1 00:00:01,240 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 1: The volume. What is going on everybody, John Middlecop that's 2 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:21,119 Speaker 1: me three and out podcast. That's this show back in 3 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: action again. Hopefully everyone had a good weekend, having a 4 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:27,440 Speaker 1: good Monday. It's probably Tuesday if you're listening to this. 5 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 1: Some football talk on the draft, hard knocks, Odell Beckham 6 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:39,159 Speaker 1: junior back, making some news, and obviously we will discuss 7 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 1: your mailback questions because that's what we do here on 8 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 1: the show at John middlecoff is the Instagram DM's wide open. 9 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:48,840 Speaker 1: Fire in and get your questions answered here on the show. 10 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:52,400 Speaker 1: Probably gonna need your guys mailback questions this month because 11 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:55,840 Speaker 1: free agency is basically over and if nothing happens with 12 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:59,080 Speaker 1: Rogers or Lamar till the draft, it's gonna be slow times. 13 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 1: You know, there's not gonna be a lot of draft 14 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:04,440 Speaker 1: buzz I would say for the next month, beside a 15 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:06,680 Speaker 1: couple quarterback things here and there, but for the most part, 16 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 1: come on, baby, fire in those dms, get your question 17 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:13,840 Speaker 1: answered here on the show, and interact with myself the people. 18 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 1: Let's have a good time. We can hell, we can 19 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:18,280 Speaker 1: talk whatever you want. I just watched the first episode 20 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 1: of Waco on Netflix. Talk about a documentary can't recommend 21 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:25,600 Speaker 1: it enough. Turn that thing on. I'm gonna watch another 22 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 1: episode after the college basketball National Championship tonight. That thing 23 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:32,759 Speaker 1: was good. I just fell asleep. I couldn't. I was exhausted. 24 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 1: But the first episode riveting, I mean absolutely riveting. So 25 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 1: let's talk some football. But this weekend I found myself 26 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 1: watching a lot of baseball. I watched the Yankees. I 27 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 1: was like, is Aaron Judge gonna hit seventy home runs? 28 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 1: He's already got two, He's only played three games. I 29 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:49,680 Speaker 1: want to go to a Yankee game. If I lived 30 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:50,960 Speaker 1: in New York, do you know what I would do? 31 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:54,040 Speaker 1: I would download the game Time app, the official ticketing 32 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 1: partner of this podcast. I type in the promo code 33 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 1: John John, and I get twenty dollars off, and I 34 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 1: would go watch Aaron Judge probably hit a home run, 35 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 1: because that's usually what Aaron Judge does. If you're listening 36 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:06,920 Speaker 1: to this and you want to go to a baseball game, 37 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:08,840 Speaker 1: though the last two and a half hours you're in, 38 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:10,959 Speaker 1: you're out, Enjoy a little vitamin D, have a couple 39 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:13,440 Speaker 1: of pops, enjoy yourself, and do it on me these 40 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:16,760 Speaker 1: inflationary times. I got your back saving you twenty dollars. 41 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 1: Promo code John, download the game time app, fastest growing 42 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 1: ticket app in America. Promo code John twenty dollars off. 43 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 1: Don't even need to thank me, just use the promo code. 44 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:28,079 Speaker 1: And because you guys have they're the ticket the official 45 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 1: ticketing app of this podcast. We appreciate you, guys. They 46 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:35,280 Speaker 1: appreciate you. Guys. Do it on me. Concerts, comedy shows. 47 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 1: I got you Promo code John. A lot of football 48 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 1: stuff going on right now. We got the draft, you know, 49 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 1: basically three and a half weeks away. I would imagine 50 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 1: most NFL teams are, you know, finalizing their draft board. 51 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 1: Right the grades were well established months ago, but this 52 00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 1: is the time of the year when now it's probably 53 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:02,640 Speaker 1: changed a little. With Zoom and Google Meets. You never 54 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 1: want to leave out Google meets. You know, they might 55 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 1: want to sponsor the show. I heard Google's got a 56 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 1: lot of cash, even though I did see the Google 57 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 1: is cutting expenses. They're getting rid of staplers. That'll probably 58 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:15,720 Speaker 1: save them some money. But you know, the draft is 59 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 1: a time where for those that work, you know, the 60 00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:23,880 Speaker 1: college scouts, the general managers, they do this year round 61 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:26,640 Speaker 1: in the summer. They are watching the guys that are 62 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:28,440 Speaker 1: going to play in the fall, and then when those 63 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:30,840 Speaker 1: guys play in the fall, they watch all their snaps, 64 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 1: and then in the offseason they go to all the 65 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:36,440 Speaker 1: all star games, the combines, and it's a constant kind 66 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 1: of you know, addition of information. And they say it's 67 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 1: a process. It's a big, you know puzzle. You're putting 68 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 1: the pieces together, You're gathering information, and you're trying to 69 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:50,920 Speaker 1: make an educated guess of if the guy's going to 70 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 1: be a really good pro, what round would we take them. 71 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:56,680 Speaker 1: You're factoring in all these different variables. And I've loved 72 00:03:56,680 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 1: the draft since I was a kid. I would imagine 73 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 1: many people listening to this love the draft. It's a 74 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 1: unique part of the sport. You get to add young 75 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 1: players who are really cheap and who ultimately become stars. Right, 76 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 1: the greatest player in the league in the history of 77 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 1: the league. You know, we could debate this, but I mean, 78 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:19,039 Speaker 1: the most accomplished player was pick one ninety nine. And 79 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:21,480 Speaker 1: so just because you're taking the first round, we all 80 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:23,280 Speaker 1: are fans of teams that have drafts of guys in 81 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:26,359 Speaker 1: the first round that haven't become players. So right now, 82 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:29,920 Speaker 1: depending on the operation. A lot of teams involved their 83 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 1: coaches heavily. Some teams are more a front office led operation. 84 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:39,280 Speaker 1: Some teams involved their coordinators. It's hard because just like 85 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:42,120 Speaker 1: a lot of scouts don't know scheme, a lot of 86 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:46,320 Speaker 1: coaches aren't great talent evaluators. So there's a balance of 87 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 1: knowing your own operation internally, who's good at evaluating, who's 88 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:52,120 Speaker 1: not good at evaluating. Just because you're not good at 89 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:55,839 Speaker 1: evaluating if you're a linebacker coach or a running back coach, 90 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:58,159 Speaker 1: doesn't mean you don't have a strong opinion on who 91 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:00,680 Speaker 1: you want the team to draft. If your coach is 92 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:03,080 Speaker 1: the ultimate decision maker, maybe even get in his ear 93 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:06,360 Speaker 1: if the GM is he can push back. A lot 94 00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:10,000 Speaker 1: of pushing pull right now, a lot of both sides 95 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 1: are trying to figure it out. And let's face it, 96 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:15,480 Speaker 1: like I've talked to enough people, this is not a 97 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:19,720 Speaker 1: great draft. I've talked to several older scouts and executives 98 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:22,440 Speaker 1: that thinks this is one of the worst drafts since 99 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:25,920 Speaker 1: they can remember. That doesn't mean that really good players 100 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 1: are not going to come out of this. This doesn't 101 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:30,040 Speaker 1: mean we might not look back in three or four 102 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:33,719 Speaker 1: years and star players are littered in this draft, but 103 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 1: based on the college film and these guys measurable slash production, 104 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 1: it's not viewed as some star studded operation. I was 105 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 1: lucky enough my first year in the NFL to be 106 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 1: the guy that went. And this one was before the 107 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 1: NFL took the draft to different cities. It was just 108 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:54,560 Speaker 1: at Radio City Music Hall, and I went and my 109 00:05:54,680 --> 00:06:00,200 Speaker 1: job was to sit there and talk to the team. Right, 110 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:04,120 Speaker 1: So Howie or whoever the point guy was would call, 111 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 1: you know, call me on the phone, or you'd press 112 00:06:06,520 --> 00:06:09,080 Speaker 1: a button. I forget exactly how it worked, and I'd 113 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:12,280 Speaker 1: write down the name. And it was a draft. We 114 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 1: took Danny Watkins. But that draft was incredible, Cam Newton, 115 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:23,280 Speaker 1: JJ Watt, von Miller or AJ Green, Julio Jones, Alden Smith. 116 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:26,800 Speaker 1: It was loaded. I mean it was. It was star studded. 117 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:32,160 Speaker 1: And the draft, like on draft night, there is never 118 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:37,080 Speaker 1: a moment when someone's picked and they show the war 119 00:06:37,160 --> 00:06:40,919 Speaker 1: room and those people aren't happy, especially in the first round. 120 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:44,280 Speaker 1: So most teams, when you pull the trigger on a player, 121 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 1: you think the guy's gonna be really good. Now. The 122 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:50,080 Speaker 1: thing with football, more than these other sports, there are 123 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:54,279 Speaker 1: so many variables. It's the most scheme oriented sport. I 124 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:56,920 Speaker 1: would say it's definitely the sport that requires the most 125 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:01,240 Speaker 1: intellectual capacity on that to visual sport, you have to 126 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 1: learn positional requirements for your team and then scheme requirements 127 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 1: for the entire offense or defense. You constantly have coaching 128 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:12,880 Speaker 1: turnover that they're just a lot of things that are 129 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:17,239 Speaker 1: hard to quantify. That's why this process and this date 130 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 1: given the you know, the draft. Every single year, we 131 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:23,680 Speaker 1: have hits and misses, and we have things that at 132 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:25,520 Speaker 1: the time feel like, oh my god, I can't believe 133 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 1: this guy fell, and then three years later, no one's 134 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 1: even talking about that, and vice versa. Especially in a 135 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:35,520 Speaker 1: sport that is so physically demanding, that these injuries and 136 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:38,680 Speaker 1: things that people don't know about that teams have red 137 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 1: flag behind the scenes come into play. And right now 138 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 1: you'll read and hear a lot about top thirty visits 139 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:49,080 Speaker 1: and what that is is every team in the league 140 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:52,440 Speaker 1: gets thirty players that they can bring into their facility 141 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:56,000 Speaker 1: for like twenty four hours. And part of that is 142 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:57,960 Speaker 1: you take the guy to dinner. You get to spend 143 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:01,840 Speaker 1: time with the owner, the coordination, the head coach, the 144 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:05,000 Speaker 1: position coaches, You get to ask them some questions about 145 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:08,160 Speaker 1: things that maybe you don't know about or have questions 146 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 1: about with their past, or maybe you're just simply trying 147 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 1: to get to know the player better. And I think 148 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 1: he got to be careful with this because I'll never 149 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:20,320 Speaker 1: forget when my first or second year Bobby Wagner was 150 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 1: coming out and he was, you know, pretty highly touted prospect, 151 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:25,640 Speaker 1: was going to go probably in the top you know, 152 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:30,440 Speaker 1: seventy five picks, really productive player from Utah State, which 153 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 1: you know, not some powerhouse program though at the time 154 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 1: they were actually producing a lot of NFL players. And 155 00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:39,640 Speaker 1: I'll never forget he wore a Nija turtle backpack, and 156 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:42,640 Speaker 1: I would imagine because I know I did not like 157 00:08:42,679 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 1: God's kind of weird, not that I was in position 158 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 1: to draft him or not, but it turned on to 159 00:08:47,679 --> 00:08:50,320 Speaker 1: have like a borderline Hall of Fame career. And I 160 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:54,560 Speaker 1: just think sometimes in these visits, and he was not 161 00:08:54,679 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 1: like a no one questioned his character or anything, but 162 00:08:57,840 --> 00:09:01,480 Speaker 1: a lot of times these character guys show up in 163 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:03,920 Speaker 1: a full suit. To me, that was always like, so 164 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:06,480 Speaker 1: I'm a little off here. And I'll never forget there 165 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 1: were two guys, one time. My first year, I did 166 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:12,200 Speaker 1: a lot of like picking them up from the airport 167 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:15,520 Speaker 1: and taking them to the facility, and then when they'd leave, 168 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:18,120 Speaker 1: i'd take them back to the airport. And I remember 169 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:20,440 Speaker 1: that there was a group of two players that got 170 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:22,719 Speaker 1: into the car with me, and neither of them went 171 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:25,679 Speaker 1: on to have really long careers, but both of them 172 00:09:25,720 --> 00:09:27,800 Speaker 1: had some red flags off the field. It was why 173 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 1: we were bringing them in, you know, Howie Andy whoever 174 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:35,280 Speaker 1: to meet with him, and they just started talking about 175 00:09:35,320 --> 00:09:38,960 Speaker 1: things that they would never say in front of the GM, 176 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 1: in front of the coordinator, in front of any of 177 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:44,960 Speaker 1: the coaches, in front of anyone that they thought might 178 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:50,040 Speaker 1: impact their status. And one of my jobs was kind 179 00:09:50,040 --> 00:09:52,520 Speaker 1: of report everything I heard, and I remember going right back. 180 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: I don't know how much interest at the time we had, 181 00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:59,680 Speaker 1: but it definitely wasn't a flattering thing that I reported back. 182 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:03,120 Speaker 1: And that's what this whole time is. So when you 183 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:06,520 Speaker 1: read that Will Levis is meeting with the Raiders, or 184 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:10,040 Speaker 1: so and so player is meeting with the Vikings, you know, 185 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:13,600 Speaker 1: it's an information gathering time. And some players, you know, 186 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:16,080 Speaker 1: it's not even about character at all, it's just getting 187 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:18,600 Speaker 1: to know you more. As a football player getting to 188 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:20,680 Speaker 1: know you know, for Will Levis when he meets with 189 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:22,720 Speaker 1: these teams, I think teams are gonna want to know 190 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:27,000 Speaker 1: what is your football intelligence? Like what if I tell 191 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 1: you if I give you a playbook the week before 192 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:31,880 Speaker 1: you're coming to meet me, and then when you get here, 193 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:34,840 Speaker 1: I sit you down with my coordinator, my head coach, 194 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 1: my position coach, and we start drilling you on ten 195 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:40,560 Speaker 1: things that I told you to keep an eye on 196 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:43,800 Speaker 1: or read about in that playbook. Can you reiterate those 197 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:46,520 Speaker 1: things back to me? Do you know what's going on? 198 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:50,560 Speaker 1: Because I remember a famous story I think Mahomes told 199 00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:53,760 Speaker 1: this to the Kelsey Brothers on their podcast that Matt 200 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:56,760 Speaker 1: Nagy like gave him the answers to the test because 201 00:10:56,760 --> 00:10:58,800 Speaker 1: he liked him so much. So when he came on 202 00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:00,560 Speaker 1: his visit, they kind of did some of that and 203 00:11:00,640 --> 00:11:02,600 Speaker 1: Mahomes had already been tipped off of what they were 204 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:04,960 Speaker 1: going to look for. But that's just kind of what's 205 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:07,640 Speaker 1: going on right now. Getting to know people anyone with 206 00:11:07,760 --> 00:11:11,160 Speaker 1: character questions, you're definitely digging into. I would say a 207 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 1: lot of first round picks I would imagine, I know 208 00:11:13,320 --> 00:11:17,319 Speaker 1: in my experience Jeffrey Lurry always met with high valued picks. 209 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 1: He talked to him. Again, it might not even be 210 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:23,120 Speaker 1: in about that serious, just getting to meet somebody. When 211 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 1: you're thinking about drafting a player really high, you know 212 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 1: the owner probably wants to talk to him. And so 213 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:31,000 Speaker 1: when I saw the story today that Jalen Carter, who 214 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:32,600 Speaker 1: and I give this guy a lot of credit. He's 215 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:35,520 Speaker 1: clearly one of the great agents in the history of sports. 216 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:39,000 Speaker 1: His success speaks for itself. He's a unique personality who 217 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:42,040 Speaker 1: knows what he's doing. But a story today I saw 218 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:45,040 Speaker 1: Drew Rosenhouse is not letting teams outside of the top 219 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:49,760 Speaker 1: ten get visits with Jalen Carter, and that's pretty abnormal. 220 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 1: I would say within the NFL, like in basketball and baseball, 221 00:11:55,360 --> 00:11:59,360 Speaker 1: you often hear about these agents withholding information because I mean, 222 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:03,200 Speaker 1: those are kind of player run agent run operations. Listen, 223 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:06,360 Speaker 1: I grew up in around Sacramento, the Kings, who just 224 00:12:06,440 --> 00:12:10,800 Speaker 1: made the playoffs, and now the longest playoff active or 225 00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:13,079 Speaker 1: missing the playoffs streak belongs to the Jets. So the 226 00:12:13,160 --> 00:12:16,120 Speaker 1: Kings just snapped a long streak, but for a long 227 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:18,840 Speaker 1: period of time, they were viewed and rightfully so, as 228 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:22,160 Speaker 1: one of the most dysfunctional teams in all sports, and 229 00:12:22,280 --> 00:12:25,320 Speaker 1: so many agents would withhold information, would tell them do 230 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:28,160 Speaker 1: not draft my player. That doesn't really happen in the NFL. 231 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:31,480 Speaker 1: It's very very few and far between. Happens in baseball 232 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:34,000 Speaker 1: or teams you know, or a kid coming out of 233 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:38,560 Speaker 1: college or high school withhold medical information from major league teams. 234 00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:41,000 Speaker 1: I get it. That's just not the way the NFL 235 00:12:41,120 --> 00:12:44,760 Speaker 1: operates now. Jalen Carter's unique right. He is viewed as 236 00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:49,160 Speaker 1: arguably the best player in this draft, but because of 237 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:52,160 Speaker 1: some off the field questions, which are very valid, he 238 00:12:52,280 --> 00:12:55,640 Speaker 1: could slip. So I saw a quote from Drew Rosenhouse, 239 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:58,200 Speaker 1: who views this guy as a lock top ten pick, 240 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:01,079 Speaker 1: and I understand, like, I'm not going to send him 241 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:03,880 Speaker 1: some team that's draft in nineteen. That's a waste of 242 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:07,040 Speaker 1: my time. And typically teams that are drafting late don't 243 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:10,320 Speaker 1: even request, like on a you know, on a year, 244 00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:12,600 Speaker 1: let's just pick a sweet player like a Miles Garrett 245 00:13:12,679 --> 00:13:15,120 Speaker 1: or a Nick Bosa. Those guys aren't going to meet 246 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:18,560 Speaker 1: with like the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Baltimore Ravens. But 247 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:21,040 Speaker 1: those teams wouldn't even ask to meet with that player, 248 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:24,080 Speaker 1: just because it's a waste of everyone's time. In this case, 249 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:28,559 Speaker 1: I do understand teams in like, I don't know, twelve 250 00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:30,920 Speaker 1: to twenty going hey, can we get this guy on 251 00:13:30,920 --> 00:13:33,720 Speaker 1: a top thirty visit because there is a chance that 252 00:13:33,800 --> 00:13:38,560 Speaker 1: this guy falls in the draft, and ultimately, like and listen, 253 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:41,160 Speaker 1: Drew's been doing this longer than I have, but if 254 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 1: he does fall in the draft, you do want him 255 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:46,600 Speaker 1: to go as quickly as possible and for those teams 256 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:49,600 Speaker 1: to become more comfortable with this player. I don't think 257 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:52,920 Speaker 1: getting to know him is the worst thing, because I 258 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:56,000 Speaker 1: don't know, depending on who you talk to, I think 259 00:13:56,040 --> 00:14:00,440 Speaker 1: people would argue this guy's got fall potential. And I 260 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:03,160 Speaker 1: remember thinking this about mac Jones. I'm like, you know, 261 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:05,319 Speaker 1: if the forty nine ers don't take him at three, 262 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:08,200 Speaker 1: who's gonna take him? And if it wasn't for Bill Belichick, 263 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:10,720 Speaker 1: mac Jones was headed to the twenties. That was more 264 00:14:10,760 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 1: of a talent thing. His talent was really overhyped and 265 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:16,320 Speaker 1: look at it now, and this gets back to there 266 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:19,000 Speaker 1: is no such thing as a guy with like a 267 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:23,440 Speaker 1: super high floor Mac Jones. Bill Belichick wouldn't even give him. 268 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:26,400 Speaker 1: He wouldn't even name him the starting quarterback at the 269 00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:31,440 Speaker 1: owners meetings, wouldn't say it refused. Just now that's maybe 270 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:33,760 Speaker 1: he's going a little old school Mac Jones. Not like 271 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:37,320 Speaker 1: he's proven anything, but usually by your third year you're 272 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:39,680 Speaker 1: just either the lockstarter you're not and Mac Jones. Do 273 00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:44,280 Speaker 1: you know Jalen Carter. If Jalen Carter and everyone that 274 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:46,960 Speaker 1: I've talked to in the NFL has acknowledged if this 275 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:49,520 Speaker 1: guy's focused and he tries hard, he's a really good player. 276 00:14:49,960 --> 00:14:53,520 Speaker 1: But then I had one scout tell me, listen, Georgia 277 00:14:53,840 --> 00:14:56,640 Speaker 1: could have won the National championship if Jalen Carter did 278 00:14:56,640 --> 00:14:59,640 Speaker 1: not play a game, they could not have won the 279 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:02,560 Speaker 1: you know, the national Championship if Stets had Bennett had 280 00:15:02,600 --> 00:15:06,600 Speaker 1: not played. So you start nitpicking these guys, these teams go. 281 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:09,720 Speaker 1: You know, it's just you can just talk yourself into 282 00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:11,720 Speaker 1: and out of a lot of things this time of year. 283 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:16,120 Speaker 1: So interesting tactic by Jalen Carter. And just when you 284 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:19,000 Speaker 1: see all these guys making these visits, teams get thirty, 285 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:21,840 Speaker 1: you get to suspend, you know, twenty four hours with 286 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:25,080 Speaker 1: the guy in your home base, where you're comfortable, where 287 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:27,600 Speaker 1: you know the drill, where you can dictate the terms. 288 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:32,960 Speaker 1: I also saw the Indianapolis Colts. They chose to not 289 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 1: really be that present at a lot of the big 290 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:39,560 Speaker 1: pro days for the quarterbacks. Instead, they are going to 291 00:15:39,800 --> 00:15:44,360 Speaker 1: privately work out c. J. Stroud and Bryce Young. They're 292 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:47,400 Speaker 1: gonna send you know, their quarterback coach, their offensive coordinat 293 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:49,680 Speaker 1: obviously their head coach, I'm sure, as their offensive coordinator, 294 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:52,920 Speaker 1: and they are going to May I'm sure Chris Ballerud 295 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:55,320 Speaker 1: probably be there as a contingent work the guy out. 296 00:15:55,640 --> 00:15:58,280 Speaker 1: So you know, every team approaches this a little bit differently. 297 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:02,160 Speaker 1: I do think within the Internet age, it's harder to 298 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:05,360 Speaker 1: hide things. It used to probably be more in vogue, 299 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:07,760 Speaker 1: you know fifteen twenty years ago that you kind of 300 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:11,640 Speaker 1: played mind games cloak and dagger of like you bring 301 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:14,440 Speaker 1: in a guy that you didn't really want. I don't 302 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:16,760 Speaker 1: know if you have the time now. So I think 303 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:19,160 Speaker 1: if you're bringing in a guy, you have interest in him, 304 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:22,680 Speaker 1: and yeah, this is just a really fun time a year. 305 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:26,840 Speaker 1: It's lying season, not that far away from guys actually 306 00:16:26,840 --> 00:16:33,680 Speaker 1: being on teams. A couple other things in football. It 307 00:16:33,720 --> 00:16:37,280 Speaker 1: feels like the Washington Commanders, by all reports, are going 308 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:41,560 Speaker 1: to sell for six billion dollars. And one thing that's 309 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:44,480 Speaker 1: fascinates me as someone who's you know, been looking to 310 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:46,640 Speaker 1: buy a home now for a year and inevitably is 311 00:16:46,640 --> 00:16:49,440 Speaker 1: going to buy a home on a street that is 312 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:52,520 Speaker 1: a lot more expensive than the other homes on the street, 313 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 1: not necessarily because the home is that much different, just 314 00:16:56,120 --> 00:16:59,840 Speaker 1: because it's twenty twenty three, and another guy on that's 315 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 1: might have bought that home in two thousand and three. 316 00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:06,480 Speaker 1: So if that guy pays five hundred thousand, I might 317 00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:09,679 Speaker 1: have to pay one point nine million dollars at his 318 00:17:09,760 --> 00:17:12,200 Speaker 1: home currently if he wanted to sell, would be worth 319 00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:14,480 Speaker 1: a lot of money too, But that's not how I 320 00:17:14,600 --> 00:17:16,440 Speaker 1: view it. He got it for that amount of money, 321 00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:20,560 Speaker 1: and I'm fascinated by some of these owners. There's a 322 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:25,440 Speaker 1: lot of owners in the NFL that have gotten teams 323 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:28,440 Speaker 1: held just because their parents bought it once upon a time, 324 00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:32,080 Speaker 1: right they inherited the franchise, which I'm not here to 325 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:34,359 Speaker 1: tell you they shouldn't known it. That's welcome to the 326 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:37,879 Speaker 1: reality of life now. A lot of their grandpa or 327 00:17:37,960 --> 00:17:41,639 Speaker 1: their parents, their dads bought that franchise for not that 328 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:45,200 Speaker 1: much money. And I'm always fascinated by a money dynamic 329 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:48,560 Speaker 1: once the money gets really really big, right, Like if 330 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:51,480 Speaker 1: you bought a home on a street, let's just say, 331 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:55,400 Speaker 1: for ten million dollars, and there were other homes on 332 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:58,360 Speaker 1: that street where the people bought it for one hundred 333 00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:01,920 Speaker 1: thousand dollars, there might be some tension when it came 334 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:06,520 Speaker 1: to the hoa rights, right, just natural you view yourself 335 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:10,680 Speaker 1: right or wrong, like having more skin in the game, right, 336 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:14,480 Speaker 1: And you also made those people a lot of money 337 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:17,800 Speaker 1: by just buying that piece of property on the same 338 00:18:17,840 --> 00:18:21,120 Speaker 1: street that that guy lives. So if the Commanders sell 339 00:18:21,200 --> 00:18:24,040 Speaker 1: for six billion, we just saw Temper buy a team 340 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:27,400 Speaker 1: for whatever four billion. We saw the Denver Broncos sell 341 00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:30,439 Speaker 1: for whatever four and a half five billion. Some of 342 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:33,280 Speaker 1: these teams are being purchased at you know, just going 343 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:36,920 Speaker 1: rate for astronomical numbers. Yet there are so many people 344 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 1: in the league that once upon a time bought their 345 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:42,359 Speaker 1: team for one hundred, two hundred, three hundred million dollars. 346 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:45,199 Speaker 1: So right now, the one thing that the NFL has 347 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:47,639 Speaker 1: had is they've been on the same page as a group. 348 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:50,840 Speaker 1: They've argued at times, right, but for the most part 349 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:55,240 Speaker 1: they've used well as a unit. For this Thursday Night argument, 350 00:18:55,480 --> 00:18:57,359 Speaker 1: a couple of weeks ago. I guess it was last week. 351 00:18:57,880 --> 00:19:01,520 Speaker 1: A lot of people were like, why are we trying 352 00:19:01,560 --> 00:19:04,320 Speaker 1: to flex these Thursday night games? And I read an 353 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:07,360 Speaker 1: article where Dave Tepper stood up and like did Amazon 354 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:10,480 Speaker 1: say something like why is this even an issue? And 355 00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:13,119 Speaker 1: it's clearly just an issue because they used to have 356 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:15,399 Speaker 1: twenty million people watch Thursday night games and last year 357 00:19:15,440 --> 00:19:18,320 Speaker 1: they had about ten so they want more people to 358 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:22,080 Speaker 1: watch now. Part of it is just a natural change 359 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:24,320 Speaker 1: where you're going to streaming only is going to be 360 00:19:24,359 --> 00:19:27,880 Speaker 1: pretty extreme. But the point is the amount of money 361 00:19:27,920 --> 00:19:29,960 Speaker 1: that's on the line and the amount of money that's 362 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:33,320 Speaker 1: being spent by the partners some of these new owners 363 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:36,040 Speaker 1: is just a lot different than some of the money 364 00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:38,600 Speaker 1: that held Jerry Jones once upon a time bought the 365 00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:41,520 Speaker 1: team in nineteen eighty nine. Now he thinks like these 366 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:43,840 Speaker 1: big money guys, and he now is a big money guy. 367 00:19:44,240 --> 00:19:47,440 Speaker 1: But not every owner has just flutched with cash. So 368 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:50,680 Speaker 1: one thing I've always at least the show has talked 369 00:19:50,720 --> 00:19:54,160 Speaker 1: about that NFL is not staying on top forever. That's 370 00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:57,000 Speaker 1: not going to happen. They're not just gonna be the 371 00:19:57,080 --> 00:20:02,280 Speaker 1: bohemis in perpetuity, and it's like, well, I don't see 372 00:20:02,280 --> 00:20:05,399 Speaker 1: any other sport catching them in terms of interest. Maybe 373 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:08,199 Speaker 1: the downfall inevitably, it's just what if some of the 374 00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:12,760 Speaker 1: owners start internally fighting and anytime you get a huge 375 00:20:12,800 --> 00:20:15,560 Speaker 1: wealth gap, not because the teams don't have money. This 376 00:20:15,640 --> 00:20:18,800 Speaker 1: is not Baseball. Every team can pay the player, but 377 00:20:18,920 --> 00:20:22,080 Speaker 1: the way owners feel that they're more important because they 378 00:20:22,119 --> 00:20:25,080 Speaker 1: paid more for the team. It's just something that I'm 379 00:20:25,119 --> 00:20:29,200 Speaker 1: pretty fascinated with because I just saw Florio was writing 380 00:20:29,240 --> 00:20:33,320 Speaker 1: about on Pro Football Talk that the escrow rule in 381 00:20:33,560 --> 00:20:37,119 Speaker 1: the NFL. If I sign you to a guaranteed contract 382 00:20:37,200 --> 00:20:40,040 Speaker 1: within twelve months of signing that contract, I have to 383 00:20:40,040 --> 00:20:43,359 Speaker 1: put a substantial amount into escrow. It's kind of an 384 00:20:43,440 --> 00:20:47,320 Speaker 1: archaic way that the NFL does their funding. Well, technically, 385 00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:51,320 Speaker 1: the Browns on March thirty first owe to the league 386 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:54,280 Speaker 1: one hundred and sixty nine million dollars for the escrow 387 00:20:54,280 --> 00:20:58,560 Speaker 1: payment for Deshaun Watson. Now they declined whether that was 388 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:01,440 Speaker 1: put in there, but just shows you, I mean, we 389 00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:05,639 Speaker 1: are in different times with the league that I know. 390 00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:12,200 Speaker 1: You know, I grew up with Odell Beckham junior. It 391 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:15,800 Speaker 1: was originally reported that he wanted twenty million dollars, which 392 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:20,400 Speaker 1: was insane, and it has since been rescinded to fifteen 393 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:25,320 Speaker 1: million dollars, which I also find somewhat laughable in a vacuum. 394 00:21:25,359 --> 00:21:28,440 Speaker 1: He's not a fifteen million dollar player given his production 395 00:21:28,560 --> 00:21:31,240 Speaker 1: and given that he has two ACL tears and what 396 00:21:31,359 --> 00:21:36,239 Speaker 1: the last like, you know, forty months now, I think 397 00:21:36,280 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 1: we all can relate to this at just a different 398 00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:42,960 Speaker 1: price point. Once you start doing something you like or 399 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:47,280 Speaker 1: start making a lot of money, for someone to change 400 00:21:47,280 --> 00:21:50,320 Speaker 1: your lifestyle or get you to do something you don't 401 00:21:50,359 --> 00:21:52,840 Speaker 1: want to do, they usually have to pay a lot 402 00:21:52,840 --> 00:21:56,040 Speaker 1: of money, right, or get to amount of money that like, listen, 403 00:21:56,200 --> 00:21:58,119 Speaker 1: I'm gonna throw a number out there, you're probably not 404 00:21:58,119 --> 00:22:01,240 Speaker 1: gonna match. I'm not even that interested. And that happens sometimes. 405 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:04,280 Speaker 1: And I started thinking, like Odell has made a lot 406 00:22:04,480 --> 00:22:06,960 Speaker 1: on the field, he's also made a lot off the field, 407 00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:11,639 Speaker 1: made a ton of money. Are we sure O'Dell is 408 00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:14,160 Speaker 1: willing to play for three or four million dollars? Because 409 00:22:14,160 --> 00:22:16,199 Speaker 1: to me, that's kind of his going rate. It's like 410 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:18,480 Speaker 1: a three or four million dollar player, given that he's 411 00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:21,480 Speaker 1: got multiple injuries, and when you look at his production, 412 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:25,640 Speaker 1: he's got seven touchdowns since twenty nineteen, right like part 413 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:28,879 Speaker 1: of the problem right now with DeAndre Hopkins, he makes 414 00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:33,760 Speaker 1: nineteen million dollars. He averaged a career low in two 415 00:22:34,359 --> 00:22:38,719 Speaker 1: twenty two for yards per catch. He obviously was suspended 416 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:42,160 Speaker 1: for some peed issues, Like the money doesn't really add 417 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:44,520 Speaker 1: up for the production and some of the red flags 418 00:22:44,520 --> 00:22:47,359 Speaker 1: and some of the trends. It's why you could request 419 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:49,520 Speaker 1: to trade all you want. No one's trading for you 420 00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:52,200 Speaker 1: at that price point. So why Odell Beckham could ask 421 00:22:52,280 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 1: for fifteen million. Don't blame him because his life's great. 422 00:22:56,160 --> 00:22:59,199 Speaker 1: He's already worth a ton, but he's not a fifteen 423 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:02,880 Speaker 1: million dollars player. And I don't see anyone, especially currently 424 00:23:03,240 --> 00:23:06,040 Speaker 1: gonna crack at the fifteen million dollars number. Now, maybe 425 00:23:06,119 --> 00:23:08,440 Speaker 1: if we get into training camp and a guy tears 426 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:11,520 Speaker 1: an acl or an achilles, a team is desperate and 427 00:23:11,640 --> 00:23:14,639 Speaker 1: someone gives him like eight to ten million dollars, but 428 00:23:14,840 --> 00:23:18,520 Speaker 1: I will be stunned, giving his age, given his limited 429 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:21,359 Speaker 1: pass production over a three or four year span, and 430 00:23:21,560 --> 00:23:24,560 Speaker 1: given his injuries. If he gets a big time contract, 431 00:23:24,640 --> 00:23:27,000 Speaker 1: don't blame him at all for not asking for asking 432 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 1: for a bigger number, But it just doesn't that up. 433 00:23:29,560 --> 00:23:32,560 Speaker 1: So I think you have to ask yourself, does he 434 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:35,920 Speaker 1: really want to play that much? Is this life or death? 435 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:37,920 Speaker 1: And want to say life for death? I don't actually 436 00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:40,080 Speaker 1: mean life for death. I just mean does football mean 437 00:23:40,119 --> 00:23:44,400 Speaker 1: everything to the guy anymore? I don't know. It might, 438 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:47,600 Speaker 1: it might not, you know, and I think it's very 439 00:23:47,720 --> 00:23:52,560 Speaker 1: very he's a he's a bizarre player because his peak, 440 00:23:52,800 --> 00:23:56,159 Speaker 1: he was really really special. The Giants fans know. His 441 00:23:56,440 --> 00:24:00,280 Speaker 1: speed was elite. He was so dynamic you would ball 442 00:24:00,320 --> 00:24:03,800 Speaker 1: in his hands. He was so unreal as a punt returner. 443 00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:07,280 Speaker 1: I mean, the dude was a legitimate star. But then 444 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:10,520 Speaker 1: the moment he got paid slash, he got traded to 445 00:24:10,600 --> 00:24:13,840 Speaker 1: the Browns, his injuries, it ain't the same. Like this 446 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:18,040 Speaker 1: is twenty twenty three, it's not twenty fifteen. And I 447 00:24:18,160 --> 00:24:21,920 Speaker 1: just wonder if where we're headed with O'Dell is. Maybe 448 00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:24,439 Speaker 1: he's not headed to an NFL team anytime soon, and 449 00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:26,720 Speaker 1: it's just gonna be when his number comes way down, 450 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:30,440 Speaker 1: or maybe somehow he backs into some guys get hurt 451 00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:33,360 Speaker 1: and he gets way more than you know, I think 452 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:36,320 Speaker 1: he's worth, but way less than his fifteen million dollars number. 453 00:24:36,680 --> 00:24:41,679 Speaker 1: Hard knocks they're down to four teams because to be 454 00:24:41,720 --> 00:24:43,920 Speaker 1: eligible with a Hard Knocks you can't have a new 455 00:24:43,960 --> 00:24:46,840 Speaker 1: coach and you can't have made the playoffs in the 456 00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:49,959 Speaker 1: last two years. So like the Patriots, for example, they 457 00:24:49,960 --> 00:24:52,720 Speaker 1: don't have a coaching change, but they made the playoffs 458 00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:56,359 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty one, so they are exempt. So the 459 00:24:56,400 --> 00:25:02,280 Speaker 1: teams we're looking at are the Saints, the Bears, and 460 00:25:03,040 --> 00:25:06,520 Speaker 1: the New York Jets. And the Bears have been pretty 461 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:08,879 Speaker 1: adamant they want no part of it. To me, the 462 00:25:08,960 --> 00:25:12,800 Speaker 1: Saints would be a little boring. I think the Jets are. 463 00:25:13,040 --> 00:25:16,040 Speaker 1: I mean, honestly, if you just once Aaron Rodgers is 464 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:18,000 Speaker 1: traded to the Jets, if you just had to do 465 00:25:18,040 --> 00:25:21,320 Speaker 1: a draft of what teams would you want to see 466 00:25:21,359 --> 00:25:24,280 Speaker 1: on hard Knocks, I don't see how the Jets wouldn't 467 00:25:24,280 --> 00:25:26,399 Speaker 1: be near the top. I mean, honestly, they feel like 468 00:25:26,440 --> 00:25:31,120 Speaker 1: a lock, big market star quarterback who's polarizing and don't 469 00:25:31,119 --> 00:25:34,800 Speaker 1: really talented team and a coach because to me, you 470 00:25:34,840 --> 00:25:38,800 Speaker 1: need a star player and you need a head coach 471 00:25:39,320 --> 00:25:42,920 Speaker 1: with some personality. The Commanders are another team, right, they 472 00:25:43,440 --> 00:25:49,160 Speaker 1: would make Actually they're not commanders. No, no commanders. I'm confused. 473 00:25:49,320 --> 00:25:51,400 Speaker 1: I thought there were four teams, but I only name three. 474 00:25:51,560 --> 00:25:53,320 Speaker 1: Maybe it is the Commanders. They make the playoffs two 475 00:25:53,359 --> 00:25:55,280 Speaker 1: years ago. Is that three years ago? I think it 476 00:25:55,320 --> 00:25:58,639 Speaker 1: was three years ago. And I think the Jets just 477 00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:00,719 Speaker 1: end up being on hard Knocks. I mean, they make 478 00:26:00,760 --> 00:26:04,640 Speaker 1: too much sense. You got Robert Sala, good looking, big personality, 479 00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:08,280 Speaker 1: he can carry you. Aaron Rodgers content can carry you. 480 00:26:08,880 --> 00:26:10,680 Speaker 1: And let's face it, and I've been saying this for 481 00:26:10,720 --> 00:26:13,159 Speaker 1: a while, hard Knocks is kind of a thing in 482 00:26:13,200 --> 00:26:16,240 Speaker 1: the past. You know, it's just it's kind of boring. 483 00:26:16,840 --> 00:26:19,200 Speaker 1: We don't get the inside view of the GM and 484 00:26:19,240 --> 00:26:22,680 Speaker 1: the head coach talking about, you know, the fifty three 485 00:26:22,760 --> 00:26:25,760 Speaker 1: man roster, who's gonna make it, who's not gonna make it. 486 00:26:25,760 --> 00:26:28,360 Speaker 1: It feels like it's run by the league in terms 487 00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:30,480 Speaker 1: of no one wants to hurt anyone's feelings. And I 488 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:32,960 Speaker 1: get why. If I was a team and I was 489 00:26:32,960 --> 00:26:34,560 Speaker 1: in charge of a team, I wouldn't want to hurt 490 00:26:34,560 --> 00:26:37,800 Speaker 1: anyone's feelings either. But that was a huge reason that 491 00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:40,840 Speaker 1: Hard Knocks really shot out like a rocket ship when 492 00:26:40,960 --> 00:26:42,840 Speaker 1: you know, when I was like in high school in college, 493 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:46,400 Speaker 1: because it was so raw and real, it was reality 494 00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:50,600 Speaker 1: television like legitimately, you would get those personnel meetings where 495 00:26:50,600 --> 00:26:53,320 Speaker 1: they were like ranking guys who was gonna get cut, 496 00:26:53,359 --> 00:26:57,199 Speaker 1: who might not make it, what draft pick sucked? And 497 00:26:57,440 --> 00:26:59,080 Speaker 1: those days feel like a thing of the past. The 498 00:26:59,160 --> 00:27:03,240 Speaker 1: Lions had it moments, but even that, you know, it's 499 00:27:03,280 --> 00:27:06,080 Speaker 1: just it's a little cheesier now. So at least with 500 00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:10,440 Speaker 1: the Aaron Roger drama alone, I think it can carry 501 00:27:10,440 --> 00:27:15,280 Speaker 1: hard knocks at minimum for a couple episodes. Okay, let's 502 00:27:15,280 --> 00:27:18,400 Speaker 1: bang out a little Middlecoff mailbag. We'll keep the short 503 00:27:18,440 --> 00:27:21,920 Speaker 1: and sweet this shorter podcast. We will do a much 504 00:27:21,920 --> 00:27:28,120 Speaker 1: longer mailbag probably on Friday. Start with Jim first ever 505 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:34,040 Speaker 1: DM Instagram sucks. Gotta push back like Instagram. One scenario 506 00:27:34,160 --> 00:27:36,320 Speaker 1: for the Lions this year if they missed the playoffs, 507 00:27:36,560 --> 00:27:40,200 Speaker 1: does goth have a job next year and win total 508 00:27:40,240 --> 00:27:45,120 Speaker 1: predictions for the NFC North Pretty good question here. I'd 509 00:27:45,160 --> 00:27:47,720 Speaker 1: go with Jared Goff. He's gonna be a free agent. 510 00:27:47,720 --> 00:27:49,480 Speaker 1: I'm pretty sure after the season, So if you were 511 00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:53,000 Speaker 1: to miss the playoffs, no, he would not be back 512 00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:56,560 Speaker 1: and win prediction. I do think it's For example, the Packers, 513 00:27:57,080 --> 00:27:59,840 Speaker 1: for the last thirty years they have been the Hunter. 514 00:28:00,320 --> 00:28:03,359 Speaker 1: That doesn't mean excuse me the Hunted. That doesn't mean 515 00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:05,480 Speaker 1: they make the you know, win the division every year. 516 00:28:05,800 --> 00:28:08,840 Speaker 1: Doesn't mean they always even make the playoffs. But every 517 00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:11,760 Speaker 1: year they've had Farvin Rodgers coming into the season, people 518 00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:14,199 Speaker 1: view them as good, and most of the years they 519 00:28:14,240 --> 00:28:16,679 Speaker 1: have been right. They have been a double digit win 520 00:28:16,760 --> 00:28:19,480 Speaker 1: team Packer fans. I mean, if I had to take 521 00:28:19,480 --> 00:28:23,560 Speaker 1: an educated guess, since Brett Farve began starting and they've 522 00:28:23,560 --> 00:28:29,359 Speaker 1: had Rogers, I would guess twenty division championships. Because I 523 00:28:29,359 --> 00:28:31,040 Speaker 1: feel a little high. I guess the Vikings have wanted 524 00:28:31,080 --> 00:28:34,159 Speaker 1: a couple of times. I don't even remember the Lions 525 00:28:34,200 --> 00:28:37,080 Speaker 1: winning it. Obviously, the Bears probably wanted a time or 526 00:28:37,119 --> 00:28:44,360 Speaker 1: two been the Packers Division. Right. So the Giants last 527 00:28:44,440 --> 00:28:46,280 Speaker 1: year a good example. They kind of got to sneak 528 00:28:46,320 --> 00:28:49,960 Speaker 1: up on some people in twenty twenty three, Like this fall, 529 00:28:50,320 --> 00:28:52,960 Speaker 1: they're stacking it up on nobody, not because there's some 530 00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:56,880 Speaker 1: super you know, super loaded roster, but because people are 531 00:28:56,880 --> 00:28:59,760 Speaker 1: going to view them as a playoff team. Right. So 532 00:28:59,880 --> 00:29:03,040 Speaker 1: the Lions, while they didn't make the playoffs, people are 533 00:29:03,080 --> 00:29:05,600 Speaker 1: gonna have a lot of respect for their roster and 534 00:29:05,720 --> 00:29:09,040 Speaker 1: their players this fall. So They're gonna be viewed as 535 00:29:09,160 --> 00:29:14,080 Speaker 1: like a real team, and it's just gonna be fascinating. 536 00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:18,080 Speaker 1: Like I'm gonna pick him to win the division. We'll see, though, 537 00:29:18,480 --> 00:29:20,800 Speaker 1: It's not gonna be easy for Dan Campbell. He's gonna 538 00:29:20,840 --> 00:29:22,760 Speaker 1: have a lot of pressure on him, not just to 539 00:29:22,800 --> 00:29:24,600 Speaker 1: win the division, but to me, anything less than the 540 00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:29,200 Speaker 1: playoffs a major, major disappointment. And I do just wonder 541 00:29:29,240 --> 00:29:31,960 Speaker 1: if it's going to be a little more difficult than 542 00:29:32,080 --> 00:29:35,040 Speaker 1: we think. I'm picking them. I'm not off the scent, 543 00:29:35,600 --> 00:29:37,360 Speaker 1: and they haven't even had the draft, Like, I like 544 00:29:37,520 --> 00:29:42,560 Speaker 1: where they're headed, but it's it's just difficult when people 545 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:45,920 Speaker 1: take you seriously, Like it's easy to climb the mountain 546 00:29:46,280 --> 00:29:48,720 Speaker 1: right when no one sees you coming. Then you get 547 00:29:48,760 --> 00:29:51,440 Speaker 1: up there and that wind starts blowing, it's harder to stay. Now. Hell, 548 00:29:51,480 --> 00:29:53,360 Speaker 1: the Lions haven't got to the top of the mountain yet. 549 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:56,480 Speaker 1: But my point is it's kind of easy, just what 550 00:29:56,520 --> 00:29:58,600 Speaker 1: they were able to do last year. Remember they started 551 00:29:58,640 --> 00:30:05,040 Speaker 1: really shitty, start owing three or one and four. We'll see. 552 00:30:06,240 --> 00:30:11,600 Speaker 1: Get I'm not wavering from my Lions pick. Here in April, 553 00:30:13,800 --> 00:30:17,200 Speaker 1: as someone who just got their first sports journalism job, 554 00:30:17,480 --> 00:30:20,440 Speaker 1: beat writer for some NFL teams don't want to out you, 555 00:30:21,200 --> 00:30:22,600 Speaker 1: or maybe you do want to be out in I 556 00:30:22,640 --> 00:30:24,440 Speaker 1: don't even know if it's outing you, but you know, 557 00:30:24,760 --> 00:30:27,840 Speaker 1: I appreciate how you always take football to real life 558 00:30:27,840 --> 00:30:31,880 Speaker 1: scenarios such as business, real estate stocks. I just finished 559 00:30:31,880 --> 00:30:35,240 Speaker 1: my bachelor's in business and we'll be starting my masters 560 00:30:35,320 --> 00:30:41,440 Speaker 1: in journalism soon. My guy's well educated here. Would appreciate 561 00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:43,880 Speaker 1: any tips on how to grow your following in the 562 00:30:43,920 --> 00:30:47,720 Speaker 1: media world, or if you think there's that's overrated and 563 00:30:47,800 --> 00:30:53,480 Speaker 1: just focus on the content. Well, that's a good question. 564 00:30:53,600 --> 00:30:59,000 Speaker 1: I think the content is always king right unless you 565 00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:01,600 Speaker 1: you know, if you're going on first take, you can 566 00:31:01,640 --> 00:31:03,680 Speaker 1: say whatever the fuck you want, right and then it's 567 00:31:03,720 --> 00:31:07,400 Speaker 1: just like just being exposure. But if you're starting at 568 00:31:07,400 --> 00:31:09,480 Speaker 1: a lower level, like try to do a really good job, 569 00:31:10,280 --> 00:31:12,960 Speaker 1: try to master and figure out what you're good at, 570 00:31:13,520 --> 00:31:15,880 Speaker 1: and then hone in on those skills. It's funny. I 571 00:31:15,880 --> 00:31:17,560 Speaker 1: was talking to my girlfriend about this the other day. 572 00:31:17,560 --> 00:31:21,120 Speaker 1: It's like, you know, a lot of people have dreams 573 00:31:21,120 --> 00:31:24,560 Speaker 1: and aspirations about doing bigger things in life in whatever 574 00:31:24,720 --> 00:31:27,200 Speaker 1: you do, and I think a lot of people and 575 00:31:27,240 --> 00:31:31,680 Speaker 1: I'm all for try it. Don't waste too much time planning, 576 00:31:31,720 --> 00:31:33,160 Speaker 1: like you just kind of got to dive into the 577 00:31:33,200 --> 00:31:36,680 Speaker 1: deep end. That's part of life. But when you do 578 00:31:36,760 --> 00:31:39,360 Speaker 1: dive into the deep end, or when you do you 579 00:31:39,400 --> 00:31:42,680 Speaker 1: don't want to think big picture stuff. It does help 580 00:31:42,840 --> 00:31:46,480 Speaker 1: to be really good at whatever specifically you're doing. So 581 00:31:46,600 --> 00:31:49,040 Speaker 1: I would just hone in. I don't know journalism. I 582 00:31:49,040 --> 00:31:51,480 Speaker 1: don't exactly know what that means, like are you gonna 583 00:31:51,520 --> 00:31:53,040 Speaker 1: when you say a beat writer? Are you gonna be 584 00:31:53,080 --> 00:31:55,040 Speaker 1: on camera? Are you gonna be doing videos? Are you 585 00:31:55,080 --> 00:31:58,200 Speaker 1: gonna be writing? Whatever you're doing, especially if you're young, 586 00:31:58,280 --> 00:32:01,200 Speaker 1: like in your twenties, master that give all your time 587 00:32:01,240 --> 00:32:03,720 Speaker 1: to figuring that out how to do it, and then 588 00:32:03,760 --> 00:32:06,800 Speaker 1: like over time, like you're following, will just naturally grow. 589 00:32:07,520 --> 00:32:09,480 Speaker 1: You'll separate from the pack if you're good at what 590 00:32:09,520 --> 00:32:13,200 Speaker 1: you're doing. But I wouldn't be obsessed with that, you know, 591 00:32:13,280 --> 00:32:16,240 Speaker 1: at twenty four years old, I would be more. And 592 00:32:16,280 --> 00:32:19,800 Speaker 1: I understand in these times and the way society works, 593 00:32:20,280 --> 00:32:23,000 Speaker 1: everyone wants it all. I did too. I'm sure many 594 00:32:23,040 --> 00:32:25,320 Speaker 1: people listening. But I think sometimes you kind of just 595 00:32:25,360 --> 00:32:28,120 Speaker 1: got a stack a couple things and then figure it out. 596 00:32:28,720 --> 00:32:30,520 Speaker 1: And I think it's hard because we have so much 597 00:32:30,520 --> 00:32:33,680 Speaker 1: access to see these guys that make millions of dollars 598 00:32:33,680 --> 00:32:35,920 Speaker 1: on YouTube that are our age or a couple of 599 00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:39,800 Speaker 1: years older. Like, that's not the majority of people. That 600 00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:43,480 Speaker 1: is a small, small minority of people that just blow 601 00:32:43,600 --> 00:32:48,320 Speaker 1: up and got ten million followers on TikTok, Instagram and Twitter. 602 00:32:48,880 --> 00:32:51,280 Speaker 1: You know again, how many of those people are actually 603 00:32:51,280 --> 00:32:55,600 Speaker 1: monetizing them on Twitter? Nobody on the other apps, the 604 00:32:55,680 --> 00:32:58,800 Speaker 1: people of the big followings can monetize them. But ultimately 605 00:32:58,840 --> 00:33:02,000 Speaker 1: a point is I would just focus on just being 606 00:33:02,120 --> 00:33:05,760 Speaker 1: laser Just be really good at what you're doing, be 607 00:33:06,120 --> 00:33:10,200 Speaker 1: laser focused on the present, and then let it kind 608 00:33:10,200 --> 00:33:12,479 Speaker 1: of play out from there, which you can be like, well, 609 00:33:12,520 --> 00:33:14,800 Speaker 1: it's easy for you to say, well, yeah, in my twenties, 610 00:33:15,560 --> 00:33:19,240 Speaker 1: I just fucking swung my pick. I just swung my pick, 611 00:33:19,720 --> 00:33:22,280 Speaker 1: And honestly, it wasn't I didn't start making real money 612 00:33:22,360 --> 00:33:25,920 Speaker 1: till three or four years ago. Honestly, you know, probably 613 00:33:25,960 --> 00:33:30,720 Speaker 1: around twenty nineteen twenty. I'm thirty eight years old. Now. 614 00:33:30,800 --> 00:33:35,360 Speaker 1: I took a path was very focused on I was 615 00:33:35,400 --> 00:33:38,040 Speaker 1: just gonna make it. And the crazy part is in 616 00:33:38,120 --> 00:33:41,200 Speaker 1: my tent I did in my twenties, is not it 617 00:33:41,280 --> 00:33:43,520 Speaker 1: does relate to what I'm doing now, obviously, but it's 618 00:33:43,520 --> 00:33:46,400 Speaker 1: not the same business. I'm not working in the same 619 00:33:46,480 --> 00:33:48,200 Speaker 1: industry in the sense of like I don't work in 620 00:33:48,200 --> 00:33:50,200 Speaker 1: the NFL, I don't work in college football anymore. I 621 00:33:50,240 --> 00:33:55,160 Speaker 1: don't even work in radio. So life changes. Just be 622 00:33:55,280 --> 00:33:58,360 Speaker 1: fluid with everything. But the one thing I focused on 623 00:33:58,400 --> 00:34:02,200 Speaker 1: was it sounds cheesy, but like be where your feet 624 00:34:02,280 --> 00:34:05,160 Speaker 1: is and if you have an opportunity to cover NFL teams, 625 00:34:05,160 --> 00:34:07,400 Speaker 1: like I would take that ship very seriously. And the 626 00:34:07,400 --> 00:34:10,279 Speaker 1: two teams you listed are pretty big teams. So if 627 00:34:10,320 --> 00:34:13,280 Speaker 1: you get to be around those gems, those assistant coaches, 628 00:34:13,280 --> 00:34:17,680 Speaker 1: those coaches, those players, the agents, like take advantage of that. 629 00:34:17,840 --> 00:34:21,000 Speaker 1: Who knows where things could break. I wouldn't be as 630 00:34:21,040 --> 00:34:24,279 Speaker 1: obsessed as quote unquote growing my following as I would 631 00:34:24,320 --> 00:34:26,040 Speaker 1: be in like trying to do a really good job 632 00:34:26,080 --> 00:34:28,959 Speaker 1: and trying to impress the people I'm around, because that's 633 00:34:29,040 --> 00:34:32,399 Speaker 1: usually you know, how the dam breaks, because then once 634 00:34:32,400 --> 00:34:35,759 Speaker 1: the damn breaks and you're prepared to handle the situation, 635 00:34:36,640 --> 00:34:41,080 Speaker 1: when the opportunity is there, then you just break down 636 00:34:41,120 --> 00:34:44,080 Speaker 1: the fucking you know, the wall and never look back. 637 00:34:45,000 --> 00:34:46,640 Speaker 1: I think a lot of people I want to do this, 638 00:34:46,840 --> 00:34:48,520 Speaker 1: and then you're just not ready, and then it's kind 639 00:34:48,520 --> 00:34:51,920 Speaker 1: of a wasted time or a wasted opportunity. So you know, 640 00:34:51,960 --> 00:34:55,920 Speaker 1: there are only so many like gary vs who are 641 00:34:55,920 --> 00:34:58,880 Speaker 1: ready to do like seven different things when they're twenty seven, 642 00:34:59,239 --> 00:35:01,719 Speaker 1: at least according the Internet. I'm not a gary Ve hater, 643 00:35:01,840 --> 00:35:04,920 Speaker 1: but I'm just saying, like some people just operate a 644 00:35:04,960 --> 00:35:09,360 Speaker 1: slower pace. Some of us just need to experience things 645 00:35:09,480 --> 00:35:12,000 Speaker 1: before we figure things out. Some of us are just 646 00:35:12,080 --> 00:35:16,960 Speaker 1: willing to just do whatever immediately. I was always anyone 647 00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:19,920 Speaker 1: who just like becomes an entrepreneur or just starts their 648 00:35:19,920 --> 00:35:24,920 Speaker 1: own thing out of like college is an incredible story 649 00:35:24,960 --> 00:35:28,080 Speaker 1: to me. To have that wiring at twenty twenty one, 650 00:35:28,160 --> 00:35:30,400 Speaker 1: twenty two, and I know a couple of people. I'm 651 00:35:30,560 --> 00:35:34,319 Speaker 1: one of my college roommates crushed it, created his own 652 00:35:34,320 --> 00:35:36,520 Speaker 1: business out of college. Also one of the smartest guys 653 00:35:36,520 --> 00:35:39,719 Speaker 1: I know. Right, I wouldn't have had that capability like 654 00:35:39,920 --> 00:35:48,440 Speaker 1: I just I wouldn't even self confidence understanding, just intellectual capacity. 655 00:35:48,600 --> 00:35:51,239 Speaker 1: I mean at twenty two years old, twenty I'd have 656 00:35:51,280 --> 00:35:54,799 Speaker 1: no chance. I would have been screwed. I wouldn't even 657 00:35:54,840 --> 00:35:59,400 Speaker 1: have tried. I didn't I couldn't. Most people can't. So 658 00:35:59,480 --> 00:36:02,040 Speaker 1: just do a good job covering those teams. And I'm 659 00:36:02,080 --> 00:36:06,040 Speaker 1: saying Adam Schefter, once upon a time started covering Denver 660 00:36:06,120 --> 00:36:11,200 Speaker 1: Broncos worked out okay for him. Hope you're well. I'm 661 00:36:11,200 --> 00:36:15,400 Speaker 1: a Catholic priest and a fellow older millennial an avid listener. 662 00:36:15,640 --> 00:36:17,799 Speaker 1: If you're ever in Detroit, say for next year's draft, 663 00:36:18,200 --> 00:36:20,719 Speaker 1: be cool to get together. Probably not. Didn't get drinks 664 00:36:20,760 --> 00:36:23,360 Speaker 1: down though? Is that allowed? Catholic priest? I've been a 665 00:36:23,440 --> 00:36:26,239 Speaker 1: huge Lamar fan throughout his rise to start him. I 666 00:36:26,280 --> 00:36:29,000 Speaker 1: think your take on his current contract negotiation is pretty 667 00:36:29,000 --> 00:36:32,560 Speaker 1: spot on. My question, do you think people, perhaps most 668 00:36:32,680 --> 00:36:38,479 Speaker 1: especially Lamar himself, are significantly overestimating how well he will 669 00:36:38,520 --> 00:36:43,040 Speaker 1: be able to perform in a new setting. I get 670 00:36:43,040 --> 00:36:45,600 Speaker 1: that he's starred everywhere he's been, but I also get 671 00:36:45,600 --> 00:36:49,239 Speaker 1: it's the Ravens pretty meticulously built their offense to suit 672 00:36:49,280 --> 00:36:52,120 Speaker 1: as skill set, and they had great Roman who, while 673 00:36:52,160 --> 00:36:56,799 Speaker 1: failing developed Lamar's passing game, featured an overwhelming intricate run 674 00:36:56,880 --> 00:37:01,080 Speaker 1: game and surely capitalize on lamar skill set. Do you 675 00:37:01,160 --> 00:37:05,080 Speaker 1: wonder whether Lamar might decline significantly without such a tailor 676 00:37:05,080 --> 00:37:08,720 Speaker 1: made roster and most clever run game schemer in recent memory. 677 00:37:09,280 --> 00:37:13,640 Speaker 1: I'm concerned he will well a new setting. If he 678 00:37:13,760 --> 00:37:17,200 Speaker 1: were to be traded, that would mean he got traded 679 00:37:17,239 --> 00:37:21,040 Speaker 1: for several picks and given a lot of money. That 680 00:37:21,120 --> 00:37:26,760 Speaker 1: in itself, you know, whether you're Lamar Jackson or Deshaun 681 00:37:26,880 --> 00:37:31,239 Speaker 1: Watson or Jalen Ramsey or Khalil Mack, you don't even 682 00:37:31,280 --> 00:37:35,760 Speaker 1: need to be a quarterback brings a set of expectations 683 00:37:35,840 --> 00:37:40,359 Speaker 1: that are sky high. That is a that is a 684 00:37:40,400 --> 00:37:43,719 Speaker 1: moment where the bar is dramatically raised. Now, when you're 685 00:37:43,760 --> 00:37:47,520 Speaker 1: a quarterback, especially of Lamar's resume, you've won an MVP, 686 00:37:48,520 --> 00:37:51,719 Speaker 1: you're famous, the bar's pretty high. Like people expect you 687 00:37:51,760 --> 00:37:53,399 Speaker 1: to play at a high level, and when you don't, 688 00:37:53,520 --> 00:37:55,920 Speaker 1: you get criticism. So you're kind of used to that. 689 00:37:56,520 --> 00:37:59,120 Speaker 1: But if a team, let's just say Team X, the Falcons, 690 00:37:59,120 --> 00:38:02,440 Speaker 1: the Lions, whoever, or to trade for him and then 691 00:38:02,480 --> 00:38:05,920 Speaker 1: give him a two hundred million dollar contract, like the 692 00:38:05,920 --> 00:38:10,480 Speaker 1: expectation anything less than dominating and being a Pro Bowl, 693 00:38:10,840 --> 00:38:13,919 Speaker 1: Pro bowler in going to the playoffs every year would 694 00:38:13,960 --> 00:38:16,480 Speaker 1: be very very difficult. Now, the variables in which you 695 00:38:16,560 --> 00:38:22,880 Speaker 1: said yeah, like that would give me grave concerns. I 696 00:38:22,920 --> 00:38:24,800 Speaker 1: think one of the big reasons he hasn't been traded 697 00:38:24,840 --> 00:38:28,239 Speaker 1: for or teams aren't as interested slash the Ravens or 698 00:38:28,320 --> 00:38:32,320 Speaker 1: somewhat on the fence is I don't think people trust 699 00:38:32,360 --> 00:38:37,440 Speaker 1: that he's some star passing quarterback. Now, maybe that's recency bias. 700 00:38:37,560 --> 00:38:39,879 Speaker 1: Maybe it's just simply the Ravens did a shitty job 701 00:38:39,960 --> 00:38:45,279 Speaker 1: drafting quarterbacks. Maybe, like you said, it's their run game coordinator, 702 00:38:45,320 --> 00:38:47,600 Speaker 1: who was their offensive coordinator, But great Roman is not 703 00:38:47,640 --> 00:38:50,360 Speaker 1: a great pass game guy. He's a great run coordinator. 704 00:38:50,600 --> 00:38:53,480 Speaker 1: Maybe it's the coaching. And these are variables, and we 705 00:38:53,480 --> 00:38:55,279 Speaker 1: talk about this in the draft, we talk about this 706 00:38:55,320 --> 00:38:58,400 Speaker 1: in free agency. Football has more variables than all these 707 00:38:58,440 --> 00:39:01,200 Speaker 1: other sports. It just does. Like if I sign a 708 00:39:01,360 --> 00:39:04,319 Speaker 1: right handed hitter, it's pretty clear what he does well 709 00:39:04,320 --> 00:39:06,560 Speaker 1: and what he doesn't do well. He doesn't hit right 710 00:39:06,600 --> 00:39:09,200 Speaker 1: handers well. He doesn't hit the inside breaking ball well. 711 00:39:09,600 --> 00:39:13,040 Speaker 1: His go zone is the outside, upple, middle half of 712 00:39:13,080 --> 00:39:16,160 Speaker 1: the strike zone. Fastball's great fastball hitter. Like it's it's 713 00:39:16,280 --> 00:39:18,640 Speaker 1: very black and white, Like it's like an Excel spreadsheet. 714 00:39:18,760 --> 00:39:21,600 Speaker 1: There is no Excel spreadsheet with football players, because like, 715 00:39:21,640 --> 00:39:24,600 Speaker 1: who's he thrown to who's his offensive line, who's his coach, 716 00:39:25,000 --> 00:39:28,520 Speaker 1: who's his head coach? What was the organizational philosophy? What 717 00:39:28,680 --> 00:39:30,480 Speaker 1: is he good at? What did they ask him to do? 718 00:39:31,120 --> 00:39:34,440 Speaker 1: What is his learning ability? What is his arm strength? 719 00:39:34,920 --> 00:39:36,920 Speaker 1: What are the routes he's good at throwing? What are 720 00:39:36,920 --> 00:39:41,160 Speaker 1: the routes he's not? Is he an accurate quarterback? So 721 00:39:41,800 --> 00:39:44,720 Speaker 1: I you know what division is he in? Who's he playing? 722 00:39:46,400 --> 00:39:51,959 Speaker 1: And yeah, I think he is? You know, I still 723 00:39:52,000 --> 00:39:53,600 Speaker 1: think he I mean, where's he gonna end up at 724 00:39:53,600 --> 00:39:55,719 Speaker 1: this point? It does feel like he's gonna end up 725 00:39:55,760 --> 00:39:58,160 Speaker 1: back on the Ravens, which is kind of weird, but 726 00:39:58,200 --> 00:40:01,880 Speaker 1: that's the NFL. This is not Kyrie Irving demanding a trade. 727 00:40:02,000 --> 00:40:03,920 Speaker 1: It's just that's not If the Ravens don't want to 728 00:40:03,960 --> 00:40:07,640 Speaker 1: trade him, he's not getting traded, just simple. It does 729 00:40:07,719 --> 00:40:09,440 Speaker 1: feel like they would be open to trading him, but 730 00:40:09,440 --> 00:40:11,440 Speaker 1: it doesn't feel like there's a lot of people offering 731 00:40:11,480 --> 00:40:14,560 Speaker 1: a lot of picks, which, like I've said, you'd be 732 00:40:14,640 --> 00:40:17,919 Speaker 1: naive to think people haven't talked. But if he's saying 733 00:40:17,960 --> 00:40:20,920 Speaker 1: I want more guaranteed money than Deshaun Watson, he's not 734 00:40:21,000 --> 00:40:23,600 Speaker 1: getting that. And I hear a lot of people like 735 00:40:23,760 --> 00:40:26,640 Speaker 1: Lamar knows his value, Well, no he doesn't because that 736 00:40:26,800 --> 00:40:29,520 Speaker 1: is not his value. His value is not two hundred 737 00:40:29,520 --> 00:40:33,560 Speaker 1: and thirty million dollars. It's just not right, wrong or indifferent. 738 00:40:33,800 --> 00:40:39,200 Speaker 1: He's not getting that much money. So I think he 739 00:40:39,280 --> 00:40:41,080 Speaker 1: just ends back up on the Ravens to be honest 740 00:40:41,120 --> 00:40:44,600 Speaker 1: with you, and then you know what he is? He 741 00:40:44,719 --> 00:40:46,399 Speaker 1: going to sit out the year. I don't know, maybe 742 00:40:46,480 --> 00:40:50,719 Speaker 1: just gets weirder. Situation is just weird. So I don't 743 00:40:50,719 --> 00:40:53,080 Speaker 1: really know what to say. But if you were to 744 00:40:53,120 --> 00:40:56,440 Speaker 1: go to another team, yes, those things would you know? 745 00:40:56,600 --> 00:41:00,279 Speaker 1: Leave me concerned. Appreciate everyone listening. Fire in those d 746 00:41:00,440 --> 00:41:03,560 Speaker 1: ms at John Middlecoff, get in the get in the 747 00:41:03,600 --> 00:41:07,840 Speaker 1: mail bag this upcoming week, and hopefully everyone has a 748 00:41:07,840 --> 00:41:10,680 Speaker 1: good week. It's good times. April Sun's coming out. Hopefully 749 00:41:10,719 --> 00:41:14,200 Speaker 1: wherever you live, get some vitamin D, enjoy yourself, Enjoy 750 00:41:14,280 --> 00:41:17,919 Speaker 1: the Masters and the drafts right around the corner, baby, 751 00:41:17,920 --> 00:41:41,280 Speaker 1: So buckle up the volume.