The Case For and Against Every QB in the Draft, and Did We Actually GO to the Moon?

Summary

The Ringer NFL Draft Show — April 9, 2026
Episode Summary: "The Case For and Against Every QB in the Draft, and Did We Actually GO to the Moon?"

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Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the 2026 NFL Draft quarterback class—widely considered a down year for QBs and full of polarizing prospects. Hosts Danny Heifetz, Danny Kelly, and Craig Horlbeck break down each major QB, debating their strengths and weaknesses using a "coin flip" challenge (randomly arguing for or against each player). The show blends sharp football analysis with irreverent humor, pop culture asides, and listener interaction—including a surprisingly spirited debate on whether NASA’s recent “fly-by” counts as “going to the moon.”

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Main Segments & Key Takeaways

1. The Down Year for QBs (01:21 – 03:00)

• General consensus: Weak class, with potential in mid-round prospects, but no superstar.
• Quote ([02:03], Craig): “After two months of no other options, these guys are looking pretty good.”

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2. The Coin Flip QB Debate (03:00 – 53:27)

(Hosts randomly argue for or against each QB)

Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

Pros & Ceiling ([04:15] – [07:01])

• Compared to Joe Burrow: similar size, arm talent, “winning ability,” clutch in big spots.
• Praised for intangibles and development arc, likely to sit behind Kirk Cousins (Raiders).
• Comped also to Philip Rivers (“weird, tough, quirky leader”) and “Tom Hanks in Big”—big frame, youthful energy.
• Quote ([05:54], Kelly): “Mendoza’s just kind of aloof... Mendoza’s in there celebrating with his teammates... not making it about him.”
• Ceiling: “If Joe Burrow was actually Philip Rivers... Floor is Kirk Cousins with a little bit of weird thrown in.” ([13:00], Heifetz)

Cons & Concerns ([07:01] – [10:56])

• Lack of under-center experience, RPO-heavy college system. Bad under pressure at Cal.
• May be effective only with a strong O-line; potential to turn into “Jared Goff after the Rams.”
• Off-field: “Goofball” persona, awkward Heisman stage moment.
• Mobility: Not a dual-threat, “like a young giraffe,” can move in pocket but not a runner ([09:08], Kelly).
• Arm: Slightly above average, but not an elite “cannon.” Similar or a touch stronger than Burrow ([10:22], Kelly & Heifetz).

Situation Fit ([14:58] – [16:56])

• Good landing spot: Raiders, with Clint Kubiak and skill talent (Brock Bowers, Ashton Genti).
• Noted how much situation/coach matters to rookie QB growth; Mendoza’s is better than peers like Caleb Williams’ or Trevor Lawrence’s past situations.

Ty Simpson, Alabama

Pros & Profile ([18:59] – [20:40])

• Only started 1 of 5 college seasons; flashed in the first half before injuries.
• Good arm, athletic; likened to “a smaller Daniel Jones.”
• Can succeed on a good roster: “You can win with him, not necessarily because of him.”
• Quote ([20:22], Kelly): “You can win with him.”

Cons & Fears ([20:55] – [23:34])

• Very limited starts (15 total, 23 years old)—historically a red flag (see Trubisky/Haskins).
• Lacks elite tools; not enough production or experience for an early-round bet.
• “Not a mercenary”—stayed with Bama but at the cost of live game reps.
• Quote ([21:45], Kelly): “To me, especially in this current college landscape, it’s just crazy that he only had one year starting and is already 23.”
• Memorable Exchange ([22:26]): “DK, you didn’t play, can you confirm you did not play in the NFL?” – Craig
  “I did not play in the NFL, you’re right.” – Kelly

Draft Range: Likely late first due to “fifth-year option” value, but risky.

Garrett Nussmeier, LSU

Pros & Profile ([28:05] – [29:17])

• “Plucky, gamer, gunslinger,” loves to “rip passes down the seams.”
• Comp: High end—Baker Mayfield; Mid—Andy Dalton; Low—Sam Howell or “backup with a podcast” ([29:17], Kelly & [32:33], Heifetz).
• More palatable in the third round vs. taking Simpson early.

Cons & Red Flags ([30:34] – [33:17])

• Undersized, decision-making erratic (shotgun “Leroy Jenkins” moments).
• “My dad’s the coach so I won’t get benched” energy; often tries to do too much.
• Deemed likely lifelong backup, eventual “Case Keenum or Colt McCoy” type, probably with a podcast ([32:46], Heifetz).

Drew Aller, Penn State

Pros & Upside ([37:54] – [39:03])

• Prototype size (6'6", 230+), huge arm—“the 1% of the 1%.”
• Comparison: Ball comes out like Justin Herbert; mobility functional.
• “Thirst trap for the Mike McCarthy generation” ([42:42], Heifetz).
• Needs better coaching; injury “cut off” his late-season surge.

Cons & Skepticism ([39:30] – [41:45])

• Quote ([39:45], Kelly): “His accuracy sucks... could get into the NFL and you’re Joe Milton, got a great arm, can throw a thousand yards, but not where you want.”
• Mechanics are a mess, accuracy scattershot outside of structure; comped to “current Joe Flacco.”
• Needs years of development to tweak mechanics, footwork; low probability but high reward.

Carson Beck, Miami (via Georgia)

Pros ([44:55] – [45:52])

• Huge, started 40+ games; size/arm/experience toolset that often succeeds.
• Plays well in rhythm, keeps eyes downfield, “starter potential with right development.”

Cons & Personality Questions ([46:32] – [50:09])

• Only QB drafted with his unique arm surgery (UCL repair).
• Not a great teammate: “threw teammates under the bus,” body language/leadership issues, not welcomed back at Georgia.
• “Not talented enough to start, not a good enough teammate to be a backup” ([48:32], Heifetz).
• Quote ([49:09], Kelly): “Kind of a weird looking guy, bad face.”
• Snapchats: Notable for inappropriate, controversially confident content, allegedly to non-consenting recipients.
  Memorable Exchange: “He Snapchats like a Hall of Famer.” ([51:48], Heifetz)

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3. Rapid-Fire / Wild Card QBs (55:02 – 57:15)

• Taylen Green, Arkansas (via Boise State): “Thinner Anthony Richardson but a four-year starter... 6’6”, 235, 4.36 forty, highest vertical/broad of any QB ever.” ([55:17], Heifetz)
• Cole Payton, North Dakota State: “One-year lefty starter, can be the new Taysom Hill.” ([57:11], Kelly)

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4. QB Draft Preference — “If you were drafting?” ([53:54] – [58:39])

• Kelly’s Pick (Value): Garrett Nussmeier – “I want a guy who’ll rip it, and you can coach out some of his decision-making.”
• Heifetz’s Take (For Fantasy): Ty Simpson for immediate shot, but for highest ceiling: Drew Aller (“higher risk, higher reward”).
• Craig’s Verdict: Aller is the “siren song” — worth the swing on an outlier.

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5. Football News: Dexter Lawrence Trade Rumors ([59:56] – [63:39])

• Heifetz’s Giants bias, but stats showing Dexter Lawrence is “one of the best DTs in the NFL—why would you trade him?”
• Explanation: Importance of interior pass rush, especially in the modern two-high-safety world. “We need bigger boats—big people matter again.”
• Kaden McDonald (OSU) and Peter Woods (Clemson) as interesting draft names.

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6. Listener Q&A, Offbeat & Tangents

• NFL Draft News + Miscellaneous ([63:39] – [81:04])
  • March Madness winner “Yash”—99.9% ESPN, gets Ringer merch.
  • Discussions: Boston sports woes, Red Sox’s “8-hopper” outfield throw, “confident Snapchatter” as backup-QB trait.
  • A’s moving to Sacramento, MLB stadium chaos.
  • Patrick Reed’s nightmare Starbucks order (“32oz of strawberry concentrate”).
  • Masters grill room has no menu (“room of requirement for food,” [69:30])—intimidating, everyone’s dream.
  • Football mailbag, listener e-mails about breakfast, fake high school (Bishop Sycamore) documentary, and air-fry bacon technique.
  • Which animal could you beat in a fight? (Ostriches “can kill lions;” spirited defense against listener mail.)

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7. Moon Landing Debate ([81:04] – [90:13])

• Did NASA “go to the moon” if they just did a fly-around? Is it like a “drive-through”?
• Quote ([82:21], Heifetz): “If you go to the parking lot of a supermarket and then you sit in the parking lot for an hour and then you drive home and your wife’s like, where were you? And you’re like, ‘I went to the supermarket.’”
• Concludes it’s a semantic dodge; real “going to the moon” requires landing.

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8. Pop Culture, Space, Music, & Sign Off ([89:07] – End)

• Banter about the Cassini mission’s “curling” analogy for Saturn, wild space calculations.
• Existential ponderings: Light years, Sun as “8 minutes old,” looking at stars that already exploded.
• Ending with a musical shoutout: “I heard that song ‘I Want to Kiss You All Over’ in a restaurant. Great banger.” ([91:33], Kelly)

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the QB Class:
  “This is a down year for quarterbacks… we’re talking ourselves into guys more and more, but I don’t see elite.” ([13:42], Kelly)

• On Mendoza’s Intangibles:
  “Mendoza’s superpower is not physical—it’s that he makes good decisions, quickly.” ([14:38], Heifetz)

• Biggest Red Flag for QBs:
  “To me, it's just… every time, guys with very, very limited experience fail in the NFL.” ([21:44], Kelly)

• On Nussmeier:
  “My dad’s the coach so I won’t get benched is basically how he plays.” ([31:43], Heifetz)

• On Drew Aller:
  “He’s a thirst trap for the Mike McCarthy generation.” ([42:42], Heifetz)

• On Confident Snapchats:
  “He Snapchats like a Hall of Famer.” ([51:48], Heifetz)
  “Irrational snapchat confidence!” ([52:51], Heifetz)

• Animal Fight Debate:
  “Boys, an ostrich would fold Craig like laundry... Ostriches can kill lions.” ([77:02], Listener email)

• Moon Debate:
  “If you go to the parking lot and sit for an hour... It's like, you might technically be right, but you’re kind of lying.” ([82:21], Heifetz)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:21 – Episode start, QB Class overview
• 03:00 – Coin flip QB debate mechanics explained
• 04:15 – Mendoza “for and against” debate
• 18:59 – Ty Simpson coin flip debate
• 28:05 – Nussmeier “for and against” debate
• 37:54 – Drew Aller “for and against” debate
• 44:55 – Carson Beck “for and against” debate
• 53:54 – Best QB for your team? Roundtable picks
• 59:56 – Dexter Lawrence/Giants trade rumors
• 63:39 – Listener Q&A, random notes & tangents
• 81:04 – “Did we actually go to the moon?” debate
• 91:06 – Sign off, musical moment

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Tone & Style

• Conversational and hilarious: Frequent pop culture detours (Tom Hanks, Batman/Nepo babies, Starbucks drinks) and playful ribbing among friends.
• Deeply analytical: When they get into QB tape, each host offers real scouting takes, historical comps, and statistical references.
• Self-aware and irreverent: The hosts roast their own biases, and the meta-structure (coin flips, live corrections) keeps it fresh and informal.

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Bottom Line

If you skipped the episode, here’s what you missed: a sharp, funny, and revealing breakdown of every 2026 QB prospect worth knowing (and some you don’t need to!), with smart context for why this year’s crop is weird, risky, and possibly hiding a surprise gem. Come for the draft, stay for the space travel and arguments about fighting ostriches.

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Notable Moments for Easy Reference:

• [04:15] Mendoza as Joe Burrow/Phil Rivers hybrid
• [14:38] Mendoza's true superpower: processing speed
• [21:44] Ty Simpson/limited starts red flag
• [29:17] Nussmeier’s “gunslinger, coach’s kid” breakdown
• [39:45] Drew Aller’s accuracy problems (“Happy Gilmore can’t skate”)
• [46:32] Carson Beck’s character/maturity questions
• [51:48] “Irrational snapchat confidence!” sound-off
• [81:04] “Did we actually go to the moon?” bizarro debate

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For more questions, QB takes, moon theories, or to submit your own animal fight scenarios: Email: [e-mail]

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Transcript

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[Danny Heifetz]

Foreign. Welcome to the Ringer NFL Draft Show, AKA the Ringer Fantasy Football Show. My name is Danny Heifette. I'm joined by Danny Kayle and Craig Horlbeck. And today we are going over the quarterbacks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Fernando Mendoza and a bunch of guys who might suck or maybe start right. DK that's right.

[Danny Kelly]

It's a, it's a down year for quarterbacks, I'd say probably, but there are a few intriguing options in the third, fourth round range that I'd be willing to take a. Take a gamble on. I mean, honestly, like when I was watching these guys, I kind of got a little bit excited about potential for development. I'm not saying they'll be year one starters, but there's some tools there with these guys. So we'll get into all those guys.

[Craig Horlbeck]

That's such an early April thought. Actually. After two months of no other options, these guys are looking pretty good.

[Danny Kelly]

Craig, Preseason's gonna be lit. Desert Preseason's gonna be fun.

[Craig Horlbeck]

You like Tom Hanks and Castaway looking at a coconut, you're like, wow, this is actually a filet mignon.

[Danny Heifetz]

You start thinking about eating your friend's legs or something. Like they don't eat that. That's.

[Danny Kelly]

That's probably true. Yeah.

[Craig Horlbeck]

True Aller is toolsy.

[Danny Heifetz]

We're going to go to the quarterback prospects and I'm going to propose something to you guys, on this live, do we want to do the coin flip challenge where DK and I are both prepared to talk about these guys, but we actually are just going to have to end up on opposite sides of the argument. And just about it. I would love to do that.

[Danny Kelly]

Sure. Why not?

[Danny Heifetz]

Let's do. So, Craig, you're on the road. You're in San Francisco for this live rewatchables tonight. So I assume you don't have a coin. You have anything you can flip? And then I'll explain. DK and I are going to just.

[Craig Horlbeck]

So DK equally less likely to have a coin, even if I were home. But I. I have something. I have a. I have a key card. I could.

[Danny Heifetz]

Okay, perfect. So. Well, why don't you explain the gimmick here, Craig? Basically, we're like, we could get. Sit here and tell you about all these bad quarterbacks other than Mendoza, but we. We're going to go ahead and DE and I, we're going to flip a coin or card, whatever. Craig's room key. And then we're going to see. DKI will either have to make the case for or against these people as if we're like their man lawyers.

[Craig Horlbeck]

I love it. This is my favorite exercise to do every year. So I'm happy that we're doing this impromptu right now.

[Danny Kelly]

What is the. What does this flip actually assign? Do we get to choose? Does the winner get to choose or just one side?

[Danny Heifetz]

DK calls a side heads or tails. And if he wins, he gets the pick. Yeah, you're right.

[Danny Kelly]

Actually, I think we should be forced into it.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah, I think. I think we'll just decide. Like, heads means Danny Kelly makes the case for Mendoza. Tails means he makes the case against. Do we want to do that?

[Danny Heifetz]

Yeah, that works.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Okay, great. So we'll start with Mendoza. Heads. Dk, you make the case for him. Tails against him. I'm going to throw this key card in the air on my lap. It was heads, you get pro. Mendoza. High fatigue Mendoza. So we'll always start with the pro, which means, dk, I want you to tell me some comps. I want you to tell me why Mendoza is a great first overall pick

[Danny Kelly]

in the draft, I think. Okay, first of all, the parallels between him and Joe Burrow are actually closer than you might think in terms of size, arm talent, overall, just winning ability. He went out and won the national title. With Indiana. With Indiana. I mean, even Joe Burrow could never have done that. Probably. But yeah, and I think he's. He's big.

[Craig Horlbeck]

You don't think Joe Burrow would have won the national title on that Indiana team. What are you talking.

[Danny Kelly]

We'll never know. We'll never know. Craig. He doesn't. He doesn't have the. He doesn't have the. I don't know what it is. The jene qua.

[Danny Heifetz]

That.

[Danny Kelly]

That Fernando Mendoza has.

[Craig Horlbeck]

You don't think Burrow has j. Qu. All right, I agree.

[Danny Heifetz]

It's not the same genes, I'll give him that. I'm.

[Danny Kelly]

I am his lawyer here. I'm trying to freaking pump him up. All right, so anyways, I mean, BRO is just kind of aloof. He's just in there smoking a cigar by himself. Mendoza's in there celebrating with his teammates. You know what I mean? He's pumping up his teammates. He's not trying to make it about him. Not. Mendo Burrow is a diva. Yeah. No. So basically, Mendoza, here's the story. Great size, very accurate. Obviously, poise in big situations. If you look at his 3rd, 3rd down number, 4th down numbers, latent games, obviously big games. He's always been really clutch. So I think that's what he's bringing into the league. And, you know, there is a development arc that's going to happen here. He's probably going to start. He's. He's probably going to start on the bench behind Kirk Cousins. But I think that's actually good for him. And I think I like the fit here with Kubiak because Kubiak has a history of kind of getting the most out of his quarterback.

[Danny Heifetz]

You said Kubiak, the Seahawks offensive coordinate, is the head coach of the Raiders?

[Danny Kelly]

Yes. Clint Kubiak. Very, very likely going to the Raiders. I think it's.

[Danny Heifetz]

There's only seven Kubias. You just need to clarify sometime for all seven.

[Danny Kelly]

Oh, right. Not Klein, not Clay.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Clay. One of them.

[Danny Kelly]

Clint. I think Clay sounds right. Yeah. There's three Ks, which, you know, you never really want. Three Ks in a row.

[Craig Horlbeck]

No. You never want. No. Unless you're playing baseball, you know.

[Danny Heifetz]

Yeah.

[Danny Kelly]

So that's. That's the elevator pitch on Fernando Mendoza.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Clutch.

[Danny Kelly]

Steely. Little bit of a goofball. In a good way. Complimentary.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Okay. High. Fitz, tell me why Mendoza is overrated. Because he's just in a bad quarterback class.

[Danny Heifetz]

I mean, DK just said he's leading the witness. DK just said he's a goofball. Who's less great quarterback that got called a goofball.

[Craig Horlbeck]

The guy who's going to start in front of him, Kirk Cousins, he was

[Danny Heifetz]

a fourth round pick and every team's Adam got rid of him.

[Danny Kelly]

He's the highest paid quarterback of all time.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Richest quarterback in the NFL.

[Danny Heifetz]

Well that's the. Yeah, he stole a lot of money.

[Danny Kelly]

Tom Brady was a 6 round pick. If it's. What's your point?

[Danny Heifetz]

I think Kirk Cousin I Sorry. I think Fernando Mendoza will be the greatest of all time as a in studio analyst for CBS like he.

[Danny Kelly]

No one prepares like him.

[Danny Heifetz]

That's Fernando Mendoza's like floor is just like the most unbelievable announcer. He'll just run circles around Tom Brady as an announcer. It'll be great. But no, I mean Fernando Mendoza, I mean look, obviously I think he's going to be good and I. I agree with DK there are burrow similarities of which didn't really mention the whole Heisman winning undefeated season as a transfer late

[Danny Kelly]

bloomer that was implied.

[Danny Heifetz]

The problem with Mendoza I think that one he took five snaps under center in college. About as many RPOs as any quarterback in the entire country. Tom Brady's decided to bench Mendoza before he even drafted him. You know what I mean? They're not even going to play him. They're like we're just benching his ass. They're benching his ass before he got there. No, I think that the real issue with Mendoza and if Mendoza doesn't work and we look back and be like how did we miss him? I think the issue is that when Mendoza was at Cal he the offensive line sucked and Mendoza was pretty bad under pressure and unremarkable as a player. And even in the very beginning of Indiana season they really just the quality of Old Dominion in like Indiana State were like pretty bad teams. He was fine and then he got better against good competition. But like Indiana's offensive line was pretty good. If the Raiders offensive line isn't like transformed under Clint Kubiak and Mendoza's pressure then I think Mendoza is closer to like the Jared goff that Sean McVeigh got rid of. You know what I mean? Where he'd be really good on his season. Yeah really good on a stack team like Indiana. But there's also world that if Mendoza is getting a lot of interior pressure maybe he does need. He's not necessarily as transformative of players who want so it's not like a shoo in also he literally said to Ricky Williams on the Heisman trophy stage he's like I'm going to need some. I need to get into girls eventually. Do you have any advice? And he asked that's Ricky Williams.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, that's, that's a little bit of a red flag.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Dk, what are your thoughts on his mobility? He's a big guy. He's not super fast, but, but I mean, he's his most famous Playing college is probably a run.

[Danny Kelly]

Right?

[Craig Horlbeck]

Right. And he ran for 276 yards last year at Indiana. How do you see that translating into the NFL? Like, how much of that will be a part of his game as an NFL quarterback, in your opinion?

[Danny Kelly]

I don't think he's going to be a runner, but he has the athleticism and functional pocket movement to like move around a little bit.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Like a Joe Burrow kind of mobility.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, he's, he's not a statue and he's not unathletic. I think when you, when you talk about guys, pocket passers, some of them are you. You just kind of. They're like a young giraffe or a baby giraffe or whatever. Like they just can't move. They're uncoordinated, lanky, leggy runners. Can't really make things happen outside of structure. And then I do think that Mendoza, when he gets off his spot, there's sometimes like his footwork is a little bit clunky, I would say, but he has the athleticism. We saw that on that run. I mean, he was, you know, he like spun off a guy. He dove into the end zone. It was really impressive run. He, he's not like a bad athlete is what I would say. He's just not, he's not a dual threat quarterback, but he's not a bad

[Craig Horlbeck]

athlete and, and he's not a dual

[Danny Heifetz]

threat quarterback because, I mean, they won the national championship running it in the end zone.

[Danny Kelly]

Well, they're not going to design an offense where he's taking a lot of quarterback keepers. Maybe in key situations he can do it.

[Craig Horlbeck]

How do we feel about his arm strength, particularly dk? Like, is he a, is he. Would you put him in the top half of NFL starting quarterbacks in terms of arm strength?

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, I, I guess like just a little bit slightly above average. In terms of arms.

[Craig Horlbeck]

It is not. Arm strength is not a strength of his.

[Danny Kelly]

Not a cannon, not a can.

[Danny Heifetz]

I think he's got a better arm than Joe Burrow. I think Mendoza does.

[Danny Kelly]

I think that the, if you remember when Burrow was coming out, arm strength was actually a question.

[Danny Heifetz]

It was the only question. Yeah, I think that Mendoza, he's to do the thing that Tom Brady cares about the most, which is from the opposite on 3rd and 10 can you rip a dig to the or can you rip it out to the opposite sideline which is like a third and eight but it's actually a 40 yard throw for third Nate sideways and like Mendoza can do that, no question.

[Craig Horlbeck]

I he also huge. Like I think people, I think his person 235, he's smaller. He's 6, 5, 2, 3.

[Danny Kelly]

I. Yeah.

[Danny Heifetz]

While you guys were talking, I just realized that my new comp, my comparison for Fernando Mendoza, he's Tom Hanks and big. He's a 12 year old boy that suddenly just became like the 23 year old six foot six, number one pick in the draft.

[Danny Kelly]

That's good.

[Danny Heifetz]

But he's really just like 11 years old.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, he's like doing the little like big piano dance in the pocket, you know.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Oh yeah. At the toy store in New York.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah.

[Danny Heifetz]

Just talking about like shout out to the line. I love my hockeys. Golly.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Let's go. Let's freaking go. He dates a woman who then realizes that he's a 12 year old boy inside of a man's body and she doesn't really know what to do with that.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, the parallels are pretty crazy actually.

[Danny Heifetz]

He's. Yeah.

[Craig Horlbeck]

You know this, this comp is going to be loose but the more I watch him and the more I like listen to him. Stay with me here for a second. He kind of reminds me of Philip Rivers because one, they're, they're very similar size. Phil's sneaky big like six, five, two, three. He's, he's a way more athletic Phil Rivers but kind of like the, the really tough, kind of quirky but weird like a good leader. Like Phil doesn't swear. You know, Phil Rivers talk but he doesn't say any swear words. Mendoza I feel like is that same kind of mentality where like he would. He could kind of get guys to run through a wall for them. But he does it in a very like polite, respectful way where it's like oh like you, you maybe don't want to get a beer with him, but you also love him and kind of a weird throwing motion. Like I think Mendoza's throwing motion is a little odd. Philip Rivers is a little odd. I feel like Phil as a deep ball thrower was like he was, he was much better inside 30 yards. Like that's when you really trusted Phil. The long game a little bit messier. He's just a more athletic version of it. But I kind of see like that ceiling for men for Mendoza as like a Phil Rivers type.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I like that. Personality wise. Spot on.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah.

[Danny Kelly]

You know, in terms of the. He's. He's going to be saying fricking and flipping yes to. To his receivers if they run the wrong route.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Come on, flip. Flip and get out there. Come on, guys.

[Danny Heifetz]

The ceiling is if Joe. Yeah. If Joe Burrow was actually Philip Rivers is probably the ceiling and the floor is if Kirk Cousins was also Phil Rivers somehow.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, I think you're under. You're underselling how weird Philip Rivers is. Throwing motion was though. It was the.

[Danny Heifetz]

It was like kind of like.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah. Pushing it.

[Danny Heifetz]

It's like a trebuchet.

[Craig Horlbeck]

He's shot putting it. Yeah, yeah.

[Danny Heifetz]

Shot foot.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Okay.

[Danny Kelly]

But I, I do like that though.

[Danny Heifetz]

But DK how for Fernando Mendoza? I think it's worth staying on him for a second just because he's going to be the number one pick. He is going to be in the NFL time. Like, what is his seat? Like the best version of him. Do you think he's ever like actually an elite quarterback? Like right now, the way we think of Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar. Do you think that his ceiling's like more of a tier two quarterback? And I'm curious how he compares to like cam Ward and C.J. stroud and other quarterbacks has gone high.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, that's tough. I, I feel like I've for most of the draft process and this is just kind of a function of the draft process. As you go along, you talk yourself into guys more and more. I, I kind of. But I, I'm feeling confident that he's going to be a good player. I don't know if elite is necessarily his ceiling. I think above average starter is what you're getting in the NFL, but I mean at that. But the way that we work in the NFL media is for a while there we thought C.J. stroud was an elite quarterback and then he kind of fell off and it just kind of depends on the stats in the year. I think he has within him the ability to be. And when we've seen this with Jared Goff, like one of the leading quarterbacks in terms of quarterback touchdown passes in a season. And then we're going to be talking about how elite he is, but I don't think he has the skill set and tools to be like a Patrick Mahomes type of player, if that makes any sense. But, but it is kind of like. I mean, I don't know. We're, we're. It just depends on your.

[Danny Heifetz]

I think Mendoza's superpower is not necessarily physical. It's that he makes good decisions quickly.

[Danny Kelly]

Right.

[Danny Heifetz]

That's also what Joe Burrow's best.

[Danny Kelly]

I mean, yeah, he plays in rhythm

[Danny Heifetz]

quickly and he's very accurate.

[Danny Kelly]

Plays in rhythm, he's on time. He's accurate. I mean, a guy like that, even if he's not going to run a bunch and maybe put up huge numbers as a runner, can be an elite

[Danny Heifetz]

quarterback, but he's a goofball, as you said.

[Craig Horlbeck]

So, you know, how confident are we in his. The situation he's stepping into? How would we grade it on the scale of kind of where the usual first overall picks land? You would have to say this is decent for a first overall pick landing spot. Right. I mean, the offensive line needs a lot of work, but considering you have an offensive play caller that people seem to really trust who has a great track record and you have some real, I mean, Ashton Genti and Brock Bowers, it's a great place to start. And like, you know, it could have very easily been the Arizona Cardinals with the number one pick in the draft and going into that or, you know, you feel a lot worse or the

[Danny Kelly]

tight like that go down the list. Craig, it's. It's the Jets. I would feel horrible about that.

[Danny Heifetz]

I thought you said their vibes are

[Danny Kelly]

doing great again, you didn't decide it. You misunderstood the actual process of what we were doing there. It was the change in vibes. The Jets, Cardinals, Titans, Browns. Yeah, I'm gonna leave the, I'm gonna leave the Giants out of this because they have a quarterback. The. Let's see, going down the list, the Dolphins. I don't know. Honestly, this is probably the best case scenario of the realistic teams he was going to land with in the top.

[Danny Heifetz]

How much of that's the roster versus your confidence in Kubiak, who's an offensive coordinate that just won a Super Bowl? Sam Darnold.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah. I mean, a lot of it has to do with the offensive system that he's going to be running. I mean, look what Kubiak did with Derek Carr in the beginning of the 2024 season when he was absolutely lighting it up. And Derek putting up very non Derek Carr numbers. Right. So I have a lot of confidence in the system. He did great with Sam Darnold, helped turn Sam Darnold into what he was this last year. And I don't know, I, I do think obviously he has to be a good player. It's not like he's just gonna magically get dropped into the system and be an all pro player. But Yeah, I mean, it could be worse, I guess, is what I'm saying.

[Danny Heifetz]

It's hard to get dropped in and be all pro because he's not going to play.

[Danny Kelly]

Sure. You know, not for at least probably the first half of the year, maybe the entire season, but which again is good for him.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Go backwards. I mean, Cam Ward stepping into the Titans last year, rough situation. Caleb on the Bears, year one, brutal situation. Bryce and in Carolina, not great. I mean, Trevor Lawrence going to that Jags team with Urban Meyer. Disaster. You know, the coach matters a lot, man.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah.

[Craig Horlbeck]

This is one of the better landing spots in a little bit, I would say, for a number one overall pick. And you're in Vegas, which I imagine Mendoza is going to love.

[Danny Kelly]

He's going to have some awesome.

[Danny Heifetz]

He's going to go to Cirque du Soleil with Kirk Cousins.

[Craig Horlbeck]

He's going to have a great time at a magic show. And going to the Sphere.

[Danny Heifetz]

He's going to see the matinee during the daytime.

[Danny Kelly]

Did you see David Copperfield is retiring? I think I saw that.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah.

[Danny Kelly]

Hanging it up.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah. Yeah. I think he's kind of.

[Danny Heifetz]

Is he just saying that to sell tickets?

[Danny Kelly]

Like he's ending his 25 year residency after Craig just made fun of him too hard?

[Craig Horlbeck]

I, I think he's, I think he needs to retire, let's put it that way, for, for a variety of reasons.

[Danny Kelly]

Sure.

[Danny Heifetz]

Nando Mendoza's. Yeah. Drove him to retirement.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah, I, I, Yeah, I think there's, I think there's more there to Copperfield if you dig in a little deeper. Okay. Should we move on to Ty Simpson?

[Danny Heifetz]

Hold on. I'm googling why David Copplefield's really canceling his residency. You got me curious.

[Danny Kelly]

It's an Epstein thing you hit on. Yes.

[Danny Heifetz]

Okay, let's move on. Ty Simpson.

[Craig Horlbeck]

You hit on one of the words canceling his, his residency. Yeah. Ty Simpson back out of Alabama.

[Danny Kelly]

Defend him.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Heads. Dk. No, no. Heads. Dk. This is for Copperfield. Heads. DK has to support Copperfield.

[Danny Kelly]

Sure.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Heads, you support Tyson.

[Danny Heifetz]

That's a. Copperfield could have made the evidence disappear if it was damning.

[Craig Horlbeck]

That's true. That's good and bad.

[Danny Kelly]

Okay, good.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Here we go. Heads, you support Mendoza. Tails, you don't. Tails.

[Danny Kelly]

Simpson, you mean.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Sorry, Simpson. Yes. So tails. Which means DC has to make the case against Ty Simpson. So we'll start with high. Fitz. High fits. Unfortunately for you, you have to tell us why. It's gonna be fantastic. But we'll start with you. Why should I be optimistic? About Ty Simpson.

[Danny Heifetz]

I mean don't worry about the fact that he only started like 1 out of 5 seasons in college and that half of that one season sucked. It like the first half of the season when he was healthy before he lost 11 pounds from his stomach lining getting all fucked up from his back injury and pain pills that like 7 week stretch. Ty Simpson was awesome. DK himself was thinking about time Simpson as maybe the number one pick in the entire draft as of Halloween. Just don't want, don't worry about the Oklahoma Bama game where Chris Fowler's announcing the game and Chris Fowler's like I actually think I can see the static in Ty Simpson's brain during this game. That doesn't matter because he was hurt. But the first seven weeks Ty Simpson was fantastic. And in all seriousness, he could throw. He's good. He's a little small but he has good arm. He can throw in the run. He's mobile. He's honestly like a smaller Daniel Jones. And I think if you look like there are a lot of quarterbacks similar to some hair brain mistakes but like I think that the first half is his art. Ty Simpson's arm is not as good as Sam Darnold. But I think Ty Simpson has some similarities to Donald where if you can get past some of the infuriating face palm mistakes like Ty Simpson actually could take a, like a, pretty good, like a, like a good roster on a playoff run. And he's accurate, he's decision making. He is able to do stuff with the offensive line probably at a higher level than other teams. And Bama's offensive line sucked. They couldn't run the ball and he still got into the playoff anyway.

[Craig Horlbeck]

So you, you can't, you probably won't win because of him, but you're saying you won't lose because of him either. He, he can be on a good team and, and, and work.

[Danny Kelly]

You can win with him.

[Danny Heifetz]

Yes. And he's the kind of guy that like should it be the first pick? No. But the idea of like well you can't take him in the first round. It's like well if he. Jackson dart Tyler Schuck, like some of these guys have done really well. And so I think that Ty Simpson's odds of being like a good in service a quarterback are actually pretty high if he goes to the right team.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Daniel Jones, but smaller does kind of send a chill down my spine. But I don't know.

[Danny Heifetz]

Well, Daniel Jones's spine is influencing your thinking because. Yeah.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah.

[Danny Heifetz]

2019.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Okay. D.K. you have the easy task here.

[Danny Kelly]

You know how some teams have arm length benchmarks and maybe 40 time benchmarks for cornerbacks or whatever like that. I've got, and this is a new thing that I've started this year. I've got starts, benchmarks for, for quarterbacks in the benchmark in. Yes, right. He was on the bench for too many starts. So to me the big thing here is he's coming into the NFL, you know, a little bit older already for a prospect, but very inexperienced. It's a weird, weird sort of contrast that, you know, in the current college structure you have these guys that are transferring three or four times, getting a lot of experience. We saw this with Bo Nicks. He had a ton of college starts. I think he had the most college starts of any college quarterback.

[Danny Heifetz]

Those guys are just transfer cowards selling their services to the highest bidder. Unlike the loyalty of Ty Simpson, who waited his turn at Alabama.

[Danny Kelly]

That was this, that was better than anything you did during your defense, by the way. But yeah, I mean, I think to me, especially in this current college landscape, it's just crazy that he only had one year starting and is going to be. He's already 23 years old. Coming into patient and to me that is just. I am not willing, if I'm a gm, I am not willing to bet on that profile with an early round pick. Too many times in the past, pretty much every time in the past almost, we've seen guys with that very, very limited experience fail in the NFL. Very obvious reasons. Everyone's fast, everyone's bigger, faster, stronger. Yeah.

[Danny Heifetz]

Ty Simpson is not a bloodthirsty mercenary. Just trying, just cares about putting the program himself.

[Danny Kelly]

Hyphens isn't in his natural state. Unless he's interrupting people and trying to like back them off of their points. He can't, he can't just do like an opening statement. He's really good at interrupting though.

[Craig Horlbeck]

It does seem to work.

[Danny Kelly]

It does. It gets me off track. What was I even talking about? Oh, the, the people with 15 or fewer.

[Craig Horlbeck]

That strategy.

[Danny Kelly]

Craig, here are the, Here are the quarterbacks over the last 10 years with 15 or fewer. 15 starts is what Ty Simpson has in college. And here's, here's the quarterbacks in the last 10 years with 15 or fewer starts that went in the first round. Mitch Trubisky, Dwayne Haskins, Anthony Richardson. I mean, Anthony Richardson is kind of a good example of this where it's like the physical tools were outstanding, but this guy just clearly needs way more reps throwing a football, especially against very, very good defenses with very fast and big players. I just think it's so. It is such a logical thing for me. I understand that he could. Ty Simpson could be a big outlier and develop in the league and maybe sit for a couple of years and then come out and be a starter at some point. I think that's probably a possibility, but I'm just not willing to bet on that. With a first round pick, you just need more reps. You just need more practice.

[Craig Horlbeck]

At least with Anthony Richardson, you can tell yourself he is such an outlier physically in every regard. Yeah, it's worth it. Ty Simpson is like, it's the worst of both worlds. He doesn't have a lot of production. He's older and doesn't have the Bo Nicks. Oh, well, at least he started 55 games or whatever.

[Danny Kelly]

Or Brock Purdy who started a bunch of games.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Exactly. But then he's also not the Anthony Richardson. Well, it's like, well, yeah, sure, he didn't play a lot of games, but I mean, physically, this guy's a freak of nature. He doesn't have either of those things. Right.

[Danny Heifetz]

But Ty Simpson's dad is a football coach. And so if you think about the coach, he doesn't need to play that much. It's in his brain. And also Dan Orlovsky, ESPN said Ty Simpson maybe should be the number one pick over Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders. So, dk, what are you saying? Dan Orlovsky, stupid?

[Danny Kelly]

No, I'm just saying that's not a bet I would take. I would not do that personally. And that's not to say there's played

[Craig Horlbeck]

the NFL quarterback position and he thinks Ty Simpson could be better than Mendoza.

[Danny Heifetz]

So yeah, that's what he's saying.

[Danny Kelly]

Dk, you didn't play. You know, that's. That's fair. That's fair. If he was gm, I am letting him make that choice. I.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Can you confirm. Can you confirm that you did not play in the NFL?

[Danny Kelly]

I did not play in the NFL. You're right.

[Craig Horlbeck]

That's right. No further questions.

[Danny Heifetz]

No further questions.

[Danny Kelly]

I watched this movie, Craig. I watched this movie Nuremberg last night, which is all about the Nuremberg trials.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Is Russell Crowe in that?

[Danny Heifetz]

Yes. He's big Russell Crowe. I scrolled right back and during. It's funny. Our show be on Netflix is funny because sometimes it's just like Peaky Blinders, Tommy Shelby and then like us and I'm like, that's.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, Russell Crowe as Herman Gehring and. And then there's us, right?

[Danny Heifetz]

Yeah. So we're next to each other. I'm like, that's crazy.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah. So anyways, that's how I feel right now. I feel like I'm on the stand at Nuremberg. Craig's just interrupting and you feel like a Nazi. Ask it. You're trying to trap me here. Yeah, exactly. Craig,

[Craig Horlbeck]

where do you think Ty Simpson is going to go if you had to bet? Is he going to go in the first round?

[Danny Kelly]

If I had to bet late first

[Craig Horlbeck]

you do you think someone's going to trade up to get him?

[Danny Heifetz]

Yeah, I think first, which I think

[Danny Kelly]

is probably not a good idea.

[Danny Heifetz]

So for a couple reasons, I think, I think yes, Ty Simpson does go in the first round because one, so the way that contracts work, so every player in the NFL who get drafted, they all get a four year deal for a preset amount of money. Basically bet based on where you're drafted, not the position you play. And so the first rounders, though, there's a. The team also gets a fifth year option. So I think that this is like the Ravens took Lamar Jackson 32nd. They traded back in. They get the fifth year option. I think for a quarterback like Ty Simpson, like, you're probably going to do that. And also there's probably a big enough gap between him and the next guys coming up that a team is probably going to. If you want Ty Simpson, like if the Cardinals want him at the 35th pick or whatever, just trade like a third or fourth rounder and get the extra fifth year on his contract. Because if he's going to be good, you might as well have him. So I do think Ty Simpson goes in the first round.

[Danny Kelly]

The Ty Simpson discussion reminds me so much of the Trey Lance stuff that we talked about prior to that draft where we were like, this guy's thrown like 215 passes since high school. And it just matters to me. It just matters.

[Danny Heifetz]

Simpson played at Bama and Trey Lance was North Dakota State.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah.

[Danny Kelly]

But Trey Lance was like a physical freak and, and you know, has this dual threat ability and you could kind of talk yourself into that. To me, it's like Ty Simpson being small, undersized and very inexperienced. Like to me that, okay, that's just. I'm not making that bet fair.

[Danny Heifetz]

You know who completed the most. He completed the most passes in all college football this year. Ty Simpson did. Literally had the most completions of any quarterback.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, yeah, that's true.

[Danny Heifetz]

The most attempts, one with four passes.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Credit to you. That was a valiant attempt to defend Tyson's Great job.

[Danny Heifetz]

I. My. I pulled through. I had to skip over my notes here because I almost read the one out loud that said I. When I was watching Bam. Oklahoma, I said, I know one of these quarterbacks got thumb surgery this season, but I don't. I can't tell which one I know.

[Danny Kelly]

Hi, Hyp. I wish I could pull up some of your texts from. From talking about Ty Simpson in the group chat. You're like, there. There's absolutely no way he's coming out, right? He has to go back to school.

[Danny Heifetz]

Oh, wait, back in school play. No, I want that stricken for the record.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Okay, let's move on to Garrett Nussmeier, the quarterback at lsu. Another guy who's been on the same team for five years.

[Danny Kelly]

I will flip the card so condescendingly.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Dk, heads, you support Nussmeier. Tails, you're against him. All right, it is heads. All right, so you are making the case for the LSU quarterback. Dk, Tell me a little bit about Nussy.

[Danny Kelly]

Nussmeyer is arbitrage. Ty Simpson, but way cheaper.

[Craig Horlbeck]

He's.

[Danny Kelly]

The storylines are very similar. Both coaches, sons, both, you know, physically a little. A little bit limited, undersized guys. So basically, Nussmeyer, I think, was just over 200 pounds, 6 foot 1. That's obviously not prototypical size, but that's exactly around where Ty Simpson is as well. The thing I really like about Nussmeier, he is plucky. He is willing to rip it. You know how I talk about Baker Mayfield just absolutely ripping passes. Just loves to rip passes. There's nothing he'd rather be doing in life. He was born to rip passes down the seams. That's how I feel about Nussm. Dude loves throwing. He just loves ripping passes down seams.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Man, he.

[Danny Kelly]

Nothing better in life than, you know, fishing and ripping passes. That's just kind of how I get it. That's how I imagine he. He lives his life. So basically, yes, he is undersized. The play fell off this last year.

[Craig Horlbeck]

We're like two minutes in, and we just have. He's. He's small and he rips passes.

[Danny Kelly]

That's basically all you need to know. That's. That's the elevator pitch. You want somebody who's gonna rip passes.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Give me a comp. Is it comp Baker Mayfield? Like, who's your comp?

[Danny Kelly]

The high end comp to me would be like, a guy like Baker Mayfield. Yeah. I put high end Baker Mayfield mid range with someone like Andy Dalton. Low end Sam Howell, where ripping passes yeah, derogatory. But yeah, to me, if you're getting him in the third round, that's much more palatable than taking someone in the first round. I don't really understand why no one's talking about Nessmeyer. Because there are, there are some really good, there are some good tape on him in terms of what he did in 2024. His play fell off this last year and he was hurt. He had some abdominal injury that he said was excruciating every time he tried to throw the football, which is the main thing that quarterbacks do is throw the football. But yeah, he makes plays out of structure. He's got some gamer to him where, you know, if things break down, he's willing to get outside the pocket and he keeps his eyes downfield. He tries to push it downfield. Sometimes that ends up being bad. He basically, I'm going to do hyphens his job for him here. He sometimes kind of short circuits and it will just throw these passes that you're like, what the are you doing?

[Danny Heifetz]

Only in the most important parts of the biggest games, right?

[Danny Kelly]

Correct. So that is why he's going to be a third rounder. If he didn't do that, he probably would go higher. But so to me that you have to, you have to massage that part of his game out of him. But he's a gunslinger. He has a gunslinger mentality. If he can be a little bit more of a game manager, I think he could be a starter in the NFL.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Hi.

[Danny Heifetz]

This Meyer is a gunslinger. And then I like when I went to watch him, I was like, wow. Shoots himself in the foot a lot. Like he grabs got.

[Danny Kelly]

Sometimes he shoots himself though.

[Danny Heifetz]

Plax Go Burroughs. Real, real gunslinger black. I'm like watching Garrett Nussb. I. I can't get over this sequence from the Bama game with obviously LSU. Bam is a huge game. And the LSU's down 14 and they're at like the goal line. They're at like the five yard line. It's third down and they're down 14. But there's like 25 minutes left. So if they score, they're down seven, it's a game and they're like at the five. And Garrett Nussmeier has the cleanest pocket ever. And he just like tries to, you know when Aaron Rodgers will just like throw but just drift backward for no reason.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Danny Heifetz]

Garrett Nussm does that.

[Danny Kelly]

Cool and feels cool.

[Danny Heifetz]

Yeah, he does that all the time when there's no pressure. But he doesn't have a good Arm so it just almost gets intercepted. This happens all the time. So Garrett Nussmeier, he's like a coach. His dad is the court offensive coordinator for the Saints. Watching him, you'd never know it. Like, he's clearly smart, but his fundamentals are like shot. He is shockingly more like not like coach's son, more like, my dad is the coach. I won't get benched. And he's trying to do cool shit and look cool. But like, I'm amazing how.

[Danny Kelly]

That's a really good point you make. My dad's the coach, so I won't get benched is like basically how he plays.

[Danny Heifetz]

And he. That wasn't actually. But he does play that way. And I can't believe that the like arrogance of like he. Of this arm talent that he doesn't actually have. And it shows up in big moments that he clearly doesn't have. Like, he doesn't step into passes, he steps back.

[Danny Kelly]

Like, what's the. What does that mean? That it's like the. Put the guys on. Put. Put the team on your shoulder. It's like the video game meme where the guy just goes crazy.

[Danny Heifetz]

Leroy Jenkins, I don't know.

[Danny Kelly]

This is like, you know, the Leroy Jenkins or whatever.

[Danny Heifetz]

Oh, Leroy Jenkins.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, that. That's like sometimes what he feels like he's doing in games. It's like, okay, man, here's the play. We're going to hand it off and we're going to get four yards in the first down. And then he like calls an audible and throws like a horrific pick.

[Danny Heifetz]

He just dicks around a lot. No smart. And here's the thing. I do think, I think no Smarter is clearly a smart player in the sense that like his dad's a coach and he clearly gets. I think Garrett Nussmeier was born to be a backup quarterback. I think that he's going to be a backup quarterback for a long time. And I think he's going to have

[Danny Kelly]

a podcast in 20, 32.

[Craig Horlbeck]

100%.

[Danny Heifetz]

Yeah, he'll be on. He'll replace Matt Castle on his podcast or whatever. And Garrett Nussmayer, he's going to have a decade long career. He'll have a lot of stories between his dad and him. He's going to be great at preparing other guys to play on Sunday. And he'll make a couple of spot starts and he'll be like a Case Keenum or a Colt McCoy and he'll be like, oh, that guy's kind of good. Should he play? No. And I bet Maybe he'll start for the Browns one year. But like overall, Drew Lock, he's got

[Danny Kelly]

some Drew Lock to him.

[Danny Heifetz]

Yeah, he'll take hits like he's a good backup quarterback. Like he's smart, but he.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Who was that Chargers backup? There was a backup that everybody loved who was. Who would bounce around and was see Voltech or something.

[Danny Kelly]

What was it?

[Danny Heifetz]

Well, Billy Vck was a kicker.

[Craig Horlbeck]

V. No. Was there a Chargers backup for a while that everybody was like, this is the best backup in the world.

[Danny Heifetz]

Talk about Charlie White Rivers played like

[Craig Horlbeck]

East 20 years, not Easton stick. I don't know. I'm not gonna remember it.

[Danny Heifetz]

You think about like Matt Schaub and the Texans or he was like the Falcons back up. No, I don't know.

[Danny Kelly]

I'll figure you're thinking of Billy Volek.

[Craig Horlbeck]

I'm not.

[Danny Heifetz]

Who did I just. You're right. Why did I confuse Billy Volk with a kicker? Who's the kicker? I'm thinking.

[Danny Kelly]

I don't know. Long time Chargers backup. Craig, that's you. You were the long.

[Danny Heifetz]

Yeah, you're the backup for the church. You were the quarter. You were the Charger.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Oh my God, you're right. I'm the beloved backup.

[Danny Heifetz]

There you go.

[Danny Kelly]

I forgot about ringer fantasy lore.

[Craig Horlbeck]

No, it was fucking Chase Daniel. Chase Daniel.

[Danny Kelly]

He has a podcast.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah, he does have a podcast.

[Danny Heifetz]

Nussmeier is going to have a great podcast. He'll do some hunting on it. It's good. And the other weird similarity between Ty Simpson and Garrett Nuss Meyer is that their dads are coaches. Obviously. You know, Bama LSU didn't transfer, stayed there for a long time behind two different quarterbacks. You know, Jaden Daniels obviously was starting for Nussmeier. I think the other weird similarities they're both. If they end up being good, we'll look back at. Well, they were pretty hurt last year and you actually had to like really take a leap of faith that it greatly affected their play because Nussmeier with this abdominal injury. Ty Simpson again the. Basically had after Halloween when Ty Simpson is back like half the touchdowns, twice the picks, way worse completion percentage. And yeah, Nussmeier basically says his whole year. He says Nussmeier said he didn't actually know what was wrong with him until the season ended in January, like between. The flip side is just also sounds like some shit an agent might tell you to say right before the draft if you kind of sucked. So it's tough to know.

[Craig Horlbeck]

This whole draft is fascinating because you can make the case that all these quarterbacks we're going to talk about today, the big. So there's, there's, it's funny because Ty Simpson, Garrett Nessmeier, Carson Beck and Drew Aller all at one point were seen as maybe the number one overall pick in the draft.

[Danny Kelly]

Right, Right.

[Craig Horlbeck]

And Mendoza wasn't. And it's funny that, you know, I mean, Ty Simpson was the best quarterback in college football for the first half of this season. Garrett Nussmeier, 2024, was like, is this guy the best quarterback in the draft? Drew Aller, when he was kind of rising was like the physical tools on this guy before he got hurt, it was like, is he the number one overall pick? And then Carson Beck, before he kind of collapsed, there was, there were moments when people thought he would.

[Danny Kelly]

This is why, again, this is why experience matters. This is why a sample size is. Has to be large enough to see who they really are. So many times, so many times people get really excited about really small samples. And you know, that was like last year with Nuss Meyer. People thought he might be a top 10 pick. And then things fell apart this year, Ty Simpson for a while in October, whatever was going to be the top quarterback taken. And then things fell apart. Turns out like having a long timeline where players are performing at a high level. By the way, Mendoza just got better and better over time. That's exactly what you're looking for, you know, and Heifet's brought up what, what Mendoza was doing at Cal. It's like, yeah, he got better as he went along. He improved. Yeah, that's what you're looking for. You're not looking for someone who had like three or four games where they looked awesome because you could kind of like do that with a lot of guys. And then they totally fell apart. The decision making wasn't there. It's such. Football is already a small sample sport where, you know, a handful of plays have outsized difference in how we view players and how games are won or lost. So I don't know. To me that's. That, that's the biggest argument you can make is why experience matters. With, with college quarterbacks coming into the

[Craig Horlbeck]

NFL, we'll move off Nussmeier. His dad is the offensive coordinator for the Saints currently, correct? Yes, he, his dad, Doug, Doug Nussmeier was the quarterbacks coach for Dallas with McCarthy. So I'm like, I'm a little, I wonder if the Steelers are going to take this guy in the third round.

[Danny Heifetz]

I, I gotta, I can tell you the Steelers are Gonna take.

[Danny Kelly]

I think that would be exciting if they did great.

[Craig Horlbeck]

You think they're gonna take Drew Aller?

[Danny Heifetz]

I think the Steelers are gonna take Drew Aller. I'm not even kidding. Mike McCarthy said a couple weeks ago, he was like, we want a quarterback. You saw my Favre and there's no he the kind of quarterback he wants. Big hands, tall, like can throw really fast and win.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Because Meyer is just drafting Kenny Pickett again. And yeah, I do think I, I don't disagree. They have like a thousand third round picks. The Steelers as well.

[Danny Heifetz]

I. I think. Should we just do Drew Aller now?

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah, sure. Let's do Drew out. Penn State. We'll. We'll flip the card right now. DK heads, your form tells you're against him card. It's tails high. Fitz pro. Drew Aller. Let's do it. You're. You're Mike McCarthy's right hand man. You're a scout. Why are we into Drew Aller?

[Danny Heifetz]

Because he has everything you can't teach. Drew aller is like six, six. He's like what, 230. He looks. He's the prototype. What you want a quarterback to look, throw like everything. He. Honestly, purely just aesthetically, I think Drew Allers, the ball, the way his ball comes off his hand, it looks like Justin Herbert, like Drew Allard probably could step into the NFL day one and have like a top six arm. Not the elasticity of Mahomes or anything, but just he can throw it as far as just Herbert with this. The speed at which his ball can go from the opposite hash to the sideline, it's. You can't. It is the 1% of the 1%. The pocket mobility is fine, but it's good enough. And that what Drew Aller needs is better coaching than James Franklin. Who. How much did Pennsylvania, this is the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, have to pay to get rid of James Franklin? Like, Penn State was a mess. Drew Aller, he broke his ankle midway or really like a third of the way through the season. So he didn't get the improvement of Fernando Mendoza. If Mendoza had an injury and missed the rest of the season from a third of the way on, we probably wouldn't be so confident he was the number one pick. Aller was kind of cut off before he could really have that upward trajectory. The program was a mess. But Drew Eller is the exact kind of guy that will work in what McCarthy came from, which is like this Packers, Niners, like developmental quarterback world, where, yeah, you should take a quarterback in third or fourth round. Let them marinate for a couple of years.

[Danny Kelly]

That's.

[Danny Heifetz]

You get a Matt Hasselback, you get these other guys. Aller's upside is so much higher than these other people because of the arm strength, the frame and everything. And he just needs like Mike McCarthy just needs to teach him the NFL game.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Had two good years at Penn State before he got hurt. Would he break his ankle? What did he do this year? Foot.

[Danny Heifetz]

He broke his, he fractured his ankle so he didn't get to the combine season. Yeah, he, he missed all that stuff, which is too bad.

[Craig Horlbeck]

DK dump cold water all over that.

[Danny Kelly]

He. You know how Happy Gilmore is. Wants to be a pro hockey player, but he can't skate.

[Danny Heifetz]

It's kind of like.

[Danny Kelly]

Reminds me of Drew Aller, who.

[Craig Horlbeck]

But my God, what a shot.

[Danny Heifetz]

What a shot.

[Danny Kelly]

He can't, he has. His accuracy sucks. That's the problem, man, that, that is a big, big problem. His mechanics are tough and he's all over the place. Scattershot with his accuracy. That would be my biggest worry is like you could just get into the NFL and you're Joe Milton, got a great arm, can throw the ball fucking a thousand yards, but just not going to end up where you want. And that is obviously a massive, massive problem. So I look honestly, I would be willing to kind of take a, take a risk on this guy somewhere in the middle, around like third round, fourth round and kind of try to develop it because yes, he has great traits and there has been moments where you're like, oh, this guy could be something really special. There was times where I was watching him. Obviously this is not like a really special player, but he reminds me so much of Joe Flacco, just the way he moves and the way he throws. You know, he pushes the ball down the field really aggressively. He gives his, he, he gives his receivers a chance. I could see a world like five years down the line where Drew Aller is kind of like a hired gun like Joe Flacco, where he.

[Danny Heifetz]

Mean first round pick, 20 year career super bowl champion Joe Flacco.

[Danny Kelly]

No, like current Joe Flacco where it's like he gives his, his fantasy players a chance to do good stuff, but he's not helping you win games kind of deal like a jamus maybe or something like that. So I don't know. I, I do think there, the traits are certainly there, but you have, you have to kind of, you're going to have to work on it a while, get his mechanics in order, get his footwork in order.

[Craig Horlbeck]

How bad are they like. I want. I want you to like, how bad are his mechanics?

[Danny Heifetz]

Just kind of.

[Danny Kelly]

It just. The ball comes off the. If he doesn't have his feet set, God knows what's happening is. Is the problem. So. And look, you can't really just sit back in the pocket in the NFL and like set your feet and throw the ball. If that. If that was. It was like flag football where you're just sitting there doing nothing and. And just driving the ball down the field. He might be really good at it, but when he has to move, things fall apart.

[Danny Heifetz]

You know, who couldn't hit this broad side of a barn? Josh Allen, when he, you know.

[Danny Kelly]

Sure. I mean, that is. That's the best argument you can make. That is a one in a thousand player. But sure, go for it.

[Craig Horlbeck]

I step right up.

[Danny Heifetz]

One great comedian. Sparse. 10,000 bad ones. No, I. The Happy Gilmore thing hits a little too much with the not skating. I.

[Danny Kelly]

It's just one problem. Happy, you not any good.

[Danny Heifetz]

Drew Aller face.

[Craig Horlbeck]

The football throw is.

[Danny Heifetz]

You know what? It's. It's a lot like. It's march madness. That UConn obviously just had the run to the finals and the press especially all these games at the end where Yukon when. When the ball goes in and the guy who gets. It's like a power forward who really shouldn't be like, ball handling past, you know, half court and he like kind of has to figure out what to do with it. That kind of does remind me a little bit of Drew Aller sometimes where it's like he has the build of a quarterback, but when the ball's in the sand, he doesn't look like a point guard. Like it doesn't look like a ball handler. Like he doesn't know. Like the distribution, the accuracy of it, I doubt. But I do think he's ca. He's the thirst trap for the Mike McCarthy generation of. Like Sean Payton. McCarthy generation of. Wow. I'll just teach this guy how to play.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah. He's a former five star. He was the number one quarterback in the country. Ohio. Mr. Football. I'm sorry that he was gonna. Somebody's gonna take a bet on this guy. Sorry.

[Danny Heifetz]

He's not a Nepo baby. Like Garrett Nussmeier's dad's an NFL offensive coordinator. Yeah.

[Danny Kelly]

He wasn't.

[Craig Horlbeck]

He didn't.

[Danny Kelly]

He could get benched if he turns the ball over.

[Danny Heifetz]

Dane Brugler, who has a great. Honestly, an absolutely absurd document. It's a 600 page scouting report. Every player in the NFL called the Beast at the Athletic. Dan Brugler had this note that actually, Drew Aller's dad was the football coach from growing up. And you know what? He took him away from quarterback because he didn't want any accusation and nepotism. So he held Drew Aller away from being a quarterback till it was just so overwhelmingly talented in the gap.

[Danny Kelly]

He's like, this guy's 6 foot 5. I don't know what else he's going to play

[Craig Horlbeck]

quarterback or an undersized wing in basketball.

[Danny Kelly]

This guy, he. I think he's listed at 6, 5. There was times I was like, I think he might be too tall. He's too tall.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Really?

[Danny Heifetz]

Like Mike Lennon.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah. Like Ryan Mallet or something where it's

[Danny Heifetz]

like, you're so tall, it's easier to bat your passes down because everyone can just see where you're throwing because you're so goddamn tall.

[Craig Horlbeck]

There were moments, dude, that. The last season, the one before this one, like, he would uncork some balls, and you were like, this guy has everything I want.

[Danny Heifetz]

If you put on the highlight, Craig, if. If the Steelers draft your Aller and you just watch his highlights and nothing else, you're gonna be like, holy. We're gonna.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Like.

[Danny Heifetz]

We have. We have the next Justin Herbert.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah, he has a fantastic highlight reel.

[Danny Kelly]

Preseason football is going to be electric this year.

[Danny Heifetz]

Yeah. Is going to be a preseason kid.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Sometimes you just need something different. You know, we went from Kenny Picket. I don't need Garrett Nussmeier or Ty Simpson. I want some freak who could throw the ball 70 yards and maybe Mike McCarthy can make it work. All right, this. This is a good transition, then into Carson. Beck is kind of the last guy in this. In this group. So he from Miami by way of Georgia. He's the opposite of Ty Simpson that He started over 40 games for multiple teams. We'll flip the card here. Heads for Carson Beckford, dk Tails against. Oh, it went into the side crevice of the.

[Danny Heifetz]

No whammies, no whammies. No whammies. No whammies.

[Craig Horlbeck]

No whammies, no whammies. It's heads. All right, dk, you're pro Carson Beck here, so why don't you lead us off?

[Danny Kelly]

I mean, you set the stage. Well, he's a very experienced starter. He has prototypical size. There's a good army, can push the ball down the field.

[Craig Horlbeck]

He's big. 6, 5, 2, 3.

[Danny Kelly]

Frame, frame experience in big games. Good arm. I think there's tools you can work with here. And. And to me, that is why I would be willing to take a bet on this guy in the middle, in the middle rounds. I'm not taking him super high when he, when he plays in rhythm, when he gets the ball out, when he hits his back foot. You can really see it with this guy where you're like, I think this guy could be something in the NFL just with the right development in the right system. He has some experience under center. Like again, the experience matters. The reps in big games matter. So to me, that was why I would, you know, I would be willing to take a bet on this guy. I like how he gets outside the pocket. He keeps his eyes downfield. He doesn't drop his eyes immediately. There's definitely some moments. Again, it's moments. There's some low highs and lows, but there's moments where you're like, this guy could be a starter in the NFL.

[Danny Heifetz]

Like the game losing interception at the championship on the lineup.

[Craig Horlbeck]

It was an ick to end the season. Like that's the taste in your mouth that he left. Is that under thrown ball, first down.

[Danny Heifetz]

Sure.

[Danny Kelly]

Let's not judge a guy by one throw. He was, he was in the big game because they beat some good teams, you know what I mean? And so again, I'm not, I'm not advocating that he'd be a first round pick, but the size, the arm, the experience, this is the guy in the middle rounds I probably want to take a. Take a risk on.

[Danny Heifetz]

Well, let's start with the arm. Unless, unless the defense doesn't rest here. The offense I guess is really. You are.

[Danny Kelly]

Look, Tommy John is routine at this

[Danny Heifetz]

point all the time.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Show great people. Get two Tommy.

[Danny Heifetz]

So let's start here. Carson Beck will be the first player ever drafted to have had the kind of surgical U seal repair that he got. No one's ever been drafted.

[Danny Kelly]

No, it's worrying about an acl.

[Danny Heifetz]

It was, but no one's ever. He. Literally no player with the surgery he had in his elbow has ever been drafted. He's the first one, Brock.

[Danny Kelly]

Because it's not a footballing injury.

[Danny Heifetz]

Yeah, kind of.

[Danny Kelly]

It's not like the first person to have Tommy John surgery. No, I'm just saying if MLB pitchers can handle it, I think it's okay.

[Danny Heifetz]

So I think my nutshell with Carson Beck is he's not talented enough to

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[Danny Heifetz]

Starter but he's not a good enough teammate to be a backup quarterback. So what's he going to be in the NFL?

[Craig Horlbeck]

Why is it. Why isn't he a good enough teammate?

[Danny Heifetz]

I mean, Georgia didn't want him back. I think this has been plaguing the entire time. His body language issues. I mean Georgia could have had him back. Or Gunner Stockton and Carson Beck's obviously more talented and they chose not to have Carson Beck come back. He wasn't really welcome at Georgia. There is a bunch of stuff. I mean look there and got my

[Danny Kelly]

to the championship game.

[Danny Heifetz]

Yeah, and then he got hurt in that game and he played hurt. But I mean look, there's been a lot of Snapchats that he sent that have circulated the Internet. But also issues he's thrown teammates under the bus, like in press conferences, even in the middle of the Miami season.

[Danny Kelly]

It was kind of a weird looking guy, bad face.

[Danny Heifetz]

I don't know, you said it, not me.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah, we're judging like cards now. God brutalizes.

[Danny Heifetz]

But in all seriousness, quarterback is a leader and like he was throwing a lot of teammates under the bus. That rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. Like, like his demeanor, his body language, like Georgia did not want him back as a teammate. And all seriousness, being a backup quarterback, it's one third your ability to do the job or half. But it's also can you be with the starting quarterback all the time and help them improve? And Carson Beck's not necessarily perceived to be mature, to be a great prepper and all these things, but I think it's telling that Georgia didn't want him back. Now maybe Miami can try to rehabilitate his image, but like, I don't know if he has that kind of value as a backup quarterback. And also, yeah, for a guy as big as him, he should have probably better arm strength, but the elbow was an issue. So I, I, I, this is probably not the kind of guy you want to take a bet on. I, I could see him being a decent starter at times, but he is not really the kind of guy that settles into having value on your team. Honestly.

[Craig Horlbeck]

This is the, this is the humbled former kind of high prospect heights.

[Danny Kelly]

Spencer Rattler.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Exactly. I was just about to say Spencer Rattler.

[Danny Heifetz]

Yeah.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Which again, I don't know if that's necessarily what you want to hear, honestly.

[Danny Heifetz]

Yeah, I'll give you that. Sure. Yeah, Spencer Rattler. I'll give you that comp. And that's kind of the point is what's his value to Tyler Schuck right now?

[Danny Kelly]

I, I do think just, you know, regardless of the actual player, it is a very interesting point in terms of when we're talking about mid round quarterback prospects, guys that are going to have to be backups for a while. It is an interesting point that you make where you have to have sort of the mentality of a backup. It's kind of like talking about, you know, fourth or third or fourth round receiver who's going to come in and be a wide receiver 5 on your team, you have to be able to play special teams or else you're not going to be active on game day. If you're not playing special teams, you just have a very narrow path to being on the field and starting. And so I think there's some similarities there where he's not Willing to play special teams. It's like, you know, figuratively, where if he's not willing to be what they're looking for as a backup quarterback, then that could, that could be problems. But I do think, you know, the size, arm strength, the way he goes through his progressions, the. I, I don't know, maybe teams view that he's matured in this last year, that that'll probably be different from team to team, but yeah, it's going to be interesting to see where he goes. I could see him go a little earlier than people think.

[Craig Horlbeck]

He's a confident snapchatter, I'll give you that.

[Danny Heifetz]

Yeah. Honestly, the long range, he does not

[Craig Horlbeck]

have the mentality of a backup quarterback on snapchat.

[Danny Heifetz]

No, he does not. He snapchats like a, like a, like a Hall of Famer.

[Danny Kelly]

What is. I don't know this story. What's the Snapchat thing?

[Danny Heifetz]

Oh, it's. It's so. It's this thing. He sends pictures of his dick to people on Snapchat.

[Danny Kelly]

Oh, okay. So. Yeah. So derogatory.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Well, I don't know.

[Danny Kelly]

I. The beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right?

[Craig Horlbeck]

Are we against sending a photo of your junk to a woman who's interested in it? Is it bad?

[Danny Heifetz]

Well, I think the interest.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Curious part.

[Danny Heifetz]

I think the interest is the. The part up for debate.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Is that right?

[Danny Kelly]

What is that right?

[Craig Horlbeck]

Is that was. Were these two interested suitors or no.

[Danny Heifetz]

Who's to say who's multiple have leaked

[Craig Horlbeck]

so sure that's fair?

[Danny Kelly]

Multiple different people selected me.

[Danny Heifetz]

The George Bush meme is like sir, a second. A second snapchat.

[Craig Horlbeck]

A second snapchat referring to your package has been released.

[Danny Kelly]

Confident snapchatter.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Dk.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Outside of.

[Danny Heifetz]

You get that on your [e-mail] rear.com.

[Craig Horlbeck]

yeah. Cop DK.

[Danny Kelly]

Irrational Snapchat coffee.

[Danny Heifetz]

Irrational snapchat confidence.

[Craig Horlbeck]

It's honestly pretty good. It's like the wide receivers. Do they have a phone case or not? I want to know what kind of snapchats quarterbacks are sending dk. I'll ask you this next. If it's let's remove Mendoza out of Ty Simpson, Garrett Nussmeier, Drew Aller and Carson Beck. Which quarterback would you prefer to take a shot on at their value where they. Where you think they will go in the draft. So Ty Simpson will think is like a fringe first. Second rounder. Nussmeier, Beck and Allen will be lower than that. So at their value where they're going in the draft, who would you want to take a shot on the most.

[Danny Kelly]

For me, it's Nussmeier.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Why?

[Danny Kelly]

I just think the level of polish that he has. I know that he makes some weird decisions, but I think you can coach that out of him at some point.

[Craig Horlbeck]

His dad can get out of him.

[Danny Kelly]

Right?

[Craig Horlbeck]

Sure.

[Danny Kelly]

Maybe he lands in New Orleans, who knows. But I think just the gamer attitude, the, the way that he plays, the. And again, we were talking about this guy as like a first round pick last year and then he decided to go back things.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Well, all these guys were right, but

[Danny Kelly]

I just liked his tape the most. I think, you know, just the way that he was ripping passes down the team. I, I want a guy who's going to rip it.

[Craig Horlbeck]

And when I ask at their value, where do you see Garrett going? Like, where are you factoring in you saying like he's going to be a third, fourth rounder?

[Danny Kelly]

Probably. Yeah, yeah.

[Danny Heifetz]

I.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Who's yours if it's.

[Danny Heifetz]

I would have a few different answers. I think if there's one of these quarterbacks that's most likely to be on your fantasy team like this season in 2026, other than Fernando Mendez, I'd say Ty Simpson because he's actually pretty fast and he can run. And the odds of Ty Simpson getting a start for like the Cardinals this year if he ends up in the second round or late first, like I actually could see Ty Simpson having a good enough game where he runs. But if it's like a guy's going to make a start in a couple of years and which guy do you think could go four and oh for one month and two years from now? I think the highest floor person for that is probably Garrett Nussmeier because I think he's the one I think will have a backup quarterback career and could have high floor. But if it's like we're talking about ceiling and let's say you're a team

[Craig Horlbeck]

with an old older quarterback and you want the next guy who two years from now could step in and be a surprise third, fourth rounder who is a perennial start in the league.

[Danny Heifetz]

So I think it would be Drew Aller for Penn State or honestly, can I tell you my thirst trap and this is like not going to work. But the guy you throw dart at, dude, Taylor Green from Arkansas is like the kind of player that like I like it should be a go home to your wife kind of guy. And I just keep.

[Craig Horlbeck]

He would be your pick for long term starter. You'd pick him over all the other guys?

[Danny Heifetz]

No, he's the one that won't work. But I think I could fix him. Like, like you're rational objectively, he's not going to work out in the NFL and you shouldn't take him. But to your question of who would I take, I just like, I can't look at a player, it's a disease. I can't look at a player like Taylor Green and not want to have him on my roster because he's basically like, like thinner Anthony Richardson like Taylor Green is. Imagine if Anthony Richardson was a four year starter instead of one half a year starter. But he went in the fourth round like Taylor Green is. 6 foot 6, 235 pounds. Craig, he ran a 4, 364 yard dash. That's what Jeremiah Love ran. Taylor Green had the fastest 40 yard dash of any quarterback ever in the combine. Faster than Robert Griffin the third. And he had the longest vertical jump and the longest broad jump. He literally beat all his. The biggest furthest jump, the highest jump and the fastest 40 for any quarterback ever. And he beats DK's little starts thing. He had like what, 35 starts or something in college.

[Danny Kelly]

My, my little start.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Your little arbitrary stat that you created to support your argument. Yeah, I mean he, he was like basically a four year starter from Boise through Arkansas. Correct.

[Danny Heifetz]

And I look again, he's probably Taylor Green. Yeah. Three years at Boise State, two years at Arkansas. He started four years. He's going in the fourth round despite those traits because can he skate?

[Craig Horlbeck]

I don't know.

[Danny Heifetz]

Can he play quarterback?

[Danny Kelly]

The, the Kenny skate thing, I think it's so true with Carson skate where the accuracy comes and goes. Drew Aller. The accuracy comes and goes. Is it aller or aller by the way?

[Danny Heifetz]

Drew Aller.

[Danny Kelly]

But with Nussmeyer I'm like, I know he's accurate. It's just the decision making sometimes is a little wonky and I think we can coach that out of him. But having a guy who can throw accurately pretty consistently to me is, is what separates Nussmeier. So. But I thought you were gonna say Cole Payton Heifetz. I thought that was.

[Danny Heifetz]

Yeah. Colby is funny because he's a North Dakota State one year starter.

[Danny Kelly]

Lefty basically was their running back for I think a year or two.

[Danny Heifetz]

Yeah, he could be like Taysom Hill all over again. Like he could be the new taste of Hill, take hits. He's physically could carry that. We could do kind of anything. He's like a, I don't know, Cole Payton feels like a C plus or B minus. Like everything you could do like, I actually could see him doing special teams, like Taysom Hill style. He's just a fun player. Taylor Green is just a disease. I just like, there's a quarterback who's 66 who runs a 4 3, 6 and is a cannon. And I'm like, I don't know. Can't you just hire someone to, like, just go with him all the time? But I don't. I guess that's. I'm ducking out of your question. I think Ty Simpson, if he goes to, like, if the Niners, who do

[Craig Horlbeck]

you want them to draft in the third round? Who could be the next 10 year starter for the Steelers? Who would you pick?

[Danny Heifetz]

I think Nussmeier is more likely to be a starting quarterback, but I think Drew Eller, if he became a quarterback, would be better. But Nussmeier is more likely to do it because I do think he actually understands the game at an NFL level and he would just be an average player. But he could be it. He could be an average quarterback. He has a higher chance to being average. Aller has a lower chance to make it, but has a higher ceiling.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Okay.

[Danny Kelly]

What's your verdict, Craig? Who do you. Who speaks to you in this group outside of Mendoza?

[Craig Horlbeck]

I would agree.

[Danny Kelly]

Were you drawn to.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah, I'm drawn to Drew Aller.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah. Yeah. The siren song.

[Danny Heifetz]

It's just the Moneyball jeans thing. It's like a great ass on this prospect.

[Craig Horlbeck]

I just kind of. I'm like, the idea of taking like Ty Simpson or Garrett Nessmeyer to me is so low floor. I mean, low ceiling.

[Danny Kelly]

Right.

[Craig Horlbeck]

And I'm not interested in that. Like, you want to take your shots, you know, and if Drew Aller sucks and you take another one. I don't need to be like that. Oh, he's. He's good enough. We won seven games. Oh, yeah. He's limited, but you could maybe win with him. I don't. I'm not interested in that. You want a superstar freak?

[Danny Heifetz]

This episode is brought to you by Amazon. Life's full of little surprises, like spilling coffee everywhere five minutes before a meeting or reaching for a diaper and realizing the bag is empty. Kind of like draft night. You think you know the plan, then everything changes. Look, life can be unpredictable. But everyday shopping doesn't have to be. With great savings on essentials, Amazon helps you cover the basics and the surprises. Because when life throws a curveball, it's nice knowing there's a place you can count on Amazon, save on essentials. Save the everyday.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Okay. That's it. Do you want to get to any news? I have it. You want to talk about Dexter Lawrence.

[Danny Heifetz]

I won't lie. There's a lot of things I want to talk to you guys about. Completely random spattering.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah.

[Danny Heifetz]

I want to start news we could

[Craig Horlbeck]

get to but maybe won't. Yeah, but maybe we'll start with Dexter Lawrence.

[Danny Heifetz]

Yeah, that's a good way to put it. There's other things that we could talk about that we have chosen to not. So. Yeah. The biggest news of the week that's dominating every group chat and about football this week. Dexter Lawrence requested a trade from the Giants.

[Danny Kelly]

Right?

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah.

[Danny Heifetz]

What everyone's talking about. I'm biased because I'm a Giants fan, but basically I don't think Dexter Lawrence actually wants a trade. I think he wants more money because he was like probably a top two defensive tackle a couple years ago and. But he's now like the 12th highest paid guy this season. He's behind like, I mean, Duron Payne from Washington is going to make more money than Dexter Lawrence. And Dexter Lawrence did have issues the last couple years. He had elbow issue. I think he was not trying as hard as he could last year. But my short answer is like, the Giants should not trade Dexter Lawrence. He's only 28 years old. And next gen stats at this stat that Kevin Clark posted during the the championship games, the team, the NFL teams that made the final four, like literally the final four NFL teams, Seahawks, Rams, Patriots and Broncos literally were the top four teams in just how many quarterback pressures their defense, their starting defensive tackles had. Like, if you rank every team by how many times they're starting defensive tackles pressured the quarterback, the final, the best four teams were the final four teams. So the idea that then combined interior pressure, so then Warren Sharp had this stat that Dexter Lawrence is three times as many pressures as a nose tackle as the second place guy over the last five years. Literally he is. Dexter Lawrence basically has as many nose tackle pressures as the second, third and fourth guy combined in the last four years.

[Danny Kelly]

We were talking about Dexter Lawrence like he's one of the best players in the NFL. Yeah.

[Danny Heifetz]

Why would you trade. Like he's the only guy in the NFL that can basically get a pressure a quarter as a nose tackle. Why the would you trade them? That's my rant.

[Craig Horlbeck]

We're having a real moment right now for nose tackles. Defensive tackles are shining brighter than they've ever shined.

[Danny Heifetz]

This is why I'm interested. What you think DK about Kaden McDonald, the Ohio State Guy Peter woods from Clemson. Because all it is is it's simple. It's the whole too high safety thing. It's not really about two high guys. It's that you used to have to fit the run with seven people.

[Danny Kelly]

Right. It's a math problem.

[Danny Heifetz]

Yeah. And you had a four for past. And now it's like the Seahawks and other teams. Like, can you fit the room to six people and have five and. Well, you probably need a giant nose.

[Craig Horlbeck]

People need to be bigger then. Yeah.

[Danny Heifetz]

You need larger people or whatever. Yeah, we're gonna need a bigger boat.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I think defensive tackles have always kind of been thought of as really important, but it does come and go. There's a pendulum swing here and I think they're starting to. People are starting to see again, like the trenches.

[Craig Horlbeck]

It.

[Danny Kelly]

It's like every year we talk about how important it is for offensive line. It's like you really do need guys that are going to keep a pocket clean and that's alternatively like guys that can collapse pocket or just get quarterbacks uncomfortable. It's incredibly, incredibly important. So. Yeah. I don't know. Like, Kane McDonald's definitely really interesting. He didn't do a ton as a pass rusher, but I think he has some movement skills to maybe be better or maybe do more as a pro. Yeah, I don't.

[Craig Horlbeck]

I.

[Danny Kelly]

What? Didn't Harbaugh come out and say something like, every player is tradable.

[Danny Heifetz]

Well, he said that because. Which is the right answer. I mean, every player is tradable. I mean, Tom Brady left the Patriots like anything. Like, not that he was traded, but every player is. Their job is quite literally to take calls, but I think they're just going to pay him. Okay. Any other football stuff you guys want to hit on the show? Okay, great. Yeah. No. Okay. I want to shout out our March Madness winner, Yash. I don't understand. It's Y A S h. He had 1690 points in March Madness. Yash had hell of a higher. Yash had the entire elite Eight correct. The entire final four correct. Any in Michigan of UConn in the final. So. Wow. Yeah. 99.9 on ESPN.

[Danny Kelly]

What does he win?

[Danny Heifetz]

He wins ringer merch that matches whatever size that Yash will email me in. So Yash email ringer Fantasy football Gmail and then also just give proof that you're actually Yash.

[Craig Horlbeck]

And DK will send you a game worn ringer shirt.

[Danny Heifetz]

Yeah. From a pod worn. Yeah. That's good.

[Craig Horlbeck]

It's like this. It's like this Sydney Sweeney bar of soap, but a little bit less cool.

[Danny Heifetz]

The bath water.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah.

[Danny Heifetz]

God.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Should.

[Danny Heifetz]

Should we review that or they run out?

[Craig Horlbeck]

I think they ran out rather quickly.

[Danny Kelly]

They ran out like immediately.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Unfortunately, everyone.

[Danny Kelly]

The website crashed.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah, unfortunately. A lot of people are sick.

[Danny Kelly]

A lot of freaks out there.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah.

[Danny Heifetz]

I want to talk about the masters, but first, dk, you have mentioned since we did the show this Roman Anthony's eight hop throw to home like seven times. The Red Sox left fielder.

[Danny Kelly]

I don't know a lot about baseball, but I'm obsessed with this. The guy, he's a big time prospect for the Red Sox who can't throw. He can't throw. He can't throw a baseball. There's been multiple times where like the game is on the line and you get. There's like single. He has to throw a guy out at home plate and he doesn't even get in the zip code. I mean, he ate, hopped. He basically rolled the ball to the. To this. To the catcher from like shallow right field. Sorry, left field.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Well, there was another one too where he was trying to hit the cutoff man on the way. He couldn't even get close to the cutoff dude.

[Danny Kelly]

It is unbelievable. I could throw it better. I genuinely believe from shallow left field. I could throw it better than he did.

[Craig Horlbeck]

He rolled the ball. He rolled it.

[Danny Heifetz]

It was one of the worst throws I've ever. You know, was bad. He had a. Roman Anthony had a really bad one early or like late in March, early in the season. But at least that one was like. It was such a bang bang play. You to like do something really fast that could look dumb. The one the other day, I think it was on Easter Monday. The one. That one was here. So much time. Yeah. He had so much time and he just. It was like one of the worst

[Danny Kelly]

throws I've ever threw it to the bullpen or. Not the bullpen.

[Danny Heifetz]

Yeah. Dugout, basically.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah. It's pretty hilarious. Things aren't going well for the Red Sox. I understand. So let's not pile on. But it's very funny.

[Danny Heifetz]

That's fine, bro.

[Craig Horlbeck]

It's been a tough couple of days for Boston sports. Look, the.

[Danny Kelly]

The mars aren't exactly coming out of the gates hot, so I can't really talk. But my. My big dumper. He's. He's really. He's like 20k's already not going great for him.

[Craig Horlbeck]

He's dumping.

[Danny Kelly]

He is.

[Craig Horlbeck]

But I went to the San Francisco Giants game last night. Great game.

[Danny Heifetz]

How was it?

[Craig Horlbeck]

Who they. Great game. Phillies they were. That park.

[Danny Heifetz]

That park is like the Pirates park in Pittsburgh where it's like, it's. They just built it to have an incredible view, like right on the water.

[Danny Kelly]

Right on the water.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Beautiful park. Or it's called Oracle park now. When I grew up, it was at and T. Oh, I always forget that

[Danny Kelly]

you're from the bay.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Right?

[Danny Kelly]

That's cool.

[Craig Horlbeck]

In my hometown, even though I did not grow up in.

[Danny Kelly]

But you grew up in A's fan.

[Craig Horlbeck]

I did, yeah. We're no longer in the bay.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, right. We don't talk about athletics.

[Danny Heifetz]

They're just playing in the Ace are playing at a. AAA baseball stadium indefinitely because they just thought they could finish a baseball stadium on the Vegas strip really fast. And then they couldn't spend three years in Oakland.

[Craig Horlbeck]

And John Fisher had just moved the team to Sacramento because there's no. Nothing else to do. The owner, the heir to the Gap throne. Which is why I won't buy any Gap. We're not doing Gap.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, no.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Did you guys. Did you guys see Patrick Reed's Starbucks order?

[Danny Heifetz]

No, but I. I hate. He's the most hateable athlete in golf.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Well, it's about to get worse because his Starbucks order is a Trenta strawberry acai refresher with no water and no inclusions, which I believe.

[Danny Heifetz]

Can you say that again?

[Craig Horlbeck]

Say that Trent. Trent is 30.

[Danny Kelly]

30 ounce.

[Danny Heifetz]

So vehicular mogs and ASU frat leader. I need a translator.

[Craig Horlbeck]

30 ounces of strawberry acai refresher. No water. Which means I believe he's literally drinking 32 ounces of just strawberry concentrate.

[Danny Heifetz]

32 ounces of strawberry concentrate.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Strawberry concentrate. Because he says no water. There's no water added. So it's. It's just the concentrate I saw him drinking. It's huge. Which I guess means like no sugar.

[Danny Heifetz]

Let's drink this on the next episode. We should bring. We should bring these to the next episode.

[Craig Horlbeck]

That or a smelling salt. I'm not sure which would rev you up more, but that. That's what he drinks.

[Danny Kelly]

Well, that drink sounds horrific. Yeah. Yeah.

[Danny Heifetz]

This drink sucks.

[Craig Horlbeck]

I had a cappuccino this morning. It was. It was lovely.

[Danny Kelly]

Can I. Craig, look at you. He only drinks coffee when he's on the road.

[Craig Horlbeck]

I kind of do. It's fun.

[Danny Kelly]

It's like a.

[Danny Heifetz]

It's your dessert.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah.

[Danny Heifetz]

Can I. I have to tell you guys, I have a few more.

[Craig Horlbeck]

So I was with Bill and Chris at a coffee shop and I didn't want to order a matcha latte in front of them. Because I feel like they would make fun of me.

[Danny Heifetz]

Yeah, that's the real. The real answer comes out.

[Danny Kelly]

Oh, you got. You got shamed out of ordering your drink.

[Craig Horlbeck]

I got order mogged. Yeah, yeah.

[Danny Heifetz]

Shamed by your matcha.

[Danny Kelly]

He's like, I don't want this to be content.

[Danny Heifetz]

That's a new thing. We spent like a year. We spent a year being like, are you ashamed of Macha? He's like, no. And then, like, push comes to shove, he won't it order it for the.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Well, I will tell the thousands and thousands of people that listen to this show that I drink matcha, but I won't tell Bill, like, anybody on earth. I'm like, I want to order matcha latte for the Bill of Chris. Maybe not.

[Danny Heifetz]

One other thing I have to tell you guys about the Masters I've been thinking about for a long time, and I haven't the Masters menus we prepared for. But I didn't want to prepare you for this. So Lucas Oberg, who's a great golfer, went on, I think, four Plays podcast. I saw this video of it on Instagram, and he was explaining that the Grill Room at the Masters is unlike any other restaurant in the world. In the Grill Room at Augusta national, there are no menus. You sit down. Oh, the waiter comes up and says, what do you want?

[Craig Horlbeck]

No way.

[Danny Heifetz]

And you just. Anything you can think of, they will make you.

[Danny Kelly]

It's like, even better than Fogo de Chao.

[Danny Heifetz]

Yeah. It's like. Yeah, it's like the room of requirement for freaking for. Isn't that. Isn't. Why is that so radical?

[Craig Horlbeck]

I went to a fancy dinner in LA one time, and I was with people who are much more successful than me. And it was a similar scenario where the waiter asked me what I wanted, and I, like, ordered a steak. And then he was like, what do you want for your sides? And I said, what available sides do you have? And he was like, well, just like, what do you want? And I was like, I mean, like, this type of potato or this type of vegetable. He's like, yeah, we can do that.

[Danny Heifetz]

It's kind of intimidating.

[Craig Horlbeck]

It is. I need to be told what to do.

[Danny Heifetz]

You know, I need a limited set of things I could want, and I'll pick one of those.

[Craig Horlbeck]

What do I want? You tell me. What. What's available?

[Danny Heifetz]

You want me to think about what I want right now?

[Craig Horlbeck]

That's crazy. So you just sit down and you're like, chicken parm. I want an orzo salad on the side, and I want A nice crisp white wine and they're like, yep, no problem.

[Danny Heifetz]

Yeah,

[Danny Kelly]

must be nice.

[Craig Horlbeck]

The Masters really does they have it figured out. They're like one of the only remaining things that's just doing it the right way. It's.

[Danny Heifetz]

It's crazy.

[Craig Horlbeck]

No phones, food is super affordable.

[Danny Heifetz]

They have. The app for the Masters is like the best app that anyone has.

[Craig Horlbeck]

It's classic.

[Danny Kelly]

Guys, have you been. Have you been to the Masters?

[Danny Heifetz]

No, I would. I would like to go though.

[Craig Horlbeck]

I apply every year, but I.

[Danny Heifetz]

In case someone sent this minute mark to Bill so that it could hear Craig admitting he wouldn't order a matcha. Bill, please bring us to the Masters, wouldn't you?

[Craig Horlbeck]

Please, please, please?

[Sponsor Announcer]

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[Danny Kelly]

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[Danny Heifetz]

Let's see here. Okay. Can I read you a couple emails? We'll get out of here.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah.

[Danny Heifetz]

Okay. A lot of people emailed this in. First of all, emails, Ring of fantasy football, gmail.com man. We talked. We were joking about A.J. brown being nicknamed Swole Batman. God, all these Eagles fans are like, yeah, so first of all, Deontay Lee or Ringer colleague texted me and was like, A.J. brown's called swole Batman because. And Devonte Smith is skinny Batman because neither one wanted to be Robin. So they actually call them that.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah. Yeah, that's good.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Why, why does it. I guess people are obsessed with Batman. But I'm like, why don't you just pick a different superhero where there's not a People of.

[Danny Heifetz]

People love Batman.

[Craig Horlbeck]

People.

[Danny Heifetz]

I think Batman and the Joker, Batman, funny.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Batman doesn't have any superpowers. You Know, that's.

[Danny Heifetz]

I think that's why he's a guy. It's just a guy trying to save a city who's just nothing special about him. He just. He's just trying to save a city.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah, he's. I mean, he's kind of Nepo, you know?

[Danny Heifetz]

Yeah, he's a good.

[Danny Kelly]

Kind of. He is Nepo.

[Danny Heifetz]

Batman's like, if we did. We should do the Nepo draft this summer. Batman's a top Nepo. But is it Nepo, though, if he. Because he's not like his parents.

[Craig Horlbeck]

He's not rich. He's just rich. He's just rich. Just because your parents are rich doesn't mean you're Nepo. No, that is different things like David Ellison Nepo.

[Danny Heifetz]

Yeah, yeah.

[Craig Horlbeck]

But like,

[Danny Heifetz]

if your dad's the guarantor and your 110 billion dollar purchase, then you're. That's, you know, that's.

[Craig Horlbeck]

That's a little Nepo. Not judging. I would do the same. I get it.

[Danny Heifetz]

I would also buy the rights to Batman. If I. If I had two, I would buy Paramount.

[Craig Horlbeck]

If my dad had a $100 billion,

[Danny Heifetz]

Joe Burrow's $200 million, he tried to buy the Batmobile. I mean, if you had 200 billion, it's just buy Batman.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Who do you think is the. Is it Spider man is the easy number two? No one gives a about Superman.

[Danny Heifetz]

Superman is just like a different generation. Like, Superman means nothing to people. I think under 40, Superman is like,

[Craig Horlbeck]

just like a mid-1900s America mentality. Like, it's just like a different time. Like, what's represented.

[Danny Heifetz]

Principles and.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah. Honor code. Don't let anybody die. Although Batman doesn't let it. Batman doesn't kill people.

[Danny Heifetz]

Do you remember the funnier dive sketch

[Craig Horlbeck]

about Batman not kill people?

[Danny Heifetz]

He doesn't. But do you remember the funnier die sketch about him being like, they're not dead, they're sleeping?

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah. He's like, batman, you've killed Holmes.

[Danny Heifetz]

Yeah. He's like, you've killed all these people. He's like, what?

[Sponsor Announcer 2]

What are you talking.

[Danny Heifetz]

You throw him off a building, you think just because you didn't shoot him, he can't die? No, no, they're sleepy. Everyone I fight gets very sleepy.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Those are so funny.

[Danny Heifetz]

So good. Okay, one other thing. So we were talking last week about the Bishop Sycamore fake high school game where the IMG Academy played Bishop Sycamore and they turned out to be a fake high school. So Justin emailed in. Justin.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Justin breakfast.

[Danny Heifetz]

Justin's breakfast was a Trader Jones, Trader Joe's hash brown patty, air fried at 390 for 15 minutes with avocado and Thai chili crisp on top. It's pretty. It's pretty good.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Those hash brown things are very good. I gotta say, you don't often see 390. You don't hear 390 a lot.

[Danny Heifetz]

No, you don't. You do not hear three.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Never hear three. You never have to cook something at three. No. There are no recipes out there that say, cook this at 390.

[Danny Heifetz]

I will say, though. So bacon. I've been air frying bacon. Bacon. The smoke point is 400, so anything between 350 and 400 you could do. So 390 is probably the top side. Go on. Bacon.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah. Do you know you're supposed to put water in there with bacon?

[Danny Kelly]

Like in the little.

[Danny Heifetz]

Of course I knew that. But remind the listeners who may not know why.

[Craig Horlbeck]

I don't think that's obvious, but apparently if you put. If you're frying bacon and you add water in there, it helps even out the fat versus the, the. The meat.

[Danny Heifetz]

What do you mean in. In there? Like with the bacon or underneath with the bacon?

[Craig Horlbeck]

With the bacon. Like in there with it. Because it helps, like steam it and

[Danny Kelly]

you've broken his brain.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Cooks the bacon more evenly where you're not just like burning the meat. And then the fat is super fatty still. It helps more evenly cook it.

[Danny Heifetz]

All right, well, if Dave Changs to listen to this podcast, if you want to email in tell, tell us if that makes sense.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah. Shot on Tick Tock a while ago. Awesome.

[Danny Heifetz]

I'll try that.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Told me that.

[Danny Heifetz]

So anyway, do you guys ever do that ever where you're like, someone told me. And you're like, oh, no, that was just a tick tock I watched.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah, well, someone said someone pretty much everything. Tell me.

[Danny Heifetz]

Yeah, someone told me it. Anyway, so Justin writes Bishop Sycamore, Carnell Tate and Francis Marinoa played against Bishop Sycamore. They were as was Tyler Booker, but. And Katron Allen. So there's three players in this draft who beat the. Out of Bishop Sycamore in that game.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Just wanted to note that there was a documentary about it which I never watched.

[Danny Heifetz]

The other one. Sorry you had to flop on the ostrich thing. Obviously it was the baseball player who did an eating contest versus an ostrich 100 years ago. Ping Bodhi was the player, not the ostrich.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Right.

[Danny Heifetz]

And he beat the. And he had a spaghetti eating contest

[Craig Horlbeck]

of spaghetti or something.

[Danny Heifetz]

Yeah. And then the hostage Passed out in the spaghetti. But it was during spring training. This was set up by the Yankees owner. Listen to the last episode. It was crazy. Craig, then you were talking about how if you had to pick an animal in like the. The Serengeti basically to fight like you probably pick an ostrich because it's hard to kill other animals.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Well, I wanted to find an animal that was the best fight. You know, something where I felt like it would be very close but I could. I have the slight edge.

[Danny Heifetz]

So Sam whose breakfast was sausage egg biscuit says boys. An ostrich would fold. Craig. Like laundry. Ostriches can be lethal to humans. They can kill predators like lions. Up to 2,000 pounds per square inch of kicking. And. And they are. They can run 45 miles an hour. And their sheet are they basically their talons are giant. Giant.

[Craig Horlbeck]

I'm not. So the speed don't matter. I'm not running away from it. I'm facing it head on.

[Danny Heifetz]

It's running at you with its giant

[Craig Horlbeck]

knife is not an issue. What about gator Chris? That guy on Instagram, he. I was watching him. He handle on it, you know. Or an ostrich.

[Danny Heifetz]

It was an emu.

[Craig Horlbeck]

It was an emu who have sharper talons than. Than an ostrich.

[Danny Heifetz]

So apparently they're less dangerous than cassowaries. I've learned the emus are.

[Danny Kelly]

Ostriches are killing lions.

[Danny Heifetz]

Ostriches kill lions. They're big and again they're. They have feet.

[Danny Kelly]

Craig, you're.

[Craig Horlbeck]

They're like 7 or 8ft tall. They're big, but it's all length too. Who sent this email?

[Danny Heifetz]

Sam. Sam said you get folded like laundry folded like a cheap by an ostrich.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Sam, are we factoring in once again that my mother's life is on the line? I. I am. I am reaching a. I have an

[Danny Kelly]

adrenaline level like human beings can lift up cars.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Never been seen before. Maybe the ostrich is the wrong pick. Sam, send me the animal that you think is the closest. Closest battle that I might have a slight edge against.

[Danny Heifetz]

It is hard to pick. They're all pretty hard to kill.

[Danny Kelly]

I mean. Yeah. We are not all animals. Yeah yeah. Human beings are not real good fighters with our bare hands.

[Craig Horlbeck]

DK you. You would take out George in 10 minutes. George be done.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah. He has really fucked up teeth for some reason. His teeth just fall out.

[Danny Heifetz]

Your dog.

[Danny Kelly]

Don't worry. Everyone listening. We've taken dogs just fall out.

[Craig Horlbeck]

What are you talking about?

[Danny Kelly]

His canines just fell out. So the two. The two sharp Teeth on top. You know, the long ones.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Well, he's got to grow his teeth now, right?

[Danny Heifetz]

Isn't he like four years old?

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, but don't worry. We've. We've like looked into this. It doesn't appear to be anything serious. But for. His teeth fell out.

[Danny Heifetz]

Is it because George, he keeps eating his own. Is it related to.

[Danny Kelly]

That's probably not helping.

[Craig Horlbeck]

He like dislodging his teeth by eating rocks.

[Danny Kelly]

I do think he actually, we were told because he was a. You know, they found him in Texas in a ditch with all of his brothers and sisters.

[Craig Horlbeck]

He.

[Danny Kelly]

He had a tough upbringing, but I think he was. They told us he was like eating rocks as a youngster.

[Danny Heifetz]

Oh.

[Danny Kelly]

So it's probably not good for your dentals. Um. But yeah, his teeth are among the most fucked up of any dog I've ever seen.

[Craig Horlbeck]

But you. But you do. Which might be a.

[Danny Kelly]

Which might be a positive or negative, but he doesn't have as many teeth as a normal dog. So maybe that's why I win.

[Craig Horlbeck]

But yeah, I was gonna say, but you do think you could rub.

[Danny Kelly]

It's like cuz he's just gumming my arm, you know, it doesn't hurt that bad.

[Craig Horlbeck]

I mean, how much does he weigh? 30 pounds?

[Danny Kelly]

30 pounds? No, he weighs like 90.

[Craig Horlbeck]

George. Is he that big?

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah.

[Danny Heifetz]

Craig's not a dog guy. It comes out every now and then.

[Danny Kelly]

30 pounds, like a shih Tzu.

[Craig Horlbeck]

I grew up with dogs my whole life.

[Danny Heifetz]

What kind of dog you have?

[Craig Horlbeck]

I don't have a dog now, but I grew up with dogs.

[Danny Heifetz]

What kind of dog did you have?

[Craig Horlbeck]

A poodle? A dachshund spaniel.

[Danny Heifetz]

Okay.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Smaller dogs.

[Danny Heifetz]

Got it.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah. George is like 95. He's a great Pyrenees for some reason.

[Craig Horlbeck]

There is such a. Like, there is a real prejudice against small dogs. I've noticed. There's like big dog people, like, don't acknowledge small dogs.

[Danny Kelly]

It's kind of like people. Craig, you know what?

[Danny Heifetz]

No, it's like bikers where it's like

[Craig Horlbeck]

your dick is small.

[Danny Kelly]

So you have a small dog.

[Danny Heifetz]

Well, it's people who have cars get mad at pedestrians and cyclists and pedestrians get mad at cyclists and cars. But like, they can kind of agree this. And I think cat people and dog and big dog people can agree that they kind of get mad at small dog people.

[Craig Horlbeck]

I know. I like all dogs.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah, same

[Danny Heifetz]

say all dogs matter. Really?

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah, sure, sure. I'll say it. All dogs matter.

[Danny Heifetz]

I. I have another thing I have to bring up to you guys. I'm Sorry. So we have a Discord ringer. Fantasy football on Discord. It's fun. If you like discord. There was an argument this week that I have to ask you guys about. So obviously NASA did this moon thing.

[Craig Horlbeck]

This moon thing.

[Danny Kelly]

That's how we're describing it.

[Danny Heifetz]

Well, I'm doing it for this moon thing.

[Craig Horlbeck]

They flew around the moon. They saw the dark side of the moon, which we haven't really seen before.

[Danny Heifetz]

That's what I wanted to ask you about. The way you just phrased it, the question in Discord. This was like the biggest argument probably the Discord's ever had. Can we say, we went to the moon?

[Danny Kelly]

This is like, did you read the book that you listened to on tape?

[Danny Heifetz]

Yes. It's like, if you can you. If you go around the moon and everyone's like, yeah, we went to the moon.

[Danny Kelly]

I don't think so. They didn't land on the moon.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Well, that's not what he's. The phrase is we went to the moon.

[Danny Kelly]

Oh, so it's a little bit vague.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Well, let me ask you this. If you drive through Seattle, did you go to Seattle?

[Danny Heifetz]

Yeah. No. It's disingenuous.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Do you have to stop?

[Danny Kelly]

If I have to put your feet on terra firma, did you have a

[Craig Horlbeck]

cup of coffee on the moon or not?

[Danny Heifetz]

The argument.

[Danny Kelly]

This is like. This is like we went. If you went to somewhere for a layover and didn't leave the airport, did

[Craig Horlbeck]

you go to that country?

[Danny Heifetz]

I mean, exactly. You count that. No, you didn't.

[Craig Horlbeck]

You didn't.

[Danny Heifetz]

No, you didn't. I. The argument people made in the discord was so good. They were like, well, if you go to the drive through at McDonald's, that counts. And they're like, no, no. This is like if you go. If you go to the parking lot of a supermarket and then you sit in the parking lot for an hour and then you drive home and your wife's like, where were you? And you're like, I went to the supermarket. You might technically be right, but you are, like, kind of lying.

[Craig Horlbeck]

So you don't think the astronaut can come home and he's talking to somebody at the coffee shop. He can't say, I went to the moon.

[Danny Heifetz]

Well, the astronaut can. But if that's fine. A little. It's a little cheating, but it's more like saying we. If you're like, yeah, we. But if you're like talking to someone, like, what's going on? It's like, yeah, we went to the moon. It's like, but we did go to the moon when he landed. Like, it's not this, you know, here's why I asked. When this happened, like, NASA, we're going to the moon. I was like, we're landing on the moon. It's like, no, no, no.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah.

[Danny Heifetz]

I'm like, that's what you're saying to people is we're going to the. We're going around the moon.

[Craig Horlbeck]

So what should they say? We're flying. We're flying near the moon.

[Danny Heifetz]

Well, the problem is that sucks.

[Craig Horlbeck]

That's would watch that, I think, because it's been so long since we even got close. You can probably say it, but if this happened all the time, it wouldn't count. Right. It's been 50 years.

[Danny Kelly]

So we get close enough.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah. Because aren't we. We are actually trying to land on the moon in 2028. Isn't that the plan?

[Danny Heifetz]

Who knows what the fucking plan is, man?

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah. The moon base, it's coming up.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah. Got to get data centers on the moon.

[Danny Heifetz]

Someone said to me once that the best argument that aliens exist and are in their world as we like currently, is that the first time Trump became president in 2017. Like, he got his first presidential briefing, and the next day he was like, we need the army in space. We need it right now.

[Danny Kelly]

Force tweeted about immediately. Force today. Just a parentheses space force exclamation point.

[Craig Horlbeck]

I know. Whatever classified documents they all see. I feel like every single president's like, I'm going to. I'm going to tell everyone who killed jfk and then they become president. They read the file and they're like, nah, never mind. Every single one's like, I'll do it. They read the file. Oh, can't do that.

[Danny Kelly]

Oh, same with the back pocket.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah. Nah, not going to talk about it.

[Danny Heifetz]

Actually, you guys can't handle the truth.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Okay.

[Danny Kelly]

Actually can't handle the truth.

[Danny Heifetz]

No, that's true. That's why we need menus.

[Danny Kelly]

The real thing. Yeah.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Is why we need menus.

[Danny Heifetz]

Email us at Ringer Fantasy Football gmail dot com. We're going to do a mailbag. Email us mailbag questions. Then I also email us your Take Purge ahead of time. We're going to do the Take Purge again and I want to you to email us your take purges. Please put Take Purge in the email subject line for the Take Purge and then we'll get to read the best take purges after our take purges.

[Craig Horlbeck]

It's coming week of the draft Take purge.

[Danny Kelly]

Can I ask an extra? An extremely stupid Question that might make everyone think I'm a moron, which probably already happened. But about the moon, when we talk about the dark side of the moon. And again, I'm not. I haven't done any research on this. I'm literally just thinking of it now.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Does.

[Danny Kelly]

Is the moon just stationary? Like it doesn't spin?

[Craig Horlbeck]

I believe the moon itself is not rotating, but the moon is moving around.

[Danny Kelly]

Well, yes, obviously, I know that.

[Danny Heifetz]

Okay.

[Danny Kelly]

I'm not. Yes, but like, when you say the dark side of the moon, it's just like a knuckleball around the Earth.

[Danny Heifetz]

It's a knuckle ball. Yes, knuckle moon.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Isn't that right? Like, I believe.

[Danny Kelly]

I mean, I assume so since you say the dark side of the moon, like we haven't seen it. Like I would imagine it's always been the same side of the moon, which is right. I thought it would be spinning also while rotating the Earth.

[Craig Horlbeck]

It's knuckle. I think the same side of the moon is always facing just a fucking knock.

[Danny Kelly]

It's a knuckleball.

[Sponsor Announcer]

Yeah.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Crazy.

[Danny Heifetz]

I think you're right. Knuckle.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Because we flew behind it, which we've never done, because. Yeah, yeah, because Neil and the gang landed on the bright side of the moon, right? Allegedly.

[Danny Kelly]

Because of the radio. You know what didn't in Apollo 13, they went around the dark side of the moon, I thought in the movie. Because they had to slingshot it in the, in the. In the real world too. Craig.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Well, they just did that now. I mean, they're using the gravitational pull. Right, Right, slingshot.

[Danny Kelly]

But I thought they did that when Apollo 13 messed up and they couldn't land on the moon. They had to do the slingshot to get them back around, send them back to Earth. I feel like they went on the dark side of the moon then and they lost contact with them for a while. Unless they made that whole part up in the movie, I don't know.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Because the crew, Artemis 2, they did lose. They lose connection or for like an hour when they were.

[Danny Kelly]

And also didn't we have. We had pictures of the. Of the Earth behind the moon from

[Craig Horlbeck]

back in the day. Was that via satellite, maybe?

[Danny Heifetz]

That was. Yeah, that was. The satellite sent the picture.

[Danny Kelly]

Anyway, that's the question I have with doing zero research on it. I'll look it up.

[Danny Heifetz]

I think you're right.

[Craig Horlbeck]

I think the crazy. I saw this like, like little graphic of. Of the Artemis 2, like, path and launch. The craziest part about it is I feel like people don't assume the moon is moving. And so like you assume it's like,

[Danny Kelly]

oh, they had to like meet it. They had to like meet it.

[Craig Horlbeck]

It's like leading a pass.

[Danny Heifetz]

Right.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Like it's like leading a receiver where it's like they had to pick a point, head straight towards it, knowing that the moon was going to meet them.

[Danny Kelly]

Basically we need Tom Brady driving this thing.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yes. Like they had to catch it at the exact right moment, whip around it and then come back down.

[Danny Kelly]

That's why all the guys with pocket protectors are doing the math and making sure it works. Right.

[Danny Heifetz]

This is so the honestly argument to

[Craig Horlbeck]

how we didn't go how the moon landing is fake in the 60s was that we didn't have computers. I'm just like, I don't know how the we did that on paper did bath longhand. I was, you know, people writing on paper.

[Danny Kelly]

People were smart, they could do math back.

[Danny Heifetz]

My joke crazy. It always funny. It's like, you know what else we had for sure before computers was fucking airplanes flying all the time.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yep.

[Danny Heifetz]

Just planes can take you around the world. And people are shocked that like I will say though, one of the best articles maybe ever on the ringer is Ben Lindbergh. This I got. This is like nine years ago. That makes me feel old. But he, him and Jason wrote about the Saturn Cassini mission, which is we sent it as satellite to frickin Saturn. And then Ben Talked to like 50 people who worked on the Saturn Cassini mission and they all sent Ben their favorite because this thing took like a million pictures. And they're like send us your favorite picture from this whole trip and just tell us why it's your favorite picture. And it is unbelievable. But the accuracy of the Saturn thing was the equivalent of basically they're just like it's like curling. You kind of just send it and then you just hope it makes it. Like you kind of have to let go and then you just aim and you hope you did it right. And the accuracy that they did it, it was the equivalent of if you had a car in New York and you just like auto and you pushed it and you auto and you let go and you aimed for a specific parking spot in San Francisco and then you got it within three feet. That is the accuracy they calculated from here to Saturn.

[Craig Horlbeck]

What year was that?

[Danny Heifetz]

Well, we it they crashed. They had to get it ended the mission 2017. So it was like 2009 or something. I don't know.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah, man, people are really smart.

[Danny Kelly]

I think one of the craziest things about space that I always think about, that people talk about is, I don't know, you know, if you're so X amount of light years away from Earth, looking at Earth, what you're seeing is Earth in like Roman times or whatever.

[Danny Heifetz]

So you're like, yeah, the sun, sunlight's eight minutes old.

[Danny Kelly]

Like, that's crazy to think about because

[Craig Horlbeck]

we could be looking at stars that have already exploded, but we don't know yet, right?

[Danny Heifetz]

Yeah, like in a couple hundred years or what? Like, we sent all these. Like, we. I think we sent music out from the 70s and it's like in 200 years, they're going to be like, wow.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah, wow.

[Danny Kelly]

That music sucked.

[Craig Horlbeck]

I don't know why this space launch grabbed me so much, but I am fascinated by it. I watched the whole thing on Netflix. When we did the Flyby headed on.

[Danny Kelly]

Oh, was it live? That's sick.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah. Next year you could watch our show or the Flyby to the Moon on

[Danny Heifetz]

Netflix,

[Danny Kelly]

both of which are breaking new

[Craig Horlbeck]

ground because it's like they didn't go to the moon, you know? Come on, they flew 250,000 miles to just look at it out the window, Right?

[Danny Heifetz]

They said they're not going to the moon. The fantasy show. They could be doing anything. Like, who knows, you know, the Mystery Box. Really?

[Craig Horlbeck]

Did you see.

[Danny Kelly]

Think about the math we're doing on this show, guys.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Did you see the side by side of like the moon 50 years ago? I mean, the earth 50 years ago versus now, like the side by side of the photos.

[Danny Kelly]

Yeah.

[Craig Horlbeck]

And now the Earth satellites all grayed out and looks like shit. And 50 years ago, it looked like beautiful and colorful. I. I don't know if that's because of like whatever camera they use or it's just a bad photo, but everybody was like, holy shit, we've ruined this planet.

[Danny Kelly]

It was just cloudy, Craig, that day.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Actually, I could be true. That might be true. Or it's just like whatever type of photo they took made it look more gray, but it was funny.

[Danny Heifetz]

Fits the vibes.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Yeah.

[Danny Kelly]

All right.

[Danny Heifetz]

Thank you, dk.

[Danny Kelly]

God.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Oh, what's happened to you?

[Danny Kelly]

You know what? Father Time has a way with us all.

[Danny Heifetz]

Thank you, dk. Thank you, Craig. Thank you, Father Time. Thank you everyone for emailing us. Ringerfantasyfootball gmail.com email should take personal. Email us questions for mailbag, actual draft stuff or other things. Moon, ostriches, whatever. Thank you, Cam. Thank you, Abu. Thank you, Carlos. Thank you, Austin. Thank you everyone for listening. Thank you Lord, Lord.

[Danny Kelly]

Thank you, Exile.

[Danny Heifetz]

I don't know who that is.

[Danny Kelly]

For the first time in the wild. I don't think I've ever had this happen before. I heard that song till the night closes in or you know that I want to kiss you all over till the night closes. I heard it in a restaurant and

[Craig Horlbeck]

I was like, what, you don't want breakfast?

[Danny Heifetz]

Yeah.

[Danny Kelly]

Such a good like segue. It's actually a banger.

[Craig Horlbeck]

He's like so close up on his mouth to the night close, close.

[Danny Kelly]

Anyway, great song. Great song. Added it on Spotify.

[Craig Horlbeck]

Best movie ever made. Probably truly over hand again.

[Danny Heifetz]

Goodbye everyone.

[Danny Kelly]

Foreign.

[Danny Heifetz]

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