What Wess Has Missed

um bifocals. Yes, Beard's gone. Beard's gone. Glasses are on um No need to wear contact lenses in a pandemic, really, so why not go with the glasses more comfortable? Well, tell us West, how are you feeling? Where are we at? Well, it's great to have you back, and that's obviously a good sign of feels like, tell the audience and and your friends here, what's going on? Well, it's hard to answer. That question is one that I have to answer quite often because people care and they want to know how

how I feel, what what you know? What my status is? And the answer is it's it's hour to hour, it's not even day to day. So last week I didn't have treatment. It was built into my schedule where I wouldn't have chemo that week. And yesterday he went over to the neighbors, hung out there for a few hours, ended up pulling out the big green egg, making some dinner, took out the garbage. I probably did a little too

much because I was feeling good. And when I'm feeling good, I think, oh, you know, the doctor told me cancer will probably you know, the EMO will get rid of it, and I'll be feeling relief. Um, you know. And meanwhile, Keisha's Keisha's warning me a few times, you're doing too much. You're doing too much. So I wake up today and my back is killing me. Um, So you know, pop pop those pills that I have to take and try to grin embarrel. But but yeah, it's just one of

those things. But from hour to hour, I never know how I'm gonna feel pain wise. M And you are starting treatment again this week West right tomorrow. It's every Tuesday except for last week. And you're battling fights on a few fronts too. Because you mentioned in your your neighbor was over and we got to see you briefly.

Dan and I did UM on Saturday. It was my kids kids were over at Hanks Us and we learned you're fighting battles on multiple fronts, that you have neighbors now kind of making eyes at you at your wife Lakeisha, and that's that's a concern too, and you've got to be spending them up. That feels like more of a narrative than an actual concern. It was speculation. I mean, there are some breadcrumbs to follow that this what seemed like kind of a you know, fortunate bit of happenstance

that you ended up neighbors with a famous author. Well maybe the intentions of said author aren't totally noble. That that is one conspiracy theory, and um, well we'll see what happens over the next few months. I haven't like from from being around said author. I have not picked up it on any vibes in that order, But you never know. People hear stories and then just you know,

jump to their own conclusions. And sometimes those conclusions can they can be onto something or this could be packed into his next um best selling novel, because he's the best selling novelist, not just sort of one of these guys that floats to l A and says he's a novelist. But uh, I mean, who's actually drumming up proof of this? If if you don't, if you're not suspicious, well that's true, I should get on the case. Maybe higher I'd stay vigilant. Yeah,

I would. I would Dan. Dan really him up with this theory. But it it took some it gained some Tractionsha gave it some credence as well yesterday via text message that maybe West has to keep an extra close eye on what's the homestead, Like West has a lot on his plate right now. It feels a good h and that's why it's the perfect time to strike if you have illicit intentions. Wait, now the text message makes sense, Like Dan, I think you were right. And the photo

I was like, I don't get it. Did Dan really like chocolate covered strawberries or something? But now now you know, I'm putting two and two together. You know, Keisha's at home alone with a two month old and a husband with cancer. It's been a long time since she's been able to interact, uh with other human beings and find humor and something. So it was a very refreshing day to have Dan's conspiracy theories, you know, just at least getting her to laugh for a while and then getting

the whole back you are to laugh. So that was good. There was like seven moments on Saturday at Hank's house where Luikisha was like, Dan, I can't even with you exactly. She had a blast. That was that was her most fun in a long time. Yeah, she's the best, and uh, you're the best. West. We're so happy to have you back here. It's not the same without you. We we do our best as a three legged dog, but it's

not the same. So anytime we can get you here, and you know, it's obviously a matter of when the West body allows it to be, but we're just gonna take every West episode during this time with your treatment as kind of a blessing. And to that point Chris a little later in the show, you know, we're in touch with you obviously during all this, but we don't We're not talking football a lot, so I don't really know if you've been tracking the NFL at all um or as closely as you would have when you were

not going through treatment. So thought we would uh cook up a little segment call what West has missed and just kind of fill you in on the various you know, happenings in the NFL over the past I don't know, a month and a half, two months. Yeah, I've I've not been plugged in my little spreadsheets that I keep on all the rosters they've they've lain fallow for a couple of months. Who knows what's going on there. I've peeked into Twitter every once in a while and it

has made me run away every time. That's just been a nightmare. So I'm gonna need this help to figure out what's going on in the NFL. Is there anything specific on Twitter that revolted you that you can share with us? I have many specifics, but it might take a full episode. Let's save that for the Twitter as a nightmare episode. Looking forward to it, all right, got the whole gang back together, Ricky as well, Erica, Sweet

sweet Erica, Let's do some news. Been boyd in the two fast like you speaking of the great Lakisha Westling with baby link. How about that was trying to get you cry? Get trying to get you to cry in your turn to the show. That was that was very cool video. And I don't know if you guys noticed who the artist was she was singing there, snow Allegra. Look at the amos Lee mentioned on the podcast. I mean Lincoln was like I feel like Lincoln a lot of the comments. He was, you know, supposed to be

the star and it was beautiful harmonizing. But how about Keisha's voice there, I think that was kind of the under Nay, I don't think that. I don't think she wants people to know this, but I'm gonna tell tell you anyway, she's tried out for American I don't a couple of times, and I've heard her sing around the house.

There is legitimate talent there, definite. I do need a little bit And I think I responded to the tweet maybe just a little bit of West playing like a saxophone in the back, not not like right, not right off camera, maybe just in a room away to be part of the production because you're you know, you're part of the crew there. Well, yeah, I don't. I have no pitch and no rhythms, not a singing mess it up, but we've heard the singing. That is such a good

idea mark because yeah, it's a lost cause. Famously, West's Catholic school teacher pushed his head onto the piano ear uh, to the wood to try to understand pitch, and I don't think it took probably had the opposite effect. So but if we put you in a pair of sunglasses and maybe a zoot suit and a big sacks and he wail into a solo, I feel like you could pull that off to little Duke Silver action from Parks and Recreation exactly. You gotta Duke Silver vibe to you.

All right, let's get to the news. We'll start with disturbing news revolving the Washington football team. Oh that's a thing now, West. I don't know if you we're around for that. Uh. The R word is no more. Oh yeah, our league. Yeah, I have some opinions on that. I'll keep them to myself, but I've made the adjustment. Okay, no our word in our league. In our league, no

our word, got it right, exactly. H Ron Rivera explained the situation going on with his team and Darius Guys, the third year running back who was released by the team on Friday. The same day, he was arrested on three counts at the domestic of violence stemming from a trio of incidents in February, March in April, very disturbing stuff when you uh dig into the details a little bit. And Rivera, in a Zoom meeting, his first public comments about the situation, had this to say about Guys's release.

Anytime you have to release a very talented young football player, it's always a tough decision. We take those those allegations very very seriously, and you know, we had to make the decision going forward. On my talk to the players yesterday, basically told him that that I had made a decision that I believe wasn't the best interesse of our organization, and if it was the right decision, we will benefit from it, and if it's not, it will be on me.

I will take full responsibilities as we go forward to try and make sure we do things the right way, and we'll go from there. Greg. This is another example of something you're seeing again and again this offseason that Ron Rivera wasn't just brought in to be the head coach. He is the face. They even say it on their Twitter bio, the Washington Twitter bio New Rivera. Uh, and he's kind of tasked fairly or unfairly with cleaning up everything in addition to helping to build a quality football team.

And it's been a while since you could say that about Washington. And here was a you know, an important move and an unfortunate move that Washington had to make. Yeah. I mean they literally had him, you know, involved with with the nickname change. It's like he's brainstorming ideas. That's what going with Washington football team, at least for for this year. This was a move all thirty two teams

would have made. The incidents were three separate times. They're extremely disturbing if you want to read the details, but all you need to know is he was um charged with felonies strangulation, three counts of assault and battery and um. The the incidents um, which are tough to read about, happened over the course of this offseason, but authorities weren't made aware of them until July twenty, so that explains

the timing a little bit. I was unclear, you know, why why did it take so long for them to release him? But but all the allegations and everything in the team only found out somewhat recently. He's a guy who when he ran the ball last year, looked fantastic, but it's only been healthy enough um to carry the ball under seventy five times in two years because of injuries anyway, And so these charges are so serious. It wouldn't surprise me if Darius Guys never plays in the

NFL again. Um. Who knows about jail time or anything. But it just allows your boy, Chris Uh Adrian Peterson to have a big role. Again. We ran pretty well last year and and you know, it seemed like a very easy decision for me for Washington to get rid of Guys. And that's probably the last we're gonna hear about him in a long long time. And Washington they

got enough running backs there anyways. Well, yeah, because Washington drafted Darius Guys instead of a different running back, it's allowed Adrian Peterson to keep climbing the charts if they had. I mean, a lot of that is bad luck on injuries, but Darius Guys is allowing Adrian Peterson's numbers to go up.

And you look at this team last year and I think of all the teams in the league, you say, who's the offensive nucleus the young people to build around, And to me, it was Terry McLaren and Darius guys and maybe a couple of the offensive lineman and that's what you had, and now you throw out guys and McLaren is still I still think the world of him

as a wide receiver. But this team is still hurting for for offensive talent, right and they lost Kelvin Harmon, who was a rookie starter at receiver was going to be a starter this year. They do have Bryce Love they drafted last year. They drafted Antonio Gibson this year, so they have some young running backs, but it's a

pretty rough group around Haskins. I mean, I think one of the things that we're missing right now is going forward when you move past the geist part is that, yeah, you have Adrian Peterson, but the Gibson Love um camp battle is interesting. I I I know you think I'm over here just reading like a nias and in novels, but I actually spent um some time looking at both players because I think they're gonna both be relevant this season. Adrian Peterson, I'm not going to be the guy to say,

you know, he's not gonna be the starter. But Gibson, if you go watch his tape at Memphis, is a totally bizarre um wide receiver, running back, returner, weapon who does it all? Scored a ton of touchdowns off and not a lot of carries. And Bryce Love who you know? He Tori's a c L before getting drafted. Uh had a two thousand yards season. It's Stamford and looks to

be the real deal. So I I kind of think that it creates an opportunity for two guys they did draft when Ron Rivera probably never would have drafted Darius guys he had college, he had issues in college, character concerns. I don't think he would have been a Ron Rivera pick West. There's a development for you. Another tape dog has got a bone. It's Mark Ler. I don't I'm not. I'm not claiming that dog. You know, we couldn't save this for the for the latter segment. But while we

have Mark's tape dog eyes on this now. Didn't the Red say it they were gonna play Gibson at just one position and not both? Or did I missread that somewhere along? I think that's got to be TBD because he I think he's a better runner than he is a wide receiver. That's they're playing him at running back.

I think they're gonna use him here and there, and you know in some you know ways that maybe running backs wouldn't be used, but it sounds like, yeah, they're plenty on him being being a running back and this and that was before this move and other football team news. Ron Rivera said, uh this week that Alex Smith, as we know, who's coming back from all those surgeries on his leg, surgeries that not just saved his leg but saved his life. Now he wants to play football again.

And it's a nice comeback story. It's a beautiful comeback story, and it shows the courage of Smith. But this could be more than just a human interest angle, at least if you listen to Ron Rivera. He reiterated on Monday that he believes that Smith could buy for reps and potentially the starting job if he if his body allows it. Rivera said, this could be a very interesting challenge for us because of Alex Smith and West. Of course, Dwayne Haskins is in that building. They got Kyle Allen as

well from Carolina. But it kind of makes sense and and you and it's an exciting thought, and you would feel so good for Smith if he's actually on the field and moving well. But Alex Smith, even out of the league for a while now, could be a real alternative to a veteran coach like Ron Rivera, especially if Haskins gets out of the gate slope. It's the right thing to do for Ron Rivera to approach it this way.

If there's any chance whatsoever that Alex Smith can play not just football but at the NFL level, UM, by all means and keep encouraging him, keep allowing him to compete. Now. Before this injury, Alex Smith was having a brutal season as a starter for the Redskins, and it was quite obvious that he wasn't the athlete that he was early in his career. And you're talking about a quarterback who derived most of his value from his legs, not his arm.

You could say decision making was also involved in that. So I think this could be one of the best sports stories we've ever seen in team sports, UM if he was able to get back there. Just because the odds to me are so long, I just I just don't believe he's a he's a viable candidate to take that starting job based on how serious the injury was and what he was before the injury. I think it's interesting.

I mean, Ron Rivera is he well, I with you've got why not be anything but totally encouraging of one of the better stories we could. We talked a couple episodes ago that you just give out X Smith comeback Player of the Year right now. But the other side of it I find a little interesting is that there aren't that many people, um last year or this, that come out and just all automatically say Dwayne Haskins is

our guy. There is no questions asked here. And I just wonder if Alex Smith were you know, QB two on the New York Jets or the Browns or the Broncos, would you be hearing this about competition? I mean, there would be no question that you're young starter is in place, and I mean I'm not I think that's probably what they'd like to happen here too. Why not? But you just don't have too many people saying Haskins is the guy and there's no questions asked. Good luck to everyone else.

Now you're right, and you've heard some buzz that like, look Scott Turner, who's a new coordinator. They like Kyle Allen. You know that not that he's gonna win. It's not like he's gonna win the week one job, but they they brought him there. The Alex Smith thing. I hope if he is somehow healthy enough to get cleared, they can figure it out, because the worst outcome is that he's activated and then they feel the need to cut him. Now. I don't think they would do that because it's just

very awkward. He's the highest paid player on the team. If they cut him, they'd have twenty million dollars in dead money. Um, you hate when finances come into it, but you wonder if they could figure out a way between Alex Smith to renegotiate his contract. It's ugly to ask him to take less money if it's guaranteed whatever

whatever it is. They might have to come to some conclusion to figure that out, or you just keep him on as the second or third string who's making a ton of money and most of it's guaranteed anyway, so you might as well just keep keep him on the roster. But that that's sort of the awkward part of it. That Rivera and whoever is really running their front office,

you know who didn't give that contract to Smith. They're gonna have to figure it out and im And I'm sure just because they're all adults and they respect Alex Smith, they'll figure out a circumstances better than cutting Alex Smith. Now they're all adults. There weren't a lot of adults that I missed that the last couple of months. Well, I've given that. Kyle Smith. You were all about Kyle Smith back at the combine. They do Redskins personnel. Guy,

you know they got Rivera. I'm I'm saying they're adults. I'm gone. So much has changed in other news for voting news Over in the realm of college football, commissioners of the Power five Conferences, those are the big conferences that dominate college football, held at an emergency meeting on Sunday, and according to ESPN, sources tell ESPN there's growing concern among college athletics officials that the upcoming football season and other fall sports cannot be played because of the Corona

virus pandemic. No major decisions made as of this taping, uh, but it sounds like this is something that could come soon. And what that does for college football is it is something where the seasons can't old or pushed to the spring, which has been speculated upon. What does it mean for the NFL the customary customarily or always has their draft in the spring. That's gonna be interesting. We'll see how this all plays out, Mark Sessler. But college football is

looking grim in terms of fall play. Well, I think it just points uh a microscope on how you know. Since we've been young, college football has been a largely disorganized um group of power structures. And you got the Big Ten right now. Reports throughout that the Big the Big Ten is out, although not every team in the Big Ten feels that way. The Pack twelve might soon follow.

I mean, I think the biggest story coming out of this in the last over the weekend, because college football right now is I and I get staying off Twitter, but like the story changes every ten fifteen minutes and the news is refreshed, but that the players who are are much more united than they've ever been looking at the NFL p A and saying in a letter, h we want we want a players representation here and I

think going forward that's probably gonna be a change. I think it's scaring some of the power elites in college football right now. Um, I mean it's it's messy because you've got the SEC, the A C C in the Big Twelve. Probably on the other side, the SEC would probably would play college football through four alien landings and six nuclear bombs. So I don't I think they're gonna be your outlier. But but it is TVD for all of it, I mean, for our side of it, and

you guys. I'll leave it to you guys. But if you ever try to do the spring college football thing, which I don't think, the time timing, to me, doesn't make a lot of sense. It completely gets in the way of of the draft, and you leave a scouts and coaches and other people out there they're gonna and Daniel Jeremiah tweeted about it, there is a potential you have to run a draft off of not tape, and

I think that UM creates all sorts of issues. Obviously. Well, I think the spring idea, which like the MAC which was the first conference to cancel, you know, wants to play in the spring, and and I think the Big Ten, which it is reported is is gonna push off all will probably we'll see a lot of these announcements won't be announced as cancelations. They'll be announce as postponements you know, to this spring, and so then the NFL would have

to adjust. There is part of the c b A which says you have to conduct the draft by a certain day in June. But they could, they could, really, they could renegotiate that if they had to anyways, and

spring sports might be done by that anyways. I think that there was a pretty strong feeling a lot of from a lot of people watching this a month ago that they were gonna push as hard as they can for it to happen, but it was very unlikely to happen, just logistically, um financially, there were so many obstacles of holding college football at a time when most colleges cannot hold classes safely that they have you know, they have the information from the from experts in their own you know,

university and their own conferences saying that we we can't really conduct classes safely, and so getting the amount of testing, which is millions of dollars UH to try to do football safely was always going to be really hard. And I think the feeling is as much as the SEC and other places want to hold that hope as long as possible that you know, they all might not end up playing in the end, and the NFL will just have to adjust. It's to me, that's like, that's a

pretty small part of the equation. Like I think both things can be true. That it's basically impossible right now with the virus as strong as it is to hold college football, and that it's heartbreaking for these players you know, you know that have worked so hard. Like both of those things can be true. Of course, it's heartbreaking. Of course they want to play for the most part, whether it's safe or not. And you mentioned them rallying together.

This pack ten story of them, you know, asking for what they've asked for over the last it's one of the most fascinating in biggest sports stories I think we've seen in our lifetime because it really I think it is going to change the scope of what college athletics is like in this country moving forward in the pandemic will end up being like a big part in in

kind of kick starting that that process. It's incle I was just gonna say, it's incredible in two thousand twenty, the college sports still are what they were years ago. It's been overdue for a change for a long time. Well, it's, you know, like Nebraska coach Scott Frost to one of the you know that he he's came out. He just talked before the show and came out very strong saying we want to play and there's talk of the SEC

inviting other teams in. But he also made the point that if we don't make our profits off of college football, the school doesn't function. And that's that seems um at like an imbalance. But you know, we're not college guys. And Dan, I I hope you don't put are you the new term is are you a corona bro? Dan? Are you as one of those Well, it's it's sort of the person who is um so hooked into And

I'm not at saying that you are. I'm just asking you if you would, if you what you think of the the tag so invested with that, Well, I don't I would. I would say that I think none of us are, but I think that we would be softly put in that category with everyone else who tracks the coronavirus is such a degree and there's this interest in it impacting football and maybe we that we kind of wanted canceled and all this other stuff. Nobody wants you right,

I mean nobody. I just think that's you know, we're not Corona bros. We're just following the news that. But I have seen a lot of reactions. Are you a Corona bro? The answer is no, I am not an Okay, well, I would like to think that none of us are, of course not. I was amazed though there has been a lot of reaction to this. It just shows how important football is that look like one of our former

co workers, Albert Berre, I remember his tweet yesterday. It was just kind of like, this is this is really getting to be a sign that the country is not handling this well. And I was kind of like, this is what did it for you? But but without being like dismissive in a in a jerk, It's like, I actually think this will be what does it for a lot of people that suddenly this is the thing that they're pushing back, that they're like, wow, this is really

this is really like a problem. I mean, it's great. Do you think people are gonna wake up because of football? I don't necessarily think it's going to change people's behavior, but I think this is an action that's being taken place that they're like, oh, maybe this isn't Maybe this is more serious than than we've been making it out to be. People have no ability whatsoever to look in the mirror. Greg stop. They are not gonna say, oh, look,

maybe I'll take it seriously now there with. This is a sport without leadership, in a country without leadership, in a populace where the people have adopted a world you not based on reality. It's a huge problem. It's going

to continue to be a problem, right. My My point is that this is taking away something really important to them that frankly, maybe nothing else in this pandemic has done, like yeah, your school, your kids schools are gonna be way worse, and other certain things have changed, but nothing is going to hit people as hard as this. I think it's just it's just a sad fact. And in the case that there is no college football, the NFL

is likely to act upon that. Pro Football Talk reported yesterday that per source with knowledge of the situation, the NFL will likely move games from Sundays to Saturday if there's no college football. It's unclear whether the games would be broadcast or streamed, or some type of pay per view set up, but the league likely will look to

take advantage of that open Saturday window. And then I saw a report from ESPN is Adam schefter Um who pointed out even Friday night potentially on the table and the idea that the NHL will be over in October based Tuesday ball would be over in October. Uh, the NBA season will be over, So the NFL would have the entire sporting landscape to itself for the most part, and they might and probably will, Mark make the most of it. Is Daddy ever coming home? Well, Daddy will

be home. The question is where Daddy will be attending to all this uh flurry of football action in one's home? Um, I mean I think four daddy's here are probably wondering that you know, Greg, Greg, Greg, you for years, for years this was mine was a dystopian America, which I'm finding out the fantasy was not as rich as one

thought in his mind. You're gonna get in, Greg. We're in Greg's world now, wonderful home with his family at all times, and there's books everywhere, and there's football on it all times, and he's able to handle it all without even a grimace, just a peaceful smile in the sunlight. Nothing I would have want less than football every day right now that theory was made, but before my kids were growing much less and my kids um home for school, Like, I don't know, the the whole school thing is all

I think about, Like I don't know that. It's amazing how that has so so little of the focus that no one is like planning at all for these kids, just like missing an entire the year of school. It's like, Dan,

I'll ask you a second question. I mean, if do you think that at some point league officials high up said, you know, this is our this is our sort of franchise podcast here they did very well, um broadcasting five days a week, and they flex their muscles and said, may maybe we could even throw in a broadcast on Saturday or Sunday if stuff happened, And they said they're

they're flexible. These guys can do this. Let's spread these games over six seven days a week and take zero into account what anyone covering the sport is doing in the private life. I'm not sure what the question is. I don't know what the question is either, but I feel like our league feels that we could handle it, and on our rodd shoulders much can be put upon them a fine powder. That's what's happening in the news, all right. As we said, Chris Westling has been out

of pocket on the podcast. When was the last podcast you did with US west before your hiatus? It was while you had paternity to leave and then that bled into something more unfortunate. But when was that? What was your last show? Wow? I think that would have been late May born. So we got your back, buddy, We got your back and always including what you may have

missed during your time away. So we're just gonna kinda greg myself, Mark, gonna throw some things out there, just get you caught up to date, and feel free to chime in because I know you're you know, take machine. You've got a lot of thoughts and a lot of opinions that you have not been able to kind of change my Twitter bio take machine. So if you have any takes on any of these news items as we kind of spin through them or whatever they are, please

do Mark what you want to get us going? Actually, yeah, you know, we plan these over the phone sometimes and I'm not sure I got the full gist of what the segment was about, but I do think that there's something that West, because I'm imagining West is not watching every or listening to every episode. Um a personal development. I think at this point you'd be thinking that I'd be frothing over the Brown's latest one year higher at head coach, But um, I'm not. It's passed me by.

I don't really care that much. We'll see how they do. But all in on we well, I'm all in on the chance that we had to chat with Matt Rule, who is one of my pet projects at head coach, and I think, um, you know he'll be feeling he'll be fielding such mark. That's such a unique sesslers. Um, I don't think anyone else on the podcast is the way that you are with certain individuals that you really

do kind of tie your fortune to them. When Kyle Shanahan, Now, I was gonna mention that Kyle Shanahan has now been He's king of all oceans. Kyle Shanahan, I don't see what's stopping him from becoming the greatest coach in the league. So those two guys, that was a good one. That was a good one. That was and he's been He's encountered some choppy waters since then. But you also missed West as none of us believing anything Mark says about being somehow disconnected in some way to the Browns. But

that's not really a new development. That's like the last in action. How many times have I stood up here telling you how excited I am about it? Hit a bastion these other two guys. Matt rule is fresh in the NFL, and Kyle Shanahan has just been proving it since we began our show that he's the best mind in in in in in the NFL. And when it comes to offense country minds. We had Baldy come on and he totally agreed. Know, I'm you know, I got

someone telling me you're right about that. Wait, Baldy greeted you that Kyle Shanahan is a great offensive mind. Yeah, it was the first question I asked him. Know that, I said, the number one, the number one in the NFL, not just a great one, like the pre eminent mind. So you have taken Matt role under your wing and your pet project, and you're very excited about this. Well, and I was gonna say that. We had a chance to speak to Hi in person, and it was almost

like a little Debbie moment. For me where I I squeezed a question out in between Greg telling that rule that Dan and I hated his new quarterback, which threw a wrench into the rapport of the whole thing. But I attempted to recover se I don't even remember that. I do, I was not really here for the some of the last few months. All of this checks out. I believe exactly how it went down. I'm not sure what that was, what the exercise was about here that

you want to get us. I need to know these things because I have not been in every episode listener of the podcast. Okay, I'll tell you just so you know that the the Jets have developed one star in the past ten years, and they traded him a few weeks ago. He's twenty four. Just letting you know that that was cool. Yeah. I was sorry I missed that episode because the way you and you and Mark were going at each other on Twitter, it seemed promising for

some actual fireworks. I thought it was pretty We were pretty peaceful, Dan, weren't we and Greg and the three of us tried to be I well, that was one of my favorite moments of the off season, when the rage that you had over the Jamal Adams trade actually outpaced mind. But maybe I was just, you know, in shock at the time. I don't know, but you were.

You had been beaten down by this situation for about what a year and a half, two years, So I feel like your perspective was now that all of this has gone down, what they were able to recoup for him, pretty good job, whereas I think Mark was coming from all of this didn't have to go down that way. That's well, sa Um, all right, go ahead, Greg, sure, Um.

I don't know if you've missed, like I think, it would have been a bigger story if not for the pandemic, but it started bubbling up in recent days that a little more that Aaron Rodgers has made it absolutely clear he doesn't mind the draft pick of Jordan's love at all.

He's totally cool with it. Um. He totally hasn't started cataloging all the differences between his situation and Aaron Rodgers, and in pointing that out the first second that he gets like he he isn't holding any animosity towards the front office for possibly thinking that he's done. He he is just he's totally fine with it. He's living in Greg's Los Angeles right now, He's in like Aaron's Green Bay.

Nothing is bothering him, Like, Nope, he's not someone who would use slights at all to hold it against his organization, and knowing what we know about his personality, you believe approximately zero of that. Yeah, I mean he is it.

He didn't have west back. He's putting it all out there in a way where it's almost like if he could listen I feel like to the Kyle Brand podcast um clip that we've heard that that that they put out there, that if he could just re listen to that, he would he would almost be like, oh wow, that that comes off differently than I than I thought. I feel like like I'm trying to convince I am convincing no one. Um, but that's okay because I'm Aaron Rodgers

and I want to kill everyone. I feel like he has a little bit of Michael Jordan in him where he uses slights to such a degree that it's even abnormal for an for a professional athlete. So I'm with you on that. That's what like this karma like I am. You know, he's very into meditation and being peaceful, So it's this weird sort of combination where he's projecting that,

but then inside it's a big time battle. I totally agree with your take on this that that um, when you're into that kind of meditation, it's a battle on inside because it's against his nature. It's admirable that he wants to be into meditation, but it's against his nature

to be so um laid back about this. If you buy into the idea that motivation and the idea of revenge or sticking it to somebody, even if it's in your own front office, really can lift someone's game back up to a level that you thought had been lost, then you really do have to feel good about Aaron Rodgers this season because he is in that situation on a whole another level compared to usually the way these situations play out where it seems like the guys straining

a little bit to find motivation, he has every reason to feel like they're kicking him out the door. And the way the rookie quarterback contracts are set up, in the advantages that they bring the Packers are gonna, I would think struggle to come up with a situation where he's on the team next year unless he's awesome and then he could stick it to the Packers and put him in a really tough situation, which be probably the most beautiful thing of all for him than winning a

Lamborti Lombardi. He also has to have noticed that the football Cogni senty has finally kind of given up on him as a top five guy. It took a while, It took maybe a year longer than at least the numbers would have indicated, But this was kind of the off season where it became a little more conventional wisdom that, like, Aaron Rodgers is good, but he's not a top five type of guy anymore. And I and you suspect he's

aware of that too. I feel like, what three out of the last four or four out the last five years, at some point in the season, we've all had a what's wrong with Aaron Rodgers conversation? And if we have one of those again, then he's gone, mm hmm, Mark,

you got another one. I mean, I think kind of bridging off of that conversation where Aaron Rodgers was years ago to now that the whole the whole quarterback landscape changed a lot, and we had an episode um that that we really wished you could have been a part of because it was centered around the Alton scale. We had Damn a check on and you know, I'd love to get your take on this. I think that we obviously we looked at where we were with the Dalton

scale a couple of years ago. Um, the the amount of functional quarterbacks and the lack of teams with a total black hole at the position changes that exercise? Do you where do you? Do you have someone that you could say he is the Dalton scale right now? We came up with someone, if I recall, we kind of agreed on someone at the end, but it wasn't an easy home run. That's a good question. Um, Off the top of my head, I think I might lean towards Ryan Tannehill. Um. I think we did too. That was

popular in our chat with Damna Scheck. But I did listen to that episode because Keisha was listening and she was laughing at such a frequent rate that I said, I gotta I gotta hear the check performance at our takes, at our analysis, at the whole thing. It wasn't just check she was laughing at, it was the whole Is it like annoying? You're trying to get away from the podcast.

Then you have someone in your house listening to it. No, it's more annoying when she listened to it went on on because I don't when when I hear my voice, I just want to like run to the other room. She doesn't listen to any rival podcast that she no not. She doesn't listen to any other football podcast she can barely. She doesn't even listen to this one for the football listen to this novelist next door have a podcast of his own, I mean everyone else does that. She may

be listening to Finding Lakisha. He does not have one that I know of, but Dan could be onto something there. That's where that's the moment where Lakisha at home is listening and be like, Dad, you did it again. I'm not gonna do it. Impression um West, that's you know what, Just to touch on that for one more moment. Obviously, I've never met this person. I don't have the inner workings of what's going on in your neighborhood. But it's

just like head on a swivel. Head on a swivel, because if you're dealing with someone that is looking to do what we think this person is looking to do this would be the time where they would go for it when you are in a compromise state. So you just need to summon up whatever power you have in your right now to make sure that this evil is vanquished and right west don't If they're kind hearted and generous to you, I'm sure that's all fine. But head

on the swivel is a good term there. I mean, just speak a lot of plots, a lot of motivations. I appreciate the vice, the advice, but I would say that he's a pretty smart guy, so he should be smart enough to know that when he goes on the offensive, he leaves his flank open. M interesting, just putting it out there. I mean, you come from you come for what's mine. I'll come for what's yours. Priority list right now, fighting back Priority list Number three you know, tape Talk,

get ready for another season. Number two battle that big c in a big spot, obliterated once more. And number one keep that homestead safe. Protect what I might put I might put number two more at the top of this than that. Well, number three feels like it could fall down a bit if we feel like a big drop between Tape Dog and in the Big Sea. But well, I don't know if there will be any tape to dogs and we'll find out. Uh, Greg, go ahead, sure,

Um where should we go here? Um? I got a few options, but I have noticed there's been less contract I know you're not into the contracts as much, but I started doing a top twenty five list for next year's free agency. I mean, if if it's hard enough to think about next week, try to think about next year. It seems so far off in the distance that it's silly, but you don't have front offices are having to think about it. And the free agent list that I put together,

it's the best one that there's ever been. And the salary cap space is gonna probably reduced by a significant amount. And not many contracts have happened since you've gone. I guess that's the thing you haven't missed. Basically, you missed Joey Bosa and Patrick Mahomes are getting paid, and I don't think any one else is going to before this season.

Maybe George Kittle, but it's just gonna set up this situation I think where you look at the list of players that are available and it's not just Dak going every you know, going year to year kind of like Kirk comes but Jalen Ramsey, Kenny Clark back, Dr Allen Robinson, every single guy that got franchise tag this year, Keenan Allen, t Y Hilton. There's this like it goes on forever

and ever, like forty players and I do. It is something that's on my mind that next year is just gonna be like this year is gonna be really weird. But it's not just gonna be like a one year effect. No matter how quickly a vaccine comes out, like the pandemic, whether it's the draft or whether it's free agency, is gonna like totally change to good for Bosa and and Mahomes, who was able to parlay that new contract into a

percentage of the Kansas City Royals. Um. But it does seem like it be a little imprudent right now for a GM to be locking guys up long term when we have no idea what's gonna go on next week, much less next month and next year. So uh, it does not surprise me at all that guys aren't getting paid right go ahead, sorry, I find it interesting to call it the best free agent class you've seen because

maybe maybe it's more balanced. But we've just come off a free agency period with like seven high octane quarterbacks moving in a situation that I don't think I've ever witnessed before. Yeah, that's fair. There's like at this point there's like eight or nine really good wide receivers like Godwin Cup, Alan Robinson, Gala day t Y Keenan out like there. It just had other positions and and the guys like Cam and Philip Rivers that were free agents that were kind of the biggest names to move other

than Brady. Um, they'll be free agents again. It's just like it's a lot, But I know front offices are probably thinking that way and that the guys who got the money now are unique Like my homes took I think an incredible hometown discount. Just the way that that deal was structured to get that done and then Bosa, I don't know, the Chargers had a lot of money to spend. Um, so may me that's what got that done.

What did you do kind of your first work through of the free agent list, Greg, like one exactly over the last week. It's coming out today. Yeah, like two weeks ago, Mark and I went through it. For the first time. Yeah, well it's you know, it's not even worth connection at this point because this this pattern. Where where is that? No, it's internal. It's just we kind of we chop up tape, we dog it out and uh and look at the list and talk to different

people inside the league. We started this process two weeks ago. So just right, Greg, just to give you like a quick snapshot what what happens is Dan will run through tape of you know, hundreds of defensive players. I'll handle offense. But then we'll do it. Well, we'll flip so that we'll see where our notes combined. Where did von Miller end up on yours. We're not sharing that because it's going to become part of your article by tomorrow morning.

It's already filed. Let's try jump into the CMS and edited. We know how this works. Do we still have to see mess Did I miss that? If we don't have a password, do it. Um, I'm gonna just run through a quick list of things in case you missed any of this stuff. West alright, Uh, the Davian Clowney still doesn't have a job, so you didn't miss anything on that front. Well, yeah, that's a little surprising. I thought, once the football have we have? Have we started football?

Let's not got there soon. I think it's starting later this week. Football is starting later this weeks are really started. I maintained. Clowney has an up and signed because of his knee history, the microfracture, and maybe once the football starts then we'll see him. Logan Ryan is still unemployed. The cornerback million dollars. You know what, we should try that negotiations and see if it goes better. At NFL Media, Russell Wilson West, Russell Wilson goes by Mr Mr Mr ulamited.

He goes by Mr Limited. Now what yeah, see this is why West really has no context. I love what? Why? What? What? It's like Antonio Brown called himself Mr Big Chest. What's going on with this name for yourself? Well, because sometimes you know, you think that Russell Wilson's going to Pete Carroll for advice. No, he's going to Mr Unlimited because everybody, everybody West, everyone has an alter ego now and he needed one too, And everybody thinks, oh it's just Russell.

It's a robot. No no, no, no, he's Mr a Lamb. Well and also he created that nickname two years ago, so he's been Mr Unlimited for the past two seasons. Just if you want to address that in your tape watching. So when will you speak of him? Should we speak of his ego or his alter ego? I I will refer to him personally as Mr Alammited now, okay, but that's up to you. Let's see, the Giant's first round pick last year might be going to prison for a decade or so. Derek Carr said he's sick of everybody

picking on him. Uh. Baker Mayfield announced that he is quote moving in silence this offseason. Man. Uh, good job, Mark Big Bend. Big Ben is kind of skinny now, but you know, like skinny for Big Ben. Lashawn McCoy can throw his ladies only parties in Tampa now because his teammates with Tom Brady and Gronk. Oh, Gronk would definitely go to a Lashawn McCoy ladies only invite party like the good old thing. Totally. I'm getting major. I'm getting major. Defense going to be better than the offense

vibes in Tampa Bay. I mean this idea that you're gonna sign with Sean McCoy, You couldn't even make it off the bench with the Chiefs. Come on, well, the whole back their whole backfield had Corona about a week ago. I'm still waiting to see how this all shakes out. Yeah, we're gonna evaluate the names, not the game, not the name for this offense in Tampa Bay. A lot of names being thrown out there. I was, oh, I like that.

And finally Wes Travis Kelsey confirms breakup with girlfriend Kayla Nicole, but he angrily denied cheating accusations that this has been a big topic in the Westling household. We are we are fans of Kaylin, a cool kesha and very very nice gal who was dating Travis Kelsey. Society girl. She's like anybody else have anything else? I have one. I can't believe this isn't hasn't been brought up. But Wes, your name, um, you know, and it's been a while.

The last time this happened in the newspaper. Your name appeared in the Gatesville Messenger down in Texas a couple of weeks ago. Well, that story. I saw it on Instagram game Dan a shout out on my instant story. You know it's not every day you get front page of the Gatesville Messenger, in front page of any newspaper. I mean, that's that's a big accomplishment. Well done, Dan, Thank you Wes that that was kind of I was going against current on my own podcast with Cessler and Rosenthal.

But it's nice to hear someone with a non cynical just like a take, like a friend. So thank you appreciate that. I mean, I feel like I'm I'm giving you publicity. I'd don't think that was a shot. I would point out that the writer could have included Erica's name, but that's that's um, that's for another day. Maybe the writer wasn't. Well, I don't. I didn't want to. I don't want to bring it up. But I got an idea of Mark, when you get on the front page

of the paper, you can mention Erica. Well I was. I mean, you you included my name in there, thankfully. I'm kind of surprised you did. But I'm thrilled. Just I'm strilled to read the article and find my name in there. So oh, Marks a rapper. Now that's the other thing I saw the Estonia clip. Two thumbs up. Well done, been nice knowing you swept the nation over the weekend, or part of the nation or part of a town. Anytime you could put Marcus Hunt in the lyrics,

it's a good one. I did want to point out while you were gone. Um, the Atlanta Falcons, They're a team that still exists. They have not been mentioned one single time on the podcast, I believe in three years now so something. So they're in a division with two great teams and one team that looks really bad but has a fun coach, but they still exist. How about Broncos fans are angrier than ever at Dan for dismissing Drew Lock. But I've I've watched enough Drew Lock that

I don't know if he's gonna be great. No, you haven't watch enough Drew Lock, as he's only played five games. But let me finish. I'm saying I've watched enough to say I don't know if he's gonna be great or not. But I've watched enough now to say I'm excited to watch whatever he does next. And I've kind of come along to in the meantime to wear a corner that West was on the whole time, which was appreciating Daniel Jones too, um, and it took a little more, a

little more tape dog and to get there. But the Broncos fans are now now now they're on my side of the corner too with you. That's a nice way to put a bow on the segment because this Broncos discussion is like it encapsulates what the off season of the NFL is. We knew all this stuff in December, that he's only had five starts, that there's some good, that there's some bad, that Broncos fans are way too optimistic, that doubters are way too pessimistic, and we'll just have

to wait and see what happens. But yeah, that's that's where the Broncos are. That's where they've been since December. Yeah, Broncos. I'm not saying that Drew Lock can't be a good quarterback in our league. I just have been kind of taken to task for insinuating the possibility that maybe they should have had a backup plan in place that was a little stronger or maybe not. Just assume you now found your franchise answer based on December football that didn't

really matter. I don't know. That's just remind me again who is the backup quarterback. Yeah, I think it's a good idea in the NFL to have a second quarterback who can play and won't like nose dive your season as soon as he gets in there. But you know, so I'm on Dan side on that one flip side. I mean, we've you know, John always gotten a little

bit of heat. A few jokes poked at John Elway on this show, and maybe he feels an extra bit of pressure to have his eighth the eighth quarterback he picked um finally pan out in the draft here, So maybe he said, I'm not gonna bring him Newton in and create all that side interference in traffic to make this podcast out there get about the Broncos fans. This would be a huge three sixty windmill windmill dunk by

Elway on the old Zeuser. If Drew Lock turns into a star, will like straight out of the Gate Week one, he shreds whoever they're playing and then just like rolls to second team All Pro or something. You know, I'll take that hell and I'll be happy, uh that the people of Colorado and surrounding territories will have a young man to watch for the next ten fifteen years. I was gonna ask Greg. Greg just walked off for a second. Someone and it's not my house because it's quiet right now.

But one of the fathers right here has lost control. Yes, that's right now. This is the first pod I've done with them here in a while because they because he uh, he was out of the house, Um during this time of day. And yeah, it's gonna be this season is gonna be something. I mean, I think at this point Walker should have been mentioned in the Gatesville Messenger. He's had a prominent role on this episode here. Walker carries

a lot of power in that. I'm impressed that he's, you know, in five years he's been able to, like a crew, a ton of power and he's never I started to teach Um Walker a little bit about wagering on Saturday at Hank's house with some dollar bills tied to catching footballs and the idea are double or nothing, And then I realized he was probably taught this while he was stole in the wound by his father. Well,

it was a great move. I'm gonna steal this, this whole move that you have of giving the dollar bills to your friends kids because he's got to remember that forever. He came home telling Emma about it. You made his day. He's got the you know, he's got the two bucks. He made the couple of catches, you know, under pressure. So that's good for all around. It all worked out. It's a good grown up move. Carry a couple of singles around just to throw it, you know, keep the

kids entertained. I'm a veteran uncle at this stage. And yeah, um, all right, West, do you have anything else you want to add, you know, at the end of your first show back in quite a long time. Well, I just want to thank all the listeners, especially the UK listeners who put together a YouTube treat for me, fifteen minute tribute. Very nice. Um. And I've gotten a lot of message on Twitter, but especially on Instagram. A lot of people have i would say, even much more personalized messages now

and then there were a few years ago. It's been very um uplifting, to say the least, So thank you to everyone who's reached out. It's it's it's it sucks that you have two separate incidents or times in your life now to be uh be able to sight that way. But at the same time. It's just it's good to see again like how much you're loved by the listeners west and loved by us. So this is uh again a real treat that you joined us today. And hopefully

this becomes a semi regular thing that would be awesome. Well, yeah, I'm gonna I'm not gonna. I'm not gonna write off any show. I hopefully I'll be able to do them all. So we'll see. Yeah, but i's how I'm feeling that day. But we'll see. He's gotta go and watch watch the Reds later today. You know, I think they have an off day, which means they're bullpen won't blow the game. Hopefully they all stay in their hotel rooms or wherever. Um.

All right, good stuff, that's a real concern. That's the world. Hell, thank you to everybody for listening. Wednesday, we'll be with you again. We'll be talking some of the hard knocks Premier. Check out that piece. I have an NFL dot com it's up now, and uh, everything else that's going on in our league. This Stan Hansas signing off for the Quiet Storm, Tom oh Man, the Old Boss, and Ricky Hollywood from her room still Weather d