Speaker 1: Strap on the boots and scrape up the knuckles ahead.
Speaker 1: He got Jack. This is the Big Red Rain presented
Speaker 1: by Santanford in Gilbert. Mary's Gonna score Touchdown. Slim to
Speaker 1: the Ground by Buddha Baker Like a torpedo, he came
Speaker 1: flying into the backfield. The Rage is brought to you
Speaker 1: by satan Ford in Gilbert. Are you Santanford State Farm?
Speaker 1: Talk to an agent today at eight hundred State Farm,
Speaker 1: And by Arizona Cardinals Podcasts Visit Acy Cardinals dot Com,
Speaker 1: Slash Podcasts, The Rods, Rising Guard, Temperatureizing Vision, Flurring, Rage,
Speaker 1: taking it over. Here's Paul KELVC. Get the popcorn ready.
Speaker 1: It's gonna be a show and Ron will flip. It
Speaker 1: doesn't get any better than that horn unleash. The farm
Speaker 1: might not know much, but I know this much, Ron Wolfley.
Speaker 1: The AFC West is loaded like a Ron Wolfley dinner
Speaker 1: play on Saint Patty's Day. I mean we're talking the corn, beef,
Speaker 1: the cabbage, the Irish bangers and mash the carts. I
Speaker 1: mean everything is right there in the AFC West. So
Speaker 1: you heard me take a shout at you earlier. Paul,
Speaker 1: you're saying somebody walked in mid afternoon or so and said,
Speaker 1: literally out of nowhere, hey, Calvc, your hair does not
Speaker 1: look like a Philly cheesteak, just so you know. And
Speaker 1: I said, what are you talking about? And sure enough,
Speaker 1: sure enough that it took me about four seconds. I said,
Speaker 1: let me guess. Were you in the car listening to
Speaker 1: a certain midday show. It is the Big Red Rage
Speaker 1: presented by Santan Ford and Gilbert. I don't care if
Speaker 1: wolves talking or not. We are Santana Ford, Paul Calvc here,
Speaker 1: Wolf over there, soon to be James Connor is going
Speaker 1: to joy us and join us here. And yeah, we
Speaker 1: will enjoy the conversation. I tell you that much. With
Speaker 1: James Conner, that was a big get. I know where
Speaker 1: all the headlines right now are coming out of the
Speaker 1: afcust And yes, Davante Adams have been traded to the
Speaker 1: Raiders for a round one and round two pick going
Speaker 1: back to the Green Bay Packers because he's going to
Speaker 1: ink a deal that's reportedly worth one hundred forty one
Speaker 1: million dollars, a five year deal max value one forty
Speaker 1: one plus and Wolf if nothing else, guess what that
Speaker 1: cardinal schedule? The NFC West. They picked the wrong year
Speaker 1: to match up with the afcust. I mean, we need
Speaker 1: to go back and like sue the NFL schedule makers
Speaker 1: right now. Holy, there's no doubt about it. You have
Speaker 1: to be kidding me. The AFC West. What a monster
Speaker 1: this is becoming this offseason due to free agency. Yeah,
Speaker 1: and we'll get into that. But speaking a free agency,
Speaker 1: let's get things started with the Cardinals and what has
Speaker 1: gone down already. We're going to detail the comings and
Speaker 1: the goings and guess what two tight ends, not one,
Speaker 1: but two tight ends sign on the line that has dotted.
Speaker 1: Here's Zach Ertz on why he never made it to
Speaker 1: the free agent market. When you find a good thing,
Speaker 1: you don't go looking for something else. They made it
Speaker 1: known that I was a priority from the moment this
Speaker 1: season ended. And to be in a place that respects
Speaker 1: you for not only what you do on the field,
Speaker 1: but off the field as well. The way you approach
Speaker 1: the game for me is valuable. You can't put a
Speaker 1: price on that. And so it truly is just something
Speaker 1: that I wanted to be here, and so for me,
Speaker 1: it was a no brainer. It's a three year deal.
Speaker 1: Reported thirty one point five million seventeen point five million
Speaker 1: guaranteed for the former Eagles Pro Bowl tight end. The
Speaker 1: Cardinals gave up a fifth round pick four last mid season.
Speaker 1: Ron Wolfley and Pauly, You know it was so interesting
Speaker 1: as well, was just the fact that zach is one correct.
Speaker 1: The Cardinals did target him. They did, They targeted zach Ertz, Paully.
Speaker 1: The question is, of course, why was it zach Ertz
Speaker 1: that they were targeting right here? Why was it not? Oh,
Speaker 1: I don't know another wide receiver that might be out
Speaker 1: there now. I know they signed zach Ertz before the
Speaker 1: free agent period. Of course, what they did that because
Speaker 1: they had a personnel grouping in mind, Paul, they had
Speaker 1: a paradigm shift offensively in mind when they signed zach Ertz.
Speaker 1: How many teams have we talked about this the last
Speaker 1: couple weeks right here in the Big Red Rage presented
Speaker 1: by santan Ford and Gilbert. How many teams have that
Speaker 1: dual tight end threat, especially in the NFC West. And
Speaker 1: so I think this really separates the Cardinals. You get
Speaker 1: zach Ertz, you get Max Williams. They've never played together
Speaker 1: because Max Williams went down in Week five and then
Speaker 1: zach Ertz showed up thereafter. But if they can get
Speaker 1: on the same page with Kyler Murray. In fact, here's
Speaker 1: zach Ertz talking about that that chemistry with his quarterback.
Speaker 1: Kyler and I got introduced to each other in the
Speaker 1: middle of the season, and then the middle of the season,
Speaker 1: most of those conversations were geared towards football and geared
Speaker 1: towards the next opponent we were playing, geared towards how
Speaker 1: we can be better. But I look forward to just
Speaker 1: continue to grow as friends. Obviously, I think he's a
Speaker 1: great friend to me. He's he's someone that I've loved
Speaker 1: playing with and for the past eleven games, and I
Speaker 1: think we're just really scratching the surface with our chemistry
Speaker 1: level on the football field, and so I'm excited to
Speaker 1: see where that goes in year two. Zach Ertz and
Speaker 1: James Connor and Justin Pew and Max Williams, What does
Speaker 1: this say to you, PAULI? What does this portend? You're
Speaker 1: talking about the veterans in the leadership and just the
Speaker 1: reliability and the fact that they're known quantities. Yes, PAULI
Speaker 1: not like that this. These signings right here, they paint
Speaker 1: a picture a picture, A picture, I should say when
Speaker 1: the Cardinals were five and old and seven and old,
Speaker 1: when the Cardinal's offense was one of the top three
Speaker 1: offenses in the football universe. They were talented, they were tough,
Speaker 1: they were physical. This is an acknowledgement of everything that
Speaker 1: they were before Max Williams went down. In my opinion,
Speaker 1: and somebody after the season said we're going to move
Speaker 1: away from eleven personnel, three wide receivers and rundown situation.
Speaker 1: Move away from that to twelve personnel. In other words,
Speaker 1: that third wide receiver is going to be replaced by
Speaker 1: zach Ertz in rundown situation with James Connor. I think
Speaker 1: this poort tends the Arizona Cardinals offense is going to
Speaker 1: be more physical and first and ten second and one
Speaker 1: to six classic rundown situations. Interesting, and you know what,
Speaker 1: it would make sense. I mean, you want to get
Speaker 1: your best weapons out there, right zach Ertz and Max Williams.
Speaker 1: Especially the way Max Williams played the first four and
Speaker 1: a half games of this season. That Minnesota game where
Speaker 1: he set career highs was seven catches for ninety four
Speaker 1: yards of receiving, had a big touchdown catch right early
Speaker 1: in that first month. I mean he was critical and
Speaker 1: then you cited this when you watch the film, the
Speaker 1: Cardinals run game is different when as with two xes,
Speaker 1: because you know I has that second X because he's
Speaker 1: a two way tight end. Right. That's right, PAULI, right there.
Speaker 1: I absolutely love it. Go back and look, the Cardinals
Speaker 1: basically said the first half of the season, that happened,
Speaker 1: that happened, and they believe what they saw happening was real,
Speaker 1: and that's what they want to get back to, only
Speaker 1: better this time because with zach Ertz and Max Williams
Speaker 1: as opposed to Max Williams and a third wide receiver,
Speaker 1: I think zach Ertz and Max Williams, especially in rundown
Speaker 1: situation in play action, oh my goodness, look out with
Speaker 1: that right there, that is going to be a great combination.
Speaker 1: It's going to be more physical and yet at the
Speaker 1: same time you're gonna have that play action pass man
Speaker 1: and you might see Kyler under center a little bit more.
Speaker 1: Because you're right that first month or so, that's seven
Speaker 1: and oh the ten and two, I should say, when
Speaker 1: they were a much more balanced offense, especially before the
Speaker 1: loss of Dha. But you know, that was a problem
Speaker 1: for opponents when the Cardinals got the run game going
Speaker 1: and the passing game and they were absolutely lethal. Max
Speaker 1: Williams was a big part of that. And now, unlike
Speaker 1: zach Ertz, he didn't meet the media this week. So
Speaker 1: the next best thing is for us to go back
Speaker 1: to the Pashpod, the recent episode that featured Frank Caliando
Speaker 1: the Man of a Million voices, calling a Max Williams
Speaker 1: touchdown as mel Kiper and John Madden Max Williams fourteen
Speaker 1: yard touchdown catch, let's start doing that as mel Kiper
Speaker 1: talk about tremendous snap snapped, Kyler Murray three step drop,
Speaker 1: lobs it deep through the middle of the end his
Speaker 1: own Max Williams double accident, the excellent single as on
Speaker 1: the Williams hangs in, He's a touchdown Williams over the middle,
Speaker 1: got pop but Kyler Murray with a beautiful touchdown thrown
Speaker 1: at the end of the day, the Cardinals are back
Speaker 1: in front. Let's do John Madden, I mean, I mean,
Speaker 1: what are you gonna do when when Max Williams runs
Speaker 1: the sea money on a great read by Kyler Murray.
Speaker 1: I mean, that's Kyler Murray just being Kyler Murray right there,
Speaker 1: he saw what do you need to do and boom.
Speaker 1: I mean, he just made it happen. That's frank Kellyano
Speaker 1: be Frank Kelliando the singular talent, that is Frankie. So
Speaker 1: that's outstanding stuff right there. Okay, so once again, Max
Speaker 1: Williams is back on board, Zach Ertz is on board.
Speaker 1: James Connor, we'll hear from him momentarily. We'll get into
Speaker 1: all that. You'll hear from the Cardinals Pro Bowl running
Speaker 1: back Justin Pugh. You mentioned he's now set to make
Speaker 1: a guaranteed salary reportedly a five point five million, took
Speaker 1: the pay cut, another one point five available and incentives.
Speaker 1: Dennis Gardeck is back. We'll talk about him a little
Speaker 1: bit later. Colton McCoy, Wolf, how important was it to
Speaker 1: get the backup quarter back on a two year deal,
Speaker 1: No doubt about it, Bully. That's set an awful lot
Speaker 1: right there. Colton McCoy coming in and being the mentor
Speaker 1: once again to Kyler Murray. This is a great relationship
Speaker 1: that they had last year. Of course, only one year
Speaker 1: in that quarterback room. So I'm looking forward to Colton
Speaker 1: McCoy coming back and being an in luins in regard
Speaker 1: to Kyler Murray right now, and once again, Paul, I
Speaker 1: really do believe this represents I could be dead wrong
Speaker 1: on this, Paul, Okay, hear me will on this. I
Speaker 1: could be dead wrong. Yet at the same time, I
Speaker 1: really do believe this represents a paradigm shift in the
Speaker 1: offensive meeting rooms for the Arizona Cardinals. I really do
Speaker 1: believe that moving away from a lot of eleven Last year, PAULI,
Speaker 1: in rundown situation, they were in eleven perconnel almost fifty
Speaker 1: seven percent of the time. Okay, fifty seven percent of
Speaker 1: the time. They were in twelve perconnel. Two tight ends
Speaker 1: in rundown situation twenty seven percent of the time. I
Speaker 1: think those are gonna flip. That's what I think is
Speaker 1: gonna happen. I think those are gonna flip. You're gonna
Speaker 1: see a lot more of the two tight ends with
Speaker 1: Max Williams and zach Ertz. That's why they prioritized zach
Speaker 1: Ertz because of the play action pass that is going
Speaker 1: to happen across the middle of the field, in particular
Speaker 1: with zach Ertz and Kay Murray. It is it is
Speaker 1: a big move. I think a paradigm shift inside the offense,
Speaker 1: all right, incoming and then outgoing real quick. Jordan Phillips
Speaker 1: and Jordan Hicks both released created salary cap room. And
Speaker 1: then you have Chandler Jones at his Raiders press conference today,
Speaker 1: Ron Wolfoy. If there is one urgent need right now,
Speaker 1: it's gotta be for an edge rusher. Gotta be on
Speaker 1: the edge, Paul, He no doubt about that, right. Who's
Speaker 1: out there right now? Paul? Who can you go get
Speaker 1: Darius Smith? Backed out? That would be bad? Right? You
Speaker 1: also throw out a name. Yes, Danil Hunter is to
Speaker 1: like an eighteen million dollars guaranteed payment by the end
Speaker 1: of this week. I think it's Sunday or so. I see,
Speaker 1: they're a speculation he might be available. Yeah, you know,
Speaker 1: and again what could you get him for? Right? How
Speaker 1: much would you have to pay? But Daniel Hunter? Okay,
Speaker 1: Paul sold you got me. I'd be all over that,
Speaker 1: of course. And it's sounds like something that Steve Kim
Speaker 1: might be able to pull off. But the money that
Speaker 1: could be prohibitive. All right, Christian Kirk Chase Edmonds speaking
Speaker 1: a prohibit of money. Christian Kirk got the bag and
Speaker 1: then some may contract with a base value of seventy
Speaker 1: two million, a max value of eighty four million, thirty
Speaker 1: seven million fully guaranteed for Christian Kirk. Did you see
Speaker 1: that coming, Paul with Dustian Kirk, did you meet that?
Speaker 1: We were told behind the scenes and we talked about
Speaker 1: it the last month or so. The market was going
Speaker 1: to be robust. But when he's better paid, then basically
Speaker 1: accept all except a half dozen receivers in the game. Yeah,
Speaker 1: that's because you're Jacksonville and you have to overpay. If
Speaker 1: you're Jacksonville, just go back to the Klais Campbell signing.
Speaker 1: What's upon a time? Yeah, that honestly, that blew my
Speaker 1: mind right there. Chandler Jones again, and by the way,
Speaker 1: I'm very happy for Christian Kirk. I want to say
Speaker 1: that you know a guy, hey, prison, this is what
Speaker 1: players do. They get paid. They go out and they perform,
Speaker 1: and then you get a contract and you get compon
Speaker 1: sated and never forget when you play this game. It's
Speaker 1: a dangerous game, the game of football. Of course, when
Speaker 1: you play this game and you play it hard, man,
Speaker 1: you want that check and that's important. Setting up you
Speaker 1: and taking care of your family for the rest of
Speaker 1: your life, Lord Willie, of course. But for me, I'm
Speaker 1: all for it. Christian Kirk, I'm so happy for him.
Speaker 1: But that's something the Arizona Cardinals could never pay him,
Speaker 1: just could never pay Christian Kirk. That kind of money
Speaker 1: not feasible. Chase Edmonds, he gets a big money at least,
Speaker 1: I mean, think about it. Even he tweeted out a
Speaker 1: kid for it went to Fordham, a mid round pick
Speaker 1: who made his way in the NFL, A twelve million
Speaker 1: dollar deal, six point one guarantee. Awesome as Kyler Murray
Speaker 1: tweeted out, quote, gonna miss going to war with my
Speaker 1: guy Chase Edmonds, Miam he got a dog was the
Speaker 1: tweet there and absolute. You know, the media really needs
Speaker 1: some good interviews back in the locker room, missing Chase
Speaker 1: Edmonds and Christian Kirk right now, that's we have needs
Speaker 1: and wants as well. There go two guys, are they now?
Speaker 1: Pollis yes, they are, no doubt about it. And you
Speaker 1: know what those guys and you know this will win
Speaker 1: or lose. Those guys would join us after every game
Speaker 1: broadcast from the locker room. They would answer all the
Speaker 1: questions stand up dudes and We're happy to see they
Speaker 1: got paid. And now we'll see how the Cardinals cope.
Speaker 1: In fact, we'll talk to the new RB. One is
Speaker 1: his job, to be clear. James Conner will join us
Speaker 1: next and by the way, join the Cardinal season ticket
Speaker 1: priority lists for the twenty twenty two season. We talked
Speaker 1: about that schedule. Are you kidding me? The NFCUS plus
Speaker 1: the Buccaneers, the Saints, the Chiefs, the Chargers, the Patriots,
Speaker 1: and the Eagles all at home. That is acy Cardinals
Speaker 1: dot com slash priority list for more info. James Conner
Speaker 1: on the other side, it is the Big Red Rage
Speaker 1: presented by Santan four in Gilbert cut cut down right now,
Speaker 1: first and goal on the one. The line up Kyler
Speaker 1: Murray under the center and put James Conner deep in
Speaker 1: the backfield seven yards. Already takes quick pitch barside Connor
Speaker 1: in the last two plus games. You already know cool,
Speaker 1: I got it all. We know it. We know it now.
Speaker 1: The NFL knows it now. They found out the hard
Speaker 1: way after eighteen total touchdowns a Pro Bowl campaign. And
Speaker 1: now we know that James conn is on board long term,
Speaker 1: a three year contract and he joins us now. On
Speaker 1: the Big Red Rage, presented by Satan Ford and Gilbert.
Speaker 1: Congratulations James, thank you, thank you, thank you much. Appreciate
Speaker 1: it that when you're miked up like that, by the way,
Speaker 1: does that fire you up a little bit more? Do
Speaker 1: you ever learn anything about yourself when you go back
Speaker 1: and see and hear yourself in action? It's always nice to,
Speaker 1: you know, to go back and see, you know, because
Speaker 1: when you in the moment so much, you know, it's
Speaker 1: like you don't know what you sound like or how
Speaker 1: you are. But just to sit back on a couch
Speaker 1: and it's not game day, you're not fired up, you know.
Speaker 1: It's just it's funny to see how things change, you know.
Speaker 1: But um, you know, being miked up is cool for sure.
Speaker 1: I don't like it. I like it, man. I liked
Speaker 1: your nickname for Cliff Kingsbury, Cliff kissel So. And I
Speaker 1: guess any play call is a good play call if
Speaker 1: he's calling your number, I imagine, of course, if I
Speaker 1: hear him getting the ball in the hoddle, it's an
Speaker 1: excellent call. How often after the player is called, your
Speaker 1: number is called, and you're standing there right before the snap,
Speaker 1: how often do you know, oh, Yeah, this is gonna work.
Speaker 1: This play is gonna hit. Um. You know, it's just
Speaker 1: it's a combination everything. It's where you add on the field,
Speaker 1: you know, and whatever play it is. But um, you
Speaker 1: know when we get in that red zone, you know,
Speaker 1: I like to think every time it is that time,
Speaker 1: you know, whether you know wherever we're at. So um,
Speaker 1: But no, manage. It's a mindset thing, you know, when
Speaker 1: it's it's trust. You know, you got the carrying a
Speaker 1: whole team with you when you know you're getting the ball. Um.
Speaker 1: And so it's just you know, running back especially is
Speaker 1: all reaction you know for the most part. So it's exciting, man,
Speaker 1: That's the best way I can put it. It's exciting
Speaker 1: to know you're gonna get the ball, you know, living
Speaker 1: your dream mindset. And I've said this in the off season.
Speaker 1: I hope you're okay with this. I said, you know what,
Speaker 1: James Connor, he's not just a playmaker, he's a mentality.
Speaker 1: Absolutely you consider that part of your job to try
Speaker 1: and rub that off on other guys, don't you. Absolutely? Um,
Speaker 1: you know it's it's part of leadership thing. And it's
Speaker 1: also just who I am, you know, I see people
Speaker 1: talking about the numbers and whatever it may be. And
Speaker 1: they like to dis label running backs running backs, but
Speaker 1: much more than that, you know, I'm not, I am
Speaker 1: a running back, but like you said, mindset, like I
Speaker 1: like to set the tone for things, um, you know,
Speaker 1: just being being my best self. You know, I get
Speaker 1: more to this team than just touchdowns, you know, and
Speaker 1: so I take pride in that. So you're aware that
Speaker 1: when you flatten a defender that you fire up the sideline.
Speaker 1: Got I mean got you call bullyball, right, define that man.
Speaker 1: Football is a man on a man every time. You know,
Speaker 1: it'll really never change, and that's what the game is.
Speaker 1: And sometimes you just got to be a bully somebody
Speaker 1: in your way. You gotta you know, force someb out
Speaker 1: of your way and may just be more physical and
Speaker 1: so you know, being a bully. When you think of
Speaker 1: a bully, when you think of you think of somebody
Speaker 1: physical and all of that type of stuff. So it's
Speaker 1: just bulle ball. Because down on the sideline, I'll see
Speaker 1: you after a play like that or a drive like that,
Speaker 1: You'll finish a play with a physical run, a touchdown run,
Speaker 1: and then you'll come back and you'll you'll purposely go
Speaker 1: after the defense, right, you try and fire them up
Speaker 1: to carry it forward. Of course, that's what football is.
Speaker 1: It's um, it's emotion, it's energy, it's momentum. You know.
Speaker 1: We got to feed off of each other. There's three
Speaker 1: phases in the game and all looking to accomplish one goal,
Speaker 1: so we at war. What's it like to go into
Speaker 1: the four minute offense and close out a game? You
Speaker 1: guys did that quite often, and that ten and two start,
Speaker 1: I mean, heck, it was a lot more than four minutes.
Speaker 1: I think you ran off eleven minutes against the Rams
Speaker 1: in the fourth quarter. There were like eleven run plays
Speaker 1: on a twall play drive at Cleveland, right close down.
Speaker 1: What's that like? How enjoyable is that as a running
Speaker 1: back in a fourth quarter to It's enjoyable to see,
Speaker 1: you know, the offensive lineman getting into it and pumped up,
Speaker 1: you know, like it just builds confidence in it. Also,
Speaker 1: it's just um, it's power. It's uh, imposing your will,
Speaker 1: you know, and just closing that ball out and then
Speaker 1: you get to the best formation of football, you know,
Speaker 1: the victory formation. Can't beat it, you know. James Connor
Speaker 1: our guest here, Cardinals running back. It's a three year deal.
Speaker 1: Do you have a favorite touchdown? I know there's a
Speaker 1: lot to choose from. He had eighteen, Yes, I mean,
Speaker 1: but I mean you had the forty five yard catcher
Speaker 1: run against the Niners. You had the one hander against
Speaker 1: the Bears, and then Cliff Kingsbury raced down the sideline
Speaker 1: to give your congratulations. I mean, there was even the
Speaker 1: wildcat touchdown against the Rams of Monday nights, right might
Speaker 1: that might have been one would be either that one
Speaker 1: or the one before while I broke Aaron Donald's touched down.
Speaker 1: You know, that's my big brother, that's my guy. And
Speaker 1: so for him to be clean and and me shake
Speaker 1: them off, you know, were just lifting together a couple
Speaker 1: of days ago, you know, and so he was like,
Speaker 1: I was pissed he scored that one. You know. So
Speaker 1: even though it's just a one yard one that was
Speaker 1: there was so much behind it. Now, wait a minute,
Speaker 1: True or false? You were a defensive lineman in high school? Yes, sir? Really? Yes?
Speaker 1: Did you enjoy that? I loved it? I love I
Speaker 1: still to this day. I love defense. I got my
Speaker 1: scholarship to go to PI as a defensive end. Really yeah,
Speaker 1: I committed before my senior year at high school started,
Speaker 1: I went to the prospect camp. Um. This is all
Speaker 1: in my book too, by the West here as a
Speaker 1: choice nice. Um, But yeah, I went to the camp
Speaker 1: and then uh, my senior year, I was playing running
Speaker 1: back in the they call. They said, hey, when you
Speaker 1: get the pit, we want you to play running back.
Speaker 1: But but defense has always been you know, my love.
Speaker 1: You know, I've always loved defense, and I'm all right
Speaker 1: at it. Is that why you and Aaron Donald get
Speaker 1: along so? Well? Maybe? Yeah, all right, we got a
Speaker 1: little half sack together in our bowl game versus Bowling
Speaker 1: Green my freshman year at Pitt and his senior year. Yeah,
Speaker 1: we combined. I think we met at the quarterback. So
Speaker 1: that's something I hold on to too. So how motivating
Speaker 1: is it now that Aaron Donald has a ring? Yes,
Speaker 1: I'm supermoder I'm motivated more than ever. And the super
Speaker 1: Bowl was at our house next year, yeah, you know.
Speaker 1: And then so it's like, it's only right, we have
Speaker 1: so many great opportunities for this thing just to be
Speaker 1: an incredible story. You know, how we can end it,
Speaker 1: you know, after after next season, And so I'm gonna
Speaker 1: do my best to this lead, get everybody on the
Speaker 1: same same page, and uh, we have an opportunity to
Speaker 1: do something really special. Because James, I'm sure you've heard it,
Speaker 1: and it goes for your position group. There are a
Speaker 1: lot of people who are resistant to giving veteran running
Speaker 1: backs that big, long term deal. What would you say
Speaker 1: to people who have that fear? Man, If you've got
Speaker 1: a playmaker, you know, let just let him make plays.
Speaker 1: You know, that's what it is. You know, I know,
Speaker 1: I know what I'm capable of. I know what I
Speaker 1: bring to the table. You know, I see I see
Speaker 1: I see a ring in my future. But as far
Speaker 1: as you know, being a veteran, you know, I see leadership.
Speaker 1: You know I'm gonna get to another program. I'm gonna
Speaker 1: continue to score a touchdowns, I'm gonna do all of
Speaker 1: that and so and bring this mindset to a team.
Speaker 1: And uh, I think A Z showed me that they
Speaker 1: believed in me. Did you have to prove yourself with
Speaker 1: your hands? Even your own position? Coach James Saxon, we
Speaker 1: love Sacks right, and we had him on the Big
Speaker 1: Red Rage in August and we asked him about you
Speaker 1: and how you'd be utilized. And I think we brought
Speaker 1: up the passing game. He said, now, guys, just hang on,
Speaker 1: you don't put an elephant in a sailboat. That was
Speaker 1: that was his line about you. Okay, but there you
Speaker 1: were making those one handed grabs and even Cliff Kingsbury
Speaker 1: said he did not realize what he had when it
Speaker 1: came to the passing game with you. Yeah, you know
Speaker 1: this this game, you know, you have to continue to
Speaker 1: prove yourself week after the week. I've always believed in
Speaker 1: my hands and knew what I was capable of. Um,
Speaker 1: you know, and uh, I surprised myself of a song
Speaker 1: you know, you know what in Chicago in the rain
Speaker 1: and all that with the left and all that good stuff.
Speaker 1: You know. But you know there's more players to be made.
Speaker 1: I gotta continue to make great catches and uh and
Speaker 1: do all that for this team. But it'll be something
Speaker 1: I got to prove to till I'm done. So that's
Speaker 1: why in the press conference you called yourself an athlete, right, yes, right, absolutely, yeah.
Speaker 1: So where do you see this offense evolving? What is
Speaker 1: the next step you think for this offense? And the
Speaker 1: next step is just to to we got to just
Speaker 1: play as one play as a unit and just believe
Speaker 1: be bought in because we had more than enough weapons,
Speaker 1: you know. And uh, and so we're just gonna look back.
Speaker 1: You know, last year we got limited it out of
Speaker 1: the playoffs, and so I'm gonna look to see one
Speaker 1: way wrong and why and just correct that. That's the
Speaker 1: next step going for how much pain were you in
Speaker 1: in that playoff game? Yeah, it was painful. It was
Speaker 1: painful for sure, you know, but it was all or nothing,
Speaker 1: you know what I mean. It was when I go home. So, um,
Speaker 1: you gotta put that on the back burner. And you
Speaker 1: brought this up in your press conference. We're on board
Speaker 1: with James Connor, Cardinal's Pro Bowl running back that look,
Speaker 1: you face down cancer in your life, So anything football
Speaker 1: related isn't nearly the same challenge, isn't. O. No, it's
Speaker 1: not the same challenge. It's it's not life for death.
Speaker 1: They know. Um, you just gotta have fun with it
Speaker 1: and just enjoy it. You know. It's temporary, Like I
Speaker 1: like I said, I know, I know one day, you know,
Speaker 1: we can't play football forever. So while we're in it,
Speaker 1: we just can't look back, and we just gotta we
Speaker 1: just gotta ball out and just have so much fun
Speaker 1: with it because you know it's coming to an end
Speaker 1: one one day. Because guys talk about you at practice.
Speaker 1: We're not out there, but they talk about your spirit
Speaker 1: at practice. Is that partially where it comes from? Maybe
Speaker 1: just you're enjoying it right right? Right? Um? You know,
Speaker 1: my family likes to say, you know everything else and
Speaker 1: I was just a bonus. You know you've been through
Speaker 1: the hardest part. I still get this my all too. Though.
Speaker 1: What would you like to achieve this year? I mean,
Speaker 1: you have eighteen total touchdowns, you got the Pro Bowl?
Speaker 1: I mean what's next for you? And and how did
Speaker 1: things change if you are the premiere every down running
Speaker 1: back without Chase Edmonds. I believe I'm capable of that,
Speaker 1: you know, but uh, what else? What's next for me
Speaker 1: is just like I said, to be the best athlete
Speaker 1: I can be. But also I want to play in
Speaker 1: a big game. You don't want to play in that
Speaker 1: big game and win it. And it's like I said,
Speaker 1: especially that it's uh that it's estate farm this year,
Speaker 1: like Aaron Donald, Right, Yeah, he's not gonna retire or
Speaker 1: is he? Come on now? Yeah, nah, I'm I'm not
Speaker 1: sure I'm gonna speak for her, but he did. He
Speaker 1: did tell me he was addicted to the feeling, you know,
Speaker 1: he said, uh, he said he thought, you know, when
Speaker 1: you know, whenever you know, he went to win a
Speaker 1: super Bowl, that might be it, um, you know, but
Speaker 1: working out with him and whatnot, he said, he addicted
Speaker 1: to that feeling. Man. You know, you see you see
Speaker 1: Brady coming back. You know. So I guess when when
Speaker 1: I winning is in you and you get to get
Speaker 1: a chance to experience it, you want more of it.
Speaker 1: So I wouldn't be surprised if we see more ad
Speaker 1: next year she will retire. Yeah, I know, I know.
Speaker 1: My goodness. Well, congrat relationship again. Appreciate you guys. There
Speaker 1: you go. James Connor Pro Bowl running back here on
Speaker 1: the Big Red Rage Bullyball. As we said, a mentality
Speaker 1: not just a playmaker. Will continue with a Big Red
Speaker 1: Rage presented by Satan Ford in Gilbert. Right after this
Speaker 1: corner number, let go and Jeff Cladening like a shot
Speaker 1: shot sea him down. I'm getting married. There you go,
Speaker 1: Jeff Gladden, he miked up part of the Vikings Radio Network.
Speaker 1: There Paul Allen on the call, the former first round
Speaker 1: pick of the Vikings twenty twenty and now an Arizona
Speaker 1: Cardinal on a two year deal. Five ten one, nine
Speaker 1: pound cornerback. Definitely a position of need and to be
Speaker 1: able to pull him out and a guy who's still
Speaker 1: well young set out last season. But Wolf, if nothing
Speaker 1: else here on the Big Red Race presented by santan
Speaker 1: Ford and Gilbert, Jeff Gladney appears to have all the
Speaker 1: measurables you would need in a guy who could be
Speaker 1: a number one or a number two corner in this system. Yeah,
Speaker 1: now you're right about that, Paulie, and I expect an
Speaker 1: awful lot from Jeff Gladney because I think the Arizona
Speaker 1: Cardinals are going to give him every opportunity to be
Speaker 1: one of their top three corners. They see him, I'm
Speaker 1: told they see him as a starting corner. Now in
Speaker 1: the NFL, you've got to have three corners. You have
Speaker 1: to have that so much of the time you're in
Speaker 1: nickel out on the field where you've got three corners.
Speaker 1: So obviously with Byron Murphy, with Marco Wilson and Jeff Gladney,
Speaker 1: it appears as though the heros under Cardinals think he's
Speaker 1: gonna be that number three corner Yeah, I traded some
Speaker 1: info with some of the folks as part of that process,
Speaker 1: and absolutely Wolf. They think he's gonna quote make an
Speaker 1: impact right away. And you know he can play insider
Speaker 1: out He has exceptional footspeed, the quickness. He's known to
Speaker 1: be really tough. He said he would have run in
Speaker 1: the low four fours. He ran a four four eight
Speaker 1: at the combine, but he actually competed in the combine
Speaker 1: with a torn meniscus. Ye think about that. He just said,
Speaker 1: you know what I want to get out there, I
Speaker 1: want to compete. Tells you a lot about, you know,
Speaker 1: just the mindset in the physicality. And that's one thing
Speaker 1: about the cardinal secondary, right every guy who's a big
Speaker 1: part of that secondary will hit you. Doesn't hesitate to
Speaker 1: be physical. No, you're right, Polly about that. It's very
Speaker 1: interesting what's going to happen with the defense going forward
Speaker 1: right now. One of the things I think Advanced Joseph
Speaker 1: had to do last year was play a lot more
Speaker 1: zone than he really is comfortable with, playing a lot
Speaker 1: more zone because of the secondary and how banged up
Speaker 1: the secondary got. But I think we've got to remember
Speaker 1: as well, Paully, that the secondary had a defensive quarterback rating.
Speaker 1: The entire defense for the Arizona Cardinals at a defensive
Speaker 1: quarterback rating that was in the top five ten to
Speaker 1: twelve weeks through the season. Ball in the top five. Now, listen,
Speaker 1: you know, you know you just can't take a stat
Speaker 1: and just absolutely it's the end all be all, But
Speaker 1: a defensive quarterback rating is a really good metric that
Speaker 1: measures just how effective a defense is against a passing
Speaker 1: offense in the National Football League, And they were in
Speaker 1: the top five through ten twelve weeks of the season,
Speaker 1: and then Robert Alfred went down. Robert Alfred went down.
Speaker 1: That was a big loss, Paul, he was playing so well,
Speaker 1: and Marco Wilson hit a wall, and even Byron Murphy
Speaker 1: seemed to step back. Yeah, here was the stat. It was.
Speaker 1: It was Week fourteen, the Monday night loss against the
Speaker 1: Rams at home, where the Cardinals gave up three chunk
Speaker 1: plays passing plays of forty plus yards. They had given
Speaker 1: up three all season to date, and then they gave
Speaker 1: up three in that single game. So to your point, yes,
Speaker 1: that secondary, specially after the loss of Robert Alford, just
Speaker 1: got a little discombobulated and or hit the wall, and
Speaker 1: so boom. They bring in Jeff Gladney on the two
Speaker 1: year deal, guy who went against Jalen Rager at TCU
Speaker 1: and credits that with his ability to play man and
Speaker 1: run with elite speedsters. So I think everyone's curious to
Speaker 1: see him. How about the mentality though, the James Conner interview,
Speaker 1: I mean, when he was talking about how football is
Speaker 1: a motion, it's energy, it's momentum quote unquote, right when
Speaker 1: he's saying I'm more than a running back. I'm bringing
Speaker 1: my mindset to this team. I think we got an
Speaker 1: idea why he was the number one priority in the offseason.
Speaker 1: It's not just James Conner the player, it is the mentality. Yeah,
Speaker 1: there's no dot about it. And I know this, Paul, listen,
Speaker 1: I block for Kevin Mack. Kevin Mack would truck you,
Speaker 1: all right. I mean that was his nickname, Mack Truck, right,
Speaker 1: Truck was Kevin Max's nickname. Of course he would truck you.
Speaker 1: And you know Jerome Bettis as well. Those two guys, Paul,
Speaker 1: I can tell you right now when they would line
Speaker 1: up and they would absolutely run over somebody. Everybody comes
Speaker 1: off the sideline, everybody, it doesn't matter where you are, Man,
Speaker 1: It fires you up, especially the defense when they watch
Speaker 1: a running back go while out there and give what
Speaker 1: he's got and lay it on the line and hammer
Speaker 1: somebody running over, choosing the third rail of running the football,
Speaker 1: not going to the left, not going to the right,
Speaker 1: but going straight over a defender. That is the essence
Speaker 1: of the game of football, and it brings everybody. Even
Speaker 1: quarterbacks will stand up all and watch that and get
Speaker 1: fired up when somebody does that, and that is James Conner. Yeah,
Speaker 1: you are so right. I mean, I can't tell you
Speaker 1: how often that happened this year. On the sideline. Defensive
Speaker 1: guys sitting on the bench, the three hundred pounders enjoy
Speaker 1: a cup of gatorade and they're looking up at the
Speaker 1: big screen and there's James Connor, either Jack stopping somebody
Speaker 1: in the open field or a dB turns it down
Speaker 1: and makes it his decision. They're off the bench pumping
Speaker 1: their fist. You heard him when we asked him about
Speaker 1: the four minute offense and the Cardinals did that when
Speaker 1: that ten and two start again. To your point, man,
Speaker 1: they got into that four minute offense how many times?
Speaker 1: And he said it, quote, it's imposing your will end quote.
Speaker 1: And that's what they did so often, was when they
Speaker 1: went to the run game in the fourth quarter with
Speaker 1: a lead. Yeah, Paul, you know what, I love it
Speaker 1: when you say that. You say that a lot that
Speaker 1: James Connor is more than just a running back. He's
Speaker 1: a mentality. I really, I mean, that's what it is.
Speaker 1: Steve Kim wanted to get more physical, he wanted better
Speaker 1: leadership in the locker room, and he wanted to become
Speaker 1: more physical. James Connor is the epitome of those two
Speaker 1: things right there, and exactly what Steve Kim I think
Speaker 1: was thinking. The only other thing I want to say
Speaker 1: here he was really really vague in regard to what
Speaker 1: the offense might be when you asked him about the
Speaker 1: evolution of this ovel, what might that actually be? Paul?
Speaker 1: You actually asked a very celluent question right there. It
Speaker 1: was really a good question, but I didn't get an
Speaker 1: answer though, for both disappointed for just a sideline guy
Speaker 1: that was well bought out by you, PAULI. And he did.
Speaker 1: He was very very vague on that one right there.
Speaker 1: And I say, I think I understand why how many
Speaker 1: guys get a D one scholarship as a defensive end
Speaker 1: and then become a Pro Bowl running back. I love that, man.
Speaker 1: I did not know that. I'm gonna be honest, I
Speaker 1: did not know that. I did not know. His freshman year,
Speaker 1: he had a half sack along with Aaron Donald in
Speaker 1: a Pit Bowl game against Bowling Green. They met at
Speaker 1: the quarterback together. That is unbelievable. He's been lifting with
Speaker 1: Aaron Donald and so and Aaron Donald, by the way,
Speaker 1: is still mad according to James Conner that James Conner
Speaker 1: shook him for that touchdown run against the Rams earlier
Speaker 1: this year. So that was all great stuff from the
Speaker 1: Cardinals Pro Bowl running back. We're gonna come back. We're
Speaker 1: gonna talk more about what the Cardinals have, what they
Speaker 1: still need, what's been going on around the NFL. The
Speaker 1: a f C West are all on the Cardinal schedule.
Speaker 1: The NSC West will look over the block wall as
Speaker 1: we continue with a big Red Raid presented by Santan
Speaker 1: four Kane Gilbert. Shotgun snap hurts a short set steps up,
Speaker 1: being chased far side by Guardek sacks up at the
Speaker 1: forty one yard line. Dennis Gardeck has become the sack machine.
Speaker 1: Shotgun snap hurts with a short set in trouble, steps up,
Speaker 1: gets hit and sacked. Dennis Cardek was there first. Somebody
Speaker 1: hit the stroll Baby Gard, Deckie Gard, Deckie Gard, Deckie
Speaker 1: Tyler Murray biked up and yeah, that's that's symbolic of
Speaker 1: the sideline. I'll just say that much. I mean the
Speaker 1: sideline just eight that up in two thousand and twenty
Speaker 1: when he had set evan sacks in just ninety three
Speaker 1: defensive snaps. After down went Chandler Jones Week five against
Speaker 1: the Jets, and there was Dennis Gardeck coming out in
Speaker 1: his first defensive snaps ever. The two time team captain
Speaker 1: Special Teams, and he is on board with a three
Speaker 1: year contract this week an undrafted free agent twenty eighteen.
Speaker 1: So you never quite know what's in store for a
Speaker 1: lot of these guys. As we wrap up this edition
Speaker 1: of The Big Red Rage presented by Santan Ford in
Speaker 1: Gilbert Wolf, how much of yourself, honestly, as a four
Speaker 1: time pro bowler on special teams do you see in
Speaker 1: Dennis Gardeck. Oh you know what, Pollyeah, I think he's
Speaker 1: a better athlete than I was. Okay, I'm just gonna
Speaker 1: straight line speed. I did I actually had some really
Speaker 1: good straight line speed. But I think Dennis Gardeck is
Speaker 1: a better athlete than I was. He's able to move
Speaker 1: laterally a lot better than I was. Special teams very similar, Polly,
Speaker 1: I would say, very very similar. And how we both
Speaker 1: play just giving get everything you've got. I think that's
Speaker 1: Dennis Gardek and that definitely is what I had to do,
Speaker 1: otherwise I would not have been in the league. Paula
Speaker 1: talking to the media this week, Dennis Gardeck gave a
Speaker 1: lot of a lot of props to Chandler Jones for
Speaker 1: helping him as a pass rusher and trying to learn
Speaker 1: that position. And he brought up twenty twenty and the
Speaker 1: stat is unbelievable to seven sacks and ninety three defensive snaps.
Speaker 1: He also had like ten quarterback hits. I mean, he
Speaker 1: was a force. And I asked him about it and
Speaker 1: he said, you know, he does wonder, you know, and
Speaker 1: he said, he understands if people wonder if it was
Speaker 1: a fluke. And so that's his mission to go out
Speaker 1: there this year and prove that he can be legitimate
Speaker 1: off the edge. And right now, if you look at
Speaker 1: the Cardinals in free agency, losing Chandler Jones. They need
Speaker 1: a pass rusher the other team's offensive coordinator is going
Speaker 1: to have to account for and game plan for. Yeah, PAULI,
Speaker 1: And there are some guys that are out there. There's
Speaker 1: some names that are out there as well. I don't
Speaker 1: know if the Arizona Cardinals actually have the finances to
Speaker 1: be involved in any of these Darius Smith, of course,
Speaker 1: Dante followed Junior, Jadeveon Clowney, Melvin Ingram. I have no idea,
Speaker 1: Paul if they could sign any of these guys at
Speaker 1: this point in time. But you know, there is that
Speaker 1: one name, It's Jadavion Clowney. To me, it's it's that
Speaker 1: one name right there. Um, this is a guy that
Speaker 1: it does bother me that he's been knocked around the
Speaker 1: NFL for as big of a talent as I think
Speaker 1: he is. But he's still only twenty nine years old, Paullie.
Speaker 1: And he's just had nine sacks last year in fourteen games,
Speaker 1: and he played with and JJ Watt. Yes, that right there, PAULI.
Speaker 1: That's very interesting to me. I'd like that. That's interesting. Yeah,
Speaker 1: And well, look, by the way, the Deshaun Watson update
Speaker 1: desk a little bit ago it came out that Carolina
Speaker 1: is out. The sweeps stakes are down to Atlanta or
Speaker 1: New Orleans. Browns are out, Panthers are out. It's going
Speaker 1: to be either the Falcons or the Saints. And guess what.
Speaker 1: Both those teams are on the Cardinals schedule this year.
Speaker 1: Have you taken a look at the Cardinal schedule playing
Speaker 1: the AFC West and then some of the other teams
Speaker 1: that are along with the Patriots, And are you kidding?
Speaker 1: The schedule is absolutely loaded. Ron Wolf, They're playing the Buccaneers.
Speaker 1: Tom Brady is back. They're gonna play to Shaun Watson
Speaker 1: with either the Saints or the Falcons, they have both
Speaker 1: of them. The AFC West is on the Cardinals schedule.
Speaker 1: They're going on the road in the AFC West to
Speaker 1: the Broncos and the Raiders. And we know the Davante
Speaker 1: Adams news today. Your reaction to that trade, Yeah, no, oh,
Speaker 1: my goodness, Fallow was huge. First of all, let me
Speaker 1: just say the schedule it does look brutal right now,
Speaker 1: It really does. Even though the National Football League is
Speaker 1: a year to year proposition. Never forget that, Paulli. It
Speaker 1: is a year to year proposition right now. A lot
Speaker 1: of guys. A lot of things can actually happen. Guys
Speaker 1: can walk away from contracts, guys can get injured. Of course,
Speaker 1: we all understand that we had a front row seat
Speaker 1: to that last year and what it can do to
Speaker 1: a football team. So again, I know it may look
Speaker 1: that way right now, but it is really a year
Speaker 1: to year proposition. It doesn't look good when you look
Speaker 1: at the AFC West and say that's the division you're
Speaker 1: going to play. I mean, yeah, that sucks, buttermilk, Paul,
Speaker 1: there's no doubt about it. I tweeted out earlier at
Speaker 1: Paul Kelvas that the AFC West needs its own channel.
Speaker 1: They need to launch the AFC West network like the
Speaker 1: SEC does to the college game. That's when the AFC
Speaker 1: West is becoming because you realize the quarterbacks are mahomes
Speaker 1: justin Herbert Russell Wilson, Derek Carr. The pass rushers are
Speaker 1: Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack on the Chargers, Chandler Jones
Speaker 1: and Max Crosby with the Raiders, Randy Gregory and Bradley
Speaker 1: Chubb with the Broncos, and then Chris Jones and Frank
Speaker 1: Clark with Kansas City. Stop it I mean, the talent unbelievable,
Speaker 1: is staggering. And now I don't know what. I don't
Speaker 1: know what Aaron Rodgers thinks right now. All I know
Speaker 1: is if he was angry when they drafted Jordan Love.
Speaker 1: I'd love to hear what he has to say about
Speaker 1: them losing Davanta Adams for a first in a second
Speaker 1: rounder because they couldn't afford him. I know, PAULI honestly,
Speaker 1: they couldn't afford him. And supposedly we were all told
Speaker 1: that Aaron Rodgers knew, Paul knew that they were not
Speaker 1: going to be able to resign Davanta Adams, and yet
Speaker 1: here he was, Paul I correct me if I'm wrong.
Speaker 1: Did did he get a lot of money? Did Aaron
Speaker 1: Rodgers get the brinks backed up to the front yard? Yeah?
Speaker 1: He did, and he had to know this is not
Speaker 1: going to help us actually signed Davanta Adams. Could Packer
Speaker 1: fans right now be saying, guess what our quarterback chose
Speaker 1: the big money? And it was big, big money, fifty
Speaker 1: million a year instead of a chance to win another
Speaker 1: ring because he has no excuses now, correct, I mean
Speaker 1: he basically if he indeed was responsible for this sort
Speaker 1: of personnel move, losing arguably the best receiver in the NFL. Man.
Speaker 1: Then that is squarely on the quarterback at this point,
Speaker 1: because obviously he didn't give a team friendly deal. Now,
Speaker 1: there are also some reports out there I should site
Speaker 1: that Davante Adams wanted to go back to the West. Yeah,
Speaker 1: he played with Derek cart Fresno State. He's a Bay
Speaker 1: Area guy, and so look, Green Bay or Las Vegas.
Speaker 1: Could you find two more disparate locales and markets. Yeah,
Speaker 1: you would understand if he wanted to change in lifestyle. Supposedly, Paul,
Speaker 1: I haven't seen all the details yet, but supposedly the
Speaker 1: Green Bay Packers offered him exactly what he got the
Speaker 1: contract that he actually signed. They offered him that money, Paul,
Speaker 1: to your point, maybe he just wanted out of Green
Speaker 1: Bay period. You know what, Paul, there's another name out
Speaker 1: there too, Marquez Veldez, Skeldy right this sky. This is
Speaker 1: an interesting guy. Paul six four. He's a big wide
Speaker 1: receiver and he can run a sub four four. Paul,
Speaker 1: He's made some place down the field. This is a name,
Speaker 1: he's a free agent that is actually out there. I
Speaker 1: have to wonder if the Arizona Cardinals, and what might
Speaker 1: be kicking the tires on that one? He would be
Speaker 1: a great outside receiver. You're right, he's great after the
Speaker 1: catch right. His yards, his yards per catcher sky high.
Speaker 1: Now I wonder though the Packers are gonna be so
Speaker 1: desperate receivers if he gets overpaid by the hometown team.
Speaker 1: We'll see how that goes. Now, I'm still all over
Speaker 1: Juju Smith Schuster Wolf, I know you are, PAULI. I
Speaker 1: just get he's out there. You know what about Cole Beasley?
Speaker 1: Does that get your attention? And already now as a
Speaker 1: slot guy thirty two years old, line them up in
Speaker 1: the slot? Oh, look, everybody, who's the other guy in
Speaker 1: the other slot? Oh it's zach Ertz. Out of eleven
Speaker 1: personnel that could suddenly eleven personnel could actually be sub
Speaker 1: package personnel group for the Arizona Cardinals. One receiver, I
Speaker 1: mean three wide receivers, one tight end, one back. And
Speaker 1: now all of a sudden, you hate what if you
Speaker 1: have Cole Beasley in the slot on one side and
Speaker 1: zach Ertz and the other. I like that because the
Speaker 1: other receiving headline today, Alan Robinson going to the Rams.
Speaker 1: So Alan Robinson on a three year deal thirty point
Speaker 1: seven million guaranteed reportedly is now in the division. And
Speaker 1: it's about time the Rams signed somebody. I mean, you know,
Speaker 1: no particular order. They lost Johnny Hecker, they lost Andrew Whitworth,
Speaker 1: they lost Von Miller, they lost Darius Williams, their corner
Speaker 1: there standout d Tackles. Sebastian Joseph Day is gone. They
Speaker 1: lost the starting right guard in Austin Corbett. I mean,
Speaker 1: they were on track to sign basically a guy by
Speaker 1: the name of first named Jack, last named squad and
Speaker 1: they finally got Alan Robinson the La Rams, And so
Speaker 1: obviously we're reminds me of PAULI Alan Robinson Robert Woods
Speaker 1: that you know, it can't be a coincidence. I would
Speaker 1: imagine the Rams look at that and go, you know what, Honestly,
Speaker 1: he kind of looks like Robert Woods right there. Well,
Speaker 1: and even is Obj even an option for the Rams,
Speaker 1: considering he tore his ACL in the Super Bowl and
Speaker 1: early February bid February, So when's he gonna be ready? Yeah, no, Polly,
Speaker 1: I know exactly. So you know, again, um, Robert Woods
Speaker 1: playing for the Rams. You know what a big loss
Speaker 1: that was to the Rams one he went down Oh
Speaker 1: my goodness, it was staggering. So you know, they might
Speaker 1: look at him and say, wow, you know, and there's
Speaker 1: a lot of similarities right there between Robert Woods and Robinson,
Speaker 1: so maybe we want we might want to do that. Yeah,
Speaker 1: speaking of guys leaving, Jordan Phillips released to create cap room,
Speaker 1: he's already with Buffalo Jordan Hicks. Tell me about a
Speaker 1: guy who played ninety seven percent of the snaps last
Speaker 1: year on defense. He had one hundred and sixteen tackles.
Speaker 1: Like we had talked about. It's just my opinion you
Speaker 1: couldn't have Jordan Hicks on this year's roster because then,
Speaker 1: guess what, he would probably win the job again over
Speaker 1: Zavon Collins. You know what, honestly, going into camp you
Speaker 1: may not be too far off the mark, Polly, but
Speaker 1: let me just caution you on this right here, Zaven Collins,
Speaker 1: Isaiah Simmons. Also, what kind of off season have these
Speaker 1: guys had? What kind of off season did they have?
Speaker 1: Not a lot because of the pandemic, Polly. You look
Speaker 1: at especially Isaiah Simmons, you think of the two off
Speaker 1: seasons he's had. This is going to be a very
Speaker 1: critical year this offseason for Bowl Zaven Collins and Isaiah Simmons,
Speaker 1: No doubt, no doubt. He has to earn the trust
Speaker 1: of his defensive coordinator, does he not. If he's gonna
Speaker 1: wear the green dot and he's gonna call the defense,
Speaker 1: he has to have the ability to keep up with
Speaker 1: opposing offenses. That you know, every play call has subplay calls,
Speaker 1: and he's got to be able to decipher and then
Speaker 1: go ahead, spit out instantly, instantly. You're what Rob Breederson
Speaker 1: told us last week on the Big Red Rate, just
Speaker 1: about the mental capacity he must have at that middle
Speaker 1: linebacker spot. Polly, I've talked about it all burn over
Speaker 1: and over again. It was the reason why I didn't
Speaker 1: want to move Isaiah Simmons around. Didn't want to do it,
Speaker 1: did not want to do it. Let him sit there
Speaker 1: and learn one position. And to me, I think this
Speaker 1: offseason is going to do Isaiah Simmons a lot of good.
Speaker 1: But I think Zaven Collins, more than anybody, has the
Speaker 1: biggest opportunity to grow this offseason. Having a regular offseason
Speaker 1: where he's going to have a lot of work out
Speaker 1: on the field. This is a huge opportunity for Zaven
Speaker 1: Collins and a light to go on like it needs to.
Speaker 1: It's a very difficult position to play any type of
Speaker 1: inside linebacker, let alone mike backer or fullback. Paul, never
Speaker 1: ever forget that, Paul. Those two positions, other than quarterback,
Speaker 1: maybe the most cerebral positions on a football team. I'll
Speaker 1: let you have that one. As I mentioned that punter
Speaker 1: Andy Lee inked a one year deal that was a
Speaker 1: special team's news today along with a longtime long snapper
Speaker 1: Aaron Bruk got a one year deal as well. So
Speaker 1: by the way, Andy Lee is going into his nineteen season,
Speaker 1: he's played in two hundred and eighty regular season games.
Speaker 1: Think about that. Yeah, hey, special thanks James Conner for
Speaker 1: joining us the Pro Bowl running back. He is back
Speaker 1: on board, thoroughly enjoyed that special. Thanks to our senior
Speaker 1: broadcast manager and producer Jim Almahundro, our technical director Lauren
Speaker 1: Coble for Ron wolf Ley Offal Kalbis. This has been
Speaker 1: the Big Red Rage presented by Santan Ford and Gilbert
Speaker 1: Laurd