Long gone are the days of Super Bowl contenders twiddling their thumbs in March. If you’re not making transactions, you’re not trying.

We saw elaborate checks written, blockbuster trades and even one trade reneged at the last second. Nobody can blame GMs for not trying.

What does it all mean? Let’s examine on “Real Football” with our resident scout, Jim Monos. DJ Moore to Buffalo. Jaylen Waddle to Denver. Trey Hendrickson to Baltimore. I love what the Washington Commanders did to help their franchise quarterback. This defense needed bodies. And what’s going on in that AFC North? Both us were fans of the moves made in Pittsburgh. Of course, once again, this team is also content waiting on Aaron Rodgers. Cincinnati beefed up its defense, too. Baltimore pulled a fast one. (It’s still all about Lamar in January.)

As always, Monos shares stories from the road.

This episode, he looks back at his team’s trade for LeSean McCoy ahead of the 2015 season in Buffalo, scouting Hendrickson out of Florida Atlantic and the time Bill Parcells tried to convince teams Jacoby Brissett should be a first-round pick.

Inevitably, we debate #gambling at the top of the pod, too.

Video and audio of this episode are available above.

On our free list? It’s a perfect time to subscribe. Bob McGinn’s 42nd annual draft series begins Friday, and it’s exclusive to paid subscribers. I’ve always been spending this month chipping away at the longform piece referenced on the pod.

Thanks, all.

Enjoy.

Live in Western New York? Keep an eye out. We’re going to throw some beers back together at Wayland Brewing Company in Orchard Park this month for a pre-draft bash.

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Real Football: Which contenders got over the Super Bowl hump this March?