← The Ringer Fantasy Football Show
The Ringer Fantasy Football Show
Free Agency, Day 1: Malik to Miami, Ravens and Bills Go All In, Chiefs Sign Ken Walker, Alec Pierce's Payday, Pittman to Pittsburgh, and Skip Bayless on Megan Thee Stallion's Broadway Debut
01:34:08
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- [00:00]
A
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B
This episode is brought to you by LinkedIn Ads the best B2B marketing gets wasted on the Wrong people So when you want to reach the right professionals, use LinkedIn ads. LinkedIn has grown to a network of over 1 billion professionals, including 130 million decision makers. And that's where it stands apart from other ad buys. You can target your buyers by job title, industry, company role, seniority, skills, company revenue so you can stop wasting budget on the wrong audience. It's why LinkedIn Ads generates the highest B2B return on ad spend of all online ad networks. Seriously, all of them. Spend $250 in your first campaign on LinkedIn ads and get a free $250 credit for the next one. Just go to LinkedIn.com/ringer fantasy that is LinkedIn.com/ringer fantasy. Terms and conditions apply. Welcome to the Ringer Fantasy Football Show, AKA the rare NFL Draft show. My name is Danny Heifet and today I'm joined by Danny Kaley and Craig Krolbeck. And free agency has started kind of because people are doing all these deals, but also Kyler Murray and Gino Smith and even Tua cannot actually be cut until Wednesday. But we're recording this Monday where everyone signed all these deals. So we're going to go through free agency. Max Crosby's a Raven. Both your teams lost your running backs named Ken, which is weird that it happened twice. Mike Evans is the San Francisco 49er kind of on Wednesday. Craig excited for free agency? That's happening and also hasn't happened yet.
- [02:43]
C
Yeah, we tip this episode is typically called the Adam Schefter Free Agency Drinking Game, but we think Shefty's on to us. He's starting to tweet a little bit more. Normally there's not as much to make fun of with Shefty, so, you know, we usually do. Free agency is nuts. This week is insane. I feel like this morning has been incredibly hectic and we usually do, you know, the Wednesday episode, the actual day of free agency is really like the end of it. So we call that the hangover. So I feel like today is like the pregame and honestly, like most pregames, everybody usually just gets too drunk before you even go out and you end up drinking more at the pregame than you do the bar. And I feel like that's today shit is flying around. There are so many deals. We have like a hundred deals to get to. Today's been crazy.
- [03:24]
B
And like a pregame, you think it's going to save you money and then you come home and you're like, yeah, we kind of wasted a lot of this alcohol.
- [03:30]
D
I know.
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C
Yeah. Some teams are too drunk to even make it to the bar. You know, we'll get to those.
- [03:35]
B
Yeah. So we can go through all these. I. The one I didn't think we would start here, but I think we have to, which is just getting into it. And also this is going to be a little bit of a crazy episode. But follow us on Instagram, follow us on TikTok and then, yeah, stick with us for the entire draft season. Danny Keller, draft expert here at the ringer. But we're going to go through free agency. I think we have to start with the Dolphins dumping to a and signing Malik Willis at quarterback. So dolphins are one going to take a $100 million dead cap hit so to it could go take a hike, which is unbelievable. The contract extension they signed them to their one year into a four year extension. They're just like, yeah, we're good. And so they're going to take one sixth of their budget this year and and then one sixth of their budget next year. So Tua can just go leave and kick rocks. And then they're signing Malik Willis for a deal that's 23 million a year, which is $68 million total, which is about $1 million per completion that Malik Willis has had the last three seasons. Craig, you're shaking your head.
- [04:30]
C
Well, at least we thought this number could potentially get into the 30s, so at least cooler heads prevailed a little bit. And this number is a little bit more reasonable. This is closer to the Fields deal that he signed with the Jets. It's, it's, it's just crazy, man. So Miami is paying how Much are they. Are they paying Tua this year? 60 million.
- [04:48]
B
It's going to be $55 million on their cap. It's not the same as what they're paying Tua, but it's going to be a $55 million debt, like just unusable cap. So it's out of three.
- [04:58]
D
This is the year to do it, though. I mean, they're kind of in a. Yeah, but.
- [05:01]
C
So this year they're paying Malik Willis and Tua like, $80 million?
- [05:06]
B
Yeah, that's correct.
- [05:08]
C
Got it.
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D
I like this move. Am I the only one on the pod that actually has some faith in Malik Willis? I think it's also a good sign, maybe. I don't know, maybe a good omen that the team that is basically made up of former packers, so the GM and the head coach come from the Packers. They know Malik Willis very well.
- [05:25]
B
John Eric Sullivan, Chad won the GM and then Jeff head coach Chad too.
- [05:30]
D
I mean, the fact that these guys know him and kind of know what he's capable of and watched him in practice last couple of years, I think that bodes well for. For what they're going to do here. But yeah, it's interesting because we kind of gave up on the Dolphins being a option for Malik Willis because they don't have any cap. I'm. I'm looking at their cap space. I don't think this has been updated after today. They had 860 grand in cap space. So, you know, this is. The cap is kind of fake. It. It. They can spread this thing out over the next couple years. The cap goes up an incredible amount every year.
- [05:59]
C
Businesses always going up.
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D
Businesses are booming.
- [06:02]
C
David Ellison's going to pay more for the NFL. It's fine. It'll always go up.
- [06:07]
B
Always.
- [06:07]
D
Money in the banana stand, you know?
- [06:09]
C
Right. This deal is much more reasonable. And I will say, do I think Malik Willis is going to be a great player in the NFL when we look back 15 years from now? No. But. But like, we've talked about how weird the quarterback market is right now. Like, this is a. This is like a decent bridge situation, I think for Miami, like, the idea of Devon H.N. and Malik Willis is like, okay, there's something. We might have a stew going from a running game perspective there. But, like, this is pure. I mean, the Dolphins got rid of Minka Fitzpatrick. I don't think the Dolphins have any plans to take down the Bills or the Patriots this year. This is like clearly a reasonable bridge deal to see what you got for a reasonable price. I Guess.
- [06:48]
B
Yeah. I mean, is. Is Malik Willis going to work as a starting quarterback in the NFL? Probably not. That's why he's available in free agency for like the least money of any veteran starting quarterback in the NFL. I just, I keep saying this, but
- [07:00]
C
is he a veteran? Is that we're calling him?
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B
He's a veteran starting by definition that he's no longer on a second contract. I mean, how many again, how many pass attempts?
- [07:08]
C
I think he's a veteran quarterback then, right?
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D
Hell yeah.
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B
I think Kenny Pickett probably has more completions than Malik Willis does that 10 times. I mean, that's the thing. It is absurd. I acknowledge it's absurd. Malik Willis has had 94 pass attempts since 2022. What you were you guys doing in 2022 like that?
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C
I was on this call with you in 2022 doing the same damn thing.
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B
Nothing's changed. But. Well, we used to do this episode drunk for the drinking game, you know.
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D
You know who this is for?
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C
Not actually Craig.
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D
Well, you guys will like this. This is horrible for Jalen Waddle. This is. This is a really tough look. I mean, fantasy wise, we're talking here.
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C
What else were we going to draft him in? Fantasy. What are you talking about?
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B
He's like, who cares?
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C
On the COVID of the Burn book. This is great. This is exactly what he's.
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B
Now we know.
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D
I guess you wanted that.
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B
I do think the reason this is happening is that the risk of being a broken record is the optimists or pessimists are often right and optimists are often rich. And it's like, oh, if you're going to waste $23 million a year, I'm like, okay, like I just saw the Raiders give Jaylen n $11 million a year. I'm like, who gives a shit? Like, if you have a. What is if you have a 50. A 1 in 6 chance that Malik Willis is a good quarterback and the packers would know better because again, as DK said, the head coach of the Pac or the head coach of the Dolphins was the packers defense. Accordingly, the last couple of years, I. You have to try because what again, what is Miami's alternative? They were going to roll. Quinn Ewers is the backup quarterback there now out for week one. Like, you just have to keep throwing darts. And again, they have two or three years to find a quarterback. Quinn Ewers is option. Well, A is probably the wrong one. Just like he's the backup. Malik Willis is two. They're going to have 10 shots at a quarterback. You got to throw 10 darts. So I. Again, fastest quarterback in the NFL. Malik was probably as a top 10 in terms of pure arm strength in the NFL. So if he can actually play under center, play action from the pocket. Most guys can't do that or that fast.
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C
It's funny because Dolphins fans are going to go from, don't run, please don't run. Slide, slide. To run, run, Go, run. Move. Go.
- [09:02]
B
Jump. Yeah, but I do feel bad, Carlos. I. I honestly feel so bad for Carlos. This is just tough. It's. Again, it's funny because Tua was unambiguously the best Dolphins quarterback of since Dan Marino, and they're, like, taking 100. I don't know if Dan Marino got paid $100 million, but the dolphins in his entire career. So it's funny to, you know, tough.
- [09:22]
D
But are we gonna talk about Tua real quick?
- [09:25]
B
They say he might go to Atlanta, but who knows? If you get to Wednesday. Yeah, just do the lefty thing in Atlanta. We'll see if he actually signs there. I don't think he can actually sign until at least Wednesday. So they're alleging he'll go to Atlanta to.
- [09:36]
D
To the Falcons. Write it in stone.
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C
I like the idea of them. You know, they always say your backup should be stylistically similar to your starter so that like a Tyler Huntley in Baltimore so they can come in and kind of run the same offense. Having two lefties is objectively hilarious. That's like, the only two. The ball will spin the same way for these wide receivers. I do think that's kind of great.
- [09:57]
B
I do have to. One last thing before we move off to. Albert Breer posted this. Presuming that Tua plays to the minimum contract this year, which he probably will, the Dolphins will wind up paying nearly $150 million for two years on his 2024 contract. So it's an extension of that they signed him to in 2024, but they already had Tua under contract at the time for $23 million in 2024. So functionally speaking, Miami paid $123 million for Tua last year.
- [10:23]
D
Brutal.
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B
That is functionally speaking. What happened.
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D
That's one of the. Got to be one of the worst contracts we've ever seen. Second worst. Second worst.
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B
Okay.
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C
Sean Watson. Nobody can beat Deshaun.
- [10:36]
D
No one will be.
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C
The DeSean Watson contract will be topped. Never.
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B
Never.
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D
Never.
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B
No. That's not what.
- [10:42]
D
Never. Especially considering what they gave up for him.
- [10:45]
B
Dude, that was a bad deal when he was good at football. I know. Okay. So the other huge thing that happened over the weekend. So the Ravens traded two first round picks to the Raiders for Max Crosby Friday night. Friday night. And then now we have the addendum to it because Tyler, they then use the cap space that the Raiders got from letting go of Max Crosby and used it to sign Tyler Linderbaum, the center from the Ravens. So it's almost like part of the. The trade in a weird way. Not really, but it does functionally work out that way. The Ravens give up the number 14 pick in this year's draft and the first rounder in 2027. I want we can get to the Raiders in a second. First of all, Jamar Chase, the Bengals receiver. I don't know if Kim, do we have the audio of that? He was like live streaming playing Arc Raiders. Joe, just text me. Ravens traded for Max Crosby. No, no, no, brother. I'm highly pissed right now.
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D
That's true. That's relatable. I'm highly pissed right now. I'm gonna start saying that. I'm highly pissed right now.
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B
I thought that was phenomenal. I mean, I. Craig, what do you mean? You're. Jamar's in the division. You're in the division. Craig is a Steelers fan.
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C
Yeah, I was not happy about this.
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B
You were highly pissed.
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C
Max Crosby immediately feels like a great Raven in that he's going to work for the Ravens and this is exactly what they need to make a big defensive stop in the second half of games, which has been a problem for them in the playoffs and in crucial moments. Max Crosby. Yeah. I mean, I feel like anywhere he was going to go, I would have felt like, what a great signing, what a great fit. But particularly I'm not excited to have him play a 49 year old Aaron Rodgers.
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B
I don't know how old he is. I mean, this is the biggest trade in the history of the Baltimore Ravens. It's not even close. The Ravens had never traded a first round pick for a veteran player. And now the Ravens traded two first round picks for one player. Like the Ravens had never done that. They're only 30 years old as a team, but they had never traded their own first round pick for someone.
- [12:42]
D
So then they come out wildly unravens move. Well, it's. It's very.
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C
I would say the AFC right now is in real like all in mode where the Ravens are like, this is our fucking shot. Lamar, we'll see how long. Like let's go right now. Even the Bills with DJ Morric. Let's go right now. The Patriots Were not, you know, they're not a dominant force in the afc. Mahomes is coming off an ACL tear and it's kind of like these teams that have, have gotten close to the sun but haven't quite reached the mountaintop, like Baltimore and Buffalo are like, fuck it, we're going to go for it. Because what they gave up, what Baltimore gave up is a lot. 100, the 14th pick in this draft and then a 20, 27 first. That is a lot. It's a good deal for the Raiders. Yeah. But it is pushing your chips in right now.
- [13:27]
B
It's a big midlife crisis move. And I totally agree. I think the Ravens are a midlife crisis. The Bills are a midlife crisis. Like all their, like, MVP quarterbacks. Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar turning 30. They look at like Caleb Williams for the Bears ready to be next. Drake May made a Super bowl, like, and they're seeing that younger generation. They're being like, maybe I should just get a car and that will make me feel young and like cybertruck. Yeah, exactly. And it's like the Bills get a second round pick for DJ Moore and you're like, what are you talking about? And. But the Ravens, what I really do think it's the same thing. And I know it's like a little simplistic, but I think the Ravens went and saw Mike McDonald, who was their defensive coordinator, go and win a Super bowl defense the same year that the Ravens had like the fewest sacks the Ravens have had in 15 years. I mean, if you just go, I think Craig nailed it too. It's the amount of blown leads the Ravens have had. And Lamar Jackson gets all the shit for the Ravens blown leads. But I think that's kind of crazy. Like, if you look at it, I mean, Baltimore had 10 sacks last year from their edge rushers. Dan Orlovsky had this in ESPN this morning that Baltimore's dead last in the entire NFL on just sacks from edge rushers. And it was the first year since 1996, which was Baltimore's first season, that no Baltimore Raven edge rusher had five sacks in 30 years. And you just go down the line, it's like The Ravens had 30 sacks. That was again Baltimore's worst mark in 15 years. That's why they're. Ravens keep blowing the leads. And again ESPN of this, that the past five years, Baltimore's blown more leads than any team in the NFL. This is all connected to me. It's like you watch your defensive coordinator go and win the Super bowl when you miss the playoffs, Patrick Mahomes, Terraces acl. You can't even make the playoffs. You have no pass rush, and you're going through all this. And then also for John Harbaugh gets fired as the head coach of the Ravens. The gm, Eric Dasta, it's easy to say draft and develop, draft and develop. This is obviously Baltimore saying that drafting and developing hasn't been working, especially because they've been cheaping out at pass rusher for 10 years. They just keep grabbing these great players at the end of their career. Justin Houston on his last legs. Genevian Clowney on his last legs. Calvin Noy in his last legs. You just go down the line, they're like, we'll get cheap guys. David Ojabo from Michigan will, like, tear his Achilles at the combine or whatever, and then they'll take him in the second round. And they keep trying to like, well,
- [15:28]
D
they traded away Odafe O last year.
- [15:31]
B
Yeah.
- [15:32]
D
After five games. And then he had seven and a half sacks with the Chargers. They're like, God damn it.
- [15:37]
B
And we keep fucking this up. And that's the fear. And so I think their pressure was that they needed Jesse Minter to be the next Mike McDonald. Where they're like, we had all these guys in house that are clearly the next wave. It's like the Washington commander staff that had Kyle O' Shanahan and Sean McVeigh and all these guys on staff. Baltimore was kind of like that for defense. They had all these defensive guys on staff, and there's this fear they let him go. And I would suggest you mentioned needs to be the next McDonald's. But you do this Max Crosby trade, it's like, well, Jesse mentor better be the next Mike McDonald, because holy crap, two first rounders for your Baltimore, like, they've never done this. And so I think this is just what we said last year about the Steelers getting DK Metcalf. Like, this is a Corvette.
- [16:13]
D
It is interesting. We've seen kind of. I mean, I guess this just is happening a lot around the league. But there's been a spate of new coaches coming in and just making big moves, you know what I mean? Across the league. I was thinking of the Jags last year, how they had, you know, new GM come in and immediately just make one of the biggest trades in the draft. It is kind of wild because usually I think the old way was like, nothing too splashy at first. You have to, like, get everything established,
- [16:41]
C
set your culture, earn your right to do that.
- [16:43]
D
Right. And then now you're just having these coaches come in. Obviously, look, the GM is not new, so that he probably. The coach probably didn't have a huge amount to do with this anyway. But. But yeah, this just felt to me. My first reaction was like, wow, the Ravens did this. That is. That is different.
- [16:58]
B
They've never done it.
- [16:59]
D
Maybe they need something. You know, this is like, they need to spice it up. They're looking at their ex go win a Super bowl, and that bugs them.
- [17:06]
B
And I do think it's worth saying Max Crosby, I think when he's healthy, I don't think anyone has. He's like your favorite football player's favorite football player. Like, there's no questions about Max Crosby as a guy.
- [17:14]
D
Well, yeah, that's what I was going to add to this, too, is like, a lot of the. The risk and fear in making a trade like this in. In most cases is you get a guy who comes in, he doesn't really fit the locker room. You don't know him that well. He's. And. And maybe when he gets a new contract or whatever, changes teams, he. He doesn't try as hard. There's, like, effort or personality issues. It doesn't seem like Max Crosby's that guy. I mean, he got. He got furious at the Raiders, even though they were like two wins or three wins or whatever for having him not play the final game. That, like, soured the relationship.
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B
Max Crosby's furious that they don't tackle in the Pro bowl anymore.
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D
Right. He's just a maniac in the. In the best way. So I don't see him being an issue from that point of view. I think that's.
- [17:55]
C
He gets in trouble for, like, hitting the quarterback in practice.
- [17:58]
B
I. He's. He's. He's as focused and maniacally, and they're
- [18:02]
C
like, well, if you don't want me to hit the quarterback, block me. Yeah.
- [18:05]
B
I mean, again, like, the amount of intensity you have to have to just not come off the football field for years at a time, like Max Crosby, just. No one plays 99 of snaps, and he did for a long time. And just the effort. Crosby has more tackles for loss in the final five minutes of games than anyone else in the past seven years, which. That was an amazing stat I saw at espn. He's twice. Crosby has twice as many sacks than anyone on the Ravens since 2019, which is. And then again, the Ravens had the second few sacks and basically the history of the team last year. And I think if you just forget age and forget health for A second. You have to win one game. I think the guys you would take ahead of Max Crosby are Miles Garrett, healthy, Micah Parsons, TJ Watt up there, still Craig. I'd rather know.
- [18:49]
C
Wow. Not. Not in a conversation. I would. I would certainly say he's in that tier.
- [18:53]
D
I just threw that out for respect,
- [18:55]
C
you know, I would say in that tier.
- [18:56]
B
I think he's fine in that tier. I. I love Max Gross. I think the question is, Max Crosby
- [19:01]
C
hasn't really played a super important game in a long time. He's the only difference. We've seen TJ Watt do a lot of things in crucial moments. Max Crosby's down 20 every game.
- [19:08]
B
It's funny. Max Crosby has won a playoff game and TJ Watts literally never won a playoff game, which is just a weird stat.
- [19:14]
C
I know, but. You know what I mean.
- [19:16]
B
I know. But anyway, the point is, I think everyone agrees that Max Crosby on the Ravens is great. It's just more one, how does a guy who never takes any snaps off? Age is just going to be interesting. But overall, it's like the Ravens better win. We always say, oh, it's a Super bowl all in move. Realistically, I would describe it as for a first year head coach Jesse Minner. If the Ravens don't make the AFC championship game, I think it's a catastrophe. Like, I think that's a realistic thing. I'm not saying that's successful if they lose an AFC championship game, but the Ravens making the divisional round is not good enough. You just gave up your first two rounders. Like, obviously the Ravens need to make a Super Bowl. Like, that goes without saying. But it's a disaster if the Ravens can't even make the semifinals.
- [19:52]
C
I mean, even if they didn't trade for Max Crosby and they didn't make the AFC championship, I would argue the season is a disaster, wouldn't you? It's like, I mean, the goal is they have to make a Super bowl one time.
- [20:02]
B
That'd be good. That'd be helpful.
- [20:03]
C
But I do think this is the. Setting aside the, the price tag, I think this is the best move so far of this, of this year.
- [20:12]
B
And the flip side of that, though, is worth looking at the Raiders, because the Raiders have just really made a long way to a rebuild in about, like three days here because they, I mean, full on, obviously, Fernando Mendoza era. They're going to take Fernando Mendoza with the first pick and now they flip Max Crosby. It always sucks when you lose your best player because, like, everyone else is like, wow. Two, first and Everyone else is like, there's no chance that those two players will be as good as my favorite player. Like, when your team trades your favorite player, you're like, there's no way the pixel add up. But the Raiders then turn around. They signed Tyler Linderbaum at Center. So three years, $80 million, 60 million guaranteed. So, I mean, forget center as a position. Not even the highest paid interior offensive lineman. I think Tyler Linderbaum would now be one of the highest paid left tackles in the NFL.
- [20:55]
D
At this point, I think I saw sixth or seventh on average per year. He the next closest center in average period. He's averaging 27 million. Is Creed Humphrey at 18.
- [21:06]
B
I mean, it's. Even by free agency standards, it's an overpay. And all free agency is overpaying players. What did you think of this DK?
- [21:14]
D
I mean, I thought first of all,
- [21:16]
B
28 million for a center per year.
- [21:18]
D
You were going as a team with the reputation, the current reputation of the Raiders. This is necessary. You have to go out and just pay out the ass if you're going to get a player like Linderbaum to come from a very good, stable organization like the Ravens to basically, you know, leave that security, leave that, that future, leave that quarterback and come play for the freaking Raiders. No offense, Austin, sorry, but come play for the freaking Raiders who are rebuilding and starting with a rookie quarterback. Don't know how that's going to turn out. You have to just absolutely overpay big time. This is what happens when you're rebuilding a team. You have to overpay for free agents. You have to sort of get excitement around the franchise. You have to see that it's a destination. I think this is what they're doing. So the. Is it worth it? I think yes. Because even if he isn't the best offensive lineman in our center in the league, he's up there, he's in that top tier and you know, they're just overpaying for him to, to check a few different boxes. Number one, obviously you get a center to come in and help out your rookie quarterback, which is massive. I think he's a perfect scheme fit for the Kubiak offense, which is really dependent on running the football play action, deep shots, all that stuff. It's great for your last year's first round investment in Ashton Genti. It's great for him. It's great for a lot of things. And it also, I think, makes Las Vegas look more like a destination. More people are excited about it, I think. And seeing that They're a team that's going to pay. So I, I think there's multiple things at play here. But yeah, obviously on, on paper this looks like a massive overpay which is,
- [22:48]
B
I like that you're like, it makes Las Vegas a destination. Like it's the travel board. Like, yeah, they'll overpay you by 50% of the second highest paid guy. I think that also what it, it, it just, it's about making Fernando Mendoza good.
- [22:58]
E
Right.
- [22:59]
B
And I think you need to not, yeah, be exposed to a lot of interior pressure and I think that works with Tyler Linderbaum just being a good center and I don't think he's honestly even the best center in the NFL, but I think he's the best one available and sometimes that's all it takes. But you have at least Colton Miller at left tackle and then I think you, Jackson Powers Johnson, who was supposed to be center, that I think is probably just going to play like right guard now, but then Tyler Linderbaum at center. But it's not just that, it's, it's setting protections and everything at the NFL level which. So not only is he literally protecting him, but that earlier in your career, like you want quarterbacks to in theory be able to do all the audibles at the line, but it's really hard right now if you're going to go play the Chargers or the Ravens to figure out or the Seahawks, all these teams were going to figure out the blitzers. So some teams, you need the centers to be able to do that. I think that's one of the reasons since Jason Kelsey retired it's been harder for the Eagles to have, you know, Jalen Hurts wasn't setting all the protections and stuff and now he is. And that's something that's changed. That's just something off Fernando Mendoza's shoulders, which is also kind of what the money's for. So it's like, it's very easy to point be like too much money for that guy. It's not about that. It's about can the offense function without Fernando Mendoza having to do everything pre snap or can he just kind of go and play football? Which I do think that's a lot of what the money's for. But they didn't just do that though. They also went, they resigned Eric Stokes, who's a former first round cornerback for the packers to like a giant contract. They traded a six round pick I think for Taron Johnson, who's a very respected nickel cornerback for the Bills, and then we were excited about that stuff. Then they gave again JALEN NAYLOR Like 10 million a year. But the Ravens went out and spent like what is this, like a hundred, $120 million a year on all these players. So they won the decaf. They won the off season for two years.
- [24:32]
C
Yeah. The Raiders.
- [24:33]
B
Yeah. Sorry. Two years in a row Raiders win the off season.
- [24:36]
D
No, I don't think that we're going to call them the winners of the off season, but I think this is. These are smart moves and moves that are necessary. I mean, look, if you look at next year, so not 2026, but 2027, the Raiders have like 210 million in cap space. They have to start spending some of this money. I didn't. The Jalen Naylor thing I thought was interesting. It's like, man, the back, like a number three receiver is the most highly played, most overpaid, I should say person in football. Right. Like last year it was like two, two outwell for 10 mil. Jalen Naylor. I'm not saying Jalen Naylor is a bad player, but like get it, get double digit millions for a Jalen Naylor. It just seems crazy to me. Then you get like the running backs are just, you know, fighting for scraps to try and get even something near that.
- [25:19]
C
And now. So the Raiders have the first pick in the draft and now they also have the 14th pick in the draft. DK, do you see this as them just getting another offensive lineman and fully buying into building an offensive line for Mendoza?
- [25:31]
D
I kind of think that's the right move to do right now. I mean, there'll be a lot of different options there at 14. I know a lot of people are connecting them with the Penn State guard Vega Yoane.
- [25:44]
B
You got Vega in the name.
- [25:45]
D
Austin pointed out that all the the Vegas group chats are calling him Vegas Yoane. So I think he would make a ton of sense. He's like really another guy who I think just would stabilize their offensive line. I'm sure Kubiak coming out of Seattle is like, look what Gray Zable did for them last year and their offense. Just a guy who's going to go in there. He I think he gave up zero sacks Joanna did over the last two seasons for Penn State. He's just really solid high floor, day one starter. I know generally speaking guards are not considered that high in terms of priority, but I think this is huge.
- [26:16]
B
This would be. Neither was Tyler Linderbaum or neither was able.
- [26:19]
D
I mean Gray's Abel helps a lot with the Seahawks.
- [26:22]
C
Well, yeah. And factor in that not only would continuing to bet on the offensive line and drafting an offensive lineman help Mendoza, but also help Ashton Genti, who last year couldn't get the ball to the line of scrimmage before getting hit. And so in. And seeing what Ken Walker just did, I mean, yeah, you're also investing in Ashton Genti as much as you are Mendoza.
- [26:42]
B
Let's do the fan fiction right now of. Let's just say the Raiders take. Just call them Vegas. You want to at guard. And so they have a first round pick at left guard and right guard, a first round pick from a while ago at left tackle. And then Tyler Linder Obama, first, the highest paid interior lineman at center with Ashton Genti at running back, Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer at tight end. And then just a very, very strange collection of receivers. And Fernando Mendoza, quarterback. I'm like, that actually is the kind of core that can compete with the Chiefs and the Chargers and the Broncos and like that. Actually it's pretty incredible. AFC West.
- [27:11]
D
I can kind of see this working a little bit.
- [27:13]
C
I think what happens all the time is we always declare a team back and then it's a disaster and then we're out. But you have to be smarter than that. The Raiders are now officially back.
- [27:23]
B
Now the Raiders are back.
- [27:24]
D
Yeah, I was thinking that this whole time. I know that I'm kind of a Pete Carroll apologist, but I feel bad for Carroll because he kind of like helped set them by being so terrible, he helped set them on this path. You know what I mean? Like first overall pick, you get the quarterback. In theory, he's going to be a franchise quarterback. And now they're making all these moves that I kind of like. I'm like, poor, poor Carol. He just was sort of the sacrificial lamb for one year and poor Carol,
- [27:48]
B
was he getting $12 million a year to retire for the rest of that Raiders contract.
- [27:52]
D
Look, his, his reputation's not doing so great right now.
- [27:55]
C
He doesn't care about the money. You know.
- [27:57]
D
Come on.
- [27:57]
B
I was going to make some joke about the bay, but the Raiders haven't been with the 49ers in a long time. But the 49ers signed Mike Evans on a three year contract.
- [28:04]
D
God damn it.
- [28:05]
B
I, I kind of didn't think Mike Evans would leave. Dick is joke that the best players always go to the NFC west is really true.
- [28:11]
D
Well, the fact that Max Crosby didn't go to the NFC west was a big win for us, but it's all then like, you know, the Rams did all these crazy moves. They, they went in and traded for Trent McDuffie. I wouldn't call him like a great player, but he's definitely a good player.
- [28:23]
B
Well, I hope you try. McDuffie's great players getting $31 million a year from the Rams.
- [28:27]
D
So I mean multi time all pro, so he's definitely a good player. But then I, I, I, that tweet was more in, in line with like, you know, the Mike Evans of the world, like guys that have been doing it for a really long time. And like I saw that and I was like, God damn it. It's always the 49ers or the Rams, but this is.
- [28:43]
B
Your team won the super bowl, right?
- [28:46]
D
We've, we've been over this hyp. It's you, you're. The hatred for your rivals is stronger than the love for your own team. Anyway, the, this move is interesting. First of all, a guy who's kind of got a reputation for being a little bit hobbled throughout the year, going and playing next to that substation. Interesting.
- [29:02]
B
You say Mike Evans won't get healthier playing near the 49ers substation.
- [29:06]
C
I mean, does he have a reputation for being hobbled? Isn't he like 12 straight years with a thousand yard?
- [29:10]
D
Yeah, but he's always, he's always kind of like limping around with hamstring injury every year.
- [29:13]
C
You know, that's true. You do get the jersey consistency. He, he, you can see him in a Niners uniform, which is important. It just feels like it's going to work.
- [29:22]
D
I do love this for the Niners though. Yeah, I think I, I think Evan still has it.
- [29:27]
C
I mean, it's essentially just upgrading The Juwan Jennings 100.
- [29:31]
D
Yeah.
- [29:31]
C
Who's a free agent who's probably gonna leave.
- [29:33]
D
So they got Ricky Piercel, who I think in theory can still be a very good number two for them going forward. You know, if he can get healthy and stay healthy. So it'd be him and Mike Evans and obviously Kittle if he comes back.
- [29:44]
B
Well, Achilles tear at 31.
- [29:48]
C
Niners are in a weird spot. The Niners are old now, man. I mean, McCaffrey too. Yeah, McCaffrey, Mike Evans, George Kittle coming off in Achilles. They got the Trent Williams situation right now. Like this team is. I don't know if I would call them all in, but they're just old on the off.
- [30:03]
B
Yeah, they're very, I mean, Trent Williams, look at him. We'll see what happens. I don't think they're going to get rid of Trent Williams. They're threatening to but in reality he just wants more money. And they're like you're 37 years old turning 38. But yeah, Kittle's he's like I'm going
- [30:13]
D
to play till I'm 45.
- [30:15]
B
And then Brandon Ayuk who again they agreed to give like $30 million a year and Brandon Ayuk is MIA I don't know if Brandon Ayuk is going to play football again. I don't know what's going on with his knee. So like I don't know. He's certainly done with San Francisco. I don't know if he's going to play for anybody going forward.
- [30:28]
D
Doesn't feel like he's even going to be in the NFL anymore.
- [30:30]
B
I don't think he, I, I think Brandon, I don't know everything with his rehab was very strange for the, for his knee. So I, I think but that, that's kind of what this reflects to me is that yeah, the Niners are going to move on. So Mike Evans and Ricky like Mike Evans is also I think one that works for Shanahan where Mike Evans will also kick the out of some people blocking downfield which I think is important for Cal Shannon. Also Mike Evans like also just kind of a psycho who wants to win Super Bowls. So yeah, I think that's pretty fun for the San Francisco. I'm excited to talk to you guys about this because I don't know what to make of it. So Alec Pierce was like the bell of the ball for free agency and everyone's talking about Alec Pierce as a receiver. Every team photoshopped his him into their team's jersey and everything. He was going to play for every team in the NFL. And then Alec, the Colts blue ball everybody and bring Alec Pierce back immediately at 12:00pm on the dot and resign him for a gajillion dollars. I mean they say four years, $116 million. 116 million. All these numbers are fake by the way, but $29 million a year, like it is like seems three years for like $90 million for Alec Pierce. 30 million a year. It's like that makes brown money.
- [31:36]
C
Like yeah, like this 8, 9 10th highest paid wide receiver in the NFL.
- [31:41]
D
And free agency is wild for you guys.
- [31:43]
B
What do you guys think of this? Of Alec Pierce?
- [31:45]
D
I feel like I'm getting gaslit about how great Alec Pierce is. I, I, I don't want to be Alec Pierce hater because I do think he' in a specific Deep shot role. He's, he's going to create big plays. He's averaged 22 yards per catch the last two seasons, which is absolutely insane. But when I see that number, I'm like, that is very connected to the quarterback. You know what I mean? Like, this is not a guy who can thrive in any situation with any quarterback. He has to have a guy who's willing to chuck it up to him a scheme that's like going to scheme him up for these deep shots off of play action, the marriage that that comes with, with the run game. So I do think it makes sense for him to stay in Indianapolis.
- [32:20]
B
And which quarterback do you think will be throwing to him when Daniel Jones is still recovering from his Achilles?
- [32:23]
D
That's good question. But this, to me, is wild. I, I, I can't, this feels like a massive overpay, in my opinion. So I don't know, it's weird. Like his, his career high for catches is 47. His career high for touchdowns is seven. I, I just, it's kind of wild to me that he is up there with some of the elite receivers in the NFL now in pay. I mean, I think he's a good player, but I'm not trying to be a hater. But this is wild, right?
- [32:46]
C
He's got a great PR team or something. Yeah, because the stock was so high on him and every, I mean, Bill wanted the Patriots to sign him. Everybody wanted Alec Pierce. And I guess it's a beggars can't be choosers situation because free agency is what it is. And, and like we said, giving Creed Humphrey that much money, it's like, I mean, Tyler Linderbaum that much money. It's like if they're available, you got to pay them. You got to bring somebody in and, you know, make a commitment to your team. But I'm like, he's the eighth highest paid wide receiver in the NFL.
- [33:13]
D
Alec Pierce, dude, he's averaged in his career, Craig, 2.5 catches a game.
- [33:19]
B
It's so, yeah, that's 2.5 catches a game. And now he's getting, Last year it
- [33:24]
D
was 3.1 catches a game.
- [33:26]
B
That was his best I, the three
- [33:29]
D
years paying this guy for three catches a game.
- [33:32]
C
I would honestly, him going to the Pats would have made sense to me because I'm like, at least Drake May is like the best deep ball thrower in the NFL.
- [33:39]
D
Right.
- [33:39]
C
And you want to overpay a little bit for a guy that you think you can extract the most value out of because he specifically fits in your system. I guess you can say he was great for the Colts of Daniel Jones last year. But yeah, I mean, Daniel Jones is coming off a broken leg and a torn Achilles. I don't know.
- [33:54]
B
The Colts seem like they are. Like when we. When you look at the Ravens having this midlife crisis, going all in because they need to get a Super bowl, you're like, all right, I get it. That makes sense. And then you see the Bills, Josh Allen going all in. Like, we'll do anything for Super Bowl. Just desperation mode. You're like, all right, that makes sense. And then the Colts are doing it and you're kind of like, what are you doing here? I've. It's kind of sad to see a team chasing one 10 game stretch from last season so hard. Like, The Colts started 8 and 2 once and they're like, we can'. Break the band up. We need everyone coming back. And so you're bringing. Al, the combination of Daniel Jones coming back at. What is the number? $36 million a year again off a torn Achilles. Where I get. You have to bring him back. But I'm like, he's a mobile quarterback with an Achilles Recovery. Alec Pierce, $30 million. They traded Michael Pittman to the Steelers, but I'm like, sauce Gardner gets traded for two first round picks. So the Colts gave up the two first. And frankly, I just feel like this is Chris Ballard, the GM needs to save his job and has been here for eight or nine years. It needs to justify that last year's run can be sustained and they need to go in and they need to justify all these moves they made. And I, I don't know. I think this is very much like the tail wagging the dog. None of this makes sense to me. Like, I don't think anyone thinks in a weird way, Al Pierce going somewhere else. I agree. Craig would make more sense. Alex Pierce returning. It's almost like it's an ick. It's weird.
- [35:15]
C
He's about to have the most expensive 800 yard season of all time next year.
- [35:19]
D
Yeah.
- [35:19]
C
Just to strain the fan. The free agency pre game metaphor, analogy, whatever. This is like when I would go when I was in high school and I would go visit my brother in college and I would show up to the pregame and think I can hang with everybody and take like three shots really quickly and everyone's like, craig, easy, buddy. Like, it's. It's all right. You don't have to do that. Like, that's the Colts being like, like, we're in it, it's, it's Baltimore, it's Buffalo, it's us. We're giving receivers $30 million a year. Like, let's rip Svetka shots.
- [35:48]
B
I, I, and again, I, I know I could. It's easy to be a wet blanket here, but I agree, Craig, because it's like you're doing the shots. You're like, this is easy. I can hang. And the three hours later, like, you actually, your brother has to come take you home. You're throwing up. Like last year, the Patriots tried to sign Chris Godwin and they went back to Tampa. So they gave Stefan Diggs the, the big contract. Everyone's like, oh, look at that. And then guess what? That you very quickly switch to. We'll actually just cut Stefan Diggs to save money. Or the Dolphins are like, in two years, like, we'll actually take the biggest cap it ever to make this guy go away. No offense, but to Alec Pierce. But in two years, do you think it's more likely that we're like, incredible deal. Thank God Indianapolis kept Alec Pierce or it's like we're going to be hearing Adam Schefter by moving some money around. They have released Alec pierce, freeing up $18 million. You know what I mean? I, I, I don't know. I, yeah.
- [36:33]
C
Is Alec Pierce going to be a top 25 receiver drafted in fantasy this year?
- [36:39]
B
I, I guess he has to. And what does he have to do to justify 30 million a year?
- [36:43]
C
Who's gonna, who's the quarterback?
- [36:47]
B
I guess it's Daniel Jones.
- [36:48]
D
This is week one.
- [36:49]
B
This just feels like they're managing up in Indianapolis. I, I think this is strange again,
- [36:56]
D
wide receiver, contracts man, Daniel Jones crazy.
- [36:59]
B
But to Craig's point, I don't know who the quarterback is because, I mean, we just saw Jason Tatum come back from the Achilles. Like, I guess Daniel Jones can too, but he tore it in December. Like, it's not the same as Kirk Cousins coming. Aaron Rodgers tours Achilles. They're older. Week one, like Kirk Cousins had tore it week five and came back. Dylan Jones tore it like what, week 11, like week 12, like that's different recovery. So. Yeah, I, I don't know.
- [37:21]
D
They also did this move in conjunction with another move.
- [37:23]
B
Yes, they traded Michael Pittman to Pittsburgh. Craig, how do you feel?
- [37:30]
C
It's a good deal.
- [37:30]
D
I love this, I love this for the Steelers.
- [37:33]
C
It's a good deal. The Steelers are funny because, like, we were joking about teams being all in. The Steelers are like the most milquetoast all in team where they're like, on paper, this is a good deal. Like three years, 59 million he's making.
- [37:46]
B
How is that on paper a good deal? We just thought that's. That's 20 million a year. Alec Pierce getting 28. Michael Pittman's. I don't know.
- [37:52]
C
It's the same. He's making like top 25ish wide receiver money. Alec Pierce is making top seven.
- [37:58]
B
Why wouldn't you just go and sign Malik Willis at that point?
- [38:02]
C
I'd rather have Aaron Rodgers. I'd rather have Aaron Rodgers and, and, and Michael Pittman than Malik Willis and no Michael.
- [38:08]
B
It so bothers me that Aaron Rodgers can't be bothered to give the Steelers an answer about whether he's returning in March. It's actually insane.
- [38:15]
C
You don't, you don't think it's a good deal that Michael. We're paying Michael Pittman the same amount as Tennessee is paying won Dale Robinson again.
- [38:21]
B
That also is like. I was going to ask you guys
- [38:23]
C
what you think they are making. I'm not a. They are both like 19, 20 million bucks a year. Wandell Robinson and Michael Pittman.
- [38:29]
B
Look.
- [38:29]
C
Yeah, I'm like, Michael Pittman is a really solid, probably overqualified wide receiver, too. Last year he was fucking great on the Colts before Daniel Jones got hurt. He was the wide receiver 10 in fantasy before Daniel Jones got hurt. And he's never had a good quarterback and I think he's a good player and he feels like a Steeler and all that. Do I think this moves the needle tremendously? Like, no. But there's nothing the Steelers can do that will move the needle tremendously because their quarterback situation is. And they are where they are. Do I think they needed a wide receiver and do I think financially from a talent perspective, this is like a solid move? I do. I think this is good. I think they needed a guy like this.
- [39:05]
D
I do.
- [39:06]
C
I think they're going to go to the AFC Championship now.
- [39:08]
B
No, I do think the Steelers have an identity now, which is that they're just huge. They're fucking huge. Like, they're just absolutely huge. DK Metcalf is huge. Michael Pittman, what is he, 6, 4, 2, 25? Like, he's huge. Darnell Washington is like literally the biggest position player in the history of the sport.
- [39:22]
D
Yeah.
- [39:23]
B
And they got rid of little Kenny Gainwell. So sorry about that. Craig got a little.
- [39:27]
C
You're only devastating. My God. Not even for that much money. What did he get, like 2 years, 14 million?
- [39:32]
B
It's so weird because if you just Told me Pittman's there. I'm like, that works with Aaron Rodgers and what he wants to do. And, and so I was like, oh, I bet Rogers has sneakily told them, like, I'm gonna come back. I am really weirded. I, I don't know why Roger's so sensitive about what happened with OTAs and going to the pyramids instead of OTAs, the Jets, like two years ago. But he clearly timed his announcement last year around not being at OTAs, and I kind of think he might do it again this year. I don't know why that mattered him so much, but the Kenneth Gainwell leaving is the only thing that makes me wonder if Aaron Rodgers is not returning, because I feel like if Rogers was coming back, they totally would have kept
- [40:04]
C
Kenny Gainwell Pittsburgh's favorite player. I'm devastated, but I, I think we're going to find out Rogers is back this week.
- [40:12]
B
I, I, I, I don't know why he can't be bothered to tell people by the time they have to spend $100 million. You'd think that he would tell, but, but Kenneth Gamble didn't. Wasn't your leading receiver last year. Kenneth Gainwell had DK Metcalf had, well, 73 catches. He had the most catches on the team for Kenneth Gable last year.
- [40:28]
C
Yeah, he's incredibly versatile, dependable player. I loved him. He came through every time you needed him. I'm devastated that he's gone. He's going to be great for Tampa Bay. Bucky or Bucky Irving fans should be worried because Kenneth Gainwell's about to eat his lunch. He's great.
- [40:43]
D
Talk about, talk about being gaslit.
- [40:46]
C
No, again, was great. Dk, how do you feel about Pittman?
- [40:49]
D
I think it's perfect. I love this for the Steelers. I think he, he's perfect. Compliment to DK Metcalf. Yeah, we were making fun of the Steelers depth chart at receiver like last week, and, you know, having adding a guy who they, I believe is still got some good years ahead of him. He's a session receiver. You know, he's that short, intermediate area where DK Metcalf doesn't necessarily shine. He can run after the catch. He's really tough after the catch. I, I like it. I think it makes a lot of sense. And he was obviously on the outs in Indy. They didn't want to keep paying him what they were paying him, so it makes a ton of sense. And now they have two experienced receivers. They can start to build up the depth chart a little bit more with some Younger guys. But going into the year with DK Metcalf and no one else was knocking at work.
- [41:31]
C
I think this is reasonable. Does it move the needle tremendously? No, but I like it.
- [41:35]
D
I feel like people are kind of out on Pittman. I still think he's good. I don't think he's an elite player or anything.
- [41:40]
C
He was the wide receiver 10 last year before Daniel Jones got hurt. He was playing great. Heifers got him in the ringer fantasy league in like the 15th round and he was fucking awesome.
- [41:49]
D
So, yeah, I think it's great. I like it. And I am sorry that you lost
- [41:52]
C
Gainwell, but there's no headlines to that.
- [41:55]
B
That will.
- [41:55]
C
You can't make a headline with this deal because it's not a disaster. And I don't think it's incredible, but it's solid.
- [42:01]
B
I just. It is funny that Michael Pittman, who the Colts just were pretty happy to push out the door and you're going to get for what is age 29, age 30, whatever.
- [42:13]
C
He's 28.
- [42:14]
B
I like.
- [42:14]
C
Yeah, don't do that thing. He is 28. You added 29. He turns 29 in October. So I think that qualifies as him being 28.
- [42:24]
B
I don't know. You know, you never know.
- [42:25]
C
He is 28 and a half right now.
- [42:27]
B
28.
- [42:27]
D
What number are they going to put on his profile reference page is what I want to know.
- [42:33]
B
The.
- [42:34]
C
This is solid. What were they going to do? I mean, look, I wanted Romeo Dobbs. I think this is like in that range. Are probably, you know, they're paying a little more money than they would have gotten for Dobbs or something like that. But this is exactly who they needed. A guy who can catch passes on a third and six.
- [42:48]
D
I hate to tell you they're going to put 29. They're gonna put 29 next to his. His age there next year. Sorry, Craig.
- [42:55]
B
What was the second round pick you traded for? DK Metcalf and then you gave him $35 million a year. If he can't catch it, pass it.
- [43:01]
C
Well, for a. For every DK Metcalf you need your Tyler Lockett. And the pairing somebody with DK Metcalf works well.
- [43:08]
B
I mean two Tyler lockets in a trench coats as tall as Michael Pittman. I know, I know what you're saying. It's just funny because I think the. It's the opposite of what the Bears did with the DJ Moore trade. Where the Bears are going to pay. I mean, what a Luther Burden, Roma Dunes and Colson Loveland combined going to make well in salary. It's like, is that even $20 million total?
- [43:28]
C
I mean, it's fantastic. The Bears are in a lovely situation, but they can do something that the Steelers can't, which is draft a good wide receiver.
- [43:34]
D
They spent two top 10 picks on
- [43:36]
C
those guys and they've hit on them. Yeah, they've hit, they've hit on them three straight guys. I think Rome's good. I think Luther Burton's good. I'm pretty sure Colston Loveland's good. Yeah, they just went three for three. That's what fucking happens. We talk about this all the time. If you draft guys who are good and it's cheap, yeah, you should, you
- [43:53]
B
should take guys who are good. That is a good point. That is. That does always work.
- [43:56]
E
I would this episode is brought to you by hotels.com save your way as a new feature on hotels.com and it's as simple as it sounds. When you book a trip as a Hotels.com member, you decide how to use your savings. Take the instant savings now or bank the savings as rewards for later. It's your call only@hotels.com Save your way is available to loyalty members in the US and UK and hotels with member prices. Other terms apply. See site for details. This episode is brought to you by Spectrum Business. Fast, reliable Internet means everything for your business and even this podcast. That's why I trust Spectrum business. They keep companies of all sizes connected with Internet, advanced wi fi, phone, TV, mobile services plus 24. 7 US based support. Millions of business owners already trust Spectrum business so visit spectrum.combusiness to learn more. Restrictions apply. Services not available in all areas.
- [44:51]
B
Since I mentioned the trade though, I know it happened a few years ago but we didn't actually hit the Bears the DG Moore trade. So the Bears got Buffalo second rounder which is number 60 overall and the Bills get DG Moore and a fifth round pick which is basically the Bills moved to their second rounder back 100 spots in the draft and in exchange got DJ Moore and these these data free agencies to me so far. Which is when the Bills made this trade. So they got DJ Moore but before free agency had just begun. So not counting these Alec Pierce trades deals and stuff, the Bills had actually had the second most expensive wide receiver group in the NFL. Wow. Only behind Cincinnati. So the Bengals were spending the most money at receiver entering this season with Jamar Chase at Tegans and then the Bills were actually in second place.
- [45:37]
C
How is that possible? Is that money they Owed Stefan Diggs.
- [45:40]
B
It's. Well, they paid Josh Palmer for free agency. They had. They had. D.J. moore is getting 20 million. Yeah. And so, believe it or not, which for a team that actually needs receivers so desperately, I think is hilarious. But I don't know. Dk, what did you make of this, dj? More trade for the Bills. I thought this was also like, like super desperate from Buffalo.
- [45:58]
D
Yeah. I think, number one, it felt like a great trade for the Bears, who get a second round pick, which is massive. They have a lot of work to do with their offensive line, unfortunately, because Dahlman retired. Tripilo or Tripillo has a torn pateller. I can't remember.
- [46:15]
B
Just towards me, the whole thing.
- [46:17]
D
And so, yeah, they're gonna have.
- [46:19]
B
They're gonna have to be super painful.
- [46:21]
D
They're gonna have to do some work. But I think this is a great move for the Bears, who. I mean, DJ Moore was checked out for the vast majority of the last two years. It feels like he did. It felt like he clearly hated Caleb Williams. The connection in between the two of them was very poor. And it just feels like, you know, the arrow is pointing up for Luther Burden, the arrow is pointing up for Loveland. And I think they can get a lot more out of Roma Dunes if he's healthy. So it just made a lot of sense for them to move on from DJ Moore at that point. I think it makes sense for the Bills too, because he does. DJ Moore does give them something that they didn't really have, which is a guy who can play at all three positions at the receiver position. He can get deep beat man coverage,
- [47:01]
B
which nobody on Buffalo good last year.
- [47:02]
D
Exactly. And he has a history with Joe Brady. So I think that there's that element too, which makes it a little less risky for them. So, yeah, I liked it for both teams. I think the Bears probably come out as the quote unquote winner because they get that pick. But it's good for the Bills, who need to kind of invest in that position. You know, this is Brandon Bean kind of, you know, swallowing his ego a little bit and just going. Is that the expression? That sounds weird.
- [47:28]
C
Swallowing his ego.
- [47:29]
D
I don't think that's not the expression.
- [47:31]
B
Swallowing's pride swallowing phrase in general.
- [47:35]
D
Well, whatever. Same deal.
- [47:36]
B
No, no, no, it's good he's swallowing his ego.
- [47:38]
C
I heard you guys. I heard you guys on Bill's pod kind of shitting on this deal for Buffalo. And to be honest, I disagree. I think this is classic off season armchair GM bullshit where everyone's like, A second rounder for DJ Moore. Ridiculous. And it's like, you know when it's me or Heifetz, both you and everybody. Ridiculous. You know when it's going to feel like a good trade. In January when it's like 3rd and 11, DJ Moore makes a huge catch like he did multiple times for the Bears this year. Like that incredible Caleb Williams touchdown in overtime to beat the packers in December. That was to DJ Moore for like 45 years.
- [48:15]
D
Yeah.
- [48:16]
B
And so the Bears season also ended when DG Moore didn't finish a route that Caleb was scrambling on in the overtime of the playoffs. So like when Josh Allen's scrambling in overtime at the playoffs, is it going to finish his fucking route or not?
- [48:27]
C
My point is this. There are certain wide receivers who like to be the number one, and that's Dj Moore. And if they're the number two, they can't deal with it. And DJ Moore getting relegated by these younger guys coming up also after a disastrous first year with Caleb Williams, I, I, I don't say, I'm not saying I understand that or I agree with Dj Moore just like literally bailing mid route. That's, that's insane. But I can see him as like a guy I know is talented. He's 28 years old. He's going to be the number one on Buffalo. They need a guy like this. I'm like, they do.
- [48:56]
B
There is no doubt that they need a guy like this.
- [48:57]
C
That you gave up the 60th pick in the fucking draft. You're trying to win next year in the playoffs and DJ Moore is good. Who else are you going to get? Is aj? Are you going to send a first for AJ Brown and another guy who doesn't fucking play.
- [49:08]
D
You know what?
- [49:09]
B
Cool. You know what would have been cool? Imagine if the Bills could have got like, imagine if like Mike out Evans was available to.
- [49:14]
C
I don't know, to be honest.
- [49:15]
B
Can you imagine Buffalo of Mike Evans if only there was a way for a team to acquire Mike Evans?
- [49:19]
C
I don't know. I guess 33 year old Mike Evans, who we just said is hurt all the time, versus 28 year old DJ Moore. To me, I don't see a huge difference there.
- [49:27]
D
No.
- [49:27]
B
If DJ Moore is good, my opinion
- [49:30]
D
on this is what version of DJ Moore are we talking about here? That's what I want to know because I think I agree with Craig. If we get a good version of Dj Moore, Dj Moore has a renaissance.
- [49:39]
C
DJ Moore's never had a good quarterback
- [49:42]
B
other than Caleb Williams, who you love and Ben Johnson, who's your favorite year,
- [49:45]
C
gave up on him Year one with Caleb Williams. He was like the worst quarterback.
- [49:48]
D
Clearly hates Caleb Williams.
- [49:49]
C
And by the time the second year came around, he was like in a rotation with like four other guys.
- [49:55]
B
So you. But here's the thing. You. Is there any coach in the NFL you like more than Ben Johnson? Because Ben Johnson just like looked at DJ Moore and was like, no, thank you. Not for me. Not like, I can't win with this guy for.
- [50:05]
C
For what they're paying him and for all these draft picks that they've hit on. Yeah, that makes sense.
- [50:09]
B
Him. I get, I get what you're saying. Also part of it's the salaries too. It's like DJ Moore is making a ton of money. And that's also part of it is that DJ Moore. It's not just that they're giving up the 60th pick for DJ Moore because again, I know what you mean. It's like the Bills, Whoever gets the
- [50:20]
C
60th pick, a late second round over D.J. moore, I'm like, dude, he's gonna be. He's gonna have six catches for 120 yards in the, in the AFC championship game.
- [50:29]
B
Some.
- [50:29]
C
Everyone's gonna love it.
- [50:30]
D
Well, the irony, the comparable trades for older receivers like this felt like an open and also.
- [50:35]
B
But Craig, to your point, the irony
- [50:37]
C
is 28, 28 years old is that older. How many old wide receiver get traded? Like, what do we. This is what happens.
- [50:45]
B
But also the irony is you're like, well, it's the 60th pick. You got to go win now. It's like the pick players who've been taken around that range. I mean, D.K. metcalf was the 64th pick. You know what I mean? A.J. brown was the 52nd pick or something. There are good receivers in that range. I get your point though. It's also just. It's a lot of money for Buffalo. They're also redoing their defense. But I get it. It's like you get a good player, he's a good player. I look at it more as it is just the. When I say desperation, it's the kind of thing you have to do when you've just missed on everything else that Buffalo's done. It's like Dalton Kincaid was supposed to be this like two tight end set unlock guy. And frankly, Dalton kids not been like, I guess down the stretch he was good, but he hasn't been healthy. Keon Coleman obviously was a miss taking him. I mean lad, I honestly, the Bills probably would have made a Super bowl by now if they had taken lad McConkie instead of Keith and Coleman. And you just go down the line like the fact that Brandon Cooks was their biggest receiver or their most important receiver in that Broncos game and that he's the guy. So I agree, like, but that's the point is they had to do it and now they have to hope that it works.
- [51:42]
C
Us being like, well, did they overspend on Tyler Linderbaum and paid him like a left tackle? Yeah, but that's what you got to do. I'm like, is this. The Bills fans right now are probably like, I'm excited to have a number one wide receiver on my team who I know is talented and Josh Allen can work with. And I think that's like where the conversation should end.
- [51:59]
B
I totally agree. I just think that I'm not even arguing that much because I like DJ more, I think more than most people. It's just at some point like he had not to make everything about yards. He's 680 yards last year.
- [52:11]
D
I mean, if you, if you look
- [52:12]
B
at revive his career.
- [52:13]
D
Michael Pittman was traded for a late round pick. Swap. So nothing. Rashid Shahid last year, fifth round pick. Jacoby Meyer, fourth round pick. I'm looking trades for receivers over the last couple years. Like George Pickens was a third rounder.
- [52:27]
B
And if Michael Pittman was what, a six for seven, I think that's second.
- [52:30]
C
DJ Moore is like seven picks away from being a third round pick. This is like the end of the pick. They traded the end of second, but
- [52:38]
D
it's still a second round pick. 60 trade it for a third round pick.
- [52:41]
C
I'm just saying if this was the first pick of the third round, everybody would be saying DJ more for a third and talking themselves into it.
- [52:46]
B
And I'm like, that is fair though. That's the word. Second rounder trips everybody up because the second round, it's made up. All the rounds are fucking made up.
- [52:54]
D
Should have just traded him for a third round pick then. That's all I'm saying. I'm not even that against.
- [52:59]
C
I don't think it's that big.
- [53:00]
D
I just thought. You're making it sound like we were killing the Bills for this. I just thought you were.
- [53:05]
C
You guys are screaming.
- [53:05]
D
No, I thought it was slightly better for the Bears. I think it makes sense for the Bills.
- [53:09]
B
I said that the other here. I'll scream, but chill.
- [53:13]
C
You gotta pick a side. Dk. You can't. You can't sit on the fence.
- [53:15]
D
Daddy. Chill.
- [53:16]
B
Well, well. Daddy, chill. Well, something. Well, here's something for DK to scream about. Dk Ken Walker, your Seahawks super bowl mvp. Ken Walker.
- [53:23]
C
Yeah.
- [53:23]
B
This is signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.
- [53:26]
D
Brutal. Brutal for me and the Seahawks because I think this leaves Seattle with almost no one at running back other than Zach Charbonnet, who's coming off Tornadoes.
- [53:34]
B
George Jelani, baby.
- [53:35]
C
This is more of a tilt, I think, like Kansas City.
- [53:38]
D
Yeah. So here's, here's, this is desperate.
- [53:41]
B
It is.
- [53:41]
D
Here's where Kansas City. This is the philosophy or whatever their reasoning for doing this is like the last couple of years, teams have been playing them with, you know, too high coverage shells, basically daring them to run the football. And they haven't had any running backs that could do anything. Like Isaiah Pacheco just, you know, sprints into the back of his blockers.
- [54:02]
B
And then seventh round Isaiah Pacheco off a broken leg. And then Cream Hun, who I don't think would play for the other 31 teams. Right.
- [54:07]
D
He. Well, he wasn't. In fact, he was on his couch. And so I think from their point of view, he, Ken Walker is like a holistic. This is going to help fix our whole offense, not just our run game, because he's going to create explosives on the ground for us. Teams have been begging us to run the football. We'll finally be able to do it with some success and explosiveness and then that can help them revitalize their, Their pass game, basically force teams to defend the run and get them out of those two high shells constantly. So that's like their theory to me again, 14 million for two years or whatever it is. It's 15, maybe 15 million for three average over three years. That's nothing compared to some of these like receiver contracts again. Yeah, I know. This is like absurd to me. This is everything. The high Fitz was complaining about when, you know, the Giants let Saquon leave.
- [54:57]
C
Yeah.
- [54:57]
B
They gave Saquon's 12 million a year to Darius Slayton.
- [55:00]
D
Right. It's like. I, I don't know. I think this is. Even though the, the Chiefs do have a ton of holes on the roster. That's, that's, that's not debatable. I still think this makes sense for them because he's going to create explosives of plays. He hasn't even been as injured as kind of people make him out to be. He's missed a couple games a year. He didn't miss any games this last year. So I don't know. I like it. I, I wish The Seahawks would have kept him.
- [55:22]
B
I mean, he's had a foot injury. He's played through foot injuries for, like years at a time.
- [55:25]
C
I love that. So Mike Evans is injury prone and Kenneth Walker is not. That's what we're deciding again.
- [55:31]
D
I didn't say that. You're putting words in my mouth.
- [55:33]
B
I'm sorry.
- [55:34]
D
The situation is Kenneth Walker can't stay healthy.
- [55:37]
C
Okay.
- [55:38]
D
And he did this year.
- [55:39]
B
So anyway, we spent six games last year.
- [55:43]
D
What? Nice. He played. He played every game this year.
- [55:46]
B
Yeah, well, last. I meant 2024. Ken Walker missed six. I mean, he had never played a full season until last year.
- [55:51]
C
So that was the whole knock on him, is he couldn't stay healthy.
- [55:54]
B
He had never played a full year.
- [55:57]
D
So what? Yeah, but I was saying it was overblown.
- [56:00]
C
Why?
- [56:01]
B
I think because it's not a couple
- [56:03]
D
of games a year. It's not like he missed entire season.
- [56:06]
B
The Seahawks themselves, I think is the point is decided that they actually would not give Ken Walker full workload until they literally ran out of other options. They had no choice, which is why he left.
- [56:16]
C
Can we spend 20 minutes arguing if this is cool or not for the Chiefs?
- [56:20]
B
What do you think? Is it cool?
- [56:22]
C
Yeah, it's cool.
- [56:23]
B
Travis Kellis is coming back.
- [56:26]
C
That's less cool. This is cool, right? Giving. Giving Patrick Mahomes somebody very talented to hand the ball to. We have not seen that before. So this is exciting. Yeah, I don't give a. About the money. This is exciting. I would like to see Kenneth Walker and Patrick Mahomes next to one another. That sounds fun to me.
- [56:46]
B
I think that Andy Reid was just in his basement or whatever watching all the screens for Ken Walker over throughout the playoffs and just like just, you know, getting half job. And he just was like, I'm gonna give this guy whatever the fuck it costs. Because that is really the issue with Kareem Hunt and it just. And. And Pacheco is like the Chiefs. So much of what the Chiefs lost too, is in addition to all the receivers just sucking. Is that like you. Andy Reid has to have a screen game. Like if you can go back to Brian Westbrook with the Eagles. And I do think that's part of what the Ken Walker thing is too.
- [57:14]
D
But he's a. Ken Walker and Brashard Smith are the only running backs on the roster now.
- [57:20]
C
Is it cool?
- [57:21]
D
Yeah, it's cool.
- [57:23]
B
Also, who the Chiefs actually like, need a backup quarterback like Mahomes towards ace. What week did Mahomes Terrace tcl? He says he'll be back for week one, but at the very least he's not like playing in training camp. Like they need a good backup.
- [57:36]
C
Also, this kind of confirms that the Chiefs are not taking Jeremiah Love with the ninth pick in the draft.
- [57:40]
D
Right.
- [57:41]
B
And similar the Saints went ahead and paid a ton of I got to tell you, I used to think I had a little bit of a grip on the Saints, the salary cap and everything. This year broke my goddamn brain. The Saints gave Travis ETN what looks like at least 14 million a year for Travis Etienne. So they claim it's 50 million. That's super fake, but they're going to give him 14 million a year for Travis ETN. And then the Saints also went and signed David Edwards who was on the Rams for a bit and then he was on the Bills last year as a guard. So the Saints actually quietly now are going to have, I think doing off the top of my head, a first round pick at both tackle spots. And they're paying a lot of money for David Edwards and then Tyler Shuck a quarterback and now they're paying a ton for Travis ctn. Like with Chris Olavi, the Saints actually have a pretty massive amount of investment on their offense. But I don't know. Dk, what did you think of Travis CTN did the same.
- [58:27]
D
I think it makes a lot of sense. I think Alvin Camara is nearing the end and there's been some reports that he might even retire.
- [58:33]
B
Now they did something weird with his contract that I had like never even heard of before. So I actually think Camara might be done.
- [58:39]
D
Yeah. So this makes sense from that point of view. I don't understand. I'm not, I'm not even gonna pretend to know how the Saints work their cap. I actually do think they're crying every year, but I think it makes sense for a team and this is why I think I mocked them. Jeremiah 11 the last mock For a team that's looking to develop their young quarterback, having a running back who can take some of the pressure off of you, create explosive plays on the ground again, force offense or force defense, opposing defenses to kind of respect that run game, I think it does matter. You could argue that Travis Etien is not worth what he was paid, but he's still an explosive receiver as over a thousand yards in three out of four seasons. Sorry, explosive runner. But he also is pretty good in the passing game as well. So. So I don't know. It makes sense. This to me is more just interesting because what does it mean for Alvin Camaro going Forward. Is he just done at this point?
- [59:29]
B
I mean, I think, I mean, it's a giant. I think he's.
- [59:31]
C
Cap.
- [59:31]
B
It's as big as any running back in the NFL almost. Cap. It's like $18 million. So he's probably going to retire, I feel like. And they just kind of kept it quiet. But.
- [59:37]
D
But yeah, they have the opportunity here to have a pretty good offensive line. I mean, they've, they've definitely invested in the offensive line over the years. Kelvin Banks was, I think, better than people expected him to be. Last year they had to lease fog on at right tackle. A couple of good interior linemen. Eric McCormick, Caesar Ruiz.
- [59:53]
B
Kelvin Banks is a first round picket left tackle. And then Fuaga. I mean, that's a first round picket right tackle. Right. And then you have a first. Caesar Reeves was a first round picket guard. And so now you have David Edwards. But yeah, I mean, Overall, I mean, ETN, I do agree. If Jalen Naylor, who is the third receiver behind Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison's getting $11 million.
- [60:09]
C
Yeah.
- [60:10]
B
Give Travis ETN 14 million. Again, like the cap is up over $300 million. Like Todd Gurley got a $14 million a year contract as a running back nine, eight or nine years ago when the cap was under $200 million. The cap has gone up more than a third. And the running back contracts are like the same thing. Like these are all good deals.
- [60:29]
C
Yeah. And like just surrounding your young quarterback with talent to see if it's going to work. Get an offensive lineman and a skill player. I'm never going to be upset about that.
- [60:42]
B
Is it cool though? Do you think it's cool? Craig to Travis.
- [60:45]
C
I don't think it's that cool. It's not as cool as slightly less cool. Yeah, for sure.
- [60:49]
D
Do you think Jags fans are sad they're losing etn? No. Yeah.
- [60:54]
C
They got Tootin.
- [60:56]
B
I do think rooting for Tootin, starting running back for Jacksonville, Darn Taten. Other. There's. There's so many. I was gonna say other things.
- [61:03]
D
There's so many other things.
- [61:05]
B
I want to talk about Dallas. Before all this stuff started, Dallas traded for Rashawn Gary, who is the other kind of edge rusher for Green Bay. And they're like, It's a day three pick. Usually that means seventh round. It was a fourth rounder in 2027.
- [61:24]
D
I think the Cowboys look at every day three pick as just a day three pick. They don't differentiate.
- [61:31]
B
We missed that. And I get. Maybe the fourth round's lighter than it Was in the past because of nil. But dude, Rashawn Gary. We didn't talk about this because it happened after we recorded Rashawn Gary posted on Instagram on Friday, like a goodbye to the Green Bay packers fan base that was like photoshopped and like very thoughtful with like giant paragraph, like, thank you to the fans. You guys have been great. You treated me well. Then he deletes it and it was like, I was hacked.
- [61:57]
D
Hacked.
- [61:57]
C
Classic hack.
- [61:58]
D
They hacked me and made this Adam Schefter esque, like graphic design thing to share on my website.
- [62:05]
B
Yeah, it's like, oh no, you got hacked. Did they like, like send a DM to everyone you know and get some phishing scam and try to get everyone's credit cards and Social Security? No, no, they just posted a super sincere, heartfelt vibe. Yeah. So he says it was. So Gary announces that he's being fired on Friday, deletes it, and then the packers turn it into a fourth round pick next year. So that Rashawn Gary, I mean, he's still going to make his cap hit this year for Rashawn Gary is more this year than Michael Parsons is cap hit for Green Bay. Rashawn Gary's capit this year is nineteen and a half million dollars. The whole point of sending a draft pick like, so this is what happens everywhere. This is so like, you know, Schefter Ian Rapaport will be like, oh, this guy's going to get released. And the team doesn't do it yet. And it's like a giant. It's like an ad in the classified. They're like, hey, someone send us a seventh round pick so you don't have to go get this guy in free agency. Agency. And the idea that I'm like, were they really? Did Dallas really have to send a fourth round pick next year for a guy that the packers were literally going to cut if they did not get a deal? I feel like you don't see a fourth cent for a guy.
- [63:08]
D
I think they're going to rework his contract almost surely.
- [63:11]
B
But I mean, they can't cut him now. I mean, Minka Fitzpatrick got dealt to the jets and that's in the division, but that was for like a sixth or a seventh round pick. Like, I don't know. I thought that was nuts.
- [63:20]
C
It's hard to question Jerry when he, when he foresaw Michael Parsons Terry Gaze. So I'm not going to question Jerry.
- [63:28]
B
Do you think Jerry's still cooking?
- [63:30]
C
Yeah, Jerry's always cooking. He's Cooking in the sun.
- [63:34]
B
He knows where it's going to be a year in advance. Other stuff to Texas cut. Joe Mixon. I kind of think his career is, like, over, he's saying.
- [63:40]
D
I would think so. Yes.
- [63:42]
C
So quickly, man.
- [63:44]
B
Yeah, they kept Anil Hunter, too, and Sheldon Rankins and. Yeah, I just. They signed at Ingram. They're just bringing people back. And hopefully C.J. stroud's brain is, you know, not going to malfunction again in the playoffs. Another deal. Well, he mentioned the Wando Robinson to Tennessee. What do you guys make of that? I mean, I. I got, as a Giants fan, horrific. I like Wandale horrific. I'm happy the Giants are not paying Wanda Robinson $20 million a year. I'm like, that we don't need.
- [64:14]
D
Again, I'm just gonna say this. Free agent wide receivers make silly money. It's crazy. The best thing you can do as a receiver is make. Get to free agency. As a mediocre receivers get to free agency.
- [64:24]
C
Like, are you confident that Wandale Robinson is the best wide receiver on the Titans right now? Like, are you confident he's the best?
- [64:32]
B
No, I mean, I think Kimir DK might be better than it at the end of the year. I mean, Wanda, I mean, he was. He was.
- [64:37]
D
He's good at, like, a specific thing. I would say that.
- [64:40]
B
And Brian Dable's the offensive coordinator there, which I think was a good hire for Tennessee. And that's what all these deals are, are guys bringing in guys that they used to work with because they know it'll work. And I. People don't want to spend 20 million a year on someone they've, like, never really met or don't know every day. So the Titans bring in Wando Robinson and the Dolphins, who were with Green Bay, bringing Malik Willis. And like, that is how all this works. Like, again, D.J. more to the bills, as DK said. Like, Joe Brady worked with D.J. moore in Carolina. That is how all this works. But, man, it. It does. I. I get. I get it. Like, Cam Ward needs receivers to throw to, and that's the biggest issue in Tennessee. But it is crazy. The price that it requires to get
- [65:14]
C
this is the new Christian Kirk to Jacksonville. However many years ago that was like, what. What's going on? Wanda Robinson making $20 million a year. I mean, he's like a perfect Tennessee Titan. I just. He's just going to disappear and have four catches a game for 35 yards. You just know that. So now they have. So the Titans receiving room is Wanda Robinson. They have Elick IO Manor the who's going into a second year. They have Chimary DK who's kind of good and I believe led the NFL in all purpose yards.
- [65:40]
D
He did. He's a good returner.
- [65:42]
C
And they have Calvin Ridley I believe is still under contract.
- [65:45]
D
Correct. He's probably gone.
- [65:48]
B
I think he's yeah, cooked.
- [65:50]
D
Hold on.
- [65:52]
B
Wanda's best couple games though still under contract. You want a red flag though? I mean Wandale's games where he went ballistic were week two versus Giants Cowboys when Russell Wilson, the last great game of Russell Wilson's career where he had 142 yards in a touchdown. But that was also like Dallas's secondary before he realized how bad Dallas's defense was. And then he also had the Lions game where the overtime Lions game with Jamis just firing against the Lions defense that was just totally depleted. And then weeks week 17 against the Raiders which again was the Raiders literally trying to lose on purpose. Putting Max Crosby out to pasture for the season to lose and try to get the first pick, which they did. And if you take out those three games, which again Jamis versus the Lions defense, Russ versus the Cowboys defense and then the Raiders literally trying to lose, I think the rest of the season combined he had like 550 yards, 600 yards the other 13 games.
- [66:42]
C
It just doesn't feel like what they needed. I don't know. I feel like Cam Ward needs some big guy who can go up and catch passes and and like make plays down the field. I don't know. Wanda Robinson just feels kind of low ceiling. He.
- [66:53]
D
Yeah, I completely agree. I'm looking at his numbers. He had areas per target 8.5 so underneath target explosive play rate 13 which is very low. And yeah, I don't, I don't see that. I don't understand this. He's a good complimentary piece. Not a guy that you make $20 million and he's really supposed to make him the featured part of your offense.
- [67:14]
B
He's never done anything. He's a really explosive player. That was really good. And then he tore his acl so he came back and then you kind of lose a year because it's like the whole point of being that small and being that is being jittery and you lose the acl. So last year was like the first year that, that he ever looked like he was like a worthy second round pick. But yeah, I, it's, it's just, it's
- [67:30]
C
the free agent tax first round pick.
- [67:32]
B
No, he was the 42nd pick but even that was, I mean for five foot eight receiver it's kind of high for to be the 10th pick of the second round and you're five foot eight.
- [67:40]
D
Yeah, I mean he was basically, he was like a part time running back in college.
- [67:44]
B
Yeah, yeah.
- [67:46]
D
It's just if you look at their the Titans free agent classes, just doesn't feel like this is going to go well.
- [67:52]
B
They also signed Daniel Bellinger, San Diego State legend also because just, just he used to work. Yeah, they just bring in all the Giants because that went so well. The other thing I wanted to mention so I didn't know what to make. So Jalen Phillips, who was the Dolphins pass rusher that got traded to the Eagles at the trade deadline last year or like I guess that was a few months ago. And then people kind of thought that Jalen Phillips would go back to Philadelphia. He signed a four year deal for $120 million in Carolina. Like it absolutely massive. I don't know what the real numbers are but Jalen Phillips is getting at least 30 or 40 million dollars a year. What did you make of this DK?
- [68:23]
D
I got, I, I, I mean it's risky because he's had the injury history but I mean he's a good, he's a really good pass rusher when he's healthy and that's hard to find especially on the open market. I understand why he got this money but it is risky, you know, just because of his injury history. Even goes back to college. Like he retired briefly for a while.
- [68:43]
B
He medically retired in 2018 because he had concussions. He had some issues. He fell on a scootering around the UCLA campus. He got hurt. I mean there a was just a lot of issues for him. But he medically retired from football. And then I mean I remember reading your scouting report about him back in the day. Like the biggest issue for Jaylen Phillips coming out into the NFL was injuries.
- [69:03]
D
Right.
- [69:03]
B
Then he went to Miami in like NFL Miami and then tore his Achilles in 2023, then tore his ACL in 2024.
- [69:12]
D
Yeah.
- [69:12]
B
Then he had one healthy season in 2025 and he's getting $100 million. And I'm like I, I, I, I,
- [69:19]
D
he's good but he's healthy. That's all I can say.
- [69:22]
B
So Jalen Phillips, I, I just feel like that's the most classic like I just feel like I get why you're doing it and this isn't going to work.
- [69:28]
C
Yeah, yeah.
- [69:29]
D
This is an injury risk guy.
- [69:31]
C
Craig Got it.
- [69:33]
D
This, this is what I'm talking about when I talk about injury history, but yeah, I don't know it. Looking at that Panthers defensive line though, they've got some guys on there. They drafted two or three guys last year. Nick Scorton, Princely, Uman, Mealan. And then now they had Jalen Phillips in there. They got Derek Brown, obviously already. I guess that's somewhat interesting. It's hard to talk, hard to get excited about the Panthers. I know that they went to the playoffs and everything, but yeah, things happen fast though.
- [70:03]
B
Teams rise, teams fall. I mean, we're looking. I mean the Lions cut. Are going to cut Taylor Decker, their left tackle. And then I forget which one. He wrote in the group that the penny suit will. The right tackle for the like Lions now is going to be the only offensive lineman left for the lions since the 2024 season.
- [70:16]
C
That is wild how quickly things have changed in Detroit.
- [70:20]
B
Yeah, I mean, Frank. Frank Ragnar, the center retired. Graham Glasgowsko also got let go. Taylor Decker's the left tackle. Kevin Zeitler moved on a year ago. So the line signed Cade Mays at Center to three years, $25 million. So 7 million a year, which again is less than Tyler Linderbaum is going to make per year for the, for the Raiders. And then the Lions got a center, probably the second best center in the market for 7 million a year.
- [70:41]
D
But the Lions, and you know, to a lesser extent the Browns a little bit. It's such an interesting case study and how hard it is. Everybody talks about we got to get, we got to build in the trenches, we got to get an off great offensive line. It's so hard to build and keep a good offensive line together. I mean, look at the Browns from a couple of years ago. Like they had a bunch of first rounders on their offensive line and it was good for a couple of years, but now that group has completely fallen apart. Everybody's gone now. The Lions, who again spent tons and tons of resources to bring in all these guys and had the awesome offensive line, kept it together for like two years and. And now it's completely falling apart. It's just so hard in the NFL. There's so many moving pieces, especially on the offensive line where injuries are such a huge factor every year and money, it's just really, really hard to build that and keep it together for very long at all.
- [71:29]
E
This episode is brought to you by Taxact. Like an expert coach, TaxAct offers step by step guidance and guaranteed accuracy when filing taxes, get tips along the way. Add expert assist to talk to tax experts and let our experts do your taxes for you. With Expert full service, TaxAct helps you find the deductions and credits you deserve so you can get them over with. Visit taxact.com to learn more. Conditions apply. See taxact.com for details. This message is a paid partnership with Apple Card One of the most useful things in my life lately has been my Apple Card. Great for game nights, vacations, just life in general and applying was so easy and quick. You can apply, see your credit limit offer and if approved you can start using your card in minutes. Do it while watching a basketball game. You could start making purchases with Apple Pay before halftime even rolls around. I also love how I can get up to 3% daily cash back on every purchase. That's more daily cash to use for game tickets. I feel like I scored big time when I started using Apple Card. Apply in the Wallet app on your iPhone. Start using it right away with Apple Pay. Subject to credit approval. Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA Salt Lake City Branch terms and
- [72:37]
B
more at applecard.com the Rams speaking which the Rams have decided to just throw a ton of money at their problems too. The Rams so they traded for Trent McDuffie last week. We talked about that. The Rams have Since given Trent McDuffie $31 million a year year, which is just. I have to wrap my mind around that. But yeah, I mean he's a good cornerback. Then they signed Jalen Watson, who's the other chief's cornerback. So they're bringing both Chiefs outside cornerbacks in for what? I mean, basically $50 million a year for both. And then, not to mention the first round pick that they gave. I will, I will give it to the chief cornerbacks. Then they extended Kim Curl at safety. So they just brought everyone back and then added two Chiefs quarterbacks.
- [73:13]
D
I feel like the Rams among every other team are better or more aggressive at addressing obvious issues than any other team in the NFL. I mean, even if you look back a couple years, they're like our quarterback. I don't know if we can get over the hump with our quarterback. Let's just trade for Matt Stafford and make this giant blockbuster move it. They, they are so shameless when it comes to fixing issues and addressing issues that they have. I mean, if you look at after Aaron Donald retired, they went out and drafted a couple guys on the defensive line and all of a sudden the defensive line was fixed like almost immediately. They they're so good at just, just finding those their, their issues and immediately
- [73:50]
C
rectifying it does feel very simple, doesn't it?
- [73:52]
D
Yeah.
- [73:53]
C
Like, well, we don't have good corners, so we'll just give a lot of money to corners. And now we have good corners.
- [73:57]
D
Yeah. Turns out now that's not our biggest weakness. It's great.
- [74:01]
B
The. Greg Rosenthal pointed this out too at NFL Daily where he. And he's so right. Where the Rams have been most aggressive in years where they, they're hosting the super bowl at their stadium. Like they went all in. They gave in like the two first for Jalen Ramsey and everything. Like that was, was the year that they had the original super bowl at Sofi Stadium ran to the state super bowl this year again. Stan Kroenke, the owner, I do think cares a lot about that and I think he's more willing to go all in. And again, the Rams won the Super Bowl. Their own stadium, like, that's insane. And the Rams are going to try to do it again.
- [74:30]
C
Lot of all in teams this year, man. I. There's going to be a real like top heavy and bottom heavy situation. It's going to be a barbell league, dude. Teams like the jets, the Cardinals and the Browns. It is going to be. The Tankathon is going to start quick for those three teams.
- [74:45]
B
Yeah, I agree. The amount of teams that you're kind of like, wow, this really is the year versus teams that have no shot. Like last year, all we talked about was the like, you know, the parody. I, I don't feel that way entering this season at all.
- [74:57]
C
No
- [74:59]
B
other stuff. I mean, this is red Cardinals signed Tyler Algier, which I didn't see coming for 6 million a year.
- [75:05]
D
The car Cardinals did.
- [75:06]
C
Yeah. So maybe, maybe not drafting Jeremiah Love. We're. We're kind of crossing off teams that are going to draft Jeremiah Love.
- [75:15]
B
I was going to say, is it going to be the Titans or Giants?
- [75:17]
C
I'm telling you, it's going to be the fucking Titans, dude.
- [75:19]
B
You think it's going to be the Titans?
- [75:20]
C
I do.
- [75:20]
B
Is it? You know, it's funny, it's because I ruled them out and then you're like, nah, it's the Titans. It really might be though. Yeah.
- [75:26]
D
I think that's so terrible.
- [75:28]
C
I'm sorry.
- [75:30]
D
I know that I was, I argued in favor of, of having a running back for some of these teams, but that's free agency. This is because the reason in a
- [75:38]
B
nutshell is that you'll immediately Pay Jeremiah Love $15 million a year if you take him forth. And it's like, so at that point Just pay Ken Walker 15 million a year. Because the difference is, right, the Raiders get Mendoza for $16 million a year. But if Mendoza was good, he'd be paid 50 or 60. So that is the argument against it. But.
- [75:54]
C
But Ken Walker is injury prone.
- [75:56]
B
That's true. Ken Walker. No, no.
- [75:58]
C
Because now you go through it and you're like, all right, the first three picks are not going to be Jeremiah love. Tennessee at 4 could do it. The Giants are not going to do it. At 5, the Browns are not going to do it.
- [76:06]
D
Some people think the Giants will do it.
- [76:08]
B
For the record, Jeremiah. I think the Giants are more likely to take Jeremiah Love than you think.
- [76:12]
D
I was. I was on the Athletic. The athletic show that. Their live free agency show and they were thinking the Giants were like the team now for Jeremiah Love. I was like, man, I hate that.
- [76:23]
B
I hate that.
- [76:24]
C
I don't believe they're going to do that.
- [76:26]
D
What about Scatterable? I mean, I know he's got a long rehab coming up here.
- [76:30]
C
Is there any chance that the commanders take him at seven?
- [76:34]
D
Sure. Teams do crazy things everywhere.
- [76:38]
C
The commanders have no running backs. They didn't do anything in free agency.
- [76:42]
B
Jacori Crosby. Bill Merritt is alive.
- [76:45]
D
How dare you.
- [76:47]
B
How dare you. How dare you, sir.
- [76:50]
C
The man they call Bill is still playing. Who they. Who they give the ball to, they don't need.
- [76:56]
D
They don't need defense at all. They just. Yeah, let's just outscore everyone.
- [77:00]
B
It's like commanders are quietly falling apart. It's almost like the oldest team in the NFL that was healthy for that one season is. I mean they're just. I. I don't think commander's fans are super happy about just like things are going.
- [77:12]
C
Who's gonna get yards on the commanders this year?
- [77:16]
D
Dude, who trail and Burks, guys.
- [77:19]
C
Yeah, he's back. You have Luke McCaffrey. You have trailing Burks. Your running backs are Jacori, Crosby, Merritt. Is it Austin Eckler? He's coming off an achilles. He's like 31. Like who are they gonna give the ball to, man?
- [77:30]
D
Is it gonna be are the commander is going to be another cautionary tale and how to deal with a rookie like a really valuable rookie contract in terms of like really it up because obviously the first year Jayden Dan was awesome. But yeah, it's kind of tough. Debo. Debo's gone.
- [77:46]
C
They resigned Laramie Tunsil today. Yeah, it slap a running back on that leaf.
- [77:51]
B
Oh, speaking of what. Wait, speak. Speaking of Washington though, the commanders cut Tyler Bayadash God damn it. I'm gonna bridge whatever. They cut their center. Who cares what his name is? His name's Tyler. Like all the other centers. NFL, they're all named Tyler. And the Chargers that immediately signed him for more money. They gave him like Washington went to save $8 million a year and then charges came in and gave him like 10 million a year for three years. And why that isn't a big deal in and of itself. The issue is that you do what every other team does, which is you pretend to cut him and then you trade him to the Chargers and you get a six or seven pick out of it for like a ten minute phone call. And the fact that Washington could not get that accomplished, I think is actually the concern. Which is why were they not if the packers could bilk the Cowboys for a fourth round pick next year when Rashawn Gary had already posted an Instagram release. I don't understand how Washington could have get a seventh round pick out of, out of the Chargers for this if the Chargers are going to give him a three year contract. So that is, it's just the larger. What is, I don't understand what Washington's doing in their front office.
- [78:59]
C
There's a couple other Chargers moves too that happened today where they signed tight end Charlie Kohler from Baltimore.
- [79:06]
D
Yeah.
- [79:06]
C
And they also. This guy's leaving the Chargers. But Zion Johnson, their guard went to The Browns for 32 million guaranteed 3 and $50 million deal.
- [79:14]
B
And they get signed Alec Ingold, the fullback. Mike McDaniel reuniting with his fullback in Miami.
- [79:19]
C
Baby, listen, let me tell you, I think we're going on year five of this, but the Chargers are fucking back charges.
- [79:25]
B
You think this is the year?
- [79:26]
C
Yeah.
- [79:27]
D
Craig, you're going to do a big like soliloquy about how they're finally over the hump. This isn't your same old charge. This is not your father's Chargers.
- [79:36]
B
No.
- [79:36]
D
And then everything is going to immediately fall apart.
- [79:38]
C
You know that meme, that like cartoon about gambling where it's like the guy in the mine. Yeah. He's like one foot away from the diamonds and it's like, this could be you. And then it shows the guy like turning to walk back home. That's, that's us with the Chargers. We are very close to striking oil and it's this year.
- [79:55]
D
Sure. All right.
- [79:59]
B
Any other. I mean, there's a thousand things. Anything else you guys want to talk about? It's funny. The first thing I wrote in this doc from four days ago is Miles Garrett having nine Speedy tickets since 2017 because he got another speeding ticket. But I'm like, yeah, 170. I get it.
- [80:12]
D
Slow down, man.
- [80:12]
C
Just stop. Just get a driver.
- [80:15]
B
Oh, my God. God damn it. Cordell Flot went to the Titans. God damn it. The Titans are just taking all the Giants players.
- [80:22]
D
The Giants are signing people high fits. The Giants signed Isaiah Likely.
- [80:27]
B
Is who the Giants.
- [80:28]
D
Isaiah Likely.
- [80:29]
B
Thrilled to get it. I love Isaiah Likely and I love having and Theo Johnson. It's just too crazy.
- [80:33]
C
Yeah, that's nice.
- [80:34]
D
What, what's the deal with Isaiah Likely reuniting with John Har? He likes playing 50% of the snaps.
- [80:38]
B
The Giants are signing Tremaine Edmonds.
- [80:41]
D
Yeah.
- [80:42]
B
Oh, my God. The Giants need a linebacker so bad. The Giants could have wiped their entire linebacker slate. Just. Let's just get rid of all them. I would have been fine with it. I'm, I'm, I, I don't anyone is an improvement over the Giants linebackers.
- [80:53]
C
The Giants are also another team that we, we might be historically back with the Giants this year.
- [80:59]
B
You think the Giants. You think it's a Giants Chargers Super Bowl? I could be Harbaugh versus Harbaugh.
- [81:07]
C
True. Wow. I do think that the Giants are probably going to be everybody's sleeper team this year.
- [81:15]
B
I mean, I don't think they're going to be very good, but like, yeah, I got the Giants paid a punter. The Giants made a punter the most expensive punter in the NFL. And I'm like, that actually is such a flag.
- [81:25]
C
Yeah, Yeah. I think like the four or five win team that's going to win nine or ten games this year. I think a lot of people are going to pick the Giants fourth place schedule. Harbaugh year two of dart. Malik neighbors back.
- [81:38]
B
You think it's because of the punter they signed for four and a half million dollars a year.
- [81:41]
C
He can really boot it. So who else is going to be the team? New Orleans, Tennessee, maybe.
- [81:47]
D
I don't know.
- [81:49]
B
Everyone's going to be on the Giants because they're going to be like, you know, the Patriots did it last year. This will happen again. Meanwhile. That's not gonna happen.
- [81:54]
C
Maybe Vegas.
- [81:56]
B
Yeah, Vegas. Vegas is fun, but Vegas is. We should just like name our 2027 teams right now. Chargers, Chargers and Raiders for 2027.
- [82:05]
C
Chargers are going to be awesome in 2027.
- [82:07]
B
Oh, yeah. Especially when Alec Pierce gets cut from the culture cap space and he goes to the Raiders. That's going to be so good. Okay. We're gonna have another Episode this week on free agency because there's so many deals. Anything else, you guys, any. What are any other, like things or just takeaways from today? I agree that my biggest takeaway is just the post. Mahomes, acl, Chiefs, afc and all these teams. Seeing the Patriots with Drake may make a Super Bowl. I really do think the flash, their midlife crisis in front of all these teams and the Bills and the Ravens and everyone's just freaking out.
- [82:40]
D
Yeah, this is their year. You gotta go for it.
- [82:44]
C
Chris Godwin tweeted a sad face because left man, I love Chris Godwin.
- [82:51]
B
Back to work, Joe.
- [82:52]
D
Are we back in on Godwin this year, by the way?
- [82:54]
B
No.
- [82:56]
D
What about Abuka?
- [82:57]
C
Who.
- [82:57]
D
Who's gonna catch passes?
- [82:58]
B
Ibuka.
- [83:00]
D
Okay, we'll see.
- [83:02]
B
I'm gonna. Ibuka is gonna be my number one guy for fantasy. I can tell. Everyone's like, what happened to him? Like, it got hurt.
- [83:07]
C
Yeah, he was hurt. Brian Cook to the Bengals.
- [83:13]
D
They do need defensive players.
- [83:15]
B
Yeah, they need that.
- [83:16]
D
So I can see that everyone's just
- [83:18]
B
taking the chief secondary.
- [83:19]
D
I know everybody. I was giving Josh Downs to the. The. To the Bengals, I guess maybe.
- [83:25]
B
Josh Downs. You mean Caleb Downs?
- [83:27]
D
Who do I. I keep calling him that. Yeah, Caleb Downs. That's true. They're brothers. I don't feel that bad. But yeah, no, I kept giving Caleb Downs to them, and now I suppose they could still do it, but that might make it a little less likely.
- [83:39]
B
Do you guys want an email?
- [83:40]
C
You want to just go, yeah, give me an email.
- [83:44]
B
All right, let's see.
- [83:44]
C
Cleanse my palate first, man.
- [83:47]
B
Because there's a lot, man. First of all, we're talking about decaying quesadillas every day. Skip Bayless eats chicken and broccoli from a local Chinese restaurant every single day for 14 years.
- [83:58]
C
Macros king chicken and broccoli, I guess seems a little.
- [84:00]
D
That's probably a little bit more healthy than.
- [84:02]
C
Skip is also weirdly ripped for a man in his mid-70s.
- [84:05]
B
So he works out. He's done cardio every day for an hour for 17 years. No, since 2003.
- [84:11]
C
Yeah.
- [84:11]
B
But then he. I guess during the week at espn, or he used to. He would live in a comfort in. In Bristol, Connecticut, during the week, Monday to Friday. And so he didn't really have a kitchen or anything, so he would just eat chicken and broccoli every day, and he got used to it. So now it's been like 17 years in a row of meeting chicken and broccoli every day for lunch.
- [84:29]
D
Craig, you mentioned he's weirdly ripped. Yeah, as I, as I age, I don't want to turn into the weirdly ripped guy because I think that's like, a little creepy. Is what's the. There's a fine line between being in good shape when you're older and being like, like, that guy looks weird. He's weirdly, weirdly ripped.
- [84:46]
C
I think. I think after 60, you don't need a bicep vein.
- [84:50]
B
What are you saying to RFK Jr. Craig?
- [84:52]
C
I don't think.
- [84:52]
D
Yeah, like, like there's a, there's only a certain. Once you get to be a certain age. I don't want to see your veins everywhere. I don't want to see some very vascular activity.
- [85:01]
C
Well, because you go from wow, that guy's really healthy to wow, I actually think this might be bad for him.
- [85:05]
D
Right. This looks like you're about to explode.
- [85:07]
B
Your body's defending your veins.
- [85:11]
C
I like working out in jeans. That always kind of hurts a little bit. I imagine it does for him as well. Have you guys seen Dude Skip? I don't know why I still follow Skip, but on Twitter now, I don't know how long he's been doing this, but he posts like 10 minute videos of his wife.
- [85:32]
D
Him and his wife, Ernestine.
- [85:34]
C
Ernestine. And it'll be like Ernestine and I debate was the Iran war worth it? And what's the best cupcake frosting flavor? Like, what the fuck is going on?
- [85:45]
D
We are living in a simulation. It's confirmed. I gotta get Ernestine's take on this
- [85:52]
B
back to the Monroe Doctrine. And also, Ernestine likes red velvet.
- [85:58]
C
He's like the best at titling. It's honestly like our titles, to be honest. It's like serious. Less serious. Ridiculous.
- [86:05]
D
He gets it, man. He gets it.
- [86:07]
C
He does get it.
- [86:08]
D
He's a pro. I just love the ones where he just takes his jersey and throws it in the garbage.
- [86:14]
C
Oh, yeah, those are good. He like shakes. He like hold.
- [86:17]
D
He doesn't talk. He just starts the camera. Ernestine's holding the camera for him.
- [86:22]
B
Yeah.
- [86:23]
D
In his or.
- [86:25]
B
I found out. I thought her name was Fern for a little bit because I couldn't tell what he was saying.
- [86:30]
D
And I was Ernestine.
- [86:31]
B
His wife didn't. Fern, but it's Ernestine.
- [86:34]
D
Great name. Anyway, he like, he'll. He'll have her turn on the camera. He stares into the camera, holds up his jersey, storms off, finds the garbage, stuffs it in. Camera off, no words.
- [86:48]
C
ABC cancels Jimmy Kimmel and New York Bagels. Overrated.
- [86:54]
B
What? All right. Thank you, dk. Thank you, Craig. Thank you, the Ravens for content. Thank you, Austin. Thank you, Carlos. Thank you, Abu. Thank you ever for listening emails@ringofancyfootballgmail.com. thank you, Lord Lauren.
- [87:10]
D
Thank you, Childish Gambino.
- [87:12]
B
Nice. Nice.
- [87:14]
D
I was listening to the Stay Woke
- [87:17]
C
song the other day.
- [87:18]
D
It's a banger.
- [87:19]
C
Yeah. Red Bone.
- [87:20]
D
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [87:21]
B
Crazy that that all kind of. He kind of did. Speaking of things someone just did. He kind of just. Just did that and then it was in, get out. Now it's woke. Well, yeah, but that's kind of crazy
- [87:31]
C
that it's just Glover one of the more impressive careers.
- [87:36]
D
Oh, yeah.
- [87:37]
C
For somebody who kind of just can do like writer, actors, singer, songwriter, kind of just can do it all. Little triple threat. I never watched the Mr. Mrs. Smith show that he did on Amazon, but I heard it was good.
- [87:49]
D
Oh, I watched a couple episodes. I like it.
- [87:51]
B
It.
- [87:51]
D
I need to keep watching it. Need to finish it.
- [87:53]
C
Didn't like it enough.
- [87:55]
D
That's. That's not an indication that I didn't like it because I just don't watch shows very much anymore.
- [88:00]
C
But, yeah, he was funny on Community. He used to have a YouTube channel way back in the day called Derek Comedy that I used to watch with my buddies.
- [88:07]
D
Really?
- [88:07]
C
Yes.
- [88:08]
D
And he really has done everything.
- [88:10]
C
Really funny sketches back in the day with. With Donald Glover and like two other guys.
- [88:14]
D
He was also Lando Calrissian.
- [88:16]
C
Yeah.
- [88:17]
D
I mean, he's had a crazy career.
- [88:20]
B
I love Childish Gambino. But his stand up was also good. Like his stand up, stand up funny.
- [88:27]
D
Yeah.
- [88:28]
B
I don't love Community as much as other people, but I also didn't make it out season one, and then everyone gets mad at me for that, but I'm like, I know I need to watch the later seasons, but.
- [88:35]
C
Which is funny. Well, yeah, I guess.
- [88:38]
B
Not over hype. Not overhyped. But I just got too much hype before I watched it. Rather.
- [88:42]
C
It's very culty and it's. People feel protective over Community, honestly, in the same way. I mean, it's the same guy. It's Dan Harmon. It's your Rick and Morty guy. And I feel like people feel the same way about Rick and Morty as they do about Community, where it's like very. It's theirs and no one else's.
- [88:57]
B
But the. Yeah. And everyone tells you to watch it, and then you're like, oh, well, how could this possibly.
- [89:02]
D
I think with. With Community too, it's some of the payoff is in the later seasons where all the, like, inside jokes are coming back and things like that. You know, it was kind of like Arrested Development in a way.
- [89:13]
B
Is that our house?
- [89:14]
D
There's so many bits. What?
- [89:16]
B
No, just. Is that. That looks like our house.
- [89:18]
C
It was kind of like the hipster comedy to, like, on NBC during that stretch when it was like, the Office in Parks and rec and 30 rock and. And, like, that was normie comedy. And then Community was for, like, you know, the underground. People who really understood the.
- [89:32]
D
People with taste.
- [89:33]
C
Yeah, people taste.
- [89:36]
B
And I'm tasteless. I'm just like, Kai, you just.
- [89:39]
D
You're the lowest common denominator. Hyphens. You just like the dumb.
- [89:42]
C
I liked Community. I did not like it as much as those other three shows. I just named Dude.
- [89:47]
D
I had.
- [89:47]
B
I had a friend in high school gave to the entire thing to be on, like. Well, I guess I shouldn't say that, but. Well, it's not a USB. It was fine. It was 20 years ago.
- [89:53]
C
I think it's all right. Yeah, I think you're safe.
- [89:57]
D
They're not gonna throw up.
- [89:57]
B
They wanted me to watch it so bad, and then I was like, it's fine. He was crying.
- [90:03]
C
Is there anything worse than that? It's all right.
- [90:05]
B
God. You know that feeling of, like, when you play a song for someone that you really like and you kind of just have to sit there and just kind of. You're like, yeah, like, it.
- [90:12]
C
I know you feel.
- [90:13]
B
You know what I mean?
- [90:15]
C
Putting on a YouTube video for somebody. This is really funny. Watch this.
- [90:19]
B
You're so vulnerable.
- [90:20]
C
It's like they have 15 seconds in. You're sweating your balls off. We don't have to watch it. We can turn it off.
- [90:25]
B
I wish I never said anything.
- [90:26]
C
Watch it. When you get home, delete this memory.
- [90:29]
D
Yeah,
- [90:31]
B
that's a. My. A lot of my friends joke, the women joke that, like, when a man shows you a YouTube video, just like in their culture, like, that's a sign of great respect, right? Like, when a man shows you a
- [90:45]
D
YouTube video, he's letting you into his world. It's true.
- [90:50]
C
Yeah, it's very true.
- [90:52]
D
This is. It's very similar to, like, the. In a couple where typically. Well, I don't know if it's typical, but generally speaking, like, I like different reels than Skippy likes in terms of. On Instagram and stuff. So when we share it each other's reels. God damn it, Craig. It's not all Amanda Seafried, all right? It's other stuff. It's funny.
- [91:12]
C
Your words, not mine. I wasn't thinking about her. I thought you were going to talk about football, but okay. Oh, oh. I thought you're saying there's a lot of football clips.
- [91:18]
D
Sure, sure. No, but it's like just like you can hear each other cracking up in the other room. And then like you're like I just said something to you and you're like, oh God.
- [91:29]
C
I will say true, intimate modern friendship is just sending your friend like memes back and forth via DM and not responding. That is like the highest level of intimacy.
- [91:42]
D
Maybe like putting like a little like on there or something.
- [91:45]
C
Even that might be too much.
- [91:47]
B
Yeah. You just sit down at dinner like did you watch the memes I sent you, honey? No.
- [91:54]
D
Yeah, yeah.
- [91:54]
C
You didn't see they're opening a bagel shop down the street. I saw you that meme punch the monkey.
- [92:00]
B
The monkey is, is the other monkeys aren't being nice to this monkey. Did you not see Skip Bayless is
- [92:05]
C
talking about the Iran war? Is the tick tock.
- [92:07]
B
I sent you the war know.
- [92:14]
C
I don't want to know.
- [92:17]
B
I do want to know.
- [92:17]
C
The cupcake is on Iran.
- [92:21]
D
I think Craig just sends us clips and says this is 15 minutes long.
- [92:26]
C
It's unbelievable. They're so long. I think they're I have no one to talk to about this. Sometimes I watch them.
- [92:33]
D
No one has time to watch a 15 minute skiff and estein clip.
- [92:38]
C
Dude, he just posted a clip. This was a few days ago with Megan. This is a seven minute clip of him and his wife with Megan the Stallion making her Broadway debut. I respect her achievement in her work because she has achieved a lot and anyone who achieves to that level gets high marks from me because it's hard to get where she is. And it's six minutes of them talking about Megan Thee stallion on Broadway. No one's doing it like him for
- [93:03]
D
probably for good reason.
- [93:04]
B
It
- [93:06]
C
dk. What are you going to talk about Megan Thee stallion on Broadway?
- [93:09]
D
That's a good question.
- [93:11]
C
Oh actually, Here we go. March 4th, Ernestine and I share our thoughts on the war on Iran.
- [93:15]
D
How six minutes long.
- [93:17]
C
Six and a half minutes. I'm going to dive into that.
- [93:24]
B
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