B (3:24)

It's fun anytime to be a sports fan. I mean, our jobs are so silly. Speaking of silly, it's our traditional NFL off season mailbag episode. So we get a lot of questions throughout the year and then especially once the season is over. So Matt Mitchell's been going through the mailbag and, and compiling them. We're going to look at them today. If you ever have any questions for us, you can always DM me and Simon at the various socials. You could also just email producer Matt Mitchell anytime, sharp or square gmail dot com. We love to hear from you. We love answering questions. We love interacting with, with the folks who are listening and watching. Obvious one, everyone's been talking about it for the past 48 hours. I mean, this is, this is what's crazy about media. There is, it's like there is no rest, there is no celebration. I was flying back on Monday from where I was back to Connecticut and I had a layover and I'm sitting in one of the lounges and they got first take on and I swear to God, Cam Newton and Ryan Clark and Dan Orlofsky were doing first take from Disneyland and they like, they look like they were going to throw down about who were the better quarterbacks than Sam Darnold in the nfc. Ryan Clark looked like he was about to cry about it. Cam Newton was, was apoplectic about it. Dan Orlofsky was literally standing up. And I'm thinking to myself, you guys just can't care that much about who you're saying are better quarterbacks in the NFC than Sam Darnold right now, who 12 hours earlier had won the freaking super bowl for one of the best postseason performances we've ever seen. The voice of reason on the show, the only person who was calm was Stephen A. Smith. That was it. Everyone else was losing their Stephen A. Smith was like, guys, guys, this is what it is. This is why Dak Prescott can't be listed as A better quarterback than Sam Darnold right now in the nfc. My point for all this is I'm. I've given it some grace. We like to celebrate. But now it's Thursday. It's time to start talking about NFL season futures. Super Bowl 601 odds at hard Rock Bat right now, the Los Angeles Rams, the Seattle Seahawks, The Buffalo Bills at plus 1100. The Rams and the Seahawks are both at plus 900. Those are the shortest odds right now. The Ravens plus looks like 1300. Packers plus 1400 Eagles Simon, they're a plus 1400. Have you looked at any of these yet? Have you given any serious thought to these yet?

A (6:50)

Not really. Like, I did put a single bet on the Chiefs because I booked did hang them at 15 to 1 and it's like, all right, can't. I can't walk by that number and not bet it. Even though I really do think the Chiefs feel like they might be in the middle of a, of a little bit of a rebuild here because they haven't drafted too great. But the coaching they have and the quarterback, I just feel like if they, if any team can find a way, we know it's them. And at 15 to 1, I know Pat's coming off a serious injury here, but that one felt too egregious. And yeah, for long shots, I'm already 0 for 1 this year. I said it was kind of a fun bet to throw a flyer on Cleveland at like 15 or 150 to 1. They've only gotten worse. Yeah, Jim Schwartz is out the building. It's all bad there. So that I'm definitely moving off that position jumped out to me. Our Guy Shuck125 to 1 Saints for Super Bowl. I thought that was a little bit of interesting. And The Panthers are 110 to 1. I thought that was a little interesting. So the NFC south, they're just the two teams that popped out to me right away. And I know some pros who have bet the Giants at 70 to 1. I don't feel like that's good enough odds. I feel like I need 80 or 90 to 1 to betting on dart to stay healthy for a whole season with a new coaching staff and horrible. So I if people want to know what pros have taken a position on, I know a couple pros who've taken a position on the Giants. Not so much these other long shots I've talked about.

B (8:20)

I'm glad you're bringing that up there. You just mentioned a couple things that are in the questions that people have been asking us about and we're going to get to it in a second. One is about the Chiefs. One is about coaches that were on, coaches that were off. Harbaugh, Monkin, there's other coaches. You know, Michael Floor just signed with Arizona, Clint Kubiak going to the Raiders. Like there's a lot of, a lot of new names and old names and new places that we're going to get to look. You've got the two AFC south teams, the Texans and the Jags at 20 to 1. The Bears 22 to 1. I won't get sucked in with the Bengals. I won't get sucked in with the Colts. I won't get sucked in with the Chargers. I'm lions curious at 15 to 1. Like if their defense ever stays healthy, they, they've got a new offensive coordinator. That's intriguing to me. I'm looking for second year coaches. I should reframe that because I probably will get sucked in with the Jaguars. I like the second year coaches who I think had proven in that first year they understand how to build a system and they showed improvement over the course of the year. The Jaguars had that. Can you get over Trevor Lawrence? The Texans have shown it. Can you get over C.J. stroud? The Broncos? Can you get over Bo Nix? I'm curious why you didn't mention any of those three teams all at 20 to 1.

A (10:02)

I just don't like the value. They're all so clustered and I just with those type of teams I have a feeling if one of them start owing to I get way better value and that's, that's what I'll be picking because this year the books have simply said we have no idea. Right. Usually year we have a team that's plus 500 plus 400 odds on super bowl favorite. The Seahawks are double that. They're plus 800. Like that's really telling by the books about how wide open everything is. So you know, I talk all the time, I'm wide open about what I look for with people and how what's been great and beneficial to me long term where I find success in winning. Offensive line, defensive line it is. If I'm making a Super bowl future bed right now, if I only can make one bet, you must pick a team that either has a dominant offensive line or a dominant well known defensive line and sounds very lazy and boring. It's held true. It feels like almost every year. I mean you could say the Patriots are a little fluky. They'd have a great offensive line. I think they had a pretty dominant defensive line in many ways. Right?

B (11:03)

They had a really good defensive line. And by the way, you're. Let me just reiterate your point. Last year it was the Eagles dominant offensive line, dominant defensive line. This year, the Seahawks dominant offensive line, dominant defensive line. When the Chiefs were winning, they had a really good defensive line. Like that's not.

A (11:25)

You have their hall of Famer on your offensive now in the Bears, Joe.

B (11:29)

Tunney, offensive lineman of the year.

A (11:31)

Yeah, exactly. So it's like that's. It sounds like I'm being a dead horse here, people. But look for that, that's something that the general population, they still overlook it. They don't realize how important it is and they're just all blinded by the big names. Right? Like I was honestly tempted to take, you know, Josh Allen 11, 1121 right now. Like that's very tempting. This guy is the best. He played on a broken foot. If he didn't have a meltdown in that Denver game, they could have easily won the super bowl this year. Like he would have gave real problems to that Seahawks defense. His running style and his deep arm ability. Like you saw the Seahawks, their real Achilles was being beat downfield on certain type of passes. That's why Stafford could rip them. Right? Those two tight end sets, they dominated the Seahawks. Guess who runs a ton of two tight end sets? The Bills. So right, you're looking for an AFC team that could challenge a Seahawks team. The bill's gotta be up there. The only reason I'm not giving them out is just. It doesn't feel like it's enough value here for me. Like if. If they had an established number one receiver, that feels like good odds to me. But without a number one receiver I can truly trust still, which I think is something they'll address. I don't know if I can be putting money on. On money on the. On the Bills yet.

B (12:44)

Well, that look that leads directly into the second question from our fans, which is we've got 10 new head coaches in the NFL this upcoming season of those 10 situations. And I'll read them. Let's pick two we love and two we hate. Arizona Cardinals, Mike LaFleur, previously with the Rams. Falcons, Kevin Stefanski, previously with the Browns. Baltimore Ravens Jesse Minter. Buffalo Bills Joe Brady. Cleveland Browns Todd Monkin. Clint Kubiak. Coming from the Seahawks to the Raiders, Jeff Halfley. Going from the packers to the Dolphins. John Harbaugh. From the Ravens to The Giants, Mike McCarthy, from the Cowboys to the Steelers. And then Robert Sala. To the Titans. I've got it.

A (13:41)

Who I hate. I, I, I just.

B (13:44)

Hold on. I was gonna say one thing.

A (13:46)

Sure.

B (13:48)

I've got a counter take on, on the one I hate the most.

A (13:52)

That's why you stopped me. Jesus Christ, Chad. Yeah, for the two I hate. I mean, I don't know how anyone has confidence in Arizona or Miami. Those feel like total tear down rebuilds. How do you have faith in two? He's just regressed every year. His head injuries, his body's breaking down and Kyler's got ex teammates telling jets ownership, do not bring this guy in. This guy does not love football, does not care about football. He's a bad teammate. So nightmare, nightmare, nightmare. If I was an Arizona Miami fan, I just, I don't see a future, especially in their division. So I, I feel bad for them. And you know, I guess Todd Monk is a horrible hire too. By the Cleveland. But for just, if we're going just two, I would say Arizona, Miami, that just feels like total lost causes.

B (14:37)

You ready for my take? I'm not a John Harbaugh guy.

A (14:44)

That's fair. I mean he's someone, someone said he's a better looking Mike McCarthy, which I totally agree with. It's like we, we hype him up because they won a Super bowl years and years and years ago and that's carried them now for 15 years. So I agree with you. He's a little overrated.

B (15:00)

I think he'll improve the culture. I think he'll make them better players. I think he'll keep them in more games. I, clearly we have never been that impressed with his decision making in the game. More importantly, his offenses are pretty unimaginative, meaning he doesn't go out and hire guys that inspire a ton of confidence. And, and we saw that with the Ravens. I mean he's had the, the single greatest weapon in the NFL for almost a decade. A guy has won multiple MVPs. And consistently in the playoffs they will do the exact opposite thing of what they need to do to win those games. And then he'll come out and defend the offensive coordinator in the play. Calling to the point where it's, it's reportedly one of the reasons why he left is they wanted him to fire Todd Monken and he wouldn't do it. So I'm just, I'm not a hardball guy. I'm not, I'm not that much of a believer. I actually think Mike McCarthy to the Steelers is more interesting. But the one that I love is Clint Kubiak. To the Raiders. I mean, we saw it all season and we saw a lot of it in the Super Bowl. The guy was a magnificent play caller and took a very good talent in Sam Darnold and put him in positions to succeed. He's going to have Brock Bowers with the Raiders. He's going to have Ashton Genti with the Raiders. He's going to have Colton Miller, who missed most of the year as an offensive lineman for the Raiders, their best offensive lineman. He's going to have him back, and then they're going to get Fernando. Now, I'm not being crazy irrational about what I think a rookie quarterback can do, but I do think if there's going to be any rookie quarterback who can marry with what Kubiak did. We saw a really, really good comp with Sam Darnold. So I like. I like that choice. It gives it a little bit of shine and momentum in Las Vegas.

A (17:02)

Yeah. For me, I'll go with mentor to the Ravens.

B (17:05)

Love it.

A (17:06)

I think they're trying to correct the errors of their ways, which is letting Mike McDaniels walk out that door. And, you know, they know.

B (17:15)

You mean Mike McDonald.

A (17:16)

Mike McDonald, yes. They let one of the best defensive minds walk out that door. And Minter, you expect he is going to be that type of guy, right? Like, he's going to be this great defensive mind that can come in and set up that franchise now defensively, because that's what's been missing with the Ravens, right? They just. The last two years, their defense has been subpar since he left. And, you know, midterm might come in and totally change that, which is what they need. And, you know, if. If it is over for Lamar, right, If he does get banged up again next year, and he did, they just can't rely on him. Once again, he's. He's just inconsistent. You know, that's the kind of coach you want to be in there evaluating quarterbacks going forward because obviously this guy knows quarterbacks because he's such a great defensive mind. So I did really like that hire by the Ravens. And again, I like the hire because of how much I hate it. I'm gonna go with Mike McCarthy. I. I hate the hire times a thousand. I can't believe they're going from Tomlin to McCarthy. So I have a history when I hate hires. Usually that's a great hire by that organization. So I'm gonna go the other way on it. Where? Pittsburgh. They've been so great at hiring these coaches. Who am I to doubt them? And question them. I did not understand that hiring at all. And I know he's a local guy and he absolutely loves Pittsburgh and he grew up rooting for them and all that noise. But this, this to me was bizarre. I mentor, I thought would go to Pittsburgh. That to me felt like a Pittsburgh guy. A young, smart, defensive mind come in and be the coach there for 20 years. Instead they went with a McCarthy, a journeyman. Now at this point, yeah, bizarre, bizarre, bizarre, bizarre hiring. Especially the fact that after Rogers leaves, now you're having Mike McCarthy evaluate your quarterback and he's gonna be the guy that's dictating your next quarterback. So I don't know where you're at with that one, but again, I like it because how much I hate it.

B (19:06)

So my two favorites were Kubiak and Minter. Full stop. Super excited about those. My, my second tier was Salah to the Titans. Stefanski intrigues me. Joe Brady feels uninspired and like the leftovers in Buffalo, for some reason they couldn't get anything better. I don't know what the situation is there. I agree with you about McCarthy and the Steelers. They have always been a team that goes out and gets a super young talent. Chuck no, Bill Cower, Mike Tomlin and then that person is in the job for 20 years. That's obviously not going to be Mike McCarthy at 62 years old or whatever it is. So it was interesting to me that they sort of went away from that. But the flip side is I do think he's a really good offensive coach and we've seen what he can do when he has a semblance of a competent quarterback. And I think they're playing, I think they expect Aaron Rodgers to come back. I think they want to get as much juice out of the can is the end of that era with that defense and this is going to give them the best opportunity to do it. I also think there is no one's ever going to stop going to Steelers games. But there are rumblings on that from that fan base about how unimaginative the offense has been and that it's been super hard to watch these games. And with McCarthy at least you're getting a little bit more creativity and a little bit more offensive expertise. So I don't hate it. It's not in line with what they've done historically. It's not a forward thinking, here's our future for the next 20 years coach, but I don't hate it. He's been a good coach and he's won in A lot of play. He's won a lot of games.

A (20:50)

That's fair. I'm again, I'm super negative and down on him where I look at all the stuff he does in the playoffs. Chad's talking about how imaginative he is offensively. His offenses have always laid an egg in the playoffs between Aaron Rodgers, Dak.

B (21:06)

John Harbaugh.

A (21:08)

Yeah, that's fair. But I don't know if Horrible is involved in the offense like McCarthy is. Like we're talking here and Pittsburgh fans, I get it. Being.500 every year and losing the first round of playoffs probably got old, right? It's. It was a long run. You guys might have, after this McCarthy run, four or five years, bottom of the barrels, you might become the Browns now. You might be 3 and 14, 4 and 15 every year. Like again. I, I get why you need to change. I am worried about the way this Pittsburgh organization is going right now. So yeah, it's. I'm with you. I feel like the two best hires, definitely Raiders and the Ravens. They knocked out the park. Qbac. Excited to see what you can do with Fernando Mendoza.

B (21:50)

Simon, it's like you're a professional podcaster because you just mentioned Cleveland and one of the questions what team is currently in the worst overall situation? Arizona, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns. I think it's got to be the Jets. I think. I think with Leflore in Arizona, you're getting a guy who's got a really good pedigree and you've got a fresh start. And even if you do try to figure out how to get rid of Kyler, you got your Kobe Brissette there, there's some semblance of something and you've got optimism. I think in Cleveland, terrible situation. It's. It's on par with the jets, but you still got an elite defense and if Todd Monken can figure something out, you'll be in some games. I think the New York jets are poisonous. I think it's one of the worst organizations in sports. I think they're desperate. I think they're grasping. I think they don't really know what they're doing. I think players don't want to play there. I think their ownership is sour and their quarterback room right now is Justin Fields and I forgot who else? Tyrod Taylor.

A (23:14)

It doesn't matter.

B (23:15)

It doesn't matter. Like, and no. And. And they're not really in a position to get a good quarterback because it's not a front loaded quarterback. Draft. No.

A (23:24)

This is a horrible draft. Again, no disrespect for name Mendoza in a normal draft here it's. He's no, by no means a slam dunk number one.

B (23:33)

Right.

A (23:33)

Like he is not that. But I don't know how you don't pick Arizona. They're in a division with right now the three best top. With top five coaches in the NFL. And Shanahan, McVeigh and McDaniels.

B (23:48)

McDonald.

A (23:49)

McDonald. I don't know what they can do. I. I just don't know how Arizona can get out of this. It's so bad. And you know, they didn't make the right move going from Rosen obviously to Kyler, but that was a bust and it set him back. It's been a waste of six, seven years.

B (24:06)

Yeah.

A (24:06)

Now they're have to do that once again.

B (24:08)

Six, seven.

A (24:09)

So yeah, it's. It's a nightmare. Like we just said there. The. I just can't get over how good their division is in the coaches where the Jets. I don't know if as bad as it is for them, there is an avenue where they can get. They have all this draft capital now. They can get the coach, they can get the quarterback the next three, four years and change this thing. I don't see how Arizona does that next three, four years. I don't know if a quarterback or the right coach can fix that team because that division is just so brutal. Fluky things happen. Can they steal division? Sure. But them being consistent. Like we've talked about the Seattle Seahawks and you know them and the Eagles right now in the nfc, they're the two teams that have now won multiple Super Bowls in the last 10 years. Like they're the cream of the crop. The NFC where the AFC has just been so dominated by the Chiefs and the Patriots. It's just hard for me to see like, I don't know, the jets, the jets thing I'm with you on. But Arizona, of all the teams, I just, I feel the most hope is just lost on that right now, which I just, I don't want to beat them while they're down. I. I know they're the. The biggest losing organization in the history of the NFL, but my God, their ownership is just so bad.

B (25:18)

Their ownership is terrible. By the way, the bid wells, you know how they made other money?

A (25:25)

I do. I forget.

B (25:27)

Gambling.

A (25:28)

Right.

B (25:29)

Owned racetracks in Chicago. They worked closely with Al Capone. Very closely with Al Capone, and then ended up buying the Cardinals for like 500 bucks on some deal on a yacht that the Bidwell patriarch owned and he bought the Chicago Cardinals. Today's show is brought to you by our presenting sponsor, Hard Rock Bet, Florida's Sportsbook. I know it's tough with no football, but like the song says, I bet I will survive. With Hard Rock Bet, there's always something to bet on every night. Hoops, hockey and so much more. Plus all the great same game parlay, live betting and player prop options you're used to. If you haven't signed up with Hard Rock Bet yet, there's never been a better time. New signups can double their winnings on their first 10 bets max $50 that's right. If you would have won a hundred bucks on your bet, make that 200. The hard rock Bet Sportsbook app is the only legal sports book for whenever you're in Florida, and it's also live in Arizona, Ohio, New Jersey, Indiana, Tennessee, Virginia, Illinois, Colorado and Michigan. Coming soon to more states too. Plus, Hard Rock Bet offers new promos daily, so whenever you're listening, just open the app and check out what you've got. Any day of the week, download the Hard Rock Vet app and make your first deposit. Offered by the Seminole Tribe of Florida in Florida. Offered by Seminole Hard Rock Digital, LLC in all other states. Must be 21 or over and physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee or Virginia to play. Terms and conditions apply. Concerned about gambling in Florida? Call 1833 playwise in Indiana, if you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants I'll call 1-809 with it gambling problem, call 1-800- gambler Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia. Couple personal questions. One more football question. You know, Ben Solak put out an article this morning on ESPN.com about free agent QBs. We were just talking about the Cardinals. Daniel Jones, Malik Willis, Gardner, Minshew Card, Kirk Cousins may be released. Kyler Murray is potentially available. TUA is potentially available. Nothing here feels exciting to me. The only one that feels remotely exciting that I'd be interested if my team got him and didn't have a quarterback, I guess is Malik Willis. But you just said it about Kyler 2 was pretty ineffective unless it was Mike McDaniels coaching him. So it feels like a desperation moment if you don't have a quarterback.

A (28:24)

Yeah, like the Sam Darnold experiment obviously worked. But if Sam, he had won 14.

B (28:31)

Games the year before, like he had shown some potential. Sure.

A (28:35)

But honestly though, if you put Sam Darnold on the Arizona Cardinals this year, they win five games, he was not great this year and like that. That played out right. He had the most turnovers in the league. So they went to a super conservative offense. That's what the big change was for them. And you know, the playoffs. He really didn't need to do much of the 49ers game. He was all world in the Rams game. That's why we give him so much credit. And then he wasn't so great in the Super Bowl. And that to me, that is right aligned with a. A guy from. You could rank him from number 12 to number 20. Like he is in that range of quarterback where on the right day, Sam Darnold can be a top five guy. On the wrong day, he can be a bottom 25 guy. And you're going to get a mixed bag with Sam Darnold. What's been consistent for him is he's had two years now where the Vikings had a top three defense and then Seattle had a top three defense. And if you're a team, you know, we've talked about it in Minnesota that has a good defense with a great defensive mind. And Flores, go out there, get a Mac Jones, go out there and get him a leak like give. Go get someone to challenge JJ because you. You got your number one receiver coming out there and just on the kid. And now they've unfollowed each other on social media and it's like that's a whole can of worms, right? You. You do need to. If you're the Vikings, go out there, the new gm, they bring in and go get a guy that we've just talked about. Go trade for Mac. Because Mac has one year left on his deal in the 49ers. Go make a deal, fourth round or whatever you need to do. Go get him. Same for Malik. Like I just. We both saw like he changed going from Tennessee to Green Bay. Like you design an offense around him. We're using his legs, rolling them outside the pocket. He is a weapon now. Can he hold up? I would say it's not looking great. Where he basically had limited snaps and he's taken. Had multiple little injuries and those little limited snaps. So I'm with you, Chad. There's not much out there. Like there's. That's. And that's normal, right? There's. It's rarely anything out there. That's why Pittsburgh, they were fighting over Aaron Rodgers. That's how dark it was last year. So yeah, it's Sam Darn a very unique situation. And that was, you know, something that I wish I'd taken advantage of. I know we had fans reach out. They Bet I believe 60 to 1 in the Seahawks when Gina Smith was still their quarterback. So you just never know.

B (30:50)

You just never know. Bill Murray said in stripes. You just never know. Simon, we talked about this on Tuesday. You happily trolled all the Patriots fans with all their takes and all their chirping from the super bowl next season. They have a, a first place schedule. You assume Drake may will be healthy. Well, Campbell will be healthy. They'll still have the same coaching staff. What is your prediction for next year when they have their first place schedule?

A (31:28)

I, I would obviously expect the major aggression and we've also seen the super bowl hangover. Yeah, is very real.

B (31:34)

Especially the losing team. Especially team.

A (31:36)

Especially. Yeah, like the, the teams that can get away with it. They usually had Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes and that was it. Any other team that didn't have those two guys usually have total meltdowns in season. And last year you saw that the Chiefs had their meltdown of season the first time ever. And what is it? It was a year after they lost the Super Bowl. So you know, I was being gracious saying they could maybe get the 500, maybe become the seventh seed next year just because the schedule is so brutal, like even going through it. I mean they play your division, Chad. Like your division is not easy by any metric. So yeah, if you're the Patriots and I'm a fan of their team, I be over the moon. You have a 23 year old quarterback, almost one MVP. You have two really good coaches, McDaniels and obviously we know Variable is a genius. And yeah, when I look at their team and I say, well, they have $60 million in cap to spend. If Kraft's not cheap and spends that money, spend some on the offensive line, spend some more either on the D line or a linebacker, they could easily win their division again. But we just, I think we're both on the same page. We expect major regression. So I'm excited to see what the books hang their total at. I feel like a nine and a half would be right. But if it opens anything above that, if it opens at 10. Hammer. Hammer. Hammer that under.

B (32:55)

I wouldn't be surprised if they open a ten and a half given the hype, you know, just wouldn't. It wouldn't surprise me. All right, those are our questions. Today we're going to have more. As a reminder, we'll have new episodes of Sharper Square Tuesday, Thursday during the NFL season. Except. Except the last week of February. We're all taken one week off. This has been Sharper Square, part of the Volume Podcast Network. Watch or listen on YouTube at Sharper Square like this video. Subscribe to the channel. Download us from Spotify, Apple Pods whenever you get your pods rate, review, subscribe, leave us. Five stars. Say whatever you want. Feedback is gift until Tuesday. Love you.

A (33:38)

Regulators, mount up.

B (33:40)

We're coming.

A (33:46)

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.