1 00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:07,040 Speaker 1: The Around the League Podcast gets in scuffles with Liz Frank. 2 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:12,280 Speaker 1: Welcome back to another additionally Around the League podcast. My 3 00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:14,360 Speaker 1: name is Dan Handis, and I'm joined by a room 4 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:18,079 Speaker 1: full of hero Mark Sesler. You know, Dan, it's gonna 5 00:00:18,079 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 1: be with you. We were we were three strong, should 6 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 1: have been four. We're down to two. We're to West 7 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:26,000 Speaker 1: is having car trouble. He's that some type of motor 8 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 1: dealer dealing with a flat tire issue. Greg was seated 9 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 1: with us right before the start of the podcast, but 10 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 1: I knew he is the boss, he's the editor, and 11 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:37,839 Speaker 1: he had to be. He swept downstairs to deal some 12 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:41,000 Speaker 1: management issues. So it's you and I Cabridge behind the 13 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:44,600 Speaker 1: glass of course, and West supposedly joining us. His chair 14 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:47,279 Speaker 1: is waiting for us. Uh is there for him when 15 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:49,239 Speaker 1: he wants it. Let's just do our best. Let's just 16 00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:51,599 Speaker 1: do it. We've done this before. You know it's we're 17 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 1: not gonna panic. We're not gonna panic here. This is 18 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:56,640 Speaker 1: the A t L debate Clubs is how it started, 19 00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:58,680 Speaker 1: just you and me. I see the fear in your eyes. 20 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 1: K rich On, you guys are pros. We've been doing 21 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:05,720 Speaker 1: this all lasting. The funny thing is is before Krich 22 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 1: just said that she the door was opening and she 23 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 1: was about to sneak out, and then she came back. 24 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:14,120 Speaker 1: But we're confident. So let's start with the biggest story 25 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:16,039 Speaker 1: in the NFL, and Mark you and I will talk 26 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:20,920 Speaker 1: about it. Aaron Rodgers Monday night. We all know what happened. 27 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:22,479 Speaker 1: He got tackled at the end of the first series 28 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:25,160 Speaker 1: of the game, suffered a broken collar bone. He is 29 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:29,200 Speaker 1: out four to six weeks. Per Ian Rappaport. How does 30 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:31,959 Speaker 1: this change the Packers? I mean, this is this is 31 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:34,520 Speaker 1: a disaster right now. I mean you have Seneca Wallace, 32 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:37,080 Speaker 1: who you know, he was a guy that they just 33 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 1: kind of brought out of out of the ether, and 34 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 1: all of a sudden he's gonna be asked to help 35 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 1: win games. I don't know. You you look at the 36 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:48,280 Speaker 1: list of devastating losses, wouldn't you put Rogers right up 37 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 1: at the top? I put him above Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, 38 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:56,040 Speaker 1: Drew Brees. I mean, with them, they've scored twenty eight 39 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 1: point two points per game. You know what's going to 40 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:02,040 Speaker 1: happen with Seneca Wallace. We we've got a taste of it. 41 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 1: It's not pretty. Yeah. I mean he didn't play very 42 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 1: well at all. And let's face it, I mean it's 43 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:09,680 Speaker 1: not a really his fault either. He was brought in 44 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:13,519 Speaker 1: to be just the backup. And but I guess that 45 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:16,359 Speaker 1: also goes back to the Packers planning with this. Uh 46 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 1: they they there Graham harrold Um experiment that never worked out. 47 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 1: They brought in Vince Young that didn't work out. I 48 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:27,799 Speaker 1: believe there was a H. B. J. Daniel. Well, there's 49 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:30,079 Speaker 1: a laundry list of guys that sound like they were 50 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:32,960 Speaker 1: minor league pitchers basically, or just guys that worked at 51 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 1: like your accounting firm. But it's you know, honestly, they 52 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:40,080 Speaker 1: are a team now that they almost got lucky that 53 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 1: happened this year because their running game is so good, 54 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:46,000 Speaker 1: right with Eddie Lacy. Had this happened last year, they go, oh, 55 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:48,560 Speaker 1: for however long he's gone, It looks right now that 56 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 1: he's gonna be out what four to six weeks, And 57 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:54,359 Speaker 1: the source of the talk to Ian Rappaport said maybe 58 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 1: closer to four because he's been a quick healer in 59 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 1: the past, but that's still Thanksgiving four games for now 60 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:02,520 Speaker 1: is only three weeks away, right, I think, Yeah, they 61 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:05,720 Speaker 1: they should be able to survive. But at the same time, 62 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 1: would you be shocked if the wheels fell off without him? 63 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:12,360 Speaker 1: He's that like you said, he's that important. And listen, Mark, 64 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:15,320 Speaker 1: we gotta say it, we gotta bring it up, Okay, 65 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:21,840 Speaker 1: Rich behind the glass, there was a time before the 66 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 1: season started that you had some grim feelings about this team, right, 67 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 1: You had a Sessler if you will, Well, yeah, it 68 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:37,400 Speaker 1: was Sessa. We were doing our NFC North preview back 69 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 1: in August in the in the hazy summertime, and we 70 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 1: were I was cooking up my NFC North standings, and 71 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 1: I like the Bears going in. I think a lot 72 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:50,360 Speaker 1: of us did. Actually, I had a strange sensation that 73 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:53,560 Speaker 1: something would take the Packers off course. Al Right, guys, 74 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 1: I dug deep into the A. T L archives to 75 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 1: find this sound bite, and I have a feeling something 76 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:02,040 Speaker 1: weird is gonna happen in Green Bay. It's not so 77 00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 1: much a nine and seven comment on their talent. I 78 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:06,760 Speaker 1: just think, think something. So you're saying injury, no, no, no, 79 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:10,280 Speaker 1: just something unexpected. I get these feelings. Sometimes you are 80 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 1: the leader in the clubhouse. Pick now, I think that's 81 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 1: not that gutsy I had the Eagles winning, not giving 82 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 1: Cessler anything, so that Greg did join us for a second. 83 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 1: Ultimately that yeah, listen, you were that is a Sessler. 84 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 1: Now what I'm thinking, did you get any heat from 85 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 1: any a t L podcast listeners that remembered your prediction? 86 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 1: I did. I got a couple, you know, surprisingly from Tristan, 87 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 1: who is a loyal listener. Um, I guess maybe he's 88 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:45,080 Speaker 1: a Packers fan. I'm not sure. He dialed that up 89 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 1: that evening and said this is on you, but you 90 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:50,600 Speaker 1: know it isn't because you know it wasn't that. I 91 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:53,680 Speaker 1: think it is on you. Well, let me ask you this, Mark, 92 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 1: So let's talk about the bigger NFC playoff picture. The 93 00:04:57,680 --> 00:04:59,840 Speaker 1: Packers are now five and three. That's a three way 94 00:04:59,920 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 1: to high in the NFC North with all teams not 95 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 1: named the Vikings. And when I look at the standings, 96 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 1: oh look at this. Walking into the podcast studio right now, 97 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:16,400 Speaker 1: there is Chris Westling four tires all inflated on his car. 98 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:20,880 Speaker 1: Welcome to the podcast, Chris? What up? Boys? What what 99 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 1: has happened to you today? What do you mean? It 100 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:25,800 Speaker 1: just sounds like it's been a rough twelve hours. You 101 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 1: got I got the manic phone call uh in the 102 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:30,680 Speaker 1: newsroom last night that you wouldn't be able to make 103 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 1: your softball game. You wanted me to relay that message. 104 00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:36,520 Speaker 1: And now hours and hours later, you're stuck at a 105 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:40,080 Speaker 1: some type of auto shop dealing with all issues. You 106 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:43,000 Speaker 1: sent an agitated text to Greg. It sounded like it 107 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 1: was kind of a tough day for Chris west. Well. 108 00:05:44,839 --> 00:05:48,280 Speaker 1: I wasn't happy about missing softball. Uh. I got stuck 109 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:51,440 Speaker 1: in traffic and in the construction zone. Somehow my tire 110 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 1: went flat. I blame the construction workers, of course. Uh 111 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:58,000 Speaker 1: So then it got toged to Costco. You go there. 112 00:05:58,040 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 1: You can't just get a tire, you have to sign 113 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:02,800 Speaker 1: up for a membership that takes forever while you go 114 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:04,839 Speaker 1: through the zoo of people, most of whom should be 115 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 1: in cages. Really, I mean, come on. So that took 116 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:11,640 Speaker 1: forever and then, uh, thanks said it would take an hour. 117 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 1: It took longer than that. I walked around and got 118 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:15,599 Speaker 1: my hair cut, did a few things. You don't have hair, 119 00:06:15,960 --> 00:06:17,560 Speaker 1: I know for the first time like two years. I 120 00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:21,359 Speaker 1: I I left a little on top and just interesting, 121 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:23,280 Speaker 1: gonna experiment a little bit, see how much of a 122 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:24,680 Speaker 1: cheap pat I look like I was gonna say, I'm 123 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:27,960 Speaker 1: gonna track this very closely day by day. Well, welcome 124 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 1: to the podcast. We're glad that your car, Um, your 125 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:34,800 Speaker 1: high performance vehicle, is back in working order. We were 126 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:38,240 Speaker 1: talking about the NFC North and what's going to happen 127 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:41,400 Speaker 1: now that Aaron Rodgers is out of the picture. You know, 128 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:43,840 Speaker 1: there are a lot of teams that, um, you can 129 00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:46,040 Speaker 1: make a case for as playoff teams. And I'll go 130 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 1: down the list. We have the Lions, Bears, Packers, Saints, Panthers, Seahawks, Niners, 131 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:56,240 Speaker 1: and if you want, if you're feeling really generous, the Cardinals. 132 00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:58,720 Speaker 1: So I'll throw to you West first. If you have 133 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:01,320 Speaker 1: to pick one of those team teams not to make 134 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:03,760 Speaker 1: the playoffs, because there's probably gonna be at least one 135 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:06,520 Speaker 1: of these that don't. Who would you pick throughout the Cardinals? 136 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:09,840 Speaker 1: Throughout the Cardinals, I would pick the Bears. I don't 137 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:13,360 Speaker 1: think their defense is good enough. Um, I think that 138 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:15,800 Speaker 1: Packers can hold on until Rogers gets back, and then 139 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:17,600 Speaker 1: at that point they become the best team in the 140 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 1: in the NFC North. Again, Randall Cobb and Clay Matthews, 141 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 1: we should be getting back around the same time or 142 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 1: a week or two later. I think they take over. 143 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 1: Like I said, I don't trust the Bears defense. Mark, well, 144 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:31,560 Speaker 1: that's a good point. You know the Bears have. I 145 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 1: think one of the worst defense is giving up points 146 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 1: number one in the NFL. But also their scoring offense 147 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:39,520 Speaker 1: is been first or second in a ton of categories 148 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 1: across the board. I like what's going on in Chicago. 149 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 1: I like what Tressman's done without skipping a beat going 150 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:48,360 Speaker 1: from Cutler to McCown. I thought they rose to the occasion. 151 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 1: I think they might have even beaten Green Bay with 152 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:53,240 Speaker 1: Rogers in there, but that's probably not the case. Who knows. 153 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:56,280 Speaker 1: I I before the season felt the Green Bay would 154 00:07:56,280 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 1: go nine and seven and missed the playoffs. I'm sticking 155 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:01,200 Speaker 1: with that. That's my team that won't make it in 156 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:04,200 Speaker 1: the NFC. Well, let me just go down the schedule. 157 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:06,559 Speaker 1: Because West, before you got here, we were talking about, 158 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:09,160 Speaker 1: you know, without Rogers, and while so that's a tough 159 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:11,680 Speaker 1: spot there, their schedule isn't too tough. So let's think 160 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:15,560 Speaker 1: let's assume he misses, Rogers misses through Thanksgiving, Okay, and 161 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:19,240 Speaker 1: I think that's fair. That's the next four weeks. Uh, 162 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:24,640 Speaker 1: you have home to Eagles at Giants, home to Vikings 163 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:28,520 Speaker 1: at Lions on Thanksgiving, which is gonna be a tough 164 00:08:28,520 --> 00:08:33,960 Speaker 1: game obviously, but those are three pretty too potentially bad 165 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:36,960 Speaker 1: NFC teams. And then the Eagles, which who knows what 166 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:38,760 Speaker 1: to make of them, but they've had some very bad games. 167 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:41,800 Speaker 1: Why can't they win uh two of these four games 168 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:45,959 Speaker 1: and be okay all of them? Well, I don't know 169 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 1: about all well, and they do, have you listen. The 170 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:50,240 Speaker 1: thing to like about green Bay is their defense has 171 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:54,520 Speaker 1: gotten incrementally better with every game, a couple of games 172 00:08:54,559 --> 00:08:56,880 Speaker 1: in terms of the yards they've given up. They are 173 00:08:56,960 --> 00:08:59,920 Speaker 1: pounding the ball. That running game is for real? Should 174 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:02,760 Speaker 1: tagoes not the defense they're gonna face every week? We 175 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 1: saw gigantic barn doors open Freddie Lacy, But even against 176 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 1: some of the better defense is green Bay has been 177 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:11,800 Speaker 1: able to run the ball week after week. The Bears 178 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:14,360 Speaker 1: defense Monday Night look like the same one that allowed 179 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:16,440 Speaker 1: Brandon Jacobs to rush for a hundred yards. Well it 180 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:19,840 Speaker 1: was that was an issue, but yeah, I fully expect 181 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:22,439 Speaker 1: them to make Eddie Lacy and James Stark's the focal 182 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:26,840 Speaker 1: point of that offense. Now when the Bears dared Seneca 183 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:29,320 Speaker 1: Wallas to beat them in the late late third quarter 184 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:32,240 Speaker 1: and fourth. They also shut down the Packers running game, 185 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 1: So we can't assume that Lacey and Starks will stay 186 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:39,360 Speaker 1: the same production level with Wallace as they did with Rogers. 187 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:40,720 Speaker 1: You know, I look at the Giants. One of the 188 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:43,680 Speaker 1: one we're saying it's that's an automatic win. New York's 189 00:09:43,720 --> 00:09:46,440 Speaker 1: run defense has been stout. It's not It's not a 190 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:49,360 Speaker 1: bad at all. And I think if teams can, with 191 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:51,840 Speaker 1: some time to plan, put Wallace in a position where 192 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:53,800 Speaker 1: he's got to make the play, that's where I see 193 00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:55,560 Speaker 1: green Bay running into a ton of trouble. Mark. I 194 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:57,520 Speaker 1: don't appreciate you putting words in my mouth because I 195 00:09:57,520 --> 00:09:59,240 Speaker 1: did not call it on automatic. I think it's I 196 00:09:59,280 --> 00:10:01,320 Speaker 1: think we can look the schedule. I'm not saying you did, 197 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:02,760 Speaker 1: but you sort of did. Now you look at me, 198 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:05,079 Speaker 1: that's what we see. Oh, Vikings Giants, that's two and 199 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:09,320 Speaker 1: oh nice easy, soft soft. They could go and four 200 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:11,680 Speaker 1: or four and oh over the stretch. Yeah, but I 201 00:10:11,679 --> 00:10:13,400 Speaker 1: would think, you know, if you can get if they're 202 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:15,920 Speaker 1: five and three now and let's work under the assumption, 203 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:18,240 Speaker 1: although maybe we shouldn't that he'll be back Sunday Night 204 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:21,080 Speaker 1: Football against the Falcons Week fourteen. If they can get 205 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:25,199 Speaker 1: to that game seven and five, I think I'm completely 206 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:27,760 Speaker 1: confident that they'll get to the playoffs if Rogers gets 207 00:10:27,760 --> 00:10:29,719 Speaker 1: back my pick, by the way, because I know you 208 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:33,040 Speaker 1: guys are waiting for it. Um, I'm I know this 209 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:36,480 Speaker 1: is kind of sacrilege. Everyone's excited about the Panthers. I 210 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:38,600 Speaker 1: still need to see the Panthers beat some good teams. 211 00:10:38,679 --> 00:10:40,720 Speaker 1: I need to see them win some close games. And 212 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:42,600 Speaker 1: I think in a in a conference that has some 213 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:45,640 Speaker 1: really good teams. Until I see them kind of make 214 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:48,680 Speaker 1: that leap against quality opponents, I'm not ready to buy in. 215 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:51,040 Speaker 1: I was actually going to say, I hope the Saints 216 00:10:51,040 --> 00:10:55,559 Speaker 1: make the playoffs because the Panthers are winning that division well. 217 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:58,120 Speaker 1: And you know it's I understand the argument if they 218 00:10:58,120 --> 00:11:01,640 Speaker 1: haven't beaten anyone, but you know what, against these lesser teams, 219 00:11:01,679 --> 00:11:04,120 Speaker 1: which is not the case in the NFL this year, 220 00:11:04,280 --> 00:11:08,520 Speaker 1: they've gone out and slaughtered They've smoked him. And here's 221 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 1: what's going on in Carolina. The defense has been the 222 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:13,120 Speaker 1: same all year. I don't know if people realize that 223 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 1: the Falcon scored a touchdown in the first half last week. 224 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:18,160 Speaker 1: That was the first one the Panthers allowed all year 225 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:20,839 Speaker 1: in the first half. That defense has been every bit 226 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:24,280 Speaker 1: as impressive as the Chiefs, and now Newton is catching up. 227 00:11:25,080 --> 00:11:26,920 Speaker 1: He he kind of started the season slow. He was 228 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:28,760 Speaker 1: taking too many chances down the field, his arm with 229 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:31,199 Speaker 1: scatter shot, his footwork was a mess. He's fixed a 230 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:33,720 Speaker 1: lot of that. He's taking dump offs, which we kind 231 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 1: of criticize other quarterbacks for joined but with a defense 232 00:11:36,559 --> 00:11:38,520 Speaker 1: like the Panthers, he can afford to do that, and 233 00:11:38,559 --> 00:11:40,959 Speaker 1: with his running ability, they can afford to do that too. 234 00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:44,520 Speaker 1: They're becoming a well balanced offense. They get Jonathan Stewart back, 235 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:49,760 Speaker 1: They've got Ron rivera kind of wrong galvanizing the team 236 00:11:49,960 --> 00:11:52,680 Speaker 1: with his aggressiveness. This is a different team and I 237 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:55,840 Speaker 1: am really looking forward to the forty Niners game this week. Well, 238 00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:57,800 Speaker 1: I think that's in our in house. That's become our 239 00:11:57,800 --> 00:11:59,880 Speaker 1: game of the week because it really is a test 240 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:02,079 Speaker 1: of a Carolina team that seems like it is surging. 241 00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:05,719 Speaker 1: Is there any scenario, I think Seattle, we'd have to 242 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 1: be nuts to say they aren't a shoeing for probably 243 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:10,839 Speaker 1: a buy unless the wheels fall off any scenario where 244 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:13,920 Speaker 1: San Francisco reverts back to where they were a little 245 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:16,200 Speaker 1: bit earlier in the year and somehow doesn't make it 246 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:19,280 Speaker 1: in as a wild card. I don't see that happening 247 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:22,439 Speaker 1: with Crabtree coming back. I mean that was the problem 248 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:24,760 Speaker 1: earlier in the year, the wide receivers couldn't separate from 249 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:28,640 Speaker 1: man coverage. We can't assume Crabtree will be pre injury form, 250 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:31,920 Speaker 1: but manning Ham also coming back. This looks like an 251 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:35,760 Speaker 1: offense getting stronger, not weaker. Alright, fellas so the Aaron 252 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:37,839 Speaker 1: Rodgers injury and of course all the fall out in 253 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:43,079 Speaker 1: the NFC is the biggest on field football story this week. Kay, Rich, 254 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:45,000 Speaker 1: can you tell us about the rest of the news 255 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:57,320 Speaker 1: around the NFL? Oh? Okay, Okay, Rich, how are you 256 00:12:57,360 --> 00:13:01,120 Speaker 1: doing right now? I have been on a high all 257 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:05,160 Speaker 1: week long until my Eagles losing with Aaron Rodgers out. 258 00:13:05,760 --> 00:13:09,360 Speaker 1: I'm kind of optimistic. Yeah, that you deserve to be optimistic, 259 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:12,040 Speaker 1: and it seems to be to me anyway. There's a 260 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:14,880 Speaker 1: renewed confidence in your eyes. Once West walked in the studio, 261 00:13:15,559 --> 00:13:18,640 Speaker 1: it was I think the podcast got a little bit upbeat, 262 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:22,120 Speaker 1: and to continue that upbeat nous I'm going to start 263 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:26,480 Speaker 1: with the news, starting with defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, who 264 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 1: was picked as a Houston Texas interim head coach until 265 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:35,280 Speaker 1: Gary Kubiak returns. Well, yeah, I mean Phillips had a 266 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:37,280 Speaker 1: bit of an up and down, mostly down tenure with 267 00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:40,400 Speaker 1: the Cowboys, but uh, at least they had someone in 268 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:44,000 Speaker 1: the house here to hold things down. Now, what remains 269 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 1: to be seen is if this even matters from a 270 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:48,480 Speaker 1: competition standpoint. Are they already too far back for a 271 00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:52,120 Speaker 1: t even matter? I find them interesting right now. Oh yeah, 272 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 1: And I don't think we liked the play calling that 273 00:13:54,920 --> 00:13:58,080 Speaker 1: happened down the stretch on Sunday, but we probably have 274 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:00,280 Speaker 1: to give the Texans a pass for that because sidering 275 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:02,760 Speaker 1: the shock they had at half time, and Rick Dennis, 276 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:05,800 Speaker 1: in their offensive coordinator, was is considered one of the 277 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:09,160 Speaker 1: most respected coordinators in the league, got some head coaching interviews. 278 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 1: I think he's a guy you can trust to call 279 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:13,880 Speaker 1: the right place. He's considered basically one of the top 280 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:16,640 Speaker 1: five running game coordinators in the NFL. They might miss 281 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:19,480 Speaker 1: kubi x passing game prowess a little bit. One thing 282 00:14:19,520 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 1: to watch out for this Arian Foster back issue. It's 283 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:24,720 Speaker 1: still kind of hazy what the deal is with it. 284 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:28,640 Speaker 1: Um they've lost they've lost Brian Cushing and now they 285 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:31,440 Speaker 1: don't have their coach. If they if they lose Foster, 286 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:33,760 Speaker 1: can we really get behind them at all? Is a 287 00:14:33,760 --> 00:14:35,840 Speaker 1: team that can get I know, Wes, you're very big 288 00:14:35,880 --> 00:14:38,720 Speaker 1: on case Keenum, but his wouldn't Foster being almost like 289 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:42,600 Speaker 1: the final nail in the coffin. I think if it 290 00:14:42,680 --> 00:14:45,480 Speaker 1: depends on how Ben Tate runs. He wasn't himself last week. 291 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:49,160 Speaker 1: If he's closer to I don't think they'll miss Foster 292 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:50,920 Speaker 1: that much. Foster is a better player, but Take it's 293 00:14:50,920 --> 00:14:52,880 Speaker 1: one of the best backups in the NFL. They can 294 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:55,400 Speaker 1: run that offense with Ben Take and Keenum is. He's 295 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:59,880 Speaker 1: not just completing you know, short conservative passes. That guy's 296 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:02,840 Speaker 1: winging it down field. He's completing I think it's something 297 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:07,360 Speaker 1: like eight passes over twenty five yards. I mean, I 298 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:10,160 Speaker 1: love his Maybe he doesn't even know what he doesn't 299 00:15:10,200 --> 00:15:12,120 Speaker 1: know at this point, and they're kind of just saying 300 00:15:12,280 --> 00:15:14,640 Speaker 1: go out there and play some football. They just, for 301 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:16,680 Speaker 1: the first time this season, looked like a fun team 302 00:15:16,680 --> 00:15:20,680 Speaker 1: to me. And because of Mr Fat Randy's missed field goal. 303 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:24,240 Speaker 1: We forget that actually brought them back into field goal 304 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:25,840 Speaker 1: range at the end of that game with very little 305 00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 1: time left. He's played. Well, what else is in the news? 306 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:32,200 Speaker 1: K rich Al? Right, next up? Unfortunately, I think we 307 00:15:32,320 --> 00:15:34,400 Speaker 1: might be hearing about this for a little while. The 308 00:15:34,520 --> 00:15:38,120 Speaker 1: NFL p A seeks a meeting between Richie Incognito and 309 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:43,720 Speaker 1: Jonathan Martin's representatives. We're not going to. I'm sure there 310 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 1: are a lot of people that want to talk about 311 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:47,480 Speaker 1: this all day and take one side or the other 312 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 1: and talk about what it is to be bullied and 313 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:53,560 Speaker 1: what hazing means. I don't think we anybody in this 314 00:15:53,640 --> 00:15:55,600 Speaker 1: room wants to do that. But I guess you know, 315 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:59,280 Speaker 1: from a from a standpoint of the Dolphins, you know, 316 00:15:59,360 --> 00:16:02,240 Speaker 1: this is just such a bad situation that they've lost 317 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:05,040 Speaker 1: now two fifths of their offensive line over this mess, 318 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:07,760 Speaker 1: and you know, I don't know how this is gonna 319 00:16:07,840 --> 00:16:10,360 Speaker 1: end up. But it doesn't sound like Incognito is gonna 320 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:12,400 Speaker 1: be back, and I don't know Martin is gonna be 321 00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:14,240 Speaker 1: back either. How do they move on from this? I 322 00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:17,080 Speaker 1: would really love to dig deep into this issue, but 323 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:19,520 Speaker 1: there is a shadowy leak figure standing over me with 324 00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:22,080 Speaker 1: a sickle in his hand. He's got an actual sickle. 325 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:24,560 Speaker 1: I don't even I didn't even know they made those anymore. 326 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:27,720 Speaker 1: So I guess we'll just talk about the state of 327 00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:29,920 Speaker 1: their offitive line, which was poor to begin with and 328 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:33,480 Speaker 1: and is now going to get worse. Martin incognito. Both 329 00:16:33,480 --> 00:16:36,280 Speaker 1: were playing at a subpar level, which tells you that 330 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:40,240 Speaker 1: the guys behind them have to be very bad. But 331 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:44,880 Speaker 1: like you said, they're not losing Joe Thomas and like 332 00:16:44,920 --> 00:16:47,880 Speaker 1: an All Star Guarden, I mean, like these guys. Martin 333 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:50,640 Speaker 1: probably was not happy at all to see McKinney come 334 00:16:50,640 --> 00:16:53,760 Speaker 1: in and take a spot that I feel like triggered 335 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:56,400 Speaker 1: some of this to some degree. But this is a 336 00:16:56,440 --> 00:16:59,520 Speaker 1: line that's gotten Tannehill killed all season and it only 337 00:16:59,520 --> 00:17:03,240 Speaker 1: gets worse. And Marcus, I sit across from you every day. 338 00:17:03,280 --> 00:17:07,240 Speaker 1: You you're not really two into seeing on your Twitter 339 00:17:07,320 --> 00:17:11,159 Speaker 1: feed these people that seem to have the pulse of 340 00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:13,399 Speaker 1: this locker room. In this situation. You don't want to 341 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:16,160 Speaker 1: hear from these people, do you. I just know, listen, 342 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:18,480 Speaker 1: everyone's fine, everyone can come and all they want. I 343 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:21,320 Speaker 1: just think that a lot of people have know there's 344 00:17:21,320 --> 00:17:23,600 Speaker 1: a lot more I think that's gonna come out on this. Yeah, 345 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:25,719 Speaker 1: I think this is this is going to continue to snowball, 346 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:26,920 Speaker 1: and I think it's gonna be a problem for the 347 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:29,360 Speaker 1: rest of the season. It seems like there are beyond 348 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:32,760 Speaker 1: even Incongnito and Martin. There are issues in that locker room, right, 349 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:35,879 Speaker 1: And you wonder, from from my standpoint especially, or excuse me, 350 00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:38,920 Speaker 1: from the Dolphin standpoint, what happens if this team, if 351 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:41,080 Speaker 1: this snowballs and then the team kind of tanks a 352 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:43,280 Speaker 1: little bit, is Joe Filman gonna lose his job? And 353 00:17:43,320 --> 00:17:45,160 Speaker 1: would this be a big part of the reason why 354 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:49,320 Speaker 1: I can't wrap my head around that Joe Philbin that 355 00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:52,000 Speaker 1: we saw with a sterling reputation coming out of Green Bay, 356 00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:54,600 Speaker 1: one of the nicest guys in the NFL, and seems 357 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:57,000 Speaker 1: to there seems to be some kind of code red 358 00:17:57,040 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 1: situation going on with people ordering income Needo to do 359 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:03,120 Speaker 1: this to Martin. I don't know what's going on there, 360 00:18:03,119 --> 00:18:04,800 Speaker 1: but I think he has to be held responsible in 361 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:08,320 Speaker 1: some way if that did happen. Well, we'll continue to 362 00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:11,680 Speaker 1: see how this unfolds. K Rich anything else in the news, Yeah, 363 00:18:11,840 --> 00:18:16,640 Speaker 1: one more thing, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles. My eyes 364 00:18:16,640 --> 00:18:21,600 Speaker 1: are glimmering right now, and Cleveland quarterback Jason Campbell topped 365 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:26,399 Speaker 1: the list of Week nine Players of the Week. I 366 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:29,240 Speaker 1: just thought this was funny, being how did this get 367 00:18:29,280 --> 00:18:31,520 Speaker 1: into I thought, you know what this is? This is 368 00:18:31,560 --> 00:18:33,879 Speaker 1: on me. I just thought it was funny that number 369 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:36,480 Speaker 1: one that Nick Foles, which is k which is boy, 370 00:18:36,600 --> 00:18:39,560 Speaker 1: and Jason Campbell, which has become Sessler's boy. You know 371 00:18:39,680 --> 00:18:44,200 Speaker 1: that these yeah, by default all accepted um that these 372 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:47,280 Speaker 1: two players were somehow the offensive players of the week. 373 00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:49,440 Speaker 1: It's a weird universe we live in. I think it's 374 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:52,800 Speaker 1: a this season in particular, we've gotten strong, but also 375 00:18:52,920 --> 00:18:55,600 Speaker 1: a ton of play from backup quarterbacks. There's been there's 376 00:18:55,640 --> 00:18:57,760 Speaker 1: been so many number ones that have gone down and 377 00:18:57,760 --> 00:18:59,440 Speaker 1: in the in the past it was like you had 378 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:01,520 Speaker 1: a Seneca all us all over the place. A lot 379 00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:03,679 Speaker 1: of these guys have come in and been preferable. You 380 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:05,840 Speaker 1: know what we've learned from this. If you have a 381 00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:09,280 Speaker 1: struggling former first round pick and he's not getting the 382 00:19:09,359 --> 00:19:12,359 Speaker 1: job done, yank him. That's right. The guy behind him 383 00:19:12,440 --> 00:19:14,600 Speaker 1: might give your life, give your offense some life. I 384 00:19:14,640 --> 00:19:17,040 Speaker 1: mean we saw it twice in Cleveland now with two 385 00:19:17,080 --> 00:19:19,760 Speaker 1: different backup that's how bad Weedon was playing. And I 386 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:22,679 Speaker 1: went back and watched even the last game where Campbell 387 00:19:22,680 --> 00:19:26,119 Speaker 1: went out for one series, and the energy when Weedon 388 00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:27,959 Speaker 1: comes in. And I don't want to pile on this 389 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:30,880 Speaker 1: guy at this point, but the air in the stadium 390 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:33,160 Speaker 1: and of the offense came in through a minus two 391 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:36,479 Speaker 1: yards screen pass and then somehow avoided an intentional grounding 392 00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:39,280 Speaker 1: penalty on the next play, and those were his two plays. Yeah, 393 00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:41,680 Speaker 1: I think in retrospect, the high point of the weed 394 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:43,680 Speaker 1: In ears when he came in for hoy Er. They 395 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:46,520 Speaker 1: won that game on Thursday night, But that's it. I 396 00:19:46,560 --> 00:19:49,240 Speaker 1: think that will be the last positive moment of his 397 00:19:49,240 --> 00:19:51,480 Speaker 1: tenure in Cleveland. I think now that there is no 398 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:55,760 Speaker 1: the rookie wages are reasonable now. It used to be 399 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:58,040 Speaker 1: if you paid a guy like JaMarcus Russell, you couldn't 400 00:19:58,040 --> 00:20:00,639 Speaker 1: bench him. Now there's no reason hold the rest of 401 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:02,760 Speaker 1: your team hostage just to suit the first round draft. 402 00:20:02,920 --> 00:20:05,160 Speaker 1: And these coaches that are working a hundred plus hours 403 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:07,359 Speaker 1: a week, they don't have four or five years to 404 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:09,320 Speaker 1: develop a guy. If it doesn't happen in a year 405 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:12,640 Speaker 1: and a half, especially in a city like Cleveland, you're out. 406 00:20:13,200 --> 00:20:15,600 Speaker 1: So you've got to get it done, all right. Thank 407 00:20:15,640 --> 00:20:27,040 Speaker 1: you for the news, Crystal. Here lies the Oakland Raiders, 408 00:20:27,760 --> 00:20:31,920 Speaker 1: who overcame the dire predictions of genius pundits, but cannot 409 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:34,920 Speaker 1: be taken seriously as a contender in the middling American 410 00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:38,399 Speaker 1: Football Conference. We stick a fork in the Raiders, but 411 00:20:38,520 --> 00:20:41,480 Speaker 1: it is Wes who may eventually stick a fork into 412 00:20:41,560 --> 00:20:49,359 Speaker 1: his softball pants. Listen, the it was a bad, bad 413 00:20:49,400 --> 00:20:53,400 Speaker 1: game for the Raiders at home. Nick Foles sets all 414 00:20:53,440 --> 00:20:57,280 Speaker 1: sorts of records. Um, so this wasn't It's basically two things, 415 00:20:57,320 --> 00:20:59,840 Speaker 1: by the way, and people, some people might be confused, 416 00:20:59,840 --> 00:21:02,879 Speaker 1: why us the softball pants and the Raiders fork are 417 00:21:02,920 --> 00:21:06,119 Speaker 1: two totally different things. I don't think that. The Raiders 418 00:21:06,119 --> 00:21:08,840 Speaker 1: and we all agreed the four committee got together, agreed 419 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:11,120 Speaker 1: that the Raiders stand a chance of getting to nine 420 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:13,720 Speaker 1: wins or in that area to make a playoff run. 421 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:16,520 Speaker 1: But they still can get the six wins, which would 422 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:24,879 Speaker 1: mean that Westwood gobble up some ester um. You know, 423 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:27,520 Speaker 1: you have the zipper, which is a mental product all 424 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:31,000 Speaker 1: sorts of unsavory things for your'n like. Unlike the other 425 00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:33,520 Speaker 1: teams which we forked, the Raiders actually have something to 426 00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:35,960 Speaker 1: play for they do. I don't know if they They 427 00:21:35,960 --> 00:21:38,800 Speaker 1: probably don't know that. In fact, I can almost guarantee 428 00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:43,480 Speaker 1: you they don't know that. But yes, you're right, Mark, 429 00:21:43,520 --> 00:21:45,600 Speaker 1: What do you think about this? I think it's funny 430 00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:49,360 Speaker 1: that we, oh so Philadelphia rolls into Oakland and handles 431 00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:53,480 Speaker 1: business big time, wipes him out right. Philadelphia's four and five, 432 00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:56,399 Speaker 1: and had they lost, they'd be three and six. I 433 00:21:56,400 --> 00:21:58,800 Speaker 1: think we still wouldn't have forked the Eagles because they're 434 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:01,119 Speaker 1: in a division that really any one could win. But 435 00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:03,440 Speaker 1: if you're Oakland and you're three and five right now, 436 00:22:04,240 --> 00:22:06,720 Speaker 1: it's over because you're in a division with two teams 437 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:08,680 Speaker 1: that are gonna have twelve plus wins, if not third 438 00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:11,080 Speaker 1: team plus. The a f C has littered with too 439 00:22:11,080 --> 00:22:15,000 Speaker 1: many four and five win options right here. I think 440 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:17,680 Speaker 1: Oakland deserves some respect for the fact that we wouldn't 441 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:19,520 Speaker 1: have been surprised before the year if they had not 442 00:22:19,880 --> 00:22:22,840 Speaker 1: won a game at this point. They've played some gutsy football. 443 00:22:22,880 --> 00:22:24,879 Speaker 1: Their defense has shown up beyond what we thought they 444 00:22:24,920 --> 00:22:28,160 Speaker 1: would Terrell prior a bit of a surprise. But they 445 00:22:28,200 --> 00:22:30,920 Speaker 1: aren't a complete team on any level. But I think 446 00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:34,040 Speaker 1: that Dennis Allen has made the leap to some degree 447 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:36,239 Speaker 1: we will find out. I agree. I still think this 448 00:22:36,320 --> 00:22:39,320 Speaker 1: is a roster which has many holes when you look forward. 449 00:22:39,640 --> 00:22:42,119 Speaker 1: They have a lot of band aids on defense, older 450 00:22:42,119 --> 00:22:44,720 Speaker 1: players that they just signed to short term deals. There's 451 00:22:44,760 --> 00:22:47,240 Speaker 1: not really a whole building block here. McFadden is going 452 00:22:47,280 --> 00:22:49,760 Speaker 1: to be a free agent. I don't think he'll be back. 453 00:22:50,160 --> 00:22:52,639 Speaker 1: They can build around prior, but there are still questions 454 00:22:52,640 --> 00:22:54,760 Speaker 1: on whether he's a passer or not. But there's still 455 00:22:54,760 --> 00:22:56,960 Speaker 1: more of a feeling of optimism than there was in August. 456 00:22:57,240 --> 00:22:59,720 Speaker 1: So the Raiders joined and the Stick of Work um series. 457 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:01,520 Speaker 1: I'm sure if you listen to the podcast, you know, 458 00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:03,680 Speaker 1: but if you haven't stick a fork, when we stick 459 00:23:03,720 --> 00:23:06,000 Speaker 1: a fork in the team, we are guaranteeing that they 460 00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:07,960 Speaker 1: don't make the playoffs. If we're wrong on any of 461 00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:10,800 Speaker 1: these predictions, we will never never do this segment again. 462 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:14,159 Speaker 1: And Greg, since he's not here, we'll have Greg donate 463 00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:17,719 Speaker 1: a healthy sum of his December paycheck to a charity 464 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:22,119 Speaker 1: of kay Rich's choice. Thank you. Yeah, what do you 465 00:23:22,119 --> 00:23:23,719 Speaker 1: think of k Richards Off the top of your head, 466 00:23:23,760 --> 00:23:28,359 Speaker 1: in terms of a charity anything with children regarding the holidays, 467 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:33,879 Speaker 1: That sounds like the Salvation Army written all over it. Um. Okay, So, 468 00:23:33,920 --> 00:23:36,480 Speaker 1: by the way, here's the fork list, just you know, 469 00:23:36,520 --> 00:23:41,760 Speaker 1: a little housekeeping here. The Jags, now, the Raiders, the Vikings, 470 00:23:42,119 --> 00:23:45,280 Speaker 1: the Falcons, the Bucks and the Rams. I think those 471 00:23:45,280 --> 00:23:47,600 Speaker 1: are all our four teams right now. And now let's 472 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:50,400 Speaker 1: move forward and say so long to the Raiders from 473 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:54,320 Speaker 1: a UH contender standpoint. But we will be talking about 474 00:23:54,359 --> 00:23:58,040 Speaker 1: him for softball reasons. But what about other teams? Now, 475 00:23:58,080 --> 00:24:01,720 Speaker 1: the committee got together only name the Raiders as a fork. 476 00:24:03,080 --> 00:24:06,960 Speaker 1: I was thinking we talked about this downstairs. Steelers and 477 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:10,520 Speaker 1: Bills are two teams that are really hanging by a 478 00:24:10,600 --> 00:24:13,879 Speaker 1: thread now as contenders in the a f C. How 479 00:24:13,880 --> 00:24:16,040 Speaker 1: about a god old fortune uh? And they happen to 480 00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:18,760 Speaker 1: be facing off on Sunday. How about a good old 481 00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:24,680 Speaker 1: fashioned fork off with the loser getting forked? Well, I uh, 482 00:24:24,760 --> 00:24:26,960 Speaker 1: I had to send him my absentee ballot to the 483 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:31,240 Speaker 1: fork committee since I was out tendling cost co issues. Uh. 484 00:24:31,280 --> 00:24:33,240 Speaker 1: And I did vote for the Raiders to be forked, 485 00:24:33,359 --> 00:24:35,720 Speaker 1: but if I was in the committee, I would have 486 00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:38,840 Speaker 1: voted for the Buffalo Bills before the Raiders. I think 487 00:24:38,840 --> 00:24:40,879 Speaker 1: when you don't have a quarterback you have a problem. 488 00:24:40,880 --> 00:24:43,280 Speaker 1: And I know Bills fans love EJ. Manuel with good reason. 489 00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:45,760 Speaker 1: There's a reason to be positive about his future, but 490 00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:48,360 Speaker 1: right now he's not a good NFL quarterback. I don't 491 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:50,800 Speaker 1: think they can come out of that division or even 492 00:24:50,800 --> 00:24:52,480 Speaker 1: contend for a wild card spot with that big of 493 00:24:52,520 --> 00:24:55,000 Speaker 1: a question mark at quarterback. I don't disagree. I think 494 00:24:55,040 --> 00:24:58,280 Speaker 1: that this game coming up between Buffalo and Pittsburgh is 495 00:24:58,280 --> 00:25:00,760 Speaker 1: a great way to decide this. I would have voted 496 00:25:00,760 --> 00:25:03,640 Speaker 1: actually for Pittsburgh above Buffalo because I just watched that 497 00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:07,240 Speaker 1: Chiefs game against the Bills where honestly, you know, and 498 00:25:07,280 --> 00:25:10,639 Speaker 1: you can't look at football this way, but two or 499 00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:13,680 Speaker 1: three plays kept Buffalo from winning that game, and had 500 00:25:13,720 --> 00:25:16,439 Speaker 1: they had they overcome the Chiefs, we wouldn't even be 501 00:25:16,480 --> 00:25:19,200 Speaker 1: talking about them this way. Pittsburgh, to me, I think 502 00:25:19,240 --> 00:25:22,280 Speaker 1: the reputation they've had one losing season in ten years, 503 00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:24,800 Speaker 1: we just don't believe that they can be as bad 504 00:25:24,840 --> 00:25:27,080 Speaker 1: as the record is right now. But I don't see 505 00:25:27,119 --> 00:25:30,399 Speaker 1: Pittsburgh going what they'd need to do, probably go seven 506 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:33,800 Speaker 1: in one to finish nine and seven and and squeak 507 00:25:33,840 --> 00:25:36,080 Speaker 1: into the playoffs. Don't see it happening. I was ready 508 00:25:36,119 --> 00:25:38,960 Speaker 1: to vote for Pittsburgh. Others were not. And then, uh, 509 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:41,480 Speaker 1: you know, Greg isn't here. Greg has been pushing hard 510 00:25:41,480 --> 00:25:43,159 Speaker 1: for the Giants for a couple of weeks. It just 511 00:25:43,200 --> 00:25:47,840 Speaker 1: didn't feel right. Uh, the committee members decided to fork 512 00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:50,120 Speaker 1: a team coming off a two game winning streak. Now, 513 00:25:50,160 --> 00:25:52,600 Speaker 1: if they lose this week against the Raiders, I think 514 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:55,320 Speaker 1: you have a very clear case to fork the Giants. 515 00:25:55,680 --> 00:25:58,120 Speaker 1: But we'll see what happens, see how the week plays out. 516 00:25:58,119 --> 00:26:00,960 Speaker 1: So I think with the Giants you have to touch 517 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:03,719 Speaker 1: on history here too. Every time people have counted the 518 00:26:03,760 --> 00:26:06,639 Speaker 1: Tom Coughlin Giants out is when they turned their season around. 519 00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:09,760 Speaker 1: Do we want to be the next Mark? I don't know. 520 00:26:10,040 --> 00:26:12,840 Speaker 1: And also they are in the NFC East, which which 521 00:26:12,880 --> 00:26:15,720 Speaker 1: anyone could get hot for even half a month in 522 00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:18,679 Speaker 1: being the driver's seat. Right, So two and six you think, oh, 523 00:26:18,720 --> 00:26:21,239 Speaker 1: maybe they could stream together. It might just need as 524 00:26:21,320 --> 00:26:23,240 Speaker 1: Mark you've said all season, it might just be eight 525 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:25,600 Speaker 1: wins that wins that division. Could they go six and two, 526 00:26:25,720 --> 00:26:28,399 Speaker 1: It's possible. Could they go seven one? So they have 527 00:26:28,440 --> 00:26:32,960 Speaker 1: the Raiders and then Seneca Wallace. Yeah, they could be 528 00:26:33,280 --> 00:26:36,399 Speaker 1: in the middle. All right, let's move on to Thursday. 529 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:39,960 Speaker 1: Night Football. We move on to Week ten season, just 530 00:26:40,040 --> 00:26:44,560 Speaker 1: flying along. We have the Washington Redskins facing the Minnesota Vikings. 531 00:26:44,640 --> 00:26:48,479 Speaker 1: I do not understand. How are we keep on? How 532 00:26:48,520 --> 00:26:54,160 Speaker 1: do we keep on getting these Vikings primetime games? God? No, 533 00:26:54,520 --> 00:27:01,640 Speaker 1: God please, no, no, no, no nice touch k Rich. 534 00:27:02,600 --> 00:27:04,960 Speaker 1: And it's been like a rash because it's three times 535 00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:09,040 Speaker 1: in four weeks. How is and twice in six days 536 00:27:09,080 --> 00:27:12,480 Speaker 1: at one point, So you know we are I understand 537 00:27:12,480 --> 00:27:14,200 Speaker 1: it makes sense. I guess when they made the schedule 538 00:27:14,240 --> 00:27:16,399 Speaker 1: they had the m v P and Peterson. This was 539 00:27:16,720 --> 00:27:20,040 Speaker 1: seemed by I guess some people as an ascendant team. 540 00:27:20,080 --> 00:27:21,760 Speaker 1: But uh, you know, we're getting to see a lot 541 00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:24,080 Speaker 1: of the Vikings on a prime time stage. West. I'll 542 00:27:24,119 --> 00:27:26,359 Speaker 1: throw it to you, what what are you looking forward 543 00:27:26,440 --> 00:27:28,760 Speaker 1: to seeing in this game? This was the hardest game 544 00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:31,840 Speaker 1: for me to pick all week. Um. I when I 545 00:27:31,880 --> 00:27:35,440 Speaker 1: went back, I watched the Vikings game. Everybody got worked 546 00:27:35,480 --> 00:27:38,800 Speaker 1: up about the Adrian Peterson touchdown run the entire game. 547 00:27:39,400 --> 00:27:43,440 Speaker 1: He runs so violently and he punishes you for I 548 00:27:43,480 --> 00:27:46,440 Speaker 1: don't know how people tackle him like he I don't. 549 00:27:46,480 --> 00:27:49,639 Speaker 1: I guess that's how great NFL defenders are. Because Adrian 550 00:27:49,640 --> 00:27:52,520 Speaker 1: Peterson looks like he's about to run for three yards 551 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:56,040 Speaker 1: on the next next team he goes against. Is there 552 00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:59,720 Speaker 1: a game that could highlight at this point two of 553 00:27:59,720 --> 00:28:03,440 Speaker 1: the more disappointing teams of the year. This is this 554 00:28:03,920 --> 00:28:07,760 Speaker 1: was what they outlined to be. Listen to NFC hopeels, 555 00:28:07,840 --> 00:28:11,560 Speaker 1: especially Washington. But you're Mike Shanahan and you're gonna go 556 00:28:11,560 --> 00:28:13,280 Speaker 1: through this. I'm gonna go three and five, three and 557 00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:15,840 Speaker 1: six and try to sneak back into it. I think 558 00:28:15,840 --> 00:28:17,520 Speaker 1: a lot of I think a lot of If you 559 00:28:17,560 --> 00:28:20,879 Speaker 1: remember before the season started, you had all the uncertainty 560 00:28:20,880 --> 00:28:22,840 Speaker 1: around r G three, so we didn't really know what 561 00:28:22,840 --> 00:28:24,600 Speaker 1: we were going to get from him, and a lot 562 00:28:24,640 --> 00:28:26,760 Speaker 1: of people I think all of us picked the Vikings 563 00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:30,280 Speaker 1: to finish uh in the lower half of their division. 564 00:28:30,320 --> 00:28:33,000 Speaker 1: I mean, I just think that it became a situation 565 00:28:33,000 --> 00:28:35,760 Speaker 1: where it's almost been a worst case situation scenario for 566 00:28:35,800 --> 00:28:38,239 Speaker 1: both teams. If I were Washington, though, the best thing 567 00:28:38,280 --> 00:28:40,200 Speaker 1: you could have done for RG three, who yes and 568 00:28:40,360 --> 00:28:42,200 Speaker 1: probably they knew would need a month to cook up, 569 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:45,080 Speaker 1: is to build something other than a complete train wreck 570 00:28:45,240 --> 00:28:49,680 Speaker 1: on defense. Right and to me, I guess the favorite 571 00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:51,520 Speaker 1: in his game will be the only will be the 572 00:28:51,520 --> 00:28:54,680 Speaker 1: defense that shows a backbone. I think the Redskins offense 573 00:28:54,760 --> 00:28:56,680 Speaker 1: is playing pretty well right now. They're moving the ball, 574 00:28:56,680 --> 00:28:59,960 Speaker 1: the running game is really in tune. Uh, Pierre Garcona 575 00:29:00,080 --> 00:29:02,680 Speaker 1: is playing great. R G three is playing better than 576 00:29:02,680 --> 00:29:04,440 Speaker 1: he was earlier in the year. I could see the 577 00:29:04,480 --> 00:29:06,880 Speaker 1: Redskins scoring thirty five or forty points in this game. 578 00:29:07,080 --> 00:29:10,080 Speaker 1: I could also see Adrian Peterson rushing for three yards. Yeah, 579 00:29:10,080 --> 00:29:11,960 Speaker 1: and I personally I picked the Redskins to win the 580 00:29:12,080 --> 00:29:16,240 Speaker 1: NFC East and uh, they've disappointed the season and this 581 00:29:16,320 --> 00:29:18,960 Speaker 1: is the game. I mean, if you've had faith in 582 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:21,080 Speaker 1: them that they're gonna turn it around. If it doesn't 583 00:29:21,080 --> 00:29:23,400 Speaker 1: happen here, you know, turn out the lights, it's over. 584 00:29:23,480 --> 00:29:26,320 Speaker 1: So you you would think that the Redskins are more 585 00:29:26,360 --> 00:29:29,960 Speaker 1: motivated team here. Did anyone take the Vikings to win 586 00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:32,760 Speaker 1: this game? I took the Redskins And if you look 587 00:29:32,800 --> 00:29:35,720 Speaker 1: at it, it's crazy that they're they're actually in better 588 00:29:35,760 --> 00:29:39,600 Speaker 1: shape right now than they were at this time last year. Uh, 589 00:29:39,640 --> 00:29:41,680 Speaker 1: they're a half game better in the standings, I think. 590 00:29:42,280 --> 00:29:45,560 Speaker 1: And with the caveat that r G three isn't a 591 00:29:45,600 --> 00:29:47,760 Speaker 1: top five quarterback this year like he was last year. 592 00:29:48,360 --> 00:29:50,200 Speaker 1: This team still looks like they could do some damage 593 00:29:50,200 --> 00:29:52,320 Speaker 1: in that division. Well, they're only you know, a game 594 00:29:52,320 --> 00:29:54,320 Speaker 1: back if they win this thing in the East. And 595 00:29:54,360 --> 00:29:56,280 Speaker 1: like we said, the East is up for grabs for 596 00:29:56,400 --> 00:29:58,960 Speaker 1: even probably a couple of weeks from now. The Redskins 597 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:01,360 Speaker 1: has scored a lot of point and slately it looks 598 00:30:01,400 --> 00:30:04,640 Speaker 1: like r G three has some chemistry with garsone. We 599 00:30:04,760 --> 00:30:06,640 Speaker 1: love read a tight end and then you know what 600 00:30:06,640 --> 00:30:10,440 Speaker 1: they're running the ball. Well, I have the Redskins too, 601 00:30:10,560 --> 00:30:12,520 Speaker 1: and I just I think that they're actually they're they're 602 00:30:12,520 --> 00:30:15,400 Speaker 1: starting to get it together. We'll see. You know, I 603 00:30:15,440 --> 00:30:18,240 Speaker 1: took the Redskins as well, but uh you know, that's 604 00:30:18,280 --> 00:30:21,400 Speaker 1: not necessarily an indictment of uh or it's not a 605 00:30:21,480 --> 00:30:23,760 Speaker 1: vote of confidence. I just think the Vikings stink, so 606 00:30:24,280 --> 00:30:26,400 Speaker 1: they should be able to beat them. But we'll see, 607 00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:28,160 Speaker 1: all right that we'll do it for the Around the 608 00:30:28,200 --> 00:30:31,680 Speaker 1: League podcast, we will be back on Friday, where we 609 00:30:31,720 --> 00:30:34,760 Speaker 1: will I guess, talk about that Redskins Vikings game and 610 00:30:35,040 --> 00:30:37,600 Speaker 1: go over the rest of our week ten picks and 611 00:30:37,640 --> 00:30:40,280 Speaker 1: preview all those games. This is Dan Hansis signing off 612 00:30:40,280 --> 00:30:43,080 Speaker 1: for The Mailman, The sizzlerk Ridge behind the Glass and 613 00:30:43,120 --> 00:30:49,320 Speaker 1: of course lyle The a t L intern until Friday 614 00:30:50,920 --> 00:31:02,080 Speaker 1: until Sunday, oh