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- [00:00]
Jason Whitlock
This is an iHeart podcast.
- [00:04]
Producer/Announcer
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- [02:25]
Jason Whitlock
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Producer/Announcer
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- [02:40]
Jason Whitlock
Age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void in Ontario, bonus bets expire seven days after issuance. For additional gaming resources, see dkng Co Audio.
- [02:52]
Producer/Announcer
Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio and noon to 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the herd@foxsportsradio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Thanks for listening to the Heard podcast.
- [03:14]
Jason Whitlock
Welcome back. I've known Jeff Schwartz for a minute, done a lot of stuff on the gambling front with him here at Fox. Let's bring in Jeff Schwartz, NFL veteran, Fox Sports analyst. Can we call him a college football guru? Do you like guru or. I, I just like tossing that around. It sounds cool.
- [03:33]
Jeff Schwartz
I don't know if I'm a guru. I'm good at it. Specifically wagering on like west coast teams a couple years now.
- [03:39]
Jason Whitlock
Yeah.
- [03:40]
Jeff Schwartz
So like, I don't know if that's a guru, but I, I do. I'm good at one specific thing when it comes to gambling, which is wagering on, on, on Cal and Oregon State. The, the, the, the games no one's paying attention to.
- [03:50]
Jason Whitlock
My buddy who graduated from Cal said they're going to be awful this year. I guess they lost everybody.
- [03:54]
Jeff Schwartz
Oh, I have their under. I have their under buddy. It's going to be a rough year for, for the Cal Bears.
- [03:59]
Jason Whitlock
The Cal Bears. Berserkley will not be berserk. All right, let's get started. Obviously, Texas, Ohio State. Jeff, it is a big one. We're on opposite sides here. I think this is a slam dunk winner, but the line's going in the opposite direction. I got it at two and a half. I'm seeing two one and a half in some spots here on a Monday morning. Where are you in Buckeyes vs. Longhorns?
- [04:23]
Jeff Schwartz
So I think a couple of things that we don't do very well when covering this sport is talk about quarterbacks basically starting for the first time. And there are a lot of quarterbacks making their first starts in week one and week two and week three. Right. As we continue to go forth and oh, how's it has a new quarterback, Jason, that does matter a lot tack on today. New offensive coordinator, a new defensive coordinator, a new offensive line coach, new running backs. They have one new wide receiver. Right. New offensive lineman. It's a lot of new in week one, Jason. A lot of new look at the defensive side of the ball. Some new pass rush here, some new linebackers. Now Ohasse has the two best players, maybe an older sport in Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs. So like they have that going for them. But There's a lot of new there. There's a little bit less new at Texas. I know Archmani has not played a ton of football, but he has played some football like he has played in college football. He will not be intimidated by the environment in week one. Texas also has to replace some players as well, as does every team. And some of those are offensive linemen and wide receivers and skill position guys that are important guys on defense as well. I think it's a very low scoring game. I think both offenses are really going to struggle to move the ball at times in this game. But I give a little bit to Texas of having a quarterback that has played, has experience, a coach obviously start that's won a lot. So is Ryan Day. Of course, like there's no real coaching mismatch here except the fact that Ohio State does have new coordinators. That does matter in these games in the big game week one. So I lean ever slightly to, to, to text. I missed obviously the best of number now, but I like the undervalue more than anything in this game.
- [05:54]
Jason Whitlock
Interesting. So speaking of new, the Longhorns have four, I believe four new offensive linemen this year, which could be a problem against Ohio State. I that's a good point on the newness for the Buckeyes. What about the home field advantage? Do you think that plays a big factor? Obviously Fox will be there. It's going to get a huge number. It's going to be a scene there.
- [06:13]
Jeff Schwartz
What a weekend, by the way. What a great weekend of ball. I, I don't know if Ohio State has the home field advantage other places. Do you know it's very tough to win there. I know people say, well they've lost only X amount of games in a number of years. Well, they're typically the better team as well. Very rarely do teams come in there and are competitive with them because they're just not good enough. Oregon obviously won a few years ago. Michigan's won there recently as well. I mean they don't have a lot of teams like Texas that come in there. And Ohio State fans routinely complain about these, these early kickoffs and the environment for early kickoffs versus obviously a later game when people might have a couple more adult beverages and feel a little bit more inclined to cheer. And I don't know if, I don't if the students are in quite yet for a game like this. So I don't know if it's quite the same home field as other places. But it's a road game, it's going to Be loud. I mean, Texas will have to prepare, as you mentioned, new offensive linemen for a hostile road environment.
- [07:03]
Jason Whitlock
So this is a tough question. I'm going to be blunt. Do we know if Arch Manning is good? We know he has a 5 star last name, but is he maybe a 3 star player? Let's be real. If you remove the last name, have we seen anything from Arch Manning unable to beat out a seventh round pick in Quinn Ewers. Like, I mean, Steve Spurrier said it, I'm not breaking new ground here, but yeah. Do we know if he's good?
- [07:30]
Jeff Schwartz
I don't think we know if he's good yet. And that's okay. So 100 passes in college football, there are certainly people that evaluate quarterbacks who think he's very good and they are the traits there that he has shown at certain times that are high level traits. And of course, traits have to be something that we see happen often. Look, you're showing the plays now. He has made big throws, he's made big runs. They put him into games and situations where you think to yourself, maybe I'm surprised he's in this, you know, in that spot. He's shown those abilities. Now, of course, it's different when teams have watched film on you all year, when teams have seen you play four or five, six games, when you're on the road with new offensive linemen, the potential is all there. I think it's too early to say yes or no, but look, if, if there, if he did, if he does come out in this draft, people already mocking him to be at the top of the draft. I know it's not the be all end all, but there's certainly a lot of talent there. He has to live up to it now when he gets to play on Saturday.
- [08:24]
Jason Whitlock
All right, I'm not bashing him, but I'm just pointing out some facts. So those highlights largely were against utsa, Colorado State, Ulm mostly in backup duty. Okay, for whatever reason, he barely played against Georgia, 3 of 6 for 19 yards in the regular season. Did not play in the SEC title game, did not play against Clemson, did not play against Ohio State. And, and I, I mean, sorry, did not throw a pass. He was on the field, but he didn't really play one carry. What is that about? If he's so good, why didn't he play more?
- [09:00]
Jeff Schwartz
Look, I think there, there used to be the thought process that you just wait on young guys to play, but there's no rush for these guys. Texas had a draftable quarterback, right? A Guy who was thought to be obviously a little better than where he was drafted ahead of him. And they're winning a lot of football games and so there's no need to rush Arch Manning to possibly lose Quinn Ewers to the portal, I think to one more all time. So I think, look, I'm fine with quarterbacks waiting. I mean, there's a lot of places around the country that had quarterbacks wait that might end up being better than the players that they're replacing at some point. This was a natural. Look, Texas made a playoff two years in a row, so they're not doing it, you know, to spite basically winning that they had a winning quarterback. And now it's Archer's turn to wait. And now it's your turn to play.
- [09:50]
Jason Whitlock
All right, let's go to the Miami Notre Dame matchup. I. I also loaded up on the Irish in this one.
- [09:56]
Jeff Schwartz
Wow.
- [09:56]
Jason Whitlock
Kind of risky. I know. I think I got two and a half. I. I just. I know there's some questions about the quarterback play, but I'm a huge Marcus Freeman fan. I think he's, you know, one of the sharper coaches in college football. I like them. I. I'm not a believer in Carson Beck. I bought. I drank the Kool Aid last year before the season and then he kind of. I know he's enjoying the nil money and all the trappings of fame and the ladies in Miami, but I mean, do you think Carson Beck is. Is. Are you back on the. Hey, man, he's an NFL quarterback or I need to see more.
- [10:25]
Jeff Schwartz
Oh, man. So this game is in Miami, right? I'm right on that. I have that right side neutral site game. I, I am just allergic to taking like a quarterback making his first start on the road in a top 10 opponent. I. That is bold, buddy. I think Miami is pretty good this season. The years of recruiting have finally come to fruition, especially in the offensive defensive line for Mario. Obviously, what Marcus Freeman did last year was fantastic, but I think Miami at this stage right now with the quarterback, with their returning players, and in this situation is probably better at the moment. I think that maybe week 10, once cars play a little bit more, we'll know a little bit more about him and whether or not the offense functions quite like it did last season. But that to me is. That's a bold. That's a bold spot to beat. I'd rather have my money on Miami. I think the under is certainly in play in this game as well, where it's a physical game. It's a run the ball game. We know with, with love and what Mark Cristobal wants to do in Miami, that that's certainly a part of the game, but I think I'm allergic to taking new quarterbacks on the road against top 10 teams in week one.
- [11:34]
Jason Whitlock
Yeah, the game is in Miami. You are correct. Should be a good one. And then, you know, one of the other bets I made this was Clemson to go undefeated in the regular season. I have been bashing Dabo here. Dabo, whatever you, however you want to say it here on the show for several months, maybe even a year now because he's been allergic to the portal. He kind of changed his tune a little bit. And Bruce Feldman, Fox's finest, has convinced me that they have a lot of NFL talent on that defense. So I want Clemson to go undefeated regular season. I don't think they win the national championship. Your thoughts on the Tigers?
- [12:08]
Jeff Schwartz
Well, my, my bare bets co host Chris Felica thinks we're crazy for liking Clemson so much. Him and Bruce went out on the show. I love Clemson as well, Jason. I mean look, if you check the boxes for things that you want in teams, right, you would say veteran offense with a returning quarterback who has high level talent. Check. Right. Offensive line much improved this year. Check. The returning production is, by the way, number one in the country in offense. Defensively, right. A bunch of defensive linemen go to the NFL. Check the box. Look, Dabo, we all have laughed at him over the years for not adapting sooner to the landscape of college football. Well, he did, Jason. He finally did okay. He adapted and the team is better for it now. Their schedule is set up very well. They have a couple tough games. I think Georgia Tech is a sneaky, really good team in the acc. Their team have over seven half wins. They play them early in the season. They obviously play lsu. I think they beat LSU and cover in week one and their schedule does set up pretty well for them. They have stumbled over the years though. They've been one of the teams that, you know, can be upset, which does worry me for a perfect season. But if they were 12 and O to end the season number one, the country would not surprise me whatsoever.
- [13:13]
Jason Whitlock
All right, let's do one NFL one or two NFL real quick. I see the Giants helmet behind you. A lot of excitement for the G men. I mean, listen, Jackson dart. Oh boy, what a dominant preseason. I know Abdul Carter is wrecking everyone, which is understandable. But are you buying this hype about the Giants or are they going to be, you know, a Five and a half win team that Vegas says they are.
- [13:34]
Jeff Schwartz
Well, the numbers come down for week one. I see it's by six now. It was, I think it was seven or even seven and a half at one point. No, I'm not, I'm not a buyer in this. We have to treat the preseason like it is. It's the preseason. There are things to take away from the preseason and there's certainly things I've taken away from the preseason. But to change your mind at a win total over to me is kind of ludicrous. Under. Sure. Like you go to some quarterback rooms right now and I'm like, I'm out in those quarterback rooms. Dart's not going to play for at least the first month, I would imagine. So everything that you saw about him being good is great. Great start. Don't get me wrong, great start. He's not going to play. So if you're basing your idea on their success based off Jackson Darth, he's not going to see the field for probably a month or longer. Their schedule, Jason, is so difficult. It's commanders, I believe it's Cowboys, then Chargers, Chief Saints and then a combination of like Eagles, Broncos, Bears. It's hellacious schedule and so they might be better as a team and I really think they are better. Their defense is going to be good. Their offense line is healthier. Mike Neighbors hopefully is healthy. That's a big loss if he. If he can't be healthy this season. Quarterback certainly better than last season. But the schedule is so difficult and it might not matter how better they are this season. So I'm not buying the hype. I have them under five and a half wins. I would not be surprised if things went sideways early on. They went to dart and just sort of worked their way through a rookie playing this season.
- [14:55]
Jason Whitlock
All right, final question. I see the Kansas City Chiefs helmet behind you. I am public enemy number one in and around the franchise. I'm curious, do you believe that they can they still have a Runway to win more Super Bowls here this year or get back to a Super Bowl.
- [15:11]
Jeff Schwartz
Okay, so I told you, taking away from the preseason, you know, be careful doing it.
- [15:15]
Jason Whitlock
Oh, yeah. Oh, and three for the Chiefs in the preseason. The notes say they gave up 19.
- [15:18]
Jeff Schwartz
Points in the four in the fourth quarter last game. I don't know if you saw the first half, but if the Chiefs are going to run that style of offense, the style, not the results matter, but the style of offense, where they take chances down the field. They were running plays. They have not run in four or five years in that game. If they get back to doing that, which I think they feel comfortable with their offensive line and the skill guys being healthier this year, they'll lose Rice, obviously, for, for some point this year. That if that is what the offense is, watch out. Like, just watch out because the defense doesn't have to be great, just have to be good. Don't lose them the game. Right. If they return to this offense, which is taking shots down the field, using the running back out of the backfield, which they did a lot with Smith in this game, they're, they're their rookie. They're going to be really good again. And that window is not going to close this year. I think. Look, I think when Kelsey leaves eventually, Jason, as we all pull back a little bit, I think the offense is so reliant on what he does so well that if he doesn't play, that changes what the Chiefs are. But with Kelsey still there for one more season, I think that's a Super bowl bus for Kansas City.
- [16:20]
Jason Whitlock
All right, super bowl or bust. Jeff Schwartz. Yeah, good stuff as always, buddy. Fox Sports NFL analyst, gambling guru. We'll just toss it out there.
- [16:30]
Jeff Schwartz
I'll take it.
- [16:31]
Jason Whitlock
Good luck to your Ducks this season, Jeff.
- [16:32]
Jeff Schwartz
Thank you, buddy. Take care.
- [16:33]
Producer/Announcer
Be sure to catch live editions of.
- [16:35]
Jason Whitlock
The Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific, on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app.
- [16:42]
Producer/Announcer
Hey, it's Steve Covino. And I'm Rich Davis. And together we're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You can catch us weekdays from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific, on Fox Sports Radio and of course, the iHeartRadio Apple. Why should you listen to Covino and Rich? We talk about everything. Life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world. We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture. Stories that, well, other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact that we've been friends for the last 20 years and still work together, I mean, that says something, right? So check us out. We like to get you involved, too. Take your phone calls, chop it up, as they say. I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the most interactive show on planet Earth. Be sure to check out Covino and Rich live on Fox Sports radio and the iHeartradio app from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific. And if you miss any of the live show, just search KOVINO and Rich. Wherever you get your podcast and of course on social media, that's Covino and Rich.
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- [21:20]
Jason Whitlock
All right, good stuff from Jeff Schwartz. Let's go to Rachel Nichols with the news.
- [21:24]
Jeff Schwartz
No, no, no.
- [21:26]
Producer/Announcer
Turn on the news.
- [21:27]
Jason Whitlock
This is the Herdline news.
- [21:30]
Rachel Nichols
Well, Jason, last week the Ravens had a major injury scare at practice. Lamar Jackson, someone inadvertently stepped on his foot. Lamar then missed the remaining week of practice. There were reports over the weekend the injury could be worse than the team was letting on. Of course, Lamar chimed in on social media with a little laughing, crying emoji to that one. But the real, the real response from Lamar Jackson is that Jason, he is on the field and practicing as we speak with the Ravens. Do you worry about this injury? Is it something to watch or are we done with this now?
- [22:03]
Jason Whitlock
No, I think we're probably done with it, but I do want to go back to their loss to the Bills. So Mark Andrews obviously had a rough game. Are we a little more high on the Bills than the Ravens simply because Mark Andrews dropped a couple passes and I think Lamar fumbled in the first half?
- [22:19]
Rachel Nichols
Well, look, I mean, LaMar Jackson's a two time MVP, but you've got to look Josh Allen, who is the most recent mvp, and we always have a recency bias, right? I mean, look, we'll never know what would have happened that, you know, dropping that pass Would have tied the game. It wouldn't have won them. The game would have tied the game and we would have to see where they went from there. Ravens had a bunch of turnovers in that game, remember? So I just think that the. There's an accurate idea of how we're coming into this season. I don't think it's crazy biased on that one game. I think both of those teams, the Bills and the Ravens, need to prove they can get to the Super Bowl. And you've talked about the Chiefs not being as much of an obstacle as in the past. We just heard you double down on them not making the playoffs, which is, you know, ludicrous insane over on this side of the desk, but whatever. But it really does feel like it's between one of those two teams for that super bowl spot.
- [23:12]
Jason Whitlock
So do you have it? Ravens, Bills, Chiefs in the or the Bengals in the mix? Broncos. What do we got?
- [23:18]
Rachel Nichols
I'm not putting the Bengals or Broncos is graduating into making the super bowl this year, but you know, you go with that. No, no, no, no.
- [23:24]
Jason Whitlock
Certainly not me.
- [23:27]
Rachel Nichols
No.
- [23:27]
Jason Whitlock
You're not there yet.
- [23:28]
Rachel Nichols
No. All right, let's talk about the Patriots. They are undergoing a big regime change after hiring Mike Brable this offseason. Brable has left his mark on the team. You see Jason, he's getting into the middle of practice fights. He's been taking part in reshaping the roster and notably last year. This week a report emerged indicating that receiver Jalen Polk would be out for the seat, out for the year, the entire season due to a shoulder injury. Here is Mike Grable's response. This is amazing, Mike.
- [23:56]
Jeff Schwartz
There was a report today that Jalen.
- [23:57]
Producer/Announcer
Polk will have to have season ending shoulder surgery. Can you add anything to that?
- [24:01]
Jeff Schwartz
No, I don't know other than I'd like to find out where some of these come from. You know, some of these rats around here.
- [24:09]
Producer/Announcer
So.
- [24:10]
Jeff Schwartz
No, figure that out.
- [24:12]
Jason Whitlock
Wow.
- [24:14]
Rachel Nichols
That's after. By the way, when the initial report came out, Vrabel posted a meme on social media that was just Jack Nicholson from the Departed. So he has made his. His feelings on this. You know, snitches get stitches sort of thing.
- [24:28]
Jason Whitlock
So it. What's the deal with Polk? Is he.
- [24:30]
Rachel Nichols
We don't know yet. I mean it could be that the report was accurate.
- [24:34]
Mary Kay Cabot
We're.
- [24:35]
Rachel Nichols
We're still waiting to hear. But what's interesting is if he is out for the season, then Drake May would be the only player from last year's draft left on the roster. 20, 24 draft.
- [24:45]
Jason Whitlock
Now, now, listen, Cowherd for years, bagged on Belichick botching drafts.
- [24:49]
Producer/Announcer
Yeah.
- [24:50]
Jason Whitlock
Who was running the draft? It was not Bill, but somebody messed up that. No. So the only guy is Drake May who was there. Where did he go? Like top 12, maybe somewhere in there. That's not good. That's not good. I mean, a year later and almost all of them are not coming back.
- [25:08]
Rachel Nichols
Yeah. It's not what you want.
- [25:09]
Jason Whitlock
You gotta gu. Scouting department. Holy. Maybe that's why he was posting the meme.
- [25:14]
Rachel Nichols
Maybe that was it.
- [25:15]
Jason Whitlock
Departed.
- [25:16]
Rachel Nichols
Right. Maybe he needs to worry less about the leaks and more about scouting. We'll see.
- [25:21]
Jason Whitlock
That's a great movie, by the way. Departed. If it's ever on cable, even the sanitized version, it's watchable.
- [25:26]
Rachel Nichols
It's fantastic. We got to go through a list of sometime of your. If it's on cable, I'll watch it.
- [25:31]
Jason Whitlock
Movie. Yeah.
- [25:31]
Rachel Nichols
But that's for later.
- [25:32]
Jason Whitlock
Definitely. Karate Kid.
- [25:34]
Rachel Nichols
All right. The Vikings are going to hand the ball to J.J. mcCarthy this season. They made a move at the quarterback position, though, signing Carson Wentz and trading Sam Howell to the Eagles over the weekend. With the Wentz addition, he now joins his sixth team in as many seasons and will hope to help JJ in his first season of action. So does this tell you the Vikings have more confidence in McCarthy, less confidence in McCarthy? Where are you on this?
- [25:58]
Jason Whitlock
Yeah, I was trying to figure this out, why this move happened. Maybe they like Sam Howell. He was in the division, Right. I think he was playing for Washington. Maybe he had a good showing. But this is like his third team in three years. Carson Wentz is on his sixth team in six years. Remember when he was a thing? Yeah, I was at the game. Eagles, Rams, at the Coliseum before Sofi was built, where he was like an MVP candidate, and then he, like, limps off the field and they were like, oh, he's got an. It's ACL injury. Right. He's never been the same guy since then. That's a tough one for Carson Wentz, cuz he was. It felt like he was close to breaking through, right? Yeah.
- [26:38]
Rachel Nichols
And look, he's reliable. He's not going to mess up a game for you. And I think that's why the Vikings wanted him there. They are all in on J.J. mcCarthy, and I don't think, you know, people are like, oh, what does this mean about JJ or do they want Carson to compete? No, they want JJ to be their quarterback. But let me give you a pretty interesting stat over the last 10 years. How many teams, just percentage wise, do you think have kept their starting quarterback for the entire regular season? Every game in the regular season in.
- [27:04]
Jason Whitlock
The last how many years? 10 years.
- [27:05]
Rachel Nichols
10 years.
- [27:07]
Jason Whitlock
I'll go 10%.
- [27:10]
Rachel Nichols
Yeah, it's 40%.
- [27:12]
Jason Whitlock
Oh, wow.
- [27:12]
Rachel Nichols
But that just. But that means 60% of the teams are going to have to, for at least a game or two, go to a backup. Go to their backup. And Carson Wentz is a reliable backup for the Vikings. That's what they're seeing. And obviously he's also an experienced guy who can sort of talk to JJ off the field.
- [27:27]
Jason Whitlock
So if you need him for a game or two, a spot start, you can trust him. He's a veteran. He's been in the league for how many years? I don't hate it.
- [27:36]
Rachel Nichols
Yeah.
- [27:37]
Jason Whitlock
Do you like the Vikings this year or no?
- [27:39]
Rachel Nichols
I think they're going to be a fun team. I like the quarterback switch. I thought that was a good move. And we'll see. I mean, I don't think they're winning super bowl, but got to make that.
- [27:49]
Jason Whitlock
Leap to the Super Bowl. Yes, correct. I was on them in the off season and then I went on this rant about how good they're going to be and I heard from some people and they were like, be careful. Let me downshift on that. Anyways. All right, Rachel with the news. Well, that's the news and thanks for stopping by the Herd lie news. Coming up next, a reporter who covers the Browns asking all the tough questions is shadour on thin ice as the team gets ready to make their cuts by 4pm tomorrow. That's next.
- [28:19]
Producer/Announcer
Be sure to catch live editions of.
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Jason Whitlock
The Herd weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific.
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- [32:13]
Jason Whitlock
Welcome back to the Herd. Let's bust right into our next guest, Mary Kay Cabot, who's been covering the Cleveland Browns for 30 years. Unbelievable. She is one of the best in the business. Mary Kay, Asking the tough questions, cleveland.com and the plain Dealer Mary Kay, we're so happy to have you on. Let's start with Saturday. How was that for you? Was that fun?
- [32:37]
Mary Kay Cabot
Well, it was. It was really something because I did not expect Shador to even play in that game. He had a strained oblique muscle and he practiced for a couple days. And leading up to him rejoining practice, I really thought that he might sit out that game. So I was expecting it to be more of a Joe Flacco gets out there, gets a little work with the first team offense, everybody goes home and we get ready for the opener. But it turned into the Shador Sanders night in so many ways and now here we are with all kinds of things to write about, talk about in regards to Shador.
- [33:12]
Jason Whitlock
Yeah, that's interesting you say that. So, I mean, now that I think about it, Shedeur didn't look like he was ready to play in that one. Took five sacks, kept running backwards and I know pro football focus and everybody breaks down the time to throw and he had five seconds to throw and Dylan Gabriel had two and Dylan Gabriel was great. I'm wondering why do you think Stefanski even played Shador if most people didn't expect him to show up in that given the oblique?
- [33:38]
Mary Kay Cabot
Well, he passed the medical test that he needed to and Shedeur really, really wanted to play. He's a very, very tough young man. Remember, he was sacked an FBS high 94 times in his last two years at Colorado and he just kept popping right up and playing again. So he's physically very, very tough and I think he's mentally tough too. Kevin Stefanski even noted that about him, that he wanted to get out there and show what he could do. Certainly he wanted to build on his excellent start against the Carolina Panthers. Unfortunately for everybod he wasn't able to do that. But I don't think too too much should be read into this. Of course he was playing with the backup, backup backups, guys that are not going to be on this football team and he's just going to go out there and continue to develop.
- [34:23]
Jason Whitlock
All right, let me ask, I floated the idea. Hey, the Raiders lost their backup quarterback. Why wouldn't they trade for Shador? He did meet with them at the combine. Some people seem to think that maybe she door gets cut. I can't see that the GM's talking about keeping four quarterbacks. Your thoughts on Shador making the roster, getting traded, all that fun stuff.
- [34:43]
Mary Kay Cabot
Well, I have no doubt in my mind whatsoever that Shador Sanders is going to make the Cleveland Browns roster. Yes, they are keeping four quarterbacks. I've been writing that for months actually since this four way competition began. And basically what's happening here is they have two really good young quarterbacks that they're excited about and that they want to develop as they look into next year's draft. They have two first round picks and they have to find out do they have a potential franchise quarterback on their roster as they head into that 26 draft. So they want to develop these guys. They want to see what they have and who knows, they could end up with Dylan Gabriel, Shador Sanders and then another rookie next year. So they like what they see in Chador, they like what they see in Dylan Gabriel and they want to move forward with both of these guys.
- [35:31]
Jason Whitlock
So you covered the franchise for 30 years. So you were through the Belichick era, the Baker Mayfield era, the desean Watson. I mean you've seen them all. I'm just curious, Stefanski, is he on thin ice here? Given. Hey man, A lot of negative stories 3 and 14 when they were projected to win nine games by Vegas last year. Is Stefanski in trouble if they don't get five or six or seven wins here?
- [36:01]
Mary Kay Cabot
No, he's not on thin ice and here's why. Because they know right now that they are in quarterback finding mode. They're looking and searching for their franchise quarterback. The owner knows that they are trying to figure out who that guy is. That's why you probably will see Dylan Gabriel and Shador Sanders play down the stretch this season. And once again they know they might not have their quarterback of the future until next year. There's talk that maybe they'll go after Arch Manning. Who knows if they'll even come out. I'm sure the Browns will have a nice large contingent at that Texas Ohio State game coming up here on August 30 so there is a lot to happen here in the quarterback space, and I just don't think that Kevin Stefanski is on thin ice at all.
- [36:47]
Jason Whitlock
Well, that's good to hear. What about Barry, the gm? I know that he hasn't been as acclaimed as Stefanski has, but do you think Barry's job is safe?
- [36:58]
Mary Kay Cabot
Yeah, I think so. Once again, I think that these guys are trying to assemble a roster that can win as soon as possible while also having an eye towards the future. And that future will include a franchise quarterback of some sort. Is he on the roster right now? They don't know. Maybe they have something in Dylan Gabriel, maybe they have something in Shador. Maybe they even have something in Kenny Pickett, who they really like a lot. But now, of course, as we know, they have the two first round picks next year. It's a rich quarterback class, and if they don't find what they like out of this year's class, then they will go into next year hoping to find their guy. So I think these guys are very solid. I know the ownership really loves the alignment in the organization and I think that it's not that they have a hall pass this year, but they do have a little bit of time to get the quarterback thing together.
- [37:48]
Jason Whitlock
Nice usage of hall pass. I do have to ask, though, you sound really positive and optimistic about the Browns, yet the narrative, if you go online or listen to a podcast or radio radio or whatever is the sky is falling. They remain an embarrassment, dumpster fire because they don't have a quarterback. You know, and I just wonder. It seems like there's a disconnect. You seem positive. Guys are not in trouble, but the narrative is very negative. What do you think that's about?
- [38:18]
Mary Kay Cabot
Well, first of all, when I say they're not in trouble, it doesn't mean that I think that they are gonna go out and contend for the super bowl this season. I think it means that they have a little bit of time to figure out what they're here in terms of their quarterback in the future. So I don't know if they're going to even necessarily contend for the playoffs this season. I think it will all come down to if they get good quarterback play. And that is the whole key. Joe Flacco is going to start the season and what he has to do is hit those explosives plays, but stay away from the interceptions. Kenny Pickett, he's coming back from a hamstring injury. They really liked him a lot. And if he's ready to go sooner than later, then he will be back in the conversation to be starting for this football team if Joe isn't getting the job done. And in the event that they need to turn to someone else, I think they feel pretty good about Dylan Gabriel being able to go out there and function. But it comes down to quarterback play. Can he manage the game? Can he find the open man, score some touchdowns, stay away from interceptions, not get into the turnover game like they did last year? If they can do that, I think they have enough pieces around the quarterback and on defense where they can stay relevant for at least, you know, maybe into November.
- [39:33]
Jason Whitlock
Interesting. All right, we got about 90 seconds left. I'm curious, who do you think they could flip for a higher draft pick? Can he, Pickett or Joe Flacco? Because it seems like, hey, if we could showcase one of these, somebody needs a quarterback, we could flip one for a fourth. I don't know. But do you think one has more value than the other?
- [39:52]
Mary Kay Cabot
Well, I would think at this point that a team might be more interested in a Joe Flacco because he has more experience and he's done it. But right now, I just don't really think they're thinking along the those lines. They're not looking to trade one of these guys. And it almost seems like no matter what I say or what I, what I write or what some other people say or what even Andrew Barry says about keeping four, nobody really wants to believe that they're going to keep four quarterbacks. But that is the plan. The only way that doesn't happen is if someone makes them an offer they absolutely can't refuse. And that wouldn't happen unless a starter goes down.
- [40:25]
Jason Whitlock
Got it. All right, Mary Kay Cabot, Cleveland Plain Dealer cleveland.com always asking the tough questions. Thanks a lot, Mary Kluh, and good luck this season.
- [40:35]
Mary Kay Cabot
Thanks a lot. Thanks for having me.
- [40:36]
Jason Whitlock
All right. Good stuff from Mary Kay Cabot. Listen, Rachel, I like her optimism. I mean, it's totally. She seems positive about everything with the Browns. And I'm not saying, you know, she's faking the funk or putting it on for tv, but like, that it doesn't. The narrative that she's putting out from the Browns is totally different than the vibe of fans and pundits. Right.
- [40:56]
Rachel Nichols
First of all, Mary Kay is a legend, so. So I trust her judgment on this. She's seen so many Browns teams come and go, but I do think she's talking about specific areas of the team being more positive. She's not talking about the overall outlook for the team being more positive. She hit it right on the head. They're building, right? They're trying to build and rebuild this team, and there are positive spots within that rebuild. Quarterback may be one of them, maybe not. This team has gone through more starting quarterback backs than any other team in the league since they came back into the league in 1999.
- [41:28]
Jason Whitlock
That's pathetic. And I'm a Jets fan. All right, before we go, two quick notes. So Matt Stafford, full practice participant today. Rachel and I were right. He's fine. And then not good. No sign of Micah Parsons during the open portion of practice. To the media. That's from Todd Archer, who covers the Cowboys. So the Micah drama continues. Rachel and I were praying that this would get done tomorrow so we can move on to other topics, but the Cowboys mess continues.
- [41:56]
Rachel Nichols
We'll never move on.
- [41:57]
Jason Whitlock
Never. It's never happening. All right, we'll see you tomorrow.
- [42:01]
Producer/Announcer
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- [44:01]
Jeff Schwartz
You got a hoodie on.
- [44:02]
Rachel Nichols
Take it all.
- [44:03]
Producer/Announcer
I'm Manny. I'm Noah.
- [44:05]
Jeff Schwartz
This is Devin.
- [44:05]
Producer/Announcer
And we're best friends and journalists with a new podcast called no Such Thing, where we get to the bottom of questions like that. Why are you screaming? I can't expect what to do now. If the rule was the same, go off on me. I deserve it.
- [44:18]
Jeff Schwartz
You know?
- [44:19]
Producer/Announcer
Lock him up. Listen to no Such thing on the iHear radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [44:25]
Jason Whitlock
No Such Thing. This is an iHeart podcast.