1 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:08,319 Speaker 1: I'm Terry Fao, general manager of the Atlanta Falcons, and 2 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:09,720 Speaker 1: this is the NFL Report. 3 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 2: Welcome into the NFL Report, James Palmer, Steve Whitch with you. 4 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:17,360 Speaker 2: Terry's working his tail off right now, getting ready for 5 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:19,040 Speaker 2: the combine and the draft. 6 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:20,759 Speaker 3: And Steve, what is Wait a minute, you look like 7 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:23,119 Speaker 3: you're in a press box right now? 8 00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:24,520 Speaker 4: Where Steve? 9 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 3: Yeah? 10 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:28,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm in a press box of at Yeoman Stadium 11 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 1: on the campus of Tulayne University watching practices for the 12 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:37,120 Speaker 1: HBCU Legacy Bowl, which will air Saturday, four pm Eastern 13 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:40,960 Speaker 1: on NFL Network. Met Bucky Brooks, Sherry Burris, and Charles 14 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:43,920 Speaker 1: Davis on the call, top one hundred draft LGI players 15 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 1: from HBCUs. It's always a great week, JP, But I 16 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:50,080 Speaker 1: got good WiFi in here too. These pictures have been 17 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:50,520 Speaker 1: real clear. 18 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:53,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, you look great. You look great. You know who's 19 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 3: also in that press box you mentioned him? Bucky Brooks. 20 00:00:56,120 --> 00:00:58,920 Speaker 2: He's gonna join us talking about some deepest part of 21 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:01,760 Speaker 2: the draft, maybe some specific positions that some teams might 22 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:04,960 Speaker 2: be intrigued by. We're also going to have Saints head 23 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:07,440 Speaker 2: coach Dennis Allen join the show. 24 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:07,880 Speaker 3: Let's go. 25 00:01:07,959 --> 00:01:11,800 Speaker 2: Also NFL Network insider Tom Pelisara joins his talk franchise 26 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:14,200 Speaker 2: tags and a couple of quarterbacks and Kirk Cousins and 27 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:18,080 Speaker 2: Baker Mayfield. But let's start off with Justin Fields, Steve. 28 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 2: And we're not saying that solely. You know, we didn't 29 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:24,039 Speaker 2: connect Terry Fontnou to introduce this show to Justin Fields, 30 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:26,720 Speaker 2: because we do know that's a potential landing spot that 31 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 2: some teams are trying to connect. Let's talk about the 32 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 2: best fit for Justin Fields. And I say this Steve 33 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:37,120 Speaker 2: specifically because to my understanding, the Bears are kind of 34 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 2: finalizing in this week. They're kind of their their mindset 35 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:43,040 Speaker 2: on what they want to do at the quarterback position, 36 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 2: and then when they get to Indianapolis, probably a lot 37 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 2: of discussions will be had about what teams would be 38 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:52,920 Speaker 2: interested in Justin Fields that started amobile, and we'll continue 39 00:01:53,080 --> 00:01:55,560 Speaker 2: in possible landing spots that he could wind up in. 40 00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 2: So with that said, and on the you know, a 41 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 2: couple of days before the combine, what's the best fit 42 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 2: for Justin Field, Steve? 43 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:05,480 Speaker 1: It's first off, Jap isn't interesting how the conversation is 44 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:09,520 Speaker 1: really no longer the Bears retaining Justin Fields. 45 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 4: I mean that seems like the ship is sales. 46 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 1: We don't know, We really don't know, but it seems 47 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 1: that the conversation has swung so much to them using 48 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 1: that number one pick on Caleb Williams' quarterback that Justin 49 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:26,079 Speaker 1: Fields has gone. So to answer your question, it's not Atlanta, 50 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:27,919 Speaker 1: it's not Pittsburgh. 51 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:31,680 Speaker 4: It is the Las Vegas Raiders for his. 52 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:32,640 Speaker 5: Former law. 53 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:37,399 Speaker 4: Gets he takes over. But here's why I think he's 54 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 4: a great fit. 55 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 1: I look at what their offense is, right, you know, 56 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:44,119 Speaker 1: he comes into their quarterback. They've got I think they're 57 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:46,000 Speaker 1: gonna bring back Josh Jacobs so they can have a 58 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:49,239 Speaker 1: dual threat run game. They've got a pretty good offensive 59 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 1: line there. They've got DeVante Adams, They've got some players. 60 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 1: They've got a tight end, right, They've got Meyer, They've 61 00:02:56,440 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 1: got some players he can get the ball to. 62 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:01,480 Speaker 4: They're a physical club. Plus all of. 63 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:05,360 Speaker 1: Those great offensive head coaches in that division, Jim harbaughch 64 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 1: On Peyton, Andy Reid, they haven't had to defend a 65 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 1: quarterback like Justin Fields. I think he could go there, 66 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 1: and in a division where Antonio Pierce the only defensive 67 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:19,120 Speaker 1: coach facing some of the greatest coaches that we have 68 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:24,320 Speaker 1: seen in modern football having somebody like him to confuse 69 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:27,120 Speaker 1: them to hold the ball and have explosive play potential. 70 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 1: To me, I think he's a raider all day. Fits 71 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 1: the culture. I could see him smoking a cigar with 72 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:36,960 Speaker 1: Max Crosby and AP. I think that's the perfect fit. 73 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 2: Well, that's a various It also like rich Gangarillo joining 74 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 2: that staff, who maybe an underrated developer of quarterbacks in 75 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:48,120 Speaker 2: this league, is very, very talented in terms of working 76 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:49,279 Speaker 2: with quarterbacks. 77 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:50,240 Speaker 3: I just look at. 78 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 2: Pittsburgh and I look at Atlanta, and I look at 79 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 2: the skill position players that would be around, justin fields. 80 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 2: In terms of guys like you know, George Pickens goes 81 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 2: up and gets ball, Steve right he goes up and 82 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 2: gets balls that are fifty to fifty type of balls. 83 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:06,760 Speaker 2: I also think that those guys exist in Atlanta as well. 84 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:08,960 Speaker 2: What I'm curious about this process and I wanted to 85 00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 2: add this more than just a typical landing spot. This 86 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:15,520 Speaker 2: was a crazy stat sent to us by our research department. 87 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:18,039 Speaker 2: The Bears had a ten or more point lead in 88 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:21,600 Speaker 2: the fourth quarter in eight games this season. They lost 89 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 2: three of those. Nobody else really lost more than one 90 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:27,840 Speaker 2: game that had that type of lead. I want to 91 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:31,280 Speaker 2: know what the league considers if this is on Justin Fields, 92 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:34,320 Speaker 2: the quarterback, or if this is on the situation in Chicago. 93 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 2: He had the worst passer rating in football in the 94 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:40,039 Speaker 2: fourth quarter amongst qualified passers. So I want to know 95 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:42,720 Speaker 2: how this evaluation evolves. Because the guy hasn't been dealt 96 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:45,560 Speaker 2: the greatest of hands in Chicago. He is actually extremely 97 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 2: well liked by the front office and the people within 98 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:49,240 Speaker 2: that locker room. I want to know if they want 99 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:51,040 Speaker 2: to do him a solid Steve, do they want to 100 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 2: send him to a decent location. 101 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:54,960 Speaker 3: That's what I'm curious about. 102 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:57,480 Speaker 1: And I do think that's a great point, because when 103 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:00,800 Speaker 1: you trade away somebody who is a good player or 104 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:02,600 Speaker 1: who has those types of feelings, you want to trade 105 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:05,159 Speaker 1: him to a situation where he could possibly succeed. But 106 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 1: I want to go back to what he said, is 107 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:11,480 Speaker 1: this conversation about the Steelers continues to intrigue me because 108 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:16,160 Speaker 1: Arthur Smith, he was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, 109 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:18,040 Speaker 1: wanted no parts of Justin Fields. 110 00:05:18,279 --> 00:05:21,160 Speaker 4: He had the possibility to draft him, they. 111 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 1: Took Kyle Pitts. We asked Terry Fondo. This last week 112 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 1: they took Kyle Pitts, a tight end. They bypassed Justin Fields. 113 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:31,039 Speaker 1: Why all of a sudden with the head coach who 114 00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 1: designs the offense take a liking to Justin Field. That's 115 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:38,400 Speaker 1: why this conversation when I hear the Steelers and Arthur Smith, 116 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:41,800 Speaker 1: Ougho'd be a perfect fit. Why Arthur Smith didn't want 117 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:45,039 Speaker 1: him once? Why would he want him right now? It's 118 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:48,400 Speaker 1: just that that linking, I may be completely off base. 119 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:51,760 Speaker 1: I don't see I don't see that link. Real quick, JP, 120 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 1: since we're talking about Chicago Bears with the number one pick, 121 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 1: possibly you're likely using it on quarterback Caleb Williams. 122 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:01,800 Speaker 4: A number two sets to Washington Commanders. 123 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 1: I think they are going to be more draft day ballers. 124 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 4: Than the Bears. 125 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:10,960 Speaker 1: I think they've got the potential to move from two 126 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:13,920 Speaker 1: to four, still, get the quarterback that they want, pink 127 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 1: up some extra picks, They've got cap space to add 128 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 1: people in free agency. 129 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:21,159 Speaker 4: To me, that is the team to watch with the draft. 130 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:23,440 Speaker 1: That's where the draft really starts, because I think they've 131 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:25,719 Speaker 1: got some pieces and they've got. 132 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:26,560 Speaker 4: Some time there. 133 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:28,960 Speaker 1: They've got a grace period to put things in place. 134 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:32,039 Speaker 1: Where that's going to be the big mover all around 135 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 1: the early part of the draft. 136 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:37,279 Speaker 2: Listen, Steve, if they're the ones grabbing all the attention, 137 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:40,640 Speaker 2: I'm nervous for Ryan Poles. I'm nervous if he gets 138 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:44,279 Speaker 2: overshadowed with what he has set up leading into this draft. 139 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:46,719 Speaker 2: I do think the Fields trade actually happened sooner rather 140 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 2: than later. They'd like that to happen. There's more teams 141 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 2: that need a quarterback now than when it gets closer 142 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:53,360 Speaker 2: to the draft. I think that's plays with this as well. 143 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:55,279 Speaker 2: And I think you're right. I think number two is 144 00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:58,919 Speaker 2: where the draft starts. Because everybody's assuming it's Kayleb Williams 145 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:01,200 Speaker 2: at number one that's locked in. It's gonna take a 146 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:04,800 Speaker 2: historic Hall, as Ian Rappaport reports. So number two seems 147 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:06,719 Speaker 2: to be the start of the draft, but at number 148 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:08,839 Speaker 2: nine is also the Bears. 149 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:10,680 Speaker 3: So I'm fascinated by this. 150 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:12,560 Speaker 2: Thought process that you have to where it could be 151 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:16,000 Speaker 2: the Washington Commanders hurting all the heads as opposed to 152 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:17,040 Speaker 2: the Chicago Bears. 153 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:19,440 Speaker 3: I'm fascinated to see what happens. But that's why you 154 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:21,320 Speaker 3: went and got Adam Peters, right, Steve. 155 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely, and was he Adam Peters. He's wheeling and 156 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:28,240 Speaker 1: dealing before before the draft when it comes to those 157 00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 1: types of picks when he was with the forty nine ers. 158 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:33,440 Speaker 1: We'll see if he does it again, you know what, Jap. 159 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:37,120 Speaker 1: When we come back after the break, we've got Saints 160 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:41,800 Speaker 1: coach Dennis Allen. They are revamping their with a new coordinator, 161 00:07:41,840 --> 00:07:44,800 Speaker 1: a new scheme. We're gonna talk to him about that 162 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:48,480 Speaker 1: and how that affects Derek Carr when we're back on 163 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 1: the NFL Report, roll. 164 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 4: That state bell. 165 00:07:51,600 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 1: See it's time for the lead block, presented by T 166 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:05,000 Speaker 1: Mobile for Business. A sport as fast as football deserves 167 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:09,600 Speaker 1: America's fastest five G network, businesses go further with T 168 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:13,600 Speaker 1: Mobile for Business. All Right, welcome back to the NFL 169 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:16,000 Speaker 1: Report and JP, I am so looking forward to this 170 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 1: because we are now joined by New Orleans Saints head 171 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:19,520 Speaker 1: coach Dennis Allen. 172 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:23,040 Speaker 4: I've known DA way back. Gosh, it's been about fifteen years. 173 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:26,880 Speaker 1: We go back DA back to Atlanta, and first off, 174 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 1: thanks for joining us, but we want to have you 175 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 1: on because this has been such an eventful off season 176 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:34,560 Speaker 1: in terms of changing of your coaching staff. On the 177 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:39,360 Speaker 1: offensive side, you hire Clint Kubiak as your offensive coordinator. 178 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:41,959 Speaker 1: Just kind of what went into that and what are 179 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 1: you expecting now for your offense? 180 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:46,360 Speaker 4: Is it going to be a radical. 181 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:49,800 Speaker 1: Change or do something you think fits philosophically what you 182 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:52,160 Speaker 1: want to do with this team. 183 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:57,560 Speaker 6: Yeah, well, look, obviously, we went through an extensive search 184 00:08:57,679 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 6: in terms of interview and a lot of people for 185 00:09:00,640 --> 00:09:04,080 Speaker 6: this position. I think we I think we interviewed eleven 186 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:08,720 Speaker 6: or twelve offensive coordinator candidates, a lot of really qualified guys. 187 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:12,320 Speaker 6: I felt like, you know, we really needed to do 188 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:17,680 Speaker 6: a deep dive into a lot of different schemes and 189 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:19,360 Speaker 6: a lot of different personalities. 190 00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:23,160 Speaker 7: I wanted to really look at. 191 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:24,320 Speaker 6: You know, what was going to be the best fit 192 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 6: for the New Orleans Saints, for our players that we 193 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:30,000 Speaker 6: have here, and the things that we need to try 194 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:30,840 Speaker 6: to get accomplished. 195 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:34,199 Speaker 7: And I felt like Clint Kubiak was. 196 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:43,080 Speaker 6: Obviously the the person of choice. And I've known Clint 197 00:09:43,160 --> 00:09:45,360 Speaker 6: for a long time. I feel like I've known the 198 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:51,200 Speaker 6: family for you know, probably over twenty thirty years. I 199 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:55,840 Speaker 6: remember watching Clint's dad, Gary play quarterback back at Texas 200 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:59,280 Speaker 6: A and m you know, growing up. So I feel 201 00:09:59,280 --> 00:10:02,760 Speaker 6: like I fe I've known this family. I feel like 202 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:09,040 Speaker 6: I've known this scheme for a long time and and 203 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:13,760 Speaker 6: and I feel like this is the best scheme that 204 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:16,880 Speaker 6: gives your players the best chance to have success that's 205 00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 6: going in the National Football League right now. And and UH, 206 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:25,240 Speaker 6: I think Clint is highly intelligent. UH, he's extremely hard worker. 207 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:31,520 Speaker 6: I think we've put together an outstanding UH staff with 208 00:10:31,679 --> 00:10:35,280 Speaker 6: a little bit of a mixture of some older veteran 209 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 6: coaches that have been there, done that, UH, with some 210 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:45,520 Speaker 6: younger progressive mindset type of guys. And and I think 211 00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:48,319 Speaker 6: it's gonna be a great mixture for our for our organization. 212 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, before we move forward to what we want to 213 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:54,120 Speaker 2: talk about philosophically and scheme wise, And you touched on 214 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:54,880 Speaker 2: it there a little bit. 215 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:56,200 Speaker 3: I know I've been told back in the day. 216 00:10:56,240 --> 00:10:58,280 Speaker 2: You know the way Gary when he ran it at 217 00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:01,400 Speaker 2: its highest level, it's almost Doenguardle sometimes if it's done 218 00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:03,800 Speaker 2: the right way, the way this offense can be run. 219 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:07,400 Speaker 2: But specifically Clint coming from San Francisco and the way 220 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:10,760 Speaker 2: you've seen coaches depart out of San Francisco and have success. 221 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 2: What is it that you learned maybe in that interview 222 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:17,000 Speaker 2: process with Clint about what that building is doing right 223 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:19,520 Speaker 2: to have guys prepared to make a jump like you're 224 00:11:19,559 --> 00:11:20,240 Speaker 2: having Clint do. 225 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:21,560 Speaker 5: Yeah. 226 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:25,600 Speaker 6: Well, I just think it's really about, you know, having 227 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:29,319 Speaker 6: having a system that you believe in UH, and then 228 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 6: being able to clearly identify the players that fit that system, 229 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:37,600 Speaker 6: and then being able to acquire the talent that fits. 230 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:38,959 Speaker 7: That And and I think. 231 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 6: I think they've done as good a job as any 232 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:44,760 Speaker 6: in San Francisco being able to do that. I think 233 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:47,840 Speaker 6: they have a belief system of things that they really 234 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:51,199 Speaker 6: firmly believe in, and they don't vary from that. Obviously, 235 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:54,600 Speaker 6: the scheme has has evolved as it's going gone along. 236 00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:58,520 Speaker 6: You know, this goes back to you know, Mike Shanahan 237 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:04,240 Speaker 6: coaching back at Denver h through you know kub going 238 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:09,040 Speaker 6: to Houston UH and then and then carrying that scheme along, 239 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:13,160 Speaker 6: you know, when he went back to UH Baltimore and 240 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:15,360 Speaker 6: then he went to Minnesota, and you just see this 241 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:16,920 Speaker 6: scheme having a lot of success. 242 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:20,439 Speaker 7: There's probably a little bit more window. 243 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:23,120 Speaker 6: Dressing within the scheme now than maybe what there was 244 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:26,640 Speaker 6: you know, ten or fifteen years ago. But I just 245 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 6: think it's it's a system that's quarterback friendly UH and 246 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:33,079 Speaker 6: and I think it relies on being able to run 247 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:36,280 Speaker 6: the football and uh and get your play action passing 248 00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:36,800 Speaker 6: game going. 249 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:39,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, I love I love hearing you talk about this 250 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:41,559 Speaker 1: because you're a defensive guy, right, You've had the scheme 251 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 1: begainst this, so you know how what the challenge it 252 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:48,160 Speaker 1: is schematically. You just said it, this is a quarterback 253 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:51,440 Speaker 1: friendly system. How do you think this is going to 254 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:53,040 Speaker 1: benefit Derek Carr? 255 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 6: Well, look, I think Derek's going to do exceptionally well. 256 00:12:57,920 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 6: You know, I thought there was a point in time 257 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:04,520 Speaker 6: this past season where you know, we started incorporating a 258 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:06,680 Speaker 6: little bit more of the play action passing game and 259 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:08,800 Speaker 6: I really felt like that's where our offense started to 260 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:11,319 Speaker 6: take off. I thought that's where Derek really kind of 261 00:13:11,360 --> 00:13:14,120 Speaker 6: started to take off. And you know, it's interesting because 262 00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 6: you know, I've had communication with Derek throughout this process, uh, 263 00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:20,520 Speaker 6: you know, and talk to him about some of the 264 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:24,680 Speaker 6: different candidates that you know, we were bringing in. And 265 00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:28,160 Speaker 6: his brother, David had played for Gary and and UH 266 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:31,560 Speaker 6: in Houston, and that was David's last year in Houston. 267 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:34,440 Speaker 6: I was kind of a little bit concerned that, you know, 268 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:37,600 Speaker 6: maybe that wouldn't go over that great and and uh, 269 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:41,000 Speaker 6: and David had some really good things to say, you know, 270 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:45,559 Speaker 6: about the offensive scheme, uh, and about how he uh, 271 00:13:45,840 --> 00:13:48,040 Speaker 6: you know, really appreciated the scheme and the things that 272 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:52,000 Speaker 6: they were doing, and and and really enjoyed playing for 273 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:55,080 Speaker 6: for Gary and felt like, look, if, if, if there's 274 00:13:55,080 --> 00:13:58,560 Speaker 6: some similarities, which I think there's a ton between Gary 275 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:00,520 Speaker 6: and Clint, that uh, it was going to be a 276 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:03,199 Speaker 6: great fit. And so I'm really kind of excited about that. 277 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:05,640 Speaker 3: It's interesting you bring up Houston. 278 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:07,480 Speaker 2: I was a beat guy there when Gary was the 279 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:10,079 Speaker 2: head coach, and I remember those drafts da of him 280 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:12,560 Speaker 2: kind of finding the guys that fit this game we're 281 00:14:12,559 --> 00:14:15,040 Speaker 2: talking about throughout the draft. So I'm kind of curious 282 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:17,079 Speaker 2: now that you make this switch on offense, what have 283 00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:20,560 Speaker 2: the meetings been like, and does your draft philosophy maybe 284 00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 2: change a little bit in the style of player maybe 285 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 2: you're looking at on the offensive line or some other 286 00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:27,720 Speaker 2: spots with the way that Clint wants to run this. 287 00:14:28,680 --> 00:14:30,560 Speaker 7: Yeah, no, I think that's a great question. 288 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 6: You know, you know, a few years back defensively here, 289 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:41,640 Speaker 6: I remember back in twenty fifteen, kind of twenty sixteen, 290 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:44,920 Speaker 6: we weren't sure exactly what we wanted to be defensively 291 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:50,560 Speaker 6: three four four to three, Seattle three defense, New England 292 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:54,359 Speaker 6: single high man. We kind of went through a little process, 293 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:57,480 Speaker 6: and it was really kind of in sixteen where I 294 00:14:57,880 --> 00:15:01,760 Speaker 6: kind of took over, and I think we clearly identified 295 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:05,800 Speaker 6: exactly what we wanted to do defensively and exactly what 296 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:08,320 Speaker 6: we were looking for in each position, and so therefore 297 00:15:08,400 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 6: we were able to go out and find those guys 298 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:15,080 Speaker 6: twenty seventeen draft and on, and I think we became 299 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:17,680 Speaker 6: a lot better defense because of that, because we clearly 300 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:21,320 Speaker 6: identified what we were looking for. And I think that's 301 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:24,840 Speaker 6: the process that we're going through right now. We're in 302 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:28,760 Speaker 6: the process of having our February draft meetings with the scouts, 303 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:32,680 Speaker 6: with Jeff Ireland, Mickey Loomis, myself, we're in there talking 304 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:35,480 Speaker 6: through these guys, and we had a chance to get 305 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:39,920 Speaker 6: the offensive coaching staff in here over the weekend and 306 00:15:40,040 --> 00:15:43,960 Speaker 6: really sit down with the you know, with the scouts 307 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 6: and with the people in the draft room and kind 308 00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:50,000 Speaker 6: of go through, Look, this is what we're looking for 309 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:52,280 Speaker 6: at the quarterback position. This is what we're looking for 310 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 6: in an offensive tackle, this is what we're looking for 311 00:15:54,880 --> 00:15:58,560 Speaker 6: at the receiver position. So I think that's been I 312 00:15:58,560 --> 00:16:01,360 Speaker 6: think that's been great for our group, and I think 313 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:03,800 Speaker 6: we'll have to continue to have those discussions as we 314 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:06,640 Speaker 6: go throughout you know, this draft process and really not 315 00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:08,800 Speaker 6: just the draft process, but free agency also. 316 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:09,800 Speaker 3: M hm. 317 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 4: I mean, I know that's invigorating. 318 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:12,800 Speaker 1: I mean it's got to be like so cool now 319 00:16:12,840 --> 00:16:15,160 Speaker 1: to have these types of discussions with the new staff 320 00:16:15,160 --> 00:16:17,680 Speaker 1: and kind of hear new ideas and and to really 321 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:19,640 Speaker 1: do this. So let's let's kind of flip it to 322 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:21,360 Speaker 1: the other side of the ball, DA, you know, that's 323 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:23,880 Speaker 1: where you've just had one of the best defenses in 324 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:27,160 Speaker 1: the NFL for just the longest time. And I want 325 00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:29,080 Speaker 1: to look at Cam Jordan because last year see him 326 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:31,760 Speaker 1: like just such an aberration. You know, you only had 327 00:16:31,760 --> 00:16:33,800 Speaker 1: the two sacks he wasn't putting up, you know, the 328 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:35,960 Speaker 1: typical Hall of Fame type of numbers we've seen him 329 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:36,360 Speaker 1: put up. 330 00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:38,360 Speaker 4: Do you consider that just kind of. 331 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:40,920 Speaker 1: A blip on the radar, you know, And what does 332 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:43,480 Speaker 1: he maybe need to do to get back to the 333 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:45,600 Speaker 1: Cam that we have seen for more than a decade. 334 00:16:46,720 --> 00:16:49,080 Speaker 6: Yeah, Well, look, I think I think the thing that 335 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:52,120 Speaker 6: I would say about Cam, you know, probably where the 336 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:55,000 Speaker 6: dip occurred a little bit. Is just his ability to 337 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:59,800 Speaker 6: finish on the quarterback. I think he was still effective 338 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:01,640 Speaker 6: and kind of being able to get around the quarterback, 339 00:17:01,680 --> 00:17:05,560 Speaker 6: he just didn't finish as well on the quarterback. And so, uh, 340 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:07,239 Speaker 6: I think that's one of the things that we've got 341 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:09,200 Speaker 6: to continue to look at and work at. I think 342 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:12,159 Speaker 6: he's still one of the better run players in our 343 00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:13,920 Speaker 6: league at the defensive end position. 344 00:17:14,760 --> 00:17:15,960 Speaker 7: But look, let's be honest. 345 00:17:16,080 --> 00:17:18,560 Speaker 6: I mean, as we as we all get older, we 346 00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:21,040 Speaker 6: we we start to slow down a little bit. I 347 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:24,880 Speaker 6: don't think he's at that point where I think he's 348 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:27,720 Speaker 6: still got some good football left. And I think it's 349 00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:29,760 Speaker 6: up to us to try to find the positions and 350 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:32,400 Speaker 6: the places to put him in, uh, to allow him 351 00:17:32,440 --> 00:17:33,879 Speaker 6: to still be successful, you know. 352 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:34,520 Speaker 7: And so. 353 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:39,480 Speaker 6: Look, the other thing is he injured his ankle at 354 00:17:39,480 --> 00:17:41,240 Speaker 6: some point in the season. I think it might have 355 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:45,760 Speaker 6: been the Minnesota week. And look, he's such a tough 356 00:17:45,800 --> 00:17:48,320 Speaker 6: competitor that he just battled through and fought through it. 357 00:17:48,359 --> 00:17:50,960 Speaker 6: But I think it was probably, you know, six weeks 358 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:53,040 Speaker 6: before he started feeling more like himself. 359 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, you mentioned you mentioned Cam's age, and I'm not 360 00:17:56,840 --> 00:17:58,320 Speaker 2: pushing him out the door by any stretch. 361 00:17:58,320 --> 00:17:59,760 Speaker 3: He's one of my favorite players to watch. 362 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:01,760 Speaker 2: But as a head coach, now that you're in this 363 00:18:01,840 --> 00:18:05,240 Speaker 2: position and you're going through this, when a roster starts 364 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:07,959 Speaker 2: to get a little bit older, how do you figure 365 00:18:07,960 --> 00:18:10,920 Speaker 2: out gauging you know, a guy still, as you mentioned, Cam, 366 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:14,280 Speaker 2: still has this much left in your mind, gauging between 367 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:16,600 Speaker 2: we have to try to maybe flip this and get 368 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:19,359 Speaker 2: younger in some aspects, but we still want to value 369 00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:22,000 Speaker 2: what this guy brings. Because you have a lot of 370 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:24,080 Speaker 2: those type of players that still bring a lot to 371 00:18:24,119 --> 00:18:24,640 Speaker 2: the table. 372 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:25,560 Speaker 3: How do you gauge that? 373 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:29,359 Speaker 6: Yeah, Look, I think it's a delicate balance, you know, 374 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:36,119 Speaker 6: because not only do these players I'm talking about guys 375 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:39,080 Speaker 6: like Cam Jordan, I'm talking about guys like Tyron Matthew, 376 00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:42,040 Speaker 6: I'm talking about guys like to Mario Davis. We're speaking 377 00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:46,160 Speaker 6: specifically on the defensive side of the ball. Look, they 378 00:18:46,160 --> 00:18:49,399 Speaker 6: can still play, and they can still play at a 379 00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:54,359 Speaker 6: winnable level, and it's all those other intangibles that they 380 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:58,720 Speaker 6: can bring to your football team that don't necessarily always 381 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:02,880 Speaker 6: show up on the stat sheet, but they they they 382 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:06,520 Speaker 6: show up in terms of the culture and and uh 383 00:19:06,560 --> 00:19:09,200 Speaker 6: and the way you go about doing things. And so look, 384 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:11,879 Speaker 6: it's a delicate balance and it's hard because you know, 385 00:19:11,920 --> 00:19:14,119 Speaker 6: these guys have been such great players for such a 386 00:19:14,119 --> 00:19:18,080 Speaker 6: long time. Uh that's that's the challenging part of this business. 387 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:20,720 Speaker 6: But uh, as long as they can play and play 388 00:19:20,760 --> 00:19:23,959 Speaker 6: at a level that allows us to be able to win, uh, 389 00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:27,040 Speaker 6: then then uh, I think they're valuable pieces to our team. 390 00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:30,880 Speaker 1: Da Hey, one last question before we let you go here, 391 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:33,520 Speaker 1: and and this is important. I'm in New Orleans for 392 00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:37,680 Speaker 1: the the HBCU Legacy Bowl. The HBCU Combine was running 393 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:40,160 Speaker 1: your facility, and the Saints have such a rich history 394 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:46,160 Speaker 1: with players, coaches and supporting black college athletics. Even last 395 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:48,720 Speaker 1: year you guys adding Mark Evans, the offensive lineman at 396 00:19:48,840 --> 00:19:53,439 Speaker 1: Arkansas Pine Bluff. Just what about your organizational commitment to 397 00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:57,560 Speaker 1: continue to find talent on and off the field to 398 00:19:57,680 --> 00:19:59,640 Speaker 1: make you guys better year in and year out. 399 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:03,320 Speaker 6: Yeah, well, look, I mean I think I think it's 400 00:20:03,359 --> 00:20:07,200 Speaker 6: really just a commitment to trying to find the best 401 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:09,919 Speaker 6: people and the best players that we can find, regardless 402 00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:10,960 Speaker 6: of where they come from. 403 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:11,640 Speaker 1: Uh. 404 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:15,160 Speaker 6: And I think this uh, you know, this Legacy Bowl, 405 00:20:15,320 --> 00:20:19,080 Speaker 6: and we had the combine over here at the facility 406 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:21,800 Speaker 6: yesterday where I think there was probably about you know, 407 00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:24,800 Speaker 6: fifty kids that got an opportunity to get in front 408 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:28,320 Speaker 6: of the NFL scouts, uh and and go through some 409 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:34,560 Speaker 6: you know, positional uh drills or skilled drills to get 410 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:37,439 Speaker 6: get there, get their name, and get their face in 411 00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:40,679 Speaker 6: front of uh some NFL evaluators and give them an 412 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:44,399 Speaker 6: opportunity to maybe have a chance to uh, you know, 413 00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:48,560 Speaker 6: either be drafted signed as a free agent. You know, 414 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:53,880 Speaker 6: we look football players coming and and all shape sizes 415 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:57,119 Speaker 6: and areas and backgrounds and all those kinds of things, 416 00:20:57,119 --> 00:21:01,680 Speaker 6: and and uh, you know, we're willing to look anywhere 417 00:21:01,680 --> 00:21:04,320 Speaker 6: we can to find somebody that fits our culture, that 418 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:07,960 Speaker 6: fits our program, uh, that can help us, you know, 419 00:21:08,160 --> 00:21:10,639 Speaker 6: be a successful organization wins the football games. 420 00:21:11,440 --> 00:21:15,000 Speaker 1: Hey da, man, we appreciate the support. We appreciate you 421 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:15,919 Speaker 1: taking the time with this. 422 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:16,160 Speaker 3: Man. 423 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:16,760 Speaker 4: You're the best. 424 00:21:16,760 --> 00:21:19,360 Speaker 1: Thank you, you know, and you're taking out time when 425 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:21,880 Speaker 1: the middle draft prep and putting the staff together means 426 00:21:21,920 --> 00:21:22,320 Speaker 1: the world. 427 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:25,080 Speaker 4: So can't thank you enough. Joining James and I here 428 00:21:25,119 --> 00:21:26,199 Speaker 4: at the NFL report. 429 00:21:26,840 --> 00:21:29,520 Speaker 6: Yeah, absolutely, guys. I always got I always got fifteen 430 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:30,200 Speaker 6: minutes for you. 431 00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:33,160 Speaker 1: Guys there we go, We're gonna follow you back. 432 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:35,280 Speaker 3: We're going to hold you to that day. Yeah, we 433 00:21:35,359 --> 00:21:35,840 Speaker 3: are all right. 434 00:21:37,280 --> 00:21:40,920 Speaker 1: NFL Report our top Pella zero is going to talk 435 00:21:40,960 --> 00:21:44,960 Speaker 1: about some key NFL free agents. That guy Kirk Cousins 436 00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:50,359 Speaker 1: he be available. That's next on the NFL Report. All 437 00:21:50,359 --> 00:21:51,200 Speaker 1: the tape, l Fie. 438 00:21:52,320 --> 00:21:53,280 Speaker 3: That's a wrap for the. 439 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:56,919 Speaker 1: Lead block presented by Team Mobile for Business. A sport 440 00:21:56,920 --> 00:22:00,800 Speaker 1: as fast as football deserves America's fastest five G network, 441 00:22:01,359 --> 00:22:05,840 Speaker 1: businesses go further with t Mobile for Business. 442 00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:13,840 Speaker 2: Welcome back to the NFL Report. James Palmer, Steve Whitch 443 00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:18,200 Speaker 2: with you now. NFL insider Tom Pellisero joins us and 444 00:22:18,320 --> 00:22:20,520 Speaker 2: tom My first question to you is this, we broke 445 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:23,600 Speaker 2: bread multiple times in Vegas during the week long stay 446 00:22:23,640 --> 00:22:25,280 Speaker 2: we had in there, which is far longer than the 447 00:22:25,280 --> 00:22:29,359 Speaker 2: forty eight hours everybody recommends. Your favorite meal in Las 448 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:32,440 Speaker 2: Vegas that you had with me was what. 449 00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:35,600 Speaker 8: Let's see. 450 00:22:36,080 --> 00:22:38,840 Speaker 9: I believe I bailed on one of them about halfway 451 00:22:38,880 --> 00:22:41,119 Speaker 9: through because I had an engagement that I needed to 452 00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:44,280 Speaker 9: get to. I believe that one lotuses I am had 453 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:46,800 Speaker 9: the potential to be really good. Everybody raided about it after, 454 00:22:46,920 --> 00:22:52,080 Speaker 9: but the potent in the Cosmo. It was a fantastic 455 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:53,040 Speaker 9: meal that we had together. 456 00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:56,920 Speaker 3: Oh, that was fantastic. That one was really really good, 457 00:22:57,080 --> 00:22:58,040 Speaker 3: really really good. 458 00:22:58,080 --> 00:23:01,040 Speaker 2: And all right, speaking of fantastic, let's get to the 459 00:23:01,080 --> 00:23:05,639 Speaker 2: wide receiver position. Potential franchise tag candidates. 460 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:09,040 Speaker 3: There's two. I'm looking at the first one. T Higgins. 461 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:13,240 Speaker 2: To me, this is a fascinating situation with Cincinnati and 462 00:23:13,320 --> 00:23:15,119 Speaker 2: he if you give him a contract, then you're just 463 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:17,359 Speaker 2: resetting a floor for Jamar Chase, which you have to 464 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:19,119 Speaker 2: do down the road. Do you want to pay two 465 00:23:19,160 --> 00:23:21,560 Speaker 2: wide receivers? Do you move on now or do you 466 00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:23,680 Speaker 2: try to maybe just run it back on the tag 467 00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:26,080 Speaker 2: and try to get a Lombardi in twenty twenty four? 468 00:23:26,119 --> 00:23:29,000 Speaker 2: Where do things stand in your opinion with T Higgins 469 00:23:29,040 --> 00:23:30,280 Speaker 2: and the Cincinnati Bengals. 470 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:34,480 Speaker 9: You're right, James, because somebody, if T. Higgins were to 471 00:23:34,520 --> 00:23:37,520 Speaker 9: get to the open market, would pay him like a 472 00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:40,520 Speaker 9: number one wide receiver on his own team. It's pretty 473 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:42,880 Speaker 9: clear Jamar Chase is that number one guy when he's 474 00:23:42,920 --> 00:23:45,960 Speaker 9: out there and fully healthy. The Bengals are not strangers 475 00:23:45,960 --> 00:23:48,000 Speaker 9: to using the franchise tag. They have done it in 476 00:23:48,040 --> 00:23:50,520 Speaker 9: the past with a wide receiver not that long ago. 477 00:23:50,880 --> 00:23:53,879 Speaker 9: In aj Green and had him play his final season 478 00:23:53,880 --> 00:23:56,840 Speaker 9: there on the tag, So certainly a possibility that they 479 00:23:56,880 --> 00:23:59,960 Speaker 9: could keep t Higgins on the franchise tag for a year. 480 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:03,520 Speaker 9: Nobody's preference, generally speaking, is to end up with somebody 481 00:24:03,920 --> 00:24:06,679 Speaker 9: on the tag, but they've got enough flexibility right now 482 00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:08,879 Speaker 9: in terms of their salary cap that that would be 483 00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:11,560 Speaker 9: an option if they're not able to consummate a deal 484 00:24:11,840 --> 00:24:14,200 Speaker 9: prior to the negotiating window opening up on March eleven. 485 00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:17,160 Speaker 3: JB. 486 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:18,800 Speaker 1: I'm gonna let you follow up since you said you 487 00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:21,120 Speaker 1: had a second wide receiver you want. 488 00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:24,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, I kind of blocked out because I was thinking 489 00:24:24,760 --> 00:24:28,600 Speaker 2: of STK real quick. How about Mike Evans down there 490 00:24:28,720 --> 00:24:30,840 Speaker 2: in Tampa Bay, Because I know there's plenty of teams 491 00:24:30,840 --> 00:24:32,959 Speaker 2: around the league that are going this is still an 492 00:24:33,119 --> 00:24:37,159 Speaker 2: unbelievably productive receiver and if he finds his way out, 493 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:39,959 Speaker 2: this is somebody just like the Higgans, and teams are 494 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:41,080 Speaker 2: going to jump at. 495 00:24:43,359 --> 00:24:45,119 Speaker 9: Well, it's a big number for Mike Evans if you 496 00:24:45,119 --> 00:24:47,880 Speaker 9: were to franchise tag him based off last year's salary 497 00:24:47,920 --> 00:24:51,280 Speaker 9: cap number. Also, you have to think what a player 498 00:24:51,480 --> 00:24:53,920 Speaker 9: has had the type of career that Mike Evans has 499 00:24:53,960 --> 00:24:57,399 Speaker 9: had at the Buccaneers one thousand yards every single season 500 00:24:57,440 --> 00:25:00,600 Speaker 9: being a franchise legend. Do you go that harout if 501 00:25:00,640 --> 00:25:02,240 Speaker 9: you're not able to work out a deal, or do 502 00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:05,040 Speaker 9: you say thanks for the memories, thanks for a Super 503 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:07,360 Speaker 9: Bowl win, We're gonna let you move on with your 504 00:25:07,359 --> 00:25:10,760 Speaker 9: career right now. Those are organizational decisions that the Bucks 505 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:12,920 Speaker 9: are going to have to make. I know that certain 506 00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:15,320 Speaker 9: people were making a lot of fact they didn't get 507 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:17,520 Speaker 9: a contract done a couple of days ago before a 508 00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:21,159 Speaker 9: void date. Voids are not magic, They're not hey, he 509 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:24,040 Speaker 9: immediately becomes a free agent. They just mean it's a 510 00:25:24,040 --> 00:25:28,639 Speaker 9: matter of accounting differently for future cap numbers onto the cap. 511 00:25:28,880 --> 00:25:31,520 Speaker 9: Nothing precluding them from being able to move forward here 512 00:25:31,520 --> 00:25:33,960 Speaker 9: with a deal on Mike Evans. But let's also be 513 00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:36,080 Speaker 9: very clear, Mike Evans has earned it. He's one of 514 00:25:36,119 --> 00:25:38,480 Speaker 9: the most consistent players that the NFL has seen over 515 00:25:38,520 --> 00:25:42,119 Speaker 9: the past decade. Here he's got one more big bite 516 00:25:42,240 --> 00:25:44,680 Speaker 9: at the apple. I would not think that he would 517 00:25:44,720 --> 00:25:47,520 Speaker 9: want to be on the franchise tag. I would think, 518 00:25:47,560 --> 00:25:49,520 Speaker 9: and again a lot of different ways that this could go. 519 00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:51,560 Speaker 9: Teams have the right he used the tag, But I 520 00:25:51,560 --> 00:25:53,439 Speaker 9: would think if they can't get a deal done with 521 00:25:53,520 --> 00:25:56,000 Speaker 9: Mike Evans. He quite possibly we're in a new uniform 522 00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:56,760 Speaker 9: in twenty twenty four. 523 00:25:57,440 --> 00:26:01,000 Speaker 1: I would agree Tom because look, he'll always be viewed year. Yeah, 524 00:26:01,040 --> 00:26:02,600 Speaker 1: even if he has to play another team, he always 525 00:26:02,640 --> 00:26:05,360 Speaker 1: be viewed as a buccaneer. His his legacy is solidified. 526 00:26:05,400 --> 00:26:07,119 Speaker 4: There. Let's come off the tag. 527 00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:09,080 Speaker 1: You know, maybe later we can talk about, you know, 528 00:26:09,160 --> 00:26:11,960 Speaker 1: Tony Pollard to say, Kwon Barkley and this and that, 529 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:12,720 Speaker 1: but let's. 530 00:26:12,520 --> 00:26:14,399 Speaker 4: Get some guys with some inspiring contracts. 531 00:26:14,560 --> 00:26:18,399 Speaker 1: Kirk Cousins is the more, if the more, one of 532 00:26:18,440 --> 00:26:22,240 Speaker 1: the most I should say, intriguing guys out there. Because 533 00:26:22,280 --> 00:26:24,280 Speaker 1: Minnesota we know they probably would like to keep him. 534 00:26:24,280 --> 00:26:27,840 Speaker 1: But he's coming off that achilles, there's the age. What's 535 00:26:27,840 --> 00:26:28,520 Speaker 1: his situation. 536 00:26:31,080 --> 00:26:33,840 Speaker 9: Well, I would anticipate Steve that kirk Cousins is going 537 00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:35,639 Speaker 9: to have a strong market, even going on to his 538 00:26:35,680 --> 00:26:37,520 Speaker 9: age thirty six season and coming off. 539 00:26:37,400 --> 00:26:38,720 Speaker 8: Of that torn achilles. 540 00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:42,600 Speaker 9: The Vikings want to keep kirk Cousins, but to this point, 541 00:26:42,680 --> 00:26:46,560 Speaker 9: there's really been no substantive communication. That's normal for the Vikings. 542 00:26:46,640 --> 00:26:48,399 Speaker 9: They do a lot of their contract talks with their 543 00:26:48,440 --> 00:26:51,680 Speaker 9: own free agents. At the combine that begins next week 544 00:26:51,880 --> 00:26:54,400 Speaker 9: in Indianapolis. At that point, I would think that everybody 545 00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:57,560 Speaker 9: involved have a pretty good idea of what that market 546 00:26:57,560 --> 00:27:00,200 Speaker 9: for Kirk Cousins is going to be. At the same time, 547 00:27:00,520 --> 00:27:03,919 Speaker 9: Vikings are exploring all options in the event that the 548 00:27:03,960 --> 00:27:07,600 Speaker 9: price tag just becomes too high on Cousins if he 549 00:27:07,680 --> 00:27:10,160 Speaker 9: goes elsewhere. Wouldn't think that they'd be in the Baker 550 00:27:10,200 --> 00:27:12,880 Speaker 9: Mayfield mix. There's not a lot of other starting caliber, 551 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:15,919 Speaker 9: clear starters available in free agency. I think it may 552 00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:18,600 Speaker 9: be more of an economical type of veteran Let's say 553 00:27:18,640 --> 00:27:20,919 Speaker 9: a Sam Darnold coming in, which would buy them some 554 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:23,879 Speaker 9: time to bridge the gap to bringing a young quarterback 555 00:27:24,119 --> 00:27:26,040 Speaker 9: as well. Maybe even somebody that they could draft or 556 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:28,560 Speaker 9: sitting there at number eleven could go up to go down. 557 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:31,760 Speaker 9: That would be a possibility. Minnesota in general, guys in 558 00:27:31,800 --> 00:27:34,760 Speaker 9: a really unique situation right here, because there's not a 559 00:27:34,760 --> 00:27:38,560 Speaker 9: lot of times you've got three players on your roster 560 00:27:38,680 --> 00:27:41,600 Speaker 9: who all could be thirty million plus per year players 561 00:27:41,640 --> 00:27:44,600 Speaker 9: with Kirk Cousins who can't be tagged, the Neil Hunter, 562 00:27:44,640 --> 00:27:47,080 Speaker 9: who is also a penny free agent, can't be tagged, 563 00:27:47,280 --> 00:27:49,840 Speaker 9: and then justin Jefferson who has a pretty big vested 564 00:27:49,960 --> 00:27:53,360 Speaker 9: interest in what happens with Kirk Cousins in that quarterback situation. 565 00:27:53,480 --> 00:27:56,240 Speaker 9: So a lot of moving parts for Quasia doofo Mensa 566 00:27:56,240 --> 00:27:59,320 Speaker 9: and Kevin O'Connell to soar through here. Again, the Vikings 567 00:27:59,480 --> 00:28:01,600 Speaker 9: usually do a lot of what they take care of 568 00:28:01,800 --> 00:28:04,440 Speaker 9: is at the combine, coming off of that and leading 569 00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:07,360 Speaker 9: up to March eleventh March thirteenth, that's where you'll get 570 00:28:07,359 --> 00:28:09,399 Speaker 9: a better idea of exactly what direction these are gonna go. 571 00:28:10,880 --> 00:28:12,800 Speaker 2: Can I just say with all the time he missed 572 00:28:12,920 --> 00:28:16,640 Speaker 2: justin Jefferson season still was absolutely remarkable and what he 573 00:28:16,680 --> 00:28:19,240 Speaker 2: was able to do with even the games that he missed, 574 00:28:19,240 --> 00:28:23,199 Speaker 2: he was He's incredible. You mentioned Baker there real quick, Tom, 575 00:28:23,600 --> 00:28:25,679 Speaker 2: you look down there in Tampa. We mentioned Mike Evans, 576 00:28:25,720 --> 00:28:27,480 Speaker 2: We talked about him, and then you could look at 577 00:28:27,520 --> 00:28:29,760 Speaker 2: the franchise tag and maybe that's going to Antoine Winfield 578 00:28:29,840 --> 00:28:32,680 Speaker 2: Junior their safety. Maybe that's where that tag goes. What's 579 00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:35,760 Speaker 2: what's the status with where things stand with Baker maybe 580 00:28:35,800 --> 00:28:38,600 Speaker 2: re signing in Tampa because he becomes available. There's not 581 00:28:38,680 --> 00:28:40,960 Speaker 2: a lot of veterans, as you mentioned, signal callers that 582 00:28:41,040 --> 00:28:43,560 Speaker 2: teams are maybe desiring and he might be one a 583 00:28:43,640 --> 00:28:44,840 Speaker 2: on a decent price. 584 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:48,080 Speaker 8: Well, here's what we know, James. 585 00:28:48,120 --> 00:28:50,160 Speaker 9: The price is gonna be higher for Baker Mayfield than 586 00:28:50,200 --> 00:28:51,520 Speaker 9: it was a year ago when he went there on 587 00:28:51,560 --> 00:28:54,320 Speaker 9: a one year deal worth five million dollars plus incentives. 588 00:28:54,320 --> 00:28:56,920 Speaker 9: The question is going to be how high does that 589 00:28:57,000 --> 00:29:00,720 Speaker 9: price go and does another team it's serious, involved and 590 00:29:00,760 --> 00:29:04,200 Speaker 9: make a push for Baker Mayfield. Now we know the 591 00:29:04,280 --> 00:29:07,200 Speaker 9: Bucks have expressed an interest they want Baker Mayfield back. 592 00:29:07,560 --> 00:29:11,280 Speaker 9: Mayfield said during Super Bowl interviews that getting that offensive 593 00:29:11,280 --> 00:29:13,360 Speaker 9: coordinator in place, the fact that the guy he knows 594 00:29:13,400 --> 00:29:15,680 Speaker 9: in Liam Cohen, that was one of the big pieces 595 00:29:15,680 --> 00:29:18,880 Speaker 9: that had to be in place before he evaluates his situation. Now, 596 00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:21,200 Speaker 9: I've talked to a lot of people within the league, 597 00:29:21,240 --> 00:29:23,640 Speaker 9: other general managers who are trying to project this thing out. 598 00:29:23,920 --> 00:29:27,400 Speaker 9: They all believe Baker Mayfield ends up going back to Tampa. 599 00:29:27,440 --> 00:29:29,760 Speaker 9: If for no other reason then he's been on so 600 00:29:29,840 --> 00:29:33,040 Speaker 9: many teams from Cleveland, Carolina to LA to Tampa over 601 00:29:33,080 --> 00:29:35,560 Speaker 9: the past couple of years that up ending once again 602 00:29:35,600 --> 00:29:37,960 Speaker 9: and going to another new team probably isn't what he 603 00:29:38,040 --> 00:29:40,720 Speaker 9: really wants to do. I mean said that Dave Canalis 604 00:29:40,720 --> 00:29:43,440 Speaker 9: isn't there anymore? The guy had success with in Tampa 605 00:29:43,600 --> 00:29:46,040 Speaker 9: last year, he's now the Panthers head coach. 606 00:29:46,440 --> 00:29:47,920 Speaker 8: How much does that impact things? 607 00:29:47,960 --> 00:29:50,240 Speaker 9: And also remember this, okay, Liam Cohen worked with Baker 608 00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:52,040 Speaker 9: during that time that he's spent with LA a couple 609 00:29:52,040 --> 00:29:54,840 Speaker 9: of years ago. So did Zach Robinson, who's now the 610 00:29:54,840 --> 00:29:56,360 Speaker 9: Falcons offensive coordinator. 611 00:29:56,640 --> 00:29:58,320 Speaker 8: They have an acute quarterback feat. 612 00:29:58,360 --> 00:29:59,880 Speaker 9: I'm not saying that the Falcons are going to make 613 00:29:59,880 --> 00:30:02,600 Speaker 9: a run at this, but in the same division, if 614 00:30:02,640 --> 00:30:05,479 Speaker 9: they got involved, that's the type of thing that can 615 00:30:05,560 --> 00:30:06,760 Speaker 9: really make that price go up. 616 00:30:07,160 --> 00:30:09,600 Speaker 1: And Raheem Morris was the DC for the Rams when 617 00:30:09,640 --> 00:30:11,440 Speaker 1: Baker came in and played well at the end of 618 00:30:11,480 --> 00:30:13,200 Speaker 1: the season a couple of years ago too, so there's 619 00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:15,760 Speaker 1: that tie as well. Let's get back to the running 620 00:30:15,760 --> 00:30:18,800 Speaker 1: backs and potential franchise tag with Tony Pollard and Saquon 621 00:30:18,880 --> 00:30:22,400 Speaker 1: bark That would seem almost a steep for what both 622 00:30:22,440 --> 00:30:24,720 Speaker 1: teams got from those running backs last year. Even on 623 00:30:24,800 --> 00:30:28,720 Speaker 1: the tag, that would seem like a steep number for 624 00:30:28,960 --> 00:30:30,120 Speaker 1: both of those players. 625 00:30:30,120 --> 00:30:32,760 Speaker 4: Am I am? I kind of off base? 626 00:30:32,840 --> 00:30:35,400 Speaker 1: You're thinking that an eleven million dollars twelve thirteen million 627 00:30:35,440 --> 00:30:38,440 Speaker 1: dollar tag for both those guys is serviceable enough. 628 00:30:38,480 --> 00:30:43,080 Speaker 9: Again, the steepest tag actual would be for Josh Jacobs 629 00:30:43,120 --> 00:30:45,479 Speaker 9: in Las Vegas. That one could go to fourteen million 630 00:30:45,560 --> 00:30:49,719 Speaker 9: plus based upon the foundation upgrade contract a couple extra million. 631 00:30:50,120 --> 00:30:53,080 Speaker 9: Saquon and Tony Pollard played it essentially the base tag. 632 00:30:53,120 --> 00:30:54,240 Speaker 8: Barkley did a new deal. 633 00:30:54,440 --> 00:30:56,840 Speaker 9: They added like nine hundred and nine thousand dollars in incentives, 634 00:30:56,840 --> 00:30:59,280 Speaker 9: but they were all tied to team performance. When you're 635 00:30:59,400 --> 00:31:01,520 Speaker 9: the Giants and you lose your quarterback and you play 636 00:31:01,560 --> 00:31:02,360 Speaker 9: with Tommy DeVito and. 637 00:31:02,280 --> 00:31:04,320 Speaker 8: You win like six games, you're not hitting any of 638 00:31:04,320 --> 00:31:05,520 Speaker 8: those incentives. 639 00:31:05,560 --> 00:31:08,280 Speaker 9: So for Saquon, he's said many times he wants to 640 00:31:08,280 --> 00:31:11,640 Speaker 9: be a Giant for life. The Giants organization has a 641 00:31:11,640 --> 00:31:14,800 Speaker 9: great affinity for Saquon Barkley. John Marris certainly is in 642 00:31:14,840 --> 00:31:16,880 Speaker 9: that bucket as well. It would make a lot of 643 00:31:16,920 --> 00:31:18,320 Speaker 9: sense for them to try to get a deal done. 644 00:31:18,360 --> 00:31:21,040 Speaker 9: But remember last year, New York made multiple runs at this. 645 00:31:21,080 --> 00:31:23,080 Speaker 9: They did it before the startup Fur agency, before the 646 00:31:23,120 --> 00:31:27,880 Speaker 9: tag window. Last year, Saquon turned down a fairly substantial contract, 647 00:31:27,880 --> 00:31:30,840 Speaker 9: albeit within the context of running back contracts, so they 648 00:31:30,840 --> 00:31:33,880 Speaker 9: had to pivot tag Saquon and resign Daniel Jones to 649 00:31:33,880 --> 00:31:34,400 Speaker 9: an extension. 650 00:31:34,400 --> 00:31:34,720 Speaker 8: Again. 651 00:31:34,880 --> 00:31:38,040 Speaker 9: They made another push to resign Saquon d'uring the bye 652 00:31:38,080 --> 00:31:41,000 Speaker 9: week last year, again didn't end up doing it. So 653 00:31:41,560 --> 00:31:43,440 Speaker 9: all of that leads you to a situation now and 654 00:31:43,480 --> 00:31:46,120 Speaker 9: again before July as well. So several times they've tried 655 00:31:46,120 --> 00:31:48,720 Speaker 9: to make a run of getting something done with Saquon. 656 00:31:49,040 --> 00:31:52,160 Speaker 9: It hasn't worked out to this point. You would think though, 657 00:31:52,160 --> 00:31:54,560 Speaker 9: again they would like to get something done. The question 658 00:31:54,640 --> 00:31:55,600 Speaker 9: is going to be the number. And then when it 659 00:31:55,640 --> 00:31:58,560 Speaker 9: comes to Tony Pollard, obviously his numbers weren't great in 660 00:31:58,560 --> 00:32:01,400 Speaker 9: his first year as the back three point nine yards 661 00:32:01,400 --> 00:32:03,840 Speaker 9: per carry. I talked to Emmett Smith in an interview 662 00:32:04,040 --> 00:32:05,920 Speaker 9: during Super Bowl Week. I asked him, what would you 663 00:32:05,960 --> 00:32:09,240 Speaker 9: do with Tony Pollard? Emmittt said, I think you have 664 00:32:09,400 --> 00:32:12,880 Speaker 9: to resign him. His argument was, it is different being 665 00:32:12,880 --> 00:32:16,000 Speaker 9: the number one back versus the number two back. Cowboys also, 666 00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:18,960 Speaker 9: based on how they played offense, didn't necessarily always commit 667 00:32:19,360 --> 00:32:22,680 Speaker 9: to being a running football team, in Emmett's point of view, 668 00:32:22,720 --> 00:32:24,520 Speaker 9: and I respect that more than anything I'm going to 669 00:32:24,560 --> 00:32:25,080 Speaker 9: say on this show. 670 00:32:25,120 --> 00:32:26,000 Speaker 8: Let's be honest here. 671 00:32:26,200 --> 00:32:28,440 Speaker 9: He felt like there's more that they could unlock with 672 00:32:28,560 --> 00:32:31,360 Speaker 9: Tony Pollard moving forward, but tagging him again at twelve 673 00:32:31,440 --> 00:32:34,280 Speaker 9: million dollars plus to your point, Steve, that does seem right. 674 00:32:35,920 --> 00:32:38,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's a deep number, Tom p good stuff. Have 675 00:32:38,400 --> 00:32:42,280 Speaker 1: fun during franchise tax season, combine season. You two go 676 00:32:42,320 --> 00:32:45,200 Speaker 1: get a meal. I'm not saying it to what. We'll 677 00:32:45,200 --> 00:32:46,160 Speaker 1: break bread there too. 678 00:32:47,640 --> 00:32:52,080 Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, you have me. Tom's gonna dip. 679 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:53,800 Speaker 1: Out again too halfway because he got a more important 680 00:32:53,800 --> 00:32:55,640 Speaker 1: engagement again, JP, do take that. 681 00:32:55,840 --> 00:32:56,800 Speaker 3: That's probably what happened. 682 00:32:57,960 --> 00:33:01,120 Speaker 1: Can we come back on the NFL report. Caleb William's 683 00:33:01,160 --> 00:33:04,840 Speaker 1: the number one quarterback. We're about to talk about him 684 00:33:05,000 --> 00:33:09,040 Speaker 1: and others might not be, or maybe they are. 685 00:33:09,760 --> 00:33:12,640 Speaker 4: We're back on the NFL Report. 686 00:33:19,440 --> 00:33:22,400 Speaker 1: The top draft eligible players from historically black colleges and 687 00:33:22,480 --> 00:33:25,520 Speaker 1: universities put on the pads one last time to show 688 00:33:25,520 --> 00:33:26,960 Speaker 1: they're worthy of getting drafted. 689 00:33:27,480 --> 00:33:29,080 Speaker 4: The third annual. 690 00:33:28,800 --> 00:33:33,400 Speaker 1: All State HBCU Legacy Bowl Saturday at four pm Eastern, 691 00:33:33,880 --> 00:33:40,760 Speaker 1: exclusively on NFL Network and streaming on NFL Plus. Speaking 692 00:33:40,800 --> 00:33:44,040 Speaker 1: of the HBCU Legacy Bowl, Bucky Brooks, who now joins US, 693 00:33:44,080 --> 00:33:46,520 Speaker 1: will be on the call with me and Bucky and 694 00:33:46,560 --> 00:33:49,480 Speaker 1: I right now are at Tulane Stadium, about a third 695 00:33:49,720 --> 00:33:53,120 Speaker 1: fourteen away from one another in the press box here 696 00:33:54,200 --> 00:33:55,840 Speaker 1: Stadium at T Lane JB. 697 00:33:56,480 --> 00:33:56,960 Speaker 3: Bucky, B. 698 00:33:57,320 --> 00:33:59,960 Speaker 4: Appreciate you joining us. We're gonna get to some of. 699 00:33:59,880 --> 00:34:03,240 Speaker 1: The these HBCU players who are participating in practice this week. 700 00:34:03,760 --> 00:34:06,320 Speaker 1: In just a minute, there's the horn, kind of signaling 701 00:34:06,360 --> 00:34:07,240 Speaker 1: practice is over. 702 00:34:07,720 --> 00:34:11,719 Speaker 4: Well, Bucky, let's get to the overall draft class coming in. 703 00:34:11,800 --> 00:34:15,279 Speaker 1: Since we're in that window the NFL Draft combine starts soon, 704 00:34:15,760 --> 00:34:18,560 Speaker 1: we can just tell us overall about this draft class. 705 00:34:19,880 --> 00:34:22,839 Speaker 10: You know, Steve is a really solid draft class up 706 00:34:22,840 --> 00:34:25,000 Speaker 10: at the top of the board. Now, this would be 707 00:34:25,040 --> 00:34:27,080 Speaker 10: the first year where we see some of the I 708 00:34:27,080 --> 00:34:30,359 Speaker 10: would say, the negative effects of nil, some of the 709 00:34:30,360 --> 00:34:33,560 Speaker 10: COVID stuff where the draft is not as deep when 710 00:34:33,600 --> 00:34:36,200 Speaker 10: we get to Day three. But the first three rounds 711 00:34:36,200 --> 00:34:37,920 Speaker 10: should be loaded with players that can come in and 712 00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:41,319 Speaker 10: make contributions in those things. As it relates to positions 713 00:34:41,600 --> 00:34:44,520 Speaker 10: that are really loaded with talent, I would say the 714 00:34:44,600 --> 00:34:48,440 Speaker 10: quarterback position, you got solid prospects. You have a ton 715 00:34:48,960 --> 00:34:52,160 Speaker 10: of big time playmakers at wide receiver. Probably the deepest 716 00:34:52,440 --> 00:34:57,080 Speaker 10: position of the draft. Offensive line, particularly offensive tackle, is 717 00:34:57,120 --> 00:34:58,560 Speaker 10: loaded with playmakers and talent. 718 00:34:58,600 --> 00:35:00,600 Speaker 5: Where you can see a bunch of first round come 719 00:35:00,640 --> 00:35:01,360 Speaker 5: off the board. 720 00:35:01,600 --> 00:35:05,520 Speaker 10: On defense, you have a solid pass rushing class, like 721 00:35:05,560 --> 00:35:07,960 Speaker 10: you have guys that are intriguing, but it's not as 722 00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:11,680 Speaker 10: deep as past some past years. And then I would 723 00:35:11,719 --> 00:35:14,640 Speaker 10: say cornerback, you have a bunch of big cornerbacks, guys 724 00:35:14,680 --> 00:35:17,000 Speaker 10: that are over five ten, five or eleven that can 725 00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:19,440 Speaker 10: play the game, usize in a variety of techniques. 726 00:35:19,760 --> 00:35:22,399 Speaker 5: So you're in need of kind of what we call 727 00:35:22,920 --> 00:35:24,040 Speaker 5: the core positions. 728 00:35:24,280 --> 00:35:28,480 Speaker 10: You can find those guys passers, playmakers, pass protectors, hand 729 00:35:28,480 --> 00:35:31,080 Speaker 10: full of pass rushers, and then some defensive playmakers. 730 00:35:31,080 --> 00:35:33,600 Speaker 5: At corner you can get those guys. You just won't 731 00:35:33,600 --> 00:35:34,080 Speaker 5: find a. 732 00:35:34,000 --> 00:35:36,839 Speaker 10: Lot at running back, in linebacker. That's where you kind 733 00:35:36,840 --> 00:35:38,239 Speaker 10: of have to go shopping elsewhere. 734 00:35:39,760 --> 00:35:41,480 Speaker 2: Okay, I like it, I like it. We'll start with 735 00:35:41,480 --> 00:35:43,880 Speaker 2: the most important one. It's the quarterback spot bucket. And 736 00:35:43,920 --> 00:35:47,040 Speaker 2: this is not my Ohio State blood right here throwing 737 00:35:47,040 --> 00:35:49,560 Speaker 2: shade at JJ McCarthy and what he's done to my 738 00:35:49,640 --> 00:35:53,200 Speaker 2: team in the game. What I'm curious about is what 739 00:35:53,920 --> 00:35:56,040 Speaker 2: do you see in your evaluations in talking people in 740 00:35:56,080 --> 00:35:59,200 Speaker 2: terms of size and in terms of it just seems 741 00:35:59,200 --> 00:36:02,280 Speaker 2: like he hasn't had to be the guy in big moments. 742 00:36:03,040 --> 00:36:05,239 Speaker 3: The team's been brilliant around him. 743 00:36:05,680 --> 00:36:07,040 Speaker 2: Is that kind of I don't want to say a 744 00:36:07,120 --> 00:36:09,200 Speaker 2: knock on him, but when you haven't seen him have 745 00:36:09,360 --> 00:36:12,360 Speaker 2: to do that as much? What happens in your evaluation 746 00:36:12,520 --> 00:36:15,040 Speaker 2: process when you don't have a whole lot of examples 747 00:36:15,040 --> 00:36:15,480 Speaker 2: of that. 748 00:36:15,400 --> 00:36:16,480 Speaker 3: And you're going to need him to do it at 749 00:36:16,480 --> 00:36:17,120 Speaker 3: the next level. 750 00:36:18,400 --> 00:36:20,120 Speaker 10: Yeah, No, I mean, I think that's a very valid 751 00:36:20,160 --> 00:36:23,399 Speaker 10: concern to think about JJ McCarthy. The things that will 752 00:36:23,480 --> 00:36:27,200 Speaker 10: go well for him will be winning pet agree. He's 753 00:36:27,200 --> 00:36:29,319 Speaker 10: done it on a big stage on a ton of 754 00:36:29,360 --> 00:36:32,280 Speaker 10: games at Michigan. He'll go down maybe as the greatest 755 00:36:32,320 --> 00:36:34,600 Speaker 10: quarterback to ever play there, just based on how the 756 00:36:34,640 --> 00:36:35,600 Speaker 10: team succeeded. 757 00:36:35,880 --> 00:36:37,880 Speaker 5: He's been a guy that has just kind of managed the. 758 00:36:37,880 --> 00:36:40,000 Speaker 10: Team, driven the bus and found a way to get 759 00:36:40,000 --> 00:36:41,320 Speaker 10: the team into the winner circle. 760 00:36:41,520 --> 00:36:45,120 Speaker 5: But when you watch him play athletically, he's intriguing. 761 00:36:45,280 --> 00:36:47,920 Speaker 10: He can run the ball, he's a legitimate duel threat quarterback, 762 00:36:48,120 --> 00:36:52,080 Speaker 10: super athletic, has a strong arm and delivered deadly strikes 763 00:36:52,239 --> 00:36:55,319 Speaker 10: and those things. You just don't have a lot of 764 00:36:55,440 --> 00:36:58,080 Speaker 10: visual evidence on tape to say that he could be 765 00:36:58,120 --> 00:37:01,200 Speaker 10: the guy that is the drive for us of the offense. 766 00:37:01,560 --> 00:37:01,920 Speaker 3: That's it. 767 00:37:02,080 --> 00:37:04,279 Speaker 10: When I look at him, it reminds me a lot 768 00:37:04,280 --> 00:37:06,680 Speaker 10: of the same evaluation that I had with Justin Herbert. 769 00:37:07,000 --> 00:37:09,960 Speaker 10: Justin Herbert when he played at Oregon was not asked 770 00:37:09,960 --> 00:37:11,319 Speaker 10: to do a lot of stuff, played in the more 771 00:37:11,320 --> 00:37:13,600 Speaker 10: of a conservative offense, but then he gets to the 772 00:37:13,680 --> 00:37:17,480 Speaker 10: National Football League and flourishes. I think JJ McCarthy is 773 00:37:17,520 --> 00:37:20,799 Speaker 10: intriguing because people see the traits and the tools, They 774 00:37:20,800 --> 00:37:24,280 Speaker 10: see the athleticism, they see the strong arm, they recognize 775 00:37:24,320 --> 00:37:27,160 Speaker 10: and appreciate the intangibles. That's why he's going to be 776 00:37:27,200 --> 00:37:28,840 Speaker 10: a gutess of interest in the first round. 777 00:37:29,800 --> 00:37:32,799 Speaker 1: Wow, Bucky, sound like people evaluating some Dean Smith tar 778 00:37:32,960 --> 00:37:35,080 Speaker 1: heels back in the day because they had so many 779 00:37:35,160 --> 00:37:38,120 Speaker 1: good players. None of them were have to drive. But 780 00:37:39,120 --> 00:37:41,440 Speaker 1: you talked about how great this receiving classes. We know 781 00:37:41,480 --> 00:37:43,680 Speaker 1: how the very top there's Marvin Harrison Junior, who might 782 00:37:43,680 --> 00:37:44,839 Speaker 1: be the best player. 783 00:37:45,000 --> 00:37:46,680 Speaker 4: Overall in this draft. 784 00:37:46,960 --> 00:37:50,400 Speaker 1: What about the top end depth and what type of 785 00:37:50,600 --> 00:37:53,920 Speaker 1: players are these teams getting Because we've seen wide receivers 786 00:37:54,400 --> 00:37:56,600 Speaker 1: buck the norm over the past five or six years 787 00:37:56,640 --> 00:37:58,240 Speaker 1: and come in and have an immediate impact. 788 00:37:59,680 --> 00:38:02,319 Speaker 10: Yeah, I think what we're seeing is the byproduct of 789 00:38:02,320 --> 00:38:05,320 Speaker 10: what we call seven on seven culture. The wide receivers 790 00:38:05,320 --> 00:38:08,000 Speaker 10: that are entering the league now are more experienced, more 791 00:38:08,000 --> 00:38:10,440 Speaker 10: polished than they've ever been. Part of the reason is 792 00:38:10,440 --> 00:38:12,920 Speaker 10: because they're catching more balls, running more routes than they 793 00:38:12,960 --> 00:38:16,080 Speaker 10: ever have. From the time there and Pop Warner to 794 00:38:16,200 --> 00:38:19,680 Speaker 10: the time they graduate college, these guys have really played 795 00:38:19,680 --> 00:38:23,040 Speaker 10: football year round, and it manifests itself in guys like 796 00:38:23,280 --> 00:38:27,160 Speaker 10: Marvin Harrison Junior. Being a very polished player that comes 797 00:38:27,160 --> 00:38:30,000 Speaker 10: out reminds me a lot of Larry Fitzgerald in terms 798 00:38:30,040 --> 00:38:31,800 Speaker 10: of just guessing when you see him. He's a plug 799 00:38:31,800 --> 00:38:34,319 Speaker 10: and play pro. You can run rouse, he can catch 800 00:38:34,320 --> 00:38:36,839 Speaker 10: it over the middlefield. He has speed to burn. But 801 00:38:36,960 --> 00:38:40,279 Speaker 10: to me, he's a legitimate number one receiver because he 802 00:38:40,360 --> 00:38:43,800 Speaker 10: not only commands double coverage, but he can defeat cover coverage. 803 00:38:43,920 --> 00:38:46,680 Speaker 10: It's easy to envision him being the anchor of a 804 00:38:46,719 --> 00:38:50,920 Speaker 10: passing game, but it extends beyond him. Rome a Doonsday 805 00:38:51,239 --> 00:38:55,680 Speaker 10: from Washington is another guy that people are buzzing about, 806 00:38:55,880 --> 00:38:58,080 Speaker 10: and one of the reasons they're buzzing about the Washington 807 00:38:58,160 --> 00:39:01,439 Speaker 10: standout is because he's big, he's physical, does a great 808 00:39:01,480 --> 00:39:04,080 Speaker 10: job of catching the ball in his hands. He wins 809 00:39:04,120 --> 00:39:06,920 Speaker 10: the fifty to fifty balls and really, when you watch him, 810 00:39:07,200 --> 00:39:11,319 Speaker 10: he reminds me a lot of Jamar Chase, physical imposing 811 00:39:11,400 --> 00:39:15,400 Speaker 10: presence even though he doesn't have I would say superior size. 812 00:39:15,560 --> 00:39:19,160 Speaker 10: He plays with a rugged game that means he's gonna win, 813 00:39:19,200 --> 00:39:21,520 Speaker 10: and he's gonna win a ton on the perimeter. And 814 00:39:21,560 --> 00:39:23,440 Speaker 10: the last guy we got to talk about is Lsu 815 00:39:23,480 --> 00:39:27,719 Speaker 10: Standout Molik Neighbors just a total package. Can catch it, 816 00:39:28,000 --> 00:39:31,200 Speaker 10: run and catch specialists and separate, does a great job 817 00:39:31,239 --> 00:39:34,320 Speaker 10: of making things happen. And even though like he shared 818 00:39:34,320 --> 00:39:37,480 Speaker 10: the marquee with another talented player, he is another guy 819 00:39:37,520 --> 00:39:41,040 Speaker 10: that is ready to roll. These three players will vie 820 00:39:41,080 --> 00:39:44,120 Speaker 10: for the number one spot. Even though we've talked about 821 00:39:44,320 --> 00:39:47,680 Speaker 10: Marvin Harrison Junior being the number one, these other guys 822 00:39:47,680 --> 00:39:49,520 Speaker 10: would get him a run for their money because I 823 00:39:49,560 --> 00:39:52,520 Speaker 10: think it comes down to ice cream shops. What kind 824 00:39:52,520 --> 00:39:54,880 Speaker 10: of flavors do you like to go in your favorite 825 00:39:54,920 --> 00:39:57,560 Speaker 10: waffle cone. These guys bring a lot to the table. 826 00:39:57,640 --> 00:40:00,279 Speaker 10: That's why so much how many people are buzzing about. 827 00:40:02,040 --> 00:40:03,280 Speaker 3: I love the analogy buckets. 828 00:40:03,280 --> 00:40:05,359 Speaker 2: I want to use it for what Terry Fontineau told 829 00:40:05,400 --> 00:40:08,000 Speaker 2: us on this show last week. He was on with 830 00:40:08,080 --> 00:40:11,480 Speaker 2: us and said, they're really excited about the round two, 831 00:40:11,800 --> 00:40:14,920 Speaker 2: round three picks that they have because he believes that 832 00:40:15,200 --> 00:40:18,040 Speaker 2: group right there, you have the ability to find a 833 00:40:18,080 --> 00:40:21,080 Speaker 2: lot of talent in different spots. I'm curious if maybe 834 00:40:21,080 --> 00:40:23,000 Speaker 2: you could read into what he's saying. We don't know 835 00:40:23,040 --> 00:40:24,640 Speaker 2: how the draft is going to fall by then, right, 836 00:40:24,640 --> 00:40:26,680 Speaker 2: it always can kind of fall and there's runs at 837 00:40:26,680 --> 00:40:29,319 Speaker 2: different spots. But maybe in that could you kind of 838 00:40:29,480 --> 00:40:32,520 Speaker 2: maybe with what you've looked at round two, round three, 839 00:40:32,600 --> 00:40:35,640 Speaker 2: what's he talking about of what maybe value you can 840 00:40:35,640 --> 00:40:36,160 Speaker 2: find there? 841 00:40:37,440 --> 00:40:39,719 Speaker 10: Well, I mean, like I don't necessarily think that the 842 00:40:39,719 --> 00:40:42,280 Speaker 10: Atlanta Falcons and the wide receivers, but we have seen 843 00:40:42,719 --> 00:40:45,400 Speaker 10: in recent years wide receivers come from every round of 844 00:40:45,440 --> 00:40:48,279 Speaker 10: the draft and have an immediate impact. Everybody would talk 845 00:40:48,320 --> 00:40:51,240 Speaker 10: about Fuku Nakua, but let's just talk about the impact 846 00:40:51,280 --> 00:40:54,520 Speaker 10: that Tank Dale was having the Houston Texas when he 847 00:40:54,640 --> 00:40:57,080 Speaker 10: jumped out and made a ton of plays. There are 848 00:40:57,120 --> 00:41:00,719 Speaker 10: more of those kinds of players were supplying to me. Look, 849 00:41:00,760 --> 00:41:04,240 Speaker 10: the supply is overwhelming when it comes to the wide 850 00:41:04,239 --> 00:41:07,400 Speaker 10: receiver position, but it also would be an opportunity for 851 00:41:07,520 --> 00:41:10,560 Speaker 10: teams to look at offensive tackles and if you need 852 00:41:10,600 --> 00:41:12,840 Speaker 10: to fortify the offensive line, there are a bunch of 853 00:41:12,960 --> 00:41:15,960 Speaker 10: intriguing players that can come off the board. We always 854 00:41:16,000 --> 00:41:19,760 Speaker 10: talk about the first rounders, but look, man, there's an 855 00:41:19,880 --> 00:41:25,040 Speaker 10: offensive tackle class of Joe aut Tullis Fuaga, Amarius Men, 856 00:41:25,200 --> 00:41:29,920 Speaker 10: JC Latham, troy Na that are going to be available 857 00:41:30,160 --> 00:41:31,880 Speaker 10: at the bottom of the first round, top of the 858 00:41:31,880 --> 00:41:34,280 Speaker 10: second round, so you can get some of those these 859 00:41:34,320 --> 00:41:36,920 Speaker 10: feel and also on the interior, because as I'm thinking 860 00:41:36,920 --> 00:41:39,239 Speaker 10: about the Atlanta Facons, I think really the main thing 861 00:41:39,400 --> 00:41:43,080 Speaker 10: is them fixing quarterback and continue to upgrade. 862 00:41:42,760 --> 00:41:43,760 Speaker 5: The offensive line. 863 00:41:44,000 --> 00:41:48,400 Speaker 10: Ram Barton, Jackson, Powers, Johnson Hooper, BB, Chris Haynes. There 864 00:41:48,400 --> 00:41:51,000 Speaker 10: are a lot of players on the offensive side of 865 00:41:51,000 --> 00:41:53,560 Speaker 10: the ball that are available in the second and third 866 00:41:53,640 --> 00:41:55,960 Speaker 10: rounds that'll be able to come in and get you starters. 867 00:41:56,160 --> 00:41:58,759 Speaker 10: And then if we talk about, like literally I talk 868 00:41:58,800 --> 00:42:02,280 Speaker 10: about the draft nine being plentiful in terms of running 869 00:42:02,320 --> 00:42:05,080 Speaker 10: backs and linebackers, but that's where those guys are gonna 870 00:42:05,080 --> 00:42:05,760 Speaker 10: come off the board. 871 00:42:05,960 --> 00:42:08,320 Speaker 5: We have a namesake in Jeremiah Trodde Junior. 872 00:42:08,480 --> 00:42:11,839 Speaker 10: There will be a nice fit second, third round instinctive 873 00:42:12,040 --> 00:42:14,960 Speaker 10: active in those things. I think the reason why general 874 00:42:14,960 --> 00:42:17,640 Speaker 10: managers get excited is because they know if I don't 875 00:42:17,640 --> 00:42:19,839 Speaker 10: want to expand the first round pick, there are some 876 00:42:19,880 --> 00:42:21,799 Speaker 10: positions that I can talken in the second and third 877 00:42:21,880 --> 00:42:23,680 Speaker 10: rounds and really upgrade my roster. 878 00:42:24,200 --> 00:42:26,160 Speaker 1: All right, but we're talking about some day two, day 879 00:42:26,200 --> 00:42:29,239 Speaker 1: three guys. We are here at the HPCU Legacy Ball. 880 00:42:29,760 --> 00:42:32,040 Speaker 1: The first day of the full practice is just wrapped 881 00:42:32,120 --> 00:42:36,120 Speaker 1: up here at Tulane University. Team Robinson, players made up 882 00:42:36,160 --> 00:42:38,760 Speaker 1: from the Swack and the Ssayak just finish their drills. 883 00:42:39,239 --> 00:42:42,320 Speaker 1: But later on it be Team Gaither and their quarterback 884 00:42:42,640 --> 00:42:45,560 Speaker 1: Davius Richard from North Carolina Central. 885 00:42:46,320 --> 00:42:48,520 Speaker 4: Is that, dude? Do you tie me a heck Player 886 00:42:48,560 --> 00:42:51,200 Speaker 4: of the year, A great runner, a great thrower. He 887 00:42:51,280 --> 00:42:52,600 Speaker 4: blew up the combine. 888 00:42:53,200 --> 00:42:55,839 Speaker 1: What about a player like him who is so accomplished 889 00:42:56,280 --> 00:42:59,839 Speaker 1: at this level, who has all the physical specs about 890 00:43:00,120 --> 00:43:03,040 Speaker 1: him getting into a camp and getting a shot, especially 891 00:43:03,040 --> 00:43:04,440 Speaker 1: with the duality he poses. 892 00:43:05,680 --> 00:43:07,040 Speaker 5: Yeah, I think this year. 893 00:43:08,280 --> 00:43:10,279 Speaker 10: I mean look even previous years, like last year we 894 00:43:10,320 --> 00:43:12,839 Speaker 10: saw as a Shawn Clifford go in the fifth round 895 00:43:13,280 --> 00:43:17,120 Speaker 10: and dtr during Thompson Robinson going the fifth round and 896 00:43:17,160 --> 00:43:19,640 Speaker 10: have an opportunity to play. I think teams are kind 897 00:43:19,680 --> 00:43:21,600 Speaker 10: of getting hip to the fact that you need to 898 00:43:21,600 --> 00:43:24,440 Speaker 10: continue to take quarterbacks just due to the nature of 899 00:43:24,480 --> 00:43:27,960 Speaker 10: the position, the value of the position, and the injury 900 00:43:28,000 --> 00:43:29,560 Speaker 10: situations that we see in the position. 901 00:43:29,760 --> 00:43:31,480 Speaker 5: You need to have a bunch of guys in the stable. 902 00:43:31,640 --> 00:43:34,480 Speaker 10: When you talk about Davis Richard, one of the things 903 00:43:34,480 --> 00:43:38,520 Speaker 10: that will intrigue teams about him is the spectacular playmaking 904 00:43:38,600 --> 00:43:41,440 Speaker 10: ability that he possesses, not only as a thrower but 905 00:43:41,520 --> 00:43:44,120 Speaker 10: as a dynamic runner. When you watched him at n 906 00:43:44,160 --> 00:43:46,920 Speaker 10: C Central, he made plays. He had the ability to 907 00:43:46,920 --> 00:43:50,040 Speaker 10: put this offense on his back. People will need to 908 00:43:50,040 --> 00:43:53,160 Speaker 10: look no further than the Celebration Bowl a year ago 909 00:43:53,200 --> 00:43:56,399 Speaker 10: when he knocked off Coach Primes undefeated Jackson State team 910 00:43:56,680 --> 00:43:59,200 Speaker 10: and did it in splendid fashion. This is a big 911 00:43:59,200 --> 00:44:02,120 Speaker 10: time playmaker. And the thing that I like about him, Steve, 912 00:44:02,160 --> 00:44:03,879 Speaker 10: is when we had an opportunity to talk to him 913 00:44:04,160 --> 00:44:08,560 Speaker 10: after the combine, the ability to articulate and to really 914 00:44:09,560 --> 00:44:12,040 Speaker 10: explain the wise behind. 915 00:44:11,800 --> 00:44:13,120 Speaker 5: What he does on the field. 916 00:44:13,400 --> 00:44:16,400 Speaker 10: To me, that is valuable because when you talk to teams, 917 00:44:16,640 --> 00:44:19,640 Speaker 10: they want guys that can take board the information from 918 00:44:19,640 --> 00:44:21,080 Speaker 10: the board to the field. 919 00:44:21,480 --> 00:44:23,520 Speaker 5: Richard is one of those except one of those guys 920 00:44:23,520 --> 00:44:24,040 Speaker 5: that can do that. 921 00:44:26,080 --> 00:44:28,080 Speaker 2: But when you've seen quarterbacks over the last couple of 922 00:44:28,160 --> 00:44:30,359 Speaker 2: years come out and Brock perty's one that jumps out 923 00:44:30,360 --> 00:44:33,240 Speaker 2: obviously with everything he's done, but experience, right, you've played 924 00:44:33,280 --> 00:44:35,279 Speaker 2: those snaps in the game, and now it seems like 925 00:44:35,520 --> 00:44:36,680 Speaker 2: teams are seeing that. 926 00:44:36,840 --> 00:44:38,839 Speaker 3: You know, it's important to almost go up. 927 00:44:39,000 --> 00:44:40,879 Speaker 2: I have to finish with this because this is what 928 00:44:40,960 --> 00:44:43,120 Speaker 2: Steve and I show is about. It's about offensive linemen 929 00:44:43,320 --> 00:44:45,600 Speaker 2: and it's about the nickel corner position. For some reason, 930 00:44:45,640 --> 00:44:47,920 Speaker 2: we talk about those two more than anything else on 931 00:44:47,960 --> 00:44:52,040 Speaker 2: this show. Have you seen in team's evaluations, Buck, over 932 00:44:52,080 --> 00:44:54,920 Speaker 2: the last couple of years the way that nickel spot 933 00:44:55,120 --> 00:44:58,319 Speaker 2: has become more and more important to finding that on 934 00:44:58,360 --> 00:45:00,880 Speaker 2: your defensive side of the ball? Trent Duffee, obviously, what 935 00:45:00,960 --> 00:45:03,000 Speaker 2: he did with the Super Bowl champs just jumps out 936 00:45:03,000 --> 00:45:05,560 Speaker 2: of us. You know, repeatedly, What have you seen in 937 00:45:05,600 --> 00:45:08,080 Speaker 2: terms of the evaluations and the importance of finding that 938 00:45:08,120 --> 00:45:09,920 Speaker 2: spot over the last couple of drafts? 939 00:45:11,280 --> 00:45:14,040 Speaker 5: Yeah, so I think it's been changing for a while. 940 00:45:14,520 --> 00:45:19,320 Speaker 10: It's become now where teams consider defenses to have twelve starters, 941 00:45:19,400 --> 00:45:22,960 Speaker 10: and that nickel corner is considered a starter. And it's 942 00:45:23,000 --> 00:45:25,680 Speaker 10: not only considered a starter, but now you're scouting for 943 00:45:25,800 --> 00:45:29,239 Speaker 10: play a specific set of skills to play at the 944 00:45:29,320 --> 00:45:32,160 Speaker 10: nickel position, because when you're playing nickel corner, I want 945 00:45:32,200 --> 00:45:35,920 Speaker 10: people to understand back in the day, the nickel used 946 00:45:35,920 --> 00:45:38,759 Speaker 10: to be your best corner, because what you're asking them 947 00:45:38,800 --> 00:45:39,799 Speaker 10: to do is to be. 948 00:45:39,760 --> 00:45:40,640 Speaker 5: A hybrid player. 949 00:45:40,880 --> 00:45:44,720 Speaker 10: He's a hybrid linebacker slash defensive back who is tasked 950 00:45:44,719 --> 00:45:50,600 Speaker 10: with being assigned to sometimes the slipperiest wide receiver, but 951 00:45:50,760 --> 00:45:53,880 Speaker 10: also being factored into the running game. So guys need 952 00:45:53,920 --> 00:45:55,719 Speaker 10: to tackle well, they need to have quickness to be 953 00:45:55,760 --> 00:45:58,000 Speaker 10: able to shadow in space, they need to be high 954 00:45:58,040 --> 00:46:00,160 Speaker 10: IQ guys because you ask them to do a lot 955 00:46:00,160 --> 00:46:03,640 Speaker 10: of things at that position, and if they have pass 956 00:46:03,719 --> 00:46:05,640 Speaker 10: for a skills where they can blitz off the edge, 957 00:46:05,920 --> 00:46:08,600 Speaker 10: it really makes them a very valuable commodity. So when 958 00:46:08,640 --> 00:46:10,960 Speaker 10: you talk about guys like Trent McDuffie and the work 959 00:46:11,000 --> 00:46:12,800 Speaker 10: that he was able to do last year for the 960 00:46:12,880 --> 00:46:15,440 Speaker 10: Kansas City Chiefs, people are going to look at that 961 00:46:15,560 --> 00:46:18,440 Speaker 10: and they want players who can kind of impact the 962 00:46:18,480 --> 00:46:20,759 Speaker 10: game in a variety of ways. I just think it's 963 00:46:20,760 --> 00:46:23,080 Speaker 10: the nature of the way the NFL is going. You're 964 00:46:23,080 --> 00:46:26,239 Speaker 10: seeing teams blitz more, You're seeing teams play more man 965 00:46:26,239 --> 00:46:28,759 Speaker 10: to man, and you continue to see the evolution of 966 00:46:28,800 --> 00:46:33,400 Speaker 10: the defense where you having positionless players manning multiple spots. 967 00:46:33,719 --> 00:46:35,960 Speaker 10: The nickel position is that spot that has really become 968 00:46:36,280 --> 00:46:40,840 Speaker 10: a huge position for championship caliber defense. 969 00:46:42,320 --> 00:46:42,520 Speaker 3: Love. 970 00:46:42,600 --> 00:46:44,600 Speaker 2: I don't know, Buck, I don't know how many guys 971 00:46:44,640 --> 00:46:45,400 Speaker 2: that play that spot. 972 00:46:45,400 --> 00:46:46,839 Speaker 3: Steve and I have had on the show this year. 973 00:46:47,080 --> 00:46:49,480 Speaker 2: I might be half a dozen of those guys, Kenny 974 00:46:49,480 --> 00:46:52,160 Speaker 2: Moore and a couple of those guys that have been 975 00:46:52,160 --> 00:46:54,960 Speaker 2: on the show, and we've absolutely loved chatting with them 976 00:46:54,960 --> 00:46:56,680 Speaker 2: about the position. You know it so well and you 977 00:46:56,680 --> 00:46:59,120 Speaker 2: broke it down brilliantly. Listen, we stole Bucking from moved 978 00:46:59,160 --> 00:47:01,759 Speaker 2: the sticks for our but make sure you keep an 979 00:47:01,800 --> 00:47:04,439 Speaker 2: eye listening to him and Daniel Jeremiah throughout this entire 980 00:47:05,440 --> 00:47:08,160 Speaker 2: draft off season or for in season, for you, off 981 00:47:08,200 --> 00:47:08,799 Speaker 2: season for me. 982 00:47:08,840 --> 00:47:11,480 Speaker 3: But I appreciate it, man, Please can join us. 983 00:47:11,680 --> 00:47:14,759 Speaker 2: Again before this draft rolls around on the NFL report, Buck, 984 00:47:14,800 --> 00:47:15,839 Speaker 2: awesome stuff, Thank you. 985 00:47:16,520 --> 00:47:17,560 Speaker 5: Hey man, thanks for having me. 986 00:47:18,280 --> 00:47:21,719 Speaker 3: All right. Coming up, Matthew Slater announces his retirement. 987 00:47:21,800 --> 00:47:25,360 Speaker 2: Can a man with one NFL reception as a wide 988 00:47:25,400 --> 00:47:27,280 Speaker 2: receiver make it to the Hall of Fame. 989 00:47:28,080 --> 00:47:31,280 Speaker 3: We're going to debate that next on the NFL Report. 990 00:47:36,280 --> 00:47:38,960 Speaker 1: You're listening to the NFL Report podcast, but you can 991 00:47:39,040 --> 00:47:41,680 Speaker 1: watch me, Steve Weich and my co host James Palmer 992 00:47:41,920 --> 00:47:45,400 Speaker 1: on The NFL Report at seven fifteen Eastern Time on 993 00:47:45,480 --> 00:47:48,920 Speaker 1: Mondays and Thursdays on the NFL App and free streaming 994 00:47:49,000 --> 00:47:52,560 Speaker 1: platforms on the NFL channel on Roku two b Peacock, 995 00:47:52,760 --> 00:47:55,480 Speaker 1: Pluto TV and other free streaming apps. 996 00:47:59,520 --> 00:48:02,040 Speaker 2: Welcome back to the NFL Reporters. We close things out. 997 00:48:02,120 --> 00:48:04,960 Speaker 2: James Palmer, Steve Whtch with you alongside Tom Brady and 998 00:48:05,040 --> 00:48:11,560 Speaker 2: a recently retired Matthew Slater. The Special Team's Extraordinary for 999 00:48:11,640 --> 00:48:14,320 Speaker 2: the New England Patriots. Brady's saying the best teammate and 1000 00:48:14,480 --> 00:48:19,399 Speaker 2: even better man, Congratulations on the perfect career. A ten 1001 00:48:19,560 --> 00:48:23,160 Speaker 2: time Pro bowler, Steve, two time All Pro who had 1002 00:48:23,239 --> 00:48:26,480 Speaker 2: eight career targets. He's listed on your roster as a 1003 00:48:26,520 --> 00:48:30,640 Speaker 2: wide receiver, but eight targets in his whole career one catch. 1004 00:48:31,239 --> 00:48:33,560 Speaker 2: You know so much about the Hall of Fame? Does 1005 00:48:33,600 --> 00:48:35,240 Speaker 2: Matthew Slater get into Canton. 1006 00:48:36,040 --> 00:48:38,520 Speaker 1: This is gonna be real interesting because, look, Devin Hester's 1007 00:48:38,600 --> 00:48:40,480 Speaker 1: going in as a member of the Class of twenty 1008 00:48:40,560 --> 00:48:41,120 Speaker 1: twenty four. 1009 00:48:41,560 --> 00:48:43,040 Speaker 4: He's the greatest returner ever. 1010 00:48:43,440 --> 00:48:45,680 Speaker 1: We have two of the greatest kickers John Stenenrud and 1011 00:48:45,680 --> 00:48:49,160 Speaker 1: Morgan Anderson in the game in the Hall, the greatest 1012 00:48:49,160 --> 00:48:53,000 Speaker 1: punter ever, and Ray guy in the Hall. Got what 1013 00:48:53,120 --> 00:48:55,839 Speaker 1: about one of the best coverage guys, blocker setup men 1014 00:48:55,920 --> 00:49:00,600 Speaker 1: ever in Matthew Slater. Interesting because Steve Tasker, the legend 1015 00:49:00,640 --> 00:49:03,799 Speaker 1: of the Buffalo Bills. People have been clamoring for him 1016 00:49:03,800 --> 00:49:06,040 Speaker 1: to get in for more than a decade. Do you 1017 00:49:06,120 --> 00:49:08,800 Speaker 1: put Matthew Slater, who you see right here. You know 1018 00:49:08,840 --> 00:49:11,160 Speaker 1: how hard this is to pick somebody up on the 1019 00:49:11,239 --> 00:49:14,479 Speaker 1: run as you see him on that type of play. 1020 00:49:14,520 --> 00:49:17,279 Speaker 1: Does he get in before Steve Pasker? This is going 1021 00:49:17,320 --> 00:49:21,000 Speaker 1: to be a very interesting debate becaus Matthew Slater is 1022 00:49:21,120 --> 00:49:24,759 Speaker 1: far more decorated as a special teamer than any non 1023 00:49:24,920 --> 00:49:29,080 Speaker 1: returner or punter or kicker to get into the Hall JP. 1024 00:49:30,239 --> 00:49:32,239 Speaker 2: And Steve, I'll throw this on his resume as well 1025 00:49:32,280 --> 00:49:34,520 Speaker 2: real quick, and I've talked to people in New England 1026 00:49:34,520 --> 00:49:38,120 Speaker 2: about this. His role in the Second Dynasty Essentially, the 1027 00:49:38,120 --> 00:49:41,839 Speaker 2: Patriots have is massive, a special teams player that took 1028 00:49:42,040 --> 00:49:45,959 Speaker 2: the attention to detail in operating, in coverage and kick 1029 00:49:46,000 --> 00:49:49,200 Speaker 2: return to all those aspects added to the attention to 1030 00:49:49,280 --> 00:49:52,359 Speaker 2: detail in the culture that Bill Belichick created there. If 1031 00:49:52,360 --> 00:49:54,080 Speaker 2: you talk to people in that building, they will tell 1032 00:49:54,120 --> 00:49:56,680 Speaker 2: you he played a far bigger role than people outside 1033 00:49:56,880 --> 00:50:01,480 Speaker 2: the Boston area understand in how that dynasty was developed. 1034 00:50:01,480 --> 00:50:04,040 Speaker 2: It was Teddy Bruski that handed the baton essentially to 1035 00:50:04,120 --> 00:50:07,239 Speaker 2: Matthew Slater. How crazy is that? A special team or 1036 00:50:07,440 --> 00:50:12,200 Speaker 2: an unbelievable career. Remember our time has changed, Steve by 1037 00:50:12,400 --> 00:50:14,960 Speaker 2: fifteen minutes, so don't miss the first team fifteen minutes 1038 00:50:14,960 --> 00:50:18,480 Speaker 2: of the show. We are remember Mondays and Thursdays, seven 1039 00:50:18,680 --> 00:50:22,120 Speaker 2: o'clock on the NFL channel that's on Roku and twob 1040 00:50:22,440 --> 00:50:25,000 Speaker 2: and Peacock and everywhere, and then all later it'll be 1041 00:50:25,080 --> 00:50:25,719 Speaker 2: on YouTube. 1042 00:50:26,040 --> 00:50:28,120 Speaker 3: Steve, the picture still looks great. The time's just a 1043 00:50:28,120 --> 00:50:28,840 Speaker 3: little bit different. 1044 00:50:29,280 --> 00:50:31,480 Speaker 1: Times are a bit different, and we're still a podcast 1045 00:50:31,520 --> 00:50:34,200 Speaker 1: that you can listen to whenever, when you're out walking 1046 00:50:34,239 --> 00:50:36,839 Speaker 1: your dog, when you're up on the slopes, when you're 1047 00:50:36,840 --> 00:50:41,239 Speaker 1: watching the NFL combine, next week, your Thursday JP