds out for Jamison Williams and the former first round pick Mark has
not clicked. He's had a suspension for gambling, he's had that knee, he had the knee injury, and you just wonder if this kind of says something about Detroit's patience with a player they invested so much in just last spring.
I think it's a combination of that development. Marvin Jones, who was one of their bigger wideouts, walked away from football for for a period of time he's not. They don't have him on the roster. So Donovan People's Jones, he's sort of been such a hot and cold producer. Like you said, he had almost nine hundred yards a
year ago. This year, like, I think he seems to like it's funny because Ben Johnson, the Lions o C called him like a high quality player and like a good teammate, and so he must have some relationship with him. But on the the Browns coaching staff seem to like go real hot and cold with him. He had ninety seven yards on eight catches this season when they could use a wide out help. In general, that's off of
two hundred and five routes. So I think there's part of like not working with Deshaun Watson, not working with the other quarterback chaos they have there. So it's a better landing spot.
You know.
He's I think he's a guy. He's just sort of like your third, your third or fourth guy.
Right, But James and Willison Williams, I guess I want to see it'll be he'll be an interesting guy. Track his snaps as People's Jones gets ramped up with that team. Uh, finally, finally, little AFC South guard talk. Ezra Cleveland, the guard comes over from the Vikings in exchange for a day pick, and I man, I wish we could go out on
something a little stronger than that. But listen, having you know players that you can add as depth pieces or potential starters on your internal line surrounding the pivot that matters in pro football.
He's one of those guys that, like they were always threatening to you know, maybe bench or people who watched the games didn't love him, but then PFF would have him super high, Like he's always ranked in the top twenty of PFF. So the Jaguars, big, big PFF fans, they had just signed Dalton Riser so they could get rid of him. I was almost surprised that Jets didn't make a move like this, maybe because Cleveland's, if nothing else,
he's played a lot and he's he's young. There was also a report, by the way, the Jaguars and the Patriots were talking, I think this was from Albert Breer. We're talking Josh Uce but they disagreed over either fourth or fifth round pick compensation, and so it just didn't happen. So yeah, that point, just give them the give them the fourth or give him away.
What I'm doing here, I don't know, just what's your that close? Just do it? What does it matter?
They were like they were targeted as like a pretty solid bet to go get, you know, defense help on the defensive front. So I'm with you, like, what is the difference between those two picks. This helps their offensive line. They've had some injuries and they've been banged up a little bit. But you know, Cleveland plays guard, he plays tackle. He's been a better run blocker than pass blocker, except
this has been his best year pass blocking. So and that's of course according to pff I. I'm not saying that that's me breaking down his run and pass blocking snaps, but helps them out.
The Jets lost their starter and backup center to the ir in consecutive quarters this week, and I don't you know, in general, like even though it's been a positive season, the jury for me is out on Robert Sala and what certain elements of the way he approaches things and his game management and even the way some of the things he says to the media, like they asked him about as you would think, like, hey, you guys gonna try to make a trade to get some help on
the interior line, and he just like dismissed it out of hand, like, hey, if there were any good players out there, we would we would try to get him. But there's no you know, there's no teams that are going to be trading you know, good offensive lineman. This time of year, it's like Rob, we don't always have to talk so much, Like let's let's let trader Joe
see if he could find like an Ezra Cleveland. Now maybe they didn't like Ezra Cleveland internally, but like sometimes I just wish Rob would like kind of pipe down a little bit, separate the conversation.
Part of being a New York coach.
Although I like that, I don't think he tries too hard to like be something he's not.
Sometimes he tries hard, you know.
It's like when he's he say like if they hate and you're not popping, I mean.
That you know that that's trying hard. But that's just who he is.
I think, so at least at least I think you get in trouble, especially in New York, but anywhere where you're trying to be like like trying to be a tough guy when you're not a tough guy. I think he is is who he is. I respect that at.
Least I liked I liked him.
You know, he puffed out his chest after the Eagles game and said, We've faced all these great quarterbacks and we embarrassed them all. And it's like, well, Dak Prescott carved you up in Week two. I guess we're just not counting certain quarters, just like sometimes I think he gets a little carried away.
Yes, but Dan Way, it'll note like this Jets magic carpet ride that I keep trying to sell you on one of the great like when they, you know, create that three or four hour, eight part documentary about this Jets team, one of the features will be that that they got to the playoffs with like an eighth string center. So that's just something that you know, embrace that.
And well, I guess part of me sour because I think Sala is part of it. Like the Jets should have absolutely traded for a quarterback weeks ago, but even today, and they are just going to continue to talk themselves into Zach Wilson and and that I believe will be their undoing this season.
But that's just the way it goes.
Cards breaking Jets news, but I do think it's it's worthy of mentioning and discussion. Two minutes ago, general manager Joe Douglas said at the podium talking about Aaron Rodgers potentially coming back this season, quote, We're expecting Aaron to be back.
WHOA, it's pretty bold.
Hello.
Now, Now when he says that, they I hope there's a follow up, like is that regular season or postseason because that's the first time a Jets official everything had been coming out of the Rogers camp to this point, and by the way, Aaron Rodgers runs the Jets, so everything kind of filters through him anyway.
But I'm just curious if they clarified that.
I mean, the timeline if you think of when cam Acres returned, which was very quick and he was not the same kam Acres, but he did come back.
I gotta check. I think it was maybe under five months. Suggs trell Suggs was about.
Five months and an Acres, you know, played in that Super Bowl run and he you know, played really poorly, but he did play. Even that would put them like at the playoffs if it was like four and a half months.
He tore it.
I'll never forget it. It was September eleventh, that evening. So we're talking, it's the end of January.
We're coming up. We're not even two months.
Okay, So they did follow up and he just said he has no predictions, but you just did have a prediction.
You said you expect him to be back. I guess that's an expectation.
Maybe the general manager also needs to speak a little less. Why are we don't say.
That he doesn't speak at all?
Actually, like this is his one press conference he does now rap Sheet Douglas clarified that he meant quote with the team.
He's leaving the rest up to the doctors.
Okay, enough enough dogs, all right, let's uh that's a.
Tough switch for Greg's media insider. Uh, run right there.
I mean, I'm just reading off the most trusted insiders in the game.
You know you want to take that's how you do your reporting.
Yes, a rap sheet and Zach roseen Blat go after it.
I trust, I trust Zach and the.
And I think Mark it was important that you pointed that out. All right, let's talk Thursday.
Night, Greg Rosenthal, Greg Greggy in the morning.
The gong at the end.
The gong well the Dolphin also is just elite all right, Thursday night football and that's it.
That's the trade deadline.
Yeah, we got something. I was I wouldn't be a dud. We got we got stuff.
B minus.
How about the title for this podcast this B minus colon the twenty twenty three NFL trade deadline.
It's very fair.
They gave us Leonard Williams for that show yesterday too, Like I'm I'm happy with them. I'm happy with the football guys. I'm taking it B B.
No, that's too much.
That's an it's an eighty one out of one hundred. I mean, they broke that saved it from being you know, a gentleman z F maybe like we hated that.
They also kept Jalen Johnson, by the way, that was a very short lived story, but one of the top ring quarterbacks in the league according to PFF, having a nice contract year. They let them seek a trade Jalen Johnson on Chicago, but they never found a deal out there and it did not happen.
This league go seek your own trade thing. It seems like it takes a really long time, and it seems like they're not very good at it.
Typically it seems like a bit of a trick. That's like, we're not gonna trade you, go find your own trade and then yeah we're doing that.
Yeah, wait sixteen hours before go find that long term contract, like sending.
Your dog into the backyard so you could go chase his own tail for a while.
All right, missions accomplished.
Let's head two. We'll get to Mike in a little bit. Week nine. Here we go.
This is it.
This is the true midpoint of the season. Four teams on by Broncos, Lions, Niners, Jaguars. It all starts Thursday night in Pittsburgh where the four and three Steelers.
They know it.
They know if Mark Sesler's twelve win prediction is to come true. They are running out of El's and they're coming off a tough home loss to the Jags, and now they get the Titans, a team that's winless on the road this year.
Mark.
However, Will Levis and I was tweeting a bit with our bud, the Grave Digger, Justin Graver, who was in Texas for the World Series with Fox right now, and I said, man, there's now real juice to your season, which I'm sure is great for his podcast and everything. He's gonna play again. Will Levis after throwing four touchdown passes. Ryan Tannehill is working his way back from that ankle, So you get Levis with a big tough assignment here
on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers. That's that's pretty nice.
Yeah, I think we're gaining, you know, evidence on who Will Levis is. Like the opening chapter of that was jaw dropping. I went and watched that game again today and it's like, you know, I don't think it's crazy to think that the Titans went from being you know, surefire sellers to like, hang on here. Everything suddenly changed in this game and it's gonna be that Falcons defense
is not a joke. And what I loved while watching Will Levis and what I loved about the Titans coaching staff was like, let's just go let him unfurl some of the most insane passes we've seen this season. He played with total confidence. He's up at the line, you know, making adjustments and checks and it's like, you, I know, DeAndre Hopkins had some other good games this season two, but this offense was an eyesore and possible to watch.
And suddenly he completely helps DeAndre Hopkins morph into what we always thought he could be, and like the connection right there. I mean there's a couple of throws where it's like the first touchdown where DeAndre Hopkins sort of dozey dozed with AJ Terrell. That was a little strange, But then you know, tears away and it's just like it's DeAndre Hopkins just ripped the ball to him and
have trust that it's going to work out. This stuff was not happening with Tannehill, and I really like Tannehill over all as a career person, but like you could feel the energy change and everything changed, and it's like the way I saw this game, you know, ten days ago was like potential snooze fest, especially when you factor
in the Steelers offense. But now it's like, yes, I'm gonna be watching this, Yes I know exactly who interests me the most, and this team has changed before our eyes in the last you know, eighty ninety hours.
And yes, Derrick Henry also remains a member of the Tennessee Titans, with the trade deadline having passed.
Good point in Nuke and I loved in the just in the first quarter of that game, like he was getting to his second reads. Even on a play where they didn't pick up the first down and they ended up punting it just like looked like.
A pro play.
There was a beautiful throat to trail at Burkes that the defender broke up at the last second. Burks, Yeah, struggles to get you know, it seems to struggle in general, I would say, but that was a play where DeAndre Hopkins was the primary receiver and you could see Levis look at him and Hopkins fell. And then Levis has this year where it's like, oh, okay, my primary receivers out, why do I go throw the ball fifty five yards down the field out a dime? And so I don't
know how this can last. Like we'll see. It is just one game and we've been fooled before. But man, it was an intriguing first step. And it's a tough matchup in terms of the Steelers pass rush, we know that, but the Titans offensive line has been closer to average this year. It hasn't been the tire fire you saw. We'll Levis get protected pretty well actually on Sunday, and it's not a tough matchup throwing on these Steelers cornerbacks
Pat Peterson getting cooked. Week after week he's benched. Sometimes he's not, other times Chandon Sullivan's there. They're out there and he's getting cooked quite a bit. Like they give up a lot of yards through the air. So it could be another fun Levis game.
No Minka Fitzpatrick. That's huge, huge factor right there was.
There was a point in the game, the Titans game, where it was either James Lofton or maybe j Feely piping in, piping in pypes.
About Levis and he's doing this against a top ten defense.
It's like, all right, first of all, let's seriously calm down about the Falcons, like talking them up, like, yeah, you know there's some type.
Of elite defense.
But even if there even if there is reasons to say, oh, there are things to exploit here putting him on the road in Pittsburgh in a primetime game. And that's one of the reasons TJ. Watt is in that conversation of the greatest defensive players in football is like that guy he will make an impact play in that game. I mean maybe two, maybe three. He raises his game, and like if Levis goes in there and shreds the Steelers, like we have a.
Major development in the NFL to talk.
About on Thursday night, or I should say you have to talk about Gregi with your guests to be named later.
Yeah, I'm excited about and this. It's a good Steelers defense. I think they're ninth in DVA. That feels about right. Better against the pass, they're average against the run. So like to see Henry and Tajy Spears and the Steelers offense after one promising week against the Rams kind of went back to what they do. I actually that Picket played well before he got hurt, even though he didn't quite have the production. There were a few big time drops.
He didn't make any bad decisions, some bad protection. But that's endemic of this offense that they're not playing well. And it does sound like we have Kenny Pickett, he spoke on Tuesday.
Let's hear from him.
It's frustrating.
It's part of the game though, you know, I've been doing it for a little bit. It is what it is. You just got to be available and get ready to go on Thursday night.
Kenny, is you playing Thursday? Conduce it to how you feel, or are their clearances you need from doctors or is it a bit of both, No, I'm playing for.
Sure and what he you know, I think what he's answering initially there is he's been you know, banged up this year. It feels like every couple of shows we're talking about a Picket injury and wondering how serious it might be. So he's expressing frustration there, but he wants to be on the field, and quite frankly, I get it he hasn't played well enough to kind of secure
himself as the QB one. He doesn't want Trubisky to go in there again in an Island game and have some success and then all of a sudden, Mike Tomlin's answering hard questions and having to make decisions. So Picket's like, no, keep me in the lineup when we get this thing figured out.
Yeah.
I think also like there's if I like this about Kenny Pickett is like you could question, like is this going to be a pattern la durability because there's been a number of different things. But he kind of fights to get back in there, and I think that resonates with a Steelers team that needs something some consistency on offense, like I want to see faster starts especially like in an Island game at home on a Thursday night. I
don't love the matchup against Tennessee's defense. But last week against Jacksonville a good defense, Like first four drives went for nine yards, then they stall at the Jacksonville five, you know, squeeze out a field goal, and then they close the half by missing a field goal. It's like they're not well coached. We know that, not sexy. You kind have Deontae Johnson, like not helping your young quarterback
out with a bunch of drops and other nonsense. So it's like, when do we get a complete game from this team, like once every four.
Weeks, right, and let's stop banging our heads against the wall trying to run naj Ris or Jalen Warren for that matter. Titan second against the run according to dva UH and twenty fifth against the past. So it sets up as like a day you need some picket. Yeah, and you're right, you don't want Tribisky come in there. That's the MVP, the Nickelodeon most whatever you.
Call it, I don't know. And what ev all right.
You don't remember the MVP mark.
It was a magical moment when the does he get slimmed or something. The fans around America could vote. I believe it was even a playoff game, and I believe they lost it. But the fans at home voted Trubisky MVP kind of as a joke, and you know, he won.
They just had to give him the award, you know, the fan.
I mean, whenever the entire you know, nation can band together for iranicle humor, that's unusual. So I can see value in that.
Thank you for bringing it up because it brings back one of my favorite media stories in the history of the world and civilization is that People magazine had their have their annual fifty most Beautiful People. Addition, I don't know if that still exists and might who knows.
It feels like something.
Could have been white, We're all beautiful the various reasons.
Yeah, but like they that was a big deal.
And then the person or as a sexiest people whatever it was. It was like, and then somebody would get the covers like the Sexiest Man Alive JFK Junior or whatever. So this particular year was about nineteen ninety five, they sent a photographer to the Kansas City Chiefs Training camp because it had been deemed that rich Gannon would be one of the most beautiful people for nineteen ninety five, and rich Gannon is a very attractive man.
I believe it was. Let me just make sure I have this right.
I got it.
I gotta admit I never thought about it before. I mean, I guess a younger rich Gannon. I can't like argue with it, but it's a little surprising. It's a little surprising he was the MVP I suppose of the NFL. That's that's pretty good.
Okay, So yes, it was rich Gannon.
This is a story that was relayed by Jeff Pearlman, who was like connected in this world at some point. Anyway, it was the sexiest athlete of nineteen ninety eight. So they send the photographer to take a photo of rich Gannon a camp, but the photographer, through some type of mix up, asks like okay, I just got to get a quarterback photo or whatever, and instead they shoot Elvis Kerbach, who is a very nice man, it seems, but you
could look it up. Elvis Kirback is kind of an every man, doesn't stand out as an overly handsome gentleman.
And when they realized their era error, they they didn't go back. They said, we.
Can't now, like tell Elvis we shot the wrong guy. So they just rolled with Elvis Kurbak as this the sexiest athlete of nineteen ninety eight.
And the photo of him is like him in the locker with.
His leg up and a pair of like nineties blue jeans and like a big hairy barefoot and that is that is what I thought.
Of when you that's incredible, that's a great that's a great story to end. I was gonna say end our week because it feels like this out of week's worth the shows. But now we'll just say goodbye for what forty eight hours here and we'll be back, but they're preview.
We will and it is Halloween, and everybody, all the parents listening, you know, have a have a great time with the kids. I will be on the road with the children. And as a way of signing off for this very spooky edition of the NFL Trade Deadline around the NFL episode, Mike McDaniel has been a pop pular costume this year for that matching gray sweatsuit that he wears and a very distinct look with the hard part
of his hair and the glasses and the headset. It's perfect, I would imagine, especially in the Miami Dade County era. So you're seeing that costume out there, including something went viral of a little child as Mike McDaniel perfect with the run after the halftime interview. If we have that, let it rip Eric behind the virtual glass with his team as well.
Watch you look at this bad you even had the watch. I don't know if you notice that, like the job, I don't think.
Okay, that's a fair point.
They could be a rich kid, could be a rich kid.
Daniel is not even sneaky fast.
He just is fast. He's fast, He's quick.
McDaniel, Oh all right, because in that run, yeah, he seemed that clar I mean, the kid is too.
But like McDaniel has like.
Well some real he was a college wide receiver.
Yeah I know, but that wasn't yesterday. Like he's still he's maintained his speed. I don't feel like I am quite as fast as I was in college.
You know, he probably doesn't maintain the speed, but he probably moves much better than a typical thirty six year old or whatever.
Here's nothing special.
Then well, here's McDaniel on being a popular costume this Halloween.
I've seen a post on social media kid dressing up as Mike McDaniel.
That does not compute, That doesn't make sense the video if you want to see.
It, did your run football?
When kid did the run and the fan last night?
Wasn't that faster than the kid?
Is?
Curious?
What goes into Mike McDaniel.
I have no idea this is this is I refuse to accept that as reality.
But I guess the knapsack would be es Central or what do you the glasses?
The probably the essential would be the broad chest.
Right, Oh my god, Oh that's you're doing. You're doing Mike McDaniel, Oh.
My god, that is exactly mark how Greg would answer that question.
The broad chest, Yes, absolutely, that the invisible.
I do not accept that as an answer.
We have to Eric behind the glass.
We need to get Mike McDaniel on our show this offseason, any means necessary.
Owners meetings. Let's go back, remember.
All right, that's it.
We'll be back on Thursday with the preview edition of Week nine and the draft and the Germany game, the first ever game from Frankfurt, Germany.
How about that? And it's a.
Dandy shout out to Jeremy Bergan by the way, feel better yes, thinking of you bro.
Get well soon, see you back in the office. Hopefully heed the call.