Lots to Say: NFL Week 1 Picks and Fmr NFL LB Lorenzo Alexander

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Bobby Bones Show – “Lots to Say: NFL Week 1 Picks and Fmr NFL LB Lorenzo Alexander”

Air Date: September 3, 2025
Hosts: Bobby Bones, Matt Cassel
Guest: Lorenzo Alexander (former NFL linebacker, Cardinals radio analyst)

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Episode Overview

This episode centers on the hype leading into NFL Week 1, the college football kickoff, and an authentic, in-depth interview with former NFL linebacker Lorenzo Alexander. The hosts – Bobby Bones and Matt Cassel – share their thoughts on college football standouts, NFL captains, fantasy implications, locker room dynamics, and preview the NFL’s opening slate. The episode’s heart lies in the conversation with Lorenzo Alexander, whose journey from undrafted player to Pro Bowler highlights the perseverance and adaptability needed in pro football.

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Main Discussion Themes

• Experiences and stories from college and NFL camps (including player development and coaching culture)
• What it means to be a captain in the NFL, and the dynamics of team leadership
• NFL preseason drama (notably the Micah Parsons situation and trade fallout)
• Special teams evolution and new NFL kickoff rules
• Comprehensive Week 1 NFL game predictions
• Life transitions after football, with advice for retiring athletes

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. College Football Opening Week & Standouts

Timestamps: 02:12–06:14

• Michigan’s Big House Atmosphere:
  Bobby Bones details the electric atmosphere at Michigan stadium, noting 107,000 fans and key performances from young QB Bryce Underwood.

  “There’s 107,000 people at the Big House ... But again the big storyline was Bryce Underwood, the 18 year old dude, he looked awesome.” (Bobby Bones, 03:14)

• Player and Coaching Movements:
  Matt and Bobby discuss how continuity in coaching (bringing in a known coordinator and QB together) primes teams like Michigan for early success.

  “This coach went out and said, you know what, I’m going to go get his offensive coordinator, bring him in and then ... John Mateer who’s an absolute stud ... I think it great, great decision.” (Bobby, 04:57)

• College Talent Gaps:
  Insightful compare-and-contrast between college and NFL talent distribution.

  “In college, there is such a talent gap from recruiting ... you can’t make that up by just having good coaching...” (Matt Cassel, 09:59)

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2. Locker Room Culture: Leadership and Captaincy

Timestamps: 14:25–17:07

• Tyreek Hill Not Named Dolphins Captain:
  The hosts debate if captain status matters and discuss the behind-the-scenes reputation of Hill.

  “I was named captain when I was in Kansas City, and it’s an honor because it’s voted on by your teammate, by your peers...” (Matt, 15:05) “...There might be other guys that they look at.” (Matt, 16:28) “He’s problematic, and he’s a little bit selfish. And ... good receivers in the league ... want the ball; they’re the alpha...” (Bobby, 16:45)

• Coach Leadership Styles:
  The impact of consistency from coaches like Mike Vrabel and expectations for team improvement.

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3. NFL Preseason Drama & Team Chemistry

Timestamps: 22:21–26:01

• Micah Parsons Trade & Back Issues:
  Real concern over medical clearances:

  “... That is a call for concern to me of what doctor completely cleared him for this four year worth potentially $188 million.” (Bobby, 23:09)

• Locker Room Reputation:

  “And I’m not connected ... but ... everybody hated Micah Parsons.” (Matt, 23:34)
  “I think the image that you see of him being just an absolute savage on the field might be different than how he interacted in the actual locker room.” (Bobby, 23:55)

• Cowboys Outlook Post-Trade & Fantasy Impact:
  Prediction that the Cowboys’ offense will be fantasy gold due to likely defensive struggles.

  “...The Dallas Cowboys on offense ... are going to have a great fantasy year because they’re not going to have a defense.” (Matt, 26:34) “And that’s. But that’s been the issue with the Cowboys for so long is ... can they get over the hump when they get the playoffs and beat the elites?” (Bobby, 27:25)

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4. Quarterback and Backup Life

Timestamps: 28:13–35:29

• Love of the Game & Coaching Futures:
  Insights into players like Kellen Moore, Alex Taney, and Kevin O’Connell, who transition seamlessly into coaching.
• Mentality of Backup QBs:
  Candid admissions about the thoughts and preparation levels that backup QBs wrestle with.

  “Playing the backup position in the NFL ... is probably the toughest position to be in in a mental space.” (Bobby, 31:31) “You definitely have to guard yourself against complacency as a backup quarterback...” (Bobby, 34:51)

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5. Interview with Lorenzo Alexander

Timestamps: 41:27–60:15

• Perseverance & Versatility:
  Alexander shares his journey from being undrafted to Pro Bowler, shifting positions, and making special teams his specialty.

  “...My uncle pushed me. God opened up a door, and then I walked through it and went all out because I’d been cut....” (Lorenzo, 43:35) “I had to almost beg for him and let him know that I wanted to get out there....when I got my opportunity ... covered a kick and made some plays.” (Lorenzo, 46:01)

• Pro Bowl Validation:

  “It was definitely an overwhelming experience...it kind of validated me.” (Lorenzo, 47:59)

• Buffalo Experience:

  “It was the coldest place I’ve ever been ... [but] it was all worth it. I mean, that’s one some of the coolest fans and coolest people I’ve ever been around.” (Lorenzo, 48:46)

• Kyler Murray, Cardinals Expectations & Marvin Harrison Jr.:

  “...I think [Kyler]’s going to take that next step...each year he’s gotten progressively better from a leadership standpoint, maturity standpoint...” (Lorenzo, 49:31)
  “From [Marvin Harrison Jr.], I think it’s just going to be the mental side...he’s not thinking as much, because he knows it, he’s reacting, he’s playing fast...” (Lorenzo, 51:52)

• Special Teams Rule Change:
  Alexander likes the new kickoff rule:

  “I love that they’re trying to find ways because it is an exciting play. It is an opportunity for guys that are fighting for roster spots to earn a spot...” (Lorenzo, 54:11)

• Advice for Athlete Life After Football:
  Emphasis on identity, transferable skills, and not being “just a football player.”

  “I’ve never allowed myself to completely see myself as just a football player...the biggest thing is guys get caught up in the football because there’s nothing like it and there’s nothing that ever can replace it...” (Lorenzo, 57:01) “If you have the right perspective, you can grow through that failure exponentially better than someone that just has a regular 9 to 5...” (Lorenzo, 58:02)

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6. NFL Week 1 Game Predictions

Timestamps: 62:37–72:34

The hosts go rapid-fire, game-by-game, predicting winners for the entire NFL slate with commentary:

• Notable Lines and Upsets:

  • Cowboys at Eagles: Matt picks Cowboys, Bobby picks Eagles (62:47)
  • Chiefs vs Chargers (in Brazil): Both pick Chiefs (64:52)
  • Lions at Packers: Both pick Packers, intrigued by impact of new WR Golden (69:45)
  • Ravens at Bills: Bobby picks Bills with Josh Allen as MVP, Matt picks Baltimore (72:10)
  • Seahawks vs 49ers: Bobby takes Seattle as upset pick (69:04)

• Fantasy Football Tie-Ins:
  Regular callouts of fantasy potential in players and matchups, including bullishness on Dallas’s offensive weapons and the Bucs’ prospects.

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7. Personal Moments and Outtakes

Timestamps: 72:45–77:46

• Birthday Shout-out:
  Bobby gives a heartfelt birthday message to his daughter Lily (72:49)
• Barbershop Banter:
  Endearing conversation about where pro athletes get their hair cut—“Normal humans go to a barbershop, bro.” (Bobby, 76:05)

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Notable Quotes

• On Captaincy:
  “I think there’s ... a responsibility to be a captain. ... It’s an honor because it’s voted on by your teammate, by your peers, and who they see as a potential leader of this team.”
  — Matt Cassel (15:05)

• On Being a Backup QB:
  “Playing the backup position in the NFL … is probably the toughest position to be in in a mental space.”
  — Bobby Bones (31:31)

• On Perseverance:
  “My uncle pushed me. God opened up a door, and then I walked through it and went all out because I’d been cut. I had to be humble in some ways, had to grow up in a lot of ways … and I didn’t look back after that.”
  — Lorenzo Alexander (43:35)

• On Special Teams:
  “It is an opportunity for guys fighting for roster spots to earn a spot on that team and then grow into the player.”
  — Lorenzo Alexander (54:11)

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Memorable and Lighthearted Moments

• Bobby asks if Matt shaves his whole body or just his face, leading to playful banter:
  “That’s only on Wednesday. That’s only entire body on Wednesday.” (Matt, 03:08)

• “If I was a backup, I’d want the starter to tear an Achilles ... I want him forever.” (Matt Cassel, 30:00)

• Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce: “He’s gotta, like, fight for Taylor’s honor now because if he does not perform it’s gonna be her fault!” (Matt, 64:30)

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For New Listeners

This episode delivers:

• Candid, humorous, and insightful takes on college and NFL football
• Real-world perspectives on locker room politics, leadership, and the human side of pro sports
• NFL Week 1 previews that blend analytical angles with playful trash talk
• An inspiring guest segment with a focus on grit, humility, and life transitions that all fans—even non-sports people—can appreciate

Approximate Timestamps for Key Segments:

• College Football Opening: 02:12–06:14
• NFL Captaincy Discussion: 14:25–17:07
• Micah Parsons Trade Fallout: 22:21–26:01
• Backup QB Mentality: 28:13–35:29
• Lorenzo Alexander Interview: 41:27–60:15
• NFL Week 1 Picks: 62:37–72:34

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Final Thoughts

This episode stands out for its blend of sharp football analysis, honest locker room talk, and the inspiration drawn from Lorenzo Alexander’s grind-it-out story. The hosts maintain a friendly, down-to-earth tone, balancing inside jokes and personal camaraderie with insightful football commentary—making it engaging for casual and hardcore fans alike.

Transcript

[Matt Castle]

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[Bobby Bones]

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[Matt Castle]

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[Bobby Bones]

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[Greg Rosenthal]

Football is back. That's right, the new NFL season is here and you should be listening to NFL Daily as we march along to Super Bowl 60. It's in the name NFL Daily, so you'll have fresh content in your feed all season long. Join me, Greg Rosenthal, in an all star cast of co hosts for previews and recaps of every single game. NFL Daily will keep you up to date with everything you need to know so you can sound smarter than all your friends.

[Bobby Bones]

Learn.

[Greg Rosenthal]

Listen to NFL daily on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Bobby Bones]

I'm Marcus Grant.

[Michael F. Florio]

And I'm Michael F. Florio, and together we host the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast.

[Marcus Grant]

Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season?

[Michael F. Florio]

Then you need the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast, your ultimate source for player news, draft tips, and winning strategies.

[Marcus Grant]

Whether you're a rookie manager or a.

[Michael F. Florio]

Fantasy vet, we've got the insight to help you crush your opponents.

[Marcus Grant]

Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Matt Castle]

Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle is a production of the NFL and iHeart podcast.

[Greg Rosenthal]

We got lots to say.

[Bobby Bones]

We got lots to say. We're glad you're here and we hope you stay.

[Matt Castle]

Cause we got lots say.

[Greg Rosenthal]

Yeah, we got lots to say.

[Lorenzo Alexander]

Now here's Bobby.

[Matt Castle]

And that usually only my wife will ask. Hey, did you shave today?

[Bobby Bones]

I had to ask because every time I look over at your face, it's just this baby face, just smooth. And I don't even think I've ever seen stubble on you.

[Matt Castle]

Maybe a little. The question asked to me right before we hit play was, do you shave every day?

[Bobby Bones]

No.

[Matt Castle]

And I shave with a straight razor on the first day of the week. So the Tuesday would have been the first day of the week this week. Okay, so but Monday and Friday, straight razor, that's all the way down. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, I do the electric razor, which isn't as good.

[Bobby Bones]

It's not as good. But you still shave every single day?

[Matt Castle]

Yes, for the most part. Weekends. I don't always shave and if I have nothing because mostly though I'm on camera in some fashion every day now. Not NBC like you. Which by the way. Let's go Mr. NBC. Mr. NBC. Week one.

[Bobby Bones]

Week one.

[Matt Castle]

Yes.

[Bobby Bones]

Knocked it out of the ballpark.

[Matt Castle]

But yeah, I shave yeah, pretty much every day because I gotta be on something.

[Bobby Bones]

Your entire body or just your face?

[Matt Castle]

That's only on Wednesday. That's only entire body on Wednesday.

[Bobby Bones]

I near.

[Matt Castle]

How did week one go? College football?

[Bobby Bones]

It was great, man. The environment was incredible. There's107,000 people at the big house. The big house can be one of those places you go to that it's when you walk in you're kind of overwhelmed by the environment. But then when you get actually people start filtering. It's not super, super loud like some of these environments where the fans are all on top of you. But again the big storyline was Bryce Underwood, the 18 year old dude, he looked awesome.

[Matt Castle]

You were closer than I was ready to watch some of the game as a, as an 18 year old. Yeah, it's a five star but you can be 10 stars at times and still be overwhelmed by your first, first.

[Bobby Bones]

Start in that type of environment. And the kid comes out and I, I, I swear to you, first play he's like dancing in shotgun like vibing and then he just starts ripping darts all over the field. I mean it was really impressive. And he just turned 18 like last week or the week before last. It's, he's 6, 4, 2, 3. I mean so it was fun. It was a good game. New Mexico obviously was overmatched but they battled and so it's college football start. Let's go.

[Matt Castle]

How you feeling about that Oklahoma Michigan game next week?

[Bobby Bones]

Oh dude, it's gonna be awesome. Yeah. Yeah. In, in Oklahoma.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah. Oklahoma is a six point favorite, I think.

[Bobby Bones]

Six point favorite.

[Matt Castle]

But Michigan's ranked higher. But that's all because they got to go down, right?

[Bobby Bones]

And Jackson Arnold had a hell of a game.

[Matt Castle]

Jackson Arnold plays for Auburn now.

[Bobby Bones]

Oh, never mind.

[Matt Castle]

Last year, Last year he played for.

[Bobby Bones]

I take that back.

[Lorenzo Alexander]

But he did have a big game.

[Matt Castle]

You're right about.

[Bobby Bones]

He did have a big game, didn't he?

[Matt Castle]

He did, that's right.

[Bobby Bones]

You know what, I'm gonna start studying a little bit more.

[Matt Castle]

John Mattier is the kid.

[Bobby Bones]

John Mattiere, that's sec.

[Matt Castle]

You're not, you're, you're work for the freaking Big Ten.

[Bobby Bones]

That tier he had a day.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah, he had a great day. Again, they didn't play anybody like.

[Bobby Bones]

They also brought his coordinator.

[Matt Castle]

He's the offensive coordinator, right?

[Bobby Bones]

He's the offensive coordinator.

[Matt Castle]

To be fair, his coordinator came and then brought Mater.

[Bobby Bones]

Yes. Yeah, I think that that's a recipe for success. If you've had seen somebody play under a certain system and you want that same product. This coach went out and said, you know what, I'm going to go get his offensive coordinator, bring him in and then they're going to bring in John Mateer who's an absolute stud, like dual threat, can run it, throw it. I think it great, great decision.

[Matt Castle]

It's like hiring in basketball the dad as an assistant coach. If you want to get a five star player to come to your university.

[Bobby Bones]

Hey, whatever, whatever it takes. I mean. And at the end of the day, the guy walks into the building, the learning curve is not as steep. Right. He understands exactly what's to be expected. Expected. He's run the offense before and you saw it at least in the first game. Obviously they're going to get tested this week against Michigan. It's going to be a lot better. But those are interesting circumstances.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah, Oklahoma looked good. My team, Arkansas looked fine. We played it. Did you guys play Alabama A M?

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, exactly. The out of conference games are always funny because it's like, well, Miami of.

[Matt Castle]

Ohio or at least that's a real school.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Matt Castle]

Not that the school of Alabama A M isn't real, but they're not a traditional division one school.

[Bobby Bones]

Right, exactly.

[Matt Castle]

And so we beat them like 53 to 7. We didn't cover. Our defense looked terrible. But it's, it's game one. You can only beat who's in front of you. Right.

[Bobby Bones]

Hey, that's all you can do is go out and get better each and every week.

[Matt Castle]

Go out and beat who's in front?

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, right in front of you.

[Matt Castle]

Okay. Well, we've come to the table with three different things. Neither one of us know what the things are. I shall let you go first.

[Bobby Bones]

I mean, if we're going to stay in college football. Did you watch any of the Belichick first game?

[Matt Castle]

You end up watch the whole thing. Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Do you watch the whole thing? Man, I started to watch it first. First drive, I was like, oh, look at this. UNC is going to be awesome. First drive, they look great, looked great. Went right down the field and then it was a disaster, an absolute disaster. And especially with the notoriety of the game, ESPN covering. I mean, did you see Herb street near the end of the game, he's putting his headset on his dog. What's up with the dog, by the way?

[Matt Castle]

Well, it's a second dog, too.

[Bobby Bones]

His second dog. I know the first one passed away last year. I went through the dramatics and everybody did across the country. It was pretty sad.

[Matt Castle]

You know, the dog goes everywhere with him. And I gotta shout out the dog and the trainers because the dog looks to be pretty good.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. I mean, he's healthy.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah. And. And mines and doesn't. If you. I brought my dog, you go crazy. He'd be jumping on top of everybody.

[Bobby Bones]

Did you see the McAfee kick? You know, the. Where the dogs out.

[Matt Castle]

He crapped on the side.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Matt Castle]

Also that kid who kicked. I mean, sandbagged the crap out of him.

[Bobby Bones]

Oh, yeah.

[Matt Castle]

He's like, yeah, well, my brother kicked. Do we ever find out? Because he kicked that ball so pure when. For the hundred thousand dollars, Right?

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. One and only one attempt. You know, sometimes he'll be like, all right, I'll give you a second one.

[Matt Castle]

I wonder. Well, he didn't need a second one.

[Bobby Bones]

He didn't need one. Yeah, he crushed it.

[Matt Castle]

Crushed it. And he's like, yeah, I kick with my brother. I wonder what that kid's real story was, because he kicked the crap out.

[Bobby Bones]

Of that soccer style kicker.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah, it was.

[Bobby Bones]

What? What? It was 250 he handed out to him.

[Matt Castle]

Oh, was it 250? 250, yeah. Oh, dang. Yeah, the game last night. Well, two nights ago, because this comes out Wednesday, that it was interesting because North Carolina moved through them very quickly, very easily. TCU then just bullied them.

[Bobby Bones]

Bullied them.

[Matt Castle]

That TCU running back.

[Bobby Bones]

He's a stud, big boy and can run.

[Matt Castle]

He broke one off for like 75 yards.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. He went to the house.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah. I was going to ask you, and I'm glad you brought this up because this was going to be one of mine, but I'll.

[Bobby Bones]

I'll pivot.

[Matt Castle]

What's Belichick like after a bad loss like this?

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, you know what? It's always interesting because he's actually easier on the team after a bad loss than he is if we've won by a significant amount. Like, he nitpicks the hell out of you and you don't even feel like you won the game. Right. You're sitting there going, wait, what? What just happened? I thought. I thought we did really well. And then after a loss, a lot of times he comes in and he's got a little bit of a different temperament. And it's like, we got to get back to work. We've obviously got to fix the mistakes that we, we made in this game. And there's a lot. We had a game, actually my third start of the year, we're playing Miami, and that was the Wildcat game where they came into New England and just ran all over our face. Ronnie Brown, Ronnie Brown and all these guys. And so they just, they crushed us. And so he came in and wasn't as aggressive toward us. And then what he did is he took the tape and he's like, guy. He did like the ceremonial thing where he went out on the practice field, dug a hole, had a shovel there, dug a hole and buried the tape. He's like, it's done. It's over. We're moving on. We didn't talk about that game one more time. We watched the film that day, buried the tape and moved on. So I'm sure it's a lot tougher in that building because to rebound from a game like that in college is a little bit different, especially when you can see that your talent is not the level it needs to be. So there's going to be some changes made for sure at the quarterback position.

[Matt Castle]

Less games as well.

[Bobby Bones]

Less games.

[Matt Castle]

Every game matters and yeah, every game matters so much more. And you're right, it's such a drastic. Or at least last night with tcu, it looked like such a drastic difference in talent.

[Bobby Bones]

Right.

[Matt Castle]

I think though TCU is better than about 90% of ACC schools, to be fair.

[Bobby Bones]

They are. And that's the one differentiate, differentiating factor when you talk about college football and NFL. NFL, the guys are so equally talented on each team. Now, you might have your Joe Burrows of the world or Josh Allen's, but every week, you know, you're going into for a dogfight, you're going to have to play your best in order to win. Because that team, even though the record might not reflect it, they can beat you. Whereas in college, college, there is such a talent gap when you. From recruiting or the players that you have that you can't make that up by just having good coaching. And it kind of showed last night.

[Matt Castle]

When I was with Jerry Jones. He was talking about the talent disparity in college versus in the NFL where he said what you just said. He was talking about how every week, it doesn't matter how good your team is, it's such a slim margin, right, between the really good teams and the really bad teams, which allows the really bad teams at times to beat the really good teams because they're all professionals. And the stud starter and the guy that just made it, there's not a lot of difference between.

[Bobby Bones]

There's not. And every team has their superstars, regardless of if you're at the bottom of the league in certain statistical categories. But you go out there and you have a bad day at the quarterback position and you throw a few picks and give them an opportunity to go down and score, put them in a position to. They can be. Those really bad teams can beat you. I remember when I was in Kansas City my first year, we're playing the Steelers. Ben Roethlisberger, our team at that point had won like two games all year. We somehow pull off a victory in overtime, hit a few throws, kept it close. We had a strip sack and go down, score. And there was no reason why we should have won that game like that. That team already was at nine wins. We were at two. It's just one of those situations. Like I said, you come out and the ball rolls your way a little bit. You've got enough talent to overcome that.

[Matt Castle]

One other question about you in this topic, since you brought up college, did you ever watch or ever get a chance to watch any of the Netflix series any given Saturday?

[Bobby Bones]

I did not.

[Matt Castle]

Okay, so what's happened, and I didn't want it to happen is that I watched it and I avoided it because I didn't want to like other players on other teams. I just like to universally hate everybody. That's not Arkansas.

[Bobby Bones]

Right.

[Matt Castle]

So I watch it and there are some players I liked on the show that don't play for Arkansas. And I found myself rooting for them this last week and I didn't like how it made me feel.

[Bobby Bones]

Is it like a hard knocks? But it's any given Saturday, every episode.

[Matt Castle]

And I believe there are five, maybe six episodes, they focus on two games specifically from last season. Okay, for our week, Arkansas week, it was Arkansas and Tennessee. We beat Tennessee. It was a massive upset. And it was also in that same episode, Vanderbilt in Alabama when they beat.

[Bobby Bones]

Oh man, that was a huge upset.

[Matt Castle]

It starts with like LSU it. And by the way, Brian Kelly, not likable at all.

[Bobby Bones]

I really don't like him.

[Matt Castle]

Not likable at all.

[Bobby Bones]

He just looks like he's always pressing the panic button and always blaming players instead of just being like, okay, that's on me, or whatever it might be. But his temperament, nothing warm about him, nothing, nothing about him comes across as genuine Jets.

[Matt Castle]

You're right there too. Also doesn't seem genuine.

[Bobby Bones]

Just Always pointing the finger. Great ball, never his fault. Great ball coach.

[Matt Castle]

No doubt about it.

[Bobby Bones]

Good team.

[Matt Castle]

But like the kid, the weeks kid that plays linebacker, like, they focus on him, and his brother also plays on the team. And then at the end of it, his younger brother, who was a senior in high school, play. So they have three brothers playing linebacker at lsu. But I'm watching lsu and I like LSU fine. Actually, I don't like lsu, but when they're playing Clemson, I'm all lsu.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Matt Castle]

Because also, screw dabo.

[Bobby Bones]

So you don't like dabo. I like dabo. People. You're either one side of that fence or you're the other side of fence. But we can get in that after dabo.

[Matt Castle]

Big time does on my radio show. And so I cursed them. I cursed them on the air two years ago, and they sucked ever since.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. Really?

[Matt Castle]

Yeah, we did chimes and everything. Cursed them. And so. But I found myself rooting for the kid at lsu, the specific kid. I was like, come on, DJ Lagway.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, stud.

[Matt Castle]

Stud. He. There's a whole episode on him at Florida coming in.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. Freshman.

[Matt Castle]

And, you know, Graham. Graham Mertz was the guy.

[Bobby Bones]

Was the dude.

[Matt Castle]

And he gets hurt. And so I was going to go in and figure it out, and I just found myself rooting for these villains. They're villains to me.

[Bobby Bones]

They're not villains. They all got a great story.

[Matt Castle]

You're right. When they take their helmet off, I.

[Bobby Bones]

Got a great story.

[Matt Castle]

Yes. Leave their helmets on.

[Bobby Bones]

Leave their helmets.

[Matt Castle]

And I don't want to know warm stories about.

[Bobby Bones]

I don't want to know that you're a good person and that you love puppies.

[Matt Castle]

Yes.

[Bobby Bones]

And that, you know. Puppies. No puppies. And all that stuff. I just want to look at you and see you in that uniform. No, you're the enemy.

[Matt Castle]

I want to be just. You're the disgusted by your Mississippi State color. But then I end up liking the coach, and I'm like, what's happening? So, okay, good. Let's roll on my first one. And it's gonna be ended with a question about captains, but I'm gonna start with Tyreek Hill. Not a captain on the Dolphins. Now, Tyreek Hill did say he wasn't gonna come back and play for the Dolphins, if you remember, he's like, I'm not coming back to this team. He's back with the team. They announced the captains. He is not a captain this year. So my first question is, does that matter? Second of all, what the heck do captains do on an NFL team. Is it just something you wear on the jersey, or is there actually a role?

[Bobby Bones]

I think there's. There's a title to it, and then also a responsibility to be a captain. I was named captain when I was in Kansas City, and it's an honor because it's voted on by your teammate, by your peers, and who they see as a potential leader of this team. And it's a leader of what you do on the field, but more importantly, it's what you do off the field, how you lead the guys when you're going through adversity and all that stuff. So captains, I think, play an important role and also their sounding board for the coach, because the captains are the one group that go in and meet with the head coach on a weekly basis, usually on. Usually on a Tuesday or a Wednesday to get going. And you might even have a second meeting. And you're. You're able to give the opinions or the thoughts openly to your head coach when you're in those meetings about the pulse of the team. Right. What. What. What's going on? What are we struggling with? Why can't we get this going? Right. And so you're. You're that voice, and there's a lot of responsibility that comes with it. But whether or not it impacts you on the field, if you could be the greatest player in the world, but your teammates not might not view you as one of those captains.

[Matt Castle]

But don't they sometimes just give the seat to, like, the most famous player on the team?

[Bobby Bones]

Yes, a lot of times they do. A lot of times they do. But that might be more of an indictment on Tyreek Hill and maybe how he handles himself. And I'm not spreading rumors. I don't know any of this, but at the same time, there might be other guys that they look at.

[Matt Castle]

I can spread some rumors because I do know a little about it.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, you know a little bit about him. He.

[Matt Castle]

Yes, he's been.

[Bobby Bones]

He's been a problem.

[Matt Castle]

He is a pro. He's problematic. And I know people who are adjacent to the organization right now.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Lorenzo Alexander]

And.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah, he's problematic.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, he's problematic, and he's a little bit selfish. And. And really good receivers in the league a lot of times. Yeah, they are a little bit selfish. Right. They want the ball. They're. They're the alpha, and that's just how it goes. But that also sometimes reflects in their personality and how they interact with their teammates, and it's not a good look.

[Matt Castle]

So what do you think about him not being a Captain, I'm not surprised.

[Bobby Bones]

With all the stuff that you've heard internally from that building and then even on the outside, some of his, you know, antics and, and what he's been in trouble for, that doesn't surprise me.

[Matt Castle]

There's a shot that the Dolphins are a dumpster fire, right?

[Bobby Bones]

There is a shot. There is a shot. But they, They're. They're really talented. And I do like that coach. And I know that I like McDaniel, too. I think he's fun and he's quirky and gives. Yeah, Corky is the perfect description. His press conferences are money. I mean, I love listening to the just different banter that he comes up with.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

And I think he's super talented. I. I just think that he's been knocked off his pedestal a little bit from when he first got there and the excitement that went on. And then you. Tua. I think Tua is a really good quarterback and he's got a lot of talent around him. It's. Can he stay healthy? Will the defense show up? You know, it's all those different factors that go into a season.

[Greg Rosenthal]

Football is back. That's right. The new NFL season is here. And you should be listening to NFL Daily as we march along to Super Bowl 60. This is a show for sickos like me. NFL Daily is your kind of show. It's in the name NFL Daily. You'll have fresh content in your feed all season long. Myself, Greg Rosenthal, and an all star cast of co hosts will preview and recap every game all season long. Josh Allen coming off an MVP season.

[Unidentified NFL Daily Play-by-Play Announcer]

And now lateral to Allen and reaching for the pylon. Are you kidding me? It's a touchdown. Have you ever seen that one before?

[Greg Rosenthal]

Rookies making a name for themselves.

[Bobby Bones]

Run again.

[Unidentified NFL Daily Play-by-Play Announcer]

Rejected. And it's a bulldozer. He is bouncing off defenders. And drag down.

[Greg Rosenthal]

And of course, the Eagles trying to win another Lombardi.

[Lorenzo Alexander]

What a game.

[Bobby Bones]

What a season. What a team.

[Lorenzo Alexander]

Eagles fans savor it and rejoice.

[Greg Rosenthal]

Listen to NFL daily on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Marcus Grant]

I'm Marcus Grant.

[Michael F. Florio]

And I'm Michael F. Florio, and together we host the NFL Fantasy Podcast.

[Marcus Grant]

Fantasy season is here. And the question is, are you ready to dominate your league?

[Michael F. Florio]

Because if you're not locked in with us, the NFL Fantasy Football podcast, you're already playing from behind.

[Marcus Grant]

Every episode, we're breaking down the biggest fantasy headlines, injury updates you need before kickoff, and matchups you can exploit to bury your competition.

[Michael F. Florio]

We're Talking sleeper picks, breakout stars, and the players you can't afford to bench.

[Marcus Grant]

Whether it's rookies making noise or veterans keeping their value, we cover it all.

[Michael F. Florio]

Whether you're drafting for the first time or chasing another championship, we'll give you.

[Marcus Grant]

The edge, the insight, and the confidence to make every move count.

[Michael F. Florio]

Weekly analysis, hot takes, and insider knowledge all in one place.

[Marcus Grant]

So what's it going to be?

[Michael F. Florio]

Another just okay season or total fantasy domination?

[Marcus Grant]

Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Matt Castle]

Whenever you look at that division as well, you got the Patriots, and they're getting a lot better.

[Bobby Bones]

They're getting better.

[Matt Castle]

And not only are they getting better, they're also going to be consistent because they have a consistent leader now in Vrabel 100. And that's not just from me going, oh, I remember when he played for the Patriots, or I saw him, the coach of the Titans. We've been here with him right in this town. You know him?

[Bobby Bones]

Yes, I know him well.

[Matt Castle]

He's a very consistent guy. Like he. He builds and breeds, show up to work and be consistent first and foremost. So that itself is going to really help that organization. They got a good quarterback, Good quarterback. They got a good rookie running back. Kevin, you excited about your running back?

[Bobby Bones]

I'm fired up, about to watch him run.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah. I feel like it's bad for the. Not only the Dolphins and what they're doing, but what everybody else is doing around them.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Matt Castle]

And it's not that I think the jets are good, but I don't think the jets are going to be as terrible as they have been. I think they also have a coach that is going to do. And again, I know it's an offensive league, but it's almost like the defensive coaches come in and reset culture and consistency, and they reset that culture and consistency. I'm not saying they dynamically rebuild a team the quickest. I don't think it's Ben Johnson.

[Bobby Bones]

Right.

[Matt Castle]

But I think that's what the jets need to kind of go, this is our freaking foundation. And they don't have Aaron Rodgers, and I think that's a plus.

[Bobby Bones]

Right. And that's what really good coaches do. They set their foundation, they give a clear expectation, and if you're on board, you're going to be there. If not, you're not going to be there. In that case in point was with the Patriots, they cut Jabril Peppers, who you think is going to be there and going to be A stud for them. And then Kyle Duggar, who they just signed the year before to a three year deal, was taking third string snaps throughout camp, having to prove himself. So it's all about giving these guys the opportunity and the understanding, like you've got to earn it each and every day. And that's what good coaches do.

[Matt Castle]

And don't forget the Bills in that division. I didn't mention the Bills.

[Bobby Bones]

The Bills are already. I was going to say the Bills are. Yeah, they're premier team. They're top dog.

[Matt Castle]

I feel like the Dolphins are losing out twice. One, I feel like their team is starting to be a little bit of mess and then everybody else is getting better around them. And even the jets, who are the worst, are getting more consistent. I think they're going to have more consistent leadership. All right, back over to you.

[Bobby Bones]

You know, the story obviously broke last week and it's old news at this point with Parsons going to Green Bay. But the real question is like they're coming out now with reports saying he might need an epidural in order to play.

[Matt Castle]

And I was like, because he's pregnant. You guys see that?

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, because he's pregnant.

[Matt Castle]

He's gonna have a baby. He's gonna have a baby on the.

[Bobby Bones]

Field and he's gonna start on Sunday. His son is gonna start on Sunday. Yeah, because he's that talented. No, but, but it's crazy because I've been through that process, right, where you get traded and I got traded from Minnesota after I had. I broke three bones and I was out for the rest of the year. And I remember going in and you go through a very thorough physical. They check everything from top to bottom, but particularly if you're coming off an injury, they're going to check that injury. They obviously have known or have heard rumors about his back.

[Matt Castle]

So he was in treatment with the Cowboys.

[Bobby Bones]

He was in treatment with Cowboys. Right. And so the fact that they're saying he might need an epidural or might not be able to play because of a back injury, that is a call for concern to me of what Dr. Completely cleared him for this four year worth potentially $188 million. I mean, that's a lot of money on the table if this guy isn't able to go and go consistently throughout the year.

[Matt Castle]

Can I give you another?

[Bobby Bones]

I've heard, yes, I love those.

[Matt Castle]

And I'm not connected. You're way more connected than I am. But I have like three ears in the NFL. One Dolphins adjacent, one Cowboys adjacent.

[Bobby Bones]

Okay.

[Matt Castle]

And so not Only have I heard this from him, I've also heard it from other people talking about it. Is that everybody hated Michael Parsons.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, I think the image that you see of him being just an absolute savage on the field might be different than how he interacted in the actual locker room. And part of it, even you saw him, he was laying down on the sideline during one pregame and I didn't know if that was staged. Like his, his agent's like, hey, piss him off a little bit, do this, you know, bridle their feathers. But at the same time, there has been those rumors that he's not as outgoing or he kind of beats to his own drum in the locker room, which could be a problem as well.

[Matt Castle]

And also can be okay, like everybody doesn't have to be liked.

[Bobby Bones]

Right.

[Matt Castle]

I mean, there can be people that are completely disliked that show up and do their job, but he wasn't well liked. And I don't think the team is sad as humans that he's gone, but a 26 year old super elite pass.

[Bobby Bones]

Rusher, He's a superstar.

[Matt Castle]

Superstar.

[Bobby Bones]

He's like the likes of. LT was back when the brakes on that. I don't know. Have you seen him, have you seen him rush the passer?

[Matt Castle]

I have. I think in a few years we can make the comparison.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, he's gonna have to go out and continue to do it. But I mean.

[Matt Castle]

LT was at the Carolina game last or two nights ago.

[Bobby Bones]

I know.

[Matt Castle]

Lt, Michael Jordan, Randy Moss, Bruski Brew. I didn't see him there. Yeah, yeah, they were all there.

[Bobby Bones]

They're all there to see that shellacking. Like that's one of those after the game you want to go see cushion, you're like, maybe, maybe I'll call him.

[Matt Castle]

Is there a chance that the Cowboys fleece the Packers?

[Bobby Bones]

I mean, I think the Cowboys have a pretty good team now. They lost their best player on defense and I think that's the question mark that they're going to have is what do they look like on defense? Because they just lost that guy. I know they brought in Kenny Clark, who I think will help them in the middle, but it's going to be whether or not their defense can step up because that puts a lot more emphasis on that offense scoring more points, which I think that they're capable of doing. But can you consistently stop people? And that's been their Achilles heel.

[Matt Castle]

What's the Bengals?

[Bobby Bones]

Yep, that's exactly what. That's basically the prototype of it.

[Matt Castle]

It's like, look at the Bengals, you Got a star quarterback, you got two star wide receivers and you got a whole lot of points. Look at the Cowboys now. You got Dak, borderline starter quarterback, but you got CD Lamb and you got Pickens now.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Matt Castle]

So I. Those mirror each other. I would say that Henderson's a little better than anything that the Cowboys have defensively. But Kenny Clark. What?

[Bobby Bones]

Big Kenny Clark. Guy Kenny Clark. Yeah.

[Matt Castle]

No, I'm familiar. Yeah. I'm not making the comparison.

[Bobby Bones]

Can you imagine though, if with all the crap going on, it would be such a Cowboy thing to go out and beat the Eagles?

[Matt Castle]

It would be such a Cowboy thing to go out and actually have a good season. I mean, my friend Eddie is a massive Cowboys fan and I'm like, oh, you guys know you're going to be good now. Especially that you don't expect it. You've been whining about the trade.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Matt Castle]

So I'm going to take yours and pivot it over to mine. And so mine is a bit of a fantasy conversation where the Dallas Cowboys on offense, I predict for the same thing that you just said, they're going to have a great fantasy year because they're not going to have a defense. They're going to have to throw a lot. And when you dak and throw, Dak can rip it. And Dax now got two. He's got one great wide receiver, one possibly really good wide receiver. And they just signed the tight end to an extension.

[Bobby Bones]

Ferguson.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah. Jake Ferguson.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Matt Castle]

And Ferguson is somebody who's getting closer to the ceiling.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Matt Castle]

Like he's actually. He's becoming a better pass catching tight end. So I think that is an offense that's going to be again, Cincinnati like in that they're going to score a lot of points for your fantasy teams.

[Bobby Bones]

And that's. But that's been the issue with the Cowboys for so long is they're regular season, they crush the regular season. It's when they get to the playoffs that they have what, four Super bowl wins since, I mean, four playoff wins.

[Matt Castle]

Since they had four Super bowl wins.

[Bobby Bones]

Man, if they had that, that $12.6 billion tag that they have on that thing, that would be a 20. No, but they've won four playoff games in like 30 years or something like that. And they've always been though a good regular season team. It's just can they get over the hump when they get the playoffs and beat the elites? And that's, that's where they've failed.

[Matt Castle]

My lasting Cowboys playoff impression is Zeke being the long snapper. Remember that and he just gets crushed the last play of the game. And the offensive coordinator, who's now the coach of the Saints. Yeah, I remember him just hanging his head in shame. He was the coordinator right then. Kellen Moore was Keller Moore. Kellen Moore, former Boise State.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. Quarterback stud.

[Matt Castle]

That is my lasting impression of the Cowboys in the playoffs. Is that where Zeke was playing, like 7 on 7 center, like flag football center, and just getting rammed?

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, it was Kellen Moore.

[Matt Castle]

Nice. Yeah, that'll be an issue.

[Bobby Bones]

Played with me in Dallas when I was there. And you always knew he was going to be a coach duty. He had this little notebook that he'd bring out and he'd draw plays all the time, and then he would talk about the type of system that he wanted to run and all this stuff. He's like a savant. Brilliant mind.

[Matt Castle]

Brilliant. Are there guys that are so. Their love of the game is so pure, and you can tell just when you meet someone, they're always doing stuff like that.

[Bobby Bones]

Oh, 100. And you know those guys, too, that after they're done playing in whatever capacity, they're going right into coaching. And he was one of those guys. I played with another one, Alex Taney, who's now with the Indianapolis Colts. He was a backup quarterback for a really long time and never really got a shot. But at the same time, ever, he was meticulous with his notes. And then he had a separate binder that he was writing down plays and trying to think of the system that would best fit if he was in college or if he was in the pros. And so you see these guys and you're like, they just have such a love and a passion for the game. If they get a shot, they're going to grow into something and be really good at it. Kevin o' Connell is another guy like that.

[Matt Castle]

Oh, you could tell when you're playing with him.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, well, he was young when I played with him, but you could tell that as he moved on in his career that that ideally was the direction that he was going to go.

[Matt Castle]

Are there guys that know in their heart of hearts they're always going to be a backup, and that is their job. That will always be their job. And they're just going to be a good backup or because they've been competing at such a high level their entire life, they're still holding on to that shot, that they can just get a shot.

[Bobby Bones]

I think there's both of those personalities show up, right. That guys are just holding on for dear life, hoping that they Get a shot to prove themselves. And there's other guys that are completely content with making money, being a good soldier, supportive, doing whatever they can for the team and taking that approach. And I always love being around guys like that because it helps the room. You spend so much time with these guys, particularly in the quarterback room, watching film, breaking stuff down. But if you can be a resource on the sideline and have one of your buddies come up to you and say, hey, check out the backside safety. He keeps cheating in this three by one set. He's coming to try to snag. You got the one on one backside. Awesome.

[Matt Castle]

You.

[Bobby Bones]

I love that type of information.

[Matt Castle]

I feel like I'd be a terrible.

[Bobby Bones]

Backup quarterback because want the starter to suck.

[Matt Castle]

Yep. I'd want him to sucker get hurt. And that's not nice. It's not good of me to be a backup quarterback and want the starter to tear an Achilles.

[Bobby Bones]

No, that's not good.

[Matt Castle]

He'd go. He'd go down and I'd be like, oh, no. But in my heart, I'd be like, let it be an Achilles, baby.

[Bobby Bones]

Maybe like a hip pointer where he comes out for a little bit.

[Matt Castle]

No, no.

[Bobby Bones]

I want him forever. Yeah.

[Matt Castle]

If I want. Because I need more than a game. I'm getting thrown in. The vibe's off a little at the beginning.

[Bobby Bones]

Oh, yeah. We're a little unsettled here to start, but you give me that second start, I'm ready to rock and roll.

[Matt Castle]

I got a whole week to prepare.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, that's.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah, I'll be a terrible backup quarterback.

[Bobby Bones]

I didn't feel that way about Tom, but then when you look at it in retrospect, I was, like, pretty appreciative that he stayed out the entire season.

[Matt Castle]

Were you always ready?

[Bobby Bones]

You know what? It. Playing the backup position in the NFL or anywhere is probably the toughest position to be in in a mental space. Because when you go into a game as a starter, number one, you get the reps throughout the course of the week, you're throwing to all the starting quarterbacks. And then as a backup or as a starter, you also have your first 20 plays that a lot of people don't even think about. It's scripted, like. And you've rehearsed these plays, You've gone through them and walk through. You've run them in your first and second down, You've run your first third downs. And so you're very prepared mentally to have an understanding of what to expect when you go into that game as a backup. You could be Sitting there and all of a sudden the fourth quarter, like, Christian Ponder got hurt one time, and I think it was in like the fourth quarter, and all of a sudden we got to go 80 yards against Chicago. We're down, and I was like, man, I got to get my stuff together because you really don't have an idea of what exactly we're going to call. Well, guess what? We did go down. Score.

[Matt Castle]

Let's go cast, man. Back at it.

[Bobby Bones]

Back at it. But yeah, that is one of those tough situations for any backup because you never know when you're going to go in the game or be called upon and you're not completely prepared for the moment. You know the plays and all those things, but you might be thrust in to a third and long situation. I remember when Marcus Mariota went down against Jacksonville. We were third and 15, and I had to go in the game and try to throw a ball fresh off.

[Matt Castle]

In a passing situation.

[Bobby Bones]

Passing situation. What happens? Ben Jones, I love him to death, but he always floated that ball a little bit to my right. The ball goes off to the side. So I tip it up off to the side. I got to pick it up, and I'm scrambling out to the right, trying to throw this ball downfield. Now. Incomplete pass, but I'm looking at going, really? That's how we're going to start. Like, tip ball. Looks like a fumble. I got to pick it up off the ground. I was like. But you just have to. Then. Then all of a sudden, once you get into that second third series, you settle in like anything, and it's. It's one of those. Then. Then you start to feel. Feel the game a little bit better.

[Matt Castle]

If I'm doing human nature, Bobby, human nature would be I go in, I'm the back up. Game one through three, I'm super prepared, but I didn't get any action. Game four through six, I'm pretty prepared, but I didn't get any action. Game seven through nine, do I even have to fully prepare? I mean, I haven't got any action. Game 10, I'm calling my pants down because I didn't even put any effort into it.

[Bobby Bones]

And it's getting cold outside. I don't care if you find me, because Vinnie Tessa Verde came in and he was a big dude, and he's like, you guys getting fined if we're wearing coats on the sideline. I was like, screw that. Find me. It is cold out here. I'm gonna. I'm trying to keep my hands warm. Your feet are getting cold and Again, I've been put into games where it's late in the season, it's the third, fourth quarter. You've been just sitting there picking your nose, doing nothing, and you're going, what in the hell's going on?

[Matt Castle]

I can just see me getting less and less prepared the longer it goes when I've gotten no action and not consciously right, but it's. Why am I going to put all this extra effort into studying every nook and cranny, every detail getting super granular when it hasn't actually had a chance to manifest into anything?

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, try waiting eight years like I did through college, and then my first three years in the pros.

[Matt Castle]

I was like, that's on me.

[Bobby Bones]

I should, man, I. I should not. I should not be this complacent at times. But, I mean, you do sit there and you're going, man, I've been told for so long you're a play away. I was like, when the hell is this play going to.

[Matt Castle]

It's a play going to happen. Yes.

[Bobby Bones]

You know, you're sitting there like, I'm ready, I think. But you definitely have to guard yourself against complacency as a backup quarterback, because the longer you get into the season, like you said, and you're just kind of sitting there and you're. You're preparing mentally, but it's more of mental approach than anything because you're running scout team as well as a backup quarterback to get your throws in. But the scout team is a bunch of crap, right? They circle guys that they want you to throw to that you know the ball is going to get picked off and you're going, coach, I mean, I would never make that throw in 100 years. Well, we got to get that safety, you know, a touch. We want him to go over there and make sure that he's in the right position. I was like, well, that's just bad habits for me. So you're fighting those bad habits as well.

[Matt Castle]

Dang. All right, we got one more each. Take it away.

[Bobby Bones]

One more each. You know, the game that I'm looking forward to seeing is Chicago Bears against the Vikings, because I think these two young quarterbacks, both high draft picks, but we don't know what we're going to see out of JJ McCarthy coming off the year that they had. And then you've got Caleb Williams with Ben Johnson coming in with a lot of high hopes, but there's been so much speculation, and everybody's on board with, what's Caleb Williams going to be. But I just think it's an intriguing game going into the season with two young quarterbacks that have so much promise, and it'll be fun to watch these guys and how they lead their team.

[Matt Castle]

The last thing I'll talk about is I watched Tom Brady do an interview talking about quarterbacks and how they celebrate. And Tom Brady was like, you know, when I watch a quarterback and he's doing all finger guns to the crowd after he throws a touchdown, or he's doing this animation to the crowd or to the bench, he goes, I don't like that. Tom said, I like it when they go celebrate with the team. He said he would tell his offensive linemen, if we throw it, I throw a touchdown. We throw a touchdown. We meet in the end zone, and we celebrate together. I thought that was interesting. I didn't know if that was something that you knew he did. Was that something you knew he did?

[Bobby Bones]

Well, when I got there, I was kind of indoctrinated into that whole environment. And I always remember coaches screaming at us even during practice, like, hey, if we score, you guys go celebrate. It's hardest to score touchdowns in this league. And if you get a chance to celebrate with your teammates, go do it and have fun doing it. And so when I got to New England, that's always was kind of what they did, right? Everybody would meet down in the end zone, big guys would run down, picking people up. We're hooting, hollering, the high fives coming off. And that was just kind of the culture or however you were the standard that they set. And so I never knew anything different. And it. I guess even when I went on in my career, that's always kind of. My approach was to go celebrate with the team. It wasn't like, look at me because I did it all. No. It takes 11 guys on the offensive side to do their job at a high level for you to go down and have a successful drive every single time.

[Matt Castle]

Former NFL linebacker Lorenzo Alexander coming on next. We'll talk to him when we come back.

[Marcus Grant]

I'm Marcus Grant.

[Michael F. Florio]

And I'm Michael F. Florio, and together we host the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast.

[Marcus Grant]

Fantasy season is here, and the question is, are you ready to dominate your league?

[Michael F. Florio]

Because if you're not locked in with us, the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast, you're already playing from behind.

[Marcus Grant]

Every episode, we're breaking down the biggest fantasy headlines, injury updates you need before kickoff, and matchups you can exploit to bury your competition.

[Michael F. Florio]

We're talking sleeper picks, breakout stars, and the players you can't afford to bench.

[Marcus Grant]

Whether it's rookies making noise or veterans keeping their value, we cover it all.

[Michael F. Florio]

Whether you're drafting for the first time or chasing another championship will give you.

[Marcus Grant]

The edge, the insight and the confidence to make every move count.

[Michael F. Florio]

Weekly analysis, hot takes and insider knowledge all in one place.

[Marcus Grant]

So what's it going to be?

[Michael F. Florio]

Another just okay season or total fantasy domination?

[Marcus Grant]

Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Greg Rosenthal]

Football is back. That's right, the new NFL season is here and you should be listening to NFL Daily as we march along to Super Bowl 60. This is a show for sickos like me. NFL Daily is your kind of show. It's in the name NFL Daily. You'll have fresh content in your feed all season long. Myself, Greg Rosenthal and an all star cast of co hosts will preview and recap every game all season long. Josh Allen coming off an MVP season.

[Unidentified NFL Daily Play-by-Play Announcer]

And now lateral to Allen and reaching for the pylon. Are you kidding me? It's a touchdown. Have you ever seen that one before?

[Greg Rosenthal]

Form rookies making a name for themselves.

[Unidentified NFL Daily Play-by-Play Announcer]

A bulldozer. He is bouncing off defenders and drag down.

[Greg Rosenthal]

And of course, the Eagles trying to win another Lombardi.

[Bobby Bones]

What a game, what a season, what a team.

[Lorenzo Alexander]

Eagles fans savor it and rejoice.

[Greg Rosenthal]

Listen to NFL daily on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[Matt Castle]

Up next, Lorenzo Alexander. What's your favorite part of his story?

[Bobby Bones]

I love the fact that he was a grinder. I mean he was undrafted, bounced around early in his career on practice squads, was looking for the right fit, but finally made it and it was because he was willing to do anything. If you see it like he played defensive line, they said he played offensive line at times. He played linebacker and just kept at it. And a lot of guys at some at one point or another, they're finally like, okay, this probably not going to work out, but he just kept at it and eventually became a Pro Bowler. It's, it's an incredible story.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah, his best year was when he was 33. He had 12 and a half sacks. You're just now 33. Imagine that.

[Bobby Bones]

How about that? Thank you. I feel so much younger today than I actually am.

[Matt Castle]

He's a two time Pro Bowler. Here he is. He is also now the Arizona Cardinals analyst for the radio there. Oh wow.

[Bobby Bones]

I gotta ask him about Monty. Awesome for it, my boy, the gm. Oh yeah.

[Matt Castle]

I didn't know who that was. Yeah, I can't even act Educated on that. I don't know Monty Austin for it.

[Bobby Bones]

He lived here. He was with Tennessee before, and we're really close family friends. Oh, so.

[Matt Castle]

So if we wanted to go to a game, you could be like 100.

[Bobby Bones]

I've been to a game. And he even has a.

[Matt Castle]

Okay, stop flexing. It's a non stop flex.

[Bobby Bones]

So much fun.

[Matt Castle]

All right, here he is, Lorenzo Alexander.

[Bobby Bones]

We were.

[Matt Castle]

We were hyping you up before you came on. I mean, we were. We were going about your story like you'd have loved it. I wish you could have been here. It's like when someone goes, why couldn't you eulogize me when I was alive? Like, we were just. We were selling you big time. So. First question I want to ask you, Lorenzo, is like, why did you keep on? Because you. A lot of people Matt Castle was just talking about in his career, he had seen guys that played for a few years and maybe didn't catch on quite yet, but that we both really admire the fact that you kept at it.

[Lorenzo Alexander]

Well, I mean, to be honest, I thought about quitting early on too, and it really wasn't that long. When I look back, you know, retrospect, you know, my first year, I got cut and was on practice squad with the Carolina Panthers. And that second year, I was with the Washington Redskins at the time, the Commanders. But it really came down to my mom and my uncle that encouraged me to keep pushing through it. Because at the beginning of my second year in the NFL, I had gotten cut, had done a couple of workouts, and I was like, man, I ain't doing this, man. I went to Cal. I can go be a lawyer or something else, right? I got this great education. But, you know, being told you're not good enough or we don't want you is not something I want to continue to put myself in front of. Really, my mom and my Uncle Steve that really encouraged me to keep pushing through. And then, you know, God, really making a way for me. You know, my workout with Washington, I actually didn't get chosen. My man, Alex Guerrero, who's. Who's now a business in sports, business world, doing really well for himself. He actually pulled his hamstring in that workout, and then they ended up going with me because he was injured. And so that's how I even got an opportunity with Washington, right? Showing what I could do in practice squad, being a hard worker, taking every. Every single rep I possibly could now. And that's not. That's not me exaggerating by any means when I Say, every single rep in practice, special teams, defense, offensive look. And that's how I started playing all these different positions, based on what they saw there. So my uncle pushed me. God opened up a door, and then I walked through it and went all out because I'd been cut. I had to be humble in some ways, had to grow up in a lot of ways, and I didn't look back after that.

[Bobby Bones]

Can you talk to us about that mindset? Because obviously you're undrafted, and when you come in as an undrafted free agent, so to speak, you got to earn your way and earn your keep. But the mentality of after getting cut and doing all those things, of how you just continued to grind and finally got that opportunity and seize that.

[Lorenzo Alexander]

Yeah. You know, I don't think people really understand what the NFL is until you're in it. Right. And I think most of us grew up being that dude, being him, you know, as a young kid, say, or my son would say, he calls himself Hemothy. And it's really hard. It's a shock to the system, Right. It's very humbling in a lot of ways. And I think at that point, you really have to look internal and say, hey, why did I start doing this? What is my dream? What is my passion? Right? When I was in the backyard or out at the park, it never was a, I want to be this starting player. I want to play in the NFL. And so for me, it was about shifting my mindset and figuring out where I could get in, where could I fill a void, and where can I feel a niche, a niche at and. And push through, because I knew I was capable. I just had to make some. Some tweaks to who I was as a person, young person in that time, Right. And all that entails of what they tell your professional athlete, how you should act and what you should be doing in terms of being off the field. Had to make some maturity decisions there and grow up. But I always knew I belonged. It was just about getting the right choice. Because you mentioned being undrafted, right? My rookie year, they drafted another D tackle ahead of me, actually a D tackle and a defensive end, Javon Hay and ATI Ellison. And I remember overhearing a conversation like, hey, we gotta keep this dude because we drafted him. Right? And so it wasn't even necessarily something that I could do or change. And so it wasn't until I got with my man Chris Draft, who came on later in Carolina and told me, hey, man, just worry about the things you can control. And once I had that shift, it really allowed me to go out there and be free, not count numbers, not worried about what somebody else was doing, because I had no control over that. I just had to go out and showcase who I was. And by doing that, playing the game wholeheartedly, I got my opportunity, you know, after making a tackle with my helmet, when my helmet came off, and that really gave me a lot of love back in, like, what was that? 2007 Playing Tennessee Titans in the preseason.

[Matt Castle]

I have to assume that you chose to be versatile like, that you felt like for me to survive, I need to make my versatility known. So what is the conversation with a coach going, hey, I want to be on special teams? Do you have that conversation or they come to you?

[Lorenzo Alexander]

No, you have that conversation with the coach. And for me, you know, when I first came in the league, people don't remember this because it was a long time ago, and I was. I had almost two different careers. I was a D tackle. So I was, you know, 6, 1, 6 2, as I like to say. And I was at my heaviest, 315 pounds, right? That's not a special teams body, right? Back then, you could get away with being in the wedge, and that was probably about it. And so I really had to change my body over the course of the years. I think I started covering kicks when I was like 285, so kickoffs and punts and then really working my way in there. But I had to beg Danny Smith. You know, I was a D tackle. I didn't really have a shot at playing any of the core special teams, but I used to go and sit in every single meeting, knew all the stuff. Hey, Danny, man, when you gonna give me a shot? Hey, Danny, when you gonna give me a shot? I had to almost beg for him and let him know that I wanted to get out there. And so I advocated for myself. I showed. I did all the work, and when I got my opportunity to get exposure, I went out there, covered a kick and made some plays. I remember my man, Mike Sellers, got hurt in 2008. We went back home, played Oakland, and he got hurt that week. So I feel him for punt. And if you know any special teams coaches, they don't like just putting people in their own punt because too many things can happen. Got my opportunity because of an injury, once again, had four tackles on special teams in my hometown on punt coverage, so. And that was really, I think, the birth of what I was able to do there on special teams and really showcase my ability. But it really started Back in high school, I went to a small high school and I had to play everything, you know, kickoff and offensive line, defensive line, some linebackers, some running back at times. And so it was in there and it was just, you know, it was a great precursor to what I would be able to do in the NFL when I got that opportunity.

[Bobby Bones]

Lorenzo, how validating was it when you were called and told that you made the Pro Bowl? Obviously you were a two time Pro Bowler, but that first one's pretty unique, I'm guessing, because I remember my own experience. I teared up, but I was like, it's just validation. But especially with the road that you went down.

[Lorenzo Alexander]

Yeah, it was dope, man. It was, you know, you're waiting for that call all day. It was actually probably a couple of years, you know, overdue. They always say you go in late and stay a year too long or whatnot, because just special teamers, they just take one person from each, each conference. And so it was definitely overwhelming experience. It was really cool because, and I would say more so now is really hearing about guys, you know, that respected the way you played the game more so than the accolades. But that was. That that experience was really cool because I thought it, you know, it kind of validated me. It was coming out 2012, I was also becoming a free agent. So it all kind of happened at the right time as far as taking my game to a Pro bowl level.

[Matt Castle]

You ended your career in Buffalo. How cold was that?

[Lorenzo Alexander]

Hey, I live in Phoenix, Arizona right now, the hottest place in America. So that should tell you right there, right? It was the coldest place I've ever been. You know, I grew up in Oakland, west coast through and through, and I, I can't even describe how cold that first year was, but it was all worth it. I mean, that's one some of the coolest fans and coolest people I've ever been around in terms of, you know, this really making you feel like football is family and it's a community sport. Right. It really felt more like college going, going up there, but it was cold and that's why I don't live there.

[Bobby Bones]

You're now doing some. You're covering the team, the Arizona Cardinals. So I think about the Arizona Cardinals, I'm thinking about Kyler Murray, and he's had somewhat of an up and down career. What are the expectations for him this year?

[Lorenzo Alexander]

I think it's to take another step forward. Right. I think in a lot of ways his career is in, you know, a little bit of a flux. It's like a flux year. I think if he goes out in A and plays really well, he'll be here for a long time. But I think if he has some struggles and his team underperforms again, there may be some transition there. But I like to think that he's going to take that next step. Right. You know, and I think you have to kind of cut his career in half like before the knee tear and after the knee tear. I think after the knee tear, hanging out with Buddy Morrison as he went through his rehab. And if you know Buddy Morrison any bit, he's been around the league, in the league a long time. This dude is old school Pittsburgh through and through, blue collar. And I think a lot of that rubbed off on Kyler during that recovery process. And so this is his third year in this offense with that new mentality. And each year he's gotten progressively better from a leadership standpoint, maturity standpoint, and that's why I think this year he's going to make another breakthrough and be able to finish a season off strong. He's always been good through the first 10 to 12 weeks, right. They. They kind of fall off towards the end, but I think this is the year they do it. And for him it's. It's almost like that Josh Allen effect where Josh used to try to do too much for him. It's also the same knowing when I just need to, hey man, let me just throw this ball out of bounds. Especially with the defense they got now, let's just punt this thing away. Instead of throwing a pick or a pick six like we saw in Seattle last year in the fourth quarter of the game. And it. Not that that lost you the game, but that puts you in a real bad position to win the game. Right. And so I think that's where I see him evolving the most this year. Along with Marvin Harri. Harrison Jr. Taking another step, bigger, stronger. We saw a couple of good catches from him. If he ascends his game and makes some of those 50, 50 catches for Kyler along with the rest of the offense. When you think about Trey Benson, McBride, they're going to be really good, I think, offensively this year and give some people some issues.

[Matt Castle]

You mentioned Marvin Harrison Jr. That's where I was going to go next. And you know, I. Rookie expectations are always weird because every situation is different, every organization is different, every quarterback is different. Throwing to you if you're a wide receiver, right? And I think him coming out of Ohio State, they were ready for him to beat that dude immediately and he wasn't. Now that's not his fault. It could have been his fault. There are a myriad of factors at play here. Where is the growth with him this year?

[Lorenzo Alexander]

I think for him is just the confidence in being in it. Right. And you could be grow up around the game, right. With his dad and seeing it from afar. But hey, it's. You still weren't the dude that was out there on the field playing the game. And so you have to experience it for yourself and really gain that confidence and make it your own. And I think his thing is going to be obviously got bigger and stronger this year. As you can see from all these photos of him walking around ripped up. But from him, I think it's just going to be the mental side of the side adjust running around and not being mentally drained by the time the ball gets to him to where he may not catch it. So this year in the preseason he had a couple opportunities and you could see him catching the ball and attacking the ball much better with his hands, as we all expected he would this year. And I think that's just because he's not thinking as much, because he knows it, he's reacting, he's playing fast and fluid. And so I, I just off of just that alone, I think his numbers or his impact, because his numbers when you look at it as a rookie, weren't horrible, but the consistency from game to game, I think that's where you're going to see the biggest jump, where he is a vital threat and an option for this offense to rely on week in and week out.

[Bobby Bones]

Monty Austin for the gm, they went strong in the draft on the defensive side of the ball. Which rookie do you anticipate having the biggest impact for this team this year? On that side of the ball. Wow.

[Lorenzo Alexander]

I mean they got a lot of great guys. I think Will Johnson on the outside, you know, with the defensive line, I think he's going to benefit from that defensive line. The guys, they got Josh Sweat, Calais Campbell coming back, D Rob stepping up in a mid of other guys that they got Zavin, just some guys in that front that are going to cause a lot of tips and overthrows that he's going to be able to go out there and make ball Hawk a little bit because that's what they really need on that back end at the corners to really step their game up. So that's what I'm looking at. And you know Monty, you talk about Monty, he's done a really great job over these last three years. Really Identifying great talent, but great human beings, guys that understand that how to be a pro, how to come in and work and learn through failure and grow. And then you can see the identity of this football team really becoming more like a Buddha Baker where, you know, four or five years ago it was just like, man, it's Buddha. And then everybody else, there's a lot more Buddha like players on this team. And you're going to definitely see that, I think, come into real effect this year across the board. But in particular as a rookie with Will Johnson.

[Matt Castle]

What do you think of the new kickoff rule?

[Lorenzo Alexander]

I hate that they call it dynamic. I'm like, what, what were we doing back in the day? Then we had to cover that thing and actually have to run through, you know, big double teams. Was that not dynamic? But, you know, I like it in, in the sense of they're trying to find ways to keep it a part of the game because there's a lot of guys like me that made their name on special teams. In particular kickoff that allowed me to work while I waited and not be out of the league. Right. And so if, if they took the game completely out and do a my era, I would become more expendable and never become evolved into the player that I did later in my career. And so I love that they're trying to find ways because it is an exciting play. It is an opportunity for guys that are fighting for roster spots to earn a spot on that team and then grow into the player. And you can still go out there and get some big time tackles. Special team. So I like it. I like the way they're trying to figure out ways to make people return it and make it a cool play to see. And I think last year they had, I don't know, probably a handful, if not more of returns. And I think that's also exciting for the game, for special teams.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, the Titans actually went out, they were one of the worst special teams in all of football last year. But they hired Coach Fassel and he's one of the best to ever do it. Do you think that the hiring of a special teams coach is just as important as any offensive or defensive coordinator in the league?

[Lorenzo Alexander]

Yeah. And you'll see it from team to team. I mean, when you think about like the Baltimore Ravens, right. And how they play special teams throughout the years, the Pittsburgh Steelers with that Danny Smith. There's guys, as you just mentioned, that are big time stakeholders in the special teams world of that phase of the game. And that's because they coach it well, you, it's the biggest time that you have transition of field position. Right. And then you're, you find little nuances where you can take advantage of the rules or take advantage of some type of technique to give your team the advantage. So I think it's always as long as they continue to allow to be part of the game, it's definitely going to be something that teams try to find to get that, that, that, that additional advantage as far as matchups or scheme wise in terms of winning the game in, in the field position. Right. Because if I have better field position, that means I'm gonna probably score more points or if I can back teams up or flip the field, that means my defense is going to be pretty good as well. Because it's really hard for teams to drive the length of the field. So coaches understand that even though fans don't always love it as much or love those guys up as much, it's still a really critical part of the game that impacts winning or losing because you're dealing with field, field positions.

[Matt Castle]

You mentioned transitioning there, but also want to talk about transitioning from the league to back to, you know, just, you know, citizen, like regular person. I know you're working with the NFL Legends community, like what was the transition like to normal person? Because I think that will be kind of weird to go from your identity as football your whole life and now all of a sudden you're a normal person. And then what's been a real rewarding thing about working with the NFL?

[Lorenzo Alexander]

Well, I think I've always been a normal person. I've never allowed myself to completely see myself as just a football player. It's a part of who I am. It's one of the things that I've been gifted to be able to do at a high level. But there's a lot of different things that I'm able to do. I coach now. I, you know, I do some analyst stuff and guys have a array of talents. And to your point, I think the biggest thing is guys get caught up in the football because there's nothing like it and there's nothing that ever can replace it because I can go out there and do a great job and call a great play, you know, on 3rd and 12 and we execute and score a touchdown to win a little league championship. I'm not going to have 50,000 people applaud me and looking to get my autograph. And that's what guys get tied up in. Right. And so you have to figure out what your joy is away from the game. And that's really what I help the Legends community do. And trying to help guys A what you did was special. You're more than this game. You have other assets. And right in this game has actually helped you cultivate a character that you can go and be just as productive in other places. Because most people aren't built like you. Right. And so I say I'm a regular person, but I would say most student athletes or sports are. Athletes are built differently and rightfully so. Because your job isn't online every single day. Right. You don't have to compete for it every single day. You don't get cut like I did for no reason. Right. There's normally a process to that and sports is very unique where you get simulated adversely daily. And we all have come to find out, right. If you have the right perspective, you can grow through that failure exponentially better than someone that just has a regular 9 to 5 that's just showing up to work and not really about losing their job. And so I always encourage my guys, use that skill set that you have, that leadership ability, that ability to make transitions and pivots on the move, the ability to handle pressure to perform. Use that in whatever else you're passionate about and you'll work your way up and find yourself once again in a leadership type role in that new aspect of life. So that's what I do. And for me, that process was somewhat seamless because I got to choose to walk away from the game unlike a lot of people do. You know, I was year 15 and I actually said I don't want no more deals or no contracts. I'm ready to transition, to spend more time with my family, which I think helped me in that process. Even though it's still been hard at times. Just because you do miss you miss more of the people that camaraderie, that common goal and really doing something that you love at the highest level.

[Matt Castle]

On Instagram. LorenzoJohn Looking forward to the season and hope you have a good season with the Cardinals this year. Calling the games, analyzing, analyzing.

[Bobby Bones]

Analyzing. Yeah, just go out there, analyze, analyze again. You ever find it difficult to talk bad about players or you're over that?

[Lorenzo Alexander]

Yeah, yeah, I do. Because you know how hard it is, right? And you got a lot of respect for what they do. Unless they just being a jerk about it and not doing, being a professional, then I'll criticize that. But try to always keep things in context and put things in perspective. Yes, that's a bad play, but this is all the things that led to that. So, you know, that's what I wanted people to do for me because I don't know the call, I don't know what the coach is coaching. All I can do is base guests on what I, I think it should be and always approach it from that mentality. So yeah, I try to be respectful of the guys grind.

[Matt Castle]

Lorenzo, we appreciate the time. Thank you very much.

[Lorenzo Alexander]

Yeah, I appreciate you too.

[Matt Castle]

Thanks, man.

[Bobby Bones]

Thanks, Lorenzo.

[Greg Rosenthal]

Football is back. That's right. The new NFL season is here. And you should be listening to NFL Daily as we march along to Super Bowl 60. This is a show for sickos like me. NFL Daily is your kind of show. It's in the name NFL Daily. You'll have fresh content in your feed all season long. Myself, Greg Rosenthal and an all star cast of co hosts will preview and recap every game all season long. Josh Allen coming off an MVP season.

[Unidentified NFL Daily Play-by-Play Announcer]

And now lateral to Allen and reaching for the pylon. Are you kidding me? It's a touchdown. Have you ever, never seen that one before?

[Greg Rosenthal]

Rookies making a name for themselves.

[Unidentified NFL Daily Play-by-Play Announcer]

He is bouncing off defenders and drag down.

[Greg Rosenthal]

And of course, the Eagles trying to win another Lombardi.

[Bobby Bones]

What a game. What a season, what a team.

[Lorenzo Alexander]

Eagles fans savor it and rejoice.

[Greg Rosenthal]

Listen to NFL daily on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast guests.

[Marcus Grant]

I'm Marcus Grant.

[Michael F. Florio]

And I'm Michael F. Florio, and together we host the NFL Fantasy Football podcast.

[Marcus Grant]

Fantasy Season is here. And the question is, are you ready to dominate your league?

[Michael F. Florio]

Because if you're not locked in with us, the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast, you're already playing from behind.

[Marcus Grant]

Every episode, we're breaking down the biggest fantasy headlines, injury updates you need before kickoff and match you can exploit to bury your competition.

[Michael F. Florio]

We're talking sleeper picks, breakout stars, and the players you can't afford to bench.

[Marcus Grant]

Whether it's rookies making noise or veterans keeping their value, we cover it all.

[Michael F. Florio]

Whether you're drafting for the first time or chasing another championship, we'll give you.

[Marcus Grant]

The edge, the insight and the confidence to make every move count.

[Michael F. Florio]

Weekly analysis, hot takes, and insider knowledge all in one place.

[Marcus Grant]

So what's it going to be? Another just okay season or total fantasy domination? Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Matt Castle]

Okay, let's run down the games real quick. So Thursday night, tomorrow night, Cowboys and Eagles. Eagles over a touchdown.

[Bobby Bones]

Favorite over a touchdown.

[Matt Castle]

Seven and a half.

[Bobby Bones]

Wow.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah, we'll just go straight up. So no spreads. I'll mention it. But pick your winner. Cowboys. Eagles.

[Bobby Bones]

Eagles.

[Matt Castle]

I'm gonna, I'm gonna go and go with the Cowboys.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. I like it. I like it.

[Matt Castle]

Everybody zigs. I'm gonna zag.

[Bobby Bones]

It's, let's zag.

[Matt Castle]

My style.

[Bobby Bones]

My whole opposite.

[Matt Castle]

Chiefs at Chargers. But they're in Brazil.

[Bobby Bones]

I know. That adds such a weird dynamic because the trout, it's. Where, where is it? San Juan or something like that? Sao Paulo. Yep. That's what I meant.

[Matt Castle]

I wouldn't have known.

[Bobby Bones]

That's brutal travel to get down there. Remember the last time they went down, Wasn't it Mexico, where, like, the field was coming up and then the guys had lasers and shooting it into the quarterback's eyes?

[Matt Castle]

Yep.

[Bobby Bones]

That was crazy.

[Matt Castle]

That showbiz baby, in Mexico.

[Bobby Bones]

And yeah, this is, it's going to be interesting because it'll also be interesting to see how the teams deal with the travel and all that stuff. But it should be a heck of a game because I think the Chargers are better.

[Matt Castle]

They're what? What?

[Bobby Bones]

Los Angeles Chargers.

[Matt Castle]

You think they're better than the Chiefs?

[Bobby Bones]

No, I think that they're better this year than they were last year. I don't see better than the Chiefs. I'm sorry. You said better.

[Matt Castle]

You didn't say anything at the end.

[Bobby Bones]

Well, I meant better this year.

[Matt Castle]

Got it. I was hicking up on my spit.

[Bobby Bones]

What did you say?

[Matt Castle]

What? They still may win. Who knows? I, I, I'm picking the Chiefs to win the super bowl this year. Not. That's a crazy pick. But the Chiefs have kind of fallen out of like, like, oh, they're sexy. They're not sexy anymore. To me, they're sexy.

[Bobby Bones]

They're the hated team because they keep winning. People don't like winners. They want to give themselves a chance. But with that leadership and Patrick Mahomes and everybody else, they're coming back hungry. Yeah, I'd say that's a pretty damn good pick.

[Matt Castle]

Big year for Kelsey, too. I'm going to say it. Then he walks out. Big year for Kelsey.

[Bobby Bones]

He's going to.

[Matt Castle]

He's going to have a big year because he knows people. If he doesn't, he knows it's all going to be about. About he sucks because Taylor Swift is making it.

[Bobby Bones]

He got engaged.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah. He's gotta, like, fight for Taylor's honor now because if he does not perform, it's gonna be her fault.

[Bobby Bones]

Yes.

[Matt Castle]

So play for Taylor's honor.

[Bobby Bones]

Play for her.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Go out there do you love her or not?

[Matt Castle]

You love her.

[Unidentified NFL Daily Play-by-Play Announcer]

Play for Taylor.

[Bobby Bones]

It's not about the ring, it's about how you play.

[Matt Castle]

They're gonna be blaming Taylor if you don't play. Well, Take the Chiefs.

[Bobby Bones]

So true.

[Matt Castle]

Taking the Chiefs.

[Bobby Bones]

I'm gonna take the Chiefs.

[Matt Castle]

Raiders. The Patriots.

[Bobby Bones]

Ooh, Raiders. Patriots.

[Matt Castle]

Now an improved Raiders, but they are at the Patriots. What's interesting though is there wasn't a game before. I think that takes a little out of playing on the road and like fatigue.

[Bobby Bones]

Right.

[Matt Castle]

I mean, if you're. If you played an away game or you just played a game and then you have to travel, that's a bit different than your first game of the year on the road.

[Bobby Bones]

Right, Right. And plus, it's what. It's a one o' clock game.

[Matt Castle]

I don't have time.

[Bobby Bones]

That's going to be an early morning game, I would think, for Oakland. Going out there. Sorry. Las Vegas. Going out there. Because when anytime a team travels west coast to east coast and you've got an early early game, that's a brutal time change for them. They're. They're getting up playing at 10am basically their time. So I'm gonna go with the Patriots.

[Matt Castle]

Patriots, Bucks and Falcons. That's interesting at least. What the Bucks and Falcons.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. I still think the Bucks are going to win.

[Matt Castle]

I agree. But I think the Bucks. I think the Bucks are going to be really good.

[Bobby Bones]

I think they're going to be really good.

[Matt Castle]

I think the Falcons are going to be improved.

[Bobby Bones]

Definitely improved. I'm interested to see Pennx come out.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

You know, in his first full season starting as well because he, he had some flashes at the end of last year that gave you hope that this kid could be the real deal.

[Matt Castle]

And I've drafted Kyle Pitts every single year of his entire career and I refuse to not draft him.

[Bobby Bones]

I drafted him last year. It wasn't.

[Matt Castle]

No, it's never good.

[Bobby Bones]

It was never good. It's never what I was hoping for.

[Matt Castle]

I think he's still only like 25 or 26 years old is what's crazy. Bengals at Browns. I mean, that's the Bengals walking away, right? Dolphins at Colts.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. That's not. Not a super sexy game.

[Matt Castle]

I think Tyler Warren's gonna be awesome.

[Bobby Bones]

Oh, he is gonna be awesome.

[Matt Castle]

I think he's gonna be awesome for the Colts.

[Lorenzo Alexander]

He.

[Matt Castle]

First of all, he did everything at Penn State. Like he ran the ball, he caught the ball. He. I think he's going to be that he is going to thrive in Indianapolis.

[Bobby Bones]

He reminds me of like Dallas Clark, like bring your lunch pail. Gonna go out, do whatever you asked me to do. Can block at the in line to the scrimmage. Can also go out and be a huge contributor in the pass game. I think he's going to be super effective as a. As a pro.

[Matt Castle]

Let's roll through some of these others. Cardinals at Saints.

[Bobby Bones]

Cardinals at Saints. I'm going with the Cardinals.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah. Did the Saints even have a team? They have enough for a team. They can play seven man. This year.

[Bobby Bones]

Keller Moore is coaching there. Speaking of.

[Matt Castle]

Good point. I wonder. I wonder if they're going to fill the team. Steelers at Jets. It's Aaron Rodgers first game as a.

[Bobby Bones]

Steelers going back to the jets with a coach that did not want him. Had him fly out there. Remember that?

[Matt Castle]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Whole conversation flew out there for a five minute conversation to say, basically we are not going to have you come back. Yeah. He's got a little something for him.

[Matt Castle]

Have you seen the Clips? Been practicing. He looks very slow, but I think he just doesn't care and is not going fast on purpose.

[Bobby Bones]

He doesn't have to be fast. He just has to rip that ball and throw it to DK Metcalf and he'll be all right.

[Matt Castle]

Right. Giants at Commanders.

[Bobby Bones]

Giants at Commanders. Gonna go with the Commanders.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah, me too. McLaren signed.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. I do think the Giants are going to be really good defensively though.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah, they should. They should like sack two quarterbacks at the same time. They have so many pass rushers and.

[Bobby Bones]

Then they bring in Abdul Carter. I mean, they should have.

[Matt Castle]

They should sack the quarterback and the second string quarterback on the bench at the same time. They have that kind of pass.

[Bobby Bones]

They've got like three first runners. Tibeto, you got Lawrence. Right. And then you got Abdul Carter. Brian Burns. Brian Burns.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Dude.

[Matt Castle]

Who we were next to him. We went to the Panthers training camp.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Matt Castle]

Last year.

[Bobby Bones]

Your favorite team, right? Oh, my.

[Matt Castle]

I haven't. Haven't picked yet.

[Bobby Bones]

I know.

[Matt Castle]

Have two teams left, The Panthers and the Broncos. I know, but Burns is a. And listen, they're all men.

[Bobby Bones]

No, dude.

[Matt Castle]

Burns is a dude.

[Bobby Bones]

He's a dude.

[Matt Castle]

Panthers at Jaguars.

[Bobby Bones]

Panthers at Jaguar.

[Matt Castle]

Jags are a three point favorite. I'm going with the Panthers. I'm expecting pretty big things.

[Bobby Bones]

Are you? I'm going with Jacksonville.

[Matt Castle]

Hater. Titans at Broncos.

[Bobby Bones]

Titans at Broncos. Oh, gosh. It's really hard for me not to pick the Broncos, so I'm gonna pick the Broncos. Bonex second year. You know, they got a lot more going for them right now.

[Matt Castle]

Over a touchdown favorite. Only two games over seven points. It's that one. And the Eagles over the Cowboys. Wow. 49ers at Seahawks.

[Bobby Bones]

That should be a really good game.

[Matt Castle]

The Niners. Hawks.

[Bobby Bones]

Huh?

[Matt Castle]

Niners and Seahawks.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Sam Darnold first. First time out there as a Seahawk.

[Matt Castle]

Oh, Coopy cup is up there too.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. Coop, I'm gonna go with Seahawks with the upset. Are they favored?

[Matt Castle]

No, they're not. The Niners are two and a half. I'm gonna. That's interesting. Brock Purdy's getting paid for the first time.

[Bobby Bones]

Yep.

[Matt Castle]

That'll be fun.

[Bobby Bones]

The lost Debo Samoa.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah. Yeah, he's in Washington now.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Matt Castle]

Christian McCaffrey. They say he's. He's ready. He's fully healthy. He did not. I don't think he played any in preseason. But they're also missing, like Jennings isn't going to play. Ayuk is still out. Yep.

[Bobby Bones]

So I feel pretty good about my pick.

[Matt Castle]

Three more games. Lions at Packers. That's a good one. These last three games are all like pretty premier games, right? Lions at packers at Packers.

[Bobby Bones]

I'm going to go with the Packers. Lions been through a lot of changes, both coordinators, but they're still super talented. Yeah, I'm still going with the Packers. I just think that they're gonna be at home. Got talented team.

[Matt Castle]

Me too. Yeah, I think golden. It's gonna be interesting. First round pick.

[Bobby Bones]

How much impact does he have right away?

[Matt Castle]

Like. Yeah, because we talked about Marvin Harrison Jr. Earlier and like he was one that everybody expected to really show out out and didn't really have the year that was expected. And then a guy like Malik Neighbors who was a beast obviously at lsu but didn't really have a quarterback, so he didn't know what he was going to do and still showed out like crazy.

[Bobby Bones]

Showed out like crazy.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah. So it'll be interesting to me to see what happens in Green Bay. Texans at Rams.

[Bobby Bones]

Ooh, Texans. Rams.

[Matt Castle]

If Stafford is healthy.

[Bobby Bones]

Stafford. I'm going with Stafford.

[Matt Castle]

If Stafford is healthy, they may go to the Super Bowl.

[Bobby Bones]

Right. And Houston had redid their whole offensive line, everything. Their defense is going to be good now, but I think the Rams, after watching them last year in the playoffs, if Stafford's healthy and they brought in. What's his name, wide receiver.

[Matt Castle]

Devonte Adams. Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Oh, and they brought in Devonte Adams next to Puka Nakua. I mean, they're going to have a team and a squad. I think the Rams are going to be really good. So I'm Going with the Rams.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah. If Stafford's back works.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Matt Castle]

I don't know. I don't know.

[Bobby Bones]

He's had a back issue since I was with him in 2018, where the guy just manages. I've never seen anybody play through more pain than Matt Safford.

[Matt Castle]

You know what he needs one of those chairs from the airport that, like, rub your back.

[Bobby Bones]

Oh, man.

[Matt Castle]

Why does he so good that, like, 350 bucks.

[Bobby Bones]

Do you ever get embarrassed, though? Do you ever get embarrassed when you sit? Have you ever sat in one at an airport? Oh, you probably travel private, but, I mean, us normal folk, you can Google your salary, bro. You go sit there and I'll sit there and I'll just see these people walking by me and of kind of staring at me. I'm like, I know I'm a big guy, but this feels great right now. I'm going to pay that $5 for 25 minutes.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah. Except sometimes I'll pay the $5 for 25 minutes and it hurts. But I don't want to get out because I just paid five bucks.

[Bobby Bones]

No.

[Matt Castle]

So I just sit there and take the punishment of the. The chair.

[Bobby Bones]

Or you'll sit next to somebody that has to like. Oh, like moan. And you're like, okay, all right. That's enough out of you.

[Matt Castle]

Week 1 Super Bowl Ravens at Bill.

[Bobby Bones]

That should be.

[Matt Castle]

That's a good one. That's almost too good for week one. That's Texas, Ohio State, Week one.

[Bobby Bones]

It's so good. Oh, man. I'm going with. Dude, give me Josh Allen, reigning mvp, to go out there and light it up.

[Matt Castle]

I'm going Baltimore.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. I don't think either one of those picks. What's the spread on that one?

[Matt Castle]

One and a half.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. I hate the half that they always put on there.

[Matt Castle]

Well, yeah. In case there's a. Yeah, God forbid they.

[Bobby Bones]

By a point.

[Matt Castle]

A tie. Okay, so there's that. Looking forward to it. Finally.

[Bobby Bones]

Finally.

[Matt Castle]

It feels like football's already been here because, well, you're on NBC. Did you know that?

[Bobby Bones]

I was.

[Matt Castle]

This guy's on NBC.

[Bobby Bones]

Worked out.

[Matt Castle]

And so, you know, we had a week, but now we're ready. NFL. Let's go.

[Bobby Bones]

Let's go.

[Matt Castle]

I got a couple other things. Second of all, I'd like to say happy birthday to your daughter.

[Bobby Bones]

I would like to say happy birthday to my little Lily. Sweet girls. Eight years old today. My youngest is eight. That makes me feel older, but at the same time.

[Matt Castle]

Time.

[Bobby Bones]

I mean, it's. She. She's a amazing young lady.

[Matt Castle]

Will she hear this 100.

[Bobby Bones]

Because I'm gonna play it for her.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah. Happy birthday.

[Bobby Bones]

Happy birthday, young lady.

[Matt Castle]

Eight years old.

[Bobby Bones]

Eight years old.

[Matt Castle]

Dang. I remember when.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. I've only got a few more years before she just doesn't want to hug and like. Dad, don't. Don't embarrass me. I'm gonna just.

[Matt Castle]

That's how I am with you. Every day here. I'm like, don't.

[Bobby Bones]

No.

[Matt Castle]

Because you are a hugger.

[Bobby Bones]

I'm a hugger.

[Matt Castle]

Every day.

[Bobby Bones]

Every day I say this.

[Matt Castle]

You have loving fellow people are like, what's. What's Matt Castle like? I'm like, every time I see him, he hugs me. Every single time.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. And you try to all the time walk in and he walks right to. Right down that line, tries to avoid me like a plague. Will come sit in his chair, and I'll come up and I'll look him in his eyes like, what's up, buddy?

[Matt Castle]

You're like, what'd you say today? I just want to touch. I like to touch.

[Bobby Bones]

I'm a touch. I'm a touchy feeling kind of.

[Matt Castle]

Dude, touchy guy.

[Bobby Bones]

Come on.

[Matt Castle]

Happy birthday, Lily. That's. That's awesome.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Matt Castle]

Well, what. What about usc? Do you. Are you following or know? Not yet.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, they had a great outing. I mean, they scored like 65 points, so they didn't play anybody, but at the same time, they look talented. I hope Lincoln Riley goes out there and just dominates. I mean, last year they lost five games. Four of those games they had the lead in the fourth quarter, late in the fourth quarter, ended up losing. So they could have easily been a 10 win team, but they weren't. So if they can put it all together, I mean, they've got enough talent to go out and win. And I think they're due.

[Matt Castle]

We're playing Arkansas State. We've never played Arkansas State. State. It's a in state rivalry, which we don't need to play the game. We should.

[Bobby Bones]

Is it really a rivalry if you've never played them?

[Matt Castle]

No, it's not. We shouldn't play the game. And secondly, we play them in Little Rock at a crappy old stadium.

[Bobby Bones]

Fantastic.

[Matt Castle]

It's. It's a nightmare. We should win.

[Bobby Bones]

Are you going?

[Matt Castle]

No, I'm gonna go. Probably the next week we play at Ole Miss.

[Bobby Bones]

Oh, that would be good.

[Matt Castle]

And then I gotta go to a music festival and work after that. But then the week after that, Notre Dame's coming to Arkansas, so I'm going to that one.

[Bobby Bones]

Let's go.

[Matt Castle]

Never Been. Notre Dame's never been. Been.

[Bobby Bones]

I was gonna say, I don't. This.

[Matt Castle]

You mean you don't remember the storied Arkansas Notre Dame matchup?

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. The rivalry yester year taking place forever.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah. So that's what's up. Hope you guys have a good weekend. I got a haircut. About to go get one.

[Bobby Bones]

Why? Your hair looks great.

[Matt Castle]

It's a little long. I got a bunch of press I got to do tomorrow, so I got to go cut my hair.

[Bobby Bones]

Oh, what are we pressing for?

[Matt Castle]

Just guesting on a lot of podcasts in Chicago. So I'm going to do like five hours just going from one show.

[Bobby Bones]

Oh, my gosh. Good for you. Thank God I'm not going to be there.

[Matt Castle]

Got to promote this show. Show.

[Bobby Bones]

You're definitely promoting. Probably something else.

[Matt Castle]

No, no, I wanted them. I'm promoting this show for sure.

[Bobby Bones]

Your autobiography.

[Matt Castle]

No, I'm doing the. The first show I'm doing is mostly sports on barstool.

[Bobby Bones]

Oh, barstool. Let's go.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah. So I'll be promoting this show.

[Bobby Bones]

Did you see Dave Portnoy? Okay.

[Matt Castle]

When he came out cutting the wrestling promo? I mean, out of the. Out of the hole. It was awesome.

[Bobby Bones]

I mean, how about when he walked up on stage and just took off his sweater and just. Shut up. Shut up. I was like, what is going on right now?

[Matt Castle]

It was excellent.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. That's exactly what he wanted.

[Matt Castle]

Let me ask you an honest question before we leave.

[Bobby Bones]

Okay.

[Matt Castle]

When you get a haircut.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Matt Castle]

Do you go somewhere?

[Bobby Bones]

I do. Like, instead of having somebody come to my house.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Or have my wife cut my hair.

[Matt Castle]

Well, I don't know if your wife.

[Bobby Bones]

Normal humans go to a barbershop.

[Matt Castle]

No, I'm just asking about you. You're not a normal human. You act like you're just Mr. Joe Schmo.

[Bobby Bones]

I go to 4010 Barbershop, bro. Right there.

[Matt Castle]

There. Just asking.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. In Green Hills.

[Matt Castle]

That's all.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. Go in there and say, can you make sure that you.

[Matt Castle]

There's nothing about you that's normal. You're a very nice guy, but you.

[Bobby Bones]

Cut my hair, so it doesn't, you know, cover up that bald spot.

[Matt Castle]

You're a tall, good looking, ex pro athlete. Like, nothing about you is normal.

[Bobby Bones]

So when I ask, that's totally normal.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Matt Castle]

You're the one. I know.

[Bobby Bones]

You're the one. I know. So who's coming over the house to cut your hair then?

[Matt Castle]

She's already up there. She's already up.

[Bobby Bones]

Been with her for years. She has her Own salon, but will come to my house.

[Matt Castle]

Accurate, accurate.

[Bobby Bones]

I know it is.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

But she. You definitely pay for what you get.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. How much is a haircut for you?

[Bobby Bones]

I think it's 45 for the haircut. It's pretty. I mean, back in the day you could get like.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah, 12 bucks.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, 12 bucks. I used to go to other cuts where you pay probably $10, but it looks like you went to other cuts. Not super cuts. It was like a random one.

[Matt Castle]

One.

[Bobby Bones]

And now I've stepped my game up a little bit. You know, these guys know what they're doing.

[Matt Castle]

Looks good, huh?

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. I always wear a hat.

[Matt Castle]

I know. All right, we're out on Bobby Jones. He is pro athlete extraordinaire, Mr. NBC. Be sure to watch him this weekend.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. As you will be this week at Michigan State. Well, you just up in Michigan, just.

[Matt Castle]

One after the other.

[Bobby Bones]

Hey, I'm not complaining. That's an hour flight. I'm taking that cuz we, we got to go like Oregon this year.

[Matt Castle]

Oh, that's a flight. I love it out there, but that's.

[Bobby Bones]

That's a trek. Yeah. Get out there to Eugene. It's not easy.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah, it's tough.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Matt Castle]

Yeah. Have a good weekend. That's awesome. We'll be looking for you on NBC. The guys on NBC kickoff. Kevin, Brandon, Ray.

[Bobby Bones]

I'm Bobby Bones.

[Matt Castle]

We'll see you next week. We've had lots to say. Goodbye, everybody. Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle is a production of the NFL and iHeart podcasts. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Greg Rosenthal]

When you have a kid, the only bowl that matters is the one in the bathroom. Yes, we mean their trip to the toilet bowl. Introducing a new team player from Dude Wipes. Little Dude Wipes. The flushable wet wipe for kids. Like the original, they're also free of chemical binders and alcohol so you can protect your little player's end zone with the safest clean possible. And the best part, Little Dude Wipes. Come fragrance free or in bubblegum scent for your little stinker. Gentle enough for little cheeks and strong enough for toddler streaks. Made with a hundred percent plant based natural fibers. Available exclusively at Walmart nationwide. Football is back. That's right. The new NFL season is here and you should be listening to NFL Daily as we march along to Super Bowl 60. It's in the name NFL Daily so you'll have fresh content in your feed all season long. Join me, Greg Rosenthal, in an All Star cast, a co host for previews and recaps of every single game. NFL Daily will keep you up to date with everything you need to know so you can sound smarter than all your friends. Listen to NFL daily on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Marcus Grant]

I'm Marcus Grant.

[Michael F. Florio]

And I'm Michael F. Florio, and together we host the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast.

[Marcus Grant]

Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season?

[Michael F. Florio]

Then you need the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast, your ultimate source for player news, draft tips, and winning strategies.

[Marcus Grant]

Whether you're a rookie manager or a.

[Michael F. Florio]

Fantasy vet, we've got the insight to help you crush your opponents.

[Marcus Grant]

Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Matt Castle]

This is an iHeart podcast.