1 00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:08,799 Speaker 1: Dirty Birds. What's Up? And welcome to another edition of 2 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:12,039 Speaker 1: Falcons Final Whistle presented by Zaxby's. I'm your host Will 3 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 1: McFadden and I'm joined by Tory mclaney and we have 4 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:17,799 Speaker 1: a special guest, Jeff Howe, who covers the NFL for 5 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:20,040 Speaker 1: The Athletic Jeff, thank you so much for taking the 6 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:22,639 Speaker 1: time to join us on your training camp tour. 7 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:25,239 Speaker 2: Yeah, of course, thanks for having me. It's good to 8 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:28,160 Speaker 2: be here. It's my first time visiting the Falcons facility, 9 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:30,920 Speaker 2: so that's it's been a good visit so far. And 10 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:33,800 Speaker 2: you're catching me early in the trip, so I'm not 11 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:36,560 Speaker 2: overly tired yet. I won't I don't think fall asleep 12 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:38,159 Speaker 2: in the middle of this show, which would not be 13 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:38,839 Speaker 2: about you. 14 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 3: That's a me problem. At what point do you kind 15 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:44,480 Speaker 3: of hit that wall where it's like, if I need 16 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:45,919 Speaker 3: to kind of get some caffeine in me. 17 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:48,920 Speaker 2: I gotta go need I needed the caffeine badly this morning. 18 00:00:49,479 --> 00:00:54,120 Speaker 2: But last year I made the mistake of well, the 19 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:57,560 Speaker 2: first two tours was me just trying to make up 20 00:00:57,600 --> 00:00:59,960 Speaker 2: for lost time, trying to meet as many people as possible. 21 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:01,960 Speaker 2: So I would go to practice in the morning and 22 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:03,840 Speaker 2: then straight to the airport and I would fly out 23 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 2: that night, and I would do that day after day 24 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:11,400 Speaker 2: after day, and that is not healthy. And you have 25 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:13,920 Speaker 2: no idea how many times I've heard that from like 26 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 2: Scouts and GMS. We were like, oh, that used to 27 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:19,679 Speaker 2: be my life too. But last year this was more 28 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:21,679 Speaker 2: of a fluke than anything. But like a lot of 29 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:24,200 Speaker 2: flights were delayed and it was I think thirteen or 30 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:27,040 Speaker 2: fourteen teams in eighteen days. This year it's nine and 31 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:31,280 Speaker 2: eighteen days. So I've gotten smarter. But I was flying 32 00:01:31,319 --> 00:01:36,200 Speaker 2: from Indy to Arizona last year early ish in the 33 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 2: trip and the flight got delayed by four hours, so 34 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 2: I got into town at two am, had to be 35 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 2: up first thing the next morning, like seven am or 36 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:47,319 Speaker 2: something like that. And it was just that just set 37 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 2: my entire thing back, so that we'll see when it 38 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 2: happens this time around. But I like to think that 39 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:56,560 Speaker 2: I scheduled. I only have one day when I go 40 00:01:56,680 --> 00:02:00,200 Speaker 2: from practice directly to a flight, so I think it's 41 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 2: nice I'm learning from past mistakes. 42 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:03,520 Speaker 4: It's like air traffic control. 43 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 1: Yeah yeah, yeah, So you said you've done two of 44 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 1: these previously, this is your third. Like by this point, 45 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 1: I've never done a training camp tour, but I would 46 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 1: imagine that you you get a little bit of a 47 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:15,240 Speaker 1: routine down. Is that kind of where you are at 48 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:15,640 Speaker 1: this point. 49 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 2: Yeah. The sad thing is because so it's like different. 50 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:20,639 Speaker 2: I used to cover the Patriots. I was a beat 51 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:23,519 Speaker 2: writer on that beat for twelve years. So every time 52 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 2: you traveled, you were always traveling with your friends or 53 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:28,520 Speaker 2: co workers and people you like to go hang out 54 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 2: with on the road. You got like a good core 55 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 2: that you know, you always know that you're going to 56 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:34,920 Speaker 2: meet up at some point, and this is just you're 57 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 2: like depressingly by yourself on this thing. So the sad 58 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 2: thing is, I'm like, well, I don't need to stay downtown. 59 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 2: I can just stay next to the airport and there 60 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:46,240 Speaker 2: I'm going straight to the airport. I'm changing hotels tonight 61 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 2: to go to the airport Marryott just so I can 62 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:51,919 Speaker 2: have an easier morning tomorrow. And it's sad. How therapeutic 63 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:53,680 Speaker 2: that is sad? 64 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 1: How much you're happy about that? 65 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 2: Yeah? Really? 66 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:56,760 Speaker 4: Yeah? 67 00:02:56,880 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 1: What do you so on the on the plane is 68 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:01,239 Speaker 1: there like what are you watching? Do you have a 69 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:04,919 Speaker 1: starting suits? And I'm just going to be watching four 70 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:07,920 Speaker 1: hundred episodes over the next three weeks, like, what what's 71 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:09,680 Speaker 1: your routine like for travel? 72 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 2: It's so funny you brought that up and to people listening. 73 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:17,360 Speaker 2: We have not discussed these questions beforehand. My wife and 74 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:19,360 Speaker 2: I just finished season six of Suits. 75 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:19,880 Speaker 1: Oh there. 76 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 2: It was like a day or two before we were 77 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:27,960 Speaker 2: I was gonna leave, and it's like, oh, should we 78 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:30,360 Speaker 2: start season seven? And I'm like, no, I can't. I 79 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 2: can't start it and then take an eighteen day break. 80 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 1: So it doesn't work like that. 81 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:39,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, last year was Friday Night Lights. This year on 82 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:42,040 Speaker 2: the plane, I haven't watched anything on the plane. It's 83 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 2: been relatively short flights, but solitaire and Sudoku or whatever 84 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:51,600 Speaker 2: to kind of just to take a step back in theory, 85 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:54,839 Speaker 2: I would do some work, but that just hasn't happened yet. 86 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 2: So we'll see. Yeah, at the hotel. So far, it 87 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 2: hasn't been no new series yet, it's been a lot 88 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 2: of the office. 89 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 1: Nice. Well, I guess we should get into some football questions. 90 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 4: We can, you know we can? That would be great. 91 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 5: Yeah, So yeah, Jeff, I mean, what are your thoughts 92 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:17,480 Speaker 5: on the Atlanta Falcons With Raheem Morris coming in as 93 00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:19,919 Speaker 5: a new head coach Kirk Cousins coming in as the 94 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:20,680 Speaker 5: new quarterback. 95 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:23,680 Speaker 1: You know, the offensive line returns, we know their skill group. Like, 96 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:26,160 Speaker 1: what do you think is possible for this team? 97 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 2: They absolutely have the potential to win this division. I 98 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 2: think they've got enough talent. There's a lot of things 99 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 2: to like on paper. I knew Raheem was ready for 100 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 2: it to become a head coach again. I was very 101 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 2: confident in that based off of conversations I've had with 102 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:44,680 Speaker 2: people that he's worked with over the last year or two, 103 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:46,840 Speaker 2: I guess, and just saying like it was only a 104 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 2: matter of time he was going to get hired somewhere. 105 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:50,560 Speaker 2: And the fact that he's able to come back to 106 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:54,040 Speaker 2: Atlanta for that opportunity I think is really cool. I 107 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:56,280 Speaker 2: was excited to see him get hired. I thought that 108 00:04:56,320 --> 00:04:59,039 Speaker 2: was a really really good choice by the Falcons. And 109 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:00,880 Speaker 2: I'm not saying that just be because I'm in the building. 110 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 2: I believe it, and I like that he brought Zach Robinson. 111 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 2: I know that was really his hand picked offensive coordinator. 112 00:05:08,839 --> 00:05:14,360 Speaker 2: We've seen people leave Sean mcvay's offensive system. You know, 113 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:18,200 Speaker 2: Liam Cohen, Kevin O'Connell, a number of other guys who 114 00:05:18,279 --> 00:05:21,920 Speaker 2: have gone to take on bigger roles elsewhere. And I'm 115 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:24,560 Speaker 2: excited to see what Zach Robinson does for this offense. 116 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:27,039 Speaker 2: But not just that, I mean having Kirk Cousins that 117 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:31,640 Speaker 2: puts some legitimacy to your quarterback room where you go 118 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 2: into a season. I know, the NFC South wasn't necessarily 119 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:39,359 Speaker 2: always the strongest division, so sort of wide open, but 120 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:41,440 Speaker 2: when you go into a season not knowing what kind 121 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:44,120 Speaker 2: of quarterback play you're going to get, your ceiling is 122 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 2: only so high. So now that they've got a proven 123 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:51,880 Speaker 2: commodity in Kirk Cousins, with the highly drafted skill players 124 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:54,360 Speaker 2: around him, and like you said, the continuity in the 125 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:58,039 Speaker 2: offensive line, and you know, Zach Robinson having his chance 126 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 2: to put his stamp on the off I mean, I 127 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:02,919 Speaker 2: think this team, you know, I would call it the 128 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:06,560 Speaker 2: Bucks Division right now, but it's it would not be 129 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:08,120 Speaker 2: a long shot for the Falcons to win it. 130 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 3: So for you, as you're looking at the playmakers specifically 131 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:13,920 Speaker 3: on this offense, and you have you talked with this 132 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:16,480 Speaker 3: group of young skill guys all on the rookie deal, 133 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:19,800 Speaker 3: Kyle Pittz, Drakelund and Bajon Robinson, Tyler algear. 134 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:22,840 Speaker 4: What does the infusion. 135 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:26,720 Speaker 3: Of Kirk Cousins mean for those guys specifically, Well, he's a. 136 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:30,240 Speaker 2: Pro number one, a guy who has done this for 137 00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 2: a long time, and you know, he was a good 138 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:37,320 Speaker 2: college player. He stepped into an interesting type of situation 139 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:40,040 Speaker 2: I guess in Washington for lack of a better way 140 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:42,279 Speaker 2: to describe it, but had a good career in Washington, 141 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:44,919 Speaker 2: and then I think going to Minnesota and showing that 142 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:47,039 Speaker 2: he could leave and go to a different organization and 143 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:50,200 Speaker 2: have success right away and really quite frankly take his 144 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:52,839 Speaker 2: game to an even higher level. With Kevin O'Connell. You know, 145 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:55,479 Speaker 2: that gives me confidence to believe that he can do 146 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:58,239 Speaker 2: the same thing here in Atlanta. And I think having 147 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:01,360 Speaker 2: some overlap with Zach Robinson Kevin O'Connell in their style 148 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 2: of offense is going to be important. That's going to 149 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:06,840 Speaker 2: make the transition a little more seamless. And it seems 150 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 2: like he is pretty much back from the injury, so 151 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 2: that's important. But it gives legitimacy to the offense and 152 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:18,360 Speaker 2: just again being a pro and having those young guys 153 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:21,080 Speaker 2: look at the way he kind of goes about business. 154 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:23,840 Speaker 2: You know, I heard he got extremely excited about throwing 155 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:26,080 Speaker 2: a touchdown pass a couple of days ago, and I 156 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:29,640 Speaker 2: think that becomes infectious and it changes the energy level, 157 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:34,000 Speaker 2: it changes the confidence. And when you've got young guys 158 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:37,960 Speaker 2: who haven't necessarily won at the level they probably expected 159 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:41,240 Speaker 2: to start winning, you know, it's hard to have success 160 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 2: when you're not playing with confidence. So when you believe 161 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:46,040 Speaker 2: in the guy who is playing the most important position 162 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 2: in sports, that again, that raises the amount of potential 163 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 2: that you have. 164 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:53,640 Speaker 3: I'm curious from your perspective as we're sticking on this 165 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:56,680 Speaker 3: quarterback conversation, what did you make of the Michael Pennock's 166 00:07:56,720 --> 00:07:59,160 Speaker 3: junior pick and at number eight overall, you have Kirk 167 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 3: Cousins in the building, you feel really good about it. 168 00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:03,560 Speaker 3: You're paying them all this money, and then you use 169 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:10,520 Speaker 3: your biggest draft capital on a quarterback, especially an older quarterback. 170 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:11,440 Speaker 3: What were your thoughts? 171 00:08:11,520 --> 00:08:13,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, I was stunned. I was absolutely stunned. And his 172 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 2: draft stock. You know, in my position, with my job, 173 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:22,080 Speaker 2: it's the quarterbacks are a priority in a lot of ways. 174 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:27,240 Speaker 2: And going into this past draft, the quarterback class was fascinating. 175 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 2: I mean it was so fun to stay on top 176 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:32,960 Speaker 2: of it throughout the college season, and a thing I 177 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:35,960 Speaker 2: like to do, especially last year because of this class, 178 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 2: was get as many opinions during the season as possible. 179 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:43,480 Speaker 2: So it's like where where's Caleb Williams where? You know? 180 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:45,839 Speaker 2: And then Jayden Daniels works himself into the mix. You know, 181 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 2: Drake may was always there. But the reason I like 182 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:51,840 Speaker 2: to do it early is because when it's draft season 183 00:08:51,880 --> 00:08:55,320 Speaker 2: and its lying season, when people's opinions start changing, I'm like, 184 00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:56,400 Speaker 2: wait a second. 185 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:57,480 Speaker 4: You can clear the smoke a little bit. 186 00:08:57,760 --> 00:08:59,800 Speaker 1: Interesting. The more when you go back and almost look 187 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:02,320 Speaker 1: at the like first mock drafts that come out that 188 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:04,760 Speaker 1: are still kind of like late in college football season 189 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:07,240 Speaker 1: and compare them to how the draft shakes out, and 190 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:11,240 Speaker 1: compare them to say, like early April, it's it's interesting 191 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 1: to see what was right kind of initially that then 192 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:18,600 Speaker 1: got skewed during that the people right that then ends 193 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:21,200 Speaker 1: up it's like we were maybe closer back back when. 194 00:09:21,679 --> 00:09:23,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I think there's also a lot of group 195 00:09:23,840 --> 00:09:27,040 Speaker 2: think with mock drafts. I mean I remember vividly when 196 00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:29,680 Speaker 2: Dane Brugler from the Athletic, who I think is the 197 00:09:29,679 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 2: best at it. 198 00:09:30,960 --> 00:09:33,480 Speaker 3: I think I agree that we call the beast the 199 00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:34,520 Speaker 3: Bible around here. 200 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:36,480 Speaker 2: Of course, so so good. 201 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:37,079 Speaker 1: It's amazing. 202 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:40,400 Speaker 3: I wouldn't get through draft season without it. Truly, He's 203 00:09:40,559 --> 00:09:40,960 Speaker 3: so good. 204 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 2: His work ethic blows my mind. I feel like I 205 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:45,000 Speaker 2: work hard and then I look at Dane and I 206 00:09:45,040 --> 00:09:46,280 Speaker 2: feel terrible about myself. 207 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:48,000 Speaker 4: Yeah, I feel the same. 208 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:52,440 Speaker 2: But I remember when he put Jayden like fourteenth in 209 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:55,920 Speaker 2: an early mock draft, like still in the college football season, 210 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:57,600 Speaker 2: or maybe it was even like right after the college 211 00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:01,960 Speaker 2: football season. No, no, it was it was early, and before 212 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 2: that point he wasn't in terms of the mock draft cycle, 213 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 2: Jayden Daniels wasn't even looked as a first round pick. 214 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:11,320 Speaker 2: Now you talk to people, you realize that he's starting 215 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:14,680 Speaker 2: to work himself into the conversation. But Dane puts them fourteenth. 216 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:16,679 Speaker 2: A week later, all the new mock drafts to come 217 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:19,240 Speaker 2: out put him in the top ten, and it's like, ah, 218 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:21,280 Speaker 2: come on, like what do we I mean? I get it. 219 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:22,920 Speaker 2: I used to do the mock drafts too, and there's 220 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:25,839 Speaker 2: only so much bandwidth. You have to to kind of 221 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:29,960 Speaker 2: keep all these guys in order. But Panics was an 222 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:34,160 Speaker 2: interesting one because he as the season went on and 223 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 2: coincidentally I saw a bunch of the Washington games and 224 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:41,960 Speaker 2: he played well, and I thought, you know, he's a competitor. 225 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:45,439 Speaker 2: And when it was a clutch moment, because you know, 226 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:46,880 Speaker 2: they had to score a lot of points to win 227 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:48,760 Speaker 2: a lot of those games, Yeah, when it was a 228 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 2: clutch moment and there were a lot, Panics always brought 229 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 2: his game to the highest level. And that impressed me. 230 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:57,760 Speaker 2: And you know, there was obviously questions about the injury 231 00:10:57,800 --> 00:11:02,120 Speaker 2: history and you know some stuff too, how can you 232 00:11:02,200 --> 00:11:05,240 Speaker 2: throw under pressure and what have you? And it was like, 233 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:08,000 Speaker 2: all right, you know, late in the season, he's looked 234 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:10,000 Speaker 2: at as maybe a second round pick, like there were 235 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 2: some people, you know, and again, like teams are going 236 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:15,000 Speaker 2: to say this about Caleb Williams or Drake May Like 237 00:11:15,040 --> 00:11:16,480 Speaker 2: some people are going to say, hey, you know, he's 238 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:18,640 Speaker 2: a third round pick in my opinion, and like those 239 00:11:18,679 --> 00:11:20,600 Speaker 2: things are going to happen with every quarterback every year. 240 00:11:21,040 --> 00:11:24,720 Speaker 2: But he works himself into the conversation as a first 241 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:27,480 Speaker 2: round pick, and then the National Championship Game happens and 242 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:32,960 Speaker 2: it was just like every every feared knock. I don't 243 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:35,040 Speaker 2: know if that's describing it right, but like some of 244 00:11:35,080 --> 00:11:37,280 Speaker 2: the negatives that you had, or the criticisms of his 245 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 2: game that you had all came to light in that 246 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:41,920 Speaker 2: National Championship game and it was like, oh no, like 247 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:44,040 Speaker 2: that's going to kill his stock, and a lot of 248 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:46,320 Speaker 2: people were really concerned, and it was like, okay, well, 249 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:48,440 Speaker 2: you know, maybe the first rounds out of the picture. 250 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:52,160 Speaker 2: Now there were the falcons clearly knew something and I 251 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 2: think if he fell to you know, even like the 252 00:11:55,280 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 2: twelve to thirteen range, like that was his floor. So 253 00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 2: there were you know, maybe maybe there was some misinformation. 254 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:04,600 Speaker 2: I don't know, but yeah, it was a surprise, especially 255 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:06,600 Speaker 2: when you already have one hundred and eighty million dollar 256 00:12:06,679 --> 00:12:10,480 Speaker 2: quarterback on your roster. So that's that's there's gonna be 257 00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:12,040 Speaker 2: a lot of pressure to make sure they got that 258 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:14,160 Speaker 2: pick right. And if it's not for a couple of years, 259 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:17,520 Speaker 2: that's fine because that probably means Kirk Cousins playing well 260 00:12:17,559 --> 00:12:20,480 Speaker 2: for you. But if he doesn't become a starter, that's 261 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:22,600 Speaker 2: going to be viewed as I'm sorry, he's going to 262 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:24,800 Speaker 2: become a starter. That will happen. If he doesn't have 263 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:28,520 Speaker 2: success as a starter and he doesn't get a second contract, 264 00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:31,120 Speaker 2: then there's going to be some regret about that. Pick, 265 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:34,000 Speaker 2: So there's there's some pressure for that one to turn out, right, 266 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:36,719 Speaker 2: especially you know, they needed a pass rusher or some 267 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:40,360 Speaker 2: help elsewhere, and there were some obviously some good players 268 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:42,839 Speaker 2: on the board. They are at eight and they went 269 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:45,040 Speaker 2: with Penix and we'll see how it plays out. You 270 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:47,839 Speaker 2: know what, though, Another thing I will say, whether it's 271 00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:51,320 Speaker 2: the Falcons or anybody, I always admire when a team 272 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:56,080 Speaker 2: has conviction in the pick and like, don't do what 273 00:12:56,120 --> 00:12:58,679 Speaker 2: everybody else wants you to do, just because you feel like. 274 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:01,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, if we're all doing the same thing, nobody's thinking exactly. 275 00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:04,440 Speaker 2: So they had conviction, and I think there's there's a 276 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:06,240 Speaker 2: lot to be said for that. I think it's cool 277 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 2: when a team picks and knows why they do it 278 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:09,640 Speaker 2: and they believe in their process. 279 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:12,160 Speaker 1: Yeah. I mean, hey, like the wildcat offense, right, Nobody 280 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:14,520 Speaker 1: everybody even like that's insane, but you do it and 281 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:16,480 Speaker 1: you make it a big staple, and hey, like it works. 282 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:19,040 Speaker 1: So yeah, you got to be convicted and what you do, 283 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:21,040 Speaker 1: even if it's going against the grain a little bit. 284 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:23,760 Speaker 1: But Jeff, like you're you're pretty well primed. I think. 285 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 1: To understand maybe why the Falcons did what they did, 286 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:29,240 Speaker 1: given you know, you covered the Patriots right, and the 287 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:32,640 Speaker 1: Patriots had the similar timeline almost to the Falcons in 288 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:34,800 Speaker 1: that Matt Ryan was here for so long and then 289 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:37,560 Speaker 1: he's not and what does the future look like after 290 00:13:37,640 --> 00:13:41,000 Speaker 1: him and the importance of really having that plan in place. 291 00:13:41,120 --> 00:13:43,800 Speaker 1: And the Patriots, you know, thought they had that mac Jones, 292 00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:46,440 Speaker 1: now they hope they have that in Drake May. But 293 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:49,640 Speaker 1: do you kind of have maybe a little bit of 294 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:53,120 Speaker 1: a different opinion on the importance of that succession plan 295 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:56,600 Speaker 1: being in house before the time comes to make that move, 296 00:13:57,240 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 1: given you know what these two teams have just gone 297 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:01,160 Speaker 1: through the last couple of years. 298 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:04,840 Speaker 2: It helps. I mean, you never want to like truly 299 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:07,960 Speaker 2: need a quarterback. You know, when you get quarterback desperate, 300 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:10,079 Speaker 2: whether it's in the draft or free agency, that's when 301 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:13,080 Speaker 2: the mistakes happen. More than anything I will say is 302 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:16,240 Speaker 2: you need to have a plan to develop that quarterback. 303 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:20,680 Speaker 2: And you know, I did a story like how to Scout, 304 00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:24,080 Speaker 2: how to Fall in Love with the Quarterback, I don't know, 305 00:14:24,120 --> 00:14:26,280 Speaker 2: three years ago or something like that, and Lewis Riddick 306 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:28,240 Speaker 2: said something to me for the story. It was like, 307 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:31,960 Speaker 2: you know, everybody is in such a rush to call 308 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:36,000 Speaker 2: a quarterback a bust but why doesn't the organization ever 309 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:39,240 Speaker 2: take the heat for failing to develop the quarterback. I mean, 310 00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:43,320 Speaker 2: look at the amount of quarterbacks who failed to succeed, 311 00:14:43,680 --> 00:14:46,680 Speaker 2: bust it out, whatever, but then look at the situation 312 00:14:46,760 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 2: around them. You know, how often is it. You know, 313 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:53,000 Speaker 2: JaMarcus Russell was not going to have success anywhere. Ryan 314 00:14:53,080 --> 00:14:54,960 Speaker 2: Leaf was not going to have success anywhere. So those 315 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:57,480 Speaker 2: are like not what I'm talking about. But like mac 316 00:14:57,560 --> 00:14:59,680 Speaker 2: Jones was not put in a position to succeed, the 317 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:02,960 Speaker 2: coach failed him. That has happened in the case. 318 00:15:03,280 --> 00:15:05,480 Speaker 1: I think Jared Goff is a perfect example. 319 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:09,000 Speaker 2: Yeah right, Yeah, a lot of help around him, and 320 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:10,840 Speaker 2: you know, things kind of went south at the end 321 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 2: of his time in LA but picked right back up 322 00:15:14,320 --> 00:15:18,080 Speaker 2: in Detroit. But like you, quarterbacks can't do it all 323 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:19,960 Speaker 2: on their own. Look at Tom Brady in his last 324 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:21,960 Speaker 2: year with Tampa. I mean there were a lot of questions, 325 00:15:21,960 --> 00:15:24,960 Speaker 2: there were a lot of issues there. So when you 326 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:28,680 Speaker 2: have the greatest quarterback of all time who's not looking 327 00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:31,480 Speaker 2: like himself, like, there are reasons beyond that. Wasn't just 328 00:15:31,480 --> 00:15:33,480 Speaker 2: because he was forty five, I can promise you that. 329 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:35,200 Speaker 4: So it's still. 330 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:38,080 Speaker 1: But that's a crazy thing to say out. It wasn't 331 00:15:38,160 --> 00:15:39,040 Speaker 1: just because. 332 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:42,880 Speaker 2: Right, I mean, he needed a walker to get to 333 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:45,840 Speaker 2: the game, but like he could still throw a football. 334 00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:47,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean he was. Yeah, he was doing it 335 00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:51,240 Speaker 1: as well as anybody. I want to maybe pivot from 336 00:15:51,280 --> 00:15:54,480 Speaker 1: the quarterback position to somebody else who's gonna be really 337 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:57,120 Speaker 1: important for the Falcons, and that's John Robinson, and we 338 00:15:57,160 --> 00:15:59,120 Speaker 1: saw I believe it was ESPN, even though at the 339 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:01,280 Speaker 1: athletic you guys do very similar things and I love it, 340 00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:03,640 Speaker 1: but kind of like polls of GMS and scouts of 341 00:16:03,640 --> 00:16:07,120 Speaker 1: of people in the league and for the top running 342 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:10,280 Speaker 1: back ranking, I believe that ESPN did one person had 343 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:13,520 Speaker 1: Bajon as the number one back in the league. And 344 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:15,640 Speaker 1: so I'm curious, you know, what, where do you see 345 00:16:15,680 --> 00:16:18,760 Speaker 1: Bajon in the hierarchy of running backs And what do 346 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:21,120 Speaker 1: you think maybe his ceiling could be in year two? 347 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:24,920 Speaker 2: His ceiling, I'm not saying he's going to get there. 348 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:29,720 Speaker 2: His ceiling is possibly as high as two. I wouldn't 349 00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:33,040 Speaker 2: take McCaffrey out of the one spot. I think that's 350 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:36,640 Speaker 2: smart that you know, you gotta let you know, you 351 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:38,760 Speaker 2: let the king give the crown that somebody else. 352 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:40,840 Speaker 1: When this has done it for multiple years. 353 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:43,720 Speaker 3: He's well, even Bajon's like, I want to be like 354 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:47,120 Speaker 3: Christian McCaffrey R. He even said that right, like so 355 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 3: it makes sense. 356 00:16:48,280 --> 00:16:51,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, but I think you know, there's there's so much 357 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:54,960 Speaker 2: attention to the McVeigh offense in the passing game and 358 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:57,800 Speaker 2: all that other stuff, and for good reason. In the 359 00:16:57,840 --> 00:17:00,680 Speaker 2: passing I'm not like diminishing the importance of the passing game. 360 00:17:00,920 --> 00:17:04,679 Speaker 2: This isn't the nineteen sixties, but that truly is a 361 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:07,399 Speaker 2: run based offense. Like they do so much out of 362 00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:10,920 Speaker 2: running the football well, establishing the ground game, getting play 363 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:14,800 Speaker 2: action going. And you know, it happened with Kevin O'Connell 364 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:19,000 Speaker 2: in Minnesota, it happened with Liam Cohen with Kentucky, and 365 00:17:19,080 --> 00:17:21,159 Speaker 2: you know when his time as an OC with the 366 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:23,280 Speaker 2: Rams too, even though you know mcvey's the play caller. 367 00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:28,040 Speaker 2: But that means Bajon has to have a He's going 368 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:29,840 Speaker 2: to have a heavy focus in this offense, not just 369 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:33,040 Speaker 2: because he's a great player, but because that's what Zach 370 00:17:33,119 --> 00:17:36,560 Speaker 2: Robinson is conditioned to do. So I think they're going 371 00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:38,879 Speaker 2: to be very ground heavy, or at least do a 372 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:41,439 Speaker 2: lot of things off as an extension or off of 373 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:44,960 Speaker 2: the running game. And that's why he's going to have 374 00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:47,040 Speaker 2: an important role. That's why I do believe his ceiling 375 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:48,160 Speaker 2: is that high. 376 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:50,600 Speaker 3: I'm curious, as you're, you know, on your tour, and 377 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:52,639 Speaker 3: you know Atlanta is going to be a stop, what 378 00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:54,840 Speaker 3: were kind of some of the biggest questions that you 379 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:57,240 Speaker 3: had coming into this building. 380 00:17:58,520 --> 00:18:02,080 Speaker 2: I you know, in my I I have to take 381 00:18:02,119 --> 00:18:06,119 Speaker 2: like the general viewpoint, so it's not like I'm coming 382 00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:09,480 Speaker 2: in and peppering people with questions about like the left 383 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:11,600 Speaker 2: guard depth chart or like the backup, you know, the 384 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:12,840 Speaker 2: nickel cornerback battle. 385 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:15,479 Speaker 3: I'm also glad that you chose left guard because that 386 00:18:15,520 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 3: has been a conversation every single year except for this year. 387 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:21,639 Speaker 3: This is the one time that left guard has not 388 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:22,280 Speaker 3: been a question. 389 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:23,600 Speaker 2: Okay, how about the right guard? 390 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:28,400 Speaker 4: There you go even then, but ahead, go ahead. 391 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:31,520 Speaker 2: It's I'll use this as an example like when I 392 00:18:31,600 --> 00:18:34,840 Speaker 2: covered the Patriots, Like I knew all ninety guys on 393 00:18:34,880 --> 00:18:37,000 Speaker 2: the roster at any given time, I knew their backgrounds, 394 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:38,800 Speaker 2: I knew everything about them. I knew more about some 395 00:18:38,840 --> 00:18:41,280 Speaker 2: of these guys than they knew about themselves. And but 396 00:18:41,359 --> 00:18:42,880 Speaker 2: like that was the job, like, as the beat writer, 397 00:18:43,040 --> 00:18:45,159 Speaker 2: you have to know as much about the roster as 398 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:48,040 Speaker 2: humanly possible. Whereas you know, at the end of my 399 00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:50,800 Speaker 2: tour eighteen days, you know, I still live in the 400 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:53,880 Speaker 2: Foxborough area. I'm going to try to get to as 401 00:18:53,920 --> 00:18:56,919 Speaker 2: many Patriots practices as possible. But like, I'm gonna go 402 00:18:56,920 --> 00:18:58,919 Speaker 2: and I'm gonna watch Drake made and Jacoby Brissett. Like 403 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:01,879 Speaker 2: I'm not going to I couldn't you know, I'm not 404 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:04,159 Speaker 2: going to go and disingenuously be like, oh, you know 405 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:05,720 Speaker 2: what I'm gonna do. I'm going to watch the offensive 406 00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 2: line battles today. Like that's just that's not that's not 407 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:09,320 Speaker 2: my lane. 408 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:10,920 Speaker 1: It's big game hunting now, yeah. 409 00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:13,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's you know, you get to feed a different 410 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 2: type of audience. Plus, like you know, we're at the 411 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:18,640 Speaker 2: athletic and we have great beat writers on every team. 412 00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:22,639 Speaker 2: So the beat writers do such a good job that 413 00:19:22,760 --> 00:19:24,639 Speaker 2: like I'm not going to be like, hey, you know what, 414 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:26,240 Speaker 2: I'm going to step in and write about the mic 415 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:29,840 Speaker 2: linebackers today, you do something like that's just not that's 416 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:32,840 Speaker 2: not my style. It's not my thing. And actually, you know, 417 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 2: I've had times when I'll go into a camp like this, 418 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:38,359 Speaker 2: and I'll be like, hey, you know what, I was 419 00:19:38,359 --> 00:19:40,880 Speaker 2: thinking about writing about your quarterback today. And I've had 420 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:43,399 Speaker 2: like a few times on the beat writers like thank 421 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:45,960 Speaker 2: goodness because I am so sick about writing about the 422 00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:49,800 Speaker 2: quarterback and please please take that story up my hands. 423 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:50,280 Speaker 1: I get that. 424 00:19:50,520 --> 00:19:53,080 Speaker 3: So for the Falcons, like, what were the big ticket 425 00:19:53,119 --> 00:19:54,960 Speaker 3: atoms that you were kind of thinking of when you 426 00:19:54,960 --> 00:19:55,720 Speaker 3: were walking in here? 427 00:19:55,920 --> 00:19:58,680 Speaker 2: Yeah? Sorry, I like totally the question. 428 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:00,440 Speaker 3: No. 429 00:20:00,840 --> 00:20:04,639 Speaker 2: I wanted to hear from Raheem And you know, Terry 430 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:08,720 Speaker 2: and Zach just about their plan. You know, it's always 431 00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:11,040 Speaker 2: interesting when you've got a new head coach and a 432 00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:15,359 Speaker 2: new offensive system. And obviously Terry's been here and I 433 00:20:15,359 --> 00:20:17,440 Speaker 2: think very highly of him and his ability to build 434 00:20:17,440 --> 00:20:21,080 Speaker 2: a roster. I'm just curious, like what is different about 435 00:20:21,080 --> 00:20:24,240 Speaker 2: the culture. You know, what is I know Raheem is 436 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:26,800 Speaker 2: a big relationship guy, Like what kind of goes into 437 00:20:26,840 --> 00:20:30,479 Speaker 2: your thought process of you know, how you relate to guys. 438 00:20:30,560 --> 00:20:34,960 Speaker 2: How that part of coaching has evolved over the last 439 00:20:35,119 --> 00:20:38,399 Speaker 2: let's say half decade. You know, you can't be you 440 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:42,080 Speaker 2: can't have that old school style of coaching, you know, 441 00:20:42,160 --> 00:20:46,320 Speaker 2: being hard on guys without reason and expect to have 442 00:20:46,359 --> 00:20:49,640 Speaker 2: sustainable success, and that's kind of one of the big things. 443 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:53,600 Speaker 2: You know, there's two real key lessons I've learned since 444 00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:56,600 Speaker 2: taking over the NFL role in twenty twenty one. One 445 00:20:56,680 --> 00:21:00,320 Speaker 2: was the quarterback thing and needing help around you already 446 00:21:00,320 --> 00:21:03,040 Speaker 2: got to. But number two is you need to be 447 00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:06,399 Speaker 2: able to build relationships with your players as the head coach, 448 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:10,280 Speaker 2: and when you can't or I think a lot of 449 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:12,280 Speaker 2: guys who have done that have had a lot of success. 450 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:16,479 Speaker 2: And I didn't necessarily I wasn't necessarily aware of that, 451 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:19,560 Speaker 2: but talking to players or assistant coaches and just kind 452 00:21:19,560 --> 00:21:23,240 Speaker 2: of learning how different coaches interact with their staffs with 453 00:21:23,280 --> 00:21:26,840 Speaker 2: their players. The ones who are able to build genuine 454 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:30,719 Speaker 2: personal connections are having a lot of success because of that. 455 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:33,359 Speaker 1: I mean, I think when you like, the ultimate example 456 00:21:33,359 --> 00:21:35,000 Speaker 1: to me, and I know Sean McVay is like kind 457 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:38,240 Speaker 1: of the ultimate recent example, but Mike Tomlin, right, like, 458 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:41,840 Speaker 1: he has had such sustained success over you know, so 459 00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:44,600 Speaker 1: many different locker rooms, so many different types of people, 460 00:21:44,760 --> 00:21:46,919 Speaker 1: because I think he finds ways to connect to them 461 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:49,719 Speaker 1: on a genuine level, which with each and every one 462 00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:52,320 Speaker 1: of them. So yeah, I mean relationships are a huge 463 00:21:52,320 --> 00:21:57,080 Speaker 1: part about what Raheem is building here. But Jeff, you know, Tory, 464 00:21:57,160 --> 00:21:58,960 Speaker 1: unless you've got anything else, I think we're ready to 465 00:21:59,560 --> 00:22:02,480 Speaker 1: let you continue on your tour tour of training camp. 466 00:22:02,680 --> 00:22:04,440 Speaker 4: I send you off goodbye. 467 00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:07,000 Speaker 1: How big is your suitcase or is it just like 468 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:09,400 Speaker 1: a tiny house or like, what's up? 469 00:22:10,040 --> 00:22:12,920 Speaker 2: So I'm glad you asked. 470 00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:18,760 Speaker 4: I No one asked, no. 471 00:22:18,680 --> 00:22:21,440 Speaker 2: Idea, how much attention mortgage. 472 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:22,800 Speaker 1: For that suitcase? And nobody brings it up. 473 00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:27,560 Speaker 2: So I'm so here's my strategy. And my wife kind 474 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:30,240 Speaker 2: of laughs at me about this. If you're not checking 475 00:22:30,280 --> 00:22:32,560 Speaker 2: a bag, I mean, if if you're not bringing a 476 00:22:32,560 --> 00:22:34,800 Speaker 2: carry on, you might as well bring the biggest suitcase 477 00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:37,320 Speaker 2: you can possibly find because you need the room. Like 478 00:22:37,359 --> 00:22:39,320 Speaker 2: stuff is going to get moved around quite a bit. 479 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:44,000 Speaker 2: So nobody likes checking a bag, but whatever, Like you 480 00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:45,639 Speaker 2: kind of got to do it when you're in a 481 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:49,760 Speaker 2: situation like this. So this passed off season. I mean, 482 00:22:49,920 --> 00:22:52,400 Speaker 2: this shows you how much of a dork I am. 483 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:55,879 Speaker 2: I'm looking up like new suitcases and I'm just like 484 00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:59,439 Speaker 2: just out of sheer boredom and I see this Briggs 485 00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:01,920 Speaker 2: and Riley suitcase brand and like I had never even 486 00:23:01,920 --> 00:23:04,479 Speaker 2: heard of him before, but I'm like, oh, like this 487 00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:07,679 Speaker 2: carry on looks really cool. It's obscenely expensive, but I 488 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:10,159 Speaker 2: was like, if it expands, like they can do some 489 00:23:10,240 --> 00:23:12,400 Speaker 2: cool things, like maybe it'll be worth it. I'm gonna 490 00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:14,520 Speaker 2: give this thing a shot. So I bought it. I 491 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:17,400 Speaker 2: packed the whole thing up the day before I'm set 492 00:23:17,440 --> 00:23:19,600 Speaker 2: to leave, and I have everything all set and I 493 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:22,000 Speaker 2: have a big like backpack too, so like, if anything, 494 00:23:22,040 --> 00:23:25,560 Speaker 2: if I need like a little extra space here like work, 495 00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:28,560 Speaker 2: I think I'm covered. And I go to bed that night, 496 00:23:29,080 --> 00:23:31,919 Speaker 2: not confident in the plan, and I'm like, you know what, 497 00:23:32,119 --> 00:23:34,560 Speaker 2: Like you know cause I like to try to bring 498 00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:37,199 Speaker 2: workout clothes and like I try to keep myself in 499 00:23:37,359 --> 00:23:41,080 Speaker 2: shape while I'm eating unhealthy for eighteen days, so like 500 00:23:41,119 --> 00:23:43,760 Speaker 2: I need a little bit extra stuff. I'm like, well, 501 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:47,399 Speaker 2: what's gonna happen when I need to, Like all of 502 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:49,119 Speaker 2: a sudden, the workout clothes are gonna get mixed with 503 00:23:49,119 --> 00:23:51,280 Speaker 2: the clean clothes, and nobody wants that, Like that's not 504 00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:53,399 Speaker 2: how you build relationships. Like I walk in and I 505 00:23:53,520 --> 00:23:55,639 Speaker 2: meet like a general manager, Like I don't want him 506 00:23:55,640 --> 00:23:58,520 Speaker 2: to remember me as the guy who's stumps so so 507 00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:02,560 Speaker 2: last like last minute. I'm like, ah, this just isn't 508 00:24:02,600 --> 00:24:04,760 Speaker 2: This isn't gonna work. It's not a smart decision. Like, yeah, 509 00:24:04,760 --> 00:24:06,560 Speaker 2: it'd be cool to have a carry on the whole trip, 510 00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:09,680 Speaker 2: but let's let's just go back to the giant suitcase. 511 00:24:09,720 --> 00:24:14,120 Speaker 2: So I threw everything in and I weighed as I'm 512 00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:16,919 Speaker 2: checking in in Boston that first flight, and it was 513 00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:19,720 Speaker 2: fifty pounds on the nose, and I'm like, oh my goodness. 514 00:24:19,800 --> 00:24:24,640 Speaker 2: I'm like, so I saw a clip. I don't remember 515 00:24:24,640 --> 00:24:28,840 Speaker 2: if it was today or yesterday. Ian Rappaport was asked 516 00:24:28,920 --> 00:24:31,800 Speaker 2: on TV about his suitcase because I think he's doing 517 00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:34,639 Speaker 2: like fifteen teams. Now. I've known Ian for he started 518 00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:37,000 Speaker 2: covering the Patriots and No. Nine when I started, and 519 00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:39,040 Speaker 2: when he went to NFL Network, I took his job 520 00:24:39,080 --> 00:24:41,040 Speaker 2: at the bus in Herald. So I've known Ian for 521 00:24:41,040 --> 00:24:41,560 Speaker 2: a long time. 522 00:24:41,640 --> 00:24:44,040 Speaker 1: Does it make you jealous when people ask about his suitcase? 523 00:24:44,720 --> 00:24:47,560 Speaker 2: It does? Now? Yes? Yeah. They asked him butt on 524 00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:49,280 Speaker 2: TV and he said he brings a carry on and 525 00:24:49,280 --> 00:24:51,600 Speaker 2: he's got like five shirts and he washes his shirts 526 00:24:51,600 --> 00:24:53,359 Speaker 2: in the sink with like detergent. 527 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:55,879 Speaker 1: Oh my god, I'm like, how how do you pull that? 528 00:24:56,040 --> 00:25:00,040 Speaker 2: Off and like so clearly, like he just is a 529 00:25:00,040 --> 00:25:03,000 Speaker 2: better packer than me, and it's it's gonna hurt me 530 00:25:03,040 --> 00:25:04,520 Speaker 2: the rest of this day. So thanks for bringing to. 531 00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:06,720 Speaker 1: You don't have to clean your clothes and a sink. 532 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:10,439 Speaker 4: Let's really let's really say who the winner is? 533 00:25:10,480 --> 00:25:11,960 Speaker 1: What cost? What cost? 534 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:13,119 Speaker 2: Right? 535 00:25:13,400 --> 00:25:17,199 Speaker 3: So, so you have the giant suitcase now and you 536 00:25:17,280 --> 00:25:20,120 Speaker 3: don't have the smaller carry on of which you bought 537 00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:21,400 Speaker 3: specifically for this trip. 538 00:25:21,760 --> 00:25:24,880 Speaker 2: It's just three days upon my return to return it. 539 00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:27,879 Speaker 2: Oh okay, just a little bit of a That was 540 00:25:27,880 --> 00:25:30,240 Speaker 2: the other part too. I'm like, well, did I wait 541 00:25:30,320 --> 00:25:32,960 Speaker 2: too long? Like because if I I looked at Amazon 542 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:35,320 Speaker 2: because I didn't go through the company because Amazon just 543 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:38,320 Speaker 2: had a better deal. And I'm like, if I have 544 00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:42,159 Speaker 2: to like hustle to the ups store to like return 545 00:25:42,200 --> 00:25:43,879 Speaker 2: this thing like this is I might just have to 546 00:25:43,960 --> 00:25:45,560 Speaker 2: use it? 547 00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:47,040 Speaker 1: Is it a nice suitcase? Though? Did you? Like? 548 00:25:48,720 --> 00:25:50,920 Speaker 2: I was texting my wife after I So my wife 549 00:25:51,240 --> 00:25:54,320 Speaker 2: was down at her mom's house with our daughters and whatever, 550 00:25:54,440 --> 00:25:56,920 Speaker 2: so like she left like a day before I did. 551 00:25:57,640 --> 00:25:59,760 Speaker 2: And this is this is how to how to sell 552 00:25:59,800 --> 00:26:02,040 Speaker 2: upon podcast guys. This is there, this is what the 553 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:05,679 Speaker 2: listeners are here because I text my wife, I'm like, 554 00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:08,520 Speaker 2: I think are pretty happy with it, Like things are 555 00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:10,720 Speaker 2: going well, Like I fit everything we got, like the 556 00:26:10,760 --> 00:26:14,080 Speaker 2: little the packing cases, you know that like tighten everything up. 557 00:26:14,840 --> 00:26:16,439 Speaker 2: And then like as the day went on, like I 558 00:26:16,440 --> 00:26:18,240 Speaker 2: told you, the confidence just shot. 559 00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:20,400 Speaker 4: The anxiety was just mounting. 560 00:26:21,600 --> 00:26:24,320 Speaker 2: It's so the things that consume me before this trip 561 00:26:24,480 --> 00:26:25,520 Speaker 2: are ridiculous. 562 00:26:25,640 --> 00:26:28,360 Speaker 1: Well, this has been another edition of journalism and consumer 563 00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:33,600 Speaker 1: reports therapeutic. No, this is awesome, Jeff. We really appreciate 564 00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:36,639 Speaker 1: your time. Where can people find find your work on. 565 00:26:36,720 --> 00:26:40,159 Speaker 2: The Athletic or the athletic dot com or the app 566 00:26:40,280 --> 00:26:43,600 Speaker 2: or New York Times, New York Times. Yeah, all over 567 00:26:43,600 --> 00:26:45,600 Speaker 2: the place on Twitter if anybody still. 568 00:26:45,440 --> 00:26:51,600 Speaker 3: Uses that formally known as Twitter, the artist formally known 569 00:26:51,640 --> 00:26:52,080 Speaker 3: as Twitter. 570 00:26:52,880 --> 00:26:55,359 Speaker 2: So we've got we've got some cool stuff planned. The 571 00:26:55,359 --> 00:26:58,240 Speaker 2: Falcon story will probably come out later this week. I'm 572 00:26:58,280 --> 00:27:00,640 Speaker 2: still kind of playing catch up on some other stories. 573 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:03,560 Speaker 2: I was in Jacksonville. I had something on Mac Jones 574 00:27:03,640 --> 00:27:06,080 Speaker 2: last week, and you know, we'll have another Jags story 575 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:08,159 Speaker 2: coming out in a couple of days. And got a 576 00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:12,920 Speaker 2: cool Baker Mayfield feature dropping I believe Monday, so check 577 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:15,120 Speaker 2: that one out. I spent a good amount of time 578 00:27:15,160 --> 00:27:18,560 Speaker 2: with him down in Tampa, and it was cool to 579 00:27:18,600 --> 00:27:21,359 Speaker 2: hear some perspective from him on the way his career 580 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:23,560 Speaker 2: is gone and now he's finally got that contract and 581 00:27:23,600 --> 00:27:26,480 Speaker 2: the stability. So it was cool kind of getting to 582 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:30,000 Speaker 2: know how, you know, how he looks at things, and 583 00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:34,160 Speaker 2: you know, I know the Falcons fans probably don't care 584 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:36,720 Speaker 2: too much because he's the rival, but read it because 585 00:27:36,720 --> 00:27:37,320 Speaker 2: he's the rival. 586 00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:40,280 Speaker 1: I've heard from more people that I know, like especially 587 00:27:40,359 --> 00:27:42,359 Speaker 1: last last year kind of or I mean, I guess 588 00:27:42,359 --> 00:27:45,320 Speaker 1: the off season when the free agency quarterback question was 589 00:27:45,320 --> 00:27:48,200 Speaker 1: happening and Baker was potentially a free agent. Even though 590 00:27:48,200 --> 00:27:50,480 Speaker 1: I think Tampa always had kind of him in mind, 591 00:27:50,880 --> 00:27:52,600 Speaker 1: I heard from more people that were like, you know, 592 00:27:52,760 --> 00:27:55,600 Speaker 1: I like Baker right, Like, I think he's reached that point, 593 00:27:55,640 --> 00:27:58,560 Speaker 1: that status where given his track record, given some of 594 00:27:58,560 --> 00:28:01,080 Speaker 1: the highs and the lows that he's in, that he's 595 00:28:01,160 --> 00:28:04,920 Speaker 1: a little bit of a fan favorite. Yeah, exactly. 596 00:28:05,119 --> 00:28:08,800 Speaker 2: So I think people like authenticity. Yeah, people like guys 597 00:28:08,840 --> 00:28:12,120 Speaker 2: who wear their emotions on their sleeves and compete like crazy. 598 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:15,919 Speaker 2: I mean, how cool was that Rams Raiders game on 599 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:19,040 Speaker 2: Thursday night? Like, just there are good stories about that 600 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:20,879 Speaker 2: night in this In this feature when. 601 00:28:20,720 --> 00:28:23,600 Speaker 3: You go talk to Zach Robinson gets some background on 602 00:28:23,600 --> 00:28:26,600 Speaker 3: that as well, because he had a huge role in 603 00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:28,520 Speaker 3: getting Biker to that point. 604 00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:29,080 Speaker 2: Yeah. 605 00:28:29,280 --> 00:28:32,520 Speaker 3: Yeah at the time, Yeah, he was the quarterbacks coach, right. 606 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:36,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, they were doing the third down install and the 607 00:28:36,680 --> 00:28:39,400 Speaker 2: hurry up was a big thing too, and they won 608 00:28:39,440 --> 00:28:41,840 Speaker 2: the game with two hurry up drives I think a 609 00:28:41,960 --> 00:28:45,280 Speaker 2: ninety yard or to win it. And a cool story 610 00:28:45,320 --> 00:28:47,520 Speaker 2: about that, and it made it in the feature. But 611 00:28:47,680 --> 00:28:52,000 Speaker 2: a little tease is, you know, he gets claimed off 612 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:55,080 Speaker 2: waivers on Tuesday night or Tuesday evening and they play 613 00:28:55,120 --> 00:28:57,720 Speaker 2: Thursday night, so there's not a full practice there, and 614 00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:03,240 Speaker 2: the coaching staff gave him a wristband with about forty plays, 615 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:07,160 Speaker 2: which is especially for the McVeigh offense, a very small 616 00:29:07,200 --> 00:29:09,560 Speaker 2: a fraction of what they would normally have. Ye. And 617 00:29:09,680 --> 00:29:11,800 Speaker 2: the plan to go into that game was, you know, 618 00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:13,680 Speaker 2: McVeigh was going to call the plays in the headset 619 00:29:13,720 --> 00:29:17,480 Speaker 2: wristband ten, wristband twelve instead of these fifteen twenty word 620 00:29:17,480 --> 00:29:20,360 Speaker 2: play calls. But because Baker has such a good recall 621 00:29:20,400 --> 00:29:23,120 Speaker 2: and they realized how smart he was, McVeigh went into 622 00:29:23,160 --> 00:29:26,080 Speaker 2: the game and recited the whole play, and then Baker 623 00:29:26,120 --> 00:29:30,160 Speaker 2: had to hear these fifteen twenty word plays and go 624 00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:32,320 Speaker 2: into the huddle and you need to say it with confidence, 625 00:29:32,320 --> 00:29:34,080 Speaker 2: and you've got all these young guys and you've got 626 00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:37,160 Speaker 2: I think they had like thirteen different O line combinations, 627 00:29:37,160 --> 00:29:40,440 Speaker 2: and like every star was hurt and to go out 628 00:29:40,480 --> 00:29:43,160 Speaker 2: and win that game. He threw thirty five passes that night, 629 00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:45,000 Speaker 2: like just wild. 630 00:29:45,200 --> 00:29:47,240 Speaker 1: That's insane too. And I don't think again, I don't 631 00:29:47,240 --> 00:29:49,760 Speaker 1: think Baker has that type of person I don't think 632 00:29:49,760 --> 00:29:53,120 Speaker 1: people view him in that way as like the cerebral Yeah, 633 00:29:53,120 --> 00:29:54,640 Speaker 1: I've got it locked down, let's go. 634 00:29:54,920 --> 00:29:59,480 Speaker 2: I've heard that from several of his coaches who were like, yeah, 635 00:29:59,520 --> 00:30:04,920 Speaker 2: like were apreciated the leadership, the charisma, the personality, all 636 00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:07,000 Speaker 2: this stuff. You know, you can watch him on film, 637 00:30:07,080 --> 00:30:09,920 Speaker 2: you can see that he is a legitimate starting quarterback. 638 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:14,000 Speaker 2: But when they started working with him firsthand, they were like, Wow, 639 00:30:14,000 --> 00:30:15,280 Speaker 2: I can't believe how smart he is. 640 00:30:15,560 --> 00:30:19,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, he seems more like Burt Reynolds in the Longest Yard, Right. 641 00:30:19,640 --> 00:30:22,560 Speaker 2: So I'm telling you the time I spent with him, 642 00:30:22,680 --> 00:30:24,400 Speaker 2: I was blown away. I was very impressed, and it 643 00:30:24,520 --> 00:30:26,560 Speaker 2: was a fun story. To write. I just hope I 644 00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:29,080 Speaker 2: didn't screw it up and write it so poorly that. 645 00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:32,440 Speaker 4: No, definitely not. I mean, just the anecdotes and everything 646 00:30:32,480 --> 00:30:32,719 Speaker 4: I mean. 647 00:30:32,760 --> 00:30:35,040 Speaker 3: And now Falcons fans can go and read it once 648 00:30:35,080 --> 00:30:37,480 Speaker 3: it's out and everything, and they can see a guy 649 00:30:37,520 --> 00:30:41,480 Speaker 3: that hopefully Grady Jarrett, is bringing down a couple of months. 650 00:30:41,760 --> 00:30:44,440 Speaker 1: Yeah you can. That'll be their hope, right Ruper Baker 651 00:30:44,440 --> 00:30:47,520 Speaker 1: against every other team, but yeah, that will do it 652 00:30:47,640 --> 00:30:50,600 Speaker 1: for us on Falcons Final Whistle presented by Zaxby's For 653 00:30:50,640 --> 00:30:53,040 Speaker 1: Jeff Howe and Tory mclaney. I'm Will McFadden. We will 654 00:30:53,040 --> 00:30:56,680 Speaker 1: see you guys tomorrow for the start of Atlanta's second 655 00:30:56,840 --> 00:30:58,320 Speaker 1: four day block of training camp. 656 00:31:01,280 --> 00:31:02,400 Speaker 2: Left at the