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Scoop City: Inside The NFL
What's next for Josh Allen & Buffalo following shocking firing of Sean McDermott?
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- [00:00]
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- [02:01]
James Palmer
Oh my God guys, I just thought I'm down in my base and I was like there's a man in my house right now and I don't know who it is. My son's voice is dropping.
- [02:11]
Diana Rossini
It's just like.
- [02:15]
James Palmer
Oh my God. I was like who's this man? That's a 13 year old Nix with a mustache.
- [02:28]
Diana Rossini
Oh.
- [02:28]
James Palmer
Welcome into Scoop City on a Monday. I'm James Palmer. We have everything to cover today. What happened in the divisional round, what to look forward to in the championship round. And another head coach opening. We're going to cover top to bottom with The Athletics senior NFL insider Diana Rossini. The Sean McDermott firing. The end of an era in Buffalo. Never quite got to the mountaintop, but spent a lot of time hanging out at high altitude. Also, what's next for Jarrett Stidham and Bo Nix and Sean Payton as they have a backup quarterback playing in AFC championship game. And then the Bears, who come back but comes up short against the guy who knows about game winning, drives better than anybody else in football. Diana, how are you? You were at that game in New England. Have you thawed out? Are we. Are we back to the world of living? What was the conditions like, really?
- [03:17]
Diana Rossini
Okay, so on tv, what did it look like to you? Like, just wet.
- [03:21]
James Palmer
It looked gross, honestly, like. And I also didn't know why d' amigo Ryans wasn't wearing a hat of any sort. His just bald head was just accumulating moist, moisturization, moisture, like non stop and brand. By the end of the game, Vrabel just looked like, just soaked. There were stretches on the screen where I was like, this is tough to throw a football.
- [03:42]
Diana Rossini
So there were moments where it definitely looked sloppy. And then there was moments where it was beautiful because the. The wintry mix would lean towards the snow. And so I was standing in the tunnel where the Patriots run back in into their locker room area, probably with like 6 minutes left on the clock. I stood there to just kind of take it all in. And, And I will say, it was. It felt like a movie. It was picturesque. They had, you know, the music blasting, the fans were going crazy. They were chanting, mvp snow coming down in Foxborough in January. They're headed to the AFC championship game. And I hadn't been back to Foxborough in January, I guess, since Tom Brady.
- [04:27]
James Palmer
Right.
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Diana Rossini
Like, that would make Sen.
- [04:29]
James Palmer
Neither have the Patriots, actually.
- [04:30]
Diana Rossini
Yeah, exactly. Me. And I mean, everyone else in that stadium was experiencing. The first thing was experienced January football for the first time in a long time. And I will say there's. There's so much familiarity there. Like, it just feels right because we're so accustomed to it. But yet there's something very different about this Patriots team. And when I say that, I don't mean just because it's like the interacting with the players and the coaching staff. It's just everything about The New England organization now, top to bottom, talking to people in the tunnels, people that work at Gillette, like, everything just has a little bit more joy to it than what I'm used to. And I think some of that is reflective of the youth on the team. Right. There's just kind of like a young, naive feel to this team. They're like, holy crap, we're good. And I think they know it. And everyone's just like leaning into this like, we weren't supposed to be this good so quickly. And then, of course, you've got the variable element to all of us who's just literally has his finger right on the pulse of this team so perfectly. Which. Which I think is so fitting because when I think about a head coach having the best grip on their team, I don't think anyone does it better than Sean Payton. So the fact that these two are going head to head, I. I'm so pumped to see the different acts of warfare that go down this week on how they're going to try to get into each other's heads and what type of motivational tactics they're each going to use to get their guys ready. So it was. It was pretty electric. I will say. I'm so glad I was able to get there. But we talk about the division, you know, we talk about championship weekend for two seconds because it's all about the coaching cycle now.
- [06:11]
James Palmer
That's all it is. You're right. And we'll get. Listen, later in the show, we'll get a little bit into that breakdown. It's one of the two Mike vs Sean matchups we have in the championship round. We also have brothers, the Ellis brothers, going against each other between the Patriots and the Broncos. And if you talk to anybody in New England, dynamite. They'll tell you they're. This is the closest team I've ever been on. And it's that youthful group that's there. Like, we're so close. I have veterans in Denver here telling me this is the closest team I've ever been on. Mike McGlinchey's like, I've never been on a team this close. There's a lot of cool aspects between these two teams are going to face off in this AFC Championship game. But you're right, it's the coaches and it's Sean McDermott. And he is now out after going 98 and 50 with the Buffalo Bills. That's a.662 winning percentage, five AFC east titles, two AFC title game appearances, and really transform this team and the culture around it in Buffalo, you've seen a lot of the players with what they've put out about their respect for Sean McDermott, we'll get into his future. But why, why was a change made in Buffalo?
- [07:09]
Diana Rossini
Diana so the organization really felt that this was necessary and that there were opportunities to win on Saturday. And I do think they started to lose confidence in McDermott's leadership to get this team to that next level. I don't think that they have hesitation that he's a good coach, and I think it's a question of has he reached his, his ceiling here in Buffalo and can we do better? And they obviously feel that they can do better. As you just said, you know, they haven't made the division around six straight seasons, which is the longest active streak in football. And I think when you're seeing Josh Allen and you're seeing that he's playing in his prime years right now, you got to make a move if you don't think the result is good enough for, for your, for your team. And they clearly felt that way. And I was getting some word about it before Saturday's game, actually, that frustrations have grown in that building. And it's. I don't want to say I wasn't surprised. It still always gets you a little bit when someone this accomplished and really disrespected around football does get fired. But I definitely knew that there was some, something wasn't right over the last few days. And, you know, they made this decision and they're scrambling now because they're obviously behind, you know, like, look at all the coaching interviews that have been going on over the last few weeks. And now here, Buffalo's throwing their hat in the ring, and you got to just wonder, is Kevin Stefanski and John Harva sitting there like, what the hell?
- [08:50]
James Palmer
This is a generational talent in Josh Allen, and this is the type of player that you die to just, just want to coach and want to be in a building with, because they will give you a shot each and every year. And I think, Dinah, you're right. Like, with his prime, I was curious about the number 30. He turns 30 this offseason. Like, once you start seeing that on paper, like, Josh Allen is turning 30, man, have we kind of missed a big portion of this window and taking the most advantage of it that we can. And, and I love that you. That's what you bring, that you were hearing it before. I was really hearing it more after, like, being around them afterwards. And I was around them plenty early, early before the game. On the sideline, it's. Man, if there's any time, it's now, like, we have to. Like, this is the time that we have to make something. Something work in the postseason. And there was an urgency, I would say, on the sideline before the game and then after the game, with the way Sean was contacting people from the plane and the way Josh was so emotional, like, it just felt different. And I've been there for every single one, except one of their playoff finishes in the way that this has ended and this one did different. And I asked around going, like, what do you think? Think Sean's safe? I didn't get a definitive answer from anybody. So that made me start going like, well, nobody has said, like, yeah, he's good.
- [10:05]
Diana Rossini
Everybody's just like, yeah, no. And I know, obviously, you're at the game. Mike Silver was at the game and wrote an incredible piece about how change was needed with knowledge that this was coming. Because I. I do think that, you know, this is an ownership group that also runs, you know, a hockey team, and they fire people all the time. You know, I was kind of like, I've always thought, like, wow, they're really patient with their football team considering, you know, because Sean is that good, and he is so respected. And the reaction around the league has. Has been shocked from people in football because of what he's done. And so now you look the Two last league MVPs right in. Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen are now both looking for new head coaches.
- [10:50]
James Palmer
Unbelievable.
- [10:51]
Diana Rossini
That's where we're at. And so let's start with the Bill side to this.
- [10:55]
James Palmer
Yeah, tell us.
- [10:57]
Diana Rossini
So they are putting their list together right now of what they're looking for. I think Joe Brady would make sense, obviously, as an internal candidate. He's gotten head coach opportunity around the league right now, and he's had it in years prior. The immediate name that I heard from people around football, not in Buffalo, but around football, was Brian Dable. Actually, no. I did hear from one person in Buffalo that's on the staff currently. It was like, Brian Dable just makes all the sense. Josh loves them. And you gotta figure, James, if you. If you're Brandon Bean right now, who's gonna oversee this coaching search?
- [11:31]
James Palmer
And got a promotion.
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Diana Rossini
And got a promotion. You don't have time to train a new head coach. I. I just don't. I don't think they do.
- [11:40]
James Palmer
Maybe they make you get the sense of familiarity. Right. Because we're behind it. Who do I really, really know?
- [11:46]
Diana Rossini
Yeah. And who is Josh Allen? Gonna be comfortable with. Right. This is his team. At the end of the day. This is Josh Allen. And I think to find the right person who knows how to do this quick, I think is going to be part of their thinking process. But let's take a look at, like, who's left out there, you know, who. Most of these guys that are, we'll call out there are in the process of wrapping up interviews to perhaps be the first finalists in some of the jobs they're up for. Right. Robert Sala, Matt Nagy, Mike McCarthy, Brian Flores, Arthur Smith. You know, these are names that are. That, you know, they've been busy the last few weeks.
- [12:26]
James Palmer
Oh, yeah.
- [12:28]
Diana Rossini
So now Buffalo's got to hop in this thing and see if one of them, you know, are interested. And I'm going to guess that this bill's opening is going to slow something down. I'm not sure which team. I still think my Miami is leaning strongly towards Jeff Halfley, who's meeting with them on Monday afternoon, evening. I still think that that's going to be a match because of that relationship between the general manager and Halfley. Obviously, they knew each other in Green Bay, but you have the Vegas Raiders who could really use someone in there who knows what they're doing immediately. Right. Like Sean McDermott, to me, would make all the sense in the world, you know, in terms of like, kind of transferring over to now the world of Sean McDermott. I think the Cleveland Browns, the Tennessee Titans, who are deep in searches, are going to have conversations, and they already have today, about bringing him in. Maybe they go to him, but this is. I think this is going to have an effect on this cycle. I think those that were up for these jobs, I don't think they feel so good about them anymore.
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James Palmer
Yeah, I mean, with a guy with a.662 winning percentage, you don't go, well, let's just not ignore it. We're too far down the pipeline with these other guys. Right. He's too good of a coach to not go, oh, let's pause here. Let's take a minute. And it's funny you've brought up the Falcons and the Giants, because I do think from an organizational side, they're like, they're like, well, we're glad we acted quickly. And we, as opposed to maybe the coaches, might think a little bit differently. I'll throw a familiar name in there as well, because, man, were there a lot of conversations with him on that Bills sideline before the game. And Davis Webb, the good buddy of Josh Allen, that was in that room together. Knows a lot of people in that building. A lot of talk. You and I were sending some texts back and forth about Davis and, and still being an intriguing candidate. Things are on pause with them being in the, the AFC championship game. But would they go like, I get what you're saying. Because it's also like we need familiarity but we also need this to happen now. And that's a 30 year old guy. So I don't.
- [14:21]
Diana Rossini
They're ready and you know, these young coaches aren't. They're going to want to get moving here and get in the building and start and learn and go, yeah. I, this has to be the most relentless, aggressive firing cycle that we've ever covered together. Right. Like, I don't, I don't. I have never seen this.
- [14:40]
James Palmer
Have you gotten a sense why?
- [14:43]
Diana Rossini
No, I, I haven't either. There's. I, I'm sorry I don't have a better, like Ed, like educated answer just because I can't find anyone in football who's. And by the way, I'm talking to owners in this process too. It's not like I'm leaving out the decision makers when I'm trying to collect this stuff. And it's not like I'm getting the sense that everybody just thinks the coaches that are out there are that tremendous. That's not it. It's not like there's this golden group. I think a lot of this is timing of when this stuff is happening in terms of the impatience running out. Right. I think for McDermott, Josh Allen not having to face Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow hurt his chances of returning. Right. Because this was their clearest path. We got rid of the, the enemy and we still couldn't win. How are we going to do this and play at a high level when the stars are back?
- [15:39]
Joe Biscalia
Yep.
- [15:39]
Diana Rossini
So I think that that obviously hurt him. I think the successes of a Ben Johnson and a Mike Rabel hurt.
- [15:44]
James Palmer
I was just.
- [15:45]
Diana Rossini
I know that's superficial, but I think you see that. You're like, I want that. That's what I want. You know, I want to feel alive in my building that these guys are fighting every day to win.
- [15:55]
James Palmer
It's a copycat league.
- [15:57]
Joe Biscalia
Right.
- [15:57]
James Palmer
And I would go a step further than both of those guys. Let's look at the playoff teams. Liam Cohen in his first year. Jacksonville, one of the hottest teams in football. D', Amico Ryan, just a handful of years down there in Houston. It seems like they got a lot of juice with where they're at. You mentioned Ben Johnson, you mentioned Mike Rabel. Then you look at Mike McDonald and what he's doing, and they might have the best team in football. And Sean Payton's only in year three in Denver. It's like all these teams went through a change one way or another recently, and they're all in the postseason. And there is also this vibe and tell me and tell everybody that's. That's. That's watching and listening. There is this little bit of turn that I've heard in some buildings with the thinking of some owners, which is, I have a lot of stress in a lot of the other businesses that I run. Maybe I should make my football building a little more enjoyable to be around. And these guys are a lot of energy. Liam Cohen, Ben Johnson, Mike McDonald. There's a lot of positive juice in that building that some of these owners are going, well, maybe we should bring these type of guys in to run my football business. Have you ever heard that around. Around the league?
- [16:58]
Diana Rossini
I mean, for sure. And look at the new wave of guys that are in the buildings. You're getting that. And then you also have, of course, this trend of the former player being part of it. You see d' Amico and Variable last night, right. As the perfect poster coaches for. They've got it right like that. That's the perfect formula from a former player that can connect, can be a player coach, but yet they can hold these guys so accountable. Because the accountability factor is always part of these interview processes that. And I only know this because I went through it with a. With a head coach recently, or at least a candidate, and we went through some of the questions he. He was getting. And. And it was. They're asking those. They're. They're giving scenarios like, okay, let's just. For this conversation, this isn't true, but, like, Miles Garrett is late for practice twice, you know, this week. What are you doing? How are you handling? How are you managing that? Because this isn't just a regular guy. This is the best player in football. You know, how. How are you going to do that? So I do think that's a big factor, and that's a big question to ask these young guys, because it's hard. I remember when Sean McVeigh got that job, what, 10 years ago now, one of the biggest concerns was how, like, who's gonna listen to him? How are players gonna listen to this young kid? And if you have that characteristic that demands a room and demands respect, you can do it. But it's special, which is why the Sean McVeigh example bothers me. Sean is one in a bazillion.
- [18:27]
James Palmer
Exactly. And everybody else is searching for it.
- [18:29]
Diana Rossini
And everyone's just looking for it. And. And I don't know what everybody thinks that. That. That just happens all the time. And so obviously, we see him having maybe not his best coaching job in Chicago, but I was actually thinking about that. I was reading some of McVeigh's quotes about just, like, owning that, you know, he made some bad play calls. And that, to me, just, first of all, that's such maturity. That's such belief in what you're doing. There's such confidence to be able to say, like, I called the wrong play. When do you hear coaches ever say.
- [18:58]
James Palmer
That his self evaluation is outstanding?
- [19:01]
Diana Rossini
And. And it's. It's interesting. In this giant search, when I was talking to people close to John Harbaugh, that was something. That was a revelation he had in the learning process now of what he thought he didn't do enough of. And that was stepping up to the podium and say, I didn't do. I didn't make the right call there, or I should have called a timeout here. Because I do think it takes a strong belief in who you are and what you do to do that, and that's hard. I think everyone. Everyone just naturally sits in a space of insecurity because this is a hard job and it's so competitive, and nobody wants to show weakness.
- [19:33]
James Palmer
Yes.
- [19:34]
Diana Rossini
But obviously, Sean McVay is special in that way, which is why he's once again back in the NFC Championship game, when almost a year ago. A little less than a year or a little more than a year ago, we're sitting at the combine, wondering, Matthew Stafford's going back to the ramps, and here we are, and they're back playing.
- [19:47]
James Palmer
Unbelievable. Okay, before you go, I know your time is precious during this. Kevin Stefanski, thoughts on the hire there in Atlanta. I know you've been all over this. Thoughts on the rug and the wallpaper in Arthur Blank's home?
- [19:59]
Diana Rossini
Love it. Fits him. Wouldn't expect anything else. I. I would like. I would have leaned into all of that if I was Kevin. I would have. I would have wore a robe. Interview.
- [20:09]
James Palmer
Well, Matt Ryan almost does have, like, slippers on. Like, he has, like, the fancy shoes that are kind of slippery. Like, Matt knew it. He's been to. Matt's been to Arthur's house several times.
- [20:18]
Diana Rossini
So that they snagged Stefanski here, knowing with all of these openings, I. I know we kind of Joked about the Josh Allen thing, but we're not joking because we think it's funny. We're joking because, you know, Kevin Stefanski would have wanted to coach Josh Allen. I don't care what he watches.
- [20:33]
James Palmer
Quarterbacks in an offensive side of the ball would love to work with quarterback.
- [20:36]
Diana Rossini
Really, you know, so I mean, just imagining what he could do with him. So look, I think for Atlanta though, this is such a home run hit for them because he does. He's a grown up, he knows what he's doing. He's so level headed and he's gonna be able to bring some of the things that I. He even learned in Cleveland, which was a lot. I recently was talking to somebody close to him about this. I told him that. I told this person that I had a friend in the film industry who knows nothing about football. Like, nothing.
- [21:10]
James Palmer
Oh, Diana, look at you.
- [21:12]
Diana Rossini
And was like, hey, do you have any contacts for Kevin Stefanski? And I'm like, what? Why? And he's like, well, I don't really know that much, but I've read so much about his time in Cleveland and all the different situations he was faced with, like dealing with all sorts of issues. And I was. And when you go through it and you like take a second to think about, oh, it's like, it is worth a movie, you know, So I, I think for him this makes a lot of sense in the world to just turn the page on that. But also, I don't think he could see anything Atlanta that he hasn't seen before at this point, you know, like, he'll be able to manage this really well.
- [21:49]
James Palmer
Yeah, I'm excited. He keeps Jeff Albrecht running that defense, which took a big, big turn. And I think that's a great move and it's gonna be interest what that whole dynamic does. Listen, Philadelphia is taking over Atlanta. We're going down to the dirty south right there. We got Matt Ryan, we got Kevin Stefanski. I might have a new team that I need to root for down there in Atlanta. I'm very excited.
- [22:08]
Diana Rossini
Did you love, like, I even like tweeted like Philly guys. I'm like, I just love that it's such an east coast thing. And tell me if I'm wrong, but it's like the second somebody's from the same area, you immediately think they get along. Because the truth is that that's kind of what happens. I have, I have relationships all the time with people where like Anthony Campanelli is a great example. Never. I couldn't point him out in a lineup. And one day he came up to me, he's like, you're from Jersey. I'm like, yeah. He's like, oh, what's up? Like. Like that. Why is that connecting us? Like, that's so stupid.
- [22:38]
James Palmer
It's all people care about. It works every time on the. On the radio in Philadelphia, Upper Marion High School. James Palmer joins us.
- [22:45]
Diana Rossini
It's familiarity, it's comfort because you know what you're getting. We're all the same. We're the same exact bitches.
- [22:51]
Joe Biscalia
Unreal.
- [22:52]
James Palmer
All right, thank you. You got a lot to get to because we still have openings. Diane's gonna be all over it. Make sure you follow everything she's doing on social media, everything she's doing on the athletic. It is really the can't miss kind of information that really nobody else provides. Friend, I will see you in a little bit.
- [23:05]
Diana Rossini
We got it, baby. Thanks so much.
- [23:07]
James Palmer
All right, covered a ton of Bills and Sean McDermott fallout with Diana. But how about what's happening in Buffalo, specifically moving forward not just with the next head coach, but how about Brandon Bean and how about Josh Allen? What's next on the roster? Joe joins us next with everything from Buffalo.
- [23:27]
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- [24:27]
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This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever find yourself playing the budgeting game? Shifting a little money here, a little there and hoping it all works out well. With the name your price tool from Progressive, you can be a better budgeter and potentially lower your insurance bill too. You tell Progressive what you want to pay for car insurance and they'll help you find options within your budget. Try it today@progressive.com, progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Price and coverage match limited by state law. Not available in all states.
- [24:56]
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- [25:28]
James Palmer
All right. Welcome back to Scoop City. I'm James Palmer joined by a good buddy on the show. Got to see him in person this weekend, Joe Biscalia. Both and I both him and I were at that divisional game between the Broncos and the Bills and it did not turn out great for the Bills. It felt different. We were just talking about Joe after the game as opposed to I just somehow realized this. I've been to every single one of these except one during the Josh Allen tenure of this season ending. You've been to all of them, I would assume. And just, just real quick before we push forward, why did you get the sense that after that game and you lurking around the stadium that this did feel a little different?
- [26:11]
Joe Biscalia
It's just in the way that like I'm not, I don't know, I don't remember if you were in the Bills locker room, but it was I did.
- [26:20]
James Palmer
Josh and then I did Broncos and then I had to find out about Bo Nick. So then I stayed there, which was the most this is an insane postgame, by the way.
- [26:27]
Joe Biscalia
And all of there was so much going on from both sides. It was wild. But the overall despair that I saw in that locker room is unlike anything I have ever witnessed in I've covered them for this was my 16th full season. So I've gotten a good, I've gotten a good sense of who they are. And even after 13 seconds, even after losing the AFC championship game the way that they did last year, were there some tears last year? Yes, there were, but there weren't from Josh Allen. Not like what I saw. He looked broken. Like every sense of the word. And what we saw at the podium after the fact was unlike anything I've ever seen. But that was just the tip of the iceberg because when he went into back into the locker room, he Was, you know, usually most times when he goes through a gut punch of a loss, he'll go to his phone and he'll doom scroll. That's usually his coping mechanism. But in this one, it was just staring straight ahead, not talking to anyone for 10 minutes, occasionally picking at his fingers, occasionally grabbing his hair and looking down like he was broken. And I think, you know, that was part of it. And there were other teammates that were openly sobbing like Dalton Kincaid was. Was, you know, unable to be helped, for the lack of a better term. It was a crazy scene. And I think that's part of what makes this so different, because when you think about that and the opportunity that they had in a game they probably should have won on. On six different occasions, and, you know, Josh Allen deserves some blame, too, because he. He turned the ball over a ton and unnecessarily so. But. But the biggest sense of what I got was, how do you come back from that with doing the same thing that you just did last year? So that's why, at least to me, it felt like even if it wasn't a certainty, it at least opened the window a little bit more so than any of these other playoff losses that we've seen. And now we know exactly what that little creek of a window could. Could provide. And that's a new head coach in Buffalo.
- [28:54]
James Palmer
I just thought of this now, and I didn't remember having this conversation, but when I said I went to the Broncos locker room, I was talking to a couple of players that I know well, and they're always kind of curious, and one of them just goes, I think Sean's got to be gone, man. And I was like, no, are you serious? And he's like, they've been so close, and this is just another player, like, on the other team that was just kind of like, I don't know, man. It just seems like it's just. Just. I get that feeling. Maybe he should be a GM or a journalist for that matter, and take our jobs. Let's. You mentioned Josh Allen so many times there, Joe. Like, he is. He is the key cog. And what happens now moving forward, do you think? There's a couple of things at play here, I believe since they're behind the eight ball. Diana mentioned it earlier. Familiarity seems to probably something that they look into, because who is Josh familiar with? We have this window that you referenced and she referenced and I've referenced, but at the same time, do you go with somebody that's established because you need to be up and going right away. What are the traits you're looking for and what Buffalo needs to really. They need almost this to happen seamlessly and get right back going.
- [29:59]
Joe Biscalia
Yeah. This is without a question, the most important move that they could possibly make in Buffalo sports history here. Because it is a huge statement to move on.
- [30:11]
James Palmer
That's a big one you just said.
- [30:13]
Joe Biscalia
I know, but I think you're right. It's a huge statement to move on from a head coach that just brought you out of a 17 year misery in his first season, getting them to the playoffs eight out of nine years, racking up over 100 wins, getting to the divisional round at least six straight seasons. Like you can't do anything less here then hit a home run with whoever they hire. So what do they need to do now? I think if it were me, I am probably leaning to an offensive mind because throughout all the time that the Bills have been here with Sean McDermott, there's always been that what if in the back of people's brains, like, okay, what if it was an offensive coach paired with Josh Allen? Because we saw how successful this whole thing went with, with Brian D. Here as the offensive coordinator and then Dable was ripped out from underneath them because he, you know, rightfully so, went on to get a head coaching job. Absolutely. And that's what happens when you have really good coordinators. But you know, when that doesn't happen, when the great offensive mind is also your head coach and there's no risk of leaving because he's just there. So it's always the wonder, the what if? Like, okay, what if Josh had this great offensive mind that no matter what, he was going to be there throughout the rest of Josh Allen's career. And even if, you know, they have a great defensive coordinator that gets scooped out from underneath them, they always can rest on the laurels of having that offensive mind without having to pick up the pieces the way that they did once Dable left. And by the way, it did not go well when, when he left, they promoted Ken Dorsey from within. That was a failure. And ironically enough, you know, after. After just writing a column on Josh Allen, some of the parallels here. Ironically enough, Dorsey was canned after the Bills lost to the Broncos on a last second Will Lutz field goal. So the Russell Wilson game, it was 20, 23? Yeah, I think so. Yep.
- [32:16]
James Palmer
When Russell Wilson went in there and beat them. Yeah. Yep, yep, yep.
- [32:18]
Joe Biscalia
24, 22 on Monday night Football. Dorsey was canned the next day. Then they get to Joe Brady, who's been solid. I don't I won't say spectacular, but solid. But it's. It's nothing like Dable and I think people remember that. So that's the course that I think that they need to go here. Whether they do that or not remains to be seen. They could try to go for someone who brings a certain level of toughness. If they're someone that kind of melds both those principles, I think that that could be something to keep an eye on. And in terms of established versus not established, it doesn't matter. Honestly, at this point, find the best coach and find the person who meshes with Josh Allen the best and who can maximize Josh Allen the best because that's really what it's all about. And their window is not as big as it used to be. He's turning 30 in May and that is something that needs to be and is on their minds throughout this decision. So it's on Brandon Bean because he is now the one leading the search. He is now the one that the new head coach will directly report to, which is a swift from how it used to be. It used to be a horizontal reporting scheme to where they both reported directly to Terry Pegula. So now it's on Bean, it's on Terry Pegula. And if they don't get this right, then they could be looking at potentially going with one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history and never getting or winning a Super Bowl.
- [33:48]
James Palmer
Don't say it. Don't make it happen. Don't put it out there, Joe. Buffalo fans don't want to hear that. Well, a part of this. And you mentioned him there, Brandon Bean, in the press release of relieving Sean McDermott of his duties. He is also promoted to president of football operations as well as general manager. I think you're absolutely correct. Is the factor that Josh Allen is in terms of your next head coach and how that relationship has to be and how they take another step forward. The other part of it falls on Brandon Bean and creating what is the best possible roster around Josh Allen. What needs to happen, do you think? Or what could happen this offseason in terms of where they need to look to improve some changes that could happen within this roster and what you're looking for from Brandon Bean to do his part in this after they find the head coach?
- [34:37]
Joe Biscalia
Yeah, when he was promoted, I will say the reception from the fan base wasn't sterling because there was a lot of blame put on him for the groceries that he put on the table for the Bills, specifically at wide receiver. I think Edge Rusher is also a part of that has brought along a lot of, I guess, frustration from the fan base because the two tenants are, hey, you need guys to get open to be able to maximize what Josh Allen can do to where you're not having to rely on Brandon Cooks, who you brought in in week 13 to come down with your make or break catch against the Broncos in the divisional round and then two to actually put pressure on the opposing quarterback with your front four and be because they didn't have that guy in that game. So I think those are the two areas that I think Bean really needs to stress on upcoming in this off season. It's just, it's a gotta have it situation. But it is going to be tricky for him because they have a ton of free agents coming up, mostly on defense. But significantly, they have two potential vacancies on their really good offensive line and David Edwards and Connor McGovern both being up. And as of right now, according to over the cap, they are projecting rejected 11 million over over the 2026 salary cap. Well, they could make one move to restructure Josh Allen's contract to get it all at least cap compliant. But the wiggle room that they had last off season, that they spent all of these dollars, all of these cap percentages on retaining their own, a couple of those not really looking great right now. That's another part of this too. So, yeah, Bean's got his, his work ahead of him, but. But the one absolute got to have in addition to the wide receiver and defensive end. You have to nail this head coaching hire. This will be his defining moment as Bill's general manager. This will be the defining moment potentially in the Josh Allen era in Buffalo and they have to nail it. Otherwise, I don't know what's going to happen here.
- [36:46]
James Palmer
So much to keep an eye on. We'll keep having you on the show, Joe, because you bring the goods. And you know what? I thought this was a big deal before you came on and now listening to you, I'm like, no, no, this is a really big deal. Like, this is a really big deal. And so it's going to be fascinating. Is there now an added piece to what we find is maybe the most interesting head coaching cycle in recent memory with everything that has transpired. So Joe, appreciate it. Get back to work. Enjoy the snow over the next 24 hours. I'm glad you made it back. Great to see you in person and we'll be chatting soon, man.
- [37:24]
Joe Biscalia
Appreciate it, James. Thanks for having me.
- [37:26]
James Palmer
No problem. All right, coming up. I'm going to talk about what moves forward with the Denver Broncos after that win over Joe's Bills and what happens with Jarrett Stidham. Little intel there that I've gathered over the last couple of days about Stiddy. Is he ready for this? We'll find out next on Scoop City.
- [37:43]
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- [38:44]
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- [39:42]
James Palmer
Welcome back to Scoop City on a Monday. James Palmer bringing it home solo. I sound like I'm on the radio. I want to break down what's happening in the AFC Championship game because yes, it's another matchup of A Mike versus Sean, but it also has a Jarrett in it, and that is Jarrett Stidham, who is going to be starting at quarterback for the Denver Broncos. I was in that building, was there for the news in the room when Sean Payton delivered it that Bo Nix had fractured his ankle, he's going to have surgery on Tuesday and that his postseason is over. So they now turn to Jarrett Stidham. Before we go forward, we gotta go back. Couple of things you need to remember. With everything that I've gathered, it's this. Remember when Sean Payton took the job three years ago in Denver, on his first day of free agency, he made a couple of moves. One, to bolster the offensive line with Mike McGlinchey and Ben Powers in free agency. He also made another move at the quarterback spot. He immediately came out of the gate and signed Jarrett stidham to a two year, $10 million contract. Now that always stood out to me because they had Russell Wilson at the time. But he valued Stidham and what he brought to the table. He actually valued Jarrett Stidham heavily when he was in New Orleans, when Stidham was coming out in the draft and really did a lot of extensive work and likes did him's game. He also understands how he was coached by Josh McDaniels in both new England and in Vegas. And I will get to McDaniels in just a second. Now, what Stidham has brought to the table is the acumen of just knowing this system inside and out. The biggest thing I'm always told with Sean Payton is year three. It's very valuable to Payton because after year three you usually have a very good grasp of his system and a lot of ownership of his system and how it operates. That's always been something Peyton's told people around him. I'm told, well, this is three years now for Jarrett Stidham in this, in this system of Sean Payton. So he understands it inside and out. And I've been to a number of training camp practices over the last couple of years where hit times, he is the best quarterback on the field. Now, yes, he is a backup quarterback and he's a backup quarterback for a reason. But there were a number of teams I talked to after he had an outstanding preseason and Chase and I joked on this show a number of times he was maybe the best quarterback in football during the preseason. And yes, I know it was the preseason, but teams were interested. They were telling me, I wish he was in our building. There were teams that are kind of without a quarterback going I wish we could give him a shot to be our starter. I talked to somebody in the league yesterday who told me if There was maybe 34 teams in the league, Jarrett Situm would probably be a starting quarterback. So he's in that conversation as one of the best backups in football. But yes again a backup. I'm told that we are going to have a great plan for Jarrett. He is going to be very confident and we have to run the football. An important part of that of running the football is the running back of J.K. dobbins. J.K. dobbins gets his practice window opened. We will see if he can go in this AFC Championship game and return. But he was a top 10 running back when healthy before he went down for the season with a foot injury. If J.K. dobbins can go dramatically changes things for Jarrett Stidham. But the X factor for this entire AFC game is offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels for the new England Patriots. I mentioned the time that he spent with Stidham. Don't even think for a second that he is not sitting up there in FO with Mike Vraebil going these are the things that the guy that I was with for a long time absolutely hates to go against defensively. These are the things that the guy I was with forever absolutely loves to go against defensively. These are the things he struggles with. These are his traits. I bet you that conversation is going on back and forth. So I would say that the X factor for this AFC Championship game in my opinion is Josh McDaniels because he also has to scheme against Vance Joseph and this outstanding defense that would play a big role in helping Jarrett Stidham win this game and get the Denver Broncos to the Super Bowl. So keep your eye on how this entire week transpires. On Wednesday we will have Chase Daniel on here who knows Jarrett, who knows Sean Payton knows this system will tell us everything about a backup getting the proper preparation to start a football game. Because guess what guys during the season they get absolutely no run with the starters and alright. Want to thank Joe Biscalia for joining us, giving us an in depth look on what Buffalo does moving forward. Also, Diane Rossini just bringing the goods as always at the top of this one. Join us on Wednesday when again Chase joins us to break down the quarterback play of all of these teams. The Final Four before we get to the Super Bowl. Take it easy.
- [44:05]
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