'Making the Leap' with Bill Barnwell

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Speaker 1: Be Around the NFL podcast, Keep our names out of your models. Welcome to another edition of Around the NFL. My name is Dan Hanss. I come to you from a virtual room filled with just one hero, but it's a special one. They're all special. Gregg is a special hero. Gregg Rosenthalt, what's up, buddy? I mean, am I special? At least on this show? It's not that special. Mark Cessler not with us today. Hope to have him back on Thursday. But we are rolling Greggy. The rookies for the Raiders, Bills, Falcons, Ravens, Chargers, Dolphins, Patriots, Saints, Giants, and Jets have all reported. Raiders Veterans report tomorrow. I checked with Grave Digger to see if anybody's reporting late, but he said no, it's more locked in schedule, so I can't eliminate any teams from championship contention on July. No. I noticed that it's the disappointing all the teams show up within two days of each other next week, other than the Hall of Fame UH teams who you get a little early start Builds Raiders. But it's good. It's that week where it's like, UH football is back, like NFL now is on once again for the first time in three months, and it's like campus starting, but they're actually quietly. It still is kind of a one more off week, but it's like people are getting ready. We are, I think, around fifty days from the start of the regular season, so we're now you know, getting into that zone. And uh, we will be resuming our three shows a week starting next week. So we're warming up now. But this is the last week where you kind of feel like it's that summer quiet, even though teams are starting to roll in now. So we're gonna we're gonna get you caught up to date on what's going on. Not a lot right now other than obviously, uh, teams and players showing up. But we also have greg one of the long running series in the history of around the NFL, the longest running series perhaps tied with maybe some others, but making the Leap, which used to be a list that we counted down and we we divvoted up. It was you know, me, you, Wes Mark, Kevin Patra uh and we each did a few and kind of went through it that way. You've now since modified it to a more broad look at the league. Correct it's changed many time. Yeah, then I just would do like four or five and now we're we're doing one per team. It was the way we did it last year, and this year we're doing doing it again. So I needed some help some some teams, you know, some team's got a lot uption. Some teams, even good teams, not not a lot of like young promising players. So I'm going to get help from you and our friend Bill barn Welcome, Yes, Bill Barnwell coming back to the show. And a little bit. And that is a little misleading if you're if you're going through making the leaping, you don't see someone that springs them ud. Sometimes it's just that team is just a different type of team, a veteran team or whatever. But in some cases, Greg, I think it does help you to see, oh, these guys are a little bit of trouble. And so yeah, there were a couple that were worried in Washington. Was one I was like, where where is their young toughs. Some are like the Bengals, who just I feel like all the Bengals are like they've already broken out. They all look like they're just a solid team returning and they're already good, not worried about them, but there are there are others, and there are others like the Patriots, who you know, I felt good that they actually have some young players. They're getting a lot of grief for not not having much talent these days. But right, you know, then their teams like the Titans or you're like, oh, windows closing, right, grape digger. Yeah, you know, defense returns ten of eleven starters, so it's kind of tough on that side of the ball. Offense, like relying on some rookies, you're like, you're not going to pick them to make the leap, but also some veterans, lots of veterans, right, I mean it was hard when like the first name I wrote down was like tire Tart. You know, maybe i'll you know, I should get some help from you off air or whatnot, because it's just not a lot of young talent. A private conversation. I don't know if we've had one of those yet. We we've had a few. What is that supposed to be? We've fed many, We've fed many. I mean, like you know, you pick up the horn and you and you punch in those digits and you call up Graver just to talk. You know that you know what Graver can attest that's actually happened multiple times, but you just show related. Because I'll be driving, I'm I've become the old guy who I'm like some of our old bosses who would just like call because you don't want to be texting while you're driving. Is it's easier to give Graver a call let him know. You don't think I do any behind the scenes work, but I do. Sometimes You're not the only one day. I certainly know you do a lot of work, Greg, both in front of the camera and behind it. Before we get going and hit up the Making the Leap conversation with Bill Barnwell, and we have another special guest at the end of the show because it's very special. There is something going on that's dirty. Something stinks down south, and I don't mean the Tennessee Titans roster. It is. There's something else going on, and we're gonna do our best to right terrible wrong down in Georgia off the coast. But before that, let's do some news. So now Lamar and able to get out of the hole more because chasing a glory, Greg's friend Joe Tessa Tour with the call Lamar Miller ninety seven yards of the House, with the Houston Texans still the only two time making the leap candidate. I did a little research on this, greg Um Chris Wessling wrote the Lamar Miller two thousand thirteen making the Leap copy, and then in two thousand sixteen, after four frustrating but tantalizing seasons in Miami, he moved to Houston to replace Arian Foster, and the old Zeuser said, Oh, this feels like the moment for Lamar Miller, a two time making the leap candidate, never quite made the leap, but it was always an interesting player to me. Yeah, one of the stranger corners you were ever on was Lamar Miller corner. Year after year, you just really like Lamar Miller. No one could really totally wrap their arms around it. But all right, can we wrap our arms around J K. Dobbins and his status as he looks to another season coming off an a c L injury. NFL Networks Ian rap Report reports that the Ravens running back is quote no sure thing to be ready for Week one. Rapp Report noted that Dobbins has not had any setbacks in his rehab. It's going well, but the injury was extensive. There was a meniscus tear, the a c L damaged the lateral side. Ian reported, so you have this very tantalizing running back, this talented player who you don't know exactly what he's going to give you now to that point, Greggy. J K. Dobbins then tweeted, I might not even go on pup because that's how good my rehab is going and I'm damn sure gonna be ready for week one. So he refuted rap Sheets reporting as you have done in the past. Greg your thoughts, well, yeah, me and rap Sheet, Yeah, I've had some differences of opinion in terms of coverage this year, but this is certainly one where I trust his reporting over JK. Dobbins, because, yeah, I'm sure j K Dobbins is feeling good about his rehab, but Ian's getting the information from uh, the team or doctors or agent whoever is trying to look out for j K. Dobbins and doesn't expect him to be ready for the start of the season, and they're gonna try to save him from himself because they know him being healthy later in the year is more important. Gus Edwards is also coming off of an injury. Uh you know, they drafted or running back there in the later rounds, like they can get by without J. K. Dobbins for a couple of weeks. So this is one though, even though I'm sure he wants to get back on the field, If I'm a fantasy football player and I hear this from Ian, I would I would trust it, And it sounds like one of those things that they'll work them in slowly, maybe week three weeks. For not the biggest deal in the world at the running back position, they can fill in. It makes me think of Sae Kwon Barkley last offseason this time where you had, you know, very serious knee injury. Is recovering from the rehab was not going poorly by any stretch, but it was going along in its own process. And similarly, he ended up playing. I don't think he started the season, and then he never really found to flow. Hopefully that doesn't happen with Dobbins all right. Another news Rodney Hudson's coming back to the Arizona Cardinals. Rap Sheet reports that Hudson has informed the team he's returning and will play in entering his age thirty three season. Hudson did not play very well for Arizona last year, but he's a key guy for them at the pivot, Greggy, So this is good news for a team that could use good news, huge news. There offensive line played so much worse in the games that he missed, So even though he wasn't like the All Pro that he used to be, he was way better than their backup state. They ended up having all the snap problems and and the fact that he was considering retirement. Uh, is the best possible outcome because we did this. We did this story on the show You Missed last week, Dan, and so I wanted to kind of close the loop that it's something weird was going on that they weren't. They were sending out birthday messages to other people who had Rodney Udson's birthday, but not to Rodney. Then they sent out a tweet with four starting offensive linemen that were just like our big guys are gonna protect, but they didn't include Rodney Hudson. It was four starters and the fifth was missing, and it seemed like maybe something was going on between the two, but I guess it was just he was considering retiring and they didn't want to put his name out there if they didn't know he was gonna play. So so that's good, just to close that loop. He will be playing. It does always surprise me when I learned that you guys are doing the show when I'm not here and you don't like it. I don't love it. I don't love it, but I understand it's necessary. Um, and I don't plan on missing another show greg Um until the off season that follows this. Now I think we're I think we're probably locked in now here. Um. Yeah. That was That was from Japan. That was that was That was a wild Yeah. How you doing. How's your jet leg It's good. It's way easier to focus on like overcoming jet lag, and it's much harder coming back from Japan. It's easier to focus when you have no family around you. My my, my wife Emica and our children are still in Japan for another ten days, so so everything seems easier. It's like you can't complain about anything when that's the case, and one of the great life hacks. It might be obvious, but I'm sure some people might think it's better to try to line you know, change your children's sleep habits or try to keep them in line if you travel across the country, like we live in California. We've been in New Jersey now for a couple of weeks. I have kept the children on Pacific time, and that's wonderful. Oh what what, what a treat. So the kids get to stay up later here in New Jersey and they and they love that. And then, oh, greggy, the mornings, those boys are quietly sleeping in their beds at ten fifteen am, ten thirty am. It's a whole new world. You know, once you have kids, the days of sleeping past seven am are mostly over. And this has just been a wonderful rest bit and I've I've truly enjoyed it. That that's a good move. That's a good move. I would think the Circadian rhythms and the and just the sunshine, they would naturally fall into the East Coast after a few weeks. You can't do that when you're coming back from Tokyo though, Like for instance, we're taping this in the West Coast morning, it's three am there on Wednesday already in Tokyo, so it's you you can't play that game in Tokyo. That's a dangerous game. I should note that we keep them in a windowless basement here on the Jersey Shore. Uh. In other news, the Cleveland Browns plan on signing an extra quarterback behind Jake Briskett if Deshaun Watson is suspended. That according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Watson um likely facing a lengthy suspension due to all of his off the field tribulations. Um So the Browns, if that indeed does happen, are gonna want to add somebody else. Baker Mayfield, of course no longer an option traded to the panther Is. And on the subject of Deshaun Watson, the Houston Texans have reached settlements with thirty women who made claims or were prepared to make them against the NFL organization for its alleged role regarding sexual misconduct allegations against Brown's quarterback Deshaun Watson in massage sessions. The attorney for the women, Tony Buzzby, said in a statement on Friday, Yeah, it was interesting that the It's like the Texans settled this so quickly. There's no word whether the Texans will face an NFL punishment. You would you would think that was possible. We're still waiting to hear the Watson news. It might not happen. Even now they're saying before the Browns show up for training camps, which would be awkward. We don't really know. And really, the takeaway from Mary Kay's report I thought was notable was just they want to sign a clear back up to Brisket. It unless they're trying to mislead the media it. I don't think they're gonna bring in Jimmy G. They You know, people have speculated about that that if Watson gets half the season or the full season, would would you bring in Jimmy g. At least the reporting indicates that no, Briskett is going to be their guy either way. He's been with the team all offseason and he'll know the offense better. We'll see alright. In other news, Eddie Goldman's NFL career is over. The defensive tackle UH the Atlanta Falcons has surprisingly retired at the age of the former second round pick um hangs up the cleats. Uh. This comes after he signed a one year deal with Atlanta earlier this month, but something changed. Obviously, Greg between now and then. Yeah, it's surprising, not a not a long run with the Falcons reminds me of Frank Gore's run with the Eagles back back in the day. Old heads. We'll remember that Goldman was like one of the best young nose tackles in the league for a few years. It feels like no one was impacted more negatively from the pandemic than him. He had injury issues, but then he sat out the pandemic season and he could never get healthy on his way back. But it seems like it was more of an injury thing than anything else. But Falcons fans actually were hopeful he was going to start, so that it is a loss for them. Alright, Happy trails, Eddie Goldman and whatever comes next. And finally in the news, Leonard four Nett, you know, playoff Lenny Lombardi. Lenny the dude has always been a tank, but right now it's a particularly large tank. A tank that I think, um, I think West used to call him battleship Lenny. Is that because of his inability to change directions? Yeah, he he would say him trying to you know, move around. That was that was a tough nickname for him. To put on him. So four Net he skipped voluntaryots with the Bucks and then he showed up at mandegutory minicamp um very heavy compared to the end of the two thousand one season. How heavy his listed weight six ft And this report from Rick Stroud, coaches were not happy and that's an understatement report regarding the team's mini camp when four Nett didn't participate in the o t s. But then he shows up at the mandatory minicamp weighing damn near two hundred and sixty pounds, So that could be an issue. And remember they have a third round pick, Rashod White, who's in the building and hungry in a different way, uh from Lenny. That could make this an interesting backfield in Tampa. There are some people, some people I trust draft draft knicks, that think we're Shod White is the man that that he should have been drafted way higher, that this is a great opportunity. He's someone I'm I'm not curious about that much in the preseason. I'm gonna be curious to watch a little Rashad White. I'm not worried about Lenny though, Like when stuff happens in May and that everyone gets mad in the press and stuff. That's like six weeks before camp. You can drop a lot of weight in six weeks. There's six weeks of camp until the game's actually start. That's a solid three months. You would think he'll be able to get his weight down and then it's it's tough for some of these players. So you know you're out of the you get it out of the practice, the weight comes on, it comes off. It's a battle. And four Nets definitely one of those guys. I want to see how four Net does during this break. I definitely want to see how Kay backed in with the Jets comes out of this break, because this is for a lot of guys, not just these two dudes. Um. They do use that last stretch between mini camp and the start of training camp as there let me get down to my playing way and I've had some fun in the off season. Now it's time to get crazy. I know the game is different. It used to be guys would be like smoking cigarettes and we're you know, laying down driveway in the off season and then they would use training camp to get into shape. It's not that way anymore, but you can still sense it. Greg for a lot of guys, or some guys at least, there is that like, Okay, time to buckle down and get serious ahead of training camp. That seems to be the case of the four net anyway. I think, Um, that's refreshing. It's sort of old school, you know, it's a Parkins. It's Parkins, back to the old days of the NFL that you could just like get a little sloppy in the eye and get back. You know, I've had too much fun this offseason. I've been traveling too much out of my routine, always battling the bulge, and that this is going to be the same thing for me. I'm going to try to use training camp um as a ramp up to week one to just you know, try drops Melby's. You know, we're on camera and stuff. It's just like the summer Man. Sometimes it gets you. It seeks up and get you all the grilling out and a few too many tea. I could. I could stand to get in a little better shape right now too. Um. It's the opposite for coaches. They show up in the best shape of their lives and then they slowly get worse and worse as the season gets along. Like Bill Belichick always should you know, shows up about Yeah, I don't want to we we shouldn't be fat shaming or anything, but he definitely shows up in better shape than he looks in December. And that's that's typical of a lot of coaches. The the guy that always stands out to me is Rex his first year with the Jets when they made that unexpected run to the a f C title game. If you ever go back and watch that game and Peyton Manning had a second half comeback. Um, so it does show up sometimes on NFL Network whatever. Rex is huge by the a f C Title game, just because you know that job, the stress and the late nine was another one. He would show up to camp looking one way and this season would end a little different anyway. Training camp for playoff Lenny also for you know, playoff tugboat is starting right now. All right, that's what's happening in the news. Let's take a break, and then it's time for Bill Barnwell, welcome back, joining us now. Is one of the best football writers in the game. He's been pounding out copy for years over on ESPN dot com. It's a compliment. He also is the host of the Bill Barnwell Show. There's a hint for you, and he has nothing in his Twitter bio. Bill Barnwell, welcome back to Around the NFL. That that may change. I may change it to copy pounder dot com. There's something a little alerted though about copy of Pounder. I don't know. Yeah, Dan, you were mentioned. Connor Or was on our show a few years ago and had had takes on all of our Twitter bios. I think he thought my my one word bio is a little too cute. I wonder what he thinks about the Bill Barnwell just leaving blank all like all business that it does a sense of mystery there. Bill, there's an aura I think to it. I don't want to I don't want to set preconceived notions. I want someone who does not know me at all to stumble on my account judge my my bad takes based on the quality of the take as opposed to where I work. Asked Bill, who is Bill Barnwell l O l idiot? And then eventually realized that I work for ESPN. Right. And also there's the old, the old phrase, you know what is it? Why buy the cow when you get the milk for free? I think that's highs in somehow to that as well. I'm not sure if it's necessario find the cow or the milk, but I think either way, you know, I really believe that I want to be judged based on the quality of my work, for better or worse. And on Twitter, I mean, you know, realistically, I don't want to sense some ideas. I know people are going to be upset if I tweet too much, tweet too little, only tweet about football, don't tweet about football. So at this point, just feel in whatever you need to fill in. I may not agree with what Connor or thinks works for Twitter accounts, but I have stood by this for several years now. All right, good And by the way, Connor will be joining us UH later this summer ahead of the beginning of the season where we break down team slogans for two so stay tuned for that. But right now we've got Bill Barnwell and UH. You could check Bill's latest article. I read it this morning. I enjoyed it. NFL MVP two cases where you take a player and then find someone you know, use history, as Chris Wessling was known to say, history is instructive and find a case that connects with the player entering the season. I particularly like the Matthew Stafford comp to Matt Ryan in ten veteran quarterback has pelts on the wall, but now he's another year in a system with a gifted play caller on a good team. Look out. I kind of into that Mett Stafford, Greg, I know where where are we on? And getting in Vegas? Greg. With Matt Stafford m v P, I feel like he's not one of the even close to one of the favorites. Um, but he's not as big a longshot as Brett Rippon, who Bill still also somehow squeezed into that column and I gotta admit, like I would have clicked on it anyways. But ESPN used the Brett written as like a cell on their homepage and I was just like, well, that's very Unbill Barnwell like, and um, you know, I I saw what you were doing. You were trying to think of a comp for Kurt Warner, and that's it's a tough one to find. Well, I mean, think about how unlikely Warner was. That's an MPP candidate, right, I Mean we're talking about a guy who was eight time undrafted, had eleven career pass attempts. Was the backup all training camp until turn Green. I believe to his A c L were like Brett no one had ever heard of. Like when he was I remember the first game Warner started, I was like, who's Kurt Warner? No, no one, no one really knew him. And that would be the case with Brett Rippon unless you're like a Mark Crippen fan. You were writing the rotal World word for Kurt Warner, saying Joe dre Made is coming in in two weeks, Joe Jr. Main priority way for pickup. And I mean it was incredible. You know, it's one of the most incredible stories I think in recent NFL history. And I think, you know, I brought up Bret Rippon because even Brett Rippon is so much more likely to be a useful player than Kurt Warner was. It's just so incredible and so out of nowhere. And I think at this point, you know, working back twenty years, it's so hard to find a good comparison there. History is instructive, and the social media people, they you know, that's what they're paid to do, find the hookies thing. But sometimes you know, for the copy pounders like us. You'd like to have something that the reader that the reader kind of you work your way to that spot and it's like, whoa, that's fun. Like just a perfect case in point the Superstar Club and NFL dot Com Last week, I justin Tucker the last he was the Grand Finale, And what do you think is to sell all over NFL and it's uh, you know, connected properties. Justin Tucker, what are you gonna do? Yeah, well, keep pounding. I think it's what we're gonna do. We're just like the Carolina Panthers here on around the NFL trademark infringement intended. All right, now, Greg needs help. That's how I took this. I took this as um was rewatching Titanic for the first time in many years with my nieces here on the Jersey shore. And when they just start sending up those flares after the iceberg hit, it's already too late. They're doomed and Carpathias like four hours away. Here's the good news, Greg, we are the Carpathia. Me and bar barn Well, we are not four hours away. We're right here for you now because you need help with the two thousand and twenty two making the leap class. That's how I took this. Is that correct or incorrect? That that's correct. I think we're also like the band on the Titanic as people who are trying to be copy pounders in two, like getting people to read long form stuff on the internet. But yeah, I'm doing making the Leap and I thought Bill would be this year. They want me to do one per team. I did that last year and so I'm doing one per team at Bill I thought would be a fun guy. And you you as well to help me narrow it down per team. Well, he's the special guest. You're always here, So yeah, I'm gonna as well. I mean, you're always here. This is what's different. And we run through a bunch of the teams that are a little harder to do. So I'm just gonna dive in. I'm gonna mention some of the teams that I already think I know where I'm going. Like Bill, I'm gonna gonna be one per team. Yeah, okay, I I don't know if we'll go through all. We'll just talk some of the more interesting teams. Um. But in the a f C S I really like Ed Oliver. I think I'm gonna go go with him. I feel like he already broke out, but people didn't notice. Jets, I'm going with your boy, Elijah More most likely, I wanted to start with the Pats because, if nothing else, this made me feel a little bit better about the Pats roster that they have actually a bunch of options, which not a lot of not every team does. And uh, I'll throw the is by you Bill and Dan Kyle Dugger. Uh their safety who's a playmaker, Christian Barmore who had an incredible rookie season. Then you get then you get to the point, did he already make the leap? Is that not not big enough to take josh Uch Amina Kim's favorite who they really need to step up sort of as a pass rusher, Romandri Stevenson, one of the best rookie running backs in the league last year, and not even throwing Kendrick Borne, who might be their number one receiver. So unlike a lot of teams, I feel like they have a lot of good options. Where would you go, Bill? I I think I would go josh Uch here because I think they really need a linebacker to step up. I mean Jamie Collins, Dante high Tower, Kyle van Noy all gone. And that's a lot of not just reps, not just staffs, which just brain power. You know, those are guys who were really the brains of that defense in so many ways at the second level. And I think for Josh Uch, you know, we've seen him almost exclusively play on the edge. So to me, I think the question is, you know, can he be a guy who plays in the middle as well? Can he be a three down linebacker? Can he do more than just rushed the pastor because I think Bill donald Chick wants his linebackers to be able to do that, but he doesn't want that to be the only thing they do. So to me, I think, you know, Josh ch I I think the lead for him is just does he have more than what he's shown so far? Canny play a bigger role, because I think that's the difference between him being a guy who's one and done in terms of contracts on this roster or a guy who sticks around for a second deal. I I would go with bar More. I think you look at what he did last year, how he came on and got better and better. He had more hurries last year. Um Or had more pressures last year than Aaron Donald as a rookie, and he came on against the run. He has his past rushing grade on PFF was really jacked up in the second half of the season. So you know he's the second rounder, right, So it's one of those As a Patriots hater you could call me, these are the type of guys that they find an unearthed and become big time players for you know, several seasons. So he would be my pick. Can I push back on Uh, it's not really a pushback, but I like gave Davis with Buffalo, I know you got it Oliver in there. I think there's I think you nailed it with the Jets even though you don't even have Zach Wilson is like a under consideration and the word document. Yeah, I sent you a document of like candidates for it's just weird. I have to believe in him, and I you know, I don't know, but if Elijah Moore has a huge season, Zach Wilson probably takes a big step. But anyway, gave Davis with Cole Beasley out of there, um I think that's that's a big part Emmanuel Sanders out of the picture what he did in the playoff game against the chief Sometimes I get caught in this personally, Bill, I don't know, um if you do too. When a player has a huge breakout game in the postseason, I think that's a natural leaping point. It doesn't always play out that way, but the way he he stepped up on the biggest stage there, that's stuck with me. I think about that route where he just broke Mike used his ankles once a week. I literally watched it two days ago. I learned up next Gen and I was just like, I'm gonna watch this route ten times in a row. I gave Davis. Think is so interesting because if you look at and I realized, this is not a fantasy football podcast. So I apologize for bringing something we we we tried to pepper in the Fantasy advice. This time of year especially, we will have the Fantasy Spectacular coming up next month is the tent the annual, ninth annual. Who even really knows who can count that far? But Dave Davis is like going in the fourth or fifth round of Best Ball Draft right now? He is what really he's going to be. Yeah, he's going he's going to be a real difference maker and immediate superstar. And I think you know, to your point, I feel like that is that is really just something that is a product of that last game. I think if he had had a nice ad R game in his final postation game, he was good, but not four touchdowns and an other worldly I think he'd be going a couple of rounds later, even given the huge opportunity there is to not be the number two receiver in that offense. So I you know, I'm optimistic about his chances, but I don't know he's going to be the guy who I think people are are counting on that high in fantasy football drups. Yeah, I would not take him that high. He's sort of the obvious pick. I just feel like Ed Oliver there was that that class of defensive tackles who they've taken turns, who's played well, and I think people didn't really notice that Ed Oliver finally looked like a top ten pick in the second half last year. And so he's just someone I sort of want to highlight. That's what this is about too. I'm kind of leaning bar more, though I'm with you on nuche they need, they need more out of him, and that's what I hope as a Pats fan, and he hasn't played much. I think I'm just scarred by the Chase Winovich era, where like per Snap, he was one of the best pass rushers in the league and they would never put him on the field. And that's a little bit what has been like the last couple of years. And there are different types of making the leaps, and I try to I try to balance it out. You want some good names, some big names. That's some selling pat you want some coming out of nowhere. You're gonna end up having a lot of receivers because I'm basic, uh, and so they're just they're just easier guys to pick. But you also want some leaps from like a guy like bar or who. It's not like I'm like putting on my great scouting hat and saying, like this guy is gonna be a player, Like everyone already knows that who watched the Patriots. But I think he's got a legitimate chance to be like a superstar. So that would be a big leap going from great rookie year to one of the very best in the entire league, and then you know, you only remember your hits, you only bring up your hits in the future. So midway through the season, when Barmore's making that mid season All Pro Team, I I'll say, remember back on that show back in July, Dan, you told me to pick Barmore. We failed it. Let's keep rolling here. Yeah, I didn't mention the Dolphins. By the way, I think I'm gonna do the either Javon Holland or maybe their entire offensive line because their offensive line was so bad. I think the coaching help uh Ravens kind of looking at Adolpha oh way, it's probably my favorite. Bengals is weirdly a tough team to find candidates, just because they're all there. Logan Wilson doesn't get enough uh pop rounds. I'm leaning Aussa Coramoa over Greg Newson, but the Steelers for good options. Naj Harris Miles Jack with the rare like seven or eight years into his career, but everyone forgot about him and now he's a free agent making the league. But I think he could do it. Chase Claypool, who recently said he thinks he's the top three receiver in the league, and Alex Highsmith, who's quietly put up a lot of production across from t J. Four good options, which is a good sign for the Steelers that they have that many options. Where would you go? I The problem is I have to believe in the player right that's here, and I think the guy who comes to mind from you is actually none of those guys. That Dan Moore, who is left tackle, I think was last in ESPN's past Block Win Right rankings last year, so not great, But I mean that organization did not replace him. They did not supplement him. They believe in him as a starting left tackle. And I think the Steelers, given their drafting and development history over the past forty years, I'm not not saying that they're always right, not saying that, just said they were last. Is that a shot at the whoever came up with past block win Ray at ESPN like they might be listening and being like, come on, barn well, I I think he's gonna get better. Is he gonna get better enough to be a franchise left tackle? That's a tough question. But you know, I think last year with Ben Roethlisberger was okay, Ben can't move, but at least he knows what's coming. At least he has a good sense of where the rush is going to be. Now it's Mitch Robiski. Now it's Kenny Pickett, who can move, but who are not as as sort of season as Ben Roethlisberger. So it's can then Moore protect the blind side of two young quarterbacks? And if he can, that's a huge difference maker for a team that you know does not have a lot of cap space to spend. It's certainly not invested heavily in their offensive line. Um, I think that's the most interesting player I'm watching heading into your two. I'm just not sure if I believe in him. I'm going to Claypool here. Um, he was electrifying as a rookie and a skill set just like jumps off this green. When you watch him, sometimes I wonder is he a little bit of a knucklehead? And and and is he a fit with the Steelers? I don't know. And you look at the numbers he declined at least he only had two touchdowns last year. But you know it's all there, and you know that it couldn't. I know they don't. They're not settled at quarterback now or we don't know yet with Trabinsky and maybe Kenny Picket and maybe a dash of Rudolph. But anything I think is better than dead Ben like that, if I had to take a chance on a guy that may be disappointed uh last season a little bit. I'm making a big jump and making the leap and becoming like an all pro I'm not saying top three like he thinks, but becoming a pro Bowl type talent. Clay Pools my guy there. I I think I'm a top three podcaster on this show. Personally. I mean you went off the board, Bill, I'm not sure. I mean it was good analysis, definitely the first dan More pop we've given all offseason, and it is a big story for them, their offensive line in general. You didn't mention Pat fryar Muth either. He's a little saucy. Oh yeah, I should have. Actually, people love people love the Fireman. I think Jack could be a sneaky, big pick up for them because you just don't like Devon Bush. I think Devin Bush is ultimately going to get replaced bench by him. He's a weird pick here. Highsmith gets some Yeah, I friar Muth actually might be the guy and he wasn't listed, so I take back nag is too too much of a basic pick, although you know his per per cary numbers weren't great. I wanted to throw in, uh, Davis Mills Texans conversation, He's probably gonna be the pick for the Texans, just because I I just personally am We haven't talked Davis Mills like all off season, and I'm just kind of curious for your take, Bill, And just you know, Nico Collins would be another guy they're talking up. I know our friend Nate Tys really likes Taviarra Thomas. Who's a cornerback, Who's who's fighting for playing time? There? They they I did projected starters a couple of months ago, and their defense was easily the hardest side of the football to project on all thirty two teams. Like it was just like what I I don't know who is starting on this point, so it's hard to predict to making the leap out of that group. Where are you in terms of your Davis Mills belief, I'm not high. I have to admit, you know, I think that five game stretch to end this season. You know, hey, numbers were fine, pretty good. By all accounts, defenses he were playing not specially impressive, and to be fair, the defensive played as a starter earlier in the season were a lot tougher, So there was a high bar early in the campaign. But I would really discount that a little bit based on the defenses he played towards the end of the year. I'm not saying that you throw him out, not saying that you never give him a chance again. But I think the organization saying he's our guy, at least for this year. We're not going to make any other move to try and make a significant alternative here. I'm a little skeptical of To be fair, I will say I am writing right now for ESPN. I'm doing my off season rankings of skilled position players for each team. The Texans were thirty two last year, and I don't think the Texans, I don't want to spoil anything. I don't think they're moving too far off that spot this year. So I think for Davis Mills, decent offensive line, but the weapons not really there, and so I think you know that is going to hurt any quarterback. We'll get to another quarterback later on. I think who has an even worse situation. But I do think that for Davis Mills, you know, I think he's playing with half of a hand tied behind his back. Maybe I think he could certainly use more help than what he has. I actually went with Brevin Jordan's here where I think it's a question, you know, is he just a guy who's playing because they have no other options to tight end? I think their back up as Anthony all Claire or is he a guy who is a good athlete who can be a player who you know, even if he's not, you're in mind tight end who plays a thousand stafs? Can he be an athletic tight end who makes place for you? And I think that is something the Texans have to figure out this year. What they're receiving corp is okay, we have Brandon Cooks, but who else is playing in our offense three years from now besides the star former Rams wide receiver. You want to shine the light on anybody else in the a f C South ride before we move on? No, No, I was gonna just I'll quickly you know, Pitt Pittman, probably the Colts, maybe Quitty pay Trevor Lawrence. You gotta get like I said, you gotta have it. You gotta have some star power here. That's that's someone you can sell the article with Trevor Lawrence. Titans bad. Another bad sign for your Titans grave digger that they didn't really have any good options. I might go with like their young cornerback duo Christin Fulton and Elijah Molden kind of do a package deal. Let's move to the if I had to, if my life was on the line and I had to nail one of these for making the leap, and it is basic, but it's a good sell. I think Trevor Lawrence is gonna make a substantial leap this year. That would be my pick if I had to put it all on the line. Anyway, I like to hear your guy's choice as well before the end of this exercise. Okay, mine, mine might be the next guy. Um Jerry Judy and a Broncos. Now, certain would be an easy pick there. He already was. I mean I don't necessarily he obviously had. You know, he had the disturbing off field UM arrest this offseason, which which got thrown out. Doesn't seem like he's gonna get um punished by the NFL. He and even just in terms of what you've heard from the Beat writers in terms of his attitude on the field and some of the things coaches have said, there are some questions about maturity there um, which which makes you worried. Albert oh is another name I would throw, but I just sort of trust. You gotta trust your eyes with certain things. And he moves in such a way that so few people in the NFL move. And I just think getting open is the is the most bankable asset that any receiver can have, and he does that really well. And now he's gonna upgrade at quarterback. As much as I like Teddy, it is an upgrade here to Russell Wilson, and to me, I think if I'm picking any of those guys, I know it's a deep receiver group, but I think Judy benefits from Wilson being there the most. I mean, I'm just a lowly copy pounder, so I don't have the eyes to examine the way players move. That is a art form that I could not possibly look to us a litleg copy pounder. But my question for Jerry Judy is this, Like, yes, Jerry Judy has had middling, maybe bad quarterbacks his first three years in the NFL at first two years in the NFL. Compare that to someone like Terry McLaren, who's had even worst quarterbacks and been more productive. Michael Pittman has had similar quarterbacks and been more productive. I mean, guys, you know, I think the argument that Jerry Judy will get those first two years out because he was playing with crappy quarterbacks, like, there are other teams with other players who have had worst quarterbacks who have been more productive. So to me, I think I'm cautiously optimistic about Jerry Judy, but I think that's sort of just plug and play. Oh, we're inserting Russell in, he's gonna get thirteen Huntrey yards. I don't. I'm not with you on Allen Robinson before he kind of quit last year. Another guy. You know, the guys that are really studs. They find a way to get the numbers. But he's also a guy. You remember his last game against the Raiders when he had five catches for a hundred and forty yards. It's all there, But you're putting your life on the one Greg Well, yeah, I also think he's like just much more. He's more talented than than Courtland, Sutton and Hamler and Patrick. I think he's he's the one, um, but you're not gonna put mvs is the making the leap guy for the Kansas City Chiefs? Like why not? It's just because he just had Aaron Rodgers on his team for years and he was always a tantalizing the guy, but it just never put it together. Why is he now going to put it together now? Because they need him, because they need him, because his role is gonna change, see him, Yeah, they need him so did so do the Packers, but it never really happened. Yeah, how is his role going to change in Kansas City? He's not going to be like a three levels receiver just because they need him to be one. Like, well, that's what you know. You're right, I might be falling for the O T A stuff, but that is really like the ot SU was like there, now he's gonna be a three level receiver like you been doing this twenty years, my friend. It's a fair point. A lot of it is opportunity though, and I and I do think for because of the money that they gave him, uh and because he's a long term piece there, that he is going to have a lot of opportunities and for him making the lake would be nine yards I mean, and and make a bunch of big plays in prime time. It doesn't need to be uh, some massive thing. And I could see it where he feels like you know, people were saying Tyreek Hill many, the many. One of the many reasons why they will miss Tyreek Hill is you know the four or five times a year where mahomes just his freestyling and find someone down the field that that feels like MVS is spot the ship for sure, absolutely, But that's four or five times a year. He was that guy with the Packers already, like he would have you know, he'd go for one forty and two touchdowns three times a year and then he'd have four weeks or he'd have seventeen yards and he'd be just where didan fiasco? I think that's maybe he's a better version of that this year. Well, Ronald Jones would be another like disappointment elsewhere that that possibly steps up because I just don't believe in Edwards Hilaire, um Nick Bolton, I guess would be an option. Um, you know the man who didn't quite come down with that, Joe Burrow weird sideline passed that it could have intercepted. That would have maybe one put put the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. Legarius Sneek just doesn't get a lot of attention, so I could I could mention him. What about what about one thorn Hill? I mean a guy who was very good as a rookie since then, I mean, Okay has been in an outible lineup a bit, but it was in more last year than out And I think, you know a player where I think I'm wondering, is he just, you know, is he better than Daniel Sorenson? Is that why he's in the lineup? Or is he actually legit, you know, above average starting safety. I think I want to see see him play seventeen games and play consistently well this year. So I could just feel Dan getting nervous because the pacing of this is in trouble. You ou it's like you gotta get Bill out of here. No, it's it's not. It's me because I'm trying to like crank through off. I think you're projecting upon me. I do know we have to take a break. So let's take a break, Greg, and then we're gonna hit the NFC. See that's just that's tugboat, just keeping things under control. It's like the captain on the Titanic. I'm not gonna be on the lifeboat. I will be behind the big wheel when the water comes rushing in. See Dan's in Jersey, and I just think I can do whatever I want. Let's second break. We'll be right back. All right, let's get to it. The NFC East with Bill Barnwell. Let me do A friend says, all right, if you're just joining us, Bill Barnwell does really great stuff over at the ESPN. He's joining us with talking making the leap Greg. How about the NFC East. Yeah, Washington was one of the teams. I couldn't come up with anyone. I was like, Oh, I don't know, just do like Antonio Gibson bounce back Cowboys probably ceedee lamb over uh oh diggiz other really like what Dickie do? I just I wanted to talk Giants because Bill is our our resident Giants fan that tries to hide that he's a Giants fan. Somewhe um it was going through some stuff right now the listeners, you know, his his hands are buried in his face or look I think I feel better about the future of the Giants right now than I haven't about a decade. It. It might not be great this year, um, but this is one where I don't need your help. I'm definitely going tod Areus Tony because I am a huge Cadarius Tony believer, and I was just curious if Bill is with me on this at all. I'm not. I I think he's okay, I think he's interesting, but like we're we're basing our kid Darius Tony optimism on one game. Yeah, but that's it. It was like two games. It's really two games. He did some things against the six catchers for two d and sixty seven yards in that two game stretch. Otherwise, yeah, and that was it. And how about those eyes? How about how he moves? You gotta admit, you got to admit he has a freak in terms of how he moves, like a Tyreek Hill type of thing. When you are staring at at the life nature of NFL players moving, I'm out. I'm pounding the copy. My head is down. This is yes. You know, I know you're a numbers guy, and we want, you know, factually, don't put him out. You still you still gotta look at a guy like Canary So as a rookie stepping out there and having a game and making NFL defensive players look silly in a way that few players do, and doing that right off the bat and thinking, Okay, there's something here in the right system that they could harness. And it feels like Brian Dable would be that right system. He just has to stay healthy and kind of have his head on straight. That's fair. I think that's absolutely fair. But what I would say is Number one, he you know, we think it hurt later on in the year, but he it's not that guy consistently after that two week stretch. And number two, they did do second round picked on one deal Robinson, who is kind of the same sort of player, maybe not as good, maybe more of a project than Kadarius Tony. But that doesn't tell me that the new regime is necessarily in love with And there was rumors swirling around him after year one, which is very unusual. I know there's a regime change and that stuff could happen, but I got some sobering data here. Greg and Bill just touched on it. But he played ten games last year. He missed time, extended time to injuries. He had those those two big games twenty three catches for a hundred and fifty yards outside that two game explosion, so he uh, you know, and he missed most of the spring coming back from knee surgery. So there are there are some obstacles here. Well, Daniel Jones would Daniel Jones would be another option here. You know, one of the reasons Tony didn't produce. Okari would be an option, but Dania Jones would be an option because one of the reasons Tony didn't produce is because they had those terrible quarterbacks and basically the offensive line when from bad too, like unplayable in the last eight or nine you know, weeks of the season. I've made mistakes before, and maybe I'm making it with Davis Mills, where you like get too excited about the last five or six games of a rookie year and then you hold on to that like do you Dan, do you still think Daniel Jones? Don't you think in this Brian Dable type of thing, like at least has a chance. I don't know who else does on this roster anyway, I think given the way things unfolded this year, especially with the this particular quarterback class and everything that was going on with the Giants. I think they made the right call to just hold here and give him one more shot. That said, uh, and you used to talk about this with Donald and other guys, Greg, like, once you get to this point, you have to assume the worst. So while he's still tools e, while you wonder what better leadership and a better game plan will he be able to become that guy they thought he was gonna be. You just gotta look at like history and and and think it's not gonna be the year for him. But you know, m I mean, I think that's the good way to put it. You know, I think the odds are against him. And yes, you are changing some of your personnel, You're changing the coaching staff. I think Brian Dable is much more competent than the offensive staff they had in their previously. But look what happened with Sam right Sandwich a Carolina. He had three good games. Are our old friend Evans. But Dania Jones has like don't you're a Giants fan, do you think Daniel Jones has shown that he's kind of a replacement level starting quarterback, Like I'm pretty confident. And I can't say this about Donald that Daniel Jones is going to have like a twelve to fourteen year career bouncing around the league and he'll be like a part time starter. Maybe is like his median outcome, kind of like a Teddy Bridgewater ish career. Oh boy, I did not think Daniel Jones is on Bridgewater's level. You've already slandered Teddy twice. I just think he's shown that he can play, that he can play in the league. I I think Mike and arn is how has he developed? I mean, to me, I think he's still the same guy who is very slow in the pocket. He's he's patient, which I think is a good thing, but also patient to a fault. He's getting hit too often. He doesn't protect the football very well, like the stridc he has made, or not significant enough to me to think that he's going to make a sudden leap. And I think with a backup quarterback you want someone like Teddy. He was going to protect the football, makes heart decisions. Maybe he doesn't have the ceiling other guys have, But Daniel Jones to me, is just not that guy. I think to me, if I was gonna pick someone. I pick Andrew topas where he improved last year he was bad as a rookie, he was much better last year. He looked competent last year. He was not the problem with that lining year ago, but still well behind Wills and works for the best tackle in that class, and he was taken as the first tackle on that class, ahead of those guys. So to me, I think it's is he gonna be a okay tackle or is he going to be the guy the Giants expected and to be a superstar left tackle and a building block for them for the next decade, whether it's Daniel Jones or someone else at quarterback he's protecting in years to come. Um, I'll throw one more out from the NFC A little bit basic because I thought he'd be in the superstar club this year. Didn't quite happen. But Ceedee Lamb making that leap this year I think is gonna happen. I think the way it's setting up for the Cowboys back another year clear of the surgery, Mark Cooper out the door. Um, you're gonna see Ceedee Lamb put up all pro monster stats. In my opinion, you can make a case for Tony Pollard to that those are two good options. I think. I think he finally kind of takes over and becomes that lead guy from Zeke, and he's going to be involved in their passing game as well. I think the Cowboys have two good candidates there. Yeah, I'm one Washington candidate. Please. I he was. I was struggling with them. I will give you Cam Curl the safety where he was mostly a strong safety last year. I think he, you know, makes it up a bit more in o Bryce McCane is. They're back on a one year deal. They have high hopes for him. I don't know if he's going to be, you know, a superstar, but I think, you know, he he has potential. I think there's a lot to like there. I think they were very impressed with him in a small sample. I think he gets a bigger role this year. I think he has the at let us listen to impress. Did the next couple of divisions I'll crank through. But I thought the most one of the two or three most interesting teams in the whole league was the Eagles because they have big name value here for potential making leap, Dan, where are you going to Vanta Smith, Jalen Hurts, we could you could even go Jordan my Latta. As much as I've talked him up, he still has another leap to go where he would be like a first team All Pro type of type of guy. I mean, he's not been a Pro Bowl or anything. And then I know they're very high in Milton Williams, who was a defensive tackle they took and will be part of a rotation, so it might be hard for him to step up. I had a nice rookie year. Um so more than most teams. They've got some good, good name value there. You're gonna want a few quarterbacks on your list when the copy comes out, when it's pounded out. Uh So, I think Jalen Hurts is the safe pick here in the right pick. Um, that's my choice for all the reasons we've talked about. This summer, another year in the system, unquestioned starter, got a new number one receiver. Uh you know, if he's healthy, I think he's gonna ball out and take the leap and be you know, a top It could be a top ten starter if things go really well, but like safely on the right side of the Dalton scale. Could could feel you trying to calibrate that number correct brand just just the scale slightly twelve eight s. I think I think that's a good number. Um, let's go to the NFC North. I mean, I think there's a lot of a lot to get here too as well. And um, you know, I I'm in treat Greg. Who do you think is possibly capable of making the leap on this Bears roster? Well, Darnell Mooney is going to have such opportunity two lane grad So I've talked Hi about plenty on this podcast, but he really is a true deep threat, which not many players in the league are in and it's to me matches up perfectly with Justin Fields. Is skill set and there's so little, uh receiving options behind him. You know, they certainly at tight end they're okay, but their number two receiver might be Byron Pringle and so Mooney even though he might not need to be that much better, just the fact that they'll throw the ball enough like he could easily have yards. Justin Fields would also be an option. Jalen Johnson took a step back last year, maybe, so maybe if you like him to bounce back. But Mooney, this is what the problem is. I don't want to go. You don't want to go too many receivers, But Mooney feels like the guy I will say. I mean, I guess I'm doing the skill position rankings for ESPN. The Bears are very low there they are. If I was doing offensive line rankings, I think they'd be dead last. I mean, Justin Fields has absolutely no help. And I think that's the scary thing is it's not just about him playing poorly. I think it's hard for me to see him even staying healthy through the entire season. That's how desperate I think his situation is. So I think, I guess you go Mooney just by default. But it's just a brutal situation. I feel like that this is making me realize though, Like if you want to and I'm not telling you what to do him here, Bill, but you want there's a lot of people here at ESPN. You want to you want your takes to stand out. I feel like no one's on the like Justin Fields is gonna have a monster second year and be the best second year quarterback guy left. Like everyone's sort of off that. So if only to be unique, someone should be taking that corner. It happens, you could go, Dan, you could go, maybe you could take that someone needs to be the big fields guy, because it could it could happen if he's really as good as we thought he was coming into the league. Like people, I volunteered to help break on one column and now he's he's getting the second. I'm not gonna do. That's what you can do that one, Bill. Yeah, just quickly on the North, I'll just say Panay Sewell probably the leading guy in in the Lions, maybe DeAndre Swift, Alan Lazard maybe stepping up if we wanted to give a shot Gary more Love, He's already kind of taken the leap. Irv Smith, maybe k j Osborne cam bind him in Minnesota. Hey, this one one thing, since you brought up the Green Bay pass catchers, do they need either Lizard or Christian Watson to immediately emerge to be a big time team this year? Are they? I know, you know the Davante Adam situation. I feel like they're very vulnerable unless one of those guys becomes a guy like a dog got the dog in him. Yeah, I mean I think that's fair, you know, And I don't think Lazart has a track record to make you think he's going to be that guy. So I think, you know, maybe it's Robert Tannian coming back from injury. Maybe maybe they just go to a more arun heavy approach, Like I think. I I think you can't just run back that exact same offense, the exact same pass rate, the exact same rounds and just plugging Alan Lazard. I think, Okay, he's gonna be Davante Adams and and that's that's just not gonna happen. I think I think someone has to make a major leap. They don't have to be Dvante Adams, but I think someone has to be the guy. Where we mentioned Nate High State Tyson, he says, who's gonna be that guy who gets you a bucket when you need to bucket? Like Dwante Adams was that guy for the Packers, and now they don't have that guy. There's not that, you know, the guy who's gonna bail you out on third down. So to me, I think someone has to be that player for them. I think they've shown in the Patriots certainly over the years have shown that though, like if you're gonna try to save money or you're a little short at a position. Wide receiver is not a bad one to be short on, because when you have a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers, he can make them better. And the reason I put Lazard first just like he's tried to call Lazard his number one receiver in the off season, so you know that he likes he likes Lazard. He's trying to puff him up a little bit. He's gonna give him opportunities, and that's that's part of the reason you pay Rogers fifty million dollars. Well, we'll fly through the South, the NFC South. I think Kyle Pitts, you almost have to do him with the Falcons. Uh, gross Matos. I've always liked with the Panthers last two years. Jeremy Chin maybe bouncing back. Pete Werner was really good for the Saints as a rookie. I think he's gonna be my pick. Maybe Paulson Adibo. The Bucks didn't have many options because there's such a veteran team. I could get cute and throw Tom Brady and just to be like he's just gonna step up big and ages let's go to the NFC. Can I just I'll throw one for Carolina. J. C. Horne was kicking ass before he broke his foot. But does he qualify because he only played three games as a rookie, so and I think he does. Okay, well, I think you should thank you. Okay, can I can I throw a Tampa one in there really quick? Okay? Let me throw on Rusk Gage. Okay. Like, like, Russell gag is coming over from Atlanta, you know, the expectations are pretty high. Tom Brady personally recruited him to come to Tampa. He probably starts in two wide receivers sets to start the season. Like, like, you know, I don't think Russell Cage is going to be a pro bowler, but that's not out of their own possibility that he's a thousand yard receiver in this offense. And that would be a you know, I think a pretty buickly from the guy who was you know, decent numbers in Atlanta but was never seen as like a real difference maker from week to week. No, he was a monster in the last half of last season, and I was just like, what, Russell Gate, Uh, that's a good that's a good pick. Tryon Shanka has such a good opportunity. Um, but it's been pretty erradicate as a pro. The Cardinals, I might go Marquis Brown, Yeah, I do like hyphenated players. Uh, Marky's Brown maybe changing his role up a little bit in that system. Marco Wilson their cornerback. Uh forts he go at, you can go Lance, you Golijah, Mit, you go Comico Torre who kind of like coming in there? Uh, Seattle though, there's a lot of options, So I want your help, Dan. I could throw Gino in there. I'm you know, I'm running out of time to get Gino into my copy. Uh, that would be fun. Jordan's Brooks is a guy that, like people that watch the tape love Jordan Brooks. He never fares very well on PFF because I think he gives up big plays and his coverage is spotty. Uh. No a fan coming over there. We always kind of were waiting for no fan to break out. Darryl Taylor is a good pass rusher that the Seahawks have options. Dan, would would you get cute and go Gino or would you do someboding? I certainly wouldn't go, but I could see you doing that because there's not a big standout guy. I don't know, Like, if if Russell Wilson was throwing the passes, Fan would be interesting to me, but that's not the reality we live in anymore. I don't really have a hot take on this one. I'm not going to force mm hmm. That's smart. I mean, you know, I think it's really a question of what does the offense look like, because I think if that offense looks like it's a you know, if it looks like it's just a run heavy mess and they're just taking some play action shots, then I'm not excited about Fan. But if they're moving the ball, if they get a fan of bunch of red zone opportunities, I think he could be like a nine ten touchdown guy, and that that would be a step forward for me. I don't think he's gonna have a thousand yards. I don't think they're going to have the volume after lock It and Metcalf get theirs. But I think no, if it could be more of a red zone threat, I think that would be exciting. I hope could be their number three receiver thinking in which you know, not not all tight ends are your number three kind of receiver. They don't really have a third wide out get like seven yards and eight touchdowns, and then finally the Rams probably leaning Ernest Jones. You could go note Boom coming in. You could go Cam akersh you could go do you you mentioned you mentioned we had to pick our our luck. I guess and no, it was just just cheating on the block system. But I think I'll go Ernest Jones. Jones was was one of the best players on the field in the Super Bowl. I mean, I mean, and there are a lot of famous players on the field in the Super Bowl, he was phenomenal in that game. I mean, I think for them, you know, I don't want to say he's gonna be this guy because this is probably the best possible outcome for his skill set or for his his draft status and where he played last year. But I think he's the guy who has to be the Fred Warner for the Rams. And I think in terms of his ability to work with in the context of coverage, in terms of his ability to you know, to cover different parts of the field. He looked like that guy in the postseason, especially in the Super Bowl. So to me, I think he's still work in progress, but he has that kind of upside and I think he's going to be a significantly uh, he's gonna be a really important player for that team this year. I think, Greg, when you have this article that goes up live next week on NFL dot com, in the opening graph or two before you dig in how much pop do Barnwell and I get? Yeah, now now you're getting it. Um. If you hadn't just said that, I don't know if it would have happened. Maybe you would. I would have at least waited till I got to someone that you guys like specifically pitched for. But now that he did, I think that's good and that you know, that just increases the chances of you guys mentioning it ever again. So that can only help spread the word about making the leaf. You know me? Well? Greg, all right, Bill, you've said it all. One day, you and I are gonna be uh in Boston at the same time, and we'll get a sandwich of chicken loose together. Northeastern graduate. I have some bad news, Dan, don't say it, don't I have some bad news. We lost chicken loo during the So sad you can you can buy I believe t k O sauce or some kind of chicken loose sauce on their website now but badly the you know, it was the bread. It was that soft bread with the chicken and the buffalo. Alright, sad day for all Huskies. Literally we did the restaurant closed or did this Luke character clothes on lou himself? I don't know. It was a little shack right off. It was like a food hunting kind of thing. Yeah, yes, um, we'll go to be hop instead, We're going to be alright, good stuff, Bill, Thank you so much again. Check out Bill's writing any ESPN dot com and the Bill Barnwell Show, and he's always on with Mina so you can check Bill. Everybody's on ESPN the television station a lot. I mean, this is a lot of Van Pelt action. You and Van Pelt. Nice yeah, nice rapport Van Pelt to to two Baltman just doing TV. It's a real triumph I think for us, not it's not a lot of bald representation on TV. Happy to finally get two Baltman on the television at the same time together. Big All right, good stuff, Thank you, Bill, appreciate Thanks guys. All right, we say goodbye to Bill Barnwell. But we got some We got another guest because we have developing news and this is not the good type of development news. In fact, disgusted because the city council over in Tybee Island, our beloved Tybee, Chris Westling's former hometown, has come up with some weapons grade bullshit that is targeting the great huck a Poos, the Inness establishment in Tybee Island, the hangout of all hangouts, and that wonderful place, the place that west loves so much. He made a point to make sure we always we're there. When we visited. It was a major uh meeting point and hangout point during Chris and Lakisha's wedding weekend. And now we got some again weapons great, and I want to talk about it. I want to get it from the horse's mouth, the man, the myth, the legend. Now joining us the owner of Huckapoo's, Eric Thomas. Eric, what's up? Welcome to around the NFL love the Westlemania shirt. Uh? What is going on right now in Tybee? Well? I just want to tell you how good you look? Man? Have you been uh been vacationing? Is that what's going on? I'm on the Jersey shore right now, I'm north of you right now, you know, hanging out family, uh, having some cocktails and hanging on the I'm sitting I'm sitting right here, Eric, I'm sitting right here. The last time I saw he was the sweatiest man I've ever seen in mind. Oh my god. I don't know how we played the celebrity softball game, you know, he had all the biggest stars of Tybee Island against NFL, and we got toasted. And I don't know how you people survived down there, and that I certainly forgot heat. It was rough. I almost died on the field that day. And but let's move on from that. Something that was a bad day. And now another bad day here we go. Let's get into it. Was so we've been battling a little bit with the with the city and they sent me an email out of the blue and said you can no longer have music, including the radio after eleven o'clock PM. So there was no vote, there was no discussion, there was no communication with me. It's just an email sent from the city manager to myself. He said that eleven businesses were affected. The other ten businesses closed at ten o'clock. It's a target it's a targeted hit. Why why are they coming after you or do you have any type of heat. I'm trying to figure it out now I'm not I'm not a hundred percent why they're they're coming at me, he said. I asked the same question, he said, due to the numerous complaints that we've received. So I did a so I did UH open records request and I got a list of the complaints and the list stopped at one. There was one complaint about our noise over the past year, and that was on September four. I was wondering if you guys were here on September four. That's the reason I think. That's the reason I wanted to call and see if you guys are responsible. Someone with some money here, um who does who maybe lives nearby and doesn't like that it's late, is using some influence this. This would never have happened. Um. When our when our friend Jason was the mayor. Of course, Jason Gilderman, he married our our great friend Chris Westling. You know he he is who who officially joined Lakisha and Crazy. He was the accician of the of the wedding. He didn't Yeah, he was the efficient. I was looking for the word there. Uh, it wouldn't have happened under his watch. So like, what what can we do here? Um? We we don't want to come We don't want our listeners to come too hard. At whoever's making this decision, the city council. You you tell us, how can we help? Okay, okay, come hard. I'm just saying that's not gonna work. I don't want to think. Yes, that's I think Greg's making a point that crossed my mind yesterday that we have this great listenership, this loyal listenership, and every one of them absolutely love, loved and adored Chris Westling. And when you think about Chris, you think about Tybee, you think about Huck a Poos and my experiences at huck a Poo's, the night just starts heating up around eleven o'clock and everybody's having a great time outside it's and and um, that made me think that maybe you would defeated someone Eric and cornhole that and you've got on somebody's bad side that way, and a late night game. But what can we do? Because I don't want our listeners to come so hard that it becomes somehow hurts the cause. But maybe just voices carry here in this situation. Who who can we send the listeners to to make sure Hucka poos is an unfairly targeted and the city council needs to give you and all the other people who love Hucka, who's a voice? I'm hearing that they're not even letting you bring that up for conversation. I went and applied to be on the agenda for the next meeting that was last Thursday, and I got a call a few days before that said, I've been denied my my rights to speak in front of counsel about this issue. Now they have said, okay, we're gonna slow down this, we're not going to enforce this right now. But it's a it is a law on the books right now that was made by one man and and uh and he did it all himself under the guidance of the council. So I don't really know, you know at this point. Uh, you know, talking about West. One thing we learned from West is if we're gonna go down, we're gonna go down swinging right. We're gonna fight the whole time. So that's what I'm gonna do too. I'm gonna I'm gonna fight. I'm gonna fight him as hard as I can and hopefully get this thing resolved. All right, And if there's someone that our listeners can either tweet out or email, maybe you could let us know, Eric, and we'll make sure that message gets across, because in all seriousness that you know, that really was a place that before we even went to Hackapoos. I remember there were shows because Chris every time he was on vacation um from the NFL, he would always fly back east and always spend time back in Tybee. So many friends, dear friends there and we had a running I'm sure you were on the show before, Eric, where we called the bar and asked for West just not a lark that he would be there, and many times he was. Yeah. So this is uh, this is an important place in the history of this program and obviously on the island. So anything we can do to help write this injustice. It's a disgrace. And your government, the government works for us, the people, and right now it's not. It is not working for the people. It's working for someone, some shadowy figure. And we have issues with shadowy league figures. On our program. There's a shadowy figure out there that I don't know what happened. I don't know who's taking handouts or what's going on. But this needs to stop. This needs to be rectified. It's part of the fabric of that island. And the community is rallying UH right now behind me and UH. And I certainly appreciate that everybody that's UH that's reached out to the city council and to UH and posted their things on Facebook, and it's been awesome to show the support, to feel the love from the community which has always been so good to us, so UH special thanks to them for sure. But but we're gonna, you know, we're gonna we're gonna fight it, and we're gonna we're gonna see, uh see what happens. But we'll take it as far as we can go, because I'm definitely not gonna lie down on this one. Yeah, you shouldn't that. You know that Westwood West would want you to. West loves Hucka Poos more than anything. He would fight it. And and what our listeners can do is what they've been doing, keep going to hock A Poos. We love getting messages very often from overseas listeners who are in the area, so they come in and wanting to know, uh where west is retired Jersey? Is that or like so you'd be surprised at how many people, uh take a pilgrimage to huck a poos just because of Chris Westling. It's a it's amazing, really, it's amazing. We love when when you when our listeners send us those and keep doing it, because it just feels like if there's one thing in the world you could do to honor Chris, like that's it. Go have a good day there, send us a picture like spread the love. It's amazing. I do have one one theory though, of maybe what happened, Um, okay, did you do any kind of um stacking of your softball team, um with some ringers that maybe got somewhat upset and now is somehow using influence because you're wearing this Westlemania softball shirt and you know, we haven't seen you since since that day. Um, and I wouldn't say, like, you know what you did that day to really stack your team with some ringers that barely even New West that we're off the island, was was totally in good spirit, in good, good sporting spirit. So maybe that happened in some other way and that that's what's going on here. I see what you're doing there. I see what you're doing. I appreciate that, you know, but those guys were just fans of West. They weren't necessarily friends. We're still salty about that. We're still salty about that. Next we come down, our fans of West are gonna be you know, Mike Trout and Juan Soto. Well, we're actually hoping to come out there for the next softball game. So that people speaking of west Linkfield where we played ball, it is the home to the Little League UM softball team that won the first their first victory ever in a Little League World Series game right here from Tybee Island. So it was a big on field that that's amazing. Train at west Linkfield. We actually played at Warner Robbins, but they trained at west Linkfield and uh and and history was made, the first victory ever. So it was at and if you do if and listeners, um as the pilgrimage pilgrimages continue to Tybee. Yes, absolutely hit up Hucka Pool's multiple times, but yes, get to Westling Field which was such an amazing job, Eric, and I know you were a vital part of it getting that field renamed Westling Field. There's also a wonderful plaque um that talks about how special west was. Make sure he checked out as well. It's really a special place, Tybee and and I hope um, Eric, everything works out here and whatever we can do to help, we will do. I appreciate it. Karen Thomas, Yes, developing news. A crooked government, local government down there in Georgia's coming after a beloved institution our podcast, Greg, We're just not gonna stand for that. We're there's so many things we've lost our faith in our leaders, and here's just another example on the local scale. No, I'm looking forward to continuing to update this story. And I feel like it's it's like a classic sports movie story where there's just clearly a bad guy here. You got to find out who there's clearly a good guy. And I think we're gonna get our sports movie ending eventually and we'll be able to celebrate, uh this this idea being knocked down with Eric again on the show hopefully. Well, you know, it would be actually a fun thing to do. And I know things are about to pick up and get busy. But if we could, you know, maybe do some type of fundraising too, have an ad campaign that will air on local television down there. We just need to find out who this guy is. We don't really know what to do here at this point right as you can tell, listeners, we're trying to figure out how to help and we're gonna work on that and we'll be sure to keep you updated. Um, but I think finding out who is the the slime ball, the human gutter ball behind this uh, that's step one, I think, and then we pounce. No one can stop us, No one can stop our listeners. We get everyone together. We're a powerful force, all right. We are this podcasts a powerful force. Bill Barnwell, powerful force. Thank you to Bill for joining us. We'll be back on Thursday with another show. It's our last last two show week before we dive all in. We get back together in the studio in l A starting next week. So we got one more show coming up this week, so make sure you check that out until then. As the Great Chris Westling just want to say, he the car, all right, Let's get him a call. Dear God, please pick up Hi, can uh I speak to Chris Westley? Is he at your establishment? Um? We built a shower for patrons. He may be crying in it. Whoa, let me let me they've seen him. They've spun him. All right, great, I love hucka poos corpses. Don't cry. Hello. There he is there. He is Christopher Westling. It is almost six pm on Tybee Island. How you doing, buddy? I'm going wonderfully. Oh did I just hear someone yelling the background? They found him? Like they knew we were looking for you, are't we? We? I had gold standard put the authorities online too in case you didn't pick up this time. We were nervous authorities to my presence. What's going on? How's your vacation been, im? How's the has the trip in so far buddy? And exceeded Chris? We want to know earlier in the week you mentioned to us that you were garage drinking. I just want to know that sounds fun to me. What's that mean? So the people I'm staying with they have a bar in the garage and turning to some fun shenanigans on funding where you've got people houses and you expect to have you know fun? So one of my favorite stories been here is it right shot? For the garage drinking on the first day and the little golf cart cab that comes around the island. Everyone just drops off two cases of beer for the golf club the other day, like a regular payment for the golf cart. Tech we drop off. It's like a very friendly barter system. There's nothing wrong with it. This basically sounds like heaven on Earth for Chris Westling and maybe many of our listeners like a utopia that they couldn't imagine truly exists. Yeah, I'm not coming back, by the way. That was our next question before we let you go west And it's great to hear your voice and we look forward to seeing you. You missed a game that we played last week that you really you'll enjoy, will bring it back? What do you What does that mean? You didn't like it? And Mark you never take Ryan Danno ever drew breathing, no matter the situation that probably anyway, the game is. The game is called koalast Fantasia. And I'll throw one out to you before you go, all right, if you could pick one person to ghost write a biography about your life. Who would it be? Greg Rosenthal or Mark Sessler from the Ryer? No, no, no, I don't think you heard the question because hucka, who's has the first phone? Ever? Apparently, uh, you have to choose either Greg Rosenthal or Mark Sessler. Mark, Yeah, it's got to be Mark. Mark. I was wondering if you're worried about your job security, but you went with the truthful answer, and I respect that I was pointing at Mark the whole time. This seems like I love that made the question. If you should knows that the question made very uncomfortable in the studio. Mark would Mark would be murders in different county. That's true with Mark, there'd be a sense of intrigue and mystery and you could provide that too. Um, all right, West, we need to get to the back to the show because Gold Standards taking over the direction for the rest of the program. But it's great to hear your voice. And please please come home. I kidding, I'm coming on. I love coming you now, and I rove your God, I mean idiots pretty a wos all. I am alive and well, contrary to popular conventional theory, and I all right love you well.