36 Nuggets from Indianapolis, plus Bears GM Ryan Poles and Raiders GM Jon Spytek Join the Show!

00:00:04
Speaker 1: Welcome to NFL Daily, where we're all gonna try to stay upright on this show. I'm Greg Rosenthal here with Jordan Rodrigue, and we have breaking news from the Indianapolis Convention Center. Jordan took a little bit of a spill just a few moments ago, just feet away from Nick Sirianni on live television.

00:00:27
Speaker 2: Unfortunately, it's killing me.

00:00:29
Speaker 1: I didn't really see it as it was happening, But just talk me through what was going through your mind as it was happening.

00:00:35
Speaker 3: You've never wanted to You've never wished you had seen something more than when instead of listen, instead of running over to try to help me up, like our wonderful producers, camera people, audio guys did to run everyone ran over to try to help me up.

00:00:54
Speaker 4: Yak turns around and says, I wish I would have seen that.

00:00:58
Speaker 1: Yeah, well, you know, I'm a little guy on a eye chair. It's a long way down for me to get down and help you there. But thankfully Jordan's okay. No twisted ankles helped a little pride, But hey, there's a lot going on. There's a lot of people here, there's a lot of coaches here, there's a lot of gms here. It feels like Groundhog Day. We have done these Tuesdays at the Scouting Combine for years and it's still going. For some reason, they've really kind of man spread the press conferences throughout the day, and there's coaches that are still going up up to up until five thirty, but for the most part, like forty five of the fifty have gone up.

00:01:36
Speaker 2: And what we're gonna do.

00:01:37
Speaker 1: We're gonna go through a ton of items and news before a couple great interviews with two return guests, Bears General Manager Ryan Poles and Raiders General manager John Spytek. We have some other great interviews that you're gonna hear throughout the course of the week, Brandon Bean of the Bills, Omar Khan, the GM of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and then the Panthers brain trust. We might have some more coming up this week, but today there's so much news we kind of wanted to have news forward, so it's a challenge for us.

00:02:07
Speaker 2: Jordan.

00:02:07
Speaker 1: It's one of my favorite news days of the year because it's not a ton of screaming news, but it's a lot of just little items that push us in the direction of figuring out how these teams are going to be constructed this year. And I'm going to start with the most surprising one of the day, which came out just before we started taping, that Trent Williams could be a free agent now could be is doing a lot of work here. The report comes from Adam Schefter of ESPN, But basically, Trent Williams and the forty nine ers are in a surprising contract standoff. He has a huge cap number that they want to lower. They can't agree on a contract, and at this point at least someone is saying that Trent Williams could be on the free agent list, which makes me wonder where would he go. That's for me to think about. While you tell me where you think this is coming from.

00:02:54
Speaker 3: I mean, I think this one's hard to tell because if it's the team that put it out, then the team is saying is making a statement publicly, Hey, this is if this happens.

00:03:03
Speaker 4: This is why.

00:03:05
Speaker 3: If it's coming from Trent Williams's camp, that's even more interesting to me because that's immediately saying we're open for business in a week where a lot of stuff happens in behind closed doors and a lot of these conversations happen, but it's not legal yet, right, So that's them. If that is coming from them, that's that's basically.

00:03:22
Speaker 1: Saying, hell, it's a leaky ship over there. With San Francisco, they talk a lot. But I would imagine for this to get to the point where you report on it, you're probably even checking with your people on both sides.

00:03:33
Speaker 3: And yeah, drama, drama, drama off the top of mind to your point, because you asked, Hey, who could be a team? Like, who would want any pretty much anyone? And yes, the number is the number he would sign up would be huge and that.

00:03:47
Speaker 4: Whole hurdle would have to be worked out.

00:03:49
Speaker 3: But I am of the firm opinion that as long as Tren Williams wants to be playing football, any team, even even with a question mark at left tackle, even coming back from injury at left tackle. We're going to hear from a guy later in the show that was really aggressive trying to fix the offensive line. Any team that needs a left tackle would go after him aggressive.

00:04:12
Speaker 1: You're talking about Ryan Poles, who is going to need a left tackle, by the way, Yeah, interesting, I was also thinking about John Spytek, who's on the show because he has one hundred million dollars in cap space and a team that wants to do short money for a guy that to me, it's risky to say this, but is a first ballot Hall of Famer and maybe didn't have his very best season this year, is getting older, so the contract's a little tricky for the team that he plays for. But he could get a short term deal. And when I look at my list of free agents, I'm not sure where he'll land, but it's certainly in the top twelve. It doesn't you know, it might be in the top five. I have to think more about it. We don't need to do that on this show. But he would be one of the premier free agents and would be the top tackle. The Texans had some interesting sound throughout the day, lots of you know, drips and drabs of interesting things about the Technans. But number one was I thought, how strong Nick Cassario, their general manager, was talking about CJ. Fratt Stroud's future with the team.

00:05:09
Speaker 5: Yeah, he's our quarterback. He ain't going anywhere. We have a lot of confidence, a lot of belief. I mean, i'd say the philosophy of Dimique and I have. We're gonna support our players and do everything we can to kind of help them. And this leads about ups and downs. I mean nothing's perfect. I mean there's no team that was undfeed unless I missed them this year, so that's not going to happen.

00:05:26
Speaker 2: I just like how clear Casario was.

00:05:31
Speaker 1: Perhaps it was unfounded speculation that got this in the in the ethosphere.

00:05:37
Speaker 2: I don't really know. That's not even a word. I'm just making things up.

00:05:40
Speaker 1: But I do like to know that that CJ is not going anywhere, and they were really strong about it.

00:05:49
Speaker 3: Does that and John McClain doesn't have to run down the street that's the big news, completely naked, no, this This is not surprising to me or probably many people at all.

00:06:00
Speaker 4: I do think it was interesting that well.

00:06:02
Speaker 3: I think a lot of this is media driven right this particular scenario, and I think a lot of it's because a.

00:06:07
Speaker 4: Lot of people would love to see c J.

00:06:09
Speaker 3: Stroud on their football team and their preferred football team. So chatter starts to gain in crescendo at that point because this never made any sense at all, and it also is something that's important for him and his camp to hear. Even if they're being told behind closed doors that this is never going to happen. It's really important for a young player coming off of a real shot to his confidence at the end of the season that this team still believes in him so.

00:06:34
Speaker 4: Robustly he's going through it.

00:06:36
Speaker 1: He just made a speech which you can find online at a charity kind of a religious and charity event, where he said, I'm gonna talk right now about suffering, and he had a couple of minutes speech it's worth listening to about what it's like to suffer, and he referred exactly to the playoff game. But I just liked, as a Stroud fan hearing he is not going anywhere. And there are different levels of denial of stories like this. This is the type of denial that you have that there's absolutely nothing to it. And it's a reminder that quote unquote league sources people around the league often don't know what the hell they're talking about, because I don't doubt that it came from anywhere. But a lot of these stories on every outlet are like, well, a lot of the you know, league executives around the league are talking about this is what they're gonna think is gonna happen. It's like, Yeah, a lot of people talk about things they think they're gonna happen that they don't have any clue about. And just because you have a good job in the NFL doesn't mean you have any better idea. And so I liked hearing this. I also thought it was interesting. Casario said he thought that the offensive line played pretty well last year, that maybe he watched different film than the people that were asking the question, saying, you know, talking about their struggles. Just interesting. Also, Aaron Wilson from that local market says they're expected to cut Joe Mixon. Not surprising there, but a little juice here that he believes. Aaron Wilson does that they are going big quote unquote on the running back market, and frankly, I think there's only two names that would qualify there at least of free agents that are available, and that would be Travis Yten or maybe even more likely Kenneth Walker.

00:08:10
Speaker 2: How about that.

00:08:11
Speaker 3: I think that a zone running team such as the one that Nick Kyley would like to deploy in this offense with a tandem when Woody Marks is back and can be in tandem with a really like someone who runs the zone run scheme more gorgeously than I think a lot of people have ever done it, just the artistry.

00:08:34
Speaker 4: Behind it in Kenneth Walker.

00:08:37
Speaker 3: My inclination would lead toward that ETN would be so much fun with the Texans, just AFC, the AFC connection, and I just it would be really fun.

00:08:49
Speaker 2: They've seen him a lot.

00:08:49
Speaker 1: Yeah, so a lot of times when you see someone perform well against you, you end up liking him. Unlikely for them to get Breist Hall Darren Moosey, the Jets general manager in the shade, I am sure. I looked at Darren Mugie for a while on Tuesday and I was watching John Harbaugh and I was watching Robert Salad, two captivating men in front of a microphone, and I look over at Mugie and I'm just thinking, embarrassingly, so for the second straight year, who is that? Like I know every GM, right, I know every GM and coach. I'm like, who is that? And I'm getting old it was Darren Muji.

00:09:29
Speaker 2: That's on me. That's not on him. He's not a guy who.

00:09:32
Speaker 3: Also, the listeners should know there are also several charts with names and titles.

00:09:38
Speaker 2: On my phone.

00:09:39
Speaker 3: That's not the point the Convention Center, so there really was no reason.

00:09:44
Speaker 2: Not the point. That's not the point.

00:09:45
Speaker 1: The point is Darren Mugi is the Jets general manager, at least for one more season. He says that Breeze Hall will be tagged, which no one was really sure about. So that that's when we got right. We were wrong about Kenneth Walker, right about Brees Hall. So he will stay. One less problem for them to worry about. Let's go to another team, because man, we got a lot of items here and we got fight.

00:10:08
Speaker 2: I am going to count how many items.

00:10:10
Speaker 1: I'm going to count the running backs of Houston as one topic, and so right now we have hit four topics so far. This is going to inform our title of the show, fifty topics or takeaways from the scouting combine. Eric DaCosta a lot of takeaways from him. Number one, he indicated, Marlin Humphrey not gonna get cut. These are the types of items you can learn on a day like this. Their speculation Martlin Humphrey was gonna get cut. He indicated, we don't even need to adjust his contract. We are in on the Marlin Humphrey business. Okay, unless he's lying, which they don't they don't do. In this spot, he admitted we need a pass rush. We need it so that that that's gonna be a priority. Not a surprise, but he's just saying, what's their biggest need. That's gonna be another I'm ticking off two box and then number three. I'll get your thoughts on this. We consider Tyler Linderbaum the best center in the NFL, and we've offered a market setting deal to him.

00:11:05
Speaker 4: That's a little that's a little bit of that's like a.

00:11:09
Speaker 3: Lot more honest than I expected, because a lot of times when you ask these gms this question, they say we've been in contact with, or we've had some positive discussions with, or we are close to the two sides are close, and we expect that this will remain positive.

00:11:24
Speaker 4: Like it's sort of hedged like that a lot. This is the.

00:11:27
Speaker 3: Ravens and Eric Tacosta specifically saying it's on them.

00:11:32
Speaker 4: If this delays, it's them.

00:11:34
Speaker 1: I love that interpretation and I love it combining it with what we learned on Monday show. I know you haven't had a chance to get to it. You're you're in every show listener when you're not on it, but it's tough.

00:11:45
Speaker 3: I know, I keep hearing about this show and I'm that I haven't listened to it yet.

00:11:48
Speaker 1: Ian and this may you know, people were tweeting about this. Ian indicated Linderbaum's agent not an easy guy to deal with. His tactic in general is to just never respond.

00:11:58
Speaker 4: To wow first men, Am I right?

00:12:02
Speaker 1: I mean it's it's a pretty good tactic and one that would frustrate someone like Eric Tacosta. So it reminds me of a couple of different examples, like Lamar Jackson. They talked about that justin Jefferson. They talked about that like, hey, we've already offered we are gonna make him the highest paid wide receiver in the league. The Ravens are saying, we are gonna make Linderbaum the best, the best you know, center offer in the league. We consider him the best center that it's bold. It does make me think there's a bigger chance of him returning to the Ravens than previous. But it also makes me wonder this agent knows the most money is getting the free agency. Maybe maybe this money is gonna get crazy, Maybe he's gonna get tackle money.

00:12:40
Speaker 3: What if he what if he's like just watching clips as they come out that he's like watching like NFL Network or something at night, you know, skying down for the evening, and this comes this clip comes up and he's like, what, we haven't responded yet.

00:12:55
Speaker 1: It then becomes a little incumbent, maybe on the player too, because the reality is he's not getting franchise tagged, and it is almost stupid to take any deal or respond until you get closer to free agency because they might lose this staring contest because that number actually might get as high as the franchise they.

00:13:18
Speaker 2: Told it could get. It could get to like twenty five million or something.

00:13:21
Speaker 3: This is there is some risk in this in a who blinks first situation, because they've essentially told every other team in the league what that number is. So it's basically like price is right, oh, plus one dollar, you know. I mean it wouldn't be that low, but still it's that is that is very interesting to me.

00:13:35
Speaker 2: I do.

00:13:36
Speaker 4: I do like them sort of putting it all out there like that.

00:13:39
Speaker 2: I love it.

00:13:39
Speaker 1: The Giants and the Chargers I think will be in on Tyler Linderbaum. Howie Roseman spoke to his local media on Friday, and then they embargoed it until Tuesday.

00:13:49
Speaker 2: Bizarre.

00:13:50
Speaker 1: Then they did press conferences here. Anyways, why did they do that? I don't really know a few things that how he said. Between the two pressers I found interesting. Number one, he pointed out, like, can we keep all of our guys considering all the great defensive contracts coming up. So if you think that's the flip side of the great draft that they had with Quinon Mitchell and Cooper Degene and Jalen Carter specifically those and.

00:14:18
Speaker 4: They're not going to be able to pay Cooper like a safety.

00:14:21
Speaker 1: Well he I'm going to mark down two different items here. He also made a comment on Tuesday, your buddy Brooks from the Athletic Kapka, I never know how to pronounce his last name, Golf.

00:14:34
Speaker 2: That's the golfer. We're gonna edit that.

00:14:36
Speaker 4: No, we're leaving that in.

00:14:37
Speaker 1: NOA starts both starts with the cave watch.

00:14:42
Speaker 4: We both got it wrong.

00:14:45
Speaker 1: He said that he really believes, like Cooper dies, he needs to stay at Nickel. When you have someone that is the best in the league at what he does and offers us that much flexibility, we're not moving him. And so that was very definitive like he is not. He's not We're not looking him as an option at safety or at outside cornerback. And I think he indicated with that question, can we keep all of our guys when we have these coming up that maybe don't be as optimistic, certainly about Dallas Goddard who they said they'll talk to, but I think he's gone. But maybe Jalen Phillips too, Maybe he goes, Yeah, maybe n Kobe Dean goes.

00:15:23
Speaker 2: I actually expect Na Kobe Dean to go.

00:15:25
Speaker 1: And Phillips is the one hearing that comment that I'm like, hmm, maybe they're not able to keep him.

00:15:30
Speaker 3: I think watch Jalen Phillips and Christian Parker who's now in Dallas as the defensive coordinator.

00:15:36
Speaker 4: Potentially. You know, Dallas very.

00:15:39
Speaker 3: Famously lost a significant pass rusher last offseason. This is not, by any means a one to one comparison, not even close. But Christian Parker had a great relationship with all those players on the defensive side, and I think Dallas could certainly use They have a couple of young guys coming up who I think are great, but they could absolutely use more juice there.

00:16:02
Speaker 1: They do, and they could create more room with some of their guys that are still on the roster with some potential cuts. So very interesting in the NFC East. Let's stay there and let's go to John Harbaugh, who, Yeah, I was trying to listen to him because you know, he's got that new coach energy. I gotta give him credit, Like I don't know if it's fake it till you make it, but he like he doesn't give second coach energy. He gives like this is my first time. He said, I'm gonna take off my credential so that you can see the New York Football Giants on my chest because I'm excited. And he's just beaming from the podium. Even when answering some awkward questions. He was asked about his owner, Steve Tisch, does he still believe in his ownership as much after Tish's name was prominently mentioned in the Epstein Files and was asked questions to Roger Goodell. He said, yes, he handled that question fine, and there was some follow ups, but basically he gave as good a non answer as he could. He also said, very specifically, he really wants Dexter Lawrence on this team that he's going to be a big part of this team. So that was kind of another one of those Marlon Humphrey type answers where it's like, Okay, I thought he might get cut or traded. Sounds like Dexter Lawrence is going to be there. What's your Harbaugh vibe right now?

00:17:17
Speaker 3: You know when you were you got really excited about this and the new coach energy not retread coach energy kind of thing, and it brought me back. Actually, Greg, we were sitting right here a year ago, basically this week, and John Spytech and Pete Carroll walked in looking cool as hell in silver and black, and Pete Carroll was a sunbeam who was absolutely ready to do this. Now, the age thing is what it is. That's not a one to one comp I've but it's interesting. It's interesting to me.

00:17:49
Speaker 1: How are you saying we can feel this interpretation of a press conference in February might not be the best indicator of wins and losses.

00:17:58
Speaker 3: You know, I am saying that, And also I'm saying I think that you are heavily influenced by strong energy.

00:18:06
Speaker 1: Okay, that's fair. I gotta say, I don't know if we said this on the show. And maybe this is me just remembering it how I want to remember it. I wasn't that high on the Raiders really like going into the season, I did feel I was high on.

00:18:21
Speaker 2: You know, Gino Smith.

00:18:22
Speaker 1: What I was gonna say about Pete, Pete did kind of give a little bit of like it wasn't the same as when he started in Seattle. Let's let's be fair, the same energy, eye the Pete, the Pete part of it, Peap part of it.

00:18:34
Speaker 2: I believed in the geno. I still believe in the spy tech.

00:18:37
Speaker 1: Let's listen to Joe Shane, someone who I don't really believe in, but he believes in himself.

00:18:43
Speaker 6: I'm still the general manager of the team, and my role has not changed. I'm still I'm still tasked with leading the entire football operation, and we're going to work in collaboration like most good teams do. And you know, it's gonna be a collaborator. Everybody's gonna have their role. But there's constant communication between Dawn, Coach har Ball, myself in terms of how we're going to build build a football operation and then how we're going to execute you know, the draft trades, free agency, contract signings, coaching staff, whatever it may be.

00:19:11
Speaker 2: Never a great sign.

00:19:14
Speaker 1: About your tenure as the general manager when you have to say at the podium, I'm still the general manager and my responsibilities are the same.

00:19:25
Speaker 3: I know I'm being a but well, one of the plot lines of the off season that we have been following very closely, that's sort of a subtle like inside Baseball, is the general vibe of like that entire beat toward Joe Shane and some of the headlines that that the columns get, and just that the general angst and misery in his direction by Tough. It's a it's a really big beat and and really there's a lot of talent on that beat, and there's a lot of really strong opinions, and man are they all flowing towards to the point where my good friend Charlotte Carroll rock cookies.

00:20:01
Speaker 4: But home Man cookies.

00:20:02
Speaker 2: They were good.

00:20:03
Speaker 3: Just improve the vibes, Just improve the vibes a little bit, you know.

00:20:06
Speaker 1: They were delicious. So thank you to Charlotte, and I feel bad for Shane. He was asked a lot about Dona Ponte, who is now higher than him on the ORG chart, and that was the context with which he made that answer that he was still the GM, but it does it does make you wonder long term he's in an uncomfortable position right now. Let's talk about a guy who we talked to last year. I don't think we're gonna get a chance to this year. It's Jason Light of the Bucks. He said when asked about a potential extension for Baker, that Baker Mayfield. That is that they haven't talked about that yet, but their feelings haven't changed at all about Baker and that they believe in him long term. Todd Bowles really echoed that, I think they know Baker needs that lifting up.

00:20:56
Speaker 2: Of course you're gonna say.

00:20:57
Speaker 3: Well, he didn't get it so frequently through the first part of his career.

00:21:01
Speaker 4: I think, yeah, I can understand that.

00:21:04
Speaker 1: It's in no win type of place, but I guess I would say, well, show me show me with that. I would believe you if you engage in serious contract extension talks with Baker, and they very well might based on what Jason Light said today, But I guess I'll see when when that happens, that that hasn't happened yet. If you had the guest, do you think Baker Mayfield gets an extension or not this year he's entering a contract.

00:21:28
Speaker 4: Yes, I think he does.

00:21:29
Speaker 3: Yes, because the Bucks have a pattern where they will continue to extend their own players, their guys, their core guys that they like, until and they have patients, including with the head coach, until it becomes overtly and extremely clear that it is time to move on.

00:21:45
Speaker 1: I've completely lost track. I've like skipped over some of the things. I'm gonna have to circle.

00:21:50
Speaker 4: Now you're all over.

00:21:51
Speaker 1: I did want to mention Rob Brazinski is the new it's not the general manager, but he's playing the role of general manager for the Minnesota Vikings. And he said at quarterback they are casting a wide net. And Kevin O'Connell similar question about JJ McCarthy as a franchise quarterback. Very confusing answer where he says, we don't feel any different about him as a franchise quarterback, but the timeline on it is different.

00:22:19
Speaker 7: Now.

00:22:19
Speaker 1: Frankly, I don't know that is Gobbly goop to me. I guess I would need to hear it. The casting the wide net looking for quarterbacks is the key the key phrase here. They're looking for someone to potentially replace JJ McCarthy.

00:22:31
Speaker 3: When you're fishing, Yes, you're not casting a net for fish inside your.

00:22:35
Speaker 4: Own boat, right, that's good net leaving ship.

00:22:39
Speaker 1: That's the type of concise but nailed it type of analysis. We need to get through all forty seven points finally.

00:22:46
Speaker 4: Before it keeps shrinking the number.

00:22:48
Speaker 2: I'm just making them up.

00:22:51
Speaker 1: Not a lot of news on the rules beat this year, so we'll circle back when there's harder news. They're talking about adding replay officials to have a little more latitude to throw a flag after seeing a replay, but it might be very limited to plays like a punch. We'll see. I almost don't want to get ahead of this story. The main story to me was that the tush push is no longer even being talked about, and for context there, Nick Sirianni said they need to work on it because they did not do as good a job doing it. But it's kind of funny that now that the Eagles are now no longer good at the tush push, that the Packers are no longer bringing it up as a potential rule.

00:23:32
Speaker 3: Actually even worse now that the Buffalo Bills are running it at the highest frequency of any team in the league. Suddenly nobody's talking about it anymore. And Sean McDermott was on the competition committee. He no longer is employed as an NFL head coach.

00:23:45
Speaker 1: So they said they being Rich McKay, who's in charge of the rules Quinny that he thought the NFL is in a good place in terms of rules. So I don't think it's going to be a big year for changing rules. Let's take a quick break and we will be back with some more news. A lot of other teams at the podium on Tuesday, from Indian nap back on NFL Daily, the International Games, they just keep on like dropping a different home team every week or so.

00:24:20
Speaker 2: I just to spread the excitement out.

00:24:23
Speaker 1: And how about the Detroit Lions are going to play their first game Internashley. I couldn't believe this for more than a decade, and I think they were await team that last time in twenty fifteen. But they're gonna be playing in Munich. I still want to get to Germany. It's the question, I get a lot, Where are you gonna? I would like to go anywhere. If Henry Hodgson is listening, if Matt Schneider is listening, Jason English has left. We've taken too long here. Get us Germany would be a good one.

00:24:53
Speaker 3: That would be fun because when you see the clips of all the fans singing together and everything, you can't not get goose bum some of the like really really legendary clips from the modern international slate.

00:25:06
Speaker 2: A great team, A great team.

00:25:08
Speaker 5: Yeah.

00:25:08
Speaker 3: And also, you know, Greg, you forget so easily. They weren't playing internationally for a long time, because why would they.

00:25:16
Speaker 4: They weren't a great team for a long time.

00:25:17
Speaker 3: Now and then now and teams a lot of times have the opportunity to negotiate back and forth with the league on.

00:25:22
Speaker 4: Whether they are going to be Oh yeah, some tings really want to go, some teams really want to go, some teams don't.

00:25:26
Speaker 3: And then with the Lions, maybe have a little leverage here saying you didn't want us when we were.

00:25:31
Speaker 1: Bad, and now they're going over there, and that's good. I like seeing a team that I feel like is certainly going to be in the mix, although you never know. Adam Peters, of the Commanders their GM, spoke on Tuesday. He would not comment on a potential Brandon Ayuk interest. I have to think about where I put Brandon Ayuk on the top.

00:25:54
Speaker 2: One oh one.

00:25:54
Speaker 1: I want you to think about it for a second while I tell the listeners that it is a priority or the Commanders, according to Peters to extend Laramie Tuntl and he has one year left on his contract. The left tackle would maybe set the market that Trent Williams could potentially fit underneath at this point because he's a little older. But Brandon Ayuk, I just command eft it. It's a it's a it's a logical it's a logical fit with the Commanders.

00:26:24
Speaker 2: They need a wide receiver.

00:26:25
Speaker 1: They are paying a lot of money, of course, but you know, to Terry McLaurin, but he might not cost as much. How much do we believe in a Brandon Ayuk if if he becomes a free agent, not officially.

00:26:36
Speaker 3: Yet, kind of a wild card, right because coming off the injury awesome, Yeah, well it could be awesome, but coming off this a significant injury as well. And yeah, it's interesting. It's I command efed it in your top one on one.

00:26:49
Speaker 1: No, I'm saying he's not there because he's not a free I know. I was like saying, where would he go? Yeah, yeah, well, I mean I'm saying, you can help me do the work of where do I where do I put him? He's still a top twenty because there was a point where the Pittsburgh Steelers were giving up a second round pick for him and he was gonna be one of the highest paid wide receivers in the league. He did become one of the highest paid players in the league. The forty nine Ers kept him. I think it's the off the field. Is this guy too much to deal with? That is gonna well his mark?

00:27:18
Speaker 4: And here's the thing.

00:27:19
Speaker 3: You have Isaiah Likely at twenty and Onondale Robinson at twenty one, and I would say wan Lee ahead of those guys, both of them.

00:27:26
Speaker 2: Is he ahead of Rashid Shaheed?

00:27:28
Speaker 1: Is he ahead of Kenneth Walker and Devin Lloyd those types of guys getting into the top ten?

00:27:33
Speaker 3: Yeah, well into the top ten. The other thing with Rashid Shaheed is the playmaking ability and special teams too. So I would say somewhere that in the sweet spot behind Rashid Shaheed and behind Mike Evans, who you also have at sixteen here.

00:27:51
Speaker 1: I think that's the right ballpark. Yeah, kind of You've you've passed your first test to be thanks.

00:27:57
Speaker 4: I really enjoyed it. You know how I love rankings, Zigliary.

00:28:00
Speaker 1: I mean, this isn't about ranking this, it's about valuating who's in our league.

00:28:05
Speaker 2: Elliott Wolf.

00:28:05
Speaker 1: The Patriots GM would not comment on whether Stefan Diggs would be a member of their twenty twenty six team. He did comment more on them being in contact with Diggs and authorities about everything going on with his assault accusations. It almost said like the team has a handle on that, but he wouldn't commit to him being on the team next year, So something to watch there. They also cut Antonio Gibson, who is coming off of torn acl Just a little item there. Speaking of players coming back, Josh Jacobs is gonna be back for the Green Bay Packers. Brian Guda Kuntz said that at the podium on Tuesday, also said they want to get bigger on the offensive line, specifically, what do you think about Jacob's returning to the.

00:28:50
Speaker 3: Packers When he was on it was awesome And some of the ways that they could just chip away in salt away at teams was great. You know, I think there's a lot of wood I could have should a with the with the Packers, especially with some of the injuries that they had. I like the idea of them getting bigger along the offensive line. I wonder if that if he's meaning that as almost like a tipping his hand, maybe they're adjusting their scheme a little bit.

00:29:15
Speaker 4: Well, they think they've had a body type that they've liked for a while.

00:29:19
Speaker 1: Right, and they have been smaller, and I think they started to tip it now in hindsight with the Aaron Banks move, who's a massive human now that did not work out for them. I think that, well, he's gonna still be on the roster. I assume. I didn't think Jacobs was a lock to get back. He's had a great career.

00:29:38
Speaker 3: But I think he's kind of a glue guy though, And if you're gonna need if the anngst at which they ended last season, and all the questions about Matt l Floor and all of that, like, you want your glue guys around if you're really going to try to really do it this time.

00:29:51
Speaker 1: Fair and he when he's right, he's awesome. He's worn down in some seasons, He's had a lot of workloads. Sometimes they're running back. You want to get out a year early than year late. By the end of last year was Emmanuel Wilson taking the big snaps because Jacobs couldn't really finish those games.

00:30:05
Speaker 2: But he will be back.

00:30:07
Speaker 1: I should have mentioned, by the way, when I talked Commanders a little earlier, they were also going to bring back Andrew Wiley. Some of these free agent contracts are starting to happen. He didn't even make my one on one, but he would have been in like the top one sixty, like a serviceable kind of swing tackle. Bradley Boseman, the Chargers center retired, not that they weren't going to go after Tyler Linderbaum anyways, but they are going to be searching for interior alignment. They could cut Makai Beckton and then the cuts. Yeah, they've kind of started. YEA, Kirk Cousins, we knew he was going to get released, according to reporters, but their new GM Ian Cunningham said on ninety two to nine the game that Kirk Cousins will be released ahead of free agency.

00:30:50
Speaker 4: Yeah, the expected move.

00:30:51
Speaker 3: It's nice to actually hear somebody say it out loud, somebody with that authoritative power to make that cut actually say it out loud. I am so CTE curious about what happens next for Kirk and like where where he is not crazy?

00:31:05
Speaker 4: It's not crazy?

00:31:06
Speaker 1: Kansas City, I was thinking would be kind of great for him and for Andy Reid. I actually, the more I've thought about that, I was like, if your Kirk Cousins, wouldn't that be awesome to play for the Chiefs and and then b Mahomes' backup and like be a part of that.

00:31:22
Speaker 3: I don't think Miami is crazy. No, I don't think Arizona is crazy. Okay, In fact, with Michael Floor and Arizona, now I think that we got to really watch that one from Alik Willis and for Kirk Cousins, he is.

00:31:37
Speaker 4: As we know of the tree, as as Patrick would say.

00:31:40
Speaker 1: My underrating Cousins. This is an official Have they put it? I sent my Oh, it is official, it's on there. I sent an edit. They've been wanting Cousins to go on to the top one to one. Now once you get this is what him officially saying that does even though it's not official, I was like, we could wait. He's like, well, now that he gave a date to it, we can put him on there. And my question to smart people around the NFL and the NFL media sphere today was Cousins of Rogers.

00:32:05
Speaker 2: You know who would you rather have?

00:32:06
Speaker 4: II Cousins.

00:32:07
Speaker 2: Yeah, I went with that too.

00:32:09
Speaker 1: I thought it was close enough that I put them close in the rankings. Ultimately, Cousins is there for me at fifty nine, just below his Falcons teammate Arnold Ebaketty uh and only a handful of spots ahead of Rodgers. I just thought, yeah, they occupy kind of the same space. But he's got a little more versatility, and I think he looked better last year, not just then he looked the year before, but maybe then people realize. I think it got better as it went, and by the end of it, I was like, he's kind of an okay bridge starter right now. Yeah, I don't think you'd want him starting sixteen games.

00:32:42
Speaker 3: Well, and you're also you're not going to pay him a massive contract again, you know, I mean geez, I mean, but.

00:32:48
Speaker 1: If he's a bridge starter, I've put your GM cap on. Don't you think he's making like twelve plus at least a year.

00:32:57
Speaker 3: And it's nothing in a quarterback in a quarterback world, So yeah, I think at least.

00:33:02
Speaker 1: Twenty if like there are three teams in the mix like I talked about, and then suddenly it's like, man, we're playing twenty for Kirk Cuzzins.

00:33:08
Speaker 3: All I'm just saying is just never underestimate Mike McCartney, his agent, who has been the one to get him these finesse contracts year after a year after a year after year.

00:33:19
Speaker 1: Hall of Fame bag getter Kirkcusins. John Eric Sullivan is the new Dolphins general manager. He said that they are not actively shopping, Uh Devon a Chan who why would they that part? I don't get or Jalen Wattle, But the way that he answered it made it sound like they would listen more than maybe I was expecting going into this week to.

00:33:45
Speaker 2: Waddle to either.

00:33:47
Speaker 4: He just he gave.

00:33:48
Speaker 1: He gave the spiel that you know we're gonna hear from Spike Tek in a bit, and it's it's totally a fair answer, like, yeah, they're gonna listen. That's what he said about Max Krott, like we'll always listen.

00:33:57
Speaker 2: Because it would be a response.

00:33:58
Speaker 3: To everyone will always listen right like this between the lines said nothing.

00:34:03
Speaker 1: They could have shot it down like he he didn't really say it with his chest that we you know, we we want them as part of our team.

00:34:10
Speaker 2: It was like, maybe it's kind of like maybe that's how I took it.

00:34:15
Speaker 3: Yeah, I think he's just kind of a chill guy honestly.

00:34:18
Speaker 2: Okay, what do you.

00:34:19
Speaker 1: Think about the accusations that I just heard from an unnamed source. Won't won't reveal who it is that John Eric Sullivan and Jeff Haffley resemble Beavis and butt Head.

00:34:32
Speaker 4: What what is it? Because that tall hair, he's comedy legends.

00:34:41
Speaker 2: Once you see it, you can't unsee it.

00:34:43
Speaker 1: I like Halflee because I think there needs to be more short, short guy representation.

00:34:48
Speaker 3: There's more of them now in the league. You know, there's Micha Lafloor and Halfley and Mintor's Mite is but a wheelag Mick mcdan.

00:34:56
Speaker 1: McDonald's not a not a really tall guy either, but Halflee even more than the rest. And this is going to guarantee this will never get back to him, but now it will because I said that, and there are a lot of Dolphins bloggers. He looks more like a media member than any NFL head coach, not just now, but in a minute, like when he's just walking through. He looks like he should have a backpack and he's going to the Titans like to ask to ask Salad. You know about the quarterback situation, Cameron.

00:35:23
Speaker 3: Earlier today when you said this, you did say this sort of out loud to yourself.

00:35:27
Speaker 2: Yeah.

00:35:28
Speaker 3: I just appreciate the moments where I can hear you testing material before you actually.

00:35:32
Speaker 4: Use it on the show.

00:35:33
Speaker 3: I had if it does come back to you, Greg, You've had two chances now to say, you know what, maybe I'm not.

00:35:38
Speaker 4: Going to use that material on the show.

00:35:40
Speaker 1: It's something I learned from Dave danishek he would go around the newsroom and just try out stuff. To me, it's it's not conscious as much.

00:35:47
Speaker 4: I was just on his show.

00:35:48
Speaker 3: I was on his show last week and we went through an entire segment and it was it's always so fun. We went through an entire segment before actually doing the segment, basically just in conversations.

00:35:58
Speaker 4: It was. It was epic. I was like, this is what I always used to hear them talking about.

00:36:02
Speaker 1: I love check everyone check out football America. Let's listen to John Eric Sullivan talk about the team's potential interest. This is the Miami Dolphins in Malik Willis as.

00:36:16
Speaker 8: It pertains to the Miami Dolphins. Listen, I think I'd be lying to you any team that is potentially in a quarterback situahere, a needy quarterback situation, if they tell you they're not talking about Malik Willis, that would be a lie.

00:36:31
Speaker 2: That's interesting.

00:36:32
Speaker 1: And frankly, him out.

00:36:36
Speaker 2: There with it.

00:36:40
Speaker 1: The kids don't know, Beavis and butt Head was that good.

00:36:44
Speaker 4: We're getting a laugh from the people and up behind the booth. So I think I nailed that. I could. I'm glowed to crown myself and that one, right.

00:36:53
Speaker 2: I don't know, it's rough. It's been a long time.

00:36:57
Speaker 1: I love like honestly, I think it's one of the most underrated like comedies of the last like forty years.

00:37:02
Speaker 2: It It is amazing.

00:37:04
Speaker 1: The being him being out there with this actually makes me think, I don't know if they're that in on Milik Willis. Yeah, just him being like anyone of course they're looking at Malik Willis, Like all the teams that are interested are looking at Malik Willis, but him even just yeah, you get into it like that.

00:37:19
Speaker 2: I was like, I kind of you.

00:37:21
Speaker 3: Be a little more coy, you know, you flirt a little bit, you know, you just you say you dance around the topic just a little bit more.

00:37:26
Speaker 1: If you had listened to the Ian Rappaport show, you would know he said he just doesn't think they have the money. He doesn't think that they're swimming in the deep waters that Milik Willis might might be this year.

00:37:36
Speaker 3: I want to listen to the show, Greg, I want to. I will get to it.

00:37:40
Speaker 2: What did you do?

00:37:41
Speaker 1: I think we're on good we're having we're on good pace, which yeah, always the most I'm going to count afterwards. I haven't written down what did you do last night?

00:37:53
Speaker 5: Well?

00:37:53
Speaker 1: I had a little dinner at sant Almos So I did the thing, but I went back after dinner. It was l I know you're out talking, making friends, making sources. I think I walked walked by you yesterday. We haven't even talked about that. In the hotel talking to a general manager. I won't say who it is, of course, but that was interesting just seeing you at work, kind of in a spot right near the elevators where everyone's going to be walking by.

00:38:18
Speaker 4: Strategic that's a choice.

00:38:20
Speaker 2: What did what was your night like on Monday night?

00:38:22
Speaker 3: Yeah? So we had our athletic summit, and there's a mixer as well, So basically a lot of you know, really hoping all my bosses like me okay, okay, making making you know, having catching up with people who I usually only see on slack, which is really wonderful. And then you know, you kind of do the circuit. You see people you need to see, You talk to the people you know, you position, you position yourself where people are going to be walking, and and you see people you.

00:38:50
Speaker 2: Know, you're you're saving your bullets.

00:38:51
Speaker 1: The rest of the week is going to be a lot of smooth and you've been doing a lot of it here, doing a great job making NFL daily look better.

00:38:57
Speaker 2: The Kansas City chiefs.

00:38:58
Speaker 1: Just you know, except what I felt that Not enough people saw it though. But it was like a body sit the floor situation. It wasn't like she kind of caught herself with the hand. It was like it was the it was the whole. It was it was a hole. I fallen and I can't get up until you you did get up.

00:39:17
Speaker 2: But that's what it looked like.

00:39:18
Speaker 3: Not with your help, by the way, just to reiterate that, not with your help.

00:39:22
Speaker 1: Now, just a couple other things. Brett Veach that the chiefs general manager says they're prepared if Travis Kelce wants to retire. Obviously they hope that he comes back. Sounding like he's gonna come back. I thought it was interesting both Monte Austin for the GM of the Cardinals, and Mike Lafleur, the new head coach, said they spoke with Kyler Murray as we're getting closer and based on what Ian said, I don't know if it's public posturing to raise his trade value that's a possibility, or they're potentially getting to a place depending on how other things go, that Kyler is in a lock to leave.

00:40:02
Speaker 3: What do you think, well, I think also if they have a better understanding of potentially, for example, what Malik Willis's market would be, or what a Kirk Cousins situation would look like, or any any of these scenarios that are not Kyler Murray, if you're looking at what they could potentially cost or what resources you'd have to give up, and you say, hey, we got a pretty good player on our roster. New coaching staff like Ultra Ultra, you know, for all the criticism and rightfully so, that he takes Nathaniel Hackett is like the ultimate lovable quarterback guy, like he guys love being in the quarterbacks room when he is in it, and for all of his flaws, especially when he was a head coach, that's a big reason why Mike Lafleur went after him is because of that vibe and that dynamic and any if anyone's gonna kind of heal smooth over a vibe, I would think that would be it.

00:40:54
Speaker 1: My gut tells me he's still gone, and this is vacuum of information we have to talk. Plus he might be traded, but I do believe that they're that it's one potential scenario. My gut would say he's still gone, but that that's one of the more fascinating ones because he would be a really interesting piece to throw into all these quarterback waters. Uh Rashid Walker is a guy we talked about left tackle the Packers who's hoping that Trent Williams doesn't become available because before he was the best left tackle available and he's way lower on that list. Like then he's suddenly waiting for Trent Williams. I found it interesting just the teams that Jason lockanfora who used to work with us at NFL Network throughout that are expected to be the top suitors for him. The Patriots and the Chiefs left tackle Rashid Walker. HM spicy. Really for both teams. It's interesting, but especially for the Patriots.

00:41:49
Speaker 3: And I know exactly why you're you know, your eyebrows raised on that one, because you would love to see not love. Mike Well kind of softened his comment on his own comments that he came out really strongly about not moving Will Campbell, even though maybe if he goes back and watches it takes a step away. Maybe in that moment, like I said, maybe he was just protecting his player as one should. Maybe he softens up and maybe they try to go after a guy like that.

00:42:16
Speaker 1: A couple other items, Joe Brady, the Bills coach, and their general manager Brandon Bean, who's going to be coming up later on the week, kind of revealed that Davis Webb is going to be the new play caller for the Broncos. If you don't remember, the Broncos elevated Davis Webb, they're going to be their offensive coordinator, and Sean Payton then confirmed it later on the podium, literally as we're talking and someone I'm not even sure who it is put this into our document as we're taping. So I appreciate that, and they were big on the Davis Web News. I like that we're getting a few more participants. It feels like in the combine this year doing all the drills that are top players. I didn't get a chance to talk about this with Ian, but Jeremiah Love the running back of Notre Dame who's second on Daniel Jeremiah's board. Rvel Reese, who's second or first on some people's board. The linebacker pass rusher mkay Lemon, like Reese's teammate at linebacker, Ty Simpson, who's the QB two. Not a surprise he would work out. But it does feel like, for what it's worth when you're watching this year, a few more of the first rounders are actually participating, which I'm just it's.

00:43:27
Speaker 4: Like a sliding scale.

00:43:29
Speaker 3: It's like a sliding scale, like there's a lot of jams and coaches who are not here right now, I think more than ever before, or even if coaches are here, they're not doing podium sessions.

00:43:38
Speaker 4: So now as that decreases.

00:43:39
Speaker 3: Combine's like, oh man, we got to get some pop in here, so you know, you got more guys who are actually participating in the workouts. That's good for the fans and obviously hopefully everyone stays safe.

00:43:50
Speaker 1: Mentioned the Dolphins before they brought John Robinson, the former Titans general manager back into the league to help out that front office with John Eric Sullivan, and I did want to mention they mentioned a ninety nine million dollar capit for to a ninety nine million dollar capit does not make sense for them this season. That would not work for them. And so if and when they cut them, which is the expectation, even though they're saying they're trying to trade him, it will be a post June first cut.

00:44:18
Speaker 2: They'll spread out the hit. But so that to a contract's going to hurt them.

00:44:21
Speaker 3: For which character is John Robinson? If we're talking lore here.

00:44:27
Speaker 1: We'll talk later. But I think Halfley's butt head, right?

00:44:31
Speaker 4: No, John Robinson? Which Robinson? Oh, but you said it. You can't walk that one back.

00:44:37
Speaker 2: Now we could, we could edit it out of the show.

00:44:42
Speaker 1: Brad Holmes, the Brillian's general manager, said about David Montgomery, they've spoken to him. They're running back that the situation is fluid, but you have to have guys who want to be here, so that sounds open. And then he talked about maybe how I read it not being as aggressive and free agency because they want again their twenty twenty three picks to be around. Sam Laporta, Jamiir Gibbs, Jack Campbell, Brian Branch all are up for contracts sooner than later, and so they might have to save the money because they've been so good at drafting. That's a good problem to have. It's the type of problem that any general manager would love to have. We're gonna talk to a couple of general managers after the break.

00:45:23
Speaker 2: Here's what we're gonna do.

00:45:23
Speaker 1: We're gonna take a break that we're gonna hear back to back interviews from Raiders general manager John Spytech back on the show and then fresh off an NFC North Championship, Ryan Poles. You hear those two back to back, and then we'll say goodbye. On the other side, we are back with now regular guests. General manager of the Las Vegas Raiders, John spy Tech, and look, John came over before even they're waying.

00:45:59
Speaker 2: Hello, what's up, Stephen, what's the name of your trainer?

00:46:02
Speaker 1: Again and yes, last year at this time we talked about Stephen my trainer, big Raiders fan.

00:46:08
Speaker 2: Do you have it? Do you have any message for him?

00:46:10
Speaker 9: After last hang with us, Stephen. We're going to get this right of promise.

00:46:14
Speaker 3: You know.

00:46:14
Speaker 4: I met Steven.

00:46:15
Speaker 7: Oh you did.

00:46:16
Speaker 3: Yeah, And the very first thing he said was, oh my god, John spy Tech. I said, yeah, regular on NFL Daily, one of our favorite people to talk to, one of our favorite ball knowers to talk to.

00:46:27
Speaker 4: Can we start with the quarterback questions?

00:46:28
Speaker 7: Of course?

00:46:29
Speaker 2: Well that was Stephen in the first place.

00:46:32
Speaker 9: I was very I'm sure Stephen wants to know all the answers, So let's.

00:46:34
Speaker 7: Do it for Steve.

00:46:35
Speaker 4: How over under?

00:46:36
Speaker 3: How many Fernando Mendoza questions do you expect to get this week?

00:46:40
Speaker 4: Including this one?

00:46:40
Speaker 7: Forty two and a half, We're already over You saw.

00:46:44
Speaker 3: Him play every I think the entire football world saw those really great photos of you guys sort of taking in the scene in the National Championship game, and then what a game to get to What did you think of Fernando? What were some of the qualities that he has that you guys have sort of gleaned from him and scouted in him so far as Ian Rapifort walks behind you.

00:47:06
Speaker 7: Little bombs us.

00:47:07
Speaker 9: Well, first of all, I would say there was a lot of great players on that field in the National Championship game, and we were there to see all of them. And I just love watching guys compete. And to go to a national championship game when it's all on the line and you know, the pressures high for those young men is such a unique and cool experience. And to see how many of those guys rise and play their best game in a game like that, or their best in the big moments when the moment was required. It was just a great football game. And you know, I was I was grateful to be there. I just I love football so much of it. I would go to that game and do it the same way if I didn't have this job. So it was it was just cool to be a part of a game like that.

00:47:42
Speaker 3: You were kind of when you played, you were kind of an underdog yourself, like you kind of scrapped your way into into whatever you could.

00:47:47
Speaker 4: And Kurt Signetti, I was a compliment. It is a compliment.

00:47:52
Speaker 9: That was a backcision is that I was more of a star, But I was that's huge actually true, actually.

00:47:57
Speaker 3: Right right, Well, you know, Kurt Signetti, nobody could call him an underdog at this point, but his story and like the way he gets that team playing, I think for a fan of the game and the sort of the poetry and magic of the game itself, what was it like watching all of that kind of come to life. And just like the way that those guys were connected and all of those you know, three stars, two stars walk on, all of those guys coming together the way that they did.

00:48:26
Speaker 9: I just think it's a great example of why this is the greatest team sport. Yeah, you know, in Indiana, they built the team. They built a great team, and you could see it the way they loved each other after the games, and as they got notoriety, they didn't change. There was a humility there, there was a respect, you know, that was there. I mean I think you saw it with Team USA just win the gold medal too. I Mean that's there. It's a team sport, it's not any one individual, and you know, the superpower and that Indiana program feels like they really know how to build the team. And I mean that's that's paramount, that's what we're all trying to do.

00:48:55
Speaker 1: What do you think Fernando's biggest strengths out that's that's another one.

00:48:58
Speaker 4: So for forty three, Yeah, put that one on check.

00:49:01
Speaker 3: Uh.

00:49:02
Speaker 9: You know, I I just love watching him play. I mean, he's a he's obviously a great competitor.

00:49:06
Speaker 7: You can see that. The teammates are drawn to him.

00:49:09
Speaker 9: You know, he he's he's got a lot of the qualities you look for.

00:49:12
Speaker 7: But now we get a chance to meet him and then see in person.

00:49:15
Speaker 1: Now you acquired Gena Smith last off season just because I'm still I'm not giving up my presidency of the Gena Smith fan Club.

00:49:24
Speaker 2: Obviously, not his best season.

00:49:25
Speaker 1: Is there a scenario where where he's still there on the on the roster, of course, I.

00:49:32
Speaker 9: Mean he's we gave him, you know, a contract last year. He's under contract this year. It's a it's a it's a good number for a starting level quarterback in this league. And yeah, we'll learned long ago you can't have enough good quarterbacks on your team. So I mean we're gonna we're gonna talk about if we get through the combine and we get the whole coaching staff together, we're going to talk about the entire roster and try to figure.

00:49:50
Speaker 7: Out the best way forward.

00:49:51
Speaker 3: We got a chance, and this is a humble brag on on my part, but we got a chance to talk to Clint Kubiak after the Super Bowl and just really refreshing.

00:50:00
Speaker 4: Uh. Just he has this.

00:50:03
Speaker 3: Sort of presence and and like a belief in his players, and we saw that with his work with with Sam Darnold and with that entire offense in general. What was it about Clint that you guys discussed through the interview process and through the vetting process and talking to him getting to know him.

00:50:19
Speaker 4: What are some your gm What are.

00:50:20
Speaker 3: Some traits that that stuck out to you about Clint that you were that you were gravitated toward.

00:50:26
Speaker 9: You know, we when we were getting started, we put together a list of kind of the traits that we were looking for and a head coach. You know, none of them physical, but he just has a great, even keel way about him. You know, there's a high level of confidence that he presents, but with a wonderful amount of humility. You know, his his intelligences is through the roof. He's done this for a long time.

00:50:51
Speaker 7: You know.

00:50:51
Speaker 9: I think one of the cool things about him was the story that kind of broke about him working in the oil industry for a little bit. And you know, I think, like I think, like a lot of us, at some point we think like, maybe maybe we should do something else, you know, maybe we should and then you're drawn back to the game. And it's just that love of the game and the love of coaching that kind of shone through. And then it was undeniable as that team started to really roll. I mean, it just seemed to get better and better. And then just when you think, you know, I got to stop these these these players. You know, Jayson has is the offensive player of the year, and everye's trying to stop them, and nobody can stop them or whether they takes a real wonderful, wonderfully coordinated offense and a and a great offensive mind to do things like that, and it's not an easy thing to do when you know they're trying to stop that guy, and then they still get the ball to him and still in big moments, you know, that's awesome. So but really was about the man, the person that that drew us to him.

00:51:40
Speaker 3: You know, I'm kind of I kind of set you up here, and I'm sure you expected it.

00:51:44
Speaker 4: I'm sorry about that.

00:51:45
Speaker 3: But with the Indiana question, how it felt that connect connectivity, how those guys felt playing together, and then also with what Clint did and when what that Seattle see how close they were, how they just like were like radically positive to each other all the time, just like loved up each other and we're confident. Ernest Jones quotes, you know if you don't like my quarterback, and I mean, like, how do you get that in Las Vegas? I know you got some right young guys and some some culture guys that that you like, but but how do you get from what happened last year into that that energy, that like that feeling. You're building a roster of players obviously, but bringing that into the space and making it a part of what you are.

00:52:28
Speaker 4: How do you do that?

00:52:30
Speaker 9: It's it's it's a challenging part of it, you know. I mean there's so many things that go into a roster, and guys from all different backgrounds, demographics. You know, they they're older, they're younger, they're in different stages of their lives. But you have to find a way to connect them together. And you know, they obviously did a lot of really cool stuff in Seattle with Mike this year and Clint talked about a lot of that, and you know, at the end of the day, it's about accountability to the to the man lining up next to you. You've got to create that somehow, and you know, getting guys that love football and that will be there for each other, and there's like a selflessness and a humility to him. I think is is other wonderful traits to have. I mean, maybe some teams prioritize those more than others. I mean, to me, like it's it's a big thing. It's kind of how we built it in Tampa with the right kind of people, and we're just going to continue to stack the right kind of people in the entire organization. It's not just the players. It takes it takes literally the entire organization. And you know it's required every day to show up for your for the people next to you.

00:53:24
Speaker 1: I know, I would assume you see Max Crosby as as one of the people that has that right kind of stuff. How are you managing the reports and the idea that you know he wasn't happy with how the way last season ended and you know, might want to be playing elsewhere this next season.

00:53:44
Speaker 9: Yeah, I mean the reports will Kiss manages those for me, So I don't I don't know. I got too much to do to right now. I have a great relationship with Max. You know, we talk all the time. We've had hard conversations. I mean, it's no secret that he wasn't thrilled about it, but I I you can. I can sit in those things, you know, I can. I can have that that stuff. And you know, I love seeing Max. I love seeing him every day. He works his tail off right now. He's he's on the mend to get to get healthy and to play the game that he loves.

00:54:10
Speaker 1: And I have a question like, and this could be related to Max, because like in Theory Tradium, you know, you could get draft picks and you'd open up cap space, but you have a ton of cap space. Is there such a thing as too much cap space? You have like ninety million dollars in cap space?

00:54:24
Speaker 2: That too much.

00:54:25
Speaker 7: I don't ever want to have that much again.

00:54:26
Speaker 9: I'd love to I'd love to love to have the challenge of Tom Delaneys struggling to piece it all together and not just like you know, and then the other part of it too, is like, you know, the whole world knows we got a bunch of cap space, so what are they going to ask for, you know, more money?

00:54:38
Speaker 7: So we've got to sort through all that stuff.

00:54:39
Speaker 9: But we've got a great opportunity in front of us this offseason to attack it with a with a new head coach, a young head coach, and build this roster the right way. And that's that's really all I'm focused on. So we have what we have. I mean, there's no denying it, and I'm not going to run from it with that.

00:54:53
Speaker 4: I mean, I hear, I hear what you say.

00:54:56
Speaker 3: I know it could be tempting maybe to go out and it's been big in free agency those types of things. But the way that you guys built Tampa Bay, you drafted and developed guys who love football and we're going to be culture tone setters, and then you paid them your own guys.

00:55:11
Speaker 7: It's the best way to do it, right.

00:55:13
Speaker 4: So the patients that it takes.

00:55:15
Speaker 3: Last year, at this time, you know, everyone was fired up and talking about competing immediately. I think that was the expectation for all of us, I mean and yourself included. But now it's like there's going to be patients, more patients in a build like this, the way that you want to draft and develop and those things. So what is balancing like that amount of money? First of all, finding the right guys in potentially in free agency who are are are worth sort of helping lift the floor of the young guys who come in, and then balancing that with what you want to do in the draft.

00:55:48
Speaker 9: Yeah, it's a delicate balancing act, all of it. And I think what we're going to prioritize is guys that can add to the culture right now, get us back on the right track, and then be there when we're when we're ready to roll, you know, Like I mean it's patience is not a word that I use a lot in this industry. So I mean there's not a lot of patients, so that's not but like building it the right way, having a process over results, and sticking to that even when it's hard, even when you get feel like there's urgency and you you get emotional about these deals and you don't want to lose the deal. I mean, we some of the best deals are the ones you walk away from. Just because you have the money doesn't mean you should do it. And so I it's all out in front of us right now, and we got to be mindful of that.

00:56:30
Speaker 1: So speaking of patients, and you've been very generous with your time, we'll let you go with this. I do feel like, like Steven and for the listeners that missed that interview my trainer, which is a little embarrassing big time raders, he was losing a little patience. I gotta admit that the Raiders midway through last season. Just before you go, do you have any message for him or for Raiders Nation, how you're feeling here after a year at the.

00:56:53
Speaker 9: Helm, Steven, you gotta get after this guy a little bit harder over one.

00:56:57
Speaker 7: And uh No, I just appreciate.

00:56:59
Speaker 9: I ap people like Stephen and Raider Nation and well, any trainer's supposed to get after you.

00:57:03
Speaker 7: They're not supposed to make.

00:57:06
Speaker 9: You're not supposed to like leave a workout if you're a good trainer and be like that was easy.

00:57:10
Speaker 7: You're supposed to.

00:57:11
Speaker 2: I mean, not exactly get your body beautiful over here. I was feeling feeling very old.

00:57:15
Speaker 3: No.

00:57:16
Speaker 9: I would just say to Stephen in all ratidation, you know, we we appreciate all of them and the passion in this fan base is unmatched really anywhere I've ever been, and I've been some really cool places, and you know, we got a great opportunity in front of us, and just continue to support us and have a little bit of patience. Yes, but I'm not asking for a lot. That's not the way this thing works.

00:57:34
Speaker 2: I love that, and there really is no other fan base like right like that.

00:57:38
Speaker 1: I really think Cowboys are interesting in the Raiders, but to me, those are the two truly national teams. So John Spytec, he knows the job that he has in front of him. We appreciate the time.

00:57:48
Speaker 7: Thanks guys. Always great to see you.

00:57:49
Speaker 1: Thanks John, Hope, Hope We're still two of your favorites. By the way you said that. Coming in, I was like that was being a little generous to me because he just felt bad in front of me two of my favorites.

00:57:58
Speaker 2: But thank you, Hope. He stayed that way.

00:57:59
Speaker 1: All good Here with Ryan Poles, general manager of the Chicago Bears for the second time. Just want to point out after you came on for the first time, you go, you went ahead and won the NFC right a little success.

00:58:13
Speaker 3: Yes, what I want to point out is that you called your shot in that last interview that we did, because all we wanted to ask you about was the offensive line and how aggressive you wanted to be in rebuilding that foundational element of your offense and of your roster, and then you went out and did the dang thing and they were.

00:58:32
Speaker 4: One of the best units in football this year.

00:58:34
Speaker 3: So, first of all, how did it feel to call your shot such in such fashion with such flair? And second of all, I mean the growth of that unit and just sort of what it was like to put them together in real time.

00:58:47
Speaker 10: Yeah, I would say, you know, so call the shot. I wish it always worked out that way. You know, you have plans and you're always waiting for some type of wrinkle to throw it off.

00:58:56
Speaker 11: That's just part of this league. You never feel comfortable.

00:58:59
Speaker 10: So it was seeing that come together and using different ways of doing it in terms of trades and also for agency, and I think really the best part for us is in for agency and trades.

00:59:11
Speaker 11: Some of the tough things.

00:59:12
Speaker 10: Are you don't know the player very well, you don't know their habits in terms of how they prepare and all that good stuff. So with that, there was touch points with all three of those interior players that made us really comfortable and we were able to obviously see the results.

00:59:29
Speaker 11: Come through for us.

00:59:31
Speaker 10: And I got to give Dan Roschar and Kyle Devan are O line coaches a lot of credit for that. It's just because you plug in good players who oline doesn't mean that it'll come together. They got to have chemistry and they were able to create that in really one of the best rooms that we had in the facility.

00:59:48
Speaker 3: For the listener, Ryan cannot stop smiling every once in a.

00:59:52
Speaker 4: While talking about this group.

00:59:54
Speaker 3: You saw it in the past game of course, and Caleb is one of the best quarterbacks in the league and not taking negative plays anyway. To combine it with that line was really cool to watch. But the run game came to life in such a multiple way for you guys, not just because of what those linemen could do and we're capable of doing it as a unit, but also your backs. And you know, we love Kyle Manangai. We call him Kyle Manong Dude on this show. He's a dude, and we loved watching that come to life all season. And so behind that line, what was that like watching Ben put that together?

01:00:28
Speaker 11: It was amazing.

01:00:29
Speaker 10: Again, when you pair Dan Roschar and Ben Johnson together and put a run game together, You're going to get a tactical advantage in terms of getting the best you know, opportunities to to get yards before being touched. Really so then when you add on the talent that we had up front, some really good things can happen.

01:00:49
Speaker 11: And anytime that you have balance.

01:00:52
Speaker 10: Your protection in the past, game is going to be better, Your quarterbacks confidence is going to be better. So it was really cool seeing that all come together there. Eric Bande me who's now in Kansas City as though see did a fantastic job with our backs, Kyle's development, and also seeing Swifty put together a really strong year maybe the best year of his career was was awesome. So we look forward to picking up where we left off again, there's always challenges for this league. You can't just take last year and apply it to this year. You got to continue to work on it and adjusts as things pop up.

01:01:24
Speaker 11: So looking forward to But yeah, good group.

01:01:27
Speaker 2: You mentioned DeAndre Swift having such a great year.

01:01:30
Speaker 1: I was surprised to see him on some of those articles that, like, you know, potential cap cuts. You guys do have a tricky situation where you know, you got to cut some salary cap to see a guy you feel good about for the twenty twenty six season on a team.

01:01:42
Speaker 11: Yeah, I do feel good about it.

01:01:44
Speaker 10: You know, we'll get through this next two weeks, see what different opportunities kind of pop up.

01:01:50
Speaker 11: It's always difficult.

01:01:51
Speaker 10: There's a lot of unknowns, a lot of different sequences that we've put together. How they come together is is is unknown right now. But I feel good about swifteen.

01:02:03
Speaker 2: Where's that one thing you alluded to it?

01:02:06
Speaker 1: You had the Joe Toney trade, and you've kind of pulled a big surprise almost every one of your off seasons. You started out with the Kyle Mack trade, you know, leaving you. You know DJ Moore you got as part of that trade. I feel like you and and a few other gems have been part of a trend. There just have been more veteran trades in the NFL. I guess I'm just curious if you go through your process of as a GM, how you use trades as part of kind of the the arsenal.

01:02:36
Speaker 2: And yeah, do you have another little fun one coming up?

01:02:40
Speaker 1: Yeah?

01:02:41
Speaker 11: Question, we'll see, we'll see.

01:02:43
Speaker 10: Usually they start popping up this week I'll say this kind of cool story. I've gotten a known I'm trying to I'm trying to blank and his name. There's an author who wrote Range and new books coming out inside the Boxes about constraints and what we can learn from constraints. And it's interesting because when I think back to our first year, not having much money, not having many picks, you learn how to, you know, live inside this box and how can we make the most out of our situation. And we've been able to take that and apply it along the way. And what that's taught us is to just really keep an open mind on how to solve some of these solutions. There's the basic way of just doing the draft and straight up for agency, but how can we take advantage of some trade opportunities to bring a talented player onto our roster by really starting fresh and rebuilding from year one. We needed to get the talent level higher and higher, knowing that it takes a little bit of time to get draft picks developed along the way, so how can we expedite it just enough but also bring in the right type of people. So I think think that experience from the very beginning has helped us take this kind of unique approach of using trade cregency in and in the draft to help build our team. So we're always listening, we're always gonna analyze everything that we hear in terms of how to improve our team, and that's been able to create some cool situations over the.

01:04:17
Speaker 11: Last few years.

01:04:18
Speaker 3: One of my favorite things about football is how people make decisions. And I think we always see on the field the product of like a play caller sequencing plays together, and how combinations and permutations change over time and all of the different avenues they can take.

01:04:33
Speaker 4: You mentioned something that sort of sparked for.

01:04:35
Speaker 3: Me when you were talking about DeAndre Swift, which is we've we've sort of gamed out some of the scenarios and some of the different combinations. What I think a lot of people don't know about your job is you have to sequence out possibilities too, and you have to you have to run a lot of game theory on all of it. I'm curious if you could peel back not with this, maybe not with this specific situation, but I mean if you want, if you want to, you can, But like how you do that and what that process actually is and looks like for the listeners, who might not be as.

01:05:07
Speaker 4: Familiar with it.

01:05:07
Speaker 11: Yeah, I'll start with a calendar.

01:05:09
Speaker 10: Really, once we finished the season, we have our early draft mating, so we bring all of our scouts in and we go through the board. We kind of call it pinning the board up, so it's not set yet. There's a lot of information to learn this week and through you know, the spring, but it gives us an idea where strengths and weaknesses are. And then for agency we do the same thing and our pro staff does an amazing job with that. What we also do is we add to our fre agency board, we add the cap casualties. We usually overload that more than what's actually gonna happen, but we never want to be caught by surprise. So when we mesh those boards together, it gives us some clarity of where strengths and weaknesses are, and it allows us to understand.

01:05:56
Speaker 11: Really, all right, where do we have to be aggressive.

01:05:58
Speaker 10: Maybe we need to go to a trade trade route to get this done because I don't know if the volume is there to feel comfortable with filling that need.

01:06:06
Speaker 11: So we go through that and then obviously there's a financial.

01:06:08
Speaker 10: Part of it, so we have one of the best cap guys in the league, Matt Feinstein. So I myself and now Jeff King will go through and list everything with Ben, and then I'll bring in Matt and say, okay, we'll walk us through what's the short term and long term effect.

01:06:24
Speaker 11: Of this financial Yeah? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

01:06:30
Speaker 10: So there's a lot of tough conversations there where you know, I'm like, come on, man, you can find more money somewhere, and he does. He does a great job, but he also knows there's some core things. I don't want to hurt herself down the road. I want to stay flexible. Also, you know, we got a quarterback that's trending in the right direction. I want to make sure that there's a planeted place for whenever we need to extend him if everything continues to stay on.

01:06:53
Speaker 11: The same path.

01:06:54
Speaker 10: So how does all those decisions today fit that down the road.

01:06:58
Speaker 11: So it's complicated.

01:07:00
Speaker 10: It's like the most fun part of this job is a lot of putting out fires. But that that's the part that you know, I'll sit there on a board and we're writing.

01:07:10
Speaker 1: Yeah, it's a big week for that too, and especially this offseason. Yeah, you have so many players in your secondary up at the same time, and you might be looking for left tackle because you have an injury there from your draftic.

01:07:24
Speaker 2: So there's a lot of game.

01:07:26
Speaker 1: You know, a game is being theoried out there, specifically with the secondary. You know, Jaquon Brisker was one of your first draft picks and Kevin bayerd Is is such an important part of your team in Nashon.

01:07:38
Speaker 2: Wright had such a breakout season last year.

01:07:40
Speaker 1: Where where are you with with those three guys specifically and your confidence of what you're going to be able to do to keep them.

01:07:48
Speaker 10: Yeah, So I think part of this week and early next week is understanding what those markets are. Also, you know, we got to clear some space in terms of our cap and make sure that we're healthy there, and really it's then can we make that fit? And it takes both sides, you know, obviously agreeing that it works for each other. So we'll set up guardrails for each one of those scenarios, knowing that once you prioritize and the first domino goes, that may take three off the board because of financial constraints. So once we get through this week, we'll go back to the room and the drawing board and lay that out and then progress in this you know, we'll prioritize everything, progress through that list, and and and put it all together.

01:08:35
Speaker 1: Well, Ryan Pauls not only called a shot on the show last year. When you first got the job, you said, it's going to be our goal to take the North, the NFC North, and never give it back. But they they have taken the North. It is a very difficult division. So hopefully you know, you know next year when we talk to you, you still will not giving it back.

01:08:54
Speaker 3: We have any predictions, you know, do you want to call another do you want to call another shot this year?

01:08:59
Speaker 10: I just you know, our goal is to take the next step, and that's to get to the Championship game and eventually the Super Bowl. So I like to see our offense take the next step, which I know with with Ben and and Caleb and the work they're putting into it, that that that that will happen. Obviously, the again interestings that we can't control will always throw a little bit of a wrinkle in it. But then on top of that our defense taking the next step, and I think if all that comes together, we should be in a in a in a situation where we're going to continue to improve and they keep moving up.

01:09:29
Speaker 1: Ryan Poles GM of the Bears, appreciate you awesome, thank you.

01:09:33
Speaker 2: Those were delightful.

01:09:34
Speaker 1: I you can tell like the vibe from Poles coming off like a championship season. You know, it's always interesting this time of year, like there's there's the guys who are riding high spy Tech's coming off a bad season, but you wouldn't you wouldn't have known it, which which I appreciate. But sticking with Poles, uh, for us, I did just want to update an item that he talked about on the podium.

01:09:58
Speaker 2: We didn't get a chance to talk about that.

01:09:59
Speaker 1: All their teams have expressed interest in Tyson Beigent and he believes there will be a trade market. He said that for Tyson Beagent. So I don't know if that's them trying to drum up a market.

01:10:12
Speaker 4: But do you know what though, because there was it.

01:10:15
Speaker 1: Reminds me of a very specific example. Go ahead that poll.

01:10:19
Speaker 3: That Polls was the one saying it is interesting to me because like a week ago, there was a source report that the Cardinals were interested in Tyson beagent with that which at the time felt like an agent sort of putting stuff out there like that. But sometimes when you start to connect leaks with other leaks, it might not be anything as it pertains to Tyson Beagent specifically, but it could tell you a lot about both Arizona and Chicago and what they are either hoping or attempting to do right now.

01:10:51
Speaker 1: I think it says a lot now that I have the full picture in him saying that about Chicago, and it reminds me on a lesser level, but similar to the Joe Milton Drake may situation, I actually think that they gave taste in beage a great contract, But it just might be a situation where you have a backup that's the same age that's really competitive, that wants to play. I'm not reporting anything, but just that you might see that the quarterback room is constructed better with like, hey, maybe we'd like to see Caleb with a different true backup and and Tyson could get a chance elsewhere. Maybe this isn't our forever pairing with him as a backup, because.

01:11:34
Speaker 4: You got it once you get a taste his success.

01:11:36
Speaker 3: And he did, and Tyson Bagent did, and he and he got the contract, and he heard the fan base and how for him they were and he got a taste of it, and so he's going to.

01:11:45
Speaker 4: Want to be a vibe thing.

01:11:46
Speaker 1: I mean you heard with New England that yeah, like it was maybe a vibes thing that Joe Milton wasn't really thrilled to be in that position, and maybe Drake May wasn't thrilled to have a backup. That's his age, that's that's wanting to play. Really, Ryan Poles and John spy Tech joining the show. The last thing with spy Tech, just I love the pop that he's he's still given Steven.

01:12:08
Speaker 3: That was the first thing he said when he saw you. Yes, he also is he included you.

01:12:13
Speaker 1: You know, it was great that he's making him a part of the show. And I like the message to Raider Nation. And he was asked about Crosby in other places than us, so I did.

01:12:24
Speaker 2: Want to provide that context.

01:12:26
Speaker 1: He kept saying he expects Crosby to be back, but we'll always listen. So I think that's one where just I don't know. I'm sure they would like Baxcrosby to be back, but I think that's an I don't know, and we'll see.

01:12:35
Speaker 3: Yeah, And it seems to be, uh, you're dealing with a personality as well who seems to be in a sort of trying to stabilize his emotions toward the entire topic as well. And so you have to surf that wave too when you come to it.

01:12:49
Speaker 1: Love surfing the wave. Just you just got to stay on your feet. You know, you don't want to you don't want to crash. That's going to be it from our show here in the Indianapolis can Mention Center. Not as many coaches by a long shot speaking on Wednesday, but we have some great interviews. We're gonna have a lot of news. This is quietly the first night where really every you know, media member has made it here from the snow, and everyone's in position.

01:13:17
Speaker 2: The entire league is now here.

01:13:19
Speaker 1: This is kind of the first night where the people like Jordan, who have all these contexts, they start talking, and people start talking to each other, and the insiders like Ian they start talking, and then we start getting some news dropping tomorrow. So look for that, look for some more press conference updates, and then look for our interviews with some decision makers, including Bill's general manager Brandon Bean and Steelers general manager Omar Con.

01:13:46
Speaker 2: That is it.

01:13:47
Speaker 1: Let's go Let's be safe out there tonight in Indianapolis for Jordan and John Spiek and Ryan Foles.

01:13:56
Speaker 2: See you next time.