Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Wvuafm Tuscaloosa.
[00:00:14] Speaker B: And you are listening to the NFL student section podcast. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, we appreciate you finding us today as we celebrate for the first time in two years, having a new super bowl champion. Now, for the last two seasons, last three seasons, really, the Chiefs have had a dictatorship over the NFL. It's been 740 days since we have had a different super bowl champion. But that all changed this past Sunday in Super Bowl 59 when Conor the E A G L E S Eagles 1. Super Bowl 59, 40 to 22 over the Kansas City Chiefs. My name is Alex Brown. Connor Rouse, as you just heard there, proud Eagles fan, his team winning the Super Bowl. Tanner Thompson, Evans, Cisneros with us today. Fellas, what a weekend. What a game. Connor, how you doing, buddy?
[00:01:14] Speaker C: Man, I'm doing great.
I just, you know, I called it beginning of the season. I did. Everybody doubted me.
Everybody doubted this Eagles team. Everybody doubted Jalen Hurts, Everybody doubted Nick Sirianni, including me at the beginning of the year. But what a way to put a cap to probably not probably the greatest team in Eagles franchise history. I mean, the dominance just spoke for itself. Going 14 3. And out of those three losses, one of those games, we were fully healthy.
We lost to the Bucks before the bye week and we had no Lady Johnson, no Devonta smith and no A.J. brown.
[00:01:51] Speaker B: And.
[00:01:52] Speaker C: And the other loss that was our only loss after Week 5 was against the Washington Commanders without Jalen Hurts. And, man, it was sweet. I. I said last episode that the Eagles are going to win by double, by two scores. I didn't think it was going to be a massacre like it was this time, but, man, I just, I couldn't stop smiling watching the game and I had to drive back home, drive back from home in Georgia. And I mean, I was just listening to all the, all the talk shows, all the podcasts about how they said Jalen Hurts wasn't a guy who could win a Super Bowl. He wasn't a guy who could lead a franchise. You know, Nick Sirianni, he's a. He's not somebody that you want to trust with some NFL team. You know, it was beautiful. It truly was. And so, you know, when I got home, I just turned the Super Bowl, super bowl on again. Watch it again.
I then watched another set of highlights. You know, I can't wait for this. This time next year when we see Eagles going back to back.
[00:02:52] Speaker A: This guy just can't stop winning, man, I, you know, you talked about those three Losses, you know, a team you should have lost to.
[00:03:00] Speaker C: What team? The Panthers.
[00:03:01] Speaker A: The Panthers.
And that. I know that sounds crazy in and of itself, but we watched that game.
[00:03:07] Speaker C: Xavier Leggett.
[00:03:07] Speaker A: That's not a crazy stance. That's not a crazy sentence.
[00:03:09] Speaker C: It's not a crazy sentence at all.
[00:03:11] Speaker A: If Xavier Leggette didn't have Lego hands, we probably would have won that football game.
[00:03:15] Speaker C: And you want to something even crazier. They had a chance to beat the Eagles and they also had a chance to beat the Chiefs.
[00:03:21] Speaker A: It's.
[00:03:22] Speaker C: It's honestly amazing how great of a second half the season the Panthers had.
[00:03:26] Speaker A: They'll be back.
[00:03:26] Speaker D: We won't.
[00:03:26] Speaker A: We don't have to talk about them now. Your team just won the Super Bowl. But. Yeah. Evan, how are you doing, man? I haven't heard. I haven't heard anything from you.
[00:03:33] Speaker D: I'm doing good.
[00:03:34] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:03:34] Speaker C: I want to know. Sorry, one last thing.
[00:03:37] Speaker A: Sorry. Never mind. Evan, just stay quiet, please, before we.
[00:03:41] Speaker C: Get to the Dolphins. Fan up. Thank you for Vic Vangio.
[00:03:45] Speaker D: You're welcome.
[00:03:45] Speaker C: Thank you for probably a top three defense in the super bowl era.
[00:03:48] Speaker D: I think that wakes the Dolphins up because.
Because I mentioned over the weekend, Connor texting, our group chat. Basically the same thing. Thank you for Vic Fangio. And I said he wasn't a culture guy. He didn't fit our culture. But I don't think that's a knock on him. That's a knock on the Dolphins. We've had a soft culture my entire life. We've gotten to the playoffs, always been hurt, always been, oh, they hit me. I'm just going to lay down, curl up and, you know, do nothing. And we see Javon Holland kicking rocks last year. What did he do this year? Nothing. Every time he was on the field, he was taking plays off, not playing coverage. If there was someone going out of bounds, he would just watch them. He wouldn't dive in, get tackles like he used to. We've got a soft team, and I don't really love that term because there are NFL players on that team who have given a lot of their lives, like Claes Campbell and others.
But it gets to a point. I've seen it so often.
We just need something different. I think Anthony Weaver is going in the right direction. We're getting rid of Javon Holland. We should be getting rid of a lot of other players who just don't do anything. And I'm sorry. Well, you shouldn't be talking about the Dolphins right now. But I don't think getting rid of Vic Fangio was a bad thing on our part, but I think it should wake us up for the future.
[00:05:17] Speaker B: It was definitely a good move for. Not the worst move for the Dolphins. Definitely a good move for the Eagles. Two new coordinators this year, as you keep on flipping them in and out over the last several seasons of the Nick Sirianni area era. But the coaching staff, really, for the Eagles showed up in a big way, and especially on offense, too, for Kellen Moore.
[00:05:35] Speaker C: Yeah, I was a little worried because last time the Eagles won the Super Bowl, Jonathan Gannon was taking, you know, meetings to become the new head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. And, you know, he wasn't all the way in. We could all tell that defense was horrible in the Super Bowl. Just couldn't get any pressure. And maybe it was the field, because talking about. Talking about it last time, everybody seemed. It was like a crazy statement to say that, you know, the Eagles couldn't get any pressure, but, you know, blaming the field, how slippery it was, whatever.
[00:06:10] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:06:10] Speaker C: Playing on a real field this time, I mean, Patrick Mahomes just couldn't do anything out there. He had probably two seconds on average. Yeah, I would say he was. I mean, within the first two or three drives, he didn't trust the O line enough to, you know, sit there and deliver a throw. He always had happy feet throughout the entire game. So I think looking back at this year and seeing a notification from, like, I think it was Ian Rappaport, Adam Schefter, it was something where they said the New Orleans Saints are, you know, preparing to hire Kellen Moore as their new head coach. And I just got flashbacks of that, but it was just amazing to see Kellen Moore, who was focused on this entire game, this entire time. And, I mean, he dominated the play calling. He had that shot when it was 270 after the turnover on downs by Avante Maddox. That was amazing.
The Chiefs did a great job containing Saquon Barkley, but, I mean, is it crazy to say they only worked on that for the two weeks?
[00:07:10] Speaker A: I mean, I think it would be very fair. And you could kind of tell. I mean, I would not have told you going into this game that Jalen Hurts would have the passing success that he did. Especially just the nature of the Chiefs defense being utterly confusing and just trying to find every possible way there is to tear through an offensive line and find different ways of playing man coverage. And to be fair, Devontae Smith and AJ Brown are not fun people to play man coverage against by any stance. But I was I mean, yeah, you're right. I was shocked by one on the offensive side of the ball for the Eagles on Jalen Hurts just had so much time to throw and he executed really well. He found the right guy and wasn't afraid to take those check downs to guys that are really capable of making check downs, big plays. And yeah, it just seemed like all the things that went right were based off of the fact that they had committed so much to say Quan, because Saquon didn't have a crazy day by any stance. He obviously did his part. He's done his part for 17 games. You know, he's maybe he's one of the biggest reasons you're here, but I think you're right. There had to have been so much preparation going into stopping him and the Eagles just played off that perfectly.
[00:08:18] Speaker D: I think the Eagles looked a lot more focused than the Chiefs too. There was, I want to say, Patrick Mahomes. The Eagles defense made him look like not a mediocre quarterback, a bad quarterback. There were some throws that he made were.
[00:08:29] Speaker A: That were just awful.
[00:08:30] Speaker D: That Cooper Dean, pick six, great play by him. I don't even know who he's throwing to. It was just a bad throw. He was running around, throwing off his back foot.
[00:08:39] Speaker A: I saw DeJean jump that pretty hard. Great play somewhat early too.
[00:08:43] Speaker D: But then even that Zach Bond throw, it was like a five yard slant and he just threw it behind him.
[00:08:48] Speaker A: That was tough. I think he got hit on that throw.
[00:08:50] Speaker C: He did, I think.
[00:08:52] Speaker D: Well, exactly.
[00:08:53] Speaker A: To my point, that's a symptom of the Eagles of a suffocating defense.
[00:08:56] Speaker D: The Eagles made him look like a bad quarterback by making him make bad throws.
[00:09:01] Speaker C: And to go on your point, he was, I mean, I feel like he was rattled early. I mean, first drive of the game, it was a bad ball to Travis Kelsey on a. Was it third and three or third.
[00:09:11] Speaker A: And five like that.
[00:09:13] Speaker C: And then the very next drive, it's another ball in the dirt to Travis Kelsey. So I think just getting to Mahomes early like that really had him, I guess, not really trusting being able to go back into the pocket. Sit there.
[00:09:26] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:09:26] Speaker C: Survey the field.
[00:09:27] Speaker A: Do you think there's any factor of the idea that they had to play pretty mistake free football in the sense that they're going up against one of the best rush, the best rushing team in the league. Do you think there's any factor of like, oh, we really can't fall behind here because if we do then they're going to be able to commit to keeping the ball on the ground and taking time off the clock.
[00:09:46] Speaker C: Yeah, I think it's a case, but yeah, I could see that. I just. The thing that really. That I really stick to is their own line just got manhandled all day. I mean, I know Joe Tuney is an all pro outstanding left guard.
[00:10:04] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:10:05] Speaker C: But you put him on an island against rookie Jalex Hunt, who was a safety at Cornell before transferring to. Was it like Houston Christian as an edge rusher?
[00:10:15] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:10:16] Speaker C: And I mean, he had an outstanding day. Josh Sweat, two and a half sacks. Milton Williams is going to get a bag this summer and hopefully he stays. But I mean, if not, we'll have more OJMO step up because, I mean, I feel like he even had a good day for what it was worth. But I mean, the Eagles didn't blitz one time that game. He got six sacks.
[00:10:35] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:10:36] Speaker C: It's so impressive when you can rush forward and get the amount of pressure you have and have seven more guys. Just being able to play coverage like that, it's ridiculous.
[00:10:45] Speaker B: Cooper Dejean was excellent as well.
[00:10:46] Speaker A: He was.
[00:10:47] Speaker D: That brought a smile to my face. I used to play cornerback and seeing someone on that stage in an unconventional position, it really brought a smile to my face and I hope that inspires a lot of future will that should. I really do think it will, but I. After the game, Rob Gronkowski, he said something that was a little bit controversial and they immediately cut to commercial. But he was saying basically the same thing. Rush4Play Good coverage, just make him run around and he's going to make bad throws. I'm not saying that's the blueprint because not everyone has.
[00:11:22] Speaker A: Everyone has Jalen Carter.
[00:11:24] Speaker D: Exactly.
[00:11:24] Speaker A: That entire defensive line.
[00:11:26] Speaker D: Not everyone has that kind of defense. But if you can, if you know that's the team that you've got to beat every year and you build a team, maybe the Bills take that, get some great edge rushers, get some good interior pressure and they know how. They've seen someone else do it twice now. Maybe they could implement. Implement that on their defense.
[00:11:47] Speaker A: This is also kind of a. Connor, I'm sure you know this, but it's partially. The Eagles identity is.
[00:11:53] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:11:53] Speaker A: Especially how your defense has been run even under Jonathan Gannon. You know, you are comfortable with four down linemen for most of the time. And with Vic Fangio now you play a really secure zone coverage that can be confusing and it's a little unorthodox at times. But if you have a really secure zone coverage, and I've said this A million times on this show. But defensive line makes the corners look good and the corners make the D line look good. They are absolutely. They are tied as much as humanly possible. And when you have two unbelievable units, then you have a really good pass coverage. Linebacker and Zach Bond. That is a incredible wrestling.
[00:12:29] Speaker D: What a pick he had, by the way.
[00:12:30] Speaker B: It was phenomenal. And that catch, as you said, that was huge when that happened. It's over bad, bro. There's no chance.
[00:12:36] Speaker D: Oh yeah. Because they on their own scored a touchdown like two plays later, right?
[00:12:39] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah. It was the A.J. brown drag route.
[00:12:42] Speaker A: Right.
[00:12:42] Speaker D: Mesh, which.
[00:12:43] Speaker A: It's a drag route, but.
[00:12:45] Speaker D: Well, it was a mesh.
[00:12:45] Speaker A: Mesh is the concept. No, no, still a drag route.
[00:12:48] Speaker D: Yeah, I wasn't saying that, but I saw something on Dolphin's Twitter that just made me so angry. We have two of the fastest receivers in the NFL, two of the top five fastest receivers. We haven't run a mush concept, I think, ever.
[00:13:00] Speaker A: I thought you have jammed pretty hard.
[00:13:02] Speaker B: You have a scientist as your head coach.
[00:13:05] Speaker D: Right. You think he would know that that actually works. To Tanner's point, they do get jammed pretty often because they're smaller, physical guys.
[00:13:13] Speaker A: That can really occupy the linebackers. And I don't see Tyreek Hill occupying NFL linebackers very much.
[00:13:19] Speaker D: Anything, do anything. They've gotten ever since, I want to say the Eagles Week, honestly 2023, they've kind of been non existent as a duo. They've had a couple 100 or both having 100 yard games. But they need to figure something out on that offense.
[00:13:39] Speaker C: Yeah. Going back to the trenches point when Tanner brought up. But I mean, under Howie Roseman, it's always been built through the trenches.
[00:13:46] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:13:46] Speaker A: Even when you don't need it. It's just. No, let's add one.
[00:13:49] Speaker C: I remember the year, I think a year after we won the super bowl, we had a first round pick and I mean our offensive line was great. We had no holes whatever. And you know, we could probably use another receiver or another linebacker, corner, running back. We chose to go another offensive tackle. And it just shows you that. I feel like there's other teams that need to learn how to do that because I mean, the Chiefs just got bullied all four quarters of the game.
[00:14:15] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:14:16] Speaker C: I mean, there's something about just being a bully.
[00:14:19] Speaker B: How about another guy though, you brought in Kai Becton. Yeah, he was from. He was from the Jets. He didn't really work out with the jets, but he was a high prospect.
[00:14:29] Speaker A: From Louisville and I really think he.
[00:14:30] Speaker B: Was a Tremendous prospect.
[00:14:32] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:14:32] Speaker B: And to bring him in and retool him, put him at a new position, and he was. And he shined.
[00:14:39] Speaker A: I think that's what he really should have been waiting for for a long time. Because, I mean, dude, being a tackle in the NFL is tough. I mean, unbelievably hard. Like, people say that, like, you know, if you let up D lineman, they get one sack a game, they're going to be an all pro, you know what I mean? They'll be in that category. Offensive tackle lets up one sack a game, you're not coming back next year. You know what I mean?
[00:15:00] Speaker B: Exactly. And they say the most important position on an offense is left tackle.
[00:15:03] Speaker A: Yeah. Protect the blindside. I mean, that's huge. And Makai Beckin has all the physical profile aspects to do it. And he had some injury problems and things like that. But you still, I mean, there's no way that guy shouldn't be an offensive lineman in the NFL. You just needed to retool him, put him in a position to where he can still physically dominate. It's just maybe he wasn't quite set for the tackle position and that's fine. But I'm so glad that someone saw the physical freak that Makai Bechton is and really helped him work in the run.
[00:15:33] Speaker C: You know, who needs a big shout out for that?
[00:15:34] Speaker A: Who?
[00:15:35] Speaker C: Jeff Stoutland.
[00:15:36] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:15:37] Speaker C: I think honestly the best position coach in the NFL.
[00:15:40] Speaker B: Offensive line coach.
[00:15:41] Speaker C: Yeah, offensive line coach. I mean, being able to move him from a tackle to the guard that he's never played before and become.
[00:15:50] Speaker A: He turned a rugby player into a high level right tackle.
[00:15:54] Speaker C: Someone who's never touched tackle.
[00:15:56] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:15:56] Speaker C: Left tackle. So. And he's probably a top three left tackle in the NFL right now.
[00:16:00] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:16:01] Speaker C: And he just, he just deserves so much credit. Jeff Statland. And I mean, it was just beautiful to see all five guys who are what, six, four and above? 350 and above.
[00:16:13] Speaker A: I mean like three of them are like six, seven.
[00:16:16] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:16:16] Speaker A: My lotto. Six, eight. Makai Becton. Six, seven. Something like that.
[00:16:19] Speaker C: Lane Johnson. Six, five or six.
[00:16:21] Speaker A: Disgusting, man.
[00:16:22] Speaker B: Do you see that stat that they showed? The combined the averaged weights and heights of the Philadelphia offensive lineman mixed with the packers from Super Bowl 1.
[00:16:34] Speaker A: It was like not 100 pound difference. Yeah, 280. That makes sense.
[00:16:39] Speaker B: But it was incredible. But we'll be back after the break talking some more Super Bowls. So much to get to. We'll get some more.
[00:16:58] Speaker A: This show is a Sports production of.
[00:17:00] Speaker D: WVUAFM 90.7 the Capstone A Division of student media at the University of Alabama.
[00:17:07] Speaker A: Support us by leaving a review rating.
[00:17:09] Speaker D: Or following us on X at WVUAFM Sports.
[00:17:27] Speaker B: And we are back here on the NFL Student section podcast. Let's discuss this from the Chief's perspective now. So after the super bowl, the dynamic has completely shifted in the way people are talking about the Chiefs. So now that they're. Now that the dynasty, let's say, does not have its third ring to it in the last three seasons, even though they already have three in the last.
[00:17:50] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:17:51] Speaker B: Six years. But what does this do to their dynasty? Is it over? Let's say I said it was going to be over last week. I do think it is over. I think the dynasty is over.
[00:18:03] Speaker D: I think I, I think the Death Star got blown up. Given three or four years.
[00:18:08] Speaker C: Yeah, I'm on that same.
[00:18:10] Speaker A: Even think they need three or four years.
[00:18:11] Speaker C: Finish your I'm on the same boat where it's like, I don't think the dynasty is completely over, but I don't think they're going to be back for a while.
[00:18:19] Speaker D: Even Tom Brady had a gap of what, five years between Super Bowls 2011, 2016.
[00:18:25] Speaker C: I thought I saw he went 10 years.
[00:18:27] Speaker D: He went 2005, 2007, 2011 without appearing in one.
[00:18:31] Speaker C: Oh, without. Okay. But you know, the Chiefs are three and two in Super Bowls now and they also have a minus 23 point differential in the Super Bowls. So I do think those two losses are bad losses because, I mean, they've both been blowouts. But you can't take anything away from appearing, being the first team ever to win two Super Bowls and then go back to the super bowl to try to beat.
[00:18:57] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:18:57] Speaker C: First team ever. So I don't think you can really tarnish their reputation just because of that. I mean, it's going to be hard to. But I do think it's going to be difficult to go back because I think, I mean, Travis Kelce, he doesn't look good. I feel like I've heard talking about he's absolutely correct. He might retire.
[00:19:14] Speaker A: Really?
[00:19:14] Speaker B: I, I think he would have proposed if he won last night. Two nights ago.
[00:19:18] Speaker A: I have no idea. Probably.
[00:19:20] Speaker B: That'd be kind of cool, though.
[00:19:21] Speaker A: It would be pretty wild. The NFL would have. Maybe the, the fans may have like went directly to the NFL headquarters and. But they, But I. My thoughts on it. I think there are certain guys, like quarterbacks specifically in the NFL that like are really just. I mean, you kind of have to be a psycho to like put in the work and be as diligent as it takes to be an NFL quarterback. But there are certain guys that are just absolute psychos about it, about being the best possible quarterback you can be. And I think a loss this bad for a guy like Patrick Mahomes. I'm not going to say like I'm not necessarily going to put Kelsey in the same boat, but I think this puts a new chip on the shoulder of the Chiefs, if that makes sense. Obviously there was the people didn't want them to three peat. They were see him as like, you know, the Empire Stormtroopers, whatever. Like they. People disliked them as much as possible.
But again, this is a stinging loss. They still went, I can't remember their.
[00:20:23] Speaker C: Final record, 15 and 2 and then.
[00:20:25] Speaker A: They still went 15 and 2 and went to the Super Bowl. Yeah, I know they were all tight losses as people love to talk about.
[00:20:31] Speaker B: But they're wins.
[00:20:32] Speaker A: But they are wins. And again, giving a guy who I still don't think like people. Everybody was saying all the goat conversations over after this game. And don't get me wrong, it definitely left a lot of work to do for Mahomes because he's still 30, 29.
[00:20:47] Speaker B: 29.
[00:20:48] Speaker A: 29. The guy's 29. And he's been to. He's already been to so many. I think I really don't see many reasons as to why he won't be back in the next two. And I frankly, I'd be kind of scared still of next year of again just a team of that, of that quality still coming off of a. Just being absolutely dominated in the Super Bowl. I just fear what that would do to that organization and how that would change the mentality on a week by week basis.
[00:21:17] Speaker C: So the reason I say this is because next season Patrick Holmes has a $66 million cap hit.
[00:21:24] Speaker A: That's a good point. That's a very good point.
[00:21:25] Speaker C: Travis Kelsey also has a huge contract. Chris Jones has a huge contract. They aren't going to be able to retain all of their key guys that need to be resigned.
[00:21:34] Speaker B: Nick Bolton needs a contract.
[00:21:36] Speaker C: Yes.
[00:21:36] Speaker A: I love Nick Bolton.
[00:21:37] Speaker C: There's. There's a lot of guys that are not going to be there. And I know the Chiefs are doing their hardest to see how many key players they can lose and keep trying to win. You know, they lose. Tyree Kill, I guess somehow better without him.
[00:21:49] Speaker A: Yeah, technically.
[00:21:52] Speaker C: Technically, yes. But at the same time it's. It's really hard to get better without probably one of the most explosive players we've seen around that Time they changed.
[00:22:01] Speaker D: Their scheme up, which I think they benefited from the new scheme compared to what they used to have.
[00:22:06] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:22:07] Speaker C: Yeah. But I mean you also lose Legarius need who was.
[00:22:10] Speaker A: He was so good.
[00:22:11] Speaker D: Top five corner.
[00:22:12] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:22:14] Speaker C: Trent McDuffie is going to need a contract soon.
It's going to be a lot of money.
You said Nick Bolton. I. It's. It's hard to imagine being able to construct a roster that can compete with the Lamar Jackson, a Joe. Joe Burrow, a Josh Allen consistently.
[00:22:29] Speaker D: That's true when you're forgetting one.
[00:22:33] Speaker A: Anyway, I will say if there is one thing that's going to kill them and make them not come back for like you said, four or five years or something like that, it would absolutely be the finances. But again, I would. I would still say. I mean this is a pretty marginal answer compared to four or five. But two or three, I think Max before we see them in the. I mean, when do we see him in the AFC championship?
[00:22:55] Speaker C: Oh, easily next year.
[00:22:56] Speaker A: Probably next year, right?
[00:22:57] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:22:58] Speaker A: That's not ridiculous to say, actually.
[00:23:00] Speaker B: Not ridiculous, but I don't think it will happen.
[00:23:02] Speaker D: I think they have an off year, too.
[00:23:04] Speaker C: I am calling it. It won't happen. They're not going to be bouncing that division.
[00:23:08] Speaker B: That division. I'm not saying they won't make the playoffs. That division is getting better and they're.
[00:23:12] Speaker A: They're going to. You're right. I think they're going to get better.
[00:23:15] Speaker B: I don't think I'm going to call this right now.
[00:23:18] Speaker D: No way. Yes, they don't win the.
[00:23:20] Speaker B: Yes, they don't win the division.
[00:23:21] Speaker A: They don't win the.
[00:23:22] Speaker B: They don't win the division.
[00:23:22] Speaker C: I will go farther. Bounce Wild card weekend.
[00:23:25] Speaker B: Whoa.
[00:23:26] Speaker A: Bounced on wild card.
[00:23:27] Speaker B: I think that's possible.
[00:23:28] Speaker D: That might be their first time without.
[00:23:31] Speaker B: They won't have a home game.
[00:23:32] Speaker C: They won't. One, they won't have a home game. Two, they're mortal. You. If Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson sees how weak, how like they see that they can then go through the draft process, get the right guys, they can go to free agency, get the guys who can beat up on the O line. I just think you. You have the plan now.
[00:23:52] Speaker B: Yes.
Yeah.
[00:23:54] Speaker C: And I'm not saying that, but I'm just saying they're mortal before. It's like anytime you play them, it's okay. What kind of magic are they going to pull out of their hat? Now you see it how bad a performance they had on the biggest stage? You know how. I mean, I know Deebo Samuel came Out and said losing the super bowl is probably one of the hardest experiences he had to go through. Just because of the work you had to get put into that season just to get there. Yeah, just to lose and I mean blowing a 10 point lead in the super bowl is huge. Yeah, it's hard on the mental getting blown out by when it was 40 to 6 in the super bowl after doing all that to try to three peat.
I think it would be hard. Yeah.
[00:24:37] Speaker A: But is there a guy with a better mental in the NFL than Patrick Mahomes?
[00:24:40] Speaker C: Jalen Hurts?
[00:24:41] Speaker D: Yeah, for sure.
[00:24:42] Speaker A: I disagree to be. I mean to do what he has done already that requires the same mental that we talked about. And you can say Jalen Hurts is cool and calm collected guy and is cool in interviews. But on the football field I don't think there's any reason to say that he is a better mentally than Patrick Mahomes.
[00:25:00] Speaker C: I think Jalen Hurts is better mentally than Patrick Mahomes but I think Patrick Holmes is just a better talent. That's why he.
[00:25:05] Speaker A: Maybe we should define what I mean by. Maybe we should define what I mean by mentally.
[00:25:08] Speaker C: Jalen Hurts is the first quarterback ever in NFL history to go to a Super bowl lose and then come back and win the first.
[00:25:16] Speaker B: Then we mean we need to get to go.
[00:25:18] Speaker A: What do you mean you get to.
[00:25:19] Speaker C: Lose their first team. I meant to the same team.
[00:25:23] Speaker B: So what is that?
[00:25:24] Speaker A: That doesn't add to this at all.
[00:25:26] Speaker B: That doesn't make a big difference.
[00:25:27] Speaker A: It does not add to.
[00:25:28] Speaker C: Let me find the stat.
[00:25:29] Speaker A: We can all. Or timeout. We can all agree. Don't be wrong. Jalen Hurts won Super Bowl MVP for a reason and I agree with that. But we are talking about, as you have said, the best offensive line in the league, the best defense in the league. He is in a situation that makes his job a lot easier than Mahomes is. Oh, I'm not so much easier. And that is that mental aspect that I'm talking about. And again like being able to withstand that and being able to. There's a reason that Mahomes, you know, went 15 two and one score games. It's because he doesn't make mistakes down the stretch when you cannot make mistakes.
[00:26:00] Speaker C: Jalen hurts eight offensive coordinators in 10 years. I would love to see Patrick Mahomes go through that or eight different play callers. And no, Jalen Hurts has never had the same play caller.
[00:26:11] Speaker A: This is. You're right. This is still a hypothetical. Yes. No, this is absolute. This is the definition of one And.
[00:26:17] Speaker C: I guarantee you Patrick Holmes could do wonders if that happened. But I'm just saying I don't think there's anything harder than having to learn a new offense every single year.
[00:26:24] Speaker A: Absolutely. I will absolutely give you that.
But the identity of that team has stayed somewhat similar. Don't get me wrong, play calling is important. And no matter who it is, you're going to have a new baseline offensive system in there. Absolutely. And again, the definition of what we're calling the mental is important. But you guys won a Super Bowl. And I know it's hard to separate the mental from the physical abilities and all that stuff, but being a quarterback is 70 to 80% mental.
[00:26:54] Speaker B: Yep.
[00:26:54] Speaker C: Easily.
[00:26:55] Speaker A: And so when you can completely just. I mean, there have been seasons where, you know, Mahomes was not the statistical leader in many categories, in fact where he's been bad. But everyone is is still saying Patrick Home is the best quarterback in the league. And that for that reason is because there is not a single player you want where you have a minute and you got to go score a touchdown from the 35. There's not a single person that you want in that position. And don't tell me Jalen hurts you want him in that position.
[00:27:24] Speaker C: No. You know why? I don't. He's not as good as like physically gifted as Patrick Holmes.
[00:27:30] Speaker A: Physically gifted. He's probably more physically, more talent wise, talented.
[00:27:34] Speaker C: Thank you.
[00:27:34] Speaker A: But that situation though, I don't think is a talent aspect. That is a mental aspect. You have a minute and you have to make every single perfect decision in less than two seconds.
[00:27:43] Speaker D: I agree. To that point where you look at Tom Brady, he was almost never the most talented quarterback. He was always the most.
[00:27:49] Speaker A: He's the most. If we're talking about the mental, the best of all time.
[00:27:52] Speaker D: And that makes him the greatest one.
[00:27:53] Speaker B: Exactly, exactly.
[00:27:54] Speaker D: But I think with Mahomes it is a little bit more talent based than mental based. He's got great coaching, he's got great.
[00:28:01] Speaker C: Talent that came in some season, wasn't able to read a defense and still through how many touchdowns came into this season? No, I'm saying like into the NFL not being able to read a defense. He wasn't able to read a defense. I think he said till year.
[00:28:13] Speaker A: He also said three. Well, yes, but he didn't start.
[00:28:16] Speaker B: Look what he's done.
[00:28:18] Speaker A: What makes him the elite now is that he has both.
[00:28:20] Speaker C: Oh, no. Yes. And there are no saying that.
[00:28:22] Speaker A: There are no weaknesses in him as an individual quarterback. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Yeah.
[00:28:28] Speaker C: Okay. And when I meant mental, I meant like being able to, not like actually with the entire game mental. I just meant like mental toughness. That's what I meant.
[00:28:37] Speaker A: That's fair.
That's pretty arbitrary.
[00:28:40] Speaker C: That's what I meant.
[00:28:41] Speaker A: So I'm not going to argue that too heavily because it's. There's really no great way to define it.
[00:28:45] Speaker B: I understand that in a way that he has not been rattled that many times. And when you have a defense that's chasing after him like the Eagles were and how the Buccaneers did, whether it be now, five years ago. Yeah, that was. That's unique. I mean, four years ago, pardon me.
[00:29:00] Speaker A: That is a crushing loss that they came back and had a. Still had a dominant run directly afterwards. And I mean, again, that's why it's a little bit of why I get scared of the chip on the shoulder now. It's a unique situation because it was that game specifically where the O line was in a very bad position. So like it wasn't exactly that. Like you felt good going into the game and you still got dominated. That was like, okay, we're going to be in a rough spot in the O line.
Significantly, it hasn't been the case before and it was so obvious over the course of the game. But again, Mahomes, I think Patrick Mahomes is still Patrick Mahomes. I think we're probably going to go a little bit over the top with the anti Mahomes conversations over the off season.
[00:29:37] Speaker B: Is he still in the Goat conversation?
[00:29:39] Speaker D: Yeah, for sure.
[00:29:40] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, I think so. We can all agree on that.
[00:29:42] Speaker C: I think after this loss. So he's a lot of catching up.
[00:29:44] Speaker B: I agree. But Stephen A. Smith, I think he said the other day that there's no way he could ever become the Goat.
[00:29:50] Speaker D: But I think if they come back with a new team with players we probably haven't even heard of yet, Xavier Worthy can become a much better receiver in that time. They can come back in four years and go on another stretch like this. And I don't think that's unreasonable to say at all because they have Patrick Mahomes, they have Andy Reid.
[00:30:08] Speaker A: It was nice to see Mahomes launch it downfield.
[00:30:11] Speaker D: That was a great.
[00:30:11] Speaker A: Successfully multiple times. And I mean that's just. They haven't even considered that over the course of the regular season. That just wasn't a thing at all. And maybe that's something you're waiting for. Xavier really develop physically or something along those lines. But it's again, this team still went 15 and two, and again, the finances could put them in trouble. But I do believe they'll be back within two years.
[00:30:31] Speaker D: I think with them possibly being worse in the next two years, I'm looking at it right now. Since the 2018 playoffs, they've had two away playoff games and they were both last year, which they won against the Bills and Ravens. But if you have all that, I mean, home field advantage, especially in the playoffs, especially at Arrowhead, is a big thing and I'm not, it's not something you can just discount. So if they do go into more away games, say at the Bills, at the Ravens, at, at the Dolphins, they might have a little more trouble. And if they got back to, back to back away games, it's going to be tough. That's going to be a lot tougher than it has been for them.
[00:31:12] Speaker C: Were you looking at the schedule for next season for the Chiefs?
[00:31:15] Speaker D: No, I'm talking about playoffs.
[00:31:16] Speaker C: Oh, let's. I'm going to read the schedule next year. Yeah, it's not. The dates aren't announced yet, but these are the teams. At Buffalo, at Dallas, at, at Denver, of course, at Jacksonville, Home against Denver, home against the Chargers, home against the Raiders, home against Texans, Colts, Eagles, Commanders, Ravens, Lions at Las Vegas, at Chargers, at Giants, at Titans. That's a gauntlet.
[00:31:43] Speaker D: They have all those stretches.
[00:31:45] Speaker B: That doesn't sound that bad to me.
[00:31:46] Speaker A: It's so strange that it's. They don't have any gap stretch, long stretch.
[00:31:50] Speaker C: What do you mean?
[00:31:51] Speaker A: Like you said, it was four straightaway games.
[00:31:53] Speaker C: No, no, no, no, no, no.
[00:31:54] Speaker B: These aren't, these aren't ordered yet. These aren't.
[00:31:56] Speaker C: I mean, you're going to have to play the Chargers, I mean of course, twice in the Raiders, twice and all that stuff. But I mean the Lions, Baltimore, Washington, Philadelphia, Houston, I think my. Is going to be better next year, hopefully. Hopefully the Colts are a little bit better. I don't think they will be, though.
[00:32:11] Speaker D: What do you think, Alex?
[00:32:13] Speaker B: I don't. I hope so. I sure hope so.
[00:32:16] Speaker A: Boy, I hope Anthony Richardson is good next year.
[00:32:18] Speaker B: Man, I bet a lot. I didn't bet. I put a lot of my, my credibility at stake. I put a lot of personal stake and I was very disappointed in that team. Shane Steichen should be ashamed of.
[00:32:28] Speaker C: Yeah, he should be. He should be fired and then come.
[00:32:30] Speaker D: Back to Philadelphia whenever your owner wouldn't want to.
[00:32:34] Speaker B: Whenever your owner has to send out a letter and say hey to the fans. Hey, I know you don't. You're not going to like this decision, but I'm going to keep our coach and GM another year. He actually said that. He's like, I know this is not going to be the most popular decision, but I'm keeping them another year.
[00:32:48] Speaker D: We had the Dolphins.
[00:32:49] Speaker B: That's a problem.
[00:32:50] Speaker A: Absolutely.
[00:32:50] Speaker D: We had a similar statement. We will be retaining our GM and coach for another year. Which it's disgusting to see.
[00:32:57] Speaker C: I think the most of the backlash with the Colts was keeping their gm. I don't think anyone had a problem with Shane Steichenstein, but yeah, I mean, I heard. I mean Pat McAfee always brings it up, but they always say that. I don't, I don't forget what his name is. It's not Ballard.
[00:33:15] Speaker B: Chris Ballard. You're right. They're gm.
[00:33:16] Speaker C: Yeah. Chris Ballard.
[00:33:17] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:33:17] Speaker C: They say he's terrible to work with and he's terrible for the franchise.
[00:33:21] Speaker B: He's a big personality. Yeah, he's a big personality.
[00:33:24] Speaker A: And also like we know what Steichen is capable of from an offensive perspective. And also that was his second year in Indianapolis.
[00:33:30] Speaker B: I believe that's right.
[00:33:31] Speaker A: I don't think I'm upset at a coach needing more than 3. I don't mind that to turn a team around.
[00:33:36] Speaker D: And I just looked it up. Connor, you should actually be thanking Chris Ballard because he was the one who acquired Carson Wentz.
[00:33:44] Speaker C: Oh, of course.
[00:33:44] Speaker D: From the Eagles.
[00:33:45] Speaker B: That's funny for you that. But I think that schedule they. The Chiefs get most of their tough games at home on the schedule. So that'll be. That'll be interesting now that season I think they go. Is that. Is that Detroit game at Detroiter in Arrow.
[00:34:01] Speaker C: Is that Arrowhead?
[00:34:02] Speaker B: Arrowhead. I mean that's probably might be your toughest game. That destroyed team is going to be really tough next year.
[00:34:07] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:34:08] Speaker B: When they're Hutchinson back, hopefully they'll be healthy.
[00:34:10] Speaker A: That defense.
[00:34:11] Speaker B: Yeah, that's going to be interesting. Let's. And now we come back from break. We're going to talk about our picks from last week and also we're going to preview the new league year as the NFL season 2024 to 2025 concludes.
[00:34:38] Speaker C: Ready?
[00:34:40] Speaker B: Go.
[00:34:41] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:34:42] Speaker D: Dr. Operation no to most amount Amazing.
[00:34:46] Speaker B: Care They changed my life Highness hospital.
[00:34:52] Speaker D: For children Cuz people just like you kids like me can play in the game of life.
[00:35:01] Speaker A: Thank you.
[00:35:03] Speaker C: Go to lovetris.org right away. Thank you.
[00:35:22] Speaker B: And we are back here on the NFL student section podcast. And before we talk about anything that's coming up in the future, let's talk about our picks and get our Final standings for our season long picks.
[00:35:35] Speaker D: And keep in mind this week we did five prop picks all worth one point and then the game pick was worth five.
[00:35:43] Speaker C: So finish out the year. I think I ended with trying to remember. I know. So 83. Yeah. I was trying to say how many points people ended up getting in total.
[00:35:56] Speaker A: Oh yeah.
[00:35:57] Speaker C: But I guess we'll just say the final rankings.
[00:35:59] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:36:00] Speaker C: I was finished first with 83. Alex finished second with 71.
Evan. Evan finished third, was 62. And Tanner finished last with 60.
[00:36:13] Speaker A: I would like to explain myself just. Just a little bit. Just a little bit.
[00:36:16] Speaker D: What a comeback from me.
[00:36:17] Speaker A: I. Technically. You. You.
[00:36:19] Speaker C: I don't know if I would.
[00:36:20] Speaker A: So Evan won by two points because I missed two whole weeks of football. And that is my fault. I was not diligent enough. I did not get the picks in. I own that. That is. I earned 60 points. But Evan did get 62 off of.
[00:36:35] Speaker D: If I can defend myself. I picked the Dolphins a good five times. And that has been. So that.
[00:36:41] Speaker A: That's. That's on you, man.
[00:36:43] Speaker D: That's my excuse.
[00:36:44] Speaker A: That's on you.
[00:36:45] Speaker C: Another excuse that I have for Tanner is he missed the NFC championship game. Oh, that's the championship weekend. And those games were four points. And you picked the Commanders to win as well as the Chiefs. So he could have gone perfect and.
[00:37:00] Speaker D: One off of that unbiasedly. Who would you have picked in the championship games? Championship games.
[00:37:06] Speaker A: I would have picked the Eagles over the Commanders.
[00:37:08] Speaker D: And who for afc?
[00:37:10] Speaker A: Yes. The Chiefs. Dang. I mean, you guys know my general.
[00:37:14] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:37:15] Speaker A: Policy.
[00:37:16] Speaker B: I'm sure you would.
[00:37:16] Speaker A: It's very. It's generally pretty positive. So. But again, you did get 62. You got third place. That's. That's undebatable.
[00:37:24] Speaker B: And it was a good season of picks. I mean, Connor was ahead the whole time.
[00:37:28] Speaker A: He really was.
[00:37:29] Speaker B: So congratulations to Connor on that. He also. So hopefully we'll see what happens.
[00:37:35] Speaker A: I'm just hoping his luck's ran out. You know what I mean?
[00:37:38] Speaker D: Dang. We're gonna miss.
[00:37:39] Speaker B: It's just gonna be your next year though.
[00:37:41] Speaker D: The last picks that Connor and Tanner will have made.
[00:37:43] Speaker A: It'll definitely. They're definitely my last picks.
[00:37:45] Speaker C: Yeah. Possibly mine.
[00:37:47] Speaker B: Possibly. Okay. Okay.
[00:37:48] Speaker D: You might stay for grad school.
[00:37:50] Speaker C: Yeah, I might still be here.
[00:37:52] Speaker B: We'll put a pin in that. Put a pin in that.
[00:37:54] Speaker D: Wow.
[00:37:54] Speaker B: We're gonna miss you though, Tanner.
[00:37:56] Speaker D: It's been a good two years with you guys. Good two NFL seasons.
[00:37:59] Speaker A: Yeah, man.
[00:37:59] Speaker B: It's been a great time for my first. I Couldn't have done it with better people. So I'm very grateful.
[00:38:04] Speaker A: We're glad to have you, Alex.
[00:38:05] Speaker B: But let's transition now. That's. That's our first season now. We're into the new league year. New league year started on Monday. We have free agency within four weeks. Within four weeks. With the legal team so excited with the legal tampering period beginning on March 10th. Coaches are in place. Head coaches for now. We have assistant coaches will obviously be coming in and out over the next few weeks, but coming into the new league year a lot. There's some changes, new head coaches, new different faces, different places. It's going to be exciting. It's going to be exciting. Now, what do you think of the new head coaching hires right now? Across the NFL, we just saw Kellen Moore, Eagles offensive coordinator. He's now staying in New Orleans, not leaving the city as now he's staying now. Maybe he'll be back for the parade.
He'll be back. Not like Jim Knowles in Ohio State where he was. He didn't let him come. He was. He was wearing Ohio State suck shirt or hat like the next week when he was now Penn State's defensive coordinator.
[00:39:02] Speaker A: But I mean it's.
[00:39:04] Speaker B: What do you think of Kellen Moore's head coach?
[00:39:06] Speaker A: I am. That one's kind of a tough one. I do think that Kellen Moore, like, he's definitely one of the smarter football guys out there. I don't know if based off this last season that I would be super keen to give him a head coaching job. But also, I mean really most of it is just the situation the Saints are in. It's not necessarily on Kellen Moore. I think he is capable of being a head coach, but I don't know if he's capable of fixing the absolute nightmare that is the New Orleans Saints.
[00:39:34] Speaker D: Right now, which has been the Saints history. It's.
It was a little bit shocking. I learned over the past year how poverty the Saints have been because I grew up watching the Drew Brees Saints.
[00:39:45] Speaker A: And they were always, believe me, they ran the nfc.
[00:39:49] Speaker D: They were always good to great and they're just back the past. They've been a negative cap for the past five, six years, always struggling to get out of it. They've had what, two or three coaches in the past couple years. They just run through people, make bad draft picks. They're really in a bad spot. And I don't know if Kellen Moore can help them get out of that. I don't know if he's There for more than two years.
[00:40:13] Speaker A: It'll be hard work, Mickey.
[00:40:14] Speaker B: Years. You said two.
[00:40:16] Speaker D: With how the Saints have been going and what their culture is, it's a tough situation for sure.
[00:40:22] Speaker A: But they kept. They gave Dennis Allen ample chance, like he. Dennis Allen was the replacement after Sean Payton, correct?
[00:40:29] Speaker C: Yes.
[00:40:30] Speaker A: So he was there for three years, I think.
[00:40:32] Speaker C: I don't know how he made it three years.
[00:40:34] Speaker A: I don't either.
[00:40:34] Speaker D: They were horrible in that stretch.
[00:40:36] Speaker A: Yeah. And finally it was just enough and they needed a reset. But. And also, you know, what team was the final straw to cause that reset against the Saints?
[00:40:45] Speaker C: Let me guess. When? Michael. No, it was the Panthers.
[00:40:48] Speaker A: It was the Panthers.
[00:40:49] Speaker C: It was. When Bryce.
[00:40:49] Speaker D: Was it.
[00:40:50] Speaker A: Yes, that was. And it was. We also did it to.
Oh my gosh. We did. To one more team that they're. The one more team fired their head coach that we played.
[00:40:59] Speaker D: Was it this season?
[00:41:00] Speaker A: Yes. I think it happened twice. I cannot.
[00:41:02] Speaker D: Was it the Raiders?
[00:41:03] Speaker A: No, no, no.
[00:41:04] Speaker B: Was it the Jets?
[00:41:05] Speaker D: Yeah, it might have been the Raiders, Right.
[00:41:06] Speaker B: It wasn't the Jets.
[00:41:07] Speaker A: It might have been the Raiders. I'd have to get.
[00:41:10] Speaker B: It was a wince. Lasted all season.
[00:41:12] Speaker D: Oh, yeah, yeah.
[00:41:13] Speaker B: Pierce lasted all year. So it seems to fire their coaches. This is a good time to go through them. Patriots, Bears, Jets, Raiders, Jaguars, Cowboys and the Saints. Patriots replaced Gerard Mayo with Mike Vrabel. The Bears replaced Matt Eberfluss, who's a bum, with Ben Johnson.
[00:41:31] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:41:31] Speaker B: Jets replaced Robert Saleh after the London. Was. After the London game. I think it was. Yes, I believe with Aaron Glenn from.
[00:41:38] Speaker D: Detroit, Robert Sala went back to the 49ers.
[00:41:42] Speaker B: Yes, that's right. He's going to be their new defensive coordinator this year. And Brandon Staley, who was the defensive coordinator for the 40. I think it was for the 49ers. He is now the lead candidate to be the DC in New Orleans. The Raiders fired.
[00:41:55] Speaker D: Is that a reunion?
[00:41:56] Speaker A: Oh, man.
[00:41:57] Speaker D: Kellen Moore.
[00:41:58] Speaker B: So Kellen Moore is now the boss of Brandon Staley because Brandon Staley was the head coach when Moore was the offensive coordinator in Los Angeles just last year.
[00:42:07] Speaker C: Man, that's hilarious.
[00:42:09] Speaker B: Antonio Pierce was fired by the Raiders for Pete Carroll.
[00:42:14] Speaker A: I like that.
[00:42:15] Speaker B: It's interesting. It's interesting. Short term, definitely. A short term hire is only given a three year contract.
[00:42:20] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:42:21] Speaker B: Then Jaguars got fired. Doug Peterson got Liam Conan in a whole tobacco with the Buccaneers.
[00:42:29] Speaker A: There it is.
[00:42:30] Speaker B: And that's going to be interesting. It's definitely going to be interesting with Trevor Lawrence in that offense. Cowboys fired Mike. Not fired. Mutually. If you say parted ways. The HR terms with Mike McCarthy who's now jobless. Mike McCarthy doesn't have a job.
[00:42:45] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:42:46] Speaker C: He did say he was going to take a like a gap year and he did.
[00:42:49] Speaker B: He said that after the packers as well, I believe, because he's a year off. And then he took the Cowboys job, but they replaced him with their offensive coordinator for the last two seasons. Terrible hire, Ryan Scheidenheimer.
[00:42:59] Speaker A: And he called it a risk too. Yeah, like I take risk. This is it.
[00:43:03] Speaker B: He's with the guys next to him. This guy was a career offensive coordinator.
[00:43:08] Speaker C: Nobody believed in him.
Nobody thought he could do it.
[00:43:12] Speaker B: I was like, I think he's gonna be great.
He's on a short leash.
[00:43:16] Speaker A: Owners just shouldn't be GMs, man. They just.
[00:43:18] Speaker B: He's 82 years old too. How does he know the NFL now?
[00:43:22] Speaker C: It's. He clearly doesn't.
[00:43:23] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:43:24] Speaker B: And then Dennis Allen obviously with Kellen Moore. But I think the craziest we could agree is definitely Dallas.
[00:43:29] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:43:29] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:43:30] Speaker B: I don't know how that's going to work. Bride Schadenheimer.
[00:43:33] Speaker A: I think, I think the best is pretty confidently the Bears.
[00:43:37] Speaker D: I like the Patriots to Mike Vabel a lot.
[00:43:39] Speaker C: Yeah. I like Mike Vrabel. I think he's going to be a huge culture setter in New England. Get back to like the championship ways. But then I really, I really do love Ben Johnson in Chicago.
[00:43:50] Speaker A: Yeah. And I mean pairing a. I think it's a really good recipe to pair a young, really talented quarterback with a offensive minded head coach, especially with how.
[00:44:00] Speaker D: Many weapons they have that just didn't get utilized this year.
[00:44:02] Speaker A: Yeah. I mean you're here. I've. You have Caleb Williams who is probably 22, 23 if I had to guess. And Ben Johnson who is. I don't know how old he is, but he's a young head coach and that's something that you want to maintain for a long time and obviously there will be ups and downs to it. But that I would be excited as a Chicago fan.
[00:44:22] Speaker B: Ben Johnson hired an offense coordinator for the Bears. That's the youngest coordinator, I think in NFL history.
[00:44:28] Speaker A: Wow.
[00:44:28] Speaker B: Like in his 20s.
[00:44:30] Speaker A: He's in his 20s.
[00:44:31] Speaker B: I don't remember what the guy's name is. I think he came from Denver, but he was in his 20s.
[00:44:35] Speaker A: That's pretty wild. I mean I.
[00:44:37] Speaker B: Obviously he's not going to be the play call.
[00:44:38] Speaker A: I mean obviously he's in a position to really call someone and develop them. Yeah.
[00:44:42] Speaker C: Declan Doyle, he was tight end coaches for the Denver Broncos this past year.
[00:44:47] Speaker A: I mean again, he is. Ben Johnson will be in, you know, 80% control of the offense or something along those lines. So I think he would be pretty comfortable taking a risk on a guy who you really believe in.
[00:44:58] Speaker D: The Bears also just hired Eric B.
[00:45:00] Speaker A: For that running back. They did.
[00:45:02] Speaker B: That's interesting.
[00:45:03] Speaker D: I'm on their ESPN for running back.
[00:45:06] Speaker B: I like that Bears.
[00:45:07] Speaker A: That coaching staff is serious, man. I'm. I like Eric Bien. He's had his hiring troubles, but I really like Eric Biename and he was.
[00:45:14] Speaker B: Great with the Chiefs.
[00:45:15] Speaker A: So good with the Chiefs. So good with the Chiefs.
[00:45:18] Speaker B: That would be nice to have him a part of the team.
[00:45:21] Speaker D: And even that year that he was with the Commanders, they had a good offense. I know Sam Howell threw a bunch of interceptions, but he was also leading the league in passing yards partly because almost all they did was pass. But they had a good amount of success with it.
[00:45:37] Speaker A: Oh yeah.
Who are obviously, as we said, free agency is happening. Are there any guys specifically that we want to see go to a certain destination? Ideally that's not your team. Just for the sake of.
[00:45:50] Speaker C: I would like to see T. Higgins either go to a Carolina, a New England or just something with a young quarterback that needs a wide.
[00:45:58] Speaker A: I've been talking about T. Higgins to Carolina for two years at this point.
[00:46:01] Speaker C: Yeah, you have.
[00:46:02] Speaker A: So if that actually happened, that would be a heck of a victory lap.
[00:46:05] Speaker C: I would like to see Cooper cup go to Pittsburgh. I'd like that. Yeah, somebody for the middle of the field.
[00:46:11] Speaker A: Yeah, somebody. Man. Someone's got to be able to work that area.
[00:46:15] Speaker D: But where do we want to see Kirk Cousins go? Because obviously with Penix taking his job and looking to be the quarterback of the future, I'm not sure what they do with him because he's got a decently large contract.
[00:46:26] Speaker C: Right?
[00:46:28] Speaker D: Kirk Cousins.
[00:46:28] Speaker C: Oh Yeah.
[00:46:29] Speaker A: It was 100 huge.
[00:46:30] Speaker B: Well, don't the Falcons have to pay.
[00:46:31] Speaker D: That definitely have to get pay. Like there'll be.
[00:46:35] Speaker A: I believe they saved like 10 mil bike or they would have saved like maybe 10 million by cutting him. But they did not cut him. So I think they will owe him the full 100 or whatever.
[00:46:46] Speaker D: Oh my gosh.
[00:46:46] Speaker C: Well, they can make a. I think It's a post June 1st cut. Designate him for post June 1st and they save a bunch of money. But I mean if they want to end up trading him, they could ask for somebody to help take on that contract. Yeah, but I mean you probably throw in like a second or third just.
[00:47:03] Speaker B: To get that the Falcons, they tampered to sign him last year. So they had to forfeit a 5th round pick for this year and they had to pay $250,000.
[00:47:12] Speaker A: I forgot about that. That's so funny, man.
[00:47:14] Speaker B: And now he's. Now he's looking for a new team and I would say Aaron Rodgers, another QB that we're going to have to watch this offseason as well as Matthew Stafford. So it is a season of aging quarterbacks looking for new homes. Russell Wilson will not be back with the Pittsburgh Steelers, I can guarantee you that. That's four guys.
[00:47:31] Speaker D: Sam Darnold too. Sam Darnold looking to be replaced by J.J. mcCarthy.
[00:47:35] Speaker B: That will be interesting. Will he be though?
[00:47:38] Speaker A: That's a very interesting.
[00:47:39] Speaker B: Will there be a competition in Minneapolis?
[00:47:41] Speaker D: Time will tell.
[00:47:42] Speaker A: I don't think they should replace Sam Darnold right now.
[00:47:45] Speaker D: I don't think J.J. mcCarthy was that good. I mean that's not a controversial.
[00:47:50] Speaker A: I think he can be very good. But I mean Jason McCarthy might be 21 years old or 22 max. Like he is a young quarterback and he wasn't one of those guys that had to stay extra years. He started his sophomore year almost drafted by his senior year. He's a very young quarterback and I think he does have room to improve. But Sam Darnold is also a young quarterback. Sam, how old is Sam Darnold?
[00:48:11] Speaker D: 27.
[00:48:11] Speaker A: 27 years old. I think you just came off of a great season with Sam Darnold. Maybe you want to decide to. You know, it's a tough management decision on how soon you want to move on. But coming off of a strong winning record, do you want to make a quarterback change?
[00:48:26] Speaker D: I think Sam Donald's got a big piece of that bargaining chip though because he did have that good season and teams are going to be looking to pay him.
[00:48:33] Speaker A: Right.
[00:48:34] Speaker D: So they're looking to pay Darnold and then still retain JJ McCarthy and I don't think he's going to be too intrigued by one two year offer. I think that's. That would be a little bit disrespectful to him.
[00:48:46] Speaker B: There's some, there are some big name free agents.
[00:48:48] Speaker A: What is. I do have a quick question.
[00:48:50] Speaker B: Yes?
[00:48:51] Speaker A: When does Brock Purdy's rookie contract end? Does it end?
[00:48:55] Speaker B: I think he's.
[00:48:55] Speaker A: This year.
[00:48:56] Speaker B: I think it's not, it's not yet. He's under contract still, but he's going to want some money.
[00:49:00] Speaker A: That's interesting conversation. How much, how much do you pay him? Yeah, how much are you guys willing to pay Brock Purdy like you make.
[00:49:06] Speaker B: Him a top five.
[00:49:08] Speaker A: Good. No, if I'm a. If I'm a gm, I'm not touching top five with Brock Purdy especially. It depends on who it is. If you are San Francisco, maybe you consider it, but I don't think any other team should sign him as a even close to top five salary guy.
[00:49:22] Speaker B: Now, has San Francisco compromised their negotiating already by showing that? If you hold out, like how Trent Williams did, Nick Hope so, now Brandon Iuk did, I think Samuel did as well.
[00:49:34] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:49:34] Speaker B: They all held out and they all got their money.
[00:49:36] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:49:37] Speaker B: Does. Does that weaken their negotiation?
[00:49:40] Speaker C: I think it does, but I don't know if Brock Purdy's really one to hold out.
[00:49:44] Speaker A: I think Brock Purdy should understand that he's probably in the best situation that he may ever will be as an NFL quarterback, and obviously he is still an NFL quarterback and he heavily contributes that same success. So he should get paid, but he should not. I don't think he should take. I mean, obviously any fan would say this about their own team and what they want. Not that I'm a 49ers fan, but, you know, the ideal situation is that he takes a amount of money that he thinks is justifiable but does not put his team in a bad position.
And that's far easier said than done.
[00:50:19] Speaker D: But he doesn't strike me as a selfish player. But over the past four years, he's made under $4 million. And being leading a team to a Super bowl, being the quarterback of a team that went to the Super Bowl, I'll say that's hard to swallow. And then not take on a big salary because you've showed your value. But at the same time, he knows he's not a top 10 quarterback skill level. So I think he is in a little bit of a tough situation where you want your team to be good. You know, your team has the capability to be good, but you also want that money that you've already earned in the past. So he's. I definitely see where he might have some trouble with that.
[00:51:02] Speaker B: I'd be shocked probably, if he. I think I'd be shocked if he got less than like 45 million a year.
[00:51:08] Speaker D: Oh, gosh.
[00:51:09] Speaker B: That. You think of that that much. That's a lot of money. I'd be shocked if he didn't get that.
[00:51:13] Speaker D: Yeah, I would have trouble paying him that.
[00:51:15] Speaker B: That's what quarterbacks are making. Yeah, it's. That's what we're coming to, but we're coming to Dak Prescott's. At 60. You're telling me Brock Purdy's not 45?
If we do it by that.
[00:51:26] Speaker A: I think, again, based on the scale of the league, 45 absolutely makes sense. And I think the only team that should consider paying him 45 is San Francisco. I don't think any other team.
[00:51:35] Speaker B: I don't think anybody team would.
[00:51:36] Speaker A: Yeah, exactly.
[00:51:38] Speaker C: But it's. I mean, it's. It's a hard pill to swallow to try and pay a quarterback like Brock Purdy $45 billion. Yeah, I. I think he should be paid around 40. That's what I think he should be. I think San Francisco, I mean, knowing they're. I mean, they paid Javon Hargrave an absolute bag when he's 32 years old.
[00:51:57] Speaker A: Right.
[00:51:58] Speaker C: I think he's going to get 50 million because of how bad they are at negotiating contracts due to a Trent Williams, a Nickel, a Debo Samuel, a Brandon Ayuk. So I think he's going to make what he wants. 50 million. But I mean, I don't think he should make any.
He shouldn't make close to a Dak Prescott, a Joe Burrow.
[00:52:18] Speaker A: Wow.
[00:52:19] Speaker C: Jared Goff, Justin Herbert Lamar.
[00:52:21] Speaker B: Yeah, what do you got, Evan?
[00:52:22] Speaker D: I'm actually reading a 49ers web blog right now, and it says.
I'm not sure who that too.
[00:52:28] Speaker B: That's. That. That can't be true.
[00:52:30] Speaker C: Wait, what?
[00:52:30] Speaker D: 55 to 60 million.
[00:52:32] Speaker B: 55 to 60 million.
[00:52:34] Speaker D: But if he also states that the Niners have never wavered. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. I thought I said never wanted. It says the Niners have never wavered on Purdy as their franchise quarterback, not after his breakout run, not after leading them to a Super bowl, and definitely not now after 2024 season. Disappointing 2024 season. So it looks like they're set on him.
[00:52:55] Speaker A: You might get a bag.
[00:52:55] Speaker C: If Brock Party gets a bag. They're. They're.
[00:52:58] Speaker B: They're going downhill. They're going downhill. And they might already have. Their window might already be closed in.
[00:53:03] Speaker D: San Francisco, especially Debo Samuel. Debo Samuel requesting a trade.
[00:53:06] Speaker C: Well, that frees up some permission to get it.
[00:53:11] Speaker B: All this and more to come as we enter the new league year. It's exciting. We close the door with the Eagles and we open the door to the Dolphins. And maybe the Dolphins. I'm sure they'll be in the news. But, fellas, great podcast. We'll be back again next week and we'll tackle mock drafts. We'll have free agency talk.
[00:53:31] Speaker A: Oh, man.
[00:53:32] Speaker B: And it's. It's going to be exciting. It's going to be exciting, fellas.
[00:53:35] Speaker C: Go birds.
[00:53:36] Speaker B: Go birds. Until next time, En.
[00:53:51] Speaker A: Wvuafm Tuscaloosa.
