Why the Cowboys, Micah Parsons may NOT get a deal done before the season opener?

Summary

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Scoop City: Why the Cowboys, Micah Parsons May NOT Get a Deal Done Before the Season Opener?

Podcast: Scoop City: A show about the NFL
Date: August 20, 2025
Hosts: James Palmer & Dianna Russini (The Athletic)

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Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the high-drama contract standoff between Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys. James Palmer and Dianna Russini unpack why a deal for the All-Pro defender may not happen before the season opener, touching on Jerry Jones’s negotiation tactics, team leverage, and Parsons’ options. They expand the discussion to include similar league-wide contract impasses (Trey Hendrickson, Terry McLaurin, Cam Heyward), analyze the Colts’ quarterback competition, spotlight rookie running backs primed to break out, and end with a fun reflection on back-to-school traditions.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Micah Parsons & the Dallas Cowboys: Contract Drama

• Negotiation Deadlock ([06:03] – [11:05])
  • Status Quo: The team won’t even engage Parsons’ agent in talks.
  • Russini: "You can't negotiate a deal if you don't talk. So, what next? Somebody’s gonna have to give. The agent can’t do anything because the owner doesn’t want to talk to him." ([06:10])
  • Jerry Jones is stonewalling, possibly driven by pride or strategy.
  • Unusual for Jerry—historically, he shells out for elite homegrown talent at crunch time (e.g., Dak, CeeDee).
• Potential Outcomes
  • Parsons may just have to play out his current deal ($24M due this year), possibly disgruntled but present.
  • The team holds significant leverage—Franchise tag possible in 2026, making them less motivated to budge.
  • Palmer: “It has a different feel than previous ones in Dallas… I was talking to somebody in Dallas just the other day, and it was like, ‘we’ve actually had a pretty good camp outside of the Micah thing.’” ([10:17])
• Back Injury Complicating Matters
  • Parsons’ back injury could delay things further—injury + contract = slower recoveries. Signing a deal “usually heals them up real quick.” ([08:35])
• A Deal No Longer Feels Inevitable
  • Russini: “I thought this was the layup... something’s not right here.” ([10:56])
  • A month ago, consensus was Jerry would blink. Now? Stalemate.

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2. League-wide Contract Disputes & Holdouts

Trey Hendrickson (Bengals) ([11:05] – [15:57])

• Cincy’s refusal to guarantee money past year one (“not the norm around the league”) is stalling things.
• Hendrickson wants guaranteed money, which Chase and Burrow already got.
• Team and player both digging in—public demands hard to walk back.
• Bengals won’t be swayed by distractions, per Palmer: “Cincinnati has never cared if the player makes any sort of stink or any sort of distraction.” ([15:57])
• Russini: “Once those words come out of your mouth, it is tough to eat it and get back on the field without whatever that is that you were asking for.” ([15:18])

Terry McLaurin (Commanders) ([15:57] – [19:19])

• Sidelined negotiations but a sense something will get done—eventually.
• Commanders don’t want to lose him, aware offense would suffer.
• Russini: “This one continues to be the one we see moving in a really good direction.” ([16:59])
• The hang-ups: his age, target average per year, and guarantees compared to DK Metcalf’s deal.
• Washington claims commitment to McLaurin but hasn’t met his price.

Cam Heyward (Steelers) ([19:19] – [24:19])

• Pittsburgh is "all-in" for 2025, fueling leverage grabs by key veterans (Heyward, Watt, Slay, et al.).
• Cam’s contract now undervalues his play, yet he returns to practice—usually a positive sign in contract standoffs.
• Palmer: “His $14.5 million annual salary ... ranks 23rd amongst interior defensive linemen, if you’d like to know that.” ([24:19])

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3. Colts Quarterback Competition: Daniel Jones vs. Anthony Richardson ([24:19] – [33:52])

• Daniel Jones Named Starter
  • Most consistent QB in camp; won the job fairly.
  • Palmer: "He ends up winning the starting job. Now, we do have to mention here, and I’d like your take on Daniel Jones, what we could see from the Colts this year..." ([24:19])
• What Happens With Anthony Richardson?
  • Richardson made improvements (diet, footwork, mindset), but not enough for the starting nod.
  • Russini: “They picked him in hopes that he was going to be the guy ... and he has not proven that.” ([26:27])
  • New ownership raises win-now pressure—coaches betting on stability over upside.
• Richardson's Reaction
  • Mature, pragmatic, and professional.
  • Richardson: "I just gotta keep growing... I just can't let me not being a starter stop me from growing and being the person, the player, that I'm supposed to be." ([29:39])
  • Palmer wishes for more “fire,” Russini argues for composure.
• Team’s Outlook
  • Colts believe their roster is better than outsiders realize and see winnable division.
  • Plan: Lean on run game, minimize turnovers/volatile QB play.

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4. Rookie Running Back Roundup: Impact Starters to Watch ([36:18] – [46:46])

Ashton Jeanty (Raiders)

• Nicknamed the best transition RB in the draft—“You’re never going to think this is a rookie.”
• Compared (credibly!) to Ladanian Tomlinson/Emmitt Smith. Dominant tackle-breaker, already earning major responsibility.
• Palmer: “He has picked up the two things that you really need…pass protection, catching out of the backfield…All signs are pointing to a huge focal point of the offense.” ([39:53])

Treyvon Henderson (Patriots)

• Elite pass-protection skills, rare for a rookie.
• Instant impact—potential safety valve and “third down monster” for Drake Maye.
• Russini: “He’s quick, he’s stepping in...the New England Patriots, they don’t have a lot of major playmakers, I think this is where we’re going to see.” ([42:08])

R.J. Harvey (Broncos)

• Sean Payton retooling Denver’s run game—Harvey expected to play a big role behind an upgraded offensive line.
• Russini: “He's like 5’8”, 195 pounds. That’s like essentially me (laughs) …But [Payton’s] testing this running back room as a whole. ‘Hey, we’re really good everywhere else. You dudes better come through because the running game is the weapon for us.’” ([43:35])

Brian Robinson Jr. (Commanders)

• Trade/cut candidate—Commanders like their youth at RB, willing to eat salary to move him.
• Palmer: “Is this just a fit thing?” Russini: “Not so much a fit. It’s they like who they have. They like in their younger running back.” ([45:52])

General: Veteran Insights from Aaron Jones

• On mentoring young backs: “I go around the huddle, giving everybody knuckles, try to give them some words of advice…you need somebody in your ear...to hear that constant communication is great.” ([37:24])

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5. Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Cowboys–Parsons Negotiations
  • Palmer: “Bold strategy, Cotton, during negotiations, just to ... refuse to negotiate. I just refuse to pick up the phone.” ([07:11])
• On Bengals’ Tough Contract Policies
  • Palmer: “Few teams still operate in this contract structure around the league…” ([12:26])
• On Rookie Running Backs
  • Palmer: “He has picked up... pass protection, catching... All signs are pointing to a huge focal point of the offense.” ([39:53])
• On First Day of School Smells
  • Russini: “I loved the smell of school on the 1st…Everything's so clean...it reminds you of being in school for the good reasons. And then…the months go by, it just turns into...garbage.” ([53:01])

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6. Timestamps for Notable Segments

• [06:03] – Micah Parsons negotiations: why it’s not moving
• [10:56] – “This is not the same Cowboys contract situation…something’s not right here”
• [11:55] – Trey Hendrickson vs. Bengals: guaranteed money standoff
• [15:18] – The ego & public demands in player negotiations
• [16:59] – McLaurin’s contract: why it still might get done
• [19:19] – Steelers “all-in,” Cam Heyward’s undervalued extension push
• [24:19] – Colts QB battle: Daniel Jones wins, Richardson’s path
• [29:39] – Anthony Richardson’s reaction: “I just gotta keep growing…”
• [36:18] – Rookie RB preview: Jeanty, Henderson, Harvey & more
• [39:53] – Jeanty compared to all-time greats; is ROY candidate
• [42:08] – Treyvon Henderson and Patriots’ weaponizing the rookie RB
• [43:35] – Sean Payton challenges Denver’s RB room
• [45:52] – Brian Robinson trade/cut situation in Washington

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Tone & Style

Dynamic and conversational, with Palmer’s comedic asides breaking up Russini’s insider precision. The episode blends deep reporting (insider scoop, agent dynamics), technical football talk, and pop culture banter (school memories) for broad listener appeal.

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Useful for Listeners

• Cowboys & NFL fans: Get clarity on why the Parsons deal is truly stuck, and why Dallas may not cave soon.
• Fans of Bengals/Commanders/Steelers: See your team’s contract drama in the wider context of NFL negotiation norms.
• Fantasy players: Rookies like Jeanty and Henderson are flagged as “immediate impact” and possible league-winners.
• Draft/roster nerds: Learn how pass protection and catching ability fast-track RBs onto the field.
• Colts fans: Clear-eyed breakdown of why Daniel Jones is starting and what Richardson must do now.
• All listeners: Relatable, nostalgic closing on “back to school” feelings—the universal start of football season.

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Transcript

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[James Palmer]

Talk about stepping up.

[Diana Rossini]

Bang bang.

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[James Palmer]

If you were a kid and I was like pretending to like work out right and I like topless James in some sweatpants and he's eight years old, I'd come upstairs and grab like A chug. A glass of milk.

[Diana Rossini]

Didn't you think that that's what.

[James Palmer]

Those are, the commercials?

[Diana Rossini]

I was gonna say that's what, like, the cool kids do. Just like, you know, you stand in the refrigerator with it open, right, and just throw it back.

[James Palmer]

Oh, I didn't.

[Diana Rossini]

It's just funny how, you know, like, my sons love milk. Like, they drink milk every night. They're toddlers. And it's just like. Even the smell of it to me is so gross.

[James Palmer]

All right, welcome back into Scoop City. I'm James Palmer. We have drama in Dallas. What's the latest with Dak? We have a quarterback named in Indianapolis. It's not Anthony Richardson. What's his future? I don't know. Maybe Diana knows we're going back to school as well. Don't forget to like and subscribe. I am joined now always by senior NFL insider Diana Rossini. Diana, you're heading to. We were just chatting. You're heading to D.C. right after we face, you know, right after we tape this. Are you, like a pack your bag early. But more importantly, are you unpack immediately?

[Diana Rossini]

So funny. It's such a great question to ask on a day that I'm about to run to the airport the second we finish this. Nothing is packed. There's a bunch of stuff on the bed right now, but nothing is actually in the suitcase.

[James Palmer]

They sell suitcases at the airport. You could just put it in a trash bag and buy a suitcase at the airport. It's an old David Telljer.

[Diana Rossini]

Have you ever traveled without anything? Like, just nothing? Like just your phone, your wallet? Just because it was a day trip. Have you ever done it before?

[James Palmer]

I think maybe a backpack for my laptop. Yeah, that's about it.

[Diana Rossini]

There's no.

[James Palmer]

I've done. I've done where, like, they've called. Like, I've gotten a call from the assignment desk in the airport and say, hey, I got travel on this call as well. You're no longer going to terminal A. You're going to terminal B. And now you're going here. And I'm like, oh, well, I don't have anything packed for there. And you just change. Cause news breaks and something happens that's happened to me a couple of times. And then you wind up in Miami when you packed for New England, and you're not looking real good out there.

[Diana Rossini]

I just like that feeling, though, of being able to walk through. I don't. Like, I'll check a bag just to get rid of it. Cause I don't want to walk around with one not that I'm not an easy breezy. Not that I'm ever there early, but for the times I am there, I love just getting rid of it. I just had this happen to me the other day when I flew home from Minnesota because I was sitting in the back of the plane. I had to be the one to check the bag that I had as a carry on. I hate being. Don't you feel like such a loser? Like I got chosen?

[James Palmer]

Yeah. Well, you gotta keep the status up. That's the big thing. You get on there early.

[Diana Rossini]

Yeah, I'm losing out on that.

[James Palmer]

Hopefully you're not the loser that goes walking back up. I don't have a place for my back. Listen, all right, here we go. This is what we got on tap for us today. We are, you know, going through rookie summer school, Diana. We're going to talk about some rookie running backs. We're going to do that. The Colts, obviously, obviously I mentioned named a quarterback. What does this mean for both guys? And Shane Steichen and Chris Ballard, I kind of want to get into that. The general manager as well. But we're going to start with Micah Parsons and the rest of these guys with hold ins and holdouts. So this is what we're hearing around the league. Diana, let's start with Micah, because this has become obviously the most talked about sports story of the entire summer. Even more so than my Red Hot Phils. But listen, it's because it's Dallas. It's because it's unique, but I think it's because it's with a unique player and agent as well. Is there any movement, any change right now as we speak on a Wednesday.

[Diana Rossini]

We say it's status quo, but I think it's important to just highlight what's happening here. Even if Michael wanted to open up this negotiation to remain a Dallas Cowboy, the Cowboys are not allowing that because they won't talk to his agent. Like, you can't negotiate a deal if you don't talk. So what next? Right? Like what happens here? Somebody's gonna have to give. The agent can't do anything because the owner doesn't want to talk to him. So it's gonna be on Jerry, if he wants to do the deal, to pick up the phone and say, all right, let's put that to rest or put that to bed. Uh, let's renegotiate. But it. I don't know if that is gonna happen. I. I feel like in the past with other deals, I always had belief that Jerry would. Would just put aside the ego and open up the wallet and get the player that he. That he needs on the field.

[James Palmer]

Yeah.

[Diana Rossini]

This is gonna be a lot of backtracking by him. I. I don't. I don't know if he's going to be willing to do that. Yeah.

[James Palmer]

I have to say, bold strategy, Cotton, during negotiations, just to just. You know what? I refuse to negotiate. I just refuse to pick up the phone. I won't talk to anybody. That's really kind of the approach right now. He's almost just sitting there doing these interviews. Whether it's at the premiere of the Netflix documentary or it's when he's speaking up there in Oxnard or wherever it is, it's, oh, no, a deal's pretty much done. Like, Micah and I agreed, and I don't need to talk to anybody else.

[Diana Rossini]

Yeah.

[James Palmer]

First off, a deal can't happen that way. Legally can't happen that way. Not sure, like, where we go from here, because you can't negotiate that way. But I guess this is a story, Diana, because as each day goes by, it is a story because we're a day closer to the start of the season. Is Michael Parsons going to sit out games? Is he going to miss time? He is slated to make, what, $24 million this year, which is no like number to slouch at by any stretch. Do you see this coming to a point? And to me, the most logical thing right now if a deal doesn't get done is he just plays this year. He could be miserable, and he just plays on it.

[Diana Rossini]

I don't believe they've made a decision on what they want to do. I don't think they're no more.

[James Palmer]

What do you mean? Micah, I think.

[Diana Rossini]

Right. Because he can make a decision. First of all, he's dealing with a back injury, so you. You really. You have that. So it just depends on whether or not he's healthy enough to play. We know how sometimes these situations go. When you have an injured player with a contract situation, it tends to take a little bit longer to get back out on the field. Signing something that they like usually heals them up real quick. I feel like a month ago, when we were talking about this is. I felt like this was such a waste of a conversation because I felt so strongly that Jerry would just do what he's done with CD Lamb, what he's done with Dak Prescott, and just wait to the final hour and get this done, and we're going to hear something. And, you know, when. When we're both talking to people around the league, general managers, head coaches, agents, even players who were sitting down on the ground. And, you know, you're making conversation about the big stories in football. Mike is not one of those stories at this point. That is the way it was a month ago, where I think everyone is like, huh, Something's not right here. This is not the same Dallas Cowboys Jerry Jones contract situation because he's not negotiating. He can always come back around. He. Jerry could do it. But something about this feels really firm, that he doesn't want to move it forward because they believe they have the player under contract. And from. From a contract standpoint, I get, you know, they. They do have the leverage, knowing that they can use that tag next year 100%.

[James Palmer]

I mean, it feels like there's something else there, don't you? Something else that isn't being said.

[Diana Rossini]

Doesn't this feel like you. Like we've covered a million of these.

[James Palmer]

It has a different feel, and it has a different feel than previous ones in Dallas. The funny part is I was talking to somebody in Dallas just the other day, and it was like, we've actually had a pretty good camp outside of the mica thing's actually been pretty good.

[Diana Rossini]

Like, spirited and out outgoing. You know, Micah Parsons is. Whether it's his podcast or if you've ever been around him, you can't miss him. From what I can gather, this is, like, very business to him. Like, I'm not sensing. Like, I'm sure he's frustrated. He wants to play, but he's aware that this is. This is just business. This isn't personal, that this is just something that he's got to do in order to get paid what he's worth. A deal that I think everyone in football thought would be easy. Like, I thought this was the layup.

[James Palmer]

It's supposed to be, right? You draft a player, I think you actually traded back and still got Micah. If I. If I'm correct, you draft a player who's on, like, a Hall of Fame trajectory here early on, and he plays a premium position. These are the deals that get done. These are the ones that get done in some organizations early because the price usually only goes up. Listen, let's stick with the position and move on to Trey Hendrickson, which I think this one has a little bit different feel, but I think a little bit more is known, if that makes sense. I think we kind of know wholeheartedly where Trey Hendrickson stands. We know where the Cincinnati Bengals stand in terms of guaranteed money. I believe he set it on the Record again, I was going to say, I think we're on the sideline.

[Diana Rossini]

We know because we're hearing it exactly like they're telling us that there's no, like, sourcing. There's no us reporting behind the scenes.

[James Palmer]

It's like, this is the problem.

[Diana Rossini]

Trey's like, hey, this is what I want. Hello, world. I don't think I'm asking. And I think that's actually what's motivating him to say it, because he's not asking for something that's. That's unreasonable. You know that that's where people around the league are looking at what the Cincinnati Bengals have been doing and don't truly understand why this is so difficult. Yes, the age and part of that. But. But you look at the need that.

[James Palmer]

This team has and for everybody at home. Dana tell. So few teams still operate in this contract structure around the league where they don't want to guarantee past the first year. That is not the norm. I mean, it's the norm with a couple of teams, but it's not the norm around the league. And breaking precedent is always when you have these issues where contracts are stalled. Right. And negotiations are stalled because somebody has to give. This organization has to change the way they've done business continuously. But they did it for the two other players that are on the same roster in ja' Marr Chase and Joe Burrow. So I understand why Trey is doing this. I do think there is an unknown and we'll get to Terry McLaurin, that he'll miss games. I don't know if he will. I don't know if Michael will miss games. He hasn't really, to my understanding, said that he's going to miss time. He'd like to be traded, but he didn't say he'd like to miss time. Trae has kind of said, I'm not playing on this contract. And you've spoken to him. I think everybody kind of believes him.

[Diana Rossini]

I think. I mean, I've seen the threat in the past. Right. And then it doesn't come to fruition. They don't. They wind up playing. But in most cases, the deal gets done before we have to even get there. I think Trey's situation. So we talk about feelings and taking deals personally. I think he's a type of player. His strength is the passion and his care for the. And his teammates. I don't think this is easy at all on him. And he has shared that. And when I say not easy, I'm not saying, like, he can't Handle it at all. I'm saying more. He wants to be out there. He doesn't feel that he's asking for something that is unfair. And he's aware that his teammates need him. Joe Burrow knows the Cincinnati Bengals need him.

[James Palmer]

So what do you think Joe's doing right now? I gotta be. I gotta be honest. I feel like Joe's sitting here going, you know, I played pretty well last year. And when I say pretty well last year, he could have won the MVP if the team was better, clearly. Are you guys horsing around with my prime?

[Diana Rossini]

Yeah. Like, why is it.

[James Palmer]

Guy needs to go through his head.

[Diana Rossini]

You know? And even the whole situation with Trey, it's not like they didn't see this coming. Right. They've been talking about this for a while, and they've communicated. I mean, we. He thought he was showing up to camp. And that obviously has all changed now. Look, things can still get moving here. I feel like totally, we probably should have started this whole conversation with. Because you have to do this because we don't want to freak anyone out, that what we're saying is, you know, set in stone because things do move really quickly.

[James Palmer]

I'll take somebody to pick up the phone.

[Diana Rossini]

All this stuff can get done, right? Like, it can. But this one, it seems like both sides are really sort of stuck in the mud on this and unwilling to give. Because here's the other thing. When you are so public about this, and I've learned this over the years when dealing with players, do tell if you're gonna come out and say you want something, right, I want to be the highest paid or I want this type of guaranteed money. Once those words come out of your mouth, it is tough to eat it and get back on the field without whatever that is that you were asking for. You know, there's a lot of ego there, too, 100%.

[James Palmer]

And I'll say this. You mentioned the distraction and holding in and everything. Cincinnati has never cared if the player makes any sort of stink or any sort of distraction. It just doesn't seem to bother them as an organization at all during these things. And you mentioned a player might have to just take something that's less. That could be Terry McLaurin. This was a narrative throughout the course of this offseason. Diana. That he is a $30 million receiver. The DK Metcalf comp has been thrown around so many times because of the same draft class, because obviously DK is two years younger, but that $20 million receivers a couple of years ago are now, $30 million receivers, it's just a given Terry's there. This almost feels like if he wants a new deal, he may have to be below that 30 number. He is off pup. He is going to be ramping his conditioning back up. What, Is there any movement at all outside of status on the roster?

[Diana Rossini]

Yeah, I'm looking forward to getting to Washington on the ground to see what's going on there, because, you know, his agent's been around, Terry's been around. I don't think he's been going out on the field as much when the media's around. I think he's kind of over us all asking him questions about it. There's been no significant movement at this point in terms of getting this deal done. But of all the ones we talk about outside Cam Hayward, which we'll touch on in a second here, this one, this one continues to be the one we see moving in a really good direction. For example, the New York jets, The San Francisco 49ers, the Minnesota Vikings are all in the market for wide receivers right now.

[James Palmer]

Okay. Okay, sure. We got some injuries in some rooms. I get it.

[Diana Rossini]

Terry McClure would be quite the little pickup. Well, you think there's. There'd be a lot to work out there, but. But I. I do think teams would. Would be interested outside of the ones I just named. And when you have conversations around the league about availability, Terry's not one of those. Like, teams are continued. Are continuing to get the same answer from Washington, which is, we're trying to work a deal out here. So until that changes, you know, and look, there could always be private conversations that we don't know about that maybe a team is like, hey, I'll do this. This. Depending on how this comes together. But I think Washington is still committed to getting this done. It's just gonna be. Where's that? Where's gonna be the give? Because I think it's been made pretty clear here the age is the biggest factor and the number. And, you know, you, You. You talk about the APY and it looking similar to the DK Metcalf. There's parts of the DK Metcalf contract that he wants. He's actually asked for more per year than DK Metcalf, but there's parts of the guarantees that he would want similar. Okay, so it's just gonna. Again, I have a hard time believing Washington will do that. If, first of all, if Washington was gonna do, it would be done. So we already know the answer. So until they can come up With a number in guarantees Napy that. That Terry's gonna be happy with. I still think this is going to go another few days. I don't have a day of like, all right, this is gonna be like a Jerry situation where the night before the game, we're gonna find out. People just keep telling me this is trending in a good direction. So that has to tell me that someone's got a little give in them.

[James Palmer]

I like that. You gotta have a little give. You know what I mean? And I think Washington knows this offense is not very good without Terry McLaurin. That's a big thing there. And the development of your franchise quarterback in year two and making sure he doesn't take a step back Ala, say, C.J. stroud in year two. And that offense not really going in a positive direction in year two. You have to fire the offensive coordinator. Things get so bad, you want to make sure you're stacking years here for a guy like Jaden Daniels and Terry McLaurin. A big, big, big part of that. You mentioned Cam Heyward. This has been kind of the quiet one. And this one fascinates me, Diana, because he just signed a deal, what, a year ago? I feel like what's happening in Pittsburgh is the worst kept secret on the planet, is that we are all in. In 2025, this is it. We got a rod for a year. We went and, you know, we moved Minka Fitzpatrick and we bring in Jalen Ramsey, we get Darius Slay, who probably has another year left in him, and that's it. And it is this year.

[Diana Rossini]

Danu Smith like, hey, by the way, thanks, Miami.

[James Palmer]

Yeah, we appreciate it. Thank you. We could use a little help in the tight end room. That's already pretty deep, by the way. And Massive and TJ Watts like, well, they're all in. I think I got some leverage here. And now I feel like Cam Hayward's like, well, they're all in. I feel like I got some leverage here. Hell, Chris Boswell the kicker is like, they're all in. I think I got a little leverage here.

[Diana Rossini]

The next time we ask a coach about that, right? Because we always ask that in our interviews of like, are you guys talking super bowl around here? You know, they're gonna. Maybe they should use this as an example. Not that. Not that Mike Tom would come out and said super bowl, but I love the way you put that. Cause it's so true about the worst kept secret. Cause they aren't out there screaming and yelling. And I gotta say, for an Aaron Rodgers Led team. This is nowhere close to the attention it was getting in New York. Right. It's not even a sliver. And granted they had hard knocks remember in Aaron's first year. So that true had a lot of attention and he was incredible to watch in practice. I. That was the most amount of just practice I think I've ever been to my life. It was, it was fun to think about what it could have been. So. Yeah, I do think nobody wants to.

[James Palmer]

Go to La Trobe either. Diana. I mean, let's be honest. It's not easy to get to on your training camp trips. I mean, I always hated that like you gotta go to Pittsburgh and then rent a car and then drive and, you know, maybe that's keeping some people away.

[Diana Rossini]

Yeah, that compared to, you know, a 25 minute drive from my house. Yeah, big difference. Sorry. Pittsburgh Latrobe. You're beautiful though. We love you there.

[James Palmer]

It is gorgeous.

[Diana Rossini]

But yeah, look, I like this idea. I've been hearing things from just even Aaron Rodgers and Arthur Smith's relationship already. You know, I think there were a lot of question marks like, could this work?

[James Palmer]

There were.

[Diana Rossini]

And I think from. From even just. I remember talking to guys in back when he wasn't a coordinator in Tennessee. Just what, what, what makes Arthur Smith so great? And he's really good at almost. I don't want to call him a chameleon, but he has an ability to kind of work with the star that he has to work with and make that person shine.

[James Palmer]

Very true.

[Diana Rossini]

Whereas I think we've seen a lot of corny years in the past. They want to do it their way, their playbook. They know all. Arthur knows a lot. He is a smart man, but I don't think he's got that kind of ego. And he's got a little weird in him. And that's a compliment because that works great with Aaron Rodgers. Do you see that? That viral.

[James Palmer]

I like when he rocks the mustache.

[Diana Rossini]

We'll do a segment on mustache it. Or not. Have you ever had a mustache?

[James Palmer]

Mustache or must. Must not.

[Diana Rossini]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[James Palmer]

Mustache.

[Diana Rossini]

Have you ever had one? Can you grow?

[James Palmer]

Oh, no, no, I've never. I've never even thought about.

[Diana Rossini]

You're too clean, you're too. You're too sharp.

[James Palmer]

Too clean shaven.

[Diana Rossini]

Why would you cover that face up? That's what I always think. Like, if you're putting that on there, then you must not.

[James Palmer]

Yeah, there must be something you disagree with.

[Diana Rossini]

You had something. But look, I don't think Cam Hayward is hiding that. He wants to get paid. Because look, he is this. He, he's the captain of that team. He is the guy. And look, he's back out on the field. He's participating individuals. He's not participating in team drills. What does that usually tell you? Stuff's trending. Right. Does that. I have, I have no information at this point that conversations are moving forward, but I usually just go off what the players decisions are in terms of the practice field and if players are willing to get back out there, they usually feel good about something. A conversation was probably had. So we'll see how this one shakes out.

[James Palmer]

It's almost like when you're at his age and what is he, 36? I want to say off the top of my head, I think he might.

[Diana Rossini]

Be 37, but who cares? Same thing.

[James Palmer]

Yeah, but like usually it's like, well, we'll give him this contract because the play is probably going to go down and it just kind of hasn't gone down. He's just still been really, really good. His $14.5 million annual salary on this two year deal he signed in September ranks 23rd amongst interior defensive linemen, if you'd like to know that. And speaking of contracts. And let's switch into the quarterback position. The Indianapolis Colts Diana gave Daniel Jones $14 million more. That's more than Aaron Rodgers signed for with the Pittsburgh Steelers to come in and battle for the starting job. He ends up winning the starting job. Now, we do have to mention here, and I'd like your take on Daniel Jones, what we could see from the Colts this year now that he is their starter and Shane Steichen said he's their starter for the season. I don't know what else he would say, but he's their starter for the season. And then we'll get into. I think the more juicy topic is what is next for Anthony Richardson. But why was it Daniel Jones and what do you think we'll see in Indianapolis?

[Diana Rossini]

Yeah, let's blow through this real quick. Just because I, I feel like fans don't want to hear this from us because they're going to be like, well, why didn't you tell us? We talked about best kept secrets. Well, there was a secret in Indy which was that Daniel Jones was the most consistent quarterback all camp.

[James Palmer]

That's the word, right? Right.

[Diana Rossini]

Was he blowing the doors off? No, but in terms of just doing the little things every day and running this offense the way Shane Steichen had drew it up and wanted it to look, he was doing that every day. And look we, we saw, we've all seen plenty of Daniel Jones. We know what Daniel Jones is. But in terms of what they are just looking for right now for this offense, it wasn't a hard decision for this team to go with Daniel knowing, look, the contract is one thing and usually we know how this.

[James Palmer]

I think the contract's a little bit telling that he was coming in to truly have a legit shot to win the job. Right.

[Diana Rossini]

Leaving Kevin o' Connell and the Minnesota Vikings roster unless he knows he could start somewhere.

[James Palmer]

I don't think the Vikings thought he was going to leave, do you? I think the Vikings thought there was a chance they could keep him in the room.

[Diana Rossini]

I do think the Vikings thought they had a chance. I thought that. I think the way it was presented to Daniel Jones was more of a, hey, come to camp. We're all going to be out there, we're all going to be competing. But Daniel knows that when you have a young quarterback on your roster that you drafted high and you're invested in, they're probably going to lean towards getting him that development. So I think for Daniel Jones, he looked at the situation of I want to start, I don't want to sit behind anyone. I want to deal with any politics. I can go to Indy, get paid great money and also win the job. And I think he felt better about winning the job in Indy, which guess who was right. He was right doing that. Right. And that also tells me conversations are probably had with some people in the organization. And look, I think what makes this hard and we can transition to talking about Anthony Richardson here. They, they picked him in hopes that he was going to be the guy and be the star. And he has not proven that. And this isn't anything against him personally. This is just obvious to me. If this is the team, the organization that picked him and he is not starting, that tells you everything you need to know. Because teams usually tend to using the Minnesota situation. Right. It's just like our, our example. Teams tend to lean towards the guy they drafted. That's just football is how it works, especially when jobs are on the line and Shane Steichen, Chris Ballard, they need to win now. And in their opinion, the best shot that they have is with Daniel Jones under center.

[James Palmer]

Yeah. And I think you have to remember this doesn't happen very often, Diana, in the NFL, but when ownership changes now a change within the family, but it is now Jim Irsay's daughters that are running the show. You always do. What if you're the general manager of the Head coach. Is my job safe? Do they feel the same way about me as the previous owner felt about me? Chris Ballard's been there for nine years. He drafted, obviously, Anthony Richardson. I know he doesn't want to give up on him. I know there's other people in the building that don't want to give up on him. There's so much talent, and it is so raw that you don't. The last thing you want is for him to go out there in another uniform and you see him lighting it up and using that talent and it's been developed properly elsewhere, and it's been harnessed properly elsewhere. And you see him playing more on schedule and you're seeing. Figure these things out, and he does it in another uniform. Now, my understanding is that they did see growth in him, right? He changed his diet, he slimmed down. He, working with a private coach, changed his footwork. That helped with some of his accuracy issues, because when they went into this, Daniel Jones accuracy versus his definitely very different. And I definitely think he closed the gap a little bit. And they've seen his preparation change a little bit. I think what they want to see is, is that going to continue while you're the backup? I think that's a big part of it. Is it going to continue while you're the backup? Well, real quick, I want you to hear what Anthony Richardson had to say when he got the news about Daniel Jones landing the starting job. And he said this to local reporters.

[Interviewee (e.g., Aaron Jones or Anthony Richardson)]

You know, he made a decision. You know, that's the decision we gotta live with. You know, no hard feelings. And that was personal. I just gotta keep growing, you know, I just can't let me not being a starter, you know, stop me from growing and being the person, the player that I'm supposed to be. So I just gotta stay focused and keep grinding.

[James Palmer]

Question. Question. This is just my opinion and just covering. I've covered way too many quarterback battles. Do you want him to be a little more pissed off? I kind of do. I kind of want him to be a little more pissed off. Because I take no problem with a guy being pissed off.

[Diana Rossini]

See, I disagree. I think you want him to smile.

[James Palmer]

He's smiling. Hey, you know, they pick the other guy. This is your career.

[Diana Rossini]

I mean, he's trying to stay out of the headlines and trying to show professionalism.

[James Palmer]

Okay.

[Diana Rossini]

I'm sure he's awkward by it all. I'm sure he's slightly embarrassed by some of this.

[James Palmer]

That's a good way to put it. But don't you want to hear him dynamic. Like, no, I'm pissed off. You know what? I'm gonna work my ass off to get back and not be in this situation again, and I never want to feel like this again. So I'm gonna do everything in my power to make sure that I'm never in a situation like this again. I don't know. I'd like to see a little fire there. And that's just me, because I don't think there's a problem with saying that if you lose a real quarterback battle, which it was.

[Diana Rossini]

I wonder if he knew the whole time, if everyone else saw, right, this isn't so competitive that you're going. I wanted that. I want. I could have won this job, right? Like, yeah, this was. Yeah, he's better than me. Like, yeah, he's. He's. He's better running this offense right now. That. That's kind of what I take that tone to be. But I think to just, like, put a bow on all this. It's. It's just the consistency that that's. It cost him this job. And the only way and. And Chase talks about it a lot. The only way you get better at playing football and playing quarterback is actual games. Actual games. So, yes, I like this idea of, is he gonna stick with the regimen? Is he gonna do. Be great? In practice.

[James Palmer]

He went on Dan Patrick. I watched him, and he said, this is going to be great for Anthony Richardson. Get a chance to see it from a different perspective from the sideline. Get a chance to watch for a season. Okay, we'll have to talk to Chase on Monday about his contradictory statements. I will say this. We are talking about a quarterback battle.

[Diana Rossini]

I think Chase was talking not to stick up for my guy, but I think that was Chase leaning into the growth that he believes the quarterback needs as a person. That was more person.

[James Palmer]

Okay.

[Diana Rossini]

I did watch that as well. Look at us all supporting each other.

[James Palmer]

We got to support the Chase man. You know what I mean? I want to go out there and see what to say.

[Diana Rossini]

I take shout out Chase on Dan Patrick. I love Chase on Dan Patrick.

[James Palmer]

I listen to Chase.

[Diana Rossini]

I text him after the interviews all the time. I'm like, that was so good. How come when you call me and I'm in the car and we're talking about stuff, you don't sound like that, like, you're annoying. You don't give me any intel. You just pepper me with questions like, pretend I'm Dan Patrick.

[James Palmer]

Well, not all of us can be Adam Sandler's best friend Dan Patrick. He brings that out of people. And the last part on this team in the quarterback battle we're talking about because this is between two guys that dating back Diana to 20, 23 quarterbacks with 10 or more starts. These are the two lowest passer ratings, Daniel Jones and then Anthony Richardson. So that is what Shane Steichen's working with. But I think they did go with with Daniel Jones because I do believe they think this team is better than most people on the outside think it is. They won eight games last year. They were abysmal at turning the football over. They couldn't really throw the football that well. They got a, you know, I think a lot of home games at the beginning of their season, an easy finish. Like Tyler Warren is a huge addition. They're going to lean on Jonathan Taylor. I think they like their receiving group. I think they think they can win a very winnable division with. With maybe steady Eddie back there or steady Danny back there. Even though that's not his nickname. I refuse to say the other one. No, I really do not do.

[Diana Rossini]

I really do not do.

[James Palmer]

All right. Not on the show I mentioned Jonathan Taylor. Let's talk about some younger running backs coming up on Scoop City here. These rookie running backs, could this impact your fantasy team could impact the team that you're rooting for. These guys have massive roles within their offenses Moving forward in 20255 we're going to talk about what we've heard about these running backs coming up. Talk about stepping up.

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[Diana Rossini]

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[James Palmer]

Level up.

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[James Palmer]

Breaking up is never easy, but saying goodbye to your old clunky work tools, well, that's easy. Just repeat after me. It's not me, it's definitely you, you, rigid, unfriendly software. It's time to freshen things up with Monday.com, the first work platform you'll love to use with stunning dashboards, customizable templates, and built in AI that actually works. Switching to a new work platform has never felt this good. So move on to Monday.com. welcome back to Scoop City. James Palmer with you. Senior NFL insider Diana Rossini joins me. And we are back to school. Diana. The kids are back to school. We're going to talk about our back to school and what we remember about going back to school in a little bit to end the show, what we loved, what we hated, when you just, you know, you skipped down the sidewalk heading back to school.

[Diana Rossini]

Okay, what if I told you right now, though, you had to go back to school right now, a full school year, your junior year of high school, you had to do it. You weren't gonna get paid, just you.

[James Palmer]

Had to go back like Drew. I'm Drew Barrymore.

[Diana Rossini]

Yes.

[James Palmer]

That's what you're saying. I'm Drew Barrymore. I would love it. I loved my junior year of high school.

[Diana Rossini]

So did I.

[James Palmer]

Junior I was at my athletic prowess.

[Diana Rossini]

Same.

[James Palmer]

I was on fire. It was. It was great.

[Diana Rossini]

Okay, we junior year, that's what we just junior was dominant.

[James Palmer]

I hit the the coast senior year and I was like, coasting. I was so focused junior year. We can get into our accolades later. Upper Marion area High school athlete of the year. No big deal. I like to keep that behind me to keep me grounded. These young running backs like to stay grounded and like to stay off the ground, honestly. But they have a lot to learn when they get to the NFL, Diana. A lot to learn when they get to the NFL. And you sat down, honestly, with Aaron Jones. Who knows, you know a thing or two about running the football and a thing or two about being a back in this league. And he talked to you about, you know, what's it like to kind of tutor these younger guys?

[Interviewee (e.g., Aaron Jones or Anthony Richardson)]

It's definitely special to be able to provide a sparker, be the energy guy. And I try to. We're in the huddle. I go around the huddle giving everybody knuckles, try to give them some words of advice. Let's get it going. Let's start this period. We're in the red zone. Nobody should stop us. Just little tidbits or something's not going right. Hey, we can't shoot ourselves in the foot. The only team that's going to beat us is ourselves. Things like that, that you may need somebody in your ear. It's always good to hear somebody. Okay, good throw, good run, good pass, good block. To hear that, to have that constant communication is great.

[James Palmer]

Okay, there it is. That's the spark that a good running back can provide to an offense. Diana. That's the knuckles.

[Diana Rossini]

He is, by the way, you just watch it. He is just filled with joy and life and energy and you just feel like you're a lazy human being when you're around him because a, he's just always wanting to work, but he's just happy. Like, he's just like. So I, I don't, I don't know what he's doing, but I want a little bit of that and I want, I want to know what they're doing out there in Vegas right now because I'm hearing some good stuff.

[James Palmer]

Yeah, have Wonka jar it up. Let's start out there in Vegas and we're gonna talk about three running backs. We're gonna start with the first one off the board, Ashton Genty. Obviously everybody saw it. He goes out, massive car crash that he's involved in essentially on the field, goes to the medical tent, comes back out on the field and then just runs people over again. What have you heard about Ashton Genty thus far that might make people's ears perk up just a little bit?

[Diana Rossini]

Yeah, I love that we get that quick clip and it's a clip that you probably could have just taken from the Fiesta bowl against Penn State with Abdul Carter. I mean, I think that's where the rest of the world, I mean, everyone knew about him, but that was when it was like, oh, this guy is really good. And then of course, Vitex, the general manager son, was like his biggest fan and he gets drafted. But look, the offense there, it's a Chip Kelly offense. Remember, Chip was brought in left by Buckeyes highest paid offensive coordinator in football. Brought in there to run the ball because that's what Chip does well and he certainly has the right horse to do this. And we talk a lot about players being able to step in and, and have it really be seamless in terms of going from the level of college to professional. This, this is the player that you're to watch in the season, from what I hear. And you're never going to think this is a rookie. Right. Just because he's done such a good job of breaking tackles and sticking to really just what his fundamentals are about. And he's already bringing that to Vegas.

[James Palmer]

Yeah, you hear so much hyperbole during the draft. Right. When we make all our phone calls to everybody. And I remember talking to him like, he's Ladanian Tomlinson. I'm like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Then somebody else is like, he's Emmitt Smith. I'm like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. And then I remember talking to a third person and just telling them that a running back coach in the league and was like, no, that's spot on. Like, that's. And I'm like, holy. Like. And he's. You're right. Everything I've been told, he has lived up to it thus far and he has picked up the two things that you really need to figure out very quickly if you want to be on the field as much as. As possible as a rookie running back. That's pass protection. Catching the football out of the backfield. Maybe didn't catch it a bunch at Boise State, but they've seen him do both of those things very well very quickly. I think there are plenty of people around the league that believe this is the rookie of the year. We'll see if that ends up happening. But all signs are pointing to a huge focal point of the offense.

[Diana Rossini]

I know. And going back to the draft, you know, when you look back on this show especially, we were talking a lot about like what GMs around the league were talking about. And obviously he was the name, but. But even the running back position as a whole, that was. That was this shining bright offensive line and running back. It was like everyone knew they could find a star. And these are some of the stars. And New England certainly has theirs up there.

[James Palmer]

Yeah, fire away. Travion Henderson, I mean, equally first time he touches the football. What does he do? He's 100 yards on a kickoff race.

[Diana Rossini]

I mean, where did it go from there?

[James Palmer]

I don't know. Oh, I mean, obviously I'm biased. I mentioned Ohio State. I watched every down this guy played in college. And splitting the backfield with Quintean Judkins. Little less wear and tear on the tires possibly. But the thing that I heard, Diana, I want to curious if you've spent some time with Frabel, you spent some time with Drake May around this team. So I really want your take. But the one thing that I was told repeatedly is a running back does not come out of college with these type of pass protection skills very often it's unbelievable. It's through the roof. He's going to be a third down monster. He's going to catch a ton of balls. Imagine him in a Josh McDaniels offense and what he's going to get. He might be Drake May's best friend in terms of saving his ass on a backside blitz and picking it up or being the safety valve on a dump off Travion Henderson. I haven't talked to a single person that hasn't been just blown away by what he's done in New England. What have they told you?

[Diana Rossini]

Remember when I was there and I said to you, I'm like, first of all, the first person I see on the field, it's him. And this was with both teams. This was when the Patriots are practicing against the Vikings. It's like, you cannot miss him. And you bring up Josh McDaniels and you know, I was thinking about some of the backs that he had when he was a coordinator there. And you think James White. Except James White, but faster. Like imagine, imagine that perfect little makeup. And as you know from watching him as much as you did, he's, he's quick, he's stepping in. And I think that's going to be the theme with these rookies running backs that are studs is they are, they're making impact already. Like, yeah, right away, the New England Patriots, they don't have a lot of major playmakers that I think this is where we're going to see.

[James Palmer]

That's a good point.

[Diana Rossini]

Right. Go through it. Henry. He may, like you said, the safety bat. Like he may be the guy that Drake May is going to be dumped the ball off to a lot because they don't have that many weapons.

[James Palmer]

Yeah, I mean, like, you got to see what Diggs, his health is. Right. And how impactful can he be on the outside. And you got a decent tight end. You know, it's, it's, it's going to be interesting. It's, it really is the way he's used. I think it's going to be a lot. All right. RJ Harvey right here in my backyard. The Denver Broncos draft pick and part of. I know Sean Payton sat down with you. Everybody can go back and watch that video talking about the added weapon that he got. Bo Nix was the running back room. And that's J.K. dobbins and that's, that's R.J. harvey. A lot of just initials, isn't it?

[Diana Rossini]

Yes. Makes it easy for us he's like 5, 8, 1, 95 pounds. That's like essentially me. It's like bone wolf, 195 pounds.

[James Palmer]

But.

[Diana Rossini]

Yeah, you hide it well. I do. Thank you so much. I do. Like, I don't want to call it pressure. It's Sean. Pete was very transparent that the area that they were not very good in last year was the run game. Like, he called it out and he's almost. I find. And I've been watching a lot of interviews that he's been doing. It's almost like he's testing this running. Running back room as a whole. Like, hey, we're really good everywhere else. You dudes better come through because the running game is the weapon for us. That. That is what I supplied Bo Nicks with this year. I didn't go out and get you another stud receiver. You know, I obviously.

[James Palmer]

Great point.

[Diana Rossini]

Got a tight end and we paid our receivers, but they didn't go nuts because they believe in fixing this run game with. With a fantastic and hopefully once again, a healthy offensive line there in Denver.

[James Palmer]

Dinah to a running back that may not be a big part of the team's offense moving forward. Brian Robinson Jr. And the Commanders did not play in the preseason game. It looks like he's headed elsewhere. What do we know?

[Diana Rossini]

Yeah, the reason why he didn't play in the game was because it was decided between the Commanders and Brian Robinson and his agent that it'd probably be best for him not to get out there because they are talking to teams right now and they are looking for a trade partner. Whether or not they're able to get that is another conversation. For right now, he's on the Commander roster. But teams around the league are aware that if they want to bring on Brian Robinson, the Commanders are also willing to take on some of that contract.

[James Palmer]

Okay.

[Diana Rossini]

That always kind of alerts the GMs around there because they don't ever want to pay any money for any of these players. So we'll see how this shakes out. But this isn't as new of an item as maybe it feels because, you know, we saw them on Monday Night Football, so it became a big conversation. But the Commanders have been talking to other teams for. For a while about Brian Robinson. So we'll see what happens if they wind up trading him or, you know, unfortunately, if they wind up having to make the decision to cut him.

[James Palmer]

Real quick. What's the reasoning? Because I know this isn't the regime that brought him in. Right. This is a new gm, new head coach, new offensive Coordinator, you know that Cliff likes to spread it out. I was talking to somebody last, last night about Brian and just like I feel like he's a pretty good player and he's like 26 and he can still thump between the tackles. Is this just a fit thing? Is that what this is?

[Diana Rossini]

Not so much a fit. It's they like who they have. They like in their younger running back. Right. So that's what happens in some of these situations as, you know, just if they drafted a young player that they feel can handle this with no issue, then that's where they can start moving. And look, if they've been also having conversations about this even before camp, that tells you there's probably a little bit more there to it too in terms of the fit. So I said no on the fit immediately out of the gate, but that could be part of it as well.

[James Palmer]

Okay, I get it. I get it. I still think he can maybe be productive in some sort of role somewhere. So we'll.

[Diana Rossini]

Yeah, last we're gonna hear of him. No way.

[James Palmer]

Yeah. No, I think he'll get scooped up pretty quickly even if he is ended up ends up getting cut. All right, one more block. Coming up here on Scoop City. Diane and I hinted at our athletic prowess in high school, but now we're going to talk a little bit more about what we liked and disliked about the first day of school. What was that like for everybody at home? What was that first day like?

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[James Palmer]

Talk about stepping up.

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[Diana Rossini]

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[James Palmer]

Welcome back to Scoop City. I'm James Palmer with the athletic senior NFL insider Diana Rossini. I need a title of some sort. I'm just like, I'm just Scoop City. And you have the. Yeah, there we go. Take two. I'm James Palmer, the mayor of Scoop City, along with the athletic senior NFL insider Diana Rossini. And we're sticking with this camp tour. Diana's been making some stops packing her bags, or apparently not packing her bags and just throwing them in a trash bag and buying luggage at the airport. When we went to school, our kids have started school. Have the boys started school?

[Diana Rossini]

We're in daycare, so we're gonna start our first day in September. So it's gonna be.

[James Palmer]

I consider that school. Honestly, if you leave to go somewhere.

[Diana Rossini]

Michael Joey's teachers are teachers. They run a tight ship. That's school.

[James Palmer]

I call it school. Exactly. So we're in school we're in seventh grade.

[Diana Rossini]

Whew.

[James Palmer]

Seventh grade. We went to school our first day on Tuesday, mustache and all. And talk about. I'd never go to mustache. He's already got one. But I want to hear the three things that you loved about the first day of school. And then we're gonna start and we're finished on a sour note.

[Diana Rossini]

I'm so many.

[James Palmer]

The sad thing that we didn't like about the first day of school. So we can go back and forth here with our new things. You go first. What is something that you loved about the first day of school?

[Diana Rossini]

I loved going to the store with my mom to get all of my new supplies. I'd be so excited.

[James Palmer]

Not the clothes, the supplies.

[Diana Rossini]

The supplies. I loved getting a Trapper keeper. I loved getting a pencil bag. I loved new pens, new markers. I love stationery. For someone that's not organized and as someone that doesn't use any of those items ever in their life, I liked the idea. I think it represented who I wanted to be. It was like, I'm gonna be the organized nerd. And.

[James Palmer]

Okay.

[Diana Rossini]

And by the third day, it was like, you know, the folders are over here. My binder is over there. And my. My mom knew her daughter very well, which is why I never got the Trapper keeper that I wanted with the velcro strap. I always had to get that cheap, classic, flimsy one because she knew I was never gonna keep my stuff organized anyway.

[James Palmer]

Wow. I love that. I love the. I don't love stationery, but I love the idea of stationery.

[Diana Rossini]

Right?

[James Palmer]

That's deep. That's several levels. I'm a little more superficial here. I. Getting a new pair of sneakers for school. Just. And you'd go to footlocker or back in Philly, I'd go to models. Gotta go to Moe's. Gotta go to Moe's. Yeah. Gotta go to Moe's model's.

[Diana Rossini]

Wait, Modest. A national store? Like, does everyone know what that is?

[James Palmer]

No, it's not national, regional, regional, giant in the northeast. Models. But I didn't get Jordans. I was big Charles Barkley fan. There was a Barclays that had the two Velcros went across and, like, showing up in your sweet kicks. And you knew, like, middle school. Or they're going to be dirty as, like, really, really quickly. But that first day, pair of Barclays car chucks. Because I still love Chuck from playing with the Sixers. Ooh, New kicks. New kicks. A big deal. Okay, go ahead.

[Diana Rossini]

I remember. I remember when, like, classmates of Mine would get the one. The pump. The guys who get the pump. One.

[James Palmer]

Pump it up.

[Diana Rossini]

What did it. What did the pump do?

[James Palmer]

It. Pumped it up. Made you run faster, jump higher, like PF Flyers back in the day. Go ahead.

[Diana Rossini]

All right, this is. I don't know if you're gonna agree with me on this one. I loved the smell of school on the 1st.

[James Palmer]

Don't. Just don't agree. Moving on.

[Diana Rossini]

Come on. You don't. You know what I'm talking about. You. If you're listening to this, you know what I'm talking about.

[James Palmer]

Did you go to private school?

[Diana Rossini]

Has a scent. No, I went to public school. You went to private, right? You went to Captain. No.

[James Palmer]

Public school. Yeah.

[Diana Rossini]

I didn't know you went to public school. I thought everyone in Philly went to Catholic schools.

[James Palmer]

I think all my friends that you know. Because you do know. A lot of my friends, they all went to private school.

[Diana Rossini]

That's probably why I didn't realize you were the outsider in that group.

[James Palmer]

I really was out of the group.

[Diana Rossini]

Yeah. So, yeah, I used to love walking in, like, the hall. Everything's so clean. It was, you know, it's exactly the way it's supposed to be. And it reminds. It just reminds you of being in school for the good reasons. And then, as we know, as the months go by, it just turns into just garbage.

[James Palmer]

It really does. It really does. I like that you hit on that, because that's gonna link into one that I have later. But next up, wearing your football jersey to school on Friday.

[Diana Rossini]

Oh.

[James Palmer]

Oh. When Friday night lights came out and I saw Tim Riggins wearing his jersey on Fridays, I was like, this is flashing back to the Upper Marian Vikings and wearing my jersey on Friday.

[Diana Rossini]

Oh, you guys thought you were so cool.

[James Palmer]

You rolled the sleeves. Even though I had, like, pencil arms, I was, like, 6, 1, 100 and, like, 45 pounds. And I was like, let me just roll these sleeves up real quick. Wearing your jersey was everything at my school.

[Diana Rossini]

Because they were trying to promote girls sports, we would wear them on Fridays because I wasn't. The cheerleaders would wear them. I actually do remember wanting to wear the cheerleader outfits because they were so much cooler than my stupid jersey.

[James Palmer]

But were you wearing a soccer jersey? Was soccer in the fall or spring?

[Diana Rossini]

Soccer's fall in New Jersey.

[James Palmer]

Okay, it's fall.

[Diana Rossini]

So my other favorite thing about the first day of school, going to the lunchroom. Like, we had long tables and benches and figuring out what your new spot was gonna be. And at our school, you know, There was a cool table and establishing yourself and being able to sit at the cool table depending on what grade you were in. I used to love figuring out where that was going to be.

[James Palmer]

I like that. I feel like I thought I was at the cool table, but as years have gone by after high school, I'm like, I don't know if it was the cool table. I'm not sure. I think I just thought it was. And I thought, I'm really big of myself.

[Diana Rossini]

I'm really in your camp on that one.

[James Palmer]

Ego was a little high, maybe.

[Diana Rossini]

All right, what's your last one?

[James Palmer]

Okay. Last one is. I just going to say girls, like, that was awesome. Like, you were all summer playing baseball or whatever and doing like. But, like, you got to see all the girls again. I mean, that's. That was it, man. That was. That was school. That was. Thank goodness it was public school. All my boys that you're talking about going to all boys schools, they didn't get number three. I got number three.

[Diana Rossini]

We had that conversation a lot in our house because my husband went to all boys school K through 12. And I'm like, you don't. Like, you don't understand girls at all. You have no sisters. You didn't. You weren't going to school.

[James Palmer]

Behind the eight ball. Behind the eight ball. Yikes. All right, what's the bad one? I know what Keds is. It's not having girls in school. Okay.

[Diana Rossini]

Yeah, that's his bad one for sure, actually. He says to this day, he's like, I think I was a better student because we didn't have girls. I would probably agree.

[James Palmer]

That's probably true.

[Diana Rossini]

Yeah. All right. I would say, do you want to know my least favorite day of the first day of school is.

[James Palmer]

Yeah. Wait, wait. What?

[Diana Rossini]

It's the second day.

[James Palmer]

Oh. Because the juice is gone.

[Diana Rossini]

The second day is like, the first day. You have the outfit, the supply. You're ready to go. You're excited. Excited. It's social hour. No one's really teaching anything yet. You get a supply list. You meet your teachers. Everyone's nice. The second day, it's like, lessons begin.

[James Palmer]

It's like, no, we're back to school.

[Diana Rossini]

Come on.

[James Palmer]

Yeah.

[Diana Rossini]

You have homework the second day. So for the start of school, I just don't like the second day. Dread it.

[James Palmer]

Okay. I'm gonna say it was really hot. Like, we didn't have air conditioning, so it was hot. And I remember that being like, this is miserable. Like, my house has air conditioning. Like, this is. You remember, like, you were just like, good grief. And then we had rules. Did you have rules like you, like, you had to, like, by a certain day at the end of the year you could start wearing shorts and in the beginning of the year you couldn't. You could wear shorts up until a certain time that you had to wear pants. It was. School was hot. I guess they built a new school. They knocked my high school down. But rightfully so.

[Diana Rossini]

Rightfully so. It sounds. It is. Oh, no. I, I still think, though, we, everyone has. Everyone knows that feeling of even just like the feel in the air when school's here. You just, you know, it's there, it's coming. Summer's over and football's here. That's really what it is now, right? That's what it's transitioned to now.

[James Palmer]

Exactly. I wish I still had my jersey. This is wonderful. Go catch a flight, head to D.C. tell Terry McLaurin to get on the field and have them hammer out a deal. Maybe you're the one that pushes this over the goal line. That's Diana Rossini, senior NFL Insider for the Athletic mayor of Scoop City appointed by Diana Rassini. Jace Palmer Take it easy.

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