Scoop City: A Show About the NFL

Episode: Chase Daniel Explains Why Jaxson Dart NEEDS to Be the Week 1 Starter
Date: August 19, 2025
Hosts: James Palmer, Diana Russini, Chase Daniel
Podcast by The Athletic

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into NFL preseason quarterback battles, with a focus on the New York Giants’ Jaxson Dart and the cases for and against starting the rookie Week 1 over veteran Russell Wilson. The conversation spans analysis of Caleb Williams’ Chicago debut, updates on Trey Hendrickson’s trade situation, Terry McLaurin’s contract impasse, and key rookie competitions around the NFL. The tone is lively, insightful, and often humorous, with rich behind-the-scenes NFL context and coach/player anecdotes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Case for Jaxson Dart as Giants’ Starter

Performance & Roster Dynamics

• Chase Daniel praises Dart’s preseason:
  “I was loving every single throw, just the performance in general of Jaxson Dart. And that's why I was so enthused about talking about Jaxson Dart. Because a lot of people nationally aren't. And for right measure, you have a future hall of Famer in Russell Wilson.” (06:30)

• Brian Daboll tailoring offense:
  The Giants are running plays Dart ran at Ole Miss, including tempo and short/intermediate throws.
  “Brian Daboll’s already put in plays Dart was running at Ole Miss... I think the up tempo of the New York Giants offense, which is what Brian Daboll wants, the short intermediate throws, which is what Brian Daboll wants...” (07:54)

• Russell Wilson's fit and future:
  Russell Wilson is respected but seen as less dynamic, especially as a runner. Chase jokes about talking to Russ in the San Diego car line, offering personal context.

• Coaching hot seat:
  “If they don’t make the playoffs with Russell Wilson starting, Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen—they lose their jobs. That's just... the hot seat is as hot as it's ever been.” (08:18)

Roster, Schedule & Job Security

• Brutal Giants’ schedule start:
  “Hardest, like first like 10 games in the NFL, in my opinion. It's not even close... a lot of playoff teams.” (09:04)

• The rookie starter trend:
  “Last five years, first round quarterbacks... the average week of them starting is Week 3.” (09:18)

• Practical argument for Dart:
  Even with a tough opening slate, if the team is trending up behind Dart, it could buy time for the regime.
  “Seven or eight wins in a trending up Giants team with Jaxson Dart—that buys Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen more time...” (09:33)

Debate: Play the Rookie Early or Sit Him?

• Fan/media patience vs. actual developmental need:
  “All the fans and certain pundits, they're like, he needs to sit, he needs to sit, he needs to sit... The only way to develop as a quarterback in the National Football League is to play real games. Forget about practice, forget about preseason.” (10:49)

• Potential negatives if Dart starts Week 1?
  Diana: Giants insiders feel “the moment isn’t too big” for Dart. (11:17)
  Chase: “The positive to not playing him... you get to see a future Hall of Famer and his process... it's a learning experience I can get behind.” (12:18)

• Stats on Dart’s preseason:
  “First game: 12 of 19 for 154, a touchdown, no sacks. Number two: 14 of 16, including 13 straight… he did run one in there… Dart said after the game he asked to go up-tempo more in the second half. That dialogue is valuable.” (13:38)

• Memorable callback – Giants’ draft drama:
  “Love the idea that the general manager's son is the one that leaked out that the Giants were drafting [Dart]…” (14:30)

2. Caleb Williams’ Encouraging Start in Chicago

• Hype and Bears fan PTSD:
  “Chicago Bears fans, I get it. You have been burned so many times before this preseason hype... It is OK to be excited about Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson, because what they did yesterday… they looked extremely sharp.” (16:33)

• Ben Johnson’s aggressive install:
  “Ben was doing this on purpose to get his quarterback ready... they're front-loading everything so you're going to feel literally like you're drowning. Then they're going to start to pull back layers.” (18:51)

• Preseason performance:
  “13 snaps, 6 for 10, 107 yards, 97 yards on first drive. He was sharp, found his tight end. Throw to snap was less than 3 seconds.” (16:33)

• Coach/player communication adapting:
  On switching from college (signals) to NFL (coach in ear):
  “This is the first time... he's hearing Ben Johnson over and over. They're trying to get on the same wavelength. A play at USC could be ‘black’ or ‘yellow’... Here, it's ‘green right slot nasty Z motion, fake 37 Buster solid naked right X sting...’” (22:11, Chase Daniel)

• Diana on camp perception:
  “I think they're excited and they should be, but also reserved about it because it just has felt like camp wasn't as smooth as we expected it to be.” (18:04)

3. Quarterback-Rookie Coach Pressure Meter

• Who’s under more pressure: Trevor Lawrence/Liam Coen or Ben Johnson/Caleb Williams?
  Both Diana and Chase: Lawrence & Coen!
  “He hasn’t lived up to expectations… this is sort of Trevor Lawrence’s last lifeline.” (24:52, Chase Daniel)

4. Trey Hendrickson’s Trade Situation in Cincinnati

• What’s the holdup?

  • Bengals want a future 1st-round pick and a young defensive player.
  • Other teams balking at both the price and timing (late in offseason, cap mostly spent): “Most teams have spent a lot of their money.” (28:47)

• Cincinnati’s predicament:
  “The fact that we're talking about trading their best defensive player when their worst unit was their defense last year, like, what? ...Just pay the man two years guaranteed, move on with your life.” (29:27, Chase Daniel)

• Potential Patriots move?
  “Could you see New England being interested in Trey Hendrickson?” (31:49)
  Diana: It’s unlikely, despite cap space and their football culture focus.

5. Terry McLaurin Contract Stalemate

• Active, but contract unchanged:
  “Nothing significant has changed.” (37:27, Diana Russini quoting source)

• Negotiation sticking points:
  Commanders say: You’re 30, can’t pay you like you’re 27.
  McLaurin camp: You need him, he wants $30 mil-plus per year.
  “I think he's worth the 30 million. And I'm always going to be pro player.” (41:26, Chase Daniel)

• Value argument:
  “The fact that what he's done with 11 different quarterbacks… shows you what his future production could be.” (41:42, James Palmer)

• Front office philosophy:
  Adam Peters trying to set new Commanders precedent: “He does need to establish how the Commanders will do business moving forward.” (43:50)

6. Cleveland Browns’ QB Room & Roster Conundrum

• Joe Flacco named Week 1 starter:
  No surprise, but questions remain about backup hierarchy (Dylan Gabriel vs. Shedeur Sanders vs. Kenny Pickett), and the Browns possibly keeping four QBs.

• Dylan Gabriel’s up-and-down preseason:
  “I thought he played really well…except for two snaps. Both [turned into] turnovers that led to 13 Eagles points… the turnovers stand out.” (50:13, Chase Daniel)

• Competition dynamic:
  “If something happens to Joe Flacco, I’m the first person Kevin Stefanski’s looking at—that’s the real competition.” (51:52, Diana Russini)

7. Coaching Soundbites & Memorable Moments

Kevin O’Connell (Vikings) on JJ McCarthy & QB Development

[58:01–60:31]

“The foundation of developing quarterbacks is not an overnight thing. It’s not a flash reaction thing. I think that's what gets organizations in trouble sometimes... But all with an understanding... what are you doing as a coach, as an organization, as a teammate, as one of 11 in the huddle with said player to make sure that we're doing everything in our power to give the best possible chance to have success.”
— Kevin O’Connell (58:01)

Chase Daniel’s reaction:
“JJ McCarthy is so freaking lucky to have him as his head coach... so many head coaches in this league do NOT get it.” (60:34)

Mike Vrabel (Patriots Head Coach) on Team Identity & Pet Peeves

[62:31 & 65:41]

“When we score, we want to be able to celebrate and not just think, oh, you know, we just... when the quarterback does things, everybody else says, oh, that must be the right thing to do.” (62:54)

Team mentality:

“We’re never going to accept losing, but we have to embrace moving on... whatever the predictions are, or the expectation, the expectations are that we compete, that we try to be good enough to take advantage of bad football, that we’re not beating ourselves.” (63:19)

Vrabel’s “grinds my gears” rant:

“People, when they leave their carts in the middle of the parking lot... people at Starbucks that park in a handicap spot and go in there and try to get their order from the mobile order who are in handicap. By no means handicapped... That’s unacceptable!” (65:46)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On the Giants’ sit/start conundrum:
  “The only way to develop as a quarterback in the National Football League is to play real games. Forget about practice, forget about preseason.”
  — Chase Daniel (10:49)

• On Chicago Bears’ camp:
  “It is OK to be excited about Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson... They looked extremely sharp.”
  — Chase Daniel (16:33)

• On league-wide QB trends:
  “The last five years, first-round quarterbacks...the average week of them starting is Week 3.”
  — Chase Daniel (09:18)

• On coaching the details:
  “JJ McCarthy is so freaking lucky to have him as his head coach... There are so many head coaches in this league that do not get it.”
  — Chase Daniel (60:34)

• Vrabel on parking lot etiquette:
  “I wish I had a boot. That's a great idea. I would boot their car just like a mobile boot and said, I parked in a handicap spot and I'm not handicapped.”
  — Mike Vrabel (66:24)

Important Timestamps & Segments

• [04:57] Introduction of Jaxson Dart’s preseason hype and Giants’ QB debate
• [06:30] Chase Daniel’s in-depth breakdown of Dart’s preseason performance and fit
• [09:53] Giants’ tough opening schedule—why QB decision is critical
• [10:49] The “sit vs. start” rookie QB debate
• [13:38] Dart’s stat lines and the importance of QB-coach dialogue
• [16:33] Caleb Williams’ preseason debut, Chicago fan emotions, and Ben Johnson’s scheme
• [22:11] The challenge of switching from college to NFL playcalling
• [24:05] Pressure Meter: Lawrence/Coen vs. Williams/Johnson
• [29:27] Trey Hendrickson trade talk, Bengals' defensive issues
• [37:19] Terry McLaurin’s contract standstill update
• [41:26] The “is he worth it?” debate: paying McLaurin $30M
• [47:02] Browns’ QB conundrum and backup battle
• [50:13] Dylan Gabriel’s preseason critique
• [58:01] Kevin O’Connell on patient QB development
• [62:31] Mike Vrabel on Patriots' identity and player leadership
• [65:41] Mike Vrabel’s parking lot “grinds my gears” rant

Episode Tone & Style

The show features a lively, friendly rapport among the hosts—packed with deep NFL knowledge, humor, and a no-nonsense approach to analysis. There are playful jabs, personal anecdotes, and moments of genuine insider insight. Quotes are often vibrant and direct, giving listeners both information and entertainment.

Summary Takeaways

• The Giants’ QB decision is a microcosm for modern NFL risk management—the conversation blends film analysis, coaching seat warmth, and macro league trends.
• Caleb Williams has energized Chicago’s hopes, with both optimism and caution as hallmarks of the fan/media mood.
• Contract situations (Hendrickson, McLaurin) reflect broader front office philosophies around risk, age, and precedent—mirrored in how teams approach trades and extensions.
• Coach soundbites provide real windows into team-building philosophies, with both O’Connell and Vrabel embodying stability and accountability.
• The podcast leans on humor and authenticity—from Vrabel ranting about parking abusers, to personal stories about parenting and coaching, providing relatable levity amid heavy football talk.

For New Listeners

This episode offers a packed, colorful tour through some of the NFL’s most intriguing preseason battles and storylines. With expert insight, rich banter, and a focus on both football culture and strategy, it’s essential listening for any football fan looking to understand the league’s inner workings heading into the 2025 season.