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Goal Line: Free Agency Opens + Patriots & Panthers 2024 Outlook
31 Plays2 years ago
The boys are back to discuss a wild first day of NFL free agency and talk about where they see the Patriots and Panthers heading for 2024. Plus, listener mail!
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Transcript
Off-Season Kickoff & NFL Free Agency
00:00:15
Speaker
What is up, Goal Line listeners? We are back and better than ever with our first ever off-season episode. We kind of just timed this up perfectly. We had planned for our off-season episodes to have a lot of other sports sprinkled in, but me and Jordan have both been swamped the past month. So it just so worked out that the first day, it kind of lined up first to get back to recording was the day of NFL
Podcast Schedule & Team Focus
00:00:37
Speaker
free agency. So we got an absolute cornucopia of news to dive into you guys. But first, let me introduce my main man, Jordan. What's going on?
00:00:44
Speaker
Yeah, man, it's a it's been a whirlwind of the last month for both of us. We both have had a couple trips in there. And yeah, it's just been a been a lot of life the last month and not a lot of time to do podcasting. So but we're ready to get back into this again and get back into the flow of it. So excuse us if we're a little rusty today.
00:01:06
Speaker
Yeah, definitely, man. It's gonna be fun. We got the schedule hammered out all the way up until week one of next season. Every two weeks, we'll be coming back to you guys. Just catching up on the latest in the sports world, obviously leaning heavily towards the NFL. But we'll be touching on a little bit of everything, and then we're gonna be doing a deep dive on two to three teams a week with what they looked like last season and the outlook for next year. This week, we'll be doing the Patriots and the Panthers.
00:01:36
Speaker
Stick around for that after we get through the news, but we got a ton of stuff to get into So I really don't want to belabor this intro Jordan you ready start talking some football. Let's do it
00:01:52
Speaker
All right. I figure we'll start with, um, the quarterback since that's the most, uh, important position in football, as I've learned over the past two seasons.
Baker Mayfield's Buccaneers Extension
00:02:02
Speaker
Um, we'll start with what happened yesterday. Uh, Baker Mayfield and the bucks agreed on a three year, $100 million extension with $50 million guaranteed. Um, I think this kind of had to happen for them. I mean, what other move were they going to make as far as the quarterback was concerned?
00:02:22
Speaker
Yeah, this is kind of like if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I think Baker kind of kind of messed up the Bucks franchise trajectory in a good way a little bit last year. I don't think I think if you, you know, gave truth serum to the big decision makers there, I don't think any of them felt like they were going to be contending, you know, they still don't really feel like a Super Bowl threat. But
00:02:40
Speaker
end of the day, they were one of the final eight teams playing football this past year. And, you know, the NFC South will get to some big additions here in a little bit, but it doesn't look that much more difficult. So there's no reason not to just run it back. You know, it's a three year deal, low risk, because it doesn't seem like the bucks have got a ton invested in this team anyway. So why
Mike Evans' Surprising Return
00:02:58
Speaker
not bring Baker back? You know, and good, good for Baker, man. Glad to see him finally get at least a little bit of short term stability. Yeah.
00:03:06
Speaker
This one didn't surprise me. I'm not gonna lie. I was a little bit surprised that they brought Mike Evans back, not because I don't think Mike Evans is good. That's not what I'm saying at all. I just, I don't know, man. It just seems like a weird move for, honestly, for him to want to go back after the comments he made after, after the season was over, wanted to play for a Super Bowl contender. The Bucks are not winning Super Bowl with Baker Mayfield. Like, I feel like last season was,
00:03:34
Speaker
about as high as you can get with Baker Mayfield. I mean, I, they overachieved big time. Yeah. Like that has to be the ceiling, right? I mean, I just don't, I don't know how you can do any more than what they did last year, honestly. So yeah, I know it's hard for me to envision any scenario outside of them winning a weak division and you know, maybe squeak out of home that home playoff win wildcard weekend. You really can't see them going past.
00:03:58
Speaker
The second round of the playoffs, but you know money talks man And he also did Mike Evans is he's been in Tampa a long time, man He's probably got some roots, you know moving sucks, dude I can speak to that man though, you know, the older you get the harder it is to move so there's something to be said for stability I agree, you know, he was talking a lot of shit He almost would have liked to see him go to maybe you know Texan somewhere like that to try to put a team over the top to really contend but You know, I can't fault the guy for choosing comfort. No, not at all like I said, it's
00:04:28
Speaker
It's more surprising on the front for him more than it is the team. Like, I don't know, man. It's just, it just seemed like a weird thing, especially after they were thrown around Kansas city, Houston, like you said, it just, I don't know. It just felt weird. But anyway, we're not here to discuss that.
Russell Wilson Joins the Steelers
00:04:45
Speaker
Uh, the next one happened last night as well. Russell Wilson signs a one year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
00:04:54
Speaker
I don't know how to feel about this man. On the surface, Russell Wilson was much improved last season, right? Like the Broncos were, they were just a totally average team. I think Russell Wilson, you know, kind of played slightly above average. The numbers look really good, but if you, you know, I'm a big pro football focus guy and all the hardcore film junkies say that Russell Wilson was extremely limiting that team, but they were doing last year. He was, I think he was really just, excuse me, avoiding the interceptions to
00:05:20
Speaker
to try to prop up that, that stat line. And it seemed like the lack of aggressiveness really held the Broncos offense back. And that's where a lot of the frustration with Sean Payton came from. You know, the Broncos had to swallow that huge, huge hit in dead money just to get rid of him. So it had to be pretty bad if they were willing to move on from that, despite how well things looked on the surface last season. That being said, Pittsburgh's had a really, you know, solid gritty team the last couple of years and just has had gotten
00:05:47
Speaker
you know, minimal explosiveness, minimal production from the QB position. So it could be a good fit for one year, man. Why kind of similar to Tampa Bay. I don't know what's the better option for Pittsburgh next year.
00:05:58
Speaker
Yeah. They said they're bringing him in as competition. I just, dude, I just do not see a scenario where Kenny Pickett is a starter ever again. He's going to beat him out. Yeah. Kenny Pickett, I think he's going to be a fine career backup. You know what I mean? I think that's kind of what he showed. He can, he's functional in the NFL, but he's all, you know, he's got some serious limitations physically that's going to hold you back. Yeah.
00:06:21
Speaker
I don't know, man. I feel like Mike Tomlin is the right coach for Russell Wilson. Honestly, Pete Carroll always got the most out of Russell Wilson. I feel like that Denver scenario was doomed from the, from the start, Nathaniel Hackett. And then it was weird. Yeah. And it was no secret that Sean Payton didn't want Russell Wilson as his quarterback. I mean, yeah.
00:06:43
Speaker
still to this day, whatever Sean Payton says, I take no, I literally could care less what Sean Payton says. He can't, he can't hold it against Russell Wilson, that Sean Payton, you know, he was a down check in Sean Payton's book. I definitely don't hold that against him, man. Yeah. I mean, Sean Payton can literally tell me the earth was burning and I, there's nothing about it that I would believe he's just a piece of shit human. So, um, I don't really care about that. Um, one thing I do want to hit on since we just talked about Kenny Pickett,
00:07:12
Speaker
Man, these last three years of quarterback classes are looking really fucking bad outside of DJ Stroud. Holy shit, dude.
00:07:22
Speaker
Like that one was rough, man. That one was Zach Wilson, Justin Fields, jury still out on Trevor Lawrence too. I mean, we looked rough. This last year was definitely a step back. It was a big hit for all the, uh, the Trevor Lord's truthers out there for sure. Yeah. It's, uh, obviously Kenny pick it. We just talked about, um, obviously Bryce young too. It's like, but Hey, there is the golden child lifting all, you know, the rising title of all their other boats, Brock Purdy out in San Francisco.
00:07:52
Speaker
Yeah, but I'm more speaking on like the first round picks more. Right. The teams that have gone, the teams that have gone all in. I mean, dude, Trey, if you go back it up one more year, look at Trey Lance, dude, you know what I mean? Like draft classes, Justin. Oh yeah. He was 2021. Wouldn't he? Yeah. So he's got to be going in there also, dude. Like I said, that's, that's really a testament to how well the 49ers have ran their franchise that that was really a blip on the map. Any other team that's probably sitting them back years, the amount of a draft capital they invested to go up and get Trey Lance and got absolutely nothing for him.
00:08:22
Speaker
Yeah, that's a franchise crippling move for anyone else.
00:08:25
Speaker
Um, okay. Last quarterback news. And by far the most important for me, at least Kirk cousins signs a four year contract with Atlanta Falcons for $180 million.
Kirk Cousins' New Deal with the Falcons
00:08:36
Speaker
Okay. How are you feeling, man? My first reaction to this was holy fuck four years, $180 million. When the contract details came out, it's more like a two year, $100 million deal, which to me for a, a
00:08:52
Speaker
way above average starting quarterback at this point. I mean, dude, there's no arguing last year. Cousins was playing as a top 10 quarterback, arguably top five until he went down. I don't think it's arguable. I think it's like top five, arguable top three. I mean, he had the best numbers strictly on the numbers. He was the best quarterback when he went down last year. And that was without Justin Jefferson for the majority of the season. Yeah.
00:09:15
Speaker
I really feel like this is going to do a lot for Drake London, Bijon, and Kyle Pitts. I like it, honestly. Four years made me a tad nervous because I'm like, dude, that's pushing 40 at that point. But for the way they structured the contract, there was no guarantees in the fourth year. It's like 10 million in the third year. So if they decide to cut him, I think they're out like $10 million for the third year. That's really it.
00:09:40
Speaker
I wouldn't sweat the money too much either. I mean, dude, look at what the Broncos just did with Russell Wilson. I mean, they eat the biggest cap hit in league history. And it seems like they're still functional. The sky's not falling in Denver. So for the most, the contract stuff's kind of funny money. It definitely sounds like a gigantic number, and it is. But that's really the cost to do a business in the NFL nowadays for any type of decent starting quarterback. I mean, dude, Ryan Tannehill got $30 million last year.
00:10:05
Speaker
for the Titans and he never put up anything to, you know, close to what Kirk Cousins has done over the past past four or five years. It's just, you know, 30 million bucks a year is kind of like your entry point for a decent starting quarterback. So they, they had to pay it if they want to get Kirk and obviously they were going to have to outbid whatever Minnesota was offering, right? You know, Minnesota has definitely got the hometown discount. So I don't hate it for the Falcons. It's not a slam dunk. I'd say it's like a, you know, it's an open court way up.
00:10:32
Speaker
I think this makes them a fringe contender to come out of the NFC. You know, if the, if the rest of the roster is what we think it is, man, I think this, I think that's where it puts them. What about you, man? As you got the most skin in the game on this kind of what's, what is, what is your best case scenario with the fact, can you see Kirk cousins taking the Falcons to a Superbowl? No, not Superbowl, but here's what I will say though.
00:10:57
Speaker
last two years I watched the Falcons team that won seven games, both years that were literally decent quarterback play away from winning 11 games. I mean, and that was with the head coach that felt like he was holding them back. Like, I don't know, man. I feel like cousins can get them a division when obviously maybe get him, get him around. But I, I mean, unless everything just falls right into place, like
00:11:24
Speaker
I think the 40, I think they could make it, man. I think the four would have to have a pretty big injury for that to happen. I mean, you're talking like a quarterback going down or something, but I will say this.
00:11:37
Speaker
Um, the defense started out so good last year for the Falcons. And I felt like that was when the offense was kind of, they were moving the ball. They weren't playing great by any means necessary, but, um, I just, I don't know, man, I just, I feel like cousins can spread the ball around enough and the offense can score anywhere from
00:11:57
Speaker
I don't know, 21 to 28 points a game. Like I feel like their defense is good enough to keep them in those games and have the rare like shootout game. Like I just, I feel like the way the roster is constructed, they are constructed well enough with Kirk cousins as a quarterback to win.
00:12:17
Speaker
I mean, dude, 10 to 13 wins is not completely out of the question, honestly. That's what I'm thinking. That's why I think, I think you're selling them a little bit short, man. The NFC South is still, I don't, last year was dog shit. I think this year it's just going to be asked. All right. Um, but it's still going to be really weak. So dude, you could beat up on that division, right? Go six known the division. You're going to be playing a third place schedule.
00:12:38
Speaker
NFC outside of the 49ers. There's not any really scary teams in the NFC Dude, I think they could sneak in now Do I think they'll they will be the best team in the NFC? No, but they could totally still get the number one seed man And then you're two home games away from playing in the Super Bowl
00:12:54
Speaker
It could happen one of these next two years, man. Now, I'm not saying I'm not rushing out to put that ticket in on Draft Kings or anything, but I do think they're on the list, man. They're probably closer to the bottom of the list than the top, but I think they're on the list of teams that could make it out of NFC in the next two seasons.
00:13:10
Speaker
And I did say this to somebody today, cause everybody's like, Oh man, Kirk cousins always folds in the big game. Well, the good news for the Falcons is they don't ever get prime time games anyway. So Kirk's going to be playing in the afternoon every day. I don't have to worry about prime time cousins blowing it. Um, and I will say this, I was probably a little too hard on him the last two seasons. Cause I mean, a lot of the stuff that happened wasn't necessarily on him. Like I know the quarterback's always going to get the majority of the blame.
00:13:39
Speaker
And I know this is going to feel like this in genuine because now he's the Falcons cornerback, but I mean, dude, the Vikings had a lot of shit go wrong in the last two years.
00:13:50
Speaker
They also had a lot of shit go right two years ago when they won 13 games. So, I don't know. But it seemed like they were always in crazy ass games, right? A lot of those games that, you know, that 2022 season where they were just incredible in the one score games, it seemed like it was, the Vikings were always like the red zone team. Like when it cut to a Vikings game, you never know what kind of crazy shit you were about to see, you know? So I feel you on that, man. It seems like they had a lot of fluky stuff that made games, you know, ended up being a lot closer than they probably should have been.
00:14:18
Speaker
Yeah, Kirk's played good man. I just Did you said you know that he chokes in the big games? But hey, dude, at least he's getting to the big games the Falcons haven't been getting to the big games period man I think you know, I don't want to speak for you, dude But I think if I'm the fan of a team that hasn't made the playoffs in six seasons Just give me a taste of playoff football man. Give me a taste of January football with some stakes and You know, let me get that little bit of rush and I'm gonna call that a win, you know And then maybe I'll raise my expectations from there. But you know, it's
00:14:46
Speaker
I think the Falcons had to do it again, six years, man, since they've made the playoffs, six freaking years. So the people criticizing it, like, yeah, it's not a perfect situation. 35 year old guy coming off of torn Achilles, but it's what else? What else were they going to do? Run it back with, you know, whatever, whatever craps out of the draft or, you know, trade for Justin Fields, whose trademark is suddenly gone ice cold when we thought, you know, he was potential, you know, second, third round draft pick.
00:15:14
Speaker
Yeah, dude, I got no issue with the Falcons doing this. Yeah, I'm excited for it for the most, more than anything. Dude, the last three years they've drafted an offensive guy and not one of them has been used properly yet. Maybe some of that was on coaching, but dude, a lot of that was because they had Mariota and Ritter back there that didn't have enough faith in their arm to throw the ball 10 yards. I mean, Kirk Cousins is not that dude. He's going to sling the ball out there.
00:15:43
Speaker
this can be a West Coast offense team. It's a Sean McVay coaching tree offensive coordinator now. So I don't know, man, I'm, I'm cautiously, optimistically excited if that makes sense. It's just, they needed someone and I I'm with you, man. When they started talking about trading for Justin Fields, I was like, this is not it, man. This is just
00:16:04
Speaker
And honestly, I'm going to give the Falcons credit because the fans were, were banging the Justin Fields drum and they stuck with it. I mean, Terry Fontenot in 2021 said they did. They were not high on Justin Fields and three years later, they're still not high on Justin Fields.
00:16:21
Speaker
I think a lot more people are starting to see why people were not high on Justin Fields and why I kept saying I just, I don't get it. Like I don't understand what everyone else is seeing makes highlight plays, but he cannot read a defense. Like there's no hiding it at this point. The dude cannot read a defense for the bears, man.
00:16:42
Speaker
I mean, at this point, I know this kind of going off the rails here a little bit, but dude, if they don't end up picking a quarterback at one and they run it back with fields and he's garbage again next year, like I just won't be blood in the streets, man. Like what message are you sending? But like bears fans want him back. And every time I question him, I'm like, what do you guys see in this dude?
00:17:06
Speaker
I could see a guy plays hard. He makes explosive plays I could see it being a fan favorite and he's gotten so much shit from the national media that I feel like locally maybe feel like you got a rally around your guy, but I just I'm kind of with you man I think for all the really cool, you know the real cool exposed stuff he brings to the table There's a lot of other just easy basic plays that he's missing and it's just really kind of putting your team in the hole It's all it's like
00:17:29
Speaker
You know, you fight with one hand tied behind your back, you know, the, the untied hand might be pretty bad-ass dude, but you're still fighting with one hand tied behind your back, going in with a guy like that at quarterback. Yeah. So yeah, I don't, we're not going to talk about them all night, but I just don't know what they do from here. Hey, another point in favor of the Falcons doing this, man. You got to remember Raheem Morris was in the building, defense coordinator for the Rams. Very similar scenario, 2021, when they traded for Matt Stafford from the lions and immediately elevated that team and took him to the super bowl. Very true.
00:17:57
Speaker
Okay, let's talk about the other big news of the morning that I called the last time we recorded one of these podcasts.
Tee Higgins Requests Trade
00:18:04
Speaker
T Higgins has requested a trade from the bangles. Seth tried telling me I was crazy when I said it. Dude, I just
00:18:12
Speaker
once they didn't get a deal done before the season was over I told everybody this dude's gone man there's no way they're gonna try to pay this dude number one money you were talking about taking a hometown discount I'm like this dude ain't taking no hometown discount dude look I mean seriously look at what Michael Pittman just got paid today and then it comes out that T Higgins wants to trade I'd want to trade too if somebody's not offering me 25 mil a year like
00:18:38
Speaker
Yeah, the Bengals have bangled once again and fumbled this one away. Um, you know, I feel like Jamar Chase gets all the pub do, but T Higgins is such an important part of that offense. And you just felt like they were going to find a way to, to, to make this work out. You know, I shouldn't have in spite of almost 30 years of watching this franchise, just, you know, continually make the wrong decision. Um, I think they should have found a way to keep the guy did like load up on offense, man. You can always, you can always draft defense. You can find effort players on defense, kind of make it up.
00:19:05
Speaker
I feel like their offense, when everything's clicking, has the potential to be the best in the league. And this is going to be a big blow, man. Big, big blow losing T Higgins. So we'll see where he ends up at, man. I say that, it seems like it hasn't. The Chiefs obviously got by trading a star wide receiver. Seems like teams have been in a rush to trade wide receiver number ones the last couple of years. But I still just, you'd love seeing the Bengals when they had all their weapons on the field. It was really, really fun team to watch.
00:19:32
Speaker
Yeah, this is this will definitely be a hit for them. I mean, they're gonna take a hit from this, dude, and somebody is going to offer something of high value to the bangles. I mean, is it going to be an end of the first round pick? Dude, if you're the Chiefs, why the hell would you not throw that offer out there like T Higgins on the Chiefs would be a monster. I
00:19:53
Speaker
I don't know, man, somebody's going to do it. Yeah. Well, the thing is you got to trade him in, you got to sign him. So that's the other thing. But yeah, I think he's totally, I think kind of early second round, late first round pick. I would totally be happy with, you know, my, my team making that trade to get T Higgins in the building. Yeah. Um, one thing before we go any further, because I kind of forgot about it because it seems like it was eight years ago, dude, what are your thoughts on the bills basically just releasing their entire defense last week?
00:20:20
Speaker
Crazy, man. I don't know what the bills are doing. I know we kind of talked off there. You think they're reloading and reconfiguring for another run. To me, it feels like they're almost taking a step back, taking a pause from the cause for a year or two, and then going to reinvest and re-attack.
00:20:36
Speaker
You know, they had definitely gone all in the last couple of years, man. They were Super Bowl or bust, and they went bust. So, you know, and typically when stuff like that happens, you start seeing things like this with heads rolling, whether it be on the roster or coaching staff. But, yeah, the Bills are definitely in a weird place going into the next season.
00:20:51
Speaker
I mean, dude, there are $60 million over the cap. Like, yeah, they 100% went all in and it failed, but I don't know. I still think they'll be all right. I mean, maybe that's just the optimist in me because I like that team. I like their fans. I think they're being the mix, but I think it's going to be the same thing. I think they're just going to have another hard fought loss in the wildcard round or divisional round of the playoffs.
Bills' Defensive Strategy Shift
00:21:14
Speaker
And I mean, dude, if their defense isn't as good, their offense is proved.
00:21:17
Speaker
in the last year, at least that they're not going to just outscore somebody. And now they lost Gabe Davis. So I don't know, man, they're in a weird spot. It's always rough when you're at that like Super Bowl level, you know, because really for the last three seasons, it's felt like the bills are, you know, in like your top five Super Bowl favorites. And then when you don't get it done and the expectations start to lower a little bit, it just really puts you in a weird place as you know, as a franchise and a fan base.
00:21:45
Speaker
Okay, we're just gonna kind of quick hit through these ones.
Christian Wilkins' Impact on the Raiders
00:21:49
Speaker
Christian Wilkins signing a four year $110 million deal to sign with the Raiders. This dude is an absolute monster on the defensive line. I'm excited to watch him and Max Crosby pay together. But holy shit, is this an overpay?
00:22:02
Speaker
Yeah, pretty big check, man. And you know, the Raiders don't got the greatest history of free agent signs really working out. Gabe Davis, as we just mentioned, three years $39 million to the Jaguars. I do not understand this at all.
00:22:16
Speaker
I mean, dude got to replace Calvin Ridley, man, but he's not. The problem is like, dude, if you're giving somebody $13 million a year, like maybe they offer that to Calvin Ridley and he told him to kick rocks, but dude, I don't think Calvin Ridley's value is that high right now either. Like he really did down the stretch last year. Yeah. Yeah. He's got some, he's probably going to sign it. I expect him to sell like a one year prove it deal somewhere. All right. Let's go into all the running backs now.
00:22:44
Speaker
dude, talk about like an unprecedented day. Like the running backs all got paid right off the bat. I'm not saying they all got paid a ton of money, but just a wild day of, of running back signing. Um, we'll start with the big one sake. One goes to the Eagles three years, $39 million.
00:23:02
Speaker
dude, to me, this is a home run signing. I just, I mean, you went from DeAndre swift to sake one, like dude, sake one can carry that team running the ball. I mean, you proved it with the giants two years ago. So I think that's a phenomenal signing.
00:23:18
Speaker
Yeah, I still don't really I feel like we still haven't gotten the full story of exactly what all went down the second half of the season in Philly So I'm a little bit skeptical of just adding another you know Tier one star player into the mix and seeing how that's gonna play out But you know Saquon's a great player. I don't think he's ever gonna make a team worse and Saquon Barkley to the mix No
00:23:38
Speaker
Um, Josh Jacobs to the Packers was extremely surprising to me. Um, when they first did it, I was like, they're just going to run him and Aaron Jones into the ground. Aaron Jones is no longer a Packer.
00:23:52
Speaker
for about an hour there, I was like, dude, they're going to have, they'll have like by far the best backfield in the NFL. And then Aaron Jones going that seemed, that seems weird to me, man. Like Josh Jacobs is he's better than Aaron Jones, but to me, I don't think he's so much better that you go out, invest all the money and takes a sign him and then release Aaron Jones. That was kind of a weird move to me. I mean, he has three years younger, but I agree with you. I don't think he's that much better. And dude, Aaron Jones proved when he's healthy, that playoff run he had last year was incredible.
00:24:21
Speaker
damn near took the 49ers out man on the, you know, they damn near had the Niners going one and done in the playoffs. Yeah. DeAndre swift to the bears. Do the bears just like hate investing in their own running backs? Like I just, I don't get it, dude. They have Roshan Johnson and, um,
00:24:40
Speaker
Oh God, I can't even think of the other guy's name right now. You know, I'm talking about though. Um, and like they just completely abandoned their young running backs and signed another one. I just, I don't get this team man. They're so weird. Swift is decent, but he feels that, you know, I don't know, dude, I'm clear, you know, not that it needs to be said, but clear. I'm not an actual NFL personnel man, but I feel like I could draft a running back in the fourth round. They give me what DeAndre Swift has given me and it's way less investment, you know,
00:25:08
Speaker
And dude, besides last year, Deanna Swift has never been able to stay healthy. That's another problem. I mean, yeah, he did last year, but I don't know, man. It's just weird to me. Tony Paula to the Titans. I like this move. Honestly, it's good. Sucks for Taji Spears, but this is a good one for them. I think. I mean, he's no Derek Henry, but he's good.
00:25:30
Speaker
I think he's going to get way less workload than Derek Henry got. I think Taji Spears is still going to get a lot more carries. But again, I'm never not going to be sad seeing Derek Henry lead the Titans because he was absolutely incredible. But one thing about him, when he was on the field,
00:25:46
Speaker
Pretty much know what's coming, right? You know, it's it's gonna be you know, he's either he's either pass block or he's running He's not a pass catcher just not the most versatile kind of guy, right? If there was one that and that's a minor quibble, right? Like that's a very minor complaint with everything that he's bringing with him every time he's on the field But I do think this could help out a little bit keeping defenses on their heels Just because they're not gonna be able to it's not gonna be as much of a key indicator when he's You know when Pollard's on the field exactly what type of play they're running So that's kind of like my silver lining to help cope
00:26:16
Speaker
with the door officially being shut on the Derek Henry era. Yeah, we'll speed around the rest of these running backs. Gus Edwards to the Chargers, whatever. Antonio Gibson to the Patriots, whatever. Whatever. Devin Singletary to the Giants. I don't hate that move, but I mean, he definitely replaced in Saquon, so. Yeah.
00:26:37
Speaker
Austin Eckler, dude, talk about a dude that completely fell off last year, signs with the commanders for like $11 million on a two year deal. Dude, that dude was I mean, he was arguing about getting paid like $20 million a year ago. Man, that dude fell off fast.
00:26:57
Speaker
Do we think there's any hope for any sort of resurgence in the commander's uniformity? Because I just feel like that's another one of those places where the buck stops here as far as the NFL goes. That's where guys go to get that one last contract and prove that there's nothing left in the tank.
00:27:14
Speaker
did what I saw from him last year was just not good at all. I don't I don't know, man. I just I think his best years are well behind him at this point. I don't know, man. The commanders are not good either. It's just you're going from a team that was poorly ran to a team that's poorly ran and his dog shit. I just I don't know, man. I think they're that's just a weird move for me, but whatever.
00:27:39
Speaker
Um, the other big news of the day, Brian, Brian burns sent to the giants, um, for a second, a fifth round pick. And then he was paid $150 million over five years. God damn dude, the Panthers are God awful. What a terrible franchise.
00:27:59
Speaker
Yeah. I mean, dude, he's literally, he was their team. He's the best player on your team. Yeah. Why? I mean, I guess we really just started from scratch, but yeah, it seems very, uh, I just don't know what your other guy and it seems like the kid got more than that. I feel like he was worth the first round pick. Bro. In the last two years, the Panthers have traded away. Christian McCaffrey, Brian Burns,
00:28:22
Speaker
DJ Moore and the number one and they trade away the number 10 pick and the number one overall pick to get Bryce young talk about a dumpster fire of a franchise like How would anybody even want to play there outside of just getting paid like I mean, that's the only reason you'd go to play there at this point Yeah Probably the word probably in the we'll talk about a little bit more in-depth later on episode but probably the worst situation in the NFL right now and
00:28:50
Speaker
Yeah. Um, unless you had anything else for news, that's just kind of what I thought we should run through as far as free agency goes for day one. Um, you left out the big story, man. Gardner mince you to the Raiders. Oh yeah. How could I forget? And Mac traded to the Jaguars. How could I forget? Yeah. I can't believe you didn't get that in your QB scramble.
00:29:12
Speaker
Uh, where do you think Derek Henry goes, man? I mean, it's gotta be down to the Cowboys and Ravens. Like that's the only two teams that makes sense at this point to me.
00:29:21
Speaker
I saw some murmurs that the Cowboys were passing. They were getting involved in the, uh, the Derek Henry sweepstakes. It may just leave the, uh, the Ravens, man, which that's going to be a sad sight to see the, I can't stand the Ravens seeing Derek Henry and that Ravens Jersey is just sad. I don't know, man. I just, that's the only two teams to me that make any sense. Like, and he's not going to any team. That's not a Super Bowl contender. Like he's not going to do that to himself. So.
00:29:48
Speaker
I don't know, man. It's been a weird start to free agency and considering it really didn't even start today. Today was just the tampering period. I don't know, man, just just weird. Like there's been a lot of moves that have been made that just kind of been head scratchers.
00:30:05
Speaker
The Twitter, the Twitter machine right now is showing nothing but Henry and Ravens. That's kind of like the only team that even seems to be sniffing around. I mean, the Cowboys generally don't do anything until about a week after free agency starts. Oh, breaking news. Bangles are releasing Joe Mixon.
00:30:24
Speaker
I mean, he's a good player. But like I said, I don't, I don't think he's going to be tremendously difficult to, to replace. And then at the same time, they signed Zach Moss to a two year $8 million contract. Okay. Joe, poor Joe mixing, man. Like,
00:30:44
Speaker
The same minute you're released, they're like, oh, we're signing Zach Moss. See you later, bud. Yeah, I just had his 4,000 yard season and now he's a free agent, man. I mean, he could still, I think he's still got a couple of good seasons left in him, dude. He's not super old. I mean, he's got a little bit of miles on him, man, but I think he could definitely come in and help the team out. Maybe that's where the loser of the Derek Henry sweepstakes goes is to Joe Mixon. All right, you ready to get into our team previews for next season? Let's do it.
00:31:12
Speaker
you
00:31:24
Speaker
All right, so each week, we will be, or each episode, we're gonna be doing these every two weeks in the off season. We'll take a look at it. A team discuss, you know, kind of how they fell out last season and then our overall outlook for them for next season. So we'll start off with the Panthers. Worst team in the league last season. So you guys know I'm a big stats head. We'll run down the stats. They're 31st in offensive DBOA, 25th in defensive DBOA,
00:31:50
Speaker
and 31st in overall point differential. So for those that don't know, DVOA, it's a stat that basically accounts for the game situation and the strength of the opponent. It takes a look at a team's performance and kind of just gives an overall number of how well that team played. So 31st on offense, 25th in defense, and these guys were 31st in point differential, man. Two and six in one score game. So they did have eight one score games. That's another thing that's kind of, you know, there are some people like Patrick Mahomes or Tom Brady who are just,
00:32:19
Speaker
super skilled at one of those one score games. But for the most part, one score games and NFL are a lot of randomness, right? You can usually point to one or two flute plays that would have swung it. They were two and six in those if you want to look for a silver lining. But what did you think of the Panthers last year? Because there wasn't a whole lot of good to, to really reflect on. Abysmal, absolutely abysmal. There's really no, no other way to describe this franchise, this team.
00:32:44
Speaker
I just dude, I don't know. Like I said earlier, I don't know where they can go from here at this point. I mean, they just gave away the number one pick. Like, that's a gut punch. You're not even sure if you have your franchise quarterback. I think all if you're sure if you got a serviceable starting quarterback, dude franchise that's we're a ways away from from determining that one, dude. Dude, I just I don't know, man.
00:33:12
Speaker
it was bad last season. It was bad. And you know, there's some bad teams who were kind of scrappy, like the Cardinals last year, you know, the Cardinals, they sucked, but they were kind of scrappy, right? Like you watched him, you kind of see little flashes here or there, dude, that kind of, you kind of, you know, could sink your teeth into. There was just nothing there. It seemed like the vibes were bad. On field product was bad. Coach got fired halfway through the season in his first year. Going to the quarterback, Bryce Young,
00:33:38
Speaker
Do you think this year is make or break or do you think they're, you know, what, what do you think the leash is on, on Bryce young man? Cause I feel like he's already on his second head coach. If he bombs this year, I think that might be the end of the, the Bryce young experiment. We see the Panthers move on to whatever's next.
00:33:54
Speaker
I'm not gonna lie, I think they have to give him into year three, just for the mere fact of what they gave away. I mean, this team's not going anywhere in the next five years anyway, like, dude, you got to give this dude every chance to succeed, I think.
00:34:09
Speaker
I mean, when you're talking about giving up the number one take number one pick in a deeper draft the following year. I don't know, man, I just that this team is not in a good spot at all. Like I seriously have no idea where they can what they can do to even fix it at this point. I mean, it's just it's a bad roster all around. Like you said,
00:34:34
Speaker
I just don't think Bryce Young is it, man? He's just too short. Their line was awful last year. Yeah. I mean, he's already like dude was awesome in Alabama, right? Heisman trophy winner. So clearly the guy knows how to play football, but I think he's got some physical limitations, you know, with just his size.
00:34:53
Speaker
in the NFL, and I don't think that situation is doing him no favors. You know, maybe if you freakin' in another life, you swap him and Brock Purdy places. He's out there, you know, doing something similar to what Brock Purdy's doing out in San Francisco, but he's, you know, if Brock Purdy's in the absolute like nirvana for a QB to just blossom, Bryce Young is in hell, man. Like, you know, regardless of whatever he's doing, there's absolutely nothing that's helping his situation or his chances for success when he's taking the field each Sunday.
00:35:23
Speaker
it's time to start taking a really hard look at these Alabama quarterbacks, dude. Like, I mean, we were already skeptical as is just because of how talented those teams were. But I mean, dude, Bryce, Tua and Mack Jones in the last four years, five years.
00:35:40
Speaker
I mean, do you, I mean, I, I'm still a two and non member, dude. I can't, I'm not going to lump to it in with Mac Jones and Bryce young guy. He, dude, he's, he's leagues better than those guys. He's definitely way better than those guys. But I mean, are you, are you paying two of $40 million when it comes around to payday time? Like, cause I'm not, I don't want to, but I probably am. I mean, I feel like if he was a free agent right now, that's the contract he'd get. If he was on the open market, man, like two is definitely an above average starting quarterback.
00:36:09
Speaker
to the dog. So Kurt cousins get, you know, 45, you know, 45 million annual average coming off a, a, a torn Achilles at age 35, dude. You know, I feel like Tua could get at least that dude. And I mean, yeah, he's
00:36:24
Speaker
two has had some stinkers, dude. It's a big moments for sure. But I still think he's what he's put on the field so far has been way better than back Jones and Bryce young. Yeah. I'm not saying that that's not a fact. I got, he definitely has. I just, I don't know, man. It's just, it, everything is adding up to like, don't draft a BAM a quarterback. You know, it's just
00:36:44
Speaker
Yeah, take a close look at him, dude. And for the long time, Tua was really the exception, dude. For the most part, Alabama wasn't really going out and getting highly sought after recruits at quarterback. They were loading up everywhere else. And Nick Saban was, for the longest, kind of had game managers at the quarterback position. Yeah. But yeah, all back to Bryce Young.
00:37:07
Speaker
I definitely don't think he's the guy, but I think you're going to have to give him every benefit of the doubt and as much time as he needs to play as well. Yeah. I mean, what else are you going to do? Like, yeah, that's got to be like the number one objective for this, this season coming up, man. Cause clearly you're not probably not competing for even a wildcard spot. So just make this whole purpose of the season, finding out what we have in Bryce young.
00:37:31
Speaker
New head coach Dave Canales. He was offensive coordinator from the Bucks. That's not really getting my juices flowing, man. That's just kind of like a whatever coaching hire. How about you? I thought he was the defensive coordinator from the Bucks. Was he really the offensive coordinator? Let me fire up the Google machine in my research. I wasn't there today. I couldn't 100% be wrong on that because, I mean, their head coach is obviously a defensive head coach. So I could be 100%. Yeah, he was the Bucks offensive coordinator. For one season. So he took over for left, which
00:37:59
Speaker
Did have a hell of a year. The Bucks offense was pretty freaking, you know, overachieved big time, but still, like I said, it's not, this isn't, you know, Bill Walsh in 1985 coming into town to save Bryce Young's career, man, so. Yeah, my man is walking into a situation where there's no Mike Evans, there's no Chris Godwin, like, we'll see how much of a genius he is when he's throwing to Adam Thielen as his number one receiver. I just,
00:38:26
Speaker
Bro, what is up with you slander and all these good players, dude? Adam Thielen can still ball. He was, if there was a bright spot last year for the Panthers outside of Brian Burns, it was probably Adam Thielen. Bro, there's no way you're going to convince me that a winning football team at this point in 2024 should have Adam Thielen as their number one receiver. I mean, I'm not saying that, but I just, I don't know why Adam Thielen is catching straight in this conversation. I'm not saying Adam Thielen is bad. I'm just saying, dude, you're going from Mike Evans and Chris Godwin to Adam Thielen.
00:38:54
Speaker
I feel you, man. I feel you. Just with so much that whole Carolina organization to launch freaking grenades at, I just don't know why poor Adam Thielen was the one that, you know, the, the J man singled out tonight, dude. That's all I was saying. So anyways, that whole franchise is a disaster from the owner down. So I just,
00:39:13
Speaker
I think it starts with the owner, dude. I really think that's the issue, man. Obviously, dude's a freaking bajillionaire, so good for him. He can do what he wants. But we've heard he's a nightmare to work with. Just look at all the coaches he's run through. Same thing with the soccer club. He's running there in Charlotte. I think this dude has just cast a negative vibe across the whole franchise, man, is what it feels like. You sell the same thing for the longest with the commanders with Dan Snyder there, man.
00:39:40
Speaker
If you got a bad owner, man, that can just really kind of just put a black cloud over everything. You know what? I really think this whole trace is back to they, they shunned cam out of town and didn't give him his proper send off, shunned him out of town and then brought him back a year later to try to get him to play quarterback. They had a one game boost from cam coming back because the crowd was juiced and then it just all fell off from there. I just, I don't know, man, that, that franchise is in dire straits.
00:40:10
Speaker
All right, so let's put a bow on the Panthers talk with just discussing our overall outlook for them next season. I'll go first, man, to be honest. I see them being in basically this exact same spot in the standings next year. I think they're going to be right there at the bottom, scrapping it out for the number one or number two pick in the draft. I think best case scenario, you got some magic going between Bryce Young, the new coach.
00:40:37
Speaker
second year progression and they win a few more games. Maybe they're around six, seven wins, but you see some serious bright spots from Bryce Young enough to give you some hope for the future. That's kind of my best case scenario for the Panthers, but I don't have a lot of confidence that they're going to get anything close to that best case scenario.
00:40:55
Speaker
Yeah. Ceiling is four wins to me. I just, I don't think they're good enough to even win that many, but I mean, get some breaks to go your way and stuff. But yeah, I think they're in the exact same spot. Just like you said, as this year, um, well, at least all the number one pick this go around. So that'll help, but yeah, not going to be a fun season for Panthers fans.
00:41:19
Speaker
All right, let's move up the East Coast to Boston and discuss the New England Patriots. So this one's a little bit more interesting, finished similarly to them in the standings, but 29th in offensive DBOA. They were ninth overall in defense though for the season, ninth in defensive DBOA. However, they still had enough blowout losses that they were 29th in point differential. They went four and eight in one score game. So they had 12 one score games on the season, went four and eight on them.
00:41:47
Speaker
We really don't know what they're doing at the QB position if they're going to draft somebody. As of now, it looks like maybe Bailey Zappi might actually go into the season as the starter. Gerard Mayo taking over for the legend, Bill Belichick, man. What do you think of the Patriots last season? It's basically the tail end of the Belichick era. It seemed like maybe the game really had passed him by by the time we got to that last season. If you had to put a summary on the Patriots from last year, what would you say?
00:42:15
Speaker
I mean, the one thing you can always give him though, is his defense, just as it always was, was good again last year. No matter how bad that team was, he always put together a good defensive scheme and a defensive plan. Um, their offense was just the thing that held them back. Couldn't decide on who was going to be the starting quarterback, Mack or Bailey. And dude, it just, it carried into all season. I mean, they just, they never could get any momentum going. Um, sad way for bill, Bella check to go out, but.
00:42:45
Speaker
kind of is what it is, you know, I do think they're going to draft a quarterback, considering they're in the top three. I think they end up with either Jane Daniels or Drake may. I just, I know you love Bailey zappy, dude, but there is no way on God's greener if you're gonna convince me that a franchise is going to be successful starting Bailey zappy like
00:43:09
Speaker
No, I think Bailey's happy future is, uh, you know, kind of similar to what we talked about some guys earlier. I think he's an awesome backup quarterback, right? Because dude, uh, you know, he can ball and he plays aggressive when he is in there, man. So I think if, you know, he'd be an awesome option as a backup, somebody that you come in, they could, you know, keep, keep your head above water and potentially make some big plays for you. But yeah, I agree. I don't think at this point, um, even the biggest Bailey's Abby fans would say that he has a future as a true franchise quarterback in this league.
00:43:36
Speaker
Well, and there's nothing wrong with being a backup quarterback. I mean, if this year- Best gig in sports, I'd say. Yeah. And if this year proved anything, dude, backup quarterback are one of the most important spots in the NFL right now. Like QB can go down any week.
00:43:54
Speaker
I mean the Browns and the Colts are perfect examples like both of them needed a backup quarterback in the worst way and Both carried him to really successful season. So I don't know man is that be showed he can be productive He's had some really nice games man. He's had enough up to where it's not just a fluke man Like he couldn't he can definitely come in and mix, you know generate a little bit of offense if if needed in a pinch and
00:44:16
Speaker
Yeah, I do feel bad for Gerard Mayo. Like, I mean, outside of winning a Super Bowl in your first five years as head coach, like this is a no win situation. Like tough man. We talked about this last season. You never, I wouldn't want to be the guy following him. I'd want to be the guy following the guy that follows him, you know, cause it's just, you're not just feeling, you're just not going to fill those shoes. Even as bad as, you know, these last four seasons have been, um, it's still just an unprecedented run of success that Bella check had there.
00:44:46
Speaker
Yeah, tough shoes to fill. I mean, the good thing is it seems like everything we hear from the franchise, they're fully they, you know, they've closed the book on the Belichick era and they're looking at this as a whole new thing. So I don't think he's going to, I don't think they're looking for him in New England to be Bill Belichick part two, but you still got a ton of pressure when that's the guy that you're following up.
00:45:04
Speaker
So what do you think is their biggest thing they need to address the soft season? We talked about the Panthers. The biggest thing is just finding out what they actually have in Bryce Young. Are we sticking with the quarterback position? Is the replacing Tom Brady still the number one priority for the Patriots?
00:45:21
Speaker
I mean, I think trading away Mac Jones tells you all you need to know. Like this franchise knows they need a quarterback and they know they don't have the right one in house. So I think they're going to draft a quarterback. Um, they need to get some more playmakers too. Having Juju as your number one option. Again, no hate against Juju. He's a good player, but he can't be your number one option.
00:45:45
Speaker
So yeah, definitely not at this point in his career offense. That's what they need to focus on offense They're still bringing back a good defensive team. They still got Jude on Christian Gonzalez was fantastic until he got hurt like their defense is still gonna ball and having Gerard Mayo as your Coach is gonna I think that'll carry over the tradition of Belichick's good defense But they gotta get something going on offense
00:46:08
Speaker
Sounds like he's really, really popular with the players there. I think it's going to be a different kind of energy from Belichick. I think that could help. Take a look at their outlook for next season, man. Dude, I think they got a shot to compete in the AFC East, whether they draft a rookie quarterback and they really hit on him, or if they just can somehow get peak Bailey Zappi. As funny as that sounds for a season, I think they could be a fringe contender in the division, man, and sniff a wildcard spot.
00:46:34
Speaker
the Jets, we don't know what they're going to be with Aaron Rodgers, the dolphins, you know, you know, they're going to cave when it comes to the last month of the season and we don't know what the bills are. So I think, you know, the Patriots could, they could be a weird, you know, they could have a little bit of a bounce back season this year, man. I think it's, I think that's in the cards for them. If everything breaks, right. I think they could have a decent season. I don't think they're competing for anything yet. I have just,
00:46:58
Speaker
I think their defense will still be good, but I just don't think they're going to get enough out of their offense still and that's going to hold them back. I think the ceiling for this team is probably seven wins. I just, it's not a good team and they're, they're not as bad as the Panthers, but this still is not a good team. Like having no playmakers is, is a huge thing for an NFL team.
00:47:19
Speaker
I mean, they still have none. Like, I mean, dude, what's your number one playmaker? Remond Ray Stevenson is, I mean, is that moving the needle for you? Like I just know he had like one good game three years ago against the bills. Yeah, I just, I don't, I don't see it, man. I just, I think there are a couple of years away. I think drafting a quarterback now would be the best thing though. That way he can grow with Gerard Mayo and
00:47:40
Speaker
just next couple of years to figure things out. I mean, the Jets got what two years of Rogers, maybe if he can even make it through a quarter. The bills are an absolute disaster. Dolphins lost half their team and free agency. Like, I mean, that division is not going to be great for the next five years. Like there, there's, there's a, there's a cause for hope there if you're a Patriots fan, because I think that division is going to be garbage in like three years.
00:48:10
Speaker
Yeah. AFC East is in a weird spot. It seemed like for years the Patriots just dominated. You could just pencil them in their ears as a champ. And now with Brady gone, you thought the Bills were going to just step out and put the division in a chokehold. But they really haven't to the level that you thought they would, man. The Bills seem like they've almost been fighting against themselves the last couple of seasons. So I agree. Weird spot for that division. We do got a ton of listener mail to get into. You ready to start answering some questions? Let's do it.
00:48:39
Speaker
All right, so we'll start off with Sam Rosenthal. He says, when does the salary cap go away? The cutting of players and restructuring often is just excessive. What do you think, man? Are you a proponent of getting rid of the salary cap, or do you think that's the foundation of the NFL?
00:48:52
Speaker
Absolutely. They cannot get rid of the salary cap because it literally would ruin the NFL. The hard cap is what makes the NFL so much better than all the other sports. It is annoying when you see teams happen to get rid of some, you know, otherwise productive players, but you got to have it, man. It's what's made the NFL so great the last 30 years. Jerry Jones would literally pay $10 billion to get every good player in the NFL on his team. Like it would be the most miserable watch of all time.
00:49:18
Speaker
Yeah, one thing, you know, this isn't necessarily tied to the salary capping. One thing that I've always thought, dude, that I don't know, it seems like it would make so much more sense, man, it would help to avoid some of these restructurings. If instead of players signing for a dollar amount, if they just signed for a percentage of the salary cap, I feel like that would help make everything would make so much more sense if that's the way they did it, right? So that way, because the biggest issue is guys sign these deals, right? Like I signed a long term deal,
00:49:46
Speaker
Two years into the deal, they're underpaid, right? Because between inflation and the product making more and more money every year, the salary cap going up. If you're a top wide receiver 20 years ago, signing a deal that's making them like $8 million, nowadays, it's $25, $26 million, if not more.
00:50:04
Speaker
And I just think if you did it by a percentage of the salary cap, that number would naturally fluctuate. I know the players, the pushback to that is the players' union says, well, what if the owner started lowering the salary cap? It would lower players' pay. But when is the last time the salary cap dropped? I think the salary cap has dropped one time the entire time I've been watching the NFL.
00:50:24
Speaker
Yeah, I could see that working. You know what, dude, I think this is what's kind of screwing with the NFL now and everybody talks about it all the time. As far as the salary caps concerned. How does a team get away with just like converting in the middle of their contract like Josh Allen today converted $16 million into a signing bonus for your three years into his contract like
00:50:48
Speaker
I don't know, man. I just feel like they're all funny money. They need to be more transparent on how that even works. Like, dude, if you send someone to a contract, like I feel like doing this. I don't know, man. It just it seems so weird to me. And I feel like that's why a lot of the bad teams stay bad because teams get to do stuff like I mean, the Saints were the kings of doing it. Like, yeah, 40 million of Drew Brees money was just like paid out of pocket. I just.
00:51:15
Speaker
I don't know, man. It's just weird to me. If you remember back, man, for the fans that have been watching NFL long, you think about like back in the early 2000s, how much a bigger deal the salary cap scene, you know what I mean? Like you used to live and die by how much salary cap room your team had nowadays. It feels like it's not, I mean, it's still a thing, but it's not nearly as big a deal as it used to be. Because like you said, teams have gotten so creative and so complex with the way they structure these deals that
00:51:38
Speaker
It feels like no team's ever truly in like salary cap hell. Like you used to hear about back in the day, like it used to be back in the day, teams would literally just go into kind of a purgatory for, you know, a season or two or three because their salary cap had gotten so bad and that's how long it took to kind of bounce back from that. It's not really like that anymore. I personally liked that model better, honestly, because I feel like if you're bad with your cap and you sign players of bad contracts, I feel like you should be punished. And that was the punishment.
00:52:05
Speaker
It felt like it was easier to follow too, also. Like you would kind of know like, okay, hey, like these couple teams, like they're in a tough spot, you know, because they're salary caps in real bad shape. Nowadays, dude, like it's just not as big a part as it used to be. That used to be a lot more kind of active part of following the game. All right, Chad Smith, our buddy from Turnbuckle Tavern says, if you're in the Cowboys front office, what free agent running back are you targeting to sign? Derek Henry or another discounted back?
00:52:30
Speaker
I mean Derek Henry is about the only one left now at this point. Again, dude, the Cowboys always seem like they have like the worst plan when they hit free agency. It's like they don't start until a week after everybody else does I just I've never understood their
00:52:46
Speaker
They have drafted pretty well though, man, over the last decade or so. Maybe they just had a change of philosophy. Because back in the day, Cowboys would be the team banging down doors right at midnight, right when free agency opens, trying to win free agency every year. If you got a good track record in the draft, I think that helps you ease into free agency a little bit more.
00:53:12
Speaker
Chad also says give us a way too early prediction of a team that's viewed as a favorite next season but we'll have a shocking down here. I think the Niners are due, man, they've, you know, they've had such a good run, making the, you know, making it, excuse me, into the, you know, the final four. Oh, you know four times out of last five years including two Super Bowl runs.
00:53:32
Speaker
Outside the quarterback position for the most part they've been really really healthy and they've just had you know Just things tend to break the Niners way Super Bowl hangover is always a very a very real thing And I think that they could they could be facing that man, you know
00:53:47
Speaker
Brock Purdy, I'm a believer, but it's not totally outside their own possibility that that, you know, that stagecoach turns back into a pumpkin at some point this season. And, you know, we start to see maybe why he was the last pick in the draft. So I'll say Niners, man. That's my team most right for just a gigantic letdown this year.
00:54:05
Speaker
I think it's the bills, man. I really think the bills are going to regress a lot next season. And I know this isn't like the hottest take ever because they've just lost half their defense we talked about.
00:54:20
Speaker
Dude, I think bringing McDermott back is a mistake. I really do. I just, I think that team has done nothing but failing big moments under him. I feel like it's a direct reflection to him. I think Josh Allen's turnovers go up next year cause he's going to force it even more. Um, yeah, I just don't think, I think the jets are probably going to come up next year. I don't think the dolphins are going to be as good either. I think the jets end up winning that division, assuming Rogers stays healthy.
00:54:49
Speaker
Yeah, I see the bills when like
00:54:53
Speaker
eight, nine games. I just, I don't think they're going to be very good. Sean McDermott definitely has the vibes of, you know, like Tony Dungy with the bucks or more recently, John Fox with the Broncos where by any measure you've been successful as the head coach of that team, but sometimes you need another guy to come in to, you know, light a spark and, and get them over the hump. You saw Gruden do it with the bucks and take them to a super bowl in his first year. And then Gary Kubiak did it with the Broncos there in Peyton Manning's last season.
00:55:19
Speaker
Braden Berggren says why does Bryce Young suck so bad where I discussed that he also says go Titans. Hell yeah, man. Go Titans Mike Rivera just throws up the the Kirk Cousins Jordan. He wants to know if you like that
00:55:30
Speaker
like that. Kurt co chains, baby. Sam Rosen thought with another, what sports do you watch during non football? I keep, you know, I keep tabs on everything. The only thing I really like actively watch is, uh, NBA playoffs, man. What's the playoffs get going in the NBA. I'll kind of walk in on that. I really don't watch a lot. You know, I think Jordan probably is your tell us what sports he doesn't watch.
00:55:53
Speaker
Yeah. So once then, what's some of your favorites, man? What's some of your favorites that you look forward to to get you through the the slow months between football, college basketball, NBA. I just took a trip for college basketball, actually to New York, went to the garden to watch Creighton play. Creighton's my hometown team. So I follow them pretty close.
00:56:13
Speaker
Um, I love college baseball cause college world series comes to Omaha every year in June. Uh, obviously like the Cubs for MLB go to quite a few games every year. So yeah, Seth is right. It's probably easier for me to discuss what I don't watch. And then obviously I love NHL playoffs too. So.
00:56:31
Speaker
Jordan loves sports more than anyone I know. It could be any sports story that comes up that I'm not keeping close tabs on. I can just hit him up and he can give me like a debrief on it, man. So yeah, definitely the most knowledgeable sports fan in my life.
00:56:47
Speaker
Zach Hertzler says favorite free agent signing today. Is it Kurt co-chains, man? Is he your favorite of the day, Jordan? I was really interested. I didn't ask you point blank while we were texting about today, because I really want to say it for the air to hear how you felt. So just once and for all, man, let it fly, dude. You don't got to hold back. What's your excitement level? Kurt Cousins going to the Falcons.
00:57:06
Speaker
I mean, dude, considering I just sat through two years of Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ritter, I would say my excitement levels about a nine point five. Now, you know, downtrodden Jordan is at a at a five because Kirk Cousins is coming off Achilles. So so that part of Jordan is still there. But there's definitely some excitement level. I do think that was probably the best for agency signing of the day, just for the mere fact that
00:57:36
Speaker
Everyone has said it for the last two years, the Falcons were a quarterback away from being at least a decent team, if not a contender. So we'll see, man. We'll see if that's truly what it was.
00:57:49
Speaker
Let me set the scene. We're halfway through the second quarter in week one. Kirk Cousins goes down after re-injuring his Achilles. What are you doing as Desmond Ritter begins warming up on the sidelines and jogging onto the field? Let's just move on. I'd rather not think about what I would do in that scenario, Seth. Thanks, Seth. John Swallow says, will the NFC South be more interesting now, minus the Saints and Panthers?
00:58:16
Speaker
I feel like it's going to kind of be similar to what it was last year, man. There's a chance if, if Kirk hits like we think he could hit the Falcons could run away with it. Otherwise I see this still being like, you know, that kind of triangle of mediocrity we have last year between the saints pant between the saints bucks and Falcons where, you know, it, it comes down to the last couple of weeks, man. I don't think it's going to be that much more interesting. You know what the wild thing is, is like for the first time since
00:58:46
Speaker
2000 what was that 2004 2005 when the Saints got Drew Brees this is the most down I've ever seen Saints fans like it's like kicking a dog like that's just laying on the side of the road like that's what Saints fans are right now they're like another year car is our quarterback it sounds like Winston's gone he's going somewhere else you don't have that in the back of your mind when car goes down if we get to watch James Winston fling it around the yard like
00:59:14
Speaker
watching Saints fans misery has really given me life lately dude you want to win put James in man like did you see where the rumor is he's gonna sign the Browns
00:59:29
Speaker
If I'm the Sean Watson, I hate that dude. You're like the villain of the NFL, like completely unlikable, low key, actually high key kind of a bitch. And then you got the most charismatic, most likable, like the backup quarterback everybody loves is behind you. Like hell no, dude. But I'd rather have flackos old ass behind me than Jamis. Yeah, that is not good for old rapist Watson.
00:59:54
Speaker
I love Jamis, dude. Who doesn't? I'm here for the Jamis revival, dude, when he finally gets a shot, man. He's infectious, man. You can't help but love the guy, dude. He's going to eat a goby. Jon Svalbard also said what new coach would be the best hire. I think it's got to be Harbaugh in a landslide, man. Dude's been successful everywhere he's been.
01:00:18
Speaker
They got the quarterback in theory. We'll see. I think this is going to be a big year for Justin Herbert, man, just because all the hype has been there. The numbers have been there, dude, but sometimes it seems like it's all sizzle, no steak with him because he's flopped in some big moments also. But I think Harbaugh would definitely end up being the best hire from this crop. Yeah, it's a runaway, too. And then Mike Rivera had not a question, but a statement. He just said, as a Miami Dolphins fan, I hate every move today.
01:00:49
Speaker
Yeah, they are in dire straits, man. All right. So that's a wrap for our first off season episode of the goal line. We'll be back in two weeks with the one second. I got our schedule here. We'll be back in two weeks to take a look at the Cardinals and the commanders next time. Uh, you know, Jordan, thanks for coming back, man. It was awesome to get back and talk some football after a month off. Hit us with some closing thoughts and we'll get out of here.
01:01:14
Speaker
Yeah man, we got March Madness for coming up this weekend. We got a conference tournament starting. As always, enjoy the madness and we'll talk to you guys in two weeks.
01:01:44
Speaker
Cause my head's on fire I hate creeps and I hate liars Oh you are the grave cat secret that I never tell I'm up in heaven but I came from hell